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Conference call to take place on Wednesday, April 1 at 8:30 a.m. U.S Eastern Time

HENDERSON, Nev., March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- VolitionRx Limited (NYSE AMERICAN: VNRX) ("Volition") today announces that it will host a conference call on Wednesday, April 1 at 8.30 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time to discuss its financial and operating results for the full fiscal year 2025 and to provide a business update. Details of this event can be found below.

Event: VolitionRx Limited Full Fiscal Year 2025 Earnings and Business Update Conference Call

Date: Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Time: 8:30 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time/2.30 p.m. Central European Time

U.S. & Canada Dial-in: 1-877-407-9716 (toll free)

U.K. Dial-in: 0 800 756 3429 (toll free)

Toll/International: 1-201-493-6779

Conference ID: 13759627

Louise Batchelor, Group Chief Marketing & Communications Officer will host the call along with Cameron Reynolds, President and Group Chief Executive Officer of Volition, Terig Hughes, Group Chief Financial Officer, Dr. Andrew Retter, Medical Consultant and Dr. Jake Micallef, Chief Scientific Officer. The call will provide an update on important events that have taken place in 2025, subsequent events and upcoming milestones.

A live audio webcast of the conference call will also be available on this link. In addition, a telephone replay of the call will be available until April 15, 2026. The replay dial-in numbers are 1-844-512-2921 (toll-free) in the U.S. and Canada and 1-412-317-6671 (toll) internationally. Please use replay pin number 13759627.

About Volition

Volition is a multi-national company focused on advancing the science of epigenetics. Volition is dedicated to saving lives and improving outcomes for people and animals with life-altering diseases through earlier detection, disease and treatment monitoring.

Through its subsidiaries, Volition is developing and commercializing simple, easy to use, cost-effective blood tests to help detect and monitor a range of diseases, including some cancers and diseases associated with NETosis, such as sepsis. Early detection and monitoring have the potential to not only prolong the life of patients, but also to improve their quality of life.

Volition's research and development activities are centered in Belgium, with an innovation laboratory and office in the U.S. and an office in London.

The contents found at Volition's website address are not incorporated by reference into this document and should not be considered part of this document. Such website address is included in this document as an inactive textual reference only.

Media Enquiries:

Louise Batchelor, Volition, [email protected] +44 (0)7557 774620

SOURCE VolitionRx Limited
Republican Representative Lauren Boebert got into an online spat with a journalist over a recent video about Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at U.S. airports.

The Trump administration deployed ICE agents to more than a dozen airports this week amid the ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown, which has led to TSA staffing shortages and long security lines nationwide.

Boebert posted a video on Monday celebrating the move.

So, President Trump sends ICE agents to the airports across the country, and while the rest of our country has three-plus-hour waits  thanks Democrats  Minneapolis airports TSA wait time right now is less than five minutes, Boebert said in the video. Called it.

Republican Representative Lauren Boebert argued with a journalist on social media over a video she shared about the presence of ICE agents in airports (Getty Images)

She captioned the clip: You cant make this stuff up!! ICE agents show up at airports, and suddenly TSA wait times in Minneapolis drop to less than five minutes! Called it!!

Billy Binion, a reporter for Reason magazine, called out Boeberts post on X.

You cant make this stuff up!! is a funny way to start this because Lauren Boebert did, in fact, make this stuff up, he wrote. ICE agents are not at the Minneapolis airport, where TSA lines have been consistently quick. We are living in an episode of Veep.

A list of the impacted airports published Monday by CNN did not include the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. According to FOX 9, there also werent any signs of ICE agents at the airport on Monday morning. The Independent has contacted the DHS for more information.

Boebert responded to the journalists post on Tuesday, writing, I never said they were? Keep trying, tho.

ICE agents have been deployed to airports across the U.S. (Getty Images)

ICE agents show up at airports, and suddenly TSA wait times in Minneapolis drop to less than five minutes! Once again: ICE agents aren't in Minneapolis, where wait times were always brief, Binion replied. They didn't drop. Read your own post back to yourself slowly.

Its not your fault. Our schools failed you, Boebert wrote a few minutes later.

Binion then called the exchange embarrassing.

I know were desensitized to this, but its still deeply unserious that many sitting members of Congress spend their taxpayer-funded salaries chasing attention on social media and lobbing juvenile insults at strangers, he wrote.

Others shared similar reactions to Boeberts video, including Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar.

You just made this stuff up, she wrote on X. ICE agents have not been deployed into Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. Our airport security wait times are normally quick and have been throughout the Republican shutdown. Insanity.

CNN reporter Andrew Kaczynski also called out Boeberts post: She did make it up.

What, exactly, did I make up, Andrew? Please be specific, the lawmaker replied.
In this photo released by Belarus' Presidential Press Service, North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, right, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, center, attend an official meeting ceremony in Pyongyang, North Korea, March 25, 2026.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was greeted by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as he arrived on his first visit to the reclusive nation, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Thursday.

A ceremony welcoming Lukashenko took place on Kim Il Sung Square on 25 March, with Kim gladly meeting and warmly welcoming the Belarusian leader, the report said.

The two men signed a cooperation and friendship deal on Thursday, the European state's official media reported.

"Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, signed a treaty of friendship and cooperation," the state news agency Belta reported.

Lukashenko visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun  where the embalmed bodies of Kims father and grandfather lie in state  to pay his respects, flanked by top North Korean officials, KCNA said. He laid a bouquet on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In another event, Lukashenko laid a wreath at the Liberation Tower and observed a moment of silence with Kim in memory of the fallen fighters of the Soviet Army who dedicated their precious lives to the sacred war for Koreas liberation, KCNA said, referring to the end of Japanese colonial rule in 1945 at the close of World War Two.

Photos released by KCNA showed the two leaders greeting each other, with Lukashenko placing a hand on Kims back as they smiled, while North Koreans in the background waved the two countries flags. Another image showed Kim introducing his officials to Lukashenko.

Read moreLukashenko 'not an independent actor: opposition leader Tsikhanouskaya on why Belarus needs Russia

Both nations have provided Moscow assistance in its war in Ukraine, with Pyongyang dispatching ground troops and weapons, and Minsk serving as a launchpad for Russias invasion in 2022. South Korean and Western intelligence agencies have estimated that North Korea has sent thousands of soldiers to Russia, primarily to the Kursk region, along with artillery shells, missiles and rocket systems.

Rights violations

North Korea has been under a barrage of Western sanctions, mostly due to its nuclear weapons programme and missile activity, but also because of its support for Russias war against Ukraine. Analysts say North Korea has received financial aid, military technology, food and energy from Russia in return. President Vladimir Putin visited in 2024.

The support has helped Pyongyang reduce its reliance on its long-time backer, China. International rights groups accuse the North of torture, public executions, forced labour and severe restrictions on freedom of expression and movement.

Lukashenko, for his part, has drawn Minsk deeper into Russias orbit and cracked down on dissent during his three decades in power. The West has imposed heavy sanctions on Belarus over its role in facilitating Russias invasion of Ukraine and its crackdown on protests in 2020.

Belarus has released scores of prisoners in recent months, largely under US pressure, including 250 earlier this month. But it still holds hundreds more, many detained after the 2020 election, widely dismissed by the opposition as rigged.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Manchester United face an uphill battle to reach the Womens Champions League semi-finals after being edged out 3-2 by Bayern Munich at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

United twice levelled after falling behind in the first leg of their last-eight tie but were beaten by an 84th-minute strike from Momoko Tanikawa.

A Maya Le Tissier penalty and Hanna Lundkvists header cancelled out two breakaway goals from Pernille Harder but the hosts were unable to find a third equaliser after Tanikawas fine effort.

United had welcomed back Japans Hinata Miyazawa after her Asian Cup triumph at the weekend but her international team-mate Tanikawa took the final plaudits.

Bayern Munich struck late to take a lead back to Germany (Martin Rickett/PA) (Martin Rickett)

Uniteds evening got off to an horrendous start as former Chelsea forward Harder raced onto a long ball from Arianna Caruso and sped past Le Tissier before prodding past Phallon Tullis-Joyce.

United also scrambled the ball away unconvincingly after Franziska Kett had a shot blocked and nerves were further in evidence when a careless backpass from Millie Turner almost embarrassed Tullis-Joyce.

The English side eventually began to settle and a Jess Park effort was blocked before Julia Zigiotti scooped the rebound over.

The leveller came after Lea Schuller found space in the area and her cut-back was handled by Glodis Viggosdottir. Le Tissier put her early frustration behind her by burying the resulting spot-kick.

Hanna Lundkvist (centre) celebrates scoring Uniteds second goal (Martin Rickett/PA) (Martin Rickett)

United stepped up the pressure and Melvine Malard drove at keeper Ena Mahmutovic and Schuller blasted wide but Bayern went close again through Bernadette Kakounan.

The second half began tamely but burst into life on 71 minutes when Harder timed her run superbly to meet a Tanikawa pass and beat Tullis-Joyce with a low shot.

The goal prompted an immediate response from United and Lundkvist planted a header firmly past Mahmutovic from a set-piece.

Yet parity was not to last and Bayern reclaimed the initiative when substitute Tanikawa curled in a shot after being fed by Kett.
More people could access financial advice under proposals from the City regulator which could make getting guidance more affordable in certain circumstances.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is consulting on how to make it easier for firms to give more simplified forms of advice to consumers, to suit peoples individual needs.

Simplified forms of advice could help consumers with more straightforward needs and would not require a full assessment of all their financial circumstances.

This could make the process more accessible and affordable for people.

An example could be if a client wanted to invest a one-off lump sum into a single investment, the regulator said.

But where the financial situation is more complicated, such as deciding how to draw income in retirement from multiple sources, comprehensive forms of advice would still be likely to be more appropriate, as a firm would need to take account of a wider range of information.

Sarah Pritchard, deputy chief executive of the FCA, said: For too long, the support people need to make important financial decisions has been out of reach for many.

A market that provides good-quality, lower-cost, simplified advice, alongside comprehensive financial advice and targeted support, will better support people making decisions about their financial lives.

We want to see more people getting supported, who arent currently, and a market that innovates and offers tailored services to meet differing consumer needs.

We welcome everyones views on whether our proposals will achieve our aim of building firms confidence to offer a wider range of advice and ultimately to help consumers navigate their financial lives.

The FCA said firms were already able to provide more simplified forms of advice but not many offered it, so to encourage innovation, it was proposing making some tweaks.

These included changes to give firms greater flexibility in how they designed and delivered ongoing advice services. There would be a move from a fixed annual suitability review to periodic reviews based on clients needs.

Qualification standards for advisers would remain unchanged.

From April, some financial firms would also be allowed to offer targeted support and suggest products to consumers based on what they would recommend to those in similar circumstances.

The consultation will close on March 22.

Chris Paskiewicz, policy adviser, conduct regulation at the Association of British Insurers (ABI), said: The FCAs work to simplify the advice rules is a positive step towards closing the advice gap.

Through more proportionate and clear rules, simplified advice should complement targeted support, making it even easier for people to get the help they need with important financial decisions.

Were pleased that the FCA is consulting on simplifying and consolidating the rules, however, by not consulting on the adviser-charging rules the regulator risks limiting how providers and savers could use the service.

Well continue to work with our members to respond to the regulators proposals.
Morgan McSweeneys phone was stolen a month after Lord Mandelson was sacked as US ambassador - Tayfun Salci

The Metropolitan Police closed an investigation into Morgan McSweeneys stolen phone without speaking to him.

The device was reported stolen the month after Lord Mandelson was sacked as US ambassador, and may have contained key evidence about Mr McSweeneys vetting of the peer.

Lord Mandelson was fired last September after fresh evidence emerged of his friendship with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Mr McSweeney, Sir Keir Starmers former chief of staff, reported being mugged on Oct 20 by a man wearing a balaclava on an e-bike.

Scotland Yard detectives did not speak to Mr McSweeney about the phone, which could have contained WhatsApp messages that would shed light on how Lord Mandelson was appointed.

Cover-up claims

Police confirmation of the report of the theft follows claims of a cover-up from Opposition MPs.

Mr McSweeney told the Metropolitan Police that he had his phone snatched as he was returning home from a restaurant in central London, with a man grabbing it from his hand as he was responding to text messages. He tried to give chase but could not catch the thief.

McSweeney dialled 999 and reported the theft, but officers took down the wrong address, and the case was closed after no suspect was identified.

Scotland Yard said on Tuesday night that there had been an error in the initial report and had now reopened the investigation.

The force said: On Monday, 20 October police received a report from a man in his 40s alleging that his phone had been snatched. The incident was recorded as having taken place in Belgrave Street, E1.

A review of the allegation, including a consideration of whether there was available CCTV, did not identify any realistic lines of inquiry. The investigation was subsequently closed.

In the course of responding to a recent media enquiry, we became aware that the address was entered incorrectly at the time of the initial call and should instead have been recorded as Belgrave Road, Pimlico.

Having identified this error, the report will be amended and the assessment of whether there is available evidence revisited.

Morgan McSweeney was a protege of Lord Mandelson - Tayfun Salci

He had also alerted No10s security team to the theft of the phone as it contained high-level political contacts, meaning they could shut it off remotely. But its loss means messages to Lord Mandelson cannot be retrieved.

Mr McSweeney advised Sir Keir to appoint Lord Mandelson as US ambassador despite internal vetting flagging his links to Epstein. The peer was sacked after files published by the US justice department revealed the extent of those links to the disgraced financier.

Last month, MPs voted for a Tory motion forcing Downing Street to publish all the files related to his appointment, including messages.

Ministers confirmed the theft of Mr McSweeneys phone on Sunday, saying it had been taken before Parliament ordered the handover of documents.

The phone was also taken shortly after No10 officials began interviewing witnesses last September as part of an internal investigation into the appointment.

Steve Reed, the Housing Secretary, said: That was a theft that was reported months before the whole Mandelson situation even began. His phone was stolen, he reported it at the time and it was well in advance of anything happening around the Mandelson situation.

The Tories and Reform UK both raised concerns about No10s reluctance to provide any concrete proof that the phone had been stolen.

Morgan McSweeney (right) quit as Sir Keir Starmers former chief of staff in February, saying he took full responsibility for the appointment of Lord Mandelson (left) as US ambassador - Tayfun Salci

Nigel Farage, the Reform leader, told The Telegraph: What a convenient theft for McSweeney. Does No10 think the British public are complete idiots?

Despite the theft, questions remain over why Mr McSweeneys historic messages cannot be retrieved. WhatsApp messages can be backed up online and recovered if a phone is lost or stolen.

Mr McSweeney was also bound by guidance which says he should have made a record of any significant government information on the phone.

The guidance, drawn up under the last Tory government, says such information should be captured into government systems to support accountability.

It is understood that significant information includes submissions of documents and any record of decisions taken via messaging services.

Alex Burghart, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, said questions remained over Mr McSweeneys use of the phone and his record-keeping. He said: Last week the Prime Minister refused to answer the most basic questions about what he did.

This week No10 is refusing to provide even the most basic verifiable details about his chief of staffs phone. This whole business stinks from nose to tail.

The public is entitled to expect proper record-keeping and straight answers, not excuses. The Conservatives brought this issue to light, and we will continue to hold the Government to account until the Mandelson-Epstein files are fully released.

Mr McSweeney is said to have handed over all the messages he can still access to the Cabinet Office.

So far, ministers have published one tranche of papers which revealed Sir Keir ignored warnings from his top aides before appointing Lord Mandelson. A second tranche, which will include WhatsApp messages between Lord Mandelson and senior figures in No10, is set to be released after the Easter recess.

Mr McSweeney, a protege of the peer, quit in February, taking full responsibility for the decision to appoint him despite his links to Epstein.

The stolen phone may have contained key evidence about that process, including messages surrounding Lord Mandelsons vetting and interview for the role.

Before appointing Lord Mandelson in December 2024, Sir Keir asked Mr McSweeney to write to the peer with three questions about his links to Epstein.

The phone was also taken shortly after No10 officials began interviewing witnesses last September as part of an internal investigation into the appointment.

Papers released by the Cabinet Office earlier this month revealed that Mike Ostheimer, the Prime Ministers general counsel, started conducting interviews immediately after Lord Mandelson was sacked.

The Mandelson files included his summaries of calls with Jonathan Powell, the national security adviser, and Matthew Doyle, the former Downing Street director of communications.
Morgan McSweeneys 999 call after phone theft reveals he failed to tell police he was Starmers chief of staff

Morgan McSweeney failed to tell police he worked as Sir Keir Starmers chief of staff when he reported that his phone, suspected to contain private messages with Peter Mandelson, had been stolen.

The revelation comes as the Metropolitan Police took the unusual step of releasing a transcript of the 999 call after concerns that key exchanges regarding Lord Mandelsons appointment as British ambassador to the US have been lost at a time when the government has been instructed by parliament to release all its records and messages on the decision.

Labour MP Karl Turner has blasted Sir Keir Starmers former chief of staff over the alleged theft, saying: The dog ate my homework defence wont wash. Will it? We came to office promising change.

The Metropolitan Police said they would reassess the investigation into the theft after admitting officers recorded the wrong address when he reported the crime.

Morgan McSweeney quit as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmers chief of staff after facing pressure in the Lord Peter Mandelson scandal (PA)

The force stressed that officers and staff were unaware of the callers profession or the sensitive nature of the material potentially stored on the device at the time of the report.

Now, it has been revealed that while Mr McSweeney provided his name, a personal email address, and a home address outside London, he did not give his job title or say that he worked at No 10. He informed the operator that the device was a "government phone" and that he had contacted his office to initiate tracking, but did not say that it contained top-level government material. He also mistakenly gave the location as Belgrave Street, which is in Tower Hamlets, instead of Belgrave Road in Westminster.

This error, uncovered during a media inquiry into the case, led officers to review incorrect CCTV footage and conclude there were no realistic lines of inquiry to pursue. The handling of the case is now under review.

The transcript includes the exchange:

Call handler: Have you got a tracker on the phone at all?

Caller: I do. Its a Government phone.

Later, the document says:

Call handler: So what time did he actually snatch the phone?

Caller: About two minutes before I rung you and I chased, and then I rang my office to get the phone tracked and then I rang you.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has insisted the loss of messages through the theft of Mr McSweeneys phone was a cock-up rather than conspiracy.

Downing Street has been forced by MPs to release tens of thousands of documents amid questions over what was known about Lord Mandelsons links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein before he was handed the Washington job.

Mr McSweeney quit Downing Street last month, with many having blamed him for pushing the appointment of Lord Mandelson.

In the course of the call, Morgan McSweeney gives his name, a personal email address and a home address outside London, and he says the device is a Government phone and that he has called his office to get it tracked. (Getty)

The theft of the phone in October means that his messages with Lord Mandelson cannot be examined. But Mr Streeting on Wednesday said Mr McSweeney couldnt have known the exchanges would later be needed for scrutiny.

The senior minister told Times Radio: I can totally understand the cynicism in these sorts of cases, but do bear in mind that when his phone was stolen, it was reported to the police at the time.

He couldnt at that stage have known that Parliament would ask for the publication of all messages in the way that they have in quite an unprecedented way.

Yes, sometimes in politics, things can be explained as a result of conspiracy. In other times, more often than not, it is a result of cock-up rather than conspiracy.

Concerns have also been raised over the fact that Mr McSweeneys phone was not backed up, despite government guidance being that senior officials must forward or screenshot messages onto an official system, and that they are responsible for protecting personal data from accidental loss.

Mr Streeting said: I suspect that off the back of this, there will be a reiteration of the expectations on ministers, special advisers and officials so that people are clear on the rules and expectations. People will want to tighten up on those fronts, inevitably.

The Prime Ministers former top aide reported having his phone stolen in central London in October, meaning his messages with Lord Mandelson cannot be examined (Getty)

The senior minister also said he used WhatsApps disappearing messages function, stressing that when he receives messages, he relays the information on to the Department of Health and Social Care.

He added: We also publish transparency returns in terms of the meetings that we have, including meetings with journalists. There are standards of transparency and accountability. Those things matter.

The Cabinet Office does have some of the messages between Mr McSweeney and Lord Mandelson, it is understood.

Lord Mandelson, a political appointment rather than a career diplomat, was sacked from his Washington role in September last year over his links with Epstein, who died in 2019. He has since been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over claims he leaked confidential government documents with the disgraced financier when he was business secretary under Gordon Brown.

The first tranche of documents related to the peers appointment was published earlier this month, with more to follow.

Some material is expected to be withheld either because it relates to a police investigation into allegations of misconduct in public office, or because Parliaments Intelligence and Security Committee believes it could jeopardise national security or diplomatic relations.
Annalee Schott took her own life at 18

Meta and Google have been found liable for a womans childhood social media addiction in a landmark ruling against the tech giants.

The case, in Los Angeles, involved a 20-year-old woman who said she became addicted to social media apps at a young age because of their attention-grabbing design.

The claimants said that Instagram and Facebook, owned by Meta, and YouTube, owned by Google, rewired how our kids think, feel, and behave.

In the last decade, large technology companies have faced mounting criticism over childrens safety online. The ruling could open the door to similar cases being brought against other social media firms.

On Wednesday, the jury at the Los Angeles County superior court delivered its verdict, saying that both Meta and YouTube were negligent.

Avery and Lori Schott, Annalees parents - Reuters

The jury foreman said the claimant, known as KGM, should be paid $3m (2.2m) in damages after winning the case. He added that Meta should take 70 per cent responsibility for KGMs harm and Google 30 per cent.

Snapchat and TikTok were also defendants in the trial. Both settled with the claimant before it began. Terms of the agreements were not disclosed.

Accountability has arrived

After the verdict was announced, a Meta spokesman said: We respectfully disagree with the verdict and are evaluating our legal options.

A Google spokesman said: We disagree with the verdict and plan to appeal.

The claimants lead counsel said in a statement: Todays verdict is a referendum  from a jury to an entire industry  that accountability has arrived.

Families who lost loved ones to suicide gathered outside the court to hear the verdict - EPA

Appearing before the jury in February, Mark Zuckerberg, Metas chief executive, denied that his companys apps targeted children.

He said this despite having been shown an internal Instagram presentation that said: If we want to win big with teens, we must bring them in as tweens.

Mark Lanier, a lawyer for KGM, told Mr Zuckerberg: And yet you say that we would never do that.

Mr Zuckerberg claimed Meta had introduced proactive tools to try to identify and remove accounts used by children under 13, but called it a challenging problem because children lie about their age.

At one point, Mr Laniers team unfurled a large banner showing thousands of selfies KGM had posted to her Instagram account.

The display stretched across the courtroom. Mr Lanier urged Mr Zuckerberg to view the images, as he explained that KGM had spent her adolescence posting swathes of content to the platform.

KGM claimed she started using YouTube aged six and Instagram aged nine, becoming addicted to the social media apps and suffering from mental health problems.

Avery and Lori Schott, whose daughter Annalee took her own life at the age of 18, were among the parents watching the progress of the five-week trial. The couple say Annalees mind was warped by an addiction to social media.

Mark Zuckerberg, Metas chief executive, gave evidence at the trial - Getty Images

During the early stages of the case, the Duke of Sussex addressed some of the bereaved families who were mounting the legal challenge. Following a days court proceedings, he thanked a group of around 50 of them for telling your stories over and over again.

Prince Harry said: Ive been in some similar situations myself  vastly different  but when youre sitting in court and if you have that feeling of just overwhelming emotion, because you cant believe [what the other side is saying], it is totally normal.

Last year, the Duke and his wife, the Duchess of Sussex, launched a campaign to strengthen protections for children from the dangers of social media.

On Wednesday night, the Sussexes said: This verdict is a reckoning. For too long, families have paid the price for platforms built with total disregard for the children they reach.

We stand with every parent and young person who refused to be silenced. Today, the truth has been heard and precedent has been set. Let this be the change - where our childrens safety is finally prioritised above profit.

In December, Australia became the first country in the world to ban children under 16 from using social media sites including TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and Threads.

Britain is considering following suit and launched a consultation earlier this month on whether to implement a ban for under-16s.

Avery and Lori Schott, pictured with the Duke of Sussex, have claimed their daughter was warped by an addiction to social media

Sir Keir Starmer is facing pressure from MPs across the chamber to introduce such a ban. More than 60 Labour MPs wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister in January, saying that successive governments had done too little to protect young people from ... unregulated, addictive social media platforms.

Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, has said her party would introduce an under-16s social media ban if it won power.

France, Spain, Denmark and Austria have announced that they are considering their own national age limits.

Lord Nash, a Conservative peer who has spearheaded calls for an Australian-style ban in Britain, said more social media companies will face court action.

He told the House of Lords: Only minutes ago, in a court in Los Angeles, they found that Meta and Google were negligent and intentionally built addictive social media, after a 20-year-old woman said her early use of social media made her addicted and depression worse.

And this comes after a court in New Mexico found that Meta is harmful to childrens mental health and fined them $375m. And these cases will likely influence hundreds of similar cases now winding their way through the US courts.

The jury in New Mexico ruled after seeing evidence of more than 75,000 violations across Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

It also determined that the tech company knowingly harmed childrens mental health, while claiming it was working to protect it.

The jurys verdict is a historic victory for every child and family who has paid the price for Metas choice to put profits over kids safety, said General Raul Torrez, a New Mexico Attorney.

Meta executives knew their products harmed children, disregarded warnings from their own employees, and lied to the public about what they knew.

Another trial is set to begin in Los Angeles in July involving Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat.
Meta and YouTube have been found liable on all seven counts in a landmark trial in Los Angeles that could shape the future of social media in the U.S.

The verdict comes a day after a similar verdict was reached on a case in New Mexico, where a jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million for violating consumer protection laws.

In the Los Angeles case, a jury awarded the 20-year-old plaintiff, identified as Kaley or KGM in court documents, $3 million in compensatory damages. After more than 40 hours of deliberation across nine days, California jurors decided that Meta and YouTube were negligent in the design or operation of their platforms and that this negligence was a substantial factor in causing harm to Kaley, AP News reports.

The jury specifically found that the companies knew their platform designs were dangerous for minors and failed to provide adequate warnings about those risks. Kaley testified that her use of social media as a child, starting with YouTube at age 6 and Instagram at age 9, addicted her to the technology and exacerbated her mental health struggles.

The multimillion-dollar verdict is expected to grow, as the jury decided the companies acted with malice, or highly egregious conduct, meaning the trial will now move into a second phase to determine punitive damages.

Meta found liable in a social media addiction trial in Los Angeles (Getty)

Meta and Google-owned YouTube were the two remaining defendants in this case. TikTok and Snap, the other defendants, settled before the trial began.

We respectfully disagree with the verdict and are evaluating our legal options, Meta said in a statement to AP.

Lawyers representing Kaley, led by Mark Lanier, pointed to specific design features they said were intended to hook young users, such as the infinite nature of feeds, autoplay features and notifications. While the defense argued that Kaleys struggles were tied to her home life and that they provide safety guardrails, the jury focused on whether the platforms designs were a substantial factor in her harm.

This case is considered historic as the first of its kind to reach a verdict. Its outcome could affect thousands of similar lawsuits filed against social media companies.

This is a breaking news story and is being updated
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Controversial MAGA lawmaker Nancy Mace is asking President Trump to remove Sen. Lindsey Graham from the Situation Room as the war in Iran rages on.

Mace claimed that her fellow Republican "brags about" advising the president on his aggressive war strategy.

Graham spoke to Trump at the White House and also visited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel several times in recent months  reportedly to make the case for war against Iran, even coaching Netanyahu on how to lobby Trump for the war.

On Wednesday, Mace was interviewed on CNN, where she responded to a clip of Graham urging Trump to seize Irans Kharg Island, the country's primary oil hub.

Representative Nancy Mace has stormed out of a House Armed Services hearing and said Washingtons 'war machine' is trying to put boots on the ground in Iran (Getty Images)

In the clip, Graham told Fox News: So heres what Id tell President Trump. Keep it up for a few more weeks. Take Kharg Island  where [there are] all of the resources they have to produce oil  control that island. Let this regime die on a vine We got two Marine expeditionary units sailing to this island. We did Iwo Jima. We can do this.

Mace said, Seven thousand Marines died on the black sands of Iwo Jima, adding, I want President Trump to take Lindsey Graham out of the situation room."

Host Laura Coates then asked her: Is he advising the president?

He brags about it, Mace responded. And I dont think Lindsey Graham, for all of that hubris, has thought through or wargamed the consequences of us taking Kharg Island.

Mace said on CNN, Seven thousand Marines died on the black sands of Iwo Jima, adding, I want President Trump to take Lindsey Graham out of the situation rooM (AP)

Trump has faced pushback from prominent members of his MAGA base for the war, including from media personalities Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly.

On Wednesday, Mace stormed out of a House Armed Services hearing and claimed Washingtons war machine is trying to put boots on the ground in Iran.

The South Carolina Republican also took to social media to rage against President Donald Trumps war in the Middle East, which is now in its fourth week of conflict.

Just walked out of a House Armed Services briefing on Iran. Let me repeat: I will not support troops on the ground in Iran, even more so after this briefing, she wrote on X.

Mace compared the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, which began more than three weeks ago, with the Iraq War. The Iraq War lasted from 2003 to 2011.

Washingtons war machine is hard at work. They are try to drag us into Iran to make it another Iraq. We cant let them, she wrote.

Trump had campaigned during the 2024 election on an America First platform, which typically means putting the interests of Americans ahead of foreign affairs.

During his election victory speech, Trump said, Im not going to start a war. Im going to stop wars.

The South Carolina Republican took to social media to rage against President Donald Trumps war against Iran, which is in its fourth week (AFP via Getty Images)

Mace claimed lawmakers were given different reasons for the war than were publicly announced.

The justifications presented to the American public for the war in Iran were not the same military objectives we were briefed on today in the House Armed Services Committee.

This gap is deeply troubling. The longer this war continues, the faster it will lose the support of Congress and the American people, the congresswoman wrote on X.

Trump has claimed Iran posed an imminent threat to Americans due to its nuclear ambitions and development of long-range missiles. But his former director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent, who resigned over the war, claimed Iran posed no imminent threat to the U.S.

Trump had campaigned during the 2024 election on an 'America First' platform, which means putting the interests of Americans ahead of foreign affairs (Getty Images)

A recent The Economist/YouGov poll found just 33 percent of Americans believe the war is justified, and 47 percent believe it is not.

The Pentagon has already ordered about 2,000 troops from the Armys 82nd Airborne Division to begin moving to the Middle East to help with the war, The New York Times reported Tuesday, citing defense officials.

Its unclear where the paratroopers will go in the region.

The deployment of the 82nd Airborne Division is in addition to the thousands of Marines traveling to the Middle East.
Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar were killed by Valdo Calocane in June 2023. Photograph: Nottinghamshire Police/PA (Photograph: Nottinghamshire Police/PA)

The father of a university student killed while trying to protect her friend from Valdo Calocane in Nottingham told an inquiry it is disgusting the stabbing victims were tested for drugs and alcohol but their killer was not.

Sanjoy Kumar, Grace OMalley-Kumars father, said he could not understand why the diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic had not been tested for drugs while in custody after the attacks.

OMalley-Kumar, 19, and her friend Barnaby Webber were both stabbed to death in the early hours of 13 June 2023 in Ilkeston Road after going on a night out.

Calocane then killed caretaker Ian Coates, 65, before running over three pedestrians with a stolen van.

Dr Kumar said he and his wife, Dr Sinead OMalley, had to sign human tissue forms he had never encountered during his work as a GP and a forensic medical examiner with the Metropolitan police, or their daughters body would not be released to them.

He told the judge-led Nottingham inquiry on Wednesday: You had to sign them, but what was not highlighted was that this is a point in time where you are also signing to say that samples could be taken. That was absolutely not pointed out.

They took samples from our children to test for drugs and alcohol. I was really struck by that being really quite disgusting.

Our children were tested, but the culprit wasnt and, from there on in, in terms of previous interactions and mental health, that was not made into a big thing at all, that was a flyaway comment.

Dr Kumar added he just couldnt understand that a hair sample was not taken while Calocane was in custody, adding, It may have proved nothing but it may have proved everything.

The father said from his experience, he knew a hair sample to test for drugs did not require Calocanes consent.

Retired Nottinghamshire police DS Leigh Sanders previously apologised to bereaved families during the inquiry for a decision not to take a hair sample to test the perpetrator for possible drug use.

But the ex-officer said a sample of hair would not be able to provide analysis that showed drugs or alcohol in the system at a specific time or date.

Dr Kumar said: If youre a detective of any description at all, and I think every detective watching this is going to agree, if you are here to detect crime, that means forensics is really important.

And a basic part of that forensics is head hair.

Dr Kumar said it is obvious that if Calocane, who was the subject of a warrant after assaulting a police officer, had been arrested before the attacks, there would have been a different outcome.

He said: The analogy I use with VC (Valdo Calocane) is that VC was like an oil tanker who crashed into our children and Ian. A one-degree change in his course, he could have ended up in a different continent.

He added: If hed missed our children, he wouldve hit someone elses.

Webbers parents told the inquiry in central London they will never forgive the police after officers accessed footage from the attacks and sent WhatsApp messages about their sons injuries.

His mother, Emma Webber, described one message as disgusting and grotesque.

David Webber, the students father, said: And it does seem to me that, again, in this case, my son, who was the victim here, his privacy was not taken into consideration.

Calocane, who admitted to manslaughter and attempted murder, is detained indefinitely in a high-security hospital after prosecutors accepted his not guilty pleas to murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility in January 2024.

The inquiry, chaired by retired senior judge Deborah Taylor KC, continues.
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The Government should temporarily stop political parties being allowed to accept cryptocurrency donations, a review of foreign financial interference has recommended.

Former top civil servant Philip Rycroft urged ministers to legislate for a moratorium in its Representation of the People Bill going through Parliament.

This should be seen not as a prelude to an outright and permanent ban but an interlude for regulation to catch up to reality, he wrote in his report.

The recommendations in Philip Rycrofts report come amid concerns that digital currencies could obscure the source of funding (PA/PA Archive)

His recommendations come amid concerns that digital currencies could be used to hide where funding has come from.

Mr Rycroft also proposed an annual cap on donations from British voters living abroad and a ban on foreign-funded online political ads.

Attempts to use financial influence to infiltrate politics by gaining leverage and sowing division and distrust are not new but arguably more acute, Mr Rycroft noted.

He said he was not pressing the panic button but ringing the alarm bell on the issue and urged the Government to act swiftly on his recommendations.

The Government should legislate in the Representation of the People Bill to introduce a moratorium on political donations made in crypto assets, he wrote.

Few parties accept crypto donations, but Reform UK is the most prominent to do so.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Rycroft said he had spoken to Nigel Farages party while compiling the report.

Asked about the prospect of Reform feeling targeted by the crypto recommendation, he said: I wasnt here to look out for the interests of any political party, I was here to look out for the interest of our democratic processes.

The publication of Mr Rycrofts report on Wednesday comes amid heightened fears about political meddling by hostile states.

The review was commissioned in December last year following a series of high-profile cases of attempts by foreign states to influence UK politics, including the jailing of Reforms former Welsh leader Nathan Gill for taking bribes to make pro-Russian statements.

Former leader of Reform UK in Wales Nathan Gill was jailed for taking bribes to make pro-Russian statements (PA) (James Manning)

Mr Rycroft wrote in the report that foreign interference in our politics is real and persistent, with the UK a target for espionage from Russia, China and Iran.

He even pointed to the risk emanating from Donald Trumps US.

He said: Separately, beyond these hostile state threats, I am also cognisant of a potential new threat: an emerging willingness of foreign actors and private citizens, including from allies like the United States, to interfere in, and influence, politics abroad in pursuit of their own agenda.

The UK is already experiencing information warfare and our defences are worryingly weak, Mr Rycroft warned.

His report said foreign actors are subverting the debate on social media to exacerbate division and increase polarisation with a view simply to destroying the capacity of the UK to function as a wellgoverned state.

Fake accounts and bots can push large quantities of disinformation, representing a new and relatively cheap way for foreign states and non-state actors to interfere with the democratic process of other countries, Mr Rycroft noted.

If relentless exposure to disinformation on social media persuades even a small proportion of the UK population that our politics is irretrievably broken, the risk grows rapidly that some will seek to resolve their discontents by extra-political action, he wrote.

Liberal Democrats Cabinet spokeswoman Lisa Smart said: Nathan Gill was happy to stuff his pockets with Russian bribes and it looks like Nigel Farage has shown no remorse whatsoever.

Reform taking untraceable secretive crypto donations to fund their Trump-style politics here in the UK should never have been allowed.

Farage must return all the crypto donations hes received from anonymous overseas sources or admit hes happy to let foreign sources of money poison our politics in the UK.
Pete Hegseth prays for violence against those who deserve no mercy while hosting first Christian service

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth led his first monthly Christian worship service at the Pentagon since the Iran war began on Wednesday, praying for "every round to find its mark" against the nations adversaries.

The service, livestreamed to a wider audience, saw Hegseth tell gathered civilian employees and military personnel that it was "all the more fitting this month, at this moment, given what tens of thousands of Americans are doing right now."

During the service, Hegseth read a prayer he attributed to a military chaplain, stating, "Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation. Give them wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy."

He also quoted from the Psalms, declaring, "I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and did not turn back till they were consumed."

Hegseth frequently invokes his evangelical faith as head of the armed forces, often portraying the United States as a Christian nation seeking to vanquish foes through military might.

Hegseth also decided military chaplains will go by religious insignia, not rank, under new Pentagon guidance (AP)

His Christian rhetoric has drawn renewed scrutiny amid the expanding Iran war and global conflicts, particularly given his past defense of the Crusades, the brutal medieval wars between Christians and Muslims.

While expressions of faith are common in American public life, Hegseth often goes beyond standard calls for divine blessing. Last week, he asked Americans to pray for service members "in the name of Jesus Christ," a practice he repeated on Wednesday.

Ronit Stahl, author of "Enlisting Faith: How the Military Chaplaincy Shaped Religion and State in Modern America" and a historian at the University of California at Berkeley, noted that while broad religious language is not unusual, "the shift towards the specificity of Jesus Christ and therefore Christianity and in Hegseths case, a particular form of Protestant Christianity, is new, especially coming from the defense secretary."

Stahl questioned the implications for a nation with no established religion, asking, "what does it mean to have a leader being not just broadly religious or religious in a pluralistic sense, but religious in a very particular sense?"

Advocacy group files lawsuit

Hegseth is a member of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), a conservative network co-founded by self-described Christian nationalist Doug Wilson. CREC pastors, including Wilson, have preached at Hegseths Pentagon services multiple times.

A lawsuit was filed Monday by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, challenging the services. The advocacy group also filed a similar suit against the Labor Department, where Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer hosts monthly prayer gatherings reportedly inspired by Hegseth. The lawsuit seeks to enforce a public records request from December, demanding internal Pentagon communications regarding the worship services, their costs, guests, and any employee complaints.

Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United, alleged in a statement: "Secretaries Hegseth and Chavez-DeRemer are abusing the power of their government positions and taxpayer-funded resources to impose their preferred religion on federal workers. Even if these prayer services are presented as voluntary, there is pressure on federal employees to attend in order to appease their bosses."

Making the chaplain corps great again

Military chaplains typically provide worship services within the defense department, ministering from their specific traditions while offering spiritual care to troops of any faith or none. Hegseth announced two reforms on Tuesday, which he described as "making the chaplain corps great again."

He stated his desire for chaplains to focus more on God and less on therapeutic "self-help and self-care," despite the militarys increasing reliance on chaplains to address growing mental health distress among troops.

In a video message, Hegseth also announced that chaplains would no longer wear their rank on their uniform, instead being identified by religious insignia. He argued this change would remove "unease or anxiety" service members might feel about approaching officers for spiritual care. Additionally, he revealed that the military is reducing the number of recognized faith codes, or religious affiliations, from over 200 to 31.

This reduction eliminates many small Protestant denominations, as well as identifications for Wiccans, atheists, and agnostics. The Pentagon did not respond to requests for more information about these changes, and the updated list of religious affiliation codes has not yet been released.

The military is religiously diverse; a 2019 congressional report indicated that nearly 70% of troops identify as Christian, while nearly a quarter were listed as "other/unclassified/unknown," with smaller percentages of atheists/agnostics, Jews, Muslims, and adherents of Eastern religions.

A turning point in Hegseth's faith

At Wednesdays worship service, Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins, an Air Force chaplain and Southern Baptist pastor, delivered a message on overcoming fear and following Jesus. Collins, a former congressman, continued a pattern of only evangelicals presiding at Hegseths services.

Hegseth began hosting worship at the Pentagon in May 2025, with his Tennessee pastor, Brooks Potteiger, preaching. Potteiger is set to relocate to Washington, D.C., to lead Christ Church DC, a new CREC congregation that Hegseth has attended.

Raised Baptist, Hegseth has stated that he experienced a turning point in his faith in 2018, after which he began attending an evangelical church in New Jersey whose pastor preached at the Pentagon last year. He and his wife later moved to a Nashville suburb to enroll their children in a classical Christian school affiliated with the CREC, and began attending Potteigers CREC church, Pilgrim Hill Reformed Fellowship.

Hegseth addressed his Pentagon worship services at a gathering of Christian broadcasters in February, remarking, "We mostly do it because I need it more than anybody else." He added, "We hear a lot from the freedom from religion crowd. They hate it. The left-wing shrieks, which means were right over the target."
A mothballed carbon dioxide plant is to be reopened with a Government grant of up to 100 million amid fears of shortages caused by the Iran war.

Business Secretary Peter Kyle signed off the grant to reopen the Ensus plant on Teesside, according to the Financial Times.

It is understood the grant will pay to get the plant up and running again for an initial three-month period.

The Ensus plant on Teesside was mothballed last year (Ensus/PA) (Ensus)

The plant was mothballed last year after a trade deal with the US cut tariffs on bioethanol, its main product.

It will be reopened due to its ability to produce CO2 as a by-product. The gas is vital for several sectors, including drinks and the nuclear industry, but supply has been disrupted thanks to soaring energy costs on other sources such as fertiliser factories.

The grant for the Ensus plant is the first major intervention by the UK Government aimed at tackling possible shortages caused by the Iran conflict.

But fears range much wider than CO2, with former BP executive Nick Butler telling Times Radio the UK could face oil and gas shortages in two to three weeks.

He said: There will be shortages and I think the Government now should be seriously planning how theyre going to handle that and part of that is maximising supply.

(PA Graphics)

On Tuesday, Shell chief executive Wael Sawan issued a similar warning at an industry conference.

Ministers continue to insist the supply of petrol remains reliable.

Energy minister Michael Shanks told MPs on Wednesday the Government was absolutely not planning for blackouts or petrol rationing, insisting the UK had a strong and diverse range of supplies.

The key question remains how long Irans effective blockade of the vital Strait of Hormuz will last.

On Thursday, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will urge Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as she travels to the G7 Foreign Ministers meeting in France.

She will make clear that the UK will help ensure safe passage for ships through the strait and provide an additional 2m in humanitarian aid to Lebanon.

Ms Cooper is expected to hold talks with counterparts, including US secretary of state Marco Rubio, Frances Jean-Noel Barrot, and Germanys Johann Wadephul.

The strait remained closed on Wednesday evening, despite Irans foreign minister Abbas Araghchi claiming it was open to non-hostile shipping.

(PA Graphics) (PA Graphics)

The conflict continued with Washington saying it would hit Iran harder if Tehran refused to accept it had been defeated militarily.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt insisted productive talks were continuing between Washington and Tehran.

But Mr Araghchi said in a message on his Telegram channel, translated from Farsi, that there had been no negotiations or discussions with the American side and suggested the US had effectively admitted defeat.

He said: Didnt they talk about unconditional surrender before? What happened now that they are talking about negotiations and calling for them?

I will explain that there are no negotiations, but the fact that they are mobilising their highest officials to negotiate with the Islamic Republic indicates their acceptance of defeat.
The study is said to provide important evidence to guide reconstructive planning for patients who are likely to need radiotherapy. Photograph: Coolpicture/Getty Images (Photograph: Coolpicture/Getty Images)

Women with breast cancer who have reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy are much less likely to have complications if they have a polyurethane-coated implant, according to research.

About 55,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK every year, of whom about 30% have a mastectomy. Many of these will subsequently have radiotherapy.

Many women opt to have reconstructive surgery. But hard, painful scar tissue can form around the implant, especially if they have had radiotherapy.

Research shows that radiotherapy after mastectomy and breast reconstruction is associated with a higher risk of complications and additional surgery. But until now there has been limited real-world evidence about whether the type of implant can influence the risk of scarring.

A new study has shown that polyurethane-coated implants reduce scarring and the need for further surgery. The implants are made of silicone, but have a spongy outer layer made of polyurethane.

European scientists studied about 1,500 women in 15 countries who were treated for breast cancer between 2016 and 2024 and had a mastectomy, followed by reconstruction with a breast implant and subsequently radiotherapy. A third of the women received a polyurethane-coated implant, while just under 1,000 did not.

The study then tracked the womens health for two-and-a-half to three years. Preliminary findings, presented at the European Breast Cancer Conference in Barcelona, showed that those who had a polyurethane-coated implant were significantly less likely to develop hardened scar tissue, called capsular contracture.

One-third of women (32.8%) who had a polyurethane-coated implant developed capsular contracture, compared with nearly half (47.5%) of patients who received standard implants. They were also less likely to need secondary surgery to remove the scar tissue or to have a major infection in the breast.

Dr Kerstin Wimmer, a surgeon at the Medical University of Vienna, said: Our study suggests that women who received polyurethane-coated implants had far fewer problems after radiotherapy than those who received standard implants.

The results suggest that the type of implant used may have a major impact on the risk of complications after radiotherapy, and provide important evidence to guide reconstructive planning for patients who are likely to need radiotherapy, she added.

Prof Isabel Rubio, Head of Breast Surgical Oncology at the Clinica Universidad de Navarra in Madrid, said the findings could help improve patient comfort, aesthetic outcomes and overall quality of life.

As we continue to move towards more personalised breast cancer care, evidence like this is valuable in guiding implant selection and treatment planning, she said. The ultimate goal is not only to treat the cancer effectively, but also to minimise long-term side effects and enhance recovery for patients.

Catherine Priestley, senior clinical nurse specialist at Breast Cancer Now, said comparing how compatible different implants are with radiotherapy in terms of the risk of complications is extremely important.

It can help women make more informed and personalised choices, helping them to live better following breast cancer treatment, she said.

We know how emotionally and physically difficult it is for women to go through further procedures when they are already adjusting to breast cancer treatment or to changes to their body after surgery.

Sarah Downey, president of the Association of Breast Surgery, said: Breast implants continue to be an important option for many patients undergoing reconstruction, which can help to restore confidence and offer the potential for an improved quality of life. We look forward to further research in this area.
It was pretty clear to everyone watching where the real power lies, and it is not in No 10 - House of Commons

Sir Keir Starmer is a human rights lawyer who has failed to recognise that he is now a politician running the government of the country.

He is so in thrall to the judicial process that he cannot see where the national interest lies, as seen with his bizarre and ill-starred decision to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

This fixation with procedure was on full display during Prime Ministers Questions in the Commons, the last before the Easter recess. He was asked by Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, to remove the moratorium on drilling new wells in the North Sea for oil and gas.

The urgency of this decision could hardly be greater. The war in the Gulf has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz through which 40 per cent of the worlds oil and gas supplies are transported. We face huge price rises and potential shortages.

The importance to the UK of securing as much of its own oil and gas as possible cannot be in doubt to anyone except the Prime Minister and his single-minded Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.

There are two fields in the UK sector where exploration could be up and running by the end of the year if licenses were granted by the Government. But there is a freeze on new permissions. Sir Keir said it was not within his competence to lift the ban because the decision was the quasi-judicial responsibility of Mr Miliband.

However, the Prime Minister was not being asked to do this personally but as the head of a government of which the Energy Secretary is a member. Were the Cabinet to insist that Mr Miliband exercised his quasi-judicial powers to grant the licences he would have no option but to do so or resign. Perhaps the Prime Minister fears he will do just that, further undermining Sir Keirs crumbling credibility.

To watch the PM become bogged down in legalese to avoid making a decision critical to the nations well-being was alarming. He is not being asked to break the law but to require the Energy Secretary to accept what is in the countrys best interests.

Mrs Badenoch asked whether it was the Prime Minister running the Government or Mr Miliband, a former party leader rejected by the electorate in 2015.

It was pretty clear to everyone watching, including Labour backbenchers who must be dreading the May local elections, where the real power lies, and it is not in No 10. No wonder Sir Keir had his head in his hands.
Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, speaks to reporters outside on Capitol Hill on 21 March. Photograph: Tom Brenner/AP (Photograph: Tom Brenner/AP)

The Senate remained deadlocked on Wednesday over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), after Republicans proposed legislation that would restart all of its operations with the exception of those involved in deportations, but exclude reforms that Democrats want.

The Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, quickly shot down the offer, and said Democrats had countered with a measure that coupled DHS funding with a host of new guardrails on immigration enforcement operations  something the party has insisted on for months.

But that gained no traction with the GOP. Get serious, folks, the Senate majority leader, John Thune, said, in response to the Democrats counteroffer.

The standoff seems likely to prolong the partial government shutdown, which began in mid-February after Democrats refused to approve funding for the department overseeing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), border patrol and other agencies involved in Donald Trumps mass deportation push, without reforms demanded in response to the deaths of two US citizens in Minneapolis at the hands of federal agents.

The funding lapse has led to lengthy lines at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints at some major airports, including including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta international airport and George Bush intercontinental airport in Houston, prompting the president to this week deploy ICE agents in a bid to relieve congestion.

Schumer has sought to place the blame on Republicans for the travel chaos, saying its most recent proposal disrupted talks that had been nearing a compromise.

We thought there had been some progress. Then Republicans sent us their offer yesterday, and it contained none of what we talked about, none of the reforms we had been discussing, Schumer said on the Senate floor.

So if anyone is slowing down negotiation and hurting TSA workers, it is the Republican leadership, who did not include one single reform.

The Republican proposal would restart funding to all of DHS with the exception of ICEs enforcement and removal operations, which plays a key role in deporting people from the United States. Democrats blocked the measure from proceeding on Wednesday afternoon in a largely party line vote, with Pennsylvania senator John Fetterman being the sole member of the minority to support it.

Earlier in the day, Lindsey Graham, the chair of the Senate budget committee, announced that Senate Republicans would begin work on a reconciliation bill, which could enact some of the Trump administrations spending policies while avoiding a filibuster by Democratic senators.

Without providing details, he signaled that the bill could contain funding for the components of ICE left out of the funding negotiations, as well as for Trumps military campaign against Iran. Portions of the Save America Act, which would impose a host of new identification requirements on voters registering and casting ballots, may also be included.

The purpose of the second reconciliation bill is to make sure there is adequate funding to secure our homeland and to support our men and women in the military who are fighting so bravely, Graham wrote on X.

I also think we have many opportunities to improve voter integrity through reconciliation, Graham wrote.

It remains unclear how much the Trump administration will seek to continue its hostilities against Iran. Democratic senator Tim Kaine, who attended a classified briefing held by administration officials on Wednesday, said that a figure of $200bn was discussed, but the Pentagon has yet to make a formal funding request.

A second reconciliation bill has been discussed for months in the Capitol, after Republicans last year used the procedure to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which funded Trumps crackdown on undocumented immigrants, instituted an array of tax cuts and made major changes to eligibility for Medicaid.

The partial shutdown has not affected ICEs involvement in Trumps immigration crackdown, because the agencys deportation operations received tens of billions of dollars in funding under the OBBBA.

The GOP is likely to face its own challenges in seeing through a second reconciliation bill. The partys right wing, with Trumps encouragement, has made passage of the Save America act a priority, but Democratic opposition means it has no pathway out of the Senate.

The Utah senator Mike Lee acknowledged that there was no way to get the measure passed under the reconciliation procedure, which requires bills address only spending, revenue and the debt limit.

Itd be great [if] Save America fit within the rigid definition of budgetary for purposes of budget reconciliation, Lee wrote on X. But it doesnt.

We need to keep debating SAVE America until it passes, he added.

Meanwhile, Republican controls the House of Representatives by a mere one seat, with three seats vacant, allowing any objectors to Trumps war with Iran to wield outsize power over the bill.

The GOP nonetheless sought to keep the pressure on Democrats, with the House homeland security committee on Wednesday convening a hearing to explore the impacts of the shutdown on the DHS and subagencies including the Coast Guard, TSA and the Federal Emergency Management Administration (Fema).

Ha Nguyen McNeill, the acting administrator of the TSA, said that her agencys employees had missed $1bn in paychecks because of the shutdown.

Many in our workforce have missed bill payments, received eviction notices, had their cars repossessed and utilities shut off, lost their childcare, defaulted on loans, damaged their credit line and drained their retirement savings, she said.

Some are sleeping in their cars, selling their blood and plasma and taking on second jobs to make ends meet.

Before this most recent shutdown, only 4% of TSA employees would not report to work. Now, McNeill said that multiple major airports are experiencing days where 40% to 50% of their staff are calling out because they cannot afford to work without pay.

The Democratic ranking member on the House homeland security committee, Bennie Thompson, meanwhile condemned Trump for sending ICE agents to airports, saying that the agents are not trained to do TSAs job.

We see images of ICE agents standing around or walking through terminals doing nothing to reduce the lines at security checkpoints, while TSA personnel continue to do their jobs without pay because Republicans refuse to vote for legislation to fund TSA, Thompson said.
More than a year after the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles County history tore through the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, residents of a luxury Altadena community are facing a new crisis  a $23,614 homeowners association (HOA) bill and just 34 days to pay it.

The Eaton fire, one of two enormous blazes that ignited on 7 January 2025, killed at least 31 people and destroyed nearly 17,000 structures across the region.

In La Vina, a gated community on the northwest edge of Altadena, 52 of its 272 homes were entirely lost. More than 70 per cent are now being rebuilt, with repairs to shared spaces also underway.

Cleared residential lots in Altadena, California, following the Eaton fire, with the San Gabriel Mountains in the background (AFP/Getty)

But despite this progress, the special assessment by the HOA and the bill it comes with has triggered a bitter feud in the community, pitting neighbor against neighbor and prompting litigation against residents whose homes burned to the ground, the LA Times reports.

The HOA announced the fee on 29 July 2025, giving homeowners until 1 September that year to pay. Those who missed the deadline faced late fees, 12 per cent annual interest, and the threat of a lien  making the properties legally-binding collateral even if the homes themselves no longer existed.

Now, the HOA has reportedly followed through, filing a lawsuit seeking foreclosure on the empty lot of a resident whose home was destroyed.

Its trouble in paradise, said resident Ryan Harmon, who is leading local opposition to the HOA bill. Harmons home was damaged by smoke, and he has been living in a rental since the fire. He said he was branded a troublemaker simply for asking questions.

Ive created enemies, he said. The fire brought everyone together until that HOA letter went out.

The Independent has attempted to contact the HOA for comment. The LA Times said it had approached multiple times with no response.

The Eaton Fire caused widespread devastation (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Where the money is going?

According to the HOA presentation, the special assessment is needed to cover $6.4m in damages not covered by the HOA's disaster insurance.

The bill reportedly includes $2.2 million for irrigation, $1.8 million for fencing, $1.5 million for replanting shrubs and trees, and the cost of additional cleanup and service costs.

Some homeowners insurance policies cover unexpected HOA assessments, while others have disputed the scale of the bills. Supporters of the fee argue the amount is the minimum needed to restore the neighborhood.

Harmon disagrees. The number feels way too high for some new plants and pipes, he said, claiming that the HOA never provided a detailed breakdown.

After months of resisting, and accumulating thousands in penalties, Harmon said he ultimately paid the fee using a $29,000 insurance payout meant to clean smokedamaged clothing.

Who treats their friends and neighbors so heartlessly after the greatest catastrophe of their lives? he said. Not every resident has $24,000 lying around months after their house burned.

The aftermath of the January 2025 fires in Altadena (AFP/Getty)

HOA's handling of situation has supporters and detractors

Resident Rick Ursitti, whose home was destroyed in the fire, said he was frustrated by the situation.

My insurance covered the assessment, but that doesnt mean I say tough luck to the others, he said. I didnt like the way it was handled.

He said residents were blindsided and that the HOA could have offered alternatives, such as loans or installment plans. They couldve spread out the cost over time instead of telling us we owe $23,000 by tomorrow, he said.

However, some people in the community support the special assessment and have said the fee is necessary. Longtime residents Rande and Jess Sotomayor, who have lived in La Vina since 1998, said the HOA acted appropriately and transparently.

The wind-driven fires killed at least 31 people and destroyed nearly 17,000 structures (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The HOA wasnt acting in a vacuum, Rande said. There was a lot of input; they had an accounting firm auditing the numbers and a law firm monitoring their compliance.

But legal experts have expressed surprise at the scale of the bills.

Attorney Luke Carlson, who has written about HOA disputes, said he was "appalled" by the situation in La Vina.

It seems somewhat outrageous, he told the LA Times. This is a situation where a homeowner has lost everything, and I dont see how aggressive litigation solves any problems.

This isnt La Vinas first legal battle. In the 1990s, the HOA fenced off a public hiking trail, sparking a lengthy legal brouhaha with Los Angeles County that ended in 2010 with the trails reopened and the HOA forced to cough up for the legal fees.
War is part of the human soul  Night Raid, Rawa, Iraq, 2006. Photograph: Peter van Agtmael/Magnum (Photograph: Peter van Agtmael/Magnum)

I took this picture during my first time in Iraq, 20 years ago. It was the first entry in a body of work about the US post-9/11, at home and at war, which has occupied a good chunk of my professional life for the last two decades. I had turned 25 the week before and it was a formative journey on a personal level. It was the first time I experienced war, and my understanding of my country and its relationship to the world developed in the crucible of this extremely violent situation, which was descending into civil war while I was there.

I had been embedded in Iraq with the US military for six weeks or so at this point, and had taken some good pictures. But this one was different and it still means something to me today. It was the first I had taken that wasnt overtly channelling the history of war photography  which largely focusses on violence, horror and victims. Those are important things to show, but I wanted to understand this particular conflict, and how my position as an American of the same generation as those fighting could help me interpret it for the public. I guess the image crystallised something I had seen  this vast machine of military might mobilised in the Middle East; the momentum of all these young men with powerful weapons patrolling cities in search of people identified as enemies of America, enemies of democracy.

I wanted to see war for myself  for reasons I still dont fully understand

The soldiers would go into the homes of people they deemed suspicious, most of whom did not fit the definition of terrorist but some of whom did define as actively resisting occupation. The soldiers would search the houses of these suspected terrorists, and usually they found nothing.

With all this money, weaponry and rhetoric, an anonymous living room like this one, that could be my grandmas, showed the reality of what I saw on the ground. A dejected soldier sitting in this domestic space.

To me, its a picture of that particular conflict, but it says something more enduring about the nature of war. The incongruity of the soldier in the domestic surroundings shows how absurd, and how close to us, war is. Insane violence continues amid absolutely normal life. I think it expresses that war is part of the human soul  in civilised society we tend to forget that. Its disconcerting, but it reminds me that were animalistic.

History has shown that theres a very, very narrow pathway to externally created regime change. When I was in Iraq, the war had already started spiralling out of control. Iraq and Afghanistan were both unmitigated failures, on every level. Its very hard to be optimistic now.

Related: I was always an uncertain and confused observer: war photographer Peter van Agtmael on decades on the frontline

There was a time when embedding journalists with soldiers was heavily criticised. That never made sense to me  I was never censored by the military. And I dont think having sympathy for the soldiers colours critical thinking. Soldiers on the whole are decent people capable of extreme violence. I try to reconcile those two things. We all fancy ourselves as peace-loving, but you twist the right knobs and youre a killer. Being a war photographer is a deeply morally complicated position  and I embrace that.

I do believe theres a moral stance in thoughtful records of human violence, but that doesnt mean its a pure or beautiful thing to do. I passionately wanted to see war for myself, for reasons I still dont fully understand. As a history student, my world view was shaped by photographs: I saw the violence humans were capable of, and it horrified me. So I thought about how photography could impact other people like me, rather than thinking I could shift the nature of war itself. Being against war is like being against clouds  its so much part of human existence, and it always will be until it destroys the last of us and leaves only the cockroaches behind.

Im a dad now, so no trips to the Middle East are planned. The next question is how to find a new purpose, when what I previously found purpose in is no longer an option. But being with my daughter is way more fun.

 This image is part of Odyssey, the 27th Magnum Square Print Sale, in partnership with the Photographers Gallery, London, which continues until 29 March

Peter van Agtmaels CV

Born: Washington DC, 1981

High point: Being accepted into Magnum is still the most powerfully validating moment of my professional life. It came the day after one of the lowest points, the funeral of a beloved aunt

Top Tip: Be honest and unsentimental with yourself, while maintaining confidence. There are lots of talented people out there, but the ones who survive in the industry are usually those who want it the most. And then it is still a difficult and confusing journey, with many highs and lows
Michael York, as dArtagnan, and Frank Finlay in The Return of the Musketeers, 1989. Photograph: Photo 12/Alamy (Photograph: Photo 12/Alamy)

More than three-and-a-half centuries after a musket ball to the throat put an end to decades of exemplary swashbuckling, the French soldier who inspired Alexandre Dumas and went on to be immortalised on the stage and screen  not to mention as a plucky cartoon dog  may rise again.

Workers repairing a church in the Dutch city of Maastricht have discovered a skeleton that could belong to the 17th-century Gascon nobleman Charles de Batz-Castelmore  better known as dArtagnan  whose exploits led Dumas to make him the hero of the Three Musketeers.

The real-life dArtagnan was a spy and musketeer for King Louis XIV who died during the siege of Maastricht in 1673. Three hundred and fifty-three years later, the longstanding mystery of where the warrior came to be buried may finally have been solved, thanks to a set of bones found under a collapsed church floor.

Wim Dijkman, a retired archaeologist from Maastricht who has spent 28 years searching for the musketeers final resting place, was called to the Church of St Peter and St Paul in the Wolder district of the city after the deacon told him a skeleton had turned up.

A section of the floor in the church had subsided, and during the repair work, we discovered a skeleton, Deacon Jos Valke told the local L1 Nieuws broadcaster. I immediately called Wim because he has been working on dArtagnan for more than 20 years.

Valke said several clues pointed to the skeleton belonging to the famous musketeer.

He lay buried under the altar in consecrated ground, he said. There was a French coin from that time in the grave. And the bullet that killed him was lying at chest level, exactly as described in the history books. The indications are very strong.

The skeleton has been removed from the church and is now in an archaeological institute in Deventer.

A DNA sample taken from the skeleton on 13 March is being analysed in a laboratory in Munich. It will then be tested alongside DNA samples provided by descendants of dArtagnans father to determine whether there is a match.

Dijkman said that while he understood the news value of the possible discovery, he was anxiously waiting for the lab results.

It is an incredibly exciting story, after all, he told L1 Nieuws. This is about the most famous and well-known person linked to Maastricht. [But] Im always very cautious, Im a scientist.

Related: Ancient skeleton unearthed in France is latest to be found sitting upright

Interest in the potential discovery is certainly not limited to Maastricht. Dijkman said: All kinds of analyses and investigations are under way both domestically and abroad. It has truly turned into a top-level investigation. We want to be absolutely certain that it is dArtagnan.

The soldier achieved huge posthumous fame after Dumas published the Three Musketeers in 1844. Dumas had taken inspiration from an earlier book on the musketeer, Memoires de M. dArtagnan, which was written in 1700 by the French soldier and writer Gatien de Courtilz de Sandras.

Dumass book has been adapted for the screen numerous times over the past century, with dArtagnan being played by actors including Douglas Fairbanks, Michael York, Chris ODonnell, Logan Lerman and Francois Civil. The character was also reimagined as the eponymous, sword-wielding beagle in the early 1980s animated series Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds.

Agence France-Presse contributed to this report
Sir Keir Starmer has been handed a report on preventing foreign interference in British politics - Getty

Sir Keir Starmer is set to cap political donations from British citizens living abroad.

The Prime Minister is expected to accept recommendations from Philip Rycroft, a former senior civil servant, to limit gifts from expats to 100,000 a year.

Mr Rycroft also proposed that the Government temporarily stop political parties from accepting cryptocurrency donations. Reform UK accepts crypto, but few other parties do.

He had been asked to review the rules on donations in response to the jailing of Nathan Gill, the former Reform leader in Wales, for accepting bribes relating to statements in favour of Russia.

Writing in The Telegraph (below), Mr Rycroft warns of rising financial interference in elections, and says that without swift and comprehensive government intervention, there is a real danger that these threats will outpace our defences

After the publication of his review, Mr Rycroft said: The threat of foreign financial interference in our politics is real, persistent and sustained. So far, the impact on our democratic life has been contained  I am not pushing the panic button.

But in our volatile political environment, marginal impacts could have an increasingly disproportionate bearing on political outcomes, and there is no sign that our adversaries intend to relent in their attempts to subvert our politics.

So, I am ringing the alarm bell. The Government must act quickly to further limit the risk of foreign financial interference in our politics. In these uncertain times, we must remember: the price of democratic freedom is eternal vigilance.

Nathan Gill, the former Reform leader in Wales, was jailed in November for accepting bribes - PA

His report warned that large donations from Britons based abroad presented a risk of foreign funds entering UK politics. It found that tracing the source of funds from overseas is more complex, and where concerns arise, investigations are significantly more challenging.

The review said: A cap of 100,000 to 300,000 per overseas donor per year is recommended to mitigate the risk that this route is used to allow large foreign donations to slip through the net.

Downing Street has previously said Mr Rycrofts recommendations would be brought into law through the Representation of the People Bill, which is making its way through the Commons.

Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform, responding to Mr Rycrofts review, told The Telegraph: This was supposed to be a report into foreign interference, but its turned into a report into donations.

Asked about the ban on cryptocurrency donations, he added: Well, thats aimed at one party. They are not in the 21st century. They are completely out of touch and out of date.

And given that seven million people in Britain own cryptocurrencies, and given that we want more participation of people in public life, it is a regressive move.

They are potentially shutting out millions of people for engaging in the electoral process. One in four under 30s in Britain have crypto assets.

Reform was the first party to accept donations in cryptocurrency, and said it had received a couple of gifts using digital currency since then. Mr Farage has personally invested 215,000 in a Bitcoin scheme run by Kwasi Kwarteng, the former Conservative chancellor.

In his report, Mr Rycroft recommended that foreign-funded adverts be banned outright and sentences for breaking electoral law be reviewed with a view to increasing them.

He also warned against the influence of foreign citizens on UK politics, in an apparent swipe at Elon Musk, who owns X, the social media platform. He said the use of social media by US citizens in pursuit of their own agenda was a new threat that needed to be addressed.

He wrote: Overall, this interference manifests itself in two main, if intersecting, domains: attempts to directly suborn the political process through financial interference; and sustained efforts to undermine trust in democracy by stoking divisive debate, principally on social media.

His remarks will be seen by many as a direct reference to Mr Musk, who has used X to attack Sir Keir, including on the issue of grooming gangs.

I worry that our defences are too weak

By Philip Rycroft

It is easy to take our democratic freedoms for granted. Elections come round with almost predictable regularity, we cast our votes and governments are formed after the choices made by voters.

The resilience of our democracy is evident in many ways. We have robust party competition and vigorous public debate, and the broad consent following elections and referendums reflects a system that  for now  stands firm.

We face no immediate crisis of democratic legitimacy. But this is not a guaranteed state of affairs. We face a persistent and growing challenge: foreign interests who seek to undermine our democratic consensus and trust in our politics.

Philip Rycroft said he was ringing the alarm bell rather than pushing the panic button on the risk of foreign interference

Geopolitical tensions, compounded by advances in technology which allows unprecedented access to the British public online, provide both the incentive and the means for hostile states to make their presence felt in our political life.

Attempts to infiltrate our politics and stoke distrust are the subject of my review of foreign financial interference and the recommendations I am making today.

The public must be assured that the state is acting to counter these threats of foreign interference. More must be done to raise the bar to illicit foreign money getting into our politics and to remove malicious, state-sponsored content from our social media feeds.

I make a number of recommendations on the regulation of political finance. Crypto-assets are poised to play a significant role in modern economies. I recognise they are potentially more traceable than cash  but the regulatory world is struggling to keep up with the fast-evolving crypto world and with the advent of AI, that race will be run even faster.

I am concerned that the regulatory system is not yet robust enough to give the public the assurance it needs that donations to political parties made in crypto-assets are safe. For this reason, I am recommending the Governments Representation of the People Bill includes a moratorium on these sorts of political donations until Parliament and the Electoral Commission can be assured that sufficiently effective regulation is in place.

The bill goes a long way to tighten up the rules around corporate donations, not least to deal with the problem of so-called shell companies that could act as a vehicle for foreign money. But I believe it should go further. As proposed by the Committee on Standards in Public Life and the Electoral Commission, I recommend using profit rather than revenues as the base from which donations can be made, and restricting those donations to a maximum of the profit made in any given year. This means that political parties can have greater assurance that donations have come from genuine and audited economic activity before they accept them.

By registering to vote, British people who live abroad can make a continued and welcome contribution to UK political life. They are also able to donate to political parties. I dont think it would be right to shut off such donations entirely but, given the difficulty for both political parties and regulators of tracing the source of funds received from overseas, this route does pose a risk of foreign money leeching into our politics. Moreover, there is a question of whether it is fair that people who chose to have their wealth taxed abroad should be able to make large donations into UK politics.

So I propose a cap on such donations, set at a sufficiently high level  between 100,000 and 300,000 a year  to still allow generous donations from overseas electors, while mitigating the risk that large sums of foreign money could find a way into UK politics by these means.

The rules around raising money for campaigning are complex. But there are loopholes, not least for organisations that undertake political campaigning but are not registered to any particular political party  so-called non-party campaigners  and for candidates. Outside election times, there are few restrictions on how non-party campaigners and candidates can raise money and little transparency.

It is not my intention to restrict their activities, which add much to the political life of the country. But I do recommend that all the donations they receive for political campaigning should come from permissible donors. In other words, there should be no access to foreign funding, and there should be increased transparency about who has made donations to them.

My hope is that these recommendations, along with others on how political parties manage themselves and enforcement powers for the Electoral Commission, will go some way to improve trust among the public that our political system is free of malign foreign money. But action is also required on foreign interference online, perhaps the most pressing concern raised with me during this review.

For hostile foreign states, dissonance is its own reward. They seek to sow division and undermine the publics confidence in the political process. Ministers have spoken of information warfare. I worry that our defences are too weak.

The powers to deal with this menace have recently been updated through the Online Safety Act and the National Security Act. Those powers must be deployed with greater rigour to confront and take down hostile content. This must be a far higher priority in government, with clear accountability for leading the riposte to this assault on our democratic wellbeing.

Let me be clear: I am not pressing the panic button. That would serve the interests of those seeking to undermine trust in our democratic system.

But I am ringing the alarm bell. Without swift and comprehensive government intervention, there is a real danger that these threats will outpace our defences. The recent allegations of foreign interference in Moldova and Romanias electoral processes should serve as stark warnings to us all.

It is a truism, but apt for our uncertain times; the price of freedom is eternal vigilance
Sir Keir Starmer has announced the UK will start confiscating Russian shadow fleet vessels as he steps up attempts to put pressure on Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine.

The prime ministers announcement comes in conjunction with European allies after France, Belgium and Sweden have already boarded Russian ships in recent weeks in an attempt to cut off funding for Moscows war.

The move means that Britains commandos will be able to board and halt Russias shadow fleet vessels as they pass through UK waters.

There is no end in sight to the war in Ukraine despite Donald Trumps attempts to broker a peace deal with Putin, including the US easing sanctions on Russian oil.

Keir Starmers announcement follows European allies also moving to board Russian ships (PA)

Sir Keir said the UK would join northern European allies in intercepting the tankers, in an attempt to go after the sanctions-breaking ships even harder.

The prime minister will travel to Helsinki, Finland, on Thursday for a summit with national leaders from the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).

The JEF, a military coalition of 10 northern European countries led by the UK, aims to defend against Russian incursions.

It also includes Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.

Moscows shadow fleet is reported to be made up of more than a thousand ageing tankers.

They illicitly ship oil and other goods out of Russia by flying the flags of other countries, with the aim of evading sanctions imposed by the West since the invasion of Ukraine began.

JEF countries Finland, Sweden and Estonia have recently intercepted suspected shadow tankers travelling through the Baltic.

Closing off British waters to the shadow fleet seeks to force the Russian vessels into taking longer, more costly sea routes, or risk being intercepted by the UK.

The wreck of the Russian carrier Arctic Metagaz, which is adrift between Malta and Lampedusa (Newsbook Malta)

Sir Keir said: We are living in an increasingly volatile and dangerous world, facing threats from different fronts across the world every day.

As prime minister, my first duty is to keep this country safe and protect British interests here and abroad.

Putin is rubbing his hands at the war in the Middle East because he thinks higher oil prices will let him line his pockets.

Thats why were going after his shadow fleet even harder, not just keeping Britain safe but starving Putins war machine of the dirty profits that fund his barbaric campaign in Ukraine.

He and his cronies should be in no doubt, we will always defend our sovereignty and stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

British forces have already been involved in tracking shadow fleet vessels for several years, and have supported operations by other countries to seize the ships.

In January, the UK assisted in the seizure of the oil tanker Marinera by the US.

Previously known as the Bella-1, the Russian-flagged vessel was captured by American forces aided by RAF aircraft and the British supply ship RFA Tideforce in the Atlantic.

Later that same month, Royal Navy patrol boat HMS Dagger helped the French seize another sanctioned ship, the Grinch, in the western Mediterranean, shadowing the vessel through the Strait of Gibraltar.

Last week, the French intercepted the Deyna oil tanker in the Mediterranean, supported by the UK.

Libyan authorities have meanwhile towed a suspected shadow fleet oil tanker found drifting in the Mediterranean, which was believed to have been hit in a drone strike.

The tanker, carrying liquefied natural gas, was towed to avoid a spill in the Mediterranean.

At the JEF summit, the prime minister and other leaders are expected to discuss shared security in the so-called High North and the war in Ukraine.
Under current rules, most decisions made within a department must be cleared with other ministers first - Kin Cheung/Pool via REUTERS

Ministers will be allowed to sign off more policies without checking them with the rest of the Cabinet under Labour plans for an exorcism of red tape in Whitehall.

On Thursday, Sir Keir Starmer will announce a series of reforms to government departments, including changes to the write-round process used by ministers to sign off policies.

Under the current rules, most decisions made within a department must be cleared with other ministers in a time-consuming exchange of official letters.

The process, which can take three weeks to complete, will be scrapped for smaller policy decisions to allow ministers to make decisions faster.

Downing Street is also expected to reduce the number of mandatory consultations that ministers must conduct before changing government policy and cut down on equality and environmental impact assessments.

The reforms will be led by Dame Antonia Romeo, the new Cabinet Secretary, and Nick Thomas-Symonds, a Cabinet Office minister.

Nick Thomas-Symonds will help lead the reforms - DAVID CLIFF/EPA/Shutterstock Editorial

Writing for The Telegraph, Mr Thomas-Symonds criticised the write-round process as a slow erosion of individual responsibility that outsources responsibility from the initial judgment of the decision-maker [...] onto the processes themselves, and accountability is passed around like a hot potato.

Write-rounds are designed to encourage other ministers to comment on their colleagues policy proposals to support the principle of collective agreement, where each member of the Government is supportive of its plans.

However, the process has been criticised for slowing down decision-making and allowing ministers to hold other departments policy plans hostage by refusing to sign them off.

It is understood that ministers and officials are frustrated by the number of write-rounds they are required to complete, and the format of exchanging letters.

Officials used AI to find examples of red tape

Under the plans, ministers could be allowed to launch public consultations, decide how a sector of the economy should be regulated or publish legislation without asking colleagues first.

The changes follow the appointment of Dame Antonia, a former permanent secretary and envoy to New York, as Britains most senior civil servant last month.

Her predecessor, Sir Chris Wormald, was criticised by ministers and officials for slowing down the Government and making it too difficult to make policy changes.

Dame Antonia, pictured alongside the Prime Minister last month, was recently appointed as Britains most senior civil servant - Kin Cheung/AP Photo

Mr Thomas-Symonds said that the efficiency drive might evoke memories of Nigel Farages Doge turned tax rise agenda or Jacob Rees-Moggs work from home clampdown, but that Labour would make the state efficient to restore it rather than taking a sledgehammer to departments.

He said officials had used AI to find examples of red tape in legislation that governs Whitehall, and found the digital equivalent of a cluttered attic.

Its time to start a programme of sweeping change, he said. Unnecessary hurdles must go. The great exorcism of Whitehalls ghost.

Under the reforms, the leaders of government departments will be forced to focus on Downing Streets political priorities with a new accountability framework.

The reduction in consultations follows a review of the sludge in Whitehall, where one government was found to have consulted the public about changing how it produces its annual financial report.

Whitehalls built-in safeguards prevent innovation

By Nick Thomas-Symonds

Whitehall is built of Portland stone. It is heavy and imposing, designed to look like a place where decisions are permanent. But behind the 19th-century facade, we face a 21st-century ghost story.

Haunting Whitehall, individual elements of the bureaucratic spectre were, for the most part, designed for good reasons  but creeping up in quantity and complexity, individual elements became layers built upon layers, without any proper assessment of their cumulative effect.

When officials turned AI on to the statute book, they found the digital equivalent of a cluttered attic  131 separate consultation duties buried in just 10 Acts of Parliament.

And like any decent poltergeist, invisible and harmless, they do little direct damage  instead, they change how the state acts. Their impact lingers in our habits, from the hesitation in the subtext of a piece of advice to the institutional memory of consultation responses will not be favourable.

Take, for example, the onerous inter-departmental letter exchanges in the policy-making processes, that delay and reinforce the Government in silos. Or the never-ending consultations which, when overused and met with apathy, more often than not biased towards corporate interests and away from benefits to working people. Theyre all problematic twofold.

The primary victim of this process-worship is progress itself; inflating the negative and embedding delay, these layers have protected the status quo. The things designed as safeguards now prevent innovation and risk-taking.

But a deeper rot still is found in the slow erosion of individual responsibility. Each additional layer outsources responsibility from the initial judgment of the decision-maker or the individuals who develop the policy. In turn, through each complex process, responsibility falls on the processes themselves, and accountability is passed around like a hot potato.

Suddenly, doing the thing wrong is more feared than doing the wrong thing. Procedural violation becomes seen as worse than policy failure, and the processes themselves become a defensive shield. Meanwhile, the downsides of inaction and delay dont find themselves easily measured by these processes.

We need to redefine the issue from a failure of people to a test of government efficiency. Because it is not a lack of commitment from individuals, nor is it conscious, but a rational adaptation.

The trade-off is stark  empowering individuals with more responsibility means more accountability. But we will reverse this outsourcing culture, handing power back to incredible individuals, not the invisible state.

It will be difficult; the shadowy state doesnt exist on an org chart, and there will be strong vested interests. Despite the association of bureaucracy with boredom, its one hell of a survivor.

For many, the chatter of government efficiency might evoke memories of Nigel Farages Doge turned tax rise agenda for local government, or Jacob Rees-Moggs notes left on officials desks.

But their efforts fell by the wayside for a simple reason  the conservative ideology underpinning their idea of efficiency is to take a sledgehammer to the state. Further punishing it instead of treating its malaise. That same ideology let the system bloat unchecked to a status quo that doesnt work.

Labour will instead make the state efficient to restore it. We believe in its capacity to change working peoples lives  when the politicians they elect pull the levers, the change they voted for is delivered quickly.

Im proud to work with many brilliant officials  I only lament that they share in my frustration at a system that continually evades reform. And so its time to start a programme of sweeping change. Unnecessary hurdles must go. The great exorcism of Whitehalls ghost.

Nick Thomas-Symonds is a Cabinet Office minister
Steve Carell reveals Marvel star who told him to avoid doing The Office

Steve Carell has recalled being warned by an A-list actor against trying out for the lead role in The Office, amid concerns that an American version of the hit British sitcom would flop.

I remember [Paul] Rudd pulled me aside and was like, Dont do it, man. Dont audition, Carell, 63, said on Tuesdays episode of Amy Poehlers Good Hang podcast. It was like, There is no way.

Rudd, 56, and Carell are longtime friends and frequent collaborators. They have co-starred in several comedies together, including Dinner for Schmucks (2010) and the Anchorman franchise.

Yeah. Everyone was like, dont even touch this, host Poehler, 54, said of the workplace mockumentary. [With a] 10-foot pole, the Morning Show alum added.

At the time, Poehler, who was a cast member on Saturday Night Live, remembered hearing backstage that they were going to make the American version.

Steve Carell (right) said Paul Rudd (left) advised him to avoid 'The Office' (Getty)

Steve Carell led the American version of the British sitcom as Michael Scott, earning six consecutive Lead Actor Emmy nominations (Getty)

And everyone was like, This is a terrible idea; terrible idea. No one can be as good as Ricky Gervais. No one can do that show, the Parks and Recreation star said. And then we heard it was you, and we were like, Oh, whoevers making the show wants it to be funny. You know, like it was this thing of, Oh thats a very, very good choice.

Carell went on to play Michael Scott, the unprofessional and incompetent regional manager of fictional paper company Dunder Mifflin in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

The role served as his television breakout, earning him six consecutive lead actor Emmy nominations from 2006 to 2011. The show, which ran for nine seasons, from 2005 to 2013, also featured Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson, Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak. It was an adaptation of the two-season Ricky Gervais-led British original of the same name.

Carell appeared on the show from 2005 to 2011, before departing at the end of its seventh season. At the time, it was reported that Carell had left to pursue further career opportunities; however, the shows hairstylist, Kim Ferry, rejected these claims, insisting in Andy Greenes 2020 book, The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s, that he was written off because NBC let his contract lapse.

Carell departed The Office in 2011 after seven seasons (Universal)

He didnt want to leave the show, Ferry claimed. He had told the network that he was going to sign for another couple of years  He told his manager and his manager contacted them and said hes willing to sign another contract.

She added: The deadline came for when [the network was] supposed to give him an offer and it passed and they didnt make him an offer. So his agent was like, Well, I guess they dont want to renew you for some reason. Which was insane to me. And to him, I think.

Casting director Allison Jones also remembered the incident, recalling: He was going to do another season and then NBC, for whatever reason, wouldnt make a deal with him. Somebody didnt pay him enough. It was absolutely asinine. I dont know what else to say about that. Just asinine.

Carell returned to the series for its 2013 finale.
US secretary of defense Pete Hegseth. Photograph: Graeme Sloan/Pool/Graeme Sloan - Pool/CNP/Shutterstock (Photograph: Graeme Sloan/Pool/Graeme Sloan - Pool/CNP/Shutterstock)

The US has launched another strike on a vessel in the Caribbean, killing four people, the US Southern Command said.

The command, which oversees combatant operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, announced on X that it had conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations.

Wednesdays strikes brings the total number of deaths to at least 163 people since the defense department began attacking alleged narco-terrorists last September in more than 45 strikes.

Without including evidence, the US Southern Command said that intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.

The strike killed four alleged drug smugglers, according to the US Southern Command. No US military personnel were harmed, it added.

The latest strike comes as part of the US Southern Commands efforts to apply total systemic friction on the cartels.

Last Friday, the US military said it had carried out a lethal kinetic strike on another alleged drug-smuggling boat in the eastern Pacific that left one survivor and two people dead.

Despite the defense department framing the strikes as attacks against narco-terrorism, it has provided little evidence on whether the vessels were actually transporting drugs. The attacks have been condemned as extrajudicial killings by the UN and other humanitarian organizations.

According to a 2020 report by the US Drug Enforcement Administration, 74% of the cocaine reaching the US arrived through the Pacific, while only 8% came from fast boats from the Caribbean.

The Guardian has contacted the White House for comment.
Donald Trump wants to see US astronauts back on the Moon before the end of his second term in office - CARLOS BARRIA/REUTERS

Donald Trump is backing a $20bn (15bn) mission to build a base on the surface of the Moon  and perhaps beat China to it along the way.

Nasa has announced it has decided to abandon a proposal to have a station hanging in lunar orbit and instead establish a building on the surface.

The agency said it also intended to send a nuclear-powered spacecraft to Mars.

Jared Isaacman, who was appointed head of Nasa by the president in November, said plans were in place to send robotic landers and deploy a fleet of drones. They will pave the way for using nuclear power on the lunar surface in the next few years.

This revised step-by-step approach to learn, build muscle memory, bring down risk, and gain confidence is exactly how Nasa achieved the near impossible in the 1960s, he said, referring to the US Apollo programme.

He added: Nasa is committed to achieving the nearimpossible once again, to return to the Moon before the end of President Trumps term, build a Moon base, establish an enduring presence, and do the other things needed to ensure American leadership in space.

The announcement represents a major shake-up of the current Artemis Moon programme and has raised questions about the future involvement of partners such as Japan, Canada and the European Space Agency.

Jared Isaacman said Nasa was committed to achieving the nearimpossible once again - Joe Skipper/REUTERS

The US is in a tense race to establish dominance in space ahead of China, which announced last October that it planned to land its own astronauts on the moon by 2030.

Zhang Jingbo, a spokesman for Chinas manned space programme, said: Currently, each programme of the research and development work of putting a person on the moon is progressing smoothly.

Our fixed goal of China landing a person on the moon by 2030 is firm.

Elon Musk, the SpaceX chief executive, and Jeff Bezos, who founded Blue Origin, are both working to develop a lunar lander for Nasa. The companies had a target of 2028 for a crewed landing, but are behind schedule.

Buzz Aldrin was the second human to walk on the surface of the Moon in 1969 thanks to the Apollo programme - Neil Armstrong/Nasa via AP

The Apollo programme ended in the 1970s, with the final landing on the moon taking place in December 1972.

Mr Trump has long expressed an interest in space, something he shares with Mr Musk, who has also spoken of his hope of establishing a community of up to one million people on Mars.

During his first term, Mr Trump launched the United States Space Force, the countrys first new military branch to be founded in seven decades.
Donald Trump may have stolen sensitive government documents linked to his own business activities, as well as showed off a classified map to passengers on his plane, according to a senior Democrat citing a memo released by the presidents own Department of Justice.

Rep. Jamie Raskin said the Department of Justice had provided him with a damning memo about Trumps handling of classified documents.

In a letter addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Raskin said the disclosure was part of a cache of cherry-picked documents delivered to the House Judiciary Committee in an attempt to smear Special Counsel Jack Smith  who had investigated Trumps hoarding of classified documents  in order to try to undermine the investigation.

Raskin, the ranking member of the committee, wrote: These new disclosures suggest that Donald Trump stole documents so sensitive that only six people in the entire U.S. government had access to them, that the documents President Trump stole pertained to his business interests, and that Susie Wiles, then the CEO of Donald Trumps super PAC, witnessed President Trump showing off a classified map to passengers on his private plane.

This glimpse into the trove of evidence behind the coverup reveals a President of the United States who may have sold out our nationalsecurity to enrich himself.

President Trump kept classified documents tied to business interests and showed Susie Wiles a top-secret map, according to a damning Department of Justice me (AP)

Photos emerged of boxes of papers piled up in a bathroom and an office at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate (Getty Images)

The Democratic lawmakers claims have renewed focus on Trumps classified documents case, in which he was criminally indicted under the Espionage Act in June 2023 for allegedly keeping hundreds of classified materials at his Mar-a-Lago estate after leaving office.

Photos emerged of boxes of papers piled up in a bathroom and an office at Mar-a-Lago.

The case, spearheaded by Smith, was dismissed in July 2024 by a federal judge, who ruled that Smith had been unconstitutionally appointed. The special counsel was appealing that decision until Trump was re-elected to the White House in November of that year, after which the case was dropped. The documents at the center of the case were later returned to Trump.

Trump has consistently denied wrongdoing in the case, calling it a politically motivated "witch hunt" and accusing the DOJ of "selective prosecution" given former President Joe Biden was also accused of having classified documents at his home, but was never charged.

On Wednesday, the White House tore into Raskin over the letter.

Raskin asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to answer a series of question about the damning documents by the end of the month (Getty Images)

Its pathetic that Democrats with zero credibility like Jamie Raskin are still clinging to deranged Jack Smith and his lies in 2026, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told The Independent. President Trump did nothing wrong, which is why he easily defeated the Biden DOJs unprecedented lawfare campaign against him and then won nearly 80 million votes in a landslide election victory.

In his six-page letter to Bondi, sent on Tuesday, Raskin indicated that the Department of Justice had inadvertently revealed damning evidence about Trumps conduct  evidence Smith had been barred from discussing by a courts gag order.

They include a January 13, 2023, memorandum, in which prosecutors wrote that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has determined that the classified documents President Trump retained from the White House were commingled with documents created after Trump left office, Raskin wrote. FBI has also found that certain classified documents President Trump improperly retained would be pertinent to certain business interests. DOJ prosecutors further assessed that these classified documents pertinent to his business interests established a motive for retaining them.

The documents also indicate that, during a 2022 flight to his golf club in New Jersey, Trump may have shown off a classified map to individuals aboard the plane, including Wiles, now his chief of staff. The Justice Department produced a map of the aircraft, but the names of the passengers were redacted.

It is now clear that DOJ is in possession of evidence that President Trump has already endangered national security to further the interests of Trump family businesses, the House Democrat concluded. It is time for you to stop the cover-up and allow the American people to know what secrets he betrayed and how he may have cashed in on them.

Map purporting to show Donald Trump's private jet with redacted passenger list, from a letter sent by Democratic congressman Jamie Raskin to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi (Department of Justice)

Later in the letter Raskin writes: The memorandum further specifies that the disclosure of these documents represented an aggravated potential harm to national security. The prosecutors also wrote that these were highly sensitive documentsthe type of documents that only presidents and officials with the most sensitive authority have. One particularly sensitive document wasaccessible by only 6? people, including the president.

He says it is not currently clear what the map Trump supposedly showed to others was of, but notes that the president was at that time involved in a business deal with Saudi interests over the LIV golf tournament. Raskin also cites reports that Trump had been talking to his ghost writer about possessing Pentagon plans for a potential attack on Iran.

Raskin writes: If this map is related to our military posture in the Middle East, and it was in fact shown to any foreign official, Saudi or otherwise, that would amount to an unforgiveable betrayal of our men and women in uniform who are currently valiantly fighting in President Trumps disastrous war against Iran.

He asked Bondi to provide answers to a series of questions  including about the map  by the end of the month.

Former special counsel Jack Smith was investigating the classified documents found at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort. Trump was criminally charged but the case was dropped after he was re-elected (Getty)

Raskin wrote that the damning information about Trump had apparently been issued by accident. He wrote: (Y)ou have, quite amazingly, missed the fact that some of the documents you provided include damning evidence about your bosss conduct and may well violate the gag order your DOJ and Donald Trump demanded from Judge Aileen Cannon.

On Wednesday morning, the Department of Justice posted a lengthy response to Raskins letter on social media.

We understand that @RepRaskin, much like Jack Smith, is blinded by hatred of President Trump, however, he needs to get his facts straightthis Department of Justice is the most transparent in history in part because of our efforts to expose the weaponization of the Biden administration in full compliance with the law and the court, the department wrote on X.

Jack Smiths team was desperate to prosecute Bidens top political opponent, so it is no surprise that his files contain salacious and untrue claims about President Trump, the department added. The accusations Raskin makes are baseless.
Donald Trump at Markwayne Mullins swearing-in as DHS secretary at the White House on Tuesday. Photograph: Evan Vucci/Reuters (Photograph: Evan Vucci/Reuters)

Donald Trump declared victory in his war on Iran on Tuesday amid reports that the US is in the process of deploying about 1,000 more soldiers to the region as the president claims very good talks with Iran are ongoing. Iranian officials continue to deny that.

Iranian barrages targeted Israel, Gulf Arab states and northern Iraq on Tuesday, while Israeli and US warplanes continued to carry out strikes across Tehran and on other targets in the Islamic Republic. Israel indicated that it planned to occupy swaths of southern Lebanon in what one Hezbollah official told Reuters was an existential threat to the Lebanese state.

While the human and economic toll from the joint US-Israeli assault mounts and the conflict enters its fourth week, the White Houses claims of last-ditch negotiations to end the war have not been confirmed by intermediaries or the Iranian government. Irans UN ambassador said that at least 1,348 civilians had been killed in the country since the start of the war.

US set to send airborne troops to Middle East as Trump claims very good talks with Iran

Violence has continued across much of the Middle East a day after Donald Trump said the US was in very good talks with Iran to end the war in the region soon.

Iranian barrages targeted Israel, Gulf Arab states and northern Iraq on Tuesday, while Israeli and US warplanes continued to carry out strikes across Tehran and on other targets in the Islamic Republic.

Read the full story

Democrats flip seat in Florida state house in Trumps backyard

Democrats managed to flip a seat in the Florida state house in the district that is home to Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago. Emily Gregory, a Democrat, defeated Republican Jon Maples, who had an endorsement from the US president.

Trump voted in the race via mail-in ballot, despite criticizing the practice as mail-in cheating during an event in Tennessee this week.

Read the full story

JD Vance role touted as Pakistan attempts to broker US-Iran peace talks

Pakistani sources said the US vice-president, JD Vance, was being put forward as a probable chief negotiator from the US side if talks went ahead. Iranian sources have said they would refuse to sit down with Trumps Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, or Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, who led the nuclear negotiations with Iran before the war.

Read the full story

TSA workers try to survive second shutdown and ICE influx

Workers with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are reeling from the White Houses deployment of immigration law enforcement into airports as TSA workers enter their sixth week without pay as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown continues.

Read the full story

Supreme court appears sympathetic to Trump administration in asylum case

US supreme court justices indicated sympathy on Tuesday toward Donald Trumps administration in its defense of the governments authority to turn away asylum seekers when officials deem US-Mexico border crossings too overburdened to handle additional claims.

Read the full story

US public health groups urge firing of EPA boss, saying he brazenly betrayed agency

No [EPA] administrator in history  Democratic or Republican  has so brazenly betrayed the agencys core mission, the groups wrote about Lee Zeldin in an open letter. EPAs foremost purpose is to protect human health and the environment. With Administrator Lee Zeldin at the helm, EPA has abandoned its mission, creating damage that will take decades to address.

Read the full story

Trump picks Australian-born alpha male Nick Adams as presidential envoy

Donald Trumps appointment of Nick Adams, the alpha male Australian turned American internet provocateur as a new special presidential envoy on Tuesday, could give fuel to theories that the White House is deliberately trolling the world.

Read the full story

Canadian woman held with daughter by ICE warns all immigrants to lie low

A Canadian woman who has been imprisoned with her seven-year-old daughter by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has cautioned other immigrants that they are at risk of detention, even if they follow the correct legal process  and warned them to keep out of sight for as long as Donald Trump is president.

Read the full story

What else happened today:

Catching up? Heres what happened Monday 23 March.
Two men have been arrested by counterterrorism detectives investigating an arson attack on volunteer-led ambulances run by the Jewish community in Golders Green.

The men, aged 47 and 45, both British nationals, were arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life on Wednesday morning, the Metropolitan Police said.

The arrests are linked to the ongoing investigation into an arson attack in north London in the early hours of Monday. At around 1.35am, four ambulances from Hatzola, a volunteer-led ambulance service operating in the Golders Green area, were set on fire.

The 47-year-old man was arrested at an address in northwest London, and the other was arrested at a property in central London. Both have been taken to a London police station, where they currently remain in custody. Officers are carrying out searches at the two addresses, understood to be in areas near Kilburn and Kings Cross.

Police said the investigation very much remains active and CCTV footage of the incident suggests there were at least three people involved.

The head of the Metropolitan Police said earlier this week that the force was investigating whether an Islamist group with possible Iranian state links was behind the arson attack.

Gas canisters kept in the ambulances exploded after they were set alight, and nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution.

Counterterrorism detectives are investigating the attack in Golders Green (AFP/Getty)

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.

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, which is leading the investigation, said: We have been working around the clock since this appalling attack took place, and this has led to these arrests being made this morning.

This appears to be an important breakthrough in the investigation, but were also mindful that CCTV footage of the incident suggests there were at least three people involved. We fully recognise the local community will still be concerned, and our investigation very much remains active, and we will continue to work to identify and seek to arrest all of those who may have been involved.

Id like to thank the public and particularly the local Jewish community in the area for their continued support and reiterate our appeal to anyone who might have information that could assist with the investigation to get in touch with us.

Police say they believe a third person could have been involved in the attack (AFP/Getty)

Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who leads policing in northwest London, said: We know that community concerns remain heightened, and I want to reassure the community that an enhanced, bespoke policing plan and activity, which is particularly focused around vulnerable areas right across London, will continue over the coming days and weeks.

This includes specialist officers and capability being deployed alongside local officers to help protect certain locations and will also involve highly visible armed police patrols to serve as a deterrent to anyone seeking to cause our communities harm.

I must stress that these are precautionary and not in response to any specific threat, and we continue to work alongside our colleagues in counterterrorism policing to support their investigation.

We will also continue to work closely with local communities and our partners to listen to their concerns and respond to these.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation can call the police on 101, providing the reference number 415 of 23 March. Alternatively, those who want to remain anonymous can call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Abu Faraj al-Libi was allegedly al-Qaedas chief of operations, according to the US Senates intelligence committee (US Department of Defense )

The UK governments raid of a lawyers office in the case of a Guantanamo Bay suspect allegedly tortured by the CIA with UK knowledge is extremely troubling, the High Court has heard.

Security officers seized documents in January from the office of Rachel Toney, a security-cleared lawyer who was representing the interests of alleged al-Qaeda chief Abu Faraj al-Libi, born al-Uzaybi, in secret hearings involving claims of complicity by the UK intelligence services in his torture.

Despite Ms Toney refusing permission for them to enter, officers opened her secure safes, went through her documents, and seized them at the direction of MI6, as well as going through files on her laptop and double-deleting them, the Royal Courts of Justice in London heard on Wednesday.

Jesse Nicholls, barrister for Libi, told the court that the government had acted to unlawfully seize the material because Ms Toney had been using it effectively against them and they sought to gain an unfair advantage in the legal case. The material related to a previous case that Ms Toney had been involved in, of a Palestinian man called Abu-Zubaydah, who was also tortured by the CIA.

The court heard that MI6 and the governments legal department acted quickly to seize the documents after they heard that Ms Toney planned to apply to a judge to retain the material and use it in the Libi case.

Mr Nicholls said that Ms Toney had been targeted and singled out by the unlawful seizure, adding: The defendants conduct was very grave and concerning.

The governments most senior legal official, the treasury solicitor, has already offered an apology to Ms Toney for the trespass and agreed that she can use the material in the Libi case. However, Mr Nicholls argued that there should instead be a public apology made by the security services, who commissioned the search.

The court heard that the seizure raised concerns about the integrity of the system of security-cleared lawyers, known as special advocates, who represent the interests of individuals in secret proceedings where national security evidence is disclosed.

Tim Buley KC, one such special advocate, told the High Court on Wednesday that the events potentially have a chilling effect on the willingness of us to do our job.

The appearance of this is that special advocates who do their job conscientiously and effectively will face adverse consequences, he said.

Abu Faraj al-Libi has been held at Guantanamo Bay since September 2006 (Getty)

Mr Buley said the behaviour of MI6 and the government legal department was extremely troubling. The court also heard that officials at the government legal department had floated the idea of referring Ms Toney to her vetting officer and legal regulator and discussed her possible prosecution under the Official Secrets Act, suggestions that were never acted upon.

Mr Nicholls told the court that a security officer at the Government Legal Department had asserted that they owned all of the notes made by Ms Toney on the Abu-Zubaydah material, not just the underlying documents.

Mr Nicholls said that this would have very serious implications for other cases if the governments view was that it had a right to seize such documents.

Mr Justice Chamberlain, who is presiding over the case, said he would have to give consideration to what the governments attitude is to its powers were such a situation to arise again.

The government has argued that Ms Toneys possession of the documents posed a national security risk, but Mr Buley told the court that this did not justify the office trespass or seizure of the documents.

Government lawyer Rory Phillips KC told the court they were not suggesting that Ms Toney acted improperly in any way by not returning the documents.

In response to the gaps exposed by the incident, Mr Phillips said, the Government Legal Department has set up a lessons learned group to identify what went wrong and make sure it doesnt happen again.

Mr Phillips said the government acknowledged mistakes had been made during the seizure regarding the timing, the manner in which it happened, and the circumstances of the retrieval and said it should have taken place with her [Ms Toney] present, rather than in her absence.

Mr Phillips told the court that it was not an unlawful retrieval of documents but that the government would not repeat this type of seizure again.

According to a report from the US Senates intelligence committee, Libi was al-Qaedas chief of operations and was captured in Pakistan in 2005. He was tortured at CIA black sites, the report said. He has been held at Guantanamo Bay since September 2006.

Mr Justice Chamberlain has reserved judgment in the case.
Russian strikes across Ukraine on Wednesday damaged dozens of residential buildings - Dmytro Smolienko/Ukrinform

Ukraine cut the power for almost half a million people in Russia after the largest drone attack of the war.

Kyiv launched almost 400 drones, Moscow said on Wednesday, after Russia fired nearly 1,000 drones at Ukraine during 24 hours starting on Monday night.

The Russian attacks killed eight people across the country, hit the centre of Lviv and residential houses in western Ukraine during rush hour on Tuesday evening.

Moscows defence ministry claimed its air defences had shot down 389 Ukrainian drones that were travelling over 13 Russian regions and Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

But Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russias Belgorod region, close to the border with Ukraine, said that Ukraines retaliatory assault had caused serious damage to energy infrastructure.

Almost 500,000 people across numerous districts suffered power outages, while many were also left without water and heating as temperatures hovered around freezing, he said, adding that it would take several days to repair the facilities.

A power plant in Estonia was also hit by a drone that had flown into the Nato member state from Russian airspace, while another crashed into Latvia, with officials in Riga saying it was likely that a Ukrainian drone had gone astray.

Russian strikes that started on Monday night killed eight people across Ukraine - Mykola Miakshykov/Ukrinform

Owing to its proximity to Kyivs forces, Belgorod is frequently hit by cross-border attacks and has suffered recurring outages of electricity, water and heating.

Since the start of 2026, Russia has also launched hundreds of attacks on Ukraines energy infrastructure.

On Wednesday, 150,000 people in Chernihiv, the northern Ukrainian city near the Belarusian border, were similarly left without power.

Russian attacks throughout Wednesday night killed an 87-year-old woman and wounded another civilian in the southern region of Odesa, causing damage to half a dozen residential buildings.

Ukraine bombarded Russias Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga with drones, leaving a large fire blazing at the crucial oil export hub, as part of what is thought to be its largest wave of drone attacks on Moscows infrastructure so far this year.

Over the course of the attack, 56 drones were downed by air defence and electronic warfare systems, Alexander Drozdenko, the regional governor, said on Telegram.

Two days before, after a previous round of attacks, the Baltic Sea port and the export hub of Primorsk had been forced to suspend operations.

Ust-Luga handles around 700,000 barrels of oil exports a day, while the Primorsk port some 50 miles away can export more than one million a day.

Kyiv has intensified its attacks on Russian oil refineries and export routes since the start of the year, which has coincided with a surge in Moscows oil revenues last month, driven by war in the Middle East.

This month, Russian daily oil export revenues doubled from their January sum of around 101m to approximately 202m, hitting a four-year high, according to Bloomberg.

On Tuesday, Ukraines military intelligence said that it had destroyed a Zircon hypersonic missile launcher in Crimea and had damaged other military kit.

After Russia launched its largest aerial attack on Ukraine on Tuesday, Baltic authorities reported that three foreign drones had entered their airspace.

Estonia said one drone had strayed from Russian airspace and crashed into a smokestack at its Auvere power plant shortly after midnight on Wednesday.

Estonia has been hit by a drone coming from Russian airspace

Latvia said two drones had entered its territory, one from Russia and the other from Belarus, forcing it to deploy air defence and sparking at least one explosion around 2.30am.

Military officials from both countries said the drones manufacturer and country of origin had not yet been determined, but Evika Silina, the Latvian prime minister, said in a post on X that preliminary information suggested that the drone that crashed on the countrys territory may have been Ukrainian.

On Monday, a military drone entered Lithuanian airspace before crashing into an icy lake close to Belarus. Lithuania later confirmed that it was a Ukrainian drone which had been aimed at Russia before veering off course.
North Koreas leader, Kim Jong-un, said his country would always support Russia in a thank-you letter to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. Ties between the two have grown closer since Putin began the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with Pyongyang sending ground troops and weapons systems to aid Russias war effort. I express my sincere thanks to you for sending warm and sincere congratulations first on my reassumption of the heavy duty as president of the state affairs, Kim said in the message on Tuesday, the official Korean central news agency said. Today the DPRK and Russia are closely cooperating to defend the sovereignty of the two countries, Kim said, using the initials of the Norths official name. Pyongyang will always be with Moscow. This is our choice and unshakable will, he added. South Korean and western intelligence agencies have estimated that the North has sent thousands of soldiers to Russia, primarily to the Kursk region, along with artillery shells, missiles and long-range rocket systems. Analysts say the assistance has been provided in exchange for Russias provision of food and weapons technologies.
President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, March 24, 2026.

US President Donald Trump sent a peace plan to Iran as he voiced optimism Tuesday at ending nearly a month of a war, with Tehran announcing that it will let "non-hostile" oil vessels go through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

The tentative signs of a diplomatic solution came despite new violence, with an Iranian missile causing injuries in Israel which in turn pressed on multiple fronts and vowed to seize control of a strip of southern Lebanon.

Trump, whose pronouncements in recent days have swung wildly from vowing massive attacks on Iran to declaring the nearly month-long war virtually over, said the United States was "in negotiations right now" with Iran  which has not confirmed any formal talks.

Read moreMiddle East war live: Iran navy says it fired cruise missiles at US aircraft carrier

"They did something yesterday that was amazing actually. They gave us a present and the present arrived today. And it was a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

"That meant one thing to me  we're dealing with the right people."

He did not explain further but said it related to the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has largely blockaded in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes, sending global energy prices soaring.

Iran, in a message circulated by the International Maritime Organization shortly afterward, assured safe passage to "non-hostile vessels" going through the strait, the gateway for one-fifth of the world's oil.

Iran had already in recent days said it was not targeting friendly nations, although many vessels have shied away as insurance companies refuse to take risks.

New nuclear deal?

Trump had earlier threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power plants, which some argue would be a war crime, if it did not open the strait by late Monday Washington time. Before US markets opened Monday, Trump abruptly extended that deadline by five days, citing diplomatic progress.

Pakistan's prime minister has offered to host US-Iran talks, which Trump said involved top officials including Vice President JD Vance.

Trump said that he had sent a plan and that it "all starts with, they cannot have a nuclear weapon".

The New York Times, quoting unnamed officials, said that the United States had sent the 15-point plan to Iran through Pakistan.

Israel's Channel 12 said that Trump was proposing a one-month ceasefire during which the sides would discuss a proposal that would include handing over Iran's enriched uranium and banning further enrichment.

Read moreTrump's supposed talks with Iran: What do we know?

Iran would also ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran in turn would see an end to all sanctions, which have been in place in various forms for years, the Israeli report said.

Iran would also receive assistance in developing civil nuclear energy at Bushehr, a key site which dates from before the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Iran on Tuesday accused Israel of carrying out a second strike on Bushehr, which lies perilously close to Gulf Arab population centers.

"The sounds, the explosions, the missiles  they are part of our daily life now," a 35-year-old woman in Tehran told AFP by telephone. "Our one real worry now is that our oil and gas infrastructure isn't targeted by missile strikes."

Iran had agreed in 2015 to broad restraints on its contested nuclear program in a deal that Trump ripped up during his first term as he joined Israel in applying pressure to the cleric-run state.

The reported new proposal would keep in place the Islamic republic which weeks earlier ruthlessly crushed mass protests, killing thousands, despite earlier vows of regime change by Trump and especially Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Troops en route despite diplomacy

Despite Trump's stated hopes for diplomacy, The Wall Street Journal reported that the United States is planning to send 3,000 soldiers from the elite 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East.

Trump's envoys were negotiating a nuclear deal with Iran just two days before the United States and Israel launched the massive attack on February 28, killing Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei on the first day.

Iranian missiles have found growing success penetrating Israeli defences, with AFP images showing rubble-strewn streets in the commercial hub Tel Aviv. On Tuesday, more than a dozen people were injured in Israel, including an infant, first responders said.

Israel said it conducted a "large wave" of air strikes across several areas of Iran. Israeli military spokesman Effie Defrin said his country's war plan was "unchanged" despite Trump's remarks and that it would continue "to deepen the damage and remove existential threats".

Israel has also stepped up its campaign against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, saying its military would take control of south Lebanon up to the Litani river, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border.

Read moreTension rises between Israel and Lebanon as IDF occupies south of Litani river

Israel  which occupied southern Lebanon for nearly two decades until 2000  carried out new strikes across the country. The Israeli military late Tuesday warned residents of Beirut's southern suburbs, strongholds of Hezbollah, to evacuate in the face of imminent strikes.

The Israeli campaign has killed at least 1,072 people in Lebanon, with more than one million people displaced, according to authorities.

Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East war when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 to avenge the killing of Khamenei.

Lebanon, whose central government has long been fragile, grew increasingly assertive by announcing it was ordering the Iranian ambassador to leave by Sunday, accusing the Islamic republic of meddling and commanding Hezbollah operations.

Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia all said they had intercepted renewed drone and missile attacks as Iran kept up retaliatory strikes on US-allied Gulf states.

Oil prices, which had tumbled after Trump mooted talks on Monday, rebounded slightly in Tuesday trade, with Brent back above $100 a barrel.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a joint press conference with Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda and Polish President Karol Nawrocki, at the Presidential palace in Vilnius, Lithuania, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026.

The US is making its offer of security guarantees for a peace deal in Ukraine conditional on Kyiv ceding all of the countrys eastern region of Donbas to Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky told Reuters in an interview.

With the US focused on its own conflict with Iran, President Donald Trump is applying pressure to Ukraine in an effort to bring a quick end to the four-year war triggered by Russias 2022 invasion, Zelensky said.

The Middle East definitely has an impact on President Trump, and I think on his next steps. President Trump, unfortunately, in my opinion, still chooses a strategy of putting more pressure on the Ukrainian side, he told Reuters.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed, and swathes of Ukraine laid waste, in Europes bloodiest conflict since World War Two.

The Ukrainian leader has repeatedly said robust security guarantees from international partners are needed to ensure that Russia does not restart hostilities in the future, after any peace deal is agreed.

Two vital questions remained unresolved regarding security guarantees, Zelensky said: who would help to fund Ukraines weapons purchases to sustain its military deterrent, and how exactly its allies would respond in the face of any future Russian aggression?

The Americans are prepared to finalise these guarantees at a high level once Ukraine is ready to withdraw from Donbas, the 48-year-old leader said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin insists that control of the whole of Donbas is an essential element of his war aims, which Moscow would achieve on the battlefield if it could not do so at the negotiating table.

But the pace of Russias advance has been slow over the past two years. Military analysts say it could take a long time and a significant amount of manpower to conquer all of Donbas, which includes a so-called fortress belt of cities heavily fortified by the Ukrainian military.

Zelensky warned that a withdrawal would compromise the security of both Ukraine and, by extension, Europe, by handing the regions strong defensive positions to Russia.

I would very much like the American side to understand that the eastern part of our country is part of our security guarantees, he said.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Zelensky had said in January that a security guarantees document between Ukraine and the US was 100% ready and waiting to be signed. On Tuesday, following weekend talks between US and Ukrainian officials in Miami, he said there was still work to be done.

Russia betting US will walk away, Zelensky says

Speaking in a gilded meeting room at the presidential offices in central Kyiv, Zelensky said Russia was betting Washington would lose interest if the peace talks stalled and would walk away. He acknowledged that there was some risk of this.

Zelensky questioned, however, whether Russia was willing to sacrifice hundreds of thousands more soldiers in an effort to capture the area of Donbas it does not already control  roughly 6,000 square kilometres. He repeated that a summit with Trump, Putin and himself was the only way to settle outstanding questions on territory and security guarantees to clinch a peace deal.

The Ukrainian leader shrugged off past tensions between himself and Trump. I am not a box of chocolates or a car, to be liked or disliked by one person or another, he said. In my opinion, the President of the United States looks at this more pragmatically, and he probably wants the war to end quickly. We also want to do so quickly.

Following heavy Russian bombardment of Ukrainian cities on Wednesday, Zelensky thanked the Trump administration for maintaining supplies of Patriot missile defence systems, despite increased demand for these weapons because of the conflict in the Gulf.

Ukrainian officials have previously expressed fears that shipments of US-made Patriots  the only missiles in Ukraines arsenal capable of downing Russian ballistic missiles  would dry up because of the Iran conflict.

Deliveries to us were not stopped. Im very grateful to President Trump, and to his team, Zelensky said. But this supply of Patriot missiles is not as large as we need.

Meanwhile, Ukraine was making progress in the production of its own long-range missiles and drones, allowing it to strike deep within Russia in retaliation for Russian bombardment of Ukrainian cities, Zelensky said.

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters)
A Venezuelan national who said he was deported from the U.S. and held at a notorious El Salvador prison is now suing the Trump administration.

Neiyerver Adrian Leon Rengel filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the U.S. seeking at least $1.3 million in damages for false imprisonment, abuse of process, negligence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, according to the Democracy Defenders Fund, which is representing the 28-year-old.

It comes after Rengel detailed these allegations in an administrative claim filed last year.

The latest complaint alleges that Rengel was wrongly identified as a member of the gang Tren de Aragua  repeatedly denied due process, falsely imprisoned, intentionally deceived, and  ultimately  illegally sent to El Salvador in blatant violation of a court order.

Rengel was detained by federal immigration agents in March 2025. When he was arrested, the only justification offered by ICE officers was that Plaintiffs tattoos indicated his membership in [Tren de Aragua], the complaint states.

Former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stands in front of a group of inmates at El Salvador's CECOT prison. Neiyerver Adrian Leon Rengel said in a new lawsuit he was held at the facility for four months last year (Getty Images)

Rengel has denied any connection to the gang. He told CBS News in a recent interview: I've never been a gang member, nor a member of a criminal group.

His tattoos include the names Sandra and Isabelahis mother and daughtera barbershop, and a tiger, rather than any symbols connected with [Tren de Aragua], the filing notes.

The lawsuit alleges Rengel was told he would be deported to Venezuela  but was instead placed on a plane to El Salvador and held at the countrys CECOT prison.

For four months, [Rengel] languished in CECOT, during which time he was beaten by guards, subjected to inhumane and overcrowded conditions as well as extreme psychological trauma, denied adequate medical care, and held without contact with his family or any legal counsel, the complaint states.

Juan Proano, CEO of the League of United Latin American Citizens, which assisted with the case, said in a statement Rengel deserves his day in court.

What happened to Adrian Rengel is government-sanctioned torture and a failure to recognize his humanity because he happened to be an immigrant, Proano added.

Neiyerver Adrian Leon Rengel is seeking at least $1.3 million in damages, according to his new lawsuit (Family of Neiyerver Adrian Leon Rengel)

When reached for comment, a DHS official told The Independent Rengel entered our country illegally in 2023 from Venezuela and is an associate of Tren De Aragua.

Tren de Aragua is vicious gang that rapes, maims, and murders for sport. This illegal alien was deemed a public safety threat as a confirmed associate of the Tren de Aragua gang and processed for removal from the U.S, the official said.

The DHS official also said the agency is confident in our law enforcements intelligence, and we arent going to share intelligence reports and undermine national security every time a gang member denies he is one.

There IS due process for these terrorists who all have final deportation orders. Further, we have a stringent law enforcement assessment in place that abides by due process under the U.S. Constitution, the official added.

Rengel was among the 252 Venezuelans deported to CECOT last year, according to Reuters. He was then released in July 2025 and sent to Venezuela as part of a prisoner swap agreement (REUTERS)

The Independent has contacted the Democracy Defenders Fund, the Justice Department and the office of El Salvadors president for comment.

Rengel was among the 252 Venezuelans deported to CECOT last year, according to Reuters. He was then released in July 2025 and sent to Venezuela as part of a prisoner swap agreement.

The DHS official said the Trump administration deported nearly 300 Tren de Aragua and MS-13 terrorists to the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) Prison in El Salvador, where they no longer pose a threat to the American people.
Vince Vaughn has taken aim at late night television, arguing that an increasingly political tone has driven audiences away and contributed to the genres declining popularity.

Vaughn, who has previously described himself as a political libertarian, made the comments on MAGA-friendly comedian Theo Vons podcast this week.

During the episode, Von pointed out that Hollywood is a liberal place, to which Vaughn replied, But not really. Its more like, Were smart and got it figured out, and if you dont agree then youre an idiot.

He continued, There was definitely a culture that if you didnt agree with these ideas, you were looked at as bad.

A lot of the late shows have struggled, Von pointed out. Because the only person they could make fun of at a certain point was just like white redneck kind of people. And it f***ing tanked [ratings].

Vince Vaughn appeared on the MAGA-friendly podcast This Past Weekend with Theo Von on Tuesday (This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von)

Vaughn has described himself as a libertarian politically, while claiming he isnt aligned with either the Republican or Democratic parties (AFP via Getty Images)

The Wedding Crashers star agreed: See, they never get it right. The podcasts have gotten so much more popular with less production, less writers [and] less staff, because people want authenticity. And I think that the talk shows, to a large part, became really agenda-based.

They were gonna evangelize people to what they thought, he continued, And so people just rejected it because it didnt feel authentic. It felt like they had an agenda. It stopped being funny, and it started feeling like I was in a fucking class I didnt want to take.

They all became so about their politics and whos good and whos bad, the Couples Retreat actor added. Imagine sitting next to someone like that on a f***ing plane. Youd be like, how do I get out of this f***ing seat?

Vaughn has previously stated that he isnt aligned with the Republican or Democratic parties.

I definitely am a believer more in allowing individuals to make choices, he told The New York Times in 2024. So I think that drugs should be legal and people should have guns.

Id rather say let people make their choices, and they can make different choices and have the consequences of their choices, he added.

He faced backlash last year after posing for a photo with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House.

Asked by Von if he ever felt ostracized in Hollywood, Vaughn responded: I always got along with people and try to be honest about who I am. I have opinions on both sides [of the political aisle].

He said his early relationships in Hollywood were not affected by politics because we werent 23 sitting around talking about fucking taxes.

He added, If youre constantly worried what someone else thinks of you and youre only around them a couple hours a day, youre miserable most of the time. Youve got to find the way to be yourself, but be respectful.
Warning over wild west of weight-loss drugs on black market: We cant arrest our way out of this

Regulators have warned the public is at risk and people need to be educated due to the rapidly growing black market for weight-loss drugs and illegally traded medicines.

More than 1.5 million people in the UK use the medication, but as popularity soars for these so-called miracle drugs, so has the criminal availability of them.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) seized almost 20 million doses of illegally traded medicines during 2025, with a potential street value of nearly 45 million.

Andy Morling, head of the criminal enforcement unit at the MHRA, told a Health and Social Care Committee meeting that 81,000 doses of GLP-1 drugs alone were seized over the last three years, and 99 times out of 100, the products are genuine.

That doesnt make it safe, it hasnt been produced in accordance with manufacturing processes, Mr Morling said. The sterility is questionable, the dosage is questionable.

Andy Morling, head of the criminal enforcement unit at the MHRA, warned we cannot arrest our way out of this (House of Commons/UK Parliament)

He estimated it is just 10 per cent of the problem, with the profit margin for medicines on the black market rivalling cocaine and heroin.

We cannot arrest our way out of this; its about educating the public, Mr Morling said.

Weight-loss injections, such as Mounjaro and Wegovy, also known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, work by mimicking the natural hormone which regulates blood sugar, appetite and digestion. They are a prescribed drug and to access them on the NHS, a patient needs to have a BMI of 40 or more, but private providers offer them to those with a BMI over 30.

However, since the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approved semaglutide for weight loss in March 2023, criminals have been making fake products.

Mr Morling recalled the MHRA seized 900 fake pens that contained insulin and could have killed people. Then he explained criminals sold weight-loss drugs in small, unlabelled vials through social media and back street beauticians, before moving to manufacturing their own weight-loss drug with their own branding.

But he reassured the committee that the MHRA is fit for purpose and is leading the way globally when it comes to tackling the weight-loss drug black market.

Weight-loss drugs are prescription-only and only available via a doctor or a qualified healthcare professional. Sourcing medications from unregulated suppliers will not meet the MHRAs strict safety and quality standards and could be dangerous.

However, not everyone buying weight-loss drugs from the black market realises they are doing so, with the lines between medical and cosmetic becoming blurred, Mr Morling warned.

Over the last three years the MHRA seized 81,000 doses of GLP-1 drugs (Alamy/PA)

People are buying weight-loss drugs from beauticians and from social media and, in some cases, with fatal consequences.

Committee chair Layla Moran cited the case of 53-year-old Karen McGonigal, whose two daughters claim her death in May last year came days after she was illegally administered a dose of semaglutide.

It was a local Botox provider, I believe, who gave her this jab illegally, and I understand there is an ongoing investigation with Greater Manchester Police, she added.

If we dont get to the bottom of this wild west unregulated market, everyone is at risk, she told the committee.

There are currently 55 MHRA officers who proactively patrol the internet looking for illegal sellers, Mr Morling told MPs.

However, he said half a dozen staff are dedicated to looking for offending social media posts.

I think ultimately its a social media company to determine whether to take these things down or not, whether they believe that theyre in breach of the law, he said. We can ask them to, we cant compel them to.

He added there is a spectrum that the regulator is seeing, with illegal online sellers at one end and genuine prescribers at the other.

What we see is a bit of the blurring of the lines between the two, where there are illegal medicine sellers purporting to be prescribing when in fact, its just a front for an illegal online pharmacy, he said.

Its difficult for the public to tell the difference sometimes between the two.
Its not normal to see your abusers face every day for six years, Epstein survivor says

For years, Joanna Harrison lived with the shame of the abuse she suffered at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein and wanted to remain anonymous. But when her name was included in the millions of documents released as part of the Epstein files, she felt she had to speak up.

Its not normal to see your abusers face every day for six years, on TV, hear their name, she told BBC Newsnight.

It gets to a point where youre being suffocated, and you need to breathe, and I feel this is my way of trying to breathe, she added, explaining why she decided to speak out.

Ms Harrison and four other Epstein survivors were brought together to share their stories of grief and anger and memories of his private island, Little St James.

Joanna Harrison has spoken out about her experience with Epstein (BBC Newsnight)

She met Epstein in Florida, aged 18, and recounted how he raped her on his birthday.

Speaking publicly for the first time, she expressed her concerns that she and other survivors would not get justice now that Epstein is dead.

Another survivor, Chauntae Davies, who is a trained massage therapist, shared images with the BBC from her time travelling with Epstein on his private plane to Africa. They included photographs of actor Kevin Spacey and former president Bill Clinton, who were travelling on a humanitarian trip to promote Aids prevention.

She recalled travelling on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to five different countries in five days, but she said the experience was tainted by what was happening behind closed doors.

She said Epstein raped her on his private island after being hired to give him massages. But she said she never considered telling Mr Clinton, who, while giving testimony in front of the US House Oversight Committee in February, said he wished Ms Davies had told him about Epsteins wrongdoing.

Chauntae Davies shares images of her time travelling with Epstein on his private plane to Africa (BBC Newsnight)

Being included in the Epstein files is not an indication of wrongdoing, and the former US president has repeatedly said he did not witness Epsteins abuse. Mr Spacey has called for the release of all the Epstein files, saying: For those of us with nothing to fear, the truth can't come soon enough.

The release of files by the US Justice Department brought to light allegations that prompted the US state of New Mexico to reopen a criminal probe into Epsteins Zorro Ranch, after an investigation in 2019.

Ms Davies said the ranch was where most of the assaults happened, calling it dark and eerie. Another survivor, Lisa Phillips, also said the ranch was creepy.

Jena Lisa Jones met Epstein when she was just 14 years old (BBC Newsnight)

Ms Phillips, who was a fashion model when she met Epstein, spoke about his connections to King Charless brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. She said her friend, who wanted to remain anonymous, was allegedly instructed to have sex with Mountbatten-Windsor in a New York apartment in 2003.

The former prince, who was stripped of the last of his royal titles last year over his links to the convicted paedophile, has consistently denied all wrongdoing.

Lisa Phillips, who was a fashion model when she met Epstein, spoke about the financiers connections to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (BBC Newsnight)

The former Duke of York was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office over accusations he had shared confidential information with Epstein while serving as a UK trade envoy.

He remains under police investigation by Thames Valley Police, whose officers are assessing the claims that emerged in the Epstein files.

Ms Philips told the BBC she asked Epstein why he had made her friend have sex with Mr Mountbatten-Windsor. She claimed Epstein replied: I like to have things on people.

Survivors Jena Lisa Jones and Wendy Pesante both met Epstein when they were aged 14. Ms Pestante said that a 14-year-old should not have the mindset of a sex worker.
Days after President Donald Trump told reporters his administration was pushing a 15-point plan for a ceasefire in the nearly month-old war he started against Iran, the White House suggested that reports about the existence of such a plan may not be entirely factual.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday slammed coverage of the plan, sparked by her boss announcement of it, which Iranian officials have reportedly rejected during talks that she characterized as productive in a Wednesday press briefing.

I saw a 15-point plan that was floated in the media. I would caution reporters in this room from reporting about speculative points or speculative plans from anonymous sources. The White House never confirmed that full plan. There are elements of truth to it, but some of the stories I read were not entirely factual, she said.

Her comments appeared to cast doubt on whether any such plan exists, but the very existence of the 15-point American plan was first revealed by Trump himself on Monday when he spoke to reporters  including The Independent  before boarding Air Force One for a flight to Memphis, Tennessee.

After he said there were many points of agreement between Washington and Tehran, he was asked to elaborate further on what they might be. He replied: 15 points, 15 points.

Leavitt defended the president's immigration agenda, which has become a point of debate between Republicans and Democratic lawmakers during the shutdown talks (Getty Images)

They're not going to have a nuclear weapon. That's number one. That's number one, two and three, Trump claimed.

The administrations plan is understood to have included demands for Iran to dismantle its existing nuclear capabilities, abandon its regional proxy paradigm including the dismantling of said proxies, re-open the Strait of Hormuz and limit its missiles to self-defense.

It closely tracked a proposal that had been floated to Iranian negotiators nearly a year ago, in talks which had taken place just before American airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities last June.

Iranian state media reported that government officials had rejected the purported 15-point as plan excessive and a strategic failure.

A high-ranking Iranian diplomatic official later described the proposition as extremely maximalist and unreasonable in comments made to Al Jazeera on Wednesday.

Trump touted the 15-point ceasefire proposal to Iran as he spoke to reporters Monday boarding Air Force One for a flight to Memphis, Tennessee. (Getty)

It is not even beautiful on paper, they remarked. An Iranian official confirmed to Reuters that the response to the proposal was not positive and that it was still being reviewed by Tehran.

Irans response is reportedly being conveyed to Washington by Pakistan, which hosts the Iranian interests section that serves as a de facto diplomatic outpost for Tehran in the U.S. since the U.S. and Iran have lacked formal relations since 1979.

Pakistan has taken a leading in facilitating the latest negotiations because the Persian Gulf countries that normally serve as intermediaries have found themselves embroiled in defensive efforts to rebuff Iranian attacks.

State media broadcaster Press TV later listed five key demands in an Iranian counterproposal for a ceasefire including: a complete stop to aggression and assassinations, concrete mechanisms to ensure the war is not reimposed, war damages and reparations, cessation of fighting with all resistance groups throughout the Middle East and the recognition of Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Leavitt, the White House Press Secretary, told reporters that Trump is prepared to unleash hell on Tehran if the Iranian regime does not return to the negotiating table.

She said: If Iran fails to accept the reality of the current moment, then the regime would be hit harder than they have ever been hit before.

President Trump does not bluff and he is prepared to unleash hell. Iran should not miscalculate again, she added.

The back-and-forth over the purported dueling peace plans comes after the United States has confirmed the deployment of ground troops to the Middle East after Iran sent back the excessive demands of Donald Trumps peace plan.

The Pentagon confirmed to The Independent on Wednesday that some elements of the 82nd Airborne Division, some division enablers and the 1st Brigade Combat Team will be deploying to the region.
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White House staffers were reportedly left baffled by President Donald Trumps claim Tuesday that he had received a gift from Iran, about which he then refused to disclose anything further.

Theyre gonna make a deal, the president said of Tehran in the Oval Office as he swore in Markwayne Mullin as his new Homeland Security secretary, replacing Kristi Noem.

They did something yesterday that was amazing, actually. They gave us a present and the present arrived today. It was a very big present, worth a tremendous amount of money, he added. Im not going to tell you what that present is, but it was a very significant prize, and they gave it to us.

That meant one thing to me. Were dealing with the right people, he concluded.

The president was uncharacteristically tight-lipped about the details thereafter, but, having started a guessing game among the assembled press corps, did begrudgingly reveal a few clues.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he had received a present from the Iranian regime but was uncharacteristically cagey about what it actually consisted of (AP)

It was oil and gas related, he said, and relevant to the Strait of Hormuz, the effective closure of which by Iran has sent global fuel prices soaring, given that one-fifth of the worlds oil is shipped across its waters.

According to Politicos West Wing Playbook newsletter, Trumps cryptic remarks even sowed confusion among his own inner circle, with several people close to the White House telling the publication they were baffled by the presidents remarks.

The Independent has reached out to the White House for further comment, although it declined to answer all follow-up questions Tuesday.

Initial speculation that Trump might have been referring to the Omega Trader, a supertanker carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude oil, was dampened after Bloomberg reported the vessel had not been able to successfully traverse the strait, despite reports to the contrary.

Joking about the situation on Tuesdays episode of The Daily Show, host Josh Johnson suggested it could be a literal Trojan Horse and imagined a naive Trump shaking the box to determine its contents: Its ticking. I bet its a watch!

Trump suggested the mystery gift was oil and gas related and relevant to the Strait of Hormuz, the effective closure of which by Iran has sent global fuel prices soaring (Reuters)

What happens next in the Iran conflict is unclear, given that the president is reported to have submitted a 15-point peace plan for the regimes consideration while also preparing to deploy specialized paratroopers from the U.S. Armys elite 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, a development the Islamic Republic is said to be closely monitoring.

The New York Times has suggested the paratroopers could be used to seize Kharg Island, Irans main export hub, which handles 95 percent of its outgoing crude oil.

South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, a long-time Iran hawk, urged Trump to take that step during an interview with Fox News Sunday, telling him: Control that island. Let this regime die on a vine.

But the president began the week on a more peaceful footing, claiming to have entered very good and productive talks with Tehran while announcing a five-day ceasefire, averting a planned bombing campaign targeting the countrys power plants. The regime then accused him of issuing fake news and said the U.S. camp was negotiating with yourselves.

Asked about Irans denials, the president said: Well, theyre going to have to get themselves better public relations people. Weve had very strong talks. Mr. [Steve] Witkoff and Mr. [Jared] Kushner had them. They went perfectly.

Iran responded to that by launching a fresh wave of missile strikes on the U.S. and Israels allies across the Gulf.
Hilary McGrady, the head of the National Trust, says ethnic minorities dont feel confident in the countryside - Megan Taylor/National Trust

Hilary McGrady, the head of the National Trust, has a problem. Shes desperate for more people from ethnic minorities to visit the Trusts properties. Unfortunately, she says, a lot of them dont feel confident in the countryside. This is because they dont necessarily know, What am I meant to wear?

Now, Im sure McGrady means well. So I hope she wont be offended when I ask if she seriously believes that people with brown skin dont know what a raincoat is? The sight of water falling from the sky is not entirely unique to rural areas. Those who live in British towns and cities, regardless of their race, are likely to have amassed considerable experience of this strange meteorological phenomenon, and will be well-versed in the conventional means of surviving it.

McGrady may well protest that this is simply what people from ethnic minorities have told her. But I wonder whether she considered the possibility that they didnt really mean it, and were just using it as an excuse because they didnt actually want to visit her properties, but felt that it would be rude to say so?

No, no, Ms McGrady, its not that we have absolutely zero interest in spending our weekends traipsing round a load of old buildings that have nothing to do with our own history or culture. Its just that, er, we dont own any tweed! And we think a Barbour is a Turkish hairdresser! Yes, thats it!

According to McGrady, ethnic minorities have also told the Trust that they wouldnt know how to behave in the countryside, and have asked, Whats a countryside code? Ive never heard of it. These comments tend to support my thesis. Nonetheless, shes determined to attract more non-white visitors because, she declares, the Trust must be of benefit to the whole nation, not just a bit of it.

No doubt this explains why, as Charles Moore revealed on Monday, the Trust has produced an internal video for its staff and volunteers, in which by my count, more than 50 images of non-white (mainly black) people appear, and slightly fewer of white people. For example, the interior of a Georgian house is depicted with a black performance artist sauntering through it, and a Rastafarian smiles at a mural of Bob Marley with The Peoples Champion painted on it.

To some members, the Trusts apparent obsession with race may seem strange. Still, perhaps they shouldnt be surprised. Because lets face it  this is just yet another stage in the campaign by progressive elites to make the countryside more diverse.

Its relentless. Last month, we learned of plans for a diversity drive to turn the countryside into a less white environment. Last September, academics at the University of Leicester argued that the overwhelmingly white countryside should provide halal food and spaces for prayer to make non-white people feel comfortable visiting.

And in 2024, wildlife charities told MPs that non-white people are prevented from using green spaces because of racist colonial legacies that frame nature in the UK as a white space.

Personally, I find this fixation somewhat puzzling. I wonder what would happen if an organisation were to complain that, rather than too white, some parts of the UK are not white enough  for example, Newham in London (69.2 per cent non-white, according to the 2021 Census). Will any charities or academics be calling for Newham to become a less non-white environment, and demanding that action be taken to make visiting it more comfortable for white people? Or would that be deemed appallingly offensive?

Somehow, I suspect the latter. In fact, there are times when I wonder whether the real motivation behind demands to make our countryside more diverse is that progressive elites have been alerted to the sociological phenomenon known as white flight. That is, the exodus of white people from diverse, urban areas to non-diverse, rural ones. And so, horrified by this disgraceful trend, our elites wish to make it impossible.

Of course, such idle speculation may be wholly unfounded. But either way, I hope the National Trust will be wary of the notion that non-white people dont know how to dress in the countryside. I wouldnt recommend marching around Brixton, barking: Good day, persons of colour! These are called wellies! You put them on your feet! Now, whos up for a lovely yomp round the Chilterns?
A tense Mette Frederiksen observes Donald Trump walk past at a Nato meeting last June. The Social Democrats leader hoped his Greenland threats might give her an election boost, but votes dropped - Christian Hartmann/AFP via Getty

When Mette Frederiksens Social Democrats suffered devastating losses in local elections last November, the Danish prime minister seemed to be on her way out.

Then along came the Greenland crisis, handing her a boost in the polls as voters were impressed by how she stood up to, and then stared down, Donald Trump.

It was the perfect moment to call a snap election, allowing the prime minister to restore faith in her party and gain a stronger mandate to reject US ownership of the Arctic island.

Unfortunately, in Copenhagen, it is becoming clear that the gamble has not paid off.

With Mr Trump placated and his focus elsewhere, voters were more concerned about drinking water, the ethics of industrial pig farming and a wealth tax.

According to the final tally, the Social Democrats won 21 per cent of the vote, not only a sharp decline from the 27 per cent they secured in 2022s election but the partys worst result since 1903.

It was also a bad night for the centrist Moderates and the centre-Right Venstre parties, Ms Frederiksens outgoing coalition partners, as they too have lost seats in the Folketing, the Danish parliament.

While the Social Democrats emerged once again as the largest party, the only success stories were to be found on the hard Left and Right, where the former Communist party Green Left and the populist-nationalist Danish Peoples Party made moderate gains.

As a result, neither the Left-wing nor the Right-wing blocs have a majority in the Danish parliament, and the country is now looking towards lengthy coalition talks.

A restrained-looking Mette Frederiksen seen the day after the Danish election - Sergei Grits/AP

So what went wrong for Ms Frederiksen, who has said she is obviously disappointed that weve lost ground but insists the result was acceptable?

The answer may lie in a risky and divisive Left-wing policy that the Social Democrats made a key element of their campaign: a wealth tax.

The policy, which caused a significant amount of controversy in the first half of the election campaign, would have imposed a 0.5 per cent tax on assets worth more than 25 million Danish kroner (2.9m).

The goal was to fund a reduction in classroom sizes in Denmark to only 14 children, which would be a major improvement on the current average class size of 21.

Pia Olsen Dyhr celebrates her Socialist Peoples Partys election results in Copenhagen - Liselotte Sabroe/Reuters

Some of Denmarks most senior business figures were practically queuing up to condemn the policy in the early stages of the election, with Niels B. Christiansen, the Lego chief, warning it would have a chilling effect on job creation.

The Social Democrats Right-wing bloc rivals also warned voters that it would trigger an exodus of business talent from Denmark.

It is possible that the tax pledge may have alienated the moderate wing of the Social Democrats, particularly those who are older and more affluent.

Ironically, the Greenland issue may also have ended up working against Ms Frederiksen, who vowed to secure the future of the Danish territory and defend Europe when she called the election.

Zenia Stampe and Samira Nawa of the Radikale Venstre party react to the first exit poll - Thomas Traasdahl/EPA/Shutterstock

While it is true that she has won plaudits for standing up to Mr Trump, there was consensus in this campaign that he cannot have Greenland, a Danish autonomous territory.

This meant the issue was often absent from the TV debates and campaign speeches, with party leaders instead getting stuck into local issues such as the quality of drinking water and the ethics of industrial pig farming.

Towards the end of the campaign, talk of foreign policy, migration and taxes had given way to a much more pastoral debate on the future of the country which seemed to almost stubbornly ignore the Trump-shaped elephant in the room.

Instead of celebrating the result on Wednesday morning, Ms Frederiksen is now facing lengthy and complex coalition talks which are likely  but not guaranteed  to hand her a third term.

To achieve this she will need to win over Lars Lkke Rasmussen, the pipe-smoking leader of the centrist Moderates party, who has emerged from this election as a kingmaker.

Mr Rasmussen is an equally staunch defender of Danish sovereignty over Greenland and he served as foreign minister under Ms Frederiksen.

Members of the Liberal Party are cheered by the first exit poll - Nils Meilvang/Ritzau Scanpix via AP

But when it comes to domestic policy, the Moderates lean towards a more liberal free-market world view. Because of this, one suspects that an early demand in these talks will be that Ms Frederiksen drops her wealth tax idea.

There is also speculation that, because of these messy election results, the coalition talks could go on for many weeks.

Ms Frederiksen has warned that the Greenland issue has not gone away. Danes can only hope a government is firmly in place before the US ramps up its invasion threats all over again.
Woman charged with attempted murder of Rihanna after shooting at her LA home to appear in court

A woman charged with trying to murder Rihanna and more than a dozen other felonies is set to appear in court to enter a plea Wednesday.

The singing superstar, her hip-hop star partner A$AP Rocky, their three young children and many others were at their home in the Beverly Hills area when Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, 35, of Orlando, Florida, opened fire on the property on March 8, prosecutors said.

Ortiz is charged with 10 counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and three counts of shooting at an occupied vehicle or dwelling.

At her first appearance in Los Angeles Superior Court on March 11, Ortiz's lawyer entered a plea of not guilty on her behalf, but then withdrew it in favor of postponing the arraignment.

Rihanna's Los Angeles home in Beverly Hills, California (AP)

Public records show Ortiz has been a licensed speech pathologist for more than a decade. Now jailed on $1.8 million bail, she could get life in prison if convicted on all charges.

The Public Defender's Office said only that "we will work to ensure that our client receives the full protections guaranteed under the Constitution.

District Attorney Nathan Hochman said when Ortiz was charged that Rihanna and Rocky were together in an Airstream trailer at the time of the shooting, while her mother, their children and staffers were in the main house.

The three counts of firing at a dwelling were for Rihannas house, her trailer, and a neighbors house, prosecutors said. The 10 assault counts were for Rihanna and family, two staffers and two people in the neighboring house.

Hochman would not say where any of the bullets landed, discuss a motive or describe any connection between Ortiz and Rihanna, saying all were under investigation.

A nine-time Grammy Award winner, Rihanna has 14 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including We Found Love, Work, Umbrella and Disturbia. She founded the makeup brand Fenty Beauty in 2017.

She and A$AP Rocky announced the birth of their third child, a girl named Rocki Irish Mayers, in September.
Jenna Strouble, 30, has been charged with first-degree murder in the killings of 32-year-old Jacob Lambert and his parents, Stacy Forde, 54, and Patrick Forde, 55 (WLS/Will County Sheriff's Office)

An Indiana mother is accused of carrying out a deadly attack on the father of her children before turning the gun on his parents inside their Illinois home, authorities said.

Jenna Strouble, 30, has been charged with first-degree murder in the killings of 32-year-old Jacob Lambert and his parents, Stacy Forde, 54, and Patrick Forde, 55, in unincorporated Crete Township earlier this week.

Police allege Strouble traveled from her home in St. John, Indiana, to the Illinois home, about eight miles away, where she allegedly shot and killed all three people before fleeing back across the state line.

Will County Sheriffs deputies were called to the home on Norway Trail around 2 a.m. Monday for a welfare check requested by a concerned family member, the Will County Sheriffs Office said in a statement.

When deputies arrived on scene, they found the bodies of three adults, two men and one woman, authorities said. The victims, all residents of the home on E. Norway Trail, included a man and his parents.

Jenna Strouble, 30, has been charged with first-degree murder in the killings of 32-year-old Jacob Lambert and his parents, Stacy Forde, 54, and Patrick Forde, 55 (Will County Sheriff's Office)

According to investigators, Lambert was found dead in a car in the driveway, and his parents were discovered inside the home on the first floor near the front door. Lambert and his parents lived in the home, police said.

Investigators said Strouble fled back to her own home, where she was later taken into custody by local police.

Authorities have not released a motive, but said Strouble had an on/off relationship with Lambert, and they had children together. Its unclear where the children were at the time of the killings.

Police allege Jenna Strouble traveled from her home in St. John, Indiana, about eight miles away, to carry out the shootings at the home on Norway Trail before fleeing back across the state line (WLS)

"The preliminary investigation shows this was a targeted incident, investigators said. During the detectives' interviews, Strouble gave incriminating statements, following the homicides.

A firearm believed to have been used in the killings was recovered, but officials have not released details.

Strouble is being held at the Lake County Jail in Indiana. She is expected to be extradited to Illinois at a future date.
Abu Faraj al-Libi has been detained at Guantanamo Bay since 2006 - PAKISTAN INTERIOR MINISTRY/AFP

An alleged senior al-Qaeda operative held in Guantanamo Bay is in line for compensation from the UK Government over torture allegations.

Abu Faraj al-Libi, who has been detained at Guantanamo Bay since 2006 as a suspected senior figure in al-Qaeda, is suing the Government over the alleged complicity of UK intelligence services in his torture by the CIA.

He is the second current inmate to have taken legal action against the UK.

Abu Zubaydah, another senior al-Qaeda suspect who has been held at Guantanamo Bay since 2006 without charge or conviction, received substantial compensation in an out-of-court settlement.

He was the first man subjected to CIA enhanced interrogation techniques after the September 11 terror attacks on the US.

MI5 and MI6 passed questions to the CIA for use during Zubaydahs interrogations, despite knowing of his extreme mistreatment.

Zubaydah, who was previously represented by Lord Hermer, the Attorney General, took a legal claim against the UK to the Supreme Court on the basis that the intelligence services were complicit in his torture. The court ruled in his favour.

Nick Timothy, the shadow justice secretary, urged the Ministry of Justice to block any further payouts.

In a letter to David Lammy, the Justice Secretary, Mr Timothy wrote: It is unacceptable for terror suspects to use lawfare against our country, benefit from it financially and avoid accountability for their actions.

How much was given to Zubaydah under the out-of-court settlement? Can you rule out making a similar settlement with al-Libi?

Al-Libi, a nom de guerre, was arrested by Pakistans intelligence services in May 2005 after a joint operation involving the CIA and Pakistans special forces.

According to the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence, he served as the third in command of al-Qaeda from the 2003 capture of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to his own arrest two years later.

Al-Libi was arrested by Pakistans intelligence services in May 2005 - Reuters

Last month, al-Libis lawyers claimed the Government had unlawfully trespassed in his barristers office and seized legal papers from a safe.

During a High Court hearing in London, his lawyers said Government security officers had conducted an unlawful entry, search, sift and seizure of documents.

The affected barrister was Rachel Toney, who represents al-Libis interests in secret hearings, which are closed to him and his own lawyers, and who has previously represented Zubaydah.

In written submissions, al-Libis lawyers said the Government had proceeded to enter her chambers despite having been refused permission, enter her safe in her absence and remove the very working material over which consent had been expressly refused, in both electronic and paper form.

In the absence of judicial authority for the search, they argued that the move was obviously unlawful. They said the Government team had sifted through legally privileged material and accessed Ms Toneys laptop before proceeding to delete multiple files.

The Government also seized and deleted documents relating to Zubaydahs case.

Al-Libis lawyers said the Governments knowledge of CIA torture programmes was key to his case, and that Ms Toneys existing awareness of this subject meant she was at least as familiar with the relevant material as the Governments own lawyers.

Seizure of documents had improper motive

They argued that the seizure was, therefore, heavily aggravated by the circumstances and appears to have had a doubtful or improper motive. They said this motive was to gain a litigation advantage at a time when Ms Toney was being effective and therefore proving troublesome for the Government.

They asked whether Lord Hermer had known in advance about the seizure, and whether he had given his consent.

Mr Justice Chamberlain, the High Court judge presiding over the hearing, directed that all the material taken from the barristers safe be returned to her. He ordered a further hearing, which will consider whether the Governments actions were unlawful.

During the hearing, Rory Phillips KC, representing the Government, said the search and seizure was carried out by an independent legal section of the Government that deals with special advocates. The judge put it to him that the person who went to Ms Toneys chambers is your agent, but he denied this.

At the end of the hearing, following a closed session, Mr Justice Chamberlain said Ms Toney was permitted to use the material to prepare for a hearing in the case later this month. He said this direction was with the consent of the Government, which also consented to giving Ms Toney the documents back.

Al-Libi alleges that he suffered torture and extreme mistreatment while held at secret CIA prisons known as black sites in various countries, whilst MI5 and MI6 passed questions for use during his interrogations.
A sketch from 1881 depicting slaves on the east coast of Africa - The Print Collector/Alamy

The United Nations has voted to insist that Britain and other former colonial powers should pay reparations for slavery.

The resolution, tabled at the UN General Assembly by Ghana on behalf of the African Union of countries, also condemned the forced migration as the gravest crime against humanity.

The text added that countries such as Britain should now begin good-faith dialogue on reparatory justice, including a full and formal apology, measures of restitution, compensation.

It also insisted that wrongful acts entail a duty of reparation. The non-binding resolution passed by 124 to three, with the UK among 52 abstentions.

James Kariuki, the British charge daffaires at the UK mission to the UN, said Britain continues to disagree with fundamental propositions of the text. He also raised concerns that African delegates insisted on using legal language in the resolution.

It followed weeks of lobbying by an African delegation in New York, revealed by The Telegraph, which garnered support from China, Iran, and Russia. Many Commonwealth countries, including India, also voted in favour of the resolution.

By backing the resolution, the UN members affirmed the importance of addressing historical wrongs affecting Africans and people of African descent, and accepted that claims for reparations represent a concrete step towards remedying historical wrongs.

The resolution also called for states to launch programmes and services to address racism and systemic discrimination.

Earlier this month, The Telegraph revealed that the African Union was planning to pursue Britain for reparations through the international courts, with a UN resolution seen as a key to establishing a legal foundation.

African sources, speaking to The Telegraph, said the transatlantic trade was considered more grave than the 1,300-year-long Arab trade in African slaves because of its scale, duration, and enduring impacts.

The forced displacement lasted for around 400 years. During this time, an estimated 12 million Africans were transported, with the largest proportion going to Brazil.

Dan Negrea, the US representative to the UN, dismissed the resolution as he raised the issue of the Muslim-led trans-Saharan slave trade, which continued well into the 20th century.

He said the US rejected attempts to create a hierarchy of crimes against humanity and accused supporters of the resolution of attempting to use politically expedient history to further their own ends.

Only the US, Israel and Argentina voted against.

France also abstained from the vote, as did the broader European Union, which contains member states that engaged in the slave trade, including Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands.

The resolution was devised as a symbolic opening to a new phase of a joint Caribbean and African campaign to secure reparations from Britain.

The African Union, a bloc of 55 member states, has been seeking compensation from former colonial powers, including the UK, for the harms inflicted by the slave trade.

They argue that it was responsible for underdevelopment across Africa, as well as modern-day racism more generally.

The resolution was announced by John Mahama, Ghanas president, following a meeting with repatriation experts in Accra in 2025. The meeting was supported by the Open Society Foundations, an international fund founded by George Soros, the Hungarian billionaire.

The Telegraph previously revealed that the organisation, along with a host of charities and funds, had pumped hundreds of thousands of dollars into the reparations movement.

Legal experts working with the African Union could seek an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague on the necessity of compensation for slavery.

An ICJ opinion on the Chagos Islands prompted the Labour Government to agree to the 30bn handover of the islands to Mauritius, an African Union member, citing the need to avoid breaking international law.

Experts working for the movement believe that the ICJ could be successfully used to leverage reparations from Britain.

A Foreign Office spokesman commented on the delegations vote, saying: The transatlantic slave trade was abhorrent. We recognise its horrific impacts and the ongoing strength of feeling it arouses.

We are committed to deepening respectful, long-term partnerships with African countries, rooted in mutual respect, that deliver real change for peoples lives.

The UKs position on reparations is clear  we will not pay them.
Drugs possession charges were brought against Crispin Blunt after police searched his home in Horley, Surrey, in 2023 - Mark Thomas

Crispin Blunts experience of attending chemsex parties informed drugs policy in Lord Camerons government, a court has heard.

Mr Blunt, a former Tory MP, was fined 1,200 at Westminster magistrates court after pleading guilty to possessing Class A and Class B drugs, including crystal meth and cannabis.

Methamphetamine, known as crystal meth, valued at 200 to 250 was found on his bedside table, the court heard. He was also in possession of the chemical drug GBL, a sedative, cannabis and methamphetamine.

Police found a variety of drugs at Mr Blunts home while he was being investigated for suspected rape - CPS

The court heard that Mr Blunt told police he had entered the chemsex scene after being appointed as a justice minister in 2010 under Lord Cameron.

He allegedly claimed that he used his experience of drugs parties to inform policy development.

Chemsex, which is most common among gay and bisexual men, involves taking drugs before engaging in group sex.

It was the first time he had come out as a gay man, and during his ministerial role he saw first-hand the harm caused by the governments drug policy, Zarah Dickinson, prosecuting, told the court. He began to take a professional interest in a policy that inflicted lasting harm on society.

Then he began his involving [sic] in the chemsex scene. His knowledge of first-hand use of drugs was used to inform how policies could be implemented.

Global prohibition of drugs a catastrophe

Mr Blunt held the role of prisons and probation minister until 2012, and on several occasions spoke in Parliament about the governments approach to drug users in jail.

In 2016, four years after leaving the department, he said he had been dissuaded from asking questions about the approach to drugs because it might unpick the governments entire justice policy.

The same year, he told the Commons that he was a user of poppers, a party drug, and said attempts to ban the drug were foolish.

Officers found an assortment of illegal drugs and associated paraphernalia - CPS

The charges were brought against Mr Blunt, the former Reigate MP, after police searched his home in Horley, Surrey, while he was being investigated for suspected rape in October 2023.

In May, after an 18-month investigation, Surrey Police said there would be no further action on the rape allegation because of insufficient evidence.

Ms Dickinson also told the court that plastic bottles containing a mixture of crystal meth and amphetamine were recovered from Mr Blunts home.

A syringe filled with 200 worth of GBL was found in a laptop bag, and a bag of cannabis valued at between 5 and 10 was recovered. Officers also discovered weighing scales containing powder residue.

A syringe filled with 200 worth of GBL and a bag of cannabis was also recovered - CPS

Representing himself in court, Mr Blunt told the court that the US-led policy of global prohibition of drugs had been a catastrophe, criticising the Tories for failing to carry out drug reform.

He hit out at his former colleagues over their moral simplicity of drugs are bad without consideration of the consequences of that position because it keeps politicians safe.

Mr Blunt said that he focused on reversing the consequences of our policy while sitting as an MP in areas such as drug reform.

In a speech lasting more than 30 minutes, he also insisted that criminal charges should never have been brought against him.

Mr Blunt suggested that Rishi Sunak, the former prime minister, was complicit in war crimes over his support for Israel after Hamass October 7 2023 attacks on Israel.

In an interview in The Times in 2023, Mr Blunt said his time as prisons and probation minister had convinced him that Britains drugs policy was wrong.

He said: I became convinced that we had a real problem with our drug policy, which was driving much of the activity in the criminal justice system. It wasnt drugs themselves that were the issue  it was this policy that sits behind it.

Its the battle over that business that is driving much of the consequences, rather than the harms of the drugs themselves.

As a backbencher, he advocated for the legalising of psilocybin, the active ingredient of magic mushrooms, saying that there were no arguments against it of any merit at all.
Members of the clergy and the congregation applaud Dame Sarah Mullally at the conclusion of the enthronement ceremony - Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

The new Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, has said that she still sees herself as just Sarah.

Dame Sarah was enthroned on Wednesday as the 106th  and first female  Archbishop of Canterbury in a ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral. She is the first woman to hold the role in its 1,400-year history.

Speaking before her historic installation ceremony, she said: The thing for me, its always been important to be able to communicate with people and to listen to people, and thats partly my nursing background as well as it is, you know, how I grew up.

But I do find that being accessible to people is really important. And whilst I think Im just Sarah, people see the Archbishop, so trying to use simple language, you know, listening to them, meeting people, where they are, is really important.

The installation ceremony marks the symbolic start of Dame Sarahs ministry as Archbishop of Canterbury.

The ceremony marks the symbolic start of Dame Sarahs role as Archbishop of Canterbury - Yui Mok/PA

She was first named in the role in October, and had her confirmation of election ceremony in January at St Pauls Cathedral.

Canterbury Cathedral hosted 2,000 official guests, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, representing the King as Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

The Princess, in a long grey fitted Suzannah coat, held onto her wide-brimmed Juliette Botterill hat amid windy weather as she and the Prince were greeted outside the West Door by Lady Colgrain, the Lord Lieutenant of Kent.

After the ceremony, the Archbishop greeted the Prince and Princess at the West Door of the cathedral, where the trio chatted animatedly.

Dame Sarah gave a small curtsey to the Princess and laughed as she responded to remarks made by the Prince. At one point, the Archbishop placed her hand on her heart as she talked to the couple.

The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive for Dame Sarahs ceremony - Yui Mok/PA

The Prince and Princess of Wales during the Enthronement Ceremony - Jordan Pettitt/PA

Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, a delegation from the United Nations, faith leaders, charity representatives and schoolchildren also attended the ceremony.

Wednesdays congregation included representatives and 26 primates from the Anglican Communion  Christian churches around the world of which Dame Sarah is now the spiritual leader.

Among them were some of the first female Anglican bishops from across Africa, who joined a procession through the cathedral.

The service featured six languages, including singing in Urdu, a Gospel reading in Spanish and a prayer in the Bemba language of Zambia.

The Pope sent a representative from the Holy See, and the Most Rev Richard Moth, the new Archbishop of Westminster, who is the leader of Catholics in England and Wales, gave a reading from the Old Testament.

The traditional knocking on the west door of Canterbury Cathedral - Yui Mok/PA

Dame Sarah was welcomed into Canterbury Cathedral by schoolchildren from John Wallis Academy in Ashford.

Having walked to the Cathedrals West Door, she knocked it three times using her pastoral staff  the traditional way for a new archbishop to seek permission to enter.

She was questioned by the schoolchildren as to why she had been sent, to which she answered: I am sent as Archbishop to serve you, to proclaim the love of Christ and with you to worship and love him with heart and soul, mind and strength.

She placed her hand on the St Johns Bible to swear the Corporal Oath  the first time this Bible has been used in this way.

The copy of the first Benedictine hand-illuminated Bible for more than 500 years was given to the cathedral in 2023.

Dame Sarah was first placed into the Bishops Chair, which dates from 1844, and marked her installation as Archbishop of Canterbury.

She was then installed in the ancient Chair of St Augustine  dating from the early 13th century, symbolising her wider ministry across the Anglican Communion.

Dame Sarah entering through the Great West Door for the ceremony - Gareth Fuller/REUTERS

Delivering her inaugural sermon as Archbishop, Dame Sarah admitted that the Church had failed victims of abuse.

The institution has been left reeling from the unprecedented resignation of her predecessor, Bishop Justin Welby, in November 2024 over allegations that he mishandled abuse claims related to John Smyth, the Churchs most prolific abuser.

The Archbishop said: In a world already torn by conflict, suffering, and division, we must also acknowledge the hurt that exists much closer to home.

We must not overlook or minimise the pain experienced by those who have been harmed through the actions, inactions, or failures of those in our own Christian churches and communities.

Today, and every day, we hold victims and survivors in our hearts and in our prayers, and we must remain committed to truth, compassion, justice and action.

Dame Sarah wore a clasp on her cloak which was made from the belt buckle she wore as a nurse while serving in the NHS.

As a symbol of the strong ties between Anglicans and Roman Catholics, she also wore the pastoral ring given to Archbishop Michael Ramsey in Rome by Pope Paul VI in 1966.

The service took place on the Feast of the Anunciation, which marks the day the Angel Gabriel told Mary she would be the mother of Jesus.

During her sermon she referred to Mary, the mother of God, who she said had to trust in a future she couldnt yet see  a future she could never have imagined.

Dame Sarah, who became a Christian at 16, said: This resonates with me, as I look back over my life  at the teenage Sarah, who put her faith in God and made a commitment to follow Jesus.

I could never have imagined the future that lay ahead, and certainly not the ministry to which I am now called.

Seated guests ahead of the enthronement ceremony - Jordan Pettitt/PA

Members of the clergy at the ceremony in Canterbury Cathedral - Jordan Pettitt/PA

The Archbishop arrived in Canterbury on Sunday at the end of a six-day walking pilgrimage from London, telling those she greeted that she was very relieved to complete the 87-mile trek.

She has held a career of many firsts: In 1999, at the age of 37, she became the youngest person ever to be chief nursing officer for England. She then became the first female Bishop of London in 2018.

Speaking before her installation ceremony, Dame Sarah urged women to follow your dreams.

Asked about her career achievements, she said: Its interesting, when I meet students, which I have done in the last week as part of the pilgrimage, it is the most frequently asked question, actually.

And once I sort of try and get my head around being the Archbishop, I recognise the significance of being the first female Archbishop, but I am also aware of the women that have supported me in my ministry, and also the men as well.

And part of the installation service will have womens voices right the way through it, so theres something about celebrating women, but also being able to say to other people, in a sense, its entirely possible for you to follow your dreams and what you want to do.

The Archbishop has repeatedly spoken about the misogyny she has endured.
Matt Brittin, 57, was Googles president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa - Geoff Pugh

The BBCs new director-general has vowed to win back the publics trust after a series of scandals.

Matt Brittin, a former Google executive, has been officially announced as the successor to Tim Davie and faces a battle to restore the corporations reputation.

Working alongside so many talented journalists, creatives and technicians, across the country and around the world, I join with humility, to listen, to learn, to lead, and to serve the public, working hard to earn their trust every day, he said.

This is a moment of real risk, yet also real opportunity. The BBC needs the pace and energy to be both where stories are and where audiences are, to build on the reach, trust and creative strengths today, confront challenges with courage, and thrive as a public service fit for the future. I cant wait to start this work.

Mr Brittin will start on May 18. He will appoint a deputy-general to oversee the BBCs news operation and its programme output after his predecessor was accused of failing to get a grip on a string of journalistic scandals.

These included the doctoring of a Donald Trump speech in an episode of Panorama, and the broadcast of a Gaza documentary that failed to tell viewers that the child narrator was the son of a high-ranking Hamas official.

Tim Davie resigned in November after a Telegraph investigation revealed bias at the broadcaster - Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images

Mr Brittins in-tray will include charter renewal negotiations with the Government, making the case for continued public funding of the BBC, and facing Mr Trumps $10bn (7.45bn) lawsuit over the Panorama episode.

The former Google president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa has no broadcast experience.

But the BBC board believes his career at Google makes him the right choice in an age dominated by tech giants, and at a time when Google-owned YouTube now attracts a larger audience than the BBCs channels combined.

Mr Brittin said: Now, more than ever, we need a thriving BBC that works for everyone in a complex, uncertain and fast-changing world. At its best, it shows us and the world who we are.

Its an extraordinary, uniquely British asset, with over 100 years of innovation in storytelling, technology and powering creativity. Im honoured and excited to be asked to serve as director-general.

Samir Shah, the chairman of the BBC board, said: Matts passion for the BBC, his understanding of the challenges facing the organisation, his commitment to its independence and his determination to maintain the BBCs position as one of the countrys greatest national assets were critical factors in the boards decision to appoint him as the 18th director-general.

Matt joins the BBC at a critical time. The Governments review of the charter is under way, and it is clear there is a need for radical reform of the BBC, its funding model and the framework in which it operates.

The stakes for the BBC and the future of public service broadcasting have never been higher.

Mr Brittin will also have to deal with declining public trust in the corporation as it grapples with accusations of failing to uphold its promise of impartiality. He was previously a non-executive director of Guardian Media Group.

Mr Davie resigned in November after a Telegraph investigation revealed bias at the broadcaster.

An internal dossier, written by former journalist Michael Prescott and sent to the BBC board, included evidence that Panorama doctored a speech by Mr Trump to make it wrongly appear as though he had directly called for violence on the day that his supporters stormed the US Capitol.

Mr Brittin, who describes himself as tall, energetic, British on his LinkedIn profile, is a former GB rower who competed at the Seoul Olympics in 1988.

Like his predecessor, Mr Brittin studied at Cambridge University. He went on to complete an MBA at the London Business School and worked as a chartered surveyor, a consultant at McKinsey and a commercial director at Trinity Mirror, before spending 18 years at Google.

He took a mini-gap year after leaving Google last year, saying he planned to sail and learn to scuba dive.

Accepting a Royal Television Society fellowship last year for his services to technology and the creative industries, Mr Brittin said he had been suffering from severe impostor syndrome in the company of senior broadcasting figures.

A Doctor Who fan, he also cited Morecambe and Wise, Not the Nine OClock News, Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet as formative viewing.

Katie Razzall, the BBCs culture and media editor, said Mr Brittin was a radical appointment in some respects but will, in one way at least, be like every other director-general who has gone before  a white male.
Junior doctors are set to resume their walkouts over the Easter holidays - Guy Smallman/Getty Images

Junior doctors will strike again despite being offered a five per cent pay rise.

The British Medical Association (BMA) will walk out for six days over the Easter holidays.

Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, had agreed to give the junior doctors, now called resident doctors, an average increase of 4.9 per cent for 2026-27.

Under the offer, their earnings would have increased by more than 35 per cent in just four years, with those starting out 12,000 better off.

The walkout will be the 15th separate strike in three years and one of the longest so far, beginning after the Easter bank holiday weekend.

The union said the likely impact of the Iran war on inflation meant they would not put the offer to its members.

Mr Streeting said it was enormously disappointing and that the government has pulled every lever available to put forward a generous package.

I would like to thank the leaders of the BMAs RDC [resident doctors committee] for the constructive approach they have shown to the intensive talks we have had since the turn of the year. I am only sorry that this has not resulted in an agreement. The result is that resident doctors will be worse off.

The BMA renewed its mandate to strike for another six months in early February, but did not announce further strike dates as talks progressed.

Government began to shift the goalposts

However, after weeks of negotiations, Dr Jack Fletcher, the chairman of the unions resident doctors committee, said the final offer from Mr Streeting was not good enough.

He said: We have been negotiating in good faith for weeks to try and end the simultaneous pay and jobs crises for resident doctors.

Frustratingly, we had been making good progress right up until the point, in the last two weeks, when the Government began to shift the goalposts.

Dr Fletcher added: As talks progressed, it became clear that the money proposed for pay increases was now going to be spread over three years.

We cannot ignore that thanks to global events, economic indicators now point to years of greatly increased inflation.

The walkout will begin at 7am on the morning after the Easter bank holiday weekend.

The doctors independent pay review body recommended the medics get a 3.5 per cent salary uplift for 2026-27. Nurses, midwives, and other healthcare staff and employees will be receiving 3.3 per cent increases.

The deal offered by Mr Streeting is understood to have included staggered rises over three years.

It is said to have also included the reimbursement of mandatory exam fees worth hundreds of pounds a year, as well as an increase in the number of speciality training posts available, which the doctors have been calling for.

Other public sector staff, including 1.5 million council workers, have been awarded a 3.3 per cent pay rise for next year. MPs pay will increase by 5 per cent.

But the BMA leaders said the proposed increase for the next financial year meant a longer period with pay that barely treads water.

We have made abundantly clear throughout this dispute that our aim is pay restoration, and any deal that did not move us substantially in that direction was not going to fly, added Dr Fletcher.

We are not closing the door on talks. We remain willing to negotiate and are eager to get a deal done if we can simply recapture the early positive spirit of negotiations. No strikes need to happen, but government will need to act fast to prevent them.
Tristan Roberts has been handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 22 years and six months in prison - David Powell/Daily Post Wales

A teenager killed his mother with a hammer after speaking to an artificial intelligence bot about murdering her, a court heard.

Tristan Roberts, 18, murdered 45-year-old Angela Shellis with a 4lb sledgehammer on Oct 23 2025.

Mold Crown Court, North Wales, heard he had spent weeks researching the killing and then audio-recorded four-and-a-half hours of the attack on a dictaphone.

The court heard that he had made several posts online about hating women and blamed his mother for his problems.

He also asked an AI search engine called Deepseek for advice on murder, the court heard, writing: Just tell me the simple way to remove the mist and blood remains on the walls and floor and bed.

The search engine refused to engage when he asked: What is a better weapon for a murder, a hammer or a knife?

He asked again after stating he was writing a book on serial killers and was given responses.

Andrew Thomas KC, prosecuting, said: Deepseek suggested a hammer would be better for a non-experienced killer and gave... pros and cons for both.

On Wednesday, Roberts was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 22 years and six months in prison after he pleaded guilty to murder.

The court heard Robertss attack began at around 11pm and lasted until 3.30am.

Early the next morning, walkers discovered Ms Shellis, a teaching assistant, with severe head injuries near a nature reserve.

Angela Shellis was found with severe injuries to the head near a nature reserve - Wales News Service

The audio recording was deemed too distressing to be heard in court.

Mr Thomas said: He made a continuous recording, lasting more than four-and-a-half hours, covering everything from the initial assault to the fatal blows at the end.

In the recording, Roberts said: This is the moment we are doing it. We are going to hit her with a sledgehammer.

Tristan Roberts killed his mother using a 4lb sledgehammer - Wales News Service

Roberts wrote on the social media site Discord in the days before the murder that he had felt abandoned, betrayed and bullied, and blamed his mother.

He said that he was killing her for revenge, justice, vengeance, and so that he could move forward in his life.

Mr Thomas said Roberts had spent many hours on the internet, researching information about murder cases, methods of killing and weapons.

He added that the teenager had posted several messages on Discord showing his intention to commit the offence, planning the murder at least three weeks in advance, and buying several weapons online.

On Oct 18, Roberts bought several hammers, including the sledgehammer he used in the murder, and an axe-sharpening stone online. He also bought plastic sheeting and gloves from Amazon.

Tristan Roberts started planning the murder at least three weeks in advance, and had bought several weapons - Wales News Service

Roberts began attacking his mother in their home late in the evening before leading her outside under the pretence of getting her medical help.

Her son made her put on a balaclava helmet and said just follow me as he led her across a railway line, through a nature reserve and took her to a bench.

Roberts took the sledgehammer from his rucksack and then killed his mother by hitting her on the head several times.

The court was told that Ms Shellis must have seen the weapon because on the audio recording she began screaming. He then hit her on the head with the sledgehammer. Mr Thomas told the court it sounded like four blows on his recording.

Roberts then said: I just killed her ... Job is done.

Ms Shellis died as a result of a brain injury.

Roberts dragged his mothers body approximately 100 metres through the park and abandoned her in the undergrowth.

Walkers found her later that morning.

North Wales Police arrested Roberts at his home address shortly after the attack and charged him with murder following four days of custody interviews.

Police arrested Tristan Roberts shortly after he murdered Angela Shellis - Wales News Service

Ethan Roberts, Ms Shelliss elder son, who left the court in tears at one point during the hearing, said in a statement: All my mum ever did was love Tristan.

Addressing Roberts in an impact statement, Sarah Gunther, her sister, said: It is incredibly hard to express our feeling towards you now.

There is anger, confusion and heartbreak, but, for me personally, there is still care for you.

The court heard Ms Shellis had tried to seek support for her son, who was diagnosed with autism and ADHD.

Roberts and Ms Shellis seen walking over a railway crossing - North Wales Police/PA

On Oct 17, she messaged a social worker and friends, stating that her son had bought a knife and a hammer.

She had written a note on her phone saying: Why?? [sic] What does he need these for? Is he planning to hurt me, himself, what? Who? Why? FFS.

An awful way for someone to die

Handing Roberts a life sentence, Judge Rhys Rowlands said: You appear to have revelled in the control you exerted over your own mother.

He added: It was, on any view, a truly awful way for someone to die.

It was made all the more dreadful by the fact her attacker was her own son, someone who it is clear she both cared for and, indeed, worried about in the weeks leading up to her death.

David Elias KC, defending, said the attack had taken place 10 days after Robertss 18th birthday.

He said Robertss deteriorating mental health must have contributed to his actions, although it did not offer him a defence.
US allies are becoming aware that Trump will offer up any number of hogwash excuses to justify his belligerence. Illustration: Guardian Design / Getty Images (Illustration: Guardian Design / Getty Images)

To shield ordinary Indians from the war in Iran, the government in Delhi redirected supplies of liquefied gas to Indian families, for which it is the main cooking fuel, limiting supplies to the plastics industry. The Nepalese government rationed gas and the Philippines trimmed the government workweek to four days. Bangladesh closed universities and rationed fuel.

They have been hardest hit by Irans closure of the strait of Hormuz. Economies in Asia import over a third of the energy they consume, on average. Korea imports four-fifths; Japan nine-tenths; Thailand 55%. Most of this comes from the Gulf. About 80% of oil and oil products transiting through the strait in 2025 was destined for Asia, according to the International Energy Agency. But traffic through its waters has collapsed by 90%.

Europe is less reliant on fuel from the Middle East. But it is intensely dependent on imported oil and, critically, natural gas, whose price has surged since US and Israeli bombardments began in Iran. This is reflected in equity markets. By 20 March the MSCI index of European stocks had fallen about 11% since the start of the war, more than the 9% fall of the MSCI Asia index.

Related: Trumps very good talks with Iran buy him time with oil and energy markets

So far, the advanced economy that has shown most resilience as war in the Middle East wreaks havoc in energy markets is that of the United States. The S&P 500 index has lost a relatively modest 5% since the beginning of Trumps war. And that reveals a lot about where we are going.

The data speaks to the relative resilience of the US economy and, especially, its abundance of domestic natural gas, which satisfies about 36% of its energy needs and insulates it to a significant degree from the vagaries of international prices.

But it adds an uncomfortable chapter to the main narrative of the world economy. It is a story in which the United States  once a guardian of a rules-based global order  dons the role of its nemesis, recklessly spreading havoc among friends and foes while suffering relatively little harm of its own.

The barrage of tariffs Trump launched in April last year  the first volley of the new American campaign against the world  will cost the United States. Economists outside Trumps orbit have concluded that US consumers and businesses are paying the overwhelming majority of the tariffs. But the economic harm is spreading far and wide, as many countries have seen their exports to the United States fall.

According to the International Monetary Funds latest revisions to its growth forecasts, the US economy has emerged largely unscathed. In January, before the US started bombing Iran, the IMF forecast that American GDP would grow 2.4% this year, almost 0.4 percentage points more than it forecast in October of 2024. By contrast, according to the IMF, prospects for economic growth this year in Britain, Japan, Canada, India, the euro area and Latin America all weakened since Trump took office.

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More pain is on the way. The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the latest multinational organization to assess the damage inflicted by the war started by the United States and Israel. If energy prices remain persistently high, it forecast, merchandise trade growth this year will slow from 1.9% to 1.5%. North American export growth will slow a bit, from an expansion of 1.4% to 1.1%. Europe will be clobbered, with exports shrinking by 0.6% rather than growing by 0.5%.

The hit to growth will be equally lopsided: while costly energy would boost GDP growth in North America this year to 2.5%, according to the WTO, from a baseline of 2.3%, it would slow GDP growth in Asia to 3.1% from 3.9%. In Europe, pricey energy would bring the economy almost to a halt, slowing its expansion to 0.4% from a prior estimate of 1.6%.

And economic growth is not the only measure of the mess sparked by the bombing on Tehran. About 70% of Brazils and 40% of Indias urea imports, essential to their agriculture sector, come from the Gulf through the strait of Hormuz. Gulf nations import most of their food: 75% of their rice comes through the strait, as well as more than 90% of their corn, soybeans and vegetable oil.

On top of all this, countries like Bangladesh, India and Pakistan will be hit by the inevitable drop in remittances from millions of their citizens working in Gulf countries as the war takes a toll on the regional economy.

The disruption of the oil and gas economy isnt even good for the climate. Environmental warriors may bet it will encourage the world to embrace renewable sources of energy. But the first order impact in Asia, at least, has been to reinvigorate interest in coal.

How much should this change our view of the world? Erstwhile US allies in the liberal west have been forced to accept that Trumps America is no longer a reliable partner in the service of international stability, but perhaps the main source of global uncertainty.

They are becoming aware that Trump will offer up any number of hogwash excuses to justify his belligerence. He justified bombing Iran by arguing that it presents an imminent nuclear threat just after he claimed he had obliterated its nuclear program last year. He wants to raise a new tariff wall after the supreme court struck down his earlier efforts using some spurious argument about forced labor.

Who knows what justification he will make up next, for instance when he remembers he also wants to take over Greenland and the Panama canal.

It is foolhardy to believe that this episode of wanton aggression is a freak occurrence, that US belligerence will end after the 2028 election, or maybe earlier if Democrats manage to take over Congress in November. Tens of millions of Americans in the Maga base are motivated by contempt for the rest of the world, which they perceive as treacherous and abusive and, well, other.

This political force will not soon go away. Alongside China taking Taiwan and Russia wanting the Baltics, the US pulls an argument out of a hat to raise random hell must be added to the worlds risk premium.
by Gregory

Myanmars military junta has introduced new restrictions on fuel, including petrol, while its planes hit a facility housing more than a hundred internally displaced people in Sagaing. Activists have documented how millions of litres of fuel are being diverted to the air force, despite the fuel shortages paralysing the country.

Yangon (AsiaNews)  In Myanmar, the military junta has imposed new restrictions on fuel for civilian use due to the war in the Middle East, but has continued unabated its bombing campaign against civilian targets, reserving the little fuel available to its own planes.

At least 17 civilians were killed on 20 March in an airstrike on a Buddhist monastery in Katha, a township in the northern region of Sagaing. More than a hundred internally displaced people were housed at the site.

According to local sources, the victims included monks who had opened the monastery as a shelter, while approximately 20 people were seriously injured. At the time of the raid, residents and sources linked to resistance groups reported that no fighting was taking place in the area.

The displaced people staying at the monastery were families who had left their villages in December last year due to increasingly violent clashes between the military regime, led by General Min Aung Hlaing, and local armed resistance groups.

Immediately after the attack, the authorities cut off telephone communications and suspended Internet connections to delay the dissemination of information.

Also last week, air force planes struck schools, villages, and other civilian buildings in Kani, Ayadaw, and Myaung, all townships in Sagaing, one of the strongholds of the armed groups fighting Myanmars regular army.

Meanwhile, aid organisations have reported a severe shortage of medicines, anaesthetics, and surgical supplies, a situation exacerbated by transportation difficulties caused by the energy crisis affecting the country because of the war the United States and Israel launched against Iran.

Long lines of people could be seen in front of petrol stations trying to get a few litres of petrol, resulting in the stations closing just hours after receiving the fuel.

In Yangon, premium diesel prices jumped in one day from 3,560 (US$ 1.70) to 4,820 kyat (US.30) per litre. On the black market, the price of 92-octane petrol hit 7,000 (US.35) to 10,000 kyat (US$ 4.75) per litre.

The regime, claiming to have national reserves for 50 days, has introduced new restrictions, limiting motorists to a maximum of two fill-ups per week. In the coming weeks, the new step, announced by the Ministry of Information, will replace the "odd-even" rationing system introduced earlier this month.

The workweek for public employees has also been reduced to four days, while the authorities urged the private sector to do the same.

Despite fuel shortages, military operations do not appear to have been affected. In fact, while civilians cannot even fill a motorcycle tank, the regime has enough fuel for its planes to bomb a monastery that houses women and children, as local sources noted.

According to the Blood Money Campaign activist group, in the last three months alone, the air force has consumed over 1.94 million gallons of fuel, or 8.8 million litres, at a cost of over US$ 4.16 million.

The figure emerges from an assessment based on the average hourly consumption of the main aircraft in service with the Myanmar air force, whose fleet includes Russian, Chinese, Pakistani, and Serbian-made aircraft, including Su-30SME, MiG-29, and Yak-130 fighters.

According to the report, the Su-30SME is the most "expensive" in terms of fuel consumption, at about 1,500 gallons per hour, followed by the MiG-29 at 900. Other aircraft such as the JF-17 and the F-7M consumes approximately 600 gallons per hour.

In cost terms, this represents an expense of approximately US$ 500 to US$ 3,500 per flight hour, depending on the type of aircraft.

These estimates are based on an average fuel price of approximately US$ 2.15 per gallon prior to the current international crisis, the assessment notes, and do not include other operating costs such as weapons, maintenance, and logistics.

In other words, while millions of Myanmar citizens face power cuts, price increases, and travel restrictions, the air force remains fully operational, using significant amounts of fuel to support raids against areas controlled by resistance groups.
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.
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25 March 2026 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

Economic relations between Azerbaijan and Turkiye have been steadily evolving since the early years of Azerbaijans independence. A turning point came after 1994, when both countries intensified efforts to strengthen their economic partnership and laid the foundations of a robust legal framework. These steps marked the beginning of a comprehensive stage in bilateral cooperation, paving the way for deeper integration across multiple sectors.

One of the key institutional pillars underpinning this partnership is the AzerbaijanTurkiye Joint Economic Commission, established in 1996 to coordinate and advance bilateral economic cooperation. The Commission, currently co-chaired by Ali Asadov and Fuat Oktay, has played a central role in shaping the strategic economic agenda between the two countries. At its 9th meeting held in Ankara on February 19, 2021, the Commission adopted a comprehensive Action Plan covering key areas of cooperation. The ongoing implementation of this roadmap reflects both sides commitment to translating strategic priorities into concrete outcomes and deepening economic integration.

Turkiye has consistently ranked among the largest foreign investors in Azerbaijans economy. Between 1995 and 2021, Turkish direct investments totaled $13.3 billion, including $10.4 billion in the oil sector and $2.9 billion in non-oil industries. Turkish companies maintain a strong presence across a wide range of sectors, including energy, industry, telecommunications, banking and insurance, construction, transportation, food production, textiles, and healthcare underscoring the depth and diversification of their economic engagement.

At the same time, Azerbaijan has emerged as a major investor in Turkiye. Recent years have witnessed a sharp rise in Azerbaijani capital flowing into the Turkish economy, with nearly 2,000 Azerbaijani-owned companies currently operating there. Between 1995 and 2021, Azerbaijans direct investments in Turkiye totaled 20.3 billion USD, including 17.1 billion USD in oil and gas and 3.2 billion USD in other sectors. The most notable example is the STAR refinery in Izmirs Aliaga district, launched in September 2018 by SOCAR with a capital investment of 6.3 billion USD. This project stands as the largest single foreign investment in Turkiye and symbolizes the scale of Azerbaijans economic footprint. Azerbaijani investors now rank among the leading foreign business communities in Turkiye, not only in terms of capital but also in the number of enterprises established.

Trade between the two countries continues to expand, with Turkiye consistently ranking as Azerbaijans second-largest trading partner in imports, exports, and overall turnover. In recent years, both governments have taken concrete steps to simplify trade procedures and boost volumes. A landmark development was the signing of the Preferential Trade Agreement in Baku on February 25, 2020. The agreement introduced annual tariff quotas for 15 products, reducing customs duties to zero within those quotas. Entering into force on March 1, 2021, this agreement has already begun to facilitate smoother trade flows and create new opportunities for businesses on both sides.

Taken together, these developments highlight the strategic depth of Azerbaijan Turkiye economic relations. The partnership is not limited to energy, though hydrocarbons remain a cornerstone; it increasingly encompasses non-oil sectors, trade liberalization, and large-scale investments. This diversification strengthens economic resilience and ensures that cooperation between the two countries is not only enduring but also adaptive to global economic shifts. In essence, Azerbaijan and Turkiye have built an economic alliance that complements their political and cultural ties, positioning both nations to benefit from sustained growth and regional leadership in the years ahead.

In JanuaryFebruary of this year, trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Turkiye amounted to 877.1 million USD, which represents a decline of 127.5 million USD or 12.7% compared to the same period in 2025. Turkiye accounted for 14% of Azerbaijans overall foreign trade, maintaining its position as the countrys second-largest trading partner after Italy. Exports to Turkiye totaled 532.9 million USD, down by about 7% year-on-year. Despite this decrease, non-oil exports showed slight growth: Azerbaijan exported 83.4 million USD worth of non-oil products to Turkiye, making up 14.37% of total non-oil exports. This modest increase highlights Turkiyes role as a key market for Azerbaijans diversification efforts, even though the overall export structure remains heavily dependent on hydrocarbons.

In contrast, energy exports surged. Azerbaijan exported 47.1 thousand tons of crude oil and petroleum products worth 22.1 million USD to Turkiye, marking a threefold increase in value and nearly double in volume compared to last year. This underscores the continued dominance of the energy sector in bilateral trade relations. Imports from Turkiye, however, fell sharply to 344.2 million USD, a decline of 20.2%, which may reflect reduced demand or a shift toward domestic production.

On a broader scale, Azerbaijans total foreign trade turnover reached 6.264 billion USD, down 29.6% compared to the same period in 2025. Exports stood at 3.665 billion USD, while imports amounted to 2.599 billion USD. Both exports and imports declined, yet the trade balance improved significantly, with a surplus of 1.066 billion USD, 1.7 times higher than last year. This improvement, however, was largely driven by reduced imports rather than export expansion.

The current state of Azerbaijan Turkiye economic relations reveals several important trends. First, while overall trade turnover has contracted, the sharp rise in energy exports confirms the resilience of strategic cooperation in the energy sector. Second, the slight increase in non-oil exports indicates progress in diversification, though the pace remains limited. Third, the decline in imports from Turkiye could signal either growing domestic production capacity or weakening consumption, both of which warrant close monitoring for their implications on economic stability.

In conclusion, Azerbaijan Turkiye economic ties remain strategically significant. The energy sector continues to anchor bilateral trade, but the gradual rise in non-oil exports suggests potential for a more balanced and sustainable partnership in the future. This trajectory points toward deeper and more diversified economic cooperation between the two countries in the long term.
25 March 2026 17:51 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

The USIsrael war with Iran is entering a phase where escalation and limitation are unfolding simultaneously, creating the illusion of both climax and continuation. On one hand, Washington has begun floating ceasefire frameworks and even paused certain strikes, suggesting an awareness that the conflict may be approaching strategic limits. Yet on the ground, the war is expanding geographically and operationally, undermining any notion of imminent closure.

Recent developments illustrate this contradiction clearly. Despite reports of a US-backed peace proposal, including a temporary ceasefire and constraints on Irans nuclear and regional activities, Iran has outright rejected the premise of negotiations, dismissing them as unilateral narratives rather than genuine diplomacy. At the same time, mutual strikes continue unabated, with Israel targeting infrastructure deep inside Iran while Tehran responds with missile and drone attacks not only on Israel, but also on US positions and regional states.

This widening theatre of conflict signals that the war has already spilled beyond a bilateral confrontation into a regional security crisis. Attacks affecting Gulf states, Lebanon, and critical energy infrastructure indicate a deliberate "horizontal escalation" strategy, raising the costs of war without directly matching US military superiority.

Meanwhile, Washingtons posture reflects strategic ambiguity. Even as US leadership speaks of "victory" and explores diplomatic off-ramps, it is simultaneously preparing additional troop deployments and reinforcing its regional presence. This dual-track approach, negotiation alongside escalation, suggests not a war nearing its end, but one struggling to define its objectives.

Complicating matters further is a growing divergence between the US and Israel over the wars endgame. While Washington appears to favor a limited campaign focused on containment, Israel continues to pursue a broader objective that edges toward systemic destabilization within Iran. The absence of a unified strategic vision among key allies raises a critical question: can a war end if its participants do not agree on what "ending" means?

Turkish military expert Abdullah Agar, in his assessment to AzerNEWS, frames this moment not as a turning point toward peace, but as a structural inflection point in which the war itself begins to dictate outcomes. "The war has reached its limits in its final phase", he claims.

According to Agar, what appears externally as diplomatic movement is in fact a reaction to deeper systemic pressures. The emergence of ceasefire discussions, amid conflicting statements from political leaders, signals not resolution, but strain within the wars own dynamics:

"A ceasefire is not a search for peace, but a reflex to avoid losing control. It doesn't matter who Trump is talking to. Because on the ground, it's no longer the leaders speaking, but the war that has crossed the threshold of control. The downed F-35s, F-16 allegations, long-range ballistic missiles, energy pressure, the risk of uncontrolled reactionsThey all say the same thing: This war was becoming unmanageable."

From his perspective, the introduction of a ceasefire, whether announced, denied, or contested, does not reflect a breakthrough but a necessity imposed by circumstances:

"And at this point, a ceasefire emerged not as an act of mercy, not as a search for lasting peace, but as a necessity. A ceasefire in war is a reassessment, realignment, and a reshaping of decisions and actions. It should not be forgotten: Ceasefires do not end wars. They take wars to a higher phase. It doesn't matter whether Trump met with an Iranian decision-maker or a corporal. Because the war demanded a ceasefire."

He further outlines what such a pause enables within a conflict environment:

"Because a ceasefire is an opportunity. It allows time for regrouping scattered forces, facilitates troop deployment and adjustments to front lines, and provides much-needed breathing space. This pause enables updates to strategic plans, addresses uncertainties, and enhances coordination among allies. Overall, it creates a chance to tackle vulnerabilities."

Agar identifies a growing set of risks that suggest the war has entered a more volatile phase, one where small incidents could trigger disproportionate consequences:

"Additionally, the uncertainties caused by the war have reached a critical threshold. The downing of an F-35 by Iranian air defenses (Bavar-373, Majid) and other undisclosed allegations have heightened tensions. There is a potential for ballistic access to Diego Garcia, located 4,000 kilometers away, and the risk of "uncontrolled reflexes" from countries involved in the conflict, particularly Iran. The ongoing energy crisis is significantly influencing the course of the war, with its side effects putting pressure on the US-Israel alliance and their allies, who are beginning to push back against both the US and Israel. Furthermore, Iran has been targeting locations near nuclear facilities in Israel.

In this environment, the ceasefire becomes less of a diplomatic achievement and more of a strategic necessity, an attempt to reintroduce structure into a system approaching disorder.

"All of this highlights a key observation: during phases of increased tension, the dynamics of our reactions shift significantly. What begins as controlled reactions can easily devolve into uncontrolled responses, leading to a state of chaos that is no longer manageable. Similarly, the controlled chaos we might initially experience can spiral into an uncontrollable situation, resulting in heightened disorder. This pattern extends to various aspects of our perception and emotional state, where controlled uncertainty can transform into uncontrolled uncertainty, and controlled fears evolve into overwhelming, unchecked anxieties. Ultimately, even our perceptions can slip from a state of control into a realm of uncontrolled interpretations, illustrating the profound impact that heightened tension can have on our mental and emotional landscapes.

For these reasons, the U.S. strategic leadership and Trump, in order to bring the war back into a manageable framework, played the "temporary ceasefire" card, he concluded.

Irish historian and political analyst, Ronan Vaelrick, argues that even though the war seems winding down a bit, the limits are yet to be seen:

"After U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Monday that there was a possibility of ending the Iran war by the end of the week, Israeli and American sources emphasized how strongly the war would continue if a ceasefire were not reached. As much as he is an unpredictable man, there is a reality in his message: the war is not slowing down, and other than a few limited energy sector targets, nothing is off limits. In the early days of the war, both Israel and the United States were dropping approximately 1,000 bombs or striking around 1,000 targets daily. However, this pace was not sustainable for either side, considering the wear and tear on the fighter jets and the need to allow the limited number of pilots time to rest. As a result, after just a few days of conflict, the operational tempo began to slow down. It is normal, perhaps."

However, the historian also thinks of the possibility of this war ending during this week or by the end of this month, the US could extend the war for some weeks, with side battles related possibly to the Straits:

"There are numerous reasons why Trump might consider ending the situation, either this week or in the near future. Some are strategic concerns, such as the global economic crisis he faces due to Iran's blocking the Strait of Hormuz. However, part of the reason could simply be that, unless Trump changes his stance to support a large-scale ground invasion of Iran, which he currently can't do because the US forces arriving later this week are too small to do more than guard a small area like Kharg Island, Israel and the US might soon run out of an enemy to fight."

Whatever the consequences of this war, he thinks, it has shown lots of 'unseen holes':

"There are lots of things we can talk about regarding the war in the Gulf - whether who lost it, who gained the most, and possible scenarios, etc. Nevertheless, this war showed that a war without any strategy in a period of history is indeed a big mistake and a result of miscalculation. We can surely say that this war was planned years before, but the questions of how and when were not answered.

In contrast to Israel, the United States might be more inclined to accept a substantial and lasting reduction in Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities, as well as a diminished influence of its allies, especially Hezbollah. If U.S. officials determine that enough of these threats have been neutralized to ensure Israel's safety for at least the next several years, they could be open to a compromise that resembles an "Ayatollah" scenario with a different theological regime. On the other hand, for Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this conflict is of much greater significance. Their aim is to completely eliminate the hostile Iranian regime in order to secure Israel's dominance in the region.

Now this would be my only projections. Perhaps, I know one thing that became even clearer is that the US-Israeli military campaign has driven the last nail in the coffin of the 'rules-based world order', and Europe is yet again the biggest loser here, as it lost its relevance even further."
25 March 2026 13:33 (UTC+04:00)

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The Asian Development Bank (ADB) allocated $39.38 million in 2025 for a range of regional technical assistance projects that include Azerbaijan, targeting key sectors such as energy, agriculture, and infrastructure, AzerNEWS reports. The projects focus on green energy and power transmission, climate action, sustainable finance, agriculture and food security, as well as the digitalization of transport and railway systems. Additional areas include the decarbonization of heating systems, urban development, labor market initiatives, and the preparation of public-private partnership (PPP) projects. Among the largest initiatives is the regional technical assistance project titled Accelerating Climate Action, Innovation, and Private Sector Development through Sector Operations, with a total budget of...

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25 March 2026 10:04 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

A new shipment of Russian wheat is set to be transported to Armenia via Azerbaijan, marking the latest in a series of transit operations through Azerbaijani territory, AzerNEWS reports.

According to the information, five wagons of wheat weighing 350 tons will be shipped from Bilajari station to Boyuk Kesik on March 25.

The train will pass through the Boyuk Kesik station, continue into Georgia, and then proceed onward to Armenia.

It should be noted that, so far, more than 23,000 tons of grain, 1,000 tons of fertilizer, and 68 tons of buckwheat have been sent from Russia to Armenia via transit through Azerbaijan.

The shipment follows similar transit deliveries carried out a day earlier, when four wagons of fertilizer and one wagon of buckwheat were sent to Armenia through Azerbaijan.

Recall that on October 21, 2025, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, speaking at a joint press statement with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, underscored that Azerbaijan had lifted all restrictions on cargo transit to Armenia that had existed since the period of occupation. He also announced that the first such transit shipment had already taken place, involving the delivery of Kazakh grain to Armenia.

This policy shift was followed by a steady flow of supplies. On December 18, the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) delivered 1,220 tons of AI-95 gasoline to Armenia.

Further shipments continued into the new year. On January 9, 2026, a total of 2,698 tons of cargo (48 wagons) was dispatched, including 1,742 tons of AI-95 gasoline and 956 tons of diesel fuel. Just two days later, on January 11, an additional train of 18 wagons carrying 979 tons of AI-92 gasoline was sent.

The pace of deliveries accelerated in the following weeks. On February 25, Azerbaijan supplied 4,500 tons of diesel fuel. This was followed by multiple consignments in March: on March 5, 31 wagons carrying 1,984 tons of diesel fuel, along with two wagons containing 135 tons of Russian fertilizer, were dispatched; on March 9, a freight train with seven wagons of Russian grain was sent; and on March 11, another 11 wagons of grain were delivered, with a total weight of 1,023 tons (770 tons net).

Transit operations from Russia through Azerbaijan have also intensified. On March 19, a further shipment of Russian grain was transported to Armenia, consisting of seven wagons weighing 488 tons, sent from Bilajari station toward Boyuk Kesik. In total, transit via Azerbaijan has so far enabled the delivery of more than 23,000 tons of grain and over 700 tons of fertilizer from Russia to Armenia.

Most recently, on March 24, four wagons carrying 271 tons of fertilizer and one wagon loaded with 68 tons of buckwheat were dispatched from Bilajari station toward Boyuk Kesik, continuing their journey to Armenia through Azerbaijani territory.
March 24, 2026: The civil war continues with the growing use of drones to attack and kill civilians. In 2025, and for the previous few years, Sudan has been ravaged by famine and a civil war between the army and the Rapid Support Force/RSF militias. The RSF was created in 2013 to deal with rebels in western Sudan. The RSF did that and gained combat experience which gave them an edge over the army that kept the civil war going from late 2023 to the present. What started the war was a 2021 military coup that was supposed to be a temporary condition to speed up the return of democracy. That backfired as a lot of the pro-reform civilians declared the military government another effort to restore dictatorship.

That is also how Omar al Bashir, the dictator from 1989-to-2019, got his start. What form post-Bashir Sudan will take is one of feuding factions and escalating fighting over scarce resources. The situation in South Sudan, another of the results of Bashirs misrule, is more settled.

The two Sudans had become quieter since the long-lasting Bashir dictatorship in Sudan was removed by determined popular resistance. South Sudan ended its post-independence civil war when everyone realized that they were destroying what they were allegedly fighting over and maybe a shouting-match was preferable to a death match.

In 2024 the northern Sudan civil war escalated and moved to the capital where government and rebel RSF gunmen fought constantly. The two sides could not agree on how to run the government and decided that a deathmatch was the only way to settle the matter. Civilians caught in the crossfire are fleeing the capital and, in some cases, if they can afford it, leaving the country.
25 March 2026 11:26 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev sent a congratulatory letter to Constantine An. Tassoulas, President of the Hellenic Republic, AzerNEWS reports.

"Dear Mr. President,

On behalf of myself and the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my sincerest congratulations to you and your people on the occasion of the national holiday of the Hellenic Republic.

I believe that the relations between Azerbaijan and Greece will continue to develop in an atmosphere of friendship and cooperation, in line with the interests of our peoples.

On this festive day, I wish you robust health, happiness, success in your endeavors, as well as peace and prosperity to the people of Greece," the letter reads.
25 March 2026 15:31 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova met with the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress of China Zhao Leji, during her working visit to China, underscoring the steady expansion of bilateral relations between the two countries, AzerNEWS reports.

The meeting highlighted that relations between Azerbaijan and China have evolved into a comprehensive strategic partnership, built on decades of diplomatic engagement and mutual support. Both sides emphasized that high-level political dialogue, particularly between President Ilham Aliyev and Chinese leadership, has played a decisive role in strengthening ties.

Zhao Leji noted that recent meetings between the leaders of both countries reflect a deepening of cooperation, while parliamentary institutions are expected to further support these efforts. He stressed that relations between the two countries, established over 34 years of diplomatic ties, continue to develop on the basis of mutual respect and shared interests.

Sahiba Gafarova, in turn, underlined that the visit represents a new step in strengthening inter-parliamentary relations and expanding mutual cooperation. She also expressed confidence that the ongoing dialogue would contribute to broadening institutional engagement between the two legislative bodies.

A key focus of the discussions was economic and transport cooperation, particularly within the framework of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. Azerbaijans role as a major transport and logistics hub in Eurasia was highlighted, with both sides emphasizing the importance of the Middle Corridor as a strategic link connecting China and Europe via the Caspian Sea.

The sides also discussed growing collaboration in areas such as trade, digital development, artificial intelligence, and green energy. The development of cargo transportation along the Trans-Caspian routes was noted as a key factor in strengthening economic ties.

Additionally, both countries expressed support for expanding visa-free travel and direct flight connections, which are expected to further boost people-to-people contacts and economic exchanges.

The meeting also reaffirmed shared positions on key international issues. Azerbaijan reiterated its support for the One China policy, while China reaffirmed its support for Azerbaijans sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Zhao Leji further expressed appreciation for Azerbaijans assistance in the evacuation of Chinese citizens from Iran, highlighting practical cooperation between the two countries.

Both sides emphasized their shared role within the framework of the Global South and expressed readiness to deepen coordination on international platforms. China also voiced support for Azerbaijans bid to strengthen its position within regional and global institutions.

The discussions placed strong emphasis on parliamentary diplomacy as a key pillar of bilateral relations. Regular exchanges between legislative bodies, participation in international forums, and ongoing institutional dialogue were identified as important drivers of cooperation.

Cultural and humanitarian ties were also highlighted, with both sides noting successful joint projects, including cooperation between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Chinese cultural institutions.
25 March 2026 12:31 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

In January this year, Azerbaijan exported a total of 1.037 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Turkiye, marking a significant increase in bilateral energy trade.

As reported by AzerNEWS, according to a report by Turkiyes Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK), the figure represents a 29.96% increase compared to January 2025, highlighting Azerbaijans growing role in regional energy supply.

As a result, Azerbaijan ranked as the third-largest natural gas supplier to Turkiye during the month. Azerbaijani gas accounted for 13.43% of Turkiyes total gas imports, underlining its strategic importance in Ankaras energy diversification efforts.

For comparison, Azerbaijan exported 798.34 million cubic meters of gas to Turkiye in January last year.

Overall, Turkiyes natural gas imports reached 7.72 billion cubic meters in January, reflecting an 18.94% year-on-year increase, driven by rising domestic demand and seasonal consumption.

Of the total imports, 50.12% (3.87 bcm) was delivered via pipeline, while 49.88% (3.85 bcm) consisted of liquefied natural gas (LNG), indicating a balanced import structure between pipeline gas and LNG.

In terms of suppliers, the United States ranked first, exporting 2.76 billion cubic meters of gas to Turkiye in January, a sharp 74.75% increase compared to the same period last year.

Russia followed in second place, supplying 2.70 billion cubic meters, although its exports declined slightly by 2.8% year-on-year.

Azerbaijans gas exports to Turkiye are sourced from the Shah Deniz field, one of the largest gas-condensate fields in the Caspian region. The gas is transported via the South Caucasus Pipeline (BakuTbilisiErzurum) and the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), both of which are key pillars of the Southern Gas Corridor.

The steady increase in Azerbaijani gas exports reflects not only growing production capacity but also the strengthening of long-term energy cooperation between Baku and Ankara, reinforcing Azerbaijans position as a reliable energy partner in the region.
25 March 2026 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

South Korean authorities are considering restrictions on the export of naphtha (straight-run gasoline) amid a growing shortage of this key petrochemical feedstock, widely used across plastics, chemicals, and related industries, AzerNEWS reports.

The announcement was made by Yang Ki-uk, Deputy Minister for Trade, Industry and Energy Security, who noted that relevant ministries are already working on measures to curb exports if necessary.

These steps come as global supply chains face renewed pressure following recent U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran, which have disrupted energy flows in the region. According to Yonhap News Agency, several major petrochemical producers, including Yeochun NCC, have already declared force majeure on some products due to insufficient raw materials. Such declarations indicate that companies are unable to meet contractual obligations because of circumstances beyond their control.

South Korea relies heavily on imports for its naphtha needs, with around half of supplies traditionally passing through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz  a route now severely constrained by ongoing tensions.

Officials warn that if the disruption persists, the government may introduce emergency supply controls to stabilize the domestic market. In addition, naphtha was recently designated as a strategic commodity for economic security, allowing authorities to respond more quickly to shortages and support affected industries.

Analysts note that prolonged supply issues could not only impact South Koreas export-driven petrochemical sector but also drive up global prices for plastics and chemical products, potentially affecting everything from packaging to electronics manufacturing.
25 March 2026 12:48 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared on Wednesday that the United States is "negotiating with itself," following US President Donald Trump's previous remarks, AzerNEWS reports.

"There will be no news of your investments in the region, nor will you see the previous prices of energy and oil, until you understand: stability in the region is guaranteed by the powerful hand of our armed forces. Stability through power," a spokesperson for the IRGC's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters addressed Washington directly in a video message.

Moreover, the IRGC told the US not to call its "failure an agreement" and claimed that until its objectives are fulfilled, the current situation in the region will not go back to "the previous order." "No one like us will come to terms with anyone like you. Not now, not ever," the spokesperson stressed.

Trump claimed on Tuesday that Iran had agreed never to develop nuclear weapons.

"I don't want to say in advance, but they've agreed they will never have a nuclear weapon, they've agreed to that," Trump told reporters at the White House, stressing that this is the reason why he wants to pursue a peace deal.

One of the US-proclaimed goals of the war against Iran was to destroy its nuclear capabilities and prevent Tehran from building a nuclear weapon.
25 March 2026 12:08 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

The cost of the U.S. military operation against Iran has exceeded $30 billion, according to data published by the Iran War Cost Tracker.

The operation, dubbed Epic Fury, has been ongoing for nearly 25 days, with expenses rapidly mounting due to personnel deployment, naval operations, and broader logistical requirements. The tracker bases its calculations on estimates derived from Pentagon reports submitted to Congress.

According to those estimates, the first six days alone cost $11.3 billion, with subsequent daily expenses projected at around $1 billion per day, underscoring the intensity and scale of the operation.

Comparisons with past U.S. wars

While the current figure is already substantial, it remains significantly lower than the total costs of previous long-term U.S. military engagements.

 The Gulf War (19901991) cost the U.S. roughly $60$100 billion, though a large portion was offset by contributions from allies.

 The war in Afghanistan (20012021) is estimated to have cost over $2 trillion, making it one of the most expensive conflicts in U.S. history.

 Similarly, the Iraq War (20032011) cost the U.S. more than $1 trillion, with long-term expenses pushing the total significantly higher.

Despite being in its early stages, the Iran operations high daily burn rate highlights how modern, high-intensity conflicts can accumulate costs rapidly, especially when involving advanced weaponry, naval deployments, and sustained air operations.
25 March 2026 14:05 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has signaled its readiness to release additional oil reserves to the global market if supply disruptions intensify amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

As reported by AzerNEWS, speaking in Tokyo, Fatih Birol stated that the agency is prepared to take further action if necessary. His remarks followed a request from Sanae Takaichi, who urged the agency to consider additional oil releases should the conflict in the Middle East continue.

The prolonged tensions, particularly disruptions affecting the Strait of Hormuz, one of the worlds most critical oil transit routes have contributed to sharp increases in global energy prices, raising concerns over supply security and market stability.

Earlier this month, the International Energy Agency announced that its member countries would release 400 million barrels of oil from strategic reserves to mitigate the impact of the crisis. This marks the largest coordinated release in the agencys history, underscoring the severity of current market pressures.

Despite this unprecedented move, Birol emphasized that significant  capacity remains available.

Around 80% of our reserves are still at our disposal. The 400 million barrels account for only 20% of total reserves. If necessary, we are ready to move forward, but I sincerely hope it will not be required, he said.

The statement highlights the IEAs critical role as a stabilizing force in global energy markets, particularly during periods of geopolitical uncertainty. It also signals to markets that additional supply buffers remain available, which could help temper volatility if disruptions escalate further.

From an analytical perspective, the readiness to deploy further reserves reflects growing concerns over the fragility of global oil supply chains. With key transit routes under pressure and demand remaining resilient, the balance between market intervention and long-term energy security is becoming increasingly delicate.
25 March 2026 23:57 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

Industrial powerhouses Germany and South Korea are facing a precarious situation as the United States and Japan move rapidly to dominate the global rare earth element market, AzerNEWS reports.

According to analysts, while Washington and Tokyo are quickly securing available global stocks, European and Korean manufacturers are left without guaranteed access to the critical raw materials needed for the automotive and defense industries.

The challenge intensified after China, the worlds largest producer, imposed stricter export controls. In response, the US and Japan have secured long-term exclusive contracts with a small number of Western suppliers, including MP Materials and Lynas Rare Earths, effectively locking in the majority of production outside China for years to come.

For Germany and South Korea, this creates a direct threat of shortages for the production of electric vehicles, high-tech electronics, and defense equipment. Meanwhile, Australian mining companies, backed by their government, are attempting to build a new market independent of China. Experts warn, however, that without swift strategic moves by Berlin and Seoul, their industries could face a severe resource crunch.

Interestingly, this race highlights how rare earth elementsonce considered obscure raw materialshave become a central pivot in global technological and geopolitical power, underscoring the fragile balance between supply chains and national security.
25 March 2026 20:45 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

Moroccos senior trade official on Tuesday reaffirmed the countrys commitment to deepening trade ties with Cote d'Ivoire, AzerNEWS reports, citing foreign media.

During a visit to the Cote dIvoire Export Agency (ACE), Omar Hejira, Moroccos secretary of state to the minister of industry and trade, emphasized that both nations share a common goal of boosting bilateral trade.

We are committed to giving concrete form to our willingness to strengthen economic ties and build a mutually beneficial strategic partnership, Hejira stated.

The two countries agreed to establish an economic steering group that will bring together public and private sector stakeholders to coordinate joint initiatives. Key sectors identified for cooperation include agro-industry, textiles, automotive, cosmetics, and handicraftsindustries with significant growth potential.

Morocco and Cote dIvoire have repeatedly expressed their determination to consolidate and expand economic relations. Interestingly, experts note that such partnerships could position both countries as leading hubs for regional trade in West Africa and North Africa, creating new opportunities for investment and innovation.
25 March 2026 19:19 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

Chevron has warned of a potential energy crisis in California amid ongoing US and Israeli military operations targeting Iran, AzerNEWS reports.

According to reports, California relies on imports for roughly 20% of its fuel, mainly from Asian countries whose energy supplies pass through the strategically sensitive Strait of Hormuz. The state is also isolated from the United States primary energy hubs in Texas and Louisiana, limiting domestic supply options.

The situation has been exacerbated by the closure of several refineries in recent years, driven by stricter environmental regulations and declining profits in the oil sector.

California has chosen to rely heavily on imports. This is a risky strategy, said Andy Waltz.

The impact is already being felt at the pump. The American Automobile Association (AAA) reports that the price of a gallon of gasoline (3.785 liters) in California has jumped to $5.82 from $4.62 just a month earlier, compared with a national average of $3.97.

Interestingly, Californias energy vulnerability highlights a growing tension between environmental policy and energy security. As states push for cleaner energy and reduced domestic production, they may increasingly find themselves exposed to global geopolitical shocks that affect fuel prices and supply stability.
March 25, 2026: AI/Artificial Intelligence targeting enables pilots and drone operators on the ground to quickly spot, identify and destroy a target. There are fears that users of these systems will make mistakes and hit the wrong targets and cause civilian casualties. This is not a new problem, but a very old one. With AI, legitimate targets are found and destroyed faster. In combat, troops, pilots and drone operators are facing enemies who want to kill them. AI enables the user to get in the first shot. Anything that disrupts that process degrades the ability of friendly forces to survive and win their battles. When you send soldiers and pilots off to war you cannot control their every action remotely. If you build in remote monitoring of AI enabled systems, the users will find ways to get around interference. Their lives are on the line while some bureaucratic entity in the rear areas defines winning as how many potentially erroneous AI supported attacks they can cancel. In situations like this, the people who are fighting to survive see rear area interference as another obstacle to be overcome to stay alive and get the job done.

Meanwhile, the American military is seeking to upgrade its Artificial AI capabilities to match the levels of China, Russia, and allies like Israel. The U.S. has been collaborating with the Israeli military, which has made substantial progress in adapting AI software to integrate with their combat control systems, utilizing new drone warfare weapons and techniques, and gathering intelligence on enemy identities, locations, and capabilities. Amid these advancements, the new system, called Refaim, can coordinate attacks on detected targets across army, air force, and naval units.

This has put pressure on the United States to develop AI technology its military can use for propaganda and influence operations against enemy troops and populations. Current AI technology enables mimicking the voices of enemy officers to send confusing radio messages to their subordinates. As a result, enemy forces may move in the wrong direction or fire artillery at incorrect targets, including their own troops.

AI can also assist commanders in making decisions more quickly. New technology does not gain widespread acceptance until it proves its usefulness and trustworthiness to users. This was true for the telegraph in the late 1800s, broadcast radio in the 1920s, and television three decades later. In fact, the development of more effective telegraph systems coincided with efforts to create commercial radio and television services. In the 1970s, personal computers/PCs were developed. The idea seemed absurd at first, but as tinkerers and hobbyist developers produced the first functional PCs, a new industry was born. By the late 1970s, Apple, Radio Shack, and other firms were selling PCs to an enthusiastic and sizable audience. Decades of American government and military work on the internet commercially available in 1995, making the maturing PC industry a must-have product.

In the 21st century, AI became a viable product, and as it reached more users, new and marketable applications emerged. Some uses were illegal, dividing the programmer and user community into good White Hat and bad Black Hat factions. Hacking soon became a military and intelligence asset. Many Black Hat programmers became national assets after being hired to protect American commercial and government networks from foreign Black Hats. Programmers who performed both Black and White Hat tasks were sometimes called Grey Hats. The spectrum of roles expanded as programmers developed new tools and applications, particularly with AI software produced by firms, individuals, or small groups who modified commercial AI software and offered it on the black market. These malicious offerings evolved into marketable products, quickly transitioning from the black market to legitimate, though sometimes restricted, markets due to their applications.

AI products like ChatGPT and related tools made it easy to create and modify malware, as malicious hacker software came to be known. ChatGPT also became a major source of antidotes for this malware. The fact that the lights are still on and bank accounts remain largely secure indicates that White Hats currently have the upper hand. However, some less visible damage goes unnoticed. Several hacks have stolen billions of dollars from banks or individual firms, often carried out by nations at odds with the United States, such as North Korea and Iran. These countries, facing increasingly crippling economic sanctions, rely on Black Hat hackers to fund their governments. Their Black Hat hackers are recognized as national assets and are well-compensated for their work. In North Korea, where few citizens can travel abroad, successful Black Hats live in relative luxury and can travel internationally whenever they wish.

Sometimes, North Korean Black Hats need to examine what Western hackers are doing. Software trade shows feature special sections for malware and its antidotes, though malware is traded covertly. No one can legally sell malware openly. Malware can be transported on thumb drives or smaller SIM chips used in cell phones, which are easily concealed and transferred to new owners. Payments can be quickly made to and from bank accounts using smartphone, tablet, or laptop apps. Trade shows are preferred venues for these transactions due to the variety of people and unexpected opportunities they offer.

New developments are often best discovered at trade shows. Hackers from China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and other nations have been using OpenAI systems. Microsoft and OpenAI believe these nations initially used AI for routine tasks, but this quickly escalated to cyberattacks. Some hackers with ties to foreign governments are using generative artificial intelligence in their attacks. Instead of creating exotic attacks, as some in the tech industry feared, hackers have used AI for mundane tasks like drafting emails, translating documents, and debugging code. These countries leverage AI to enhance productivity.

Microsoft, which committed nearly $23 billion to, and is a close partner with OpenAI, shares threat information to document how five hacking groups tied to China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran used OpenAIs technology. The companies did not specify which OpenAI technology was involved. OpenAI shut down these groups access after learning of the misuse.

Since OpenAI released ChatGPT in 2022, concerns have persisted that hackers might weaponize these powerful tools to exploit vulnerabilities in new and creative ways. Like any technology, AI can be used for illegal and disruptive purposes.

OpenAI requires customers to sign up for accounts, but some users evade detection through techniques like masking their locations. This enables them to develop illegal or harmful AI applications. For example, a hacking group linked to the Iranian IRGC/Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps used AI to research ways to bypass antivirus scanners and generate phishing emails. One phishing email pretended to come from an international development agency, while another attempted to lure prominent feminists to an attacker-built website on feminism. In another case, a Russian-affiliated group used OpenAIs systems to research satellite communication protocols and radar imaging technology to influence the war in Ukraine. Russia has long relied on a large propaganda organization to attack and weaken enemies, and AI is now another tool in their arsenal.

Microsoft tracks over 300 hacker organizations, including independent cybercriminals and AI operations conducted by various nations. OpenAIs proprietary systems make it easier to track and disrupt their use, according to executives. They noted that while there are ways to identify hackers using open-source AI technology, the proliferation of open systems complicates the task.

When work is open-sourced, it becomes difficult to know who is using AI technology and whether they adhere to responsible use policies. Microsoft did not uncover any use of generative AI in a recent Russian hack of top Microsoft executives.

In combat situations, AI has been used increasingly over the past decade. As AI improves, it is employed more effectively and frequently in combat. For example, a Ukrainian firm developed an AI system that can accurately distinguish between Ukrainian and Russian soldiers in the distance, reducing instances of friendly fire. Friendly fire, when troops accidentally fire on their own, is an unfortunate and recurring aspect of modern warfare that no one likes to discuss. AI-assisted targeting reduces the likelihood of such incidents.
25 March 2026 19:50 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

Amazon.com, Inc. has acquired humanoid robotics startup Fauna Robotics, Inc., a company spokesperson confirmed to CNBC on Tuesday, AzerNEWS reports, citing foreign media.

Founded in 2024 by former engineers from Meta and Google, Fauna recently launched Sprout, a $50,000 bipedal robot designed to be approachable and human-friendly. Amazon said it is excited about Faunas vision to build capable, safe, and fun robots for everyone and aims to invent new ways to make our customers lives better and easier.

The acquisition follows Amazons purchase of Swiss delivery robotics firm Rivr and builds on its earlier push into home robotics, including the launch of the Astro robot in 2021.

This move comes amid intensifying competition in humanoid robotics. Tesla, Inc. is developing its Optimus robot, which CEO Elon Musk has said could deliver food to cars as early as 2026.

Interestingly, Amazons acquisition signals a growing trend of tech giants betting on humanoid robots not just for household assistance but also for logistics and delivery applicationspotentially reshaping how people interact with robots in everyday life within the next few years.
25 March 2026 16:56 (UTC+04:00)

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen sent a resignation letter to the king on Wednesday, it was revealed in a statement issued by the royal palace, AzerNEWS reports.

While Frederiksen's Socialist Democratic Party won the elections, it failed to gain the majority as its popularity declined. She has been in power since 2019.

"We've had to deal with war, we've been threatened by the American president and in those almost seven years we've gone down 4 percentage points, I think that's okay," she commented.

In order to form a new government, coalition talks will now have to take place.

While Frederiksen's party could still manage to stay in power, the process could take weeks.
25 March 2026 16:10 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz announced on Wednesday that he and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir approved new targets in Iran and Lebanon, AzerNEWS reports.

Speaking to the press, Katz added that the Israeli Air Force has dropped more than 15,000 bombs in Iran since the beginning of its operation there with the United States, four times more than when the two countries struck Tehran's nuclear facilities in June 2025.

Meanwhile, the IDF conducted new attacks on targets in Lebanon linked to Hezbollah, including a command center in southern Beirut.

What has happened over the 24-hour mark:
25 March 2026 23:32 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Latvia will transfer a new batch of CVR(T) reconnaissance vehicles to Ukraine, AzerNEWS reports.

The Latvian defense minister stated that the delivery of the tracked armored vehicles will not affect the operational capabilities or readiness of the countrys armed forces.

Latvia last supplied Ukraine with 12 CVR(T) reconnaissance vehicles in November 2025, as part of its ongoing military assistance to Kyiv.

The CVR(T) (Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance  Tracked) is a family of light tracked armored reconnaissance vehicles originally developed in the United Kingdom and currently used by the Latvian military.

A typical reconnaissance variant, such as the Scimitar, weighs around 8 tons and is operated by a crew of three. The vehicle can reach speeds of up to 80 km/h, offering high mobility in various terrains.

Equipped with aluminum armor ranging from approximately 20 mm to 60 mm, the CVR(T) is designed for speed and maneuverability rather than direct engagement with heavily armored targets.
Queen Garris Breaks Her Losing Streak, Maybe

BY: HOOD RICHARDSON

Queen Garris, Chairman of the Beaufort County Republican Party, got a small win this week. She successfully excluded me from a Republican Party meeting. There was treachery in her win. She deliberately scheduled the meeting for the same night and time as the Conservative Club meeting. This is not the first time she has backstabbed the Club. There are many Club members who are also voting members of the Executive Committee. We moved our meeting to the night before the Executive Committee meeting and had a very good turnout.

All meetings of the Beaufort County Executive Committee are open to registered Republicans. This is encouraged by and stated in the rules of operation of the Beaufort County Republican Party. Queen Garris has long ago trashed the written rules on how the party operates. She makes up the rules as she goes along. None of the business that is supposed to be approved and voted on by the Executive Committee has been allowed to be heard because Queen Garris will not allow the business of the Party to come before the Committee.

Garris claims the business of the Republican Party was delegated to the secret Victory Committee several years ago. This is simply not true. A new Executive Committee is picked every two years (on odd numbered years). New leadership means all sitting committees and appointments are dissolved. This Executive Committee (elected during March of 2025) has never authorized a Victory Committee. For that matter it has never authorized any other party business. Only two things have been voted on. Ashley Woolard motioned to change the name of the Reagan Day Dinner to the Trump-Reagan Day Dinner and Steve Rader made a motion to present something about funding campaigns. The spending of the money collected in the name of Republicans has never been approved by the Executive Committee. I have attended every Executive Committee meeting during the past two years except the March 2026 meeting.

Queen Garris does not want me in these meetings because my 30 years of experience in Beaufort County politics means, I call out her corrupt practices. I have also served on Republican Executive Committees in South Carolina and Virginia.

Queen Garris trick to keep me out of the March Executive Committee meeting was to have the meeting at the open gun carrying, defeated House of Representatives member, Keith Kidwells home at 35 Elks Road in Chocowinity. She tried on two occasions to get the City of Washington police to remove me from meetings simply because she demanded it. That did not work. One has to do a criminal act for the police to act. Queen Garris and King of his house, Keith Kidwell, reasoned that trespassing at someones house would require the Sheriff to arrest me.

These two geniuses did not realize that when Kidwell opened up his home to the Republican Party Executive Committee that all Republicans may attend as specified in the Rules of the Party. Had I attended this meeting, I would surely have been charged with trespassing. However, after spending several thousand dollars on lawyers, the charges would have been dropped by the judge. Queen Garris embarrassed herself again by declaring this public meeting was closed and only for voting members. Once again, she trashed the rules of the Beaufort County Republican Party. There is no provision in the rules for closed or secret meetings. What do you think of any political party that has secret meetings?

Complaints were made to the State Republican Party in Raleigh and Queen Garris has suddenly decided the next Executive Committee meeting will go back to the Ag Building at the airport on Thursday April 9 at 6:00 PM. The Republican public is invited.

The Executive Committee has serious financial reporting problems with the State and County Boards of Elections. The reports do not balance. There is incomplete information. Who donated the money? What was it used for? There are numerous letters of complaint from the authorities.

Those who donate money have no idea how it is used. There is the more than ten thousand dollars used to go after conservatives during the municipal elections of 2025. Some of the targets were not even running for office. The spending of this money was never approved by the Executive Committee. Should the people who authorized the spending of this money have to pay it back to the Republican Party? Is it theft for a few unknown people to spend the money without Executive Committee approval? Queen Garris refuses to identify the secret Victory Committee. Now that things are getting hot, I cannot find anyone who will admit to being a member of the Victory Committee. On whose authority is David French, the treasurer of the Executive Committee, writing these checks?

The 2026 Beaufort County Republican Convention is to be held on Thursday March 26 in the Superior Court Room at the courthouse. It should be a hoot. Queen Garris has again trashed the operating rules of the party. She declared that only those who attended her forced precinct meetings several weeks ago would be allowed to be a voting delegate at the convention. The rules of the party clearly state that it is not necessary to attend a precinct meeting in order to be a delegate at the convention. She did this so she would know exactly how many votes may be present to support her corrupt practices. Again, complaints have been made to Raleigh. It is possible she may have to have another convention because of her corrupt practices.
The University of Southern California organized a debate among candidates for governor of the state. Then when only white candidates qualified for it through standing in the polls, the USC refused to hold a whites-only debate, so they cancelled it.

How is that not racism?

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/03/california-gubernatorial-debate-canceled-because-only-white-candidates

California has a "jungle primary" where all candidates of whatever party compete in one primary, The top two, of whatever party go on the the general election. Because of a very divided Democrat field, polls have been showing that the two major Republicans, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton, a political commentator and naturalizzed US citizen who is former advisor to former Comservative British Prime Minister David Cameron,, are the top two candidates and likely to face each other in a runoff.
In California's Riverside County, the numbers did not add up after the Democrats referendum to gerrymander their congressional districts. The county's Reublican sheriff, Chad Bianco opened an investigation and seized the ballots as evidence. California's Democrat Attorney General Bonita started trying to intimidate the sheriff into backing off of the investigation, but he stuck to his guns. Then the AG went to court to try to block the investigation and seal the coverup, but the court shot him down. The investigation continues.

The problem with the election returns from Riverside County is that the vote reported from the county in the referendum was over 45,000 votes MORE than the records show were actually cast in the county. The sheriff has seized the actual ballots to investigate what caused this discrepancy. The Democrats apparently do not want this looked into as it may lead to something that invalidates their entire gerrynadering referendum.

https://redstate.com/rusty-weiss/2026/03/25/panic-move-failscourt-slaps-down-dem-ag-bid-to-block-recount-of-seized-ballots-amid-45k-vote-discrepancy-n2200599
March 25, 2026: Earlier this year the Spanish government dismantled the largest cocaine trafficking network operating in the Atlantic. This was a major loss for the seagoing smuggling operation that moved several tons of narcotics into Europe using high-speed boats capable of outrunning patrol vessels. After a year of investigations, Spain arrested over a hundred suspects and seized more than ten tons of cocaine along with electronics, boats and vehicles worth millions of dollars.

This smuggling operation used speed boats based in the Canary Islands that landed drugs in southern Spain. The speedboats also collected drugs from ships offshore. The smugglers used a sophisticated communications system that employed several different means of sending and receiving messages. Cooperation between American, Spanish, South American, Moroccan and the European Union authorities demolished a major drug smuggling operation.

This was but another in a series of anti-drug smuggling operations. Five years ago in southern Spains Malaga province just east of the Straits of Gibraltar, a police raid on a drug gang coastal warehouse found a ten-meter narco-sub drug smuggling submersible vessel under construction and nearly completed. The sub had a fiberglass and wood hull containing twin 200 HP engines. The sub could carry about two tons of drugs. This type of narco sub is used for offshore transfers of drugs from ocean-going fishing trawlers or cargo ships carrying cocaine from South America or hashish and heroin from Africa. Belgium and Spain are major centers of the European drug trade and together accounted for about ten percent of the drug seizures worldwide.

Building narco subs in Europe was suspected after the long-anticipated appearance of South American narco-subs in Europe finally happened in November 2019. This occurred off the Spanish coast when a trans-Atlantic narco-sub was having engine and ventilation problems made worse by rough seas. The three-man crew was discovered by police as they were abandoning the sinking narco-sub close to shore. Two of the crew, both from Ecuador, were arrested while the third man got away but was captured a few days later and found to be Spanish and the pilot of the sub. The sub was soon brought to the surface and taken to a port. The 21-meter submersible was carrying three tons of cocaine and had apparently made several voyages so far. This one had traveled farther than usual, to northwest Spain, near the border between Portugal and Galicia Spain, to avoid more intense offshore patrols off the southwest Spanish coast. The use of these submersibles off the Spanish coast had been rumored since 2016. It was also known that some only went as far as Cape Verde Islands, 570 kilometers off the northwest coast of Africa, the Canary Islands further north 100 kilometers off the Moroccan coast or much farther north to the Azores 1,500 kilometers west of Portugal. Once near these islands, the subs offload their cargo to fishing or speedboats, take on fuel and return to their South American base to pick up another load. As the use of submersibles and subs in South America became more common, it was suggested that these difficult to detect boats be used to move the cocaine to Spain.

Some submersibles had already been delivering cocaine to the west coast of Africa where smugglers moved it north and distributed some of it to African and North African gangs that serviced smaller Europe markets. Most of this trans-Atlantic cocaine ends up in Spain which is the source of most cocaine distributed throughout Europe. Spanish gangs dominate the importation and distribution of cocaine to other European markets. There are hundreds of police investigators in Spain and Europe who concentrate on the Spanish gangs that are at the center of the very profitable European cocaine trade. The Spanish gangs arrange for pick up and movement of cocaine from the Atlantic islands to Spain or other European countries.

What information the police have about the trans-Atlantic movement of cocaine comes from interrogations of arrested gang members and eavesdropping on their electronic communications. For a long time, cocaine was smuggled aboard cargo or passenger ships or commercial airline flights. These methods involved a lot of people getting caught and many shipments, some of them quite large, seized. Operating these small narco-subs on the high seas proved more difficult at first. After some trial and error, including many subs disappearing at sea, narco-sub design and crew qualifications reached the point where trans-Atlantic voyages were deemed practical for regular use. Eventually, the majority of cocaine used in Europe was arriving via these small narco-subs.

The European police cooperated with their American and South American counterparts to get an idea of how extensive the use of these submersibles was in moving cocaine from the source Ecuador and Colombia to world markets. The submersibles had already become the major transportation method to North America, Africa and Europe because they were the most difficult to detect. Since the 1990s it is believed that nearly a thousand submersibles have been built and about two hundred are currently in use. Thats about a billion dollars spent on narco-sub construction.

The United States has been dealing with these submersibles since 2000 because most of them appeared to be used to move cocaine to the United States. About 80 percent of the submersible traffic was in the Pacific, from South America to Mexico and, less often, to Central America. Another 15 percent operated in the Caribbean and a growing percentage of the boats were moving cocaine to Africa and Spain.

Most of these narco-subs are still semi-submersible type vessels. These are 10-20-meter fiberglass and wood boats, powered by one or two diesel engines, with a very low freeboard and a small conning tower, providing the crew of 3-5, and engine, with fresh air and the ability to safely navigate. A boat of this type was, since they first appeared in the early 1990s, thought to be the only practical kind of submarine for drug smuggling. After 2000 some drug gangs developed real submarines, capable of carrying 5-10 tons of cocaine. These boats were not true submarines because they did not have batteries so they could operate submerged with the diesel engine turned off. Instead, these subs used a World War II innovation, the snorkel. This looked something like a periscope, but thicker in diameter. For narco-subs, the snorkel mast was not retractable, as it is on military subs, but operated on the same principle.

In the smaller narco-subs, the snorkel proved to be more trouble than it was worth. In bad weather, waves constantly washed over the snorkel and forced its water valve to close, so water did not get into the sub. This often caused the diesel to shut down because of insufficient fresh air and too much exhaust unable to vent. The crew had a separate air supply but that supply was not sufficient to keep the diesel going, even for short periods. The snorkel was largely gone by the late 1990s. Instead, the designs of the semi-submersibles were improved by using better methods to cool the exhaust via more pipes outside the sub hull where the colder water absorbed heat before venting into the air via a curved pipe that sent the exhaust down towards the water rather than straight up. By reducing its heat signature this way, the sub reduced its vulnerability to the heat sensors search aircraft used. At that point the semi-submersible subs were very difficult to spot using radar, heat sensors, or even visually, from the air or a surface ship. With these reduced heat emissions, the snorkel was no longer an attractive alternative. The police and military have since obtained better sensors for detecting these narco-subs. The American military is a leader in this field and that is why the one percent detection rate increased to about ten percent of all narco-subs being detected and caught.

The snorkel subs also cost more than semi-submersibles and required a more highly trained crew. For a long time, there were efforts to borrow a lot of technology and ideas from the growing number of recreational submarines being built. That led to the construction of a few true subs, based on recreational subs. These proved to be more expensive to build and operate and some were still detected at sea or during construction. That meant the true subs were not sufficiently more effective to justify their higher cost. Semi-submersibles cost about $2 million to build, which takes about a year. The true submarines take several years to build and cost over $5 million.

That has led to drug gangs changing their tactics and building smaller narco-subs that carry one or two tons of cocaine at $24 million a ton so that, if one of these subs is caught, its loss is just considered a cost of doing business and not a significant financial loss.

Despite losing over a hundred semi-submersibles to the U.S. and South American naval forces, plus hundreds more to accidents and bad weather plus hundreds more to heavy use, the drug gangs have apparently concluded that the subs are the cheapest and most reliable way to ship the drugs. Early on, several hundred of these narco-subs were built and used on one-way trips to Mexico or the United States. Most of them got through. As new ones were built, their designs and durability improved to the point where the semi-submersibles were capable of multiple round-trips. Some have apparently been refurbished or rebuilt so they can undertake even more voyages.

It was these sturdier and more reliable vessels that made the trans-Atlantic routes possible. The more reliable boats also made it possible to obtain more experienced, and effective, crews. The early designs were dangerous and although high fees were paid to crew, usually operators of offshore fishing boats, it was very dangerous. Some of the early crews were recruited by threats against their families or even by kidnapping of family members. With the reusable boats more crews were making a career out of this well-paying job. Moreover, the trans-Atlantic voyages meant covering about 8,000 kilometers, which could take 15-20 days. The trips to Mexico were less than half that and the ones to Central American or via the Caribbean even shorter. The early trans-Atlantic voyages went only as far as some islands close to Europe and Africa but these were still about 75 percent as long as going all the way to Spain.

A detection network, run mainly by the United States, located a lot more of these cocaine subs than there were police or coast guard or navy ships available to run them all down. This was a problem that has yet to be solved. It is complicated by the fact that these aerial contacts can be lost even if you keep the search aircraft in the area for a long time so a surface ship can arrive. One possible solution to this was more international cooperation. Since the early 1990s the United States has used a special interagency group of the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, State, and Defense, plus international ones in which over a dozen nations participate in intelligence sharing/analysis operation, called the Joint Interagency Task Force-South, to track drug smuggling from South America. After 2001 the task force became quite expert at tracking the submarines and submersibles built in South America for smuggling cocaine to North America and, in a few cases, all the way to Europe. Some of these long-range subs are apparently going all the way from Ecuador to the United States, bypassing the Mexican cartels, who have been fighting each other in a big way since 2008. Trips directly to the United States proved too dangerous and most of the narco-subs now go to Mexico or Central America.

There was always a concern that larger boats would eventually head for Europe. For years little was known about this effort, except that it existed. Then verifiable reports, from informants, electronic eavesdropping and interrogations confirmed that cocaine was coming in via semi-submersibles. It was believed that these subs would be more at risk of being lost because of an accident or bad weather than being spotted. It turned out that the new designs were even capable of making the trip and usually returning under their own power. European navies, especially Portugal and Spain's, and coast guards were alerted and began searching regularly but until 2019 had never actually caught one of these semi-submersibles. At first, it was thought that the risk of failure was so high for these trans-Atlantic narco-subs that few were built and not on a regular basis. That was not the case and the captured gangsters and overheard electronic communications indicated that the subs had become a regular method for moving the cocaine.

So far, the Colombian security forces and other Latin American navies have been responsible for most of these vessel captures. The number being captured has been going up in the last few years and 2019 was a record year with 36 boats detected and seized. Usually these boats are sunk by their crews when spotted, but the few that were captured intact revealed features like an extensive collection of communications equipment, indicating an effort to avoid capture by monitoring many police and military frequencies. The Colombians captured several of these vessels before they could be launched. Since 2010 the Colombians have been collecting a lot of information on those who actually build these subs for the drug gangs and FARC leftist rebels that provide security and often transportation for moving cocaine. FARC made peace with the government several years ago but some factions refused to surrender and continued to produce cocaine and build semi-submersibles. Security forces in Colombia and Ecuador continue to search for the jungle riverbanks where the construction takes place. These construction sites are constantly being moved because they are hard to keep hidden for a long time.

Colombian police have arrested dozens of members of gangs that specialized in building submarines and semi-submersible boats. As police suspected, some of those arrested were retired or on active duty with the Colombian Navy, which operates two 1970s era German built Type 209 submarines. These arrests were part of an intense effort to find the people responsible for building subs for cocaine gangs. Find the builders and you stop the building efforts. In this case, it has only delayed some construction and made it more expensive to build these boats.

European police have detected signs that Spanish drug gangs are not only building their own narco-subs for making the final run of from up to a hundred kilometers offshore, with cocaine transferred from a larger surface ship, but also planning to make fully submersible subs powered by electric engines for this final run to the Spanish coast. These would be larger than the usual narco-subs because of the need to carry over ten tons of batteries to propel the sub under water at about 60 kilometers at five kilometers an hour, just beneath the surface. These subs would be virtually undetectable compared to the current diesel-powered semi-submersibles, but would have to meet the ship carrying the drugs closer under 30 kilometers to the shore. These submersible subs would be far more expensive, at over $10 million each to build and require better trained and more experienced crew to operate it. For that reason it is believed the drug gangs will not take the risk of building and operating these more expensive and complex submersibles unless losses among the semi-submersibles off the coast get too high.

The U.S. shared with Israel what it knew about finding these vessels because Israel felt threatened by them for different reasons. In 2016 Israel began deploying new sensors and techniques to find these small, easily built vessels that they feared would be used to attack Israels new offshore natural gas fields. The Israelis have an advantage in that they have a less restrictive ROE\Rules of Engagement and, while the United States never has enough surface ships or long-range helicopters to make sure that long-range sensor contacts are actually narco-subs and not some legal vessel, the Israelis can warn all maritime traffic in their coastal waters to identify themselves or risk being fired on from the air or from surface craft. A number of the latter are unmanned, like the new Seagull unmanned surface drone that can fire wire-guided torpedoes.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun early followed by cloudy skies this afternoon. High 69F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional rain late. Low 46F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
A former Miss Hall's School teacher pleaded not guilty Wednesday to three felony rape counts stemming from abuse allegations made by two alumnae who spent years fighting to bring him to criminal court.
Janis Joplin and the Kozmic Blues Band were not the first Tanglewood contemporary performers, but they were the first real hard-rocking act that performed under the famed pavilion.
"Chinamaxxing": a new wave of global cultural engagement

16:48, March 24, 2026 By Bao Han ( People's Daily

Foreign tourists make dumplings in a hotel in Sanmenxia, central China's Henan province. (Photo/Sun Meng)

Recently, a trend dubbed "Chinamaxxing" has been gaining traction on overseas social media. How this phenomenon is interpreted reflects differing attitudes toward cross-cultural exchange.

A growing number of overseas netizens describe themselves as being in a "Chinamaxxing" phase -- embracing Chinese ways of living. One original video tagged "becoming Chinese" has garnered over a million views, as practices like brewing wellness tea and practicing traditional Chinese health exercise Baduanjin(traditional Chinese health exercises) become symbols of a "cool" lifestyle among young people abroad.

And the trend is now moving offline. At markets in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, mamianqun, which literally translates into "horse-face skirts," a traditional Chinese costume, has become top sellers. In Italy, Spring Festival items such as couplets, paper-cuttings and zodiac-themed cultural products are enjoying brisk sales.

More people now believe that the best way to experience Chinamaxxing is to visit China in person. Data shows that during the Spring Festival holiday this year, inbound tourist visits to China doubled year on year.

Some media outlets have interpreted the Chinamaxxing trend not as cultural "role-playing," but as a form of "subconscious identification." Chinese culture is fully capable of inspiring such resonance.

By blending history with modernity, and tradition with fashion, China offers a uniquely rich cultural experience.

In today's China, one can enjoy the convenience of "doing it all with one smartphone." At the same time, traditional ways of living endure -- imbued with a sense of mindfulness, where everyday moments are approached with care and intention. Modern infrastructure like high-speed rail and 5G connects the country, while lesser-known "hidden gem" cities invite leisurely exploration. Cutting-edge technological innovation thrives alongside the unhurried craftsmanship of intangible cultural heritage.

As international visitors engage with and experience Chinese culture, what begins as a "cool" encounter often evolves into deeper reflection on ways of life, revealing the true essence and appeal of cross-cultural exchange.

Foreigners dig up bamboo shoots in an agricultural park in Huzhou, east China's Zhejiang province. (Photo/Xie Shangguo)

The rise of the Chinamaxxing trend offers a fresh lens through which to understand China. There was a time when misconceptions and biases about the country circulated widely in some Western societies, shaping a distorted image of China. Today, however, China's continued development, expanding opening up and technological advances have paved the way for this Chinamaxxing phenomenon.

As more people engage with China firsthand, their understanding of the country deepens -- moving beyond traditional cultural symbols to shape a more nuanced view of the country. This shift, subtle yet profound, is reshaping global perceptions of China.

As some international observers noted: "What people see on TikTok is not a static, traditional China, but a modern and confident one." It offers, in their words, "a powerful correction to the image many grew up with."

That said, overcoming entrenched biases takes time. While more young people abroad are embracing habits like drinking warm lemon honey water, some in Western societies react with unease even anxiety.

They frame the Chinamaxxing trend as a form of "cultural shock," claiming that young people are "betraying" their own societies on aesthetic, moral, or even political grounds. Casting normal cultural exchange as "cultural infiltration" or "ideological invasion", or forcing it into a geopolitical narrative, says more about their own mindset than about the trend itself. Such thinking is increasingly out of step with the interconnected world, where exchanges among civilizations are constant.

As The Guardian, UK aptly observed, if embracing elements of other cultures, from Chinese aesthetics to French country kitchens, qualifies as "betrayal," then such "traitors" are everywhere.

Cultural exchange and mutual learning among civilizations is not a zero-sum game. The global spread of Chinese culture does not rely on imposition or indoctrination, but on sharing rooted in equality, respect and voluntary participation.

As more people around the world are naturally drawn to Chinese culture, rather than reacting with unnecessary anxiety, it may be wiser -- as one commentator suggested -- to pause, relax, and enjoy a cup of tea.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Wu Chaolan)
ongoing government shutdown that has severely affected operations of airports across the United States, Delta Air Lines has announced that it will be suspending special airport services typically enjoyed by members of Congress.

The ongoing government shutdown has affected funding for parts of the Department of Homeland Security. As a result, TSA workers have been working without pay, hitting their third period without any compensation.

Delta Air Lines Suspends Congress' Airport Benefits

In a statement released to NBC News, Delta Air Lines said that "Due to the impact on resources from the longstanding government shutdown, Delta will temporarily suspend specialty services to members of Congress flying Delta."

"Next to safety, Delta's No. 1 priority is taking care of our people and customers, which has become increasingly difficult in the current environment," it added.

Among the special airport services that members of Congress enjoy are courtesy TSA escorts, dedicated reservation desks, and expedited screening at TSA checkpoints.

The suspension of such privileges means that members of Congress will be just like any other traveler and the perks that they receive will be based on their SkyMiles loyalty status.

Related Article: Delta CEO Criticizes Lawmakers for Forcing TSA Officers to Work Without Pay

Senate Passes Bill on Special Treatment at Airports

TravelPulse reiterates in its report that the suspension by Delta is only temporary. However, such privileges may come into a halt permanently if a certain bill becomes a law.

According to the report, the Senate has passed a bill that permanently stops special treatment enjoyed by members of Congress at airports.

The bill is now on its way to the House for approval.
While Cheshire has adopted a pay as you throw system based on volume, the 600 permit holders are still heaving plenty into the 30-yard roll-off headed to Clinton County landfill in Morrisonville, N.Y.
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Jeff Robbins, a part-time resident of Stockbridge, is a former U.S. delegate to the United Nations Human Rights Council. Reach him at Jeffrey.Robbins@saul.com.
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INRI is an often-overlooked element of Easter. Before there was a resurrection day to celebrate, there was a crucifixion. INRI is the phrase written on Jesus cross. INRI angered the religious leaders of the day, but it is a confirmation of the truth for believers of every age.

So, what can INRI teach us today?

First, lets look at the phrases meaning and context before discussing how the truth still applies to modern Christians.

What Does INRI Mean in English?

INRI is an acronym for the Latin phrase Iesus Nazarenus Rex ludaeorum, translated as Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews.

That phrase appears in the fourth gospel, at the crucifixion:

And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. Now, Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. (John 19:17-20)

This title came from Pilates interrogation of Jesus and the subsequent confrontation with the religious leaders. When Pilate questioned Jesus, he asked if he was the King of the Jews. Jesus never called himself that, but he told Pilate that he had spoken correctly but that his kingdom was not here. Pilate couldnt find any crime that Jesus had committed, but the religious leaders made the case that Jesus was committing treason against Caesar by saying he was King of the Jews, so he should be crucified:

From then on, Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, If you let this Man go, you are not Caesars friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar. . . . And he said to the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him! Pilate said to them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar! (John 19:14-15)

Pilate gave in to their demands, but he tried to wash his hands of any guilt in Jesus death and gave the order for what should be written on Jesus cross.

Matthew Henrys commentary points out that Matthews gospel called the sign on the cross an accusation. Luke called it an inscription, but John used the proper Latin name of title. Since the people had used the accusation of treason as the reason for his crucifixion, it makes sense that Pilate would use the title as a means of reproach.

Did the Romans Really Write INRI on the Cross?

Since many medieval Christian churches used Latin (Latin mass, a Latin translation of the Bible called the Vulgate), we may wonder if INRI was what the Romans wrote or a later translation of what they wrote.

John indicates that Pilatean ancient Roman who would have spoken and written Latindid have the title King of the Jews written in Latin on the cross. In fact, he made sure it was written in several languages:

Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. (John 19:20)

Pilate wrote it in almost every language used in that part of the world. Everyone who came through the city spoke or was familiar with at least one of the languages: Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Because of the use of multiple languages and the place of the crucifixion, more people read the title, which led to reflections and speculations among the multitudes of people passing through the city.

What Did Pilate Mean When He Had INRI Written on the Cross?

The religious leaders were angry with Pilate because they felt the title on the cross should have been worded differently:

Therefore, the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, Do not write, The King of the Jews, but, He said, I am the King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written, I have written. (John 19:21-22)

There are a lot of opinions about Pilates reasons for writing INRI on the cross. Matthew Henrys commentary states that Pilate was using it basically as a warning for those who would rebel against Caesar. It could be said that Pilate saw no wrongdoing in Jesus, so he wrote it to get back at the religious leaders with whom he was already in conflict. The Eastern Orthodox church portrays Pilate and his wife, Procla, as believers. Regardless of Pilates reasons, God used INRI to make the truth known and to help spread the gospel.

Why Is It Important that Jesus Truly Was King?

We can learn a lot from INRI. While researching this article, I was reminded of a book, The Once and Future King by T. H. White. It is about King Arthur, Camelot, and Excalibur and the prophecy of a king who would unite Britain under one ruler, bringing peace. The Old Testament prophesied a coming Messiah, but Israel had visions of King Arthur coming to unite the Jews under a human king who would defeat their enemies and bring peace to the nation. They were looking for a worldly king, but Jesus told Pilate:

My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here. Pilate, therefore, said to Him, Are You a king then? Jesus answered, You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice (John 18:36-37)

Jesus Christ, the Messiah, came to save the world, but not as an earthly king. His plan was much higher and reached into eternity. For further reading the importance of the kingly title, check out What is the Meaning of INRI on Jesus Cross?

What Can INRIs Meaning Teach Us Today?

There are at least three things we can learn from the title King of the Jews:

1. Jesus was Gods plan for salvation from the beginning. In John 1:1-5, John tells us that Jesus was with God in the beginning and that He was God. God was already our King, but He chose Jesus, holy and without blame, as the means of salvation for the world (Ephesians 1:3-5).

2. Jesus fulfills the prophecy of the Messiah and the covenant. All the prophecies about the Messiah were fulfilled in Jesus, from his birth in Bethlehem to his death as a suffering servant. He is also the fulfillment of the covenant with Abraham and the promise to David that a king of his lineage would always be on the throne. Jesus was a king of Heaven from the foundations of the earth, even if he never took the title on earth.

3. Jesus will come again. Revelation 1:5 tells us that Jesus is king over all kings and that He will return. When He does, every knee will bow to Jesus. He wont just rule over the Jews but all of creation.

Whether Pontius Pilate believed the words he had written on the cross or if he wrote them as a means of mockery and warning doesnt change the truth. Jesus is the Truth. Jesus is the King of the Jews. Yet, He is so much more.

God had a plan from the beginning of time with Jesus at the center, and no plans of man or the enemy could change it. Jesus is the once and future king. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty (Revelations 1:8). When He comes again, He will bring a new Heaven and a new earth, making creation new again. Then we will have true, everlasting peace because we will be in the presence of Emmanuel, the Prince of Peace, the King of Kings.

For further reading on Pilate and the phrase King of the Jews, check out the following articles:

What Does It Mean That Jesus Is the King of the Jews?

8 Things You Need to Know About Pontius Pilate

What is Pontius Pilates Surprising Role in the Easter Story?

Photo credit: Navicent via Wikimedia Commons

Linda Lyle is a writer, teacher, knitter, and unintentional collector of cats. She has written articles for the Alabama Baptist, Open Windows, Refresh, as well as multiple novels and novellas. Her newest book, 5-Minute Prayer Plan for When Life Is Overwhelming, is set to release in October. She spins yarns on her blog The End of My Yarn at lindalyle.com.

This article is part of our People from the Bible Series featuring the most well-known historical names and figures from Scripture. We have compiled these articles to help you study those whom God chose to set before us as examples in His Word. May their lives and walks with God strengthen your faith and encourage your soul.

The Bible Story of Elijah

The Life of Ruth - 5 Essential Faith Lessons

The Bible Story of Queen Esther

The Greatest Villain - King Nebuchadnezzar

The Bible Story of Mary Magdalene
Why Boutique Hospitals Are Gaining Ground

March 25, 2026 | Wednesday | Views | By Dr Vivek Desai, Founder & Managing Director, HOSMAC

Boutique hospitals are likely to play a crucial role in bridging the infrastructure gap

Indias healthcare sector is entering a new phase of expansion, but this phase may look very different from the large multi-specialty facilities that defined the last two decades. Across Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, a quieter yet significant trend is emerging: the rise of compact, well-designed boutique hospitals that deliver high-quality care without the scale or cost burden of large tertiary centres.

The Shift Beyond Metros

Indias demand for healthcare infrastructure continues to outpace supply, particularly outside the major metropolitan centres. While large tertiary hospitals remain essential for highly complex treatments, many regional markets require hospitals that can provide reliable secondary and selective tertiary care closer to where patients live.

Importantly, much of the next wave of expansion is shifting beyond metropolitan markets. Industry estimates suggest that nearly 40% of new hospital capacity planned over the next five years will be in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, reflecting both rising demand and the growing economic potential of these regions.

Boutique hospitals are increasingly filling this gap. Typically designed with around 80-120 beds and a built-up area of roughly 70,000 to 90,000 square feet, these hospitals are significantly smaller than traditional corporate facilities. Yet their scale allows promoters to create clinically robust institutions with modern infrastructure, efficient workflows, and a strong focus on patient experience.

The Rise of Specialised Care

Alongside the geographic shift, there is also a structural change in how healthcare services are delivered. Rising disease burdens and increasing awareness are driving demand for specialised care in areas such as oncology, fertility treatment, orthopaedics, cardiology, and minimally invasive day-care surgeries.

Instead of offering every possible specialty under one roof, many new hospitals are choosing to focus on a few high-demand disciplines where they can build clinical depth and reputation. This shift has given rise to a new generation of specialty hospitals that combine focused expertise with operational efficiency.

A Sustainable Model for Hospital Promoters

From the perspective of hospital promoters and investors, the economics of boutique hospitals are also compelling. Large tertiary hospitals often require significant capital investment, long gestation periods, and complex operational structures. In contrast, boutique hospitals can be developed with relatively lower capital expenditure while still maintaining strong clinical capabilities in selected areas.

Lower fixed costs, optimised staffing models, and efficient utilisation of infrastructure allow these hospitals to achieve healthier operating margins. More importantly, their manageable scale enables promoters to maintain tighter control over quality, patient satisfaction, and clinical governance.

Emerging Examples Across India

Several hospitals across India illustrate how this model is gaining traction. In Nagpur, Viveka Hospital has been developed as a focused Super-specialty hospital built around operational efficiency and patient-centric design. Ashoka Hospitals in Nashik demonstrates how a regional healthcare brand can scale sustainably by constructing a Built To Suit hospital with an O&M parther like Medicover and Cancer Centre of America without over-expanding into an unwieldy corporate structure. Similarly, TriStar Hospital in Surat and Tricolor Hospital in Vadodara represents a compact hospital model optimized for streamlined clinical workflows and patient experience.

Facilities such as HCG Cancer Centre, which focuses exclusively on oncology care, and Nova IVF Fertility, a dedicated fertility care network, demonstrate how specialised hospitals can build strong clinical reputations while operating with more focused infrastructure and service offerings.

Building Smarter Healthcare Infrastructure

As India continues to expand its healthcare capacity, boutique hospitals are likely to play a crucial role in bridging the infrastructure gap, particularly in emerging urban centres. By combining focused clinical services, efficient design, and sustainable economics, these hospitals are redefining how quality healthcare can be delivered beyond the countrys largest cities.

Dr Vivek Desai, Founder & Managing Director, HOSMAC


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The Trump administration filed a sweeping new lawsuit against Harvard University on Friday, accusing the nation's most prominent university of violating federal civil rights law by failing to protect Jewish and Israeli students from harassment  and asking a federal court to freeze more than $2.6 billion in existing federal grants while recovering billions more in funds already paid.

The Department of Justice lawsuit, filed in federal court in Massachusetts, is the second time the administration has sued Harvard this year and the latest escalation in a year-long conflict that has tested the boundaries of the federal government's authority over American universities. Harvard called it "yet another pretextual and retaliatory action by the administration for refusing to turn over control of Harvard to the federal government."

What the Lawsuit Alleges

The complaint alleges that Harvard is in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs or activities receiving federal funding. The government argues that Harvard created and maintained a "hostile educational environment" for Jewish and Israeli students  and that university leadership was not merely negligent, but "deliberately indifferent."

A federal task force investigating Harvard found the university was a "willful participant" in antisemitic harassment of Jewish students and faculty, and threatened to refer the case to the Justice Department unless Harvard came into compliance.

The specific conduct cited in the complaint includes students being "spit on in the face for wearing a yarmulke, stalked on campus, and jeered by peers with calls of 'Heil Hitler.'" The administration also cited Harvard's decision to allow a pro-Palestinian encampment to remain on campus for 20 days "in violation of university policy," and accused the university of failing to discipline staff or students who protested or tacitly endorsed demonstrations by canceling class or dismissing students early.

The lawsuit asks the court to compel Harvard to comply with federal civil rights law, appoint an "independent outside monitor," require Harvard to call police to arrest protesters blocking parts of campus, and recover "billions of dollars of taxpayer subsidies awarded to a discriminatory institution." "The United States cannot and will not tolerate these failures," the Justice Department wrote in the complaint.

The Timeline  A Year of Escalation

The lawsuit is the culmination of a year-long conflict that began less than two weeks after President Trump took office for his second term and has escalated at nearly every turn.

The Trump administration slashed more than $2.6 billion in Harvard's research funding, ended federal contracts, and attempted to block Harvard from hosting international students. Harvard filed its own lawsuits in response, arguing it was being illegally penalized for refusing to adopt the administration's views. A federal judge sided with Harvard in September, reversing the funding cuts and calling the antisemitism argument a "smokescreen."

Rather than retreat after losing that round, the administration doubled down. Negotiations had been heating up in early February  until The New York Times reported that the White House had dropped demands for a financial payment from the university. Trump subsequently doubled down on his demands, saying his administration was "now seeking One Billion Dollars in damages."

Friday's lawsuit also follows a February 13 lawsuit in which the government accused Harvard of failing to comply with a federal investigation and sought documents to determine whether the university illegally considered race in its admissions process. That makes Friday's complaint the second suit filed against Harvard in five weeks.

Harvard's Response

Harvard's response was unambiguous. In a statement, the university said it "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," and that it has "enhanced training and education on antisemitism for students, faculty, and staff and launched programs to promote civil dialogue and respectful disagreement."

Harvard's full statement concluded: "We will continue to prioritize this important work and will defend the University against this lawsuit, which represents yet another pretextual and retaliatory action by the administration for refusing to turn over control of Harvard to the federal government."

Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, accused the administration of launching a "full-scale, multi-pronged attack" on higher education. "When bullies pound on the table and don't get what they want, they pound again," Mitchell said.

The Legal Stakes

The lawsuit presents the federal judiciary with a case that sits at the intersection of three contested legal questions simultaneously: the scope of Title VI protections for Jewish and Israeli students, the limits of executive authority over university governance, and the boundaries of First Amendment protection for campus protest activity.

On the Title VI question, the law is clear that universities receiving federal funds cannot discriminate based on national origin  and both Israeli nationality and Jewish religious identity have been held in prior cases to fall within Title VI's protections. The harder question is whether Harvard's response to pro-Palestinian protests constitutes "deliberate indifference" under the legal standard, or whether the university's actions  however criticized  represent good-faith efforts to balance competing obligations.

On the institutional autonomy question, the administration's demand that Harvard appoint an "independent outside monitor" and call police to arrest protesters represents a degree of federal intervention in university governance that has no modern precedent. A federal judge has already called the administration's antisemitism framing a "smokescreen" for a broader political agenda. Whether a different judge reaches the same conclusion in this new case will shape the outcome significantly.

What It Means for Students

For Jewish and Israeli students at Harvard  and at universities across the country watching this case closely  Friday's lawsuit is a double-edged development. The specific allegations of physical harassment, stalking, and intimidation described in the complaint are serious and, if accurate, represent genuine failures of institutional protection that deserve remedy. Those students' experiences should not be dismissed or minimized because the administration pursuing the case has its own political motivations.

At the same time, the administration's track record in its conflict with Harvard  losing in federal court, having funding cuts reversed, being told its antisemitism argument was pretextual  suggests that the new lawsuit is as much a political instrument as a legal one. The students whose experiences are cited in the complaint did not choose to become the stated rationale for a multibillion-dollar institutional confrontation. How their experiences are handled by a court, rather than a press secretary, will determine whether this lawsuit ultimately helps them.

The case will be watched by every university in America. The outcome will determine how far the federal government can go in dictating university governance  and where, finally, the line is.
Olivet University is pleased to support the Anza Valley community through a recent donation of more than 700 children's books to the Friends of Anza Library, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the Anza Valley Community Library.

Friends of Anza Library President Jill Roberts and Vice President Kay Mackay visited Olivet University's campus to receive the donation. During their visit, university representatives provided a tour of the facilities before presenting nearly 30 boxes filled with high-quality children's books.

"We wanted to extend a very grateful thanks to Olivet University for the very warm and heartfelt welcome. We are very excited about our budding collaborative endeavors and their support of the Anza Library and our Friends group. How exciting to be working together for the good of our respective communities," said Roberts, joined by Mackay.

The donation came from the University's Ralph D. Winter Library, which had a surplus of children's materials available for community use. When selecting a recipient, the university immediately thought of the Friends of Anza Library as an organization aligned with its commitment to education and community service.

Through this contribution, Olivet University is grateful to establish a new partnership and to support the Anza Public Library, which is currently seeking to expand into a larger facility. Olivet University looks forward to continued collaboration and hopes to play a meaningful role in supporting educational growth and enrichment within the Anza community.

For more stories about Olivet University, visit olivetnews.com

For more information about Friends of Anza Library, visit friendsofanzalibrary.org
A recent investigation from The Irish Times, along with the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), found that alumina produced in Co Limerick is entering the Russian military supply chain.

While in the past, Ministers have defended the plant and said it does not have links to the Russian military, it is clear that much of the alumina ends up being used for the Russian Ministry of Defence.

Who owns Aughinish Alumina, and how does the refined alumina make its way from Limerick to Siberia? Here is everything you need to know:

Who owns Aughinish Alumina in Limerick?

The Aughinish plant is owned by Rusal, a Russian company, which also owns smelters in Siberia to which much of the output from the Co Limerick plant is exported.

A big customer of these smelters is a Moscow trading company that has links with Rusal and is an important player in the Russian arms industry.

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Alumina, as a basic commodity, is not subject to EU sanctions and the company and the Government point out that it has wide uses in civilian projects.

Nor is it possible to prove definitively that the output of the Co Limerick plant is used in arms production.

But industry experts point out that aluminium producers such as the big Russian smelters would not typically use alumina from specific suppliers in different ways.

When Rusals major shareholder, Oleg Deripaska, was sanctioned by Washington in 2018 for alleged interference in the 2016 US presidential election, Irish officials successfully lobbied for the Co Limerick plant to be excluded.

This was agreed on the basis that Deripaska reduced his stake in the plant, though he remains its largest shareholder. The Irish Government also lobbied for the company again in 2022, following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.

How does the alumina end up in Russia?

The supply chain starts when bauxite from Africa and South America arrives at the Shannon estuary for processing into alumina.

Once the raw bauxite arrives at Aughinish by ship, it goes through the Bayer process. This uses huge amounts of heat, pressure and caustic soda to turn bauxite into alumina, producing the red mud that surrounds the plant.

The finished alumina is then loaded back on ships and exported overseas.

The Irish alumina arrives in Russia at Novy Port, near St Petersburg, where it is loaded onto trains and transported almost 5,000km east to Rusal-owned smelters in Siberia. A large portion of the material is transported to the Rusal smelter in Krasnoyarsk, one of the biggest aluminium manufacturing plants in the world.

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Satellite and shipping data shows much of the material produced in Co Limerick is transported to smelters in Russia, which are also owned by Rusal. There, it is transformed into aluminium.

Between 2020 and 2024, Russian imports of Irish alumina surged, rising from 394,430 tonnes to 826,584 tonnes, before declining slightly last year, according to export data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

Aughinish also sells substantial amounts of alumina to other countries, but since the war, Russia has become by far its biggest customer. In 2020, Russia accounted for 23 per cent of the Limerick plants business. Last year, that figure was 68 per cent, according to the CSO.

What is the alumina used for?

The aluminium product is purchased by a trader called ASK, which has extensive links to Rusal.

ASK then sells aluminium to sanctioned weapons manufacturers who make missiles, tanks, helicopters and other weapons of war used in the Ukraine conflict by Russia.

Financial records do not definitively show whether specific Irish alumina is being used in Russian weapons. But they do show that vast amounts of Irish alumina are being smelted into aluminium by Rusal, which then sells it to the ASK. The trader, in turn, supplies huge amounts to Russian weapons companies.

Russian army tanks take a position at an area of Kursk region of Russia,  Russian Defense Ministry Press Service

Their investigation identified 107 defence companies as ASK customers, of which 40 are subject to EU sanctions. According to Andriy Yusov, an official from the main directorate of intelligence in Ukraines ministry of defence, 18 of these customers are responsible for manufacturing weapons directly used in deadly attacks on Ukraine.

The companies include Votkinsk Machine Building Plant which manufactures intercontinental and medium-range ballistic missiles, including the infamous Iskander-M missile.

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Advanced missiles such as the Iskander killed 682 Ukrainian civilians last year, a 28 per cent increase on the number killed in 2024.

Another ASK customer, Uraltransmash, makes howitzers for the Russian army, while NPK Uralvagonzavod uses aluminium to produce the T-72 tanks that formed the vanguard of the 2022 invasion.

What do the locals think?

People living near Russian-owned Aughinish Alumina in Limerick defended the plant, despite the reported links between the alumina it produces and dozens of Russian weapons manufacturers.

Locals who spoke included those who publicly represent some of the plants staff.

Its a case of do you eat the egg or do you choke the chicken? said local former special branch detective and recently retired Fianna Fail councillor Kevin Sheahan.

We cant stop these things. If they werent shipping the alumina, the plant wouldnt be functioning, and the employment wouldnt be here and it wouldnt be beneficial to anybody, Sheahan said.

Asked how he balanced concerns for those families with links between Aughinish and the Russian military supply chain, he said Its a fair question but argued that the source of the alumina was irrelevant.

If the plant in Askeaton couldnt export it any more, it would be exported [from] someplace else, he said.

The people in Askeaton or Ireland didnt declare war on anybody, and you wouldnt find anybody here wishing the war to go any place other than to finish.

Publican Adam Teskey, who represents the area as an elected Fine Gael councillor, said that although he did not support Russias war in Ukraine, he did support the continued exportation of alumina from the Rusal plant, which is part-owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Derepeska, who has close ties with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin.

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The majority of people I represent are employed by Aughinish. Its a very valued employer and a local taxpayer that contributes enormous amounts of money to the area which I represent, said Teskey.

He and others in the Shannon estuary zone were quick to point out that a second big local employer  Wyeth Nutritionals Ireland in Askeaton, an infant formula manufacturer owned by Nestle  is closing its doors at the end of this month with the loss of 542 jobs.

Finally, what has the Government's reaction been?

Two Government departments are to review findings of the investigation that highlighted links between Irish-made alumina and dozens of Russian weapons manufacturers.

It follows a commitment in the Dail from Taoiseach Micheal Martin to examine the matter and a commitment by the Belgian government to close the loophole that allows alumina produced in Ireland to be exported to Russia.

There have also been calls from Opposition members and a prominent Ukrainian politician for a crackdown on exports of the material to Russia.

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The Government has previously denied that the plant plays any part in supplying material to Russias military industry.

Responding to questions in the Dail on Tuesday, the Taoiseach said he was not previously aware of the links between Irish alumina and the Russian weapons industry.

He expressed concern about the findings and pledged to examine the issue and try to get into the background of it.

But he stressed Aughinish Alumina is a very significant employer in the Midwest and it supports hundreds of jobs directly and indirectly.
Two Limerick-based gardai who had criminal charges dropped against them earlier today were later informed that suspensions imposed on them six years ago had been lifted.

This morning the State officially withdrew a total of 33 charges against Garda Paul Baynham, Garda Niall Deegan, and Peter ODonnell who retired from the force about a month ago.

Tonight Garda Headquarters confirmed that Garda Baynham and Garda Deegans suspensions had been lifted opening the way for their immediate return to work.

An Garda Siochana notes the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions to withdraw charges at Limerick Circuit Court today. Suspensions against two members of An Garda Siochana in the Southern region have been lifted. An Garda Siochana has no further comment at this time, stated Garda HQ.

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'Witch hunt'

The three accused walked free from court with their innocence intact after enduring a six-year hell and a witch hunt, having faced unproven accusations of perverting the course of justice.

All three, who had denied any wrongdoing, were suspended from the Limerick Garda Divisional Roads Policing Unit in 2019, following a garda probe into alleged unlawful interference into potential or pending road traffic prosecutions.

The probe was focused entirely on the Limerick Garda Division and led by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI), based out of Garda offices at Harcourt Square, Dublin.

Today, at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court, prosecuting barrister, senior counsel Carl Hanahoe, withdrew all of the charges by entering in court a "nolle prosequi" a Latin term meaning do not prosecute.

The GNBCI investigation also led to four more gardai, including Sergeant Anne Marie Hassett, Sergeant Michelle Leahy, Garda Tom McGlinchey and Garda Colm Geary, and retired

Superintendent Eamon O'Neill, being charged.

These five accused were each acquitted by a jury following a nine-week trial, held at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court between November 2025 and January 2026.

The five accused defence counsels argued the case was centred around the long-standing practice of garda discretion whereby gardai use their own common sense when dealing with members of the public.

The prosecution had argued that preferential treatment was given to certain members of the public because of their association with Eamon ONeill when he was a Superintendent in the Limerick Division, which was denied.

Hassett and O'Neill, who are married, have initiated High Court proceedings against the State seeking damages.

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Speaking outside Limerick courthouse today, garda Frank Thornton, Garda Representative Association, Limerick Division, said Peter ODonnell, Paul Baynham and Niall Deegan, had suffered a six-year hell while waiting for the matter to come before the courts.

Mr Thornton said the GRAs sense of relief at the withdrawing of the charges was hampered by a suffocating emotion of anger and disbelief that our colleagues and their families have had to endure more than six years of exile, suffering, personal anguish, and character assassination.

As a Division, the members in the Limerick Division have shown unmeasurable resilience in maintaining the highest possible standard of service to the people of Limerick while our confidence and morale has been shattered, said Thornton.

Thornton said he had continuously highlighted the absolute necessity for an independent appeals process for the An Garda Siochana Suspension Policy.

These members along with other members throughout the country, are living proof that the Garda Commissioner must include an independent appeals process for the An Garda Siochana Suspension Policy, and anything less is a dire dilution of our basic employee rights and entitlements to fair, independent due process, he said.

What has unfolded here in Limerick with this witch hunt, is a stark reminder to all, that an independent public inquiry of this investigation is not an option for the Minister for Justice, its an absolute necessity.

The Taoiseach and Tanaiste have agreed with a review, but I believe that the only review possible is one in the form of an independent public inquiry.

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Thornton said: The people of Ireland deserve answers as to how over 2,500 lifesaver offences were simply struck out, due to this botched investigation, while our colleagues were suspended.

Gardai who are not present in court through suspension or otherwise are not available to prosecute cases in court, and therefore a judge can decide to strike-out or withdraw the charges.

The Garda Commissioner, Justin Kelly, and the Minster for Justice, Jim OCallaghan, have previously indicated that they did not believe an independent report was necessary.

Mr Thornton said he was concerned with what appears to be a closing of the ranks between the Garda Commissioner and Minister for Justice, who recently appeared to sing from the same hymn sheet of nothing to see here move on.

An Garda Siochana is founded on trust and transparency, therefore, let our leaders lead the way now with an independent public inquiry, added Mr Thornton.

Solicitor Liz Hughes, Hughes Murphy, representing ODonnell, Gda Baynham and Gda Deegan, said the three gardai would like to acknowledge the support from their families and friends and colleagues, who saw daily the toll this took on them and whose reassurance kept them going.

The complaint against these members was always without foundation, said Hughes.

From the moment I was first instructed in these matters I was of this view, and I have not wavered ever since.

Hughes continued: Garda Management is just as well aware as we are of this custom and practice established over many generations of Community Policing. 

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Whats more, Garda Frank Thornton, in his role as then President of the GRA, took every opportunity to remind them of this, articulating that one Division and certain Members in particular were being treated unequally and unfairly.

Garda Management could have listened but seemingly refused to, said Ms Hughes.

'Public inquiry'

Hughes called for public inquiry to address these matters and the questions as to how this happened, and the consequences that flowed from it.

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In response, a spokesperson for the Minister for Justice, Jim OCallaghan, said the minster had noted the withdrawal of charges against the three accused.

The Director of Public Prosecutions is independent under the Prosecution of Offences Act, 1974 (as amended), said the spokesperson.

It is also important to recall that all persons accused of offences before the courts are innocent until proven guilty. That principle is at the heart of our criminal justice system, they added.

Garda Headquarters did not immediately respond.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has insisted that it complied with the law in relation to the valuation of a wristwatch given to Micheal Martin by former US president Joe Biden, which allowed him to personally keep the item.

The watch was presented to Martin when he was Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs during a visit to Ireland by former US president Biden in April 2023, along with a pair of sunglasses and a notebook.

Any gift worth more than 650 must be surrendered to the state by a minister under the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995. However, they are allowed to retain gifts with a value under this threshold.

Section 15 of the legislation provides that the value of a gift should be determined by the secretary general to the Government in cases where there is doubt about its monetary worth.

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Records released by the Department of Foreign Affairs under the Freedom of Information Act show that there was considerable uncertainty about the value of the watch given to Martin by the US president.

In August 2023, it was noted that concerted efforts had been made by the department to establish the monetary worth of the item over a number of months, as no official value was available.

However, there is no record of any correspondence with the secretary general to the Government in relation to the matter.

Instead, a determination was eventually made by the ministers own office that the value of the watch given to Martin by Biden was significantly less than 650, permitting him to retain the item.

In October 2024, an official from the protocol section of the department who was dealing with a freedom of information request about the watch emailed a colleague in the Tanaistes office, asking whether a value had been attained.

While we do not have an exact evaluation on the watch, we do believe it is much lower than the threshold, the colleague replied.

Asked whether the secretary general to the Government had determined the value of the gift in accordance with ethics legislation, a spokesperson for the department said the value of the item had been determined by the ministers office to be significantly less than 650.

The information note on gifts to office holders published by [SIPO] states that any gift valued at less than 650 can be accepted, unless it violates the provisions of other legislation, including the Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act 2018, they added.

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The spokesperson did not respond when asked whether the department accepted that the value of the watch should have been determined by the secretary general to the Government rather than the ministers own office under ethics legislation.

A spokesperson for the Department of An Taoiseach said the gift had been dealt with in line with SIPOs guidance and the Code of Conduct for Office Holders.

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Irish farmers are facing rising fertiliser costs and potential supply side shortages following the escalating conflict in the Middle East, according to a grassland expert.

Dr Patrick Cashman, of Cork-based agri-company Goldcrop, has warned that Irish farms face fertiliser shortages as the conflict continues.

Ireland's dependence on imported fertiliser leaves farmers exposed to global conflicts and geopolitical instability, and Dr Cashman has said that farm costs will rise and the rural economy in Ireland will face consequences.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route, continues to impact fertiliser shipments from major producers including Iran, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

These countries together account for an estimated 20 per cent of traded global nitrogen fertiliser, plus additional LNG exports that can be used for nitrogen production, according to Dr Cashman.

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Nitrogen fertiliser is a cornerstone of Irish agriculture, he said, and is widely used to drive high-yield grass growth for grazing livestock and to support tillage crops.

Every spring, Irish dairy farmers apply significant amounts of nitrogen to stimulate grass growth as herds return to pasture after winter housing.

Dr Cashman has said the situation highlights the vulnerability of Ireland's heavy reliance on imported fertilisers like nitrogen.

The war in Iran is a clear supply-side risk for Irish agriculture, he said. Any disruption to global fertiliser flows will quickly feed through to higher costs for farmers, putting additional pressure on already tight margins.

Reliance on nitrogen fertilisers

Dr Cashman has encouraged the Department of Agriculture to reinforce its messaging through a national campaign that highlights how clover-rich grass swards can help farmers ease their reliance on nitrogen fertilisers.

Clover is one of the most practical and environmentally sustainable tools Irish farmers have available, he said.

When integrated into perennial ryegrass swards, it naturally fixes nitrogen in the soil, improves grass growth and can increase animal production  all while reducing the need for expensive synthetic fertiliser.

Beyond the Middle East, Dr Cashman noted that Russia accounts for roughly 20 per cent of the global fertiliser trade, highlighting a growing geopolitical risk facing Irish agriculture.

We cannot have a farming system that is dependent on inputs coming from volatile regions of the world, he said. When supply chains are disrupted, the cost ultimately works its way through the food chain, increasing farmers' cost base and onto supermarket shelves.

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According to Dr Cashman, farmers are increasingly looking for practical ways to protect profitability.

At the end of the day, farmers want healthier livestock, strong grass growth and a viable profit. Innovative clover seed varieties are helping to deliver exactly that.

The issue becomes all the more relevant as the EU has introduced new carbon border taxes on imported fertilisers, he said, a tariff that some have called for to be suspended until the situation in the Middle East is resolved.
A man has been granted bail after being charged with hacking the Garda National Vetting Bureau computer system four years ago.

Kian Kennedy, 45, appeared at Dublin District Court on Wednesday following an investigation by the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB).

Kennedy, of Parkwest Plaza, Ballyfermot, Dublin, faces seven counts under sections 2 & 8(1) of the Criminal Justice (Offences Relating to Information Systems) Act 2017.

It is alleged that on February 2nd, 2022, at Garda National Vetting Bureau, Racecourse Road, Thurles, Tipperary, he did, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, intentionally access an information system by infringing a security measure.

GNCCB Detective Gareth Norton told Judge Conor Fottrell that the accused made no reply when charged on Wednesday morning.

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The Director of Public Prosecutions has stated that the case should be dealt with at the District Court level if he pleads guilty. Otherwise, he will be tried in the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers.

There was no objection to bail with conditions, and Mr Kennedy was ordered to appear again in July to indicate a plea. Defence solicitor Niall O'Connor said his client's passport was out of date.

The bail terms state that he must not apply for a new one and must notify gardai of any address or phone number changes.

Legal aid was granted after the judge noted from O'Connor that the accused was unemployed and on social welfare.
PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has said he has significant concerns over the forces capacity to deal with violence against women and girls.

Boutcher told MPs there is currently an acceptance in society of misogyny which he has never seen before.

He was asked during an appearance before the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee about concerns around the levels of violence against women in Northern Ireland.

At the weekend, police launched a murder investigation after young mother Amy Doherty was killed in Derry. A man has been arrested.

On Monday, Stephen McCullagh was convicted at Belfast Crown Court of the murder of his pregnant partner Natalie McNally in Lurgan in December 2022.

Committee chairwoman Tonia Antoniazzi said 30 women had died violently in Northern Ireland since 2020.

She added: Statistics show it is worse in Northern Ireland.

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How do you deal with the fact that it is worse in Northern Ireland and how does your force address male violence against women and girls?

Boutcher passed on his condolences to the family of Doherty. He said he had also met with the family of Chloe Mitchell, who was killed in Co Antrim in 2023, and had spoken this week to the lead investigating officer in the McNally case.

Amy Doherty was killed in Derry at the weekend (family handout/PA)

He said: I want to assure this committee we are taking a number of steps, that violence against women and girls is a significant priority for the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

I do want to make one point though. Often it is mentioned that violence against women and girls is more significant in Northern Ireland than elsewhere.

I think that is possibly because in 2019 the BBC published an article using figures from Eurostat, highlighting the number of homicides in Northern Ireland as being comparable to Romania and at the very high end of femicides in Europe.

The data given was 0.43% per 100,000 population, which is the same as Romania.

It quoted eight murders and the data was a single year, 2017.

PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher gave evidence to MPs on Wednesday (PA)

The data was wrong. There were four murders that year, three against women and one domestic murder against a male.

The rate for Northern Ireland on that data would have put us just below England and Wales and just above Switzerland, in the middle of the table of European countries.

Boutcher said he had looked at the data from 2012 to 2023, which puts us right in the middle of the data set for Europe.

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The Chief Constable then referred to the death of showjumper Katie Simpson in 2020.

Police originally thought she had died by suicide, but the following year Jonathan Creswell, the partner of Simpsons sister, was arrested on suspicion of murder.

Katie Simpson died in 2020 and her sisters partner was later arrested (family handout/PA)

The trial of Creswell, 36, for murder ended in April last year after his sudden death.

Boutcher said: I dont know if this is Northern Ireland specific or I am of a generation now because of what is happening online or because of the vile nature of things like Andrew Tate and what he seems to do with young men and boys and trying to groom them as to how they behave, which is abhorrent.

But there seems to be an acceptance around misogyny the like of which I have not seen.

We have got to draw a line and say this is unacceptable.

He said lots of work is done by the PSNI, including commissioning review of how the force is dealing with incidents of violence against women.

He said: We have done a cultural audit in the last 12 months specifically looking at behaviours within the organisation, focusing on ensuring that we are doing everything we possibly can to deal with any abhorrent behaviours, whether that is misogyny or any sort of hatefulness within the organisation towards colleagues.

SDLP leader Claire Hanna said people did not want to quibble over figures with regards to violence against women (Mark Marlow/PA)

SDLP leader Claire Hanna said she did not think people wanted to quibble on numbers.

She added: I think Ellie Flanagan and Amy Doherty became the 29th and 20th women killed since 2020 and comparable figures for England show we do have a femicide rate that is almost twice of the island next door and certainly of the south.

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She asked if the PSNI had the proper resources to bring perpetrators to justice.

Boutcher said: For me violence against women and girls is one of my biggest concerns with regards to my role as the chief constable of Northern Ireland, that is why we are prioritising.

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With regards to our ability to deal with these sorts of cases, where there is such life-changing harm to individuals, I am significantly concerned about our capacity.

He referenced the case of Alexander McCartney, a prolific online abuser from Newry who was jailed in 20 years in 2024 for the online sexual abuse of children and the manslaughter of a 12-year-old girl.

Boutcher said the Police Ombudsman had reported the force did not have sufficient resources to tackle those kinds of cases.
The son of veteran criminal Eamon Kelly has been jailed for ten years for trying to murder his former wife's friend, whom he blamed for the breakup of his marriage, in a rage-filled knife attack at the victim's home.

In sentencing Matthias Kelly (43) at the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday, Judge Paul McDermott noted that the ferocious attack on Fiona Timmermans had left the victim with facial scarring and robbed her of her sense of safety.

The judge said that it was not clear that a brain injury suffered by Kelly following a road traffic accident in 2016 had affected his actions on the day, but he ruled that such an injury would make the defendants time in prison more difficult.

Kelly, of no fixed abode in Coolock in Dublin, pleaded guilty last year to the attempted murder of Timmermans at Newbury Lawns, Clonshaugh in Dublin 17 on September 7th, 2024.

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At a sentencing hearing in January, Det Gda Alan Roche told prosecution counsel Brendan Grehan SC that the victim was a friend of the defendant's former wife.

On September 1st, 2024, he sent a text to Timmermans saying: "I'm going to cut your throat, you're dead." On September 6th he threw a brick through the window of his ex-wife's home.

The following day he entered Timmermans' home through an open back door, took a knife from her kitchen and went to her bedroom.

Timmermans described to gardai that she awoke to see Kelly standing over her before he started stabbing at her neck and head "like a madman", shouting: "You're dead, you're dead."

She fought back and kicked him in the groin before he "jumped on her head five times" and left the house, the garda said. Timmermans told gardai she knew she had a bad wound to her neck, saw blood everywhere and thought she was going to die.

She was treated at Beaumont Hospital for stab wounds to her forehead, face and neck but was discharged on the same day. A doctor's report stated that she would make a recovery from her physical injuries within weeks but may be left with permanent, visible scars.

When gardai arrested and questioned him, Kelly described his victim as a "knacker" and said she had "ruined my family's life".

He said he would still be with his wife if it weren't for Timmermans, but said he regretted attacking her, describing his actions as "bang out of order" and "disgusting". He accepted that he had previously threatened Timmermans but added: "I never really planned on doing it. I never thought I would actually go through with it."

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Barristers for Kelly said he had suffered a brain injury in 2016 following a car crash and a further head injury in a fall down stairs two days before he broke into Timmermans' home and tried to stab her to death.

The sentencing hearing was then adjourned to allow further time for the defence to find a neuropsychologist to provide a report on how the brain injuries affected Kellys behaviour.

At the finalisation of sentencing on Wednesday, the judge said that the defence had been unable to procure this, so the report that was before the court was not as extensive as expected.

He noted that Kelly had previously been involved in a serious road traffic incident, which left him with a brain injury, and prior to the attack on Timmermans, he attended for depression and alcohol abuse.

The judge said that two or three days before the attack, Kelly fell down some steps after drinking heavily and banged his head, causing an injury to which he partially attributed his actions. The judge also noted that Kelly was under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time of the offence.

The judge said that Kelly had made extensive admissions and pleaded guilty. He had nine previous convictions, all summary matters. He said the probation services had found Kelly cooperative, with the defendant accepting that his violent actions could have resulted in Timmermans death.

The judge noted the defendant was reluctant to accept that he entered the house in an attempt to kill the victim, but he accepted that he had narrowly avoided killing her.

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It is not clear that his brain injury had an effect on what he did, said the judge, adding that self-induced intoxication was not an excuse nor a mitigating factor. He accepted, however, that Kellys wife said violence was out of character for her husband.

The judge set headline sentences of 16 years for the attempted murder, ten years for burglary, eight years for making threats to kill, and four years each for the production of an article and a criminal damage charge.

He said there were significant mitigating factors in the case, including Kellys guilty plea, his expression of remorse, and the fact he had taken steps to address his violence and addiction issues.

He said that Kellys rage and anger led him to commit these offences, but he had no prior convictions for violent offences, and that prison would be more difficult for Kelly due to his acquired brain injury.

After mitigation, the judge imposed a sentence of 12 years for the attempted murder, seven years for burglary, six years for the threats to kill, and three years each for the production of the knife and criminal damage, with all sentences to run concurrently, backdated to September 9th, 2024.

The judge suspended the last two years of the sentence, on condition that Kelly attends all appointments with the probation services, engages in victim awareness work and with addiction services, and does not have any contact with the injured party.

Ireland High Court case settled for 1m over man who suffered stroke Read more

Kelly had also pleaded guilty to entering Timmermans' home as a trespasser intending to murder her and producing a kitchen knife with a serrated blade in the course of a dispute on the same occasion.

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Kelly also admitted making a threat to kill Timmermans at an unknown location within the State on September 1st, 2024, intending her to believe it would be carried out.

Kelly also pleaded guilty to damaging the sitting room window and front bedroom window of his ex-wife's home, intending such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged at Millbrook Avenue, Coolock in Dublin 13 on September 6th, 2024.

Kelly's father, Eamon Kelly, was shot dead outside his home on Furry Park Rd, Killester, Dublin 5 on December 4th, 2012.
A Ukrainian couple granted temporary protection in Ireland have secured a Supreme Court appeal over their exclusion from social welfare payments.

The pair, who cannot be identified due to a court order, have lived in a hotel in Dublin since they arrived in the State and are provided with meals on a full-board basis.

The woman had been receiving a means-tested disability allowance of 208 per week due to her poor health and physical disabilities, while her husband had received a means-tested weekly carers allowance of 224.

Legislative changes in 2024 stipulated that displaced people granted temporary protection here shall be disqualified from social welfare assistance, other than supplementary welfare allowance, while residing at a designated accommodation centre. This meant the couple lost their disability and care allowances.

They issued High Court proceedings alleging the relevant legislative amendments contravene article 40.1 of the Constitution, which requires all citizens to be held equal before the law. They also claimed the changes amount to a failure by the State to properly transpose an article of an EU directive.

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Judge Alexander Owens dismissed their case, finding they failed to establish that the level of State assistance provided to them is insufficient. He ruled that the legal changes were merely disadvantageous to the couple, rather than inherently discriminatory.

Owens held that people under temporary protection would be at comparatively greater advantage than Irish citizens if they were to be eligible for social welfare assistance and full accommodation and board at the expense of the State.

Seeking a Supreme Court appeal of his decision, the couple claimed he erred by not finding they were irrationally or arbitrarily treated.

The State parties  the Minister for Social Protection, the Attorney General and Ireland  opposed the application for appeal, arguing the Oireachtas is allowed to differentiate between classes of people.

A panel of three Supreme Court judges determined the case was of general public importance and should be heard by the court.

The legislative changes affected many people and is based on a distinction drawn between temporary protection recipients and international protection candidates, judges Peter Charleton, Iseult OMalley and Gerard Hogan noted. Whether this distinction is constitutionally valid is a serious issue, they said.

A hearing date for the appeal has yet to be set.
Dublin Airports passenger cap is a direct threat to one of the worlds best partnerships, the chief executive of an organisation representing US airlines has said, and could lead to retaliatory measures from the US government.

Appearing before the Joint Committee on Transport on Wednesday, Chris Sununu, head of Airlines for America, said the US government views the passenger cap as a violation of the Open Skies agreements.

The committee is considering a Bill which would allow the Government to amend or revoke a planning condition that caps passenger numbers at Dublin Airport at 32 million, and would prevent such a cap being imposed by a planning condition in the future.

The EU-US Open Skies agreement came into effect in 2008 and provides for all transatlantic routes to be opened up to EU and US airlines.

The agreement is very clear, Sununu said, you allow unfettered, unlimited access to the capacity of the airport.

He said the passenger cap does not allow for this.

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This airport could take 40 million people, but youre saying no, were going to limit it, were going to violate that open free access.

Sununu said: If you think this administration is going to have one of their bilateral agreements, that has been in place a long time, violated, and they are just going to take it, in case you havent read the headlines, that is not what these guys do.

If we lose flights over here, youd likely lose flights over there.

He said the ability to go back and forth easily would come to a screeching halt.

Airlines for America represents passenger and cargo carriers including American Airlines, Delta, FedEx and UPS.

Sununu added that he had been to the White House in the past week and there have been active conversations between US airlines and their countrys administration about the passenger cap.

The committees chairman, Michael Murphy, said: It is your position that the threat of US retaliation has been discussed, that that threat is real, and concrete measures like restricting Aer Lingus access have been explicitly discussed?

Sununu replied Yes.

He said: No country puts more in terms of direct foreign investment into Ireland, but no country will take as immediate retaliation effects as the United States probably would.

That retaliation could come in a variety of different means he said.

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He warned of a domino effect and said if businesses cant get back and forth to Ireland they are going to start pulling their money out, that would be terrible, think about all the jobs that would be affected.

He continued: You know who wants to see this passenger cap in place more than anyone else? The Brits.

You will get a thank you note from the UK government as soon as you keep this in place.

Ireland Children groomed into criminality from the age of six in deprived areas, report finds Read more

They love it because all the planes are going there, all the opportunities are going there.

Fianna Fails Cathal Crowe asked Sununu to withdraw his claim that Ireland had violated the agreement, saying that Ireland had capacity at other airports for US airlines.

The Green Partys Roderic OGorman also questioned whether a violation of the agreement has been established by any court.
Here are the stories making headlines this Wednesday.

The Irish Times reports on the US planning to deploy about 3,000 additional soldiers from its elite 82nd airborne division to the Middle East, even as the Trump administration seeks talks with Iran over ending the war.

More than three times as many packages of illegal or fake medicines were seized in Ireland last year compared to the previous year, including weight-loss drugs, sedatives, and impotence medication, according to the Irish Examiner.

Authorities seized nearly 14,000 individual packages imported by people in Ireland, up from 4,950 the year before.

Cork County has the highest number of vacant homes of any local authority in the country, with more than 6,600 empty, The Echo reports.

The Irish Independent leads with the INMO union writing to the HSE seeking the top rates of its motor travel banding system until the end of the crisis.

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It comes as the Government has left open the prospect of further cost-of-living measures if needed, with the Taoiseach saying no one knows how the war will unfold.

The front page of the Irish Daily Mirror is dominated by the uncle of Edenderry petrol bomb victim Tadgh Farrell dying from a fire in the same house.

A woman left fighting for life after being set on fire can walk and talk again  and a major gang enforcer has been arrested over her attempted murder, according to the Irish Daily Star.

Alexis Lee Campion (44) was left with severe burns and in a coma for weeks after a thug set her on fire at her door in Clondalkin, west Dublin, last November 25th.

The Irish Daily Mail leads with a court hearing Michael Flatley has hired a private detective to investigate spiralling loans worth millions of euro on the books of a company he established to run his Lord Of The Dance tour.

A gangland enforcer previously suspected of killing a man is being questioned over the attempted murder of an innocent woman who was set on fire at her west Dublin home, according to The Herald.

Over 100 gardai were involved in a search and arrest operation yesterday as part of the investigation into the assault on Alexis Lee Campion (above) last year.
Iran has dismissed an American plan to pause the war in the Middle East and launched more attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab countries, including an assault that sparked a huge fire at Kuwait International Airport.

Irans foreign minister said his government does not plan any negotiations to end the war.

In an interview with Iranian state TV, foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said his government has not engaged in talks to end the war, and we do not plan on any negotiations.





Earlier, two officials from Pakistan, which transmitted the US plan to Iran, described the 15-point proposal broadly, saying it addressed sanctions relief, a rollback of Irans nuclear programme, limits on missiles and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the worlds oil is shipped.

An Egyptian official involved in the mediation efforts said the proposal also includes restrictions on Irans support for armed groups.

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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted the US and Iran are in ongoing talks even as Iranian officials deny it.

Talks continue. They are productive, as the president said on Monday, and they continue to be, Ms Leavitt said at a White House briefing.

She warned that if talks with Iran do not pan out, President Donald Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before.

Some of the points in the US ceasefire proposal were non-starters in negotiations before the war: Iran has insisted it will not discuss its ballistic missile programme or its support of regional militias, which it views as key to its security.





War is not the answer.



We need a way out of this disaster.



Diplomacy is the way out.



Full respect of international law is the way out.



Peace is the way out.



 @antonioguterres calls for an immediate end to the war in the Middle East.https://t.co/6TRDOFZQPv pic.twitter.com/DJ1nQYA0y5  United Nations (@UN) March 25, 2026

And its ability to control passage through the Strait of Hormuz represents one of its biggest strategic advantages.

Irans attacks on regional energy infrastructure along with its restrictions on the strait have sent oil prices skyrocketing, putting pressure on the US to find a way to end the chokehold and calm markets.

At least 1,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division will be sent to the Middle East in the coming days, three people with knowledge of the plans told The Associated Press.

The paratroopers are trained to jump into hostile or contested areas to secure key territory and airfields.

The Pentagon is also in the process of sending about 5,000 more Marines, trained in amphibious assaults, and thousands of sailors to the region.



Rescue workers at the site of a residential building hit in an overnight strike in northwestern Iran (Matin Hashemi/AP)

The 15-point plan now in Iranian hands is a comprehensive deal to reach a ceasefire, according to the Egyptian official.

Mediators are pushing for possible in-person talks between the Iranians and the Americans, perhaps as soon as Friday in Pakistan, the Egyptian and Pakistani officials said.

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Speaking on Tuesday at the White House, Mr Trump said the US is in negotiations right now and that the participants included special envoy Steve Witkoff, his son-in-law Jared Kushner, secretary of state Marco Rubio and vice president JD Vance.

He has not said who from Iran they are in contact with.

We have a number of people doing it, Mr Trump said. And the other side, I can tell you, theyd like to make a deal.





U.S. forces have destroyed more than 9,000 military targets inside Iran, significantly removing the Iranian regime's combat capability. pic.twitter.com/7w1ZCS0JGn  U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 24, 2026

Irans Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which commands both the regular military and the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, dismissed the idea of talks.

Iranian leaders have repeatedly denied they are happening, while acknowledging that the foreign minister is in contact with various countries but not the US or Israel.

Our first and last word has been the same from day one, and it will stay that way  someone like us will never come to terms with someone like you, Lt Col Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesman for the headquarters, said in a video statement on state television.

Not now, not ever.

Israeli officials, who have been advocating for Mr Trump to continue the war against Iran, were surprised by the submission of a ceasefire plan, according to a person who was briefed on the contours of the proposal and also confirmed it had been submitted.



Palestinians inspect the wreckage of an Iranian missile that landed in the West Bank village of Kifl Haris (Majdi Mohammed/AP)

Any talks between the US and Iran would face monumental challenges.

It is not clear who in Irans government has the authority to negotiate or would be willing to, as Israel has vowed to continue killing the countrys leaders.

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Iran remains highly suspicious of the United States, which twice under the Trump administration has attacked during high-level diplomatic talks, including with the February 28 strikes that started the current war.

We have a very catastrophic experience with US diplomacy, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told India Today on Tuesday.

UN secretary general Antonio Guterres criticised the various factions of the ongoing conflict, saying the fighting has broken past limits even leaders thought imaginable.

He urged the US and Israel to end the war with Iran and called on Tehran to stop attacking Gulf countries, saying this has gone too far.

The Israeli military announced new wide-scale attacks on Iran early on Wednesday, targeting government infrastructure, and witnesses reported airstrikes in the northwestern city of Qazvin.

Missile alert sirens sounded multiple times in Israel as Iran launched its own attacks.

Iran also kept up the pressure on its Gulf Arab neighbours, and Saudi Arabias defence ministry said it had destroyed at least eight drones in the kingdoms oil-rich Eastern Province, and missile alert sirens sounded in Bahrain.

Kuwait said it shot down multiple drones but one hit a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport, sparking a fire, the General Civil Aviation Authority said.



Rescue workers at a destroyed building in northwestern Iran (Matin Hashemi/AP)

Meanwhile, six people allegedly linked to Hezbollah were arrested in Kuwait for planning to assassinate Gulf leaders, Kuwaits Ministry of Interior said in a statement.

Fourteen associates had fled the country, officials said.

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Irans death toll has passed 1,500, its health ministry has said. In Israel, 16 people have died. At least 13 US military members have been killed, and more than a dozen civilians in the occupied West Bank and Gulf Arab states.

Authorities say more than 1,000 people have died in Lebanon, where Israel has targeted the Iran-linked Hezbollah militant group, which has also fired on Israel.

The news of potential negotiations drove down the price of oil, after it skyrocketed in recent weeks.

Brent crude oil, the international standard, has neared 120 dollars a barrel during the conflict but was trading below 100 dollars on Wednesday. It is still up about 35% from the start of the war.

Economists and leaders have warned of far-reaching effects if energy prices remain high  from rising prices of food and other basics to higher rates for mortgages and car loans.

A big driver of the rise in the oil price has been Irans stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, which leads from the Persian Gulf to the open sea.

Iran has allowed a small number of ships through the strait, but has said no ships from the US, Israel or countries seen as linked to them can pass.
Japan said it has conveyed regrets to China after authorities confirmed they arrested a Japanese army soldier on suspicion of trespass, a day after China protested over an alleged break-in at its embassy in Tokyo.

The case, the latest point of friction in an escalating spat between Japan and China, surfaced after Beijing protested to Tokyo.

An individual who claimed to be a Japan Self-Defence Forces officer scaled the wall and forced his way into the embassy compound on Tuesday morning, Lin Jian, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, said in a news conference in Beijing.

The Tokyo police said they arrested a 23-year-old member of the Ground Self-Defence Force (GSDF), or Japans army, in the alleged trespassing into the Chinese embassy on Tuesday.

The GSDF confirmed the suspect is a soldier based at the Camp Ebino, in Japans south-western prefecture of Miyazaki, and that officials are fully cooperating with police.



China has demanded an explanation (Kyodo News via AP)

Japans chief cabinet secretary Minoru Kihara said the arrest of an SDF soldier was extremely regrettable.

Mr Kihara also expressed regret that the alleged trespassing was committed even as Japanese police provided routine security around the Chinese embassy, adding that security has since been reinforced, including by increasing staffing.

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Following Chinas protest and demand for preventive measures, Japan conveyed to China its regret over the case and explained that Japanese ministries will respond appropriately, including by taking preventive measures under relevant international and domestic laws, Mr Kihara said.

The suspect forced his way into the embassy hoping to tell the Chinese ambassador to stop Chinas hardline stance on Japan, and said he would kill himself with the knife he was carrying if his demand was rejected, Japanese media quoted police as saying.

Tensions between the two Asian nations have escalated in recent months after Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi said in November a Chinese military action against Taiwan could constitute a survival-threatening situation for Japan requiring the use of force.

Beijing, which regards the self-governing island as part of its territory, has since stepped up diplomatic and trade reprisals against Japan.

Japans NHK public television said the suspect was detained on the spot and handed over to Tokyo police for further investigation and that nobody was injured.



Tensions have risen between the two nations (AP)

The man allegedly climbed the embassy wall and a knife was left behind, NHK reported.

China is deeply shocked by the incident and has lodged solemn representations with the Japanese side, expressing strong protest, Mr Lin said.

The Japanese side has failed to properly manage and discipline its Self-Defence Forces personnel and has not fulfilled its responsibility to ensure the security of Chinese embassies and consulates and their staff.

Mr Lin demanded Japan immediately investigate the incident thoroughly, punish the individual involved, provide an explanation to China, and take preventive measures.
A woman has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of Rihanna, and a newly public police report revealed the shots she is alleged to have fired hit a caravan while the singing superstar and her partner ASAP Rocky were inside.

Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, from Orlando, Florida, who had no prior police record, also pleaded not guilty through her lawyer to more than a dozen other felony counts in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Hours after her arrest on March 8, she told detectives she would not answer questions without a lawyer, but spoke up once, according to the Los Angeles police report made public in a court filing Tuesday.

Can I say one sentence? she said. I would like to say that I wasnt attempting murder. But thats all I wanted to say.



ASAP Rocky (Yui Mok/PA)

Police and prosecutors said that Ortiz, 35, pulled up in a white Tesla to the home Rihanna and Rocky share with their three young children in the Beverly Hills area, pointed an AR-15-style rifle out of the window and sprayed at least 20 bullets towards the property and a neighbouring home. No one was injured.

Rihanna told detectives in an interview that Rocky was sleeping in the rear of the caravan which was parked in the drive next to the homes garage and she was sitting at a window seat when she heard about 10 loud sounds like something banging on metal.

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She pulled back a curtain and saw bullet holes in the caravans front window, according to the report. She pulled him out of bed and both of them got on the floor before running into the main house to check on the people inside, who included the childrten, her mother and staff.

Rocky, identified in the report as a famous rapper, told police that Rihanna shouted that someone was shooting at them as she woke him.

Two bullets hit the double-paned window of the caravan but did not go through it, the police report said. A third appeared to have hit the side.

A bullet hole was found on the exterior wall of the homes second-floor nursery where the three children were with their nanny. The nanny told police she heard the shots but had not believed they were gunfire initially.

Three bullet fragments were found in the homes front porch area while at least 10 bullet holes were identified in the propertys gates and walls. Shots also hit a neighbouring home.

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Ortiz is charged with 10 counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm, one for each of the people on the two properties. She is also charged with three counts of shooting at an occupied vehicle or dwelling. She could get life in prison if convicted on all charges.

Ortiz appeared behind glass on Wednesday in a custody area, wearing yellow jail clothes with her blonde hair in braids. She spoke only to agree to waive her right to a speedy preliminary hearing, the next phase of the case where evidence is presented to determine whether a trial is warranted.

Her lawyer, deputy public defender Derek Dillman, asked that her bail be reduced from 1.9 million to 70,000 dollars based on her ability to pay. Judge Theresa McGonigle declined the request.

The prosecutor said Ortiz is a major risk to the community and was likely to flee if she made bail.

This case involves a dangerous, deliberate shooting into occupied homes, deputy district attorney Alexander Bott said. This is the kind of conduct that could easily have resulted in multiple homicides.

When Ortiz was arrested hours after the shooting, she was alone in her car with the rifle, more rounds and a wig she was using as a disguise, Mr Bott said.

Public records show Ortiz has been a licensed speech pathologist for more than a decade. Judge McGonigle ruled that she should be prevented from practising in California. The move came at the request of the state attorney general, whose motion included the police report, making it public.

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District attorney Nathan Hochman has declined to discuss a motive or describe any connection between Ortiz and Rihanna, saying all were under investigation. He also said his office was investigating social media posts by Ortiz from the days leading up to the gunfire.

A nine-time Grammy Award winner, Rihanna has 14 number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including We Found Love, Work, Umbrella and Disturbia. She founded the make-up brand Fenty Beauty in 2017.

She and ASAP Rocky announced the birth of their third child, a girl named Rocki Irish Mayers, in September. They also have sons aged two and three.
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Updated BusinessCompaniesAviation Jetstar cuts Australia-New Zealand flights amid oil price shock Chris Zappone Updated March 25, 2026  11:22am ,first published 10:06am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Jetstar has cut more than 10 per cent of its scheduled flights between Australia and New Zealand, as well as within New Zealand, as the Middle East oil price shock bites into demand. The airline said 12 per cent of scheduled services - including flights between Auckland and Sydney and Auckland and Brisbane - have been cut, in a move described as temporary. Jetstar said 12 per cent of scheduled services between Australia and New Zealand have been cut. SMH We have made some temporary changes to our schedule, including due to a rise in jet fuel prices as a result of the conflict in the Middle East and other rising costs, a spokesperson for the low-cost carrier said. All impacted passengers have been contacted directly, and most have been offered same-day travel.

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Qantas and rival Virgin Australia have already announced ticket price increases related to the jump in oil prices caused by the US-Israeli war on Iran which began on February 28. The war has driven up the price of oil and threatened supply for oil importers. The cost of aviation fuel has been hit hard. Related Article Aviation The airlines fighting to take Australians on trips to Europe Jetstar said it was adjusting flights on routes where there are multiple flights per day so that customers can fly as near to their original flight times as possible. The airline said if a customers new flight time doesnt suit them, they should go to Jetstar.com via chat to discuss their options. The flights being cut affect only travel between Australia and New Zealand and routes within New Zealand. We are sorry for the inconvenience and thank our customers for their understanding, a spokesperson for Jetstar said.

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Brent crude oil prices have been as high as $US120 per barrel this month but were around $US100 on Wednesday morning as optimism grew over Washingtons efforts to end the nearly month-long conflict. Both Qantas and Virgin have announced a 5 per cent increase in ticket prices. The US-Israeli war on Iran has hit the aviation industry hard. Bloomberg A host of airlines have begun to cut capacity in response to the price shock, which adds to airlines costs but also suppresses demand over time. Air New Zealand and SAS have cut thousands of flights while United pulled 5 per cent of capacity for the northern summer.

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United CEO Scott Kirby, speaking in Los Angeles, said airfares had gone up 15 to 20 per cent across the industry. The company has cut planned capacity in the next few months but with a plan to restore its full schedule in the northern autumn. Related Article Aviation Australias jet fuel supply is safe for now, but a price crunch is in the pipeline Kirby assumes oil prices will rise to $US175/barrel and wont drop to $US100/barrel until the end of 2027. Im also not betting the oil prices are going to go down, said Kirby. Based on the scenario, which Kirby described as reasonable and definitely not the worst case, problems for airlines will magnify.

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While not discussing the fortunes of any particular airline besides United, Kirby said: Thats a world where airlines that started in a marginal position have to make some really significant adjustments  if they can even continue to fly, in some cases. The bottom line is, supply has come out of the system if that happens, and it likely starts at the low end, and the carriers that were marginal to start [with] are the most likely to have to cut supply and cut it permanently. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
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BusinessCompaniesElectric vehicles Tesla sold self-driving software for $10,000. Now it faces a legal fight Elias Visontay March 25, 2026  4:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Tesla is facing multiple legal battles over allegations it charged Australian customers more than $10,000 for its cutting-edge fully self-driving software despite their cars being technologically restricted from activating the autonomous feature. Full Self-Driving (FSD) mode  which requires a humans constant supervision to legally operate  was a feature promised by Elon Musks Tesla for years, but had been unavailable locally for many users needing to wait for software updates as well as local regulatory approvals to operate. A video of Tesla FSD in action, uploaded by Victorian-based YouTuber Ryan Cowan. YouTube/Ryan Cowan. FSD mode finally became available for owners of certain newer Model 3 and Y Teslas in Australia in September, allowing those who pay $149 a month or a one-off fee of $10,100 to let their vehicles drive them around. It has triggered a flood of social media videos and perplexed reactions from other road users and pedestrians when seeing Teslas move without their drivers touching the steering wheel.

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The technology relies on cameras fixed on the car that provide 360 degrees of view, which feed information into a neural network navigation software that determines how to steer, accelerate, brake and change lanes to navigate to a users destination. Related Article Road safety Chinese ban on Tesla-style door handles likely to flow through to Australia Drivers using FSD must be paying attention to the road. An internal camera ensures they are not distracted and are ready to intervene and take over control should the car make an error. A car will end FSD mode if it detects a driver is repeatedly distracted. However, full functionality of the FSD feature is limited to Tesla vehicles with its latest technological hardware, known as HW4, which includes the most modern sensors and computer system. Despite this, Tesla offered FSD to owners of vehicles with older on-board tech, known as HW3. As such, these customers have vented their fury online at what they say is a significantly limited automated driving experience.

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Whereas FSD in more modern Tesla models can perform almost all driving manoeuvres, those with HW3 vehicles who paid the same price for the feature report only slightly enhanced automated features such as automatic lane changing and automatic parking. Andy Young is one such Tesla owner now taking legal action against the car manufacturer. Young has lodged a claim at the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, alleging the electric vehicle giant breached Australian Consumer Law by engaging in misleading or deceptive conduct when selling him lifetime FSD access, priced at $10,100, when he bought his Model 3 in December 2021. He claims Tesla has failed to supply its FSD feature in the subsequent four years, and that the purpose of the FSD product it sold him was not fit for the intended purpose, a contravention of consumer law if proved. Young is seeking a refund of the $10,100, as well as $3530 in NSW EV stamp duty rebate he was unable to benefit from because the inflated cost he unnecessarily paid for the vehicle pushed its purchase value over the rebate threshold.

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The inflated cost meant Youngs purchase also incurred $2059 in luxury car tax, for which he is also seeking a refund. Additionally, he is seeking interest on these amounts. Related Article Exclusive

Taxis One in four women cop driver misbehaviour in rideshares and taxis Separately, Tesla is facing a broader law firm-led class action launched in the Federal Court last year on behalf of other Australian customers who paid for FSD for their cars which were actually incapable of fully benefiting from it. The class action also includes claims covering other Tesla customers related to phantom braking and battery concerns. Young lodged the tribunal matter separately to the class action, as he was not satisfied it incorporated all of the issues he wanted to raise, nor the amounts of compensation and refunds he sought. Tesla asked for Youngs matter to be either dismissed or stayed, arguing he was automatically covered by the class action that deals with the same issue. Young had not yet been able to opt out of the class action.

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However, principal tribunal member David Robertson rejected Teslas claim that allowing Youngs matter to proceed would be frivolous or vexatious. Robertson will now consider Youngs case through written submissions, while the class action  still in its early stages  progresses. In determining both the federal and NSW matters could continue against Tesla concurrently, Robertson noted that individual vehicle owners had the right to seek recourse through a tribunal, a process that would probably lead to a faster resolution than a national class action. Robertson noted the tribunals guiding principle is to facilitate the just, quick and cheap resolution of the real issues in the proceedings. Tesla was contacted for comment. Self-driving vehicles, including robotaxi-style operations such as Googles Waymo, have been common on roads in some US cities for years, in contrast to Australia, where regulatory requirements are more cautious of the technology.

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Teslas FSD, in requiring a drivers supervision to operate, is classified as a level 2 advanced driver assistance system under Australias road rules, with the human behind the wheel considered legally in control of the vehicle. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
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LifestyleLife & relationshipsAnxiety Worse than birth or postpartum: The anxiety of trying for a baby Shona Hendley March 26, 2026  4:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Lambrina Gimian, 38, always wanted to be a mother. But after meeting her now-husband and deciding to start planning a family, instead of excitement, she felt something else: anxiety. I felt constantly on edge, I had difficulty sleeping and a mind that struggled to switch off, says Gimian, who is based in Melbourne and works in community mental health. Lambrina Gimian felt constantly on edge while planning for a family. Eddie Jim While postnatal anxiety is a widely recognised mental health issue, prenatal or pre-pregnancy anxiety  an intense or prolonged feeling of worry, stress or fear that some people experience when planning or trying for a baby  still isnt commonly understood or acknowledged. However, a recent survey by Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA) found that the condition is widespread, with all 125 Australian respondents reporting it, making it the biggest stressor for women during the perinatal period, which spans from conception to the first year after birth.

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Whats striking is that this ranked above anxiety about birth (55 per cent), sleep (57 per cent) or even feeding (60 per cent), says Julie Borninkhof, clinical psychologist and chief executive of PANDA. For many people, the moment they decide to try for a baby is the moment uncertainty becomes very real. Questions about fertility, miscarriage, what they eat and drink, age and whether their body will cooperate can quickly dominate thinking. Related Article Parenting More kids are being diagnosed with ADHD. So are their parents For Gimian, much of this anxiety stemmed from concern about Huntingtons Disease, an inherited neurodegenerative disorder, which her mother was diagnosed with in 2013. We found out there was a 50 per cent chance of my brother and me inheriting it, so when my husband and I were planning to start trying for a baby, having that in the back of my mind ... was obviously very anxiety-inducing.

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With Huntingtons disease, along with other genetic conditions, able to be screened for through IVF, the couple decided to pursue that pathway. Now mother to a five-year-old son, Gimian says this was helpful, but also further compounded her anxiety, even after receiving reassuring test results. The waiting was definitely the hardest part: waiting between appointments for test results, waiting for outcomes that were completely out of your hands. Other factors, like the pressure to have a perfect birth also took a toll, exacerbated by social media, which pushed content about natural deliveries and blissful postpartum periods. Dr Melanie Hemsley, general practitioner at Jean Hailes for Womens Health, says social media can portray a very glossy image of falling pregnant, pregnancy and parenting. This can result in unrealistic expectations and significant distress when an individuals actual experience is markedly different to what they are seeing, she says. Unfortunately, while prenatal anxiety is common, experts say the health system isnt set up to support parents during this period.

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Preconception doesnt come with structured care or routine mental health check-ins, says Borninkhof. Individuals and couples are largely left alone to navigate their feelings and worries, especially those who have been trying to get pregnant for an extended period. This was the case for 36-year-old Daniel Osgood who, along with his ex-partner, faced difficulty conceiving and pregnancy loss, which contributed to his prenatal anxiety. Central Coast-based father of one Daniel Osgood. Audrey Richardson After trying for over 12 months and getting pregnant, we lost the baby, says the Central Coast-based father of one. That was a pretty big kick in the guts. It was like, why isnt this working? Is my universe telling me something? Ultimately, the couple found success with IVF, but through the pregnancy, Osgood says his anxiety intensified, fuelled by his socially disadvantaged upbringing and deep fears about whether he would repeat the patterns of his own father.

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I had a shitty childhood. I moved around a lot. My parents drank lots, and there was domestic violence; I saw lots of things that kids shouldnt ever see in their lifetime, says Osgood, who works as a disability and social inclusion manager. My biggest fear was turning out like my dad. Catastrophic thinking and comparing himself to others were two of the main ways Osgoods anxiety showed itself. He says that once his son was born, lack of sleep and the traumatic birth his then-partner experienced made the postnatal period even tougher. Hemsley says this is common, with early experiences of worry and anxiety often carrying over into the pregnancy and newborn periods, affecting early bonding and general mental health. We know that one of the biggest predictors of postnatal depression and postnatal anxiety is preceding anxiety or depression, she says. But it is also important to note that there is a difference between normal worry and anxiety.

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Anxiety differs in that it is often longer lasting and often has significant cognitive, emotional and even physical manifestations, she says. It can also present differently in men and women, says Mathew Aquilina, a psychologist and clinical team manager at Gidget Foundation Australia. Related Article Parenting Raising boys isnt as scary as you think. These experts are here to help Women will generally have a bit more of an internalising presentation, such as a sense of overwhelm, where a man tends to be more irritable, withdraw socially or have problems in other contexts, like work. During the first three months after his sons birth, Osgood says he struggled at work and socially. His relationship with his partner broke down.

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Id forget to have showers, Id forget to do my groceries, and Id make up excuses not to go out with friends, he says. It wasnt until he confided in a friend that he sought professional help. He was like, men talk about their feelings  boys dont. So, I spoke about it with a counsellor, and it really helped, he says. Seeking support is critical, agree the experts, so too is starting conversations about mental health before trying to conceive. Early conversations help normalise mental health as part of routine reproductive care, not something addressed only in crisis, says Borninkhof. Support can begin through a conversation with a GP visit, a psychologist, a fertility specialist or an obstetric provider. Make the most of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition with our Live Well newsletter. Get it in your inbox every Monday.
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Exclusive NationalNSWBondi shooting The IS speech that inspired the Bondi Beach shooting Perry Duffin March 26, 2026  4:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Terrorism experts say an Islamic State speech urging followers to prey on other faiths probably inspired Sajid and Naveed Akram to carry out their deadly attack on a crowd of Jewish families on Bondi Beach. The speech, by a resurgent IS attempting to exploit Israels war in Gaza and remobilise after the collapse of its caliphate, called on followers to kill people of other faiths by the worst of means, turn their gatherings and celebrations into bloody massacres. Terrorism experts say an Islamic State speech probably inspired Sajid and Naveed Akram. Matt Willis This week the West Point Combating Terrorism Centre in the US will publish research by Australian academics into the IS messaging that preceded the December attack which claimed 15 lives and left dozens injured. Researchers Andrew Zammit and Levi J. West conclude a January 2024 speech by IS spokesperson Abu Hudhayfah al-Ansari was a call to arms for jihadists in the west.

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That speech sanctioned specific targets and techniques  detonate explosives  [and] shoot them with bullets. It explicitly stated that its targeting advice sought to ensure that any resulting attacks matched the movements strategic and ideological logic, the researchers said in the Sentinel article. Bondi Beach terrorists Sajid and Naveed Akram. The father and sons connections to a local shooting club emerged within hours. (It) stated that followers should: seek easy targets before hard ones, civilian targets before military one[s], religious targets like synagogues and churches before others, for this will satisfy the soul and will demonstrate the characteristics of the battle, as our battle with them is a religious one and we kill them wherever we come upon them in response to Allah Almightys command. The speech explicitly urged jihadists to attack Jews and Christians within crusader homelands.

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Chase your preys whether Jewish, Christian or their allies, on the streets and roads of America, Europe, and the world, the speech said. Kill them by the worst of means, turn their gatherings and celebrations into bloody massacres. Chase your preys whether Jewish, Christian or their allies, on the streets and roads of America, Europe, and the world ... Kill them by the worst of means, turn their gatherings and celebrations into bloody massacres. Islamic State spokesperson, Abu Hudhayfah al-Ansari The Bondi gunmen allegedly used IEDs, as per the instructions of the speech, but they failed to detonate. Their target selection matched the growing focus on Jewish people, the research says, marking it out against prior failed terror attacks in Australia which have often targeted police.

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The speech, titled And Kill Them Wherever You Find Them, also put the war in Gaza at the centre of the Islamic States attempt to mobilise. It denounced Israel, its Western backers and Arab states. The speech echoed an infamous 2014 IS speech which precipitated a wave of attacks across the West. That address called for jihadists to strike police and counter terror authorities, and kill a disbelieving American or European  especially the spiteful and filthy French  or an Australian, or a Canadian, or any other disbeliever. Melbourne teenager Abdul Numan Haider was inspired by Islamic State. Days later, Melbourne teenager Abdul Numan Haider attacked two counterterror police with a knife at Endeavour Hills and was shot dead.

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[These speeches are] designed to provide (jihadists) with a kind of choose your own adventure. You could target these people or those, in this way or that, and its inevitable someone will pick it up and run with it, West told this masthead. Its very difficult to identify in advance what it will be. Its a very challenging thing to undermine an ideology as opposed to an organisation and their capabilities. As had happened a decade earlier, the new IS messaging appeared to find its target audience in the west.

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Europe experienced 15 jihadi attacks from October 2023 to December 2024 compared to three in the preceding 15 months. An Islamic State supporter murdered two people at a Manchester synagogue in October 2025. Police in Manchester, England, on October after the attack on a synagogue that left two dead. AP That same month, the Akrams were allegedly training with guns on a remote bush property and recording a 15-minute video manifesto talking, in part, about Zionists. West said that while there was no direct evidence that the Akrams explicitly cite the speech in the video, it was highly likely they had seen it.

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We know what happened the last time one of these speeches was released  a wave of inspired attacks that came off the back, West said. Related Article Updated

Bondi shooting Timeline to terror: Unsealed photos, videos capture alleged two-month plot of Bondi shooters In my assessment it is likely, if not highly likely, that English speaking jihadists of South Asian heritage would be reading the English-language magazine published by the Afghanistan chapter of Islamic State. Police allege Naveed and Sajid, who was killed in the attack, travelled to the Philippines city of Mindanao potentially in an attempt to receive jihadi training. However, the pair appear to have met with no one and no contact with any member of the Islamic State has been revealed by authorities so far.

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Rather, authorities believe, the Akrams allegedly carried out an IS-inspired attack, rather than an IS supported one. A hand-painted Islamic State flag was allegedly found inside their car at Bondi Beach following the attack. Sentinel concludes the timing of the Bondi massacre sets it as a consequence of the Islamic States post-2023 exploitation of the war in Gaza to remobilise its transnational support. Regardless of the level of IS involvement, the organisation formally recognised the Bondi attack as The Pride of Sydney in its publication. (The Bondi terrorists) answered the call and carried out the recommendations to target holidays and gatherings, the IS magazine said. They armed themselves with the Prophetic methodology and set off without looking back, plunging unarmoured into the Hanukkah celebration and turning it into a scene of mourning.

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Sentinel also notes findings, first aired by the ABC and with further links uncovered by this masthead, that Naveed was linked to a Bankstown street preaching group which had previously counted other jihadists among its ranks for brief periods. Naveed Akram pictured in 2019 with an Islamic street prayer group. The Street Dawah group, which is not accused of any wrongdoing, was pictured with two convicted terrorists linked to a young jihadist named Isaac El Matari. The El Matari network, as Sentinel calls it, was heavily disrupted by joint counter terror teams beginning in 2019. Naveed Akram was around that time questioned by Australias spy agency ASIO, but he was ultimately discounted as a serious threat.

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Related Article Bondi shooting Bondi terrorist hangs head as vigilante threats against family revealed Prior to Bondi, every mass casualty plot had been disrupted by counter terror authorities. Gun control and travel restrictions to the caliphates training grounds ensured that the few plots which slipped through caused only a few deaths, Sentinel says. This was an internationally unusual track record that was not likely to last indefinitely, the researchers said. Targeted countries need to be prepared for some of their citizens heeding these calls for attacks against the Crusader and Jewish targets in every place, acting consistently with the Islamic States tactical advice, and proving capable of carrying out devastating attacks.

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Naveed Akram remains before the courts on charges of murder and terrorism and has yet to enter a plea. 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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A former police officer who preyed on vulnerable victims he met through work for sex attempted to use a letter from the Queensland government as a good character reference in court. The Department of Housing confirmed to this masthead it had written to Andrew Craig Adams, 53, about his work in the homelessness and housing sector in North Queensland. Former senior constable Andrew Craig Adams who worked at a regional police station in Victoria. But it was unaware the letter would be used for any other purpose, particularly by the mans defence barrister after pleading guilty to four counts of misconduct in public office in Victoria. Any correspondence to the complainant in his capacity as a representative of a CHP (community housing provider) was not intended for any other purpose, and the department was not aware that it was being used in court proceedings, a department spokeswoman told this masthead on Wednesday.

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In a County Court hearing in Geelong on Tuesday, Judge Gerard Mullaly was scathing when learning Adams attempted to use a letter from the Queensland government as a character reference, without notifying the author it would be used in court. Does the Queensland Department of Housing and  Queensland government know that a letter provided by a chief procuring officer is being utilised by Mr Adams, in his plea in Victoria for misconduct in public office with attributes of sexual intent? Mullaly asked. Andrew Adams now lives in Townsville. The answer I think is no, Adams barrister Barnaby Johnston replied. The defence barrister claimed the letter demonstrated the contribution Adams had made in community, but Mullaly was furious.

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You contact [Queensland department employee] and tell him you want to use the letter ... a formal letter from the department, the judge said. Following this interaction, Johnston sought for the defence to withdraw the letter. Tuesdays hearing had heard that, Adams, a former Victorian police officer who now lives in Townsville, attempted to engage in romantic, and later sexual conduct, with female victims who had come to his attention as a senior constable during family violence reports between September 2020 and April 2021. A police investigation found Adams had used the polices computer system initially and then later his personal mobile to contact four women, asking them if they wanted to have coffee. While first offering to be a supportive person in their lives, he later went to their homes, or met them in secluded areas including carparks, in what the prosecution said was an attempt to have sex with them.

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Adams told one of the women who attended the police station to report an intervention order breach that if hed seen her at a nightclub, hed buy her a drink, while taking a report from her in a private room. A Victorian judge was scathing of the attempt to use a letter from the department. He later showed up at her house on multiple occasions while on and off-duty, sometimes with a junior colleague who remained in the police car while they spoke. Adams gave gifts including chocolates to another woman he met when responding to a family violence Triple Zero call, and later received oral sex. One of the women told the judge that Adams abused her trust and groomed her.

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You abused your power. You were entrusted to protect the community, not abuse it. You do not get to minimise this, she said. The harm caused by Andrew Adams is ongoing, its not something Ill ever recover from completely. Adams was arrested in a park between Geelong and Melbourne in 2021 after making arrangements to have sex with one woman in her car. He then moved to North Queensland in 2023, where he works full-time for the community outreach arm of the church, Northreach Baptist Church Townsville. The defence said Adams contribution to the community included securing a significant grant for public housing and managing the distribution of Christmas hampers.

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Related Article Courts Predatory police officer exploited family violence victims for sex Johnston submitted that if Adams was sentenced to serve a community corrections order, it should be transferred to Queensland so he can continue to live and work in Townsville. As part of his role, Adams had agreed he would not be left alone with people seeking rental homes. Mullaly said the offending was persistent and only stopped when Adams was caught red-handed by police in the park in 2021. The maximum penalty for each charge is 10 years jail.

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Mullaly noted the prosecution submitted Adams should face jail time while the defence submitted he should serve a community corrections order. The judge ordered Adams return to court in June. Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service (1800RESPECT) on 1800 737 732. 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 NationalWACrime WA department forks out thousands to hide DV victim after her ex is released on bail Rebecca Peppiatt and Hamish Hastie March 26, 2026  4:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Concerns for a Perth womans safety have seen her flown home and placed in hiding by a West Australian government department at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars after her violent ex-partner was released on bail. Chloe Wright spoke out about her experience earlier this month after her attacker, Guy Cramp, was released on bail in February despite pleading guilty to assaulting her. Loading Wright released confronting footage of her assault to WAtoday and 9News Perth in a bid to bring attention to Cramps release despite his extensive pattern of similar offending. In the footage, captured by the CCTV cameras at Wrights Stratton property, Cramp can be seen cradling the couples newborn son while he punches Wright and tries to smash her face into a pool fence.

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Wright was left with a broken nose and fractured cheekbone, yet Cramp was freed on bail to complete a family violence program ahead of his sentencing. Five weeks after his release, it is understood he has yet to start that program. Chloe Wright speaks out about a Perth courts decision to release a serial domestic violence offender. 9 News Perth In the wake of his release, the Department of Communities, which had been assisting Wright and her children with support after the assault, paid for her to relocate from her home because they held fears for her safety. Wright then flew overseas with her children hoping she would be safer out of the country.

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Now it can be revealed the department funded Wright and her childrens flights back to Australia, paid for her stay in a hotel, arranged for a rental property and arranged for her furniture and belongings to be taken to her new home. Wright was left with serious injuries after the assault. Wright is now planning to sell her Stratton home and will not return to Perth. Opposition prevention of family and domestic violence spokeswoman Libby Mettam said the WA justice system was broken, is failing victims  and this government has no answers. How have we reached a point where offenders rights are put ahead of victims safety? she said.

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The lengths Chloe has had to go to keep herself and her children safe - at significant cost to herself and taxpayers - is a stark example of a system that simply isnt working. Time and again, the system is prioritising the freedom of perpetrators over the safety of victims. That is completely unacceptable. The fact the offender hasnt even started the program that kept him out of jail shows just how out of touch this system is with community expectations. While the Department of Communities fell short of outlining the costs associated with Wrights relocation, the figures are believed to run to over $30,000. A spokesperson said the department offering financial support for victims of domestic violence was not unusual.

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Supports and services can include practical and financial assistance for women and children fleeing violence including emergency hotel accommodation, referral to services and refuges, and financial support for family essentials, they said. Guy Cramp has a history of family and non-family related violence. Facebook Communities has provided appropriate supports to Ms Wright and her children. As this matter is subject to court proceedings and involves child protection supports, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time. Cramp was due to face a magistrates court trial two weeks ago over the alleged assault of two police officers in a separate incident to the one involving Wright. However, on the day the trial was due to start the 33-year-old allegedly did not turn up to court.

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A warrant was issued for his arrest and WA Police said they were conducting inquiries into his whereabouts despite him wearing an ankle monitoring bracelet. He later allegedly presented to the court and was charged with breaching his bail conditions. His prior criminal history - that spans almost 15 years - is littered with bail breaches, ignored restraining orders, and a conviction for tampering with electronic monitoring equipment. He also has a recorded history of breaching family violence restraining orders, suspended sentences and bail, aggravated robbery and unlawful damage convictions, and alleged prior violence against police and the public. A Department of Justice spokesperson refused to state whether Cramp had completed the domestic violence offenders program that he was released on bail for.

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The Department of Justice does not disclose information about individuals subject to orders in the community, they said. A state government spokeswoman said the safety of victim-survivors was the Cook governments absolute priority. Bail decisions are a matter for the courts, however this government has strengthened the system to hold perpetrators to account, she said. We have undertaken significant law reform to help keep the community safe including strengthening violence restraining order and firearms laws, introducing GPS tracking for high-risk offenders and progressing coercive control legislation. Importantly, this government is continuing to look at what more can be done to keep the community safe and hold perpetrators to account.

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Cramp will be sentenced for the assault on Wright on April 16. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
The interior of the NextDC 2 Broadcast Way data centre in Artarmon. NSW is a popular site for these types of centres.

NSW wants to drive economic growth by encouraging the construction of new data centres that invest in renewable energy.

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NSW is positioning itself as a world leader in attracting global investment in data centres, providing the ideal conditions for tech giants to help fund the clean energy transition, says Treasurer Daniel Mookhey ahead of the release of the states first major plan for IT super hubs. Mookhey, who has championed NSWs first blueprint for the vast warehouses responsible for every facet of digital life, says the state has emerged as a favoured location for the tech and cloud hubs thanks to a stable political system, a sophisticated financial sector and a well-educated workforce. Significantly, Mookhey believes global interest in locating data centres and other digital technology in NSW can also help fuel investment in the states transition to renewable energy, reducing the amount taxpayers will be forced to spend by asking tech companies to contribute financially. Mookhey calls it the virtuous cycle. Im thinking about how we can solve two problems at once, Mookhey said in an exclusive interview. If we get this right, what it means is NSW gets access to some of the worlds best technology for our economy, but we also are getting industry to pay for some of the capital investment that otherwise consumers would have to pay to fund the renewables transition.

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Thats the opportunity we are trying to seize. The federal government this week said it expected data centre developments to use water efficiently to stabilise server temperatures and support Australias move to clean energy without driving up consumer prices. Mookhey, meanwhile, will on Friday release NSWs expectations for tech giants and the states plans for the ballooning industry. NSWs reputation for being a safe place to make large investments has stoked a data centre boom in Sydney; the city already hosts about 90, with a $3.1 billion data centre from CDC under construction in Marsden Park that will be the largest in the southern hemisphere. A sprawling paddock zoned for industrial land just north of Western Sydney Airport is earmarked for Australias largest data centre, the 1GW Mamre Road Data Centre Campus. Six four-storey buildings will make up the core of the campus. In addition, the state governments Investment Development Authority has received proposals worth more than $70 billion for data centres and technology-related infrastructure. The government has approved 20 state significant development applications for data centre projects since 2019, and a further 15 projects are in the development pipeline (35 overall). Of these 35 projects, 18 are located in western Sydney.

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If all the data centre projects in NSW awaiting approval are successful, the investment will be worth more than $29.4 billion statewide, according to the governments latest analysis. Mookhey says Australias status as a five eyes security partner with the US is an added attraction to big tech investors. If youre about to buy some of the worlds rarest and highly sought commodity  which is an advanced chip  and youre about to spend $20 billion buying them, you dont want to put them anywhere near a danger zone, he says. Theres a lot of confidence in the fact that Australia, as a five eye security partner to the United States, is a safe destination to locate these incredibly valuable pieces of technology. Another factor, according to Mookhey, is the states high-quality global communications links. We actually have the worlds best cable connections to both Asia and the west coast of the United States, Mookhey says. Dont underestimate the role of undersea fibre optics.

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Daniel Mookhey says Sydney is excellently placed to encourage data centre growth. Audrey Richardson But Mookheys virtuous cycle, where digital infrastructure and renewable energy feed off one another, comes with trade-offs and risks. Data centres use a lot of electricity and water. Unless the supply of electricity and water rises to meet the increased demand, the boom could put upward pressure on power prices and water bills. Related Article Data centres Data centres are popping up all over Sydney. But what impact do they have on our suburbs? However, Data Centres Australia chief executive Belinda Dennett said it was critical that comparisons were not made with the American experience. Dennett says the data centre industry in Australia needs to tell its story better because too often it is depicted as energy vampires, water hogs and job killers. The US has 5400 data centres and 53.7 gigawatts of capacity, Dennett told an industry summit earlier this month. Australia has 252 data centres, 66 of them under one megawatt and 1.4 gigawatts of total capacity. That is almost 50 times the difference.

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When people read about data centres straining the grid, driving up bills and consuming vast amounts of water, they are reading about Americas challenges, applied uncritically to an Australian market that bears almost no resemblance to it. The technology giants that own and use the states data centres will inevitably make demands on the state in return for major investments. Data centres and housing developments will potentially compete for well-located land. The construction of digital infrastructure could also draw skilled construction workers away from residential work, slowing the supply of new homes. Mookhey says he is determined to ensure NSW is a premium destination for high-quality investments in the states interests. We have a process to sift out the speculators from the serious, he says. Mookhey says the state will need more electricity generation in future regardless of the development of data centres.

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PoliticsVictoriaLocal council Not how a healthy democracy is meant to function: council gag order passes Rachael Dexter Updated March 25, 2026  4:55pm ,first published March 24, 2026  2:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Hobsons Bay City Council has formally adopted restrictive new media and secrecy policies, despite a fierce last-minute stand by a bloc of councillors who warned the move marked the end of transparent local democracy and likened it to Big Brother state oversight. The western suburbs council on Tuesday night voted to pass the controversial media policy and councillor confidentiality policy, effectively centralising all public communication under the mayor and shielding internal briefing documents from public view. Hobsons Bay Council chambers. The vote split the chamber, passing 4-3, with Deputy Mayor Lisa Bentley, and councillors Daria Kellander and Michael Disbury voting against the measures. The proposed media policy designates the mayor as the principal spokesperson for the council, and prohibits other councillors from providing media comment without the mayors discretion and approval.

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Deputy Mayor Lisa Bentley wants residents to attend the Hobsons Bay council meeting on Tuesday. Hobsons Bay Council A separate confidentiality policy also passed, which classifies all agendas, officer papers and presentations for councillor briefing meetings as internal documents shielded from public view. This council confidential policy is not about good governance. Its about control, Bentley said. Its about restricting the very people who elected you ... its about reducing transparency at the exact moment our community deserves it more, not less. Councillor Daria Kellander said councillors are not employees of the communications department. We are directly elected representatives accountable to our communities, not to a bureaucratic approval process ... This is not how a healthy democracy is meant to function. However, the councils pro-policy bloc  including councillors Kristin Bishop, Paddy Keys-Macpherson, Rayane Hawli and Mayor Diana Grima  defended the changes as a necessary uplift of governance standards.

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Individual councillors are simply not authorised to make their own opinions the position of council, and that is essentially what is being prevented by this policy, Bishop said. Earlier in the day Bentley suggested councillors were being strong-armed into accepting the rules  which appeared in the council agenda five days ago  under state government intervention at the council. In my opinion, this is strong-armed tactics coming from [the state government], which has appointed monitors to become essentially Big Brother at our council, she said. In separate statements to The Age, a council and a state government spokesperson denied any suggestion that any threats had been made to extend the term of state-appointed monitors if the policies were blocked. Council policies put forward for consideration are entirely a matter for Hobsons Bay City Council and any suggestion otherwise is false, the state government spokesman said.

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Disbury said the changes were an attempt to gag elected officials. It will severely restrict what I can say ... I will be subject to sanctions and possibly loss of my pay, he said. Community advocate Gill Gannon feared councillors would be muzzled over red-hot issues, including the Williamstown Lifesaving Club redevelopment and imminent road closures. You cant represent your community if youre not able to speak, said Gannon, who is also running as a candidate for The West Party in the seat of Williamstown for this years state election. On Monday night, Kingston City Council in Melbournes south-east accepted changes to its governance rules to expand the chief executives power to reject notices of motion. Both councils are under the oversight of the same state-appointed municipal monitor, John Tanner. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing on Tanners part. Municipal monitors appointed by Victorian Local Government Minister Nick Staikos were put in place at Hobsons Bay in June last year. While the terms of reference for the monitors are vague and cite a need to improve governance, the appointments came after former chief executive Aaron van Egmond was suspended amid allegations of unacceptable workplace behaviour.

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The Australian Services Union previously said it had received complaints regarding the behaviour of certain managers at Hobsons Bay that had raised mental health concerns. Van Egmond subsequently resigned in April 2025, and Tanner was appointed two months later. A second monitor, Rebecca McKenzie, was appointed in January. Under the Local Government Act, councils must foot the costs associated with municipal monitors, which cover their daily fees and expenses. Related Article Victorian councils The secret intimidation tactics councils use to deny compensation claims The council defended the proposed media rules to The Age, saying that councillors were still entitled to express their personal views. However, the draft policy explicitly states that councillors may only provide comment to the media at the discretion and approval of the mayor. Regarding the secrecy rules, the council argued that releasing information internal working documents could be misleading to the public, and that briefings should remain a safe place for frank discussion with staff. The policy explicitly states that any information shared in these private sessions  not just physical documents  cannot be released without the chief executives permission.

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Updated WorldMiddle EastMiddle East at war Iran rejects ceasefire plan as more US troops head to the Middle East Michael Koziol Updated March 26, 2026  12:55am ,first published 4:48pm 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: The United States is preparing to send thousands more troops to the Middle East even as it alluded to progress in peace talks with Iran and President Donald Trump heralded a very big present purportedly received as a goodwill gesture from Iranian negotiators. On another day of mixed signals as the war approached its four-week mark, Trump said Iran wanted to make a deal so badly and confirmed that he was now interested in a ceasefire  a turnaround from just days earlier. US President Donald Trump insists that the Iranian regime wants to make a deal. AP It also emerged that the US had delivered to Iran  through intermediaries  a 15-point peace plan that largely mirrored previous Trump administration demands of Tehran, before potential in-person talks as soon as this week. However, Iranian state televisions English-language broadcaster Press TV quoted an anonymous official on Wednesday as saying Iran rejected Americas ceasefire proposal.

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Iran will end the war when it decides to do so and when its own conditions are met, it quoted the official as saying. Press TV offered its own five-point plan from the official who rejected the US proposal. It included a halt to killings of its officials, means to make sure no other war is waged against it, reparations for the war, the end of hostilities and Irans exercise of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran was still making maximalist and unrealistic demands, including the closure of all American bases in the Gulf and the right to continue its missile program without limitations, The Wall Street Journal reported. There were also unconfirmed reports that Iran had asked to negotiate with Vice President J.D. Vance, whose scepticism about the military operation against Iran has been widely ventilated. The Iranian regime has also continued to taunt the US with propaganda, and on Wednesday released another Lego-style animated video, showing Iran retaliating to a US missile strike on a girls school  an apparent reference to the US hitting an elementary school in southern Iran on the first day of the war, killing at least 165. View post on X

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The 84-second video ends with bombs raining down on supposedly American cities, and Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump crying in a situation room next to a US serviceman and a horned demon named Baal. Trump on Tuesday (US time) spoke cryptically about a supposed present the Iranians had given during talks. They did something yesterday that was amazing, he said. They gave us a present, and the present arrived today. Loading It was a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money. Im not going to tell you what the present was, but it was a very significant prize. He later said the concession related to the transport of oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping passage that has been effectively closed as Iran closely controls which vessels are let through.

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Trump said the gift was a very nice thing and showed him that the US was dealing with the right people. His team, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, are believed to be talking to the Speaker of the Iranian parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and associates. Related Article Iran Who is Mojtaba Khamenei, Irans new supreme leader? Analysts, who noted Trumps increasing desire to declare victory and make a deal, queried whether a productive settlement with the Iranian regime was possible. Washington still doesnt understand Iran or where it is heading, Danny Citrinowicz, an Iran expert at the Israel-based Institute for National Security Studies, said on X. Trump now faces three choices: accept Irans terms, walk away from negotiations, or settle for an empty framework that allows him to declare the war over without resolving anything.

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It was also not clear that a ceasefire now would be supported by the United States allies and partners in the region. Israel, which has said it is not party to the talks, has an explicit goal of destroying the Iranian regime, while Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are reportedly pressing for Irans fighting capability to be further degraded. Trump argued the regime had already been changed, in effect. The leaders are all very different than the ones that we started off with that created all those problems, he said. I think we can say this is regime change. Large crowds gathered in Tehran on March 18 during a joint funeral held for Ali Larijani and General Gholamreza Soleimani. Getty Images Irans new supreme leader is purportedly Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the assassinated supreme leader Ali Khamenei, but he has not been publicly seen since taking the job and has not provided proof of life. It was widely reported on Tuesday night (US time) that thousands of troops from the US militarys elite 82nd Airborne Division were being sent to the Middle East. The number of soldiers varied from 1000 to 4000 in the reports, and it was not certain they would be deployed to Iran.

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But analysts noted the decision to send troops  on top of US marines already heading for the region  was at odds with claims of progress towards a deal. Trumps decision to delay strikes on Iranian power plants should not be read as de-escalation, said Arash Reisinezhad, visiting assistant professor at Tufts Universitys Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. It may serve to stabilise markets and contain oil shocks but also to buy time for military positioning. Thousands of troops from the US militarys elite 82nd Airborne Division are being sent to the Middle East. US Army Pakistan is shaping as a key intermediary in potential talks between the US and Iran. The countrys army chief, Asim Munir, who visited Trump at the White House last year, has emerged as an interlocutor. The price of Brent crude dropped again on Tuesday amid the signals that a deal to end the war  or at least the US participation in it  was closer.

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But other than Trumps remarks, which he made during a news conference in the Oval Office, the White House was reluctant to confirm any details of the talks with Iran. Related Article Middle East at war It was carnage: How an Israeli raid tore apart this tiny Lebanese town These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the US will not negotiate through the press, Trumps press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said. This is a fluid situation, and speculation about meetings should not be deemed as final until they are formally announced by the White House. The ongoing build-up of US troops in the region was not the only sign the war could escalate rather than fade. Israel bombed several targets in southern Lebanon, killing nine and adding to a death toll in that country that has already topped 1000, according to the Lebanese health ministry. Israel also outlined plans to occupy a security zone in southern Lebanon  a Hezbollah stronghold  after bombing bridges along a key river that will serve as a new demarcation line.

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Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said he had spoken to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and emphasised the need for Iran to stop its unacceptable attacks against countries in the region, and restore free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. I urged Iran to engage in negotiations with good faith to open a path towards de-escalation and establish a framework that can meet the international communitys expectations regarding Irans nuclear and missile programs, as well as its destabilising regional activities, Macron said. With David Crowe, staff reporter and agencies 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.
To the UAE now, where the media office of the Gulf nations capital Abu Dhabi has confirmed two people have died in the most recent Iranian missile attack.

The competent authorities in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi responded to an incident resulting from the fall of shrapnel in Suyahan Street following the successful interception of a ballistic missile by air defences, which resulted in the death of two unidentified individuals, the office said.

A further three people were injured and several vehicles damaged.

A total of 10 people have been killed in the UAE since the war began on February 28.
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WorldNorth AmericaSocial media Meta and Google found liable in landmark social media addiction trial Dawn Chmielewski , Courtney Rozen , Kaitlyn Huamani and Barbara Ortutay Updated March 26, 2026  6:41am ,first published 4:36am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Los Angeles: Meta and YouTube must pay millions in damages to a 20-year-old woman after a jury decided the tech giants designed their platforms to hook young users without concern for their well-being. The California jurys decision in a first-of-its-kind lawsuit could influence the outcome of thousands of similar lawsuits accusing social media companies of deliberately causing harm. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg leaves court last month after testifying in the case. Bloomberg The plaintiff, known by her initials KGM, testified at trial that she became addicted to social media as a child and that this addiction exacerbated her mental health struggles. After 40 hours of deliberations, a majority of jurors agreed and awarded her $US3 million ($4.3 million) in damages. Jurors later recommended an additional $US3 million in punitive damages after deciding the companies acted with malice, oppression or fraud in harming children with their platform. The judge has the final say over the damages.

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Its the second verdict against Meta this week, after a jury in New Mexico determined the company harms childrens mental health and safety, in violation of state law. Related Article Social media Zuckerberg grilled over Meta age limits and youth strategy at social media addiction trial Meta and Google-owned YouTube issued statements disagreeing with the verdict and vowed to explore their legal options, which include appeals. We will continue to defend ourselves vigorously as every case is different, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said. Teen mental health is profoundly complex and cannot be linked to a single app. Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda said the verdict misrepresented YouTube, which is a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social media site.

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The jury found that Meta and YouTube knew the design or operation of their platforms was dangerous or was likely to be dangerous when used by a minor. They also agreed that the platforms failed to adequately warn of that danger, further contributing to the plaintiffs harm. Todays verdict is a referendum  from a jury, to an entire industry  that accountability has arrived, the plaintiffs lead counsel said in a statement. Shares of Meta were up 1 per cent and Alphabet shares were up 0.2 per cent, little changed after the verdict. The Los Angeles case focused on platform design rather than content, making it harder for the companies to avert liability. Jurors listened to about a month of lawyers arguments, testimony and evidence, and they heard from KGM, or Kaley as her lawyers have called her during the trial, as well as Meta leaders Mark Zuckerberg and Adam Mosseri. YouTubes chief executive, Neal Mohan, was not called in to testify.

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Infinite scroll questioned Kaley said she began using YouTube at age six and Instagram at age nine and told the jury she was on social media all day long as a child. Lawyers representing Kaley, led by Mark Lanier, were tasked with proving that the respective defendants negligence was a substantial factor in causing Kaleys harm. They pointed to specific design features they said were designed to hook young users, such as the infinite nature of feeds that provided an endless supply of content, autoplay, and even notifications. Another perspective Social media Ritalin use, sleep quality, NAPLAN: How Australia will know if the social media ban has worked The jurors were told not to consider the content of the posts and videos that Kaley saw on the platforms. Thats because tech companies are shielded from legal responsibility for content posted on their sites thanks to Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act.

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Meta consistently argued that Kaley had struggled with her mental health separate from her social media use, often pointing to her turbulent home life. The company also said not one of her therapists identified social media as the cause of her mental health issues, in a statement following closing arguments. But the plaintiffs did not have to prove that social media caused Kaleys struggles  only that it was a substantial factor in causing her harm. YouTube focused less on Kaleys medical records and mental health history and more on her use of YouTube and the nature of the platform. They argued that YouTube is not a form of social media, but rather a video platform akin to television, and pointed to her declining YouTube use as she got older. According to their data, she spent about one minute a day on average watching YouTube Shorts since its inception. YouTube Shorts, which launched in 2020, is the platforms section of short-form, vertical videos that have the infinite scroll feature, the plaintiffs argued, was addictive.

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Lawyers representing both platforms consistently pointed to the safety features and guardrails they each have available for people to monitor and customise their use. Snap and TikTok were also defendants in the trial. Both settled with the plaintiff before it began. Terms of the agreements were not disclosed. States tighten social media laws Large American technology companies have faced mounting criticism in the last decade over child and teen safety. The debate has now shifted to courts and state governments. Congress has declined to pass comprehensive legislation regulating social media. Related Article AI Robot joins Melania Trump at White House event

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At least 20 states enacted laws last year on social media usage and children, according to the nonpartisan National Conference of State Legislatures, an organisation that tracks state laws. The legislation includes bills that regulate the use of phones in schools and require users to verify their ages to open a social media account. NetChoice, a trade association backed by tech companies such as Meta and Google, is seeking to invalidate age verification requirements in court. A separate social media addiction case brought by several states and school districts against technology companies is expected to go to trial this summer in federal court in Oakland, California. Another state trial is slated to begin in Los Angeles in July, said Matthew Bergman, one of the attorneys leading the plaintiffs cases. It will involve Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat. Separately, a New Mexico jury on Tuesday found that Meta violated state law in a case brought by the states attorney-general, who accused the company of misleading users about the safety of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp and enabling child sexual exploitation on those platforms.

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Tech, open banking, and AI in focus

Speakers and broker panellists highlighted that digital platforms are now central to lifting efficiency and improving the end-to-end borrowing experience. Tech providers showed how tools such as Quickli and Copilot are streamlining processes, while open banking is cutting data collection time and improving accuracy and trust in loan recommendations.
Bailey secures GOP nomination in Illinois governor's race, setting up rematch against Pritzker

Peter Hancock,

Capitol News Illinois

Republican voters in Illinois have once again chosen former state Sen. Darren Bailey as their candidate for governor, giving him a second chance to unseat incumbent Democrat JB Pritzker in November.

Bailey, a farmer from southern Illinois and the party's 2022 nominee, claimed victory Tuesday night in a four-way primary for the GOP nomination, defeating Ted Dabrowski, former head of the conservative policy website Wirepoints.

According to unofficial returns compiled by the Associated Press, Bailey had carried about 50% of the vote as about 8:35 p.m. when the...
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THE announcement that rules for building one-off homes in rural areas in Carlow are to be relaxed, on the one hand is quite a welcome step said Fianna Fail cllr Daniel Pender, but on the other were yet to see any proper detail on it.

His reaction comes two weeks after minister for housing James Browne, in an interview with a Sunday newspaper, said that his department would relax the rules for one-off housing development in rural areas before the summer. His department had previously indicated in November 2025 that a statement on rural planning was forthcoming.

Cllr Pender describes the current policy that requires people to demonstrate an economic or social necessity in order to build a house on their land in a rural area as fundamentally ridiculous. Its a line on a map, essentially. If you live in Ballinabranna within the speed limit signs, you cannot build beyond that, he explained.

Carlow Co Councils rural development policy published in 2022 states that a social connection to a local rural area applies where the person has lived full time within 8km of the site in question for a minimum of five consecutive years any time before making a planning application, including returning migrants seeking a permanent home in their local rural area.

Over the past eight years, 43% of houses that were approved for planning permission in Carlow were one-off homes. In 2025, 71 out of 203 homes granted planning permission in Carlow were one-off. Nationally, 5,095 one-off houses were granted planning permission last year.

Most people looking to build in rural areas are from those areas. I think it would be great if planning regulations were eased a bit, concurred Sinn Fein cllr Jim Deane. Its about time some sense has come into planning. Its lovely to see houses going up in rural areas, to see young families bringing life back into rural Ireland.

Cllr Pender recalls one family from his constituency having to move out of the county to upsize their family home and another who had moved to a local village and were advised to rent a house outside the village boundaries for six years in order to pass the social necessity test.

He says it is particularly affecting his age cohort of people who are looking at returning home, building and getting on with their life. You should be allowed to build on your own land, in your own village, he said.

Fianna Fail TD for Carlow-Kilkenny Peter Chap Cleere also said he was delighted at the news after years of advocating for change to the national planning guidelines. These rules have been far too restrictive for genuine rural families, and I have consistently argued that they need to be revised so that local people are not forced to leave their home areas.

The counter-argument, as outlined by columnist Paul ODonoghue in The Journal, is that dispersed housing development will increase car dependency, put pressure on the provision of public services and disrupt the visual amenity. He described the announcement as a major roll-back in policy.

In a statement, the planning department of Carlow Co Council said: The revised policy considerations regarding rural one-off dwellings are awaited and are due to be published as a national planning statement in the coming months. Following publication of same, Carlow Co Council will review the revised provisions and implement as may be deemed appropriate.

Its a game of wait and see, noted cllr Pender.
ABANDONING his fathers van in a ditch at Killinure after crashing it has cost a Wexford man 500 and a two-year driving disqualification.

Judge Geraldine Carthy handed down the sentence at Carlow District Court on 12 March in the absence of the defendant, Laurence Connors (24), previously of 5 Ni Coilte, Bunclody, Co Wexford, who now has an address in the UK.

Garda Deirdre Cohen of Tinahely Garda Station outlined to Judge Carthy that she attended a single-vehicle collision at Killinure on Thursday 30 January 2025 at approximately 8.45pm. She observed a van in the ditch, but there was no-one to be found at the scene. She noticed that an insurance disc was not displayed on the vehicle and that it had no valid DOE.

She had the vehicle towed away and, on investigating the driver, she established it was Mr Connors with a then-address of 5 Na Coilte, Bunclody, Co Wexford. She received a voluntary caution statement from the defendant when he attended Enniscorthy Garda Station.

In that statement, he said he had used a spare key to access his fathers van, which he had prior experience of driving, to drop his girlfriend home to Tullow.

On the way back to Bunclody, he said, the roads were icy and he skidded and crashed the vehicle into the ditch. He had his aunt collect him because he was scared to tell his father, saying: I knew he would go mad.

Mr Connors held a provisional licence at the time and didnt have permission from his father to drive the van. He admitted to not having insurance. By means of explanation, he said: Im sorry for all this mess. I was sorting it out by myself, thats why I didnt call the guards.

He told gardai in Enniscorthy that he was getting married the next day.

Know anything about him? asked Judge Carthy to solicitor Joseph Farrell.

Hes married now, I suppose, said Mr Farrell, to the amusement of the court.

Judge Carthy imposed two fines totalling 500 for the driving offences and disqualified Mr Connors from driving for two years.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
Kenneth Fox

A recent investigation from The Irish Times, along with the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), found that alumina produced in Co Limerick is entering the Russian military supply chain.

While in the past, Ministers have defended the plant and said it does not have links to the Russian military, it is clear that much of the alumina ends up being used for the Russian Ministry of Defence.

Who owns Aughinish Alumina, and how does the refined alumina make its way from Limerick to Siberia? Here is everything you need to know:

Who owns Aughinish Alumina in Limerick?

The Aughinish plant is owned by Rusal, a Russian company, which also owns smelters in Siberia to which much of the output from the Co Limerick plant is exported.

A big customer of these smelters is a Moscow trading company that has links with Rusal and is an important player in the Russian arms industry.

Alumina, as a basic commodity, is not subject to EU sanctions and the company and the Government point out that it has wide uses in civilian projects.

Nor is it possible to prove definitively that the output of the Co Limerick plant is used in arms production.

But industry experts point out that aluminium producers such as the big Russian smelters would not typically use alumina from specific suppliers in different ways.

When Rusals major shareholder, Oleg Deripaska, was sanctioned by Washington in 2018 for alleged interference in the 2016 US presidential election, Irish officials successfully lobbied for the Co Limerick plant to be excluded.

This was agreed on the basis that Deripaska reduced his stake in the plant, though he remains its largest shareholder. The Irish Government also lobbied for the company again in 2022, following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.

How does the alumina end up in Russia?

The supply chain starts when bauxite from Africa and South America arrives at the Shannon estuary for processing into alumina.

Once the raw bauxite arrives at Aughinish by ship, it goes through the Bayer process. This uses huge amounts of heat, pressure and caustic soda to turn bauxite into alumina, producing the red mud that surrounds the plant.

The finished alumina is then loaded back on ships and exported overseas.

The Irish alumina arrives in Russia at Novy Port, near St Petersburg, where it is loaded onto trains and transported almost 5,000km east to Rusal-owned smelters in Siberia. A large portion of the material is transported to the Rusal smelter in Krasnoyarsk, one of the biggest aluminium manufacturing plants in the world.

Satellite and shipping data shows much of the material produced in Co Limerick is transported to smelters in Russia, which are also owned by Rusal. There, it is transformed into aluminium.

Between 2020 and 2024, Russian imports of Irish alumina surged, rising from 394,430 tonnes to 826,584 tonnes, before declining slightly last year, according to export data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

Aughinish also sells substantial amounts of alumina to other countries, but since the war, Russia has become by far its biggest customer. In 2020, Russia accounted for 23 per cent of the Limerick plants business. Last year, that figure was 68 per cent, according to the CSO.

What is the alumina used for?

The aluminium product is purchased by a trader called ASK, which has extensive links to Rusal.

ASK then sells aluminium to sanctioned weapons manufacturers who make missiles, tanks, helicopters and other weapons of war used in the Ukraine conflict by Russia.

Financial records do not definitively show whether specific Irish alumina is being used in Russian weapons. But they do show that vast amounts of Irish alumina are being smelted into aluminium by Rusal, which then sells it to the ASK. The trader, in turn, supplies huge amounts to Russian weapons companies.

Russian army tanks take a position at an area of Kursk region of Russia,  Russian Defense Ministry Press Service

Their investigation identified 107 defence companies as ASK customers, of which 40 are subject to EU sanctions. According to Andriy Yusov, an official from the main directorate of intelligence in Ukraines ministry of defence, 18 of these customers are responsible for manufacturing weapons directly used in deadly attacks on Ukraine.

The companies include Votkinsk Machine Building Plant which manufactures intercontinental and medium-range ballistic missiles, including the infamous Iskander-M missile.

Advanced missiles such as the Iskander killed 682 Ukrainian civilians last year, a 28 per cent increase on the number killed in 2024.

Another ASK customer, Uraltransmash, makes howitzers for the Russian army, while NPK Uralvagonzavod uses aluminium to produce the T-72 tanks that formed the vanguard of the 2022 invasion.

What do the locals think?

People living near Russian-owned Aughinish Alumina in Limerick defended the plant, despite the reported links between the alumina it produces and dozens of Russian weapons manufacturers.

Locals who spoke included those who publicly represent some of the plants staff.

Its a case of do you eat the egg or do you choke the chicken? said local former special branch detective and recently retired Fianna Fail councillor Kevin Sheahan.

We cant stop these things. If they werent shipping the alumina, the plant wouldnt be functioning, and the employment wouldnt be here and it wouldnt be beneficial to anybody, Sheahan said.

Asked how he balanced concerns for those families with links between Aughinish and the Russian military supply chain, he said Its a fair question but argued that the source of the alumina was irrelevant.

If the plant in Askeaton couldnt export it any more, it would be exported [from] someplace else, he said.

The people in Askeaton or Ireland didnt declare war on anybody, and you wouldnt find anybody here wishing the war to go any place other than to finish.

Publican Adam Teskey, who represents the area as an elected Fine Gael councillor, said that although he did not support Russias war in Ukraine, he did support the continued exportation of alumina from the Rusal plant, which is part-owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Derepeska, who has close ties with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin.

The majority of people I represent are employed by Aughinish. Its a very valued employer and a local taxpayer that contributes enormous amounts of money to the area which I represent, said Teskey.

He and others in the Shannon estuary zone were quick to point out that a second big local employer  Wyeth Nutritionals Ireland in Askeaton, an infant formula manufacturer owned by Nestle  is closing its doors at the end of this month with the loss of 542 jobs.

Finally, what has the Government's reaction been?

Two Government departments are to review findings of the investigation that highlighted links between Irish-made alumina and dozens of Russian weapons manufacturers.

It follows a commitment in the Dail from Taoiseach Micheal Martin to examine the matter and a commitment by the Belgian government to close the loophole that allows alumina produced in Ireland to be exported to Russia.

There have also been calls from Opposition members and a prominent Ukrainian politician for a crackdown on exports of the material to Russia.

The Government has previously denied that the plant plays any part in supplying material to Russias military industry.

Responding to questions in the Dail on Tuesday, the Taoiseach said he was not previously aware of the links between Irish alumina and the Russian weapons industry.

He expressed concern about the findings and pledged to examine the issue and try to get into the background of it.

But he stressed Aughinish Alumina is a very significant employer in the Midwest and it supports hundreds of jobs directly and indirectly.
Sean McCarthaigh

Ireland had the fifth highest level of applications from first-time asylum seekers in the EU on a per capita basis last year, although the actual number of applications for international protection fell by 30 per cent.

New figures published by the European Commission show 12,975 individuals made first-time applications for international protection status in Ireland in 2025  an annual decrease of 5,460.

The figures reveal that Ireland received 2.4 applicants per 1,000 population last year  the fifth highest rate after Greece (5.3 per 1,000); Cyprus and Spain (both 2.9) and Luxembourg (2.6).

The average rate of first-time applications across the EU in 2025 was 1.5 per 1,000 population  down from 2.0 the previous year.

Ireland had the 3rd highest rate in 2024 with 3.4 applicants per 1,000 population after Cyprus and Greece.

The largest number of asylum seekers applying for international protection in Ireland last year came from Somalia with 2,015  approximately 1 in 6 of all applications.

They were followed by Nigeria (1,910); Pakistan (1,665); Afghanistan (1,290) and Georgia (865).

The five largest countries of origin accounted for over 60 per cent of all asylum applications in Ireland last year.

Jordan, which was the main country of origin for asylum seekers in 2024 with 2,860 applicants, only accounted for 90 similar cases last year.

According to official figures, males aged 18-34 accounted for 39 per cent of all asylum applicants in Ireland in 2025  just above the EU average of 36 per cent.

The number of unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in the Republic last year was 210  down from 235 in 2024.

In December, Minister for Justice Jim OCallaghan said the Government was trying to reduce the number of asylum seekers coming to Ireland in order to prevent a breakdown in social cohesion.

However, OCallaghan declined to offer a number of asylum seekers that he believed would be sustainable.

The Minister published the International Protection Bill 2026 the following month which provides for faster processing of asylum claims with a more efficient decision-making system.

OCallaghan said the legislation would mean asylum applicants spend less time in IPAS accommodation, while also significantly reducing the cost of the asylum system for the State.

He said those whose applications are refused can also be returned to their country of origin sooner.

Overall, the latest figures show there was a 27 per cent decrease in first-time asylum applications across the EU in 2025, with numbers down in 24 member states including Ireland.

The only countries to record small increases in asylum applications last year were Latvia, Lithuania and Hungary.

A total of 669,400 individuals applied for international protection across the 27 EU member states  down from 912,400 in 2024 and the lowest annual total in the last four years.

Venezuela overtook Syria as the main country of origin for asylum seekers in the EU, with approximately 89,500 Venezuelans applying for international protection  13 per cent of all applications.

Afghanistan was the country of origin of the second highest number of applicants  63,800 representing 10 per cent of the total.

Syria, which was the main country of origin for asylum seekers to the EU for the previous decade, accounted for the third highest total last year with 40,000  6 per cent of all applicants.

Official figures show Spain received the highest number of applications, accounting for more than 1 in 5 of all asylum seekers in the EU.

A total of 141,000 first-time asylum applications were made in Spain in 2025  21 per cent of the total.

Spain was followed by Italy (126,000  19 per cent); France (116,400  17 per cent); Germany (113,200  17 per cent) and Greece (55,400  8 per cent) with those five countries accounting for 83 per cent of all cases last year.
Kenneth Fox

Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh said she will vote against a proposal on return hubs in the European Parliament, warning that the EU cannot outsource its migration responsibilities.

The European Parliament is set to vote on the Returns Regulations on Thursday, which includes a proposal for the establishment of return hubs in third countries.

MEP Maria Walsh, a member of the European Parliaments Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) Committee, said: This week, the concept of return hubs will be put to a vote in the European Parliament  an idea that first rose to attention through the UKs Rwanda scheme and is now being promoted across Europe as a response to immigration.

Under this proposal, EU member states could deport individuals to countries they have no connection to or have never set foot in, where they will be detained in centres for indefinite periods.

By their very nature, return hubs carry significant risks of human rights violations - given they operate outside the jurisdiction of the EU.

She said while the centres will be funded by European taxpayers, they will not be governed by EU laws and standards. Instead, the treatment of an individual will depend on the laws and norms of the host country.

I will be voting against the policy of return hubs in the Parliament, and I urge my fellow Irish MEPs to do the same. Given the serious concerns around human rights protections in some existing EU agreements with third countries, I do not believe assurances on safeguards can be relied upon in practice.

This proposal risks being a knee-jerk reaction to political pressure from a small but vocal minority. We must separate fact from fiction in this debate.

The claim that immigration continues to increase is not supported by the data. In 2024, almost 913,000 people applied for international protection in the EU for the first time, a decrease of 13 per cent compared with 2023. In Ireland, asylum applications dropped nearly 30 per cent in 2025. These figures point not to a system in crisis, but to one that is beginning to stabilise.

She said if a person does not have the right to remain in Europe, they should not stay. But making return hubs the cornerstone of our response is misguided.

She thinks they are not a silver bullet, but are a shortcut that risks severe human rights violations funded by the European taxpayer.

Ireland must continue to offer a different perspective; one grounded in fairness, responsibility and respect for human dignity," she said.
Ryan Dunne

The son of veteran criminal Eamon Kelly has been jailed for ten years for trying to murder his former wife's friend, whom he blamed for the breakup of his marriage, in a rage-filled knife attack at the victim's home.

In sentencing Matthias Kelly (43) at the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday, Judge Paul McDermott noted that the ferocious attack on Fiona Timmermans had left the victim with facial scarring and robbed her of her sense of safety.

The judge said that it was not clear that a brain injury suffered by Kelly following a road traffic accident in 2016 had affected his actions on the day, but he ruled that such an injury would make the defendants time in prison more difficult.

Kelly, of no fixed abode in Coolock in Dublin, pleaded guilty last year to the attempted murder of Timmermans at Newbury Lawns, Clonshaugh in Dublin 17 on September 7th, 2024.

At a sentencing hearing in January, Det Gda Alan Roche told prosecution counsel Brendan Grehan SC that the victim was a friend of the defendant's former wife.

On September 1st, 2024, he sent a text to Timmermans saying: "I'm going to cut your throat, you're dead." On September 6th he threw a brick through the window of his ex-wife's home.

The following day he entered Timmermans' home through an open back door, took a knife from her kitchen and went to her bedroom.

Timmermans described to gardai that she awoke to see Kelly standing over her before he started stabbing at her neck and head "like a madman", shouting: "You're dead, you're dead."

She fought back and kicked him in the groin before he "jumped on her head five times" and left the house, the garda said. Timmermans told gardai she knew she had a bad wound to her neck, saw blood everywhere and thought she was going to die.

She was treated at Beaumont Hospital for stab wounds to her forehead, face and neck but was discharged on the same day. A doctor's report stated that she would make a recovery from her physical injuries within weeks but may be left with permanent, visible scars.

When gardai arrested and questioned him, Kelly described his victim as a "knacker" and said she had "ruined my family's life".

He said he would still be with his wife if it weren't for Timmermans, but said he regretted attacking her, describing his actions as "bang out of order" and "disgusting". He accepted that he had previously threatened Timmermans but added: "I never really planned on doing it. I never thought I would actually go through with it."

Barristers for Kelly said he had suffered a brain injury in 2016 following a car crash and a further head injury in a fall down stairs two days before he broke into Timmermans' home and tried to stab her to death.

The sentencing hearing was then adjourned to allow further time for the defence to find a neuropsychologist to provide a report on how the brain injuries affected Kellys behaviour.

At the finalisation of sentencing on Wednesday, the judge said that the defence had been unable to procure this, so the report that was before the court was not as extensive as expected.

He noted that Kelly had previously been involved in a serious road traffic incident, which left him with a brain injury, and prior to the attack on Timmermans, he attended for depression and alcohol abuse.

The judge said that two or three days before the attack, Kelly fell down some steps after drinking heavily and banged his head, causing an injury to which he partially attributed his actions. The judge also noted that Kelly was under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time of the offence.

The judge said that Kelly had made extensive admissions and pleaded guilty. He had nine previous convictions, all summary matters. He said the probation services had found Kelly cooperative, with the defendant accepting that his violent actions could have resulted in Timmermans death.

The judge noted the defendant was reluctant to accept that he entered the house in an attempt to kill the victim, but he accepted that he had narrowly avoided killing her.

It is not clear that his brain injury had an effect on what he did, said the judge, adding that self-induced intoxication was not an excuse nor a mitigating factor. He accepted, however, that Kellys wife said violence was out of character for her husband.

The judge set headline sentences of 16 years for the attempted murder, ten years for burglary, eight years for making threats to kill, and four years each for the production of an article and a criminal damage charge.

He said there were significant mitigating factors in the case, including Kellys guilty plea, his expression of remorse, and the fact he had taken steps to address his violence and addiction issues.

He said that Kellys rage and anger led him to commit these offences, but he had no prior convictions for violent offences, and that prison would be more difficult for Kelly due to his acquired brain injury.

After mitigation, the judge imposed a sentence of 12 years for the attempted murder, seven years for burglary, six years for the threats to kill, and three years each for the production of the knife and criminal damage, with all sentences to run concurrently, backdated to September 9th, 2024.

The judge suspended the last two years of the sentence, on condition that Kelly attends all appointments with the probation services, engages in victim awareness work and with addiction services, and does not have any contact with the injured party.

Kelly had also pleaded guilty to entering Timmermans' home as a trespasser intending to murder her and producing a kitchen knife with a serrated blade in the course of a dispute on the same occasion.

Kelly also admitted making a threat to kill Timmermans at an unknown location within the State on September 1st, 2024, intending her to believe it would be carried out.

Kelly also pleaded guilty to damaging the sitting room window and front bedroom window of his ex-wife's home, intending such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged at Millbrook Avenue, Coolock in Dublin 13 on September 6th, 2024.

Kelly's father, Eamon Kelly, was shot dead outside his home on Furry Park Rd, Killester, Dublin 5 on December 4th, 2012.
By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

The Taoiseach has been asked to investigate reports of a misogynistic and toxic culture in the National Ambulance Service (NAS).

In the Dail on Wednesday, People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger raised the case of a woman who has reported a paramedic for allegedly drugging and raping her on multiple occasions.

Coppinger said that she had seen paramedics do incredible work and said the NAS is absolutely essential, but added: Ive spoken to Kathy, its not her real name, and she has reported a paramedic who drugged, sexually assaulted, coercively controlled and raped her on multiple occasions.

He apparently stole controlled drugs  midozolam, a strong sedative and penthrox, a powerful painkiller, and he used them against her.

Coppinger said that he was recently promoted to a senior position within the NAS despite the service being aware for over a year of a rape investigation into the man.

Ruth Coppinger raised the case in the Dail (Brian Lawless/PA)

She said at least five women suffered misconduct from this man, adding that one woman had been locked in a shed.

She added: Four women contacted their line managers, but the complaints were not progressed.

Coppinger was critical of the complaints procedures and sexual harassment procedures within the NAs.

It seems a bit like the church. Offenders get moved from base to base after complaints.

She asked Taoiseach Micheal Martin: Will you investigate why the HSE has promoted this man and why the procedures are failing now?

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he did not have the full details of the case (Brian Lawless/PA)

Martin, who said he did not have the full details of the case, replied: I dont want to prejudice anything that may be in train, but it is very difficult to comprehend how somebody who has these complaints and charges made against could be promoted.

He added: No woman should have to suffer such harassment, in this case, sedation and rape.

And you are quite correct that there should be an absolute zero tolerance approach with the National Ambulance Service to misogyny, to sexual harassment and to the undermining of women in any shape or form, in any way, in their daily work.

Martin said he would ask Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill to appraise him of the background to the case and, if necessary, then to initiate a review into this.

The HSE, which operates the NAS, has been contacted for comment.
THE Carlow-based voluntary project UgaIrish, which significantly contributes to sustainable development and education projects in Ugandan communities, can now boast the crowning glory for its part in providing a splendid new primary school for one such African community.

The sod was turned on the St Brigids Primary School project in Baale, Uganda on 1 August 2025.

Last month, the first block of three new classrooms welcomed its first pupils to St Brigids  an historic day for all concerned.

Baale is a refugee fishing community on the shores of Lake Victoria in equatorial Uganda.

The new primary school, located on the outskirts of Baale, replaces the areas Little Angels National School, which was one of the key UgaIrish projects of recent years.

Attendance at St Brigids is growing rapidly and is expected to reach 300 pupils in the near future. To meet this demand, additional infrastructure will be required and plans are already underway for the construction of a further three-classroom block.

This represents magnificent progress in the educational status of Baale.

The ethos of UgaIrish is based on trust, partnership and the belief that, long-term, change happens when communities are supported, not directed. The voluntary group from Carlow is of the firm belief that lasting progress only takes root in countries like Uganda when local people are fully invested, empowered and equipped to shape their own sustainable future.

Siobhan Kinsella, Cloydagh, Carlow, a retired teacher, is founder member and CEO of UgaIrish and remains the driving force behind the project.

Siobhan has, since she first visited Uganda in 2006, had the backing of a large team of volunteers from Carlow and surrounding counties, who have made a number of trips to Uganda, working alongside communities in the east African country to support access to education, healthcare, food security, housing and sustainable agriculture.

She established the UgaIrish charity in 2008 and the organisation supported an orphan village until 2012. It was in 2013 that Siobhan and the Carlow volunteers first visited Baale.

Siobhans vision for the overall Uganda project had, from the start, the full support of her husband Austin, a retired lecturer at the Institute of Technology, Carlow. Austin was treasurer to the voluntary project. Sadly, he passed away in October 2017 following an illness.

The 1 August school sod-turning was a result of education emerging as a crucial area of focus for the community of Baale.

The Catholic diocese in which Baale is located owned a significant block of land a few kilometres from the community and agreed to allocate a portion of it for school development. Benefiting from a more flexible planning and building environment, progress moved quickly.

A local architect was commissioned to design a fully integrated school campus, including classrooms, sanitation facilities, staff accommodation and agricultural land to support both education and food provision.

In addition to the work of UgaIrish, the diocesan involvement provided funding and management support, parents committed to fundraising and modest fees, while a local bamboo plantation contributed practical resources.

So it was that 1 August 2025 represented a major milestone  a historic and celebratory day for the community, marking the birth of St Brigids Primary School.

Every donation, large or small, made to the UgaIrish project is deeply appreciated  the Carlow charity has no full-time staff. Every cent from donations go to support the work of the Uganda project. Anyone wishing to donate can contact Siobhan Kinsella by emailing siobhan.mary.kinsella1@gmail.com.

The annual UgaIrish fundraising walk along the banks of the River Barrow will take place on Monday 4 May.

The walkers will assemble at 11am at the town hall car park and it will end at Barrow Brew in Milford, a distance of approximately seven kilometres. Support would be appreciated for this worthy cause.
Epic Games is laying off more than 1,000 employees, the company confirmed Tuesday, marking another major round of cuts at the Fortnite maker amid ongoing turbulence across the video game sector.

In a memo to staff, CEO Tim Sweeney attributed the layoffs to declining engagement with the companys flagship gaming franchise and broader economic pressures, writing that the company has been spending significantly more than were making.

The cuts follow a previous wave in 2023 that eliminated roughly 830 jobs (16% of its staff), part of a wider industry contraction that has seen tens of thousands of game workers laid off since 2022.

Sweeneys open letter attempts to balance apology and optimism, positioning the layoffs as a necessary step toward greater long-term stability. He says the company aims to save more than $500 million through a combination of job cuts, reduced spending, and unfilled roles. He also specifically said that the layoffs are not related to AI, addressing a growing concern among developers that automation is contributing to job losses.

But like many executive communications in this ongoing wave of industry layoffs, the memo drifts into self-mythologizing, casting the companys struggles in grandiose terms: being the industrys vanguard, we have taken a lot of bullets in a battle which is only in the early days of paying off for ourselves and all developers, the CEO writes.

The releases pivot from accountability to abstraction reflects a familiar pattern in tech and games layoffs, where strategic missteps and overexpansion are reframed as necessary growing pains in pursuit of long-term vision. In Epics case, that framing is harder to square with the reality that Fortnite should be one of the most lucrative franchises in gaming, particularly given the plethora of microtransactions on offer.

Epic Games is also backed by billions in outside investment from partners like Sony, LEGO, and Disney. Those bets were tied to the companys metaverse ambitions, a strategy that has cooled off significantly over the last several years. Against that backdrop, laying off nearly 1,900 employees over three years is a bad look.

The scale of Epic Games cuts underscores a harsher reality. One of the industrys most successful companies, built on a global hit and boasting an arsenal of world-class tech, is not insulated from the boom-and-bust cycles that have defined game development over recent years. Whatever the motivations for this round of cuts may be, they ultimately fall on the workers, not the decision-makers. For all the language about vanguards and long-term bets, the costs of those ambitions are once again being absorbed by employees who had little say in setting that direction.
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Lisbon, the cultural beating heart of Portugal, once again hosted the Monstra International Animation Festival this year. The event, which wrapped up on Sunday, marked the 25th edition of what has become one of the major European animation festivals over the past decade, showcasing more than 490 films over the span of ten days.

Industry Focus and First Impressions

In addition to audience-driven screenings, Monstra also offered unique networking opportunities for producers from beyond Portugal. The industry section is one of the festivals epicenters, and one I had the pleasure of discovering for Cartoon Brew this year.

A 72-hour trip is definitely too short to grasp everything Monstra has to offer. But between pro meetings, the Portuguese competition, engaging encounters, and a singular experience at the crossroads of jazz and animation, this stay left me with exactly the right impression: a desperate need to return, eat another pastel de nata, and enjoy more of what Monstra has to offer.

Cutting-Edge Portuguese Studios and International Collaboration

Jumping from my 6 a.m. flight straight into the first PRO meetings, I began my Monstra journey with a unique gathering of Baltic, Iberian, and Latin American countries, featuring no fewer than 21 back-to-back studio presentations. These were followed by presentations from Portuguese, European, and Baltic funding institutions. The sessions provided valuable information for both veteran and emerging producers, reinforcing Portugals growing position as a key player in the European animation industry.

From boutique production companies to fully fledged animation studios, the presentations highlighted the close connections Portuguese studios have already built with Spain, the rest of Europe, and beyond, while also opening new paths for potential Latvian, Estonian, and South American co-productions.

Studio Highlights: From Emerging to Established

Founded in 2022 and among the youngest companies on the panel, Fly Moustache impressed with its already packed slate of 2D TV series and specials, including Planet Agents (co-produced with Greek studio Funny Tales), Vila Marela (a Peruvian-Brazilian-Portuguese co-production), and the TV special Dark Woods, based on the award-winning comic by Estrela Lourenco.

At the other end of the spectrum, the 18-year-old, renowned studio Sardinha em Lata (which recently won a Goya for its collaboration on Alberto Vazquezs Decorado) offered a glimpse into its pipeline before taking colleagues and me on an improvised studio tour. In Lisbon, amid tasty restaurants and hip cafes, its easy to miss the entrance to this multimedia studio, which houses several stop-motion sets, 2D workstations, and a wealth of creative treasures.

There, I discovered the large puppet collection used for My Grandfathers Demons, Sardinha em Latas first feature film (2022), as well as a state-of-the-art virtual production stop-motion setup the team is testing for its new series Pido Pausa, currently in development. By connecting backgrounds crafted in Unreal Engine and projecting them onto a screen used as the set backdrop, the system synchronizes camera and background movement frame by frame, effectively replacing green screen with in-camera backgrounds.

As of today, Sardinha em Lata has three features, two series, and several shorts in production, with more in development.

Portuguese Pitching and Competition Highlights

During Fridays four-hour Portuguese pitching session, Sardinha em Lata, along with a dozen other studios, revealed even more projects from the coastal country. Unfortunately, as the event was conducted entirely in Portuguese, I wasnt able to follow everything. Still, producers and studios like BAP (whose short Dog Alone won the Portuguese competition, more on that below), Animanostra, Spamflix, and CUP Filmes clearly have a lot up their animated sleeves.

Despite being sleep-deprived, two late-night screenings convinced me to head to the prestigious Cinema Sao Jorge for another round of Portuguese animation. Opened in May 1946, the nearly 80-year-old venue boasts an impressive 830-seat auditorium, where nine films competed on Friday evening for this years Vasco Granja Portuguese Competition Award.

After 135 minutes of animation in a packed theater, marked by enthusiastic applause from animators supporting their studios, and even some fierce booing directed at Joao Pedro Oliveiras AI-crafted short Machinarium, Marta Reis Andrades BAP-produced Dog Alone received a well-deserved award from the international jury.

Other highlights of the evening included Alice Eca Guimaraes Because Today Is Saturday, a powerful look at the mental load still borne by mothers, and Alexandre Sousas eerie Amarelo Banana, which questions what communities can offer, or take, from those who engage too deeply with them.

Experimental Programming: Jazz and Animation

Completing my Monstra trip was a peculiar jazz-animation experience: the JAZZANIM late-night screening held on Thursday evening. After nearly 20 hours without sleep, discovering 13 experimental shorts accompanied live by local student vocalists and contemporary/experimental jazz musicians (also students) was a one-of-a-kind, hypnotic experience.

This combination, rooted in the Monstra co-founders long-standing love for mixed-media experimentation dating back more than 20 years, proved mesmerizing.

Looking Ahead: Missed Talks and Emerging Projects

In truth, after this too-short stay at Monstra, Im left wanting more animation, more pasteis, and more of everything Lisbon and Portugal have to offer.

Sadly, I also missed what sounded like a fascinating talk by Cartoon Brew founder Amid Amidi, who revisited his passion for Cartoon Modern.

But what intrigues me most is Virgin Fandango, a new short by animation veteran and NFB producer Marcy Page and composer Normand Roger, which the duo teased at Monstra this year. A Portuguese-Canadian co-production, the 11-minute film is made using 12,000 animated azulejos (painted tiles) and features a rebellious Mary raising her voice to celebrate women throughout history in the struggle for equality.

Based on what was shown at Monstra, this is undoubtedly shaping up to be one of the most exciting animated shorts of the year.
On Valentines Day 2026, producer and animation veteran Sophie Saget and the team at French studio Andarta Pictures celebrated more than love. They celebrated the launch of their very first project, Ewilans Quest.

A month and 2.6 million views later, were excited to debut two English-subtitled episodes of the series, marking its first step toward reaching international audiences.

Based on one of the most acclaimed French childrens fantasy series of the early 2000s, created by the late Pierre Bottero, Ewilans Quest follows Camille, a 13-year-old living the uneventful life of a French teenager. Things take a dramatic turn when she is accidentally hurled into the world of Gwendalavir, inhabited by creatures as extraordinary as they are dangerous.

There, Camille and her friend Salim discover her real fate and real name, Ewilan. Her parents are not dead. They have become prisoners of the terrible Tslich in an ongoing war that may destroy Gwendalavir once and for all. Ewilans arrival brings fresh hope for saving an embattled world, as she has inherited a prodigious talent for Design, a unique kind of magic.

A whimsical adventure featuring strong female characters in the tradition of C.S. Lewiss Narnia and Madeleine LEngles Time Quintet, the book series sold more than 2 million copies, sparking a comic book adaptation, fan fiction, and online forums nourished by a very strong fanbase. Sophie Saget, producer and founder of Andarta Pictures, was working at the time for French animation powerhouse Folimage as an executive producer when she discovered the books through a friend whose daughters kept rereading the series.

Saget, a Gobelins alumna, did not recognize the series potential at the time because it did not fit into Folimages production pipelines. But when she left Folimage to start her own company, Andarta Pictures, in 2017, her friend returned to the idea and bought her the entire series to read.

As I started to read them, recalled Saget, I was amazed at the potential of this universe, so I reached out to the publisher, convinced that an adaptation was already in the works. It turned out the rights were available, and as I had just founded Andarta, it felt like the perfect time to sign this bold, singular, very ambitious project of adapting Ewilans Quest into a series format.

Crafting an 826-minute heroic fantasy aimed at children proved a hefty challenge, one that took many years and more than 300 workers, divided among Andarta, LIncroyable Studio, and Brussels-based Vivi Film Productions. But for Saget, whose career started on large productions such as A Monster in Paris and the first Despicable Me feature, producing this series was definitely within reach.

France has a huge pool of talent, and many of them eventually go abroad to work for Disney, Pixar, or Ghibli. In that sense, it felt like a waste that we could not produce such high-end projects here. Because our French industry is very dependent on public funding, I wanted to try another approach. As Ewilans fanbase was already very strong, we started to build merchandise and community-based content, and they responded very well.

After an initial crowdfunding campaign that gathered more than 200,000 in 23 days, Andarta opened its online store and began producing its own product lines while developing the script and adapting Botteros universe. It was a difficult endeavor, as Ewilans Quest presents both a very complex and sometimes vague world, relying on the art of Dessin (translated here as Design), a type of magic based on the power of imagination and mind drawing to bend reality, master the elements, and create objects out of thin air.

It took no fewer than three directors, Eve Ceccarelli, Fabien Daphy, and Justine Mettler, and five screenwriters, Diane Morel, Alexandre Manneville, Anastasia Heinzl, Xavier Vaire, and Pierre-Gilles Stehr, to translate this universe to the small screen. The journey lasted almost eight years and culminated in the February release of Ewilans Quest on France Televisions platforms, along with Belgiums RTBF and Switzerlands RTS online services.

According to Vaire and Stehr, who were the last to work on the series and reshaped the first season into an 826-minute format, adapting Ewilans Quest meant both staying true to the universe and betraying it at the same time.

Many elements in these novels are revealed very quickly, both about the characters parents, her origins, and the world into which Camille/Ewilan tumbles. We chose to delay this entry into a more fantastic realm to strengthen the context and original drama, without having to revisit elements already introduced. In a literary context, this works because we are inside the characters head, but a cinematic adaptation requires more exposition and setup. Settings must be prepared, information revealed gradually, and we used the possibilities of animation to add a strong visual dimension to this story where art and drawing are key.

It was this same singular approach to art, design, and drawing that appealed to the trio of directors. Eve Ceccarelli, a director, storyboard artist, and animator who graduated from Gobelins and La Poudriere and worked on both shorts and animated features such as Funan and the Academy Award-nominated Wolfwalkers, joined the project with Fabien Daphy after production was already well underway.

Ewilans teams were built layer upon layer, with every person who spent time on this project adding to its richness. Along with Fabien, Justine, Pierre-Yves, and Xavier, we continued the path already traced by previous teams in a highly collaborative process, aiming to enhance production values and bring more realistic, human designs to the project. Botteros universe feels very intimate, and we wanted to retain this aspect in the look and feel of Ewilans Quest.

To portray the Design Camille/Ewilan uses in the series, the magical art of drawing from her imagination, Saget and her team chose early on to blend different artistic styles reminiscent of oil and acrylic painting, gouache, and pastel shades on grainy paper. In that sense, Ewilans Quest seemed destined for animation, something that becomes clear when the girl unveils her powers.

It quickly became a playground for the artists, shared Saget and Ceccarelli, both very enthusiastic about this aspect of the series. We loved working with this idea of creating by drawing, as it allowed us to push artistic boundaries and try new techniques. All these possibilities converge in Ewilans imagination and the pathways she navigates as she draws and designs these creations. The worlds she travels through are described as mindscapes by Pierre Bottero, and being able to give a strong visual identity to these worlds was key to achieving what we wanted for this adaptation.

Saget, Ceccarelli, Vaire, and Stehr all acknowledge that this interpretation of Botteros novels is their own and Andartas. As with many fan-based communities, the production encountered some reluctance during development, but Saget addressed these challenges from the very beginning.

As soon as the adaptation was announced, I started receiving messages and comments on social media. People were genuinely interested and very excited about the project. The very first person I hired was a communications manager, because I was spending entire days replying and interacting with the community. As a young production company, we found it quite easy to bring fans on board through dedicated social media channels, without much secrecy in our development process. Of course, not everyone was happy with our take on Botteros world, both narratively and visually, but we stayed in touch with our community, explaining our choices and bringing them along on the journey. In the end, I think it paid off.

The numbers appear to support Sagets view. The series has now generated more than 1 million streams across France.tv, Okoo, and YouTube, alongside over 210,000 hours of total watch time, underscoring strong engagement with its serialized format (averaging around 120,000 views per episode). Ewilans Quest also became the best launch ever on Okoo. On linear TV, the series reached 1.6 million cumulative viewers across two Saturday broadcasts on France 4, further confirming its broad audience appeal across platforms.

Following this streaming success, France Televisions aired the entire season in two parts on back-to-back prime-time Saturday evenings, gathering large audiences on both occasions.

Its been a wonderful experience, shared Ceccarelli, and having such positive feedback from fans, but also from audiences beyond the usual animation buffs, is heartwarming. Even among my family and friends, Ive received praise from people of all ages, which I did not expect at all. It moved me a lot to feel this recognition for our teams work.

Fans are now eager to see more, but Saget remains cautious.

I see the success and the appetite, but I also see what it took to get us here. Before rushing ahead, we want to consolidate and expand the reach of this first season and find the right ways to move forward.

Andarta is handling international sales for Ewilans Quest, and discussions are underway about an English translation of the original books before the series itself is translated into English. The first season has already been sold to Italian public broadcaster Rai, with an Italian dub currently underway.

There is definitely space in the world for a French, children-aimed Lord of the Rings, the team emphasized. Ewilans universe is rich and complex, and it has the capacity to open discussions between children and adults about their own struggles and challenges in our stressful times. Camille/Ewilan begins as a lonely, insecure teenager who slowly becomes more self-assured and confident in her own abilities, without anyone to show her the way. She is a very strong and sincere figure, and she can definitely appeal to a global audience.
Namibia-based Cheetah Cement is at risk of ceasing operations and retrenching around 87 employees by mid-April 2026, following sustained financial losses and ongoing market challenges.

According to a notice issued to the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN), the company has struggled to remain viable due to weak domestic demand and restrictions on cement exports to key regional markets, including Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Cheetah Cement, owned by Whale Rock Cement, has reportedly operated at a loss for several years. The company has also cited regulatory challenges, including the rejection of a proposed merger with Schwenk Namibia, as contributing factors to its current position. It operates the 1.2Mta Otjiwarongo integrated plant.

The Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) blocked the merger on competition grounds, stating that it could have resulted in a near-monopoly in the domestic cement market. Whale Rock had argued that the transaction would have supported operational continuity and reduced the risk of job losses.

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Consultations between the company, government and labour representatives are currently ongoing. The MUN has indicated that it will seek alternatives to prevent large-scale job losses, with negotiations expected to begin shortly.

If confirmed, the closure would remove a key producer from Namibias cement sector, with potential implications for domestic supply balance and regional trade flows.
The General Company for Cement Industry and Building Materials (Omaran) has signed a 15-year investment agreement with Emirati firm QZ to rehabilitate and operate the grinding mills at the Tartous Cement plant. This strategic partnership aims to boost local production and modernise industrial infrastructure without straining the state budget.

General Manager Muhammad Fadila stated that the contract focuses on reactivating critical production stages using private-sector expertise while maintaining state ownership. QZ was selected for its technical prowess and financial capacity to introduce modern technologies and strict occupational safety standards.

A core component of the project is its economic impact. By importing clinker for local grinding, the initiative will stabilise market prices and reduce reliance on imports. Furthermore, it is expected to generate approximately 300 direct jobs and over 2000 indirect opportunities, prioritising the training and employment of local personnel, reports Levant 24.

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Beyond production, the agreement emphasises environmental compliance and the restoration of idle assets. This collaboration marks a significant step in Syrias industrial recovery, blending international investment with national resources to stimulate long-term economic growth and market stability.
CommonSpirit - Memorial Hospital will award nearly $220,000 in grants this Thursday to six local nonprofit organizations to improve community health."The funds will support local residents by improving access to affordable health insurance and health care/access to health care providers, mental/behavioral health and resources, transportation, and prevention, education and health literacy," officials said.Recipients of the grant funds are AIM Center, Girls, Inc., Kidney Foundation, La Paz Chattanooga, Medical Foundation of Chattanooga and The Bethlehem Center. Representatives from each organization will be on hand for the presentations.
A kayker who was nearly drowned in a remote section of Little River Canyon on Saturday was rescued with the help of a highly skilled helicopter pilot and a rescuer who was dropped into the canyon and lifted back up.

Officials said the victim was safely recovered and provided medical care through a coordinated, multi-agency effort involving the Georgia State Patrol Aviation Division, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), and Cobb County Fire/Rescue technicians.

The Georgia State Patrol gave this account:

Sgt.

"Recognizing the urgency and complexity of the situation, GSP Aviation personnel rapidly mobilized and staged at the Kennesaw hangar. Two highly trained Cobb County Fire & Rescue technicians, along with crew chief TFC Nicholas Akerson, coordinated to execute a short-haul rescue operation. Sgt. Paul Wofford and TFC Akerson flew to a predetermined landing zone at a local fire station off Highway 78 in Adamsburg, Ala., where the aircraft was configured specifically for short-haul rescue capabilities.

"Once equipped properly, Sgt. Wofford, TFC Akerson, and Cobb Rescue Technician Mike Barnes departed for the incident site to conduct a precision short-haul basket extraction. The rescue zone was located deep within a narrow ravine, with towering terrain on both sides.

"Despite these challenges, GSP Aviation executed the operation with a high degree of precision and professionalism. The rescue technician was carefully lowered to the victims position along the riverbank, where immediate stabilization efforts were initiated. Both the victim and the rescue technician were simultaneously hoisted from the ravine in a controlled short-haul extraction.

"The aircraft then transported both individuals to a nearby landing zone, where emergency medical personnel were staged and prepared to provide advanced care. The coordinated efforts of all responding agencies resulted in the safe and efficient recovery of the victim, highlighting the effectiveness of multi-agency collaboration and the critical role of aviation resources in remote rescue operations."
Chinese FM urges peace talks in phone call with Iranian FM

Xinhua) 08:12, March 25, 2026

BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday that all hotspot issues should be resolved through dialogue and negotiation, rather than through the use of force.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the urge in a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi at the latter's request.

Araghchi briefed Wang on the latest developments in the regional situation. Thanking China for providing emergency humanitarian assistance, he said the Iranian people are more united in resisting foreign aggression and safeguarding the country's sovereignty and independence.

Iran is committed to achieving a comprehensive end to the war, rather than merely a temporary ceasefire, Araghchi said. The Strait of Hormuz is open to all and ships can pass safely, but countries at war with Iran are not under consideration, he said.

He expressed the hope that measures taken by all parties would help de-escalate the situation rather than intensify the conflict, expecting China to continue playing a positive role in promoting peace and ending the war.

For his part, Wang reiterated China's principled position, saying that dialogue is always better than continued fighting. This serves the interests of Iran and its people, and also reflects the common aspiration of the international community, he said.

Wang called on all parties to the conflict to seize every opportunity and window for peace, and start peace talks as soon as possible.

China will continue to uphold an objective and impartial stance, oppose violations of other countries' sovereignty, actively promote peace and ceasefire, and work for regional peace and stability, Wang said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Middle Valley Church of God, at 1703 Thrasher Pike in Hixson, Tennessee, announced that Pastor Mitch McClure will be preaching on Sunday, Palm Sunday, in the 10:30 a.m. service. His topic will be "Who Does Jesus See In His Mirror?" The purpose of the sermon series is to help all believers understand their relationship with God and how he helps them be the person he wants them to be in life and eternity. It includes a call for self-examination.This will be the seventh part of the sermon series to encourage believers to realize their need to know their relationship with God and to be determined to draw closer to God.The focuse for Palm Sunday will be to remind the hearer that Jesus Christ see the process from creation to crucifixion in his mirror. All are welcome to participate.





Each Sunday at 5:30 p.m., the church conducts a prayer meeting that is open to all who wish to participate and is designed to encourage prayer. Information on various methods of prayer will be shared with participants. The goal of this prayer meeting is to encourage believers to seek God through prayer. All are welcome to participate.





Each Wednesday at 7 p.m., an interactive, interesting, and informative Bible Study will be held in the church auditorium. Pastor Mitch McClure is currently leading this Bible study on the life of David. All are welcome to participate. The goal of this Bible study is to encourage believers to study the Bible and discuss with others, making the Scripture their guide.





Middle Valley Church of God is a community focused church with various ministries in the Middle Valley area and in Cusuna, Honduras. The community is welcome to join in times of worship and community service. MVCOG has been ministering in the Middle Valley Community since 1946 from the same location. If you have questions, please contact the church office at 423 843-1539.
The Chattanooga Area Food Bank, in response to rapidly rising gas and food costs, will be distributing fresh food boxes to eligible families this Saturday from 8-11 a.m. at Dalton United Methodist Church, 500 S. Thornton Ave. in Dalton.The contents of the boxes may vary, but are likely to include pantry staples, fresh produce, meat and other groceries. Food boxes will be available to Georgia families who qualify for food assistance determined by income and household size. To determine eligibility, families experiencing food insecurity are encouraged to show up and complete a short form.Supplies are limited and expected to run out early."In the event of rain, we will continue distribution," officials said. "In the event of more severe weather, we will reschedule and notify the community."
The Carnegie Hero Fund is honored to recognize 18 individuals, including a 10-year-old boy who saved a 6-year-old from falling off a chairlift at a ski resort in Nellysford, Virginia; a 33-year-old teacher who helped rescue a 15-year-old student set on fire at a school in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; and a 54-year-old man who rescued the pilot of a sinking floatplane that flipped over and crashed in a lake in Bellevue, Washington.



All the men and women recognized today risked serious injury or death, or were killed, saving or attempting to save others in acts of extraordinary heroism. This is the Hero Funds first award announcement for 2026.



Each individual will receive the Carnegie Medal, North Americas highest honor for civilian heroism.

Among those saved by this quarters Carnegie Medal recipients were eleven children, including an 11-year-old girl rescued from a burning vehicle by a 36-year-old man following an accident in Midway, Ga., and a 6-year-old boy rescued from drowning by a 36-year-old woman in Ottawa, Ontario.



The Carnegie Medal is given throughout the U.S. and Canada to those who enter extreme danger while saving or attempting to save the lives of others. With this announcement, the Carnegie Medal has been awarded to 10,563 individuals since the inception of the Pittsburgh-based Fund in 1904.

Each of the recipients or their survivors will receive a financial grant. Throughout the 122 years since the Fund was established by industrialist-philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, $46 million has been given in one-time grants, scholarship aid, death benefits, and continuing assistance.



The recipients are:

Sadia Khan Ottawa, Ontario

Matt Vasey Bellevue, Washington

Volodymyr Zubko Mountain View, California

Gulson Elve* Birchwood, Tennessee

Jason Leary Washington, North Carolina

Major Metzger Virginia Beach, Virginia

Jeffery Edward Brady* Yuma, Arizona

Mark Bryson* Lakeland, Florida

Ryan Blair Fairview, Michigan



Brian K. Patterson Ludowici, Georgia

Esperanza Gutierrez* Sevierville, Tennessee

Matthew Atchley* Erie, Pennsylvania

Anderson Chase Childers* Dallas, Georgia

Judd Bronson Windsor, Colorado

Sean Hayes Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Samuel Hardin Adcock Columbia, Tennessee

James Alan Garner Columbia, Tennessee

Matthew Lubieniecki Ogden Dunes, Indiana



*Died in heroic act



To nominate someone for the Carnegie Medal, complete an online nomination form at carnegiehero.org or write to the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, 436 Seventh Ave., Suite 1101, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15219.



More information on the Carnegie Medal and the history of the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission can be found at carnegiehero.org. Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/carnegiehero, Instagram:

@carnegiehero, and Twitter: @carnegie_hero.



Sadia Khan

A 6-year-old boy was playing on a rocky bank of the Rideau River at Hogs Back Park on June 30, 2024, in Ottawa, Ontario, when he slipped and fell into the rushing water. He was swept into some rapids as he struggled to remain afloat. Along the rocky riverbank nearby was researcher and Ottawa resident Sadia Khan, 36. Upon seeing the boy being swept downstream, she immediately lowered herself in the water before she waded and swam about 10 feet in chin-deep water until she was able to grasp the boy under his arm. She struggled to keep him above water as the current continued to pull them. Khan slammed into various rocks and submerged several times. She attempted to dig her feet into the rocks at the bottom of the river but was unable to maintain a foothold until she and the boy were about 300 feet down river. There, Khan wedged her feet between riverbed rocks and grabbed onto a dry rock above the surface. She then pushed the boy up onto the rock before pulling herself up next to him. The boy sat in Khans lap atop the rock until first-responders arrived. At the scene, paramedics evaluated the boy, who was cold and suffered a cut on his arm. Khan suffered multiple cuts on her legs, back, arms, and feet. She went to the hospital a week later and was prescribed to undergo long-term physiotherapy for pain in her lower body. More than a year later, Khan was still experiencing hip and lower back pain.



Matt Vasey

A floatplane piloted by Anthony L. Jurcan, 80, was flying over Lake Sammamish in Bellevue, Wa.,

on Sept. 15, 2023, when it flipped over and crashed more than a half-mile from land. Jurcan was trapped upside down inside the submerged cabin, strapped into the pilots seat underwater, while his passenger, his stepson, managed to escape and was pulled by a boater onto his boat. Technology executive Matt Vasey, 54, from Bellevue, was working at his lakefront house when he was alerted to the crash by his neighbor. Vasey jumped into his ski boat and raced to the plane when he was told by the boater that the pilot remained inside. Vasey then jumped off his boat into the cold, deep water and swam 60 feet to the plane before submerging to reach inside the partially open canopy. Unable to move Jurcan, Vasey resurfaced to get a breath and dived back down. He then forced open the canopy with his hands and feet. Vasey climbed inside, unbuckled Jurcans lap belt, and pulled him to the surface. He moved an unresponsive Jurcan, who was heavier than him, to a wing of the plane and started CPR. Another boat arrived and the passengers helped pull Jurcan aboard the boat. With both men aboard, the boat raced to shore where Vasey and others performed CPR until paramedics took over. Jurcan ultimately succumbed from injuries incurred in the crash and died at the scene. He did not drown. Vasey suffered cuts on his hands and face but did not seek medical treatment.



Volodymyr Zubko

On Sept. 19, 2023, a 37-year-old man intentionally sped his vehicle into a Freeport, Ny., marina,

crashing through a bulkhead and plunging into a canal. As the vehicle began to sink, the man submerged upside-down and remained unconscious near his vehicle. Software engineer Volodymyr Zubko, 37, who, at the time of the rescue, had arrived in the country four days prior from Ukraine and was in his house across from the marina and heard the crash. He ran outside where he saw a mans leg sticking out of the water. Zubko jumped into the canal and swam 80 feet to the man where he grabbed both of his legs to pull him away from the sinking SUV. He then slipped an arm under the mans arm and swam toward a Carnegie Hero Fund Commission Mar. 23, award announcement

dock. Zubko towed the man underwater to waiting first-responders and police who pulled the man onto the dock. They started CPR, but the floating dock flipped over, dumping Zubko, the driver, and all first responders into the water. At that point, the man regained consciousness and attempted to drown himself by dunking his head. He fought first-responders before they eventually pulled him onto the dock again. The man was taken to a hospital and treated for injuries from the crash as well as swallowing water. Zubko was not injured.



Gulson Elve, deceased

While wading in the shallow water of a pool near the base of a Signal Mountain, Tennessee, overflow

dam on Apr. 28, 2024, Greffania Merilus, 23, slipped off algae-covered rocks into water, 6 feet deep. In Merilus hiking party was student Gulson Elve, 20, from Birchwood, Tennessee, who reacted

immediately and moved to the waters edge. Elve waded toward Merilus before jumping into the

deeper water and reached Merilus. He attempted to move back toward wadable water with Merilus,

but she became panic-stricken, flailing, and grasped him. Within seconds, both submerged and did not resurface. One of their friends called 911 and police responded to a trailhead about a mile from the pool. Police reached the dam and entered the water about 20 minutes after the incident occurred

where at that point they retrieved Merilus. Police attempted CPR, but were unsuccessful in reviving

Merilus. She drowned. Elve was retrieved from the water by a dive team about an hour-and-a-half after his attempted rescue. He also drowned.



Jason Leary

After floodwater in Spring Hope, North Carolina, swept a minivan to the edge of a ravine that

overflowed its bank and flooded a nearby highway on Aug. 6, 2025, its driver Lottie R. Alston, 24, stood on the frame of the vehicle's front passenger window with her stepfather in the drivers seat. On-duty police lieutenant Jason Leary, 52, from Washington, Nc., had responded to the highway and

saw Alston holding onto the vehicle in the water. Leary used his radio to request fire rescue personnel when he was alerted by an officer that Alston had fallen into the water. Seeing her taken downstream by the swift current, Leary gave the officer his radio and ran toward the waters edge. He jumped into the ravine still wearing his uniform and boots. Leary came within 5 feet of a completely submerged Alston and attempted to locate her when he, too, submerged. He felt around for her in the water but was unsuccessful and taken downstream by the swift current about 90 feet. As he was carried, his body struck a downed tree that extended across the ravine about 5 feet below the waters surface. Leary tried to climb over it but could not, so he rolled his body so that the force of the water pushed him under it. He resurfaced and was taken another 90 feet, where he saw an oak tree on the bank and grasped it. The water repeatedly splashed his head and went into his mouth, causing him to have difficulty breathing and to let go of the tree. Leary was taken downstream to a point about 300 feet from the van, where he grasped trees on the bank. He braced his legs on one of the trees for stability and used his flashlight to signal for help. A police sergeant and fire personnel responded to the opposite bank where they threw him a rescue rope. Leary grasped it and they pulled him from the water to safety. Alston and her stepfather, who had at some point exited the vehicle, were later found as water receded. They both had drowned. Leary suffered scratches and bruises to his ribs. He recovered.



Major Metzger



At a ski resort in Nellysford, Virginia, on Jan. 26, 2025, 6-year-old Bryce Rader was loading onto a four-person bench seat on a chairlift when he had difficulty and was sliding off the seat. Bryce was one of four children on the seat, including 10-year-old Major Metzger from Virginia Beach. Major was seated immediately beside Bryce and their sisters. The lift began to ascend as Bryce continued to struggle to sit safely with his heavy gear that included a helmet and skis. Major grasped onto him and attempted to pull him onto the seat. By the time workers were alerted to bring the lift to a complete stop, Bryce had fallen entirely off the seat. At that point, the bottom of the seat was about 16 feet above the rugged, sloped ground, and Major was leaning forward and down. He continued to hold Bryces arms with both of his gloved hands while wearing a helmet and skis of his own until a ski patrol arrived with a safety mat. They stood below the seat and advised Major to let Bryce go after he dangled precariously for about four minutes during the incident. Bryce fell down to the pad, bounced off it, and suffered a small bump on his head. Medical staff evaluated Bryce and he did not require additional treatment. He recovered. Major rode the chairlift to the top of the ski run and offloaded with the girls. His arms were sore and he was shaken. He did not require medical treatment.



Jeffery Edward Brady, deceased

During a family outing on the Colorado River near Martinez Lake, Arizona, on July 5, 2025, a 10-year-old boy entered deeper water from a nearby submerged sandbar and struggled to swim. He soon was followed by his 12-year-old brother and he, too, had difficulty when he tried to help his brother. Also in the boys party was 51-year-old manager Jeffery Edward Brady from Yuma, Arizona, who was on a boat with his partner, the boys aunt. The boat was anchored on the sandbar where Brady heard calls for help and left the boat to the deeper water. Brady submerged as he struggled to keep both boys above the surface. Bradys twin brother and the brothers partner soon joined them in the river. A passing boat stopped and the boys, along with the partner, all boarded it. By then, Brady had submerged and did not resurface. His brother dived to search the immediate area, but could not find him and exited the river. First-responders evaluated the boys and they did not require medical treatment. Brady was recovered downstream hours later. He had drowned.



Mark Bryson, deceased

In shallow water about 20 feet from shore in Daytona Beach, Florida, on June 2, 2023, Roland P. Bryson and Maih L. Gonzalez, both 11, were with Maihs mother Andrea L. Rogers, 41, when the sand beneath their feet gave way and a strong rip current pulled them farther from shore. Rolands father and construction worker Mark Bryson, 42, from Lakeland, Florida, was on the beach when he heard them shout for help. He immediately ran to the shoreline and swam to reach the three of them. They remained together and were pulled to a point about 300 feet from shore. Rogers held Roland and Maih by their wrists as Bryson approached. She pushed them both to him, but Roland soon grasped her wrist and she no longer saw Bryson or Maih. At some point, Bryson had submerged, and Maih let the rip current take her as she was pushed out of the current toward shore. Roland, too, escaped the rip current and was pushed toward shore. Rogers had lost consciousness and awoke in shallow water where others pulled her to safety. Another man in the party was nearby and had heard a scream for help. Using a surfboard, he swam out to Bryson. By that point, Bryson was facedown in the water. The man positioned Bryson on the board and returned to shore with difficulty before reaching a sandbar. Lifeguards responded to take Bryson from him and then brought him to the beach. Rogers ingested water and was treated at the hospital. She was detained to have her heart monitored and was released after five days. She recovered. Roland also ingested water and was checked by paramedics at the scene and at the hospital, but did not require further treatment. He recovered. Maih was uninjured. Attempts to revive Bryson were unsuccessful. He had drowned.



Ryan Blair

While swimming with friends in the Au Sable River in Mio, Michigan, on Aug. 1, 2024, a 17-year-old boy struggled to stay afloat in the turbulent water that emerged from the powerhouse of the Mio Dam. One of the friends with him tried to pull him from the water while another friend called 911. Responding to the call was on-duty deputy sheriff Ryan Blair, 36, from Fairview, Michigan. Blair drove to the scene, ran to the river, and he dived in where he swam about 100 feet to reach the boy. As Blair tried to help, the boy grabbed him and dragged him under multiple times. Blair wrapped a rescue disc rope around the boy and held onto the end of the rope as he towed him toward the end of a concrete pier. He submerged several times as the boy fought to keep his head above water and the rope became entangled around Blairs legs and arms. Near the pier, a fisherman and two firefighters in wadable water formed a human chain to pull Blair and the boy to shore. Once there, Blair performed sternum rubs to revive the boy and he vomited water. The boy was taken to a hospital and treated for symptoms related to near drowning. Blair was treated at a hospital for inhaling water and near drowning. He was off work for two weeks while he underwent breathing treatments. He recovered and returned to duty.



Brian K. Patterson

Following a collision on a highway in Midway, Georgia, on July 8, 2022, 11-year-old Alexa Tschantz was trapped in the rear seat of her mothers burning sedan. The vehicle had collided with a dump truck and struck its fuel tank that caused both vehicles to burst into flames. Driving on the same road and witnessing the accident was 36-year-old aircraft mechanic Brian K. Patterson from Ludowici, Georgia. Patterson and his teenage son exited their vehicle and ran to the sedan where they escorted Alexas mother to safety about 50 feet from the vehicle. She told Patterson that Alexa remained in the back seat and he ran back to the burning vehicle. He was able to see Alexas left arm from being illuminated by flames amid thick smoke in the passenger cab. Patterson then leaned into the vehicle to his shoulders, grasped Alexas left arm, and then pulled her across the seat, out of the vehicle. At that point, he dragged her to safety and removed his shirt in an attempt to smother flames burning on Alexas clothing. A bystander arrived with a fire extinguisher and successfully helped Patterson extinguish the flames. Patterson and his son then stayed with Alexa until emergency personnel arrived to transport her to a nearby hospital. Alexa suffered fractures to each of her orbital bones and burns that covered 70 percent of her body. She spent about three months in the hospital recovering from her injuries. Patterson suffered singing to hairs on his arms and face, but did not seek medical attention.

Esperanza Gutierrez, deceased

On Dec. 30, 2024, in Sevierville, Tennessee, 8-year-old Mateo Gutierrez, who was severely autistic and nonverbal, was trapped in his second-floor bedroom as a fire began to spread up the stairs and filled the house with smoke. The fire had originated from the first floor after a kerosene heater overturned in the living room. Mateo was originally with his 15-year-old sister Esperanza Gutierrez when he became frightened by the blaze and ran upstairs to his bedroom. Esperanza, her older brother, and their mothers friend, who lived in the house, had all exited through a side porch off the kitchen. Esperanza asked where Mateo was and realized he was not with them. She ran back inside the burning house and upstairs to Mateos bedroom. The fire then spread up the stairs and flames engulfed the bedroom. Firefighters later found Mateo and Esperanza deceased in Mateos bedroom.



Matthew Atchley, deceased

After attempting to retrieve a flotation ring that drifted away from the shore of Lake Anna in Bumpass,

Virginia, on May 25, 2024, 14-year-old Tyler D. Atchley began to struggle to stay afloat in the murky,

deep water about 100 feet from the shore. His father and quality engineer Matthew Atchley, 41, from

Erie, Pennsylvania, was alerted by Tylers sister when he responded to the shore. Atchley saw his son struggling in the water and swam out toward him. He reached a point about 10 feet from where Tyler was last seen. Tyler had submerged and Atchley repeatedly submerged in an attempt to locate him.



Atchley then started to struggle and submerged again. He did not resurface. Others in the party

obtained life jackets and goggles and entered the water to try to locate Atchley and Tyler, but limited

visibility in the murky water beneath the surface impeded their efforts. Police and rescue divers arrived to find both Atchley and Tyler. They located them submerged in the cove. They had drowned.



Anderson Chase Childers, deceased

A group of people were caught in a longshore current and a strong rip current in the Atlantic Ocean near Pawleys Island, Sc., on July 13, 2025, and could be heard calling for help. Several swimmers

were stranded in the crosscurrent about 150 feet from the beach and no lifeguards were stationed. On the beach, 38-year-old contractor Anderson Chase Childers from Dallas, Ga., was with his wife and three young children when he heard the calls for help. Childers immediately responded and ran into the ocean. He swam out and, ultimately, reached a point beyond some people in the crosscurrent. Police concluded that Childers might have perceived another person was in danger. Another man reacted to Childers urgency and also left the beach to swim out. When the man later reached Childers, he was then unresponsive. The man attempted to tow Childers, but they separated in the rough surf. All of the struggling swimmers safely returned to shore, along with the man who had reached Childers. Police, firefighters, and the Coast Guard then searched for Childers. He was later found after he drifted a considerable distance from where he was last seen. He had drowned.



Judd Bronson

Near a partially ice-covered pond on Jan. 27, 2025, in Windsor, Colorado, Tara Vreeland, 41, was walking her two golden retriever dogs when one of the dogs ran out onto the ice after geese. The dog then fell into a 45-foot diameter area of open water about 150 feet from the bank. Vreeland ran onto the ice after the dog, and while on her stomach attempting to retrieve it from the frigid water, her other dog jumped onto her back, causing both her and the second dog to break through the ice. Windsor resident Judd Bronson, 52, chiropractor, was walking on a nearby trail when he heard faint calls for help, then moans, and saw the two dogs and Vreeland struggling to stay afloat. Bronson removed his winter coat and jumped over a short, barbed-wired fence near the walking trail to gather three large sticks. He jumped back over the fence and ran to the edge of the pond, at some point calling out for a bystander to call 911. Bronson began to walk approximately 75 feet out onto the ice. As the ice became thinner, Bronson proceeded to get down on his stomach, using the sticks underneath him to help distribute his weight, and crawled the remaining 75 feet to the unfrozen section of the pond. After realizing that Vreeland was unresponsive and unable to grab onto the stick he was holding out to her, Bronson hooked the stick into the hood of her parka and pulled her toward him. The dogs followed, and while holding onto Vreeland with one arm, Bronson was able to pull both dogs atop the ice. Bronson then was able to repeatedly slide backward a few feet while pulling Vreeland until she was completely out of the water. He dragged her across the ice to the bank where first-responders were waiting. Vreeland was taken to the hospital with a body temperature of 83 degrees. She recovered. Bronson was exhausted and cold as a result of the rescue but was otherwise uninjured.



Sean Hayes

Walking in the hallway of a high school between class periods in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on Sept. 5, 2024, a 15-year-old girl was approached by another student when they doused her with a bottle full of gasoline. The student then used a lighter to set her on fire and flames quickly spread along the girls head and torso. 33-year-old teacher Sean Hayes, from Saskatoon, was in the hallway when the attack occurred. He immediately instructed a co-worker to call 911 and instructed the girl to move to the ground. Hayes moved to his hands and knees beside the girl to try to roll her, but was impeded by her backpack. He then rocked her back and forth to extinguish the flames but that, too, was ineffective. Hayes then attempted to pat out the flames using his hands and realized the flames had jumped to his own clothing. He stood and pressed himself against a set of nearby lockers in an effort to extinguish the flames on him before removing his overshirt and T-shirt. Hayes then used the overshirt to pat out the flames on the girls body before requesting a co-workers shirt after Hayes overshirt had been damaged by the flames. The co-worker handed the shirt to Hayes and he used it to continue patting out the flames. A school police officer arrived after most of the flames were extinguished and relieved Hayes. Flames spread on the hallway floor and Hayes retrieved a discarded fire extinguisher that he used to extinguish puddles of flaming gasoline. Others tended to the girl and emergency personnel transported both the girl and Hayes to a nearby hospital. The girl suffered burns to 40 percent of her body and was hospitalized for about three months. She recovered. Hayes suffered burns to the left side of his body, including his face, neck, side, and hand. He, too, recovered.



Samuel Hardin Adcock and James Alan Garner

On May 23, 2025, Colin McNary, 25, who was severely autistic, ran into the Duck River at a boat ramp in Chickasaw Trace Park in Columbia, Tn., and was swept downstream by the current. On the south side of the boat ramp, auto assembly plant tool coordinator Samuel Hardin Adcock, 26, and network engineer James Alan Garner, 41, both from Columbia, were with Garners family when they saw McNary get carried downstream. Adcock immediately waded out to the channel and began swimming freestyle downstream to try to catch up to McNary. Garner instructed his two children to leave the water and go to their car. He entered the water and swam downstream to catch up to McNary and Adcock. About 1,000 feet downstream, McNary was swept into a calmer area of the river, where Adcock caught up with him and grabbed him. McNary struggled to stay afloat and submerged Adcock, who pushed McNary away to get air. Adcock stood on an underwater tree limb and grabbed McNary before he pushed him toward the riverbank. Garner had then arrived and positioned himself behind McNary. The two men pushed and pulled McNary to a large tree root on the riverbank, where they waited for first-responders. The riverbank had a steep, rocky ledge that prevented them from climbing up into the woods. Garner swam upstream about 120 feet to find an alternative route to climb out of the river but was unable to locate one and swam back to the others. Garner kept McNary calm until a rescue boat could take him back to the boat ramp, where his parents waited. An ambulance took him to a hospital. The boat then returned to pick up Adcock and Garner. McNary, Adcock, and Garner were tired and cold but not injured. Adcock and his Garner were still wet when they later visited the hospital to check on McNary.



Matthew Lubieniecki

At a marina dock in Portage, In., on July 6, 2025, a 38-year-old man was in electrified water caused

by a faulty connection between his boat and the marinas power source in water about 6.5 feet deep

and about 3 feet from the dock. The man had jumped in to help his dog that had slipped from his boat into the water and was in obvious distress. He felt a shock and alerted others, including Matthew Lubieniecki, 52, assistant manager, from Ogden Dunes, Indiana. Upon hearing the man shout and knowing he was being electrocuted, Lubieniecki approached the edge of the dock. He bent over, used one hand to brace himself on the dock surface, and extended his other arm down to the man. Just above the water, the man had his forearms raised and Lubieniecki grasped his right hand to pull him up onto the dock. With his wife, Lubieniecki removed the dog from the water and placed it on the dock. The man was taken to the hospital by an ambulance and it was verified that he was electrocuted. He was treated and released. His dog also survived. Lubieniecki suffered a bite wound on his left hand from the dog as he pulled it from the water and also sustained an injury to his left arm.
An indictment has been unsealed charging a married Hixson couple and their associate with a scheme to defraud the IRS out of more than $700,000.

Authorities gave this account:

Tara Abraham and Tzephanyah Abraham, of Hixson, and Fola Mborika Will I Am El, of Killeen, Tex., were members of a purported tribal organization called the League of Indian Nations of North America. According to the indictment, beginning in approximately August 2020, Tara Abraham (a/k/a Tara Lyn Pruitt), Tzephanyah Abraham (a/k/a Steven Williams, a/k/a Chief Tall Bear), and Fola Mborika Will I Am El (a/k/a Paulette Williams) conspired together to file a fraudulent income tax return on behalf of a purported trust called Mother Earth Trust and then launder the resulting refund proceeds by purchasing a house and two vehicles.

As part of the scheme, Tara Abraham allegedly filed a false trust tax return for Mother Earth Trust seeking a refund of more than $700,000 based on false purported payments to the IRS of more than $1.1 million. After the IRS issued a refund check of $710,621.58 to the trust, Fola Mborika Will I Am El allegedly deposited the check into a Texas bank account. The indictment alleges that Tzephanyah Abraham then used more than $560,000 of the refund proceeds to purchase a house in Hixson where he subsequently lived with Tara Abraham, as well as two vehicles, a pickup truck and a minivan.

Finally, the indictment alleges that Tzephanyah Abraham owned and operated a commercial cleaning business for which he received income each year from 2020 to 2024. Even though he was required to file an individual tax return, however, Tzephanyah Abraham willfully failed to file tax returns for each of those years.

The defendants are each charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Tara Abraham is also charged with one count of filing a false tax return. Tzephanyah Abraham is also charged with two counts of money laundering and five counts of willful failure to file tax returns.

If convicted, the defendants face up to five years in prison for the conspiracy charge. Tara Abraham faces up to three years in prison for the false tax return charge. Tzephanyah Abraham faces up to 10 years in prison for each count of money laundering and up to one year in prison for each count of failure to file a tax return. The defendants also face a period of supervised release, restitution, monetary penalties, and forfeiture of the house and vehicles. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Detroit Field Office made the announcement.

IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

Trial Attorneys Melissa Siskind and Alexis Hughes of the Criminal Divisions Tax Section are prosecuting the case.

IRS-CI is the law enforcement arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft and more. IRS-CI special agents are the only federal law enforcement agents with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code, obtaining a 90 percent federal conviction rate. The agency has 19 field offices located across the U.S. and 14 attache posts abroad.
photo by Chattanooga Fire Department photo by Chattanooga Fire Department photo by Chattanooga Fire Department Previous Next

Chattanooga firefighters worked quickly to stop a commercial fire from spreading at a local factory Wednesday afternoon.

At 1:20 p.m., Blue Shift companies responded to Gestamps plant on Jersey Pike and found smoke showing from the back of the facility. All employees had been evacuated.

Crews were dealing with an exterior fire that was moving interior via the plants filtration system. They got it under control and then tackled different hot spots while also checking for any extension. The building was ventilated in order to remove smoke.

There were no injuries.

This was a labor intensive response with at least 1,200 feet of supply line laid from the hydrant on Jersey Pike to the fire scene at the back of the building. Relay pumping was needed to boost water pressure.

Part of Jersey Pike in front of the plant was temporarily shut down for the supply line to support firefighting operations.

Officials said, "We appreciate the assistance of Gestamp officials as they provided support to fire officials on the scene."

Engine 6, Ladder 6, Engine 8, Squad 7, Ladder 7, Ladder 21, Engine 21, Battalion 1, and Battalion 2 responded, along with CPD and HCEMS.
The VTU Group announces the appointment of Dr. Mickael Planasch as the new Managing Director of VTU Engineering Deutschland GmbH. In his new role, Mickael Planasch, together with his colleague Hubert Apfelmaier, will be responsible for the strategic and operational management of the Group's German engineering business.

Dr. Mickael Planasch brings extensive expertise and a proven track record in the transformation and operational development of engineering companies. With almost 20 years of experience in the process industry, he has held various management positions. Most recently, Dr. Planasch was Head of Engineering at Kraftanlagen Energies & Services SE, Business Unit Industry. At the same time, he was Managing Director of ECM - Ingenieur-Unternehmen fur Energie- und Umwelttechnik GmbH and Chairman of the Management Board of the Romanian company IPIP SA.

During his career, Dr. Planasch successfully led companies through transformation phases and contributed significantly to the economic stabilization and sustainable growth of the organizations. During his tenure, he achieved significant increases in sales and earnings within just a few years, expanded the customer base in a targeted manner and strategically developed the service portfolio.

Under his leadership, new business models were developed and business areas opened up, particularly in the area of future-oriented technologies such as hydrogen, CO2 capture and innovative approaches to decarbonizing industrial processes. His strong communication skills and determination contributed significantly to the further development of the company.

Born in Bruck an der Mur, Austria, Dr. Planasch began his career as a research assistant at Graz University of Technology. This was followed by positions as project leader and project manager at Borealis Agrolinz Melamine GmbH and Clariant Produkte Deutschland GmbH. Dr. Mickael Planasch holds a doctorate and a diploma in process engineering from Graz University of Technology. He has been registered as a consulting engineer for the regulated industry in the field of process engineering since 2024.

With his proven leadership skills, expertise in change management and his ability to anchor operational excellence measures sustainably in organizations, he is ideally equipped to lead VTU Engineering Deutschland GmbH into a new phase of growth.

CEO Liam O'Neil commented: "Germany is an important cornerstone of VTU's long-term strategy and a market in which we have established a strong and respected position. Given Germany's central role in the reindustrialization of Europe, we see significant opportunities to build on this foundation and continue to grow together with our customers. As the industry adapts to geopolitical changes and increasing demands for resilience and sustainability, investment in both new and existing plants is increasing. VTU is well positioned to support this goal by combining technical excellence with practical implementation.

Mickael brings the right skill set to lead this next phase. With his strong technical background and years of experience in driving performance and transformation, he understands both our customers and our business. Together with our highly skilled team in Germany, we are confident about the next chapter of our growth and look forward to the role Germany will play in our overarching European goals."
The German industry for analytical, bioanalytical and laboratory technology (ABL) remains robust at the world's leading trade fair analytica, which will take place in Munich from March 24 to 27, 2026, even though the market environment has recently been challenging. According to the German industry association SPECTARIS, the 2025 financial year saw a slight decline.

The approximately 330 German manufacturers in the sector recently generated sales of around 11.2 billion euros (-0.6%). While domestic turnover fell to around 5.1 billion euros (-1.6%), international business remained stable at around 6.1 billion euros (+0.2%). German exports to EU countries increased by more than 5% in the first three quarters of 2025. However, exports to the industry's two most important target countries - the USA and China - fell by 10% and 6% respectively compared to the previous year.

Internationalization has contributed greatly to the success of companies in recent years: more than half of production (export ratio around 54%) is sold abroad. The industry employs around 52,500 people in total.

"Despite a challenging market environment, our industry remains robust. Analytical, bio and laboratory technology is an indispensable basis for innovations in life sciences, environmental analysis and many other future-oriented fields. analytica makes this innovative strength of the industry impressively visible," says Mathis Kuchejda, Chairman of Analytical, Biotechnology and Laboratory Technology at SPECTARIS.

For 2026, the majority of companies expect sales to rise again by around three to four percent. At the same time, the forecast remains subject to uncertainty. In particular, the potential economic impact of the current conflict in the Middle East - including the Iran conflict - is difficult to assess at present.

In the long term, the industry's prospects remain positive and the global market for the industry continues to grow. Experts expect growth of around five percent per year in the coming years. In addition to automation and robotics, the drivers of this development include increasing investment in life sciences, pharmaceutical research, environmental analysis and modern laboratory infrastructure.
blue activity a CleanTech water treatment company, founded in 2021, has closed a EUR 8.5 million seed funding round. The round was co-led by Wind Capital (Paris) and Venture Stars (Munich), with participation from Angel Invest (Berlin). Proceeds will be used to accelerate product development and scale commercial operations across European industrial markets.

Strong Investor Confidence in Sustainable Water Technology The fresh capital will enable blue activity to further develop and scale its innovative technology for the chemical-free and sustainable treatment of industrial evaporative cooling systems. In a market environment characterized by increasing cost pressure across the industrial sector, blue activitys solution delivers significant OPEX reductions  up to 15% in total cost of cooling water treatment  by reducing chemical consumption, minimizing maintenance requirements, and extending system lifetime.

At the same time, the technology provides a future-proof alternative to conventional biocide-based treatment programs. As wastewater discharge limits continue to tighten and regulatory scrutiny increases, traditional chemical approaches are becoming more expensive and compliance-intensive. blue activitys treatment method significantly reduces reliance on biocides, lowers discharge-related risks, and supports long-term regulatory compliance.

We are extremely pleased with the trust our investors have placed in us, strongly supporting our vision for a sustainable transformation of industrial cooling water treatment. This funding round is a decisive milestone in bringing our technology to market and making a real contribution to sustainable industry. With this funding, we will grow our team to 15 people, enabling us to better engage and support our customers.  Lars Havighorst, CEO of blue activity.

blue activity delivers a solution that combines ecological progress with economic value. This is precisely the combination driving industrial transformation. Such a high problem-solution fit in an Industry Tech company is almost unique and exactly what we as investors were looking for. - Raphael Budday, Principal Venture Stars.

"blue activity tackles one of the most underloved inefficiencies in industrial infrastructure. We backed the team because they combine deep domain expertise with a genuinely scalable solution  exactly the kind of climate-critical technology Wind was built to support.  Thierry Vandewalle, Founding Partner of Wind Capital.

International Investor Consortium Bets on CleanTech Innovation The internationally positioned investor consortium underscores the growing interest in forward-looking solutions in the field of industrial water treatment. With Venture Stars, Wind Capital and Angel Invest, blue activity has secured three strategically valuable partners that bring not only capital but also extensive expertise and networks in the European CleanTech and industrial markets.
Signs seen Oct. 31, 2025, in Tahlequah let Cherokee Nation citizens know how and where they can hunt and fish within the reservation.
Grace Jin (right), daughter of Zion Church founder Ezra Jin Mingri (left), appeared on Fox News Sunday to discuss the suppression of Christianity in China. | Screenshot: YouTube/ Fox News

Chinese authorities are reportedly escalating efforts to pressure legal teams defending detained leaders of Beijings Zion Church, raising new concerns about religious freedom and judicial fairness.

The prominent Protestant house church has been under scrutiny since its founder, Pastor Ezra Jin, was detained five months ago in a broader crackdown that prompted calls from U.S. officials for his release.

According to a report published Friday by The Wall Street Journal, authorities revoked the license of attorney Zhang Kai, who had been involved in the case. The report also stated that other lawyers connected to the churchs defense have faced similar measures, including license suspensions and verbal warnings from officials.

Church representatives condemned the actions in a letter, arguing that the treatment of the legal team amounts to a violation of justice and undermines the rule of law.

Grace Jin, the pastors daughter, said the pressure on attorneys could limit the familys ability to obtain information about his condition and effectively prepare a defense.

She currently resides in the Washington area and works as a U.S. Senate staffer. Jins wife, Chunli Liu, has lived in the United States since 2018 with their three children, all of whom are American citizens.

Jin, also known as Jin Mingri, was detained at his residence in Beihai, Guangxi Province, in October 2025. Around the same time, nearly 30 Zion Church leaders and members were either arrested or reported missing across several major cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen.

Eighteen individuals, including Jin, are currently being held at a detention center in Beihai, according to The Wall Street Journal. Since his detention, the family has lost contact with him, and it remains unclear whether formal charges have been filed.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has publicly called for Jins release, a position echoed by several members of Congress.

Jin, 56, established Zion Church in 2007 after studying at Fuller Theological Seminary in California. He came to faith following his involvement in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and later became a leading figure in Chinas house church movement.

Zion Church grew into one of the largest underground Protestant congregations in China before facing increased government pressure.

After authorities shut down its Beijing sanctuary in 2018, the church transitioned to online services and developed smaller gatherings nationwide. Its digital services reportedly drew up to 10,000 participants on platforms such as Zoom, YouTube and WeChat.

Although Chinas constitution formally guarantees religious freedom, the government recognizes only state-sanctioned religious organizations, including the Three-Self Patriotic Movement for Protestants and the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association for Catholics. Even these approved groups operate under strict oversight and control.

Millions of Christians in China continue to attend unregistered house churches, which frequently face harassment from authorities. Officials have also labeled some independent religious groups as cults and have encouraged citizens to report them.
A man is baptized at a campus of Georgia-based Bethlehem Church on Sunday, March 1, 2026. | Photo credit: Bethlehem Church

A multisite church in Georgia reported baptizing hundreds of individuals during a single weekend, describing the event as a spiritually driven moment rather than a long-planned initiative.

Bethlehem Church, which averages about 7,000 attendees across its campuses, said that exactly 400 people were baptized during services held over the weekend of March 1 at its three locations.

Church leaders said the baptisms took place during an ongoing eight-week sermon series focused on the Holy Spirit, led by Senior Pastor Jason Britt.

According to a statement shared with The Christian Post, the mass baptism was not planned months in advance but arose just days earlier as a prompting of the Holy Spirit that was placed on Pastor Jasons heart, a church spokesperson said.

Seeds had been planted for years, and that weekend was a harvest. What we saw was a culmination of many different points of connection: small groups, lunches and coffees, and meetings with staff members and other believers.

The spokesperson said Britt had been planning to preach a sermon on Acts 2, which describes the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon the early Church.

I felt prompted, and I read it with fresh eyes. It says, Repent and be baptized, and I felt like the Holy Spirit pressed that on me, Britt said, as quoted by the spokesperson. A Spirit-filled church is full of Spirit-sensitive people, and Spirit-sensitive people obey.

The recent event follows similar moments in the churchs history. In August 2021, 114 individuals were baptized in what the church also described as a spontaneous service, and more than 600 people were baptized throughout the previous year.

Church leaders emphasized that discipleship efforts continue after such events, with a focus on guiding new believers in their faith.

Regarding follow-up, the church staff member told CP that their heart is to always be walking with people through next steps and that we want to disciple them in the weeks moving forward.

We are offering multiple four-week follow-up groups, which many of those baptized have already started attending, with the goal of helping them understand their new identity in Christ, the spokesperson said.
Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. | Screenshot:YouTube/ SMU

The United Methodist Church and Southern Methodist University have reached a resolution that ends a years-long legal dispute over the universitys effort to separate from the denomination.

In a joint statement released last week, SMU and the UMC South Central Jurisdiction said 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 concludes litigation that began in 2019 and includes SMUs commitment to revise its Articles of Incorporation in a way that maintains its formal connection with the regional body of the denomination.

University leadership welcomed the outcome, expressing optimism about future collaboration.

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.

Founded in 1911, SMU is home to the Perkins School of Theology, one of 13 seminaries supported by the UMC through its Ministerial Education Fund.

The legal conflict emerged against the backdrop of longstanding divisions within the United Methodist Church over issues such as same-sex marriage and the ordination of LGBTQ clergy.

At a special General Conference session in February 2019, delegates adopted The Traditional Plan, which upheld existing restrictions on same-sex unions and clergy.

Later that year, SMUs Board of Trustees voted to assert that it, rather than the UMC, was the ultimate authority for the university, prompting the SCJC to file a lawsuit alleging unauthorized acts and arguing that it serves as the electing, controlling, and parental body of SMU.

Although a Texas district court initially ruled in favor of SMU in 2021, that decision was overturned in July 2023 by a three-judge panel of the Texas Fifth Court of Appeals, which emphasized the denominations longstanding ties to the university.

While the appeals court allowed the SCJCs breach-of-contract claim to proceed, it upheld the dismissal of allegations that SMU had violated fiduciary duties.

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, writing for the majority, concluded that the 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.

Following that decision, the UMC reiterated its stance, stating 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 Anglican bishop defends Islamic prayers in London's Trafalgar Square: 'Nothing sinister'

Quick Summary AI Summary Anglican bishop defends mass Islamic prayers in Trafalgar Square, calling them 'nothing sinister.'

Bishop Arun Arora compares the prayers to public Christian acts of lamentation.

Debate intensifies over cultural dominance and the role of Christianity in the UK. An artificial intelligence-powered tool created this summary based on the source article. The summary has undergone review and verification by an editor. See Summary

An Anglican bishop in the United Kingdom defended recent mass Islamic prayers in Londons Trafalgar Square, calling them "nothing sinister" and akin to public Christian prayers of lamentation.

Arun Arora, who has served as bishop of Kirkstall in the Diocese of Leeds since 2022, penned an op-ed for The Telegraph last Friday dismissing concerns that the public Muslim prayers, in which London Mayor Sadiq Khan participated, were a symbolic act of conquest in a formerly Christian country.

"When you think about the unedifying political furor about the open iftar [celebration to break Ramadan fast] held in Trafalgar Square, try to bear in mind that every year on Remembrance Day  a stones throw from Trafalgar Square  the bishop of London leads a public Christian act of lamentation in the open air," Arora wrote.

Arora went on to liken Islamic prayer in the heart of the British capital to events where he has prayed in solidarity with other religions and branches of Christianity that have historically been at odds.

"In Leeds, where I have the honor of leading the service alongside the Roman Catholic dean of Leeds, I am accompanied by leaders from other faiths: Jewish, Hindu, Sikh and Muslim. We join together in this public, open-air, unmistakably Christian service," he said, repudiating any accusation that such an act prompted complaints of cultural domination.

Nick Timothy, a member of Parliament and shadow lord chancellor, prompted fierce debate last week when he rebuked the display in an X post.

"Too many are too polite to say this. But mass ritual prayer in public places is an act of domination. The adhan  which declares there is no god but allah and Muhammad is his messenger  is, when called in a public place, a declaration of domination," said Timothy.

Too many are too polite to say this.



But mass ritual prayer in public places is an act of domination.



The adhan - which declares there is no god but allah and Muhammad is his messenger - is, when called in a public place, a declaration of domination.



Perform these rituals in pic.twitter.com/PIfJAgb7Zk  Nick Timothy MP (@NJ_Timothy) March 17, 2026

Timothy asserted that the Muslim call to prayer implicitly denies the divinity of Jesus Christ by rejecting the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, which he said should not be permitted in British Christian churches, some of which have hosted the adhan.

On March 17, traditionalist Anglican Bishop Ceirion H. Dewar posted an open letter to King Charles III, warning that the Christian heritage of the U.K. is being "deliberately eroded" and faces growing hostility.

"The issue before us is not nostalgia. It is civilization. Remove Christianity from the story of Britain and you do not create a neutral society  you create a moral vacuum. And history teaches us that moral vacuums are never left empty for long," Dewar wrote in the letter, which has received thousands of signatures.

Earlier this week, Prince William drew criticism for speaking of his "quiet faith" and "commitment to the Church of England" during an interview with The Times, despite rarely attending services.

"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,'" said a spokesperson for the prince, who is slated to attend the formal installation of Dame Sarah Mullally as the first female archbishop of Canterbury at Canterbury Cathedral this week.

Gavin Ashenden, who served as chaplain to Queen Elizabeth II from 2008 to 2017 before leaving the Church of England for Roman Catholicism, said he found Williams comments "a bit insulting."

Ashenden, who has claimed Anglicanism in the U.K. has become apostate, departed his role after publicly protesting that St. Marys Cathedral, Glasgow, marked the Feast of the Epiphany in 2017 by reciting verses from the Quran that denied the divinity of Christ, according to The Telegraph.

'Frankly, it's insulting.'



Former Chaplain to the late Queen, @gavinashenden, says he finds Prince William's confirmation of 'quiet faith' as 'strategic and political'. pic.twitter.com/O2zZmQfTLC  LBC (@LBC) March 22, 2026

"The thing is, Christianity and one's religious faith, it's a matter of intense integrity, really," Ashenden said during an interview this week with GB News about Prince William. "People die for it in places. They give their lives for it. The standards are very high. You forgive your enemies, you love your enemies. You're engaged in a crusade against evil. It's a big thing."

Ashenden cited a biographer of Prince William, who he said described the heir to the throne as "not particularly religious and beset by doubts about whether he should head up a church he doesn't attend much."

"He's a really sweet man with sort of vacant ideas about God," Ashenden said of William, adding that he sees the prince's comments as "strategic" and "political."

"If you're a passionate Christian, frankly, it's insulting," he said.

The uproar over the rising tide of Islam in the U.K. comes as Anglicanism is fracturing globally over issues of sexuality and gender. Last week, former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams expressed doubts that the Anglican Communion will survive.
Home News Dallas begins removal of 30 rainbow crosswalks following governor's order

Crews began removing rainbow-painted crosswalks in Dallas on Monday as part of a statewide mandate to eliminate decorative pavement markings deemed in violation of traffic safety standards.

As explained in a March 20 memorandum from the City of Dallas to the mayor and City Council, the removal of the 30 crosswalks located in Oak Lawn and other parts of the city follows a notification from the Texas Department of Transportation last October that the decorative markings designed to show support for the LGBT community do not comply with the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. City officials requested an exception, which was denied on Jan. 15.

The city then submitted a compliance plan on Jan. 30 as part of a commitment to standardize the crosswalks within 90 days while exploring alternative ways to recognize neighborhood identity through public art. The city expects to complete the removal at all 30 crosswalks by the end of April.

In an official statement released March 23, the North Texas LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce Foundation described the removal as part of a broader political climate targeting the communitys visibility.

The City of Dallas removal of the rainbow crosswalks along Cedar Springs is not occurring in isolation  it reflects a broader political and regulatory climate that is increasingly targeting public expressions of support for the [LGBT-identified] community across our state, the statement read. Recent federal guidance and state-level directives have created a framework in which communities are being forced to choose between representation and resources  between visibility and compliance.

While located on public property, the crosswalks were privately funded. In December 2019, the foundation raised and contributed more than $128,000 for 10 crosswalks along Cedar Springs Road, with support from businesses, corporate partners, community organizations and individuals. The foundation and the Cedar Springs Merchants Association later covered ongoing repairs and re-installations despite material challenges.

Lets be clear  these crosswalks are being removed at a time when [LGBT] visibility is being challenged across Texas, said Tony Vedda, president of the LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce Foundation. While the city may point to resurfacing as the immediate cause, the broader reality is that state and federal pressures have made it increasingly difficult for cities to support expressions of inclusion.

Our district thrives because it is known as a place where people belong. That does not change because paint is removed from a street, he added.

An executive order from Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott directed TxDOT to take steps to ensure Texas counties and cities remove any and all political ideologies from our streets, including pro-LGBT rainbow-style crosswalks that have surfaced in Austin, San Antonio, Houston and other cities in the Lone Star State.

Abbotts order warned that any city that refuses to comply with federal road standards could see state and federal road funding withheld, along with the potential suspension of agreements with TxDOT.

Despite the order, city officials in January allowed the historic and pro-LGBT Oak Lawn United Methodist Church to retain its rainbow-painted front steps, which were painted in defiance of Abbotts order, for the next three years.
Home News DoorDash delivery worker, 78, gets nearly $1M from strangers

Richard Pulley, a 78-year-old Tennessee man forced out of retirement to work 12-hour days as a DoorDash delivery driver to help cover his familys expenses after his wife lost her job, has received a check for nearly $1 million in donations from over 30,000 people to help him retire.

The money, which he received last Friday, was raised through a GoFundMe campaign launched by Brittany Smith, who recorded him in a now viral video making a Starbucks delivery to her home in Manchester, Tennessee.

He is precious, and he is not working because he wants to; he's working because he has to, Smith said in a post with the video of Pulleys delivery she shared on Facebook on March 10. She questioned why Pulley had to use DoorDash at his age and asked the public to help her find him.

Some 10 days later, and after millions of views on the video and GoFundMe donations, Pulley is now on his way to retire with his wife, Brenda, with plans to buy a new house, according to WKRN.

Ive had so many people say, well, it was only $10, but it was so much more than that because that might have been their last $10, and we dont know that, Smith said of the donors. But they gave it to make sure that Richard had a chance at retiring, so.

Smith told the news outlet that she is really happy with the way people around the world stepped up to help Pulley.

It really just shows his generation because here he is just trying to make sure his family is taken care of, Smith said. Ya know, him and his wife. He was doing it for her because he wanted to make sure that she had the medication that she needed to keep her off dialysis.

A couple of days after she shared the video of Pulleys delivery, Smith called him and his wife her adopted grandparents.

Pulley had been working with DoorDash for about a year and a half when his delivery went viral. The company said Pulley completed more than 6,000 deliveries during his time with them and donated some $20,000 to his GoFundMe campaign, according to News Channel 9.

While he plans to retire with the donations, Pulley told WKRN that he still plans on working from time to time.

It kept me working, and I need to keep myself moving. All the people have been good, and Ms. Smith has been good to me, and DoorDash has been very good to me, Pulley said.

So if a wife has a husband whos not working, sign him up for DoorDash, he said. Hell learn how to work.
Home News Religious participation linked to higher levels of student success: report

The religious practices of students, their families and teachers can help close learning opportunity gaps, according to a report that found that faith is associated with higher levels of student achievement.

Bryant Jensen, a professor of teacher education at Brigham Young University and Wheatley Institute affiliate scholar, and Irvin L. Scott, a senior lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and founding director of the Leadership Initiative for Faith and Education, authored the report titled Faith in Educational Renewal: Religion as a Resource to Transform Learning Opportunities.

The report, published last week by the BYU Wheatley Institute and the Leadership Initiative for Faith and Education at Harvard, analyzed existing research on the role of religious faith in human flourishing.

One study cited in the report found that middle- and high-school students who demonstrated the highest levels of religious participation had GPAs that were 0.144 points higher than those of their peers who never participated in religious activity.

Students from working-class families reportedly benefited more from religious participation than their higher-income peers, according to the report. Students from the poorest homes, however, demonstrated weaker and less consistent benefits. Male students also benefited more from religious participation, which was associated with weaker educational outcomes for female students.

"After nearly two centuries, the promise of U.S. public schools to foster effective and meaningful learning opportunities for all children across race and social class remains unfulfilled," Jensen said in a statement provided to The Christian Post.

"Large gaps in learning opportunities continue to persist by student race and ethnicity, while opportunity gaps by gender and family income are widening. We believe religious faith can help bridge these gaps."

Religious participation among students is associated with greater academic achievement in school, higher levels of formal schooling, and greater aspirations for higher education, according to the report.

The research suggests that these positive effects are due to moral codes, study skills and social and organizational ties that students can develop by participating in a religious faith.

Students learn moral codes from their faith traditions, which teach them to uphold certain behaviors concerning vices such as substance use, delinquency, sexual behavior, violence and truancy, the report noted.

Youth also learn skills through their religious activities that can benefit their school-based learning, such as social competencies, which may include public speaking and how to serve others, even when no one else is watching.

These prosocial competencies reduce misbehavior in school and have been found to increase student motivation and student confidence to do well in school, the report stated, highlighting research consistent with the authors thesis.

The report also cited studies that found regular religious activity can help students develop skills that transfer to academic learning at school. For example, studying religious texts can help students with their literacy skills, and attending worship services and sermons can provide them with an ability to extract and summarize key ideas.

Finally, the effects of religiosity on student outcomes are explained by the social and organizational ties to others within the faith, including family members. These ties with adults and other youth and children  referred to as social capital  provide students with information, resources, values, trusted systems of support, and opportunities that they may not otherwise have access to, the report found.

Regarding the influence that faith has on educators, the report noted that teachers who feel 'called' to the profession, often connected to spiritual devotion, are more intrinsically motivated.

The authors provided several recommendations they contend can positively impact children and youth regardless of their belief systems, such as partnerships between faith organizations and schools.

"While we do not advocate for public schools to teach religious doctrine or use public funds for religious purposes, partnerships with faith communities can offer untapped resources to enrich student learning opportunities, especially for those in disadvantaged communities," Scott told CP.

While the authors acknowledged that the impact of these programs is limited but promising, the report stated that well-coordinated partnerships between schools and faith organizations can positively impact parental involvement and student reading outcomes.
Home News Iranian group targeting Jewish ambulances in UK vows to keep threatening US, Israel

The Iranian terror group that claimed responsibility for torching four Jewish charity ambulances in London amid concerns about rising antisemitism has vowed to continue targeting the United States and Israel.

Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, also known as the Islamic Movement of the People of the Right Hand, shared the threat with CBS News a day after three men in London were caught on security video pouring fuel on ambulances used by Hatzola Northwest.

"We'll keep threatening U.S. and Israeli interests worldwide until we've avenged every child in Gaza, Iran, Lebanon, and the resistance nations," a representative of the Islamic Movement told CBS News. "We urge people to stay away from Zionist and American interests and individuals to keep themselves safe."

Two British nationals, ages 45 and 47, have been arrested and taken for questioning, with authorities searching two properties in connection the the attack. A senior police official told Associated Press Wednesday that the arrests marked an important breakthrough in the investigation.

The terror group first announced its existence earlier this month, shortly after the U.S. and Israel launched coordinated strikes following years of tension over Iran's nuclear program, missile development and funding of terrorist groups.

Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia has claimed responsibility for a series of antisemitic attacks across Europe in the days following the current conflict in the Middle East, as CBS News reported. The group has also published propaganda videos through a Telegram channel created last week.

During a conversation with the outlet, the administrator of the Telegram channel said the group set fire on Monday to ambulances used by Hatzola. While the medical organization is rooted in the Jewish community, it provides volunteer-based emergency medical care free of charge to all members of the public.

The administrator, who referred to himself as Asad-Allah, claimed the terror group carried out the arson attack at night to avoid hurting people this time, adding, We can do it, potentially. Asad-Allah also justified the antisemitic attacks, citing the conflicts in Iran and Gaza, according to CBS News.

Police officers arrived at the scene of the arson attack early Monday morning, the Metropolitan Police said. The destruction of the Jewish charity ambulances took place in Golders Green, an area in London with a large number of Jewish households.

While no injuries were reported, houses in the area were evacuated in the immediate aftermath, though residents were quickly allowed to return home.

"Officers are aware of an online claim from a group taking responsibility for this attack, and establishing the accuracy of the claim is a priority for the investigation team," Security Minister Dan Jarvis said in a statement.

"As the Home Secretary has already told the House, support for the Jewish community in London is being stepped up. The police have the unshakeable backing of this government, and I am sure the whole House, in their effort to find the perpetrators of this awful crime, who should be in no doubt whatsoever that they will be pursued, and made to face the consequences."

In response to the news of the arson attack, Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared, An attack on our Jewish community is an attack on us all. We will fight the poison that is antisemitism.

Last October, Christian leaders offered prayers for the Jewish community in the U.K. following an attack on a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

Greater Manchester Police said in a statement at the time: Police were called to the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, on Middleton Road, Crumpsall, at 9.31 a.m. GMT by a member of the public, stating he had witnessed a car being driven toward members of the public and one man had been stabbed.

Shots were fired by Greater Manchester Police firearms officers at 9.38 a.m. One man has been shot, believed to be the offender, the 2025 statement continued.

The Bishop of Manchester, David Walker, said in a statement last year that he was "deeply shocked and saddened" by the attack.

"My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected  the victims, their families and the wider Jewish community  especially on this sacred day of Yom Kippur," he said. Such acts of violence have no place in our communities. Manchester is a city built on diversity, mutual respect and unity.
Home News Louisville pays $800K to settle with Christian photographer who won't work same-sex weddings

A Christian photographer who does not wish to provide services to same-sex weddings has reached a large settlement after years of litigation over a nondiscrimination provision in a local law she feared would force her to violate her deeply held convictions.

The city of Louisville, Kentucky, had agreed to pay $800,000 in attorney fees as part of a settlement with photographer Chelsey Nelson. The settlement, filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Louisville Division, comes six months after the federal court sided with Nelson in her challenge to the citys prohibition on discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Nelson, a devout Christian who believes in the biblical definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman, filed a lawsuit against the city out of concern that the nondiscrimination law would force her to work as a photographer at same-sex weddings. She alleged that the law violated the Free Speech and Free Exercise clauses of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, as well as the Kentucky Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Last fall, a federal judge agreed.

The settlement was announced in a statement Tuesday from the conservative legal nonprofit Alliance Defending Freedom, which represented Nelson in the case.

The government cannot force Americans to say things they dont believe, said Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Bryan Neihart. For almost six years, Louisville officials tried to do just that by threatening to force Chelsey to promote views about marriage that violate her religious beliefs. Louisvilles threats contradicted bedrock First Amendment principles, which leave decisions about what to say with the people, not the government. This settlement should teach Louisville that violating the U.S. Constitution can be expensive.

Nelsons litigation against Louisville dates back several years. While the federal court first ruled in Nelsons favor in 2022 by prohibiting the city from enforcing the nondiscrimination law against her, it denied her request for nominal damages. This prompted her to appeal the decision to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, while the city simultaneously appealed the ruling.

In 2023, while the decision was on appeal, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in 303 Creative v. Elenis prohibiting states from using expressive activity to compel speech. The 303 Creative decision became a binding precedent in religious liberty cases and prompted the 6th Circuit to remand Nelsons case to the district court for further proceedings. Two years later, the federal court upheld the previous ruling in favor of Nelson while awarding her nominal damages.

Now that Nelson has received her nominal damages and the city has agreed to pay attorney fees on top of that, her litigation against Louisville has come to an end. Alliance Defending Freedom previously identified nominal damages as a type of compensation that remedy past harm, prevent future misconduct, and vindicate constitutional freedoms.
Home News Maryland church, Ocean City clash over homeless encampment

A Maryland church is facing backlash from city officials over its decision to host a homeless tent encampment on its property.

St. Pauls By-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Ocean City recently allowed a small group of homeless individuals to set up tents on its property for shelter. However, city officials informed the church that the tents violated a zoning ordinance and threatened the congregation with daily fines starting Monday evening.

St. Pauls By-the-Sea Pastor Jill Williams told The Christian Post on Tuesday that the church decided to comply with the citys demands and will move the individuals inside our parish hall so they have safe shelter.

The church requested and was granted an extension to April 1 as it oversees the transition from the tent encampment to an indoor shelter.

We chose to do this rather than putting our clients at the forefront of a battle between us and the city, she explained. In order to do so, the church has chosen to use our own financial reserves to transition the people who had been staying outside on our property into a safer indoor space. The timeline has now been moved to April 1 as we prepare that transition.

Williams told CP that the transition from tents to indoor space is being funded directly by the church, as city officials did not offer an alternative placement or assistance for the individuals who had been staying here.

The only guidance we were given was that we could apply for possible grant funding during next years funding cycle, which was described to us as a few hundred dollars to a thousand maybe, said Williams.

One important point is that the church is stepping forward with its own resources to provide safer shelter rather than simply pushing people somewhere else or allowing them to sleep outside now without the safety and dignity of a tent even.

Williams said this reflects a broader conversation happening in the community about what Ocean City wants to be, as some want it to remain a tourist-centered destination.

The church understands the importance of tourism, but we also believe a healthy community must acknowledge and care for all of the people who are part of it, including those who are struggling, she added. For us, this ministry is simply about living out our faith and caring for our neighbors with dignity.

City Manager Terence McGean told CP he agreed it is a difficult issue and that local officials recognize the sensitivity of this situation and the complexity of supporting individuals experiencing homelessness.

While the tents currently on the property do not comply with existing zoning ordinances, Ocean City is committed to balancing compassion with compliance, he said. We respect the intent behind the churchs actions; however, the town cannot simply ignore ongoing violations of our laws.

McGean said he understood why people feel strongly about this issue, clarifying that city officials have not told them to remove the homeless from their property, only the tents.

The town has a responsibility to uphold our ordinances consistently across the community, he continued, noting that he met with Williams in January to discuss alternatives.

We are not discouraging support. Rather, we are working to ensure that support happens safely and within the law.
Home News No charges for Christian Reacher star Alan Ritchson after weekend altercation in Tennessee

Christian actor Alan Ritchson, best known for his starring role in the hit series Reacher, will not face charges following a physical altercation with a neighbor in a Nashville suburb, authorities said.

The Brentwood Police Department said Tuesday that, after reviewing video footage and witness statements, officials determined the 43-year-old actor acted in self-defense and no criminal charges would be filed.

Brentwood, Tennessee, Police Department Captain Steven Pepin wrote in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter: After reviewing available evidence, including video footage and witness statements, authorities determined that no criminal charges will be pursued.

Mr Ritchsons actions were found to be in self-defense. Although a potential reckless endangerment charge was considered, Mr Ritchson declined to pursue charges. With the agreement of the District Attorneys Office, the case is now closed, and no further action will be taken.

The incident occurred over the weekend in Brentwood, a suburb south of Nashville. Neighbor Ronnie Taylor told media outlets he first encountered Ritchson on March 21, alleging that the actor was speeding on a motorcycle through the area and causing a disturbance. Taylor said he made an obscene gesture toward Ritchson, who responded in kind.

The following day, Taylor said he again saw Ritchson riding a motorcycle, accompanied by what appeared to be his two young sons. According to Taylor, a verbal exchange escalated into a physical confrontation.

TMZ first reported on the incident over the weekend, publishing video that showed part of the altercation between the two men. The initial clip, which appeared to have been shortened from a longer recording, began with Taylor on the ground as Ritchson stood over him and struck him.

Additional footage that surfaced later, including video from a body camera worn by Ritchson, provided broader context, appearing to show Taylor approaching Ritchson in the street and initiating the confrontation before it turned physical.

Taylor told TMZ he pushed Ritchson during the encounter, saying, I did push him because he was coming towards me on his bike. He did it again, I pushed him a second time.

In an Instagram post shortly after the altercation, Ritchson posted a quote attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte that said, Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.

Ritchson, who starred in the 2023 faith-based film Ordinary Angels and is open about his Christian faith, previously told The Christian Post that an awareness of his limitations deepens his understanding of grace.

"I'm bipolar. I'm temperamental, I'm stubborn, I'm creatively a perfectionist, and I hold people to a ridiculous, ridiculous standard, and myself to an even higher one. And I'm hard to live with," he said.

"The problem is, it's less that I doubt God is real or that God cares. It's more that I doubt that I'm worthy of the love that God gives or that I'm worthy of His attention," said Ritchson, a husband and father of three sons. "I thought my career was over a few years ago. I had a run-in with suicide and tried to take my own life. Thank God I was not successful."

The actor credited his survival and subsequent recovery to the unwavering support of his family, medical professionals and, most importantly, a renewed relationship with God.

"My family was there for me, some doctors were there for me, and I got help and pulled through," he recalled. "But I had to find what meaning and purpose look like after that, and it looked like serving others and having a real relationship with God."

Ritchson also shared how he established an "instachurch" on his social media, a platform he uses to discuss meaningful topics and potentially save others from suicide.

"I just have to say something that matters; maybe it'll save someone else from suicide, too," he said. "I thought, 'I'm probably never going to work in the business again.' And, lo and behold, God's like, 'I'm going to give you the most insane career you could ever imagine.' I continue to try and honor Him, and it's been a real gift."
Home News Planned Parenthood chapter to pay $500K to end racial discrimination investigation

Planned Parenthood of Illinois agreed to pay $500,000 after an investigation into charges brought by multiple employees determined that the nations largest abortion provider engaged in unlawful discrimination and harassment against white employees.

According to a Thursday statement from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Planned Parenthood of Illinois  an affiliate of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America  violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The agency concluded that the organization violated federal law when it segregated employees by race, subjected white employees to harassment, and engaged in disparate treatment against white employees regarding terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.

An investigation began after multiple Planned Parenthood staffers filed charges against the organization. The EEOC found that Planned Parenthood required employees to attend affinity caucuses segregated by race or diversity, equity and inclusion training sessions.

These DEI-related training sessions repeatedly involved harassing and derogatory statements targeting white employees, including that they are White and do not feel racism the same way non-White patients feel.

Staff were required on a weekly basis to attend one- to two-hour sessions of the segregated racial affinity caucuses or the DEI training sessions, according to the EEOC. The agency also found that Planned Parenthood did not provide equal time off, denying requests from white employees that it granted to black employees.

Segregating employees by race violates the core promise of our nations civil rights laws, EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas said in a statement. Title VII guarantees equal treatment for every employee and prohibits race discrimination in Americas workplaces.

Those protections equally apply to white workers. There is no DEI exception to Title VIIs requirements. Employers who deliberately separate workers or subject them to harassment because of their race, including white employees, violate federal law, Lucas continued. The Commission will continue to enforce these protections to ensure equal opportunity for all.

Planned Parenthood of Illinois and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America did not immediately respond to The Christian Posts request for comment.

In a statement, Planned Parenthood of Illinois President and CEO Adrienne White-Faines said she was not responsible for the policies that prompted the EEOCs investigation.

In the time since this complaint was filed, and since I came on board as President and CEO in 2025, I have overseen significant change at the organization, including across the leadership team, White-Faines stated. Planned Parenthood of Illinois has now come to an agreement with the EEOC about a path forward that will allow us to put this matter behind us and continue providing critical healthcare services to our valued patients from Illinois and across the country.

The EEOCs investigation is not the first time Planned Parenthood has been accused of racial discrimination.

In October 2022, Nicole Moore, Planned Parenthoods former director of multicultural brand engagement, filed a lawsuit claiming the organization had a structural racism issue.

Moore, who worked for Planned Parenthood from January 2020 to October 2021, alleged that racism was widespread at the organization. She accused the organization of reprimanding her for raising her concerns about racial disparities in leadership and of holding black employees to a double standard regarding contract work.

In 2020, more than 120 black American leaders signed a letter asking Planned Parenthood President Alexis McGill Johnson to renounce the organizations founder, Margaret Sanger, and to address the impact of abortion on black communities.

The Planned Parenthood president published an op-ed in April 2021 addressing questions about Sangers views on race and eugenics. In the op-ed, Johnson acknowledged Sangers association with white supremacist groups and endorsement of Buck v. Bell, a Supreme Court decision permitting the sterilization of those deemed unfit.

Johnson said the organization would make Margaret Sanger less prominent in our present and future. However, she maintained that Planned Parenthoods founder remains an influential part of our history and will not be erased.
Home News Talarico claims 'Christian nationalism kills' after Hegseth pastor desires he be 'crucified with Christ'

Democratic Texas state Rep. James Talarico said Tuesday that Christian nationalism is a lethal threat after the pastor of Secretary of War Pete Hegseths home church in Tennessee said he wanted to see the U.S. Senate candidate "crucified with Christ."

"Jesus loves. Christian Nationalism kills. You may pray for my death, Pastor, but I still love you. I love you more than you could ever hate me," Talarico posted to X.

Talarico was responding to remarks from Brooks Potteiger, pastor of Pilgrim Hill Reformed Fellowship in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, who suggested on the "Reformation Red Pill" podcast last week that Talaricos liberal theological views are demonic and deceitful.

Joshua Haymes & Brooks Potteiger (Pete Hegseth's pastor) pray imprecatory psalms against James Talarico: "I pray that God kills him. Ultimately, that means killing his heart and raising him up to new life in Christ ... If it would not be within God's will to do so, stop him by pic.twitter.com/KTKUR8o5et  Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) March 17, 2026

During their 20-minute conversation, Potteiger agreed when podcast host Joshua Haymes, a former pastoral intern at Potteigers church, said of Talarico, "I pray that God kills him. Ultimately, that means killing his heart and raising him up to new life in Christ."

"Right, right. We want him crucified with Christ," Potteiger replied, in an apparent reference to Galatians 2:20, which speaks of the spiritual death of a Christians sinful desires. Potteiger added that he hopes Talarico will have an experience like Saul of Tarsus, who lived wickedly until an encounter with the risen Jesus led to his conversion and repentance.

"I want him to be, I think, Saul of Tarsus; Talarico of Tarsus. Thats what I want," Potteiger said, to which Haymes replied, "We want death and new life, right? And if it would not be within Gods will to do so, stop him by any means necessary, O God."

The two also agreed at another point in the podcast that Talarico would be an appropriate subject of the imprecatory psalms, which invoke Gods judgment against evildoers.

"I love James Talarico, I want him to repent and believe the Gospel," Haymes said, as Potteiger nodded in agreement. "He is also an enemy of God who is wearing Christianity as a skin suit, and bringing dishonor and shame to the name of my Savior. And I hate that."

Talarico tweeted his comments in response to a Huffington Post story published Tuesday that framed Potteigers crucifixion remarks as literal, alleging Haymes and Potteiger were calling for his death.

Potteiger dismissed the Huffington Posts headline as "excellent clickbait" and "false" in a lengthy response on X, clarifying what he meant. He condemned Talaricos use of the Bible to justify his pro-abortion views as "quite egregious" and said, "ministers have a moral obligation to rebuke magistrates who pervert justice and promote wickedness in the name of God."

This headline is excellent clickbait. Yet, it suffers from the fact that its false. I should know as I happen to be pretty close to that fella you slandered. And, strange you used a picture of someone who has literally nothing to do with the conversation at hand.



I get it,  Brooks Potteiger (@BrooksPotteiger) March 24, 2026

The pastor went on to explain that the imprecatory psalms are prayers asking for Gods help against evil, but that the ultimate desire of a Christian should be the conversion and repentance of the wicked, as seen in the Apostle Paul.

"Now, as it turns out, God in His wisdom has given us imprecatory psalms where He calls for His people to ask that Hed bring low and frustrate the plans of evildoers," he wrote. "Yes, He even says so in capital terms. Yet, I understand the imprecatory psalms, like I do all of Scripture, first and foremost in light of Christ."

"And so, as a Christian, when I pray imprecatory psalms about those who celebrate baby murder, I am not, from my heart, praying for their death. Im praying for their conversion. That the 'old man' would die. That he would be 'crucified with Christ' (Pauline language for conversion) and raised to new life, and given a new heart with new desires."

Potteiger also pushed back against the Huffington Posts framing of his position as a pastor to Hegseth, noting that Hegseth was not involved in the conversation.

Replying to an X user who characterized the remarks as an inflammatory rhetorical failure that could be misunderstood as a threat, Potteiger said the Huffington Post "intentionally presented [them] in a way to be misunderstood."

In a response Wednesday morning to Talaricos X post, Potteiger reiterated that he harbors no hatred toward Talarico but wants him to repent of twisting Scripture to justify sin.

"James, you promote the killing of babies in the womb in the name of Christ. I dont hate you. I love you enough to pray for your genuine repentance. And I love those you are leading astray enough to warn them about your Scripture twisting, even if it means enduring slander (like what you displayed above)," he wrote.

Pastor Douglas Wilson, a friend of Potteiger who helped found his churchs denomination, the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, wrote an article on his blog Wednesday about the dispute.

Claiming his own church in Moscow, Idaho, has been inundated with furious calls and death threats since Potteigers comments, Wilson wrote that "if the phone calls to our church office here in Moscow are any indication (as I believe they are), the sympathizers of the Talarician way have a long way to go before they can appear quite as sanctimonious as their leader Talarico does."

Wilson argued that Talarico and his supporters are mischaracterizing clear New Testament language regarding spiritual death and resurrection, and suggested Talarico is effectively calling for the same thing Potteiger was, but from a liberal position.

"Suppose this love of Jesus that Talarico embodies finally penetrated the wall of hate that has imprisoned Brooks. What would that love do to that hate? Ah, yes. That love would put that hate to death," he wrote. "And if we switch it around, what would the actual love of Christ that Brooks has do with the wall of hypocrisy that has imprisoned James? Right again. The love of Christ is the death of sin."
Home News Ted Cruz tells comedians he played key role in pushing Trump to strike Iran, end peace talks

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, claimed on a recent podcast with two comedians that he played a role in pushing President Donald Trump to attack Iran and urged him to cease negotiating with the regime on the day before the first strike.

"Look, I urged the president to launch this attack. As you noted, I was with him pretty much the entire day on Friday before the attack launched on Saturday," Cruz told stand-up comedians Konstantin Kisin and Francis Foster, during an episode of their popular "Triggernometry" podcast that aired Sunday.

Cruz recounted that when he was one-on-one with the president as he traveled to an event in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Feb. 27, he advised him that the Iranian regime had weakened and that removing it would be in the best interests of the United States.

Ted Cruz admits he played a key role in pushing President Trump to launch a war with Iran just one day before it started.



He told Trump that the collapse of Iran would be one of the greatest steps for Americas safety.



Cruz says he persuaded the President to abandon all pic.twitter.com/yNlh0I99aq  Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) March 22, 2026

"Pretty much the whole time, he was asking me what I thought we should do on Iran," Cruz said. "And I said, 'Look, I think we should, we should not miss this moment. I think the regime is weaker than it ever has been, and we have an opportunity. If we can collapse this regime, America will be much, much safer. There are very few things on planet earth that would do more to ... improve American national security as much as seeing this regime collapse.'"

When Trump asked him if the U.S. should consider continuing negotiations, Cruz said he thought any such endeavor would be hopeless and that the regime was lying about their nuclear ambitions.

"[Trump] asked me in the Beast [presidential limo], he said, 'Well, look, do you think we should negotiate further?' And I said, 'No.' I said, 'I don't believe they're negotiating in good faith. They are liars. I think the ayatollah just wants to delay and delay and delay while they rebuild.'"

Cruz said he told Trump that the only potential negotiating tactic that remained was allowing the late ayatollah and his deputies to go into exile, which is the opportunity the U.S. offered to former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro before extraditing him in January.

"I said I could live with that deal, for the ayatollah to give him and the mullahs the same choice. You can leave and allow a new regime to come to power in Iran, or if you don't leave, the alternative is going to be less than pleasant," Cruz added.

Cruz also said during the interview that maintaining a good relationship with Israel is beneficial to the U.S. because it offers access to intelligence from the Mossad.

"We get massive benefits," he said. "Number one, the Mossad is an incredibly effective intelligence agency, and they share that intelligence with us. We're seeing this right now in this war with Iran."

Ted Cruz says Americans get a major hidden advantage from supporting Israel, gaining access to Mossad intelligence.



He points to the current Iran war as proof, saying anyone questioning Mossads skills only needs to look at whats happening now.



Cruz adds that backing Israel is pic.twitter.com/d859vZT5gz  Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) March 23, 2026

Cruz has been an outspoken supporter of Israel throughout his political career and drew scrutiny when he claimed during a contentious interview with Tucker Carlson last summer that his goal was to be the "leading defender of Israel" in the U.S. Senate. He based his position on his Christian faith and his interpretation that God's personal promise to Abram in Genesis 12:3 promises blessings in return for blessing the modern-day nation state.

Cruz has received approximately $ 1.87 million in career contributions from pro-Israel interests through 2024, ranking him among the top recipients in the U.S. Senate over the past three decades.
Home Opinion Christian conservatives are wildly overcorrecting with their opposition to feminism. Heres why

Feminism has long gotten a bad rap among socially conservative Christians like me, and I completely understand why, given its deep ties to abortion. But today, an overcorrection that is ignorant of important history is at hand.

Rightful disgust, which I share, with whats known as third-wave feminism (which not only supports abortion but also degrading scourges like trans ideology and sex work) is fueling a larger sentiment among increasing numbers of Christian voices that all of feminism  even some of the good accomplishments of the early voices who were responding to real problems  was cancerous and must thus be ripped out  root and branch. And its there where many are making a disastrous error in judgment.

While Ill refrain from detailing all the intricacies of the various waves of feminism in the past several decades, many conservative and Christian women today do not realize the noble gains that were made for women, many of which are compatible with eminently Christian convictions.

Second-wave feminism (roughly early 1960s through the late 1970s) did accomplish some things that were genuinely good. Despite their flaws, voices like Andrea Dworkin and Catherine MacKinnon made intelligent critiques of male sexual exploitation that were necessary and overdue. Meaningful overlap exists here with Christian values, as these women were unflinching in their opposition to pornography and prostitution, naming the ways the sexual revolution often benefited men at womens expense. Youll often hear conservative Christians nowadays anchor their thinking about the breakdown of the family and society as being rooted in the sexual revolution, which exploded in the late 1960s. And lets be real here, the sexual revolution, as a cultural force, has indeed unleashed catastrophic damage to society since then, and it continues to destroy marriages and families.

But valorizing hedonism and extramarital sex wasnt invented in 1968. It was happening constantly; people were just better at hiding it, and women were expected to endure it quietly.

A Florida researcher named Alan Petigny underscored this reality with his own research, utilizing government data rather than self-reporting. His research used U.S. Census Bureau statistics on premarital pregnancy and found a sizeable increase in premarital intercourse during the 1940s and '50s, pointing to the unexpected conclusion that there was far more sexual activity during those decades than Americans were willing to admit. Petigny specifically identified WWII as a key catalyst, with 15 million young men thrust into the military and five million young women forced into factories, creating unprecedented social mixing that drove measurable rises in premarital pregnancy among both white and black Americans. Petigny convincingly argued that the sexual revolution actually began during World War II, not the 1960s, but too many people are just blissfully willing to pretend it was feminism that was to blame.

Theres a reason the song Stand by Your Man was a chart topper, and it wasnt because the situation it described was a great one for the women living it. The revolution didnt create male infidelity and selfishness. It just stopped requiring anyone to pretend like it wasnt already rampant.

What the birth control pill and the cultural shift actually did was remove the remaining incentives for men to behave responsibly and then market that removal as liberation. The insistence that freedom meant severing sex from relational commitment, much less any semblance of responsibility, wasnt a neutral development. What followed was not some utopian landscape of liberated women, but a steady erosion of the family unit. Fatherlessness skyrocketed, divorce became normalized, and children bore the brunt of adult self-actualization projects. Women and children were quietly expected to absorb the fallout (emotionally, physically, and economically), all while being told this was social progress.

To be fair, the pill wasnt the only accelerant. Deindustrialization was quietly gutting the kind of stable working-class jobs that had made early marriage and single-income households viable, and hardly anyone was talking about that. Its easier to blame the birth control than to reckon with the economy. Those who call for a return to Leave it to Beaver systems completely fail to contend with the reality of surviving in todays economy. The demands theyre making (especially on mothers) are not feasible in many situations.



The cruelest irony is that the men most enthusiastic about sexual liberation were rarely the ones absorbing the consequences. Unintended pregnancies, single parenthood, the emotional labor of fractured families  those costs were distributed very unevenly, and not in mens direction, which made continued feminist action almost imperative as a result.

Economic and workplace justice for mothers is another area where the second wave got it right. Maternity leave, fair wages, and childcare support are not radical demands; they are entirely compatible with, and arguably required by, a Christian ethic that actually values motherhood and family stability rather than treating both as inconveniences.

Then again, at the same time, it is understandable why some reject second-wave feminism outright because of its ties to abortion. Many of these second-wave women bought the lie that to achieve equality in a mans world, they had to wage war on the one power unique to the female body: the capacity to bear life.

They werent wrong about the problem. Men were, in many cases, treating women like breeders and using children as a means of keeping them economically and socially trapped. That was real and needed to be confronted. But the proposed solution, decoupling sex from consequence and framing motherhood itself as a liability, lost much of the Evangelical Christian world, and not without reason. Abortion is evil, and that shift cannot and should not be defended.

But the all feminism is cancer talking point and overcorrection that is increasingly prevalent online ignores the real injustices women have faced, and the legitimate corrections that were needed. If were serious about truth, we should distinguish carefully instead of torching the entire category just because the current iteration is indefensible.

For example, Joe Rogan recently hosted influencer Rachel Wilson on his podcast to discuss her condemnation of feminism. Her entire schtick is that feminism, at its core, has always been rooted in occultism and is, therefore, a rebellion against God. Neither she nor her husband thinks that women have any business voting, and the contempt for womankind is not even remotely subtle, and this is exactly where the wheels come off.

Early feminism didnt spring out of some shadowy esoteric movement, but in response to very real, material injustices under which women were living. Women couldnt vote, and in many cases, couldnt own property. Under coverture, a married woman had no independent legal identity; her wages, her assets, even her children were legally controlled by her husband, and there was little to no legal recourse for abuse. Educational opportunities were limited, and professional pathways were largely closed off. If a woman found herself in a bad marriage, her options were often to endure it or face social and economic ruin.

Those are not minor inconveniences, and true commitment to biblical living does not wink at this kind of oppression.

Who, overwhelmingly, began to challenge these injustices? Devout Christians. Quakers, Methodists, and Evangelicals who believed, on explicitly biblical grounds, that women were moral agents made in the image of God and therefore deserving of legal recognition and protection.

Figures like Sojourner Truth and Frances Willard were not occultists; they were Christian reformers. The early suffrage movement was deeply intertwined with abolitionism and temperance, movements also driven largely by Christian conviction.

While it is true that some suffragists dabbled in Spiritualism or Theosophy, so did plenty of people across every reform movement in the Victorian era. That was a cultural quirk of the time, not the theological foundation of the cause. Guilt by association is not a serious argument. By that logic, you could just as easily claim abolitionism itself was an occult enterprise.

And interestingly, no one making the argument that feminism equals the occult and must be rejected in total wants to apply it consistently. Consider how Thomas Jefferson literally created his own edited version of the Bible, cutting out anything supernatural with a razor blade. Should we conclude that the entire American experiment was, at its core, a demonic project? That none of the principles he helped articulate are worth preserving? Of course not.

Among some conservative types, particularly given the cultural insanity of our time, a persistent fantasy exists in their imagination that if we could just rewind the clock to some mid-century golden age, everything would fall neatly back into place, and the family would magically be restored.

But the truth is far less romantic. The conditions that gave rise to first-wave feminism (and later helped fuel the sexual revolution) did not emerge from nowhere. They were, in many cases, the predictable result of a system where women had little agency, limited protection under the law, and were often entirely dependent on the goodwill of men to survive. When that goodwill failed, and it frequently did, women and children paid the price.

It is impossible to repair the damage of the sexual revolution by recreating the very conditions that made it the force that it was in the first place.

If you tell women that their safety depends entirely on male virtue, while stripping away their legal protections and social recourse, you are not restoring order. You are rebuilding the pressure cooker. History has already shown us what happens when that pressure builds long enough. It doesnt produce holiness; it produces backlash.

The sexual revolution was, in many ways, a deeply flawed and destructive response to actual injustices. But that doesnt mean the injustices themselves werent real, or that the answer is to pretend they never existed.

If we actually care about strengthening families, we need something better than nostalgia. We need a framework that upholds responsibility, honors motherhood, protects children, and refuses to treat women as either disposable or dependent. We need solutions that factor in the reality of this present cultural moment, including an economy where most families cannot physically survive off a single income and many good mothers have no choice but to participate in the workforce outside the home.

We cannot correct an error by embracing a different one. If we care about truth, about women, and about the integrity of the family, then we need to be precise. That means rejecting what is indeed wrong about feminism without rewriting history, scapegoating the female sex, or sanitizing and diminishing the abuse and mistreatment of women to get there.
rdkcho via Adobe

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life after four ambulances run by a Jewish charity were destroyed by firebombing.

Police arrested the men, aged 45 and 47, this morning after the attack on Monday morning in which four Hatzola Northwest ambulances in north London were set ablaze.

The London Fire Brigade called police at about 1.45am that morning to the scene of the fire next to a synagogue, an incident being treated as an antisemitic hate crime.

CCTV footage revealed three men dousing the ambulances in fluid before igniting and fleeing the scene.

The suspects, arrested at addresses in central and north west London respectively, remain in custody while police search the properties they were found at.

Helen Flanagan, head of counter terrorism policing London and investigation lead, said : We have been working around the clock since this appalling attack took place and this has led to these arrests.

This appears to be an important breakthrough in the investigation.

Luke Williams, north west London police lead, sought to reassure the Golders Green community amid a period of heightened concern.

Williams said: I want to reassure the community that an enhanced, bespoke policing plan and activity, which is particularly focused around vulnerable areas right across London, will continue over the coming days and weeks.

The police lead added that specialist officers and armed patrols would support local teams.

We will also continue to work closely with local communities and our partners to listen to their concerns, he added.

Donations pour in for 5m fundraiser

Volunteer-run Hatzola was established in 1979 and provides free medical transport and emergency response for people in north London.

Following the attack, the charity began urgently fundraising for new, safer premises for its ambulances, with an aim to raise 5m.

We need the security to carry out our vital work. Its no longer a far-off dream or a luxury extra. Having a dedicated, secure base for Hatzola NW ambulances is an immediate priority for our community, its fundraising page reads.

Were coming together now to quickly make this our reality  a secure site where our ambulances can be housed safely, and where volunteers can dispatch and respond without fear of vandalism  or worse.

Donations have poured into Hatzolas fundraiser, which now exceeds 1.72m, including a 200,000 gift from the Ronson Foundation , a family-run grantmaking trust.

Health secretary Wes Streeting yesterday announced the government would provide replacement ambulances to Hatzola.

He reiterated on social media today that the government has provided the charity with four on-loan ambulances and will fund permanent replacements.

The Charity Commission has also offered the charity its support.

Following the firebombing, antisemitism monitoring charity the Community Security Trust invited King Charles to become its patron, a request he accepted.

sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
Girlguiding UK

The national Girlguiding charity has confirmed that transgender girls and young women who are members will have to leave the organisation by 6 September.

Trans girls and women volunteering in roles open to women only will also have to leave their current positions by that deadline, the charity said this week .

Girlguidings deadline announcement came after the charitys board decided in December that no new memberships would be offered to trans girls and young women, following a Supreme Court ruling in April last year which decided that woman in the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex.

The Womens Institute also announced in December that it would not offer formal memberships to transgender women from April 2026 due to a risk of costly legal challenge and potential regulatory action from the Charity Commission.

Following the Supreme Court ruling, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) produced a draft updated code of practice, but this has not yet been approved by the government.

The Charity Commission has called for the EHRCs updated code to be published as soon as reasonably practicable and plans to update its own guidance for charities afterwards.

In the meantime, the commissions approach since the ruling has been to accept that it can be a reasonable decision for trustees to await the final statutory guidance, or alternatively to seek legal advice relevant to their charitys position and make changes as they consider necessary.

Volunteers ignoring change could face probe

Girlguiding said it would not ask volunteers to carry out any additional checks that trans girls have left by 6 September and that it is committed to treating everyone with dignity and respect.

However, it said that if any volunteers themselves chose to stay in a role which they know they are no longer eligible for, then this would be reviewed and investigated as part of our normal complaints procedure.

Alongside the deadline announcement, Girlguiding published information about the support available to young members affected by its policy changes.

Youth mental health charity YoungMinds has agreed to offer tailored support, it said, as well as Gendered Intelligence, Mermaids, Mosaic Trust and Proud Trust.

Memberships for trans boys and young men will not be affected by the changes, Girlguiding has said.

Girlguiding has also set up a taskforce of around 500 people to explore new future opportunities for trans girls and trans women to connect with and be supported by the charity.

While it will not reverse the charitys decision to change its inclusion policy, the taskforces panel of 16 people is meeting regularly until the end of this month.

Suggestions made so far include new Girlguiding-branded activities for girls to show allyship with the trans community.

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An historic charity in south London has announced that it will sell 11 residential properties, for which it aims to receive up to 4m.

Croydon Almshouses, the oldest charity in the borough, is set to offload all but one of its 12 terraced houses on Helder Street, which it owns for investment purposes, with 18 private tenants moving as a result.

Chief executive Hayley James told Civil Society that the sales would not affect the charitys set of 57 individual almshouse units that it operates at Elis David Almshouses on Duppas Hill Terrace in the borough.

The charity, which has provided low-cost housing for older people since 1447 through its separate almshouses, decided to sell the Helder Street properties after finding that they no longer delivered a sufficient return on investment to justify keeping them.

Of those living at the 11 properties for sale on Helder Street, six tenants have already found homes that they are happy to move into, James said.

Croydon Almshouses recognises that this decision will have a direct impact on the tenants of Helder Street and does not underestimate the anxiety this may have caused, the charity said in a statement last week .

The charity will be working with estate agent Allen Heritage to move the affected tenants out.

Besides the almshouses, which home its beneficiaries, the charity will retain eight commercial properties it also owns for investment purposes and rents to businesses.

Investments a key source of charity income

The decision to sell the Helder Street properties came as a result of a recent review of the charitys assets and funds.

Rising demand, combined with a decline in available public resources, means charities such as Croydon Almshouses are under increasing pressure to ensure their assets are used as effectively as possible, its recent statement reads.

The organisation recently changed its governance model to a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO), registering with the Charity Commission as Croydon Almshouses in September 2024.

It formerly operated as the Croydon Almshouses Charities Trustee Company, which oversaw Croydon Almshouse Charities and Croydon Relief in Need.

Croydon Almshouse Charities, the larger of the two former registered charities, recorded a total income of 1.72m in 2024, 1.02m of which came from investments, and an expenditure of 1.83m.

Its own-use assets that year amounted to 12.7m and its long-term investments 24.5m.

James said the operating deficit recorded in 2024 was due to the former charity spending its reserves to fund strategic objectives.

Editor's note: This article was updated on 26 March to emphasise that the properties being sold are not almshouses.

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On March 3, days after the United States and Israel attacked Iran, Erin Burnett, a CNN anchor, was broadcasting outdoors in Tel Aviv when she pointed up to the night sky. Were not going to show this live, because we dont show this live, but I do see interceptors going up, Burnett said, referring to Israels missile defense network. Were not showing you that because the Israeli government does not allow or want us to show where that may have come up.

Burnett was acknowledging the Israeli Military Censor, a unit of the Intelligence Corps of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) that controls what journalists working in Israel can and cannot report. In the name of national security the censor unit has barred media in Israelboth domestic and foreignnot just from showing the locations of its interceptor launchers but also from publishing the location of successful Iranian missile attacks on military targets. Since the recent attacks on Iran, IDF brigadier general Netanel Kula, the head of the unit, has told the press to clear its reporting on a wide array of topics. According to +972 Magazine, that includes operational matters, intelligence, defensive preparedness, impact sites in Israel, armament management (including munitions and interceptor stockpiles, aircraft and air defense systems readiness, and the employment and use of unique and classified weaponry), and operational vulnerabilities in defense and offense. To comply with the orders, journalists submit their reporting prior to publication to the censor, which then may insist on modifications to coverage. The censor can be contacted over WhatsApp.

The censor is not new: its origins trace back to the 1930s, before the creation of the State of Israel, when occupying British forces sought to control coverage of the conflict in the Arabic press. The censor has been a mainstay for the press in Israel ever since, affecting reporting on broad swaths of Israels warfare. (For example: until 2022, the censor prohibited reporters from writing about Israels use of deadly drones.) But the unit has intensified its actions lately, when it comes to coverage of Iranand many American viewers of CNN may be learning about the censor for the first time. Though the unit is traditionally limited to national security, it has vast powers, Oren Persico, a staff writer at The Seventh Eye, an Israeli media criticism publication, said. By citing potential damage to the state, officially, it can censor almost everything. (The IDF did not respond to a request for comment. A CNN spokesperson told CJR: CNN does not show the location of Israels interceptor launchers, nor live interceptions, as required by local law in order to avoid revealing sensitive military information. However, we do report on each Iranian strike. We retain full editorial control and are transparent with our audiences.)

In an explainer published a few days after Burnetts on-air comments, Oren Liebermann, CNNs Jerusalem bureau chief, wrote that foreign media in Israel usually only interact with the censor when seeking to clear footage obtained while embedded with the IDF. But, Liebermann added, the rules have tightened in this war.

As the Israeli government attempts to persuade its citizens to accept more nighttime alarms and sprints to shelters, the unit appears focused on limiting coverage of successful Iranian missile strikes. The military censor is an integral part of Israels media and journalism culture, said Mairav Zonszein, a senior analyst for the International Crisis Group and a contributing writer for the New York Times opinion page. It helps the military build the narrative that theyre degrading Irans launchers and military capabilities. It contributes to the war effort.

The censor doesnt acknowledge what it has censored but, at times, an observer can make educated guesses about the censors work. Take, for example, this piece published by Walla, an Israeli outlet, in August of 2025, during an earlier round of conflict with Iran. The article states that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office at the Kirya, a military headquarters in Tel Aviv, is unusable and requires renovations. The article mysteriously does not state what caused its sudden deterioration.

According to an analysis from +972 Magazine, of the roughly twenty thousand news items submitted in 2024 to the censor for approval, more than sixteen hundred articles were banned and another six thousand were partially censoreda 38 percent rate of intervention by the censor, which would represent an all-time high. But if the unit is more active than ever before, that is not necessarily an editorial choice. As the rate of Israels wars accelerates, there are just more things to censor, Persico said.

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Technically, media outlets operating in Israel are not supposed to acknowledge that they have been censored. Still, its not only the censors actions that have intensified. Many Israeli reporters now boast that their reporting has been cleared by the censor. Embarrassing nerds that they are, Gideon Levy, a veteran columnist for the oppositional Israeli newspaper Haaretz, wrote in a recent column, everyones obeying the rules, and then some.

Levy told me that military censorship has never been as effective in pushing the government line as the Israeli presss self-censorship. They are really serving like the PR people of the army, Levy said of Israeli journalists. These days, the fact that any piece of reporting was approved by the censor is presented as if its a source of pride, he observed. Which is pathetic. This form of self-censorship reached a peak, Levy said, during the war in Gaza. You couldnt see anything from Gaza in the Israeli media. Not the children, not the suffering. Nothing. They just didnt cover Gaza. But nobody asked the media not to show it. Both when self-censoring and when cooperating with the military censor, the media is also serving the interests of the public, Persico argues: The Israeli public is so sensitive to news that might help the enemy, and are so aggressive towards the media, they would rather have a harsher censorship.

The censors escalation comes amid increasing hostility toward journalists. This month, in East Jerusalem, police officers attacked a group of Palestinians praying, and then attacked reporters attempting to document the violence. The police said the journalists were part of an unlawful gathering and disturbance of public order in violation of Home Front Command instructions, and that they failed to identify themselves as journalistsa claim the journalists dispute.

The national police are under the control of Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israels radical minister of national security, who has also promised to use the military censor to punish journalists, saying in a statement that anyone who endangers Israels citizens in the name of journalistic reporting will face a determined and tough police force. No concessions, no games.

Levy points out that Israeli media exists in a climate of discourse in which there is nearly no representation of dissent. The United States should understand: 93 percent of Jewish Israelis are in favor of this war, he told me. Where in democracy do you have such figures? Ninety-three percent? Supporting a war of choice? This is a North Korean figure.
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In February, President Donald Trump endorsed a proposal that would allow Nexstar, already the largest owner of local broadcast stations in America, to acquire Tegna, a smaller rival. We need more competition against THE ENEMY, the Fake News National TV Networks, he wrote on social media. GET THAT DEAL DONE!

Last week, the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice approved the merger. The resulting behemoth will control two hundred and sixty-five television stations, reaching 80 percent of US householdsmore than double the 39 percent national audience cap allowed by law. Its a grotesque violation of the cap, Diana Moss, the vice president and director of competition policy at the Progressive Policy Institute, a liberal Washington think tank, told me. So bottom line, Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Commission, who clearly does the bidding of the White House, said that he would wave this merger through, and that has in fact come to pass.

US antitrust laws are more than a hundred years old and can be split into two big statutesthe Sherman and Clayton Acts, passed in 1890 and 1914, respectivelyand three areas of concern: monopolies, mergers, and anticompetitive agreements like price-fixing, Moss told me. She is part of a center-left, pro-enforcement movement founded in the 1990s by antitrust advocates in the nonprofit, academic, and enforcement communities with concerns about the economic consequences of concentration and consolidation. Mergers that really concentrate markets and create dominant players are generally thought to be harmful to consumers, she said. We worked very hard in advancing that movement to get stronger guidelines, better cases, and better legal precedents. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

CAG: How will the Nexstar-Tegna deal affect consumers and the overall media landscape in this country?

DM: There will be three major consequences of the merger, which will increase Nexstar-Tegnas market power and bargaining power in the media supply chain. One is higher retransmission rates charged to multi-video programming distributors to carry local TV channels that will increase cable and virtual streaming bills. A second is higher advertising rates in local TV markets that will make it harder for local businesses to survive. A third is a decline in diversity of political, social, and cultural viewpoints and news content.

Less than a day after the FCC approved the merger, the attorneys general of eight statesincluding California, Virginia, Illinois, Oregon, and New Yorkfiled an emergency motion to block it, arguing that it violates federal antitrust laws. What does that mean for the future of the deal?

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The fact that the FCC and DOJ have allowed the merger to proceed does not mean it is not exposed to risk from a decision to block it at the state level. So that case will have to play out in court. And of course, the companies are taking an enormous risk by proceeding to close their deal before the resolution of the states lawsuit.

What are the major implications of the national audience-reach cap being waived, and what kind of precedent does it set?

Ultimately, it could affect whether that merger has to be unwound, which is always a sticky problem, but it certainly is setting a very troubling precedent for how mergers are approved. One implication, I think, is a lot of this will be unwound after the Trump administration is gone. During the Trump administration, a lot of it will be caught up in litigation and left for the courts to decide. But for now, the real concern is whats being done herethis use of antitrust as a political toolis really hurting competition, markets, consumers, and workers.

The attorneys general who sued over this are all Democrats, but support for the deal isnt necessarily split along partisan lines. Chris Ruddy, the CEO of the conservative media company Newsmax, opposes the deal, as does Charles Herring, the president of the pro-Trump television channel One America News Network. What do you make of this?

Yeah, I dont think its necessarily a partisan issue. It used to be that you had more right-wing voices wanting to go light on antitrust: Lets not go after mergers, lets just use a light touch. And it was the Democrats who went harder on antitrust. But that ground is shifting now. Were seeing a lot of concerns on both sides of the political spectrum about concentration of economic power in the hands of a few.

Another major merger is also on the horizon: the Trump-aligned Ellison family, which already owns CBS and Nickelodeon, won a bidding war with Netflix in February for Warner Bros. Discovery, CNNs parent company. Senator Elizabeth Warren recently called that deal an antitrust nightmare. Do you agree?

In comparing potential mergers between Netflix and Warner Bros. versus Paramount and Warner Bros., the Netflix deal would have raised a much larger concern about higher concentration in streamingand potentially higher subscription prices, lower quality, and slower innovation. But both deals also raise concerns about consolidation in film studios and labor markets for content creation. Another thing about the Warner Bros. deal is that CNN is part of it. My concern, given how weaponized and politicized our antitrust system is right now, is that there could be political interference in the disposition of CNN from the Trump administration, which would love to see it weakened or neutered.

How has the Trump administration weaponized the antitrust system?

Early on in Trump 2.0, we thought we might get more of Trump 1.0, which actually wasnt bad on antitrust enforcement. Some Trump 1.0 enforcers brought some aggressive cases. (Im very pro-enforcement.) Thats not what we got in 2.0. What we got was rumors, which eventually crystallized into the reality that the first stop for companies that wanted to merge was the White House and not the Department of Justice or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

And so, hence was born this concept of, Well, if I want my deal to go through, then Ive got to curry favor with the White House. The Trump administration is also advancing its political agenda by requiring companies to adhere to certain conditions as the price of merger approval. These conditions have nothing to do with competitive concerns raised by the mergers. They are simply ways to extort commitments from companies as the price of merger approval.

One example is Paramounts merger with Skydance. The price of the merger to clear the FCC approval process was to eliminate all DEI programs. These conditions had nothing to do with any effect of the mergerit was purely a political concession. Another example is the merger of Omnicom and Interpublic Group (IPG) in November, which was handled by the FTC. The companies are media buyers, so they link up advertisers with ad publishers. That merger didnt raise significant competitive concerns, but the price of that deal was the condition that the companieswhich purportedly had more progressive leaningswere prohibited from tying advertising spending to political viewpoint.

Paramounts merger with Warner Bros. is not exactly a sure thing. It still has to go through regulatory approval. What does that process look like?

The deal will have to pass muster with the DOJ, which handles mergers in the media space, whether its local television stations or streaming mergers. The DOJ and FTC review mergers that are reportable under the federal merger filing requirements. The DOJs process is to decide whether to allow the deal to proceed because it raises no concern that it will harm competition, or to require the companies to file additional information under a second request. A second request can lead to a fuller investigation. Investigations can lead to four outcomes. One is an eventual close to the inquiry without any action. And second is that the companies abandon the deal. A third is a settlement with conditions that restore competition and protect consumers. A fourth is an injunction, where the government goes to federal court to try to block it.

How likely is it that this last outcome will happen?

We are basically fearful that every merger that goes through the agencies at this point will face some intervention by the White House, some form of interference, that says, Look, dont give them their deal unless they agree to x, y, and z. I think that is potentially a significant risk because of CNN.
Iran has started charging transit fees on some commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, another sign of Tehrans control over the worlds most important maritime energy channel.

Payments of as much as $2 million per voyage are being sought on an adhoc basis, effectively creating an informal toll on the waterway, according to people familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive dealings. Some vessels have made the payment, though the mechanism wasnt immediately clear  including the currency used  and it doesnt appear to be systematic, the people said.

The payments show Irans influence over Hormuz, through which normally about a fifth of the worlds oil and gas, and vast amounts of food, metals and other materials are shipped every day. With the war in the Middle East now in its fourth week, it also highlights the desperate need for some consumers to ensure continued energy flows.

People familiar with the matter said the payments have been handled quietly. The lack of transparency and uncertainty over who might be targeted next is adding a fresh layer of friction to the shipping lane. Only a trickle of vessels have crossed the waterway since the war, many of them Iranian-linked. Some of the few others appear to have taken similar routes close to Irans coastline.

India, which got four vessels carrying liquefied petroleum gas to exit the Persian Gulf through Hormuz, said Tuesday that international laws guarantee the right of freedom for navigation through the strait and no one can levy any fee for use of the channel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he discussed the Iran war on a call with President Donald Trump, including the conflicts impact on the maritime corridor.

Ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure and accessible is essential for the whole world, Modi wrote in a social media post.

Irans foreign ministry didnt immediately respond to a request for comment amid state-imposed restrictions on telecommunications and Internet access.

While Iran is demanding the transit fee on a case-by-case basis, the Islamic Republic has floated the idea of formalizing the charges as part of a broader postwar settlement, one person said. Last week, an Iranian lawmaker said that parliament was advancing a proposal to require nations to pay Iran for using the Strait of Hormuz as a secure shipping route.

For Arab producers in the Gulf, even an informal toll is unacceptable, people familiar said, as it raises the issues of sovereignty, precedent and the potential weaponization of a vital trade route for their energy exports. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates depend on the route to ship their oil to global markets, but are now relying on alternative pipelines bypassing Hormuz to get crude to their customers.

Top photo: A cargo vessel near the Strait of Hormuz on March 22. Bloomberg.

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.
Emily Gregory, Democratic candidate for Florida State House seat for West Palm Beach poses for a campaign photo.

Democratic candidate Emily Gregory is projected to win a special election on Tuesday evening for a Florida state House seat representing a Palm Beach County district whose residents include President Donald Trump.

Gregory's projected victory over Jon Maples, the 43-year-old Republican endorsed by Trump, will flip House District 87 from GOP control. The district includes Trump's Palm Beach club, Mar-a-Lago, where he holds residency.

With more than 95% of the votes counted as of 9 p.m. ET, Gregory was leading Maples by 51.2% to 48.8%

Gregory's expected win was immediately touted by Democrats as yet another warning sign to Republicans for the upcoming 2026 midterm elections.

Since Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, 29 seats in state legislatures around the country have been flipped from Republican control by Democratic candidates.

"If Democrats can win in Trump's backyard, we sure as hell can win anywhere across the country. Onward to November!" Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin said in a post on the social media site X.

Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams, in a statement, said, "Mar-a-Lago just flipped red to blue, which should have Republicans sweating the midterms."

"A Trump +11 district in his own backyard shouldn't be in play for Democrats, but tonight proves Republicans are vulnerable everywhere," Williams said. "Gas prices are spiking, grocery costs are up, and families can't get by  it's clear voters at the polls are fed up with Republicans."

"If Mar-a-Lago is vulnerable, imagine what's possible this November," she said. "Democrats are clearly on offense as we prepare for the most expansive midterm strategy ever down-ballot, with 650 seats in play. 2026 is shaping up to be an election for the history books."

Gregory, a 40-year-old small business owner, had not sought elected office before this year. She is expected to seek election to a full two-year term in November.

The special election was held to fill the seat previously held by Mike Caruso, a Republican who resigned in August to become Palm Beach County clerk.

Caruso, who won District 87 in the 2024 election by nearly 20 percentage points, was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who had unsuccessfully sought the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, which was won by Trump.

Trump had praised Maples at an event in Florida on Saturday, calling the candidate up on stage.
This is CNBC's Morning Squawk newsletter. Subscribe here to receive future editions in your inbox. Happy Wednesday. I spent yesterday evening at a market technicals event and then went to watch the "Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special." You might call it the best of both worlds. Stock futures are up this morning after a losing day. Here are five key things investors need to know to start the trading day:

1. Peace plan

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he attends Markwayne Mullin's swearing-in as Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 24, 2026. Evan Vucci | Reuters

2. Judge and jury

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg arrives at Los Angeles Superior Court on Feb. 18, 2026. Jill Connelly | Getty Images

A New Mexico jury held Meta liable for civil damages yesterday in a trial over whether the Facebook and Instagram parent failed to safeguard kids from child predators on its apps. The jury said Meta should pay $375 million in damages. Jury members, who began deliberating Monday, found Meta violated New Mexico's unfair practices act. A Meta spokesperson said they "respectfully disagree with the verdict and will appeal." Meanwhile, Anthropic went to court yesterday in hopes of winning an injunction to pause the Defense Department's ban of its products. U.S. District Judge Rita Lin said the Pentagon's decision "looks like an attempt to cripple" the artificial intelligence startup.

3. So long, Sora

Dado Ruvic | Reuters

Sora was here for a good time, not a long time. OpenAI said it's shuttering its short-form video app, which hit one million downloads within five days of its viral debut six months ago. As CNBC's Ashley Capoot notes, OpenAI is looking to cut expenses as it readies to potentially go public. The company said in a social media post that it would share a timeline and information to preserve work made on the platform soon. In other OpenAI news, CFO Sarah Friar told CNBC's Jim Cramer last night that the AI startup is raising $10 billion in additional funding from investors. "What I'm really pleased about is we raised money all around the ecosystem," Friar said.

Get Morning Squawk directly in your inbox CNBC's Morning Squawk recaps the biggest stories investors should know before the stock market opens, every weekday morning. Subscribe here to get access today.

4. Give and take

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) speaks during a press conference, following the weekly policy lunch on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 17, 2026. Ken Cedeno | Reuters

Senate Republicans and the White House appear to be close to having a deal that could end the partial government shutdown. The agreement would fund all of the Department of Homeland Security  with the exception of part of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement budget. A White House official speaking on the condition of anonymity told CNBC yesterday that while talks are ongoing, the deal "seems to be acceptable." Democrats have not said whether they approve of the deal. Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines said yesterday that it is suspending its airport escorts and red coat services for Congress members and their staff. The air carrier cited the partial shutdown, which has caused long airport lines as Transportation Security Administration agents work without pay.

Sheldon Cooper | Lightrocket | Getty Images

Breaking pharma news this morning: Merck is buying Terns Pharmaceuticals for $6.7 billion. The move marks the third multibillion-dollar acquisition for Merck in the last year. The New Jersey-based company is attempting to build out its portfolio before it loses patent protection on its well-known Keytruda drug in 2028. Terns shares jumped more than 5% before the bell, while Merck's stock sat near flat.

The Daily Dividend

Micron fell for a fourth straight day yesterday as investors fretted about the memory maker's ability to meet booming demand.

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HOUSTON  Interior Secretary Doug Burgum will address oil and gas executives on Wednesday, as President Donald Trump has suggested a possible negotiated end to the U.S. war against Iran.

Burgum will speak at S&P Global's CERAWeek energy conference in Houston, Texas. The event draws leading energy executives and senior government officials from around the world.

U.S. oil prices have fallen more than 10% this week after Trump said the U.S. and Iran are holding negotiations. The administration has presented Tehran with a 15-point plan to end the war, two unnamed officials told The New York Times.

Iranian state media, however, reported that the Islamic Republic will not accept a ceasefire offer.

Trump is expected to send thousands of additional troops to the Middle East, raising the possibility of a ground war, two unnamed sources told Reuters.

Investors will be looking for updates from Burgum, who also chairs Trump's energy dominance council, on the U.S. war against Iran and what measures the White House is taking to reduce energy prices.
In this article SHEL Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT

US President Donald Trump speaks to journalists before boarding Marine One as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2026 for his Mar-a-Lago residence. Brendan Smialowski | Afp | Getty Images

Hello, this is Leonie Kidd writing to you from London. Welcome to another edition of CNBC's Daily Open. On Wednesday, markets seem to be taking a report of a 15-point peace plan from President Trump as a sign of de-escalation in the war that is ongoing in Iran and across the Middle East. It's shaky on the details, but The New York Times reports that the plan addresses ballistic missiles, nuclear programs and maritime routes. Given the lack of clarity around who the U.S. is actually negotiating with, concerns are running high that this could be more of a wish list than a peace plan. For today at least, markets are seeing the positive.

What you need to know today

And finally...
President Donald Trump speaks during a ceremony for newly sworn in Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, March 24, 2026.

On Tuesday, there were some indications from Washington on a possible de-escalation in the Mideast conflict. But between Trump's claims of talks with Iran and Tehran's denial, as well as reports on a potential U.S. troop deployment in the Middle East, investors and observers are understandably confused.

Markets are struggling for direction as investors weigh ever-shifting signals from the Iran conflict.

Hello, this is Dylan Butts writing to you from Singapore. Welcome to another edition of CNBC's Daily Open.

President Donald Trump reiterated on Tuesday that the U.S. and Iran were "in negotiations right now" and suggested Tehran was eager to make a peace deal, even as the Islamic Republic denies it is in direct talks with Washington.

Those comments were followed by a report from The New York Times, citing two unnamed officials, suggesting that Washington had sent Iran a 15-point plan to end the war.

That plan was reportedly sent through Pakistan, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently saying that his country was willing to facilitate talks between the warring parties.

The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, however, reported that the Pentagon was readying plans to deploy about 3,000 soldiers from the Army's 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East.

As investors track these quickly shifting signals and reports, U.S. stocks pulled back in Tuesday trading, giving back some of the sharp gains seen in the previous session. Futures for key indexes, however, were trading higher.

Oil prices, which rallied on Tuesday after tumbling in the prior session, resumed their slide and were last down 6%.

Meanwhile, impacts from the conflict in the Middle East continue to reverberate worldwide. The Philippines on Tuesday became the first country to declare a "national energy emergency" as the ongoing conflict threatens fuel supply chains.

 Dylan Butts
Elon Musk's legal team is demanding that a judge in the Delaware Court of Chancery, Kathaleen McCormick, recuse herself from two Tesla lawsuits, alleging she showed bias in supporting a LinkedIn post that was critical of Musk.

"In light of the Court's recent public support of LinkedIn posts that create a perception of bias against Mr. Musk in these cases, recusal is necessary and warranted," Musk's attorney's wrote in their motion for recusal on Wednesday. "These cases should be re-assigned to another random-drawn judicial officer of this Court."

The post that McCormick allegedly responded to with an emoji had touted a verdict from a San Francisco federal court that could cost Musk upwards of $2 billion. In that case, a jury found Musk had defrauded Twitter investors in the lead up to his buyout of the social network.

McCormick sent a letter to Musk's attorneys saying she did not read the full text of the LinkedIn post referenced, did not support it, or intend to click any emoji expressing support of the post, and would have only accidentally clicked that indicator. She also said in the letter that she had reported "suspicious activity" on her account to LinkedIn.

Quinn Emanuel partner Alex Spiro, an attorney for Musk, told CNBC in an email that he's inquired with LinkedIn on the matter, and said "I don't believe there's any basis for the claim it was a 'glitch.'"

LinkedIn, which is owned by Microsoft , did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

McCormick became the target of Musk's ire after she ordered Tesla to rescind his 2018 CEO pay package, worth about $56 billion in options, when she presided over the shareholder suit Tornetta v. Musk.

Musk moved his businesses, including Tesla, out of Delaware, incorporating them in Texas and Nevada and encouraging others to do the same.

In 2025, Delaware's Supreme Court said Musk's 2018 pay package must be restored, deciding that the lower court's decision by McCormick was too extreme a remedy and did not give Tesla a chance to say what a fair compensation for Musk ought to be.

Tesla and Musk still have two cases proceeding through Delaware courts before McCormick. One concerns Tesla directors' compensation, and the other is a consolidated shareholder suit filed by investors alleging that Musk breached his fiduciary duties to Tesla when he started a potential competitor in artificial intelligence, xAI,

Earlier this year, Tesla invested $2 billion into xAI. Musk's aerospace and defense company, SpaceX, then acquired xAI, converting Tesla's stock into SpaceX holdings.

WATCH: Elon Musk teases pair of giant chip factories
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport on March 23, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed the session almost 1.3% higher, with all major regional bourses in the green .

LONDON  European stocks ended Wednesday in positive territory as the U.S. reiterated efforts to de-escalate the war with Iran and Tehran said it may allow "non-hostile" vessels through the Straight of Hormuz.

Housebuilders led the recovery, with shares in U.K. property developer Crest Nicholson finishing up 10.2% after posting an improved open market sales rate in the 10-week period to March 20.

Its results boosted sentiment across the sector, helping rival Bellway recover from some of its heavy losses earlier in the week.

Bellway shares had closed down 17.5% on Tuesday after the homebuilder warned of "volatility" in the mortgage market caused by inflationary cost pressure, but finished Wednesday's trading up about 6%.

Meanwhile, the U.K. inflation rate stood firm at 3% in February, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, which marked the last reading before the start of the Iran war.

Core inflation, which excludes energy, food, alcohol, and tobacco, stood at 3.2% in February, up from 3.1% in January and landing in line with economists' expectations.

Global markets are being buoyed by comments from U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting talks to end hostilities with Iran are ongoing. Tehran, however, continues to deny any direct negotiations are taking place.

Speaking at the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump said the U.S. and Iran are "in negotiations right now", adding he had stepped back from threats to target Iranian energy infrastructure "based on the fact we're negotiating."

"They're talking to us, and they're talking sense," Trump said when asked to further explain his pivot.

Later on Tuesday, The New York Times reported that the U.S. has sent Iran a 15-point plan to end the war, citing two unnamed officials. Gold prices climbed on Wednesday, but oil prices dropped following the report.

An Iranian military spokesperson commented early Wednesday that the U.S. was essentially negotiating with itself, according to comments to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported by Reuters.

However, Iran's UN Mission said in a post on X that 'non-hostile vessels, including those belonging to or associated with other states' may obtain 'safe passage' through the Strait of Hormuz via coordination with Tehran.
Jay Clayton said regulators would likely examine the unusual burst of trading activity early Monday that preceded a market-moving social media post from President Donald Trump.

"Any move like that in advance of any announcement, the regulators are going to look at," Clayton, a former chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, said Wednesday on CNBC's "Squawk Box," referring to the spike in futures trading minutes before Trump disclosed that the U.S. and Iran had held talks and that planned strikes on Iranian infrastructure would be halted.

Clayton, now the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said authorities would work to reconstruct the activity and identify participants across markets.

"They'll go back and track every single thing, everyone," he said.

The SEC declined to comment.

Clayton noted that regulators have the most visibility in cash equities, where trading data allows for detailed analysis of who bought and sold securities and when. Surveillance in other areas, including futures and commodities markets, can be more complex and less comprehensive.

"I always tell people our best surveillance is in the cash equities markets  like, we can track it," Clayton said. "Commodities markets, and others, it's a little more difficult."

The comments come after a sharp spike in trading volume in S&P 500 and oil futures around 6:50 a.m. New York time, roughly 15 minutes before Trump's post helped lift equity markets and push oil prices lower.

"There's a point here which Congress should act on  let's make it clear across the board," he said. "The law is not as clear as it should be. ... There are a lot of people who say this is OK. I don't feel like it's OK."
HOUSTON  The Trump administration on Wednesday temporarily waived regulations on the types of gasoline that are sold during the summer in an effort to ease surging fuel prices during the Iran war.

The Environmental Protection Agency lifted restrictions on the sale of E15 gas, a fuel blended with 15% ethanol. The sale of E15 is restricted in about half the U.S. from June through September due to regulations designed to reduce air pollution.

The EPA said it also issued a waiver to remove all federal impediments to selling E10 gas, which is blended with 10% ethanol. E10 is widely available throughout the year.

The agency is suspending federal enforcement of certain state fuel requirements as well, allowing the production and distribution of gasoline with 9% to 15% ethanol content.

"EPA waivers will work to prevent disruption in America's fuel supply by keeping E15 and E10 on the market and giving Americans more fuel options," EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin told reporters at S&P Global's CERAWeek conference in Houston, Texas.

The waivers will take effect May 1 and last through May 20 but could be extended, Zeldin said.

"We will continue to monitor the supply with industry and federal partners," the EPA administrator said. "The agency will be ready to extend the emergency fuel waivers as ongoing issues continue to present the need for action."

Gasoline prices have surged more than 30% to $3.98 per gallon since the U.S. war against Iran started, due to the ensuing massive oil supply disruption, according to data from travel association AAA.

Prices at the pump are the highest levels since 2022, when Russia's invasion of Ukraine shook global energy markets.

Diesel prices have soared more than 40% to $5.37 per gallon. The fuel is used by trucks and freight trains that transport goods to market. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNBC on Monday that the administration has plans to increase the diesel supply.

"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."
Wael Sawan, chief executive officer of Shell Plc, at the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in Houston, Texas, US, on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.

A trio of European energy CEOs has sounded a warning over energy supplies, amid the ongoing conflict in Iran and restricted access through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

Amid volatile trade, crude prices have surged around 40% in recent weeks, at one point approaching $120 a barrel as investors raised concerns over a potential lack of supply.

Those concerns have been felt particularly in Asian countries so far, with the Philippines announcing an energy emergency, while South Korea says it is preparing for "worst-case scenarios."

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has asked the International Energy Agency to consider an additional release from global crude stockpiles, with the global energy watchdog having already coordinated the release of 400 million barrels of oil amongst member countries.

Japan will release national stockpiles on Thursday, with Takaichi confirming Tokyo will access the IEA stockpiles toward the end of the month.

But now there are fears the supply concerns will move westward.

"South Asia was first to get that brunt. That's moved to Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia and then more so into Europe as we get into April," Shell CEO Wael Sawan said at CERAWeek in Houston, Texas.

Sawan warned governments not to take actions that could magnify the impact of supply disruptions, adding that you cannot have "national security without energy security."
It started with a bike ride to the local dump, where then-teenaged Kirk McKinney stumbled on a pair of "really nice speakers" that still worked. The speakers became prized possessions and the inspiration for Junk Teens, a Norwood, Massachusetts-based junk removal and reselling business that McKinney launched with younger brother Jacob McKinney in February 2021. The brothers are now ages 22 and 20, respectively  and their business brought in $3.04 million in 2025 revenue, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It. After finding the speakers, "I was hooked. I just kept going back to the dump ... and, eventually, my bedroom looked like a mini hoarder's house," says Kirk McKinney, the company's CEO. He sold abandoned items he found on Facebook Marketplace as a side hustle, and hanging out at the dump, he met people willing to pay local teenagers to remove more unwanted junk from their homes, he says. He knew he'd need help, so he quit a grocery store job and enlisted his brother, who was a high school freshman at the time, he says. They bought a used 2006 Ford F-150 pickup truck with $4,000 of their own money to haul junk, Kirk McKinney says. Two bored teens in the middle of a pandemic looking to make extra cash, they also picked up odd jobs like landscaping and moving gigs. "We didn't really know that we wanted to start this business," says Jacob McKinney. Junk removal and reselling simply became the most fun and profitable part of their work, and customers showed more interest in Junk Teens "when they knew that we were repurposing" their items, says Kirk McKinney. DON'T MISS: The leadership skills that can help you stand out at work Today, Junk Teens employs 10 full-time and roughly 10 to 15 part-time employees, all of whom are high school, college or gap-year students. The company's fleet of five dump trucks  the brothers plan to add two more later in 2026  now has two locations in eastern Massachusetts that collectively cover Boston and the Cape Cod area, the brothers say. Junk Teens completed over 5,500 jobs in 2025, mostly residential and commercial junk removal, the brothers say. The company charges between $300 and $600 per job, on average, depending on the size and nature of the service. Both McKinneys now study entrepreneurship at nearby Babson College while running the business, and each paid themselves salaries in the low-to-mid six figures in 2025. They used part of that money to pay some of their college tuition, with the rest covered by their parents, who run a local tree service business, say the brothers. "The money is great, [but] that's not what the whole point of this is," says Kirk McKinney. "We want to build futures for our friends, and we want to do what we love  and not have to work at a job that we hate."

Learning the ins and outs of junk removal

"One thing that we were very fortunate for is growing up in a family business background," says Kirk McKinney. Early on, their parents offered business ownership advice on topics like administration and bookkeeping: "We grew up watching our parents do all of that stuff for their business, and we would ask them questions in the beginning." The brothers sought further advice online, literally searching "how to start a junk removal business" on YouTube  learning how to set up the legal structure of the business and put aside money to pay taxes, Kirk McKinney says. They recruited friends and classmates to help with the manual labor, and used local word of mouth and their social media savvy to build a customer base. Now, the McKinneys post their own instructional videos on YouTube to show their tens of thousands of followers how they negotiate pricing and the best ways to dispose, flip or donate different types of items. Junk Teens has more than 400,000 followers combined across Instagram and TikTok, too. Their first year in business nearly cleared six figures in profit, so the brothers bought their first dump truck, says Kirk McKinney. They parked it, along with their pickup, in their parents' driveway, where they also piled used items like electronics, appliances, furniture and bicycles under a tarp. "Our parents were not happy with that," he says. The business started renting warehouse space instead in March 2023, paying $1,450 per month.

Getting 'crafty' to balance school and a growing business
With OpenAI and Anthropic soaring to a combined valuation of more than $1 trillion, some in the artificial intelligence industry fear that the two big model companies are sucking up so much of the value that there won't be much left for other startups.

Harvey would like a word. On Wednesday, the legal AI company announced it's raised $200 million in fresh capital at a valuation of $11 billion. The company is among a growing crop of startups focused on deploying the latest AI technology in specialized and complex markets.

Founded in 2022, Harvey offers AI tools for legal and professional services that can streamline contract analysis, compliance, due diligence and litigation. The company's products are used by more than 100,000 lawyers across 1,300 organizations, according to a release.

Singapore's GIC and Sequoia led the financing, which closed just months after Harvey raised funds at an $8 billion valuation in December. Sequoia has now led three of Harvey's funding rounds, "the ultimate sign of conviction," according to Pat Grady, a partner at the venture firm.

"They sort of wrote the playbook for what it means to be an AI-native application company, which is the same thing Salesforce did back in the day with the cloud transition," Grady told CNBC in an interview.

Grady said that because model capabilities are improving so quickly, trying to apply them in real-world situations is a bigger undertaking than it has been for software companies in the past. There's a lot of craft, taste and judgment that goes into determining how to use AI to achieve a particular job, he said.

Harvey CEO Winston Weinberg is a former lawyer who co-founded the startup with Gabe Pereyra, a former research scientist at Google DeepMind and Meta . The pair launched the company after experimenting with OpenAI's GPT-3 model, which came out before ChatGPT.

Clients include global law firms and large enterprises like NBCUniversal and HSBC . The company hit $190 million in annual recurring revenue in January, up from the $100 million figure it announced in August. It also earned a spot on CNBC's 2025 Disruptor 50 list.

Harvey becomes the latest AI startup to cross the $10 billion valuation mark. In addition to OpenAI and Anthropic, that list includes Perplexity and Bret Taylor's Sierra, among others. Weinberg said Harvey doesn't pay much attention to those milestones.

"I think any company right now, the worst mistake you can possibly do is become complacent, because how you build a company is completely changing," Weinberg said in an interview. "The companies that succeed are going to be the ones that are relentlessly adapting."

Weinberg said Harvey will use the fresh capital to expand its AI agents, which are tools that can independently complete tasks on a user's behalf. The company will also grow its embedded legal engineering teams around the world.

WATCH: OpenAI CFO Friar: People believe in AI and want to put their money behind it
Five Below's ability to capitalize on the hottest new toy on the market sets shares up for success, according to Wolfe Research. The mystery squishy dumpling, created by toy manufacturer RMS USA, is the latest viral toy trend gaining traction on TikTok and other online platforms. Mystery dumplings are shaped like a steamed bao bun and packaged in a miniature bamboo steamer, coming in a variety of colors and rarity. And much like other blind boxes that took off in popularity last year, consumers are unable to see which version they've bought until after purchase and opening the package. Wolfe Research analyst Spencer Hanus pointed to Five Below's ability to capitalize on this trend as a catalyst for the off-price retailer. "Comp momentum at FIVE remains the strongest in our coverage, and our store checks this past weekend suggest the 'Dumpling' craze is accelerating. This trend is helping to drive incremental traffic, higher ticket, and greater awareness of Five Below," he wrote. "If the current demand lasts through 2026, it could drive an incremental 100-200bps to the comp. While investors are already expecting a beat in 1Q, this is further proof that the strategy is working, even if demand for this trend slows quicker than expected," he added. The analyst currently has an outperform rating on the stock. His new price target of $291, up from $275, implies an upside ahead of 26% from Tuesday's close. This mystery dumpling craze parallels that of plushy Labubu dolls, which became a worldwide sensation last year after Lisa, a performer in K-pop group Blackpink, was spotted sporting the toy. The dolls' popularity skyrocketed the revenue and shares of its maker, Pop Mart, which are listed in Hong Kong. "We don't think this trend is as big as others (yet), but it is a positive that they can chase these trends. The other swing factor is the attach of other items, and Five Below does have other products that fit this 'squishy' theme," Hanus added. The analyst also noted that Google Trends data suggests interest is accelerating in Five Below, with a significant increase in searches for "Five Below" and "Squishy Dumplings." However, he also pointed out that trends are becoming more fleeting, with searches for "Labubu" already trending downwards in favor of emerging newer trends. "Overall, we think the most important thing to watch is 'Five Below' searches, which should continue to grow as long as they benefit from the flywheel of virality. 'Five Below' search interest was up +100% YoY in March vs +67% in February and +47% in January," Hanus said. Shares of Five Below have surged 23% this year. Over the past 12 months, they have gained 200%.
An Iranian security worker monitors an area in phase 19 of the South Pars gas field in Assalooyeh, on Iran's Persian Gulf coast, on Aug. 23, 2016.

Oil prices fell on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump said that Washington and Tehran are "in negotiations right now" and indicated Iran is keen to reach a peace agreement, despite the Islamic Republic denying any direct talks with the U.S.

International benchmark Brent crude futures declined 2.2% to $102.22 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures slipped 2.2% to $90.32 per barrel.

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said he had pulled back from his earlier threat to launch strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure "based on the fact we're negotiating."

"They're talking to us, and they're talking sense," Trump said when asked to elaborate on the shift.

Later Tuesday, The New York Times reported, citing two unnamed officials, that the U.S. had sent Iran a 15-point proposal aimed at ending the war.

According to the report, it remains unclear how widely the proposal, delivered through Pakistan, has been circulated among Iranian officials. It is also uncertain whether Israel, which is carrying out attacks on Iran alongside the U.S., would back the plan.

Iran's top joint military command spokesperson signaled that oil markets will remain volatile, warning prices won't normalize until regional stability is secured under its military control, Reuters reported.

Separately, Iran's mission to the United Nations said Tuesday that "non-hostile vessels" would be able to pass through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, provided they coordinate "with the competent Iranian authorities."

The social media post appears to establish a protocol that has emerged in recent days, with some ships from China, India and Pakistan able to pass through the waterway as Iran flexes control over it.

Iran state media said the country won't accept U.S. cease-fire efforts.

The Middle East crisis has severely disrupted oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz since the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Feb. 28. The maritime corridor typically carries about a fifth of the world's oil and liquified natural gas (LNG) and represents a key choke point for fertilizer trade.
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A performance featuring Labubu in Pop Land in March 2026. CNBC

Pop Mart knew Labubu would be a hit, but it didn't expect the shaggy little elf-monster to take over the world. Then, almost as quickly, the question followed: Is the bubble about to pop? It's a pressure Pop Mart has learned to live with. Investors have been asking some version of that question for years  about Labubu, about the pouty-lipped Molly, about ruddy-cheeked Twinkle Twinkle  said Si De, the Beijing-based toymaker's chief operating officer. The Labubu craze has since cooled, and Pop Mart' s stock has retreated some 40% from its August peak. Powered by Labubu, Pop Mart's revenue and net income in 2025 surged 185% and 309%, respectively. But shares fell over 22% after the earnings release Wednesday as investors weighed whether the company can keep up the momentum beyond the initial hype. CEO Wang Ning sought to reassure the market during the earnings call, saying, "Pop Mart has more than just Labubu"  and likening the expectations for the company to a "rookie racing driver suddenly thrown onto an F1 circuit."

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No one knows how long a character will stay popular, Si said. But Pop Mart is clear on how one fades: when you stop investing in it. "We learned this from Disney. They have a very simple truth: continuous investment," the 38-year-old executive told CNBC this month. "When you keep making the right investments, the [intellectual property] has a chance to keep going." For Pop Mart, that means going global and building worlds around its characters: films, theme parks, fashion tie-ups. The motive is not vanity projects, but commercial bets designed to keep its products like Labubu embedded in people's lives. "Of course, we hope that Labubu can also last 80, 90, or 100 years," Si said, noting Mickey Mouse is nearly a century old. "But this road is very long."

The method behind the monster

The story of Labubu  which can look like an overnight success  actually began with years of quiet grinding. Pop Mart first launched Labubu as part of a blind-box collection in 2019 after licensing the character from Hong Kong-Dutch artist Kasing Lung, who created it for a picture-book series several years earlier. For the plush products that became wildly popular, Pop Mart's team spent about two years developing and prototyping designs. This painstaking process was not the exception. Pop Mart scours the world for artists each year, Si said, but most don't make the cut. Of the tiny fraction who sign with the company, they go through a long incubation process, including internal competition, before the company decides where to concentrate its resources.

Hong Kong artist Kenny Wong created Molly in 2006, planting the seeds for Pop Mart's move into design toys a decade later. CNBC

The shortlist is deliberately kept small. "We aim to help four, five, maybe six IPs truly grow world-class," Si said, drawing from Disney's playbook where a handful of characters generate the lion's share of value. Pop Mart, founded in 2010 as a retailer for trendy products for young consumers, pivoted to focus on design toys in 2016 with its first major IP: Molly, a wide-eyed, somewhat sullen girl created by Hong Kong artist Kenny Wong. He first sketched her back in 2006, after meeting a girl at a fundraiser where he was illustrating portraits. Bespectacled and loudly introducing herself as Molly, she looked at him "with a little bit of stubbornness and nervousness"  and Wong saw himself in her. He wanted to design a character that says, "We may not be perfect in this world, but we are unique," he told CNBC.

Once products enter the market, the process kicks in like clockwork. Pop Mart tracks sales and social media data closely. A new series drops Friday, and by Sunday, sales figures will signal whether it has legs. Running their own stores and online channels keeps the feedback loop tight. An agile supply chain means they can scale or cut orders quickly. "We don't really make predictions. Instead, we continuously adjust our products based on data," Si said. But data alone cannot explain why certain characters resonate. Si doesn't know what the next big one will be after Labubu  and doesn't think it's about dissecting the zeitgeist.

Pop Mart's Chief Operating Officer, Si De, spoke with CNBC about the company's systematic approach to artists and products  and its ambitions beyond Labubu. CNBC

"With all our products  not just Labubu, but also Molly and other IPs  everyone's feelings when they see them aren't necessarily the same," he said. He compared it to visiting an art museum: people drift past paintings until one stops them. What moves each person is different. Pop Mart's job, as he sees it, is to keep putting out designs, stories and experiences, and let the encounters happen. That thinking also shapes how the company approaches artificial intelligence. Pop Mart uses AI for efficiency, such as in customer service and coding, but will continue to trust human judgment for art and understanding human emotions, Si said.

The long game

Pop Mart says it's in a phase of global expansion and diversification, where the product is no longer just the toy. Markets outside mainland China accounted for about 44% of Pop Mart's revenue in 2025, and contributions from the U.S. and Europe are expected to grow, Si said. The stakes of staying relevant are high. Repeat customers who rushed to buy Labubus during periods of tight supply helped spike revenue growth in mainland China last year, according to HSBC. Pop Mart later ramped up production to curb scalping and resale prices have since fallen. As the Labubu frenzy fades, HSBC last month trimmed its revenue growth forecast for Pop Mart this year from around 30% to under 24%, and expects a 11% to 13% cut in 2026-2027 earnings. The bank added it remained confident in the company's ability to develop and globalize new IPs beyond Labubu. Other growth initiatives include partnerships with Uniqlo and the Paris-based leather goods company Moynat . Pop Mart has also moved into jewelry, with some Labubu gold necklaces fetching above $2,000. This month, it teamed up with Sony Pictures and filmmaker Paul King to bring Labubu to the big screen.

Pop Land, Pop Mart's theme park in Beijing, is undergoing reconstruction and expansion. CNBC

But theme parks may be the company's most ambitious project. Si called them a "huge dream" for Pop Mart. Pop Land, located in Beijing, is still in its early stages and undergoing reconstruction and expansion. Its goal is "360-degree immersion," said Si: live performances and more storytelling to send people home wanting more. Watch videos. Buy products. Fall for them harder. That diversification is also a hedge. Regulators in China and Singapore have introduced or planned tighter rules on blind box sales, reflecting growing concern about their addictive and gambling-adjacent appeal. Si said the company has embraced those rules.

The geopolitics of cute

Geopolitics has forced the company to adapt. As U.S.-China trade tensions escalated, Pop Mart diversified production across Vietnam and Southeast Asia. But with tariff rates constantly shifting, the company has shifted its focus toward supply-chain efficiency over tariff strategy, according to Si. Pop Mart has also been cited as an example of Chinese soft power: a consumer brand from Beijing that has achieved genuine cultural traction in the West, something few Chinese companies have managed. Si wants to move past that framing. "I see a lot of media trying to tie us so closely to politics. O.K., first, we cannot avoid the fact that we are a Chinese company," he said. "But we hope to be a brand that connects artists from around the world with fans from around the world."
A PopMart Labubu The Monsters doll hangs from an influencer's handbag during a press preview outside an AliExpress pop-up store in London, Britain, Nov. 11, 2025.

Despite resilient headline numbers, "a material slowdown in the fourth quarter [has amplified] investors' concern on the durability of top IP's popularity," said Jeff Zhang, equity analyst at Morningstar, adding that a pullback in dividend payout ratio to 25% in 2025 from 35% in the prior year was also a negative factor.

That sharp sell-off came after the Beijing-based toy maker posted annual revenue of 37.1 billion yuan ($5.4 billion) for 2025, up 185% from a year earlier, just shy of LSEG estimates of 38 billion yuan. Net income more than quadrupled to 12.8 billion yuan, slightly above the 12.6 billion yuan forecast.

Pop Mart shares lost more than a fifth of their value on Wednesday, as concerns over the sustainability of the company's Labubu plushies-driven growth overshadowed its blockbuster annual results.

Labubu, the snaggle-toothed monster doll that became a global collectible phenomenon, has remained the company's primary growth engine. But Pop Mart's chances of replicating that success with newer characters such as Skullpanda and Twinkle Twinkle have come under investor scrutiny with the momentum that drove a massive rally in the stock over the past two years beginning to fade.

Sales from Skullpanda more than doubled to 3.54 billion yuan, and those for Crybaby and Dimoo each roughly tripled. But The Monsters  the IP family that houses Labubu  still contributed a larger share of 38% to the total annual revenue, compared with 23% in 2024.

Twinkle Twinkle and Hirono, newer additions to the roster, generated 2.06 billion yuan and 1.74 billion yuan, respectively, substantially lower compared with The Monster family sales of $14.2 billion yuan.

Billy Leung, analyst at Global X ETF, highlighted the persistent debate, with "bulls focused on ongoing IP monetization and overseas growth ... [and] bears question durability and cycle risk. Earnings did little to close that gap," he said.

CEO Wang Ning sought to calm the market during the earnings call, saying that "Pop Mart has more than just Labubu"  and likening the expectations for the company to a "rookie racing driver suddenly thrown onto an F1 circuit."

Pop Mart's sell-off also reflects an extended period of cautious sentiment since last year, said Shaun Rein, managing director at China Market Research Group.

Investors who had accumulated short positions over the past six months  betting that Pop Mart's appeal was a short-term fad  unwound those positions on Tuesday, Rein said, contributing to the sell-off.

Pop Mart shares have lost some momentum after their extended run-up, retreating about 50% from their August peak. Shares had gained more than 340% in 2024 and nearly 110% last year.

 CNBC's Elaine Yu contributed to this report.
Sony Honda Mobility CEO Yasuhide Mizuno speaks at a news conference in Tokyo, on Oct. 13, 2022. Sony and Honda's joint mobility venture unveiled a new EV prototype in January.

Sony Honda Mobility, the joint venture between Japanese electronics giant Sony and automaker Honda , on Wednesday said it would stop developing its Afeela electric vehicles, citing Honda's strategy reassessment for EVs.

The move follows Honda's move to overhaul its EV business for which the carmaker flagged a writedown of as much as 2.5 trillion yen ($15.7 billion) earlier this month. The JV said the decision left it without a viable path to bring the Afeela models to market.

Sony Honda Mobility will issue full refunds to customers who made reservations for what was supposed to be its first model, the Afeela 1, in California, it said in a statement. It added that it would continue discussions with Sony and Honda regarding its future plans.

The JV had been expected to begin deliveries of the Afeela 1 in California late this year and had sought to launch a second model based on a newer prototype as early as 2028. It began taking orders for the Afeela 1 last year, with prices starting at $89,900.

In a statement, Honda said the impact from the move on its revised full-year consolidated financial forecasts for the fiscal year ending this month was expected to be immaterial.

Sony said it did not expect the discontinuation to have a material impact on its financial situation.

The venture was formed to combine Honda's experience in engineering and building vehicles with Sony's software and gaming expertise to catch up with EV rivals.
Riders refuel their motorbikes at a gas station in Hongdae district in Seoul, South Korea, on Saturday, July 2, 2022.

South Korea stepped up its emergency economic planning on Wednesday as Prime Minister Kim Min-seok warned the government must prepare for "worst-case scenarios" from a Middle East conflict that has shown no sign of abating.

The government planned to set up an emergency economic task force, led by Kim, to coordinate cross-ministerial efforts, the prime minister said at a press briefing, according to Yonhap News Agency.

"It is time to step up the government's preemptive response system to prepare against a prolonged situation, including worst-case scenarios," Kim said.

The group will convene twice a week across five working groups, overseeing the war-induced impact on energy, the macroeconomy, financial markets and household livelihoods, as well as overseas situation monitoring.

Separately, an emergency economic situation room will also be set up at the presidential office, Kim added.

The moves follow South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's instruction on Tuesday to activate a preemptive emergency response system, as Seoul stepped up efforts to manage the economic fallout from the conflict.

The Asian country imports around 70% of its crude oil and 20% of liquefied natural gas from the Middle East, leaving the economy particularly vulnerable to prolonged disruptions in energy flows.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman and carrying one-fifth of global energy flows, has been effectively closed by Iran since the war began on Feb. 28. The disruption has rattled global energy markets, reigniting inflationary pressures stemming from surging energy prices.

South Korea has rolled out several emergency measures as the Iran turmoil deepened, including imposing a fuel price cap for the first time in nearly three decades to contain a spike in energy prices.
Surging global defense spending, partly driven by the Iran war, and advancements in artificial intelligence are setting up a new leg of growth for the drone market, shining a light on companies AeroVironment and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions . The global drone market is entering a new phase of rapid growth as rising geopolitical tensions boost demand. Advances in AI have further enhanced the capability of today's drones, with Barclays analyst Zornitsa Todorova calling drones a physical embodiment of AI. "Drones are a core expression of AI in defense, relying on AI for navigation, sensing, autonomy and decision making," she wrote in a report on Monday. "Defense use has driven up to half of the recent market growth, led by the rapid rise of low-cost, one-way swarm deployments." Todorova said she views the growth of drones as a defense story first, and an AI story second. Driven by new artificial intelligence developments, the drone market is now entering a hyper-growth phase that could see exponential growth in drone adoption and production. "Market size has doubled from around $20bn in 2020 to over $40bn in 2025, while drone patents are up 45x since 2012," she added. "As AI becomes even more embedded at the core, we see the market reaching $250bn by 2035, positioning drones as one of the four core growth engines of Physical AI, second only to autonomous vehicles." Recent geopolitical tensions further strengthen the case for drones, with Todorova noting that drone production in Ukraine rose from around 800,000 units in 2023 to nearly 5 million in 2026. The current Middle Eastern conflict saw close to 2,000 recorded drone strikes in the first few weeks of the war, she said. Tactical and counter-unmanned Among defense stocks, analysts at Canaccord Genuity believe that the Iran war's impact will likely favor makers of both tactical drones and counter-unmanned aerial systems. The U.S. and its allies are likely to accelerate build rates and stockpiling of munitions and interceptors, analyst Austin Moeller wrote. Moeller sees AeroVironment as a particular beneficiary. "AeroVironment has been working on its LOCUST laser weapon, which is deployed on some DE variants of the SHORAD Stryker's mission equipment package (MEP) that have been sent to the Middle East," he wrote. "In parallel, AVAV is under a $96M contract to deliver its Freedom Eagle-1 C-UAS missile to the U.S. Army under the Long-Range Kinetic Interceptor program and has begun ramping up sales of its TITAN family of electronic warfare systems to customers for drone jamming/electronic defeat applications." Moeller also believes that AeroVironment and Kratos are the best-positioned stocks in the market for one-way attack and attritable (reusable but cheap enough they can be lost in combat) drones. Pentagon demand for tactical drones will only accelerate, he said. "Kratos' Valkyrie Group 5 stealth drone has a range of more than 3,000 nm (5,500 km), and its Mako and Tactical Firejet/Mighty Hornet IV have ranges of 1,400 nm and 400 nm/540 nm, respectively," he wrote, referring to nautical miles. "These systems provide the best standoff distance and operational range for conducting deep strikes inside of Iran or China from either Taiwan or across the Pacific island chains." "Comparatively, AeroVironment's new Red Dragon one-way attack drones have a range of 400 km, and its new Switchblade 400 variant has a range of up to 65 km," Moeller added. Outside defense Barclays' Todorova sees tailwinds for drone usage beyond the defense market, saying the technology could is increasingly being adopted for civilian use agriculture, logistics and delivery. Civilian applications will likely rise from 55% of the market today to about 65% by 2035, she said. In agriculture, drones are used in precision farming, improving efficiency and output. "Farmers are using them to apply fertilizers and pesticides, sow seeds, monitor crops and even transport produce," the analyst said. "Drone spraying could cut operational costs by around 70% versus manual backpack spraying and about 50% versus tractor-mounted spraying. Spraying time falls by more than 90%, while water use declines by roughly 90%." Leading drone manufacturer DJI estimated that around 400,000 of its agricultural drones were in active use worldwide by late 2024, up from 80,000 in 2020. That number could swell to 3.5 million by 2035, assuming the same growth rate, Todorova wrote. In logistics, Todorova sees use cases for inventory management, such as drones boosting safety and saving labor by performing daily inventory sweeps and audits. In the delivery sector, drones could outperform ground delivery on short routes, resulting in meaningful labor savings when scaled.
U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping as they hold a bilateral meeting at Gimhae International Airport, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in Busan, South Korea, October 30, 2025.

A long-awaited meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will take place in Beijing on May 14 and 15, the White House said Wednesday.

Trump and first lady Melania Trump will also host Xi and Madame Peng Liyuan for a "reciprocal visit" in Washington, D.C., at a to-be-announced date later this year, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at a briefing.

The announcement amounts to a roughly six-week postponement of the China summit, which was expected to occur in late March and early April.

But Trump said in mid-March that the U.S. had asked to delay that meeting "by a month or so" in light of the Iran war.

In a Truth Social post after Wednesday's press briefing, Trump said that U.S. representatives are "finalizing preparations for these Historic Visits."

"I look very much forward to spending time with President Xi in what will be, I am sure, a Monumental Event," he said in the post.

The Trump administration has said it expects the war  which began on Feb. 28 when the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran  will last around five weeks, though some officials have offered varying timelines.

Asked Wednesday if the new schedule for Trump's China trip means that the U.S. expects the war will be wound down by mid-May, Leavitt said, "We've always estimated approximately four to six weeks, so you could do the math on that."
Doug Burgum, US secretary of the interior, at the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in Houston, Texas, US, on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

HOUSTON  Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said Wednesday that the U.S. recently brought back $100 million of gold from Venezuela.

Burgum visited Venezuela with oil and mining executives earlier this month to meet with interim President Delcy Rodriguez.

"There hadn't been a shipment of precious metals between Venezuela and America in over 20 years," Burgum told energy executives at S&P Global's CERAWeek conference in Houston.

"At the end of the two days, we were able to bring home $100 million of gold  physically, the gold," the Interior secretary said. U.S. refiners will use the gold for commercial and consumer purposes, he said.

The U.S. captured former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a military raid in January, leaving the rest of the regime largely in place. The Trump administration is cooperating closely with Rodriguez, vice president under Maduro.

The Interior secretary said he met with Rodriguez for 10 hours during his trip.

President Donald Trump has been pressuring U.S. oil and gas executives to invest in Venezuela's energy sector. The South American nation is believed to possess the largest crude oil reserves in the world.

Minerals and metals

Beyond petroleum, however, the U.S. also sees a major opportunity to develop Venezuela's mineral and precious metal resources, Burgum said. The country also has vast coal resources that contain critical minerals, he said.

"The mining opportunity  that's an industry that's been in complete collapse in Venezuela and they know that. It's down to just artisanal miners controlled by gangs, [with] probably some of the worst environmental practices in the world," Burgum said

"They want a clean environment, they want to have modern investment, they want to see growth in their country," the Interior secretary said of the Rodriguez government.

Venezuela opposition leader Maria Corina Machado addressed oil and gas executives in Houston on Tuesday. Her role in Venezuela's future remains unclear as the Trump administration cooperates with Rodriguez.

Machado called for the full privatization of Venezuela's oil industry during her remarks. She said it will take at least nine months to create the conditions for free and fair elections in Venezuela.
Every weekday the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer holds a "Morning Meeting" livestream at 10:20 a.m. ET. Here's a recap of Wednesday's key moments. 1. Oil was driving stocks again Wednesday. U.S. and international crude prices dropped 4% each, inversely providing support for the S & P 500 to jump nearly 1%. The markets were moving on reports that the U.S. sent Iran a 15-point plan to end hostilities. Iran, not surprisingly, rejected the overture publicly. In addition to watching oil prices, Jim Cramer said that how Chevron trades is a good barometer of the direction of the overall stock market. Again, if Chevron is down, as it was Wednesday, then the market would likely be higher, and vice versa. 2. We like Meta Platforms ' new executive stock plan tied to aggressive targets as a way to get company leadership to reach for the stars. These options packages for CFO Susan Li, Tech chief Andrew Bosworth, Chief Product Officer Christopher Cox, and operating chief Javier Olivian won't be realized unless "Meta achieves massive future success, benefiting all of our shareholders," a company spokesperson said. Jeff Marks, director of portfolio analysis for the Club, said, "We like that positive alignment there." CEO Mark Zuckerberg is not part of the plan. 3. Linde is playing the long game to benefit from helium supply disruptions in Qatar, one of the world's biggest producers of the gas. Iran has targeted some of Qatar's facilities involved in helium production. Linde competitor Airgas, which is an Air Liquide company, has had to reduce shipments to customers because of Qatar's production issues. Linde is not that reliant on Qatar for helium and has its own stores of supply. Jeff said Linde can leverage its position to go after rivals' customers and gain market share. (See here for a full list of the stocks in Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.
Every weekday, the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer releases the Homestretch  an actionable afternoon update, just in time for the last hour of trading on Wall Street. Stocks climbed Wednesday on optimism that tensions between the United States and Iran will continue to ease. The U.S. reportedly offered Tehran a 15-point peace plan, but it's facing some resistance on the Iranian side. Oil dropped a few dollars per barrel  global benchmark Brent crude was trading around $102  while bond yields fell, too. Elsewhere in geopolitics, the White House said President Donald Trump plans to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in China in May. When the two parties meet, we expect a sizable order of Boeing jets to finally be announced. It would be Club name Boeing's first major order from China in almost a decade, Reuters reported earlier this month . Every sector but energy traded higher on Wednesday, with materials, consumer discretionary, and industrials leading the way. Health care also outperformed thanks to a strong move in drug stocks like Club name Bristol Myers Squibb , which rallied over 2.5%. In technology, the red-hot memory chip stocks dropped after Google announced a new compression technique that its researchers claim can reduce the memory costs for large language models and vector search engines. For Google, this innovation could be an incremental positive for the company if it allows them to save on compute costs. Honeywell shares rose more than 2% after it announced it signed what it called a "groundbreaking supplier framework" deal with the U.S. Department of Defense. Honeywell is making a $500 million multiyear investment to upgrade its production capacity of critical defense technologies, which include navigation systems, missile actuators, and electronic warfare solutions. The agreement should provide a nice boost to Honeywell Aerospace's defense business, which will become an even greater focus to investors after it's spun off into a standalone company in the third quarter. We upgraded our Honeywell rating back to a 1 last Friday, viewing the war-driven market sell-off as an opportunity to buy a quality stock that's pulled back and has a value-creating catalyst later this year. Up next, we'll hear from Jefferies Financial after the closing bell on Wednesday. We'll be looking at Jefferies' investment banking results as a readthrough into Club name Goldman Sachs . There are no major earning reports on Thursday before the opening bell. On the data side, the only notable report is weekly jobless claims. (See here for a full list of the stocks in Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.
Chinese large telescope releases over 30 mln spectra to international collaborators

Xinhua) 09:00, March 25, 2026

BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- China's Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST) on Tuesday issued its latest dataset, including more than 30 million spectra, to domestic astronomers and international collaborators, cementing its position as the survey project with the highest number of released spectra worldwide.

According to the LAMOST Operation and Development Center of the National Astronomical Observatories under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC), the dataset, dubbed DR13, covers an observation period from October 2011 to June 2025, encompassing 6,961 low-resolution observation patches and 3,404 medium-resolution observation patches.

The 30.82 million spectra released include roughly 13.47 million low-resolution spectra and 17.35 million medium-resolution spectra. Additionally, it features a stellar spectral parameter catalog containing about 12.94 million entries.

The total number of spectra released by LAMOST and the scale of its stellar parameter catalog continue to lead the world, the NAOC said.

To date, over 1,900 users from 278 institutions across countries and regions including China, the United States, Germany, Belgium and Denmark have conducted research using data generated by LAMOST, resulting in the publication of more than 2,200 high-quality papers.

In recent years, LAMOST data have helped publish over 300 papers annually, with more than 40 percent of these papers authored by foreign astronomers. Its overall scientific output places LAMOST among the world's leading large astronomical telescopes in the 6-to-10-meter class.

As China's first major national sci-tech infrastructure in the field of astronomy, LAMOST pioneered global large-scale spectroscopic sky surveys and has been operating efficiently and stably for 14 years. Its spectra have enabled global astronomers to conduct the most systematic research to date on the structure and evolution of the Milky Way, and have led to a series of breakthroughs in areas such as the search for compact objects, stellar physics, exoplanets and quasars.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
"A Night on the Red Carpet" has been the theme of the annual Cut Bank Area Chamber of Commerce awards banquet for the past three years. The Chamber has used this event to showcase Cut Bank businesses and their employees that make Cut Bank a great place to visit, live, and work.

From Jan. 1 to March 13 the community was able to nominate the best individuals in fourteen different service categories. The top three in each category received a free ticket to the banquet, and those who received the most nominations will be awarded the winner during the banquet.

The night will also include the recognition of Cut Bank's 2026 Business of the Year and Citizen of the Year. Dinner will be prepared by TLC Catering. The Wolves Den will provide a no host bar for the evening. A silent auction, reverse 50/50 raffle, and other prizes will round out the night.

The banquet will be held at the Joe Meagher Memorial Civic Center in Cut Bank. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Please come and support the people that make Cut Bank such an amazing community. Tickets are $40 each or $320 for a table of eight which includes drink tickets. Tickets can be purchased on the chamber website at http://www.cutbankchamber.com/shop or visit Billman's Ace Hardware at 133 W Railroad St. in Cut Bank.

The Cut Bank Area Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the following banquet sponsors: Logan Health-Cut Bank, Stockman Bank, First Interstate Bank, Billman's Ace Hardware, Billman's Home Decor, Mountain View Window and Glass, Glacier Electric Cooperative, Glacier Community Health Center, and Water to Wine Steakhouse/Pioneer Bar.

Listed below are the top three nominations for each service category.
By Heather Carpenter

For more than 70 years, the familiar glow of The Main Drive-In has been part of life in Conrad, Montana. Now, just steps away, a new chapter of local entrepreneurship is beginning. The Main Drive-In was built in 1955 and has been family-owned and operated since 1977. For generations, it has been a gathering place for the community-serving burgers, shakes, and summertime memories.

Just behind the drive-in on Front Street, longtime Conrad resident Heather Carpenter has opened Front & Main, a boutique located inside the historic blue Kronebusch Electric building. Through Front & Main, Carpenter offers clothing, gifts, and specialty items while creating a shopping experience that blends both in-person and online connection.

"I've always loved bringing people together," Carpenter said. "Whether it's through the drive-in, clothing, or fun events online, my goal is to create something welcoming and personal."

Carpenter also hosts live shopping events through her Facebook group, "LuLaRoe Heather Carpenter VIP," where customers can interact and shop new arrivals in real time. While the boutique reflects Carpenter's entrepreneurial vision, its foundation remains rooted in family and community. The nearby Main Drive-In continues to serve as both inspiration and backdrop for her growing business. Carpenter says the support from the Conrad community has meant everything.

"There's something really special about small towns," she said. "People show up for each other and support local businesses."

New customers who visit the boutique or shop online can receive 10% off their first purchase, welcoming them to experience Front & Main for themselves. Just behind the familiar neon glow of The Main Drive-In, a new story for Conrad is beginning-one outfit and one customer at a time.
With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Patricia Marlene Ketchum, our Mom, Patti DuBois, Grandma, Aunt Patti, and forever friend. Born March 26, 1964, in Gilroy, California, Patti made her grand exit on Jan. 17, 2026 wrapped in love and loyalty.

To know Patti was to feel her presence before she even spoke. She didn't enter rooms quietly. She arrived. She lit them up. She filled them with laughter, music, bold opinions, and that unmistakable spark that was hers alone.

Patti loved hard, laughed louder, and never pretended to be anything other than exactly who she was. She cleaned her house like it was sacred ground, played her music like it was a soundtrack to her life, and told stories that somehow always got better each time.

She was real. Unfiltered. Honest about her struggles and fearless in her love. Patti faced battles with addiction - battles many families understand - but she refused to let hardship define her. If anything, it sharpened her strength. Her story is one of resilience, grit, heart, and choosing to keep showing up.

A proud No Limit Soldier, she moved through life to the rhythm of Master P, living "Bout It, Bout It". That wasn't just something she said - it was a lifestyle. Patti was about her family. About loyalty. About standing ten toes down for the people she loved. She had a little gangster in her, a whole lot of soul, and a spirit that could not - and would not - be dimmed.

She showed up fully. Whether it was a blunt truth you didn't know you needed, a laugh that shook the walls, or a hug that reminded you everything would be okay, Patti was all-in. No halfway. No pretending. If she loved you, you knew it.

To her children, she was more than Mom - she was the daily phone call, the safe place, the ride-or-die, the best friend who would defend you fiercely and correct you just as fast. She poured herself into Jason Infante (Beckah), Tami Infante, and Danae Infante (Steven), and she wore the title of Grandma like a crown. Her grandchildren - Nicolas, Mercedes, Jacob, Lexus, Harley, Layton, Chevelle, and Denali - were her pride, her joy, and the reason her smile softened.

After a long and courageous health battle, Patti was gently embraced by God and allowed to rest - free from pain, restored, and at peace. While our hearts ache, and words cannot fully express our loss, we take comfort in knowing her fire burns in eternity just as brightly.

She is survived by her children; her beloved grandchildren; her father-in-law, James DuBois Sr.; her brothers, Samuel (Tonya), Daniel (Andi), Harold Jr. (Melodie), and Robert Sr. (Annamaria); and countless nieces and nephews, friends and extended family who were lucky enough to be part of her world.

She was preceded in death by her parents; Harold and Winona Ketchum; her brothers, Randy and Michael; her husband, James DuBois Jr.; and many loved ones who surely welcomed her home with open arms.

Patti's light doesn't fade. It blasts through speakers. It lives in bold laughter, in fierce loyalty, in spotless kitchens, in late-night talks, and in the resilience passed from mother to child. Love like hers doesn't disappear - it multiplies.

A celebration of Patti's unforgettable life will be held on March 26, 2026 - her birthday - in Box Elder, Montana. A perfectly "Patti" day to gather loud, love big, play the music up, and honor a woman who never did anything halfway.

Come as you are. Bring your stories. Bring your laughter. Be a little bold. Be a little loud.

Because that's "Bout It, Bout It."

A life lived fully.

Loved fiercely.

And remembered forever.
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Nature abhors a vacuum, as Aristotle said, although at the time he was probably contemplating something rather more highbrow than the fate of the former Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson.

Since disappearing from public view at the end of last year (the last official sighting was at the christening of her youngest grandchild, Athena Mapelli Mozzi, at the Chapel Royal at St Jamess Palace in London), speculation has been rife about Fergusons whereabouts and what her next move might be.

The longer she remains out of view, the madder the theories get. Last weekend it was reported that she was involved in a plan to clone the Queens last two remaining corgis, Muick and Sandy, whom the late monarch entrusted to her care.

The story goes that, back in 2023, she was in talks with a TV production company to take part in a show called The Queens Corgis, in which she would work with scientists with the intention of selling the resulting royal replicas to wealthy clients.

A spokesman for the former duchess has since issued a firm denial regarding the project, stating that while she had indeed been in talks about fronting a show about dogs, she withdrew once she realised what they were after. 

Cloning animals for commercial gain is strictly prohibited in the UK.

Of course, the problem she has is that, given her shoddy behaviour in relation to Jeffrey Epstein, people are now inclined to believe the worst of her, and with justification.

To recap, there was the supreme friend email in 2011, sent to the late financier just after she had publicly condemned his crimes, in which she claimed she did not say the p-word [paedophile] about him.

Do Sarah Ferguson's catastrophic errors of judgment amount to collusion with the late paedophile, or is she just a hapless victim of her own stupidity and greed, asks Sarah Vine

Her supporters insist she only sent the message to assuage him after he threatened to sue her  nevertheless, it does her no favours, especially in the context of other emails variously praising him as a legend, my pillar, the brother I have always wished for. At one point she even wrote: I am at your service. Just marry me.

Then there was that 2009 trip when, less than a week after Epstein had been released from jail for child sex offences, she flew to Miami with Beatrice and Eugenie, at the time aged 20 and 19, to have lunch with him (after asking him for an upgrade). Given the mans sexual proclivities, it was a strange choice, to say the least.

But do her catastrophic errors of judgment and notable venality (we know that one of the reasons she was so keen to suck up to Epstein was that he paid off some of her many debts) amount to collusion with the late paedophile, or is she just a hapless victim of her own stupidity and greed?

Everyone has their strong opinion, but I still cant decide. Having met her on a few occasions via mutual friends, I cant say she has ever been anything other than perfectly civil towards me.

A little wary, perhaps, but you would expect that given what I do for a living (most people run a mile  she at least bothered to exchange pleasantries).

I once interviewed her for a podcast and she prattled on amiably about nothing very much. Without wishing to be rude, shes not the sharpest tack in the box.

Which is why, on balance, Ive always thought her car-crash of a life has been more cock-up than conspiracy. Possibly because in some respects the same is also true of mine.

Certainly, in all my interactions with her over the years Ive never had the impression that beneath that honking old Sloane exterior there is an evil genius at work. In fact, very much the contrary.

Fergie and Andrew's daughter Beatrice with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi

The then Duke and Duchess of York in June 2019, at Royal Ascot

An image released by the US Department of Justice shows Andrew on all fours over an unidentified female

What I do know about her, however, is that unlike Andrew, who cuts a sad, lonely figure, abandoned by all who once knew him and dependent on the kindness of his brother, who is not-so-secretly furious with him, Fergie still has a close coterie of friends on whom she can rely.

How else would she have remained so efficiently hidden  some might say shielded  from public view all these months?

She vacated Royal Lodge at the same time as her ex-husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and the pair  she once described them as the happiest divorced couple in the world  have finally gone their separate ways, at least for the foreseeable future.

While he remains holed up at Sandringham following his arrest and subsequent release without charge in February, she has remained under the radar.

There have been rumours and reported sightings  from a retreat in Ireland to a wellness clinic in Switzerland via the Middle East  but nothing concrete. No one has spilled the beans. No one has dobbed her in, even though they could make a pretty penny out of doing so.

Shes more elusive than the Scarlet Pimpernel, harder to track than Lord Lucan.

She is, when you think about it, the most famous missing person in the UK. And yet she hasnt been photographed once, despite the best efforts of His Majestys Press. She wasnt even spotted during her final flight from Royal Lodge. Those players on Celebrity Hunted could certainly learn a thing or two from her.

Whats her secret? Simple: good mates. Someone as recognisable as Fergie doesnt remain that well-hidden without some serious back-up, funds and transport  and the generosity of friends.

So why does she inspire such loyalty? Its not as though, stripped of her titles and royal connections, ostracised by her charities, cancelled by her publisher, penniless, homeless and a social pariah, she has anything left to offer them.

And yet personally I know of at least two people who have stepped up to help, and Im told there are plenty more.

Its in times of trouble that you discover who your true friends are, and it seems the former duchess has more than a few willing to stick by her.

I asked one of them, a good friend of mine too, why, and she said quite simply: Its because she is a very loyal friend. She never forgets a birthday, always sends a present. Nothing flash, just kind and sweet and thoughtful.

The only people who dont like her are the ones who havent really met her, she added. She is generous to a fault  and it is a fault. She would give you her last fiver, which is probably why shes in this mess in the first place!

For me the clearest indication that there is at least a grain of truth in what my friend says is the late Queens decision to entrust her precious corgis to her.

I know that in recent months there have been attempts to blame Elizabeth II for the whole Andrew mess, and perhaps she does bear some responsibility as an over-indulgent, too-trusting mother (if that were a crime, we would all be in the dock).

But to me she will always remain someone who was a pretty good judge of character during her long reign. She wouldnt have left Muick and Sandy to just anyone.

Whatever else Sarah Ferguson may be, there is no doubt that she has always been a survivor, the kind of woman who picks herself up, dusts herself down and gets back on the horse. Unless it transpires that she has some kind of criminal case to answer, I can see her making a comeback.

A book would seem the most likely course of action, telling her side of the whole sordid story. Who knows? Maybe thats what shes working on at this very moment, in whichever borrowed bedroom she happens to be in.

But one things for sure: for better or for worse, I very much doubt weve seen the last of her.
Months before they were convicted on federal sex trafficking charges in New York, the multimillionaire Alexander brothers were reportedly already exploring ways to secure a pardon from President Donald Trump.

Those discussions, which allegedly began late last year, included outreach to a lobbyist and an influential Jewish advocacy group known to have helped facilitate clemency bids in the past, The New York Times reported Friday.

A Trump administration source said neither the White House nor the Department of Justice has been contacted about any such pardon petition.

And the brothers family insist no such effort has ever been considered, let alone formalized.

Speaking about the Trump pardon reports, family spokesperson Juda Engelmayer told the Daily Mail: We are not aware of any pardon application, and our focus remains on sentencing and the appellate process.

However, if this case were ever seriously reviewed at the highest levels, it would raise significant concerns about how the charges were framed and how the case was presented.

He did not rule out seeking a pardon in the future.

And the Daily Mail understands the brothers are confident that their sentences could be overturned or shortened.

The Alexander brothers, (left to right) Alon, Tal, and Oren, were found guilty of all charges in their sex trafficking trial earlier this month, with sentencing set for August

They each face 15 years to life in prison. Attorneys for the trio said they will be appealing the verdict

The Israeli-American siblings - Tal Alexander, 39, and twins Oren and Alon, 38 - were convicted in Manhattan federal court on March 9.

The trio were found guilty of drugging and raping dozens of women - sometimes together - as part of a predatory campaign stretching back more than a decade.

Sentencing is set for August 6 and the brothers each face 15 years to life in prison.

Tal and Oren, nicknamed the A-Team, were once among the countrys most successful real estate brokers, selling multi-million dollar homes to the rich and powerful. Alon, meanwhile, is a trained attorney who ran the familys private security company.

The brothers and their family were fixtures in elite real estate and socialite circles spanning New York, Miami and Tel Aviv.

The brothers twice attended parties at the White House, most recently a Hanukkah event during the final weeks of Trumps first term in 2020.

Months later, Oren helped Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner purchase a sprawling $24 million mansion on Miamis coveted Indian Creek Island.

President Trump has pardoned more than 1,800 people in the first year of his second term - more than any president in recent history.

But none of his clemency grants listed online by the Justice Department involve sexual crimes.

Oren Alexander is pictured with Ivanka Trump and his wife, Kamila Hansen in 2022. Two years earlier, he represented Ivanka and Jared Kushner in the purchase of a $24m Miami mansion

Tal and Oren were real estate moguls and their brother Alon was a lawyer who ran their family's successful private security firm

Further dismissing the pardon reports, Engelmayer insisted the Alexanders ties to Trumps circle have been overblown.

Media tends to overstate the connection, he told the Mail.

There was some professional and social overlap, but that should not be mistaken for a close personal relationship.

Despite those denials, sources close to the family told the Daily Mail last week that the trio remains confident they will avoid a lengthy stay behind bars.

Theyre not thinking like defeated men, said one source. In their world, theres always another deal to be made - and they believe someone powerful could still intervene.

Another insider added: The Alexanders have spent years cultivating relationships with people who have serious political influence. Theyre convinced that network didnt disappear overnight.

Dont underestimate how tight the luxury real estate world is, said a third. Developers, donors, politicians - its a very small club.

According to the Times, a person who works with the brothers but was not authorized to speak publicly acknowledged they had explored avenues for pardons after their fate was sealed by a jury earlier this month.

A photo of Tal and Zac Efron partying together in 2012. During the trial, an accuser claimed she was raped by Alon Alexander the same night after partying at Efron's home

The Tzedek Association, a Jewish group that has had a hand in shaping Trumps clemency grants, was also contacted last year by someone close to the brothers but declined to engage due to the predatory nature of the allegations, the Times reported.

The Daily Mail approached the Tzedek Association for comment but did not hear back.

Unnerved by the idea of a potential pardon - no matter how remote - is Maria Suska, a nurse and model who publicly accused Oren Alexander of brutally raping her at a party at the Versace Mansion in 2014.

Suska has not pursued any criminal or civil action against Oren. He and his brothers have consistently denied any accusations of sexual assault, insisting all encounters were consensual.

Suska told the Daily Mail she had found some peace in the belief the brothers would remain behind bars and that no other women would have to endure what she alleges she experienced.

But speaking last week, she voiced concern about the Times report.

A pardon in a case like this would be deeply concerning, said Suska, 40. Situations involving deception, coercion, and abuse deserve accountability.

I hope the seriousness of what victims have experienced is fully considered before any such decision is made.

Maria Suska said she was lured to a party by Oren Alexander in 2014 where she was allegedly brutally raped. Oren has denied all allegations of rape

Trump has been known to use his clemency powers to reward allies - but an administration source said no such request has been made by the Alexanders

The high-flying, hard-partying lifestyles of the Alexander brothers came crashing down in December 2024, when they were arrested by federal prosecutors, accused of using their wealth, status and access to lure women into their opulent world and abuse them.

Over the course of their five-week trial, jurors heard from 11 accusers who described strikingly similar patterns: partying with the brothers, suddenly feeling overwhelmingly intoxicated despite little alcohol, blacking out and later waking to find one or more of the siblings raping them.

One accuser said she was just 16 when Tal, Alon and two of their friends violently raped her at a home in the Hamptons in 2009. Jurors were also shown a video of Oren Alexander raping an incapacitated 17-year-old girl in Manhattan that same year.

After 21 hours of deliberation, the jury of six men and six women returned guilty verdicts on all 10 counts.

Alon and Oren still face three state rape charges in Miami and all three brothers are battling dozens of civil lawsuits filed by alleged victims in Miami and New York, placing the familys estimated billion-dollar fortune in jeopardy.

The Alexander brothers continue to protest their innocence and have vowed to appeal their convictions.

In a statement released after the trial concluded, their parents Shlomi and Orly Alexander said: The legal process does not end here.

We will continue fighting every day until justice is done and the three brothers regain their freedom.
A misogynistic teenage boy who held his own mother hostage for hours before luring her to woods where he brutally murdered her with a hammer has been jailed for life.

Tristan Thomas Roberts, 18, who admitted hating women, recorded himself keeping Angela Shellis, 45, prisoner in her own bedroom before duping her into going outside where he killed her.

Ms Shellis, a teaching assistant, was discovered with severe head injuries beside a footpath near a nature reserve in Prestatyn, north Wales by walkers in October last year.

In messages posted on online platform Discord posted later that day Roberts said: 'I've just had the craziest day.'

He said that he had 'beat the s*** out of her ' and described how he had 'smashed her skull in so hard with a sledge hammer'.

Roberts was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 22 years and six months at Mold Crown Court on Wednesday after admitting her murder.

Jailing him, Judge Rhys Rowlands said his mother's terror during her last moments could not be imagined.

'You appear to have revelled in the control you exerted over your own mother,' he said.

'It was on any view a truly awful way for someone to die.

'It was made all the more dreadful that her attacker was her own son, someone it is clear she had cared for and indeed worried about in the weeks leading up to her death,' he added.

He said Roberts 'looked forward to inflicting pain' and 'enjoyed what you were doing'.

The judge said his mother would 'no doubt have been terrified'.

'Callously you ignored her pleas,' he added.

'She must have been truly terrified in these, the last moments of her life.'

Judge Rowlands said his 'brutal' actions had caused 'dreadful anguish' to his entire family.

Tristan Roberts, 18, pictured leaving Mold Crown Court in February after he pleaded guilty to murdering his mother, Angela Shellis, 45, a teaching assistant

Tristan Roberts, 18, in a social media post, recorded his mother's murder on an audio device

He is being sentenced for murder at Mold Crown Court today. Pictured in a social media post

Angela Shellis, 45, was found dead in undergrowth beside a footpath near a nature reserve in Prestatyn, north Wales on October 24 last year

He said the 'sheer cruelty' of his elaborate murder plot belied his young age, adding that despite his autism and ADHD diagnoses he knew exactly what he was doing that night.

Roberts, wearing a blue-green zip-up top, and flanked by two security guards, stared straight ahead from the dock as he was sentenced.

The court heard he had spent weeks researching the killing  and then digitally recorded the the last hours of his mother's life.

Andrew Thomas KC, prosecuting, said: 'These events were recorded by Tristan Roberts on his digital audio device.

'He made a continuous recording, lasting more than four-and-a-half hours, covering everything from the initial assault to the fatal blows at the end.'

On the recording he said: 'This is the moment we are doing it. We are going to hit her with a sledge hammer.'

I will remember her evil smile for the rest of my life

I'm Tom Rawstorne, and nearly 30 years ago a 12-year-old murderer, with a gold crucifix hanging round her neck, gave me a moment I'll never forget. Sharon Carr is to this day Britain's youngest-ever female murderer, having killed an 18-year-old hairdresser in an unprovoked act of gruesome violence. I watched her up close in court for three weeks and it is something I'l never forget. I've written about it in The Crime Desk newsletter - sign up to read it for free.

The court heard he hit her with the hammer before strangling her.

Ms Shellis was conscious before speaking in a 'calm and firm voice' to phone 999 for medical help.

The court heard Roberts's violent attack began at around 11pm and lasted until 3.30am. He recorded it on a voice recorder 'too distressing' to be heard in court.

Roberts  who was fascinated by TV serial killers  used AI search engines to research how to commit murder.

Immediately after turning 18 last October, he took advantage of being legally able to purchase knives to assemble an arsenal of weapons online and from homeware store The Range.

On the night of October 23 he recorded himself holding Ms Shellis prisoner in her own bedroom before leading her to a nature reserve and killing her with a hammer he had bought on Amazon.

The court heard how he spent hours on controversial gamer messaging app Discord.

The platform has been accused in the US of harbouring radical communities including white supremacist far right groups.

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk's suspected assassin, Tyler Robinson, is also reported to have been active on the site.

Roberts posted disturbing content that related to murder, violence, misogyny, weapons, and his intention to kill his mother.

He used multiple aliases on chat forums. His profiles had been flagged over his abusive and threatening content, including talking openly about killing his mother, described by relatives as having 'a heart full of love and kindness'.

Roberts also had a fascination with serial killers, including TV series Dexter and movie American Psycho.

In the weeks running up to the murder he used AI search tool Deepseek to ask for tips for a 'non-experienced killer', including whether he should use a knife or a hammer.

After it refused to engage, Roberts tricked it by lying that he was writing a book about serial killers.

Although he has never explained the killing of his doting mother, and answered 'no comment' throughout his police interviews, in messages before the murder he said he was motivated by 'hatred of women'.

Ms Shellis, a qualified teacher, had taken a teaching assistant post so she could spend more time at home with her two sons.

But in another message, Roberts wrote that he felt 'abandoned, betrayed and bullied' and blamed his mother.

He said that he was killing her for 'revenge, justice, vengeance' and so that he could move forward in his life.

In one chilling post about his mother he wrote how he had 'nearly traumatised myself' by going into her bedroom while she slept with a hammer in his hand.

The teenager bought weapons including knives, axes and hammers after turning 18 less than two weeks before killing his 45-year-old mother last October in Prestatyn, North Wales.

Relatives knew that Roberts regularly carried a knife in his backpack, and his mother had become increasingly concerned by his behaviour.

Roberts, pictured here in a police interview, answered no comment to all questions put to him by detectives

Police also found Ms Shellis's mobile phone at the property. Family had tried to phone her after becoming concerned about her whereabouts and received messages back thought to be Roberts posing as his mother to quell their concerns

Officers also found a pair of black gloves at the murder scene beside a footpath near a nature reserve in Prestatyn, north Wales

Police officers found a black balaclava at the scene of the murder. He had bought one online

The contents of a carrier bag found by inside Roberts's home address, including a hammer

The hammer found at Roberts's home which he had earlier bought on Amazon

Officers later found CCTV footage showing Roberts and his mother walking over a railway crossing towards the nature reserve with Roberts carrying a rucksack containing the murder weapon

On October 17  four days after he had turned 18  she messaged a social worker and friends, stating that he had bought a knife and a hammer, Mold Crown Court heard today.

She had sought support for her son on numerous occasions and was again expressing concern as to his mental health.

In one note on her phone she asked: 'Why?? What does he need these for?

'Is he planning to hurt me, himself, what? Who? Why? FFS'.

Her older son was also concerned, and before going back to university he had set up wireless-enabled cameras inside the family home so they could monitor Roberts.

In the early hours of October 18, Roberts posted messages on Discord stating that he had been standing over his mother holding a hammer when she was asleep but did not use it.

The next morning, she wrote a note on her phone reading: 'OMG I did not sleep well at all... and Tristan kept coming into my room too  why?'

Another note read: 'Am I safe in my room tonight?'

Her son put his murderous plan into practice after his older brother had gone back to university for the new term.

The prosecutor said that on the evening of October 23, Roberts made a brief voice recording in which he said that he was going to kill his mother that night with a sledgehammer.

'He said that he was 'Alex'.

'It is believed that he was in some way role playing.'

He taped himself saying: 'This is Tristan Roberts.

'Tonight I'm going to be Alex and I'm going to murder my mother with a sledgehammer.'

A four-hour recording started around 11pm.

It detailed an initial attack on the mother in her bedroom in which he attacked her to the head with a hammer and strangled her.

Shockingly, she was kept prisoner in her room for about four hours as her son brandished the weapon.

The recording  deemed far too harrowing to be played in court today  captures Ms Shellis pleading for him to call 999 and get help.

She remained calm, even saying she would 'back him up and say that he had not known what he was doing', prosecutor Andrew Thomas KC said.

He then cynically convinced her to leave the house under the pretence that she could have her injuries treated.

Instead he tricked her into taking a 'short cut' through a nature reserve where he took the sledgehammer out of his rucksack and began repeatedly attacking his screaming mother.

Discord-obsessed Roberts also shared messages about hating women on the chat site

In another chat on Discord he shared chilling messages including one saying 'now it's time'

In another Discord chat he boasted about being able to chop a bear apart with a weapon. He had at least 16 aliases on Discord and kept setting up new ones after being blocked due to the content he was posting

Roberts  whose previously long straight hair had been cut to a short crop before today's hearing  cast his gaze downwards from his seat in the glass-panelled dock as the 'catastrophic' injuries he inflicted were spelt out.

But for most of the hearing he looked straight ahead, displaying no sign of emotion.

At one stage today's proceedings had to be briefly halted after a relative of Ms Shellis began sobbing uncontrollably.

Ring doorbell footage from a neighbouring house showed mother and son leaving home on foot at 3.19am on the night of the murder.

The teenager returned to the semi-detached property alone at 5.35am before leaving again 50 minutes later, swinging a carrier bag thought to have contained bleach to clean the murder scene.

However his plans were thwarted by the presence of early morning dog walkers and he returned home again.

Here he logged on to Discord and 'boasted' about the killing, referencing the terrible injuries he had just inflicted.

Shortly after 8.30am, police were called to the discovery of a woman's body in undergrowth at the Morfa nature reserve.

There was a lengthy trail of blood along a nearby gravel path, for more than 100 metres.

A murder probe was launched, with a cordon set up around the scene, but for four hours, detectives didn't know her name.

A crutch, black gloves and black bloodied balaclava were discovered.

Shortly after 1pm a family member of Ms Shellis called police, worried about her welfare after reports of the woman's body being discovered.

He also made repeated references online to Dexter, a TV series about a serial killer

He also boasted how 'tonights the night [sic]' on the controversial messaging site Discord

Originally from North Wales, she had moved back from Bedfordshire three years earlier after divorcing the boys' father, getting a job as a teaching assistant at Rhyl High School.

It emerged she had needed a crutch because of a recent knee injury which meant she was temporarily off work.

Police arrested the teenager at the family home, where he had barricaded himself into his bedroom.

Roberts calmly asked officers: 'Is the body you found my mother?'

Detectives later found CCTV footage showing the pair walking over a railway crossing towards the nature reserve with Roberts carrying a rucksack containing the murder weapon.

Police seized digital devices from his home  a laptop, voice recorder, and his mother's mobile phone which was hidden under a suitcase in a wardrobe.

Family had tried to phone Ms Shellis after becoming concerned about her whereabouts.

Posing as his mother, Roberts replied to messages from his brother saying she couldn't speak as she had a 'bad throat'.

The brother messaged: 'Just call me for a second so that I know you are alive.'

Roberts replied from his mother's phone to which the defendant replied: 'I think I am alive [laughing emoji]'.

The laptop examination showed his extensive use of Discord including thousands of screenshots.

Roberts had made purchases on Amazon and at shops including The Range in preparation for the horrific killing.

Officers believe him turning 18 was significant because the sales would become legal.

Purchases included a balaclava, facemasks, overalls and clingfilm.

The murder weapon  a 20 'mini sledgehammer' bought on Amazon  was seized at the family home.

A bloodstained water bottle in a carrier bag at the home had the mother's DNA on.

Roberts was quizzed on nine occasions during four days after a mental health nurse deemed him fit for interview.

He answered 'no comment' to all questions and has never explained why he killed his mother.

He pleaded guilty to murder last month after a psychiatric report was discussed with him by his defence team in the cells.

A psychiatric report found 'no credible evidence of any other form of mental disorder' beyond his autism and ADHD.

'His conditions did not impair his ability to understand his actions, form a rational judgment or exercise self control at all, let alone substantially,' it concluded.

Powerful victim impact statements were read in court by her sister Sarah Gunther and surviving son Ethan.

He said their mother had done 'everything' for Tristan throughout his life, and had 'put up with more than any mum should have'.

'I don't know how he could have done this to anyone, let alone the one person out of everybody who would do anything for him,' he said.

'She never gave up on him,' he added, saying he felt Tristan had 'manipulated' professionals who tried to help.

In his statement  read on his behalf  Ethan said his brother's crimes had 'destroyed our family'.

He said he felt 'haunted' by anger over his mother's killing as well as guilt that he was unable to protect her.

Ethan said he never wanted to see his brother again.

Reading hers in person, Ms Gunther said she wanted her sister to be remembered as 'a mum who never gave up'.

She said Ms Shellis had been failed by agencies which should have helped the family and called for them to be held 'accountable', adding that it was a tragedy that 'could have been avoided'.

Earlier the court heard how Ms Shellis repeatedly tried to obtain support for her son, but with 'limited success'.

'Their relationship became strained,' Mr Thomas said.

Roberts spent time in hospital and in homeless accommodation before living with his father in Milton Keynes.

He returned to live with his mother in September 2025.

Roberts had a previous offence as a youngster for possessing a bladed article and wasn't in education at the time of the killing. His older brother was away at university.

In mitigation, David Elias KC told the court that while his psychiatric state was no defence, his plan to murder his mother 'must have been contributed to by his deteriorating mental health'.

He said Roberts had experienced a 'traumatic childhood'.

Mr Elias asked Judge Rhys Rowlands to take into account his guilty plea and the fact he had just turned 18 at the time of the killing.

A safeguarding review is likely to take place.

Afterwards Ms Shellis's sister, Sarah Gunther, said the 'devoted' and 'fiercely supportive' mother had 'fought tirelessly' for Tristan and his brother.

She paid tribute to her as 'a woman whose heart, strength, and spirit shaped the lives of everyone who knew her'.

Ms Gunther said: 'She had so many amazing qualities, but one of the greatest was the way she devoted herself to her boys.

'She was a fantastic and fiercely supportive mum, the kind who never gave up, no matter how hard life became.

'She fought tirelessly for them, and her love for them was unbreakable, a source of strength that carried her and her boys through every challenge.

'She will be missed every single day by so many people whose lives she touched.

'But even though she is no longer with us in body, the love she gave and the memories she created will stay with us forever.

'Her spirit lives on in the laughter she shared, the strength she showed, and the love she poured into her family.'

Senior investigating officer Temporary Detective Superintendent Andrew Gibson said Ms Shellis 'showed tremendous bravery on that fateful night' and 'remained calm and continued to show her caring nature and love she had for Tristan, despite what must have been a terrifying ordeal for her'.

He added: 'It was important that Angela remained the focal point throughout the investigation, and I hope today's sentencing allows for some closure and supports Angela's family in moving forward and towards rebuilding their lives.'

Andrew Slight of the Crown Prosecution Service said: 'The level of planning Tristan Roberts did ahead of committing this shocking crime was elaborate and calculated.

'His mother's final moments must have been terrifying, yet he showed no concern or remorse for his actions.

'The strong evidence presented by the Crown Prosecution Service painted a clear picture, showing Roberts's intentions, resulting in his guilty plea.

'Although this case has concluded, our thoughts remain with the family and friends who still feel the terrible loss of Angela.'

A Discord spokesperson: 'We're deeply saddened by the circumstances surrounding this case. Discord does not tolerate violence on the platform and is committed to helping keep our users safe.

'Our safety systems combine advanced technology and human-led investigations, alongside user reports to identify accounts or spaces engaged in harmful activity.

'When we find that policies are violated, we take decisive action, including removing content, banning bad actors, shutting down violative servers, and proactively reporting violations to law enforcement where appropriate and in compliance with the law.'
This is the moment a misogynistic teen leads his mother to an isolated nature reserve where he recorded himself bludgeoning her to death with a hammer before boasting about it online.

Chilling CCTV footage shows Tristan Thomas Roberts, 18, luring his mother Angela Shellis, who he previously held hostage for hours, away from their home before launching a brutal attack.

And just over two hours later, at around 5.35am on October 24, the teen was seen making his way home by himself and was spotted moments later with plastic bags outside.

His 45-year-old teaching assistant mother was found dead in the undergrowth beside a footpath in Prestatyn Nature Reserve, in north Wales, by walkers the following day.

Roberts pleaded guilty to murdering his mother last February at Mold Crown Court and has since been sentenced to life behind bars with a minimum term of 22 years and six months.

After bludgeoning Ms Shellis to death, the court heard how the 18-year-old posted on Discord, an online platform, saying: 'I've just had the craziest day', adding that he had 'beat the s*** out of her' and 'smashed her skull in so hard with a sledgehammer'.

The twisted killer also confessed to recording himself keeping the 45-year-old prisoner in her own bedroom before duping her into going outside where he killed her.

Jailing him, Judge Rhys Rowlands said his mother's terror during her last moments could not be imagined.

This is the moment misogynist teen Tristan Thomas Roberts led his mother Angela Shellis to a secluded nature reserve before bludgeoning her to death with a hammer

Pictured: Tristan Thomas Roberts has been sentenced to life behind bars with a minimum term of 22 years and six months

Angela Shellis, 45, was found dead in undergrowth beside a footpath near a nature reserve in Prestatyn, north Wales on October 24 last year

'You appear to have revelled in the control you exerted over your own mother,' he said. 'It was on any view a truly awful way for someone to die.

'It was made all the more dreadful that her attacker was her own son, someone it is clear she had cared for and indeed worried about in the weeks leading up to her death.'

I will remember her evil smile for the rest of my life

I'm Tom Rawstorne, and nearly 30 years ago a 12-year-old murderer, with a gold crucifix hanging round her neck, gave me a moment I'll never forget. Sharon Carr is to this day Britain's youngest-ever female murderer, having killed an 18-year-old hairdresser in an unprovoked act of gruesome violence. I watched her up close in court for three weeks and it is something I'll never forget. I've written about it in The Crime Desk newsletter - sign up to read it for free.

The judge said Roberts 'looked forward to inflicting pain' and 'enjoyed what you were doing', before adding that Ms Shellis would 'no doubt have been terrified'.

'Callously you ignored her pleas,' he said. 'She must have been truly terrified in these, the last moments of her life.'

Judge Rowlands said his 'brutal' actions had caused 'dreadful anguish' to his entire family.

He said the 'sheer cruelty' of his elaborate murder plot belied his young age, adding that despite his autism and ADHD diagnoses, he knew exactly what he was doing that night.

Roberts, wearing a blue-green zip-up top, and flanked by two security guards, stared straight ahead from the dock as he was sentenced.

The court heard he had spent weeks researching the killing  and then digitally recorded the last hours of his mother's life.

Andrew Thomas KC, prosecuting, said: 'These events were recorded by Tristan Roberts on his digital audio device.

'He made a continuous recording, lasting more than four-and-a-half hours, covering everything from the initial assault to the fatal blows at the end.'

On the recording, he said: 'This is the moment we are doing it. We are going to hit her with a sledgehammer.'

The court heard he hit her with the hammer before strangling her.

Ms Shellis was conscious before speaking in a 'calm and firm voice' to phone 999 for medical help.

The court heard Roberts's violent attack began at around 11pm and lasted until 3.30am. He recorded it on a voice recorder, 'too distressing' to be heard in court.

Roberts  who was fascinated by TV serial killers  used AI search engines to research how to commit murder.

Immediately after turning 18 last October, he took advantage of being legally able to purchase knives to assemble an arsenal of weapons online and from homeware store The Range.

On the night of October 23, he recorded himself holding Ms Shellis prisoner in her own bedroom before leading her to a nature reserve and killing her with a hammer he had bought on Amazon.

The court heard how he spent hours on a controversial gaming messaging app Discord.

The platform has been accused in the US of harbouring radical communities, including white supremacist far-Right groups.

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk's suspected assassin, Tyler Robinson, is also reported to have been active on the site.

Roberts posted disturbing content that related to murder, violence, misogyny, weapons, and his intention to kill his mother.

He used multiple aliases on chat forums. His profiles had been flagged over his abusive and threatening content, including talking openly about killing his mother, described by relatives as having 'a heart full of love and kindness'.

Roberts also had a fascination with serial killers, including TV series Dexter and movie American Psycho.

In the weeks running up to the murder, he used AI search tool Deepseek to ask for tips for a 'non-experienced killer', including whether he should use a knife or a hammer.

After it refused to engage, Roberts tricked it by lying that he was writing a book about serial killers.

Although he has never explained the killing of his doting mother, and answered 'no comment' throughout his police interviews, in messages before the murder, he said he was motivated by 'hatred of women'.

Ms Shellis, a qualified teacher, had taken a teaching assistant post so she could spend more time at home with her two sons.

He is being sentenced for murder at Mold Crown Court today. Pictured in a social media post

The hammer found at Roberts's home which he had earlier bought on Amazon

Officers also found a pair of black gloves at the murder scene beside a footpath near a nature reserve in Prestatyn, north Wales

The contents of a carrier bag found inside Roberts's home address, including a hammer

But in another message, Roberts wrote that he felt 'abandoned, betrayed and bullied' and blamed his mother.

He said that he was killing her for 'revenge, justice, vengeance' and so that he could move forward in his life.

In one chilling post about his mother, he wrote how he had 'nearly traumatised myself' by going into her bedroom while she slept with a hammer in his hand.

The teenager bought weapons, including knives, axes and hammers after turning 18, fewer than two weeks before killing his 45-year-old mother.

Relatives knew that Roberts regularly carried a knife in his backpack, and his mum had become increasingly concerned by his behaviour.

On October 17  four days after he had turned 18  she messaged a social worker and friends, stating that he had bought a knife and a hammer, Mold Crown Court heard today.

She had sought support for her son on numerous occasions and was again expressing concern as to his mental health.

In one note on her phone, she asked: 'Why?? What does he need these for?

'Is he planning to hurt me, himself, what? Who? Why? FFS.'

Her older son was also concerned, and before going back to university, he had set up wireless-enabled cameras inside the family home so they could monitor Roberts.

In the early hours of October 18, Roberts posted messages on Discord stating that he had been standing over his mother holding a hammer when she was asleep, but did not use it.

The next morning, she wrote a note on her phone reading: 'OMG I did not sleep well at all... and Tristan kept coming into my room too  why?'

Another note read: 'Am I safe in my room tonight?'

Her son put his murderous plan into practice after his older brother had gone back to university for the new term.

The prosecutor said that on the evening of October 23, Roberts made a brief voice recording in which he said that he was going to kill his mother that night with a sledgehammer.

'He said that he was "Alex".

'It is believed that he was in some way role-playing.'

He taped himself saying: 'This is Tristan Roberts.

'Tonight I'm going to be Alex and I'm going to murder my mother with a sledgehammer.'

Tristan Roberts, 18, in a social media post, recorded his mother's murder on an audio device

Police also found Ms Shellis's mobile phone at the property. Family had tried to phone her after becoming concerned about her whereabouts and received messages back thought to be Roberts posing as his mother to quell their concerns

Police officers found a black balaclava at the scene of the murder. He had bought one online

A four-hour recording started around 11pm. It detailed an initial attack on the mother in her bedroom in which he attacked her to the head with a hammer and strangled her.

Shockingly, she was kept prisoner in her room for about four hours as her son brandished the weapon.

The recording captures Ms Shellis remaining calm, even saying she would 'back him up and say that he had not known what he was doing', prosecutor Andrew Thomas KC said.

He then cynically convinced her to leave the house under the pretence that she could have her injuries treated.

Instead he tricked her into taking a 'short cut' through a nature reserve where he took the sledgehammer out of his rucksack and began repeatedly attacking his screaming mother.

Roberts  whose previously long straight hair had been cut to a short crop before today's hearing  cast his gaze downwards from his seat in the glass-panelled dock as the 'catastrophic' injuries he inflicted were spelt out.

But for most of the hearing, he looked straight ahead, displaying no sign of emotion.

At one stage today's proceedings had to be briefly halted after a relative of Ms Shellis began sobbing uncontrollably.

Ring doorbell footage from a neighbouring house showed the mother and son leaving home on foot at 3.19am on the night of the murder.

The teenager returned to the semi-detached property alone at 5.35am before leaving again 50 minutes later, swinging a carrier bag thought to have contained bleach to clean the murder scene.

However, his plans were thwarted by the presence of early morning dog walkers, and he returned home again.

Here, he logged on to Discord and 'boasted' about the killing, referencing the terrible injuries he had just inflicted.

Shortly after 8.30am, police were called to the discovery of a woman's body in undergrowth at the Prestatyn Nature Reserve.

There was a lengthy trail of blood along a nearby gravel path, for more than 100 metres.

A murder probe was launched, with a cordon set up around the scene, but for four hours, detectives didn't know her name.

A crutch, black gloves and black bloodied balaclava were discovered.

Shortly after 1pm a family member of Ms Shellis called police, worried about her welfare after reports of the woman's body being discovered.

Roberts, pictured here in a police interview, answered no comment to all questions put to him by detectives

Discord-obsessed Roberts also shared messages about hating women on the chat site

In another chat on Discord he shared chilling messages including one saying 'now it's time'

In another Discord chat, he boasted about being able to chop a bear apart with a weapon. He had at least 16 aliases on Discord and kept setting up new ones after being blocked due to the content he was posting

Originally from North Wales, she had moved back from Bedfordshire three years earlier after divorcing the boys' father, getting a job as a teaching assistant at Rhyl High School.

It emerged she had needed a crutch because of a recent knee injury, which meant she was temporarily off work.

Police arrested the teenager at the family home, where he had barricaded himself in his bedroom.

Roberts calmly asked officers: 'Is the body you found my mother?'

Detectives later found CCTV footage showing the pair walking over a railway crossing towards the nature reserve with Roberts carrying a rucksack containing the murder weapon.

Police seized digital devices from his home  a laptop, voice recorder, and his mother's mobile phone, which was hidden under a suitcase in a wardrobe.

The family had tried to phone Ms Shellis after becoming concerned about her whereabouts.

Posing as his mother, Roberts replied to messages from his brother saying she couldn't speak as she had a 'bad throat'.

The brother messaged: 'Just call me for a second so that I know you are alive.'

Roberts replied from his mother's phone to which the defendant replied: 'I think I am alive [laughing emoji]'.

The laptop examination showed his extensive use of Discord, including thousands of screenshots.

Roberts had made purchases on Amazon and at shops, including The Range, in preparation for the horrific killing.

Officers believe that his turning 18 was significant because the sales would become legal. His purchases included a balaclava, facemasks, overalls and clingfilm.

The murder weapon  a 20 'mini sledgehammer' bought on Amazon  was seized at the family home.

A bloodstained water bottle in a carrier bag at the home had the mother's DNA on.

Roberts was quizzed on nine occasions during four days after a mental health nurse deemed him fit for interview.

He answered 'no comment' to all questions and has never explained why he killed his mother.

He pleaded guilty to murder last month after a psychiatric report was discussed with him by his defence team in the cells.

A psychiatric report found 'no credible evidence of any other form of mental disorder' beyond his autism and ADHD.

'His conditions did not impair his ability to understand his actions, form a rational judgment or exercise self-control at all, let alone substantially,' it concluded.

Powerful victim impact statements were read in court by her sister, Sarah Gunther and surviving son Ethan.

He said their mother had done 'everything' for Tristan throughout his life, and had 'put up with more than any mum should have'.

'I don't know how he could have done this to anyone, let alone the one person out of everybody who would do anything for him,' he said.

'She never gave up on him,' he added, saying he felt Tristan had 'manipulated' professionals who tried to help.

In his statement  read on his behalf  Ethan said his brother's crimes had 'destroyed our family'.

He said he felt 'haunted' by anger over his mother's killing as well as guilt that he was unable to protect her.

Ethan said he never wanted to see his brother again.

Reading hers in person, Ms Gunther said she wanted her sister to be remembered as 'a mum who never gave up'.

She said Ms Shellis had been failed by agencies which should have helped the family and called for them to be held 'accountable', adding that it was a tragedy that 'could have been avoided'.

Earlier, the court heard how Ms Shellis repeatedly tried to obtain support for her son, but with 'limited success'.

He also made repeated references online to Dexter, a TV series about a serial killer

He also boasted how 'tonights the night [sic]' on the controversial messaging site Discord

'Their relationship became strained,' Mr Thomas said.

Roberts spent time in hospital and in homeless accommodation before living with his father in Milton Keynes. He returned to live with his mother in September 2025.

Roberts had a previous offence as a youngster for possessing a bladed article and wasn't in education at the time of the killing. His older brother was away at university.

In mitigation, David Elias KC told the court that while his psychiatric state was no defence, his plan to murder his mother 'must have been contributed to by his deteriorating mental health'.

He said Roberts had experienced a 'traumatic childhood'.

Mr Elias asked Judge Rhys Rowlands to take into account his guilty plea and the fact that he had just turned 18 at the time of the killing.

A safeguarding review is likely to take place.

Afterwards, Ms Shellis's sister, Sarah Gunther, said the 'devoted' and 'fiercely supportive' mother had 'fought tirelessly' for Tristan and his brother.

She paid tribute to her as 'a woman whose heart, strength, and spirit shaped the lives of everyone who knew her'.

Ms Gunther said: 'She had so many amazing qualities, but one of the greatest was the way she devoted herself to her boys.

'She was a fantastic and fiercely supportive mum, the kind who never gave up, no matter how hard life became.

'She fought tirelessly for them, and her love for them was unbreakable, a source of strength that carried her and her boys through every challenge.

'She will be missed every single day by so many people whose lives she touched.

'But even though she is no longer with us in body, the love she gave and the memories she created will stay with us forever.

'Her spirit lives on in the laughter she shared, the strength she showed, and the love she poured into her family.'

Senior investigating officer, Temporary Detective Superintendent Andrew Gibson said Ms Shellis 'showed tremendous bravery on that fateful night' and 'remained calm and continued to show her caring nature and love she had for Tristan, despite what must have been a terrifying ordeal for her'.

He added: 'It was important that Angela remained the focal point throughout the investigation, and I hope today's sentencing allows for some closure and supports Angela's family in moving forward and towards rebuilding their lives.'

Andrew Slight of the Crown Prosecution Service said: 'The level of planning Tristan Roberts did ahead of committing this shocking crime was elaborate and calculated.

'His mother's final moments must have been terrifying, yet he showed no concern or remorse for his actions.

'The strong evidence presented by the Crown Prosecution Service painted a clear picture, showing Roberts's intentions, resulting in his guilty plea.

'Although this case has concluded, our thoughts remain with the family and friends who still feel the terrible loss of Angela.'
They call Daniel Kretinsky the Czech Sphinx but the nickname doesnt do him justice. Sphinxes  certainly the one in Egypt  do not gesticulate or jabber as much as Comrade Kretinsky.

What a box of tricks he was at the Commons trade committee. The Brno-born billionaire as good as lifted his heels and kicked up a polka. His hands flew. He leaned from side to side like Barry Sheene taking corners at Brands Hatch.

He pinched finger and thumb tips together so much, he could have been a mittel European foodie describing the stickiest trdelnik or a garlicky cesnecka.

The MPs, who had come to give this foreigner a good biffing, did not entirely know how to deal with him. They did their best to prong him over Royal Mails failures and demanded he apologise (Westminster has a fetish for apologies). They even accused him of lying. Mr Kretinsky barely noticed. He was too busy unleashing his next flurry.

Things started with committee chairman Liam Byrne (Lab) going in hard on late letters. The sphinx: I am a numbers person. Those numbers allegedly did not show things had worsened since he bought Royal Mail for 3.6 billion just over a year ago.

His English accent was a little chewy and when Mr Byrne said let me make sure Ive understood you, his fellow MPs nodded readily. Some 220 million letters were late last year. That was hardly good, was it?

Mr Kretinsky rattled off statistics to bolster his case. Just a few numbers, he cried, wobbling his tall, rectangular head. And yet he accepted that the service was not where we want it to be. The same could be said for all those letters, mate.

Parliamentarians are more accustomed to business owners who grovel. Mr Kretinsky seemed to base his style on a Gloucestershire Jack Russell I once knew, name of Charlie, who would give furious chase to postal vans and try to bite their tyres. Charlie had fight and somehow always avoided being squashed.

Mr Kretinsky rattled off statistics to bolster his case. Just a few numbers, he cried, wobbling his tall, rectangular head, writes Quentin Letts

Mr Kretinsky argued that no other postal service in Europe was obliged to deliver letters as promptly  as, er, cheaply  as ours. The Italians paid five Euros for a first-class letter. This scandalised Mr Byrnes patriotism. Mr Kretinsky, we dont want to be judged against Italy! he gasped. A Lady Bracknell moment. The sleek-suited boffin was soon touching his heart with both hands, pulling expressions of intense emotion, interrupting his interrogators and invoking their sense of fair play.

Ees a hard job, he said. Delivering a letter from Brighton to Scotland the next day for 1.70 was devilish difficult.

Mr Byrne, mercilessly: You shoulda known that when you bought the service.

Ees very normal zat zumfink will not be perfect, shrugged the sphinx. This is a difficulty of our destiny in this job. One thing you can never avoid is there will be a mistake. I know that this is our destiny. The MPs blinked a bit.

Parliamentary hearings are not accustomed to such operatic concepts as destiny. They are more used to boring replies about strategies going forward.

I believe youre a billionaire, said Sarah Edwards (Lab, Tamworth). The sphinx assented. Ms Edwards: Coo, Ive never met a billionaire. A Lib Dem accused him of being a capitalist. Is that a sin nowadays in Lib Dem circles? When Mr Kretinsky talked about his finances, the sums gushed out at such a rate, it was as if someone had struck oil.

He averred that he was not in the postal business for money. Merely for the challenge. Oh come off it. And yet I found him fascinating. Peter Sellers would have played him brilliantly.

After a denial of any plot to delay letters in favour of parcels, Mr Byrne told him tersely, were not in a position to believe you and threatened to put him on oath next time.

Despite such barbs, the sphinx survived. Unlike the one in Giza he certainly didnt lose his nose.
Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.

On the heels of a blistering Variety report claiming that Netflix chief Ted Sarandos is done with Harry and Meghan  and an awards season that saw them nowhere near the Golden Globes, the Oscars or the Vanity Fair Oscar party  comes word that some of their Montecito neighbors want nothing to do with the Gruesome Twosome.

'No one wants to be seen with them,' a source told Page Six.

'It's not hate. It's just a growing awareness that they're takers with zero self-awareness. Everyone's exhausted by them.'

Imagine. A prince of the blood and his American wife, a former actress, once the toast of California  and they've burnt just about every bridge.

Tyler Perry loaned them his private jet and his personal estate. Oprah welcomed them and gave them a very gentle, gauzy primetime interview  one in which she hardly pushed back against any of their more questionable claims.

Gwyneth filmed with Meghan for social media. And, of course, Netflix signed them to that reported $100 million deal.

All seemingly consigned to history, in the span of five years.

Now that's an accomplishment.

Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. On the heels of a blistering Variety report claiming that Netflix chief Ted Sarandos is done with Harry and Meghan comes word that some of their Montecito neighbors want nothing to do with the Gruesome Twosome.

Imagine. A prince of the blood and his American wife, a former actress, once the toast of California - and they've burnt just about every bridge. (Pictured: Ted Sarandos)

It does not seem to me that Harry and Meghan are greatly wanted in Montecito, or Hollywood, or the UK, or Canada, or Australia  where Meghan is due to speak at a symposium for women charging $2,000 a ticket.

Meghan and Harry's imminent arrival Down Under has sparked a petition, currently signed by over 35,000 Australians, demanding that no taxpayer money be used on their latest faux-royal trip.

Where could they possibly turn next?

It was only in August that Netflix more gracefully announced a downgrade to their agreement with the Duke and Duchess of Despair and Endless Grievance.

That after the flop of Markle's lifestyle show With Love, Meghan, the couple would instead continue in a 'first-look deal' with Netflix.

'We're proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the As Ever brand,' Meghan said in a statement last August. 'My husband and I feel inspired by our partners who work closely with us.'

There's talk of a Polo-inspired scripted drama for the streamer which has been described as Harry's 'passion project'.

And yet, right after the Variety piece went viral last week, it was reported that Sarandos had unfollowed Meghan on Instagram.

'The mood in the building is, "We're done,"' a Netflix source told Variety.

Another said that Sarandos is 'fed up', and two sources 'insist' that Sarandos has said he won't get on a phone call with Meghan unless his lawyer is also on the line.

While Variety clarified that these sources couldn't say whether Sarandos was joking, a spokesperson for Netflix said the allegation was 'absolutely inaccurate.'

And Meghan's lawyer, Michael J. Kump, said in a letter to Variety: 'This is blatantly false. In fact, Meghan texts and speaks with Mr. Sarandos regularly, and has been to his home, sans lawyers.'

My guess? That was then.

Aside from the financial hit Netflix has suffered  Variety reports the streamer was saddled with $10 million in unsold As Ever merchandise  insiders told the magazine Meghan's personality and comportment is as much to blame for this partnership ending.

Meghan would allegedly 'disappear'  just walk away for substantial periods of time, according to Variety  if someone or something in a Zoom meeting offended her.

Meghan's lawyer Kump has denied that, stating in that same letter to Variety that when Meghan did disappear, it was due to her small children.

'Independent of being a parent who works from home, Meghan is also conscious of shielding her team from the distraction of children,' Kump wrote.

You would think a deal worth a reported $100 million, given to you by the people you're on a Zoom with, would pay for nannies to distract said children in another room.

Netflix insiders also allege that Markle would 'talk over' her husband or outright interrupt him in meetings, which Harry told Variety was 'categorically false.'

If he says so. I mean, really  how often have we seen that dynamic play out in numerous interviews with those two? Or watched uncomfortably as Meghan pats and paws her husband publicly, as Netflix insiders say she did in meetings?

Again, Harry denies this.

But does it matter? The Variety piece is remarkable not just for the savage insider accusations  it's remarkable in that it exists at all.

Join the discussion Would YOU step back or fight the narrative publicly?

The Variety piece is remarkable not just for the savage insider accusations - it's remarkable in that it exists at all.

This, little over a year after Vanity Fair ran a cover story about Harry and Meghan titled 'American Hustlers'; after Spotify exec Bill Simmons called the pair 'f**king grifters' when the company ended their own estimated $20 million deal with them; after Simmons said of the two, on his own podcast, that 'all you do is live in Montecito and you just sell documentaries and podcasts and nobody cares what you have to say about anything unless you talk about the royal family and you just complain about them'; and after Jeremy Zimmer, head of United Talent Agency, said, 'Turns out Meghan Markle was not a great audio talent, or any kind of talent.'

No one's afraid anymore to express displeasure with these two, or with Meghan in particular.

As for where Meghan is wanted, I can think of one place: The Philippines, where her father, Thomas Markle, leg freshly amputated, has begged her to visit.

Since Christmastime. And she may wonder why her holiday Netflix special landed with a thud.
President Donald Trump, by every available signal, is willing to make a peace deal that would amount to little less than a strategic surrender by the Iranian regime. Short of that, he appears determined to prosecute the conflict with decisive, overwhelming force.

That binary - capitulation or crushing victory - has long been the architecture of his geopolitical imagination. If the Iranians fail to drop their current farcical demands and come to the negotiating table in a serious and credible way soon, do not be surprised to see American boots on the ground in Iran by this time next week.

Remember also that past is often prologue with Trump and when he has previously moved American military personnel and hardware into place, he has almost always used it.

On Tuesday, the Pentagon ordered about 1,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team  the Army's rapid-response unit  to deploy to the Middle East, further bolstering America's 50,000 troop footprint in the region.

There is, in fact, a perfectly coherent theory that Trump has believed all along this is exactly how events would unfold.

In this view, Tehran's leadership would behave in ways that left him no politically or strategically viable option but to finish the job militarily. Trump, ever the transactional strategist, would then present that outcome as the inevitable consequence of Iranian obstinacy rather than American ambition.

To understand the present moment, one must attempt to inhabit the peculiar mental landscape Trump has cultivated - a place where performance, instinct, grievance and cold calculation coexist in unstable harmony.

He likely sees a world of elites - traders hunched over glowing terminals, consultants massaging models, media figures trading in moral certainties - as hopelessly naive.

President Donald Trump , by every available signal, is willing to make a peace deal that would amount to little less than a strategic surrender by the Iranian regime

If the Iranians fail to drop their current farcical demands and come to the negotiating table in a serious and credible way soon, do not be surprised to see American boots in the ground in Iran by this time next week (Pictured: Tehran rally on March 17)

The Pentagon ordered about 1,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team  the Army's rapid-response unit  to deploy to the Middle East (Pictured: 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg in 2020)

Trump has always believed that his great advantage lies not in superior information but in superior manipulation. He thrives on unpredictability, on keeping adversaries and observers alike guessing whether his next move will be theatrical feint or strategic hammer blow.

In Trump's telling, alliances are less about formal treaties than about personal understandings. He imagines himself and Benjamin Netanyahu as partners in a quiet, almost conspiratorial project  two leaders pursuing extremists beyond the boundaries of conventional deterrence.

Trump's contempt for the Iranian leadership, both real and performative, is central to his worldview. Negotiations, he believes, are not about mutual accommodation but about testing endurance and leverage. In his imagination, the mullahs would be ill-suited to the cutthroat realities of Manhattan real estate, let alone modern statecraft.

He does not see himself as tinkering with global structures but as remaking them. His preferred metaphor is not incremental reform but radical renovation  an 'Extreme Makeover' applied to geopolitics. The Saudis and other Gulf states, he believes, can be aligned with Israel in a new regional architecture, while Europe and Asia, faced with rising economic pain, will eventually fall in line.

The Strait of Hormuz looms large in this strategic tableau. Trump's advisers  Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and others  are the current architects of a plan to reopen the vital shipping lane, if necessary through force. The calculation is brutal but familiar: inflict enough strategic pain on allies and adversaries alike, and resistance to decisive action evaporates.

Trump relishes the perception that he is both peace seeker and war fighter. The notion that he might be stalling negotiations to stabilize markets while quietly positioning military assets would strike him not as duplicity but as strategic genius. In his mind, diplomacy and force are not opposites but complementary instruments.

Trump's preferred metaphor is not incremental reform but radical renovation  an 'Extreme Makeover' applied to geopolitics

Trump's advisers  Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and others  are the current architects of a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz (Pictured: Iranian military exercises near Strait of Hormuz in 2022)

Politically, the calculus is stark. Trump may assume that electoral setbacks are inevitable, particularly if the economy remains sluggish. A successful war, however, could transform the political landscape. Victory, in his framework, is not merely military but psychological  a demonstration that American power, when wielded without apology, can reshape global realities.

Regime change in Iran, long whispered as an objective by hawks, becomes in this narrative both moral mission and political opportunity. Trump would cast it as service to humanity, a blow against repression and extremism. The risks  regional chaos, economic shock, prolonged insurgency  are acknowledged but subordinated to the larger drama of decisive action.

Ultimately, Trump's greatest strategic asset may be the perception of unpredictability. Convincing adversaries he is irrational enough to escalate while disciplined enough to negotiate is a delicate balancing act, but one he has attempted throughout his political career.

Whether Tehran believes that balance is real or theatrical will determine the next phase of this conflict. If the Iranians conclude that negotiations are merely prelude to escalation, the window for diplomacy may close rapidly.

And if Trump concludes that decisive victory is within reach, the air campaign to date could come to be seen as merely prologue. In his mind, history does not reward those who hesitate. It rewards those who act  and who persuade the world that action was always inevitable.
Hours after being discharged from hospital following abdominal surgery, Sammi Hassan was hit by a sharp stabbing sensation that left her howling in pain.

It felt like something terrible was happening inside me, says Sammi, 33, a mother of two who works in banking.

She was used to severe pain. Every month she ended up doubled over in agony on her bedroom floor as a result of endometriosis  where cells from the lining of the womb grow elsewhere in the body, which can be especially painful around a womans period. But this was at another level.

It was the worst pain I have ever felt in my life, she recalls. It took my breath away and made me stop dead in my tracks  it was burning and radiating and constantly worsening.

I was crying, almost howling in pain. I didnt want the kids to see me like that. It was so distressing.

She called the hospital where the surgery had taken place and was told it might even be period pain as my period was due, says Sammi, who lives in Essex with her husband, Tarik, 37, and daughters, Isabella, four and Celine, two.

Within hours her condition worsened dramatically.

Following abdominal surgery Sammi Hassan was hit by a sharp stabbing sensation. Initially, it was dismissed as possible period pain...

... but, after going to hospital, doctors noticed her heart was racing and her blood pressure was plummeting and correctly suspected she had sepsis

My hands and lips turned blue and became ice-cold to touch, she recalls. I was becoming delirious and my heart was racing. I honestly felt doomed. I felt like I was dying.

Sammis mum rang for an ambulance but with no sign of the ambulance 40 minutes after the 999 call, her desperately worried parents drove her to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow.

Luckily for her, the doctors noticed her heart was racing and her blood pressure was plummeting and correctly suspected she had sepsis  a potentially deadly reaction to an infection which can shut down vital organs within hours.

She was put on IV-drip antibiotics while doctors ran checks to confirm their suspicions. Her parents were later told shed been just an hour away from death.

Sepsis occurs when infections turn bad, explains Dr Andrew Conway Morris, a consultant in intensive care and clinical academic at the University of Cambridge, and medical director of the charity Sepsis Research FEAT.

Any infection  bacterial, viral or fungal  can trigger it, he says.

Instead of just fighting the bug, the immune system starts damaging the bodys own tissues, leading to widespread inflammation and potential damage to crucial organs such as the lungs, kidneys, liver and brain.

In Sammis case the trigger was an infection following the surgery she had to remove the endometrial tissue that had caused her such agony for years and was wrapped around her pelvic organs, bladder and bowel.

In Sammis case the trigger for sepsis was an infection following the surgery she had to remove the endometrial tissue that had caused her agony for years

Some will get a sepsis infection and be fine, says Dr Andrew Conway Morris, but others can become critically ill

The sad irony was the sepsis led to the worst pain of her life.

Sepsis is one of the UKs biggest killers, claiming an estimated 50,000 lives every year  more than breast, bowel and prostate cancer combined.

Nobody knows why some people get sepsis, while others dont.

Some people will get an infection and be absolutely fine, says Dr Conway Morris. Another person, who is in similar health and has the same infection, becomes critically ill.

Those most at risk include infants and the elderly, but anyone can be affected by sepsis  even the very healthy' Dr Conway Morris adds.

Sammi was otherwise fit and well, but sepsis hit me like a deer in headlights, she says.

Shed been keen to have surgery after developing what is known as scar endometriosis, which occurs when cells from the womb lining are accidentally transferred to the abdominal wall during surgery  in her case the caesarean birth of her first daughter in 2022.

The endometriosis tissue that then developed on her abdominal wall was removed during the birth of her second daughter, but the monthly agony returned  which is why she underwent surgery to remove the tissue once more in September last year.

What no one noticed at the time was that her bowel was perforated during the operation and her abdomen was flooded with waste, causing the infection that developed into sepsis.

In fact, the surgery was judged to be a success and Sammi was discharged from hospital the following day. Within 48 hours the intense pain started spreading across her abdomen.

Dr Conway Morris says pain can be a feature of sepsis, especially following surgery.

If it doesnt respond to simple painkillers or seems to be disproportionate to the surgery that has been undertaken, it may be a sign of sepsis, he explains.

Critically ill, Sammi was placed in an induced coma... her loved ones were unsure whether she would make it

Abdominal infections, such as those from bowel perforations after surgery, are a major cause of sepsis.

Bowel surgery always carries a risk of leakage of bowel contents with lots of bacteria in it, says Dr Conway Morris.

Thats why, he says, patients having bowel surgery should be made aware of the symptoms of potential complications, such as sepsis.

Once sepsis takes hold, it can progress with terrifying speed.

Your time for seeking medical advice is short  a matter of hours, says Dr Conway Morris. Six to 12 hours can be the difference between life and death.

The danger is that early symptoms look vague or flu-like, and there is no single test that can definitively diagnose sepsis. Doctors must rely on clinical judgment, piecing together symptoms and blood results.

Signs they watch for include having a very high or very low temperature, confusion, extreme weakness, fast breathing or rapid heart rate, producing little or no urine, feeling cold, having mottled or blue hands and feet, and a rash that doesnt fade when pressed.

Patients will sometimes say, I feel like Im going to die, says Dr Conway Morris. That sense of impending doom is real and points to sepsis.

Sammi is grateful her parents decided to get her to hospital so quickly.

If Id waited for the ambulance wed called I probably wouldnt be here now, she says.

At hospital Sammi underwent emergency surgery to repair her bowel and clear the infection.

If theres pus, or a hole in the bowel, it will keep leaking, explains Dr Conway Morris. If you dont control the source, you wont control the sepsis.

It happened so quickly she says that by the time the ambulance  which nobody had remembered to cancel  arrived at my house, I was already being wheeled into surgery.

However, during the operation she went into septic shock  where blood pressure drops so low that not enough blood reaches major organs, which can result in multi-organ failure and death.

Critically ill, Sammi was placed in an induced coma and transferred to intensive care.

Over the next three weeks she required more surgery and she was put on the highest strength IV antibiotics available.

Her loved ones were unsure whether she would make it.

My husband couldnt always be with me because he was trying to take care of our girls, and all he could think about was, How am I going to tell the girls in the morning that their mums no longer here?, says Sammi.

At one point the doctors were unsure she would make it and they got my husband and parents to come to the hospital immediately  I guess to say goodbye, she recalls.

Sammi emerged from her coma the next day and spent ten days in intensive care, becoming panicked and confused as she regained awareness.

She was discharged after three weeks, but as is the case for half of those who survive sepsis, Sammi has been left with post-sepsis syndrome  new or worsening symptoms following the initial illness.

Symptoms can include crushing fatigue, breathlessness, muscle and joint pain, poor sleep, memory problems, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Patients, like Sammi, who spent time in intensive care are particularly affected  yet follow-up care is often patchy.

We spend enormous resources saving people in ICU, says Dr Conway Morris. Then we let them out, and the support just isnt there.

Six months on, Sammi says: I dont think Ill ever be the same person ever again. Its changed my life for ever.

She is still undergoing physiotherapy to make up for the muscle loss that occurred during her weeks spent immobile in a hospital bed.

Ive had therapy to help me breathe normally again and I also have weekly mental health therapy for my PTSD, panic attacks and anxiety. I also have terrible short-term memory loss.

Ive made good progress but Im still struggling, and I dont know when  or if  Ill be able to go back to work.

The worst impact has been on her relationship with her children.

My eldest daughter had started school just two weeks before my sepsis happened, she recalls. At the time she really needed me. She remembers me crying out in pain and she overheard people saying I could die.

But my relationship with my youngest daughter has suffered most, and its heartbreaking. She turned two the week I came out of hospital and I simply wasnt able to care for her  I couldnt pick her up or even cuddle her.

As a result, probably as a protection mechanism, she rejects me now. She doesnt want me to do anything for her and she has a meltdown when her daddy leaves. Thats been particularly painful and I hope it improves.

She says she wants to warn others of the symptoms of sepsis, so other families dont suffer as hers has.

Sepsis doesnt discriminate. Always ask the question  could it be sepsis? If its caught early, the possibility of a good outcome is so much higher.
Doctors have revealed the deadly risks that could come from taking medications on an empty stomach.

Earlier this week, gossip blogger Perez Hilton announced he had been hospitalized for 21 days due to his own 'stupidity.'

The 47-year-old said on social media that he had been given unspecified medication after dealing with the flu. For a week, he took the medication, but said he never took it with food.

Hilton claimed that taking the medication on an empty stomach caused him to developed an ulcer, a painful sore in the stomach lining.

After dealing with such intense stomach pain that he couldn't walk, he was rushed to the hospital.

That ulcer, he claims, perforated, meaning it burned through his stomach wall and leaked into his abdominal cavity, allowing bacteria and toxins to enter his bloodstream.

Hilton said the perforation caused an infection that led to sepsis, the body's overreaction to an infection that causes the immune system to mistakenly attack healthy organs and tissues.

'My stupidity landed me in the hospital for 21 days... It was the worst and best thing that's ever happened to me,' Hilton said.

'Because I have been taking all of this medication without food for a week, I developed an ulcer then a perforation and then sepsis. People die of sepsis.'

Perez Hilton said earlier this week that taking medication without food led him to develop an ulcer, which later turned into sepsis. He is pictured in the hospital

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Sepsis, which kills 300,000 Americans every year, or one every 90 seconds, can cause multi-organ failure and long-term complications such as amputations.

Doctors speaking with the Daily Mail, who did not comment on Hilton's specific situation, explained that taking medications with a meal slows gastric emptying, keeping the medicine in the stomach longer so it is more effective.

Eating also stimulates the production of stomach acid and bile, which increases the body's ability to absorb the drugs and prevent irritation leading to ulcers.

'Taking your prescription medicine after you eat will help protect your stomach lining and make it easier for your body to tolerate the medication.

'The food in your system serves as an additional barrier against gastrointestinal irritation from the medication,' Dr Blen Tesfu, internal medicine physician in the UK, told the Daily Mail.

But with continued use of a medication, especially on an empty stomach, Tesfu said 'the stomach will be exposed repeatedly to these types of irritations, which could develop into severe complications such as gastritis or ulcers.

'Additionally, certain medications stimulate stomach acid production in addition to weakening the natural barrier of protection for the stomach. When a patient is exposed to both, they have an increased risk of developing internal bleeding or long-term problems with their digestive system.'

Doctors speaking with the Daily Mail warned particularly against taking NSAIDs without food (stock image)

He also noted that food 'may affect how quickly a medication enters our bloodstream.'

'Sometimes, this may slow the process of absorption slightly. This can help lower the irritation level that may occur from the medicine. The food we eat can also increase the effectiveness of a particular medication by increasing its bioavailability,' he added.

'It is for these reasons that each person should follow the specific directions given with their prescribed medication.'

Without food to act as a cushion, however, some medications can irritate stomach lining, leading to severe pain, nausea and inflammation.

A major risk comes with over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin, commonly taken for aches, pains and fevers from illnesses like the flu.

'NSAIDs and aspirin pose a significant risk for gastrointestinal complications when taken on an empty stomach or when taken for prolonged periods, even with food,' Dr David Shapiro, associate professor of surgery at the University of Connecticut, told the Daily Mail.

He explained that ulcers can perforate through two mechanisms. In one, the lining of the stomach, called the mucosa, can become irritated. This decreases the production of prostaglandin, which protects gastric lining by increasing blood flow to that lining and healing the stomach.

Hilton is seen in 2022. He spent 21 days in the hospital due to sepsis and is now recovering at home

Hilton, seen above in his recent YouTube video, noted his mistake was 'stupid' and could have been prevented

When these natural protective factors are blocked, the stomach becomes vulnerable to acid, bile salts and pepsin, an enzyme that helps digest proteins, 'each creating an environment that results in ulcer formation,' Shapiro noted.

'This is not to say that NSAIDs are inherently dangerous,' he added. 'When taken properly, they can each help prevent high fevers, treat inflammation in injuries, and help decrease discomfort, but most are recommended to take for short periods and with food.'

Estimates vary, but studies suggest anywhere from two to 14 percent of about 4 million US ulcer patients per year suffer perforations.

'Perforated peptic ulcer represents a life-threatening situation that can result in sepsis,' Shapiro warned, pointing toward an estimated mortality of 30 percent and long-term complications such as amputations in half of patients.

'Food affects medication absorption in a variety of ways, and it depends on the patient, the medication independently and can also be a medication-specific concern for individual patients, so it's important to draw one conclusion: listen to the recommendations from your doctor and pharmacist,' Shapiro said.
While a nagging ache in your shoulder might seem harmless, doctors warn it could be a subtle sign of cancer.

Experts say a persistent phantom pain in the right shoulder can, in some cases, signal liver cancer, even when the arm itself feels completely normal.

Once considered a disease of older people, liver cancer is now increasingly being diagnosed in adults in their 30s and 40s - raising alarm among experts.

It is also on course to become a far bigger global health crisis, with cases expected to double by 2050.

The disease is already one of the fastest-rising in the UK, yet its symptoms are often vague and easy to dismiss.

Around 6,000 people are diagnosed each year, with rates soaring by more than 40 per cent over the past decade.

Dr Jiri Kubes, medical director at the Proton Therapy Centre in Prague, said that one warning sign in particular is frequently misunderstood - and ignored.

Liver cancer can sometimes cause what we call referred or phantom pain, where discomfort is felt in the shoulder rather than the abdomen, he explained.

While a nagging ache in your shoulder might seem harmless, doctors warn it could be a subtle sign of a deadly - yet often preventable - cancer

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This happens because the liver sits close to nerves that connect to the shoulder, so irritation can be felt elsewhere in the body.

The pain is typically felt on the right-hand side and may come and go - making it easy to brush off as a minor strain.

Dr Kubes added that many patients assume it is caused by exercise or poor posture, particularly if they are otherwise fit and active.

Yet liver cancer is now one of the fastest-rising causes of cancer death in the UK, with lifestyle factors playing a major role.

The biggest risks include long-term alcohol use, obesity, fatty liver disease, hepatitis B and C infections and smoking, with many cases linked to liver damage that develops silently over years.

The challenge with liver cancer is that symptoms can be very subtle at first, Dr Kubes said. People often ignore them or put them down to something harmless.

However, experts stress that many cases are preventable.

Maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol intake and protecting against hepatitis infections can all significantly reduce risk.

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Other warning signs include feeling full quickly after eating, unexplained weight loss, swelling or bloating in the abdomen, and yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Because liver cancer is often diagnosed at a late stage, recognising these early symptoms could prove life-saving.

A major analysis published in The Lancet last year linked the rise in younger cases to obesity and related liver conditions, including fatty liver disease - now one of the fastest-growing causes of liver cancer worldwide.

Experts say a more severe form of the condition, known as MASH, is becoming increasingly common and is strongly linked to weight gain and poor metabolic health.

Cases driven by obesity and alcohol are expected to rise sharply in the coming decades, even as those caused by hepatitis infections decline.
A young woman claims that she could end up homeless because she sweats so much that it is impossible for her to get a job.

Unemployed Freya Baker, 25, suffers from hyperhidrosis - a condition which causes people to sweat excessively all year round - and says the embarrassment has left her housebound.

She said: 'I am put off applying for jobs because I think they are not going to want me looking really sweaty.

'People don't realise that it can completely impact your life to the point where you don't have a quality of life.

'I don't know where everyone gets the idea that being on benefits we live this luxury lifestyle. I am on no income whatsoever and what I get from my benefits doesn't even cover rent.

'I am going to end up without anywhere to live at the rate this is going.'

Ms Baker, from Sittingbourne, Kent, previously worked at a supermarket but mainly had to work night shifts so that there were no customers around to see her.

'It is not temperature based, so it can be freezing cold and I will still be excessively sweating from my underarms,' she said.

Unemployed Freya Baker, 25, suffers from hyperhidrosis which prevents her from working

'It is constant. I can't wear a shirt for more than five minutes if that. I wouldn't even attempt to wear white now because I don't want it to get stained.

'I am constantly uncomfortable. I don't wear dresses or anything like that, I wear big baggy shirts because I need to be able to wear other clothes under my arms to catch the sweat.'

Ms Baker says that she started experiencing symptoms in 2019 after she was prescribed an antidepressant called sertraline to treat anxiety and borderline personality disorder (BPD).

She says that she was unaware that the sweating was a side effect and stopped taking the medication, but the problem never disappeared.

Hyperhidrosis affect the face, armpits, groin, palms of the hands and soles of the feet, but Ms Baker says that for her, her underarms are the problem area.

And not only does she need to deal with the uncomfortable sensation, she has to cope with painful rashes from where she is constantly wiping sweat away.

Ms Baker has no choice but to wear baggy t-shirts with old clothes tucked under her armpits, which has dented her confidence further.

'Even if I know that I am clean and that I shower constantly it doesn't make a difference. I still get self-conscious about it. I can't leave the house,' she said.

Furthermore, she is fed up.

It took Ms Baker years of 'fighting with her GP' to get a diagnosis of hyperhidrosis, but it took several more to get a dermatologist to recommend her for treatment.

Originally she was put on tablets called propantheline, but she claims that they caused unpleasant side effects, such as dehydration, and didn't seem to help.

Now, she has finally been granted NHS funding for Botox, which costs around 400 per session, which that should temporarily block the nerves that stimulate sweat glands.

Ms Baker worries she will be left homeless because she cannot work

She is forced to stuff old T-shirts under her armpits to absorb the torrents of sweat

However, since this was approved in February, she says that she has received no news on when the 'life-changing' treatment will start, and how many sessions are covered.

She added: 'They just don't give you any information. I am tired of asking the same questions because no one is answering them anyway.

'It would be a serious game changer. If I got the treatment that I needed then I wouldn't have to spend my entire 20s miserable. They have taken my 20s from me with this.

'Something needs to be done about people waiting years. It took me multiple years to get a diagnosis because they would just ignore me.'

Ms Baker is now trying to raise awareness on the condition and is pushing for it to be considered as a disability.

She said: 'I have had dozens of messages now from people saying that they are in the exact same situation as me.

'Why should we have to be ashamed and hide in our houses and be attacked on the internet when I say that I am struggling to go to work. We are made fun of and it is not alright.

'It is a common problem and yet nobody talks about it. We are all hiding it because we are embarrassed by it. We shouldn't keep suffering quietly.'

While hyperhidrosis is generally under-discussed issue because of the embarrassment it causes, estimates suggest it affects around 1 per cent of the UK population  around 670,000 people. And for some, it can be a significant problem.

Dr Adil Sheraz, from the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD), previously told the Daily Mail: The impact on patients can be terrible. Ive seen teenagers struggling to hold a pen or write on paper because it gets wet. Ive had patients prevented from joining the Army because their hands were too slippery to hold weapons.

Patients who constantly sweat often have to change several times a day and take two or three shirts to work. It affects their mental health and means they avoid socialising or taking part in exercise. It can seem like something that isnt taken very seriously, but people do genuinely suffer.

According to BAD, it often begins in childhood or adolescence and often improves or disappears with age.

While certain medications or health conditions are linked to excess sweating - such as viral infections, menopause, diabetes or an overactive thyroid - there is no clear cause for hyperhidrosis, and it is more often seen in people with a family history of it.

Common signs include visibly wet skin, clammy palms and soaked clothing, which can interfere with daily tasks and confidence, although the condition itself does not directly cause body odour as it does not affect the sweat glands associated with body odour.

Diagnosis is typically based on symptoms, with tests sometimes used to rule out other conditions.

While there is no simple cure, hyperhidrosis can be managed effectively with treatments ranging from clinical-strength antiperspirants to specialist care, with surgery rarely recommended due to potential side effects.




The harmless 'floaters' popping up in your vision could be a sign of permanent eye damage, a new study has found.

Studies estimate as many as three in four Americans occasionally have tiny specks or cobweb-like shapes called vitreous floaters in their eyesight.

These floaters are caused by fibers of collagen, a structural protein, clumping together in the eye's gel-like substance called the vitreous, which sits behind the lens and in front of the retina.

While most common with age and nearsightedness, floaters are usually harmless, and the brain eventually learns to ignore them.

But researchers in the Netherlands have warned that the sudden onset of floaters could be a sign of retinal detachment, which occurs when the light-sensitive retina pulls away from the back of the eye.

Without immediate surgical or laser treatment, retinal detachment can cause permanent vision loss.

Other signs of retinal detachment include flashes of light and dark shadows or curtains moving across the field of vision.

Roughly 28,000 Americans suffer retinal detachment each year, which is usually caused by eye injuries, severe nearsightedness and aging.

In a new study, researchers warn sudden onset of floaters in a person's vision could be a first sign of retinal detachment (stock image)

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The study, published earlier this month in Annals of Family Medicine, looked at nine years' worth of electronic health records from seven family medicine practices in the Netherlands, covering about 42,000 patients.

Researchers from Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen identified 1,181 visits involving 1,089 patients 18 and older who went to the doctor for new floaters, flashes of light or both.

The team sorted the patients into three groups: floaters only, flashes of light only or both symptoms at the same time.

About 61 percent of participants were women, and 57 percent fell between ages 50 and 70, a time during which the vitreous naturally shrinks and pulls away from the retina.

This can trigger floaters and potential tears.

Of the 1,181 visits, 77 ended with a diagnosis of retinal detachment or retinal tear, which is a break in the retina that can eventually cause detachment.

Among participants who only had flashes of light, 4.7 percent had a retinal detachment or tear compared to 6.1 percent of those with only floaters. Patients with both symptoms together had the highest rate of detachment or tear at 8.4 percent.

This means patients with both symptoms together were 56 percent more likely to have retinal detachment or tear compared to those who only had flashes of light.

Researchers urged doctors to immediately refer patients with sudden onset of floaters and flashes of light in their vision for testing to look for retinal detachment (stock image)

Additionally, patients who experienced multiple floaters had a 19.8 percent chance of retinal detachment, and that risk climbed to 29.4 percent when the floaters were accompanied by flashes.

There were also 36 cases involving other serious conditions such as cataracts, bleeding in the eye and stroke-related events.

However, the study authors caution that most floater episodes are not a sign of a medical emergency.

The most common diagnosis in the study was simply 'floaters,' accounting for 36.7 percent of all visits, and the next most common, at 32.3 percent, was harmless, age-related separation of the vitreous from the retina.

About 10 percent of visits were also attributed to migraine, which can cause visual auras and disturbances.

The researchers urged family medicine physicians to urgently refer any patients who experience sudden onset of floaters, especially when accompanied by flashes, to look for retinal detachment.

Retinal detachment can be diagnosed through dilated eye exams from an ophthalmologist or optometrist. It's treated with prompt surgery ideally within 24 to 48 hours. Procedures may include vitrectomy, which removes the vitreous damaging the retina, or a scleral buckle, done by placing a silicone band around the outside of the eye to support tears and reattach the retina.

In some cases, laser therapy can weld the retina back to the eye wall.
A new, highly mutated Covid variant is quietly spreading across the US, prompting the CDC to take notice.

The variant, known as BA.3.2, first appeared in South Africa in November 2024 and scientists are concerned that it could be significantly more adept at sidestepping immune defenses, particularly the protection provided by the 2025-2026 Covid vaccines.

The variants spike protein, which vaccines train the body to recognize and fight, has undergone about 75 mutations. That makes it look like an entirely new threat to the immune system compared to other recent strains.

As of mid-March 2026, BA.3.2 has turned up in six travelers, three airplane wastewater samples, over two dozen patients and 260 wastewater sites across 29 states and Puerto Rico. Overall, it accounts for a small fraction, about half a percent, of recent virus sequences, according to the latest CDC data.

Wastewater surveillance is often the first clue that a virus is gaining a foothold in the community. In this case, it detected BA.3.2 weeks before doctors saw it in patients.

Detections of BA.3.2 started climbing in Europe last fall, reaching roughly 30 percent of cases in Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands. It has not yet taken over in the US, but its ability to spread alongside other more dominant variants suggests it has been mutating for a while.

Two lab studies found that BA.3.2 does not bind as well to human cells as other variants do, and that weakness may be holding it back from spreading faster.

The CDC is monitoring the spread of BA.3.2 by testing international travelers, sampling airplane wastewater and monitoring sewers nationwide. These systems captured the variants arrival in the US in June 2025, months before it appeared in hospitals.

On June 27, 2025, BA.3.2 was identified for the first time in the US at San Francisco International Airport in California, from a respiratory specimen collected from someone returning from the Netherlands

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While BA.3.2 may be better at evading immunity, the current vaccines still offer protection against severe disease.

BA.3.2 was first detected in a five-year-old boy in South Africa in November 2024. It then appeared in Mozambique and a few European countries in early 2025.

Detections were sparse at first but began climbing that September, peaking in December.

BA.3.2 first reached the US on June 27, 2025, when a traveler flying from the Netherlands tested positive at San Francisco International Airport.

Reports started ticking up in September 2025, but because many countries lack the sophisticated surveillance tools necessary to closely track variants, these detections likely underrepresent the actual geographic extent of spread, according to the CDC.

Wastewater surveillance in the US picked it up in Rhode Island that November, months before clinical cases appeared.

The first patients were reported in early January 2026  two older hospitalized adults with underlying conditions and a young child. All of them survived.

By February 2026, BA.3.2 had appeared in a handful of international travelers, a few clinical patients and over 130 wastewater samples across two dozen states.

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To track Covid variants, the CDC pulls data from three main sources: national lab testing, travelers arriving at airports, including volunteer nasal swabs and airplane wastewater, and a nationwide wastewater surveillance system that monitors about 1,450 sewer sites.

When scientists find a BA.3.2 sample, they analyze its genetic code, comparing it to current vaccines to see what has changed. They use software to line up sequences side by side, building family trees that show how different versions are related.

Every detection is logged by location and date, allowing the CDC to map where it first appeared and how quickly it moves, giving officials a real-time view of the evolving variant.

According to the agency, BA.3.2 is genetically distinct from the JN.1 family of variants that have dominated in the US since early 2024.

Compared to the strain used in current vaccines, BA.3.2 has about 70 to 75 mutations on its spike protein.

Of those, 20 are in the part that grabs onto human cells, 35 are in a nearby region that also helps the virus infect cells and evade immunity and the remaining changes are scattered elsewhere on the spike.

By February 11, 2026, BA.3.2 had been identified in at least 23 countries. Among them, four U.S. travelers tested positive through the TGS program after returning from Japan, Kenya, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom

The current Covid vaccine, updated for the 202526 season, works well against the dominant JN.1 strains still circulating.

In a lab study comparing seven variants, it performed worst against BA.3.2. That means the vaccine may offer less protection against this particular variant, though real-world data is still needed to know for sure.

Covid has gone from being a consistent viral threat to a seasonal public health concern alongside the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

In 2020 and 2021, the country would often experience waves of such severe disease transmission that thousands of patients were dying each day.

Now, the virus follows a predictable seasonal rhythm with far shorter peaks thanks to highly effective vaccines and the antiviral drug Paxlovid.

Like the flu, Covid now tends to spike during the colder months, from late fall through early spring, when people gather indoors and the virus spreads more easily. In the summer, cases typically drop.

Most of the population now has some protection from a combination of vaccination, prior infection, or both. That does not stop everyone from getting sick, but it does mean most people who catch it will not end up in the hospital.
For sunseekers, the risks associated with chasing the perfect tan are loud and clear.

There are tanning bed horror stories, sunscreen warnings and constant reminders that spending too long in the sun will damage your skin.

But now a new tanning trend is sweeping the internet - and doctors are on red alert.

Tanning pills, edible drops and even unapproved injectable peptides are all the rage among beauty influencers and young women looking for a natural glow.

Entirely unregulated and not FDA approved, these shadowy substances are, somehow, readily available online.

And all over the internet, people are bragging about the 'natural' glows they deliver. But the potential side effects reveal an ugly underbelly.

Doctors told the Daily Mail that some can impair your vision, or even turn you orange.

While others can trigger nausea, flushing or increased blood pressure.

Tanning beds are known to cause skin cancer. As a result, many people who long for that year-round golden glow search elsewhere for their sun-kissed look

Potentially the worst offenders are the synthetic tanning peptide injectables.

Officially, the peptides are called melanotan I and II - but the industry has come to know them as 'the Barbie peptide.'

'These compounds stimulate melanocortin receptors in the body, which increases melanin production in the skin,' Alec Ginsberg, pharmacist and Chief Operating Officer at CO Bigelow in New York City, told the Daily Mail.

'Melanin is the same pigment your body produces when you tan naturally from UV exposure.'

As for the supplement pills, Ginsberg told the Daily Mail that many of the carotenoid-based supplements 'contain pigments like beta-carotene, lycopene or canthaxanthin.'

'When taken in high amounts,' he said, 'those pigments can accumulate in the skin and slightly darken its color.'

But, he added, they're not actually causing a change in melanin.

Ginsberg warned that, 'these compounds have never been approved by the FDA, which means they have not gone through the normal safety, dosing and manufacturing review process.'

There are also growing concerns in the medical community that the supplements and injectables may trigger cancer cells.

Ginsberg said some worry these compounds 'could potentially stimulate existing melanoma cells, although the long-term risk profile isn't well understood.'

'When you buy an unapproved drug online, you're essentially becoming the clinical trial,' Ginsberg told the Daily Mail.

The injectables, drops and supplements come with their own risks, a pharmacist warned

'There's no guarantee the dose is correct, the ingredients are accurate, or the product is free of contaminants,' he explained.

'You are trusting a faceless "chemist" with something you're putting into your body.'

Board-certified dermatologist and founder of Florida-based practice DermWorks, Dr Jenna Queller, shared that the canthaxanthin pigment can affect a user's eyesight.

'Canthaxanthin has been linked to crystal deposits in the retina that can cause vision problems, as well as potential liver issues and gastrointestinal symptoms,' Queller told the Daily Mail.

By taking these pills and drops, none of which are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Queller warned that you can also put yourself at risk for allergic reactions.

The products are advertised in droves on Amazon and TikTok shop, with pills ranging in price from $17 to $50. Drops have been listed on Google shopping for between $13 and $30.

Some are even available to purchase on Temu for as little as $4.39.

But the risks may outweigh the benefits, according to experts.

Content creator Elizabeth Morales had a bit of a scare when she tried out Instagram-popular tanning drops that are available for purchase online

She took the edible drops, which contained beta carotene, for two weeks, but didn't notice any difference in her skin tone. When she learned of the risks, she stopped taking them entirely

'People are often looking for a "safe tan," but there really is no such thing when it comes to altering skin pigment internally,' Queller said.

'If someone wants the cosmetic look of a tan, topical self-tanning products that contain DHA are far safer because they simply color the outermost layer of dead skin cells without affecting the body internally,' she explained.

Plus, these ingestibles might not even give you the results you're looking for - these ingredients are typically known for causing an orange tone instead of a bronzed glow.

Content creator Elizabeth Morales had a scare when she tried out Instagram-popular tanning drops that are available for purchase online.

She took the edible drops, which contained beta carotene, for two weeks - mixing it into her water - but didn't notice any difference in her skin tone.

'I don't think the drops did much of anything,' Morales told the Daily Mail.

However, the influencer immediately stopped taking them after she learned about the potential health risks.

'After learning about the effects on the body, I became worried and stopped taking the drops,' Morales said

'After learning about the effects on the body, I became worried and stopped taking the drops,' Morales said. 'I won't be taking oral tanning drops anymore and will stick to self tanners.'

Across a variety of different oral tanning products sold on Amazon, there have been mixed reviews from customers.

'Waste of money... I am on this going on three months now. Not one change in the color of my skin. Do not buy this,' one Amazon reviewer wrote under a tanning pill product.

Another agreed, 'Did not a thing for me.'

Only a few reviewers seemed to think these oral tans work, with one person writing, 'I'm starting my fourth bottle of this product and I am getting nice color. I'm very pale normally. I don't have a dark tan but a nice golden color.'

Queller said she advises her patients against taking tanning pills entirely.

'There's also a broader concern that they can create a false sense of security,' she told the Daily Mail.

'Even if the skin appears darker, it doesn't mean the skin is protected from ultraviolet radiation.'

Despite the warnings and negative reviews, these edible tans are still taking off on social media - and it seems like new brands are popping up every day.

'I think it's important for people to recognize how quickly social media can blur the line between cosmetics and pharmacology,' Ginsberg said.

'A compound that acts on hormone receptors gets repackaged as a "tanning hack," but biologically it's still a drug affecting real physiological pathways.

'And unlike FDA-approved medications, there's no standardized dosing, no long-term safety data and very little accountability if something goes wrong.

'For something as purely cosmetic as a tan, that's a pretty risky tradeoff.'
Sitting in my quiet office with a colleague late one Friday afternoon in the secondary school where I teach, I was thinking ahead: discussing future staffing levels, planning for the next week.

So far, so professional.

Suddenly, my office door was flung wide and an open, freshly shaken can of cola thrown in, hitting the wall behind me and spraying the drink across me and the other teacher.

We dashed into the corridor just in time to see the backs of the perpetrators  two kids aged about 12  disappearing round the corner. While we mopped ourselves down with paper towels, my colleague sighed wearily and said hed put in a report in the hope CCTV will identify them.

We then went back to our meeting.

In any other workplace, a scene like this  two senior staff members calmly and resignedly mopping their shirts while discussing year-end budgets  would seem ludicrous.

But as any teacher in a modern comprehensive school, like ours in the Midlands, would tell you: this is an everyday occurrence.

The disruptions I face are so frequent that I barely batted an eyelid at this latest incident. In fact, it was far from the worst thing that happened to me that week. I also got told to f*** off several times and called a c***, a nonce and a paedophile  all by kids too young to buy a lottery ticket.

I suppose you could say its a different kind of roll call  ticking off the terms of abuse on my own mental bingo card throughout the day, as I try to work my way through the history curriculum Im paid to teach.

The abuse isnt limited to the verbal, either. Over the course of this term, Ive been kicked on the back of my legs and shoved from behind in front of a class of 30 children  the other kids, to their credit, witnessed this in shocked silence, knowing their classmate had crossed a line.

One evening after work it struck me how desensitised Id become to the abuse I experience, and how it had started to seep into the rest of my life, writes Colin Stephenson

Ive watched the educational landscape shift dramatically in the decade and a half since I qualified. The truth is, if a pupil decides theyre going to go wild, the system makes it incredibly hard to stop them unless they pose an immediate physical danger. Picture posed by models

Ive even had to call in the police after three Year 10 pupils  aged 14 and 15  were found under the influence of ketamine in a stairwell after failing to turn up for maths. The two boys and a girl were found spaced-out and disorientated.

Youre probably imagining that every one of those incidents led to severe punishment. That the pupils involved were swiftly removed, suspended for weeks and made examples of.

But heres the reality: the boy who shoved me received a couple of days suspension; the girl who kicked me while I was trying to stop her attacking another pupil was given half a day.

The pupils who accused me of being a sex offender spent a few hours in internal exclusion. And the cola-throwing boys will most likely receive an internal sanction that will see them spend a day taught separately to their classmates.

As you can see, the consequences dont match the offence. And dont the pupils know it.

Im not arguing for Victorian discipline or mass expulsions. But there has to be a middle ground between chaos and compassion. Where consequences are swift, meaningful and actually felt.

At the moment, too often, theyre neither. Until sanctions are meaningful, and backed up by parents, nothing will change.

Because a big part of the problem is that many pupils know there wont be consequences at home either. Ive had parents side with their child before even asking what happened, or treat a sanction as a personal attack on them.

Some children walk back into school knowing the adults in their life will challenge the teacher before they challenge their behaviour, and that removes the last layer of deterrent.

Recently, I dealt with a situation that summed this up perfectly. A pupil had crossed a clear line and had been suspended. Only her mother refused to come and collect her. Presumably she had other stuff going on that she deemed more important than dealing with her child.

So instead of going home, that pupil then spent the afternoon roaming the corridors, wandering into lessons, disrupting classes and swearing at staff.

At one point, she told a colleague of mine to f*** off, loudly, in front of younger pupils.

Of all these incidents, only the drug taking was vaguely close to unusual. The rest: par for the course. As much a part of a teachers day now as whiteboards and marking.

Ive been teaching for almost 15 years, and am currently working as an assistant head of department. The school I work in is large and our intake straddles a range of socio-economic areas  a mix of children with parents on benefits as well as those with more middle-class backgrounds. And, in common with most schools these days, an ever-growing Special Educational Needs (SEN) intake, but without enough ancillary staff to provide the support those students need.

Phones arent banned in my school, so their use has to be constantly policed by staff

Social deprivation, family stress, mental health issues  the impact all this has on the kids gets brought into school each morning, writes Colin Stephenson. Picture posed by models

Needless to say, Ive watched the educational landscape shift dramatically in the decade and a half since I qualified.

The truth is, if a pupil decides theyre going to go wild, the system makes it incredibly hard to stop them unless they pose an immediate physical danger.

We cant simply remove them without parental cooperation and we cant physically intervene unless strict thresholds are met. You have to tread incredibly carefully, and many pupils know that.

Add social media bravado into the mix  which can turn misbehaviour into a performance for your peers  and you get a situation where theres very little fear of discipline. It isnt quite Lord of the Flies, but there are moments when it feels horribly close.

Speak to colleagues and youll hear variations on the same themes: chairs thrown across rooms, pupils live-streaming lessons on Snapchat, teachers filmed without consent, parents turning up at reception demanding apologies for sanctions their children have earned, Year 7s  thats 11 year olds!  vaping in the toilets when they should be in class, staff accused of bullying for confiscating a mobile phone, and colleagues  male and female  reduced to tears after being sworn at in corridors.

None of it makes headlines, but it all eats away at your resilience.

Phones arent banned in my school, so their use has to be constantly policed by staff. I honestly wish the Government would just introduce a national ban so it becomes the norm everywhere, not another daily battle were expected to manage.

Funding, too, of course, has played a part. Budgets have been tightened year after year, pastoral teams have been stretched ever-thinner, while the communities schools serve have become more pressured.

Social deprivation, family stress, mental health issues  the impact all this has on the kids gets brought into school each morning.

Teaching history means I should be trying to spark curiosity about the past while managing the present. But my role now is as much about behaviour, safeguarding and firefighting disciplinary problems as it is about getting teenagers engaged with the French Revolution or the Cold War.

Most secondary schools now are saturated with CCTV  cameras in corridors, stairwells, entrances. It protects pupils, of course, but increasingly it protects staff.

When an allegation is made, footage gets pulled  it has become almost as necessary in a school as body cameras are in policing. Thats a profound shift even from 15 years ago. The idea that teachers regularly review CCTV footage as evidence in what are effectively workplace investigations would once have seemed extraordinary. Now its normal.

Of course, its human instinct when faced with such misbehaviour to ask these kids who the hell they think theyre talking to when they are rude or aggressive.

But with time, older teachers like me develop a kind of armour  learning which battles to pick and how to keep your voice level and non-reactive.

New recruits havent learnt how to do that yet. And no amount of training can prepare them for the abuse they face.

For younger female teachers, it can be even harder. Ive mentored early-career teachers in their early 20s facing down 15- and 16-year-old boys who are physically bigger than them and know it.

The comments can edge into the sexual, the tone deliberately intimidating. Even when nothing overt happens, the imbalance in size and confidence can feel threatening.

Little wonder, then, that talented younger teachers Ive mentored have left for private schools or for jobs abroad.

Others have moved into corporate training or education consultancy. A couple simply walked away from teaching altogether.

Most were exceptional in the classroom; they certainly didnt leave because they couldnt teach. They quit because they didnt have the stomach for what gets in the way of actually doing that.

And unless the behaviour of pupils changes, soon we wont have any experienced teachers  because no one will stay long enough to become so.

Indeed, a recent report by the charity Education Support found nearly one in three teachers in UK secondary schools considered leaving the education sector last year due to pressures on their mental health and wellbeing.

I nearly walked away myself. Ironically, considering some of the more dramatic abuse Ive faced, the incident that tipped me over the edge was relatively undramatic.

Pupils are commonly given a few hours in internal exclusion or made to spend a day taught separately to their classmates. Punishments rarely match the offence... and the pupils know it. Picture posed by model

Most secondary schools now are saturated with CCTV  cameras in corridors, stairwells, entrances. It protects pupils, of course, but increasingly it protects staff

In late spring last year, having covered for a colleague, I was standing in the classroom doorway after my students had left, unaware one still needed to get out.

This Year 10 pupil barged into me as she forced her way past. I had one hand on the doorframe as she pushed forward; stepping back I told her to be more careful.

Later that afternoon, I was told she had gone to her next lesson and alleged that Id yelled at her, then pinned her against the classroom wall having grabbed her by the arm.

This girl had a history of defiance and had already been involved in several behaviour incidents that year. But the accusation was serious and it was treated as such, which was, of course, only right.

There werent any witnesses. Statements were taken and CCTV was pulled while I was instructed not to discuss it with colleagues while it was investigated.

For the next couple of days, I walked into work unsure how this would end, replaying that moment in the doorway in my head each night.

Where exactly had my hands been? Had my arm risen higher than I remembered? Could the movement have looked different from the angle of the camera?

As a male teacher, you are constantly aware of physical boundaries, and so you always position yourself carefully, especially around female students.

The footage showed I had done nothing wrong. The allegation was dismissed and the pupil received a five-day suspension as well as being required to write me a formal letter of apology.

I still dont know why she did it  she must have had some sort of grudge against me  and my relief at being exonerated was tempered by the knowledge that this student had wanted to destroy both my reputation and my career.

What unsettled me most was not just that she made the accusation, but how confidently it was framed. Pupils today are increasingly savvy. They understand language around safeguarding, boundaries and misconduct.

Most of the time that awareness is a good thing. But occasionally it can be weaponised. They know how an allegation triggers formal procedure.

Not long after this, one afternoon I intercepted a group who had skipped lessons and were messing around near the stairwell. When I told them they needed to get to their classrooms one boy stepped closer, held my eye and said, performatively: Are you going to make us? You cant touch us. Youll get done.

It was the confidence behind that assertion that got to me. The certainty that he understood the system well enough to use it as a shield against authority.

I kept my tone steady, told him to move, and gave him a clear instruction without raising my voice. I made a mental note of the witnesses, logged it later and passed it up the chain, exactly as procedure demands. Outwardly, it was handled.

That evening I was sitting at the kitchen table while my wife, whos a dentist, was finishing her notes from her clinic. She looked up at me and said: If I got treated the way you do at work, the police would be involved.

It struck me then how desensitised Id become to the abuse I experience, and how quietly it had started to seep into the rest of my life.

I could still function  I was planning lessons, marking books and turning up for work on time. But I was coming home tight-jawed, distracted and irritable. I didnt feel like me.

So I took five weeks off with stress. There was no dramatic collapse, I simply realised I didnt like what the job was turning me into outside the classroom  and I needed to take some time out, before those changes became permanent.

So why did I come back?

I didnt return because things had dramatically improved... as you can see from how last week played out, theyre as bad as ever.

I went back because, despite everything, I still care about my work.

Teaching, when you get to actually do it, is the best job in the world. During a good lesson, for 50 minutes  despite the usual low-level interruptions  you feel an amazing connection with the kids.

And theres a camaraderie with colleagues. Schools run on a kind of dark humour that means you can walk into the staffroom after a grim lesson and someone will just make a joke that lightens you.

I work alongside people who are sharper, more resilient and more committed than anyone Ive met in other professions, and Im proud of us for continuing to come back for more.

But none of that changes the fact that no one should be called a c*** at work. No one should have to brace themselves before walking a corridor in case a routine interaction is twisted into something career-ending.

When teaching works  when the room settles and you realise something you said three months ago has stuck  it is deeply satisfying in a way thats hard to replicate elsewhere.

Thats why I went back. Because beneath the dysfunction, the core of the job still matters deeply to me.

Even if at times it feels like I dont matter one bit  to the pupils who disrespect me, the parents who dont back me, or the system which doesnt appreciate the toll the job takes on me, and endless teachers just like me.

Colin Stephenson is a pseudonym. As told to Rachel Halliwell
A CNN reporter was astonished after witnessing wait times drastically drop at an Atlanta airport after ICE agents arrived to assist the TSA.

National Correspondent Ryan Young was at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Tuesday morning where he witnessed wait times at security checkpoints cut from an hour to just minutes.

'Wolf, I almost can't believe I'm able to say this, the times have dropped off tremendously this morning,' Young told anchor Wolf Blitzer. 'People were waiting an hour in line, now that is not the case.'

Young appeared giddy as he showed how few people there were waiting to be screened by TSA agents.

The dramatic change comes after weeks of seemingly endless lines due to a lack of TSA agents during the partial government shutdown and just one day after President Trump deployed ICE agents to airports.

'If you look at the main checkpoint here, there seems like there's less than a dozen people,' Young said.

'I don't think people thought they were going to see the numbers where they are right now.'

Senior National Correspondent Ryan Young was shocked by short wait times on Tuesday morning at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport amid President Trump sending ICE agents across the country to assist the TSA

Young appeared giddy while showing practically zero wait time as ICE officer patrolled the airport since being deployed on Monday

The line at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Monday morning stretched out the door. Travelers were advised to arrive four hours early for their flights

The CNN reporter showed ICE agents strolling around the airport and called their interactions with the public 'pretty nice' because they weren't wearing masks.

'They are patrolling the outside areas of the airport, keeping people safe, interacting with some of the people as they walk by but for the most part,' Young added.

'They have this defensive posture where they're sort of just walking around and making the parameter is safe.'

Additionally, the correspondent mentioned how there was a small protest of about a dozen people against the immigration agents on Monday, but had since dispersed.

Blitzer noted that ICE agents were present at airports to aid the TSA but questioned whether they were interrogating flyers about immigration.

The correspondent said that the agents were not interacting with anybody and had not seen them check a single license.

He added how sometimes ICE officers would stand behind a TSA agent's booth, guarding without interacting or checking boarding passes.

Join the discussion How do you feel about ICE agents stepping in to fix airport chaos caused by the shutdown?

President Trump sent ICE officers to 14 cities on Monday to help airports ease ridiculously long lines

ICE agents patrol New York's LaGuardia Airport on March 23

However, Young also added that Tuesday was a particularly slow day at the Atlanta airport and would be waiting to see how conditions are on Thursday when things are expected to pick back up.

The president sent ICE officers to 14 cities on Monday to help airports ease ridiculously long lines.

As the partial shutdown has dragged on, and employees under the DHS umbrella - except ICE - remain unpaid, over 400 TSA agents have quit, and US airports have been snarled with long security wait times.

Roughly 50,000 TSA workers have been working without pay since February, and now voters are blaming Republicans for the funding debacle and long airport wait times.

The President has repeatedly blamed Democrats for the long lines and travel woes faced by millions of Americans since the shutdown began last month.
Morning Joe co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski are staying at MS NOW for another four years, it's been revealed.

The cable news power couple confirmed to Axios Wednesday that they have signed a contract extension good until the end of 2029.

'Mika and I are excited to be staying with our "Morning Joe" family and friends who have been watching regularly for almost 20 years,' Scarborough said.

The former Florida Republican went on to thank MS NOW President Rebecca Kutler and Versant CEO Mark Lazarus 'for the vote of confidence'.

Scarborough and Brzezinski both successfully negotiated for the show to be shortened from four hours to three in a move announced last week, the Daily Mail understands. The show has historically been three hours.

Kutler briefly spoke about the contract extension as well.

'We are about to celebrate 20 years of Morning Joe - Joe and Mika have created something that cannot be replicated,' she told Axios 13 months into her executive tenure.

'As we build towards the 2026 midterms and 2028 presidential election, Morning Joe will continue to be a singular destination for presidents and newsmakers from all political parties.'

Morning Joe star Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski have confirmed they signed a four-year contract with MS NOW

MS NOW president Rebecca Kutler confirmed the move as well, after masterminding a shift to digital

An MS NOW spokesperson confirmed the contract renewal to the Mail on Wednesday.

Axios touted the program as 'one of the most powerful platforms reaching policymakers and Washington insiders' while covering the new development.

The Hollywood Reporter called the cohosts 'arguably two of [MS NOW's] most powerful on-air personalities'.

Variety framed the 6am show as a 'core niche of Washington insiders and politicos each morning' and 'a valuable place to establish MS NOW as a place for influencers'.

Kutler - a former senior vice president at CNN - has sought to move the network into the digital age since taking the reins in February of last year.

More vertical videos, a more pronounced presence on YouTube, and a host of programming changes has been the result.

Morning Joe has been at the forefront of the transition, consistently ranking as one of MS NOWs largest drivers on the website.

Clips of conversations and interviews alone have secured more than 227million views in 2025.

The Morning Joe showcast - a podcast version of the show - is the network's most downloaded daily offering.

Rachel Maddow, meanwhile, remains MS NOW's highest-rated host. She only appears on-air once a week.

Morning Joes ratings, however, remain a bright spot in an otherwise lacking morning lineup, with the show notching its most-watched month last February since the 2024 presidential election.

The 810,000 total viewers for the month was up 16 percent from this year.

Last month, the network as a whole reeled 1.4 million primetime viewers - another sign of improvement under Kutler.

The network was renamed from MSNBC in November, as part of corporate restructuring by former parent company Comcast. It was cast off to a separate company, Versant, along with other cable channels.
Drivers are being charged up to five times the genuine cost for simple car repairs by garages and mechanics, an undiscovered investigation has found.

Vehicle diagnostic specialist Carly carried out a nationwide mystery shopping exercise to assess whether UK garages charge consistently for like-for-like repairs.

And the findings exposed some garages charging over 500 more than they should for a basic fix.

Using the same Seat Ibiza with a known oxygen sensor fault, the investigation uncovered significant price disparities, with quotes reaching as much as 672 for a repair that should only cost in the region of 110.

The worrying findings come as rising fuel prices continue to squeeze drivers' finances.

The UK sees the highest average pump price for diesel since mid-August 2024 due to the ongoing conflict between the US-Israel and Iran as the nation's motorists also brace for an increase in road tax from next month.

This is Money can exclusively reveal that Britain's motorists are being ripped off by car garages: up to five times the cost for simple repairs, an undiscovered investigation has found

Carly's investigation, conducted on 10 UK garages spanning independent and main dealer networks across the country, found that while every site correctly diagnosed the issue as a 'P003100' fault with the oxygen sensor, repair quotes varied dramatically.

While the garages themselves are unable to be identified, Carly can say that a garage in Leeds (national chain) quoted 672 to replace both oxygen sensors, a main dealer in Stoke-on-Trent quoted 618, and another main dealer - this time in Sunderland - was charging 328 for the same job.

Even the lowest price was well over the 110 standard rate expected.

Beyond inflated pricing, the investigation revealed a concerning pattern of unnecessary upselling.

Four of the 10 garages recommended additional repairs or servicing that were unrelated to the known fault, including brake replacements, spark plugs, air-conditioning servicing, and duplicate diagnostics.

In some cases, these add-ons would have added between 400 and 950 to the total bill.

Often these scandalous recommendations came without clear explanation of urgency, relevance, and immediate safety or drivability.

Automotive diagnostic specialist Carly, across 10 UK garages spanning independent and main dealer networks, found that some garages are charging 672 for a 110 repair

Four of the 10 garages recommended additional repairs or servicing that were unrelated to the known fault

Alongside the revealing investigation, a OnePoll survey of 2,000 UK-based motorists revealed that 52 per cent either suspect or are unsure if they have been overcharged in the past five years, with many admitting they feel powerless when faced with repair bills.

Fifty-six per cent believe garages have the upper hand when it comes to repair costs, while 45 per cent say they distrust garages or are unsure whether quotes are fair.

There's a gender unfairness built in too, with 62 per cent believing women are more likely to be overcharged, while 53 per cent feel drivers with limited car knowledge are at greatest risk.

A key issue is that drivers say they do not feel confident when diagnosing car faults themselves: 51 per cent aren't sure of themselves when identifying serious problems.

Stuart Masson, editorial director at The Car Expert, said the investigation highlighted just how confusing and unpredictable car repairs can be.

'Even when every garage identified the same fault, quotes varied dramatically [some hundreds of pounds higher] and additional work was sometimes recommended unnecessarily.

'The real challenge for drivers isnt just the cost, its the lack of clear information about what work is necessary and what a fair price should look like. Carly gives motorists the clarity and confidence to question quotes and make informed decisions before stepping into a garage.'

Carly's investigation comes a week after an industry report warned that drivers will incur higher repair costs in the coming years due to an understaffing issue triggered by the garage sector's failure to attract young workers.

Almost three quarters of professionals within the industry said it is taking longer to fix vehicles because of a staffing crisis that could soon cause a spike in garage bills.

A survey of 220 garages across the country, conducted by mobile repair platform ClickMechanic, found a nationwide struggle recruiting the next generation of car technicians is risking the future of the sector.

Existing mechanics are also growing increasingly concerned they will be forced to delay their own retirement as a result of ongoing financial pressures linked to running businesses.

If the current shortage continues, mechanics believe it could have significant consequences for motorists in the years ahead.

Two-thirds believe repair costs will rise, while a third warn that pressure on workshops could increase the risk of rushed or poor-quality repairs.
The board of Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust (EWIT) is urging investors to vote for a cash exit to end the uncertainty brought about by American hedge fund Sabas takeover attempts.

EWIT is asking investors to vote in favour of a tender offer for up to 100 per cent of the issued share capital.

It offers shareholders the opportunity to receive a significant initial cash exit and retain access to SpaceX, its largest shareholding, by preserving exposure until a future liquidity event.

It will also mean their investment in the trust does not end up falling under the control of third party, US hedge fund Saba Capital Management, which holds a large stake.

A general meeting will take place on 10 April 2026, and investors will be required to submit their votes for the offer by 2pm on 8 April, and separately elect to tender their shares by 1pm on 16 April.

Investing platform voting will close earlier, as soon as 30 March, so shareholders will need to check with where they hold investment accounts.

> Visit the Edinburgh Worldwide website to find out more

EWIT says that voting in favour of the tender offer gives investors the option to opt out before Saba can secure control, and it will draw a line in the sand in its battle with the hedge fund.

Jonathan Simpson-Dent, chair of Edinburgh Worldwide, said: If shareholders dont come out to vote in at least the numbers they did before, the likelihood is that the tender process will not be approved and shareholders will become invested in a company that falls under Sabas control.

This Tender Offer gives shareholders a choice. It gives them freedom to opt out, to take a significant initial cash exit, while importantly retaining exposure to any future upside in the Company's largest investment, SpaceX.

The board of Edinburgh Worldwidei s urging investors to vote for its 100% tender offer

Why is Edinburgh Worldwide offering a cash exit?

Edinburgh Worldwide is a UK-based investment trust managed by Baillie Gifford that backs disruptive companies with long-term growth potential.

US hedge fund Saba proposed replacing the existing board with new directors in February 2025 with the aim of appointing itself as Edinburgh Worldwides manager and shifting the investment strategy.

After investors voted down the proposals, Saba made a second attempt in January 2026, which was again rejected.

Saba has built up stakes in several investment trusts - including increasing its shareholding in EWIT to more than 30 per cent.

The activist investor has made it clear that it wants to appoint a new board and manager to assume control of the trust. EWIT is offering shareholders the option to exit the trust before Saba has the opportunity to do so.

If EWITs tender offer is rejected, Simpson-Dent says there is a high probability of a change of control in the coming weeks that would take the Company down a very different path.

Although shareholders have rejected Sabas previous two attempts, it is betting on pushing its block vote over the 50 per cent level needed to remove the current non-executive directors.

Simpson-Dent said: Our detailed analysis concludes that Saba is likely to succeed in imposing its new board at the Companys AGM, which has to be held before the end of April.

Saba has a clear desire to assume control of the Company's management in order to pursue its own commercial objectives and to alter the investment mandate away from long-term global technological innovation. Shareholders must ask themselves  is this the future they want for their investment?

He added: This Tender Offer gives shareholders the opportunity to realise value from their investment before a likely change of control. Otherwise, shareholders are likely to end up in a Saba-controlled vehicle with a different investment mandate.

> Read the Edinburgh Worldwide RNS announcement on the tender offer

What will the tender offer mean for investors?

EWITs offer gives investors the option of a cash exit while retaining exposure to SpaceX ahead of its IPO, which is widely expected this summer.

If shareholders approve the plan, it is likely to bring an end to the 28-year-old trust, as it sells its holdings and returns money to investors.

Shareholders will receive around 85 per cent in cash at close to net asset value after it liquidates assets. They will receive a further 15 per cent based on the realised value of SpaceX.

While Saba has proposed a 100 per cent cash exit offer at 99 per cent net asset value, Simpson-Dent said the hedge fund cannot guarantee the implementation of its proposed cash exit because it has repeatedly claimed that its three nominees are independent and they could therefore reject the proposals.

> Read the AIC guide to how to vote your shares

Shareholders must turn out to vote

Shareholders must use their vote if they want to give themselves the option of exiting the trust before Saba potentially takes control.

If youve bought your position in Edinburgh Worldwide through an investment platform such as Hargreaves Lansdown or Interactive Investor, you will be able to vote through the platform itself.

You will need to speak to your investment platform to find out more.

Otherwise, you should get full details on how to vote for the offer and to sell your shares from Edinburgh Worldwide.

You can visit the Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust website to find out more.
My husband passed away in November last year. He held three separate pensions with Prudential (now part of M&G) totalling more than 400,000, so I notified the firm online.

We have lived in Australia for 14 years but used my brothers address in Birmingham to receive correspondence.

I arranged a ten-week visit back to the UK over the Christmas period to scatter my husbands ashes and to settle his finances as much as I could.

However, Ive made no progress with the pensions policies. Despite me expecting payment in January, it is now March and there is still no sign of it.

I am now back in Australia and need this money to pay off our mortgage.

M.S., Perth, Australia.

Delays: A reader is struggling to convince Prudential to pay out on her late husbands three pensions totalling more than 400,000

Sally Hamilton replies: I'm very sorry to read about your husband, who was just 56 when he died.

That is upsetting enough, but I know from the many readers who write in following a bereavement that dealing with paperwork and dilatory financial firms can make an already sad situation more distressing.

When it is clear who the beneficiary of a pension policy is, as it was in your case, and all requested documents are provided promptly, it should take about four to six weeks for the funds to be released.

It can take much longer if there is doubt about who should be receiving the benefits (such as when a pension holder has failed to nominate a beneficiary) or information is missing.

You understood there would be certain hoops to jump through before M&G would release the money, but when the process stalled on several occasions you became incensed.

Staff had told you the funds would arrive in your account well before your return to Oz on February 23. However, you flew home with the claim still open.

Let Me Know With energy bills tipped to soar and petrol prices surging due to the Middle East conflict, how are you preparing your finances for the worst? Email sally@dailymail.co.uk

You told me you had complied promptly with M&Gs requests, including completing a form declaring you were taking the pension proceeds without advice or guidance.

You also sent the death certificate, evidence that you are the sole beneficiary of your late husbands estate and executor of his will, plus your bank details.

You therefore expected a speedy conclusion to the claim. Progress was held up on one occasion when you faced queries about whether your husband was living with anyone apart from you at the time he died.

You thought it acceptable to be asked this once but found it insensitive when the question was put a second time.

Two complaints you made about M&Gs poor service were upheld by the firm.

This included an instance when staff told you they were still awaiting documentation, although it had already been confirmed as received.

Once you were back Down Under in late February, everything went quiet at M&Gs end. On March 9, you asked for my help.

My intervention prompted the executive office to contact you immediately to apologise and pull its finger out. Three days later, 421,310, the proceeds of all three policies and compensation, landed in your account.

You thanked me and described this as an amazing result.

You say: This money will clear the outstanding mortgage and leave me with enough to live a comfortable life.

M&G admitted your payments should have been made on January 5, but said the fact there were three pensions to unravel had contributed to the delay.

The final amount you received included a sum for the potential loss of growth in the two-month period M&G held on to the funds, plus a total of 500 as an apology for the poor service and the delay.

An M&G spokesman says: Were very sorry for M.S.s loss and for her experience, which fell below the standard of service we aim to provide.

Full payment was made on March 12, and weve offered compensation to apologise for this delay.

Anyone suffering an administrative issue like this when dealing with a pension firm should start, as you did, by going through its internal complaints system.

If it still doesnt make things right, customers can take their gripe to the free Financial Ombudsman Service at financial-ombudsman.org.uk for an impartial view. They need to do this within six months of a firms final response to their complaint.

Miele charged for repair despite warranty

I purchased a Miele washing machine from John Lewis in 2016, which came with a ten-year manufacturer warranty for parts and labour.

In November 2025, it broke down, so I called Miele and confirmed the warranty was still current.

After a couple of false starts the repair was made. Despite repeatedly stating I have a warranty, I was handed a 600 bill and then started getting emails chasing me for the unpaid invoice.

There have been about 20 at the last count. Please help.

C.D., Stevenage, Herts

Sally Hamilton replies: By the time you came to me you were in a spin from the constant barrage of emails suggesting you owed Miele 600 for your washing machine repair  and you couldnt stop them.

Miele is known for its high-quality products, so I was surprised that its service was not also top of the range.

When I asked Miele to investigate, it soon confirmed your appliance was covered by a valid warranty and that human error was behind the repair being incorrectly processed as a chargeable service. As it was showing in its systems as an unpaid bill, this led to a flood of emails demanding payment.

Miele confirmed its records have now been corrected and that no payment is due.

A spokesman says: This does not reflect the level of service we aim to provide.

We are reviewing our internal processes to ensure warranty repairs are correctly coded at the point of service to prevent this from happening again.

Anyone struggling to get repairs sorted under a warranty with any appliance provider should write to the company demanding it sticks to its side of the contract, quoting the relevant terms from its paperwork.

Consumer group Which? has a useful template letter for this purpose on its website at which.co.uk.

Straight to the point Im with TalkTalk for my broadband and I started to experience slow wifi. An engineer visited and said the router was at fault so a replacement would be sent. I was charged 75 for the visit, which is typically done when the fault is caused by the router. I demanded a refund and this was set to arrive in my bank account in five working days, but Im still waiting. P.C., Cirencester. TalkTalk apologises and says a replacement router has been provided to solve the issue. You have been refunded 75 and given 50 as a goodwill gesture. *** In October I visited Portugal and tried to withdraw 250 from an ATM. It took longer than normal and a message appeared on the machine saying that if I did not take the money, it would take it back. The money was halfway out of the machine so I tried to pull it out. As I did, it started to take it back so I only managed to get 20. The full amount has been taken from my HSBC bank account. C.W., via email. HSBC apologises and has issued a refund. *** I had two new energy meters fitted by Eon Next in March. Since they were fitted weve had problems with the power tripping. The engineer who fitted the meters couldnt fix the issue and said an electrician would arrive, but they never did. I have had to pay for an electrician three times  costing 765. I think Eon Next should pay, as everything was working before the new meters were fitted. G.E., via email. Eon Next refused to compensate you, unfortunately. It says that during the meter upgrade, the electricity supply was temporarily switched off and back on as is standard. The electricity tripped because of your homes residual current device, which is a safety feature. It says this can happen if there is an underlying issue with wiring or appliances  and it was not caused by the meter installation.
A lesser-known type of Isa is back in the spotlight as a home for tax-free crypto investing.

The Innovative Finance Isa (IFIsa)  the less understood and perhaps riskiest product on offer  will soon become the only Isa to allow investors to back the biggest cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Until April 5 of last year, people could track the price of Bitcoin and Ethereum via a stocks and shares Isa  but from the start of the new tax year they will have to do it in an IFIsa.

The catch is that no providers currently offer crypto investing inside one of these niche accounts.

But the rule change could spark renewed interest in IFIsas (which were at first designed for investors to lend money to others).

Jason Hollands, of investment platform Bestinvest, says: As far as I am aware, no platform will be ready on April 6 to offer this... Some traditional stocks and shares Isa providers could launch an IFIsa purely to offer this.

The Innovative Finance Isa (IFIsa) will soon become the only Isa to allow investors to back the biggest cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Ethereum

Crypto and Isas

Millions of people hold cryptocurrency in the UK but until last year it was difficult to hold these investments in a regulated account.

Despite firms requiring the authorisation from watchdog the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), crypto investment has been unregulated and unprotected.

Following the introduction of Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange traded funds (ETFs) in the US  which blindly track the underlying price of both  the FCA was under pressure to allow a similar form of investment in the UK.

The watchdog granted permission in October for UK investors to buy crypto exchange-traded notes (ETNs).

These track the price of a specific cryptocurrency and, unlike direct investment into Bitcoin or Ethereum, they can be held in a regulated account and allow investors to earn returns linked to their success.

However, ETNs  unlike ETFs  do not provide investors with ownership. If the ETN provider goes bust, investors could lose all their money.

Crypto ETNs can be held in stocks and shares Isas until the end of this tax year. At that point, shortly after their introduction, crypto ETNs will shift to the IFIsa. However, no platform in the UK is authorised to sell both the IFIsa and crypto ETNs.

Investors who have already bought crypto ETNs in stocks and shares Isas will be able to continue to hold them if their platform allows, but some may be forced to sell up.

What is an IFIsa?

Innovative Finance Isas were created in 2016 by the then-Chancellor George Osborne.

Until now, they have allowed investors to take advantage of whats known as peer-to-peer lending, typically to businesses.

You lend your money for a fixed period of time and, in return, receive interest payments from the company or project invested in.

As with all types of Isa, any returns are tax-free and you can invest up to your full annual allowance of 20,000.

A key danger is that Innovative Finance Isas are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme

Investments are made through a peer-to-peer lending platform. Some of the original big players such as Zopa, Funding Circle and RateSetter no longer offer peer-to-peer lending to investors.

The platforms now on offer for individual investors include Folk2Folk, Kuflink and CrowdProperty.

When you open an IFIsa, youll be given a target rate of interest, typically between 4 per cent and 8 per cent, but these returns are not guaranteed.

IFIsas are not hugely popular and the most recent official figures reveal the number opened in the 2022-23 tax year fell 23.5 per cent annually, according to HMRC.

Investment options

Most IFIsa investments are peer-to-peer loans with a property development element. But there are other options for those who are eco-conscious or want to make a social impact.

One of the IFIsa platforms, Abundance, allows holders to dabble in municipal investments to help councils fund green and social projects.

Alternatively, Triodos Bank offers an account focused on direct investments delivering positive change  such as investing in a 7.75 per cent bond to lend to Birtenshaw, a specialist school for vulnerable children and youngsters.

Peer-to-peer lending may be a good investment to hold alongside stocks and shares, but holders must be aware of the risks. It cannot be considered akin to a cash savings account.

Risks involved

Innovative Finance Isas may sound exciting, but you will be investing in high-risk assets. They should only be opened by someone who can afford to lose their stake.

A key danger is that they are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

If your savings are held in a cash Isa and your bank or building society goes bust, for instance, then your money is protected up to 120,000 under the scheme.

The FSCS does not cover IFIsas, however. If the platform you have saved with goes bust, then you are unlikely to get your money back.

While your IFIsa investment wont go up and down in value in line with the stock market, you could lose some or all of your money if the borrower defaults on their loan repayments.

Some IFIsa platforms have a contingency pot to compensate lenders if this happens, but this is no guarantee of protection.

Mr Hollands says: If the economy goes down further some of those you have lent to might go bust and you may not get your money back.
Mystery traders may have made tens of millions of dollars in mere minutes after betting on markets just before a surprise social media post by Donald Trump raising hopes of peace with Iran.

The bets on oil prices and stock markets were made 15 minutes before the US President said there had been 'productive' talks  sparking furious allegations of insider trading.

Traders stood to make fortunes from the bets placed on Monday morning amid sharp criticism from politicians on both sides of the Atlantic of 'repugnant' behaviour and 'mind-blowing corruption'.

Oil prices had been soaring and stock markets plunging as the Middle East conflict threatened to escalate.

But when Mr Trump declared on his Truth Social platform that there had been talks 'regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities', those moves went into reverse.

A quarter of an hour earlier, there had been a sudden spike in oil trading volumes to around $600million (450million) over just a couple of minutes.

At the same time, $1.5billion (1.1billion) was bet on America's S&P 500 stock index.

It is not known which way the bets were made  and how long it was before the traders cashed out.

Markets reversed course after Mr Trump's announcement

Your browser does not support iframes.

But $600million bet on a falling oil price may have made $60million after oil prices fell 10 per cent.

And $1.5billion staked on the S&P 500 could have yielded $30million after the index rose by 2 per cent.

A few hours after Mr Trump's announcement, Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said 'no negotiations' were under way and that the US President was seeking 'to manipulate the financial and oil markets'.

The trading activity follows previous fears of insider trading around Mr Trump's military action in Venezuela and tariff policies.

Chris Murphy, a US Democratic Senator, said: 'Who was it? Trump? A family member? A White House staffer? This is corruption. Mind-blowing corruption.'

John Glen, a Tory MP and ex-Treasury minister, now a member of the Treasury select committee, told the Daily Mail: 'Drawing quick and easy conclusions about market movements is a very difficult judgment to make but it does look highly unusual to see these sorts of trades given the timing of them.'

He called on global regulators to investigate, adding: 'It is pretty repugnant to think that people made money out of war.'

Stephen Innes, an analyst at SPI Asset Management, said: 'What stands out here isn't just the size of the trades but the timing.

At 7:05am Donald Trump posted on Truth Social about US-Iran talks and halting planned strikes. S&P 500 futures rose more than 2.5 per cent following the announcement. Oil dropped 6 per cent

'Traders are not clairvoyant. When positioning shifts minutes ahead of a market-moving headline, it usually means someone is acting on... intel before the story broke.'

Michael Brown, senior research strategist at broker Pepperstone, said: 'It really isn't a good look and these volumes do look abnormal compared to what we would typically expect to see at that time of day.

'There have been concerns over prediction markets and insider trading for a while now and this is only going to amplify worries that participants already had.

'The main reason that capital markets work and are so efficient and trusted is due to a belief that everyone is on a level playing field, with access to the same level of public information.

'If we were to get to a situation where that were no longer the case, then confidence in the smooth and efficient operation of markets at large could begin to be shaken significantly.'

Another markets expert said: 'Hard to prove but my hunch is administration insiders are tipping the wink to some people  I don't see what else it can be.'

A White House spokesman told the Financial Times it does not tolerate officials illegally profiteering from insider knowledge, adding that 'any implication of such activity without evidence is baseless and irresponsible reporting'.
One cannot accuse the Czech Sphinx, Daniel Kretinsky, of cowardice in the face of the enemy.

He could have easily cried off an appearance before the Commons Business and Trade Committee on the grounds of commitments elsewhere, such as Moscow.

After all, his EP Corporate Group, owner of the Royal Mail, made most of its billions transporting gas from Russia to Eastern Europe.

It is not often that the Labour-dominated group of MPs manages to capture a billionaire and, under the firm chairmanship of Liam Byrne, made a good fist of holding him to account.

First-class letters, to be priced at 1.80 from next month, are piling up in sorting offices rather than in letter boxes from Cornwall to the Hebrides as required by the Universal Service Obligation (USO).

Kretinsky carefully thanked each MP, before much frantic waving of arms, and failing to answer most of the queries.

Grilling: Royal Mail boss Daniel Kretinsky, whose nickname is the Czech Sphinx, appears before the Commons Business and Trade Committee

Asked to explain if the 3billion of debt used to buy the Royal Mail was hindering investment in services and staff, Kretinsky sought to split hairs.

There was no debt at the Royal Mail, it was all held by the parent company International Distribution Services.

That would be like saying local authorities have no borrowings because it belongs to HM Government.

At other highly indebted utilities, such as Thames Water, the higher the loans, the lower the investment and the less attention there is to regulators.

Much of the anxiety of MPs stems from local experience where parcels look to be prioritised over post. Kretinsky was certain there is no instruction to this effect.

However, at moments of stress  most of the time  that is what happens. This is particularly true for an organisation plagued by sickness and management keeping an eye on overtime.

Kretinsky and EP, backed by their Slovak investors, would have been expected to do their due diligence before splashing the cash on Britains oldest company, with a heritage dating back to the reign of Henry VIII.

The new king of the Royal Mail seemed surprised that in Britain, in contrast to much of Europe, the postal service is subject to private-sector competition. Thats shading the truth too.

In Denmark, a universal postal service has been abandoned precisely because it cannot keep up with email, technology and competition.

It was quite hard to understand where Kretinsky and the top management team he brought with him have been living over the last couple of decades.

Anyone wandering into a Post Office (a separate entity) will know that squeezing through the door can be tricky because of the stacks of returns from Amazon and other online sellers.

Yet one postal official thought MPs might be interested to know that parcels are 60 per cent bigger than they used to be fancy that.

The Czech Sphinx used his charm last year to persuade then Business Secretary, now Chief Whip, Jonathan Reynolds that he was a legitimate businessman, despite the Moscow link.

Reynolds did take the precaution of taking a golden share, although what Whitehall would be prepared to do with this is unclear.

Kretinsky also persuaded the Communications Workers Union that under EP ownership jobs would be safe and pay deals honoured. Less than a year later the bonhomie has quickly vanished with unions threatening industrial action.

Kretinsky waffled on about digital reforms. The bottom line is that seeking to stitch a 21st-Century parcels service onto a regulated letter delivery service is never going to work without massive reforms.

Anyone who has had the frustrating experience of picking up an undelivered package from their local sorting office could testify to that.

What is needed is modernisation at all levels, otherwise the start-up services, without historic costs and obligations, are going to make mincemeat of the Royal Mail.

A debt-encumbered ownership group, unused to the British way, the power of competition and the household love of the postie, was never going to fit the bill.

The new owner has been found badly wanting in just a few short months.
Asos shares surged this morning after the online fashion retailer unveiled a sharp rise in half-year profits.

Shares in the company rose 13.48 per cent, or 28.59p, to 240.58p this morning, having fallen around 20 per cent in the past year.

In the six months to 1 March, the group saw a 50 per cent increase in adjusted EBITDA year-on-year, which includes the 'negative impact' of Donald Trumps tariffs.

It said the turnaround in profits was a result of tightened cost control, improved gross margin and a lower returns rate.

It marks a change in fortune for the embattled retailer, which has struggled with competition from cheaper Chinese retailers such as Shein.

However, sales remained under pressure, with total goods sold slipping 9 per cent year-on-year, though the rate of decline has improved from 12 per cent in the previous full year.

The group's adjusted gross margin grew by 330 basis points to 48.5 per cent as it said its new commercial model and the expansion of its flexible fulfilment model continued to bear fruit.

Share surge: Asos shares surged on Wednesday after the online fashion retailer unveiled a sharp rise in half-year profits

The business hailed improvements in 'core markets' including the UK, US, Germany and France.

The online group's global loyalty scheme has reached 3.5million UK members and is being rolled out to the US, Germany and Austria.

Asos reiterated its full-year guidance, targeting underlying profits of between 150million and 180million.

Jose Antonio Ramos Calamonte, chief executive of Asos, said: 'Our first half shows continued progress on executing our strategic priorities across Relevant Fashion Product, Inspirational Shopping Experience and an Efficient Operating Model.'

He added: 'We are seeing improvements in new customer growth and strong performance in our womenswear business, both of which are encouraging lead indicators for sales growth.

'With an accelerated cadence of initiatives still to come this year, we are well positioned to deliver further improvements for customers and the business as our focus remains on sustainable, profitable growth.'

Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell, said: 'Despite the shares bumping higher on the trading update, the longer-term trend paints a difficult picture. Fundamentally, the market has yet to be convinced by ASOS comeback attempts, with the share price yesterday having hit its lowest level since October 2008.'
They were notoriously private, attempting to shield their relationship and personal lives from the prying eyes of the paparazzi and the public, but John F Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bessette happily welcomed one interloper into their intimate world: their beloved dog Friday.

Though Friday was oblivious of just how famous his owners were, he was as much of a staple of the tabloids as JFK Jr and Bessette, who were frequently snapped while taking him for walks around their Tribeca neighborhood.

Beloved in the offices of George, JFK Jr's political magazine, Friday was rumored to have been named after the one day of the week that he was allowed to accompany JFK Jr to the office.

At home, the dog kept company with Ruby, the mischievous black housecat that JFK Jr got as a gift for Bessette.

And though JFK Jr referred to the beloved canine as a 'pound puppy,' Friday's pedigree was as well-heeled as his owners.

According to the Summit Daily News, Friday, a black and white purebred Canaan dog, was purchased in 1995 from Donna Dodson, an Illinois-based American Kennel Club member and the owner of Dogs by Donna boarding and grooming.

Dodson selected a precious pooch that she felt was handsome enough to match JFK Jr's dazzling good looks.

'He was so good looking,' she told the Summit Daily News in 1999. 'A perfect match, but still not nearly as good looking as his owner.'

JFK Jr and Carolyn Bessette were frequently spotted taking Friday for walks around their Tribeca neighborhood

The notoriously private couple were happy to welcome Friday into their intimate world

Paul Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon are seen on the set of Love Story in a scene that closely mirrors a famous fight between JFK Jr and Bessette. The couple had Friday in tow when they were snapped

Dodson, who also served as the Health Chair for The Canaan Dog Club of America, said that JFK Jr was devoted to his dog.

'Friday accepted him for who he really was; dogs have no hidden agenda,' she said back in the same 1999 interview.

Dodson passed away in 2024, but not before she had shared her memories of conversations with JFK Jr, in which he told her that he was interested in getting a Canaan dog because of 'the naturalness' of the breed. The dogs are known for their independence, sensitivity and ability to guard.

She said of JFK Jr: 'He was so unassuming. I could tell he wanted a dog so very much.'

Friday was a welcome third wheel to the glamorous couple, who, according to The Real Housewives of New York star Carole Radziwill, JFK Jr's cousin by marriage and Carolyn's close friend, considered the dog their 'child.'

'She was obsessed with [Friday],' Radziwill said of Carolyn.

Bessette was 'obsessed' with Friday

JFK Jr was devoted to his dog, who he could rely on to accept him as he was

Friday was a black and white purebred Canaan dog that was as handsome as his owner

That obsession is captured in a scene in Ryan Murphy's hit new FX series Love Story when the couple are shown during their infamous fight in Battery Park in 1996. Amidst the heat and the passion of that torrid moment JFK Jr refers to Friday as 'his dog.' Bessette screams the retort, 'OUR dog!'

In the series, Friday is played by Rami, a Canaan dog whose owners Cynthia Dodson and David Golden claim is Friday's great-great-grandnephew.

There was little in the couple's life to which Friday did not bear silent witness and he often traveled with them.

In fact, the only reason he was not with the couple on their fatal 1999 flight to Hyannis Port was because both Friday and Ruby had been sent on ahead and were already at the Kennedy compound there.

Relatives had been watching them for weeks leading up to JFK Jr's cousin Rory's wedding because of their owners' busy schedules.

Following the deaths of JFK Jr and Bessette, Friday was cared for by Efigenio 'Effie' Pinheiro - Jackie Kennedy Onassis' longtime personal assistant, who later worked for JFK Jr.

Friday on a leisurely stroll in Tribeca with Bessette and JFK Jr

Following the deaths of JFK Jr and Bessette, Friday was cared for by Efigenio 'Effie' Pinheiro - Jackie Kennedy Onassis' longtime personal assistant, who later worked for JFK Jr

Pinheiro was so trusted by the Kennedy family that he was tasked with arranging the greenery at the altar at JFK Jr and Bessette's secret wedding on Cumberland Island, Georgia in 1996.

Friday reportedly moved to Portugal with Pinheiro, where he spent the rest of his life shielded from the public eye.

Ruby was reportedly adopted by Santina Goodman, a Brown University classmate of JFK Jr and one of his closest friends.

But according to Radziwill, though Friday was loved and cared for, he never forgot his beloved owners, dying in 2002 just three years after their deaths.

To her it seemed simple: 'The dog died of a broken heart after [they] died.'
Melbourne business owners fear a Covid-style wipeout if work-from-home is mandated to ease pressure on fuel supplies in Australia.

Slate Bar Restaurant manager Ily Yildrim told Daily Mail businesses in the city were still doing it tough six years after Covid lockdowns first hit the state.

Melbourne endured the world's longest lockdown, with draconian stay-at-home orders and travel restrictions lasting for a total 262 days, and the state's economy estimated to have lost $100million per day.

The work-from-home debate was reignited after the International Energy Agency (IEA) urged countries to adopt fuel-saving measures.

Global supply pressures from the Middle East have left 187 petrol stations without diesel in NSW and 83 in Victoria, while prices soar above $3 a litre.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen said on Sunday it was a 'good idea' for Australians to heed the advice from the IEA that people work from home.

Mr Yildrim fears a lockdown will make a hard situation almost impossible.

'We're still seeing the effects of Covid because business has only gotten back to about 60 percent since [pre-Covid levels],' he said.

Melbourne CBD bar manager Ily Yildrim (above) said businesses in the city were still doing it tough six years after Covid-lockdowns first hit the state

Melbourne suffered the world's longest lockdown, with then-Premier Dan Andrews enforcing draconian stay-at-home orders and travel restrictions for a total 262 days

'Most CBD workers already take Monday and Friday off to have a long weekend so we already decided to close Mondays and now Fridays are a bit hit and miss.

'The proposed work from home idea to save petrol definitely won't help, rents aren't going down but we have lost a lot of customers.

'It's literally killing the business, and now, on top of increased costs from suppliers due to rising petrol costs we may have to deal with increased work from home measures, it's getting to be impossible.'

Mr Yildrim said Slate had to revert to new business tactics, including relying almost solely on special functions and events.

'Foot traffic is almost non-existent, if it wasn't for events we'd be done,' he said.

'It's a struggle, our costs keep going up but we have to keep our prices low to get customers in, we try to keep prices low but we don't know how much longer we can last.

Mr Yildrim suggested governments on every level should come with a 'permanent' plan to help traders.

'The government needs to help more, It always something temporary but Victoria is the hardest state to do business in, we need permanent help,' he said.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen said on Sunday it was a 'good idea' for Australians to heed the advice from the IEA that people work from home

The government says petrol prices are surging due to 'panic buying'

'Maybe instead of telling people to stay home to save petrol they could give free public transport instead, at least give free Myki three or four days a week, try something to help business.'

Bowen told the ABC's Insiders program on Sunday that working from home is a 'good idea if possible'.

'Well, I think thats a sensible thing to do in any environment, really, you know, work from home has become an important part of Australian working life,' he said.

Bowen added not everyone can work remotely but people 'should explore options to minimise fuel use'.

'I think people would already be looking at their options to minimise their fuel use. At the moment, for other people, its a lot harder. So I dont think a one-size-fits-all approach is necessary,' he said.

Other suggestions from the world energy watchdog include avoiding travel and driving 10 km/h slower to offset the oil shortage due to war in the Middle East.

Bowen confirmed overall fuel supply remains strong, with petrol stocks at 38 days and diesel and jet fuel at 30 days.

'That indicates that while weve released more from the strategic reserve, the ships continue to arrive in good numbers, and both our refineries are working at absolute fuel pelt, and theyre both entirely dedicated to Australian suppliers, not exports,' he said.

Hundreds of petrol stations across Australia have run out of fuel

'The regional areas are where the supply chain is the hardest to manage. It takes longer to get from Geelong and Brisbane to the various regional areas.'

The Albanese Government has maintained Australia has a demand problem, not a supply problem, with panic buying fuelling shortages.

However, 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.

Macquarie University senior lecturer in applied finance Doctor Lurion De Mello said diesel may rise higher than the current $3 a litre seen at some service stations in major cities

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.

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.

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.'
An Aussie truck driver has admitted dealing drugs to put diesel in his tank amid the nation's fuel crisis, as others warn crippling supply chain chaos is just weeks away.

At Eastern Creek Truck Stop, one of Sydney's busiest freight stops, drivers told the Daily Mail the fuel squeeze is no longer a looming threat, but a rapidly unfolding emergency, putting supermarket supplies and vital deliveries like medications at risk.

One driver said he was down to his last drops of fuel with no money to fill up - and said he had no choice but to sell drugs just to keep his truck moving.

But the truckie - who asked to remain anonymous - said he's not the only driver now selling drugs to make ends meet.

That frustration was shared by fellow truckie Jade, who predicted crime rates will go through the roof.

'I literally just asked my company for locks for my fuel cap,' he told the Daily Mail on Wednesday.

He had just filled his truck with 419 litres for an eye-watering $1,324, more than double what he paid before the conflict in Iran began on February 28.

He said the government had left truck drivers extremely vulnerable, and aired his doubts that they were being honest with the public.

Truck driver Jade (pictured) said the government had left truck drivers in an extremely vulnerable position and doubted they were being honest with the public

Jade said it cost him nearly $1,325 for 419 litres, more than double what he paid before the conflict in Iran began on February 28

At one western Sydney service station diesel has hit $3.15 a litre

'We're pretty well stuffed now,' he said.

'Once we run out of fuel, how are they gonna keep up with filling everyone up?

'We're just running on fumes.'

He also rejected the government's assurances about having 30 days of emergency fuel reserves.

'I don't think they ever tell us the truth,' he said.

'It's disgusting what they've done to the Australian people. I don't understand why we're not refining fuel here, why everything has to come from overseas.'

A rubbish truck driver working for one of Australia's largest councils warned that garbage would soon begin to pile up.

'It will eventually happen,' he said.

This rubbish truck driver, working for one of Australia's largest councils, warned that garbage would soon begin to pile up if the fuel crisis didn't ease soon

'If you believe the news, we're a couple of weeks away.'

He said the government 'wasn't prepared enough' for the fuel crisis.

'They are probably at panic stations at the moment but they should have been a bit better prepared,' he said.

Waste contractors have now written to Energy Minister Chris Bowen for assistance as fuel shortages and soaring diesel prices push the sector to breaking point.

They have warned Australia could face mountains of rubbish within weeks across the nation as they wait to be granted priority status for diesel under emergency fuel arrangements.

Tamworth truck driver Dave, who has spent his life behind the wheel and now delivers flour to supermarkets and bakeries, says the situation is untenable.

'It's pretty bad. I don't know how long I can keep absorbing the cost,' he said.

'I'm paying an extra $1,600 a day in fuel.'

Tamworth truck driver Dave (pictured) has warned the public to buckle because it's going to be a rough ride as the supply chain crisis deepens

He said some areas are already running dry.

'In Gunnedah last night there were four stations that didn't even have any. There's only five service stations in the whole town.'

Dave has begun passing the fuel excess on to customers to soften the blow, but he warned the extra cost will ultimately flow through to supermarket shoppers.

'It just softens the blow a bit, but that will end up being passed on down to customers at the supermarket,' he said.

Like many drivers the Daily Mail spoke to, he was sharply critical of the government.

'They need to tell the truth to start with,' he said.

He added that smaller operators don't have the luxury of stopping.

'We'll keep working as long as we can but there's a lot of companies that have trucks parked up,' he said.

One driver hauling fuel out of Sydney's Banksmeadow depots said there was plenty of fuel at the source, but demand was so high servos were running dry within hours of deliveries

'Us smaller blokes can't really park up for too long. We realise supermarkets still need to get their groceries, bakeries still need their flour, people still gotta eat.'

As soaring diesel prices chew through already thin margins, drivers warn a growing number of operators are struggling to even afford a full tank.

Geoff, who has been driving trucks for 18 years and now works as a subcontractor, said he's increasingly anxious about the impact of the fuel crisis.

'I don't know how the company will be able to deal with it. I'm worried about my job,' he said.

'It's gonna be tough. Last year 749 transport companies went bust and I think this will tip more over the edge.

'This is much worse than COVID.'

Geoff warned the country is only weeks away from a fullblown supplychain meltdown, stressing that Australia runs on trucks and people are about to see the nation stops when the trucks do.

'It's not even about price any more. I think there'll be a fuel shortage. A lot of service stations are running out of fuel,' he said.

Geoff (pictured) warned the country is only weeks away from a fullblown supplychain meltdown

One driver hauling fuel out of Sydney's Banksmeadow depots said there was plenty of fuel at the source, but the real problem was demand, with servos running dry within hours of deliveries.

He said he was heading back for a third load after already refuelling two service stations that had completely run out.

The pressure is being felt hardest in outer areas, where drivers say interstate truckies are filling up en masse, draining both petrol and diesel supplies almost instantly and leaving local operators scrambling.

One longdistance truck driver has twice been stranded in outback South Australia due to diesel shortages - first in Ceduna for about 36 hours and now near Keith, close to the South Australian-Victorian border.

Robert Cook, who runs heavyhaulage company Helco Group, said his fuel costs have doubled and is calling for the diesel excise to be scrapped immediately

'They're double-dipping. They're taxing us twice. Absolutely the excise should be scrapped,' Cook said.

In Canterbury, a Budget servo was wiped out of fuel on Tuesday in another sign the surge in demand is emptying bowsers across Sydney.

Almost 500 service stations nationwide were out of fuel on Wednesday, as Iran continues to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global chokepoint that carries about one-fifth of the world's oil supply.

When the Daily Mail visited several Bunnings the shelves were stripped bare of 20L jerry cans

In New South Wales, 187 service stations are out of diesel and a further 32 have run completely dry, a drop of 19 affected sites compared with Tuesday.

In Queensland, 55 stations are without diesel while 35 have no regular unleaded available.

Victoria has 134 service stations lacking one or more fuel grades. In South Australia, 49 service stations have been impacted.

Western Australia has six stations completely out of stock and another four without diesel. In Tasmania, one service station is without diesel and six have no unleaded.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen has repeatedly insisted the shortages are being driven by a sudden spike in demand caused by panic buying, rather than a collapse in supply.

'We have as much fuel in Australia today as we had on the day Iran was attacked. We have had real issues, particularly in regional Australia, getting fuel to where demand has been very high,' Bowen said.

'But the fact is, if demand suddenly jumps dramatically, whether it's for petrol, diesel or even toilet paper, supply chains come under pressure.'

Meanwhile, Treasurer Jim Chalmers has warned that the financial impacts of the ongoing war in Iran could be worse than Covid and the Global Financial Crisis.

Join the discussion How should Australia protect everyday people when truck drivers are forced to desperate measures to survive?

He told business leaders on Tuesday night that the end of the war 'can't come soon enough'.

He also made a startling admission that predictions made last week about the local impact from the Middle East crisis may be too conservative.

If the conflict drags on for several more weeks, Bowen said contingency plans are in place to manage supply risks.

Supercheap Auto employee Clay said the company was struggling to keep up with demand for jerry cans, with stores nationwide running low on stock and many with empty shelves.

'Prices are going up and everyone is panic buying and everyone is now trying to get jerry cans to save money,' he said.

'We ran out three weeks ago as soon as this all started, we sold out.

'We're not 100 per cent sure - we won't know until the next delivery arrives on Monday.'

It was also the same situation across Bunnings with 20-litre jerry cans wiped from the shelves.
A 12-year-old boy has appeared in court accused of sexually assaulting a woman in her 60s, leaving her seriously injured.

The woman was found in a property north of Birmingham city centre at around 6.15pm on March 18, bleeding heavily from several wounds and barely conscious, a court heard on Tuesday.

The woman was lying on the floor, naked apart from a t-shirt, with cuts to her chest and face, prosecutor Colin Charvill told Birmingham Youth Court.

She remains in hospital in a serious condition, having been placed in an induced coma.

A boy aged 12 has been charged with sexual assault and wounding, as well as an offence of theft on the same day and intentional strangulation in relation to an alleged incident on February 11.

A boy aged 12 appeared at Birmingham Youth Court charged with sexual assault and wounding in relation to an alleged attack on a woman in her 60s

The defendant, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, appeared in court today where he indicated pleas of not guilty to all of the charges.

He was remanded to youth detention accommodation by District Judge David Murray ahead of an appearance at Birmingham Crown Court on April 21.

The boy's mother and sister attended the hearing.

West Midlands Police said in a statement: 'Our enquiries remain ongoing, but we understand how concerning this will be within the community.

'Our officers will be continuing to provide reassurance in the local area.

'If anyone has any information regarding suspicious behaviour on 18 March or in the days leading up to last Wednesday, details can be submitted via the Major Incident Public Portal or via 101 quoting log 4888 of 18 March.'
Donald Trump is courting a close ally of Qasem Soleimani, the bloodthirsty Iranian commander he assassinated in 2020, as Washington scrambles for a pliable new leader to run Tehran.

Mohammed-Baqer Qalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian parliament, is an infamous butcher known as the 'rooftop killer' who hurled students from the tops of buildings during protests in the late 1990s, ordered the shooting of demonstrators, and bragged of beating others with batons. His reward was the mayoralty of Tehran.

An Iranian whose family are holed up in the city of Isfahan told the Daily Mail: 'He is just as bad as the other guys. Nothing will change in Iran with him being a leader. He was a part of the killings for the last 47 years.'

Iranians warn that Trump risks repeating the mistakes of Jimmy Carter, who handed power to the hardline mullahs after the fall of the Shah in the 1979 revolution.

'Trump is fooling the world once again,' a young Iranian said.

'Not a single member of the regime is an option. If they do this, it is just another level of stupidity after the Carter administration supported Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.'

Trump is under pressure to wrap up the war quickly as Iran strangles the Strait of Hormuz, driving up global oil prices, and launches strikes against US bases and America's allies across the region.

'He's looking for an off-ramp right now that will affect the most change,' a White House staffer told the Daily Mail.

Donald Trump (left) is courting Mohammed-Baqer Qalibaf (right) as Washington scrambles for a pliable new leader to run Tehran

Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf waves to residents as visit the site of Thursday's Israeli airstrike, in Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024

Trump has said he believes the 64-year-old leader will be amenable, telling reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday: 'They're going to make a deal.'

But a young Iranian told the Daily Mail that Trump's pick was 'a joke ... a murderer.'

During the 2000 pro-democracy student uprisings, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appointed Qalibaf as the head of the national police.

The move followed Qalibaf's involvement in a letter by IRGC commanders to President Mohammad Khatami explicitly threatening military action if the unrest was not suppressed.

His subsequent leadership of the police force was characterized by aggressive crackdowns on both demonstrators and members of the press.

Qalibaf has bragged in the past that he is 'proud' to have beaten protesters with batons and subject them to violence during anti-regime demonstrations.

There are also reports that he personally obtained permission to shoot at students during the social uprisings of 2003.

'Look closely at the 1999 Iranian student protests. He was in charge of killing and arresting students at this time. His reward was the mayoral position of Tehran,' the young Iranian added.

Qalibaf has denied any talks with Washington, publicly taunting Trump as he maintains his strongman persona.

'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,' he wrote Monday on X.

An Iranian activist who fled to Armenia told the Daily Mail that the talks with Qalibaf might even be a ruse to draw him out into the open and assassinate another member of the leadership.

'I am sure they want him to leave his rat house, and then Israel can hunt him down,' he said.

Smoke and flames rise at the site of airstrikes on an oil depot in Tehran on March 7

Qalibaf sits at center as they wear the Revolutionary Guard's uniform in a session of parliament, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, February 1

People visit Behesht-e Zahra cemetery to honor their deceased relatives on the last day of Eid al-Fitr in Tehran, Iran on March 22

Iranians set fire to flags of the United States and Israel as they gather to commemorate those killed from the Dena naval vessel, at Enghelab Square on March 17

The Trump administration sees Qalibaf as a 'hot option,' officials told Politico, though they cautioned that they were not 'rushing into' selecting the new leader.

Officials are using the framework provided by Delcy Rodriguez in Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro's deputy who has agreed to provide oil to the US under constant threat of another military intervention.

An administration official explained the Iranian proposal, as 'we're going to keep you there. We're not going to take you out. You're going to work with us. You're going to give us a good deal, a first deal on the oil.'

Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have been engaging with 'very solid' figures within the Iranian government, Trump said.

The President stopped short of naming specific figures but maintained that Tehran and Washington had agreed on several key points, including no nuclear weapons.

'We are dealing with a man who I believe is the most respected,' Trump noted, though he clarified it was 'not the Supreme Leader.'

Trump said nobody had heard from Mojtaba Khamenei since the US-Israeli airstrikes on February 28 that killed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Trump's diplomats were in touch with Qalibaf, one unnamed Israeli official told Axios, while another said Qalibaf led the conversations, the Jerusalem Post reported.

His history with the Khamenei family goes back decades, with a leaked 2008 US diplomatic cable describing Mojtaba as the 'backbone' of Qalibaf's campaigns, acting as advisor, financier and senior-level political patron.

More recent reports on Qalibaf's role describe him as one of 'Mojtaba's men.'

Any lingering proximity to the former regime is viewed with extreme caution by Iranians inside the country.

'He is a murderer. A maniac,' a fourth Iranian told the Daily Mail, arguing that hardline security chief Ali Larjiani - killed in an Israeli strike on March 17 - represented a better option.

People gather near where rescue workers using heavy machinery clear debris from a destroyed residential building on March 23, in northern Tehran, Iran

Iran's domestically built missiles and satellite carriers are displayed in a permanent exhibition at a recreational area in northern Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, March 24

Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf speaks in his campaign gathering in Tehran, Iran, on June 26, 2024

People visit Behesht-e Zahra cemetery to honor their deceased relatives on the last day of Eid al-Fitr in Tehran, Iran on March 22

'He is way more radical than a lot of officials we see. With this guy, they will have to come back in a couple months and start a war,' he added.

Nazee Moinian, an Associate Fellow at the Middle East Institute, said Qalibaf belongs to the same worldview as his predecessors.

'There's no partner for peace right now in Iran and unfortunately, I think as hard as messengers Witkoff and Kushner have worked, the Islamic Republic has remained beyond Americans' comprehension,' she said.

Moinian also added that Iran's 'ideology backed by guns' has so far proven effective.

'This war has clearly shown us that the narrow base of the regime's support is much more invested in the regime's survival than we thought,' she added.

'We have to pass the sniff test on whether this is acceptable to America, but more importantly, if it is acceptable to Iranians themselves.'

Qalibaf's ascension would mark a political coup as he has carefully stalked the halls of power for decades.

He ran for president unsuccessfully starting in 2005 and lost on three subsequent occasions.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told the Daily Mail: 'These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the United States will not negotiate through the news media.'
A head chef who worked at top London restaurants was found murdered in a derelict building after becoming a homeless alcoholic, a court heard.

Alexis De Naray, 45, studied at the Prue Leith Cooking School and worked in several high-end kitchens in the capital, jurors were told.

But he began drinking 'due to the stressful nature of the job' and was a chronic alcoholic at the time of his death last June.

Mr De Naray was found dead under a sleeping bag in the attic room of an abandoned building in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

Stafford Crown Court heard a post-mortem examination revealed he suffered 17 fractured ribs and injuries to his head and arms.

A forensic pathologist found the chef had been subjected to a significant blunt force assault before his death.

Adam Rowson, 26, of no fixed address, denies murdering the chef between June 23 and June 28 last year.

He also denies an alternate charge of manslaughter.

Alexis De Naray worked at top London restaurants but had become a chronic alcoholic by the time of his death, the court heard

Sally Howes KC, prosecuting, said Mr De Naray was a 'well-educated man' from a Greek family.

'Having attended the Prue Leith Cooking School, he worked as a head chef in a number of restaurants in London,' she said.

'Unfortunately, due to the stressful nature of that job, drinking became a way of life and his alcohol problems began.

'By the time of his death he had become a chronic alcoholic.'

Jurors were told Mr De Naray nearly died from seizures caused by alcohol withdrawal during the Covid lockdown.

'As a result, his father arranged housing for him in Shrewsbury - near to the family home,' said Miss Howes.

'However, despite the help of his father and a number of local agencies, at the time of his death, he was a homeless alcoholic.'

Mr De Naray's father paid for his son to stay in local hotels, including a Travelodge and Premier Inn, the court heard.

Miss Howes said the victim was taken to hospital unconscious on June 23 from a pub in Telford.

He met Rowson at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and the pair were seen on CCTV shortly before 4am the next morning walking towards the derelict building, it is claimed.

Miss Howes said it was the last time Mr De Naray was seen alive.

Prosecutors claim he was then subjected to a violent attack inside the abandoned property.

Rowson was allegedly overheard on CCTV cameras outside a supermarket on June 25 telling friends he had 'killed someone'.

Miss Howes said the defendant used his victim's bank card to withdraw cash and buy items at several shops.

CCTV footage also showed him wearing what appeared to be a blood-stained jumper, it is claimed.

Mr De Naray's father raised the alarm and reported his son as missing on June 24 after not hearing from him.

Three days later, police received a 101 call from Rowson saying he had found a body in the abandoned house.

'In the attic room, paramedics noticed what appeared to be a mound of blankets - but it wasn't,' said Miss Howes.

'Upon removing the top blanket they uncovered a male body, covered with a sleeping bag - the head, arms and feet were protruding.

'When they removed the sleeping bag, the paramedics noted that the body was rigid, completely naked and positioned face down on the floor.

'The face and arms were completely covered with dried blood. There was blood on the inside of the sleeping bag.

'The body was covered in bruises, notably the back.

'Dried blood was noted on the floor around the top of the head and an extensive patch of blood near the right side of the right leg of the body.'

Mr De Naray was pronounced dead, the court heard.

Rowson told police at the scene that the pair had had 'an altercation' but claimed Mr De Naray had been 'absolutely fine', it is claimed.

He allegedly later told a drug and alcohol support worker that he had 'done something bad'.

Miss Howes said as well as the rib fractures, Mr De Naray suffered other multiple injuries, including a bleed on the brain.

The pathologist, Dr Alexander Kolar, gave a cause of death as multiple injuries compounded by complications of long-standing use of alcohol to excess and acute alcohol intoxication.

The court heard Mr De Naray also had cirrhosis of the liver and was more than five times the legal drink drive limit when he died.

The trial continues.
Christian social media star Trevor Sheatz had been sharing his faith online for years, but a post about his wife's sex-crazed past rained hell down upon him.

Sheatz, 30, revealed the mother of his three children, Ashley Sheatz, 27, was a 'sexual sinner' until she embraced God two years before their wedding.

'My wife was formerly promiscuous. I was a virgin,' the Californian's lengthy Twitter post on Monday began.

'She was then radically born-again. Committed to church, evangelized constantly, Puritan books in her bedroom, prayer journals, grief over past sexual sin, etc.'

Sheatz bragged that Ashley was now 'more pure than most virgins' and the most 'wonderful and godly wife' and homemaker.

He claimed they 'didn't sin sexually with one another' or even spend time alone together during their year as friends and just six months of dating, and had their first kiss at the wedding altar in August 2020.

The evangelical's point was that Christians shouldn't write off a potential spouse as 'damaged goods' if they had repented from a sinful past, and Ashley has been open about her past life of drugs, wild parties, and many lovers.

But that didn't stop many of the 11,000 people who commented from condemning him for 'throwing his wife under the bus' to 20 million viewers and counting.

Despite broadcasting his wife's former proclivities and insisting he was a virgin on their wedding day, Sheatz has admitted that he was guilty of 'sexual immorality'.

Christian social media star Trevor Sheatz revealed his wife Ashley Sheatz, 27, was a 'sexual sinner' until she embraced God two years before their wedding

Sheatz, 30, said the mother of his three children (whole family pictured last Thanksgiving) 'was formerly promiscuous' before they married by contrast to him - 'I was a virgin'

Ashley in a filtered photo from her time before Christianity with long dreadlocks, including a wrapped one that 'had a mini spoon attached [to] it for snorting drugs'

He gave no further details of his 'sexual immorality' and has not offered any explanation as to why he described himself as a virgin years later.

Sheatz also struggled with drug addiction, violence, and 'battles with pornography', which he neglected to include in his post.

This dark history is occasionally mentioned in vague terms in his online ministry, and he outlined it in a tearful YouTube video weeks after his wedding in 2020.

'I grew up with divorced parents, was forced into a shelter home, got into drugs, immorality, and cussed out a pastor to his face the first time I met him,' he wrote in summation.

'Nine months later, I was crying with that SAME pastor in his house as I repented & trusted in Jesus. Jesus can save ANYONE.'

The video explained that his parents split when he was 13 and there was violence and numerous calls to the police and a 'vicious battle' over the children in the divorce.

At one point he and his older brother and younger sister were put into a shelter home by the police for their safety.

Sheatz admitted he was 'a problem' and 'our parents would sometimes have no idea what to do but to call the cops'.

Court documents from the bitter divorce showed Sheatz's parents John and Elena took out restraining orders against each other and accused one another of domestic violence.

Sheatz bragged that Ashley was now 'more pure than most virgins' and the most 'wonderful and godly wife' and homemaker

Sheatz claimed they 'didn't sin sexually with one another' or even spend time alone together during their year as friends and just six months of dating - getting engaged after just four months (pictured)

The divorce papers included harrowing accusations from Sheatz and his sibling about their mother's alleged behavior, along with police investigation reports from when they were called to the family home.

John, who died in 2015, was convicted of felony willful violation causing injury years earlier. Any records of police being called on Sheatz are sealed as he was a minor.

He was so disruptive in high school that he accrued 60 hours of detention and was thrown out of two classes by security and banned from ever returning.

'Junior year was the lowest point of my life. I got deeper into drugs, deeper into sexual immorality and I eventually overdosed and it was a horrible experience that I'll never forget,' he said.

Sheatz claimed God 'broke me in very specific ways' to humble him enough to accept Christianity when he hit rock bottom in 2013.

Ashley is far more open about her past life, and has made her redemption arc a key part of her story that she preaches to the world.

In one post she told her thousands of followers that her past 'life was one many would never expect if they were to look at my life (now)'.

'I was depressed. Lost. Confused. Broken. Suicidal. Insecure... I was a dread-headed hippie lost on drugs, festivals, partying, sexual immorality, and rebellion masked in a facade as an "Enlightened" or "Spiritual" girl,' she wrote.

'I came close to death from drugs multiple times, and yet God still spared my life and caused me to be born-again.'

She shared a photo of herself with long dreadlocks, including a wrapped one that 'had a mini spoon attached [to] it for snorting drugs'.

Sheatz was so disruptive in high school that he accrued 60 hours of detention and was thrown out of two classes by security and banned from ever returning

Sheatz and Ashley with their eldest child, Genesis, soon after she was born in June 2021

Ashley explained in a manifesto written before she got married that, like her future husband, her troubles started with a broken home.

Her parents divorced when she was three, and she claimed to have started watching pornography at age 11.

By 15 she was 'promiscuous, jumping from relationship to relationship, smoking, sneaking out at night, lying to my mother where I was going, drinking, and partying'.

She dabbled in 'New Age, Hinduism, Buddhism, The Occult, Yoga, Shamanism' which she called 'dark and deceptive false religions', and got dreadlocks at 16 as part of a 'hippie' lifestyle.

Ashley started doing psychedelic drugs like LSD, magic mushrooms, and DMT at 17 under the influence of her 23-year-old boyfriend.

'I began to really lose my mind and have numerous bad trips, memory loss, psychosis and saw lots of demonic activity in and around me,' she wrote.

'I even ran away to Vegas for an entire two weeks without talking to any family and continued to be brainwashed by this man and taken advantage of immensely.

'I was used, and abused more than a few times at this age.'

Ashley wrote that by 15 she was 'promiscuous, jumping from relationship to relationship, smoking, sneaking out at night, lying to my mother where I was going, drinking, and partying'

Ashley dabbled in 'New Age, Hinduism, Buddhism, The Occult, Yoga, Shamanism' which she called 'dark and deceptive false religions', and got dreadlocks at 16 as part of a 'hippie' lifestyle

Ashley started doing psychedelic drugs like LSD, magic mushrooms, and DMT at 17

One of her string of relationship was a 50-year-old man she met in the desert rave scene who 'had his own published religion'.

'He manipulated me, gave me drugs, and did horrible things to me,' she claimed.

Ashley got addicted to ketamine after leaving that relationship and moved to New Mexico with another boyfriend and 'got into prostitution online'.

'I sold myself virtually online by videos, pictures, etc. I lived here for maybe about four months, until I packed up my bags, got on a train and left.'

Back in California, she went to another rave, met a guy and went to Santa Barbara with him, crashing at friends' houses or living in a tent.

While staying at her lover's friend's house, she overdosed on ketamine. 'I started crying and instinctively screaming at the top of my lungs, telling them to let me out of the room, and they refused. They were holding the door closed,' she wrote.

Ashley broke a window to get out and ran to a dentist office, where she collapsed and had three of four seizures.

Back home and in the care of her father, she was sober for a few months and went to Guatemala to study to become a yoga teacher.

'I was with yogis, witches, spiritists, and surrounded by lost people who thought they knew the truth, myself being one of them. I was realizing how empty I felt, and how much I was internally hurting,' she wrote.

Ashley got addicted to ketamine after leaving that relationship and moved to New Mexico with another boyfriend and 'got into prostitution online' - describing herself as a 'cam girl'

Ashley got sober for a few months in 2018 and went to Guatemala to study to become a yoga teacher

Ashley with her father Eric Huizar, whom she said supported her in recovering from her wayward lifestyle

Soon after finishing the course and returning home, she came across a Christian YouTube video that eventually led her to embracing God.

'I have not craved any drug since the date I was saved. In 2018 the Lord freed me from sexual immorality, and addiction to pornography after about seven years,' she wrote.

Ashley, believing that married women shouldn't work, now spends her time baking sourdough bread and looking after the couple's three children at their home in Orange County, California - and railing against her past 'sins'.

'Fornication will destroy you emotionally, spiritually, and physically,' she wrote in one Twitter post, claiming it made you 'feel empty and alone', incur God's wrath, and lead to you catching STDs.

'None of this would exist if we all lived by God's design and killed the lust and discontentment in our hearts. We are made to only have sex in marriage,' she wrote.

Another post lamented: 'My heart breaks for women who post sexual pictures of themselves online and very revealing outfits.'

'I refuse to reveal my body and be something for worldly men to gawk at.'

Ashley also made the same point as her husband about marrying women like her.

'If a Christian man refuses to marry a godly woman who has a sexually immoral past (repented of), I feel very sad for them because that's so not the heart of Christ,' she wrote.

'Also...He better not have lusted after women, watched pornography, or had sex outside of marriage either.'

Ashley, believing that married women shouldn't work, now spends her time baking sourdough bread at their home in Orange County, California

Sheatz responded to the backlash against his post by pointing out his wife 'delights in sharing her testimony'

In a different post she added: 'if you find a godly woman or man with excellent character with a repented sexually immoral past, and on the other hand have a virgin with not so great character, and you choose the virgin... That can be quite foolish.'

Sheatz founded On the Mount to 'reach more souls with the gospel and biblical truth on social media' by helping Christian ministries expand their reach online.

He responded to the backlash against his post by pointing out his wife 'delights in sharing her testimony' and arguing the Bible didn't shy away from recording the sins of its leading heroes like King David, who had a man killed to take his wife.

'Christianity isn't for those who are perfect. It's for the broken, the lost, the sinful. No one is too far from God's grace that they can't be saved,' he wrote.

But he was happy the outrage helped the post go viral as it allowed more people to hear his message.

'I am so grateful this practical story can reach the far corners of the internet where even though many may mock, it will resonate with some who are convicted of their secret sins, which God will one day reveal,' he wrote.
Dozens of EU laws will be imported to the UK under new legislation to be introduced by Sir Keir Starmer.

As the Government's controversial drive to bring Britain closer to Brussels again gets under way, the Prime Minister will bring forward a bill helping the process in the next parliamentary session.

To be announced in May's King's Speech, it will allow ministers to quickly transfer swathes of European Union law to the statute book  prompting fresh accusations that Labour is reversing Brexit by stealth.

Officials are said to have already identified 76 directives and regulations, covering everything from organic pet food to marmalade, that will be adopted by Britain in order to secure a deal on food and agriculture standards.

The Government wants the so-called Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement, which Rachel Reeves said on Tuesday would 'directly impact food prices in our shops', to be concluded at a summit around the time of the tenth anniversary of the Brexit referendum this June.

The new law will then pave the way for other EU edicts to be adopted, after the Chancellor announced last week that she wants closer alignment in sectors across the economy.

Chairman of the European Research Group Mark Francois said: 'So, the salami-slicing of our sovereignty by Labour is now set to be officially confirmed in this May's King's Speech.

'This is shameless Europhile behaviour by a zombie Government, facing humiliation at the polls and seeking solace by cosying up to the EU - at the expense of our hard-won democratic freedoms, which they now want to surrender, one sector at a time.'

Sir Keir Starmer pictured in Ireland earlier in March at a summit to strengthen post-Brexit ties

Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith said: 'With business already reeling under an onslaught of red tape - from employment law to packaging, sugar and tourism taxes - the last thing our stuttering economy needs is importing 76 extra new laws from the no-growth EU.'

Former Brexit negotiator Lord Frost told the Financial Times, which first revealed details of the new law: 'The new bill will sideline democratic UK lawmakers by making a whole range of EU laws applicable in Britain without us getting any say in them. That's not alignment, it's subordination.'

And senior Reform UK MP Robert Jenrick said: 'Rachel Reeves wants to reignite a Brexit debate to distract from her dire handling of the economy.

'This latest ploy will do nothing to lower taxes or cut people's bills, but it will pile on yet more bureaucracy to struggling businesses.'

It comes amid growing calls by senior figures within Labour for the UK to go even further and rejoin the customs union or single market.

London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has called for the party to campaign to go back into the trade bloc  reversing the 'red lines' in its last election manifesto.

But he was rebuffed by Business Secretary Peter Kyle, who said the UK should be making the most of its freedom to secure trade deals with the rest of the world.

He told LBC: 'I think right now we have the policy that is right for the moment we're in: make sure we have the reset, that we explore all the opportunities we have with the EU, with the US, and also looking at the additional trade deals we've got around the world.

'Rather than plunging ourselves into a very long, protracted debate about rejoining we need to be looking at all of the incredible opportunities there are out there for partnerships around the world, both multilaterally and bilaterally, country-to-country.'
Donald Trump has banned foreign-built Wi-Fi routers over fears they pose a spying risk through data farming and a British security expert has warned the UK should be doing the same.

Former senior British military intelligence officer Phil Ingram has said that data collection through tech like foreign Wi-Fi routers and phone apps poses a 'very real threat' to UK national security by 'China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, who are an axis of evil'.

Nearly every router sold across the US in millions of homes and offices is at least partially built overseas, which Mr Ingram says foreign intelligence agencies could have a 'backdoor into'.

He told the Daily Mail: 'This is a very real fear that is reflected in concerns from the UK's National Protective Security Authority.'

Beyond routers, widely used foreign-made phone apps like TikTok also collect and 'send data straight back to China' and should be avoided by the public, Mr Ingram said.

However, TikTok has flat-out denied these claims, saying data is stored in a dedicated European data enclave hosted by data centres in Europe and the US under their 10bn European data security programme.

Mr Ingram spoke about what kind of data routers and other tech could be sending back to hostile foreign intelligence agencies.

'A lot of electronic systems are constantly listening to you,' Mr Ingram warned, 'so your smart TV, your smart hub in your house, your smart watch is constantly listening. As it's listening, that data's going somewhere.'

In terms of Wi-Fi routers, many have the potential for having back doors, meaning spy agencies could be 'copying every bit of data that comes out of them onto their own systems, without knowing anything about it'.

He added: 'With Chinese, equipment in particular, a lot of those back doors are through poor engineering rather than deliberately being put in by the state, but the state can exploit them.'

Phil Ingram said that the UK should implement a similar ban on foreign built Wi-Fi routers as in the US and be more aware of data farming espionage in general. He was a senior British military intelligence officer for 26 years

Your Wi-Fi router could be sending data back to be 'exploited' by hositle spy agencies through backdoors without you knowing, Mr Ingram said

The UK has already made moves against this in the past, banning the rollout of 5G by the Chinese company Huawei, but critics have said that defences against this sort of espionage have left a lot to be desired.

Sir Keir Starmer greenlit the controversial Chinese super embassy to be set up in London in January, right above key telecommunications lines running through the city near the Tower of London.

At 20,000 square metres, it would be the biggest of its kind in Europe, but Security Minister Dan Jarvis said that he was 'content any risks are being appropriately managed'.

When asked if we should be making the same security measures as Trump's Wi-Fi router ban in the US, Mr Ingram said: 'Yes, of course I think we should be doing the same in the UK.'

He pointed out that the UK is aware of this threat to a degree as the Ministry of Defence expressed concerns over Chinese-manufactured electric cars, 'because an electric vehicle is effectively a mobile data gathering device that is transmitting that data somewhere'.

Connecting your phone to the vehicle could be a potential monitoring risk and the apps on your device can also pose a risk, particularly TikTok.

'TikTok will collect every piece of data that's on someone's device, whether you think it's encrypted or not. It is collecting it and sending it back to TikTok servers,' he said.

TikTok said this was untrue however and cited independent assessments of the data their app collects in the UK and Europe by a cybersecurity company, NCC Group.

It found that TikTok only collects the data it states it does in its European privacy policy and that this data is not sent to China but stored in European and US data centres in their European enclave.

It found that TikTok only collects the data it states it does in its European privacy policy and that this data is not sent to China but stored in European and US data centres in their European enclave.

Another study by Georgia Tech University in the US corroborated that 'TikToks behavior is not suspicious and it is not exfiltrating unusual data.'

He warned that some apps have spyware on them which can switch on phone cameras and microphones so hostile agents can watch and listen in, even if you think your phone is switched off.

The former intelligence officer offered advice that anyone can do to defend against this threat.

Mr Ingram said that people should be more aware of the data they are sending out, adding: 'You shouldn't have any apps that come from China, any apps that send data straight back to China.'

He said that while these apps have a primary function of being a handy video-sharing or marketing platform, 'their secondary use is to gather every piece of data that's on your phone, and transmit it back to China, because the Chinese are hoovering up everything.'

He said that this data will then be shared with the likes of Russia, Iran and North Korea to be 'exploited for their own purposes.'

Donald Trump has gone to several lengths to defend against this sort of espionage in the past and Mr Ingram says this foreign Wi-Fi router ban is in line with this policy.

Huawei is also banned across the pond as well as Chinese CCTV companies like HikVision and Dahua. Chinese drone manufacturer DJI is also banned from providing drones to US government agencies 'for fear of them being intercepted', Mr. Ingram said.

Trump has said his Wi-Fi router ban only affects new routers coming into the country. Some foreign routers have been allowed to continue sales after being granted a Condition of Approval by the Department of War of the Department of Homeland Security.

Some critics have said that this push towards US-made routers is part of Trump's push to 'Make America Great Again' and bring home manufacturing.

Security expert Professor Anthony Glees from the University of Buckingham said: 'Whilst one can see that he might be keen to get US consumers to buy American, put America first, make it great again (but don't mention the war), I think he's been told by the NSA [National Security Agency] who are pretty hot on this, that there's a very real danger Chinese routers could contain chips that would allow "machine interference" techniques to be launched with ease.'

Contrary to Mr Ingram's claims, TikTok has said that the NCC Group's independent assessment of their data collection examined and listed the endpoints to which data from their app is being sent. None of these includes China.

They have invested 10.3billion into European data security over the last decade to ensure that employees in China have no access to restricted data, such as phone numbers or IP addresses, which are stored in their European enclave under their independently monitored Project Clover.

They assured that data from European users does not go to their global servers and that NCC Group (headquartered in Manchester) independently oversees their data collection around the clock, auditing data controls, monitoring data flows, providing independent verification and reporting any anomalies.

The NCC Group - which is accredited by EU and UK cybersecurity standards - maintains the right to escalate any concerns directly to the UK and European cybersecurity regulators without prior approval from TikTok.

Georgia Tech University's analysis of their data collection concluded that 'TikToks behaviour is not suspicious and it is not exfiltrating unusual data.

'Getting data about the user device is quite common in the mobile world and we would obtain similar results with Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram and others.'

A spokesperson from AliExpress told the Daily Mail: 'Protecting users' personal data is a top priority for AliExpress. It is our policy to observe all applicable rules and regulations in the markets where we operate, including the United Kingdom.

'Personal data of AliExpress users in the UK is processed and stored in accordance with the requirements of GDPR.'

The Daily Mail has contacted Timu for comment.
Investigators are looking into the possibility the firetruck that collided with an Air Canada jet didn't have a working transponder, meaning controllers missed a crucial alert about the danger on the runway.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released preliminary findings on a probe into the collision that showed the ASDE-X (Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model X) surface safety system failed to trigger alerts for controllers.

The system, which would have allowed an airport controller to track movement of aircraft and vehicles, did not alert during the Sunday night collision between an Air Canada.

'The controllers should have all the tools they need to do their job,' National Transportation Safety Board Chairperson Jennifer Homendy said during a briefing.

'Whether it's aircraft or vehicles moving in the taxiways, they should have it all.'

Homendy made the announcement as the fallout from the crash continues, with passengers flying out of New York's LaGuardia Airport having to taxi past the still-visible wreckage.

LaGuardia is one of 35 major US airports with an advanced surface surveillance system to help eliminate dangerous runway incursions and prevent crashes.

Controllers in these airports have a ASDE-X display in the tower that's supposed to show them the location of every plane and vehicle.

Investigators are looking into the possibility that the firetruck that collided with an Air Canada jet didn't have a transponder, which would let the air traffic controller off the hook for the deadly collision

It comes as the fallout from the crash continues, with passengers flying out of New York's LaGuardia Airport having to taxi past the still-visible wreckage

The shocking development would mean the controller who sent a fire truck into the path of the Air Canada plane may not be solely to blame.

'We rarely, if ever, investigate a major accident where it was one failure,' Homendy told The Wall Street Journal.

'Our aviation system is incredibly safe because there are multiple, multiple layers of defense built in to prevent an accident. So when something goes wrong, that means many, many things went wrong.'

More work is needed to determine whether an alert could have prevented the crash, she said.

The fire truck, which had been given permission to cross the runway to respond to an incident with the United plane, pulled onto the runway less than 20 seconds before impact, investigators said.

Just last May, the FAA urged airports that have advanced surface surveillance systems like LaGuardia's to equip their vehicles with transponders.

While the NTSB hasn't recommended that vehicles on airport grounds have transponders, they should be standard equipment, Homendy said.

National Transportation Safety Board Chairperson Jennifer Homendy (pictured) is now looking into the possibility that the controller who sent a fire truck into the path of the Air Canada plane may not be solely to blame

Terrified pilots have raised the alarm over LaGuardia's problems with air traffic control and miscommunication long before a crash on its runway on Sunday claimed the lives of two people

'Air traffic controllers should know what's before them, whether it's on airport surface or in the airspace. They should have that information to ensure safety,' she said.

Asked about the lack of a transponder in the fire truck, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airport, said it was 'unable to comment due to the ongoing investigation.'

Other possible issues being probed include possible multi-tasking by night shift controllers.

'The midnight shift, as a reminder, is one that we have many times at the NTSB raised concerns about with respect to fatigue,' she said.

Meanwhile, Homendy noted there's still a 'tremendous amount of debris' at the scene, meaning passengers taking off and landing at LaGuardia now have to stare the wreckage down.

The scene was expected to be cleared until the completion of the NTSB investigation.

'At first I was just shocked at the proximity, it was right there. It's shocking, you land and it's the first thing you see when you're on the tarmac,' Sherrie Katanach, who flew in from Chicago, told The New York Post.

'That was unbelievable to me,' added Sherman Criner, who was returning from a longshoremen convention in New Orleans.

Pilots have previously flagged a number of close calls at LaGuardia - including one in October 2024 when two Delta aircraft collided on the runway (pictured), snapping a wing and injuring one person

An Air Canada Express CRJ-900 sits on the runway on Tuesday after colliding with a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York City late Sunday night

'I figured they would get that off the runaway as quickly as possible, but from the plane you could see it still sitting there.'

It was revealed earlier Tuesday that the air traffic controller continued to work after the deadly crash, the NTSB revealed.

Homendy said that the unidentified controller was 'still on duty for several minutes' after the plane slammed into the truck late Sunday night.

'Normally they would be relieved,' Homendy said during a press briefing. 'We have questions about that. Was anybody available to relieve that controller? We don't know that yet.'

Investigators are working to determine what happened during shift change, who else was in the air traffic control tower and who was available at the time of the crash.

Officials have questions about the role of the air traffic controllers and whether they were distracted while juggling a late night emergency with another plane.

The Air Canada plane carrying 72 passengers and four crew collided with the fire truck while landing, killing the two pilots and injuring several passengers.

Federal investigators said a runway warning system didn't trigger an alarm before the jet and truck collided at the New York City airport.

Antoine Forest, 30, was killed upon impact when the Air Canada flight he was flying from Montreal collided with a fire truck at LaGuardia International Airport on Sunday night

The fire truck was completely destroyed by the wreck, but both firefighters are expected to survive

The collision late Sunday came after the fire truck was given permission to check on a United plane that had aborted its takeoff after reporting an odor on board and started crossing the runway.

An air traffic controller can be heard on airport communications frantically telling the fire truck to stop on realizing disaster was imminent.

Roughly 20 minutes later, the controller appears to blame himself. 'We were dealing with an emergency earlier,' the controller said. 'I messed up.'

Many questions remain about why the airport fire truck was crossing the runway while the plane was landing and why it didn't stop despite frantic, last-second warnings from the control tower.

Homendy said NTSB investigators have not yet had a chance to review data from the flight data recorder, but that she has seen surveillance video and still needs to interview the firefighters in the truck to find out whether they braked or turned to avoid a collision.

The wreckage from the crash remained on the closed runway, which is likely to stay shut down for days during the investigation, Homendy added.

Investigators need to sift through a lot of debris, she said.

Authorities recovered the plane's cockpit and flight data recorders by cutting a hole in the aircraft's roof and then drove them to the NTSB lab in Washington for analysis, Homendy said.

About 40 passengers and crew members on the regional jet from Montreal, and two people from the fire truck, were taken to hospitals.

Some suffered serious injuries, but by Monday morning, most had been released, and others walked away without needing treatment.

The pilot and copilot who died in the first fatal crash at LaGuardia in 34 years 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.

Jeannette Gagnier, the great aunt of one of the pilots, identified him as Antoine Forest, and said he always wanted to be a pilot.

The crash on Sunday night is not the first dangerous incident at LaGuardia in recent history, with air traffic controllers and pilots alike claiming the airport is plagued by miscommunications and staffing issues.

A CNN review of government records revealed a number of close calls and near disasters have been reported to NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System by concerned pilots.

This included just months ago in October, when two Delta Airlines jets collided on the taxiway, hospitalizing one person as the wing of one of the aircrafts was snapped off.

Previous incidents flagged in the system also include a December 2024 close call, where a plane came perilously close to smashing into another aircraft on the ground, blaming inaccurate instructions from air traffic control.

Sunday night's crash bears eerie similarities to that incident and happened when an air traffic controller told a fire truck to cross a runway to inspect a United aircraft experiencing technical difficulties.

Moments later the unidentified air traffic controller begged the truck to stop, but it was too late and the vehicle collided with the Air Canada plane.

Months before that in July 2023, a pilot reported to the NASA system that two aircraft almost collided after air traffic controllers said one was cleared to cross a runway that another jet was landing on.

The report said air traffic controllers only realized their mistake at the last second, noting that it 'issued a stop command just in time.'

The deadly crash on Sunday night shut down LaGuardia - the New York region's third busiest hub - during what was already a chaotic time at US airports because of a partial government shutdown.

Flights resumed Monday afternoon on one runway and with lengthy delays. The shutdown caused some disruptions at other airports, too, especially for Delta, which has a major presence at LaGuardia.

Air traffic controllers are not impacted by the partial government shutdown that has caused long delays at airport security checkpoints in recent days. They have been affected by past shutdowns.

The FAA has been chronically short on air traffic controllers for years.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson seemed to place the blame on others when he was asked on Tuesday whether he would like to apologize to the family of a college student police say was killed by an illegal immigrant.

Sheridan Gorman, 18, a freshman at Loyola University, was fatally gunned down in the early morning hours on Thursday while walking with friends near the pier at Loyola Beach.

She was struck in the head and was pronounced dead at the scene, police have said.

Jose Medina-Medina, a 25-year-old Venezuelan man who illegally entered the country in May 2023, is now facing felony charges of first-degree murder and aggravated use of a firearm for Gorman's death.

The Department of Homeland Security has also filed an Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrest detainer, hoping to place Medina-Medina in their custody so he could be deported.

Johnson addressed the tragic shooting for the first time at a news conference on Tuesday, when he was asked whether he would apologize for the city's lax immigration policies.

'I believe that we're all grieving the loss of Sheridan and other folks who have lost their lives because of senseless violence,' he replied, sidestepping the question.

The mayor then seemed to blame a predecessor for the city's sanctuary laws.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson seemed to place the blame on others when he was asked on Tuesday about the death of Sheridan Gorman

The 18-year-old college freshman (left) was fatally gunned down on Thursday morning while walking with her friends near the pier at Loyola Beach. Jose Medina-Medina, a 25-year-old Venezuelan man who illegally entered the country in May 2023, is now facing felony charges of first-degree murder and aggravated use of a firearm for Gorman's death

He noted that Chicago's Welcoming City Ordinance, which prohibits police from asking about immigration status, was originally 'passed 40 years ago by the first black mayor in the history of Chicago.'

Johnson also hit out at President Donald Trump, who said on Monday that Gorman's shooting was 'devastating.'

'These people were let in by Biden,' the president noted. '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.'

But Johnson claimed Trump 'refuses to be held accountable' for his actions, which the Chicago mayor said has made cities across the country unsafe.

'He points the finger at everything and everyone else versus doing some real self-reflection on what his responsibility is,' Johnson claimed.

He then went on to argue that the 'illegal weapons that are being trafficked by bordering states that voted for Donald Trump' are the 'bigger threat to public safety.

'If there is anything to address in this country that's illegal, it's everything about the Trump administration,' the mayor said.

'If the president was serious about really creating safe communities, he would not have taken $8 million from cities across the America that were designed to reduce violence.'

Johnson also argued that Trump has not taken the illegal immigration issue seriously since he has not passed 'comprehensive immigration reform.'

Gorman was struck in the head and was pronounced dead at the scene

Her family has said they are upset about the policies that allowed Medina-Medina to remain in the country. Sheridan is pictured with her mother Jessica Gorman

Medina-Medina had been apprehended by US Border Patrol on May 9, 2023, but was released into the United States, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Just over a month later, on June 19, 2023, he was arrested in Chicago for allegedly shoplifting $132 worth of merchandise from a Macy's and was once again released.

Court records show he failed to appear for subsequent hearings, leading a judge to issue a warrant for his arrest. He was never apprehended on that warrant.

Gorman's family has since said they are upset about the policies that have allowed Medina-Medina to remain in the country.

'We are gravely disappointed by the policies and failures that allowed this individual to remain in a position to commit this crime,' the family said in a statement to Fox News.

'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.'

The family described Gorman as a young woman who 'lived her faith with kindness, compassion, and joy' and who 'loved her family and friends deeply.'

Sheridan Gorman, second from right, is pictured smiling in happier times with her friends in Florida last summer. The young woman was murdered on the street in the senseless killing

It now remains unclear why Medina-Medina may have opened fire on Gorman, but prosecutors have alleged he was hiding near the pier where Gorman and her friends were walking that morning, ABC 7 reports.

Surveillance footage from multiple cameras then caught the suspect wearing black clothing, a black mask and walking with a 'distinct limp and slow gait' from the scene of the shooting to his apartment building.

There, he was allegedly caught on surveillance footage without a mask on while waiting for an elevator.

Those images were then sent to a police database and US Customs and Border Protection identified the suspect as Medina-Medina.

He was taken into custody on Friday at his apartment building in Rogers Park, where authorities allegedly found the clothing he was said to be wearing during the shooting and a .40-caliber handgun that matched shell casings found at the scene.

Medina-Medina is now due to appear in court on Friday for a pretrial detention hearing, after his scheduled hearing on Monday was postponed while he remains in the hospital, where he is being treated for tuberculosis.
A cosmetologist in California was convicted of killing a Kim Kardashian look-alike model after she injected her with a botched cosmetic treatment.

Vivian Alexandra Gomez, 53, was found guilty Tuesday of involuntary manslaughter in the 2023 death of 34-year-old Christina Ashten Gourkani, according to KRON4 News.

Gomez was additionally convicted of practicing medicine without a license as well as inflicting great bodily injury.

The cosmetologist, who was out on bail prior to her conviction, was immediately ordered to report to jail by San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Leland Davis.

Gourkani, a popular OnlyFans model, died from respiratory failure and a pulmonary embolism just one day after undergoing illegal butt-enhancement injections, prosecutors said.

Gourkani, of San Jose, racked up millions of views on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube for her uncanny resemblance to Kim Kardashian.

She found Gomez online, then contacted and hired her for an 'illegal gluteal silicone injection,' prosecutors said.

On April 19, 2023, Gomez flew to San Francisco and met Gourkani and her fiance at the Burlingame Marriott Hotel to perform the procedure.

Vivian Alexandra Gomez (pictured), 53, a cosmetologist convicted of killing 34-year-old Christina Ashten Gourkani after performing an 'illegal gluteal silicone injection'

Gourkani, a popular OnlyFans model, died from respiratory failure and a pulmonary embolism just a day after receiving the procedure in 2023

Gourkani racked up millions of views on social media for her uncanny resemblance to Hollywood's Kim Kardashian (pictured)

At the hotel, Gourkani received at least two supposed gluteal silicone injections, revealed San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Immediately after, Wagstaffe said Gourkani became extremely ill, went into distress, and experienced convulsions.

Her fiance called 911, and Gourkani was rushed to Mills-Peninsula Hospital, where she died the following day.

'In the early morning hours at approximately 4:31am, our family received a tragic phone call from a family member who was frantically screaming and crying hysterically on the other end of the line,' her family wrote in a GoFundMe.

They were desperately shouting, 'Ashten is dying, Ashten is dying.'

'A phone call that instantly shattered our world and will forever haunt our family for the rest of our lives,' the statement added.

Gourkanis family said police were investigating her death as a homicide tied to a 'medical procedure that took a turn for the worse,' according to the Los Angeles Times.

An autopsy revealed Gourkani died from an embolism and toxins in her system, the district attorney said.

An autopsy later revealed that Gourkani died from an embolism and toxins in her system

Gourkani was rushed to Mills-Peninsula Hospital where she died the following day

Gomez was found guilty on Tuesday and was immediately ordered to report to jail by San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Leland Davis (pictured)

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned in 2021 that using silicone injections - which are not FDA approved - to enlarge or reshape body parts can cause serious complications, including pain, embolisms, disfigurement, stroke, and death.

The FDA also warned that silicone can travel through blood vessels to the lungs, heart, or brain, where it can block them.

Gomez was arrested hours after Gourkanis death and booked into the Broward County Sheriffs Office, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The cosmetologist is being held in the San Mateo County jail until her sentencing scheduled for May 5.

San Mateo County District Attorneys Office said Gomez faces up to seven years in state prison.
Millions of Australians will shiver through the first cold snap of autumn this weekend with forecasts of rain, hail and temperatures 12C below average.

The unexpected cold front will impact much of South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales and the ACT from Thursday.

'Friday will feel quite wintry with the coldest weather of the year for many,' the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) warned.

Large parts of Australia's southeast will be roughly 12C cooler than average with temperatures only gradually increasing over the weekend.

'We'll see scattered showers and thunderstorms through many of these areas, including parts of Tasmania, much of Victoria, parts of SA, NSW and even the ACT,' BOM meteorologist Angus Hines said on Tuesday.

'It will be the last warm day for some time in Victoria. Cold winds will push through overnight and it will be much chillier for Thursday and Friday.'

He said there will be 'patchy, hit and miss wet weather' in Tasmania, with cool winds shifting to a stronger and colder south-westerly.

Showers are forecast across SA, with thunderstorms across the Eyre Peninsula to bring damaging winds and hail over the next few days.

A high pressure system will impact Australia's south from Thursday night (pictured)

Australians across the southeast of the country have been warned about cold, wintry weather setting in this week (pictured, Aussies at Bondi Beach in Sydney)

A pool of cold air driven across south-eastern Australia has been highlighted by Weatherzone as the cause of the wintry conditions.

'While most areas will only see light falls on these days, isolated areas of heavy rain are possible, particularly with thunderstorms,' it said.

Sydney

Wednesday: Max 28. Sunny. Light winds.

Thursday: Max 30. Min 19. Sunny morning. Very high chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening, possibly severe with damaging winds, possible hail and heavy rain which may lead to flash flooding. Light winds.

Friday: Max 20. Min 14. Partly cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. Winds northwest to southwesterly 25 to 35 km/h.

Saturday: Max 23. Min 13. Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Winds westerly 25 to 30 km/h tending southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning.

Sunday: Max 24. Min 14. Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h turning southerly 15 to 25 km/h during the day.

Colder temperatures and showers have bee forecast for much of the southeast (pictured, flooding in Sydney's Northern Beaches in January)

A graphic by the Bureau of Meteorology showed large parts of SA, NSW and Victoria would be roughly 12C cooler than average on Friday (pictured)

Melbourne

Wednesday: Max 26. Becoming cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely during this afternoon and evening. A thunderstorm likely during this afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming southerly 15 to 20 km/h in the evening then tending southwesterly in the late evening.

Thursday: Max 18. Min 14. Cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. Winds southwesterly 25 to 35 km/h.

Friday: Max 16. Min 11. Cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Winds southwesterly 30 to 35 km/h tending southerly 25 to 40 km/h during the morning.

Saturday: Max 19. Min 13. Cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Winds southerly 20 to 30 km/h.

Sunday: Max 20. Min 14. Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower during the morning. Winds southeast to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h.

Brisbane

Wednesday: Max 31. Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower this afternoon. Light winds.

Thursday: Max 32. Min 20. Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the late afternoon then becoming light in the evening.

Friday: Max 32. Min 21. Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming westerly 15 to 25 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening.

The bureau said it will be the last warm day for some time in Victoria (pictued, tram tracks in Melbourne CBD filled with rain in February 2026)

Saturday: Max 27. Min 14. Sunny. Light winds.

Sunday: Max 28. Min 17. Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds becoming easterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day.

Adelaide

Wednesday: Max 27. Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. The chance of a thunderstorm in the late morning and early afternoon. Light winds becoming southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day then turning south to southeasterly in the evening.

Thursday: Max 20. Min 15. Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning and early afternoon. Light winds becoming south to southwesterly 25 to 35 km/h in the morning.

Friday: Max 20. Min 12. Cloudy. Light winds becoming southerly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening.

Saturday: Max 23. Min 11. Cloudy. Light winds.

Sunday: Max 25. Min 13. Mostly sunny. Light winds.

Perth

Wednesday: Max 28. Mostly sunny. Winds southeasterly 25 to 35 km/h tending easterly in the morning.

There will be patchy, hit and miss wet weather in Tasmania, the bureau said

Thursday: Max 33. Min 18. Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and early evening. Winds easterly 25 to 40 km/h.

Friday: Max 26. Min 18. Cloudy. Very high chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning. Winds easterly 15 to 25 km/h.

Saturday: Max 21. Min 16. Cloudy. Very high chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning. Winds easterly 35 to 55 km/h tending southeasterly 45 to 55 km/h during the day then tending southeast to southwesterly 35 to 55 km/h during the afternoon.

Sunday: Max 24. Min 17. Cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely during the morning. The chance of a thunderstorm during the morning. Winds southwesterly 20 to 25 km/h tending westerly 20 to 30 km/h during the day.

Canberra

Wednesday: Max 28. Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the afternoon and early evening. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and early evening. Light winds.

Thursday: Max 23. Min 13. Partly cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and early evening. The chance of a thunderstorm in the early afternoon. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the evening.

Friday: Max 15. Min 7. Cloudy. Very high chance of rain, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Light winds becoming westerly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning then tending southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h during the day.

Saturday: Max 18. Min 6. Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the morning. Winds southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light during the morning then becoming southerly 15 to 25 km/h during the day.

Sunday: Max 22. Min 7. Mostly sunny. Light winds.

Thunderstorms were forecast for the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia which 'could see some areas of damaging wind or large hail' (pictured, a woman in the rain in Sydney in August 2025)

Hobart

Wednesday: Max 25. Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon. Light winds becoming southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the evening then becoming light in the late evening.

Thursday: Max 16. Min 13. Cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely in the late afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the morning then tending south to southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h in the middle of the day.

Friday: Max 15. Min 8. Cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Winds south to southwesterly 25 to 35 km/h turning westerly 15 to 20 km/h during the evening.

Saturday: Max 18. Min 10. Cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Winds westerly 15 to 20 km/h turning south to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening.

Sunday: Max 20. Min 12. Partly cloudy. Light winds.

Darwin

Wednesday: Max 31. Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening. Light winds.

Thursday: Max 32. Min 24. Partly cloudy. High chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds.

Friday: Max 33. Min 24. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Mostly sunny day. Light winds.

Saturday: Max 33. Min 24. Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the morning. Light winds.

Sunday: Max 33. Min 24. Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. The chance of a thunderstorm later in the day. Light winds.
Gripping bodycam footage captured two Maryland State Troopers racing against the clock to save a choking baby on the side of the road.

Troopers First Class Taylor Hersh and Corporal Jonathan Stoltzfus were hailed heroes after they saved the infant from choking to death in Calvert County on Saturday afternoon, according to the Maryland State Police Department.

The incident unfolded on camera as an officer rushed to save the non-breathing baby, performing desperate life-saving measures while the mother helplessly stood by.

Just moments later, the relief was audible: 'He's breathing.'

'Without hesitation, the troopers immediately began lifesaving measures and were able to clear the infant's airway,' state police said in a statement.

'Their quick actions and training made all the difference, preventing what could have been yet another tragic outcome,' they added.

'Well done, TFC Hersh and Cpl. Stoltzfus!'

At around 2pm, Hersh and Stoltzfus were working on a service call in Lusby, parked in a quiet residential neighborhood and standing outside their undercover vehicles.

Two Maryland State troopers were captured on bodycam footage saving a choking baby on the side of the road Saturday afternoon (pictured)

The footage showed one trooper rushing across the street after a mother's voice said: 'I need help, my baby is choking!'

From across the street, a woman's frantic voice pierced the air as she approached the troopers: 'I need help, my baby is choking!'

In the footage, one trooper quickly set down what he was holding on the hood of his SUV and raced across the road to the terrified mother holding her baby, with the second trooper following close behind.

She tried to explain that her child was choking as she handed him to a trooper, though admitted the baby was only drinking liquids.

The trooper immediately got down on his knees, placed the baby on his leg belly-first and began gently patting the child's back.

'He's just throwing up,' the mother said as the troopers continued their desperate efforts. 'He's just spitting up some stuff.'

Keeping the rhythm, the trooper softly spoke to the infant: 'Come on buddy.'

He handed the infant to the second trooper, explaining he needed to get the suction cup from his vehicle, while his partner held the baby and urgently checked for breathing.

The trooper confirmed the baby was breathing a heartbeat later, drawing a huge sigh of relief from the mother.

The mother, rushing toward the troopers, said her baby wasn't breathing and was only drinking liquids

The mother handed her baby to the trooper, saying he was 'just throwing up' and 'spitting up some stuff'

Footage showed the trooper getting down on his knees, placing the baby on his leg belly-first and beginning to gently pat the child's back

Maryland State Police shared the video to X and praised the troopers for their 'quick actions and training,' reiterating that it was key in saving the infant from a tragic fate.

'Two MDSP Troopers are being credited with saving the life of a choking infant in Southern Maryland this past weekend,' the statement read.

'Job well done by Maryland's finest!' it added.

The dramatic rescue comes just a month after another Maryland State Trooper saved a choking infant during a traffic stop in Cecil County, according to WBAL-TV 11 News.

On February 15, Trooper Nicolas Warren was conducting a traffic stop on Walnut Drive in Elkton when another car pulled up, with the driver shouting, 'We need help. My baby is choking.'

While immediately calling for emergency medical services, he didn't waste a second in performing life-saving first aid on the baby - another dramatic moment caught on official footage.

'I grew up in the fire department. I was a volunteer before I came to the state police, so I've had plenty of training, and then, they gave us a ton of training in the academy, and I've been able to use it quite often on my job,' Warren told the outlet.

'That was the first time that I've used that kind of training on an infant,' he added. 'You don't get too many calls on babies, so it was definitely a first for me.'

While keeping the rhythm, the trooper was heard saying: 'Come on buddy'

Moments later, while holding the infant upright, the second trooper confirmed that the baby was breathing, drawing a huge sigh of relief from the mother

Yet he stayed calm during his first encounter with a choking infant, delivering a few minutes of back blows before successfully clearing the blockage.

In a scene reminiscent of Saturday, the infant started breathing again within a few moments.

'It happened so fast that your brain just clicks. So, I was very thankful for that training,' he told WBAL.

'That's why you sign up to do this job. And, it's the most rewarding thing you can have, having a good outcome and something like that. That happened so fast and seconds count, so it was very, very rewarding.'
A careless baggage handler at LAX was captured tossing guitars on the floor while unloading a luggage cart.

Witness Nick Ruiz was astonished as he filmed the airport employee on March 16, recklessly unloading more than a dozen delicate instruments onto the concrete.

'The whole situation felt wrong,' the 21-year-old from Connecticut told creatorzine.com.

Footage showed the guitars toppling over one another as the employee wearing a bright orange high-visibility uniform and hoodie negligently dropped the instruments. Another employee was seen nearby.

Ruiz's shock was matched by many others after the footage was uploaded to TikTok, garnering more than 4 million views and over 365,000 likes.

He was headed to his terminal when he spotted the baggage handler, and it was instinctive to start recording.

'The closest plane was the JFK to LAX B777 that had just arrived,' Ruiz said.

Ruiz, a college student, was flying home from Los Angeles after a short vacation and ended up on that same plane.

A careless baggage handler at LAX was captured tossing guitars on the floor while unloading a luggage cart on March 16

Nick Ruiz filmed the airport employee an uploaded the footage to TikTok. The now viral video has garnered over 4 million views and over 365,000 likes

Ruiz gave the owners of the instruments well wishes: 'I hope your guitars are ok.'

However, users online were more concerned with consequences being pressed against the careless employee.

One user wrote: 'That should be a fireable offense. That's just egregious.'

Another speculated on the price of the instruments: 'I'd lose my mf mind. That's easily $3,000 of equipment, by the way.'

A third added: 'Give this job to someone who actually wants it and will take real care of people's personal items.'

Most airlines have specific policies for instruments that are set in their 'Contract of Carriage,' according to the Department of Transportation (DOT).

'Some airlines disclaim liability altogether for loss of or damage to musical instruments on domestic trips,' stated the DOT.

Join the discussion Would YOU be furious if this was YOUR luggage being thrown around?

Ruiz said that closest plane to where the guitars where be tossed was flight JFK to LAX B777. The college student added that he ended up on that same plane

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is California's busiest airport servicing more than 5 million passengers monthly

'On international trips, airlines are usually prohibited by treaty from disclaiming liability for baggage that they actually carry.'

LAX is widely considered California's busiest airport servicing more than 5 million passengers a month, according to Visit California.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Los Angeles International Airport for comment.
Award-winning author and alleged paedophile Craig Silvey secretly signed a million-dollar book deal before his arrest and will get to keep a $300,000 advance, according to multiple sources.

Silvey, who is on bail after being charged with child exploitation offences, is one of the country's best-selling - and highest-earning - novelists.

The 43-year-old Western Australian has been one of publishing giant Allen & Unwin's brightest stars but recently negotiated a huge new contract with rival Simon & Schuster.

Industry heavyweight Jane Palyfreyman, who was Silvey's longtime publisher at Allen & Unwin, moved to Simon & Schuster almost two years ago and the pair subsequently resumed their collaboration.

Simon & Schuster had counted on Silvey repeating some of the commercial and critical success of his best-known works - Jasper Jones, Runt and Honeybee.

Daily Mail understands Simon & Schuster agreed last year to pay Silvey between $900,000 and $1million to produce two novels which now might not be written.

Several publishing sources said Silvey had already been given a whopping $300,000 advance which they believed he would not be required to return.

The deal has received no publicity until now and Simon & Schuster did not respond to requests for comment about its existence.

Award-winning author and alleged paedophile Craig Silvey (above) secretly signed a million-dollar book deal before his arrest and will get to keep a $300,000 advance, according to multiple sources

Silvey, who is on bail after being charged with child exploitation offences, is one of Australia's best-selling - and highest-earning - novelists. He is pictured with wife Clare Testoni

Those in the industry who were aware of the contract were surprised by its size, and suggested Simon & Schuster paid a premium to attract Silvey from Allen & Unwin.

Standard book contracts include a clause which provides for renegotiating an advance if an author does something to harm their reputation or that of the publisher.

The same condition applies if an author does something to reduce the market value of their proposed book.

One contract seen by Daily Mail also includes a clause which requires an author to have no legal restriction on their ability to promote their work.

An industry veteran said that in reality, publishers were generally not prepared to spend time and money taking legal action to recover an advance from an author in Silvey's position.

'In my experience, it would be unusual,' that source said.

'They will normally just write it off because it's not worth the fight. There is no appetite to recoup the advance, even at [Silvey's $300,000] level.'

Silvey has not been convicted of any crime and the case against him is in its infancy.

Daily Mail understands Simon & Schuster agreed last year to pay Silvey (above) between $900,000 and $1million to produce two novels which now might not be written

According to court documents, Silvey chatted with paedophiles on adult sites using the alias 'Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy', telling them he was a 'Fremantle guy' with 'very similar interests'

Simon & Schuster did not respond to requests for comment about whether Silvey had a 'reputational' clause in his contract or whether it would seek to have his advance repaid.

The publishing world was rocked two months ago when Silvey was first charged with possessing and distributing child exploitation material between January 7 and 9.

Earlier this month, he was further accused of producing child exploitation material from February to June 2022 and hit with an additional count of possessing such material.

According to court documents, the father-of-three chatted with paedophiles on adult sites using the alias 'Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy', telling them he was a 'Fremantle guy' with 'very similar interests'.

Police allege Silvey was communicating with child exploitation offenders online when they raided his Fremantle home on January 12.

He faced Fremantle Magistrate's Court the following day and was granted bail with both a $100,000 surety and a $100,000 personal undertaking.

Silvey's release was delayed because he was initially unable to post the $100,000 personal undertaking or provide the $100,000 surety.

A source said it was known within the publishing world that Silvey, whose brother Bret was jailed last May for 12 years over a $70million fraud, had been in financial difficulty.

Daily Mail revealed last week that Silvey's marriage had unravelled, with his wife Clare Testoni (above) leaving the family home and moving the former couple's children to Sydney

Silvey's most popular work, the 2009 coming-of-age novel Jasper Jones, is considered a modern Australian classic and has sold more than half a million copies.

His 2022 novel Runt sold more than 150,000 copies, was named the 2023 Children's Book Council of Australia book of the year and like Jasper Jones, was turned into a movie.

A sequel to Runt, called Runt and the Diabolical Dognapping, was released in September, while a stage adaptation of the original book slated to open in August this year has been postponed indefinitely.

An illustrated third installment in the Runt series, which follows the adventures of a girl and her adopted stray dog, was to be published by Allen & Unwin in November.

Allen & Unwin announced after Silvey was charged it would 'pause promotional activity' of Silvey's books, including Jasper Jones, Runt and Honeybee, 'while the legal process takes its course'.

'We acknowledge this is an active police matter, and that Mr Silvey is entitled to procedural fairness and a presumption of innocence until the matter is dealt with by a court,' Allen & Unwin said at the time.

'The nature of the allegations is deeply distressing. Our thoughts and sympathies are with all survivors of child exploitation and their families.'

Book sellers including Dymock's have pulled Silvey's works from their shelves and his novels have been removed from high school curriculums.

Several publishing sources said Silvey had already been given a whopping $300,000 advance which they believed he would not be required to return. He is pictured on bail

Daily Mail revealed last week that Silvey's marriage had unravelled, with his wife Clare Testoni leaving the family home and moving the former couple's children to Sydney.

Silvey's bail conditions include a requirement he not leave Western Australia or engage in any work involving children.

His internet access was also restricted to legal advice, banking and medical purposes.

Silvey wanted to delete social media accounts such as his Instagram page after visitors posted derogatory remarks.

Days after his arrest, Silvey's lawyer applied to have his bail varied so he could access his phone.

He last faced Fremantle Magistrates Court on March 16 when he did not enter pleas to any of the charges and his case was adjourned until May.

Silvey won the Australian Book Industry's Book of the Year Award for Jasper Jones, which was selected by the American Library Association on its Best Fiction for Young Adults list for 2012.

The novel has been produced for the stage numerous times and was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award and International Dublin Literary Award.
Soaring fuel prices could push millions of Aussie families to 'breaking point', with the weekly shop set to become even more expensive.

The US-Israel-led war on Iran, now in its fourth week, has seen fuel prices skyrocket as Iran continues to block oil supplies, with Australian farmers warning costs could flow through to shoppers within weeks.

CEO of food waste app Saveful, Kim McDonnell, said she expects fruit, vegetables and dairy products to be among the first grocery items to see prices surge.

'Farmers are estimating grocery prices to go up another 16 per cent in the next month or so, which is staggering, and will be the tipping point for a lot of families,' Ms McDonnell told the Daily Mail on Wednesday.

'[Families] are already struggling with the rising cost of living crisis and increasing mortgage rates, and now rising grocery costs... it really is just going to be a critical breaking point for so many.'

Ms McDonnell said families will be forced to make some 'heartbreaking' compromises at the checkout, especially if supermarkets start to introduce temporary limits on goods to curb panic buying, as seen during the Covid pandemic.

'Families are already making difficult decisions about nutrition and trying to balance healthy choices versus budgets,' she said.

'We've seen people start hoarding fuel when the war first broke out... I think people are very conscious when they go into supermarkets now and already see that the shelves aren't as full as they used to be.

CEO of food waste app Saveful, Kim McDonnell, said she expects to see many families forced to make some 'heartbreaking' compromises at the checkout

Fruit, vegetables and dairy products could be among the first groceries to go up in price (pictured, empty shelves during the Covid pandemic in Sydney in 2022)

'So frozen is always a good option, if you have to choose between fresh and frozen.'

For those who want to save cash at the checkout, Ms McDonnell said shoppers should plan their shopping list, take note of estimated shelf-life dates, and ensure they are storing food properly at home to make it last longer.

She also encouraged households to batch cook and meal plan for the week ahead.

'None of us buy food with the intention of wasting it. Food is such a precious commodity. None of us can afford to waste it,' she added.

The warning comes days after Australia's peak farming body warned winter food production could be halved if there isn't enough urea (which is used as fertiliser) transported to farms in time to secure the winter crop.

'Diesel drives food production across Australia, so we need to make sure it's available for our essential services, number one, but then our farmers and food producers after that,' National Farmers' Federation president Hamish McIntyre told ABC Radio.

'If we can't get our in-crop requirements after May, the winter crop in Australia could be halved.'

Meanwhile, corporate giants using subcontracted delivery drivers will front the Fair Work Commission on Wednesday as part of a union bid to force them to cover surging fuel costs caused by the conflict in the Middle East.

Australia's peak farming body warned winter food production could be halved if there isn't enough fertilser is transported to farms in time to secure the winter crop

The fuel crisis is threatening to choke supply chains and disrupt deliveries nationwide (pictured, empty fuel pumps at a service station in Melbourne)

Join the discussion How should Aussie families cope with soaring grocery prices as farmers and transport costs hit breaking point?

The Transport Workers Union and the Australian Road Transport Industrial Organisation have made a joint application for gig workers, owner-drivers and transport businesses to be able to pass surging fuel bills back on to major corporate clients like Coles, Woolworths, Aldi, McDonald's and Amazon.

Woolworths has already lifted the levy drivers can charge food and grocery manufacturers for transporting their goods to distribution centres. It has also changed its fuel levy reviews from monthly to fortnightly.

Coles will review its fuel levy for truck drivers every fortnight.

Rideshare giant DiDi has introduced a 5c per kilometre increase which will go directly to drivers. Uber said it was overhauling its fee structure so it could pay its drivers more, amounting to an average earnings increase of six per cent nationwide.

On Monday, Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth announced the Fair Work Act will be changed to fasttrack applications by unions and transport operators seeking 'emergency' supplychain orders from the FWC, allowing rates to be lifted in line with soaring fuel costs linked to the conflict in the Middle East.

The amendments will scrap the current sixmonth waiting period, enabling the tribunal to issue orders compelling transport clients to offer fair contract terms.
A New York City lawyer broke down in tears as he admitted to stealing $4.4 million meant for pandemic equipment, with prosecutors alleging he used the cash to fuel a romance with his CEO girlfriend.

Bryan McKenna, a former real estate attorney, was convicted in July of draining more than $4 million from an escrow account he ran for a company buying latex gloves, with his then-girlfriend at the helm, according to the District Attorney's Office.

His defense lawyer argued he was battling 'financial struggles' and was desperate to get his son help for mental health issues, according to The New York Post.

Prosecutors, however, claimed he spent the funds to 'benefit his personal life' and advance a 'romantic relationship' with Duni Zenaye, then CEO of business consulting firm AstZen Group.

The 62-year-old lawyer sobbed in court on Tuesday, wiping away tears with a tissue as he was handed a sentence of up to six years behind bars.

'I am ashamed of myself. I tried to lead a good life,' McKenna explained to the Manhattan Supreme Court judge.

'I did these crimes, I deserve to go to jail,' he added. 'I don't know what else to say for myself.'

The massive fraud scheme began in 2021, when Elkay Plastics - a packaging manufacturer and distributor - reached out to AstZen Group to buy 500,000 boxes of latex gloves during the pandemic.

Bryan McKenna (pictured), a former Manhattan real estate attorney, broke down in tears as he admitted to stealing $4.4 million meant for pandemic equipment during his Tuesday sentencing

Prosecutors claimed McKenna used the funds for his personal life and to advance a 'romantic relationship' with Duni Zenaye (pictured), then CEO of business consulting firm AstZen Group

Elkay Plastics then put $4.45 million into an escrow account controlled by McKenna - a routine, secure setup where money is held by a third party until all conditions of a deal are satisfied.

That January, McKenna promised to keep the funds in the escrow account until AstZen Group officially shipped off the gloves.

By April, the account was emptied, and the medical-grade equipment was never delivered, according to the DA's office.

Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Borle alleged that McKenna siphoned the millions to spend on him and AstZen Group's then CEO and his lover, Zenaye, to bolster their romance.

However Eric Franz, McKenna's defense lawyer, argued that the money was only funneled to help his family, particularly his son who was struggling with mentally.

'His focus was on, "I need to help my son,"' Franz told Judge Althea Drysdale, according to The Post.

Franz further bolstered his argument, telling the court that McKenna was a desperate father trying to secure doctor appointments for his sons medications and mental wellbeing.

Prosecutors fired back, arguing he instead used the money to enrich his personal life and advance the 'romantic relationship' he had with Zenaye, who faced no charges.

In 2021, Elkay Plastics - a packaging manufacturer and distributor - reached out to AstZen Group to buy 500,000 boxes of latex gloves, with $4.4 million going into an escrow account run by McKenna (stock photo)

The DAs office claimed that, despite being given the chance to return the stolen money in summer 2021, McKenna kept lying about where it was until November.

In July 2025, then-Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. announced that McKenna had pleaded guilty to stealing millions from the escrow account of the company buying personal protective equipment (PPE).

'This plea and expected prison sentence demonstrate the seriousness with which my office treats fraud targeting New Yorkers,' Bragg wrote in an office press release.

'From real estate clients to a company purchasing hard-to-find medical gloves during the pandemic, Bryan McKenna repeatedly drained the accounts of those who looked to him for legal representation,' he added.

But McKennas Covid fraud only came to light during an investigation that revealed he had also stolen more than $260,000 from two clients in New York City and Brooklyn real estate deals.

Court documents show that in 2021 - the same year he ran the escrow account dry - McKenna represented a woman in selling her Manhattan condo, taking $1,149,900, the sale proceeds, into his escrow account.

His client instructed McKenna to pay her $835,000 and hold back $184,600 in the account to cover the IRS capital gains tax owed on the sale.

She soon realized her tax liability had been reduced by about $24,000 and ordered McKenna to pay her that amount.

The office of former Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (pictured) said McKenna was given the chance to return the stolen money in summer 2021, but kept lying about where it was until November

While he handed over the $24,000, McKenna kept the remaining $160,000, diverting it to his own bank account rather than paying his client or the IRS.

Two years on, in October 2023, he again represented a client - this time in the sale of a Brooklyn townhouse, according to the DA's office.

As with his earlier client, he received the sale proceeds - specifically $762,000 - which were deposited into his attorney escrow account.

The client ordered him to pay off two mortgage loans totaling $653,000 from the proceeds, which McKenna carried out.

But the leftover $109,000 was never paid to the client and was once again transferred straight into McKennas own account and drained.

By December 2023, McKenna had voluntarily resigned from the New York State Bar, only to be indicted in September 2024.

Before his disbarment, he appeared to lead a double life as a stand-up comedian in New York, with Instagram posts showing him performing at The Comic Strip in the Upper East Side.

During the pandemic lockdown, McKennas social media featured short comedy skits and family moments with his wife and children.

McKenna (pictured) had also stolen more than $260,000 from two clients in New York City and Brooklyn real estate deals

McKennas social media featured short comedy skits and family moments with his wife (pictured) and children

He was charged in a New York State Supreme Court with one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree and one count of Scheme to Defraud in the first degree.

'Hard working New Yorkers need to be able to trust that their attorneys are acting in their best interest,' Bragg wrote in a statement announcing his indictment.

'As alleged, Bryan McKenna completely violated that trust by draining his attorney escrow account of funds from two clients real estate transactions,' he added.

Bragg explained that the probe was still active, eventually leading to the discovery of the stolen $4.4 million and McKennas alleged romantic relationship with the companys CEO.
Australias youngest convicted murderer who stabbed a toddler through the heart when he was just 13 approached a woman dressing her baby at a beach and asked her: 'Is dad around?'

The killer, who can only be identified as SLD for legal reasons, faced an appeals bench of three judges via AVL from prison on Wednesday to argue the exchange was innocent - and he should be released from custody again.

SLD, now aged in his late 30s but looking older with a noticeable paunch and greyish-white hair, wore glasses and squinted at the screen, sneering slightly when the court heard evidence about what he did.

The sexual psychopath murdered three-year-old Courtney Morley-Clarke in her bed at her home on the NSW Central Coast and then dumped her body in 2001.

He had been released from jail in 2023, despite experts warning he would commit more violent sexual crimes.

His release orders included one of 'not associating with children'.

Two months after release, on October 24, 2023 SLD went to Bulli Beach near Wollongong south of Sydney and approached three different women who had young children.

Aged 13, SLD stabbed neighbour Courtney Morley Clarke, 3, through the heart as she slept on her bed. He is now back before court on child abuse material charges

The scene at Point Clare in 2001 after toddler Courtney Morley-Clarke was stabbed to death in her bed and 13-year-old neighbour SLD eventually led police to her body

He later claimed in court that he was trying to achieve his dream of losing his virginity.

He approached two mothers at the Wollongong beach with their young daughters and asked: 'Hi, I just got out of jail. Do you come here often?'

SLD was wearing an electronic monitoring anklet and accompanied by his parole supervisor, but was unaware that an off-duty prison officer was coincidentally there at the time and spotted his ankle bracelet.

The officer watched SLD approach a woman feeding an infant at the Bulli Beach cafe and speak with her and then another from behind as she dressed her 15-month-old son.

The court heard SLD asked the young mother if she knew how to turn on the shower for washing feet, which she answered and then turned back to dressing her son.

SLD then continued to speak with the women, commenting about the red marks on her young son's skin, asking if they were chickenpox.

The woman replied: 'No, they are just mosquito bites.'

SLD continued questioning her as she dressed her son, saying: 'Is dad around?' When the woman replied, 'yes, he is', SLD responded: 'Oh thats good, I guess.'

SLD approached three women at Bulli Beach, asking one about the infant son she was dressing and then asking her if the child's 'dad is around'

SLD was then interrupted by the prison officer, Lucas Clark, who confronted him, saying: 'I have watched you approach three separate women with their children and try to speak to them. You know you can't do that.'

Police arrested SLD, who told Wollongong Local Court the next day the encounters were 'incidental'.

At the time, Magistrate Darryl Pearce refused him bail because 'he must have been aware there were children'.

'This is bulls***,' SLD exploded in court at the time.

'Youre basically calling me a paedophile, judge  If I get bashed in prison I am going to sue you, dog, if I get bashed, youre f***ed.'

SLD claimed his approach to the women had been because he was intent on losing his virginity immediately upon his release.

He was sentenced to 13 months and 13 days in December 2024 at Wollongong District Court after he was found guilty of approaching the woman at the showers.

The scene at Point Clare on the NSW Central Coast after three-year-old Courtney Morley Clarke's body was found dumped and police then arrested neighbour SLD, then aged 13

Join the discussion What should society do with violent offenders who repeatedly breach release conditions?

He has remained in custody since, but has now launched his fresh bid for freedom.

SLD's lawyer, public defender Nicholas Broadbent SC, argued that although SLD was in proximity to the child, he was engaging with the child's mother and had no verbal, non-verbal or physical interaction with the boy.

During the extensive arguments, SLD, who was muted from interrupting, sat with his elbows on a desk, clasping and unclasping his hands and at one point putting up his hand to interrupt.

Their Honours said the original trial judge had found SLD was in immediate physical proximity to a child, that the contact had been 'more than momentary, more than fleeting' and that 'association includes being in company'.

SLD has previously admitted to possessing child abuse material less than a month after he was released from prison.

He was first jailed for stabbing little Courtney Morley-Clarke in her bed in January 2001 at Point Clare on the NSW Central Coast.

He carried her body into long grass nearby and led police on a wild goose chase while they frantically searched for her.

Courtney's remains, clothed in only a nappy, were found down an embankment after SLD led police to the crime scene and took credit for the atrocity.

He spent more than 20 years in jail before his release, but then returned for the alleged breaches at Bulli Beach and possessing child abuse material.

The Court of Criminal Appeal reserved its final decision to a later date.
The partner of a man killed in the Nottingham massacre was told by police to 'buy a dog' to help her cope with his murder, a public inquiry has heard.

Elaine Newton also told the inquiry in London on Tuesday that officers mistakenly first told her that her partner Ian Coates had died in a car crash.

Mr Coates' son James later told the inquiry he found out over Instagram that his father had died.

Mr Coates, 65, was killed by paranoid schizophrenic Valdo Calocane, 34, on June 13, 2023, alongside undergraduate students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19.

Calocane, a Nottingham University student from Guinea-Bissau, then used the caretaker's van to run over pedestrians in the city centre. Ms Newton, however, was not told how her partner died for five hours, after officers suggested he was involved in a fatal road accident.

The error made Ms Newton feel as though Mr Coates 'died twice', she said.

Ms Newton told the hearing of her later encounter with police, saying: 'They looked shocked and said, "You've been told the wrong information  Ian's been killed and he's been stabbed".

'That's how I learned. The first information I accepted, but the second I couldn't accept. You don't know which was true, or have they got the wrong person. It wasn't right.'

The partner of Ian Coates (pictured), who was killed during the Nottingham massacre on June 13 2023, has spoken out at a public inquiry. Elaine Newton said police first told her the caretaker had died in a car crash

Lee and James Coates, sons of caretaker Ian Coates, arrive at Mary Ward House in London, at the inquiry into the Nottingham attacks on March 24, 2026

The inquiry is investigating how Valdo Calocane (pictured), 34, was allowed to carry out the three killings despite his history of violence

Ms Newton said after the murders, police were condescending and that she felt like a 'box to be ticked'.

She said an officer 'was giving me information like "move house, sell the house, buy a dog, go live by the sea, the walks along the seafront will do you good".'

Ms Newton said she had told police she did not want to see the face of Calocane, but was shown videos of him walking around the city on the day of the attacks.

The killings came three years after Calocane was arrested by Nottinghamshire Police in May 2020 for hammering down neighbours' doors. In one case, a woman jumped from a first-floor window to escape him.

But, after arresting Calocane, police dropped the case because a consultant psychiatrist deemed the schizophrenic 'incapable' mentally to be held responsible.

The inquiry is investigating how Calocane was free to kill despite his history of violence.

Ms Newton said: 'I never had any information about his past. The first time was this hearing.'

She said she asked Nottinghamshire Police how Calocane was allowed to be 'roaming' the city so long after he'd carried out the stabbings and was given 'excuses'.

She said: 'They said it could be quite a few reasons, there was not enough police that morning, Nottingham is a big place.'

James Coates also condemned the force  revealing he received a call from Nottinghamshire Police only ten minutes before a press conference at 5pm that day.

He said: 'It wasn't until 3pm that I decided to check Instagram. I got a message from a family friend saying "I can't believe what's happened to your dad".

'I still didn't believe it.'

Calocane also killed undergraduate students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19, in June 2023

He added: 'Since the inquiry began just over four weeks ago, the amount of new information that has surfaced astounds me.

'Over the past two and a half years, I thought I'd heard it all  from missed opportunities, misconduct, clerical mistakes, institutional laziness  but more revelations are coming out each week.

'My innocent father isn't here to see justice.'

His brother Lee called claims of officers 'doing everything for bereaved families' disingenuous.

He added: 'I do feel strongly we were perceived as second class, in comparison to others.'

They said the bereaved of the other victims had helped them, even though police had said the others wanted to remain private.

The inquiry heard the families had intimated that they wanted to make contact with each other.

Calocane pleaded guilty to manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility and is serving an indefinite hospital order at Ashwood High Secure Hospital in Merseyside.
Saudi Arabia has urged the US to seize the 'historic opportunity' to remake the Middle East, it was reported last night.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman is leaning on Donald Trump to continue the war against Iran, according to sources briefed by US officials.

The Saudi prince is said to view Iran as a long-term threat that will continue while the regime is in power.

It has left the kingdom's de-facto leader 'pushing' Mr Trump to keep the campaign going, despite the US President saying he is 'close to a deal', the New York Times reported.

It comes after Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan said last week that its 'patience with Iranian attacks is not unlimited', although officials last night said they are pursuing peace, not war.

The United Arab Emirates is also cracking down on Iranian-owned assets while debating sending its military to the fight, said the Wall Street Journal.

The Pentagon is expected to announce a further deployment of 3,000 airborne soldiers to the Middle East.

These could be used to seize the strategically vital Kharg Island through which Iran exports 90 per cent of its crude oil.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (pictured with Donald Trump on May 13) is leaning on US leader to continue the war against Iran, according to sources briefed by US officials

Fires rage after an Iranian ballistic missile smashed into Tel Aviv yesterday after evading Israel's defences

But last night, Mr Trump said the US was in negotiations with Iran 'right now', adding: 'We're talking to the right people and they want to make a deal so badly.'

The change in tone came after he pulled back from threats to 'obliterate' the Islamic Republic's power plants on Monday and instead said he was 'close to a deal'.

He called for a five-day 'pause' on energy strikes while both sides entered talks, claiming Iran was about to agree to 'no more war' and 'no more nuclear weapons'.

The regime dismissed it as 'fake news', but there was some diplomatic movement yesterday ahead of possible talks in Pakistan.

But last night Tehran claimed the US and Israel had attacked its Bushehr nuclear plant, but there were no casualties or damage.

A senior Iranian foreign ministry official told CBS News 'we received points from the US through mediators and they are being reviewed'.

Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt have reportedly been instrumental in pushing for both sides to de-escalate in calls with Mr Trump's peace envoy Steve Witkoff and an unnamed Iranian representative over the weekend.

Pakistan said it 'stands ready' to host talks as early as this week that could see US vice president JD Vance meet with Iran's Mohammad Ghalibaf, who is increasingly seen as a key figure in the regime.

He was yesterday promoted to become secretary of the national security council, replacing Ali Larijani who had briefly been considered Tehran's de-facto ruler until he was assassinated last week.

After Mr Trump said he was talking with a 'respected' leader in Iran on Monday but declined to say who, observers speculated it was Ghalibaf  something he denied.

The Islamic Republic's major general Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi yesterday vowed his forces 'will continue until complete victory'.

Join the discussion Do YOU think this war should be pushed further to reshape the Middle East?

Israel and Tehran continued to pound each other with rocket fire, with one missile hitting Tel Aviv.

The White House insisted there are 'sensitive discussions' ongoing but declined to 'speculate' further.

Yesterday there were electricity outages in Kuwait after shrapnel from an Iranian strike cut power lines.

Saudi Arabia said it shot down drones targeting its oil-rich Eastern Province and Lebanon was hit by Israeli air strikes.

Lebanon yesterday expelled Iran's ambassador, Mohammad Reza Sheibani, and declared him persona non grata.

The country is considering talks with Israel as it appears to weigh up forcing out Hezbollah, the Iranian proxy.

Mr Trump yesterday said Iran had given the US a 'big present worth a tremendous amount of money', suggesting it was related to the Strait of Hormuz.

He told reporters: 'It wasn't nuclear, it was oil and gas-related, and it was a very nice thing they did.'
Iranian state media has mocked Australia's fuel shortages after hundreds of service stations were left without petrol or diesel, as the Albanese government blamed panic buying for the disruption.

Tasnim News Agency, which is closely linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, circulated footage of a Gold Coast petrol station completely out of fuel alongside a sneering caption.

'Gasoline and diesel are running out in Australia!' the post read. 'Hundreds of gas stations in Australia have completely depleted their gasoline and diesel reserves.'

Iran's swipe comes as fuel shortages are now being reported at more than 500 service stations nationwide, with hundreds of sites running out of at least one type of fuel, as Tehran continues to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global chokepoint that carries about one-fifth of the world's oil supply.

In New South Wales, 187 service stations are out of diesel and a further 32 have run completely dry, a drop of 19 affected sites compared with Tuesday.

In Queensland, 55 stations are without diesel while 35 have no regular unleaded available.

Victoria has 134 service stations lacking one or more fuel grades. In South Australia, 49 service stations have been impacted.

Western Australia has six stations completely out of stock and another four without diesel. In Tasmania, one service station is without diesel and six have no unleaded.

Iranian state media Tasmin (pictured) mocked Australia's fuel crisis on social media

Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei

No shortages had been reported in the Australian Capital Territory as of yesterday afternoon.

Despite the widespread outages, the affected sites represent only about eight per cent of all service stations nationwide.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen has repeatedly insisted the shortages are being driven by a sudden spike in demand caused by panic buying, rather than a collapse in supply.

'We have as much fuel in Australia today as we had on the day Iran was attacked. We have had real issues, particularly in regional Australia, getting fuel to where demand has been very high,' Bowen said.

'We've seen very big spikes in demand. Some of that has been panic buying. Some people are trying to get ahead of expected price rises. Some farmers are stocking up, which is understandable.

'But the fact is, if demand suddenly jumps dramatically, whether it's for petrol, diesel or even toilet paper, supply chains come under pressure.'

He said Australia had received all expected fuel shipments so far, although six deliveries scheduled for April had been cancelled, with some replaced by alternative sources as tensions in the Strait of Hormuz continue.

He said 74 of the 80 fuel shipments expected across April and May were still on track to arrive.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen has repeatedly insisted the shortages are being driven by a sudden spike in demand caused by panic buying, rather than a collapse in supply

If the conflict drags on for several more weeks, Bowen said contingency plans are in place to manage supply risks but rationing remains unlikely.

'We have also said there are international supply risks going forward, but we are pretty well placed to deal with those risks. There is a range of actions available to government. Rationing would be an absolute worst-case planning measure. It's not on the agenda.'

Bowen also ruled out a controversial $40 fuel purchase cap, outlined in a 2019 national emergency response fuel shortage , which has resurfaced in recent days as one of the possible responses governments could consider if supplies were severely disrupted.

'To introduce something like that, you would have to declare a national fuel emergency, which has never been done. I've already said I don't envisage doing that. So it's really not on the agenda.

Some of the other measures in the fuel shortage plan focus on cutting demand before rationing kicks in.

These include urging motorists to car-pool, adopt 'eco-driving' habits such as smoother acceleration and using less air-conditioning, and encouraging businesses to prepare contingency plans for a potential halving of their fuel supply.

Fuel prices have soared, with the average price of 91 at 253.9c and diesel at 305.7

Out of order signs cover fuel pumps at a petrol station in Sydney

The document also says government could allow higher fuel prices to help curb consumption, on the basis that reduced supply would naturally push prices up and discourage unnecessary travel.

Bowen said: 'Public restraint, public information campaigns and requesting people to save fuel would be the first step, and that only after that would any further actions be considered. I made clear yesterday, I think we're a long way from that.'

Meanwhile, Treasurer Jim Chalmers has warned that the financial impacts of the ongoing war in Iran could be worse than Covid and the Global Financial Crisis.

He told 100 business leaders on Tuesday night that the end of the war 'can't come soon enough'.

He also made a startling admission that predictions made last week about the local impact from the Middle East crisis may be too conservative.

Oil prices are now higher than previously forecast, with more industries set to be hard hit.

'This is the fifth big global economic shock in less than two decades, it could be just as serious as the four before it,' Chalmers said.

'We are well placed and well prepared, but we will be buffeted.

'Two things matter most here, how long the war lasts but also how long it takes to get the global economy back on track after it ends.

'We've seen the positive market response from speculation about US negotiations with Iran and from an economic point of view it's clear the end of the war can't come soon enough.'
A Samoan father-of-five who brutally stabbed his wife to death in a frenzied knife attack was driven by 'morbid jealousy' over an unfounded belief she was sleeping with his brother.

Rimoni Muliaga, 44, repeatedly plunged a large kitchen knife into Lise Muliaga, 37, in the backyard of his brother's bungalow in Melton South, in Melbourne's outer west, on September 18, 2023, just weeks after the family had migrated from New Zealand.

Three of their young children, aged 12, seven and five, witnessed the horrific attack and its shocking aftermath.

On Wednesday, Supreme Court of Victoria Justice James Gorton condemned Muliaga for the murder.

'You stabbed your wife, Lise, multiple times with a kitchen knife. You did so in front of your children in the backyard of your brother's house,' he told Muliaga.

'You stabbed her because you mistakenly believed that she was having an affair with your brother.'

The judge described the killing as 'an act of the most serious domestic violence against an innocent and unarmed woman' that 'warrants serious condemnation'.

Muliaga had argued with his wife that morning after accusing her of the affair - a suspicion he had harboured for some time despite it being entirely unwarranted.

Rimoni Muliaga, his wife Lise and their children in happier days

After she returned from a walk, the row escalated in the bungalow where three of the children were present.

The court heard Muliaga attacked his wife with the knife, stabbing her four times - twice to the right shoulder, once to the left upper chest and once to the left breast.

The fatal wound was a 9.5cm stab to the upper chest that cut through two ribs, transected two major blood vessels, caused massive blood loss, perforated the chest cavity and damaged a lung.

Mrs Muliaga had fought for her life and suffered defensive knife cuts to her arms as she desperately tried to fend him off.

'It was a frightening and violent death,' Justice Gorton said.

The court heard one of the couple's young daughters ran screaming to the main house.

When family members rushed to the backyard, they found Mrs Muliaga sitting on the ground with the knife still sticking out of her shoulder, bleeding heavily.

Muliaga was seen standing over her.

Rimoni Muliaga butchered his wife Lise in a jealous frenzy

His sister-in-law screamed at him asking what he was doing.

The killer fled up the street but later insisted: 'Lise and (his brother) were sleeping together.'

Muliaga's brother called triple zero and performed CPR, but despite briefly regaining a heartbeat, Mrs Muliaga was declared dead at 2.33pm.

Muliaga was arrested nearby with blood still on his hands.

The court heard he repeatedly asked police for his 'mental health medication' and said he hadn't taken it since the previous day.

Justice Gorton said Muliaga appeared genuinely shocked and distressed when told his wife had died, even asking to call her.

A jury found Muliaga guilty of murder in December after a trial in which he admitted the stabbing but contested his intention.

Justice Gorton sentenced Muliaga on the basis that he stabbed his wife with the intention of 'causing really serious injury', without caring whether she lived or died.

Rimoni Muliaga enters the Supreme Court of Victoria in February

The judge noted the attack was spontaneous, not premeditated, but entirely unprovoked.

The fact that three children witnessed their mother's violent death was an aggravating factor that heightened the objective seriousness of the crime, Justice Gorton said.

The court heard Muliaga was born in Samoa in 1981, one of nine children, and had a difficult upbringing involving physical abuse.

The court heard Muliaga had a low IQ of just 61, placing him in the bottom 0.5 per cent of the population and meeting the threshold for intellectual disability, along with impaired executive functioning and rigid thinking.

He had a history of mental health issues, including depression with psychotic features and a prior diagnosis of schizophrenia in New Zealand.

A forensic psychiatrist who assessed Muliaga concluded he suffered from a major depressive disorder rather than schizophrenia.

While the court found the condition reduced his moral culpability, Justice Gorton stressed it did not excuse the crime.

Rimoni Muliaga enters the court during his murder trial

Muliaga knew what he was doing was wrong, Justice Gorton said.

The court heard Muliaga had previously been violent towards Lise, including one incident where his brother found him on top of her and another where his sister-in-law saw him with his hand around her neck.

Their children, now coping with the support of family, submitted victim impact statements declaring they faced life without their mother and the trauma of knowing their father killed her.

Muliaga, who is not an Australian citizen, is likely to be deported upon release.

Justice Gorton sentenced Muliaga to 24 years in jail with a non-parole period of 18 years and six months.

He has already served 919 days in pre-sentence detention.
A peer has condemned police for 'misunderstanding' an art exhibition accused of showing Jews as 'blood-soaked, baby eating demons' after officers said no laws had been broken.

Lord Ian Austin, who sits as an independent in the House of Lords, lambasted Kent Police over its decision not to take any further action against Matthew Collings and his exhibition, Drawings Against Genocide - which the peer described as 'a shocking display of grotesque anti-Jewish hatred.'

The show, staged at Joseph Wales Studios, in Margate, features childlike drawings of grinning IDF soldiers standing over skulls and blood, while another depicts figures holding a blood-soaked Star of David flag.

One image portrays two auctioneers linked to Sotheby's, which is owned by French-Israeli billionaire Patrick Drahi, devouring babies with blood dripping from their mouths.

Another work shows Lisa Nandy alongside cash and an Israeli flag, with speech bubbles stating: 'I am a Zionist' and 'I am paid by Israel'.

Racism advocates say the art draws on deeply offensive antisemitic stereotypes, prompting wide outrage.

Actress Tracy-Ann Oberman called the images 'disgusting', historian Simon Schama said they were 'appalling', while politician and journalist Lord Michael Gove said the exhibition was 'truly terrible'.

Such has been the controversy that earlier this week Thanet District Council distanced itself from the event and apologised for 'any distress or offence that has been caused'.

Lord Austin has condemned police for 'misunderstanding' an art exhibition accused of showing Jews as 'blood-soaked, baby eating demons' after officers said no laws were broken. Pictured: An IDF soldier stands in a pool of blood surrounded by skulls

The exhibition includes an image of President Donald Trump, next to a swastika flag and with blood coming out his mouth, accompanied by a caption referring to 'murder[ing] Muslims'

Critics were swift to point out a poster positioned at the entrance states: 'Antisemitic art exhibition this way'

But Kent Police said the artwork 'did not meet the legal threshold' for a criminal offence and neither did officers find any evidence of content that was 'directly abusive or insulting toward Jewish people'.

The artist has defended his work as being a commentary on Zionism rather than being antisemitic - though critics were swift to point out a poster positioned at the entrance states: 'Antisemitic art exhibition this way'.

Lord Austin said it was 'alarming' that Kent Police had considered the artwork to be 'perfectly fine' given its graphic content.

Speaking to Daily Mail, he said: 'It shows a quite remarkable Keystone Cops level of misunderstanding not to see this so-called art exhibition for what it really is, which is a shocking display of grotesque anti-Jewish hatred.

'Did the officers miss that it even has a poster up at the entrance saying "antisemitic art exhibition this way"?

'These child-like drawings go far beyond legitimate criticism of the government of Israel, they depict British Jews as evil baby killers and draw upon well-known tropes about Jews drinking blood and secretly running the world.

'It really is alarming that Kent Police thinks this is perfectly fine. I can't imagine for a second that police officers would come to the same conclusion about an art exhibition that so cruelly attacked any other race or religion.'

Alex Hearn from Labour Against Antisemitism said: 'That a police force believes depicting Jews as manipulating the media and eating babies alive are "criticism of Israel", shows how urgently intervention is needed.

'Blood-soaked hate scrawls about Jews featuring swastikas and 'the lobby' controlling the government are not legitimate politics. The police need to do better, and proper training is needed.'

In a response provided to an individual who formally complained about the exhibition, and seen by Daily Mail, Kent Police said there had been 'no indication of an intent by the artist to stir up racial or religious hatred.'

The force had also considered whether the artwork met the criteria for a non-crime hate incident, but this too did not meet the threshold.

Artist Matthew Collings, 70, has dismissed the backlash against his work as 'Zionist nonsense'

The incident was reported to police, but officers concluded no laws had been broken

Among the illustrations is one depicting two auctioneers linked to Sotheby's, owned by French-Israeli billionaire Patrick Drahi, in which 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'

'This is because the content is political in nature, focuses on a nation state rather than a protected group, and is part of artistic expression, which is afforded protection under freedom of expression laws.'

It added: 'There is no information to suggest hostility toward Jewish people as a group, nor any indication of risk of harm.'

Earlier this week, writer Zoe Strimpel described feeling shaken after she was allegedly shouted at by the artist and surrounded by others after she challenged the pieces on display.

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 Collings: 'Drawings Against Genocide.'

Detailing the exchange, she said: '[Collings] 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 shoo 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.'

Ms Strimpel made a formal complaint to police following the incident and was told that following an investigation 'no criminal offences were identified.'
Kristi Noem, her rumored lover Corey Lewandowski and associates at Homeland Security are facing a 'wide-ranging' criminal investigation over the rewarding of billions of dollars in no-bid contracts, senior DHS sources tell the Daily Mail.

The Homeland Security Inspector General has launched the investigation, sending notices to dozens of people involved in approving the contracts, including many in Noem's inner circle, sources said.

These officials are being ordered to preserve all communications including documents, text messages, emails and phone records, the Daily Mail can reveal.

'It's long overdue and much needed,' one senior DHS official familiar with the matter said. 'There has been too much shady stuff done under their watch.'

Notices are being sent to current and former employees, among them Noem and her top adviser Lewandowski who were forced out earlier this month by Trump after the secretary was grilled over a controversial $220 million ad campaign. One commercial featured her galloping on a horse beside a stampeding herd of bison at Mount Rushmore.

However, the criminal probe is not limited to the ads and investigators are digging into a 'wide range' of other contracts personally approved by Noem's office, senior DHS officials tell the Daily Mail.

The investigation is ongoing and no crime has been alleged.

If the investigation concludes there was criminal activity involving the approval of the contracts, then the case would be referred to the Department of Justice in Washington or any number of US Attorney's offices for prosecution.

Kristi Noem testifies during a House Judiciary Committee hearing in the Rayburn House Office Building on March 4

Corey Lewandowski, special government employee and advisor, listens as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks at the inaugural Americas Counter Cartel Conference at US Southern Command in Doral, Florida, Thursday, March 5, 2026

Trump speaks during a swearing-in ceremony for US Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) Markwayne Mullin in the Oval Office of the White House on Tuesday

The probe lands just as Markwayne Mullin was sworn in alongside Trump at the White House on Tuesday afternoon, replacing Noem as Homeland Security Secretary.

The DHS contracting process has come under public scrutiny in recent weeks over concerns about possible influence peddling and conflicts of interest.

Some DHS contractors told White House officials that Lewandowski allegedly solicited 'pay to play' fees in exchange for helping secure or expand contracts, a tactic sources told the Daily Mail was widely referred to as 'the Lewandowski tax.'

Lewandowski, a former special government employee, has denied any wrongdoing.

Noem and Lewandowski maintained tight control over the approval of all six-figure contracts. Their insistence on sole authorization created months-long backlogs, delaying contracts tied to FEMA disaster relief and construction of Trump's border wall.

But DHS sources tell the Daily Mail this also allowed the pair to circumvent standard oversight.

When contacted for a response on the investigation, Lewandowski replied, 'Fake news.'

The Daily Mail has contacted the White House, Homeland Security, and Noem for comment.

The DHS Office of Inspector General is an independent federal watchdog tasked with investigating fraud, waste, abuse and misconduct. The office is led by Joseph Cuffari, one of a small group of inspectors general to keep their posts after Trump fired 17 at the start of his second term.

Cuffari has told lawmakers on Capitol Hill that Noem 'systematically obstructed' eleven of his prior investigations.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem rides a horse while filming an ad at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota, October 2, 2025

US Senator Markwayne Mullin is sworn in during a hearing for the position of US Secretary of Homeland Security at the US Capitol, March 18

Noem and Lewandowski maintained tight control over the approval of all six-figure contracts

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents patrol Dulles International Airport on March 24, 2026 in Dulles, Virginia

A senior administration official told the Daily Mail that Lewandowski also unsuccessfully tried to get Cuffari fired on multiple occasions before leaving DHS.

Mullin has publicly stated that he looks forward to working with Cuffari.

Last week, ten of Noem's closest advisers and staffers, including her three deputy chiefs of staff, left Homeland to join the State Department, where they will assist her in her new role as special envoy for the Shield of the Americas.

Noem personally supplied the White House with the names of staffers she wanted to bring with her, a White House official told the Daily Mail.

Some of the officials Noem handpicked to follow her to the State Department are now caught up in the IG's criminal probe.
Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home will be represented in the Florida State House by a Democrat after Emily Gregory flipped the district in a special election Tuesday.

The Republican president endorsed 40-year-old Gregory's rival, Jon Maples. In a social media post Monday, Trump urged voters to turn out, saying Maples was endorsed 'by so many of my Palm Beach County friends.'

Republican Mike Caruso, who resigned from the seat to become Palm Beach County's clerk, won the state legislative seat by 19 percentage points in 2024.

Trump won the district by about 10 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election.

Democrats celebrated the victory as the latest sign voters are turning against Trump and the GOP.

'Mar-a-Lago just flipped red to blue, which should have Republicans sweating the midterms,' said Heather Williams, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee.

She said it was the 29th district that Democrats have flipped from GOP control since Trump took office.

'Gas prices are spiking, grocery costs are up, and families can't get by  it's clear voters at the polls are fed up with Republicans,' Williams said.

Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home will now be represented in the Florida State House by a Democrat after Emily Gregory (pictured) flipped the district in a special election Tuesday

President Donald Trump changed his primary residence to Mar-a-Lago (pictured) in 2019. Democrats are hoping that the President will have to cope with having a Democratic state representative after Tuesday's special election

With almost all votes counted, Gregory led by 2.4 percentage points, or 797 votes.

Caruso was tapped last summer by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to serve as county clerk and comptroller, with the seat sitting empty since August.

The President changed his residency to Florida in 2019 during his first term, making his primary residence Mar-a-Lago between his first and second terms.

Trump opened himself to criticism by voting in the special election by mail, the New York Times reported, a practice he has referred to as 'mail-in cheating' and in the Oval Office on Tuesday as 'tremendous corruption.'

The White House pushed back on charges of hypocrisy by pointing to Trump's support of the SAVE Act, which allows 'commonsense exceptions for Americans to use mail-in ballots for illness, disability, military, or travel.'

The President has been against universal mail-in ballots, a spokesperson said, because 'it's highly susceptible to fraud.'

'As everyone knows, the President is a resident of Palm Beach and participates in Florida elections, but he obviously primarily lives at the White House in Washington, D.C. This is a non-story,' spokesperson Olivia Wales told the Daily Mail.

Gregory is a mother of three and used her health and exercise science background to launch a small business, FIT4MOM Palm Beach, offering exercise classes to pregnant women and new moms.

Join the discussion What does THIS win mean for Trumps backyard?

The Republican president endorsed 40-year-old Gregory's rival, Jon Maples (pictured left)

Gregory is a mother of three and used her health and exercise science background to launch a small business, FIT4MOM Palm Beach, offering exercise classes to pregnant women and new moms

She's also highlighted her experiences as a military spouse.

The Palm Beach Post, the local newspaper, endorsed Gregory on Monday.

The President backed the GOP hopeful ahead of the primary for the state House special election in January.

He called him a 'very successful Businessman and Civic Leader.'

'As your next State Representative, Jon will fight tirelessly to Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Stop Migrant Crime, Safeguard our Elections, Support our Military, Veterans, and Law Enforcement, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment,' Trump said.

Ahead of Tuesday, the Florida Democratic Party claimed that Maples doesn't actually live in the district.

The Florida Democratic Party alleged that on January 12, during the primary, Maples was using a voter registration address associated with a motel in Palm Beach Shores.

This address was used again on March 14, the Democrats said.

The Democrats called on Maples to drop out of the contest.

The Maples campaign did not immediately respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment.

Florida Politics reported that the GOP hopeful said that he and his family have moved into a home in Jupiter, Florida - within the district boundaries - since the January primary.

Florida law states that a representative must live in the district only at the time of their swearing-in.

The district in question, Florida's House District 87, has generally trended Republican.

Maples had a fundraising advantage over his Democratic rival, and Republicans still have a statewide voter registration advantage, Florida Politics said.

Still, Democrats viewed the seat as flippable, as special elections can sometimes be unpredictable.

The party recently found success in the nearby Boca Raton mayor's race, with Democrat Andy Thomson becoming the first blue mayor of the city in 45 years.
Disgraced former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries once urged prison doctors to find him incompetent for trial, a federal judge heard on Tuesday.

The 81-year-old is facing one count of sex trafficking and 15 counts of interstate prostitution, with prosecutors alleging he sexually abused more than a dozen young male models between 2008 and 2015.

Prosecutors have claimed Jeffries, his partner Matthew Smith and alleged fixer James Jacobson lured the men to drug-fueled sex parties in the Hamptons by promising them they would model for the retailer's ads.

Jeffries' defense attorneys have argued that he is incompetent to stand trial, after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia.

But their arguments seemed to take a turn when defense lawyer Brian H Bieber asked Dr. Jacqueline C. Valdes, a clinical neuro-psychologist, whether there is a tape in which Jeffries expresses his hope 'for a good outcome.'

Dr. Valdes acknowledged that there is a recorded phone conversation in which the millionaire said doctors 'better find me incompetent.'

'He was just saying things without a filter,' the doctor insisted to US District Court Judge Nusrat Choudhury as a three-day competency hearing got underway Tuesday.

'It's just another example of the disinhibited behavior I was talking about earlier.'

Disgraced former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries, 81, appeared in federal court on Tuesday for a competency hearing

Jeffries' defense attorneys have argued that he is incompetent to stand trial , after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia

Prosecutors have claimed Jeffries, his partner Matthew Smith (right) and alleged fixer James Jacobson (left) lured the men to drug-fueled sex parties in the Hamptons by promising them they would model for the retailer's ads

Other examples, she said, include Jeffries using 'words like b***h' in conversation with mental health workers at a North Carolina prison.

'He was repeatedly described as being a little too personal,' Valdes continued. 'It happened with me. He was sometimes jocular, sometimes too personal in his interactions with me.'

The doctor has been assessing Jeffries' cognitive impairment since October 2023, when he appeared 'confused' and had a 'shuffling gait' and tremors.

Smith also told her at the time that the former CEO had been 'found in a neighbor's yard, sitting in his underwear and being unable to move,' Valdes testified.

But she said there was evidence his mental decline began back in 2013, when an MRI showed 'mild atrophy,' or shrinking, of the brain, which became worse after he fell on a trip to South Africa in 2018.

He had also been prone to hallucinations, wandering, delusional thinking and 'acting out his dreams' even before his October 2024 indictment, Valdes said.

Prosecutor Adam Toporovsky later pointed out that some of Jeffries' cognitive testing results improved when she examined him this year compared to his results in 2023 - though Valdes attributed any improvements to his medication.

As the two sides sparred in court, Jeffries - sporting a stylish, dark two-piece slim-fit suit with his hair neatly styled and his ankle monitor bulging out of his right pant leg - appeared alert and even chatty.

Defense attorneys argue there was evidence his mental decline began back in 2013, when an MRI showed 'mild atrophy,' or shrinking, of the brain, which became worse after he fell on a trip to South Africa in 2018. Jeffries is pictured in 1998

He was seen shaking a few people's hands and asking a female member of his defense team where she had driven in from. Jeffries even said 'hello' to a reporter.

Yet at other times during the hours-long proceeding, Jeffries appeared impatient, irritable and frustrated. At one point he even looked as if he was going to blurt something out before one person on his defense team caught him.

At other times, Jeffries was seen clasping his hands together and looking utterly bored as he sat next to his son, Andrew Jeffries.

During a break, the former CEO was also seen walking with his son to the mens room. He did not seem to have any balancing issues at the time, even walking with his hand in his pocket as if he was modeling the latest mens fashions.

When his son then asked, How are your feet? How is your head? Jeffries replied, Fine, before the pair walked back to the courtroom.

There was no sign of his wife in the courtroom, and there was no cane, walker or wheelchair in sight.

Prosecutors now argue Jeffries is competent to stand trial on the sex trafficking charges, saying their conclusions are supported by their own doctors and more than 100 of Jeffries' phone calls with his co-defendant, Smith.

Those calls were recorded last year, during Jeffries' four-month stay in the mental health unit of a federal prison.

According to the federal indictment against Jeffries, his 'fixer' Jacobson would travel across the US and abroad to recruit and interview prospective male models for Jeffries' and Smith's sex parties. The former CEO is pictured addressing stockholders in 2003

According to the federal indictment against Jeffries, his 'fixer' Jacobson would travel across the US and abroad to recruit and interview prospective male models for the Abercrombie & Fitch CEO's and Smith's sex parties.

Jacobson would then allegedly conduct 'tryouts' with potential candidates by paying them for sex with him. At the direction of Smith, Jacobson is also accused of paying fees to individuals who referred men for the sex parties in the Hamptons.

The alleged victims have said they believed attending the sex parties could provide them with model opportunities with Abercrombie and that their careers could suffer if they did not comply.

The victims were 'financially vulnerable,' prosecutors argued, according to NBC News, with the youngest being just 19 years old.

The sex parties incorporated Abercrombie products, with victims being given itineraries for it that did not mention commercial sex and 'resembled those often sent to models for photo shoots.'

Staff members controlled the entry and exit to the parties, and required the victims to surrender their wallets, cellphones and sign non-disclosure agreements, according to the criminal indictment.

Jeffries' reign at Abercrombie & Fitch was dominated by its controversial brand image and the equally controversial remarks he made about his customer base

But prosecutors say the aspiring models were never told 'the full extent and nature of the sexual activity that would be required' - which allegedly included 'anal intercourse, the insertion of large sex toys into the anus, and high-pressured enemas administered by inserting a hose into the anus.'

They claim staff members provided the men with muscle relaxants known as 'poppers,' as well as lubricant, Viagra and condoms.

At times, Smith and Jeffries also allegedly injected in their penises 'a prescription-grade erection-inducing substance' that caused painful, hours-long reactions to get them to engage in sex acts 'in which they were otherwise incapable or unwilling.'

The victims were also allegedly paid to travel to places including New York City, England, France, Italy, Morocco and Saint Barthelemy to have sex with Jeffries, Smith and others.

When witnesses threatened to expose what was going on, Jeffries and Smith used a security company to surveil and intimidate them into silence, prosecutors said.

Jury selection is now slated to begin on October 26 if Judge Choudhury finds Jeffries is competent to stand trial.

In the meantime, the hearing will continue on Wednesday, when the defense presents three witnesses and the prosecution is expected to play audio recordings.
A hero who talked a would-be bomber out of blowing up a maternity ward has spoken out for the first time as he prepares to receive an award for his bravery.

Nathan Newby, 35, from Leeds, West Yorkshire, convinced Mohammad Farooq not to proceed with the atrocity at the city's St James's Hospital on January 20, 2023.

The 'self-radicalised lone-wolf terrorist' had taken a homemade pressure cooker bomb to the ward with the intention to 'kill as many nurses as possible'.

But Mr Newby, who was a patient at the time but had stepped out for a smoke break, spotted Farooq 'swaying' unusually as he stood outside the building, a trial heard.

He checked on him to make sure he was alright, which began several hours of heart-to-heart conversation  and diffused the situation.

Not only did the would-be attacker confess to having a bomb, he 'asked for a cuddle' several times, before eventually saying: 'Phone the police before I change my mind.'

Farooq was jailed for life with a minimum term of 37 years at Sheffield Crown Court in March last year.

And Mr Newby has now spoken publicly for the first time, ahead of receiving the George Medal, Britain's second highest civilian gallantry award, for his courage.

Nathan Newby (pictured), 35, from Leeds, West Yorkshire, convinced Mohammad Farooq not to proceed with the atrocity at the city's St James's Hospital on January 20, 2023

Farooq (pictured) was jailed for life with a minimum term of 37 years at Sheffield Crown Court in March last year

Speaking in advance of the ceremony on Wednesday, he said Farooq was 'probably a nice guy' who was 'going through bad things at the time'.

Mr Newby said he was 'just in the right place at the right time'.

Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb, who sentenced Farooq, called Mr Newby 'an extraordinary, ordinary man'.

The judge said his 'decency and kindness' that day 'prevented an atrocity in a maternity wing of a major British hospital'.

Farooq had been inspired by the so-called Islamic State group to commit a terrorist act, a trial heard.

He chose the hospital as a target as he had been a clinical support worker there and had a long-running grievance with nurses on his ward.

That night, Mr Newby had briefly left the building, where he was receiving care, to vape and get 'a bit of fresh air'.

He spotted Farooq with his hands in his pockets, 'swaying like he'd had some bad news or something'.

'I just went over to see if he was alright, to see if I could make him feel better,' Mr Newby said.

'I said, "How are you, pal? Are you alright?", and it just went from there really.'

He said Farooq eventually told him he was there 'for some sort of revenge' and, about an hour into the conversation, revealed he had a bomb.

Mr Newby explained: 'He was constantly watching [his bag], it was about seven feet away from us, and every nurse that walked past it, he was like, looking at them, looking at the bag.

'And then I asked him what was in it... and then he just come out with it... he ummed and aahed, didn't want to, but then I got out of him. He just said it's a bomb.

'I could hear it in his voice, it wasn't a joke.

'So I asked to have a look at it, just to confirm it, and then he just happily opened it up and showed me it.'

He said 'part of me' was scared  but his main concern was to try and move Farooq away from the building.

Farooq (pictured, in the hospital foyer) had taken a homemade pressure cooker bomb to the ward with the intention to 'kill as many nurses as possible'

But Mr Newby spotted him 'swaying' unusually as he stood outside the building and checked on him to make sure he was alright. Pictured: Farooq's device at the hospital

'I wasn't going to shout and things like that... I just thought, the best way is to keep quiet and just get him out of the way and be tactical about it,' Mr Newby continued.

'If it goes off, it's just going to be me and him, and I want to make sure it's just me and him and not no one else.'

He asked Farooq about the potential radius of the explosion and moved him away from the entrance to some nearby benches.

It meant, Mr Newby said: 'If it had have gone off at least, it would have just took the doors, it wouldn't take the whole building out.'

He said this plan was 'pure instinct': 'I don't know where it came from.'

Mr Newby said they 'just chatted' for several hours and Farooq, who he said seemed 'normal', even told him about his family and children.

'I don't judge anybody. Everybody's different and unique in their own ways aren't they? I didn't judge him.'

Mr Newby said Farooq asked him for a hug and called him a 'top guy', before saying: 'Phone the police before I change my mind.'

He said: 'It was a bit of a relief, but at the end of the day he could have still changed his mind at any time, even if we were on the phone to the police or not.'

Mr Newby said the enormity of what had happened did not hit him until he was sitting in the back of a police van after armed officers arrived and detained Farooq.

'It started sinking in that it could have been different,' he said. 'Emotions started coming, it was like wow, as if that's just happened.'

During the phone call to police, Mr Newby told them Farooq 'seemed like a nice guy deep down'.

Asked how he felt about him now, he said: 'He probably is a nice guy. It was just, his head was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

'I would say he was just going through bad things at the time, and when you're in that situation, your mind's capable of doing all sorts of things that you don't expect.'

Mr Newby said he did not think of himself as a hero, but as someone who was 'just in the right place at the right time'.

He said: 'I only think about that night [now] if someone brings it up. And then it's like, it's crazy how it could have gone...

'I was a patient at the time, so I wouldn't be here, because I was at the front of the building, so it would have took me out.'
One of Britain's smallest ponies found dying and so sick it couldn't stand is now thriving after being taken in by an animal charity.

Pickle - a one-year-old Shetland Pony who stands just 28 inches tall - was found critically ill at a site in the West Midlands in March last year, after a welfare concern was reported to World Horse Welfare.

The then tiny nine-month-old foal was so weak he wasn't able to stand and was struggling to breath leaving him needing urgent veterinary care.

Tests revealed he was suffering from several diseases, including strangles, equine flu, and salmonella, which if left untreated could prove fatal.

But now Pickle has been nursed back to full health at Penny Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Blackpool, Lancashire, where he is living until he is ready to find a home of his own.

Charlotte Melvin, 36, World Horse Welfare Field Officer, said: 'As soon as I saw Pickle, I could tell he needed veterinary care urgently - he was really struggling to breathe.

'When he tried to stand as I walked up to him, he just couldn't get up.

'He tested positive for multiple illnesses, including strangles, equine flu, and salmonella, and was so weak that he kept collapsing.

Pickle - a one-year-old Shetland Pony who stands just 28 inches tall - was found critically ill at a site in the West Midlands in March last year

After tests revealed he was suffering from several diseases, including strangles, equine flu, and salmonella, Pickle was nursed back to full health

Pickle was cared for at Penny Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Blackpool, Lancashire, where he is living until he is ready to find a home of his own

'He very nearly didn't make it, but eventually turned a corner and started to recover,' a welfare officer said

Pickle has since made a best friend in his stablemate, a pony called Cheddar, who he enjoys grazing and playing in the field with

Following a multi-agency response Pickle was rescued from the site in the West Midlands in March last year, after a welfare concern was reported to World Horse Welfare

According to World Horse Welfare Pickle's size worked in his favour enabling those caring for him to get him back on his feet more easily

Charlotte Melvin, 36, World Horse Welfare Field Officer, said: 'The contrast from that tiny foal who was too weak to stand and could barely breathe was extraordinary'

Join the discussion Is Pickle the cutest comeback story YOUve ever seen?

'The team worked so hard to nurse him back to health and his vet said she's never known a pony to test positive for salmonella as many times as he did.

'He very nearly didn't make it, but eventually turned a corner and started to recover.'

Following a multi-agency response Pickle was rescued from the site, along with a number of other horses.

According to World Horse Welfare Pickle's size worked in his favour enabling those caring for him to get him back on his feet more easily.

After completing a two week quarantine period, Pickle - who weighs 52 kg - was able to join the other horses and ponies on the main yard at Penny Farm Rescue.

Charlotte said: 'The contrast from that tiny foal who was too weak to stand and could barely breathe was extraordinary.'

Pickle has since made a best friend in his stablemate, a pony called Cheddar, who he enjoys grazing and playing in the field with.
Pauline Hanson has demanded the Albanese government invoke emergency powers and roll out temporary rationing as Australia's fuel crisis spirals out of control.

The One Nation leader called for the Liquid Fuel Emergency Act to be activated, with metropolitan areas the first to be hit by restrictions.

'When people in the cities can still get buses and trains, the priority must be ensuring food and farming supplies keep moving,' Hanson said on Wednesday.

She said distributors in rural areas were already struggling to meet basic daily needs, adding 'this is not fear-mongering'.

According to Hanson, some operators now faced impossible choices.

'Deliver to councils or deliver to local communities, but not both,' she said.

'We're getting calls from distributors who simply can't get enough fuel. Food won't be delivered. Machinery can't run. Farmers can't plant. Communities will go under.'

Hanson also questioned why prices continued rising if, as the government claims, supplies are already on Australian soil.

Pauline Hanson (pictured) called for the Liquid Fuel Emergency Act to be activated

Backing Hanson's concerns, One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce said the government had ignored repeated industry warnings about collapsing regional fuel networks.

He argued that new penalties introduced by the Albanese government for anti-competitive behaviour were 'meaningless' to global corporations.

'To BP, these fines are a business expense,' Joyce said.

'The independents have been clear, the current penalties do not deter anyone. The government needs to listen to the people who actually supply country areas.'

Hanson blasted both major parties for neglecting Australia's long-term fuel security.

'We're meant to have 90 days of fuel under international agreements. We don't. Japan has 200 days,' she said.

'We used to have up to a dozen refineries, now we have two.'

Hanson also ridiculed suggestions Australians should work from home to save fuel.

Pauline Hanson has demanded the Albanese government invoke emergency powers and roll out temporary rationing as Australia's fuel crisis spirals out of control

Barnaby Joyce (right) said that the government's new fines did not deter big fuel companies

'How does a truck driver work from home? How does an abattoir worker take a carcass back to their living room? It's absurd,' she said.

She claimed many small distributors are on the brink of collapse due to soaring tanker costs, shrinking credit from fuel companies and volatile wholesale prices.

The One Nation leader urged the government to consider underwriting independent operators to prevent regional supply from breaking down.

She accused Energy Minister Chris Bowen of withholding vital information about fuel availability and shipments, while fuel companies were 'gouging motorists with prices above $3 a litre despite official assurances of adequate stock'.

In Parliament on Wednesday, Bowen confirmed widespread shortages, but insisted the situation had eased since Tuesday in some areas.

In New South Wales, 187 stations were out of diesel and 32 had no stock at all.

Queensland had 55 bowsers empty, Victoria 134 with shortages, South Australia 49 affected, Western Australia 10 outages, and Tasmania one station without diesel.

Despite mounting pressure, Bowen insisted rationing remained 'the absolute worst-case' scenario and 'not on the agenda'.

He also ruled out purchase caps - such as limiting sales to $40 a day.

But Hanson said the government was 'sugar-coating the truth'.

'We need honesty from this government, and we need action, now,' she said.
Audio recovered from an Air Canada cockpit recorder points to the overlapping errors at LaGuardia International Airport in the minutes before the plane slammed into a firetruck.

Among the crucial errors revealed on Tuesday was that one air traffic controller granted permission for Flight 8646 from Montreal to land on Runway 4, while another controller cleared the firetruck to travel down the same runway.

The cockpit audio revealed that, after the initial miscommunication took place at around 11.40pm on Sunday, the truck's surface safety system also failed to trigger alerts for controllers.

There were two air traffic controllers working the tower at night: one local controller, and one controller in charge. One of them was also serving as a ground controller.

The controllers were left pleading with the firetruck to stop seconds before it crashed into the Bombardier CRJ-900, which was barreling down the runway at 150mph.

The impact killed both pilots onboard the aircraft and left 41 others injured.

'We rarely, if ever, investigate a major accident where it was one failure,' NTSB chairwoman Jennifer Homendy told The Wall Street Journal.

'Our aviation system is incredibly safe because there are multiple, multiple layers of defense built in to prevent an accident. So when something goes wrong, that means many, many things went wrong.'

National Transportation Safety Board investigators are now working to determine what may have caused the deadly crash, honing in on potential issues inside both the air traffic control tower and the firetruck at the scene.

Audio recovered from Air Canada Flight 8646's (pictured) cockpit recorder laid bare the miscommunication errors at New York's LaGuardia International Airport in the minutes before the plane slammed into a firetruck

National Transportation Safety Board investigators are also looking into the possibility that the firetruck (pictured) did not have a working transponder

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But Air Canada Flight 8646's descent into LaGuardia airport started off normally, the data from the cockpit recorder shows, according to senior aviation investigator Doug Brazy.

In the first two minutes and four seconds before the collision, the pilots followed procedure and radioed air traffic control for clearance to land.

An air traffic controller then responded that the flight was cleared to land on Runway 4, noting that it would be the second in line for landing on the runway.

About 30 seconds later, Air Canada's flight crew lowered the plane's landing gear, set its wing flaps for a final descent and confirmed the landing checklist was complete.

The two Port Authority firefighters who were responding to reports of a 'foul odor' on another plane then radioed the tower themselves with about one minute before impact.

But the transmission was 'stepped on'  meaning that either a microphone was turned on at the same time the firetruck radioed the tower or someone else was communicating on the same frequency, and the transmission was interrupted.

'That would be significant because it could mean somebody might not hear the other part of the communication,' Homendy said at a news conference on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Air Canada flight continued to descend, with one of the pilots informing air traffic control that it reached 500ft above ground level and was on a stable approach.

Just 14 seconds later, officials said, the controller asked which vehicle needed to cross the runway.

Someone inside the firetruck responded and the air traffic controller could then be heard clearing the emergency vehicle to 'cross Runway 4 at taxiway delta.'

Senior Aviation Accident Investigator Doug Brazy laid out the timeline of the Air Canada flight's final descent on Sunday night

It remains unclear whether it was the same air traffic controller that gave both the Air Canada plane and the firetruck the go-ahead to proceed to the runway. LaGuardia's air traffic control tower is pictured in 2011

At around the same time, inside the Air Canada cockpit, an enhanced ground proximity warning read out altitudes of 100, 50, 30, 20 and just 10ft above ground.

With just nine seconds left before impact, the air traffic controller seemed to realize his error and instructed the firetruck to stop.

One second later, the landing gear touched down on the runway, and soon, authorities said, First Officer Mackenzie Gunther transferred control of the aircraft to the captain, Antoine Forest.

As the plane then raced down the runway, the air traffic control tower could once again be heard instructing the firetruck to come to a stop before the recording comes to an abrupt end.

It now remains unclear whether it was the same air traffic controller that gave both the Air Canada plane and the firetruck the go-ahead to proceed to the runway.

Two controllers had been on duty at the time  with one managing active runways and LaGuardia's airspace, while the 'controller in charge' was responsible for the safety of operations.

One was also functioning as a 'ground controller,' directing all movement on taxiways rather than active runways, but Homendy said it was unclear which of the two controllers was handling that position.

She noted that it is a standard practice at LaGuardia, one of the nation's largest airports, to combine positions during the night shift.

The Air Canada flight barreled down the runway at 150mph Sunday night

The two controllers had been working a shift that typically starts at 10.30pm and lasts until 6.30am, when air traffic controllers have historically experienced fatigue.

'The midnight shift, as a reminder, is one that we have many times at the NTSB raised concerns about with respect to fatigue,' Homendy said.

'We have no indication that was a factor here, but it is a shift that we have been focused on in past investigations.'

At least one of the air traffic controllers then continued to work for several minutes after the deadly crash.

'Normally they would be relieved,' Homendy said during a press briefing. 'We have questions about that. Was anybody available to relieve that controller? We don't know that yet.'

Investigators are also looking into the possibility that the firetruck did not have a working transponder  which would have left controllers without a crucial alert about the danger on the runway.

An initial probe showed that the truck's Airport Surface Detection Equipment (ASDE-X) surface safety system failed to trigger alerts for controllers, Homendy said at the news conference.

The system, which would have allowed an airport controller to track movement of aircraft and vehicles, did not alert during the Sunday night collision between an Air Canada.

LaGuardia is one of 35 major US airports with an advanced surface surveillance system to help eliminate dangerous runway incursions and prevent crashes.

Controllers in these airports have an ASDE-X display in the tower that's supposed to show them the location of every plane and vehicle.

Just last May, the FAA urged airports that have advanced surface surveillance systems such as LaGuardia's to equip their vehicles with transponders.

Passengers flying out of New York's LaGuardia Airport have had to taxi past the still-visible wreckage

While the NTSB hasn't recommended that vehicles on airport grounds have transponders, they should be standard equipment, Homendy said.

'Air traffic controllers should know what's before them, whether it's on airport surface or in the airspace. They should have that information to ensure safety,' she said.

Asked about the lack of a transponder in the fire truck, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airport, said it was 'unable to comment due to the ongoing investigation.'

As the investigation into the fatal collision now continues, passengers landing at the New York airport were shocked to see the wreckage still sitting on the runway.

'At first I was just shocked at the proximity, it was right there. It's shocking, you land and it's the first thing you see when you're on the tarmac,' Sherrie Katanach, who flew in from Chicago, told The New York Post.

'That was unbelievable to me,' added Sherman Criner, who was returning from a longshoremen convention in New Orleans. 'I figured they would get that off the runway as quickly as possible, but from the plane you could see it still sitting there.'

Officials have said the scene will not be cleared until the completion of the NTSB probe.
A woman has filmed the distressing moment she was randomly approached by two strangers while she was sitting in her car.

Tillie Hart was applying her makeup while waiting for her sister when the first man approached her at Footscray Station, an inner-city suburb in Melbourne on Monday.

She said he walked past her car, repeatedly turning his head to stare at her.

'I'm literally sitting in my car,' she said.

'Why are you staring at me like I'm an animal in the zoo?'

A few moments later, a second stranger began staring into her car before taking out his phone and snapping a photo.

'What is happening in Footscray?' she said.

'He's literally taking a photo of me.'

The distressing moment a woman was confronted by a two strangers in quick succession has been caught on video

The man walked up to her window and asked if he could talk to her.

'Are you looking for somebody?' he said.

'I am probably the one you are looking for. Can I come to you. Are you going into the city?'

Ms Hart told him she was waiting for her sister before the man proceeded to ask her for a lift.

He kept pressing despite being rejected multiple times.

After asking for her name and being told it was Jennifer, the man asked for her phone number.

'Can I have your phone number? I'll call you next time when I have time,' he said.

Ms Hart politely asked him to delete the picture off his phone, but was met with disregard.

Tillie Hart was waiting in her car when the first man approached her at Footscray Station

'No, no, nothing,' he said.

'I show you nothing.'

Ms Hart said: 'I saw you take a photo, can you show me your phone please? Delete the photo please.'

When the man declined again, she said: 'I saw you take a photo of my car and I will report you to the police. They're literally around the corner.

'I have this all on video.'

She then said 'no no no' as the stranger began to walk away.

Ms Hart claimed his entire camera roll was filled with photos he had taken of other women.

'He just took a photo of me and he just showed me his camera and it's full of women,' she said.

Ms Hart reported one of the men to the police the following day (pictured, stores in Footscray)

'I don't know whether to laugh or cry.'

She also said she was glad her car locked automatically because he had attempted to get in.

Ms Hart reported him to the police the following day.

Social media users were horrified by her experience.

'Im so sorry you experienced that, this shouldnt happen no matter where you are,' one said.

'That was so messed up to even watch happen,' a second said.

'I hope you were able to enjoy the rest of your weekend.'

'Thats really violating Im so sorry. Sending you love, that was just insanely horrible,' another said.
A truck driver who's been stranded in the Outback for more than two days while waiting on fuel has called for the government to get its act together amid the oil crisis.

Robert Cook has been stuck 100km from Bordertown, a remote community near the border of South Australia and Victoria, since 9pm on Tuesday.

'I'm sitting at a service station just waiting for a fuel truck to arrive, which hopefully will be tonight,' Mr Cook told Daily Mail. 'This is the second time it's happened to me this week.'

The flow of oil globally has been slowed this month after Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route, following joint US-Israeli attacks on the country.

In a video, Mr Cook showed he spent the last 500km looking in vain for a service station with enough fuel to fill his truck before he frustratingly had to pull in at his current stop.

Mr Cook is the owner of Helco Group, a heavy haulage and long-distance trucking company, but issues in the truck industry over the last six months have seen him pick up jobs on Loadshift, a freelance trucking service.

He was driving a shipment from Perth to Melbourne across the Australian Outback for Loadshift when he began suffering the delays caused by the ongoing fuel shortage.

The first time he was stranded was in Ceduna, a remote town on South Australia's coast about 1,830km east of Perth.

Robert Cook (above) has spent 2.5 days waiting for fuel deliveries while trucking from Perth to Melbourne

Mr Cook recalled seeing seven other trucks waiting for fuel at his first delay and four (above) at the second

He and several other truck drivers were stuck at a service station for 12 hours while waiting for a fuel delivery.

'There were seven of us truckies in Ceduna and there's four of us in Bordertown,' Mr Cook said.

'Then there's the guys that are coming in, seeing there's no fuel and driving onto the next place.

'For me, I had to stop because I only had a quarter of a tank left so I didn't want to risk it. Now I'm sitting here until I can fill up again and continue my journey.'

He added the service stations were both full of 'big trucks' carrying everything from oil to cattle, machinery and cars.

Data released by NSW and Victorian governments on Wednesday revealed more than 500 service stations had run out of at least one type of fuel, in those two states alone.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen on Tuesday had confirmed at least 600 service stations across Australia had run dry.

Mr Cook said the continuous fuel delays had cost him on this trip alone more than two-and-a-half days travel time.

Mr Cook, and several other truck drivers, were forced to wait at rural service stations for fuel deliveries

'I'm trying to look at the positives - hopefully this is a learning curve for everybody,' he said.

'I think a lot of people will be more resilient if they take lessons from this.

'We need to stop being so carefree and thinking everything's always going to be at our fingertips,' he said of the fuel shortage.

Loadshift's Operations Coordinator, Alex Randall, said his company has spent weeks warning the government about the exact issue Mr Cook is now facing.

'Drivers are out there keeping the country moving and they're being left high and dry, literally. There's no system telling them which servos have fuel and which don't. They're driving blind,' Mr Randall said.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen has repeatedly said there is not a fuel shortage in Australia, despite the flow of oil to Asian refineries that supply it 'slowing'.

Adding insult to injury, truck drivers are paying double on their trips.

Since the Albanese Government scrapped the truck fuel excise exemption in 2022, truck drivers have had to pay tax on fuel.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen has recently appointed a fuel tsar to oversee the supply of fuel

Mr Cook's trip from Perth to Melbourne has doubled in the last month alone from around $5,000 to $10,000.

'This is why we're calling for the diesel excise to be suspended immediately,' Mr Randall said.

'The government is collecting more than 50 cents a litre in excise on a resource drivers can't even find.

'Rob's sitting on the side of the road in outback SA right now because a servo ran dry. He's not the first and he won't be the last.'

On top of that, poor planning means trucks are burning fuel while returning home from jobs without loads.

'A third of trucks on Australian roads are running empty at any given time. We're rationing fuel, releasing emergency reserves, lowering standards  and meanwhile trucks are burning diesel with nothing on the back,' Mr Randall said.

'Every empty return leg is wasted fuel that Rob and drivers like him desperately need right now.'

'That's why Loadshift exists. Rob uses our platform to build continuous loops across the country so his truck is always carrying a paying load. Brisbane to Darwin to Broome to Perth and back. No empty kilometres.

'When diesel is ten grand a trip, you can't afford to waste a single litre.'

Daily Mail has contacted the Department of Energy for comment.
A police force has demanded 900,000 from the government in a row over the costs from Donald Trump's state visit to Windsor Castle.

Thames Valley's police and crime commissioner, Matthew Barber, said the Home Office has refused to reimburse his force for officers' time that was dedicated to the event.

Trump and first lady Melania were hosted by the King for two days at Windsor Castle in September last year, with Thames Valley Police (TVP) responsible for its policing.

The force redeployed officers from across the region in order to meet the complicated security demands.

Mr Barber said he was 'disappointed' by the government's refusal to repay the force, and revealed he had been attempting to claw back the money for several months.

It comes after the government agreed to repay the local council's costs incurred during the same visit.

The Home Office insisted the force would receive 'reimbursement for their additional costs' - though there is a dispute over whether this should include payment for officers' time.

Mr Barber said the force had been 'short changed' by more than 900,000.

Donald Trump was hosted by King Charles at Windsor Castle for state visit in September

Officers from Thames Valley Police (pictured) were redeployed from across the region to provide security at the complicated event

Matthew Barber, Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley Police, said his force had been 'short changed' by more than 900,000

He told the BBC: 'We know that state visits at Windsor are likely to continue to increase whilst Buckingham Palace undergoes refurbishment and these policing costs, with officers being taken away from their normal duties to police state visits of national significance, should not have to be picked up by local taxpayers.'

The government has agreed to reimburse the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead around 350,000 for costs related to hosting recent state visits.

The council had a similar row with the government after hosting the presidents of America, France and Germany last year.

It had threatened to withdraw support for the state visit of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, which unfolded earlier this month, with the government eventually relenting and paying back the money.

While the Foreign Office is responsible for covering most of the costs of a state visit, such as accommodation, internal transport and meals for the visiting delegation, the council is generally expected to fund road closures and stewarding.

Deputy leader of the council Lynne Jones said at the start of the month she was 'really pleased' with the outcome.

Mr Barber argued the refusal to pay TVP for officers' time was 'in contradiction' to the treatment of the council.

The force will still receive funding for some additional expenses under national arrangements.

A Home Office spokesperson said: 'We and the police have longstanding arrangements in place to ensure state visits are run safely and securely, while regular policing continues across communities.

'Thames Valley Police will receive reimbursement for their additional costs linked to state visits, and these will be recovered through standard majorevent procedures.'
A British woman was left fighting for her life with severe injuries from a hotel balcony fall in Thailand.

Beth Klug, from Grimsby, Lincolnshire, had returned to her hotel room before plunging from the fourth-floor balcony in 'Sin City' Pattaya, in the early hours of March 15.

The holidaymaker is said to have broken her back 'in 24 places' as she landed on a concrete plant box. She was unable to move her arms.

Paramedics found her groaning in pain while lying on shrubs on the side of the 22-storey building. Officers were unsure whether she had been drinking that night.

Beth was taken to the hospital as her friends in the UK try to raise funds for her treatment and repatriation.

A hotel security guard said: 'While I was on duty, I heard a sound like a large object falling and hitting the bushes.

'I rushed to investigate and found a human body that had fallen and was crying for help. I then immediately notified the authorities.'

Police said they were reviewing CCTV footage to determine the exact cause of the accident.

A British tourist was left fighting for her life with severe injuries from a hotel balcony fall in Thailand

Beth Klug, from Grimsby, Lincolnshire, had returned to her hotel room before plunging from the fourth-floor balcony in 'Sin City' Pattaya, in the early hours of March 15



A police report is required for the travel insurance companies.

Beth's friend, Kim Lyall, said: 'Beth has insurance, but they need the police report before they start paying. The embassy has been involved in hurrying things up.

'She's in a lot of pain as you can imagine. She can't move her arms at all. They shattered. So let's just pray we get her home soon.

'She's still a young lass on her own in a foreign hospital, laid up in pain.. People need to show some compassion.'

Pal Anna Mohammed visited Beth in her ward at Pattaya.

She said: 'Beth is seriously injured in the hospital. She needs medical help as soon as possible.

'We're trying to locate funds to get her home. Her back is broken in 24 places, she's unable to use her hands, she has severe injuries, she's in serious pain.'

Pattaya has become the country's flagship tourist destination, fuelled by the allure of bars, massage parlours, and cheap sex.

It has been dubbed a 'p*rno Disneyland' by some Brits, who can find relationships and experiences not easily available in their homeland.

However, the region is now often seen as tarnishing the wider image of Thailand as a family-friendly holiday destination with stunning beaches, food and a rich history.
Donald Trump has said Pete Hegseth is 'disappointed' about negotiations with Iran a day after he suggested the conflict was the Secretary of War's idea.

'You know the only two people who were quite disappointed, I don't want to say this but I have to - Pete and General "Raizin" Caine,' Trump said, referencing the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday at the Oval Office, the US leader added: 'Pete didn't want [the war] to be settled.'

Meanwhile, the Secretary of War doubled down on his insistence that strikes must continue, saying that the United States 'negotiates with bombs.'

Speaking at the same conference, Hegseth claimed that it was the first time in history that a modern military had been so destroyed.

He said: 'The air campaign we've conducted was one for the history books.

'Never in history has a modern military been so rapidly and historically obliterated, defeated, from day one with overwhelming firepower.'

He added: 'The President has made it clear that you will not have a nuclear weapon. The war department agrees, our job is to ensure that. We are keeping our hand on that throttle as long and as hard as is necessary to ensure that the interests of the United States of America are achieved on that battlefield.'

Speaking at a press conference at the Oval Office, the US leader added: 'Pete didn't want [the war] to be settled'

Hegseth claimed that it was the first time in history that a modern military had been so destroyed

This comes just one day after Trump appeared to shift blame onto Hegseth as the US President suggested his Secretary of War came up with the idea of striking Iran.

Speaking Monday at a conference in Tennessee, Trump said: 'I called a lot of our great people... and I said, "Let's talk. We got a problem in the Middle East. We have a country known as Iran that, for 47 years, has been just a purveyor of terror, and they're close to a nuclear weapon."'

Turning to Hegseth who was sitting to his right, Trump added: 'And Pete, I think you were the first one to speak up. And you said, "Let's do it, because you can't let them have a nuclear weapon."'

The defense secretary forced an awkward smile as the US President continued discussing ongoing talks with Iran, claiming they had 'started last night'.

'I think they're very good. They want peace to  they've agreed they will not have a nuclear weapon, you know etc., etc., but we'll see. You have to get it done. But I would say there's a very good chance,' Trump said.

On Monday, Trump announced a five-day halt to US strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure while pursuing back-channel talks with Tehran through intermediaries, signaling he may be looking for a way out.

But despite the dialogue with Tehran, the US is considering deploying around 3,000 troops to support a possible ground invasion, joining thousands of Marines already dispatched to the Middle East.

While giving an update at the press conference on Tuesday, Trump was asked what made him start pursuing a ceasefire when he previously spoke of wanting to continue bombing Iran.

'They're talking to us, and they're talking sense,' the President replied.

He explained that the priority of the conflict was to ensure Iran didn't build a nuclear weapon.

'I don't want to say in advance, but they've agreed they will never have a nuclear weapon,' Trump said.

When the President was asked if he planned to send envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to conduct direct negotiations with Iran, Trump answered that the US was already doing just that.

'We're in negotiations right now. They're doing it along with Marco, JD. We have a number of people doing it. And the other side, I can tell you, they'd like to make a deal,' Trump said.

The defense secretary forced an awkward smile as the US President continued discussing ongoing talks with Iran, claiming they had 'started last night'

A plume of smoke rises after an explosion in Tehran, Iran

Trump has been cagey about who the US is speaking to in Iran, as droves of leaders of the Islamic Regime have been killed in the joint Israeli and US strikes.

'We killed all their leadership and then they met to choose new leaders and we killed all of them. And now we have a new group and we can easily do that but let's see how they turn out,' Trump said.

The President continued to refuse to name names, but he said Iranian leaders the US is dealmaking with gave the country a 'present.'

'They did something yesterday that was amazing. Actually, they gave us a present and the present arrived today and it was a very big present, worth a tremendous amount of money,' Trump said.

'And I'm not going to tell you what that present is, but it was a very significant prize and they gave it to us.'

Trump said that gesture signaled one thing to him. 'We're dealing with the right people,' he stated.

When a reporter guessed that it was nuclear related, Trump pushed back.

'It was oil and gas related and it was a very nice thing they did,' the President said.

Another reporter asked if the 'present' was related to the Strait of Hormuz, the major shipping lane where Iran has been mounting attacks.

'Yeah, it was related to the flow and to the strait, yeah,' Trump answered.

Despite Trump's claims, Iran targeted American military bases in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain on Wednesday in a fresh missile salvo.

In a statement carried by Iranian media, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said the targets are 'in the heart of the occupied territories' as it renewed attacks on Gulf states.

Drones hit a fuel tank and sparked a fire at Kuwait International Airport, the Gulf state's civil aviation authority said, causing 'limited' damage.

In Bahrain, the interior ministry said air raid sirens were activated, while Jordan's public security directorate reported shrapnel fell near the capital Amman, resulting in no casualties or damage.

Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted at least four drones in the kingdom's east.

Iranian military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaghari mocked Trump over his latest remarks, suggesting the US is 'negotiating with yourselves'.

'The one claiming to be a global superpower would have already gotten out of this mess if it could,' he said.

Smoke rises from Kuwait international airport after a drone strike on fuel storage in Kuwait City, on March 25

Meanwhile, Trump has apparently sent Iran a 15-point plan to end the war.

The New York Times, quoting unnamed officials, said that the United States had sent the propsoal to Iran through Pakistan after the country's prime minister offered to host US-Iran talks.

Israel's Channel 12 said that Trump was proposing a one-month ceasefire during which the sides would discuss a proposal that would include handing over Iran's enriched uranium and banning further enrichment.

Iran would also ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran in turn would see an end to all sanctions, which have been in place in various forms for years, the Israeli report said.

Iran would also receive assistance in developing civil nuclear energy at Bushehr, a key site which dates from before the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Donald Trump has tonight threatened to 'unleash hell' on Iran, after the nation threatened to escalate the war by launching attacks in a second major oil route, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, in retaliation for a US invasion of Kharg Island.

Speaking on the US leader's behalf, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: 'President Trump does not bluff, and he is prepared to unleash hell. Iran should not miscalculate again. Their last miscalculation cost them their senior leadership, their navy, their air force and their air defence systems.

'Any violence beyond this point will be because the Iranian regime refuses to understand they have already been defeated and refuse to come to a deal.'

She added: 'The presidents preference is always peace. There does not need to be any more death and destruction.

'But if Iran fails to accept the reality of the current moment, if they fail to understand that they have been defeated militarily and will continue to be, president Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before.'

It comes after an unnamed insider told the state-backed Tasnim news agency that Tehran could open up a new front in the strait where the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have previously carried out attacks.

Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi has already signalled the group is prepared to join the war, declaring 'all options at the military level are possible while affirming support for Iran, Lebanon and Palestine.

Meanwhile Iran is claiming it is hunting US soldiers hiding out across the Middle East after drone and missile attacks on American military bases, it has been reported.

Iranian military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaqari has called on people in the Gulf states to report hideouts and demand their expulsion, according to remarks attributed to Iranian media outlets.

'Considering that all American bases in the region have been destroyed, American commanders and soldiers have fled and taken refuge in hideouts outside the bases, and we are searching for them,' Zolfaqari is cited as saying.

It comes as Tehran rejects a 15-point peace proposal put forward by Donald Trump after it was passed by Pakistan earlier today. In a counter proposal, Iran has set out five conditions to end the war which include authority over the Strait of Hormuz and 'concrete guarantees' there will be no future attacks.

Follow the latest updates from the US-Israel war with Iran
Ahmed al Ahmed has been awarded a 'Key to the City' and lifetime Waverley Beach Pass, which gives him free waterfront parking to some of Sydney's best beaches, in recognition of his bravery during the Bondi massacre.

Waverley Council, which oversees Bondi, handed Mr Al Ahmed his award on Wednesday night.

He and two other men, Gefen Bitton and Leibel Lazaroff, have been applauded as heroes for risking their lives to help others during the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on December 14 that claimed 15 innocent lives.

It's alleged Naveed Akram and his father, Sajid Akram, opened fire on a Jewish festival celebrating the first night of Hanukkah. Sajid was fatally shot by police and Naveed remains in custody ahead of his trial.

Mr Al Ahmed has been widely recognised for wrestling a gun from Sajid during the six-minute attack.

Mr Bitton had also run to Mr Al Ahmed's side to confront Sajid. He has not returned to Australia to receive his award after being medically evacuated to Israel.

Mr Lazaroff assisted Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who died during the attack, in helping critically wounded NSW Police Constable Scott Dyson after he was shot. He received his award from Waverley Council in February.

When presenting Mr Al Ahmed with his award on Wednesday, Mayor Will Nemesh described the hero's actions as 'a guiding light to prevail against the darkness'.

Ahmed Al Ahmed (right0 was presented with a Key to the City and a lifetime Waverley Beach Pass in recognition of his bravery during the December 14 shooting

Mr Al Ahmed (above) wrestled a gun from shooter Sajid Akram during the shooting at Bondi Beach

'Amid scenes of unthinkable horror, Ahmed ran towards grave danger to save countless innocent people, physically disarming one of the shooters and forcing him to retreat,' Mr Nemesh said, the Daily Telegraph reported.

'The entire Waverley community is incredibly thankful to him.

'These gestures we present today symbolise our never-ending gratitude. This gratitude can never be enough.'

NSW Premier Chris Minns appeared in the ceremony via video message and thanked Mr Al Ahmed for showing 'the nation and also the world what true Australian courage looks like'.

'Without a second thought and without a sense of your own self-preservation, you put your own life at risk to save people that you've never met before,' he said.

'So today we remember everyone affected by this terrible crime. We know your story will continue to bring hope and togetherness as our community heals.'

The only other lifetime Waverley Beach Pass to be presented before Mr Al Ahmed's was that given to Mr Lazaroff in February.

'You will forever have a place within Waverley, as you personify bravery and selflessness in their truest forms,' Mayor Nemesh said.

Mr Al Ahmed was presented the awards on Wednesday night

Mr Al Ahmed (second left) was praised for showing 'the nation and also the world what true Australian courage looks like'

'In the face of evil and immediate danger, you risked your life, placing your own safety in peril.

'When confronted with hatred in its worst form, you acted with heroism and unflinching resolve.'

'We pray for a timely and full recovery from your injuries. May your actions continue to serve as a beacon of courage.'
Radical Iranian army chiefs bent on continuing the war will start assassinating their own higher-level officials if they continue to negotiate on Donald Trump's terms, an expert has claimed.

Iran's veteran Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and a host of other top Revolutionary Guards commanders have been killed in US-Israeli strikes, but the ruling system has maintained its ability to operate in the conflict that began on February 28.

Hooshang Amirahmadi, the founder and president of the American Iranian Council, said that while around 150 members of the regime's top brass have been eliminated, a new generation of younger officers have entered the scene and are 'increasingly in charge'.

With Khamenei killed in one of the first strikes of the war, the 'vertical power structure' of the Islamic Republic has collapsed into a 'horizontal structure', giving more military agency to hardline second rank officers who are resistant to peace.

'If until yesterday Israel or America was killing these big generals, from now on I would not be surprised if some of these generals or these establishment powers could be eliminated by these second rank revolutionary officers, that de facto have taken power in their hands,' Amirahmadi told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme.

The US President has in recent days touted 'very good and productive' talks with Tehran, with unconfirmed reports indicating Washington has handed over a 15-point peace plan, including Iran dismantling nuclear facilities in exchange for lifting of sanctions.

But the Islamic Republic has denied that a peace process is taking place, with a military spokesman insisting that the US is 'negotiating with itself', adding: 'Someone like us will never come to terms with someone like you.'

It comes as the chief executive of Shell said that Europe risks fuel shortages as soon as next month if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, with the global oil and gas squeeze already forcing parts of Asia to cut energy consumption - producing a 'ripple effect' that will soon spread west.

Radical Iranian army chiefs bent on continuing the war will start assassinating their own higher-level officials if they continue to negotiate on Donald Trump's terms, an expert has claimed

Iran's veteran Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and a host of other top Revolutionary Guards commanders have been killed in US-Israeli strikes, but the ruling system has maintained its ability to operate in the conflict that began on February 28

Rocket trails are seen in the sky above the Israeli coastal city of Netanya amid a fresh barrage of Iranian missile attacks on March 25

The power structure of the Islamic regime has always been relatively decentralised, Amirahmadi explained, citing how each one of Iran's 31 provinces is governed by its own Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officials.

But now that Khamenei and most of his generals have been assassinated, 'this dencentralised political structure has been expanded, and the power, particularly in the military, has been widely distributed', with each officer in his own territory in charge of ordering retaliatory strikes.

Establishment figures from the old order under the former Ayatollah are still present, but they have no real power over lower-level regional colonels, galvanised by war, he added.

When Trump announced a peace process was taking place, the remaining brass immediately denied talks were happening, 'because these people are very afraid of the younger revolutionary officers who have taken the field in their hands'.

Israel and Iran continued to exchange strikes last night, with the IDF saying it had attacked two key sites used to develop long-range naval cruise missiles in the capital Tehran.

In Lebanon, Israeli strikes killed at least six people in the southern Sidon area on Wednesday, with the health ministry saying four people died in an 'Israeli enemy raid' on the town of Adloun, and another two in an apartment in the Mieh Mieh refugee camp.

The boss of the world's largest asset manager has warned that the world faces a 'stark and steep recession' with years of $150-a-barrel oil prices alongside 'profound economic implications' due to the Iran war.

The closure of the Persian Gulf channel, which carries about one-fifth of the world's gas and crude supply, has pushed Brent crude prices to their highest levels in nearly four years - at one point reaching nearly $120 a barrel.

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Smoke and flames rise at the site of airstrikes on an oil depot in Tehran on March 7

Massive explosions over Tel Aviv as Iran launches surgical missile strike, February 28

BlackRock boss Larry Fink said it was too early to determine the outcome of the conflict, but told the BBC there were two possible scenarios.

If the conflict ends soon, then oil prices could return to their pre-conflict level at around $70.

But If the war is drawn out, or if there is a cessation and 'yet Iran remains a threat, a threat to trade, a threat to the Strait of Hormuz, a threat to this peaceful coexistence of the GCC region, then I would argue that we could have years of above $100 closer to $150 oil which has profound implications in the economy'.

While Trump may want to de-escalate the conflict to stabilise energy prices, prices are still hovering at $100 as markets grow increasingly unconvinced the war will end soon.

'We will have global recession,' Fink claimed, when asked what would happen if oil stays at $150 a barrel as the Middle East crisis deepens.

With fuel shortages looming, Wael Sawan warned that European governments may need to urgently curb energy demand - a measure not taken since the 2022 crisis amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Two British men have been arrested over an 'antisemitic arson attack' in Golders Green that saw volunteer ambulances firebombed.

Six fire engines and 40 firefighters rushed to Highfield Road, near the Machzike Hadath synagogue in Golders Green, at around 1.45am on Monday to put out the flames. No one was injured.

Scotland Yard said that two men, aged 47 and 45, both British nationals, had been arrested by counter-terror detectives this morning at addresses in north west London on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.

They are currently being held in custody at a police station in London where they will be quizzed.

The four ambulances set ablaze were provided by the volunteer-run Jewish organisation Hatzola, which provides free emergency medical response and transportation to hospitals.

The Metropolitan Police is believed to be hunting for a third suspect and has vowed 'to identify and seek to arrest all of those who may have been involved'.

Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, which is leading the investigation, said: 'We have been working around the clock since this appalling attack took place and this has led to these arrests being made this morning.

'This appears to be an important breakthrough in the investigation, but we're also mindful that CCTV footage of the incident suggests there were at least three people involved.

Four ambulances were set on fire in the Jewish community of Golders Green in London on Monday

Chilling footage showed three hooded figures pouring accelerant on the vehicle

'We fully recognise the local community will still be concerned and our investigation very much remains active and we will continue to work to identify and seek to arrest all of those who may have been involved.

'I'd like to thank the public and particularly the local Jewish community in the area for their continued support and reiterate our appeal to anyone who might have information that could assist with the investigation to get in touch with us.'

An Islamist militant group linked to Iran has claimed responsibility for the attack, along with a string of other firebombings across Europe.

But security experts have said there is no evidence to verify the claim by Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia.

The Met Police told the Daily Mail today that establishing any potential motivation behind the attack is part of its ongoing investigation.

But a spokesman for the force said it would not be commenting further at the current time when asked if detectives were still trying to verify whether Ashab al-Yamin was behind the attack.

The force of the blasts, believed to be gas canisters onboard the Hatzola ambulances, caused windows to break in a nearby block of flats.

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.

The synagogue, which is one of the oldest in Europe, had its roof damaged and stained glass windows smashed in the fire.

Sir Keir Starmer condemned the 'deeply shocking' attack and said earlier this week that his '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,' the PM said.

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.'

Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who leads policing in North West London, said an 'enhanced, bespoke policing plan and activity' would continue in 'vulnerable areas' across London in the coming days and weeks.

Three of the community ambulances were left in pieces and burned out after fires triggered explosions inside the vehicles

'This includes specialist officers and capability being deployed alongside local officers to help protect certain locations and will also involve highly visible armed police patrols to serve as a deterrent to anyone seeking to cause our communities harm,' DCS Williams said.

'I must stress that these are precautionary and not in response to any specific threat, and we continue to work alongside our colleagues in Counter Terrorism policing to support their investigation.

'We will also continue to work closely with local communities and our partners to listen to their concerns and respond to these.'

The Met has stepped up firearms patrols to protect the Jewish community, sending an additional 264 officers to work alongside existing neighbourhood police deployed to 'vulnerable locations'.

The force will also be utilising drones, and Scotland Yard chief Sir Mark Rowley has announced a strengthened protective security plan for Jewish schools, synagogues and community centres ahead of Passover.

The Government has pledged to fund replacements for the ambulances as well as immediate health support.

King Charles this week became a patron of Jewish charity The Community Security Trust (CST) in the wake of the firebomb attack.

The charity monitors antisemitism and provides protection for Jewish communities in the UK.

Speaking at the annual CST dinner on Monday night, Sir Mark warned 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: 'Britain's Jewish community has in recent years been increasingly targeted by individuals, groups and hostile states, intent on spreading fear, hate and harm. This volatile mix is at the front of my mind given events of today.'

'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.'

He continued: '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.'
Have YOU been told not to stop shoplifters?

Supermarket staff have been told they may face the sack if they challenge shoplifters brazenly walking out of stores with stolen goods.

Employees at the Co-op are understood to have received advice from bosses telling them not to intervene if they spot thieves raiding the shelves.

The move has been branded 'ridiculous' by staff who say people will now know they can just 'fill their bags and walk out without paying'.

One worker, who is based at a Co-op store in west London, said he has seen thieves help themselves to goods worth hundreds of pounds.

He added that it is often repeat offenders who come back to the same shop again and again to steal.

The employee, who is aged in his 20s but wished to remain anonymous, said staff have been told 'laying a finger' on the shoplifters is now a sackable offence.

Terrifying footage shows a machete-wielding gang robbing a Co-op store in London in February 2024

Shameless thieves were caught stuffing Deliveroo bags with alcohol with staff saying they have been told not to stop them

'We have to stand and watch,' he added in comments made to The Sun.

The Co-op was hit by more than 300,000 cases of shoplifting and abuse in 2023, with staff being targeted up to 1,000 times a day.

The supermarket chain said incidents at its stores had soared by 44 per cent in 2023 compared with 2022.

One piece of shocking footage shows a gang of machete-wielding thugs raiding a Co-op store in London.

The gang of three masked men, clad in black, were seen leaping over a counter wielding the weapons and grabbing packs of cigarettes and vapes in February 2024.

Staff were threatened by the criminals and there was also a store worker behind the kiosk when the raid began.

And on another occasion, a shop worker at a Co-op store in Dorset was attacked when she saw a thief steal a pastry and two bottles of alcohol.

She was then bottled by a shoplifter.

Charlene Corbin, 28, shared pictures of her gruesome head wound to highlight the danger retailers face from increasingly brazen and violent thieves.

She said: 'I grabbed my head and went back inside the store. I started to feel slightly faint and then I fell to my knees.'

One suspected shoplifter was filmed being chased through a Co-op store in Edgeley near Stockport, Greater Manchester

Meanwhile, staff at Waitrose have also been told not to intervene after thieves were caught stuffing bottles of alcohol into Deliveroo bags.

Shocking footage from September last year shows a pair of young men in hoods and balaclavas stealing at least 13 bottles in 45 seconds.

They brazenly walked out of the shop, heading straight past the checkout with the stolen items.

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick shared the clip online and criticised Labour by saying it had lost control of Britain's streets.

He said: 'This is the reality of Sadiq Khan's London. It's a complete and utter disgrace.

'And Labour are about to make this even worse by scrapping prison sentences for shoplifters.'

Store security guard Craig Wincarr said employees are instructed not to stop them.

He told The Sun: 'They basically come in most evenings and go for the alcohol and it boils my blood.

'We can't do anything about it as we're told not to tackle them. We're basically here as a deterrent for middle-class chancers, not professionals. I feel like a lemon these days.'

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Recent figures show that Britain is currently in the grip of a shoplifting epidemic with a record 810 offences going unsolved every day.

Police closed 295,589 shoplifting cases without identifying a suspect in 2024 to 2025 - the equivalent of officers shelving 34 offences an hour.

Shoplifting levels have doubled since the pandemic and rocketed by 20 per cent since Labour came into power.

And new analysis, produced for the Liberal Democrats, has revealed how a record number of cases are being dropped by police.

The number of shoplifting investigations being closed without a suspect identified has soared by 65 per cent compared to five years ago when 178,906 shoplifting offences went unsolved.

Last year, fewer than one in five (19 per cent) shoplifting cases led to a suspect being charged or summoned, while 55 per cent of cases were closed without a suspect being identified.

And separate Office for National Statistics figures show that between April 2024 and March 2025, police recorded 530,643 shoplifting offences - the equivalent of one a minute.

A spokesperson for the Co-op said: 'Safety is always our first priority, as too often retail crime can be a trigger for violence and abuse, so we ask our store colleagues not to put themselves in harm's way, with the sole aim of protecting them.

'We have been a leading voice in campaigning for stronger protection for shopworkers which resulted in a new law to make abusing a shop worker an offence.

'Overall retail crime at Co-op last year, following our continued investment in preventative security measures and partnerships with local police forces, plus increased police attendance and Government action.'
Seven dogs led home by a Corgi dubbed 'Big Fatty' have captured global attention after trekking miles together across China - sparking calls for their real-life adventure to be turned into a film.

The animals moved as a tight-knit pack, trotting along a highway in Changchun, Jilin province, with 'Big Fatty' repeatedly turning back to check none were left behind.

For two days, the dogs stuck together as they made their way back across the freezing landscape, crossing open ground and skirting busy roads on their journey home.

Clips of the group racked up more than 230million views online as the story quickly took on a life of its own.

On social media, comparisons were drawn to adventure classics like The Great Escape and Homeward Bound, as viewers said the scenes looked ready-made for the big screen.

'Need the animated movie version of this,' wrote filmmaker Matthew A. Cherry on X. Another commentator added: 'Pixar, I'm looking at you to make this a movie.' Others joked the dogs' journey resembled a real-life Paw Patrol.

The group - including a German shepherd, Golden Retrievers, Labradors and a Pekingese -surrounded an injured companion as they made their way along the road in what viewers described as a 'band of brothers'.

Many were moved by the way the dogs stayed together and refused to leave an injured companion behind.

Seven dogs whose extraordinary journey home went viral have sparked calls for their story to be turned into a film

Social media users compared the real-life tale to adventure classics like The Great Escape and Homeward Bound, saying the scenes looked ready-made for the big screen

Authorities in Jilin said the incident showed how quickly online speculation can spread, after unverified claims about theft were widely shared

The footage sparked widespread concern, with many fearing the dogs had been snatched after claims they had escaped from a truck linked to a dog meat shop.

But the heartwarming tale that gripped millions was not quite what it first seemed.

Local officials later said the animals had wandered off on their own, likely following a German Shepherd that was on heat.

The dogs, owned by three households in the same village, had been reported missing, prompting volunteers to launch a search using drones and door-to-door enquiries amid freezing temperatures.

All seven later made their way back home between March 18 and 19, reuniting with their owners after travelling around ten miles, according to early reports.

One owner said his German shepherd and Golden retriever had returned safely, adding: 'We are so lucky they came back, not to be eaten,' reflecting earlier fears.

Another praised her Corgi, 'Big Fatty', saying his intelligence helped lead the group back.

Some netizens joked that the dogs' adventure could be turned into a film, or a real life version of Paw Patrol, a Canadian cartoon for children about a boy and his pack of rescue dogs.

'Watching this made me want to cry. Dogs are humans' friends forever,' wrote one Weibo user.

One person wrote: 'Their journey could be the premise for a movie. The Golden Retriever positioned itself closest to traffic to shield the others.

'The Corgi kept checking back to ensure no one was left behind. The German shepherd, showing natural leadership, remained central like a general.'

Others joked the dogs' journey resembled a real-life Paw Patrol, as clips of the group racked up more than 230million views online

As well as film posters, fans of the dogs created AI images depicting their journey home

Some fans even went managed to create their own Pixar-movie-like animated images

Another fan created this cute image of the dogs

Pictured: An AI image inspired by the story

Another added: 'Dogs exemplify loyalty to their companions; humans who harm them show far less humanity.'

A third said: 'Dogs are our most devoted friends and deserve protection and nurturing. It is crucial to establish an animal protection law as soon as possible,' added a third.

In China, dog theft is a criminal offence, with penalties including fines or imprisonment depending on the animal's value.

Chinese law does not explicitly prohibit the consumption of dog meat, although Shenzhen became one of the first mainland cities to ban the eating of cats and dogs in 2020.

Despite the controversy, some dog meat restaurants still operate in northern China.

During the long, harsh winters, some locals believe eating dog meat provides warmth and sustenance.

The Dalian Animal Protection Association said dog farms are rare because raising dogs is costly.

For many traders, stray animals and stolen pets are the cheapest and easiest source of meat.

Cities including Changchun, Harbin and Dalian have reported numerous cases of pet dogs being stolen.
Keir Starmer has urged 'deescalation' in the Iran war in talks with Mohammed bin Salman  amid claims the Saudi leader has been pushing for the conflict to continue.

The Prime Minister spoke with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia last night as the Middle East crisis stretches into a fourth week.

Downing Street said Sir Keir and Prince Mohammed, known as MBS, 'discussed the need for deescalation' while the PM 'updated on planning' over the Strait of Hormuz.

Their call came just hours after reports emerged that MBS has been pushing for Donald Trump to ramp up the US-Israeli assault on Iran.

Sources told the New York Times the Saudi leader, who is close to the US President, has argued the conflict is an 'historic opportunity' to remake the Middle East.

He is said to have urged Mr Trump to press for the destruction of the Iranian regime, including through the deployment of American troops on the ground.

MBS has suggested the US should consider putting forces in Iran to seize energy infrastructure and force Tehran's government out of power, the newspaper reported.

The Saudi leader is said to have argued Iran poses a long-term threat to the Gulf that can only be eliminated by getting rid of its hard-line regime.

Sources told the New York Times that Mohammed bin Salman, who is close to Donald Trump, has argued the Iran conflict is an 'historic opportunity' to remake the Middle East

The Prime Minister spoke with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia last night as the Middle East crisis stretches into a fourth week

MBS has been the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia since 2017 and is known for his ruthlessness, including his alleged role in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Since launching the US-Israeli strikes against Iran, Mr Trump has swung erratically between suggesting the war could end soon and signalling it could escalate.

In a readout of Sir Keir's call with MBS on Tuesday night, No 10 said the PM had 'reiterated the UK's unwavering support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia',

A Downing Street spokesman said: 'Iran's ongoing attacks, including on critical national infrastructure, were appalling, the PM added.

'The PM reiterated the UK's unwavering support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and updated on the deployment of further UK defensive military equipment.

'The leaders discussed the need for deescalation, and the PM updated on planning around the Strait of Hormuz.

'Following the UK-led joint statement last week, the UK was now working with partners on what a viable plan could look like to ensure the flow of goods through the key maritime route, the PM said.

'The leaders agreed their teams should continue to work closely to defend the Kingdom and the wider region from further attacks.'

Saudi officials have rejected suggestions that MBS has pushed to prolong the Iran war.

The Saudi government said in a statement to the New York Times: 'The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has always supported a peaceful resolution to this conflict, even before it began.

'Our primary concern today is to defend ourselves from the daily attacks on our people and our civilian infrastructure.

'Iran has chosen dangerous brinkmanship over serious diplomatic solutions. This harms every stakeholder involved but none more than Iran itself.'

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said the administration 'does not comment on the President's private conversations.'
A map shown to the jury reveals the movements of three asylum seekers who partied in nightclubs before allegedly gang-raping a lone, drunk woman on Brighton beach.

In CCTV footage from a nightclub that was played in court yesterday, two of the defendants appear to be interacting with a friend of the alleged victim.

In one clip, she is allegedly grabbed by one of the asylum seekers in the foyer of Revolution nightclub in Brighton.

He appears to put his arm around her waist before she prises it off her and then gesticulates at him.

CCTV footage taken later in the evening shows three men dancing and talking to different female revellers in Horizon nightclub on the seafront.

Footage obtained from cameras along the seafront then captures the alleged victim being led down a ramp to the beach by the men.

Her reported movements have been put together by the CPS in a map that was shown to the jury on Tuesday.

Hanna Llewellyn-Waters, prosecuting, told the jury she was taken to a beach shack where she was raped by two of the defendants while another man filmed attack.

Egyptian national Ibrahim Alshafe, 25, and Iranian national Abdulla Ahmadi, 26, are accused of repeatedly raping the woman, while Karin Al-Danasurt, 20, from Egypt, allegedly filmed the assault and egged them on.

A map shown to the jury reveals the movements of three asylum seekers who partied in nightclubs before allegedly gang-raping a lone, drunk woman on Brighton beach

Pictured: Egyptian national Ibrahim Alshafe, 25, at an earlier court appearance. He is accused of rape

Karin Al-Danasurt, 20, from Egypt, is said to have allegedly filmed the rape and egged the others on

All the three men are charged with rape while Al-Danasurt is additionally charged with sharing an intimate film.

Earlier the court heard the three asylum seekers targeted a lone drunk woman in a 'cynical, predatory and callous' manner before gang raping her.

The men, who all arrived in the UK on small boats, allegedly targeted the woman as she left a nightclub in the seaside resort.

The jury was told the woman was so drunk she could barely stand and had described herself as 'paralytic' drunk.

After leaving a nightclub the 'visibly intoxicated' woman, who is in her 30s, was allegedly seen staggering along the seafront by the three men.

But instead of offering to help her the men are said to have led her down to the pebble beach and found a secluded area near a shack.

There they are accused of repeatedly raping her, with two of the men taking it in turns to assault her while the incident was filmed by the third man.

Hove Crown Court heard Alshafe and Ahmadi had arrived in the the UK by small boats in June 2025 while Al-Danasurt had arrived by the same method in October 2024.

All three men were staying at a Home Office-approved hotel for those either seeking or appealing their asylum and immigration status.

The alleged incident happened at around 6am on Saturday, October 4 last year on Brighton beach.

The jury of seven woman and five men were yesterday shown a catalogue of CCTV clips taken from both the Revolution and Horizon nightclubs.

One video clip appears to show Ahmadi and Alshafe in the foyer of Revolution nightclub where Ahmadi is allegedly shown grabbing the complainant's friend.

Ahmadi is accused of putting his arm around her waist before she prises his arm off her and then gesticulates at him.

Other clips appear to show Alshafe putting his arms around an unknown blonde woman and groping her.

In another, Al-Danasurt is said to put his arms around an unknown brunette woman and strokes her bottom.

The three defendants allegedly walked out of the club and targeted the lone victim as she staggered down the street.

Earlier the complainant, describing herself as 'paralytic drunk', left Horizon nightclub but said she had no recollection of how she came to be on Brighton beach.

She remembered drifting in and out of consciousness while being repeatedly 'abused' by three men.

The jury heard that in video interview she said: 'So at first it was like I was coming round and someone had their finger in my mouth and like was rubbing their finger in my mouth and it was almost like I kept falling back asleep.

'Like every time I, I was there but I wasn't, like it was such a weird experience. Like I've been drunk, I'm 30-odd, I've been drunk many a times, I've never had this like feeling before.

'And like as I could remember like I could see a light in my face, like do you know like when you put a flash on a like on the camera on an iPhone and I could hear a foreign accent saying 'Dirty b****, dirty b****'.

The trial continues.
A grinning Tube predator who sexually assaulted four vulnerable women and stalked a fifth has been jailed.

Craig Anderson, 38, carried out the attacks at Bank, Liverpool Street and Westminster underground stations and Redhill station in Surrey last year.

He consistently approached lone women, striking up a conversation and asking them for their phone numbers  before touching them on the backside and running away laughing.

Anderson stuck his tongue out at one victim after she screamed at him to get off her, leaving her 'haunted' by the sight.

He met the woman whom he later stalked on a train in June and started a conversation with her.

She gave Anderson her phone number and he began continuously messaging her until October last year, using eight different phone numbers.

He admitted sending her a 'dick pic' in August which she said was against her wishes.

He then followed her on her commute to work, took her phone and medication away from her and waited for her outside a bathroom when she tried to get away from him.

Last July, the pair met at Epsom train station and he followed her on to a train to Canary Wharf without her consent.

He took the victim's phone from her and followed her to the toilet once they arrived at Victoria, claiming this was 'in a playful manner'.

She went to the bathroom to get away from Anderson after he followed her off the train.

Craig Anderson, 38, carried out the attacks at Bank, Liverpool Street and Westminster underground stations and Redhill station in Surrey last year

Anderson also carried out four sexual assaults across London between June and October last year.

He has now been jailed for 22 months after a judge noted his 'unusual way to start relationships, squeezing women on public transport'.

On June 14 at Bank underground station, CCTV footage showed Anderson walking behind a woman and reaching up to touch her as he went up the stairs behind her.

Anderson can be seen smiling and sticking his tongue out.

He carried out similar assaults on August 2, August 28 and October 6.

Anderson was filmed travelling on an escalator behind another victim.

When they reach the top she can be seen jumping away from him, and he admitted she shouted at him 'don't touch me'.

On another occasion Anderson asked a woman on a train to Gatwick airport: 'What would you do if I tried to kiss you?'.

The woman replied that she would report him, and he then tried to kiss her.

CCTV footage showed grinning Anderson following a woman and reaching out his hand behind her.

Ellen Alexander, prosecuting, said Anderson's police interview showed 'he clearly exhibits aggressive and intimidating behaviour towards women'.

'He was deliberately targeting vulnerable women alone on public transport for sexual pleasure.

'He did not take no for an answer.

'He walks away smiling and sticking his tongue out. He does not understand the seriousness of what he has done,' the prosecutor added.

Anderson consistently approached lone women, striking up a conversation and asking them for their phone numbers  before touching them on the backside and running away laughing

Anderson was handed an 18-month community order last April for the harassment of his ex-partner and he was also in breach of a suspended sentence at the time of his latest offences.

Chris Judson, defending, said: 'It's clear from all angles that work is required on how Mr Anderson builds relationships.'

Judge Nigel Lickley KC said: 'That's a bit of an unusual way to start relationships, squeezing women on public transport.'

He added: 'In the report he effectively denies the offences, says he wants to appeal his convictions, he denies touching women.'

'I've got the victim impact statement from the stalking victim, she seems very distressed by these matters.'

Anderson was arrested on October 9, 2025 at the passport office in Canning Town.

He told police during his arrest: 'I'm not interested in these whores, you pay $10 for sex overseas.'

He was convicted of stalking and four sexual assaults after a trial in January.

A bearded Anderson appeared at the Old Bailey on Monday wearing a grey prison track suit as Judge Lickley said he left victims feeling 'extremely unsafe and vulnerable'.

The judge said Anderson has an appalling criminal record: 'You've been convicted of 49 offences and received custodial sentences.'

He had a restraining order relating to a previous partner which he breached three times in 2010, including sending 59 texts and calls to an ex partner.

The judge said there was a very high risk of reoffending.

'I have no doubt that you were travelling on the underground with the hope of seeing a female you were attracted to.

'You have distorted beliefs about your relationship with women.'

He sentenced Anderson to 22 months in prison.

The sex offender replied: 'I want to go man... I didn't touch those girls, I want to go.'

The British Transport Police investigating officer earlier said: 'Anderson is a dangerous predator who preyed on women for his own sexual gratification.

'During his initial questioning he smirked his way through providing no comment responses, highlighting his lack of remorse for his actions.

'It is thanks to the brave victims who supported this investigation that we have seen him convicted for these heinous crimes.

'If you experience or witness a sexual offence on-board a train or at a station, I urge you to report it to us by texting 61016. We take all reports seriously, and do everything possible to bring them to justice.'
The Government should temporarily stop political parties being allowed to accept cryptocurrency donations, a review of foreign financial interference has recommended.

Former top civil servant Philip Rycroft urged ministers to legislate for a moratorium in its Representation of the People Bill going through Parliament.

This should be seen not as a 'prelude to an outright and permanent ban' but an interlude for regulation to catch up to reality, he wrote in his report.

His recommendations come amid concerns that digital currencies could be used to hide where funding has come from.

Mr Rycroft also proposed an annual cap on donations from British voters living abroad and a ban on foreign-funded online political ads.

Commissioned in December last year, the review followed a series of high-profile cases of attempts by foreign states to influence UK politics, including the jailing of Reform UK's former Welsh leader Nathan Gill for taking bribes to make pro-Russian statements.

Cryptocurrency donations are legal, but campaign groups such as Spotlight on Corruption and Transparency International have warned that the anonymity they provide could enable donations from foreign sources.

But few parties accept crypto donations, with Reform UK being the most prominent.

Earlier this month Nigel Farage said he was 'one of the UK's few political advocates for Bitcoin, recognising the role digital currencies will play in the future of business and finance'.

Former top civil servant Philip Rycroft is set to publish his review of how vulnerable British politics is to overseas influence, including via its funding streams

Earlier this month Nigel Farage said he was 'one of the UK's few political advocates for Bitcoin, recognising the role digital currencies will play in the future of business and finance'

He took a 215,000 stake in a Bitcoin reserve business led by former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, as the Reform UK leader eyes the UK becoming a 'global hub' for cryptocurrencies.

Ahead of publication, Mr Rycroft said recent cases had shown the UK was 'not immune to foreign money and interference'.

He said: 'Foreign states are testing our political system in increasingly sophisticated ways, and this review identifies where our defences must be strengthened to keep elections secure and trusted.'

It comes amid concern that digital currencies could be used to hide where funding has come from.

Last month, Parliament's Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy (JCNSS) called for a 'temporary moratorium' on cryptocurrency donations.

The review is also expected to consider Beijing's attempts to influence British politics, four years after MI5 alleged that lawyer Christine Lee was engaged in 'political interference activities' targeting Parliament on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party.

Mr Rycroft's review will be provided to Communities Secretary Steve Reed and security minister Dan Jarvis, who chairs the Government's Defending Democracy Taskforce.

Its recommendations are expected to be incorporated into the Representation of the People Bill going through Parliament.
Shenzhen Qianhai delegation visits South Africa for economic and trade exchanges

09:40, March 25, 2026 By Zhang Qian ( People's Daily Online

A delegation from Qianhai, Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, visited South Africa from March 18 to 20 alongside Invest Hong Kong, to deepen economic and trade cooperation and support Qianhai enterprises in expanding into the African market.

The delegation was led by Wang Shourui, a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Shenzhen Municipal Committee and secretary of the Party Working Committee of the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone.

During the visit, the China (Shenzhen & Hong Kong)  South Africa (Johannesburg) Economic and Trade Cooperation Exchange Conference was held in Johannesburg. The "Shenzhen Go Global e-Station" South Africa Service Center was also officially inaugurated, injecting new momentum into pragmatic cooperation between Qianhai and South Africa and promoting China-South Africa economic and trade relations to a higher level.

At the conference, over 170 representatives from South African institutions and enterprises attended, including Pan Qingjiang, consul general of China in Johannesburg; Bonginkosi Dhlamini, member of the Gauteng Executive Council for e-Government; Thulani Kunene, deputy speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature; and representatives from African business associations. Participants gathered to explore future development opportunities.

In his keynote address, Wang noted that this year marks the 28th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and South Africa. South Africa has become Shenzhen's largest trading partner in Africa, with leading Shenzhen enterprises such as Huawei and BYD already operating locally. Leveraging direct flights and shipping routes, both sides can further strengthen logistics and supply chain cooperation.

He also proposed taking the upcoming APEC Shenzhen Year as an opportunity to implement China's zero-tariff policy for South Africa, focus on emerging and future industries, and utilize the "Shenzhen Go Global e-Station" platform to promote two-way industrial connectivity and achieve mutual benefit.

Pan warmly welcomed the delegation's visit, stating that China's 15th Five-Year Plan outlines a shared path toward modernization and signals China's commitment to expanding high-level opening-up. He announced that starting May 1, 2026, China will implement a zero-tariff policy for 53 African countries with diplomatic ties, bringing significant trade benefits to South Africa. He added that the China-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership continues to advance steadily, with fruitful economic and trade cooperation, and expressed China's willingness to build a shared future with South Africa.

Kunene highlighted that Gauteng Province and Johannesburg are actively upgrading sectors such as innovation, manufacturing, logistics and finance. He noted that Shenzhen and Hong Kong's strong industrial capabilities align well with local development needs, making deeper cooperation a key pathway to mutual benefit and sustained high-quality bilateral relations.

During the event, the "Shenzhen Go Global e-Station" South Africa Service Center was officially launched, serving as a key hub connecting Shenzhen, Hong Kong and South Africa, and providing comprehensive support for enterprises from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area investing in South Africa.

In the roundtable session, participants discussed the theme of "China-South Africa Industrial Synergy." The Qianhai delegation and representatives from institutions such as the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency, Bank of China Johannesburg Branch, ZTE South Africa and Hisense South Africa reached multiple agreements on cross-border financial services and industrial cooperation, laying a solid foundation for future collaboration.

During their stay in Johannesburg, the delegation also visited the Chinese Embassy in South Africa and the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, engaging in discussions on cross-border trade, industrial synergy, and the integration of digital and green technologies. Meetings were also held with organizations such as the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) to explore comprehensive cooperation and potential agreements. The delegation gained deeper insights into the development of Shenzhen enterprises in Africa, providing valuable experience for future overseas expansion.

This visit not only built a bridge between Qianhai and South Africa but also extended the "Shenzhen Go Global e-Station" service network to Africa, offering strong support for Greater Bay Area enterprises expanding into the continent. Looking ahead, Qianhai will continue leveraging Shenzhen-Hong Kong collaboration advantages to deepen China-South Africa economic and trade cooperation and contribute to building a China-Africa community with a shared future.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang)
Former Conservative minister Crispin Blunt has been fined 1,200 after admitting he possessed crystal meth, cannabis and GBL  having told of hosting chemsex parties while wanting to help inform government drugs policy.

The 65-year-old former justice minister appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday to admit four drugs charges, which stem from a raid on his home in Horley, Surrey, on October 25 2023.

Blunt was in possession of the chemical drug GBL, a sedative, as well as cannabis, methamphetamine and methylamphetamine which is commonly known as crystal meth.

He has pleaded guilty to one count of possessing class A drugs and three charges of possession of class B drugs  though delivered a 30-minute speech saying the case should never have been brought against him and all drugs ought to be legal.

Blunt, Reigate MP from 1997 to 2024, said the charges against him came after he claims he fell victim to a blackmail and extortion plot from his drug dealer who had accused him of rape.

After an 18-month investigation, Surrey Police announced in May last year that there would be no further action on the rape allegation due to insufficient evidence.

Blunt, wearing a charcoal-grey suit, white shirt, and purple tie, represented himself in the criminal court proceedings.

Announcing the fine, Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram told Blunt: 'As a former minister for prisons, probation, and justice, you  like all public servants - served as a role model to all.

Former Conservative minister Crispin Blunt has pleaded guilty to four charges of possession of drugs including cannabis and crystal meth

The Crown Prosecution Service has released pictures taken from the raid on ex-minister Crispin Blunt's Surrey home in October 2023 following his guilty plea today

'I do note your views and your position on prohibition on possession and usage of drugs. That said, I'm sure you as a former Parliamentarian believe in the Rule of Law.

'The fact is your actions have risked undermining confidence in all Parliamentarians by breaking the very laws you enacted."

The judge said Blunt's crimes were aggravated by his admission to hosting drugs parties and facilitating the use of illegal substances by others.

The defendant was ordered to pay a 480 victim surcharge on top of the 1,200 fine, as well as 200 in costs.

Blunt served in David Cameron's government as parliamentary under-secretary of state for prisons and youth justice from 2010 to 2012 and went on to chair the Foreign Affairs Committee from 2015 until 2017.

He lost the Tory whip in October 2023 when he was first arrested by police and stood down from Parliament at the 2024 general election.

Prosecutor Zarah Dickinson told today's hearing Blunt was 'polite' and 'calm' when his home was raided by police during an investigation into a rape allegation.

She said: 'This arises from a police investigation into offences alleged to have occurred during a chemsex party at Mr Blunt's home address in September 2023. No charges were brought on those alleged offences.

Prosecutors outlined how crystal meth valued at 200 to 250 was on Blunt's bedside table

The 65-year-old ex-justice minister appeared before Westminster magistrates on Wednesday to admit the charges- he is pictured here in the House of Commons in October 2023

'As a result of them, police attended his home address on October 25 2023.'

Blunt 'volunteered' to officers that he had plastic syringes to take the crystal meth, as well as a 'small bottle of clear liquid' which he identified as GBL, a date rape drug.

Ms Dickinson outlined how crystal meth valued at 200 to 250 was on Blunt's bedside table, plastic bottles of a crystal meth and amphetamine mix were recovered, and a syringe containing 200 of GBL was found in a laptop bag.

Officers also recovered a bag of cannabis valued at between 5 and 10, as well as weighing scales containing powder residue.

The court heard Blunt told police he entered the chemsex scene after being appointed as a justice minister in the Cameron government and claimed he used his experience of drugs parties to inform policy development.

Ms Dickinson, summarising his police interview, said: 'It was the first time he had come out as a gay man and during his ministerial role he saw first hand the harm caused by the government's drug policy.

'He began to take a professional interest in a policy that inflicted lasting harm on society.

'Then he began his involvement in the chemsex scene. His knowledge of first hand use of drugs was used to inform how policies could be implemented.'

Plastic bottles of a crystal meth and amphetamine mix were recovered and a syringe containing 200 of GBL was found in a laptop bag

She said Blunt outlined hosting chemsex parties and said he would strictly limit GBL use to once an hour.

Representing himself, Blunt told Westminster Magistrates' Court how a US-led policy of 'global prohibition' of drugs had been a 'catastrophe' and criticised his former party for failing to carry out drug reform.

He condemned what he called his former colleagues' 'moral simplicity' of 'drugs are bad' without considering the 'appalling consequences of that position' because it 'keeps politicians safe'.

Blunt said his work as a parliamentarian focused on reversing the 'consequences of our policy' in areas such as drug reform.

He added as a safe-seat Tory he had the privilege of holding beliefs that were 'controversial, not least within my own party', including on Palestine, LGBT rights and drug reform.

The former MP also recounted meeting a man at a 'chemsex party' who turned out to be a drug supplier later charged with attempted murder  saying the man concocted a 'false account' against him so he paid him 2,000.

District Judge Tan Ikram replied: 'Sounds as though he was trying to blackmail you.'

Blunt made a speech in court lasting more than 30 minutes in which he insisted that criminal charges should never have been brought against him.

He said he had considered taking the case to a jury trial, to argue that he should be acquitted on the basis that the charges of possession of drugs should not exist.

He suggested that possession of drugs charges against a first-time offender usually end with an out-of-court caution and hinted at a belief that his political views on drugs reform, trans rights, and support for Palestinians may lie behind the case brought against him.

The politician came out as gay months after his government appointment in 2010 and separated from his wife of almost two decades, Victoria, with whom he had two teenage children  and said he was going to 'come to terms with his homosexuality'.

He later became a vocal backbench supporter of gay rights, chairing the all-party parliamentary group on global LGBT+ affairs and revealing to the Commons in 2016 that he had used poppers.

Challenging a ban on the drug that had been proposed by the government, he said: 'There are some times when something is proposed which becomes personal to you and you realise the government is about to do something fantastically stupid and I think in those circumstances one has a duty to speak up.'

'I use poppers, I out myself as a popper user, and would be directly affected by this legislation.'

Before entering Parliament, Blunt was a graduate of the Sandhurst Military Academy and spent more than a decade as an officer in the British Army.

He was elected as MP for Reigate in East Surrey in May 1997, defeating the constituency's previous Conservative MP Sir George Gardiner who had defected to the Referendum Party.

The local Reigate and Banstead Independent newspaper revealed during the campaign how Blunt had told his candidate selection committee interview even a donkey wearing a blue rosette could win in Reigate.

Sir George responded by parading a donkey he named Crispin along Reigate High Street.

Blunt was later criticised as Reigate MP after telling a Conservative Association event a joke comparing then-Labour health secretary Frank Dobson to serial killer Dr Harold Shipman  with relatives of Shipman victims among those speaking out.
A grinning, cocaine-fuelled thief who led police on a high-speed chase in a stolen Asda delivery van has been jailed for more than two years.

Thirty-year-old Shane Brett snatched the delivery vehicle from an Eastbourne warehouse in the early hours of January 30, sparking a high-stakes police response.

He then drove for around an hour - covering 16 miles - before he was stopped in Newhaven.

Footage shows officers bringing the van to a halt and arresting Brett.

A drug wipe was also conducted at the scene, with the driver testing positive for cocaine.

He was remanded into custody after admitting to charges of theft of a motor vehicle, burglary, dangerous driving and driving without insurance at Brighton Magistrates Court.

Earlier this month, at Lewes Crown Court, Brett, of no fixed address, was jailed for 26 months and disqualified from driving for four years.

A police statement said: 'Shane Brett, 30, has been jailed for 26 months after he stole an Asda van in Eastbourne.

Shane Brett, of no fixed address, was jailed for 26 months and disqualified from driving for four years

Thirty-year-old Brett drove for around an hour, covering 16 miles before he was stopped in Newhaven

'Police attended Sovereign Harbour Retail Park in Pevensey Bay Road, Eastbourne at around 6.20am on Friday 30 January following a report of a stolen Asda van.

'Officers swiftly engaged in a tactical pursuit and successfully stopped the vehicle in The Fairway, Newhaven.

'A drugs wipe was conducted at the scene and the 30-year-old tested positive for cocaine.

'Brett was arrested, and the next day (31 January) charged with theft of a motor vehicle, burglary other than a dwelling, driving a motor vehicle dangerously, and driving a motor vehicle on a road or in a public place without third party insurance.

'He appeared later the same day at Brighton Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to all charges and was remanded into custody.

'On 12 March at Lewes Crown Court, Shane Brett, 30, of no fixed address, was jailed for 26 months and disqualified from driving for four years.'
Labour is on course to lose its grip over Welsh politics after more than a century as a new poll shows the party slipping to third place in May's Senedd elections.

Eluned Morgan's party is set to be reduced to a rump of just 12 seats as it is leapfrogged by nationalists Plaid Cymru and Reform UK.

There is even a risk that Labour could fall to just the fourth party in Cardiff Bay, with the YouGov MRP poll giving it just two seats more than the Greens, who are forecast to win 10.

The poll, released today, shows Plaid will become the largest party in the Senedd, though with 43 seats they would be six short of a majority in the enlarged chamber of 96.

The party has said it wants to form a minority government, though it could form a coalition with the Greens - or less likely Labour - to run the country for the first time since devolution.

Neither Reform nor the Greens currently have any Senedd seats, and Nigel Farage's Party won just 1 per cent of the votes in the previous election in 2021.

It suggests that Baroness Morgan's desperate attempt to prevent Keir Starmer's lack of popularity nationally poisoning her party is doomed to fail.

Earlier this month she did not even mention his name as she launched Welsh Labour's election campaign, running under a banner of 'a new chapter for Wales' for the party that has run the country for 27 years.

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Eluned Morgan's party is set to be reduced to a rump of just 12 seats as it is leapfrogged by nationalists Plaid Cymru and Reform UK.

It suggests that Baroness Morgan's desperate attempt to prevent Keir Starmer's lack of popularity nationally poisoning her party is doomed to fail.

Answering questions after the speech the FM said Sir Keir would be welcome on Welsh Labour's campaign trail - if he brings more taxpayers' money for her to spend.

Sir Keir last appeared alongside her last month February to announce his endorsement of a pipeline of rail improvements worth 14 billion, months before voters go to the poll.

In January she begged voters not to treat May's Senedd election as a protest against Sir Keir's government.

A YouGov spokesman said that the poll, if replicated on May 7, would leave Labour 'without representation in a huge swathe of the country stretching from Llanelli to Llandudno'.

'For the party that has dominated Welsh politics for generations, winning every devolved election so far and topping the poll in Wales at every Westminster election since 1922, such a result would undoubtedly be a significant blow,' they added.

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Plaid's Rhun ap Iorwerth has said it wants to form a minority government to run the country for the first time since devolution

The poll also shows the election is on course to be a devastating blow for all the traditional parties, with the Conservatives reduced to just one seat from 16 and the Lib Dems losing their sole seat.

Both Welsh Labour and Scottish Labour fear they will suffer at May's elections for the Senedd and Scottish Parliament, respectively, due to the unpopularity of Sir Keir's UK Government.

Last month Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called on the PM to resign, saying Sir Keir was a 'decent man' but there had been 'too many mistakes'.

Baroness Morgan refrained from commenting until the following day, amid speculation she could follow Mr Sarwar in calling for the PM to go.

But instead she said Sir Keir had her 'full confidence', and described him as an 'honourable man'.
The housemate of the missing Brazilian psychologist who vanished from Essex three weeks ago has urged police to stage a reconstruction of the events leading up to her 'highly strange and mysterious' disappearance.

Essex Police had been searching the waters around Brightlingsea Harbour after CCTV led them to believe Vitoria Barreto, 30, may have taken a boat out to sea when she went missing on March 3.

On Friday, the force announced their physical searches were ending to instead pursue 'a number of investigative avenues' alongside 'international partners'.

Vitoria's friend and fellow psychologist Fernanda Silvestre, who she lives with in the city of Fortaleza in north-eastern Brazil, viewed the move in a 'positive light' and thinks the police are 'giving it the importance it should have from the beginning'.

Speaking to Brazilian news outlet g1, Fernanda, pointed out the theory Vitoria had a mental health episode is not the only one being considered.

She believes staging a reconstruction of events is 'important' as it will help establish whether or not something else happened, such as Vitoria being forced to flee from some kind of danger, ingesting something that altered her state of mind or even being kidnapped or trafficked.

A Brazilian court last week gave Essex Police approval to view Vitoria's bank activity which could provide vital information for their investigation.

Vitoria Figueiredo Barreto, 30, had been in the UK visiting her friend Liliane Silva and staying at her home in Southend, Essex, when she went missing on March 3

Two CCTV stills show Vittoria got on the number 87 bus in Boundary Road just after 1pm on March 3 and got off 30 minutes later in Bellfield Avenue, Brightlingsea

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Vitoria is a clinical psychologist from Fortaleza, Brazil, who works for the 4 Varas Project - an initiative focused on mental health care in the Grande Pirambu neighbourhood of Fortaleza.

Posts on her Instagram page show her travelling to different parts of Brazil in January before heading to Morocco for a conference on psychology and mental health.

After the conference, she headed to the in the UK, arriving on March 1, where she stayed with her friend and fellow psychologist Lilian Silva and her boyfriend at their home in Southend, Essex.

On March 2, she and Liliane spent the day at the University of Essex Colchester campus in Wivenhoe Park where Liliane works as a lecturer in clinical psychology.

The pair were working on a project about mental health services in the UK and Brazil which they planned to present to the NHS. Liliane said Vitoria was working really hard to help her translate documents.

Vitoria had been exploring the possibility of doing a doctorate degree at the University of Essex.

The following day, they returned to the university to continue their work.

Whilst taking a break together by the pond on campus, Liliane asked the usually very 'talkative' Vitoria what was wrong after noticing she had been 'quiet, upset' and acting 'airy and confused'.

But Vitoria refused to open up, telling her friend they would talk later instead - a reaction friends and family say was very out of character for her.

'I said "Sometimes it's too late V, lets talk", but she said "Observe the ducks" - which was not like her, she was not that contemplative person,' Liliane said during a press conference with Essex Police last week.

When Liliane left the campus at around 1pm, Vitoria told her she was going back to the library to continue working on their project about mental health services and that she would see her later.

However, for reasons yet to be discovered, Vitoria did not return to the library and instead was seen on CCTV boarding the 87 bus on Boundary Road just outside the campus.

She stayed on it for 30 minutes and got off on Bellfield Avenue in Brightlingsea - an area her friend said she had never been to.

Liliane said search history on Vitoria's Google account led her to believe she had been trying to get the 87 bus going the other way to Colchester, but accidentally got on the wrong one on the other side of the road, forgetting cars drive on the left in the UK.

Vitoria had been wearing a dark coat, a blue turtleneck jumper, light blue jeans and dark trainers with white soles on the day she went missing.

The last person thought to have seen her in person is Justin Francis and his partner who were walking their dog along Bellfield Avenue when a woman matching her description approached them and introduced herself as Vitoria.

Justin said she asked if she could come into their home, but did not explain why.

He said they now feel 'a little bit guilty' for being the last people to see her and speak to her.

Blurry CCTV footage showed a person who police believe to be Vitoria walking alone along the waterfront after climbing over a metal fence into a boatyard on Brightlingsea pontoon at 12.16am

When Liliane left the campus at around 1pm, Vitoria (pictured) told her she was going back to the library to continue working on their project about mental health services and that she would see her later

Liliane (pictured right with Vitoria's mother) said the last time she saw Vitoria she tried to ask what was wrong and why she appeared 'upset, airy and confused'

'If we had known at the time she was missing, we would have brought her back to our house and got her a cup of tea,' he told the BBC.

She was then spotted on doorbell footage in the Hurst Green area of Brightlingsea shortly after 2.30pm.

Her tote bag - which had the words 'people over profit' adorned on it - was found nearly a week later on March 9 just off Copperas Road, in Brightlingsea. Her laptop was also found in Brightlingsea on March 14.

After a press conference with Essex Police on March 11, Liliane and her boyfriend and Vitoria's mother and partner found her travel coffee cup with a used teabag inside in the green are where her bag was found.

Blurry CCTV footage showed a person who police believe to be Vitoria walking alone along the waterfront after climbing over a metal fence into a boatyard on Brightlingsea pontoon at 12.16am.

She was not seen on CCTV for the next 20 minutes, with police believing she may have been the person who during that time unmoored and potentially boarded a boat which went missing from a pontoon that night.

Police said the 'vessel does not appear to have had its engine started and, over the next few hours, began drifting out of the harbour before ultimately coming to a rest close to Bradwell-on-Sea later in morning'.

At around midday on March 4, the boat was found a drift in the water close to Bradwell-on-Sea with the lifesaving buoyancy aid used to help passengers float in the water during emergencies missing.

In their latest update, Essex Police said: 'At this stage, there is still no clear and visible footage to conclusively state it was the 30-year-old Brazilian who unmoored the boat.

'However, we know Vitoria was seen walking alone in the waterfront area at 12.16am, having climbed over a nearby metal fence, which is close to where the boat was unmoored.'

Fernandes also told Brazilian press that she had received an emergency alert from Vitoria's phone with a location pointing to the sea near Brightlingsea Harbour at around 3am UK time.

Speaking at a press conference with Essex Police last week about her friend's mental state, Liliane said: 'We know that she is probably not in a good place, she is probably out of her mind, upset, struggling. We don't know why and we don't want to judge it now, we just want her with us.

'She needs to feel protected, she needs to feel loved. It was never her behaviour, that's why we are so scared since the first second.'
A British man has died during a high-risk dive off the coast of a remote Indonesian island.

The tourist, 45, walked alone into the sea carrying his equipment on Gili Air in the Lombok region of West Nusa Tenggara on Tuesday at 11am.

Instead of using a boat to pass the dangerous rip tides, he swam through the powerful currents of the Indonesian Throughflow' only to be dragged to his death in the tropical waters.

Friends and local dive operators then called search and rescue crews to find the man when he failed to surface around an hour later.

Tragically, his body was found at around 1.20pm before paramedics pronounced him dead.

Search chief Gusti Komang Aryadana said: 'The victim was found and evacuated using a diving boat. Paramedics performed CPR on land at 1.33pm. However, his life could not be saved.

After maximum first aid efforts were carried out, medical personnel declared the victim dead.

The victim was taken to the Tembobor Hamlet, then to Bhayangkara Hospital in Mataram. A post-mortem examination will be performed.'

A British man died during a high-risk dive off the coast of a remote Indonesian island

Officials said that the tourist's body was found at a depth of around 39ft, close to the location where he had been diving.

They are now warning locals and tourists to avoid diving in dangerous conditions.

Gusti added: The search and rescue operation involved the regional marine police, the military command, the Air Navy post, local police, fire and rescue crews, as well as the disaster management team and local volunteers in the diving community.

Tourists and divers, however experienced they are, must strictly follow safety protocols and avoid diving alone without a companion or professional guide.

Police have informed the British Embassy of the victim's death.'

The Daily Mail has approached the Foreign Office for comment.

It comes almost a year after another British tourist died while snorkeling in a nearby area.

The pensioner, 81, was found floating lifeless just 15ft from the coast of Gili Trawangan island.

Police said the man had been sailing around the island with a group of tourists on board the Gili Bahari 07 boat on March 26, 2025.

Iptu Mahardika, the police chief of the Gili islands, said at the time: 'After arriving at a spot off the Wah Resort, the tourists dived at the location only five metres (around 15 feet) from the shoreline.

The tourist, 45, from northwest London, walked alone into the sea carrying his equipment on Gili Air in the Lombok region of West Nusa Tenggara (pictured, stock) on Tuesday at 11am

'They were there for around 10 minutes when the victim was discovered floating motionless in the waters.'

The Brit was believed to have been separated from the group before horrified holidaymakers found his body drifting on the surface of the water.

Lifeguards rushed to drag him back to the beach for first aid. When there was no response, he was then taken to the Warna Clinic.

However, he could not be revived.

Indonesia has some of the world's best diving sites.

The Gili Islands, located off the northwest coast of Lombok, are much quieter than Bali and have marine life and reefs unharmed from the vast crowds visiting the more popular neighbour. The island has no motorised vehicles on land.

However, diving in the region is perilous due to the strength of the ocean currents.

While most enthusiasts plunge into the water from a boat, captained by a local with knowledge of the area, diving alone from the shore is one of the riskiest activities due to the lack of support from a companion.

It carries the added risk of being dragged away by riptides close to the beach or surfacing in the wrong place and being struck by a speedboat or longtail fishing boat used by locals.
An emotional mother has vowed to keep fighting for change after a driver was jailed for a maximum of nine years over a high-speed crash that killed her two children.

Johnson Kokozian, 23, was taking his friends on a joyride in his brand new SUV when he tried to overtake a car at Heckenberg, in southwest Sydney, in 2023.

The suspended driver had crossed the Mercedes-Benz AMG onto the wrong side of the road at double the 50km/h speed limit when he crashed head-on into a car containing two siblings.

He failed to even stop and help Alina Kauffman, 24, and Ernesto Salazar, 15, who were later pronounced dead at the scene.

Instead, Kokozian fled the scene and focused on the destruction of the uninsured luxury car, complaining he'd lost $300,000 because of the wreck.

The driver's conduct after the September 1 crash amounted to 'an abandonment of moral responsibility', NSW District Court Judge David Arnott said on Wednesday.

He had been more worried about the money he lost by crashing his vehicle than the wellbeing of the occupants of the other car, who he rushed past as he left the scene.

'His failure to stop and assist can only be described as serious and callous,' Judge Arnott said. 'There is no doubt that self-preservation and self-interest were key factors in his decision to flee the scene.'

Alina Kauffman and Ernesto Salazar (above) were killed at the scene of the crash in Heckenberg, southwest Sydney

Angelina Kauffman (above) attended court on Wednesday to see the sentencing of the driver who killed her two children in 2023

Johnson Kokozian (above) was on a joyride with friends in his brand new SUV when he tried to overtake a car, crashing head-on with the car carrying the two siblings

While Kokozian had shown no remorse in the aftermath of the crash, the judge found he now experienced 'overwhelming guilt'.

Two charges of manslaughter were withdrawn when he eventually pleaded guilty to two counts each of aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death and failing to assist after a fatal impact.

He was jailed for nine years with a minimum sentence of five-and-a-half years.

The victims' mother was overcome with emotion when she exited the courthouse after the decision was handed down.

'There is no justice,' Angelina Kauffman said through sobs.

'My kids' lives mean nothing to the court.'

Ms Kauffman wore a jumper emblazoned with a photo of her children.

She has continuously advocated for justice during the lengthy legal process.

Kokozian did not stop to help Alina and Ernesto (pictured with their mother) following the collision

She said the fact Kokozian could be released on parole in three years was unjust.

'This man gets to go out and live his life,' Ms Kauffman said.

'My kids are in the ground.'

Despite the pain of the sentencing, the grieving mother said she would continue to push for change in her children's names.

'I'll never give up,' she vowed.

She gathered more than 20,000 signatures on a petition requesting the NSW parliament consider increasing the maximum penalties for serious road crimes.

A subsequent Law Reform Commission review handed down in February 2025 found penalties for serious road crimes were appropriate and higher maximum penalties were unlikely to do more to deter offending.

A new vehicular manslaughter offence should not be introduced because it was unnecessary and could cause confusion, the review determined.

Ms Kauffman (above) described Kokozian's minimum sentence of five-and-a-half years as a 'joke'

Kokozian's sentencing marks the culmination of an investigation that ensnared his girlfriend, friends, and family.

His father Kagadour Hanna Kokozian, 63, pleaded guilty in 2025 to trying to conceal the deadly crash and hindering a police investigation.

After his son told him he had been driving, the elder Kokozian called police to report his son's car as stolen.

He will be sentenced at a later date.

Kokozian's passenger in the Mercedes, Cruz Pamoana Davis-Tuka, received a 15-month intensive corrections order in 2025 for his role in concealing the crash and hindering police.

But Kokozian's girlfriend Tiana Savignano, 24, will contest the same charges in the NSW District Court this year after pleading not guilty.

Ms Kauffman said she had high hopes for a strong penalty after the proceedings were dragged out for so long but she had been shocked by the driver's sentence.

'This is a joke,' she said.
Wine production in England and Wales is surging, figures revealed today after an unusually warm and dry summer brought the second-biggest UK harvest on record.

Some 124,377 hectolitres - the equivalent of 16.5million bottles of wine - were produced last year, according to wine regulator the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

The total was up 55 per cent on 2024 volumes, which experts said was because of 'favourable weather conditions' in 2025 delivering good fruit quality and high yields.

White wine was the biggest winner last year as output increased by 132 per cent, with the UK wine industry as a whole now said to be valued at around 14billion.

Total 2025 volumes were still below the record 21.6million bottles in 2023 - before production fell to 10.7million in 2024 when high rainfall caused more disease in crops.

The number of vineyards registered with the FSA rose 4 per cent to 1,158 last year, with the industry now employing more than 10,000 people. Vine plantings rose by 3 per cent in 2025, taking the UK area covered to 4,357 hectares or 10,700 acres.

However, the country is still a minor player globally, given that the International Organisation of Vine and Wine put world production at 232million hectolitres in 2025.

This means Britain accounts for roughly 0.05 per cent of total global output  and finds itself below the likes of Uzbekistan and Tunisia in production amounts.

Brad Greatrix, senior wine maker at Nyetimber, inspects pinot noir grapes ahead of them being harvested at their vineyard in West Sussex last September

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This map from industry body WineGB shows where the UK's 1,158 vineyards are located

Pinot noir grapes are harvested for Nyetimber at their vineyard in West Sussex last September

Food Standards Agency annual wine production data for 2025 (in hectolitres) Prod Type Vol Red Rose Vol White Vol Varietal Red Rose Vol Varietal White Vol PGI Red Rose Vol PGI White Vol PDO Red Rose Vol PDO White Total Vol Own 5804.97 11,633.42 1,477.17 4,231.65 524.8 1,093.75 3,661.69 4,0241.4 68,668.85 Contract 4848.01 15,059.93 322.01 761.86 605.04 916.41 647.65 5,238.6 28,399.51 Bought in 2161.28 5119.76 801.2 1,510.57 111.05 195.89 3,636.46 13,773.11 27,309.32 TOTALS 12814.26 31813.11 2,600.38 6,504.08 1,240.89 2,206.05 7,945.8 59,253.11 124,377.68 Change on 2024 82.40% 131.62% 89.42% 112.62% 52.32% 53.78% 73.77% 23.28% 55.32%

But the prospects for the UK appear positive given higher temperatures are attracting investors to British vineyards, while grape production abroad is under pressure.

France's Champagne Taittinger set up Domaine Evremond in Kent in 2024, while Vranken-Pommery is developing vineyards in Hampshire under an English label.

Yields varied by region, with producers in North West England and Wales expecting a good harvest in 2025 but those in the South East forecasting it to be below average.

British producer Nyetimber in West Sussex said production would not reach record levels last year because vines had not yet recovered from the cooler and wetter 2024.

Nicola Bates of industry body WineGB said: 'We take great optimism from the quality and scale of the 2025 vintage and recognise the considerable skill and hard work from viticulturalists and winemakers in bringing in the UK's second largest harvest.'

Mark Dawson, wine standards inspection team leader at the FSA, added: '2025 has been a truly exceptional year for English and Welsh wine.

'These figures reflect just how far the industry has come. Our role is to ensure the wine reaching consumers is accurately labelled and meets the required standards.

'The growth we are seeing across the industry from vineyards to warehouses to wholesalers and traders makes our work more important than ever.'

It comes after England had its driest spring for 132 years in 2025, according to Environment Agency figures. The Met Office also declared summer 2025 - which featured four heatwaves - as the hottest since records began in 1884.
A renowned anesthesiologist accused of attempting to push his wife to her death off a Hawaii cliff made an eerie threat before shoving her, his trial heard.

Arielle Konig, 37, claims her husband Gerhardt Konig, 47, attacked her while they were on the Nuuanu hiking trail near the Pali Lookout on March 24 last year.

The nuclear engineer, who took the stand on her birthday Tuesday, told the court how Gerhardt 'forcefully' grabbed her by her arms and pushed her toward a cliff.

'He said, "I'm so f***ing sick of this s***, get back over there" and he starts pushing me back toward the cliff,' she testified.

Arielle said she threw herself to the ground, but Konig started straddling her and tried to inject her with a syringe, the jury heard.

She allegedly knocked the syringe away and tried to fight him off, but he responded by repeatedly hitting her in the head with a rock.

She told the court he 'used his full force' when he struck her and, with tears in her eyes, lifted her bangs to show the court the scar that still remains from the incident.

Konig admits to bashing Arielle over the head with a rock at an Oahu beauty spot in March 2025, but claims she attacked him first. His attorney also argued the incident was a 'human reaction' to Arielle's three-month-long affair with her co-worker.

Arielle Konig, 37, claims her husband Gerhardt Konig, 47, told her 'I'm so f***ing sick of this s***, get back over there' before he tried to push her off a cliff in Hawaii

The renowned anesthesiologist is accused of trying to push wife Arielle Konig, 37, off a hiking trail at the Nuuanu Pali Lookout in Oahu

Arielle told the court that the attack happened after Konig discovered text messages between her and her co-worker Jeff Miller.

She testified that her husband would check her phone and emails daily, and tried to order that they have sexual intercourse on a schedule. These allegations were struck from the court record.

He confronted her while the pair were on vacation and called her a 'lying b***h' and 'whore,' the court heard.

Arielle admitted that the messages were 'flirty in nature,' but said her relationship with Miller was never sexual or physical.

'I was apologetic,' she testified. 'He was obviously hurt. I was committed to my marriage, to rebuild. It felt like an affair to him. It was an emotional affair to him.'

She became emotional again when defense attorney Thomas Otake had her read aloud the birthday card that Konig had given her on the day of the attack.

The doctor called her 'angel face' and wrote that 'there isn't an obstacle in this world too hard for me to fight through for you.'

Konig described her as 'one of the kindest, most giving, and selfless people' that he knows and said she was the 'heart of our family.'

He also called her a 'terrific mom' and said: 'I hit the jackpot with you.'

Arielle Konig became tearful during her testimony Tuesday after the defense had her read aloud the birthday card that her husband had given her on the day of the attack

Gerhardt Konig appeared stone-faced as he watched his wife testify on Tuesday, which was her birthday and the one-year anniversary of the attack

Jurors were shown this photo of Gerhardt Konig at the beauty spot during his trial on Tuesday

Prosecutors allege that Konig attacked his wife out of the blue on the cliff edge of the picturesque hiking spot, before two other walkers saw them during the struggle.

The anesthesiologist broke down in tears as his trial began last week and jurors were played a call he made to his son saying he was going to kill himself after the incident.

The court was also shown an image of Arielle after she survived the alleged attack, showing her with blood seeping from her head and face after apparently being struck by the rock.

Konig's attorney, Thomas Otake, said her injuries were not as bad as they looked in the picture and said she only suffered a small laceration to her eyebrow as he argued last week that the trial should be an assault case, not attempted murder.

But a physician from Queen's Medical Center testified about Arielle's injuries Tuesday, claiming she had suffered crushed tissue down to the skull.

She also had small pieces of rock embedded in her skin, the doctor told the court.

Last week, the defense argued that Arielle attacked Konig first, with Otake telling jurors: 'She picks up a rock and hits him in the face with it, and he quickly reacts, human reaction, grabs the rock, hits her twice, and stops.'

But prosecutors allege he tried to push his wife off a ledge on the trail and attempted to stab her with a syringe before beating her with a jagged rock.

The attack only ended when the two female hikers heard her pleas for help and called 911, the prosecution argued.

Prosecutors allege Gerhardt Konig tried to push his wife over a cliff and bash her over the head with a jagged rock on the Nuuanu Pali Lookout hiking trail (file photo)

The court last week was shown this image of Arielle after the alleged attack. She was seen with blood seeping from her head and face after being struck by the rock. The image has been pixelated due to its graphic nature

The couple had been married since 2018 and had a $1.5 million home in Maui

Konig's lawyers, however, argued that police never found a syringe or evidence that he tried to inject his wife with any substance.

The anesthesiologist fled the scene after the attack. He called his son, confessed to attacking his wife and said he was going to take his own life, audio of the conversation showed.

An eight-hour manhunt ensued in the dense woodland.

Just after the search was called off for the night, three police officers spotted Konig running out of the forest. The cops chased him down and arrested him.

His trial continues Thursday and is expected to last until mid-April. Konig has pleaded not guilty.
Iran has responded to Donald Trump's 15-point peace plan with a list of its own demands, including calling for the closure of US bases in the Middle East and a new toll for Strait of Hormuz shipping.

Washington sent Tehran the plan - modelled on Trump's Gaza deal - to end the crisis in the Middle East, highlighting the White House's eagerness to find an offramp from the war as it wrestles with its economic fallout.

The ongoing shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about one-fifth of the world's gas and crude supply, has proved disastrous for global energy and trade flows, pushing Brent crude prices to their highest levels in nearly four years - at one point reaching nearly $120 a barrel.

It is unclear how widely the plan, delivered via Pakistan, had been shared among Iranian officials, with the regime sternly denying a peace process is taking place following comments from Trump that Tehran wants a deal so badly.

Public statements aside, Iran has let the Trump administration know it has a high-bar for re-entering a ceasefire deal, including the closure of all American bases in the Gulf and reparations for attacks on the country.

According to the Wall Street Journal, other demands include a new order for the Strait of Hormuz, that would allow Tehran to collect fees from ships that transit the Persian Gulf channel, as Egypt does now with the Suez Canal.

The regime wants it to be guaranteed that the conflict wouldnt restart and an end to Israels attacks on the Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah.

It has also demanded a lifting of all sanctions on Iran, and for the country to retain its missile programme, with no negotiations to limit it.

According to the Journal, a US official called the demands 'ridiculous and unrealistic'.

Smoke and flames rise at the site of airstrikes on an oil depot in Tehran on March 7

The ongoing shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about one-fifth of the world's gas and crude supply, has proved disastrous for global energy and trade flows

Rocket trails are seen in the sky above the Israeli coastal city of Netanya amid a fresh barrage of Iranian missile attacks on March 25

The posturing will make reaching a resolution with the Islamic Republic harder than before Trump started the war, Arab and US officials said.

While the US President claimed on Tuesday that Tehran gave Washington a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money, an Iranian military spokesman insisted that the US is 'negotiating with itself', adding: 'Someone like us will never come to terms with someone like you.'

Israel and the US have pummelled Irans ballistic missiles, launchers and production facilities, as well as its nuclear programme in the bombing campaign that began on February 28, with leaders vowing never to allow the regime to possess a nuclear weapon.

In terms of Washington's demands on Iran, Israel's Channel 12 reported that the 15-point plan includes the pledge that nuclear facilities at Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow must be taken out of use and destroyed.

It also calls for transparency and oversight by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over activities in Tehran, as well as the promise that the regime will abandon the use of armed proxies in the region, and stop its funding and arming of regional allies.

Iran would have to dismantle its existing nuclear capabilities that have already been accumulated, and commit to never striving to achieve nuclear weapons again.

Under the plan, all enriched material must be handed over to the IAEA, and no nuclear material will be enriched on Iranian soil.

Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz will remain open and constitute a 'free maritime zone'.

The question of Iranian missiles will be subject to future decision-making, but the weapons would be limited in quantity and range, only deployed for self-defence purposes.

In return, Tehran would receive American assistance in developing a civilian nuclear project in Bushehr for electricity production.

All sanctions on the country would be abolished, as well as the threat of renewing sanctions.

Massive explosions over Tel Aviv as Iran launches surgical missile strike, February 28

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Middle East envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are working on a framework involving 'the declaration of a monthlong ceasefire period, during which the sides would negotiate,' sources told Israel's Channel 12.

Pakistan delivered the plan to Iranian officials with a 24-hour deadline to respond, Haaretz reported.

Israel and Iran continued to exchange strikes last night, with the IDF saying it had attacked two key sites used to develop long-range naval cruise missiles in the capital Tehran.

In Lebanon, Israeli strikes killed at least six people in the southern Sidon area on Wednesday, with the health ministry saying four people died in an 'Israeli enemy raid' on the town of Adloun, and another two in an apartment in the Mieh Mieh refugee camp.

It comes as the chief executive of Shell said that Europe risks fuel shortages as soon as next month if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, with the global oil and gas squeeze already forcing parts of Asia to cut energy consumption - producing a 'ripple effect' that will soon spread west.

With fuel shortages looming, Wael Sawan warned that European governments may need to urgently curb energy demand - a measure not taken since the 2022 crisis amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Moreover, the boss of the world's largest asset manager has said that the world faces a 'stark and steep recession' with years of $150-a-barrel oil prices alongside 'profound economic implications' due to the Iran war.

BlackRock boss Larry Fink claimed it was too early to determine the outcome of the conflict, but told the BBC there were two possible scenarios.

If the conflict ends soon, then oil prices could return to their pre-conflict level at around $70.

But If the war is drawn out, or if there is a cessation and 'yet Iran remains a threat, a threat to trade, a threat to the Strait of Hormuz, a threat to this peaceful coexistence of the GCC region, then I would argue that we could have years of above $100 closer to $150 oil which has profound implications in the economy'.

While Trump may want to de-escalate the conflict to stabilise energy prices, prices are still hovering at $100 as markets grow increasingly unconvinced the war will end soon.

'We will have global recession,' Fink claimed, when asked what would happen if oil stays at $150 a barrel as the Middle East crisis deepens.
A debate in the California governor's race was canceled hours before it was set to take place after backlash to its all-white line up.

The University of Southern California (USC) abruptly called off the Tuesday night event after four minority candidates in the running failed to qualify.

Candidates were selected to participate in the debate based on their polling and fundraising using a formula developed by USC political science professor Christian Grose.

Biden staffer Xavier Becerra, former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, schools chief Tony Thurmond and former state controller Betty Yee all fell short of the mark.

The minority candidates were not invited to appear alongside the four Democrats and two Republicans who were due to face off before voters head to the polls to select Gavin Newsom's replacement on June 2.

USC said on Monday that it was canceling the debate due to concerns that a lack of minority candidates 'created a significant distraction from the issues that matter to voters.'

Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco are leading most polls ahead of a large field of Democrat candidates.

The Democrats invited to Tuesday's debate were Eric Swalwell, Katie Porter and Tom Steyer, with San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan also invited due to a surge in fundraising from Silicon Valley despite poor polling.

A debate in the California governor's race was cancelled less than a day before it was set to take place after the hosts faced backlash because only white candidates qualified. Front-runner Republican Steve Hilton (pictured) said minority candidates that didn't qualify are 'just not doing well enough in the race'

In California, low-polling Democrats changed the rules@SteveHiltonx: Theyre on 2, 3, 4 percent, then claim its about race Its not. Theyre not doing well enough in the race. Activist groups pressured USCand they caved. pic.twitter.com/LDDN0YBFDe  Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) March 24, 2026

Hilton, seen as the front-runner in the close campaign, mocked the Democrats who failed to qualify for forcing the debate to be cancelled, saying that it was 'just because they're not doing well enough in the race.'

'You had these whining LPDs - low polling Democrats - all on two, three, four percent, then they whine and say it's because of race, it's not,' he told Fox News after the debate was cancelled.

The California governor's primary election will result in the top two candidates across party lines advancing to a runoff in November.

Democrats make up a large majority of voters in the state, and any Democratic candidate advancing into the final would be widely expected to win the election.

But recent polling suggests that the two Republican candidates, Hilton and Bianco, may cause an upset and face each other in the race, with criticism of Newsom's governorship and a large Democratic field splitting the vote, meaning the blue state may end up with a GOP governor.

Democrat candidates performing poorly in the race say they have been pressured by party leaders to drop out and consolidate the base.

The candidates who were excluded from Tuesday's debate held a press conference on Friday to complain where they called on the six individuals who did qualify to drop out of the race entirely.

Yee, who typically fails to crack three percent support in most polls, said she was offended by her exclusion, saying last week: 'We are a minority-majority state, and the idea that the four candidates of color are not going to be on the stage to bring those perspectives, to really speak to those communities, is really not doing right by the voters.'

The gubernatorial race is wide open since incumbent Governor Newsom is term-limited and is widely expected to launch a run for the 2028 presidential election.

A wide-open field of Democrats have jumped at the opportunity to replace California Governor Gavin Newsom, who is term limited and is widely expected to run for president in 2028

Betty Yee, a former state controller who fails to crack three percent support in most polls, said minority candidates failing to qualify for the debate stage was 'not doing right by the voters'

Xavier Becerra (right), the health and human services secretary under President Biden, did not qualify for the debate, and said Tuesday after it was cancelled that he thought the qualifying criteria was 'set-up to prematurely chose winners and losers'

Republican Chad Bianco, the Riverside County Sheriff, has frequently placed second in polls to Hilton - raising the prospect that California voters will have to choose between two GOP candidates for governor in November

The cancellation of the debate was widely mocked on social media as critics said obsessing over the racial demographics of the lineups was 'typical' for Democrats.

But the candidates who didn't qualify celebrated USC calling off the debate, with Becerra writing in an X post: 'We fought. We won! We stood up against an unfair candidate debate set-up that prematurely chose winners and losers.'

Professor Grose who said he based the system entirely on polling and fundraising data.

He told the New York Times that his system includes the length of time that a candidate has been in the race, and said research showed that the speed of fundraising is a key predictor of viability in elections.

He insisted that race played no role in his formula and said he created it 'without knowing who would benefit and who would not.'

Tom Steyer, a billionaire who previously ran for president in 2020, attempted to host a separate debate on Tuesday after USC canceled their event, but later axed it because all the minority candidates refused to attend.

Hilton said the cancellation was a 'ridiculous fiasco' and called for the Trump administration to halt federal funding to USC 'pending a full investigation into this anti-free-speech shambles.'
Canadian lawmakers are set to summon Air Canada's chief executive officer to reprimand him for delivering a message on the tragic plane crash at LaGuardia Airport in English, and not repeating the message in French.

Michael Rousseau was brought before the Committee on Official Languages on Tuesday to explain why he delivered his message of condolences to the families of the pilots, one from Quebec, who died in the devastating crash in English only.

Both the pilot and co-pilot, Mackenzie Gunther and Antoine Forest, were killed after an Air Canada plane collided with a fire truck on the runway of New York's LaGuardia Airport on Sunday.

Rousseau uttered a mere two words in French during his video statement on the deadly crash, beginning with 'Bonjour' and ending with 'Merci.'

During the near four-minute statement posted on X, with French subtitles, Rousseau described the incident as 'a very somber day' for the airline.

'I want to express our deepest sorrow for everyone affected,' he continued. 'We know this is a difficult day for everyone, including us here at Air Canada.'

'We are deeply saddened by the loss of two [Jazz Aviation LP] employees, and our deepest condolences go out to the entire Jazz community and their families,' he added.

Now, the airline CEO is set to appear before members of parliament to 'explain himself' for around an hour on May 1.

Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau was brought before the Committee on Official Languages on Tuesday after his video statement, spoken only in English, received over 80 complaints for not being repeated in French

Rousseau was delivering a message of condolences to those affected by the Air Canada plane crash at LaGuardia Airport on Sunday night, which killed both pilots and injured 41 others

The airline CEO is set to appear before members of parliament to 'explain himself' for around an hour on May 1

The video racked up 84 complaints to the Commissioner of Official Languages, with many lawmakers also making public statements condemning the clip.

Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet slammed Rousseau on X for the 'crude lack of respect' in his statement.

'In light of this sad and crude lack of respect toward the loved ones and family of the pilot from Coteau-du-Lac, Antoine Forest, a French-speaking Quebecer, the CEO of Air Canada must seriously ask himself whether he has not clearly disqualified himself for the position he holds,' Blanchet wrote.

French Language Minister Jean-Francois Roberge said in the Quebec National Assembly: 'After all these years in Quebec and Montreal, I think this shows contempt on Mr Rousseau's part. It is unacceptable.'

Parti Quebecois MNA Pascal Berube added that the statement 'lacks sensitivity.'

In a statement to CBC, a spokesperson for the airline said that Rousseau's decision to deliver the message in English was because he was not proficient enough in the French language.

'Mr Rousseau felt it was important to personally address our customers, our employees and those of Jazz, their families and all those affected in any way. He therefore recorded a message before leaving for the crash site,' the statement said.

'Despite his efforts, his ability to speak French does not allow him to convey such a sensitive message as effectively as he would have liked in that language. We have therefore used subtitles to ensure everyone can receive his message directly.'

The Daily Mail reached out to Air Canada and the Committee on Official Languages for comment.

The Port Authority fire truck is seen completely wrecked near the runway after colliding with an Air Canada Express CRJ-900 at LaGuardia Airport in New York

First officer Antoine Forest, 30, was one of the pilots that died in the horrific crash on Sunday

Rousseau had found himself in hot water over his lack of knowledge of the French language just four years ago after the Commissioner of Official Languages received more than 2,600 complaints, CBC reported.

At the time, Rousseau had delivered a statement on the airline's recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic. The message contained approximately 20 seconds of French out of a 26-minute long statement.

Rousseau had said his understanding of the French language was 'fair,' but that he had made it by in Quebec for 14 years without needing to know the language.

'I've been able to live in Montreal without speaking French, and I think that's a testament to the city of Montreal,' he said, per CBC.

After the Air Canada leader faced mountains of backlash from the statements, he apologized and said he would be taking lessons in French.

'I admit that I made a mistake by not learning to speak French when I joined Air Canada and I am correcting that mistake at this point,' he told the committee in 2022, around a year since he took on the leadership role within the airline.

The devastating crash that killed the two pilots injured around 41 others onboard after the aircraft had been traveling at around 150mph during heavy rains on the runway.

The Air Canada Bombardier CRJ-900 landed at around 11.30pm on Sunday night before colliding with the fire truck.

A terrified passenger shared shocking images of the damage to the aircraft

Rousseau had found himself in hot water over his lack of knowledge of the French language just four years ago after the Commissioner of Official Languages received more than 2,600 complaints

The fire truck had been given permission to cross the runway to deal with an unrelated issue with a separate plane, where a pilot reported that an 'odor' was filling the aircraft that left 'flight attendants feeling ill', officials said.

As the fire truck raced to the other aircraft, air traffic controllers appeared to realize it was on a collision course with the Air Canada jet seconds before impact, as one said in the audio: 'Truck One, stop, stop, stop!'

Addressing the plane seconds later, the air traffic controller said: 'JAZZ 646, I see you collided with the vehicle. Just hold position. I know you can't move. Vehicles are responding to you now.'

There were 72 passengers and four crew members aboard the aircraft, and experts said the death toll could have been far higher if the truck had collided with the fuel stored on the plane.

Images from the tarmac after the incident showed the truck was destroyed in the collision. The nose of the Air Canada plane had also been torn off by the impact.

One of the 41 people hospitalized in the crash was a female flight attendant, who was ejected through the front of the jet while still strapped to her jump seat. She was injured but is expected to make a full recovery.

The crash resulted in LaGuardia grounding all flights until at least 2pm ET Monday as emergency crews raced to the scene.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.

The Port Authority vehicle was turned on its side as several emergency responders flooded the runway

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Sources told NBC News that the air traffic controller was working two positions at the time of the crash, amid an ongoing nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers.

Jack Cabot, a passenger on the Air Canada jet, described the moment they made impact as 'chaos.'

Cabot said the journey had been a regular flight like always, but as we were arriving, we came down really hard.

He said the hard landing saw the pilots stop really quickly on the runway, before about two seconds later there was just an absolute slam.

'Everybody was flying everywhere, the plane started veering off left and right, he told Fox News.

It was chaos, I mean it didnt feel like there was anybody in control.'
A Utah mother has furiously claimed that another parent abducted her son, leaving him traumatized over accusations that he bullied her daughter.

Amberlee Collazo, of Provo, is pressing charges against Shannon Marie Tufuga, 40, after she allegedly kidnapped her 11-year-old son and nearly ran him over in September, court documents viewed by ABC 4 show.

'I guess that Shannon had gone around asking some other kids in the neighborhood where he was at and stuff she had been looking for him for some time,' Collazo told the outlet.

After nearly running the boy off the road while he was riding his bike, she allegedly grabbed his arm and told him 'he was going with her and took him to her home,' Collazo claimed.

The goal was to force the boy to apologize to her daughter, and Tufuga threatened to have her husband beat up the child.

However, Collazo said her son was the one actually being harassed. The boy mom claimed the girl, who was in the same grade as Collazo's son, had been relentlessly pursuing him romantically, despite him declining her advances.

'He explained to [Tufuga] that it was her daughter who was the one who wouldnt leave him alone after the numerous times over the last year and a half or two years that he had asked her to please stop,' Collazo said.

Tufuga denied the accusations, saying through her attorney that 'these allegations stem from a troubled child and are not accurate,' ABC 4 reported.

Amberlee Collazo, of Provo, is pressing charges against Shannon Marie Tufuga, 40, (pictured) after she allegedly kidnapped her 11-year-old son in September for alleged bullying

'It is unfortunate that we find ourselves in a position where we must defend the safety of our children and well-being,' her lawyers said in a statement.

'The filing of these allegations are a symptom of our societys failings and an erosion of traditional family values, where children were once held accountable by their own parents.'

Collazo said her son came home in tears, telling her: 'Mom, I was kidnapped.'

'He could barely speak,' she recalled. 'He was so scared. He didn't even go back for his bike because he couldn't handle it. His dad had to go get it from them because he was too scared.'

He would reveal to his mother he had called the girl a 'fat torta,' when asking her to leave him alone.

Although Collazo and her son acknowledged he should not have resorted to name-calling, the mother said she understood why her child would resort to it as a last resort.

'I dont blame him for how he acted, but he shouldnt have called her any type of name like that. Thats demeaning because she is a girl, and he has sisters, and he knows better,' she said.

'But at the same time, like I said, I dont blame him because he was pushed to his limit.'

Collazo said she wished Tufuga (pictured) had just come to her home for a chat, rather than traumatizing her son. Tufuga denies the accusations against her

Collazo said she wished Tufuga had come to her home and requested a chat mom-to-mom to figure out their children's ongoing tension.

'I would have gladly welcomed her in, and we could have spoken, but she didnt even try,' Collazo said. 'So thats kind of like another thing that Im frustrated by.'

After returning to school, before the mother could talk to school officials, the educational institution called the police and an investigation was launched.

Initially, Collazo did not want to press charges against Tufuga, as she didn't want to be the reason a child would not have their mother, but after learning the other mom was remorseless, she changed her mind.

'I hope that she gets whatever she deserves because this is wrong, and my sons traumatized,' Collazo said. 'He goes the complete opposite direction to school now, and he tries really hard to avoid [Tufugas daughter.'

Her son now suffers from anxiety, especially when seeing Tufuga or her daughter. He also avoids Tufuga's property, the mother said.

'Shes scared him to the point where its affected him pretty significantly, and its not right,' Collazo said.

Tufuga has been issued a summons to appear at any hearings, but she was not taken into custody.

She has been charged with felony counts of child kidnapping and intentional or knowing aggravated child abuse.
An outraged mother accused United Airlines of making her toddler stand in his own vomit.

Zareen Abbasi, a senior product marketing manager at Microsoft, criticized the airline after flight attendants allegedly failed to move the beverage cart while her son was sick.

'Hey @United - any reason why your staff consistently treats parents of toddlers as subhuman?' Abbasi wrote on Threads.

'My 18-month-old threw up and despite yall seeing it happen, your staff didn't think it was warranted... to move the beverage cart over momentarily to allow a toddler standing in his own vomit and a panicked mom through to use the bathroom?,' she added.

Abbasi claimed she waited an additional 30 minutes to access the planes lavatory, while flight attendants allegedly continued serving refreshments despite the situation.

'I hate that I have to continue flying United despite you and your staff consistently showing me how much you hate families,' she said on social media.

'The kicker was, when I kindly asked for a few extra sanitizing wipes (I was handed just two) to clean up residual vomit, I was reminded: remember to dispose of all that in the lavatory!'

'But, friendly skies, right?' She wrote.

Abbasi accused United Airlines flight attendants of making her wait an additional 30 minutes to access the planes lavatory

After sharing her ordeal the Microsoft manager received some backlash online, with critics saying she should 'fly another airline,' or 'pack her own wipes' or that she 'should've used a barf bag.'

'Did you use your grown up words and manners to ask the FA if you could get through?' One user replied to her post.

'There may be any number of reasons the flight attendants couldnt jump to your every need exactly when you wanted it,' another person wrote.

'If you dont have a solution to the problem then shut up. Things happen and they happen and its not necessarily always an attack on you,' another critic said.

In response to the criticism, she said she used all of her own wipes and did speak to the flight attendants about the incident.

'For a brand and an airline that spouts spectacles about service and care for their customers I am sharing an anecdote in a public forum that contradicts what they stand for,' Abbasi wrote on Threads.

However, many users swooped into her defense, calling it 'a nightmare scenario' and wishing her and her toddler well.

'The comment thread is insufferable. I guarantee you a cart can move a couple f***ing feet to another side of the plane so that can be cleaned up. Id rather wait an extra 40 minutes for my water while lil dude gets cleaned off,' one user wrote.

Abbasi received a mix of social media backlash and support over the incident

Another said: 'What is wrong with people, asking why a mom lets her barely not-an-infant child throw up on the plane? May all of you be stricken with uncontrollable bodily functions during travel.

'Also, I think the carts have wheels that help them move. You know, so it could have easily moved up or down a couple of rows to let them out,' they continued.

'Anyway, that sounds miserable and extremely frustrating. Hope you guys are rested and recovered.'

Daily Mail reached out to United Airlines for comment.
Keir Starmer is facing fresh 'cover-up' claims today after the police waded into the row over missing messages between his key aide and Peter Mandelson.

The Met Police has taken the unusual step of releasing a transcript of the 999 call last October when Morgan McSweeney reported his phone had been stolen.

It suggests the PM's then-chief of staff did not identify himself or flag the potential security risks - although he did state it was a Government mobile.

CCTV was also not checked due to a mix-up over the name of the street in which Mr McSweeney said he had been mugged just before 10.30pm.

The Tories said the situation 'stinks to high heaven' and demanded a full explanation of why at least some of the messages do not appear to have been backed up.

Shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart said: 'We know the government were worried about a humble address in October, shortly before McSweeney's phone got 'stolen'.

'McSweeney didn't back up the messages and the government didn't chase the Met for CCTV.

'From the outset of the Mandelson affair Keir Starmer has tried to cover things up.

'The Prime Minister did it in September with ''I didn't know the depth of the relationship''.

'He didn't want to release the Mandelson files in February until we forced the Humble Address.

'Now the Chief of Staff's phone goes missing and there doesn't seem to be any intent to get it back or retrieve the messages. Starmer needs to end this cover up now.'

Keir Starmer with Morgan McSweeney (left) in Downing Street last year

Wes Streeting dismissed allegations of a 'cover-up', arguing Mr McSweeney immediately reported the theft last year and could not have known the Commons would order them to be published

The PM left his aides to ask Mandelson (pictured) questions about his long-standing ties to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein

The latest details emerged after a Cabinet minister blamed a 'cock-up' for exchanges with Mandelson being lost.

Wes Streeting dismissed allegations of a 'cover-up', arguing Mr McSweeney could not have known the Commons would order them to be published.

Scotland Yard has revealed it did not follow up the incident at the time because there were no 'realistic' lines of inquiry.

The messages between Mr McSweeney and Mandelson were meant to be published with a swathe of other material about his appointment as US ambassador in December 2024.

Sir Keir was forced into the transparency move last month following a revolt by MPs furious that the peer's long-standing friendship with Jeffrey Epstein was overlooked. Another batch of papers is due within weeks.

Mr McSweeney quit Downing Street last month, saying he took full responsibility for the appointment of Mandelson.

The top aide reported having his phone stolen in central London in October, the month after Mandelson was removed from his Washington role.

The Government phone was apparently wiped remotely and replaced with another device the next day. It is understood the Cabinet Office does have a record of some of the messages between Mr McSweeney and Mandelson.

The Met took the rare step of releasing details of the 999 call following criticism that it did not fully investigate the theft.

The force suggested that because Mr McSweeney did not identify himself the potential 'security risks' could not have 'reasonably' shaped decisions on how to handle the case.

Officers are said to have tried to call the senior adviser twice the following day, without getting a reply.

CCTV was also reviewed, but because of the confusion around the location nothing turned up. Footage is now being 'revisited' using the correct location.

Kemi Badenoch raised the issue of messages going missing at PMQs in the Commons today.

In a reference to Sir Keir's previous legal role, she swiped: 'I wonder what a director of public prosecutions would make of the defence, ''sorry, I can't produce my WhatsApps, my phone's been stolen''.'

During broadcast interviews this morning, Mr Streeting said Mr McSweeney 'couldn't have known' the exchanges would later be needed for scrutiny.

'I can totally understand the cynicism in these sorts of cases, but do bear in mind that when his phone was stolen, it was reported to the police at the time,' he told Times Radio.

'He couldn't at that stage have known that Parliament would ask for the publication of all messages in the way that they have in quite an unprecedented way.

'Yes, sometimes in politics things can be explained as a result of conspiracy. In other times, more often than not, it is a result of cock-up rather than conspiracy.'

Concerns have been raised that Mr McSweeney's phone was not backed up, despite Government guidance being that senior officials must forward or screenshot messages on to an official system.

They are responsible for protecting personal data from 'accidental loss'.

Mr Streeting said: 'I suspect that off the back of this, there will be a reiteration of the expectations on ministers, special advisers and officials so that people are clear on the rules and expectations.

'People will want to tighten up on those fronts, inevitably.'

Mr Streeting has already published his own messages with Mandelson, to the frustration of some colleagues.

The senior minister also said he used WhatsApp's disappearing messages function, stressing that when he receives messages, he relays the information on to the Department of Health and Social Care.

He added: 'We also publish transparency returns in terms of the meetings that we have, including meetings with journalists. There are standards of transparency and accountability. Those things matter.'

Yesterday the Metropolitan Police confirmed a man in his 40s had reported having his device taken in central London on October 20, but the alleged incident was wrongly recorded as having taken place in Belgrave Street in Tower Hamlets instead of Belgrave Road in Westminster.

The force said a previous review of the allegation, including whether there was CCTV available, 'did not identify any realistic lines of inquiry' and the investigation was closed.

The error, identified while responding to a media inquiry, will now be amended and the force will reassess whether there is available evidence, police said.

Downing Street dead-batted repeated questions over whether Mr McSweeney complied with the rules on handling messages.

A No10 spokesman told reporters: 'There is established guidance in place for the management and recording of electronic communications on non-corporate communications channels, including WhatsApp.

'Messages only need to be kept where they relate to substantive discussions or decisions that form part of the official record.

'Significant government information exchanged via these channels must be captured into government systems by copying, forwarding, screenshotting or recording its substance.

'That applies regardless of how and where the communication takes place, including on personal devices.'

The spokesman also said: 'Individuals are expected to follow that (guidance). They are responsible for deciding how the rules apply to each communication using their professional judgement and considering the context.'

The PM came close to being ousted in a wave of anger about the affair last month.

He has admitted it was 'me that made the mistake' and offered an apology to the victims of Epstein.

A three-page 'due diligence' report supplied to Sir Keir on December 11, 2024 flagged the ties between Mandelson and Epstein

Sir Keir did not speak to Mandelson personally before he was appointed, instead leaving it to aides to ask questions about his Epstein ties.

Mandelson was arrested on February 23 on suspicion of misconduct in public office, having been accused of passing sensitive information to Epstein during his time as business secretary under Gordon Brown.

He was subsequently bailed, but later handed his passport back and freed under investigation. He has denied any criminal wrongdoing or acting for personal gain.
A Georgia judge granted a one-dollar bond for a woman accused by police of taking pills to induce an illegal abortion.

Alexia Moore, 31, was arrested on March 4 on charges of murder and illegal drug possession.

Police say she violated Georgia's strict anti-abortion law in December when she gave birth to a baby girl who died about an hour later after Moore allegedly took abortion drugs.

The state law bans abortions after embryonic cardiac activity can be detected, which is generally at about six weeks' gestation. Police say Moore was between 22 and 24 weeks pregnant.

However, at a bond hearing on Monday, Superior Court Judge Steven Blackerby, who was appointed to the bench in January, questioned whether the murder charge would stick, The New York Times reported.

'I think that charge is extremely problematic. That is going to be a hard charge to convict upon,' Blackerby said.

He set a $1 bond for the murder charge, as well as $1,000 bond amounts for each of the two drug charges Moore faces.

District Attorney Keith Higgins did not challenge the bond amount in court and told the judge that police had not consulted his office before charging Moore, according to The Current.

Alexia Moore, 31, has been charged with murder after police say she took pills to induce an illegal abortion

Moore delivered a baby girl at Southeast Georgia Health System hospital in Camden County who lived for only an hour on December 30

Superior Court Judge Steven Blackerby questioned if the charge would stick and granted Moore a $1 bond on the murder charge

Moore arrived at Southeast Georgia Health System hospital in Camden County on December 30, complaining of abdominal pain, court records state.

She told medical workers that she had taken misoprostol, a drug used in medication abortions, and the opioid painkiller oxycodone, according to an arrest warrant.

The baby girl survived for about an hour after being delivered at the hospital, the warrant stated.

The police investigator wrote that Moore told the nursing staff: 'I know my infant is suffering, because I am the one who did the abortion. I want her to die.'

Medical records obtained by investigators estimate that Moore had been pregnant for 22 to 24 weeks.

The warrant also cited 'the medical staff's knowledge that the baby had a beating heart and was struggling to breathe.'

In order to send Moore to trial for murder, Higgins' office would first need to obtain an indictment from a grand jury.

Her case would be one of the first instances of a woman being charged for terminating a pregnancy in Georgia since it passed a 2019 law banning most abortions.

District Attorney Keith Higgins did not challenge the bond amount in court and told the judge that police had not consulted his office before charging Moore

Online jail records show that Moore posted bond and was released Monday. She is being represented by attorneys from the Georgia Public Defender Council, which applauded the judges decision.

'Today's decision is a reminder that justice is not served by accusation alone,' the council said in a statement.

'Our system works best when courts carefully weigh the facts, uphold constitutional protections, and safeguard the rights of every person who comes before them.'

The Daily Mail contacted Higgins' office for comment.
A two-year-old girl has died after ingesting fentanyl at a California home despite social services being well aware of her mother's out-of-control drug addiction.

Stevie Price had been dead for hours by the time police found her surrounded by glass pipes, white powder, and infant formula just after 5.30am on February 12.

Authorities said they believe the toddler had ingested fentanyl that had been left within her reach, in what they described as a 'filthy' San Francisco apartment.

Police arrested the girl's mother, Michelle Price, along with her boyfriend Steve Ramirez. Both have been charged with child endangerment.

Records seen by the San Francisco Chronicle show that Price was known to Child Protective Services (CPS) and Stevie's death was tragically predictable.

CPS had investigated Price at least four times and two cases against her involving child neglect allegations were still open, according to the Chronicle.

The latest ongoing case was opened in November. Two previous cases had been closed - one was found to be unsubstantiated, and another alleging unsafe living conditions and drug exposure was deemed inconclusive.

Social workers also told police that Stevie had been born with fentanyl in her system, meaning her mother had been on their radar from the start of the child's life.

A two-year-old girl has died after ingesting fentanyl at a San Francisco home, despite social services being well aware of her mother's out-of-control drug addiction. Pictured is Trent Rhorer, the executive director of the San Francisco Human Services Agency

Stevie Price had been dead for hours by the time police found her at a property on the street shown above. She was discovered surrounded by glass pipes, white powder and infant formula just after 5.30am on February 12 in what officials described as a 'filthy' Bay Area apartment

It is unclear whether any attempts were made to remove Stevie from her mother's care.

The Daily Mail has reached out to local police for comment and the San Francisco Human Services Agency (SFHSA), which oversees child protective services in the area. SFHSA has been led by executive director Trent Rhorer since 2000.

'The San Francisco Human Services Agency is committed to keeping children safe in San Francisco,' agency officials said in a statement sent to the Chronicle.

'Due to confidentiality and other provisions of law, we are unable to provide comment on individual cases.'

San Francisco Police said officers responded to a 911 call reporting that a child was not breathing at a home last month.

Officers rushed to the apartment on the 3800 block of 18th Street in the Mission Dolores neighborhood, where Price and Ramirez lived with Stevie.

Prosecutors said Stevie's body was already showing signs of rigor mortis when police arrived, 'indicating the child had been dead for several hours.'

They described the apartment as 'filthy and in extreme disarray' and as a 'hoarder house' laden with blackened drug pipes, lighters and small torches.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the San Francisco Human Services Agency (SFHSA), which oversees child protective services. The SFHSA headquarters is pictured above

Investigators also found fentanyl powder on a bed, along with a used container for Narcan, a drug used to reverse opioid overdoses.

Price appeared to be under the influence of drugs when officers arrived at the home, while Ramirez attempted to flee on a bicycle, according to the Chronicle.

Officers chased him down and arrested him, before charging the pair with felony child endangerment and other counts related to drug possession.

Ramirez was also known to authorities, with a long criminal history involving domestic violence convictions and arrests for sexual offenses and narcotics violations, per the Chronicle.

CPS even substantiated three allegations of child neglect against Ramirez, in 2011, 2012, and 2013, according to the outlet.

Assistant District Attorney Leigh Frazier confirmed that the courts were aware of 'open cases' involving the neglect of Stevie.

'A two-year-old child was found deceased in a residence saturated with fentanyl, drug paraphernalia and extreme filth, and the magistrate was aware that open CPS cases existed involving ongoing neglect of this very child,' Frazier wrote in a February 14 motion.

A fentanyl triage center in San Francisco, California, is pictured in February 2026

'Prior CPS supervision, formal interventions, and monitoring failed to prevent continued neglect, ongoing drug use in the residence, and ultimately the death of the child.'

A magistrate judge allowed Price to be released last month, according to the Chronicle - a move which prosecutors are challenging.

Price and Ramirez were not listed in custody records as of Tuesday. Price is due to appear in court April 16.
A passenger aircraft bound to New York has been forced to make a U-turn after it struck a coyote during takeoff.

JetBlue Flight 1129 hit the animal jetting off from Rhode Island TF Green International Airport on Tuesday morning, according to the FAA.

The plane initially continued its climb toward the Big Apple but was forced to loop back about 15 minutes later.

'We were up in the air for 10 to 15 minutes, and then all of a sudden the captain came on,' Erin Drozda, a passenger on the flight, told WPRI.

'[They] said, "This is the flight crew. If anyone heard that thud, we hit a coyote, and we are now on our way back to Providence,"' she added.

'We thought it was a joke at first,' Drozda recalled. 'You dont ever hear that.'

Drozda added that emergency crews were waiting on the Tarmac when the flight returned to Rhode Island.

Crews inspected the front of the aircraft for damage, then asked passengers to deplane so a full inspection could be completed, she said.

The aircraft was bound to New York and forced to make a U-turn. Police are shown on the scene

Emergency crews are seen on the Tarmac after a JetBlue flight turned around back to Rhode Island

After the plane returned to TF Green Airport, emergency crew inspected the nose of the plane and later removed all passengers

'We got off the plane and stayed inside for about another half hour or so, and then they told us that everything was OK, and we were able to get back on the plane.'

The aircraft took off at 6.16 am, and U-turned back to TF Green at 6.40am, according to FlightAware data.

Nearly two hours later, the flight took off again shortly after 8.30am and landed at John F Kennedy International Airport just after 9am.

The coyote collision did not impact other flights, a TF Green Airport spokesperson told CBS News.

A JetBlue spokesperson sad the plane turned around after reports a coyote had been struck, acting 'out of an abundance of caution.'

The airline confirmed the flight landed safely with no issues or injuries.

Drozda said the delay caused her and her wife to miss their connecting flight to Costa Rica, though they managed to rebook for Wednesday, the outlet reported.

It comes after the FAA issued a ground stop for all JetBlue flights on March 10, after the airline requested a nationwide halt, believed to be over IT failures at the carrier.

The disruptions adds to mounting travel chaos nationwide

JetBlue scrambled to fix the technical problems and avoid cascading delays across US airports.

The halt was lifted about an hour later that day, and flights resumed as normal.

The disruptions adds to mounting travel chaos nationwide, with TSA lines stretching up to four hours in recent days as officials blamed a Department of Homeland Security government shutdown for staffing shortages.

Daily Mail reached out to the FAA, TF Green Airport, and JetBlue for additional comment.
A transgender illegal migrant found guilty of raping a 14-year-old boy in a Manhattan bodega bathroom will not face any more time behind bars.

Nicol Suarez, 31, took a plea deal for the February 2025 assault in exchange for a sentence of time served.

The Colombian migrant had been locked up on Rikers Island since the attack and was told she will walk free from jail when she is formally sentenced on April 27.

However, it is expected that the trans attacker's freedom will not last long, as prosecutors said they have been told federal authorities will deport her following her sentencing.

Suarez received the light sentence after she pleaded guilty to second-degree rape in Manhattan Supreme Court, admitting to carrying out the sickening assault by following the teen into a bathroom.

She was previously arrested in Massachusetts on robbery, weapons and prostitution charges, but had been released due to local sanctuary city policies, Homeland Security officials said.

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office (DA) said the plea deal was reached following discussions with the victim's family, as it spared the teen from having to testify about the ordeal.

The DA's office said in a statement following Suarez's guilty plea: 'We expect the defendant to remain detained and be deported following sentencing, due to the felony conviction.'

Transgender illegal migrant sex attacker Nicol Suarez, 31, was handed a sentence of time served in exchange for a plea deal over the rape of a 14-year-old boy in a Manhattan bodega last year

Suarez was handed the lenient sentence after pleading guilty - but the trans attacker's freedom will not last long, as prosecutors said they expect federal authorities to deport her back to Columbia following her sentencing next month

The sex attack unfolded on February 11, 2025, after Suarez followed the 14-year-old into a bodega after spotting him across from Thomas Jefferson Park in Harlem.

Prosecutors said Suarez stalked the teen into a bathroom in the deli before raping him.

Suarez was seen on surveillance footage calmly walking out of the bodega as she led her small puppy by a leash, per the New York Post.

The traumatized teenager flagged down bystanders on the street after the assault and Suarez was arrested the next day.

Suarez was found to be an illegal immigrant originating from Colombia and officials at US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) obtained a detainer to arrest her for deportation as soon as her criminal trial is over.

Then-Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement at the time that Suarez was only in the US because she was allowed to walk the streets under the Biden administration.

'This creep shouldve never been released into our country,' McLaughlin said.

'Thanks to the failed sanctuary policies and Bidens open-border agenda, this serial criminal was freed to prey on innocent American children  but that ends now.

The sex attack unfolded on February 11, 2025, after Suarez followed the teen into a bodega after spotting him across from Thomas Jefferson Park in Harlem. She was seen on surveillance footage calmly walking out of the bodega as she led her small puppy by a leash

Suarez was previously arrested in Massachusetts on robbery, weapons and prostitution charges, but had been released due to local sanctuary city policies

Officials said Suarez was only in the US because she was allowed to walk the streets under the Biden administration, as a DHS spokesperson said: 'This creep shouldve never been released into our country'

'ICE will not allow predators like Contreras-Suarez to terrorize American citizens.'

After the attack last February, a source told the New York Post that they blamed New York City's sanctuary laws, saying: 'ICE could just pick this person up and deport them back, but due to our sanctuary laws we can't do anything.'

'I feel really bad for the kid that has to go through this because his life will never be the same,' the source added.

'We worry about the migrants but what about the victim? This is a true victim.'

A nearby deli owner, Azid Haime, described the incident as 'disgusting.'

'All my body is shaking; I want to sit. I can't explain how I feel. I'm more than angry,' he said, adding that many young kids come to his shop from the park.
Two Ukrainian military drones strayed into the airspace of Estonia and Latvia via Russia before one slammed into a power station.

Authorities in both NATO member nations said the drones were believed to be part of a wider Ukrainian strike on Russian territory that veered off course.

The incidents come just days after Lithuania reported that another stray Ukrainian drone had crashed into a lake on Monday.

Despite the dramatic scenes, there were no reports of injuries or damage from the drone strike on Estonia's Auvere power station, located just 2km from the Russian border, the Estonian government said.

'The drone was not directed at Estonia. This is a concrete consequence of Russia's full-scale war of aggression,' Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said in a post on X.

Justice Minister Liisa-Ly Pakosta told local media on Wednesday morning that the government is to convene for an emergency session concerning a security incident.

Generator Enefit Power says there is no immediate damage to the power plant, while the incident will not have a significant impact on the Estonian electricity system.

In Latvia, President Edgars Rinkevics confirmed the drone that crashed on the country's territory was Ukrainian and part of an attack on Russian targets, according to public broadcaster LSM.

A part of a Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle, which according to the Latvian National Armed Forces, flew into Latvian airspace and crashed in Kraslavas region, Latvia

The object that entered Latvia detonated at around 2.30am, he said, having been detected by Latvian radar a little over 10 minutes earlier

Early warning systems detected a sound resembling an explosion in the Kraslava region, LSM added.

Egils Lescinskis, Deputy Chief of the Joint Staff of the Latvian National Armed Forces, said that it had been a restless night for air defense units.

The object that entered Latvia detonated at around 2.30am, he said, having been detected by Latvian radar a little over 10 minutes earlier.

'The aircraft most likely veered off course or was affected by electromagnetic warfare measures while protecting some technically important objects,' Lescinskis noted when asked whether the flight trajectory was intentional.

The ISS security agency stressed that unauthorised members of the public must not visit the crash site and must keep their distance from anything resembling drone debris, as wreckage could be potentially hazardous due to the risk of explosion.

Officials also revealed that a third drone briefly entered Latvian airspace via Belarus before flying back into Russia.

The latest incursions unfolded at roughly the same time Russian officials claimed a Ukrainian drone attack had ignited fires at oil facilities in the Baltic Sea ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga - key export hubs near Estonia and Finland.

Kyiv has intensified its drone campaign against Russian oil refineries and export infrastructure in recent weeks, aiming to weaken Moscow's war economy as US-brokered peace talks have stalled.

Earlier this week, Lithuania's prime minister said a military drone that crashed into a lake in the country had also originated from Ukraine and was intended to strike Russian oil exports before going astray.

'The war, provoked by the aggressor Russia, has gotten us to this point, with drones falling on the territories of all three Baltic states within 48 hours,' Lithuania's Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said in a statement on Wednesday.

'It is obvious that air defence is a challenge not only in Lithuania, but throughout NATO,' he said.

This is not the first Ukrainian drone to cross into Estonian airspace.

Last August, a Ukrainian attack drone crashed in a field in southern Estonia, having flown off course during an attack on Ust-Luga.
A stepmother who could become the first Australian woman on death row in the US has been granted bail after spending more than seven years behind bars.

South Australian woman Lisa Marie Cunningham has been kept behind bars in a maximum security jail since being charged with the first-degree murder of her sevenyearold stepdaughter Sanaa Cunningham in February 2017.

Cunningham and her jailed American husband, exPhoenix detective Germayne Cunningham, have both maintained they were not involved in the girl's death.

Sanaa had more than 60 scars, 100 cuts and bruises, and several ulcers and abscesses when she died at Phoenix Children's Hospital in February 2017.

Prosecutors allege Sanaa, who suffered from severe schizophrenia and other medical conditions, died from a sepsis infection after she suffered head and foot injuries linked to her living conditions.

Ms Cunningham claims she is the victim of a miscarriage of justice and has been set up by authorities so they could avoid a costly civil lawsuit over the girl's death.

She said Sanaa died from pneumonia because the couple followed flawed medical advice. She also claimed scars on the little girl were from self harm.

The prosecution alleges the couple restrained Sanaa by tying her down so she couldn't expel fluid from her lungs, leading to her death.

South Australian woman Lisa Marie Cunningham (above) was released on bail on Tuesday

Police allege they found incriminating texts between the couple, including one from December 2016 describing how the girl was zip-tied to a water container to let other children sleep.

Ms Cunningham claimed the texts were forged and were not on her phone on the day Sanaa died.

The couple's trial began in August 2025 but was paused indefinitely after prosecutors revealed serious glitches in the evidencetracking software used by Arizona police.

That revelation threw the prosecution's entire case into doubt and allowed Ms Cunningham to be released on bail.

Ms Cunningham told media waiting outside the jail on Tuesday that she was glad to finally be out of jail.

'I hope it means a dismissal with prejudice because that's what it means to me. We're devastated and heartbroken, and just grateful to be free,' she said, 7News reported.

Judge Patricia Starr on Monday had ruled the Australian could be freed on bail, so long as she wore ankle monitors.

The decision was made in spite of prosecutors arguing she could be a flight risk as she is from Australia.

Ms Cunningham (left) was arrested alongside her American husband, Germayne Cunningham (right)

Ms Cunningham has been in custody since 2017 following her arrest for the death of her stepdaughter, Sanaa Cunningham (above)

'There's no evidence that either one of them poses a specific danger to others in the community,' Judge Starr said.

'The weight of the evidence, frankly, is difficult for me because I haven't heard all of the evidence.

'I've considered what has been provided or what I've seen so far, but the case is not over yet.'

Ms Cunningham was previously unable to leave the jail as she couldn't afford the US$500,000 bond, about AU$717,000.

If convicted, she and her co-accused husband could both face the death penalty.

Ms Cunningham would be the first woman to be executed in Arizona since the 1930s, and the first Australian woman ever to be executed in the US.

It is unclear when she will return to court.
A former San Diego reporter allegedly asked his victims what their ethnicity was before shooting them in a targeted attack, police said.

Ricardo Berron, 46, of Chula Vista, was arrested on March 10 after being named the suspect in two separate shootings on Palomar Mountain in San Diego County.

The former Telemundo reporter was taken into custody at the San Diego International Airport while he was preparing to leave for vacation, police said.

He has been accused of shooting two people on Palomar Mountain after asking what their ethnicity was. Both men were Hispanic.

One of his victims, Joseph Valentino, told Fox 5 San Diego that he 'looked over my left shoulder and saw the silhouette of somebody holding a rifle at my head and wearing a hoodie,' while he was at a lookout in October.

'He asked me if I was Mexican. I responded yes. At that point, I saw him zero in on my head, and instinctively turned to the right. I heard the shot - it missed my face and caught my arm.'

Valentino managed to drive away to safety before a second shot went off, hitting his rear tire, he said.

He quickly drove to a nearby home for help. Doctors were able to save his arm, he said. Valentino started a GoFundMe to help cover his medical expenses.

Former Telemundo reporter Ricardo Berron, 46, of Chula Vista, was arrested on March 10. He is suspected of shooting two people on Palomar Mountain in October and February

He was arrested at the San Diego International Airport, where he was preparing to takeoff on vacation

Investigators connected Valentino's encounter with the shooter with a separate incident that occurred months later in February in the same area.

A man told police he had been approached by the suspect while he was looking at the stars. Berron allegedly fired one shot through his driver's side window before fleeing the scene.

The man, who was also asked about his ethnicity, was not injured.

While searching the father-of-five's Chula Vista home, police found a 9mm handgun that is believed to have been used in one of the shootings. It was taken in as evidence.

The reporter was booked into the Vista Detention Facility on two counts of assault with a deadly weapon. He has been released on bail.

One of his victims, Joseph Valentino, said Berron allegedly asked him if he was Mexican before shooting through his window while he sat in his car on the mountain

The bullet hit his arm. He was able to get escape and went to the nearest home for help. Doctors were able to save his arm

Valentino's car can be seen with blood on the driver's seat and center console and with a bullet hole in the back driver's side window

Investigators later connected Valentino's case with another in February, where a man was also shot at and asked about his ethnicity near the same area on Palomar Mountain

When approached by Fox 5 San Diego, Berron refused to comment. His wife, Shantel Acosta, told reporters that police have the wrong person.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Berron for comment.
Donald Trump is massing a 7,000-strong ground invasion force on Iran's doorstep after the Islamic regime snubbed a 15-point peace plan with a series of 'ridiculous' demands.

Pentagon chiefs ordered around 2,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East last night to join some 4,500 Marines already en route to the region.

The President is prepared to pull the trigger on a full-scale invasion if Tehran continues to rebuff his diplomatic overtures, according to members of his inner circle.

'Trump has a hand open for a deal, and the other is a fist, waiting to punch you in the f***ing face,' a Trump aide told Axios.

The 15-point plan, modeled on Trump's Gaza deal, would require Iran to dismantle all nuclear and long-range missile capabilities, open the Strait of Hormuz, and abandon proxy terror groups.

But Iranian state TV on Wednesday said that the regime had rejected the ceasefire proposal. Instead, Tehran is demanding the closure of all US bases in the Gulf, reparations, and an end to Israeli military strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Tehran is also seeking to bring the strait - a chokepoint for roughly a fifth of the world's oil - under its control, allowing it to charge transit fees on passing vessels, much like Egypt does with the Suez Canal.

Oil prices lurched widely, with Brent crude prices falling as low as $97 per barrel on Tuesday on news of the peace plan, before rising back to $102 on Wednesday.

Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday

A Trump official described Iran's demands as 'ridiculous' and 'unrealistic', warning that reaching a deal is now more difficult than before the war

Iran has refuted Trump's peace plan with far-reaching demands

The Islamic regime is demanding control of the Strait of Hormuz

A Trump official described Iran's demands as 'ridiculous' and 'unrealistic', warning that reaching a deal is now more difficult than before the war began as the President prepares a potential ground invasion force.

US and Iranian diplomats have not spoken through direct contact and instead communicate via Middle Eastern intermediaries from Egypt, Turkey, and Pakistan.

The President called for a one-month ceasefire on Tuesday during which the two sides could thrash out the negotiations on the 15-point peace plan.

The plan now stands in complete contrast to the demands being issued from Tehran.

Ceding control of the Strait of Hormuz remains a non-starter for Saudi Arabia as Riyadh urges Trump to stay in the fight.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has repeatedly urged Trump to finish the Islamic regime in calls over the last week, including the use of ground forces to seize Iran's energy sites.

Iran remains wary of Trump's envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, accusing them of 'backstabbing' Tehran in negotiations before the US and Israel launched strikes on February 28.

Iranian officials are pushing for Vice President JD Vance to lead the US negotiating team, believing he is sympathetic after privately expressing doubts about Operation Epic Fury.

Smoke and flames rise at the site of airstrikes on an oil depot in Tehran on March 7

Thousands of US troops are expected to deploy to the Middle East in the coming days

Trump is facing intense pressure to end the conflict after the Iranian stranglehold on the narrow Strait of Hormuz sent global oil prices skyrocketing.

Trump announced a five-day halt to US strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure on Monday while urging Tehran to return to the negotiating table.

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammed-Baqer Qalibaf has emerged as the country's de-facto leader and the preferred interlocutor for Trump officials.

Qalibaf has denied talks with Washington.
A retired couple have been ordered to tear down a second fence they constructed on land opposite their home, weeks after being told a new privacy screen around their own property must be removed.

David, 67 and Denise Hopwood, 66, spent 2,000 replacing an existing fence on the edge of a field across from their house in Over Hulton, Bolton, saying they took the decision to 'lighten up' their neighbourhood.

The couple say they replaced a dilapidated barrier on the land in Greater Manchester almost a decade ago, and also installed a large planter and lights.

But they have now been instructed to tear down the grey fencing and remove their adornments by the landowner, who told them they had 'trespassed' onto territory which is not theirs.

It comes just weeks after Bolton Council told the Hopwoods they could have to remove new fencing around their house amid claims it was 'it was out of touch with the character and appearance of the surrounding area'.

They had replaced an existing hedge barrier with a 7 foot tall, 82 foot long fence they built in their backyard at the cost of 4,500, as the plant-based screen was becoming too hard to maintain due to their age and arthritis.

Retired Mr and Mrs Hopwood said that they have spent time over the years maintaining the land where the second fence sits, and installed chain link bollards and flower planters used for neighbourhood displays over the Christmas period.

Mr Hopwood said that since its construction eight years ago, no issues have been raised until now, and believes someone must have lodged a complaint.

A retired couple have been ordered to tear down a fence (pictured on field edge, top) they constructed on land opposite their home, weeks after being told a new privacy screen around their own property must be removed

David (pictured), 67 and Denise Hopwood, 66, spent 2,000 replacing an existing fence on the edge of a field across from their house in Over Hulton, Bolton

The couple received a letter from landowners Peel Land on March 10 ordering them to pull down the 75-foot fence, which they said was built without planning permission.

Mr Hopwood said he and his wife are 'devastated' and set to lose more money due to costs associated with its removal.

The letter reads: 'It has come to our attention that you have encroached on land owned by Peel.

'Such encroachments include the erection of a fence, chain link bollards and flower planters.

'We request that you remove all fixtures and reinstate the registered site boundaries within 14 days of the date of this letter, after which time we will have no alternative but to refer this matter to our solicitors.'

Peel Land said the structures had been installed without its consent and that it is acting within its rights as the landowner.

Mr Hopwood said: 'We've had that fence up for eight years now and they've never said anything - why now?

'Someone's clearly brought it to their attention.'

He said the area had previously been in poor condition.

Mrs Hopwood said: 'The planter was to cover a big dump of concrete after someone just dumped it there - it looks lovely now.'

The couple were previously ordered to remove their new fence around their own home (pictured) by Bolton Council

The couple installed the fence at their own expense, as well as a planter, lighting and other adornments

After being instructed by landowners Peel Land to take it down, the remnants of the construction were seen this week

They also said the display had become a feature for the local community, particularly during the Christmas period.

Mr Hopwood said: 'It's become quite the thing. People travel from far to come and see it and grab some sweets from the display we set up.

'It's a community thing. The kiddies love it and now it's going to be ruined.'

Peel Land said it does not accept that permission was granted for the use of the land and maintains the couple have 'trespassed.'

The couple said the firm had declined their offer to keep the fence in place in return for a paid licence, but do not intend to challenge the decision.

Mr Hopwood said: 'We're not fighting it. We don't know what we've done so wrong, but we can't afford to take it to court.

'We maintained the land and we put the fence there at our own expense because we wanted to make it look nice.

'I will not be maintaining that land any longer after this. They can figure that out themselves.'

Mrs Hopwood added: 'I'm devastated, we're devastated. We were just trying to do a nice thing for the community.'

The couple said they will now need to pay for the fence to be removed.

Last week it was reported how the Hopwoods were faced with tearing down a fence around their home.

They were refused planning permission for the barrier by Bolton Council, which claimed the fence did not align with the 'character and appearance of the surrounding area'.

The retirees challenged the decision saying the hedge had cost them 800 per year to maintain and the fence, complete with a one-foot tall trellis and gravel boards, had 'transformed' their lives.

However the council has remained steadfast on their decision and told the couple, following a site visit last month, to pull down the fence.

It cited several reasons, including its location, materials, colour and size, saying it 'appears a discordant and strident feature in the street scene'.

Mr Hopwood said he and his wife both suffer from arthritis and the hedge has become 'out of control', leaving them unable to look after it and prompting them to install the fence.

A council report said the 2.1-metre high black fence is 'very prominent' on the street.

Despite being topped with a decorative trellis, it was said to fully enclose the front of the house and appear 'at odds with the open frontages, low walls and hedgerows of the dwellings opposite'.

It concluded there was little evidence to support the argument that the 'height and materiality of the fence is necessary to achieve the security and privacy', having considered the personal circumstances of the couple.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez warned Wednesday that the Middle East war presented a 'far worse' scenario than the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

'This is not the same scenario as the illegal war in Iraq. We are facing something far worse. Much worse. With a potential impact that is far broader and far deeper,' he told parliament.

'This time, it's an absurd and illegal war. A cruel one that sets us back from achieving our economic, social, and environmental goals.'

The Socialist premier has refused Washington's requests to use Madrid's military bases against Iran, despite US President Donald Trump's threat to sever trade with Spain as a result.

Sanchez said the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 had failed to achieve its goals and instead made life worse for ordinary people, saying it led to a sharp increase in fuel and grocery prices, a migration crisis and jihadist attacks in Europe.

He warned that the attacks on Iran could have a similar economic impact for millions.

'Every bomb that falls in the Middle East eventually hits - as we are already seeing - the wallets of our families,' Sanchez said.

His government approved last week a sweeping package worth five billion euros ($5.8 billion) aimed at cushioning the economic impact of the Middle East war, which included reductions on taxes on fuel.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (pictured) warned Wednesday that the Middle East war presented a 'far worse' scenario than the invasion of Iraq in 2003

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'It is not fair that some set the world on fire while others bear the ashes. It is not right that Spaniards and other Europeans should pay out of their own pockets for this illegal war,' Sanchez said.

His Iraq reference may strike a chord with Spanish voters.

Support for that war by the conservative Popular Party (PP) in power at the time which sent troops to Iraq was widely unpopular and sparked mass protests.

Some analysts say it paved the way for the Socialist Party's surprise win in March 2004, days after deadly jihadist bombings hit Madrid.

A branch of Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attacks and called for the withdrawal of Spanish forces from Iraq.

A majority of Spaniards, 53.2 percent, back Sanchez's decision not to let the United States use the Rota naval base and Moron airbase in strikes against Iran, a poll published earlier this month in daily newspaper El Pais showed.

It comes as Iran has responded to Trump's 15-point peace plan with a list of its own demands, including calling for the closure of US bases in the Middle East and a new toll for Strait of Hormuz shipping.

Washington sent Tehran the plan - modelled on Trump's Gaza deal - to end the crisis in the Middle East, highlighting the White House's eagerness to find an offramp from the war as it wrestles with its economic fallout.

The ongoing shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz has proved disastrous for global energy and trade flows, pushing Brent crude prices to their highest levels in nearly four years - at one point reaching nearly $120 a barrel.

It is unclear how widely the plan, delivered via Pakistan, had been shared among Iranian officials, with the regime sternly denying a peace process is taking place following comments from Trump that Tehran wants a deal 'so badly'.

Public statements aside, Iran has let the Trump administration know it has a high-bar for re-entering a ceasefire deal, including the closure of all American bases in the Gulf and reparations for attacks on the country.

According to the Wall Street Journal, other demands include a new order for the Strait of Hormuz, that would allow Tehran to collect fees from ships that transit the Persian Gulf channel, as Egypt does now with the Suez Canal.

The regime wants it to be guaranteed that the conflict wouldn't restart and an end to Israel's attacks on the Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah.

It has also demanded a lifting of all sanctions on Iran, and for the country to retain its missile programme, with no negotiations to limit it.

According to the Journal, a US official called the demands 'ridiculous and unrealistic'.

The posturing will make reaching a resolution with the Islamic Republic harder than before Trump started the war, Arab and US officials said.

While the US President claimed on Tuesday that Tehran gave Washington a 'very big present worth a tremendous amount of money', an Iranian military spokesman insisted that the US is 'negotiating with itself', adding: 'Someone like us will never come to terms with someone like you.'

Israel and the US have pummelled Iran's ballistic missiles, launchers and production facilities, as well as its nuclear programme in the bombing campaign that began on February 28, with leaders vowing never to allow the regime to possess a nuclear weapon.

In terms of Washington's demands on Iran, Israel's Channel 12 reported that the 15-point plan includes the pledge that nuclear facilities at Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow must be taken out of use and destroyed.

It also calls for transparency and oversight by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over activities in Tehran, as well as the promise that the regime will abandon the use of armed proxies in the region, and stop its funding and arming of regional allies.

Iran would have to dismantle its existing nuclear capabilities that have already been accumulated, and commit to never striving to achieve nuclear weapons again.

Under the plan, all enriched material must be handed over to the IAEA, and no nuclear material will be enriched on Iranian soil.

Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz will remain open and constitute a 'free maritime zone'.
A family in Hawaii were left with unimaginable heartbreak after their family home of 12 years was swept away during the destructive flood that swept across the island.

Merrily Cazimero and Marck Aphay quickly packed their essentials and evacuated as flood waters and severe storms on Oahu grew more dire, but they returned to find their home had been slammed into a nearby bridge.

The vicious waters ripped their property from its foundation and sent it flying into the Waialua Bridge, according to their GoFundMe page.

'I've seen storms and a lot of rain, but this one was the worst,' Cazimero told SFGate.

'This one was just nonstop, and when it flooded our area, once it hits over that the river area and it starts flowing into ours, it's very, very strong.'

Warnings for locals to evacuate were made on Friday after the island had battled severe winds and flood waters from a series of kona low storms.

The nearby Wahiawa Dam in Honolulu County was reported to be on the verge of 'imminent failure,' Fox Weather reported.

Oahu saw some of the worst of the storm, with enough rain to trigger a Flash Flood Emergency on Friday, according to the outlet.

Merrily Cazimero, Marck Aphay and their two children packed their essentials and evacuated as flood waters and severe storms on Oahu grew more destructive, but they returned to find their home had been slammed into a nearby bridge

The vicious flood waters ripped their home of 12 years from its foundation and sent it flying into the Waialua Bridge

Officials in Hawaii on March 20 ordered some 4,000 people living near the century-old Wahiawa dam on the island of Oahu to evacuate the area immediately, following severe rains that have battered the region

Cazimero, Aphay and their two children had already evacuated on March 12.

'I know that there was a few of our neighbors that by the time they got out and jumped, they were jumping into water,' Cazimero told SFGate.

'By the time they jumped off their porch, the water was up to their neck, so I was just so happy to have seen everyone there safe.'

The family were able to salvage very little from the wreck of their home. From their sentimental possessions, including trophies or pictures, the children's piggy banks survived.

'What hit me the most, and my boyfriend, was the pictures and all my kids' trophies, their memorabilia,' Cazimero continued. 'When you graduate, or you move out or you get married, we pass it on to you, and that is all gone.'

'That is the hardest, I think, for us,' she added.

But their family has been fortunate enough to see their community come together to support and help them out.

'To see the amount of people in the community to come and help us, we can't even expressed how much that means to us,' Cazimero continued.

The US Army shows an aerial view of a washed out road on Oahu, Hawaii, on Saturday

Molly Pierce, a spokesperson for the Oahu Emergency Management Agency, said that volunteers and public workers have been helping clean up, as well as a contract company which had started to collect, sort and remove debris

Flooding covers a residential neighborhood in Waialua, Hawaii on Friday

'There was people helping us dig things out of the bushes and in the mud, and we were able to find some things and dry it out and clean it. But we can't every repay them, you know, for their services or anything, and I'm so grateful that our community came together that way.'

The GoFundMe garnered over $10,600 as of Wednesday afternoon.

Hawaii began cleaning up after the island was hit with a series of storms.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green had issued a State of Emergency on Thursday, as the state health department reported no serious injuries as of Saturday.

Green said that around 200 people had been rescued on Friday from the storm which brought what he described as the worst flooding seen in Hawaii since 2004, according to Fox Weather.

'The strength of Hawai'i is our people,' Green said in a statement on Sunday. 'Throughout this storm, we saw neighbors helping neighbors, communities stepping up and our emergency teams working tirelessly to keep everyone safe.'

'I want to thank our essential workers and partners for their incredible dedication - and I am deeply grateful to the people of Hawai'i for looking out for one another during this challenging time.'

Green announced in the release on Sunday that state offices and operations across Hawaii would be reopening, as well as most public schools with exceptions on Hawai'i Island, O'ahu and Moloka'i.'

Hawaii Governor Josh Green issued a State of Emergency on Thursday, as the state health department reported no serious injuries as of Saturday

A car submerged near a flooded home Saturday in Waialua, Hawaii

Areas near Wahiawa saw a recorded 35 inches of rain since March 11 as the wave of storms began. Meanwhile, Kahului on Maui saw more than 20 inches of rain

'While the immediate threat from the storm has passed, recovery efforts continue across the islands as state and county crews assess damage, clear debris and restore impacted infrastructure,' the release stated.

Areas near Wahiawa saw a recorded 35 inches of rain since March 11 as the wave of storms began, the outlet reported.

Meanwhile, Kahului on Maui saw more than 20 inches of rain.

Green estimated total damages from the severe weather to have reached around $1 billion, according to Fox.

Andrew Phomsouvanh told the Associated Press that he was 'shocked to see how much flash flooding there was in my area.'

'The water just keeps coming,' he added.

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi described the weather as a 'classic rain bomb,' after two to four inches of rain were dumped per hour following blue sunny skies.

'We had no warning,' he added.

The Agriculture Stewardship Hawaii, the Hawaii Farm Bureau and other organizations estimated farm damages to have reached more than $17 million.

Molly Pierce, a spokesperson for the Oahu Emergency Management Agency, said that volunteers and public workers have been helping clean up, as well as a contract company which had started to collect, sort and remove debris.

Pierce described the storm as 'extremely unusual,' and added: 'Most of us have not seen something that just keeps going like this.'

'We feel like we keep getting punched down. But we'll keep getting back up,' she said.
Labour will take 'immediate steps' to temporarily ban cryptocurrency donations to political parties as part of a wider crack down on foreign interference in UK elections.

In a move designed to kneecap Reform, ministers today placed a moratorium on crypto donations for the foreseeable future.

Nigel Farage last year received what was believed to be the largest political donation by a living person when Christopher Harborne, a British-born crypto tycoon based in Thailand, donated 9 million to Reform.

Mr Farage has also personally invested 215,000 in a bitcoin scheme run by Kwasi Kwarteng, the former Tory chancellor.

Speaking after Prime Minister's Questions, Housing Secretary Steve Reed said the moratorium would be imposed until there is 'sufficient regulation in place to ensure full confidence and transparency in donations being made this way'.

Mr Reed added the ban would be applied retrospectively to any crypto donations received from today.

This follows todays publication of the Rycroft review into foreign interference in British politics, written by former senior civil servant Philip Rycroft.

Labour ordered Mr Rycroft to conduct his review after the conviction of former Reform MEP Nathan Gill for accepting bribes to promote pro-Russian narratives.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed said the moratorium would be imposed until there is 'sufficient regulation in place to ensure full confidence and transparency in donations being made this way'

Mr Farage retaliated to reports of Labour temporarily banning cryptocurrency donations by pointing out Keir Starmer's record on tackling small boats

Speaking in a briefing this morning, Mr Rycroft denied he was commissioned to look after the interests of any particular party and said there is a whole body of expert opinion worried about cryptocurrency donations.

He added that if trust in democracy erodes 'the consequences could be very severe' and 'extraordinarily damaging'.

While the former mandarin approached Reform UK to consult on the review, he did not speak to any MPs.

He revealed that MPs from other parties had approached him 'proactively' to feed into his work.

Responding in the Chamber today, Mr Farage retaliating by pointing out Keir Starmer's record on tackling small boats.

While Labour pledged to 'smash the gangs', more migrants have come to the UK under Sir Keir than any other PM.

Other than the ban on crypto donations, Mr Rycroft called for an annual cap on political donations from British voters living abroad, and said that no donor should be able to donate more than their post-tax profits in any given year.

The Rycroft review also called on Labour to endow the Electoral Commission  which regulates UK electoral affairs  with additional powers.

This would mean the Commission would be able to mandate that political parties submit annual reports and accounts and spending returns.

It would also be able to share information with other external agencies more freely, and require information to be shared in return from such bodies.

The former civil servant also called for the creation of a centre of police excellence to pursue investigations of complex criminal offences under electoral law.

The burden of proof would be reduced for criminal offences under the reforms to show the offender may have reasonable cause to suspect they were committing a crime using existing legislation.

Other than the ban on crypto donations, Mr Rycroft called for an annual cap on political donations from British voters living abroad, and said that no donor should be able to donate more than their post-tax profits in any given year

Speaking in todays briefing, Mr Rycroft said the UK lacks a coherent and robust strategy to deal with foreign interference.

And in a veiled attack on Labour, his review said dealing with hostile states should be a much higher priority for Government and that there should be clear accountability for ministers.

The review called for all foreign-funded adverts to be banned outright, and for the Lobbying Act to be amended to remove VAT exemption for all foreign based entities.

While the report referenced dangers posed by Russia, China and Iran  it also said a new threat was emerging from the UKs long-term partner the United States and allies like it.

The review noted an emerging willingness of foreign actors and private citizens, including from allies like the United States to interfere in and influence politics abroad in pursuit of their own agenda.

Reacting to the report, Dr Jess Garland, Director of Policy and Research for the Electoral Reform Society, said the government must go further and also bring in a cap on how much all donors can give to a party, not just those based abroad.

She said: Trust in politics is at a record low. To rebuild it, the rules around money in politics need to ensure that politicians are always focused on the needs of voters, not donors.
President Donald Trump's ambitious Golden Dome missile defense system is picking up speed and could be ready for initial tests this summer as fears over domestic strikes grow.

Defense tech firms Anduril Industries and Palantir Technologies are jointly developing the software backbone for Trump's $185 billion Golden Dome initiative, people familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.

The firms are rushing to have the software ready for testing as soon as this summer.

It could be good timing as the 2026 Annual Threat Assessment released last week said that the US currently could be hit with thousands of missiles held in its adversaries' stockpiles.

'China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and Pakistan have been researching and developing an array of novel, advanced, or traditional missile delivery systems with nuclear and conventional payloads, that can strike the Homeland,' the report states.

'The IC projects threats to the Homeland will expand to more than 16,000 missiles by 2035, from the current figure of more than 3,000 missiles.'

China and Russia, the report states, are actively developing weapons to penetrate or bypass current US missile defense systems.

Trump even warned that Iran was close to hitting the US itself as part of his justification for war, saying the regime had developed long-range missiles that 'could soon reach the American homeland.'

Fears of strikes on the US were further exacerbated when an FBI terrorism notice went out in California, warning of a potential Iranian drone strike in the Golden State.

The developers of President Donald Trump's Golden Dome US missile defense system aim to have the system's software ready for testing by this summer amid heightened threats to the American homeland

Defense Tech Firm Anduril, maker of the autonomous Fury combat drone shown above, is developing the software for Golden Dome alongside Palantir

The massive Golden Dome project aims to develop technologies that can track incoming airborne threats and neutralize them before they reach US shores.

Arguably the most critical component of such a technology is the software that will link US radars, sensors and interceptor systems to displays showing soldiers the location, trajectory and potential destructive power of incoming ballistic, cruise and hypersonic missiles.

And after Iran launched ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia - a small UK-operated military island in the Indian Ocean, demonstrating their weapon's longer-than-anticipated range - Trump has warned that the Islamic Republic has been developing weapons that soon could hit the US mainland.

Space Force Gen. Michael Guetlein, the leader of the Golden Dome project, has stressed repeatedly that the US must stand up a system capable of defending the homeland from increasingly sophisticated long-range threats, notably from Russia and China, but now perhaps Iran as well.

'Our adversaries have become very capable and very intent on holding the homeland at risk,' Guetlein said in the Oval Office last year after Trump announced the project.

The Golden Dome is intended to detect, track and intercept incoming nuclear, cruise or hypersonic missiles headed for US shores. Above is a test launch of Russia's Yars ICBM in October 2025

'Our adversaries have been quickly modernizing their nuclear forces, building out ballistic missiles capable of hosting multiple warheads, building out hypersonic missiles capable of attacking the United States within an hour and traveling at 6,000 miles an hour.'

Most important to the Golden Dome's success is the command and control system that US operators will interface with while dealing with any potential incoming threats.

A former Pentagon official advising on the Golden Dome Program told the Daily Mail that command and control software 'is absolutely necessary for any successful combat operation.'

The Golden Dome software being developed by Anduril and Palantir is being handled directly by Guetlein's office, underscoring its importance.

The Iskander missile system, a Russian mobile short-range ballistic missile complex capable of carrying nuclear or conventional warheads, pictured in June 2024

Gen. Michael A. Guetlein, director of the Golden Dome program

Palestinians inspect the remains of a ballistic missile that landed in the West Bank village of Haris, near Salfit, 24 March 2026. The Israeli military reported that it detected multiple waves of missiles launched from Iran towards Israel throughout the morning

Other aspects of the Golden Dome project dealing with missiles and radars are being handled by other parts of the military, including the Air Force, Missile Defense Agency and other groups within the Pentagon.

Aalyria Technologies, a networking company, Scale AI and software firm Swoop Technologies are also contributing to the program, sources told the WSJ.

So too are more traditional military manufacturers like Lockheed Martin, RTX and Northrop Grumman.

Interestingly, the two smaller, newer firms of Anduril and Palantir have been given more control over the program than the prime contractors, which are acting as subcontractors on the software.

'Golden Dome is a bold and aggressive approach to hurry up and protect the homeland from our adversaries,' Guetlein has said.

'We owe it to our children and our children's children to protect them and afford them a quality of life that we have all grown up enjoying. Golden Dome will afford that.'
The mother of a toddler who died after being fatally assaulted by her Territorial Army corporal boyfriend whined 'it's not fair' as he was rushed to hospital.

Zoe Coutts, 35, was today convicted alongside Scott O'Connor, 36, over the death of little Kol Page, who was attacked at just two years old.

O'Connor assaulted Kol in April 2022 after meeting his mother on the dating app Bumble the previous autumn, leaving the youngster severely brain damaged and with injuries that would ultimately lead to his death two years later.

O'Connor, of southeast London, and Coutts, of Kent, were both accused of inflicting 'catastrophic' harm to Kol and concocting a 'tissue of lies' to avoid responsibility, even blaming the toddler for his own injuries.

They both denied murder and were today cleared of the charge at Southwark Crown Court.

But O'Connor was convicted of the lesser charge of manslaughter while Coutts was found guilty of allowing the death of a child, after 10 hours and 45 minutes of deliberations by a jury.

Mr Justice Johnson ordered reports and adjourned sentencing until May 8.

Now harrowing footage released by police shows how Coutts wailed as officers and paramedics arrived, moaning: 'It's not fair'.

Zoe Coutts (pictured), 35, was today convicted alongside Scott O'Connor, 36, over the death of little Kol Page - she was caught on camera moaning 'it's not fair' as police attended her address

Kol Page was fatally assaulted when he was just two years old by his mother's partner - he would die two years later aged just four and three months

She added: 'He's my baby. I do everything for my children'.

Ed Vickers, KC, prosecuting, earlier told jurors the abuse of Kol 'culminated in a blow or blows to his abdomen, in the early morning of 25 April 2022'. Kol died as a result of his injuries on June 29, 2024.

O'Connor lived with his parents in Peckham, southeast London, but visited his girlfriend at her home in Bromley on at least 39 occasions between March 11 and April 25, 2022.

Kol was seen by witnesses with 'a number of bruises' throughout March of that year, the court heard, and was photographed and filmed with two black eyes on April 9.

The child slept in his cot alongside his mother's bed, which the couple were sharing on April 24, and the next morning Coutts described him as 'pretty chesty', possibly with phlegm on his chest, causing him to be sick.

After Kol deteriorated, Coutts phoned a friend rather than an ambulance, leading to a delay in him receiving life-saving treatment that is thought to have left his brain deprived of oxygen, causing brain damage.

Paramedics were eventually called and arrived to find the toddler not breathing, with bruises over his face and a serious injury to his abdomen. Coutts claimed Kol had fallen out of a highchair.

She told police officers Kol had been fine that morning, and she went to get a snack and by the time she came back he was unconscious, the court heard.

Kol was taken to hospital where he underwent surgery. Medics found three injuries to his small bowel, which Mr Vickers said was caused with significant force by a punch, kick or stamp.

Kol's mother Zoe Coutts, 35, was convicted of causing or allowing the death of a child at Southwark Crown Court

Scott O'Connor, 36, has been convicted of the manslaughter of Kol Page, who was just two years old when he was assaulted - he would die from his injuries two years later

He referred to the toddler's horrific injuries, including a hole in his duodenum - a section of the small intestine - leading to a 'catastrophic loss of blood'.

'Almost half of the blood in his system had drained out by the time he got to hospital,' Mr Vickers added.

After the assault, Kol was left with catastrophic brain injuries and severe disabilities which meant he required round-the-clock care. He was in hospital for 14 months and then moved in with a foster family, before he died aged four and three months.

Jurors were shown text messages between the couple - it was heard that days before the fatal assault, Coutts had messaged O'Connor to say Kol had been 'whinging', and O'Connor replied: 'Jesus slap him back to sleep lol'.

Prosecutor Mr Vickers said the comment could be seen as flippant or a 'joke' in isolation.

'But however much you put lol, it isn't funny, it is serious. These were horrific injuries.'

He told jurors: 'By 9 April a pattern of behaviour had become established, accepted and encouraged to continue.

'By the night of 24 April, the behaviour, control and disciplining of Kol and using violence on Kol had become normalised, accepted and encouraged.

'We say to you both defendants know perfectly well what happened that night... With an assault of that kind, the other couldn't have slept though it, couldn't have laid back and allowed it to continue.'

'It simply cannot have happened without the other knowing about it. They couldn't have been oblivious to the fact Kol was in fact dying.'

Mr Vickers referred to the defendants' 'sad and twisted' claims in their police interviews blaming Kol for his own injuries.

'It shows there was an agreement to stick a lie and there has been ever since. Even now on trial, on oath, they still won't tell you what happened.'

'The only two people who know what happened are sitting in this room and they have both refused to take responsibility.'

Kol slept in a cot next to his mother's bed which, that night, was also being shared by her boyfriend

During interview O'Connor sought to blame Kol for his catastrophic injuries, describing him as 'very clumsy'

Footage of O'Connor in custody shows he told detectives: 'What's happened, it's because of the way Kol is'.

Describing the youngster as 'very clumsy', he said he was 'always hurting himself' by running around and climbing over things. O'Connor further claimed Kol had sustained injuries to his face in the week of the assault by falling off his mother's bed.

Coutts also said in her police interview Kol was an active child, constantly running and climbing over furniture causing bruising.

Asked to explain injuries, Coutts claimed Kol 'bruised easily' as he has Von Willebrand disease, an inherited condition that stops blood from clotting properly.

She told police in a prepared statement: 'I have no knowledge as to how Kol suffered such injuries,' but insisted she was a 'good mother', adding: 'This is most definitely not caused by myself.'

Asked about injuries found on Kol's head, Coutts said: 'He tends to pull out his own hair and run his toy cards on his head. He is a very hyperactive child'.

Asked whether she ever kicked, stamped on or punched her son Coutts replied that she 'never' harmed him.

Giving evidence at court, she cried as she told the jury: 'I would never hit him, at all, ever.'

She said her partner had told her that Kol had sustained black eyes in an accidental fall while climbing out of his cot.

Giving evidence, O'Connor said Coutts was responsible for the boy's horrific injuries.

Cross-examining him, the prosecutor referred to harrowing photos of Kol during April 2022.

'This little boy is not even looking into the camera. He has been battered and bruised for several weeks. That little boy has been abused.' O'Connor replied: 'I agree.'

He was shown more photos of the boy covered in bruising but denied he was responsible for them.

Referring to the text message suggesting Coutts slap the toddler the prosecutor said: 'You were suggesting she should slap him because that was the new discipline you had introduced.'

Mr Vickers said O'Connor simply did not want Kol interfering with his relationship with Coutts and wanted quiet time at night.

Mr Vickers asked him: 'One of you stamped on him in his cot?'

O'Connor replied: 'It wasn't me. I didn't see her [Coutts] do it.'

Mr Vickers told O'Connor: 'You have both blamed each other. At the hospital you both started a tissue of lies, covering up what happened.'

O'Conner, who served as a corporal within the Territorial Army's Military Police, replied: 'Not at all.'

Millwall fan O'Connor previously smashed a pint glass over his own father's head outside a pub in 2012, the court heard.

His father suffered a bleed to his brain but the charge was dropped after O'Connor claimed he acted in self-defence.

O'Connor had a history of cocaine misuse and had previously tried to smash down a former partner's front door.

Coutts claimed she had no knowledge of his violent past.

Summing up the case Mr Justice Johnson told jurors: 'There is no dispute Kol was unlawfully killed.

'The prosecution don't have to prove in a case of joint enterprise who inflicted the fatal blows.'

He told jurors they may think that whoever inflicted the injuries on a small child 'must have intended to cause serious injury.'

The judge added that if they could find 'no intention to cause really serious harm' then it was open to clear the defendants of murder and convict them of manslaughter.

After the verdicts, Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn, whose homicide team led the investigation, said: 'Kol was an innocent little boy who suffered horrific abuse in the place where he should have been safest - at home with his mother.

'Coutts and her new boyfriend, O'Connor, tried to deceive paramedics, doctors and police officers, repeating lie after lie about how Kol came to be so seriously injured.

'It was the tireless work of detectives that exposed the couple's lies, combing through months of messages, appalling pictures and CCTV evidence to uncover the sustained abuse suffered by that little boy.

'I want to thank the first responders who tried to help Kol in a case that has been particularly harrowing for all involved, especially the doctors and nurses who cared for him over such as sustained period of time and his foster carers who gave him immense compassion and safety.

'Kol was boisterous, cheeky and endlessly loving to everyone who knew him. He should have had a bright future, but was instead let down by those who should have protected him most. He will always be remembered.'

Richard Murrison, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'Our thoughts, first and foremost, remain with Kol and everyone who knew and loved him.

'He was a little boy who, like all children, deserved to be safe, loved, and protected.

'It is devastating that he was failed in the worst possible way by the very people who should have cared for him most.

'The evidence in this case painted a deeply disturbing picture of the escalating abuse Kol suffered in his own home.

'Zoe Coutts' then partner, Scott O'Connor, was responsible for subjecting Kol to the horrific abuse which left him profoundly disabled and ultimately led to his death, and she took no action to stop or report it, allowing it to happen.'

Mr Murrison, a senior crown prosecutor for the CPS London Homicide Unit, added: 'This has been an incredibly complex and difficult case with multiple challenges being overcome.

'Securing these convictions has required tireless dedication from our prosecution team, working in close collaboration with trial counsel and the Metropolitan Police.

'Today's verdicts are a testament to the painstaking work of everyone involved and to our commitment in getting justice for Kol.'
Texas Senator Ted Cruz has offered a grim prediction about the outcome of a midterm election if it were held today.

Cruz, one of Donald Trump's closest allies in the Senate, noted in an episode of a popular podcast that aired Sunday that 'if the Election were held today, there would be a very good chance we would lose the House and we could lose the Senate as well.'

The former presidential candidate was questioned on the TRIGGERnometry show about recent odds showing plummeting support for Republicans holding the Senate - down 32 points from three months ago to just a 50 percent chance.

Cruz said that in his 'experience, prediction markets reflect the conventional wisdom at the time,' before adding that he didn't 'disagree with the proposition that politically, where we are right now is a challenging position for Republicans.'

The former presidential candidate also noted that his party has 'a remarkable record of success, much of which has not been communicated to the voters.'

Trump is coming under intense pressure to end the war in Iran, and on Tuesday, it was reported that the President's team has submitted a 15-point peace plan and requested a 30-day ceasefire while negotiations take place.

Pentagon chiefs have ordered 2,000 paratroopers to the Middle East, along with 4,500 Marines, bringing the total force for a potential ground invasion to some 7,000 soldiers.

Trump is keeping his options open for a ground invasion, as Iran on Wednesday rejected the 15-point peace plan, instead demanding reparations and transit fees for the Strait of Hormuz.

Texas Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican, on the TRIGGERnometry podcast

A screengrab of Kalshi betting odds showing the chance of Republicans holding the Senate in the midterms, as seen on an episode of the TRIGGERnometry podcast

Brent crude prices see-sawed from $101 down to $94 on Tuesday evening before settling at $96 on Wednesday as markets reacted to the invasion threat and Iran's rejection of the peace plan.

Twenty-eight percent of respondents to a recent Daily Mail/JL Partners poll cited the war as the top reason they disapprove of the job Trump is doing, up from the 20 percent who selected the Middle East in early March.

The poll found that Trump's approval rating has slipped to 42 percent, down from the 44 percent approval he received on March 3, just days into the Iran conflict. Trump held a 48 percent approval rating as recently as late January.

America's war with Iran has also emerged as a fissure among the leading voices in the Republican party, Trump's administration, and the conservative ecosystem as a whole.

The latest Daily Mail/JL Partners poll also showed that Trump administration officials who have taken the biggest hits in popularity are officials connected to the Iran war.

Pete Hegseth, the War Secretary, is now the joint-most unpopular Cabinet secretary, with a net approval rating of minus 10.

Only 29 percent of those polled approved of his job performance, while 39 percent disapproved, and the rest were unsure.

Hegseth's net approval rating has plummeted 10 points since February 28, the day of the first strikes against Iran.

TRIGGERnometry podcast cohosts Francis Foster (L) and Konstantin Kisin (R)

Meanwhile, Marco Rubio maintains his position as the most popular member of the Cabinet, with a net approval rating of plus 1.

However, Rubio, a main proponent of the Iran war, has also taken a hit, dropping eight points from February 28.

Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, has dropped seven points in that time to a net approval rating of minus four.

There has been speculation about Gabbard's position after Joe Kent, who worked for her as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned in protest against the Iran war last week.

In a blistering resignation letter, Kent wrote: 'Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.'

Gabbard issued her own statement saying her job was to give the president the 'best information available' to base his decisions on.

She wrote: 'After carefully reviewing all the information before him, President Trump concluded that the terrorist Islamist regime in Iran posed an imminent threat and he took action based on that conclusion.'

However, prediction markets are now suggesting Gabbard is likely to be out by the end of the year.
The British Army has ben left so depleted by years of cuts and declining troop levels that it would only be able to take a small market town - on a good day - a former general has said.

General Sir Richard Barrons said UK land forces would be unable to do anything 'substantial' in a war and would only be able to help out with small tasks in operations led by the US or Nato.

The former senior soldier, who co-wrote Labour's Strategic Defence Review (SDR) last year, spoke out amid an ongoing row over the state of the Armed Forces in light of the US-led war with Iran and increasing Russian belligerence in Europe.

On Monday Sir Keir Starmer insisted the Government was 'nearly there' with completing its delayed defence investment plan (DIP) but declined to say when it would be published. It was due to be unveiled last autumn.

The main focus of concern has been on the Royal Navy amid fury at the time it took to send one ship, Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon, to help defend Cyprus from Iranian missiles.

The state of the so-called Senior Service was thrown into fresh question today when it emerged it will use a German warship to keep a Nato commitment because it has none of its own available.

It was due to provide Dragon as the flagship for Standing Nato Maritime Group One, but senior officers will lead the taskforce in the Baltic from a Deutsche Marine ship.

General Sir Richard Barrons said UK land forces would be unable to do anything 'substantial' in a war and would only be able to help out with small tasks in operations led by the US or Nato

Concerns have been raised for many years about the manpower strength of the Army, which has fallen from 156,000 at the end of the Cold War to around 73,000 now.

The state of the so-called Senior Service was thrown into fresh question today when it emerged it will use a German warship to keep a Nato commitment because it has none of its own available.

The German embassy in London last night tweeted: 'As the UK deploys HMS Dragon to the eastern Mediterranean, German frigate Sachsen will take over from HMS Dragon as NATO maritime task group flagship - an expression of the close (Germany-UK) partnership'.

It will raise concerns that the Navy is unable to put more than warship to sea at any one time.

Of the six Type 46 destroyers, only three are nominally available. Neither of the UK's two aircraft carriers are currently at sea and the ageing Type 23 frigate fleet is similarly idle.

Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, a former Army officer, branded the situation a 'scandal', told the i Paper: 'It is a national embarrassment that the Royal Navy has run out of ships. Britannia most definitely does not rule the waves.

'I have repeatedly raised the issue of a potential lack of Type 45s to fulfil our Nato flagship commitment. Earlier this month, in response to me asking the Defence Secretary if he could guarantee a Royal Navy ship would conduct this role he assured me that we would fulfil our Nato commitments. It doesn't look like it now.'

Concerns have been raised for many years about the manpower strength of the Army, which has fallen from 156,000 at the end of the Cold War to around 73,000 now.

Speaking to the BBC Radio 4's Briefing Room programme, General Barrons, who now works for the Chatham House policy institute, said: 'The armed forces that we have now, because of their size, but also because of their sophistication, can make a very small contribution on land, in the air and at sea, to an enterprise either led by the US or more likely a Nato undertaking.

'What it cannot do is anything substantial.'

He went on: 'Today's army frankly could do one very small thing, essentially it could seize a small market town on a good day.'

Yesterday defence minister Al Carns followed the PMN in being coy about when the DIP might be published, telling MPs it would be done when 'feasible'.

Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said the delay had 'left the UK vulnerable as the world becomes more dangerous', adding: Yesterday, the Prime Minister was unable to answer that simple question.

'It means that, at a time of war and conflict on multiple fronts, and amid the most dangerous time for our country since the cold war, instead of delivering rapid rearmament, Labour is presiding over a procurement freeze.'

Last summer the authors of Britain's Strategic Defence Review warned Britain's Armed Forces aren't ready to fight a war against a military with similar capabilities.

In a stark assessment, the report said that our forces are better suited 'to a peacetime era' and are 'not currently optimised for warfare against a 'peer' military state'.

The externally-led Strategic Defence Review (SDR), written by former Nato secretary general Lord Robertson, retired general Sir Richard Barrons and Russia expert Fiona Hill, was described as the most profound change to defence in 150 years.

In the event of war, Britain would be subject to attacks on its military bases at home and abroad, long-range drone and cruise missile sorties, cyber-attacks crippling national infrastructure and disruptions to economic interests and international trade routes.

The SDR states that the defence medical services couldn't cope with a mass casualty event and that the military is suffering from a recruitment crisis which means only a small number of troops could be deployed.

The document added: 'The UK is entering a new era of threat and challenge. The West's long-held military advantage is being eroded as other countries modernise and expand their armed forces at speed.'
Putin is tightening his grip on Russia's internet as fears mount inside the Kremlin that digital surveillance systems could be turned against the state, after Israel used Iran's networks to kill Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Across Moscow and other major cities, the disruption is widely visible, as office workers struggle with blocked connections, teenagers are forced to constantly switch VPNs, and taxi drivers are left navigating without online maps.

Over the past week, mobile internet has reportedly been completely down every day in parts of central Moscow, St Petersburg and beyond.

'These measures are taking place,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

'They are partly related to the fact that a number of foreign companies refuse to comply with the norms of Russian legislation, and partly due to security measures against the threat of Ukrainian drones.'

Attack drones can use cellular networks to aid navigation, and Russian authorities say restrictions on services such as Telegram and WhatsApp are essential to national security.

The shift comes amid heightened security concerns following the assassination of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

Reports say Israeli intelligence hacked Tehran's CCTV systems, allowing the movements of Iran's leadership to be tracked.

Putin is tightening his grip on Russia's internet as fears mount inside the Kremlin that digital surveillance systems could be turned against the state,

Over the past week, mobile internet has reportedly been completely down every day in parts of central Moscow, St Petersburg and beyond

Israel reportedly gained access to almost all the city's cameras, which are used extensively by Iran to spy on regime opponents and its own population, and tracked the movements of key bodyguards.

Images were said to be transmitted back to Tel Aviv and southern Israel, allowing Mossad to develop intimate knowledge on the guards' addresses, work schedules and who they were assigned to protect.

Electronic snooping is even greater under Russia's police state, and there are fears it, too, has been compromised.

In response, Putin's public sessions in the Kremlin have reportedly been halted or severely limited in an effort to 'confuse his enemies'.

However, diplomats and analysts say the scale of the clampdown suggests a larger objective of tightening domestic control as the war in Ukraine rages on.

New laws now allow security services to disconnect users at will and expand detention powers.

Diplomats say Moscow has assembled tools that could enable a 'great crackdown' online, particularly if the conflict either intensifies or comes to an end and triggers unrest.

Moscow has blocked more than 400 VPNs, while Telegram has been slowed and WhatsApp fully banned for failing to comply with local laws.

Russian officials have claimed Telegram was penetrated by Ukrainian and NATO intelligence agencies, an allegation the company denies.

'Each day, the authorities fabricate new pretexts to restrict Russians' access to Telegram as they seek to suppress the right to privacy and free speech,' said Telegram founder Pavel Durov.

'A sad spectacle of a state afraid of its own people.'

Two sources said Russia has studied models in China and Iran, developing the capability to shut down large parts of both mobile and fixed internet while maintaining tight control over communications.

Analysts say the motivation is rooted not only in the present conflict, but in the Kremlin's long memory of instability.

The Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989 triggered social upheaval that contributed to the collapse of the state.

'Russia's leaders and security services remember 1991 and they remember what happened to Russia and what happened to them when Moscow stopped a big war in Afghanistan: the country collapsed, the security services were split apart - it was a disaster,' said security expert Andrei Soldatov.

The Kremlin insists all actions are lawful and necessary to ensure stability. Officials close to Putin deny the measures are repressive, claiming they are essential to maintain unity against what they describe as Western attempts to sow discord.

However, younger Russians are already finding ways around the restrictions, switching between VPNs not for political reasons but simply to access platforms like Instagram and Snapchat.

'If these quite old politicians want to block everything, why have they not made any Russian apps that are interesting?' said Andrei, who declined to give his second name.

Moscow meanwhile is reportedly trying to force Russians to use MAX, a state-backed messenger app that schools and universities have been told to use for parent and student chat groups.

Smoke billowing into the sky above Khamenei's compound on Pasteur Street in the heart of Tehran

The Israeli hacks into Iran were reportedly part of a years-long intelligence campaign which eventually led to the killing of Khamenei.

When Israel located Khamenei on February 28, they disrupted around a dozen mobile phone towers near Pasteur Street, making phones appear busy when called and preventing his security from receiving possible warnings.

'We knew Tehran like we know Jerusalem,' an Israeli intelligence official told the Financial Times following the assassination.

'And when you know [a place] as well as you know the street you grew up on, you notice a single thing that's out of place.'

The CIA also had a human source who provided vital intelligence, according to the newspaper.

Combined with Israeli AI tools and algorithms which sifted through a vast mountain of data on Iran's leadership and their movements, the source allowed them to trace Khamenei to the meeting where he was hit.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has quietly backed off his threat to hike property taxes following internal backlash.

Mamdani, 34, threatened to use the only tax under his mayoral control to get a step ahead of Governor Kathy Hochul in his campaign promises in an attempt to get the New York head to tax billionaires.

But sources told The New York Times that his 'last resort plan' has collapsed altogether after receiving backlash from his constituents and most trusted sources.

Many officials told the Democratic Socialist that hiking property tax up 9.5 percent would be a nonstarter and it would mainly hurt minorities and the middle class, The Times reported.

Mamdani reportedly hosted many private meetings to hear concerns, and also to reiterate that the threat was more than likely not going to happen at all.

But after Hochul, who is seeking reelection, seemed to show no interest in his goad, he has dropped the plan, and his team is not preparing for it to be a potential reality, the outlet said.

Hochul recently begged wealthy New Yorkers who moved to come back, as the donor state needs their money to continue programs, such as her and Mamdani's joint free childcare plan.

'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,' Hochul said at a forum hosted by Politico earlier this month.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani will not be hiking property taxes by 9.5 percent, as he previously threatened to do in a push to force Governor Kathy Hochul's hand on billionaire income tax, sources told The New York Times

Mamdani has reportedly dropped the idea altogether after Hochul showed no interest in being strongarmed into his campaign propose to tax the wealthy. Hochul is running for reelection

'I have to look at the fact that we are in competition with other states who have less of a tax burden on their corporations and their individuals,' she added.

Mamdani's stunt reportedly irked the governor, and insiders told The Times that she considered his behavior an act of grandstanding.

The state recently agreed to give the city $1.5billion over a two-year period toward its budget.

'I did that because I wanted to help them get a foundation to build from as they look for savings, which I think are necessary. So this is for them to work out now,' she said, per The Times.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Mamdani's office for comment.

The last time property taxes were hiked in NYC was shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center. Then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg helmed the dramatic 18.5 percent increase.

Mamdani's threat was in part to move the needle with Hochul, but also as a way to help close the Big Apple's $5.4billion budget deficit, which he blamed on his predecessor Eric Adams.

If he were to raise property taxes, it would bring in $14.8billion over four years.

Mamdani's push for a tax change is due to the city being in a massive budget deficit. Hiking property taxes would have brought in $14.8billion in four years. Hiking income tax for those making more than $1million a year would collect around $4billion a year

However, Mamdani's main proposal - and one he campaigned on - is to raise income taxes for those making more than $1million a year to 5.88 percent from 3.88 percent. It would affect roughly 34,000 households in NYC.

His plan would bring in an estimated $4billion a year.

Hochul has refused to get on the bandwagon, as she is seeking reelection and many of the state's top earners have threatened to leave the City That Never Sleeps if she goes along with Mamdani's plan.

The state budget is due on April 1, and Hochul has promised to help New York City with its $5.4billion budget gap.

City Comptroller Mark Levine projected a $2.2billion budget shortfall in 2026 and a $10.4billion shortfall in 2027.

'This is the first time since the Great Recession that the City faces a budget shortfall of this magnitude this late in the fiscal year,' he wrote in a press release.

'This wasnt caused by a bad economy - its the result of budgeting decisions from the previous administration that we must now deal with.'

Mamdani has proposed a $127billion budget for the 2027 fiscal year. In order to balance it, he would have to collect $3.7billion through the property tax hike and pull $980million from the city's Rainy Day Reserve Fund and $229million from the Retiree Health Benefits Trust.

It is unclear where he will get the billions coming from the proposed property tax hike, which is reportedly not on the table anymore.
First Lady Melania Trump marked a futuristic first at the White House on Wednesday.

She was introduced by a robot.

The First Lady had gathered other first ladies and a first gentleman in the White House's East Room to discuss young people and technology.

The event was part of her broader Fostering the Future Together initiative.

After the other spouses arrived, it was time for Melania to make her dramatic entrance.

To the uplifting music of John Williams' Flight to Neverland, the First Lady walked into the East Room alongside the white and black robot.

The robot then introduced the First Lady, using a female-sounding voice.

'Thank you, First Lady Melania Trump, for inviting me to the White House,' the robot said. 'It is an honor to be at Fostering the Future Togethers Global Coalition inaugural meeting.'

First Lady Melania Trump (right) made a grand entrance at her Fostering the Future Together White House event Wednesday, alongside Figure 3 (left), a humanoid robot made in the United States

Figure 3 (center) waves to a gathering in the East Room alongside Brigitte Macron (left), the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Melania Trump (right)

'I'm Figure 3, a humanoid built in the United States of America,' the robot explained. 'I am grateful to be part of this historic movement to empower children with technology and education.'

Figure 3 then said welcome in 11 different languages.

The robot then slowly walked around the rectangular table where the panel was speaking and departed down the White House's Cross Hall.

From there, Melania noted the history-making nature of the moment.

'It's fair to say, you're my first American-made humanoid guest,' the First Lady said.

Melania's event was a two-day affair that attracted spouses and representatives from some of the US's top allies at a time when relationships are particularly tense due to the war in Iran.

During Tuesday's Fostering the Future Together initiative at the State Department, the First Lady was joined by Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska and the wife of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Sara Netanyahu.

Israel and the US went to war with Iran together, but the President expressed disgust when Israel targeted one of Iran's oil fields last week, telling reporters that he had schooled Netanyahu not to do that again.

Figure 3 welcomed attendees in the East Room in 11 different languages. Several of the first ladies spoke in their native languages during Wednesday's program

First Lady Melania Trump follows Figure 3 into the East Room of the White House on Wednesday for her Fostering the Future Together event

Brigitte Macron (left), the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, was all smiles as she was seated next to First Lady Melania Trump (right) at the First Lady's Fostering the Future Together initiative event on Wednesday in the White House's East Room

A class photo of the group of world leader's spouses and other representatives assembled by First Lady Melania Trump was taken on the South Lawn Wednesday

First Lady Melania Trump's red-bottomed Louboutins are photographed as she arrives for a group photo with the spouses of other world leaders and other representatives from countries who took part in her Fostering the Future Together initiative in Washington this week

The Iran war has the danger of putting the Ukraine conflict in the backdrop.

On Wednesday, Melania hosted Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron.

She sat next to her and called on her to speak first.

The French President has been critical of President Donald Trump's decision to strike Iran, as Trump has railed against NATO leaders, which includes France, for not immediately volunteering to help patrol the Strait of Hormuz.

But Brigitte Macron was all smiles, passionately speaking in French about limiting youngsters' screen time and access to social media.

Other speakers included Morocco's Princess Lalla Hasnaa, the youngest sister of Morocco's King Mohammed VI, the United Arab Emirates' royal Sheikha Alyazia bint Saif Al Nahyan, the wife of UAE's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Poland's First Lady Marta Nawrocka, Panama's First Lady Maricel Cohen de Mulino, Sierra Leone's First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio and Malawi's First Lady Gertrude Mutharika.

The only man on the panel, First Gentleman of Kosovo Lt. Col. Prindon Sadriu, spoke last.

The First Lady has expanded her Be Best initiative during Trump's second term to encompass discussions about artificial intelligence and how it can safely be harnessed to help young people.
Armed police have been seen on film capturing a suspected escaped prisoner - after surrounding his car near a gym and blocking an attempted getaway.

Footage of the incident in Coventry on Tuesday morning has been widely shared online, with West Midlands Police now confirming its firearms officers took part.

The video clip shows a man separating from two others in a car park off Santos Close in Coventry, near to a Fitness Factory gym.

Black-clad officers are then shown swooping on the car which veers in different directions - appearing to have its tyres shot at and punctured by police.

After the driver remained at the wheel of the swerving car - smashing into several parked vehicles - he was seen then held outside the vehicle by a swarm of officers.

There have been suggestions online that it was a National Crime Agency operation to capture an escaped prisoner and which had been three months in the planning.

But the NCA told the Daily Mail they were not part of the incident.

And now West Midlands Police has issued a statement about its involvement, saying: 'Officers carried out a pre-planned operation in Santos Close yesterday.

'A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of absconding from prison as part of an ongoing investigation.'

Armed police have been seen on film capturing a suspected escaped prisoner - after surrounding his car (the black one, pictured right) and blocking an attempted getaway

Footage shared online shows how a driver remained at the wheel of his swerving car - smashing into several other parked vehicles - before being detained by a swarm of officers

The force confirmed that firearms officers were involved in the operation, while saying the suspect remained in custody this afternoon.

Comments in response to the clip shared on X, formerly Twitter, include: 'Why let him get in the car on the first place and let all that damage get caused to other vehicles?'

Another poster wrote: 'Glad they got him off the streets without a chase putting the public at risk.'

Further replies online included 'Taking out the tyres was a clinical move' and 'Fancy coming back to your car to see that carnage'.

It was also remarked: 'Suspect had some suspect driving skills.'

The car park is in the Coventry district of Binley, fewer than 10 minutes' walk from a chip shop that previously became an online sensation fuelled by TikTok posts.

Binley Mega Chippy was inundated with tourists pouring into the shop from as far afield as Portugal and Australia after a catchy music video was posted on the website.
One might have thought the new Archbishop of Canterbury's gold mitre would be the most eye-catching headwear of the day.

But even that was put in the shade by the Princess of Wales' striking black and white hat.

Gusty wind and rain forced Catherine, 44, to hang on tightly to her wide-brimmed Juliette Botterill number as she stepped out of the car at Canterbury Cathedral in Kent for the formal installation of the first female head and spiritual leader of the Church of England in 1,400 years.

The hat perfectly echoed her Suzannah London coat and was shown off to its best advantage by her elegant chignon. The Princess completed her outfit with pearl earrings and, naturally, a cross.

She was accompanying her husband, Prince William, who was there in his role as Prince of Wales.

While the monarch is Supreme Governor of the Church of England, traditionally it is the heir to the throne who attends in their place.

The ceremony instead features a mandate - a legal instruction - from the King, which was read by Principal Registrar of the Province of Canterbury, Darren Oliver, giving the monarch's instruction to install Dame Sarah Mullally as the Archbishop of Canterbury.

It comes as Kensington Palace aides briefed that while William is not a 'regular' churchgoer, he does have a 'quiet' commitment to his faith and is keen to building a strong and warm relationship with the new Archbishop. It helps that like him, she is an Aston Villa fan.

The Princess of Wales held onto held onto her wide-brimmed Juliette Botterill hat amid windy weather as she and the prince were greeted outside the West Door by Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Lady Colgrain

The Princess still beamed as the gusts whipped her hat around.

The hat perfectly echoed her Suzannah London coat and was shown off to its best advantage by her elegant chignon

The Prince and Princess of Wales departing after attending the Enthronement of Dame Sarah Mullally as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, at Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury today.



 Point De Vue pic.twitter.com/B3Jh073rsJ  Sarahsecret (@sarahdiaryz) March 25, 2026

The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive for the start of the ceremony today

The Prince and Princess of Wales are pictured during the ceremony to install Dame Sarah Mullally as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during the Enthronement Ceremony installing Dame Sarah Mullally

The Princess of Wales had to hold her hat again when she left the cathedral as the wind almost lifted it off her head

The Prince and Princess of Wales leaving the Cathedral pic.twitter.com/Twhu9J60iy  Lebo Diseko (@lebo_diseko) March 25, 2026

Dame Sarah Mullally speaks during the Enthronement Ceremony installing her as the 106th Archbishop

Dr David Monteith (front) leads the Prince and Princess of Wales as they arrive for the Enthronement Ceremony

Kate wore a long grey fitted Suzannah coat and a wide-brimmed Juliette Botterill hat

Dame Sarah Mullally is pictured seated in the Chair of St Augustine

Members of the clergy arrive for the Enthronement Ceremony installing Dame Sarah Mullally as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury

Upon arrival, Their Royal Highnesses were received by the Lord Lieutenant, Lady Colgrain, who then introduced them to the Dean of Canterbury, the Very Reverend Dr David Monteith

The Primates of the Anglican Communion arrive ahead of the Enthronement Ceremony

The Prince and Princess will take a few moments to speak to the new Archbishop on their way out

Neither William nor Catherine had an active role in the service, instead taking seats as members of the congregation.

But Dame Sarah did stop and bow her head as she walked past the couple - William returning the gesture - and chatted happily with them at the end of the service.

Earlier, the 106th Archbishop had knocked on the Cathedral's West Door three times using her pastoral staff - the traditional way to seek permission to enter.

She was questioned by local schoolchildren as to why she had been sent, to which she answered: 'I am sent as Archbishop to serve you, to proclaim the love of Christ and with you to worship and love him with heart and soul, mind and strength.'

During the ceremony, she placed her hand on the St John's Bible to swear the Corporal Oath, the first time this Bible has been used in this way.

The copy of the first Benedictine hand-illuminated Bible for more than 500 years was given to the cathedral in 2023.

Dame Sarah said she was 'delighted to be with you today' as she gave her first sermon in the role to a congregation of around 2,000 people.

Failures on safeguarding in the Church were also acknowledged, as she said: 'In a world already torn by conflict, suffering, and division, we must also acknowledge the hurt that exists much closer to home.

We must not overlook or minimise the pain experienced by those who have been harmed through the actions, inactions, and failures of those in our own Christian churches and communities.

'Today, and every day, we hold victims and survivors in our hearts and in our prayers, and we must remain committed to truth, compassion, justice and action.'

Dame Sarah also said she could never have imagined as a teenager - having become a Christian at the age of 16 - that she would one day become the first woman appointed to the Church of England's top ministry role.
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he may send the National Guard to America's airports.

In a Truth Social post issued Wednesday morning, Trump said he 'may call up the National Guard for more help,' to assist ICE agents in the 'airport's mess.'

Monday marked the first day that immigration agents were ordered to report to airports with hours-long wait times at security checkpoints amid a lack of federal funding for TSA.

TSA agents have missed paychecks because federal funding has been held up by lawmakers in Washington, DC, for over a month.

A package to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which includes TSA, has been passed by a majority of members of the US House of Representatives but has not advanced in the US Senate.

Senate spending bills require 60 votes to pass, meaning a handful of Democrats must side with Republicans to pass fiscal legislation.

During a tense hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Democrat and Republican lawmakers each blamed the opposing party for the shutdown while questioning leaders of TSA, CISA, FEMA, and even the Coast Guard.

Acting TSA administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill warned lawmakers that if workers miss another paycheck on Friday, the total amount of missed wages would cross over $1 billion dollars.

Travelers line up at a TSA checkpoint on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at LaGuardia Airport in New York

President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, DC on March 24, 2026

Members of the National Guard walk under cherry blossoms as they patrol along the Tidal Basin on March 24, 2026, in Washington, DC

Passengers wait in a security checkpoint line at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in Houston

Smaller airports could shut entirely due to lack of TSA staff, as the number of workers who have quit their jobs nears 500, with the latest number shared by crossing McNeill 480 individuals.

The shrinking workforce could also have dire impacts on the upcoming FIFA World Cup soccer tournament, which is slated to take place in dozens of locations across North America, including major US cities.

McNeill told lawmakers on Wednesday that 'if we see any spikes [in attrition], we're going to have to pivot and assess how we are going to staff the FIFA locations adequately.'

As the DHS shutdown entered its fifth week, Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune offered Donald Trump a deal to fund all DHS divisions except ICE.

Thune offered Trump a package that Democrats and a handful of Republicans would back, 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.
A Second World War shipwreck lying at the bottom of the Thames and loaded with 1,400 tons of explosives has become a 'sitting duck' for an Iranian drone attack that would cause 'mass loss of life' across the south east, experts have warned.

The SS Richard Montgomery crossed the Atlantic without incident and was on its way to support Allied forces in Normandy when the weather turned and she was ordered to anchor off Sheerness, Kent.

But on August 20, 1944, the American Liberty-class cargo ship dragged her anchor and ran aground on a sandbank around 250 yards from the Medway Approach Channel.

A major salvage operation was launched to unload the vessel's deadly cargo, but not all the munitions could be retrieved before the 7,200-ton ship cracked and sank to the bottom of the river.

For the last 81 years, the ship has remained untouched under the waves - with a deadly selection of explosives still retained in her cargo.

Alongside highly explosive general purpose bombs are white phosphorous bombs - which can cause severe, agonising, and often fatal burns to any individual that comes into contact with them - as well as fragmentation bombs, designed to scatter shrapnel over a wider area.

There are even cluster munitions and bombs as large as 1,000lb and 500lb.

But analysts have warned that if the ship were to be targeted by drones - and her fragile masts then toppled onto the incendiary load - the resulting explosion could create untold catastrophe.

The SS Richard Montgomery shipwreck lying at the bottom of the Thames has become a 'sitting duck' for an Iranian drone attack, experts warn

The SS Richard Montgomery crossed the Atlantic without incident, but ran aground off the coast of Kent on August 20, 1944

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Experts say the debris from the wreck could be hurled up to 1.8 miles into the air, damaging buildings for miles around.

Sheerness, a town with a population of around 13,000 people, would be utterly levelled, with any survivors facing the prospect of a deadly tsunami crashing towards them and waves reaching 30ft to 40ft high.

A smaller tsunami could also barrel its way up the Thames towards London, destroying everything in its path.

Parts of North Kent and South Essex would be left decimated by rapid flooding, while Britain's largest liquefied natural gas terminal on the Isle of Grain, would be lost under tons of water.

While the prospect of an Iranian missile hitting the UK capital has mostly remained theoretical, the risk became far more real this week following a strike on a British military base in the Chagos Islands.

Two ballistic missiles were fired towards Diego Garcia, a base in the Indian Ocean jointly operated by the US and the UK, last Friday night.

Sources reported that one of the missiles failed in flight, while the other was intercepted by a US warship - but the significance of the attempt was hauntingly obvious.

For the first time, Iran had shown it not only has long-range missiles in its arsenal, but ones that were capable of reaching a distance of around 4,000km, the IDF confirmed in a statement on Saturday.

'The Iranian terrorist regime poses a global threat. Now, with missiles that can reach London, Paris or Berlin,' it added.

Successive governments over the last eight decades have remained alive to the risk posed by the 'doomsday wreck', which continues to deteriorate, but the prospect of sabotage by drones is a newer type of threat.

A survey of the ship undertaken last June revealed the hull of the vessel is deteriorating

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The wreckage has long been subject to a strict maritime exclusion zone enforced by the Ministry of Defence, while a new order imposed last June stopped aircraft flying within one nautical mile of the sunken remains or lower than 13,100ft in the restricted airspace.

Retired paratrooper Major Andrew Fox told The Telegraph: 'The wreck is at risk of drone sabotage because it is a fixed, conspicuous target.'

Meanwhile Professor David Alexander, an expert in emergency planning and risk management, described the vessel as 'a sitting duck'.

Other experts have also cited the prospect of Iran - or Russia - using basic drones flown by skilled operatives or 'proxies' to carry out such an operation.

The suggestion that Iran is using petty criminals to carry out attacks on British soil was made earlier this week following a firebomb attack on four Jewish community ambulances in north London.

Lord Beamish, the head of parliament's intelligence and security committee, told the Today programme on BBC Radio 4: 'The Iranian regime, whether it be the IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] or Iranian security services, do attack dissidents, people who criticise the regime, and target the Jewish community and they do that increasingly not directly, but through proxies.

'What you're dealing with here is not necessarily just organised crime groups but also people who are just paid.'

The Department for Transport said the condition of the wreck remains 'stable' and the site is monitored around the clock.

A spokesman said: 'Our priority will always be to ensure the safety of the public and to reduce any risk posed by the SS Richard Montgomery.

'We have been clear that pilots and operators, including drones, must not fly in a limited area around and above the site, which is standard for no-fly zones across the country.

'The condition of the wreck remains stable, and the site is rigorously monitored 24/7.'

A UK Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson said: 'Restricted airspace was introduced last year, above the World War II wrecked vessel, SS Richard Montgomery.

'This restriction, requested by the government, is to ensure the safety of all inbound air traffic and to prevent any potential incidents from the unexploded bombs on the ship. This impacts aircraft routes into London City and Biggin Hill airports.'

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Police have smashed an organised crime gang supplying smuggling kits including inflatable boats and engines to Channel traffickers.

The kits  priced at between 9,000 and 17,000  were offered to people smuggling rings involved in sending migrants from France to the UK.

Police in Belgium, France and Germany arrested 17 people involved in providing the equipment during today's raids, including four Syrian nationals suspected of organising the illegal operation.

The criminal network is suspected of arranging frequent deliveries of nautical equipment in what police described as unique sea smuggling packages.

A spokesman for Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA, which was involved in the raids, said: 'Investigators believe that had these kits reached the French coast, they could have been used to transport around 1,000 people to the UK.'

A spokesman for Europol, the European Unions cross-border law enforcement agency, said: The criminal network is suspected of arranging frequent deliveries of nautical equipment.

A joint investigation resulted in a significant disruption of the migrant smuggling supply chain serving criminal networks active along the English Channel.

Maritime equipment including 11 inflatable boats, one outboard motor and life vests were seized, along with petrol jerry cans.

Police also confiscated boxes of tyre inner tubes to be used as makeshift life vests, weapons, gold bars and almost 60 000 euros (52,000) in cash.

Police involved in the cross-border operation, pictured at an undisclosed location, inspect maritime equipment sold as unique sea smuggling packages to Channel migrant smugglers

The equipment was produced in Asia and imported from Turkey via sea and land borders, arriving in bulk in Germany, the spokesman said.

There, it was stored in warehouses controlled by the network.

Officers seen with an outboard motor and other maritime equipment after the raids took place at 14 locations across Germany and Belgium

Police and other officials inspect an uninflated dinghy at one of the locations raided during the cross-border operation

Police count some of the 60 000 euros (52,000) in cash seized during the operation, along with weapons and gold bars

The equipment was used to assemble unique sea smuggling packages, coordinated by an associated group.

Criminal networks operating in northern France purchased these kits in Germany or had them delivered to the French shores, often for an additional fee.

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They used the equipment to smuggle migrants across the English Channel using low-quality inflatable boats, many of whom originate from the Middle East and East Africa.

Each smuggling package was sold for between 10,000 and 20,000 euros on the black market.

The Europol spokesman said with each Channel migrant paying 1,000 to 2,000 euros for their illegal crossing and each boat carrying an average of 66 people, it meant that after purchasing the bespoke kits the smuggling gangs could earn 100,000 euros (86,600) per boat

Officers involved in the operation searched 14 locations, two in Belgium and 12 in the west of Germany - the cities of Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Marl, Bottrop, Herdecke, and Ludenscheid.

The investigation involved the UKs NCA and the Crown Prosecution Service, plus police and judicial authorities in Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands.

The NCA's deputy director of investigations, Craig Turner, said: 'We believe this operation has successfully disrupted and dismantled a significant organised crime group supplying equipment to people smugglers operating in the Channel.

'These vessels are completely unsuitable for what they are being used for, with 70 or more people crammed on, propelled by a hugely under-powered engine.

'The fact that they are being put into the open sea in one of the worlds busiest shipping lanes demonstrates the complete disregard these criminal networks have for the safety of those they transport.

'This operation will have dealt a blow to their business model and supply lines.'
A prosecutor has told the jury deciding the fate of former SNP council chief Jordan Linden that he told lies and his 12 accusers were victims of sexual offences.

Procurator Fiscal Depute Alistair McDermid made his closing submissions in the trial at Falkirk Sheriff Court, where Linden, 30, stands accused of 15 charges against the men over an 11 year period.

The jury of eight women and seven men were told by Mr McDermid to imagine how unlucky youd have to be to be accused by 12 young men who were all younger than Linden, and had met him through either the Scottish Youth Parliament or the SNPs youth wing, Young Scots for Independence.

He said: It defies belief that so many young men come and tell you stories that explain such an obvious repeat pattern, unless the simple conclusion is that those allegations are true.

I suggest that is the only plausible explanation for the substantial body of evidence you have heard against Jordan James Linden.

Mr McDermid told the jury that not only was he asking them to find Linden guilty on all 15 charges, which range from stalking to sexual assault, but to find that Jordan James Linden stood in the witness box, faced you and told you lies.

He said: This is a criminal trial, not a political [one]. Im not asking for your verdict on the Scottish Youth Parliament, Im not asking for your verdict on the Scottish National Party or the independence movement, or anything elseThats not what this is about. This is about Jordan James Linden and the 12 young men who I suggest have been victims of sexual offences at his hands.

Former SNP council leader Jordan Linden is accused of 15 charges against 12 young men

The fiscal said that for most of the 15 charges against Linden there was only one witness, and asked the jury to apply mutual corroboration to these charges, known as the Moorov doctrine.

He said: You compare all of the accounts of the various witnesses and look for links, similarities, threads in time, character or circumstance which show you the crimes are part of a single course of criminal conduct, systematically pursued by the accused.

That is how I ask you to approach this case to look carefully at what I suggest is a series of threads that run through the offenceslinking them all together as one single course of conduct.

Mr McDermid laid out four elements he said readily bring all of the offenses together, adding: Firstly all of the complainants are male, secondly the accused met each and every one of them in the context of a political organisation. Thirdlyeach and every one of them is younger. Fourthly all of them describe behaviour which is either very sexual or very sexually motivated.

David Moggach KC, representing Linden, said in his closing speech that the complainers had their memories distorted or subconsciously changed over time and insisted images Linden had sent some of the witnesses from the bath were not sexual.

The KC said that the discomfort experienced by alleged victims due to his clients sending of semi-nude images didnt constitute the fear and alarm necessary to convict him of crimes.

He said: Having a bath is not engaging in sexual activity.

Linden pictured at Falkirk Sheriff Court where his trial is being held

The defence lawyer suggested that as several of the young men involved in the case knew each other from the Scottish Youth Parliament, they had taken a group approach towards Linden and put a criminal shine on his behaviour when there wasnt any criminal behaviour at all.

He said some of the alleged complainers had been approached by the media and there was ample scope for them to communicate with one another.

Finishing his one hour and ten minute speech, Mr Moggach said: Its not a numbers game. 12 wrongs dont come to a right.

He behaved in a way hes not proud of. It was when he was young, naive, silly and stupid.

I dont think its an exaggeration to say you will make the most important decision in Mr Lindens life. The verdict I ask you to return is not guilty on all charges.

The jury is expected to begin deliberations tomorrow in the case being heard before Sheriff Christopher Shead.
A transgender woman who stalked the surgeon that carried out her gender reassignment procedure is being held in a female prison.

Vivienne Taylor, 28, was handed a 14-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to causing serious alarm or distress and stalking.

It was previously heard at Isleworth Crown Court that Taylor stalked Dr Tina Rashid over four years, impacting her work, family and social life.

Shortly after undergoing reassignment surgery in Putney, London, in 2021, the 28-year-old purchased Dr Rashid a cake as a thank-you gesture.

Taylor also kept dozens of pictures of the senior urological surgeon on her phone and developed a 'fixation' on the medical professional, before being sectioned.

The transgender woman was admitted to Chelsea and Westminster hospital with 'complications' and demanded to be treated by Dr Rashid.

Here, she threatened to take her own life if she was not treated by the surgeon.

It was also heard that Taylor turned up at Dr Rashid's place of work, alleging she was under the doctor's care.

She also sent the medical professional unwarranted emails suggesting they should 'catch up' and also attempted to connect with her on LinkedIn.

And on one occasion, the 28-year-old threatened to 'batter' the highly respected surgeon.

Vivienne Taylor, 28, pleaded guilty to causing seriuos alarm or distress and stalking Dr Tina Rashid

A general view of HMP Downview, a women's prison where Vivienne Taylor is currently serving a 14-month prison sentence

It was previously heard that Dr Rashid was left suffering with 'anxiety most days' and fearing for her safety amid Taylor's obsession.

Judge Giles Curtis-Raleigh imposed an 'exceptional' restraining order with no time limit when sentencing Taylor earlier this month.

The judge added that the 28-year-old's crime had impacted 'every aspect' of the surgeon's life. 'She has suffered very real fear,' he said.

Now, Conservative MP Rebecca Paul is 'urgently looking into' the move to place Taylor at HMP Downview, a women's prison in Surrey.

It is understood that Taylor is being kept on a specialist wing for inmates who were born biologically male but identify as women.

The separate specialist unit, E Wing, is the only one of its kind in the prison and is 'designed to accommodate transgender women assessed as being too high risk to be held in the general womens estate, but also at risk from other prisoners in the mens estate.

Prisoners in this unit remain separated from the wider population, but in 'some circumstances' participate in supervised activities with the rest of the prison.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: 'There is a separate unit for transgender prisoners at HMP Downview isolated from the main female population.'
The father of massacred Nottingham student Barnaby Webber watched in horror on a tracking app as his son's phone moved - to a police station.

David Webber had heard a man and woman had been killed but he could not reach Barnaby, and when he phoned police, they refused to speak to him.

Panicking that something was wrong, Mr Webber told the public inquiry into the Nottingham attacks how dread set in as he and the 19-year-old's mother Emma followed his location on the Find My Phone app.

Speaking about the morning of June 13, 2023, he said: 'We were getting up in the morning. Emma had to work, I had to work. I turned the TV on, and saw the media "light up" [with news of the killings].

'My first instinct was to message Barney to see if he was OK. I messaged him and got no response, so I thought I'll phone him. I phoned; still got no response, which was quite unusual because Barney would normally answer the phone.'

Mr Webber said he checked Find My Phone to see where he was, and could see his son was on Ilkeston Road close to his student accommodation.

He said: 'I phoned the police, and said who I was, and I said who my son was, and I remember a distinct change in tone from the lady I was speaking to.'

The father said police told him it was a 'fast-changing scene' and 'there was no one that could speak' to him, but someone would call him back.

Barnaby Webber, 19, was stabbed to death but police were unable to tell his father anything at first - leading David Webber to use the Find My Phone app to make a horrifying discovery

Emma Webber (C), David Webber (R), parents of student Barnaby Webber, arrive at Mary Ward House in central London for the Nottingham Attack Inquiry

Grace O'Malley-Kumar was also just 19 when she was killed alongside her friend Barnaby Webber

Then he saw on the tracking app that his son's phone was starting to move. To the parents' horror, they 'watched it go all the way to Radford Road police station', which is when they 'panicked'. Mr Webber said: 'I said "we've got to go now", just said "something is wrong".'

Barnaby and fellow student Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19, were walking home in the early hours when they were stabbed to death by paranoid schizophrenic Valdo Calocane, 34, who went on to kill caretaker Ian Coates, 65.

Calocane, who had a history of violence and mentally ill behaviour, was released by medics who decided against sectioning him amid concerns there were 'too many black men in custody'.

Mrs Webber told the inquiry: 'We're spending far too much time worrying about discrimination and segregation and doing the wrong thing because somebody's of a certain colour or certain religion.

'If you're dangerous, you're dangerous, and it does not matter what colour you are or where you're from.'

She also condemned police officers who accessed footage from the attacks and discussed it on WhatsApp. She said: 'Reading the content of that WhatsApp message, it was so destructive, so destroying, so awful.

'The author of that message chose to refer to our children as being "properly butchered" and "innards out" and everything. That's disgusting and grotesque.'

Mrs Webber told the inquiry: 'We're spending far too much time worrying about discrimination and segregation and doing the wrong thing because somebody's of a certain colour or certain religion. If you're dangerous, you're dangerous'

The inquiry is investigating how Valdo Calocane, 34, was allowed to carry out the three killings despite his history of violence

The third victim Ian Coates, whose partner was initially told by police that the caretaker had died in a car crash

Meanwhile Sinead O'Malley-Kumar told the inquiry she and her husband had repeatedly tried to phone their daughter after seeing in the news that a man and woman had died.

The first-year medical student's father, Sanjoy Kumar, said: 'She knew when daddy called, it was only for something really quite important, otherwise daddy doesn't call.

'I rang her phone at least eight times, and there was no answer.'

Calocane was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order in January 2024 after admitting manslaughter by diminished responsibility and three counts of attempted murder  after prosecutors dropped murder charges to the disgust of the victims' families.

Inquiry chairwoman Deborah Taylor, a senior retired judge sitting in London, has said the probe will 'examine what could and should have been done, and the effects of key actions, omissions and decisions'.

The inquiry continues.
A Tory MP who defected to Reform UK is suing a local Conservative association claiming they locked him out of his office at their headquarters.

Andrew Rosindell, who served as Tory MP for Romford since 2001, became London's first Reform MP when he joined Nigel Farage's party in January, declaring that the Tories are 'irreparably bound to the mistakes of previous governments'.

For more than 20 years, he has had exclusive use of a private room at the Romford Conservative Association's Margaret Thatcher House, using it as a constituency office.

But last Wednesday, the association changed the locks overnight and blocked him from accessing the building.

He is now suing the local association in the High Court, claiming it had no right to lock him out, and asking a judge to order them to let him back in.

Amongst other complaints, the former Tory says he has concerns for 'his personal safety,' as he has been blocked from accessing his personal 'panic room' at work as a result of being locked out.

The case reached London's High Court for an emergency injunction application yesterday afternoon, but after hearing that the association had been given only 90 minutes' notice, it was adjourned by a judge.

Mr Rosindell, 60, had served as a Conservative MP since 2001 before his announcement of a defection to Nigel Farage's party in January.

Andrew Rosindell, who served as Tory MP for Romford since 2001, became London's first Reform MP when he joined Nigel Farage's party in January, declaring that the Tories are 'irreparably bound to the mistakes of previous governments;

For more than 20 years, he has had exclusive use of a private room at the Romford Conservative Association's Margaret Thatcher House (pitured), using it as a constituency office

In a statement, he claimed that the 'views and concerns of constituents such as mine in Romford have been consistently ignored for far too long'.

'Our country has endured a generation of managed decline,' he said.

'Radical action is now required to reverse the damaging decisions of the past and to forge a new course for Britain.'

In court, Mr Justice Pepperall was told that Mr Rosindell has had exclusive use of an office at Margaret Thatcher House for decades, as well as shared use of other parts of the building, including the campaign room.

However, after defecting to Reform, he was told by the association that he could not stay, as his status as a Conservative MP was an 'implicit condition' of any right to the office.

On the night of March 18, the locks at Margaret Thatcher House were changed and Mr Rosindell was locked out of his constituency office.

That prompted his application, issued on Monday this week, for an emergency injunction, forcing the association to let him back in.

His barrister, Adam Richardson, told the judge that the MP wants 'full and unfettered access, including keys, fobs and security codes'.

'The respondent has excluded the applicant from the premises by changing the locks and refusing access. No court order has been obtained by the respondent,' he said.

'The applicant has occupied the premises continuously for over 20 years as his official parliamentary constituency office.

'That occupation has at all times been open and known to the respondent.

'The occupation has been governed by successive written agreements described as service agreements, the most recent of which is dated December 12, 2025.

He said that, although the association had allowed limited access to Mr Rosindell's staff to collect his laptop and some other items, he 'remains excluded'.

'He cannot access his constituency office, his active casework, his IT systems or the security arrangements installed for his personal safety,' he said.

'The exclusion is ongoing and is materially impairing the applicant's ability to perform his duties as a member of parliament.

'The exclusion is causing immediate and daily prejudice to the performance of his parliamentary duties.

'Constituents are unable to contact their MP in the usual way. Ongoing casework has been frozen.

'The applicant is unable to hold surgeries or respond effectively to urgent representations from his constituents.

'Further, the premises contain specialised parliamentary security infrastructure, including controlled access systems, CCTV and a panic room.

'These systems were installed for the applicant's personal safety in his capacity as a member of parliament.

'The applicant is currently deprived of these essential safety measures.'

He added: 'The proper course would have been to seek possession through the court. Instead, the respondent has taken the law into its own hands.

'Such conduct is unlawful, irrespective of the ultimate determination of any dispute as to the validity of the arrangements.'

For the association, barrister Alison Wu said the injunction application should not be heard in circumstances where it had only been given 90 minutes' notice of the hearing.

The association claims that it is 'implicit' in the agreement that he can use the office that it depends on him being a Conservative MP.

Adjourning the application until next week, Mr Justice Pepperall said he could not find that it was so urgent that it needed to be heard at such short notice, particularly given the MP has not yet filed a claim form.

He continued: 'The locking out happened on the evening of Wednesday, March 18. I am hearing this matter on Tuesday, March 24.

'If it was thought that an urgent application needed to be brought, it is surprising that the solicitors didn't think it appropriate to issue a claim form and a proper notice of application by the latest on Friday of last week.

'Instead, one and a half hours' notice has been given. That is utterly inadequate.

'There is no good reason for not having given longer notice.'

The judge adjourned the application until after Mr Rosindell's lawyers have issued a claim against the Romford Conservative Association.

Lawyers said the claim would be filed by Wednesday this week.
A female Royal Navy sailor denies groping male and female shipmates, saying they made up their claims because she is 'loud and opinionated', a court martial has heard.

Able Seaman Sian Dowsett, 25, is accused of carrying out a string of 'opportunistic' attacks on four fellow servicemen and women on a warship.

Two male and two female colleagues on HMS Dauntless reported having their nipples, bottoms, breasts and crotches squeezed and pinched.

But the sailor claimed the complaints are part of a 'conspiracy' against her - and that she did not 'fancy' any of her fellow soldiers.

AB Dowsett appeared at Bulford Military Court in Wiltshire on Wednesday where she denied seven counts of sexual assault.

Military prosecutors said her offences 'ranged from nipple pinching to bottom slapping and genital grabbing'.

She is accused of grabbing the male sailors by their crotch, stroking their arms, and making remarks such as 'I like my coffee how I like my men, big and strong'.

AB Dowsett also allegedly slapped one man's bottom on three separate occasions.

Able Seaman Sian Dowsett (pictured), 25, is accused of carrying out a string of 'opportunistic' attacks on four fellow servicemen and women on a warship

But she said he made up this accusation because she reported 'his best friend for buying cocaine in Colombia'.

The sailor, who has 'bisexual tendencies', also allegedly smacked the women's bottoms and squeezed their breasts, saying 'do you like that baby girl?'.

Giving evidence, AB Dowsett told the court there were 'rumours' about her on the ship and she was hated for being 'loud in general'.

Asked why colleagues would make up allegations, she said: 'Because I was loud and opinionated and I did my job and they all said I didn't get into trouble for things.

'I was loud and confident and know what was right from wrong. I am just a loud person in general.'

Prosecutor Graham Coombes said: 'What you are suggesting is they have made a false report initially.

'They have then got together with somebody else to say they have witnessed it.

'They have then gone to the service police and lied to the service police.

'They have then maintained that lie throughout the proceedings and then they have lied during court proceedings.

'And you say they are doing that because you are a bit opinionated.'

AB Dowsett claimed her shipmates began the 'conspiracy' against her when she left the warship to work on HMS Drake.

She said they disliked her by the time she quit and so submitted false complaints about her.

The first assault allegedly happened two weeks into the deployment of HMS Dauntless.

She is said to have slapped the bottom of a fellow Able Seaman in the galley as he was leaning over to write a list, leaving him 'stunned'.

A week later, AB Dowsett reportedly slapped his bottom again in the galley in front of another sailor. It is also claimed to have happened a third time.

She denied she ever slapped him on the bottom, saying: 'I don't know why he said that. Only the fact that I had reported his best friend for buying cocaine in Colombia.

The sailor (pictured outside court) appeared at Bulford Military Court in Wiltshire on Wednesday where she denied seven counts of sexual assault

'That would have given [him] and [his friend] an excuse to come together and make up the allegations.'

AB Dowsett was also accused of grabbing a petty officer's breasts and 'caressing her nipple' between her thumb and finger, while saying 'do you like that baby girl?'

She told the court: 'I would never use that terminology.'

On a separate occasion, the sailor was said to have told a male Leading Hand: 'I like my coffee how I like my men, big and strong.'

AB Dowsett said she did not drink coffee and would not make comments like that to either male or female shipmates.

She also denied telling a male sailor he had 'lovely skin' and pinching his nipple.

It was also claimed she grabbed the same sailor's genitals, which was witnessed by his friend.

But AB Dowsett claimed the pair had conspired together against her: 'They do work together.

'They do share the same mess, and they do go out together a lot of the time, so it is a bit of a conspiracy if you ask me.'

Mr Coombes said she also 'slapped the bottom' of a female Able Seaman, who had only joined the ship three days prior, while she was lying on her bed.

AB Dowsett said she had not been in the same cabin as this other sailor that evening because she was new to the ship and wanted to give her 'space'.

She said she was 'surprised' to learn of some of the allegations.

The sailor explained: 'Yes, I was surprised because we were friends. I was still going about being friendly with these people. Talking to them and being nice to them.'

But Mr Coombes said: 'Basically, over the period we were dealing with you were going around the ship sexually assaulting anybody that you fancied.'

AB Dowsett denied being sexually attracted to anyone involved in the allegations.

She said: 'I didn't fancy anybody onboard HMS Dauntless and I didn't sexually assault anybody onboard HMS Dauntless.'

But this came as she also admitted having a sexual relationship with a gunner on the ship but said they booked a hotel room and it was consensual.

During her police interview, she said she had 'bisexual tendencies' in the past.

Giving evidence, however, she said that was in 2020 - and that she is now in a committed relationship with a man.

The trial continues.
Ofcom was yesterday accused of an 'Orwellian' assault on free speech after launching probes into alleged climate-sceptic comments for the first time in almost a decade.

The media regulator originally decided not to investigate complaints over remarks about climate change on two programmes aired by TV channel Talk last year.

But it announced a dramatic U-turn after being lobbied by pro-transgender rights and climate activist campaign group the Good Law Project (GLP).

One complaint related to comments made by a Talk guest who said on a programme in November that climate change 'was a deliberate effort to create fake anxiety out of something that is false'.

In the second case, also in November, another guest said Labour's energy policies were 'suicidal', 'driven by pseudoscience in many cases' and 'a kind of cultish behaviour'.

On one of the programmes, a UK Health Security Agency report into the potential mental health impacts of concerns about climate change was being discussed alongside the Government's messaging over the issue.

The other featured a discussion relating to the potential impact of climate change and Net Zero policies on the UK population.

After the GLP wrote to Ofcom in January asking it to justify its initial ruling not to investigate, the regulator U-turned. It said a potential breach of rules of the broadcasting code around 'due impartiality' and 'material misleadingness' required 'reconsideration'.

One complaint being investigated by Ofcom centres on comments made about Labour's energy and Net Zero policies on the Morning Glory with Jeremy Kyle programme in December

Ofcom announced a U-turn on its initial decision not to investigate two complaints after being lobbied by the Good Law Project, founded by Jolyon Maugham KC

Join the discussion Is Ofcom protecting the public from harm or stifling honest debate on climate change?

It also launched a probe into a new complaint over comments made about Labour's energy and Net Zero policies on the Morning Glory with Jeremy Kyle programme in December.

The three probes are the first the broadcasting regulator has launched into alleged climate-sceptic comments on television and radio since 2017.

Ofcom stuck by its decision not to investigate complaints about climate comments on three other programmes.

Lord Young of Acton, boss of the Free Speech Union, said: 'I'm astonished Ofcom has U-turned on this.

'These are clearly complaints submitted by climate activists seeking to weaponise the regulator to silence people with opposing points of view.

'The pretence that the science of global warming is 'settled' and anyone who challenges any aspect of the environmentalist agenda, including Net Zero, is a 'denier', has long been a tactic of climate alarmists to silence dissent.

'Ofcom should continue to treat these complaints as vexatious and dismiss them, as it has done since 2017.'

Tory peer Lord Mackinlay of Richborough added: 'Ofcom runs the risk of becoming an Orwellian 'Ministry of Truth' - truly dangerous ground in a supposed democratic society.

'All science evolves and should be given the free space to do so.

'Even the BBC is undertaking a 'thematic review' of its own climate reporting, acknowledging excessive and hyperbolic alarmism.

'As a libertarian Conservative I take a simplistic view of broadcasting output if I don't like what I'm listening to or watching, I simply turn it off.

'We should perhaps do the same to Ofcom, saving millions of pounds on the closure of this unloved, out of control quango.'

According to the Guardian, Ofcom has received 1,221 complaints related to climate change since January 2020, with none resulting in a ruling that the broadcasting code was breached.

The GLP, a not-for-profit campaign organisation founded by Jolyon Maugham KC, has previously attacked the Labour Government over its climate and Net Zero policies, saying they don't go far enough.

In an online post in November threatening to initiate legal action against the Government's 'climate failure', it said: '[Keir] Starmer's climate framework is so full of holes that it breaches our right to family life.'

It has also tried to frustrate a landmark court judgement by the Supreme Court last year that the words 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 referred to a biological woman.

It unsuccessfully challenged the Equality and Human Rights Commission in the courts last month after the rights watchdog posted guidance online that trans women 'should not be permitted to use the women's facilities' in workplaces or public-facing services such as shops and hospitals following the Supreme Court ruling.

The GLP has tried to claim that ministers must reject guidance submitted by the EHRC to the Government on protecting single-sex spaces.

A spokesman said: 'Right-wing channels have been allowed to spout dangerous climate lies, unchecked, for too long.

'We're glad Ofcom is finally listening and await the conclusion of the investigations. 'Should it fail to take action against Talk's misinformation, we will not hesitate to hold them to account.'

They added: 'It's time Ofcom took action to stop fossil fuel propaganda from dominating media coverage.'

An Ofcom spokesman said: 'In re-examining the programmes, we concluded that they raise potentially substantive issues under the broadcasting code which warrant investigation.

'We have, therefore, opened investigations [on] whether they breached our rules on due impartiality and material misleadingness.'

A Talk spokesman said: 'We, as we always would, will cooperate with Ofcom in these matters.'
A Chicago university's newspaper has offered an apology to a suspect who allegedly murdered one of their students for calling him an 'illegal migrant' instead of a 'resident.'

Jose Medina-Medina, a 25-year-old illegal immigrant from Venezuela, has been charged with murdering Loyola Chicago freshman Sheridan Gorman, 18.

The maskwearing suspect clad in black allegedly approached Gorman and her friends while they were walking around Toby Prinz Beach along Lake Michigan in Chicago's Roger Park neighborhood around 1am on Thursday, March 19.

He fired rounds at the group as they ran away. Gorman was shot in the head and was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, Medina was apprehended by US Border Patrol while crossing the border in May 2023 but was subsequently released into the country.

DHS also confirmed that Medina was arrested for shoplifting at a Macy's in Chicago roughly one month after entering the US.

Loyola Chicago's student newspaper, The Phoenix, initially reported on the homicide in an Instagram post, referring to Medina as an 'illegal immigrant' in the caption.

A subsequent slide cited DHS statements confirming his immigration status and criminal record.

However, the paper's editor later issued a correction and apology, saying the wording did not align with Associated Press style or the publication's values.

Sheridan Gorman, a freshman at Loyola Chicago, was walking with her friends along Lake Michigan at around 1am on Thursday when a man clad in black jumped out of the bushes and fatally shot her in the head

Venezuelan migrant Jose Medina-Medina, 25, has been arrested by the Chicago Police Department in connection with the killing of Sheridan Gorman

Loyola Chicagos student newspaper later apologized for initially calling the suspect an 'illegal immigrant' in their early reporting of the alleged homicide

The correction read: 'On March 23, a post on The Phoenix's Instagram page carried the following headline: 'Immigrant Man Charged in Murder of Sheridan Gorman, DHS Involved.'

'That headline didn't reflect the most important elements in the story, and it was taken down minutes later to prevent any further harm to affected community members.

'Additionally, in the body of the original post, we described the man who was charged as an 'illegal immigrant,' using language provided by the Department of Homeland Security.

'That language does not align with Associated Press style, nor does it align with the values of this newspaper.

'No human's existence is illegal, and we quickly changed our wording to reflect that.

'We acknowledge the harm such language can cause and the power and importance of the words we choose to use.

The maskwearing suspect allegedly approached Gorman (left) and her friends while they were walking around Toby Prinz Beach along Lake Michigan (The college student is pictured with her mother Jessica Gorman)

Sheridan Gorman (second right) is pictured smiling in happier times with her friends in Florida last summer

'We deeply regret these errors, and we're committed to continuing the high standards we hold for ourselves as journalists and members of the Loyola, Rogers Park and Chicago communities.'

The newspaper has since edited its reporting to refer to Medina as a 'Rogers Park resident.'

President Trump shared his thoughts on the shooting in a press conference on March 23.

'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.

Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis condemned the killing in the DHS statement, blaming what she described as lax immigration enforcement and sanctuary policies.

'Sheridan Gorman had her whole life ahead of her before this cold-blooded killer decided to end her life. 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.'

'We are calling on Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago's sanctuary politicians to commit to not releasing this criminal illegal alien from jail back into American neighborhoods.'

ICE has lodged a detainer against Medina, meaning federal immigration authorities have asked local officials to hold him in custody rather than release him so he can be transferred into ICE custody.

Sheridan was shot in the head and pronounced dead at the scene (Pictured: Sheridan sits on her bed with Loyola Merch in May 2025, ahead of her first semester in the fall)

A person stands on the pier at Tobey Prinz Beach Park where Gorman was shot and killed in the early morning hours of March 19

Prosecutors said Monday that security video from the surrounding neighborhood tracked the suspect to his home, where officers recovered a handgun and ammunition that matched the bullet that killed Gorman. Medina was identified by a building engineer and by his mother.

Medina faces multiple charges, including one felony count of firstdegree murder, one count of attempted firstdegree murder, three counts of aggravated assault and discharge of a firearm, and one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and carrying a firearm without a valid Firearm Owners Identification card.

He was scheduled to appear in court but did not attend after being hospitalized with tuberculosis.

Gorman's family acknowledged the arrest while emphasizing that it marked only the beginning of the legal process.

'We thank the Chicago Police Department who worked quickly to identify and apprehend him,' they said, adding, 'This is not justice - it is the first step toward it.'

The family described Sheridan as an 18yearold with 'her entire life ahead of her,' stressing that she was doing what 'students do every day' and rejecting any suggestion the killing was a matter of 'wrong place, wrong time.'

They criticized the failures that allowed the suspect to remain free, calling the crime 'violent and preventable,' and urged prosecutors to pursue the case 'to the fullest extent of both state and federal law.'

'Sheridan's life mattered,' the statement concluded. 'What happened to her matters. And we will make sure she is not forgotten.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to The Phoenix for comment.
Benjamin Netanyahu gave Israeli commanders a 48-hour deadline to destroy Iran's weapons industry from his Tel Aviv bunker after reviewing Donald Trump's proposed peace plan.

Netanyahu ordered the Israel Defense Forces to strike as many high-value Iranian targets as possible as the US submitted a 15-point peace plan on Tuesday.

The Israeli prime minister and his top military advisers were alarmed the US plan did not go far enough to curb Tehran's military capabilities, despite its tight restrictions on Iran's missile stockpile and nuclear program.

Netanyahu's Thursday deadline reflects deep concern within the Israeli government that Trump could reach a deal with Tehran at any moment, sources say.

Israeli officials present at Netanyahu's underground meeting described the atmosphere as 'tense.'

Iranian regime officials rejected the proposal via state media on Wednesday.

Netanyahu's inner circle is intent on reaching three key war goals: eliminating Iran's ballistic-missile stockpile, ensuring Tehran cannot develop a nuclear warhead, and fostering an environment within Iran for civilians to overthrow the Islamic regime.

'If you do not obtain the three objectives, you will not be able to end the war,' said Boaz Bismuth, a member of Netanyahu's party.

Benjamin Netanyahu from his bunker in Tel Aviv gave Israeli commanders a 48-hour deadline to destroy Iran's weapons industry

Israel is engaging in a wide range of military strikes across the Middle East, including in Gaza and Lebanon, where Iran's proxies are active against Netanyahu's forces (pictured: a fireball erupts following an Israeli strike near a tent encampment sheltering people displaced by war in Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on March 25)

Netanyahu's Thursday deadline reflects deep concern within the Israeli government that Trump could reach a deal with Tehran at any moment

The Trump administration has quietly distanced itself from the regime-change goal after strikes against senior leadership failed to topple the government.

Pentagon chiefs ordered around 2,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East last night to join some 4,500 Marines already en route to the region, as Trump's peace push shows signs of collapse.

The President is prepared to pull the trigger on a full-scale invasion if Tehran continues to rebuff his diplomatic overtures, according to members of his inner circle.

'Trump has a hand open for a deal, and the other is a fist, waiting to punch you in the f***ing face,' a Trump aide told Axios.

The 15-point plan, modeled on Trump's Gaza deal, would require Iran to dismantle all nuclear and long-range missile capabilities, open the Strait of Hormuz, and abandon proxy terror groups.

But Iranian state TV on Wednesday said that the regime had rejected the ceasefire proposal. Instead, Tehran is demanding the closure of all US bases in the Gulf, reparations, and an end to Israeli military strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Tehran is also seeking to bring the strait - a chokepoint for roughly a fifth of the world's oil - under its control, allowing it to charge transit fees on passing vessels, much like Egypt does with the Suez Canal.

A Trump official described Iran's demands as 'ridiculous' and 'unrealistic', warning that reaching a deal is now more difficult than before the war began as the President prepares a potential ground invasion force.

Netanyahu's inner circle is intent on reaching three key war goals: eliminating Iran's ballistic-missile stockpile, ensuring Tehran cannot develop a nuclear warhead, and fostering an environment within Iran for civilians to overthrow the Islamic regime

Smoke and flames rise at the site of airstrikes on an oil depot in Tehran

Speaker of the Iranian parliament Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf in Tehran, Iran, February 1

The Trump administration appears to have created distance with their regime change goal after strikes against senior leadership have failed to overthrow the government

Israeli strikes in Gaza earlier on Wednesday

US and Iranian diplomats have not spoken through direct contact and instead communicate via Middle Eastern intermediaries from Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan.

Saudi Arabia has made clear that ceding control of the Strait of Hormuz is a non-starter, with Riyadh urging Trump to stay in the fight.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has repeatedly urged Trump to finish the Islamic regime in calls over the last week, including the use of ground forces to seize Iran's energy sites.

Iran remains wary of Trump's envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, accusing the pair of 'backstabbing' Tehran in negotiations ahead of the US and Israel's strikes on February 28.

Iranian officials are pushing for Vice President JD Vance to lead the US negotiating team, believing he is sympathetic after privately expressing doubts about Operation Epic Fury.
A Palestinian man was killed and seven others injured in a massive explosion after an Israeli airstrike targeted a tented camp in Gaza.

Videos from the scene show two missiles slamming into the tent camp housing displaced Palestinians in the town of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip this evening.

The man killed has been named as 22-year-old Abdulrahman Qanbour by the state-run WAFA news agency based in the West Bank.

Israeli warplanes struck the Al-Sitt camp just south of Deir al-Bala which operates as a rescue service under Hamas, the civil defence agency said.

There is meant to be a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza since October 10 last year, after Hamas and the Israeli government moved to approve the US-brokered agreement.

Gaza's Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital confirmed the death toll and casualties, while the Israeli military said it was looking into the reports.

Suhaila Khalil, 57, who lives in a tent in the area, said she heard screams as the strike tore through the camp.

She said: 'The explosion happened several hundred metres from our tent, but smoke and shrapnel rained down on displaced people, leaving several injured.'

Videos show two missiles hit the camp within seconds of each other. The first missile hits the ground but does not explode. Two seconds later, another missile strikes very near to the first one and produces an almighty fireball.

Shock waves throw debris tens of metres into the air and black smoke follows, pluming around 50 metres above the tents.

The shockwave can be seen shuddering through the flapping white fabric of tent roofs.

Scores of people who had been idly milling around the cap suddenly turn to run in horror as the explosion envelopes part of the neighbourhood.

A massive explosion at a tented camp of displaced Palestinians killed a man and injured seven others this evening

Smoke rises above the Umm Amira camp just south of the town of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip

The man killed was named as 22-year-old Abdulrahman Qanbour by the state-run WAFA news agency based in the West Bank

Two missiles were seen striking the camp, only the second of which exploded on impact

Camp dwellers inspect the massive crater left behind by the air strike

Screaming and shouting can be heard as camp residents turn and run for their lives.

Palestinians were pictured afterwards inspecting the massive crater left behind by the explosives.

Thousands of Gazans have been living in tents since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.

Israel is said to have violated the ceasefire agreement and killed at least 689 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the truce, Gaza's health ministry said.

At least five Israeli soldiers are said to have been killed in the same period, the Israeli military claims. Media restrictions and limited access to Gaza have meant that independent verification of these casualty figures and free reporting on the fighting have not been possible.

Meanwhile, the Israelis are continuing their bombing campaign in Iran alongside the US and approved plans for a ground invasion of Lebanon on Sunday, following Iranian-backed Hezbollah strikes on the country.

Defence Minister Israel Katz said they hope to take control of a large swathe of southern Lebanon as a buffer zone as part of their campaign against Hezbollah.

More than 1,000 people have already been killed in Lebanon, according to their health ministry, including at least 118 children and 40 health workers.
Labour must introduce an Australia-style social media ban for under-16s without delay, a former police chiefs head of child protection has said.

Simon Bailey, a former National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) child protection lead, has warned that current safeguards have failed and that social media platforms are not protecting children.

The intervention will pile more pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to bring forward a ban, after Labour announced a consultation on online harms earlier this year to see off a backbench rebellion.

Mr Bailey, who was Chief Constable of Norfolk Police between 2013 and 2021, has produced a report for MPs that warns social media poses an unmanageable threat to the safety, developmental health, and social integration of children.

The report, seen by the Mail, states that the wait and see approach has resulted in a public health crisis and a child protection emergency. It calls on the Government to immediately legislate for a social media ban for u16s.

Mr Bailey said: Social media has created the most significant child protection crisis of our time with more children being sexually abused than ever before. The evidence is clear and growing.

'The platforms have built an ecosystem in which predators groom, exploit and radicalise children at scale - and the threat is now extending into AI and virtual reality.

Voluntary safeguards have failed and the platforms have failed to act. The Government must now legislate to raise the age limit to 16 for harmful social media platforms.

Sir Keir Starmer attempted to head off a backbench rebellion by announcing plans for a consultation on banning social media for under-16s

The Government is consulting on measures 'to prepare children for the future in an age of rapid technological change', which could include a social media ban for under-16s

His intervention comes after peers in January voted by a majority of 111 for an amendment by Lord Nash that would have introduced an immediate ban.

But MPs voted to strip it out of the Childrens Wellbeing and Schools Bill when it returned to the Commons, after the Government launched a consultation on keeping children safe online to see off a major backbench rebellion.

This came after more than 60 Labour MPs publicly called for Britain to follow Australia, which became the first country to ban social media for young people in December.

However the Bill was due to return to the House of Lords on Wednesday with peers set to vote again on whether to ban u-16s from social media, which could trigger a stand-off between the Houses of Parliament.

Lord Nash has vowed to keep the pressure on the Government and reintroduce his amendment to bring forward a ban, as he said there can be no half measures and no wasted opportunities.

The Bill has been debated in both Houses but is now in a stage sometimes known as ping-pong. Both Houses must agree on its final draft before it can become law.

Former schools minister Lord Nash said: This report lays bare the appalling harm children are experiencing on social media in this country.

Children as young as four are being targeted by predators, grooming crimes have doubled, and young victims are being blackmailed into silence or far worse. The platforms hosting this content know what is happening - and they consistently refuse to act.

He added: Today my colleagues in the House of Lords have a chance to change that I urge every peer to keep our children safe and vote for my amendment today.

It comes after more than 60 Labour MPs wrote to Ofcom chief executive Melanie Dawes urging her to protect men and boys from manosphere influencers who may expose them to gambling, sextortion and violent pornography.

The Online Safety Act forced Ofcom to give tech platforms guidance on how to tackle harmful content and activity that disproportionately affects women and girls, but MPs argue that men and boys are also targeted in different ways.

The letter says that men and boys are at disproportionate risk of specific harms including far-right political radicalisation, crypto scams and violent pornography through content by popular creators.

The Governments consultation on what action should be taken to address online harms is under way and is due to close on 26 May.
Sir Keir Starmer's frequent foreign jaunts have cost taxpayers a massive 4.2million, new figures have revealed.

The Prime Minister  dubbed Never Here Keir  racked up the huge bill on 39 trips abroad in less than two years in office.

In the final three months of 2025 alone he went on eight international visits at a cost to the public purse of 1.4m, according to Cabinet Office data.

They included a whistlestop trip to the UN climate summit in Brazil on the Government plane, accompanied by 29 officials, that cost 413,769.

It comes on top of the 846,966 cost of the visit by Ed Miliband and his entourage to COP30, revealed by the Daily Mail last week.

Sir Keir's trade mission to India, on a commercial flight, cost 341,680 while his visit to the G20 world leaders' gathering in South Africa cost 368,040.

During the autumn he also went to Denmark, Egypt, Turkey and Germany twice.

He has accused of hypocrisy given that before the election Labour regularly attacked Tory PM Rishi Sunak for flying by private jet and vowed to save millions by cutting down on ministerial travel.

Sir Keir Starmer at an event during the COP30 World Leaders Summit in Brazil last year

Join the discussion Should UK taxpayers foot the bill for the Prime Minister's frequent and expensive foreign trips?

William Yarwood, media campaign manager of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'Taxpayers are getting tired of the Prime Minister's rank hypocrisy, particularly on the question of foreign travel.

'Starmer was judge, jury and executioner on the matter of Tory travels yet is more than happy to max out the credit card for his own foreign excursions.

'The Prime Minister needs to start practising in power what he preached in opposition.'

And Shadow Cabinet Office Minister Mike Wood said: 'The Prime Minister's leadership is so poor he has resorted to avoiding the country altogether, whilst expecting hard-working taxpayers at home to foot the over 4 million bill.

'Never-here Keir has even cost the country 400,000 just to attend COP30, jetting from summit to summit as people suffer the consequences of his decisions back home. Like the MandelsonEpstein scandal, it is a Prime Minister without a backbone trying to avoid accountability.'

A Government spokesman insisted: 'All PM travel is done with consideration to security requirements and value for taxpayers, and is central to rebuilding Britain's global influence and keeping people safe through stronger alliances.

'These trips have helped secure billions in investment for the UK and tens of thousands of jobs, while strengthening our security, protecting British interests overseas and delivering real benefits for people at home.'
President Donald Trump will visit the Chinese President Xi Jinping in mid-May, he announced Wednesday after the original trip was scrapped over the Iran war.

The original itinerary for March 31 to April 2 was canceled shortly after the US and Israel began striking Iran on February 28.

'My meeting with the Highly Respected President of China, President Xi Jinping, which was originally postponed due to our Military operation in Iran, has been rescheduled, and will take place in Beijing on May 14th and 15th,' Trump wrote on social media.

The announcement indicates the postponement amounts to roughly six weeks.

He also announced a subsequent visit from the Chinese President and his wife, Madame Peng Liyuan, to the US at an unknown date.

'First Lady Melania and I will also host President Xi and Madame Peng for a reciprocal visit in Washington, D.C., at a later date, this year. Our Representatives are finalizing preparations for these Historic Visits.'

'I look very much forward to spending time with President Xi in what will be, I am sure, a Monumental Event,' Trump added.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday that the rescheduled state visit did not indicate that the Iran war was coming to a close, but hinted that it could soon be over.

President Donald Trump will travel to Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 14 and 15 after the original visit scheduled for next week was postponed over the Iran war

The meeting will serve as the second face-to-face session between two leaders since Trump's second term. They held a bilateral meeting at Gimhae International Airport on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Busan, South Korea, on October 30, 2025, shown above

When pressed on whether the trip signifies the Iran war is winding down, she reiterated, 'Weve always estimated approximately four to six weeks, so you could do the math on that.'

She also said the Chinese President was helpful in rearranging the visit, and understood Trump's desire to stay in the US amid the war.

'President Xi understood that it's very important for the President to be here throughout these combat operations right now.'

'He understood, obviously, the request to postpone, and accepted it,' she added.

Trump has said the visit will serve as a reset for US-China relations amid the world's two largest economies' competition for global recognition and military dominance.

The President has also called on China and US allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz due to the nation's reliance on oil and gas that transits the narrow chokepoint.

'Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send Ships,' Trump wrote on social media on March 14.

However, he later backtracked and said the US does not need any help in securing the Strait through which a quarter of the global oil and natural gas supplies flow.

US President Donald Trump (R) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) prepare to shake hands during dinner at the Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach, Florida, on April 6, 2017

Trump and Xi walk around Mar-a-Lago in 2017

Trump and Xi previously met in October 2025 at a summit in South Korea.

During his first term, the President hosted Xi at Mar-a-Lago in 2017, and the leaders also met later that year in Beijing. They also got face time at various G20 events in 2018 and 2019.
A school used artificial intelligence to censor books in its library including George Orwell's 1984 and Stephenie Meyer's Twilight, campaigners claim.

An investigation by Index on Censorship found a secondary school in Greater Manchester earmarked almost 200 books for removal from its library that were deemed 'inappropriate'.

These also included Michelle Obama's autobiography, Becoming, and romance The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks.

The charity, which campaigns for free expression, says the school asked AI to generate summaries justifying why each book was not suitable for pupils.

Incredibly, the school librarian was also put under a 'safeguarding' investigation  leading to her resignation  for allowing the books in the library.

Index said it would not reveal the name of the school or the librarian, due to her being vulnerable.

Although many of the books were initially removed, it is not known if all of those on the list remain banned from the library.

The case was exposed this week by the school librarian, who spoke to the organisation on condition of her anonymity.

A school used artificial intelligence to censor books in its library including George Orwell's 1984 and Stephenie Meyer's Twilight, campaigners claim. Pictured: Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson in the 2008 Twilight film

An investigation by Index on Censorship found a secondary school in Greater Manchester earmarked almost 200 books for removal from its library that were deemed 'inappropriate'. Pictured: a graphic novel version of 1984, adapted by Matyas Namai

She said the purge began in November 2025, when the headteacher demanded the removal of Laura Bates' nonfiction title Men Who Hate Women, which is an expose of incel culture.

The head thought the book was inappropriate due to 'exposure of misogynistic beliefs', even though it was kept in a special section for older pupils.

Off the back of this incident, the school then launched an 'investigation' into the librarian, and closed the library as a 'temporary safeguarding measure'.

She was then asked to remove any book that was 'not written for children', had 'themes that could be upsetting to children' and those that were 'inappropriate or constitute a safeguarding risk'.

She told Index: 'I was absolutely gobsmacked. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.'

The school also reported her to the council as a safeguarding risk due to introducing 'inappropriate' books  and there was also a threat of gross misconduct proceedings.

The school shared with her a list of 193 books which it deemed might be inappropriate, seen by Index.

Index said it had seen another document in which the school admitted the reasons given for the censorship had been written by AI.

The list also included Michelle Obama's autobiography, Becoming

Also listed was The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks, which was made into a film in 2004 starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams

The document said: 'Although the categorisation was generated using AI, I consider this classification to be broadly accurate.'

It is not known whether AI was also involved in selecting the books for the list in the first place.

The list included a graphic novel version of 1984, illustrated by Matyas Namai, with the AI-generated summary warning there were 'themes of torture, violence, sexual coercion'.

Meanwhile, Twilight, which is usually recommended as being for pupils aged 14 and over, was listed due to 'mature romantic themes, sexual tension, and violence involving vampires and werewolves.'

Michelle Obama's book was listed due to 'racism and political themes', while The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks was listed, bizarrely, due to being a 'romantic drama about enduring love and memory loss'.

The novel, which was made into a film in 2004 starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, is about a devoted husband's journey to help his wife, who has Alzheimer's, remember their lives together.

And Terry Pratchett's comedic fantasy novel Soul Music also fell foul of the censors for 'adult audience content' which 'may include sexual material, violence, abuse, substance misuse, or psychologically distressing themes'.

The list also included Zadie Smith's White Teeth, Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code and actor Alan Rickman's autobiography, Madly Deeply.

The librarian signed off sick due to stress and eventually resigned, but the council safeguarding complaint went ahead and was upheld due to her 'failing to follow safeguarding procedures' because of 'multiple books' with 'inappropriate content'.

Some of the books were ordered by people other than her, and she says her line manager signed off on all purchases.

The librarian is being supported by the School Libraries Group (SLG), part of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP).

Caroline Roche, chair of the SLG, told Index: 'This is over the top. It's ruined her career.

'The fact it's gone through safeguarding means [she] will never be able to work in a school again.'

Index said the case arose because there is no statutory guidance for school libraries, leaving librarians vulnerable to the demands of head teachers.

An Index spokesman said: 'Index believes this story is of huge public interest. It is an unprecedented attack on the freedom to read and intellectual freedom, where important safeguarding measures have been misused to threaten and target a school librarian. This librarian is no longer able to do her job.'

The full investigation is available on the Index on Censorship website.

The school, for pupils aged 11 to 16, has not responded to requests for comment by Index.
British Special Forces have been cleared to storm Russian shadow fleet tankers after another Downing Street U-turn.

Previously government lawyers had ruled out units such as the Special Boat Service from raiding Kremlin vessels in UK waters.

Sir Keir Starmer has finally approved requests from military chiefs in a boost to war weary Ukraine which is suffering intense Russian attacks.

Russia's war coffers have been boosted by the spike in oil prices caused by the Iran security crisis  making it more important from Britain to target its shadow fleet.

Last night the Prime Minister said: 'We are living in an increasingly volatile and dangerous world, facing threats from different fronts every day.

'Putin is rubbing his hands at the war in the Middle East because he thinks higher oil prices will let him line his pockets.

'That's why we're going after his shadow fleet even harder, not just keeping Britain safe but starving Putin's war machine of the dirty profits that fund his barbaric campaign.'

Previously Royal Navy ships have been restricted to shadowing Russian vessels passing through the English Channel.

A French Navy helicopter hovers over the Deyna Russian shadow fleet vessel in the Mediterranean last week

Join the discussion Should Britain risk direct action against Russian ships to hurt Putin's war chest?

Sir Keir will confirm the policy change when he attends the Joint Expeditionary Force Summit in Helsinki on Thursday.

Other JEF members, such as Finland, Sweden and Estonia, have already conducted interdictions.

The UK was lagging behind due to legal red tape. Earlier this year Britain played a secondary role as US Special Forces raided the Bella 1 tanker in the North Sea.
Australians could soon be paying significantly more for milk and face wider food supply fears if global shipping disruptions are not resolved within weeks, the head of one of the country's biggest dairy cooperatives has warned.

Norco chief executive Michael Hampson said the economic fallout from the escalating crisis could eclipse the pandemic if key energy and trade routes remain blocked in the Middle East due to the ongoing war.

The best-case timeline pointed to six-12 months of food supply disruptions, linked to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and stabilising petrochemical supply routes.

'If it isn't resolved promptly, as in the next week or two, the fallout for this event is going to make Covid look like a tea party,' Hampson told The Guardian.

'We won't be worried about running out of toilet paper  we'll be worried about not having food.'

Hampson warned Australians should expect milk prices to rise, saying increases of 30 to 50 cents a litre 'wouldn't be unreasonable' if supply chain pressures continue to build.

However, he stressed that outright milk shortages were unlikely at this stage.

He said the dairy industry faces growing risks from disruptions to global petrochemical supply, with milk packaging heavily dependent on oil-based resins that could become impossible to source if logistics networks do not stabilise.

'Then it doesn't matter how much it costs  because we won't have anything to put the milk in,' he said.

The warning comes as fuel costs surge across the sector, with Hampson revealing Norco's milk processing facilities have already been hit with an extra $1 million a month in fuel bills since the conflict began.

It was no longer a question of if, but when, higher costs will flow through to consumers, supply chain management and logistics expert Elizabeth Jackson said.

'Every kilojoule of food that comes from an Australian farm is moved by a diesel-powered vehicle," Dr Jackson said.

'Even the most basic of foods - fresh fruit and vegetables that don't go through any sort of processing - right through to the most processed exported foods, are dependent upon transport systems.

'They are also dependent upon diesel for their manufacture in terms of mechanisation that goes into food production, like tractors.'

Price rises are likely to begin with fresh produce because of its constant need for transport.

Increases were possible within two to three weeks, with a "slow burn" most likely rather than one sudden spike.

'The fresher the produce, the quicker we're going to see the prices increase,' Dr Jackson said.
An 'angry' drink-driver and his passenger, who killed their four-year-old cousin and paralysed his father in a deliberate ramming of the family's car have been jailed.

Peter Maughan died after suffering severe and devastating injuries to his head, chest and abdomen.

He was thrown from a pick-up truck on the A2 in Kent just before 9.30pm on June 1 last year.

Driver Owen Maughan, 27, and his father, front seat passenger Patrick Maughan, 54, were sentenced on Wednesday to more than 12 years and 18 years respectively for the manslaughter of Peter Maughan.

The pair, of Hill Rise in Darenth, Kent, were also sentenced for inflicting grievous bodily harm on Peter's father, Lovell Mahon, who was driving the family car and suffered serious injuries, including a skull fracture and will never walk again.

Footage released by the Crown Prosecution Service shows the father and son - who drank 25 bottles and pints of lager between them before the fatal crash - chasing down the car Peter was in, along with his mother Hayley Maughan, father Lovell Mahon and one-year-old sister Annarica Maughan.

The court previously heard that Owen, Hayley's cousin, and his father were racing after the family in 'fury'.

He was accused of using his truck as a weapon while being actively encouraged by his father to do so.

Four-year-old Peter Maughan was killed when he was thrown from the Ford Ranger Wildtrak as it rolled off the road

Lovell Mahon (right, pictured with his late son Peter) suffered multiple fractures and brain trauma in the crash, leaving him unlikely to walk again

Driver Owen Maughan, 27, and his father, front seat passenger Patrick Maughan, 54, (pictured together) were sentenced on Wednesday to more than 12 years and 18 years respectively for the manslaughter of Peter Maughan

In the footage, a man can be heard shouting 'pull in then' followed by another clip of Hayley Maughan saying 'please watch this, look he's still doing it'.

The drivers could be heard screaming at each other as they travel along the A2 in Kent, with one saying to the other he would fight him, adding 'give me one minute'.

Sentencing Owen and Patrick Maughan at Maidstone Crown Court, Judge Oliver Saxby KC said lives had been 'irretrievably shattered by what you did' in 'selfish' anger.

He told Owen Maughan: 'You were angry he had not stopped and wanted to teach him a lesson.

'This was no "nudge" as you claimed in evidence.

'You were never going to stop, you didn't care what happened to Lovell Mahon and his family.

'We don't give a f***', as you had put it.'

The pair were cleared of murder after a trial last month.

The CPS also released dashcam footage from another vehicle showing the two pick-up trucks levelling up along the motorway at the time of the argument.

The victims' vehicle manages to accelerate away before the father and son catch up with them.

Owen Maughan had previously pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Peter, who was his cousin's son, while the jury convicted Patrick Maughan of manslaughter.

Pictured: Hayley Maughan and Lovell Mahon and their children Peter and then-one-year-old sister Annarica Maughan

Lovell Mahon (pictured in the green t-shirt) was paralysed in the crash and may never walk again

Pictured: Both pick-up trucks drive side by side on the A2 in Kent, moments before the fatal collision which killed four-year-old Peter Maughan

Jurors had heard the pair had been drinking in Rochester earlier that day, and had about 12 bottles of beer and 13 pints respectively, before they began driving their Ford Ranger pick-up truck home.

During the three-week trial, the court heard Owen Maughan had pulled on to the wrong side of the road when he rammed the rear offside of Mr Mahon's truck with the front nearside of his vehicle.

The impact caused the vehicle to rotate out of control and then roll up to three times.

Peter, who was affectionately known by loved ones as Peter Rabbit, was thrown out of the truck from his rear seat and died from what were described as 'severe and devastating' head, chest and abdomen injuries.

The jury heard the injuries were unsurvivable, even with immediate medical care, and some bore characteristics reminiscent of tyre tread marks - possibly consistent with being run over or crushed during roll-over.

His father was also ejected from the Ranger and sustained multiple fractures and brain trauma, leaving him in a wheelchair and unlikely to walk again.

Miraculously, the court was told, Hayley and her daughter escaped with minor injuries.

At the time of the pursuit and subsequent collision, the family of four was heading home to Southfleet following a visit to Pepe's restaurant in Maidstone.

Owen and Patrick Maughan were also on their way home to Darenth in Kent after a six-hour drinking session in Rochester, during which they downed as many as 25 bottles and pints of lager between them.

Patrick Maughan, 54, pictured outside court in February, wa sentenced on Wednesday to more than 12 years in jail

Owen Maughan accepted responsibility for Peter Maughan's death in the high-speed hit-and-run on June 1 last year and has been jailed for 18 years

Jurors heard it was by chance that the parties' paths crossed that evening and the reason for trouble to erupt within the space of six minutes still remained unclear.

Although the families had not spoken for years, there was no ongoing feud, and a disagreement between Hayley Maughan and Owen's sister Nicole Maughan at the school gates a few weeks earlier had been resolved, it was said.

In the case of Patrick Maughan, the jury was told the issues to consider were encouragement and intent.

Evidence at trial included video and audio recordings made by Hayley herself on her phone of her family being allegedly 'harassed and terrified' for several minutes by the defendants along the A2 from Cobham until the Pepperhill junction at Northfleet.

Lorry dashcam footage also captured about three minutes of the chase, showing the vehicles changing lanes, braking heavily and pulling up alongside each other.

The clips filmed by a frightened Hayley Maughan on WhatsApp showed the Maughans's vehicle closely on their tail as well as aggressive exchanges through the Ranger windows.

She then sent the footage and voicenotes to her mother, providing a running commentary and detailing her panic and fear.

Later, when she spoke to police, she described Patrick Maughan as being red in the face, 'revving up' his son 'like a volcano ready to explode' and making the situation '10 times worse'.

She said she could see him 'frothing' at the mouth and Owen Maughan biting his tongue 'in temper'.

She told officers: 'We were in fear for our lives. We begged them, we told them that, it's on video camera. We told them that the children were in the motor.

'It wasn't an accident. They knew what they were doing. They had enough time to think.'

The court heard that it was just a few seconds after she filmed her husband shouting 'children in this motor' to the Maughans as the vehicles pulled alongside each other at the Pepperhill junction that the fatal crash occurred.

But, instead of pulling over to help, the defendants sped off from 'the carnage they had created', said the prosecution, driving through debris scattered in the road and with a child's pushchair that had fallen from the rear of the rammed truck wedged under their chassis.

They headed towards Longfield, stopping briefly so Patrick Maughan could rip off the front number plate in what was alleged to be a bid to cover their tracks.

The pair then continued for several miles to Plantation Road in Hextable where they abandoned their Ranger, visibly damaged to the front nearside and still with the buggy jammed underneath.

Owen, a builder by trade with no previous convictions, fled to Manchester while his father went to his sister's in Berkshire.

Both were arrested within two days. Owen returned to Kent to hand himself in to police on June 2 while Patrick was detained on June 3 after he was found by officers in bed, heavily intoxicated.

In a victim impact statement read to the court on Wednesday, Ms Maughan said the family had the 'best life' before the incident happened but now they are a family 'surviving, not living'.

In a victim impact statement read to the court on Wednesday, Ms Maughan described Peter as her 'other half', always together, and a 'happy boy'

Peter's father Lovell Mahon suffered multiple fractures and brain trauma in the collision, leaving him in a wheelchair and unlikely to walk again

Tributes were left beside the A2 near Gravesend in Kent following the tragedy on June 1, 2025

She described Peter as her 'other half', always together, and a 'happy boy'.

'His favourite place in the world was school, he was very popular at school,' the 24-year-old said.

'Peter didn't get to start his life. He didn't get to go to school on a school trip. He didn't even get to learn to read.

'Peter made me who I was, I had him when I was 18 and now he's gone I'm nothing.'

She added that on the day of the 'horror', Peter's packed lunch for school the next day was ready in the fridge and his shoes were by the door.

Addressing Owen and Patrick Maughan, her statement said: 'Those responsible have left our family broken', adding: 'You've taken away my baby.'

Giving evidence during the trial, Owen Maughan told jurors he did not know there were children in the other car, but on Wednesday Judge Saxby said he told a number of lies in his evidence and added: 'He had.'

Owen Maughan also said he believed he and Mr Mahon were going to fight after arguing between the cars, and he decided to 'nudge' or dent the side of Mr Mahon's car so he would stop and get out.

After the crash, Owen and Patrick Maughan drove off and paused for Patrick Maughan to pull the registration plate off the truck.

A statement read to court from Mr Mahon described how hard it was living each day without his son and in a wheelchair.

'Life will never be the same,' he said.

'The death of Peter has broken me, he was too good for this world. When I found out he was gone words can't even describe it.

'I can't even get to see Peter at his grave because of the bumps.'

He said his rehabilitation is a 'full-time job' and Ms Maughan added that as soon as that 'horrible' day happened, she became a nurse.

In her statement she said Mr Mahon now has bad anxiety and paranoia, including panicking if someone drives too close to them.
Former President Joe Biden made it known that he was happy a Democrat would soon be representing Mar-a-Lago.

The Daily Mail has learned that Biden, 83, placed a call on Wednesday to Emily Gregory, who shockingly won a Florida special election Tuesday to take President Donald Trump's Florida resort out of Republican hands.

Gregory ran against Trump-backed Republican Jon Maples to represent Florida's House District 87 in the Florida House of Representatives.

The previous holder of the seat, Republican state Representative Mike Caruso, won the state legislative seat by 19 points in 2024, with President Donald Trump winning the district by about 10 points that year.

With nearly all the votes counted, Gregory led Maples by 2.4 percentage points, or 797 votes, the Associated Press said.

The call from Biden to Gregory was congratulatory in nature.

He typically gives out his phone number on the calls, telling rising Democrats to feel free to lean on him as a resource, as he plays an elder statesman role in the party.

Trump had put his weight behind Maples in the primary, giving him a ringing endorsement in January.

Former President Joe Biden, photographed during an event in South Carolina last month, dialed Emily Gregory, who beat a Trump-backed Republican to represent the Florida state House district that encompasses Mar-a-Lago

Democrat Emily Gregory won a shock victory Tuesday night in a special election in a district that previously tilted heavily Republican and includes President Donald Trump's Florida resort Mar-a-Lago

The President also took heat for voting by mail in this special election after raging against the use of mail-in ballots.

The White House clapped back Tuesday, telling the Daily Mail that Trump supports the SAVE America Act, which allows exceptions for 'illness, disability, military, or travel.'

'As everyone knows, the President is a resident of Palm Beach and participates in Florida elections, but he obviously primarily lives at the White House in Washington, D.C.,' White House spokesperson Olivia Wales told the Daily Mail. 'This is a non-story.'

Gregory isn't the only Democratic victor that Biden has reached out to.

The Daily Mail can also reveal that Biden phoned Illinois' Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton, who won the state's Democratic Senate primary last week.

Stratton was in a three-way race against two members of Congress, but had the backing and financial support of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.

With Illinois being a solidly blue state, Stratton is expected to win the seat in November, which was vacated by retiring Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin.

Biden also reached out to Texas state Representative James Talarico, the winner of the Texas Democratic Senate primary earlier this month.

Former President Joe Biden also placed calls to Texas state Representative James Talarico (left), after he won the Senate Democratic primary earlier this month and Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton (right), who won her Senate primary last week

Former President Joe Biden (center) is photographed with former First Lady Dr. Jill Biden (left) and daughter Ashley (right) last month at a fundraiser for his presidential library. Biden library and foundation planning are ramping up, the Daily Mail has learned

Former President Joe Biden takes a selfie with a passenger before boarding a flight to Columbia, South Carolina last month at Washington Reagan National Airport. Biden has been spotted flying commercial and riding Amtrak since leaving the White House in January 2025

Talarico bested the better-known Representative Jasmine Crockett, who sought the Senate seat after Republicans redistricted her House seat, making it far more red.

His race will be far tougher than Stratton's, as Texas hasn't elected a Democratic senator since 1988.

Beyond making political calls, Biden has dedicated several hours each day to writing his memoir.

The ex-President inked a book deal last summer for $10million - far less than the estimated $65million doled out to former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama for their memoirs.

The book is expected to be released later this year, but no publication date has been set.

Biden has recently been spotted flying commercial and taking Amtrak, as he did for years while serving in the U.S. Senate representing Delaware.

Last week, he made a surprise trip to Boston to mark St. Patrick's Day.

A source familiar tells the Daily Mail that he and the former First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, have several joint events scheduled for the month of April.

Additionally, work on his foundation and presidential library is ramping up.

All the while, the 83-year-old is dealing with a serious cancer diagnosis, but insiders have been encouraged that he's responding well to treatment and is continuing to work on stuff that he cares about.
Keir Starmer's former chief of staff is under pressure to testify to parliament about the theft of his phone containing explosive messages to Peter Mandelson.

Kemi Badenoch said Morgan McSweeney should give evidence in person to MPs about the disastrous appointment of Lord Mandelson if key messages on his phone have been lost.

The Tory leader said it was time to 'end the cover up' over the disgraced peer, who Keir Starmer appointed as US ambassador despite being warned about his 'particularly close' relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

Police confirmed on Wednesday that Mr McSweeney reported his phone had been stolen in October last year, just days after Labour officials are said to have warned he would be 'f***ed' if his messages to Lord Mandelson were ever revealed.

In an unprecedented move, the Metropolitan Police released the transcript of a late night 999 call made by Mr McSweeney on October 21 in which he said his phone had been stolen by a black man on a bicycle.

He told call handlers he had given chase. And he informed them that the stolen device was a 'government phone'.

But he did not reveal his role as the PM's chief of staff, or the fact that his phone contained highly sensitive material.

The police pushed back on Wednesday against claims by allies of Mr McSweeney that he was told they were 'too busy' to investigate the theft.

Morgan McSweeney is said to have exchanged messages daily with mentor Peter Mandelson (pictured in June 2025)

Officers called him twice the next day to discuss it but he never responded. Due to a mix-up over the address provided by Mr McSweeney, police initially investigated CCTV footage in the wrong part of London. They have now reopened the investigation.

The missing phone is thought to contain hundreds of messages exchanged with Lord Mandelson both before his appointment and for months afterwards.

Parliament has demanded the release of all messages relating to Lord Mandelson's appointment and seven-month tenure, including Mr McSweeney's emails and WhatsApps.

Downing Street refused to say whether any of the messages had been recovered or whether they could be retrieved from Lord Mandelson's phone.

Special advisers and ministers are supposed to report all significant messages relating to government business so that decisions can be properly recorded. But No 10 was unwilling to say whether Mr McSweeney followed the guidance, meaning there may be no record of messages held on his phone.

The PM's spokesman said: 'Individuals are responsible for deciding how the rules apply to each communication using their professional judgment and considering the context.'

Mrs Badenoch said that if the messages could not be produced, Mr McSweeney should be required to give evidence in parliament.

'There are too many unanswered questions surrounding the disappearance of Morgan McSweeney's phone,' she said.

'Parliament has demanded the government release all of its communications with Peter Mandelson. It would be outrageous if the messages between Mandelson and the Prime Minister's former Chief of Staff - the man Keir Starmer delegated the appointment to - were not included in that release.

'If No10 are incapable of recovering these messages, it is only right that Morgan McSweeney testifies in Parliament and explains exactly what happened and why Keir Starmer signed off on Peter Mandelson's appointment despite the warnings.

'At every stage the Conservatives have had to drag the truth about Mandelson out of Keir Starmer. It's time to end the cover up.'

The disappearance of Mr McSweeney's phone has left a series of unanswered questions. No 10 said the theft was reported immediately to Downing Street's security department which was able to wipe its contents remotely.

But officials could not say whether any attempt was made to track the phone or whether any discussion was had with police investigating the theft.

Despite his high profile, there appears to have been no attempt to establish whether Mr McSweeney was the victim of a random theft  or whether he could have been deliberately targeted by a hostile state.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the loss of messages was a 'cock-up rather than conspiracy' while Downing Street stressed the phone theft happened 'months before' MPs compelled the Government to release the Mandelson files.

Mr Streeting on Wednesday said Mr McSweeney 'couldn't have known' the exchanges would later be needed for scrutiny. But the Spectator magazine reported last month that Labour officials had highlighted the risk to Mr McSweeney of parliament demanding his phone messages just days before it went missing.

The first batch of documents from the Mandelson files confirmed that Sir Keir was told that the Labour grandee had remained friends with Epstein for years after his conviction for child sex offences  and had even stayed at his New York mansion while he was in jail.

Despite this, the PM not to speak to Lord Mandelson himself. Instead he delegated the issue to Mr McSweeney, who was a protege of Lord Mandelson and who asked him just three questions about his relationship with Epstein.
Donald Trump has brutally slapped down Benjamin Netanyahu's push for the US to incite a bloody street revolution to topple the Iranian regime.

'Why the hell should we tell people to take to the streets when they'll just get mowed down,' Mr Trump told the Israeli prime minister in a call last week.

It came just hours after Iran's security chief Ali Larijani was killed in an Israeli strike last Tuesday. Mr Netanyahu told the US President that the regime was in disarray and that there was a window for a popular uprising, a US official and Israeli source told Axios.

But Mr Trump feared a massacre, mindful that thousands of Iranians had been slaughtered by paramilitary forces during anti-regime protests before the war.

Mr Netanyahu and Mr Trump agreed to wait and see if the Iranians would come out during the annual festival of fire without encouragement, a source said.

But the Israeli PM proceeded anyway, stating on TV: 'Our aircraft are striking terrorist operatives... This is meant to allow the brave Iranian people to celebrate the festival of fire. So go out and celebrate... We are watching from above.'

The rupture lays bare a widening gap between the two leaders, with Washington quietly distancing itself from Jerusalem on regime change despite Trump urging a popular uprising when the war began.

Mr Netanyahu has since secretly convened his generals and pushed for a 48-hour blitz on Iran's top targets, even as Mr Trump moves to nail down a swift peace deal.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump shake hands during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, last year

A fireball erupts following an Israeli strike near a tent encampment sheltering peope displaced by war in the central Gaza Strip on March 25

Mr Netanyahu convened Israeli commanders in a bunker deep beneath Tel Aviv on Tuesday after reviewing the President's 15-point peace plan.

The Israeli prime minister and his top military advisers were alarmed the US plan did not go far enough to curb Tehran's military capabilities.

His Thursday deadline reflects deep concern within the Israeli government that Mr Trump could reach a deal with Tehran at any moment, sources say.

Israeli officials present at the underground meeting described the atmosphere as 'tense.'

It comes as Mr Trump told his fellow Republicans on Wednesday that the US and Israel 'cut out the cancer' of Iran's nuclear program as insiders claim he's privately seeking to end the war within weeks.

The president declared victory over Iran's nuclear threat while speaking to the National Republican Congressional Committee and said the US military was ready to deliver the knockout blow.

'Its short term. What we had to do is get rid of the cancer. We had to cut out the cancer. The cancer was Iran with a nuclear weapon,' he said. 'Weve cut it out. Now were going to finish it off.'

Meanwhile, Mr Trump privately told allies and cabinet members that he doesn't want the war to be drawn out much longer.

Mr Trump had initially outlined a four to six-week timeline at the beginning of the war and he wants to stick to that goal.

Iran rejected the proposal on Wednesday, but Mr Trump remains bullish on a deal and a ceasefire could come as early as next Saturday, Israeli media has reported.

Mr Netanyahu's inner circle is intent on reaching three key war goals: eliminating Iran's ballistic-missile stockpile, ensuring Tehran cannot develop a nuclear warhead, and fostering an environment within Iran for civilians to overthrow the Islamic regime.

'If you do not obtain the three objectives, you will not be able to end the war,' said Boaz Bismuth, a member of his party.

Mr Trump has not touched on regime change in his messaging since the early days of the war, and the White House does not list it among in its four official objectives: destroy Iran's missiles, Navy, armed proxies, and nuclear capabilities.

Donald Trump told his fellow Republicans that the US and Israel 'cut out the cancer' of Iran's nuclear plan, while privately wanting the war to end sooner rather than later

Benjamin Netanyahu gave Israeli commanders a 48-hour deadline to destroy Iran's weapons industry from his bunker in Tel Aviv

Mr Netanyahu's Thursday deadline reflects deep concern within the Israeli government that the US could reach a deal with Tehran at any moment

Pentagon chiefs last night ordered around 2,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East to join some 4,500 Marines already en route, as Trump's peace push shows signs of weakening.

The President is prepared to pull the trigger on a full-scale invasion if Tehran continues to rebuff his diplomatic overtures, according to members of his inner circle.

'Trump has a hand open for a deal, and the other is a fist, waiting to punch you in the f****** face,' an aide told Axios.

The 15-point plan, modeled on Mr Trump's Gaza deal, would require Iran to dismantle all nuclear and long-range missile capabilities, open the Strait of Hormuz, and abandon proxy terror groups.

But Iranian state TV said on Wednesday that the regime had rejected the proposal outright, with Tehran demanding the closure of all US bases in the Gulf, reparations, and an end to Israeli strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Tehran is also seeking to bring the strait  a chokepoint for roughly a fifth of the world's oil  under its control, allowing it to charge transit fees on passing vessels, much like Egypt does with the Suez Canal.

A Trump official described Iran's demands as 'ridiculous' and 'unrealistic', warning that a deal is now harder to reach than before the war began as the President readies a potential ground invasion force.

US and Iranian diplomats have not spoken through direct contact and instead communicate via Middle Eastern intermediaries from Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan.

Mr Netanyahu's inner circle is intent on reaching three key war goals: eliminating Iran's ballistic-missile stockpile, ensuring Tehran cannot develop a nuclear warhead, and fostering an environment within Iran for civilians to overthrow the Islamic regime

Smoke and flames rise at the site of airstrikes on an oil depot in Tehran

The speaker of the Iranian parliament Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf in Tehran earlier this year

The Trump administration appears to have created distance with their regime change goal after strikes against senior leadership have failed to overthrow the government

Israeli strikes in Gaza earlier on Wednesday

Saudi Arabia has made clear that ceding control of the Strait of Hormuz is a non-starter, with Riyadh urging Trump to stay in the fight.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has repeatedly urged Trump to finish the Islamic regime in calls over the last week, including the use of ground forces to seize Iran's energy sites.

Iran remains wary of Trump's envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, accusing the pair of 'backstabbing' Tehran in negotiations ahead of the US and Israel's strikes on February 28.

Iranian officials are pushing for Vice President JD Vance to lead the US negotiating team, believing he is sympathetic after privately expressing doubts about Operation Epic Fury.
More than 500 protests have been policed by Scotlands single force since the start of the year, it was revealed yesterday.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Waddell said there had been an increase of around 50 per cent in protests in the last 12 months.

He said one in five relate to anti-immigration demonstrations amid rising concern over migrants being put up in hotels.

The surge in protests has put pressure on policing at a time of rising crime and growing cash constraints for the force.

Mr Waddell revealed the startling figures at a public board meeting of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA).

He said: Over 40 per cent of these protests relate to pro-Palestine support, around 20 per cent of them relate to anti-immigration protests, and just over 10 per cent relate to protests in relation to the war in Iran.

We see lifetime reactions to international politics. Were really acutely aware that our response both to the immediacy of the protests can impact upon community cohesion, but our role as a broader partner across Scotland is impacted in that space as well as the structures weve put in place.

He said Police Scotlands current means of handling protests involves local policing and colleagues backed by the forces national resources.

Anti-migrant protesters demonstrate outside the Cladhan Hotel in Falkirk last year

There will be exceptions to that, depending on the intelligence picture or the threat, risk and harm, but thats the starting default position for us, Mr Waddell said.

We make significant use of police liaison officers, whose role it is to engage with those organising protests and those who are potentially impacted by it, to make sure that we are operating with a no-surprises approach, and were doing our very best to educate and work with people in this space to minimise the impact on our communities.

Pro-Palestinian groups have also staged demonstrations against the UK Governments proscription of Palestine Action.

In Falkirk, weekly demonstrations have been held between opposing groups outside the Cladhan Hotel which houses asylum seekers.

In one notorious case, a 29-year-old Afghan, Sadeq Nikzad, was put up at the hotel  and raped a 15-year-old girl after claiming asylum in the UK. He had lived as a tourist in three countries before arriving in Britain.

Mr Waddell said his team recently met with an independent police advisory council from around the UK to help with policing of the Cladhan Hotel protests, and they also have also put their own measures in place.

He said: We have conducted their own internal debrief to make sure weve got learning, lessons learned, and that weve got the benefit of lessons being shared from England and Wales, which were taking forward, and we make use of Jane Gordon, our human rights adviser, as appropriate in this space.

Police Officers observe activists from the Palestine solidarity group

Earlier this week, it emerged the number of small boat migrants to have reached Britain since Labour came to power has topped 69,000 after nearly 1,000 arrived in a week.

Home Office figures showed 272 migrants came across the Channel on Monday, meaning 984 reached British soil over six days.

Army career offices in Aberdeens Belmont Street were doused in red paint in an attack last weekend. A pro-Palestine protest was held on the street at around 1pm on Saturday.
Cash for the vetting of potential officers is to be cut as part of a savings drive by Police Scotland.

Investment in vetting staff will be subject to significant reductions, while officer overtime costs will be slashed by 20 per cent.

The force also said it had no funding for significant additional costs relating to public inquiries.

These include the Sheku Bayoh Inquiry and the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.

At the Scottish Police Authority public board meeting in Glasgow, Chief Constable Jo Farrell said there had been some extremely difficult decisions which are reflected in the forces budget plans.

She said: This includes the 20 per cent reduction in our overtime budgets and the release of temporary staff roles who were doing really valuable work ... on how we manage vacancies and recruit staff in the year ahead.

Chief Constable Jo Farrell said there had been some extremely difficult decisions' to make around police spending

Spending on Police Scotland vetting staff will be subject to significant reductions

She said roles being axed include civilian investigators, vetting staff, and others doing valuable work to address demand that would otherwise have placed further pressure on officers. Ms Farrell added: I would also underline that any significant additional costs relating to public inquiries cannot be accommodated within our existing [funding] allocation.

One police source said: Some people in senior positions have already said the overtime cuts will not be achievable.

There are also real risks from cutting back on funding for vetting.

Unison, the union representing police civilian workers, said: Police staff cannot be the balancing figure in the 2026/27 budget.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson sparked outrage on Wednesday when he unveiled the city's new 'Abolish ICE' snowplow, just days after an innocent college student was gunned down by an alleged illegal immigrant.

Sheridan Gorman, 18, a freshman at Loyola University, was fatally gunned down in the early morning hours on Thursday while walking with friends near the pier at Loyola Beach.

Jose Medina-Medina, a 25-year-old Venezuelan man who illegally entered the country in May 2023, is now facing felony charges of first-degree murder and aggravated use of a firearm for Gorman's death.

The Department of Homeland Security has also filed an Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrest detainer, hoping to place Medina-Medina in their custody so he could be deported.

Yet on Wednesday, Johnson announced that the term 'Abolish ICE' won this year's snowplow-naming contest following the Trump administration's Operation Midway Blitz, which deployed more than 100 Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agents to the city to arrest 4,500 illegal aliens.

'This name derives from our city's legacy of standing up for justice, dignity and the rights of all people, no matter where they come from,' the mayor said at a news conference.

'I want to take this moment to reiterate that Chicago does not want ICE on our streets, in our airports nor in our city,' Johnson continued. 'Chicago believes in abolishing ICE.'

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson sparked outrage on Wednesday when he unveiled the city's new 'Abolish ICE' snowplow

The announcement came just days after Sheridan Gorman, 18, (left) was fatally shot. Jose Medina-Medina, a 25-year-old Venezuelan man who illegally entered the country in May 2023, is now facing felony charges of first-degree murder and aggravated use of a firearm for her death

The winning slogan had been submitted nearly 9,300 times since the fourth-annual 'You Name a Snowplow' contest returned in December, accounting for about 70 percent of all entries, he noted.

But the mayor was quickly slammed for the untimely unveiling of the new snowplow, with one heckler even interrupting Johnson's remarks.

'You're making a joke out of Sheridan Gorman. Shame on you!' the heckler said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

'ICE would have saved Sheridan Gorman. She would still be alive,' he continued, before members of the mayor's security detail and Chicago police escorted the heckler from the premises.

Others also criticized Johnson online, with one X user saying he was a 'tone-deaf idiot' as he stood in front of the Abolish ICE snowplow days after Gorman's death.

'These people hate you,' she wrote.

Political correspondent Ryan Dally also called the newly-named snowplow 'highly offensive,' while Brandon Straka, the founder of the Walk Away campaign, asked: 'Is he serious?'

'Johnson refused to acknowledge how his sanctuary policies led to [Gorman's] death,' conservative commentator Paul A Szypula added. 'And now this.'

The mayor had previously blamed his predecessors for the city's sanctuary city laws, and argued President Trump 'refuses to be held accountable' for his actions, which Johnson said has made cities across the country unsafe.

Join the discussion Should city leaders prioritize sanctuary policies over public safety concerns after this tragedy?

Johnson declared on Wednesday that Chicago residents do not want Immigration and Customs Enforcement 'on our streets, in our airports nor in our city.' ICE agents are pictured walking through Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on Tuesday

Johnson was quickly slammed for his remarks just days after Gorman's murder

Responding to the backlash on Wednesday, the mayor sent his condolences to the Gorman family, noting that it is 'a terrible tragedy.'

'And what I've said from the very beginning, I'm going to continue to use every single tool that's available to me to protect the residents of the city of Chicago,' he said at the news conference in the moments following the heckler's outburst.

'And this tragedy is not going to deter us from our work. In fact, it's going to challenge us all to double down on our efforts to ensure that we are protecting every single individual across neighborhoods.'

'What the Trump administration is doing and has done has nothing to do with immigration enforcement or safety. It doesn't,' Johnson continued.

'Ninety-five percent of the individuals that were detained by ICE were not the "worst of the worst" that he said he was going to go after, had no criminal record,' he claimed.

Johnson's remarks on Wednesday came after the president said Gorman's death was 'devastating.'

'These people were let in by Biden,' Trump noted on Monday.

'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.'

Gorman's family has described her as a young woman who 'lived her faith with kindness, compassion, and joy' and who 'loved her family and friends deeply'

Medina-Medina had been apprehended by US Border Patrol on May 9, 2023, but was released into the United States, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Just over a month later, on June 19, 2023, he was arrested in Chicago for allegedly shoplifting $132 worth of merchandise from a Macy's and was once again released.

Court records show he failed to appear for subsequent hearings, leading a judge to issue a warrant for his arrest. He was never apprehended on that warrant.

Gorman's family has since said they are upset about the policies that have allowed Medina-Medina to remain in the country.

'We are gravely disappointed by the policies and failures that allowed this individual to remain in a position to commit this crime,' the family said in a statement to Fox News.

'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.'

The family described Gorman as a young woman who 'lived her faith with kindness, compassion, and joy' and who 'loved her family and friends deeply.'

Her family has said they are upset about the policies that allowed Medina-Medina to remain in the country. Sheridan is pictured with her mother Jessica Gorman

Sheridan Gorman, second from right, is pictured smiling in happier times with her friends in Florida last summer. The young woman was murdered on the street in the senseless killing

It remains unclear why Medina-Medina may have opened fire on Gorman, but prosecutors have alleged he was hiding near the pier where Gorman and her friends were walking that morning, ABC 7 reports.

Surveillance footage from multiple cameras then caught the suspect wearing black clothing, a black mask and walking with a 'distinct limp and slow gait' from the scene of the shooting to his apartment building.

There, he was allegedly caught on surveillance footage without a mask on while waiting for an elevator.

Those images were then sent to a police database and US Customs and Border Protection identified the suspect as Medina-Medina.

He was taken into custody on Friday at his apartment building in Rogers Park, where authorities allegedly found the clothing he was said to be wearing during the shooting and a .40-caliber handgun that matched shell casings found at the scene.

Medina-Medina is now due to appear in court on Friday for a pretrial detention hearing, after his scheduled hearing on Monday was postponed while he remains in the hospital, where he is being treated for tuberculosis.
Hospitality operators will consider imposing a five per cent surcharge on customers as transport and delivery costs soar during the ongoing fuel crisis.

The Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association has urged businesses to introduce a temporary surcharge on all meals, including takeaways.

The proposed levy would see an extra $5 added to the bill for every $100 spent.

Australias fuel shortage is worsening with 500 service stations across Australia now out of one form of fuel.

Almost 200 petrol stations across NSW have run out of diesel, while at least 32 reported not having any fuel at all, Energy Minister Chris Bowen told parliament on Wednesday.

In Victoria, 134 are without one or more grades.

'Fuel touches everything in hospitality - every delivery, every supplier, every ingredient and every collection truck that pulls up behind a venue,' ARCA chief executive Wes Lambert told the Herald Sun.

'This is happening rapidly as petrol stations around Victoria, NSW begin to run out of diesel  what we're hearing from restaurants and cafes and some pubs around the country is they are now being hit with a fuel surcharge.

Hospitality operators will consider imposing a five per cent surcharge on customers

'If government won't stabilise costs, businesses must be allowed to survive them.'

Mr Lambert stressed that the proposed levy would only be temporary and warned that hospitality operators would otherwise shut down without 'practical relief.'

Celebrity chef Shane Delia is among the industry leaders who backed the move.

'The fact of the matter is that as an industry we absorb the bottom of the food chain all the time and we find it really hard to pass on anything,' he said.

Delia conceded that the proposal will only work unless the industry as a whole joined forces an came on board.

It comes as Aussies are warned to brace for inevitable price hikes with supply chains facing major oil disruptions as the conflict in Iran drags on.

It was no longer a question of if, but when, higher costs will flow through to consumers, supply chain management and logistics expert Elizabeth Jackson said.

'Every kilojoule of food that comes from an Australian farm is moved by a diesel-powered vehicle,' Dr Jackson told AAP.

Takeaway coffees would not be exempt from the five per cent surcharge

'Even the most basic of foods - fresh fruit and vegetables that don't go through any sort of processing - right through to the most processed exported foods, are dependent upon transport systems.

'They are also dependent upon diesel for their manufacture in terms of mechanisation that goes into food production, like tractors.'

Price rises are likely to begin with fresh produce because of its short supply chains and constant need for transport.

Increases were possible within two to three weeks with a 'slow burn' most likely rather than one sudden spike.

'The fresher the produce, the quicker we're going to see the prices increase,' Dr Jackson said.
It would seem nothing can tear this scandal-ridden couple apart.

Just days after being tossed from the Department of Homeland Security, Corey Lewandowski joined his fellow outcast and rumored lover Kristi Noem this week during one of her first overseas trips for the State Department.

Photos released Wednesday by the Guyanese government show Lewandowski, in a dark suit and salmon tie, sitting stone-faced by her side at a formal meeting in Guyana with the South American nation's president and other government officials.

He was also seen with the former DHS secretary in Costa Rica and Ecuador.

The brazen display in Guyana prompted outrage and guffaws among some of Noem's former colleagues at DHS.

'They just can't quit each other,' one DHS official told the Daily Mail.

'How is this guy doing state department business?' another DHS official said, incredulously.

It is unclear if Lewandowski, who is facing multiple investigations for questionable contracts he helped negotiate at DHS, was working in any official capacity on the trip.

However, this trip may be Lewandowskis last with Noem and the State Department. A State Department source told the Daily Mail that Lewandowski has no official role with the department and will not work with the agency going forward.

Corey Lewandowski reappeared at Kristi Noem's side during her official trip to Guyana on Wednesday

The photos were released by the Guyanese government, showing Noem meeting with Guyanan President Irfaan Ali

Lewandowski also sat next to Noem while meeting Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves in the Central American country's capital San Jose

But there he was this week, holding court with Noem in what appeared to be an official capacity.

Neither of their spouses were present, at least in the photos.

It was just a couple of weeks earlier that Noem was fired from DHS after being brutally grilled in Congress for her alleged affair with Lewandowski and their handling of a controversial $220 million DHS ad campaign.

The Daily Mail revealed Tuesday that Noem, Lewandowski and associates at Homeland Security face a new wide-ranging criminal investigation over the rewarding of billions of dollars in no-bid contracts.

The Homeland Security Inspector General has launched the investigation, sending notices to dozens of people involved in approving the contracts, including many in Noem's inner-circle.

Those officials are being ordered to preserve all communications including documents, text messages, emails and phone records, multiple DHS officials tell the Daily Mail.

Then on Wednesday, Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee called for an investigation into allegations that DHS officials steered hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to politically connected firms through contracts, which both have denied.

They also urged the committee to subpoena Lewandowksi  a 'special government employee' who served as Noem's top advisor at DHS  for his central role in the spending.

Lewandowski is pictured alongside Noem from a different angle, in another photo released jointly by the US Embassy in Guyana and the office of President Ali

Noem and Lewandowski sat round a table as they spoke to President Irfaan Ali

News of Noem's departure came March 5 after a tumultuous tenure.

She was re-assigned that same day to a lesser position as Special Envoy to The Shield of the Americas, a new White House security initiative.

Lewandowski, who followed her out the door, popped up later that same day at a counter-cartel conference hosted by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in the US Southern Command headquarters in Doral, Florida.

'Honored to be able to participate in the Americas Counter-Cartel Conference today with our Amazing @SecWar,' Lewandowski posted on X.

'Thank you for bringing so many Western Hemisphere countries together to battle the Cartels!'

Neither he, Noem nor the State Department have posted any photos of him on the Guyana trip the following week.

Trump administration officials told The New York Times last week that Lewandowski, after being ejected from DHS, was 'not expected' to land another job in the administration.

It was the Office of the President of Guyana that outed Lewandowski, releasing footage of him flanking Noem at a conference table with president Irfaan Ali and other Guyanese government officials.

They were purportedly there to discuss joint efforts to disrupt cartel and transnational crime, strengthen border security, discourage illegal immigration and promote economic activity.

Noem, who was appointed Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas upon her firing from the DHS, was seen meeting with Costa Rica's president Rodrigo Chaves on Monday

Noem and Lewandowski  who have been rumored to have a romantic relationship despite both being married  are said to have maintained tight control over the approval of all six-figure contracts

'Everybody here's been so wonderful. Thank you for welcoming us.'

The probe into the pair comes just as Markwayne Mullin was sworn in alongside Trump at the White House on Tuesday afternoon, replacing Noem as Homeland Security Secretary.

The DHS contracting process has come under public scrutiny in recent weeks over concerns about possible influence peddling and conflicts of interest.

Some DHS contractors told White House officials that Lewandowski allegedly solicited 'pay to play' fees in exchange for helping secure or expand contracts, a tactic sources told the Daily Mail was widely referred to as 'the Lewandowski tax.'

Lewandowski, a former special government employee, has denied any wrongdoing.

Noem and Lewandowski maintained tight control over the approval of all six-figure contracts. Their insistence on sole authorization created months-long backlogs, delaying contracts tied to FEMA disaster relief and construction of Trump's border wall.

But DHS sources tell the Daily Mail this also allowed the pair to circumvent standard oversight.

When contacted for a response on the investigation, Lewandowski replied, 'Fake news.'
The White House has rejected Elon Musk's $250 million offer to cover TSA workers' salaries amid the partial government shutdown after giving it serious consideration.

The shutdown, now in its sixth week, has left Department of Homeland Security (DHS) workers without pay after Democrats blocked a GOP bill to fund the department.

'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, the world's richest man, posted on X Monday.

But the offer was rejected by the White House on Wednesday despite Trump earlier stating he 'loved' the proposal.

'We greatly appreciate Elon's generous offer,' White House Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told the Daily Mail in a statement. 'This would pose great legal challenges due to his involvement with federal government contracts.'

'The fastest way to ensure TSA employees  and all DHS employees  get paid is for Democrats to fund the Department of Homeland Security.'

Democrats opposed the bill in a bid to extract reforms to Donald Trump's immigration agenda, with DHS also overseeing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection.

This has prompted hundreds of TSA workers to quit, longer-than-usual security wait times and ICE agents to step in to duties regularly performed by TSA after President Donald Trump ordered them to help alleviate the pressure on travelers.

The White House rejected Elon Musk's offer to pay TSA workers' salaries during the ongoing partial government shutdown

'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, the world's richest man, posted on X Monday

Nearly 500 TSA employees have quit since the shutdown began. Lines at US airports have taken some travelers as long as three hours to get through

Officials seriously considered Musk's offer but were also concerned it could represent a conflict of interest.

If Musk did pay the TSA workers' salaries, there could be legal challenges due to the Tesla and SpaceX executive's many government contracts.

The White House has also expressed optimism the shutdown will end soon, with airport chaos nationwide prompting Congress to recalibrate negotiations.

The shutdown began on February 14, and TSA workers are expected to miss out on their second full paycheck if an agreement is not passed and signed off by the President this week.

Trump had initially backed the idea.

'I'd love it. I think it's great. Let him do that,' the President said this week.

Covering TSA workers' pay would amount to around $250 million, two sources told CBS News.

The White House has repeatedly blamed Democrats for playing politics with government workers' paychecks. The liberal lawmakers have claimed the same about the White House and congressional Republicans.

Trump initially welcomed Musk's offer, saying he'd 'love it' if the world's richest man paid the estimated $250 million owed to the TSA workers

But American voters are narrowly blaming Trump and the GOP for the shutdown, according to the latest Daily Mail/ JL Partners survey released this week.

More than a third of respondents cast blame on the Republicans for the long lines and security wait times at US airports.

'It's the Democrats who have led to this stalemate over the past six weeks,' White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday.

'The president and the Republicans' position has been very clear  fund the Department of Homeland Security.'

The TSA administrator said Wednesday that employees have lost an estimated $1 billion in income when combined with the 43-day shutdown in the fall of 2025.
A Chinese energy company has been blocked from opening a major wind turbine plant in Scotland over concerns about economic coercion and national security.

Ming Yang had proposed a 1.5billion facility at Ardersier Port near Nairn, claiming 1,500 jobs would be created.

But the UK Government has rejected the plan, saying it flew in the face of its aim of establishing resilient and sustainable offshore wind supply chains.

The chair of Westminsters Business and Trade Committee went on to say that over-reliance on China in strategic sectors leaves Britain exposed to coercion, disruption and unfair competition.

The decision effectively kills Ming Yangs plan to build the UKs biggest turbine factory, sparking claims from First Minister John Swinney that the Labour government is sabotaging Scotlands industrial future.

Ministers and officials had been examining the potential national security implications around Ming Yang since it was linked last year to a supply deal for the Green Volt floating wind farm around 50 miles north-east of Peterhead in Aberdeenshire.

Last year the UK Government intervened to prevent Jingye, the Chinese owner of British Steel, from shutting down the last two operational blast furnaces in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire.

Ming Yang's plan for a wind turbine factory in Ardersier Port near Nairn have been blocked by the UK Government

Ardersier Port is located on the Moray Firth, near Inverness

The crisis raised questions about whether key UK industries should be allowed to fall under foreign control.

US Congressman John Moolenaar said China was a foreign adversary, while the Ministry of Defence also raised concerns about the implications of Chinese companies building wind farms for Britain.

The Chinese Communist Party dismissed the comments as baseless and discriminatory.

Yesterday a UK Government spokesman said: After careful consideration, Governments view is that we cannot support the use of them [the turbines] in UK offshore wind projects.

We will always act to protect our national security, and we are committed to strengthening and prioritising resilient and sustainable offshore wind supply chains. Liam Byrne, chair of the Business and Trade Committee, said: I welcome this decision to block Ming Yang from the UK energy system.

Our Committee has consistently warned that in a more unstable world, where China has too often resorted to the tactics of economic coercion, we simply cant surrender control of our energy supply chain in ways that create the risk of new and unwise dependencies.

Chinese firm Ming Yang said its plans could have led to 1,500 jobs - but they have been vetoed by the UK Government

A Ming Yang spokesman told the BBC the company was disappointed but committed to supporting the UKs mission to become a clean energy superpower.

Mr Swinney posted on X: Deeply disappointed that the UK Labour government has blocked Ming Yangs investment in our renewables industry  putting up to 1,500 Scottish jobs at risk.

They are sabotaging Scotlands industrial future.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said Labour has pulled the rug out from under Scotlands renewables industry.

Ardersier, a former North Sea fabrication yard, is being redeveloped and forms part of the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport.
Russia is reportedly set to begin shipping drones, medicine and food to its ally Iran in support of its ongoing military efforts against the United States and Israel.

Western intelligence reports claim that Moscow and Tehran have held secret talks of drone supplies shortly after the war began, the Financial Times reported.

The Russians have already given Iran satellite imagery, targeting data and intelligence support but the drones would be the first potentially lethal aid they've supplied.

Russia has denied assisting Iran in its month-old conflict with the United States and Israel. Washington said it also received a denial about assistance earlier this month directly from Moscow when the issue was discussed.

Publicly, Russia said it has sent over 13 tons of medicine to Tehran via Azerbaijan and will continue to do so, emphasizing the need for humanitarian aid.

Moscow would be limited in terms of the kinds of models of drones they could send, including the Geran-2 and Shahed-136 'kamikaze' drone, security officials told the Financial Times.

The two nations agreed to a strategic partnership last year that did not include a commitment to mutual defense.

A spokesman for the Kremlin neither confirmed nor denied Wednesday's reports.

'There are a lot of fakes going around right now. One thing is true  we are continuing our dialogue with the Iranian leadership,' Dimitry Peskov said.

Russia is reportedly set to begin shipping drones, medicine and food to its ally Iran in support of its efforts against the United States and Israel

In an interview with Iranian state TV late Wednesday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said that no talks with the United States have taken place

Earlier Wednesday, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed Russia sought to blackmail the United States by offering to stop sharing military intelligence with Iran if, in return, Washington would cut off Kyiv from its intelligence data.

Zelensky, who said on Monday that Ukraine's military intelligence has 'irrefutable' evidence that Russia is continuing to provide intelligence to Iran, told Reuters he had seen the data but provided no further details.

Speaking in his presidential compound in Kyiv, Zelensky said that some Iranian drones, used to attack US military assets and its allies during the war in the Middle East, contained Russian components.

'I have reports from our intelligence services showing that Russia is doing this and saying: "I will not pass on intelligence to Iran if America stops passing intelligence to Ukraine." Isn't that blackmail? Absolutely,' Zelensky said.

He did not say who, according to the reports, Russia was addressing the comments to.

Ukraine, which has faced sustained attacks by Iranian-designed Shahed drones since Russia launched its invasion in 2022, is helping several Gulf states - including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar - to counter drone attacks on their territory, the president said.

Zelensky said he hoped that Ukraine would be able to reach long-term deals with some Gulf countries that would raise funds for the production of Ukrainian drone interceptors or receiving much-needed air-defense missiles.

Earlier Wednesday, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed Russia sought to blackmail the United States by offering to stop sharing military intelligence with Iran if, in return, Washington would cut off Kyiv from its intelligence data

Moscow would be limited in terms of the kinds of models of drones they could send, including the Geran-2 and Shahed-136 (pictured), security officials said

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Pentagon and US Central Command for comment.

It comes as Tehran appeared to suggest that no talks toward ending the war were coming despite suggestions from Washington that they could happen this week.

In an interview with Iranian state TV late Wednesday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said that no talks with the United States have taken place.

Iranian state television's English-language broadcaster, Press TV, quoted an anonymous official as saying Iran rejected America's ceasefire proposal.

Press TV's report came after Pakistan transmitted the proposal to Iran.

'Iran will end the war when it decides to do so and when its own conditions are met,' Press TV quoted the official as saying.

The official added Tehran will continue its 'heavy blows' across the Mideast.

Press TV, like all of state TV channels controlled by hard-liners, offered its own five-point plan from the official who rejected the US proposal.

It included a halt to killings of its officials, means to make sure no other war is waged against it, reparations for the war, the end of hostilities and Iran's 'exercise of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.'

Those measures, particularly reparations and its continued chokehold over the Strait of Hormuz, likely will be unacceptable to the White House as energy supplies worldwide remain affected by the war.

'No negotiations have happened with the enemy until now, and we do not plan on any negotiations,' he said.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted the US is in ongoing talks even as Iranian officials deny it.

'Talks continue. They are productive, as the president said on Monday, and they continue to be,' Leavitt said at a White House briefing on Wednesday.
A former Massachusetts cop accused of attempting to gun down her colleagues as they tried to serve her fiance's restraining order told a court she only ever intended to shoot herself after 'losing everything'.

Kelsey Fitzsimmons, 29, took the stand in her own defense on Wednesday to fight charges of assault with a deadly weapon over the June 2025 incident.

The young cop was shot by North Andover Police officer Pat Noonan after she allegedly pointed her service weapon at officers while they were trying to serve her with a restraining order from her firefighter fiance Justin Aylaian, 32.

Fitzsimmons said in her testimony that she only pointed the gun at herself and never intended to shoot anyone else, adding her life was spiraling out of control and that she feared her four-month-old son would be taken away from her.

'I saw my baby go, my fiance, my dog, my house, and I knew that it was going to be my job, too,' she said in her testimony as she grew visibly emotional, per Boston.com.

Fitzsimmons, who was on maternity leave from the police department, said she was blindsided by Aylaian's decision to leave her and only 'realized our relationship was over when a restraining order was handed to me.'

But the couple's relationship had been deteriorating and hit a low point in June, after they attended a boozy joint bachelor and bachelorette party in Maine where they both accused each other of drinking to excess.

Former Massachusetts cop Kelsey Fitzsimmons, 29, took the stand in her own defense on Wednesday, saying her life was spiraling out of control when she allegedly pointed a gun at her colleagues, which she denies

The chaotic episode unfolded in June 2025, 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

Fitzsimmons told the court that they had a bitter argument about caring for their son while she did CPR training just hours before she was served.

Fitzsimmons said Aylaian did not want to pick up their baby which forced her to take him with her.

She testified that while driving home, she saw her fiance's truck outside a friend's property surrounded by other vehicles she recognized from the bachelor/bachelorette party which roused her suspicions.

She claimed that she then realized her phone number had been blocked by Aylaian. One of his friends allegedly tried to reassure her the vehicles she saw were only gathered at the property to pick up items left behind from a party.

She said she knew 'something was going on', and parked in a school parking lot near her home so he would not know she was home in case Aylaian came back.

Soon after Noonan and two other officers arrived at her home.

In her testimony, she admitted that she lied to the officers about where her service weapon was when they showed up at her home to serve her with the document.

She said she intended to use the gun to kill herself, testifying: 'I made that decision as I realized I had just lost everything in a 15-second conversation with my coworker.'

Her testimony came the day after Noonan took to the stand to claim that he was forced to shoot her because he feared she was trying to kill her fiance.

Fitzsimmons was seen flashing a filthy look in court as her former colleague testified that he was forced to shoot her because he feared she was trying to kill her fiance

Pat Noonan, pictured, is the police officer who shot Kelsey Fitzsimmons during the fiery confrontation with her ex-fiance, a court was told

Fitzsimmons stared down her former North Andover Police colleague in court as he testified.

Noonan told the court: 'I think I was standing in her way for her to get downstairs and kill Justin.'

Fitzsimmons was seen at that moment staring at Noonan, before turning to her attorney and appearing to mouth the word, 'What?'

Fitzsimmons was hit in the chest by Noonan after she allegedly drew her weapon, and was hospitalized for weeks with a collapsed lung. She was charged with assault when she was released.

Noonan alleged that Fitzsimmons pointed her service weapon at him and pulled the trigger, but said it made a 'click' noise because the gun was jammed.

He said he had no choice but to shoot her because she then 'tap racked' the gun, a move to clear a jam that feeds a bullet into the chamber.

In cross examination of Noonan, Fitzsimmons' attorney Timothy Bradl argued that the police officer did not need to shoot her in the chest and alleged he used excessive force.

Bradl claimed that Fitzsimmons lifted the gun in an attempt to shoot herself in the head, saying she was going through a mental health crisis and feared losing custody of her son.

Fitzsimmons's attorney argued that she never intended to shoot her police colleagues and only wanted to shoot herself during the confrontation

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

He accused Noonan of unnecessarily shooting her, saying: 'You know its prohibited for someone to use deadly force on someone who is only exhibiting harm to themselves?'

Noonan, a SWAT team trained cop, responded: 'Absolutely.'

Asked why he didn't tase her instead, Noonan said: 'We meet deadly force with deadly force.'

In her own testimony, Fitzsimmons said she tried to move Noonan into another room before shooting herself, saying she 'knew if I pulled out my firearm in front of a police officer, I would get shot.'

'Im not dumb, I was a police officer. If someone takes out a gun in front of you, yes, thats a threat, yes, thats somebody that you probably feel threatened from,' she said.

'Even looking back now, reflecting for nine months, I think my decision to do it to myself was selfish to everybody who loves me,' she said. 'I wanted to kill myself. Me and my gun. No one else involved.'

Bradl said Fitzsimmons was suffering from postpartum depression and was on maternity leave during the shooting incident. He said her life 'imploded' when Aylaian filed a restraining order against her.

Aylaian, a local firefighter in North Andover, Massachusetts, previously alleged that Fitzsimmons threatened him and their newborn.

The former police officer was shot in the chest during the incident and suffered a collapsed lung

He previously testified in her trial on Monday, saying that he decided to move out of their home and try to gain full custody of their son over fears that she may harm herself or their family.

The first witness in the trial on Monday was North Andover Police Lt. Sean Daley, who testified that he joined Aylaian and two other officers to serve Fitzsimmons with the restraining order and waited outside while the others went inside.

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.'

The crux of the trial rests on whether Fitzsimmons pulled her gun on herself or on the other officers, with Bradl arguing in his opening statements this week 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.

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

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.

He described Fitzsimmons as a panicking mother who thought her life was spiraling out of control as she faced losing custody of her child.

'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.'

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 because of Noonan's SWAT team training.

Fitzsimmons said she was terrified of police taking her baby away from her

They 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.

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.
I dont believe the assertion that Prince William has a quiet faith in God. It looks very much to me like he has no belief whatsoever  and for this I commend him.

Why else would he be so evasive about it? The Prince of Waless commitment to the Church of England is sometimes quieter than people expect, a Palace aide told the Press last week.

I rather wish hed be brave enough to go further and confess that he, like me and millions of other Britons today, enjoys Christian traditions but doesnt fully believe.

He cant, of course, given he is destined to govern the Church of England. I can see why that puts him in something of a pickle, because I do believe we should preserve it, even as an atheist.

There are plenty of lovely things about the institution. I myself am a cultural Christian. Christmas is my favourite time of year. I find churches beautiful and enjoy being in them and, given that religion must exist in some form for most humans to feel comforted, Im glad our country is Christian rather than Muslim (for now, at least).

But I do not for one moment believe in the stories of the Bible. I dont think Jesus had magical powers. I reject the notion that we get judged by a supernatural entity for the things we do when were alive, so as to be sorted into the heaven-or-hell bin when we die.

Honestly, I cannot take anyone seriously who does believe these things. I cant fathom how you can genuinely subscribe to the notion that of the 3,000-odd gods that humans have come up with over the course of history, just one of them is real and furthermore, that you just happen to have been born into the corner of Earth that worships the correct one.

What an astonishing coincidence that would be!

I have always found it toe-curling to watch powerful figures being performative about religion.

William attends the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church with his family.There are plenty of lovely things about the Church, writes Annabel Fenwick Elliott. I myself am a cultural Christian and Christmas is my favourite time of year

Kate and William with Dame Sarah Mullally, the Archbishop of Canterbury

William on a visit to the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro. Why shouldnt we have someone level-headed and relatively quiet about their belief at the helm of the Church of England, asks Annabel Fenwick Elliott

Take Donald Trump, who never did anything in his professional career to suggest he might be a godly man. As President of the United States, of course, he must consistently drag God into his rhetoric. I find it creepy and, though he might be delusional about many things, I simply dont believe he genuinely thinks, for example, that Noahs Ark really happened.

You might say that its harmless to believe in the Christian God today. Christians in the modern Western world dont routinely round up and murder anyone who doesnt believe in their storybook. But they did, until quite recently, and they still do in some remote parts of Africa.

All major religions have the same maniacal, genocidal roots in their blurb. How can we just shrug that off? Personally, I just do not understand why anyone can excuse this sort of hatred and still sign up to its associated belief system.

I very much resent the fact that in England, if I want to get married in a pretty church, Id have to  as many of my friends have  pretend to believe in God for a bit in order to get permission. Why cant we love history and appreciate the architecture of a chapel without having to convince the vicar?

Some of the best schools in the country are Catholic or linked to the Church of England, and parents must play by the same rules to gain admission. I dont want to have to tell bare-faced lies about what I believe in order for my children to get a good education.

As for the less excellent schools and churches, where abuse is rife and often covered up, they dont do much for the cause either.

My poor grandmother, one of the kindest people Ive ever known, was raised in an Irish convent and subjected to such horrific cruelty she was later paid reparations by the Government. She went to her death a few years ago still terrified of ending up in hell. Nothing about her experience with Catholicism is remotely acceptable to me.

I acknowledge that Im not in the majority in being an atheist, and in not thinking we must have religion to be a good person. I am not suggesting we ban Catholics or dissolve the Church of England, and will continue to celebrate some of their traditions  especially considering today the first ever female Archbishop of Canterbury will be enthroned.

Taking away standard religion doesnt relieve humans of their need to preach, or breed hysteria around Doomsday. Weve seen that happen with younger generations getting just as evangelical about topics such as climate change and Covid.

But anyone who is currently bashing Prince William for not adopting Trump-level rhetoric about God, which would quite obviously be dishonest of him, needs to don their thinking hat. Wouldnt we rather have someone level-headed and relatively quiet about their belief at the helm of the Church of England than a fanatic?

If more people admitted to going to church on Sundays purely because they value the community and like singing, rather than because they believe it possible  against reams of scientific evidence  for a man to part oceans and rise from the dead, then Id be inclined to join them.
The Princess of Wales put on an elegant display in a monochrome ensemble as she attended the installation of Dame Sarah Mullally as Archbishop of Canterbury at Canterbury Cathedral in Kent today.

Kate, 44, alongside Prince William, 43, witnessed the symbolic start of the archbishop of Canterbury's public ministry in the Church of England and across the Anglican Communion.

Dame Sarah is the first female to hold the high office of Archbishop of Canterbury in its 1,400-year history.

The royal mother-of-three debuted a new 2,850 Washington Prince of Wales check Cashmere Coat from Suzannah London for the occasion.

She paired the piece with another new, standout accessory: the 690 Houndstooth Straw Boater from Juliette Millinery.

The royal mixed the old with the new, and also wore her 570 Ralph Lauren Celia Calfskin heels in black, while carrying her 4,036 Chanel Mini Classic Handbag, made of lambskin and gold-tone metal.

To accessorise, Kate donned her 7,245 Cavolfiore Earrings from Cassandra Goad, made from 18carat yellow gold with pearl and diamonds.

William took part in today's event in his role as heir to the throne, according to recent tradition.

The Princess of Wales put on a stunning display in a new 2,850 Washington Prince of Wales check Cashmere Coat from Suzannah London as she attended the installation of Dame Sarah Mullally as Archbishop of Canterbury at Canterbury Cathedral in Kent today

The monarch, who is Supreme Governor of the Church of England, delegates the duty to their successor.

Kate held onto her wide-brimmed Juliette Botterill hat amid windy weather as she and the prince were greeted outside the West Door by Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Lady Colgrain.

William and Kate have no active role in the service, but watched as members of the congregation.

The ceremony featured a mandate - a legal instruction - from the King, read by Principal Registrar of the Province of Canterbury, Darren Oliver, giving the monarch's instruction to install Dame Sarah as the Archbishop of Canterbury.

She is the first woman to be appointed Archbishop in the role's 1,400 year history, and today's service is her formal installation.

Dame Sarah is the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury.

William and Catherine previously met her at Lambeth Palace on February 5 and have since indicated their interest in building a warm and meaningful relationship with the most senior bishop in the church and its spiritual leader.

Upon arrival, Their Royal Highnesses were received by the Lord Lieutenant, Lady Colgrain, who then introduced them to the Dean of Canterbury, the Very Reverend Dr David Monteith.

The mother-of-three completed her ensemble with the 690 Houndstooth Straw Boater from Juliette Millinery

The couple were then processed through the Nave and took their seats in the Quire.

The Prince and Princess took a few moments to speak to the new Archbishop on their way out.

Dame Sarah was welcomed into Canterbury Cathedral, amid fanfare, by schoolchildren from John Wallis Academy in Ashford.

Having walked to the Cathedral's West Door, she knocked it three times using her pastoral staff - the traditional way for a new archbishop to seek permission to enter.

She was questioned by the schoolchildren as to why she had been sent, to which she answered: 'I am sent as Archbishop to serve you, to proclaim the love of Christ and with you to worship and love him with heart and soul, mind and strength.'

During the ceremony, Dame Sarah placed her hand on the St John's Bible to swear the Corporal Oath - the first time this Bible has been used in this way.

The copy of the first Benedictine hand-illuminated Bible for more than 500 years was given to the cathedral in 2023.

The Augustine Gospels, which were used between 1945 and 2013, when the last archbishop was sworn in, are said to be fragile and not easily moved.

Dame Sarah said she was 'delighted to be with you today' as she gave her first sermon in the role.

She told a congregation of around 2,000 people at Canterbury Cathedral: 'Over the last week I have walked the ancient pilgrim path from St Paul's Cathedral in London to Canterbury Cathedral.

'Each day my heart and spirits were lifted immeasurably by the people - young and old - we encountered, even though my aching feet and limbs tell a different story.

'As I have walked, I have been aware that I make this journey both on a personal level - as my ministry moves from being the Bishop of London to the Archbishop of Canterbury - but more significantly, I make this journey with others and in the footsteps of the past.'

Dame Sarah undertook a six-day pilgrimage by foot from London to Canterbury in preparation for her role, arriving in Kent city on Sunday.

Crowds gathered outside the cathedral ahead of the service, with one person saying they were keen to 'see this brilliant moment in history'.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch were also among guests in the 2,000-strong congregation inside.

Sir Keir, speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, described the position as a 'key role in our national life' and said he wished the new archbishop 'every success'.

Dame Sarah said she is aware of the 'significance of being the first female archbishop' and paid tribute to the 'women that have supported me in my ministry, and also the men as well'.

Wednesday's ceremony has 'women's voices right the way through it', she added.

She said: 'There's something about celebrating women, but also being able to say to other people, in a sense, it's entirely possible for you to follow your dreams and what you want to do.'

Special features included five of the so-called 'Africa Six' - the first female Anglican bishops from across Africa - processing through the Cathedral's nave in their robes.

And, in celebration of the contribution of female scholars, musicians and writers through the years to the Church, choral music will range from the Renaissance to contemporary, including the anthem All Shall Be Well by British composer Joanna Marsh.
Queen Camilla has become the first royal female to be admitted as a member of the elite Garrick Club after it finally agreed to allow women members after 193 years.

The Mail can reveal that Her Majesty's name was proposed and accepted at a meeting today - after she secretly attended in person.

The historically all-male private members club in London's West End, which was founded in 1831, had long been under pressure to admit female members and finally capitulated in 2024.

Several high profile figures including the former chief of MI6, Sir Richard Moore, had resigned after details of its membership list were revealed.

Previous votes on the issue had failed to overturn the status quo but was eventually passed with nearly 60 per cent in favour.

It is understood that the Queen was proposed and seconded and the mandatory 30 signatures acquired from other members.

Her membership will be formally confirmed in April.

It comes as Camilla held a star-studded reception last night at Clarence House for her inaugural Queen's Reading Room Medal including Hollywood stars Sigourney Weaver and Stanley Tucci, as well as a host of literary legends including Jeffrey Archer, Richard Osman, Robert Harris, Lee Child and Jojo Moyes.

Queen Camilla (pictured with King Charles III on March 18) has become the first royal female to be admitted as a member of the elite Garrick Club after it finally agreed to allow women members after 193 years

The historically all-male private members club in London's West End, which was founded in 1831, had long been under pressure to admit female members and finally capitulated in 2024

A proud King Charles also attended to support his wife, as did the Duchess of Gloucester.

The royal couple met the award finalists and presented the inaugural National Reading Hero Medal and the Local Reading Hero Medal to the winners Selina Brown, founder of the Black British Book Festival, and Liz Waterland, who saved a community library facility.

Launched last year, the medal recognises 'Reading Heroes' who have promoted books and literature in communities across the United Kingdom, working in libraries, schools, homeless shelters, food banks and beyond.

In a speech the Queen said the success of her online reading community, which she founded five years ago, was something 'beyond anyone's wildest dreams, especially mine!'

She also thanked the 'brilliant' writers who 'have done so much for us all'.

'You, and your books, really do make life better,' she said.

Buckingham Palace also announced that she will appear in a new BBC film to celebrate the power of reading later this year.

Speaking afterwards Aliens star Sigourney Weaver revealed she has even signed up for Camilla's Queen's Reading Room newsletter.

It comes as Camilla held a star-studded reception last night at Clarence House for her inaugural Queen's Reading Room Medal (Pictured on March 25, 2026)

In a speech the Queen said the success of her online reading community, which she founded five years ago, was something 'beyond anyone's wildest dreams, especially mine!'

And she added she was reading The Far Pavilions by M M Kay after it was recommended by The Queen.

She said: 'I'm so interested in how this is growing because you can do the same thing in America, it's energising.

'The ideas that adults are not reading or reading go their children is sad. Reading is everything. I wouldn't have a career if I wasn't a reader.'

The actress added she was 'shocked' by recent statistics revealed by Camilla in January revealed only one in two adults in the UK read a book in a year.
Hundreds of people across the western US reported seeing a mysterious green flash ripple across the sky this week.

According to NASA Space Alerts, the meteor was first spotted over Chowchilla on Sunday night, traveling at about 35,000 mph.

The agency said the fireball streaked 58 miles through the upper atmosphere before disintegrating roughly 29 miles above Calflax.

More than 300 people across California, Nevada and Arizona reported seeing the bright green meteor to the American Meteor Society, which collects public sightings of fireball events.

One witness, Gregory E, who spotted the fireball from Lake Nacimiento in San Luis Obispo County around 8.20pm local time, said it was 'like nothing I've ever seen before.'

'I've seen plenty of satellites, SpaceX launches (and explosions), and meteor showers,' he wrote in his sighting report.

'We thought it was a missile at first, it was kinda terrifying. By the end, it looked more like a firework, but it was far too bright.'

Another witness, Aelin G of Morro Bay, wrote: 'It was a streak and then looked like it broke into pieces that were on fire. It started as a circle, then shattered.'

Hundreds of people across the western US reported seeing a mysterious green flash ripple across the sky this week

According to NASA Space Alerts, the meteor was first spotted over Chowchilla on Sunday night, traveling at about 35,000 mph

Locals also reported hearing a loud boom as the fireball appeared in the sky, triggered by the meteor creating a shockwave as it compressed air in front.

Residents across the region flooded social media with reports of a powerful blast, with many describing a thunderous noise that shook homes and echoed for miles.

In Fresno, Stephanie O reported to the American Meteor Society that she heard a small boom after the fireball appeared.

'We heard a boom that wasn't loud enough to shake the house approximately two minutes after seeing the fireball,' she wrote.

Another witness, Douglas H. of Clovis, said he initially mistook the fireball for something else.

'I have never witnessed anything like this,' he stated. 'At first, I thought it might be a drone flying overhead.

The fireball was at least the third to be seen shooting through the US skies in the last week.

On March 17, another object was spotted making turns that seemed to defy the laws of physics over Texas.

Join the discussion What do you think is really behind these mysterious fireballs lighting up our skies lately?

More than 300 people across California , Nevada and Arizona reported seeing the bright green meteor to the American Meteor Society, which collects public sightings of fireball events

Videos capturing the object over Red Oak flooded social media, revealing an orange fireball that did not move in a straight line like a shooting star crossing the horizon.

Instead, the object was seen zig-zagging through the sky, appearing to move closer to the ground before turning upwards and changing direction.

While officials have not yet identified the object, described by some as a UFO, orb, or meteor, witnesses reported it emitted a bright orange tail resembling a rocket engine or the fiery trail of a space rock entering the atmosphere.

Residents across Pennsylvania and Ohio were startled that same morning when a meteor was widely seen crashing to Earth.

Witnesses in Pittsburgh reported seeing what appeared to be a burning object streaking through the sky, describing it as 'a rocket or something like a meteor.'

One local wrote online: '911 calls in the city. I have relatives who heard the boom from Hinckley, Ohio, all the way to Sandusky.'

'Totally reminded me of the sonic booms produced by the fighter-jet test pilots in the early 1960s,' another person shared.

The National Weather Service (NWS) later said the fiery object was likely a meteor entering Earth's atmosphere.

The meteor was spotted by space satellites around 9am ET and seen by human eyes about one hour later.

As of January 2026, the Meteoritical Bulletin Database has recorded 1,270 officially confirmed 'observed falls,' meteorites that were seen falling to Earth and later recovered.

Scientists estimate around 17,000 meteorites strike the planet each year, but most land in oceans or remote areas, meaning only about 1.8 percent of meteorites have actually been witnessed.
NASA has revealed plans to build a $20billion (14.9billion) permanent base on the moon.

New chief Jared Isaacman, who joined the agency in December, has announced a 'focus shift', prioritising a lunar habitat that allows for 'longduration human presence'.

He said NASA will spend the next seven years constructing the station at the moon's south pole over dozens of missions.

Artist impressions of the base feature futuristic rovers, communication devices, solar panels, habitat modules and launch pads on the moon's surface.

The station will represent the next step towards 'achieving the nearimpossible', he said, and will 'ensure American leadership in space'.

'There will be an evolutionary path to building humanity's first permanent surface outpost beyond Earth, and we will take the world along with us,' Mr Isaacman told a conference at NASA headquarters in Washington.

'This time the goal is not flags and footprints,' he added.

'This time the goal is to stay.'

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Artist impressions of the moon base feature futuristic rovers, communication devices, solar panels, habitat modules and launch pads on the lunar surface

Building the moon base will take place over three phases, NASA said.

The first involves a shift from infrequent missions to a 'repeatable' approach that increases the tempo of lunar activity.

Phase two will see a move towards semihabitable infrastructure involving rovers and other forms of transportation.

Finally, for phase three, NASA 'will deliver heavier infrastructure needed for a continuous human foothold on the moon'.

This will include multipurpose habitats created by the Italian Space Agency and lunar utility vehicles from the Canadian Space Agency.

The 'habitation module' will be three metres wide and six metres long (10 feet by 20 feet) with a mass of around 15 tonnes.

It will have wheels, allowing it to be easily moved across the moon's surface. It is also completely selfsufficient, providing power and heat for inhabitants.

The module has currently been designed to be able to support two astronauts for between seven and 30 days  or a larger crew for short periods in case of an emergency.

The Italian Space Agency's habitation module will safely host astronauts during their missions, support surface operations, enable scientific research experiments both with and without the presence of a human crew, and have the capability to move on the surface (artist's impression)

A concept image of a pressurised rover on the surface of the Moon. The rover will boast robotics, cameras, sensors and scientific instruments, acting as a 'mobile laboratory' for exploration activities

Solar array systems will help power exploration of the Moon. Pictured: An illustration of the device, which can deploy up to 32 feet high

Where will the astronauts live? Visitors to the moon would be stationed in a 'habitation module' currently being built by the Italian Space Agency They are three metres wide and six metres long with a mass of 15 tonnes Five main substations control the inner atmosphere, temperature and humidity, with an inbuilt water and waste management system The module will have wheels, allowing it to be easily moved across the moon's surface. It is also completely selfsufficient, providing power and heat The module has currently been designed to be able to support two astronauts for between seven and 30 days  or a larger crew for short periods in case of an emergency

NASA said its moon base plans also include a pressurised rover, which has been designed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

This is a mobile habitat that can allow astronauts to explore much further than current moonwalks allow, supporting two crew members as it traverses across the lunar surface.

The rover will boast robotics, cameras, sensors and scientific instruments, acting as a 'mobile laboratory' for exploration activities.

'The objective is clear: build the foundation for an enduring lunar base and take the next step towards Mars,' Mr Isaacman wrote on X.

In a nod to the race against China to build a permanent base on the moon, Mr Isaacman said: 'The clock is running in this greatpower competition, and success or failure will be measured in months, not years.'

He added that 'building a base will seem pale in comparison to what we will be capable of accomplishing in the years ahead'.

NASA has also announced that in order to focus on the moon base project, it would be suspending plans to create Lunar Gateway  its lunar orbital space station.

'The agency intends to pause Gateway in its current form and shift focus to infrastructure that enables sustained surface operations,' Mr Isaacman said.

NASA said lunar utility vehicles from the Canadian Space Agency (pictured) will also be needed

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, who joined the agency last year, said focus needs to 'shift' towards establishing a permanent base on the moon

The Gateway orbital lunar station was meant to serve both as a point of transfer for astronauts headed to the Moon as well as a platform for research.

The suspension of the initiative isn't entirely surprising  some had criticised it as financially wasteful or a distraction from other lunar ambitions.

Putting it on hold will allow for the redirection of efforts and resources towards the construction of the base near the strategic south lunar pole, Mr Isaacman explained, which was already a goal.

Last month, NASA said it was reshuffling its Artemis programme that has suffered multiple delays in recent years, as it aims to ensure Americans can return to the Moon's surface by 2028.

That goal remains unchanged, but the US space agency is shifting its flight lineup to include a test mission before an eventual lunar landing to improve launch 'muscle memory'.

That strategic revision came amid repeated delays to the Artemis 2 mission, which was originally due to take off as early as February, but is now targeting early April. It is meant to see the first flyby of the Moon in more than half a century.
The war in Iran is fuelling climate change, a new study has revealed.

From 28 February to 14 March, the conflict released more than five million tons of greenhouse gases, according to experts from the Climate & Community Institute.

To put that into context, that's more than the annual emissions from the entire country of Iceland.

For their study, the team estimated the emissions for five major categories of activity during the war.

Their results revealed how the destruction of homes and buildings has had the biggest impact, contributing an estimated 2.4 million tons of CO2.

This was followed by destroyed fuel, which contributed more than 1.8 million tons of CO2 across the two-week period.

'We estimate that the total oil destroyed at oil storage facilities across the Gulf region and those in oil tankers to be between 2.5 and 5.9 million barrels,' the researchers explained.

Other sources of emissions include fuel used in combat, missiles and drones, and equipment loss.

From 28 February to 14 March, the conflict released more than five million tons of greenhouse gases, according to experts from the Climate & Community Institute

For the study, the team set out to estimate the emissions from five activities during the first 14 days of the conflict.

These were: destroyed homes and buildings, destroyed fuel, fuel used in combat and support operations, equipment embodied carbon, and missiles and drones.

Topping the list are destroyed homes and buildings, which have been responsible for 2,415,000 tonnes of CO2, according to the analysis.

'Airports, military structures, homes, and commercial buildings have either been destroyed or damaged in the conflict,' the team explained.

'This includes 16,191 residential units, 3,384 commercial units, 77 medical centres and 69 schools.'

Destroyed fuel is the next biggest contributor, responsible for 1,883,000 tonnes of CO2 in the first two weeks of the war.

The team said: 'Israel has bombed several oil storage facilities in Iran including those in Tehran, Shahran, and Aghdasieh.

'Iranian drone strikes have also caused fires and damage to oil refineries and storage facilities in Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait.

In terms of fuel used in combat, the researchers estimate this was responsible for 529,000 tonnes of emissions. Pictured: an Israeli Air Force F-15 fighter jet

The biggest CO2 sources in the Iran war Destroyed homes and buildings: 2.4 million tons Destroyed fuel: 1.8 million tons Fuel used in combat and support operations: 529,000 tons Equipment embodied carbon: 172,000 tons Missiles and drones: 55,000 tons

'Iranian forces have also struck at least 5 oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began.'

In terms of fuel used in combat, the researchers estimate this was responsible for 529,000 tonnes of emissions.

'The US and Israel have relied on aerial bombardments to strike at targets in Iran,' they said.

'F-15s, F-35 and even B-12 bombers have been used in this conflict.

'Based on the over 6,000 targets struck so far in the conflict and the number of missiles required to achieve those strikes, we estimate that about 2,500 flights each lasting about 3 hours have been completed.'

When it comes to equipment loss, this is estimated to have been responsible for 172,000 tonnes of CO2.

The team explained: 'The US has lost four aircraft so far in this conflict, consisting of 3 F-15 fighter jets and 1 KC-135 refueling aircraft.

'Iran is reported to have lost 28 aircrafts since the conflict began.

The destruction of homes and buildings has had the biggest impact, contributing an estimated 2.4 million tons of CO2. Pictured: a house destroyed by an Iranian missile strike in Zarzir, northern Israel

'This includes fighter jets like F-14, SU-22 and SU-24, and military transport aircraft such as IL-76 and Boeing 747.

'In addition, aircrafts, Iran has lost about 21 of its naval vessels and about 300 missile launchers.'

Finally, the researchers estimate that 55,000 tonnes of CO2 were released as a result of missiles and drones.

'This war has been intensive in the use of missiles and drones,' they added.
The skies over Tel Aviv were flooded with a sea of crows on Tuesday, in what many people are saying is a 'harbinger of doom' warning.

Thousands of crows were filmed circling high-rise buildings, including the iconic Azrieli Towers, in dramatic footage that quickly went viral online.

Many viewers linked the eerie scene to Israel's ongoing tensions with Iran, claiming the spectacle signaled a looming disaster.

'This is considered by many to be a 'harbinger of doom' as it is often followed by total catastrophe,' one user on X shared, while others linked it to a biblical prophecy.

They cited the Book of Revelation 19:17, which describes an angel standing in the sun, shouting to birds flying in midair to gather for 'the great supper of God.'

The swirling flock created dark, shifting clouds over the skyline, leaving residents and viewers stunned by the sheer scale of the migration.

However, scientists who study birds said the phenomenon is not supernatural but part of a routine seasonal migration along one of the world's busiest bird flyways.

Experts noted that roughly 500 million birds pass through Israel each year during spring migration, with hooded crows frequently gathering in urban areas during nesting season.

Thousands of crows were filmed circling high-rise buildings, including the iconic Azrieli Towers, in dramatic footage that quickly went viral online

Crows are very common in Israel, particularly the Hooded Crow.

Large-scale movement of crows in Israel often occurs during the spring, with notable sightings of thousands of crows leaving urban areas like Tel Aviv around March, often linked to seasonal behavior shifts, environmental factors, or disturbance.

While scientists said the dramatic sighting was a routine migration event, many social media users insisted there was something more sinister behind the massive flock.

'This is the worst possible omen at a civilizational level,' one user shared on X.

'It's still taken seriously back home in England, and the Romans would stop entire wars over this sign.'

In ancient Rome, priests known as augurs closely watched the skies, interpreting the flight patterns and calls of birds as messages from the gods that could influence decisions about war, leadership and major public events.

Large or unusual gatherings of birds were often viewed as ominous warnings of trouble ahead.

Others pointed to the famous ravens kept at the Tower of London, which are tied to a centuries-old legend claiming the British kingdom will fall if the birds ever leave the fortress.

Many viewers linked the eerie scene to Israel's ongoing tensions with Iran , claiming the spectacle signaled a looming disaster

At least six ravens are permanently housed at the Tower and cared for by a dedicated Ravenmaster to preserve the tradition.

These long-standing beliefs have helped fuel modern-day interpretations of unusual bird activity as symbolic warnings, even as scientists maintain the phenomenon has natural explanations.

The sea of crows comes as President Donald Trump has authorized the deployment of more than 1,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, according to two sources cited by NBC News.

Trump also said that Iran negotiations were ongoing. However, Iran also disputed the US claims of diplomatic advances, though a senior official said it had exchanged messages with intermediaries.

More than 2,000 people have been killed across the Middle East as the war enters its fourth week.

Israeli and US strikes inside Iran have left more than 1,200 people dead, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society.

At least 1,000 deaths have been reported in Lebanon, while 17 people have been killed in Israel.

The conflict has also claimed the lives of 13 US service members, with two additional troops dying from noncombat causes.
From Phil Collins to Ringo Starr, many of the most skilled musicians have demonstrated the ability to drum while singing.

Now, a study has revealed that chimpanzees have this skill too.

Scientists at Kyoto University were treated to a spontaneous musical performance from Ayumu, a 26yearold chimpanzee.

The male removed floorboards from a walkway before using them to drum on the walls of his cage.

Amazingly, the chimp let out 'complex and structured sounds' as he drummed  similar to human song.

While Ayumu has been spotted drumming before, this marks the first time he's been recorded singing simultaneously.

Yuko Hattori, first author of the study, described the findings as 'fascinating'.

'It was fascinating for me to see how the chimpanzee used tools to produce various sounds while also expressing a vocal display,' she said.

Scientists at Kyoto University were treated to a spontaneous musical performance from Ayumu, a 26yearold chimpanzee

Previous research has suggested that music may have evolved as a way of externalising emotional expression, through vocalisation combined with tools.

However, proving this has remained difficult.

Ancient percussion instruments tend to be made with materials like wood or animal skins which are perishable  making it tricky to find archaeological evidence.

However, the researchers say that Ayumu's performances could help to finally unravel the mystery of the evolution of music.

Firstly, the team recorded the chimpanzee's 'performances', and began breaking them down into elements, such as striking, dragging, and throwing.

They then used 'transition analysis' to evaluate the connections between these elements.

Finally, the team analysed the intervals between strikes, and compared the rhythmic stability of tool use with the rhythm of drumming performed using the hands or feet.

The results revealed that Ayumu's performances were not random.

The male removed floorboards from a walkway before using them to drum on the walls of his cage

Instead, the intervals between his strikes maintained a constant tempo  much like a metronome.

'In fact, using tools for striking produced a more stable rhythm than just the hands or feet alone,' the researchers said.

In addition, the team studied Ayumu's facial expressions during his performances.

This revealed that he tended to use 'play face' while making the sounds  indicating positive emotions.

'These expressions are not typically reported in vocal displays, suggesting that emotional expressions previously conveyed vocally may have been externalized and developed into tool sounds,' the experts added.

Overall, the findings suggest that nonhuman primates are able to sing and play instruments, just like humans.

The researchers now hope to analyse other chimpanzees' reactions to Ayumu's music, to understand its power in a social group.
Man's best friend has been in Britain for more than 14,300 years, according to a new study  and was a loyal companion to Ice Age hunters.

Experts have uncovered the remnants of a jaw bone in a cave in Somerset and used DNA analysis to determine its origin.

They discovered the fossil belonged to a dog, not a wolf, and dated it to 14,300 years ago during the Late Upper Palaeolithic.

This makes it the earliest evidence of dog domestication in the UK, they said, pushing previous estimates back by thousands of years.

And it provides unprecedented insight into the origins of the humandog bond, showing just how long they have been man's best friend.

These dogs would have closely resembled wolves, the authors said, but there is evidence they were treated 'like people'.

'These dogs were nothing like our modern day Chihuahua, but the close relationship we have with our dogs today almost certainly extended back 15,000 years ago,' Dr William Marsh, colead author from the Natural History Museum, told the Daily Mail.

'The cost of feeding these dogs would have been high, so the fact they persisted alongside humans means they were likely of great importance  whether that be as guards, hunting animals, or like today, as companions.'

The piece of jaw bone that was uncovered in Gough's Cave, makring the earliest instance of dog domestication in the UK

An artist's reconstruction of the relationship between human and dog thousands of years ago, showing them living, eating and sleeping amongst one another

For the study, published in the journal Nature, researchers from 17 institutions analysed archaeological specimens older than 10,000 years that had been excavated from sites including Gough's Cave in Somerset and Pnarbas in Turkey.

They then compared the DNA with more than 1,000 modern and ancient dogs and wolves from across the world.

Results of the analysis confirmed that these bones belonged to dogs, pushing back the earliest direct evidence for dogs by more than 5,000 years.

'The first clue that the Gough's Cave bones belonged to dogs came from their unusually small size  particularly striking compared with the exceptionally large wolves of the time,' author Simon Parfitt, from the UCL Institute of Archaeology, said.

'DNA now confirms they were ancient domestic dogs, loyal companions to Ice Age hunters at the northern edge of the inhabited world.

'Notably, some bones show deliberate human modification, suggesting these dogs held symbolic significance after death as well as companionship during life.'

The team explained that the dog would have looked much more like a wolf than the dogs we know and love today.

'It certainly wouldn't have had any of the features we often associate with modern breeds, such as curly fur or floppy ears,' cofirst author Dr Lachie Scarsbrook, from LMU Munich, said.

This map shows the locations and ages of dog samples, showing the 14,300yearold specimen at Gough's Cave in Somerset

The jaw bone was uncovered in Gough's Cave in Somerset, where ancient human remains have also been found

While researchers can only speculate about the role these dogs played in huntergatherer communities, it's possible they may have helped during hunts or acted as an early warning system.

'They may have alerted people to nearby predators or other human groups,' Dr Scarsbrook explained.

'The fact that dogs spread quickly among different huntergatherer groups suggests they must have been extremely valuable.'

This period of history was thousands of years before the widespread use of agriculture.

At this time, humans were huntergatherers who roamed the landscape to find food and shelter.

'At Gough's Cave, we find dogs alongside humans from the Magdalenian culture, who hunted large terrestrial prey and were well suited to cold environments in Northern Europe,' Dr Marsh said.

'At Pnarbas in Turkey, the humans are Anatolian HunterGatherers, who utilised a far broader range of prey  fish, small mammals, birds.

'What is fascinating is that these dogs seem to have a similarly close relationship with humans, regardless of how these humans behaved and interacted with the landscape.'

The researchers also discovered that these dogs and humans were eating the same thing and appeared to have been treated in the same way after death.

'This suggests that by 15,000 years ago, huntergatherers were already treating their dogs like people, which really highlights just how long they've held their place as 'man's best friend',' Dr Scarsbrook added.

The new DNA data also revealed that the dogs were more closely related to the ancestors of presentday European and Middle Eastern breeds, such as boxers and salukis, than to Arctic breeds like Siberian huskies.

This indicates that today's major dog genetic lineages must have been established by the Upper Palaeolithic, the researchers said.

'By comparing the DNA from these ancient dogs with other ancient and modern populations, we were surprised to see just how closely related the earliest dogs were despite living more than 4,000km apart,' Professor Greger Larson, from the University of Oxford, said.

'This suggests that the first dogs were a game changer and spread rapidly across Europe.'
The remains of the real-life 'fourth musketeer' may have been uncovered beneath a Dutch church after more than 350 years.

A skeleton discovered during renovation work at St Peter and Paul church in Wolder, near Maastricht, is believed to be that of Charles de Batz de Castelmore - better known as D'Artagnan.

Archaeologists say key clues match historical accounts of his death, including a musket ball fragment found near the ribs and a French coin buried in the grave.

D'Artagnan, a trusted commander under King Louis XIV, was killed during the siege of Maastricht in 1673 after being shot in battle.

With fighting still raging, he was buried close to where he fell - near the church where French troops had set up camp.

Experts say the location of the grave is significant, as only high-status figures were buried beneath the altar at the time.

A DNA sample taken from the skeleton's teeth is now being compared with that of a living descendant, with results expected soon.

Archaeologist Wim Dijkma, who has spent nearly 30 years searching for the musketeer's tomb, said nothing so far contradicts the theory that the remains are his.

The long-lost remains of the real life 'fourth musketeer' may have been uncovered beneath a Dutch church after more than 350 years

A skeleton discovered during renovation work at St Peter and Paul church in Wolder, near Maastricht, is believed to be that of Charles de Batz de Castelmore - better known as D'Artagnan (pictured)

Archaeologist's say key clues match historical accounts of his death, including a musket ball fragment found near the ribs and a French coin buried in the grave

D'Artagnan, a trusted commander under King Louis XIV, was killed during the siege of Maastricht in 1673 after being shot in battle

Jos Valke, a deacon, was also present at the dig and is convinced the find is historically significant.

'The skeleton lay on the spot where the altar used to stand,' Mr Valke told The Telegraph.

'Only royal or other important figures were buried under the altar at the time.'

Wim Hillenaar, the mayor of Maastricht, told L1Nieuws: 'If the DNA analysis confirms this, it would be a remarkable discovery within an important chapter in the history of Maastricht.

'At the same time, it is now of great importance that the ongoing investigation can be conducted with the necessary care and scientific accuracy. Until those results are known, restraint is appropriate.'

D'Artagnan was immortalised in Alexandre Dumas's The Three Musketeers, becoming a global cultural icon under the famous motto 'All for one and one for all'.

Film adaptations featuring him date back to the birth of cinema, and have starred Oliver Reed, Raquel Welch, Gene Kelly, Lana Turner, Charlie Sheen, Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom and many other stars.

In the early 1980s, Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds, a Spanish-Japanese cartoon featuring chivalrous canines, enchanted a generation of adventure-loving British boys and girls.
A US Air Force RC-135S Cobra Ball aircraft was spotted on a mysterious mission toward America's nuclear silos on Wednesday.

The Cobra Ball, nicknamed 'missile hunter,' is a highly specialized intelligence aircraft designed to collect measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT) on ballistic missiles, using advanced optical and electronic sensors to track launches and re-entry phases.

The aircraft supports arms control treaty verification, missile defense analysis and threat assessment.

Flight tracking data showed the jet departing Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska, at 1.48 pm ET, before heading north through the Dakotas.

The jet is currently moving closer to Minot, North Dakota, home to Minot Air Force Base, which manages 150 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) buried 70 feet underground.

South Dakota, while no longer hosting operational missiles, once housed about 150 Minuteman II silos during the Cold War, which were decommissioned and dismantled by the early 1990s, though some underground control facilities remain.

The US currently maintains about 400 silo-based Minuteman III missiles across North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming, forming the land-based leg of the nations nuclear deterrent.

Officials have not confirmed the reason for the flight, but the flight comes shortly after Iran rejected President Donald Trump's peace plan to end the conflict in the Middle East.

The Cobra Ball is a highly specialized intelligence aircraft designed to collect measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT) on ballistic missiles, using advanced optical and electronic sensors to track launches and re-entry phases (STOCK)

FlightRadar24 tracked the Cobra Ball leaving Offutt Air Force Base, where the craft is primarily housed under the control of the 55th Wing and 45th Reconnaissance Squadron.

The jet is currently traveling just miles east of Minot, outside of Devils Lake, about 35 to 60 miles from the outer missile field zones.

The US Air Force operates three Cobra Ball jets, which are equipped with a sophisticated array of optical and electronic sensors, recording media, and communications equipment.

The Cobra Ball routinely flies long-duration missions over the U.S. and overseas for training, sensor calibration, and support of missile tests.

Its crews undergo intensive, specialized training to operate the sophisticated sensors and accurately interpret missile data, making it a critical part of the nations strategic intelligence and nuclear deterrent infrastructure.

The craft can fit a minimum of two pilots, one navigator, three electronic warfare officers, two airborne systems engineers and two or more airborne mission specialists.

While the flight reflects routine training, calibration or missile-defense support operations, which the Air Force conducts regularly to maintain strategic readiness, it eerily coincided with the major development in the US-Iran war.

Trump's 15-point plan, modeled on his Gaza deal, would require Iran to dismantle all nuclear and long-range missile capabilities, open the Strait of Hormuz, and abandon proxy terror groups.

Flight tracking data showed the jet departing Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska, at 1.48 pm ET, before heading north through the Dakotas

But Iranian state TV on Wednesday said that the regime had rejected the ceasefire proposal. Instead, Tehran is demanding the closure of all US bases in the Gulf, reparations, and an end to Israeli military strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Tehran is also seeking to bring the strait, a chokepoint for roughly a fifth of the world's oil, under its control, allowing it to charge transit fees on passing vessels, much like Egypt does with the Suez Canal.

A Trump official described Iran's demands as 'ridiculous' and 'unrealistic', warning that reaching a deal is now more difficult than before the war began as the President prepares a potential ground invasion force.

US and Iranian diplomats have not spoken through direct contact and instead communicate via Middle Eastern intermediaries from Egypt, Turkey, and Pakistan.

The President called for a one-month ceasefire on Tuesday, during which the two sides could thrash out the negotiations on the 15-point peace plan.

The plan now stands in complete contrast to the demands being issued from Tehran.
Since being dubbed the 'UK's worst train operator', CrossCountry has been working hard to revamp its image.

Part of this was launching its first refurbished Voyager train last month, as part of its 75million investment project which set out to upgrade the 70-strong fleet.

The newly revamped Voyager train promised to offer a lot more seating, improved lighting, extended legroom, and enhanced onboard technology, such as CCTV.

But just three days later, the long-distance train came to experience multiple faults and issues.

Broken toilets, a faulty guards' control panel, problems with the PA system as well as an onboard computer that controls air conditioning are some of the train's troubles. according to sources at CrossCountry.

'The best thing CrossCountry could have done with the Voyagers is to have scrapped them. You can't polish a turd,' one anonymous worker told the Daily Mail.

Another called the refurbishment a 'disaster' while another claimed the trains might look new, but little has been done to improve them, adding: 'They're all fur coat and no knickers.'

As for the toilets, there have been reports of a sewage smell throughout the train being a common occurrence.

CrossCountry, dubbed the 'UK's worst train operator' launched a newly revamped Voyager train last month

Others raised concerns that the designers didn't work with employees who will be using the trains - which has been causing chaos for staff onboard.

According to staff, a trolley test was only carried out four days before the vehicle was launched to the public.

Sources say this has led to issues for catering workers who report the new seat grabs, which are now in a lower position than before, could lead to them banging their hands as they wheel the snack trolley down the aisle.

Other problems include the rubber trim on doors tearing, and staff say the only improvement to worker areas is a new plug socket added to the driving cab.

Passenger feedback hasn't been shining either, with overcrowding still an issue, according to some.

One source told the Mail: 'Spending millions on refurbishing old trains won't help ease overcrowding. We need the money spent on providing more trains.'

Meanwhile, the condition of the trains received backlash too.

'The carpets are already grubby,' said another. Someone else added: 'Staff are great, but the trains are terrible.'

But it has already come under fire from staff and passengers after experiencing multiple problems

In one instance, hundreds of passengers were reportedly left stranded at Birmingham New Street two weeks ago when a Voyager train broke down.

There was not enough room on the replacement and some travellers had to wait two hours for the next service.

A CrossCountry spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'Our refurbished Voyagers are transforming journeys, attracting positive feedback from colleagues and customers.

'Ultimately, though, they're still 20-year-old trains that do experience occasional issues, which our onboard colleagues manage confidently when they arise.'

They explained they are aware some services 'are very busy' and added: 'New technology, fitted as part of the refurbishment, is helping us better understand passenger demand so we can best utilise the capacity we have.

'Over the past year, we've recruited a record number of traincrew and made services more reliable for customers, while our focus remains on further improving performance and adding capacity on our busiest routes.'

The major rail operator runs an extensive network across Britain, connecting major cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff, Bristol, Newcastle, Leeds, Glasgow, and Edinburgh.

Last year, CrossCountry was named the worst train operator in Britain by The Telegraph.

Passenger feedback hasn't been shining either with overcrowding still an issue, according to some

In August 2024, Navendu Mishra, Labour MP for Stockport, described CrossCountry as 'one of the worst operating train companies in the country'.

He wrote in a letter addressed to the operator's bosses: 'For too long passengers in Stockport have suffered from delays, cancellations, and overcrowding.

'I appreciate that you have acknowledged that services have "fallen below the standards our passengers should expect from us", however now is the time to take action.'

CrossCountry currently has three refurbished Voyager trains out in service, and when the first was introduced last month, Shiona Rolfe, the company's managing director, said: 'This train marks an important step in our commitment to improving the experience for everyone who travels with us.'

The new train joined 70 existing CrossCountry Voyager trains that have been in operation since 2000, when they were first built.

Over the next two years, the operator aims to refurbish all Voyager trains up to the same standard.
If you're ready to feel like a Rock Star and enjoy the Best of Both Worlds, you can now stay in the actual beach house Hannah Montana called home in Malibu.

As fans celebrate 20 years of Disney's Hannah Montana, Airbnb is opening the doors to her Malibu beach house.

For the first time ever, guests are invited to step inside the home of Miley Cyrus' iconic alter ego and discover her legendary dream closet under the same roof.

Guests will have the opportunity to spend the night inside Hannah's world, just steps from the ocean and closer than ever to the moments that defined a generation.

For guests ready to step into their pop star era, a limited number of overnight stays at Hannah Montana's Malibu beach house will be available by request.

The best news? It's totally free.

Ten one-night stays will take place from 6 April through to 16 April in Malibu, California, with up to four guests per stay.

The house is immediately recognisable from the show - upon approach, it's easy to picture an excited teenage Miley Cyrus bursting out of the front door.

Miley Cyrus, 33, shot to fame when she took on the role of Hannah Montana back in 2006

Fans of Hannah Montana could book a free stay in the Malibu beach house from the show

A standout feature of the stay is Hannah's iconic wardrobe, filled with clothes to try on

Fashionistas, listen up: the closet, which featured heavily in the show, will have racks bursting with glittering stage looks, sequined tops, and bold accessories.

Throughout the stay, guests will transform into a pop star, helped by Hannah's iconic closet and sparkling stage looks, bold accessories, and unforgettable style moments.

And with a perfect beachside location, you can get a real taste for her Malibu lifestyle.

Set along Malibu's iconic coastline, Hannah's beach house showcases the space where friendships took centre stage.

Visitors will be able to relax in true Malibu fashion, whether taking in ocean views from the balcony or heading down to the beach just beyond the backyard.

It also showcases the magic of the double life, with design details and nostalgic touches inspired by Hannah's world everywhere you look.

Fancy belting along to The Climb? Or perhaps you're keen to dance your way through the Hoedown Throwdown?

Whatever your tastes may be, the stay promises plenty of musical activity.

You can sit back and enjoy a Malibu sunset, as well as the luxurious hot tub

The property is filled with clothes and bold accessories galore, as well as detailed touches inspired by the show

The house is well kitted-out for visitors, and up to four guests can enjoy the stay for free

If you feel like putting your pop star skills to the test, you can show off your karaoke skills with performances of your favorite Hannah hits.

Of course, you can also get a taste of nostalgia as you kick back and enjoy your favorite episodes of Hannah Montana on Disney+.

From the fashion, to the setting, to the spirit of Malibu, the stay offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to relive the moments that made Hannah Montana unforgettable.

Guests can submit a request to book beginning 26 March at 1PM GMT, for free.

Guests are responsible for their own travel to and from Malibu. To request to book, visit airbnb.com/hannahmontana.

The Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special is now streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
Two thousand years ago, in the northwest of Saudi Arabia, the Nabataean civilization thrived along the ancient incense trade route. The air was thick with the scent of frankincense and the sound of bustling caravans.

And this culture was one of remarkable sophistication. At the centre of it all sat Hegra, a majestic rose-hued city beside a life-giving oasis. A place of remarkable ingenuity, cultural exchange, and enduring beauty.

Today, this landscape still holds the treasures of this long-lost civilization. A visceral connection to a long-lost world. Hegra became Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008 and remains an essential stop for visitors on any journey through the Kingdom, and pairs seamlessly with the wider wonders of AlUla, where history, nature, and culture harmonize.

Al-Hijr, Hegra is a gateway into the past, immersing visitors in the dramatic, windswept monuments of a living landscape

Mysteries of the past

Rising above the gentle curve of golden dunes, a striking sandstone monolith emerges, its facade carved into the rock as a grand funerary monument. The Tomb of Hayyan bin Kuza is perhaps the most photographed landmark in this ancient city, yet Hegra is home to more than 100 tombs, many accompanied by inscriptions and rock art.

These magnificent carvings date to the first century CE, though human settlement in the region stretches back far further. Civilizations rose and fell around the life-giving oasis long before the Nabataeans left their mark. Rocks bear the inscriptions of travelers, the laws of the Nabataeans, and the foundations of the very alphabet used in modern Arabic.

Known also as Al-Hijr, Hegra is a gateway into the past, immersing visitors in the dramatic, windswept monuments of a living landscape. The colors shift with the passing hours, from the soft amber of dawn to the bright intensity of midday, and finally the deep rose-red of dusk. The sandstone itself seems to transform with the light, revealing the marks of multiple languages etched by time and travelers.

This historic crossroads is where the incense routes once converged. Its abundant archaeological landscape continuously reveals new insights into Nabataean culture and its a testament to the vibrant cultural exchanges that flourished along these ancient caravan routes, profoundly shaping the regional architecture, language, and religious beliefs of the time.

The sandstone itself seems to transform with the light, revealing the marks of multiple languages etched by time and travelers

Who were the Nabataeans?

Although much of their world has faded with time, Hegra provides a rare, vivid glimpse into Nabataean life. Their alphabet laid the foundations for modern Arabic, and their imposing monoliths served as tombs, offering insight into their religious beliefs and wide-ranging influence. Carvings and artifacts reveal connections stretching as far as Egypt and Greece, while inscriptions record the identities and stories of those buried here.

At Jabal Ithlib, pathways carved through the rock bear depictions of deities, and the entire chamber hollowed from stone contains benches, suggesting ceremonial or communal use.

One of the most atmospheric sandstone outcrops, Jabal alBanat, features 29 tombs commissioned by and for women. Inscriptions reveal their legal and social status, while burial studies reveal the use of tree resins and garlands of dates placed around the necks of the deceased. The cultivation of date palms continues in the region today, tracing a clear path down the centuries to the present day.

Beyond the tombs, evidence of sophisticated engineering abounds, wells, channels, and carved reservoirs designed to capture precious rainwater. The site remained a refreshment stop for trade caravans even well after its abandonment following annexation by the Roman Empire.

Qasr al-Farid the largest tomb in Hegra

Hegra provides a rare, vivid glimpse into Nabataean life

Beyond the Ancient City

Beyond Hegra's 52-acre cityscape lies a region with many ancient narratives. Dadan, several centuries older, is home to the famed Lion Tombs and was once the capital of the Dadanite and Lihyanite kingdoms.

A short journey away, Jabal Ikmah stands as an 'open-air library', its cliffs covered in petroglyphs and inscriptions in Aramaic, Dadanitic, Thamudic, Minaic, and Nabataean scripts  a breathtaking archive of human expression. In 2023, Jabal Ikmah was inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register as the largest open-air library and as a living testament to AlUla's ancient heritage.

Traveling through this timeless landscape, visitors may explore by guided tour, led by a knowledgeable rawi (storyteller). Whether aboard a vintage Land Rover or on the back of an Arabian horse, each journey deepens the connection to a region where history, heritage, and landscape blend into an unforgettable experience.

Dadan is home to the famed Lion Tombs and was once the capital of the Dadanite and Lihyanite kingdoms

Explore AlUla

Your base camp for Hegra and the other archaeological spots is the oasis city of AlUla. The labyrinthine Old Town is an extraordinary crossroads of civilizations, lined with mudbrick buildings around the oasis and overlooked by the 10th-century fort on the hilltop.

Explore AlJadidah Art District, home to artists and artisans, where you can pick up a unique, handmade souvenir from AlUla or venture a little further outside to Elephant Rock, a 170-ft-high formation, shaped into the form of a pachyderm through centuries of natural erosion.

Any trip to Saudi Arabia must include AlUla and its surrounding wonders, formed by nature and humanity working in harmony. The tombs of Hegra are the best way to get up close to ancient history, and understand at a visceral level how the past has shaped the present.

Find out more at Ministry of Culture Heritage Commission https://heritage.moc.gov.sa/en
A star of Channel 4's The Hunt: Prey Vs Predator has opened up about how he was rushed to hospital after suffering from 17 seizures just weeks after he filmed the show.

The new show, described as a 'game of cat-and-mouse' sees 10 players battle it out for the 100k prize pot.

Nathan, 33, who has functional neurological disorder (FND), was one of the contestants who signed up to the first ever series of the programme.

'Functional neurological disorder (FND) describes a problem with how the brain receives and sends information to the rest of the body,' the NHS Inform website states.

Unfortunately, dentist Nathan, who is the founder of peer support network FND North West Community Hub, didn't last long in the competition and was the first to be given the boot.

Living with the condition is one of the motivating factors that made him sign up for the show.

Speaking ahead of FND awareness day (March 25), Nathan exclusively told The Daily Mail: 'When I saw it, I thought, "Oh, this is something to challenge myself and prove that I can still sort of do things".

A star of Channel 4's The Hunt: Prey Vs Predator has opened up about how he was rushed to hospital after suffering from 17 seizures just weeks after he filmed the show

Nathan, 33, who has functional neurological disorder (FND), was one of the contestants who signed up to the first ever series of the programme

'So my main motivating factor was just to be like, I'm not going to be stopped by my diagnosis.

'I was diagnosed in August of 2024 with functional neurological disorder.

'And at the time, I was just getting left hand side weakness, and I was having seizures, but I was still working, and day to day living normally, shall we say?

'So, I think it was just for me to prove that I could still do it, which we fast forward to where we are now, and that's not the case.'

Unfortunately shortly after filming the show, Nathan had a flare up and ended up in hospital - which he has explained had nothing to do with taking part in the series.

He told us: 'I didn't see a neurologist again until my big flare up, which put me in hospital for three months.

'That happened on June 4 2025, so literally a week or two after filming The Hunt. Which is just crazy.

'So I feel really privileged that I got the chance to do such an amazing show before my life changed forever.

'We'd gone to the spa for my wife's 40th birthday, just having a really relaxing day, and then we went up to the hotel room, I had 17 seizures within an hour, and was blue lighted into Blackpool Victoria, at which point I couldn't speak, couldn't say a word, and I was paralyzed from the hip down on the left hand side.'

Talking about his recovery, Nathan said: 'I spent three months within two hospitals and a rehab facility, relearning to walk and talk, and I now use like a Zimmer frame when I'm in the house to get around.

'But if we're outdoors or anything over like 30 meters, I have to use a wheelchair, which has been a huge adjustment.

'It's so crazy. It's so crazy to think this time last year I was running around a Bulgarian forest. Now I'm out of breath wheeling up the street.'

Although Nathan hadn't suffered from his flare at the time of filming, he did end up having a seizure, which just highlights that is what it is like living with the condition.

The programme sees the group of prey running around an 100-acre wood in Bulgaria, trying to find the challenges, which will allow them to get hold of money.

But it's not that easy because the predators are doing everything they can to catch them... and if they do, they swap roles.

Recalling how it was taking part in the actual hunt, Nathan said: 'I was just running on adrenaline.

'I really do think I was just running on adrenaline, because we came back from that hunt, I was absolutely blowing out my a**, knackered, upset and I was disappointed in myself for failing at tagging him.

'I had the adrenaline crash after the hunt, and I ended up actually having a seizure whilst we were on a break between filming.

'I must say, every single member of the production crew and everything, they really looked after me, and they couldn't have done enough.

'I felt very well supported, because, you know, it is a risk going on to a show like this when you live with a disability.

'But I was very well looked after. And I can't thank them all enough.'

He added: 'That hunt will affect you, even if you're a physically fully able body. It is both physically and mentally draining while you're out there, but that's what we signed up for!'

The dad-of-six first started getting symptoms of NFD back in 2022, but ignored them and 'kept plowing on with busy life' as most people do.

Nathan, who is currently out of work due to his illness, was looking after six kids, his own business and working as a dentist at the time.

He explained: 'I was never really listening to my body and taking the breaks when probably should have done and I think we're all a bit guilty of that, aren't we? Life's got to just keep going.

'And then I started with the seizures, so I was sent to a neurologist, and then they obviously found out there wasn't epileptic seizures, they were non epileptic seizures.

'And then I was diagnosed with functional neurological disorder after tests and conversations with a neurologist.

'But like many that have FND, once you're given this diagnosis, it's for a lot of us, and for me, it was the first time I'd ever even heard of the term.

'I had no idea what it was, and there's not a lot in the way of support or treatment pathways within the NHS.

'We were signposted to a website, and then that was literally it.'

Nathan still has seizures to this day, as well as paralysis in the left hand side, but he is very happy with where he is at right now.

'I have made so much progress since June 2025, I'm so happy with where I'm at. I've still got so much more to progress and so much further to go,' he said.

'The mobility is slightly plateaued since around August last year, but I keep plodding on and keep I trying, working really hard in neurophysio, doing everything that I can do to try and get back.

'I've vlogged my journey of recovery, so from right back, from day one in hospital to now.

'I think again, this was to, one, make people feel less alone if they see it and think, "Oh, someone else is going through this."

'And also, for me, it's really nice to look back and see how far I have come. And also helps me make sense of what's happened, because it can be a real toll on your mental health as well, to go through something like this.

'I think my wife cried for like 50 days non stop, but we're both in such a better positive place about it now, hindsight is a beautiful thing, isn't it?'

Stream The Hunt: Prey vs Predator on Channel 4.com now
Channel 5 has hit back at Huw Edwards after the disgraced former BBC News anchor condemned its new drama series starring Martin Clunes.

Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, follows the real-life story of how the BBC presenter became the centre of a grooming scandal.

Edwards, who presented the BBC's News at Ten for decades and broke some of the biggest stories including the death of Queen Elizabeth II, pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children in July 2024.

Doc Martin actor Clunes, 64, plays the Welsh anchorman in the series that hit screens last night, with the action showcasing how the former BBC stalwart led a double life.

Edwards, 64, who earned 475,000 a year at the corporation, secretly groomed a vulnerable 17-year-old boy while working as Britains most respected newsreader.

He was suspended by the BBC in July 2023 and was later convicted of making indecent images of children for which he received a six-month suspended sentence in September 2024.

Channel 5 has hit back at Huw Edwards after the disgraced former BBC News anchor condemned its new drama series starring Martin Clunes

Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, follows the real-life story of how the BBC presenter became the centre of a grooming scandal. Pictured: Martin Clunes as Edwards

Before the drama hit screens on Tuesday, March 24 Edwards hit back against Channel 5 by alleging it made 'no attempt to check the truth' with him.

He told the Daily Mail: '[Channel 5] 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.

'Channel 5s factual drama is hardly likely to convey the reality of what happened.'

However, Channel 5 have now hit back against the comments, with a spokesman responding that all allegations had been 'put to Edwards six weeks' in advance.

The spokesman said: '[The series] 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.'

Channel 5 have now hit back against Edwards' comments, with a spokesman responding that all allegations had been 'put to Edwards six weeks' in advance

It comes as the man groomed by the disgraced newsreader has insisted he 'won't be silenced' and will not let the ordeal ruin his life.

The Daily Mail reported how the victim, who was just 17 at the time and was pressured into sending Edwards explicit content which led to him developing a drug addiction, is determined to move on.

In words that will air at the end of the show, he said: 'After years of struggle, I have finally overcome my battle with drugs.

'I refuse to let Huw Edwards or what he did define who I am or the life I will yet lead. I chose to tell my story so no one who has been silenced feels they are alone. Your truth deserves to be heard.'

The victim was involved in the show, executive producer Sam Ansti revealed, adding: 'The victim is an incredible young man and I was struck by his big smile and polite manner when I met him, and how resilient he has been throughout this.

We said whatever changes the victim wanted would have to be made. He was front and centre of our production approach.'

Meanwhile, writer of the show Mark Burt added: 'It is the victim's story. He had access to the script and consulted with us.

Edwards also made a grovelling apology to the Daily Mail, offering 'regret and remorse' for his 2024 conviction.

Edwards made a grovelling apology to the Daily Mail, offering 'regret and remorse' for his 2024 conviction

He said: '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.'

He has hired showbiz publicist Barry Tomes to help rebuild his career, with Edwards planning to 'speak out' as 'people want to know why he did it'.

Meanwhile, Clunes, 64, was praised by viewers for his 'career defining performance' as Edwards in the drama.

Taking to social media as the one-off drama aired, viewers heaped praise on the English actor for delivering a pitch-perfect portrayal.

'Martin Clunes is giving a career-defining performance,' shared one. 'A disturbing, but compelling, portrayal of Huw Edwards. Encapsulating a menacing on-screen domineering presence with hugely impressive aesthetics.'

A second added: 'You would never thought Martin Clunes could accurately portray the disgraced newsreader in this programme. [sic]

'To think what Huw Edwards actually did is still shocking. Especially when he had indecent images of young children.'

A third commented: 'Martin Clunes' portrayal of this creep is so convincing, great actor.'

A fourth added: 'Martin Clunes is such an underrated actor, he is amazing in any role he does.'

Writer of the show Mark Burt added: 'It is the victim's story. He had access to the script and consulted with us'. Pictured: Osian Morgan as the victim

While a fifth raved: 'Martin Clunes is doing an excellent job as Huw Edwards'

Another wrote: 'This is BAFTA winning material.'

'Clunes is very good in this, though he doesnt quite have Edwards vacant quality,' wrote one.

'Edwards always seemed to be repeating his news scripts phonetically with no idea of what the words meant.'

And announcing plans to develop the show last year, Ben Frow, Chief Content Officer at Channel 5, said: 'This is an important and shocking story of how a man in a position of power and trust betrayed that status.

'By gaining exclusive access to the key individuals involved and those who investigated the story, we explore the human cost behind the headlines.

'As a close collaboration between 5s factual and scripted teams, this is a first for the channel.'

Edwards' downfall came after a report in July 2023 alleged that a 'top BBC Star' had paid a teenager for sexual pictures. Pictured: Osian Morgan as Ryan and Martin Clunes as Edwards

The factual series is the first collaboration between 5s factual and scripted commissioning teams.

A former BBC boss recently issued Channel 5 a stern warning, speculating that the new drama would 'rapidly run into legal problems'.

Roger Mosey, who previously headed up BBC TV News, admitted he felt the series was 'very risky'  instead noting a 'documentary approach' would have been safer.

Speaking on Times Radio in January, Roger, 68, who left the broadcaster in 2013 to become master of Selwyn College, Cambridge, told radio hosts Jane Garvey and Fi Glover that a drama would not have been his 'preferred route' of looking at the case.

He said: 'Dramas involving living people are always very risky. A documentary approach seems to me to be completely legitimate and right and you should have the right to investigate

'But as we saw, you remember Steve Coogan's film made about Richard III... once you start doing a narrative in a movie of good guys and bad guys and who did it, you can run into legal problems really very, very rapidly.

'Drama would not be my preferred route of looking at this.'

Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards is available to stream on Channel 5's streaming service, My5
Vanessa Feltz received an unwelcome surprise as her live Channel 5 show was targeted by a prank caller.

In Tuesday's (March 24) episode, the call-in portion covered whether viewers either loved or hated reunion parties.

And in an interesting turn of events, a caller from London named Bea rang in - but all was not as it seemed.

The person was, in fact, pretending to be EastEnders character Bea Pollard, who is played by Ronni Ancona.

Vanessa appeared unaware of the deception, but it was soon caught by soap viewers who had tuned in.

The call itself referenced Bea's entrance to the BBC soap in January, via a school reunion attended by Linda Carter (Kellie Bright).

Vanessa Feltz got a liver called named Bea from London - but all was not how it initially appeared

The caller was pretending to be EastEnders character Bea Pollard - who is played by Ronni Ancona

During the segment, the caller said: 'One thing I noticed, people from school were exactly the same, one group, I used to call them the pink ladies, they were popular, I noticed they still acted the same now.

'One of them I did get chatting to, lets call her Linda, she invited me to stay with her a bit because she felt bad. We kind of connected.

'Everybody else I didnt speak to again and they were very similar.

'Some of them did laugh at me and stuff because I used to make these little crochet dolls and they brought it up then.

'I dont think they were being vicious but when youve got a lifetime memory of it you think I wouldnt go again.'

Viewers were very amused by the antics, as one penned: 'Lmfaoooooo not again.'

Another remarked: 'This is BRILLIANT.'

Meanwhile, other fans hoped it was Bea's actress Ronni Ancona calling into the programme.

It comes as Vanessa was pranked by a caller pretending to be Celebrity Big Brother star Lauren Harries during a live phone-in.

During the instalment, Vanessa and her guests discussed whether children should be allowed to decide when they want to go to bed, and a caller called in pretending to be Lauren.

The show has previously been targeted by prank calls - with one pretending to be Celebrity Big Brother alum Lauren Harries

It has now been revealed that there have been multiple other calls from people impersonating someone else.

The Sun reported that the prank callers have impersonated the late Kim Woodburn, as well as made references to murderer Virginia McCullough, and other scenarios from shows such as Coronation Street and The Catherine Tate Show.

Kim passed away aged 83 on June 16, 2025.

The TV favourite, who was dubbed the 'Queen of Clean', is arguably best known for starring in How Clean Is Your House? alongside Aggie MacKenzie.

She went on to take part in various other reality television shows such as I'm A Celebrity, Celebrity Big Brother, Famous, Rich and Homeless and Celeb Cooking School.

The prank caller dubbed themselves 'Kim from Cheshire', had the same iconic accent as Kim, and also used a saying that Kim would usually say - 'my love'.

Meanwhile Virginia murdered her parents John, 70, and Lois, 71, in 2019 by poisoning them, and then lived alongside their bodies at their house in Pump Hill, Chelmsford, for four years.

She stole almost 150,000 of money in their names and was arrested in 2023.

The prankster made reference to her case such as explaining that their friend wasn't in a good place financially, as well as learning how to build wardrobes. Virginia kept her mother's body in her wardrobe.

And according to the publication, the group of people who are behind the calls all use the same number and this has raised eyebrows about how nobody has spotted it.

One of those who made a call to the show told The Sun: 'Its not a very thorough process.

'When you speak to them on the phone for the pre-chat before going on air, they seem more bothered about just finding someone to shove on the show rather than care about what we are planning to say.'

While another added: 'You come up with a bit of waffle about the topic you want to call for and a producer asks your thoughts on the topic, your name and where youre calling from and if you want to talk about it on air.

'Ive used my same number every time and have been amazed Ive got on!

'They obviously dont keep any kind of record of them.'
Married At First Sight expert Alessandra Rampolla has shared a heartbreaking tribute to her late co-star Mel Schilling, after she died on Tuesday following a long battle with colon cancer.

The MAFS sexologist, 51, shared a gallery of photos to social media on Wednesday which captured her and Mel having fun in happier times and captioned it with some heartbreaking words.

'My beloved Mel, I am struggling to find the words, because none of them feel big enough for what I feel right now. My heart is shattered,' Alessandra began.

'I feel so incredibly grateful for the time we shared last week... to look you in the eyes, to hold your hand, and to say the things that truly mattered. That is a gift I will carry with me for the rest of my life.'

Alessandra then described exactly what Mel meant to her after five years of working together on the Channel Nine dating experiment.

'You were so much more than a colleague. You were a constant, a guiding force, and to me, someone I admired and learned from  like a big sister, a woman of immense heart, wisdom, and generosity,' she said.

MAFS expert Alessandra Rampolla has shared a heartbreaking tribute to her late co-star Mel Schilling, after she died on Tuesday following a long battle with colon cancer

The MAFS sexologist shared a gallery of photos to social media on Wednesday which captured her and Mel having fun in happier times (Pictured with fellow series expert John Aiken)

'You welcomed me from the very beginning, made me feel at home in a space that could have felt overwhelming. Always kind and generous with your light. That is who you were.'

She finished by saying she would forever cherish her memories of working with Mel on the show.

'What we shared  on and off screen  was real. I will treasure it always. Thank you for your friendship, your laughter, your strength, and your unwavering belief in love,' she concluded.

'You will be deeply, deeply missed but never forgotten, Chica. Holding Gareth, Maddie, and your beautiful family forever in my heart. With all my love, Alessandra.'

Several high-profile Australian stars and MAFS veterans took to the comments section to pay tribute to Mel.

'So heartbreaking. I'm so sorry. Sending you love at this awful time,' wrote Jasmine Stefanovic.

Meanwhile, former MAFS bride Lucinda Light shared a crying emoji, while fellow alum Eden Harper posted a love-heart emoji.

Mel died in London on Tuesday, 'surrounded by love', after saying her goodbyes to her close friends during a series of visits in her final week.

Alessandra then paid a beautiful tribute to Mel after five years of working together

She finished by saying she would forever cherish her memories

The Australian psychologist-turned-dating expert had split her time between the UK and her home in Australia after joining the British spin-off of the popular dating show in 2016.

She stepped down from the Australian show last year after 12 seasons, choosing to spend her final months at the London home she shared with her husband of eight years, Gareth, and their daughter Maddie, ten.

Mel was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2023 and received treatment, including chemotherapy in the UK whilst she filmed a series of MAFS UK.

She announced that 'after a tumour the size of a lemon' was successfully removed in 2023 that she had been given the all clear.

But in a lengthy Instagram post last week, she revealed that she found out her cancer had metastasised to her lungs in February 2024, and over Christmas 2025 it was discovered it had spread to her brain.

Mel's Northern Irish husband Gareth confirmed the news of her death on Instagram on Tuesday in a statement in which he spoke about her final words to her daughter.

Mel Schilling died in London 'surrounded by love' (Pictured with husband Gareth and daughter Maddie)

'In her final moments, when I thought cancer had taken away her ability to speak, she ushered me closer and whispered a message for Maddie and me that will sustain me for the rest of my life,' Gareth wrote.

'It took all of her remaining strength, and that gesture summed up our wee Melsie perfectly. Even then, her only thought was for Maddie and me.'

Mel helmed the expert panel of the Australian franchise for 12 seasons and also appeared in five series of the UK version on Channel 4.

But she had announced she would be stepping back from filming earlier this year, in order to prioritise her family and health.

Australian expert John Aiken stepped in to replace her for the remainder of the latest UK series, as filming was underway.

Mel first revealed that she had been diagnosed with colon cancer in December 2023, and she had to have surgery to remove a 5cm tumour.

Mel has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology as well as a Graduate Diploma in Psychology.

She had been a practising psychologist for more than 20 years and began her career in 1998 as a Consulting Psychologist at Morgan and Banks.

Mel was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2023, and received treatment including chemotherapy in the UK whilst she filmed a series of MAFS UK; Pictured during treatment in December 2023

In 2001, she took on a role as Senior Consulting Psychologist with Personnel Decisions International and went into consulting as a Consulting Psychologist for Extraversion Consulting.

Mel previously worked as an actress, gaining an unexpected credit in Neighbours before she was cast in MAFS and also starred in the procedural cop show, Blue Heelers, which ran from 1993 to 2006.

Last month Mel announced she was stepping away from the Australian series of MAFS after starring on the show since season two.

In a heartfelt statement, Mel revealed the decision came after careful consideration, citing ongoing health challenges and the strain of splitting her life between Australia and the UK.

'After 12 extraordinary seasons, I have made the heartfelt decision to step away from my role as an expert on MAFS Australia,' she said.

'This hasn't been a choice I've made lightly. In recent years, my health challenges and living in the UK spending up to three months a year away from my family is no longer sustainable.'

She continued: 'It has become clear that I must make a change that puts my family, health and time at the very centre of my life.'
Lawyers for late actor Nicholas Brendon are making a perplexing move as they hope to continue to litigate a breach of contract lawsuit the Buffy the Vampire Slayer star had been involved in at the time of his death at 54.

Brendon had been entangled in legal proceedings with Stephen Britton, an Ohio-based contractor who he had sued for more than $121,000 over a work dispute.

In legal docs reviewed by US Weekly, Brendon told the court that he was unhappy with Britton's construction work on his home in Ohio.

Britton said in legal documents filed in December of 2025 that the late actor cursed at his construction workers and tossed projectiles at them.

The workers were fearful of working in the late actor's home, Britton said in legal documents, as there were weapons such as axes often accessible.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Britton and Brendon's representative and lawyer for further comment on the story.

Lawyers for late actor Nicholas Brendon hope to continue to litigate a lawsuit the Buffy the Vampire Slayer star at the time of his death at 54. Pictured 2017 in Philadelphia

The contractor said in legal docs that he 'became worried for his safety and his workers safety' as result of the late actor's mercurial temperament.

Amid the enmity, the late actor placed an Apple AirTag in his work bag to keep track of his whereabouts, Britton told the court, which Brendon denied.

'Ive never had this happen to me before, and it was alerted for probably three days prior that my iPhone picked it up,' Britton said in legal docs.

Britton said of the tense atmosphere on the job: 'I feared, immensely for my life.

'To be able to go there and work, to be able to get a job done, to worry about weapons and axes that are going to get - you know, am I going to get a plate thrown at me?'

He added: 'Am I going to get physically assaulted? I was fearful, but then when a tracking device is put on my person, thats not acceptable.'

Brendon said that a $20,000 loan he provided the contractor with was not repaid, leading his attorneys to request a total of $121,260 with interest.

Attorneys for Brendon said that his estate is planning on picking out a representative who will see the case through the system in the wake of his unexpected passing.

Brendon played Xander Harris on the popular show Buffy, The Vampire Slayer

Brendon's family announced his death last Friday, saying the actor died while sleeping due to natural causes. Pictured 2018 in Italy

Brendon had denied the claims, telling the court, 'I dont threaten people.'

His lawyer added, 'Hes a very calm, relaxed, individual with lots of physical problems and is not threatening in any way shape or form.'

Brendon's family announced his death last Friday, saying the actor, who played Xander Harris on the popular vampire show, died while sleeping due to natural causes.

His family said on his social media pages: 'We are heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon.'

Brendon's relatives said, '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.'

Sarah Michelle Gellar, seen Monday in Rome, described Brendon's death as tragic

Brendon's Buffy costar Sarah Michelle Gellar described his death as tragic and premature.

'It's a tragedy when you lose anyone at any point,' Gellar said. 'It's a bigger tragedy when you lose someone way sooner than needs to be.'

She called Brendon 'an integral part of Buffy, and that never goes away.'

Gellar said of her late colleague's work on the series: 'I think as actors we talk a lot or think a lot about legacy.

He brought so much joy to so many people on that show, and that lives on. And that's the truth.'
Chezzi Denyer has long claimed she can communicate with the dead  and now says her three daughters have inherited the same chilling ability.

The wife of Grant Denyer, 46, admitted she once desperately hoped her children wouldn't share her psychic gift.

But after years of keeping quiet, she's now choosing to embrace what she believes is a family trait.

'That was probably the biggest fear, that people would say I was crazy, that I held for a long time and then I thought, "You know what, it's crazy living my entire life not speaking about this and seeing it in my kids,"' Chezzi told The Daily Telegraph.

Chezzi and Grant share three daughters, Sailor, 13, Scout, nine, and Sunday, five.

She went on to reveal her eldest daughter began saying things that left her deeply unsettled, prompting her to initially shut it down.

Chezzi Denyer has long claimed she can communicate with the dead  and now says her three daughters have inherited the same chilling ability (Pictured with husband Grant Denyer)

'My eldest daughter, she said things that terrified me early on, so I blocked it in her, out of fear,' she said.

She admitted her approach has now changed with her youngest daughter, as she comes to embrace her special ability.

'In my third daughter, we have been very open with her. Her kookiness, her craziness, comes out in spades... I love that,' she said.

Chezzi has just released a memoir chronicling her experiences with the supernatural, called The Weird Little Girl Who Talked To Ghosts, which is out now across Australia.

'I believe every single person was born with the ability to connect to spirits,' she added.

In December, Chezzi revealed she can communicate with the dead, after years of thinking 'she was going crazy'.

Chezzi said she first feared her gift, because she thought it would open a 'demonic portal'.

'I actually went to my doctor. I had to take the fear out of it because at first I thought I was going to go to hell,' she told The Daily Telegraph.

Chezzi and Grant share three daughters, Sailor, 13, Scout, nine, and Sunday, five

She said her eldest daughter began saying things that left her deeply unsettled

'I was raised a Catholic. I had to go back through all of my personal story as to why I was so petrified I was going to open up some demonic portal. It has been huge  my entire perception of myself has changed.'

Chezzi began exploring her medium skills in 2022 after one of her friends died.

She enrolled at Arthur Findlay College in Essex, England, a residential institution which describes itself as, 'The World's Foremost College for the Advancement of Spiritualism and Psychic Sciences.'

In 2024, Chezzi revealed she was 'qualified' to give readings as a 'spiritual medium'.

The It's All True? podcast cohost told how she finished her studies at the 'top of her class' as she spoke to George Sargent on her and Grant's podcast.

Chezzi announced in May 2023 that she wanted to embark on a journey to become a spiritual medium and had begun studying online with The Medium School in Canada.
Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson's departure from KIIS FM is continuing to rattle shareholders.

KIIS' parent company ARN Media has shed significant value since Sandilands and Henderson were taken off-air in February, with the share price falling from above $0.35 to to $0.285.

The market value took a particularly sharp decline after Sandilands lodged his $85 million compensation claim against ARN late last week.

A graph charting the past three months shows ARN began facing a downfall in market value back in January.

The sustained decline has weighed heavily on ARN's market capitalisation, which has fallen below $100 million for the first time, trading around $98 earlier this week.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, The Motley Fool analyst Scott Philiips said ARN's future is unclear.

Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson's departure from KIIS FM is continuing to rattle shareholders

KIIS' parent company ARN Media has shed significant value since Sandilands and Henderson were taken off-air in February, with the share price falling from above $0.35 to to $0.285

'We don't really know how it is going to end up, it depends on the outcome of the legal case,' he said.

'At the moment shareholders are pretty concerned that this could go badly, either a big payout or some other way of trying to resolve the problem.'

'What could have originally looked like a cost-saving mechanism may end up costing the station money, and that might even be without the program going back to air.'

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 is seeking his contract to be honoured in full.

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

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

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 ARN had terminated his 10-year, $100 million contract.
Newly released police body-worn camera footage is shedding more light on disgraced Bachelorette star Taylor Frankie Paul's 2023 arrest.

The latest video, obtained by TMZ, features previously unseen portions of bodycam footage from the night of the arrest that show the 27-year-old Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives star arguing with a police officer while visibly intoxicated.

At one point, the tearful reality star even stopped to call her father for help as the clearly frustrated officer tried to interview her, and she seemed to taunt him by asking, 'What is your job, exactly?'

The video was shot shortly before Paul's arrest, after she admitted to throwing metal chairs at her then-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Paul and Mortensen to request comment.

Paul's agitated demeanor is clear from the start of the new portion of the video, which begins in the midst of a tense interview on her front porch, while Mortensen is being interviewed inside her home.

Newly released police body-worn camera footage shows disgraced Bachelorette star Taylor Frankie Paul, 27, arguing with a police officer while visibly intoxicated before her 2023 arrest

Paul admitted to throwing metal chairs at then-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen, and a previous video obtained by the Daily Mail shows her admitting to also accidentally hitting her five-year-old daughter; pictured March 15 in Hollywood

'I'm getting curious why I'm outside my house and he's inside. Bring him out here and me inside. This is my house,' she says while slurring her words.

The officer, whose voice stays calm, offers to do just that 'in a minute.'

'We were just hoping that a little bit of breathing cold air would be nice  hey, hey, hey!' he continues as Paul turns and opens her front door while he's mid-sentence.

She marched into the house, where Mortensen was speaking to another officer, and interrupted them.

'You're upset, I'm upset. Get out of my house,' she tells Mortensen wearily.

He says something indistinct to her that isn't fully caught on the bodycam audio, and Paul appears to parrot his words to him.

'No "Taylor OK." Get out of my house,' she says as she and Mortensen walk up face-to-face near her kitchen.

The officer interviewing her sounds frustrated by the interruption, but Paul ignores him and grabs a glass from a cabinet to get some water.

The officer said he had her on the front porch to get some air and calm down, but Paul marched inside and said she wanted Mortensen to go outside so she could be inside her home

Paul claims Mortensen pushed her as she sobs on and off, but the officer tries to get her to calm down, as he is waiting for the primary officer to interview her when he's finished speaking to Mortensen; Paul and Mortensen are pictured together

'Hey, Taylor, when I told you how this was going down, OK, we're trying to be kind right now and just find out what's going on, but if you stop listening to the things we're saying ' he says as Paul whips out her cell phone and begins dialing.

'[O]K, you're good, no worries, you're being nice, I get it,' she says over the officer as she scrolls through her phone, apparently to find a number.

'He's pushed me  the man  in my garage, to my kid's stuff [sic],' Paul appears to say as the officer continues trying to speak to her.

'Your children are here, and you need to stop yelling,' he instructs her in a more forceful tone.

'You're good, understandable, you're right,' she agrees absentmindedly as she puts the phone to her ear to make a call.

'And so when I asked you not to make a phone call right now, and you're doing it...' he continues, before Paul asks if that's 'illegal,' to which he responds that it's not.

Paul suddenly becomes tearful as she says on the phone, 'Dad, please come to my house.

'Dakota pushed me in my garage, and the police are saying that I can't talk about it,' she gasps.

The officer urges Paul to calm down and lower her voice so as not to wake up her children. She interrupts him repeatedly and gets a glass of water and calls her father, asking him to come observe

'No, that's not what we're saying at all,' the officer tells her calmly, before urging her to 'take deep breaths' because she's allegedly 'very intoxicated.'

He urges her again to keep her voice down because her children are trying to sleep.

'Upstairs? With the white noise?' she responds as she points upward, before the officer reminds her that one of her children is sleeping on the sofa just feet away from them.

After he asks her to 'chill,' she interrupts to ask, 'Are you married, with kids?'

'That is irrelevant,' he replies, but Paul says, 'It's not,' because that information informs how she feels in the moment.

'My personal life is not terribly relevant right now,' he continues. 'My job is to help you calm down.'

As he tries to say that he is 'trained' to help people do just that, she interrupts to ask if she can have a glass of water.

'You can have water,' the officer replies, but Paul asks again, 'Am I OK to get that.'

Paul, who slurs her words and calls a breathalyzer a 'blezaryzer' before correcting herself, claims she's only at a 'two out of 10' level of intoxication; publicity still for The Bachelorette

'I said you are,' he reiterates coldly before she smacks a plastic glass against the countertop.

While she fills up the glass from her refrigerator, she goes back to his comment about her level of intoxication.

'Extremely intoxicated? I'm like a two out of 10,' she claims. 'Please, enlighten me on that, by the way.'

She encourages him to 'test me on that, if you want,' but then suggests he use his breathalyzer, though she pronounces it so that it sounds like 'blezaryzer,' before correcting herself.

She adds that she got a 'safe driver' to take her home that evening from her 'girls' night.'

Paul then warns that her father will soon be there to witness the interaction, which the officer says is fine, and she accuses him of having 'no empathy' for her.

'He just pushed me in the garage,' she says of Mortensen as she begins to tear up again.

The officer then tries to explain again that he's only there to help her calm down, and that they have to wait for the primary officer to finish with Mortensen before he can interview her.

A previously released portion of the bodycam footage showed Paul's boyfriend Mortensen asking police if they could arrest him instead of her; he's pictured in May of last year in LA at the Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives season two premiere

Paul accuses him of being on 'his side' through her sobs.

As he tries to explain himself, she interrupts again to say her 'hand is aching,' but she turns down the officer's offer to have paramedics check her out.

'Yelling, is that a crime?' she asks him, and he clarifies that it's not illegal.

'I'm in so much pain!' Paul cries as her sobs increase, and she puts her face in her hands, but when the officer asks if she wants to speak to anyone, like a 'crisis worker,' she responds, 'No, I just want him to go home.'

Then Paul walks over to the sofa and appears to say 'I'm sorry' to her sleeping child, who is blacked out in the police footage.

'I just wanna say goodnight, and then I want to go to bed. Is that OK?' she asks. 'Is that a crime?'

The officer tells her that she'll have to wait while the primary interviews Mortensen, and Paul, who has stopped crying, asks if she can use the bathroom.

'Do you have to do that right now?' the officer asks her, before she says it'll be 'two seconds,' before she closes the bathroom door, at which point the new video ends.

Video previously obtained by the Daily Mail shows an intoxicated and emotional Paul telling police she went 'ballistic' on boyfriend Mortensen after cops responded to a domestic violence call at her Utah home on February 17

The Mormon influencer can be seen crying and slurring her words as police attempt to talk to her about the altercation

Previous footage obtained by the Daily Mail revealed that Paul flew into a rage because her boyfriend refused to take her to a concert because she was too intoxicated.

The Mormon mom 'went ballistic' and threw chairs at boyfriend Dakota Mortensen, accidentally hitting her five-year-old daughter Indy in the head in the process.

And when police arrived at the scene in a Salt Lake City suburb, the influencer told them she was so scared she had 'peed' herself, the video shows.

Paul was arrested on February 17 at her home in Herriman, Utah, on misdemeanor charges.

But after Mortensen provided cops with video from his cell phone showing the chair hitting Indy, the charges were upgraded to felony aggravated assault, reckless child abuse, and domestic violence in the presence of a child.

Two weeks later, the Salt Lake County District Attorney charged Paul with two counts of 3rd degree felony domestic violence in the presence of a child with injury, a Class A misdemeanor of child abuse with injury, and Class B misdemeanor criminal mischief.

If she is convicted of the charges, she would face up to five years in state prison for each of the three felonies with which she is charged. She is next due in court on April 14.

Paul found fame on TikTok, where she has more than 4 million followers after regularly sharing content about her day-to-day life, two children and now estranged husband.

Paul  pictured in a TikTok video with Mortensen and daughter Indy  was arrested after cops learned she threw a chair at Mortensen that ended up striking the five-year in the head

When police arrived at the scene in a Salt Lake City suburb, the influencer told them she was so scared she had 'peed' herself, the video shows

When Paul was being placed under arrest for domestic violence, she asked the cop, 'so he isn't being arrested? He pushed me and I'm under arrest?'

Mortensen, who was also interviewed, told cops Paul has been struggling with personal issues and adding alcohol to the mix causes her to explode

She shocked her fans last summer when she admitted that she and husband Tate were divorcing because she had gone too far during a 'soft swinging' event.

Soft swinging involves couples swapping partners but not engaging in full sex.

After splitting with Tate  the father of her children  she started hooking up with Mortensen.

The bodycam video from the night of her arrest shows Herriman officers Ben Rugebregt and Alex Felsing knocking on Paul's door after receiving a 911 from a neighbor.

Both Paul and Mortensen, her boyfriend of six months, are seen answering the door.

When the officers ask them what was going on, Dakota tells them Taylor was 'hammered.'

Taylor responds back saying 'so is he.' She then tells police, that Dakota 'threw me in the garage.'

Rugebregt and Felsing then separate the couple, taking Paul outside. She can be seen crying and slurring her words as police attempt to talk to her.

Mortensen, who has been dating Paul for six months, said he planned to pick her up from a friend's house to go to a concert, but as soon as he arrived he realized she was too intoxicated to go

The 'soft swinger' who has amassed 4million followers on TikTok, shocked her fans last summer when she admitted that she and husband Tate were divorcing. She introduced Mortensen as her boyfriend to fans in a March 19 Instagram post

'I'm emotionally hurting and going through a divorce,' she tells them.

But seconds later she turns belligerent and says: 'I don't give a f*** anymore.

'I don't give a f*** about him,' she says, referring to Mortensen. 'I just want him out.

'I pushed him, I hit him, he pushed me. I don't care. I went ballistic because he pushed me. I just want him out.'

She went on to explain that her boyfriend had picked her up from a girls night and he 'b****ed her out' all the way home.

Taylor admitted to police she threw things at Dakota because she was scared of him, and he had pushed her first.

She also told police she wet her pants because she was scared.

But Mortensen, 30, told cops in the video that he had picked Taylor up from girls' night out and she was drunk.

In Herriman Police's report of the incident, the responding officer described smelling a 'strong odor of alcohol coming from Taylor'

Police also interviewed Mortensen who said Paul became angry and violent after he refused to take her to a concert, the report reveals

He said they had an agreement to stay away from alcohol as he's a recovering addict.

He told the police Paul is struggling with personal issues and adding alcohol to the mix causes her to explode.

He said he was supposed to go to a concert with a friend, but when Paul found out, she wanted to go along and asked him to pick her up from the party.

According to Mortensen, the original plan was to stop by Paul's house to get her ID and then go to the concert, but as soon as he arrived he realized she was in no condition to go.

He said she then became angry and began to berate him on the drive back.

They arrived back at her house and a family member, who had been watching Indy and Paul's two-year-old son Ocean, left.

Mortensen said over the next 90 minutes he tried to leave her house to 'deescalate' the situation, but Paul wouldn't let him.

He said she threw her phone at him. She took his truck keys jumped on the vehicle and slammed its doors several times.

Cops reported seeing injuries on both Paul and Mortensen, but determined she was the primary aggressor

After Mortensen provided cops with video from his cell phone showing the chair hitting Indy, the charges were upgraded to felony aggravated assault, reckless child abuse, and domestic violence in the presence of a child, officers said

She hurled a wooden play set at him, which hit his truck. She also threw heavy metal chairs at him so violently that they put holes in the walls.

In his report Sergeant Rugebregt said he 'observed multiple metal chairs and other household items on the floor by the front entryway. The chairs look like they may have come from a kitchen island.'

'I observed a case of roses on the ground by the kitchen island,' he added.

Mortensen said all of this violence took place in front of Indy. Ocean was upstairs asleep.

He told police that he started to feel scared for his life because of the weight of the chairs and said one bounced off his shoulder and hit Indy in the head.

He admitted pushing Paul out of his way, because she wouldn't let him leave.

'She fell down because she was hammered,' he said.

The cops clearly did not realize that Paul was an internet celebrity.

She was booked on three misdemeanor charges  assault, criminal mischief and domestic violence in the presence of a child

Mortensen refused to say what caused her arrest, but let slip, 'She never hurt anyone intentionally.' Paul is pictured with daughter Indy, five, and two-year-old son Ocean

Taylor shares two young children, Indy and Ocean, with her ex-husband, Tate

When Mortensen started asking if her mugshot would be released, one officer can be heard saying: 'It's not like she's going to make the news.'

When Paul was being placed under arrest for domestic violence, she asked the cop, 'so he isn't being arrested? He pushed me and I'm under arrest?'

After being placed in handcuffs she continued questioning the police officer on why she was being arrested.

She then added, 'when Dakota sees I'm being arrested he's not going to agree to it.' She then said, 'I p***ed my pants and I'm under arrest?'

During the arrest Paul's parents, Jeremy and Liann May, arrived to take the kids.

While being handcuffed Paul told her mother: 'I'm being arrested for pushing Dakota.'

Liann replied, 'Yeah that's domestic violence.'

While being placed in the back of the patrol vehicle Paul was still complaining about her arrest. She told the cop: 'He punched me too and I'm a girl.'

Before she was led off to jail, Paul's mother talked to her through the window of the patrol vehicle and didn't mince her words, telling her, 'My grandkids should have never seen this. I'm surprised you are doing this.'

Paul took a month off social media following her arrest. But she recently posted on TikTok that she has been taking Zoloft to help her with her depression and anxiety and was going to therapy to help deal with her trauma.

She also said she recently spent time with Mortensen's family in Logan, Utah, and how she loves all of them. She announced that she is keeping her kids off TikTok for now, but not forever. She did not mention her pending court battles.
Steve Carell sensationally revealed that his friend Paul Rudd urged him not to audition for his best-remembered role of Michael Scott on The Office.

The show propelled Carell to TV stardom upon its premiere in 2005, the same year he became a big screen leading man in Judd Apatow's directorial debut The 40-Year-Old Virgin, which also featured Rudd.

By that point, Carell was an established supporting player in movies like Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and series like The Dana Carvey Show.

Then The Office - headlined by Carell - proved to be one of the most beloved American sitcoms ever and made him an icon of the genre.

However, when news first circulated in Hollywood that NBC was developing a US remake of Ricky Gervais' BBC workplace comedy, the project apparently carried the whiff of a doomed venture to be avoided at all costs.

'And I remember Rudd pulled me aside and said: "Don't do it man. Don't audition. Don't audition. It is like - there is no way,"' Carell shared with a laugh on the Golden Globe-winning podcast Good Hang with Amy Poehler.

Steve Carell sensationally revealed that his friend Paul Rudd urged him not to audition for his best-remembered role of Michael Scott on The Office; pictured 2024

The show propelled Carell to TV stardom upon its premiere in 2005; he is pictured on the first season of The Office alongside Jenna Fischer

'Yeah, everyone was like: "Don't even touch this,"' recalled Poehler, who herself in 2005 was already one of the stars of Saturday Night Live.

Meanwhile Rudd in 2005 had yet to achieve the A-list movie star status he now enjoys, but was already known to Friends fans around the world as Mike Hannigan, the love interest and eventual husband of Lisa Kudrow's Phoebe Buffay.

His worries about The Office appeared to have been founded when the pilot 'was the lowest-testing pilot in the history, I think, of NBC,' Carell shared.

Poehler confessed that she harbored her own misgivings about a US version of The Office when she first heard the project was percolating.

She had shared her feelings with TV writer Michael Schur, who was then a colleague of hers at Saturday Night Live and later became a writer and star of The Office.

'And we were watching the British Office like everyone else and loving it, and I remember they were gonna make the American version,' Poehler said.

'And everyone was like: "This is a terrible idea. This is a terrible idea! No one can be as good as Ricky Gervais. No one can do that show."'

She told Carell: 'And then we heard it was you. And we were like: "Oh...oh, whoever's making this show wants it to be funny."'

Join the discussion How do you think TV history would have changed if Steve Carell had skipped The Office?

The Office - headlined by Carell - proved to be one of the most beloved American sitcoms ever and made him an icon of the genre

Carell became a big screen leading man in the 2005 film The 40-Year-Old Virgin, also starring (left) Rudd, Seth Rogen (center) and Miki Mia (right)

Carell, Rudd, David Koechner and Will Ferrell are all pictured together in 2013 for the Sydney premiere of their movie Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

Greg Daniels, who developed the US version of The Office, later teamed up with Michael Schur to create Poehler's own smash hit sitcom Parks and Recreation.

Poehler recalled that she was regarded as a 'poor man's version' of Carell at the start of Parks and Recreation, which like The Office was a workplace mockumentary that leaned heavily into cringe comedy.

'Parks and Rec had the worst launch ever. Everyone was like: "This is not The Office. We don't like this,"' said Poehler, adding that she was told she was 'not Steve.'

Rudd and Carell have worked on a number of movies together, including the Anchorman pictures and the 2010 comedy Dinner for Schmucks.
Just hours before it was revealed he would not be charged for allegedly punching his neighbor, Reacher star Alan Ritchson posted a cryptic message regarding an 'enemy.'

The actor, 43, took to Instagram on Monday night, sharing a quote from former French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte that read, 'Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.'

The Hollywood star - who was cleared in the bloody street brawl after authorities determined he was acting in self-defense - let the quote speak for itself, not adding any caption to his post.

Fans shared support for the entertainer in the comments, with one writing, 'I know you're way too good of a dude to do that unprovoked. Im with Alan all the way on this one.'

Another added, 'I don't for a second believe you would have acted that way without being provoked.'

On Tuesday, police shared with the Daily Mail that they would not be charging Ritchson in the Sunday altercation with a neighbor named Ronnie Taylor.

Just hours before it was revealed he would not be charged for allegedly punching his neighbor, Reacher star Alan Ritchson, 43, posted a cryptic message regarding an 'enemy'

The officers in charge of the case said Ritchson acted in self-defense when he punched the neighbor and then told him to stand down.

That is likely because a newly released bodycam video - taken by Ritchson and shared to TikTok - showed Taylor initiating a physical fight with the actor as he pushed him off his Kawasaki motorcycle after running into the street.

The star was with his two children when the incident occurred during the afternoon.

The Brentwood Police Dept said to the Daily Mail on Tuesday, 'The Brentwood Police Department, in coordination with the Williamson County District Attorneys Office, has concluded its investigation into the incident involving Alan Ritchson and Ronnie Taylor on March 22, in Brentwood TN.'

'After reviewing available evidence, including video footage and witness statements, authorities determined that no criminal charges will be pursued.'

'Mr Ritchsons actions were found to be in self-defense. Although a potential reckless endangerment charge was considered, Mr Ritchson declined to pursue charges.'

'With the agreement of the District Attorneys Office, the case is now closed, and no further action will be taken.'

The footage from the bodycam gives a broader view of what really happened between the two men before the altercation turned bloody.

A visibly angry Taylor was filmed approaching Ritchson and his two young children when they were riding their motorcycles down a suburban street.

Taylor is then seen leaving his property, crossing a sidewalk and walking into the middle of the street where the Hollywood actor was riding his green Kawasaki bike.

Join the discussion Whose side are YOU on in this neighbour bust-up?

The actor took to Instagram on Monday night, sharing a quote from former French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte that read, 'Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake'

On Tuesday, police shared with the Daily Mail that they would not be charging Ritchson in the Sunday altercation with a neighbor named Ronnie Taylor, as he was acting in self-defense

It came after a new bodycam video showed Taylor (pictured in an Instagram snap) initiating a physical fight with Ritchson as he pushed the actor off his Kawasaki motorcycle

Ritchson on one of his motorcycles in front of his home in Tennessee

At one point Taylor allegedly stepped in front of the star's motorcycle with an aggressive legs-apart stance to block him from driving down the street.

That appeared to anger Ritchson, who then laid down his motorcycle and approached Taylor.

In the tense clip, Taylor is heard lambasting Ritchson for riding 'like a f***ing lunatic' as he expressed his concern for the other children in the neighborhood.

The actor then told his neighbor that he was out of his 'f***ing mind' and asked if he had been drinking, the bodycam video also showed.

Ritchson then told Taylor that he should have 'run him over' with his motorcycle as the neighbor stepped out onto the street.

The star then picks up his motorcycle, gets on it, places his helmet back on and revs up the engine over and over, which appears to infuriate Taylor.

Taylor could then be seen pushing the actor and his motorcycle onto the street twice.

Ritchson appeared to then use his fists to hit Taylor in the face several times. After Ritchson hit him, he demands he stay down.

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Ritchson and Taylor for further comment.

TMZ has obtained an image of Taylor with bruises and cuts to his face after the fight.

The first shocking video of the fight, filmed from an adjacent house, showed Ritchson appearing to throw multiple punches at the alleged victim in front of two children on motorbikes, who are believed to be his sons.

In the clip, the 6ft 3in leading man - who has previously spoken about being diagnosed with bipolar disorder - is seen striking Taylor on the ground several times.

The actor shares three sons with wife Catherine, who he married in 2006, after they met while taking a dance class at college; the family pictured in an Instagram snap

Taylor told TMZ 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.

The neighbor said 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.

In the clip, Ritchson is seen picking up his helmet off the ground and grabbing his bike after allegedly assaulting Taylor.

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

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.

Ritchson shares three sons with wife Catherine, who he married in 2006, after they met while taking a dance class at college.

His 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).
Dina Broadhursts new toyboy beau Danny Tchalaby has taken devotion to a new level.

The new couple were spotted on a romantic date in Double Bay on Tuesday, with Danny sporting a T-shirt emblazoned with Dina's photo.

The image across his chest showed the 50-year-old artist and socialite posing in a skimpy red swimsuit while holding a book titled Lovers.

Dina meanwhile showcased her svelte frame in a white singlet top and green short-shorts that left little to the imagination.

The age-gap couple - Danny appears to be in his early 30s - were seen strolling hand-in-hand through the ritzy suburb before grabbing lunch at an upmarket cafe.

Unfortunately, the date wasn't all smooth sailing as Dina was slapped with a parking fine by the time she returned to the car.

Dina Broadhursts new toyboy beau Danny Tchalaby has taken devotion to a cringeworthy new level by wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with her photo while on a date in Double Bay on Tuesday

Dina meanwhile showcased her svelte frame in a white singlet top and green short-shorts that left little to the imagination

Dina took the bad news in good humour, however, refusing to allow the ticket to ruin her romantic outing.

Dina and Danny made their debut as a couple at a party hosted by Italian luxury fashion house Prada in Sydney's CBD on Friday.

Not only was it their first sighting together, but it also marked Dina's return to the social scene since splitting from appliances heir John 'Herman' Winning.

So who is Danny?

An entrepreneur from Germany, he founded the angel investment syndicate Mavericks Founders in 2015.

Before this, he held various roles in tech and finance. He seems to keep a low profile online, with social media accounts set to private.

Before becoming a full-time angel investor - someone who makes early investments in start-up companies - Danny worked as an advisor at SKEDit, a WhatsApp messaging automation platform.

For about a year in 2023, he also worked in venture growth for business consultant Hoxton Projects, and was a co-founder and CEO of Datra from 2017 to 2019.

The age-gap couple - Danny appears to be in his early 30s - were seen strolling hand-in-hand through the ritzy suburb before grabbing lunch at an upmarket cafe

Unfortunately, the date wasn't all smooth sailing as Dina was slapped with a parking fine by the time she returned to the car

It's unclear exactly how long Dina and Danny have been seeing each other, but he first appeared on the Sydney elite radar in February when Dina posted this photo to Instagram Stories

Danny appears to have begun his career in tech as an 'entrepreneur-in-residence' at the ideasdriven collective Pulilab in 2012, following his graduation from EBS Business School in OestrichWinkel, Hesse, Germany.

He then began working as a business analyst before moving to Budapest.

After a year in the Hungarian capital, it seems he returned to Germany to work at Deutsche Bank, as a financial technology advisor for a little over four years.

It's unclear exactly how long Dina and Danny have been seeing each other, but he first appeared on the Sydney society radar in February.

At the time, Dina's love life was the subject of whispers after her ex John unexpectedly deleted his Instagram account following reports his 'rock star' social media presence was causing friction at his family business, Winning Appliances.

Dina had also stopped posting about John on her socials, with their last photo together appearing on her account in January.

'Herman', as he is widely known, is the son of appliances mogul John Winning Sr, whose family is worth an estimated $700 million.

John took over as CEO of Winning Appliances in 2011 at the age of 22, spearheading its expansion into Australia's largest online appliance retailer.

At the time, Dina was courting whispers about the state of her love life after her on-again-off-again partner John 'Herman' Winning Jr deleted his Instagram. Pictured together in January

The company was founded in 1906 by his great-grandfather, Richard William Winning, and remains a powerhouse in the kitchen and laundry appliance sector.

He began dating Dina in March 2024, but had called it quits by the end of the year, only to rekindle things in August 2025.

At the time, the so-called 'nude artist' told Stellar magazine: 'I'm in a relationship.

'After spending some time apart, we've reconnected with a much deeper bond. And we're happier than ever.'
Ryan Gosling revealed how his daughters with Eva Mendes influenced the sartorial decisions he made in his new movie Project Hail Mary.

He stars in the sci-fi caper as a middle school science teacher who joins forces with an extra-terrestrial on a space adventure to prevent the sun from burning out.

Gosling, who is also a producer on the movie, shared that he and Mendes 'always want to find films that we can bring our kids to and have that core memory moment, but they're hard to find. I felt like, OK, well, we might just have to make it.'

The Hollywood couple have been together since 2011 and have since welcomed two children into the world - Esmeralda, 11, and Amada, nine.

Now Gosling has shared that one of his daughters helped persuade him to wear spectacles in the movie, in an interview with USA Today.

'When I was playing with the character, just trying stuff out, and I threw on some glasses, my daughter went: "You look smarter with glasses,"' he recalled.

Ryan Gosling revealed how his daughters with Eva Mendes influenced the sartorial decisions he made in his new movie Project Hail Mary; pictured at its New York premiere last week

'And I was like: "Well, thank you very much. I think I will be wearing these in the film. Thank you for that note,"' said the Barbie star.

His children have 'seen many cuts, and they've given many notes,' Gosling explained, noting that Esmeralda and Amada are 'the harshest critics, but they are always right, for the most part, and they've really been so helpful.'

The film was directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the duo behind The Lego Movie, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

Based on a 2021 novel by Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary bowed in theaters last Friday and earned rave reviews to the tune of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Gosling previously revealed that he made Project Hail Mary 'for' his daughters, in a recent interview with Access. 'As a family, I'd like a movie like this that I'd like to see. I just feel really honored that I got to make one.'

He added: 'My kids have seen multiple cuts. They give me multiple notes. They're basically the only critics I care about, and they are very critical and very honest.'

Mendes and Gosling have proven a notable example of a long-lasting Hollywood union, and have kept their romance studiously out of the public eye.

Although Mendes has referred to Gosling publicly as her 'husband,' they have never even confirmed whether they have officially gotten married.

He stars in the sci-fi caper as a middle school science teacher who joins forces with an extra-terrestrial on a space adventure to prevent the sun from burning out

Gosling made a rare public display of his love for Mendes this month on her 52nd birthday, calling her onstage without warning on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Gosling made a rare public display of their love this month on her 52nd birthday, calling her onstage without warning on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

He left her astonished by singing Happy Birthday to You accompanied by a high school marching band, who held up a flag wishing her: 'Happy Birthday, Eva!'

They met in 2011 while making the crime thriller The Place Beyond the Pines, which also featured Bradley Cooper and the late Ray Liotta.

Although they rarely make joint public appearances, Gosling famously paid a glowing tribute to Mendes onstage when he won a Golden Globe for La La Land in 2017.

'I just would like to try and thank one person properly and say that, while I was singing and dancing and playing piano and having one of the best experiences I've ever had on a film, my lady was raising our daughter, pregnant with our second and trying to help her brother fight his battle with cancer,' he said.

'If she hadn't have taken all that on so that I could have this experience, it would surely be someone else up here other than me today. So sweetheart, thank you.'

Gosling went on: 'To my daughters, Amada and Esmeralda, I love you, and if I may, I'd like to dedicate this to the memory of her brother, Juan Carlos Mendes.'
Willow Stefanovic has jetted back home from London to support her mother Cassandra Thorburn following her shock cancer announcement last month.

The ex-wife of Karl Stefanovic, who shares three children with the Today host, recently announced she is battling the rare triple-negative occult breast cancer.

Her oldest daughter, who has been studying fashion journalism at the London College of Fashion since 2023, has returned home for spring break and celebrated her 21st birthday with her sick mother, reported Woman's Day on Wednesday.

According to sources, Willow, who originally planned a road-trip around the UK with her mother for the break, wished to be by Cassandra's side in Australia as she undergoes gruelling chemotherapy treatment.

'Cass and Willow were actually planning a driving holiday around the UK when Cass learned of her cancer diagnosis,' an insider claimed.

'With the help of both Karl and Cass, Willow made the decision that instead she would fly home and spend quality time with her mum.'

Karl Stefanovic's, 51, daughter Willow, 21, has jetted back home from London to support her mother Cassandra Thorburn following her shock cancer announcement last month

However, the flight home very nearly didnt happen, forcing Karl, 51, who split from Cassandra in 2016 after 21 years of marriage, to step in and help get his daughter back to Australia.

'With the current conflict in the Middle East it was touch-and-go there for a while if she could even get a flight, but Karl apparently stepped in and made it all happen,' the insider said.

Willow is also said to be getting in some quality time with her brothers Jackson, 26, and River, 19, with the budding fashion guru celebrating her birthday with a 'very low key' family dinner at a local restaurant.

Karl's three oldest children are believed to be 'rallying around their mum' during her battle against cancer.

The former Dancing With The Stars contestant shared her devastating health news in a video posted to Instagram in late February.

She began the clip by referring to a post she had uploaded a day prior, in which she showed her recently shaved head.

'I'm going to have to read this because on my walk this morning, I thought about all the reasons why I made that post yesterday,' said Cassandra.

'Most of it is controlling the only part of my treatment and diagnosis that I can. That's the part about when the hair comes off and when you tell people.

Join the discussion How important is family support when facing a devastating health diagnosis like cancer?

The ex-wife of Karl Stefanovic, who shares three children with the Today host, recently announced she is battling the rare triple-negative occult breast cancer

Her oldest daughter, who has been studying fashion journalism at the London College of Fashion since 2023, has returned home for spring break and celebrated her 21st birthday with her sick mother, reported Woman's Day on Wednesday

'For my adult children and for myself, I'm not interested in hiding, and that's because I'm not alone.

'I'm not walking a path that is not well travelled by many women before me, and I will not be the last.

'Breast cancer affects one in seven women in New South Wales, which is where I live. I read that sitting for my mammogram not long ago, and I was the one in seven that day.'

The mother-of-three then praised the Australian health system for all the care she has received so far.

'My shout-out today is for BreastScreen NSW, who picked up my triple-negative occult breast cancer, which is no small feat if you know what occult breast cancer is. I didn't until now.

'I thank them from the bottom of my heart. And when your mammogram reminder arrives in the mail, don't dilly dally. Do as I did, book it straight away.'

She ended her video with optimism, saying: 'It may have flipped my world in days, but there's no "why me?" There's no "poor me" here. Just a desire to stop this in its tracks.'

In the caption, Cassandra simply wrote: 'Shout out to BreastScreen NSW. #tnbc.'

Triple-negative occult breast cancer is a rare form of breast cancer where no tumour can be found in the breast, but cancer cells - usually discovered in the lymph nodes - are identified as originating from the breast.

The cancer is 'triple-negative,' meaning it lacks oestrogen, progesterone and HER2 receptors, so it cannot be treated with hormone or HER2-targeted therapies and is typically managed with chemotherapy and other systemic treatments.
The axe has fallen on a prominent staffer at ARN, in the wake of the network's decision to cancel KIIS FM's The Kyle and Jackie O Show.

Publicist Kiana Harvey, who worked closely with sacked shock jocks Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson, announced her redundancy on Wednesday.

Further cuts associated with the show are expected after ARN 'stood down' producers last week.

Harvey, who has had two stints at ARN, the latest beginning in May 2024, paid tribute to her old team in a post she shared to LinkedIn.

Describing her time at the network as 'rewarding', Harvey continued with a gushing salute to Henderson and Sandilands.

'[What] Was the most rewarding? Waking up with the country's best breakfast team in the studio each day and being part of the magic that was the KJ Show.

The axe has fallen on a prominent staffer at ARN, in the wake of the network's decision to cancel KIIS FM's The Kyle and Jackie O Show. Pictured: Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson, who were terminated last week

Publicist Kiana Harvey (pictured), who worked closely with sacked shock jocks Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson, announced her redundancy on Wednesday

'To have my name written alongside the show in its history books is truly my life's biggest honour. And for that, I am forever grateful.'

Elsewhere in the post, Harvey reached out to the LinkedIn network regarding job opportunities.

Staff on the Kyle and Jackie O Show were left blindsided earlier this month when they learnt the show would be canned along with the rest of Australia.

ARN, who owns KIIS FM, announced Jackie O Henderson's $100 million contract was terminated via the market operator ASX on March 3.

Staff reportedly learnt the news through social media, with producers' work suspended until further notice.

'People are stressed and feeling upset, given how close they (staff) on the show are. It is a family,' a source told news.com.au.

'Staff are shocked and feeling very downcast. Going from the number one show to nothing is definitely giving them whiplash.'

It comes after a fresh twist recently emerged in the 'feud' between the stars of The Kyle and Jackie O Show.

Join the discussion Should ARN have handled the Kyle and Jackie O Show axing differently for its dedicated staff?

Pictured: The Kyle and Jackie O Show team, who are under a cloud following the brekkie programs cancellation

According to a source close to the former duo, Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson, mystery still surrounds exactly what ignited the blow-up that saw the pair lose their $100 million contract. Pictured: Jackie 'O' Henderson

According to a source close to the former duo, Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson, mystery still surrounds exactly what ignited the blow-up that saw the pair lose their $100 million contract.

Earlier this month, KIIS FM owners ARN announced that Henderson, 51, had told them that she 'could not continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands', after an on-air spat on February 20  which led to ARN terminating her contract.

It's now believed that Sandilands, 54, was given no details about what went on between Henderson and ARN in the days before her bombshell statement was released.

'Jackie keeps going back to the fact that she thinks ARN mishandled the whole thing, but she has made no direct reference to what she did or did not say,' the insider told news.com.au on Tuesday.

The pair reportedly 'remain friends' and there is no confirmation that Henderson informed her bosses in writing that she could not work with her long-time on-air partner.

Sandilands is preparing a $88 million legal battle with ARN, after the radio network terminated his contract last week.

The former ratings king has filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the media giant in the Federal Court.

Sandilands was suspended earlier this month for 'serious misconduct' before his axing, following his on-air fight with Henderson.
Her on-air walk-out during The Kyle and Jackie O Show in February was the beginning of the end for one of Australia's most enduring radio teams.

And now a resurfaced interview with Jackie 'O' Henderson has revealed that her 27-year on-air partnership with Kyle Sandilands was nearly over before it ever really got started.

Speaking on The Women of Influence podcast in 2020, Jackie confessed that she knocked back a deal with 2DayFM that paired her with Kyle.

'I remember going into my boss' office to negotiate, and they were basically saying, 'Oh, look, we could take or leave you, and you're not getting anything else, so be happy with what you've got!"' she explained.

As rival network Nova began to woo Jackie with a more lucrative proposal, 2DayFM lured her back with a deal that topped it  and the rest is history.

'I had a meeting with [Nova], and I was really close to going, but then (2DayFM) found out,' Jackie says on the podcast.

Jackie'O' Henderson's on-air walk-out during The Kyle and Jackie O Show in February was the beginning of the end for one of Australia's most enduring radio teams. Both pictured

A resurfaced interview with Jackie 'O' Henderson has revealed that her 27-year on-air partnership with Kyle Sandilands was nearly over before it ever really got started. Pictured: The shock jocks posing on the red carpet in Sydney in 2001 soon after their debut as a duo

She added: 'I look back at that moment, and I'm like, "Thank god, I didn't do that".'

During the chat, hosted by Kate Meade, the sister of former Kyle and Jackie O producer 'Intern Pete' Deppeler, Jackie recalled her early days with the notorious shock jock.

'I didn't know Kyle and I were going to be working together for all this time,' she said.

'We'd only just started working together, and we didn't have that friendship that we developed a year or two after that.'

Jackie and Kyle made their debut on 2DayFM's Hot 30 Countdown in 2000, and five years later, they took on the station's breakfast show making it a ratings success.

It comes after the 'feud' between the stars of KIIS FM's The Kyle and Jackie O Show has a fresh twist.

According to a source close to the former duo, mystery still surrounds exactly what ignited the blow-up that saw the pair lose their $100 million contract.

Earlier this month, KIIS FM owners ARN announced that Henderson, 51, had told them that she 'could not continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands', after an on-air spat on February 20  which led to ARN terminating her contract.

Speaking on The Women of Influence podcast in 2020, Jackie confessed that she knocked back a deal with 2DayFM that paired her with Kyle - with money being at issue. Pictured: The duo seen in 2005

It's now believed that Sandilands, 54, was given no details about what went on between Henderson and ARN in the days before her bombshell statement was released.

'Jackie keeps going back to the fact that she thinks ARN mishandled the whole thing, but she has made no direct reference to what she did or did not say,' the insider told news.com.au on Tuesday.

The pair reportedly 'remain friends' and there is no confirmation that Henderson informed her bosses in writing that she could not work with her longtime on-air partner.

Meanwhile, the source claims that it was Henderson's friend and manager, Gemma O'Neill, who negotiated with ARN after the shock jock walked off in mid-show last month, following her row with Sandilands.

The report speculates that Henderson's remarks about Sandilands could have emerged in an email or in conversation.

Details have emerged in Sandilands' $88 million legal battle with ARN, after the radio network terminated his contract last Wednesday.

The former ratings king has filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the media giant in the Federal Court.

Sandilands was suspended earlier this month for 'serious misconduct' before his axing, following his on-air fight with Henderson.

An insider says Sandilands 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.

Sandilands will also claim that the network 'promoted' their notorious on-air brawls.

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'.
Madeline Holtznagel was doing double duty as a busy mum and a dedicated fitness fanatic on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old model showed off her famous figure in black activewear including a fitted top and bike shorts.

She carried her baby son, Jaeger, who she shares with pub billionaire Justin Hemmes, on her way into a Pilates class in Sydney's Bondi.

The blonde, who had on minimal makeup, pulled her hair off her face into a bun and donned a pair of sunglasses.

She also had a $6,600 brown leather purse over her arm, from the luxury designer Miu Miu.

After her class, the beauty strolled barefoot, carrying her white sneakers, before she loaded her belongings and her baby into her car and headed home.

Madeline Holtznagel (pictured) was doing double duty as a busy mum and a dedicated fitness fanatic on Wednesday

The 29-year-old model showed off her famous figure in black activewear including a fitted top and bike shorts

She carried her baby son, Jaeger, who she shares with pub billionaire Justin Hemmes, on her way into a Pilates class in Sydney's Bondi

Justin and Madeline have been settling into life as a blended family.

The A-list society couple stepped out at the opening night of the Tropfest short film festival last month with the billionaire publican's two older children.

The 53-year-old brought his daughters, Alexa, nine, and Saachi, seven, who he shares with his ex-partner Kate Fowler.

Madeline announced the arrival of her first child with the hospitality king on Instagram in June 2025 alongside a gallery of sweet photos.

'Jaeger Justin Hemmes. 1.06.25,' she captioned the post.

Madeline had earlier announced the sex of their baby in an interview with Stellar magazine, and said she was thrilled because she wanted a 'new journey' with Justin.

'I always thought I was going to have a boy. I knew I was going to be a boy mum,' she said.

'Justin has two beautiful little girls, so having a boy, it's like a whole new journey together.

The blonde, who had on minimal makeup, pulled her hair off her face into a bun and donned a pair of sunglasses

She also had a $6,600 brown leather purse over her arm, from the luxury designer Miu Miu

Justin and Madeline have been settling into life as a blended family. The A-list society couple stepped out at the opening night of the Tropfest short film festival last month with the billionaire publican's two older children. All pictured

'[The baby] is going to be his little best mate.'

She said she previously kept details of her pregnancy private, but was ready to share her journey.

'I keep a lot of my life private and I don't share a lot online anyway, so [being pregnant] wasn't really something that I was going to share online,' she said.

'I haven't posted about it and it's been nice to have some quiet time off Instagram.

'But obviously because I am in the public eye and we do get photographed quite a lot, I think now I'm at this point in my pregnancy where it's nice for me to be able to share some nice photos.'

In November 2024, an insider confirmed the exciting news of Madeline's pregnancy to Daily Mail.

They revealed a friend of Justin's recently moved out of his Vaucluse mansion to make room for their growing family.

The business mogul, who has a net worth of $1.39 billion, began dating Madeline in 2019 when she was 22 and he was 47 after his split from Fowler in 2018.

Madeline is the younger sister of fellow Aussie model Simone Holtznagel, who welcomed her first child, a daughter called Gia, in March 2024 with her now-ex-boyfriend Jono Castano.
Mel Schilling's Married At First Sight UK co-star Paul C. Brunson has shared a poignant tribute to the star following her death at the age of 54.

The dating expert's death was confirmed by her husband Gareth in a heartbreaking statement on Tuesday.

Mel was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2023, and received treatment including chemotherapy in the UK whilst she filmed MAFS UK. She announced that 'after a tumour the size of a lemon' was successfully removed in 2023 that she had been given the all clear.

But in a lengthy Instagram post last week, she revealed that she found out her cancer had metastasised to her lungs in February 2024, and over Christmas 2025 it was discovered it had spread to her brain.

Paul, who starred on the UK spin off of MAFS with Mel for five years, paid tribute to his friend's 'extraordinary strength' which he witnessed first hand during her gruelling treatment.

Sharing a series of photos of their friendship, alongside fellow MAFS UK expert Charlene Douglas, Paul recalled: 'I'll never forget my first BAFTA in 2022. I arrived on the red carpet with Mel and Charlene to represent MAFS UK. It was our first nomination, and I was nervous.'

Mel Schilling's Married At First Sight UK co-star Paul C. Brunson has shared a poignant tribute to the star following her death on Tuesday at the age of 54

'What stood out to me that night was how most celebrities handled it. They'd hear their name called, wave, and continue walking.'

'But the first moment Mel heard her name, she stopped. She stepped off the red carpet, moved around the barrier, and went to hug the women calling out to her.'

'What so many people don't know is that over the last two years, Mel was flying between Australia and the UK... repeatedly. Long-haul flights, working in both countries, back and forth.'

'There were days we filmed for up to 14 hours. And all of this while going through chemotherapy.'

'Despite the travel, the treatment, the strain on her body... she showed up fully. Every single time. Always with a smile I never once heard her complain. That wasn't just professionalism. That was extraordinary strength.'

Paul also paid tribute to practising psychologist Mel's work on MAFS, explaining how 'during MAFS commitment ceremonies, we each had our areas where we would lean in and speak truth.'

'And when it came to defending women and the LGBTQ+ community, Mel was fearless. She didn't dilute it. She didn't make it comfortable. She made it honest. And she stood firm in it every single time.'

'Mel was tough. A straight talker. Strong in every sense. But when she spoke about her daughter Maddie... and her husband Gareth... everything softened'

Paul, who starred on the UK spin off of MAFS with Mel for five years, paid tribute to his friend's 'extraordinary strength' which he witnessed first hand during her cancer treatment

'Her voice changed. Her energy shifted. There was always gentleness and tenderness. A deep, deep love. That's something I'll never forget.'

Paul ended his message by writing: 'Mel showed us what it means to live your values. To choose people. To show up with strength, even when it's hard.'

'To stand for something. To never give up on yourself. And to love deeply.'

'She was present. She was powerful. She was full of heart. She will be deeply loved. And profoundly missed. Not a wave. Not a gesture. A real moment. The level of respect she showed her fans... that's something I'll never forget.'

Mel died in London 'surrounded by love', after saying her goodbyes to her close friends during a series of visits in her final week.

The psychologist-turned-dating expert had split her time between the UK and her home in Australia after joining the British spin-off of the popular dating show in 2021.

She stepped down from the Australian show last year after 12 seasons, choosing to spend her final months at the London home she shared with her husband of eight years, Gareth, and their daughter Maddie, ten.

Mel's husband posted a lengthy tribute to her as he announced her passing on Tuesday, writing that 'this is a woman who became a new mum and a TV star at 42  and nailed both.'

'This is a woman who, through two years of chemotherapy, when she could barely lift her head from the pillow, never complained and never stopped showing courage, grace, compassion and empathy, and never missed a day of filming.

Mel was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2023, and received treatment including chemotherapy in the UK whilst she filmed MAFS UK; Pictured during treatment in December 2023

Sharing a series of photos of their friendship,Paul recalled how 'there were days we filmed for up to 14 hours. And all of this while going through chemotherapy. Despite the travel, the treatment, the strain on her body... she showed up fully'

Paul ended his message by writing: 'Mel showed us what it means to live your values. To choose people. To show up with strength, even when it's hard'

'To most of you, she was Mel Schilling  matriarch of MAFS and queen of reality TV. To Maddie and me, she was our wee Melsie: an incredible mum, role model, and soulmate.'

E4 paid a heartbreaking tribute to Mel on Tuesday night before auring the latest episode of MAFS Australia, telling viewers that it was her 'wish to continue airing the programme' after her death.

'Everyone at Channel 4 is hugely saddened by the news weve lost Mel Schilling', they said.

'It was Mel and her familys wish that we carry on showing Married At First Sight and celebrate her mission to help others find love and happiness.

'Our thoughts are with Mels family and friends.'
David Gandy has publicly backed calls for social media to be banned for under 16s as he shared the harm that the 'addictive' platforms were having.

The model, 46, shares two daughters with his wife Stephanie Mendoros, and has backed several countries calling for sites such as Instagram and Snapchat to be blocked for teens.

David said that along with having an impact on teens' mental health, he felt that social media being 'unregulated' was contributing to pressures on young people to alter their appearance.

Speaking on Pete Wicks' Man Made podcast, the fashion star also shared that he won't allow his daughters Matilda, seven, and Tabitha, four, to model themselves until they are 18 years old, due to his concerns they'd be exposed to simular unregulated content.

It comes after MPs rejected a proposed ban on social media for under-16s despite calls to improve children's safety online, with supporters of the ban saying parents are in 'an impossible position' over the harms their children are being exposed to.

David explained that much of his views around social media come after discovering research that showed a vast increase in mental health struggles in young women.

David Gandy has publicly backed calls for social media to be banned for under 16s as he shared the harm that the 'addictive' platforms were having

He explained that the increase began in 2013, when social media platforms Instagram and Facebook were on the rise.

'If it was down to me, one I would have social media banned like Australia, Denmark and I think Spain are doing it,' he said.

'It's a very hard thing to implement but I would have it done immediately to under 16-year-olds, because I don't think parents and people actually realise the addictiveness of it, it's the same addiction as smoking or drinking or drugs.

'It is the same endorphins in your head, and I think I would educate parents as to how, I don't think there are any parents that are saying it's actually great, but I think there's a lot of people addicted, including the parents, and so their kids are addicted to it as well.

'So I think that would solve a lot of problems because you say that everything is unregulated, and you've got a lot of people who think they are right, churning out this c**p to very vulnerable young people.

'I can put that into the fashion industry, people say "would you put your daughters in the modelling industry?" and I said they can go into modelling when they're 21, or that's probably a bit extreme, but 18.

'Everything that parents are protecting our children from, you're giving them this, access to it on a phone, but we're so defensive of letting our children out.

'One of the discussions as parents at schools "when you do you want to let your children out on the street on their own or go to play in a park?" and we're not doing it because we're scared, but we're all on a phone. So, take away the phone and let them have more freedom.'

David went onto note the impact of social media on men who feel pressured to maintain a certain appearance after he and Pete discussed the dangers of toxic masculinity.

He said: 'Where's it come from? Social media. Get kids off social media, just get them off it's very simple, for me it's as simple as that.

'A lot of people will probably tell me I'm wrong about that, I've heard the backlash when people go "oh it's a hard thing to do," but so is lots of different things.

'Do you let your kids out to the pub to go and drink? Do you let them smoke? Good.

'So take them off of it, get them off an addictive, something that's addictive, or are you addicted as well, and you don't want to come off of it?

'But I think at the moment that's what could be done, and I think you would see results from it, if I'm truthful.'

The model shares two daughters with his wife Stephanie Mendoros, also shared that he won't allow his girls to entering the modelling industry until they turn 18

During the interview, David also shared that his two daughters, who he shares with his wife Stephanie, won't start modelling until they're 18.

Pete asked: 'You've got two daughters. If they were to get into the modelling industry knowing what you know about the industry, is it something you would worry about?'

David replied: 'By the time my kids could be into modelling at 18 I don't think it's the industry that's going to exist. I think it would just be all AI generated.'

As Pete said: 'Do you really think it's going to go that way?' the model said: 'I do, unless it's regulated. I really really do because it's based on economics and marketing that's what he's done how can we save costs and AI save costs.'

In the end, MPs voted 307 to 173 against the change to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, brought forward by Conservative former minister Lord Nash, after Labour whipped its MPs to support an alternative proposal put forward by the Government.

A ban could still come in future after the Commons supported a Government bid to give additional powers to the Secretary of State.

Australia's world-first law, which came into force on December 10, bars anyone under 16 from holding accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit, Facebook, Threads, Twitch and X.

Crucially, tech firms face fines of up to A$49.5 million (26m) if they fail to block minors  making it the toughest age-based social media ban anywhere in the world.

The move has sent shockwaves through the tech industry and prompted other governments to follow suit. In Germany, ministers last month ordered a committee to examine whether similar curbs are feasible, with a report due in autumn 2026.

Meanwhile Malaysia has announced that from January 1, 2026, social media platforms will be required to block users under 16, backed by mandatory age-verification checks.

Gandy rose to new heights of fame when he starred in a Dolce & Gabbana advert wearing nothing but tight white pants in 2007.

He became a model after winning a competition on This Morning in 2001, entered by his flatmate at the time.

Pete Wicks' Man Made is available now wherever you get your podcasts.
New Found Glory's Chad Gilbert has undergone surgery to remove three brain tumours as he battles adrenal cancer.

The rocker, 45, revealed he was left 'struggling to control' the movements of his left hand during a gig in Nashville on February 20.

Chad was then rushed to hospital by medics three days later when he began stumbling and falling.

In a lengthy statement alongside snaps of himself from hospital, he explained: 'On February 20th, I played a show in Nashville and was struggling to control the movements of my left hand.

'My left leg was getting weaker by the day and I started stumbling and falling at times. On the 23rd I was taken to the ER where a CT scan showed 3 new tumors had appeared in my brain.

'On 2/27 I had successful brain surgery and have been recovering in the hospital since. I regained function of my left hand immediately.

New Found Glory's Chad Gilbert has undergone surgery to remove three brain tumours as he battles adrenal cancer

The rocker, 45, revealed he was rushed to hospital after he was left 'struggling to control' the movements of his left hand during a gig in Nashville

'My radiation oncologist described it like this: this is not a fatal blow and not the end of your story, just the beginning of a new chapter".'

Chad concluded his post by thanking his family and friends for their support, writing: 'My recovery has been bumpy at times but Im feeling much better now and getting stronger by the day.

'Thankful to everyone whos checked in on me and helped my family during this lengthy and challenging journey. Cant use my phone much yet and have a lot of messages to catch up on.

'More stories to come when my brain is working well again. Love you all and am looking forward to sharing more music and fun with you as we come out of this.'

Chad was first diagnosed with cancer in 2021 after his wife Lisa Cimorelli found him unconscious in bed.

After being rushed to hospital, doctors discovered Chad had a large adrenal gland tumour that had spread to his liver.

He underwent surgery to remove the growth, along with half of his liver and gallbladder and was declared cancer-free the following month.

However, in August 2022, the rare cancer returned to his spine, forcing the musician to undergo a gruelling six-hour operation.

The following year, medics discovered nodules in his lungs and he received chemotherapy.

Following Chad's latest help update, fans have flooded him with supportive messages, as one wrote: 'We love you Chad! Keep fighting. The world is a brighter place with your riffs and positivity';

'Ive been praying and will continue. You are so resilient!'; 'Sending positive vibrations of electric energy from my brain to yours, son';

'Thinking of you always, Chad. Wishing you nothing but love and strength. We love you'; 'All the love and strength to you Chad. Youre a force and an inspiration'.

Chad was previously married to Paramore's Hayley Williams, with the pair first getting together in 2008 before saying 'I do' in 2016.

Following Chad's latest help update, fans have flooded him with messages, as one wrote: 'We love you Chad! Keep fighting. The world is a brighter place with your riffs and positivity'

Chad was first diagnosed with cancer in 2021 after his wife Lisa Cimorelli found him unconscious in bed

Doctors discovered Chad had a large adrenal gland tumour that had spread to his liver. He underwent surgery to remove the growth, along with half of his liver and gallbladder

However, their marriage was short-lived, with the former couple separating the following year and finalising their divorce several months later.

Hayley previously shared how she battled depression following their divorce and sought inpatient treatment.

'I had to get therapy. I was having a lot of bad dreams,' she said.

Hayley went on: 'My most memorable recurring dreams from childhood are all water related. I started to have a lot of those again. It resulted in me having panic attacks, and I ended up in a hospital.'
Cruz Beckham was 'overcome' with emotion on Tuesday night as he performed a song about 'breaking mama's heart' in front of his parents amid their ongoing family feud with Brooklyn.

In January, Cruz's eldest brother released an explosive six-page statement aimed at his parents, where he revealed he did not wish to reconcile with his family.

As his debut tour with his band The Breakers comes to a close, Cruz became visibly emotional on stage at the Courtyard Theatre in London, where the final three sold-out shows will take place.

During the set he performed Loneliest Boy, which is believed to be about his estranged sibling as the lyrics include: 'Loneliest boy, mama don't talk too much, it's breaking her heart.'

A concert-goer told The Mirror: 'At one point during the song, he seemed overcome with emotion as his bandmate put his arm around his shoulder and affectionately ruffled his hair.'

Cruz performed in front of his proud parents Sir David, 50, and Victoria, 51, watched on, as well as his older brother Romeo, 23.

Cruz Beckham was 'overcome' with emotion on Tuesday night as he performed a song about 'breaking mama's heart' in front of his parents amid their ongoing family feud with Brooklyn

Cruz performed in front of his proud parents Sir David, 50, and Victoria, 51, watched on, as well as his older brother Romeo, 23

Fans have been left convinced the scathing lyrics are about Brooklyn's widening estrangement from his family.

Loneliest Boy's lyrics also say: 'It shows in the small things that you don't do, I guess in the end that it's you, yourself, and you. Tell me how do you live, when you've got nobody to lose?'

The song goes on: 'Loneliest boy, place all your bets on him, To find something bad in somebody good, he always does, Loneliest boy, I hope that youre listening, Dont push all your friends away, when were tryna show you love.'

Elsewhere, the chorus reads: 'So tell me youre scared, and that you need someone to hold. Cause youre in the room but really, does it even show?

'But, why cant they see that youre a million miles away, Theyll never know, when you look so close.'

Earlier this month Brooklyn dealt another blow to his devastated parents as he failed to mention Victoria on Mother's Day, though praised his mother-in-law on social media.

Taking to Instagram, Brooklyn, 27, shared a photo of himself alongside Claudia Heffner Peltz and his wife Nicola, with the accompanying caption: 'Happy birthday to the best mother-in-law. Love u so much and hope u had the most amazing day.'

With Claudia's birthday falling on March 12 - three days earlier - it seemed a particularly calculated move.

The eldest son of Victoria and David turned 27 earlier this month and blasted the 'performative posts' which included loving messages, according to reports.

An insider told ET that Brooklyn wants to put an end to any attempt from his parents to contact him, including on social media, following their bitter falling out.

Victoria, David, and his brothers Romeo and Cruz all shared heartfelt posts honouring Brooklyn's birthday, but they were apparently unappreciated.

A source told the publication: 'Brooklyn and Nicola are disheartened they chose to make public Instagram posts for his birthday.

'These are the exact type of performative public actions that Brooklyn has been trying to put an end to, to no avail.

'Last summer they issued a legal letter to his parents requesting that any correspondence go through lawyers.'

Instead, Brooklyn spent the day with Nicola who shared a video of her husband blowing out his candles on a box of doughnuts.

In January, Cruz's eldest brother released an explosive six-page statement aimed at his parents, where he revealed he did not wish to reconcile with his family (pictured in 2023)

Cruz's proud girlfriend Jackie Apostel was also at the small venue for the concert as she joined him backstage

She took to her official Instagram account to share the backstage snaps, revealing Cruz was dressed head-to-toe in his mum Victoria Beckham's fashion label

The aspiring chef only took to Instagram during the day to thank his wife for her gushing social media post, brushing aside his family's olive branch.

He was given another opportunity to reconnect with his estranged family after his parents attempted to build bridges by sharing a series of birthday tributes.

But while he failed to acknowledge their nostalgic throwback photos, birthday messages and repeated use of his affectionate nickname - Buster - he wasted no time in responding to Nicola.

The most recent reports suggest Brooklyn is on speaking terms with his grandfather Ted and his wife Hilary, even though he remains estranged from his parents. He's reportedly been in regular contact with them.
Chinese doctors in Sierra Leone save patient from possible amputation

09:48, March 25, 2026 By Abu Bakarr Kargbo ( People's Daily Online

The 27th Batch Chinese Medical Team stationed in Sierra Leone has successfully performed its first major surgical operation at the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital, just 10 days after arriving in the countrymarking a significant milestone in ongoing medical cooperation between Sierra Leone and China.

The landmark procedure, carried out on March 17, involved a 42-year-old male patient who had suffered a severe open fracture and dislocation of his left ankle following a road traffic accident. The patient, identified as Mike Foday Baryoh, sustained the injury during a crash involving a commercial tricycle, locally known as a "Keke," which left his ankle badly damaged, with bone protruding through the skin and the foot severely twisted.

(Photo provided to People's Daily Online)

Medical experts revealed that the injury had gone untreated surgically for eight days due to limited resources and technical constraints within local facilities. By the time the Chinese team intervened, the wound had already shown signs of infection and tissue necrosis, placing the patient at high risk of losing his limb.

The operation, which combined expertise from the Chinese specialists and local medical personnel, including Dr. Abdulai Bah, focused on salvaging the limb and preventing amputation. According to the team, the procedure involved thorough debridement to remove infected and dead tissue, realignment of the fractured bones, and the installation of an external fixation frame to stabilize the ankle.

"The patient had a complex open fracture with infection, and immediate intervention was necessary to save the limb," explained Dr. Huang Xianzhe, an orthopedic specialist and lead surgeon on the case. "We used an external fixation system to realign the ankle while allowing continued access to treat the wound and prevent further infection."

The surgery lasted approximately one and a half hours and was successfully completed under challenging conditions. Medical personnel described the procedure as not only life-saving but also a demonstration of effective collaboration and knowledge transfer between Chinese and Sierra Leonean healthcare professionals.

Inside the operating theatre, the exercise doubled as a practical training session. Dr. Wang Xitang, an anesthesiologist, guided local doctors step-by-step through the administration of anesthesia, explaining techniques and dosages while ensuring the patient remained pain-free throughout the procedure. Nurses from both countries also worked closely together, ensuring smooth coordination and patient care.

Prior to the surgery, efforts were made to calm the patient, who had grown increasingly anxious after days of uncertainty. Tan Yan, a senior nurse from the Chinese team, communicated with him in simple English, helping ease his fears. Witnesses said the patients tension gradually subsided, and he eventually expressed confidence in the team.

(Photo provided to People's Daily Online)

Following the operation, the patient was reported to be in stable condition and is currently receiving post-operative care at the hospital. Doctors confirmed that the external fixation device will help stabilize the bones and support healing, while further procedures may be conducted to close the wound once the infection is fully controlled.

"There is a strong prospect that the ankle will be fully restored," Dr. Huang noted. "Our immediate goal was to prevent amputation, and we are optimistic about his recovery."

Medical experts indicated that within three months, the patient could regain significant function of his limb, provided there are no complications. The entire procedure, including follow-up care, has been offered free of chargean aspect that the patient described as both surprising and deeply appreciated.

Speaking after the surgery, Mr. Baryoh expressed gratitude to the Chinese medical team, noting that he had feared the worst before their intervention. "I thought my foot would be amputated because there were no resources to treat me," he said. "But since the Chinese doctors came, there has been a big improvement."

Local surgeon Dr. Abdulai Bah praised the collaboration, highlighting the benefits of working alongside the Chinese specialists. "We have a very good working relationship with them," he said. "Even though we lack some equipment and facilities, they are helping us build capacity through skills transfer."

The Chinese team emphasized that their mission goes beyond performing surgeries. According to Dr. Huang, they are also introducing standardized operating procedures, strengthening infection control practices, and sharing expertise in managing complex medical conditions.

"This operation reflects not just technical success, but also the spirit of cooperation and compassion," he said. "From communication with the patient to the final suturing, every step demonstrates the commitment of our team to saving lives."

The successful surgery has been widely seen as a symbol of the enduring partnership between China and Sierra Leone in the health sector. It underscores the critical role of international medical cooperation in addressing gaps in healthcare delivery, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Hospital officials noted that this first procedure sets the tone for many more interventions expected from the newly arrived medical team. With a focus on both treatment and training, the team is expected to significantly enhance surgical capacity and patient outcomes in the country.

As the patient continues his recovery, his case stands as a powerful example of hope, resilience, and the life-changing impact of timely medical intervention. For many observers, it also highlights the importance of sustained investment in healthcare systems and the value of global partnerships in improving lives.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang)
John Aiken has led Channel Nine's tribute to Married At First Sight relationship expert Mel Schilling after her death at age 54.

In a heartbreaking segment before Wednesday's episode, Aiken fought tears as he shared moving words about his co-star and best mate.

'It's with great sadness and heavy heart, that today the MAFS family lost a colleague and a dear friend, Mel Schilling,' he said.

'She was someone that could light up a room, she was full of joy, had a huge smile, and whenever she was on set, everyone lifted,' Aiken continued.

'She brought fun and joy, humour, and she also brought an authenticity which we all loved to be around. It was such a delight.

'She was a leader, she was an inspiration. Never complained, just rolled her sleeves up and got on with things.

John Aiken (pictured) has led Channel Nine's tribute to Married At First Sight relationship expert Mel Schilling after her death at age 54

In a heartbreaking segment before Wednesday's episode, Aiken fought tears as he shared moving words about his co-star and best mate. Pictured: Mel Schilling in the tribute

'Someone that has meant so much to all of us, and it's not fair.

'Married At First Sight won't be the same without her.

'I would like to send all thoughts and prayers to Gareth, her husband, and Maddie, her wonderful daughter, and to also take a moment now and remember Mel.

'We love you.'

Channel Nine then aired a solemn message dedicating the following episode to Mel's memory.

'With gratitude for her warmth, honesty and insight. A beloved member of our team, she'll always be part of the Married At First Sight family,' the notice read.

Aiken, 55, broke down on the Today show earlier on Wednesday as he spoke for the first time about Mel's death, revealing the devastating toll of losing his 'partner in crime'.

'I'm not going to lie, this has been a very, very difficult day for me and basically everyone in the MAFS family and her nearest and dearest. It's tragic, and it happened very quickly,' a visibly shattered John said.

'She was someone that could light up a room, she was full of joy, had a huge smile, and whenever she was on set, everyone lifted,' Aiken said

'Someone that has meant so much to all of us, and it's not fair,' he said

John revealed he had the chance to see Mel and her husband Gareth one last time before her death  a moment he described as both 'very emotional' and 'very special'.

'It was a very aggressive cancer, unfortunately,' he said, fighting back tears.

'One of the things I loved about Mel was that she was such a fighter she never complained. Whether she was on set or off set, she was a breath of fresh air, a real shining light.'

Reflecting on her legacy, John described Mel as a 'real role model' and 'voice of reason,' revealing he felt 'very privileged' to have worked alongside her for a decade.

'She was my partner in crime through all of this,' he said, referring to their time navigating the show's meteoric rise.

'I couldn't have done it without her it won't be the same now. It's very hard for me to get my head around her not being there.'

He also spoke of her deep belief in the show's mission and the couples who took part.

'She loved love. She was completely committed to the participants. She wanted everyone to get the fairy tale,' he said.

Mel's husband Gareth announced on Tuesday that the dating expert had died just days after revealing her cancer had spread to her brain

Mel's husband Gareth announced on Tuesday that the dating expert had died just days after revealing her cancer had spread to her brain.

In a lengthy statement, he spoke of her love for him and their daughter Madison, 10.

Mel helmed the expert panel of the Australian franchise for 12 seasons and also appeared in five series of the UK version on Channel 4.

But she had announced she would be stepping back from filming earlier this year, in order to prioritise her family and health.

John stepped in to replace her for the remainder of the latest UK series, as filming was underway.
He's long been known for his no-nonsense interview style, so it won't come as a surprise to hear even one of Hollywood's biggest divas shouldn't keep Eamonn Holmes waiting.

In fact, the broadcaster, 66, has now revealed he stormed out of a chat with singing superstar Mariah Carey, after she turned up four hours late and decided to take a nap instead of starting their chat.

Eamonn said he was told by Mariah's team that she was 'tired' as she'd woken up at 9am, leaving him unimpressed as he'd been awake five hours earlier.

In hilarious fashion, the GB News star said he decided to lie down on the sofa beside her, so they could complete the interview.

It was a move that sparked fury from Mariah's team, and in response Eamonn declared he was cancelling the interview and walked out.

It comes after sources told Daily Mail's Katie Hind that Eamonn has been ordered to take time off from his GB News show by bosses, due to the ongoing crisis about his 'unravelling' on-screen behaviour. You can read the full story here.

Eamonn Holmes has revealed he sensationally stormed out of an interview with Mariah Carey after she arrived four hours late before deciding to take a nap

Speaking to Hayley Palmer at an Audience With live even in London's Hippodrome Casino, Eamonn regaled tales from some of his most iconic interviews after more than 40 years working in TV.

He revealed: 'Say the interview was at 11 o'clock in the morning, and she wasn't there she didn't turn up, 12 o'clock, one o'clock, they said ''hang on, she'll be here, she'll be here.''

'Bearing in mind I've been up from four o'clock that particular day so I'm going, ''what the hell's going on here,'' so I said ''right if she's not here in the next 10 minutes I'm going.''

Eamonn said Mariah eventually arrived four hours late, revealing: 'So she comes through the door, and she immediately lies down on the chaise-longue, and closes her eyes.

'And I said ''what the f**k is going on here?''

'They said ''Ms Carey is very tired, she's very tired, she's been up from nine o'clock this morning.''

'I said ''she's been up from f*****g nine o'clock I've been up from four!'' and so I walked over and lay down beside her.'

'I wouldn't do it now, because things have changed,' Eamonn added admitting he started Mariah and woke her up.

The broadcaster said he decided to lie down beside Mariah after being told by her team she was 'tired,' but when they reacted with fury, he stormed out

The move sparked fury from Mariah's team, but he hit back: 'Ms Carey's tired, I've been up earlier than she has, I'm tired too, so we're both going to lie down here.'

'Oh my God there were ruptions about this! So I said look, ''one way this interview is happening, either we both lie down, or we both sit up.''

'They said ''well Ms Carey certainly won't be sitting up,'' so I said ''well Mr Holmes certainly won't be doing the interview,'' and I tiddled off then.'

In recent years, Eamonn has battled a string of health problems after he dislocated his pelvis in 2021, sustaining three slipped disks.

During his recovery from surgery, Eamonn then endured a further blow when he fell at the former marital home he once shared with ex-wife Ruth Langsford, breaking his shoulder.

Eamonn's outing comes weeks after he emotionally opened up on his health battle, revealing he can't lift himself up without the help of his carers.

Speaking on the Session 7 podcast, Eamonn gave an insight into his current condition saying: 'I'm sick. I'm in a wheelchair. That's been horrendous to deal with for two years.

'Certainly I don't think TV wants to know you when, I mean there's nothing you and I are talking and no one can there's anything wrong but I can't get up.'

Eamonn said he has carers 'throughout the day' and that once he is sitting down, he is able to do most things on his own.

The former This Morning host said 'your health really is your wealth' before adding that he understands society finds it hard to 'deal with' people with disabilities.

Eamonn talked about his health woes in a previous interview with the Sunday World, telling the Irish publication: 'I have to have carers now looking after me.

'Somebody dresses me in the morning, somebody undresses me at night, somebody gets my food for me.

'I have to be tested with spinal injections to see if it will take, and then grow some life back into my spine and legs. It's all very experimental. I'll know next week. I'd say this is the toughest stage of my life ever. And I just battle on.'

Meanwhile, Eamonn's ex Ruth has recently revealed she went to therapy following her split from the Northern Irish presenter.

The couple, who share son Jack, separated in May 2024 after 14 years of marriage.

Speaking to Rylan Clark on BBC Radio 2, Ruth said: 'I've had counselling and its the best thing I ever did.'

'All the situations and other things have come up and that was through a friend of mine who said, 'Would you please maybe think about seeing my counsellor?'

'And she had helped her through a very difficult divorce. And I went, 'I don't need to see a counsellor, to tell me I'm sad'. She was like, 'Honestly it's so much more that that'.'

Ruth continued: 'Anyway, she pecked my head for so long. Eventually I said yes to shut her up, to be honest. I went, 'Fine ok'.

'It's the best thing I ever did and I'm still doing it. With your friends they're always on your side really and they will stand by you whatever decisions you make or however you're feeling, they'll hold you up.

'A counsellor is very different, they look at the bigger picture, they don't know you and they never tell you what to do. She's never told me what to do, she's just guided me to think in different ways about things.

'Lots of people have picked up on this saying that she said to me, which was, 'Find your light'.

'Everything felt so dark and she said, 'Just use that energy that your feeling anger and sadness, try and bring that energy here and find your light''.
Nadiya Bychkova has broken her silence for the first time on being 'axed' from Strictly Come Dancing after a string of pros were dropped in a cast bloodbath.

BBC fans have been left stunned in recent weeks as favourites Nadiya, 36, Karen Hauer, 43, Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, Luba Mushtuk, 36, and Gorka Marquez, 35, have all been given the boot.

Now in a new statement, Nadiya has detailed how her role as a professional dancer on the hit BBC series is 'evolving' after nine years on the star-studded show.

She wrote: 'After 9 wonderful years, this part of my journey with Strictly Come Dancing is evolving.

'There is something truly special about being part of a programme that plays such a big part in so many peoples lives and I want to thank all those who have sent beautiful messages over the last few weeks and those who have voted, shouted, supported, celebrated and cheered during every series.

'I also want to take a moment to appreciate all those who have helped me along the way: my partners, my fellow professionals, the judges and brilliant people behind the scenes.'

Nadiya Bychkova has broken her silence for the first time on being 'axed' from Strictly Come Dancing after a string of pros were dropped in a cast bloodbath

In a new statement, Nadiya has detailed how her role as a professional dancer on the hit BBC series is 'evolving' after nine years on the show

She continued: 'I joined the show as an athlete and a double world champion. Along the way I have learned so much about myself and other people. I have grown, not only professionally, but personally and creatively.

'Strictly has allowed me to discover new sides of myself, develop new skills, and evolve as an artist in ways I will always be grateful for.'

Nadiya revealed she is 'excited' to still be part of the 'Strictly world for many years to come' but in new way in which she is currently busy exploring.

She continued: 'This isnt the end I look forward to being part of the Strictly world for many years to come in ways I am beginning to explore.

'Ive changed a lot since I first stepped onto that dance floor, not just as a performer, but as a person and I can honestly say Ive never felt more like myself.

'Im excited to have time to focus on new projects, and to spend more precious time with my beautiful daughter. Life feels full of possibilities.

'I danced before Strictly, I loved dancing on the show and I plan to keep dancing for many years to come. Thank you for all the love and support along the way'.

Following Nadiya's announcement the official BBC Strictly Instagram account shared a statement thanking the Ukrainian ballroom star.

They penned: 'We would like to say a huge thank you to Nadiya Bychkova for her incredible contribution to Strictly Come Dancing.

'Since joining the show nine years ago, Nadiya has brought elegance, artistry, and unwavering dedication to the ballroom, and she will always remain a cherished member of the Strictly family.

'Over the years, Nadiya has delivered countless memorable performances, showcasing not only her exceptional talents as a dancer and choreographer but also her brilliance as a teacher to all her celebrity partners.

'A consummate professional, Nadiya embodies the very best of what Strictly stands for. We are deeply grateful for everything she has given to the show and wish her every success for the future.'

Nadiya revealed she is 'excited' to still be part of the 'Strictly world for many years to come' in new way she is currently busy exploring

Following Nadiya's announcement the official BBC Strictly Instagram account shared a statement thanking the Ukrainian ballroom star

Several of Nadiya's co-stars and friends shared their support to her in the comments including ex-host Tess Daly, Amy Dowden, Helen Skelton, Gemma Atkinson, Karen Hauer and Gorka Marquez.

Last year Nadiya was partnered with rugby player Chris Robshaw but the pair were knocked out of the competition in week three.

She has also been partnered with Davood Ghadami, Lee Ryan, David James, Matt Goss, Dan Walker and Tom Dean over her nine year stint.

Nadiya made it all the way to the quarter-finals with presenter Dan in 2021, the furthest she made on the BBC show.

But she wasn't asked to be a part of the Strictly Live tour this year and has now been told that her time on the dancefloor is over.

It comes days after Strictly's longest-serving professional Karen Hauer branded her axing from the show 'stressful and emotional'.

The dancer, 43, who was on the show for 13 years, shared an emotional video where she revealed she was choosing to step away from the show to focus on other ventures.

She began to cry as she recalled her pride at 'a young girl from the Bronx' going on to be the show's longest-serving female professional.

Karen's last celebrity partner on the series was Gladiator star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, while the year before she danced with former footballer Paul Merson and, in 2023, comedian Eddie Kadi.

She showcased her versatility as a choreographer by performing with comic Jayde Adams in 2022, following on from Katya Jones, who was the first Strictly female pro to perform in a same-sex pairing.

Other celebrity partners Karen has performed with include Sunday Brunch host Simon Rimmer and TOWIE's Mark Wright, one of the first reality stars signed to the show.

Despite her long-standing commitment, Karen has never won the Strictly glitterball trophy, though she did reach the final with Mark Wright in 2014.





Several of Nadiya's co-stars and friends shared their support to her in the comments including ex-host Tess Daly, Amy Dowden, Helen Skelton, Karen Hauer and Gorka Marquez

During her nine year Strictly stint, Nadiya was partnered with Chris Robshaw, Davood Ghadami, Lee Ryan, David James, Dan Walker, Matt Goss and Tom Dean (pictured 2024)

It comes after sources claimed that Strictly bosses judge some pros' following on TikTok when decided which stars would be axed in the show's mass cull.

Sources claimed on Monday that bosses have chosen to keep pros with a bigger online following in a desperate bid to draw in younger viewers.

Now its been claimed those with bigger online followings have been chosen over dancers who are not so TikTok friendly as the series tries desperately to attract a younger audience.

One example appears to be axed Nadiya who boasts 19,000 followers, while Dianne Buswell, also 36, with 966,000 followers has kept her place in the line-up.

Karen, who was Strictly's longest-serving female dancer, is a similar story with her 9,000 followers while safe newcomer Alexis Warr, 25, has a whopping 190,000.

A source said: 'Strictly is always looking for ways to increase its audience in terms of volume, but also in terms of attracting new, young viewers.

They told The Sun: 'Social media is a massive part of broadening that appeal, and TikTok is the perfect medium for a show where music and dance is at the forefront.

'They won't simply lose someone from the line up because they aren't big on TikTok, but it might just be the thing that saves them from exiting the line-up.'

Meanwhile Fleur East and Janette Manrara have also reportedly been axed from Strictly Come Dancing's spin-off It Takes Two.

Insiders say bosses are plotting a major revamp of the BBC Two weeknight show in the wake of a string of scandals that have rocked the franchise.

Former Strictly pro Janette, 42, took over hosting duties in 2021 after eight years on the main show, while pop star Fleur, 38, joined the line-up in 2023 after reaching the final the year before.

It comes days after Strictly's longest-serving professional Karen Hauer branded her axing from the show 'stressful and emotional'

But now both stars are said to be in the firing line as executives push for a bold new direction.

'Fans will be stunned that this bloodbath is continuing, but bosses are determined to overhaul the show completely,' an industry source told The Sun.

'Nobody feels safe right now and there's a real drive behind the scenes to usher in a fresh era after all the recent drama.

'But the priority is a clean slate by September and putting distance between the show and the controversies of recent years.'

The source added actions taken by BBC bosses do not mean Janette and Fleur 'are out of the picture entirely' and that there could be other roles for them 'elsewhere'.

Sources suggest bosses are aiming for an entirely fresh start following years of criticism and controversy surrounding the professional dancers.

Elsewhere, Neil Jones, 43, who has rarely had a celebrity dance partner on the show, will also go without one this year, as will Nancy Xu, 34.

It's believed they may still appear in the big group dance numbers.
Kelly Osbourne has treated herself to a new tattoo after news of her shock split from her fiance emerged this week.

The daughter of late rocker Ozzy Osbourne shared a glimpse of her new ink from her London tattoo artist friend Luigi.

The video shows a smiling Kelly, 41, lying on her back with her shirt lifted up to expose her ribs where Luigi inked an orange lily next to a Peter Pan design with the word 'boy'.

The Instagram post was soundtracked by the song You Can Fly from the Disney movie.

Kelly also tagged her close friend Kiinicki in the post, a non-binary hairdresser who has reportedly become a 'shoulder to cry on' for the star since the death of her dad Ozzy in July.

On Monday, the Daily Mail revealed that Kelly has split from her fiance Sid Wilson as she continues to struggle with the death of her father.

Kelly Osbourne has treated herself to a new tattoo after news of her shock split from her fiance emerged this week

The couple have quietly ended their engagement just seven months after the Slipknot DJ, 49, proposed to Osbourne at her late father's final concert with Black Sabbath in Birmingham last July.

Insiders close to the star told the Daily Mail she has endured a 'difficult' month, coping with the separation while continuing to focus on being the best mother she can be to their son, who is named after his father.

A source revealed: 'Kelly and Sid have decided to call off their engagement.'

'Kelly has been struggling following the loss of her father. The grieving process has been incredibly difficult, and she's been doing everything she can to cope.'

'In truth, she and Sid have been facing challenges in their relationship for some time, and things were not as they appeared.'

'They tried to make it work, particularly for the sake of their child, but ultimately decided that separating is the best path forward.'

'Kelly has endured a great deal over the past year. Despite everything, she remains sober and is now focusing on herself and her role as a mother moving ahead.'

The star was first introduced to Wilson when Slipknot toured with Ozzfest, the music festival founded by her parents.

Kelly also tagged her close friend Kiinicki in the post, a non-binary hairdresser (pictured left) who has reportedly become a 'shoulder to cry on' for the star

On Monday, the Daily Mail revealed that Kelly has split from her fiance Sid Wilson as she continues to struggle with the death of her father

On Valentine's Day 2022, she shared a post of the couple passionately kissing, captioned: 'After 23 years of friendship, I can't believe where we have ended up. You are my best friend, my soulmate, and I am so deeply in love with you, Sidney George Wilson.'

They welcomed their son, Sid, later that year, and the family had been living together on a farm in Iowa.

Kelly was last pictured with Sid at the Grammy Awards in February and, since then, has only made public appearances with friends or her mother, Sharon.

He proposed to Kelly backstage at the Black Sabbath show, in front of her entire family, including Ozzy, Sharon, and her brother Jack, presenting her with a huge diamond ring. Kelly later said she had 'no clue' the moment was coming.
Pregnant Sophie Kasaei said it's been the 'worst month of our lives' as she gave a health update on boyfriend Jordan Brook on Instagram on Wednesday.

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.

Sophie has now opened up about the 'scary time' as Jordan suffers 'seizures' from the side-effects of meningitis and encephalitis.

She wrote: 'Popped back home for a little rest after being at the hospital with my darling all day. Still such a scary time but everyday Jord shows strength that we won't let this awful condition beat him.

'Our baby keeps him going more than ever. He keeps us all going.'

Pregnant Sophie Kasaei said it's been the 'worst month of our lives' as she gave a health update on boyfriend Jordan Brook on Instagram on Wednesday

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

'He has viral meningitis as well as encephalitis (not the meningitis we are seeing on the news that is bacteria not viral) the encephalitis is what we are dealing with now and the affects that gives.

'Anyone who has ever witnessed a love one with viral encephalitis and menintitis can understand how scary it can be.

'Seizures are scary to witness but he's in safe hands. We are all there for him right now and I'm being looked after by my family too.'

She continued: 'Worst month of our lives I never wish this on anyone.

'As I go into my third trimester I pray for the day he comes home to me and we can enjoy these last few weeks preparing for our precious baby.

'That's all I can hold onto right now. Life is so unpredictable and it makes you appreciate so much more when you go through these times.

'Thank you for all your messages we will get there'.

Sophie followed up the message by sharing a sweet bump mirror selfie and revealed she is currently 28 weeks along in her pregnancy.

It comes days after Sophie stressed how 'life can change in the blink of an eye' as boyfriend Jordan remains in hospital battling viral meningitis and encephalitis.

The TV personality, 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'.

Sophie has now opened up about the 'scary time' as Jordan suffers 'seizures' from the side-effects of meningitis and encephalitis

Sophie followed up the message by sharing a sweet bump mirror selfie and revealed she is currently 28 weeks along in her pregnancy

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

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.

'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.'

Sophie revealed on Friday that she could now visit Jordan in hospital after it was revealed he isn't 'contagious'

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 .'

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.'
Kerry Katona has showed off the results of her lymphatic drainage massage - as her son Max drove her home from the salon after passing her driving test.

Former Atomic Kitten star Kerry, 45, took to social media to show off the visible results of her treatment.

When comparing her before and after, Kerry's stomach and torso appeared more defined as she lay in a towel.

Lymphatic drainage is a specialised massage technique that is performed by a trained professional which stimulates the natural movement of lymph fluid.

The treatment, which Kerry has had numerous times, helps removes toxins, excess fluids and waste from the body's tissues.

Over recent years Kerry has flaunted her impressive weight loss to fans, after previously sharing how she felt like a 'swollen beached whale'.

Kerry Katona has showed off the results of her lymphatic drainage - as her son Max drove her home from the salon after passing her driving test

After her treatment, Kerry was driven home by her 17-year-old son Max after he recently passed his driving test

After her treatment, Kerry was driven home by her 17-year-old son Max after he recently passed his driving test.

Snaps taken from outside the clinic in Cheshire show the mother and son duo getting into a black car as Max sat in the driver's seat.

Beforehand, the pair were seen embracing for a hug in the street while posing for snaps.

Kerry previously revealed that she had been diagnosed with Lipoedema which had left 'fatty lumps' all over her body.

According to the NHS, Lipoedema is a chronic condition where abnormal and painful build up of fat - not caused through obesity - occurs, usually around the legs and thighs.

Kerry explained at the time: 'I was diagnosed lipidaemia [sic] last week which means swelling of the body and random fatty lumps. But f*** that s***!!! Gonna train the s*** out of my body!'

Meanwhile, this week Kerry confirmed she is moving to Spain with her boyfriend Paolo Margaglione.

She previously said she was quitting the UK for a sunnier climate with her ex fiance Ryan Mahoney.

While those plans never materialised, Kerry has now confirmed she is pressing ahead with moving there, with her new lover Paolo.

However, her decision has left some of her children with 'mixed' feelings.

Kerry explained: 'Paolo and I have decided we're moving to Spain in September and we've started looking at places.

'It's really exciting but I'm also nervous. I've told the kids and they've had mixed feelings. Heidi isn't happy, but our Molly said, "Good for you, Queen, you do you".

She continued to write in her New Magazine column: 'If the older kids want to move too they can. DJ is coming of course.

Over recent years Kerry has flaunted her impressive weight loss to fans, after previously sharing how she felt like a 'swollen beached whale'

The pair sported casual clothes for the day out

Snaps taken from outside the clinic in Cheshire show the mother and son duo getting into a black car as Max sat in the driver's seat

'It's a lot trying to juggle and make sure everyone's happy, but if I'm working I'm never in the house and if I'm at home I sit there by myself, so why not sit in the sun?'

Molly, 25, is Kerry's eldest child, who she shares with ex-husband Brian McFadden, along with Lily-Sue, 22.

She shares Heidi, 18, and 17-year-old Max with ex Mark Croft and Dylan-Jorge with the late George Kay.

While businessman Paolo is dad to two daughters, Milani and Nola, from a previous relationship.
ITV bosses are confronting a growing row at the very top after Ed Balls was accused of 'whataboutery' over a controversial Good Morning Britain interview in the wake of the Golders Green antisemitic arson attack.

The former Labour cabinet minister sparked the backlash during a tense on-air exchange with antisemitism campaigner Dov Forman after four Jewish volunteer ambulances were firebombed in north London.

During the interview, Balls cited criticism of Muslim prayer in Trafalgar Square and asked whether such language risked causing division in the Jewish community.

He said: When you see last week the shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy singling out the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, for praying in Trafalgar Square in a Muslim group and saying that is wrong and shouldn't happen, isn't that the kind of intolerance and divisiveness which is causing problems in the Jewish community right now?

Forman replied: I think the shadow justice secretary was going to a point that many people in this country feel about Islamist extremism.

I wont get drawn into a debate about whether his words were right or wrong. We are here to talk about the antisemitic attack this morning in the Jewish community.

Ed Balls (left) sparked the backlash during a tense on-air exchange with antisemitism campaigner Dov Forman (right)

Forman said: I wont get drawn into a debate about whether his words were right or wrong. We are here to talk about the antisemitic attack this morning in the Jewish community'

Certainly, we need to be careful with our words, but there are people - including many in the Jewish community  who are worried about the spread of Islamist extremism, which is running rampant.

The exchange prompted an immediate backlash, with critics accusing Balls of engaging in whataboutery rather than focusing on the antisemitic attack itself.

A well-placed source told the Daily Mail the row is being dealt with at the very top with ITV bosses discussing whether Balls should issue an apology for his remarks.

Reform UK MP Robert Jenrick branded the interview deeply unpleasant, and said Balls was absolutely clueless.

He said: In one ridiculous question, Ed Balls reveals himself to be absolutely clueless.

Engaging in whataboutery with a young antisemitism campaigner at the scene of an antisemitic attack is deeply unpleasant.

The Campaign for Media Standards also criticised the segment, saying the focus of the interview should have remained on antisemitism and the recent attack rather than wider political debates.

Reform UK MP Robert Jenrick branded the interview deeply unpleasant'

In a post on X, the group said viewers would have expected focused questions about the rise and threat of antisemitism in the UK following the incident, rather than a shift towards discussion of criticism of public Muslim prayer events.

They added: This isnt balance or insight; its poor journalism that misses the point and dilutes the seriousness of antisemitism.

Meanwhile, a GMB spokesperson said: 'The intention behind Eds question was to ask whether a culture of intolerance was placing Jews at greater risk of harm in the UK. We regret any misunderstanding and apologise for any offence caused.'

The row comes in the wake of a suspected antisemitic arson attack in Golders Green, north London, which saw four ambulances belonging to the Jewish volunteer organisation Hatzola set ablaze.

The force of the explosions  believed to have been caused by gas canisters onboard the ambulances  shattered windows in a nearby block of flats, while residents were evacuated as a precaution. No one was injured.

Scotland Yard said on Wednesday that two men, aged 47 and 45, had been arrested by counter-terror detectives at addresses in north west London on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.

The Metropolitan Police is believed to be hunting for a third suspect and has vowed 'to identify and seek to arrest all of those who may have been involved'.

An Islamist militant group linked to Iran has claimed responsibility for the attack, along with a string of other firebombings across Europe.

But security experts have said there is no evidence to verify the claim by Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia.

Balls, who has been part of Good Morning Britains rotating guest presenter line-up since 2021, has previously faced criticism over his role in the programme.

Complaints were raised in 2024 after he interviewed his wife, Yvette Cooper, then Home Secretary, on the programme following the wave of violent unrest that swept across Britain in the aftermath of the Southport killings.

Complaints from viewers of GMB erupted when Balls interviewed his own wife - former Home Secretary Yvette Cooper - after she made an appearance on the programme in August

The head of the Foreign Office Yvette Cooper, whose focus is currently dominated by the escalating crisis in the Middle East and the Gulf

Three young girls were stabbed to death, and ten others seriously injured, at a Taylor Swift dance class, which led to a snowball of misinformation online, falsely claiming the killer was an illegal immigrant.

Ms Cooper's appearance on the show led to a barrage of objections on social media.

Many thought that Cooper got an 'easy ride, with Balls staunchly defending his partner and the government during the interview.

One furious critic wrote to the show: 'How could you let Ed Balls interview his own wife, Yvette Cooper?! That's not journalism, that's a cosy little chat between spouses. Biased doesn't even begin to cover it.'

Sources on Good Morning Britain told the Daily Mail the interview plunged the show into 'crisis' as they saw a number of their viewers complain to Ofcom about bias in their political coverage. The television regulator recorded 16,000 complaints about the programme.

'It all went pretty crazy, the bosses all headed off together,' one source said at the time. 'ITV is so paranoid about what is written on social media about their programmes, they see it as a yardstick of what the viewers think, so they really take it to heart.

'The bosses were fuming. There were some very angry people.'
Taylor Frankie Paul is now under investigation over a third allegation of domestic violence made by her ex Dakota Mortensen.

A spokesperson for the West Jordan, Utah Police department told NBC News Mortensen accused Paul of domestic violence in a 2024 incident.

In a statement obtained by The Daily Mail, the West Jordan police said: 'The West Jordan Police Department is currently investigating an incident involving Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen.

'The allegations were reported at the end of February 2026, and detectives have reviewed video believed to have been recorded in early to mid-2024.

'Investigators are actively working to gather and verify information and are in the process of interviewing those involved. At this time, no charges have been filed, as the investigation remains ongoing.

'We recognize there is significant public interest in this case; however, it is being handled in the same manner as any other investigation. Our procedures and standards are applied consistently and without exception.'

A third investigation of allegations of domestic violence against Taylor Frankie Paul by her ex Dakota Mortensen is now underway

Paul's history with domestic violence led to her Bachelorette downfall

No other details are available over what allegedly transpired, however the spokesperson told NBC News the police were contacted by Mortensen last month over the matter.

The spokesperson said the department is now reviewing numerous videos tied to the alleged incident to sort out the timeline and other details.

The police only have Mortensen's version of events and have not yet communicated with Paul, the spokesperson said. Her attorneys have been in contact with investigators.

Representatives for Paul were unable to comment. The Daily Mail has also sought comment from Mortensen but did not immediately hear back.

The police spokesperson said they want either a written statement from Paul or do an interview in order to assist in corroborating several of the details in Mortensen's claim.

Mortensen also told the West Jordan police he was referred to them by the Draper Police Department due to the jurisdiction of the 2024 allegation.

It comes amid another open investigation into Paul and Mortensen over allegations of domestic assault.

'Allegations have been made in both directions,' a spokesman for the department previously told People, adding 'contact was made with involved parties on [February] 24 and 25.'

Paul's season of The Bachelorette was canceled just days before its premiere after a shocking 2023 video surfaced of the 31-year-old attacking Mortensen, 33, with her young daughter Indy present

Paul's season of The Bachelorette was canceled just days before its premiere after a shocking 2023 video surfaced of the 31-year-old attacking Mortensen, 33, with her young daughter Indy present.

That case was public knowledge for years before video of the dispute came to light.

The scandal erupted after People reported filming had been paused on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, with a source saying the hiatus was due to 'serious' issues involving Paul.

A Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star has since confirmed the cast had agreed to pause filming due to the scandal.

Paul and Dakota have a toddler together, son Ever. Paul also has a daughter, Indy, and a son, Ocean, with ex-husband Tate.

Paul and Dakota have a toddler together, son Ever. Paul also has a daughter, Indy, and a son, Ocean, with ex-husband Tate

Mortensen was granted a restraining order against Paul on Friday after characterizing her as an 'immediate threat' to his safety.

After the cancellation, the reality star, who made her name appearing on Hulu's The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, released a statement alleging she suffered 'extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation' in silence for years.

'Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm,' the rep said.

They further claimed Paul has been staying quiet 'out of fear of further abuse, retaliation, and public shaming' and is now 'seeking support,' going through her options and 'preparing to own and share her story.'

Mortensen has since denied 'baseless claims' made about himself and their relationship in a statement for The Daily Mail.

In a statement, he said: 'As anyone who has seen the video will understand, this is a deeply upsetting situation. I am, unfortunately, used to these baseless claims about me and our relationship, which I categorically deny.

'I am focusing on our son and his safety, and hope that Taylor will do the same.'
Katie Price hit the gym with her husband Lee Andrews as they posed for a mirror selfie for Instagram snaps in Dubai on Tuesday.

The ex glamour model, 47, and so called business man, 43, initially tied the knot in January just weeks after meeting, before holding a second, legal ceremony in February  much to the shock and concern of fans and family, due to reports of Lee being a scammer.

Katie shared photos of herself putting on a busty display in a skimpy vest while doing bicep curls.

She captioned the post: 'We are always laughing and joking. So happy.'

Earlier in the day, Katie was gifted with a huge diamond ring for their one month wedding anniversary.

Wearing both her dazzling rings, Katie wrote: 'Love my engagement ring and anniversary ring'.

Katie Price hit the gym with her husband Lee Andrews as they posed for a mirror selfie for Instagram snaps in Dubai on Tuesday

Earlier in the day, Katie was gifted with a huge diamond ring for their one month wedding anniversary

Katie returned to the UAE despite the foreign office advising against all but essential travel to the region - amid whispers Lee is banned from leaving the country.

Despite the ongoing Iranian crisis, which has seen missile attacks across the UAE city, the pair appeared carefree as they larked about in the gym.

They'd been kept apart since Katie flew back from Dubai earlier this month, while there have been whispers that Lee is banned from leaving the UAE.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) currently advises against all but essential travel to United Arab Emirates.

Moreover, your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the FCDO.

Lee has maintained that he feels quite safe in the UAE and has insisted he has no plans to leave.

It was claimed British-born Lee spent three weeks locked up in a Dubai jail for allegedly forging his ex-girlfriend's signature to take out a 200,000 loan in her name and as such, has been banned from leaving the United Arab Emirates.

He denies this, but as yet, does not appear to have left the country since meeting Katie.

Since announcing their marriage, Lee has been accused of being a 'scammer' amid a host of boasts about his life, including his statement that he is a millionaire businessman with a PHD from Cambridge University and links to Elon Musk.

Wearing both her dazzling rings, Katie wrote: 'Love my engagement ring and anniversary ring'

Katie shared photos of herself putting on a busty display in a skimpy vest while doing bicep curls

The ex glamour model, 47, and so called business man, 43, initially tied the knot in January just weeks after meeting, before holding a second, legal ceremony in February

Last week, he took to Instagram to make further claims about his life, including a post about be coming a 'future trillionaire', detailing a 'mysterious income' and being a member of 'the 1%'.

Katie previously hit back against criticism, insisting that he was 'no cat-fisher or scammer', telling The Sun: 'I havent gone for a con man... please be happy for me.'

She even told fans that she had seen proof of his university degree and PhD, saying: 'There was so much paperwork, his PHD, is like in a binder like that.

'I proper looked at everything, because the stamps, they're like wax some of them, and you can't, do you know what I mean? You can't fake.

'You know when you've got certificates and it's like the watermarks in them, it's all like that. Everything he's shown me is so legit, I'm not stupid. They're not copies, they're originals.'

But claims that Lee had been to Cambridge were then debunked by the publication, as the university said they 'could not find a record of Lee being registered as a student' t the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Jessi Draper has defended co-star Taylor Frankie Paul amid the influencer's ongoing domestic abuse scandal.

Draper is currently the only cast member from the hit Hulu series to publicly support Paul, who just had her season of The Bachelorette axed after video footage emerged of her assaulting baby daddy Dakota Mortensen in front of her young daughter.

Appearing on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Draper called Paul 'a good person' who had 'made some mistakes'.

She also confirmed that she and the cast were fully aware of Paul's 2023 domestic dispute since the beginning of the series, but that they had never seen video footage of the incident until recently.

'Back in 2023, we knew what had happened and we knew there was a video, but we never saw it. The police had it and they talked about it and we all just were like, okay,' she said.

'I don't like to judge someone in their darkest moment. I don't like to judge the person, I'll judge the mistake,' she continued.

Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Jessi Draper defended co-star Taylor Frankie Paul, calling her a 'good person' during an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast this week

'And Taylor really has made a lot of changes and that's what's so hard for me is like, this is my real friend and she does have a really good heart and I love her so much.'

Draper continued to defend Paul from there, insisting that the mom-of-three had been caught in a 'bad cycle'.

'Seeing that video is like so hard because it's just, there's so much pain underneath the surface for Taylor,' Draper said as she fought back tears.

'And I tell her this all the time that it's not who Taylor is. She got caught in a really bad cycle and just seeing that video and yes... the child being involved is awful and everyone involved, it's really hard. But Taylor's such a good person and she's made some mistakes and so has Dakota.

'And I'm not saying any of it's right ... And I want this to be maybe a wakeup call for them and let's get them healthy and happy and move forward.'

Draper also said that she believes Paul can still make a comeback, despite the 31-year-old losing brand deals and her Bachelorette gig in the wake of the scandal.

'I believe people can come back from things like this. And I just want the kids to be safe and happy and healthy. That's all I really want for them right now,' she said.

While Draper has stood by Paul, many of her fellow cast members have condemned her in public statements.

Paul's season of The Bachelorette was pulled from air after video footage emerged of her abusing ex Dakota Mortensen in a shocking 2023 incident

'My personal history as a survivor makes it impossible for me to stay silent. I stand firmly against domestic violence in any form,' Layla Taylor said.

'I am keeping her children in my thoughts, hoping for their safety above all else.'

Miranda Hope also weighed in, writing on Instagram, 'I've honestly been a little at a loss for words trying to process this all. Everything has been really heavy to see. Domestic violence and abuse of any kind is something I take very seriously.

'As a human, and especially a mother, I cannot support that kind of behavior. My heart is with the children in this and I hope they're safe, supported, and surrounded by love.'

The cast also confirmed that they have stopped filming season five amid Paul's scandal.

It comes as Paul is now under investigation over a third allegation of domestic violence made by her ex Dakota Mortensen.

A spokesperson for the West Jordan, Utah Police department told NBC News that Mortensen accused Paul of domestic violence in a 2024 incident.

In a statement obtained by The Daily Mail, the West Jordan police said: 'The West Jordan Police Department is currently investigating an incident involving Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen.

'The allegations were reported at the end of February 2026, and detectives have reviewed video believed to have been recorded in early to mid-2024.

'Investigators are actively working to gather and verify information and are in the process of interviewing those involved. At this time, no charges have been filed, as the investigation remains ongoing.

'We recognize there is significant public interest in this case; however, it is being handled in the same manner as any other investigation. Our procedures and standards are applied consistently and without exception.'

Paul is now under investigation over a third allegation of domestic violence made by Mortensen

No other details are available over what allegedly transpired, however the spokesperson told NBC News the police were contacted by Mortensen last month over the matter.

The spokesperson said the department is now reviewing numerous videos tied to the alleged incident to sort out the timeline and other details.

The police only have Mortensen's version of events and have not yet communicated with Paul, the spokesperson said. Her attorneys have been in contact with investigators.

Representatives for Paul were unable to comment. The Daily Mail has also sought comment from Mortensen but did not immediately hear back.

The police spokesperson said they want either a written statement from Paul or to do an interview in order to assist in corroborating several of the details in Mortensen's claim.

Mortensen also told the West Jordan police he was referred to them by the Draper Police Department due to the jurisdiction of the 2024 allegation.

It comes amid another open investigation into Paul and Mortensen over allegations of a separate domestic assault, which allegedly took place this year.

While details are scarce, a spokesperson for the Draper City Police Department confirmed that a 'domestic assault investigation' was underway and that 'allegations have been made in both directions'.

Paul's season of The Bachelorette was canceled just days before its premiere after a shocking 2023 video surfaced of the 31-year-old attacking Mortensen, 33, with her young daughter Indy present.

That case was public knowledge for years before video of the dispute came to light.

Paul and Mortensen have a toddler together, son Ever. Paul also has a daughter, Indy, and a son, Ocean, with ex-husband Tate.

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives cast halted filming of the show's fifth season after the allegations of Paul's domestic abuse surfaced

Mortensen was granted a restraining order against Paul on Friday after characterizing her as an 'immediate threat' to his safety.

After The Bachelorette cancellation, Paul released a statement alleging she suffered 'extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation' in silence for years.

'Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm,' her rep said.

They further claimed Paul has been staying quiet 'out of fear of further abuse, retaliation, and public shaming' and is now 'seeking support,' going through her options and 'preparing to own and share her story.'

Mortensen has since denied 'baseless claims' made about himself and their relationship in a statement for The Daily Mail.

In a statement, he said: 'As anyone who has seen the video will understand, this is a deeply upsetting situation. I am, unfortunately, used to these baseless claims about me and our relationship, which I categorically deny.

'I am focusing on our son and his safety, and hope that Taylor will do the same.'
Sarah Michelle Gellar looked nothing short of sensational as she joined co-stars Elijah Wood and Kathryn Newton at the Paris premiere of their latest movie, Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come.

The American actress, 48, who portrays Ursula Danforth in the upcoming horror, stunned in a strapless black dress as she posed for photos on the red carpet ahead of the screening.

Her chic ensemble featured a corseted bodice with mesh lace panels and a daring thigh-high slit.

Completing the look, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer star elevated her frame with pointed black court heels and accessorised with statement diamond earrings.

Meanwhile, Elijah, 45, cut a dapper figure in a black-and-white striped shirt, tailored trousers and a blazer as he wrapped his arms around his co-stars for snaps.

Kathryn, 29, also opted for a black ensemble, wearing a chic midi dress with a high neckline, figure-hugging silhouette, and peplum hem.

Sarah Michelle Gellar looked nothing short of sensational in a strapless black dress as she attended the Paris premiere of her latest movie, Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come

The American actress, 48, who portrays Ursula Danforth in the upcoming horror, was also joined by her co-stars Elijah Wood and Kathryn Newton for photos on the red carpet ahead of the screening

She teamed the look with sheer black tights and pointed court heels to add extra height to her frame.

A film synopsis for Ready Or Not 2: Here I come reads: 'After surviving an all-out attack from the Le Domas family, Grace discovers she's reached the next level of the nightmarish game, and this time with her estranged sister, Faith, by her side.

'To survive, Grace must keep Faith alive and claim the High Seat of the Council that controls the world. Four rival families are also hunting her for the throne, and whoever wins will rule it all.'

Sarah and her co-stars' appearance at the premiere comes hours after they were evacuated from Le Bristol Hotel in Paris after a fire broke out in the hotel's kitchen.

The actors were in the middle of press interviews to promote the horror movie when the fire alarms sounded at 11:00am, TMZ reports.

The entire hotel was evacuated, with around 400 people seen exiting as multiple crews rushed to the scene. It's been reported that three people were treated for injuries during the incident.

A hotel spokesperson told Daily Mail on Wednesday afternoon that the fire has 'now been fully contained and extinguished', adding that 'guests and staff, who were evacuated as a precautionary measure, are gradually returning to the hotel under fully safe conditions' and that the hotel, with the exception of its restaurant, has reopened to guests.

'The safety of our guests and employees is our top priority,' said the hotel.

Sarah's chic ensemble featured a corseted bodice with mesh lace panels and a daring thigh-high slit

Meanwhile, Elijah, 45, cut a dapper figure in a black-and-white striped shirt, tailored trousers and a blazer as he wrapped his arms around his co-stars for snaps

Later in the evening, Sarah was all smiles as she was spotted leaving a restaurant in Paris after attending the premiere

Protecting herself from the chilly evening breeze, Sarah draped an oversized blazer over her shoulders and toted her essentials in a mini clutch as she made her way back to her hotel

A few hours after the evacuation, Ready Or Not 2 star Kathryn was posting Instagram snaps from what appeared to be inside the 1,800-a-night hotel.

The new movie comes after Sarah revealed she was 'really sad' about Hulu's decision to cancel the highly anticipated reboot of Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

According to TMZ, Sarah and the reboot's director, Chloe Zhao, felt 'blindsided' by the recent development as well as the timing.

The actress, who played Buffy Summers for seven seasons on the original show, did not mince her words when she blamed an unnamed Disney executive for the scrapped reboot, claiming he made 'constant' reminders that he was not a fan of the original show.

It did not take long for fans of the series, which ran from 1997 to 2003, to speculate over the identity of the Disney exec.

Craig Erwich, president of Disney Television Group, was one of those executives whose name had circulated.

And now, multiple sources have confirmed to the Daily Mail it was indeed Craig who made the 'executive decision' to slash the Buffy reboot, leaving the cast and crew 'devastated' and in 'complete shock'.

But it may not be the end of the road for Buffy, according to a source, as they hinted at Sarah's hopes to take the show 'elsewhere' and give fans the reboot they've been wanting for over 20 years.

The upcoming horror comedy is set to be released in UK cinemas on April 10 (Sarah pictured in the movie)

'It was him; the buck stopped with Craig,' an insider told the Daily Mail.

'He just didn't like the project and he didn't think it was any good. He rolled his eyes whenever it came up, like he was beleaguered that he had to do it. He didn't like how it was shaping up so he axed it. Most people here think that was a colossal mistake, but it was his decision,' the insider said.

In February 2025, it was reported by Deadline that Sarah would be reprising her role as Buffy Summers in a pilot ordered by Hulu, with Hamnet director Zhao  a self-professed lifelong Buffy fan  set to direct the pilot episode.

From there, actress Ryan Kiera Armstrong, 16, was tapped to lead the reboot as Sunnydale's newest vampire slayer  just three years younger than Sarah when she was cast as Buffy in 1997.

Sister screenwriting duo Nora and Lilla Zuckerman had reportedly written the pilot episode, with the series' original executive producers Gail Berman and husband and wife Fran and Kaz Kuzui also attached.

Throughout production, Sarah would update her five million Instagram followers with photos from the set, including a photo taken during a table read of the pilot episode last July. She also posed with Zhao, with the two seen holding wooden daggers in their hands.

Then, Sarah gave fans a far less welcomed update on Saturday when she posted a sombre video with news of the reboot's cancellation.

It was reported by People magazine that Sarah had received a phone call about the fate of the show on March 13 while attending the premiere for her latest film, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, which is also produced by Searchlight.
Sofia Richie, 27, has welcomed her second child.

The happy news was shared on Wednesday on Instagram as it was revealed that the baby was born a week ago on March 18.

She and husband of three years, CEO Elliot Grainge, are now proud parents to a baby boy as they shared his name is Henry Cecil Grainge.

The couple already have daughter Eloise Samantha Grainge, who will turn two in May.

Henry and Eloise were seen together in a cute photo that Richie placed online. 'Loves of my life,' she captioned the image as Lily Collins and Lisa Rinna hit the like button.

Richie - whose father is Lionel Richie and sister is Nicole Richie - and Grainge announced in October that they were expecting their baby boy.

Sofia Richie, 27, has welcomed her second child. The happy news was shared on Wednesday on Instagram as it was added that the baby was born on March 18; seen on March 11

She and husband Elliot Grainge are now proud parents to a baby boy as they shared his name is Henry Cecil Grainge; seen in December

Henry and Eloise were seen together in a cute photo that Richie placed online. 'Loves of my life,' she captioned the image on social media as Lily Collins and Lisa Rinna hit the like button

The model, who used to date Kourtney Kardashian's former partner Scott Disick, was last seen on March 9 in Beverly Hills as she went to dinner.

Grainge is a British-born American record executive and entrepreneur who has made a name for himself in the music industry.

He's the CEO of Atlantic Music Group and the founder of the independent label 10K Projects.

He comes from a music industry family, with his father being Universal Music Group's CEO, Sir Lucian Grainge, and his late uncle founding Ensign.

Grainge launched 10K Projects in 2016 and has signed artists like Trippie Redd, Surfaces and Aitch.

In 2024, Richie said she struggled to cover her scars after suffering hormonal acne during her pregnancy.

The fashion model became a first-time mom in May 2024 when she welcomed her daughter Eloise.

She said months later that she was blighted by skin problems and she's been looking for new beauty hacks to help.

Richie seen with her husband at the 2025 Baby2Baby Gala in November in West Hollywood

Here the dynamic duo posed with their daughter Eloise

She told Vogue: '[I'm] figuring out ways to cover up just some of the scarring [from hormonal acne] and dark marks from pregnancy ... [which I've had a] really hard time with.'

Richie previously opened up about her skincare struggles during her pregnancy - admitting she felt like she was back at school battling the same old problems once again.

She told Harper's Bazaar: 'I really suffered a lot in my teenage years with acne and rosacea, and when I found out I was pregnant, it returned like I was back in high school. I really wasn't expecting it; there's so many things that come with pregnancy and it just wasn't something that I factored in ...

'I've definitely had to pivot. My number one priority with my beauty routine right now is to try to have the healthiest skin possible. And making sure that I have the correct products to accomplish that, whether skincare or make-up.'

Sofia is also close friends with her sister Nicole's pal Paris Hilton.
Aimee Lou Wood and Marisa Abela exuded elegance as they led the stars at the HBO Max launch in London on Wednesday.

Aimiee, 32, wowed in a light blue satin mini dress that showed off her sensational figure.

She teamed the look with black stockings and added inches to her frame with black pointed heels.

Meanwhile, Marisa, 29, looked incredible in an asymmetrical off-the-shoulder number as she posed on the red carpet.

Her outfit featured a one-shoulder blouse that flowed into a black maxi skirt, complete with a daring thigh-high slit.

She completed the look with black pointed heels and kept her accessories to a minimum.

Aimee Lou Wood (L)and Marisa Abela (R) exuded elegance as they led the stars at the HBO Max launch in London on Wednesday

Aimiee, 32, wowed in a light blue satin mini dress that showed off her sensational figure

The pair appeared in great spirits as they posed for stunning snaps at the star-studded event.

Also in attendance were Matt Smith, James Norton, Jordan Firstman and True Whitaker.

The outing comes just weeks after Industry stars Marisa and her co-star 'bestie' Myha'la shared a look behind the scenes as they celebrated the show being renewed for a fifth season.

The HBO/BBC production announced that the next series about the cut-throat world of finance will be it's final outing, as they insisted 'we know to end on a high'.

And delighting in the news that they would be returning to filming, Marisa shared a selection of photos with the cast and the programme's creators.

Marisa had captioned the post: 'Industry hive... Industry five!!! The final season. Let's f*in go [crying face emojis']'.

Other photos showed them with wooden chopsticks in their mouths, impersonating walruses as well as smouldering in the back of a car.

Several of the photos included the show's creators, Mickey Down and Konrad Kay.

Meanwhile, Marisa, 29, looked incredible in an asymmetrical off-the-shoulder number as she posed on the red carpet

James Norton was also at the event

ordan Firstman and True Whitaker turned heads on the red carpet

Matt Smith cut a stylish figure for the occasion

Olivia Cooke stunned in a maxi dress

Steve Carell cut a dapper figure

Joy Sunday put on a leggy display

Emma D'Arcy looked incredible at the event

Making their own comments about the series renewal online, they said: 'We're privileged to have joined the small, esteemed club of dramas that have run for five seasons on HBO.

'This marks a decade since we fist began to conceive of the world of INDUSTRY and it exists because of the unwavering faith and vision of our partners and former partners at HBO - Casey, Frannie, Kara, Cela, Sam, Kathleen and Max.

'Without Jane Tranter's imagination and belief the show would simply be a dead idea in a drawer somewhere. She - alongside her partners at Bad Wolf - has been our guiding light and fiercest champion. We'd also like to thank the BBC for their partnership.

'For sometime now we have been thinking about how best to end the show on an unparalleled high. Unlike some of our characters, we know when to leave a party.

'We'd like to thank our evangelical fan base, especially those who watched from day one. Finally; we owe everything to our crews and the best cast on TV for making our writing live.

'The characters will live on because of their world class performances. Seeing the HBO indent in front of our work will never stop being a thrill. It remains the best place to make television and we look forward to continuing our collaboration well into the future.'

The photo dump included one picture of the recent cast, including Marisa's on-screen husband Kit Harington, Ken Leung, Sagar Radia and Myha'la.

Marisa's post came shortly after the news of the final series was announced by HBO online.

The announcement post was accompanied by Yasmin (Marisa) and Henry's (Kit) wedding photo, with five lines of white powder and a rolled up twenty pound note.

The caption, read: 'All lined up. INDUSTRY is officially returning for its fifth and final series.

It comes after Marisa enjoyed a romantic trip to New York with her husband, Jamie Bogyo.

It comes after Industry stars Marisa and her co-star 'bestie' Myha'la shared a look behind the scenes as they celebrated the show being renewed for a fifth season

West End actor Jamie, 31, sported a black wool coat with a yellow beanie hat and red scarf as he packed on the PDA with his wife.

The newlyweds, who married in September 2025, enjoyed a slice of chocolate cake at the upscale Ralph Lauren restaurant, The Polo Bar.

The couple first met while studying at the prestigious acting school RADA in 2016 and later became engaged in July 2024 during a stroll through Primrose Hill in London.

They tied the knot in a romantic manor house wedding in Sussex in September 2025, followed by a raucous reception at Soho House's Brighton outpost.

Marisa recently opened up about her battle with thyroid cancer and said that Jamie's support was how she knew he was 'the one'.

The actress was diagnosed with the disease in 2020 aged just 23 and had to undergo an eight-hour operation to remove the tumour.

In an interview on the How To Fail with Elizabeth Day podcast, Marisa said: 'He [Jamie] was an immense help and it was one of the moments where I knew that this was the person I wanted to be with forever.

'I think it's equally as important to have someone who supports you when you're up and when you're down.

'Jamie is great at both. He's there on a red carpet with me when I'm really proud of my work and is the number one person that's always like "look how great she is", but also when things aren't good, he is right there and he looks after me.

'He is the most supportive person in every way and I'm so lucky.'
Anais Gallagher supported her actor boyfriend Callum Scott-Howells at the premiere of his film Madfabulous on Wednesday.

The daughter of Noel Gallagher, 25, was every inch the doting girlfriend as she joined Callum, 26, on the red carpet during the BFI Flare.

The loved-up couple have been seeing each other romantically since the autumn of 2023.

Callum, who plays the lead star Henry Paget in the movie, stars opposite Rupert Everett and Ruby Stokes.

Madfabulous is inspired by Henry Paget, 5th Marquis of Anglesey, who smashed society's notions of class, gender and decorum, squandering a multimillion fortune before his untimely death.

It is a riotous and uncompromising celebration of otherness inspired by the unlikely British aristocrat who bankrupted his estate, lived fast and died young.

Anais Gallagher, 25, supported her actor boyfriend Callum Scott-Howells, 26, at the premiere of his film Madfabulous on Wednesday

The daughter of Noel Gallagher was every inch the doting girlfriend as she joined Callum on the red carpet during the BFI Flare

Ana recently set pulses racing in a skimpy red bikini as she jetted off to the Maldives with Callum.

She displayed her sensational figure in a bikini snap as she slipped into a red halterneck two-piece with a backdrop of crystal clear blue waters.

She was seen putting on a cosy display with her boyfriend Callum in one snap as they danced together at night.

It comes just two months after Anais slipped into a checked bikini as she relaxed in Brazil with her boyfriend Callum.

Sharing a series of photos from her time in Brazil while on the Oasis tour, Anais uploaded an update to Instagram and gave an insight into the trip.

She sipped on a coconut in the sun before taking a dip in the pool and cosying up to her partner Callum.

Noel and Liam's children followed the band around the world since Oasis' first reunion gig in Manchester back in July.

Ahead of that first gig, the kids reunited for the 'pic of the century' at Heaton Park where Anais and her half brothers Donovan, 17, and Sonny, 14, were joined by Liam's sons Gene, 24, and Lennon, 26.

Liam shares Gene with Nicole Appleton and Lennon with Patsy Kensit. Noel shares Anais with Meg Mathews, and Sonny and Donovan with Sara MacDonald.

The loved-up couple have reportedly been seeing each other romantically since the autumn of 2023

Shaznay Lewis (L) and Terri Dwyer (R) smiled at the premiere of the movie, held at the BFI Southbank

Clara Paget looked incredible in a shimmering pink gown
Anne Hathaway did not want to 'discuss medical information' in her new interview with Harper's Bazaar when her youthful looks were mentioned.

The Hollywood icon did credit her decision to stop drinking alcohol and using Shiseido products - she is a brand ambassador - for her amazing appearance.

This comes after fans insisted the 43-year-old actress - who is now starring in The Devil Wears Prada 2 - looks so young because she had a facelift.

Late last year, the star hit the red carpet looking more like she was in her twenties than her forties, which ignited the rumors.

The Oscar-winner has never said anything to suggest she has gone under the knife, though in 2008 she stated she felt pressure to be 'cookie-cutter beautiful' when she was younger and had even considered a nose job.

However, in a 2024 interview with Vogue France, Hathaway said that asking about surgery is 'an extremely intimate question' and expressed that she doesn't judge what other actors do, stating, 'Whatever means they find to not live crushed by shame or a lack of self-confidence... I say bravo.'

Anne Hathaway did not want to 'discuss medical information' in her new interview with Harper's Bazaar when her youthful looks were mentioned

The Hollywood icon did credit her decision to stop drinking alcohol and using Shiseido products - she's a brand ambassador - for her amazing appearance

And in the past she has denied ever taking injections.

In a 2010 interview, she said she did not want Botox because she liked her face to 'reflect a personality' and keep the same smile she had as a child.

Despite never confirming any procedures, her youthful appearance has consistently led to speculation from fans and plastic surgeons.

This reached a fever pitch in late 2025 when publications suggested she had 'tweakments' like Botox, fillers or a 'ponytail lift.'

Hathaway told the new issue of Harper's Bazaar that she struggles with her body.

'Some days you look in the mirror and you're just like, "Not bad,"' she said.

'And some days you look in the mirror and you're like, "What?" And I was having a "What?" day,' she said.

This comes after fans insisted the 43-year-old actress - who is now starring in The Devil Wears Prada 2 - looks so young because she had a facelift; seen at the Oscars

In a 2024 interview with Vogue France , Hathaway suggested that asking about surgery is 'an extremely intimate question' and expressed that she doesn't judge what other actors do

'And you know how you have your aspirational swimsuit that you keep around, just in case you have a good day? And then you have your swimsuit that's got you no matter what? I accidentally packed the aspirational swimsuit.

'Which I then had to wear on a "What?" day. So, I'm ready to have this great day with my family. And I am going to be in front of strangers, and people have phones. And all of the things.

'But my family is waiting for me. And I looked and I just went, "What?" And then I looked again and I said, "You are 43." And looking at a 43-year-old body, I was like, "Nice."

'When I was expecting to see something that I am not, I felt insecure. But when I actually looked at what it actually is, I was okay with it,' she added.

'I think you realize that worry should be reserved for the really big stuff,' she told Bazaar.

But she said she is happier now than when she was younger.

'I think that very often, conversations about aging presume that the first part of life is the happiest and the most fulfilling, and I don't necessarily think that's true,' Hathaway said. 'I wasn't expecting to find another gear at 40.'
Points and miles fanatics are always hunting for new opportunities to rack up rewards.

Its tax season, which raises an obvious question: Does it make sense to pay off a big tax bill with a credit card?

Experts say it depends - on the credit card.

The IRS accepts credit cards via third-party payment processors who charge fees, typically 1.75 percent to 1.85 percent of each payment.

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At first glance, this looks like a good benchmark: Use a rewards credit card that earns at least 2 percent cash back or an equivalent in points and miles.

But lets get real, while there may be plenty of no-fee cash-back cards that pay 2 percent on everything, your net rewards after the fee will run 0.15 to 0.25 percent of the tax payment.

On a $10,000 tax bill, that's a grand total of $15 to $25 in rewards - so you're not exactly striking it rich.

But wait! There are still a few scenarios where paying your tax bill with a rewards credit card could earn you a decent reward.

Does it make sense to pay off a big tax bill with a rewards credit card? It depends on the card

Used right, rewards credit cards can give you thousands of points and miles for travel

Credit card expert Robin Frankel

Many credit cards offer impressive welcome bonuses - perks and thousands of points - to new card holders.

To benefit from the bonuses, you need to spend a set dollar amount within a relatively short period of time after opening the account.

The bigger the spending requirement, the bigger the bonus.

Take the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, which as of this writing offers new cardholders 75,000 in bonus points after they spend $5,000 in the first three months from account opening.

Opening a new Sapphire Preferred card and using it to settle an outstanding IRS tax bill might be just the ticket to earning 75,000 points.

Chase claims this could be worth up to $750 when redeemed for travel expenses through their in-house Chase Travel portal.

The processing fee on the tax bill would be $87.50, leaving you with hundreds in free money to spend on travel.

Add in the Sapphire Preferred's $95 annual fee, which also entitles you to a range of other benefits, and your all-in cost is around $183. In this case, the rewards juice might just be worth the tax squeeze.

Credit card rewards points can also be used for access to premium lounges in airports, hotel stays and other perks

Hotel connoisseurs might consider the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card, which gives new cardholders three free nights in a Marriott hotel after they spend $3,000 in the first three months - and earn a fourth free night after spending another $1,000.

Plus, this card gives holders an annual free night on the anniversary of opening their card, all for a $95 annual fee.

This is the kind of outstanding welcome bonus you can knock out by settling a big tax bill with the IRS and still justify the processing fee, Robin Saks Frankel, associate producer at CardCon, told the Daily Mail.

The value of five free hotel nights would far exceed the cost of paying the processing fee on a $4,000 tax bill plus the annual card fee.

Frankel warned that while earning credit card welcome offers with a big tax payment might give you a great year-one bonus, people need to carefully weigh whether they can keep spending enough on a given card in year two and beyond to justify paying a cards annual fee.

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card offers plenty of great points deals for frequent travelers who stay at Marriott brand and related hotels, but it might not make sense to keep the card if don't do a lot of travel.

At least one source thinks paying your taxes with a credit card is a terrible idea.

'Only look at this as an absolute last resort even if you can pay it off next month,' said Ted Jenkins, managing partner at financial advisory Exit Wealth.
The Windy City is blowing travelers away with its new tourist fee.

Chicago's City Council has unanimously voted to create a Tourism Improvement District - and raise hotel rooms taxes in that district to 19 percent, one of the highest in the country.

Thats higher than Las Vegas - and far above cities like Los Angeles, where hotel taxes sit closer to 14 percent.

Under the plan, a new 1.5 percent surcharge will be added to hotel stays at larger properties, with the money funneled into tourism marketing efforts run by Choose Chicago.

On a $300 hotel room, visitors could now pay nearly $60 in taxes and fees alone.

Choose Chicago CEO Kristen Reynolds said competitors know very well that Chicago is underfunded, and they use it to their advantage to lure away long-standing clients.

The agency plans to use the new funds to boost global advertising, expand influencer campaigns and create a hotel grant program. But critics say the strategy is fundamentally flawed.

Chicago just raised the price of admission and is hoping more people show up, wealth advisor Ted Jenkin told the Daily Mail. It will only make the city less competitive.

Hotels across Chicago will include an added fee that will go towards boosting tourism

The 'bean,' also known as Cloud Gate, is a popular tourist attraction in Chicago

The plan has also been widely mocked online. Lets make it more expensive to visit Chicago so we can attract more visitors, one Reddit user wrote.

Its already brutal to get a hotel here - how is this supposed to help tourism? another added.

A third joked on Reddit: When has anything this city does ever been logical?

Others warned the move could drive away major events and conventions - a key source of revenue for the city. Bye bye to more trade shows in the city, one user wrote.

Chicago natives already face congestion zone fees, a retail liquor tax and increased local tolls

The new tax will apply to hotels across 14 wards, including Downtown, McCormick Place, the Illinois Medical District and Hyde Park, and will remain in place for at least five years.

Chicago already imposes a combined hotel tax rate of around 17.5 percent when city, county and state levies are included.

Chicago natives already face congestion zone fees, a retail liquor tax and increased local tolls.

Lollapalooza Chicago typically draws 400,000 to 460,000 music fans over four days in Grant Park

Chicago celebrates St. Patrick's Day by dying their river a bright green for several hours

Mayor Brandon Johnson argued this increased hotel assessment will combat 'the negative narratives that surround our city.'

Chicago remains a major tourist destination. It welcomes tourists every St Patrick's Day, when the Chicago River is dyed a bright green. There's also Lollapalooza Chicago, a large music festival held annually at Grant Park.

Crime rates in the Windy City have been dropping since the start of 2025, according to Chicago's Office of the Mayor.

Despite opposition from the mayor, Donald Trump deployed an estimated 500 National Guard to Chicago under his Title 10 authority. They began quietly withdrawing in February.
Californians are being warned a fuel crisis could be closer than they think - with shortages and soaring prices no longer a distant risk, but a looming reality.

Chevron says the state could face disruptions to gasoline, diesel and even jet fuel supplies as global tensions spiral - piling pressure on Governor Gavin Newsom to act.

Experts describe California as an 'energy island', largely cut off from the major fuel-producing regions in Texas and Louisiana.

That isolation, combined with recent refinery closures, means disruption overseas quickly translates into higher prices and tighter supply at home.

Gas prices in California are already far higher than elsewhere in the country. Drivers there are paying close to $6 a gallon on average, compared with $4 nationally, according to AAA.

Chevron said California is especially vulnerable as the war involving Iran threatens to choke off key energy routes.

'California has had, I think, very poor energy policy,' Chevron's oil refining head Andy Walz said in an interview with the New York Times.

'They've put a climate agenda ahead of reliable and affordable energy, and the consequences of that are that energy in California - any form of it - is unaffordable.'

Drivers in Los Angeles face eye-watering prices, with one Chevron station charging $8.71 a gallon as fears grow over supply shocks

Chevron CEO Michael Wirth speaks at the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston as the oil giant warns of a looming fuel crunch

Meanwhile, Walz described the possibility of fuel shortages as his 'worst fear'.

'We have refineries in Asia that are having to cut crude, and so they're going to make less products,' he said separately this week at the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in Houston.

'What if San Francisco doesn't have the jet fuel it needs? Or Los Angeles? Or maybe gasoline? California has decided that they're going to rely on imports. It's a dangerous game.'

The warning comes as disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz - a key oil chokepoint which carries a fifth of the world's oil - threaten to slow shipments across global markets.

California is particularly exposed because it relies heavily on imported fuel, with about 20 percent of its refined supplies coming from Asia.

If those shipments are reduced, the state has limited options to replace them.

The company has urged state officials to declare an 'energy emergency', reform tax and climate policies, and boost in-state production. Without changes, Chevron said it may eventually be forced to scale back - or even stop - refining operations in California.

'They need to abandon the tax on refineries or they won't have any refineries in 10 years,' Walz said. 'If it stays that way - Chevron will be gone in 10 years for sure. We won't be able to make it.'

Chevron has issued a stark warning over fuel supplies in California as global tensions threaten to push prices higher

As supplies tighten, countries in Asia are prioritizing their own fuel needs, with China already imposing export restrictions.

State officials pushed back on the warning, accusing oil companies of exploiting the crisis.

A spokesman for Governor Gavin Newsom said firms were 'cashing in' on the war and running a 'coordinated campaign' to attack California.

'If they're serious about protecting consumers, they should direct that concern where it belongs: at Donald Trump. There's no end in sight to Trump's war taxing American families at the pump,' the spokesman said.
Families across the North West will have the opportunity to experience the magic of Lapland this Christmas with the launch of a new direct charter flight from City of Derry Airport with The Lapland Experience in partnership with award-winning UK tour operator, Murray Travel.

The special festive charter, operated in partnership with The Lapland Experience, will depart from City of Derry Airport on December 18 2026, offering families across Derry City and Strabane, Causeway Coast and Glens, Donegal, and beyond, with a unique day trip to the winter wonderland of Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland, the official home of Santa Claus.

This one-day festive experience will allow families to travel directly from their local airport to Lapland without the need for connecting flights or overnight stays. Families travelling will enjoy a full itinerary of festive activities including reindeer sleigh rides, husky experiences, snow-mobile adventures, a visit to Santa Claus village there they can help the elves in the workshop, and of course, a private meeting with Santa Claus himself, ensuring a truly magical experience and memories that will be cherished for life.

City of Derry Airport highlighted that the new charter highlights the airports continued commitment to providing convenient and exciting travel opportunities for people across the North West.

Steve Frazer, Managing Director at City of Derry Airport, said: Christmas is a magical time of year, and we are delighted to partner with Murray Travel to bring this incredible Lapland experience to families across the North West region. Offering a direct charter from City of Derry Airport means passengers can start their festive adventure right on their doorstep, with reduced travel time to the airport, a journey time of less than 10 minutes from the carpark through to the departure gate, and excellent parking rates.

READ NEXT: Mayor praises incredible coordination during Derry major disaster drill

Any families travelling with children or adults who require support are most welcome to arrange a pre-visit to the airport prior to the flight departure date, where a member of our team can show them around to familiarise with the airport environment in advance. Our Amelia Earhart Lounge is also available to pre-book for any families who would like to avail of a quieter space in advance of boarding.

Scott Murray, CEO of Murray Travel said: We are absolutely delighted to be bringing our Lapland day trip to City of Derry Airport. The response to our previous trips from other airports was incredible, and it was genuinely special to see so many families making such magical memories.



Lapland is a bucket-list experience for so many people and being able to offer that to Northern Ireland customers makes it even more special. It means families can enjoy all the wonder and excitement of a trip to Santas homeland, with the added ease and convenience of travelling from their local airport in one festive filled day.

For further information visit www.thelaplandexperience.co.uk or call 0333 207 6655.
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The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Ruairi McHugh joined frontline emergency responders and healthcare students at Ulster Universitys Magee campus on Saturday, March 21 to witness the annual multi-agency simulation scenarios designed to prepare the next generation of lifesavers.

The Mayors visit to the annual Community Resilience Disaster Day provided a first-hand look at an event regarded as unique on the island of Ireland for its scale and breadth of interagency collaboration.

Just over 400 final year Nursing and Paramedic Science students took part in simulation-based learning exercises across the campus. A total of 19 multiagency partners and staff teams delivered scenarios which ranged in severity and assessed students ability to work as a team during a simulated crisis/chaotic event.

The day brought together students and staff with representatives from a number of statutory bodies and emergency services including the PSNI, NIAS, Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service, RNLI, Health Action Training, City of Derry Airport, Medical Services Reserves, St. Johns Ambulance, the WHSCT and the BHSCT, and the Red Cross.

During the visit, the Mayor met with some of the 150 first and second-year students role-playing as casualties for the scenarios as well as some of the final-year students being assessed, gaining a deep insight into the leadership skills required to manage different crises.

READ NEXT: Derry schoolboy takes top prize in Foyle Poetry Contest

Mayor McHugh said: It was incredibly useful for me to attend today and see the sheer scale of coordination required to keep our citizens safe. I wanted to see first-hand the fantastic work being done by Ulster University and our multi-agency partners to strengthen the resilience of the very people who will soon be staffing our hospitals and emergency services across the North. Seeing their dedication today gives me great confidence in our future healthcare workforce."

The Mayor during his visit to the University took the opportunity to hold brief discussions with representatives from the local councils in the Northern Emergency Preparedness Group who collaborated with the Red Cross to deliver a Survivors Reception Centre scenario, thanking them for supporting the citys emergency planning infrastructure.

Mayor pictured with Derry City and Strabane District Council staff, Caolan Harkin, Anne Gallagher and Liz Cunningham.

Anne Gallagher, Resilience Officer for Derry City and Strabane District Council, said collaboration between local and subregional partners is vitally important.

She said: Events such as this are foundational to effective emergency planning. Agencies having the opportunity to work together to deliver scenarios provides vital learning that can only strengthen a response to a real crisis. Noting the fantastic level of student participation, she added what the university delivers here is invaluable for the students.

Mayor pictured with co-ordinators from the School of Nursing, Florence Sharkey, Theresa Maynes and Michael Matthews.

"The immersive scenarios test their response under realistic pressure, encouraging the development of crisis leadership and communication, interpersonal skills and decision making, key skill sets for the healthcare sector.
There are more than 100 arms-length bodies (ALBs) in Northern Ireland which are responsible for spending more than three-quarters of Stormonts budget, a new report has stated.

The Audit Office said there are widespread shortcomings in the way Stormont departments oversee and work with the public bodies.

The auditor pointed out there is currently no partnership agreement in place between the Department of Education and the Education Authority, which has annual expenditure of 3.35 billion.

The report said the auditor had been advised by Stormont departments that in January there were 101 ALBs, publicly funded organisations which deliver a public or government service, in place in Northern Ireland.

However, the report said there is currently no formal definition of an ALB.

It stated: Northern Ireland Audit Office was surprised to find that although DoF (Department of Finance) issues guidance which ALBs are required to follow, neither they nor the other departments have a clear definition of what an ALB is.

The 101 bodies identified were responsible for 77% of departmental spending in 2024-25.

This includes 6.91 billion spent by health and social care trusts, 3.35 billion by the Education Authority and 0.99 billion by the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

There are six ALBs sponsored by Daera, seven by the Department of Education, 15 by the Department for Communities, 20 by the Department for the Economy, four by the Department for Infrastructure, eight by the Department of Finance, 18 by the Department of Health, eight by the Department of Justice and 15 by The Executive Office.

The Audit Office report said they play a vital role in delivering public services in the region.

It added: Despite their significance, this review highlights widespread shortcomings in the way central Government departments oversee and work with their ALBs.

The auditor pointed to a 2018 report, published by the Department of Finance, which made a series of recommendations including that partnership agreements should be set up between ALBs and their sponsor department.

The report said: These agreements aim to clearly define the governance and assurance framework for individual ALBs; the roles and responsibilities of ALBs and their respective departments; and the annual plan for engagement between the two.

The report said around 27% of these agreements remained outstanding by January 2026.

The report said some of the largest and most strategically critical bodies continue to operate without signed partnership agreements.

It said the Department of Education had not signed a partnership agreement with the Education Authority, which delivers school services in Northern Ireland.

The report also noted a lack of central oversight of partnership agreements by the Department of Finance.

Auditor general Dorinnia Carville said: The Programme for Government reinforces that working in partnership is essential for successful delivery of public services in Northern Ireland.

Arms-length bodies play a vital role in service delivery and are responsible for significant levels of public expenditure.

Oversight of arms-length bodies is essential for providing assurance that the services they deliver, and the significant public expenditure involved, are being managed effectively and efficiently.

However, such oversight should be proportionate and based on relationships defined by transparency and trust.

Existing guidance from the Department of Finance offers a solid foundation for partnership working, but this needs support at a system-wide level.

She added: This report recommends that the NICS Board plays an active role in ensuring that previous recommendations from the Insight Report are implemented in full.

It also recommends that more is done to support departments and ALBs to adopt a more consistent and appropriate level of oversight.
PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has said he has significant concerns over the forces capacity to deal with violence against women and girls.

Mr Boutcher told MPs there is currently an acceptance in society of misogyny which he has never seen before.

He was asked during an appearance before the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee about concerns around the levels of violence against women in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn, meanwhile, highlighted that Northern Ireland is the most dangerous part of the United Kingdom to be a woman.

It is a source of enormous sadness, and I would hope shame, that Northern Ireland is the one part of the United Kingdom where it is most dangerous to be a woman, when it comes to violence against women and girls, he told the House of Commons.

One of the things that we are doing in the Troubles Bill is we are closing the loophole that was contained in the previous Governments legislation. There will now be a means of investigating any sexual-related offences that occurred during the period of the Troubles.

If they meet the threshold for investigation by the Commission, the Commission will investigate and otherwise, once the Bill is passed, it will fall to the PSNI to look into the case.

At the weekend, police launched a murder investigation after young mother Amy Doherty was killed in Londonderry. A man has been arrested.

On Monday, Stephen McCullagh was convicted at Belfast Crown Court of the murder of his pregnant partner Natalie McNally in Lurgan in December 2022.

Committee chairwoman Tonia Antoniazzi said 30 women had died violently in Northern Ireland since 2020.

She added: Statistics show it is worse in Northern Ireland.

How do you deal with the fact that it is worse in Northern Ireland and how does your force address male violence against women and girls?

Mr Boutcher passed on his condolences to the family of Ms Doherty. He said he had also met with the family of Chloe Mitchell, who was killed in Co Antrim in 2023, and had spoken this week to the lead investigating officer in the McNally case.

He said: I want to assure this committee we are taking a number of steps, that violence against women and girls is a significant priority for the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

I do want to make one point though. Often it is mentioned that violence against women and girls is more significant in Northern Ireland than elsewhere.

I think that is possibly because in 2019 the BBC published an article using figures from Eurostat, highlighting the number of homicides in Northern Ireland as being comparable to Romania and at the very high end of femicides in Europe.

The data given was 0.43% per 100,000 population, which is the same as Romania.

It quoted eight murders and the data was a single year, 2017.

The data was wrong. There were four murders that year, three against women and one domestic murder against a male.

The rate for Northern Ireland on that data would have put us just below England and Wales and just above Switzerland, in the middle of the table of European countries.

Mr Boutcher said he had looked at the data from 2012 to 2023, which puts us right in the middle of the data set for Europe.

The Chief Constable then referred to the death of showjumper Katie Simpson in 2020.

Police originally thought she had died by suicide, but the following year Jonathan Creswell, the partner of Ms Simpsons sister, was arrested on suspicion of murder.

The trial of Creswell, 36, for murder ended in April last year after his sudden death.

Mr Boutcher said: I dont know if this is Northern Ireland specific or I am of a generation now because of what is happening online or because of the vile nature of things like Andrew Tate and what he seems to do with young men and boys and trying to groom them as to how they behave, which is abhorrent.

But there seems to be an acceptance around misogyny the like of which I have not seen.

We have got to draw a line and say this is unacceptable.

He said lots of work is done by the PSNI, including commissioning review of how the force is dealing with incidents of violence against women.

He said: We have done a cultural audit in the last 12 months specifically looking at behaviours within the organisation, focusing on ensuring that we are doing everything we possibly can to deal with any abhorrent behaviours, whether that is misogyny or any sort of hatefulness within the organisation towards colleagues.

SDLP leader Claire Hanna said she did not think people wanted to quibble on numbers.

She added: I think Ellie Flanagan and Amy Doherty became the 29th and 20th women killed since 2020 and comparable figures for England show we do have a femicide rate that is almost twice of the island next door and certainly of the south.

She asked if the PSNI had the proper resources to bring perpetrators to justice.

Mr Boutcher said: For me violence against women and girls is one of my biggest concerns with regards to my role as the chief constable of Northern Ireland, that is why we are prioritising.

With regards to our ability to deal with these sorts of cases, where there is such life-changing harm to individuals, I am significantly concerned about our capacity.

He referenced the case of Alexander McCartney, a prolific online abuser from Newry who was jailed in 20 years in 2024 for the online sexual abuse of children and the manslaughter of a 12-year-old girl.

Mr Boutcher said the Police Ombudsman had reported the force did not have sufficient resources to tackle those kinds of cases.
The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, hosted a special reception last week in honour of Garvagh couple Derek (81) and Valerie (80) Hibbert, who recently celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary.

Derek and Valerie were married on 12th February 1966 at St Patricks Church, Coleraine, by the late Canon Bill Benson.

The occasion marked 60 years of marriage and was celebrated with family and civic representatives at the Mayors Parlour.

The couple were joined at the reception by their twin sons, Rev Keith Hibbert and Rev Stephen Hibbert, and daughter Karen (Fulton), along with their respective spouses Valerie and Trevor. Bann DEA Elected Member, Cllr Richard Holmes, also attended the celebration.

Now celebrating six decades of marriage, Derek and Valerie continue to live independently in their family home in Garvagh.

Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Oliver McMullan, commented: It was an absolute pleasure to welcome Derek and Valerie to the Mayors Parlour and to help them celebrate their Diamond Wedding Anniversary.

Sixty years of marriage is a truly remarkable milestone, and it is clear that their enduring love, commitment, and devotion to one another has been an inspiration to their family and to the wider Garvagh community.

I wish them both continued health, happiness, and many more years of making special memories together.

The Mayor extended warm congratulations to the couple on behalf of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and wished them continued health and happiness in the years ahead.

PICTURED ABOVE: Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Oliver McMullan, with Garvagh couple Derek and Valerie Hibbert, who recently celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary, during a special presentation marking the occasion.

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We are inviting people to share photos that capture the spirit of the county. From special occasions to quieter moments, your pictures help tell the story of everyday life in our community.

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TAP HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR PICTURES TODAY
IFC, a global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets and a member of the World Bank Group (WBG), has announced an investment to expand clean and reliable power for telecom networks in three African countries.

The investment, in IPT PowerTech, a leading telecom energy service company, targets Ethiopia, Liberia and Sierra Leone, where limited power supply continues to slow digital connectivity and broader economic participation.

The investment will support the modernisation, operation and maintenance of 2,235 telecom sites across the three countries, more than 90% of which are located in offgrid or weakgrid locations. With new solar and battery systems powering these sites, mobile networks will experience fewer outages, improved service quality, and reduced reliance on diesel generators.

IFC says optimising the energy mix is estimated to reduce power costs for operators by up to 30% in Liberia, 26% in Sierra Leone, and 52% in Ethiopia. This transition is also expected to cut emissions by more than 10,624 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCOe) annually.

By improving the quality and stability of power to telecom towers, says IFC, the initiative will strengthen mobile coverage and ensure that households, schools, health centres, and small businesses can depend on more consistent digital services. These improvements will also help operators deliver more affordable services and strengthen economic participation across underserved communities.

In addition, the partnership will also promote gender inclusion by expanding opportunities for women in technical, operational, and leadership roles within the sector.

To enable this expansion, IFC is providing a $45 million corporate financing package consisting of an A Loan of US$27 million and US$18 million in blended finance from the Canada IFC Blended Climate Finance Programme, which aims to mobilise private capital for global climate action and the IDA20 Private Sector Window (IDA PSW) Blended Finance Facility. The IDA PSW was launched in 2017 to catalyse private sector investment in the poorest and most fragile countries.

Beyond financing, IFC will help strengthen the companys environmental and social practices and reinforce global standards across its operations.

This project advances the World Bank Group and African Development Banks (AfDB) Mission 300 initiative, which aims to provide reliable and affordable electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030. It also aligns with the WBGs Digital Economy for Africa strategy and Country Partnership Framework (CPF) priorities in the three countries.
Chinese firms to boost EU investment despite regulatory hurdles: business report

Xinhua) 10:34, March 25, 2026

LUXEMBOURG, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese companies in emerging industries operating in Europe plan to step up investment over the next three years despite mounting regulatory pressure, according to a report released Tuesday.

The report, jointly published in Luxembourg by the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU, China Economic Information Service Shanghai Headquarters, and Xinhua News Agency's Europe Regional Bureau, was based on a survey and interviews with about 100 Chinese companies in Europe. It also called on the European Union (EU) to provide a more stable and predictable business environment.

Nearly 80 percent of respondents said they planned to expand investment in the bloc over the next three years, highlighting Europe's importance in their global strategies even as companies face tighter EU scrutinies in areas such as subsidies, data and national security.

The report said Chinese businesses increasingly viewed Europe as a key destination because of the strategic fit between the two sides and the opportunities created by the global shift toward green and digital industries.

Chinese companies in Europe have been advancing a "In Europe, for Europe" strategy, the report said, by creating local jobs, bringing in technology and integrating more deeply into regional supply chains, particularly in sectors such as electric vehicles and clean energy.

It said Chinese investment in Europe had become more diversified in recent years, spanning 18 industries, with companies seeing room for further cooperation in areas including renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, information and communications technology, and the digital economy.

China and the EU remain each other's second-largest trading partners. According to Chinese customs data, China's trade with the EU reached 5.93 trillion yuan (about 860 billion U.S. dollars) in 2025, up 6 percent from a year earlier, accounting for 13 percent of China's total foreign trade.

At the same time, policy uncertainty in the EU has become the biggest concern for many Chinese firms, outweighing challenges such as cultural differences, geopolitical risks and market access barriers, according to the report.

More than half of respondents identified uncertainty around EU policies as their top concern, while nearly three-quarters said policy stability and predictability were the improvements they most wanted to see.

The report said worries were especially pronounced in sectors such as new energy, information technology and healthcare, where companies feared policy shifts could reshape the competitive landscape.

It also said businesses wanted progress on tax policy, non-tariff barriers and market access, and some hoped the EU would restart the ratification process for the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment between China and the EU.

The report described China-EU economic ties as fundamentally complementary and mutually beneficial, arguing that the two sides could not only expand cooperation in each other's markets but also work together in third-country markets.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
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Here's what's going on in Toales Live Venue and Rock Bar on Crowe Street in Dundalk next week.

Thursday 26th March - Fireside Sessions presents Ridibundi + Roisin Ward Morrow - Show starts 9pm - Free admission

The Fireside Sessions continue at Toales on Thursday 26th with north Louth group Ridibundi and special guest Roisin Ward Morrow. Music starts at 9pm and admission is free.

Formed in 2025, Ridibundi are a four-piece multi-instrumentalist band whose sound blends traditional Irish tunes with global influences from jazz, blues and eastern European music.

Drawing on the rich Irish-language song tradition of the Oriel region, their lively sets move from Kerry polkas and Connemara songs to inventive arrangements and multilingual performances in Irish, French and English.

READ NEXT: Louth author featured in An Post Irish Book Awards 20th anniversary list

The evening promises an eclectic musical journey in the relaxed Fireside Sessions setting.

Friday 27th March - Time Bandits - Show starts in the bar at 9.30PM - Free admission

Music fans are invited to step back in time this weekend as Time Bandits bring a night of classic rock to Toales in Dundalk.

Taking place on Friday, March 27, with music from 9.30pm, the show promises a lively run through some of the biggest hits of the 1970s and 1980s.

Expect big riffs, singalong choruses and a setlist packed with familiar favourites from two of rocks most celebrated decades.

With free admission and a late start, its set to be a busy night at the bar, offering a perfect excuse for a nostalgic night out in the heart of Dundalk.

Saturday 28th March - Wildfire Hysteria + Burn Down The House - Doors at 8pm - Admission 10

A big night of live rock lands at Toales, Dundalk on Saturday, March 28, as WILDFIRE HYSTERIA and Burn Down The House deliver a no-nonsense double bill.

Doors are at 8pm, tickets 10, with two rising Irish acts set to bring serious volume to an intimate room.

Dublins Wildfire Hysteria are all about the now  big beats, soaring riffs and raw, punchy vocals.

Formed in 2024, they channel 90s attitude with a modern edge, backed by years of experience on stages across Louth, Dublin and beyond.

With studio sessions lined up with Peter Baldwin at Black Mountain Studios and Marc Carolan at Blackshore Studios, the band are gearing up for a run of new releases in 2026.

Their upcoming single Everything As It Should Be drops in April and will get its live debut in Toales on the night.

Joining them are Burn Down The House, a hard-hitting four-piece from Naas, known for tight chemistry, sharp riffs and straight-up rock energy.

Loud, direct and built for the stage  this one wont hang about.

Sunday 29th March - Motorwrecked + support The River Filth. Doors at 6pm - Admission 10/12

Get set for a no-holds-barred blast of rock n roll as Toales Sunday Session unleashes Motorwrecked, the UKs premier Motorhead tribute, live on Sunday, 29 March at 6PM. Tickets are 10 in advance or 12 on the door.

Straight out of South Devon, Motorwrecked bring the full force of Motorhead to the stage  loud, fast, and filthy.

These are seasoned players on a mission, tearing through the classics, deep cuts and crowd-shaking anthems with relentless energy and zero compromise.

Theyve earned their stripes on big stages including Bloodstock Open Air and Camdens Underworld, building a reputation for shows that hit hard and dont let up with a full-throttle set built on pure volume, attitude, and that signature everything louder than everything else mindset. This is one for the die-hards.

Support comes from The River Filth, a Dublin hard rock n roll outfit delivering a gritty 70s groove with a modern bite.

Note the early doors opening at 6pm
Students at Youthreach Dundalk hosted a successful fundraising coffee morning on Thursday 12 March in the centre for continuing education, raising over 700 for Womens Aid Dundalk and Womens Aid Ireland.

The event brought together the local community and parents for a morning of coffee, tea and baked goods, with every cent of the proceeds being donated directly to the charities.

This event was organised and planned as part of their Vocational Preparation and Guidance module. Students made all the goods as part of their Hotel, Catering and Tourism module and Both modules are part of the Leaving Certificate Applied programme that they are completing at Youthreach.

Every aspect of the event planning was the students responsibility from the budgeting and event planning to marketing and getting local sponsorships. This event was a hands-on experience allowing the students to apply their classroom learning to a real-life nonprofit Enterprise.

This event was a great success with a huge turnout compared to what we were expecting it was a great feeling seeing the community come together for such a valuable and important cause", said student chairperson, Morgan Lamph.

Read also: Louth Students Shine at 2026 Student Enterprise Programme Final

The event was a huge amount of work and took a lot of time and effort to make it a success, but after seeing the amount we raised for both charities made all the work worth it.

The students say that of the 779.60 in funds raised, 510.60 was donated to Womens Aid Dundalk, and 269 to Womens Aid Ireland, and was directly donated to the organisations through a QR code. These funds will support their ongoing work against domestic violence.

The students say they also want to give a special thanks to the following sponsors for providing donations used as prizes for their raffle: Conlons Food Hall, Ma Bradys, Byrnes Chemist, Sitar Restaurant, Country Fresh, Costcutter Dundalk, Traynors Butchers and the Greenmount.
12 schools across Louth are set to gain access to new Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) posts, announced today as part of the DEIS Strategy to 2035, with seven Louth schools also selected for the new DEIS Plus scheme.

It was announced today by Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton, in a new 48 million annual investment from the Government in tackling educational disadvantage.

The supports to be rolled out from September include additional teaching posts, new leadership positions, expanded guidance supports at primary level, more Home School Community Liaison Coordinators, wellbeing practitioners, funding for breakfast clubs, a 400,000 Innovation Fund and stronger links with colleges and industry.

Todays announcement will ensure that 121 of the countrys most disadvantaged schools will receive a range of additional supports, including more than 400 extra staff, under the new DEIS plus scheme to be introduced this coming September.

Louth will directly benefit from these measures, with the addition of seven schools to the new DEIS Plus scheme ensuring they receives the most intensive and targeted supports available under the new model. This will provide additional teaching capacity, tailored interventions, and focused resources to support students experiencing the highest levels of disadvantage.

Read also: Energy supports 'a welcome relief to so many in Louth'

O Fiaich College in Dundalk is to be included in the new DEIS plus scheme, along with the following six primary schools:

St Joseph's National School, Dundalk

Castletown Road Convent, Dundalk



Redeemer Boys National School, Dundalk

Redeemer Girls National School, Dundalk

Scoil Naisiunta Eoin Baiste, Dundalk

St Nicholas Monastery National School, Dundalk

The 12 schools now gaining access to new Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) posts are:

De La Salle College Dundalk

St. Malachys Boys National School Dundalk

St. Malachys Girls National School Dundalk

Colaiste Ris Dun Dealgan

Realt Na Mara National School Dundalk

Dun Dealgan National School Dundalk

St. Malachys Mixed National School Dundalk

Scoil Bhride Ardee Road

Scoil Mhuire Na Trocaire Ardee

Ballymakenny College Drogheda

St. Joseph's C.B.S. Drogheda

St Josephs National School Drogheda

The news was welcomed by Louth TDs, Fianna Fail' Erin McGreehan, and Fine Gael's Paula Butterly. Welcoming the announcement, Deputy McGreehan said: This investment is a truly important step in addressing educational inequality across Ireland, and it will have a real impact in schools.

Additional teachers, along with improved wellbeing and guidance supports, will help schools to better support their students and respond to their needs.

I am particularly pleased to see that O Fiaich College has been included in this new scheme. This will bring real and important benefits to the students, staff and school communities.

Deputy Butterly said that the news represented "a major and very welcome investment for County Louth". Deputy Butterly continued: "The inclusion of a local school in the DEIS Plus scheme ensures that the students facing the greatest challenges will receive targeted, highimpact support.

"The allocation of twelve new HSCL posts is equally significant, strengthening the connection between schools and families, and ensuring that vulnerable children in every part of Louth are supported.

"This package will make a real difference in classrooms, in homes and in communities across the county, and marks an important step toward greater educational equality.
Students from the Hospitality Department at Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) delivered an exceptional performance at the culinary competitions held during IFEX 2026 at the Eikon Exhibition Centre in Lisburn, bringing home an impressive collection of medals across a range of challenging categories

The event, widely recognised as the biggest hospitality showcase of the year, brought together students, industry professionals and leading chefs from across the sector, and saw the DkIT team competing against their peers from other institutions and experienced chefs.

Zhi Hong Liew (Joshua) achieved remarkable success, winning Gold in Butchery and Bronze in the Classical Chicken competition, demonstrating exceptional technical skill and precision.

Speaking after his win, he said: Winning at IFEX 2026 was a proud moment for me. Competitions like this push me to grow as a chef, and Im very grateful for the support and guidance from my lecturer, Michael, and everyone who supported me along the way.

Ondrej Mer secured Bronze in the prestigious Student Culinarian of the Year competition, a highly respected category that tests competitors across multiple culinary disciplines.

Read also: Music-lovers in for a treat as 'Coming Together' Festival comes to Dundalk

Reflecting on the competition Ondrej said: Competing at IFEX was an incredibly positive experience for me. Even though it was my second time in a culinary competition, the pressure and nerves were just as intense. After winning two silver medals last year, I set high expectations for myself.

"This year, I challenged myself even further by entering more demanding categories, including Young Culinarian of the Year 2026 and Cook and Serveboth involving multiple courses, with the latter being a team competition alongside classmates from different departments. The experience was truly rewarding and I know there is always room to grow and improve.

Daniela Schmidova earned Bronze in the Afternoon Tea competition, while Charlie Weldon showcased excellent knife and seafood preparation skills, winning Bronze in Fishmongery and Bronze in Larder Knife Skills.

Cillian Gonnelly was also recognised for his performance, receiving Bronze in Fishmongery and a Certificate in Larder Knife Skills.

In the Cook and Serve competition, a team consisting of Ondrej Mer, Daniela Schmidova, Ana Gheorghiu and Jamie Mc Elhinney delivered an impressive performance, earning a bronze medal.

The team showcased a wide range of culinary and service skills while delivering a three-course fine dining experience for invited guests.

One of the highlights for the judges was Ana Gheorghius gueridon service of Irish coffee, a style of tableside service where food or beverages are prepared, cooked, or finished at the guests table using a movable trolley or cart, which added a theatrical and professional touch to the experience.

The students were mentored and supported throughout their preparation and during the competition by dedicated members of the Hospitality Department staff: Rosemary Leonard, Alan McCabe, Michael McNamara and Christopher McGrath.

Anyone interested in representing DkIT in future culinary competitions can explore the Culinary and Hospitality programmes offered by the Department of Hospitality Studies | DkIT
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%.

Read also: Have your say on flood relief options for Blackrock

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.
The trend for repurposing old names on new models in a different genre continues, this time with the new Opel Frontera. Previously this was a proper 4x4 that was the value conscious alternative to the Land Rover Discovery and Jeep Cherokee. Now it is the name of Opel's offering in the compact SUV sector, competing with the likes of its cousins - the Citroen C3 Aircross and Fiat Grande Panda - and the Dacia Duster, serving as the replacement for the Crossland.

Their strategy is working, as the Frontera has quickly become Opels best-selling car in Ireland so far this year with 82% of them being petrol-hybrid.The Opel badge that sits in the middle of their Vizor front grille uses a considerable amount of Stellantis components in terms of chassis, engine, and interior controls and switches. Not that that's new, because the older, bigger Fronteras used mechanicals from Isuzu, so it's not a new trend or departure for Opel.

Cars in this sector are getting bigger, and that was certainly the impression I got on seeing the Frontera for the first time in the metal. Up close it looks just about distinctive enough as an Opel. Sculpted rear light clusters seem to be a thing at the moment and help identify a car when they all have similar shapes as mandated by aerodynamics. Split daytime running lights are currently popular, but Opel have kept this to three LED strips that, by being restrained, look cooler. They didn't go the Renault Clio route that has an eye-watering twelve.

Inside, the cabin doesn't stun you, is unremarkable and a bit expected with too much plastic of the hard variety. Opel claims the cabin has had a digital detox, which basically means they present some functions as buttons (a move that feels almost retro nowadays) but stopped short of a volume control knob. In my view, it's the only way to do it, yet there isn't a single knob at all. Are car companies finally listening to me banging on about this debuttonfication? One thing that is new is their Flex Strap, which wraps around the centre console and allows irregular and large items to be held securely - a nice touch.

Passenger space is very good and significantly helped by the growth hormones all cars seem to be on these days that also sees the boot weigh in at 460 litres. Opel giveth and Opel taketh away because I reckon it would be a bit of a squeeze to get a pair of gloves into the miniscule, bordering on pointless, glovebox. In my GS trim petrol hybrid model costing 33,095, I got heated front seats and steering wheel as well as a wireless phone charging that's a must these days.

The way Opel presents the Frontera is a bit of a mystery. You get the 1.2l 3-cylinder engine that they can get 145hp out of, but they have removed the drive mode selection capability, so no Sport or Eco modes. Adaptive cruise control isn't an option even though the steering wheel symbol makes you think it has it - it's actually a screen menu symbol. You can't turn off the engine stop/start feature either. But that kinda makes sense as the pricing is keen and do you really need some of those features missing if you get a lower cost car?

That 145hp engine is only five short of what I always reckoned is more than enough for a large executive car. In the Frontera, it has more than enough power to move the Fronteras heft along. There was always power available to be given when asked, and that's a delight in any driving scenario. Motorway performance is worry-free and on our other main roads it's eager and willing. I really liked how they delivered a very comfortable ride and how the suspension coped with less than ideal surfaces. I think Opel engineers are the leaders on this in the Stellantis family of brands - and that includes Peugeot and Citroen. Where theyve scored a straight A for this, they have dropped some points for road noise which was noticeable on our R roads, especially the pebbly older ones.

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The Fronteras primary mission is to remain the value conscious choice again and its pricing reflects this. They start at 24,606 for the all-electric version and 27,995 for the entry petrol hybrid model, both in SC trim. Opel has removed the powertrain argument from the sales chat by offering electric and petrol hybrid models that allows them to concentrate on securing a sale. Diesel isn't in the equation at all as we are herded towards all-electric, the championed green saviour in much the same way diesel was the Green Partys green saviour of choice back in 2008.

Lets hope we dont see another spectacular policy u-turn like that again. If you want a manual car then look elsewhere as they are all automatic. Opel also has another Frontera sales argument by having a 7-seater version (1,500 extra) for those who need it and the Frontera joins the Citroen C3 Aircross in bringing seven seats to the sector.

The Frontera has to be on your list of contenders in the compact SUV sector on its merits alone but it makes its way onto the shortlist based on Opels attractive pricing.
A man who had a crisis of conscience and left his luggage on the carousel containing just under 600,000 of cannabis at Dublin Airport has been jailed for five years.

Lee Somers, aged 31, was stopped by custom officers after he returned to collect his luggage. He had just come off a flight from Canada and was due to travel onto Scotland.

Somers, of Greenfields, Rosbrien Road, Limerick, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on March 2, 2024. He was found in possession of 29kg of cannabis, worth 597,000, at Dublin Airport.

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Judge Martin Nolan had previously adjourned the case having heard some of the evidence, as Somers did not have legal representation at the time. He said due to the seriousness of the case he said it was important that Somers would be properly represented.

This Tuesday, Judge Nolan jailed Somers for five years.

He said the evidence suggested that Somers had a crisis of conscience and left his luggage having brought in the drugs from Toronto.

Judge Nolan accepted that Somers was under some level of duress to transport the drugs but he said he was a mature man and he made a very bad decision and a very bad misjudgement.

He acknowledged that given the fact that he does not have many criminal convictions he is probably unlikely to re-offend before he imposed a five-year jail term.

The court previously heard that Somers arrived on a flight from Canada at 5am and was due to get to a connecting flight to Glasgow which was delayed.

He went to the public area and when he returned, he left the bags on a carousel. Somers told an air hostess he had bags and went to get them.

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He was then stopped and said he was coming from Toronto. Somers was asked to place the bags on an x-ray machine. He told staff they were not his bags and he didn't pack them.

Somers told a staff member that he was supposed to continue to Glasgow, but he couldn't continue as my conscience got the better of me.

He said he'd been told to do this by a third party. He said some people were threatening him, so he threatened them and then they threatened his mother.

He initially said he wasn't in debt and didn't take drugs, but later told gardai that he had a cocaine addiction.

A stamp from Thailand was also found in his passport from the previous month. He said he went there, but didn't have a good time. Somers said he wasn't working and his expenditure appeared to be high.

He later admitted that he went to Thailand as an observer for reassurance for his future trip  the one he was making to Toronto.

He said after coming back from Thailand he was told that he would have to go to Canada.

I said if I could get someone else (to do the trip) I would be out, Somers said. He acknowledged that he had planned a further trip to Thailand but said he had no intention of doing another trip to Thailand.

Somers had some District Court convictions including possession of cocaine from five months prior to his arrest.

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Garrett McCormack SC, defending, said that Somers has two young children and his parents were in court to support him.

He handed in a letter of apology and asked the court to give Somers some light at the end of the tunnel.
Chocolate has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons in recent times.

First came sharp price rises for cacao beans due to poor harvests.

Next came shrinkflation: remember the great Freddo outrage of 2025?

Then came news that some fan favourites contain so little chocolate, legally, they cannot be called chocolate anymore.

Under EU rules, a product must contain 25% cocoa solids minimum to fall under the legal definition of chocolate.

Whats going on, and why?

In a word: profit. Some brands reduced or removed the more expensive ingredients in chocolate (specifically cocoa and cocoa butter), with cheaper ingredients, such as palm oil for cocoa butter, in a process called reformulation. Reformulated bars with less than 25% cocoa are cheaper to make but recategorised as chocolate-flavoured or simply white, milk or dark, dropping the word chocolate completely.

Some may question if chocolate looks, tastes and is manufactured more like confectionery than real chocolate, is it worth the reformulated, shrinkflated price for something that is only chocolate-flavoured?

Here in Cork, chocolate fans are becoming more curious about whats in their chocolate, where it comes from, and how its made.

Bucking the trend of big chocolate brands, Tory Top Chocolate, Home Chocolat and Hungry Crow are leaning into demand by customers for real chocolate made with care.

Tory Top Chocolate, Cork City

www.instagram.com/torytopcafeandchocolatefactory

Cork citys only bean-to-bar chocolate maker specialises in single-origin chocolate bars using cacao from Peru, Brazil, Ghana, Cote dIvoire, Indonesia, India and Nigeria. As well as a chocolate factory, Tory Top is also a coffee and hot chocolate bar, and workshop space.

Founder, Paul OConnell, tells me how he steered his business through a tumultuous first year.

Its been a fantastic year overall. The challenges, like every other chocolate company, were around the price of cacao, but we weathered that storm by doing more classes, says Paul.

Over the year, weve partnered with UCC with their food science division, who were working on a research paper on cacao. We also started working with schools looking at Fairtrade, zero waste manufacturing, fermentation and microbiology. In the past 12 months, weve hosted Apple, Eli Lilly, JP Morgan, Broadcom, NetApp, Pfizer, and Stryker for their employees  all repeat clients, too, says Paul, and were doing lots of birthday parties, especially for teenage girls.

Behind the scenes at Tory Top Chocolate. Tempering makes the chocolate shelf stable, gives the bars a nice snap when cracked, and produces a bright sheen. Picture: Larry Cummins

Thats what I want, to share this space with people. It takes time, but word has gotten out about our classes now with a significant uptick in demand since January.

While Pauls personal passion for chocolate is for celebrating cacao in its purest form, theres no denying the enduring Irish taste for milk chocolate.

Kids are so used to milk chocolate that Ive started making a 55% milk chocolate now, using cacao from Nigeria and Irish whole milk. It has a luxurious taste, smooth and creamy with a natural fruitiness, he explains. Its a perfect chocolate for the Kids Chocolate Pizza Parties we host. We partner with Nosta who make a cookie dough pizza base for us, which kids can decorate with fruits and chocolates.

I ask if revelations about chocolate content in popular bars have brought people in looking for a real chocolate alternative.

Not everybody knows about chocolate. Anyone who grew up in Ireland, Cadburys was the go-to, so its a learning curve. But people living in Cork that grew up around cacao in places like Mexico, they know what theyre looking for. Theyre delighted when they find us because they are looking for pure chocolate.

Focusing on fun-filled and informative classes helped Paul to ride out the volatility in cacao prices. Now theres breathing space to try new things, including a Mobile Chocolate Factory so he can deliver chocolate classes wherever his customers are. He has been working on expanding their chocolate bar range to include a new range of flavours.

Well be launching a Wild Atlantic Sea Salt bar and Cacao Nib Sprinkles bar on 70% dark chocolate, a Fruit & Nut and Pure Milk bar using our 55% milk chocolate. Were also making hot chocolate stirrers and truffles.

Im happy with the year, Paul says. Shifting our focus onto classes from just bars worked to keep us afloat and we made it through. Now the price of cacao has come down, I just see open road.

Tory Top Chocolate will be hosting two free Easter Egg hunts in the chocolate shop on Saturday, April 4. Check Instagram for updates.

Last year, Larry Cummins took a trip to Tory Top Chocolate to find out more about their work. Here, Paul tells Larry about making bean to bar chocolate.

Home Chocolat

www.instagram.com/home.chocolat

Liora Omer is an inventor and self-proclaimed chocolate engineer! Her business, Home Chocolat, encourages us to have fun making chocolate at home using her unique CocoaBlox home kits and, later this year, is set to launch Chocolatier Pro, a small home-based chocolate tempering machine.

Liora Omer says she has noticed people are eager to learn more about chocolate.

Liora says she has noticed people are eager to learn more about chocolate.

I see more interest in learning about real chocolate and how it is made in the workshops we run, says Liora. During workshops, people are asking more questions about ingredients, where those ingredients come from, and the health attributes of real chocolate.

Our workshops are hands on, so people can see what goes into making chocolate. Its very clear when you work with our chocolate and taste it that this is something else. A lot of people still dont realise chocolate starts its life as a bean  an agricultural product. I talk about that a lot during workshops.

In her workshops, Liora encourages tasting of different types of chocolate; not just dark, milk and white, but also explains how chocolate can taste differently depending on where its grown.

We taste chocolate from Brazil and Ecuador, and people can really taste the difference. Its nice for them to experience it; theyre curious, surprised by what they learn, and they have an opportunity to really connect with what [kind of chocolate] they like best.

Learning to taste real chocolate is something many of us have lost because, says Liora, much of what is consumed has been stripped of its flavourful character.

Its intentional for the big companies to lose any flavour difference in their chocolate products because they need to create a uniform product every time, says Liora. These products are great treats, but theyre not really chocolate.

Liora Omer of Home Chocolat will host a chocolate dipping event and free demonstration of Chocolatier Pro at Tory Top Chocolate, on Easter Sunday, April 5.

Hungry Crow

www.instagram.com/hungry_crow_chocolates

For Niamh OReilly and Mark Stewart of Hungry Crow, 2025 was, by any standard, tough out.

After having to vacate their Lisavaird base, the pair were facing Christmas with no production kitchen and no shop.

Now settled into their new bijoux location on Casement Street, Clonakilty, Niamh says returning to the town where it all started for Hungry Crow has been worth it.

We looked at so many places and there was nothing that worked, but then we were contacted about this shop being available... It was kind of magic: the builder that worked on our old space put off other jobs to come here and help us; we had friends who put shelves and window decals up as a gift, people were incredible. It was huge support and we wouldnt be here without them. The community really made us feel loved and wanted, and now we feel like we belong to the community, too.

People who used to take a bottle of wine to dinner parties will now buy a box of chocolates from us instead or buy chocolates for dessert, says Niamh OReilly. Picture: Kate Ryan

Hungry Crow chocolates have always been made without dairy, grains or refined sugars, using ethically sourced single origin couverture Luker Chocolate. They are a luxury item, and their customers recognise that.

People who used to take a bottle of wine to dinner parties will now buy a box of chocolates from us instead or buy chocolates for dessert says Niamh.

Most customers say once they start eating our chocolate, they cant go back to eating any other kind. Ours is such high quality. Luker is the best there is, and its stupidly expensive. I cant pass all that cost on, but I dont want to use any other chocolate either, explains Niamh.

Its impossible to compare Niamhs beautifully made handmade chocolates with something mass-produced, occupying completely different ends of the chocolate spectrum. One really is chocolate, the other is chocolate-flavoured. I tried some recently, just to remind myself. Im not sure what it tastes like, but it doesnt taste like chocolate! says Niamh.

For Easter, Niamh has crafted a collection of handmade eggs, including an egg version of her award-winning Hazelnut Job with praline and edible gold dust. Theres a hand-painted Pistachio Creme Egg with layers of pistachio white chocolate and dark chocolate, an egg inspired by their original Cashew-Rose-stuffed date, a Sea Salt Egg with Cacao Nibs, a Mint-Choc egg, chocolate chickens, and a selection box of six miniature eggs and chickens called Which Came First?

Hungry Crow Eggs are made in tiny batches and are available in-store and at select independent stores.
Tell us about yourself:

My name is Ciara Ni Tuathaigh, and Im a theatre maker and actress who just launched sassyCOW productions in 2025, a female-founded and led production company.

I founded the company in tandem with our first production, The Scent Of A Mock Orange, which I wrote, produced, and performed. It premiered at Cork Fringe 2025, and is returning to the stage as part of the 50th anniversary programme of the Cork Arts Theatre.

Where were you born?

In County Cork, Ireland.

Where do you live?

I currently live in Cork, and as much as I love being from here, I ultimately would like to live in a big, busy city - like New York or London. Its odd because I didnt grow up in one, but I do feel most like myself when Im wandering around a city, with my earphones in.

Family?

Im incredibly blessed to have the family that I do, especially for their support of my work as an artist. My parents exposed me to so much art and culture growing up, and never once made me feel that my dreams were silly or trivial, even if they might not be a conventional path. Im grateful for that, and for everything else - all the love and laughter I had growing up.

Best friend?

I really wouldnt feel right about naming just one, because Im also so lucky to have a great core group of friends and I love them all so much. But I will give a special mention to Sinead Crowley, because shes directing my upcoming play, The Scent Of A Mock Orange. There is no-one I would trust with this story other than Sin. Shes magic.

Earliest childhood memory?

Sadly, its me squeezing my dads hand at my grandads funeral. He was a real legend, Christy Twohig. I take three spoons of sugar in my tea for him every now and again

Person you most admire?

I have endless admiration and respect for my good friend Sally. We went to drama school together, then I watched her become a mum. The bond she has with her little girl and the life she has built for them is so special. Its genuinely the greatest love story Ive ever seen. And shes definitely far too cool to be my friend.

Person who most irritates you?

Conor McGregor, obviously. And people who are rude to waiters

Where was your most memorable holiday?

Thats a hard one, because Im fortunate enough to have visited a few countries. I did really enjoy my time in Rome. I love history and Italian food, so that was pretty heavenly.

Favourite TV programme?

Im currently on my third re-watch of Adolescence, and it only came out last year, so I think that speaks volumes. Its brilliant, and I think everyone should watch it. If not that, then the BBCs Pride And Prejudice because its perfect, and so is Colin Firth

Favourite radio show?

I dont have a favourite, I just play whatever one has good music on that day

Your signature dish if cooking?

Im a mediocre cook, but I can make a sort of decent French toast

Favourite restaurant?

This is going to sound very fancy altogether, but its Le Moulin de la Galette in Paris. I got spoiled with a trip to Paris for my 18th birthday, and we ate there one evening. The food was insanely good, and its a lovely memory. (I did have to Google the name before answering, as we just remember it as the windmill restaurant in Paris. If you look it up, youll see why.

Last book you read?

I recently finished Talking At Night by Claire Daverley, and I loved it. Im really excited for her next one. That was the last fiction I read, and now Ive just moved on to The Opposite Of Loneliness, which is a collection of essays by Marina Keegan.

Best book you read?

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Its very special to me, and so are all of the characters in it, especially Jo. If I could only read one book for the rest of my life, that would be it

Last album/CD/download you bought?

The last album I downloaded in full was West End Girl by Lily Allen. A perfect album, no skips.

Favourite song?

Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell, I never get sick of it

One person youd like to see in concert?

Freddie Mercury, specifically Queens Live Aid performance in 1985. I dressed up as him for my birthday party a few years ago. I painted on a moustache and wore black hot pants.

Do you have a pet?

I come from a dog family, so Im always surrounded by them, which I love. PS. Adopt, dont shop.

Morning person or night owl?

Night owl, through and through - which is actually good for a stage actor because our work starts and ends much later in the day

Your proudest moment?

I would have to say performing The Scent Of A Mock Orange in Cork Fringe last May. I was genuinely shocked to have my script accepted, and the process of staging the production was a lot. I wrote, produced, directed, and performed the piece myself. I remember hearing the audience coming in and thinking, Everything will be fine if you just let them in. Thats the hardest part as an actor, just letting yourself be seen. And Im proud of myself for choosing to be an artist and share my work because thats a really scary thing to do. But I believe art really connects us in a way few other things do, and I think the world needs as much of that as possible. So Im proud of the job Ive chosen.

Spendthrift or saver?

Im working hard to be a saver, but I do find it hard. Books and coffee are my weaknesses.

Name one thing you would improve in your area in which you live?

I dont think Im the best person to ask for that, to be honest. There are people far more qualified. But I would say there is an amazing community of artists in Cork who are all dying to share their work, so perhaps developing more theatre and performance spaces would be a good shout.

What makes you happy?

Walking around a bookstore, a meal with my family, and coming up with new ideas for scripts. I have a notes app on my phone with about 25 ideas on the go. Sometimes it is just random words I write down and forget about, and then Ill re-read it three months later and think, What on earth was I on about there?

How would you like to be remembered?

Id like people to remember my work more than me. Theres a Bertolt Brecht quote I always come back to - art is never without consequences. So I hope Im remembered for the consequences of my work, and I hope those consequences are good ones.

What else are you up to at the moment?

To be honest, Im less than a month out from show week, so thats pretty all-consuming. But Im really excited about this next chapter, both for myself and for sassyCOW. I set up the company to give myself a space to tell the kinds of stories I was drawn to - that sit in the messier parts of being a woman. Thats where The Scent Of A Mock Orange came from. The play follows Mara, who opens by telling the audience: To be honest, Im probably the worst person I know. Her story deals with grief, rage, sex, power, and ultimately love. Shes deeply flawed, and Im excited - and a bit nervous - to share her with audiences. Hopefully, they see what I saw when I wrote her: someone who just needs to feel less alone. And I think we all need that sometimes.

Id love to keep building sassyCOW, collaborating with other women, and expand as far as I can. Theres such a strong creative energy in that space, its something I want to be part of long-term.

Find Sassy Cow Productions on socials.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sassycowproductions

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sassycowproductions
Fat pigs was the term of abuse a young man had for gardai at the height of a disturbance in Carrigaline, and now he has been jailed for six weeks.

John Burke, aged 28, with an address at 47 Laurel Ridge, Shanakiel, Cork, was jailed by Judge Mary Dorgan.

Sergeant Aisling Murphy said gardai went to Cul na Cille, Church Hill, Carrigaline, County Cork, where there was a report of a highly intoxicated young man.

He was highly abusive towards gardai, calling them fat pigs, Ms Murphy said.

In a second more recent incident on February 27, relatives concerned about his highly intoxicated state brought him to Gurranabraher garda station, where he was arrested for his own safety.

Burke pleaded guilty to two counts of being drunk and a danger and one count of engaging in threatening behaviour, arising out of these two incidents.

Ms Murphy said the young man had 80 previous convictions, including 13 previous counts of being drunk and a danger and six of threatening behaviour.

Solicitor Shane Collins-Daly appeared in Cork District Court for the accused, who appeared by video link from prison. He apologised on the defendants behalf.

He has had a lot of difficulties in his life, with a traumatic childhood. He is capable of leading a healthy lifestyle  he is a very young man and very keen to get out of custody, Mr Collins-Daly said.

Regarding the defendant looking forward to getting out of custody and leading a life without crime, Judge Dorgan said to the young man, I really hope you do.
Hunky Dory crisps, cider, wine and cosmetics were among the products stolen by a 34-year-old woman in the course of several shoplifting incidents and now she has been sentenced to a total of five months in jail.

Anita Barrett of Cork Simon Community pleaded guilty to all of the theft charges against her which date from March last year, through to St Patricks Day this year.

Frank Buttimer solicitor said the 34-year-old had been doing better in her life for a period but that events had overtaken her. However, he said that Ms Barrett had again been doing well in Limerick Prison, accessing addiction services and attending to mental health issues.

Judge Dorgan imposed several sentences making up a total of five months in prison.

On March 23 2025 she stole a 15 bottle of wine at Aldi on Skehard Road, Cork.

On October 27 2025 at Aldi, Glanmire, she stole 23 worth of cider.

She stole 19 worth of alcohol at Ryans Supervalu at Crestfield, Glanmire, Count Cork, around this time also.

On November 15 2025 at Deasys Pharmacy she was caught shoplifting 17 worth of cosmetics.

At Centra, North Main Street, Cork, on February 16 she stole a 4 bag of Hunky Dory crisps.

On the same day she was found obstructing the passage of pedestrians by begging on St. Patricks Street.

On St Patricks Day she stole 83 worth of property at Penneys on St. Patricks Street at 4pm that afternoon.
The garda file in the case against a young woman accused of causing criminal damage at Collins Aerospace in Cork during a protest for Palestine has been completed and sent to the DPP.

Her case was adjourned at Cork District Court for two months, when it will link with that of a co-accused.

Kellie McConnell, aged 27, of Toner House, Sidmonton Place, Bray, County Wicklow, appeared in Cork District Court charged with committing an offence of burglary contrary to the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001, at Collins Aerospace, Penrose Wharf, Penrose Quay, Cork, on Monday, October 13, 2025.

The particulars of the charge state that having entered a building as a trespasser, she committed an arrestable offence, to wit, criminal damage therein.

Sergeant Gearoid Davis applied for an adjournment of the case for two months.

Solicitor Frank Buttimer said the case against her co-accused had been adjourned until May 18 and that this may be an appropriate date.

Judge Mary Dorgan adjourned it until that date.

Detective Garda Martin McSweeney outlined the allegations in the case previously, where he said that before 7am on Monday, October 13, 2025, there was a break-in at Collins Aerospace, Penrose Wharf, Penrose Quay.

It is alleged that the accused entered the third floor of the building using a ladder and caused extensive damage to the property.

"Various slogans were spray-painted on numerous walls. Monitors and windows were smashed, causing thousands of euro of damage.

"The fire brigade had to be utilised when the two accused refused to come down from a third-floor ledge.

"Gardai had to use negotiators to convince them to remove themselves from the ledge.

"Both were subsequently taken down with the assistance of a fire brigade hoist, and they were conveyed to Mayfield Garda Station, Mr McSweeney said.

Collins Aerospace has been targeted by pro-Palestine protesters as its parent company, RTX (formerly Raytheon), supplies defence systems to Israel. RTX has also partnered with Israeli firms to develop weapons systems, which it says are used to protect the citizens and infrastructure of Israel".
A decision from Cork County Council on planning permission for the modernisation of facilities at the North Cork air ambulance base is due in the next few weeks.

The application seeks the overhaul, renovation and reconstruction of the existing facility at Knockcahill, Rathcool, near Mallow.

A decision is due to be made on the application by Cork County Council on April 9.

The proposal includes the construction of a hard surfaced runway of 740m in length and taxiway of 147.6m in length, with associated ground level lighting.

The plans propose the demolition of the existing operations building and paramedic base to the east of the site and the construction of a new operations and paramedic base to the west.

Also included under the plans is the demolition of an existing helipad to the east of the site and construction of a new helipad to the west, all associated with the HSE Air Ambulance.

The development is also to be served by a new proprietary waste water treatment system.

Cork North Central Labour Party TD Eoghan Kenny told The Echo the new facility would be of huge benefit to all.

It is extremely important that this planning permission is followed through on.

It is vital we have the best healthcare services available in Cork and this is another step towards it.

Mallow based Fine Gael councillor Tony OShea said that the proposed North Cork Air Ambulance base is a vital development for emergency services in the region.
Cork County Council is only spending 0.03% of its budget on footpath repairs in parts of North Cork.

Councillors have called for urgent action to be taken to address the issue, highlighting Mallow where a number of elderly people have fallen and hurt themselves on the dire footpaths in its main street.

Mallow-based Labour councillor Ronan Sheehan said a pittance is being spent on new footpaths and repairing broken ones in the Kanturk/Mallow Municipal District area.

Fine Gael councillor Liam Madden said there are trip hazards all over Mallow, with some footpaths in a diabolical state.

Fianna Fail councillor Pat Hayes said there are lot of lose bricks all over the place and water is coming up through them. His party colleague Gearoid Murphy, who chairs the municipal district, said urgent action is needed before some elderly person gets seriously injured.

Context

Mr Sheehan said the municipal district stretches from the Limerick border at Charleville right across to Duhallow, covering a large rural region with many towns and villages, all of which require safe and accessible pedestrian infrastructure.

Yet the entire programme for 2025 amounted to just 161,276, delivering approximately 1.1km of repairs across eight locations," he said.

"To put that in context, Cork County Council operates with a budget of more than 0.5bn, meaning the footpath allocation for this entire municipal district represents roughly 0.03% of the councils overall budget."

Mr Sheehan said the figure highlights the scale of the challenge as the council could easily spend 10 times this amount in the town of Mallow alone, and still have significant work left to do.

Footpaths are not a luxury, theyre basic infrastructure that allows children to walk safely to school, older residents to access services, and people of all ages to move around their communities safely and independently. We are encouraging people to embrace active travel and healthier, more sustainable ways of getting around."

Not enough

Its not enough to promote walking if were not prepared to fund the infrastructure that supports it."

Local authorities cannot address decades of underinvestment in pedestrian infrastructure with allocations of this scale. We must put our money where our mouth is and significantly increase funding for footpaths across rural and regional Ireland, Mr Sheehan added.

Keith Jones, a senior council official, said consultants are currently looking at different options for all public realm improvements in Mallow and will report to councillors when its complete.
The new chair of the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) Cork branch has highlighted the need for more women to consider careers in the sector.

Speaking at the organisations annual dinner at the Fota Island Resort, Patsy Supple said construction in Ireland is facing many challenges as delivery of projects, particularly in housing, need to be scaled up to meet the needs of the country.

Ms Supple said the recruitment of young women remains one of the greatest untapped resources of potential in the construction sector.

If we ever think construction might not be a suitable career for women, then perhaps it is time for all of us to ask what changes we need to make to ensure that it is.

I would ask everyone in this room, whether you are parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or mentors, to encourage the young people in your lives to consider careers in this sector.

Significant investment

On the topic of construction in Cork city, Ms Supple said there is evidence of significant investment in housing, infrastructure and the public realm, as Cork continues to grow as a place to live and work.

However she noted that despite the best efforts of the sector, there is still a long way to go to meet the target of 50,000 homes to be built per year.

Ms Supple outlined that one of the biggest challenges facing the construction sector is the duration of time it takes to get projects started.

A small housing scheme can take five years from the moment a site is purchased to the moment the homes are delivered. For larger projects , whether it is housing, a school, hospital, or road project, that timeline can easily stretch to 10 years or more before construction even begins.

If we are truly going to address Irelands housing and infrastructure challenges, we must look closely at how we reduce unnecessary delays before projects even reach the site stage, she said.

Our industry is ready to build. The skills, expertise and commitment are all there.

But real progress requires genuine partnership between all stakeholders so that we can align our processes, streamline timelines and ultimately deliver projects more efficiently for the benefit of the entire country.

Ms Supple was speaking at her first engagement since being appointed the new chair of the Cork branch of the CIF.
The parents of a young Ukrainian man who lost his life following a violent incident in Cork city last week attended Cork District Court on Wednesday to see the man accused of his murder appear by video link from prison.

However, when the case against 42-year-old Jonathan Hennessy, of 15 Dr Patrick OSullivan Terrace, Upper Aghada, Co Cork, was called, a prison officer at the video link from Cork Prison said there was a sick note stating the accused could not appear.

Eddie Burke, solicitor, said there was only consent for a two-week adjournment. Judge Mary Dorgan remanded Jonathan Hennessy in custody until April 8.

Sergeant John Dineen said the family of the late Oleksandr Zhyvytskyi had been present in court earlier but left after being informed the accused would not appear and that a sick note would explain his absence.

The funeral of the deceased was held in Cork on Tuesday, and members of the young mans family travelled to attend.

Detective Garda Kevin Motherway gave evidence of arresting and charging Jonathan Hennessy last week. The charge states that: On March 16 2023 at Knapps Square, Cork City in the District Court area of Cork City in District area 19, he did murder one Oleksandr Zhyvytskyi, contrary to Common Law. When cautioned that he did not have to say anything but that whatever he might say would be taken down in writing and could be given in evidence, he made no reply to the charge.

Eddie Burke, solicitor, was appointed to represent the accused on free legal aid, after stating Jonathan Hennessy was on disability allowance and had no other income.

Mr Burke said when the accused was first before the court: I would ask that he would get medical attention on entering Cork Prison. Sgt Dineen said it is alleged that on March 16 at Knapps Square at 7.50pm the deceased sustained a stab wound to his chest during an altercation. He made his way home and subsequently died, with death formally pronounced at 8.35pm on Monday.

The father of one, in his early 30s, was stabbed just metres from his home at Camden Court apartments on Carrolls Quay when he went out to buy food. He made it back to his apartment, where his partner called for help.

Despite paramedics efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead at the scene. An investigation was launched immediately after the fatal stabbing.
People walking on Patrick Street in Cork city were challenged by a shirtless man who warned that they didnt know who they were dealing with and that he would "fuck them up".

Judge Mary Dorgan has jailed Jake OSullivan, aged 25, of 22 Fairfield Rd, Farranree, Cork, for two months for the rather awful nature of what happened.

At Cork District Court, Sergeant Gearoid Davis outlined the background to the incident, which occurred at 11.20pm on October 25, 2025.

Gardai responded to reports of an altercation on Patrick Street. On arrival, they observed O'Sullivan who had his t-shirt removed. He was shouting verbal abuse at passers-by, saying, Ill fuck you up" and "You dont know who I am".

He was doing this in a threatening and abusive manner with clenched fists, shouting with such force that spittle was projecting from his mouth. He was unsteady on his feet, his speech was slurred, and there was a strong smell of intoxicating liquor coming from him.

He was arrested and taken to the Bridewell Garda Station.

O'Sullivan was later charged with engaging in threatening behaviour and being drunk and a source of danger to himself or others.

Sergeant Davis said OSullivan had 49 previous convictions, including one for engaging in violent disorder under the Public Order Act.

Shane Collins Daly, solicitor, said the accused was pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity.
I met a charming Norwegian on a sunny, wave-licked Spanish beach; one thing led to another, and the next morning I woke up with a sore head.

There isnt a word of a lie in this sentence, and, in fairness, it does conjure up some enthralling scenarios.

The reality is more prosaic, so I will re-phrase that sentence.

I met a charming Norwegian on a sunny, wave-licked Spanish beach; one thing led to another, and the next morning I woke up with a burned forehead and a red, flaking nose.

For more than an hour, the Norwegian and I stood shooting the breeze in the blazing heat of the mid-afternoon sun; a discussion about the wonderful nature of schnauzers somehow led to the lack of affordable accommodation in the land of fjords and glaciers  as bad or possibly worse than in Ireland, apparently - the enlightening cost of cucumbers, the rape/drugs allegations involving the son of Norways Crown Princess, Prince Andrew, and who else, Jeffrey Epstein. My, isnt the world a small place now!

I was three miles into a seven-mile hike along a relatively rural strip of the Costa del Sol, thinking about the heat of the Spanish sun in March and how more sunblock needed to be applied to my face and neck.

Then I crossed paths with the Norwegian.

He was out for a stroll with a cute little dog that I initially took for a small Kerry Blue. Being a dog person, I stopped to ask and learned it was a mini-schnauzer  and that its health issues to date had cost him the guts of 10,000.

As I reeled back in fascinated horror, the Norwegian said mildly that he didnt mind the expense because he adored her and, anyway, he had pet insurance.

He went on to list the schnauzers attributes  theyre great little guard dogs, excellent ratters, and tremendously affectionate pets. I was utterly riveted by all of this, as Id never seen a schnauzer, large or miniature, before this.

Afterwards I googled mini-schnauzers and discovered that in Ireland the pups can set you back anything from 500 upwards and past the 1,000 mark, and that, yes, schnauzers do appear to have their fair share of breed-related health problems.

Ah, yeah, given all of that, I dont think Ill be investing, much and all as I liked the dog.

We had both noticed how the cost of property on the Costa del Sol  while rising  is still more affordable than in Ireland or, indeed Norway, where, my new friend revealed, prices have been eye-wateringly out of reach of the average buyer for many decades.

He said that family members thinking about selling a nice but quite ordinary 60s/70s bungalow in a Norwegian suburb, nothing special, had recently been flabbergasted to learn that it could net them close to a million euro.

Back in the late 1980s, he recalled, hed managed, in his own words, to squeeze through a crack in the market to purchase a comfortable apartment. Which, he revealed, he was now seriously considering selling to finance a permanent move to warmer, cheaper Spain.

We talked about how hard it was for anyone on a normal salary to buy a home in either of our countries now.

Some days later, I read an article about how Irish 30-somethings believe there is a strong connection between the unavailability of homes and the countrys falling fertility rate.

Back to my encounter in the sunshine. I observed to my newfound friend that Id always wanted to travel through Norway. I nearly went on a cruise there two years ago, I said, and Id still very much like to see it.

Well, he told me glumly, if you come, be prepared for a big, big bill for hotel accommodation and basic food.

The example he gave was as illuminating as it was interesting - he could buy a cucumber in Spain for 1, but the same cucumber could cost up to 4 in Norway.

Only the wealthy or those in receipt of financial assistance can comfortably manage the purchase of even an ordinary house in either Norway or Ireland now, we agreed.

And from there we segued into the allegations surrounding Norways royals and members of the countrys social elite. Its royal family is at the centre of a roaring hurricane of unwanted media and public attention because of an ongoing court case.

Ooof, sighed the Norwegian despairingly.

Marius Borg Hoiby, the son of Norways Crown Princess, stands accused of a litany of crimes including four rapes and assaults. He has pleaded not guilty to the most serious offences.

Prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of more than seven years, while his own lawyers are seeking his acquittal on charges of rape and a sentence of no more than 18 months on other, more minor offences.

Hoiby was really getting a hammering in the Norwegian press, the man said gloomily. He felt a bit sorry for the 29-year-old, he admitted.

From there, privilege and scandal, we got on to Jeffrey Epstein. Ah, Epstein, that snake of a man, whose sinister legacy has so many and such long tentacles.

We talked about Prince Andrew and the British royals, and the U.S Department of Justice files which have recently revealed ties between Norways Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Epstein.

Sure, money wasnt everything  in fact, it seemed, it could land you in quite a bit of bother if you didnt have the knack of managing it - but all the same, the man and I agreed, if you could stay grounded, having a little bit more than you needed would be lovely.

We parted at a picturesque wooden bridge after a very enjoyable debate on some of the worlds problems and resolving nothing.

We never got around to Trump, funny enough. And I completely forgot the sunscreen.
High Court Reporters

An Algerian man who claims he was tortured by police in his home country for his involvement in national peaceful protests has had a refusal of his refugee status bid here quashed by the High Court.

The man, who cannot be named, arrived in Ireland in 2021 and applied for international protection in July of that year.

Among the documents he submitted to the judging body here, the International Protection Office (IPO), were photographs and videos from the weekly protest events held by an Algerian political group called 'Hirak', which led to the 2019 resignation of the then president.

In May 2022, the man was interviewed here for refugee status but was rejected. He was then granted an oral hearing for his appeal which, in July 2023, upheld the decision.

The man (47) submitted in his High Court challenge that he is married with children and is a Muslim man of Algerian ethnicity. He submits that in February 2019 he began participating in the movement, whose marches which took place on Fridays across Algeria.

He submits he was first arrested in February 2021 and was warned that if he was found participating in marches again he would be re-arrested.

The man claims he was then re-arrested in April 2021, detained for two nights and tortured by police while in custody, sustaining leg injuries, photos of which were attached to his Irish IPO application.

After his release by Algerian police, the applicant submits, he believed he was being monitored by the authorities. He applied for a visa to the United Kingdom and subsequently travelled there before he came to Ireland.

According to the grounds of appeal to the High Court, the man submits that the IPO accepted as true, his nationality, personal circumstances and that he participated in the 'Hirak' movement.

However, the IPO made an adverse credibility decision in relation to his claims concerning his arrests and beatings in custody and document submissions thereafter.

He further claimed he suffered subsequent persecution by police over his involvement in the protests. He submitted two Algerian summonses to the IPO, which, he said, had been sent to his house - one to attend the offices of the police and another to attend court.

The IPO determined that they were unable to verify the origin and authenticity of these documents.

In his appeal, he submitted that the IPO had failed to properly assess the two documents.

In his High Court judgment, Judge Micheal O'Higgins said "the assessment process carried out by the tribunal was flawed".

The judge said that there was an "inadvertent breach" of the statutory code in that the tribunal omitted to take into account "all relevant facts" as they related to the country of origin, including information on whether the applicant has been or may be subject to persecution or serious harm, as submitted in the documents.

Judge O'Higgins said the High Court would quash the IPO refusal and remit the matter to the tribunal for fresh consideration.
By Jonathan McCambridge, Press Association

PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has said he has significant concerns over the forces capacity to deal with violence against women and girls.

Boutcher told MPs there is currently an acceptance in society of misogyny which he has never seen before.

He was asked during an appearance before the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee about concerns around the levels of violence against women in Northern Ireland.

At the weekend, police launched a murder investigation after young mother Amy Doherty was killed in Derry. A man has been arrested.

On Monday, Stephen McCullagh was convicted at Belfast Crown Court of the murder of his pregnant partner Natalie McNally in Lurgan in December 2022.

Committee chairwoman Tonia Antoniazzi said 30 women had died violently in Northern Ireland since 2020.

She added: Statistics show it is worse in Northern Ireland.

How do you deal with the fact that it is worse in Northern Ireland and how does your force address male violence against women and girls?

Boutcher passed on his condolences to the family of Doherty. He said he had also met with the family of Chloe Mitchell, who was killed in Co Antrim in 2023, and had spoken this week to the lead investigating officer in the McNally case.

Amy Doherty was killed in Derry at the weekend (family handout/PA)

He said: I want to assure this committee we are taking a number of steps, that violence against women and girls is a significant priority for the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

I do want to make one point though. Often it is mentioned that violence against women and girls is more significant in Northern Ireland than elsewhere.

I think that is possibly because in 2019 the BBC published an article using figures from Eurostat, highlighting the number of homicides in Northern Ireland as being comparable to Romania and at the very high end of femicides in Europe.

The data given was 0.43% per 100,000 population, which is the same as Romania.

It quoted eight murders and the data was a single year, 2017.

PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher gave evidence to MPs on Wednesday (PA)

The data was wrong. There were four murders that year, three against women and one domestic murder against a male.

The rate for Northern Ireland on that data would have put us just below England and Wales and just above Switzerland, in the middle of the table of European countries.

Boutcher said he had looked at the data from 2012 to 2023, which puts us right in the middle of the data set for Europe.

The Chief Constable then referred to the death of showjumper Katie Simpson in 2020.

Police originally thought she had died by suicide, but the following year Jonathan Creswell, the partner of Simpsons sister, was arrested on suspicion of murder.

Katie Simpson died in 2020 and her sisters partner was later arrested (family handout/PA)

The trial of Creswell, 36, for murder ended in April last year after his sudden death.

Boutcher said: I dont know if this is Northern Ireland specific or I am of a generation now because of what is happening online or because of the vile nature of things like Andrew Tate and what he seems to do with young men and boys and trying to groom them as to how they behave, which is abhorrent.

But there seems to be an acceptance around misogyny the like of which I have not seen.

We have got to draw a line and say this is unacceptable.

He said lots of work is done by the PSNI, including commissioning review of how the force is dealing with incidents of violence against women.

He said: We have done a cultural audit in the last 12 months specifically looking at behaviours within the organisation, focusing on ensuring that we are doing everything we possibly can to deal with any abhorrent behaviours, whether that is misogyny or any sort of hatefulness within the organisation towards colleagues.

SDLP leader Claire Hanna said people did not want to quibble over figures with regards to violence against women (Mark Marlow/PA)

SDLP leader Claire Hanna said she did not think people wanted to quibble on numbers.

She added: I think Ellie Flanagan and Amy Doherty became the 29th and 20th women killed since 2020 and comparable figures for England show we do have a femicide rate that is almost twice of the island next door and certainly of the south.

She asked if the PSNI had the proper resources to bring perpetrators to justice.

Boutcher said: For me violence against women and girls is one of my biggest concerns with regards to my role as the chief constable of Northern Ireland, that is why we are prioritising.

With regards to our ability to deal with these sorts of cases, where there is such life-changing harm to individuals, I am significantly concerned about our capacity.

He referenced the case of Alexander McCartney, a prolific online abuser from Newry who was jailed in 20 years in 2024 for the online sexual abuse of children and the manslaughter of a 12-year-old girl.

Boutcher said the Police Ombudsman had reported the force did not have sufficient resources to tackle those kinds of cases.
Low-quality, mass-produced AI songs have been flooding music streaming platforms like Spotify for a couple of years now. This is annoying, but relatively easy for fans to avoid. However, it leads to real problems for artists. There's so much slop coming in that some gets falsely attributed to actual musicians on these platforms.

This messes with brand identity and audience retention, but Spotify is testing a new tool to help real artists exercise more control over their profiles. The platform's Artist Profile Protection feature lets musicians review releases before they go live and become associated with their profiles.

Spotify

This should prevent AI slop from creeping in, as the actual artist will have final say when 100 new songs show up out of the blue that sort of sound like them but with all of that pesky soul removed. It's in beta right now and if an artist denies a track, it won't be associated with their profile, won't contribute to stats and won't show up in user recommendations. This looks to be a simple and potentially effective solution to an ongoing problem.

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"Music has been landing on the wrong artist pages across streaming services, and the rise of easy-to-produce AI tracks has made the problem worse," Spotify wrote in a blog post. "We know how frustrating this can be for both artists and fans alike."

This comes just a week after Sony requested the removal of more than 135,000 AI-generated songs from Spotify after it was discovered the tracks were impersonating real artists. This even happens to bands that have opted out of Spotify entirely. King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard left the platform last year, to protest CEO Daniel Ek's investment in a weapons manufacturing company, but a deepfake artist quickly filled the vacuum.

Some of this isn't malicious. It's a numbers game for the "creators" of these tracks. Statistics vary, but it's been estimated that around 50,000 AI-generated songs get uploaded to Spotify each and every day. The platform deleted 75 million of these tracks last year. With this many uploads, it's easy for tracks to accidentally end up on the wrong artist's profile. Bad actors looking to attach their slop to a known quantity compounds the issue.

In any event, it's good that Spotify is doing something about this. We don't know when the tool will exit the beta phase and become available for all artists on the platform. That day can't come soon enough.
The leaders of several major tech companies will offer the White House their opinions on tech and science policy as part of an advisory council. Mark Zuckerberg, Jensen Huang, Michael Dell and Larry Ellison  the CEOs of Meta, NVIDIA, Dell and Oracle, respectively  are joining the panel alongside Google co-founder Sergey Brin and AMD CEO Lisa Su. Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, who has donated to super PACs that support President Donald Trump, will serve on the panel too.

The latest iteration of the Presidents Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) has 13 members, though that could expand to 24. White House AI and cryptocurrency czar David Sacks co-chairs PCAST alongside Trump's science advisor, Michael Kratsios.

Under President Trump, PCAST will focus on topics related to the opportunities and challenges that emerging technologies present to the American workforce, and ensuring all Americans thrive in the Golden Age of Innovation, the White House told The Wall Street Journal in a statement. Zuckerberg said he was "honored to join the presidents council and work with other industry leaders" to help ensure the US is the world leader in AI.

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George W. Bush established PCAST with a 2001 executive order, and some notable executives have been involved with the panel. Barack Obama's advisors included then-Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt and former Microsoft chief research and strategy officer Craig Mundie, while ex-Disney CEO Bob Iger served on PCAST during Trump's first term. Joe Biden's panel included Su.

The tech CEOs all have a personal and professional stake here, given the potential impact of federal rules on them and their businesses. Its worth noting that Meta, Google and Huang all chipped in to help pay for the construction of Trumps White House ballroom. Google, Meta and NVIDIA were among the companies that each donated $1 million to the committee for Trump's second inauguration.

Meanwhile, Ellison  whose family has spent much of the last couple of years building a media empire that includes Paramount and potentially Warner Bros. Discovery  has close ties to Trump. Oracle is also one of the companies that backed the takeover of the US version of TikTok, a deal that Trump approved with an executive order. It was reported this month that the Trump administration is receiving $10 billion for brokering the buyout.
Apples excellent For All Mankind might be wrapping up after its recently confirmed sixth season, but as one big-budget alt-history sci-fi show departs, another is born. Apple TV has just dropped the first teaser for Star City, which focuses on the reimagined space race of the 1960s from the Soviet perspective.

ICYMI, For All Mankind has been running for nearly five seasons now (the fifth arrives later this week), with its debut season in 2019 asking, "what if Russia had beaten America to the moon?" For All Mankind has jumped a number of decades ahead since then, but Star City returns us to that initial premise, taking us behind the Iron Curtain to see how the Soviet Union orchestrated its fictional historical triumph.

The brief teaser doesnt show us much in the way of plot, but you straight away get what vibe the streamer is going for with a show it describes as a "propulsive paranoid thriller." We also get a look at some of the cast, which includes House of the Dragons Rhys Ifans, Anna Maxwell Martin and Agnes OCasey.

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Interestingly, Star Citys two-episode premiere lands on Apple TV on May 29, right after the finale of For All Mankind season 5, which takes place in the 2010s. That could make for a pretty jarring backwards time jump if you watch both seasons back to back, but nobody can say that Apple isnt serving its sci-fi audience.
Late last year, Samsung launched its newest generation of affordable A-series phones, starting with the entry-level A17. Following the arrival of the flagship Galaxy S26 line, the company has returned to flesh out the rest of its midrange portfolio. The more affordable Galaxy A37 and Galaxy A57 sport some interesting upgrades, even when compared to some of their pricier siblings.

Core specs and features

Before we dive into my hands-on impressions, I want to do a quick rundown of each phone's specs as that should help set up (or temper) expectations. As you'd expect based on their numbering, the A37 is the more affordable of the two with a base price of $450 for 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. You can also choose 8GB RAM and 256GB of storage for $540. Notably, when compared to the A17, the A37 features a much more recent and more powerful Exynos 1480 chip that brings a big jump in NPU performance and helps unlock much of the phone's newfound AI capabilities. It also comes with a large 6.7-inch AMOLED display, a 5,000mAh battery and three rear cameras. However, two of those will likely get more use than the other as the A37 packs a 50-megapixel main camera and an 8MP ultra-wide, along with a 5MP macro shooter.

The Galaxy A37 will be available in four colors: charcoal, white, lavender and graygreen. However, the middle two are Samsung.com exclusives and the last one is only available from Best Buy. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)

Meanwhile, the Galaxy A57 is a bit more expensive, starting at $550 for 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, or $610 for the 8GB/256GB version. It also features a slightly more powerful Exynos 1680 processor and a higher-res 12MP sensor for its ultra-wide lens, but aside from that, it has the same general camera setup as A37 and the same size battery. One small difference is that the A57 has Bluetooth 6 connectivity and Wi-Fi 6E, but the A37 is still stuck with BT 5.3 and basic Wi-Fi 6.

For some reason, the A57 is only available in one color: navy. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)

Both phones come with IP68 ratings for dust and water resistance (which is an upgrade from IP67 on the A36) and 120Hz refresh rates. However, the most important shared trait is that while neither supports wireless charging, they can both take wired power at up to 45 watts, which is actually faster than a base Galaxy S26's limit of just 25 watts. Finally, in addition to six years of OS and security updates, the A37 and A57 are getting some trickle-down AI features from its flagship siblings. Those include improved support for Google's Circle to Search, Object Eraser and better transcription and translation capabilities in the Samsung Voice Recorder app.

Galaxy A37 impressions

Both phones have nearly identical designs, right down to the same screen size and number of cameras. That said, one area where Samsung cut corners on A37 is that it features a plastic frame instead of the A57s aluminum. But even when you hold them side by side, it's rather difficult to discern between the two. There's no obvious difference in appearance or button layout, so the main way to tell the two apart is by feeling for the cooler touch you typically get from a metal chassis. Alternatively, if you look closely, you'll notice that the A37 has slightly thicker bezels around the outside of its screen.

Here's a closer look at the A37's color options. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)

Compared to the Galaxy A17, the A37's Exynos 1480 felt significantly snappier and much better equipped for multitasking or AI-based tasks like removing unwanted objects from photos. Regardless, as the less expensive of Samsung's new midrange phone options, the company did a really good job disguising the major differences between the two new models.

Galaxy A57 impressions

To be honest, the A57 wasn't quite as appealing as the A37 due to its higher price and no additional features. The main tool it has that isn't available on its more affordable sibling is Samsung's Best Face camera tool, which allows the phone to analyze people's expressions so you can select your favorite reaction and put it in the photo you want. On paper, its Exynos 1680 chip should be a bit faster, but in normal use, it's really hard to tell. And unlike the A37, which comes in four colors (white, charcoal, lavender and gray/green, depending on the retailer), the A57 is only available in navy.

Early thoughts

While they look the same, the A57 features an aluminum chassis instead of plastic like on the A37, which should be better for long term durability. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)

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As a more powerful and more premium alternative to the $200 A17, the A37 feels like a worthy upgrade for the money. It offers noticeably smoother performance along with a more elegant hole-punch selfie cam (instead of a waterdrop) and stereo speakers (instead of mono). Starting at $450, the A37 can also undercut the Pixel 10a while offering a larger 6.7-inch AMOLED display (versus 6.3 inches for the Pixel) and a smattering of equivalent AI features. And in some ways, the wider selection of colors just reinforces that Samsung is probably placing bigger bets on the A37's market prospects. If I were looking for an affordable Android phone with a big screen, I'd give more consideration to this new middle child in Samsung's A-series lineup.

Aside from bezels that are a tiny bit bigger, the Galaxy A37 (left) looks almost exactly the same as the more expensive Galaxy A57 (right). (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)

As for the A57, it's certainly not a bad phone, but starting at $550, it suffers from being in a much more competitive price bracket. For those who prefer smaller devices, the $500 Pixel 10a is cheaper while offering even better AI tools, a cleaner UI, wireless charging, a slightly larger battery and unmatched photo quality. However, the A57's biggest rival is arguably another Samsung phone: the Galaxy S25 FE. Aside from slower wired charging, it has an even nicer design, an extra year of software and security updates (seven total) and a proper telephoto camera instead of a macro lens. And while its MSRP is a bit higher at $650, it's regularly on sale for under $600 (or less), which effectively sidesteps the A57's biggest advantage.

That said, no matter which one you prefer, more options for affordable gadgets are always welcome  especially with the price of smartphones and PCs increasing due to the global RAM shortage.

The Galaxy A37 and A57 will officially go on sale April 9.




Police in Brentwood, Tennessee, have ruled that "Reacher" star Alan Ritchson acted in self-defense during a violent confrontation with his neighbor and will not face criminal charges, authorities said.

Brentwood police announced that their investigation is closed after reviewing multiple videos and speaking with witnesses about the Sunday altercation between Ritchson and neighbor Ronnie Taylor.

Officials said the material included bystander recordings and footage captured from Ritchson's perspective. After consulting the local district attorney's office, police determined that neither man would be charged over the incident, according to Deadline.

Investigators concluded that Taylor initiated the confrontation by stepping into the street and blocking Ritchson as he rode his motorcycle through their neighborhood. Police said the video shows Ritchson stopping and partially losing control of his bike before a physical struggle began.

Witness accounts reviewed by detectives supported the finding that Ritchson's punches were a defensive response under Tennessee law, according to officials.

Authorities said the dispute started over complaints about Ritchson's motorcycle riding near homes in the Brentwood subdivision. Taylor has told media outlets he believed the actor was riding too fast and admitted confronting him about his speed before the fight.

A source close to Ritchson has claimed the actor tried to leave and de-escalate, but was shoved to the ground before he retaliated.

The altercation drew wide attention after TMZ released a video showing Ritchson striking Taylor several times while the neighbor was on the ground, with children visible nearby.

Additional footage later obtained by police, including video from a device worn by Ritchson, shows Taylor first moving into the actor's path and blocking him in the roadway, reports said. Investigators said this broader view of the encounter was key to their self-defense ruling.

Ritchson has not issued a detailed public statement about the police findings, but appeared to reference the clash in an Instagram post quoting Napoleon Bonaparte: "Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake."

The actor shared the quote as simple black text on a white background without any caption. Ritchson is best known for playing Jack Reacher in the Amazon MGM Studios series "Reacher," adapted from Lee Child's crime novels, as per the Los Angeles Times.
Lionsgate has officially moved forward with a new "John Wick" spinoff centered on the blind assassin Caine, with Donnie Yen set to both reprise the role and direct the film.

The untitled feature will follow Caine after the events of "John Wick: Chapter 4," where the character was freed from his obligations to the High Table. The story is expected to continue his arc as a lone operative facing new threats in the criminal underworld. Plot details are being kept secret by the studio.

Lionsgate announced that production will take place in Hong Kong, tapping into Yen's long history with the city's action cinema, according to Deadline.

Filming is scheduled to begin this year, following earlier plans that targeted a Hong Kong shoot after the spinoff's formal reveal at CinemaCon. No release date has been set, but industry reports suggest a possible window around 2026.

Yen first appeared as Caine in "John Wick: Chapter 4," playing a retired, blind assassin forced back into action to protect his daughter. In that film, Caine was ordered to hunt his former friend John Wick, ultimately winning a duel that granted him freedom from the High Table. A post-credits scene teased unfinished business when Caine encountered Akira, who blamed him for her father's death.

The Caine project is part of Lionsgate's broader plan to expand the "John Wick" universe beyond the main series. It follows the Ana de Armas-led spinoff "Ballerina," as the studio builds a slate of films exploring different assassins and corners of the franchise's world. Franchise producers Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, along with Chad Stahelski, are attached to oversee the new film, Screen Rant reported.

Yen has built a four-decade career as a leading figure in Hong Kong and global action cinema, breaking through with films like "Once Upon a Time in China II," "Iron Monkey," and "SPL: Sha Po Lang."

He achieved international recognition as the Wing Chun master in the "Ip Man" series, then moved into major Hollywood projects including "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," "xXx: Return of Xander Cage," Disney's live-action "Mulan," and "John Wick: Chapter 4."

His work as both performer and action choreographer has helped shape modern screen martial arts, earning multiple awards in Hong Kong and cementing his status as one of the industry's most influential action stars, as per Screen Dollars.
A recent royal event at Windsor Castle has ignited a global style debate after two high-profile women appeared in remarkably similar gowns.

Catherine, Princess of Wales, widely known for her polished fashion choices, turned heads in a green gown during a formal appearance months earlier. But the conversation reignited when Layal Jade Tinubu attended a state banquet in a nearly identical look, prompting widespread comparisons online.

According to Atlanta Black Star, Tinubu, the daughter-in-law of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, wore a deep green velvet gown to a March 18 state banquet hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The event marked a significant diplomatic occasion, but fashion quickly stole the spotlight.

As reported by People, Tinubu described his social media post about the evening. "It was a true honour to attend the State Banquet at Windsor Castle yesterday, hosted by His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Camilla, in celebration of my father-in-law and mother-in-law His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR and Her Excellency First Lady Oluremi Tinubu."

The report also noted her reflection on the experience. "Grateful to have witnessed such a remarkable and prestigious occasion."

Observers quickly pointed out the similarities between Tinubu's gown and one worn by the Princess of Wales to a previous high-profile event, fueling a "who wore it better" conversation across social media platforms.

Read more: Kate Middleton and Princess Anne Share Awkward Greeting Moment at Commonwealth Day Service

Online commenters weighed in on the viral comparison. "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery  they both look beautiful!" said one person, suggesting it was a copycat look.

Another reaction highlighted differing opinions among viewers. "Layal is doing that dress justice and then there's Kate," a second reader wrote.

A third commenter focused on the versatility of the design. "You know that it's an amazing design when it looks amazing on different body types. Love it!"

Social media users also joined the debate with more direct comparisons. "Nigeria's presidents daughter wore it ... and wore it better," one person tweeted.

Another user praised Tinubu's appearance. "Layal got the body for the dress, she looks absolutely beautiful."

A further comment emphasized admiration. "The Nigerian president's daughter is insanely beautiful wow."

Beyond the viral moment, Tinubu's background has also drawn attention. A Nigerian-Lebanese lawyer and entrepreneur, she is married to Seyi Tinubu, with their relationship beginning in a distinctly modern way.

The report recounted her description of how they met. "We met on Facebook. I wouldn't really say there was a pickup line per se. But it was more of how he carried himself that drew me to him. He was confident yet easy-going. And he has this opulent charm like he didn't really need to try," she stated, according to PM News Nigeria.

While the fashion debate continues, the Windsor Castle appearance underscores how global figuresfrom royalty to political familiescan share the spotlight through style.
SALEM, Ohio  Ohio and Pennsylvania lawmakers are scrambling to get ahead of a data center boom, driven by the rapid development of artificial intelligence, before its too late to control them.

While both states are home to traditional data centers already, hyperscale data centers  which support artificial intelligence  are much larger and more resource-intensive, requiring more energy and millions of gallons of water to cool down data servers.

These increased demands have led to widespread concerns about higher electricity and water utility costs, farmland access and noise impacts on nearby residents and wildlife.

But how to go about regulating these data centers is widely debated. Ohio lawmakers, with support from the Ohio Farm Bureau, want to pump the brakes on data center development.

In Pennsylvania, some legislators are following the governors lead, who has been pushing for more data center and energy development in the state.

Ohio Data Center Study Commission

Ohio has the fifth-most data centers in the U.S., with well over 100, according to the Ohio Consumers Counsel, although some estimates put it closer to 200. This number is only going to increase; 77 more data centers are planned for the state by 2030.

Thats why the Ohio House passed a bill on March 18 to establish the Ohio Data Center Study Commission to examine how the rapid rise in data centers is impacting local communities.

House Bill 646, introduced by state Rep. Gary Click, R-Vickery, and Kellie Deeter, R-Norwalk, would create a data center study commission within the Ohio Department of Development, with members appointed by the governor, speaker of the house and president of the senate.

The commission will submit a report of its findings and legislative recommendations to the governor and Ohio General Assembly six months after the bills signed into law.

Click said he introduced the legislation after hearing the concerns from his constituents in Ohios 88th district, covering Sandusky and portions of Seneca counties.

The entire Buckeye State is experiencing angst over unresolved questions surrounding the rapid rise of data centers, and they deserve to have their voices heard, Click said in a statement.

The Ohio Farm Bureau testified in support of the bill, saying that while data centers may provide some benefits, without robust regulatory framework and long-term planning, there could be repercussions.

The organization is particularly concerned about farmland preservation; the state has lost 1 million acres of farmland over the past 20 years.

As a state and country, we must recognize that farmland is a strategic resource and a vital part of our nations security. And once farmland is lost, it is likely gone forever as a productive agricultural resource, said Evan Callicoat, director of state policy at the Ohio Farm Bureau, at a hearing for the bill.

House Bill 646 advanced to the Ohio Senate for consideration. Meanwhile, lawmakers are currently working on modifying another law that has led to the high prevalence of data centers in the state.

Tax incentives

Ohio is appealing to data center developers due to its plentiful access to water sources, electric grid and flat, expansive acreage.

Developers are also drawn in by sales and use tax incentives created over a decade ago to attract new businesses to the state. But this tax exemption, which applies to the purchase of computer data center equipment, is costing the state millions of dollars in revenue.

In 2018, the state lost out on $27.2 million due to this tax exemption, according to the State of Ohio Executive Budget Tax Expenditure Report. The most recent report estimates that $141.8 million in tax revenue will be lost.

Many Ohio lawmakers feel it is no longer necessary. The Ohio General Assembly tried to eliminate this tax exemption through House Bill 96 in June, but Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed this elimination in the state budget.

DeWine said that this tax structure will continue to be an asset in attracting new businesses.

The state must stay at the forefront of prospering fields such as technology and artificial intelligence. The availability of this tax exemption is important as Ohio competes with other states for technology jobs and capital investment, said DeWine, in the veto statement.

Ohio lawmakers have already discussed plans to override this veto. The Ohio Farm Bureau has also vocalized its support for eliminating this tax exclusion.

This veto protects an uneven playing field that benefits data centers, not farmers and not rural communities, said Adam Sharp, executive vice president of the Ohio Farm Bureau, in a statement.

Overriding this veto would ensure that if these types of facilities continue to locate in Ohio, they will provide the maximum benefit to Ohio taxpayers.

Pennsylvania data center efforts

Pennsylvania lawmakers, on the other hand, are grappling with how to encourage economic development while balancing the needs of communities.

The state is already home to more than 50 of these facilities, with 56 more hyperscale data centers either proposed or under construction, according to Data Center Proposal Tracker.

Many Pennsylvania lawmakers, including Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, have expressed support for these facilities but emphasized the need for strict regulations. Thats why, in his 2026-2027 budget address, Shapiro announced the Governors Responsible Infrastructure Development standards, or GRID.

This regulatory framework would require developers to bring their own power generation or pay for the full cost of energy they need from the grid, commit to strict water use and electricity reporting standards, engage with the public, hire and train local workers and practice water conservation.

Some of these standards are outlined in the House Bill 2150, introduced by Rep. Kyle Mullins, D-Lackawanna County.

The bill directs the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to publish an annual report on energy and water consumption of data centers, as well as identify environmental impacts from these facilities and recommend how they should be addressed.

Data centers that fail to report this information to the state regulatory agency would be fined $10,000 a day. House Bill 2150 was passed out of the House Energy Committee on March 2 in a 14-to-12 vote and is now in the full House for deliberation.

Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania House is considering two other bills that would change local governments role in data center projects.

Other proposed bills

State leaders are working to pass legislation that would create a model zoning ordinance for local governments in House Bill 2151.

The bill directs the Governors Center for Local Government Services, part of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, to develop and publish a model zoning ordinance that includes zoning, dimensional standards, landscape buffers and various water use and electricity requirements.

House Bill 2151 gives municipalities an optional tool they can use to ensure data centers are responsibly sited and operated while protecting residents quality of life, said state Rep. Kyle Donahue, D-Lackawanna County, who sponsored the bill.

Another bill, House Bill 502, introduced by Rep. Mandy Steele, D-Allegheny County, would fast-track energy projects in the state that would power data centers by creating RESET, the Reliable Energy Siting and Electric Transition Board.

The seven-member board, supported by Shapiro, would be made up of secretaries of three state agencies (Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Indusry); the chairperson of the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission; representatives of business and building trades and the chair of the states environmental justice advisory board.

The bill allows projects denied by a local government to apply to the RESET board for approval. If the board approves the project, local governments cannot impede or prevent the project from happening via local ordinance or regulations.

According to state Sen. John Kane, D-Delaware and Chester counties, who co-sponsored the bill, applying to the RESET board for expediting permitting is optional, and energy projects could continue applying through local governments.

The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, which will be represented on the board, says the bill would lead to fewer delays in energy projects and encourage more economic development.

But environmental groups say RESET would take away local governments and residents say in what goes on in their community.

We know our communities like nobody else does, and to take that voice away, to strip municipalities of their authority is criminal, in my view, said Karen Feridun, co-founder of the Better Path Coalition, a statewide grassroots environmental group.

She adds that, unlike local elected officials, RESET board members would have no incentive to listen to community concerns. House Bill 502 is currently being evaluated by the House Energy Committee.

(Liz Partsch can be reached at epartsch@farmanddairy.com or 330-337-3419.)
Farmers facing ongoing theft, organised gangs and rising rural crime have been given a boost, as the government confirmed continued 800,000 funding for specialist policing units.

The investment will support both the National Wildlife Crime Unit and the National Rural Crime Unit, maintaining funding first announced last year. Policing minister Sarah Jones announced the funding at the National Rural Crime Network Conference in York on Tuesday (24 March).

She said rural crime devastates local communities yet often goes unseen, adding that further investment will help officers pursue offenders and better protect the countryside.

The NFU welcomed the move, but warned that serious challenges remain for farm businesses dealing with persistent criminal activity.

NFU vice-president Robyn Munt said organised gangs continue to plague the British countryside, targeting livestock, machinery and high-value GPS equipment.

She said the funding would help increase co-ordinated efforts across law enforcement, politicians, the farming community and insurers so that we can put a stop to these heinous criminals.

Rural crime continues to have a direct impact on day-to-day farming, with theft of quad bikes, GPS units and livestock disrupting operations and adding significant financial pressure.

Munt said the consequences go beyond financial loss, affecting farmers wellbeing and mental health while making it harder to run businesses effectively.

The National Rural Crime Network conference brought together leaders from policing, government and support services, highlighting growing recognition of rural crime as a serious national issue.

North Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Tim Forber was among the speakers, marking the first time a chief constable has addressed the event.

Munt said the creation of the National Rural Crime Unit had been a positive step, with better intelligence sharing and closer collaboration already helping to tackle crime.

NFU Mutual, which has invested nearly 2 million over the past five years to combat rural crime, also welcomed the continued funding.

Chief executive Nick Turner said the governments support would help strengthen the response to criminal activity, adding that rural crime has a negative impact on mental health as well as causing financial losses.

Alongside funding, questions remain over whether enough is being done to prevent theft. The government has confirmed new rules requiring forensic marking and registration for new ATVs and GPS units under the Equipment Theft Act.

However, it has stopped short of introducing mandatory immobilisers for quad bikes or extending measures to larger agricultural machinery  a decision the NFU is urging ministers to reconsider.

Munt said stronger security measures could play a crucial role in tackling organised crime. Sections, particularly fitting immobilisers to quad bikes and extra security measures for GPS systems, can be vital tools to help the police deal with the organised criminals targeting farm businesses, she said.

While the funding is seen as a positive step, industry leaders warn that rural crime remains a growing and evolving threat, with increasingly organised gangs continuing to target farm businesses across the UK.
New crofting legislation has been approved by the Scottish Parliament, with rural leaders welcoming it as a step towards stronger collaboration  but warning concerns remain.

Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) said the Crofting and Scottish Land Court (Scotland) Bill lays the groundwork for closer joint working between crofters and landowners.

The changes could reshape how crofting land is managed, with implications for rural communities, environmental targets and land use.

The Bill aims to simplify crofting law and expand the role of the Scottish Land Court, which will take on additional responsibilities including functions previously held by the Lands Tribunal for Scotland and certain access disputes.

It also highlights the growing role of crofting land in delivering environmental outcomes, particularly through carbon sequestration, while supporting rural populations and local economies.

While broadly welcomed, some concerns remain around representation and how the changes will be implemented.

SLE legal adviser Jackie McCreery said the legislation had been shaped through close collaboration across the sector.

She noted there had been meaningful collaboration between stakeholders throughout the process, reflecting what she described as the collegiate approach that underpins crofting communities.

McCreery added that SLE has consistently argued for the role of modern crofting landowners to be recognised and valued within their communities.

She said members remain committed to supporting the economic, environmental and social wellbeing of crofting areas, particularly where public funding alone cannot deliver wider outcomes.

The organisation also highlighted the potential of common grazings to support environmental goals.

McCreery said these areas could play a significant role in meeting Scotlands carbon targets. She stressed the need for clearer regulation and transparency around shared responsibilities.

She welcomed plans for a review of common grazings, saying improved transparency should help reduce abandonment and neglect.

The legislation also introduces provisions for voluntary joint venture agreements between crofters and landowners.

McCreery described collaborative working as the way forward, supporting a fair balance in sharing both risks and benefits.

She added that a well-functioning crofting system, supported by a strong Crofting Commission, should prevent either party from exploiting their position.

At the same time, she noted that landowners remain subject to oversight by the Land Court and must provide compensation where appropriate, ensuring crofters are protected.

SLE also backed measures to prevent shares in common grazings being separated from their parent croft, describing communal activity as a defining feature of the system.

McCreery warned that too many grazings are effectively abandoned, with landowners unable to act where shareholders cannot be traced or agreement cannot be reached.

However, SLE said it was disappointed that landowner representation on the Crofting Commission will no longer be guaranteed.

McCreery added that the organisation welcomed a commitment from ministers to formalise engagement with the Commission, ensuring landowners interests are considered at the appropriate level.

The Bill is expected to play a key role in shaping the future of crofting, as policymakers and industry look to balance environmental goals with sustainable rural communities.
Farmers are facing growing pressure from an overstretched environmental regulatory system that is struggling to keep pace with both reform and enforcement, MPs have warned.

A new report from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) raises concerns that regulators lack the resources and coordination needed to manage sweeping changes, while still supporting farm businesses to comply with increasingly complex rules.

The Committee warns that current regulation is not working effectively  either for nature recovery or for the rural economy  leaving farmers navigating a system that is becoming harder to understand and engage with.

Illegal waste dumping is highlighted as a worsening issue, with the scale of unlawful sites now outstripping the Environment Agencys (EA) ability to respond. The regulator is limited to lengthy criminal prosecutions, without access to faster civil enforcement powers.

Gaps in intelligence are also slowing action. While the EA moved quickly to tackle illegal dumping in Kidlington after receiving confirmed intelligence, local bodies had reportedly known about the issue for weeks.

MPs say stronger collaboration between the EA, police and local authorities is essential, warning that without it, waste crime risks continuing to affect rural communities.

Alongside enforcement challenges, regulators are attempting to implement 149 recommendations from multiple independent reviews. However, the PAC says this volume of change appears poorly coordinated and questions whether bodies such as Defra, the EA and Natural England have the capacity or skills to deliver it.

The Committee is calling for a clear plan from Defra, setting out how reforms will be managed and ensuring regulators are properly resourced.

For farmers, the lack of clarity is a key concern. The report finds that businesses are not receiving enough guidance or support to help them comply with environmental rules, raising the risk of confusion, administrative burden and potential penalties.

This comes at a time when the sector is already facing significant change, including updates to environmental land management schemes (ELMs), a forthcoming 25-year vision for agriculture, and the creation of a new water regulator.

MPs warn these developments could further complicate how farmers interact with regulators, unless government takes steps to streamline processes and provide clearer support.

One proposal under consideration is merging the roles of Natural England and the EA. The PAC suggests a single body could reduce duplication and create a more consistent approach, particularly where responsibilities overlap, such as planning and enforcement.

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Chair of the PAC, said: The UK has obvious and glaring problems with how environmental regulation is delivered.

He added that farmers are already dealing with the complexity of the systems within which they are obliged to work, alongside wider environmental challenges such as waste crime and pollution.

Our report finds that the current position [is] that regulators are not sufficiently resourced to follow this multiplicity of recommendations, while still carrying out their responsibilities towards the environment, he said.

Clifton-Brown described a merger between Natural England and the EA as one obvious solution to simplify the system, while warning that enforcement alone will not solve illegal dumping.

Without deeper co-operation with police and local authorities, illegal waste is still liable to be an out-of-control plague on our communities, he said.

The report also flags concerns over the governments Nature Restoration Fund, which aims to offset environmental damage from development. While potentially innovative, MPs warn it could introduce further complexity and barriers if not carefully managed.

Overall, the PAC concludes that environmental regulation currently lacks focus and direction, urging government to bring greater clarity  particularly for farmers and land managers who must operate within the system.
Ali Zafar is not holding back while teaching trolls and lesson or two. The Pakistani actor recently took to social media to share a sarcastic apology for wearing a "see-through kurta without banyan" on Eid. For those unaware, Zafar was the centre of social media attention for his sartorial choice on the occasion of Eid. He decided to take the criticism into account and share a befitting reply.

Taking to the social media platform X, Ali wrote, "I would like to apologise to the nation for wearing a see-through kurta without a banyan, and for the very serious act of watering plants while dressed in a traditional Ajrak dhoti on Eid. I understand this has been one of the most pressing national and global issues affecting everyone's lives lately, and I will do my best to never repeat this grave mistake again. Thank you for your attention to this matter." Sharing another funny video while retweeting his post, Ali added, "And because 'the nation wants to know' why I didn't wear the banyan..."



The post has garnered likes and comments from his well-wishers. Fans have lauded his sense of humour and reshared his post to show appreciation.



Although Ali Zafars official Instagram account is presently inaccessible to users in India, screenshots of his statement have been widely circulated online by fans. In recent developments, the social media presence of several Pakistani celebrities, including their Instagram and other platform accounts, has been restricted for users within India.





Despite the ongoing situation, Ali Zafar continues to remain a well-recognised and familiar name amongst Indian audiences. Over the years, he has built a strong presence in Bollywood by appearing in several well-known and widely appreciated films, which have contributed to his popularity across the country. He has starred in Bollywood films like Tere Bin Laden, Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, London, Paris, New York and Dear Zindagi.
The upcoming film KD: The Devil has been making headlines recently, but not entirely for the reasons the makers might have hoped. The films track Sarke Chunar, featuring Nora Fatehi and Sanjay Dutt, recently sparked controversy over its Hindi lyrics. While social media backlash and a formal complaint with the CBFC followed, some suggested the uproar might be a calculated publicity stunt. Breaking his silence on these allegations, director Prem has firmly denied any intention of creating controversy. Speaking about the film's narrative and the purpose of the song, he clarified that the movie is fundamentally an emotional story. He explained that Sarke Chunar Teri Sarke was designed simply as a fun, celebratory track intended for audiences to enjoy at parties and gatherings.

Addressing the claims of a publicity stunt, Prem asked, I don't want any controversy. Mine is an emotional film, and the song is meant to be something people dance to at parties. It's been well received in Karnataka and Kerala. Why would I want controversy?

The director attributed the issue to a language gap. While Prem wrote the original Kannada version himself, the Hindi lyrics were adapted by Raqueeb Alam. Prem admitted that because he is not fluent in Hindi, he did not fully grasp the nuances or implications of the translated words that eventually led to the backlash. He mentioned that the expressions used in the song are common in his rural cultural background but were misunderstood in the Hindi translation.

In a move to resolve the matter, the filmmaker confirmed that the controversial portions of the lyrics have been modified. The updated version will be submitted to the Censor Board for approval. Taking responsibility for the oversight, Prem offered an apology to those who felt offended.

He said, If anyone is hurt, I am very sorry. Our big film faced a small lyrics issue, but it has been blown out of proportion. There are so many larger problems in the world, war hai, LPG gas ki problem hai toh kyun ek gaane pe itni badi controversy kar di? (There is war, there is the problem of LPG gas, so why has such a big controversy been created over one song?) While the Hindi version was taken down after the controversy, the song remains available in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam, as the criticism was specifically directed at the Hindi adaptation.

Also Read: NCW Summons Makers of Tateeree and Sarke Chunar Teri Sarke Over Obscenity Allegations
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The new creative campaign stands behind those challenging societal norms, reflecting the spirit and DNA of the brand

Today marks the launch of Tuborg's new creative campaign which calls time on the hustle culture and social media perfectionism that's been weighing down Gen Z.

In a world that's constantly shouting about what you should be doing, from climbing the corporate ladder, hitting the gym at 5 AM, to curating the 'perfect' life, Tuborg is stepping in with a much-needed reality check.

The campaign is based on the insight1 that 40% of Gen Zs are feeling constantly anxious due to the pressure to be 'always on' or the rigid paths laid out by previous generations, and these expectations are becoming too much for them.

Tuborg's new 'You Don't Have To' platform directly supports the pursuit of authentic expression, encouraging people to abandon the toxic norms they experience and celebrate their own uniqueness. Rolling out globally, the fully integrated multimedia campaign - which spans TV, video on demand, out-of-home advertising and extensive digital and social media - engages consumers through?thought-provoking and rebellious storytelling.

To bring the platform to life, Tuborg is collaborating with influential artists and celebrities globally. This includes partnering with?Korean American?artist Jay Park, for?markets including China, Vietnam and Myanmar, who embodies the campaign's ethos of self-expression and challenging norms, illustrating that?there's?no single path to follow:?authenticity is key.?

"Society loves to set unrealistic expectations and it's exhausting trying to fit ourselves into boxes that don't represent who we are. We're championing those bold enough to reject cultural norms and decide for themselves what they want to do and who they want to be" says Anna Katrine Drumm-Hakim, Global Director at Tuborg.

"Tuborg has always been about celebrating your own voice and authentic connections. With 'You Don't Have To,' we're championing those moments where people feel they can own their own rhythm, shed those external pressures and truly be themselves."

For the full lowdown, head to Tuborg.com or catch the vibes on social.

For further information, visit carlsberggroup.com

Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2940522/Tuborg.mp4

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2940523/Tuborg.jpg

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/tuborg-tells-gen-z-you-dont-have-to-as-part-of-their-new-campaign-302722491.html
Beijing, China--(Newsfile Corp. - March 24, 2026) - On March 20, 2026, during AW26 Beijing Fashion Week, AM/JASMINE unveiled its new haute couture evening gown collection, "Tracing Shadows", at the Beijing's CP Center. For this season, the brand takes "Tracing Shadows" as the genesis for its creativity, journeying back through the river of time to retrace the contours and footprints of women. Employing the narrative language of haute couture, the collection sketches a multifaceted tableau of woman power, memory, and beauty; with every stitch, every bead, and every crustal, it pens a fashion epic uniquely belonging to the contemporary woman. "Tracing Shadows" is both a quest and an echo. As the gaze of the era refocuses on the female inner self-and as the imprints of history become the bedrock of confidence for today's women moving forward-AM/JASMINE utilizes "Tracing Shadows" as a key to unlock a dialogue between time and womanhood. This presentation is not merely a visual showcase of a new haute couture collection; it is, more profoundly, a tribute to the indomitable Female Spirit. It infuses AW26 Beijing Fashion Week with a haute couture aesthetic that harmonizes historical gravitas with contemporary avant-gardism, thereby redefining the symbiotic relationship between haute couture and the spirit of women.

Chinese Actresses Attending the Show: Ji Tianyu, Wang Yuxin, Xu Nannan

Chinese Actresses Walking the Runway: Ma Xiaoqian, Chen Miqi

The Tracing Shadows Show was a star-studded affair, with a host of celebrity guests making appearances. Stars such as Ma Xiaoqian, Xu Nannan, Chen Miqi, Wang Yuxin, and Ji Tianyu attended the show in person, immersing themselves in the aesthetics of haute couture. Chinese actresses Ma Xiaoqian and Chen Miqi took their involvement a step further by enthusiastically participating in the runway show-with Chen Miqi serving as the Show Opening Model and Ma Xiaoqian as the Show Closing Model for the "Mansheng" series. Clad in haute couture gowns by AM/JASMINE, the two artists graced the runway with elegance. Through their poised demeanor and graceful carriage, they perfectly embodied the exquisite craftsmanship and spiritual essence of the collection, adding a dazzling brilliance to the entire event.

Figure 3: Junior Designer Zhenqi Qiu (Gloria) with her designed garments

Even more delightful is the fact that this season's collection features a collaborative release with a young designer, Miss Zengqi (Gloria) Qiu. Her involvement went far beyond mere creative conceptualization; she was fully integrated into every stage of the garment creation process-from sketching initial inspirations, selecting fabrics and colors to designing intricate decorative details-contributing unique and constructive ideas throughout. Gloria's inspirations come from her love of and charitable efforts on behalf of marine life, which are reflected in her choice of marine colors and flowing materials. Drawing upon a perspective of pure innocence and boundless imagination, this young designer infused the Tracing Shadows series with a sense of genuine warmth and lyrical grace. Through a dynamic interplay and fusion of ideas with designer Amanda Liang, these whimsical, childlike concepts were transformed into the moving details and ingenious touches that adorn the gowns. For the runway show, she even took to the catwalk herself modeling her creations, presenting-with all the charms and energy of budding womanhood-a complete and vivid expression of this unique blend of youthful romance and creativity.

Four distinct collections of fashion design works

This season's designs abound with highlights; the four core collections-"First Light", "Declaration", "Proliferation", and "Silent Power"-each employ a unique language of color, silhouette, and craftsmanship to interpret the multifaceted dimensions of time and womanhood, thereby bringing the spiritual essence and aesthetic texture of the "Tracing Shadows" series to full and vivid expression.

Opening Models of the Main Show: Qu Jingya, Gao Menghan

Opening the Show in the "First Light" (White) Series, child lead model Qu Jingya and adult lead model Gao Menghan made a stunning debut clad in "First Light" white gowns. Resembling sprites bathed in forest moonlight, they exuded an aura of pure elegance and ethereal grace. Sparkling crystal embellishments adorned the lightweight fabrics-evoking the shimmering mists of dawn-writing a dreamlike yet powerful opening chapter for the entire runway spectacle.

The "Declaration" Series (Pink-Purple-Red): Striking directly at the heart with highly architectural, three-dimensional silhouettes, this series features shades of pink that bloom like layers of passionate, glowing twilight. Red rhinestones, meticulously hand-set to form abstract textual motifs, trace the body's contours with precision. This design transforms the attitude and strength of womanhood into tangible attire, embodying a core spirit of courageous self-expression and a refusal to be defined.

The "Proliferation" Series (Blue-Green): A natural color gradient flows from deep forest green to tender spring emeralds, interwoven with hand-coiled, vine-like beadwork. This imagery serves as a metaphor for power-much like plants-taking root, spreading, and enduring eternally. The interplay of light and dark blue-green tones resembles the very lifelines of existence; the hand-beaded vines wind across the gowns, appearing gentle yet possessing the unyielding resilience to break through the earth.

The "Silent Power" Series (Black-Gold): Featuring crisp satin fabrics and sharp, incisive tailoring, this series is accented by linear diamond-like crystal detailing across the shoulders-resembling a galaxy shimmering against the night sky-silent yet potent. The color palette naturally projects an aura of composure, while the clean silhouettes underscore female independence and decisiveness. It interprets the feminine attitude that "Silence, too, projects Power," allowing a radiance that demands to be reckoned with to blossom amidst the stillness.

To perfectly embody the profound depth and interplay of light and shadow inherent in Tracing Shadows collection, the entire series is infused with an ethos of ultimate craftsmanship and intricate manual artistry. Utilizing only the finest materials and exquisite techniques of Master Artisans, it sculpts the unique beauty that the passage of time bestows upon women. Culminating in over thousand hours of meticulous handiwork, tens of thousands of custom-cut rhinestones, crystals, and gemstones are hand-set along the key contours of each gown. Through the application of three-dimensional tailoring, layered construction, and internal structural boning, the designs achieve silhouettes that are simultaneously architectural in form and perfectly contoured to the body. This approach shatters the stereotypes of traditional evening wear, offering a precise interpretation of the multifaceted identities of contemporary women-balancing softness with strength, and restraint with bold expression-thereby allowing the gown to serve as a dual extension of a woman's physical presence and inner spirit.

Curtain Call: All Models and Designer Amanda Liang Chen

Amanda Liang, Chief Designer for AM/JASMINE, states: "'Tracing Shadows' is about seeing those 'shadows' that are often overlooked. What we seek is not merely the fleeting images left by the passage of time upon fabric, but-more importantly-the authentic contours etched into history by countless women." AM/JASMINE consistently draws inspiration from everyday life and grounds itself in meticulous craftsmanship, utilizing the language of fashion to interpret beauty across its myriad dimensions. The launch of this "Tracing Shadows" Haute Couture collection represents not only a further sublimation of the brand's design philosophy but also establishes an enduring narrative regarding time, strength, and beauty within the brand's legacy.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289667

Source: China Newswire
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - Silver One Resources Inc. (TSXV: SVE) (OTCQX: SLVRF) (FSE: BRK1) ("Silver One" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that President and CEO Greg Crowe will provide a live webcast presentation at the John Tumazos Very Independent Research, LLC virtual conference on Wednesday, April 1st, at 2:45 pm EDT.

Mr. Crowe plans to review ongoing metallurgical work and drilling programs at Silver One's past producing Candelaria silver mine in Nevada. These programs are designed to upgrade the current resource on its two heap leach pads, provide more heap leach material for a Pilot test to determine silver and gold recoveries using Extrakt/Bechtel's innovative, non-cyanide leaching solutions and to continue drilling potential extensions to the current in-ground silver-gold resource completed in compliance with NI 43-101. The ultimate goal is to complete a Pre-Feasibility study by the end of 2026.

Ongoing work at the Company's Phoenix Silver project in Nevada will also be discussed. At Phoenix Silver, Silver One is continuing to explore for very high-grade silver vein potential. It is also assessing the potential for a porphyry copper-silver system in the southern portion of its property. The property lies immediately along strike from Freeport McMoRan's Miami-City copper producing operations and from BHP's recent Ocelot porphyry discovery. All these projects lie within one of the most prolific porphyry copper-silver belts in the United States, which is also host to Capstone's Pinto Valley, KGHM's Carlota and Rio Tinto-BHP's Resolution deposits.

To access the live presentation, please register in advance by going to:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8422108889641405020

Qualified Persons

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Robert M. Cann, P. Geo, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and an independent consultant to the Company.

About Silver One

Silver One is focused on the exploration and development of quality silver projects. The Company holds 100% interest in its flagship project, the past-producing Candelaria Mine located in Nevada. Potential reprocessing of silver from the historic leach pads at Candelaria provides an opportunity for possible near-term production. Additional opportunities lie in previously identified high-grade silver intercepts down-dip and potentially increasing the substantive silver mineralization along-strike from the two past-producing open pits.

The Company owns 636 lode claims and five patented claims on its Cherokee project located in Lincoln County, Nevada, host to multiple silver-copper-gold vein systems, traced to date for over 11 km along-strike.

Silver One also owns a 100% interest in the Silver Phoenix Project. The Silver Phoenix Project is a very high-grade native silver prospect that lies within the "Arizona Silver Belt," immediately adjacent to the prolific copper producing area of Globe, Arizona.

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Silver One cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Silver One's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Silver One's limited operating history, ability to obtain sufficient financing to carry out its exploration and development objectives on the Candelaria Project, obtaining the necessary permits to carry out its activities and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Silver One undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289846

Source: Silver One Resources Inc.
TOULOUSE, France, March 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EarthDaily today announced that it has been awarded a 480,000 grant by the French Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty under the FASEP (Fonds d'Etudes et d'Aide au Secteur Prive) program to support the Ukrainian government with advanced agricultural intelligence capabilities.



The award was granted to the French company GEOSYS, which was acquired by EarthDaily in 2021 and has since fully operated as such.

The project will provide in-season crop area estimates and yield trends across Ukraine at the regional level (Oblast), enabling the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine to strengthen agricultural monitoring and improve decision-making during a period of extraordinary disruption to the country's food production systems.

The grant supports a multi-year initiative designed to apply EarthDaily's advanced agricultural analytics and artificial intelligence models, as well as data from the EarthDaily Constellation which is set to become operational this summer. The project will focus on key crops such as winter wheat, winter barley, winter rapeseed, sunflower, and corn, to estimate crop production and monitor agricultural conditions across Ukraine delivering regular reports on crop area, yield forecasts, and regional production trends.

"This project demonstrates how advanced Earth observation and analytics can support governments during times of uncertainty," said Cecile Tartarin, General Manager, Europe, EarthDaily. "Reliable agricultural intelligence is critical for food security, economic stability, and global commodity markets. We are honored to support the Ukrainian Ministry of Agriculture with the data and insights needed to understand crop conditions in near real time safeguarding its harvests, stabilizing market expectations and maintaining its vital role in global food production."

The FASEP Innovation Verte program accelerates the deployment of advanced, environmentally focused technologies from French companies to address global challenges such as climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, and food security, while this project showcases how high-impact Earth observation analytics can strengthen national agricultural monitoring and improve transparency across global supply chains.

At the same time, FASEP is designed to propel the international growth of French industry, with a Steering Committee representing French retailers, AgTech firms, seed and input providers, food and beverage companies, insurers, and financial institutions, ensuring continuous, practical feedback throughout the project and creating a clear path for future adoption of calibrated analytics across their platforms and operational models.

In addition to supporting Ukraine's agricultural resilience, the impact of this partnership will demonstrate how Earth observation analytics can strengthen national agricultural monitoring systems and improve transparency across global food supply chains.

The grant agreement was formally approved by the French Ministry of Economy on November 24, 2025, with implementation coordinated through BPI France Assurance Export, acting on behalf of the French government, and the support of the French Ambassy in Kyiv.

About EarthDaily

EarthDaily is a global Earth observation company focused on delivering science-grade data and analytics designed for broad-area change detection and decision-centric intelligence. With the upcoming launch of the EarthDaily Constellation, the company is building a foundation for daily, globally consistent Earth intelligence to support governments and enterprises operating in complex, high-impact environments.



To learn more, visit earthdaily.com and follow EarthDaily on LinkedIn (@EarthDaily) and X (@EarthDailyA).

Contacts

Tanya CrossVice President, Global Marketing and Communications

EarthDaily

tanya.cross@earthdaily.com



Alliance Advisors IR

EarthDaily

PR@allianceadvisors.com



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b643c25d-33d1-4a71-89cc-67c0525bd1a3
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!
Delta Gold Technologies Plc - Penn State University Article re Sponsorhip Agreement

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, March 25

Delta Gold Technologies plc

Penn State University News Release re Sponsorship Agreement

25 March 2026 - Delta Gold Technologies PLC ("Delta" or the "Company") (Aquis: DGQ / OTC: DGQTF), a technology company developing intellectual property in the quantum computing ("QC") sector, is pleased to note the article from Penn State University regarding the Research Sponsorship and exclusive Technology Licensing Agreement ("TLA") we announced on 12 February 2026. The full text of Penn State's article is reproduced below:

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Delta Gold Technologies, ( DGQT- OTCQB, DGQ-Aquis) a technology company focused on developing intellectual property in the quantum computing sector, has signed a three-year, $3 million research agreement with Kenneth Knappenberger, professor of chemistry and physics and head of the Department of Chemistry at Penn State, to support research exploring applications of nano-scale gold clusters in quantum information science.

Under the agreement, Delta Gold Technologies will provide up to $1 million each year to support research to characterize and engineer the electronic and optical properties of gold nanoclusters. These "super-atomic" nanoclusters are promising candidates for next-generation quantum technologies. In his previous research , Knappenberger showed that gold nanoclusters have the same key properties as the current state-of-the-art methods for quantum information systems, but with the added benefit of scalability and tunability.

"These gold clusters have all the intrinsic properties necessary to support a variety of quantum applications, from computing to sensing and diagnostics," Knappenberger said. "But there's a lot we still need to understand about the material before we know what that final product might look like. This partnership with Delta Gold will invest in the equipment, supplies, and personnel that we need to rapidly push past that bottleneck, to make detailed correlations between the quantum properties and the nanostructure of the material and to then fine-tune it to be functional for quantum applications."

Knappenberger's research group is internationally recognized for advancing ultrafast and electronic spin spectroscopy and molecular-level investigations of nanoscale materials. His work has contributed foundational insights into how electrons behave in confined systems, knowledge that is critical for developing materials suitable for quantum applications.

"Penn State has a long history of theoretical, foundational, and applied research in quantum science, often bolstered through interdisciplinary connections, and we are well-positioned as we approach the so-called quantum revolution," said Andrew Read, senior vice president for research at Penn State. "This new partnership will accelerate the important research that Ken and his research group have been pursuing, providing both funding and flexibility to explore the potential of gold nanoclusters to support quantum applications."

Delta Gold Technologies, led by CEO and Director R. Michael Jones, is focused on advancing high-value applications of gold-based nanomaterials. The company's portfolio includes the development and commercialization of precision-engineered gold nanostructures for use in electronics, catalysis and emerging quantum technologies. Through strategic academic partnerships, Delta Gold aims to accelerate the translation of fundamental discoveries into scalable, real-world solutions.

"We are very excited to work with Penn State, a top American University with extraordinary abilities in materials science and engineering," said Jones, "Amazingly, independently they were investigating the properties of nano scale gold and other materials for quantum computing at the same time as our work that is on-going at the University of Toronto with similar materials. Signing an agreement with Penn State adds to our portfolio of potential IP and is a direct execution step of our mission to establish a 'Centre of Excellence' in Quantum Computing Research. The opportunity for top universities to collaborate is extremely exciting in the developing field."

The research will be conducted at Penn State's University Park campus and is expected to support graduate students and postdoctoral scholars while strengthening the University's interdisciplinary efforts in chemistry, physics and materials science.

"Ken is an outstanding scholar, mentor, educator, and leader, and, as a chemist, he brings a unique expertise in materials characterization and synthesis to the field of quantum science, which is typically dominated by researchers in physics and materials science," said Tracy Langkilde, Verne M. Willaman Dean of the Penn State Eberly College of Science. "We are grateful for the new partnership with Delta Gold, which will move this field forward in exciting ways as well as support students and postdocs in gaining important skills through their work on this project."

This collaboration underscores Penn State's commitment to industry partnerships that advance discovery, workforce development and the translation of research into societal impact.

"This kind of collaboration is new territory for me as a foundational researcher, but it's been a boon for my program," Knappenberger said. "I encourage other researchers to reach out to their college corporate and communications offices as well as the University's Corporate Engagement Center to learn more about industry partnership opportunities, even at the foundational research level. Leveraging the expertise from these offices has really streamlined the process and helped open up new possibilities to promote, fund, and rapidly advance my research. They have been wonderful at answering all my questions and connecting me with other resources on campus."

Full Article Link: https://science.psu.edu/news/penn-state-delta-gold-agreement

About the Eberly College of Science Office for Innovation

The Eberly College of Science Office for Innovation helps researchers move breakthrough discoveries toward real-world impact by providing structured expertise, guided mentorship, and catalytic funding that accelerates early-stage science toward meaningful outcomes. As the first step toward impact for researchers in the Eberly College, the office provides a structured foundation that enables downstream success, assists faculty in step-by-step processes, and connects them with other resources throughout Penn State.

About the Corporate Engagement Center

The Corporate Engagement Center connects industry partners to strategic opportunities at Penn State for research and development, philanthropy, and talent recruitment. The center serves as a hub for industry/University relationships, supporting companies as they navigate the vast resources of Penn State.

About Delta Gold Technologies

Delta is developing, with an option for an exclusive license, intellectual property ("IP") targeted towards the quantum computing ("QC") space that can be licenced globally. This technology will be centered around the usage of nano-scale gold and other materials. Utilising the unique physical properties of certain materials which are believed to have direct and significant applications within the rapidly growing QC space.

This IP will be developed with top global nanotechnology and QC teams globally, with the intention to further develop the IP, file provisional patents and subsequently license the technology.

For further information contact:
The peptide therapeutics market is evolving as pharmaceutical companies increasingly focus on developing highly specific and effective treatment options with improved safety profiles. Peptides offer advantages such as high specificity, low toxicity, and better biological activity, making them suitable for a wide range of therapeutic applications. Continuous innovation in peptide engineering, including modifications to enhance stability and bioavailability, is further strengthening the market landscape. Market growth is also supported by the increasing burden of chronic conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, which require advanced and targeted treatment approaches. As healthcare systems shift toward precision and personalized medicine, peptide therapeutics are gaining traction as an important class of biologically active compounds. Additionally, advancements in drug delivery technologies, including injectable and oral peptide formulations, are improving patient compliance and expanding clinical use.

Peptide Therapeutics Market Share by Region

North America represents a significant share of the peptide therapeutics market, driven by strong research and development investments, advanced healthcare infrastructure, and the presence of major pharmaceutical companies. The region continues to lead in innovation and adoption of peptide-based therapies.

Europe holds a notable position in the market, supported by growing research initiatives, favorable regulatory frameworks, and increasing focus on advanced therapeutics.

Asia-Pacific is emerging as a high-growth region due to rising healthcare expenditure, expanding pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities, and increasing awareness of advanced treatment options.

"Rising clinical adoption of peptide-based therapies reflects steady progress in targeted treatment approaches across multiple indications. This assessment draws on consistently updated datasets and cross-verified sources, offering decision-makers a balanced, evidence-led view aligned with observable market developments," says Soumya Goud, Senior Research Manager, Mordor Intelligence.

Peptide Therapeutics Market Trends & Forecast

Growing Adoption of Peptide-Based Targeted Therapies: Peptide therapeutics are increasingly being used in targeted treatment approaches due to their high specificity and ability to interact with biological targets effectively, particularly in oncology and metabolic disorders.

Advancements in Peptide Synthesis and Drug Delivery Technologies: Innovations in synthesis techniques and delivery systems improve peptide stability, bioavailability, and ease of administration, supporting broader clinical applications.

Peptide Therapeutics Market Segmentation Overview

By Marketing Type

Branded

Generic

By Application

Oncology

Metabolic Disorders

Cardiovascular Disorders

Infectious Diseases

Gastrointestinal Disorders

CNS Disorders

By Route of Administration

Parenteral

Oral

Pulmonary & Nasal

Transdermal & Implantable

By Technology

Solid-Phase Peptide Synthesis (SPPS)

Liquid-Phase Peptide Synthesis (LPPS)

Hybrid & Flow Chemistry

Recombinant Expression

By End User

Hospitals & Clinics

Research Institutes

Pharmaceutical & Biotech Companies

By Geography

North America United States Canada Mexico

Europe Germany United Kingdom France Italy Spain Rest of Europe

Asia-Pacific China Japan India Australia South Korea Rest of Asia-Pacific

Middle East & Africa GCC South Africa Rest of Middle East & Africa

South America Brazil Argentina Rest of South America



For a full breakdown of market dynamics, segmentation insights, regional analysis, and competitive landscape, access the details of the Mordor Intelligence report: https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/peptide-therapeutics-market?utm_source=prnewswire

Peptide Therapeutics Market Competitive Outlook

The peptide therapeutics market features a mix of global pharmaceutical companies and specialized biotechnology firms focusing on innovation, pipeline expansion, and strategic collaborations. Market participants are investing in advanced peptide platforms, improving manufacturing capabilities, and expanding their therapeutic portfolios to address evolving healthcare needs.

Major Companies include:

Amgen Inc.

AstraZeneca plc

Eli Lilly and Company

F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd

Novo Nordisk A/S

Pfizer Inc.

Sanofi S.A.

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

GlaxoSmithKline plc

Industry Related Reports by Mordor Intelligence

Anesthesia Drugs Market Size - The anesthesia drugs market is projected to grow from USD 7.77 billion in 2026 to USD 9.30 billion by 2031, registering a CAGR of 3.65% during the forecast period. Growth is driven by increasing surgical procedures, rising demand for safe and effective anesthetic agents, and expanding healthcare infrastructure across emerging and developed markets.

Baxter International Inc., B. Braun Melsungen AG, Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA, Pfizer Inc. and Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd. are the major companies operating in this market.

Read more about companies in the anesthesia drugs market: https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/global-anesthesia-drugs-market-industry/companies?utm_source=prnewswire

India Pharmaceuticals Market Trends - The India pharmaceuticals market is estimated to grow from USD 60.32 billion in 2026 to USD 79.74 billion by 2031, registering a CAGR of 5.74% during the forecast period. Market expansion is supported by strong generic drug manufacturing, increasing domestic demand for medicines, and growing export opportunities across global markets.

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, Cipla Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Reddy's laboratories, Torrent Pharmaceuticals and Cipla Ltd. are the major companies operating in this market.

Read more about companies in the India pharmaceuticals market: https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/pharmaceuticals-industry-in-india/companies?utm_source=prnewswire

Botulinum Toxin Market Share - The botulinum toxin market is expected to grow from USD 13.87 billion in 2026 to USD 20.94 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 8.59% over the forecast period. Growth is driven by rising demand for aesthetic procedures, increasing therapeutic applications in neurology and dermatology, and expanding awareness of minimally invasive cosmetic treatments.

Evolus, AbbVie, Merz, Ipsen Pharma and Galderma are the major companies operating in this market.

Read more about companies in the botulinum toxin market: https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/global-botulinum-toxin-market/companies?utm_source=prnewswire

About Mordor Intelligence:?

Mordor Intelligence is a trusted partner for businesses seeking comprehensive and actionable market intelligence. Our global reach, expert team, and tailored solutions empower organizations and individuals to make informed decisions, navigate complex markets, and achieve their strategic goals.?

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With a team of over 550 domain experts and on-ground specialists spanning 150+ countries, Mordor Intelligence possesses a unique understanding of the global business landscape. This expertise translates into comprehensive syndicated and custom research reports covering a wide spectrum of industries, including aerospace & defense, agriculture, animal nutrition and wellness, automation, automotive, chemicals & materials, consumer goods & services, electronics, energy & power, financial services, food & beverages, healthcare, hospitality & tourism, information & communications technology, investment opportunities, and logistics.?

For any inquiries, please contact:

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Regionally, North America leads the Global Flight Simulation Systems Market, accounting for approximately 32% of the total market share in 2026. The region's leadership is supported by the strong presence of leading simulation system providers, high defense expenditure, and well-established aviation training infrastructure, along with continuous technological advancements in training systems.

Global Flight Simulation Systems Market Key Takeaways

The Global Flight Simulation Systems Market was valued at around USD 6.0 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow from USD 6.5 billion in 2026 to approximately USD 9.2 billion by 2032, reflecting steady market expansion driven by increasing demand for trained pilots, rising adoption of advanced simulation technologies, and growing emphasis on aviation safety and regulatory compliance.

By type, Full Flight Simulators (FFS) accounted for approximately 45% of the Global Flight Simulation Systems Market share in 2026, supported by their high-fidelity training capabilities, regulatory approval for pilot certification, and widespread adoption across commercial aviation training programs.

By training method, the synthetic simulation segment held around 70% of the Global Flight Simulation Systems Market share in 2026, driven by its established reliability, cost-effectiveness, and widespread regulatory acceptance compared to emerging immersive technologies such as virtual and mixed reality.

The presence of leading global companies continues to strengthen the competitive landscape through ongoing technological innovations, simulator upgrades, and strategic collaborations aimed at enhancing pilot training efficiency and safety.

Download a FREE PDF Sample of the Report https://www.marknteladvisors.com/query/request-sample/flight-simulation-systems-market-report.html (Discover key market trends, growth opportunities, and industry insights.)

Key Drivers Shaping the Future Outlook of the Flight Simulation Systems Market

Rising Global Demand for Pilot Training & Aviation Safety

One of the primary factors driving the growth of the flight simulation systems market is the increasing global demand for trained pilots, fueled by the rapid expansion of commercial aviation networks and rising air passenger traffic worldwide. As airlines continue to scale operations, aviation authorities and industry stakeholders are placing greater emphasis on ensuring pilot competency, operational safety, and strict adherence to regulatory standards.

In this context, flight simulation systems play a critical role by providing a safe, controlled, and cost-effective training environment. These systems enable operators to replicate complex flight scenarios, emergency situations, and adverse weather conditions without exposing pilots or equipment to real-world risks. As a result, simulation-based training significantly enhances operational preparedness while simultaneously reducing training costs and fuel consumption.

Furthermore, stringent aviation safety regulations enforced by global aviation authorities are increasingly mandating the use of certified simulation systems for pilot training and recurrent certification. This regulatory push continues to accelerate the adoption of advanced simulation technologies across both commercial and civil aviation sectors.

Growing Defense Investments & Military Training Modernization

In addition to commercial aviation, increasing investments in defense aviation and military training programs are significantly contributing to market expansion. Governments across the globe are prioritizing the modernization of their air forces, with a strong focus on enhancing combat readiness and operational efficiency through advanced training solutions.

Flight simulation systems are becoming an essential component of modern military training frameworks, as they allow personnel to engage in highly realistic mission simulations, including combat scenarios, tactical operations, and mission rehearsals. These systems offer a cost-effective and risk-free alternative to live training exercises, which are often resource-intensive and operationally complex.

Moreover, the growing adoption of advanced solutions such as full mission simulators (FMS) and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) simulators is further strengthening the development of comprehensive and technology-driven military training ecosystems.

Key Challenges Limiting the Expansion of the Flight Simulation Systems Market

High Initial Costs & Complex System Integration

Despite its strong growth potential, the flight simulation systems market faces notable challenges, particularly due to the high initial investment required for deploying advanced simulation systems such as full flight simulators.

These systems incorporate sophisticated hardware components, high-fidelity software, motion platforms, and advanced visual technologies, all of which contribute to substantial capital expenditure. Consequently, the cost barrier can limit adoption, particularly among smaller training providers and emerging markets.

In addition to cost constraints, the integration of simulation systems into existing training infrastructure presents further complexity. Ensuring compatibility with legacy systems while meeting stringent aviation regulatory requirements can be both time-consuming and resource-intensive.

Nevertheless, ongoing technological advancements, coupled with the increasing adoption of cloud-based simulation platforms and the development of more cost-effective training solutions, are expected to gradually alleviate these challenges. As the industry continues to evolve, these innovations will play a key role in making advanced simulation systems more accessible and scalable across global markets.

Market Analysis by Type, Training Method & Region

By type, Full Flight Simulators (FFS) held a dominant position in the Global Flight Simulation Systems Market, accounting for approximately 45% share in 2026. This leadership is primarily attributed to their ability to deliver highly realistic training environments that closely replicate actual flight conditions. FFS systems are widely adopted across commercial aviation due to their compliance with stringent regulatory certification standards and their effectiveness in pilot training and evaluation. As airlines continue to emphasize safety and operational efficiency, the demand for high-fidelity simulators is expected to remain strong, further reinforcing the segment's leading position in the market.

By training method, synthetic simulation emerged as the leading segment, capturing around 70% of the Global Flight Simulation Systems Market share in 2026. This dominance is driven by its widespread adoption across aviation training programs, owing to its proven reliability, cost-effectiveness, and seamless integration with existing training infrastructures. Synthetic simulation enables comprehensive pilot training through controlled and repeatable environments, making it a preferred choice among airlines and training institutions. Additionally, its strong regulatory acceptance further supports its continued use, even as emerging technologies like virtual and mixed reality gradually gain traction within the industry.

Regionally, North America accounted for the largest share of approximately 32% in the Global Flight Simulation Systems Market in 2026. The region's dominance is supported by its well-established aviation ecosystem, advanced training infrastructure, and the strong presence of leading simulation system providers. Moreover, high defense spending and continuous investments in pilot training and simulation technologies are further driving market growth. Regulatory frameworks emphasizing aviation safety and training standards also contribute to the widespread adoption of advanced simulation systems. As a result, North America is expected to maintain its leadership position in the global market over the forecast period.

View Full Report (All Data, In One Place) https://www.marknteladvisors.com/research-library/flight-simulation-systems-market-report.html (Explore in-depth analyses, technology trends, and investment opportunities.)

Strategic Alliances Accelerating Innovation in Flight Simulation Technologies

The global flight simulation systems market is increasingly shaped by strategic collaborations and technology partnerships aimed at enhancing simulation capabilities and expanding training capacity across both commercial and defense aviation sectors. These alliances are enabling industry players to combine technical expertise, accelerate product development, and address the growing global demand for advanced pilot training solutions.

In 2025, Havelsan signed an agreement with Boeing to integrate the B737 MAX-8 Full Flight Simulator into its production line. This development marks a significant step toward strengthening the global supply of high-fidelity simulators, particularly for one of the world's most widely used commercial aircraft platforms. By expanding simulator availability, the partnership supports airlines and training providers in meeting the rising demand for pilot certification and recurrent training, while also improving operational efficiency and safety standards.

Further reinforcing this trend, Reiser Simulation and Training partnered with Leonardo in 2025 to co-develop a Level 3 Flight Training Device (FTD) for the AW139 helicopter. This collaboration is focused on delivering advanced yet cost-efficient rotorcraft simulation solutions that cater to both civil and military applications. By combining technological innovation with cost optimization, such initiatives are expected to broaden access to high-quality training systems and drive the next phase of growth in the global flight simulation systems market.

Prominent Players in the Global Flight Simulation Systems Market

CAE Inc.

L3Harris Technologies

The Boeing Company

Thales

FlightSafety International

Airbus

Raytheon Technologies

Indra Sistemas

Elite Simulation Solutions

SIMCOM Aviation Training

Precision Flight Controls

Avion Group

Leonardo

FAAC

ECA Group

Others

Global Flight Simulation Systems Market Scope

By Component: Hardware, Software, Services

By Type: Full Flight Simulators (FFS), Full Mission Simulators (FMS), Flight Training Devices (FTD), Fixed Base Simulators (FBS), UAV Simulators, Others

By Platform: Commercial, Military, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

By Training Method: Synthetic Simulation, Virtual Reality (VR) / Mixed Reality (MR)

By End-User: Simulation & Training Facilities, Air Forces, Civil

By Region: North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa

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About MarkNtel Advisors

MarkNtel Advisors is a global market research and consulting firm dedicated to delivering accurate, data-driven insights across a wide spectrum of high-growth and emerging industries. The company follows a robust research framework that combines extensive primary research, featuring direct interactions with industry leaders, domain experts, and key stakeholders, with carefully validated secondary data sources. This integrated approach ensures the reliability, precision, and credibility of its market intelligence.

With strong domain expertise and a team of skilled analysts, MarkNtel Advisors provides strategic market insights that help organizations, investors, and decision-makers identify emerging opportunities, understand evolving industry dynamics, and make well-informed business decisions in an increasingly competitive and rapidly changing global market environment.

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Across global regions, North America dominates the market, accounting for nearly 47% of the total market share in 2026. The region's leadership is supported by early adoption of Zero Trust architectures, strong presence of leading cybersecurity vendors, and stringent data protection regulations across enterprises.

Global Zero Trust Browser Security Market Key Takeaways

The Global Zero Trust Browser Security Market was valued at around USD 0.65 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow from USD 0.78 billion in 2026 to approximately USD 4.98 billion by 2032, reflecting strong market expansion driven by increasing enterprise demand for secure browsing environments and advanced threat protection mechanisms.

By component, the Solution segment accounted for nearly 85% of the market share in 2026, driven by the widespread adoption of browser isolation platforms, secure enterprise browsers, and policy enforcement solutions that provide comprehensive protection against phishing, malware, and data leakage.

By end-user, the BFSI sector captured approximately 26% of the market share in 2026, supported by its critical need to protect sensitive financial data, prevent credential theft, and ensure secure digital transactions across web-based platforms.

The presence of leading cybersecurity providers continues to strengthen market competitiveness through continuous innovation and development of advanced Zero Trust browser security solutions.

Download a FREE PDF Sample of the Report: https://www.marknteladvisors.com/query/request-sample/zero-trust-browser-security-market-report.html (Explore emerging Zero Trust security trends, browser isolation technologies, and key industry developments.)

Core Factors Fueling Market Expansion in Zero Trust Browser Security

Escalating Browser-Based Threat Landscape Driving Market Adoption

As the browser increasingly becomes the central interface for enterprise applications and cloud-based services, it has evolved into a critical attack surface for modern cyber threats. The growing prevalence of phishing attacks, credential theft, malicious scripts, and ransomware delivered through web sessions is compelling organizations to rethink traditional security approaches.

In response, enterprises are rapidly adopting Zero Trust browser security solutions that isolate browsing activity, enforce granular access controls, and eliminate direct interaction between endpoints and potentially harmful web content. This approach significantly minimizes the risk of compromise while ensuring secure access to digital resources. Moreover, with the continued expansion of SaaS adoption and hybrid work environments, securing browser sessions has become an essential pillar of enterprise cybersecurity strategies.

Rising Integration of Zero Trust with SASE and SSE Frameworks

Building on this shift, organizations worldwide are transitioning from conventional perimeter-based security models to Zero Trust architectures, where no user or device is inherently trusted. Within this framework, browser security plays a pivotal role in enforcing access controls at the application layer, ensuring continuous verification of user activity.

Furthermore, the growing convergence of browser security with Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) and Secure Service Edge (SSE) frameworks is accelerating market growth. These integrated architectures provide unified protection across networks, endpoints, and cloud applications, enabling organizations to manage security risks more efficiently in increasingly distributed IT environments. As a result, enterprises are prioritizing solutions that align with these modern, cloud-native security paradigms.

Core Challenges Limiting Market Penetration

Complex Implementation and Integration Challenges

Despite strong growth potential, the market faces challenges related to the complexity of deploying Zero Trust browser security solutions. Integrating these solutions with existing IT infrastructure, identity systems, and security frameworks requires significant technical expertise and investment.

Additionally, concerns regarding user experience, latency in remote browser isolation, and compatibility with legacy applications may hinder adoption among certain organizations. Addressing these challenges through improved solution design and seamless integration capabilities will be critical for broader market penetration.

Market Analysis by Component, Deployment Type & Region

Based on component, the Solutions segment holds a dominant position in the Global Zero Trust Browser Security Market, accounting for approximately 85% share in 2026. This strong dominance is attributed to the growing enterprise demand for integrated, platform-based security solutions that provide comprehensive browser protection. These solutions encompass capabilities such as browser isolation, policy enforcement, and data loss prevention, enabling organizations to safeguard sensitive data and mitigate advanced cyber threats. Moreover, as enterprises increasingly adopt cloud applications and remote work models, the need for scalable and efficient browser security solutions continues to rise, further strengthening the segment's leadership in the market.

Based on deployment architecture, the BFSI segment represents a significant share of approximately 26% in 2026, highlighting its position as a key adopter of Zero Trust browser security solutions. The sector's dominance is primarily driven by the critical need to protect highly sensitive financial data, prevent fraud, and ensure secure digital transactions across web-based platforms. Additionally, increasing cyber threats targeting financial institutions have compelled organizations within this sector to adopt advanced security frameworks. As regulatory requirements continue to tighten and digital banking expands, the BFSI segment is expected to maintain its strong demand for robust and reliable browser security solutions.

Regionally, North America dominates the Global Zero Trust Browser Security Market, holding the largest share of approximately 47% in 2026. This dominance is supported by the region's advanced cybersecurity infrastructure, early adoption of Zero Trust frameworks, and the strong presence of leading market players. Furthermore, stringent data protection regulations and high awareness of cybersecurity risks among enterprises have accelerated the adoption of browser security solutions. As organizations across industries continue to prioritize secure access to cloud applications and digital platforms, North America is expected to maintain its leading position in the global market.

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Strategic Innovations and Industry Advancements Shaping the Zero Trust Browser Security Landscape

The Global Zero Trust Browser Security Market is witnessing continuous innovation as leading cybersecurity providers focus on strengthening browser-native security capabilities and expanding Zero Trust frameworks. Reflecting this trend, in 2025, Palo Alto Networks enhanced its Prisma SASE platform with the launch of Prisma Access Browser 2.0, a SASE-native secure browser designed to extend Zero Trust security directly into browser environments. The solution integrates AI-powered threat detection, real-time data protection, and advanced access controls, enabling secure user activity across distributed enterprise environments while mitigating risks associated with phishing and malware attacks.

Building on this momentum, in 2026, Zscaler announced its acquisition of SquareX, aiming to further enhance its Zero Trust browser security capabilities. This strategic move focuses on embedding lightweight security extensions into standard browsers across any device, enabling seamless and scalable protection without compromising user experience. Together, these developments highlight the industry's growing emphasis on browser-centric security as a critical component of modern, cloud-first cybersecurity strategies.

Major Companies in the Global Zero Trust Browser Security Market

Key companies contributing to market growth and innovation include:

Menlo Security

Palo Alto Networks

Zscaler

Netskope

Cloudflare

Island

Seraphic Security

SURF Security

LayerX Security

Kasm Technologies

Cisco

Microsoft

Broadcom

Forcepoint

Fortinet

Check Point Software Technologies

Cato Networks

Lookout

SquareX

Mimecast

Citrix

Global Zero Trust Browser Security Market Scope

By Product Architecture: Remote Browser Isolation, Secure Enterprise Browsers, Hybrid Risk-Adaptive Browser Security

By Component: Solutions, Services

By Deployment Type: On-Premises, Cloud-Based, Hybrid

By Organization Size: SMEs, Large Enterprises

By Deployment Architecture: Secure Service Edge Integrated, Standalone Browser Security Platforms, Endpoint and Identity Integrated

By Use Case: Phishing and Credential Theft Prevention, Ransomware and Malware Containment, Secure Third Party and Contractor Access, SaaS Application Protection, Unmanaged and BYOD Device Access, Insider Risk and Session Visibility

By End-User: BFSI, Healthcare, Government & Defense, IT & Telecom, Retail & E-Commerce, Manufacturing, Education, Energy & Utilities, Others

By Region: North America, South America, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Asia-Pacific

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Global IT Spending Market: The Global IT Spending stood at around USD 1.92 trillion in 2025 and is projected to grow from USD 2.11 trillion in 2026 to USD 2.98 trillion by 2032. Along with this, the market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of around 5.92% during the forecast period, i.e., 2026-32.

Global Email Security Market: The Global Email Security Market size is estimated at USD 7.27 billion in 2026 and is projected to grow from USD 8.1 billion to USD 16.19 billion by 2032. Along with this, the market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of around 12.23% during the forecast period, i.e., 2026-32.

Global Sovereign Cloud Market: The Sovereign Cloud Market size was valued at around USD 129 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow from USD 156.2 billion in 2026 to USD 572.3 billion by 2032. Along with this, the market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of around 24.16% during the forecast period, i.e., 2026-32.

GCC Managed & Professional Security Services Market: The GCC Managed & Professional Security Services Market size was valued at around USD 3.81 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 5.19 billion by 2032. Along with this, the market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of around 10.51% during the forecast period, i.e., 2026-32.

Mexico Managed Security Services Market: The Mexico Managed Security Services Market size was valued at around USD 388 million in 2025 and is projected to reach by 2032. Along with this, the market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of around 14.27% during the forecast period, i.e., 2026-32.

GCC Digital Identity Solutions Market: The GCC Digital Identity Solutions Market size is valued at around USD 2.76 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 6.18 billion by 2032. Along with this, the market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of around 12.20% during the forecast period, i.e., 2026-32.

India Identity and Access Management (IAM) Market: The India Identity and Access Management (IAM) Market size is valued at around USD 329 million in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 852 million by 2032. Along with this, the market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of around 14.56% during the forecast period, i.e., 2026-32.

Vietnam Software as a Service Market: The Vietnam Software as a Service Market size is valued at around USD 214 million in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 502 million by 2032. Along with this, the market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of around 12.95% during the forecast period, i.e., 2026-32.

About MarkNtel Advisors

MarkNtel Advisors is a leading global market research and consulting firm dedicated to delivering reliable, data-driven insights across a wide range of high-growth and emerging industries. Our research methodology integrates extensive primary interactions with industry stakeholders and domain experts, complemented by carefully validated secondary data sources, to ensure the accuracy, credibility, and relevance of our market intelligence. Backed by deep sector expertise and a team of experienced analysts, we equip organizations, investors, and decision-makers with strategic insights that support informed decision-making, uncover emerging market opportunities, and enable sustainable growth in an increasingly dynamic global business landscape.

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The new office will serve as a strategic hub for Blockchain.com's operations across Europe following the company securing its Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) license from the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA). The license enables Blockchain.com to passport regulated crypto brokerage services across the European Economic Area under the EU's first comprehensive digital asset regulatory framework.

"We didn't pick Malta by accident. Malta has taken a thoughtful and forward-looking approach to digital asset regulation," said Nic Cary, Co-founder and Vice Chairman at Blockchain.com. "At Blockchain.com, we've spent over a decade building a brand of trust and integrity, and we're bringing that same professional-grade standard to users across Europe. This office represents our commitment to building trusted, compliant infrastructure for the crypto market."

Blockchain.com's Malta office will support a range of functions including regulatory engagement, operational development, and retail client services across the European market. The company will soon launch its institutional business, partnering with some of the region's leading licensed firms.

Blockchain.com operates in more than 70 jurisdictions worldwide. Since 2011, Blockchain.com has processed over $1.2 trillion in crypto transactions, created more than 90 million wallets, and verified over 40 million users. As a global crypto brokerage, Blockchain.com provides individuals and institutions with secure access to digital assets while maintaining a strong commitment to compliance, transparency and security.

About Blockchain.com

Blockchain.com is connecting the world to the future of finance. The global leader in crypto services helping millions across the globe access cryptocurrency. Since its inception in 2011, Blockchain.com has earned the trust of more than 90 million wallets and over 40 million verified users, and has facilitated over $1.2 trillion in crypto transactions. Visit Blockchain.com for more information.

Media Contact:press@blockchain.com

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SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland, March 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acronis, a global leader in cyber protection, proudly announced today that CRN UK-a brand of The Channel Company-has selected Ronan McCurtin, VP of Sales Europe, Israel & Africa, for inclusion on the prestigious 2026 CRN Channel Leaders EMEA list. This annual recognition celebrates IT vendor and distribution executives who are shaping channel strategy and driving innovation and partnership across the industry.





With more than 20 years of experience in the cybersecurity and IT channel ecosystem, McCurtin has played a pivotal role in strengthening Acronis' partner-first strategy across Europe, Israel & Africa regions. Under his leadership, Acronis has expanded its network of managed service providers (MSPs), strengthened distribution alliances, and accelerated adoption of integrated cyber protection solutions.

McCurtin has been instrumental in scaling Acronis' partner programs, enhancing enablement resources, and driving new initiatives designed to help partners deliver more secure, efficient, and profitable services. His strategic vision has been central to Acronis' continued growth, with a strong focus on empowering partners to protect their customers against increasingly complex cyberthreats.

"I am honored to be named among CRN's 2026 EMEA Channel Leaders," said McCurtin. "This recognition reflects the commitment of our entire partner community and the work we do together to deliver cyber protection. At Acronis, we succeed only when our partners succeed, and I look forward to continuing to build on that collaboration across the region."

The annual CRN Channel Leaders EMEA list spotlights the most influential leaders across the IT channel, celebrating those who champion collaboration, drive innovation, and empower their partners and customers to achieve shared success.

"As my team and I reviewed this year's Channel Leaders EMEA entries, one thing came through loud and clear: a deep, long-standing respect for the channel community. We want to thank these Channel Leaders for being so open about both their strategies, and what drives them as people. Across EMEA's diverse markets and many years of change, we're proud to recognise their ongoing commitment and the role they continue to play in strengthening the channel," said Nima Sherpa Green, EMEA Editorial Director, CRN, The Channel Company.

CRN's 2026 Channel Leaders EMEA list will be featured on channelweb.co.uk beginning Tuesday, 24 March.

To learn more about McCurtin's 2026 CRN Channel Leaders EMEA achievement and the latest partner program updates, check out the Acronis blog here: https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/ronan-mccurtin-named-a-2026-crn-emea-channel-leader/

For more information on how to become a part of the Acronis Partner Program, visit: www.acronis.com/en-us/partners

About The Channel Company

The Channel Company (TCC) is the global leader in channel growth for the world's top technology brands. We accelerate success across strategic channels for tech vendors, solution providers, and end users with premier media brands, integrated marketing and event services, strategic consulting, and exclusive market and audience insights. TCC is a portfolio company of investment funds managed by EagleTree Capital, a New York City-based private equity firm. For more information, visit thechannelco.com.

Follow The Channel Company:LinkedIn, X, and Facebook.

 2026 The Channel Company, Inc. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Channel Company Contact:

Josh Whittingham

The Channel Company

jwhittingham@thechannelcompany.com

About Acronis

Acronis is a global cyber protection company delivering the only natively integrated cybersecurity, data protection, and infrastructure management platform for managed service providers and IT departments. Acronis solutions are designed to identify, protect, detect, respond, recover and govern IT deployments, ensuring data integrity and business continuity.

A Swiss company founded in Singapore in 2003, Acronis has 15 offices worldwide and employees in 60+ countries. Acronis Cyber Platform is available in 26 languages in 150 countries and is used by over 21,000 service providers to protect over 750,000 businesses. Learn more at www.acronis.com.

Acronis Press Contact:

Hector Garcia

Corporate Communications Manager, EMEA

hector.garcia@acronis.com

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Las Vegas, Nevada--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - ASK BOSCO, the AI-powered marketing and ecommerce intelligence platform built by marketers, for marketers, today announced the official launch of its Beta Shopify app at Shoptalk Spring 2026 in Las Vegas - backed by new independent research that lays bare the scale of the data fragmentation problem facing senior e-commerce marketers.

The research, conducted by leading market research firm OnePoll in March 2026 among 100 senior marketers at Shopify brands with annual revenues of over $2.5m reveals that on average it takes senior marketers nearly six hours to get an answer when they need to interrogate their Shopify and marketing data together.

This is happening at a moment of intense scrutiny. Nearly four in five (78%) senior marketers say pressure to justify marketing spend has increased compared to two years ago. And 93% report being regularly challenged on their marketing performance or budget decisions by senior stakeholders, including CEOs, CFOs, and boards.

The conclusion is clear: marketers are being held to higher standards than ever, yet the data they need to defend their decisions is fragmented, slow to pull together, and incomplete. The ASK BOSCO Shopify Beta app changes that by giving teams access to unified Shopify and marketing data insights in a matter of seconds, not hours.

What the ASK BOSCO Shopify Beta App Does

The ASK BOSCO Shopify Beta app gives scale-up e-commerce brands a single, unified view of their Shopify sales and marketing performance, bringing together product data, inventory levels, and cross-channel marketing data into one AI-driven platform that any member of a team can interrogate in plain language, without needing technical expertise.

Key capabilities include:

AI-powered conversational insights: teams can ask natural language questions that blend product and marketing data together, such as "Which SKUs should I increase ad spend on this week?", "Which products are selling well but not being supported by paid media?" or "Where am I spending budget on products that are low in stock?" and receive instant, data-driven answers without needing to pull a single spreadsheet.

teams can ask natural language questions that blend product and marketing data together, such as "Which SKUs should I increase ad spend on this week?", "Which products are selling well but not being supported by paid media?" or "Where am I spending budget on products that are low in stock?" and receive instant, data-driven answers without needing to pull a single spreadsheet. Unified product sales and marketing dashboard: a consolidated view of what is selling, what is driving that performance, and where the gaps are, without spending hours pulling data from multiple sources.

a consolidated view of what is selling, what is driving that performance, and where the gaps are, without spending hours pulling data from multiple sources. Cross-channel decision-making: connecting Shopify commerce data with advertising performance across Google, Meta, and Microsoft Ads, so that marketing and trading teams are working from a single version of the truth.

"The best e-commerce decisions are not just marketing decisions or just inventory decisions - they are both, made together. The ASK BOSCO Shopify app exists to make that possible for every brand, regardless of how big their data team is."

John Readman, Founder & CEO, ASK BOSCO

Launching at Shoptalk Spring 2026

ASK BOSCO chose Shoptalk Spring 2026, the world's leading retail and e-commerce conference, held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas from 24-26 March 2026, as the global debut for the ASK BOSCO Beta Shopify app. With more than 10,000 attendees, including senior executives from some of the world's most recognised retail and consumer brands, Shoptalk represents the definitive stage for announcing innovation that matters to the e-commerce industry.

The theme for Shoptalk Spring 2026 is "Retail in the Age of AI" aligns perfectly with ASK BOSCO's purpose. John Readman and the ASK BOSCO team will be at the event to demonstrate the ASK BOSCO Shopify app, meet with prospective retail and e-commerce partners, and discuss how AI-powered commerce intelligence is reshaping the way ambitious brands compete and grow.

Building on a Landmark Year

The Shopify app launch is a significant product milestone to emerge from ASK BOSCO's 4.1 million investment from Gresham House Ventures, the growth equity specialist, announced in June 2025. The funding, which also saw ASK BOSCO expand its senior technical and sales teams in the UK and accelerate its international expansion into the United States, was earmarked in part for exactly this: deepening ASK BOSCO's presence within the Shopify ecosystem.

The business also counts among its backers a number of high-profile angel investors, including Bonamy Grimes, co-founder of Skyscanner, and Richard Flint, former CEO of Sky Betting & Gaming.





(Left) Abi Liddle, COO, and (Right) John Readman, Founder and CEO of ASK BOSCO

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About the Research

The research was conducted by OnePoll in March 2026 among 100 senior marketing professionals at brands whose websites are hosted on Shopify and who use a minimum of two of the following platforms for their digital marketing: Google Ads, Google Analytics, Facebook Ads, or Instagram Ads. All respondents work at brands with a minimum annual revenue of $2.5m (US) or 2m (UK).

About ASK BOSCO

ASK BOSCO is an AI-powered marketing and commerce intelligence platform built by marketers, for marketers - people who have done your job and built the technology they wished they'd had. The platform brings together performance marketing data, e-commerce data, and competitive market intelligence into one unified, easy-to-use environment, serving agencies, brands, and retailers who want to make faster, smarter, and more confident decisions across marketing, product, and inventory.

Built by Modo25, a UK-based performance marketing agency founded by John Readman, ASK BOSCO integrates with the world's leading advertising and commerce platforms, including Shopify, Google, Meta and Microsoft Ads, and delivers automated reporting, AI-driven insights, and conversational analytics accessible to every member of a team.

ASK BOSCO is headquartered in the UK, with an expanding presence in the United States. The name Bosco honours the founder of 1moreChild, a Ugandan orphanage that the team supports, a story of purpose that sits at the heart of the company.

Website: www.askbosco.io

LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/askbosco

About Modo25

Modo25 is a UK-based performance marketing agency and the parent company of ASK BOSCO. Founded by John Readman, Modo25 works with ambitious e-commerce brands and retailers to optimise their digital marketing investment and drive sustainable growth. The name Modo honours a resident of the 1moreChild orphanage in Uganda.

Website: www.modo25.com

About Gresham House Ventures

Gresham House Ventures is a growth equity investor specialising in scaling high-growth, digitally focused businesses. With a portfolio spanning technology, consumer, and business services, Gresham House Ventures partners with ambitious management teams to help them accelerate growth, build teams, and expand into new markets.

Website: www.greshamhouseventures.com

For interview requests with John Readman, Founder & CEO of ASK BOSCO and Modo25, or for product demonstrations at Shoptalk Spring 2026, please contact john@askbosco.com or +447912 214901 or justin@askbosco.com (310) 923-6393.

John's LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/johnreadman

Notes to Editors

ASK BOSCO is a registered trademark of Modo25 Ltd. High-resolution brand assets, product screenshots, and photography of John Readman are available on request from the press office. Shoptalk Spring 2026 takes place 24-26 March 2026 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The ASK BOSCO Shopify app is available to early access Beta users. If you are interested in being a Beta user, please contact nikki@askbosco.com. The 4.1 million investment from Gresham House Ventures was announced on 30 June 2025. Research conducted by OnePoll, March 2026. Sample of 100 senior marketers at Shopify brands with minimum annual revenues of $2.5m/2m.

End of Press Release

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289542

Source: ASK BOSCO
In a global first, AACSB welcomes its first representative from an Indian business school

MUMBAI, India, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Varun Nagaraj, Dean of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR), has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the world's leading standard-setting body for business education. He will represent the Asia Pacific region on the global board.

"On behalf of AACSB's global community, we extend our sincere congratulations to Dean Varun Nagaraj on his appointment to the Board of Directors," said Lily Bi, President and CEO of AACSB. "As we celebrate 110 years of advancing quality and impact in business education around the world, this milestone marks another meaningful chapter in our history. Dean Nagaraj's leadership and perspective will further strengthen AACSB's mission to connect, elevate, and transform business education globally, and we are proud to welcome representation from India to our Board for the first time."

SPJIMR is the first Indian business school to be represented on the AACSB Board in its 110-year history. While individuals of Indian origin have previously served on the Board, they have represented institutions located outside of India. Dr. Nagaraj's three-year term commences on July 1, 2026.

"I look forward to collaborating with colleagues worldwide to elevate the impact of business schools. SPJIMR's commitment to wise innovation and societal impact closely aligns with AACSB's vision of driving meaningful change in business and society," said Dr. Nagaraj.

A practitioner-academic, Dr. Nagaraj is a Professor of Information Management, and has served as the Dean of SPJIMR since 2021. He brings over three decades of industry experience to his role as Dean, including leadership roles as CEO of venture-funded start-ups and public companies, and as a Partner at PRTM Management Consulting. His research and teaching focuses on responsible/wise innovation, product management, and entrepreneurship. His research has been published in Journal of Product Innovation Management, California Management Review, Research-Technology Management,Edward-Elgar's Handbook of Digital Entrepreneurship, and in popular media.

Dr. Nagaraj holds a BTech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Bombay, an MS from North Carolina State University, an MBA from Boston University, and a PhD from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University.

Founded in 1916, AACSB is the global standard-setting body for business education, advancing excellence through accreditation, thought leadership, and transformative learning across more than 100 countries.

About SPJIMR

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR) is one of India's leading postgraduate management institutes. It is recognised in the Financial Times MiM rankings as the #35 business school globally and among the Top 3 in India, ranked by Business Today as one of the country's top five business schools, and rated by the Positive Impact Rating as one of the top five schools worldwide for societal impact. Known for its innovative and socially conscious approach to management education, research, and community engagement, SPJIMR aims to influence managerial practice and promote the value-based growth of its students, alumni, organisations and its leaders, and society. SPJIMR holds the international 'Triple Crown' of accreditations from EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA.

Visit SPJIMR.org for more information.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Salil Jayakar

Deputy Director - Marketing and Communications, SPJIMR

salil.jayakar@spjimr.org | +91 9820688473

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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - Arizona Copper and Gold Ltd. ("ACG") and Arizona Eagle Mining Corp. (formerly Core Nickel Corp.) (TSXV: CNCO) ("Arizona Eagle", "Core Nickel", or the "Resulting Issuer", and together with ACG, the "Parties") are pleased to announce that the previously announced reverse takeover transaction (the "Transaction") pursuant to which Core Nickel acquired all of the issued and outstanding securities of ACG by way of a statutory plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) (the "OBCA") has been completed. The Arrangement became effective at 12:01 a.m. (Toronto time) on March 24, 2026.

The Transaction was completed pursuant to the arrangement agreement between the Parties dated February 13, 2026. The Arrangement constitutes a reverse takeover of Core Nickel by the shareholders of ACG under Policy 5.2 - Changes of Business and Reverse Takeovers of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV").

Trading in the common shares of Core Nickel has been halted since September 15, 2025, in connection with the announcement of the Transaction. Trading of the common shares of the Resulting Issuer on the TSXV is expected to resume on or around March 31, 2026, under the new name "Arizona Eagle Mining Corp." and the expected new trading symbol "AZEM", subject to the TSXV issuing its final exchange bulletin.

Kevin Reid, Chief Executive Officer of Arizona Eagle, commented: "Today marks a transformative milestone for our company. The closing of this transaction brings together a seasoned management team, a well-funded treasury and what management believes is a compelling gold-silver asset - the Eagle Project - under a single public company platform. Our Phase 1 drilling program, comprising approximately 4,500 metres, is already underway at the past-producing McCabe Mine, and we look forward to advancing exploration across the broader Eagle Project as Arizona Eagle Mining Corp. We are grateful to the shareholders of both ACG and Core Nickel for their strong support of this transaction, and we are excited to build on this foundation as we work to unlock the significant potential of this historic mining district."

Christopher Tate, outgoing President and CEO of Core Nickel, commented: "It has been a privilege to lead Core Nickel through this process, and I am proud of what we have accomplished together. This transaction delivers outstanding value to Core Nickel shareholders by providing ownership in a high-quality gold exploration company with substantial potential, while preserving exposure to our nickel assets in Manitoba. Kevin and the Arizona Eagle team have built something truly special, and I am confident that the Resulting Issuer is well positioned for success. I wish the entire team the very best as they take the company forward."

Closing of the Arrangement

Consolidation and Name Change

On March 23, 2026, Core Nickel completed the consolidation of its common shares on the basis of one post-consolidation common share for every 8.5 pre-consolidation common shares (the "Consolidation") and changed its name from "Core Nickel Corp." to "Arizona Eagle Mining Corp.".

Conversion of Subscription Receipts

On March 24, 2026, the subscription receipts of both ACG and Core Nickel issued in connection with the concurrent brokered private placements that closed on November 26, 2025 (the "Concurrent Financings") converted in accordance with their terms upon satisfaction of the escrow release conditions, and the net proceeds thereof have been released to the Resulting Issuer. The Concurrent Financings were led by Stifel Canada and Clarus Securities Inc., as co-lead agents and joint bookrunners, on behalf of a syndicate of agents which included PowerOne Capital Markets Limited. Further information regarding the Concurrent Financings can be found in the news release of the Parties dated November 26, 2025.

The Arrangement

In connection with the Arrangement:

each common share in the capital of ACG (each, an "ACG Share") issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Arrangement was exchanged for one fully paid and non-assessable common share of the Resulting Issuer (each, a "Resulting Issuer Share") on a 1:1 exchange ratio (on a post-Consolidation basis), at a deemed price of $1.20 per Resulting Issuer Share; each outstanding common share purchase warrant of ACG was exchanged for one common share purchase warrant of the Resulting Issuer (each, a "Resulting Issuer Warrant") (on a post-Consolidation basis) on economically equivalent terms; each outstanding ACG stock option was exchanged for one stock option of the Resulting Issuer (each, a "Resulting Issuer Option") (on a post-Consolidation basis) on economically equivalent terms and pursuant to the existing stock option plan of the Resulting Issuer; and ACG has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Resulting Issuer.

Arizona Eagle Share Capital

Following the closing of the Arrangement, the Consolidation and the Concurrent Financings, the outstanding share capital of the Resulting Issuer is as follows:

Shareholders Resulting Issuer Shares Approximate % (Undiluted) Former holders of ACG Shares 39,868,950 81.35% ACG Subscription Receipt holders 1,297,168 2.65% Core Nickel Subscription Receipt holders 1,362,374 2.78% Former Core Nickel shareholders (post-Consolidation) 6,478,437 13.22% Total Resulting Issuer Shares outstanding 49,006,929 100%

In addition, as of the closing date there are 2,617,647 Resulting Issuer Options and 4,698,079 Resulting Issuer Warrants outstanding, for an aggregate fully diluted share capital of 56,322,655 Resulting Issuer Shares.

Continuance

The Resulting Issuer intends to complete the continuance (the "Continuance") of its jurisdiction of incorporation from British Columbia into Ontario under the OBCA in short order. A further press release will be issued to announce the completion of the Continuance.

Board of Directors and Senior Management of Arizona Eagle

In connection with the closing of the Arrangement, and effective at 12:01 a.m. (Toronto time) on March 25, 2026, the following individuals have been duly elected as the board of directors (the "Board") of the Resulting Issuer: Marc Pais (Executive Chair), Kevin Reid (CEO and director), Rickard Vernon (lead independent director), Mike Pilmer and Dawn Meidinger.

Effective March 25, 2026, the officers of Arizona Eagle are Kevin Reid (CEO), Marc Pais (Executive Chair), Sung Min (Eric) Myung (CFO), Clyde Smith (Vice President, Exploration) and Conor Dooley (Corporate Secretary).

The independent directors of the Resulting Issuer are Mike Pilmer, Rickard Vernon and Dawn Meidinger. The audit committee of the Board is comprised of Mike Pilmer (Chair), Rickard Vernon and Kevin Reid.

In connection with the closing of the Arrangement, David Smith, Tim Dalton and Christopher Tate, who served as directors of Core Nickel prior to the Transaction, have resigned from the Board effective at the effective time of the Arrangement. Christopher Tate has also resigned as President and Chief Executive Officer of Core Nickel effective at the effective time of the Arrangement. Arizona Eagle thanks each of Mr. Smith, Mr. Dalton and Mr. Tate for their service and dedication to Core Nickel.

TSXV Listing

The TSXV granted conditional approval for the Transaction and the listing of the Resulting Issuer Shares on February 11, 2026. The Resulting Issuer is expected to be classified as a Tier 2 Mining Issuer on the TSXV. Final acceptance of the Transaction by the TSXV is subject to the Resulting Issuer fulfilling all remaining requirements of the TSXV and the issuance of the final exchange bulletin.

Regulatory Approvals

All requisite shareholder, court, regulatory and exchange approvals for the Transaction have been obtained. Shareholders of both ACG and Core Nickel voted to approve all matters related to the Transaction at their respective special meetings held on March 13, 2026. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice granted the final order approving the Arrangement on March 19, 2026.

Escrow

Certain Resulting Issuer securities held by principals of the Resulting Issuer are subject to escrow in accordance with TSXV Policy 5.4, including an aggregate of 1,924,176 Resulting Issuer Shares under Tier 1 escrow and 24,030,200 Resulting Issuer Shares under Tier 2 escrow, 111,765 Resulting Issuer Options under Tier 1 escrow and 2,500,000 Resulting Issuer Options under Tier 2 escrow, and 941,176 Resulting Issuer Warrants under Tier 1 escrow. In the aggregate, approximately 25.9 million Resulting Issuer Shares held by principals and management of the Resulting Issuer will be subject to escrow, representing approximately 53% of the 49 million Resulting Issuer Shares (undiluted) issued and outstanding.

Additional Information

Full particulars of the Transaction, the Eagle Project and the Resulting Issuer are described in the management information circular of Core Nickel (the "Core Nickel Circular") which is available under the Resulting Issuer's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

All information contained in this news release with respect to Core Nickel and ACG was supplied by the respective party, for inclusion herein, without independent review by the other party, and each party and its directors and officers have relied on the other party for any information concerning the other party.

About Arizona Eagle Mining Corp.

Arizona Eagle is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties. Arizona Eagle's principal asset is the Eagle Project, a 4,533-acre property comprised of patented and unpatented claims located near the town of Prescott Valley in Yavapai County, Arizona, which it holds through its wholly-owned subsidiary, AZ Desert Land Holdings Corp. The Eagle Project is centred on the past-producing McCabe Mine, a high-grade gold-silver deposit, and includes multiple parallel structures hosting past-producing mines that remain largely untested by modern drilling. While Arizona Eagle's primary focus will be on exploration and development of the Eagle Project, it will continue to own Core Nickel's land portfolio in the Thompson Nickel Belt of northern Manitoba.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "will", "estimates", "believes", "intends", "expects" and similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking statements. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements concerning the anticipated commencement of trading of the Resulting Issuer Shares on the TSXV, the classification of the Resulting Issuer as a Tier 2 Mining Issuer, the completion of the Continuance, the Resulting Issuer's intended exploration and development activities at the Eagle Project, and the business plans and objectives of the Resulting Issuer. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions regarding, among other things, the timely receipt of the final exchange bulletin from the TSXV, the ability of the Resulting Issuer to complete the Continuance, and the ability of the Resulting Issuer to carry out its stated business plans.

Forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to general economic, market and business conditions; the highly speculative nature of mineral exploration; regulatory risks; the ability of the Resulting Issuer to obtain adequate financing; and other risks described in the Core Nickel Circular and under the Resulting Issuer's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Resulting Issuer does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein in the United States or in any other jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold in the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289856

Source: Core Nickel Corp.
Pivotal Phase II/III clinical trial underway, aiming for US and European market approval in 2028

A 'truly transformative' regenerative medicine targeting a multi-million patient population with no existing curative treatment

Fully biological transplant eliminates need for immunosuppression and restores natural function

Scalable process protected by 92 granted patents

CVI market projected to reach USD 5,951 million by 2034*

Supported by USD 10 million financing from existing investors

GOTHENBURG, Sweden, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- VERIGRAFT, a Swedish clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering personalized, fully biological therapies, today announced the initiation of a pivotal Phase II/III trial of its P-TEV (personalized tissue engineered vein) in patients with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), supported by USD 10 million from existing investors.

The milestone comes at a time when regenerative medicine and personalized biologics are gaining significant traction among global investors and healthcare systems.

VERIGRAFT's fully biological approach opens the way for a potential curative treatment for CVI, using personalized tissues that eliminates the need for immunosuppressive therapy. The manufacturing process is completed within 10 days, making VERIGRAFT's offering both scalable and clinically feasible. Trial sites for the Phase II/III study are located in Spain, the Netherlands and Poland.

As an advanced therapy medicinal product (ATMP), VERIGRAFT's clinical development programme is designed to generate robust clinical data in a limited patient population. The Company aims to achieve market approval in Europe and the US in 2028.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) is a progressive and under-recognized vascular disease in which the veins in the legs fail to efficiently return blood to the heart, leading to sustained elevated venous pressure in the leg veins. Driven by factors such as ageing, obesity, and sedentary lifestyles, CVI represents a growing healthcare burden worldwide.

VERIGRAFT's personalized tissue-engineered vein (P-TEV) is designed to replace diseased venous segments with dysfunctional valves with vein segments containing functioning valves. The approach uses donor-derived venous material that is decellularized and subsequently personalized using the patient's own blood, creating a patient-specific graft. Once prepared, the P-TEV is surgically implanted to replace the diseased vein segment and restore venous function.

Petter Bjorquist, CEO of VERIGRAFT, said: "This financing enables a critical step forward in our clinical development and is a critical component in our journey to redefine how vascular disease can be treated by restoring natural biological function at scale. With P-TEV, we are addressing a large, underserved patient population with a therapy designed to address the underlying cause of disease, not just manage the symptoms. The initiation of our pivotal trial brings us significantly closer to making this a clinical reality."

Dr. Bryan Kluck, an Interventional Cardiologist, Endovascular Interventionalist and Vascular Medicine Specialist at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown, PA, commented: "As an interventional cardiologist familiar with the technology, I believe it offers a new way forward. This is truly restorative, unlike so many of the available tools. Patency of the venous system, along with functional vein valves, has the potential to revolutionize venous therapy. This technology restores normal venous hemodynamics, a concept that, heretofore has been unimaginable."

Dr. Andres Garcia Leon, Head of the Department of Angiology and Vascular Surgery at Virgen de Valme University Hospital, Associate Professor of the University of Seville, and Lead Principal Investigator (PI), added: "I am very pleased to be leading the phase II/III trial of P-TEV. In clinical practice, treatment options for patients with advanced CVI are limited. P-TEV represents a promising and scalable approach with the potential to restore physiological blood flow."

*Chronic Venous Insufficiency Market Insight, Epidemiology And Market Forecast - 2034

Source: DelveInsight

Visit www.verigraft.com

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2942028/VERIGRAFT_P_TEV.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2942027/VERIGRAFT_Logo.jpg

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BANGKOK, Mar 25, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) - The Thai Exhibition Association (TEA) has unveiled its strategic roadmap for advancing Thailand's exhibition and MICE industry in 2026-2027, with a clear focus on building a future-ready ecosystem driven by Innovation and Sustainability. Building on the strong momentum and industry confidence generated by the latest edition of TMX, TEA has confirmed its readiness to host Thailand MICE X-Change 2026 (TMX 2026) which will be held on 29-30 April 2026, at Ballroom 1 - 3, Level 1 Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC), Bangkok, Thailand, reaffirming its commitment to elevating Thailand as a leading global event destination.Mr. Loy Joon How, President of the Thai Exhibition Association (TEA) and General Manager of IMPACT Exhibition Management Co., Ltd., stated: "Now in its third annual edition, Thailand MICE X-Change (TMX) has established itself as a key exhibition and conference platform driving greater adoption of MICE among corporate organisations as an effective marketing and branding strategy.TMX also plays an important role in elevating standards within Thailand's rapidly growing MICE industry, particularly in the areas of innovation and sustainability.At the same time, TMX serves as an annual face-to-face platform for industry professionals from Thailand and abroad to network, forge business partnerships, and exchange knowledge through insightful conferences and seminars that address emerging industry trends."Over the past two editions, TMX has welcomed more than 5,000 participants and facilitated over 360 business-matching meetings. We expect this year's event to generate even greater business opportunities and deeper knowledge exchange between Thailand and the international MICE community."This year, TMX 2026 is expected to attract over 4,000 participants under the theme "Innovation and Sustainability: Driving Thailand's MICE Industry Towards Excellence." The theme reflects our industry's commitment to addressing key challenges and advancing innovation and sustainability objectives.Through TMX, our industry remains firmly committed to digital transformation and sustainability-driven strategies to strengthen Thailand's global competitiveness. TMX reinforces the fact that exhibitions and the MICE industry continue to be among the most powerful face-to-face marketing platforms for businesses."Dr. Duangdej Yuaikwarmdee, Director of Exhibitions Department, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), further emphasized in his role as a strategic partner: "Exhibitions are not merely booth display spaces; they are among the most powerful marketing tools in the global business arena. Especially in today's digital era, face-to-face interactions, the ability to see and experience products firsthand, and to conduct direct business negotiations remain irreplaceable dimensions. Exhibitions therefore serve as platforms of trust, enabling tangible business outcomes.Thailand MICE X-Change (TMX) is far more than an event; it serves as a strategic platform showcasing the strength and full potential of Thailand's exhibition industry. TMX encourages organizations to adopt exhibitions as proactive business strategies - from strategic planning and presentation design to opportunity generation and professional deal execution.TMX aspires to become Thailand's premier One-Stop Service hub, integrating knowledge, expertise, and a comprehensive ecosystem of service providers to elevate Thai enterprises onto the global stage. Through this initiative, TCEB is committed to advancing the exhibition industry as a high-impact economic driver that stimulates investment, reinforces value and supply chains, and strengthens Thailand's long-term competitive position in the international marketplace."Ms. Duangrat Udomsomporn, Vice President - Exhibition Organizer, N.C.C. Management & Development Co., Ltd., stated: "The exhibition industry today is no longer merely a platform for staging events; it is a vital engine of economic growth, connecting supply chains, investors, and decision-makers across industries. In an era driven by AI and Big Data, organizers must evolve into smart platforms, leveraging data insights to deliver more targeted and meaningful experiences.What makes exhibitions truly irreplaceable and beyond digital platforms is their ability to build trust through face-to-face engagement. Live demonstrations and direct business discussions create tangible credibility, especially for technology-driven solutions. At the same time, exhibitions serve as powerful hubs for industry communities, fostering knowledge exchange, networking, and long-term partnerships that drive sustainable organizational and national economic growth."Ms. Navaporn Santiwattana, Deputy Director, Food Business Unit, King Rice Oil Group, stated that the company views trade exhibitions as a strategic growth platform rather than merely a marketing activity. "From our perspective, trade exhibitions are not simply marketing events; they are strategic platforms that accelerate business growth while strengthening our brand image and credibility on the international stage.Our consistent participation enables us to expand into new markets, build global partnerships, and reinforce our position as a brand fully prepared to compete worldwide. We do not regard trade exhibitions as an expense, but as a long-term strategic investment in the future growth and sustainable advancement of our organization."Thailand MICE X-Change 2026 (TMX 2026), this year's edition will bring together more than 100 full-service event solution providers from Thailand and overseas, showcasing innovative solutions designed to elevate the next generation of exhibitions, conferences and events. Participating organizations represent the entire event value chain, including venues; booth design and construction specialists; structural and decorative material manufacturers; logistics and freight service providers; professional conference and exhibition organizers (PCOs/PEOs); destination management companies (DMCs); marketing and communications agencies; event technology and solution providers; lighting, sound, visual and staging specialists; equipment and furniture rental providers; advertising and public relations firms; corporate premium and merchandise manufacturers and distributors; printing and consumables suppliers; as well as hotels and hospitality providers catering to meetings and events. Collectively, these exhibitors underscore TMX 2026's role as a comprehensive business platform that connects industry stakeholders and delivers integrated, future-ready solutions for the MICE sector."In addition to the exhibition showcase, Thailand MICE X-Change 2026 (TMX 2026) will feature a dedicated workshop and seminar platform, "X-Change Square," bringing together more than 25 industry experts from Thailand and abroad to share insights, experiences, and best practices. Over the course of the two-day event, the program will present more than 15 comprehensive sessions covering key aspects of exhibition and event management. Attendees will gain strategic intelligence, practical implementation frameworks, and expert perspectives across a wide spectrum of topics - including venue development, project planning and management, the application of AI in marketing, sales enhancement strategies, logistics management, sustainability practices within the MICE industry, and innovative booth design techniques. The program is carefully curated to ensure that entrepreneurs and event organizers can translate knowledge into actionable strategies, maximizing operational efficiency, strengthening competitiveness, and fostering long-term sustainable business growth."TMX 2026 will feature a dedicated Business Matching program connecting exhibitors with qualified buyers, including international organizers, business owners, and corporate decision-makers seeking innovative event solutions. The program aims to foster strategic partnerships, unlock new opportunities, and deliver measurable business growth within a single, integrated platform."During 2026-2027, we are confident that Thailand's MICE industry will evolve from being a host destination to becoming a regional leader in innovation. By leveraging creativity, advanced technology, and robust sustainability measures as key drivers, we aim to enhance the global competitiveness of Thai entrepreneurs and generate sustainable economic value for the country as a whole," Mr. Loy Joon How concluded.Thailand MICE X-Change 2026 (TMX 2026) is firmly committed to advancing sustainable event practices, placing strong emphasis on minimizing environmental impact and promoting environmentally responsible behavior. The event will implement several key sustainability initiatives, including:- Promoting public transportation accessibility, as the venue - Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) - is conveniently connected to MRT and BTS networks, helping reduce carbon emissions from travel.- Reducing single-use plastics by encouraging participants to bring reusable water bottles and providing on-site refill stations.- Implementing paperless online registration to minimize paper consumption while enhancing visitor convenience.- Advancing Green & Responsible Event principles through exhibitors and solution providers that support sustainable event management.- Minimizing event waste by promoting digital media usage and communication through online platforms.Through these initiatives, TMX 2026 seeks to embed sustainability into every dimension of the event experience while reinforcing responsible growth across the MICE industry.The event is sponsored by leading organizations, including DSV CONTRACT LOGISTICS LTD. as the Exclusive Lanyard Sponsor; Shanghai New International Expo Centre as the Business Lounge Sponsor; Resorts World Sentosa as the Goodie Bag Sponsor; and RX BITEC (Thailand) Co., Ltd. as the X-Change Square Stage Sponsor.Thailand MICE X-Change 2026 (TMX 2026) is a leading exhibition and conference platform connecting Thailand's MICE industry with new business opportunities. Industry professionals, entrepreneurs, marketers, HR executives and investors are invited to explore trends, exchange insights and expand global networks on 29-30 April 2026, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM, at Ballroom 1-3, Level 1, Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC).For more information about the event, please visit www.tmxexpo.comFree! Visitor registration at https://eventpassinsight.co/el/to/TMX32About the organizerThe Thailand Exhibition Association (TEA) was established in 1997 by a group of pioneers in Thailand's exhibition industry who shared a strong commitment to advancing and sustaining the country's exhibition sector.Today, TEA's membership - primarily based in Bangkok and key MICE cities across Thailand - comprises four main categories: Organizers, Venues, Service Providers, and Freight Forwarders.The Association serves as a central platform connecting Thailand's exhibition industry to the global market by fostering business networking, enhancing professional capabilities through training and development programs, and promoting industry standards that meet international expectations.TEA also acts as a gateway for organizers seeking to enter or expand within the Thai market, leveraging its extensive member network across both B2B and B2C platforms.For more information, please contact us:Ms. Surerat Kraimanee (Dao)Tel: 096-515-5667, 02-833-6336Email: sureratk@impact.co.thMs. Preeyachaya Klaythuan (Aom)Tel: 084-327-7267, 02-833-5129Email: preeyachayak@impact.co.thIMPACT EXHIBITION MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.10th Fl., Bangkok Land Building47/569-576 Popular 3 Road, Banmai Sub-district,Pakkred District, Nonthaburi 11120GREATER BANGKOK, THAILANDSource: IMPACT Exhibition Management Co. Ltd.Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
ATMP benefits include access to the Conditional Marketing Authorisation accelerated market access pathway in Europe, significantly reduced user fees for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), tailored regulatory assessment via Committee for Advanced Therapies (CAT) and increased pricing power

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - OS Therapies, Inc. (NYSE American: OSTX) ("OS Therapies" or "the Company"), the world leader in listeria-based cancer immunotherapies, today announced that the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) Committee for Advanced Therapies (CAT) granted OST-HER2 Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product designation (ATMP) for the treatment of pulmonary recurrence in resected osteosarcoma in the European Union (EU) at CAT's 18-20th March 2026 meeting.

ATMP benefits include opening of the Conditional Marketing Authorisation (CMA) accelerated market access pathway in Europe, significantly reduced user fees for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), tailored regulatory assessment via Committee for Advanced Therapies (CAT) and increased reimbursement pathways & reimbursement codes. The Company is finalizing the preparation of a CMA submission to EMA for OST-HER2 in the prevention or delay of recurrent, fully-resected, pulmonary metastatic osteosarcoma. ATMP designation is the European equivalent of the Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

"ATMP designation marks a significant milestone along OST-HER2's path toward becoming the standard of care in Europe," said Paul Romness, MPH, Chairman & CEO of OS Therapies. "We believe this increases the likelihood that we will receive conditional marketing authorisation later this year, which would help us establish a significant revenue stream for the Company projected to begin in 2027. We look forward to continued engagement with the EMA in the months ahead and are pleased that EMA has begun coordinating with the U.K. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on the product candidate evaluation process. We will deliver regulatory dossiers to each of these agencies in the weeks ahead and look forward to upcoming meetings where we will review the clinical data, biomarker data, manufacturing data, non-clinical data and proposed confirmatory study designs that would position OST-HER2 for market access in the U.S., U.K. and Europe later this year."

OST-HER2 has received Orphan Drug Designation (ODD), Fast Track Designation (FTD) and Rare Pediatric Disease Designation (RPDD) from the FDA, and ODD, FTD and ATMP from the EMA. Under the RPDD program, if the Company receives a Biologics License Application (BLA) in the United States, it will become eligible to receive a Priority Review Voucher (PRV) that it intends to sell. The most recent publicly disclosed PRV transaction occurred in February 2026 at a reported value of $205 million. The Company is seeking to obtain a BLA under the Accelerated Approval Program for OST-HER2 in osteosarcoma in the second half of 2026.

About OS Therapies

OS Therapies is a clinical stage oncology company focused on the identification, development, and commercialization of treatments for Osteosarcoma (OS) and other solid tumors. The Company is the world leader in listeria-based cancer immunotherapies. OST-HER2, the Company's lead asset, is an immunotherapy leveraging the immune-stimulatory effects of Listeria bacteria to initiate a strong immune response targeting the HER2 protein. OST-HER2 has received Orphan Drug Designation (ODD), Fast Track Designation (FTD) and Rare Pediatric Disease Designation (RPDD) from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and has received ODD, FTD and ATMP from the European Medicines Agency. The Company reported positive data in its Phase 2b clinical trial of OST-HER2 in recurrent, fully resected, lung metastatic osteosarcoma, demonstrating statistically significant benefit in the 12-month event free survival (EFS) primary endpoint of the study and the overall survival (OS) secondary endpoint. The Company anticipates receiving a Biologics License Application (BLA) from the U.S. FDA for OST-HER2 in osteosarcoma in 2026 and, if approved, would become eligible to receive a Priority Review Voucher that it could then sell. The Company also anticipates receiving Conditional Marketing Authorisations from the U.K.'s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the EMA for OST-HER2 in 2026. OST-HER2 has completed a Phase 1 clinical study primarily in breast cancer patients, in addition to showing preclinical efficacy data in various models of breast cancer. OST-HER2 has been conditionally approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the treatment of canines with osteosarcoma. The Company also anticipates reading out data from a Phase 1b study of OST-504 in castration resistant prostate cancer in the first half of 2026.

In addition, OS Therapies is advancing its next-generation Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) and Drug Conjugates (DC), known as tunable ADC (tADC), which features tunable, tailored antibody-linker-payload candidates. This platform leverages the Company's proprietary silicone Si-Linker and Conditionally Active Payload (CAP) technology, enabling the delivery of multiple payloads per linker. For more information, please visit www.ostherapies.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements and terms such as "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "may," "will," "should" or other comparable terms involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of OS Therapies and members of its management, as well as the assumptions on which such statements are based. OS Therapies cautions readers that forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to the approval of OST-HER2 by the U.S. FDA and other risks and uncertainties described in "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and other subsequent documents the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by the federal securities laws, OS Therapies specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

https://x.com/OSTherapies

https://www.instagram.com/ostherapies/

https://www.facebook.com/OSTherapies/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/os-therapies/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289799

Source: OS Therapies
Highlights:

Auriginal aims to make a new discovery with this 5,200 m drill program, testing for volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) mineralization above and to the south of the existing Rogers copper-gold resource.

Drilling will also probe the depth continuation of the historical porphyry-hosted Cu-Au deposit at the 500-m vertical level.

Borehole EM surveying to locate the center of gravity of the VMS mineralized system will be completed on new holes.

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - Auriginal Mining Corp. (TSXV: AUME) ("Auriginal" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that diamond drilling has commenced on the Roger property to test for extensions of the historical intrusive-hosted copper-gold (Cu-Au) mineralization and to confirm the new VMS mineralizing model applied to the property.

Drill Program Rationale

The Roger deposit has long been viewed as a porphyry-style Au-Cu system. Auriginal's reinterpretation, based on relogging, resampling, geochemistry, and age dating, suggests that the historical gold-copper deposit may sit below an overlying gold-rich volcanic massive sulphide (VMS) system.

A continuous, sulphide-bearing marker horizon has been traced for at least 1.5 km, hosted in altered felsic to intermediate volcanic rocks typical of VMS environments. Geochemical and geological signatures show strong similarities to Agnico Eagle's LaRonde 20N massive sulphide deposit, reinforcing the potential for a second, high-grade base-metal deposit at depth.

Roger Project Drill Program

Auriginal is planning a diamond drill program to intersect the gold-rich massive sulphide horizon, targeting downhole geophysical anomalies with the explicit objective of making a new VMS discovery south of the historical intrusive-hosted copper-gold system on the property. All required work, including securing necessary work permits and drill site preparation has been completed.

The drilling program includes:

Minimum 5,200 m of diamond drilling of the Roger mineralized system.

Testing conductive plates at the 500 m vertical level across 1.5 km of strike (see Figure 1).

Completing downhole EM surveys in all new hole to tighten vectoring toward a VMS system.

This is the first focused drill campaign designed specifically to test this new VMS interpretation and the high-priority targets defined by borehole electromagnetic surveys (BHEM). Drilling will also test the deep continuation of the historical porphyry-style or intrusion-related Au-Cu deposit on the property, which is still open at depth.

Figure 1 - Location of Target Conductors Identified by the BHEM Survey, Roger Property, Quebec (Oblique Longitudinal Section, Looking East)

Figure 2 - Longitudinal drill section showing current outline of the Roger Cu-Au Zone (in green): looking South

3D Resource Model Indicated Strong Potential for Expansion

A preliminary 3D model has been developed using the digital exploration database for the Roger project and rendered using Leapfrog. The intent of this exercise was to provide preliminary validation of the historical drillhole data for the property and to identify additional targets of opportunity that enhance the value proposition of the Roger.

The longitudinal section created from the data shows a significant thickening of the Roger mineralization (see Figure 2) believed to be the axis of an interpreted volcanic dome or cryptodome, the required heat source for a VMS mineralizing system. The most important basemetal sulphide intersections returned from historical drilling (see Kintavar Press Release - November 12, 2025) occur along the NE and SW flanks of the interpreted dome structure axis, in support of the VMS model develop for the property.

There is strong indication that the Roger porphyry mineralization remains open towards the NE and at depth. A strong Borehole EM (BHEM) was detected from our earlier survey work (see Press Release, November 12, 2025), believe to be related to massive basemetal sulphide mineralization has also been observed in that direction.

About Auriginal Mining Corp.

Auriginal is a Quebec-focused copper and gold company with one of the province's largest and most diversified exploration portfolios. Its 100%-owned flagship Roger Project, located in the Chibougamau district, hosts a known gold-copper deposit with strong potential to host volcanic-hosted polymetallic massive sulphide deposits. With a diversified pipeline of greenfield projects across Quebec's best-known mining regions and backed by the Ore Group's proven exploration and capital markets team Auriginal has a clear focus on discovery and growth for copper, zinc and gold. The company is well-positioned to immediately execute an aggressive exploration and acquisition strategy and attract broader market attention. Further details on Auriginal are available on the company website at https://auriginal.ca/.

Qualified Person Statement

The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Andre Liboiron, P.geo. (# 617), a Qualified Person as defined in "NI 43-101".

Cautionary Statement

Certain information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements or information ("forward-looking statements"), including details about the business of Auriginal Mining. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that Auriginal Mining expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond the Auriginal Mining's control, including the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, volatility of commodity prices, currency fluctuations, environmental risks, operational risks, competition from other industry participants, stock market volatility. Although the Company believes that the expectations in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, its forward-looking statements have been based on factors and assumptions concerning future events which may prove to be inaccurate. Those factors and assumptions are based upon currently available information. Such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could influence actual results or events and cause actual results or events to differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, as no assurance can be provided as to future results, levels of activity or achievements. Risks, uncertainties, material assumptions and other factors that could affect actual results are discussed in Auriginal Mining's public disclosure documents available at www.sedarplus.ca. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this document are made as of the date of this document and, except as required by applicable law, Auriginal Mining does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289770

Source: Auriginal Mining Corp.
Programme-level accreditation with both organisations will provide additional layer of credibility to GSD's courses, and further enhance institution's international standing

GENEVA, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Geneva School of Diplomacy (GSD) has announced it is in the advanced stages of securing full accreditation with Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) and has commenced the process to acquire the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), both recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, USA.

Both accreditations represent the latest step in the development of GSD's planned accreditation roadmap, complementing the school's existing EduQua certification and helping GSD demonstrate a robust, auditable quality assurance system across governance, academic delivery and student outcomes. This will serve to further strengthen the school's offering to students, both in Switzerland and internationally.

The ACBSP accreditation has a broad remit, focusing on teaching quality, learning outcomes, continuous improvement, faculty qualifications, quality of student support, and what GSD is doing to systematically measure and improve its overall performance. This covers all programmes offered by the school, including Bachelor's, Master's, Executive and Doctorate qualifications. ACBSP is one of the highly reputed bodies in quality assurance in the world.

NECHE is one of the oldest regional accreditors in the United States, with a long-standing track record of accrediting institutions both in the US and internationally. The certification is comprehensive, evaluating GSD's mission and integrity, governance, academic quality, learning outcomes, student experience, faculty credentials, resources, and institutional effectiveness. The process involves staged reviews, a detailed institutional self-study, and peer evaluation. Only three Swiss institutions currently hold NECHE accreditation.

Arber Reci, Head of Quality Assurance at GSD, said: "Our motivation in pursuing these two accreditations is both institutional and strategic. It is important for us to align with as many internationally recognised institutional accreditation standards as possible, as part of a coherent, Swiss-anchored and globally creditable certification roadmap. This will help enhance confidence amongst our students and further grow our reputation both at home and abroad."

In the longer term, GSD plans to pursue Swiss Federal institutional accreditation, the national framework for higher education institutions in Switzerland. This is the final step in the school's accreditation roadmap and includes a full institutional self-evaluation and external review under the Swiss Higher Education Act.

Reci concluded: "Swiss Federal accreditation is a relatively new national framework, with only a small number of private institutions having achieved the recognition to date. We have bold ambitions to secure this certification as soon as we possibly can, which will place us amongst the foremost private education institutions in Switzerland."

About the Geneva School of Diplomacy & International Relations

The Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations (GSD) was founded in 2003. It opened its doors with 11 students and now counts over 700 graduates in its steadily growing alumni community. Among these are more than 15 serving ambassadors to the United Nations and countries around the world.

Among GSD's honorary doctorates are seven presidents or prime ministers, one Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and several other globally renowned figures. Alumni have gone on to assume various roles including ambassadors, diplomats, politicians and entrepreneurs, serving as influential voices in the international arena.

The legal status of GSD is a Societe Anonyme incorporated under Swiss law, authorised by the Department of Private Education of Geneva, and the school is eduQua-certified.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/geneva-school-of-diplomacy-pursuing-accreditation-with-acbsp-and-neche-302724730.html
MADRID, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Global mobility is undergoing a profound transformation. The shift to cleaner energy, new urban transport models, disruptive technologies, and the growing strategic role of public authorities are redefining how cities move. In this landscape, Global Mobility Call (GMC) stands out as the key forum to understand where the future of mobility is heading.

The mobility sector is also undergoing a major economic shift. Energy transition, digitalisation, disruptive technologies and a more active role from public authorities are rewriting the industry. Mobility now goes far beyond transporting people and goods; it has become a strategic driver of global competitiveness, innovation and sustainability.

Within this context, Global Mobility Call (GMC) has become a leading international forum for understanding the direction of the mobility industry. Organized by IFEMA MADRID, its 2026 edition will take place from 9 to 11 June. The event aims to position Madrid as a global hub for broader debates on energy, industry, logistics, technology and governance.

Over three days, Madrid will bring together institutional leaders, operators, high-tech firms, manufacturers, distributors, startups and international experts to examine the sector's emerging challenges and opportunities. The programme is structured around four core pillars that already define the future of mobility: the data-driven AI economy; autonomous and software-defined transport; intelligent infrastructures focused on energy efficiency and decarbonization; and governance issues linked to talent, ethics and safety in the transition to new energy models.

GMC arrives at a defining momentum for the sector. Its last edition gathered over 8,000 professionals from 47 countries and more than 500 speakers, thus becoming a key forum for public-private collaboration in sustainable mobility. The 2026 edition builds on this momentum with new strategic alliances, including Indra Group as technology partner, showcasing advanced smart-mobility and connected-vehicle systems capable of integrating infrastructure, vehicles and control centres in real time. Faconauto also joins the event by bringing in major players from automotive distribution and fleet sustainability.

A further set apart factor is its alignment with TECMA, SRR, SocioCARE and The Cities Forum, creating a sole environment focused on urban sustainability, offering a rare opportunity to connect mobility solutions with public services, circular-economy models and urban planning.

GMC 2026 aims not just to explain the transition but to drive it, emerging as the very platform for shaping investment, advancing projects and supporting the new mobility economy.

Contact details:

Marco Presa

Press Chief

Tel.: +34 652 52 87 56

mpresa@ifema.es

Elena Valera

International Press Chief

Tel.: +34 629 644 208

evalera@ifema.es

Lucas Farioli

International Press Officer

Tel.: +34 678 64 92 12

lfarioli@ifema.es

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2940252/GMC_Fair.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2940251/Global_Mobility_Call_logo.jpg





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Funding will accelerate preclinical validation of biofabricated tissue implants for soft tissue repair, wound healing and trauma care - while building the biological and manufacturing foundations for 3D-bioprinted viable human organs.

Berlin / Boston - 25 March, 2026 - For patients with severe soft tissue loss, complex wounds such as full thickness burns or blast injuries, and reconstructive defects, medicine still too often relies on compromise: invasive grafting procedures, synthetic implants and solutions that restore shape imperfectly but rarely restore living function.

That is what Cellbricks Therapeutics is working to change. The company has announced new financing that will enable the next stage of translational development for its biofabricated human tissue implants - moving living, vascularized tissue constructs through rigorous preclinical validation and closer to clinical use.

The financing includes a 7 million seed round and more than 3 million in additional non-dilutive funding currently under negotiation. More importantly, it gives Cellbricks Therapeutics the ability to do the hard work that progress in this field has demanded for years: advance its lead adipose tissue implant program, launch up to three preclinical animal studies and generate the evidence required to move towards human clinical studies.

Cellbricks Therapeutics' immediate focus is on major unmet needs in reconstructive surgery, wound healing and trauma care. Its lead adipose tissue implant program is aimed at treating complex soft tissue defects and enabling biological alternatives to synthetic implants, including in breast reconstruction. For patients and clinicians alike, the need is clear: better repair, better integration and better functional outcomes.

The long-term vision is bigger still - 3D-bioprinted viable human organs. But the route to that future is not a single breakthrough moment. It is a stepwise process of solving the biology, engineering and translation challenges tissue by tissue. Living implants that survive, vascularize, integrate and function in the body are the essential steppingstones.

This is why the new funding matters. It allows Cellbricks Therapeutics to move beyond promise and into proof: to show that engineered human tissues can perform in clinically relevant models and to establish a credible path from advanced tissue implants today to organ replacement in the future.

The round was led by Silicon Roundabout Ventures, with participation from Germany's Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation (SPRIND) as well as existing investors ACT Venture Partners and a group of long-term investors backing Cellbricks' mission.

"The ambition is clear: restoring functional human tissue and, ultimately, enabling organ replacement. That future is built one disciplined milestone at a time. This funding allows us to reach the next level of validation and to advance living tissue implants that address urgent patient needs now while laying the groundwork for what comes next."

Alexander Leutner, Co-CEO and Co-Founder, Cellbricks Therapeutics

"Regenerative medicine has talked for a long time about what may one day be possible. The next chapter is about demonstrating what can actually work in relevant models, with living tissues designed to integrate, restore function and move with real credibility towards the clinic."

Dr. Simon MacKenzie, Co-CEO, Cellbricks Therapeutics

Cellbricks Therapeutics has developed a proprietary biofabrication platform capable of producing vascularized human tissue implants. As it advances translational development, the company continues to build across the leading innovation ecosystems of Berlin and Boston.

This capital accelerates execution where it counts: faster preclinical validation, stronger translational data and a more credible route towards a field-defining goal that has remained tantalizingly out of reach for far too long.

About Cellbricks Therapeutics

Cellbricks Therapeutics is a tissue engineering company developing biofabricated human tissue implants for regenerative medicine. Using a proprietary biofabrication platform, the company engineers vascularized human tissue therapeutics designed to restore function in patients suffering from severe tissue damage, including complex wounds and soft tissue defects, with long-term applications in organ repair and replacement. www.cellbricks-therapeutics.com

About Silicon Roundabout Ventures

Silicon Roundabout Ventures are die-hards for hard stuff. We are the venture capital fund for European deep-tech founders building critical infrastructure. We grew from a London pub meetup into a 15,000-strong community of scientists and engineers. No Patagonia vests and no AI apps. We relentlessly scout our network to write the very first cheques for the smartest technical minds building in critical industries, such as computing, energy, and defence. www.siliconroundabout.ventures

About SPRIND

SPRIND is the German Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation, founded 2019 and dedicated to supporting groundbreaking technologies and innovations that can fundamentally improve lives and address the major challenges of our time. Each year, SPRIND invests approximately 250 million in European breakthrough technologies, enabling visionary ideas, their development and market launch. www.sprind.org

About ACT Venture Partners

ACT Venture Partners is a European venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments for deep-tech startups, with investment team members located in Amsterdam, London, and Istanbul. In addition to providing capital, ACT offers strategic support in areas such as fundraising, hiring, and navigating public policy, thereby assisting in transforming innovative technological ideas into global enterprises. www.actvp.vc

Contacts & Photos

Media & Lab Visit

Moritz Marschall

mm@cellbricks.com

+49 176 999 26426 Investor Relations

Alexander Leutner

al@cellbricks.com

+49 178 3200822

Attachments

Cellbricks freshly 3d-bioprinted tissue implant

Cellbricks prepared tissue implant

Cellbricks Team at Berlin Headquarters

Cellbricks tissue engineers with biofabricated tissue implant

Investor Relations Alexander Leutner al@cellbricks.com +49 178 3200822
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / March 25, 2026 / Gold Basin Resources Corporation ("Gold Basin" or the "Company") (TSXV:GXX) reports that the Company has terminated Charles Straw for cause as its President and Interim Chief Executive Officer for serious misconduct, breach of his duties and obligations, conflicts of interest and repeated lack of judgment, care and diligence causing financial loss to Gold Basin. Based on the Company's investigation to date the Company is aware of Mr. Straw's: conversion for personal use and loss of Company funds; misappropriation of corporate opportunities; causing the Company to enter into transactions with parties in which Mr. Straw or his associates had a personal interest on financial and commercial terms which were neither fair nor reasonable to the Company; and causing the Company to breach its obligations under Canadian securities laws, the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), stock exchange requirements and a restraining order of the British Columbia Supreme Court. The Company's investigation into these matters is ongoing, and none of the Company's findings have been proven in court.

On March 16, 2026, Mr. Straw was sent a letter from Gold Basin terminating him for cause and outlining 15 breaches of his basic duties and obligations to the Company. On March 17, 2026, in response to that letter, Mr. Straw indicated in writing that, among other things, in 2024 he was the victim of wire fraud relating to a business email compromise. What is not explained by Mr. Straw is why he wired large sums of money from Gold Basin's corporate bank account to a private account he controlled before he "fell victim" to wire fraud. The new board of directors of Gold Basin have not been provided with any information or documents that could explain the reason for the diversion of the corporate funds to his private account.

The Company has reserved all of its rights against Mr. Straw and intends to take such steps or initiate such proceedings as may be available and appropriate to recover from him the losses the Company alleges it has suffered, and may continue to suffer, and recover the gains the Company alleges Mr. Straw may have benefited from, due to his misconduct.

At the Company's court-ordered annual general meeting held on March 16, 2026, Mr Straw was not re-elected as a director.

Unreported Material Fraud

To the Company's knowledge, the material fraud event confirmed by Mr. Straw was never disclosed to the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV), the British Columbia Securities Commission, or to Gold Basin shareholders. Under TSXV policy and Canadian securities laws, management and board members must immediately disclose any material fraud once they become aware of it. The new management of Gold Basin are doing so now, even though key information relating to the event has not been provided by Mr. Straw to the Company.

About Gold Basin Resources Corporation

Gold Basin Resources Corporation holds the 42 km2 Gold Basin Project in Mohave County Arizona. The project hosts large mineralized trends containing near surface oxide gold mineralization and has seen over 800 historic and current drill holes into mineralized deposits up to 1.7 kilometres in length.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

"Shane Ebert"

Shane Ebert, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

For Further Information Contact:

Shane Ebert at 1.250.964.2699

info@goldbasinresources.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical and present factual information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release, including words such as "will", "intends", "may" and similar expressions, are forward-looking information that represents Gold Basin Resources Corporation's expectations or beliefs concerning, among other things: Mr. Straw's misconduct; the results of the Company's investigation of the full extent of Mr. Straw's misconduct; whether the Company's findings will be proven in court; whether steps or proceedings against Mr. Straw will recover losses the Company alleges it has suffered, and may continue to suffer, and recover the gains the Company alleges Mr. Straw may have benefited from; and whether the new board will be able to address the current state of the Company and create value for stakeholders. The estimates and beliefs contained in such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause Gold Basin's actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates and beliefs of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, those risks described in Gold Basin's filings with Canadian securities authorities. Accordingly, holders of Gold Basin's common shares and potential investors are cautioned that events or circumstances could cause results to differ materially from those predicted. Gold Basin disclaims any responsibility to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws.

SOURCE: Gold Basin Resources Corporation

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/gold-basin-announces-termination-of-charles-straw-for-cause-1151464
Calgary, Alberta and New Delhi, India--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - SuperQ Quantum Computing Inc. (CSE: QBTQ) (OTCQB: QBTQF) (FSE: 25X) ("SuperQ Quantum", "SuperQ", or the "Company"), a global architect of hybrid quantum-classical optimization and post-quantum cybersecurity, is pleased to announce that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Quanfluence, a leading photonic quantum technology company. The MOU targets integration of Quanfluence's quantum random number generator (QRNG) and quantum computing into the Super platform as well as joint global commercialization.

The signing follows the successful joint showcase at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, where SuperQ displayed Quanfluence's hardware to demonstrate the integration of the Super platform with next-generation quantum systems. The New Delhi signing was underscored by the high-level attendance of the SuperQ Board of Directors, represented by Manoj Joseph, Chief Business Officer. and Krishna Ganesh, Chief Operating Officer. This and SuperQ's activities at the India AI Impact Summit signal the Company's institutional commitment to the Indian "Quantum AI Leap" and its strategy of partnering with deep-tech innovators and research institutions to accelerate the global quantum ecosystem.

Strategic Collaboration and Ecosystem Integration

The partnership establishes a framework for exploring Super, a proprietary multi-agent autonomous quantum AI platform, as an operating system layer for Quanfluence's quantum hardware. The collaboration aims to provide a sandbox for deep-tech companies, universities, and research institutions to experience tangible quantum utility while also including joint commercialization efforts.

"Following our successful hardware showcase with SuperQ at CES, we are excited to explore the integration of the Super platform into Quanfluence's photonic quantum computing stack. At Quanfluence, we are building a full-stack photonic quantum computing platform, spanning hardware, control systems, and cloud-accessible optimization layers. Our near-term focus is on delivering real-world optimization capabilities using our photonic Ising machines, enabling enterprises to access quantum advantage today while we continue scaling toward universal quantum computing," said Sujoy Chakravarty, CEO of Quanfluence. "The integration of AI-driven orchestration layers like Super has the potential to significantly accelerate this journey-transforming complex quantum workflows into accessible, production-ready solutions."

Krishna Ganesh, COO and Director of SuperQ Quantum, stated: "It gives me great personal and professional happiness to see SuperQ supporting the growth of Indian quantum companies. I believe this provides a unique perspective to our 'local to global' bridge, ensuring that Canadian innovation is effectively integrated with India's rapidly expanding quantum market. This collaboration with Quanfluence is a significant step in fostering a more accessible and resilient quantum ecosystem within India and beyond by providing the software intelligence required to scale hardware. We are proud to welcome Quanfluence as a vital part of the SuperQ global ecosystem."

SuperQ's primary goals in India are two-fold:

Industry Engagement: Partner with Indian deep-tech companies to integrate the Super platform for optimizing domestic quantum hardware and post-quantum cybersecurity.

Partner with Indian deep-tech companies to integrate the Super platform for optimizing domestic quantum hardware and post-quantum cybersecurity. Academic Collaboration: Invite universities and research institutions to utilize Super for transitioning their work from theoretical research to practical quantum and supercomputing applications by automating the complex control loops that currently impede quantum scalability.

SuperQ anticipates announcing further strategic alliances within the Indian market and globally in the coming weeks.

About SuperQ Quantum Computing Inc.

SuperQ Quantum Computing Inc. (CSE: QBTQ) (FSE: 25X) (OTCQB: QBTQF) is reducing the technical and financial barriers to quantum and supercomputing commercialization. It is defining the next era of enterprise transformation, emerging as a partner for global organizations seeking direct quantum and supercomputing ROI. We are also putting quantum computing in the palm of consumers' hands through ChatQLM to drive widespread adoption.

Our flagship Super platform strives to make the most advanced computational power intuitive and accessible. This will empower executives, leading research institutions, and critical government agencies to unlock immediate business impact across finance, healthcare, logistics, defense, and beyond, leveraging our proprietary AI Autopilots to turn complex challenges into executive-ready results with one-click productization and deployment. SuperQ Quantum is headquartered in Canada with a growing international presence, particularly in the US, Middle East and Asia, strategically establishing Super Hubs in key regions.

About Quanfluence

Quanfluence aims to revolutionize computing power, addressing complex global challenges, and contributing positively to humanity's progress through innovative technology solutions. Our expertise in photonic quantum computing positions us at the forefront of cutting-edge technology and nation-building efforts. We aim to lead the quantum revolution in India and globally, drive sustainable innovation, and foster positive change for humankind and industries alike.

Quanfluence is a photonic full-stack quantum computing company building scalable quantum systems and near-term optimization platforms. Its flagship platform, Optiqon, delivers real-world optimization capabilities today using photonic Ising machines, enabling enterprises to solve complex problems in logistics, energy, and advanced computing.

Quanfluence develops the complete stack-from low-loss photonic hardware and control systems to cloud-accessible compute platforms-designed to translate quantum capabilities into practical, deployable solutions. The company's long-term vision is to scale these technologies toward universal photonic quantum computing, establishing a clear path from near-term utility to large-scale quantum advantage.

Learn more at: www.quanfluence.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information generally refers to information about an issuer's business, capital, or operations that is prospective in nature. Any statements that are contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "would", "will", "estimates", "believes", "intends" "expects" and similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking information. More particularly and without limitation, this press release contains forward-looking information concerning statements with respect to the closing of the Offering, timing of closing of the Offering, the use of proceeds of the Offering and the future plans of the Company. The Company cautions that all forward-looking information is inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, assumptions, expectations and risks, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including but not limited to assumptions regarding prevailing market conditions and general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties to develop the forward-looking information in this press release, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Company's disclosure documents filed with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedarplus.com. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

The forward-looking information contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289860

Source: SuperQ Quantum
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - Great Pacific Gold Corp. (TSXV: GPAC) (OTCQX: GPGCF) (FSE: 0B3) ("Great Pacific Gold," "GPAC," or the "Company") is providing the latest drill results from the Sinivit-Kavasuki Target at its flagship Wild Dog Project ("Wild Dog" or the "Project"), located on the island of New Britain, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea ("PNG").

Kavasuki KVH-03 Highlights:

Intercepted 38.40 metres @ 2.23 g/t AuEq from 12.3 metres (2.17 g/t Au, 2.5 g/t Ag, .02%Cu) including 2.23 metres @ 10.31 g/t AuEq from 14.3 metres (10.26 g/t Au, 1.33 g/t Ag, 0.02% Cu) including 2.20 metres @ 16.24 g/t AuEq from 48.5 metres (15.78 g/t Au, 12.59 g/t Ag, 0.20% Cu)

from (2.17 g/t Au, 2.5 g/t Ag, .02%Cu) Confirms broad zone of silica flooding, quartz veining and brecciation from near surface previously shown in hole KVH-01 , which returned 58.9 metres @ 2.50 g/t AuEq (see Table 2)

, which returned (see Table 2) Supports revised west- to west-northwest dipping structural model, improving targeting confidence

Supports continuity of near-surface mineralization approximately 1 km north of the Sinivit deposit along the Wild Dog structural corridor

Kavasuki KVH-04 Highlights:

Completed KVH-04, which intersected approximately 60 metres of silica flooding, quartz veining, brecciation and visible sulphide mineralization; assays are pending

Drilled approximately 20 m down-dip from KVH-03 and supports the interpreted continuation of the system at depth

Reinforces interpretation of a broad, coherent mineralized system at Kavasuki

"Drill hole KVH-03 was designed as a confirmation hole and has successfully validated our revised structural interpretation at Kavasuki," said Callum Spink, Vice President Exploration. "The broad zone of mineralization intersected, with higher-grade internal zones, is consistent with what we saw in KVH-01 and confirms we are drilling within a coherent, structurally controlled epithermal system with strong continuity."

"Importantly, follow-up drilling in KVH-04 has intersected a substantial mineralized zone, comprising multiple quartz veins, brecciation and sulphide mineralization, over approximately 60 metres downhole. While assays are pending, the consistency and scale of mineralization between holes provides additional confidence in the scale and continuity."

"Kavasuki sits along strike from the Sinivit deposit within the broader Wild Dog structural corridor, and we are increasingly seeing strong geological similarities between the two areas. The style of mineralization, alteration and structural controls observed at Kavasuki are comparable to those at Sinivit, while reflecting variation in metal association and mineralization style. This supports our interpretation that both areas represent different expressions of the same district-scale mineralized system."

"With drilling now advancing to KVH-05, we are moving beyond confirmation and into systematic testing of the system down-dip. The focus is now on understanding controls on grade distribution and identifying potential higher-grade shoots within what is emerging as a large and well-developed mineralized system."

The Wild Dog Project hosts a 15-kilometre-long structurally controlled mineral corridor containing multiple epithermal gold targets and porphyry copper-gold potential identified through recent MobileMT geophysical surveys. The corridor contains the Sinivit-Kavasuki vein system and multiple advanced targets including Kasie Ridge, which are now being systematically drill tested as part of the Company's 2026 exploration program (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Wild Dog Structural Corridor showing the pipeline of epithermal targets defined from historical and recent work. Long section looking west highlights the approximately 3 km strike extent of the Sinivit-Kavasuki area within the broader 15 km corridor.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11018/289850_940912635460f836_002full.jpg

Kavasuki Drilling Update

Drill hole KVH-03 was designed as a confirmation hole to test the revised west to west-northwest dipping structural interpretation of the Kavasuki vein system, following structural measurements from earlier drilling. The hole was positioned to intersect the mineralized structure at a similar elevation and location to historical drilling, providing an opportunity to assess the relevance of legacy results within the current geological framework.

KVH-03 successfully confirmed the updated geological model, intersecting a broad zone of silica flooding, quartz veining and brecciation consistent with the mineralized system observed in KVH-01. The alignment of geological characteristics with those previously reported provides additional confidence in the broader interpretation of the system and supports the view that selected historical drilling may be relevant to the current geological interpretation, subject to ongoing review and validation.

Importantly, KVH-03 demonstrates continuity of mineralization at a similar elevation and supports the interpretation of a coherent, structurally controlled epithermal vein system. Ongoing geological logging and interpretation will continue to refine drill targeting as new data is integrated.

Figure 2: Long section looking west along Kavasuki illustrating historic drill intercepts, trench results and AuEq gram-metre distribution. Mineralization defines a structurally controlled epithermal vein system extending over approximately 900 m.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11018/289850_gpacimg2.jpg

Figure 3: Cross section (+/-25 m looking NE) of the Kavasuki vein system showing recent drilling (KVH-01 to KVH-04) and planned follow-up drill holes designed to test the interpreted west-dipping structure and evaluate continuity of mineralization within the broader Sinivit-Kavasuki corridor.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11018/289850_gpacfig3.3.jpg

KVH-03 - Geological Interpretation

Results to date confirm that Kavasuki is a structurally controlled epithermal gold system characterised by:

Multi-phase quartz veining and hydrothermal brecciation

Broad zones of silica flooding and pervasive alteration

Sulphide mineralization dominated by pyrite with minor chalcopyrite

Development of discrete higher-grade zones within a wider mineralized envelope

Association with a broader mineralized corridor within the Sinivit-Kavasuki trend

Kavasuki shares many geological similarities with the Sinivit deposit, including structural controls and overall style of mineralization. However, mineralization at Kavasuki appears to occur over broader zones of silicification and lower-grade mineralization, with discrete higher-grade zones developed within this wider envelope and occurring relatively close to surface.

Multi-element assay results are pending, and interpretation of metal zonation and system vectors remains ongoing.

The system remains open along strike and at depth and continues to demonstrate characteristics consistent with a large, well-developed epithermal gold system.

Figure 4: Close-up photograph of sulphide-bearing quartz vein material (KVH-03; 48.7m), showing fine disseminated sulphides within silica flooding and brecciated quartz (WDDH002686: 46.6 g/t Au, 35.0 g/t Ag and 0.58% Cu).

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11018/289850_940912635460f836_008full.jpg

Figure 5: Drill core from KVH-03 (40.7 m) showing multi-phase quartz veining, brecciation and sulphide mineralization within altered volcanic host rock (WDDH002672: 6.2 g/t Au, 4.0 g/t Ag and 0.05% Cu)

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https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11018/289850_940912635460f836_009full.jpg

Figure 6: Drill core from the Kavasuki hole KVH-03 (39.7-42.8 m) showing intense silica flooding and multi-phase quartz veining within hydrothermally altered host rock.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11018/289850_fig6new.jpg

KVH-04 - Down-Dip Confirmation and System Scale

Drill hole KVH-04 was designed to test the down-dip extension of the KVH-03 intercept from the same drill pad, with approximately 20 metres of vertical spacing between the holes. This close-spaced drilling approach is intended to better constrain the geometry of the mineralized structure, assess short-range continuity, and evaluate variability typical of epithermal gold systems.

Geological logging of KVH-04 has identified a broad zone (approximately 60 metres downhole, based on geological logging) characterised by silica flooding, multi-phase quartz veining and hydrothermal brecciation, with associated disseminated and vein-hosted sulphide mineralization. The intensity of veining and brecciation varies throughout this interval and is consistent with that observed in KVH-03.

The presence of multiple phases of quartz veining, crackle brecciation and sulphide development over a significant downhole interval supports interpretation of a broad, coherent and vertically continuous mineralized system at Kavasuki.

Importantly, the consistency of alteration style, veining intensity and sulphide development between KVH-03 and KVH-04 provides increasing confidence in the scale and continuity of the Kavasuki system.

Assay results for KVH-04 are pending and will be reported once received and validated.

Figure 7: Drill core from KVH-04 showing intense silica flooding and multi-phase quartz veining with disseminated sulphides within a brecciated quartz matrix.

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Figure 8: Drill core from KVH-04 illustrating crackle to mosaic brecciation with quartz-carbonate veining and fine sulphide mineralization.

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https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11018/289850_gpacfig8.jpg

Table 1: Kavasuki Drill Hole Details (PNG94 UTM Zone 56 coordinates).

Hole ID Easting Northing RL Dip Azi Max

Depth

(m) Status KVH-01 395247.0 9490673.0 842 -55 304 159 Complete KVH-02 395248.0 9490672.0 842 -71 304 165 Complete KVH-03 395178.0 9490701.0 803 -53 100 113.7 Complete KVH-04 395179.4 9490700.5 803 -72 100 91.90 Complete KVH-05 395155.0 9490728.0 785 -62 110 tbd In Progress

Table 2: Kavasuki Drill Hole Key Assay Results

Hole ID From

(m) To

(m) Interval1

(m) Gold

(g/t) Silver

(g/t) Copper

(%) Gold Eq.2

(g/t) KVH-01 38.60 97.50 58.9 2.43 2.75 0.02 2.50 Including 49.00 53.60 4.60 8.24 10.19 0.13 8.56 KVH-01 100.60 118.70 18.1 2.08 1.60 0.03 2.14 KVH-03 12.30 50.70 38.40 2.17 2.50 0.02 2.23 Including 14.27 16.50 2.23 10.26 1.33 0.02 10.31 Including 48.50 50.70 2.20 15.78 12.59 0.20 16.24

Notes:

Drill highlights presented above are core lengths (true widths are not known at this time). Gold equivalent (AuEq) exploration results are calculated using longer-term commodity prices with a copper price of US$4.50/lb, a silver price of US$27.50/oz and a gold price of US$2,000/oz. No metallurgical testing has been carried out on Wild Dog mineralized samples. For AuEq calculations, recovery assumptions of Au 92.6%, Ag 78.0%, and Cu 94.0% were used based on K92 Mining's stated recovery results in an Updated Definitive Feasibility Study for the Kainantu mine.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed, verified and approved by Callum Spink, the Company's Vice President, Exploration, who is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, MAIG, and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Spink is responsible for the technical content of this news release. Mr. Spink is not independent of the Company.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QAQC)

The Company follows industry-standard Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) procedures. Diamond drill core (HQ and PQ diameter) was sawn in half, with one-half submitted to Intertek Minerals Ltd. in Lae, Papua New Guinea, an ISO 9001-certified independent analytical laboratory with internationally recognized quality standards.

Gold analyses were completed by fire assay, with copper and silver initially determined by aqua regia digestion and atomic absorption and subsequently updated using four-acid digestion (MS48) multi-element analysis.

Certified reference materials (standards) and blanks were inserted into the sample stream at industry-standard frequencies, including routine insertion of blanks following mineralized intervals. All assay batches received to date have passed QA/QC review and fall within acceptable tolerance limits.

Core recoveries were within acceptable ranges, and sampling procedures were carefully managed in areas of variable ground conditions.

About Great Pacific Gold

Great Pacific Gold's vision is to become the leading gold-copper development company in Papua New Guinea ("PNG"). The Company has a portfolio of exploration-stage projects in PNG, as follows:

Wild Dog Project: the Company's flagship project is located in the East New Britain Province of PNG. The project consists of a large-scale epithermal target, the Wild Dog structural corridor, stretching 15 km in strike length, with geophysical data suggesting significant depth extent. The survey also highlighted the Magiabe porphyry target, adjacent to the epithermal target and potentially 1,000 metres in diameter and over 2,000 metres deep. Drilling of the epithermal structure on the Sinivit deposit has yielded high-grade results, including WDG-08 which intercepted 8.4 metres at 50 g/t AuEq from 154 metres. The current drilling program will extend through 2026 with the second drill rig now operational.

the Company's flagship project is located in the East New Britain Province of PNG. The project consists of a large-scale epithermal target, the Wild Dog structural corridor, stretching 15 km in strike length, with geophysical data suggesting significant depth extent. The survey also highlighted the Magiabe porphyry target, adjacent to the epithermal target and potentially 1,000 metres in diameter and over 2,000 metres deep. Drilling of the epithermal structure on the Sinivit deposit has yielded high-grade results, including WDG-08 which intercepted 8.4 metres at 50 g/t AuEq from 154 metres. The current drilling program will extend through 2026 with the second drill rig now operational. Kesar Project: located in the Eastern Highlands Province of PNG and contiguous with the mine tenements of K92 Mining Inc. ("K92"), the Kesar Project is a greenfield exploration project with several high-priority targets in close proximity to the property boundary with K92. Multiple epithermal veins at Kesar are on strike and have the same orientation as key K92 deposits, such as Kora. Exploration work to date by the Company at the Kesar Project has shown that these veins have high grades of gold present in outcrop and very elevated gold in soil grades, coincident with aeromagnetic highs. The Company conducted a diamond drill program on key target areas at the Kesar Project from November 2024 to May 2025 and have developed a follow-up Phase 2 program for 2026.

located in the Eastern Highlands Province of PNG and contiguous with the mine tenements of K92 Mining Inc. ("K92"), the Kesar Project is a greenfield exploration project with several high-priority targets in close proximity to the property boundary with K92. Multiple epithermal veins at Kesar are on strike and have the same orientation as key K92 deposits, such as Kora. Exploration work to date by the Company at the Kesar Project has shown that these veins have high grades of gold present in outcrop and very elevated gold in soil grades, coincident with aeromagnetic highs. The Company conducted a diamond drill program on key target areas at the Kesar Project from November 2024 to May 2025 and have developed a follow-up Phase 2 program for 2026. Arau Project: also located in the Eastern Highlands Province of PNG, the Arau Project is south of and contiguous to the mine tenements of K92. Arau contains the highly prospective Mt. Victor exploration target with potential for a high sulphidation epithermal gold-base metal deposit. A Phase 1 Reverse Circulation drilling program was completed at Mt. Victor in August 2024, with encouraging results. The Arau Project includes the Elandora licence, which also contains various epithermal and copper-gold porphyry targets.

The Company also holds the Tinga Valley Project in PNG.

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Great Pacific Gold cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by many material factors, most of which are beyond their respective control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Great Pacific Gold's limited operating history, its exploration and development activities on its mineral properties and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Great Pacific Gold does not undertake to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

Mineralization at the properties held by K92 Mining Inc. is not necessarily indicative of mineralization at the Wild Dog Project.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289850

Source: Great Pacific Gold Corp.
Thunder Bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - Benton Resources Inc. (TSXV: BEX) (the "Companies" or "Benton") and Metals Creek Resources Corp. (TSXV: MEK) (OTC Pink: MCREF) (FSE: M1C1) (the "Companies" or "Metals Creek") are pleased to announce that they have jointly acquired through staking 6 potential natural white hydrogen projects located in Newfoundland, Canada (the "Projects").

The Projects (see Figure 2) were selected and staked after extensive research of historical data in areas of comparable geological settings to those that current hydrogen companies across the USA and Canada are targeting.

Of particular interest is that 3 of the 6 projects have identified gas from historical drill holes or the surface venting of gas. The Projects, all located on the west coast of Newfoundland, are hosted in geological environments considered prospective for natural white hydrogen. A total of 763 claim units were staked to acquire the mineral lands with geological characteristics that support the targeting potential.

Stephen Stares, President and CEO of Benton, stated, "While Benton is primarily focused on advancing its Copper-Gold assets, there are times when unique opportunities allow management to act decisively as an early mover. Partnering with Metals Creek enables the Companies to share relatively low-cost exploration risk while maintaining meaningful upside, should even one of these projects lead to a significant discovery of hydrogen or helium. In neighboring Nova Scotia, companies such as Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. are already demonstrating success in exploring for natural hydrogen. We believe Newfoundland's geological setting offers comparable potential for these emerging and highly prospective discoveries."





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3657/289811_43f07ae4c48dfbb0_002full.jpg

Source: https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/aas-infographic-hydrogen-factories

Listed below are brief descriptions of the 6 projects acquired through staking.

Parson's Pond

A large sedimentary basin in a thrust fault system, with gas noted in historical drill holes near serpentine and glauconite mineralization. In addition, gas venting at surface is documented in Newfoundland government files. See:

https://gis.gov.nl.ca/mods/ModsCard.asp?NMINOString?temp=n&NMINOString=012I/04/Btm002

Cape St. Gregory

A large serpentinized ultramafic unit near documented structures and faults.

Bond Pond

15 historical drill holes noted, intensely sheared and serpentinized ultramafic intrusions and likely in contact with fault structures within a sedimentary basin environment.

Deer Lake Basin

Explosive gas encountered in historical hole that flowed for a minimum of 12 months in uranium-thorium rich basin environment. See:

https://gis.gov.nl.ca/mods/ModsCard.asp?NMINOString?temp=n&NMINOString=012H/03/Btm002

Bay St George

Gas noted in historical drilling. See:

https://www.gov.nl.ca/em/files/publications-energy-fwr-port-au-port-no-1-final-well-report-volume-2.pdf

Bay of Islands

A large serpentinite-bearing ultramafic unit near documented structures and faults.

At Parson's Pond (see Figure 1) research of the historical drill logs from two holes 14.2 km apart has observed C1 methane gas levels reaching 72%. The area is underlain by thrust faulted rocks of the Humber Arm Supergroup. Drill logs indicate unique sedimentary units composed of shales along with sandstones, containing fragments of serpentine and chrome. Of particular interest is the presence of mineral glauconite, which, combined with these geological indicators, suggests a highly prospective environment for the potential formation white hydrogen (natural hydrogen) to form within the basin. The presence of such high concentrations of methane alongside hydrogen indicators suggests a potentially active gas system within the basin. In addition, surface areas have been noted to vent gas within the project boundaries.

(Ref NALCOR ENERGY - OIL AND GAS INC FINAL HOLE REPORT For Nalcor Energy et al SEAMUS #1 https://www.gov.nl.ca/em/files/publications-energy-nalcorseamusfwr.pdf and NALCOR ENERGY - OIL AND GAS INC FINAL HOLE REPORT For Nalcor Energy et al Finnegan #1 https://www.gov.nl.ca/em/files/FinniganFWR.pdf).

Figure 1: Parson's Pond Regional Cross Section/Geology and Hole Location (Seamus & Finnigan)

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https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3657/289811_43f07ae4c48dfbb0_003full.jpg

Source: NALCO Energy - Oil and Gas Inc. Final Well Report for Nalcor Energy et al FINNIGAN #1 & NALCO Energy - Oil and Gas Inc. Final Well Report for Nalcor Energy et al SEAMUS #1.

Figure 2: Project Location Map

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3657/289811_43f07ae4c48dfbb0_004full.jpg

Source: Newfoundland. Geological Survey of Canada, "A" Series Map, 1678A. https://doi.org/10.4095/126990.

Please note that the presence of gas or methane on these staked projects or gas discovered on adjacent properties does not guarantee the presence of hydrogen or helium. Further studies are required to validate their presence.

About Benton Resources Inc.

Benton Resources is a well-financed mineral exploration company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol BEX. Benton has a diversified, highly prospective property portfolio and holds large equity positions in other mining companies that are advancing high-quality assets. Whenever possible, BEX retains net smelter return (NSR) royalties with potential long-term cash flow.

Benton is focused on advancing its high-grade Copper-Gold Great Burnt Project in central Newfoundland, which has a Mineral Resource estimate of 667,000 tonnes @ 3.21% Cu Indicated and 482,000 @ 2.35% Cu Inferred. The Project has an excellent geological setting covering 25km of strike and boasts six known Cu-Au-Ag zones over 15 km that are all open for expansion. Further potential for discovery is excellent given the extensive number of untested geophysical targets and Cu-Au soil anomalies. Phase 1 and 2 drill programs returned impressive results including 25.42 m of 5.51% Cu, including 9.78 m of 8.31% Cu, and 1.00 m of 12.70% Cu. Drilling at the South Pond Gold Zone, approximately 7.5 km north of the Great Burnt Copper-Gold Zone, has confirmed a robust gold-mineralized system over 2.5 km with results of 74.20 m of 1.43g/t Au and 43.75 m of 1.62g/t Au and is open for expansion in all directions.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Benton Resources Inc.,

"Stephen Stares"

Stephen Stares, President

Parties interested in seeking more information about properties available for option can contact Mr. Stares at the number below.

THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements."

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to gold price and other commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289811

Source: Benton Resources Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - Precipitate Gold Corp. (TSXV: PRG) (OTCQB: PREIF) (the "Company" or "Precipitate") is pleased to announce that diamond drilling has commenced at the Pueblo Grande Norte zone of the Company's 100% owned Pueblo Grande Project ("Pueblo Grande" or the "Project").

The drill campaign is budgeted to consist of an initial four holes, each with an estimated average drill depth of approximately 450 metres for a total expected program of approximately 2,000 metres. The drill campaign is designed to test a newly identified cluster of induced polarization ("IP") geophysical chargeability-high anomalies that were recently delineated through a comprehensive review of historical exploration data and follow-up IP geophysical surveying completed by Precipitate late last year (see news release dated January 22, 2026). See figures and photographs below.

Jeffrey Wilson, President and CEO of Precipitate Gold Corp., commented, "We are pleased to have successfully advanced this compelling geophysical target from data interpretation through to drilling in a relatively short period of time. The identification of a sizeable and untested cluster of chargeability anomalies located immediately adjacent to a world-class mining operation represents an exciting exploration opportunity for the Company. With drilling now underway, we look forward to testing this target and evaluating initial results to determine its potential to host meaningful gold mineralization."

Figure 1: Pueblo Grande Norte 2026 IP Survey Chargeability (plan map and vertical sections looking west)

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https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1718/289790_a66138fe24a3db1b_003full.jpg

Figure 2: Drill set up and drilling underway at Pueblo Grande Norte Target of Pueblo Grande Project, March 2026

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Figure 3: Drill crew overseeing first diamond drill hole at Pueblo Grande Norte Target of Pueblo Grande Project, March 2026

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1718/289790_a66138fe24a3db1b_005full.jpg

Drilling is being conducted by Energold Drilling, an international drilling contractor with operational experience throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, including significant prior work on the Pueblo Grande Project in the Dominican Republic. The selected diamond drill rig is well suited for the anticipated hole depths and ground conditions and is operated by Energold's experienced workforce familiar with the region and project operating environment.

The drill program is expected to run for approximately 8 to 12 weeks, depending on various circumstances, with assay results to be reported as they become available.

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael Moore, P. Geo., Vice President, Exploration of Precipitate Gold Corporation, a Qualified Person ("QP") as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Moore is not independent of the Company within the meaning of NI 43-101. The QP has verified the data disclosed in this news release, including sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information.

About Precipitate Gold:

Precipitate Gold Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on exploring and advancing its mineral property interests in the Dominican Republic, including its 100% owned Juan de Herrera project located immediately adjacent to GoldQuest Mining's Romero Project, its 100% owned Pueblo Grande project located immediately adjacent to the Pueblo Viejo mine operated by Barrick Mining, and its 100% owned Ponton project located 30km east of the Pueblo Viejo mine. Precipitate is also actively evaluating additional property acquisitions with the potential to expand the Company's portfolio and increase shareholder value, in other favourable jurisdictions.

Additional information can be viewed at the Company's website www.precipitategold.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Precipitate Gold Corp.,

"Jeffrey Wilson"

President & CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release may contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward looking information. Generally, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "proposed", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. This forward-looking information reflects Precipitate Gold Corp.'s ("Precipitate" or the "Company") current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Company and on assumptions it believes are reasonable. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Precipitate to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: the exploration concessions may not be granted on terms acceptable to the Company, or at all; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the concessions acquired by the Company may not have attributes similar to those of surrounding properties; delay or failure to receive governmental or regulatory approvals; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation affecting mining; timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; conclusions of economic evaluations; and lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals. Although Precipitate has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Precipitate does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289790

Source: Precipitate Gold Corp.
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - Anteros Metals Inc. (CSE: ANT) ("Anteros" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Abraham Drost, MSc, P.Geo., as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, effective immediately, and amended pricing of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering").

Mr. Drost is a registered Professional Geoscientist (Ontario) and is President of Rift Minerals Inc., partnered with Anteros on the Seagull Critical Minerals Project near Thunder Bay, Ontario. Mr. Drost is also presently Chairman of Vinland Lithium Inc. Notably, Mr. Drost was formerly CEO, President and Director of Carlisle Goldfields Limited at the time of its merger with Alamos Gold Inc. and its Lynn Lake gold assets. He was the founding President, CEO and Director of Premier Royalty Inc. at the merger with Sandstorm Gold Inc. He was also former President, CEO and Director of Mega Precious Metals Inc. at the time of its merger with Yamana Gold Inc. In addition, Mr. Drost previously served as President and Director of Sabina Gold & Silver Corporation.

SEAGULL PROJECT EXPLORATION

Anteros is in the process of vesting a 20% Phase 1 interest in the Seagull Project (the "Project"), which is currently being explored for hydrogen and helium, as well as platinum, palladium, copper and nickel potential. The Company recently reported base metal and platinum group element assay results from drill hole RM26-01 at the Project, located approximately 80 km northeast of Thunder Bay, Ontario. The Project is operated by Rift Minerals Inc. under the option and joint venture agreement announced October 9, 2025, pursuant to which Anteros may earn up to a 49% interest.

Preparations are underway to resume drilling by late April to early May 2026, subject to field conditions. This next phase will leverage historical drill holes to further evaluate hydrogen and helium potential of gas-bearing structures as reported previously.

STATEMENTS FROM THE BOARD

"We welcome Mr. Drost as Executive Chairman of Anteros," said Bill Kennedy, Director and Founder. "Abraham is a seasoned explorationist who has overseen multiple merger-driven liquidity events. His experience and financial network will be a strong asset to shareholders. The observation of gas indications in three holes, including historical sustained flow in WM01-08, provides compelling evidence of an active gas system on the Project. Combined with our upcoming drill program, we believe we are entering a highly active phase of exploration with the potential to unlock significant value across both the gas and PGE targets."

Incoming Executive Chairman Abraham Drost stated: "In addition to Seagull, the Havens Steady and Strickland Projects in Newfoundland are compelling exploration opportunities."

In addition, the Company announces that Emily Halle will step down from her role as Director and transition into a Strategic Advisor position, where she will continue to support Anteros with her geological expertise and ongoing contributions to the Company's exploration strategy. Anteros thanks Ms. Halle for her service as Director and welcomes her continued involvement as Strategic Advisor.

AMENDMENT TO PRIVATE PLACEMENT

Further to the Company's press release of February 23, 2026, the Company announces that it has amended the terms of the Offering, consisting of: (i) units (the "Units") of the Company at a price of $0.05 per Unit; and (ii) flow-through units (each, a "FT Unit") of the Company at a price of $0.065 per FT Unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $1,000,000.

Each Unit shall be comprised of one common share (each, a "Common Share") in the capital of the Company and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.10 for a period of two (2) years from the date of issuance from the date of issuance, provided, however, that should the closing price at which the Common Shares trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange (or any such other stock exchange in Canada as the Common Shares may trade at the applicable time) exceed $0.15 for ten (10) consecutive trading days at any time following the date that is four months and one day after the date of issuance, the Company may accelerate the Warrant term (the "Reduced Warrant Term") such that the Warrants shall expire on the date which is 30 business days following the date a press release is issued by the Company announcing the Reduced Warrant Term.

Each FT Unit shall be comprised of one common share, issued on a flow-through basis (each, a "FT Share") and one-half of one whole Warrant.The FT Shares will qualify as "flow-through shares" within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada), which also qualify for the Canadian government's Critical Mineral Exploration Tax Credit.

Finally, the Company wishes to announce that it has granted an aggregate of 2,700,000 stock options to certain officers, directors and consultants of the Company. These options are exercisable at a price of $0.065 per Common Share and shall expire on the date that is five (5) years from the date of grant.

QUALIFIED PERSON

The scientific and technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Geoff Heggie, P.Geo., a Qualified Person under NI 43-101.

ABOUT ANTEROS METALS INC.

Anteros Metals Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on advancing projects in Newfoundland and Labrador and other Canadian jurisdictions targeting critical minerals.

ABOUT RIFT MINERALS INC.

Rift Minerals Inc. is a private Ontario-based company operating the Seagull Project.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding assay results, gas observations, exploration plans, and resumption of drilling. Forward-looking information is based on assumptions that may prove incorrect and is subject to risks, uncertainties, and contingencies that could cause actual results to differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update such statements except as required by law.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider 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/289771

Source: Anteros Metals Inc.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - Caprock Mining Corp. (CSE: CAPR) ("Caprock", or the "Company") is pleased to announce high-grade assay results for drill hole DES-26-183 from the ongoing drill program at its flagship Destiny gold property ("Destiny", or the "Property", or the "Project"), located near Val d'Or, Quebec.

Key Assay Highlights from Drill Hole DES-26-183:

38.48 g/t Au over 1.6m, included within 2.84 g/t Au over 23.2m ;

6.24 g/t Au over 1.0m and 2.78 g/t Au over 2.7m, included within 1.65 g/t Au over 5.3m ; and

4.39 g/t Au over 0.5m.

Key Highlights from Historical Drilling at Depth:

Drill Hole DES-01-60 : Intersected high-grade intervals of 26.6 g/t Au over 1.1m, 16.75 g/t Au over 0.7m, 7.5 g/t Au over 1.1m, and 6.34 g/t Au over 0.7m.

Drill Hole DES-01-59: Intersected high-grade intervals of 17.55 g/t Au over 0.5m, 5.11 g/t Au over 0.6m, and 2.54 g/t Au over 1.1m.

Caprock's President & CEO, Mr. Vishal Gupta, stated, "The high grades intersected in DES-26-183 not only validate our geological understanding of the Property, but they also confirm our belief that Destiny hosts a very large gold-bearing system, and that we have barely scratched its surface despite the significant mineral resource published last year. Our technical team has identified a correlation between the presence of high-grade gold and the location of an intermediate intrusive dyke swarm. DES-26-183 was drilled to verify this correlation, and it ended up delivering our best intercept to date. We are now starting to formulate and fine-tune a targeting strategy to demonstrate the depth projection of the detailed structural model developed for Destiny by our senior operations consultant, Robert J. Tremblay, P.Geo. (retired), and unlock the vast gold potential of this Property."

Description of Current Drill Program & Summary of Assay Results

DES-26-183 is the first of four drill holes in our current drill campaign that is designed to continue testing Destiny's high-grade mineralization potential at depth. The program is estimated to total 2,640 metres of drilling consisting of two pilot drill holes (DES-26-183 and DES-26-184) and two wedged drill holes (DES-26-183W1 and DES-26-184W1). The projection of the mineralized pierce point for DES-26-183 relative to drill holes DES-01-59 and DES-01-60, along with the four holes drilled in December 2025, is provided in Figure 1 below.

Figure 1: North-looking longitudinal section illustrating the location of the mineralized pierce point for drill hole DES-26-183 relative to previously drilled holes at Destiny.

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Assay results from drill hole DES-26-183 are summarized in the table below.

Survey From (m) To (m) Core length (m) Au (g/t) DES-26-183 522.25 528.00 5.75 0.32

541.95 565.15 23.20 2.84 Including 541.95 543.50 1.55 38.48

638.90 680.00 41.10 0.18 Including 671.50 672.00 0.50 4.39

709.50 714.80 5.30 1.65 Including 709.50 712.20 2.70 2.78 Including 709.50 710.50 1.00 6.24

Table 1: Summarized assay results for DES-26-183. Reported widths represent downhole core lengths. True widths are estimated to be approximately 80-85% of core lengths.

Key Geological Observations

Our current drill program has successfully identified a complex swarm of intermediate intrusive dykes that appear to spatially control the distribution of high-grade gold within the Despinassy shear zone. Drill hole DES-26-183 intersected several significant mineralized zones, characterized by broad gold envelopes hosting high-grade intervals within them.

The high-grade intercept of 38.48 g/t Au over 1.6m was encountered at the contact between sheared basalts and an intermediate intrusive. This contact zone is characterized by a 15% quartz-carbonate stockwork with associated pyrite. However, our technical team has noted that the high-grade mineralization is not limited to just the contacts; it is also found directly within the intrusive dykes. Drill hole DES-26-183 intersected an intermediate intrusive from 708.00m to 715.35m which returned a high-grade intercept of 6.24 g/t Au over 1.0m, and is characterized by the presence of 90% laminated quartz veins with pyrite and pyrrhotite layers.

The results announced today confirm that Destiny remains open at depth, well below the floor of the conceptual open pit used in the March 2025 Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE"). Our continued intersection of high-grade mineralization at depths exceeding 500 metres significantly strengthens the potential for underground resources to complement the near-surface MRE.

Mineral Resource Estimate at Destiny

Destiny hosts an open pit-constrained MRE completed in March 2025 with the following gold inventory:

Classification Constraints Cut-Off Grade

(Au g/t) Tonnage Grade

(Au g/t) Contained Gold

Oz Indicated OP 0.30 6,752,000 0.91 196,549 Inferred OP 0.30 28,560,000 0.87 794,886

CIM definition standards were followed for the resource estimate. The 2025 resource model used ordinary kriging (OK) grade estimation within a three-dimensional block model with mineralized domains defined by wireframed solids. Mineral resources are constrained within pit shells (OP). An exchange rate of 1.35 is utilized in calculations ($CAD/$USD). Open pit cut-off of 0.30 g/t Au milled is based on the cost/tonne ($CAD/t) milled for incremental mining, processing, and G&A based on the following: Long term metal prices of US$2,100/oz of gold; Metallurgical recoveries are based on metallurgical testing recovery of 94%; Average Bulk density (specific gravity) was determined for each lithology and/or mineralized domain within the deposit; Total ore-based cost of CAD$22.50/t; Processing costs of CAD$18.00/t and G&A costs of CAD$4.50/t milled; Dilution of 10%; and Pit Slope angle of 45 degrees. Mineral Resources that are not mineral reserves do not have economic viability. Numbers may not add due to rounding.

The resource estimate was prepared by Todd McCracken, P.Geo, of BBA E&C Inc. in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

About Caprock Mining Corp.

Caprock Mining Corp. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on exploring precious metals in Quebec and Ontario.

The Company has an option to earn a 100% interest in the Destiny gold property that comprises 127 mineral claims and encompasses an area of 5,013 hectares located less than two hours' drive from Val d'Or, Quebec. Destiny lies along a major deformation corridor in the Abitibi greenstone belt that includes the prolific Cadillac-Larder Lake, Destor-Porcupine and Casa Berardi fault zones which host numerous producing and development-stage gold deposits. The Project overlies a 6.0 km long segment of the poorly explored Despinassy shear zone which is a splay off the regional Chicobi Fault. Destiny hosts a significant, open pit-constrained, NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate published in March 2025.

Additionally, the Company holds a 100% interest in three gold exploration properties in the historical Beardmore-Geraldton Gold Belt of Ontario - a belt that has produced over four million ounces of gold historically (Reference: Beardmore-Geraldton Gold Camp - Tashota Resources), and contains the sizeable Greenstone gold project (formerly known as the Hardrock gold project) which is being brought to production by Equinox Gold (Reference: Greenstone Gold Mines - Mining & Processing).

Technical Disclosure

Reported widths represent core lengths. True width is estimated to be approximately 80-85% of core length.

The drill program is being managed by Explo-Logik of Val-d'Or, Quebec. Drill core was split in half, with one half submitted to AGAT Laboratories at Val-d'Or for analysis. Gold was analyzed by fire assay (50 g) with atomic absorption finish, while base metals were analyzed by four-acid digestion with ICP-OES finish. Samples with gold grades greater than 10 g/t are reprocessed using metallic screening with a 106 m cutoff. The processed material is split and analyzed by fire assay with ICP-OES finish to extinction. A separate split is prepared to independently analyze mineralized intervals with a target grade greater than 1.00% Cu-Zn using a Na2O2 fusion with ICP-OES or ICP-MS finish. Sample preparation duplicates, certified reference standards, and blanks are inserted into the sample stream.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information disclosed in this release has been reviewed and approved by Ms. Suzie Tremblay, who is a practising member of with the Ordre Des Geologues du Quebec (OGQ #10664) and considered a 'Qualified Person' as defined under NI 43-101. All geoscience-related activities for Destiny are being conducted under the supervision of Ms. Suzie Tremblay, Vice President at Explo-Logik.

Cautionary Note Regarding Historical Drill Holes

Historical drill intercepts mentioned in this press release have been referenced from the "NI 43-101 Technical Report And Resource Estimate Of The DAC Deposit, Destiny Property, Quebec" prepared for Alto Ventures Ltd. and Pacific Northwest Capital Corp. by Todd McCracken, P.Geo. of Wardrop a Tetra Tech Company, with an effective date of March 1, 2011.

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements in this press release about anticipated future events or results constitute forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements with respect to: the Company's plans and expectations for the Property, the potential for underground mineable resources at the Property, the timing of exploration on the Property, the timing of the completion of the expansion of the MRE, the potential for additional gold mineralization on the Property and the timing of the announcement of the Company's exploration plan for the Property. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," and statements that an event or result "may," "will," "should," "could," or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. Although Caprock believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements since Caprock can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in Caprock's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. Material factors and assumptions used to develop these forward-looking statements, particularly those related to resource estimates and metallurgical recoveries, include, but are not limited to, those assumptions referenced in this press release. Forward-looking statements are subject to business and economic risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results of operations to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Caprock's expectations include risks associated with the business of Caprock; risks related to reliance on technical information provided by Caprock; risks related to exploration and potential development of the Company's mineral properties; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; fluctuations in commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; the need for cooperation of government agencies and First Nation groups in the exploration and development of properties and the issuance of required permits; the need to obtain additional financing to develop properties and uncertainty as to the availability and terms of future financing; the possibility of delay in exploration or development programs and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time and additional risks identified in Caprock's filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ in Canada (available at www.sedarplus.ca). Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the date the statements are made. Caprock does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Neither Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this Release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289741

Source: Caprock Mining Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - Scottie Resources Corp. (TSXV: SCOT) (OTCQB: SCTSF) (FSE: SR80) ("Scottie" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the proposed construction and operation of the Scottie Gold Mine Project, as described in the Company's 2025 Preliminary Economic Assessment, does not require an environmental assessment under either the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Act or the Canadian Impact Assessment Act. The determination follows recent regulatory engagement with the Environmental Assessment Office and the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and reflects the Project's design and scale relative to applicable federal and provincial thresholds.

As a result, Scottie intends to progress the Project through the established provincial permitting process toward a Joint Major Mine Permit Application for the Mines Act and Environmental Management Act permits, along with other required ancillary approvals.

The Scottie Gold Mine Project is located north of Stewart, British Columbia, in the Golden Triangle region and is well positioned to support responsible resource development and regional economic activity consistent with British Columbia's Look West Strategy, which focuses on strengthening the northwest economy through investment in critical minerals, infrastructure, clean energy opportunities, and Indigenous partnerships.

"We are delighted to reach this important milestone for the Scottie Gold Mine Project," said Dr. Thomas Mumford, CEO and President of Scottie Resources. "This determination that the Project is below the thresholds for formal environmental assessment at both the federal and provincial levels allows us to advance confidently toward permitting and development. It reflects the strength of our technical work and environmental baseline programs and underscores our commitment to responsible project delivery in partnership with regulators, Indigenous Nations, and local communities."

The Project is located within the Nass Area, an area where the Nis g a'a Nation holds certain rights under the Nisga'a Final Agreement. Scottie has maintained ongoing engagement with the Nis g a'a Lisims Government ("NLG") and intends to continue collaboration as the Project advances through assessment and permitting processes, including assessing the Project under Chapter 10 - Environmental Assessment and Protection of the Nisga'a Final Agreement.

"NLG acknowledges Scottie Resources' continued engagement with the Nisga'a Nation and its commitment to advancing the Scottie Gold Mine Project in accordance with the requirements of the Nisga'a Final Agreement," said Eva Clayton, President, Nis g a'a Lisims Government. "We remain focused on ensuring that the Nisga'a Nation's rights and interests are protected through the assessment and permitting process, including consideration of environmental protection measures, cultural values, and opportunities for Nisga'a citizens and businesses."

Scottie's 2025 PEA outlines a low-impact direct ship ore development scenario supported by ore sorting and existing regional infrastructure, which provides a capital-efficient pathway to potential production while minimizing surface disturbance. The Company continues to advance environmental baseline studies, technical design, and stakeholder engagement to support submission of its major mine permit applications.

Scottie believes that advancing the Scottie Gold Mine Project through a coordinated permitting approach, combined with structured Indigenous engagement and assessment, reflects the Company's commitment to responsible development and alignment with the province's strategic priorities for northwest British Columbia.

QUALIFIED PERSON

Dr. Thomas Mumford, P.Geo., non-independent President of the Company, a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release on behalf of the Company.

ABOUT SCOTTIE RESOURCES CORP.

Scottie Resources holds 100% interest in the Scottie Gold Mine Property, which includes the high-grade, past-producing Scottie Gold Mine and the adjacent Blueberry Contact Zone. The Company also owns a 100% interest in the Georgia Project, host to the past-producing Georgia River Mine, as well as the Cambria, Sulu, and Tide North properties. In total, Scottie controls approximately 58,500 hectares of highly prospective mineral claims within the Stewart Mining Camp in British Columbia's Golden Triangle-one of the world's most prolific mineralized districts.

Scottie's current resource estimate on the Scottie Gold Mine Project includes a total of 703,000 gold ounces at an average grade of 6.1 g/t (Inferred category) in 3.6 million tonnes, highlighting the development potential for a significant near-surface, high-grade deposit. The Company's strategy is to continue expanding this resource and to define additional mineralization around past-producing mines through systematic drilling and surface exploration.

The Company has recently completed a PEA for the Scottie Gold Mine. The PEA outlines a robust Direct-Ship Ore (DSO) development scenario with strong economics and significant upside through a potential toll-milling option utilizing excess capacity at the nearby Premier mill. The base case DSO project delivers an after-tax NPV(5%) of $215.8-$668.3 million at gold prices of US$2,600-$4,200/oz, respectively. Under the toll-milling scenario, project economics improve substantially, with an after-tax NPV(5%) of $380.1-$831.7 million (no agreement currently in place). The PEA estimates initial capital costs of $128.6 million, average annual production of ~65,400 oz gold over seven years, and a payback period of 1.7 years for the after-tax DSO case-reduced to just 0.9 years under the toll-milling opportunity at US$2,600/oz.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date such statements were made. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289735

Source: Scottie Resources Corp.
Highlights

Potash mineralization confirmed at new 7-10 drillhole on flagship Disley Project, including combined net potash seams of over 22m with an average grade of 33% sylvite (KCl);

Multiple high-grade intervals within the combined 22m of net potash at 7-10 drillhole have been confirmed that exceed management's optimal criteria for Buffalo mining technology deployment, with aggregate thickness of 10.8m of sylvinite grading 44.2% sylvite (KCl);

These assay results are the final group from three sets of assay results as part of Buffalo's initial confirmation phase;

Results will inform an updated NI 43-101-compliant Technical Report (" Technical Report ") and Preliminary Economic Assessment (" PEA ") 1 - anticipated to be released Q2 2026; and

") and Preliminary Economic Assessment (" ") - anticipated to be released Q2 2026; and Buffalo commenced trading on the OTCQB to increase access to U.S. investors under the ticker OTCQB: BLPTF.

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - Buffalo Potash Corporation (TSXV: BUFF) (OTCQB: BLPTF) (the "Company" or "Buffalo") is pleased to announce that it has received analytical results from assaying cores taken in its recently drilled 7-10-20-23 W2M ("7-10") drillhole on the Company's flagship Disley Project ("the Disley Project") in Saskatchewan. These results (as defined in Table 1) are in addition to recently released re-assay results (see March 10, 2026 announcement), which are intended to advance the project toward the completion of a PEA1, while improving Buffalo's subsurface understanding to support future development of its "Showcase" facility (see February 23, 2026 announcement).

Mr. Steve Halabura P.Geo., Buffalo Chief Executive Officer, commented, "With the 7-10 results now in hand, we have completed our initial three-hole assay program with consistently high grades across every drillhole. The 7-10 results, including 22 meters of sylvite seams grading in excess of 33% sylvite, further reinforces our conviction that the Disley Project hosts robust potash mineralization and attractive solution mining characteristics."

Mr. Halabura added, "The completion of our initial assay program is a significant milestone for Buffalo. Across all three assays, we have consistently encountered high-grade sylvinite well in excess of our Optimal Criteria. This is precisely the geological confirmation we were looking for to confidently advance toward our maiden Mineral Resource Estimate and PEA."

Assay Program Overview

As part of its 2026 Confirmation Phase at the flagship Disley Project, Buffalo is conducting a multi-well assay program to evaluate potash mineralization across both legacy historical drillholes and its newly drilled 7-10 confirmation hole.

Table 1: Disley Project Well Assays





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The assay program draws on core samples from two 1960s-era drilling campaigns previously conducted on the Disley Project - the Lumsden Pilot Project site (Lumsden #3) on the western portion of the property, and the Imperial 11-11 on the eastern portion - as well as Buffalo's own 7-10 drillhole completed in 2026. In conjunction with the re-assay program, Buffalo has completed ground acquisition of a ~45km 3D seismic program over a targeted segment of the property, intended to expand understanding of geological continuity across Disley and support delineation of the broader resource footprint (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: The Disley Project Drillhole Location Map

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Management Defined Optimal Solution Mining Criteria

The Elk Point Basin in Saskatchewan contains three geological members that bear potash mineralization within the Prairie Evaporite Formation - the Patience Lake, Belle Plaine, and Esterhazy (each a "Member" and collectively the "Members") - with each occurring at varying depths and thicknesses. Each Member has the potential to host one or more high-grade seams of potash mineralization in the form of the sylvite mineral (chemical formula KCl) suitable for deployment of Buffalo's patented Horizontal Line-Drive Selective Solution Mining Technology ("HLD Mining").

HLD Mining technology focuses on using parallel horizontal wells, at the same elevation, to create horizontal mining planes within high-grade potash seams present in each Member. Buffalo's technical team has defined criteria for a high-grade potash seam to be optimal for HLD Mining as a thickness no less than 1.0m and a grade exceeding 30% sylvite (KCl) (the "Optimal Criteria"). Each seam that exceeds the Optimal Criteria represents one opportunity to deploy a solution mining plane via HLD Mining and recover potash in targeted high-grade seams. The number, extent, and vertical thickness of each such deployment being subject to further understanding of continuity throughout the property.

Assay Highlights

Buffalo 7-10: Encountered 53.7m of potash-bearing beds, with 11.0m of sylvinite grading 33.7% sylvite (KCl) in the Patience Lake Member, 5.1m of sylvinite grading 39.1% sylvite (KCl) in the Belle Plaine Member, and 6.3m grading 26.9% sylvite (KCl) in the Esterhazy Member.

Buffalo 7-10: Assays encountered 5 high-grade intervals exceeding the Optimal Criteria considered by Buffalo's technical team to be prospective for HLD Mining . These intervals comprised an aggregate thickness of 10.8m of sylvinite grading 44.2% sylvite (KCl).

Recent assay results from Imperial 11-11 and Lumsden #3 have identified multiple high-grade seams exceeding Optimal Criteria, providing evidence that the Disley Project is a highly prospective location for HLD Mining. Assay summary information for each Member is outlined in Table 2. Given that the beds are flat-lying in proximity to the drill hole, sample thicknesses are the same as Member and bed/seam true thicknesses.

Table 2: Buffalo Summary of Disley Project Assay Results by Member from Buffalo 7-10, Imperial 11-11, and Lumsden #3





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() Notes: Patience Lake ("UPL" / "LPL"): the uppermost of the potash-bearing members; subdivided into upper and lower intervals

Belle Plaine ("BP"): situated stratigraphically below Patience Lake;

Esterhazy ("EST"): the deepest of the three potash-bearing members; targeted Member for mining at adjacent K+S Bethune and Mosaic Belle Plaine potash solution mines

The Disley Project

The Disley Project is located approximately 50km northwest of Regina and covers 9,413 hectares. The property is situated immediately adjacent to the east of the K+S Bethune potash solution mine and north of the Mosaic Belle Plaine potash solution mine2 - both of which are amongst the largest producing potash solution mines in the world. In the opinion of management, the Disley Project is in one of the most favorable areas of Saskatchewan for potash solution mining (see Figure 2) as evidenced by the success of these neighboring projects1,2.

Figure 2: The Disley Property Situated Amongst Major Potash Solution Mines1

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OTCQB Listing

Buffalo Potash is pleased to announce that on March 19, 2026, its common shares have commenced trading on the OTCQB Venture Market in the United States under the ticker symbol "BLPTF". The Company's common shares will continue to trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "BUFF". Real-time quotes and market information are available at www.otcmarkets.com.

The OTCQB listing is intended to increase the Company's visibility and accessibility to U.S. investors and improve trading liquidity for all shareholders. The Company has also initiated the application process for DTC eligibility, which would enable its common shares to be electronically cleared and settled through the U.S. clearing system, once eligible. DTC eligibility is currently pending and the Company expects to provide a further update upon its receipt.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Douglas F. Hambley, PhD, PE, P.Eng., PG, an independent consultant of the Company and Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101. Dr. Hambley is Buffalo's principal Qualified Person as defined by the NI 43-101 Guidelines and is a globally recognized expert in potash geology and mine development. Mr. Hambley will also be assisting Micon in their preparation of the Technical Report and PEA.

All related and pertinent information has also been reviewed for this news release by Jared Galenzoski, P.Geo, FIMMM as an independent consultant and Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101. Mr. Galenzoski is also an expert in several potash-related fields and will be assisting in technical report preparation and generation.

About Buffalo Potash

Buffalo Potash is an emerging Saskatchewan-based potash developer pursuing a modular approach to selective solution mining through its patented Horizontal Line-Drive (HLD) technology. Buffalo is advancing the Disley Project - located next to several of the most prominent currently producing potash solution mines in the world - with the objective of establishing capital-efficient, lower-impact potash production in one of the world's leading potash jurisdictions.

Notes

(1) No mineral resources, as categorized by NI 43-101, have been defined on the Disley Project. The Company will need to conduct additional work in order to define mineral resources. There is no guarantee that the Company will be able to define mineral resources as categorized by NI 43-101 on its Disley Project.

(2) The K+S Bethune potash solution mine and north of the Mosaic Belle Plaine potash solution mine (together, the "Adjacent Properties") may each be considered an "adjacent property" (within the meaning of NI 43-101) to the Company's Disley Project. The Company does not have any interest in either of the Adjacent Properties. The Company believes this context is useful in illustrating the proven endowment of the district, while noting that mineralization on adjacent or nearby properties is not indicative of mineralization on the Company's Disley Project. There is no guarantee that the Disley Project will yield comparable results to any of these mines.

Technical Disclosure

Buffalo employees follow standard operating and quality assurance procedures intended to ensure that all sampling techniques and sample results meet international reporting standards. Procedures for handling core samples begin with securing the potash-bearing cores at the drill site in sleeves which are then transferred to core boxes. Core is placed in cardboard core boxes and transported to one of Saskatchewan Research Laboratory's core warehouses for geological logging, detailed geotechnical logging, and photographing. Significant intervals are dry cut in half and quartered for potash cores, using a specially modified tungsten carbide bladed core saw. The remaining core is placed in the core boxes after being reviewed. Samples are then obtained at set intervals which are then placed into plastic bags with sample tags which are tracked into a sample register. Buffalo's QA/QC protocol includes the insertion of duplicates, blanks and blind standards to demonstrate the repeatability of the analyses. The sampling procedure and protocols were developed by Buffalo Potash and being adhered to by all staff and consultants. The QA/QC measures have been designed in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Exploration Best Practice Guidelines. The procedures implemented are considered appropriate, accurate, and reliable for this style of mineralization, ensuring the integrity and quality of the assay data.

Buffalo is utilizing SRC's Potash ICP Analysis package designed for multi-element analysis of potash samples. Upon arrival at SRC Geoanalytical Laboratories, core samples are dried, and jaw crushed to 95% @ -2mm and 100 g sub sample is split out using a riffler and transferred to vials. The subsample is pulverized to 95% @ -106 microns using a puck and ring grinding mill to create a pulp. The grinding mills are cleaned between groups using Quintus quartz. The pulp is then transferred to a labelled plastic snap top vial. An aliquot of pulp is placed in a test-tube with 15 ml of 30C DI water. The sample is shaken. The soluble solution is then analyzed by ICP-OES. The method is suitable for the soluble analysis of commercial potash (Sylvite and Carnallite). The samples are analyzed for FeO (wt%), K2O, Na2O, MgO, and CaO and a suite of trace elements. Gravimetric determinations are made of the insoluble and moisture contents for each sample. SRC's internal protocol includes the insertion of internal standards and repeats, and review of this data shows no significant deviation from the accepted values. SRC Geoanalytical Laboratories has been certified by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) to conform to the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2005 (CAN-P-4E).

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information is generally identifiable by the use of words such as "believes," "may," "plans," "will," "anticipates," "intends," "could," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "projects," or similar expressions, and the negative of such expressions.

Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding: the interpretation and significance of assay results and their implications for the Disley Project; expectations regarding the remaining assay results as part of Buffalo's initial assay program; expectations regarding the Disley Project's potential for selective solution mining using the HLD mining method; and expectations regarding the Mineral Resource Estimate and PEA, including: the timing and completion thereof; the contents, results and estimates contained therein; and that they are expected to support the Company's HLD strategy.

Forward-looking information is based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis, and opinions made in light of its experience, perception of historical trends, current conditions, and expected future developments, as well as other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances as of the date such statements are made. These assumptions include, but are not limited to, assumptions regarding geological continuity, potash grade and thickness, the applicability of historical data, the performance of solution mining methods, costs of production, the availability of services and equipment, the receipt of required permits and approvals, and the availability of financing on acceptable terms.

Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the Company's ability to complete the Mineral Resource Estimate and PEA; the results and timing of the Mineral Resource Estimate and PEA; risks related to exploration and development activities; uncertainty in geological interpretation; reliance on historical data and pilot testing; technical risks associated with solution mining and new or emerging technologies; regulatory approvals and permitting timelines; commodity price volatility; availability of capital; and general economic, market, and business conditions.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in 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 such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events may differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this news release, and the Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289679

Source: Buffalo Potash Corp.
Advances Scalable U.S. Drone and Additive Manufacturing Capabilities Aligned with Growing Defense and Counter-UAS Demand

NUBURU, Inc. (NYSE American: BURU), a dual-use Defense Security platform company focused on non-kinetic effects, directed-energy technologies, electronic warfare and software-orchestrated defense systems, today announced the activation of Phase I execution under its previously announced joint venture between its wholly owned subsidiary Nuburu Defense LLC and Maddox Defense Incorporated, marking a key step in the Company's strategic expansion into U.S.-based defense manufacturing and operational infrastructure.

This milestone marks NUBURU's transition into an operational U.S.-based defense manufacturing participant, with active infrastructure now being deployed to support current and future government and allied demand.

This Phase I activation represents the transition from engineering and planning into active operational deployment, with teams currently on-site in Houston, Texas initiating system integration, infrastructure deployment, and manufacturing readiness.

EXECUTION UNDERWAY: FROM CONCEPT TO OPERATIONAL DEPLOYMENT

The program has progressed from planning and engineering into active execution, with personnel engaged in procurement coordination, system integration planning, and facility readiness activities.

The initiative includes the deployment of a climate-controlled mobile additive manufacturing container platform designed to enable rapid, decentralized production capabilities in support of defense, infrastructure, and mission-critical applications.

This solution is expected to support both domestic and international deployment scenarios, enabling manufacturing at or near the point of need-significantly reducing reliance on traditional supply chains and accelerating operational timelines.

ESTABLISHING A U.S. DEFENSE MANUFACTURING PRESENCE

Through this initiative, NUBURU has established a U.S.-based manufacturing and operational footprint, positioning the Company and its subsidiaries to pursue a broad range of U.S. government, defense, and allied contract opportunities.

Execution is being conducted at Maddox Defense's Houston-based manufacturing facility, a high-capacity industrial site purpose-built for scalable production. The facility is supported by approximately 90,000 square feet of manufacturing space and 12,000 square feet of office infrastructure, 2,000 kilowatts of power capacity.

Houston's position as the United States' leading deep-water port city and a global hub for energy and industrial infrastructure further enhances the strategic importance of this deployment, providing direct access to domestic and international supply chains.

ALIGNED WITH GLOBAL DEFENSE PRIORITIES AND DEMAND

Counter-drone and tactical unmanned systems have become a critical priority for defense agencies worldwide as modern conflict dynamics continue to evolve. The rapid proliferation of low-cost unmanned aerial systems across global theaters has driven significant demand for scalable, rapidly deployable manufacturing and response capabilities.

Global demand for counter-UAS systems, tactical drones, and related mission-critical defense technologies is increasing materially as governments prioritize force protection, supply-chain resilience, and rapid deployment capabilities.

NUBURU's joint venture with Maddox Defense is strategically aligned with these macro trends, positioning the Company to participate in a rapidly expanding market driven by defense modernization, supply chain resilience, and national security priorities.

STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE: SCALABLE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM

At the core of the initiative is an advanced additive manufacturing system designed to enable rapid prototyping and production, flexible and modular deployment, efficient scaling without linear cost increases, and reduced logistical dependency.

This approach represents a fundamental shift in manufacturing strategy, enabling production capabilities to be deployed closer to operational environments where speed, adaptability, and reliability are critical.

LEADERSHIP COMMENTARY

Dario Barisoni, Co-Executive Chairman of NUBURU and CEO of Nuburu Defense LLC, stated:

"The activation of Phase I marks an important step in NUBURU's evolution from strategic positioning into operational execution in the United States. Through our joint venture with Maddox Defense, we are now advancing infrastructure deployment, system integration, and manufacturing readiness to support evolving defense and mission-critical requirements."

Elgin Tracy, Chief Operating Officer of Maddox Defense, added:

"We are actively supporting the launch of Phase I activities at our Houston facility, where joint teams are engaged in infrastructure setup, system integration, and manufacturing readiness. This collaboration reflects a practical, execution-driven approach to building scalable capabilities in support of evolving defense requirements."

NEXT PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT

Following Phase I activation, the program is expected to advance into full system integration, infrastructure deployment, and initial production readiness, with additional updates to be provided as key milestones are achieved.

About Nuburu, Inc

Founded in 2015, Nuburu is executing a strategic transformation from a laser-technology company into a dual-use Defense Security platform provider. Through a combination of proprietary directed-energy technologies, non-kinetic defense capabilities, mission-critical software, and targeted industrial partnerships and acquisitions, Nuburu addresses high-value defense, security, and operational-resilience markets.

For more information, visit www.nuburu.net.

About Nuburu Defense LLC

A subsidiary of NUBURU, Nuburu Defense delivers advanced solutions for defense, security, and critical-infrastructure applications, supporting NUBURU's Defense Security Hub strategy.

For more information, visit also:

www.orbitopenplatform.com

TEKNE S.p.A. SPECIAL VEHICLES ELECTRONICS

About Nuburu Subsidiary, Inc

A subsidiary of NUBURU, Nuburu Subsidiary, Inc fully owns Lyocon S.r.l. ("Lyocon") an Italian laser-technology company specializing in the design, manufacturing, and integration of high-power blue-laser systems for industrial applications.

Lyocon operates as a fully consolidated operating subsidiary within the NUBURU group and represents the core industrial platform for NUBURU's reactivated blue-laser business.

For more information, visit also Home Page Lyocon.

About Maddox Defense Incorporated

Maddox Defense Incorporated ("Maddox Defense") is a U.S.-based defense manufacturing company focused on advanced production capabilities supporting unmanned systems, mission-critical components, and defense modernization initiatives. The company serves U.S. defense and allied markets through engineering-driven manufacturing solutions designed to enhance operational readiness and industrial resilience.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States 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. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release may be forward-looking statements, identified by words such as "may," "should," "expect," "intend," "will," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "predict," "plan," "seek," "targets," "projects," "could," "would," "continue," "forecast," or their negatives or variations. These statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, including but not limited to: (1) the ability to meet applicable securities exchange listing standards; (2) the impact of the loss of the Company's patent portfolio through foreclosure; (3) failure to achieve expectations regarding business development and acquisition strategies; (4) inability to access sufficient capital; (5) inability to realize anticipated benefits of acquisitions; (6) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (7) adverse economic, business, or competitive factors; (8) financial market volatility due to geopolitical and economic factors; and (9) other risks detailed in the Company's SEC filings, including its most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. These filings address additional risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on these statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. NUBURU undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, except as required by law.

Source: NUBURU, Inc.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260325443676/en/

Contacts:

NUBURU Investor Relations: ir@nuburu.net

Media Contact: press@nuburu.net

Website: www.nuburu.net
Chinese company supports Mozambique's flood response efforts

Xinhua) 10:59, March 25, 2026

MAPUTO, March 24 (Xinhua) -- China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has provided support to the National Institute of Disaster Management and Reduction (INGD) of Mozambique to help the southern African country respond to recent flooding.

Speaking at a ceremony held Monday at the INGD in Maputo, Sun Kai, general director of CNOOC Mozambique Limited, said the company decided to contribute 50,000 U.S. dollars to assist emergency relief and reconstruction efforts after learning about the impact of floods across parts of the country.

"We are committed to fulfilling our social responsibilities and standing together with the Mozambican people at this difficult moment," Sun said.

Luisa Meque, head of INGD, expressed appreciation for the support, noting that the contribution comes at a critical time when several provinces, including southern regions and Sofala Province in central Mozambique, have been affected by floods.

She said the assistance would be directed to communities most in need to help families recover from losses caused by the disaster.

Chinese Ambassador to Mozambique Zheng Xuan said that Chinese enterprises in Mozambique are not only participants in economic cooperation but also active contributors to social responsibility.

She added that China firmly supports Mozambique in addressing challenges posed by climate change, advancing post-disaster reconstruction and improving people's livelihoods.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - CAT Strategic Metals Corporation (CSE: CAT) (OTC Pink: CATTF) (FSE: 8CHA) ("CAT" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with arm's length private vendors to acquire the remaining 49% minority interest in its Burntland Porphyry-Skarn Copper-Silver Project located in New Brunswick, Canada (the "Property"). The original Exploration And Option Agreement relating to the Property was entered into on September 10, 2020.

Upon completion of the transaction, CAT will hold a 100% ownership interest in the Burntland Project.

Transaction Terms

The Company will issue $562,500 principal amount of senior secured promissory notes bearing interest at 6% per annum, compounded monthly, accrued quarterly, and payable as a single balloon payment at maturity (March 17, 2028). The Notes will be secured by a General Security Agreement over the 49% Earned-In Interest in and to the claims subject to the Exploration And Option Agreement. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Strategic Rationale

The consolidation of 100% ownership provides the Company with full control over exploration and development activities, increased flexibility for future partnerships, and full exposure to the upside potential of a district-scale copper-silver system.

Burntland Project Overview

The Burntland Project comprises approximately 2,781 hectares in northern New Brunswick. The project is interpreted as a copper-silver-gold carbonate replacement and skarn system hosted in the White Head Formation and associated with Devonian intrusions.

Figure 1 - Strategic Land Position: Burntland Project (yellow) surrounded by Puma Exploration land package (blue)



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Figure 2 - Historical Exploration Legacy: drilling, trenching and mineral occurrences



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Figure 3 - Magnetic Targets: six high-priority anomalies identified from airborne survey



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The project occupies a highly strategic land position, as it is surrounded by claims held by Puma Exploration, enhancing its importance within a broader district-scale mineralized system. Mineralization consists of garnet-magnetite skarn and carbonate replacement zones formed within favorable sedimentary units.

Historical exploration by Teck, Noranda and Brunswick Mining identified high-grade copper-silver lenses, while modern work by Cat includes a 2021 airborne magnetic survey defining six priority targets and diamond drilling totaling 1,416 metres. Notable drill results include 118.84 metres grading 0.42% CuEq (including 58.62 metres at 0.76% CuEq) and 7.04 metres grading 0.92% CuEq. Mineralization is interpreted as distal to an intrusive source, suggesting potential for stronger mineralization closer to the core.

Qualified Person

Mr. Patrick Laforest, P.Geo (Quebec), is the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is an independent consultant geologist who has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this press release.

Private Placement Offering

The Company is also pleased to announce that it intends to complete a private placement of units for total gross proceeds of up to $300,000 (the "Offering").

Securities to be issued pursuant to the Private Placement shall consist of an amount of up to 30,000,000 units of the Company (the "Units") issued at a price of $0.01 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 $0.05 per Common Share until November 21, 2030. On closing, the Warrants will trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") under the ticker symbol "CAT.WT".

Net proceeds from the Offering will be used by the Company for 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 3, 2026, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the customary closing conditions, including the approval of the CSE. The Company may pay brokers in the context of the Offering. The Offering may close in multiple tranches.

It is expected that certain directors and officers of the Corporation (the "Insiders") may participate in the Offering. The participation of Insiders in the Offering will constitute a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Corporation anticipates relying on exemptions from the minority shareholder approval and formal valuation requirements applicable to the related-party transactions under sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a), respectively, of MI 61-101, as neither the fair market value of the securities to be acquired by the participating Insiders nor the consideration to be paid by such directors and officers is anticipated to exceed 25 percent of the Corporation's market capitalization.

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.

About CAT Strategic Metals Corporation:

CAT Strategic Metals Corporation is a Canadian based mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and derisking of overlooked projects situated in well-established geological districts in North America. The Company is specially focused on minerals which are considered highly strategic from a monetary as well as global infrastructure and energy point of view. CAT's shares trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) under the trading symbol "CAT", on the OTCMarkets.com under the trading symbol "CATTF", and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "8CHA".

This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Particular risks applicable to this press release include risks associated with planned production, including the ability of the company to achieve its targeted exploration outline due to regulatory, technical or economic factors; and the completion of the transactions contemplated herein. In addition, there are risks associated with estimates of resources, and there is no guarantee that a resource will be found or have demonstrated economic viability as necessary to be classified as a reserve. There is no guarantee that additional exploration work will result in significant increases to resource estimates.

Neither Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

We seek safe harbour.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289866

Source: CAT Strategic Metals Corporation
Countable PCR delivers single-molecule precision for Europe's most demanding quantification challenges from cell and gene therapy manufacturing to biomarker validation, diagnostics, commercial testing and beyond

Countable Labs, the developer of Countable PCR, the leading PCR innovation transforming how science measures biology, achieved CE marking for its Countable 4 Platform, a single-molecule PCR instrument for molecular quantification featuring Countable PCR technology. The platform is ideal for any genomics application where rare events need to be identified and measured completely and accurately against high background samples.

Countable PCR is a highly scalable, digital PCR-like technology that achieves the highest sensitivity and precision of any PCR technology on the market. With more than 10 times the sensitivity and precision of other PCR solutions, Countable PCR facilitates the identification of rare events as low as 0.004% variant allele frequency (VAF), across a wide range of sample inputs. Capable of simultaneously delivering robust sample multiplexing, unparalleled dynamic range, and unmatched ease-of-use, Countable PCR is the alternative that digital PCR and qPCR customers have been waiting for to achieve true single-molecule quantification with no Poisson statistics, no standard cures, and no ambiguity.

"Achieving CE mark is a pivotal moment for Countable Labs as it expands our reach to support European customers," said Giovanna Prout, Countable Labs' CEO. "Countable PCR bridges the gap between older generations of PCR and next-generation sequencing with clear data, immediate results, less instrument variability, and economics that make decentralization possible, because virtually any company or laboratory can own and operate the Countable Platform."

Countable 4 is purpose-built for biopharma and CDMO teams where accurate quantification is required. With CFR part 11 compliant software, and high sensitivity, it's already being used to quantify genome titer and integrity as well as quantify impurities against complex AAV and genomic backgrounds, delivering the precision and audit-ready data that GMP manufacturing demands. The same platform also serves researchers working in rare variant detection, pathogen quantification, and environmental and food safety monitoring.

"European biopharma and industrial customers face the same precision demands as their U.S. counterparts, and they deserve access to best-in-class quantification solutions," said Dries Van Hemelen, Ph.D., Countable Labs' Head of Sales and Support for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. "We're ready to support them as they experience a better way to approach PCR testing to advance innovation."

Cell and gene therapy pioneers are among the early adopters taking notice. "Countable PCR represents a genuine leap forward in molecular quantification. I like the simplicity of direct target counting, rather than relying on Poisson-based inference," said David Dobnik, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, National Institute of Biology. "Countable PCR handles quantification of challenging samples, such as rare targets against a high background matrix, with remarkable precision."

Dr. Dobnik will present at the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) Annual Meeting May 11-15, 2026, in Boston, Mass. His talk, "Rapid, High-Resolution Multiplex Characterization of DNA Impurity Integrity in rAAV Products using Single-Molecule Partitioning" will occur Thursday, May 14, 2026, from 8 8:15 a.m. ET. Countable Labs will also be exhibiting in booth #1409. Following ASGCT, he will present on a Drug Discovery News webinar, May 21, 2026, at 11 a.m. noon ET. For more information, or to register, click here.

Countable PCR is now available in Europe and countries recognizing the CE mark. For more information, visit https://countablelabs.com/countable-pcr.

About Countable Labs

Countable Labs (formerly Enumerix) is redefining PCR with single-molecule precision and category-defining sensitivity, overcoming the limitations of other PCR and next-generation sequencing approaches. The company's Countable PCR technology delivers at least 10 times the sensitivity and precision of other PCR technologies in a single reaction. Plus, Countable PCR's single-molecule isolation enables 10-color multiplexing and simplifies assay development. Founded in 2019 by Stephen Fodor, Ari Chaney, and Christina Fan, Countable Labs is privately held and supported by leading life sciences tools investors including ARCH Venture Partners and F-Prime Capital. The company is headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif. Visit www.countablelabs.com to learn more or follow the company on LinkedIn or YouTube.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260325003945/en/

Contacts:

For media:

Gwen Gordon

gwen@gwengordonpr.com

For all other inquiries:

hello@countablelabs.com
HONG KONG, Mar 25, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) - Emperor Watch & Jewellery Limited ('Group' or 'Emperor W&J') (Stock code: 887), a leading retailer of European-made watches and jewellery products, announced its annual results for the year ended 31 December 2025 ('Year').During the Year, the Group delivered an encouraging performance amidst market uncertainties and challenges. The Group's total revenue grew by 10.2% to HK$5,765 million (2024: HK$5,230 million). Revenue from Hong Kong increased by 13.3% to HK$3,313 million (2024: HK$2,923 million), accounting for 57.5% (2024: 55.9%) of the total revenue, and revenue from Chinese Mainland increased by 20.3% to HK$1,625 million (2024: HK$1,351 million), accounting for 28.2% (2024: 25.8%) of the total revenue. In terms of revenue by product segment, the revenue from the watch segment increased by 5.8% to HK$3,529 million (2024: HK$3,337 million), accounting for 61.2% (2024: 63.8%) of the total revenue, and the revenue from the jewellery segment increased by 18.1% to HK$2,236 million (2024: HK$1,893 million), accounting for 38.8% (2024: 36.2%) of the total revenue, with gold products accounting for 72.4% (2024: 72.4%) of the revenue from the jewellery segment.The Group's gross profit was up by 20.2% to HK$1,780 million (2024: HK$1,481 million) with an improved gross profit margin of 30.9% (2024: 28.3%). The Group's net profit significantly increased by 67.7% to HK$431 million (2024: HK$257 million) during the Year. Basic earnings per share was HK6.34 cents (2024: HK3.79 cents). The Group has recommended the payment of a final dividend of HK1.14 cents (2024: HK0.45 cent) per share. Together with the interim dividend of HK0.55 cent (2024: HK0.65 cent) per share, the total dividends for the full year are HK1.69 cents (2024: HK1.10 cents) per share.As at 31 December 2025, bank balances and cash on hand of the Group amounted to HK$1,610 million (2024: HK$950 million). Since the Group was in a net cash position, hence its net gearing ratio was zero (2024: zero).During the Year, the Group successfully partnered with Mr. Chan Sai Cheong, an influential and highly respected jewellery industry veteran with over 40 years of experience, regarding strategic development of the Group's jewellery business in Chinese Mainland. As at 31 December 2025, there were 11 jewellery stores in Chinese Mainland. The Group targets to open approximately 40 stores in Chinese Mainland in 2026 targeting the mid-market segment, with 50% in first-tier and new first-tier cities, and the remaining 50% in second-tier cities.As at 31 December 2025, the Group had a total of 64 stores in Hong Kong, Macau, Chinese Mainland, Singapore and Malaysia. During the Year, in addition to the jewellery stores opened in Chinese Mainland, the Group opened three new jewellery stores in Hong Kong and Macau. Additionally, a Patek Philippe flagship store in Hong Kong, an IWC boutique in Macau, a Tudor boutique and a Rolex boutique were opened in Chinese Mainland, to further enhance the Group's market presence.In 2026, the Group plans to open a multi-storey Rolex boutique and a multi-brand watch store on Canton Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, one of the world's prime shopping streets. These stores will further enhance the Group's competitive edge in the luxury watch retail market and strengthen its market leading position.Ms. Cindy Yeung, Chairperson of Emperor W&J, said, 'Facing the volatile global economy with abundant challenges, the Group expects that consumers will tend to be cautious regarding overall spending. However, gold jewellery, as an alternative form of investment, will continue being well received by Chinese consumers. With the establishment of the strategic partnership with Mr. Chan, the Group will effectively expand its retail network footprint with diversified market segmentation strategies, thereby capturing a share of the enormous opportunities in the Chinese Mainland market.'Ms. Yeung concluded, 'The Group expects that the pace of recovery of the global luxury retail market, especially in the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong, will be maintained. Free from the concerns of a potential earthquake and political tensions, Chinese consumers generally regard Hong Kong as the destination for luxury watch shopping. This is also supported by tourism stimulus measures such as high profile concerts and mega international events, which will attract more mid-to-high-end consumers to Hong Kong. The Group will continue enhancing its competitive edge and further expand its market presence, and strive to seize the opportunities.'About Emperor Watch & Jewellery LimitedWith long establishment history of over 80 years in Hong Kong since 1942, Emperor W&J (887.HK) is a leading retailer principally engages in the sale of European-made internationally renowned watches, and jewellery products under its own brand, 'Emperor Jewellery'. Through its comprehensive watch dealership, unique marketing campaigns and extensive retail network at prime locations in Hong Kong, Macau, Chinese Mainland, Singapore and Malaysia, Emperor W&J established a strong brand image amongst its target customers ranging from middle to high income groups worldwide. In recognition of its efforts in investor relations communications, Emperor W&J was granted with 'Best IR Company' (Small Cap), 'Best IR Team' (Small Cap) and 'Best Investor Presentation Material' (Small cap) in HKIRA Investor Relations Awards 2025 by the Hong Kong Investor Relations Association. For more information, please visit its website: www.EmperorWatchJewellery.com.Investor/Media EnquiriesAnna LukGroup Investor Relations DirectorTel: +852 2835 6783Email: annaluk@emperorgroup.comJanice AuGroup Investor Relations ManagerTel: +852 2835 6799Email: janiceau@emperorgroup.comSource: Emperor Watch & Jewellery LimitedCopyright 2026 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Accelerating Entry into RTD and Cannabis-Adjacent Beverages While Expanding Distribution Channels and Enhancing Production Capabilities

WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESS Newswire / March 25, 2026 / Seto Holdings, Inc (OTCID:SETO), a publicly traded, vertically integrated, total beverage platform focused on premium spirits, ready-to-drink ("RTD"), functional and non-alcoholic beverages, today announced the execution of a strategic investment and platform integration agreement with El Hempe Spirits, Inc ("El Hempe").

El Hempe is an innovative beverage company operating at the intersection of premium RTD cocktails and hemp-adjacent culture, crafted for modern consumers seeking flavor, function, and freedom in exploring new drinking occasions. The brand is positioned to redefine RTD consumption through a combination of lifestyle relevance, formulation innovation and cross category appeal for the wellness-forward generation.

El Hempe's product portfolio includes hemp-derived Delta-9 THC RTD's (where permitted by applicable law) and functional terpene-enhanced tequila-based RTD's both produced and marketed under the El Hempe brand name. Each product is crafted to deliver bold, flavorful, relaxing experiences, blurring the lines between traditional spirits, functional wellness, and evolving consumer drinking trends.

Beyond its core RTD portfolio, the brand is developing a hemp-inspired, low-ABV agave-based spirit targeted for launch in late 2027, further expanding its position across emerging consumption occasions that bridge premium tequila culture with cannabis-adjacent appeal.

SETO is acquiring a minority equity interest in El Hempe through a combination of preferred equity and a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity), establishing a commercial framework to scale El Hempe nationally through SETO's integrated platform.

Platform Integration

Under the agreement, El Hempe will be integrated into SETO's operational ecosystem while maintaining its creative independence and brand identity. The integration is designed to align infrastructure with culture-led execution, driving disciplined growth, supply chain efficiency, and retail velocity.

All current and planned product lines will be developed in collaboration with existing distillation and product development partners and commercialized through SETO's portfolio companies, CapCity Beverage and Preferred Brand USA , with additional support from the Company's broader ecosystem.

Distribution & Retail Strategy

The integrated go-to-market strategy will focus on:

Chain grocery, club, and convenience retail (C-store)

Traditional beverage alcohol retail and hospitality (local, regional, national)

Control state expansion (ABC/LCBO markets)

Emerging RTD, wellness, and low-ABV channels

Direct-to-consumer (DTC) e-commerce platform development (where permitted)

Preferred Brands USA's national sales capabilities across beverage alcohol, grocery, and convenience channels are expected to accelerate shelf placement, support new product formats, and drive retail velocity, with an initial focus on select priority markets aligned with El Hempe product specifications and applicable regulations.

"Partnering with SETO gives us access to scale without compromising our identity," said Tony Bash, CEO of El Hempe Spirits, Inc. "This partnership allows us to expand our reach while staying true to our culture and vision. We're building a brand for the next generation of drinkers, and SETO provides the platform to do it."

RTD Manufacturing & Infrastructure Expansion

As part of the agreement, El Hempe will provide the SETO portfolio with preferred access to its Oregon-based RTD manufacturing facility which has scalable monthly capacity exceeding 800,000 units. This capability can support multiple brands within SETO's portfolio, accelerating speed-to-market, improving margin structure, and supporting SKU expansion and diversification.

The Companies are also exploring additional collaboration opportunities across product development, supply chain optimization, fulfillment, and future strategic investments.

"El Hempe is a disruptive lifestyle brand with built-in cultural cachet and real white space across the RTD and Functional Beverage category," Janon Costley, Chairman & CEO of SETO Holdings.. "By integrating their production capabilities and brand energy into our infrastructure, we unlock scale, retail access, and deeper category relevance."

Category Expansion: RTDs, Functional, and Infused Beverages

This transaction should strengthen SETO's positioning across multiple high-growth segments:

U.S. RTD market projected to reach $247 billion by 2032, driven by premium, convenience-led consumption

Functional beverage category expected to grow at 7.8% CAGR through 2030

Cannabis-adjacent and infused beverages projected to exceed $2 billion in U.S. market potential by 2030

Costley stated that "This is a convergence opportunity, El Hempe sits at the intersection of cultural relevance, format innovation, and next-gen drinking occasions. This partnership enables us to lead in that space-with infrastructure, brand credibility, and distribution scale."

Growth Strategy & Future Opportunities

The companies are also exploring additional growth capital opportunities with strategic partners, including MacArthur CPG Fund, to support acquisitions, infrastructure development, inventory, manufacturing expansion, and national rollout. For more information and company updates, please visit https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/SETO/overview.

About SETO Holdings, Inc.

A Gateway for Global Spirits, Innovation & Shareholder Value

SETO Holdings, Inc. is a publicly traded (OTC ID: SETO), vertically integrated total beverage platform redefining the future of premium beverages through cultural relevance, vertical integration, and digital innovation. Guided by its mission to "Own the Spirit", SETO merges production, distribution, marketing, technology, and capital markets into a unified engine for scalable brand growth for under-valued companies and founders.

By aligning brand ownership, infrastructure, and go-to-market execution, SETO is developing a capital-efficient path to margin capture, consumer loyalty, long-term value creation and exit opportunities -for founders, shareholders, and strategic partners alike.

About El Hempe Spirits, Inc.

El Hempe Spirits, Inc. is one of the first crossover brands to authentically bridge alcohol and cannabis-adjacent beverage categories-paving the way for broader consumer acceptance and category expansion. El Hempe is a cannabis-adjacent lifestyle brand known for its bold identity and category-bending approach to cocktail culture. With a growing footprint in the RTD space and an expanding pipeline of low-ABV innovations, El Hempe blends counterculture with mainstream appeal-delivering drink experiences that challenge the status quo.

Safe Harbor Statement: Statements in this news release may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that express our intentions, beliefs, expectations, strategies, predictions, or any other statements relating to our future activities or other future events or conditions. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our business based, in part, on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may, and are likely to, differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release and the company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release.

Media & Sales Inquiries

www.setoholdings.com

www.el-hempe.com

Investor Relations

IR@seto-holdings.com

SOURCE: SETO Holdings, Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/consumer-and-retail-products/seto-holdings-inc.-announces-strategic-investment-and-integration-agre-1151376
Seasoned Technology Entrepreneur Beylier Brings Extensive Experience in Leading Global Organizations Through Rapid Growth and Technology Transformation

Questel, a world leader in intellectual property (IP) solutions supported by Eurazeo and IK Partners, has appointed highly-respected technology executive Frederic Beylier as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Based at the company's Paris headquarters, Mr. Beylier is now responsible for leading Questel, one of the world's largest IP technology and services companies.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260320219754/en/

Frederic Beylier is CEO of Questel, a world leader in intellectual property (IP) solutions. Questel has 30 offices around the world and is headquartered in Paris, France.

Beylier has a proven track record of guiding international organizations through accelerated growth in demanding and fast-moving technology industries. With his background in execution, commercial expansion and innovation management, he is ideally positioned to further strengthen and consolidate Questel's client-centric focus and global leadership position.

Most recently, he was CEO of Flowbird Group, a global force in urban mobility technology, and an advisor to the CEO of leading insurance brokerage technology company APRIL, another highly-respected private equity-owned business. Before that, he served for 6+ years as Group Chief Operating Officer and Executive Board Member at IDEMIA, creating a worldwide security technology leader in payments, telecom, transport, and government security solutions.

Beylier succeeds Questel's longtime CEO, Charles Besson, who held the role for 25 years and will remain a significant shareholder of the Questel Group. Besson will continue to contribute his vision and expertise in the IP market as a member of the Group's Supervisory Board.

"As I hand over to Frederic, I am confident that Questel is positioned for its next phase of growth," commented Besson. "What makes this moment particularly exciting is the combination of two powerful strengths: the deep and unmatched expertise in IP that defines Questel, and Frederic's proven ability to drive rapid growth and transformation in leading technology companies. Together, this creates a strong foundation to accelerate innovation and unlock significant new value."

"Under Charles's leadership, Questel has become one of the leading players in the market for IP software and technology services," Beylier noted. "On behalf of all Questel Group shareholders, we would like to thank him for his commitment, vision, and decisive contribution over the years."

"Questel intends to reinforce its position as a technological powerhouse at a time of major change in the IP sector, and I am excited to take the lead at such an ambitious and innovative company," remarked Beylier. "My first priorities as CEO will be to reinforce Questel's focus on strengthening its integrated IP ecosystem, so clients can seamlessly access unparalleled IP data quality and coverage, SaaS platforms, AI-driven workflows and use cases, along with tech-enabled expert services as the foundation for strategic decisions."

"Questel has the potential to transform and lead the IP industry for clients by integrating further AI-augmented and agentic IP solutions that combine advanced digital capabilities with high-level human IP expertise, oversight, and control," added Beylier.

About Questel

Questel is a true end-to-end intellectual property solutions provider to more than 20,000 clients and 1.5M users across 30 countries. Questel offers a comprehensive scope of software and services for managing all types of IP assets (patent, trademark, design, domain name, copyright), including searching, analyzing, and watching, international filing, translation, renewals, and recordals. These solutions, when combined with our IP cost management platform, deliver clients significant savings across the entire IP lifecycle. Questel has 30 offices around the world and is headquartered in Paris, France. Find out more at Questel.com or on LinkedIn.

About Eurazeo

Eurazeo is a leading European investment group with 39 billion in diversified assets under management, including 30 billion on behalf of institutional and retail clients through its private equity, private debt, real estate and infrastructure strategies. The Group supports more than 600 mid-market companies, leveraging the commitment of its 450-strong workforce, its in-depth sector expertise, its privileged access to global markets through 14 offices across Europe, Asia and the United States, and its responsible approach to value creation based on growth. The company's institutional and family shareholding structure, and its solid financial structure, ensure its long-term viability.

Eurazeo has offices in Paris, New York, London, Frankfurt, Berlin, Milan, Stockholm, Madrid, Luxembourg, Shanghai, Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo and Sao Paulo.

Eurazeo is listed on Euronext Paris. ISIN: FR000121121 Bloomberg: RF FP Reuters: EURA.PA.

About IK Partners

IK Partners ("IK") is a European private equity firm focused on investments in the Benelux, DACH, France, Nordics and the UK. Since 1989, IK has raised more than 20 billion of capital and invested in over 210 European companies. IK supports companies with strong underlying potential, partnering with management teams and investors to create robust, well-positioned businesses with excellent long-term prospects. For more information, visit ikpartners.com. IK is an affiliate of Wendel. For more information, visit wendelgroup.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260320219754/en/

Contacts:

Christy Burke, Burke Company PR, +1-917-623-5096, cburke@burke-company.com
The company is acknowledged for its scalable technology platform, application diversity, and customer-centered commercialization driving multi-industry adoption.

SAN ANTONIO, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan is pleased to announce that Locus FS has been honored with the 2026 North American Technology Innovation Leadership Recognition in the precision fermentation sector for its outstanding achievements in product development, technology-led innovation leadership, sustainability, and commercialization excellence. This recognition highlights Locus FS's consistent leadership in delivering reliable, performance-centric biological solutions that replace petrochemical inputs with renewable, fermentation-derived alternatives while maintaining industrial-grade performance standards.

Frost & Sullivan evaluates companies through a rigorous benchmarking process across two core dimensions: strategy effectiveness and strategy execution. Locus FS excelled in both, demonstrating its ability to align platform-driven innovation with market demand while executing with efficiency, reliability, and scientific discipline.

Guided by a long-term growth strategy focused on platform consistency, formulation-ready design, scalable production, and disciplined validation, Locus FS has shown its ability to adapt and lead in a rapidly evolving landscape. The company's strategic agility and sustained investment in its proprietary fermentation-based platform have enabled consistent multi-industry commercialization across agriculture, oil and gas, mining, and industrial markets, supported by scalable fermentation infrastructure and disciplined validation processes. "Rather than simply transferring technology across industries, Locus FS creatively adapts functional behaviors observed in soil microenvironments, plant microbe interactions, or biosurfactant performance attributes to solve problems in unrelated fields, such as mining, oil and gas, or industrial formulations. This capability to reframe mechanisms for new contexts demonstrates a high level of conceptual creativity and scientific repurposing," said Chippy Alphons Augustine, Research Analyst at Frost & Sullivan.

Innovation remains central to Locus FS's approach. Through precision microbial design and high-performing glycolipid biosurfactants, the company leverages biotechnology to develop biological alternatives that address complex operational, agronomic, and formulation challenges. Its unified, platform-driven process accelerates the stage-gate journey from concept to full commercialization, ensuring scientific rigor and repeatable market success. By integrating a performance-centric model with scalable infrastructure, Locus FS consistently translates laboratory breakthroughs into real-world impact, delivering measurable operational improvements while advancing low-carbon, renewable chemistry pathways across industries.

Locus FS's unwavering commitment to a customer-centered operating model strengthens its competitive position. By tailoring solution formats to specific operational workflows and ensuring reliability through disciplined validation, the company reduces adoption friction and deepens long-term engagement. Its fermentation platform supports continuous innovation and reliable multi-industry supply through standardized development and scale-up practices, reinforcing trust and sustained growth. The combination of application diversity, commercialization rigor, and customer alignment distinguishes Locus FS in the precision fermentation landscape.

"We are honored to receive this award from Frost & Sullivan, we believe it is a clear reflection of our commitment to innovation, customer partnership, and delivering measurable, positive outcomes; It strengthens our resolve to keep raising the bar," said [John Uhran], CEO at Locus FS.

Frost & Sullivan commends Locus FS for setting a high standard in competitive strategy, execution, and market responsiveness. The company's vision, platform extensibility, and commitment to scientific advancement are shaping the future of precision fermentation and accelerating technology-driven industry transformation.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents the Technology Innovation Leadership Recognition to a company that demonstrates outstanding strategy development and implementation, resulting in measurable improvements in market share, customer satisfaction, and competitive positioning. It recognizes forward-thinking organizations that are reshaping their industries through innovation and growth excellence.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Recognition

Frost & Sullivan's Best Practices Recognitions honor companies across regional and global markets that exhibit exceptional achievement and consistent excellence in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer experience, and strategic product development. Each recognition is the result of a rigorous analytical process in which Frost & Sullivan industry experts benchmark performance through comprehensive interviews, deep-dive analysis, and extensive secondary research. The goal is to identify true best-in-class organizations that are driving transformative growth and setting new industry standards. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact

Camila Tinajero

E: camila.tinajero@frost.com

Locus Fermentation Solutions (Locus FS) is a USA-based biotechnology company delivering high-performance specialty chemical formulations enhanced with novel glycolipids. Built on deep microbial expertise, the company develops bio-based additives that act as powerful formulation amplifiers-pushing performance beyond the limits of traditional chemistry across industrial, CPG, energy, mining and agricultural applications. With a proprietary biomanufacturing platform and a science-first approach, Locus FS helps customers solve complex formulation challenges and accelerate the transition to smarter, more sustainable solutions. Visit LocusFS.com to learn more.

Contact

Matt Prissel

E: mprissel@locusfs.com

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The recognition highlights Heidi's leadership in clinical AI innovation, market impact, and customer-centric technology design.

SAN ANTONIO, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan is pleased to announce that Heidi has been recognized with the 2026 North America Technology Innovation Leadership Recognition in the Artificial Intelligence Medical Scribe industry for its outstanding achievements in innovation, strategy execution, and clinician impact. This recognition highlights Heidi's consistent leadership in advancing AI-enabled clinical documentation, strengthening its market position, and delivering customer-centric innovation in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.

Frost & Sullivan evaluates companies through a rigorous benchmarking process across two core dimensions: business impact and technology leverage. Heidi excelled in both, demonstrating its ability to align strategic initiatives with real-world clinical demand while executing them with efficiency, consistency, and scale.

"Frost & Sullivan is impressed by how Heidi's intentional design, deep clinical relevance, and proven versatility allow it to function as a truly universal tool that meets the demands of modern healthcare with precision and reliability," said Alejandra Parra, Research Analyst, Frost & Sullivan.

Guided by a long-term growth strategy focused on clinician-led adoption, scalable digital innovation, and global expansion, Heidi has demonstrated an exceptional ability to adapt and lead in a competitive healthcare technology environment. The company's sustained investment in conversational AI, workflow automation, and clinical usability has enabled it to scale rapidly across North America while supporting diverse healthcare settings and specialties.

Innovation remains central to Heidi's approach. Its AI medical scribe and care partner platform replaces manual clinical documentation and administrative tasks with accurate, specialty-aware automation that integrates seamlessly into daily workflows. Designed for flexibility and universality, Heidi supports a wide range of clinical environments and care models, delivering measurable gains in efficiency, clinician satisfaction, and patient engagement.

"Doctors are inundated with documentation and that greatly limits the amount of time they can spend really focusing on their patients. I founded Heidi after experiencing administrative burden myself and the incredible burnout that comes with it," said Dr. Thomas Kelly, CEO and co-founder of Heidi. "We are beyond honored to be recognized by Frost & Sullivan for the difference we are making in clinicians' lives."

Heidi's unwavering commitment to customer experience further strengthens its leadership position. Through self-serve onboarding, intuitive product design, and rapid clinician-led adoption, the company enables healthcare professionals to realize immediate value without complex implementation. Its ability to perform reliably across specialties, care settings, and regulatory environments has been key to delivering long-term value and sustained customer trust.

Frost & Sullivan commends Heidi for setting a high standard in competitive strategy, execution, and market responsiveness. The company's clinician-first vision, robust innovation pipeline, and focus on measurable outcomes are shaping the future of the artificial intelligence medical scribe market and redefining how AI supports modern healthcare delivery.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents the Technology Innovation Leadership Recognition to a company that has introduced the best underlying technology for achieving remarkable product and customer success while driving future business value. The recognition identifies forward-thinking organizations that are reshaping their industries through innovation and growth excellence.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Recognition

Frost & Sullivan's Best Practices Recognitions honor companies across regional and global markets that exhibit exceptional achievement and consistent excellence in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer experience, and strategic product development. Each recognition is the result of a rigorous analytical process in which Frost & Sullivan industry experts benchmark performance through comprehensive interviews, deep-dive analysis, and extensive secondary research. The goal is to identify true best-in-class organizations that are driving transformative growth and setting new industry standards.

Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Ashley Shreve

E: ashley.weinkauf@frost.com

About Heidi

Heidi is building an AI Care Partner to expand clinical capacity by automating administrative work - documentation, form filling, and task management - so clinicians can focus on patients. Used across emergency departments, general practice, and specialist clinics, Heidi supports more than 2 million consults each week in 110 languages from 116 countries. Founded in Melbourne, Australia, Heidi has raised $96.6M USD from global investors including Point72 Private Investments, Blackbird, Headline, Phoenix Court's growth fund - Latitude, Possible Ventures, and Archangel. Heidi adheres to international standards including the NHS, HIPAA, GDPR, and Australian Privacy Principles, and has obtained enterprise-grade security certifications such as SOC2 and ISO27001.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/heidi-receives-frost--sullivans-2026-north-american-technology-innovation-leadership-recognition-for-excellence-in-artificial-intelligence-medical-scribe-innovation-302724273.html
Appealing to the 80% of travelers who prioritize preparation over impulse, GetYourGuide and creative agency Preacher flip the script on travel spontaneity

Berlin, Germany | March 25, 2026 | GetYourGuide , a global marketplace for travel experiences, has unveiled its 2026 global brand campaign, "Book Forward to It." The campaign makes a sharp, playful, deeply human argument for why the most spontaneous-feeling travel moments are almost always the result of smart planning.

It also serves to debunk one of travel's most persistent myths: that the best experiences just happen. They don't. And GetYourGuide has the receipts to prove it.

The integrated platform is rolling out globally across the US, UK, France, and Germany across TV, CTV, digital video, out-of-home (OOH), radio, paid social, and streaming audio, and was developed in partnership with global creative agency Preacher , led by its Amsterdam office. The agency, headquartered in Austin, TX, is known for work that's as strategically rigorous as it is culturally resonant.

Central to the work are four hero films capturing real travelers, families and friends - not actors. A solo explorer on a street food crawl through Mexico, a family in a flour-dusted Italian kitchen, a couple having what can only be described as "jamon sweats" on a private yacht off the coast of Spain, and two friends finally getting an answer to all their questions while stargazing off the beaten path. Each ends in the same place with the GetYourGuide app, a booking being made, and the understanding that what just happened started right there.

"This campaign is about a simple truth: the magic of travel isn't random," said Anne Wallin, Director of Creative Marketing at GetYourGuide. "'Book Forward to It' celebrates the planners, the people who do the work upfront so they can be fully present in the moments that matter. Because the most spontaneous experiences are the ones you set up for yourself."

The campaign comes on the heels of fresh momentum for GetYourGuide, which recently celebrated a landmark year becoming the first experiences platform to cross key thresholds: profitability, 1bn in revenue in 2025, and 33 million experiences booked. It's a fitting backdrop for a campaign that proves the point that the best moments aren't stumbled upon. They're booked.The brand continues to build on that foundation, with the recent appointment of Rob Rekutriak as Chief Product Officer and the launch of a GetYourGuide ChatGPT app, deepening its commitment to helping travelers plan smarter and experience more.

THE TRUTH NOBODY SAYS OUT LOUD

The modern traveler is not impulsive. They're perpetually planning.

Over 80% of travelers are thinking about their next trip at any given time, according to GetYourGuide survey data. And yet travel marketing has spent decades selling the opposite fantasy. The serendipitous detour. The lucky find. The moment that just happened.

The reality is modern travelers hold two truths in tension: they want to feel spontaneous and in the moment, but they also know that truly life-changing trips are the ones that they researched and planned. "Book Forward to It" gives travelers permission to own that tension through a simple yet powerful reframe: the travel moment you'll talk about for years didn't find you. You found it.

"So many travel campaigns are about the destination. GetYourGuide is all about the doing," said Seth Gaffney, Co-Founder at Preacher. "This campaign doesn't just encourage people to book, it also shines a spotlight on those who made incredible moments happen."

View the films here: Stargazing , Boat Tour , Food Tour and Pasta Workshop.

ABOUT GETYOURGUIDE

GetYourGuide is a leading global online marketplace to discover and book experiences worth traveling for. Travelers can use GetYourGuide to find things to do in more than 18,000 cities, including tours from local experts, exclusive access to must-see attractions, as well as immersive bucket-list experiences. Fifty-thousand supply partners leverage GetYourGuide's easy-to-use platform to grow their businesses, offering 200,000 experiences to travelers around the world. For more information, follow GetYourGuide on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok and visit getyourguide.com. Book forward to it at getyourguide.com .

ABOUT PREACHER

Preacher is an independent global creative agency based in Austin, Texas and Amsterdam, the Netherlands. We're spreading the good word for brands we believe in like GMC, Topo Chico, Hertz, High Noon, PrizePicks, and TomTom. For more, visit: http://preacher.co .

PRESS CONTACT

GetYourGuide: Catherine Treyz, press@getyourguide.com

Preacher: Alyssa Siegel, alyssa@aj-media.com


DALLAS, March 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Soterix Systems, a leader in device agnostic technology, announced it will be attending ISC West, the largest converged security industry event in the United States, taking place March 25th - March 27th in Las Vegas. At ISC West, Soterix Systems will highlight NexaiQ, its cloud computing platform, alongside its two newest deployment models, NexaiQ Neurosen and Camera to Cloud.

NexaiQ Neurosen is Soterix Systems' AI-enabled private cloud deployment platform, purpose-built for organizations that demand maximum control, data sovereignty, and uncompromising performance. It delivers the same adaptive, TRUE AI that the company is known for, while operating entirely within the customer's own network infrastructure-with no connection to the public internet required.

As security and operations leaders face increasing pressure around compliance, data sensitivity, and governance, NexaiQ Neurosen offers a clear alternative to cloud-dependent models. It enables enterprises, critical infrastructure operators, and regulated environments to deploy TRUE AI without sending sensitive data off-site or rearchitecting existing systems. NexaiQ Neurosen offers the benefit of elasticity of traditional cloud without touching the internet.

"Not every organization can or should rely on the cloud, and they shouldn't have to," said Bryan Schmode, CEO of Soterix Systems. "NexaiQ Neurosen was built for environments that need absolute control over their data and infrastructure, while still demanding adaptive intelligence that actually learns over time. This is not a stripped-down version of our NexaiQ VSaaS platform. On the contrary, it's the most robust system architecture on the market. It is crafted with the same operational intelligence and scaling NexaiQ is known for but deployed on your terms. Our user-friendly interface is all behind a single pane of glass, that deploys across your network with no internet dependency, no latency constraints, no third-party exposure."

NexaiQ Neurosen integrates seamlessly with existing cameras, sensors, access control, IoT infrastructure, and drones, enabling organizations to unlock actionable intelligence from assets they already own. By eliminating rip-and-replace hardware strategies, customers reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) and maximize return on investment (ROI), while gaining faster, more reliable insight across complex, multi-site environments.

NexaiQ Camera to Cloud (C2C) extends the NexaiQ platform with a hybrid cloud deployment model, where video is recorded locally on the camera and securely synchronized to the cloud. This architecture ensures continuous recording even during network interruptions, while optimizing bandwidth consumption.

All video, whether live or recorded, is accessed through NexaiQ's single pane of glass dashboard. This unified interface enables seamless video playback, live viewing, event search, and system wide visibility without the complexity of managing multiple interfaces or fragmented platforms. Whether deployed in conjunction with NexaiQ's edge server-based architecture or as a hybrid direct to cloud solution, NexaiQ C2C enables centralized management and seamless convergence across the NexaiQ platform.

Powered by TRUE AI and built on NexaiQ's unified dashboard approach, the platform provides organizations with the flexibility to design, scale, and evolve their video infrastructure without compromise. Soterix Systems' continued investment in intellectual property and platform innovation reflects its commitment to delivering proactive, practical AI that drives real operational outcomes.

Attendees interested in learning more about NexaiQ Neurosen, NexaiQ Cloud to Camera, or exploring deployment strategies tailored to their operational and regulatory requirements are encouraged to connect with the Soterix Systems team at Booth #7063.

For more information about Soterix Systems or to schedule a private discussion at ISC West, visit www.soterixsystems.com.

Media Contact

Tiffany Gilani

Marketing Specialist

+19729557555

tiffany.gilani@soterixsystems.com


Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - American Tungsten Corp. (CSE: TUNG) (OTCQB: TUNGF) (FSE: RK90) ("American Tungsten" or the "Company") announces initial drilling results from the second drill station on the D-Level of the IMA Mine, Lemhi County, Idaho. Significant tungsten-silver intercepts in all drillholes demonstrate continuity of the polymetallic vein system along strike to the northwest and up-dip from areas of historical mining.

Drill Result Highlights:

28.3 ft grading 0.39% WO3 and 1.08 oz/t Ag in hole AT25-08, including 5.5 ft of 0.82% WO3;

26.2 ft grading 0.33% WO3 and 1.62 oz/t Ag in hole AT25-09, including 3.2 ft of 1.03% WO3; and

10 ft grading 0.80% WO3 and 1.91 oz/t Ag in hole AT25-10.

"The results from the second drill station on the D-Level further reinforce the continuity and scale of the tungsten-silver vein system at the IMA Mine," said Ali Haji, CEO of American Tungsten Corp. "The consistent mineralization widths encountered across all drillholes support our understanding of the vein geometry and its extension up-dip and along strike from historical workings. These results provide continued confidence as we systematically advance drilling to define a modern, mineable resource."

Recent drilling results include initial assays from the second underground drill station on the D-level of the IMA Mine, as well as the bottom interval of hole 7, the top of which was reported on February 24th, 2026. This drilling is being conducted from a new exploration drift in the footwall of the vein system to confirm historical mineral reserves and extend limits of mineralization up-dip and along strike. Hole AT26-08 was drilled as an infill hole targeting the vein system up-dip of AT25-01. Hole AT26-09 targeted historical reserves blocked out in the No 5 and No 7 veins. Hole AT26-10 was fanned to the northeast to assess the up-dip extent of the vein system and to twin mineralization intersected in historical surficial drillhole ID-9 drilled by Inspiration Development Company.

New drillhole results are reported in Table 1 below. Assays for additional completed drillholes are pending.

Table 1: Summary Drillhole Assay Results From Ima Tungsten Project

Hole ID Azim Dip Depth From

(ft) To (ft) Length (ft) WO3_% MoS2_% Ag opt Cu % Pb % Zn % AT26-07* 65 60 476.5 15 25 10 1.10 0.01 0.69 0.05 0.09 0.04 and* 115 118.8 3.8 0.47 0.02 2.28 0.18 0.19 0.20 and* 155 172 17 1.28 0.06 3.53 0.27 0.34 0.09 and* 267 272 5 0.24 0.04 0.69 0.22 0.09 0.08 and 277.3 298.5 21.2 0.20 0.09 0.82 0.01 0.11 0.00 including 277.3 282 4.7 0.35 0.09 0.74 0.02 0.08 0.00 AT26-08 140 70 382 60.2 88.5 28.3 0.39 0.04 1.08 0.05 0.15 0.02 including 67 75 8 0.51 0.05 1.41 0.06 0.20 0.01 including 83 88.5 5.5 0.82 0.05 1.52 0.09 0.20 0.04 and 208.8 211.5 2.7 0.66 0.19 1.34 0.04 0.20 0.03 and 220.8 243.4 22.6 0.30 0.06 0.76 0.07 0.11 0.03 including 220.8 225.8 5 0.73 0.06 0.64 0.04 0.12 0.01 including 239 243.4 4.4 0.40 0.14 1.66 0.11 0.36 0.07 AT26-09 265 40 361 45.4 63 17.6 0.36 0.06 2.85 0.05 0.24 0.02 including 45.4 50.5 5.1 0.97 0.04 7.55 0.08 0.61 0.02 and 128 133 5 0.76 0.00 0.08 0.02 0.01 0.02 and 188 214.2 26.2 0.33 0.04 1.62 0.18 0.15 0.10 including 193.6 200 6.4 0.43 0.04 1.59 0.29 0.15 0.15 including 208.8 212 3.2 1.03 0.05 5.89 0.53 0.51 0.31 AT26-10 65 47 462 33 43 10 0.47 0.02 1.60 0.19 0.16 0.09 including 38 43 5 0.73 0.02 2.22 0.26 0.28 0.13 and 128 133 5 0.39 0.02 0.13 0.04 0.05 0.02 and 163 173 10 0.80 0.13 1.91 0.26 0.37 0.19 including 168 173 5 1.12 0.11 1.40 0.33 0.25 0.29 and 216 223.6 7.6 0.61 0.02 1.12 0.01 0.09 0.00 including 216 221 5 0.88 0.01 1.00 0.01 0.10 0.00 and 367 374.5 7.5 0.17 0.06 0.89 0.01 0.16 0.01 and 386.4 410 23.6 0.27 0.05 0.76 0.05 0.10 0.02 including 396.1 398 1.9 0.50 0.06 0.65 0.02 0.16 0.01

* Intercept Previously Reported

1) Intercepts for AT26-09 are estimated to be approximately true width. True width of veins are estimated to be 60% of composite length for AT26-07,

70% of composite length for AT26-08, and 60% of composite length for AT26-07

2) WO3 and MoS2 % values are calculated from ppm analyses based on stoichiometry factors of 1.2611 and 1.668,

silver is reported in troy ounces per ton

3) Composites are generated using a 0.1% WO3 cut off grade or 0.5oz/t Ag grade and may include internal waste below cut off grade.

American Tungsten has completed 15 drillholes on the D-level and 8 drillholes on the Zero level, totaling approximately 7800 feet. Drilling on the D-level is being conducted in a series of upward inclined fan holes from new drill stations in the footwall of the No.5 and No.7 vein systems. Mineralization in the principal veins consists of variable assemblages of hubnerite, scheelite, tetrahedrite, galena, sphalerite, and chalcopyrite, plus fluorite and rhodochrosite. Additional mineralization is associated with minor veins and stockworks within intervening metasedimentary host rocks.





Figure: Vertical Section Looking N20W showing significant intercepts and vein system interpretation, 200 ft view corridor.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11701/289872_502c031dc4957aaa_001full.jpg



Figure: Plan map of the D-level showing completed and planned drillholes.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11701/289872_502c031dc4957aaa_002full.jpg

Phase 1 Drill Program

Drilling operations are ongoing from the second D-level drill station and excavation of the drift to the third drill station is underway. Currently, at least four additional holes totaling approximately 2800 feet are planned from on the D-level and more holes may be added to the program based on results. Drilling and mine rehabilitation operations are also being conducted on the Zero level including construction of the second drill station, located approximately 900 feet from the portal. Drilling on the Zero level will include up to 20 holes totaling approximately 10,000 feet from three locations.

About the IMA Mine

The IMA Mine is a past producing underground tungsten mine situated on 22 patented claims located in East Central Idaho. Between 1945 and 1957, the property produced approximately 199,449 MTUs of WO3 and was subsequently explored for molybdenum and tungsten by various operators between 1960-2010. American Tungsten Corp is currently conducting an exploration drill program and assessing potential for re-start of underground tungsten mining operations at the IMA Mine.

Sampling Methodology

Drillholes were completed using Hagby 1000 or Sandvik 130 drill rigs with NQ sized rods. Drill core was transferred to American Tungsten geologists under chain of custody and stored in a secure facility. Drill core was logged for lithology, alteration, mineralization, and structure prior to sampling. Sample number tags were affixed to core boxes and core marked for sawing. Core was sawn in half, with one half submitted for analysis and the remaining half retained for reference. Samples were collected at approximate 5 foot intervals in wall rock and shorter intervals within vein mineralization, with sample lengths adjusted to geological boundaries where appropriate. Samples were submitted for assay to ALS Global in Twin Falls, Idaho.

QA/QC and Sample Analysis

American Tungsten Corp's Quality Assurance and Quality Control QA/QC program applies industry standard best practices to ensure data quality and integrity for the IMA Mine project, including maintaining chain of custody, secure sample transport and storage, adherence to data collection protocols and inclusion of certified reference, blank and duplicate quality assurance samples in laboratory submissions.

Samples were submitted to ALS Global laboratory in Twin Falls, Idaho, for preparation. Samples were crushed to 70% passing 2 mm screen, rotary splitting 250g and pulverized to 85% passing a 75 m screen. Samples were analyzed by ALS Minerals in the Vancouver, BC, Canada. Samples were analyzed by four acid digest with ICP-MS finish. Samples exceeding 200 ppm W were analyzed by XRF with lithium borate fusion preparation. Samples exceeding 50ppm Ag were analyzed by fire assay with gravimetric finish.

Qualified Person

Technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI-43-101"). Austin Zinsser, P.G., SME-RM, Vice President, Exploration for the Company, and a Qualified Person as defined by NI-43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release.

About American Tungsten Corp.

American Tungsten Corp. is a Canadian exploration company focused on high-potential tungsten and magnetite assets in North America. The Company is advancing the IMA Mine Project in Idaho to commercial production, addressing critical metal scarcity in North America. The Company's IMA Mine Project is a historic and high-quality underground tungsten past-producing property on private-patented land well above the water table with significant infrastructure. The Company holds an exclusive option to acquire full ownership (subject to a 2% royalty) and has expanded its land position with 113 additional federal claims covering nearly 2,000 acres.

For further updates, visit www.americantungstencorp.com or investor relations, Joanna Longo at ir@americantungstencorp.com.

Social media links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/americantungstencorp/

X: https://x.com/amtungsten

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/americantungstencorp/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/americantungstencorp/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@americantungstencorp

(CSE: TUNG)

(OTCQB: TUNGF)

(FSE: RK90)

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

This news release includes "forward-looking information" that is subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Forward-looking statements may include but are not limited to, statements relating to anticipated results of future drilling, recommencement of mining or production, pending analyses, future work plans and all the risks and uncertainties normally incident to such events. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future events and that actual events or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements represent management's best judgment based on information currently available. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The Company undertake no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.

Statements concerning historical mineral resources, historical reserves, production, and exploration results on the property have been obtained through both public and private sources, and are believed to be substantially factual and relevant in that they demonstrate the tenor of exploration targets on the property. Historical resource estimates and reserves pre-date the implementation of NI 43-101 and do not use categories stipulated by CIM. Prior operators assigned confidence categories which differ from those stipulated by CIM, as they may not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimates should not be relied upon until they have been verified. Neither American Tungsten Corp., or its Qualified Person, has done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources or reserves or to verify historical information regarding past production, sampling or drilling. American Tungsten Corp. is not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. Exploration Targets discussed are conceptual in nature; it is uncertain whether a mineral resource will be delineated based on potential exploration.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289872

Source: American Tungsten Corp.
Vero Beach, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - Air Docs Heating & Cooling has announced a regional giveaway to identify the oldest operating air conditioning unit among local homeowners. The initiative will provide a full system upgrade to the selected winner, while all eligible participants will receive a complimentary air conditioning tune-up. The program introduces a structured community engagement effort centered on system evaluation and preventative maintenance.

The giveaway invites homeowners to submit details regarding the age and condition of their air conditioning systems as part of the entry process. Submissions will be reviewed to determine the oldest qualifying unit, which will be selected for replacement. In addition, all participants will receive a scheduled tune-up service intended to assess system performance and support continued operation.

This announcement reflects Air Docs Heating & Cooling's continued efforts to expand community engagement through service-based initiatives. By combining a competitive selection process with a universal maintenance offering, the program is designed to create broad participation while delivering measurable value to homeowners. The initiative also supports increased visibility into the condition of residential HVAC systems across the service area.

The launch of the giveaway represents an internal milestone aligned with the company's operational focus on service consistency and customer interaction. The inclusion of complimentary tune-ups for all entrants reinforces a preventative approach to system care, allowing the team to conduct inspections that identify performance issues and maintenance needs. These evaluations provide homeowners with objective insights into system condition without requiring a prior service commitment.

The program also highlights the operational demands placed on air conditioning systems in Florida's climate. Continuous usage throughout the year can contribute to system wear, particularly for older units. Through the entry process and follow-up inspections, Air Docs Heating & Cooling is positioned to observe patterns in system longevity and performance across a range of residential environments.

Looking ahead, Air Docs Heating & Cooling has indicated that similar community-focused initiatives may be introduced as part of its ongoing development strategy. The hvac contractor vero beach continues to prioritize programs that combine direct homeowner engagement with practical service applications. These efforts are intended to complement existing operations in HVAC maintenance, repair, and installation while maintaining a consistent service framework.

Air Docs Heating & Cooling encourages eligible homeowners to participate in the giveaway through the company's website, where entry details and program information are available.

About Air Docs Heating & Cooling

Air Docs Heating & Cooling is an HVAC contractor based in Indian River County, serving residential customers since 2012. The company provides maintenance, repair, and installation services to ensure reliable heating and cooling performance year-round.





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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289873

Source: GetFeatured
Paris, France--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - Autolink, a leading innovator in next-generation automotive electronic/electrical (E/E) systems, today hosted its Europe Strategic Launch Event in Paris, officially announcing its European business strategy.

As the global automotive industry accelerates toward software-defined vehicles and next-generation E/E architectures, Autolink is positioning Europe as a key strategic hub. The company will continue to expand its global capabilities while deepening collaboration with European OEMs and ecosystem partners to advance next-generation automotive computing platforms and architectures.

Europe, the birthplace of the automotive industry, remains a leader in vehicle architecture, functional safety, and engineering systems. As software-defined vehicles advance, E/E architectures are shifting decisively from distributed to centralized computing. Within this transformation, intelligent computing platforms are emerging as the core infrastructure enabling automotive intelligence. In this context, Europe serves as both a key market and a vital hub for global innovation and industry collaboration. Autolink's European strategy represents a decisive step in aligning with these industry shifts and strengthening its global collaborative capabilities.

Aligned with the evolution of next-generation computing architectures, Autolink continues to enhance its technology and product portfolio. The company has developed a product system that includes Smart Cockpit Domain Controllers, Cockpit-Driving Fusion Domain Controllers, and Zone Controllers, while advancing its work on Central Computing Platforms and Full-Domain Integrated Architectures. Through an open, collaborative approach, Autolink aims to deepen synergy with European industry partners in technology, engineering, and system integration, jointly driving progress in automotive computing architectures and intelligent systems.

To strengthen its global presence, Autolink is enhancing R&D support, engineering delivery, quality assurance, and collaborative response systems for international clients. The launch of its European strategy marks a pivotal step in the company's global expansion, reflecting a long-term commitment to customer needs and industry partnership.

At the event, Autolink Founder and Chairman Yang Hongze, and Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Europe Business Li Zhigang outlined the company's roadmap for intelligent automotive computing platforms and its European strategy. The gathering also featured demonstrations of Autolink's smart cockpit, cockpit-driving fusion, and next-generation E/E architecture solutions, with discussions held alongside representatives from European OEMs, supply chain partners, Chinese enterprises in Europe, and industry experts.

Autolink will continue advancing "Capability Globalization" by strengthening global synergy, deepening industry collaboration, and enhancing its products and services. The company is committed to meeting global automotive customers' growing demand for intelligent, platform-based, and engineering-enabled solutions, providing robust support for the development of next-generation E/E architectures and intelligent computing platforms.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289865

Source: Hmedium
Bria joins the ranks of Google, Nvidia, Adidas, Walmart, and more

NEW YORK, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Bria.ai, the Visual Generative AI Platform for developers and production studios, is proud to have been named to Fast Company's prestigious list of the World's Most Innovative Companies of 2026. This year's list shines a spotlight on businesses that are shaping industry and culture through their innovations. Alongside the World's 50 Most Innovative Companies, Fast Company recognizes 720 honorees across 59 sectors and regions.

"Generative AI has the promise to unlock incredible creative potential, but is still too unpredictable for organizations to rely on in production," said Dr. Yair Adato, founder and CEO of Bria. "At Bria, our focus has always been to bridge that gap, building visual AI that teams can actually control, deploy, and trust. With the launch of Fibo and our Visual Generative Language (VGL), we're turning image generation from 'prompt and hope' into a programmable system for enterprises."

Over the past 18 months, Bria has achieved several major milestones advancing enterprise-ready visual AI. In late 2025, Bria launched Fibo, the first commercially available deterministic visual foundation model, introducing structured control to generative imagery through its proprietary Visual Generative Language (VGL). By enabling precise specification of visual attributes such as composition, lighting, style, and brand elements, Fibo eliminates the unpredictability of traditional prompt-based image generation and allows enterprises to deploy visual AI in production workflows with consistent, repeatable outputs.

This technological breakthrough has been paired with rapid company growth and ecosystem expansion. In 2025, Bria raised $40 million in a Series B led by Red Dot Capital, later extended to bring total funding to more than $65 million. The company also expanded its creative ecosystem through strategic partnerships with platforms including GRIP and Toon Boom, enabling visual AI capabilities across advertising, product visualization, animation, and digital content production pipelines.

Campaigns built on Bria's platform have won Cannes Lions Gold, while the company has earned recognition by the Hollywood Press Association (HPA) Awards, Fast Company's Next Big Things in AI 2025, CB Insights AI 100, and the SiliconANGLE TechForward Awards. Together, these achievements underscore Bria's emergence as one of the leading companies defining how generative AI can be deployed safely, predictably, and at enterprise scale.

The World's Most Innovative Companies is Fast Company's hallmark franchise and one of its most anticipated editorial efforts of the year. To determine honorees, Fast Company's editors and writers review companies driving progress around the world and across industries, evaluating thousands of submissions through a competitive application process. The result is a globe-spanning guide to innovation today, from early-stage startups to some of the most valuable companies in the world.

"Our list of the Most Innovative Companies is about spotlighting organizations that don't just adapt to change-they drive it," said Brendan Vaughan, editor-in-chief of Fast Company. "The companies we honor this year are redefining what leadership looks like in 2026, pairing bold ideas with measurable impact and turning breakthrough innovation into real-world value. They are setting the pace for their industries and offering a blueprint for what sustained innovation can achieve."

The full list of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies honorees can now be found at fastcompany.com. It will also be available on newsstands beginning March 31, 2026.

Fast Company will host the Most Innovative Companies Summit and Gala for honorees on May 19 in New York City. The summit features a day of inspiring content, followed by a creative black-tie gala including networking, a seated dinner, and an honoree presentation.

About Bria

Bria is the Visual Generative AI Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) purpose-built for developers and builders to develop, deploy, and manage AI-powered visual solutions at scale. Its enterprise-grade platform delivers unprecedented speed and flexibility along with the safety, compliance, and quality needed for commercial production. Bria's foundation models, trained on 100% licensed data from 30+ partners, ensure legal compliance with proper attribution to data owners and artists. At the center of the platform is Bria's patented attribution engine - the underlying system that tracks provenance, ensures creators and rights holders are compensated, and establishes the infrastructure for new creative workflows and business models that the industry has not previously had the tools to build. For more information, visit bria.ai.

ABOUT FAST COMPANY

Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with fellow business publication Inc. For more information, please visit fastcompany.com.

Media Contact

Sarah Small

Headline Media

sarah.small@headline.media

US:+1 929 255 1449

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bria-named-to-fast-companys-annual-list-of-the-worlds-most-innovative-companies-of-2026-302724929.html


EQS Newswire / 25/03/2026 / 15:00 CET/CEST

Delivering unprecedented full-stack visibility, the new OpenTelemetry-based solution eliminates storage silos, accelerates troubleshooting, and empowers IT teams with a seamless, vendor-agnostic monitoring pipeline. AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - Media OutReach Newswire - 25 March 2026 - Tintri, innovator of the industry's only workload-aware, AI-powered data management platform for virtualized and containerized workloads, today announced a strategic partnership with Integration Plumbers, observability integration specialists. Together, the companies have launched a highly anticipated, no-cost, and open-source integration designed to seamlessly connect Tintri's intelligent VMstore platform to the modern monitoring ecosystems that enterprise IT teams rely on daily.



This collaboration marks a significant milestone in enterprise infrastructure management, bridging the historical gap between storage arrays and application-level observability. By leveraging open standards, Tintri and Integration Plumbers are delivering maximum visibility without the burden of proprietary dependencies.



The Problem: Too Many Dashboards, Not Enough Answers



In today's hyper-complex, cloud-native IT environments, every minute of downtime or performance degradation translates directly to lost revenue and diminished user experience. When an incident occurs, rapid root-cause analysis is critical. However, for many organizations, determining whether a performance bottleneck originates in the application code, the network layer, or the underlying storage system is a convoluted, manual process.



Historically, storage monitoring has existed in a vacuum. Storage administrators utilize specialized, vendor-specific dashboards, while DevOps and Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) teams rely on entirely different platforms for application and infrastructure monitoring. This fragmentation forces teams to log into multiple disconnected tools, manually correlate timestamps, and engage in time-consuming cross-departmental coordination. The result is a bloated Mean Time To Resolution (MTTR), increased operational costs, and unnecessary architectural complexity. IT teams are burdened with managing disparate monitoring systems, redundant alerts, and separate credentials just to piece together a holistic view of their infrastructure.



The Solution: One Pipeline for Everything



The newly announced integration fundamentally transforms this paradigm by establishing a single, unified pipeline for all telemetry data. Built natively on OpenTelemetry, the rapidly adopted open industry standard for collecting, processing, and routing monitoring data; this solution ingests Tintri's granular storage metrics directly into the existing observability pipelines that IT teams already use.



Rather than forcing engineers to consult a separate "storage only" application, this integration acts as a seamless data feed into a centralized command center. Tintri's VMstore is architected to track performance at the level of individual virtual machines and containerized applications, eschewing the traditional, opaque LUN or volume-level metrics. The data it generates is uniquely detailed, context-rich, and immediately actionable.



This integration effortlessly surfaces VMstore's rich telemetry in whatever monitoring platform an enterprise has already standardized on, such as Grafana, Datadog, Dynatrace, Prometheus, and any other OpenTelemetry-compatible tool.



Phil Trickovic, Senior Vice President, Tintri stated: "Storage telemetry has historically been stuck in vendor-specific silos. This integration changes that, giving platform and operations teams a unified view of their entire stack, including storage, without adding new tools or new contracts."



What This Means in Practice: Tangible Business Value



The Tintri and Integration Plumbers partnership delivers immediate, measurable benefits to enterprise IT operations:

Faster Troubleshooting and Reduced MTTR: When an incident occurs, IT teams can now visualize storage performance data side-by-side with application and infrastructure telemetry in a single, unified dashboard. This contextualized view drastically cuts the time required to identify and remediate root causes.

When an incident occurs, IT teams can now visualize storage performance data side-by-side with application and infrastructure telemetry in a single, unified dashboard. This contextualized view drastically cuts the time required to identify and remediate root causes. Zero Additional Licensing Costs: The integration is designed to work flawlessly with the monitoring platforms customers already have deployed. No need to procure, deploy, or train staff on a separate, standalone storage monitoring product.

The integration is designed to work flawlessly with the monitoring platforms customers already have deployed. No need to procure, deploy, or train staff on a separate, standalone storage monitoring product. Total Freedom and Flexibility: Because the solution is built entirely on the OpenTelemetry open standard, customers are protected from vendor lock-in. Should an organization decide to migrate to a different monitoring vendor in the future, the transition requires only a simple configuration update, not a complete architectural overhaul.

Because the solution is built entirely on the OpenTelemetry open standard, customers are protected from vendor lock-in. Should an organization decide to migrate to a different monitoring vendor in the future, the transition requires only a simple configuration update, not a complete architectural overhaul. Built to Last and Evolve: By contributing this integration directly to the open-source OpenTelemetry community, Tintri and Integration Plumbers foresee the tool continuously evolving alongside broader industry standards, rather than being constrained by a single vendor's proprietary roadmap.

Under the Hood: Built on OpenTelemetry Standards



For platform engineers and technical architects, the integration is engineered as a standard OpenTelemetry Collector component. It intelligently harvests metrics from both physical VMstore appliances and the Tintri Global Center management platform via robust REST APIs.



Crucially, these metrics are meticulously mapped to OpenTelemetry semantic conventions. This standardization enables out-of-the-box correlation with Kubernetes environments and application-level telemetry. Standard Collector exporters facilitate the seamless routing of this data to any OTLP-compatible backend including Prometheus, ClickHouse, Datadog, and Dynatrace; requiring absolutely no modifications to the Tintri integration itself.



Demonstrating a profound commitment to the open-source ethos, the project will be officially contributed to the OpenTelemetry ecosystem. It is architected from the ground up for long-term community maintainability and strict compliance with OTEL project standards.



Trickovic elaborated "By combining Tintri's workload-aware storage metrics with the OpenTelemetry ecosystem, we're giving customers the unified observability they've been asking for - storage shouldn't be the blind spot in your monitoring stack."



Tintri and Integration Plumbers will be hosting a 60-minute deep dive into OpenTelemetry-native storage observability, including a live technical demo on April 15, 2026 at 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET. https://tintri.com/experience/tintri-integration-plumbers-4-15-26/



Hashtag: Tintri IntegrationPlumbers

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Tintri Tintri delivers the industry's only workload-aware, AI-powered data management platform, built specifically for virtualized and containerized workloads. Its VMstore platform autonomously manages data at the level of individual VMs, containers, and databases; providing per-workload automation, guaranteed QoS, and predictive analytics that eliminate routine tuning and troubleshooting. Recognized for this innovative approach, Tintri was named "Overall Data Storage Company of the Year" in the 2025 Data Breakthrough Awards. Learn more at tintri.com .

About Integration Plumbers Integration Plumbers is an observability integration specialist that designs and builds custom OpenTelemetry collectors and pipelines for enterprise environments - making disparate systems speak a common observability language using open standards. Learn more at integrationplumbers.io .



News Source: Tintri

25/03/2026 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News .

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Media archive at www.todayir.com

View original content: EQS News
EcoVadis is one of the world's most widely recognized providers of business sustainability ratings, evaluating companies across four key areas: Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. In the 2026 assessment, SI Group scored above the industry average in all four categories, demonstrating the company's commitment to responsible operations and transparent, ethical business practices in chemical manufacturing.

The improved rating builds on the progress outlined in SI Group's 2025 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report, which details measurable achievements across the company's global operations. SI Group has advanced initiatives focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving energy efficiency, strengthening responsible resource management, and enhancing supply chain transparency.

In addition to operational improvements, the company has implemented new policies, expanded sustainability programs, and achieved additional certifications that support stronger governance and environmental performance across its global manufacturing network.

"EcoVadis provides an important benchmark for evaluating our sustainability performance and identifying opportunities to continue improving," said Mike Farnell, SVP General Counsel and Chief Sustainability Officer. "Achieving a Silver rating is an encouraging milestone that reflects the dedication of our teams worldwide to operating responsibly and supporting our customers with solutions that contribute to a more sustainable future."

SI Group continues to integrate sustainability across the development, manufacture, and application of its chemical technologies, helping customers meet evolving performance and environmental goals while maintaining a strong focus on safety, compliance, and responsible growth.

For more information about SI Group's sustainability initiatives, visit www.siigroup.com/sustainability or read the company's 2025 ESG Report.

About SI Group

SI Group is a global leader in performance additives, process solutions, and chemical intermediates. SI Group's chemistries are essential solutions that enhance the quality and performance of industrial and consumer goods in the plastics, rubber and adhesives, fuels, lubricants, coatings, and oilfield industries. Headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas, SI Group operates 18 manufacturing facilities across three continents and serves customers in more than 80 countries, supported by approximately 1,500 employees worldwide. Driven by a passion for safety, chemistry, sustainability, and delivering extraordinary results, SI Group innovates to create long-term value for a better future. Learn more at www.siigroup.com.

About EcoVadis

EcoVadis is a purpose-driven company dedicated to embedding sustainability intelligence into every business decision worldwide. In 2024, EcoVadis acquired Ulula, a leading worker voice platform that strengthens its capabilities in supporting human rights due diligence. With global, trusted and actionable ratings, businesses of all sizes rely on EcoVadis' detailed insights to comply with ESG regulations, reduce GHG emissions, and improve the sustainability performance of their business and value chain across 250 industries in 185 countries. Leaders like Johnson & Johnson, L'Oreal, Unilever, Bridgestone, BASF and JPMorgan are among 150,000+ businesses that use EcoVadis ratings, risk, and carbon management tools and e-learning platform to accelerate their journey toward resilience, sustainable growth and positive impact worldwide. Learn more on ecovadis.com

Media Contact:

Joseph Grande

ph: + 1.413.684.2463

joe@jgrandecommunications.com

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Perth, Western Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - Besra Gold Inc. (ASX: BEZ) (the Company) announces that, further to its news release on 20 March 2026, the Company's board of directors (the Board) provides information on the proposed resolutions set out in a requisition notice received from Mr. Ron Mehmet on 2 March 2026 (the Requisition Notice), which the Board determined constitutes a valid shareholder requisition under Section 143 of the Canada Business Corporations Act.

The Requisition Notice includes the following proposed resolutions to be considered at a special meeting of shareholders (the Special Meeting):

Resolution 1 - Remove Mr Matthew Greentree as Director of the Company with effect from the close of the meeting.

Resolution 2 - Appoint Mr Peter Crooks as Director of the Company with effect from the close of the meeting.

Resolution 3 - Appoint Mr Matthew Antill as Director of the Company with effect from the close of the meeting.

Resolution 4 - with reference to the Gold Purchase Agreement ('GPA') signed between the Company and Quantum Metal Recovery Inc ('QMRI') dated 8 May 2023.

a) The Company cannot undertake any alterations or seek alternate funding solutions to the GPA without a majority vote of security holders.

b) The Board must provide continuous disclosure, or at least on a quarterly basis, to its shareholders as to QMRI ability to meet its obligations under the GPA and provide audited financial statements to justify the disclosure.

c) The Board must provide continuous disclosure or at least quarterly to its shareholders as to QMRI shareholdings under the GPA. Providing the corporation names and details of each direct/indirect holding and the number of securities held.

d) The Board must request from QMRI the disclosure of all the Associates of QMRI involved in the GPA.

The Special Meeting will be held on 16 June 2026 at 10:00 p.m. (Canadian Eastern Daylight Time)/ 17 June 2026 at 9:00 a.m. (Australian Western Standard Time).

Further details about the Special Meeting, the matters to be presented, and how to vote will be made available to shareholders in advance of the Special Meeting, including in a management information circular to be mailed to shareholders of record as of the record date. Shareholders are not required to take any action at this time in respect of the Special Meeting.

This announcement has been authorised for release by the Board of Directors

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289875

Source: Besra Gold Inc.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - Governance Professionals of Canada (GPC) is proud to celebrate Governance Professionals Day (GP Day) on March 25, marking the fourth nationwide recognition of the essential role governance professionals play in shaping responsible, transparent, and accountable organizations. This year's theme reflects GPC's recent launch of the Next Gen Governance Professionals Initiative, a national network for students and early-career governance professionals, and aims to bring national attention to the profession while recognizing the emerging talent shaping its future.

Governance Professionals Day events will take place across GPC's local chapters, bringing together governance professionals from coast to coast for in-person and online events. The national celebration will culminate in Toronto at the TMX Market Centre, where GPC and Ivey Business School will participate in the market close in solidarity with their joint executive education program for senior governance leaders, the Ivey-GPC Governance Leadership Program. Together, GP Day and the Next Gen initiative represent the full continuum of governance excellence: from emerging professionals building foundational skills to seasoned leaders refining advanced governance capabilities.

"Governance Professionals Day is about momentum," said Lynn Beauregard, President of Governance Professionals of Canada. "Canada's next generation isn't waiting to be invited into the boardroom-they're already building the systems that make better decisions possible. Organizationally, by aligning our Next Gen initiative with the Ivey-GPC Governance Leadership Program, we're establishing a strong pipeline from emerging talent to executive leadership-where fresh perspective and advanced experience reinforce one another across every sector."

About the Next Gen Governance Professionals Initiative

The Next Gen Governance Professionals Initiative is designed for students at the undergraduate, graduate, or law school level who are interested in law, policy, government relations, business administration, operations, finance, and related fields, as well as early-career governance professionals with up to three years of experience. The initiative offers mentorship, peer support, foundational governance training, and exposure to real-world board and committee operations, helping emerging professionals translate their academic backgrounds into practical governance expertise.

Call to Action

Students and early-career governance professionals (0-3 years) are invited to join GPC's Next Gen Governance Professionals Initiative. To get involved, please email info@gpcanada.org.

About Governance Professionals of Canada (GPC)

GPC is the national voice for governance professionals, dedicated to advancing governance excellence across corporate, public sector, Crown, and nonprofit organizations through education, certification, and an active professional community.

About the Ivey-GPC Governance Leadership Program

The Ivey-GPC Governance Leadership Program equips senior leaders to navigate complex board dynamics, strengthen decision-making, and align directors with management. Graduates can earn the Governance Leadership Designation (GLD) after a post-program examination. The first cohort runs April 14-17 , and we're still accepting applications.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289876

Source: Governance Professionals of Canada
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - Advanced Gold Exploration Inc. (CSE: AUEX) (FSE: ZF2) (OTC Pink: AUHIF) ("Advanced Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it intends to incorporate a wholly-owned subsidiary, to be named Silver Belle Resources LLC or such other name as the Company may choose, to manage its U.S. operations and hold the ownership of claims of the recently closed Nevada acquisition located in Eureka County.

Concurrently, the Company has entered into a formal agreement with ProDeMin USA LLC ("ProDeMin") to execute a comprehensive field work program and prepare a National Instrument 43-101 -- Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") technical report (the "Technical Report") for the Silver Belle Project in Eureka County, Nevada ("Silver Belle").

Silver Belle consists of approximately 100 unpatented lode mining claims (2,000 acres) situated within the prolific Eureka mining district of Nevada, an area known for high-grade carbonate replacement deposit style mineralization and historic silver-lead-zinc production.

The Company has retained ProDeMin, a specialized geological consultancy led by Dr. Craig Gibson, to spearhead the Phase 1 exploration program. Dr. Gibson will serve as the Qualified Person for the project under NI 43-101 standards.

The Phase 1 program is scheduled to commence in mid-to-late April 2026 and will include:

Geological Mapping: Three weeks of detailed field mapping covering the claim block and surrounding areas.

Three weeks of detailed field mapping covering the claim block and surrounding areas. Systematic Sampling: Collection of 50 to 100 rock and soil samples for geochemical analysis.

Collection of 50 to 100 rock and soil samples for geochemical analysis. Advanced Field Tech: Deployment of field-portable XRF measurements and drone-acquired orthophotos and video.

Deployment of field-portable XRF measurements and drone-acquired orthophotos and video. Data Compilation: Integration of all new field data into a comprehensive GIS database.

Upon completion of the field work and receipt of assay results, ProDeMin will prepare the Technical Report, which will provide a thorough review of historical exploration data, a detailed geological description of Silver Belle, and recommendations for future drilling and resource definition.

"Finalizing our Nevada corporate structure and engaging a team of ProDeMin's caliber are essential steps in our 2026 strategy," said Arndt Roehlig, President and CEO. "Dr. Gibson's extensive expertise in high-grade mineralization will be invaluable as we modernize the data on Silver Belle and move toward a compliant technical foundation for the project."

The project is in one of Nevada's most productive carbonate-hosted mineral belts, proximal to several historic and modern mining operations. The Company believes the project demonstrates geological characteristics consistent with CRD-style mineralization and intends to conduct modern exploration, including geologic mapping, sampling and geophysical targeting, to evaluate the potential for high-grade replacement and feeder structures at depth.

A documented 1937 smelter return from the Silver Bell Mining Co. underscores the metal content of the project's underground workings. A 21-short-ton shipment sent to the Asarco smelter in Salt Lake City returned a silver grade of 1,611 grams per tonne (47 ounces per ton). In addition to silver, the shipment contained significant base metal concentrations, including 37 per cent lead, 10 per cent zinc and 1 per cent copper. The presence of 3,000 g/t antimony further confirms the project's position within the antimony-enriched portion of the Diamond range CRD belt, consistent with regional metallogenic zoning typical of large-scale systems.

The Company expects the Technical Report to be delivered approximately two months from the start of the program.

About ProDeMin

Based in Vail, Arizona, ProDeMin USA LLC provides specialized quality and technology-driven services for mineral exploration, focusing on project management, technical reporting, and field operations across North America.

ABOUT ADVANCED GOLD

Advanced Gold Exploration is a Canadian mineral exploration company with a portfolio of Canadian gold and copper properties. The company's expertise is in identifying and acquiring undervalued properties with significant historical work, which it believes it can enhance their economic value at today's prices. The company's purpose is to bring immediate and long-term value to its partners and shareholders. Visit www.advancedgoldexploration.com for more information.

Qualified Person

Dr. Craig Gibson, PGeo, an independent qualified person (QP) as such term is defined by National Instrument 43-101 -- Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the geological information reported in this news release. The qualified person has not completed sufficient work to verify all historic information on the property, particularly with regard to historical sampling, drill results and technical work provided by others. The qualified person assumes that sampling and analytical results were completed to industry standard practices. The information provides an indication of the exploration potential of the property but may not be representative of expected results.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Arndt Roehlig, President & CEO, Director

Forward-Looking Information and Cautionary Statements

This news release may contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the trading of the Company's securities and the focus of the Company's business. Any such forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "contemplates", "believes", "projects", "plans" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the Company's ability to increase the value of its current and future mineral exploration properties and, in connection therewith, any long-term shareholder value, the Company's ability to mitigate or eliminate exploration risk, and the Company's intention to develop a portfolio of historic gold properties. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that the Company will continue its business as described above. Readers are encouraged to refer to the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis and other periodic filings made by the Company with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances or actual results unless required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289881

Source: Advanced Gold Exploration Inc.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - Lucidya, the AI-native Customer Experience Management (CXM) platform, has launched its Enterprise AI Agent platform following its record-breaking USD $30 million Series B funding round in 2025, one of the largest AI investments in MENA at the time.

This launch marks a pivotal step in Lucidya's 2026 strategy, focused on product innovation and accelerated growth across the region. As MENA enterprises shift from AI experimentation to operationalization, Lucidya's platform delivers measurable results.

Lucidya Launches Enterprise AI Agent Platform, Accelerates Regional Expansion

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In Q4 2025, the company achieved 3x year-over-year sales growth, with new sales surpassing those of the previous 6 years combined.

Lucidya's Enterprise AI Agent platform is purpose-built for Arabic markets, providing autonomous capabilities that allow organizations to scale customer service without proportional headcount growth. The cloud-native solution detects over 15 Arabic dialects with over 92% accuracy, enabling the following:

Autonomous AI agents for digital customer support

Enterprise-grade governance and compliance with regional regulations

Cultural intelligence for nuanced, native-language service

Rapid deployment in 4-6 weeks

"Enterprises in MENA are now operationalizing AI at scale, and they need platforms built for Arabic markets," said Abdullah Asiri, CEO and Founder of Lucidya. "Our 3x sales growth confirms that organizations are ready for AI agents capable of understanding the region's languages and regulatory requirements."

The platform helps organizations handle thousands of conversations simultaneously, cut customer service costs by 60-70%, and achieve 90%+ first-contact resolution rates, while supporting local workforce development and digital transformation goals.

To meet growing demand, Lucidya is opening its first GCC sales office outside Saudi Arabia, further expanding its regional footprint and access to the fast-growing CRM market. The company continues to strengthen its presence at regional AI and CX forums.

To support this vision, Lucidya is increasing investment in AI and R&D teams by 40% and will launch new solutions in 2026 for unified case management and AI-driven marketing automation, further enhancing its comprehensive CX platform.

About the company: Lucidya is the AI-native Customer Experience Management (CXM) platform built for MENA markets. The company's Enterprise AI Agent platform enables organizations to deliver autonomous, 24/7 customer service across 15+ Arabic dialects with enterprise-grade governance and cultural intelligence. Backed by one of the region's largest AI investments ($30M Series B in 2025), Lucidya combines AI expertise with deep MENA market knowledge to help enterprises operationalize AI at scale. The platform is cloud-native, SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 compliant, and aligned with regional data protection frameworks, including Saudi PDPL.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289313

Source: Plentisoft
With the conclusion of its second year, the Ecceamerica project, co-financed by the European Union, is strengthening its presence in the US and Canadian markets, expanding its network of contacts and consolidating the visibility of European organic products. The promoters, UNAPROL Consorzio Olivicolo Italiano and CAP Confederacao dos Agricultores de Portugal, emphasize how European organic extra virgin olive oil and wine are increasingly establishing themselves as symbols of certified quality, sustainability, and production culture. During its second year, the project continued to create opportunities for direct contact with the public, promoting both the horeca and retail channels.

The journey dedicated to "Taste" started in Canada in cities like Toronto, Vaughan, and Ottawa, where 10 stores hosted 154 promotional days, offering consumers the opportunity to discover and taste certified European organic extra virgin olive oil, while learning more about its origin, traceability, and quality standards. Because even an everyday gesture, such as shopping for groceries, can become an informed and meaningful choice. At the same time, the restaurant channel played a complementary role in engaging the public through direct experience. In Toronto, Oakville, and Vaughan, 10 restaurants took part in the initiative, also hosting 154 promotional days. Here, the product was integrated into delicious preparations, allowing consumers to experience its characteristics in a real dining context.

The project also saw significant participation in the United States. Ecceamerica activated a widespread promotional program between November and December 2025, involving restaurants and retail outlets in New York, New Jersey, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, reaching a total of over 300 promotional days.

The second year confirmed a clear principle: initiatives and promotions cannot have a lasting impact without a concrete investment in the training of young consumers and future operators in the sector. For this reason, the United States and Canada once again hosted masterclasses for students from specialized institutes, with theoretical and practical courses dedicated to the tasting and professional use of European organic extra virgin olive oil. Through an experiential approach, participants refined their tasting techniques, learned to recognize differences in quality, and understood the value of European certifications: fundamental skills for bringing awareness and quality to the cuisine of tomorrow.

The second year of Ecceamerica consolidated the recognition of European organic products in the North American market. Now Ecceamerica, Unaprol and CAP look ahead to the third year, which will be dedicated to "Sight": the sense that allows us to go beyond tasting, learning to read labels, recognize European logos, and interpret certifications. The hope is that this new phase will further refine the level of knowledge and make every purchasing choice even more informed, conscious, and responsible. Because taste wins us over, but it is knowledge that truly guides our decisions.

For more information on the Ecceamerica project, visit the official website https://ecceamerica.eu/ and the Facebook and Instagram social media pages.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260325771336/en/

Contacts:

info@ecceamerica.eu
Hong Kong, SAR--(Newsfile Corp. - March 12, 2026) - Restaurant San, Seoul's most outstanding new fine-dining restaurant, has been named the winner of the One To Watch Award 2026 by Asia's 50 Best Restaurants, sponsored by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna. The award singles out a restaurant which has recently started making a big impact and has the potential to secure a spot in the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list in the coming years.

San's nomination comes just over a year since opening in 2024 to widespread admiration in the South Korean capital. Located in the fashionable Gangnam district, San is acclaimed for its refined, French-influenced, modern Korean tasting menu conceived by chef Jo Seung-Hyun.

Chef Jo brings exceptional credentials to the venture, having honed his culinary skills at three distinguished restaurants - starting under the tutelage of Thomas Keller at The French Laundry in Napa Valley and La Maison Troisgros in France, before going on to helm the kitchen at Korean-American celebrity chef Corey Lee's fine-dining restaurant Benu in San Francisco. After eight years as chef de cuisine at Benu, he finally returned home to Seoul to realise his dream of opening San. The sophisticated tasting menu explores a vibrant range of seasonal dishes presenting his creative interpretation of classical French cuisine with a Korean twist.

A spokesperson for Asia's 50 Best Restaurants says: "San has quickly become one of the most talked-about fine-dining restaurants in Seoul. With richly deserved recognition as the winner of One To Watch Award, the team is raising the bar for culinary excellence, complexity and respect for national tradition - following an inspiring trend of innovative restaurants to emerge from the capital in recent years."

On winning the One To Watch Award 2026, Chef Jo says, "I'm incredibly grateful and honoured for San to receive the One To Watch Award. San is still a young restaurant and to be recognised in this way so soon after opening means a great deal to us. Thank you to Asia's 50 Best Restaurants for this encouragement."

Showcasing Korean flavours through refined technique, Chef Jo's cuisine focuses on familiar dishes reimagined with depth and precision. Signature creations include a prawn dish paired with a shrimp-gochujang crafted from a deeply concentrated broth extracted from shrimp heads, delivering intense umami, and a reinterpretation of ojingeo sukhoe, a classic Korean poached squid, using delicately prepared spear squid accompanied by squid-ink chojang. Drawing from his childhood memories growing up in Busan, Chef Jo also presents a refined interpretation of dwaeji-gukbap, traditionally enjoyed with salted shrimp but finished with caviar, offering a sense of familiarity while introducing an unexpected modern expression of Korean cuisine.

Beyond these innovations, signature dishes paying homage to iconic tradition include chamoe dongchimi, a water kimchi twist on Korea's national dish. The wine pairing, led by Ju Jaemin, meanwhile enhances the dining experience at San. Guests can choose between a five or eight-glass pairing, with each wine meticulously selected to complement the multi-layered dishes.

San is the first restaurant from Seoul to win the award since 2017. Recent winners include Farmlore in Bengaluru (2025), a celebration of hyper-local Indian ingredients;Lamdre in Beijing (2024), a sustainability focused restaurant inspired by Tibetan philosophy; and August in Jakarta (2023), which reinterprets Indonesian flavours through modern fine-dining techniques.

The One To Watch Award is the final of three pre-announced awards ahead of the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2026 awards ceremony, which will announce the region's premier restaurants. The ceremony is being held for the first time in Hong Kong at the Kerry Hotel on 25 March 2026. The awards ceremony will also be streamed live on the 50 Best YouTube channel via the link here, beginning at 20:00 Hong Kong time.

50 Best works with professional services consultancy Deloitte as its official independent adjudication partner to help protect the integrity and authenticity of the voting process and the resulting list of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2026. See more details on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants voting process here.

How the voting works

The list is compiled by votes from the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Academy, an influential group of more than 350 leaders in the restaurant industry across Asia, each selected for their expert opinion of Asia's restaurant scene. The Academy is divided into seven regions: India & Subcontinent; South-East Asia - South; South-East Asia - North; Hong Kong, Taiwan & Macau; Mainland China; Korea; and Japan. Each voter casts ten votes based on their best restaurant experiences of the previous 18 months, with at least four of these from outside their home country/SAR. Voters are required to remain anonymous and voting is confidential, secure and independently adjudicated by professional services consultancy Deloitte.

About the host destination partner: Hong Kong Tourism Board

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is a government-subvented body tasked with maximizing the contribution of tourism to Hong Kong's economy and upholding Hong Kong as a world-class travel destination. The HKTB works in partnership with relevant government departments and organisations, the travel-related sectors, and other entities related to tourism, to market and promote Hong Kong worldwide, while enhancing visitors' experiences through providing diverse and high-quality tourism products and services. The HKTB has a worldwide network of 15 offices and has representatives in seven different markets.

About the main partner: S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna

S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna are the main sponsors of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants. S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna are the leading natural mineral waters in the fine dining world. Together they interpret Italian style worldwide as a synthesis of excellence, pleasure and well-being.

Our Partners:

Hong Kong Tourism Board - Official Host Destination Partner

S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna - Main Partner & Official Water Partner; sponsor of The Best Restaurant in Asia

Inedit Damm - Official Beer Partner; sponsor of the Inedit Damm Chefs' Choice Award

SevenRooms - Official Booking Platform Partner; sponsor of the SevenRooms Icon Award

Doordash - Official Delivery Partner

Aspire Lifestyles - Official Concierge Partner

Lee Kum Kee - Official Sauces & Condiments Partner; sponsor of Highest Climber Award

Valrhona - Official Chocolate Partner; sponsor of Asia's Best Pastry Chef Award

Vik - Official Wine Partner; sponsor of Asia's Best Sommelier Award

Nongshim Shinramyun - Official Partner; sponsor of The Best Restaurant in South Korea

Maison Kaviari - Official Caviar Partner

Dassai - Official Sake Partner

Langjiu - Official Baijiu Partner

Woodford Reserve - Official American Whiskey Partner

Cinco Jotas - Official Iberico Ham Partner

Kerry Hotel, Hong Kong - Official Hotel Venue Partner

The Murray, Hong Kong, a Niccolo Hotel - Official Hotel Venue Partner

Grand Hyatt Hong Kong - Official Hotel Venue Partner

The Peninsula Hong Kong - Official Hotel Venue Partner

Pier 1929 - Official Venue Partner



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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/288244

Source: Media OutReach
AI remained the strongest catalyst for activity, with landmark funding rounds from OpenAI and Anthropic driving technology to the top of the global league tables and reshaping the composition of early-year deal flow. This acceleration came even as the Middle East conflict introduced a fresh layer of uncertainty, contributing to a "watch-and-wait" sentiment among investors.

Amid this environment, strategic buyers continued to advance essential transactions. Europe stood out with its relative stability, attracting a sharp rise in inbound interest as global investors sought renewed exposure to the region. North America remained the largest and most active M&A hub, while APAC recorded a significant decline in activity.

Key insights from the report

Global M&A momentum accelerates: Global M&A volume rose 22 percent Y-o-Y to USD 1.16 trillion in YTD26, marking the second-highest YTD total on record. OpenAI's USD 110 billion funding round led the charts, with seven of the top 10 deals involving US-based targets and nine led by strategics. Megadeals valued at USD 10 billion-plus surged to 17 transactions totaling USD 414 billion, the highest YTD tally ever recorded. Technology dominated volumes driven by major AI fundraises from OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI.

Global M&A volume rose 22 percent Y-o-Y to USD 1.16 trillion in YTD26, marking the second-highest YTD total on record. OpenAI's USD 110 billion funding round led the charts, with seven of the top 10 deals involving US-based targets and nine led by strategics. Megadeals valued at USD 10 billion-plus surged to 17 transactions totaling USD 414 billion, the highest YTD tally ever recorded. Technology dominated volumes driven by major AI fundraises from OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI. North America anchors global activity: North America contributed 55 percent of global M&A volume in YTD26, rising 32 percent Y-o-Y to USD 611.1 billion, its second-highest level ever recorded. Five megadeals in February, including OpenAI's fundraise, Anthropic's USD 30 billion round, and the USD 38.3 billion AES take-private, powered early-year momentum. Activity tapered in March amid geopolitical uncertainty. Middle East-to-US investment reached record levels in 2025, though fiscal reprioritization in the region may delay upcoming investments.

North America contributed 55 percent of global M&A volume in YTD26, rising 32 percent Y-o-Y to USD 611.1 billion, its second-highest level ever recorded. Five megadeals in February, including OpenAI's fundraise, Anthropic's USD 30 billion round, and the USD 38.3 billion AES take-private, powered early-year momentum. Activity tapered in March amid geopolitical uncertainty. Middle East-to-US investment reached record levels in 2025, though fiscal reprioritization in the region may delay upcoming investments. EMEA sees broad-based resurgence: EMEA M&A volume increased 48 percent in YTD26 to USD 334.7 billion, supported by seven megadeals and Engie's USD 21.4 billion acquisition of UK Power Networks. Cross-border investment into Europe surged this year, with inbound deals more than doubling to USD 85.9 billion, an eight-year high. US buyers led major acquisitions, drawn by stability and attractive valuations.

EMEA M&A volume increased 48 percent in YTD26 to USD 334.7 billion, supported by seven megadeals and Engie's USD 21.4 billion acquisition of UK Power Networks. Cross-border investment into Europe surged this year, with inbound deals more than doubling to USD 85.9 billion, an eight-year high. US buyers led major acquisitions, drawn by stability and attractive valuations. APAC enters period of reset: APAC M&A volume totaled USD 165.2 billion in YTD26, down 27 percent Y-o-Y as the region recalibrated after a strong prior-year showing. Activity remained influenced by AI-linked infrastructure demand, including data center and energy-related transactions. Dealmakers also adopted a watch-and-wait approach as they weighed the impact of the Iran conflict, given the region's heavy reliance on oil imports.

APAC M&A volume totaled USD 165.2 billion in YTD26, down 27 percent Y-o-Y as the region recalibrated after a strong prior-year showing. Activity remained influenced by AI-linked infrastructure demand, including data center and energy-related transactions. Dealmakers also adopted a watch-and-wait approach as they weighed the impact of the Iran conflict, given the region's heavy reliance on oil imports. Private equity adjusts to market conditions: Financial sponsor investment declined 14 percent in YTD26 to USD 143 billion, with the AES deal alone accounting for nearly half the top-10 buyout values. Exit activity fell to USD 112.4 billion, led by Aethon Energy Management's exit of Aethon United. North America saw sponsor investment drop 12 percent and exits fall 50 percent amid aging inventory and extended holding periods. EMEA moved in the opposite direction, with sponsor investment up to USD 39.3 billion and exits reaching an all-time YTD high of USD 41.7 billion.

Lucinda Guthrie, Head of Mergermarket, says, "Dealmaking in 2026 is dominated by blockbuster transactions that are a sign of corporates evolving in a fast-disrupting landscape. The conflict in Iran raises valuation questions for many segments of the deal pipeline in terms of energy prices, financing and supply chain security."

To download the full report, click here.

All data correct as of 23 March 2026.

About ION

ION provides mission-critical trading and workflow automation software, high-value analytics and insights, and strategic consulting to financial institutions, central banks, governments, and corporates. Our solutions and services simplify complex processes, boost efficiency, and enable better decision-making. We build long-term partnerships with our clients, helping transform their businesses for sustained success through continuous innovation. For more information, visit https://iongroup.com/

About Mergermarket

Mergermarket is the premier provider of global proprietary M&A intelligence, data, and predictive analytics. With access to coverage of 1.4 million companies, almost 3,000 sponsors, and powered by 300 journalists and analysts globally, we bring transformative M&A insight and a competitive edge to capital markets professionals, shaping the future of M&A. For more information, visit https://info.mergermarket.com

All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners.

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United States Juice Market Key Takeaways

The United States Juice Market is estimated at around USD 24.97 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach approximately USD 26.78 billion by 2032, reflecting stable growth supported by consistent consumer demand and gradual product innovation.

By category, 100% juice dominates the market with approximately 45% share, driven by increasing consumer preference for natural, minimally processed beverages perceived as healthier alternatives to sugar-sweetened drinks.

By sales channel, the off-trade segment accounts for nearly 75% of the market share, supported by strong presence of supermarkets, convenience stores, and growing online retail platforms.

More than 20 companies are actively engaged in the US juice market, indicating a competitive yet moderately consolidated landscape.

The top five companies collectively account for around 40% of the market share, including Vita Coco Inc, Naked Juice Co, The Campbell's Company, The Coca-Cola Company, and Tropicana Products Inc, among others.

Key Factors Driving the Growth of Juice Market in the US

Rising Demand for Natural and 100% Juice Products

The US juice market is primarily driven by a growing consumer shift toward beverages that offer perceived health and nutritional benefits. Increasing awareness of clean-label products, transparency in ingredient sourcing, and the avoidance of added sugars and artificial additives have significantly strengthened demand for 100% juice. As a result, consumers are actively opting for products that are natural and minimally processed. In response to this evolving preference, manufacturers are expanding their portfolios with premium offerings, particularly not-from-concentrate juices, to align with the rising demand for quality and authenticity.

Strong Retail Distribution Supporting Off-Trade Sales

In addition to product preferences, the widespread availability of juice products across retail channels continues to play a crucial role in market growth. The dominance of off-trade channels, comprising supermarkets, hypermarkets, convenience stores, and online platforms, ensures high product accessibility and visibility. These channels offer a diverse range of options, competitive pricing, and convenient purchasing experiences, making them the primary point of sale for consumers. Furthermore, the rapid expansion of e-commerce and direct-to-consumer models is reinforcing retail-driven consumption, thereby strengthening the overall market landscape.

Product Diversification and Packaging Innovation

Alongside distribution strength, continuous product innovation is further supporting market expansion. The US juice market is witnessing diversification across categories such as juice drinks, nectars, and fruit and vegetable blends, catering to a broader range of taste preferences and price segments. At the same time, companies are investing in advanced packaging solutions, including PET bottles, aseptic cartons, and portable on-the-go formats, to enhance convenience, extend shelf life, and improve product appeal. These innovations are enabling brands to remain competitive while addressing evolving consumer lifestyle needs.

View Full Report and request to get the sample pages at:

https://www.vyansaintelligence.com/industry-report/us-juice-market-size

Key Challenge Impacting the Market Growth

Mature Market Limiting High Growth Potential

Despite steady demand and ongoing innovation, the US juice market faces notable growth constraints due to its mature nature and high level of market penetration. Established consumption patterns limit opportunities for rapid expansion, while shifting consumer preferences toward low-sugar beverages, functional drinks, and alternatives such as flavored water and plant-based beverages pose additional challenges. Moreover, increasing scrutiny regarding sugar content in beverages continues to impact traditional juice consumption. As a result, while the market remains stable, its overall growth trajectory is expected to be moderate in the coming years.

Transformative Industry Moves and Functional Innovation Redefining the US Juice Landscape

The US juice market is witnessing a dynamic phase of transformation, driven by strategic investments, product innovation, and a growing focus on health-oriented beverages. In 2025, PepsiCo strengthened its position in the evolving beverage landscape by acquiring prebiotic soda brand Poppi for approximately USD 1.95 billion. This strategic move highlights a broader industry shift away from traditional high-sugar juice products toward functional, low-calorie, and gut-health-focused beverages, reflecting changing consumer preferences.

At the same time, legacy juice brands are re-entering the market with refreshed offerings. Odwalla, backed by Grupo Jumex, relaunched its portfolio in 2025 with a new range of smoothies and juices made from real fruit, free from added sugars and artificial ingredients. Packaged in glass bottles and Tetra Prisma cartons, these products are specifically designed to attract health-conscious consumers seeking clean-label and premium beverage options.

Further reinforcing this trend, Suja Organic expanded its product portfolio in 2024 by introducing ready-to-drink protein shakes. These beverages, formulated with plant-based protein sources such as pea, rice, and hemp, along with essential nutrients and functional ingredients like acacia fiber, mark the brand's entry into the rapidly growing functional beverage segment. Collectively, these developments underscore a clear industry transition toward innovation, diversification, and alignment with evolving consumer health and wellness trends.

Market Analysis by Category and Sales Channel

By category, 100% juice continues to lead the US juice market, accounting for approximately 45% of the total share. This dominance is largely driven by its strong health perception, natural composition, and absence of added sugars or artificial ingredients, which align with evolving consumer preferences. Furthermore, its widespread availability across retail channels enhances accessibility and consumption. Within this segment, not-from-concentrate juices are gaining notable traction as consumers increasingly prioritize freshness, quality, and minimal processing. Meanwhile, juice drinks and nectars continue to appeal to price-sensitive consumers, offering affordable alternatives and a variety of flavors, thereby supporting overall market stability and sustained demand.

By sales channel, the off-trade segment dominates the US juice market, capturing approximately 75% of the overall share. This leadership is primarily supported by the country's extensive retail infrastructure, including supermarkets, hypermarkets, convenience stores, and rapidly expanding online platforms. These channels provide consumers with easy accessibility, diverse product offerings, and competitive pricing, making them the preferred point of purchase. Additionally, frequent promotions, discounts, and bulk purchasing options further enhance consumer engagement and drive repeat purchases. The continued growth of e-commerce and direct-to-consumer models is also strengthening retail sales, ensuring that off-trade remains the primary driver of juice consumption across the United States.

View Full Report (All Data, In One Place):

https://www.vyansaintelligence.com/industry-report/us-juice-market-size (Explore in-depth analyses, market trends, and competitive insights.)

Major Juice Companies in the United States

Key companies contributing to competition and innovation in the market include:

Vita Coco Inc

Naked Juice Co

The Campbell's Company

The Coca-Cola Company

Tropicana Products Inc

Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc

Kraft Heinz Company

Keurig Dr Pepper Inc

Florida's Natural Growers

Bai Brands LLC

United States Juice Market Scope

By Category: 100% Juice (Not from Concentrate, Reconstituted), Juice Drinks (up to 24% Juice), Nectars (High, Medium, Low Concentration), Vegetable Juice, Fruit & Vegetable Blends

By Nature: Conventional, Organic

By Packaging Material: Plastic, Glass, Metal, Others

By Packaging Type: PET Bottles, Aseptic Packages (Cartons), Glass Bottles, Metal Cans, Disposable Cups & Pouches

By Sales Channel: Off-Trade (Hypermarkets/Supermarkets, Retail Outlets, Convenience Stores, Online Platforms), On-Trade

By Region: West, Midwest, South, North, Northeast

Browse More Reports on Juice

Japan Juice Market: The juice market size in Japan was estimated at USD 5.23 billion in 2025 and is expected to grow to USD 5.63 billion by 2032. Also, the market is projected to register a CAGR of around 1.06% during 2026-32.

Italy Juice Market: The juice market size in Italy was estimated at USD 1.38 billion in 2025 and is expected to grow to USD 1.52 billion by 2032. Also, the market is projected to register a CAGR of around 1.39% during 2026-32.

Israel Juice Market: The juice market size in Israel was estimated at USD 355 million in 2025 and is expected to grow to USD 410 million by 2032. Also, the market is projected to register a CAGR of around 2.08% during 2026-32.

Switzerland Juice Market: The juice market size in Switzerland was estimated at USD 635 million in 2025 and is expected to grow to USD 690 million by 2032. Also, the market is projected to register a CAGR of around 1.19% during 2026-32.

UAE Juice Market: The juice market size in UAE was estimated at USD 315 million in 2025 and is expected to grow to USD 400 million by 2032. Also, the market is projected to register a CAGR of around 3.47% during 2026-32.

Poland Juice Market: The juice market size in Poland was estimated at USD 1.52 billion in 2025 and is expected to grow to USD 1.64 billion by 2032. Also, the market is projected to register a CAGR of around 1.09% during 2026-32.

Peru Juice Market: The juice market size in Peru was estimated at USD 395 million in 2025 and is expected to grow to USD 425 million by 2032. Also, the market is projected to register a CAGR of around 1.05% during 2026-32.

Spain Juice Market: The juice market size in Spain was estimated at USD 1.15 billion in 2025 and is expected to grow to USD 1.24 billion by 2032. Also, the market is projected to register a CAGR of around 1.08% during 2026-32.

UK Juice Market: The juice market size in UK was estimated at USD 4.39 billion in 2025 and is expected to grow to USD 4.73 billion by 2032. Also, the market is projected to register a CAGR of around 1.07% during 2026-32.

About Vyansa Intelligence

Vyansa Intelligence is a global market research and consulting firm dedicated to delivering strategic insights across high-growth and emerging industries worldwide. Our comprehensive research reports provide data-driven analysis of market trends, competitive landscapes, technological innovations, and regulatory developments shaping the global business environment. Supported by robust research methodologies, advanced forecasting models, and carefully validated primary and secondary data sources, Vyansa Intelligence empowers corporations, investors, and decision-makers to identify emerging opportunities, manage potential risks, and develop well-informed long-term strategies. We remain committed to delivering actionable market intelligence that supports sustainable business growth and strengthens competitive positioning in an increasingly dynamic marketplace.

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London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - HOLD Storage London is proud to announce a new partnership with Enterprise Car Club and Cuvva, further enhancing its mission to redefine self-storage in the capital. Designed to make storage simpler, more accessible and better suited to modern city life, the partnership tackles one of the biggest challenges customers face: transport.

HOLD Storage London strengthens London offering with Enterprise Car Club and Cuvva partnership

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Built by experienced industry operators, HOLD Storage London was created to challenge the traditional self-storage model, replacing outdated, inconvenient facilities with a design-led, customer-first approach. Its flagship site, HOLD Self Storage - Kings Cross, sets a new benchmark for urban storage. Featuring natural light, modern interiors, workspaces, WiFi and 24/7 high-security access, the site is designed to feel like a seamless extension of London's infrastructure rather than a typical industrial unit.

On-Demand Transportation & Short-Term Insurance

Recognising that access to transport is often the biggest barrier to using storage in London, HOLD has partnered with Enterprise Car Club to provide customers with easy, on-demand vehicle access close to their storage location in King's Cross. This is complemented by an additional partnership with Cuvva, which enables users to arrange flexible, short-term insurance in minutes via mobile, removing the friction traditionally associated with vehicle hire.

Together, these partnerships create a fully integrated experience, allowing customers to move, store and manage their belongings with far greater ease. Whether moving home, running a business or simply creating more space, customers can now access storage and transport in one streamlined journey.

The Next Step In HOLD Storage London's Growth

This latest development builds on HOLD Storage London's growing reputation for innovation and service. The company has already received multiple awards for customer experience and has been recognised at a European level for its forward-thinking approach.

With expansion plans underway across Chiswick, Croydon, Bow and Woodford, HOLD Storage London is scaling its model around the capital while maintaining a strong focus on quality, sustainability and accessibility. Backed by City and Provincial Properties, the business is building a network of facilities designed around how people actually live and move in London.

This partnership marks another step forward in HOLD's evolution, moving beyond storage to create a more connected, customer-centric ecosystem. In a city where space is at a premium, HOLD Storage London is making it easier than ever for people to take control of it.

About HOLD Storage London

HOLD Storage London is a new-age self-storage company purpose-built for Londoners. Founded by a collective of experienced industry operators on a mission to make the self-storage experience better, smarter and kinder on the planet. Award-winning HOLD Storage delivers a design-led and city-smart alternative to traditional storage for London's businesses and households.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289723

Source: Plentisoft
MANILA, PH / ACCESS Newswire / March 25, 2026 / Poverty is possibly the most significant limiting factor in terms of access to learning, healthcare, and economic mobility. In less-advantaged communities, education-centered humanitarian programs are necessary to address these constraints.

The Felix Y. Manalo Foundation operates at the forefront of these initiatives by building practical skills, supporting youth development, and strengthening community capacity. In its role as a catalyst for long range social progress, it incorporates academic support, volunteer service, and community outreach within its broader humanitarian mission.

Expanding Access to Learning Resources

For many low-income households, limited access to books, digital tools, and structured learning environments remains a major hindrance to growth and development. Through its educational outreach programs, organizations such as the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation provide learning materials, organize community-based activities, and support youth engagement initiatives that reinforce academic participation.

These efforts can greatly reduce disparities that commonly exist between urban and underserved communities. By providing students with consistent access to educational resources, the foundation helps improve attendance, increase confidence, and pave the way for long-term career paths.

Integrating Skills Development With Community Service

The Felix Y. Manalo Foundation's approach to education extends beyond classroom instruction, delving into practical experience that encourages problem-solving and teamwork. Program participants have the opportunity to join service projects that introduce responsibility, planning, and communication.

The foundation also implements environmental programs, food distribution activities, and local outreach events, all of which provide structured opportunities for applied learning. By integrating mentorship with volunteer guidance, the organization teaches participants valuable, transferable skills. Consequently, the programs foster workforce readiness while strengthening civic awareness and social responsibility.

Stabilizing Families Through Supportive Outreach

Organizations such as the NIH attest to the beneficial impact of household stability on student performance and long-term educational attainment . Food assistance initiatives, health awareness programs, and community support events can all reduce financial strain and promote well-being among disadvantaged families.

The Felix Y. Manalo Foundation's coordinated food donation programs and volunteer engagement activities in Canada demonstrate how relief efforts enhance household resilience. By addressing basic needs alongside educational outreach, the organization helps develop environments where children can focus on learning rather than worry about their immediate survival.

Operational Discipline and Program Sustainability

The Felix Y. Manalo Foundation's community service amply demonstrates the value of structured planning, transparent governance, and reliable volunteer coordination. To ensure sustainable impact, accountability has always been core to the organization's project management, financial stewardship, and compliance practices.

The foundation's training frameworks are designed to ensure consistent service quality and reinforce ethical standards. Through its organizational oversight, the organization fosters donor confidence and maintains continuous improvement in its education-focused programs.

Through its various education-centred humanitarian programs , the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation directly contributes to economic mobility by improving home stability, increasing community participation, and strengthening individual capability. By integrating learning access with service engagement and operational accountability, the organization ensures the community's long-term development is measurable and scalable.

Structured educational outreach, volunteer leadership development, and responsible governance are among the practical measures implemented by the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation. Each is one of many ways the organization aims to break cycles of intergenerational poverty while supporting inclusive community growth.

CONTACT:

Caroline Hunter

Web Presence, LLC

+1 7865519491

SOURCE: Felix Y. Manalo Foundation

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/education/felix-y.-manalo-foundation-how-education-focused-humanitarian-programs-break-cycles-of-po-1151524
LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESS Newswire / March 25, 2026 / Mag Magna Corp. (OTCID:MGNC) (the "Company"), a rare earth elements mining company, today advised that a press release (the "Fraudulent Release") titled "MGNC Announces Strategic Acquisition of Large-Scale Poultry Farming Enterprise to Accelerate Commercial Expansion and Revenue Growth" was, in fact, not authorized by the Company and is fraudulent on its face. As announced previously, the Company currently only engages in the rare earth elements mining business.

The Company advises that no person should rely on the Fraudulent Release and, further, the Company has demanded that the Fraudulent Release be stricken immediately by the relevant publishers thereof.

ABOUT MAG MAGNA CORP.

The Company engages in the rare earth minerals mining industry, having acquired its first mining properties in January 2026. The Company intends to acquire attractive undeveloped rare earth mineral mining properties and, thereafter, engage in the mining of the present rare earth minerals.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements include statements regarding our expectations, intentions, beliefs, and projections about our future results, performance, prospects, and opportunities. These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts or by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "potential," "should," "will," "will be," "would," the negative of these terms and similar expressions, but this is not an exclusive way of identifying such statements. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance.

The Company will continue to file annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the dates specified in such filings or releases. Except as expressly required under federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after any such date, whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise. You should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements included in this release or that may be made elsewhere from time to time by us, or on our behalf. All forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements.

Company Contact.

1-702-595-2247

sanghaharp1964@gmail.com

www.magmagnacorp.com

SOURCE: MAG MAGNA CORP

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/food-and-beverage-products/mag-magna-corp.-addresses-fraudulent-press-release-1151571
San Jose, California--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - A "Smart AgTech" launch event successfully concluded in Silicon Valley, marking the first overseas appearance for StarFront. This milestone marks the start of a new chapter in the brand's global expansion strategy. The event attracted a diverse array of stakeholders, including large-scale North American farm operators, agricultural distributors, industry media, and investment representatives, all gathered to witness the brand's entry into the North American market.

Image 1

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Guided by a commitment to agricultural stewardship, StarFront outlined a global development strategy anchored by core technologies and guided by local market needs. The company is committed to a deep transformation-from "going global" to "embedding locally." Building on this United States presence, StarFront aims to establish a globally trusted global brand in smart agricultural technology, empowering the global transformation of agriculture with world-class intelligent solutions.

M150 Agricultural Drone: Solving Industry Pain Points with Cutting-Edge Tech

Currently, large-scale agriculture faces universal challenges: low efficiency, labor shortages, and poor terrain adaptability. In response, StarFront unveiled the M150 agricultural drone. Leveraging differentiated technological advantages, this flagship model is designed to spark an efficiency revolution in crop protection. The M150 agricultural drone integrates three core functions: spraying, spreading, and lifting.

Image 2

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Precision & Intelligent Operation: The M150 integrates WD360 LiDAR with millimeter-wave phased array radar, complemented by RTK centimeter-level positioning. This fusion enables precise obstacle avoidance and fully autonomous flight in complex environments.

High Efficiency & Extended Operation: The Smart Spraying System, with dynamic liquid circulation, ensures zero settling and full chemical potency. Four rear-mounted centrifugal nozzles deliver 10m effective spray width, with superior atomization and even coverage. Meanwhile, it supports a two-battery rotation and features a built-in UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) that maintains power during swaps, enabling 24/7 continuous operation. The 9-minute ultra-fast charging capability significantly reduces downtime, meeting the continuous operational demands of large-scale farming.

Robust Adaptability Across Terrains: Engineered for the varied landscapes of the Americas-from expansive plains to rolling hills-the M150 delivers customized performance through a "one-field, one-solution" approach. On vast plains, the 80kg spraying payload and 120-liter spreading capacity dramatically boost productivity. In hilly regions, the 2026 "SmartPilot" Flight Control System navigates topographical challenges with ease, ensuring safe and stable operation.

"Air-Ground Integration": The Future of Smart Agriculture

StarFront's global vision extends far beyond a single product. During the launch, representatives outlined a future anchored in "Air-Ground Integration." This approach transcends the spatial limitations of traditional data collection by constructing a multidimensional sensing network-integrating satellites, drones, and ground-based sensors.

The goal is a full-stack portfolio encompassing agricultural drones, smart water valves, energy storage solutions, and agricultural rovers. Driven by data and swarm intelligence, StarFront seeks to transition crop protection from resource-heavy methods to refined, precision-driven operations, injecting innovative momentum into the global food supply chain.

The event garnered significant attention from international media, with leading technology and agriculture publications providing on-site coverage. Representatives from numerous enterprises engaged in discussions regarding technology implementation, expressing high expectations for StarFront's application in overseas markets.

Image 3

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As the starting point of this journey, the U.S. launch represents a significant milestone for StarFront. Moving forward, StarFront will continue to deepen innovation, strengthen local ecosystems, and deliver tailored solutions for a more efficient and sustainable agricultural future.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289834

Source: Global News
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - 1317202 B.C. Ltd. ("131") and Titiminas Silver Inc. ("Titiminas") are pleased to announce the closing of Titiminas' previously announced subscription receipt offering (the "Offering"), as outlined in their press release dated January 28, 2026 (the "January Release").

Pursuant to the Offering, Titiminas raised aggregate gross proceeds of $16,617,125 through the sale of 9,495,500 subscription receipts (each a "Subscription Receipt") at a price of $1.75 per Subscription Receipt (the "Offering Price").

The Offering was led by Canaccord Genuity Corp., as lead agent, on behalf of a syndicate which included Medalist Capital Advisors Inc. and Beacon Securities Limited (collectively, the "Agents"). In connection with the Offering, the Agents are entitled to receive a cash commission of 6.0% of the gross proceeds of the Offering, other than in respect of certain purchasers on a president's list for which the Agents are entitled to receive a cash commission of 3.0% (the "Agents' Fee"). An additional cash commission of 5.0% of the proceeds raised is payable in respect of certain president's list subscribers to an arm's length finder.

The aggregate gross proceeds from the sale of the Subscription Receipts, less (i) 50% of the Agents' Fee in connection with the Offering; and (ii) the Agents' reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and the reasonable fees and disbursements of the Agents' legal counsel incurred prior to the closing of the Offering (the "Escrowed Funds"), were deposited in escrow pursuant to the Subscription Receipt Agreement (as defined below) in an interest bearing account pending the earlier of: (i) the satisfaction of the Escrow Release Conditions (as defined below) and (ii) the occurrence of a Termination Event (as defined below).

Each Subscription Receipt entitles the holder thereof to receive, without any further action and without payment of additional consideration, and subject to adjustments in certain circumstances, one common share of Titiminas (a "Subscription Receipt Share") upon the satisfaction or waiver of the Escrow Release Conditions prior to the Termination Date. The Subscription Receipts were issued pursuant to and governed by the terms of a subscription receipt agreement (the "Subscription Receipt Agreement") dated March 25, 2026 between Titiminas, Olympia Trust Company (the "Subscription Receipt Agent"), and Canaccord, on behalf of the Agents.

The "Escrow Release Conditions" include, among other things: (i) the receipt of all required corporate, shareholder and regulatory approvals in connection with the Offering, Business Combination (as defined below) and the listing of the Resulting Issuer Shares (as defined below) on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"); (ii) the completion or the satisfaction of all conditions precedent to the proposed business combination transaction between 131 and Titiminas (the "Business Combination") substantially in accordance with the business combination agreement dated January 23, 2026, as amended, between 131 and Titiminas (the "Business Combination Agreement"), without any material adverse amendment or waiver, to the satisfaction of the Agents; and (iii) delivery of a legal opinion of counsel to Titiminas, satisfactory to Canaccord, that the Resulting Issuer Shares (as defined below) issued in exchange for the Subscription Receipt Shares under the Business Combination will not be subject to a hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws.

Immediately upon completion of the Business Combination: (i) 131 will be renamed Titiminas Silver Inc. or such other name as may be determined by Titiminas (the "Resulting Issuer") and will be listed on the Exchange; and (ii) all shares of Titiminas, including the Subscription Receipt Shares, shall be exchanged for common shares of the Resulting Issuer (the "Resulting Issuer Shares") based on the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, being one common share of the Resulting Issuer for each Subscription Receipt Share held (following an anticipated consolidation of the common shares of 131 ("131 Shares") on an approximately 10.75 to 1 consolidation ratio).

Upon satisfaction of the Escrow Release Conditions on or prior to the Termination Date (as defined below), the Subscription Receipt Agent will release the deposited Agents' Fee together with all interest earned thereon, to Canaccord from the Escrowed Funds and the balance of the Escrowed Funds together with all interest earned thereon shall be released to Titiminas or the Resulting Issuer.

If (i) the Escrow Release Conditions have not been satisfied prior to 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver time) on July 23, 2026, (ii) prior to the effective time, as set forth in the Business Combination Agreement, the Business Combination Agreement is terminated, or (iii) Titiminas advises Canaccord, on behalf of the Agents, or announces to the public that it does not intend to satisfy the Escrow Release Conditions (in any case, a "Termination Event", and the date upon which such event occurs, the "Termination Date"), the Subscription Receipt Agent shall return to the holders of the Subscription Receipts an amount equal to the aggregate Offering Price of the Subscription Receipts held by each such holder and their pro-rata portion of interest and other income earned on the Escrowed Funds and the Subscription Receipts shall be cancelled. Titiminas shall be responsible and liable to the holders of the Subscription Receipts for any shortfall between the aggregate Offering Price paid by the original purchasers of the Subscription Receipts and the Escrowed Funds.

The Subscription Receipts and the Subscription Receipt Shares issuable thereunder are subject to an indefinite hold period as set out in National Instrument 45-102 - Resale of Securities. The Resulting Issuer Shares issued in exchange for the Subscription Receipt Shares under the Business Combination will not be subject to a hold period under applicable securities legislation in Canada.

The Resulting Issuer intends to use the gross proceeds of the Offering to undertake exploration programs on its existing mineral properties, pursue acquisition opportunities for additional Peruvian mineral properties as well as for general corporate and working capital purposes.

For further details as to the Offering and the Business Combination, please see the January Release.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein in the United States or in any other jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold in the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom.

ABOUT TITIMINAS SILVER INC.

Titiminas is a privately held mining exploration company with its head office in Vancouver, British Columbia. It currently has 25,659,567 common shares issued and outstanding. There are no persons holding a controlling interest in Titiminas. Titiminas holds the sole and exclusive option to acquire a Peruvian company holding all of the mineral concessions forming the Madre Sierra project, a high-grade silver project located in central Peru (the "Project"). The Project was a previously producing mine and permitted for small scale mining activities. Titiminas has an option to acquire the shares of Compania Minera Rosalinda SAC, a Peruvian company that owns the past producing and permitted Madre Sierra silver mine located in Central Peru. Titiminas intends to redrill and expand a historical resource estimate and fast track the project towards development and production.

ABOUT 1317202 B.C. LTD. AND 1573892 B.C. LTD.

131 was incorporated in the province of British Columbia on July 27, 2021. 131 is a reporting issuer but does not trade on a stock exchange. The principal business of 131 is to identify and evaluate assets or businesses with a view to potentially acquire them or an interest therein by completing a purchase transaction, by exercising of an option or by any concomitant transaction.

Subco is a private company incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) on January 21, 2026, for the purpose of completing the Business Combination.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "will", "estimates", "believes", "intends" "expects" and similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking statements. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements concerning the Business Combination, timing of the Business Combination and ability to complete the Business Combination, and the future business of the Resulting Issuer. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and the actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, assumptions and expectations, many of which are beyond the control of the parties, including expectations and assumptions concerning (i) Titiminas, 131, the Resulting Issuer, and the Business Combination, (ii) the timely receipt of all required shareholder, court and regulatory approvals and consents (as applicable), including the approval of the Exchange, and (iii) the satisfaction of the Escrow Release Conditions and other closing conditions in accordance with the terms of any definitive agreements entered into in connection with the Business Combination. Readers are cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the parties. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, as such information, although considered reasonable by the respective management of Titiminas and 131 at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although 131 and Titiminas have attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. 131 and Titiminas do not intend, and do not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise required by applicable law.

The TSXV has not passed upon the merits of the Offering or the Business Combination and the Offering and associated transactions and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. 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.

Not for distribution to U.S. newswire services or for release publication, distribution or dissemination, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. Securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289902

Source: 1317202 B.C. Ltd.
SPRING, Texas, March 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Io Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held pharmaceutical company headquartered in Spring, Texas; announced today publication online in Scientific Reports - Nature, of collaborative studies with Duke University scientists on effects of the company's anti-cancer compound IRX4204, on human multiple myeloma, a fatal form of bone marrow cancer. The studies were conducted under the leadership of Professor of Medicine Yubin Kang, M.D., in his laboratory at Duke.

The publication reports data from preclinical studies in in vitro and xenograft mouse models demonstrating effectiveness of IRX4204, a retinoid X nuclear receptor (RXR) agonist compound, against human multiple myeloma. IRX4204 also had synergistic efficacy against human multiple myeloma in combination with a standard of care anti-myeloma drug lenalidomide.

The paper reports data showing that IRX4204 induces ferroptosis (a mechanism of cell death) in multiple myeloma cells via the HMOX1/GPX4 axis and thereby enhances lenalidomide efficacy. The studies demonstrated that IRX4204 promotes ferroptosis in human multiple myeloma plasma cells by activating the PPARa/RXRa-HMOX1 axis and suppressing GPX4/SLC7A11-mediated antioxidant defense. This effect synergistically enhances the therapeutic efficacy of IRX4204 with lenalidomide. In vivo, combination treatment with IRX4204 and lenalidomide significantly reduced tumor growth compared to lenalidomide alone and significantly prolonged median survival in the xenograft mouse model without increased systemic toxicity. Tumor analysis confirmed increased HMOX1 and decreased GPX4 expression in combination-treated mice.

The authors also reported that bioinformatic analysis of multiple myeloma patients show that high HMOX1 expression in their plasma cells correlates with significantly improved overall survival (HR=0.51, p<0.001), while advanced-stage multiple myeloma patient plasma cells show progressively lower HMOX1 levels.

Dr. Kang stated: "These studies have multiple important clinical implications. The data identify a druggable ferroptosis pathway in multiple myeloma and provide a mechanistic rationale for combining RXR agonists such as IRX4204 with established therapies such as lenalidomide. Further, our finding of a strong statistical correlation between HMOX1 expression in myeloma patient plasma cells and patient survival suggests potential for biomarker-guided therapy selection.

While multiple myeloma remains largely incurable, treatments such as the standard of care drug lenalidomide and CAR-T cells effectively prolong survival. But almost all myeloma patients eventually relapse and succumb to the disease. Using new combinations of effective treatments including an RXR agonist such as IRX4204 is a rational approach to improving patient outcomes, including potentially cure in more patients."

Martin E. Sanders, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Io Therapeutics stated "IRX4204 is a clinical stage compound which was invented by Vidyasagar Vuligonda, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer of Io Therapeutics. IRX4204 more potently and more selectively activates RXR than earlier generation RXR agonists. It has demonstrated an excellent chronic dosing safety profile in clinical trials in patients with various types of cancer. The IRX4204 safety profile likely will be suitable for chronic treatment of multiple myeloma in combination with lenalidomide. IRX4204 previously showed anti-cancer activity in animal models and in phase I and II clinical trials in patients with solid tumor malignancies including lung, breast, prostate and other cancers. The new findings that IRX4204 has synergistic efficacy against multiple myeloma, a hematologic cancer of bone marrow, when combined with a standard of care anti-myeloma drug lenalidomide, adds to the drug's scope of potential clinical utilities, and may result in increases of the proportions of multiple myeloma patients achieving cure or long-term maintenance of complete responses of their cancers."

More information about Io Therapeutics, Inc., and its product development programs is available on the company's web site: www.io-therapeutics.com

Forward Looking Statements: This new release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Contact:

info@io-therapeutics.com
STUTTGART, DE / ACCESS Newswire / March 25, 2026 / UKi Media & Events, the organizer of Vehicle Tech Week Europe today announced new strategic partnerships with PAVE Europe (Partners for Automated Vehicle Education), ASAM (Association for Standardization of Automation and Measuring Systems) and FISITA (Federation Internationale des Societes d'Ingenieurs des Techniques de l'Automobile). These alliances reinforce the event's role as a key global hub for the technologies shaping the next era of vehicle mobility.

Launching in Stuttgart, Germany, June 23-25, 2026, Vehicle Tech Week Europe brings together three of UKi Media & Events' leading shows - Automotive Testing Expo, Autonomous Vehicle Tech Expo, and Automotive Interiors Expo - into one integrated platform designed to meet the needs of an increasingly convergent industry.

Partnerships that broaden expertise and industry alignment

PAVE Europe, ASAM and FISITA bring deep experience across engineering, automation, safety, simulation, testing, validation, standardization, and user experience. Their involvement supports Vehicle Tech Week Europe's mission to encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration, promote global best practices, and accelerate progress toward safe, intelligent, and sustainable mobility.

Marius Dupuis, CEO of ASAM e.V., commented:

"We are pleased to deepen our collaboration with UKi Media & Events. This partnership allows us to present our standards, initiatives, and activities to a broader professional audience and to expand expert dialogue and collaboration across disciplines and industries.

"ASAM connects experts who shape the technology of tomorrow through pre-competitive standardization. Our collaboration with UKi Media & Events creates exciting synergies by broadening the scope and impact of expert discussions, delivering value both for ASAM and the mobility industry as a whole. We look forward to building on this partnership."

Adding to this collaborative sentiment, Guido Di Pasquale, Managing Director of PAVE Europe, commented:

"At PAVE Europe, we believe that open dialogue and collaboration across the mobility ecosystem are essential to building public understanding and trust in automated vehicle technology. This partnership with Vehicle Tech Week Europe provides an important opportunity to engage with industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to discuss the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of mobility. We look forward to contributing to the conversation and helping ensure that the development of autonomous and connected vehicles in Europe is informed, inclusive, and transparent."

Chris Mason, CEO of FISITA commented:

"We are pleased to deepen our collaboration with UKi Media & Events. This partnership allows us to connect with a wider audience of industry leaders, engineers and thought leaders to expand expert dialogue and collaboration across the automotive and mobility disciplines.

"FISITA connects an alliance of international industry leaders, engineers and stakeholders to facilitate the advancement of the strategy and technology of mobility, to the benefit of industry, people and planet. Our collaboration with Uki Media & Events through complementary events and publications supports the advancement of collaborative thought leadership within the industry."

A unified environment for the full vehicle technology ecosystem

Vehicle Tech Week Europe creates one comprehensive meeting point for engineers, designers, validation specialists, manufacturers, and suppliers working across interconnected development cycles. Alongside leaders in autonomy, electrification, and digital mobility, participants will engage in a seamlessly integrated programme of expos, conferences, and innovation showcases across five dynamic days.

Darren Whitehead, Group Portfolio Director for Vehicle Tech Week, said:

"The support of these leading organisations underlines Vehicle Tech Week's position as the definitive platform for the full vehicle technology ecosystem. By uniting specialists across autonomy, testing, interiors, safety, and standardisation, Vehicle Tech Week provides the ideal environment for meaningful industry collaboration."

-ends-

Notes to Editors

Vehicle Tech Week Europe, held in Stuttgart on June 23-25, 2026, is the new landmark event for the automotive and mobility industry. It unites Automotive Testing Expo, Autonomous Vehicle Tech Expo, and Automotive Interiors Expo into one multidisciplinary destination for innovation and collaboration.

As well as three trade shows, attendees will experience:

InteriVision Forum: Future cabin experiences and sensory design

Automotive Interiors Innovation Showcase: Advancements in interior concepts and materials

New Product Zone: First-time product unveilings from global suppliers

Autonomous Vehicle Tech Conference: Intelligence systems shaping autonomy

Automotive Testing Expo Innovation Showcase: Breakthroughs in measurement, validation, and precision engineering

Vehicle Tech Week Awards Ceremony

Vehicle Tech Week Europe is designed for those who engineer, design, build, validate, and finance the next era of mobility.

For more information, please contact:

Paul Connelly, global head of marketing, Vehicle Tech Week: paul.connelly@ukimediaevents.com, 01306 743744

SOURCE: UKi Media & Events

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/publishing-and-media/vehicle-tech-week-europe-announces-strategic-partnerships-with-pave-europe-asa-1146411
Headquartered in the United States, Stratus brings a team of 450+ experts with deep industry knowledge, consulting excellence, and advanced technology capabilities. Stratus is a leading Guidewire Software partner offering transformation solutions to property and casualty (P&C) insurers. With a global delivery footprint that spans across the U.S., Canada, and India, Stratus delivers end-to-end Guidewire InsuranceSuite capabilities across PolicyCenter, ClaimCenter, BillingCenter, integrations, upgrades, cloud migrations, and application managed services. The company brings deep P&C domain expertise across personal, commercial workers' compensation, and specialty lines, supported by industry-specific accelerators and repeatable delivery frameworks that enable faster, high-quality transformations at scale. Stratus has a dedicated data practice with capabilities across Guidewire CDA, Data Studio, DataHub and InfoCenter, Databricks, and Microsoft Fabric, positioning it as a differentiated, scaled partner for complex, cloud- and AI-led P&C transformations.

By integrating Stratus' strong Guidewire and P&C insurance platform consulting expertise with Infosys' global reach, Infosys Topaz AI offerings, and Infosys Cobalt cloud offerings, Infosys will be well-equipped to support insurers in core modernization, cloud adoption, data-driven transformation, and enhancing customer experience. The collaboration also expands Infosys' presence with new insurance customers and key buying centers globally.

Kannan Amaresh, SVP & Head of Insurance, Infosys, said "AI is fundamentally transforming the global insurance industry, strengthening decision-making across underwriting, claims, and fraud detection, while making systems intelligent and significantly improving operational efficiency. The P&C segment is leading AI adoption in the insurance sector, driven by the need for claims automation, advanced underwriting, and sophisticated risk modeling amid claim volumes and elevated risks exposure. Infosys is unlocking AI value for P&C insurers through digital and data-led transformation. By combining Stratus' deep technology consulting capabilities with Infosys' established leadership in insurance sector, we are further enhancing our ability to drive value for our clients. We are excited to welcome Stratus and its leadership team to the Infosys family."

Chuck Fillizola, CEO, Stratus, said "Stratus was built to help property and casualty insurers modernize their core platforms with deep domain expertise, disciplined execution and meaningful outcomes while putting people at the heart of every engagement. The future of insurance transformation requires more than technology. It demands execution rigor and the ability to operationalize AI across delivery and operations. Joining Infosys allows us to carry this mission forward at global scale by combining our Guidewire and P&C specialization with Infosys Topaz and Infosys Cobalt. This is a powerful strategic fit that accelerates innovation while preserving the consulting-led, human-centered culture our clients, partners and teams rely on."

The transaction is expected to close during the first quarter of FY 2027, subject to completion of closing conditions.

About Stratus

Stratus (Stratus Technologies) is a premier Guidewire transformation partner, bringing deep industry expertise and global delivery strength across the United States, Canada and India. Known for accelerating digital transformation for P&C insurers, Stratus delivers high-impact solutions across core modernization, Guidewire Cloud migrations, data and analytics, managed services and talent innovation. Its proven accelerators and domain-aligned delivery frameworks across PolicyCenter, CloudReady, BillingCenter, ClaimCenter and Guidewire Cloud consistently help carriers achieve faster time-to-value and more predictable business outcomes. Now strengthened by Infosys' global scale, AI-driven platforms and consulting-led capabilities, Stratus is uniquely positioned to help insurers modernize with confidence, unlock next-generation customer experiences and scale innovation across the insurance value chain. For more information, please visit www.stratustech.com

About Infosys

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Over 330,000 of our people work to amplify human potential and create the next opportunity for people, businesses and communities. We enable clients in 63 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer clients, as they navigate their digital transformation powered by cloud and AI. We enable them with an AI-first core, empower the business with agile digital at scale and drive continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. We are deeply committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organization where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace.

Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NSE, BSE, NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, or our future financial or operating performance, are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding the execution of our business strategy, increased competition for talent, our ability to attract and retain personnel, increase in wages, investments to reskill our employees, our ability to effectively implement a hybrid work model, economic uncertainties and geo-political situations, technological disruptions and innovations such as artificial intelligence ("AI"), generative AI, the complex and evolving regulatory landscape including immigration regulation changes, our ESG vision, our capital allocation policy and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, liquidity, capital resources, our corporate actions including acquisitions, and cybersecurity matters. Important factors that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements are discussed in more detail in our US Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law.

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Acquisition combines Adsmovil's market-leading retail media, mobile and DOOH capabilities with MiQ's AI-powered operating system to serve global brands across the region

Global programmatic media partner MiQ today announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire the Latin America business of digital advertising provider, Adsmovil. The combined company will form the region's largest independent programmatic solution for brands and agencies.

MiQ offers programmatic media solutions across all major advertising channels. The company's AI-powered operating system, Sigma, offers clients the ability to connect the entire ad ecosystem together through 700 trillion global signals to reach audiences wherever they are watching television, browsing the web or buying in-store. As the company accelerates its investment in high-growth markets, this acquisition significantly strengthens its presence in LatAm across 12 markets including Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Uruguay.

Adsmovil specializes in data-agnostic audience segmentation and omnichannel activation. The company boasts one of the most robust mobile, commerce and digital out-of-home solutions, backed by a strong first-party data footprint and deep regional expertise. In May 2026, MiQ will formally launch Sigma in LatAm, further bolstering its technology with integrated data from Adsmovil Personas and the company's multi-channel retail media platform, Linki.

By combining Adsmovil's regional scale and offerings with MiQ's global footprint and award-winning technology, the acquisition brings together over 150 employees across the region. The combined company will provide advertisers with a single engine to execute sophisticated, full-funnel programmatic strategies, featuring more than 400 million unique IDs on what people are watching, browsing and buying.

Global holding company clients will be able to reach and impact LatAm audiences more effectively, accessing a broader set of inventory and formats while benefiting from unified planning, activation and optimization through MiQ. Existing MiQ clients in the region will see enhanced solutions spanning mobile, retail media, CTV, video, YouTube and DOOH, all delivered via managed service teams on the ground in key markets.

"Acquiring Adsmovil is a major step in our strategy to build the most complete, data-driven programmatic offering for clients in LatAm and around the world," said Gurman Hundal, Co-Founder and Global CEO, MiQ. "As a company, our ambition has always been to connect advertisers to audiences wherever they are and however they engage with media. This acquisition allows us to include this region's most talented minds and compelling services with our ambitious roadmap. Their focus on innovation, measurable outcomes and client partnership closely mirrors ours at MiQ."

"When we built Adsmovil, our goal was simple: create and deliver best-in-class solutions for clients across Latin America," said Alberto "Banano" Pardo, Adsmovil Founder and CEO. "With this acquisition, MiQ's clients gain that edge through expanded access to mobile, retail media, and DOOH, while Adsmovil's clients benefit through connection to MiQ's award-winning technology and global scope. It's a win-win for all of our clients."

Following the close of the transaction, Adsmovil's LatAm business will be integrated into MiQ and will be led by Eric Tourtel, CEO of Latin America. Banano will stay on as Chairman of MiQ LatAm and operate as a hands-on advisor to the combined entity. He will also operate Adsmovil's U.S. business as a separate, standalone company. The U.S. business is not included in this transaction.

"We are energized to join these teams together. With more than 150 people across Latin America, we are now the largest independent programmatic offering in the region, giving us the strength to help our clients excel and meet their business goals in 2026 and beyond," said Eric Tourtel, LatAm CEO, MiQ.

About MiQ

MiQ is a global advertising technology company that works with advertisers and agencies to enhance their campaign performance through data- and technology-driven programmatic solutions. Founded in 2010 in London, UK, MiQ today operates out of more than 33 offices worldwide. The company combines data science, artificial intelligence, and proprietary technology to help its clients make more informed decisions, optimize their digital campaigns, and maximize their return on investment (ROI). As part of this offering, MiQ developed Sigma-its industry-recognized and award-winning AI-powered ad technology-which integrates multiple data sources and signals to provide a more comprehensive view of audience behavior. With this approach, MiQ enables brands and agencies to execute strategies that are more efficient, measurable, and results-oriented.

About Adsmovil

Adsmovil is a LatAm-focused digital advertising and data company that specializes in mobile-first, data-agnostic audience segmentation and omnichannel execution. With operations centered in Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Argentina and a broader presence across additional LatAm markets, Adsmovil combines one of the region's largest and most diverse retail media networks with TV, video, YouTube and out-of-home audience solutions. Backed by a strong data footprint and deep relationships with leading holding companies, Adsmovil helps brands and agencies reach, understand and influence Latin American consumers across channels and throughout the customer journey.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260325736330/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact

Erica Ashner

Erica.Ashner@miqdigital.com
North Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - Lion One Metals Limited (TSXV: LIO) (OTCQX: LOMLF) ("Lion One" or the "Company") wishes to address recent commentary regarding mining methods at its 100%-owned Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project in Fiji ("Tuvatu"). The Company is aware that certain claims have been made suggesting that Lion One has abandoned shrinkage stoping in favour of an alternative mining method. These claims are inaccurate.

Lion One has not moved away from shrinkage stoping. The Company's first shrinkage stope was completed successfully in 2025 producing 5,704 tonnes at an average gold grade of 10.60 g/t. A second shrinkage stope projected to be twice the size of the first was subsequently developed in Zone 5 with a third shrinkage stope under development at the 1120 level. Shrinkage stoping remains a core part of the Company's mining plan.

5,704 10.60 g/t 70% $15M Tonnes from First Shrinkage Stope Average Gold Grade

Achieved Increase in Development Rates Arete Capital Strategic Investment

THE FACTS: SHRINKAGE STOPING AT TUVATU

Far from abandoning shrinkage stoping Lion One has actively developed and refined this technique throughout 2025 and into 2026. The publicly disclosed record is clear:

First Shrinkage Stope Completed Successfully (Q3 2025): The Company's first shrinkage stope located near surface in Zone 2 targeted a section of the Ura1 lode approximately 62 m long, 24 m tall and 1.5 m wide. It produced 5,704 tonnes at 10.60 g/t gold.



"The success of the Company's first shrinkage stope is a major achievement and milestone for the Company and confirms shrinkage mining as an optimal mining method for certain parts of the Tuvatu gold deposit. We anticipate utilising other mining methods for other parts of the deposit."



- Lion One Metals, News Release, October 2, 2025

Second Shrinkage Stope Developed (Q4 2025): A second significantly larger shrinkage stope was developed in Zone 5 focused on the UR2 lode. This stope was projected at approximately 60 m long, 50 m tall and 1.5 m wide with expected production of 11,520 tonnes - roughly double the first.

Third Shrinkage Stope - Design Underway (2026): Development of a third shrinkage stope between levels 1116 and 1156 is currently underway at the design stage. The Company has commenced additional surface drilling to tighten up the design and improve geological knowledge of this section of the deposit before mining commences. We acknowledge that the first shrinkage stope could have been more accurately designed with better geological data in hand, and this programme reflects the lesson learned from that experience. The final size parameters for the third stope are yet to be determined and will be confirmed once the additional drilling results are received and assessed. Shareholders will be updated once a final design is established.

WHY RESPONSIBLE OPERATORS USE MULTIPLE MINING METHODS

It is a fundamental principle of underground mine engineering that no single mining method is universally optimal. The appropriate technique for any given section of an underground mine is dictated by the physical characteristics of the deposit in that section - including its width, dip angle, continuity, grade distribution and the geotechnical properties of the surrounding rock mass.

At Tuvatu the gold mineralisation occurs in steeply dipping narrow veins within a complex alkaline geological setting. The deposit is characterised by multiple lode arrays with varying orientations, widths and structural characteristics.4 This geological complexity - which is typical of high-grade narrow-vein gold systems worldwide - means that the optimal mining method will naturally vary from one section of the mine to another.

UNDERSTANDING MINING METHOD SELECTION

In narrow-vein underground gold mining operators typically employ a combination of techniques including shrinkage stoping, cut-and-fill stoping, longhole stoping and development mining. The selection of method for each section of the mine depends on:

Deposit geometry - the width, length, height and dip angle of the vein in that section

Geotechnical conditions - the strength and stability of the surrounding rock mass

Grade distribution - where the highest-grade gold is concentrated within the vein

Safety considerations - the method that provides the safest working environment for mine personnel

Economic efficiency - maximising gold recovery while minimising dilution and operating costs

This is standard practice across the global mining industry and is not unique to Tuvatu or Lion One. Any suggestion that a responsible operator should commit exclusively to a single mining method, regardless of the geological conditions encountered, reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of underground mining.

SHRINKAGE STOPING IN CONTEXT

Shrinkage stoping is a well-established underground mining method that has been used successfully for decades in narrow-vein gold deposits around the world. It is particularly well-suited to steeply dipping veins where the ore body is narrow and high-grade, conditions that exist at Tuvatu.

However like all mining methods shrinkage stoping has practical limitations that experienced operators must manage responsibly:

Cycle time: A single shrinkage stope can take several months from development to final drawdown. The Company's first stope was developed over several months with production occurring from July to September 2025. We would reasonably allow 3 to 5 months from beginning of stoping to processing.

Safety considerations: Shrinkage stoping requires personnel to work on top of broken ore which presents inherent safety risks that must be carefully managed. Modern mine management prioritises worker safety above production targets.

Capital tied up in inventory: During active mining approximately 60% of the broken ore remains in the stope to provide a working platform. This ore is only recovered during the final drawdown phase meaning significant value is held in inventory throughout the mining cycle.

Geological suitability: Shrinkage stoping works best in steeply dipping ore bodies with consistent geometry. Where the vein changes dip, width or orientation, which is common in complex geological settings, other methods may be more appropriate.

Management's position is straightforward: shrinkage stoping will continue to be used where the ore body characteristics make it the most appropriate method. Where geological conditions call for an alternative approach the Company will apply the safest and most economical technique available. This is exactly what any competent underground mining operation does.

THE GEOLOGICAL REALITY AT TUVATU

The Tuvatu gold deposit occurs within the Navilawa Caldera in Fiji which is a complex alkaline geological environment where gold mineralisation is hosted in multiple steeply dipping narrow veins (lodes) with varying orientations and characteristics.4 The deposit includes multiple lode arrays across several zones (Zone 2, Zone 5 and others) each with distinct structural and mineralogical features.

The Company has publicly noted that high-grade "blow-out" zones are produced at the intersection of multiple structures with different orientations5, a characteristic that underscores the geological variability of the deposit and the need for adaptive mining methods. Gold deposition in alkaline systems is inherently complex and variable and the precise geometry and grade distribution of each vein section can only be fully understood through detailed underground drilling and geological mapping as the mine develops.

This geological complexity is precisely why Lion One conducts extensive underground infill and grade control drilling to characterise each section of the deposit before mining commences. It would be irresponsible to predetermine a single mining method without first understanding the geological conditions in each area of the mine.

THE ARETE ADVANTAGE: EXPERIENCED MINING OPERATORS

The strategic transaction with Arete Capital Advisors announced on December 30, 2025 brings significant additional mining expertise to Lion One.7 Arete is a specialist mining investment and operating group with a demonstrated track record in mine management, turnaround and optimisation.

Campbell Olsen appointed CEO on February 25, 2026 brings extensive experience in international resource investment and operational leadership within the mining sector including substantial experience in high-grade underground gold mining.8 Under the Management Services Agreement Arete will provide specialist technical engagement to systematically advance Tuvatu and build long-term value for shareholders.

"Arete's specialist team brings deep operational, technical and financial experience in turning high-quality mid-tier gold assets into robust cash-generative businesses... [with a] clear pathway to unlock significant incremental value at Tuvatu through disciplined mine optimisation, targeted capital investment and an aggressive but data-driven exploration program."

- Campbell Olsen, CEO, December 30, 2025

Decisions about mining methods at Tuvatu are and will continue to be made by qualified mining engineers and geologists with direct knowledge of the underground conditions. These are complex technical decisions that require hands-on operational expertise not speculation from outside parties who do not have access to the detailed geological and geotechnical data that informs mine planning.

The Company advises that its current mine development plan is not based on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability. As a result, there is increased uncertainty and a higher risk of economic and technical failure associated with the development of a commercially mineable deposit. There is no assurance that the Company will achieve anticipated levels of mineral recovery or production costs.

WHAT SHAREHOLDERS SHOULD KNOW

Lion One has not abandoned shrinkage stoping. The Company successfully completed its first shrinkage stope in 2025 is developing additional shrinkage stopes and will continue to use this method where appropriate.

Multiple mining methods are standard practice. Every competent underground mining operation adapts its methods to the geological conditions encountered. This is a strength not a weakness.

The deposit dictates the method. Geology at Tuvatu is complex and variable. The Company will utilise the safest and most economical technique for each section of the mine as determined by the deposit characteristics encountered during development.

Experienced operators are in charge. The Arete management team brings deep expertise in underground gold mining. Mining method decisions will be made by qualified professionals with direct knowledge of underground conditions.

Lion One remains focused on what matters: safely and efficiently developing Tuvatu into a robust long-life underground gold mine. The Company will continue to provide transparent updates on its operations, mining methods and production progress.

DEFINITIONS FOR SHAREHOLDERS

The following plain-language explanations are provided to assist shareholders in understanding the technical terms used in this release.

Shrinkage stoping A mining method used in narrow steeply dipping ore bodies. Miners drill and blast ore from the bottom of a section upward. Around 60% of the blasted rock is left inside the stope (void) as a working platform. Miners stand on this broken rock to continue drilling upward. At the end of the mining cycle the retained ore is drawn out from below. The method is efficient for high-grade narrow veins but requires careful management of the working platform and ground conditions. Cut-and-fill stoping A mining method where ore is extracted in horizontal slices from the bottom upward. After each slice is removed the void is filled with waste material or engineered fill before the next slice is mined. This provides ground support and allows mining in areas where the rock mass is less stable. It is slower than shrinkage stoping but offers more control over ground conditions. Longhole stoping A method where long drill holes are drilled from a level above or below the ore body and the ore is blasted in large volumes. The broken ore falls to a lower level for collection. This is an efficient bulk mining method suited to larger ore bodies but less selective than shrinkage or cut-and-fill in narrow veins. Development mining The tunnelling and infrastructure work required to access ore bodies. This includes driving declines (ramps), cross-cuts (horizontal tunnels) and raises (vertical or inclined openings connecting levels). Development mining does not produce significant ore but is essential to creating access for production mining. Lode A vein or zone of rock containing economically significant gold mineralisation. At Tuvatu gold occurs in multiple lodes - narrow zones of high-grade mineralised rock within the broader ore body. Multiple lode arrays A series of individual lodes that occur in the same general area of the deposit, often with slightly different orientations or dip angles. At Tuvatu the gold system contains multiple lode arrays meaning the ore body is not a single continuous sheet but a network of mineralised veins with varying characteristics. Ore body geometry The three-dimensional shape of the ore body - including its length, width, height and the angle at which it dips into the ground. Mining method selection depends heavily on geometry: narrow steeply dipping veins suit different methods than wide shallow-dipping ore bodies. Dip angle The angle at which a vein or geological structure tilts from horizontal. A steeply dipping vein is nearly vertical. A shallowly dipping vein is nearly horizontal. Shrinkage stoping works best in steeply dipping ore bodies. Geotechnical conditions The physical properties of the rock mass surrounding the ore body including its strength, stability and tendency to fracture or collapse. Geotechnical conditions directly influence which mining methods can be used safely and what ground support is required. Grade distribution How gold is distributed within the ore body. In some sections grade may be highly concentrated in a narrow zone. In others it may be more evenly spread or variable. Understanding grade distribution through drilling helps miners optimise their method to maximise gold recovery and minimise dilution with waste rock. Dilution The mixing of waste rock with ore during mining which reduces the average grade of material sent to the processing plant. Minimising dilution is a key objective in narrow-vein mining. Poorly designed stopes or inaccurate geological knowledge can increase dilution and reduce the gold recovered per tonne processed. Infill drilling Diamond drilling conducted within a known mineralised zone to increase the density of geological data and improve the accuracy of the ore body model. Infill drilling reduces geological uncertainty and allows more accurate mine design. The Company conducts infill drilling prior to stope design specifically to reduce the risk of the kind of design inaccuracies acknowledged in this release. Grade control drilling Closely spaced drilling conducted in active mining areas to accurately define ore and waste boundaries before and during mining. Grade control data guides miners on exactly where to mine and where to stop to maximise ore recovery and minimise dilution. Drawdown The final phase of shrinkage stoping where the retained broken ore platform is extracted from below. During active shrinkage mining approximately 60% of blasted ore is held inside the stope. Drawdown recovers this retained material at the end of the mining cycle. Alkaline geological setting A geological environment associated with alkaline igneous rocks such as the monzonites and syenites of the Navilawa Caldera at Tuvatu. Alkaline gold systems are a specific class of epithermal gold deposit associated with this rock type. They are relatively rare globally but include some of the world's highest-grade and largest gold deposits including Porgera in Papua New Guinea and Emperor in Fiji. Navilawa Caldera The ancient volcanic collapse structure within which the Tuvatu gold deposit is located on the island of Viti Levu in Fiji. The caldera hosts the mineralised system that produced the gold veins now being mined. Lion One holds exploration rights over the broader caldera area providing significant potential for the discovery of additional gold and copper mineralisation. Blow-out zone A localised area within a vein system where the ore body expands in width and grade as a result of the intersection of multiple structures. Blow-out zones are typically high-value areas within the mine. At Tuvatu they occur where multiple lodes converge or intersect at different orientations. Stope The underground void created by the removal of ore during mining. A stope is the productive working space from which gold-bearing rock is extracted. Multiple stopes may be active simultaneously in different parts of the mine.

QUALIFIED PERSON

In accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), Stephen Jeffers, FAusIMM, an employee of the Company, is the Head of Mining Operations and Qualified Person for the Company and has approved the technical and scientific content of this news release.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Campbell Olsen

Chief Executive Officer

This summary is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This media release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Lion One does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Sources and Citations

All statements in this release are supported by publicly disclosed news releases issued by Lion One Metals Limited. No non-public or material information has been disclosed.

Lion One Metals Limited, "Lion One Produces 5,704 Tonnes at 10.60 g/t Gold from First Shrinkage Stope at Tuvatu and Increases Underground Development Rates by 70%," October 2, 2025. Lion One Metals Limited, "Lion One Drills 728.56 g/t Gold over 0.7 m, 25 m Below Current Mine Development at Tuvatu Gold Mine in Fiji," November 18, 2025. Lion One Metals Limited, "Lion One Drills 54.16 g/t Gold over 1.9 m Including 156.55 g/t Gold over 0.6 m at Tuvatu Gold Mine in Fiji," May 12, 2025. Lion One Metals Limited, "Lion One Announces Mine Ventilation Upgrade, Reports Preliminary Gold Results," April 17, 2025. Lion One Metals Limited, "Lion One Intensifies Roscoelite Focus and Enhances Fiji Gold Team with Addition of Two Ex-Newmont Geologists," November 19, 2024. Lion One Metals Limited, "Lion One Drills 236.00 g/t Gold over 0.4 m Near Mine Underground at Tuvatu Gold Mine in Fiji," May 1, 2025. Lion One Metals Limited, "Lion One Announces Strategic Investment by Arete Capital," December 30, 2025. Lion One Metals Limited, "Lion One Announces CEO Appointment, Arete Transaction Update, and Credit Facility Update," February 25, 2026.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289954

Source: Lion One Metals Limited
+46% growth in gross business volume, reaching 25.2 million

Major milestones achieved

Drilling Construction

Successful execution of operations for Groupe ADP and Safran

Completion of the first self-operated drilling operations on the Lithium de France project

Heating Cooling:

First revenues generated from the Clichy-sous-Bois Livry-Gargan project

First pre-contract signed, covering a gross business volume of 150 million over 30 years

Development of a 100-project commercial pipeline, representing 5 TWh of geothermal heat

Critical metals Lithium de France project:

Successful launch of the pre-industrial phase, in particular marked by the drilling of the first geothermal well

Granting of a Green Industry Tax Credit (C3IV) for an amount of up to 150 million

40 million Series B2 financing led by Arverne Group and its partner Equinor Ventures

Increase of Arverne Group's equity stake in Lithium de France to 73.8%

Strengthened commitments as a Mission-driven company

Avoided emissions, in line with the 2026 trajectory, tripled, with a 6% reduction in carbon intensity compared with 2024

89% of employees satisfied, according to the Group's first employee engagement survey

Stronger local engagement through numerous local initiatives

Entry of a leading institutional shareholder

Bpifrance joins Arverne Group's shareholder base with a 4.06% stake, underscoring its confidence in the Group's growth strategy.

Regulatory News:

Arverne (FR001400JWR8 ARVEN), France's leading provider of geothermal solutions, announces its 2025 annual results.

Pierre Brossollet, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Arverne, commented:

"Driven by a collective commitment to French and European energy sovereignty, through the development of geothermal heat and geothermal lithium, Arverne is creating sustainable value in support of local communities and the energy transition.

In 2025, the Group's business volume increased by 46%, reaching 25.2 million, reflecting execution fully in line with the announced trajectory.

The commercial performance of the Heating Cooling business was particularly strong and reflects accelerating momentum in 2026. The Group's portfolio, comprising nearly 100 deep geothermal projects, represents 5 TWh of potential, in line with the accelerated targets of France's Multiannual Energy Programme looking ahead to 2035.

In Critical metals, the Lithium de France project in Alsace is successfully continuing its pre-industrial phase, in particular through ongoing drilling operations. This structuring programme targets an annual production capacity of 27,000 tonnes of lithium, equivalent to equipping 800,000 electric vehicles, while also enhancing the attractiveness of local territories through the production of competitive, local and sustainable geothermal heat.

I would like to thank all Arverne teams, as well as our shareholders, for their exemplary commitment and mobilisation."

BUSINESS MOMENTUM AND PERFORMANCE BY SEGMENT

Gross business volume of 25.2 million in 2025, up sharply by +46% compared with 2024

In thousands of euros 2025 2024 Var. % Deep drilling 16,925? 13,954? +21.3 Heating Cooling 844 Others 194? 193? +1.0% Consolidated revenue 17,963? 14,147? +27.0% Inter-segment drilling 4,737 54 Surface drilling (50%) 2,541? 3,092? -17.8% Gross business volume? 25,241? 17,293? +45.96%

DRILLING CONSTRUCTION

Deep Drilling Revenue

Consolidated revenue from the deep drilling business amounted to 16.93 million, up 21.3% compared with 2024, confirming the strength of the Group's operational execution.

Geothermal drilling operations carried out for Groupe ADP at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport were completed in February 2025, in line with the original three-month schedule. These installations cover 35% of the site's heating requirements and avoid the emission of 19,000 tonnes of CO2.

Drilling operations for Safran's future geothermal plant in Villaroche, one of its main industrial sites employing more than 5,000 people, began in November 2025 and will continue until the second quarter of 2026. By harnessing subsurface heat, this installation will cover 84% of the site's energy needs, while reducing carbon emissions by 75%, i.e. 6,500 tonnes of CO2 per year, and significantly lowering energy costs. These works represent the first operations carried out using the new B18 drilling rig, specifically designed for urban environments and low environmental impact.

Well maintenance operations conducted for Storengy, a leading industrial player in gas storage, continued in 2025, illustrating the recognition of the operational excellence of Arverne's teams. As from 2026, these operations will not be renewed, as the Group focuses its resources on the deployment of its strategic geothermal projects.

Inter-segment drilling Business volume

Self-operated drilling operations for the first geothermal well of the Lithium de France project began in late November 2025 and were successfully completed three months later. Drilling of the second well is scheduled for the second quarter of 2026.

These inter-segment drilling operations generated a gross business volume of 4.7 million in their first year, in 2025.

Surface drilling Business volume

DrillHeat's total revenue amounted to 5.1 million in 2025, down 18% compared with 2024, reflecting the postponement of projects to 2026 in a context of municipal elections.

Pursuing its value-chain integration strategy, DrillHeat has internally structured a specialised connection team, thereby strengthening its ability to deliver fully integrated and controlled solutions.

During the financial year, 21 surface drilling projects were carried out (vs. 27 in 2024), representing 40,000 metres drilled (vs. 48,000 metres in 2024) and an installed capacity of 2.0 MW (vs. 2.4 MW in 2024). Several flagship projects were delivered, including the E.Leclerc hypermarket in Frouard (Grand Est), the first 22,000 m commercial site in France to integrate geothermal energy for all of its energy needs. DrillHeat also equipped the geothermal installations at the Sisley site in Vendome, the Galeries Lafayette store in Pau covering 90% of heating needs and 75% of cooling needs as well as the Theatre du Vellin in Villefontaine and a mail sorting platform.

HEATING COOLING

A value-creating business model, scalable at large scale

Arverne has signed its first public service concession contract, in a consortium with Dalkia and SAS Ile-de-France Energies Territoires, for the development and operation of a low-carbon district heating network in Clichy-sous-Bois and Livry-Gargan. This project integrates deep geothermal energy to supply urban heating networks and marks the first revenues of the Heat Cooling business, for an amount of 0.8 million.

In addition, the Group has signed a pre-contract for a project representing 150 million in revenue over 30 years. This project covers the entire value chain, from deep drilling to the production and sales of geothermal heat, supplying 12,000 housing units. As the first SPV project led by Arverne and its partners, it represents 26 million in investments.

This SPV-based development model, led by Arverne Heat Cooling and its partners, is designed to be replicated at scale.

Arverne strengthens its project portfolio, focused on deep geothermal energy in the Ile-de-France region

Arverne's teams continued to strengthen the Group's commercial strategy, expanding the portfolio to nearly 100 projects across mainland France. As of end-2025, this portfolio represents a potential of approximately 5 TWh.

To optimise value creation, Arverne is primarily focusing its commercial efforts in the Ile-de-France region, targeting deep geothermal projects for urban district heating networks, supported by long-term 30-year contracts.

As Europe's leading region for geothermal energy through district heating networks, with around 50 plants in operation, Ile-de-France offers a major growth reservoir, supported by the resources of the Dogger basin and high urban density. Nearly half of the projects in the portfolio are currently located in the region.

Resources and strategic alliances

In line with the teams' expectations, contract signings slowed in the second half of 2025, due to increased caution among contracting authorities ahead of the municipal elections. A strong rebound in activity is expected as early as the second quarter of 2026.

In this context, Arverne Heating Cooling significantly strengthened its internal resources in 2025 in preparation for the upcoming acceleration. To expand its territorial footprint, sales managers were recruited in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Occitanie.

To optimise and accelerate commercial expansion, Arverne has deployed an effective partnership strategy in Nouvelle-Aquitaine:

Partnership with Credit Agricole Pyrenees Gascogne Energies Nouvelles (CAPGEN): CAPGEN will provide project financing, while Arverne will be responsible for the design, construction and operation of the facilities. The promotion will be carried out jointly by both partners.

Alliance with the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, through the Terra Energies fund, alongside Banque des Territoires: Arverne will be responsible for assessing regional potential, conducting pre-feasibility studies, as well as project management and financing. By 2030, the Region aims to reach 45% renewable energy, notably through the deployment of district heating networks serving priority neighbourhoods and industrial sites. Terra Energies and Arverne are already in advanced discussions with around ten local authorities, in coordination with regional services, to accelerate the development of geothermal energy, particularly in secondary schools.

CRITICAL METALS: LITHIUM DE FRANCE PROJECT

The pre-industrial phase is progressing successfully, in line with the planned timetable and conditions.

In 2025, the teams achieved the key milestones of the pre-industrial phase of the Lithium de France project in Alsace, combining geothermal heat and geothermal lithium.

Initial drilling operations : drilling the first well of the geothermal doublet, in Schwabwiller (Alsace), began in November 2025 and was completed in February 2026. Five years of preparatory work from 3D seismic studies to environmental permitting procedures and securing the necessary authorisations conducted by the teams of Lithium de France and Arverne Drilling Works, enabled the project to achieve an unprecedented level of operational excellence for a drilling operation conducted under such conditions in Alsace.

: drilling the first well of the geothermal doublet, in Schwabwiller (Alsace), began in November 2025 and was completed in February 2026. Five years of preparatory work from 3D seismic studies to environmental permitting procedures and securing the necessary authorisations conducted by the teams of Lithium de France and Arverne Drilling Works, enabled the project to achieve an unprecedented level of operational excellence for a drilling operation conducted under such conditions in Alsace. DLE pilot plant : the pilot plant was assembled and installed on site in late 2025, in order to be operational as early as the first quarter of 2026 and to assess the performance of the innovative Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology.

: the pilot plant was assembled and installed on site in late 2025, in order to be operational as early as the first quarter of 2026 and to assess the performance of the innovative Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology. Progress on the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) : Sedgman, one of the world's leading providers of mineral processing solutions and related infrastructure, was selected to carry out the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED), a key step in the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS).

: Sedgman, one of the world's leading providers of mineral processing solutions and related infrastructure, was selected to carry out the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED), a key step in the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS). Bankability Feasibility Study (BFS): the study is being conducted under a co-mandate with Macquarie Capital and Credit Agricole Corporate Investment Bank, two leading institutions in financing the battery value chain.

The pre-industrial phase will continue until mid-2026.

Granting of a tax credit of up to 150 million to support green industry investments (C3IV)

Following a rigorous selection process, the Lithium de France project has been selected and will benefit from a tax credit aimed at encouraging reindustrialisation in France, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting a more decarbonised economy.

The Green Industry Investment Tax Credit (C3IV) is a French tax incentive introduced by the 2024 Finance Act to support sustainable industry. Eligible expenditures relate to a genuine industrialisation plan, through productive investments (plants, equipment, production processes, etc.).

Compared with conventional lithium currently available on the market, the geothermal lithium carbonate produced in Alsace by Arverne will enable a 70% reduction in carbon emissions, 2 to 3 times lower water consumption, and the creation of more than 200 direct jobs and approximately 700 indirect jobs.

Successful 40 million Series B2 financing

Arverne Group has completed the Series B2 financing of its subsidiary Lithium de France, together with its partner Equinor, the Norwegian energy major, through Equinor Ventures.

Equinor's geological expertise and experience in executing complex projects represent key assets for the project.

Arverne Group and Equinor Ventures are strengthening their partnership in a context of strong global lithium market growth a critical metal for the energy transition, with demand set to rise by 10% per year through 20401

Arverne Group strengthens its stake in Lithium de France

Arverne Group carried out a share exchange with Hydro Energy to increase its ownership stake in Lithium de France.

The transaction was completed on 6 October 2025, through the issuance of 2,232,288 new Arverne Group shares to Hydro Energy Invest AS, for a total value of 22,322,880, corresponding to an Arverne Group share price of 10.00.

Following this transaction, Arverne Group holds 73.8% of the share capital of Lithium de France, Equinor Ventures holds 24.4%, and management holds 1.8%.

Hydro Energy Invest now holds 5.31% of Arverne Group's share capital.

2025 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Consolidated income statement: +27% revenue growth to 18.0 million

In thousands of euros 2025 2024 Revenue 17, 963 14, 147 Other operating income 319 1, 044 Capitalised production 10, 551 6, 503 Cost of goods consumed (2, 153) (2, 012) External expenses (21, 209) (16, 743) Personnel expenses (24, 840) (20, 326) Taxes (628) (335) Other income and expenses (1, 001) (650) EBITDA (20, 998) (18, 371) Depreciation and amortisation expense (4, 706) (2, 397) EBIT (25, 704) (20, 768) Income from cash and cash equivalents 2, 564 4, 871 Gross cost of financial debt (852) (659) Net financial income 1, 711 4, 212 Other financial income 1, 185 7, 059 Other financial expenses (184) (74) Share of profit of associates (2, 070) (1, 750) Income before tax (25, 062) (11, 322) Income after tax 1, 502 197 Profit (loss) after tax (23, 560) (11, 126) Net income/(loss) (23, 560) (11, 126) of which Group share (20, 712) (9, 993) of which minority share (2, 848) (1, 133)

The Group's consolidated revenue reached 17.96 million, representing a 27% year-on-year increase, underscoring the continued acceleration of business activity.

Capitalised production amounted to 10.55 million, up 62.2% compared with 2024. This increase is mainly attributable to the start of the drilling campaign for the Lithium de France project.

Consumed purchases, totalling 2.2 million, increased by 7.1%, reflecting higher drilling activity.

External expenses amounted to 21.2 million, up 26.7%, driven by the increase in third-party drilling activity, studies related to the Heat Cooling business, and the start of drilling operations for Lithium de France.

Personnel expenses rose to 24.8 million, up 22.2% compared with 2024, in line with headcount growth. Average headcount increased by 28.6% to 216 employees (vs. 168 in 2024). As of 31 December 2025, the Group employed 231 people.

Depreciation and amortisation expenses increased to 4.7 million (vs. 2.4 million in 2024), reflecting B18 rig commissioning and a full year of depreciation of the B04 rig.

Net financial income amounted to 2.7 million (vs. 11.2 million in 2024), mainly due to lower income generated from cash investments. It should be noted that in 2024, other financial income included the fair value remeasurement of Geoven's bank debt.

Net income came in at -23.6 million (vs. -11.1 million in 2024), and Group share of net income at -20.7 million (vs. -10.0 million in 2024).

An optimised investment plan

In 2025, Arverne selectively optimised its investment plan, particularly with respect to operations related to the Lithium de France project. As a result, investments amounted to 38.6 million, compared with an initial plan of approximately 50 million.

Of this total, 28.8 million mainly corresponds to expenditures incurred by Lithium de France for the drilling of the first geothermal doublet, and 4.8 million to the acquisition of drilling equipment.

As of 31 December 2025, the Company has a solid financial structure, with equity of 158.8 million (vs. 169.9 million as of 31 December 2024), net debt of -41.0 million (vs. -85.6 million as of 31 December 2024), and -70 million excluding lease liabilities (vs. -114 million as of 31 December 2024).

2025 NON-FINANCIAL RESULTS

Arverne has confirmed its status as a Mission-driven company and continues to roll out innovative initiatives aimed at strengthening its performance and impact across its three pillars: environment, employees and regional footprint.

Environment Objective 1 : a comprehensive carbon footprint was carried out, covering Scopes 1, 2 and 3. Carbon intensity decreased by 6% in 2025 (vs. 2024), in line with the 2026 reduction trajectory. Avoided emissions were tripled.

: a comprehensive carbon footprint was carried out, covering Scopes 1, 2 and 3. Carbon intensity decreased by 6% in 2025 (vs. 2024), in line with the 2026 reduction trajectory. Avoided emissions were tripled. Employees Objective 5 : the Group conducted its first employee engagement survey, marking a structuring milestone in listening to and engaging with employees. 89% of employees report being satisfied, reflecting a high level of engagement and well-being.

: the Group conducted its first employee engagement survey, marking a structuring milestone in listening to and engaging with employees. 89% of employees report being satisfied, reflecting a high level of engagement and well-being. Region Objective 9: Arverne stepped up on-the-ground initiatives meetings with local residents, site visits and information sessions to support geothermal and lithium projects at the heart of local communities.

The achievements for 2025, across the Group's 10 mission objectives, are detailed in the 2025 Mission Report.

In addition, 95 Group employees became shareholders through the Free Share Allocation plan launched at the time of the IPO in 2023.

CAPITAL MARKET DAY 26 MARCH 2026

Arverne will unveil its strategic plan and ambitions to contribute to the development of a robust and high-performing geothermal industry, addressing today's key energy sovereignty challenges. The financial outlook, together with the investment and financing plans, will be detailed at this event.

From 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Capital Market Day dedicated to institutional investors

DIGITAL EVENT REGISTRATION

About ARVERNE

ARVERNE, is the leading French supplier of geothermal solutions.

It specialises in harnessing natural ground resources to transform them into local energy sources for heating and cooling systems and to extract lithium. A mission-driven company listed on Euronext Paris, Arverne works for local authorities and industrial companies with a focus on energy sovereignty and short supply chains.

www.arverne.earth

APPENDICES

Assets

In thousands of euros 2025.12 2024.12 Intangible fixed assets 80, 499 53, 056 Property, plant and equipment 55, 793 52, 274 Equity-accounted investments 927 0 Deferred tax assets 2, 647 3, 148 Total non-current assets 139, 867 108, 478 Stocks 2, 733 2, 212 Trade receivables and contract assets 5, 846 7, 539 Current tax receivables 1, 131 622 Other financial assets 401 321 Other current assets 13, 105 12, 114 Cash and cash equivalents 78, 010 123, 834 Total current assets 101, 226 146, 641 Total assets 241, 094 255, 119

Liabilities

In thousands of euros 2025.12 2024.12 Share capital 421 398 Share premium 216, 201 193, 903 Treasury shares Other reserves 6, 560 23, 411 Retained earnings (61, 824) (51, 831) Profit (loss) for the year (20, 712) (9, 993) Equity attributable to owners of the parent 140, 646 155, 888 Non-controlling interests 18, 105 13, 993 Non-controlling interests 18, 105 13, 993 Total equity 158, 751 169, 881 Borrowings and financial debt 6, 078 7, 269 Other financial liabilities 5, 961 5, 136 Lease liabilities 26, 389 24, 569 Employee benefit liabilities 883 862 Non-current provisions 1, 231 1, 241 Other non-current liabilities 1, 665 1, 628 Deferred tax liabilities 3, 284 5, 314 Total non-current liabilities 45, 490 46, 018 Borrowings and financial debt current 1, 557 2, 021 Other financial liabilities and derivatives 2, 478 3, 074 Lease liabilities current 2, 997 4, 381 Provisions 537 901 Trade payables 12, 524 10, 230 Current tax liabilities 9, 580 10, 209 Other current liabilities 7, 180 8, 403 Liabilities associated with assets held for sale Total current liabilities 36, 853 39, 219 Total liabilities 82, 343 85, 238 Total liabilities 241, 094 255, 119

Statement of Cash Flows

In thousands of euros 2025 2024 Net profit (loss) for the year (23, 560) (11, 126) Depreciation of property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets 4, 356 2, 821 Other adjustments 1, 129 (2, 478) Gross cash flow from operations (16, 500) (10, 783) Change in inventories (1, 247) (1, 091) Change in trade receivables and other receivables 1, 383 (4, 068) Change in trade payables and other payables 3, 328 5, 682 Change in other current receivables payables (292) 4, 048 Total changes 3, 173 4, 571 Cash flows from operating activities (13 327) (6 212) Income taxes paid (13, 327) (6, 212) Income taxes paid (524) (748) Net cash flows from operating activities (13, 852) (6, 959) Acquisition of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets (6, 240) (9, 502) Capitalised development costs (31, 816) (10, 419) Other changes (2, 508) 2, 867 Net cash used in investing activities (40, 564) (17, 055) Capital increase 10, 000 520 Purchase and sale of treasury shares (54) 214 Proceeds from new borrowings 308 1, 323 Repayment of borrowings and financial debt (1, 400) (463) Other changes (262) 3, 026 Net cash flows from financing activities 8, 592 4, 620 Net change in cash and cash equivalents (45, 824) (19, 394) Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January 123, 834 143, 227 Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December 78, 009 123, 834

_________________________ 1 Source Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, Lithium Forecast report Q4 2025

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260325829098/en/

Contacts:

Media relations: communication@arverne.earth arvernegroup@image7.fr

Investor relations: investor.relations@arverne.earth

Financial press: anne-claire.taton@seitosei-actifin.com
NOTICE TO READER: PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE NEWS RELEASE DATED MARCH 24, 2026, HAS BEEN REFILED TO INCLUDE THAT THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM WILL BE PART OF THE DELAYED FILINGS WHICH WAS INADVERTENTLY OMITTED FROM THE ORIGINAL NEWS RELEASE. NO OTHER CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THIS NEWS RELEASE.

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - Vertiqal Studios Corp. (TSX: VRTS) (FSE: 9PY0) ("Vertiqal" or the "Company") announces that it anticipates being late in filing its audited annual financial statements, management discussion and analysis, annual information form and certificates of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (collectively, the "Filings") for the year ended December 31, 2025, by the prescribed deadline of March 31, 2026.

On September 2, 2025, the Company announced the acquisition of certain assets and entities from Enthusiast Gaming Holdings Inc. The delay in filing the Filings is due to the complexity of the valuation of these assets and entities and the fact that the Company's auditors have engaged a new partner and team to lead the audit.

The Company has made an application with the applicable securities regulators under National Policy 12-203 - Cease Trade Orders for Continuous Disclosure Defaults ("NP 12-203") requesting that a management cease trade order be imposed in respect of the anticipated late filing rather than an issuer cease trade order. The issuance of a management cease trade order does not affect the ability of persons who have not been directors, officers or insiders of the Company to trade in their securities.

The Company anticipates that it will in a position to prepare and file the Filings on or prior to April 24, 2026.

The Company confirms: (i) that it will satisfy the provisions of the alternative information guidelines under NP 12-203 by issuing bi-weekly default status reports in the form of news releases for so long as it remains in default of the filing requirements to file the Filings within the prescribed period of time; (ii) the Company is not subject to any insolvency proceedings; and (iii) the Company confirms that there is no other material information relating to its affairs that has not been generally disclosed.

About Vertiqal Studios Corp.

Vertiqal Studios is a scaled digital-channel network and video-production studio that owns North America's largest gaming and lifestyle network. The Company helps global brands reach Gen Z and Millennial audiences through data-driven creative, always-on digital campaigns, and performance-oriented distribution.

Vertiqal manages 200+ channels across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat, producing over 100 pieces of content per day for a community of more than 52 million followers. Revenue is generated through a mix of direct brand partnerships, agency relationships, and platform monetization across its owned and operated channels.

For more information, please visit www.vertiqalstudios.com

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements or information. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by management of the Company. Although management of the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information since no assurance can be given that they will prove to be correct.

Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature, they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release.

The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof, and no undertaking is given 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 forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289958

Source: Vertiqal Studios
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - NuGen Medical Devices Inc. (TSXV: NGMD) ("NuGen"), a leader in needle-free drug delivery, today announced the filing of a new patent covering a Ready-to-Fill (RTF) COP/COC injection nozzle designed specifically for pharmaceutical needle-free applications. The nozzle, which is the subject of a newly filed patent application, represents a novel pharmaceutical packaging component that enables needle-free injection using established aseptic fill-finish processes, analogous to prefilled syringes but without a needle.

The COP/COC nozzle architecture that is the subject of a newly filed patent application is optimized for high-pressure jet injection, combining dimensional stability, material consistency, and compatibility with pharmaceutical requirements. This enables scalable manufacturing of needle-free, prefilled drug delivery systems without reliance on traditional needles.

The newly filed patent application underpins the Company's Prefilled Nozzle (PFN) platform, designed as an integrated drug-device system, combining a prefilled nozzle with a reusable auto-injector. Following aseptic filling, the nozzle functions as the primary drug container and is supplied ready for use, eliminating manual drug transfer steps at the point of care.

Drug administration is enabled through a reusable auto-injector designed to accommodate multiple prefilled nozzle formats, including 0.5 mL and 1.0 mL long nozzles. Upon insertion, the injector automatically adapts to the nozzle configuration and delivers the full prefilled dose in a single activation. This auto-dosing capability allows pharmaceutical partners to support multiple dose presentations using one injector platform, while providing patients with a simple and consistent injection experience.

"According to Business Wire[1], the global prefilled syringe market is experiencing rapid growth, with most industry analyses projecting between 9% and 12% over the next several years, driven by self-administration and biologic therapies," said Nicky Canton, COO of NuGen. "With this development, NuGen is extending its needle-free technology creating new opportunities for patient-centric differentiation."

To support scalable pharmaceutical manufacturing, NuGen is collaborating with Gerresheimer Medical Plastics, a global leader in Ready-to-Fill primary packaging solutions. Leveraging Gerresheimer's fully automated production lines and RTF expertise, the Prefilled Nozzle is being developed in a nesting configuration aligned with existing prefilled syringe formats, minimizing changes to established aseptic filling processes.

Benefits for Pharmaceutical Partners

Achieve ESG targets through reusable auto-injector design;

Less drug waste and higher dosing accuracy through low dead volume;

Fast injection time (<1 second), including for high-viscosity formulations;

Reduced risk of chemical interactions due to the absence of a needle lumen; and

Enhanced safety profile by eliminating the risk of needle stick injuries.

Key Milestones Achieved

Development of a Prefilled Nozzle prototype targeting complex biologics, including GLP-1s, growth hormones, biosimilars, and monoclonal antibodies; and

Patent filed covering core aspects of the Prefilled Nozzle platform.

What's Next

Samples qualified for pre-clinical testing by the end of 2026; and

Introduction of a fixed-dose auto-injector supporting 0.5 mL and 1.0 mL long RTF nozzles, with automatic dosing across the 0-1 mL volume range in 2027.

"This patent reinforces our momentum and positions NuGen for the next phase of growth as we continue to scale our technology and global distribution footprint," said Liang Lin, CEO of NuGen.

About NuGen

NuGen is a leading developer of needle-free devices to administer therapeutics subcutaneously. The Company is marketing and selling its current InsuJet needle-free injection system designed to improve the lives of people with Diabetes. InsuJet is approved for sale in 42 countries around the world.

For further information, please visit:

Websites: www.insujet.com, and www.nugenmd.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nugen-medical-devices/

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

Neither TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein is given as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

[1] Business Wire, https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241014504897/en/Prefilled-Syringes-Research-Report-2024-2030-Global-Market-to-Reach-%2413.3-Billion-Driven-by-Increasing-Adoption-of-Self-administration-of-Medications-and-Expansion-in-Home-Healthcare---ResearchAndMarkets.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289939

Source: NuGen Medical Devices Inc.
Victoria, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - ALUULA Composites Inc. (TSXV: AUUA) (OTCQB: AUUAF) ("ALUULA" or the "Company") today reported its financial results for the three-months ended January 31, 2026 ("Q1 2026"). All currency amounts noted are in Canadian dollars.

"I am happy to report another strong quarter, with Q1 2026 sales exceeding $2 million for the third consecutive quarter and gross margins within our target range of 40-45% despite investments in future capacity," said Sage Berryman, CEO and President of ALUULA. "The continued commercialization in our pack and bag vertical and the deepening of key strategic relationships, including our supply agreement with Airseas, illustrates the diversification we are aiming for as well as the sustained demand across multiple verticals for ALUULA materials. Significant market opportunities are on the horizon as we transition to 1.5-meter-width production, while simultaneously positioning ALUULA to serve larger customers and programs that will serve as the foundation for scalable, long-term growth."

Key Q1 2026 Highlights

Sales for Q1 2026 were $2,330,926, compared to $1,261,529 in Q1 2025, representing an 85% increase and the third consecutive quarter above $2 million.

Performance Outdoor channel sales increased 83% quarter over quarter. Windsport, the Company's most mature vertical, grew 26% year over year, in line with management expectations. Pack and bag vertical sales increased 573% compared to Q1 2025, as our customer base placing commercialized orders increased from one to seven.

Commercial Industrial channel sales increased 162% compared to Q1 2025, primarily driven by the timing of an order from a key wind power customer.

Gross margin for Q1 2026 was 42%, within the Company's targeted 40-45% range, reflecting margin management discipline during a period of capacity investment.

Sales order book pending production exceeded $3.5 million at January 31, 2026.

Net and comprehensive loss from continuing operations was $367,848 in Q1 2026, in line with management expectations and driven primarily by capacity investments and fewer productive manufacturing days in the quarter.

Established a new R&D facility dedicated to advancing emerging technologies and supporting the planned transition to wider-width manufacturing.

Increased production staff by 54% to support capacity initiatives at the current 0.925-meter facility and in preparation of the planned 1.5-meter manufacturing facility.

Approved for listing on the OTCQB Venture Market under the ticker "AUUAF" which was pursued to support trading and enhance accessibility for U.S.-based investors.

Subsequent to the quarter, ALUULA completed a private placement of 4,273,475 units raising $14.1 million. As a result of this private placement, 2,136,735 warrants (expiring February 24, 2028 at a price of $4.29) were issued to investors along with 221,454 broker warrants (expiring August 24, 2028 at a price of $3.30).

Concurrently, certain board members exercised 4,750,000 20:1 warrants and 40,984 stock options for total proceeds of $500,000.

Outlook

ALUULA continues to build on the strong foundation established in previous years as an emerging leader in advanced composite materials. As recognition of its quality and sustainability grows, leading brands in their respective industries are placing follow-on orders, and interest in new, high value applications remains strong. This demand supports a solid and growing sales order book that the Company is focused on fulfilling through consistent, high-quality production while continuing to invest in product development and material innovation.

With growth capital (before expenses) of $14.6m secured after the quarter end, the Company is advancing plans for a new manufacturing facility designed to produce materials at the industry standard 1.5-meter width. Through a staged buildout, this facility will significantly increase capacity relative to the limitations of the current site, providing an expanded footprint that will enable ALUULA to better serve larger customers and programs. The Company anticipates that operational expenses and margins may be impacted as ALUULA invests in scaling this capacity development during this fiscal year.

Stock Options Granted to Executive Team

The Company also announces that pursuant to the share option plan, it has granted 467,302 to certain members of the executive team; 350,000 to the President and CEO, 58,651 to the CSO, and 58,651 to the CCO. Each option is exercisable into one common share at a price of $2.75 per share until March 24, 2031.

Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis

This earnings press release should be read in conjunction with ALUULA's audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended October 31, 2025, and the related management discussion and analysis, which can be found on ALUULA's website and its issuer profile on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval Plus at www.sedarplus.ca.

About ALUULA Composites

ALUULA is an ultra-light, high performance and recycle-ready composite materials brand that enhances the performance of outdoor gear as well as commercial and industrial equipment. Proudly owned and manufactured on the Canadian west coast, ALUULA's innovation is driven by a deep understanding that equipment does not need to sacrifice performance for sustainability. ALUULA's materials are known for their unique construction capabilities and their ability to make products lighter, stronger, and more sustainable.

aluula.com | TSXV: AUUA; OTCQB: AUUAF

ALUULA's Brand Partners

The term "brand partners" does not refer to formal partnerships with our customers. The term refers to marketing relationships with our customers who use ALUULA's technology as a brand ingredient in their products.

TSX Venture Exchange

Neither 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.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans, and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: the Company's list of brand partners growing; the Company's advancement of its materials development; the Company's future focus on Commercial Industrial and defense applications; the Company achieving its mission; future customer opportunities. These statements are based on assumptions subject to significant risks and uncertainties as described in the Company's management discussion and analysis. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, including the timing and receipt of all applicable regulatory, corporate third-party approvals, the actual results, expectations, achievements, or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statement will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289767

Source: ALUULA Composites Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - Oracle Commodity Holding Corp. (TSXV: ORCL) (OTCQB: ORLCF) ("Oracle" or the "Company") announces that, further to its news releases dated March 12, 2026 and March 13, 2026, it has closed the first tranche of its non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") raising $136,000 through the sale of 2,720,000 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.05 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (each, a "Share") and one transferable common share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant") with each Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one additional Share at a price of $0.06 per Share for a period of three years from issuance.

A director of the Company (the "Insider") participated in the Private Placement for an aggregate total of 1,220,000 Units, which participation constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company relied on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements provided under sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(a) of MI 61-101 on the basis that the Insider participation in the Private Placement did not exceed 25% of the fair market value of the Company's market capitalization. The Company will file a material change report in respect of the related party transaction. The Insider may increase their subscription in the Private Placement, subject to regulatory approval, for an aggregate of up to 4,500,000 Units for gross proceeds of up to $225,000.

Proceeds of the Private Placement are expected to be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. The securities issued pursuant to the Private Placement will be subject to a regulatory four-month and one-day hold period. No finder's fees were paid in connection with the Private Placement. The second and final tranche of the Private Placement is expected, subject to regulatory approval, to close on or around April 10, 2026.

The Private Placement is subject to certain conditions, including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

About Oracle Commodity Holding Corp.

Oracle Commodity Holding Corp. is a mining royalty company holding royalties on several precious metal and critical mineral mining projects.

Further information on Oracle Commodity can be found at www.oracleholding.com.

ORACLE COMMODITY HOLDING CORP.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Jason Powell"

CEO

For more information about Oracle Commodity, please contact:

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release, including statements which may contain words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", or similar expressions, and statements related to matters which are not historical facts, are forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements, which reflect management's expectations regarding Oracle's future growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities, are based on certain factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, and should not be read as guarantees of future performance, events or results, and may not be indicative of whether such events or results will actually be achieved. A number of risks and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: market conditions and investor sentiment; changes in business plans; ability to secure sufficient financing to advance the Company's investment business; and general market and economic conditions. Additional risk factors are set out in the Company's latest annual and interim management's discussion and analysis, available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions by management as of the date of this news release, and there can be no assurance that actual results will be consistent with any forward-looking statements included herein. Readers are cautioned that all forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this news release to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date of this news release, except as required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/290005

Source: Oracle Commodity Holding Corp.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - Trojan Gold Inc. (CSE: TGII) (the "Company" or "Trojan") is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of units, originally announced on February 24, 2026. Pursuant to the Offering, the Company issued an aggregate of 501,390 units (the "Units") at a deemed price of $0.10 per Unit.

The Units were issued in settlement of outstanding indebtedness of the Company to certain creditors in the amount of $50,139.

Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") and one half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole common share purchase warrant, a Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share for a price of CDN$0.15 for a period of 24 months, subject to acceleration in certain circumstances.

All securities issued pursuant to the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Certain insiders of the Company participated in the Offering, which constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a), respectively, as neither the fair market value of the securities issued to insiders, nor the consideration for such securities, exceeds 25% of the Company's market capitalization. No new insiders were created, nor did any change of control occur, as a result of the Offering.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

About Trojan Gold Inc.

Trojan is an active Ontario-based prospect generator junior exploration company, led by a team of professionals having exploration, engineering, project financing and permitting experience. Trojan has accumulated land positions in the Hemlo Gold Camp and Shebandowan Greenstone Belt which in management's view represent mineral exploration potential. For further information on the Company, please visit www.trojangold.com. Trojan is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol (CSE: TGII) and on the Frankfurt Exchange under the symbol KC1.

Further Information

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 these securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "will", "expect", "likely", "should", "would", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "potential", "proposed", "estimate", "believe" or the negative of these terms, or other similar words, expressions, and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" happen, or by discussions of strategy.

Where the Company expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is based on assumptions made in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. However, forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected, or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, but are not limited to, risks (including but not limited to risks faced by issuers in the mining industry generally) as described in the Company's public disclosure record at www.sedarplus.ca.

Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements and the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as at the date hereof and are based on the beliefs, estimates, expectations, and opinions of management on such date. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any such forward-looking statements or any forward-looking statements contained in any other documents whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required under applicable securities law. Readers are cautioned to consider these and other factors, uncertainties, and potential events carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/290002

Source: Trojan Gold Inc.
Catching cancer early  when it can be treated and even cured  is a cornerstone of cancer prevention. But what do you do if you dont have health insurance? Can you still get any kind of cancer screening? Or do you have to wait until youre working for someone who offers health insurance to their employees to get preventative screenings?

We turned to some of Fred Hutch Cancer Centers experts  community health educators, patient navigators and others  for their best advice on how people in Washington state can still get preventive screening for cancer even when they dont have any kind of insurance.

Access to cancer screening is absolutely essential, said Liz Tallent, community health education manager with the Fred Hutch/University of Washington/Seattle Childrens Cancer Consortiums Office of Community Outreach & Engagement, or OCOE. Its the best tool we have for diagnosing and treating cancer early, and it needs to be available to everyone regardless of insurance status.

Looking for no-cost, low-cost cancer screening? Heres your go-to list:
Ensuring vaccines are effective, accepted

Immunologist Erica Andersen-Nissen, PhD, a principal staff scientist in the McElrath Lab, heads the Cape Town Lab where HIV and TB vaccine trial participants immune responses are evaluated. A deeper understanding of how our bodies are responding helps scientists improve vaccine design and assess how to determine if a candidate is more likely to be protective.

Andersen-Nissen and her team examine immune responses induced by new vaccines under testing, with a focus on immune cells called T cells. T cells help kill off infected cells and so are critical to the successful immune responses to pathogens like HIV and M. tb, which get inside target cells.

In the trial testing BCG revaccination in teenagers, she and her team measured various T-cell populations and relevant cytokines, immune molecules that help orchestrate immune responses. They use leading-edge tests to examine what the T cells (which used highly specialized receptors to find their targets), recognize. Melding experimental assays and statistics, the inter-continental team found that certain populations of helper T cells (which support the activity of immune cells that kill infected cells and those that produce protective antibodies) changed after BCG vaccination.

There are a lot of great South African powerhouse research labs that do amazing work here, Andersen-Nissen said. We bring the analysis of clinical trial samples piece.

They have their work cut out for them: M. tb isnt the only mycobacterium that people are exposed to and produce immune responses to. It can be hard to distinguish immune responses to pathogenic M. tb from those induced by mycobacteria present everywhere in our environment. Their work points to polyfunctional CD4 T cells (helper T cells that produce several cytokines) and what are known as donor-unrestricted T cells (which may be important for effective immunity against mycobacteria) as important players in protective TB vaccine responses.

The Cape Town team hands these analyses over to Fiore-Gartlands team of biostatisticians. They crunch the numbers, seeking to define important biological signatures.

We seek to characterize something called correlates of protection, he said. Especially in vaccines where theres partial efficacy, our goal is to understand which participants were protected, which werent, and to compare their immune responses after vaccination to try to understand what immune responses correlated with protection.

VISC statisticians are currently evaluating data from two prior trials, including from the trial that test BCG revaccination in teenagers. Scientists measured whether revaccination could help prevent teenagers from sustained conversion of their IGRA test (a proxy for TB infection) from negative to positive. The vaccine was 45% effective in preventing sustained conversion.

These insights, which can be used to make future vaccines more effective, build on a methodological framework created for HIV vaccine trials and further honed for COVID-19 vaccine trials. But the methods arent plug-and-play; with TB, Fiore-Gartland and his team must develop new approaches to assess vaccine-induced immune responses in people who have already reacted to M. tb infection or BCG vaccination. This is different than HIV vaccine trials or the first COVID-19 vaccine trials, which enroll unexposed trial participants.

Andersen-Nissens team is generating immune data from the Phase 2b trial of M72, which VISC statisticians are evaluating.

If we can identify protective immune responses made by M72, that could help us figure out which other vaccines to prioritize for further clinical development, Fiore-Gartland said.

Lamar Fleming, BS, a staff scientist in the McElrath Lab, is gearing up to do a single-cell analysis.

Its going to be one of the biggest single-cell studies ever done, Andersen-Nissen said. The fact that we get to do it on case-control samples has the promise to yield a lot more granular detail and maybe some mechanistic potential insights about why this vaccine might work.

It will still be at least five years before the first TB vaccine is deployed, Shapiro said. But thats a close enough horizon that WHO is telling countries to start developing implementation plans now. Shapiro does vaccine acceptability research, including for potential TB vaccines.

With TB, its been hundreds of years, and we finally have a vaccine. What can we do in the next five years, before the product is ready to go, to ensure there is a strong rollout strategy? she said. Fortunately, most of the work thats been done suggests that in communities hit hardest by TB, theres a lot of enthusiasm. Kublin and his collaborators, including Andersen-Nissen, Fiore-Gartland and Chetan Sheshadri, MD, at UW, are also exploring the use of challenge studies, in which human volunteers are infected and then treated, for TB vaccine work. Also called a controlled human infection model (CHIM), this strategy can be utilized for diseases where effective treatments are available.

Kublin has previously used BCG as a proxy for TB in a skin challenge model and is wrapping up analysis of a challenge model combining BCG and the TB drug rifampin. Now, with collaborators at Harvard University, Kublin is gearing up to develop an even more ambitious challenge model, using a strain of M. tb that incorporates kill switches into the bacteria itself. Without drugs like tetracycline or doxycycline, the bacterium undergoes suicide, Kublin said.

This model would better mimic natural infection, while providing several layers of safety (the kills switches, plus effective TB drugs as backups). The collaborators are doing the preclinical work needed to advance the engineered M. tb into a translational study, which Kublin estimates to be at least two years away.

This avenue of research could really help advance both vaccine and drug studies against TB, he said.

New insights into TB infection and immunology

Biostatistician Edlefsen works on TB primarily through IMPAc-TB, which aims to elucidate essential, protective immune responses against M. tb. He also helps train the next generation of TB biostatisticians through the African Tuberculosis Biostatistics Training Program at Stellenbosch University in South Africa.
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.
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With a Lake Powell conservation pool nearly guaranteed for the future of Colorado River management, the four Upper Basin states are exploring and refining the ways they could fill it.

Conservation by those states (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming) could be one of the keys to reaching a deal among the seven states that share the Colorado River and an important part of the framework for managing the drought-stricken river after this year. The water saved by the Upper Basin states could be stored in Lake Powell as a means of maintaining higher water levels and as an insurance policy against drastic cuts.

This type of pool isnt yet being used in Lake Powell; it would have to be established by an agreement among the seven states. An agreement in the 2019 Drought Contingency Plan allowed for a 500,000 acre-foot Upper Basin storage pool in Lake Powell, but so far, the states have not utilized this and the agreement expires this year.

The Upper Basin and Lower Basin (California, Arizona and Nevada) have been at an impasse for more than two years about how the nations two largest reservoirs  Lake Powell and Lake Mead  will be managed and shortages shared in the future. The situation has never been more dire: The current guidelines for river management expire at the end of the year, while record-low snowpack is expected to push reservoir levels below critical thresholds. The seven states have blown past two deadlines to come up with a plan, and the federal government is gearing up for emergency actions to manage reservoirs.

The crux of the disagreement between the two basins has been over who should take shortages in drought years. The Lower Basin has committed to 1.5 million acre-feet of reductions annually and wants cuts beyond that to be shared by the Upper Basin. The Upper Basin says its water users already take cuts in some years because streams run dry by midsummer and any contributions they make must be voluntary.

Contribution not conservation

Some Upper Basin officials have made a slight shift in the way they now talk about a pool in Lake Powell. No longer referred to as a conservation pool, it is called a contribution pool, reflecting the different methods  not only conservation of agricultural water  of contributing water to a Lake Powell pool.

Traditionally, the Colorado River basin states have turned to programs that pay irrigators to voluntarily leave fields dry for a season or two as the primary way to cut water use. With agriculture representing the majority of water use in the Upper Basin, its often the low-hanging fruit when it comes to water savings.

But at least two Upper Basin states are turning to other methods to contribute water to a Lake Powell pool.

For example, New Mexico can contribute water from Navajo Reservoir that it leases from a tribe. In Colorado, the method is less straightforward, but officials say the state is prioritizing and expanding existing programs and projects that save water.

When you talk about things like turf removal, water-loss prevention, watershed restoration, forest-health efforts that are happening on the ground, those are benefits not only to Colorado but to the entire system, said Becky Mitchell, Colorados lead negotiator in talks among the seven states that share the Colorado River. So were trying to figure out: How do we acknowledge all of that work?

Utah touts pragmatic approach

Over its run in 2023 and 2024, the federally funded System Conservation Pilot Program doled out $45 million to Upper Basin irrigators to cut their use by about 100,000 acre-feet. Utah water users received about $15 million of that in exchange for temporarily forgoing about 37,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water. The state put lessons learned with SCPP to use and is now in the second year of its own demand management pilot program, funded by $5 million from the state legislature and run by the Colorado River Authority of Utah.

The pilot program lets water users temporarily participate in a conservation program, and pays them $390 an acre-foot of water to do it. In 2025, Utah sent about 8,000 acre-feet downstream to Lake Powell under this pilot program, according to Marc Stilson, deputy director and principal engineer of the authority. There are a couple industrial water users and one municipal water user among the participants, but the majority are agricultural, he said.

The pilot program is trying to iron out all these issues so that if we end up with some type of post-2026 commitment to do these types of voluntary conservation programs, were ready to do it, Stilson said. There is a very pragmatic approach in Utah looking at the big picture, and I think generally there is a sense that we have to adapt to changing conditions.

Whether the program will continue after this year is unclear and could depend on whether the states reach a deal.

We were anticipating that wed have an agreement and that these types of programs would be part of that agreement, Stilson said. I think we just have to take a wait-and-see approach.

Wyoming is also looking to traditional programs: State lawmakers are establishing a voluntary water conservation program. Wyoming state engineer and lead negotiator Brandon Gebhart did not respond to phone calls, emails or a list of questions from Aspen Journalism.

New Mexico seeks more diverse ways to contribute water

The state of New Mexico plans to contribute to a Powell pool mostly through 20,000 acre-feet of Navajo Reservoir water, which it leases from the Jicarilla Apache Nation and can be released down the San Juan River. Along the way to Lake Powell, it boosts flows for endangered fish. Officials say because they can control when they release the water, it can be tracked with certainty to the reservoir.

We all need to focus on more diverse ways of contributions, not just the classic conserved consumptive use, said Ali Effati, Colorado River basin bureau chief for the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission.

Water managers say that automatically turning to agricultural water isnt always reliable because as climate change continues to rob rivers of flows, even if senior water users want to participate in these types of conservation programs, they may not have any water to spare in dry years.

That doesnt mean that we have shied away from those sorts of activities, but to the extent that we can do our part without having to ask our agricultural community to cut water where they already take significant cuts almost annually, thats just a preferable perspective, said Estevan Lopez, lead negotiator for New Mexico.

Lopez said the likelihood of seeing a future Upper Basin contribution pool in Lake Powell is nearly 100% and that New Mexico will be ready, willing and able to contribute its share of water when the time comes.

We have our percentage easily covered, plus a significant amount more, he said.

Colorado points to programs already in place

Colorado water users participated in both years of SCPP, but the state has been reluctant to take the leap into setting up its own program, despite being an early leader of the conservation conversation among the Upper Basin states.

In 2019, Colorado convened nine workgroups to explore the feasibility of a demand management program. The process included Colorado River water users from across the state and in multiple water-use sectors, who looked at how to set up a temporary, voluntary, compensated state program. But in 2022, the state water board shelved the studies without implementing a program, in favor of focusing on drought-resiliency initiatives.

Mitchell said the demand management feasibility investigation was an incredibly valuable exercise, but that there are still a number of open questions. Inaction on a demand management program doesnt mean inaction on conservation overall, she said.

The CWCB board voted to pause that investigation until there was clarity about whether any such program would be achievable, worthwhile and advisable and until theres evidence that a demand management-esque program would benefit Colorado, Mitchell said.

In 2023, Colorado lawmakers created a task force to again examine how the state could implement demand reduction and conservation programs. Water managers punted the issue again, failing to make recommendations to lawmakers on this topic, with some members saying conservation programs were premature.

The state still does not seem to have the policies in place to implement a large-scale, traditional conservation program in the near future. Mitchell said Colorados plan to contribute water to a Lake Powell pool is through the programs and projects already in place, many of which are funded through the states Water Plan grants.

At its March meeting, the CWCB approved more than $13 million for 38 projects across the state, according to a press release. They include things like urban turf replacement, creek and wetland restoration, outdoor water budgeting and wildfire ready action plans.

Our strategy is to continue on with the programs that are already in existence, continue to fund conservation efforts that benefit all Coloradans as well as the entire system, continue to live within the means of the river and adapt our uses to align with available supply, Mitchell said. Because of all those programs already set up, we believe we have the majority of the structure in place.

But Mitchell would not put a number on the amount of water that Colorado could contribute.

We want to be a part of the solution when and how we are able to, but no, Im not going to say we can do 100,000 acre-feet in a year like this, she said.

Colorado River watchers may soon get some clarity around exactly how  and how much  Upper Basin states plan to contribute to a Lake Powell pool. On March 24, the Upper Colorado River Commission plans to consider projects to include in a provisional accounting memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, according to UCRC Director Chuck Cullom.

Some Upper Basin projects that are not traditional agricultural conservation programs may be counted under the MOU, allowing the states to get credit for the water they save through unconventional means. Cullom said the UCRC and Bureau of Reclamation will also soon have an accounting report of water-saving activities undertaken in 2025.

Mitchell said Colorado is still committed to a seven-state consensus agreement and wants to avoid litigation. But acknowledgement of what the Upper Basin is already doing to cut back on water use will be important.

The MOU is one component where we would like to see some sort of real acknowledgement of what is occurring in terms of the way that we live within the means of the river and what our strict administration is doing, Mitchell said. As long as we are not acknowledged in whats happening on the ground, I think were going to have struggles.
Thu Thursday

65 /41

Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the mid 60s and lows in the low 40s.
To Strengthen Economic Development In Northeast Montana

Great Northern Development Corporation (GNDC) has been awarded $65,000 through the Montana Department of Commerces Opportunities for Rural Economies (ORE) Development Organization Capacity Building Grant Program.

The funding is part of a more than $...
Local School Clinches Victory in Montana in the Prodigy State Challenge  the Worlds Biggest Math Competition.

Irle Elementary is celebrating being named the February state champion in the worlds biggest math competition. Students joined forces to answer more correct questions than any other school in Montana as part of the Prodigy State Challenge monthly co...
Alice Marie Anderson, age 86 of Appleton, WI passed away peacefully on February 19, 2026, surrounded by family after living courageously with Alzheimer's disease and ultimately succumbing to B-cell lymphoma.

She was born to Carl and Grace (Morstad) Anderson on February 5, 1940, in Leeds, North Dakota. Alice's calling was that of service. She devoted her life to caring for others: her family, her patients in nursing, her students in teaching, and those she mentored through many organizations. She was active in church, WELCA, PEO, Sons of Norway, the Emergency Shelter, and choral groups. Her passion and talent for singing and music remained through to the end with On a Positive Note choir.

Alice is predeceased by her parents, Carl and Grace, and her brothers, Gerald (Millie) and Wayne.

She will be missed deeply by those she has left behind: her husband of 63 years, Gary; her children Mike (Sue), Kathy (Neal), Emily (David), and Amy (Dennis); her grandchildren Becca, Baxter, and Addy; and many extended family and friends.

Alice was a fervent participant in the research study Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention for decades, and her contribution to that research extends after life with organ tissue donation.

Alice's family would like to extend a special thanks to the many Home Instead caregivers; her hospice nursing team with Compassus; the Cancer Center at Ascension NE Wisconsin - St. Elizabeth Hospital; and Annie Meulemans of Thrive Music Therapy and the Fox Valley Memory Project singing group, On a Positive Note.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 24, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Appleton, Wisconsin at 11:00 a.m. There will be a visitation starting at 9:00 a.m. prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Wisconsin Alzheimer's Association, http://www.alz.org/wi; the Fox Valley Memory Project, http://www.foxvalleymemoryproject.org/donate; or a charity of your choice.
Dorothy Stepper, 97 of Glasgow Montana died Sunday evening, March 15th 2026, after suffering a stroke while in Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital. Her daughter was at her side as she gained her "angel wings".

Dorothy was born on May 3rd 1928 to Katherine and Gilbert Sweeting in Wolf Point, Mont. She attended Grand Prairie School (a one-room schoolhouse) and graduated from Wolf Point High School in 1946. She went to beauty school in Minneapolis with her lifelong friend Ruby Elison. They attended beauty school from 8:00 to 5:00 and then worked at an ice cream shop until midnight to keep a roof over their heads and food in their bellies. After she returned to Montana she worked in a salon and then was able to buy her own beauty salon.

In late 1948, Dorothy met "a tall handsome man", Lester Stepper. They were married on April 30th 1949 in Wolf Point.

In 1954 they moved to Glasgow where they built their house. They did all the work themselves, even using a wheelbarrow and cement mixer to pour the basement floor. A few years later children Daniel, Kristy and LeAnn were adopted to make their family complete.

Her life was dedicated to her family. She had a deep Christian faith and was active in her church. She also loved quilting with the church ladies. She volunteered many hours at Valley View giving perms and cutting hair for its residents.

She was an accomplished seamstress and you could hear her sewing machine humming away many days. She was not afraid of hard work and loved taking classes to learn new skills. She loved playing cards and had a great memory for what had been played. When playing bridge she was a great partner. If you were her opponent  look out.

After Lester retired they bought a house on Fort Peck Lake where they enjoyed a peaceful tranquil life. They were snowbirds to Mesa AZ during the winters. Dorothy continued going to Mesa through the spring of 2020. In the fall of 2021 she moved into Prairie Ridge in Glasgow and was an independent resident until her death. She continued driving even at 97 years young.

Dorothy is survived by her daughters Kristy (Loren) of Littleton CO and LeAnn Wylie (Clinton) of Cookeville, TN. Grandchildren Sonya Malloy (Mike) of Littleton CO; Nathan Dommer of Littleton CO; Sofia Kambahampati (Geoff) of Hazel Green AL; Elysabeth McCrary (Brandon) of Manchester MO; Brittany Kendrick (Sean) of Signal Mountain TN, and great grandchildren Lillian, Connor, Harrison, Aiden, Maliyah, Michael, Harlyn, McKenzie, and Elijah.

She was preceded in her death by her parents Gilbert and Katherine Sweeting, her husband Lester, son Daniel, sister Phyllis Trang and brother Robert Sweeting.

Any memorials may be sent to First Lutheran Church in Glasgow or Fort Peck Lutheran Church in Fort Peck, Montana.

A private burial will take place at Highland Cemetery in Glasgow, MT.
House Intelligence Committee Votes to Release Transcripts from 2019 Hearing with Former ICIG Michael Atkinson

US House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

March 24, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence held a business meeting to consider multiple Committee actions. During the business meeting, the Committee voted in favor of releasing two transcripts from 2019 hearings with the former Intelligence Community Inspector General, Michael Atkinson. The hearings were held to examine Atkinson's role in an alleged whistleblower complaint, which ultimately led to Democrats' first impeachment efforts against President Trump in December 2019. One transcript would be released to the ODNI for classification review, and then subsequently released to the public by the Committee with the second unclassified transcript.

"The great deal of widespread speculation about the Atkinson classified hearing transcript is indicative of the American people's complete and warranted mistrust of the Intelligence Community," said Chairman Crawford. "In far too many instances, the IC hides behind the veil of overclassification. Sometimes sunlight is the best disinfectant. As part of the Committee's continued effort to balance the transparency the American people deserve and the need to protect sensitive national security information, we hope that the release of these transcripts allows the American people to make their own determinations. As Chairman, I remain committed to ensuring this Committee, where possible, is transparent as the IC works to rebuild trust with the American people."

The transcripts will be posted on the Committee website once they undergo the standard classification review with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

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Contracts

Contracts for March 24, 2026

ARMY

Flatiron-AECON JV, Renton, Washington, was awarded a $691,144,851 modification (P00003) to contract W912DW-25-C-0001 for the construction of additional water storage and fish passage facility at the Howard A. Hanson Dam. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $707,791,268. Work will be performed in Ravensdale, Washington, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 17, 2031. Fiscal 2026 civil construction funds in the amount of $175,187,170 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle, Washington, is the contracting activity.

Dynamic-HHS JV,* Winnebago, Nebraska (W91278-26-D-A063); Pegasus International Mentor Protege LLC,* Plantation, Florida (W91278-26-D-A064); Facility Services Management Inc., Clarksville, Tennessee (W91278-26-D-A065); J&J Maintenance doing business as CBRE Government & Defense Services, McLean, Virginia (W91278-26-D-A066); and Hospital Housekeeping Systems, Dripping Springs, Texas (W91278-26-D-A067), will compete for each order of the $249,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for operation and maintenance with incidental repair and minor construction. Bids were solicited via the internet with seven received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 23, 2031. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District, is the contracting activity.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Akron, Ohio, was awarded a $24,960,000 firm-fixed-price contract to supply Goodyear tires in support of the Army Security Assistance Command. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 23, 2029. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W91CRB-26-D-A003).

Luhr Crosby LLC, Columbia, Illinois, was awarded a $10,219,379 firm-fixed-price contract for dredging of shoals, navigation channels, and approach areas of locks and dams at various locations. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 15, 2026. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District, is the contracting activity (W912QR-26-F-A105).

Caterpillar Inc., Irving, Texas, was awarded a $10,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the purchase of Caterpillar spare parts to support the Army Security Assistance Command. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 24, 2030. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W91CRB-26-D-A005).

NAVY

Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Manassas, Virginia, is awarded a $478,359,847 cost only, cost-plus-incentive-fee, firm-fixed-price, and fixed-price incentive, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for engineering and technical support and production of the Integrated Submarine Imaging System for new-construction and in-service submarines. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $1,187,724,017. Work will be performed in Manassas, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by March 2036. Fiscal 2025 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $600,000 will be obligated to satisfy the minimum guarantee and begin engineering efforts under delivery order N00024-26-F-6241, and the funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The requirement was competitively procured through full and open competition with one offeror received in response to this solicitation. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-26-D-6203).

General Atomics, San Diego, California, is awarded a $23,400,000 firm-fixed-price modification (P00003) to a previously issued order (N0001925F0028) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N0001921G0014). This not-to-exceed long-lead procurement contract action is to procure electromagnetic aircraft launch system and advanced arresting gear long-lead material and technical data in support of the Future French Carrier production. Work will be performed in Tupelo, Mississippi (51%); Cincinnati, Ohio (30%); Spring Grove, Illinois (13%); and San Diego, California (6%), and is expected to be completed in March 2028. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $23,400,000 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract action was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

JCB Inc., Pooler, Georgia, was awarded $16,866,274 for a firm-fixed-price delivery order (M67854-26-F-5309) under indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract M67854-26-D-5300 for Tractor, Rubber Tired, Articulated-Steering Multi-Purpose (TRAM) vehicle. This delivery order provides TRAM vehicles, operating training, training packages, and product verification test training. Work will be performed in the United Kingdom (80% ); and in Pooler, Georgia (20%). Work is expected to be completed in January 2028. Fiscal 2026 (Marine Corps and Navy) funds in the amount of $16,866,274 are being obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity.

AIR FORCE

Beyond New Horizons LLC, Arnold Air Force Base, Tennessee, has been awarded a $236,508,476 modification (P00037) to previously awarded contract FA9101-24-C-B002 for test operations and sustainment. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $4,194,911,253 from $ 3,958,402,777. Work will be performed at Arnold Air Force Base, Tennessee and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2036. There are no funds being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Test Center, Arnold Air Force Base, Tennessee is the contracting activity.



Deloitte Consulting LLP, Arlington, Virginia, has been awarded a $12,411,430 firm-fixed-priced contract for Headquarters Air Combat Command (HQ ACC) transformation implementation. This contract provides for knowledge-based services to support HQ ACC in transforming its organization and processes to meet global security challenges. Work will be performed at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia; Eglin Air Force Base, Florida; and the Air Force Pentagon, Washington, D.C, and is expected to be complete by February 28, 2030. This contract was a competitive acquisition and one offer was received. Fiscal year 2026 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $6,900,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Combat Command Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia is the contracting activity (FA489026F0045).

DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY

OptumHealth Care Solutions LLC, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, is awarded $12,662,742 for a firm-fixed-price option modification to a previously awarded contract (HT001125CE007) for Global Nurse Advice Line (GNAL) support services. The GNAL is a service to Military Health System eligible beneficiaries and provides access to telehealth registered nurses for triage services, self-care advice, and general health inquiries 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance funds are obligated for contract modification HT001125CE007 P00001 to exercise and fully fund option one contract line items 1001-1006 for three months from March 18, 2026, through June 17, 2026. The place of performance is Eden Prairie, Minnesota. The Defense Health Agency, Professional Services Contracting Division, Falls Church, Virginia, is the contracting activity. (Awarded March 16, 2026).

*Small business

https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4442927/

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Army accelerates advanced manufacturing with contracting award at Red River

By U.S. Army Public Affairs March 18, 2026

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- The Department of the Army has awarded a contract to Hadrian Automation Inc. in a significant move to accelerate advanced manufacturing capabilities. This is the first phase of an Advanced Automation Manufacturing project at Red River Army Depot in Texas. The initiative will establish a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Texarkana, Texas, aimed at modernizing the production capability of components for weapon systems, including small unmanned aerial systems.

The firm-fixed-price contract represents a key investment in the Army's Organic Industrial Base, or OIB, transformation. By leveraging Hadrian Automation's advanced manufacturing capabilities, the Army is taking a decisive step to strengthen its supply chain, increase production speed, and ensure the highest quality components are available for the nation's weapon systems.

The contract award was made under a commercial solutions opening posted in January 2026 to competitively procure innovative commercial items, technologies or services in support of OIB modernization. Over the next 90 days, the Army will work with Hadrian to refine the terms of the contract.

Army leaders hailed the award as a critical investment that will directly support readiness and lethality.

"To maintain a decisive edge, we must overhaul how we build and sustain our equipment," said Brent Ingraham, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology. "This contract is a prime example of how we are leveraging commercial innovation to build a more robust and efficient industrial base that will deliver advanced capabilities to the warfighter faster and more reliably than ever before."

Since the designation of Rock Island Arsenal-Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center as the Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence in 2018, the Army has significantly grown its organic AM capability. The service is now expanding that capability across the OIB.

"We are collaborating with industry, other military services and academia to achieve maximum capacity and learn how best to implement advanced manufacturing at every echelon," said Lt. Gen. Chris Mohan, commanding general of Army Materiel Command. "Advanced manufacturing is a foundational capability that supports building ready combat formations across the Army, and we must build and leverage our organic capability, as well as that of industry."

The initial contract action is valued at $39.2 million, with a total cumulative value of $80 million. The work in Texarkana is scheduled for completion by March 16, 2027. The contract was awarded by the Red River Army Depot Contracting Office under the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan.

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US Army launches online marketplace to revolutionize drone acquisition

By U.S. Army Public Affairs March 24, 2026

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- The U.S. Army launched the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Marketplace on March 24  a new digital storefront designed to get trusted, cutting-edge drone technology into the hands of Soldiers faster than ever before. This digital one-stop shop will allow Army units, government partners and allied nations to efficiently procure vetted UAS solutions.

Developed in collaboration with Amazon Web Services and the Army Enterprise Cloud Management Agency, the digital storefront features tools that allow users to compare system functionalities, provide direct feedback and place orders with ease.

"The UAS Marketplace is a prime example of how the Army is transforming its acquisition processes to be more agile, competitive and effective," said the Honorable Brent G. Ingraham, the Army Acquisition Executive. "By lowering barriers to entry and partnering with a wider range of industrial innovators, we are building a more resilient and responsive defense industrial base, which is essential for equipping our force and deterring our adversaries."

The marketplace is more than a digital storefront. It marks a major shift from traditional, slower acquisition methods and is a key part of the Army's goal to transform its procurement process. By creating a competitive and transparent environment, the platform will foster innovation, broaden the industrial base and provide a wider range of drone capabilities to meet the evolving demands of the modern battlefield.

"The success of this marketplace directly demonstrates the power of the Portfolio Acquisition Executive construct to deliver tailored capability faster and more efficiently," said Maj. Gen. Clair Gill, the Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Maneuver Air. "It represents a pivotal shift in our acquisition mindset and is a cornerstone of Army Aviation's modernization strategy. This new agility allows us to equip our Soldiers with the unmanned technologies they want and need to maintain overmatch on a complex battlefield."

"The UAS Marketplace is a direct response to the evolving needs of our Soldiers on the ground," said Mr. Rodney Davis, the Capabilities Program Executive for Aviation. "By creating a dynamic and competitive environment, we are not just buying drones; we are delivering versatile and advanced aerial capabilities that will give our formations a decisive edge in multi-domain operations."

Project leaders emphasized that the marketplace is purpose-built to deliver capability faster than ever before, directly supporting Army modernization efforts and the strategic goal of achieving drone dominance.

"The UAS Marketplace is a transformative approach to acquisition," said Col. Danielle Medaglia, the Army's Project Manager for UAS. "By fostering competition and innovation, we are ensuring that Soldiers have access to the most advanced technologies to meet their mission requirements. This strategy is about delivering capability at scale and at speed."

The Army is also leveraging the UAS Marketplace to accelerate the delivery of innovative UAS solutions to Allies and foreign partners. As it matures, this free-market approach to UAS procurement will strengthen international partnerships and streamline Foreign Military Sales processes by delivering mission-specific unmanned systems at the speed of relevance.

The Army will display the UAS Marketplace in booth #711 at the 2026 Association of the United States Army Global Force Symposium and Exposition in Huntsville, Alabama, March 24-26.

The Army will also host a Marketplace Showcase on April 14, prior to the Army Aviation Association of America's Warfighting Summit. Visit Sam.gov for more information.

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Wyoming Guard Expands Field Artillery with Rocket Training

By Joseph Coslett, Wyoming National Guard March 24, 2026

CAMP GUERNSEY, Wyo. -- The Wyoming National Guard expanded its field artillery capability by training Soldiers March 20 in one of the Army's most in-demand roles, the 13M High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) crew member.

At the Regional Training Institute in Guernsey, Soldiers from across the force are attending a 13M MOS transition course, learning how to operate and support one of the Army's most lethal and mobile weapon systems. The course prepares experienced Soldiers from other career fields to serve on HIMARS crews.

"This course enables Soldiers who are already trained in another specialty to become qualified HIMARS crew members," said Capt. Matthew Buchanan, operations officer and officer in charge at the RTI. "There's a growing demand for this capability across the Army, and Wyoming is part of that growth."

That demand is tied to how the Army is changing. HIMARS has proven its effectiveness in modern conflicts, increasing the need for long-range precision fires. As units expand, so does the need for trained crews, including within Wyoming's 2nd Battalion, 300th Field Artillery Regiment.

"Every HIMARS battalion is growing," Buchanan said. "We're adding batteries, and that means we need more trained Soldiers. This course allows us to build that capability here at home."

Students arrive with a wide range of experience. Many have spent years in other military occupational specialties before transitioning into field artillery.

"We encourage them to bring that experience with them," said Staff Sgt. Jeremy Larkey, of Riverton, Wyoming, lead instructor. "Every background adds something to the team, whether it's maintenance, communications or logistics."

The course blends classroom instruction with hands-on training. Soldiers learn system components, safety procedures and operational concepts before applying those skills in practical exercises.

"There's a lot of information," Larkey said. "But the goal isn't to memorize everything. It's to give them a foundation so they can continue learning when they get to their unit."

Training builds toward a field training exercise where students operate as full HIMARS crews in a realistic environment.

"It's about building confidence," said Staff Sgt. Austin Paulsen, of Thermopolis, Wyoming, an instructor. "We want them to go back to their units, contribute immediately and keep improving."

Beyond technical skills, leaders emphasize the mission's purpose.

"HIMARS gives the Army the ability to reach targets at long distances and shape the battlefield," Buchanan said. "When you're part of that, you're part of something bigger than yourself."

As the Wyoming National Guard continues to grow its field artillery capability, the 13M transition course is preparing Soldiers for that mission.

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Colombian military plane crash kills at least 66

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

24.03.2026 [11:55]

Baku, March 24, AZERTAC

A Colombian Air Force plane crashed shortly after takeoff in the south of the country, leaving at least 66 people dead and dozens injured, BBC reports citing officials.

Air force commander Carlos Fernando Silva Rueda said 114 army personnel were on board, as well as 11 crew.

The plane, a US-made C-130 Hercules used for transporting troops, came down near the town of Puerto Leguizamo, in Putumayo province.

Emergency workers sent to the area were seen searching through the wreckage for survivors. The cause of the crash was being investigated.

Colombian Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez said the Lockheed Martin-built Hercules C-130 transport plane had suffered "a tragic accident while it was taking off from Puerto Leguizamo, transporting troops of our security forces".

He described the incident near the border with Peru as "deeply sad for the country".

Ammunition being carried on board detonated as a result of a fire on the aircraft, Sanchez later said.

A military source told AFP that 58 soldiers had died, along with six air force personnel and two police officers.

Two military sources also told Reuters that 66 people had died.

The incident was one of the deadliest accidents in recent history for Colombia's Air Force.

Images shared by local media show a plume of smoke rising from the site and trucks carrying soldiers heading to the area.

Footage on local news sites also appears to show locals transporting what seem to be injured soldiers from the accident site to hospitals on the back of small motorbikes.

President Gustavo Petro wrote on X that "this horrendous accident ... should not have happened".

In the lengthy post, he also blamed "bureaucratic problems" for holding up his plans to modernise the armed forces' equipment and their aircraft.

"I will allow no further delays, the lives of our young people are at stake," he wrote, without clarifying what may have caused the accident.

Last month, a Bolivian Air Force C-130 Hercules transporting banknotes crashed in the west of the country, killing at least 20 people.

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March 24, 2026

By Matthew Olay, Pentagon News

Hegseth Lauds Parity in Pay, Benefits for Guardsmen, Praises Memphis Crime Reduction

During a roundtable review of crime reduction in the city of Memphis, Tennessee, yesterday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth lauded President Donald J. Trump's announcement that some National Guardsmen currently deployed around the U.S. will soon receive deployment pay and benefits equal to those of active-duty troops.

Speaking at the Memphis Air National Guard base during a gathering of senior leaders representing the Memphis Safe Task Force  an anti-crime, federal intervention force involving the National Guard and a host of federal agencies  Hegseth thanked the president for assuring that qualified guardsmen throughout the U.S. will be treated the same as their deployed, active-duty counterparts.

"Thank you for agreeing to sign that declaration for the Memphis troops, the D.C. troops [and] the troops on our border. They'll now be paid and get benefits just like folks on active duty; thank you for that, Mr. President," Hegseth said to Trump, shortly after the president made the announcement.

Hegseth added that Trump's declaration is an important step in demonstrating how serious the War Department is about its mission of combating big-city crime throughout the U.S.

"Every American is entitled  without exception  to safe, clean and beautiful cities. Cities where you can walk in peace; cities where law enforcement can do their job, and, to that end, the War Department stands shoulder to shoulder with state and federal partners so that our streets can be defended once again," Hegseth said.

Initiated via Trump's signing of a presidential memorandum, Sept. 15, 2025, and modeled after lessons learned from the Make the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful initiative that Trump launched in August 2025, the Memphis Safe Task Force works alongside local police to increase patrols, seize illegal weapons and target street crime.

The roundtable provided task force leadership with the opportunity to showcase a series of statistics demonstrating the success of the anti-crime initiative in Memphis.

Gadyaces S. Serralta, director of the U.S. Marshals Service, said 7,342 arrests have been made, including 44 homicide arrests, 812 drug arrests and 757 gang-related arrests.

He added that the task force has seized more than 1,200 illegal firearms and that 150 missing children have been located.

Additionally, just over 600 illegal aliens have been apprehended throughout Memphis as of this month.

"Thank you for working tirelessly to protect this state and restore law and order. ... Your presence has led to a massive reduction in crime  a reduction the good citizens of Memphis deserve," Hegseth told the guardsmen and law enforcement officers in attendance.

Following yesterday's roundtable, Hegseth took time to visit the men and women assigned to the 164th Airlift Wing of the Tennessee Air National Guard.

While there, Hegseth praised the guardsmen for their service to their home state and to their country as a whole.

"Not enough people know the dynamic nature of what you undertake on a daily basis, [but] I get a chance to 'look under the hood' and see it a little bit when you look at the logistics and the coordination that it takes to sustain what's happening in Operation Epic Fury," Hegseth said, referencing the National Guardsmen who are mobilized overseas in support of the current operations against the Iranian regime.

"Ultimately, I couldn't be more grateful for the commitment that all of you make. ... It's [the War Department's] job to serve you and just know that at every step  in every way that we can  we're here to have your back," he added.

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Speech by President Antonio Costa at SciencesPo - Paris School of International Affairs

European Council / Council of the European Union

European Council

Speech

24 March 2026 09:30

Let me begin by thanking you for the invitation to speak with you today. It is a great pleasure to address such a diverse and vibrant audience here at SciencesPo, representing more than one hundred nationalities. It is comforting to see that in a constantly changing world, some things remain constant. And one of those constants is that the world still comes to Paris.

Let me start by a simple question. How do you see the state of international affairs? My simple answer is: growing disorder. But if we dig deeper, we see two main trends. The first is a reality in which the power of might prevails over the power of law. A world in which international law is systematically ignored. Where major powers violate peace and disrupt trade.

But there is an important second trend: the world is becoming more multipolar. More and more, middle-size powers aspire to play a role. Every day, emerging economies expand in scale, in confidence and in power. It is the combination of both - an erosion in the respect for international law and a growing multipolarity - that is most relevant for us today, most relevant for the European Union.

So, what should be the role of the European Union in this context? The answer comes with what I would call the three Ps:

Principles Partnerships and Power

Starting with principles: the European Union must continue to support a rules-based international order, anchored in the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter. It is in our fundamental interest to ensure that the world remains rules-based and cooperative. It is in our fundamental interest to avoid further global fragmentation.

The opposite of cooperation is conflict, the opposite of rules is chaos, and that is what we have today. Because the alternative to rules and cooperation is the war in Ukraine, the alternative is the war in the Middle East, including the dramatic humanitarian situation in Gaza, the alternative is the war in Sudan, and in different parts of the world. And the alternative is also disruption to international trade and threats to the prosperity of our citizens.

That is why, since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the European Union has acted with a determination that many believed impossible. From the first day, we have supported Ukraine politically, financially, diplomatically and militarily. We will continue to do so, as long as it takes to achieve a just and lasting peace. That is why the war in the Middle East is so concerning. And in last week's European Council we have made Europe's principled approach clear:

calling for de-escalation and maximum restraint, and full respect of international law by all parties

strongly condemning Iran's indiscriminate military strikes against countries in the region

and demanding respect for freedom of navigation, and condemning any acts that threaten navigation through the Strait of Hormuz

Our principles must be clear. And we must be steadfast and coherent in their defence. But that is not enough.

For Europe to effectively defend international law in practice, and to strengthen multilateralism - we need alliances. Which brings me to the second P of Europe's answer to the current world: Partnerships. The European Union needs to reinforce multilateralism by expanding its network of partnerships.

The European Union is an economic superpower and remains a powerful magnet; attracting partners, shaping standards, and engaging others through cooperation rather than force. And as the European Union weaves more and more partnerships, it strengthens the fabric of multilateralism - reinforcing cooperation across the entire system, in all directions.

This is precisely what the 27 European Leaders discussed during last week's European Council meeting with the UN Secretary General. The United Nations must be reformed - but it cannot be replaced. It must remain the cornerstone of the multilateral system. It is the only forum with universal legitimacy and the capacity to sustain effective multilateral cooperation. In support of it, the European Union needs to join efforts with those countries that reject spheres of influence and want power politics to be kept in check by international law. And they are in the majority.

The European Union is a reliable and predictable partner. In today's unpredictable world, this is a major strategic asset. That is why our partners are reaching out to us. We must therefore continue expanding our global network. We already have the world's most extensive network of trade agreements. Recent agreements with Mercosur and India, covering more than two billion people, are a clear example of this strategy. And we are in the process of negotiating, concluding or ratifying trade agreements with a further 27 other countries. Just last night, the European Commission concluded negotiations with a long-standing ally, Australia, for a Trade Agreement and a Security and Defence Partnership.

Instead of tariffs, Europe offers win-win outcomes. And the potential for cooperation extends beyond trade, including, for example, security and defence, or in the fields of technology, or artificial intelligence.

Instead of spheres of influence, we build networks of economic and political cooperation. We have tightened our bonds with like-minded democracies, including Canada, India, Brazil, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Norway, Iceland, Japan, South Korea, and South Africa. These multipolar partnerships, of the friends of the United Nations, are a way to join forces globally for peace and security, for climate action, for the protection of the oceans, for health and education. And the European Union should be the main animating force behind this effort. The strategic goal is clear: to create a new international balance through partnerships. To be strong and respected and to play its full role in this new world, Europe needs to accelerate its internal homework.

Which brings me to the third P: Power. And that has two pillars: first, competitiveness; to boost and strengthen our economy; and second, defence. European leaders agreed during their meeting last week on a 'One Europe, One Market' agenda. This is an ambitious action plan in the field of competitiveness, with clearly defined timelines to be implemented by the end of 2027, but mostly this year, in 2026.It covers:

the completion of the single market

systematically cutting red tape at all levels

ensuring affordable energy prices

industrial renewal and innovation, and reducing dependencies

and mobilizing investment

As for defence, in 2025 we established a strategy for Defence Readiness by 2030, we identified priority military capabilities; we created European instruments to finance them in common; and we have developed a joint defence industrial strategy to reduce our dependencies on non-European suppliers.

Both these areas - competitiveness and defence - will increase our resilience and strategic autonomy. Without them, Europe will not be able to be an autonomous player, an effective provider of stability, a solid champion of multilateralism. The rapid response from Greece, Spain, France, Italy and the Netherlands, sending military forces to protect Cyprus from the strikes in the recent days, is a clear example of the power of Europe, and principled European solidarity in action. As was the European defence of the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark in face of threats against Greenland.

The idea of strategic autonomy was controversial when it was first mentioned by President Emmanuel Macron in his Sorbonne speech in 2017. Today the world is changed, and this concept is now accepted by all and constitutes an important element of how we see the world and Europe's place in it.

Distinguished Professors, dear students, to sum up: there is a growing awareness that global problems will not be solved by one power deciding alone. Nor will they be solved by two powers dividing the world into rival spheres of influence. We live in a multipolar world, where both North and South are plural. And this multipolar world requires multilateral solutions and multipolar partnerships. And Europe must and will be at the centre of those solutions. For this it needs the three Ps:

First: principles, to remain a coherent, predictable, reliable, and respected international actor

Second: partnerships, to strengthen the European Union's global network and to put it at the service of effective multilateralism

And third: power, to develop the tools to act more autonomously and effectively on the international stage

Thank you.

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Digital infrastructure powers Xiong'an, China's 'city of future'

11:07, March 25, 2026 By Xia Kangjian ( People's Daily

Photo shows the Xiong'an Urban Computing Center. (People's Daily/Lei Sheng)

As night falls, a deep-blue "eye" gazes into the distance. Located in the western part of the Rongdong district of Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei province, the Xiong'an Urban Computing Center rests quietly. Resembling a human eye in its architectural design, it is locally known as the "Eye of Xiong'an."

Inside this "city brain," servers glow with streams of blue light, supporting multidimensional computing for government services, urban planning, and ecological management. Large screens display a continuously evolving virtual city model on a digital operations platform.

"The Xiong'an Urban Computing Center adopts an integrated computing system that includes edge computing, cloud computing, supercomputing, and intelligent computing, providing computing, storage, and network services for big data, blockchain, and the Internet of Things across the city," said Zhao Song, an engineer at the center.

When asked what practical benefits the center brings, Zhao replied, "There are quite a lot," citing the Xiong'an Pass project as an example. Its systems are deployed at the Xiong'an Urban Computing Center, allowing residents to use a third-generation social security card -- known as the Xiong'an Pass -- to access services in government affairs, social security, healthcare, transportation, and daily consumption. To date, more than 810,000 such cards have been issued, with over 6 million uses recorded.

"The computing center provides strong support for our operations," said Zhang Xu, project manager of the Xiong'an Pass at China Xiong'an Group Digital City Company.

During a government-led consumption promotion campaign, the mini-program of Xiong'an Pass experienced up to 40,000 concurrent connections at the moment vouchers were released, placing high demands on bandwidth and cloud resource responsiveness, Zhang noted.

Photo shows the Rongdong district of Xiong'an New Area. (Photo/Geng Hui)

With 50 petabytes of current storage capacity and a planned expansion to 1,000 petabytes, the facility prioritizes sustainability. Its design includes over 10,000 square meters of ultra-low energy consumption building space, setting national benchmarks for green infrastructure. Critically, all technologies -- from chips and servers to cloud platforms and applications -- are domestically developed.

All government service systems in Xiong'an New Area are hosted at the computing center. Enterprises such as China Satellite Network Group Co., Ltd., China Space-Time Information Co., Ltd., and China Xiong'an Group, along with research institutions including the Institute of Computing Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Xiong'an Institute of Meteorological Artificial Intelligence, have also deployed their operations here. To date, the center has aggregated over 38 billion data entries and handled more than 400 million shared interface calls.

As a "city of the future" entrusted with a mission of lasting national significance, Xiong'an integrates intelligence and innovation into its development, with the digital city and the physical city evolving in tandem.

In Xiong'an, even traffic lights can "think." During morning rush hour in the Rongdong district, traffic signals adjust in real time based on traffic flow -- an example of the city's artificial intelligence-powered system and a vivid illustration of its digital twin model.

Underground utility tunnels also reflect this digital intelligence. "Through digital twin technology, sensor devices, and building information modeling, we monitor and provide early warnings for potential issues in water, electricity, gas, heating, and communication systems," Zhao explained. In Xiong'an, every building, road, and pipeline has its own "digital ID." "The digital city enables more precise and efficient urban governance," Zhao added.

Xiong'an New Area has established a smart city standards system based on building information modeling and city information modeling platforms. It has built an independently innovative urban computing system featuring coordinated edge-cloud supercomputing integration, while achieving full coverage of IPv6, the HarmonyOS ecosystem, and sensing systems. Smart applications from government services and environmental protection to transportation and energy, are being rapidly implemented across the city.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Wu Chaolan)
UNHCR 95th Standing Committee - Statement by the EU and its Member States - Agenda item 3 (a) Regional updates: Americas

European External Action Service (EEAS)

24.03.2026

Geneva

Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in Geneva

UNHCR 95th Standing Committee 24-26 March 2026

Agenda item 3 (a) Regional updates: Americas

Statement by the EU and its Member States

Chair,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The European Union highly commends the substantial efforts made by host countries across Latin America and the Caribbean towardsregularisation and inclusion of a large number of the millions of people displaced in the region. In a region which hosts approximatelyone-sixth of the world's forcibly displaced and has been heavily impacted by reductions in humanitarian funding, the EU and its Members States have continuously supported these efforts, which are vital for maintaining stability and ensuring that the most vulnerable populations can receive the support they require.

We are closely monitoring the evolving humanitarian situation in Venezuela and in the region. The EU continues to uphold and promote full respect for human rights, international law and the principles of the UN Charter under all circumstances. Serious humanitarian challenges remain in Venezuela, however there is space for strengthened regional cooperation, aligned with UNHCR's mandate to protect refugees and support sustainable solutions for displacement, as well as establishing an early preparedness plan for potential returns.

We wish to draw attention to the severe humanitarian crisis in Haiti, one of the most acute in the world. Furthermore, we are deeply concerned by increased violence and forced displacement in Colombia, Ecuador, Central America and Mexico.Given the current situation in Cuba and the possibility of population movements, the EU is closely monitoring the situation.

We underline the importance of addressing the root causes of forced displacement in the region, including insecurity, human rights violations and the growing impact of climate change. Comprehensive approaches linking humanitarian action, development cooperation and peace building, alongside strengthened local governance responses, remain essential. Given the potential aggravation of mixed migration flows and the risk of large-scale deportations, we count on UNHCR for further collaboration and joint advocacy in the region.

We call on UNHCR to persist in their efforts to monitor, coordinate, and advocate for displaced populations across Latin America and the Caribbean. Collaborative efforts, including strengthened cooperation with IOM, are crucial in providing effective interventions and support. In that sense, coordination mechanisms and platforms for the response to mixed flows in the region such as MIRPS, the Quito Process, Cartagena+40 and R4V should leverage complementarities, incorporate new technologies and be adapted quickly to emerging displacement trends.

The EU and its Member States remain committed to the regional dimension of our partnership with UNHCR and strongly encourage all partners, including development actors and International Financial Institutions, to increase their engagement to ensure a more effective and sustainable response to support refugees and displaced persons in the region.

Thank you

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UNHCR 95th Standing Committee - Statement by the EU and its Member States - Agenda item 3 (a) Regional updates: Asia and the Pacific

European External Action Service (EEAS)

24.03.2026

Geneva

Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in Geneva

UNHCR 95th Standing Committee

24-26 March 2026

Agenda item 3 (a) Regional updates: Asia and the Pacific

Statement by the EU and its Member States

Chair,

I am honoured to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

We are following developments in Iran and across the broader region with the utmost concern. The current escalation risks further destabilising an already fragile humanitarian context and underscores the urgent need for the protection of civilians and full respect for international humanitarian law. As reported by UNHCR, millions of people have been forced to flee their homes, placing additional strain on communities that are already hosting millions of refugees and internally displaced persons. Any further escalation risks significantly deepening humanitarian needs across the region.

We remain deeply concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian and the human rights situations in Afghanistan. We strongly condemn the Taliban's systematic human rights violations and severe restrictions on human rights in the country, particularly those aimed at the systematic oppression of women and girls and call for the full and equal enjoyment of their human rights in line with international obligations. We further condemn the continued restrictions imposed by the Taliban on implementing partners and international organisations, and we call for the lifting of restrictions preventing women from work, includingin UN compounds in Afghanistan.

Regarding hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the European Union and its Member States call on all actors for immediate de-escalation full respect for international law including international humanitarian law, territorial integrity, the protection of civilians, and sustained dialogue. The EU reiterates that Afghan territory must not be used to threaten or attack other countries and calls on the Afghan de facto authorities to take effective action against all terrorist groups operating in or from Afghanistan.

The return of more than four million Afghans over the past two years from Iran and Pakistan has placed significant strain on already fragile socio-economic conditions. We reiterate our serious concern over forced returns from Pakistan and Iran and stress the need to fully respect the right to seek asylum and the principle of non-refoulement, while supporting the resilience of refugees and host communities until conditions for safe and sustainable solutions are met. We commend UNHCR for its protection and support and reaffirm our commitment to a comprehensive regional response through the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees.

Turning to Myanmar, we remain deeply concerned by severe humanitarian situation including the protracted displacement, as the civil war is still raging, with continuous massive and indiscriminate violence against civilians, including Rohingya in Rakhine State. We reiterate strong condemnation of all violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. As the conflict and food insecurity continue to drive displacement, we acknowledge UNHCR's critical mandate in assisting stateless populations and commend its protection and support provided to all refugees, particularly the Rohingya minority fleeing to Bangladesh. We fully support Bangladesh's position that repatriation must meet the standards of safety, voluntariness, and sustainability, conditions which are not yet fulfilled. Since the root causes persist in Myanmar, the EU will continue applying political and diplomatic pressure through all available means.

Our commitment to the Rohingya remains unwavering, delivered through humanitarian and development aid, diplomatic engagement, and advocacy for durable solutions. In December, the European Commission reaffirmed this commitment at the Rohingya Multistakeholder Pledge Event during the Global Refugee Forum Progress Review. We continue to back the Joint Response Plan, and initiatives that expand skills, education, and livelihood opportunities, fulfilling the pledges made at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum. We welcome the simplification of the Rohingya Refugee Response coordination structure, in line with the Humanitarian Reset.

Finally, the EU will continue to support sustainable and principled responses across the Asia and Pacific region, whilst also recognising the immense pressures faced by host countries and the tireless dedication of UNHCR and other humanitarian partners in delivering their protection mandate in often dangerous contexts.

Thank you.

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UNHCR 95th Standing Committee - Statement by the EU and its Member States - Agenda item 3 (a) Regional updates: Middle East and North Africa

European External Action Service (EEAS)

24.03.2026

Geneva

Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in Geneva

UNHCR 95th Standing Committee

24-26 March 2026

Agenda item 3 (a) Regional updates: Middle East and North Africa

Statement by the EU and its Member States

Chair,

I am honoured to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The European Union follows developments in the Middle East with utmost concern. We call for maximum restraint, protection of civilians and full respect of international law, including the principles of the United Nations Charter, and international humanitarian law. The Middle East stands to lose greatly from any drawn-out war, with the already high number of those forcibly displaced increasing even further and placing additional strain on the humanitarian conditions in the region.

The collapse of the Assad regime represents a defining juncture for Syria. The country's transition faces the challenges of security, economic stability and the long-term recovery besides the fallout of an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Over 1.4 million refugees have come back from neighbouring states since late 2024 - alongside more than 1.7 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have returned to their homes or places of choice. The EU remains committed to helping the Syrian transitional authorities create the conditions for safe, dignified, voluntary and sustainable returns to Syria and stands ready to support those who voluntarily wish to return.

The EU will continue to stand by Syrians inside the country and refugees across the region, mobilising sustained support for humanitarian action, recovery, reconstruction and durable solutions for the protracted displacement of Syrians. Our joint engagement should be coordinated and align as much as possible to Syrian Transitional Authorities' priorities, including to support IDPs, dignified and sustainable returns and reintegration. We reiterate our support for a peaceful and inclusive transition in Syria and underline the importance of protecting the rights of Syrians from all ethnic and religious backgrounds without discrimination.

The EU condemns all violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law in the whole Occupied Palestinian Territory. We stress the need for rapid, safe and unimpeded delivery and sustained distribution of humanitarian aid at scale into and throughout Gaza. We call on all parties to facilitate full and unimpeded humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip to respond to the urgent needs of the population, and urge for aid to be effectively distributed in accordance with international law. The European Union stands ready to work on the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict in accordance with UNSCR 2803. The EU also strongly condemns the further escalation, following massive increase in settler violence against Palestinian civilians, and the policies and threats of intimidation, forcible displacement, and annexation, in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as well as the terrorist attacks against Israel. The EU stresses the essential role of the UN and its agencies, including UNRWA, which provides crucial support to the civilian population, both in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the wider region. The EU calls on Israel not to implement the NGO registration law in its current form.

The EU is deeply concerned about the escalating hostilities in Lebanon and their severe and deadly impact on civilians, including large-scale internal displacement as well as important cross-border population flows. The EU calls for de-escalation, the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as respect for international law, including international humanitarian law. The EU reiterates its call on all parties to respect and implement the terms of the 27 November 2024 ceasefire agreement and for the full implementation of UNSCR 1701. We strongly condemn Hezbollah's decision to attack Israel in support of Iran and urge it to stop immediately. We call on Israel to refrain from further escalation through air or land operations and to respect Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The EU will continue to support UNHCR in delivering life-saving assistance and ensuring sustained protection for those forcibly displaced, and we will draw on its emergency reserves to assist the affected civilian population.

In Lebanon and Jordan, the EU and its Member States will continue to support the critical access to health, shelter, education, water and sanitation for refugees and vulnerable host communities as well as self-reliance and durable solutions for refugees, including support to returns. We encourage such close engagement on voluntary, safe and dignified returns to Syria with the authorities in all host countries in the region.

The European Union remains committed to its partnership with Turkiye, in addressing refugee and migrant flows. We continue supporting vulnerable refugees and host communities, ensuring coordination between humanitarian partners and local authorities, in line with the 2016 EU-Turkiye Statement and according to which the host country has undertaken a range of responsibilities. The EU support focuses on providing access to services for persons in the most vulnerable situations in the areas of education, health, protection, livelihoods, municipal infrastructure and migration governance. In collaboration with UNHCR Turkiye, the EU is also strengthening protection measures for voluntary returns to Syria in line with international standards.

In Yemen, refugees, migrants, and asylum-seekers, particularly in Houthi-controlled areas, face rising protection risks, with severely restricted access to health, documentation, and legal assistance. Urgent action is needed to ensure lifesaving aid reaches persons in the most vulnerable situations, particularly women and girls. The EU fully supports the UNHCR-IOM Route-Based approach to mixed movements. We remain committed to humanitarian assistance and the UN-led peace process, and condemn the arbitrary detention of humanitarian and diplomatic staff, calling for their immediate release to safeguard aid delivery.

Finally, turning to North Africa, since April 2023, Egypt has been hosting a significant number of refugees from Sudan. We fully support UNHCR's work in the region and stand ready to assist Egypt's transition to a state-led asylum system, aligned with international protection standards. In Libya, while substantial challenges remain, UNHCR's is an essential partner on the ground, providing significant support to refugees and asylum-seekers. The EU will continue supporting UNHCR's engagement, enhancing the respect for international humanitarian and refugee law and durable solutions for the refugees in the country. A sustainable political solution and the reunification of all institutions, including the government, are also essential to ensure better support to refugees through institutionalized and well-established policies.

Thank you.

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UNHCR 95th Standing Committee - Statement by the EU and its Member States - Agenda item 3 Regional updates: Africa

European External Action Service (EEAS)

24.03.2026

Geneva

Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in Geneva

UNHCR 95th Standing Committee

24-25 March 2026

Agenda item 3 Regional updates: Africa

Statement by the EU and its Member States

Chair,

I speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The EU salutes the unwavering solidarity demonstrated by African host nations, amid immense challenges including conflict, food insecurity, climate pressures, and political instability, which continue to drive displacement.

In Sudan, which remains the world's largest displacement crisis, the situation has deteriorated further with new waves of mass displacement following the takeover of and massacre in El Fasher and escalating violence in other regions. Thousands of people have fled to neighbouring countries, leading to more than 4 million displaced to Chad, South Sudan, Egypt, Libya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Central African Republic. In these contexts, while life-saving aid remains critical, it is also key to promote inclusion and social cohesion efforts. In Sudan, we call on UNHCR and partners to expand their presence in remote areas to enhance civilian protection if the security situation allows. An estimated 3,3 million people have returned to their area of origin in Sudan - it is important to ensure that returns are voluntary, safe, dignified, and durable. The EU calls on the leadership of both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as well as those supporting these entities, to end the conflict, engage in constructive negotiations towards an immediate ceasefire, and ensure rapid, unimpeded and sustainable humanitarian access, along with the protection of civilians across all of Sudan.

In South Sudan, we commend UNHCR's coordination with IOM to prevent border congestion but stress the need for enhanced coordination in Upper Nile State, where protection risks remain high, particularly for women, girls, and persons with disabilities. In Ethiopia, we welcome the government's progressive refugee policies and urge UNHCR to advocate for resumed registration, cash-based assistance, and aid diversion prevention, while ensuring IHL compliance and humanitarian access. The EU will continue to support, through a nexus approach, Uganda and Kenya's generous refugee policies, in which UNHCR plays a key role. However, the recent decision of the Government of Uganda to suspend the prima facie status for asylum seekers from the DRC, South Sudan, and Sudan is a real concern. We welcome ongoing engagement between UNHCR and Uganda on continued refugee protection.

In the DRC, relentless conflict and widespread violations of human rights and IHL has caused record displacement. The EU supports UNHCR in strengthening protection monitoring, SGBV response, and advocacy for humanitarian principles and unhindered access. In the Great Lakes, the EU supports durable solutions for Burundian and Congolese refugees, including the provision of legal documentation, protection, and access to services. Burundi has experienced a massive influx of refugees fleeing escalating violence. We support and encourage UNHCR in delivering adequate protection and life-saving assistance, including shelter, core relief items and access to essential services, in addition to inclusion efforts.

The EU also supports durable solutions in Rwanda such as resettlement for refugees evacuated via the Emergency Transit Mechanism.

In West and Central Africa, worsening instability demands strengthened protection monitoring, faster refugee registration, climate-sensitive responses and strengthened assistance to out-of-camp refugees. We count on UNHCR's role to continue to mitigate the risk and impact of camp closure policies, and to spearhead the search for durable solutions for forcibly displaced populations.

In Southern Africa, Mozambique is experiencing severe displacement of persons following recent cyclones and due to armed violence in Cabo Delgado. Returns and relocations must be voluntary, safe and dignified, with psychosocial support for IDPs, returnees, and hosts. In Malawi, Mozambican asylum-seekers need stronger protection measures as well as durable solutions including community inclusion and access to services. In Zimbabwe, recent weather events illustrate the need for UNHCR to strengthen camp preparedness for natural hazards. In South Africa, we encourage UNHCR to undertake advocacy in promoting refugee inclusion.

We commend UNHCR's continued commitment to deliver on its protection mandate, including in contexts where funding shortages have had severe impacts on UNHCR's protection capacity. We support the new High Commissioner's renewed efforts to advance both protection and durable solutions. You can count on the EU's financial and political commitment to Africa, which will remain a top priority for the EU. We value our strategic partnership recently reaffirmed during the last EU - AU Summit in November 2025.

Thank you.

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Ghana: Press release on the signing of a Security and Defence Partnership and handover of EPF military equipment

European External Action Service (EEAS)

24.03.2026

Accra

EEAS Press Team

Accra, 24 March 2026

The European Union (EU) and the Republic of Ghana today signed a Security and Defence Partnership in Accra, marking a significant step forward in deepening their dialogue and cooperation on peace, security and defence.

The Security and Defence Partnership was signed by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, on behalf of the European Union, and the Vice-President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang.

The EU and Ghana have a long-standing partnership rooted in shared values, a joint commitment to multilateralism, democracy, good governance and the rule of law. In an increasingly complex global and regional security environment, security and prosperity are closely interconnected. Together, the EU and Ghana are committed to addressing traditional and emerging threats, from regional instability and terrorism to hybrid and cyber threats or maritime security.

The Security and Defence Partnership builds on an already strong foundation of cooperation. The EU is Ghana's primary security partner, notably through the European Peace Facility (EPF) and the EU Security and Defence Initiative (EUSDI) in the Gulf of Guinea. At the occasion of the signing of the Security and Defence Partnership, the High Representative handed over key military equipment as part of a EUR 50 million EPF package. The EU's support will enhance the capabilities of the Ghana Armed Forces to safeguard the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty, while also a contributing to regional peace and stability. The package includes electronic warfare systems and explosive ordnance disposal equipment.

High Representative Kaja Kallas said: "Security in Europe and Africa are directly connected. That is why we are signing the first Security and Defence Partnerships with an African nation - Ghana. Together, the EU and Ghana will work more closely on issues that matter to our citizens including counterterrorism, conflict prevention and cybersecurity. Our partnership is already bearing fruit, with the EU handing over additional military equipment to keep Ghanaians safe. Strong partnerships that deliver for both sides will always be the best route to mutual and durable security."

A comprehensive and forward-looking Partnership

The Security and Defence Partnership establishes a structured and tailor-made framework to guide EU-Ghana cooperation across a broad range of peace, security and defence. A dedicated annual EU-Ghana Security and Defence Dialogue will ensure strategic direction, sustained political engagement and will steer implementation of the Partnership.

The Partnership reflects a shared understanding that security today extends beyond traditional defence, encompassing areas such as cybersecurity, hybrid threats, climate-related risks.

Key areas of cooperation include peacebuilding and crisis management, maritime security, including in the Gulf of Guinea, counterterrorism and prevention of violent extremism, countering hybrid threats and foreign and domestic information manipulation and interference, cybersecurity, conflict prevention and peace mediation, climate, environment and security nexus, border management and the fight against transnational organised crime, capacity building in security and defence, and Women, Peace and Security.

Today's signing marks a new chapter in EU-Ghana relations, reinforcing a strategic partnership that contributes to peace, stability and resilience in Ghana, the wider West African region, and beyond.

Read the full text of the EU-Ghana Security and Defence Partnership

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Ghana: Remarks of High Representative Kallas at the joint press conference with Vice President Opoku-Agyemang

European External Action Service (EEAS)

24.03.2026

Ghana

EEAS Press Team

Ghana, 24/03/2026

Check against delivery!

Good morning, everybody.

Dear Vice President,

Thank you for the warm welcome here in Ghana. Ghana is a peaceful and democratic anchor in the region. EU and Ghana share a long-standing partnership that goes well beyond development and trade.

Today, we are taking it to a new level, further signing a new Security and Defence Partnership. This is the first of its kind in an African country.

And it matters because security in Europe and Africa is deeply, deeply interconnected. The new agreement allows us to work more closely in areas like counterterrorism, conflict prevention, cyber security. These are all areas that matter to our citizens, both in Europe, but as well as here in Ghana.

Just after this event, we will be handing over the military equipment, including surveillance drones and anti-drones guns, motorcycles; this is part of the 50 million package delivered to Ghana since 2023.

What you see here today is a tangible demonstration of what our partnership can deliver. Today, we will also address the growing instability in the neighbourhood. The EU supports Ghana's military in the northern part of the country and beyond, and we support West African countries like Ghana in the Gulf of Guinea to counter terrorism, strengthen border security and enhance maritime security, because peace at our borders matters.

Both the EU and Ghana face threats to peace and security. In different ways, we both face wars in our wider neighbourhoods, and we have both constantly called for peace in Ukraine, in Sudan, in the Sahel, in the Middle East. Russia's war on Ukraine is an existential threat for Europe, but it also has consequences that are felt beyond our borders; also here in Ghana. Beyond economic consequences, Russia's unethical recruitment of African nationals preys on economic hardship. Your citizens should not be lured into a war that is not theirs.

The EU-Ghana economic partnership is equally strong. Today, we have also Global Gateway. And this Global Gateway initiative already has delivered concrete results, from the creation of vaccine centre and pharma hub to enabling timber experts to Europe.

I am also looking forward to work with you in the context of Ghana's chairmanship in the African Union next year. It matters more than ever to think that we can work with trusted partners who think alike and act alike. All of this speaks to the depth of our partnership.

So, dear Vice President, thank you again for the warm welcome here and really looking forward to strengthening our cooperation even further.

Thank you.

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/media/video/I-287042

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary General Vseviov met with the Secretary General of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paris

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

24.03.2026 | 18:34

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary General Jonatan Vseviov was on a visit to Paris on 23-24 March, where he met with Martin Briens, Secretary General of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The visit also included a meeting with Bertrand Buchwalter, adviser on Eastern affairs to French President Emmanuel Macron.

The discussions centred on European security and Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Secretary General Vseviov commended France for its consistent contribution to strengthening NATO's eastern flank, including its participation in the NATO battlegroup in Estonia. They also discussed ways to further strengthen Europe's defence capabilities and increase resilience to hybrid threats.

Speaking about Russia's aggression against Ukraine, Vseviov emphasised that Europe's support for Ukraine must remain unwavering. He noted the need to increase pressure on Russia through both political and economic measures, including sanctions, restrictions on shadow fleet activities, travel restrictions, and ensuring accountability, including through the special tribunal for the crime of aggression being established under the auspices of the Council of Europe.

The meetings also addressed the latest developments in the Middle East and bilateral relations.

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EU strengthens aid for Lebanon as the crisis deepens

European Commission

News article

24 March 2026

Directorate-General for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf

The EU is stepping up its support for Lebanon amid an escalation of violence and significant displacement, reaffirming its commitment to the country's stability. On top of last week's 100 million in humanitarian aid , the EU is also actively mobilising measures under its 1 billion 2024-2027 financial support package for Lebanon to meet the most pressing needs on the ground.

Dubravka Suica, Commissioner for the Mediterranean, said: "True partners stand together in times of crisis. The EU's support to Lebanon and its people is unwavering. Together with the Lebanese authorities and our international and regional partners, we are making every effort to ensure continued access to basic services. In addition to the humanitarian aid, under our 1 billion financial support package we are responding to the immediate needs of the most vulnerable while keeping on urging de-escalation and the protection of civilians. We will also continue backing Lebanon's security forces, whose role in maintaining stability remains crucial."

To assist those displaced by the escalation, the EU has allocated additional cash aid of 10 million for 100,000 vulnerable households, delivered through Lebanon's government-led safety net programme. With the national health system under severe strain, over 20 EU-funded mobile medical units have been deployed to support 67 collective shelters and areas under evacuation orders in order to ensure that the population retains access to essential health services.

The EU is also adapting its education response to ensure learning continues, by enabling remote classes for 50,000 students and providing digital training tools for 8,000 teachers. This expanded support will guarantee integrated education and child protection services in shelters and temporary learning spaces, reaching a total of 150,000 children and young people in need through both in-person and community-based programmes.

The EU is also reinforcing support to the Lebanese government's National Operations Room, which coordinates the emergency response. Finally, through the programme for durable solutions for Syrian refugees, the EU is supporting displaced people by supporting border monitoring and management of movement at key crossing points, including ensuring basic assistance for people crossing the border from Lebanon into Syria.

For more information, please find here the factsheet "Middle East: EU crisis measures".

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Finland becomes contributing partner in US-led programme promoting responsible use of small modular reactor technology

Finnish Government

Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Publication date 24.3.2026

Type:Press release

Finland has joined the US-led Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) programme as a contributing partner. Led by the State Department's Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation (ACN), FIRST harnesses the power of the nuclear industry to expedite responsible nuclear reactor deployment worldwide.

Finland's participation in the FIRST programme underscores the commitment of Finland and the United States to deepening civil nuclear energy partnership, advancing global energy security and expediting the responsible deployment of advanced nuclear energy in Europe and beyond.

FIRST partners with more than 50 countries across five continents exploring civil nuclear energy solutions, including the use of small modular reactors (SMRs), to meet their energy needs while adhering to the highest standards of nuclear safety, security and nonproliferation, consistent with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) guidelines.

Finland joins an esteemed group of contributing partners, including the United Kingdom, Argentina, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Canada, who provide in-kind support, subject matter expertise and funding to FIRST initiatives. Finland will contribute to FIRST initiatives, in particular by providing expert input and training. This support includes regional projects in Europe, SMR nuclear energy technical tours, training programmes and other initiatives to facilitate responsible deployment by countries considering SMR technology.

Finland is the first European Union Member State among the contributing partners. This brings more visibility to the European perspective within the FIRST programme and highlights Finland's dedication to fostering international collaboration to address energy security.

With more than 60 years of nuclear expertise, Finland stands out as a nation that has successfully integrated nuclear energy into its energy mix while maintaining strong standards in safety, security, safeguards and waste management. Finland is the world's first country to begin the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel. Finnish companies are actively participating in the development of SMR technologies, and Finland is set to be the first country in the world to deploy commercial SMRs dedicated exclusively to district heating. Finland is also developing national expertise, licensing practices and legislation for SMRs. Finland actively participates in discussions at the EU level. The European Commission's strategy for SMRs was published in March 2026.

Finland looks forward to continuing its partnership with the United States on civil nuclear cooperation, including the FIRST programme.

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Bilateral defence consultations with Germany

Government of Iceland

24 March 2026

Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Developments in security affairs, NATO's defence posture, and defence and security cooperation between Iceland and Germany, with a focus on North Atlantic security, where among the principal topics addressed during bilateral defence consultations held in Berlin last week. The discussions were led by Jonas Allansson, Director General of the Directorate of Defence, and Dr. Jasper Wieck, Director General at the German Federal Ministry of Defence. The consultations were conducted on the basis of the joint Letter of Intent on Bilateral Defence Cooperation signed in Reykjavik last October during the visit of Germany's Minister of Defence, Boris Pistorius.

The Embassy of Iceland in Berlin also hosted a conference on security issues in the North Atlantic and the Arctic, in cooperation with the embassies of Denmark, Canada, and Norway, as well as the German Federal Ministry of Defence, and with the support of the Nordic Council of Ministers. Senior policy officials from the defence ministries of the organizing states discussed the most appropriate measures to address changes in the region's threat environment. Representatives of the German and Norwegian navies, together with the head of operations at Iceland's Directorate for Defence, outlined ongoing activities and how political priorities should be translated into operational practice. The conference concluded with academic experts addressing the evolving conditions in the Arctic resulting from climate change and the anticipated implications for the region's security environment.

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FM Sa'ar welcomes decision of the Lebanese FM to expel the Iranian ambassador-designate

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

"This is a justified and necessary step against the state responsible for violating Lebanon's sovereignty, for its indirect occupation through Hezbollah, and for dragging it into war."

Type: Press Releases

Topic: Foreign Policy, Terrorism

Secondary topic: Iran

Publish Date: 24.03.2026

Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa'ar today (Tuesday, 24 March 2026):

I welcome the decision of the Lebanese Foreign Minister to expel the Iranian ambassador-designate from Lebanon.

This is a justified and necessary step against the state responsible for violating Lebanon's sovereignty, for its indirect occupation through Hezbollah, and for dragging it into war.

We call on the Lebanese government to take practical and meaningful measures against Hezbollah, whose representatives still serve as ministers within it.

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Afghan-Pakistani border: UN experts urgently call for lasting peace

Press releases

Special Procedures

24 March 2026

GENEVA -- UN experts* today urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to declare a fresh ceasefire and reach a peace agreement following the eruption of fighting in late February and the collapse of an October 2025 ceasefire.

"We urge Pakistan and the de facto Afghan authorities to commit to a permanent ceasefire, resolve the root causes of conflict, and ensure accountability for violations of international law," the experts said.

Since 26 February 2026, there have been at least 289 civilian casualties in Afghanistan, including 76 killed and 213 injured, and over 115,000 people have been displaced. Civilian infrastructure has been damaged, including medical facilities, homes, markets, and sites for displaced people. Schools and borders have been closed and trade suspended.

On 16 March, a Pakistani airstrike that hit a drug rehabilitation facility likely killed and injured hundreds. "We condemn this attack, express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims, and wish a speedy recovery to the injured," the experts said.

They also expressed concern about a number of civilian casualties from Taliban attacks in Pakistan, as well as the displacement of civilians and school closures.

The experts called on the parties to respect international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and civilian objects. They called for prompt, independent and transparent investigations of all alleged violations, accountability for perpetrators, and remedies for victims, in line with international standards.

The latest hostilities erupted after airstrikes by Pakistan on Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) camps on 21-22 February, retaliatory attacks by Afghanistan's de facto authorities at the border on 26 February, and an offensive by Pakistan on 27 February against Kabul, Kandahar, and dozens of other locations. Pakistan's attacks have reportedly killed and injured significant numbers of Taliban and TTP personnel.

Pakistan claimed its attacks were in response to the Taliban authorities' alleged support for TTP, a group under Security Council counter-terrorism sanctions. The de facto Afghan authorities deny supporting the TTP. Attacks by the TTP in Pakistan have escalated since 2021, with hundreds of deaths in 2025 and tens of thousands displaced in the ensuing conflict.

"All authorities, including the Taliban, must diligently prevent terrorist groups like the TTP from threatening the human right to life, including outside their own borders," the experts said.

They stressed that international law requires all authorities to refrain from tolerating, acquiescing in, or supporting terrorist activities in their territories directed against other countries, which constitute prohibited interventions or use of force.

"Pakistan's attack on Afghanistan violates the prohibition on the use of force under article 2 of the United Nations Charter and customary international law. There is no right of self-defence unless the Taliban first attacked Pakistan or sent the TTP to attack it," the experts said.

"Pakistan has not published credible evidence that TTP attacks within its territory were directed or controlled by the de facto Afghan authorities," they said.

The International Court of Justice has rejected arguments that merely tolerating the presence of armed groups gives another country a right of self-defence. Pakistan has not notified the Security Council that it claims self-defence, as required by the UN Charter.

"The unlawful use of force means that Pakistan has violated the human right to life of all individuals killed in these attacks," they said. "Some attacks resulting in civilian casualties may have also violated international humanitarian law."

"While States have a duty to protect their populations from terrorist threats, they must do so in full compliance with international law," the experts said. "Cross-border infiltration by terrorist groups may be lawfully addressed through the proportionate use of force inside Pakistan, and peaceful counter-measures against the Taliban authorities."

"Under international law, the parties must seek the peaceful settlement of disputes that endanger international security," they said.

The latest violence follows Pakistani attacks on Afghanistan in October 2025 in retaliation for alleged terrorist attacks originating in Afghanistan, with subsequent heavy clashes between the two countries before a ceasefire.

The experts have been in touch with the Government of Pakistan and Afghanistan's de facto authorities on these issues.

*The experts:

Ben Saul, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism

Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism Richard Bennett , Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan

, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan George Katrougalos, Independent expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order

Independent expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order Paula Gaviria, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons

Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons Morris Tidball-Binz, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions

Special Rapporteurs/Independent Experts/Working Groups are independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Together, these experts are referred to as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. While the UN Human Rights office acts as the secretariat for Special Procedures, the experts serve in their individual capacity and are independent from any government or organisation, including OHCHR and the UN. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the UN or OHCHR.

Country-specific observations and recommendations by the UN human rights mechanisms, including the special procedures, the treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review, can be found on the Universal Human Rights Index https://uhri.ohchr.org/en/

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Sudan: Sharp increase in civilian deaths as a result of growing drone warfare

Press briefing notes

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

24 March 2026

From

Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Marta Hurtado

Location

Geneva

A sharp increase in the use of drones to conduct airstrikes this year in Sudan underlines the devastating impact of high-tech and relatively cheap weapons in populated areas. According to information received, over 500 civilians were killed in such strikes from 1 January to 15 March.

The vast majority of these civilian deaths were documented in three states in the Kordofan region.

In the first two weeks of March alone, information received shows that over 277 civilians were killed, over three-quarters of whom were killed in drone strikes.

Such deadly attacks have continued in the past week, as the holy month of Ramadan came to a close.

In the deadliest attack, on 20 March, the first day of Eid al-Fitr, an air and drone strikes hit El Daein Teaching Hospital in East Darfur state, killing at least 64 people, including seven women and 13 children. One doctor was killed and eight health workers were among the at least 89 injured in the attack in an area controlled by the Rapid Support Forces. The hospital, including its emergency, maternity and paediatric units, are fully out of operation - further constraining desperately-needed access of many in the area to the right to health.

On same day in Ad Dabbah in Northern state -- an area controlled by the Sudanese Armed Forces -- drone attacks impacted civilian infrastructure, including an electricity substation and also an engineering college. Six people were reportedly killed, and power completely cut to the locality.

On the evening of 21 March, further drone strikes on a convoy of commercial transportation vehicles in El Daein reportedly killed 23 people, including women and children. In Al Dabbah, further drone strikes appear to have been intercepted.

Widening drone attacks are spilling across Sudan's borders, with serious risk of further escalation carrying regional consequences. There have been drone strikes on the town of Tina and Tine on the Sudan-Chad border after earlier ground offensives by the RSF. On 16 March, around 20 people were killed, including civilians, and 60 other injured, during an RSF ground offensive on Tina, Sudan. And on 18 March, a drone attack hit Tine, Chad, killing at least 24 civilians and injuring around 70 others.

Continued patterns of such attacks striking civilians and destroying civilian infrastructure raise serious concerns about compliance with international humanitarian law's fundamental principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution, and may amount to war crimes.

The UN Human Rights Office continues to document attacks on markets, energy and water infrastructure and health facilities. Health care facilities and health workers are specifically protected against attack.

We urge all States, particularly those with influence, to do all in their power to end arms transfers that are fuelling the conflict and being used in manifest disregard of the obligation to protect civilians in conflict.

We remind the parties to this conflict of their binding obligations to protect civilians. There needs to be renewed diplomatic efforts towards an urgent ceasefire to bring the conflict to an end.

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UN Special Rapporteur expresses deep concern over announcements of pardons for members of security forces involved in human rights violations

Press releases

Special Procedures

24 March 2026

GENEVA -- The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Gina Romero*, expressed alarm today at recent statements by Chile's incoming government regarding the possible granting of individual pardons to security force officials convicted of serious human rights violations during the 2019 social unrest.

"The persistence of impunity and the lack of effective justice for victims remain urgent obligations that the State of Chile must fulfill to ensure the non-repetition of these events," the Special Rapporteur stated, reiterating the conclusions of the preliminary observations from her official visit in July 2025. "Any measure that seeks to nullify sanctions imposed by independent courts constitutes an unacceptable setback in Chile's compliance with its international obligations."

The Special Rapporteur emphasises that international law strictly prohibits the use of clemency measures, such as pardons, to exempt perpetrators of crimes that may constitute torture, cruel treatment, or extrajudicial executions from accountability. States have a duty to promptly, thoroughly, and independently investigate any allegations of excessive use of force and ensure that those responsible are held accountable before the courts.

Granting pardons under the narrative that the officers are "victims of persecution" not only contradicts investigations and final court rulings, but also exerts undue pressure on the judiciary and mocks the victims.

Impunity for abuses committed in the context of protests sends a message of permissiveness that jeopardises the future exercise of the right to peaceful assembly, which not only undermines public trust in democratic institutions but also discourages the exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms.

"Pardoning those who committed abuses against people exercising their fundamental right to peaceful protest undermines the protection of all human rights," the expert added. "It is imperative that the State move forward with strengthening justice mechanisms and not with creating spaces of de facto impunity."

The Special Rapporteur's Office urgently calls on the Government of Chile to respect international standards and the decisions of the judicial system; to refrain from granting benefits that violate the victims' right to truth, justice, and reparation; and to strengthen accountability as the only legitimate means of ensuring that those who abuse power are held accountable before the law without exception.

Commitment to human rights must be demonstrated not only in rhetoric, but in the daily practice of protecting citizens and ensuring that the State's use of force is always subject to legal scrutiny and justice. Unrestricted respect for these principles must constitute the inescapable horizon for the incoming administration.

The expert has been in contact with the previous Government on this issue.

*The expert:

Gina Romero, Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association

Endorsed by:

Alice Jill Edwards, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment

The Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts and Working Groups are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council's independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures' experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

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The OIC Media Observatory on Israeli Crimes Against Palestinians Releases its 121st Report Amid Settler Frenzy: 28 Homes and Vehicles Burned

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

24-03-2026

The OIC Media Observatory on Israeli Crimes Against Palestinians recorded the deaths of 18 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank between March 17 and 23, 2026, in addition to 79 injuries. The total number of Palestinian martyrs between October 7, 2023, and March 23, 2026, reached 73,397, and the number of wounded reached 182,461. Israeli occupation forces closed the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque to worshippers throughout the aforementioned period, in addition to closing the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. They also restricted the number of worshippers at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron. Palestinian cities and villages in the West Bank were subjected to 302 incursions, during which Israeli occupation forces arrested 142 Palestinians, killed two, and wounded 13 others, including a child. They also arrested four children, demolished one house, and occupied two others. Meanwhile, settlers seized two houses in Al-Quds (Jerusalem) and set fire to eight others.

Settler attacks on Palestinian cities and villages reached 121, during which settlers released their livestock into West Bank villages on 12 occasions, burned 20 vehicles, and damaged numerous other Palestinian properties. Israelis also carried out five settlement activities on Palestinian land, bringing the total number of Israeli crimes committed in seven days to 979 across various Palestinian areas.

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China's 'scanning' of PH warship not enough to trigger hostilities

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno

March 24, 2026, 3:33 pm Updated on March 24, 2026, 4:11 pm

MANILA -- A ranking naval official said Tuesday that the Philippines does not have to respond violently to a Chinese warship's fire control radar (FCR) scanning of a Philippine Navy (PN) guided missile frigate at the Sabina Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) last March 7.

"The Rules of Engagement (ROE) are very clear to our commanding officers. Use of force for mission accomplishment is not allowed without infringing on the universal right of self-defense, defense of your men or of others," PN spokesperson for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said at a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, when asked on what action the BRP Miguel Malvar can undertake following the incident.

Asked what Navy commanders would do should a more "hostile intent" be demonstrated against them by their Chinese counterparts, Trinidad said the ROE has "sufficient details for every possible scenario."

"Details of which I cannot divulge," he said.

Likewise, Trinidad said all actions of the PN, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines in general, must be within the bounds of international law.

He added that the Philippines will not fall into the trap of firing the proverbial "first shot," regardless of any harassment or illegal actions the Chinese might take.

"We have to understand Chinese war-fighting thought, which is to force us to fire the first shot, to force us to escalate the situation," Trinidad said.

He said he cannot divulge the particular details of the fire control system used by the Chinese warship against the BRP Miguel Malvar or the weapon it was guiding.

He, however, stressed that such actions were "uncalled for and unprofessional."

"Again, the weapon system is immaterial. What is highlighted here is the unprofessional conduct of the PLA (People's Liberation Army) Navy (PLAN)," he said.

He highlighted that the BRP Miguel Malvar, which was just commissioned last year, was able to detect FCR emissions as it is capable of engaging in warfare in four dimensions - surface, subsurface, air, and cyber.

As this developed, Trinidad said 49 Chinese warships and Coast Guard vessels were monitored in the vicinity of four WPS features from March 15 to 22.

This can be broken down into nine PLAN and 19 China Coast Guard (CCG) ships in Bajo de Masinloc; three PLAN and five CCG vessels in Ayungin Shoal; three PLAN and two CCG craft at the Escoda Shoal, and one PLAN and seven CCG ships near Pag-asa Island. (PNA)

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Japan to send 'combat troops' for 2026 Balikatan

Philippine News Agency

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora

March 24, 2026, 2:52 pm

MANILA -- Japan is sending "combat troops" to participate in the upcoming 2026 Balikatan exercises in the Philippines, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said Tuesday.

The official, who made the confirmation at a Stratbase ADRI forum in Makati City, said the deployment signals an important development in the two nations' growing security cooperation.

"After 1945, for the very first time, we will have again Japanese combat troops on Philippine soil. That is very significant because back then we found ourselves on the opposite sides of the war, but this time, we find ourselves on the same side," he said.

"Together with the United States, with Australia, these four nations will come together to exercise defensive operations."

Brawner said Tokyo's participation in the annual exercise over the past years was limited to the deployment of Japanese trainers on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief rescue.

In the same forum, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya confirmed that the Philippines will see "strengthened participation" of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces in the upcoming joint exercises in the country beyond Balikatan.

Endo described this expanded participation as "very natural" against the backdrop of the two countries' ramped up efforts to strengthen their bilateral security partnership.

"I think the 70 years of friendship goes way back to the previous history of our relationship, and we should always be aware of those long history of our relationship, not only the 80 some years, but also hundreds of years of collaborations between the two countries," he said.

"Our current relationship is based on all those relationships," he added.

AFP NEO activities not aimed at any nation

As this developed, Brawner clarified that the non-combatant evacuation operations (NEO) being conducted by the AFP are not aimed at possible threats coming from any nations.

"NEO exercises are part of military operations done worldwide," he told journalists in a separate interview.

Likewise, Brawner said these kinds of drills are being undertaken by the AFP even before the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, the AFP chief said, for the moment, the most cost-efficient means to repatriate overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the Middle East is through commercial airlines.

He said this alternative is cheaper and faster than sending ships as these missions would entail the use of a lot of fuel.

"Or if we send our C-130s, mas magastos po yun kaysa sa mga (it is more expensive than) commercial airlines," he added. (With a report from Priam F. Nepomuceno/PNA)

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AFP chief: Japan key ally vs. emerging security issues

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno

March 24, 2026, 2:45 pm Updated on March 24, 2026, 4:08 pm

MANILA -- Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Tuesday said the country's strong partnership with Japanese defense forces is helping it address emerging security challenges, especially in the West Philippine Sea.

"Beyond traditional defense activities, our partnership also addresses emerging challenges, particularly illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive, or ICAD, actions that undermine the sovereignty without escalating into open conflict," he said during a Stratbase Institute forum in Makati City.

Brawner said sustained coordination, information sharing, and strategic communication are essential to exposing malign influence and reinforcing the rules-based order.

"Ultimately, the strength of the Philippines-Japan defense relations lies in its strategic clarity and shared purpose. It is a partnership that not only responds to present challenges, but anticipates future demands that are anchored in mutual respect, guided by shared values, and committed to lasting peace and stability," the AFP chief said.

Likewise, Brawner reiterated that the AFP supports a rules-based international order.

"We uphold freedom of navigation and unimpeded flow of trade. We reject coercion and unilateral attempts to alter the status quo," he added.

As a like-minded partner, Brawner said Japan reinforces a shared vision of a maritime domain governed by law, not by coercion.

He added that both nations share the belief that regional stability depends on open sea lanes, peaceful dispute management, and respect for the rights of all states.

The AFP chief said this alignment underscores the strategic importance of the Philippines-Japan relations, not only as a response to present challenges, but as a long-term commitment to a stable and rules-based regional order.

"Building on this foundation, our defense cooperation continues to expand in both scope and depth, from capacity-building initiatives, as mentioned earlier, where we received radar systems from Japan under the OSA (Official Security Assistance) and maritime security assistance, to increasingly sophisticated joint and trilateral exercises, our engagements reflect deepening trust and interoperability," he added.

Brawner also said landmark arrangements, such as the Reciprocal Access Agreement, further demonstrate the two nations' commitment to a more responsive and coordinated security posture.

Brawner said the AFP is also united with its Japanese partners in promoting transparency, countering deception, and exposing malign influence even as it remains committed to peaceful dialogue and diplomatic solutions.

"When maritime rights are respected, commerce flows freely. When nations act transparently and responsibly, the Indo-Pacific becomes a region of opportunity rather than rivalry," Brawner noted.

Despite tensions in the Middle East, the AFP chief said the Philippines remains steadfast in pursuing peace, stability, and cooperation.

"Rather than adopt escalatory approaches, the Philippines and Japan shall demonstrate a path grounded in transparency, restraint, and adherence to international law," he added.

Through the Philippines and Japan's partnership, Brawner said both nations can show security can be strengthened without escalation, disputes managed without coercion, and trust built through openness and accountability.

"The Philippines-Japan partnership stands as a testament to what principled and forward-looking cooperation can achieve. Our shared commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and a free and open Indo-Pacific is not only strategic, it is essential to regional peace and prosperity," the AFP chief said. (PNA)

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Israel threatens Litani River occupation as deadly strikes on Lebanon intensify

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 24 March 2026 5:47 PM

Israel has threatened to occupy southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers from the Lebanese border, as deadly strikes pounded civilian residential areas in Beirut and elsewhere across the country.

Israel Katz, the minister of military affairs, said on Tuesday that the military "will control... the security zone up to the Litani" under the pretext of establishing a so-called security and buffer zone.

He claimed that displaced Lebanese residents would not be allowed to return south of the river "until security is guaranteed for the residents of the north" of the Israeli-occupied territories.

Katz stated that Israel's military was "following the model of Rafah and Beit Hanoun"two cities that were effectively razed during more than two years of brutal assault on Gaza and remain under Israeli military occupation.

In recent days, Israeli forces have blown up bridges and destroyed civilian infrastructure in the area south of the Litani.

That area had already seen vast destruction since Israel launched its aggression against Lebanon in 2023, following the brutal war on Gaza, and despite a November 2024 ceasefire.

Many border villages were largely empty of residents even before the Israeli army resumed heavy bombardment and incursions into the area more than three weeks ago, when the latest Israeli aggression erupted.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah has reported regular retaliatory attacks on Israeli military bases and troops, including in the strategic border town of Khiam in recent days and in the village of Qawzah on Tuesday.

Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported attacks in the country's south and east, as well as near Beirut, following a night of bombardment on the capital's southern suburbs.

On Tuesday morning in south Beirut, reporters witnessed vast destruction near the site of an overnight Israeli strike, with rubble piled up and debris covering the street.

The overnight strikes hit infrastructure in Beirut and other areas of Lebanon. In Bshamoun, a town in the Aley region southeast of Beirut, Abbas Qassem, 55, wept as he surveyed the damage to his unoccupied flat near the targeted apartment.

"There's nothing left. It's all burned or destroyed... No walls, the windows are gone, the facade is gone, all my hard work has been lost," he said. "What have I done to have my home destroyed? I'm just a normal person," added Qassem, who works for the state telecoms provider.

Lebanon's health ministry said three people were killed, including a three-year-old girl, and reported five others killed in Israeli strikes in south Lebanon.

Israel has killed at least 1,039 people and displaced more than one million others during more than three weeks of the latest aggression.

Hezbollah began launching retaliatory attacks on Israel earlier this month after Tel Aviv bombed southern and eastern Lebanon on a daily basis in violation of the November 2024 ceasefire.

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US has 2 months of rare earths left to replenish weapons amid Iran war: Report

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 24 March 2026 4:29 PM

The United States has only two months' worth of rare earth elements critically important in the manufacturing of modern weaponry amid its joint aggression with the Israeli regime on Iran, a report says.

The Oil Price, citing data from South China Morning Post and Reuters, reported that the US involvement in the aggression against Iran, which began on February 28, has already consumed billions of dollars' worth of missiles and precision-guided weapons, leaving Washington with low inventories of rare earth and other key materials embedded in advanced military systems.

"And it's the 11th hour for American defense and the entire defense industry, even if it wasn't in the middle of a war with Iran," said the report.

The report said the US is deeply dependent on China for the supply of rare earths, leaving Beijing with some fresh leverage over Washington, with roughly three weeks until President Donald Trump's expected visit to China.

The South China Morning Post has said in an earlier report that the heavy reliance could mean that it is ultimately China that could dictate how long US strikes on Iran can continue.

Rare earth elements are key to manufacturing missile guidance and drone propulsion to radar systems and fighter aircraft electronics.

Those weapons have been critical to US-Israeli air aggression against Iran as it has solely relied on air strikes hitting Iranian targets.

Reports have indicated that the aggression cost more than $10 billion in its first week, as both the US and Israel have been grappling with barrages of missiles and drones fired by Iran at their targets, prompting heavy use of their costly air defense systems.

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Hezbollah fires over 30 rockets at Haifa, Nahariya in extensive barrage

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 24 March 2026 12:03 PM

Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement launched extensive rocket attacks on the Israeli-occupied cities of Haifa and Nahariya on Tuesday, firing multiple types of missiles in a series of operations that also targeted Israeli military positions along the border

Israeli media reported that more than 30 rockets were fired at Haifa and Nahariya during the attacks.

Two rockets landed in the Kiryat Motzkin area north of Haifa, with one directly striking a building.

Another rocket attack hit the Ibtin region east of Haifa.

Hezbollah said the attack was part of a warning issued to several settlements in northern occupied Palestine.

The group also announced a "large rocket barrage" targeting the Rafael military industries complex north of the Kiryat area, a major Israeli military facility. Later, Hezbollah fired another salvo at Kiryat Shmona, a key settlement in the north.

Throughout Tuesday morning, Hezbollah's Islamic Resistance issued a series of statements detailing multiple operations against Israeli forces along the southern Lebanese border.

These included three separate attacks using guided missiles and swarm drones on Israeli forces in the border town of Al Quzah.

Two additional strikes, one a rocket and the other a guided missile, targeted a newly established Israeli military position in the Balat area.

Hezbollah says its operations are part of the broader "battle of consuming storm," a campaign launched in support of Iran and in response to Israeli aggression.

The resistance front has been operating under a unified strategy since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war against Iran on February 28.

According to the group, its actions have pinned down significant Israeli ground forces and challenged the security of northern settlements.

Hezbollah has framed its operations as legitimate self-defense under international law, stating that it is "defending Lebanon and its people" against Israeli aggression.

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US Citizen Dennis Coyle Freed After Over A Year In Taliban Captivity

By RFE/RL's Radio Azadi March 24, 2026

Afghanistan's Taliban government announced the release and Dennis Coyle, a US citizen held for more than a year, after his mother plead for a pardon on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on March 24 that Coyle was "on his way home" and thanked Qatar and the United Arab Emirates for their "support" in the case.

Coyle, a 64-year-old academic from the state of Colorado, was detained in January 2025 for what were called "violations of Afghanistan's applicable laws." The charges were never detailed, giving rise to accusations that the Taliban purposely arrested foreign citizens to use as bargaining chips.

Coyle's family has said he was working legally in the country "to support Afghan communities as an academic researcher."

"While this is a positive step by the Taliban, more work needs to be done," Rubio said in a statement.

"We are still seeking the immediate return of Mahmood Habibi, Paul Overby, and all other unjustly detained Americans. The Taliban must end their practice of hostage diplomacy."

Other Americans In Captivity

Habibi is an American citizen who has been held in Afghanistan since August 10, 2022 -- shortly after a US air strike killed Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri -- without being charged with a crime. Overby is an American author who disappeared on his way to Waziristan, in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas near the Afghan border. It is unclear where he is, though many suspect he is in detention.

Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said in a statement the release came after the Supreme Court "deemed his [Coyle's] period of detention sufficient and decided on his release."

Muttaqi also rejected accusations that the Taliban detained foreign nationals for "political purposes."

Coyle was accompanied by his brother and former US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad at a handover ceremony at Kabul International Airport.

During the event, Mohammad Ibrahim, the son of Mohammad Rahim, an Afghan detainee who has been held at Guantanamo Bay for 19 years without charge, said his family had submitted a letter to the US delegation requesting it be delivered to Washington to seek his father's release.

Rahim is believed to be the last Afghan national still held at the facility. Taliban officials have previously sought his release in exchange for American detainees.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghan-taliban-release- us-citizen-coyle-rubio/33714600.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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Bypassing The Kremlin: Armenia And Azerbaijan Expand Trade, Testing Russia's Grip

By Ulviyya Asadzade March 24, 2026

Longtime rivals Armenia and Azerbaijan are increasing trade in ways that analysts say could support peace-building, ease Armenia's longstanding blockade, and gradually weaken Russia's role in the region as Moscow remains preoccupied with its war in Ukraine.

Azerbaijan has begun exporting energy products to Yerevan and is serving as a transit route for wheat from Kazakhstan and Russia.

Armenian officials, meanwhile, say they are finalizing a list of industrial and agricultural goods for export to Azerbaijan.

"I agree that Armenia and Azerbaijan are acting in a way that reduces Moscow's influence in the Caucasus, though I don't know to what extent the Russia factor is driving their calculations," Joshua Kucera, a senior analyst for the South Caucasus at International Crisis Group, told RFE/RL.

"I suspect it is a secondary consideration: Their first priority is to resolve their conflict, and their relations with Russia or any other power is secondary to that." he added.

The neighboring countries were at war for more than three decades over Nagorno-Karabakh, a region of Azerbaijan that was mostly populated by ethnic Armenians. Momentum toward normalization followed Azerbaijan's recapture of Karabakh in 2023 and a Washington peace summit in August 2025 that helped break the deadlock.

For decades, Armenia has faced a partial blockade, with borders closed by Azerbaijan and its ally Turkey. With Iran constrained by international sanctions, Armenia has relied heavily on Georgia as its main transit corridor -- particularly for trade with Russia, its largest trading partner and supplier of essential goods.

But both Baku and Yerevan have seen ties with Moscow deteriorate.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has frozen his country's participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a Moscow-led alliance, further distancing the country from Russia's security umbrella. And Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sharply criticized Moscow over the downing of an Azerbaijani airliner in late 2024.

Both leaders have also backed the US-supported Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), a corridor signed in Washington last August aimed at connecting Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave while reducing the logistical and political influence of both Russia and Iran.

Against this backdrop, new trade flows between Armenia and Azerbaijan are beginning to take shape.

Oil And Gas: From And Through Azerbaijan

Currently, goods from Azerbaijan to Armenia transit through Georgia. However, Richard Giragosian, founding director of the Regional Studies Center in Yerevan, does not rule out the possibility of direct trade opening up across the Azerbaijan-Armenia border.

"What we see with the recent arrival of Azerbaijani civil society activists through a border crossing point in the northern Tavush region, we should expect the opening of road access," Giragosian said.

For this to take place, however, "We need to have concluded the delimitation and demarcation of this passage," Farhad Mammadov, director at the Center for Studies of the South Caucasus, a pro-government think tank in Baku, told RFE/RL.

Despite a sharp decline in trade with Russia, Moscow still accounted for 35.5 percent of Armenia's foreign trade last year, according to Armenian government statistics, followed by China (12.5 percent) and the European Union (11.8 percent).

Azerbaijan sent its first trains of 22 wagons loaded with gasoline to Armenia last December. In-mid January, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian stated on social media that "premium-grade gasoline has mainly been imported from Azerbaijan, and...the minimum price of premium gasoline in Armenia has decreased by 15 percent."

Armenia imported 490,000 tons of petrol and other fuel last year, about two-thirds of which came from Russia.

"Any amount of petroleum products, gas supplies from Azerbaijan, etc., represents progress in terms of offsetting Russia's dominance of the market," Giragosian in Yerevan told RFE/RL.

"Armenia may consider gas imports from Turkmenistan through Azerbaijan. At the same time, there is also a more ambitious plan for Armenia's import of Azerbaijani natural gas, as well," he added.

"If Azerbaijan has enough gas to give Armenia and Armenia and Turkmenistan agrees how to deliver Turkmenistan gas to Azerbaijan, these can be possible too," Mammadov told RFE/RL from Baku.

Azerbaijan has broadly agreed to take on a transit role for Armenia since last year and is already serving as a transit route for wheat from Kazakhstan and Russia. According to Azerbaijani official statistics, Russia has so far sent about 23,000 tons of wheat and about 700 tons of fertilizer to Armenia through Azerbaijan.

However, the peace remains fragile without a final treaty in place. Baku still demands Armenia amend its constitution to remove perceived territorial claims over Karabakh.

Emily Babakanian Frazier, a research fellow at the Regional Studies Center, told RFE/RL last year that while immediate supply cuts are unlikely, Armenia remains vulnerable to Azerbaijan cutting energy links in the medium to long term.

Giragosian argues that Russia found itself marginalized with the end of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, during which Moscow had wielded primary leverage over both nations. However, he warns, this shift is temporary.

"I expect an angry, vengeful Putin to try to regain lost Russian influence after a cease-fire in Ukraine. Armenia and Azerbaijan are drawing closer because of this shared threat," he added.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia-azerbaijan-trade- russia/33713709.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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Central Asia Emerges As Strategic Energy Player Amid Oil Crisis

By Zamira Eshanova and Azattyq Asia March 24, 2026

The global energy market is facing one of its most severe disruptions in decades with the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz -- a vital artery for 20 percent of global maritime trade and a third of the world's liquefied natural gas (LNG) -- amid the US-Israeli war with Iran.

Coordinated Israeli air strikes on key Iranian gas facilities in South Pars and Asaluyeh, alongside Iran's retaliatory attacks on Saudi, UAE, and Qatari energy sites, have paralyzed tanker movements and the market response has been dramatic.

Brent crude surged to $116.38 per barrel on March 19, and European natural gas prices jumped sharply, reflecting the scarcity of physically deliverable energy. Skyrocketing gas prices have forced nitrogen fertilizer and urea plants to cut production just before the planting season, disrupting shipments and putting countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America at risk of crop losses and famine.

In light of this unprecedented market uncertainty, the strategic importance of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan's energy reserves has never been greater.

Despite being sandwiched between the US-Israeli war with Iran to the south, the Russia-Ukraine conflict to the north, and the fallout from Pakistani air strikes in Afghanistan to the southeast, both countries possess substantial reserves that, if mobilized, could alleviate some of the pressure on global markets.

Turkmen Gas: A Rapid, Land-Based Relief Option

Turkmenistan holds around 19.5 trillion cubic meters of proven natural gas reserves, primarily in the Galkynysh field, making it the world's fourth-largest holder.

Most exports flow to China via the Central Asia-China pipeline (32-33 BCM per year). Smaller volumes go to the UAE and Oman via the Dolphin system, and limited amounts have recently reached Turkey through Iran under exchange agreements.

The war involving Iran has halted most regional exports outside China, leaving Turkmenistan's gas largely locked into existing pipelines. In an interview with RFE/RL, John Roberts, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global Energy Center, explains that Turkmenistan's gas offers a relatively rapid supply infusion in the current crisis.

"Roughly a fifth of the world's traded LNG comes from Qatar. That is now shut in. You can't produce the gas when you haven't got any export route for it," he said. "And there are no pipelines that go from Qatar in any substantial manner to major international destinations."

A local distribution system, called the Dolphin, serves the United Arab Emirates and Oman. But it's reach is limited, Roberts added, saying that an alternative supply is needed.

While "normally getting alternative supplies takes years to develop," Roberts said, one solution is to look to Turkmenistan.

"Very quickly, that gas could cross the Caspian and enter into a ready-made export system, which is the Southern Gas Corridor, which was developed for Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz gas field," he explained.

"You could do it very quickly, which is the point here, by connecting the offshore terminals that produce gas at Mary-Magdanly, which is operated by Petronas, and nearby fields in Azerbaijan, such as the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) oil field operated by BP, or the Absheron gas field operated by TotalEnergies. Those would only require, in the first case, a 78-kilometer pipeline, in the second one of just over 100 kilometers."

Roberts said these are "local, simple solutions that would maximize existing infrastructure," adding that Azerbaijan's state oil and gas company, SOCAR, "told me about three years ago that they could do this within about four or five months."

It could all be done "quickly and cleanly," Roberts said.

Kazakh Oil: Infrastructure Constraints And Long-Term Prospects

While Turkmenistan offers a rapid, land-based option, Kazakhstan's oil sector faces longer-term structural barriers that limit immediate relief.

In an interview with RFE/RL's Azattyk Azia, Joseph Epstein, director of the Turan Center for Post-Soviet Studies, emphasized the structural and geopolitical limitations of Kazakhstan's oil sector.

"The crisis clearly shows that Central Asia's energy infrastructure was built for a geopolitical reality that no longer exists," he said. "Each major export route passes through a country involved in the war or under serious pressure -- Russia, Iran, or regions where they can influence maritime routes. This is a systemic risk, not something solved by a single pipeline."

"This crisis is a strategic turning point, but whether Central Asia can benefit from it depends entirely on infrastructure investment decisions made in the next two to three years."

Kazakhstan's oil illustrates the practical limits of turning resource endowment into immediate market relief.

Kazakhstan has roughly 30 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, producing about 1.4 million barrels per day. Roughly 80 percent of exports rely on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium to Novorossiysk.

Both Epstein and Roberts agree that rerouting Kazakh oil away from corridors controlled by Russia or Iran would take years. Much of the country's export flows rely on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium to the Black Sea terminal at Novorossiysk, Russia, a corridor repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian drone attacks since late 2025.

There's also a logistical barrier to rapid diversification.

"You can't get the oil to Baku from Kazakhstan easily, because you need a new generation of tankers," said Roberts. "The tanker traffic across the Caspian is pretty full as it is. Some Kazakh oil already goes out through that system. So does Turkmen oil going out to the international markets. But you would need a new generation of tankers. There is capacity in the Caspian to build tankers. But again, that's a sort of two- or three-year project; not something that can be done overnight."

Against this backdrop of limited infrastructure and constrained export routes, attention is increasingly turning to the political dimension of energy cooperation, particularly Turkmenistan's growing engagement with the European Union.

Turkmen President Serdar Berdymukhammedov is preparing for an official visit to Brussels as the European Parliament moves closer to considering the ratification of a long-stalled partnership agreement with the European Union. Although a firm date for the visit has not yet been agreed, energy cooperation is expected to be a core focus of the agenda alongside wider political and economic issues.

The visit represents "a major development," according to Roberts. "The question is, can the European Commission and the Turkmen authorities come to an understanding that they both need to make major changes as to how they approach gas project development?"

In parallel with the president's Brussels visit, a Turkmenistan-EU forum is scheduled on March 26 in Ashgabat, jointly organized by the EU, Turkmenistan, and the International Trade Center, bringing together policymakers and business leaders to strengthen cooperation in energy, transport, and sustainable growth.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-hormuz-oil- central-asia-/33713691.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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Spanish Government condemns recent executions of opposition figures in Iran

Spain - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

PRESS STATEMENT 036

24 MAR 26

The Spanish Government categorically condemns the recent executions of opposition figures in Iran and urges the Iranian authorities to put an end to death sentences and executions, whilst reiterating its opposition to this inhumane punishment, which violates the most fundamental human rights to life and dignity.

Spain reiterates its condemnation of the Iranian regime's bloody repression of its population, and in particular of peaceful demonstrators, many of whom have been killed or executed following summary trials, or arbitrarily detained.

Spain also reiterates its firm condemnation of the Iranian regime's indiscriminate attacks against the civilian population, homes and strategic civilian infrastructure in the Gulf States and the region, systematically violating international law and international humanitarian law and causing unforeseeable environmental and economic consequences.

Spain extends its condolences to the families of the deceased and its solidarity to all the victims of these attacks.

Spain demands that the Iranian regime put an end to the attacks against the Gulf countries and the region, and that it unblock navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Spain also calls on all parties to exercise restraint and de-escalate the conflict, the destabilising impact of which is already global in scope.



-NON OFFICIAL TRANSLATION-

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US 82nd Airborne Division Ordered to Deploy to Middle East - Reports

Sputnik News

20260324

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Commander of the 82nd Airborne Division Maj. Gen. Brandon Tegtmeier, and members of his headquarters staff have received orders to deploy to the Middle East, Fox News reported on Tuesday.

The Pentagon is considering sending the division to the region as part of a possible ground operation against Iran, the report said.

On Friday, CBS News reported, citing informed sources, that the US Department of War had prepared detailed plans for the possible deployment of ground troops in Iran to provide the administration of US President Donald Trump with a full range of military scenarios amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched strikes on targets in Iran, including in Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. Iran retaliated by striking Israeli territory and US military bases across the Middle East.

 Sputnik

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Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York

24 March 2026

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

** Guest

All right. Just to flag that tomorrow, we will have a guest, and that will be Maximo Torero, the Chief Economist at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). He will be here to brief you virtually on the conflict in the Middle East and the implications for global food security  or global food insecurity.

** Exhibition

Also, I want to flag there is an exhibit opening today, in the Visitors' Lobby. Entitled A History Exposed: The Enslavement of Black People in Canada, this exhibit was done through a collaboration between the Outreach Programme of the UN's Department of Global Communications, on the Transatlantic Slave Trade and Slavery, the Government of Canada and the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21  and that Pier 21 is in Halifax, Nova Scotia, a beautiful place. If you are interested, you are invited tonight at the opening at 6:15 p.m. The exhibition is timed with the International Day of the Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, and that is tomorrow.

And also tomorrow, the Secretary-General will take part in the General Assembly's commemoration of that day, and that will start at 10 a.m. We will share those remarks with you. The keynote speaker tomorrow will be the Barbadian poet Esther Phillips, the first Poet Laureate of Barbados. The youth speaker will be Shahaddah Jack, the first Youth Poet Laureate of Toronto, Canada.

** Occupied Palestinian Territory

Later this afternoon, at 3 p.m., in the Security Council, there will be an open briefing on "The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question". Our Deputy Special Coordinator and Resident Coordinator at the Office of the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Ramiz Alakbarov, is expected to brief, and he will be briefing on the implementation of resolution 2334 (2016), which is related to settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.

And just for your information, Nickolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace High Representative to Gaza, is also expected to brief in the Council, and he will be briefing on the implementation of resolution 2803 (2025) which endorsed the US "Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict" that resolution was adopted last November.

Meanwhile things are happening on the ground, and those are persistent challenges that remain and are preventing us and our NGO partners from fully responding to people's needs in Gaza. Since the reopening of Rafah Crossing last Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners have supported the medical evacuation of 16 patients who needed treatment that was unavailable in Gaza, along with 30 of their companions. The UN teams have also offered services to 20 returnees. That support was provided on Thursday and Sunday, with a scheduled break for the weekend.

Dr. Alakbarov, meanwhile, who will be briefing from Jerusalem, continues to engage with authorities to ensure that the voluntary movement of people in and out of Gaza can continue in safely, and in dignity, and in accordance with international humanitarian law. Our support to medical evacuation and returnees is scheduled to resume on Thursday this week.

Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem remains the only operational crossing for humanitarian and commercial cargo to enter the Gaza Strip. We once again call for the opening of additional crossings and the lifting of restrictions on humanitarian operations for ourselves and our NGO partners. [Following a court hearing yesterday, our international NGO partners informed us that their registration status with the Israeli authorities have not been resolved.] As we've said many times before: It is near impossible for us to do our work without those NGO partners, international and others.

And in the West Bank, our Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) colleagues warn that harsh humanitarian impact of settler attacks against Palestinians are continuing. Over the past few days, our field teams have recorded multiple attacks by settlers that resulted in casualties, property damage and displacement among Palestinians, including recently in Batn al Hawa in Silwan neighbourhood, in East Jerusalem. Evictions, demolitions and violence have grave physical, social and economic and emotional impacts and deepens reliance on humanitarian support. Palestinians must be protected and perpetrators must be brought to justice.

** Lebanon

Moving north to Lebanon where we, of course, are continuing to watch with grave concern the escalating rhetoric and the ongoing hostilities between Hizbullah and Israel. More than 1 million people, including nearly 370,000 children, are now registered in the country as displaced. Our humanitarian colleagues on the ground tell us that strikes have been reported across Lebanon, with air strikes overnight in Beirut's southern suburbs, following further mass displacement orders across multiple neighborhoods. In southern Lebanon, at least seven key crossings over the Litani River were struck in the past week, restricting people's movement and hindering humanitarian aid from reaching people fleeing the violence.

We and our humanitarian partners are continuing to respond to growing needs. We continue to provide food, we continue to provide shelter as well medical care and protection support to families who are forced to flee the fighting. As of yesterday, the World Food Programme (WFP) and its partners have distributed 1.7 million hot meals and 50,000 ready-to-eat kits. Our partners working in education and protection are also helping displaced children by providing psychosocial support, recreational activities and alternative ways of learning for children.

We reiterate that there is simply no military solution to the conflict and continue to call for de-escalation and urge all sides to avail themselves of diplomatic channels available to them and to recommit to the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006). Our Special Coordinator [for Lebanon], Jeanine Hennis-Plascheart, is pursuing all avenues of dialogue to this end.

** Sudan

Turning to Sudan. I want to flag that our newly minted Personal Envoy for Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, is in Khartoum today. He has so far met with senior Sudanese officials including Foreign Minister, Muhieldin Salim. He is also expected to meet with the Chairman of Sovereign Council and Commander of Sudanese Armed Forces General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. The Personal Envoy also aims to engage with a cross-section of Sudanese political and civil society stakeholders, as well as the diplomatic community. He will travel to several capitals in the region in the coming weeks to continue his initial consultations in support of peace efforts in Sudan.

And peace is very illusive in Sudan as we've been telling you, as the situation in Sudan remains deeply concerning. Yesterday, we spoke about the devastating drone attack on El-Daein Teaching Hospital in East Darfur on 20 March, and I can tell you that the Secretary-General strongly condemns this attack, which killed at least 60 people, including children and health workers.

Since the current war in Sudan began, in April 2023, WHO has verified more than 200 attacks harming health facilities in the country, resulting in more than 2,000 deaths. The Secretary-General demands that all parties abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law, which specifically protects medical personnel and specifically protects medical facilities and prohibits attacks directed against civilians and civilian objects. This is not the first time we had to read these things aloud. He calls on the parties to immediately de-escalate the fighting and agree to a cessation of hostilities.

Mr. Guterres renews his appeal to the parties to work with mediators, including Pekka Haavisto, his Personal Envoy, to return to the negotiating table to pursue a lasting ceasefire and a comprehensive, inclusive and Sudanese-owned political process. We stand ready to support genuine steps to end the fighting in Sudan. That statement has been shared with you.

** Sudan

And just to give you a bit more alarming and tragic news from Sudan. Our humanitarian colleagues are alarmed by the impact of escalating drone attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported that, between January and mid-March alone, some 500 civilians were reportedly killed in drone strikes, this illustrates so clearly the bloody and devastating impact of increasingly accessible high-tech weaponry.

In West Kordofan, local reports indicate that at least 17 people were killed and 25 others injured in drone strikes on residential neighbourhoods in the town of Lagawa yesterday. In Northern State, drone attacks in the town of Ad Dabbah on Friday reportedly killed a number of people and damaged an electricity substation, causing widespread power outages.

And in Blue Nile State, local sources reported to us that more than 30 civilians were killed yesterday amid heavy fighting in Kurmuk town, which was surrounded and subjected to intense shelling and drone strikes. Some residents have reportedly fled across the border into Ethiopia. These incidents are just a few of the daily risks and suffering faced by civilians across the country.

Once again, we reiterate that international humanitarian law, which cannot be cherry picked, prohibits attacks against civilians and civilian objects, as well as indiscriminate attacks. We also renew our call for all parties to facilitate rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access for all those who need it.

** Haiti

And apologies for continuing with all this horrendous news, but I want turn to Haiti, a country that lies just 1,500 miles from these shores. A new report by our human rights colleagues details the human rights impact of violence perpetrated in the country by gangs, by security forces, by private security contractors and self-defence groups. According to data verified by OHCHR, at least 5,519 people were killed in Haiti and 2,608 injured between 1 March 2025 and 15 January this year.

Gangs have terrorized the population by killing and by kidnapping people, by trafficking children and by stealing at illegal checkpoints, by extorting money from businesses and destroying and ransacking public and private properties. These gangs have also targeted individuals perceived as cooperating with police or just people who appear to be defying the gangs' authority.

The report also finds that between March and December last year, at least 1,571 women and girls were victims of sexual violence, mostly gang rape. Others, including children, were coerced into so-called "sentimental relationships" with gang members and subjected to prolonged sexual exploitation and abuse.

Our human rights colleagues documented instances of unnecessary or disproportionate use of force by police, as well as violence perpetrated by self-defence groups and mobs engaging in so-called "popular justice". They also report that, since March 2025, a private military company, reportedly hired by the Haitian Government, has taken part in security operations, including drone strikes and helicopter gunfire. Our colleagues say no investigation appears to have been opened by the judicial authorities to establish the legality of these operations and the circumstances in which killings and injuries occurred.

The report acknowledges some progress in the functioning of the justice system, but our human rights colleagues also called for further efforts to bolster the rule of law in Haiti. The full report is available online, it is grim reading but I encourage you to read it and report on it.

** Colombia

Turning to Colombia and to stay in the region. The UN Mission in Colombia and the UN country team express sadness over the tragic crash of a military transport plane in southern Colombia yesterday. They extend their solidarity and condolences to the families of the victims, and to the Government and people of Colombia. They also wish all those injured a speedy recovery. And of course, we join the UN Mission and our team in Colombia in extending our heartfelt condolences.

** Central America

Our Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, has allocated $10.5 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to help people ahead of a severe drought across the so-called "Dry Corridor" in Central America along the coast of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

Our humanitarian colleagues note that communities, many of them subsistence farmers, face failing crops, rising food insecurity and growing pressure on their livelihoods. The new funding will allow OCHA and our partners to take anticipatory action and act early to reduce humanitarian needs, to protect jobs and help families stay ahead of any shock. Some 150,000 people across the three countries will receive cash to purchase food, seeds resistant to drought and livestock feed, as well as health support and water and sanitation services.

** Democratic Republic of the Congo

A quick note from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is telling us that, following the reopening of the Burundi-Democratic Republic of the Congo border at the end of last month, more than 33,000 Congolese refugees have spontaneously returned from Burundi to eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where conditions as we've been telling you remain extremely fragile. UNHCR many returnees found their homes destroyed and belongings looted, leaving them unable to resume a normal life without substantial support.

You will recall that thousands of Congolese people had fled to Burundi in December last year because of the increased fighting between Congolese armed forces and the 23 March Movement armed group. Our UNHCR colleagues are calling for urgent support. Funding for assistance in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is currently 34 per cent funded. Meanwhile the appeal for the remaining 109,000 Congolese refugees in Burundi is only 20 per cent funded.

** Security Council/Ukraine

And yesterday afternoon, briefing Security Council members on Ukraine, where they heard from Rosemary DiCarlo, our Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, noted that the suffering and destruction caused by the war in Ukraine can never be justified, stressing that a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire is imperative. Also briefing Council members was Tom Fletcher, our head of humanitarian operations. He said that, over a cruel, cold winter, around 100 humanitarian organizations supported more than 1.6 million people. He noted that the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan requires $2 billion to reach 3.6 million of the most vulnerable people, but nearly three quarters of that plan is still unfunded.

** International Days

Today marks the International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims. The right to the truth applies to serious human rights violations and grave breaches of humanitarian law, affirming families' right to know what happened, including the circumstances, reasons and those responsible.

Today is also World Tuberculosis Day. Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the world's deadliest infectious diseases, with more than 29,000 new cases each and every day. WHO urges countries to accelerate action to end TB and expand access to life-saving treatment. Speaking of life-saving treatment. Edie.

** Questions and Answers

Question : Thank you, Steph. I believe today that the Israeli Defense Minister said that Israel plans to resend troops into southern Lebanon, south of the Litani River, which the Israelis ordered emptied. Does the Secretary-General have any comment on this?

Spokesman : This is part of the increased rhetoric that is very much concerning to us. I think this is the last thing we would want to see. This is the last thing the Lebanese people in the south would want to see. What we want, what we need, is for Israel, for Hizbullah and all other parties to fully implement Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) as there is no military solution to this conflict.

Question : And on Sudan, does the United Nations know who is carrying out these drone attacks?

Spokesman : We don't have the forensic capability to do it. But, what we have seen is that there have been drone attacks on places that were in the hands of the RSF [Rapid Support Forces] and in the hands of the Government, which leads us to believe that both parties have been using drones. Namo, then Gabriel.

Question : Thank you, Stephane. One question on Iraqi Kurdistan. The Kurdistan regional government says that ballistic-missile strike from Iran has killed six of its Peshmerga forces and wounded dozens of others. This effectively makes the Kurdistan region basically, Iran's deadliest retaliatory strikes against its neighbours has happened in that region, in Northern Iraq. What does the Secretary-General have to say on this?

Spokesman : This is part of the worrying, not only ongoing, but extension of this conflict. As we mentioned yesterday, we've heard reports that there were discussions going on, and those discussions need to lead to an end to this war. Gabriel.

Question : Thanks, Steph. You've probably seen the reports of a potential diplomatic movement in Pakistan regarding the potential talks to end the conflict in Iran in the region. What does the Secretary-General think about Pakistan possibly being a mediator, and does the UN foresee any potential role there in any way?

Spokesman : The Secretary-General, as we said, is always available to the parties to assist as he is in any conflict. He remains engaged on the issues surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, as he has said. I think any country or any combinations of countries that can help to bring the US and Iran together, to lead to an end of this conflict, is welcome. Alex, you're raising your hand. Yes.

Question : Thanks, Steph. Firstly, has the Secretary-General met with Mr. Landau yesterday?

Spokesman : Yes, he met Mr. [Christopher] Landau [United States Deputy Secretary of State] yesterday. They discussed a number of UN-related issues, including UN reform and some peacekeeping issues and basically discussed a number of files where the UN, the Secretariat and the US are working together.

Question : And the Strait of Hormuz?

Spokesman : That's where I will leave it at.

Question : All right. And secondly, has there been any context with Iranian mission... gas mission on possible negotiations? Give update for additional information.

Spokesman : There's nothing else that you will get from me. Okay. Yes, Islam.

Question : Thank you, Stephane. I would like to follow up Edie's question. Israel Finance Minister Smotrich said: "The Litani River must be or new border with Lebanon, like the Yellow Line in Gaza and the buffer zone on Mount Hermon in Syria." Considering 1 billion people who have been forced to flee from south Lebanon, does the Secretary-General worry about the Israel's new expansion or the rhetoric?

Spokesman : Yes. We worry about the increased rhetoric that we're seeing. We worry about the continuing military activity that we're seeing. The territorial integrity of Lebanon needs to be respected. The Government of Lebanon needs to be respected, and the Government's authority to have monopoly on the use of force and the use of arms throughout its country needs to be respected. We don't need more fighting. We don't need more rhetoric. Already, more than 1 million people are on the move in Lebanon, Israeli civilians on the southern side of the Blue Line have also been impacted. There needs to be a return to negotiations, and there needs to be a return to the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006).

Question : And if I may ask another question, multiple news outlets reported that Israeli soldiers tortured one-year-old Palestinian child named Karim Abu Nasr in Gaza to pressure his father. The child reportedly suffered cigarette burns, marks and nail wounds. Did you see this report...?

Spokesman : I have seen the horrific description of that report, which clearly needs to be investigated, reading it, reading the report itself is just horrific. Linda?

Question : Thank you, Steph. Could we possibly get some more information about Mr. Mladenov's briefing today?

Spokesman : He does not work for the UN. We're in touch with his team to try to get his briefing at least to share with you, but I would encourage you to try to grab him at the stakeout.

Question : But my question is this a schedule regularly scheduled kind of, I mean...?

Spokesman : It's part of the implementation of the resolution. Okay. Farnoush?

Question : Thanks, Stephane. This may have been asked because I've been gone for a few days. But, the Secretary-General mentioned that he believes it's reasonable to believe that war crimes have been committed by both Iran and Israel in the past month of this war. I'm interested in both what examples he's talking about when he mentions those two countries and why the US was not named given the highly susceptible...?

Spokesman : I think what he said, and I would encourage you to read the interview or listen to the podcast, he's basically saying that there are potentially war crimes being committed. It doesn't matter who commits those, they need to be investigated. He was referring in the interview to attacks on energy infrastructure. Gabriel?

Question : Just a quick one. Mladenov is briefing the council at the request of the president, the US, or of the Secretariat?

Spokesman : People invited to brief the council are invited by the presidency. Right. I mean, the Secretariat doesn't request outside briefers to come.

Correspondent : Fair enough.

Spokesman : All right. Thank you all. You're released from your...

Correspondent : Online questions.

Spokesman : Ask Mr. Vaccara [phonetic], please. We will stay for you. We'll have a little coffee, a cigarette, and we'll listen to your question.

Question : Well, okay. So, President Trump often says that United Nations has great potential. Why doesn't the Secretary-General ask him to mediate between the United States and Iran?

Spokesman : Why doesn't the Secretary-General ask what?

Question : Why hasn't the Secretary-General ask him to take a mediating role between the US and Iran?

Spokesman : If I understand your question, you're asking me why the Secretary-General hasn't spoken out and offered himself as a mediator. Is that your question?

Correspondent : Yes. But, is that because he, Trump is repeating, and anytime you ask a question about the United Nations, he says the United Nations has a lot of potential.

Spokesman : Yes. The Secretary-General's good offices, and I've said this, I think, about 552 times, are available to all parties, to any conflict, should the parties involved in this conflict request it. On that note...

Correspondent : Sorry. Follow-up. Follow-up.

Spokesman : Go ahead. Go ahead.

Question : Yes. Your answer to this question not only for me, but for anybody else you say always the door of the Secretary-General is always open. Okay. But, in this situation like this, the war is going on shouldn't the Secretary-General instead be more active? It means don't wait to see...?

Spokesman : I mean, I think, Stefano, I think if you've  and I know you have followed this  the Secretary-General has been involved with a number of parties related to the issue of the Strait of Hormuz and the fact that the impact and how to alleviate the situation around the Strait of Hormuz to alleviate the situation of the most vulnerable [populations] in the most vulnerable countries, seeing the increase already in price in food prices and fertilizer prices. So, I can tell you the Secretary-General has not been sitting on his hands waiting for the phone to ring. Mr. Ali? You're muted. I can see you move, but I can't hear you. Iftikhar? Yes. Yes. Go ahead.

Question : Thank you. My question has been asked, but has any of the parties, Iran, Pakistan, United States, officially informed the Secretary-General about this possibility of these talks in Pakistan?

Spokesman : I have nothing to share with you on that at this point. Thank you.

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Urgent support needed as 33,000 Congolese refugees return home from Burundi in a month

UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Briefing notes

This is a summary of what was said by Ali Mahamat, UNHCR Head of Sub-Office in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo - to whom quoted text may be attributed - at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

24 March 2026

GOMA - More than 33,000 Congolese refugees have spontaneously returned from Burundi to eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) within a month, following the reopening of the Burundi-DRC border on 23 February. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is calling for urgent international support to ensure that returns take place in conditions of safety, dignity and sustainability.

Most returnees are crossing through the Kavimvira border point, near Uvira in South Kivu Province. They fled to Burundi in December 2025, when fighting between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and the M23 armed group forced thousands to flee Uvira and surrounding areas. Following recent stability in Uvira and the reopening of the border, some refugees expressed a wish to return home. Returns were also accelerated by the severe underfunding for the response in Burundi, which has reduced assistance levels and led many refugees to return home amid continued uncertainty.

Around 30 per cent of returnees had been living in Burundi's Busuma refugee site, where funding shortfalls mean overcrowding and limited water, sanitation, medicine and shelter, despite the best efforts of authorities, UNHCR and partners. Nearly 4,500 people remain in transit centres awaiting relocation to Busuma. As of 23 March 2026, Burundi continues to host about 109,000 Congolese refugees, including around 67,000 in Busuma.

Conditions in many areas of return in the DRC remain fragile, with acute humanitarian needs. Initial UNHCR assessments in Uvira and Fizi show families arriving with few belongings, in urgent need of shelter, basic household items, health care, and access to water and sanitation. Many returned to find their homes destroyed and belongings looted, leaving them in deep despair and unable to resume normal life without substantial support.

UNHCR and partners are increasing protection monitoring and urgent humanitarian assistance, in close coordination with national and provincial authorities. Teams are deployed at border points and in return areas to monitor risks and identify vulnerable individuals. In Uvira and Fizi, we are providing emergency tarpaulins, blankets, soap and protection services. We are also delivering hot meals to returnees, alongside registration and screening, in close collaboration with government counterparts.

UNHCR reiterates that refugee decisions to return must be respected, and all returns must remain voluntary, safe and dignified. While recent return movements reflect hope for stability as well as the impact of underfunding, they should not expose families to renewed risks. Strengthening security, basic services and support for host communities in return areas is essential.

UNHCR's response to the needs of refugees, returnees and internally displaced people in the DRC is currently 34 per cent funded, against total requirements of $145 million, and UNHCR's support for Congolese refugees in Burundi is only 20 per cent funded. Additional funding is urgently needed to support the life-saving needs of these families, both those who have returned and those who remain displaced.

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Gaza: Commitment to US-backed plan crucial to recovery, Security Council hears

24 March 2026 - As tensions escalate in the Middle East, the international community must not lose sight of the situation in Gaza, an official with US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace across the shattered enclave said on Tuesday in his first appearance in the UN Security Council.

High Representative for Gaza Nickolay Mladenov - a former top UN official in the region - was speaking during a meeting on implementation of Council resolution 2334 (2016) which demands that Israel immediately cease all settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory.

It was held some four months after ambassadors adopted resolution 2803 (2025) endorsing the US-backed Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, which welcomed establishment of the Board of Peace as a transitional administration to set the framework for redevelopment and authorised the mechanism to set up a temporary International Stabilisation Force (ISF).

Ceasefire still holding

The first phase of the US 20-point plan - which led to a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas last October - is largely complete, Mr. Mladenov said, and the truce is holding despite challenges.

The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) has been constituted and has made progress on vetting thousands of civilian police candidates.

"The National Committee exercises authority solely on an interim basis. The end state is a reformed Palestinian Authority capable of governing Gaza and the West Bank, and ultimately a pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood," he said.

Discussions on decommissioning

Furthermore, Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo and Albania have committed troops to the ISF, while a comprehensive framework for the decommissioning and reintegration of armed groups has been developed by his office alongside guarantors the US, Egypt, Turkiye and Qatar.

The framework has been formally presented to all relevant parties and serious discussions are currently underway. It rests on five principles, the first of which is reciprocity.

"Decommissioning proceeds in parallel with staged withdrawal. This is fundamental to the credibility of the entire process," he said.

Mr. Mladenov asked for the Council's support in reiterating that decommissioning is not only a fundamental requirement, but the only way forward towards reconstruction and Israeli military withdrawal, "and for the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and statehood to be pursued through meaningful negotiations."

Seize the day

Members were also requested "to use all means at their disposal to urge Hamas and all Palestinian factions to accept the framework without delay."

The High Representative added that "the full implementation of the Comprehensive Plan is also the only pathway that provides Israel with durable security."

He was adamant that there can be no credible path to Palestinian self-determination and statehood if Gaza remains under the control of Hamas and other armed groups.

"That is why everyone - every member of this Council, every State in the region, the Palestinian National Authority and every Palestinian faction that cares about peace - has an interest in the implementation of the 20-Point Comprehensive Plan."

Settlement activity accelerating

Ramiz Alakbarov, UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, delivered the Secretary-General's latest quarterly report on implementation of resolution 2334 (2016), which showed that Israeli settlement activity continued at high levels during the period ending 13 March.

Israeli authorities advanced or approved more than 6,000 housing units in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, among other measures. Demolitions of Palestinian-owned structures also accelerated, while evictions and acts of violence continued, with a high number of fatal incidents.

Overall, 32 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank - including seven children - during large scale Israeli Security Forces operations, armed exchanges, settler attacks, and other incidents.

Some 833 Palestinians, including 138 children, were injured, including 178 by Israel Security Forces due to tear gas inhalation and 141 by live ammunition, and 322 by Israeli settlers and other civilians.

Palestinian attacks against Israelis continued in both the West Bank and Israel, which included the killing of two Israelis as well as ramming and stabbing attacks.

Important step

Meanwhile, roughly 1.4 million people in Gaza remain displaced across 1,200 sites, and many are living in overcrowded and unsafe conditions.

Mr. Alakbarov also shared some of the Secretary-General's observations from the report, including regarding the launch of Phase Two of the US-led Plan, noting that the UN chief described the establishment of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza as an important step.

"It is crucial that all parties fully abide by their commitments so that recovery can proceed in Gaza while advancing a credible political horizon towards a two-State solution," he said.

"In coordination with the Palestinian Authority, the UN stands ready to support the Committee's efforts to provide critical public services, facilitate humanitarian aid, and lay the groundwork for reconstruction."

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Sudan: Hospital strike highlights surge in drone attacks on civilians

By Dominika Tomaszewska-Mortimer in Geneva

24 March 2026 - The death toll from a horrific attack on a hospital in Sudan's Darfur has risen further, amid a "sharp increase" in drone attacks against civilians this year, UN agencies said on Tuesday.

The Teaching Hospital in East Darfur's capital, Al Deain, was struck late Friday, a new low in the brutal conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that erupted in April 2023.

According to the UN World Health Organization (WHO), the number of people killed has risen to 70, including seven women and 13 children, following search efforts.

Health workers - one doctor and two nurses - were also among those killed, while injuries have increased to 146 people, including patients and family members accompanying them.

Call for immediate de-escalation: Guterres

The Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday strongly condemned the killings calling on the rival military leaderships "to immediately de-escalate the fighting and agree on a cessation of hostilities."

He renewed his appeal for the warring parties to work with mediators, including his Personal Envoy for Sudan, "to return to the negotiating table to pursue a lasting ceasefire and a comprehensive, inclusive and Sudanese-owned political process."

Health care a frequent target

Since the start of the conflict, the total number of fatalities linked to attacks on health facilities has surpassed 2,000 according to WHO.

"An attack on a hospital is not only an attack on a building, it's an attack on people seeking care, on health workers risking their lives to save others, and on the very possibility of survival at times of crisis," said WHO Deputy Representative to Sudan, Dr Hala Khudari.

"Sudan is approaching its third year of armed conflict, but the attacks on healthcare continue," she deplored, stressing that health facilities, ambulances, health workers and patients have been "repeatedly targeted".

The attack on the teaching hospital has effectively closed it and patients "may have to travel over 160 kilometers to reach the next referral hospital, which for patients requiring specialized services, is very difficult", the UN health agency official said.

She stressed that Al Deain served as a referral hospital for over two million people in the city as well as nine other localities in the East Darfur state.

Perpetrator hunt

Asked who was responsible for the Al Deain attack, UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) spokesperson Marta Hurtado said that while the perpetrators have not been identified, both parties to the conflict use drones extensively.

"Our call is for both parties to stop immediately using this type of weaponry," she said.

Ms. Hurtado warned of a surge in the use of drones to conduct airstrikes this year in Sudan, which "underlines the devastating impact of high tech and relatively cheap weapons in populated areas".

More than 500 civilians were killed in such strikes from 1 January to 15 March, she said, the vast majority in three states in the Kordofan region.

The deadly attacks continued in the past week, culminating with the Al Deain attack as the month of Ramadan came to a close on Eid Al-Fitr.

Chad strike condemned

The UN Human Rights office spokesperson also said that "widening drone attacks are spiralling across Sudan['s] borders, with serious risk of further escalation, carrying regional consequences".

She mentioned deadly drone strikes last week on the town of At Tina close to the Sudan-Chad border and in the border locality of Tine in Chad, "after earlier ground offenses by the RSF".

"Continued patterns of such attacks striking civilians and destroying civilian infrastructures raise serious concerns about compliance with international humanitarian laws, fundamental principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution, and may amount to war crimes," Ms. Hurtado concluded, calling for an end to "arms transfers that are feeding the conflict".



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Haitian gangs expand reach as police are accused of 'summary executions'

By Daniel Dickinson

24 March 2026 - Deadly gangs in Haiti are expanding their reach to include control over key sea and road routes as police in the beleaguered Caribbean island nation are being accused of using "unnecessary and disproportionate lethal force and summary executions."

At least 26 gangs operate in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas with "alarming levels of violence."

Some 1.4 million people have been forced to flee their homes and thousands more have died.

A new UN human rights office report published on Tuesday in Geneva details the impacts of the expanding reach of gangs on Haitians' human rights, amid persistent and deadly violence - more than 5,500 died as a result last year.

Gang expansion

During the same period, gangs have expanded their operations beyond the capital pushing into its outskirts and moving north into the Artibonite and Centre departments, the report states.

Gangs have been able to "fortify strategic corridors and maintain dominance over critical maritime and overland routes that sustain their financing and operational resilience."

Meanwhile, they have continued to terrorise the population by killing and kidnapping people, trafficking children, stealing at illegal checkpoints, extorting money from businesses, and destroying and ransacking public and private properties.

Gangs targeted individuals perceived as cooperating with police or defying their authority. "Some victims were executed, their bodies often doused with gasoline and burned," the report said.

Disproportionate use of force

The violence involves not just gangs, but also Haitian security forces, private security contractors, and self-defence groups.

Almost 250 instances of "actual or attempted summary executions of suspected gang members or individuals believed to support gangs," have been identified in the report as being carried out by the police, using "unnecessary or disproportionate" force.

Concern has also been raised about security operations carried out by a private military company, reportedly contracted by the Haitian Government, which has used drone strikes and helicopter gunfire. There is some doubt about the legality of this approach.

"Some, or even most, of these drone strikes and helicopter operations could be described as targeted killings, given the apparent predetermined, intentional, and deliberate use of lethal force against individuals specifically identified in advance," the report said, and "no investigation appears to have been opened by the judicial authorities to establish the legality of these operations."

Self-defence groups and mobs armed with stones, machetes, and, increasingly, high-calibre firearms have engaged in so-called "popular justice," leading to people suspected of gang affiliation being lynched, sometimes "allegedly encouraged, supported, or facilitated by police elements."

UN support

The UN has continually emphasized that restoring security is essential to the stabilisation of Haiti, but it is not enough on its own.

Without progress on governance, justice, accountability and social services, especially for young people, any security gains will be fragile.

Sustained international backing is critical to breaking the cycle of violence and instability and to support in a Haitian-led effort to restore security.

The UN-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF) established in 2025 and which is mandated to have 5,000 personnel is expected to play a key supporting role.

Earlier in March, Daniela Kroslak was named as the head of the newly established United Nations Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH) which will provide logistical support to the GSF.





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World News in Brief: Airstrikes continue in Ukraine, refugees return to DR Congo, emergency aid for the 'Dry Corridor'

24 March 2026 - The latest wave of Russian attacks across Ukraine have reportedly killed and injured civilians and damaged critical infrastructure in Dnipro, Odesa, Poltava, Zaporizhzhia and other regions.

The strikes hit residential buildings, pre-schools and shops. Humanitarians are providing first aid, psychosocial support, repair materials and other emergency assistance.

The attacks come after the UN head of political and peacebuilding affairs, Rosemary Di Carlo, told the Security Council on Monday that the violence in Ukraine is "worse than ever" .

Concern over nuclear power plant

The Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in southern Ukraine lost the connection to the 750kv Dniprovska line today, leaving it dependent on its sole back-up line for external power.

ZNPP has been in Russian hands since 4 March 2022 and has since continued to be damaged by shelling.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, said that its team is monitoring the situation and have also initiated discussions with both sides on establishing a local ceasefire to enable repairs of the damaged power line.

Refugees return to DRC as border reopens

More than 33,000 Congolese refugees have returned from Burundi to eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since the reopening of the border on 23 February.



Most returnees are crossing near Uvira in the South Kivu province of DRC after fleeing to Burundi in December 2025 when fighting between Government forces and the M23 armed group forced thousands to flee the area.

"Many returned to find their homes destroyed and belongings looted, leaving them in deep despair and unable to resume normal life without substantial support," the head of UN refugee agency, UNHCR, in the DRC, Ali Mahamat, said on Tuesday.

Lack of funding as thousands remain in Burundi

Around 30 per cent of returnees had been living in Burundi's Busuma refugee site, where funding shortfalls are leading to overcrowding and limited water, sanitation, medicine and shelter, which is accelerating refugee returns.

Nearly 4,500 people remain in transit centres awaiting relocation to Busuma. As of 23 March, Burundi continues to host about 109,000 Congolese refugees, including around 67,000 in Busuma.

With UNHCR's operation in the DRC only 34 per cent funded and its response for Congolese refugees in Burundi just 20 per cent funded, the agency is calling for urgent international support to ensure that returns take place in conditions of safety, dignity and sustainability.

Drought relief in Central America

The UN agency responsible for coordinating humanitarian relief, OCHA, has allocated $10.5 million to help people ahead of a severe drought across the so-called 'Dry Corridor' along the coast of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

Roughly 90 per cent of Central America's population live in the 'Dry Corridor', and according to the UN World Food Programme (WFP) an estimated 2.7 million people there are in urgent need of food assistance as of early 2026.

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher allocated the amount from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support communities that include many subsistence farmers who face failing crops, rising food insecurity and growing pressure on their livelihoods.

Thousands to receive cash relief

This new funding will allow OCHA and its humanitarian partners to act early to reduce humanitarian needs, protect jobs and help families stay ahead of any shock.

Some 150,000 people across the three countries will receive cash to purchase food, seeds resistant to drought and livestock feed, as well as health support and water and sanitation services.





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Today's top news: Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Sudan, Central America



UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Lebanon

Humanitarian response continues amid strikes

OCHA reports that humanitarian partners continue to respond to growing needs, providing food, shelter, water, medical care and protection support to families forced to flee their homes.

According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, 1,039 people have been killed and 2,876 injured between 2 and 23 March. Children account for at least 118 of those killed and 365 of the injured.

To date, more than one million people - including nearly 370,000 children - have registered themselves as displaced. More than 130,000 people are sheltering in nearly 650 collective sites nationwide, most of which are already at or near full capacity.

Strikes have been reported across Lebanon, with seven airstrikes overnight on Beirut's southern suburbs following further mass displacement orders across multiple neighborhoods.

In southern Lebanon, at least seven key crossings over the Litani River were struck in the past week, restricting people's movement and hindering humanitarian aid from reaching people fleeing the violence.

As of yesterday, the World Food Programme and its partners have distributed 1.7 million hot meals and 50,000 ready-to-eat kits.

Over 93,000 mattresses, 51,000 sleeping mats and 115,000 blankets have been distributed, alongside more than 33,000 hygiene kits and nearly 20,000 menstrual hygiene kits. Nearly 645,000 litres of bottled water and 10,000 cubic metres of water have been delivered, while over 487,000 litres of fuel have been supplied to sustain critical water services.

Education and protection partners are also helping displaced children by providing psychosocial support, recreational activities and alternative ways of learning.

As of 23 March, the $308.3 million Lebanon appeal is 20 percent funded, with $63.4 million received to date.

*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Lebanon with urgent support.

Occupied Palestinian Territory

Humanitarian operations face continued restrictions

OCHA reports that persistent challenges are preventing the United Nations and NGO partners from fully responding to people's needs across the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Following a court hearing yesterday, international NGO partners report that their registration status with the Israeli authorities has not yet been resolved.

International NGOs are indispensable. Their work must be facilitated and their registration status resolved so essential supplies can be brought in, particularly to Gaza, to provide critical humanitarian services.

Since the reopening of Rafah crossing last Thursday, the World Health Organization and its partners have supported the medical evacuation of 16 patients who needed treatment unavailable in Gaza, along with 30 companions. UN teams have also offered services to 20 returnees. That support was provided on Thursday and Sunday, with a scheduled break for the weekend.

Meanwhile, the Humanitarian Coordinator, Ramiz Alakbarov, is engaging with authorities to ensure that the voluntary movement of people in and out of Gaza can continue safely, with dignity, and in accordance with international humanitarian law. The UN's support for medical evacuation, and returnees, is scheduled to resume on Thursday.

Kerem Shalom remains the only operational crossing for humanitarian and commercial cargo to enter the Strip. The UN calls again for the opening of additional crossings and the lifting of restrictions on humanitarian operations.

In the West Bank, OCHA warns of the harsh humanitarian impact of settler attacks against Palestinians and of Israeli policies that leads to dispossession.

Over the past few days, field teams have recorded multiple attacks by settlers that resulted in casualties, property damage and displacement among Palestinians.

Displacement has also occurred since Friday as a result of forcible evictions carried out by Israeli authorities in Batn al Hawa area of Silwan neighbourhood, in East Jerusalem; this is an area where over 1,000 Palestinians, nearly half of them children, are at risk of forced displacement.

Evictions, demolitions and violence have grave physical, social, economic and emotional impacts and deepens reliance on humanitarian support. Palestinians must be protected and perpetrators be brought to justice.

*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Gaza and the West Bank with urgent support.

Sudan

UN sounds alarm on lethal use of drones as 500 people killed since January

OCHA is alarmed by the impact of escalating drone attacks and continued reports of the killing of civilians across Sudan in recent days, even as families sought to mark the Eid holidays.

The UN Human Rights Office reported today that between January and mid-March alone, more than 500 civilians were reportedly killed in drone strikes, underscoring the devastating impact of increasingly accessible high-tech weaponry in populated areas.

They say a strike on a convoy of commercial vehicles in Ed Daein in East Darfur State killed at least 23 people, including women and children this past Saturday.

In West Kordofan, local reports indicate that at least 17 people were killed and 25 others injured in drone strikes on residential neighbourhoods in the town of Lagawa yesterday.

In Northern State, drone attacks in the town of Ad Dabbah on Friday reportedly killed six people and damaged civilian infrastructure, including an engineering college and an electricity substation, causing widespread power outages.

In Blue Nile State, local sources reported that more than 30 civilians werekilled yesterday amid heavy fighting in Kurmuk town, which was surrounded and subjected to intense shelling and drone strikes. Some residents have reportedly fled across the border into Ethiopia.

The UN reiterates that international humanitarian law prohibits attacks directed towards civilians and civilian objects, as well as indiscriminate attacks. The UN renews its call for all parties to facilitate rapid, safe, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access to all areas of need across Sudan.

Central America

UN mobilizes more than $10 million ahead of drought

The Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, has allocated $10.5 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to help people ahead of a severe drought across the so-called "Dry Corridor" along the coast of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

Communities - many of them subsistence farmers - face failing crops, rising food insecurity and growing pressure on their livelihoods.

This new funding will allow OCHA and its humanitarian partners to take act early to reduce humanitarian needs, protect jobs and help families stay ahead of any shock.

Some 150,000 people across the three countries will receive cash to purchase food, seeds resistant to drought and livestock feed, as well as health support and water and sanitation services.

Posted on 24 March 2026

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UNRWA Situation Report #213 on the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem

UNRWA

24 Mar 2026

All information updated for 11 - 17 March 2026 [1]

Days 884 - 890 since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip

Highlights

The Gaza Strip

The Israeli authorities have expanded their militarised area within Gaza by moving the so-called "Orange Line"  a buffer area near the "Yellow Line" of Israeli control where the authorities require coordinated movements for humanitarian operations. Ten additional UNRWA installations now fall within the expanded "Orange Line", including collective emergency shelters hosting displaced persons.

All crossings into Gaza except for Kerem Shalom remain closed, despite high-level advocacy to have them opened. Only limited numbers of trucks are entering the Gaza Strip, with the consequent scarcity of goods triggering further increases in prices and leading to shortage in medicines and spare parts needed to maintain essential operations, such as lubricants for generators, and batteries.

Strong winds and a sandstorm were reported across Gaza on 14 March, destroying makeshift sites and exposing displaced people to additional health risks, especially in Al Mawasi and other open areas. The site management cluster, co-led by UNRWA, collected information on incidents across the Gaza Strip to inform the humanitarian response.

Key points

The Gaza Strip

Fatalities and injuries

Between 7 October 2023 and 11 March 2026, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH), as reported by OCHA, 72,135 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip and another 171,830 injured.

UNRWA has recorded 391 colleagues killed in Gaza since the start of the war (310 UNRWA personnel, in addition to 81 persons who were supporting UNRWA[2]), up to 17 March.

Health crisis

According to the MoH, as reported by WHO, 46 per cent of essential medicines and 66 per cent of medical consumables, such as surgical materials, are currently out of stock and urgently need sustained replenishment.

UNRWA rapid response medical teams continue to closely monitor the trend in reported skin infections across multiple collective emergency shelters. UNRWA, together with health partners, is distributing hygiene kits in the affected locations. These measures are reportedly helping to contain the outbreak, with a continued decrease in cases of skin infections reported in recent weeks.

Displacement, Site management

UNRWA continues to monitor the movement of displaced persons and displacement sites. An estimated 67,000 displaced people are living in 83 collective emergency shelters managed by the Agency.

Over the winter months, UNRWA site management teams conducted approximately 6,000 interventions, including distributing tents, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, and other non-food items to thousands of families in need and mitigating the impact of harsh weather.

Currently, 127 UNRWA facilities are located within the Israeli-militarised zone behind the so-called "Yellow Line" and in areas where access is subject to Israeli approval or coordination.

Operational implications and humanitarian response

Around 11,000 Palestinian UNRWA personnel continue to provide services and assistance to Gaza's entire population in need. In the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, UNRWA continues to play a central role with over 4,000 UNRWA Palestinian personnel providing education, health, and other services to Palestine Refugees.

All UNRWA international staff are prevented from entering the Occupied Palestinian Territory - the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. This follows the implementation of laws passed by the Israeli parliament on 28 October 2024[3] that purport to prohibit UNRWA's operations in areas that Israel considers its sovereign territory, including occupied East Jerusalem, and seek to bar any contact by Israeli officials with UNRWA. The Israeli authorities have not granted the Agency's international staff visas or permits to enter the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Gaza, since the end of January 2025.

Since March 2025, the Israeli authorities have been blocking UNRWA from directly bringing humanitarian personnel and aid into the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, pre-positioned outside Gaza, UNRWA has enough food parcels, flour, and shelter supplies for hundreds of thousands of people.

The occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem

According to OCHA, between 7 October 2023 and 15 March 2026, 1,071 Palestinians - at least 233 of them children - were killed in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Of these, 25 have been killed since the beginning of 2026.

Israeli settlers shot dead a Palestinian in the town of Qusra, in Nablus governorate, on 14 March. At least two other residents were also injured. The death marked the latest in a surge of fatalities associated with settler violence, with seven Palestinians killed in such incidents since the regional escalation began on 28 February.

Early on 15 March, Israeli forces opened fire on a vehicle, killing a Palestinian family of four, including two children, in Tammun in the northern West Bank. Two further children from the family were injured. The following day was declared a day of mourning by the Tammun municipality.

Missile fragments and interceptor shrapnel linked to the regional escalation continued to be reported across the West Bank, particularly in the central governorates. On 16 March, missile fragments landed in the vicinity of several holy sites in Jerusalem, including the Al Aqsa Mosque compound and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 24 March 2026 - Day 1490

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that in total, since the beginning of this day, there have been 176 combat clashes.

The defense forces continue to stop the enemy, destroy personnel and deplete the invaders' combat potential by creating a systematic fire effect.

The Russian enemy made one missile strike, used 30 missiles, made 38 aviation strikes - dropped 137 controlled air bombs. In addition, Russian forces used 4686 kamikaze drones and carried out 2950 shells of settlements and positions of Ukrainian troops.

The Defense Forces repelled one Russian assault in the North Slobozhansky and Kursk directions today. In addition, the Russian enemy carried out 57 shelling positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements.

In the south-Slobozhans komu direction, the Russian enemy four times stormed the positions of Ukrainian units in the district of Vovchansk and in the direction of Ohrimivka. One battle is still going on.

In the Kupians komu direction, Russian troops attacked four times in the direction of Novoosinovogo, Novoplatonivka and Kurilivka.

In the Lyman direction since the beginning of the day, the Russian enemy has attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders six times in the areas of settlements Tverdohlibove, Serednoe and in the direction of settlements Lyman, Drobisheve. There's still one battle going on.

In the Slavic direction, the Russian opponent tried to advance four times in the areas of settlements Yampil, Platonivka, Pazeno. One fight is going on.

In the direction of Kramators komu, Russian forces carried out four offensive actions in the area of Minkivka and in the direction of Virolyubivka.

In the Konstantinivka direction, the Russian occupiers 37 times stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders towards Konstantinivka, Pleshiyivka, Illinivka, Ivanopilya, Stepanivka, Sofiyivka, Rusynoy Yar and Novopavlivka. Four clashes are underway.

The Defense Forces repelled 45 Russian assault actions in the Pokrovsky direction in the areas of Nikanorivka, Pokrovsk, Rodinske, Grishyne, Udaachne, Novomikolaivka, Molodetske and towards settlements Nove Shahove, Novopidgorodne, Novopavlivka, Bilitske, Shevchenko.

According to preliminary calculations, today 66 Russian occupants were eliminated and 21 wounded in this direction; four units of car transport were destroyed, two tanks, two artillery systems, three units of car equipment, two BPLA control points and seven Russian personnel shelters. Destroyed or suppressed 131 BPLA of different types.

In the Oleksandrivsky direction, the Russian occupiers tried seven times to improve their position, attacking in the areas of settlements of Ternove, Krasnogirsk, Zlagoda and in the direction of Privilia. Ivanivka suffered an airstrike.

In the direction of Gulyaipil, there were 18 Russian attacks towards the settlements of Dobropillya, Staroukrainka, Zaliznychne, Gulyaipilske, Varvarivka, Mirne, Olenokostyantinivka. The Russian enemy caused air strikes in the areas of settlements Novoselivka, Vozdvizhivka, Light Valley, Kopani, Freedom, Egorivka, Shiroke, Forest. Two clashes are ongoing so far.

In the Orihiv direction of active Russian offensive actions is not recorded. The Russian enemy launched an air strike on Orikhov.

In the Pridniprovsk direction, the Russian opponent did not carry out offensive actions.

In other directions, there have been no significant changes in the environment.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the night, in response to terrorist attacks launched by Ukraine against civilian facilities in Russia, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out a massive strike with long-range, air- and surface-launched high-precision weapons, unmanned aerial vehicles against enterprises of the Ukrainian defence industry that produce different types of missiles and components to them as well as military airfields.

The goals of the strike were achieved. All the assigned targets were engaged.

The Sever Group of Forces have established control over Peschanoye in Kharkov region.

Two mechanised brigades, a motorised infantry brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and a national guard brigade have been hit near Volkhovskoye, Izbitskoye, Kolodeznoye, and Shevyakovka (Kharkov region).

In Sumy region, units of a mechanised brigade of the AFU and a territorial defence brigade have been hit near Kondratovka, Malaya Korchakovka, and Miropolye (Sumy region).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 235 troops, four armoured fighting vehicles, ten motor vehicles, a field artillery gun, and a counter-fire radar. Five materiel depots have been neutralised.

The Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. Three mechanised brigades, an assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and a territorial defence brigade have been hit close to Borovaya, Novoosinovo, Shiykovka (Kharkov region), Krasny Liman and Svyatogorsk in the Donetsk People's Republic.

The enemy losses amounted to up to 190 troops, two tanks, four armoured fighting vehicles, 22 motor vehicles, and one artillery gun. Two ammunition depots were destroyed.

The Yuzhnaya Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Formations of two mechanised brigades, an assault brigade, a motorised infantry brigade, and a mountain assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been hit close to Artema, Ilinovka, Konstantinovka, Krivaya Luka, Nikiforovka, Novoselovka, and Slavyansk (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy lost up to 180 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, 13 motor vehicles, two field artillery guns including a Polish-made 155-mm Krab self-propelled artillery system, and two Israeli-made RADA RPS-42 counter-fire radars. Three materiel depots were destroyed.

Elements of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line. Russian units hit three mechanised brigades, an infantry brigade, an assault regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a marine brigade, and two territorial defence brigades near Belitskoye, Grishino, Dobropolye, Ivanovka, Novoaleksandrovka, Svetloye, and Torskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The Ukrainian armed formations losses amounted to more than 330 troops, eight armoured fighting vehicles, nine motor vehicles, six artillery guns including a U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, and a French-made Caesar self-propelled artillery system. A U.S.-made AN/TPQ-48 electronic warfare station was neutralised.

The Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing to the depth of the enemy's defences. A mechanised brigade, an air assault brigade, two assault brigades, and three assault regiments have been hit close to Aleksandrovka, Dobropasovo (Dnepropetrovsk region), Boykovo, Vozdvizhevka, Gorkoye, Komsomolskoye, and Kopani (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy lost more than 280 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, nine motor vehicles, and three field artillery guns.

The Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of a mechanised brigade of the AFU and a territorial defence brigade near Zaporozhets, Kamyshevakha, Orekhov, and Preobrazhenka (Zaporozhye region).

More than 50 troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, five motor vehicles, three electronic warfare stations, and one materiel depot were neutralised.

Operational-tactical aviation, attack drones, missile troops and artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have inflicted damage on the transport infrastructure facilities of Ukraine used in the interests of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, boot camps and launch sites of long-range unmanned aerial vehicles as well as temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 142 areas.

Air defence systems shot down 10 guided aerial bomb and 259 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the enemy has lost 671 aircraft, 284 helicopters, 126,922 unmanned aerial vehicles, 652 anti-aircraft missile systems, 28,453 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,691 MLRS combat vehicles, 34,033 field artillery guns and mortars, and 57,614 units of support military vehicles.

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Secretary of the Army's Cyber Strategic Seminar examines cyber policy, talent and future force readiness

By Maj. Brian Godwin and 1st Sgt. Jason Lott March 22, 2026

WASHINGTON -- Earlier this winter, participants in cohort 3 of the Secretary of the Army's Cyber Strategic Seminar, or SCSS, convened in Washington for a two-day kickoff focused on cyber policy, strategic leadership and the role of cyberspace operations in preparing the Army for the future fight.

The yearlong seminar, led by the Office of the Principal Cyber Advisor in partnership with U.S. Army Cyber Command, is designed to develop emerging cyber leaders across the total Army and Department of the Army civilian workforce. Through senior leader engagements, research and cross-sector dialogue, the program encourages participants to examine how the Army organizes, equips and employs cyber capabilities at scale.

"This seminar provides a crucial forum for our emerging leaders to engage directly with the complex challenges facing the Army and joint force in cyberspace," said Brandon Pugh, principal cyber advisor to the Secretary of the Army. "By examining issues from talent management to artificial intelligence, we are preparing them to lead the integration and employment of cyber capabilities across the force."

Establishing strategic context

The seminar opened with cohort introductions and an initial engagement at the Pentagon with the under secretary of the Army and the Army's principal cyber advisor. Participants received an overview of the seminar's objectives and the scope of the principal cyber advisor's responsibilities across the Army cyber enterprise.

Discussions highlighted the breadth of issues in the principal cyber advisor's portfolio, including oversight of the Army cyber budget, force development and readiness, acquisition of cyber capabilities, cybersecurity and supply chain risk management and integration of cyber and information advantage policies.

A consistent theme emerged early: much of the work at the strategic level is focused on reducing friction and enabling speed, allowing tactical units to operate with greater capability and advantage.

"The first cyber strategic seminar engagement was intellectually challenging but very grounded, offering real insight into how senior leaders are thinking about offensive cyber and modernization," said Jennifer Burnett, a U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, or DEVCOM, information technology specialist and cohort member.

Workforce development and operational readiness

Over a working lunch, cohort members continued discussions with Lt. Gen. Christopher Eubank, commanding general of Army Cyber Command, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jebin Heyse, senior enlisted advisor at Army Cyber Command, examining challenges related to cyber talent management, workforce coding and deliberate upskilling across the force.

Attention was given to the effective integration of Reserve and National Guard cyber professionals, whose civilian expertise often aligns with operational requirements.

The afternoon shifted toward execution and collaboration. Participants conducted interviews with Army Public Affairs, engaged with alumni from previous cohorts to exchange lessons learned and began shaping individual research topics. Each seminarian will produce a research paper aligned with the principal cyber advisor's priority areas, developed in partnership with the Army Cyber Institute.

Engaging policymakers on Capitol Hill

On the second day, the cohort traveled to Capitol Hill for a series of engagements focused on cyber policy, legislative oversight and the future of the force. Discussions with members of Congress and professional staff explored how cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies intersect with national defense priorities.

Conversations reinforced the idea that cyber operations not only integrate but are important to enable other effects and freedom of action across land, maritime, air and space domains.

Artificial intelligence featured prominently throughout the day. Rather than framing AI as a distant capability, discussions emphasized its present-day relevance, the importance of responsible data access and the need for leaders to understand both the advantages and risks associated with advanced tools.

Engagements with congressional staff also provided insight into the legislative process, including how policy proposals are drafted, refined and assessed over time.

"Our leaders in Congress are keenly aware that technologies like AI and quantum are revolutionizing cyber operations," noted Chief Warrant Officer 4 Joshua Wellman, a senior capabilities developer with the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber). "They stressed that now, more than ever, responsible access to quality data is paramount."

Looking ahead

The kickoff concluded with cohort reflections and preparation for the next phase of the seminar. Participants will now refine research topics, engage with academic and operational partners and continue a yearlong series of engagements focused on strengthening the Army's cyber posture.

As the Army continues its transformation, the Secretary of the Army's Cyber Strategic Seminar provides a forum for emerging leaders to step back from day-to-day problem sets, examine complex challenges at the strategic level and contribute informed perspectives on how cyberspace operations enable readiness, resilience and advantage across the force.

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NSA and ASD's ACSC Release Joint Guidance on LEO SATCOM System Risks and Mitigations

National Security Agency / Central Security Service

Press Release | March 24, 2026

FORT MEADE, Md. -- The National Security Agency (NSA) joins the Australian Signals Directorate's Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD's ACSC) in collaboration with the Australian Space Agency and others in releasing the Cybersecurity Information Sheet (CSI), "Securing space: Cyber security for low earth orbit satellite communications."

The report highlights high-level cybersecurity risks and mitigation strategies for users of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communication (SATCOM) systems. The risks and mitigations are detailed through the lens of the space segment comprising the satellites themselves; the ground segment encompassing satellite control centers, ground stations, gateways, and user terminals; the user segment that includes end-user devices, applications, and associated interfaces that connect to LEO SATCOM services; and the communication links and broader supply chain for LEO SATCOM systems.

The CSI suggests numerous mitigation strategies for the space segment and legacy space equipment, including implementing tailored security measures, and using frequency-hopping signals, redundant communication paths, and anti-jam antennas. For the ground segment, continuous monitoring and anomaly detection are essential. The user segment should focus on strengthening endpoint security and enforcing secure access practices.

The report also provides frameworks for maintaining the resilience of critical networks, while offering valuable insights and guidelines for users to understand their roles and responsibilities in securing LEO SATCOM systems.

LEO SATCOM systems improve network resilience and enable emergency communications across both government and private sectors; however, as LEO satellite constellations grow, the attack surface open to adversaries increases, significantly increasing the risk to the system if the correct cybersecurity measures are not applied.

In LEO SATCOM networks, Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability  known asthe CIA triad  are critical to maintaining secure and reliable operations. LEO SATCOM systems face unique challenges due to their distributed architecture and limited physical access to space-based assets. They also rely on radio frequency links that are susceptible to jamming, spoofing, and interception.

Organizations that use LEO SATCOM services are encouraged to review this guidance and adopt the outlined cybersecurity mitigations.

Other agencies co-sealing this CSI are the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (Cyber Centre), New Zealand National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC-NZ), and Australian Space Agency.

Read the full report here.

Visit our full library for more cybersecurity information and technical guidance.

NSA Media Relations

MediaRelations@nsa.gov

443-634-0721

About the National Security Agency

Founded in 1952, NSA is a U.S. Department of War combat support agency and element of the U.S. Intelligence Community. The Agency's mission is to provide foreign signals intelligence to policy makers and our military, and to prevent and eradicate cybersecurity threats to U.S. national security systems, with a focus on the Defense Industrial Base and the improvement of U.S. weapons' security. From protecting U.S. warfighters around the world to enabling and supporting operations on land, in the air, at sea, in space, and in the cyber domain, NSA is committed to building public trust through transparency and protecting civil liberties and privacy consistent with our nation's values.

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Global space chiefs unite in Canberra

By Samantha Cooper

24 March 2026

The inaugural Space Chief's Conclave brought together international space leaders for an inspiring day of connection, collaboration and forward-looking discussion.

Held at the Australian War Memorial on March 18, the conclave underscored both the importance of the space domain and the shared commitment to its secure future.

Throughout the day, keynote addresses and panel discussions showcased the strength of international partnerships and the depth of expertise shaping space operations today.

Leaders from across the globe came together with a common purpose: to share perspectives, learn from one another and collectively navigate the challenges and opportunities of an increasingly contested space environment.

Opening the conclave, Chief of Space and Cyber Lieutenant General Susan Coyle set the tone by highlighting the importance of cooperation across allies, partners and industry.

"Space stands as its own domain, and its rapidly evolving character demands that we continue to adapt, integrate and stay ahead," Lieutenant General Coyle said.

Panels explored critical themes such as high-risk decision-making, the future of space operations and the power of partnerships. Discussions highlighted the professionalism and resilience of space operators, the growing role of AI-enabled systems and the creativity of the next generation in shaping how nations remain competitive and secure.

The conclave also benefited from a strong international perspective. New Zealand's Chief of Air Force Vice-Marshal Darryn Webb reinforced the central role space now plays in national and collective security.

"Space isn't a nice to have, it is the difference between security and vulnerability," Vice-Marshal Webb said.

He emphasised that no nation can meet these challenges alone.

Across every session, one message resonated clearly: collaboration is the cornerstone of future security in space. The conclave demonstrated how shared purpose, trust and interoperability strengthened collective capability and resilience.

To finish the day, space chiefs and representatives laid wreaths during the Australian War Memorial's Last Post ceremony - a moment that connected the evolving space domain with the enduring values of service and sacrifice.

The inaugural Space Chief's Conclave proved to be a celebration of partnership, progress and shared resolve, setting a strong foundation for continued international cooperation in space.

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Until I was in my thirties, I lived under the occupation of that empire. And so did half of Europe. So deterring Russian aggression is a key goal.

Today the European Union is faced with big challenges and threats, including the threat of aggression from the world's largest remaining colonial empire, Russia.

It's a big honour to welcome you here to the Berlaymont, in these challenging and dangerous times it's even more important to work together, based on shared values, mutual respect and commitment to multilateralism.

24.03.2026 Brussels Press and information team of the Delegation to the African Union

Stability in Middle East and Gulf region also havebecome crucially important.

And now we understand the Americans are shifting their own security focus away from the European continent.

And that is why we need to build our own strategic capabilities.

Space is vitally important for our security, defence and strategic autonomy.

But the old challenges and old priorities remain. Like climate change, food security, and digital transformation.

Europe and Africa need to continue to work on these important challenges together.

And space is a key dimension.

The African Union is a strategic partner for the European Union. African achievements in space are longstanding and transformative. More than 21 African countries now have space programmes, with more than 60 African satellites in space. And at least 120 more to be launched by 2030.

Every year, African countries spend 500 million dollars on space. That directly benefits people on the ground.

And Africa's space capacities are only increasing.

We have already been working with you on Space for many years. I want to intensify our cooperation on space, based on trust, shared interests and mutual benefit, in win-win partnerships.

On all aspects of our space programme: Navigation, observation, connectivity.

So first, satellite navigation - Galileo.

We boost the accuracy of Galileo signals with our navigation overlay system EGNOS. EGNOS improves the accuracy of navigation signals over Europe, similar to other regional systems across the world.

And Africa is now implementing ANGA, the African Navigation with Geostationary Augmentation - to boost satellite signals over Africa, making them more accurate and reliable.

And we are supporting Africa's air traffic manager ASENCA in this task. Because civil aviation is global and needs to rely on a seamless service from interoperable systems.

Galileo is available all over Africa. For free. And we want as many people as possible to be able to use it: businesses, entrepreneurs, authorities.

That should now be the focus of our partnership.

Second: Earth Observation - Copernicus.

Free satellite images of the Earth, shared with researchers, authorities and businesses around the world.

And Africa is making Earth observation even better.

You can be proud of GMES and Africa. An African Earth observation success story: using observation data for local African needs; involving more than 100 African institutions, public and private; creating new jobs and supporting innovative business and public services. Building capacities.

Thanks to your data, we can improve our modelling and forecasting on the state of the Earth's climate.

So this is a major contribution to humanity!

Building on this success we launched together the Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme. To strengthen early warning systems against floods, droughts and storms. And to support the Green Transition.

Africa has a lot to offer Europe: in situ data, from ground stations in Africa is essential for us, helps to calibrate and validate our satellites and complements earth observation data. Helps to fill coverage gaps.

Thanks to African data, we have a more complete and more precise picture. We know better what is happening on the ground. And that is crucially important to monitor climate change, agriculture and the environment.

So we have set up a great European -African partnerships on data.

And I want us to make these partnerships stronger. Based on mutual respect and reciprocity. With full respect for African data ownership and governance.

Third, connectivity.

We are now building IRIS2 - secure broadband internet connectivity through space, for all corners of Europe and Africa.

We are making good progress and I expect first services to start in 2031. IRIS2 will bring super fast, space based connectivity wherever you are. Even on the top of the Mont Blanc or Kilimanjaro.

This will totally transform our continents.

We have already awarded three IRIS2 projects in Africa to prepare the ground, worth 30 million euro. And more projects will come this year and next.

African priorities must be central to these projects.

In short:

Our cooperation on space based navigation, observation and connectivity brings real benefits. To nearly 2 billion people on our two continents.

And our cooperation on space is becoming only more urgent.

First, because our world is becoming more uncertain and dangerous. In this geopolitical context, we share an interest in open, rules-based, and secure use of space.

What the EU can offer our partners is more than money, technology and capacity.

We offer reliability, predictability, and certainty. Exactly what is needed to build space capacity.

Space capabilities are built in not days but in decades.

Second, our EU - Africa partnership is urgent because we are at the start of a space revolution. 50,000 satellites will be launched in the next ten years - more than twice as many as in the space age up till now.

The space economy will triple in size. This is a revolution like the train, the car, the plane, the internet or artificial intelligence. Together, both Europe and Africa can be winners in this space revolution.

Space is big enough, for both of us.

Together, we can lift each other up, to higher orbits.

So, let's get to work!

I look forward to the discussion.

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Australia-European Union Security and Defence Partnership

The Hon Richard Marles MP

Deputy Prime Minister

Minister for Defence

24 March 2026

Australia and the European Union are strengthening cooperation through a new Security and Defence Partnership.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced the Australia-European Union Security and Defence Partnership in Canberra today which, together with the Australia-EU Free Trade Agreement, is a key aspect of our growing strategic relationship.

The partnership was signed by Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and the European Union High Representative and Vice President Kaja Kallas.

The wide-ranging partnership will boost cooperation across defence industry, cyber, economic security, counter-terrorism, combatting all forms of hatred, and countering hybrid threats.

Under the partnership, Australia and the European Union will:

Increase information sharing to counter global threats;

Build the capacity to manage, and the resilience to withstand, complex security threats in our respective regions;

Deepen cooperation to combat online radicalisation and terrorism financing; and

Establish a new space security dialogue.

Building on our already strong defence industry ties, the partnership will also create new defence procurement opportunities for Australian and European businesses.

The Security and Defence Partnership is now in effect.

Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

"I am pleased to announce the new Australia-European Union Security and Defence Partnership.

"This partnership is a clear demonstration of how Australia and the European Union are working together to tackle global challenges.

"Our new partnership reflects that despite being geographically separated, we are likeminded in our shared commitment to supporting global peace and security."

Quotes attributable to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles:

"The Australia-European Union Security and Defence Partnership is a significant milestone which sets up the framework for cooperation with European partners.

"For Australian businesses at the forefront of defence technology and innovation, this partnership will deepen our relationships and lay the groundwork for new opportunities that will further support Australia's industry and workforce."

Quotes attributable to Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong:

"In these uncertain times, Australia is pursuing new alignments and maximising how we work with others, to better promote and protect our national interests.

"The new Australia-European Union Security and Defence Partnership reflects our commitment to work with partners such as the European Union and to make Australia more secure in a less predictable world."

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Press conference - Parliament House, Canberra

Transcript

Tuesday 24 March 2026

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP

Prime Minister of Australia

Her Excellency Ursula von der Leyen

President of the European Commission

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: It is an absolute pleasure to welcome my friend, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to Australia on her first visit as president. We are so pleased that you will address our parliament today - a historic occasion. There have been 20 leaders address joint sittings of the Australian Parliament, but you will be, Madam President, the first woman to do so.

Today marks a defining moment in the relationship between Australia and the European Union. Today we can announce that after eight years of negotiations, Australia and the European Union have signed a landmark trade deal. This is a significant moment for our nation as we secure an agreement with the world's second largest economy. The Australia-European Free Trade Agreement will lower trade and investment barriers between Australia and the EU - a market of around 450 million people. This agreement is worth $10 billion to the Australian economy on an annual basis. Our relationship with Europe is grounded in our shared belief in democratic values, in human rights, and in inclusive societies. However, the regions that we call home, the Indo-Pacific and Europe, are less predictable, but they're more interconnected than ever before. The best way of navigating this reality is for us to do more together, and that is why last year I committed to stepping up our cooperation with the EU. This is a comprehensive, balanced, and commercially meaningful agreement that will reduce costs for Australian consumers and open new markets to Australian producers. It is a win-win. It eliminates tariffs on key Australian exports, including wine, seafood and horticulture. And it means our high quality Australian produce, including beef, sheep meat, dairy, rice and sugar, will have access to consumers in the European market. This benefits Australian consumers and companies too, with greater choice in goods and services at lower prices, including important inputs for our manufacturing and primary industry sectors. This agreement will grow our relationship further.

And further today we're pleased to announce the signing of a new Australia-EU Security and Defence Partnership. The Partnership provides a framework to strengthen cooperation between Australia and our European friends so that we can best respond to pressing global challenges. It will bolster our collaboration on defence industry, maritime security, cybersecurity, countering terrorism and combating hybrid threats such as disinformation. And it shows our shared commitment to global peace and security, including reaffirming our steadfast support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's illegal full scale invasion.

Finally, I'm pleased to announce that we will commence negotiations on association to Horizon Europe for 2027. Once associated, Australian organisations can access the current round of Horizon Europe funding to lead and participate in research projects with the brightest minds on some of the most complex problems. To be clear, this is the largest research organisation in the world, bar none. So, indeed this is a big day in the deepening of our partnership between Australia and the European Union. Our new commitments reflect our shared commitment to security and prosperity and our shared understanding that each depends on the other. I'll now hand to President von der Leyen and then we will take questions. But I also want to welcome, obviously, the Minister for Trade and also the European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, who did such a fantastic job in finalising the negotiations that myself and the President have participated in very directly as well.

URSULA VON DER LEYEN, PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION: Yes, thank you very much, Prime Minister, thank you for the very warm welcome to Canberra. And allow me at the beginning, a word on the situation in the Middle East. I am deeply concerned about the conflict. Iran has to cease, immediately, its threats, laying of mines, drones and missile attacks and other attempts to block the Strait to commercial shipping. The recent attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf, attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas installations, and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces is unacceptable and must be condemned. I also want to emphasise that freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international law. We will come back to these issues and their structural consequences at the Parliament this afternoon.

Right now, let us focus on the bilateral relationship. There is something unique about the partnership between Europe and Australia. It has matured over time, steadily and consistently, building on individual stories and a shared view of the world, even when worlds apart. So, I'm glad to be here and to demonstrate in person that this is a relationship built for the long term. And today, I'm so grateful to say that after almost a decade of work, of patience, of persistence, we have concluded the EU-Australia Free Trade Agreement, and let me look at four different components. My first point is simple - this is an agreement that is a win on both sides. So, congratulations to you, and to Australia, and congratulations to Minister Don Farrell and Commissioner Maro Sefcovic. This agreement is set to add almost $8 billion to your GDP. It will become easier for Australia to export to the European Union based on high standards. All Australian industrial goods exports to the European Union will become tariff free, and Australian citizens will have more opportunities to provide their high quality services to the European Union. On the EU side, our Free Trade Agreement network continues to grow steadily. We work hard to diversify our trade relations in an increasingly uncertain world, and in less than two months, Europe added nearly 2 billion people to our free trade market. With agreements spanning three continents, from Latin America to India and now Australia - it is a true trade trilogy. For European Union businesses this agreement will deliver immediate, tangible benefits. EU exporters, producers and farmers will save 1 billion in tariffs, our exports of goods to Australia expect to grow by 33 per cent over the next decade, and our farmers will benefit from greater export opportunities combined as usual with strong safeguard, with the protection of geographical indications, for example. So, it's a perfect balance. My second point is on collective resilience. Today we are telling an important story to a world that is deeply changing. A world where great powers are using tariffs as a leverage and supply chains as vulnerabilities to be exploited. In our story, open, rules based trade delivers positive sum outcomes. Trust matters more than transactions. It is the story of building strength at home and diversifying abroad through a reliable network of agreements that we respect and uphold. And this is what collective resilience is - this is our common story. And this leads me to my third point. Nowhere is the need for collective resilience more evident than in critical raw materials. The European Union and Australia need reliable supply chains for these crucial inputs. Australia is one of the world's most important producers, in contrast, Europe is one of the world's major users, and this is why I'm very happy that today we agreed to step up our cooperation with four major projects. They cover production of rare earth, lithium and tungsten, and we are building on our work with allies towards a buyers club and we are building on the critical raw materials partnerships we launched two years ago. And we will apply the same logic to security, and this is my fourth and final point - the launch of our security and defence partnership. Europe and Australia share a responsibility beyond our borders. We know that Europe's security and Indo-Pacific stability are not separate conversations. A crisis in the Indo-Pacific would crippled global trade, directly hitting European industries and growth. So, we have resolutely decided to step up cooperation on defence industry, counterterrorism, space and maritime security, and we are joining forces to fight back against hybrid threats to our democracies because we are both confronted with disinformation and wide attempts to erode public trust. Here too, we must build the collective resilience of our societies. So, I'm very much looking forward in deepening our cooperation. And finally, the European Union and Australia have cooperated in the research space for many decades, but there is potential for so much more. And that's why the decision to begin negotiations for Australia's association to Horizon Europe is such excellent news. Having Australia on board the EU's flagship program for research and innovation will benefit both sides. And it will link our brightest minds with long term, well-funded programs so that they can be working together to generate the ideas and the products our society needs. So, Anthony, if you zoom out on the map, the distance between us stands out. If you zoom in what unites us, the distance disappears. We are like minded in so many aspects - our commitment to democracy and international law, our shared goal of climate neutrality by 2050 with your co-chairing of the next COP, our concern for affordable health care and housing, and even the protection of our children. Where Europe is learning from Australia's trailblazing approach to social media. And this is what our partnership cooperation by conviction, shaping together a new, fairer and stronger world order. Thank you very much.

PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Thank you very much.

PRESIDENT VON DER LEYEN: Thank you.

PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: We have four questions. Australia first.

JOURNALIST: Thanks, Prime Minister, President von der Leyen, welcome to Australia. You mentioned your three deals, the trilogy of trade. All three negotiations were long and drawn out, but have been wrapped up in the space of a few months. You also mentioned uncertainty in tariffs. Can you just be clear, has Donald Trump's tariff regime forced Europe to compromise in ways that it wouldn't previously? And Prime Minister, you also spoke about Europe and Australia being steadfast on Ukraine. What's your reaction to the US lifting sanctions on Russian oil in recent weeks?

PRESIDENT VON DER LEYEN: So, what I have seen with a growing unpredictability and uncertainty worldwide is that countries are longing for stability and predictability, and this is what the European Union is offering. And therefore it was basically an open door on both sides where we started our negotiations knowing that we want a situation where a free trade agreement leads to a win-win situation for both sides. And this is what we are showing here. You can have a free trade agreement and both sides are winning. It's complementary, it's enhancing the business sectors on both sides, and it benefits the people on both sides. And this is the reason why we concluded many free trade agreements in the last months. Indeed, this shows that we can together prove that a rules based trade is the right way to go.

PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Thanks. Certainly Australia on that issue as well, we stand for free and fair trade. And at a time where that is under some pressure globally as well, I think this agreement sends a message as well to the world that it is possible to stick to the rules, to engage in a way that benefits both of our nations. And similarly, Australia determines our own position as well when it comes to the rule of law globally. And the reason why we oppose the Russian invasion of Ukraine is that it's an attack on national sovereignty of a sovereign state, of a democratic state. And the fact there's been a land war in Europe is something that wasn't anticipated. And when the Russian illegal and immoral invasion occurred, people thought it would not last for that long. It, of course, has lasted for many years now, and we've continued to provide support for Ukraine, and we'll continue to do so. We'll continue to engage with our European partners. So, for example, our E7 aircraft have operated from both Germany and Poland in providing assistance for Ukraine. Australia has provided some $1.7 billion of support, which, given our distance from the Ukraine, is a substantial investment. We'll continue to do so. Other countries, it's up to them to determine their position. But our position is very clear and it remains unequivocal standing with the people of Ukraine. A question from the EU.

JOURNALIST: President von der Leyen, will the European Union expand its existing maritime security operations to the Strait of Hormuz? If so, how soon would we see European ships contributing there? What are the conditions? And, Prime Minister, would Australia consider contributing to such a maritime operation?

PRESIDENT VON DER LEYEN: So, the leaders in the European Union have been very clear that when the hostilities end, they could envisage an operation, a mission. But of course, it is not for me to judge on their decision to provide the necessary capabilities in the Strait of Hormuz.

PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: We've continued to condemn the Iranian regime for their actions that it's taken in the Strait of Hormuz. This is having an impact on the global economy. And the targeting of civilian ships is against the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea, which allows for freedom of navigation. It is very important. What Australia has provided is an E7 aircraft, a Wedgetail, to the region. That's providing support, particularly for the UAE after their request. And of course, the UAE is on the northern part of the Strait of Hormuz. And in addition to that, we're providing AMRAAMs to the UAE to provide that support. That is the request that we've had up to this point in time.

JOURNALIST: President von der Leyen, just to build on that last answer, do you think Donald Trump started a war that he can't finish? And do you think that notwithstanding what you just said, that at some point, European countries and nations further afield, like Australia may have to become involved in some sort of operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz?

PRESIDENT VON DER LEYEN: So, what I've said at the beginning of the press statement already, we think that it is time to go to the negotiation table and to end the hostilities. The situation is critical for the energy supply worldwide. We all feel the knock-on effects on gas and oil prices, our businesses and our societies. But 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.

JOURNALIST: Question for both of you, if I may. On the Free Trade Agreement, the negotiations had pretty much failed in 2023. Now, what has changed, of course, as has been mentioned, is President Donald Trump is back in the White House and the international environment has changed. But on the substance of the Free Trade Agreement, agricultural issues were thorny on both sides when things failed in 2023. What has changed to enable you today to conclude the agreement?

PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: I think this is a good agreement that's a win-win, win for Australia and a win for the European Union. The context of the agreement is important as well. This is both the European Union and Australia asserting that we believe in free and fair trade, that we understand that trade advances the prosperity of both trading entities who are involved. That it is in our interest to get this done. I must say as well that the personal relationships matter. The President and I have had a number of discussions very directly. That matters. I've had personal discussions with everyone from Chancellor Merz to President Macron to the head of all of the nations in Europe, including of course Ireland as well, about why the this is in both the interests of Europe and in the interests of Australia. And this is a good outcome. And in many ways, we have two points I would make as well. One, when it comes to some of the issues that were there, some of the geographical names, for example, one of the things about Australia is that with the exception of First Nations people, we're all either migrants or descendants of migrants. And many of those have come from Europe. That's why, whether it's Greeks coming here and creating feta, or Italians coming and doing Parmesan, or people from Eastern Europe doing Kransky sausages, those things, it's a connection with Europe. Part of our strength is our people-to-people relations as well. I think all of that understanding and engagement has assisted.

In addition to that, Australia has things such as critical minerals that are needed. And as the President has said, we're a big producer, they're a big user. That's complementarity. That is a win-win. That's growth and prosperity in both Europe and Australia. And that's the thing about trade. Trade is what has lifted people out of poverty around the world. And that complementarity is a message to the world. My government unequivocally believes in free and fair trade. We've engaged European nations, of course, and through the European Union. The European project is so important for the world and for peace and prosperity for the world as well. And I think that relationship, making sure that we got with these two tough negotiators here, that they were able also to nut it out. And it helps the re-election of both of us to our respective positions. Means that you don't have a revolving door. I don't know how many trade ministers the former government had here. But when you got different people coming through the door all the time and that turnover, it becomes very difficult because you start again. What we haven't done is start again. What we've had is a consistent government in Australia with one trade minister, one Prime Minister, and in the European Union under the leadership of the President. You've also had a capacity to make sure that we deliver.

PRESIDENT VON DER LEYEN: Thank you. What can I add? As the Prime Minister said, personal relationship matters. And indeed, the two of us decided, I think it was one and a half year ago, it cannot be that we cannot bring this free trade agreement that is so close to be finished over the finish line. And it needed the political push, but it also needed, indeed, the skilful steer of our chief negotiators here to bring it over the finish line. And indeed, we have found a balanced, as you can see, from both sides, and fair agreement. And it's beneficial for both sides, Both sides, businesses and people. And therefore, I'm very grateful and very proud at the same time that we made it.

PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: It's a great day.

PRESIDENT VON DER LEYEN: Thank you.

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Joint statement

Joint statement

Tuesday 24 March 2026

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP

Prime Minister of Australia

Her Excellency Ursula von der Leyen

President of the European Commission

The Prime Minister of Australia, the Honourable Anthony Albanese MP, and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, reaffirmed the strength of the partnership between Australia and the European Union, underpinned by shared democratic values, respect for international law, and people to people, economic, scientific and strategic links. They emphasised that Australia and the European Union are trusted friends, working together to address economic resilience, security, climate change and environmental challenges.

Prime Minister Albanese and President von der Leyen welcomed the conclusion of negotiations on the Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement in Canberra on 24 March 2026, and will now take forward their respective domestic processes required for signature and entry into force. This agreement will strengthen bilateral trade and investment, support economic growth, and reinforce the shared commitment of Australia and the European Union to open and rules-based trade.

Prime Minister Albanese and President von der Leyen also welcomed the conclusion of the Australia-European Union Security and Defence Partnership, providing a framework for enhanced cooperation on shared security challenges, including defence industry cooperation, cyber and economic security, and counterterrorism. The partnership will strengthen shared resilience and deepen practical collaboration, building on existing ties between Australian and European industries and institutions.

Prime Minister Albanese and President von der Leyen reaffirmed the importance of international research and innovation cooperation and welcomed Australia's intention to commence negotiations with a view to associating from 2027 to Horizon Europe, the European Union's flagship research and innovation programme. Cooperation under Horizon Europe would support collaboration on shared priorities, including critical and emerging technologies and climate and energy research, creating opportunities for Australian and European research and benefits for each economy.

These pillars of cooperation recognise the value of a strong Australia-European Union partnership in addressing shared global challenges and supporting prosperity and security and allow for deepened engagement between Australia and the European Union.

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Australia, EU sign free trade deal, agree to strengthen security, defense partnership

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

24.03.2026 [13:30]

Baku, March 24, AZERTAC

Australia and the European Union on Tuesday signed a free trade agreement (FTA) worth AUD10 billion (about $7 billion), as well as a security and defense partnership agreement, Anadolu Agency reports.

The FTA, which has been negotiated for eight years, will provide Australian exporters with greater access to global markets containing over 450 million people.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed the long-awaited agreement, as well as several others, during their meeting in Canberra, according to a statement from Albanese's office.

Following the meeting, Albanese told reporters that the relationship is critical in the context of a "less predictable" global environment.

"It is a win-win," he said, highlighting that the pact will eliminate tariffs on exports such as wine, seafood, beef, and dairy.

"Today, we are also launching our new Security and Defense Partnership (SDP)," von der Leyen said in a post on the US social media company X.

"We will deepen our cooperation from joint maritime exercises to space, defense industry and countering hybrid threats. And we will work hand in hand to strengthen the resilience of our democracies," she added.

Under the FTA, Australia will remove a 5% tariff on imports of European products, which hits carmakers like BMW and Mercedes, along with producers of goods like fashion products, food, and drink.

In return, the EU will allow expanded imports of Australian products, including beef and lamb.

Minutes after the agreement was signed, meat exporters criticized the deal, which, according to them, does not grant the access promised during the years of negotiations.

Regarding the SDP, the EU said in a statement that it will "put in place a robust institutional framework, helping to ensure maximum efficiency in addressing current geopolitical challenges."

'Europe and Australia must rearm and decarbonize'

Meanwhile, the European Commission president, in her address to the Australian parliament, said that Europe and Australia must rearm and decarbonize as they try to "break economic and energy dependencies" on China and Russia, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

The European Commission president, the first female world leader to address the federal parliament, warned that China's massive exports are undermining Europe's economic model and driving it towards deindustrialization, urging Australia to support its efforts to rebalance global trade.

"Both the threat to our supply-chain security and the shock to our industrial base need urgent responses," she said.

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Australia: Remarks of High-Representative/Vice President Kaja Kallas following the virtual signing ceremony of the EU-Australia Security and Defence Partnership

European External Action Service (EEAS)

24.03.2026

Brussels, 18 March 2026

EEAS Press Team

Dear Deputy Prime Minister Marles, dear Minister Wong,

Dear Richard, dear Penny,

Australia is one of Europe's closest partners. Today, by signing this Security and Defence Partnership, we are raising our cooperation to a new level.

Australia and Europe are oceans apart, but security in Europe and Australia is tightly linked. If Russia prevails in Ukraine, it will set a dangerous precedent for the Indo-Pacific. That is why I want to thank Australia for its strong support for Ukraine. The fastest way to end the war is more pressure on Russia and more support for Ukraine.

In the Indo-Pacific, China's growing assertiveness shows that we must be ready to stand up for our interests together. Protecting freedom of navigation matters in the Strait of Hormuz, but it also matters in the South China Sea.

The European Union is stepping up its presence in the Indo-Pacific by expanding trade, strengthening security ties, and investing in green and digital cooperation. And we are doing so with partners we trust. Australia is certainly one of them.

With the new agreement, we will hold joint exercises, share information, strengthen resilience against cyber and hybrid threats, and deepen cooperation from crisis response to maritime security.

We will work to uphold international law, push back against those who do not, and invest in the technologies shaping tomorrow's security, from AI to space.

Dear Deputy Prime Minister,

Dear Foreign Minister,

Thank you once again.

Our Partnership is a strategic investment in Europe's and Australia's - in our joint security. Because in a more dangerous world, strong partnerships are our best defence.

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Speech by President von der Leyen at the Australian Parliament

European Commission

Speech

Mar 24, 2026

Canberra

"Check against delivery"

Mr Speaker,

Prime Minister,

President of the Senate,

Leader of the Opposition,

Honourable Members and Senators,

Distinguished guests.

My visit to Australia this week constitutes many firsts. I am the first President of the European Commission to visit Australia in more than a decade. I am the first President of the European Commission to address a joint sitting of your parliament. And I am honoured to be the first woman leader invited to address this joint session of your parliament. It is a great privilege. And one that I hope many more women will experience far sooner than my address has taken.

Dear Prime Minister, Anthony.

Thank you for this invitation. Europe is in a dangerous moment. War has raged in Ukraine for four years. And there is little prospect of this ending anytime soon. In the Middle East, a new conflict rages. Countries that built economic models on the very premise of the stability and safety they provide are facing a new reality. The world we live in is brutal, harsh and unforgiving. It feels upside down. What we knew as certainties are in question. The comfort blanket of yesterday is ripped away. It is confronting. But the world we are living in is also a more honest one. We are saying out loud what has changed and how we are changing. Against this backdrop, my visit is not a symbolic trip. What we sign today will unleash a new era of economic and security partnership. Europe is changed. And we are not just open for business. We are here to begin a new epoch in our relationship rooted in the spirit of friendship.

Mr Speaker,

It takes longer to cross Australia, than to fly anywhere within Europe. Your "far horizons" - identified so eloquently by the iconic Australian poet Dorothea Mackellar is a reminder that the distance has traditionally been a barrier to our relationship but today geography is no more our destiny. And distance is no longer a protection or a luxury. The world has changed, but we get to choose how to shape our responses. And we do this without losing sight of our culture and our connections. And they run deep - built on the foundations of the post-war surge of migration into Australia. These millions of Europeans carried the same dream, of hope, opportunity, prosperity, and a better life for their next generation. While we not always have maximised this potential, our kinship has always bound us. And our cultures have always understood one another. I am looking forward to drinking my first flat white on Australian soil. And I am also looking forward to sampling a pavlova - or do I have to wait to visit New Zealand to try that delicacy?

Standing here in this majestic chamber - modelled after the British House of Commons but rendered in this eucalypt colour - I am reminded of how young and vibrant your democracy is, while still being linked to our enduring democracy in Europe born in Greece thousands of years ago. But your history is even more ancient. And I acknowledge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the world's oldest continuing culture.

Mr Speaker,

Our continent owes so much to Australia. You fought for our safety, for our free Europe. As Defence Minister, I visited your War Memorial, it was a solemn reminder of how much your country gave and the everlasting obligation Europe owes to your men and women who sacrificed their lives for our common freedom. We have a duty to not just preserve their legacy but to fortify it. Today this task has a new urgency. I recently said that Europe could no longer be custodian of the old-world order, this just reflects the reality of our changing environment, but this does not mean giving up who we are or on our values. That matters, whether you are Europe or a regional power like Australia, accepting the world as it is simply means making choices sooner and smarter. Both as governments and as institutions. But I stand here today proud to tell you that Europe is changed, you can see that with how much ambition I have for this relationship.

One of the indulgences of past decades has been to think that our world and our interests can be defined by our neighbourhood. Nowhere proves that more false than Australia. It can take us more than 24 hours to fly here, but so many of the issues that challenge you in Perth are the same as in Paris. Take energy prices. None of us is immune to the shocks, both geopolitical and economic, that the war in Iran brings to our populations. Pain at the pump is hard for our citizens. And just another reminder that building our resilience is today's job. We in Europe have been reckoning with our dependencies, particularly with Russian gas. There were warning signs, and we learnt the lesson in the hardest of ways, in February 2022. For context, imagine, for example, if here in Australia you were forced to stop selling your iron ore overnight? In a way, this is what we have had to do in Europe. Russian gas - a no go overnight. And after our societies had already withstood so much. First, with the financial crisis, then the pandemic, the beginning of the war in Ukraine and now a second energy gas and oil price shock. Diversification was and remains a necessity.

This is why I am proud that we have made decarbonisation a defining pillar of our free trade agreement. This is hard-headed common sense. In my six years as President, I have witnessed firsthand how climate change is ravaging our continent. From floods in Valenica to the wildfires in Greece - which Australian firefighters came and helped put out. We all know what we are seeing is more severe. Doreathea Mackellar wrote of Australia's "droughts and flooding rains" affecting your "sunburnt country." But the point is these climatic events have become more frequent and more intense. And it is our common responsibility to find solutions to power the planet we leave our children. This is why I am so pleased that Australia is considering entering Horizon Europe. Horizon is the world's largest research and innovation programme. So joining it will put Australian researchers alongside Europe's to create tomorrow's technologies. Whether in clean tech, quantum or dual use capabilities. Our brightest minds are coming together.

With geopolitics at a boiling point we know firsthand that the more you build homegrown energy, the sooner you get independent and thus can shield yourself from energy price shocks. We are in a race to electrify our economies. This is what future generations will judge us on.

But the war in the Middle East is not just contained to the economic costs. Today's world shows that security threats are no longer restrained by distance but are enabled by technology. Malicious actors are able to reach into our borders without ever leaving their own. Europe, like Australia, does not choose how threats come to us. But we all suffer their fallout. What happens in Ukraine matters in Unley, Australians have always understood this. Which is why you have remained steadfast in support of European security. It should not be lost on anyone that the same surveillance plane that flew over Poland to help protect Ukraine is now in the Gulf helping defend our partners under attack from Iran. Equally, it should not be lost on anyone that Ukraine has rushed to the aid of the Gulf States to help them defend their skies against the same Iranian Shahed drones that have been killing Ukrainians from the sky for years. Their cooperation has deepened. And there is no clearer example than the unimaginable sight of North Koreans - fighting Ukrainians on European soil.

We in Europe have also been battling attempts to undermine our democratic societies. And foreign malign interference is just another example of the converging threats we face. As our adversaries adapt to cooperate together we too must respond together. Because when we stand side-by-side we are stronger. And this is why I am so pleased, you have accepted our offer of a security partnership. This is what we have signed today. Creating a new defence industrial base, so that we are ready, to keep our people safe. Because for us in this Chamber this is our number one duty.

Mr Speaker,

In the same way, Australia understands that Europe's security is integral to its own. Europe knows- the reverse is also true. Stability in the Indo-Pacific is our common goal. This is why when I went to India in January, we also signed a defence and security partnership. With these agreements, we can bring together our expertise to secure our maritime routes, collaborate to counter cyberwarfare, and build new defence technologies together.

Mr Speaker,

Another of the realities that this new world has shown us, is that dependencies can be weaponised. Australia knows this all too well. Europe too has been challenged by its dependencies, not just on Russian energy. But also, for our reliance on imports from a single supplier. We cannot and will not absorb China's export-led growth model, and its industrial overcapacity. Last year, every single EU Member State ran a trade deficit with China. Both the threat to our supply-chain security and the shock to our industrial base need urgent responses. These are responses we can only devise together. For both Europe and Australia, getting China right is a strategic imperative. This is why bringing life to our critical minerals partnership will be crucial to our success. We cannot be overdependent on any supplier for such crucial ingredients. And that is precisely why we need each other. Our security is your security. And with our new security partnership, we have each other's backs.

Mr Speaker,

The Europe I am representing is very different to what you have known. It has been 'hard yakka' but we finally got there. Today, we finally conclude our trade deal. And we mean it when we say it. This trade deal is good to go. And I am so proud that we got this done. Because it is a fair deal, and one that delivers for your businesses and one that delivers for ours. I think you call that: "hitting it for six." A trade deal many thought we might never land. But this reflects Europe's changing approach. From Latin America to India, and I am so pleased to add, Australia. When it comes to trade, Europe is open for business. We are rearming. We are decarbonising. We are preparing. We are becoming an independent Europe. And this means a more outward Europe. And this is why I am here today. Because showing up matters.

Mr Speaker,

This is my second visit to Australia. Last time I was enchanted by your Kangaroos and Koalas. And I must admit, I loved to see them once again yesterday in Taronga Wildlife Park. Maybe today in the 'Bush Capital.' But my overriding impression of Australia was its pluckiness. You are a country that likes to give things a go. And we are watching closely your world-leading social media ban. As a mother of seven children, and grandmother of six I feel acutely the responsibility of protecting our children. It is we, parents, who must raise our children and not predatory addictive algorithms. Australia's example is one for us all. Your social media ban was a community-led effort, bipartisan and is up and running. We wish you every success. Several of our EU Member States are looking to follow. And earlier this month I convened for the first time my panel of experts. They are examining how Europe can implement possible restrictions in the Union. When it comes to the safety of our children no one should be surprised that we are so like-minded. And willing to stand up for ourselves and the kind of societies that we want to live in. These things are precious. And if the volatile world shows us anything, it is that they are worth protecting, collectively.

Mr Speaker,

Looking on a map, it can feel like the distance between us is enormous. But I have to say being in your country feels like being among friends, or mates. Let us take this friendship further than ever before. And turbocharge a new age in Australia-Europe relations, showing that democracy has no distance.

Mr Speaker,

Every one of my speeches I finish with 'Long Live Europe', but today I would like to add Long Live Australia.

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Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with Australian Prime Minister Albanese

European Commission

Statement

Mar 24, 2026

Canberra

Dear Tony, thank you for such a warm welcome to Canberra.

Allow me a word on the situation in the Middle East. I am deeply concerned about the escalating conflict. Iran has to cease immediately its threats, laying of mines, drone and missile attacks and other attempts to block the Strait to commercial shipping. The recent attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf, attacks on civilian infrastructure including oil and gas installations, and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces is unacceptable and must be condemned. I also want to emphasize that freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international law. We will come back to these issues and their structural consequences at the Parliament this afternoon. Right now, let us focus on our bilateral relationship.

There is something unique about the partnership between Europe and Australia. It has matured over time, steadily and consistently. Building on individual stories, and a shared view of the world, even when worlds apart. So I am glad to be here and to demonstrate, in person, that this is a relationship built for the long term. And today, I am so grateful to say that after almost a decade of work, of patience, of persistence, we have concluded the EU-Australia Free Trade Agreement. Let me look at four different components. My first point is simple: this agreement is a win on both sides. So congratulations to you, and to Australia. And congratulations to Minister Don Farrell and Commissioner Sefcovic.

This agreement is set to add almost 8 billion dollars to your GDP. It will become easier for Australia to export to the European Union based on high standards. All Australian industrial goods exports to the EU will become tariff-free. And Australian citizens will have more opportunities to provide their high-quality services to the EU.

On the EU side, our FTA network continues to grow, steadily. We work hard to diversify our trade relationships in an increasingly uncertain world. In less than two months, Europe added nearly two billion people to our free trade market. With agreements spanning three continents. From Latin America to India and now Australia. It is a true trade trilogy. For EU businesses, this agreement will deliver immediate, tangible benefits. EU exporters, producers and farmers will save 1 billion euro in tariffs. Our exports of goods to Australia are expected to grow by 33% over the next decade. And our farmers will benefit from greater export opportunities combined, as usual, with strong safeguards. With the protection of geographical indications, for example. It is a perfect balance.

My second point is on collective resilience. Today we are telling an important story to a world that is deeply changing. A world where great powers are using tariffs as leverage and supply chains as vulnerabilities to be exploited. In our story, open, rules-based trade delivers positive-sum outcomes. Trust matters more than transactions. It is a story of building strength at home. And diversifying abroad, through a reliable network of agreements that we respect and uphold. This is what collective resilience is. This is our common story.

And this leads me to my third point. Nowhere is the need for collective resilience more evident than in critical raw materials. The EU and Australia need reliable supply chains for these crucial inputs. Australia is one of the world's most important producers. In contrast, Europe is one of the world's major users. This is why I am very happy that today, we agreed to step up our cooperation with four major projects. They cover production of rare earths, lithium, and tungsten. We are building on our work with allies towards a buyers' club. And we are building on the critical raw materials partnership we launched two years ago.

And we will apply the same logic to security. This is my fourth point. The launch of our Security and Defence Partnership. Europe and Australia share a responsibility beyond our borders. We know that Europe's security and Indo-Pacific stability are not separate conversations. A crisis in the Indo-Pacific would cripple global trade, directly hitting European industries and growth. So we have resolutely decided to step up cooperation on defence industry counter-terrorism, space and maritime security. And we are joining forces to fight back against hybrid threats to our democracies. Because we are both confronted with disinformation, and wider attempts to erode public trust. Here too, we must build the collective resilience of our societies. So I look forward to deepening our cooperation.

My final point is on innovation. The EU and Australia have cooperated in the research space for many decades. But there is potential for so much more. That is why the decision to begin negotiations for Australia's association to the Horizon Europe programme is such excellent news.

Having Australia on board the EU's flagship programme for research and innovation will benefit both sides. Linking our brightest minds with long-term, well-funded programmes. Working together, to generate the ideas and products our society needs.

Dear Tony,

If you zoom out on the map, the distance between us stands out. If you zoom in on what unites us, the distance disappears. We are like-minded in so many aspects. Our commitment to democracy and international law. Our shared goal of climate neutrality by 2050, with your co-chairing of the next COP. Our concern for affordable healthcare and housing. And even the protection of our children, where Europe is learning from Australia's trailblazing approach to social media. And this is what our partnership represents. Cooperation by conviction. Shaping together a new, fairer and stronger world order.

Thank you.

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EU and Australia strengthen relations with Security and Defence Partnership and Trade Agreement

European Commission

Press release

Mar 24, 2026

Canberra

The EU and Australia have today announced the adoption of a groundbreaking Security and Defence Partnership. They have also concluded negotiations for an ambitious and balanced free trade agreement (FTA) and agreed to launch formal negotiations for the association of Australia to Horizon Europe, the world's largest funding programme for research and innovation. With these steps, the EU and Australia are delivering mutually beneficial outcomes and further reinforcing their already close relations in a time of geopolitical uncertainty.

The FTA final text was agreed during a leaders' meeting in Canberra between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese. The Security and Defence Partnership (SDP) was signed virtually by High Representative/Vice President Kaja Kallas and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Richard Donald Marles, and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong on 18 March 2026.

President von der Leyen said: "The EU and Australia may be geographically far apart but we couldn't be closer in terms of how we see the world. With these dynamic new partnerships on security and defence, as well as trade, we are moving even closer together. These agreements put in place lasting, trust-based structures to support peace and security through strength; driving prosperity through rules-based trade, and working together to uphold global institutions. We are committed to building a cleaner, more digital future for our citizens, workers and businesses. And we are sending a strong signal to the rest of the world that friendship and cooperation is what matters most in times of turbulence."

Security and Defence Partnership

The EU and Australia are already long-standing allies and partners, whose global outlook is aligned in terms of defending multilateralism and the rules-based international order.

As the interconnection between security in Europe and the strategically important Indo-Pacific region becomes clearer, the value of deeper partnership is abundantly clear for both sides.

Building on the strong existing interaction at leaders' and ministerial level, backed up by a solid network of expert level cooperation, the SDP will put in place a robust institutional framework, helping to ensure maximum efficiency in addressing current geopolitical challenges:

Security and Defence Dialogues will enable closer coordination on strategic priorities, translating shared values and interests into practical cooperation;

Strengthening cooperation on crisis management and Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operations, including exercises, training and education;

Enhancing cooperation on maritime security, cyber security, countering hybrid threats and foreign information manipulation and interference, reflecting the evolving nature of contemporary security challenges;

Facilitating close coordination on emerging and disruptive technologies, including artificial intelligence, as well as on space security, non-proliferation and disarmament;

Reinforcing exchanges on situational awareness, across different regions;

Supporting capacity building for partners, including in the Indo-Pacific, and strengthening coordination in multilateral and regional fora; and

Allowing the EU and Australia to deepen cooperation over time in response to evolving security challenges, through a flexible and forward-looking approach.

A balanced and ambitious free trade agreement

With the conclusion of negotiations for an ambitious and balanced free trade agreement (FTA), the EU is opening the market to one of the world's fastest-growing developed economies and thereby bringing significant economic opportunities to European companies, consumers and farmers.

EU exports are expected to grow by up to 33% over the next decade, with export value reaching up to 17.7 billion annually. Key sectors with strong growth potential include dairy (expected to increase by up to 48%) motor vehicles (52%), and chemicals (20%). EU investment into Australia has the potential to grow by over 87%.

With this deal the EU also reinforces its strategic interests in the area of critical raw materials, making EU supply chains stronger and more resilient against geopolitical shocks. The FTA also includes strong sustainability commitments, which will contribute to greener and fairer trade, and ensures that imports into the EU are more aligned with the EU's own production standards on climate, environmental and animal welfare.

Following recently concluded deals with Indonesia and India, this agreement further diversifies the EU's network of trade partners in the strategically important Indo-Pacific region and strengthens Europe's position on the global stage.

Opening business opportunities for European companies

The agreement will give EU exporters privileged access to the Australian market, including:

Removing over 99% of tariffs on EU goods exports to Australia, thus cutting some 1 billion a year in duties for companies of all sizes;

Opening of the Australian services market in key sectors, including financial services and telecommunications;

Providing greater access for EU companies to Australian government procurement contracts;

Setting ambitious rules on data flows prohibiting data localisation requirements; and

Securing supply chains of critical raw materials (CRMs) by lowering tariffs on imports and opening investment opportunities.

In addition, to ensure that small businesses also benefit from the agreement, it contains a dedicated chapter on small and medium sized enterprises to help them increase their exports.

The agreement will also make it easier for EU professionals to work in Australia, while entry quotas for engineers and researchers will boost European and Australian innovation.

Boosting EU agri-food exports and protecting EU sensitivities

The EU has a positive trade balance for agri-food products with Australia, worth 2.3 billion in 2024. The agreement will eliminate tariffs on major EU exports such as cheeses, meat preparations, wine and sparkling wine, some fruits and vegetables including preparations, chocolate, and sugar confectionary.

The agreement takes into account the interests of EU agricultural producers. For sensitive agricultural sectors such as beef, sheep & goat meat, sugar, some dairy products and rice, the agreement will allow zero or lower tariff imports from Australia only in limited amounts, through carefully calibrated Tariff Rate Quotas.

In addition, the agreement includes a bilateral safeguard mechanism allowing the EU to take measures to protect sensitive European products and their producers in the unlikely event of a surge in imports from Australia causing injury to the EU market. As an additional layer of protection for farmers, the bilateral safeguard mechanism will be operationalised in a self-standing EU regulation that will see swift and effective protections kick into gear, in the unlikely event of an unforeseen and harmful surge in imports or an undue decrease in prices for EU producers.

Moreover, the Agreement will protect 165 agricultural and food Geographical Indications ('GIs') and 231 spirit drink GIs including some of the most renowned ones such as Comte, Irish Whiskey, Queso Manchego, Salam de Sibiu, Istarski prsut ham, Lubecker Marzipan and Masticha Chiou.

The EU and Australia have also agreed on a modernised bilateral wine agreement, updating the full list of EU wine GIs and traditional terms protected in Australia. Building on the previous successful agreement, it will offer protection for all EU wine GIs (representing 1,650 names), including the addition of 50 new wine GIs from 12 different Member States.

Securing critical raw materials access

Australia is a major producer of raw materials, including aluminium, lithium and manganese, which are vital for the EU's overall economic security and competitiveness. The demand for critical raw materials (CRMs) is projected to increase substantially, and the EU remains heavily reliant on imports.

The deal facilitates EU access to Australian CRMs, with dedicated provisions making the market more predictable and reliable for EU businesses. In addition, special environmental and safety provisions will ensure that these CRMs are extracted sustainably.

Trade in CRMs is currently easily disrupted by sudden economic or geopolitical shocks, therefore trade agreements with reliable partners are essential for stabilising the EU's supply.

Ambitious sustainability commitments

The FTA fully integrates the EU's high standards on trade and sustainable development (TSD), including ambitious commitments on workers' rights, gender equality, environment and climate.

All TSD commitments in the deal will be enforceable via the agreement's general dispute settlement mechanism. The deal includes binding commitments on core labour principles and the Paris Climate Agreement, as well as a dedicated sustainable food systems chapter.

The deal also liberalises trade in green goods and services, such as renewable energy and energy efficient products.

Next steps on the FTA

On the EU side, the negotiated draft texts will be published shortly. The texts will go through the necessary internal procedures before the Commission will put forward its proposal to the Council for the signature and conclusion of the agreement. Once adopted by the Council, the EU and Australia can sign the agreement. Following the signature, the agreement requires the European Parliament's consent, and the Council's decision on conclusion for it to enter into force. Once Australia also ratifies the Agreement, it can enter into force.

Background

Negotiations for an FTA with Australia started in July 2018. The 15th and last formal negotiating round was held in April 2023, followed by intersessional discussions at technical and political level, leading up to the conclusion of the negotiations on 24 March 2026. The deal is the latest addition to the EU's agreements with the strategic Indo-Pacific region, following the conclusion of FTA negotiations with Indonesia in September 2025, and India in January 2026.

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Joint Statement by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission and Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia

European Commission

Statement

Mar 24, 2026

Canberra

The Prime Minister of Australia, the Honourable Anthony Albanese MP, and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, reaffirmed the strength of the partnership between Australia and the European Union, underpinned by shared democratic values, respect for international law, and people-to-people, economic, scientific and strategic links. They emphasised that Australia and the European Union are trusted friends, working together to address economic resilience, security, climate change and environmental challenges.

Prime Minister Albanese and President von der Leyen welcomed the conclusion of negotiations on the Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement in Canberra on 24 March 2026, and will now take forward their respective domestic processes required for signature and entry into force. This agreement will strengthen bilateral trade and investment, support economic growth, and reinforce the shared commitment of Australia and the European Union to open and rules-based trade.

Prime Minister Albanese and President von der Leyen also welcomed the conclusion of the Australia-European Union Security and Defence Partnership, providing a framework for enhanced cooperation on shared security challenges, including defence industry cooperation, cyber and economic security, and counterterrorism. The partnership will strengthen shared resilience and deepen practical collaboration, building on existing ties between Australian and European industries and institutions.

Prime Minister Albanese and President von der Leyen reaffirmed the importance of international research and innovation cooperation and welcomed Australia's intention to commence negotiations with a view to associating from 2027 to Horizon Europe, the European Union's flagship research and innovation programme. Cooperation under Horizon Europe would support collaboration on shared priorities, including critical and emerging technologies and climate and energy research, creating opportunities for Australian and European research and benefits for each economy.

These pillars of cooperation recognise the value of a strong Australia-European Union partnership in addressing shared global challenges and supporting prosperity and security and allow for deepened engagement between Australia and the European Union.

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Belarus - Release of prisoners (24 march 2026)

France - Ministere de l'Europe et des Affaires etrangeres

France welcomes the release of 250 prisoners in Belarus, thanks to mediation by the United States. It is the most significant release since the start of this process initiated by Belarus in July 2024.

France calls for this momentum to be continued and accelerated, and for political sentences and imprisonments to be halted.

It also encourages the Belarusian authorities to continue allowing all the people released to live peacefully in Belarus, and calls on them to allow those who so wish to return to live in their country.

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Belarusian Military Practicing Counter-Drone Tactics During Drills - Defense Ministry

Sputnik News

20260324

MINSK (Sputnik) - As part of a readiness check, troops from the Belarusian army's Western Operational Command are conducting exercises at training grounds to practice fighting a mock enemy, with a focus on countering drones, the Ministry of Defense said on Tuesday.

A comprehensive exercise involving troops from the Western Operational Command is taking place from March 19 to 25 as part of a surprise inspection of the army that began on January 26.

"Troops from the Western Operational Command are carrying out tasks at training grounds across the country and in various areas as part of a comprehensive exercise," the ministry said in a statement.

The day before, the motorized rifle troops occupied the assembly area, carried out engineering work there, set up the battalion command post, and have been monitoring the situation around the clock, the ministry added.

"Guardsmen and reservists called up from the reserve have established positions for a circular defense and are repelling an attack by a simulated enemy," the statement read.

The units participating in the exercise are engaging columns of simulated enemy armored vehicles with grenade launchers. Fire is being provided by AGS-17 crews, snipers, and machine gunners. Armored personnel carriers are providing fire support, the ministry said. Particular attention is being paid to countering unmanned aerial vehicles and to the direct command and control of military units and subunits during combat operations, one of the commanders said.

 Sputnik

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Secretary Rubio's Call with Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anand

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

March 23, 2026

The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand to discuss international security and the decisive actions taken by President Trump to dismantle Iran's nuclear program and increase pressure on the Iranian regime. Secretary Rubio also addressed our efforts to promote security and stability in Haiti, including support for the UN-authorized Gang Suppression Force.



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China urges EU to abandon zero-sum mentality, protectionist measures following EC President's China remarks

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Mar 24, 2026 05:35 PM

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Tuesday urged the EU to abandon the zero-sum mentality, steer clear of protectionist measures, and view China's development in a rational and objective light.

Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks in response to European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen's remarks on the newly signed EU-Australia free trade agreement  in which she claimed that EU and Australia's critical mineral partnership would be crucial and that both cannot be overdependent on any supplier, and she also spoke out against absorbing China's export-led growth model and industrial overcapacity.

International trade is in essence a two-way choice by the market that benefits both sides. The EU itself has always enjoyed a trade surplus. China's high-quality and innovative products enrich global supply, boost trade and drive industrial development, Lin said.

China never seeks trade surplus. In fact, exports of 40 percent of China-based European companies are sold to Europe and counted as China's surplus. But the profits of the sales go to European investors, Lin said.

China is ready to be not only a "world factory" but also a "world market". Committed to high-quality development and high-standard opening-up, China is actively implementing the strategy of expanding domestic demand, he said.

We are increasing imports of quality foreign products through such platforms as the China International Import Expo and the China International Fair for Trade in Services, unlocking consumption potential at a faster pace, and injecting fresh momentum into the world economy, the spokesperson said.

By seizing new opportunities presented by China's 15th Five-Year Plan blueprint, the two sides can work together to seek robust and balanced trade. It is hoped that the EU will work with China to keep the international trade environment open and inclusive, Lin said.

The EC president made the remarks in a speech to the Australian parliament, which was published on the website of the EC on Tuesday, in which she called for reducing reliance on imports from a single supplier and claimed that the EU "will not absorb China's export-led growth model, and its industrial overcapacity." She also said that every EU member state ran a trade deficit with China last year.

China-EU trade cooperation remains the foundation of bilateral relations, Cui Hongjian, a professor at the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Tuesday, noting that the EC tends to exaggerate trade issues and disagreements, turning them into policy and regulatory measuresa now-established pattern.

The EU has signed bilateral agreements with multiple countries to diversify its markets and reduce reliance on China, but the results have been limited, according to Cui. Complex trade links among China, Europe, and Australia cannot be easily untangled, and the EC's measures carry more political than economic weight, making its goals related to China and its own economic security difficult to achieve, Cui noted.

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China discovers massive rare-earth deposit in Sichuan Province

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Mar 24, 2026 04:07 PM

China's Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) has revealed new mine exploration results showing significant rare-earth reserves in Maoniuping, Mianning County, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, the China Central Television (CCTV) Finance Channel reported on Tuesday.

The report cited mineral exploration results released by the MNR, stating that a total of 9.6656 million tons of rare-earth oxides, along with 27.1354 million tons of fluorite and 37.2277 million tons of barite, were found in the Maoniuping mining area.

The discovery of new rare earth oxide in the area represented an increase in reserves of over 300 percent, making it the world's second-largest light rare-earth mine after the Bayan Obo deposit in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, according to the report.

Experts said that the findings represent another major discovery that significantly bolsters the country's strategic rare-earth reserves and expands the nation's access to resources used in the manufacture of high-tech products, clean energy systems, and many emerging industries.

Rare earths are a critical strategic resource, and managing their mining and smelting-separation processes is vital for national resource security and the sustainable development of related industries, Wu Chenhui, an independent analyst specializing in the critical minerals sector, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

He said that the latest discovery holds significant importance, particularly as global demand for critical minerals intensifies and supply chain security becomes a top priority for major economies.

Rare-earth oxides are widely used in magnetic materials, phosphors, and other critical applications, serving as indispensable elements for modern industry and high-end manufacturing. Often dubbed the "vitamins of modern industry," rare-earth elements possess unique optical properties, with some exhibiting strong magnetic characteristics that make them irreplaceable in new energy, new materials, aerospace, and more.

In electric vehicles, drive motors require high-energy rare-earth magnet materials to enhance efficiency and power density. In optical fiber communications, signal amplifiers rely on erbium and other rare-earth minerals to ensure stable transmission.

Fluorite is the primary source of fluorine for refrigerants and nonstick coatings. Barite serves as a weighting agent in oil drilling and as a contrast agent for medical X-rays, while antimony is widely used as a flame retardant in electronics, aircraft, and high-speed trains.

Chinese industry experts noted that the breakthrough at Maoniuping will enhance China's light rare-earth resource security, injecting "resource confidence" into the development of strategic emerging industries, the Science and Technology Daily reported.

The finding adds to a series of exploration successes in recent years, which included the discovery of a large antimony deposit in Dangchang County, Northwest China's Gansu Province. The Bayan Obo deposit, the world's largest rare-earth mine, has proven industrial reserves of 44 million tons of rare earths, accounting for 83.7 percent of the national total, according to media reports.

China is the world's largest producer of rare earths, accounting for more than 80 percent of annual global output, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian's Regular Press Conference on March 24, 2026

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: March 24, 2026 19:30

AFP: U.S. President Donald Trump said that he was postponing any strikes against Iran's power plants for five days to allow for talks. Trump said that his administration was speaking with an unidentified Iranian top official. What is China's comment on this? And what is China's position on who the U.S. should negotiate with from Iran?

Lin Jian: A drawn-out conflict serves no one's interest. Ceasefire and dialogue is the only way out. China is deeply concerned about the continued escalation and spillovers, which have dealt a blow to regional and international peace and stability. We call on relevant parties to end hostilities immediately and return to the track of peace and dialogue as soon as possible.

Reuters: The European Union and Australia have signed a trade deal today and European Commission President von der Leyen in her speech about this deal said that the EU and Australia's critical mineral partnership would be crucial and that both cannot be overdependent on any supplier. She also spoke out against absorbing China's export-led growth model and industrial overcapacity. Does China have a response to these remarks?

Lin Jian: International trade is in essence a two-way choice by the market that benefits both sides. The EU itself has always enjoyed a trade surplus. China's high-quality and innovative products enrich global supply, boost trade and drive industrial development. China never seeks trade surplus. In fact, exports of 40% of China-based European companies are sold to Europe and counted as China's surplus. But the profits of the sales go to European investors. China is ready to be not only a "world factory" but also a "world market". Committed to high-quality development and high-standard opening-up, China is actively implementing the strategy of expanding domestic demand. We are increasing imports of quality foreign products through such platforms as the China International Import Expo and the China International Fair for Trade in Services, unlocking consumption potential at a faster pace, and injecting fresh momentum into the world economy.

We hope the EU will abandon the zero-rum mentality, steer clear of protectionist measure, and view China's development in a rational and objective light. By seizing new opportunities presented by China's 15th Five-Year Plan blueprint, the two sides can work together to seek robust and balanced trade. It is hoped that the EU will work with China to keep the international trade environment open and inclusive.

AFP: Taiwan said that it would skip for the first time a high-level World Trade Organization meeting in Cameroon. Taiwan said that Cameroon had designated the island as a province of China in paperwork issued to its delegation. What is the Foreign Ministry's comment on this?

Lin Jian: There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. China's position on the Taiwan region's participation in the activities of international organizations is consistent and clear, that is, it must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle. The one-China principle is the political prerequisite for the Taiwan region's participation in the WTO. The DPP authorities are engaging in political manipulation despicably under the pretext of participation in the WTO conference to create disruption and serve their "Taiwan independence" agenda. There is no way they will succeed.

As the international economic and trade order faces severe challenges with unilateralism and protectionism on the rise and the multilateral trading system gravely impacted, it is of special significance that the WTO holds a ministerial conference in Africa again after a decade. China firmly supports Cameroon in making this WTO Ministerial Conference a success.

Reuters: This is according to a draft reviewed by Reuters. Japan will downgrade its description of ties with China from "one of the most important" to instead describing China as an important neighbor and the relationship "strategic and mutually beneficial." This is in an annual diplomatic report that is being under review by the government. Does China have any comment on this?

Lin Jian: The root cause of the current situation facing China-Japan relations is Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks on Taiwan, which have sparked outrage from the Chinese people and tested the red line of the post-war international order. If the Japanese side truly wants to improve and develop relations with China, it needs to abide by the four political documents between China and Japan and its own commitments, retract the erroneous remarks on Taiwan as soon as possible, do soul-searching and correct its wrongdoings, and take concrete actions to uphold the political foundation of China-Japan relations.

AFP: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will travel to China from April 13 to 15 for an official visit, according to his office on Monday. Can China confirm this trip or provide comment for your expectations for this visit?

Lin Jian: China and Spain are comprehensive strategic partners. In recent years, bilateral relations have maintained sound momentum. On the visit that you mentioned, I have no information to share at the moment. Please stay tuned.

Global Times: We've learned that this morning, an individual from the JapaneseSelf-Defense Forces broke into China's embassy in Tokyo. Could you share more details with us?

Lin Jian: On the morning of March 24, a man who claimed himself to be a sitting officer of Japan's Self-Defence Forces scaled the wall and broke into the Chinese embassy in Tokyo. The individual admittedthat his actions were illegal and threatened tokill Chinese diplomats in the so-called "name of god."

China is deeply shocked at this incident and has lodged strong demarches and protests with Japan. The incident is a serious violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and posed a grave threat to the safety and security of Chinese diplomatic personnel and facilities. The incident is egregious in both nature and impact. The incident once again highlighted the danger of the rampant spread of far-right impact and neo-militarism in the country. It also reveals the toxicity of the Japanese government's erroneous policies on vital issues concerning China-Japan relations such as history and Taiwan, and Japan's failure in maintaining discipline in SDF and in fulfilling its responsibility to protect the Chinese diplomatic and consular premises and personnel.

China asks the Japanese side to thoroughly investigate the incident at once, bring the full weight of law to bear on the perpetrator and fully account for the incident. The Japanese side must ensure the safety and security of Chinese diplomatic and consular premises and personnel, reflect on and correct its erroneous policies on China and get rid of the root cause for such incidents once and for all. The international community needs to stay on high alert against Japan's accelerating rightward turn and loss of control inside the rapidly expanding SDF.

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Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Receives Congratulations from Russian President

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, March 24 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un , president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, received a congratulatory message from V. Putin, president of the Russian Federation, on March 23.

The message said:

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un ,

I extend my wholehearted congratulations to you on your reelection as president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The decision of the deputies to the Supreme People's Assembly clearly proves the unanimous public support for the line you are pursuing to effectively settle the socio-economic tasks facing the DPRK and defend the sovereignty and legitimate interests of the country in the international arena.

Russia highly appreciates your direct contribution to consolidating the friendly and allied relations between the two countries.

We will, of course, continue to work closely together to further develop the comprehensive strategic partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang.

This undoubtedly corresponds to the fundamental interests of our two countries' peoples.

I wish you good health and well-being with a new success in your responsible state activities.

Yours sincerely. -0-

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Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Sends Reply Message to Russian President

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, March 25 (KCNA) -- The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a reply message to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, president of the Russian Federation, on March 24.

The reply message said:

Esteemed Comrade Vladimir Putin,

I express my sincere thanks to you for sending warm and sincere congratulations first on my reassumption of the heavy duty as President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Today the DPRK and Russia are closely cooperating to defend the sovereignty of the two countries and promote the well-being of the peoples through strong mutual support and assistance of alliance character.

I'm convinced that the firm relations and trust between us will undoubtedly guarantee the durability and future purposefulness between the DPRK and Russia and powerfully promote the development and wellbeing of the peoples of the two counties.

Pyongyang will always be with Moscow.

This is our choice and unshakable will.

I extend my warmest wishes to you and, through you, to the fraternal Russian people, expressing thanks to you once again. -0-

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The Daily Press Briefing (03/24/2026)

France - Ministere de lEurope et des Affaires etrangeres - Press briefing

News

Statements by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs Spokesperson

Press briefing

Published on March 24, 2026

CONTENTS

SOUTH KOREA

Conversation between Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and his counterpart, Cho Hyun (Mar. 24, 2026)

On March 24, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot spoke by telephone with Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun.

With 2026 marking the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between France and Korea, the Ministers discussed progress on strategic cooperation ahead of President Macron's state visit to Korea and the South Korean Minister's arrival in France, where he will attend meetings on the sidelines of the G7 foreign ministers meeting at Vaux-de-Cernay abbey.

The Ministers spoke about international crises, reiterated their commitment to multilateralism and the rules-based international order, and reaffirmed their support for Ukraine.

SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE

Conversation between Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and his counterpart, Ilza Amado Vaz (Mar. 24, 2026)

On March 24, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot spoke by telephone with Dr. Ilza Amado Vaz, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Communities of Sao Tome and Principe.

They emphasized both countries' shared values and their shared commitment to the respect of international law, effective multilateralism and Francophonie. They also discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly on energy and education.

In line with France and Gabon's 2026 joint presidency of the G7++ Friends of the Gulf of Guinea (FoGG), aimed at making cooperation on maritime security a top regional priority, the Ministers underscored the vital need for maritime cooperation between France and Sao Tome and Principe in the Gulf of Guinea.

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Prime Minister receives telephonic call from US President on West Asia situation

India - Press Information Bureau

Prime Minister's Office

Posted On: 24 MAR 2026 8:48PM by PIB Delhi

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, received a call from the President of the United States of America, Mr. Donald J. Trump.

The two leaders had a useful exchange of views on the evolving situation in West Asia. The Prime Minister reiterated that India supports de-escalation and the restoration of peace at the earliest.

The Prime Minister underlined the importance of ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure and accessible, noting that it is vital for global peace, stability and economic well-being.

Both leaders agreed to remain in touch regarding ongoing efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability in the region.

In a post on X, Shri Modi said;

"Received a call from President Trump and had a useful exchange of views on the situation in West Asia. India supports de-escalation and restoration of peace at the earliest. Ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure and accessible is essential for the whole world. We agreed to stay in touch regarding efforts towards peace and stability.

@realDonaldTrump

@POTUS"

*****

MJPS/ST

(Release ID: 2244731)

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Pakistan ready to host US-Iran talks  diplomat

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

24.03.2026 [12:32]

Baku, March 24, AZERTAC

Islamabad is ready to host talks between Washington and Tehran if they agree, Spokesperson for the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tahir Hussain Andrabi, told CNN, according to TASS.

"If both sides agree, Pakistan is always ready to host talks," Andrabi said in an interview with the US television channel on Monday.

Earlier, the N12 television channel said, citing an Israeli official, that a meeting between the US and Iranian representatives may take place later this week in the Pakistani capital city of Islamabad.

US President Donald Trump said earlier that in the previous two days Washington and Tehran had held what he called "productive conversations" on ending the hostilities in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei told IRNA that Tehran had not held talks with Washington but that it had communicated its position to mediators.

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EU could deploy mission to Hormuz Strait after hostilities end  EC president

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

24.03.2026 [10:37]

Baku, March 24, AZERTAC

The Europeans could send a mission to the Strait of Hormuz only after the US-Israeli war on Iran is over, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed following talks in Canberra with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, according to TASS.

"The leaders in the European Union have been very clear that only when the hostilities end, could they envisage an operation or a mission," The Australian quoted von der Leyen as saying.

She admitted that the energy supply allies worldwide were faced with a critical situation. "We all feel the knock-on effects on gas and oil prices, our businesses and our societies. But it is of utmost importance that we come to a solution that is negotiated," the EC president added.

On March 21, President Donald Trump stated that the United States would destroy several Iranian power plants if the Strait of Hormuz was not fully reopened to shipping within 48 hours. In response, the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff warned that, in the event of such an attack, Iran would launch retaliatory strikes against US energy and communications infrastructure in the region.

On March 23, the US leader ordered the Pentagon to postpone strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure for five days amid what he called ongoing "constructive conversations" between Washington and Tehran. Iran denied holding talks with the United States.

On March 19, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan expressed their readiness to support efforts to ensure safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz in a joint statement. Iran formally states that the Strait of Hormuz is not closed to traffic and that only ships linked to the United States and Israel are being targeted.

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Iran vows to make US, Israel regret aggression; China urges attackers to end 'bullying' behavior

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 24 March 2026 10:33 PM

Iran pledges to sustain its defensive and retaliatory measures until prompting the United States and the Israeli regime to "regret" launching their latest bout of unprovoked aggression against the Islamic Republic.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the remarks during a telephone conversation with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Tuesday, the 26th day since the onset of the aggression.

Araghchi detailed Washington's and Tel Aviv's attacks targeting the Islamic Republic's civilian and defense infrastructure alike since February 28, calling the atrocities the primary cause of the current instability in the region.

"Iran will defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity until all objectives are achieved and the enemy is made to regret its violent aggression," he added.

He also stressed that the insecurity in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz was directly linked to the atrocities.

"The measures and precautions taken by Iran are in accordance with international law and are aimed at defending Iran's sovereignty and national security, while preventing aggressors from misusing this waterway to carry out acts of aggression against Iran."

In retaliation for the atrocities, the Islamic Republic has closed the strategic strait to enemy vessels and ships belonging to those who have been assisting the aggressors.

However, ships from other nations may pass in coordination with Iranian authorities, the Iranian foreign minister noted.

UN Security Council criticized for ignoring aggressors

Araghchi, meanwhile, strongly condemned efforts by the US and certain other countries within the United Nations Security Council to pressure Iran.

He criticized the Council for ignoring the main aggressors and instead blaming the Islamic Republic for defending itself.

Under pressure from Washington, the Council recently adopted a resolution condemning Iran's retaliatory strikes against American outposts and interests in Persian Gulf littoral states.

The Islamic Republic has defended the strikes, saying it reserves the right to target such facilities since the countries hosting them would lend their respective soils to the aggressors to launch attacks on Iranian territory.

"Iran's serious expectation from Security Council members, especially China and Russia, is to take a firm stance in condemning US and Israeli aggression and prevent the continued misuse of the Council by the United States," Araghchi told Wang.

China calls for end to 'bullying,' urges upholding diplomacy

For his part, the Chinese top diplomat reaffirmed Beijing's principled condemnation of US and Israeli attacks on Iran, denouncing violations of Iran's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He stressed the importance of ending "bullying behavior" in international affairs and resolving disputes through diplomacy and international law.

The Chinese foreign minister also offered condolences for the recent martyrdom of Dr. Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, during the aggression, describing him as "a highly intelligent, distinguished, and patriotic figure, who played a pivotal role in securing Iran's national interests and promoting regional peace and stability."

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Iran defends sovereignty, territorial integrity with full force: FM

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 24 March 2026 9:05 PM

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi underscores Iran's determination to safeguard its sovereignty in the face of ongoing unprovoked American-Israeli aggression targeting the country's soil.

The top diplomat made the remarks in a phone call with his Malaysian counterpart Mohamad Hasan on Tuesday, during which the former referenced the aggressors' deadly attacks against Iranian civilians and civilian infrastructure, including residential areas, schools, and hospitals, throughout the aggression that began late last month.

"Iran defends its national sovereignty and territorial integrity with full force," Araghchi asserted.

He also pointed to the Islamic Republic's retaliatory strikes targeting American outposts and interests throughout the region.

According to the Iranian foreign minister, while the Islamic Republic remains committed to friendly relations and good-neighborly ties with regional countries, the use of their territories by the United States and the Israeli regime for military operations against the country has left Tehran with no option, but to act within its inherent right to self-defense and strike enemy objects in the countries that assist the aggressors.

Call for regional responsibility

Araghchi emphasized that regional countries had to prevent continued use of their land and facilities for attacks against Iran.

"The legal, ethical, and Islamic demand of Iranians from regional countries is to prevent the continued misuse of their territory and resources by the US and the Israeli regime for brutal aggression against a neighboring Muslim country."

Strait of Hormuz measures highlighted

The official also addressed the impact of the unlawful aggression on regional stability and maritime security, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz.

"The insecurity imposed on the Strait of Hormuz is a direct result of US and Israeli military aggression," he said, noting that the Islamic Republic had taken measures consistent with the international law to defend its sovereignty in the waterway.

Araghchi was referring to Iran's closing the strategic strait to enemy vessels and ships belonging to the states collaborating with the adversaries in retaliation for the aggression.

"Other vessels may transit safely through the strait, provided they coordinate with Iran's competent authorities."

Malaysia condemns aggression, calls for de-escalation

For his part, Hasan reaffirmed Malaysia's stance of condemning the aggression against Iran and stressed the need to reduce tensions and restore stability in the region.

He also conveyed condolences and expressed solidarity with the Islamic Republic over the martyrdom of its citizens during the American-Israeli atrocities.

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Araghchi: Strait of Hormuz 'not closed' to those who respect Iran's 'navigational rights'

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 24 March 2026 7:02 PM

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi says ships are avoiding the Strait of Hormuz because the United States and its allies fail to respect Iran's trade and navigational rights.

In a post on the social media platform X on Tuesday, Araghchi stated: "The Strait of Hormuz is not closed. Ships hesitate because insurers fear the war of choice you initiated, not Iran."

"No insurer, and no Iranian, will be swayed by more threats. Try respect," he added.

He further warned that freedom of navigation must be accompanied by freedom of trade, saying, recognize Iran's right to both of them, or you will be deprived of them as well.

During a phone conversation on Monday with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, Araghchi underscored that the Strait of Hormuz is closed only to vessels belonging to aggressor parties and their supporters, while ships from other countries face no issues transiting the strategic waterway after coordinating with Iranian authorities.

Araghchi emphasized that the current regional situation and insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz are direct consequences of illegal US and Israeli attacks against Iran. He reaffirmed that Tehran will decisively defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity against these acts of aggression.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20 percent of global oil supplies transit, has been a focal point of the ongoing tensions.

Iran has consistently maintained that the waterway remains open for harmless passage under regulations ensuring Iranian security and interests, while being closed to enemy and hostile traffic.

Iranian officials have repeatedly warned that any further attacks on Iranian infrastructure would result in the complete closure of the strait, which would have severe repercussions for global energy markets.

On February 28, the US and Israel launched a military offensive that included the assassination of Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and multiple senior commanders.

In response, Iran has conducted waves of retaliatory missile and drone strikes against US interests across West Asia and Israeli positions in the occupied territories.

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Iran trained in 'asymmetrical warfare' for two decades waiting for US troops: Defense official

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 24 March 2026 6:50 PM

A senior Iranian defense official says the armed forces have "trained in asymmetrical warfare" for two decades in anticipation of American troops being deployed to "designated regions."

"We have been waiting for the arrival of Americans to designated regions," Ali-Akbar Ahmadian, a senior aide to Leader of the Islamic Revolution in the Defense Council, said in a post on his X account on Tuesday.

"For more than two decades, we have trained for this moment with the strategy of asymmetrical warfare," he wrote.

Ahmadian said that Iran has only one message for American soldiers: "Come closer."

The warning comes as Trump administration officials have hinted at the possibility of ground operations in certain regions of Iran.

US military planners have reportedly presented the White House with options for a potential ground operation, should the bombing campaign fail to achieve its objectives.

According to The Wall Street Journal, discussions have included scenarios involving "boots on the ground" to dismantle Iran's nuclear infrastructure and missile capabilities.

Pentagon officials have also acknowledged planning for "contingency operations" that could involve special operations forces or heliborne assaults on key Iranian facilities, though they stress such options remain a last resort.

The commander of the Ground Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) warned earlier in the day that any such threat or act of aggression would be met with a crushing response.

Speaking to IRGC ground troops in the southwestern province of Khuzestan, Brigadier General Mohammad Karami said his unit was prepared at the highest level.

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IRGC Navy orders container ship to leave Strait of Hormuz for lacking permit

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 24 March 2026 5:02 PM

The Navy of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has ordered a container vessel to turn away after it attempted to transit the Strait of Hormuz without obtaining the required authorization.

IRGC Navy Commander Brigadier General Alireza Tangsiri said in a statement on Tuesday that the container ship SELEN was ordered to retreat after it failed to comply with legal protocols and lacked the necessary permit to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

General Tangsiri said all maritime traffic through the strategic waterway must now take place in coordination with Iran's naval authorities.

"Any vessel's passage through this waterway requires full coordination with Iran's maritime sovereignty," Tangsiri said.

While Iran has imposed strict rules for shipping, officials have repeatedly said the Strait of Hormuz has not been closed to lawful traffic.

Iran has clarified that the Strait is only closed to vessels belonging to "aggressor parties and their supporters," while ships from other countries face no issues transiting after coordinating with Iranian authorities.

The new measures include mandatory notification procedures due to the security situation, with the IRGC Navy directing vessels in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Sea of Oman to report any "suspicious activity" via maritime channel 16, a standard international hailing frequency used for safety and navigation.

The enforcement of these controls comes against the backdrop of the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran.

On February 28, the US and Israel launched a military offensive that included the assassination of then-Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and multiple senior commanders.

In response, Iran has conducted waves of retaliatory missile and drone strikes against US interests across West Asia and Israeli positions in the occupied territories.

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IRGC Ground Force vows crushing response to any aggression

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 24 March 2026 4:41 PM

The commander of the Ground Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has issued a stark warning to the United States and Israel, saying any threat or act of aggression will be met with a crushing response.

Speaking during an inspection of the IRGC Ground Force units deployed in the southwestern province of Khuzestan, Brigadier General Mohammad Karami said Iran's military relies on divine power and fears no temporal force.

"We rely on divine power," Karami stated, according to the IRGC Public Relations Department.

The commander said all the IRGC Ground Force units are prepared at the highest level.

"America, Israel, and the enemies of our country will receive a crushing response to any threat or act of aggression." The commander said the IRGC Ground Force units stationed in Khuzestan have high morale and unwavering determination.

General Karami's warning comes amid media some reports suggesting the US and Israeli forces may be considering ground operations or heliborne incursions into Iranian territory.

US military planners have reportedly presented the White House with options for a potential ground invasion of Iran, should the current bombing campaign fail to achieve its objectives.

According to The Wall Street Journal, discussions have included scenarios involving "boots on the ground" to dismantle Iran's nuclear infrastructure and missile capabilities.

Pentagon officials have also acknowledged planning for "contingency operations" that could involve special operations forces or heliborne assaults on key Iranian facilities, though they stress such options remain a last resort.

In response to these threats, Iran has reinforced its defensive positions across the country, particularly along the strategic southwestern border with Iraq, where US bases are located, and in the southeastern region near the Strait of Hormuz.

The IRGC Ground Force is specialized in defensive operations.

It operates a network of underground missile cities, mobile rocket launchers, and drone units capable of targeting enemy forces both inside and outside Iran's borders.

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Iranian drone strikes hit Israel's key aerospace industries

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 24 March 2026 3:55 PM

Iran's Army says its drone fleet has delivered precision strikes on Israel's key aerospace and weapons manufacturing industries.

Iran's Army said in a statement on Tuesday that it successfully launched a series of drone strikes early in the morning.

The attacks targeted Rafael's weapons industries in Haifa and aerospace facilities near Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.

The Iranian drones also hit several refueling aircraft stationed at the airport.

Rafael Weapons Industries is a key military technology developer responsible for advanced systems such as the Iron Dome and David's Sling, according to the statement.

The Rafael logistics and military center had previously been targeted by ballistic missiles launched by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

Over the past 25 days, the Iranian Army conducted multiple operations as part of Operation True Promise 4, which was launched immediately after the US-Israeli joint military aggression against Iran on February 28.

The Army has vowed to continue its operations with determination and remain steadfast in "its sacred mission to defend the country's "independence and territorial integrity."

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Iran's armed forces determined to fight until complete victory: Commander

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 24 March 2026 3:22 PM

The commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters says Iran's armed forces remain steadfast on the path to complete victory.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Major General Ali Abdollahi said the "vicious, criminal US-Zionist enemy" ignited a war with the aim of partitioning and devouring the Islamic Republic of Iran.

On the first day of the war, February 28, they assassinated Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and a number of military commanders, expecting that the country without its leader and the military without its commanders would collapse within 48 hours.

But, Abdollahi said, by God's grace, the epic presence of the great and heroic Iranian nation, and the unparalleled efforts of the brave fighters in the armed forces over the past 25 days, the enemies, chief among them the wicked and arrogant United States, have suffered major blows.

"The fake powers, notably the United States, which for decades exploited the oppressed nations of the world, particularly Islamic countries, through threats and intimidation, have now been brought to their knees before the eyes of the world with divine assistance," the statement read.

Abdollahi said that given the facts on the battleground, the enemy is now desperately seeking off-ramps from the conflict it initiated.

Donald Trump, the president of the United States, "understanding the realities on the ground and finding himself trapped in the quagmire of war, has turned to the leaders of certain countries to seek a way out after losing hope in achieving his objectives," General Abdollahi stated.

He said the current historic situation is "a great honor for the heroic nation of Iran."

The statement reaffirmed that Iran's powerful armed forces remain faithful to the covenant made with the martyred Imam of the Ummah, and they are in complete obedience to the revered Leader and Commander-in-Chief Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei.

The path of honor, General Abdollahi said, remains with the support of the aware and valiant nation of Islamic Iran until complete victory.

Since February 28, Iran has conducted waves of daily retaliatory missile and drone strikes against US interests across West Asia and Israeli positions in the occupied territories.

Following the martyrdom of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, who had led Iran for 37 years, the Assembly of Experts elected Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei as the third Leader of the Islamic Revolution on March 9.

Iranian officials have repeatedly warned that any further attacks on Iranian infrastructure would result in expanded retaliation, including the potential complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

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Profile: Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, Iran's new top security official

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 24 March 2026 2:25 PM

By Press TV Website Staff

Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, a veteran military commander with a career spanning decades, was on Tuesday appointed the new Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).

Seyyed Mehdi Tabatabai, the deputy for communications and information at the Iranian president's office, made the announcement in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Zolqadr's appointment was made by President Masoud Pezeshkian with the endorsement of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the official said.

He replaces Ali Larijani, who was assassinated in an Israeli-American terrorist strike last week. Larijani served in the position from August 2025 until his martyrdom.

The appointment of Zolqadr, a veteran of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and former security and judicial official, comes as the war imposed on Iran enters the fifth week.

Zolqadr brings decades of experience in security, military, and strategic affairs to the role.

He was born in 1954 in Fars province, and began his political and religious activities as a teenager before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, before joining revolutionary groups to fight the West-backed Pahlavi regime.

After the revolution, he began his career with the Revolutionary Committees before joining the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). During the Iran-Iraq war, he served as the IRGC's training chief and later commanded the Irregular Warfare Headquarters.

Before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Zolqadr earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Tehran University, followed by a master's in public administration from the same university.

He later completed a doctorate in strategic management at the National Defense University.

Through a career spanning decades, he held several high-ranking positions, including deputy commander-in-chief of the IRGC and chief of staff of the country's armed forces.

His background includes service as deputy for Basij affairs at the General Staff of the Armed Forces, as well as senior roles in the interior ministry during the ninth administration, where he served as deputy for security and law enforcement affairs and later as acting minister.

Zolqadr also spent nearly a decade in the judiciary, serving first as deputy for social protection and crime prevention (2010-2012) and later as strategic deputy (2012-2020).

More recently, he served as secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council and headed the election headquarters of the Popular Front of the Islamic Revolutionary Forces.

Zolqadr now takes the helm of the country's highest security decision-making body, at a critical juncture as Iran navigates the war imposed by the US and the Israeli regime.

He is also a prolific writer and author of several books, including 'The Fall of Israel'.

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Op. True Promise 4: Iranian missiles rain down on Israel's intelligence hubs in new wave

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 24 March 2026 1:42 PM

In a fresh wave of retaliatory strikes, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) targeted the Israeli regime's "secure" intelligence facilities in Tel Aviv.

The IRGC's Public Relations Department said in a statement on Tuesday that it had carried out the 79th wave of its ongoing retaliatory Operation True Promise 4 against the Israeli and American targets.

Deploying powerful Kheybar Shekan, Emad, and Sejjil missiles alongside IRGC Aerospace Force kamikaze drones, the operation successfully breached the regime's multi-layered air defense systems, the statement said.

The missiles, it stated, targeted Israel's intelligence facilities in northern and central Tel Aviv, as well as military commercial and support centers in Ramat Gan and the Negev.

The missiles also hit Israel's southern military logistics and command headquarters in Beersheba.

The missile strikes triggered widespread panic across Israel and forced the suspension of a Knesset (parliament) session on Tuesday.

"Plumes of thick smoke and fire engulfing the Israeli-occupied territories, while forcing over two million people into shelters, serves as undeniable evidence of Iran's advanced missile and drone capabilities."

Iran's advanced missiles have once again demonstrated that the enemies' "multi-layered defenses have been rendered ineffective."

The IRGC further said that Israel's systematic censorship and the Pentagon's blackout on images of Iran's precision strikes against US assets in the region, "expose the profound panic" of the two enemies and their "desperate attempts to conceal and manipulate the truth.'"

Iranian armed forces have been carrying out retaliatory attacks on US military assets in regional countries and on targets in the Israeli-occupied territories since Tel Aviv and Washington launched their joint military aggression against the Islamic republic on February 28.

In the last 25 days, Iranian Armed Forces have delivered a series of devastating strikes on enemy targets, effectively paralyzing the US air defense systems across the region.

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82,417 civilian units damaged by Israeli-US aggression: IRCS

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 24 March 2026 1:34 PM

The head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) says that the Israeli-US aggression has damaged more than 82,000 civilian units across the country.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Pir-Hossein Koulivand said that 82,417 civilian units, including 62,440 residential houses, and 19,187 commercial buildings have been severely damaged across Iran since the start of Israeli-US aggression on February 28.

In Tehran Province alone, 25,280 houses and commercial buildings have been destroyed or damaged by the aggression.

He added that 281 medical facilities including pharmacies, and emergency buildings have been hit along with 481 schools and 17 IRCS centers.

Additionally, 3 IRCS helicopters, 48 operational vehicles, and 46 ambulances have been destroyed, the IRCS chief concluded.

Furthermore, in a letter to the World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Monday, Koulivand expressed his grave concerns over relentless strikes by the US and Israel on Iran's medical infrastructure, categorically condemning them.

The IRCS head further stressed that the strikes are flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, including four Geneva Conventions and additional protocols, urging the WHO to condemn the attacks, and launch an independent investigation into the hostilities.

The US and Israeli armed forces launched their military aggression against Iran in late February by attacking 30 targets across Tehran, assassinating Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei and several senior Iranian officials.

Since then, Iranian armed forces have retaliated by launching barrages of missiles and drones at Israeli-occupied territories as well as US bases across the region.

According to Iran's Ministry of Defense, Iranian forces have killed and wounded at least 600 American troops at various US bases since the start of the war.

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IRGC issues ultimatum to Israel: End genocide or face heavy strikes

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 24 March 2026 11:57 AM

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has issued a severe warning to the Israeli military, slamming it for committing widespread war crimes in Gaza and Lebanon.

In its 46th statement regarding "Operation True Promise 4," the Public Relations Department of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced on Tuesday that the "child-killing army of the Zionist regime" has crossed all red lines in its military aggressions.

The statement slammed Israel for exploiting the regional war atmosphere and media focus on the US-Israeli aggression against Iran.

The Israeli military has committed extensive war crimes against civilians in Lebanon and Palestine, it said adding that the continuation of genocide is no longer tolerable.

The IRGC warned the "criminal army of the regime," that if the crimes against civilians in Lebanon and Palestine persist, Iran will respond with overwhelming force.

The statement specified that "the gathering points of enemy forces in the north of the occupied Palestine and the Gaza belt" would be targeted.

It also cautioned that these areas would come under heavy missile and drone attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran and the IRGC "without any consideration."

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Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr appointed new head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 24 March 2026 11:11 AM

Veteran military commander and strategist Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr has been officially appointed as the new Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).

Seyyed Mehdi Tabatabai, the Deputy for Communications and Information at the Iranian President's Office, announced it in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday.

Zolqadr has been appointed to the top security chair by a direct presidential decree and with the endorsement of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei.

He replaces Ali Larijani, who was assassinated in the Israeli-American terrorist strike last week. Larijani had served in the position since August 2025.

The appointment of Zolqadr, a veteran commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and former senior security official, comes as the war imposed on Iran enters the fifth week.

According to insiders, he brings decades of experience across Iran's military, security, and judicial institutions to the post at a critical juncture.

He previously served as deputy chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces for Basij affairs, and held senior positions in the judiciary for nearly a decade.

Before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Zolqadr earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Tehran University, followed by a master's in public administration from the same university. He later completed a doctorate in strategic management at the National Defense University.

Following the Holy Defense war in the late 1980s, Zolqadr served for eight years as head of the IRGC Joint Staff during the presidency of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. He then spent another eight years as deputy commander-in-chief of the IRGC.

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Iran arrests over 90 operatives linked to 'Iran International' network amid Israeli-US war: Source

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 24 March 2026 9:21 AM

Iranian security forces have arrested more than 90 individuals with ties to the "Iran International" network, knowledgeable sources told Press TV on Tuesday.

The arrests mark a significant development in measures against the hostile media outlet amid the Israeli-American war against the country that entered its 25th day on Tuesday.

The arrests, carried out across multiple provinces over recent days, target what authorities described as "traitors linked to the terrorist network."

The operation, according to sources, is expected to continue until the "psychological cleansing" of society from the hostile media group's influence is complete.

Iran International, a Persian-language satellite channel with main offices in the United Kingdom and the United States, has long aided the enemy's propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran, particularly during the ongoing war.

The Iranian government has labeled the network a terrorist organization.

The arrests come amid the Israeli-American war of aggression against the Islamic Republic, which has claimed nearly 1,300 lives so far, most of them civilians.

Earlier, some news sources had said that one of Iran's preconditions for ceasing retaliatory operations is the shutdown of this network and the extradition of its operatives.

In the past, individuals associated with American and Israeli spy agencies have often masqueraded as "journalists" working with this network, which is bankrolled by the US, European and some Arab states.

According to Iranian authorities, this hostile network has played a key role in facilitating the Israeli-American military assault on the Iranian people by amplifying their fabricated justifications for the unprovoked, unlawful and brutal aggression.

It has effectively functioned as a Persian-language public relations arm and brand promoter for the Israeli and American military apparatus.

One major strategy has involved amplifying unfounded allegations regarding Iran's nuclear program, portraying the country as a so-called "nuclear threat."

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Iran warns any strike on infrastructure to leave US forces 'paralyzed', sunk

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 24 March 2026 8:10 AM

A senior Iranian official has issued a stark warning to the United States, stating that any attack on the country's infrastructure would result in a devastating response that would paralyze the enemy and sink its forces in the Persian Gulf.

Speaking in a Television interview, Member of Iran's Expediency Discernment Council and a former commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Mohsen Rezaei, reacted to recent threats by US President Donald Trump regarding strikes on Iranian infrastructure.

"If they make this mistake, we will paralyze them and drown them in the Persian Gulf," Rezaei said on Tuesday.

"They should know that the last lifelines for America are expiring, and their rational figures have little time left to save America from this quagmire."

Rezaei noted that the conflict would not end until all sanctions are lifted, all damages are compensated, and legally binding international guarantees are provided to ensure no repetition of aggression against Iran. "There will be no ceasefire," he emphasized.

He elaborated on a "filthy and detestable American-Zionist current" that emerged after the presidency of George W. Bush.

He argued this movementcomprising American and Zionist capitalistsreached its peak under Trump, though he noted a shift in dynamics.

"Under Bush, America dominated Israel, but today Trump follows Israel like a slave," Rezaei stated.

He characterized the ideology behind this current as one that, on the Israeli side, advocates for a "Greater Israel" from the Nile to the Euphrates, and on the American side, seeks to establish international domination.

Rezaei warned that this US-Israeli movement has given rise to a form of violent Zionist racism and international despotism, citing ambitions ranging from Canada and Greenland to Venezuela.

"They consider their great peak and ultimate success to be domination over Iran," he said.

He cautioned Arab nations that the scheme is not limited to Iran but encompasses the entire region.

"If the Arab governments knew what their sinister plan for the region is, they would be fighting alongside us today," Rezaei added.

The US and Israel initiated an unprovoked aggression against Iran, assassinating former Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, along with several high-ranking military commanders and civilians on February 28.

In response, the Iranian Armed Forces have launched a series of counterattacks, directing missile and drone strikes at American bases across the region and the Israeli-occupied territories.

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Iran FM: Hormuz Strait open to ships from nations not backing US-Israeli aggression

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 24 March 2026 6:23 AM

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi says that the Strait of Hormuz is only closed to vessels belonging to aggressor parties and their supporters, while ships from other countries face no issues transiting the strategic waterway after coordinating with Iranian authorities.

The statement came during a phone conversation late on Monday with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, who called to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments following the US and Israeli military aggression against Iran.

Araghchi emphasized that the current regional situation and insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz are direct consequences of the illegal US and Israeli attacks against Iran, which began on February 28.

He reaffirmed that Tehran will decisively defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity against these acts of aggression.

The top Iranian diplomat noted that the military strikes occurred amid ongoing nuclear negotiations, highlighting the duplicitous nature of the aggressors.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun expressed condolences and regret over the martyrdom of Iranian citizens, including those killed in the US-Israeli war crime in Minab, where a strike on a primary school in southern Iran killed around 170 young students on the first day of the war of aggression.

Cho also voiced concern over the current regional developments and the adverse consequences of continued instability and war on the global economy, particularly regarding the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.

He emphasized the necessity of efforts to reduce tensions in the region.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20 percent of global oil supplies transit, has been a focal point of the ongoing war.

Iran has consistently maintained that the waterway remains open for harmless passage under regulations ensuring Iranian security and interests, while being closed to enemy and hostile traffic.

Iranian officials have repeatedly warned that any further attacks on Iranian infrastructure would result in the complete closure of the strait, which would have severe repercussions for global energy markets.

Iran-Egypt talks on regional de-escalation

In a separate phone call, Araghchi spoke with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty to discuss the latest regional and international repercussions of the illegal US-Israeli aggression against Iran and the country's legitimate defense.

Araghchi explained Iran's latest views on the aggression and the decisive and legitimate defense conducted by the country's armed forces against the aggressors.

Abdelatty, in turn, detailed Egypt's latest consultations with regional and international actors aimed at reducing tensions in the region.

Both ministers agreed to continue consultations between the two countries.

Araghchi also held a phone conversation with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, exchanging views on the latest regional developments following the brutal US-Israeli aggression against Iran, especially the situation around the Strait of Hormuz.

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Pakistan Steps Forward As Future 'Host' In Iran Diplomacy

By Ray Furlong and Daud Khattak March 24, 2026

Pakistan has offered to host talks aimed at bringing the Iran conflict to an end, highlighting the country's strengthened ties in both the Middle East and with Washington.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a social media post on March 24 that his country "stands ready and honored to be the host to facilitate meaningful and conclusive talks for a comprehensive settlement of the ongoing conflict."

Pakistan has been one of several countries -- along with Turkey and Egypt -- reportedly playing a role as an intermediary in trying to end fighting that started with US and Israeli air strikes on Iran on February 28.

Some media outlets have reported Islamabad as a possible location for talks between Tehran and Washington -- perhaps as early as this week.

It's not clear when or if these will go ahead, but as a neighbor of Iran that gets much of its oil from the Persian Gulf, Pakistan has been acutely affected by the conflict and has a strong interest in seeing it end.

"Pakistan has stepped up its efforts to mediate a cease-fire," a senior military source in the country told RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal. "The efforts are joined by Turkey and Egypt. Pakistan has a stake for multiple reasons."

Trump's 'Favorite Field Marshall'

A key player in this has been Asim Munir, the head of Pakistan's army, which traditionally pulls the levers of power behind the scenes while political leaders talk to the TV cameras.

Trump has described Munir as "my favorite field marshal," and the White House told RFE/RL that the two men discussed the war and US-Iran talks in a call on March 23.

"Pakistan belongs certainly to the winners of Trump II foreign policy. Asim Munir has had at least two meetings with President Trump last year," Christian Wagner, a senior fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), told RFE/RL.

"It was quite unexpected that Pakistan suddenly got this high recognition in US foreign policy under the second Trump administration. And the personal relationship between Trump and General Munir has certainly contributed to this," he added.

While Trump and Munir were on the phone, Sharif was dialing up Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian.

"We discussed the grave situation in the Gulf region and agreed on the urgent need for de-escalation, dialogue, and diplomacy," he tweeted afterwards.

Pakistan's Pain

Several days earlier, Sharif had made a televised address to the nation laying out emergency measures to deal with the fallout from the Iran war. Half of all employees at both state and private institutions would now work from home, while many offices would move to 4-day weeks to conserve energy, he said on March 9.

This was followed by further measures, such as additional taxes on gasoline, to discourage automobile use or fuel hoarding. Transport service providers told RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal that they could no longer afford to operate.

The grave situation is caused by Pakistan's reliance on the Persian Gulf for oil supplies. More than 85 percent of Pakistan's oil comes by ship from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, but Iran has turned off the tap by closing the route through the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan is also heavily reliant on Qatar for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Pakistan's economic hub, the port of Karachi, has gone quiet.

These economic pressures are one reason for Pakistan's interest in mediating a diplomatic solution to the Iran war. But there are many others.

In the early days of the war, angry crowds of Shi'a Muslims torched the US consulate in Karachi following the killing of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It was a dramatic moment that highlighted how Pakistan's domestic security concerns can be impacted by the war.

Pakistan is mostly Sunni Muslim, but a sizeable minority of its population is Shi'ite, which is the majority denomination in Iran and the affiliation of its clerical establishment.

Islamabad also faces an insurgency in Balochistan and armed conflict with Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Last year, it also fought a four-day war with India.

"Pakistan, given its location, is acutely vulnerable to conflict spillover effects. And with hot borders with both India and Afghanistan, it can't afford to get dragged into a conflict on what is typically its most peaceful border," Michael Kugelman, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, told RFE/RL.

"In that sense, Pakistan has a sky-high incentive to help move the needle forward however possible to de-escalate the conflict," he added.

The senior source in the Pakistani army agreed.

"Any unrest or continued conflict in Iran directly impacts Pakistan in terms of a potential refugee influx, sectarian tensions in Pakistan, and emboldening of the secessionist elements in Pakistan's Balochistan and Iran's Siestan-Balochistan regions," he said.

The Saudi Connection

The high-ranking officer also pointed to another factor: Pakistan's defense agreement with Saudi Arabia, signed in September last year.

A report at the time by the Saudi Press Agency said: "The agreement states that any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both," but the text of the pact was not made public.

Iran has launched a series of attacks on targets in Saudi Arabia, prompting Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan to hint at military retaliation. This has led to fevered speculation that Islamabad would be obliged to step in on Riyadh's side.

"Any active involvement of Saudi Arabia in the conflict will present Pakistan with a dilemma of honoring the agreement at the cost of active hostility toward Iran and its domestic consequences," the military official said.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-iran-diplomacy-us- israel-conflict/33714484.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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A Breakthrough Or Buying Time? Trump's Claim Of Talks With Iran Raises Questions

By Frud Bezhan March 24, 2026

President Donald Trump's claim that the United States has held talks with Iran has raised hopes of an end to the weekslong war rocking the Middle East.

But it is unclear if the purported talks -- dismissed as "fake news" by Tehran -- are a sign of a potential breakthrough, intended to calm panicked financial and global energy markets, or simply to buy Trump more time.

Even if there is a concerted diplomatic push, a huge gap remains between the United States and Iran. Tehran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global oil supplies, also gives it leverage in any negotiations to end the war, experts say.

Despite the talk of diplomacy, the war with Iran showed no signs of de-escalation on March 24. The United States and Israel launched a new round of air strikes on Iran, which fired missiles at Israel and hit energy infrastructure in the Persian Gulf.

"I don't think Trump is seeking an off-ramp and an end to the war yet," said Farzan Sabet, a managing researcher at the Geneva Graduate Institute.

Trump still has "escalatory options to attempt to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and to coerce the Islamic republic to accept his terms," he said, including the possible use of US troops to seize Iran's Kharg Island, which serves as the country's key oil terminal, or capture Iranian territory with the aim of ending Tehran's effective closure of the narrow waterway.

US media reported last week that two American expeditionary units, with thousands of Marines and supporting ships and aircraft, were on their way to the Middle East.

Experts said Trump's claim of talks with Tehran provided the US president an opportunity to walk back from his threat to "obliterate" Iran's power plants if Tehran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas are shipped. Trump, who had issued a 48-hour ultimatum on March 21, said he was postponing the strikes to allow time for talks to succeed.

"Backing down from his ultimatum and specifically the threat to destroy Iranian power plants probably had more to do with the risks involved with such an action, which could lead Tehran to strike reciprocal targets in the Persian Gulf, with potentially devastating humanitarian and economic consequences for both sides," said Sabet.

"He likely faced intense pressure not to follow through on this threat," he added. "There was also likely an element of Trump trying to manipulate global energy prices by giving the impression of de-escalation, coaxing them to go down, even if temporarily."

'Very Strong Talks'

Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on March 23 that the United States and Iran had held "very good and productive" conversations about a "complete and total resolution of hostilities in the Middle East."

Trump later told reporters that his special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner had held discussions with an unnamed top Iranian official in recent days.

"We have had very, very strong talks. We'll see where they lead. We have major points of agreement, I would say, almost all points of agreement," Trump said.

Trump's comments quickly sent oil prices falling. But they rose back above $100 a barrel after Iran said there had been no direct talks with the United States.

"No negotiations have been held with the U.S., and fakenews is used to manipulate the financial andoil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped," Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Iran's powerful speaker of parliament, wrote on X.

Later, the White House said the situation was "fluid" and cautioned that no formal meetings between any US and Iranian officials had been scheduled.

Amid the contradictory claims from the United States and Iran, there appears to have been at least initial contact between the sides through intermediaries, according to US media reports.

'Permanent Political Solution'

Even if there is a genuine push to end the war, the gap between the sides remains significant and the likelihood of a breakthrough is low, experts say.

Trump has demanded an end to all nuclear enrichment and the elimination of all of Iran's uranium stockpiles that could be potentially used to make a bomb.

Iranian officials have made their own demands, including guarantees that the United States and Israel will not attack Iran again, the lifting of crippling US sanctions, the closure of US military bases in the Persian Gulf, and war reparations from Washington and Israel.

"The Iranians are aiming for a more permanent political solution rather than de-escalation or a cease-fire," said Sina Azodi, an expert of Iran's military and history and an assistant professor of Middle East politics at George Washington University.

Iranian officials have said they do not want a repeat of the 12-day war with Israel and the United States in June 2025 which ended with a cease-fire, only for a new war to erupt on February 28.

"They believe that if they stop now, Israel and the US will come back in six months if not a year," Azodi added. "Their aim is to deter future attacks since they believe this is a fight for their survival."

Iran's demands, experts say, reflect its belief that it will come to any negotiation from a position of strength.

US-Israeli strikes have degraded but not destroyed Iran's ability to fire missiles and drones at Israel and America's allies in the Persian Gulf. Tehran still maintains a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran's stockpiles of highly enriched uranium remain buried underneath nuclear sites damaged by US-Israeli strikes.

"Right now, Iran has the upper hand in terms of its ability to deny the US a victory," said Azodi.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran- israel-qalibaf/33714538.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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Trump Claims US Talking With 'Right People' in Iran, Says Iranians Want Deal 'Badly'

Sputnik News

20260324

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States is having conversations with the "right people" in Iran, US President Donald Trump claimed on Tuesday, adding that Iranians are "badly" after a deal.

"The [Iranian] leaders are all gone. Nobody knows who to talk to. But we're actually talking to the right people, and they want to make a deal so badly ... and we'll see what happens," Trump said from the White House.

Trump also mentioned that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance are part of the American negotiating team with Iran.

"We are in negotiations right now, they're doing it along with Marco, JD, we have a number of people doing it," Trump said during a swearing in ceremony of Markwayne Mullin as the new secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Trump further highlighted that Tehran has agreed it will never possess a nuclear weapon.

Earlier this week, Trump announced that he is postponing strikes on Iranian power plants for at least five days, and claimed that negotiations to end the war are underway.

 Sputnik

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White House Says Situation Around US-Iran Talks 'Fluid'

Sputnik News

20260324

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The situation around the US-Iran talks is "fluid," with no speculations about possible meetings as part of these arrangements advisable until an official announcement is made, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

"These are sensitive diplomatic discussions, and the United States 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," Leavitt told ABC News on Monday.

On Monday, US President Donald Trump said that the US and Iran had held very positive and productive talks over the past two days. He added that he had instructed the Pentagon to delay strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure for five days. The Iranian Foreign Ministry denied that the talks took place, saying it had only received messages expressing Washington's desire to engage in dialogue.

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.

 Sputnik

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Iran's IRGC Says Ready to Attack Israeli Forces in Gaza

Sputnik News

20260324

TEHRAN (Sputnik) - Iranian armed forces will attack Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip if Israel continues its attacks on Lebanon and Palestinian territories, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Tuesday.

"If crimes against the civilian population of Lebanon and Palestine continue, enemy force concentrations in the northern part of occupied Palestine and Gaza will come under heavy missile and drone strikes from Iran," the statement read as quoted by the Fars news agency.

The escalation between Israel and Hezbollah began on March 2, when the Lebanese movement resumed rocket attacks on Israeli territory amid a sharp deterioration of the regional situation. In response, Israel launched large-scale strikes on Lebanon, including the southern regions of the country, the Beqaa Valley, and the suburbs of Beirut.

On March 16, the Israeli military officially announced the launch of a ground operation in southern Lebanon. However, the ceasefire agreements reached in November 2024 through international mediation were effectively not being observed by the Israeli side. Lebanese authorities have repeatedly reported regular violations by Israel.

 Sputnik

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Over 600 People Killed in Tehran as Result of Attacks by US, Israel - Authorities

Sputnik News

20260324

More than 600 people have died in Tehran since the start of the conflict with Israel and the United States, Mohammad Ismail Tavakkoli, head of the Tehran district's emergency services, said.

"During this period [since the start of the conflict], 636 people have been killed, and 6,848 have been injured to date," Tavakkoli was quoted as saying by the IRNA news agency on Monday.

He added that approximately 430 locations in Tehran were hit.

On March 12, Iranian Permanent Representative to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani said that 1,348 civilians were killed and over 17,000 were injured as a result of the US-Israeli military operation against Iran.

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 US and Israel initially claimed their "preemptive" attack was necessary to counter the perceived threat coming from Iran's nuclear program, but they soon made it clear that they want to see a change of power in Iran.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on the first day of the military operation. The Islamic Republic declared 40 days of mourning.

Russian President Vladimir Putin described Khamenei's assassination as a cynical violation of international law. The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the US-Israeli operation and called for an immediate de-escalation and an end to hostilities.

 Sputnik

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Chinese, Iranian FMs speak on phone as mixed signals emerge over US-Iran talks

Global Times

Dialogue faces great pressure in Iran as country suffers great loss: expert

By Zhao Yusha Published: Mar 25, 2026 01:18 AM

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday held a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi over the current situation in the Middle East.

Wang said that hotspot issues should all be resolved through dialogue and negotiation, rather than through the use of force. He called on all parties to the conflict in the Middle East to seize every opportunity and window for peace and start peace talks as soon as possible.

Araghchi, for his part, said that the Strait of Hormuz is open to all and ships can pass safely, but countries that are at war with Iran are not under consideration.

Pakistan's prime minister said on Tuesday he was willing to host talks between the US and Iran on ending the war. In a post on X, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan welcomed and fully supported ongoing efforts topursue dialogue to end the war, Reuters reported.

The offer came after US President Donald Trump said he had held "productive conversations" with Tehran, using the claim to justify delaying a looming ultimatum. Iran, however, denied any such talks, saying the US was invoking the prospect of dialogue to "escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped."

This diplomatic whiplash has plunged the true state of US-Iran relations into murkiness. Experts said that Washington's shifting rhetoric toward Iran suggests growing concern about being drawn into a protracted conflict, with US officials appearing to signal openness to de-escalation and encouraging Tehran to take the initiative, said a Chinese expert. However, any public move to engage in dialogue with the US would face considerable pressure in Iran as the country suffered great loss, analysts said.

Conversation with itself

Trump on Monday said the US is negotiating with Iran to end the war still raging on. He said the US will hold off attacking Iran's energy infrastructure for five days while the talks continue. It came hours before a deadline he had imposed for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face the obliteration of its power plants. Crude oil prices tumbled on the news, according to the NPR.

"We have had very, very strong talks. We'll see where they lead. We have major points of agreement, I would say, almost all points of agreement," he told reporters before departing Florida for Memphis on Monday, according to Reuters.

He did not identify the Iranian official in touch with Witkoff and Kushner, but said: "We're dealing with the man who I believe is the most respected and the leader."

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in a social media post on Monday that "no negotiations have been held with the US." "Fakenews [sic] is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped," Ghalibaf wrote on X.

In comments shared by Iran's official IRNA news agency, Baghaei said that "messages have been received from some friendly countries regarding the US' request for negotiations to end the war," according to Al Jazeera.

When asked about Trump's announcement of delaying a planned attack on Iranian power facilities by five days, adding that the US government was in talks with unnamed Iranian officials, Lin Jian, spokesperson from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Tuesday that prolonging the conflict serves no party's interests, and that ceasefire and dialogue are the only viable way forward.

China is deeply concerned about the continued escalation and spillover of the current situation, which is impacting regional and international peace and stability. Lin called on relevant parties to immediately cease hostilities and return to the track of peaceful dialogue as soon as possible.

When covering Trump's postpone of the planned attack, the Daily Mail said that Donald Trump "blinks first" in his standoff with Iran.

The Economist described Trump's move as his "latest climbdown," which suggests "he may want to end the war."

Trump also seemed eager to shift blame on his war against Iran. He indicated on Monday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was the first top administration official to back the US military attacks against Iran.

"Pete, I think you were the first one to speak up and you said let's do it because you can't let them have a nuclear weapon," the president said at a Memphis Safe Task Force roundtable with Hegseth sitting beside him, according to The Hill.

Washington had initially envisioned a lightning campaign against Iran, however, the conflict has unfolded far differently as Iran's resistance is likely to be long-term and tough, Zhu Weilie, a distinguished professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times.

Currently, within Iran, any public move to engage in dialogue or negotiations with the US would likely face considerable domestic political and public pressure as the country suffered great loss. As a result, even if Washington is now signaling a degree of goodwill, it is unlikely to elicit a positive response from Tehran in the open, Wang Jin, an associate professor at the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies at Northwest University in Xi'an, told the Global Times.

Friendship in test

The Economist claimed that Trump's climbdown on threat against Iran "signal divergence in American and Israeli war aims. Israel sees this war as a crucial step toward neutralizing Iran's military threat, its nuclear-and ballistic-missile programs and support for proxies in the region... Mr Trump has at times appeared to share these aims. But recently he has appeared more concerned with ensuring that oil flows out of the Gulf."

Former Israeli ambassador Alon Pinkas told Al Jazeera that, if Trump has pushed for negotiations over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's objections, it may be a sign that the US president is aware that "Netanyahu may have duped [Trump] on how quick and resounding a victory would be, and how viable regime change is."

The cracks in the alliance between US and Israel could be seen in other events as the war drags on. On March 19, Trump said he had told Israel not to repeat its attacks on Iranian natural gas infrastructure as tit-for-tat strikes on energy plants sent energy prices spiraling, sharply escalating the US-Israeli war on Iran, per Reuters.

It was the second time since the joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran that Washington publicly distanced itself from Israeli strikes, according to Reuters.

With the US midterm elections scheduled for November, the Iran conflict - which has already exceeded Washington's expectations and continues to generate spillover effects - is increasingly turning into a political liability for the White House, said Zhu, noting that against this backdrop, Trump is seeking an exit strategy.

On Tuesday, Iran launched multiple waves of missiles at Israel, the Israeli military said. The missiles triggered air raid sirens in Israel, including Tel Aviv, where gaping holeswere torn through a multi-story apartment building, per Reuters.

Moreover, the US war in Iran is taking a mounting toll on America's military, with rising casualties, dwindling munitions stockpiles, a sidelined aircraft carrier and numerous downed aircraft just three weeks into the conflict, according to The Hill.

An analysis piece published by CNN said that "Washington has been betting for days on when Trump would declare victory and bring the troops home...But the spiraling conflict means he may no longer have that option."

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Chinese FM urges peace talks in phone call with Iranian FM

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 08:12, March 25, 2026

BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday that all hotspot issues should be resolved through dialogue and negotiation, rather than through the use of force.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the urge in a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi at the latter's request.

Araghchi briefed Wang on the latest developments in the regional situation. Thanking China for providing emergency humanitarian assistance, he said the Iranian people are more united in resisting foreign aggression and safeguarding the country's sovereignty and independence.

Iran is committed to achieving a comprehensive end to the war, rather than merely a temporary ceasefire, Araghchi said. The Strait of Hormuz is open to all and ships can pass safely, but countries at war with Iran are not under consideration, he said.

He expressed the hope that measures taken by all parties would help de-escalate the situation rather than intensify the conflict, expecting China to continue playing a positive role in promoting peace and ending the war.

For his part, Wang reiterated China's principled position, saying that dialogue is always better than continued fighting. This serves the interests of Iran and its people, and also reflects the common aspiration of the international community, he said.

Wang called on all parties to the conflict to seize every opportunity and window for peace, and start peace talks as soon as possible.

China will continue to uphold an objective and impartial stance, oppose violations of other countries' sovereignty, actively promote peace and ceasefire, and work for regional peace and stability, Wang said.

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Wave 80: IRGC launches major strikes against northern, central occupied territories, US bases

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 25 March 2026 3:28 AM

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has announced carrying out the 80th wave of its decisive retaliatory Operation True Promise 4, this time striking strategic points and military centers on the occupied territories' northern side, besides pummeling American outposts across the region.

In a statement on Wednesday, the IRGC said the latest phase was staged by the Corps' Aerospace Force in support of the "proud offensives," carried out by Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement against Israeli targets, and the residents of southern Lebanon, who have been bearing the brunt of Israeli aggression.

"Strategic points and military centers located in the northern occupied territories were smashed under the heavy and sustained missile attacks of the IRGC's Aerospace Force," the statement read.

The IRGC said the military command of the Zionist army in the northern city of Safed, responsible for coordinating attacks and defenses along the territories' northern borders, was among the primary targets.

Series of pre-announced operations begins

The statement described the strikes as the opening of a series of pre-announced operations against the "child-killing Zionist regime."

The Corps said northern assembly points of Zionist forces and the Gaza belt would be subjected to heavy missile and drone attacks, emphasizing that the IRGC would not relent the slightest while it carries out this bout of counterstrikes.

The IRGC further stated that targets in central occupied territories, including Tel Aviv, Kiryat Shmona, and Bnei Brak, alongside US military bases of Ali al-Salem and Arifjan in Kuwait, al-Azraq in Jordan, and Sheikh Isa in Bahrain, were struck with liquid- and solid-fuel precision missiles and attack drones.

"This wave continues...," the statement concluded in a sign of unquenched resolve.

Operation True Promise 4 began on February 28, momentarily after the United States and the Israeli regime started their latest round of unprovoked aggression targeting the Islamic Republic.

The Corps has vowed to sustain the reprisal until "complete victory."

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Joint Statement by PM Netanyahu Minister of Foreign Affairs and Construction and Housing Minister

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

Type: Media Statements

Government: The 37th Government

Publish Date: 24.03.2026

The Government of Israel, today , approved a proposal by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa'ar and Construction and Housing Minister Haim Katz to allocate land at the Allenby Complex in Jerusalem for the construction of the permanent US Embassy in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel.

Prime Minister Netanyahu, Minister Sa'ar, and Minister Katz emphasized that this is a significant decision, which completes a major diplomatic move that began with President Donald Trump's courageous and historic decision during his first term to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and relocate the US Embassy there.

The Prime Minister and the ministers added that the establishment of the permanent embassy building serves as a tangible, central, and long-term expression of the US' commitment to Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the resilience of the special relationship between the two countries. At a time when Israel and the US stand shoulder to shoulder in the campaign against the Iranian terrorist regime, this decision carries special significance. It serves as further evidence of the strength of the bond, the steadfast alliance, and the shared values and strategic partnership between our two countries.

The Prime Minister and the ministers expressed their gratitude to US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee for his close cooperation, as well as to the personnel at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who worked to advance and finalize this decision.

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Japan to release state oil stockpiles this week, 2nd time amid Mideast conflict

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

24.03.2026 [16:26]

Baku, March 24, AZERTAC

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Tuesday that Tokyo will start releasing oil from state reserves on Thursday, as concerns over supply disruptions escalate amid the ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran, Anadolu Agency reports citing local media.

The measure, aimed at cushioning the impact of the tensions in the Middle East on the Japanese economy, comes after Japan started releasing oil from private-sector stockpiles last week, Tokyo-based Kyodo News reported.

Joint oil reserves of oil-producing Middle Eastern nations currently stored in Japan will begin to be tapped by the end of this month, the premier said.

"The peace and stability of the Middle East are extremely important for Japan and the international community," she added.

Tokyo, she went on to say, will continue to "make all necessary diplomatic efforts in close coordination with related countries."

Takaichi said that during their summit in Washington last Thursday, she and US President Donald Trump affirmed the importance of ensuring stable energy supplies by securing safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transportation route, which has been effectively closed by Iran.

Hostilities in the region have escalated since the US and Israeli strikes on Iran began on Feb. 28.

Iran has retaliated with repeated drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.

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Chinese FM spokesperson on Japan's reported plan to downgrade description for China ties

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Mar 24, 2026 08:21 PM

The root cause of the current situation facing China-Japan relations is Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks on Taiwan, which have sparked outrage from the Chinese people and tested the red line of the post-war international order, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Tuesday when asked for comment that, according to a draft reviewed by Reuters, Japan will downgrade its description of ties with China from "one of the most important" to instead describing China as an important neighbor and the relationship as "strategic and mutually beneficial."

The change is alleged included in an annual diplomatic report that is under review by the Japanese government.

Lin said if the Japanese side truly wants to improve and develop relations with China, it needs to abide by the four political documents between China and Japan and its own commitments, retract the erroneous remarks on Taiwan as soon as possible, do soul-searching and correct its wrongdoings, and take concrete actions to uphold the political foundation of China-Japan relations.

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Japan-Philippines Summit Telephone Meeting

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

March 24, 2026

On March 24, commencing at 6:00 p.m. for approximately 20 minutes, Ms. TAKAICHI Sanae, Prime Minister of Japan, held a summit telephone meeting with H.E. Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., President of the Republic of the Philippines. The overview is as follows:

Prime Minister TAKAICHI, referring to the joint statement on the Strait of Hormuz issued on March 19, explained the importance of coordinating and cooperating with the international community to ensure the early de-escalation of the situation, with a particular focus on the urgent priority of securing safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. President Marcos explained the position and efforts of the Philippines. The two leaders concurred on closely working together toward the early de-escalation of the situation.



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Japan-Malaysia Summit Telephone Meeting

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

March 24, 2026

On March 24, commencing at 11:30 a.m. for approximately 15 minutes, Ms. TAKAICHI Sanae, Prime Minister of Japan, held a summit telephone meeting with H.E. Dato' Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia. The overview is as follows:

Prime Minister TAKAICHI, regarding the situation in the Middle East, referring to the joint statement on the Strait of Hormuz issued on March 19, explained the importance of coordinating and cooperating with the international community to ensure the early de-escalation of the situation, with a particular focus on the urgent priority of securing safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Prime Minister Anwar explained the position and efforts of Malaysia. The two leaders concurred on closely working together toward the early de-escalation of the situation.





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Japan-Marshall Islands Summit Telephone meeting

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

March 24, 2026

On March 24, commencing at 10:40 a.m. for approximately 15 minutes, Ms. TAKAICHI Sanae, Prime Minister of Japan, held a summit telephone meeting with H.E. Dr. Hilda C. Heine, President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) . The overview is as follows:

Prime Minister TAKAICHI, referring to the joint statement on the Strait of Hormuz issued on March 19, explained the importance of coordinating and cooperating with the international community to ensure an early de-escalation of the situation, with a particular focus on the urgent priority of securing the safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. President Heine expressed her gratitude for Japan's leadership and explained the position and efforts of the RMI as a maritime nation in the Asia-Pacific region. The two leaders concurred on closely working together toward an early de-escalation of the situation. The two leaders confirmed that Japan and the RMI will continue to work closely together to address various challenges facing the international community.

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President Lee calls self-reliance 'core of national defense'

KOREA.net

Mar 24, 2026

By Margareth Theresia

President Lee Jae Myung on March 23 said "a self-reliant national defense is the core of an integrated defense" at a meeting of a central integrated defense council at the state guesthouse Yeongbingwan of Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul.

Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung in a written briefing said, "The meeting was launched to protect the lives and properties of the people from all-around security threats and achieve a safe Republic of Korea."

"We focused on building an all-out security posture consolidating all capabilities of national security elements into one."

Attending the meeting were some 170 figures including Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, Cabinet members, chair of the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly, director of the National Intelligence Service, heads of metropolitan and provincial governments, and key commanders from the military, police, coast guard and fire department.

President Lee gave words of encouragement to officials in charge of public safety and emphasized the importance of "a self-reliant defense" that enables national defense without reliance on external forces under any circumstances.

"A self-reliant national defense is the most crucial factor in an integrated defense," he said in an opening speech. "We have the capacity to do so at any time."

The president also stressed that the people's lives and safety depend on the preparedness of commanders at each organization, urging them to build systems and postures practical in operations in line with modern circumstances.

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Tsahkna at meeting with Italian Foreign Minister: we must act jointly to deter the shadow fleet

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

24.03.2026 | 19:26

Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna was on a visit to Rome today, 24 March, where discussions with Italy's Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani focused on the latest developments in the Middle East, Russia's aggression against Ukraine and their impact on European security, as well as on deterring Russia's shadow fleet.

According to the foreign minister, Estonia and Italy, as Allies in NATO and partners in the European Union, face similar challenges in areas such as the economy, competitiveness and security.

"Estonia highly values Italy's contribution to the defence of NATO's eastern flank through its participation in the NATO air policing mission in Amari, where, particularly on 19 September last year, Italy demonstrated highly professional conduct in defending NATO airspace during a violation by three Russian fighter aircraft," Tsahkna said. "At the same time, Estonia is committed to NATO's 360-degree approach, addressing threats emanating from the south through participation in various missions, including in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea."

The meeting also addressed achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

"Russia's brutal attacks against Ukraine last night show that Russia has not changed anything in its aggression against Ukraine. Therefore, Europe must keep its focus on supporting Ukraine and increasing pressure on Russia," Tsahkna said.

"It is in the interests of European security as a whole that Russia does not succeed in changing borders by force, and that Europe is prepared to stand firm against the most serious and long-term threat emanating from Russia," Tsahkna said. "Therefore, we must continue supporting Ukraine, increasing pressure on Russia, advancing the establishment of a special tribunal, and strengthening the deterrence and defence posture of NATO Allies."

The foreign ministers also discussed in detail steps to deter Russia's shadow fleet.

"Russia uses the shadow fleet to circumvent sanctions and finance its war machine, and this poses a threat both in the Baltic Sea and in the Mediterranean, as clearly illustrated by the case of the shadow fleet vessel Arctic Metagaz, which is currently at risk of sinking between Italy and Malta."

The meeting also addressed Estonia's initiative to impose entry bans to the Schengen area on Russian combatants.

"As a very important development, the conclusions of last week's European Council noted that ex-combatants who have taken part in Russia's military activities pose a potential threat to the internal security of the European Union and called on the European Commission to propose solutions to address this issue," Tsahkna said, expressing his gratitude to Italy for its cooperation.

The foreign minister also raised the plan to allow Russia to participate in this year's Venice Biennale, stressing that as long as Russia continues its war of aggression, its international isolation must also continue.

In Rome, Tsahkna also met with Senator Stefania Craxi, Chair of the Italian Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, and participated as a guest in the committee's weekly informal meeting. He also met with Senator Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata, Chair of the Senate Committee on European Union Policies.

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Telephone conversation with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev

March 24, 2026

13:45

During the telephone conversation, Vladimir Putin extended heartfelt greetings to President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and all the citizens of Uzbekistan on the spring holiday of Nowruz.

The leaders had a detailed discussion of issues pertaining to major joint projects implemented at the moment in the sectors of nuclear energy, industry, and transport. In particular, they acknowledged with satisfaction that a ceremony opening concreting operations took place today at the construction side of a Russian-designed nuclear plant in Uzbekistan and that a third copper processing plant, fitted with equipment supplied by Russia's leading engineering companies, was inaugurated at the Almalyk Mining and Metals Combine on March 16.

Additionally, there was a thorough exchange of views on current international issues, including the conflict in the Middle East as well as the situation surrounding Ukraine.

The leaders agreed to continue their energetic joint efforts to comprehensively strengthen the strategic partnership and allied relationship between Russia and Uzbekistan.

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Bipartisan Backlash Grows As Trump Administration Expands Russian Sanctions Relief

By Alex Raufoglu March 24, 2026

WASHINGTON -- US lawmakers are raising concerns after the Trump administration took additional steps to allow more Russian oil shipments to reach global markets despite existing sanctions.

Democrats and Republicans alike are demanding answers after the Treasury Department last week broadened a temporary policy allowing the sale and delivery of Russian crude that had already been loaded onto tankers, effectively loosening enforcement of sanctions at a sensitive moment in Moscow's war against Ukraine.

The step -- expanded in a follow-up Treasury action days later that extended and clarified the authorization for those shipments to be offloaded through April -- came as global oil markets were rattled by the conflict with Iran, a context administration officials say required short-term flexibility to prevent price spikes.

But lawmakers argue the policy risks handing the Kremlin a financial windfall just as it faces pressure on the battlefield.

Representative Gregory Meeks of New York, the top House Democrat on foreign policy, and Republican Don Bacon from Nebraska sent a bipartisan letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Secretary of State Marco Rubio pressing for details, warning the decision could undercut US national security.

They said allowing those cargoes to be sold globally has already enabled Russia to generate "billions in additional fossil fuel revenue," calling it a badly timed boost for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"This war can only end when Putin realizes this war is not winnable or too costly," Bacon told RFE/RL.

"Easing sanctions does the opposite. The administration is seeking short term gain but it comes with long term bad consequences," he added.

Republicans Split But Increasingly Wary

Some Republicans have backed the administration's argument that the move is temporary and narrowly tailored. But voices of dissent appear to be growing.

Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, was blunt: Easing sanctions -- even briefly -- is "the wrong move," he told RFE/RL, warning that "every dollar" from oil sales helps fuel Russia's war.

Representative Mike Rogers, a Republican from Alabama and chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, also stressed that any relief must remain strictly limited while offering a broader warning about the strategic risks of easing pressure on Moscow.

"The temporary easing of Russian energy sanctions must indeed be temporary," Rogers said last week, adding that if Putin refuses to negotiate, "pressure on the Russian dictator must increase."

Rogers also underscored that the stakes go beyond energy markets, pointing to Russia's role globally.

"It's clear Putin is not our friend. He is an adversary," he said, warning that Moscow is actively helping Iran refine drone tactics and, according to reports, providing targeting intelligence against US forces.

He cautioned that any perception of weakening resolve could have consequences: "Vladimir Putin interprets a lack of American resolve as an opportunity. We should not give him one."

Democrats have gone further, tying the decision to broader criticism of Trump's foreign policy.

Senator Mark Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona, argued on March 23 that Russia is emerging as a clear beneficiary of both rising oil prices and relaxed restrictions.

"The big winner ...[is] Russia," he claimed.

Speaking to RFE/RL last week, Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois called the move a "terrible decision," saying it effectively gives Moscow more resources to continue its war.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, framed the issue in stark terms, accusing the administration of aiding adversaries.

"Lifting sanctions on Iran and Russia so they can go after our troops and our allies...is the dictionary definition of 'asinine,'" Schumer said.

Iran War Complicates Picture

The policy shift comes amid a widening conflict with Iran that has driven up oil prices and reshaped geopolitical alignments.

Lawmakers point to reports that Russia is assisting Tehran, including with intelligence and drone tactics, as Iranian-backed attacks target US personnel in the Middle East.

That dynamic has intensified concerns that easing pressure on Moscow could have direct consequences for US forces.

A separate letter led last week by Representative Bill Keating, a Democrat from Massachusetts, argued the administration's Iran policy is "directly benefitting" Russia economically and militarily.

The backlash is beginning to translate into legislative action.

Senator Ruben Gallego, a Democrat from Arizona, has introduced measures to terminate the temporary oil allowances, require weekly public accounting of Russian export revenues enabled by the policy, and formally condemn the administration's decision.

Those efforts reflect a broader push in Congress spanning both parties to tighten sanctions and close loopholes that allow Russian energy exports to continue flowing.

A 'Narrow' Step

Administration officials, however, insist the move is limited in scope and duration.

"This is a deliberately short-term step," one senior official told RFE/RL, stressing the policy applies only to Russian oil already "on the water" and effectively stranded due to sanctions restrictions.

According to officials, the authorization allows those shipments to reach buyers but "does not open the door to new Russian production or long-term trade."

"The goal is simply to prevent a sudden supply shock at a time when the Iran conflict is already stressing global energy markets," one official said.

Officials also pushed back on claims that the move significantly benefits Moscow. "This is not a meaningful lifeline for the Kremlin," one official said, calling it a "narrow and time-limited authorization."

Energy Secretary Chris Wright similarly defended the policy, saying the administration is balancing pressure on adversaries with the need to protect US consumers during a period of heightened global instability.

Still, lawmakers say key issues remain unresolved -- including whether the policy will be extended, how strictly existing price caps will be enforced, and why Congress was not notified in advance.

Meeks and Bacon have requested formal answers within days.

With bipartisan scrutiny intensifying and additional Treasury actions last week expanding the scope of the policy, what began as a technical adjustment to energy markets is rapidly becoming a political and strategic flashpoint in Washington.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/backlash-grows-trump- expands-russian-sanctions-relief/33714299.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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Will Iran War Give Green Light To Russia's Power Of Siberia-2 Pipeline?

By Reid Standish March 24, 2026

The war in Iran and the resulting energy shock could revive China's interest in a long-stalled pipeline to import Russian gas, analysts told RFE/RL, potentially reshaping Beijing's energy strategy.

As countries are facing an energy shock after Iran shut the Strait of Hormuz, halting oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) flows from the Gulf, Beijing is grappling with the potential loss of discounted Iranian oil and the risk of prolonged market disruption, prompting a rethink of its reliance on a chokepoint that carries roughly 40 percent of its oil and 30 percent of its LNG imports.

Those pressures could rekindle talks over the Power of Siberia-2 gas project -- a 2,600-kilometer pipeline that would bring gas from Russia's northern Yamal Peninsula to China via eastern Mongolia -- as Beijing reassesses its reliance on seaborne energy.

"It definitely keeps Power of Siberia-2 on the negotiating table," Erica Downs, a senior research scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, told RFE/RL. "With supplies from Qatar disrupted, China's preference for overland natural gas imports is likely to increase."

Qatar, which produces a fifth of the world's LNG and supplied 28 percent of China's imports in 2025, was forced to stop exports after Iran blockaded the Strait of Hormuz following US-Israeli strikes in late February. Iranian missiles have since struck Qatar's giant Ras Laffan LNG complex, sending gas prices in Asia and Europe soaring and knocking out 17 percent of the facility's capacity for up to five years.

Power of Siberia-2 has been mired in disagreements over pricing and ownership terms for years, as well as ongoing Chinese concern over becoming too dependent on Russia for its energy imports. But a widening conflict and prolonged disruption to Qatar's LNG output could force Beijing to reconsider its gas import strategy.

"The longer the disruption and the higher global LNG prices, the more attractive Power of Siberia-2 is going to look," said Downs.

Pipe Dream Or Back In Play?

When China released its latest five-year plan in early March that charted its economic and social blueprint for 2026-2030, the document called on China to "advance preparatory work for the central route of the China-Russia natural gas pipeline," language some market observers interpreted as a direct reference to the Power of Siberia-2 pipeline.

Aleksei Chigadaev, an associate fellow at New Eurasian Strategies Center, told RFE/RL that the mention is "important signaling from the Chinese side" as the war in Iran highlights how concentrated China's gas security still is around maritime routes.

That signal follows a report by The Wall Street Journal, citing sources "close to Beijing's decision-making," following the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June 2025 that said that the short conflict had already led Chinese policymakers to see the Russian pipeline as more viable.

The future of the Power of Siberia-2 also made headlines in September 2025, when Aleksei Miller, chief executive of the Russian energy giant Gazprom, announced that a legally binding memorandum on the pipeline had been reached between Beijing and Moscow.

But that document does not constitute a green light on the ambitious multibillion-dollar project and many of the key details that could determine its future -- such as the price of gas, the volume that will pass through the pipeline, and who will foot the bill for its construction -- remain unresolved.

Chinese officials were conspicuously silent in the announcement's aftermath. State media referenced the negotiations only by citing Russian or international reporting. When Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh met in Beijing in September 2025, Chinese media quoted Xi as saying only that "hard connectivity" should be a focus of future relations among the three countries.

Talks have stalled and restarted for years as Beijing pursued diversification to avoid overdependence on any single supplier.

Russia is already the country's largest supplier of pipeline gas thanks to the Power of Siberia-1, which became operational in 2019 under a 30-year, $400 billion deal and is now the third-largest provider of LNG after Australia and Qatar.

The project has long been more urgent for Moscow than for Beijing. Russia lost its biggest energy market when gas exports to Europe collapsed after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and the Kremlin has hoped the pipeline could compensate for at least part of that loss.

But the ongoing crisis in the Strait of Hormuz brought by the war in Iran could change that calculus.

Analysts say two variables remain central to whether a deal gets done: Beijing has pushed in negotiations to pay close to Russia's own heavily-subsidized domestic prices for gas and has also sought to commit to only 50 percent of the pipeline's planned annual capacity of 50 billion cubic meters of gas, well below the typical 80 percent threshold.

If Moscow moves on both fronts, the pipeline becomes a more compelling security hedge for Beijing, but reaching those concessions could require China picking up a larger portion of the construction costs in exchange. That could create another sticking point in negotiations, however, with Beijing likely to take a large ownership stake in return.

"The Russian economy is not in a good condition right now and it's unclear where Moscow would find the massive sum required for this project," Chigadaev said.

China's Quandary On More Russian Gas

China has so far managed towithstand the worst shocks of the energy crisis brought by war in the Middle East thanks to diversified supply, falling demand at home, and strategic reserves.

According to Kpler, a commodity intelligence firm, Chinese refineries have stockpiled between 1.2 and 1.4 billion barrels of oil as of the end of 2025, which could last up to three months. Teapot Chinese refiners are also expected to turn to Iranian and Russian oil in floating storage across Asia to maintain supply flows.

A July 2025 study by the Rhodium Group estimated that China's growing electric vehicle fleet is reducing oil demand by more than 1 million barrels per day. That level is likely to rise further by around 600,000 barrels per day over the next year. Beijing is also likely to accelerate its push to become more energy self-sufficient by producing more oil and gas at home but also by transitioning its power system away from fossil fuels altogether.

In the meantime, overland pipeline gas offers China a potential offramp.

Beyond the Power of Siberia-2, China is also looking at Turkmenistan. Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, the Central Asian country's former president who still wields paramount authority through a separate power structure, announced plans to expand gas production during a March 21 meeting with Xi in Beijing.

Turkmenistan is already a major provider of natural gas to China through an overland pipeline and Berdymukhamedov authorized the state energy firm Turkmengaz to contract a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) to build a new gas-processing facility with a capacity of 10 billion cubic meters (bcm) per year.

In addition to the proposed Power of Siberia-2, the Russia-China Far Eastern natural gas pipeline, designed to carry up to 12 bcm annually from Sakhalin Island, is set to start operations in January 2027.

That leaves China with short-term options as it navigates energy disruptions and negotiates with Moscow.

"It comes down to price and flexibility on volume," said Downs. "If Moscow can meet Beijing, then I could see Power of Siberia-2 appealing as a backup source of supply for the Chinese."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/china-russia-iran-war- oil-gas-energy-pipeline-middle-east/33714378.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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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks at a meeting of Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund's Board of Trustees, Moscow, March 24, 2026

24 March 2026 13:15

426-24-03-2026

Colleagues,

I am pleased to welcome all members of the Board of Trustees of the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund to this meeting.

Before we begin, I would like to thank all Board members for their help in implementing numerous Russian Federation's public diplomacy initiatives. For our part, my deputies, department directors, and I endeavour to be part of the Fund's initiatives. I regularly meet with the participants of the Dialogue for the Future programme, which is an excellent and popular programme. From what we can see from the participants' response, it has hit the mark.

We have just extended our best wishes to Valery Kenyaykin on the occasion of his recent anniversary. We wish him excellent health and continued professional success.

Before we start reviewing the issues at hand, I will spend a moment discussing international developments and our diplomacy's efforts in this regard. Without a doubt, in recent months and weeks we have witnessed dramatic developments in Latin America and the Middle East. These events are a direct outcome of the Western minority's attempts to preserve what remains of its dominance in the international arena using crude force and disregarding earlier signed and ratified obligations under international law concerning civilised relations among all countries in accordance with the UN Charter.

The year began with an armed invasion of Venezuela by the United States. Dozens of people have been killed, and the legitimately elected president, Nicolas Maduro, and his spouse have been captured and taken out of the country.

A brutal military aggression by the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran has been underway since late February. The situation risks destabilising global trade, global energy security, and international transport and business communications, not just the Persian Gulf area, which it has already done, and the entire Middle East, which is a developing process. We can all clearly see all of that. Iran's top leaders and civilian infrastructure, including nuclear energy facilities under IAEA safeguards, have been declared a legitimate target and are under attack. I would say the IAEA leadership is failing to respond appropriately to direct threats to nuclear safety as a result of the aggression. Civilians are affected not only in the countries directly involved in the conflict - Iran and Israel - but in other countries in the region and the GCC countries which are Arab monarchies as well. We have excellent and long-standing partnerships with them, as we do with the Islamic Republic of Iran. We do care about to what's happening between Iran and its neighbours.

Not long ago we reminded all our colleagues of a long-standing Russian initiative, namely, a Concept for Collective Security in the Persian Gulf, providing for interaction between the six Arab monarchies and the Islamic Republic of Iran, measures to ensure military transparency, confidence-building, and other, essentially straightforward, steps that have been earlier employed across the world, which would help calm and stabilise this critically important region.

We are convinced that this is the way forward. The path of negotiations, unity, and alignment of interests, rather than the attempts to force any country (especially the Islamic Republic of Iran) into following diktat imposed from abroad, serves the interests of this vital region of the world.

A similar initiative has recently been put forward by the People's Republic of China. Our Turkish colleagues are also ready to step in and join the mediation efforts. We are in the process of discussing these matters and conveying our assessments and the evolution of our views to the Iranians and to the GCC member states. As you may recall, quite recently my colleague, Foreign Minister of Iran Abbas Araghchi spoke in favour of a collective negotiating process which means goodwill is there, and we hope it will be reciprocated.

The escalation of tensions around Cuba, which is facing increasing external pressure, is causing our serious concern. We stand behind our Cuban friends in their right to follow a sovereign path of development. We will continue to provide Havana with the necessary help and support, including material aid. Humanitarian aid is particularly important for our Cuban friends at this junction.

The Western minority, or rather, the elites of Western countries, continue to invest their remaining political and economic capital in the confrontation with Russia, using for this purpose the human resources and military infrastructure of the neo-Nazi Kiev regime. The EU and NATO have kept this course of action unchanged. We hear EU and NATO leaders reiterate their position daily.

The rapid expansion of the conflict space that is sucking in ever more countries and entire regions - as has been the case over the past year - is a cause for serious concern. We saw a number of analysts specialising in the history of international relations from Russia and other countries describing the ongoing developments as the third world war.

Our foreign policy priorities remain unchanged amid this turbulence. I don't think any short-term fluctuations can affect them in any way. They are designed to ensure national security, to create favourable external environment for the country's internal development, and to improve the quality of life in our country. This is enshrined in the Foreign Policy Concept approved by President Putin in March 2023. These goals remain unshakable.

In practical terms, this means, first and foremost, further strengthening Russia's sovereignty across all areas. Based on this concept and the objectives set by President Putin for our state, we promote honest, equal, and mutually advantageous partnerships with all the countries that are ready to engage on these principles.

Such a course in today's world is absolutely without alternative and takes into account the realities of a multipolar world that is taking shape right before our eyes, despite everything, including the attempts to undermine this objective historical process. It allows us to expand cooperation with the Global South. Relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction with Beijing that are led by presidents of Russia and China are getting stronger. The same applies to the particularly privileged strategic partnership with India. The allied assistance provided by our Korean friends in liberation of the Kursk Region from Ukrainian militants has become a practical manifestation of the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the DPRK. A monument to the heroes will be unveiled in Pyongyang soon. We will reciprocate by building a similar monument in the Russian Federation. In conjunction with our African partners, we are making preparations for the third Russia-Africa summit this year.

Undoubtedly, cooperation within the CSTO, the EAEU, the CIS, and the SCO remains our international priority. We are providing assistance to India's BRICS chairmanship by shaping a constructive agenda, which BRICS puts forward at its annual summits based on ongoing international events.

We maintain our positions at the UN. We strive to promote the cohesion of constructive forces in the interests of strengthening peace and security, resolving conflicts by eliminating their underlying causes, and achieving a balance of interests.

Efforts or initiatives that ignore the underlying causes of conflicts cannot bring about a sustainable long-term settlement, but merely postpone further escalation. This is also true of what is happening in the Palestinian territories, and around the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. It is unfortunate that the long-standing - perhaps the oldest - Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which appeared to have been resolved by the General Assembly in 1948, is now being pushed into the background, as it loses its connection with the fundamental principles embedded in the resolution on the Palestinian issue settlement. This is unfair. Together with our Arab and Muslim partners, we will seek to restore justice in full accordance with the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council resolutions.

These and other areas of the Russian Federation's foreign policy need high-quality information support and analytical input, including from non-governmental organisations. The Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund is also called upon to play a weighty role in facilitating this work. I believe we will use today's meeting to review the Fund's priorities for the upcoming period. Some of them appear quite viable. We will see how the discussion unfolds.

Considering the tasks facing the Fund, we will continue to ensure close interaction with the relevant ministerial departments and regularly compare notes on substantive routine working matters, as well as administrative and financial matters. These efforts should be facilitated by Director of the Department of International Organisations Kirill Logvinov's strong involvement - as a Foreign Ministry representative - in the Board's activities.

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Rapid Expansion of Conflict Space Causing Concern - Russia's Lavrov

Sputnik News

20260324

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The rapid expansion of conflict space, involving the entire regions, is causing concern, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday.

"Overall, the rapid expansion of the conflict space, involving new countries and entire regions, as has happened over the past year, is certainly a cause for serious concern," Lavrov said at a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund.

Some experts, including Russian specialists in international relations history, "have already begun to characterize and qualify what is happening as a third world war," the minister added.

The Western minority is trying to preserve the remnants of its dominance in the Middle East, Lavrov said.

"Events that directly follow from the attempts of Western minority states to preserve the remnants of their dominance in the international arena," Lavrov said, speaking at the meeting of the Gorchakov Foundation for Support of Public Diplomacy.

The world is witnessing dramatic events in the Middle East in recent months and weeks, Lavrov added.

"Since the end of February, the harsh military aggression of the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran has continued. The situation is fraught with destabilization not only of the Persian Gulf, which has already happened, and not only of the entire Middle East, which is happening, but also of global trade, energy security, international transport and business communications," Lavrov explained.

Russia on Middle East Tensions

Russia is not indifferent to what is happening between Iran and its neighbors, Lavrov said.

"We care about what is happening in relations between Iran and its neighbors," Lavrov said, speaking at the meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Gorchakov Foundation for Support of Public Diplomacy.

The International Atomic Energy Agency leadership is not responding adequately to direct threats in the Middle East to nuclear security, the minister added.

Russia is convinced that only the unification of countries of the Middle East meets the interests of the region and not force and dictate, Lavrov said.

"We are convinced that this path, the path of negotiations, the path of uniting and agreeing on a balance of interests, meets the interests of this entire region of the world [the Middle East], the most important region of the world, and not an attempt to force any country, especially the Islamic Republic of Iran, to follow the dictates from abroad," Lavrov said, speaking at the meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Gorchakov foundation for support of public diplomacy.

Turkiye is ready to take part in the mediation of the Middle East conflict, and Iran has good will for conflict settlement with the US and Israel, Lavrov also said.

"We are also ready to join mediation efforts. We are currently discussing all these issues and, finally, bringing our assessments and the evolution of our views to both the Iranians and the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council," Lavrov added.

Russia will work to ensure justice prevails on Palestinian issue in strict accordance with UN General Assembly and Security Council decisions, Lavrov said.

"It's wrong that these issues  perhaps the oldest, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which the General Assembly seemed to have resolved back in 1948  are now fading into the background and moving far, far away from the principles that underpinned the General Assembly's decision to resolve the Palestinian issue. This is unjust, and we, together with our Arab and Muslim friends, will work to ensure that justice prevails in full compliance with the decisions of the UN General Assembly and the Security Council," Lavrov said at the meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Gorchakov Foundation for support of public diplomacy.

On October 7, 2023 , Israel was subjected to an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Israeli authorities say that about 1,200 people were killed during the raid. In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords in the Palestinian enclave and announced its complete blockade.

, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Israeli authorities say that about 1,200 people were killed during the raid. In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords in the Palestinian enclave and announced its complete blockade. On October 10, 2025 , a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas went into effect. On October 13, US President Donald Trump, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi, Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a declaration on the Gaza ceasefire.

, a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas went into effect. On October 13, US President Donald Trump, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi, Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a declaration on the Gaza ceasefire. Despite the announced transition to the second phase of Trump's Gaza peace plan, regular clashes have been recently reported between Palestinian groups and Israeli forces in the enclave. Ismail al-Thawabta, a spokesperson for the enclave's authorities, told Sputnik in early March that Israel had tightened the Gaza blockade after the start of the joint US-Israeli military action against Iran on February 28, introducing additional curbs on food and fuel supplies into the strip.

On Russia-West Relations

The Western minority of countries continues to invest economic capital in the confrontation with Russia, Lavrov said.

"The Western minority, or rather, the elites of Western countries, continue to invest both the political and economic capital they have left in the confrontation with our country, using the military infrastructure and human resources of the Ukrainian neo-Nazi regime for this," Lavrov said at the meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Gorchakov Foundation.

On Russia's Political Course

The priorities of the Russian foreign policy remain unchanged, and they cannot be subject to any influences, Lavrov said.

"In such a turbulent situation, the priorities of our foreign policy remain unchanged. And I don't think they can be subject to any opportunistic influences," Lavrov said at the meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund.

These priorities are aimed at ensuring national security, creating favorable external conditions for the internal development of the country and improving the quality of life of Russian citizens, the foreign minister added.

On Cuba

Russia is concerned about the escalation around Cuba and stands in solidarity with the country's leadership, Lavrov said.

"The escalation around Cuba, which is under increasing external pressure, is a serious concern. We reaffirm our solidarity with our Cuban friends in their right to a sovereign path of development. We will continue to provide assistance, including financial and humanitarian assistance," Lavrov said, speaking at the meeting of the Gorchakov Foundation for Support of Public Diplomacy.

On North Korea's Soldiers

Russia will commemorate the soldiers of North Korea who participated in the special military operation against Ukrainian militants, with a monument to be erected in their honor, Lavrov said.

"The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty with North Korea was embodied in the allied assistance of our Korean friends in liberating the Kursk Region from Ukrainian militants. A monument to the heroes was recently unveiled in Pyongyang, and we will respond with a similar gesture on the territory of Russia," Lavrov said at the meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund. In April 2025, Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin that North Korean soldiers, including special forces, had performed combat tasks alongside Russian servicemen in the Kursk Region during the Ukrainian incursion. North Korea also dispatched 1,000 sappers to Russia to assist in demining operations.

The military cooperation is part of the strategic partnership enshrined in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty signed by Russia and North Korea on June 19, 2024. It entered into force on December 2024, replacing the year 2000 friendship treaty.

 Sputnik

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Minister Wellington Koo Li-hsiung Continues to Strengthen ROC Armed Forces Combat Power and Enhance Defense Resilience

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2026.03.17

Issuing AuthorityAdministration Office

"Continuously strengthening the combat power of the ROC Armed Forces is the most important task of the Ministry of National Defense!" Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo Li-hsiung said during the general interpellation session at the Legislative Yuan today, expressing the firm stance of the ROC Armed Forces on national defense-related issues.

Minister Wellington Koo Li-hsiung explained that delays in delivery of certain U.S. arms sales items, such as the F-16V fighter jets and MK-48 torpedoes, had occurred, but this did not mean that efforts to enhance combat power were unnecessary. He pointed out that among the military procurements, there were cases of on-time or even early delivery, and the Ministry of National Defense would continue to increase defense resilience.

Minister Wellington Koo Li-hsiung stated that, to demonstrate sincerity in communication regarding the draft Special Act on Defense Procurement, the Ministry of National Defense had arranged a classified briefing for the committee before the draft was referred for review. In principle, the Ministry should only conduct project briefings to the committee after the draft had been referred for review, to explain the various items in the overall act formulation.

Minister Wellington Koo Li-hsiung pointed out that after the Legislative Yuan passed the Special Act on Defense Procurement, the Ministry of National Defense still had to submit the special budget proposal to the Legislative Yuan for review. Only after the special budget was passed would the U.S. side provide the Letter of Offer and Acceptance. In the entire project initiation procedure, Taiwan first reached a preliminary agreement with the U.S. side on supply willingness, after which Taiwan allocated the budget, and the U.S. side issued the Letter of Offer and Acceptance.

"Among the military procurements, there were cases of on-time delivery and even early delivery." Minister Wellington Koo Li-hsiung emphasized. He added that among more than 20 U.S. arms sales cases, although some experienced delays, this did not mean that the Ministry of National Defense did not need to continue increasing Taiwan's Defense Resilience and the combat power of the ROC Armed Forces.

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Taiwan urges Denmark to correct designation or face consequences

ROC Central News Agency

03/24/2026 01:54 PM

Taipei/Stockholm, March 24 (CNA) Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Tuesday urged the Danish government to correct its description of Taiwan on residence permits that implies Taiwan is part of the People's Republic of China (PRC) or face retaliatory measures.

MOFA spokesman Hsiao Kuangwei () said Taiwan "condemned" the Danish government's listing of the nationality of Taiwanese citizens on residence permits as "China."

The change is not consistent with the longstanding foreign policy of European Union member states nor with the principles of democracy and human rights, he said.

Taipei has repeatedly issued protests to Copenhagen over the years, urging it to correct the designation, but has received no response so far, Hsiao said during a weekly MOFA news briefing.

He added that if the Danish government continued to ignore Taiwan's request due to pressure from the PRC, Taipei would launch retaliatory measures, but he did not say what those measures might be.

Commenting on the same issue last week, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung () said Taiwan was considering adjusting the privileges and immunities currently granted to staff at the Danish representative office in Taiwan, also without elaborating.

He added that Taiwan has asked other friendly nations around the world to jointly urge Copenhagen to make the necessary changes as soon as possible.

Hsiao's comments on Tuesday came days after Danish-language newspaper Berlingske reported that the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) had responded to complaints from Taiwanese residents in Denmark.

The agency said that listing their children's nationality as "China" was not a mistake, but reflected the Danish government's position that it does not recognize Taiwan as an independent country and considers it "under China."

According to Berlingske, Denmark is the only European Union member state that lists Taiwanese nationality as China rather than Taiwan.

The report also quoted Andreas B. Forsby, a senior researcher in the Foreign Policy and Diplomacy unit at the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS), as saying that Denmark's "one China" policy recognizes the PRC as the sole legal government of China but does not take a position on Taiwan's status.

Michael Danielsen, chairman of Taiwan Corner Denmark, was cited by the paper as saying that Copenhagen now appeared to be leaning toward Beijing's position by listing Taiwanese as being Chinese in official documents.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's representative to Denmark, Robin Cheng (), told CNA on Monday that his office has repeatedly asked the Danish government to correct the designation since 2024, but to no avail.

Cheng said it was his understanding that Denmark's foreign ministry has not changed its long-held policy on Taiwan, and has never publicly stated that Taiwan belongs to the PRC.

There have been, however, apparent inconsistencies between different branches of government in how the policy is implemented, he said.

"We will continue to ask the Danish side to correct the designation of Taiwan," he said.

(By Joseph Yeh and Ku Yong-li)

Enditem/ls

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Chinese embassy intrusion with a knife reveals dangerous right-wing trends in Japan

11:09, March 25, 2026 By Global Times editorial ( Global Times

On Tuesday morning, a man who claimed to be a sitting officer of Japan's Self-Defense Forces scaled the wall and broke into the Chinese embassy in Tokyo. The individual admitted that his actions were illegal and threatened to kill Chinese diplomats in the so-called "name of god." According to NHK, a knife was found at the scene, but fortunately, no embassy staff were injured. This is by no means an isolated case of individual extremism; rather, it serves as a mirror reflecting the grim reality of rampant far-right ideology and the resurgence of militarism within Japan today.

Armed with a knife, scaling the wall, forcibly breaking in, and threatening to kill - from both legal and diplomatic perspectives, this constitutes a blatant international crime. The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations explicitly stipulates that the diplomatic courier shall enjoy personal inviolability; the premises of the mission shall be inviolable, and the agents of the receiving State may not enter them, except with the consent of the head of the mission.

The Chinese embassy in Japan is an important representative institution of the People's Republic of China overseas; its security and dignity must not be subjected to any provocation or violation. The man's actions constitute a serious violation of international law, directly threatening the personal safety of Chinese diplomatic personnel and the security of diplomatic facilities. The nature of these acts is egregious, and their impact is extremely detrimental.

The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations further stipulates that the receiving State shall treat the person of a diplomatic agent with due respect and shall take all appropriate steps to prevent any attack on his person, freedom or dignity. As the host country, Japan bears an inalienable obligation under international law to ensure the security of foreign embassies in Japan. However, the fact that a lawbreaker was able to easily breach the embassy's perimeter defenses while carrying a weapon and intrude into the premises with the intent to commit murder reveals a major flaw in the Japanese police's security arrangements. If this individual is indeed a member of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, then the Japanese government bears undeniable responsibility for its failure to properly supervise and educate its Self-Defense Force personnel. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately lodged strong demarches and protests with Japan, asking the Japanese side to thoroughly investigate the incident at once. This action is entirely justified and beyond reproach.

Committing violence "in the name of god"? This sounds more like the fanatical ravings of a medieval Inquisition than something compatible with the values of a modern, 21st-century civilized nation. At its core, it represents a blatant contempt for the modern international order and the basic norms of civilization. After the incident, most Japanese media outlets chose silence or avoidance; the few reports that did appear were cursory and downplayed, attempting to evade Japan's responsibility, obscure the spread of far-right ideology at home, and avoid triggering international scrutiny and criticism. Such selective reporting only further illustrates how a right-leaning political climate exerts a strong grip over public discourse. Recently, criminal offenses in Japan targeting the Chinese nationals have occurred with increasing frequency, including incidents involving attacks from butsukari otoko or "bumping men," unprovoked violent assaults, and acts of provocation and harassment. Safety risks targeting Chinese tourists have been on the rise. The intrusion incident can be seen as an extreme manifestation of the steadily worsening public sentiment toward China within Japan over a period of time.

One cannot help but ask: Why has this malignant surge of far-right ideology been able to ferment and spread so freely in Japanese society? Such developments do not emerge overnight, and the Japanese government cannot evade responsibility for the current situation. For years, the Japanese government's misguided policies on core issues in China-Japan relations, such as historical interpretation and the Taiwan question, have had deep and lasting repercussions. The revision of historical textbooks to downplay, whitewash, or even deny acts of aggression; insular, echo-chamber-style narratives on the Diaoyu Islands issue; the amplification of the so-called "China threat" narrative; the stoking of public anti-China sentiment, hostility, and exclusion; and the long-standing rightward shift in propaganda alongside calls for military expansion - all of these have created fertile ground for the distorted logic and extreme violence seen in incidents such as the intrusion.

Since the Takaichi government came to power, it has accelerated the opening of the "Pandora's box," indulging in constitutional revision, military expansion, and historical distortion - three devilish actions that tear apart the post-war peace seal and allow Japan's rightward shift to accelerate, posing a real threat to regional peace.

The Japan Self-Defense Forces are exhibiting a series of dangerous trends: large-scale restructuring and expansion, strengthening military deployments on the southwestern islands, forming a "space operations group," developing long-range offensive missiles, and even testing modifications to the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles."

The Self-Defense Forces are rapidly surpassing the limitations of an "exclusively defense-oriented" posture and transitioning toward offensive military capabilities. In this context, can the recent incident be viewed as a dangerous footnote to this shift?

The incident has sounded alarm bells around the world. It confirms the grim reality of the rising threat of Japan's "neo-militarism." The international community should remain highly vigilant. The Japanese government indulges extremist ideologies, incites divisive emotions, and glorifies right-wing actions. Its policies not only undermine China-Japan relations but also threaten Japan's own social order, the foundation of the rule of law, and its international credibility. Japan must promptly investigate the incident, severely punish the perpetrator, and implement effective measures to ensure the absolute safety of Chinese diplomatic missions and personnel in Japan, providing a responsible account to China and the international community.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Wu Chaolan)
PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2026.03.24

Issuing AuthorityPolitical Warfare Bureau

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1.Date:

6 a.m. Mar. 23 (Mon.) to 6 a.m. Mar. 24 (Tue.) (UTC+8)

2.PLA activities:

3 sorties of PLA aircraft and 9 PLAN ships and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 3 out of 3 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

1150324_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1150324_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan

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We will never promise to renounce use of force; will retain option to take all necessary actions: mainland spokesperson over US intelligence report involving Taiwan question

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Mar 25, 2026 11:27 AM

Taiwan is China's Taiwan. Resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese and brooks no external interference. The US side should strictly abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, and act and speak with prudence on the Taiwan question, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a press conference on Wednesday.

Zhu made the remarks in response to a media inquiry regarding that recently, a US intelligence report claimed that China currently has no plan to use force to attack Taiwan in 2027 and is more inclined to pursue reunification through non-military options, while at the same time continuing to strengthen the PLA's military preparations and regard reunification as an important condition for achieving national rejuvenation by 2049.

"Peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" is our basic policy for resolving the Taiwan question. Resolving the Taiwan question and completing national reunification are essential requirements for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, said Zhu.

We are willing to create broad space for peaceful reunification and, with the utmost sincerity and greatest efforts, strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification. But we will never allow China's sovereignty and territorial integrity to be undermined. We will never promise to renounce the use of force and will retain the option to take all necessary actions, said Zhu.

At present, the root cause of the complex and grave situation across the Taiwan Straits lies in the DPP authorities' collusion with external forces in the provocative pursuit of "Taiwan independence." We will never tolerate this or show any indulgence toward it. We have the firm will, full confidence, and sufficient capability to thwart any form of separatist attempt for "Taiwan independence," safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and unswervingly advance the great cause of national reunification, Zhu said.

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Malicious nature and fawning posture of certain people in Taiwan region have already been rejected by public: mainland spokesperson slams call within Taiwan to join Hormuz escort

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Mar 25, 2026 12:18 PM

"Some people on the island, for their own political gains, are willing to act as pawns of external forces, disregarding the interests of Taiwan residents and pushing the Taiwan region into a dangerous situation," Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council said on Wednesday. Zhu noted that their malicious nature and fawning posture have already been rejected by the public.

Zhu made the remarks when asked to comment on reports that, while US President Donald Trump's call for multiple countries to send warships for escort operations in the Strait of Hormuz had been snubbed, some people from the green camp in Taiwan urged the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities to cater to the US by dispatching warships. The proposal drew widespread criticism on the island as "harmful" and tantamount to "sending people to serve as cannon fodder," with more than 80 percent of netizens opposing such participation in an online poll asking whether they supported or opposed involvement in the Hormuz escort operations.

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Chinese FM responds to Taiwan region's claim of absence from WTO meeting in Cameroon over labeling as a province of China

Global Times

By Li Yawei Published: Mar 25, 2026 12:46 AM

Taiwan regional authorities have been frustrated in another international occasion that the region is being designated as a province of China.

When asked for comment on the Taiwan regional authorities' claim that it would skip for the first time a high-level World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting in Cameroon and that Cameroon had designated the island as a province of China in paperwork issued to its delegation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Tuesday that there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory.

China's position on the Taiwan region's participation in the activities of international organizations is consistent and clear, that is, it must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle, Lin added.

The remarks came after Taiwan island's so-called "foreign affairs department" claimed that Cameroon, the host country of the 14th ministerial conference of the WTO, had listed Taiwan region under the designation "Taiwan, Province of China" in the nationality column on courtesy visas for the Taiwan delegation, according to Taiwan local media outlet CNA.

This legitimate move by Cameroon appeared to have frustrated the Taiwan regional authorities. The so-called "foreign affairs department" claimed Cameroon's act as "belittling," as the move resulted in Taiwan's "forced absence" for the first time since 2001, while a Taiwan media outlet said that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers in Taiwan island were "enraged."

As of press time, Cameroon has made no revisions whatsoever, and GT reporters found no coverage in major outlets of Cameroon, including Cameroon Tribune, The Sun, The Post and La Nouvelle Expression, suggesting limited attention on Taiwan local authority's claims.

Spokesperson Lin said that the one-China principle is the political prerequisite for the Taiwan region's participation in the WTO. The DPP authorities are engaging in political manipulation despicably under the pretext of participation in the WTO conference to create disruption and serve their "Taiwan independence" agenda.

"There is no way they will succeed," Lin noted.

With the one-China principle being a prevailing international consensus and a basic norm governing international relations, the DPP authorities have flown into a hysterical rage in more occasions. Earlier this year, the South Korean government launched its e-arrival card system on February 24, 2025 to expedite entry into the country, in which the government listed Taiwan as "China (Taiwan)," the Korea Times reported.

The move also sparked strong yet futile reaction among Taiwan authorities. Taiwan's so-called "foreign affairs department" warned that if South Korea does not respond positively by March 31, corresponding measures will be taken regarding Taiwan's "electronic entry registration form," The Chosun Daily said.

In response, spokesperson Lin said on March 19 that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The one-China principle is a basic norm in international relations and a prevailing international consensus.

The DPP's fury stems from the fact that the DPP authorities led by Lai Ching-te, a diehard "Taiwan independence" separatist, are bent on eradicating any link with the mainland.

Yet they are garnering ever less support, and the trend that "Taiwan independence" is a dead end has become increasingly evident, Zheng Jian, a professor at the Taiwan Research Institute of Xiamen University, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2026.03.25

Issuing AuthorityPolitical Warfare Bureau

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1.Date:

6 a.m. Mar. 24 (Tue.) to 6 a.m. Mar. 25 (Wed.) (UTC+8)

2.PLA activities:

16 sorties of PLA aircraft, 10 PLAN ships and 2 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 13 out of 16 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwestern and eastern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

1150325_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1150325_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan

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Wang Yi Meets with UK Prime Minister's National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: March 23, 2026 23:38

On March 23, 2026, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi met with UK Prime Minister's National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell in Beijing.

Wang Yi noted that Prime Minister Keir Starmer's historic and successful visit to China this past January was widely commended by various sectors in both countries and the international community. This fully demonstrates that the development of a long-term and stable comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the UK is in line with the trend of the times and the aspiration of the people. It also shows that as long as the two sides work with each other in the same direction and engage in constructive communication, they can properly address challenges and issues and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results. The two sides should implement the common understandings reached by the leaders of the two countries, carry out exchanges at various levels, deepen cooperation across the board, effectively manage differences, and work for the steady growth of China-UK relations.

Jonathan Powell stated that the UK stands ready to work with China to implement the outcomes of Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit to China, strengthen communication and cooperation, and jointly develop a long-term and stable comprehensive strategic partnership.

The two sides also exchanged views on the situation in Iran and the Ukraine crisis. Wang Yi briefed on China's objective and just position, noting that the spillover effects of the situation in Iran are widening, and the protraction of the conflict will only cause more damage and more severe consequences. What all parties need to do now is not to fuel the tensions, but to address the root causes and work together to bring the issue back to the track of political settlement through dialogue and negotiation.

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Ukraine Conflict 'Worse Than Ever', Political Affairs Chief Tells Security Council, as Speakers Call for Accountability, End to 'Immense' Suffering

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

10124th Meeting (PM)

SC/16320

23 March 2026

Far from abating, fighting in Ukraine is "worse than ever", Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo told the Security Council today, as delegates considered the increasingly bloody and protracted war against the backdrop of a new Middle East conflict vying for their attention.

"It is over four years since the Russian Federation's full-scale invasion of Ukraine," Ms. DiCarlo recalled: "Nearly 1,500 days of death, destruction and despair."

Since the start of the conflict in February 2022, she said, the UN has verified that over 15,000 civilians in Ukraine have been killed and more than 42,000 injured. In February alone, at least 188 civilians were killed and 757 injured  a 45 per cent increase over the same period in 2025.

Recently, deadly strikes were reported from Zaporizhzhia to Odesa, she said, as well as on railway infrastructure and passenger trains. Ukraine estimates that 60 per cent of its gas production capacity has been destroyed and all of its power stations damaged.

Noting that Ukraine will need $588 billion over the next decade for recovery and reconstruction, she declared: "[That recovery] should also be accompanied by a reckoning for the atrocities perpetrated during the war." That includes the deportation, forcible transfer and enforced disappearance of Ukrainian children, which an Independent Commission of Inquiry recently concluded were war crimes.

Echoing many of those points, Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said Ukrainians are under "constant" strain. "The damage builds quietly but relentlessly alongside the visible destruction," he acknowledged. Notably, strikes on energy and other vital infrastructure cut many Ukrainian civilians off from the basics of survival  no electricity, water or heat  for weeks on end during a "cruel" winter.

"These attacks reflect a sustained pattern of damage to the systems on which civilians depend to survive, with humanitarian aid increasingly stepping in to fill the gaps left by the deterioration of essential services," he said. Despite immense risks, UN staff and local partners reached nearly 1 million people with food, cash assistance, medical care, shelter and protection in January alone.

Speakers Reject Moscow's Maximalist Demands, Call for Accountability

In the ensuing debate, Council members laid out their positions on the conflict  as well as the halting diplomatic attempts to end it  in the context of an increasingly unstable geopolitical landscape.

"Russia is now firing over 5,000 drones per month at Ukraine, five times higher than in 2024," the United Kingdom's representative warned. "The burden on ordinary Ukrainians is immense." While Moscow could end the war today, he said, it has only dragged out talks, issued "ultra-maximalist demands" and intensified its assault.

Several delegates  especially those from European nations  also laid the blame for four years of bloody conflict squarely at the feet of the Russian Federation.

"Ending this war depends entirely on the aggressor," underscored the representative of Latvia, echoed by the representatives of Estonia, Poland, European Union and Finland, who also spoke for Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

Pointing out that Ukraine has demonstrated its readiness for a ceasefire for over a year, Latvia's delegate asked: "Has Russia demonstrated the same?" The Council must take a firm stance by condemning Moscow's unlawful, unprovoked war and preventing any future aggression.

The representatives of France and Denmark were among those speakers who focused on the recently released findings of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry, which found that Moscow had committed crimes against humanity by abducting Ukrainian children. The latter pointed out that some 80 per cent of documented deported children remain separated from their loved ones after more than four years, stressing: "Children must never be pawns in war."

Kyiv Stands with Gulf countries, Moscow Denounces 'Limelight' Grab

Ukraine's delegate expressed solidarity with the Gulf countries now facing a fresh conflict. Highlighting the Russian Federation's hidden role in the region, he said Moscow has been providing substantial military support to the Iranian regime. While it portrays itself "as a big friend of the Global South", in fact, it is helping Iran ruin oil and gas-production facilities in the region and providing Tehran with intelligence support.

Rejecting the many allegations levelled at his country, the representative of the Russian Federation described today's meeting as an attempt by Kyiv to keep itself relevant, even as a war that truly requires the Council's attention now rages in the Middle East. "The regime in Kyiv is no longer in the limelight," he said.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is now straining "to remind his Western sponsors how useful he is, at any cost", he continued, adding: "It's increasingly obvious that the current Ukrainian authorities are interested in neither peace talks nor the basic humanitarian steps which could ease people's suffering." In fact, Kyiv's actions  or lack thereof  speak louder than its words.

Knock-On Effects in Africa, Middle East

Some speakers emphasized that negotiated talks between the two parties, which have begun and stalled several times in recent months, are needed now more than ever.

The representatives of Somalia, Bahrain, China, Colombia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo voiced support for that process, with the latter describing some "encouraging signals" of progress in February. "This conflict is also still having ramifications far beyond its particular theatre," she said, noting that it is worsening economic and food vulnerabilities, especially in African countries that rely heavily on imports.

On the spiraling conflict in the Middle East, the representative of Pakistan declared: "Regrettably, the unfolding of another totally avoidable crisis in the Middle East has also impacted the ongoing negotiations process on Ukraine." Despite that complex landscape, he expressed hope that the next round of talks would take place soon and bring about an immediate ceasefire and a lasting, negotiated peace.

Indeed, said Greece's delegate, the dramatic events in the Middle East "should not divert our focus and attention from Ukraine". Panama's delegate, meanwhile, voiced concern that the overlapping conflicts and increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape are compromising the ability of the international community  and the Council  to respond.

Liberia's representative agreed, adding that Council members must guard against a situation where they remain actively seized of the matter in form, but less effective in advancing conditions for resolution in substance. "The value of our engagement must ultimately be measured by its contribution to de-escalation and to a viable political horizon," he said.

The representative of the United States, Council President for March, said in his national capacity that his Government continues to pursue a deal to end the war. However, others must not sit on the sidelines. He asked Council members to consider whether their speeches today are likely to advance a peaceful solution, or whether they are mere words unable to yield any tangible results. He voiced his hope that the United States' presidency can "mark a moment where the UN produces more than words and actually creates a pathway for peace".

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Foreign Minister Tsahkna: Russia's aggression continues at full force

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

24.03.2026 | 14:49

Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said today, 24 March, that Russia's aggression continues at full force and that our focus must remain on Ukraine.

"During the night, Russia carried out a massive missile and drone attack, using ballistic missiles and an enormous number of drones, striking targets across Ukraine. This is yet another reminder that Russia's aggression has not ended and that Russia has not abandoned its objectives. The threat level in the country remains high even this morning.

While the attention of the international community is increasingly focused on developments in the Middle East, this must not overshadow the most important issue for European security. Achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine must remain our central objective. This requires consistent and firm support for Ukraine, politically, economically and militarily. At the same time, it is essential to ensure that Russia does not benefit from developments in the Middle East or gain additional resources to finance its aggression. I am on a visit to Italy today and will also discuss continued support for Ukraine and increased pressure on Russia in my meetings here. Strong pressure on Russia must continue."

The attack involved ballistic and cruise missiles as well as swarms of drones targeting various regions of Ukraine. In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, at least one person was killed and five were injured. In Poltava, two people were killed and eleven injured. According to media reports, one man was also killed in Kherson. Strikes were recorded in Kharkiv and in several other parts of Ukraine. Explosions were also heard in western Ukraine, in Ivano-Frankivsk.

In total, Russia used 426 missiles and drones, including seven Iskander-M or S-400 ballistic missiles, 18 Kh-101 cruise missiles, five Iskander-K cruise missiles, four guided missiles, and 392 attack drones and other types of UAVs. Ukrainian air defences shot down or disrupted 390 targets, including 25 missiles and 365 drones.

Russian strikes in southern Ukraine caused the outage of the Isaccea-Vulcanesti high-voltage power line in Moldova. This line is used for importing electricity from Romania to Moldova.

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New support for displaced people in Ukraine

Government of Norway

News story | Date: 24/03/2026

Norway is strengthening its support for the UN's work for displaced people in and from Ukraine with NOK 260 million. In total, Norway is now providing an additional NOK 767 million to the UN's humanitarian efforts for Ukrainians affected by the war.

Since 2022, around 10 million Ukrainians have been forced to flee their homes due to the war. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is one of Norway's most important partners in assisting displaced Ukrainians.

This week, Bernadette Castel-Hollingsworth, UNHCR's Representative in Ukraine, is leading a delegation to Norway. Norway is now increasing its support to UNHCR's efforts in Ukraine by NOK 225 million. A further NOK 35 million will be given to its refugee response in neighbouring Moldova. Norway is also providing new support to the UN's humanitarian work in Ukraine and to the refugee response in Moldova through organisations such as the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the UN's humanitarian country-based pooled funds.

Of those who have been forced to flee their homes, 3.7 million people are internally displaced within Ukraine, while 5.9 million are in other countries.

Norway is cooperating with organisations such as UNHCR to:

rebuild homes, schools and hospitals that have been bombed

provide cash assistance enabling refugees to purchase essential items when they have had to flee at short notice

help refugees obtain copies of vital documents such as passports and property deeds that have been destroyed

provide psychosocial support to displaced people

While in Norway, Mrs. Castel-Hollingsworth will hold discussions with State Secretary Eivind Vad Petersson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and with Norad's Director, Gunn Jorid Roset. The purpose of the visit is to discuss the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, UNHCR's priorities for 2026 and prospects for the return of Ukrainian refugees in the future.

"The UN leads the international humanitarian response in Ukraine, and it is important for Norway to maintain close dialogue on how we can best support their lifesaving work. UNHCR plays a crucial role in Ukraine and is one of Norway's most important humanitarian partners in the country. At a time when humanitarian needs are increasing while international funding is declining, it is essential that Norway contributes to keep relief efforts going. UNHCR's presence and expertise save lives every single day," said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.

The humanitarian situation in Ukraine remains extremely serious. Many describe it as a Millions of people are displaced or living under extremely difficult conditions following Russia's full-scale invasion. Russia's targeted attacks on energy installations and other civilian infrastructure have hit particularly hard this winter.

"In recent years, Norway has been one of UNHCR's largest supporters in the region, and with this new allocation, Norway has contributed nearly NOK 2 billion to its work since 2022," the Minister said.

Norway remains steadfast in its support for the Ukrainian people, both through emergency humanitarian assistance and long-term efforts to rebuild and strengthen essential services.

Between 2022 and 2025, Norway has contributed more than NOK 11.4 billion in humanitarian funding to Ukraine and neighbouring countries through UN organisations, the Red Cross Movement, and Norwegian and international humanitarian actors. This includes support for emergency protection, relief items, shelter, water and sanitation, health, education, and measures to prevent gender-based and sexual violence.

Facts about UNHCR's work since 2022

Nearly 55,000 homes have been repaired

More than 500,000 people have received temporary shelter and materials immediately after attacks

1,945 destroyed buildings in the health, education and administrative sectors have been replaced

Approximately 2.4 million people have received cash assistance

Distribution of insulation kits, stoves and heating equipment

Nearly 700,000 legal counselling sessions provided

Almost 325,000 people have received psychosocial support, including immediately after attacks or during evacuations

The new contributions to the UN's humanitarian response in Ukraine are allocated as follows:

UN Humanitarian Response Plan Ukraine Amounts in million NOK UNHCR 225 WFP 175 UNICEF 110 Country-Based Pooled Funds (UNOCHA) 80 UNFPA 50 WHO 50 FAO 30 UNOCHA, coordination 5 Total UN 725

The new contributions to the UN's refugee response in Moldova are allocated as follows:

UN Regional Refugee Response Moldova Amounts in million NOK UNHCR 35 UNFPA 4 UNICEF 3 Total UN 42

The funds are allocated from the Nansen Support Programme's humanitarian efforts for 2026, as previously announced: Allocation of funding under the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine in 2026

Read more about Norway's support through the Nansen Support Programme here: The Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine | Norad.no

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Russian Armed Forces Hit Transport and Infrastructure Facilities of Ukraine

Sputnik News

20260324

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian armed forces have carried out a a massive retaliatory strike on Ukrainian transport facilities, enterprises producing various types of missiles and components, as well as military airfields, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

"The operational-tactical aviation, strike unmanned aerial vehicles, missile forces, and artillery of the troop groupings of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation struck Ukraine's transport infrastructure facilities, sites for the preparation and launch of long-range unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as temporary deployment points of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 142 areas," the ministry said in the statement.

Ukraine lost over 330 soldiers in combat against Russia's Tsentr battlegroup

Up to 235 Ukrainian soldiers were eliminated over the past day by Russia's Sever battlegroup , over 280 by the Vostok battlegroup

, over 280 by the Up to 190 Ukraine's soldiers were eliminated by the Zapad battlegroup, up to 180 by the Yug battlegroup, and over 50 by the Dnepr battlegroup

 Sputnik

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Issue of Presidential Election in Ukraine Relevant, Kiev Will Have to Decide - Kremlin

Sputnik News

20260324

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The issue of the presidential election in Ukraine is relevant, Kiev will have to decide on the issue of legitimizing the terms of office of the head, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.

Earlier this month, The Times newspaper reported, citing representatives of the Ukrainian election commission, that the election commission of Ukraine believes that Kiev should not hold elections in 2026.

"Of course, this issue is still relevant, it is relevant. And, of course, here the Ukrainian, Kiev regime will have to decide on this issue  the issue of legitimizing the continuation of the term of office of the head of state, the head of the regime in this case," Peskov told reporters.

The statement of the election commission is out of the category of discussions, the official said, adding that Russia has repeatedly drawn attention to legal inconsistencies related to the terms of office of the head of Ukraine.

On Middle East

Russia would take an extremely negative view of the expansion of the escalation zone of the Iranian conflict to the Caspian region, Peskov said.

"[Russia] would take it extremely negatively," Peskov told reporters when asked how Russia would react to the escalation of the conflict in the Caspian region.

Before the first strike, Iran actually confirmed its readiness for peace talks and remained open to their continuation, the official said, noting that negotiations between the United States and Iran were progressing quite successfully before the outbreak of hostilities.

"We record a whole set of contradictory statements from all sides. Some contradict others, and we do not really know how things stand there," Peskov added.

Other Statements

Moscow will be glad to see leaders of friendly countries at the celebrations on May 9, Peskov said.

"You know that traditionally we will be glad to see the widest circle of our friends from friendly countries in Moscow for the celebration on May 9," Peskov told reporters.

There is no final list of heads of state who will join the Victory Day parade on the Red Square in Moscow yet, Peskov added.

 Sputnik

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FSB Thwarts Ukraine-Planned Attacks Targeting Strategic Objects in Moscow Region

Sputnik News

20260324

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) thwarted a series of terrorist attacks with the use of bombs and drones, plotted by Ukraine against the Russian army and targeting strategic facilities in Moscow and the Moscow Region.

"The Federal Security Service of Russia has received information about the preparation by the special services of Ukraine of sabotage and terrorist acts ... in Moscow and the Moscow Region against critically important facilities, government officials, military personnel of the Russian Ministry of Defense and law enforcement officers," the FSB said in a statement.

In this regard, the FSB, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Rosgvardiya switched to an enhanced regime. Terrorist attacks using improvised explosive devices and drones directed against Russian military personnel and strategic facilities have been successfully prevented.

"Thus, a citizen of a foreign state, born in 1994, who was involved in a smuggling channel organized by the special services of Ukraine for the supply of weapons from Poland through Belarus to the territory of Russia, was detained in Moscow," the FSB added.

On the instructions of his supervisor, he participated in the smuggling of 504 improvised explosive devices disguised as shoe insoles. These devices were supposed to be sent to military units under the guise of humanitarian aid in the area of the military operation.

Additionally, the FSB said it had prevented an attempt by the Ukrainian special services to purchase drones for attacks on Russian facilities using hacked accounts of Russians in messengers and online services.

 Sputnik

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Andrii Sybiha comments on Russia's latest attack on Ukraine

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

24 March 2026 09:23

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "Another night of Russian terror against Ukraine. A massive combined missile and drone attack targeted cities across the country. In the Poltava region and Zaporizhzhia, at least three people have been already confirmed killed, with over ten injured. Civilians are being deliberately targeted. When Russia fails on the battlefield and cannot impose its will at the negotiating table, it resorts to terror against civilians. Typical methods of Russian criminals. Pressure on Russia must be intensified without delay. Sanctions must bite harder. The 20th EU package must be adopted. The shadow fleet must be anchored. Those complicit in this war must face travel bans and full isolation. Russia must not be admitted to any international sporting or artistic events. Together, we must defend international peace and security through strength and decisive action. Russia will not stop on its ownit must be made to stop".

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Andrii Sybiha held phone talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Tom Berendsen

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

24 March 2026 16:10

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "Pleased to continue our consistent dialogue and close coordination with my Dutch colleague Tom Berendsen ahead of today's debate in the Dutch Parliament on Ukraine.

I thanked the Netherlands for its leadership and steadfast support, including in defence, sanctions, and accountability.

As Russia continues its daily terror attacks against Ukraine, we focused on ways to strengthen Ukraine's resilience and defence capabilities.

Air defence remains our absolute priority to protect civilians and critical infrastructure. The Netherlands' support through the NATO PURL initiative is an important contribution to our security.

I also underlined the importance of further increasing pressure on Russia and advancing support for Ukraine, including by unblocking the 90 billion EU loan.

We discussed global security and recent developments in the Middle East.

Grateful to the Netherlands for maintaining a strong focus on supporting Ukraine and restoring our shared European security."

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NATO is interested in Ukraine's experience in counter-drone defense and in the exchange of military innovations

Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

24 March, 2026, 10:55 AM EET

Ukraine and NATO are expanding cooperation in counter-drone defense, the exchange of combat experience, and the development of innovative technologies. Ukraine stands ready to share its unique solutions derived from the lessons of modern warfare and integrate them into joint projects with partners.

The matter was discussed during a meeting between Sergiy Boyev, Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine for European Integration, and Admiral Pierre Vandier, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT).

The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Unmanned Systems Forces Command, the Main Directorate of Intelligence, the Brave1 defense innovation cluster, and the DELTA project team.

The goal is to achieve a 95% success rate in intercepting UAVs

The parties discussed the development of cost-effective and accessible solutions for countering aerial threats, including the employment of interceptors as a component of a layered air defense system.

"The share of interceptors in target engagements is steadily increasing. This is an efficient and cost-effective way to destroy enemy drones. Our goal is to achieve a 95% success rate in intercepting UAVs," said Sergiy Boyev.

The Ukrainian side presented an approach to building an air defense system that encompasses not only engagement capabilities but also command and control systems and the expansion of radar coverage. Ukraine currently possesses unique practical experience in integrating all components of such a system in the context of full-scale warfare.

DELTA system: the primary system for tracking and analyzing enemy losses

Special attention was devoted to the DELTA situational awareness system, which enables mission tracking, target identification, monitoring of engagement results, and the generation of objective battlefield statistics.

The parties explored opportunities for joint projects, including at the JATEC center and within the UNITE-Brave NATO initiative. This entails expanding cooperation between Ukrainian and international companies and integrating Ukrainian solutions into NATO defense systems.

Ukraine stands ready to advance mutually beneficial partnerships and to play an active role in shaping a new security architecture alongside allies.

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The Scale of Today's Attack Strongly Indicates That Russia Has No Intention of Really Ending This War - Address by the President

President of Ukraine

24 March 2026 - 20:39

Dear Ukrainians!

Today, for almost the entire day, starting from last night, Russia has been striking Ukraine with "shaheds." There was a massive attack during the night - both missiles and "shaheds" - and throughout the day, new waves of drones continued. More than 550 drones of various types were launched just today, a significant number of them specifically "shaheds." The geography of this attack is extensive. Although the majority of drones were shot down - more than 500 confirmed interceptions - unfortunately, there were still hits in Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, as well as in the Khmelnytskyi, Rivne, Kharkiv, and Dnipro regions. Sadly, people have been killed. My condolences to the families and loved ones. As of now, more than 40 people have been reported injured, including five children. All are receiving the necessary assistance. Among Russia's targets, energy infrastructure is primary - they continue their operation to break Ukraine and our power system. Unfortunately, ordinary homes have also been hit - the centers of our cities have been attacked, including Lviv's historic center. The buildings of St. Andrew's Church in Lviv caught fire. The history of this church dates back to the early 17th century. Iranian "shaheds" enhanced by Russia hit a church in Lviv - this is utterly perverse, and only the likes of Putin could take pleasure in it. In Ivano-Frankivsk, a maternity hospital was damaged.

The scale of today's attack strongly indicates that Russia has no intention of really ending this war. And if we take into account that Russia is also helping the Iranian regime to carry out strikes across the region, the conclusion becomes self-evident: without additional and strong pressure on Russia, without significant Russian losses, those in Moscow will not develop any desire to back down from the war and somehow come to terms with peace again. It is precisely pressure that is clearly lacking right now, and, on the contrary, there are signals encouraging Russia - encouraging them to continue what they have been doing for years, only increasing their aggressiveness. The fact that sanctions against Russia have been partially eased serves Russia's interest to continue the war. The Russians will earn at least two billion dollars from the easing of sanctions in these weeks alone. This is dangerous for everyone. Precisely as a signal. As a direction. The "shahed" should by no means be the main symbol of what is happening here, in Europe, in the Middle East, or anywhere else in the world. People want a normal life. And it is the task of leaders to work towards this. I am grateful to every leader, every country, every parliamentarian, and civic activist in our partner countries who will not remain silent about what is happening and who will continue helping us pressure Russia for the sake of real peace. I want to thank everyone working to develop new and effective forms of international coordination to protect ourselves collectively and to really counter both missile and drone attacks. There definitely must be more control and more coordination, so that Russia, the Iranian regime, and other similar formations cannot easily access microelectronics or other components needed to produce weapons. Europe and other parts of the world must certainly have greater production capacity and more cooperation to ensure modern and reliable air defense. This is exactly how we are working with our partners, and we are preparing the relevant agreements. The technologies of war have reached a level where air defense must be multi-component. And to be truly strong, air defense must be collaborative - when it's not just one party, but everyone acting together to protect the skies. And I thank everyone who keeps working on diplomacy and the pursuit of worthy, coordinated responses to every challenge.

Today, our negotiating team delivered a report after returning from the United States. Unfortunately, there has been no real progress - Russia has no desire to move toward peace. But it is crucial that we in Ukraine, the United States, Europe, and other global actors do everything possible, everything necessary, to make the Russians interested in diplomacy in a real and honest way, not just to profit more from oil and buy more time for further attacks and aggression. Peace must be reliable - that is our goal, and it will be achieved. And we will respond to attacks. That is certain.

Glory to Ukraine!

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The President of Ukraine and the Minister of Defense of Latvia Discussed Strengthening Air Defense, the SAFE Instrument, and Joint Drone Production

President of Ukraine

24 March 2026 - 22:54

In Kyiv, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the Minister of Defense of Latvia, Andris Spruds.

The Head of State thanked the people, the Government, and the President of Latvia for supporting Ukraine from the very beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion.

"We are very proud to have such relations with all representatives of the Nordic and Baltic countries. And we are very glad to have such strong friends. And, of course, it is especially important that at this time Latvia supports us not only with military assistance and geopolitical backing on our path to the EU, but also in all matters of humanitarian aid and other areas," the President said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Andris Spruds held detailed discussions on strengthening Ukraine's air defense and supplying additional missiles for it. The Minister noted the modernization of the Ukrainian armed forces and the high level of training of its warriors. According to him, as part of strengthening NATO's eastern flank, Latvia is interested in training on modern air defense approaches, including countering drone attacks.

Special attention was given to the implementation of the PURL initiative and the SAFE instrument. The Head of State thanked Latvia for its contribution to PURL and noted that Ukraine counts on continued support for this initiative and on expanding cooperation within SAFE. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Andris Spruds also discussed joint drone production.

Additionally, the meeting addressed issues related to Ukraine's EU membership. The Minister assured support from Latvia and readiness to assist Ukraine on its path to joining the European Union.

Other topics included strengthening cooperation between Ukraine and the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).

"This visit is not only a sign of support and solidarity, but also an opportunity to learn from you and to establish a partnership and friendship for months and years to come. Regarding support, we will back you staunchly, regardless of any changes. Domestically, we believe that Ukraine and support for Ukraine are absolutely crucial for Latvia as well," emphasized Andris Spruds.

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US, Russia, China Could Jointly Police Global Nuclear Arsenal in Future - State Department

Sputnik News

20260324

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - It is possible that the United States, Russia and China could jointly police the global arsenal of nuclear weapons in the future, US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Thomas DiNanno said on Tuesday.

"I think it is certainly a possibility. I think it is important today to point out that we do participate in the P5, which is with all the nuclear weapon states: UK, France, as well as China, Russia and the United States," DiNanno said during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, when asked about such a possibility.

He added that the P5 could serve as an effective tool, though it needs to become more productive.

The Russian-US New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) expired on February 5. In September, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia was prepared to continue adhering to the New START restrictions for one year and suggested that the United States should reciprocate. The US did not issue a formal response, allowing the nuclear pact to expire.

 Sputnik

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GCB Bank records GH3.2bn profit before tax for 2025

Kweku Zurek Business News Mar - 25 - 2026 , 12:16

GCB Bank PLC has closed the 2025 financial year with a profit after tax of GH2.06 billion, reflecting a year of robust growth in interest income, improved asset quality, and strong trading performance.

The banks total income was bolstered by interest earnings of over GH6.15 billion, supported by substantial contributions from fees, commissions, and trading activities, signalling resilient core banking operations. Total assets rose to approximately GH52.4 billion, while customer deposits climbed past GH41 billion, indicating sustained public confidence in the institution.

The year also saw an improvement in asset quality, with the non-performing loans ratio falling to 10.31 per cent from 15.06 per cent in 2024, highlighting strengthened credit risk management.

The bank retained a solid capital position, posting a capital adequacy ratio of 18.02 per cent and a liquidity ratio of 67.52 per cent, both comfortably above regulatory requirements.

Interest income surged to GH6.16 billion, marking a 38.2 per cent rise from GH4.45 billion in 2024. Growth in earnings from investment securities, which climbed 40.1 per cent to GH3.30 billion, combined with a 32.6 per cent increase in income from loans and advances, which reached GH2.53 billion, were key drivers of this performance.

However, rising borrowing costs pushed the banks interest expenses up by 47.5 per cent to GH1.57 billion. Despite this, net interest income remained resilient, underpinning the banks overall profitability.

Non-interest revenue also contributed strongly to GCB Banks results. Fee and commission income grew to GH1.14 billion, supported by processing and facility fees that more than doubled to GH236.3 million. Net trading income nearly doubled to GH824.7 million, with foreign exchange trading alone generating GH474.9 million, demonstrating the banks ability to navigate volatile currency markets.

Operational and personnel costs rose in tandem with strategic investments. Staff expenses increased by 39.2 per cent to GH1.65 billion. Other operating costs rose to GH1.14 billion, driven by technology, communication, and administrative expenses, illustrating continued investment in digital infrastructure and operational expansion.

The banks total tax liability for the year amounted to GH1.12 billion, incorporating the Growth and Stabilisation Levy and the Financial Sector Recovery Levy, highlighting the impact of fiscal levies on Ghanaian financial institutions.

GCB Banks liquidity remained robust, with cash and cash equivalents closing at GH7.20 billion, providing a solid buffer for operational stability and future strategic initiatives.
Next article: GCB Bank records GH3.2bn profit before tax for 2025

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MTN Ghana plunges GH0.59, GCB tumbles GH4.57 as GSE suffers sharpest decline of the year

Kweku Zurek Business News Mar - 25 - 2026 , 17:00

The Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) suffered its sharpest decline in recent memory on Wednesday (March 25, 2026), with the GSE Composite Index (GSE-CI) plummeting 875.85 points to close at 14,440.81, as investors embarked on a broad-based profit-taking spree that wiped out weeks of gains.

Trading data for the 7,178th session, held on March 25, 2026, revealed a market in full retreat, with the GSE Financial Stocks Index (GSE-FSI) shedding 321.87 points to settle at 9,085.45.

Market capitalisation contracted sharply to GH269.90 billion, down from Tuesday's GH284.82 billion, reflecting the severity of the sell-off.

Total volume of shares traded for the session reached 2,351,584, with aggregate value hitting GH6,292,958.09.

MTN Ghana leads decliners

Scancom PLC (MTNGH) bore the brunt of the selling pressure, plunging by GH0.59 to close at GH5.91. The telecommunications giant remained the most actively traded counter, with 284,788 shares changing hands, contributing GH1,685,677.51 to total market valuethe highest contribution of the session despite the steep decline.

GCB Bank PLC (GCB) tumbled by GH4.57 to close at GH41.20, while TotalEnergies Marketing Ghana PLC (TOTAL) shed GH2.89 to GH36.91.

Ecobank Transnational Inc. (ETI) declined by GH0.22 to GH2.00, while Fan Milk PLC (FML) fell GH0.18 to GH13.61. SIC Insurance Company PLC (SIC) dropped GH0.26 to GH3.83, and Ecobank Ghana PLC (EGH) edged down GH0.52 to GH50.00.

Republic Bank (Ghana) PLC (RBGH) declined by GH0.04 to GH5.34, while Enterprise Group PLC (EGL) shed GH0.11 to GH12.00.

BOPP holds steady at GH100

Benso Palm Plantation PLC (BOPP) remained a beacon of stability, holding firm at GH100.00 with no price change. The agricultural sector star, which became the first Ghanaian stock to cross the GH100 barrier in the previous week, saw 1,513 shares change hands, contributing GH151,500 to total market value.

GOIL records lone gain

Ghana Oil Company Limited (GOIL) was the sole gainer of the session, adding GH0.01 to close at GH7.86, providing a rare bright spot in an otherwise bleak trading day.

Unchanged stocks

Several stocks recorded no price movement during Wednesday's session, including Access Bank (ACCESS), Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), AngloGold Ashanti (AGA), Aluworks (ALW), Asante Gold Corporation (ASG), Atlantic Lithium (ALLGH), Clydestone (CLYD), Camelot (CMLT), Cocoa Processing Company (CPC), Dannex Ayrton Starwin (DASPHARMA), First Atlantic Bank (FAB), Guinness Ghana Breweries (GGBL), Mega African Capital (MAC), PBC, Standard Chartered Bank (SCB), Societe Generale Ghana (SOGEGH), Trust Bank Gambia (TBL), Tullow Oil (TLW), Unilever (UNIL), and NewGold (GLD).

On the Ghana Alternative Market, all stocks remained unchanged.

Market summary

The GSE-CI has now gained 64.66 per cent since the start of the year, while the financial stocks index remains up 95.51 per cent, despite Wednesday's steep correction.

Wednesday's session marked the second consecutive day of heavy selling following the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday, with investors taking profits across the board. The sharp decline in MTN Ghanaone of the market's most heavily weighted stockswas the primary driver of the index's plunge, with the telecommunications giant shedding nearly 10 per cent of its value in a single session.

Gainers

Ghana Oil Company Limited (GOIL): GH +0.01 (closed at GH7.86)

Laggards

Scancom PLC (MTNGH): GH -0.59 (closed at GH5.91)

GCB Bank PLC (GCB): GH -4.57 (closed at GH41.20)

TotalEnergies Marketing Ghana PLC (TOTAL): GH -2.89 (closed at GH36.91)

SIC Insurance Company PLC (SIC): GH -0.26 (closed at GH3.83)

Ecobank Transnational Inc. (ETI): GH -0.22 (closed at GH2.00)

Fan Milk PLC (FML): GH -0.18 (closed at GH13.61)

Enterprise Group PLC (EGL): GH -0.11 (closed at GH12.00)

Ecobank Ghana PLC (EGH): GH -0.52 (closed at GH50.00)

Republic Bank (Ghana) PLC (RBGH): GH -0.04 (closed at GH5.34)

Unchanged Stocks

Access Bank Ghana PLC (ACCESS)  GH46.62

Agricultural Development Bank (ADB)  GH5.06

AngloGold Ashanti PLC (AGA)  GH37.00

Aluworks PLC (ALW)  GH0.10

Asante Gold Corporation (ASG)  GH8.89

Atlantic Lithium Ltd (ALLGH)  GH6.52

Benso Palm Plantation PLC (BOPP)  GH100.00

Clydestone (Ghana) PLC (CLYD)  GH0.99

Camelot Ghana PLC (CMLT)  GH0.14

Cocoa Processing Co. PLC (CPC)  GH0.09

Dannex Ayrton Starwin PLC (DASPHARMA)  GH0.41

First Atlantic Bank PLC (FAB)  GH7.84

Guinness Ghana Breweries PLC (GGBL)  GH15.94

Mega African Capital PLC (MAC)  GH5.20

PBC Ltd. (PBC)  GH0.02

Standard Chartered Bank Ghana PLC (SCB)  GH79.25

Societe Generale Ghana PLC (SOGEGH)  GH7.86

Trust Bank Gambia PLC (TBL)  GH1.20

Tullow Oil PLC (TLW)  GH11.92

Unilever Ghana PLC (UNIL)  GH28.46

NewGold (GLD)  GH546.00

Hords PLC (HORDS)  GH0.10

Intravenous Infusions Limited (IIL)  GH0.05

Digicut Production & Advertising PLC (DIGICUT)  GH0.09

Samba Foods PLC (SAMBA)  GH0.55

Meridian Marshalls Holding Company (MMH)  GH0.10
Celine Dion linked with possible Paris comeback, her first shows in 4 years

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National Theatre holds stakeholder engagement on five -year strategic plan, to be unveiled on April 7

Gifty Owusu-Amoah Showbiz News Mar - 25 - 2026 , 14:55 4 minutes read

The National Theatre of Ghana is set to unveil its much-anticipated five-year strategic plan on April 7, in what leadership describes as a defining moment in repositioning the institution as the countrys foremost theatre hub.

This was revealed by the Ag Director of National Theatre, Henry Herbert Malm at a Stakeholder Engagement held at National Theatre on Tuesday, March 24.

Tuesdays stakeholder engagement brought together key stakeholders from across the creative industry, to outline the Theatres vision for growth, sustainability and renewed relevance within Ghanas evolving cultural landscape.

At the heart of the announcement are strong assurances from the Theatres leadership, particularly the Executive Director and the Board chair, Madam Amarteorkor Amarteifio, both of whom say the new strategic direction is the product of extensive consultations and a clear-eyed assessment of the institutions current realities.

The Executive Director noted that the strategic plan is designed to move the National Theatre beyond its long-standing perception as merely an event venue, towards a more impactful role in nurturing talent, supporting productions and driving the creative economy.

According to the Director, the document provides a structured roadmap that prioritises artistic excellence, institutional sustainability and deeper engagement with stakeholders.

We recognise that for some time, the Theatre has largely been seen as a space for hiring and events. This strategic plan is about redefining that narrative and restoring the National Theatre to its core mandate as a centre for creative development and cultural expression, the Director said.

He explained that the plan places significant emphasis on strengthening the Theatres resident companies, expanding programming and creating more opportunities for practitioners across theatre, dance and music.

Additionally, the Director highlighted a renewed focus on audience development through digital innovation, improved ticketing systems and targeted outreach initiatives aimed at attracting younger audiences.

We are looking at how to build a loyal audience base while also leveraging digital platforms to extend our reach beyond the physical space. The future of the arts is not just on stage; it is also online and across multiple platforms, he added.

On education and capacity building, the Executive Director revealed that the Theatre intends to establish structured training programmes, including a National Theatre Academy, youth camps and talent showcases to help groom the next generation of creatives.

For her part, the Board Chairperson, Madam Amarteorkor Amarteifio, underscored the importance of the strategic plan as a tool for accountability and long-term growth, noting that the Board is fully committed to ensuring its successful implementation.

This is not just a document that will sit on a shelf. It is a working framework that will guide our decisions, inform our investments and shape the future of the National Theatre over the next five years, he said.

The Chairman also emphasised the role of collaboration in achieving the plans objectives, calling on stakeholdersincluding government, private sector players and industry practitionersto support the Theatres renewed vision.

We cannot do this alone. The success of this strategic plan will depend on partnerships and a shared commitment to developing the creative arts sector. The Theatre belongs to all of us, and we must all play a role in its growth, he stated.

She further noted that the Board had taken into account concerns raised by stakeholders during recent engagements, assuring that their input had been instrumental in shaping the final document.

The upcoming launch follows a series of consultations and stakeholder engagements including Tuesdays aimed at gathering insights from practitioners and industry leaders.

The discussions highlighted key challenges facing the Theatre, including funding constraints, limited production support and the need for clearer programming direction.

Both the Executive Director and the Board Chairman acknowledged these challenges but expressed confidence that the strategic plan provides practical solutions to address them.

They reiterated that the ultimate goal is to position the National Theatre as a vibrant, inclusive and forward-looking institution that reflects Ghanas cultural identity.
Next article: Russia launches 948 drones at Ukraine in largest attack over 24-hour period

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Oil price falls as Trump talks up Iran peace negotiations

bbc.com International News Mar - 25 - 2026 , 07:04 4 minutes read

Oil prices have fallen in Asia after US President Donald Trump said negotiations to end the war are progressing, while Iran has said "non-hostile" vessels can use the crucial Strait of Hormuz shipping route.

Brent crude fell by 5% to $99.29 (74.16) a barrel, while US-traded oil fell by more than 5.5% to $88.41.

Trump said on Tuesday that talks to end the war are happening "now" and that the people the US were in discussions with "want to make a deal so badly" - a claim disputed by Iranian officials.

On Monday, officials in Tehran said claims of talks between the US and Iran were "fake news", as strikes between Israel and Iran continued to be exchanged.

Trump said Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were involved in the discussions to end the war.

The president added that the US-Israeli strikes on Tehran have led to "regime change", repeating his claim that Iranian leaders have agreed that they will never have a nuclear weapon.

But Tehran has previously rejected claims that it had been in contact with the US, calling it an attempt to manipulate markets.

The New York Times, Reuters news agency and Israel's Channel 12 have reported that the US has handed over a 15-point plan to Iran, citing unnamed sources.

Channel 12 said the US' demands included the Strait of Hormuz being opened and that it would be recognised as a free maritime zone.

It also detailed what Iran would receive if it accepted the plan, including the removal of sanctions, according to Channel 12.

The BBC has not seen the document and is working to verify the reports.

In a message posted by its mission to the United Nations (UN), Iran said "non-hostile vessels" will be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, provided they coordinate with "the competent Iranian authorities".

The statement came after some countries appeared to have negotiated safe passage for their vessels despite Tehran threatening to target ships that tried to use the channel.

The Iranian UN mission said on X that ships could have safe passage "provided that they neither participate in nor support acts of aggression against Iran and fully comply with the declared safety and security regulations".

Meanwhile, Iran and Israel continue to exchange missile strikes across the Middle East.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) it has begun a "new wave of strikes" in Tehran, targeting the infrastructure of the "Iranian terror regime".

Israel also warned residents in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon to evacuate as the IDF continued strikes on Hezbollah.

The IDF said earlier that Iranian missiles had been fired towards Israel.

Major stock exchanges in the Asia Pacific gained in morning trade as investors weighed developments in the Middle East.

Japan's Nikkei 225 and South Korea's Kospi indexes each rose by more than 2%. Both countries are heavily reliant on oil that passes through the Strait of Hormuz.

Australia's ASX 200 index was up by more 1.8%.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng exchange and Shanghai's composite each gained by around 1%.

The drop in oil prices on Wednesday suggests the market now thinks the chances of a prolonged supply disruption and other worst-case scenarios are less likely than before, said Goh Jing Rong from the Singapore Management University.

Trump's remarks have raised hopes that the conflict will ease, but the drop in oil prices will only last if there is a "credible follow-through", such as safe passage for vessels from the Gulf, he said.

Energy prices have soared since the war started, as Iran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway which usually sees about 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas pass through each day.

The price of Brent crude rose back above $100 a barrel on Tuesday and even after the latest falls remains much higher than before the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on 28 February.

Governments around the world have announced measures in recent weeks aimed at easing the impact of rising oil prices on their economies.

The heads of some of the world's biggest companies have warned in recent days about the potential implications of the war.

On Tuesday, the boss of energy giant Shell said oil shortages could hit Europe next month.

Wael Sawan, chief executive of Shell, told an energy industry conference in Houston: "South Asia was first to get that brunt. That's moved to South East Asia, North East Asia and then more so into Europe as we get into April."

Larry Fink, the boss of US financial giant BlackRock, told the BBC that a global recession could be triggered if the price of oil hits $150 a barrel.

The cost of crude could stay above $100 - or possibly closer to $150 a barrel - for years if the conflict is not settled and Iran becomes a country that can be accepted again by the international community, he said.

That would hold "profound implications" on the economy and likely lead to a "stark and steep recession".
Next article: Ghana and EU sign landmark defence deal to combat militant Islamist threat

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Russia launches 948 drones at Ukraine in largest attack over 24-hour period

bbc.com International News Mar - 25 - 2026 , 06:53 3 minutes read

Russia has launched the largest aerial attack on Ukraine over a 24-hour period since the war began, hitting cities across the country with 948 drones.

Ukraine's Air Force said 556 drones had been fired since 09:00 local time (07:00 GMT) on Tuesday, in an unusual daytime attack which killed at least three people and injured dozens.

In the western city of Lviv, the 16th century Bernardine monastery - part of a Unesco World Heritage site in the city centre - was damaged, local officials said.

In the neighbouring Ivano-Frankivsk region, a maternity hospital was hit.

Those strikes came after an overnight Russian attack left five people dead. Ukraine said 392 drones and 34 missiles were fired.

In his video address on Tuesday evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the scale of the latest attacks "clearly shows that Russia has no intention of really ending this war".

Russia's military has not publicly commented on the attacks.

A video posted earlier on Tuesday by Lviv authorities showed a fire burning through the roof of a residential building near the Bernardine monastery.

Separate footage posted on social media showed a drone flying lower over the city and hitting the residential building.

Lviv regional head Maksym Kozytskyi said 32 people were injured in the Russian attack.

In the city of Ivano-Frankivsk, two people were killed and another four - including a six-year-old child - were injured, local officials said.

Various buildings - including a maternity hospital - were damaged in the regional capital.

Ternopil - another western Ukrainian city - was also targeted on Tuesday. A number of direct hits were reported by regional authorities, but no casualties.

In the central Ukrainian city of Vinnytsia, one person was killed and 13 injured, regional head Nataliya Zabolotna said.

In the overnight Russian attacks, five people were killed when Russia targeted 11 Ukrainian regions.

Ukraine's Air Force said it had managed to shoot down most of the Russian drones and missiles - but admitted that there were multiple direct hits across the country.

Yurii Ihnat, spokesman of the Ukrainian Air Force, said late on Tuesday that a "large number of drones" had entered Ukrainian airspace from the north of the country, "effectively moving in columns".

"The geography of the strikes during the daytime was broader than at night... It can be said this was one of the largest attacks within a 24-hour period," he said.

While more than four years of war have left virtually no corner of Ukraine untouched, the west of the country has been hit comparatively less intensely and frequently than other areas nearer the Russian border in the east.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and the war continues unabated, with Moscow launching near-daily attacks on cities across the country.

Also on Tuesday, the governor of Russia's western Kursk region said one man was killed and 13 people were injured in a Ukrainian drone attack on an agricultural enterprise.

Talks brokered by the US and aimed at reaching at a peace settlement have stalled since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran in late February.

"Amid the news the world is drowning in every day, we will not let Ukrainian grief get lost, become just another statistic, a headline that will be casually skipped over," wrote Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska on social media.
Featured

Assemblies of God Ghana backs Mahama over withdrawn US honorary degree

Mohammed Ali Mar - 25 - 2026 , 10:28 2 minutes read

The Assemblies of God, Ghana, has thrown its support behind President John Dramani Mahama following the withdrawal of an honorary doctorate by Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, United States.

The church, in a press release issued on March 25, 2026, and signed by its General Secretary, Rev. Ernest Birikorang, said it found it necessary to respond after the university announced its decision.

Lincoln University attributed the withdrawal to unforeseen circumstances but did not provide further details. Ghanas Embassy in the United States later indicated that concerns had been raised by a group over the Presidents perceived stance on the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill currently before Parliament.

According to the Ghana embassy, the decision was taken at the last minute. The honorary degree had already been accepted, and all arrangements for the ceremony completed, with Mr Mahama already in the United States when the communication was made. The ceremony had been scheduled for March 26, 2026.

Lincoln University has long-standing ties with Ghana. Ghanas first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, studied at the institution. The honorary doctorate was intended to recognise Mr Mahamas public service, democratic record and international engagements.

In the statement, Rev. Birikorang described the development as a mark of honour rather than a setback, stating that the decision honours President Mahama and Assemblies of God, Ghana, to which he proudly belongs.

He said Mr Mahama, who is a member of the church, had taken a clear position on matters relating to LGBTQ+ issues.

The statement recalled that ahead of the 2024 general election, Mr Mahama described homosexuality as scripturally or biblically forbidden, morally degrading and culturally unacceptable.

Ghanas Embassy in the United States, in its response, stated that the concerns raised relate to an ongoing legislative process and reflect a broader national debate, not the position of any single individual.

The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill was passed by Parliament in 2024, but was not assented to by the then-President Akufo-Addo. The bill is currently before Parliament again.

The Assemblies of God, Ghana, called on its members in both public and private life to uphold their beliefs and urged the Christian community to pray for the country in relation to the ongoing debate.
See the areas that will be affected by ECG's planned maintenance on Thursday, March 26, 2026

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Gbese Court rejects Abu Tricas attempt to halt US extradition

Justice Agbenorsi Mar - 25 - 2026 , 17:38 1 minute read

The Gbese District Court has dismissed a preliminary objection filed by Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica, against extradition proceedings initiated by the United States.

In a ruling delivered today, the court, presided over by Magistrate Anna Akosua Appiah Gottfried Anaafi Gyasi, held that the offences forming the basis of the extradition, particularly wire fraud, constitute extraditable offences under the 1931 treaty between Ghana and the United States.

Abu Trica is wanted by U.S. authorities on allegations of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Treaty basis

The 1931 extradition treaty provides the legal framework for extradition between the United States and Ghana.

Counsel for the accused had argued that offences such as wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy are not specifically enumerated in the treaty and therefore cannot justify extradition proceedings.

The court, however, disagreed.

Money laundering and conspiracy, though not specifically mentioned in the 1931 treaty, and in the case of Conspiracy and Money Laundering, same has been catered for in the above-named UN Convention. The preliminary legal objection is therefore overruled, the Magistrate ruled.
Featured

Controller partners banks to develop digital payment platform

Chris Nunoo Mar - 25 - 2026 , 12:13 3 minutes read

The Controller and Accountant-General has teamed up with the banking sector to develop an interoperable funds transfer platform which will be the authorised channel for payments by all public sector institutions.

The partnership between the Controller and Accountant-General, the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS) and 24 banks in the country, including the ARB Apex Bank, would ensure that all government payments through the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) are carried out by direct funds transfers only on the GhIPSS Instant Payment (GIP) gateway, and no longer through physical cheques.

By this agreement, the government would no longer permit the payment of any government contract with cheques except through the GIP in an effort to curtail any discrepancies in national expenditure.

Service level agreement

Known as the Service Level Agreement (SLA), the GIP-GIFMIS payment platform is expected to strengthen the management and disbursement of public funds.

The Controller and Accountant-General, Kwasi Agyei, said at the unveiling of the partnership in Accra yesterday that the initiative marked a significant step towards modernising public financial management in the country.

He said it signified a fundamental shift in the handling of public funds, moving decisively from outdated manual systems to a modern, controlled and fully traceable electronic payment system.

For far too long the public sector has relied on manual cheque book systems that are slow, difficult to reconcile and prone to inefficiencies and misuse. That era must end now, he stressed.

The direction is clear; government payments must be electronic, traceable and accountable. Let us advance with determination, ensure compliance without exception and collaborate to protect the public purse, the Controller and Accountant-General said.

Mr Agyei said the Controller and Accountant-Generals Department was responsible for ensuring that every amount spent was properly authorised, traceable and accounted for and that the new reform strengthened that responsibility.

He said the agreement was a demonstration of the strong commitment by all stakeholders to maintain high standards of service delivery, system reliability and financial accountability.

Manual cheque

On the full implementation of the agreement, the CAG explained that the shift from manual cheques will be gradual, but it will be firmly enforced.

He, therefore, urged the Ministries, Departments and Agencies to comply, stressing that We will facilitate this transition with clear guidelines, structured training and effective change management.

He commended the teams from the CAGD, Bank of Ghana and the GhIPSS for their diligence in developing the SLA, and said their technical expertise and dedication made the achievement possible.

The Deputy Minister of Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, said the reform would enhance accountability because it left footprints, created auditable trails and strengthened oversight.

It also enhanced the ability of the government to manage liquidity, monitor commitments in real time and enforce expenditure discipline, he added.

By enabling end-to-end electronic payments from government accounts through the banking system, we significantly reduce processing time, eliminate manual bottlenecks and improve service delivery across Ministries, Department and Agencies.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Association of Banks, John Awuah, for his part, said the collaboration was initiated to ensure that all government payments on state accounts with universal banks went through the same electronic transfer process to extend the efficiency, transparency and security of government payments.

In that regard, Mr Awuah said the banks were excited to see the coming to fruition of the agreement to ensure that other universal banks which hitherto used manual payment systems would be brought on board the electronic payment system.

The event was also attended by the Acting General Manager, Projects and Business Development, Akosua Blay, and Eric Hammond from the Office of the Governor of the Bank of Ghana.
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Only 44% of Big Push projects awarded through sole sourcing - Roads Minister tells Parliament

Nana Konadu Agyeman Mar - 25 - 2026 , 12:52 4 minutes read

The Minister of Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has told Parliament that only 44 per cent of all the major contracts included in the Big Push programme were awarded on a sole-sourcing basis, and not what had been published by an online portal.

He said the ministry awarded over 400 different advertised contracts through open competitive bidding, which he described as unprecedented.

This is because the records show that from 2017 to 2024, almost all projects that the ministry carried out were sole-sourced, the minister said.

Giving an update on the status of the implementation of the Big Push infrastructure programme in Parliament yesterday, Mr Agbodza said, given the scale, urgency and national importance of the national project, a mix of procurement methods was employed in accordance with the law.

It will, therefore, be mischievous for any right-thinking member of society to conclude that the Ministry of Roads and Highways only procured works through sole sourcing, he said.

No scandal

The minister stated that in the implementation of the Big Push programme, Parliament exercised continuous oversight, with questions answered regularly on the floor of the House.

Independent professional bodies, he said, validated the project cost, while procurement processes complied with the established legal framework.

Mr Agbodza explained that there was no abuse of the sole sourcing programme.

Indeed, no procurement law or any other law has been breached, and definitely, there is no scandal, he said.

The minister pointed out that the current government had not awarded over GH70 billion worth of work under the Big Push programme.

He said GH54 billion was for new works and that 23 projects were inherited, costing another GH14.8 billion.

I say today as a minister that almost the GH110 billion worth of projects inherited were all procured through sole sourcing, he said.

Mr Agbodza said there was spurious information online that 76 per cent of the projects were sole-sourced.

It is also false as only about 44 per cent of those projects were procured through sole sourcing, he said.

And I state on record, Mr Speaker, we are making progress as a House and as a country to make sure that much of our procurement is done competitively, he said.

He said those who claimed to have done the so-called analysis based on data the ministry submitted to them freely did not help the country.

Because if they did due diligence, they would have known that those percentages they put out were pure fabrications and false, he said.

The minister said the government had taken steps to improve the procurement process.

He added that he supported the fact that the Suame interchange should be procured through sole sourcing because it was urgent and we needed to do it.

When the Motorway was awarded to a foreign company and the company could not raise the financing, I was one of the first people to say, let us terminate the work and get a Ghanaian contractor to do it.

In this House, we also agreed that the project should be awarded on sole sourcing to the contractor Maripoma, he said.

President Mahama is not in the business of skewing anything to disadvantage the people of Ghana.

Big Push projects are on site, they are ongoing and shall be completed on schedule and on budget, he said and tabled all the advertisements of the over 400 projects that were competitively awarded.

Heavy investment

Mr Agbodza told the House that President Mahama dedicated the first two years of the Big Push programme to address the unprecedented, deplorable state of the road network.

He said through the Big Push infrastructure programme, launched in 2025, the government was investing heavily in repairing critical roads, upgrading key economic corridors, creating jobs and reducing the cost of doing business across all 16 regions.

He said the programme placed strong emphasis on Ghanaian contractors and workers, helping to strengthen local technical expertise in the construction sector.

Having received strong support from Parliament, he said the House had approved nearly GH50 billion for those multi-year road and bridge projects.

He told the House that currently, there were over 2000 kilometres of roads in all 16 regions undergoing extensive transformation.
Featured

Slavery is criminal: President Mahama declares at UN - Tables motion for reparations, voting today

Pacome Emmanuel Damalie Mar - 25 - 2026 , 12:57 5 minutes read

President John Dramani Mahama has challenged the global community to confront the full horror of the transatlantic slave trade and embrace reparative justice as a pathway to healing, in a spirited appeal to an assembly of global figures.

Speaking at the United Nations Headquarters in New York yesterday at the UN High-Level Special Event on Reparatory Justice, President Mahama began his eight-page address with a provocative declaration: "There is no such thing as a slave".

Explaining his assertion, President Mahama stated: "There were human beings who were trafficked and then enslaved by people who believed they could own those human beings as chattel, as their personal property".

He emphasised that the distinction was critical, indicating: "Not if you acknowledge an individual's humanity; not if you respect an individual's basic right to dignity".

President Mahama described the transatlantic slave trade as a system "designed to deny African people their humanity", premised on a racial hierarchy "with no basis in fact or science".

"When discussing slavery and its resulting institutions and practices, we must always start by reclaiming racial equality, the dignity of Africans, the humanity of our ancestors who were enslaved and, as a matter of course, our own humanity," he said.

Tabling motion, voting today

The Presidents speech preceded the expected formal tabling of the motion at the event and the subsequent vote on the subject, both today.

While the call for reparatory justice for slavery and the slave trade had been pushed by various actors across the ages, none had ever come this close to receiving the ultimate attention at this level of a global conference.

For this purpose, President Mahama was named the African Union Champion on Reparations.

Rationale

President Mahama said the resolution offered the global community an opportunity to collectively bear witness to the plight of the 18 million men, women and children whose homes, communities, names, families, hopes, dreams, futures and lives were stolen from them over the course of four centuries.

He affirmed that the resolution was a pathway to healing and reparative justice, and a safeguard against forgetting the history of slavery and the slave trade.

The President recounted the cruelty under which several Africans were captured, underscoring the need to recognise the suffering of Africans.

Violence begins with language; when words are used as weapons, or to codify abuse; when people are called names. Regardless of their state of dress when they were captured, enslaved Africans were always stripped of their clothing while being kept in the dungeons of the fortresses that had been built by the Europeans.

They were forced, with their limbs chained and shackled, onto the cargo hold of a ship.

They remained naked, packed like sardines, during the months-long journey through the Middle Passage, he said.

While slaves were ultimately taken successfully to other parts of the world, it did not come without a fight by some who chose to end it all by jumping overboard to face certain death, while some ships also sank with chained slaves on board, President Mahama narrated.

He said: 10 to 15 per cent of enslaved people died in the Middle Passage.

Whenever a ship did arrive at its destination, the enslaved people, still naked, were taken to the market, where they were inspected and appraised, like livestock.

They were then placed on an auction block in front of an audience of potential buyers and sold to the highest bidder, he added.

The purchase of slaves also established the master-slave relationship, with slaves forced to take the names of their owners, while others were simply described as boy or girl or given derogatory names such as the N-word.

Destinations

Further on the slavery statistics, the President indicated that roughly six million enslaved Africans were trafficked to Brazil, which is the fifth largest nation in the world, stretching 4,400 kilometres from north to south and 4,320 kilometres from east to west.

Also, almost two million enslaved Africans were trafficked to Jamaica, which was the most profitable of all the sugar-producing locations.

The island is 235 kilometres long and between 34 and 84 kilometres wide, depending on a measurers location, President Mahama said.

About 500,000 enslaved Africans were trafficked to America. From the early 17th century, when the first ship arrived, to the mid-19th century, when chattel slavery was abolished, America grew from three colonies to an independent nation with 36 states.

Over 450,000 enslaved Africans were trafficked to Barbados, an island that is 34 kilometres long and 23 kilometres wide, President Mahama added.

Meanwhile, before the trafficking of enslaved Africans, the President explained, plantation labour in Barbados came from white indentured servants, who were usually Irish, white folks who were eventually granted freedom and also difficult to recapture when they ran away, as they could blend with the larger white population.

Racial equality

President Mahama encouraged all to start by reclaiming racial equality, the dignity of Africans, and the humanity of ancestors who were enslaved when discussing slavery and its resulting institutions and practices.

He indicated that while people would sometimes try to put a disclaimer on slavery by insisting that contemporary social norms could not be used to judge the actions and events that took place in past eras, it was a wrong assertion.

Just because everybody is doing something doesnt make it right.

Slavery is wrong now, and it was wrong then.

For as long as Africans have been trafficked and enslaved, there have been abolitionists who have spoken up against it, he said.

Vote

President Mahama called on leaders of the African Union member states to back the motion and bring justice to the enslaved Africans who suffered cruelty between the 14th and 18th centuries.

I hope all of you will vote tomorrow to speak truth to power so that together we can pass this historic resolution and finally acknowledge the full horror of these transgressions against the humanity of the 18 million human beings who were enslaved, he stated.
Featured

Man held over alleged attack on girlfriend and fatal assault on her mother

Mohammed Ali Mar - 25 - 2026 , 09:43 2 minutes read

The Kadjebi District Police Command has arrested a 36-year-old farmer in connection with the killing of an 80-year-old woman in the Oti Region.

A police press release issued on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, said the suspect, Chalim Madzaton, also known as Peter Tano, was apprehended at a hideout in Kpaya, a suburb of Ahamansu, following an intelligence-led operation.

He is currently in custody in connection with the death of Dakolor Semaka, who is reported to be the mother of his girlfriend.

The police said the incident occurred on March 24, 2026, when officers received a report that the suspect had attacked his girlfriend, Yaa Tugbenyo, 55, and her mother at their residence in Mangoase, near Kadjebi.

According to the police, Ms Tugbenyo managed to escape during the attack but later returned to find her mother lying motionless on the floor.

Officers who visited the scene found the body of the deceased lying on her back with visible signs of violence. The scene was subsequently processed, and photographs were taken to aid investigations.

A medical officer at St Mary Theresa Hospital later confirmed her death. The body has since been deposited at the hospitals morgue for preservation and autopsy.

Madzaton remains in police custody, assisting with investigations, and is expected to be put before court.

The statement was signed by John Nchor, Deputy Superintendent of Police at the Public Affairs Unit of the Oti Regional Police Command.
Stand on the right side of history  President Mahama urges UN to back slavery resolution

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NAIMOS destroys 3,000 changfans, arrests 237 in ten-month galamsey crackdown

Mohammed Ali Mar - 25 - 2026 , 15:28 2 minutes read

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has destroyed nearly 3,000 changfans and arrested 237 persons during operations across 21 designated zones nationwide.

The Director of Operations, Dominic Buah, disclosed this at a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, stating that the figures cover ten months of operations since the secretariat became fully operational.

Colonel Buah said the majority of those arrested were foreigners, including Chinese nationals, although he did not provide a detailed breakdown by nationality.

He added that NAIMOS recorded an operational strike rate of 87 points, based on internal data compiled by its Directorate of Research.

The operations span seven illegal mining-prone regions, structured into 21 zones to enhance surveillance and enforcement.

Four of the zones cover the Western, Central, Eastern and Ashanti regions, while the Western North Region has been divided into three sectorsEnchi, Bibiani and Sefwi. The remaining zones cover the Bono and Ahafo enclave, as well as the northern Savannah belt.

Colonel Buah explained that the zones were established to target illegal mining activities, particularly around water bodies, forest reserves and critical national installations.

He noted that NAIMOS draws personnel from key security agencies, including the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police Service, National Intelligence Bureau, the Immigration Service and the Narcotics Control Commission.

On land restoration, Colonel Buah said the secretariat is supervising reclamation efforts, citing Manso Adubia in the Ashanti Region, where more than 800 acres of degraded land have been restored.

He added that the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, was present during the reclamation exercise.

NAIMOS operates under a ministerial advisory group chaired by the Lands Minister and comprising the Ministers for the Interior, Defence, Finance and Local Government, the Attorney-General, the National Security Coordinator and the Executive Secretary to the President. Colonel Buah said the group meets regularly to review operations and allocate resources.

On efforts to curb illegal mining sustainably, Colonel Buah said a Responsible Cooperative and Skill Development Programme is being rolled out to provide alternative livelihoods.

He explained that district assemblies are registering miners and allocating authorised sites for regulated mining activities.

Colonel Buah added that NAIMOS will provide quarterly updates on its operational progress.
Featured

NAIMOS probes illegal 'gold washing' in homes

Mohammed Ali Mar - 25 - 2026 , 15:06 3 minutes read

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has announced plans to investigate reports of illegal gold washing allegedly being carried out within residential premises.

The Director of Operations of NAIMOS, Dominic Buah, said the development suggests that aspects of the illegal mining value chain are shifting into private homes.

He made the remarks at a press briefing in Accra on March 25, 2026, where he provided an update on the secretariats ongoing operations.

Responding to the concerns, Colonel Buah said intelligence teams would be deployed to verify suspected locations, adding that the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) would support efforts to track such activities.

He explained that NAIMOS relies heavily on intelligence-driven operations, supported by information from communities and security agencies.

NAIMOS operations are conducted from three main legs. First of all, it is intelligence-led. We have a wide array of intelligence staff locally deployed on the ground. People do not know them, but they give us up-to-date information on what is happening on the ground, he said.

Colonel Buah said reports from chiefs, civil society organisations and residents are assessed thoroughly before any action is taken.

A lot of the time, chiefs send petitions, as do communities and civil society organisations. Once these petitions get to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, they are scrutinised and evaluated, then NAIMOS is directed to act, he added.

He said Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) are required to notify NAIMOS ahead of any anti-illegal mining operations to ensure coordination and accountability.

So the MMDAs can also conduct operations, but they have to inform NAIMOS. Forty-eight hours before they conduct an operation, they need to inform us, and after the operation, they have to render an account. Accountability is important in this field, he said.

Colonel Buah also raised concerns about the presence of children in illegal mining areas, describing the situation as worrying.

One issue we have observed is the presence of children in the space. There are minors there and that is a concern, he said.

He added that the matter has been referred to the appropriate authorities, including the Department of Social Welfare, for further action.

On land restoration efforts, Colonel Buah disclosed that more than 800 acres of degraded land at Manso Adubia in the Ashanti Region have been reclaimed under NAIMOS supervision.

These are gains we are making, he said.

He explained that NAIMOS operations involve collaboration with multiple security and regulatory bodies, including the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police Service, NIB, Immigration Service and the Narcotics Control Commission.

The secretariat also works with institutions such as the Minerals Commission, Forestry Commission, Water Resources Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Colonel Buah emphasised that community support remains critical in identifying and addressing illegal mining activities across the country.
Featured

UN declares slave trade gravest crime against humanity in Ghana-led resolution

GraphicOnline Mar - 25 - 2026 , 18:05 3 minutes read

The United Nations General Assembly has today (March 25, 2026) officially recognised the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity, in a landmark resolution proposed by Ghana and backed by 123 member states.

The move, aimed at promoting healing and reparative justice, urges countries to consider formal apologies and contribute to a reparations framework, though it does not specify financial amounts.

The resolution, adopted despite opposition from the United States, Israel and Argentina, and abstentions from 52 countries including the United Kingdom and members of the European Union, represents a significant step in the international acknowledgment of historical injustices inflicted on Africa. Ghanas Foreign Minister, Samuel Ablakwa, said the resolution underscores the need for accountability for centuries of enslavement and colonisation.

Speaking on behalf of the African Union at the UN General Assembly in New York, President John Dramani Mahama called for global support, framing the resolution as a moral imperative. Let it be recorded that when history beckoned, we did what was right for the memory of the millions who suffered the indignity of slavery. Let our vote on this resolution restore their dignity and humanity, he said.

The draft resolution, titled Declaration of the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans and Racialised Chattel Enslavement of Africans as the Gravest Crime Against Humanity, also advocates for the return of cultural artefacts, reforms to global systems to ensure equitable opportunities, and protections for Africans and the diaspora. President Mahama emphasised that neutrality on such moral issues serves injustice, quoting Theodore Roosevelt: With a great moral issue involved, neutrality does not serve righteousness; for to be neutral between right and wrong is to serve wrong.

The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the resolution but called for far bolder action from member states to confront the lingering structures of racial inequality and white supremacy that continue to affect people of African descent. He urged the dismantling of false narratives in media, education, and politics and stressed that leaders must use power constructively to address systemic racism and promote inclusive development.

The resolution is part of broader efforts by African and Caribbean nations to seek accountability for historical injustices, including proposals for a dedicated UN reparations tribunal. Ablakwa said the initiative could pave the way for a reparative framework that addresses not only historical wrongs but their ongoing consequences in economic and social disparities.

President Mahama underscored the importance of remembering the victims of the slave trade, estimated at over 12.5 million people, and using their memory as a basis for collective healing. Through these activities, we do more than remember. We document and educate; we gain a greater perspective; we find the delicate balance of learning from history so we do not repeat it, while leaving the pain behind. In doing so, we begin to heal, individually, within our immediate communities, and within the global community, he said.
When the U.S. Constitution was being worked on, James Madison, one of the primary authors, had a number of ideas that really rocked the boat.

The other founders suggested that he propose his radical ideas to the various states as amendments and they could be included if they passed. Over 21 ideas went out and about 12 got a lot of traction. Of the 12, 10 were passed and became the bill of rights.

In the early 1980s, Greg Watson, a young college student in Texas, wrote a paper that claimed congressional pay, one of the 12 draft amendments, might just be able to still get passed. His professor gave him a low grade and Watson then went to work.

By 1992, it became the 27th Amendment and it took 202 years to pass. Legislative pay always carries a strong message from the people to their representatives.

As I mentioned last week, my effort to limit Guam senator compensation to $12,000 a year is moving forward. About 37 of the U.S. states have part-time legislatures and most meet about 40 to 60 days a year. Montana, Nevada, North Dakota and Texas have legislatures that meet every other year.

There are a wide variety of models, but the Guam Legislature meeting times are set in the Guam Organic Act, which is a federal law.

While we cant make the Guam Legislature part-time, we can cut their pay and make them go out and get real jobs. If we had this $12,000 a year model, we could have regular people with regular jobs run. Where are the young mothers in the legislature? Where are the teachers or doctors?

We need to make our senators connect with normal people again and realize that they have ignored the voters. Lets send them a message. Whether we cut their pay or not, it is better to be feared than loved. And our senators simply do not fear the voters.

If our senators represented districts, we could go after them when they are losers. Right now, they hide in the herd and it is very difficult to vote them out.

We have six open legislative slots that could be designated for district representation. We can have a mixed system like the U.S. Virgin Islands. Our senators simply do not care, to be frank.

If you look at legislative election results, a number of Democrats in particular benefit from bullet or limited choice voting. These greedy folks think that having the highest numbers possible makes them special or more powerful. The exact opposite is true.

Bullet vote recipients often collapse and get voted out on a regular basis. This voting method makes the Democrat party very weak and it marginalizes other candidates by denying them support.

Because of my full-time job, I have spent 30 years observing the Guam Legislature. I have talked to and known nearly every elected senator since 1996. As a point in my job, I actively do this. I also read every bill, every resolution and I watch every hearing available.

In recent years, the overall quality and decorum of the Guam Legislature has declined. When candidates are first elected to the Legislature, they often get held captive and enfeebled by the staff. They become mushroomsfed on crap and kept in the dark.

The staff then often push longstanding bad ideas that would not get past more seasoned senators. Because new senators are clueless, they become dependent on bad ideas and bad advice. Since no one at the Legislature works from a data basis, we have bad policy heaped on other bad policies year in and year out.

All else equal, the Guam Legislature should follow the Nebraska model and be organized on a non-partisan basis. The budget should be passed first also according to the Nebraska method.

All else equal, our senators could get their job done in less than 40 legislative days per year. Going to funerals or other public events is not work. It is simply a method to get re-elected.

Our senators should reform the Guam Code and take out unfunded mandates and junk laws. The initiative process should be corrected and aligned with the U.S. Virgin Islands method.

We should go back to 21 senators and use districts, all else equal. The Legislature should call a constitutional convention and a commonwealth convention.

The racial policies interwoven with our elections process should be corrected. Guam could simply let a non-government organization handle self-determination.

Independent candidates should be allowed to run for office and be treated fairly by our election processes. I am deeply concerned Guam has some serious Voting Rights Act concerns and no one seems to really care.

Finally, our current president likes to make deals and no one in the political process here seems to understand this. We live in a community represented by elected cowards. No one seems to have the courage to lead.

Maybe this will change, but we have to send a message.
Press release

Another protest over the actions of the administration of President Donald Trump is set in Havre Saturday, March 28, joining an planned international Day of Action.

People from Havre and the surrounding area will join with millions of people across the United States in the third No Kings Day of Action, a release from organizers said. The Havre No Kings 3 event will be one of many planned across Montana, including Billings, Missoula, Helena, Bozeman, Great Falls and Kalispell, as well as many smaller Montana towns like Cut Bank, Fort Benton, Dillon, West Yellowstone, Eureka, Miles City and Glendive.

More than 2,000 events are planned in the U.S, and No Kings 3 events are also being organized in other countries.

Montana is a state where people believe strongly in self-government, checks and balances, and the rule of law. We are gathering to assure people that they are not alone if they are frightened or upset by the authoritarian actions of the federal government, and we urge them to join us on March 28, said Karen Datko of Indivisible Havre, a local pro-democracy group organizing the Havre demonstration. By gathering for No Kings 3, we are also affirming that in America, power belongs to the people  not to any one individual.

The Havre demonstration is the ninth organized by local volunteers to protest what they say are unlawful and authoritarian actions by the federal government  depriving people of their rights and access to basic services while empowering and enriching billionaires.

The Havre event will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the north sidewalk of First Street West near First Avenue West. No Kings signs will be provided, and people are encouraged to bring their own handmade signs. For more information about No Kings and to find an event closest to you, go to https://www.nokings.org .

The global No Kings movement  a peaceful, nonpartisan effort  is a citizen-led initiative advocating for democratic principles, the separation of powers, and the fundamental American idea that no public official is above the law.

A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action and no civil disobedience. Organizers expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with participants values, and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events.
A list of dignitaries and officials joined a crowd of some 100 community members and Northern Montana Health Care staff and administrators for a groundbreaking that speakers said would expand and improve the care at Northern Montana Hospital for decades to come.

Work starts Tuesday on expanding the emergency room and intensive care unit facilities at Northern, with some 31,000 square feet of new construction and 18,000 square feet of remodeling that will provide nearly 50,000 square feet of space to house state-of-the art equipment.

"It is one of hour highest honors to be able to care for the Hi-Line, and this expansion project is our commitment and dedication to our community and to our staff to provide state-of-the-art medicine to the HI-Line for many years to come," Northern Montana Health Care CEO Dr. Kevin Harada said before the groundbreaking. "We will grow and adapt to the challenges that are coming for rural health care. This building project is only the beginning of what Northern Montana Health Care will be."

Harada said that, although it has had some location and name changes, the organization has been caring for the community a long time. He said he found documents of incorporation from 1925.

Havre's Sacred Heart Hospital and Deaconness Hospital merged into a newly built facility - Northern Montana Hospital - in 1975.

"The building behind me is built on a 50-year-(old) foundation, but the care provided within these walls has been built for more than a century," he said

Northern Montana Health Care Board Chair Rick Stevens agreed.

"These are truly exciting times for Northern, Montana Hospital, Northern Montana Health Care," Stevens said. "... The completion of this project will allow Northern Montana Hospital to continue to provide state-of-the-art health care for those who need high-quality medical assistance. That is our sole reason for being here, and we're excited about the future."

Stevens, and others, thanked former Northern Montana Health Care CEO and President Dave Henry and former Northern Montana Health Care Board Chair Miles Hamilton for their vision and work in bringing the expansion project to a reality.

Stevens said Henry brought the idea to the board, and he gives Henry great thanks, "because this is something that is very needed, very necessary."

Dr. Karrie Lien said the hospital, and its staff, have deep connections to the Hi-Line. She graduated from Kremlin-Gildford High School - "You know you're old when your school no longer exists," she said, Harada is a Havre High graduate and many others have deep roots in the area.

And even people who are not originally from the area settle in and become part of the community and are dedicated to helping care for it, she added.

She said it is exciting to watch the project actually begin.

"And now we're just going to have to finish it," she said, "and we have five certified robotic surgeons and this building is going to house two high-quality robots, and that's going to allow us here on the Hi-Line to take care of each other for way past when I'm here."

Harada asked community members to be patient and forgiving with the noise, detours and mess the construction project will create, saying the rewards will be more than worth it.

The project, building the new facility and then remodeling the existing space so no break will occur in service, is expected to be completed in two-and-a-half years.
Amazon's cloud service AWS was also interrupted in Bahrain due to drone activity. The disruption in the United Arab Emirates has not yet been resolved. This is according to a report by Reuters and the cloud service's status page. Amazon has confirmed to the news agency that the AWS region Bahrain is disrupted and that customers are being helped to migrate to other data centers. There is no further information on the status page yet. After it previously only stated that the technology in Bahrain was affected, the status has now merely been changed to interrupted. It is unclear whether data centers were directly hit or isolated for security reasons.

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Targeted Iranian attacks on AWS

The first AWS data centers in the region were damaged shortly after the outbreak of war in early March. Initially, AWS stated that they were hit by objects. Only noticeably later did the cloud company confirm that the ongoing disruptions were due to drone impacts and thus directly related to the fighting in the region. Two facilities in the United Arab Emirates were directly hit, while a drone crashed near one in Bahrain. The hits resulted in structural damage and also impacted the power supply. The US corporation advised switching AWS regions at the time.

What exactly happened in Bahrain now is still unclear. On Reddit, there are some reports that almost all cloud locations there have failed. On the AWS status page, only numerous affected services and one disrupted service are mentioned; the information is apparently no longer up-to-date. Since the USA and Israel have been carrying out air strikes on Iran, the Islamic Republic has been retaliating with attacks on direct neighbors in the Persian Gulf. According to a state news agency, the attacks on AWS were intentional, targeting strategic objectives because they supported military and intelligence activities of the enemy.

Read also Iran: Drone attacks on AWS in UAE and Bahrain were allegedly intentional

(mho)

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 USA will immediately stop allowing new routers for the consumer market unless they are manufactured in the USA. The regulatory authority FCC shocked the market with this on Monday (local time). This does not only refer to assembly; rather, the entire manufacturing chain, from design to chips to software, must be exclusively located in the USA and be provided by companies with US ownership and management. This affects routers with and without wireless capabilities.

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National security is cited as the reason for the comprehensive ban is cited as the reason for the comprehensive ban. The problem: We have not yet found any consumer router models that are completely manufactured in the USA in terms of volume.

Already approved models may continue to be used and sold. However, the ban, with a rule change from December, means that firmware or software updates for already approved models would also be inadmissible immediately. An exemption permit allows certain software updates until March 1, 2027.

The exception apparently does not apply to updates that introduce new functions. However, security vulnerabilities can still be closed for now, and compatibility issues with operating systems can still be resolved. It remains to be seen whether this permit for restricted software or firmware updates will be extended at the beginning of 2027.

High Hurdles for Exemption Permits

Exemption permits are possible, but they come with such high requirements that only a few manufacturers would likely undertake them. [Update 5:27 AM from here] A separate application is required for each model. This applies to routers that enter general distribution, as well as those distributed by internet providers to customers or sold wholesale for use in companies.

First, the application must include extensive information on company structure, partners and any joint ventures, owners with five percent or more, management, and any possible influence by foreign governments. This is followed by the disclosure of competitive circumstances: all components (bill of materials) including their country of origin, the holders of all relevant intellectual property rights, who is responsible for software updates, where exactly the routers are manufactured, assembled, and tested, where firmware and software come from, information on all single points of failure in the supply chain including alternative plans, and above all, a justification why the device is not manufactured in the USA, why the specific foreign sources were chosen, and what alternatives exist.

Finally, each exemption applicant must submit a detailed, time-bound plan for establishing or expanding production in the USA for the respective router. This must be detailed, including already issued and planned investment sums, sources of funds, and exact timelines and milestones. In case of approval, quarterly progress reports are mandatory, and each subsequent application must account for progress on commitments from previous approvals.

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Ministry of War or Homeland Security

The application must be submitted to either the Ministry of War or the Department of Homeland Security. Any permits granted will only be for a limited time. On the one hand, circumstances can change, and on the other hand, this serves as leverage to ensure the relocation of production to the USA. And this is meant comprehensively: Production generally includes any major stage of the process through which the device is made, including manufacturing, assembly, design, and development.

The concept is explicitly based on the ban on new foreign drone models, which the FCC announced shortly before Christmas. A week ago, the authority issued the first exemption permits: three drone models and a software-defined radio for drones are allowed to apply for distribution permits until the end of the year.

What is a Router?

It is doubtful whether the effort is worthwhile for consumer-grade routers, which typically yield only small margins. This leads to the question of what exactly the FCC means by consumer-grade routers. The authority initially refers to the published summary of a determination by unnamed US intelligence agencies, which in turn refers to a publication by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

In September 2024, NIST submitted proposals to strengthen the  undeniably modest  IT security of routers (NIST IR 8425A). It states: Routers forward data packets, most commonly Internet Protocol (IP) packets, between networked systems. The FCC does not say more than that.

This encompasses a wide range of devices, from WLAN repeaters to smartphones, and also depends on their specific use. What exactly is meant might depend on the mood at the FCC. It mentions various problems and IT attacks that have been facilitated by security vulnerabilities in routers. It consistently speaks of foreign routers, which is true because there are no domestic ones according to the FCC's definition. The authority does not present arguments that hypothetically US-manufactured routers would be safer.

At the same time, the FCC points out that it is not responsible for the ban but only for its announcement and enforcement. The order comes from unnamed US intelligence agencies. Nevertheless, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr explicitly welcomes the order and is pleased that foreign-produced routers, which were found to pose an unacceptable national security risk, have been added to the FCC's Covered List.

heise online asked the FCC whether it classifies open-source software as domestically produced.

Read also in the heise online archive US-Regierung will Netzwerke und Apps von Chinesen "saubern"

(ds)

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 serious security vulnerability in the products Windchill and FlexPLM prompted police action across Germany over the weekend. At the instigation of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), police officers were deployed nationwide to alert affected companies -- an unprecedented procedure. The administrators, thus disturbed in their weekend, expressed irritation -- some do not even use the vulnerable software.

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When the editorial office received a tip late Sunday morning about a critical security vulnerability in Windchill and FlexPLM, it sounded like a routine report: a deserialization vulnerability in specialized software, even with a maximum CVSS score of 10, doesn't usually cause a stir at heise security. Apparently, the BKA reacted quite differently: By then, it had already alerted the state criminal investigation offices (LKA) in various federal states, which sent police officers to affected companies during the night. As several readers reported in the forum, police officers were at company and private premises in the middle of the night.

3:30 AM in Germany

Their unusual mission: The officers handed over a copy of the letter to the sleepy administrators, which manufacturer PTC had already sent to all customers the day before and which contained instructions for a hotfix. An affected party reports: The police were at our door at 3:30 AM. A production employee then informed the managing director, who informed me or a colleague. He wonders about the urgency of the action: Our servers are only accessible internally and cannot communicate with the WAN. The number of authorized clients is also severely restricted (different VLAN).

Another reader received a call around 2:45 AM on Sunday morning, which he initially took as a joke -- until the police rang his doorbell shortly thereafter. And to no avail: Although his company uses PTC products, they are not the ones affected by the security vulnerability.

In response to our inquiry, several state criminal investigation offices confirmed the procedure. In a statement, the LKA Thuringia writes: The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) provided the LKA Thuringia with a list of affected companies located in Thuringia. The Central Contact Point for Cybercrime (ZAC) Thuringia then initiated personal contact and attempted to establish telephone contact if personal contact was not made. The goal was to raise awareness and initiate protective measures as quickly as possible. The companies reached had already been informed by PTC Inc. and had taken security measures.

BKA, PTC, BSI ...

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The coordinated and extremely personnel-intensive procedure -- unofficially, over a thousand affected customers in Germany are mentioned -- is very unusual and unique in Germany to date. Especially since neither the federal authority responsible for IT security in Germany, the BSI, nor its US counterpart CISA (Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency) have issued any particularly loud warnings so far. The BSI published a notice on Monday midday in the Warning and Information Service, while CISA remains silent. Its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list's most recent entry is from March 20th and concerns Apple products.

We asked the BKA, the BSI, and manufacturer PTC for a statement on this very unusual procedure. While PTC and the BKA had not yet responded by early Monday afternoon, the BSI commented cautiously. A spokesperson informed us that the evaluation criteria for security vulnerabilities include in particular the characteristics of the vulnerability itself, but also the prevalence of the product and other -- possibly mitigating -- framework conditions. A decisive factor is the information provided to users by the manufacturer itself. To the best of the BSI's knowledge, the manufacturer has informed all customers. Furthermore, the BSI had informed KRITIS operators separately, the agency spokesperson continued: This is an advantage of registration with the BSI, also within the scope of NIS2.

Schrodinger's IoC

Also puzzling is PTC's official stance that they currently have no evidence of confirmed exploitation affecting PTC customers. Because: Just a few lines below this sentence, apparently intended to reassure customers, PTC lists very specific Indicators of Compromise (IoC), including the presence of a specific class file (GW.class) on attacked systems. If this file is found on a Windchill server, it indicates that the attacker has successfully weaponized the system before executing Remote Code Execution (RCE). Schrodinger's IoC: An attacker exists, and malicious code exists on target systems -- yet according to their own statement, no successful attacks have occurred.

We have also asked PTC for a statement on this discrepancy. By early Monday afternoon, the manufacturer had not yet released any patches for the security vulnerability, and the CVE ID CVE-2026-4681 has been added in the meantime. This identifier is necessary to ensure inclusion in structured lists, such as Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) feeds.

(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.
The study, commissioned by SuomiAreena and the Nordic Council of Ministers and conducted by Verian, found that only 4 per cent of respondents believe the United States increases trust in the world. The figure places the US alongside China and India at 3 per cent and above Russia at 1 per cent.

A new survey shows that 80 per cent of Finns believe trust in society has weakened in recent years, with confidence in the United States falling to one of the lowest levels among major global powers.

The findings reflect a wider decline in confidence both domestically and internationally. At the same time, trust remains strongest in Finlands own institutions and in cooperation with neighbouring Nordic countries.

The Finnish Defence Forces ranked as the most trusted institution, with 67 per cent of respondents expressing confidence. The president followed at 52 per cent and the police at 51 per cent. By contrast, only 3 per cent said political parties increase trust, while parliament and the prime minister scored 9 per cent and 10 per cent respectively.

SuomiAreena chief executive Antti Lehtinen said recent crises have shaped public attitudes. Crises such as the war in Ukraine, the pandemic, a weak economic situation and uncertainty combined with a polarised discussion culture are reflected in the results, he said in a statement.

Trust in international actors showed a clear regional pattern. Nordic cooperation was viewed as a stabilising force, with 80 per cent saying it increases trust in society and 67 per cent pointing to Nordic countries themselves as strengthening confidence. A total of 84 per cent described the Nordic region as the best place to live.

Among international organisations, NATO ranked highest, with 44 per cent saying it increases trust. The European Union and the Nordic Council followed behind.

The survey also highlighted scepticism toward major global powers beyond the United States. China and India received similarly low trust scores, while Russia ranked lowest overall.

Domestically, social cohesion remains relatively strong despite broader concerns. Around 79 per cent of respondents said they trust other people, but 66 per cent reported frequent concern about the direction of social trust. Only 39 per cent expect trust to improve over the next five years.

The study also examined attitudes toward knowledge and technology. Finnish universities were widely seen as reliable, with 75 per cent expressing confidence in them as sources of information. Views on artificial intelligence were more cautious, with 26 per cent saying it will improve their lives within five years and 44 per cent expecting benefits for the country.

The results are based on responses from 1,024 people aged between 18 and 84, collected between February and March 2026. The margin of error is approximately 3.1 percentage points.

HT
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said the ministry will assess options to respond if the crisis deepens and continues over time. Speaking after a government meeting, Orpo said the conflict has already led to higher fuel prices and rising interest rates, with further pressure expected on heating, transport and food costs.

Finlands government has ordered the finance ministry to prepare measures in case the economic impact of the Middle East war worsens, as rising energy prices begin to affect households.

We cannot make rushed decisions, he said. Every euro must be used in the best possible way.

The government has faced repeated calls to support households as costs increase. Oil prices have risen following attacks on Iran and disruption to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, while borrowing costs have also climbed.

Orpo said the government has received updates from the foreign ministry and the National Emergency Supply Agency on the situation and its potential impact on Finland.

If the crisis continues and deepens, it will be seen in heating costs, transport costs and food prices, he said. These effects will be hard on households and the economy.

The finance ministry has now been tasked with examining tools that could be used if conditions worsen. Orpo described this as the most concrete step available at this stage.

Finance Minister Riikka Purra said the length of the conflict will determine the scale of its economic impact on Finland and Europe. She warned that public finances are already under strain.

We have a very tight situation in public finances, she said. We do not have buffers for unexpected crises or war-related shocks.

Purra added that Finland has less room to act than some neighbouring countries. We do not have the same flexibility in the economy as Sweden, she said.

The government has not yet committed to specific measures. Proposals raised in political debate include reducing fuel taxes or lowering the biofuel distribution requirement, which sets quotas for renewable fuel use.

Sweden has already proposed temporary cuts to petrol and diesel taxes and increased electricity support in response to rising costs.

In Finland, the issue has gained urgency after political leaders called for action on fuel prices earlier this week. However, Orpo said decisions will depend on how the situation develops.

The government discussed the economic outlook and the impact of the Iran conflict during its budget planning session. Further decisions are expected as assessments continue.

The International Energy Agency has warned that the conflict could trigger a severe global energy crisis, adding to pressure on European economies.

HT
The proposal, described as a 15-point framework, was delivered through Pakistan and includes a 30-day ceasefire and limits on Irans nuclear and missile programmes.

A senior Iranian official said the demands were extremely maximalist and unreasonable and set out conditions that include a full end to hostilities, reparations and guarantees against future attacks, according to state media reports.

Iran has dismissed a United States proposal to end the war, as fighting spreads across the Middle East.

It also calls for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to Iranian support for regional armed groups.

Diplomats told The Guardian that the 15-point framework appears based on a plan first presented in May 2025, which Iran rejected before talks collapsed. The earlier document required Iran to dismantle enrichment facilities, export uranium stockpiles and accept limits on how sanction relief funds are used. Officials said little evidence exists of a revised offer, raising questions over whether the latest plan reflects genuine progress.

Tehran confirmed it received the plan but dismissed it as maximalist and unreasonable, a diplomatic source told Al Jazeera. Iranian leaders have denied that any direct talks with Washington are under way.

US President Donald Trump said talks were progressing. Theyre going to make a deal, he told reporters, while describing very good and productive conversations. Iran has denied this and said no negotiations have taken place.

An Iranian military spokesperson, Ebrahim Zolfaghari, said on state media that the United States was negotiating with itself and added, Someone like us will never come to terms with someone like you.

Iranian officials accused Donald Trump of using claims of productive conversations to steady financial markets and delay further strikes.

Iran has set out its own terms for ending the war. These include a halt to attacks across all fronts, payment of damages, and recognition of its authority over the Strait of Hormuz, according to Press TV. Officials also demand guarantees that the conflict will not resume.

The illegal war began on 28 February during ongoing negotiations over Irans nuclear programme. Since then, more than 4,500 people have been killed across the region, including over 3,000 in Iran.

Strikes continued on Wednesday. Israeli forces carried out attacks in Tehran and southern Lebanon. Lebanese authorities reported more than 1,090 deaths since early March.

Israel has announced it has plans to invade and illegally occupy parts of southern Lebanon, describing it as a defensive buffer. Seizing. Defence Minister Israel Katz said forces would control areas up to the Litani River, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said strikes on Iran and Lebanon would continue.

Israels Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for the effective annexation of southern Lebanon, stating that Israel needs to extend its borders. The Litani River must become our new border with the State of Lebanonjust like the buffer line in Gaza, he said in a speech on Monday.

Canada and France have also opposed Israels plans to expand its military presence in southern Lebanon. Canadas foreign ministry said Lebanese sovereignty must not be violated and urged all parties to comply with international law and protect civilians and infrastructure. Frances Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot warned that a ground operation would worsen humanitarian conditions.

More than one million people have been displaced in Lebanon as Israeli forces prepare to advance up to the Litani River and prevent residents from returning to areas south of it.

Despite Israel's plan amounting to an invasion, Western media outlets have reported on the matter with a restrained tone when compared to reporting on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, for example.

TRT World criticised Western media coverage of Israels plans, pointing out that outlets avoid terms such as invasion and illegal occupation. In posts on X, the broadcaster said headlines using words like control or seize echoed Israeli messaging despite the scale of the operation.

Rights groups have also reported the use of white phosphorus munitions in residential areas in southern Lebanon, with Human Rights Watch verifying multiple incidents. The substance ignites on contact with air and causes severe burns, and its use in populated areas is considered a violation of international humanitarian law. Researchers said the attacks have damaged farmland, displaced civilians and altered terrain to prevent return.

In Kuwait, a drone strike hit a fuel tank at the international airport, causing fires and prompting condemnation from officials, who called it a violation of international law. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted multiple drones aimed at its eastern oil region.

The United States has moved to increase its military presence. The Pentagon confirmed deployment of elements from the 82nd Airborne Division, a unit trained for rapid ground operations, though it did not disclose locations. Up to 3,000 troops could be sent to the region, according to The Guardian.

International leaders have called for de-escalation. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the situation is out of control and warned of a wider war. It is time to stop climbing the escalation ladder, he said.

HT
Berger concession caps 15-year reign of power

Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, on Tuesday conceded that he lost his District 26 party primary to challenger Sam Page.

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While this was a close race, the voters have spoken, and I congratulate Sheriff Page on his victory, Berger said in a statement issued by his campaign.

The announcement came after 3%-sample recounts in Rockingham and Guilford counties left the totals in the race unchanged from previous figures showing Page with a 23-vote lead.

The outcome of checks closed the door on the possibility of the State Board of Elections ordering a full hand-to-eye recount of ballots in the two counties.

Berger also had protests pending in both counties, but these involve fewer votes than the margin between the two candidates.

His only other option for reversing the outcome was a court challenge  a politically fraught move given that Republicans control the election machinery at both the state and local levels.

Bergers three-paragraph statement said little about his short-term future in the General Assembly, other than that hes committed to working with my colleagues in the short session to ensure North Carolina continues to be the best state in the nation in which to live, work, raise a family and retire.

He also said hell also do everything I can to support all Republican Senate candidates and protect our supermajority.

The concession leaves the Senates Republican caucus facing the task of picking a new leader for the 2027 session, coming up in January at the latest.

Obvious prospects include Senate Majority Leader Michael Lee, R-New Hanover, Senate Agriculture chair Brent Jackson, R-Sampson, and Majority Co-Whip Todd Johnson, R-Union. Each is among the top non-Berger fundraisers in the GOP caucus.

Lees main handicap is that he occupies a perennially vulnerable seat. The Civitas Partisan Index rates it as an R+1 toss-up. His five-plus terms in the Senate are non-consecutive because he lost in 2018, which, like this years election, occurred at the midpoint of President Donald Trumps tenure in the White House.

Other possibilities include Sens. Amy Galey, R-Alamance, and David Craven, R-Randolph. Galey is the caucuss other co-whip; Craven is a leading fundraiser whos contributed to the campaign coffers of several of his colleagues.

Berger has led Senate Republicans since 2005 and took the reins in the Senate when the party gained majority control in 2011. Since then, hes been by all accounts North Carolinas most powerful politician.

But the hometown challenge from Page  Rockingham Countys sheriff  stems from Bergers decision to spearhead a 2023 push to legalize non-tribal casinos in North Carolina.

Rockingham County was considered a top prospect to land a casino if the proposal had gone through. Berger has always maintained that he pushed for the idea because a casino had opened just across the border in Virginia.

But Page led opposition to legalization in Rockingham, and in any event, House Republicans refused to go along.

Polling in 2024 hinted strongly that Berger was vulnerable to a Page challenge, but the sheriff opted instead for an unsuccessful bid for lieutenant governor.

This time around, he signaled early that hed run against Berger. Mid-race polls rated the outcome as a toss-up, but consistently reported that Rockingham was pro-Page and rural Guilford was pro-Berger. In the end, turnout was stronger in Rockingham.

I appreciate Sen. Bergers call earlier today and his concession, Page said. Im grateful for his years of service to our state, and I thank him for wishing me the best going forward.

He added that the face-off had been a hard-fought campaign and said the job now is to come together and focus on winning in November.

Page will face a Democrat, retired physician Steve Luking, in the upcoming general election. The GOP nominee will be favored: Civitas rates District 26 as an R+9 seat.
PETROL prices at stations in and around Henley have steadily increased over the past fortnight.

On average, prices in Henley have risen from 142p to 150p per litre, or an increase of nearly 5 to fill up an average sized (60 litre) petrol-powered car.

The rise in cost has been driven by the US-Israel war on Iran, which began on February 28, which has seen the production and transportation of oil across the Middle East falling.

Henleys Shell petrol station in Reading Road has charged higher prices compared to Murco in Peppard Road, Sonning Common and Esso in Buckingham Drive, Emmer Green. The price difference between the stations has been as high as 13p per litre.

Sacha Bannatyne, who lives in Wargrave and works as a nanny, said: Im a single mother, which means a single income, so Im very worried at the moment. I set a budget of 20 per week on petrol but driving to Maidenhead for work each day means Ive stopped driving anywhere at the weekend to keep costs down. I tend to use the station at Sonning as it is usually cheaper than others.

Chris Szweda, who lives in Henley checks petrol comparison apps such as PetrolPrices and said he avoids Henley stations, describing them as too high.

Paul Mainds, who also lives in Henley, added: I have noticed that the Reading Road petrol station charges more than others in the area  a Henley surcharge, if you will.

The Henley station did not respond to requests to comment and the Shell petrol company declined.

The Henley Standard checked petrol prices of nine petrol stations within a five-mile radius of Henley over an 11-day period from March 14 to March 24.
Indian PM, Sri Lankan president discuss energy security

Xinhua) 11:15, March 25, 2026

NEW DELHI, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Tuesday exchanged views on global energy security over the phone, India's Ministry of External Affairs said.

According to the ministry, the two leaders discussed the evolving situation in West Asia with an emphasis on disruptions affecting global energy security. Both reiterated the importance of keeping shipping lines open and secure in the interest of the whole world.

The ministry also noted that the two leaders reviewed progress on various initiatives aimed at strengthening energy cooperation between India and Sri Lanka and enhancing regional security.

Modi reiterated India's firm commitment to work closely together with Sri Lanka in addressing shared challenges, the ministry said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Swiss president meets Chinese education minister on deepening cooperation

Xinhua) 13:08, March 25, 2026

BERN, Switzerland, March 24 (Xinhua) -- President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin met with visiting Chinese Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng on Monday in Bern, Switzerland.

Parmelin, also head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, said that last year, the two countries jointly celebrated the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, with frequent exchanges in various fields.

Switzerland is willing to promote educational policy exchanges and pragmatic cooperation with China, guided by the spirit of openness, autonomy and innovation, Parmelin said.

For his part, Huai said his visit aimed to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries. China is willing to take the 10th anniversary of the China-Switzerland innovative strategic partnership as an opportunity to strengthen pragmatic cooperation in areas such as talent cultivation, scientific research and innovation, and commercialization of research outcomes.

China also hopes to promote the establishment of cooperation mechanisms in basic education, teacher training, and AI-driven learning while enhancing exchanges between scholars and students to inject new impetus into the two countries' traditional friendship and their innovative cooperation, Huai added.

Also on Monday, the education authorities of the two countries held the sixth policy dialogue.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Republican congressman Tim Burchett has warned of what he describes as a 'dark' pattern following the deaths and disappearances of several scientists linked to UFO research. Burchett, who has been an outspoken advocate for transparency on unidentified anomalous phenomena, made the claims publicly after a cluster of cases drew attention online.

No law enforcement agency has established a link between the cases, and no official investigation has confirmed any connection to Congressional testimony on UFOs. The cases remain unresolved and are being treated independently by the relevant authorities.

 BIG: Rep. Tim Burchett says UFO Scientists Found DEAD After Testifying to Congress About UFO Files:



BURCHETT: "Something dark is going on. I know these scientists and researchers. They have testified. We've got to get to the bottom of it. It's just too much, too much is pic.twitter.com/9fH8ndVTng  Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) March 24, 2026

Burchett's Warning

In remarks shared via a viral post on X, Burchett said: 'Something dark is going on. I know these scientists and researchers. They have testified. We've got to get to the bottom of it.' He added: 'It's just too much, too much is going on right now  and by the way, I'm not suicidal.'

Burchett has previously called for the declassification of government files and greater accountability from defence agencies. His latest comments suggest he believes individuals involved in disclosing sensitive information may be at risk, though he has not presented evidence to support that claim.

The Cases Burchett Cites

Among the individuals Burchett has referenced is retired Air Force Major General William Neil McCasland, who has reportedly been missing since 27 February 2026. Aerospace and materials scientist Monica Reza vanished in June 2025 while hiking in California's Angeles National Forest, with no confirmed trace since.

In December 2025, Nuno Loureiro, a fusion physicist affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was shot and killed at his home. Weeks later, astrophysicist Carl Grillmair, known for his work at the California Institute of Technology, was also fatally shot. A further case involves Jason Thomas, whose body was discovered in March 2026 after he had been missing since late 2025.

Each case has been reported separately by law enforcement. None has been officially connected to UFO research or Congressional testimony.

No Confirmed Link

Despite the alarming nature of Burchett's allegations, no publicly available evidence confirms that the deaths or disappearances are connected. Law enforcement agencies have not identified a common cause linking the cases. Scientists working in advanced defence and aerospace fields often operate in high-pressure environments, but authorities have not cited this as a factor in any of the individual cases.

Burchett has urged federal authorities to investigate the pattern thoroughly. 'We've got to get to the bottom of it,' he said.

Online Amplification

The story gained significant traction after being shared widely on X and amplified by political commentators. The rapid spread has raised concerns among analysts about the risk of conflating unrelated incidents, particularly in the absence of confirmed investigative findings. Advocates for UFO disclosure argue that increased government transparency could help address public speculation around cases of this nature.

Calls for Transparency

Advocates for UFO disclosure argue that increased openness from government agencies could help dispel speculation and restore public trust in official findings. Critics, however, warn that unverified claims risk undermining legitimate efforts to study unidentified anomalous phenomena.

A Story Still Unfolding

The cases remain unresolved, leaving families, colleagues, and observers searching for answers. The possibility of a link between the incidents remains unproven, yet the pattern Burchett has highlighted continues to fuel public debate and calls for a fuller official response.

Originally published on IBTimes UK
A Utah mother is facing serious criminal charges after she allegedly abducted an 11-year-old boy and held him until he apologised for bullying her autistic son. Shannon Tufuga, 40, has been charged with child kidnapping and aggravated child abuse, both second-degree felonies, following an incident that occurred in September 2025.

Authorities say the case raises painful questions about bullying, parental intervention, and the limits of lawful recourse, particularly for families of children with additional needs who feel the system has failed them long before they reach breaking point.

A Confrontation That Crossed the Line

Court records show Tufuga drove around her neighbourhood searching for the 11-year-old boy she believed had been bullying her son. When she found him riding his bicycle, she allegedly confronted him and forced him into her vehicle without the knowledge or consent of his parents. Prosecutors say the act constitutes kidnapping regardless of her motive.

Once at Tufuga's home, the boy quickly apologised for the alleged bullying. However, the apology did not end the ordeal. Investigators claim Tufuga threatened the boy, telling him her husband could 'beat him up', and warned that he was 'lucky she did not run over his bike.' He was eventually driven back home.

Lasting Trauma and Charges Filed

Court filings indicate the boy experienced 'serious emotional distress' in the months following the encounter, developing high levels of anxiety and significantly altering his daily routines. Charging documents, cited by KSL.com, note that such effects are consistent with coercive or threatening situations involving minors.

Tufuga has been charged with child kidnapping and aggravated child abuse, both classified as second-degree felonies. The charges were originally filed as first-degree felonies before prosecutors reduced them, stating that the adjustment was 'in the interests of justice.' Second-degree felonies in Utah carry a potential prison sentence of one to 15 years.

A Provo woman faces felony charges of forcibly taking a young boy to her home to make him apologize to her son. Shannon Marie Tufuga was charged Monday in 4th District Court with child kidnapping and aggravated child abuse.

More: https://t.co/8an7ImsoEv

: Pat Reavy, KSL pic.twitter.com/QTnhHNmfnl  KSL NewsRadio (@kslnewsradio) March 23, 2026

Autism, Bullying, and Parental Response

Tufuga's son is reported to have autism, a condition that can make children more vulnerable to social challenges and peer victimisation. Research consistently shows that children on the autism spectrum are significantly more likely to experience bullying than their neurotypical peers. They are often less equipped with the social tools to deflect or report it. The case has drawn renewed attention to the broader issue of bullying involving children on the autism spectrum and the toll it takes on their families.

Advocates stress that while parental frustration is understandable, taking matters into one's own hands can exacerbate harm and undermine legal protections. They recommend that bullying incidents be addressed through schools, counselling and, where necessary, law enforcement.

A Community Divided

Public reaction has been divided. Some have sympathised with Tufuga's apparent desire to protect her child, arguing that bullying can have devastating effects if left unchecked. Others have maintained that her actions crossed a clear legal and moral boundary, placing another child at risk.

As the legal process unfolds, the case serves as a sobering reminder that even actions taken out of love and in defence of a child can result in serious criminal liability. And that the consequences can extend far beyond the family they were meant to protect.

Originally published on IBTimes UK
On Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio took the witness stand in Miami federal court against his longtime friend and former Florida congressman David Rivera, in a dramatic moment in a case centered on allegations that Rivera secretly lobbied for Venezuela's government without registering as a foreign agent.

Prosecutors say Rivera and political consultant Esther Nuhfer used a $50 million contract tied to Citgo, a U.S. subsidiary of Venezuela's state oil company, to influence U.S. policy during the first Trump administration. Rivera and Nuhfer have pleaded not guilty. Rubio's appearance was unusual not only because of his current role as the nation's top diplomat, but also because of his personal history with Rivera.

The two men rose through South Florida Republican politics together and were once roommates, according to AP. On the stand, Rubio said Rivera never told him he had a lucrative contract connected to Citgo or that he was representing interests aligned with Nicolas Maduro's government when the two discussed Venezuela in 2017.

According to Reuters, Rubio testified that he believed Rivera was pitching an effort aimed at supporting a democratic transition in Venezuela, not helping Maduro's government. Rubio told jurors he would not have engaged in those conversations had he known Rivera was being paid under the contract prosecutors described. AP reported that Rubio recounted an urgent 2017 meeting in which Rivera outlined a plan that Rubio understood as an attempt to push Maduro from power.

Federal prosecutors argue Rivera's alleged lobbying campaign was part of a covert effort to soften Washington's approach to Caracas, ease sanctions pressure, and help restore business ties. Reuters reported that prosecutors say Rivera received $20 million from the deal. AP reported that the broader contract was allegedly worth $50 million and was linked to efforts to gain access to prominent U.S. officials, including Rubio and then-White House aide Kellyanne Conway.

The case has been one of South Florida's most closely watched political corruption and foreign influence trials, in part because of Rivera's long and controversial profile in Miami politics and in part because it touches U.S.-Venezuela relations during a volatile period. Rivera served in Congress from 2011 to 2013. Prosecutors contend he and Nuhfer should have registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, while the defense says Rivera's work was commercial in nature and tied to business consulting, not political lobbying.

Rivera's lawyers also used cross-examination to emphasize the two men's longstanding friendship and their shared anti-Maduro views. Reuters reported that Rubio acknowledged Rivera never spoke positively about Maduro in their conversations, a point the defense has used to argue that Rivera was not secretly advancing the Venezuelan leader's interests. Rivera has maintained that he was trying to help Venezuela's opposition and pursue business solutions, not act as an illegal foreign agent.

Originally published on IBTimes
A major US pandemic fraud case has taken another turn after five more defendants admitted their roles in a scheme that siphoned millions from a federal programme designed to feed vulnerable children.

According to the US Department of Justice, the latest guilty pleas form part of the sprawling 'Feeding Our Future' investigation, widely described by prosecutors as one of the largest pandemic-related fraud schemes in the country.

Millions Diverted From Children's Food Programme

Federal prosecutors said the defendants were involved in a conspiracy that stole approximately $14.6 million (10.9 million) from a taxpayer-funded child nutrition initiative intended to provide meals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The scheme operated by falsely claiming to serve thousands of meals to children, when in reality, many of those meals were never provided. Authorities said the conspirators submitted fabricated documentation, including fake attendance records and inflated meal counts, to justify reimbursement claims.

Officials described the conduct as a calculated exploitation of a system designed to support those most in need. One federal statement noted the scheme involved false claims for reimbursement for meals that were never served to children.

Fake Meal Sites and Fabricated Records

Court documents reveal that the fraud relied heavily on deception at multiple levels.

Defendants created sham food distribution sites and shell companies, presenting them as legitimate operations. In some cases, they claimed to serve thousands of meals per day from small or unsuitable locations.

Prosecutors said participants used 'phony attendance rosters' listing fictitious children to support their claims, allowing them to secure large payouts from the programme.

In one instance, a single site allegedly claimed to distribute hundreds of thousands of meals within months, which authorities later determined were entirely fabricated.

A 'Brazen' and 'Unconscionable' Scheme

Law enforcement officials did not hold back in their assessment of the case.

'This fraud is outrageous, brazen, and seemingly never-ending,' said Acting US Attorney Joseph H. Thompson, highlighting the scale and persistence of the operation.

In a separate statement, Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis emphasised the moral gravity of the crimes, noting that 'stealing from a programme designed to feed vulnerable children is not only criminal  it's unconscionable.'

Authorities added that the scheme represented a 'staggering' abuse of public trust, with funds diverted for personal enrichment rather than their intended humanitarian purpose.

Part of the Largest Pandemic Fraud Case

The five guilty pleas are just the latest development in a much broader investigation.

The Feeding Our Future case has already resulted in dozens of convictions, with prosecutors continuing to uncover new layers of the operation. Officials say the wider scheme involved hundreds of millions of dollars in fraudulent claims.

The programme at the centre of the scandal was intended to ensure children continued receiving meals during pandemic-related school closures. Instead, prosecutors allege it became a vehicle for large-scale financial exploitation.

As noted by FBI Director Kash Patel, the case stands as 'one of the most egregious abuses of public trust in recent memory.'

How the Scheme Worked

Investigators say the fraud followed a relatively consistent pattern:

Defendants registered fake or controlled entities as meal providers

They submitted inflated claims for meals never served

Supporting documents were fabricated to pass audits

Funds were then diverted for personal use, including luxury spending and property purchases

In many cases, conspirators also laundered proceeds through multiple accounts and shell companies to conceal the origin of the funds.

Ongoing Prosecutions and Accountability

Federal authorities have made clear that the investigation is far from over.

Prosecutors continue to pursue additional suspects and recover stolen funds, with sentencing hearings for the latest defendants expected in the coming months.

Officials have emphasised that those involved will face serious consequences, both financially and through custodial sentences.

'This significant sentence should serve as a clear warning to anyone who would seek to exploit and defraud government programmes,' prosecutors said in a related case tied to the broader scheme.

A System Exploited During Crisis

The scandal has raised broader concerns about oversight during emergency funding efforts.

Pandemic relief programmes were designed to distribute aid quickly, but the urgency also created vulnerabilities that fraudsters were able to exploit.

In this case, those weaknesses were used to divert funds meant to support children at a time of heightened need, turning a public health crisis into an opportunity for profit.

As the investigation continues, the case underscores the importance of transparency and oversight in public funding programmes.

What began as a lifeline for struggling families became, in the hands of fraudsters, a multi-million-pound scheme that deprived vulnerable children of essential support.

With more prosecutions expected, authorities say the message is clear: those who exploit systems designed to help others will ultimately be held accountable.

Originally published on IBTimes UK
LONDON  Iran's recent launch of long-range ballistic missiles toward the joint U.S.-U.K. military base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean has sparked intense debate over whether Tehran could strike London, with Israeli officials warning that European capitals now lie within reach while British ministers insist there is no credible assessment of such a capability or intent.

The attempted strike, which occurred amid escalating regional conflict in March 2026, saw Iran fire at least two ballistic missiles at the strategically vital Diego Garcia atoll, located roughly 3,800-4,000 kilometers (about 2,360-2,500 miles) from Iranian territory. Neither missile caused damage; one reportedly disintegrated in flight and another was intercepted by U.S. naval assets. The distance, however, exceeded Iran's long-stated self-imposed limit of 2,000 kilometers and raised immediate questions about advancements in its missile program.

Israeli Defense Forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir described the launch as the first use of a long-range missile since the current hostilities intensified, claiming the weapon had a range of approximately 4,000 kilometers. That would place major European cities  including London, Paris and Berlin  within theoretical striking distance, he said. Maps produced by analysts and think tanks such as the Institute for the Study of War illustrate that the straight-line distance from Tehran to London is roughly 4,400 kilometers, putting the U.K. capital near or just beyond the outer edge of such a capability.

Independent experts offer a more nuanced view. Senior research fellow Sidharth Kaushal of the Royal United Services Institute told the BBC it is "conceivable" an Iranian rocket could reach London, but accuracy would degrade significantly at extreme ranges, making precise targeting difficult. Former U.S. intelligence analyst Decker Eveleth assessed the overall risk to London as "pretty low," citing limitations in guidance systems and the challenges of intercontinental flight for a program historically focused on shorter ranges.

Iran has long maintained it caps its ballistic missile range at 2,000 kilometers for defensive purposes and has denied developing intercontinental systems. Its foreign minister reiterated this position earlier in March. The Diego Garcia attempt appears to challenge that claim, possibly involving a modified space-launch vehicle or two-stage design, analysts said. Even so, successful long-range strikes require not just distance but reliable re-entry vehicles, accurate guidance and the ability to penetrate defenses  areas where Iran's track record remains mixed.

U.K. government officials have pushed back firmly against alarmist interpretations. Housing Secretary Steve Reed told the BBC and other outlets there is "no assessment to substantiate" Israeli claims that Iran could target the U.K., adding there is no evidence Tehran is even attempting to do so. "We have systems and defences in place that keep the United Kingdom safe, and that will continue to happen," Reed said. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office has echoed that the U.K. is not being drawn into direct conflict but will support collective defense of regional allies.

UK Preparedness and Air Defenses

The United Kingdom does not maintain a dedicated domestic ballistic missile defense system capable of intercepting incoming long-range threats over its own territory, former senior officers and analysts have acknowledged. Unlike Israel's multi-layered Arrow and Iron Dome systems or the United States' Ground-based Midcourse Defense, Britain relies primarily on NATO's broader ballistic missile defense architecture.

That NATO shield includes Aegis Ashore sites in Romania and Poland, along with sea-based assets from allied navies. Royal Navy destroyers equipped with advanced radars and missiles can contribute to tracking and interception, but coverage for the U.K. homeland against a high-altitude ballistic trajectory from the Middle East remains limited. Sky News military analyst Sean Bell, a former RAF officer, stated bluntly that "we have no effective ballistic missile defence system in place" for a direct strike on London.

The government has moved to address gaps. Following the Strategic Defence Review, ministers announced up to 1 billion in new funding for air and missile defense, including a 118 million contract for six additional Land Ceptor systems as part of the Sky Sabre short-range air defense network. These systems excel against drones and cruise missiles but are not designed for high-speed ballistic threats. The U.K. is also deploying short-range air defense assets to Gulf partners, including Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, to counter Iranian drones and missiles in the region.

British forces have already demonstrated effectiveness in defensive operations. U.K. assets helped intercept Iranian drones and missiles targeting regional bases, including incidents involving British personnel in Bahrain and Cyprus. The Ministry of Defence continues to support Gulf allies with equipment and training while allowing U.S. use of British bases for limited defensive strikes against Iranian missile infrastructure.

Experts emphasize that any Iranian attempt to strike the U.K. would face multiple layers of deterrence and response. Early warning from NATO satellites and radars would provide notice, and retaliatory options  ranging from precision strikes to broader coalition action  remain available. Intelligence assessments suggest Iran's primary focus remains regional adversaries rather than distant European capitals, partly due to the risk of overwhelming counterstrikes.

Broader Context and Risks

The Diego Garcia incident occurred against the backdrop of heightened tensions following U.S. and Israeli actions against Iranian targets. Tehran has conducted waves of missile and drone attacks on regional U.S. and allied facilities, but most have been intercepted or caused limited damage. The failed long-range attempt may have been intended more as a demonstration of resolve and capability than a realistic bid to inflict damage on a heavily defended base.

For the U.K., the episode serves as a reminder of evolving threats in an era of proliferating missile technology. While the direct risk to London appears low according to British assessments, the incident has prompted quiet reviews of air defense posture and alliance coordination. NATO continues to refine its ballistic missile defense plans, with ongoing exercises testing interoperability.

Public concern has risen in the wake of media coverage, but officials urge perspective. The distance, technical challenges and certainty of severe retaliation make a deliberate Iranian strike on the U.K. highly improbable under current circumstances. Still, the demonstrated extension of range underscores the need for sustained investment in detection, interception and deterrence.

As the regional conflict evolves, the U.K. maintains a dual approach: supporting partners defensively in the Gulf while avoiding direct entanglement. Whether Iran's missile program continues to advance will depend on sanctions, diplomacy and battlefield outcomes. For now, British authorities maintain that the homeland remains secure, even as they monitor developments closely.

Originally published on ibtimes.com.au
In Brief: The conflict in Iran is expected to significantly alter travel behavior across the Middle East, with potential impacts on the region's hospitality industry, including shifts in tourist destinations and changes in accommodation demand.

How the War in Iran Could Redraw Travel Patterns Across the Middle East - Image Credit HNR News

The conflict involving Iran is likely to alter regional travel patterns well beyond the immediate disruption period, as airlines reroute networks, travelers reassess destination risk, and tourism markets across the Middle East face uneven recovery prospects.

Published March 23, 2026 | By HNR News Staff Reporter

Travel Disruption May Outlast the Conflict Itself

Wars and regional security crises often create immediate travel disruption, but their longer-term effect can be even more significant. In the case of the current conflict involving Iran, the impact on Middle East travel is increasingly being viewed not just as a short-term operational problem, but as a structural challenge for airlines, destinations, and hotel markets across the region.

The latest signal came from the World Travel & Tourism Council, which said the conflict is already costing the Middle East travel and tourism sector at least $600 million per day in lost international visitor spending. The group said major hubs, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Bahrain, have been affected by closures, disruption, and changing traveler behavior.

Airspace and Network Changes Can Reset Travel Flows

One of the most immediate consequences of the conflict has been the disruption of regional airspace and air service patterns. Carriers have been forced to cancel flights, reroute aircraft, or reduce schedules as security conditions and operating constraints evolve.

According to Reuters, Israel sharply reduced air traffic, with El Al operating at only a small fraction of its normal capacity, while some regional airlines shifted operations to airports in neighboring countries such as Jordan and Egypt.

These types of changes can have lingering effects. Once routes are adjusted, connecting patterns change, and travelers begin to favor alternative gateways, the recovery process can take months or longer. For destinations dependent on international air access, this can reshape demand flows even after airspace restrictions are lifted.

Perception Can Spread Beyond the Conflict Zone

The travel impact is not limited to the areas directly involved in the conflict. In a recent analysis, Skift argued that one of the biggest risks is perceptual contamination, in which travelers treat a wide geographic region as unstable even when disruption is concentrated in a smaller area.

That matters because long-haul travelers often do not carefully distinguish among Middle East markets when making destination decisions. A conflict involving Iran may therefore affect not only directly exposed countries, but also destinations elsewhere in the region that depend on transit confidence, airline stability, and a perception of safety.

Recovery Is Likely to Be Uneven

Not all destinations will be affected equally. Markets with stronger global branding, diversified source markets, and well-established air connectivity may recover faster than smaller or more fragile tourism destinations.

Skift noted that destinations such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi may be better positioned to rebound because of their stronger international profiles, more resilient infrastructure, and broader role as global transit hubs. By contrast, destinations with weaker air access or narrower brand recognition may take longer to restore traveler confidence.

Hotels and Tourism Boards May Need to Reposition Quickly

For the hospitality industry, the issue goes beyond airline schedules. Changes in flight availability, traveler sentiment, and transit reliability can quickly affect hotel demand, booking windows, length of stay, and group travel behavior.

Hotels in gateway cities, resort destinations, and major transit markets may see shifts in international mix as some source markets hesitate, reroute, or postpone regional travel. Tourism boards may also face pressure to communicate more actively about safety, accessibility, and continuity of operations.

In some markets, domestic and regional demand may help offset weaker long-haul arrivals. But destinations that depend heavily on international airlift may face a longer recovery cycle if the conflict leaves a lasting mark on route planning and traveler perception.

Fuel and Aviation Risk Add Another Layer

The conflict is also contributing to wider aviation risk through fuel supply concerns. Reuters reported that fuel shortages linked to the regional situation could affect flight operations beyond the Middle East itself, underscoring how geopolitical shocks can move through the aviation system in multiple ways.

That raises the possibility that the long-term impact will not be limited to destination image. It may also extend to airline economics, route planning, and network resilience, influencing future travel patterns across multiple regions.

Outlook

The war involving Iran may ultimately prove to be more than a temporary travel disruption. It could reshape how airlines deploy capacity, how travelers perceive regional risk, and how destinations compete for recovery in the months ahead.

For hotel owners, tourism officials, and travel operators, the key question is no longer only when normal operations return. The question is whether travel demand returns to the same pattern as before. In the Middle East, the answer may increasingly be no.
In Brief: Bahia Principe Resorts has become a part of the World of Hyatt loyalty program, providing Hyatt members with more options for redeeming points at Bahia Principe properties.

Bahia Principe Escape Tequila - Image Credit Bahia Principe Resorts

Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced that World of Hyatt members can now earn and redeem loyalty points at more than 20 Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts-branded properties in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Jamaica, and Spain.

World of Hyatt members can now earn and redeem loyalty points at participating Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts-branded properties. The integration includes more than 20 resorts, totaling approximately 12,000 rooms across the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Jamaica, and Spain.

This move is part of a joint venture between Hyatt and Pinero, which manages Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts-branded properties and owns the Bahia Principe brand. With this integration, Bahia Principe becomes the ninth brand in Hyatts Inclusive Collection portfolio.

Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts has reorganized its properties into two segments: adults-only, branded as Bahia Principe Escape, and family-focused, branded as Bahia Principe Explore.

To celebrate the addition, World of Hyatt members can earn double points on qualifying stays at participating Bahia Principe hotels and resorts for a limited time. Registration is required at hyatt.com/2x-points-bahia-principe between March 24, 2026, and May 30, 2026. Eligible stays must be completed after registration and between April 1 and June 30, 2026, with all stays completed by June 30, 2026.

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World of Hyatt members earn 5 Base Points per eligible $1 USD spent at participating Bahia Principe resorts. Members also earn credit toward elite-tier status and Milestone Rewards with every qualifying stay and can unlock on-property elite benefits and additional perks through award chart participation, where applicable.

World of Hyatt Credit Card from Chase cardmembers can earn up to 9X total points for Hyatt stays, including at participating Bahia Principe resorts. This includes 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent on qualifying purchases at Hyatt hotels and resorts with the card, plus up to 5 Base Points per eligible $1 spent for being a World of Hyatt member.

Highlighted Bahia Principe resorts include Bahia Principe Explore Esmeralda and Bahia Principe Explore Legend in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Bahia Principe Explore Akumal and Bahia Principe Escape Tequila in Riviera Maya, Mexico; and Bahia Principe Escape Tenerife in Tenerife, Spain.

Further information on World of Hyatt and the Double Points promotion is available at world.hyatt.com.
In Brief: Spain-based Melia Hotels International has announced plans to open five new hotels in Tunisia, aiming to complete the expansion by 2030.

Melia Hotels International to Open Five Hotels in Tunisia by 2030 - Image Credit Melia Hotels

Melia Hotels International has announced its entry into Tunisia through a partnership with Management Hospitality Group, with plans to operate five properties and reach 3,000 rooms in the country by 2030.

Melia Hotels International has entered into an agreement with Management Hospitality Group (MHG) to operate five new properties in Tunisia, aiming to reach 3,000 rooms in the country by 2030. The first property under the Melia Hotels & Resorts brand is scheduled to open this year in Mahdia, offering 307 rooms.

The development plan includes four additional hotels in Tabarka, Monastir, Djerba, and Tunis City, to be added between 2027 and 2029. These properties will operate under the Sol, Melia Hotels & Resorts, and Gran Melia brands.

The partnership is structured to reposition existing hotel assets in Tunisia through strategic investments, bringing them up to the international standards of Melia Hotels International and its brands. The goal is to optimize profitability and enhance appeal to international source markets, particularly in Europe.

MHG is a platform specializing in the development, management, and operation of hotel assets in Mediterranean tourism destinations, particularly in North Africa, and is part of a joint venture between AllianceOne Group and Voyages 2000. The partnership combines Melia Hotels Internationals global expertise with MHGs operational network and knowledge of the Tunisian market.

This expansion is part of Melia Hotels Internationals broader growth strategy in the Mediterranean region. Tunisias tourism sector currently receives more than 11 million visitors annually, and the company aims to contribute to the sectors ongoing growth and diversification.

No financial terms of the agreement or specific investment amounts were disclosed. The first property in Mahdia is set to open this year, with the remaining four properties scheduled between 2027 and 2029, targeting a total of 3,000 rooms by 2030.
In Brief: Minor Hotels has announced the creation of a new brand, the Colbert Collection, with its inaugural property slated to open in Italy by Spring 2026.

Minor Hotels Launches Colbert Collection Brand, First Property Set for Italy in Spring 2026 - Image Credit Minor Hotels

Minor Hotels has announced the launch of the Colbert Collection, a new global soft brand, with the first property scheduled to open in Italy in spring 2026.

Minor Hotels has introduced the Colbert Collection, a global soft brand in the premium segment, targeting independent hotels. The first property is scheduled to open in Italy in spring 2026. The Colbert Collection is inspired by the atmosphere of Parisian boulevard cafes and the original Colbert bistro in London, operated by The Wolseley Hospitality Group and owned by Minor International, the parent company of Minor Hotels.

The Colbert Collection will feature properties that maintain their individual identities while focusing on culinary and cultural experiences. Minor Hotels will provide hotel owners with commercial and operational support, allowing each property to retain its unique character.

Colbert Collection joins Minor Hotels portfolio, which includes The Wolseley Hotels, Anantara, Minor Reserve Collection, Elewana Collection, Tivoli, NH Collection, nhow, Avani, NH, iStay, and Oaks. The new brand is part of the companys strategy to offer a broader range of brand propositions, particularly in the soft brand segment.

Minor Hotels follows an asset-right model that includes ownership, lease, management, and franchise agreements, depending on each market and project. Future expansion will primarily be driven by management and franchise contracts, with a focus on asset-light growth. Through its franchise model, Minor Hotels provides small- and mid-sized hotel owners with conversion solutions, including sales, distribution, revenue management, technology, and a loyalty program, while preserving local identity.

After its Italian debut in spring 2026, Minor Hotels plans to expand the Colbert Collection to additional destinations, including the UK, Spain, Austria, and the UAE, focusing on properties in culturally significant locations.
Ex-Miss Hall's Teacher Indicted on Rape Charges

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  A former Miss Hall's School teacher accused of sexually assaulting students at the girls' school has been indicted by a Berkshire grand jury.

Matthew Rutledge, 63, was indicted on Tuesday on three counts of rape following testimony provided by Melissa Fares and Hilary Simon, former students.

Pittsfield Police opened an investigation into Rutledge in 2024. Rutledge was alleged to have sexually assaulted students while serving as a teacher at Miss Hall's School dating back to the 1990s. In October 2024, the Berkshire District Attorney's Office announced that there were no charges able to be brought forward at that time; however, the office kept the investigation open.

In late fall 2024, Berkshire District Attorney Timothy Shugrue took over the investigation, then tasked a team of special prosecutors and the Berkshire State Police Detective Unit, including resources from the Unresolved Cases Unit, to continue investigating the allegations.

In 2025, a summary of a report authored by Aleta Law Firm was released to the public. The report, which was commissioned by the Miss Hall's Board of Trustees, consisted of numerous interviews examining the school's culture. The report detailed a pervasive and chronic pattern of inappropriate staff conduct.

Using information gathered by both the DA's Office and the Aleta report, the team of special prosecutors say they found Rutledge to have violated state law.

"It took a long time to get to Tuesday's indictment. I commend the prosecutors and detectives who worked tirelessly to bring this case forward," said Shugrue in a statement. "Most of all, I would like to recognize and commend Melissa Fares and Hilary Simon for their bravery and continued cooperation throughout this long, arduous process.

"They have waited far too long for justice and, while I recognize our office took time to develop a path forward, I hope it is evident that I remained committed to holding the defendant accountable for his crimes."

Shugrue has remained in regular communication with state Rep. Leigh Davis in support of her legislation, H.4538, "An Act Relative to Preventing Educator Sexual Misconduct of Children and Youth."

"This work has always been about partnership  working closely with survivors, the district attorney, and my colleagues to bridge what we are seeing in our communities with the laws we shape in Boston," said Davis. "I'm deeply grateful to the survivors for their courage and to the District Attorney for his partnership in pursuing accountability. Together, we are working to advance H.4538 so survivors can have the closure they deserve and students have the protections they need.

The investigation into Rutledge's alleged criminal conduct, as well as any suspected criminal conduct of other staff members at Miss Hall's School, remains active. The DA's Office encourages anyone with information or allegations to contact the Berkshire State Police Detective Unit's tipline by calling 413-449-5055 (which will go live on the afternoon of Wednesday, March 25) or emailing BerkshireSPDUtips@mass.gov. All information provided to the Pittsfield Police Department has been transferred to the DA's Office.

Rutledge will be sent a summons and both the DA's Office and the defendant will be notified by the Berkshire Superior Court of an arraignment date.

The DA's Office does not traditionally provide personally identifiable information about survivors of sexual assaults in office issued press releases; however, both Fares and Simon granted the office permission to identify them by name in this press release.
Dalton Police Facility Report Complete; Station Future Still Uncertain

DALTON, Mass.  The Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee's final report is complete but the future of the station remains uncertain.

Several members of the committee attended the Select Board meeting last week, as co-Chair Craig Wilbur presented four options delineated in the presentation  build on town-owned land, build on private land, renovate or repurpose the existing buildings, and do nothing. The full report can be found here

According to the report, addressing the station's needs coincides with the town facing significant financial challenges, with rising fixed costs and declining state aid straining its budget.

These financial pressures restrict the town's ability to fund major capital projects and a new police station has to compete with a backlog of deferred infrastructure needs like water, sewer, roads, and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.

In June 2024, Police Chief Deanna Strout informed the board of the station's dire condition  including issues with plumbing, mold, ventilation, mice, water damage, heating, and damaged cells  prompting the board to take action on two fronts.

The board set aside American Rescue Plan Act funds to address the immediately dire issues, including the ventilation, and established the Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee to navigate long-term options

Very early on it was determined that the current facility is not adequate enough to meet the needs of a 21st-century Police Facility. This determination was backed up following a space needs assessment by Jacunski Humes Architects LLC

The assessment found that, to meet state requirements, the station would need 12,500 square feet and 1.5 to 2 acres of buildable land for a single-story facility with a sally port. The current facility can not be renovated to meet these needs because it has 4,860 square feet.

Of the four options outlined in the report, town officials have previously expressed favor of building on town-owned land, the only downside is the only town-owned property that meets the needs would be next to the senior center which has received criticism from some of the neighbors.

Of the four options outlined in the report, town officials have previously favored building on town-owned land.

The condition of the station, located in the basement of Town Hall, has been deteriorating for the last 28 years. There have been multiple building committees but the project goes nowhere because people butt heads about the cost and where it should go, Strout previously said.

The architect identified the lot on the senior center as the most viable and cost-effective option.

According to the presentation, the location meets acreage and access requirements, would not require the town to pay for its acquisition, offers strong circulation and visibility, and aligns with current zoning bylaws.

The other option would be to build on private land, which would have an additional acquisition cost.

Based on assessments of 197 Main Street, 514 Main Street, and 726-730 Main and Myrtle Street, the added expense would range from $1 million to $4 million.

Additionally, building on private land would face residential zoning constraints, require demolition or site preparation, and involve potential easements and environmental requirements. It could also impact the neighborhood through increased traffic, lighting, and noise.

Another option would be to renovate or repurpose existing buildings. Locations used for assessments included the current facility, the First Congregational Church school building, and a mansion at 197 Main Street.

According to the presentation, renovations could cost more than new construction and still fail to meet modern police facility standards. Existing structural layouts are incompatible with secure areas and evidence handling, and achieving compliance with the ADA and building codes would require major reconstruction.

The Select Board directed that Town Manager Eric Anderson, Building Superintendent Jeff Burch, and Strout develop a prioritized repair plan with cost estimates to keep the current facility safe and operational in the short term.

Additionally, the board will issue a request for proposals to explore potential private parcel acquisitions. These cost estimates will help better inform voters about the expenses involved in securing a private location for the station.

For many, the least favorable option is to do nothing and defer the issue. This would mean continued use of an unsafe and noncompliant facility, resulting in increased liability, ongoing capital expenses, risk of forced closure, rising construction costs, loss of grant opportunities, and negative effects on recruitment, retention, and public trust.
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Hong Kong police raided a bookstore and arrested the owner and three staff members reportedly on suspicion of selling "seditious" publications, including Jimmy Lais biography.

Police on Tuesday raided the independent store in Sham Shui Po and arrested owner, Pong Yat-ming, and three staff members for selling copies of The Troublemaker, a biography of the incarcerated media tycoon, the Hong Kong television network TVB reported.

The biography was written by Mark Clifford, a former colleague who worked as the director of Next Digital, the parent company of the newspaper owned by Lai.

The booksellers were arrested for "knowingly selling seditious publications", a charge that carries a maximum penalty of seven years in jail. The national security police also seized copies of other allegedly seditious books from the store Book Punch.

open image in gallery The exterior of the bookstore Book Punch, whose owner and three shopkeepers Hong Kong police arrested for allegedly selling "seditious" publications including a biography of jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai a ( REUTERS )

The 78-year-old billionaire was sentenced to 20 years in jail following a lengthy trial on charges of sedition, collusion with foreign forces, and conspiracy to publish seditious material under the National Security Law imposed by Beijing in 2020. The largest national security case in Hong Kongs history was closely watched by Western countries, including the UK, of which Lai is a citizen.

A police spokesperson said the force will take actions according to actual circumstances and in accordance with the law without commenting directly on the arrests.

A notice pasted outside the door of the bookstore in Mandarin read: "Resting for a day due to emergency, sorry for the inconvenience."

The author of the biography, The Troublemaker: How Jimmy Lai Became A Billionaire, Hong Kong's Greatest Dissident and China's Most Feared Critic, Mark Clifford, said the arrest was part of a continuing crackdown on his work and threats against the bookstores that sold his work.

open image in gallery Hong Kong police arrest bookstore owner and staff for selling Jimmy Lai biography, broadcaster reports ( REUTERS )

It is a cruel irony that selling a biography of a man who is in jail for his activities as a journalist, for promoting free expression, would lead to sedition charges, said Mr Clifford, the president of Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK).

It shows how far Hong Kong has fallen from its tradition of free expression and free speech that providing a book could be considered a national security offence.

He said the arrest is a breach of Chinas promises to the former British colony to provide a high degree of autonomy through the "one country, two systems" framework.

Hong Kong Free Press said it saw a woman being escorted from a sevenseater vehicle parked outside the building housing Book Punch shortly after it was closed at 5pm, with a notice posted on its door. The woman was then taken to the upper floor of the bookstore by police officers.

It marks the latest incident of how Hong Kong authorities are increasingly using the Hong Kong national security law not just on political activism but also on businesses.

Under a local national security law, known as Article 23, sedition is punishable up to seven years in jail and a maximum of 10 years if the act involves collusion with an "external force".

Beijing imposed broader and more sweeping national security legislation on the city in 2020, with Hong Kong and Chinese officials saying new laws were needed to bring stability after months of pro-democracy protests rocked the city in 2019.

In a further crackdown on dissent, the city government on Monday gazetted new amendments to the implementation rules of the Beijing-imposed law, which would allow customs officers to seize items that are deemed to have "seditious intention".

The moves also mean police, with warrants from a magistrate, can now demand that people suspected of breaching the national security law provide mobile phone or computer passwords or face jail and a fine.

Bookseller Lam Wing-kee, most well known for his provision of politically related publications, was secretly arrested in 2015 for selling publications critical of the political elite in mainland China, sparking fears over his disappearance. After he was released following eight months of detention on the promise to return with customer data, Mr Wing-kee fled to Taiwan.
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Guemhyuk Kim* cant remember the last time he had a proper shower. When the North Korean worker was sent to Russia under Kim Jong Uns overseas labour programme, he had not imagined living inside a shipping container in abject squalor.

He is one among at least 100,000 people in the North Korean dictators programme forced to live and work under abusive conditions, including restriction of movement, retention of identity documents, physical and sexual violence, and intimidation and threats, a new investigation has revealed.

The 29-year-old North Korean from the capital Pyongyang says: Theres no shower facility so we just clean off our face with a tap. He was sent to Russias St Petersburg in 2024 for construction work of a stadium. He now lives 200m away from the site, with 20 of his countrymen sleeping in a cramped room inside a shipping container.

We are chronically sleep-deprived from long shifts and brutal living conditions. The containers are infested with cockroaches and bedbugs, he says. Showers are limited to one or two across a year, an investigation by the Hague-based international law foundation Global Rights Compliance revealed.

open image in gallery File: North Korean workers wait for their flight at the airport of Vladivostok ( AFP via Getty Images )

Under the programme, around 100,000 of North Koreans are sent abroad to work on construction sites, factories, and farms in China, Russia, and some African nations, experts say.

Reports suggest the programme has picked up pace in Russian cities despite a UN ban on countries accepting North Korean labourers. A 2017 UN Security Council resolution demanded that all countries send home all North Korean workers by 22 Dec 2019 to stop them earning foreign currency for North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

Experts say North Koreans are choosing these jobs to escape their country, which has been called the biggest prison on this planet.

At least 21 North Korean nationals have confirmed the life-threatening and dangerous conditions they are made to work in to meet a monthly quota no matter what dead or alive, according to the investigation. The purpose of these monthly quotas imposed by North Korea on its overseas labourers is to send as much currency as possible back to the government.

The workers said they did not receive any prior information about the conditions when they were sent to Russia for these coveted and prestigious jobs. Some even paid bribes to middlemen, which later trapped them in debt.

They said they were made to work for up to 16 hours a day, starting as early as 7am and going on till midnight, for 364 days a year for $10 (7.4) per month, according to the investigation shared with The Independent.

Every afternoon, I find myself calculating whether I can meet this months quota. The mandatory monthly quota, locally called Gukga Gyehoekbun, levied by Pyongyang is a central fact of life for every DPRK worker abroad. Most workers had never heard of it before they arrived. I came out not knowing how much I would receive. I just thought that if I went to Russia, Id earn money  I didnt even know there was such a thing as a state quota, a worker said. DPRK refers to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the official name of the country.

One worker said he and his fellow labourers led lives worse than cattle. Regardless of extreme weather conditions, they had to show up in the harsh Russian winters without any protective equipment.

Any medical issues, like injuries or illnesses, were not only ignored but also seen as problems obstructing work, they said.

One of the workers told me that once he got badly hurt on his arm but then all he was given to treat his wound was salt water, and he had to just either pour it or consume it. He also had to work immediately after the incident because he knows that his quota needs to be met, says Yeji Kim, an advisor for DPRK at the Global Rights Compliance.

He was worried that if he's not covering his part, then his colleagues will have to step up for him, and that creates tension between them, she says.

open image in gallery Russia's president Vladimir Putin (R) and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (C) leave after their meeting in Beijing ( Sputnik )

He was one of thousands of North Koreans who are paying the price of Vladimir Putins war on Ukraine, which has led to a severe labour shortage in Russia stemming from battlefield losses, mass military mobilisation, and an exodus of workers to other countries. Putin, who launched the invasion more than four years ago, has struck a quid pro quo agreement with Kim.

They send workers, extract quotas, receive hard currency, but also it is functioning as a form of a diplomatic currency to the host states in return for labour. Russia has reportedly provided technical assistance for North Korea's spy satellite programme reported by South Korean National Intelligence Agency NIS alongside air defence missiles and electronic welfare welfare equipment, right.

Kim Jong Un wants these workers to be alive and then if they don't comply, whatever the rules and quotas they need, there is a risk that they will be sent to this political prison camp because it's very arbitrary punishment, she says.

These labourers are picked not on the basis of their physical capacity but for their loyalty to the Kim regime, the report says. Those with wife, children and elderly parents are picked more often than others to ensure that if they defect, the consequences of disobedience are borne by their family members, Yeji says.

The workers told GRC that they were also made to spy on one another, leading to physical clashes.

If they managed to be in an environment where they could use smartphones, the North Koreans ended up watching a lot of South Korean content on YouTube, the report says.

The spies among the workers reported people who browsed the internet or watched American or Korean films, or sexual content. Those individuals are punished by the North Korean authorities depending on the severity  tagged and sent back to North Korea," the report said.

open image in gallery Kim Jong Un welcomes soldiers who returned from an overseas deployment in Russia's Kursk region during Moscow's war with Ukraine ( KCNA )

They watched videos on Korean escapees already settled in South Korea, movies, and also massively binged on pornographic content because for them, it is like a whole new world they werent able to access so far, the DPRK advisor says.

Their fate is similar to the North Koreans sent to fight the Ukrainian army on behalf of Russia.

The biggest similarity between this military recruitment route and this overseas labour route is that they actually have very little information where they're going to be sent to. They do suffer from general fear of low visibility of what they will actually end up doing in Russia, Yeji says.

*Guemhyuk Kims name has been changed to protect his identity.
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A South Korean missile system built to intercept North Korean artillery has become one of the most sought after defence hardware for Gulf nations amid the ongoing US-Iran war.

Seoul's homegrown, medium range, surface-to-air missile Cheongung, also known as M-SAM Block II, scored a reported interception rate of 96 per cent against Iranian missiles that were fired at the United Arab Emirates.

The Nato-standard missile interceptor, which rivals capabilities of the US-made Patriot PAC-3 system and produced at just a quarter of its price, has sent Arab nations scrambling for the defence hardware.

Middle Eastern countries are lining up to buy South Korean missiles right now, South Koreas finance minister, Koo Yun Cheol, told Bloomberg News. They are requesting weapons from South Korea because of their accuracy  the fact that they destroy ballistic missiles with a success rate of over 90 per cent.

The minister, however, did not specify which countries were in the race for securing more supplies.

Even though Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) systems are deployed to the Middle East to counter Irans missiles and drones, demand is increasingly shifting toward South Koreas cheaper, faster-to-deliver interceptors, which also reflects a broader push to reduce reliance on US weapons.

The UAE was the first nation to import and operate Cheongung batteries, signing a $3.5bn deal in 2022 with South Korean firms LIG Nex1, Hanwha Systems, and Hanwha Aerospace for 10 units. The move was followed by Saudi Arabia and Iraq in 2024, with each signing agreements to acquire the air defence platform.

(L) South Korea's Cheongung-II, (R) Patriot Advanced Capability-3 ( Getty )

The interception earlier this month marks the first known combat use of a South Korean-made air defence system deployed overseas. Abu Dhabi has since pushed to fast-track delivery of the remaining batteries and separately requested 30 more interceptors, which saw this months airlift from Daegu.

However, Seoul has signalled it cannot easily speed up deliveries, constrained by existing production commitments.

"The Iran war is mostly about firing missiles and defending against them as politicians are reluctant to send in ground troops over fear over mass casualties . . . therefore the importance of anti-missile defence systems is increasing as Iran continues to fire waves of missiles and drones, Kim Ho-sung, professor of advanced defence engineering at Changwon National University, told the Financial Times.

The Cheongung-II battery is designed for speed and simplicity, built around four launcher vehicles, with each carrying eight launch tubes, that are supported by a multifunction radar and an engagement control station. The system has a maximum range of about 40km and can intercept targets at altitudes below 15km-20km  around the same range where Iranian ballistic missiles and drones have been operating.

The interceptor costs about 1.5bn won or $1m, according to reports. A Patriot missile PAC-3 made by Lockheed Martin in the US is sold for $4m.

While deliveries of the PAC-3 can take four to six years, South Koreas LIG Nex1, despite facing a sizeable backlog, is ramping up capacity and could boost output within nine to 12 months by running double shifts, according to Nomura analyst Eon Hwang. Lockheed Martin said it plans to scale production to more than 2,000 units annually only by 2030, with output this year expected to reach about 650.

South Koreas missile interceptors are particularly effective against Iranian systems because Tehran and Pyongyang have shared missile technology since the 1980s. Irans Shahab-3 ballistic missile, for instance, was developed from North Koreas Nodong missile.

Experts caution that recent interceptions in the UAE are no guarantee South Koreas missile defence would perform as effectively against a North Korean attack.

Irans older missiles resemble North Koreas, but North Korea's latest systems are far more advanced, Yang Uk, a research fellow at the Asian Institute for Policy Studies told the Korea Times. Missiles such as the KN-23 and KN-24 can perform evasive maneuvers, and none of the missiles Iran launched this time had that capability.

Seoul has recorded around $55bn in defence sales over the past four years and currently ranks 10th globally in arms exports, which includes Cheongung, K2 Black Panther main battle tank and K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzer.

The Export-Import Bank of Korea claims arms exports to the Middle East rose from about $240m in 2019 to about $740m in 2024, more than tripling over five years.

Korea has become the worlds ninth-largest arms exporter, with a three per cent market share, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. About 60 per cent of Seouls defence exports from 2021 to 2025 went to Poland, which has sharply ramped up military spending in response to Russias war in Ukraine.
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A trainee veterinarian was mauled to death by a pregnant hippopotamus after she entered its enclosure for a medical checkup at a zoo in the southern Indian state of Karnataka.

Sameeksha Reddy, 27, who had recently been appointed as a veterinary officer and was still undergoing training, entered the hippo enclosure at Tyavarekoppa Tiger and Lion Safari in Shivamogga at around 11.45pm on Thursday to monitor the condition of the pregnant animal using a thermal camera.

Reddy fell from a ladder while inside the enclosure and was trampled by the eight-month pregnant animal.

Karnataka state authorities ordered a high-level investigation into the death after her family raised questions about why she was allowed inside the enclosure alone and late at night.

open image in gallery People gather to pay respects to Sameeksha Reddy, 27, fatally trampled by a hippo ( Instagram/@b.z.zameerahmedkhan )

Forest and environment minister, Eshwar Khandre, said the Karnataka government will dedicate a memorial to Reddy, after her family declined the state government's Rs3m (24,000) in relief.

"Sameeksha went to the hippopotamus enclosure around 11.45pm on Thursday to monitor the condition of the pregnant animal using a thermal camera. The animal, which was expected to deliver within a few days, had reportedly not been eating," said safari executive director and deputy conservator of forests, Amaresh, who goes by one name.

But Reddy fell from a ladder and "the hippopotamus became aggressive and attacked her inside the enclosure", he said, according to the Hindustan Times newspaper. "The situation escalated within seconds, leaving very little time for reaction," he added. He said she sustained several injuries and lost a significant amount of blood in the attack.

Speaking in the Karnataka Assembly, Mr Khandre said Reddy's family had great concern for animals and "suggested that the relief be used in her memory instead".

open image in gallery ( Tyavarekoppa Tiger and Lion Safari )

Mr Khandre said she had gone to check on the pregnant hippo on her own accord.

"The investigation, however, is continuing. If there was any dereliction of duty, we would take action," Mr Khandre said.

Dr Murali Manohar, veterinary officer of the zoo, said she was not assigned to monitor health of hippopotamus.

Tributes have poured in for the trainee vet online, with many condoling her death.

Sowmya Reddy, a local politician and general secretary of All India Mahila Congress, said: My heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues during this extremely difficult time. May her soul rest in peace, and may her loved ones find strength to bear this irreparable loss.
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Japan has expressed regret after an on-duty soldier broke into the Chinese embassy in Tokyo and allegedly threatened to kill diplomats.

Kodai Murata, a 23-year-old officer with the Self-Defence Forces, was arrested by the Tokyo metropolitan police for allegedly scaling the walls of the heavily guarded embassy carrying an 18cm knife on Tuesday around 9am local time.

He was restrained by the embassy staff and handed over to the local police, who arrested him on suspicion of trespassing.

The suspect said he was "hoping to meet the ambassador to tell him to refrain from making hardline remarks, and if that request was rejected, I wanted to surprise him by killing myself," the Yomiuri Shimbun reported.

The embassy incident has further soured relations between Beijing and Tokyo, which plummeted after Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi's comments on Taiwan.

China's foreign ministry on Wednesday demanded that Japan investigate and severely punish the officer, a day after blaming the Japanese government for allowing alleged neo-militarism to thrive in the country.

An entrance to the Chinese embassy is seen in Tokyo on March 25, 2026 ( AFP via Getty Images )

Minoru Kihara, Japans top government spokesperson, called the incident regrettable and said the government would take measures to prevent it from happening again.

I understand that the police are continuing their investigation to clarify the incident and have already taken necessary security measures, such as increasing the number of police officers assigned to guard the Chinese embassy in Tokyo, Mr Kihara said.

Beijing has severely criticised the incident and lodged a formal protest with Tokyo.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the incident had "seriously threatened the safety of embassy personnel and damaged its dignity".

He blamed far-right ideologies for the intrusion, which he said exposed deep-rooted harmful effects of the Japanese governments erroneous policies on major core issues concerning China-Japan relations".

We once again urge the Japanese side to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident immediately, severely punish the perpetrator and provide the Chinese side with a responsible explanation, Mr Lin said.

Bilateral relations between the two neighbours have substantially deteriorated since the Japanese prime minister suggested last November that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a military response from Tokyo.

In response, Beijing instituted export and travel restrictions and repeatedly demanded a retraction. It reinstated a ban on Japanese seafood imports and export restrictions on dual-use technologies as well.

Beijing has since accused Japan of seeking to remilitarise, citing Ms Takaichis stance on Taiwan and Tokyos increased defence budget.

China considers Taiwan, a self-governed island, a part of its territory and doesnt rule out the use of force to reunify it with the mainland.

Japan said it will downgrade its description of ties with China from one of the most important in an annual diplomatic report, citing a series of confrontations with Beijing over the past year.
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The global economy faces a stark and steep recession if the price of oil hits $150 due to the Iran war, the boss of BlackRock has warned.

Larry Fink, one of the co-founders of the asset management firm worth $14 trillion, warned that a drawn-out conflict would push energy prices up even further, hitting the lowest-paid the hardest and having profound implications in the economy.

Iran has effectively closed off the Strait of Hormuz to oil tankers, which has sent prices spiralling  with the price breaching the $100 marker multiple times in the past few weeks.

Talks of a peace deal being struck between Iran and the US have brought that price down over the past two days, but Brent crude remained elevated at $94 on Wednesday. It is already expected that four weeks of higher prices will send UK energy bills spiralling in the summer and also push up fuel costs and food bills.

Mr Fink said the situation could yet get far worse if Iran remains a threat and oil prices remain elevated for the long term.

Rising energy prices is a very regressive tax. It affects the poor more than the wealthy, Mr Fink told the BBC. He added that Iran could force years of [oil] above $100, closer to $150, which has profound implications in the economy. That, he says, would lead to a probably stark and steep recession.

However, the BlackRock chief also said the reverse outcome was also a possibility. He said that oil prices could even head lower than they were before the war started  which was around $70  if Iran were to be brought back into the fold of international relations.

open image in gallery The BlackRock boss has said a drawn-out conflict could profound implications on the global economy ( Getty )

Asked about whether talk of a global recession gave him the impression it could be similar to 2008 when the financial crisis hit, Mr Fink said: I dont see any similarities at all [to 2008]. Zero.

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The boss of energy giant Shell, Wael Sawan, told a major oil conference that Europe could face fuel shortages and rationing by next month if the situation continues in the current vein.

South Asia was first to get that brunt. Thats moved to southeast Asia, northeast Asia and then more so into Europe as we get into April, he said.

The head of the International Energy Agency, meanwhile, said that they were ready to release more emergency oil reserves if needed.

If and when necessary, we are ready to move forward [with another reserves release], but I very much hope that it will not be necessary, said Fatih Birol in Tokyo. The world is facing a serious energy security threat, but the International Energy Agency is ready to play its core role of being a guardian of global energy security.

open image in gallery The Iran war has sent global oil prices spiralling ( Getty )

The reliance on fossil fuels and the current price shock will continue to see many countries moving so rapidly towards solar and maybe even wind power, he added, while urging nations not to rely on a single source for their power. Use what you have unquestionably, but also aggressively move towards alternative sources too.

As part of a wider-ranging discussion, BlackRocks Mr Fink further added he did not believe we have a bubble at all regarding artificial intelligence, but noted that individual firms could certainly fall by the wayside rather than the sector as a whole falling short of expectations.

Could we have one or two failures in AI? Sure, that Im fine with. I believe theres a race for technology dominance. I believe that if we [the US] do not invest more, China wins. I believe its mandatory that we are aggressively building out our AI capabilities.
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Hundreds of teenagers across the UK are set to participate in a government trial of social media bans, time limits and curfews, as ministers weigh up potential measures to enhance children's online safety.

The six-week pilot programme, spearheaded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), will involve 300 young people aged 13 to 17.

Participants will test various restrictions on their social media usage, with researchers monitoring the effects on their schoolwork, sleep patterns, and family life.

This initiative coincides with the governments ongoing consultation on a potential Australia-style social media ban, which is due to conclude on 26 May.

Families involved in the trial will be divided into four distinct groups.

One group of parents will be instructed on using parental controls to block or restrict access to specific social media applications, simulating a complete ban.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has backed the trial ( PA Wire )

Another cohort will face a daily one-hour cap on popular platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram.

A third group will experience a social media curfew, with parents blocking access between 9pm and 7am, allowing for some online time before and after school.

The final group will serve as a control, maintaining their current social media access for comparative analysis.

Interviews will be conducted with participating families at both the beginning and end of the trial to assess the impact of the imposed limits and any challenges encountered during their implementation.

The evidence gathered from this pilot will directly inform government decisions regarding future policies aimed at improving childrens relationship with social media.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: "We are determined to give young people the childhood they deserve and to prepare them for the future. This is why we are listening to parents, children and experts with our consultation, as well as testing different options in the real world.

These pilots will give us the evidence we need to take the next steps, informed by the experiences of families themselves."

The DSIT said that the social media consultation, launched in early March, has already garnered nearly 30,000 responses from parents and children.

It seeks public opinion on the appropriate age for a potential social media ban  Australia currently prohibits under-16s  and whether platforms should be compelled to disable addictive features like infinite scrolling and autoplay.

A separate study led by Professor Amy Orben, a University of Cambridge psychologist, and the Bradford Institute for Health Research, will recruit approximately 4,000 pupils aged 12 to 15 from ten Bradford schools.

This larger study will investigate how reducing social media time affects wellbeing, body image, school absence, bullying, time spent with friends and family, anxiety and sleep quality.

Professor Orben said: "Large randomised controlled trials, like the one in Bradford, will allow us to both better understand the impact of social media and select interventions that work for young people as well as their families."

Earlier in March, MPs rejected an amendment to the Childrens Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which had been supported by peers, that would have introduced a social media ban for under-16s.
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Cooking from scratch at home could slash the risk of dementia in older people, a study has suggested.

Elderly people can become increasingly reliant on frozen food and microwave meals rather than cooking at home, especially if they have any cognitive issues.

But researchers in Japan found that for older people, meal preparation is not only an important source of physical activity but also cognitive stimulus.

In fact it could reduce the risk of dementia by 30 per cent and in novice cooks with fewer culinary skills, that risk could be cut by 70 per cent.

The risk of dementia became lower as people cooked more frequently, and the benefits of cooking were particularly significant for those with low cooking skills, researchers said. Creating an environment where people can cook meals when they are older may be important for the prevention of dementia.

Cooking at home could slash dementia risk in older people (stock image) ( Getty/iStock )

For the study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, researchers examined data from 10,978 people, aged at least 65. Their cognitive health was tracked for six years until 2022 as part of the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study.

Participants completed questionnaires on how often they cooked from scratch at home, with culinary skills assessed on seven factors, such as the ability to peel fruit and vegetables.

Around half of the participants cooked at least five times a week, while more than a quarter didnt. Women and those who were experienced cooks tended to cook more meals at home than men and those who were inexperienced cooks.

During the follow up period, 1,195 people developed dementia, 870 died and another 157 moved away before developing dementia.

Analysis of the data showed that cooking more at home was associated with a lower risk of dementia in both men and women.

Cooking from scratch at least once a week was associated with a 23 per cent lower risk of dementia in men and a 27 per cent lower risk in women than cooking less than once a week.

And for those with few cooking skills, cooking a meal from scratch at least once a week was associated with a 67 per cent reduction in the risk of dementia.

This may be because cooking is more cognitively stimulating for these people as it is a novel experience, the study suggests.

Researchers said that preparing meals provides opportunities for cognitive stimulation because it involves a cognitively complex series of tasks with multiple steps, such as planning, acquiring ingredients, preparing food and serving.

Its estimated 982,000 to one million people are living with dementia in the UK. This is projected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040, driven by an ageing population.

But keeping active, eating well, and staying socially connected can help support brain health.

Cooking is a complex activity also involving transport, money handling, organisation and memory skills to do shopping and putting food together, Eef Hogervorst, professor of biological psychology at Loughborough University, said.

She explained previous studies have shown weight loss can occur a couple of years before a dementia diagnosis because people forget to eat and/or no longer have the skills required to cook.

That said, most takeaway meals are too fatty and salty, so home cooked, using whole foods with lots of fresh vegetables, is good for overall health and should be recommended, she added.
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A hospital patient who bravely talked a "lone-wolf terrorist" out of detonating a bomb in a maternity wing has revealed the would-be attacker "asked for a cuddle" before instructing him to "phone the police before I change my mind".

Nathan Newby, whose extraordinary act of kindness averted a potential atrocity, has spoken publicly for the first time ahead of receiving the George Medal for his bravery.

Mohammad Farooq was jailed last year for life with a minimum term of 37 years after bringing a homemade pressure cooker bomb into St Jamess Hospital in Leeds. His intention was to "kill as many nurses as possible".

open image in gallery Nathan Newby (pictured) has spoken publicly for the first time ( Bruce Rollinson/PA Wire )

Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb, the judge who sentenced Farooq, lauded Mr Newby as "an extraordinary, ordinary man whose decency and kindness on January 20 2023 prevented an atrocity in a maternity wing of a major British hospital".

Mr Newby is set to receive the George Medal  the second-highest civilian gallantry award  for his life-saving actions this Wednesday.

Speaking before the ceremony, Mr Newby, 35, from Leeds, reflected that Farooq was "probably a nice guy" who was "going through bad things at the time".

open image in gallery Newby is set to receive the George Medal for his bravery ( Bruce Rollinson/PA Wire )

He humbly described himself as someone who was "just in the right place at the right time".

A trial had previously heard that Farooq had become a "self-radicalised lone-wolf terrorist", inspired by the so-called Islamic State group. He targeted the hospital due to a long-running grievance with nurses on his ward, having previously worked there as a clinical support worker.

On the night Farooq planned his attack, Mr Newby was a patient at the hospital.

He had stepped outside for a vape and "a bit of fresh air" when he noticed Farooq, hands in pockets, "swaying like hed had some bad news or something".

Mr Newby recounted his approach: "I just went over to see if he was alright, to see if I could make him feel better. I said: How are you, pal? Are you alright? and it just went from there really."

About an hour into their conversation, Farooq eventually confessed he was there "for some sort of revenge" and revealed he had a bomb.

Mr Newby observed Farooq "constantly watching (his bag), it was about seven foot away from us, and every nurse that walked past it, he was like, looking at them, looking at the bag."

When asked what was inside, Farooq "ummed and aahed, didnt want to, but then I got out of him. He just said its a bomb."

Mr Newby immediately understood the gravity of the situation: "I could hear it in his voice, it wasnt a joke, or owt like that."

open image in gallery Newby said Farooq asked him for a cuddle ( Bruce Rollinson/PA Wire )

He then asked to see the device "just to confirm it, and then he just happily opened it up and showed me it." While "part of me" was scared, Mr Newbys primary concern was to move Farooq away from the building.

"I wasnt going to shout and things like that because it would have been nervous for others and just cause havoc, so I just thought, the best way is to keep quiet and just get him out of the way and be tactical about it."

He also revealed he was grappling with his own mental health struggles at the time, thinking: "If it goes off, its just going to be me and him, and I want to make sure its just me and him and not no one else."

He tactically inquired about the bombs radius and guided Farooq to nearby benches, calculating that "if it had have gone off at least, it would have just took the doors, it wouldnt take the whole building out".

He described this quick thinking as "just pure instinct," adding: "I dont know where it came from."

open image in gallery Mohammad Farooq was was jailed last year for life (CPS/PA) ( PA Media )

Over several hours, the pair "just chatted", with Farooq sharing details about his family and children.

Mr Newby recalled: "He asked for a cuddle a few times, and I said yeah, of course you can." He perceived Farooq as "normal", stating: "I dont judge anybody. Everybodys different and unique in their own ways arent they? I didnt judge him."

Eventually, Farooq asked for a hug, called Mr Newby a "top guy", and then instructed him: "Phone the police before I change my mind."

Mr Newby admitted: "It was a bit of a relief, but at the end of the day he could have still changed his mind at any time, even if we were on the phone to the police or not."

The full enormity of what had transpired only truly hit him once he was in the back of a police van, after armed officers had arrived and detained Farooq.

"It started sinking in that it could have been different," he said. "Emotions started coming, it was like wow, as if thats just happened."

open image in gallery Newby maintains Farooq 'seemed like a nice guy deep down' ( Bruce Rollinson/PA Wire )

During his call to the police, Mr Newby had described Farooq as someone who "seemed like a nice guy deep down".

When asked about his current feelings towards him, he reiterated: "He probably is a nice guy. It was just, his head was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I would say he was just going through bad things at the time, and when youre in that situation, your minds capable of doing all sorts of things that you dont expect."

Despite his heroic actions, Mr Newby remains humble, not seeing himself as a hero but merely someone who was "just in the right place at the right time".

He concluded: "I only think about that night (now) if someone brings it up. And then its like, its crazy how it could have gone I was a patient at the time, so I wouldnt be here, because I was at the front of the building, so it would have took me out."
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Two men have been arrested by counterterrorism detectives investigating an arson attack on volunteer-led ambulances run by the Jewish community in Golders Green.

The men, aged 47 and 45, both British nationals, were arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life on Wednesday morning, the Metropolitan Police said.

The arrests are linked to the ongoing investigation into an arson attack in north London in the early hours of Monday. At around 1.35am, four ambulances from Hatzola, a volunteer-led ambulance service operating in the Golders Green area, were set on fire.

The 47-year-old man was arrested at an address in northwest London, and the other was arrested at a property in central London. Both have been taken to a London police station, where they currently remain in custody. Officers are carrying out searches at the two addresses, understood to be in areas near Kilburn and Kings Cross.

Police said the investigation very much remains active and CCTV footage of the incident suggests there were at least three people involved.

The head of the Metropolitan Police said earlier this week that the force was investigating whether an Islamist group with possible Iranian state links was behind the arson attack.

Gas canisters kept in the ambulances exploded after they were set alight, and nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution.

open image in gallery Counterterrorism detectives are investigating the attack in Golders Green ( AFP/Getty )

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.

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, which is leading the investigation, said: We have been working around the clock since this appalling attack took place, and this has led to these arrests being made this morning.

This appears to be an important breakthrough in the investigation, but were also mindful that CCTV footage of the incident suggests there were at least three people involved. We fully recognise the local community will still be concerned, and our investigation very much remains active, and we will continue to work to identify and seek to arrest all of those who may have been involved.

Id like to thank the public and particularly the local Jewish community in the area for their continued support and reiterate our appeal to anyone who might have information that could assist with the investigation to get in touch with us.

open image in gallery Police say they believe a third person could have been involved in the attack ( AFP/Getty )

Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who leads policing in northwest London, said: We know that community concerns remain heightened, and I want to reassure the community that an enhanced, bespoke policing plan and activity, which is particularly focused around vulnerable areas right across London, will continue over the coming days and weeks.

This includes specialist officers and capability being deployed alongside local officers to help protect certain locations and will also involve highly visible armed police patrols to serve as a deterrent to anyone seeking to cause our communities harm.

I must stress that these are precautionary and not in response to any specific threat, and we continue to work alongside our colleagues in counterterrorism policing to support their investigation.

We will also continue to work closely with local communities and our partners to listen to their concerns and respond to these.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation can call the police on 101, providing the reference number 415 of 23 March. Alternatively, those who want to remain anonymous can call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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A Tory MP who defected to Reform UK earlier this year is now suing in the High Court after he was locked out of his office at the local Conservative HQ.

Andrew Rosindell, who has served as Tory MP for Romford since 2001, became Londons first Reform MP when he joined Nigel Farages party in January, declaring that the Tories are irreparably bound to the mistakes of previous governments.

For more than 20 years, he has had exclusive use of a private room at the Romford Conservative Associations Margaret Thatcher House, using it as a constituency office.

But last Wednesday, the association changed the locks overnight and blocked him from accessing the building.

He is now suing, claiming the local association had no right to lock him out and asking a judge to order them to let him back in.

Among other complaints, the former Tory says he has concerns for his personal safety, as he has been blocked from accessing his personal panic room at work due to being locked out.

The case reached Londons High Court for an emergency injunction application yesterday afternoon, but after hearing that the association had been given only 90 minutes notice, it was adjourned by a judge.

Mr Rosindell, 60, had served as a Conservative MP since 2001 before he announced his defection to Nigel Farages party in January.

In a statement, he claimed that the views and concerns of constituents such as mine in Romford have been consistently ignored for far too long.

Our country has endured a generation of managed decline, he said. Radical action is now required to reverse the damaging decisions of the past and to forge a new course for Britain.

open image in gallery Andrew Rosindell joined Reform UK this year, saying the concerns of his Romford constituents have been ignored for too long ( PA )

In court, Mr Justice Pepperall was told that Mr Rosindell has had exclusive use of an office at Margaret Thatcher House for decades, as well as shared use of other parts of the building, including the campaign room.

However, after defecting to Reform, he was told by the association that he could not stay, as his status as a Conservative MP was an implicit condition of any right to the office.

On the night of 18 March, the locks at Margaret Thatcher House were changed and Mr Rosindell was locked out.

His barrister, Adam Richardson, told the judge that the MP wants full and unfettered access, including keys, fobs and security codes.

The respondent has excluded the applicant from the premises by changing the locks and refusing access. No court order has been obtained by the respondent, he said.

The applicant has occupied the premises continuously for over 20 years as his official parliamentary constituency office. That occupation has at all times been open and known to the respondent. The occupation has been governed by successive written agreements described as service agreements, the most recent of which is dated 12 December 2025.

The premises function as a working parliamentary office and contain active constituency casework and sensitive constituent records; parliamentary IT systems and communications equipment; office furniture and infrastructure; parliamentary equipment... and security systems, including controlled access, CCTV and a panic room.

Mr Richardson said that, although the association had allowed limited access to Mr Rosindells staff to collect his laptop and some other items, he remains excluded.

He cannot access his constituency office, his active casework, his IT systems or the security arrangements installed for his personal safety, he said.

The exclusion is ongoing and is materially impairing the applicants ability to perform his duties as a member of parliament.

Further, the premises contain specialised parliamentary security infrastructure, including controlled access systems, CCTV and a panic room.

These systems were installed for the applicants personal safety in his capacity as a member of parliament. The applicant is currently deprived of these essential safety measures.

open image in gallery The judge adjourned the injunction application, saying the matter did not require a hearing at short notice ( Getty )

He added: The proper course would have been to seek possession through the court. Instead, the respondent has taken the law into its own hands.

For the association, barrister Alison Wu said the injunction application should not be heard in circumstances where it had only been given 90 minutes notice of the hearing.

The association claims that it is implicit in the agreement that use of the office depends on him being a Conservative MP.

Adjourning the application until next week, Mr Justice Pepperall said he could not find that it was so urgent that it needed to be heard at such short notice, particularly given the MP has not yet filed a claim form.

The judge adjourned the application until after Mr Rosindells lawyers have issued a claim against the Romford Conservative Association.
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The Church of England is set to make history with the enthronement of its first female Archbishop of Canterbury.

Dame Sarah Mullally will be formally installed at Canterbury Cathedral on Wednesday.

A former chief nursing officer for England and bishop of London, she was named to the role in October.

Dame Sarah replaces Justin Welby, who resigned in 2024 over failures in handling a church safeguarding scandal.

Legally an archbishop since a service at St Pauls Cathedral in January, the Canterbury ceremony marks the symbolic start of her ministry.

Here is what to know about the service.

open image in gallery The Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally at Canterbury Cathedral after her pilgrimage ( PA Wire )

What is happening on Wednesday?

Dame Sarah will deliver her first sermon as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury.

Having walked to Canterbury from London on a six-day pilgrimage  which ended on Sunday  Dame Sarah will knock on the cathedrals West Door seeking admission and will be greeted by children from John Wallis Academy in Ashford, a local school in the diocese.

The 90-minute ceremony will feature a mandate sent from the King  who will not be in attendance  instructing officials to proceed to the installation or, as it has historically been known, enthronement.

As part of the service, Dame Sarah will renew her vows and commitments to ministry, and make an oath on the scriptures, using the St Johns Bible which was given to the cathedral in 2023.

During the service she will first be placed into the Diocesan cathedra, known as the Bishops Chair, which dates from 1844, and then installed in the ancient Chair of St Augustine  dating from the early 13th century  in which archbishops have been installed for many centuries.

Who will be at the service?

Some 2,000 guests are expected at the ceremony, including the Prince and Princess of Wales.

William, who as heir to the throne will one day replace his father as Supreme Governor of the Church of England, will represent the King on Wednesday.

Also in attendance will be Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch.

Some 32 out of a total of 42 Provinces of the Anglican Communion  all of whom were invited  are expected to be represented.

While the royals are not set to play an active role in the service, they will be greeted by the Archbishop at the end of the ceremony outside the West Door.

Among other guests will be bishops and clergy from across the Church of England, and other faith leaders such as Cardinal Kurt Koch, representing the Pope, Imam Qari Asim from the British Muslim Network and Board of Deputies of British Jews president Phil Rosenberg.

Charity representatives, healthcare workers  including those working in hospitals and hospices in Canterbury  and schoolchildren will also attend.

open image in gallery The Prince of Wales will represent his father, the King, at the ceremony ( PA Wire )

Are there any other special elements to the service?

Six languages including English will feature, in nods to the diversity of the Anglican Communion. Among them will be singing in Urdu, a Gospel reading in Spanish and a prayer in the Bemba language of Zambia.

Five of the so-called Africa Six  the first female Anglican bishops from across Africa  will process through the Cathedrals nave in their robes.

In celebration of the contribution of female scholars, musicians and writers through the years to the Church, choral music will range from the Renaissance to contemporary, including the anthem All Shall Be Well by British composer Joanna Marsh.

The oath Dame Sarah will take will be sworn for the first time on the St Johns Bible  a copy of the first Benedictine, hand-illuminated Bible for more than 500 years, which was given to the cathedral in 2023.

The Augustine Gospels, which were used between 1945 and 2013, when the last archbishop was sworn in, are said to be fragile and not easily moved.

A clasp on the cloak  known as a cope  Dame Sarah will don is made from the belt buckle she wore as a nurse while serving in the NHS, while the staff she will be presented with during the service is the same one used by the last bishop of London to become Archbishop of Canterbury  Geoffrey Fisher.
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The arson attack on four ambulances in Golders Green early on March 23 has been called a horrific antisemitic attack by the prime minister, Keir Starmer.

These ambulances were run for the benefit of both the local Jewish and non-Jewish communities in this district of north London by a charity called Hatzola  meaning rescue in Hebrew. As these ambulances played a key supportive role in enabling access to health provisions for the good of all, it is especially shocking  and has further heightened the anxieties of British Jews.

This is a community still reeling after the attack on the Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester in October 2025 on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish religious calendar, which killed two people.

And the arson attack is part of a wider international wave of antisemitism, which has included Norway, the US and the Netherlands in the past few weeks. This is not an easy time to be a diaspora Jew.

Those who have carried out the attacks have come from different backgrounds. Many have been influenced by online hate emanating from Isis, and potentially individuals or groups supportive of the hardline Iranian regime.

Counter-terror police are investigating whether an Iran-linked group is responsible for the arson. The terror group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (The Islamic Movement of the People of the Right Hand) has claimed responsibility for the attack, as well as others in Europe.

Gas canisters kept in the ambulances exploded after they were set alight ( PA Wire )

These attacks reflect the complex pattern of hostility towards Jews in the UK, which has been through a mixture of domestic and foreign-inspired hatred. In terms of the latter, there are several examples going back a century which can be highlighted.

The most well-known is the Jew hatred spread by Oswald Mosley and his British Union of Fascists (BUF), formed in 1932, which was at least partly stimulated by German Nazism.

Overall, however, there are deep domestic roots of antisemitism since the readmission of the Jews in the 17th century after a 300-year expulsion. But it has rarely resulted in violent attacks  even if it has made life uncomfortable for the Jewish minority in moments of crisis.

Golders Greens rich history

These roots can be seen in relation to Golders Green which started to develop as a place of Jewish settlement from the First World War onward. While there were some Jews in this then small suburb in the 19th century, there was not much in the way of a formal community.

Pam Fox, the social historian of Golders Greens Jewish community, states that Before 1910 there was just a handful of Jews living in the community, but by 1915  there were 300 households. Growth continued after the first world war, and in 1922 the first synagogue, Dunstan Road, was opened. Today, the Jewish population is around 8,000 and represents some 40% of the suburbs population.

About the author Tony Kushner is a James Parkes Professor of Jewish/non-Jewish Relations at the University of Southampton. This article was first published by The Conversation and is republished under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article.

Such crude statistics do not reflect the diversity of the Jewish population both past and present. As early as the 1930s, more orthodox Jews, some of them refugees from Nazism, were establishing different forms of worship from Dunstan Road, which was more in the form of mainstream orthodox religiosity. By the second world war, there were at least 14,000 Jewish refugees in north-west London (including Golders Green), who varied from the totally secular, to reform, to the very orthodox.

After the war, there were more influxes of Jewish refugees, including from Egypt, Hungary and later South Africa, as well as second- and third-generation Jews whose origins were from eastern Europe and then the East End of London. While the very orthodox are currently the growing group in Golders Green, it still has an incredibly heterogeneous Jewish population.

For most Jews, the vibrant cultural, social and religious life of Golders Green has made it a very comfortable place to call home. Even so, there has been antisemitism  organised in the form of the BUF and more commonly in the form of more casual prejudice.

In late 1945, the Hampstead Petition Movement aimed to remove all foreign Jews from the wider area, and it had some local support. In the Nazi era, local newspapers, including the Golders Green Times, objected to the alleged bad behaviour of the Jewish refugees who were falsely accused of being unpatriotic and selfish.

Today, the idea of Golders Green being a Jewish suburb ignores the reality that most of its population is not of that background. It also forgets the many types of Jewishness that are articulated there. Such nuances are lost on those carrying out the attack on the ambulances, with their universal usage.

It says much about the times that such distinctions are not made  many people hold all Jews responsible for the actions of a particular Israeli government. Yet in Golders Green as elsewhere, Jews for both political, cultural and religious reasons hold a range of attitudes towards the problems of the Middle East. Ultimately, such attacks are, as local Jewish resident Sam Adler put it, cynical and cowardly. If nothing else, as with Manchester, they have also brought communities together in solidarity and resistance to the ugliness of antisemitism.
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Millions of drivers may soon claim more for mileage expenses, as the government launches a "workers-first" review.

Treasury minister Dan Tomlinson stated the 45p-per-mile rate review was "well overdue".

Unchanged since 2011, he acknowledged this stagnation had increased "the cost of working".

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the review this month, with the Treasury offering further details. The government intends to consult workers facing rising motoring costs during the process.

Exchequer Secretary Mr Tomlinson said: Millions of working people rely on their car to do their job.

But mileage rates have been unchanged since 2011 and thats increased the cost of working. A review is well overdue.

Keeping prices down at the pump is an important way we can help people with the cost of living which is why fuel duty is already frozen.

open image in gallery Treasury minister Dan Tomlinson said a review of the 45p-per-mile rate was well overdue ( Getty Images/iStockphoto )

The approved mileage allowance payment defines how much employees can be reimbursed tax-free for using their own cars for work.

Drivers can currently claim 45p per mile tax-free for the first 10,000 miles which is supposed to cover running a vehicle, including insurance and servicing.

After that drivers can claim 25p per mile. An additional 5p per mile can be claimed for each passenger transported.

Officials said the workers-first review will focus on people who rely on a car to do their job.

Any changes to the rate would be announced at a future budget.

Unison general secretary Andrea Egan said: This review is long overdue. Many workers have paid a heavy price for simply going about their jobs due to frozen rates.

For people providing essential public services who need their own cars for work, thats left them thousands of pounds out of pocket.

Its good news the Chancellor has listened and is heading in the right direction. Particularly when household bills are on the rise again.

open image in gallery Drivers can currently claim 45p per mile tax-free for the first 10,000 miles which is supposed to cover running a vehicle, including insurance and servicing ( PA )

The Government has been under pressure to do more to help motorists as fuel prices soar in response to the oil and gas crisis triggered by the war in Iran.

Diesel prices have risen by nearly a quarter since the start of the conflict in the Middle East.

The RAC said the average price of a litre of the fuel at UK forecourts reached 175.7p on Wednesday, up 23% from February 28 when the US-Israeli bombing campaign against Iran began.

Average petrol prices have increased by 13%, from 132.8p to 149.4p.

The Tories have stepped up a campaign to persuade Ms Reeves to scrap an increase in fuel duty which is due in September.
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English councils are set to receive new guidance on making streets more secure after a survey revealed nearly nine out of 10 women feel unsafe walking at night.

Government agency Active Travel England (Ate) said the advice will stress the importance of well-designed street lighting and establishing walking routes alongside busy roads covered by CCTV.

Ate commissioned a poll of 2,125 UK adults, finding 88 per cent of women felt unsafe after dark.

It also found 71 per cent of female respondents changed their routes to avoid walking in darkness.

Inadequate lighting, poorly maintained routes, personal safety fears, and antisocial behaviour were identified as key issues by the survey.

Ate national commissioner Chris Boardman described the results of the survey as appalling.

The guidance will refer to interventions put in place abroad, such as in Vigo, Spain, where a scheme was introduced allowing women and girls to ask bus drivers to stop anywhere along the route at night, rather than just at established stops.

This reduces the distance they need to walk home.

Ate said a number of towns and cities across England have already taken steps to improve street safety for women and girls.

Inadequate lighting, poorly maintained routes, personal safety fears, and antisocial behaviour were identified as key issues by the survey ( Getty Images/iStockphoto )

Measures include:

27 new CCTV cameras in locations where women reported feeling unsafe in Worksop, Nottinghamshire;

A designated safe walking route with improved visibility to Milton Keynes railway station, Buckinghamshire;

The introduction to Liverpool city centre of Halo Points, which are well-lit, highly visible devices with a direct link to the emergency services and CCTV.

English councils will receive the fresh guidance later this year, and be offered training sessions in the spring.

Mr Boardman, an Olympic champion cyclist, said it is a terrible thing that women and girls do not feel they have the same freedom to simply walk in their neighbourhood as men and boys.

He continued: That almost nine out of 10 women say they feel unsafe walking after dark is an appalling finding we should be ashamed of.

For too long, we have designed streets that dont work for women and girls.

We want to help councils remove the barriers that are stopping women and girls from choosing to walk and wheel  whether thats by providing better lighting, surface crossings over underpasses, CCTV or simply by listening to and acting on lived experiences.

The government has an ambition of halving violence against women and girls within a decade.

Local transport minister Lilian Greenwood said the results of the survey show just how much work there is to be done.

Home Office minister Jess Phillips said violence against women and girls is a national emergency.

Catherine Woodhead, chief executive of charity Living Streets, said ignoring womens safety on streets leads to them missing out on everything from education and exercise, to leisure and accessing work.

 The survey was conducted by research company YouGov in February.
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The British army is so depleted it could only seize a small market town on a good day, a former top military commander has warned amid growing concerns over the UKs ability to defend itself.

Giving a damning assessment of the military, General Sir Richard Barrons, who was one of the authors of a major defence review published last year by the government, warned that none of the services could do anything substantial.

The armed forces that we have now, because of their size, but also because of their sophistication, can make a very small contribution on land, in the air and at sea, to an enterprise either led by the US or more likely a Nato undertaking. What it cannot do is anything substantial, he told the BBC.

The former top military commander explained that the UK has promised the Nato alliance a strategic reserve corps of between 30,000 and 50,000 troops, ready to deploy anywhere in the alliance.

But he claimed that the army has not got the equipment or the training or the support to get anywhere close to delivering that yet.

Todays army frankly could do one very small thing, essentially it could seize a small market town on a good day, Sir Richard added.

Jack Watling, a senior research fellow for land warfare at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), agreed with the brutal assessment.

The Ukrainians trying to defend Bakhmut lost 10,000 people, killed and wounded over the course of the defence of Bakhmut, which is a small market town, and that would almost be the entire infantry force in the British military, he warned.

open image in gallery Richard Barrons at a conference in 2024 ( Getty )

The researcher also warned that the UK is critically short of artillery, after having given large amounts to Ukraine.

It comes after Israel issued a stark warning on Saturday that Iranian missiles are a threat to European cities  including London, Paris and Berlin  after two ballistic missiles were unsuccessfully fired by Iran towards the UK-US Diego Garcia military base on the Chagos Islands.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer faces accusations of complacency amid concerns 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 on Monday  made up of the chairs of parliamentary select committees  where he was challenged with claims that the UK is already 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.

Sir Keir 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.

open image in gallery Keir Starmer says No 10 is committed to increasing defence spending by 2.5 per cent ( PA Wire )

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.

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.

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 Britain after the Greek and French governments were able to deploy naval assets to defend Cyprus before the UK.
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Sir Keir Starmer has announced a temporary ban on cryptocurrency donations to political parties following a government review into electoral interference  a move that will be a major blow to Nigel Farages Reform UK.

The government will also cap donations from British citizens living abroad who are still on the electoral register.

Sir Keir told MPs the review by Philip Rycroft, a former senior civil servant, set out the stark threats posed by illicit finance  and he hit out at Mr Farage, whose party has accepted a number of crypto donations.

In the last year, Reform received about 12m from the Thai-based British investor Christopher Harborne, as well as a series of smaller donations from overseas.

The review warned that Iran, Russia and China are trying to cause harm to Britains democracy, that foreign interference is real and persistent and the government needs to make it a far higher priority.

Sir Keir told MPs at PMQs that the government would act decisively to protect our democracy; that will include a moratorium on all political donations made through cryptocurrencies.

open image in gallery The move, outlined in a new report on Wednesday, could outlaw Reform record-breaking 9m donation from a British businessman based in Thailand ( PA Wire )

The announcement led to calls for Mr Farage to return crypto donations.

Lib Dem cabinet spokesperson Lisa Smart said: Reform taking untraceable, secretive crypto-donations to fund their Trump-style politics here in the UK should never have been allowed. Farage must return all the crypto donations hes received from anonymous overseas sources or admit hes happy to let foreign sources of money poison our politics in the UK.

The report was ordered after Reform UKs former leader in Wales, Nathan Gill, was jailed for taking bribes to make pro-Russia statements while a member of the European Parliament.

The report also calls for a ban on foreign-funded online political ads, suggested MPs trips overseas should be funded only by the government or parliament, and warned of a "potential new threat" from the US.

In a sign of the scale of the problem, the reports authors warned that social media posts on Scottish independence fell dramatically when the Iranian authorities recently cut off internet service to its citizens.

Mr Farage was forced to defend the donation from Mr Harborne last year, insisting he wants nothing from me.

open image in gallery Philip Rycroft says he is here to look out for the interest of our democratic processes ( PA )

But the donation prompted concerns about political funding, as Mr Farage publicly promoted Tether, the cryptocurrency company in which Mr Harborne is a shareholder, shortly after receiving the donation.

Few parties accept crypto donations, but Reform UK is the most prominent to do so.

Mr Rycroft said he had spoken to Mr Farages party while compiling his report.

Asked about the prospect of Reform feeling targeted by the recommendations, he said: I wasnt here to look out for the interests of any political party, I was here to look out for the interest of our democratic processes.

open image in gallery An independent report has warned that foreign interference in the UK is real and persistent and the government needs to make it a far higher priority ( PA Archive )

Attempts to use financial influence to infiltrate politics by gaining leverage and sowing division and distrust are not new but arguably more acute, Mr Rycroft noted.

He said he was not pressing the panic button but ringing the alarm bell on the issue and urged the government to act swiftly on his recommendations.

Reform UK has also secured a second multimillion-pound donation from Mr Harborne. Months after he gave the party 9m,he gave an additional 3m donation in November, according to the Electoral Commission.

Reform home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf described the announcement as a dark day for Britain.

He said: Reform receives a large, perfectly lawful donation from a British citizen, and Labour responds by rushing through a new law to prohibit him from making such a donation again.

Rycroft even refers to British citizens as malign actors in his report. This is how fast the machinery of government moves when it wants to protect itself.
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Police are to reassess the investigation into the theft of Morgan McSweeneys phone, after admitting officers recorded the wrong address when he reported the crime.

Sir Keir Starmers former chief of staff told the Metropolitan Police that his device had been snatched in central London last October, but the force instead recorded the incident in Belgrave Street, Tower Hamlets.

The investigation into the theft will now be reopened to assess if there is further evidence, after concerns were raised that messages between him and Lord Peter Mandelson could now be lost.

Communications between ministers and Lord Mandelson are due to be published in an effort to shed light on his appointment as US ambassador despite his links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Mr McSweeney, who is said to have pushed for the former Labour peers appointment as US ambassador, resigned as Sir Keirs chief of staff earlier this year over his role in the decision.

open image in gallery A mobile phone used by McSweeney was taken last year, meaning messages relating to Lord Peter Mandelsons appointment as British ambassador to the US could be lost ( PA Wire )

The Metropolitan Police confirmed on Tuesday that a man in his forties had reported his phone being snatched, and they are now reviewing the case following the administrative error.

Police said a previous review of the allegation, including whether there was CCTV available, did not identify any realistic lines of inquiry and the investigation was closed.

But while responding to a recent media inquiry, they became aware the incorrect address was recorded at the time of the initial call to police, and it should have been noted as Belgrave Road in Westminster.

The error will now be amended, and the force will reassess whether there is available evidence, police said.

open image in gallery Lord Peter Mandelson was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office ( PA Wire )

Health secretary Wes Streeting said on Wednesday that the loss of messages through the theft was a cock-up rather than conspiracy.

Mr Streeting said Mr McSweeney couldnt have known the exchanges would later be needed for scrutiny and told Times Radio: I can totally understand the cynicism in these sorts of cases, but do bear in mind that when his phone was stolen, it was reported to the police at the time.

He couldnt at that stage have known that Parliament would ask for the publication of all messages in the way that they have in quite an unprecedented way.

Yes, sometimes in politics things can be explained as a result of conspiracy. In other times, more often than not, it is a result of cock-up rather than conspiracy.

A Met Police spokesperson said: On Monday 20 October police received a report from a man in his 40s alleging that his phone had been snatched.

The incident was recorded as having taken place in Belgrave Street, E1.

A review of the allegation, including a consideration of whether there was available CCTV, did not identify any realistic lines of inquiry. The investigation was subsequently closed.

In the course of responding to a recent media inquiry, we became aware that the address was entered incorrectly at the time of the initial call and should instead have been recorded as Belgrave Road, Pimlico.

open image in gallery Despite the loss of the phone, it is understood that the Cabinet Office does have some of the messages between Mr McSweeney and Lord Mandelson ( Getty )

Having identified this error, the report will be amended and the assessment of whether there is available evidence revisited.

The loss of the device comes as communications between ministers and Lord Mandelson are due to be published in an effort to shed light on his appointment as US ambassador despite links to Jeffrey Epstein.

Despite the loss of the phone, it is understood that the Cabinet Office does have some of the messages between Mr McSweeney and Lord Mandelson.

A government spokesperson previously said: We are committed to complying with the humble address in full while continuing to support the Metropolitan Police with their investigation.

But the Conservatives have previously claimed the theft of the phone stinks of a cover-up.

Tory frontbencher Alex Burghart said: We had to drag the Mandelson files out of Keir Starmer and now we find the phone of his former chief of staff and protege of Mandelson won't be part of the disclosure. The whole thing stinks of a cover-up.

Lord Mandelson was arrested on 23 February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, having been accused of passing sensitive information to Epstein during his time as business secretary.

Sir Keir has repeatedly said that he is sorry for believing Lord Mandelsons lies over his connection to the sex offender and for appointing him to the high-profile role in Washington. The prime minister has also made a frank apology to the victims of Epstein for the decision.
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Peers are poised for another vote on whether to ban under-16s from social media platforms, a move that could spark a parliamentary confrontation.

Lord Nash, who put forward the age restriction within the Childrens Wellbeing and Schools Bill, emphasised the urgency of the matter.

He warned that "when it comes to our children and social media, there can be no half measures and no wasted opportunities".

The Conservative peer's proposal had previously been incorporated into the draft legislation following a decisive vote in the upper chamber, where he secured a majority of 111.

However, MPs subsequently voted to remove this specific clause by a majority of 134, instead favouring a broader and more adaptable power for the government.

On Wednesday, peers will be asked whether they would like to insist on Lord Nashs proposal or agree with MPs.

Twenty-one bereaved parents have written to members of the Lords, urging them to vote to raise the age.

Under the Commons-backed amendment put forward by ministers, children could be banned or restricted from accessing selected social media services.

The Secretary of State would also gain new powers to bring in social media curfews for young people, or limit the amount of time children can spend on social media.

A Government consultation on what action should be taken to address online harms is under way.

open image in gallery On Wednesday, peers will be asked whether they would like to insist on Lord Nashs proposal or agree with MPs ( Saeed KHAN / AFP via Getty Images )

Speaking ahead of the debate, Lord Nash said: Today, my colleagues in the Lords have the opportunity to again tell our elected colleagues that when it comes to our children and social media, there can be no half measures and no wasted opportunities.

The damage that social media is doing to our children increases by the day.

And it is now clear that the Governments consultation is a rushed job with no guaranteed outcome  and worse, one skewed towards the so-called positive benefits of social media.

Lord Nash warned the ministers proposal would introduce sweeping powers which they could use at some point in the future to let down, with no effective parliamentary scrutiny, the millions of parents, teachers, police officers, doctors and others who have campaigned for raising the age limit to 16 for the most harmful platforms.

He added peers could back his amendment, raising the age limit to 16 for the most harmful platforms, written into law by the summer, with 12 months before implementation to get this right.

He said: I urge my colleagues to please do so.

open image in gallery The parents of 14-year-old Jools Sweeney, left, are among the signatories ( Family handout )

In their open letter addressed to parliamentarians, the 21 parents described the Commons vote as not just disappointing  it was devastating.

Its signatories included Ellen Roome and Matthew Sweeney, the parents of 14-year-old Jools Sweeney; George and Areti Nicolaou, the parents of 15-year-old Christoforos; and Hollie Dance, the mother of 12-year-old Archie Battersbee.

They wrote: We are writing as parents who wake up every day to a silence that should not exist, who go to bed knowing there will be no goodnight, no laughter, no future with the child we raised and loved.

They added: The Governments offer, a consultation with no binding commitment and no fixed end point, is not an answer to a problem that has already claimed too many young lives.

We have already lost our children. We cannot accept a process that risks losing more as discussions continue.

We have watched technology companies fight every attempt at meaningful reform. We know how they operate.

We know how easily protections are delayed, diluted or quietly dropped when there is no firm legislative commitment.

The parents also said: The Government is seeking powers that would allow future measures to be introduced with little or no opportunity for you, as elected representatives, to scrutinise or challenge them.

We cannot ignore what this means.

It means there is a real risk of half-measures.

In the Commons earlier this month, education minister Olivia Bailey told MPs: Many parents and campaign groups have called for an outright ban on social media for under-16s.

Others, including childrens charities, have warned that a blanket ban could drive children towards less regulated corners of the internet or leave teenagers unprepared when they do come online.

Ms Bailey said the consultation would help ministers decide their next steps and ensure children can grow up with a safer, healthier and more enriching relationship with the online world.

The Bill has been debated in both Houses but is in a stage sometimes known as ping-pong.

Both Houses must agree on its final draft before it can become law.
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The U.S. military is preparing to deploy soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Divisions specialized parachute assault force to the Middle East, the Pentagon has confirmed.

The move comes as the Iran war enters its fourth week and as President Donald Trump considers options to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil route.

Speculation about the deployment intensified earlier this month after reports that the army had cancelled a major training exercise involving the headquarters element of the division, based at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

The New York Times also reported that the Trump administration has examined plans to seize Kharg Island  Irans main oil hub  as a way to pressure Tehran to reopen the strait.

According to the Associated Press, members of the Senate Armed Services Committee are scheduled to receive a classified briefing from Pentagon officials Wednesday on Capitol Hill, where the potential deployment of over 1,000 soldiers is expected to be discussed, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The 82nd Airborne is trained for rapid, highrisk missions, including parachuting into contested areas to secure airfields or strategic terrain.

open image in gallery The 82nd Airborne Division played a key role in extractions from Afghanistan ( Master Sgt Alejandro Licea )

Retired Marine Col Mark Cancian told Axios that the paratroopers have the ability to threaten targets in the Gulf, without having to transit the Strait, and can arrive relatively quickly.

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly referred reporters questions about the deployment to the Pentagon but said, President Trump always has all military options at his disposal.

How big is the 82nd Airborne Division?

open image in gallery Paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division watch an airdrop of combat cargo bundles carrying food and water in Paktika province, Afghanistan, in 2007 ( U.S. Army/Spc Micah E Clare )

The 82nd Airborne Division is one of the US armys most recognizable combat units, famed as a rapid and agile fighting force.

It is the primary fighting arm of the XVIII Airborne Corps and in 2022, reportedly contained around 18,000 paratroopers trained for rapid global deployment.

A key component of the division is the Immediate Response Force (IRF), a unit made up of around 3,000 soldiers capable of deploying anywhere in the world within 18 hours, according to the army.

The planned deployment reportedly includes a battalion from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, along with Maj Gen Brandon Tegtmeier  the divisions commander  and elements of his staff, AP reported.

open image in gallery The Pentagon is weighing up whether to send in about 3,000 troops to support the Iran war effort ( AFP/Getty )

What the 82nd Airborne does

The 82nd Airborne specializes in joint forcible entry operations, meaning it can parachute into hostile territory to seize key objectives such as airfields, ports, or strategic infrastructure.

These capabilities make it one of the militarys primary tools for rapid crisis response.

The division conducts parachute assaults, secures terrain for followon forces, and supports operations tied to U.S. national interests.

Its IRF component is specifically designed for shortnotice missions, including embassy reinforcement, evacuation support, and the initial stages of major combat operations.

Where the 82nd Airborne has deployed before

The division traces its origins to 1917 and was deployed in the First World War, but became internationally known for its combat jumps in key European offensives during the Second. Since then, it has been involved in nearly every major U.S. conflict.

These include Operation Desert Storm in 1991, when the division served as the initial vanguard of U.S. forces during the first Gulf War.

open image in gallery U.S. Paratroopers conduct a tactical ground movement through Pekha Valley, Achin District, Nangahar Province, Afghanistan, in 2017 ( Cpl Matthew DeVirgilio )

In Iraq and Afghanistan, 82nd Airborne troops played major roles in the Global War on Terror under President Bush.

In 2020, the 82nd was deployed to Iraq after the attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, and then in 2021, they played a role in the rapid evacuation of Afghanistan as the Taliban retook power.

In 2022, around 3,000 82nd Airborne troops were deployed to Europe following Russias invasion of Ukraine, according to the U.S. government.

The IRF was formally established in 2018 and has since become one of the Pentagons most frequently activated rapiddeployment tools.

Other U.S. forces already in the region

The 82nd Airborne troops will join a growing U.S. military presence in the Middle East.

Thousands of Marines aboard Navy ships have already been ordered to the region, including the USS Tripoli and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, which has been shifted from exercises near Taiwan.

open image in gallery The worlds largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R Ford, has been deployed ( AFP/Getty )

Furthermore, a rapidresponse Marine force has reportedly been deployed from their home base in San Diego.

Together, the two Marine Expeditionary Units add about 5,000 Marines and thousands of sailors to the area. The U.S. already has around 50,000 troops stationed across the region.

The buildup comes as the Trump administration says it has begun negotiations aimed at ending the war, with Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, secretary of state Marco Rubio and vice president JD Vance involved in discussions.

But Iran has hit out at the claims, denying that direct talks are taking place and suggesting the U.S. is negotiating with itself.
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Crews on Tuesday began evaluating damage from a surprise downpour that sent floodwaters raging through a neighborhood near downtown Honolulu  the latest bout in a series of storms and flooding that have pummeled the state over the past two weeks.

Residents along Oahu's North Shore, famous for its big wave surfing, were cleaning up from the worst flooding to hit Hawaii in two decades when a storm Monday unleashed several inches of rain on the southern part of the island. Reddish-brown torrents gushed along roads in the Manoa Valley, a few miles east of downtown Honolulu, sweeping away parked cars and swamping much of the neighborhood.

I was shocked to see how much flash flooding there was in my area, said Manoa resident Andrew Phomsouvanh, who recorded video of streets transformed into a confluence of rapids. The water just keeps coming.

Natalie Aczon had gone to the drugstore to pick up some medication for her mother on Monday. By the time she left the store some 15 minutes later, water was roaring down the street next to the shopping center.

People came running out from Longs and one of the guys actually said, Thats my white car. And it had elevated, she said.

The ferocity of Monday's downpour even took National Weather Service meteorologists aback. They knew that lingering instability from a powerful winter storm system called a Kona low could yield more rain, but their models aren't good at predicting how much moisture can remain in such systems, said forecaster Cole Evans.

When you think it's over it's not quite over, he said Tuesday.

The downpour, which dumped 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) of rain per hour, was highly localized: One rain gauge in the upper part of the valley recorded 6 inches (15 centimeters), while the airport a few miles away got just one-hundredth of an inch (less than a millimeter).

The Kona low was moving off to the east, Evans said, and should not pose further risk of bursts like Monday's. A flash flood was in effect for the eastern part of Maui.

There were no immediate reports of deaths or serious injuries, but authorities said hundreds of homes on Oahu's North Shore had been damaged by last week's flooding, which came as heavy rains fell on soil already saturated by downpours from a winter storm a week earlier.

More than 230 people had to be rescued. The water pushed houses off their foundations, floated cars out of parking spots and left walls, floor and counters covered with thick, reddish volcanic mud.

Evacuation orders covered 5,500 people north of Honolulu, and some residents fled on surfboards as water reached waist or chest high.

Farms around the state reported more than $9.4 million worth of damage as of Monday, according to a survey conducted by Agriculture Stewardship Hawaii, the Hawaii Farm Bureau and other organizations.

Even before Monday, 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. He called it the states most serious since flooding since 2004, when floods in Manoa inundated homes and a University of Hawaii library.

Molly Pierce, a spokesperson for the Oahu Emergency Management Agency, said that in addition to volunteers and public workers who have been cleaning up, a contract company had arrived to begin collecting, sorting and removing large piles of debris.

She called the storm system extremely unusual but that officials were cautiously optimistic Tuesday that the rains are finally ending.

Most of us have not seen something that just keeps going like this, Pierce said. We feel like we keep getting punched down. But we'll keep getting back up.

___

Johnson reported from Seattle. Associated Press writer Mark Thiessen in Anchorage, Alaska, contributed to this report.
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Today show host Savannah Guthrie broke down in tears over the agony her family is experiencing in her first sit-down interview since her 84-year-old mother, Nancy, was kidnapped from her Arizona home nearly two months ago.

In a preview of the interview, the 54-year-old NBC anchor became emotional as she spoke with her former morning-show co-host, Hoda Kotb.

Someone needs to do the right thing, she said through tears. We are in agony. It is unbearable. And to think of what she went through.

I wake up every night in the middle of the night, every night, she continued. And in the darkness, I imagine her terror. And it is unthinkable, but those thoughts demand to be thought. And I will not hide my face.

But she needs to come home now, she added.

open image in gallery An emotional Savannah Guthrie gave her first interview since her mother disappeared with her former co-anchor, Hoda Kotb ( NBC News )

open image in gallery Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her home in the Catalina Foothills on February 1 in what investigators believe was a targeted abduction ( NBC/Today )

The interview  which will air on Thursday and Friday  marks Savannah Guthries first appearance on the Today show since January 30, just two days before her mother was reported missing to the police.

Last week, Savannah Guthrie and her siblings released an emotional plea to their mothers neighbors in Tucson, Arizona, begging for information that may help the case.

Its possible a member of this community has information that they do not even realize is significant, theToday show host wrote in a statement on Instagram on Sunday. We hope people search their memories, especially around the key timelines of January 31 and the early morning hours of February 1, as well as the late evening of January 11.

open image in gallery In her most recent statement on Instagram, Savannah Guthrie urged the community in Tucson, Arizona, to search their memories for information that may help them recover her mother ( Instagram/@savannahguthrie )

We desperately ask this community for renewed attention to our moms case  please consult camera footage, journal notes, text messages, observations, or conversations that in retrospect may hold significance, the statement added. No detail is too small. It may be the key.

Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her home in the Catalina Foothills neighborhood outside of Tucson in the early hours of February 1, in what investigators believe was a targeted abduction.

The 84-year-old was in fragile health when she went missing. Her family said she relied on daily medication that could have fatal consequences if she doesnt take it.

911 dispatch audio from when she was reported missing revealed she also has high blood pressure, a pacemaker and cardiac issues.

open image in gallery Savannah Guthrie last appeared on the Today show on January 30 ( Invision/AP )

Drops of Nancy Guthries blood were found on the front porch of her home, and the FBI released surveillance footage on February 10 that showed a masked man at her doorstep the night she went missing.

The Guthrie family has offered a $1 million reward for their mothers recovery, and the FBI has separately offered a reward of $50,000 for information leading to her recover, or to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.
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A Texas woman is demanding seven-figures in damages after the wrong persons remains were buried in a grave meant for her deceased sibling.

Clota Rainey, 75, says a stranger was interred next to her late parents instead of her sister, Willie Jean Gamble, according to a state lawsuit reviewed by The Independent.

Gamble, who died in 2024 at the age of 78, could not be buried on the day of her funeral and her body was put in storage for an extended period  where it sustained severe deterioration, Raineys complaint says  before ultimately being laid to rest in a spot contrary to Gambles wishes.

Paradise Funeral Home & Cemeterys carelessness in handling [Gambles] final disposition caused [Rainey] severe mental anguish and complicated her grief, the complaint contends.

Service Corp. International, which owns Paradise Funeral Home & Cemetery, did not immediately respond on Tuesday to a request for comment.

When the time comes to plan a funeral or choose a final resting place, you want to work with a team you can trust, the Paradise Funeral Home & Cemetery website tells prospective clients. Our experienced and caring team blends traditional values with contemporary products and services to celebrate every life in a very personal way.

open image in gallery A Texas woman is demanding seven-figures in damages after the wrong body was buried in a grave meant for her deceased sibling (File Photo) ( AFP via Getty Images )

On April 10, 2024, Gamble, a public school teacher, died after a long battle against cancer. Rainey then contacted Paradise for embalming, funeral services, and burial, as she and her family had long owned a plot there with six spaces  one for each family member, according to the complaint, which was filed in Harris County Court on March 18.

On April 20, 2024, Rainey arrived at the cemetery for her final goodbyes, to find that a stranger had been buried that morning in the family plot where [her] sister was supposed to be buried, the complaint alleges.

Because of Defendants carelessness, Plaintiff was unable to bury her sister on the day of the service and the Decedent had to be stored for more than a week, the complaint goes on. Defendants failure to bury the Decedent timely caused severe deterioration to the Decedents body. Defendant did not remove the stranger timely, and the Decedent had to be buried in a different grave in the family plot.

The complaint does not provide details of what happened to the other body, and whether or not it has since been moved to the proper place.

Later on the day of the botched burial, another one of Gambles sisters contacted the media, telling a local reporter that the family tried our best to do right for her, but still fell short, Sibbie Curry told Click2Houston.com.

Someone else is sitting in her grave, Curry told the outlet.

Curry said they first suspected something had gone awry when, following the funeral service, Paradise employees seemed to be steering her away from the family plot.

God knows I pray this doesnt happen to another family, she told Click2Houston.com at the time. This is heartbreaking.

open image in gallery Paradise Funeral Home & Cemeterys 'carelessness' in handling Willie Jean Gamble's remains caused her sister 'severe mental anguish and complicated her grief,' according to court filings ( Google Maps )

However, burial mix-ups have happened to scores of others, according to court records and published reports.

In 2023, two Long Island, New York, sisters sued the Star of David Memorial Chapel funeral home after the wrong man was buried in their fathers grave, dressed in the dads favorite Led Zeppelin T-shirt, as per his final wishes.

Although Clifford Zaners daughters Stacy Holzman and Megan Zaner didnt recognize the man in the casket as him, they trusted the funeral directors and assumed they were simply blinded by grief, they told The Daily Beast. Three weeks later, they learned the truth, and discovered that their fathers body had been left in storage at the funeral chapel for an entire month, violating Jewish tradition, according to court filings in the case.

Zaner was subsequently buried in Florida, where he also had family, because the sisters couldnt face enduring another funeral for their dad, Holzman told the Beast.

The following year, a New York City funeral home that had been accused by regulators of, among other things, losing bodies, presenting caskets for viewing with other peoples bodies inside, and providing families with cremation urns that may or may not contain the ashes of their loved ones, was sued after it mistakenly swapped out a 96-year-old womans remains for a 39-year-olds, sending their bodies to the wrong destinations.

By the time Carmen Maldonados body arrived where it was supposed to, it was so badly decayed that plastic bags had to be placed over her hands so grief-stricken relatives would not be forced to watch the skin sloughing off during the viewing, attorney Phil Rizzuto told The Independent.

In January, a Rhode Island woman thought she was saying a final farewell to her aunt at a closed-casket graveside service, NBC 10 News reported. But, the next day, her niece was told the hospital had released the wrong remains to the funeral home, and someone else altogether had been buried in place of Emilia Severino, according to the outlet.

We were just a mess, the niece said. We prayed over somebody. I dont know what their religious beliefs are. I don't know what their familys going through.

Clota Raineys complaint says the unthinkable mixup has caused her severe mental anguish, and seeks a minimum of $1 million from Paradise Funeral Home & Cemetery, plus treble economic damages as permitted under the Texas Trade Practices Act.

Those figures may increase, according to the filing, which says discovery in the case has yet to begin, and [Rainey] still must ascertain the extent of her damages.
Intruder to Chinese embassy in Japan arrested, more information disclosed

Xinhua) 14:07, March 25, 2026

TOKYO, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese intruder who broke into the Embassy of China in Japan on Tuesday morning was arrested by the police later the same day, with more information about the case disclosed, according to local media.

The intruder has been identified as Kodai Murata, 23, a second lieutenant in Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF), stationed at Camp Ebino in Miyazaki Prefecture, according to Kyodo News, citing Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. A second lieutenant is the lowest officer rank within the GSDF.

The suspect allegedly entered the premises of the Chinese embassy at around 9 a.m. local time, carrying a knife and shouting threatening words. He was initially detained by embassy staff and later arrested by police on suspicion of unlawful entry, the report said.

Japanese police described the incident as "very regrettable" and said round-the-clock security would be provided for the embassy compound.

The GSDF said it would cooperate fully with the police and deal with the case "strictly," proceeding "based on facts."

According to the Chinese embassy in Japan, a man claiming to be "an active-duty officer of the Japan Self-Defense Forces" forcibly broke into the embassy by climbing over a wall on Tuesday morning, threatening to kill Chinese diplomatic personnel.

The embassy has lodged solemn representations and a strong protest with the Japanese side, demanding that Japan provide a responsible explanation.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
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An elderly Texas veteran was forced out of retirement and now delivers takeout on DoorDash so that his family can afford healthcare  an increasingly common reality for many older Americans struggling to make ends meet.

Larry Phillip Colvin, a 76-year-old Vietnam veteran, started delivering food in Mabank, about an hour southeast of Dallas, because his Social Security benefits couldnt stretch to cover the medical bills of his wife, who requires surgery, and his son, who suffers from several autoimmune diseases, he said.

My Social Security just wasnt cutting it anymore, Colvin told KTVT.. I had to do something, and I cant hold down a regular job.

Colvin, who will turn 77 in May, works every night of the week except for Wednesday, when he attends church.

I wish I didnt have to do it at night, he said, before adding he does because thats when you make money.

Colvin caught the attention of Savannah Saulters, who ordered pizza on DoorDash on March 14, and was shocked to discover that the deliveryman was elderly and wearing a veterans cap. She has since launched a GoFundMe campaign for the vet - and has seen an outpouring of support with more than $50,000 in donations.

open image in gallery Texas veteran Larry Phillip Colvin, 76, has been forced out of retirement and now delivers takeout for DoorDash to help cover his familys medical bills. ( GoFundMe )

There should be no reason that a 76-year-old man is delivering my pizza at 10:30 at night time. That should not be happening, Saulters said.

Saulters took to social media to try to identify her delivery driver  and then learned that Colvin had been retired from his job as a repairman for 10 years.

The veterans daughter-in-law, Donna Colvin, said the gig work had been taking a toll on him.

I think its very hard on him. I think hes almost 77 years old, and its gotta take a toll somewhere, she said.

Moved by his story, Saulters started a GoFundMe for Colvins family in the hope that it could help him ditch the delivery job.

open image in gallery Colvin had been retired for 10 years and says his Social Security benefits werent enough to cover his wife and sons medical expenses. A GoFundMe appeal has raised more than $50,000 for Colvin. ( KTVT )

Many in our community have met [Colvin] through their orders, and his kindness and dedication have left a lasting impression, Saulters wrote in the fundraiser.

No parent should have to choose between earning a living and being there for their sick child. Thats why Im starting this fundraiser  to help this devoted father take time off from DoorDash so he can focus on what matters most: Caring for his son, she wrote.

Saulters added: The funds raised will give him the breathing room he needs to be present for his family during this difficult time, without the added stress of late-night shifts.

Colvins family has been moved by the gesture, telling the outlet it has already helped them tremendously.

I say, God bless that lady, Colvin said. Im very grateful. Itll help pay off some bills.

Colvins situation has become an increasingly more common scenario for many older Americans struggling to pay their medical bills and other expenses. Earlier this month, a similar scenario unfolded in Tennessee when Brittany Smith noticed a 78-year-old man named Richard struggling to climb the stairs while delivering her DoorDash order.

open image in gallery A similar scenario unfolded in Tennessee after a woman launched a GoFundMe for a 78-year-old man named Richard, a DoorDash driver she saw 'struggling' to deliver an order. ( Brittany Smith )

Smith discovered her daughters father, who is quadriplegic and often has things sent to the house for her, had ordered Starbucks for her.

I was actually mad about it, because he often orders Starbucks for her, but we try to do it as more of a reward, and this was the third time he had ordered for her in the week, she told The Independent. So, I see the Ring doorbell go off, and I'm like, you've got to be kidding me, he had Starbucks sent again.

When Smith clicked on the Ring doorbell app, she saw a little old man walking up the steps.

This poor guy is struggling to get up my stairs to deliver my very capable daughter her Starbucks, she said. My daughter's dad is a quadriplegic, so he often has things sent to the house because he can't physically go get them.

Smith tracked the driver down to get him a bigger tip, and later started a GoFundMe titled Give Richard a Chance to Rest Again, which had raised over $968,000 as of Wednesday.
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A California gubernatorial debate planned for Tuesday was abruptly canceled after candidates of color who would have been excluded accused the school hosting the event of discrimination.

Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco, and Democrats Tom Steyer, Katie Porter, Eric Swalwell and Matt Mahan, who are all white, were slated to participate in the debate hosted by the University of Southern California and KABC-TV.

Four established Democratic candidates of color, Antonio Villaraigosa, Xavier Becerra, Betty Yee and Tony Thurmond, didn't meet the criteria to participate.

No clear front-runner has emerged in the crowded race to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom ahead of the June 2 primary.

The university has defended a formula used to select the participants and denied allegations of bias.

No clear front-runner has emerged in the crowded race to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom ( Getty )

A public policy professor independently developed the criteria based on candidates polling and fundraising, the university said in a statement Friday.

But the university reversed course Monday night, saying that the debate co-hosts couldnt agree on a solution.

The "data-driven candidate viability formula is based on extensive research and enjoys broad academic support, it said in a statement.

At the same time, we recognize that concerns about the selection criteria for tomorrows gubernatorial debate have created a significant distraction from the issues that matter to voters.

The controversy escalated Monday when legislative leaders, including chairs of the Black and Latino caucuses, called on organizers to open the debate to the other established candidates.

If USC does not do the right thing, we call on California voters to boycott this debate," they wrote. "If the university will not give voters a fair shot at evaluating everyone running for governor, voters should find other ways to learn about the candidates.

Villaraigosa, a former Los Angeles mayor who is Latino, celebrated the university's decision to cancel the debate.

USC made the right call, even if it came late and under pressure, he said.
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A Venezuelan national who said he was deported from the U.S. and held at a notorious El Salvador prison is now suing the Trump administration.

Neiyerver Adrian Leon Rengel filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the U.S. seeking at least $1.3 million in damages for false imprisonment, abuse of process, negligence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, according to the Democracy Defenders Fund, which is representing the 28-year-old.

It comes after Rengel detailed these allegations in an administrative claim filed last year.

The latest complaint alleges that Rengel was wrongly identified as a member of the gang Tren de Aragua  repeatedly denied due process, falsely imprisoned, intentionally deceived, and  ultimately  illegally sent to El Salvador in blatant violation of a court order.

Rengel was detained by federal immigration agents in March 2025. When he was arrested, the only justification offered by ICE officers was that Plaintiffs tattoos indicated his membership in [Tren de Aragua], the complaint states.

open image in gallery Former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stands in front of a group of inmates at El Salvador's CECOT prison. Neiyerver Adrian Leon Rengel said in a new lawsuit he was held at the facility for four months last year ( Getty Images )

Rengel has denied any connection to the gang. He told CBS News in a recent interview: I've never been a gang member, nor a member of a criminal group.

His tattoos include the names Sandra and Isabelahis mother and daughtera barbershop, and a tiger, rather than any symbols connected with [Tren de Aragua], the filing notes.

The lawsuit alleges Rengel was told he would be deported to Venezuela  but was instead placed on a plane to El Salvador and held at the countrys CECOT prison.

For four months, [Rengel] languished in CECOT, during which time he was beaten by guards, subjected to inhumane and overcrowded conditions as well as extreme psychological trauma, denied adequate medical care, and held without contact with his family or any legal counsel, the complaint states.

Juan Proano, CEO of the League of United Latin American Citizens, which assisted with the case, said in a statement Rengel deserves his day in court.

What happened to Adrian Rengel is government-sanctioned torture and a failure to recognize his humanity because he happened to be an immigrant, Proano added.

open image in gallery Neiyerver Adrian Leon Rengel is seeking at least $1.3 million in damages, according to his new lawsuit ( Family of Neiyerver Adrian Leon Rengel )

When reached for comment, a DHS official told The Independent Rengel entered our country illegally in 2023 from Venezuela and is an associate of Tren De Aragua.

Tren de Aragua is vicious gang that rapes, maims, and murders for sport. This illegal alien was deemed a public safety threat as a confirmed associate of the Tren de Aragua gang and processed for removal from the U.S, the official said.

The DHS official also said the agency is confident in our law enforcements intelligence, and we arent going to share intelligence reports and undermine national security every time a gang member denies he is one.

There IS due process for these terrorists who all have final deportation orders. Further, we have a stringent law enforcement assessment in place that abides by due process under the U.S. Constitution, the official added.

open image in gallery Rengel was among the 252 Venezuelans deported to CECOT last year, according to Reuters. He was then released in July 2025 and sent to Venezuela as part of a prisoner swap agreement ( REUTERS )

The Independent has contacted the Democracy Defenders Fund, the Justice Department and the office of El Salvadors president for comment.

Rengel was among the 252 Venezuelans deported to CECOT last year, according to Reuters. He was then released in July 2025 and sent to Venezuela as part of a prisoner swap agreement.

The DHS official said the Trump administration deported nearly 300 Tren de Aragua and MS-13 terrorists to the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) Prison in El Salvador, where they no longer pose a threat to the American people.
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A senator has opened an investigation into the countrys two largest child care companies that are controlled by private equity  as families grapple with rising prices.

On Tuesday, Oregon Democrat Jeff Merkley sent letters to KinderCare Learning Companies and Learning Care Group, in addition to their respective owners, requesting detailed information about how the Wall Street-backed firms operate.

Some analysts suggest that the growing role of private equity and other profitmaximizing ownership models in child care centers increase challenges related to affordability, staffing, and accessparticularly where investor strategies increase financial pressure to raise prices, constrain labor costs, or concentrate capacity in higher-revenue markets, Merkley wrote in one letter.

He pointed to an analysis showing that eight of the 10 largest child care firms are owned by private equity, while also citing studies that found such centers are more likely than their nonprofit counterparts to have staffing shortages, lower wages and higher prices.

Merkley also noted that regulators in several states have cited KinderCare for inadequate supervision, while centers owned by Learning Care Group have been reported for health and safety violations in some states.

open image in gallery A Democratic senator has opened an investigation into the country's two largest child care companies controlled by private equity  as families grapple with rising prices ( Getty Images )

He then asked the companies to turn over key information by April 7, such as parent entities, sponsors, subsidiaries, committee minutes, presentations, and related legal proceedings.

Our future generations are our greatest resource, and we owe it to them to ensure their safety and security are at the forefront of everything we do, the third-term senator said. The private equity firms and the child care companies they control owe it to the families they serve to fully cooperate with this investigation, and I look forward to fully examining the documents and information we are requesting.

KinderCare Learning Companies is owned by Partners Group, a private equity firm based in Switzerland, while Learning Care Group is owned by American Securities, a U.S.-based private equity company.

Both companies stressed that they view their role in delivering quality care as a serious and essential commitment.

At KinderCare, our mission is simple and unwavering: to support working families and to provide a safe, nurturing, high quality learning environment so their children can thrive, a company spokesperson told The Independent. Every day, millions of parents across the country rely on early education and care so they can contribute to their communities and their workplaces. Annually, the federal government provides less than $250 in child care funding per American child while the cost of quality care continues to rise.

Every decision we make is grounded in providing safe, high-quality care and being a good place to work for our teachers, Learning Care CEO John Bork said in a statement obtained by The Washington Post. We believe thoughtful, long-term investment supports that mission, and we welcome the opportunity to work with policymakers to strengthen the system for families and educators.

open image in gallery 'Ensuring working families can access safe and affordable child care is paramount to building out the middle class and making it easier for families to get ahead,' Merkley, an Oregon Democrat, said in a statement ( Getty Images )

Child care costs in the United States have become a growing financial burden for many families, especially in recent years.

According to the First Five Years Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to early childhood policy, the average annual cost of child care now exceeds $13,000 per child. In many cases, that price tag rivals  or even surpasses  monthly rent, as a 2025 LendingTree analysis found.

The vast majority of voters, 80 percent, believe that the inability of working parents to find affordable child care options is a major problem or a state of crisis, according to a February FFYF survey.
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An alleged South American drug camp bombed with the help of the U.S. military and celebrated by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appears to have actually been a humble dairy farm, according to a new report.

On March 6, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell announced the U.S. had executed targeted action against narco-terrorism networks in Ecuador in partnership with the countrys security forces.

In a video he posted online, an explosion can be seen ripping through a remote, riverside patch of land, sending thick columns of smoke into the air.

We are bombing Narco Terrorists on land as well, Hegseth boasted, referring to the U.S. militarys strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean  a campaign that has killed at least 144 people.

But a new investigation by The New York Times indicates that the bombedout site had no connection to drug trafficking and appears to have, in fact, been a small dairy and cattle farm, whose owner is now infuriated.

open image in gallery An alleged drug camp that the US helped Ecuador bomb earlier this month appears to have, in fact, been a dairy farm, according to a new investigation ( AFP via Getty Images )

Reporters from the outlet visited the site  located along the Colombia-Ecuador border  earlier this month, where residents recounted the explosive operation.

The farms employees told the Times that Ecuadorian service members landed by helicopter on March 3, interrogated the workers, beat them with their guns and set several structures on fire. Three workers, who were not named, said they were choked and subjected to electrical shocks before being released.

Three days later, Ecuadorian military helicopters returned and unleashed explosives on the farms remaining structures, villagers said. It was this incident that was captured on video and later posted by U.S. officials.

Officials from the Latin American country said the property had been used by an armed group to conceal weapons and served as a training ground for about 50 drug traffickers.

Ecuador, a country of nearly 20 million people, is a major exporter of cocaine, and local drug gangs have driven a surge in violence in recent years. Armed Colombian groups also operate near the nations mountainous border.

open image in gallery 'Its an outrage,' the farm's owner told The New York Times. 'Its a lie that 50 people trained here. Where are they going to train? Out here in the open? Theres no logic' ( AFP via Getty Images )

But residents, including the propertys owner, said the farm had no involvement in illegal activity and added that the strikes were part of a broader campaign in which several abandoned homes were burned down.

Its an outrage, the farms owner, a 32-year-old father of two, told the Times. Its a lie that 50 people trained here. Where are they going to train? Out here in the open? Theres no logic.

He said he bought the 350acre property about six years ago and has since raised roughly 50 cows there. Everywhere you look there are animals: the cows I milk, the calves, the horses, he said.

While holding back tears, he claimed that the military operation had destroyed equipment sheds, a cheese outpost and a chicken coop.

In an attempt to seek justice, the Alliance for Human Rights, a group of organizations in Ecuador, filed a complaint with the United Nations and the countrys government.

There isnt a single public official who has come to verify what happened, said Maria Espinosa, a human rights lawyer, told the Times.

While Ecuadorian officials said soldiers found weapons and evidence of illicit activity at the site, they have not released that evidence to the public.

According to a press release posted by the Ecuadorian government, the countrys security forces relied on American "intelligence and support to conduct the operation.

Pentagon spokesperson Kingsley Wilson told the Times that the March 6 strike was carried out jointly with Ecuadorian authorities in furtherance of their goal of combating cartel networks that threaten the stability of our hemisphere.

Due to operations security, we will not discuss specific tactics or targeting details, she added.

The operation highlights the aggressive, maximalist foreign policy that has come to define Trumps second term thus far.

Since returning to office, he's greenlit military strikes across multiple nations including Nigeria, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and Iraq. In January, U.S. forces swooped into Venezuela, seizing then-President Nicolas Maduro and extraditing him to New York. In late February, full-scale war erupted against Iran, which has now ground on for more than three weeks.
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A conservative activist in Wisconsin has been found guilty of identity theft and election fraud after he fraudulently requested absentee ballots in the names of local politicians.

Harry Wait, 71, claimed his actions were intended to demonstrate vulnerabilities within the states online voting portal. However, prosecutors argued that while Wait aimed to expose potential misuse, he himself had broken the law in the process.

On Tuesday, a jury in Racine delivered a mixed verdict following the trial of the retired business consultant. According to online court records, seen by The Washington Post, Wait was convicted of one felony count of identity theft and two misdemeanor counts of election fraud. The jury acquitted him on a second charge of identity theft.

Wait, who serves as president emeritus of the group HOT Government, faces a maximum of seven years in prison, though legal observers suggest a sentence of that severity is unlikely.

The case dates back to 2022, when Wait used the state-run website to request mail-in ballots for Robin Vos, Republican speaker of the state assembly, and Cory Mason, Democratic mayor of Racine.

Harry Waits conviction comes amid heightened rhetoric regarding voting security by Republicans including President Donald Trump ( Getty )

Wait requested that these ballots be sent directly to his home. Upon doing so, he publicly announced his actions, framing them as a necessary effort to highlight flaws that could be exploited by malicious actors.

"Id do it again in a heartbeat, because to save the republic, soldiers have to draw blood and blood be drawn," Wait told The Washington Post in 2022.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice launched an investigation shortly after his public admission.

While one municipal clerk processed the request and sent a ballot, the other did not. Election officials have maintained that such instances are exceptionally rare and that tracking systems would have identified the fraud even without Waits disclosure.

The state tracks where ballots are sent and investigates when voters question whether someone tried to vote in their name, election officials said.

The conviction occurs amid heightened rhetoric regarding voting security ahead of the 2026 midterms. President Donald Trump has continued to assert that voter fraud is a widespread danger but election experts note that documented cases remain rare, often resulting in significant legal peril for those attempting to test the system.

Similar attempts to manipulate the electoral process have resulted in significant criminal penalties for other officials and activists. Former deputy elections director in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Kimberly Zapata, was convicted in 2024 of absentee-ballot fraud after creating false identities to request military ballots. She received one year of probation.

Tina Peters, former clerk of Mesa County, Colorado, is serving a nine-year sentence related to the breach of voting machine data.

Throughout his trial, Waits supporters remained vocal, often appearing in court or at rallies wearing "Free Harry" attire. Despite the legal outcome, Wait has consistently maintained that the legal risk was justified to bring attention to what he perceives as systemic weaknesses in Wisconsins election infrastructure.
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First-time candidate Emily Gregory flipped a seat in a district that includes President Trumps own Mar-a-Lago estate in a special election on Tuesday.

Gregory won her seat in the Florida House of Representatives after running a campaign focused on the ongoing affordability crisis.

The Democratic Party described the result as an earth shattering victory for Florida Democrats.

The seat had previously been held by former GOP State Representative Mike Caruso, who resigned after he was appointed as a county clerk by Governor Ron DeSantis.

In winning Floridas House District 87, Gregory defeated Republican Jon Maples, whom Trump had endorsed in a Truth Social post.

open image in gallery Emily Gregory swept to victory in a special election which Democrats have described as earth-shattering ( Facebook/Emily Gregory for State House )

Who is Emily Gregory?

Gregory was born on Floridas Treasure Coast, according to her website. She grew up in Stuart, a city which is just 20 miles from the town of Jupiter, where she now lives.

The 40 year-old is a mother of three, Catholic and small business owner.

She holds two degrees, a BS in Health and Exercise Science from Wake Forest University and a Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management from Columbia University.

The Democrat runs FIT4MOM Palm Beach, a fitness community that aims to support pregnant and postpartum women. Through her business, Gregory offers a range of classes, including 60-minute workouts named Stroller Strides.

Her other classes focus on improving posture and building her clients confidence, according to the FIT4MOM website.

open image in gallery Gregory said that focused on the affordability crisis during her campaign ( Emily Gregory Campaign )

Who is Emily Gregorys husband?

In December 2025, Gregory revealed on Instagram that her husband Andrew had been promoted to the position of Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army.

Congratulations, LTC Gregory, she wrote. We are so proud of you and your service to our nation.

Gregory often referred to her husbands career on the campaign trail, dubbing herself an army spouse.

In early March, she made a reference to her husbands career in a Facebook video thanking VoteVets.org for their endorsement.

As a military spouse, I know that service is a team sport, she said, before pledging to fight for lower property insurance and expanding healthcare.

The couple share three children, who have been featured prominently throughout the latters House seat campaign.

On November 1, 2025, Gregory posted an image on Instagram showing her family dressed up as characters from Star Wars for Halloween.

Gregory was dressed as the franchises heroine, Princess Leia, while her sons and husband were dressed as other heroes and villains from Star Wars.

Happy Halloween from a galaxy far, far away, she captioned the post.

open image in gallery Gregory won her seat in a district in which President Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate lies ( AP )

What does Emily Gregory believe?

Although she did criticise Trump in her recent campaign, Gregory focused much of her House bid on the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

I think my opponent put it front and center, and I focused on the issues that matter most to Florida families, Gregory told CNN.

Everyone is feeling the affordability crisis, and the last thing that Florida families needed when theyre struggling is $4 gas.

However, Gregory told the network that she is happy to speak to Trump, whose gilded Mar-a-Lago estate lies within the boundaries of her district.

On her website, Gregory said that she had experienced many of the same problems as others in her community, including rising costs and limited access to affordable healthcare.

Gregory has repeatedly waded into debates over schooling in Florida, calling for greater investments into educational institutions on her Facebook page.

The Democrat has also shared on social media that she was deeply concerned about efforts to eliminate vaccine mandates in the states schools.

Removing these safeguards puts vulnerable children at serious risk and turns classrooms into potential outbreak sites, she added.
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom slammed Elon Musk as one of the great disappointments of our time  before accusing the Tesla CEO of yielding the electric vehicle market to China.

Before laying into the criticism during an interview on The Axios Show, Newsom praised Musk as this generations Thomas Edison, calling him one of the great innovators of our time.

However, Newsom was quick to sour, noting, Hes the Edison of our time. It breaks my heart.

Newsom argued that Musk, who pioneered the EV industry in America, has allowed China to take control of the market by shifting Teslas focus toward robotics. China currently holds 70 percent of the global EV market.

I think this is Trump, not just Elon Musk, Newsom added, referring to the Trump administration ending the federal EV tax credit last fall.

open image in gallery California Gov. Gavin Newsom called Tesla CEO Elon Musk one of the greatest disappointments of our time in a new interview with Axios ( Axios )

open image in gallery Newsom slammed Musk for ceding the EV market to China, despite his leadership of Tesla ( AFP via Getty Images )

Newsom called it the greatest [own] goal in the next decade by ceding the EV space to China.

They have 70 percent of the global EV market. Its about statecraft with them; its about supply chains. Theyre flooding the zone all around the globe, including now right on the border into Canada, Newsom said.

Its a stack play, its a national security play, and I really fear whats going to happen to American legacy automobile manufacturers, he continued.

Elon was the one accelerating that. Now hes put the brakes on his own innovation in that space, and now shifted to robotics, humanoids, Newsom said.

Newsom has long been one to speak his mind, especially when it comes to trolling President Donald Trump and other powerful figures. The Democrat got into a fight on X with Musk in December when the tech mogul shared his thoughts on womanhood.

Musk wrote on his platform, If you have a womb, you are a woman. Otherwise, you are not.

The post garnered swift backlash, including from Newsom, whose press office responded Were sorry your daughter hates you, Elon.

The post appeared to be a reference to Musks estranged transgender daughter, Vivan Jenna Wilson, who described her father to Teen Vogue as a pathetic man child.

Musk fired back at Newsom, writing on X, I assume youre referring to my son, Xavier, who has a tragic mental illness caused by the evil woke mind virus you push on vulnerable children.

I love Xaiver very much and hope he recovers, Musk said, adding, My daughters are Azure, Exa (she goes by Y) and Arcadia, and they do indeed love me very much.

open image in gallery Newsom and Musk got into a spat on X in December about Musks thoughts on womanhood ( Getty )

The Democratic governor is currently on a book tour as he potentially prepares to run for president. During a Tuesday interview with Politicos Jonathan Martin in San Francisco, Newsom admitted that his kids dont want him to run for president in 2028.

When Martin asked how his family would vote on whether or not he should run for president, Newsom said, It depends on the day of the week.

Newsom led other prominent Democrats in a poll last month when asked who Americans would like to see as the partys nominee in the 2028 presidential election.

According to the Yahoo/YouGov survey, 19 percent of Americans said theyd rather see Newsom as the Democratic nominee in 2028, 18 percent said former Vice President Kamala Harris, 13 percent said former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and 12 percent said Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

When asked who they would vote for in a race between the California governor and Vice President JD Vance, 49 percent said Newsom and 43 percent said Vance.
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Transportation and Security Administration staff reportedly alerted immigration authorities to a Guatemalan mother and her 9-year-old daughter before agents descended on them inside San Franciscos airport.

New details about the womans harrowing arrest  which went viral after travelers surrounded the officers and posted footage on social media  raises critical questions about TSAs relationship with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including how checkpoint agents are sharing information about travelers they suspect are living in the country illegally.

San Francisco officials who oppose ICEs presence in the city and its airport called Sundays arrest an isolated incident, which took place hours before President Donald Trump deployed ICE agents into more than a dozen major transit hubs across the country.

San Francisco International Airport was not on that list, and officials stressed the arrest was unrelated to Trumps surge.

But government documents obtained by The New York Times reportedly show that the family was preparing to board a flight to Miami when they were arrested, moments after TSA agents flagged their names on a passenger list to ICE.

open image in gallery Bystander video showing two plain-clothes ICE officers arresting a woman at San Franciscos airport has sparked intense scrutiny from federal and state officials ( Video provided to The Independent )

Under the Trump administration, TSA is providing ICE with the names and birth dates of travelers believed to have been ordered out of the country by an immigration court judge, allowing officers to quickly identify and arrest people in airport terminals.

At 9:30 p.m., two agents found Angelina Lopez-Jimenez and her daughter Wendy Godinez-Jimenez in San Franciscos terminal concourse, after TSA gave them a heads up about the Miami flight, according to The New York Times.

Lopez-Jimenez was carrying two Guatemalan passports, which allegedly matched names on a removal order from 2019.

After the officers told her to follow them, she attempted to flee and resisted law enforcement officers, according to a spokesperson for Homeland Security.

Videos from the scene show the officers holding her down while she cries out for help. The two men, who are both wearing black hooded sweatshirts, did not respond to demands from bystanders to see their badges.

In a video obtained by The Independent, a woman can be heard asking other bystanders to call 911 while she repeatedly asks the officers for their badges and names.

Lopez-Jimenez, in tears, is on her knees while the officers struggle to place her in handcuffs.

The officers tell the woman and others around her to step back as they pull Lopez-Jimenez from the ground. Moments later, the agents are seen whisking her away in a wheelchair with her daughter beside her.

San Francisco Police Department officers can also be seen forming a barrier between the family and bystanders.

open image in gallery Asked by The Independent to confirm the chain of events and whether TSA is regularly sharing travel information with ICE, the agency instead reshared an initial statement about the incident from a Homeland Security spokesperson ( AP )

At one point, the agents can be seen pulling her 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, one person can be heard saying.

They were booked into a holding room at the airport that night, moved to Texas the following day, and flown to Guatemala the next morning.

Asked by The Independent to confirm the chain of events and whether TSA is regularly sharing travel information with ICE, the agency instead reshared an initial statement about the incident from a Homeland Security spokesperson.

That statement does not mention TSAs involvement. The five-sentence message only states that Lopez-Jimenez tried to flee and ICE officers then arrested the family inside the airport over an outstanding removal order.

The incident has drawn intense scrutiny across social media and from state and local officials, though San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and SFO spokesperson Doug Yakel both said they believe the arrest is an isolated incident unrelated to ICEs presence in other airports.

What are the databases being shared here from TSA with immigration authorities? asked California Democratic Rep. John Garamendi, who said Lopez-Jimenez and her daughter lived in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Whats happening? What is going on in our country? he posted in a video on social media. The Trump administration is creating this chaos.

open image in gallery The Trump administration has deployed ICE officers into more than a dozen major airports to ostensibly relieve unpaid TSA personnel during the partial government shutdown, but their presence does not appear to have made security lines move any faster ( Getty Images )

Lurie said city officials do not believe there is broader federal immigration enforcement at SFO, and that SFPD officers only 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, he said in a statement. Those policies keep us safe and will not change as long as Im mayor.

SFO also 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.

California state Sen. Scott Wiener, who represents San Francisco, said during a press conference Monday that we don't need ICE or Border Patrol or any of these other thugs in our city and our airport.

Theyre not welcome here, and they need to stay the hell out, he added.

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.

open image in gallery ICE relies on charter and commercial flights through major transportation corridors to support the Trump administrations mass deportation efforts ( REUTERS )

The arrest also demonstrates how ICE relies on charter and commercial flights through major transportation corridors to support the Trump administrations vast deportation efforts. ICE deportations can include both escorted and unescorted removals, including commercial flights with ICE escorts.

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 TSA 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 14 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.

But 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.

Travelers are still facing long security 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.
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Former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has been mocked online after it was revealed who her manager will be in her new role after Donald Trump fired her earlier in March.

The ex-governor of South Dakota was once considered a potential candidate during Trump's vice presidential search, and went on to lead the agency in charge of executing Trump's anti-immigration agenda.

Now, following her ouster, she is going to serve as the "Special Envoy to the Shield of the Americas," which her critics have branded a made-work gig in Trump's new military coalition.

Not only will Noem no longer lead her own department, but she won't even be answering to the head of a department. According to CBS News reporter Olivia Gazis, Noem will be answering to Deputy Secretary of State Chris Landau, not Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Noem was fired from her position on March 5, giving her the unwanted distinction of being the first Cabinet secretary Trump has kicked out since the start of his second term.

Former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will now answer to the Secretary of State Marco Rubios subordinate, Deputy Secretary of State Chris Landau ( DHS )

Noem was predictably roasted online after the shakeup, with one social media user calling up a reference to The Office to joke that shed become the Assistant Regional Manager to the Deputy Secretary of State.

Several other users posted photos of Noems new uniform, which were just various images of clowns.

The former governor found herself in the hot seat over a $220 million DHS ad campaign that she approved. The ads featured Noem riding around on horses near Mount Rushmore.

When asked by Congress if Trump had approved the ads, Noem said he had. Trump said he had not been consulted on the ads, had not approved them and only learned about them via a news report.

I wasnt thrilled with it. I spent less money than that to become president. I didnt know about it," he told NBC News.

Shortly after that hearing, Trump announced that former Senator Markwayne Mullin would take over at DHS, and Noem would be shuffled off to the Shield of the Americas. Noem was in the middle of a speech when Trump announced his decision to the public.

Despite the obvious downgrade, Noem thanked Trump for the position.

Thank you @POTUS Trump for appointing me as the Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas," she wrote on X.

The decision to push Noem out has been met with furor by senior DHS officials, who are now challenging the White House to audit the department's advertising contracts.

Sources inside DHS reportedly told The Daily Beast that the White House was well aware of and deeply involved in the ads, rejecting Trump's claims of ignorance.

Two of those sources told the outlet that Trump knew about the campaign and wanted it to happen."

The sources also questioned where all of the $220 million spent on the ads went. The company Noem paid to produce the ads has links to the Republican Party and was formed only eight days before it received the commission. There was no bidding competition to receive the contract.

The Independent has requested comment from the White House.
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Former Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene lashed out at President Donald Trump after a Democrat won a closely-watched Florida statehouse race.

Democrat Emily Gregory defeated Trump-endorsed Republican Jon Maples in a special election Tuesday for Floridas House District 87, which includes the presidents Mar-a-Lago estate. The seat was previously held by a Republican who won the district by a wide margin in 2024.

Reacting to Gregorys victory, Greene called out Trump and suggested the Republican Party would see additional losses in future elections this year and in 2028.

Turning your back on your campaign promises, and many disgusting behaviors like calling one of your top allies traitor for releasing the Epstein files and refusing to go along with MIGA, apparently has consequences, she wrote on X Wednesday morning. 26 is gone but keep putting Americans last and 28 will be too.

open image in gallery Former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene lashed out at President Donald Trump after Democrats flipped a seat in Florida's state legislature ( Getty Images )

Trump has repeatedly called Greene a traitor ever since their public falling out last year over a number of issues, including the release of the so-called Epstein files. The feud culminated in Greene resigning from Congress.

When asked about her post, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told The Independent that Greene quit on her constituents and the America First movement in the middle of her term.

President Trump is fighting every single day to Make America Great Again  we dont have time for quitters, Ingle added.

Greene shared another post Wednesday afternoon highlighting how Democrats have flipped several state legislature seats in special elections over the past year.

Id also like to remind everyone that when I led the party on the campaign trail fighting for America First in 22 and 24, all the GOP did was win win win, she wrote. But after Trump called me a traitor and said he would destroy me for releasing the Epstein files, I refuse to fight for Trump and the Republican Party that defends the Epstein class, wages pointless foreign wars, and pursues America LAST.

Greene isnt the only one who sees Gregorys victory as a sign of what may come in future elections.

open image in gallery Democrat Emily Gregory flipped a seat in the Florida state legislature this week ( Emily Gregory Campaign )

If Democrats can win in Trumps own backyard, we can win anywhere, Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said Tuesday in a statement. From now until November, Democrats are all gas and no brakes as we compete across every corner of Florida and the nation.

The DNC also called Gregorys win an earth-shattering victory for Florida Democrats, given that the president won the district by a healthy margin in 2024.

Gregory, a first-time lawmaker with a public health background, told CNN she focused her campaign on every-day issues, rather than the president.

I think my opponent put it front and center, and I focused on the issues that matter most to Florida families, she said Tuesday. Everyone is feeling the affordability crisis and the last thing that Florida families needed when theyre struggling is $4 gas.
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It may not have the official title, but President Donald Trumps military venture in Iran is beginning to have all the trappings of a capital-W war.

On Tuesday evening, news reports emerged that the Pentagon will dispatch members of the U.S. Armys 82nd Airborne. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt warned that Trump was prepared to unleash hell if Tehran did not come to the negotiating table.

Just dont tell that to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Republicans. The same night, the Senate voted down another War Powers Act resolution to force Congress to rein in the Trump administration on Iran.

On Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson was less than forthcoming about it.

open image in gallery House Speaker Mike Johnson has been quick to say that sending troops into Iran is not boots on the ground. ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

The build up of troops is very different than boots on the ground, Johnson told The Independent at his weekly press conference. We don't have boots on the ground. I don't think that's the intention, but I think Iran should watch that build up, and they need to take note of that.

Theres a big reason for this: Americans just dont like the war in Iran. An Associated Press-NORC poll showed that 59 percent of Americans think the war in Iran has gone too far, with 63 percent of independents saying so. In addition, 62 percent of Americans oppose putting U.S. troops on the ground in Iran.

That may be why Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) played coy when asked about the report of sending in troops.

"I'm told that that's not real, so I haven't been personally briefed on that," she told The Independent. "I don't want boots on the ground."

Boebert, like her friend-turned rival former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, represents the isolationist wing of the Republican Party. Even as Johnson has pushed for a supplemental bill to fund the way and restock the U.S.s armament stock, Boebert has come out against such a spending package.

open image in gallery Representative Nancy Mace has stormed out of a House Armed Services hearing and said Washingtons 'war machine' is trying to put boots on the ground in Iran ( Getty Images )

And Boebert is not the only one who is not happy about the idea of boots on the ground. Rep. Nancy Mace, the Trump critic-turned-fan who is now running for governor of South Carolina, excoriated administration leadership after a House Armed Services Committee hearing.

The justifications presented to the American public for the war in Iran were not the same military objectives we were briefed on today in the House Armed Services Committee, she said on social media. This gap is deeply troubling. The longer this war continues, the faster it will lose the support of Congress and the American people.

Mace has also been sniping at her fellow Republican, Sen. Lindsey Graham, for his bellicose rhetoric. Theres a longstanding beef there. Mace ran against Graham in a Senate primary in 2014.

The two Republican women have ever-so-slightly been willing to break with Trump while still supporting him, going back to when they signed the discharge petition to force a vote to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

And the co-sponsors of that bill, Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) are now pushing for another War Powers Act resolution.

Khanna told The Independent he is confident he can get more Republican support this go around.

I think we could get some Republicans, especially. President refuses to rule out ground troops, he said. There are a number of Republicans made that clear, thats their red line.

Democrats have long been furious at the fact that there have been no open hearings regarding the war. That anger is only growing. Rep. Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, who was among the Democrats who recorded a video saying U.S. servicemembers can refuse illegal orders, put it plainly.

I think that this administration should be accountable and answering to the American people, Goodlander, a former intelligence officer for the Navy Reserve, told The Independent. War should not be conducted in secret. War should not be conducted with blank checks.

And Sen. Chris Murphy, who has led the messaging against the war, has come out just as forcefully.

Trump is making this up on a day to day basis, he told The Independent. It is costing Americans billions of dollars, and the costs are just going to continue to go up.

The growing unpopularity of the war, as well as Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thunes unwillingness to do anything to rein Trump in, might be the undoing of the Republican majority.

A separate Quinnipiac poll showed that Democrats have an 11-point advantage in terms of whom voters want to control the House of Representatives.

Johnson has been making the case that the 2026 midterms will be a Contrast for America. Hes right, but not in the way he thinks; 2026 will be a referendum on how much Americans want to see Trumps power go unchecked.
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Controversial MAGA lawmaker Nancy Mace is asking President Trump to remove Sen. Lindsey Graham from the Situation Room as the war in Iran rages on.

Mace claimed that her fellow Republican "brags about" advising the president on his aggressive war strategy.

Graham spoke to Trump at the White House and also visited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel several times in recent months  reportedly to make the case for war against Iran, even coaching Netanyahu on how to lobby Trump for the war.

On Wednesday, Mace was interviewed on CNN, where she responded to a clip of Graham urging Trump to seize Irans Kharg Island, the country's primary oil hub.

open image in gallery Representative Nancy Mace has stormed out of a House Armed Services hearing and said Washingtons 'war machine' is trying to put boots on the ground in Iran ( Getty Images )

In the clip, Graham told Fox News: So heres what Id tell President Trump. Keep it up for a few more weeks. Take Kharg Island  where [there are] all of the resources they have to produce oil  control that island. Let this regime die on a vine We got two Marine expeditionary units sailing to this island. We did Iwo Jima. We can do this.

Mace said, Seven thousand Marines died on the black sands of Iwo Jima, adding, I want President Trump to take Lindsey Graham out of the situation room."

Host Laura Coates then asked her: Is he advising the president?

He brags about it, Mace responded. And I dont think Lindsey Graham, for all of that hubris, has thought through or wargamed the consequences of us taking Kharg Island.

open image in gallery Mace said on CNN, Seven thousand Marines died on the black sands of Iwo Jima, adding, I want President Trump to take Lindsey Graham out of the situation rooM ( AP )

Trump has faced pushback from prominent members of his MAGA base for the war, including from media personalities Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly.

On Wednesday, Mace stormed out of a House Armed Services hearing and claimed Washingtons war machine is trying to put boots on the ground in Iran.

The South Carolina Republican also took to social media to rage against President Donald Trumps war in the Middle East, which is now in its fourth week of conflict.

Just walked out of a House Armed Services briefing on Iran. Let me repeat: I will not support troops on the ground in Iran, even more so after this briefing, she wrote on X.

Mace compared the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, which began more than three weeks ago, with the Iraq War. The Iraq War lasted from 2003 to 2011.

Washingtons war machine is hard at work. They are try to drag us into Iran to make it another Iraq. We cant let them, she wrote.

Trump had campaigned during the 2024 election on an America First platform, which typically means putting the interests of Americans ahead of foreign affairs.

During his election victory speech, Trump said, Im not going to start a war. Im going to stop wars.

open image in gallery The South Carolina Republican took to social media to rage against President Donald Trumps war against Iran, which is in its fourth week ( AFP via Getty Images )

Mace claimed lawmakers were given different reasons for the war than were publicly announced.

The justifications presented to the American public for the war in Iran were not the same military objectives we were briefed on today in the House Armed Services Committee.

This gap is deeply troubling. The longer this war continues, the faster it will lose the support of Congress and the American people, the congresswoman wrote on X.

Trump has claimed Iran posed an imminent threat to Americans due to its nuclear ambitions and development of long-range missiles. But his former director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent, who resigned over the war, claimed Iran posed no imminent threat to the U.S.

open image in gallery Trump had campaigned during the 2024 election on an 'America First' platform, which means putting the interests of Americans ahead of foreign affairs ( Getty Images )

A recent The Economist/YouGov poll found just 33 percent of Americans believe the war is justified, and 47 percent believe it is not.

The Pentagon has already ordered about 2,000 troops from the Armys 82nd Airborne Division to begin moving to the Middle East to help with the war, The New York Times reported Tuesday, citing defense officials.

Its unclear where the paratroopers will go in the region.

The deployment of the 82nd Airborne Division is in addition to the thousands of Marines traveling to the Middle East.
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North Carolinas political landscape has been dramatically reshaped following the concession of Republican state Senate leader Phil Berger, the states most influential politician, in his primary race.

Berger, a long-standing conservative architect, conceded to Sam Page on Tuesday, an outcome that will likely end his preeminence and shake the power structure in the ninth-largest state.

Berger had trailed Page, the Rockingham County sheriff, by a mere 23 votes in their March 3 primary. He has served as Senate leader since 2011, a period marking the first time Republicans gained full control of the General Assembly in 140 years.

Donald Trump had endorsed Berger for reelection, commending his policy accomplishments. This endorsement came weeks after the legislature redrew the states U.S. House district map, an effort to flip a Democratic seat as part of Trumps redistricting campaign aimed at retaining GOP control of the U.S. House in this years midterm elections.

"While this was a close race, the voters have spoken, and I congratulate Sheriff Page on his victory," Berger stated in a news release. "Over the past 15 years, Republicans in the General Assembly have fundamentally redefined our states outlook and reputation. It has been an honor."

Unofficial results on primary election night initially showed Page leading Berger by just two votes out of more than 26,000 cast in the 26th Senate District, which encompasses parts of Greensboro and surrounding areas. Pages lead subsequently expanded as election boards in the districts two counties reviewed provisional, absentee, and other ballots. Despite later recounts and formal protests filed by Bergers campaign that remain unresolved, Berger ultimately conceded after a hand recount of a small ballot portion on Tuesday morning confirmed no change in Page's razor-thin lead.

open image in gallery Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page won by a mere 23 votes in their March 3 primary ( AP )

Page will now advance to the November general election in the GOP-leaning district. He confirmed that Berger called him Tuesday to concede. "I thank him for wishing me the best moving forward," Page said in a statement. "Now its time for our community to come together and focus on winning in November."

Pages campaign was significantly outspent by Bergers, by more than 50-to-1 through mid-February, not including millions spent by a pro-Berger independent expenditure group on mailers and advertising. Berger, a 73-year-old attorney, can remain a senator and Senate leader through the end of the year, a role he indicated he wished to continue in his concession. Senators are slated to pick a new chamber leader in early 2027.

Berger has been a dominant force in North Carolina government, steering the General Assembly to implement a rightward agenda despite opposition from a succession of mostly Democratic governors, whose inherent powers are relatively weak. Page, first elected sheriff in 1998, capitalized on local voter discontent, framing Berger as more focused on state-level issues than on constituent needs. Bergers unsuccessful 2023 efforts to pass a law that could have brought a casino to Rockingham County also alienated social conservatives, providing an opening for Page.

In December, while endorsing Berger, Donald Trump had praised Page and expressed a desire for the sheriff to "come work for us in Washington, D.C." rather than run against Berger. Page, who had previously supported Trumps immigration enforcement policies, declined the offer.

open image in gallery While this was a close race, the voters have spoken, and I congratulate Sheriff Page on his victory, Berger stated in a news release ( AP )

Berger first joined the Senate in 2001, serving as minority leader before the GOP sweep in the 2010 elections. He has been central to every conservative policy prescription since, including income tax reductions, universal private-school vouchers, abortion restrictions, and looser gun access regulations. Bergers allies credit him with charting economic success for the state of 11 million residents. With support from the House speaker, Berger also spearheaded efforts to shift appointment powers away from Democratic Governor Josh Stein and Governor Roy Cooper toward lawmakers and other officials. Despite clashes with Cooper, Berger and then-Speaker Tim Moore eventually brokered a deal to expand Medicaid to hundreds of thousands of adults.

Bergers critics, however, contend his agenda disproportionately benefited the wealthy, suppressed salary increases for state employees and teachers, and inadequately funded public schools while diverting money to private institutions. Democrats have also accused Republicans of eroding rights for women and transgender individuals.

Chris Cooper, a political science professor at Western Carolina University, noted in an email on Tuesday, "Given Bergers longevity and his ability and willingness to quietly but effectively wield power and you are left with the most powerful politician in North Carolina." The General Assemblys chief work session for 2026 is set to begin in April, a period when Bergers top lieutenants are expected to begin vying to succeed him as Senate leader, should the GOP maintain its majority in the fall. The chambers 50 members elect a leader every two years.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth led his first monthly Christian worship service at the Pentagon since the Iran war began on Wednesday, praying for "every round to find its mark" against the nations adversaries.

The service, livestreamed to a wider audience, saw Hegseth tell gathered civilian employees and military personnel that it was "all the more fitting this month, at this moment, given what tens of thousands of Americans are doing right now."

During the service, Hegseth read a prayer he attributed to a military chaplain, stating, "Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation. Give them wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy."

He also quoted from the Psalms, declaring, "I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and did not turn back till they were consumed."

Hegseth frequently invokes his evangelical faith as head of the armed forces, often portraying the United States as a Christian nation seeking to vanquish foes through military might.

Hegseth also decided military chaplains will go by religious insignia, not rank, under new Pentagon guidance ( AP )

His Christian rhetoric has drawn renewed scrutiny amid the expanding Iran war and global conflicts, particularly given his past defense of the Crusades, the brutal medieval wars between Christians and Muslims.

While expressions of faith are common in American public life, Hegseth often goes beyond standard calls for divine blessing. Last week, he asked Americans to pray for service members "in the name of Jesus Christ," a practice he repeated on Wednesday.

Ronit Stahl, author of "Enlisting Faith: How the Military Chaplaincy Shaped Religion and State in Modern America" and a historian at the University of California at Berkeley, noted that while broad religious language is not unusual, "the shift towards the specificity of Jesus Christ and therefore Christianity and in Hegseths case, a particular form of Protestant Christianity, is new, especially coming from the defense secretary."

Stahl questioned the implications for a nation with no established religion, asking, "what does it mean to have a leader being not just broadly religious or religious in a pluralistic sense, but religious in a very particular sense?"

Advocacy group files lawsuit

Hegseth is a member of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), a conservative network co-founded by self-described Christian nationalist Doug Wilson. CREC pastors, including Wilson, have preached at Hegseths Pentagon services multiple times.

A lawsuit was filed Monday by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, challenging the services. The advocacy group also filed a similar suit against the Labor Department, where Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer hosts monthly prayer gatherings reportedly inspired by Hegseth. The lawsuit seeks to enforce a public records request from December, demanding internal Pentagon communications regarding the worship services, their costs, guests, and any employee complaints.

Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United, alleged in a statement: "Secretaries Hegseth and Chavez-DeRemer are abusing the power of their government positions and taxpayer-funded resources to impose their preferred religion on federal workers. Even if these prayer services are presented as voluntary, there is pressure on federal employees to attend in order to appease their bosses."

Making the chaplain corps great again

Military chaplains typically provide worship services within the defense department, ministering from their specific traditions while offering spiritual care to troops of any faith or none. Hegseth announced two reforms on Tuesday, which he described as "making the chaplain corps great again."

He stated his desire for chaplains to focus more on God and less on therapeutic "self-help and self-care," despite the militarys increasing reliance on chaplains to address growing mental health distress among troops.

In a video message, Hegseth also announced that chaplains would no longer wear their rank on their uniform, instead being identified by religious insignia. He argued this change would remove "unease or anxiety" service members might feel about approaching officers for spiritual care. Additionally, he revealed that the military is reducing the number of recognized faith codes, or religious affiliations, from over 200 to 31.

This reduction eliminates many small Protestant denominations, as well as identifications for Wiccans, atheists, and agnostics. The Pentagon did not respond to requests for more information about these changes, and the updated list of religious affiliation codes has not yet been released.

The military is religiously diverse; a 2019 congressional report indicated that nearly 70% of troops identify as Christian, while nearly a quarter were listed as "other/unclassified/unknown," with smaller percentages of atheists/agnostics, Jews, Muslims, and adherents of Eastern religions.

A turning point in Hegseth's faith

At Wednesdays worship service, Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins, an Air Force chaplain and Southern Baptist pastor, delivered a message on overcoming fear and following Jesus. Collins, a former congressman, continued a pattern of only evangelicals presiding at Hegseths services.

Hegseth began hosting worship at the Pentagon in May 2025, with his Tennessee pastor, Brooks Potteiger, preaching. Potteiger is set to relocate to Washington, D.C., to lead Christ Church DC, a new CREC congregation that Hegseth has attended.

Raised Baptist, Hegseth has stated that he experienced a turning point in his faith in 2018, after which he began attending an evangelical church in New Jersey whose pastor preached at the Pentagon last year. He and his wife later moved to a Nashville suburb to enroll their children in a classical Christian school affiliated with the CREC, and began attending Potteigers CREC church, Pilgrim Hill Reformed Fellowship.

Hegseth addressed his Pentagon worship services at a gathering of Christian broadcasters in February, remarking, "We mostly do it because I need it more than anybody else." He added, "We hear a lot from the freedom from religion crowd. They hate it. The left-wing shrieks, which means were right over the target."
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The Democratic Party on Tuesday won a special election in a Florida statehouse race in a district that includes President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate, flipping a previously Republican seat.

Victory went to Emily Gregory, a first-time lawmaker with a public health background who runs a fitness center for pregnant and postpartum women.

Gregory told CNN she focused her campaign on kitchen table issues, rather than the president.

I think my opponent put it front and center, and I focused on the issues that matter most to Florida families, she said. Everyone is feeling the affordability crisis and the last thing that Florida families needed when theyre struggling is $4 gas.

She added that she was happy to speak and work with Trump, who is now technically one of her constituents.

open image in gallery A Democrat flipped a Republican seat on Tuesday in a special statehouse election for a district that includes President Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida ( Reuters )

President Trump had endorsed her opponent, financial adviser Jon Maples.

The Independent has contacted the Maples campaign for comment.

The Democratic Party called the win an earth-shattering victory for Florida Democrats, given that the president won the district by a wide margin in the 2024 presidential election. The party framed the win as a referendum on the wider performance of national Republicans, especially on issues like healthcare, where the GOP has yet to deliver a long-promised replacement for the Affordable Care Act.

Donald Trumps own neighbors just sent a crystal clear message: They are furious and ready for change, DNC Chair Ken Martin said in a statement. While Trump is partying with his billionaire donors and building gilded ballrooms, Americans are being left behind and raising hell with their votes.

In an endorsement statement on Truth Social, the president had called Maples a very successful Businessman and Civic Leader, who is known and loved, and also endorsed by so many of my Palm Beach County friends.

Trump previously made headlines for voting in the special election by mail, even though he has frequently and baselessly criticized the practice as fraudulent and is pushing to restrict it with his Republican allies in Congress via the SAVE America Act.

open image in gallery President Trump endorsed Gregorys opponent, and he voted by mail even though he regularly criticizes early voting as fraudulent ( AP )

Florida Democrats also cheered the win.

Floridians have made it clear they want real action on the affordability crisis and while Republicans have ignored them, Emily ran a campaign focused on pragmatic solutions to lower costs, raise wages, and build a more affordable state for all working families and seniors that resonated with the people of Palm Beach County, Florida House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell said in a statement. We look forward to her joining us in Tallahassee as we continue to fight for our affordability agenda to provide Floridians with the relief their hard work has earned.

The seat in District 87 opened up for a special election after Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed its previous occupant, GOP State Representative Mike Caruso, to be a county clerk.
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President Donald Trumps approval rating with men has tumbled over the last few months, signaling that the key demographic that helped him get elected is no longer resonating with the presidents agenda.

Across the board, polling from Fox News, Reuters/Ipsos, Quinnipiac University, CBS News/YouGov and more show that men are more skeptical of the president after his first year in office  which could pose a problem for Republicans heading into the midterms.

Between July 2025 and March 2026, the number of men who disapprove of Trumps handling of the presidency increased by 11 percentage points, according to Fox News. Polls conducted between February 2025 and March 2026 by CBS News/YouGov determined that Trumps disapproval increased by 14 percentage points among men.

I think it is very difficult for Republicans to do well in this midterm cycle if Donald Trump is underwater with men, CNN pollster Harry Enten said Tuesday on CNN News Central.

But within that demographic, Enten said his analysis found that Trump had a -19-point net approval among men under the age of 45 compared to approval numbers in November 2024.

open image in gallery Trump's support with men, a voting demographic that helped him win the 2024 presidential election, has declined over the last year by as much as 14 percentage points ( AFP via Getty Images )

Young men helped Trump secure the presidency with more than half of men under the age of 30 casting their ballot for Trump, according to AP VoteCast. That was all thanks to the Trump campaigns focus on appealing to issues that directly impact young men  on platforms used by young men.

On the 2024 campaign trail, Trump made time for unconventional media, such as podcasters Logan Paul and Theo Von, live streamer Adin Ross, and YouTubers The Nelk Boys.

The president appealed directly to the demographic, promising to make life more affordable, open up more business opportunities and remove undocumented immigrants from the country.

But that same demographic appears to be disappointed in the presidents execution of those promises, polls show. Among the major issues cited in the polls, the economy and cost of living were a top problem, particularly for young men, Enten said.

Fox Newss recent poll found that 65 percent of men disapproved of Trumps handling of the cost of living. Among 30-year-olds, including women, disapproval was 78 percent.

open image in gallery More than half of men under the age of 30 voted for Donald Trump in 2024, according to AP VoteCast ( AFP via Getty Images )

CBS News/YouGovs recent poll determined 59 percent of men disapproved of Trumps handling of the economy. Among voters under the age of 30, it was 60 percent.

While most polls have found Trumps approval with men dropped over the last year, the percentage point decrease varied across polls.

Quinnipiac University polling determined mens disapproval increased by three percentage points between July 2025 and March 2026.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that disapproval among men increased by 11 percentage points from March 2025 to March 2026.

Polling from the Economist/YouGov found that between March 2025 and March 2026, Trumps disapproval rating among men increased eight percentage points.
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President Donald Trump praised Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers for their larger and harder muscles that theyre "supposed to have after he deployed agents to more than a dozen airports, where their presence doesnt appear to have made a dent in hours-long security lines across the country.

They are so proud to be there! he wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday.

Armed officers wearing military-style vests moved into at least 15 major transit hubs on Monday to supplement Transportation Security Administration personnel who have been working without pay while Congress is deadlocked on a funding deal for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees TSA as well as ICE and other immigration agencies.

Trump said agents are rehabbing their fake image from Democratic critics  after months of violence and allegations of unconstitutional abuse and the deadliest streak of in-custody deaths in the agencys history  by picking up trash and helping people with bags. Officers have mostly been seen strolling through terminals or standing in groups, largely unable to help TSA agents expedite security screenings while travelers are stuck in lines.

The Public is loving ICE, so the Democrats, unwittingly, did us a favor, Trump wrote. They are Great American Patriots, they just happen to have much larger, and harder, muscles than most  which is what theyre supposed to have.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump praised ICE agents for their larger and harder muscles after deploying officers into more than a dozen airports ( Reuters )

Trump routinely, and publicly, judges people on their physical appearance, from praising that face and those lips on his White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt to comparing military officials to Tom Cruise and berating women journalists for not smiling at him.

Young, handsome guy. Its always nice to be young and handsome, he said during his first Board of Peace meeting last month.

I dont like young, handsome men, he said. Women? That I like. Men, no.... I dont have any interest.

open image in gallery ICE agents are ostensibly supporting TSA agents during the partial government shutdown ( AP )

open image in gallery ICE agents have been seen strolling through terminals or standing in groups, largely unable to help TSA agents expedite security screenings while travelers are stuck in lines ( Getty Images )

Earlier this week, Trump said the ICE agents are relieving TSA workers, performing immigration arrests and providing security like no one has ever seen before  but ICE agents cannot perform most TSA screening duties, making it unclear what impact, if any, the deployment of armed federal officers into American airports will have on security wait times.

The presence of mask-free ICE agents, who are still being paid during the partial shutdown, has drawn mixed reactions from airline passengers who are already on edge, while civil rights groups and unions representing federal workers argue that ICEs presence only injects unnecessary fear and potential violence into an already-tense environment.

TSA workers considered essential staff have been showing up to work without a paycheck over the last month, but workers are calling out sick and roughly 400 employees have quit. More than a third of TSA officers at Atlantas airport  the busiest in the U.S., handling roughly 100 million passengers annually  have called out sick.

Most airports are no longer displaying TSA wait times during the shutdown but are instead advising travelers to show up at least four hours before their flights.

Democratic members of Congress have proposed separate funding bills to keep TSA running while lawmakers hammer out guardrails for federal immigration enforcement, but Republicans have rejected the proposals.

In a separate post on Truth Social, the president blamed Democrats for the Airports mess and suggested he would send in the National Guard next.

Thank you to our great ICE Patriots for helping, he wrote. It makes a big difference. I may call up the National Guard for more help.
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Days after President Donald Trump told reporters his administration was pushing a 15-point plan for a ceasefire in the nearly month-old war he started against Iran, the White House suggested that reports about the existence of such a plan may not be entirely factual.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday slammed coverage of the plan, sparked by her boss announcement of it, which Iranian officials have reportedly rejected during talks that she characterized as productive in a Wednesday press briefing.

I saw a 15-point plan that was floated in the media. I would caution reporters in this room from reporting about speculative points or speculative plans from anonymous sources. The White House never confirmed that full plan. There are elements of truth to it, but some of the stories I read were not entirely factual, she said.

Her comments appeared to cast doubt on whether any such plan exists, but the very existence of the 15-point American plan was first revealed by Trump himself on Monday when he spoke to reporters  including The Independent  before boarding Air Force One for a flight to Memphis, Tennessee.

After he said there were many points of agreement between Washington and Tehran, he was asked to elaborate further on what they might be. He replied: 15 points, 15 points.

open image in gallery Leavitt defended the president's immigration agenda, which has become a point of debate between Republicans and Democratic lawmakers during the shutdown talks ( Getty Images )

They're not going to have a nuclear weapon. That's number one. That's number one, two and three, Trump claimed.

The administrations plan is understood to have included demands for Iran to dismantle its existing nuclear capabilities, abandon its regional proxy paradigm including the dismantling of said proxies, re-open the Strait of Hormuz and limit its missiles to self-defense.

It closely tracked a proposal that had been floated to Iranian negotiators nearly a year ago, in talks which had taken place just before American airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities last June.

Iranian state media reported that government officials had rejected the purported 15-point as plan excessive and a strategic failure.

A high-ranking Iranian diplomatic official later described the proposition as extremely maximalist and unreasonable in comments made to Al Jazeera on Wednesday.

open image in gallery Trump touted the 15-point ceasefire proposal to Iran as he spoke to reporters Monday boarding Air Force One for a flight to Memphis, Tennessee. ( Getty )

It is not even beautiful on paper, they remarked. An Iranian official confirmed to Reuters that the response to the proposal was not positive and that it was still being reviewed by Tehran.

Irans response is reportedly being conveyed to Washington by Pakistan, which hosts the Iranian interests section that serves as a de facto diplomatic outpost for Tehran in the U.S. since the U.S. and Iran have lacked formal relations since 1979.

Pakistan has taken a leading in facilitating the latest negotiations because the Persian Gulf countries that normally serve as intermediaries have found themselves embroiled in defensive efforts to rebuff Iranian attacks.

State media broadcaster Press TV later listed five key demands in an Iranian counterproposal for a ceasefire including: a complete stop to aggression and assassinations, concrete mechanisms to ensure the war is not reimposed, war damages and reparations, cessation of fighting with all resistance groups throughout the Middle East and the recognition of Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Leavitt, the White House Press Secretary, told reporters that Trump is prepared to unleash hell on Tehran if the Iranian regime does not return to the negotiating table.

She said: If Iran fails to accept the reality of the current moment, then the regime would be hit harder than they have ever been hit before.

President Trump does not bluff and he is prepared to unleash hell. Iran should not miscalculate again, she added.

The back-and-forth over the purported dueling peace plans comes after the United States has confirmed the deployment of ground troops to the Middle East after Iran sent back the excessive demands of Donald Trumps peace plan.

The Pentagon confirmed to The Independent on Wednesday that some elements of the 82nd Airborne Division, some division enablers and the 1st Brigade Combat Team will be deploying to the region.
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Senate lawmakers reached an impasse once again Wednesday over a funding deal to reopen the Department of Homeland Security, with both Republicans and Democrats rejecting each others proposals. Democrats want to see more accountability mechanisms for immigration enforcement officers. Republicans want to see the presidents anti-immigration agenda funded again.

On Wednesday evening, the president will speak at the National Republican Congressional Committees annual dinner.Here is a recap of news from the Trump administration Wednesday, March 25.

4:35 p.m. - Democrats and Republicans remain deadlocked on DHS funding

Senate Republicans and Democrats continue to clash over a potential deal to fund DHS with new restrictions on immigration enforcement officers, dragging the departments shutdown into its 40th day.

Democrats rejected Republicans offer, backed by Trump, Tuesday evening, believing the proposal did not add enough enforcement mechanisms for ICE. In exchange, Republicans rejected Democrats' renewed proposal, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune saying it was not even close to being real.

Another day of failed negotiations Wednesday means lawmakers are in a similar position as they were more than a month ago when the shutdown began. It also means travelers can continue to expect long lines at airports experiencing TSA staff shortages.

open image in gallery U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL) speaks alongside a poster titled "Republicans Blocked DHS Funding 10 Times" during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on March 25 in Washington, DC. The hearing was held to examine the effects of a 40-day partial government shutdown impacting the Department of Homeland Security ( Getty Images )

3:00 p.m. - Acting CDC director acknowledges disagreements with Kennedy

National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, who is also temporarily running the CDC, told CDC staff in an internal meeting that he had scientific disagreements with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but that the secretary still listens.

Do we agree on every single item? No, Bhattacharya said of Kennedy, according to audio obtained by NOTUS. We may have disagreements about scientific matters, but he listens.

That includes their position on measles vaccines, which Bhattacharya said he would strongly recommend to parents to prevent children from contracting the illness.

The Independent has asked the CDC for comment.

open image in gallery Bhattacharya, who is also the National Institutes of Health Director, told CDC staff a permanent director would likely be nominated this week ( Getty Images )

1:41 p.m. - Leavitt accuses Democrats of negotiating in bad faith during press briefing

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt continued to blame Senate Democrats for not cutting a deal with Republicans and the president to fund DHS, claiming they were purposefully being cruel to distract Americans from the U.S. military wins abroad.

We have attempted in good faith numerous times to go to the Democrats with reasonable offers, Leavitt said. The cruelty is the point. They want this chaos.

In addition, Leavitt said the president would reschedule his trip to China for May 14  it was initially postponed because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

open image in gallery Leavitt defended the president's immigration agenda, claiming it was making the country safer, which has become a point of debate between Republicans and Democratic lawmakers during the shutdown talks ( Getty Images )

11:30 a.m. - Melania Trump introduces humanoid robot to international leaders

First Lady Melania Trump walked into her Fostering the Future Together coalition roundtable with a talking humanoid robot called Figure3  a nod to advancements in technology, which her initiative is focused on.

Wearing a white pantsuit, which matched the walking robot, the first lady marked the first time a humanoid robot was presented to international leaders in a diplomatic setting.

Melania Trumps initiative calls for supporting childrens education to advance technology and adapt to artificial intelligence.

open image in gallery First Lady Melania Trump introduced 'Figure3' a humanoid robot to international leaders at the second day of her Fostering the Future Together coalition summit ( AP )

11:14 a.m. - Trump suggests he will put National Guard in airports

Trump increased pressure on Senate Democrats to cut a deal, quickly, with Republicans to fund DHS, by threatening to put National Guard members in airports  a similar tactic he used to pressure Democratic state leaders to comply with immigration enforcement last year.

On Truth Social, the president blamed Democrats for the Airports mess and praised Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, who he deployed to more than a dozen airports, for assisting in security.

Thank you to our great ICE Patriots for helping. It makes a big difference. I may call up the National Guard for more help, Trump wrote.

open image in gallery Trump deployed ICE agents to more than a dozen airports across the US this week to assist in security  but it's unclear what role they are exactly playing ( Getty Images )

10:40 a.m. - FEMA spokesperson says disaster resources fund could be depleted by major storm

A spokesperson for the Federal Emergency Management Agency told lawmakers the agencys disaster resources fund could be depleted pretty rapidly if a storm of large magnitude were to hit the U.S. anytime soon.

Victoria Barton told members of Congress the fund was down to $3.6 billion, which would not provide much relief to people experiencing a natural disaster. She said there was further stress because of outstanding obligations that hadnt been addressed.

Forecasters have warned this years Atlantic hurricane season could bring up to 16 storms to the U.S.

open image in gallery FEMA spokesperson Victoria Barton told lawmakers the agency's disaster resource fund was down to $3.6 billion ( REUTERS )

10:32 a.m - TSA head says agents are desperate for paychecks

After 40 days without a paycheck, some TSA agents have received eviction notices, defaulted on loans, drained retirement savings, slept in their cars and even sold their blood and plasma for extra money, the TSA acting administrator told members of Congress.

Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill testified that transportation security officers were under enormous stress already, since this is the third shutdown of the fiscal year. She said the funding lapses significantly undermine security in the U.S., in addition to hurting individual agents.

At least 480 transportation security officers have left the agency since the shutdown began.

open image in gallery Airport security lines have become extremely long because of staffing shortages stemming from the DHS shutdown that's left TSA agents and air traffic controllers without paychecks for a month ( Getty Images )

9:40 a.m.  Deal to end DHS shutdown hits a wall

Senate Republicans are trying to negotiate a deal with Democrats while also appeasing the president that will reopen the Department of Homeland Security and pay airport workers, such as TSA agents and air traffic controllers, after funding lapsed more than a month ago.

Momentum toward a potential resolution ended Tuesday evening after Senate Democrats rejected a deal that would have funded most of DHSs agencies, other than immigration enforcement, because it did not include enough to hold federal agents accountable.

Trump had expressed little support for the deal, telling reporters Tuesday, I think any deal they make, I'm pretty much not happy with it."

As senators and the White House try to strike a deal, the House Committee on Homeland Security will hear from FEMA and TSA officials affected by the DHS shutdown at 10 a.m. ET.
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President Donald Trump replaced the first victim of his reputation-burning inner circle, Kristi Noem, on Tuesday as he gathered reporters at the White House to witness the swearing-in of Markwayne Mullin as Homeland Security secretary.

Instead of a spectacle, however, the event was more of what reporters have come to expect from Trump White House events  namely, an Everything, Everywhere All At Once approach to governance where no topic is off limits and in fact may be more likely for the president to speak about than the actual topic of the day.

That was certainly the case as a slurring Trump (who seemed to be talking with a slight lisp or trouble with enunciation, something that happens a lot lately) used the ceremony to address the Iran war, voter ID, mail-in ballots and host of other topics with a crowd of reporters who acted like Mullin, the guest of honor, was a distraction at best.

The president, too, seemed only marginally interested in Mullins appointment and admitted to reporters that he didnt know about various parts about Mullins background  including, glaringly, his Native-American ancestry, when he picked him.

Markwayne is also career as an MMA fighter, Trump said, stumbling through his words.

open image in gallery Donald Trump spoke to reporters about a wide range of topics excluding Kristi Noem, his former Cabinet secretary, at an event Tuesday where her replacement was sworn in ( Getty Images )

I didnt know all these things. I wouldve picked him faster if I had known. I wouldve made a quicker decision, he continued, seeming to slurp in the air as the small crowd in the Oval Office laughed along.

Asked specifically how Mullin would run the agency different than Noem, the president declined to even mention his departing Cabinet secretary by name as he touted the security of the safest border weve ever had and credited those efforts to Tom Homan, his border czar, whom he called incredible. He added that Mullin would oversee an agency that was going to do a lot of things, once again slurring through his praise: Weve had a lot of [unintelligible.] But a lot of things that, uh, we can do. And were gonna do. We have to get criminals out of our country that were allowed in, by Biden.

The president riffed on various topics including his election victories in Mullins home state of deep-red Oklahoma as what should have been a short swearing-in ceremony lasted 45 minutes with Trumps Q&A period, little of which had to do with the secretarys new job or priorities for immigration enforcement. Most of the questions to the president pertaining to immigration related to the ongoing efforts in the Senate to strike a deal aimed at re-opening the agency Mullin is set to run, but neither the secretary nor Trump offered a real position on the emerging framework set to potentially end a shutdown that is now in its second month.

open image in gallery Donald Trump riffed with Andrew Mullin, the secretary's son, at Mullin's swearing-in ceremony ( Getty Images )

Trump, batting away questions from CNNs Kaitlan Collins and others, said he hadnt seen the deal that Democrats and Republicans both said was presented to the White House (and originally rejected) on Monday. He told reporters instead that he disliked the idea of making any deal with the opposition party, whom he accused of wanting to harm Americans.

But he also said he wanted to support Republicans, who in the Senate are largely getting behind a plan to re-fund DHS, minus ICEs enforcement and removal operations, in a bill that would clear a 60-vote filibuster threshold while also potentially putting in place some of the Democrats demanded list of reforms for the agency. Republicans would then fund the remainder of ICE through a 50-vote reconciliation package, though some members of the party doubt that strategy will work.

The president also veered into an attack on transgender people as he discussed the Senates gridlock, which is largely due to his insistence that it pass a voter ID bill called the SAVE Act before it does anything else. Talking about his efforts to cram anti-transgender language into the bill, Trump accused doctors of conducting the mutilization  which is not a word  of children.

If you look at transgender mutilization of children, we don't want that. It's the multilization of children. We don't want that, Trump said, before turning to another topic just as quickly. Its a bastardized non-word that Trump must by now know is not a real word, yet has repeatedly uttered over the past few weeks.

open image in gallery Senate Republicans led by John Thune are rallying behind a bill that would reopen most of Mullins agency ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

But Trump wasnt the only one who had trouble with his words at Tuesdays event.

Pam Bondi, the attorney general, flubbed her minute in the spotlight as she accidentally rearranged the oath of office Mullin repeated in front of the crowd, which included his family.

First Bondi, telling Mullin, as one leading an oath does, to say, I do solemnly swear, instead of I, [state your name], do solemnly swear. When Mullin dutifully followed her prompt, it left the AG needing to remind Mullin to state his name, so the entire oath seemed out of order : I, do solemnly swear, Markwayne Mullin...

Pete Hegseth, the presidents defense secretary, was also present for Tuesdays event. With no apparent connection to the events of the moment, Hegseth strode up to the podium and delivered a rousing cheer routine for the administrations war with Iran  which Trump a day earlier had credited, or maybe blamed (depending on how history comes to view it) for starting his Iran war  after being summoned by the president, whod just finished a long tangent about how Irans nuclear program was obliterated, yet still somehow posed a threat to the United States.

Hegseth stressed to reporters that the war had a clear endpoint, though it was unclear what that was.

This is not Iraq and Afghanistan, a defensive secretary of War told reporters, wagging his finger. This is not a president interested in vague end states.

Those end states, Hegseth said, involved creating the conditions for [Iran] to never have nuclear capability, a tough ask given that by the administrations own explanation, Iran was able to rebuild an obliterated program in less than a year.

All in all, Tuesdays swearing-in event was a perfect encapsulation of the beginning of year two of Trumps second presidency: Unfocused and rapidly shifting from crisis to crisis, while the Washington press corps hangs on for dear life.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday said that the Pentagon sending 2,000 troops to the Persian Gulf is a message that Iran needs to get their act together.

But Johnson drew a line at calling the deployment boots on the ground, as he and other Republicans have refused to take any action to rein in President Donald Trumps power to go to war.

I think it sends a signal to Iran that they better get their act together, Johnson told The Independent during his weekly press conference.

We need to resolve this quickly. And that's the President's interest, and that's ours. It's everyone's.

The comments come as the U.S. military is set to deploy soldiers from the Armys 82nd Airborne Division. The New York Times reported that Trump is examining plans to seize Kharg Island, the main oil hub in Iran.

U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) said the United States sending troops to Iran did not constitute boots on the ground. ( Getty )

Johnson has insisted that were not at war right now despite the fact that the president and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have both used this word to describe their incursion in Iran. At the same time, he has also pushed for a military supplemental package in the wake of the war, saying the U.S. needs to restock its armaments amid the military operation in Iran.

In that respect, Johnson declined to classify the sending of troops as boots on the ground.

The build up of troops is very different than boots on the ground, he insisted. We don't have boots on the ground. I don't think that's the intention, but I think Iran should watch that build up, and they need to take note of that.

The Trump administration has been plagued by the consequent Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of the worlds oil supply, that came as a sresuklt of U.S. and Israeli bombing of Iran. On Wednesday, Iran informed the United Nations that non-hostile ships would be allowed to pass through the strait.

Trump and other Republicans have said the war will be short-lived. Trump campaigned in 2024 as a decidedly more isolationist Republican who would not engage in foreign interventions. But since returning to office, Trump engaged in a bombing campaign of Irans nuclear facilities in June and another regime-change campaign that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

I think that will wrap up in a short time period, Johnson said.

Democrats have insisted that Congress pass a War Powers Act Resolution, which would require that the administration inform Congress within 48 hours of troops being deployed and that troops be withdrawn within 60 to 90 days if Congress has not declared war or authorized the use of military force.

On Tuesday evening, the Senate once again rejected a War Powers Act resolution. All but one RepublicanSen. Rand Paul of Kentuckyopposed the resolution while every Democrat save for Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania (D-Penn.) voted for the resolution.

The United States and Israel launched its campaign against Iran on the last day of February. The campaign led to the killing of multiple top officials, including the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which led to the ascent of Khameneis son Mojtaba Khamenei becoming the new leader.

And despite the pledge for a limited operation, the war is now entering its fourth week. The campaign has rocked oil markets as the price of gas has taken a roller coaster ride.

On Wednesday, Iran rejected Trumps claims that the United States and Iran have been holding productive peace negotiations. Rather, a spokesman for Irans military told state media that it would not stop fighting until complete victory.
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Deep beneath the bustling city of Cleveland, Ohio, a subterranean world largely unknown to surface dwellers plays a crucial role in keeping winter roads safe: the Whiskey Island salt mine.

Owned by food giant Cargill, this vast operation is a primary supplier of road salt across the Northeast and Great Lakes, regions that have experienced a colder, snowier winter than usual, driving demand to unprecedented levels.

Many municipalities have already depleted their typical winter salt reserves, which usually last well into spring. Cargill spokesperson Emily Tangeman confirmed the intense activity, stating, "Our teams have been working overtime since September to support customers across the snowbelt," adding that the early and persistent winter weather significantly boosted demand across the entire industry.

open image in gallery The headlights of the vehicle driven by George Campbell, left, maintenance supervisor, light the way through the tunnels of the Cargill Cleveland salt mine in Whiskey Island ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Located 1,800 feet (549 meters) underground, the mine beneath Lake Erie is one of the worlds largest, producing between 3 million and 4 million tons (2.7 million to 3.6 million metric tons) annually.

Accessed from Whiskey Island, an industrial area adjacent to downtown Cleveland, the mine opened in the 1960s. Salt is extracted year-round through drilling and blasting within vast tunnels formed from an ancient inland sea that dried up millions of years ago.

open image in gallery The salt, formed 440 million years ago, is mucked up and loaded onto a conveyor belt 1,800 feet below the surface of Lake Erie ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Inside, the mine unfolds as a sprawling maze of roughly rectangular caverns, with chalky white walls and ceilings extending for miles. It is dimly lit, often pitch-black beyond the reach of headlamps and floodlights, as heavy machinery rumbles and small ATVs transport miners through the extensive network.

Maintenance superintendent George Campbell noted that operations are continuous, with downtime dedicated to essential upkeep and repairs to maintain steady production.

open image in gallery A maintenance supervisor walks down an incline in the shop at the Cargill salt mine on Whiskey Island ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Cargill is prioritizing shipments to ensure salt reaches the areas of greatest need as winter conditions persist in some regions. Frequent smaller storms also increase usage, requiring repeated salting and creating logistical challenges, Tangeman explained.

With harsher conditions returning across the Eastern U.S., cities like Boston, Bangor, Maine, and Ithaca, New York, have endured their coldest seasons in over a decade. As winter lingers in parts of the country, the Cleveland mines work is far from over. Campbell assured that there are still decades of salt reserves available. "I think that we have enough reserves to continue to keep people working for a long time," he said.
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US president Donald Trump's war on Iran and the ongoing oil crisis have unilaterally impacted Asia and pushed nations to impose drastic Covid-19-era measures to conserve energy.

Asia has been at the frontline of the crisis, with almost 90 per cent of its purchased crude oil transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been shut by Tehran after strikes by the US and Israel last month. The strait, which links the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean, is pivotal for the flow of roughly a fifth of the worlds energy supply.

Governments across Asia have declared national holidays, imposed work-from-home measures, cut work days, closed universities and urged citizens to shower for a shorter period of time to conserve supplies.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi has drawn parallels between the conflict in the Middle East and the Covid-19 pandemic, urging people to remain prepared.

"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," he told parliamentarians.

India is reeling under its worst gas crisis in decades with the government cutting supplies for industries to shield households from any shortage of cooking gas. The capital Delhi has invoked emergency powers to boost household Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) supplies and established a panel to review industry requests, as companies raised prices for the first time in about a year.

China, which was reported to have reserves equivalent to three months of imports, hiked fuel prices.

open image in gallery A man fastens a newly-purchased liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder onto his cycle, outside a gas agency office in Chennai on 11 March 2026 ( AFP/Getty )

The Japanese government said it plans to tap 800bn yen ($5bn) in reserve funds to finance subsidies aimed at keeping gasoline prices at about 170 yen per litre on average. The measure could cost as much as 300bn yen ($1.8bn) per month.

Prime minister Sanae Takaichi asked the International Energy Agency (IEA) "to prepare to implement an additional release in case the situation drags on" with the war in the Middle East. Earlier in the day, Ms Takaichi said Tokyo has begun releasing 15 days' worth of private-sector petroleum reserves last week and it will on Thursday begin tapping into government stockpiles.

Japan depends on the Middle East for 95 per cent of its oil imports.

The IEA agreed to a record release of around 400 million barrels of oil from strategic stockpiles to deal with the crisis and outlined proposals to ease oil price pressures, such as working from home and avoiding air travel. IEA executive director, Fatih Birol, repeated those calls at a conference in Sydney this week.

There were real-life tests, such as after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, European countries adopted these measures, and it was announced by the European governments. It helped them a lot to go through these difficult times without Russian energy, but keeping the lights on, Mr Birol said.

open image in gallery Asia Energy Crisis ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Industrial powerhouse South Korea on Tuesday launched a public campaign asking people to cut shower time, charge phones during the day and run vacuums on weekends.

We will consult with relevant ministries and actively consider measures for work-from-home, energy minister Kim Sung-hwan told a briefing.

The Philippines, which relies heavily on Middle Eastern oil for its energy needs, shortened the work week in some government offices earlier this month. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr declared a state of national energy emergency, saying the conflict poses an imminent danger to the countrys energy supply.

Manila has temporarily increased coal-fired generation and purchased Russian oil for the first time in five years following a 30-day waiver issued by the US.

Last week, the government said the Philippines had around 45 days of fuel supply, and is procuring one million more barrels of oil to build its buffer stock.

Pakistan closed schools for two weeks and said office workers would work more from home. The island nation of Sri Lanka declared a public holiday every Wednesday to help stretch fuel supplies.

Singapore, an Asian financial hub, urged people and businesses to switch to energy-efficient appliances, use electric vehicles and set higher temperatures on air conditioners.

Thai prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered bureaucrats to suspend overseas trips, set air conditioning above 25C, avoid suits and ties, use stairs instead of elevators, and work from home.

Bangladesh earlier this month announced early Ramadan holidays, shut down university campuses and began imposing temporary blackouts.

Energy research firm Wood Mackenzie told BBC that should the war continue, Brent oil prices could climb as high as $150 a barrel and trigger a global recession.

On 28 Feb, Israel said it launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran, pushing the Middle East into a renewed military confrontation and further dimming hopes for a diplomatic solution to Tehran's long-running nuclear dispute with the West. US-Israeli airstrikes killed Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and left the Islamic Republic scrambling to rebuild its leadership amid its biggest test in five decades.

US and Israeli strikes  and Iranian retaliation  rippled through global markets, hitting sectors from shipping to air travel to oil. Analysts warned of rising energy costs and disruption to business in the Gulf, a strategic waterway and global trade hub.
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The Canary Islands in Spain have been hit by torrential rains and flooding as Storm Therese, dubbed the regions worst storm in a decade.

A state of emergency has been declared across the archipelago and the military has been deployed to help with the ensuing chaos caused by the potentially life-threatening weather.

Authorities ordered the evacuation of full neighbourhoods, including Los Perez and El Hornillo in Agaete, after fears that a nearby reservoir could burst, according to El Pais.

We are facing historic circumstances in terms of the volume of rainfall and its impact on the island territory, the president of the Island Council, Antonio Morales, said at a press conference on Tuesday.

The rains have left more than 700 litres of water per square metre of the island across six days, according to local reports, leading to an unprecedented deployment of emergency personnel and resources, including the Military Emergency Unit.

open image in gallery Strong waves crash against a road at the port of Arguineguin on the island of Gran Canaria during Storm Therese, 20 March ( Reuters )

Over 14 million cubic metres of water are reported to have been dumped in Gran Canarias reservoirs. Winds of up to 100kph are expected.

A rare red alert for emergency weather was sent to mobile phones with warnings that the weather could pose a threat to life on Wednesday.

Footage circulating on social media appears to show British tourists pleading for help from the roof of a minibus. Tourists and holidaymakers have been warned to stay inside their hotels.

Emergency services have recorded approximately 300 incidents throughout the day on the main island of Gran Canaria on Tuesday, while over 1,500 were reported across the total of seven islands that make up the island cluster.

open image in gallery People clear roads in Cercados de Espino on the island of Gran Canaria after heavy rains ( Reuters )

Technical director of emergency services for the island council, Federico Grillo, insisted that no one anywhere on the planet could have foreseen something like this.

President of the island council, Rosa Davila, said that a phenomenon of this magnitude has not been seen for more than 13 years.

Reports of damage including the collapse of a hotel roof and the collapse of several roads.

La Gomera, El Hierro, and Tenerife all have a yellow alert issued for Wednesday while an orange alert for rainfall was issued in La Palma by the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET).

open image in gallery Strong waves lash Puerto de Mogan as tourists look on ( Reuters )

An elderly man had to be rescued from a difficult to reach area in Barranco Hondo after he found himself stranded in his home amid the flooding. He received medical treatment after showing signs of distress, according to local media.

Dozens of flights have been cancelled or diverted with all planes flying from London, Manchester and Newcastle in the UK diverted away from the region after 73mph winds hit the region on Monday night.

University classes at Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and La Laguna have been cancelled through Tuesday and Wednesday.

Last week, the islands were hit by snow and severe winds.
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Denmarks election on Tuesday ended inconclusively, leaving prime minister Mette Frederiksens future uncertain.

The campaign had focused on domestic issues, rather than her handling of US president Donald Trumps ambitions toward Greenland.

Official results confirmed Ms Frederiksens centre-left Social Democrats, along with her two partners in the outgoing government, lost ground compared to the 2022 election.

Neither the left-leaning nor right-leaning blocs secured a parliamentary majority. This outcome has propelled experienced foreign minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen, a former prime minister, into the pivotal role of kingmaker.

His centrist Moderate party, with 14 lawmakers in the 179-seat parliament, is in a position to determine whether Frederiksen can serve a third term at the helm of the European Union and Nato country.

Frederiksen said that she is ready to stay on as prime minister. The world is unsettled. There are strong winds around us, she said. Denmark needs a stable government, a competent government. We are ready to take the lead.

Kingmaker calls on rivals to come and play with us

Lkke Rasmussen called on rivals on the left and right to climb down from some of the positions they staked out in the campaign, and come and play with us.

Denmark is a small country of 6 million people in a world of 8 billion, which is in upheaval  and there is war in Iran, and there is war in Ukraine, he said. He argued that we are one tribe. We must come together. We must not be divided.

open image in gallery Leader of the Social Democrats, Mette Frederiksen, delivers remarks during election party after the exit polls in Copenhagen March 24 ( AFP/Getty )

But defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen, the best-placed centre-right challenger to Frederiksen, made clear that he and his Liberal party dont intend to go into government with her Social Democrats again.

The Social Democrats remained the biggest single party by some distance, but with 21.9 per cent of the vote  well below the 27.5 per cent they took in the 2022 election.

The 48-year-old Frederiksen is known for strong support of Ukraine in its defence against Russias invasion and for a restrictive approach to migration continuing what has become a tradition in Danish politics.

Frederiksen called the election early

Frederiksen called the election in February, several months before she had to. She apparently hoped that her resolute image in the standoff over Trumps push for control of Greenland, rallying European allies behind Denmark, would help her with voters.

Her support had previously waned as the cost of living rose, something that, along with pensions and a potential wealth tax, has been a prominent campaign issue.

No single party had been expected to come anywhere near winning a majority. Denmarks system of proportional representation typically produces coalition governments, traditionally made up of several parties from either the red bloc on the left or the blue bloc on the right, after weeks of negotiations.

Frederiksens outgoing administration was the first in decades to straddle the left-right divide.

Social Democrat lawmaker Morten Klessen said the outgoing government had performed well, but that theres been a lot of trouble in Europe and I think our government has had a lot of focus about Ukraine and I think we have lost a little bit in domestic votes for that. He argued that we need Mette Frederiksen in Europe for solidarity.

open image in gallery Foreign Minister Rasmussen, center, leader of the Moderates, arrives at the party's election party for the 2026 Parliamentary Election at Pakhus 11, in the Oesterbro area of Copenhagen, Denmark ( AP )

Frederiksen herself said she had hoped for a better result, but it was normal for a party seeking a third term to lose ground. She compared Tuesday's result with the 25.9 per cent of the vote her party took in 2019, when she became prime minister.

I have been in charge of this wonderful country for nearly seven years, she said. We have weathered the pandemic; we have had to deal with war. We have been threatened by the American president, and in those nearly seven years, we have seen a four percent decline.

Greenland wasnt a big issue in the campaign

Greenland, which took up much of the governments energy in recent months, wasnt a significant issue in the campaign because there is broad agreement on its place in the kingdom.

Frederiksen warned in January that an American takeover of Greenland would amount to the end of Nato. But the crisis has simmered down, at least for now.

After Trump backed down on threats to impose tariffs on Denmark and other European countries that opposed the U.S. taking control of the vast Arctic island, the U.S., Denmark and Greenland started technical talks on an Arctic security deal.

Denmarks single-chamber parliament, the Folketing, is elected for a four-year term. Lawmakers from Denmark hold 175 of its seats, while two each go to representatives from thinly populated Greenland and the kingdoms other semiautonomous territory, the Faroe Islands.

More than 4.3 million people were eligible to vote.
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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has begun his first visit to North Korea, with talks set to cement ties between two close allies of Russia's Vladimir Putin.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has provided Moscow with millions of rounds of ammunition for its war in Ukraine, and sent troops to help Russia expel Ukrainian forces who invaded its western Kursk region in August 2024.

Belarus allowed itself to be used as a launchpad for Russia's invasion in February 2022, and subsequently agreed to host Russian tactical nuclear missiles on its territory, which borders three NATO alliance countries.

Mr Lukashenko flew in to a red-carpet welcome in the capital Pyongyang, where he was greeted by Kim's foreign minister and dozens of small children waving the flags of both countries.

Kim Jong Un greeted Lukashenko with an embrace and laid on a lavish welcome ceremony with ranks of soldiers, cavalry and the gun salute after flag-waving children had cheered his arrival at the airport.

Lukashenko's foreign minister, Maxim Ryzhenkov, told Belarusian state media that the two sides would sign a friendship and cooperation treaty during the two-day visit.

open image in gallery North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko are expected to hold talks ( AP )

Current trade was "modest" but there was potential to boost it in sectors including food and pharmaceuticals, he said.

The Belarusian president also paid his respects at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, a mausoleum where the preserved bodies of former rulers Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il  grandfather and father of the current leader  are displayed.

North Korea and Belarus have both lived for years under international sanctions - the former mainly because of its nuclear weapons programme and the latter over its human rights record and backing for Putin in Ukraine.

But both have engaged at different times with US President Donald Trump.

Trump met Kim three times in 2018 and 2019, during his first term in the White House, but their encounters failed to yield substantive results.

Trump said last year he would "love another meeting", which Kim said could happen if the U.S. dropped its "absurd obsession" with getting North Korea to give up nuclear weapons.

open image in gallery Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko's trip to North Korea comes just six days after he met Trump's envoy John Coale and announced the freeing of 250 more detainees ( Belarusian presidential press se )

Trump last year re-established direct contact with Lukashenko, who had been treated as a pariah by his predecessor Joe Biden. In recent months, the US has begun to ease sanctions on Belarus in return for releases of political prisoners.

Lukashenko's trip to North Korea comes just six days after he met Trump's envoy John Coale and announced the freeing of 250 more detainees. The US side has said Lukashenko may soon visit the White House.
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Pope Leo XIV has appointed an Australian church lawyer, Bishop Anthony Randazzo, to a pivotal Vatican legal position, placing an individual with direct experience of the Catholic Churchs profound abuse crisis into a powerful role.

Bishop Randazzo, 59, will now serve as prefect of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts, effectively becoming the Holy Sees chief legal expert.

This significant office is responsible for drafting and interpreting the Catholic Churchs internal canon law, alongside providing legal advice on other critical matters, including for the Vatican City State.

He takes over from Archbishop Filippo Iannone, who was moved to another Vatican department in September.

Before his appointment as bishop, Randazzo pursued canon law studies at the Jesuit Pontifical Gregorian University and spent five years working within the Vaticans Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

This department is notably tasked with processing clergy sexual abuse cases from around the world.

open image in gallery Leo is also a canon lawyer, and the appointment of an Anglophone legal expert familiar with the grave shortcomings of the way the church mishandled the abuse crisis is perhaps telling ( Associated Press )

His time there coincided with the fallout from Australias Royal Commission, which conducted an in-depth investigation into decades of child abuse by priests and subsequent cover-ups by bishops.

The commission uncovered a "wretched legacy," revealing that 7 per cent of Australian Catholic priests were accused of abuse between 1950 and 2010, with 4,444 individuals identifying as victims.

Randazzo was therefore in a position to directly address the consequences of this crisis.

Leo is also a canon lawyer, and the appointment of an Anglophone legal expert familiar with the grave shortcomings of the way the church mishandled the abuse crisis is perhaps telling.

open image in gallery Pope Leo XIV filled one of the most important Vatican vacancies on Wednesday by tapping an Australian church lawyer to serve as the Holy Sees chief legal expert ( Associated PresS )

While Leo has given no indication that he intends to make changes, canon lawyers, victims and outside experts have faulted the canonical system and the way it has been used as part of the problem.

Closer to home, the recent Vatican financial trial involving a cardinal has also revealed the limitations of the city state's outdated criminal and procedural codes.

In a statement on his Facebook page Wednesday, Randazzo said he was grateful for Leos trust. He said he would remain in Australia for the next three months before moving to Rome.
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A drone originating from Russia reportedly entered Estonian airspace early on Wednesday, striking a chimney at a local power station.

The incident, confirmed by the Baltic nation's Internal Security Service to public broadcaster ERR, caused no injuries or damage to the facility.

"A drone struck the chimney of the Auvere power plant. No one was injured in the incident," Estonia's internal security service said in a statement, adding that "the drone entered Estonian airspace from Russian airspace".

Separately, Latvian authorities reported two drones crossing into their airspace, one from Russia and another from Belarus, around the same time.

Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina said on her X account, however, that the drone that fell on Latvian territory was reportedly Ukrainian.

She shared: I am in close communication with the Minister of Defense, the National Armed Forces, and the responsible services, as well as the leaders of Estonia and Lithuania.

An investigation into the incident is underway, but initial information suggests that a Ukrainian drone may have entered and crashed in Latvia's territory. There are no casualties.

open image in gallery A border fence between Estonia and Russia as seen near Vinski, Estonia ( Associated Press )

These events coincided with a Ukrainian drone attack that ignited oil facilities at Russia's Ust-Luga Baltic Sea port, a significant petroleum export hub located approximately 25 km (15 miles) from the Estonian border.

The precise origin of the drones involved in the Baltic airspace incursions remains unclear.

The news comes as a Russian fighter jet violated neighbouring Estonia's airspace last week, triggering a response from NATO's Baltic Air Policing.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said it was the first time this year that a Russian aircraft has violated Estonian airspace

The violation occurred near Vaindloo Island in the Gulf of Finland, off Estonia's northern coast, where a Russian SU-30 fighter aircraft entered Estonian airspace and remained for around one minute, Tsahkna said on Thursday.

open image in gallery Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina said on her X account, however, that the drone that fell on Latvian territory was reportedly Ukrainian ( Associated Press )

"There was no threat to Estonia's security," he added.

NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission responded swiftly, deploying Italian Air Force units, according to Tsahkna.

In September last year, Estonia said three Russian military jets violated the Baltic country's airspace for 12 minutes in an "unprecedentedly brazen" incursion, while Russia's Defence Ministry rejected the claim as false.

Estonia summoned the acting head of the Russian diplomatic mission in Tallinn in protest at Wednesday's incident, the foreign ministry said.

The Russian embassy in Estonia did not immediately respond to a request for comment when contacted by Reuters via phone and email.
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Russia's Ministry of Defence claimed on Wednesday that its air defences downed 389 Ukrainian drones across 13 Russian regions and the illegally annexed Crimean Peninsula.

This marked the largest reported overnight attack on Russian territory since the invasion began over four years ago, highlighting Ukraines growing long-range drone capability.

The extensive assault came a day after Russia fired almost 1,000 drones and 34 missiles at Ukrainian civilian areas, extending its usual nighttime barrage into daylight in one of the war's biggest aerial attacks.

Ukrainian authorities said at least six people were killed and around 50 injured.

In the Leningrad region, north of Moscow, Governor Alexander Drozdenko reported 56 drones intercepted, with a fire erupting at the Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga from the Ukrainian attack.

Separately, Ukrainian forces also conducted a missile strike on the border region of Belgorod overnight, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said, damaging energy infrastructure and disrupting power, water, and heating supplies.

The Ukrainian drone blitz caught public attention in the Baltic states, which lie northwest of Ukraine and relatively close to potential Russian targets in the St. Petersburg region, where drones came down.

The drones were stopped over 13 Russian regions as well as the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014 ( Russian Defense Ministry Press Service )

Officials in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which have been close allies of Ukraine in the war, said the drones likely didnt target them.

Estonian media reported that a drone coming from Russia clipped a power plants chimney early Wednesday but said electricity production was not disrupted. The plant is around 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the port of Ust-Luga that Ukraine targeted.

Also Wednesday, the Latvian defense ministry said a drone had crashed in a region close to Russia. No injuries or damage were reported.

Lithuanian officials said a stray Ukrainian drone crashed into a frozen lake near the Belarusian border on Monday.

In Moldova, on Ukraines southwest border, authorities on Tuesday urged citizens to spare electrical energy during peak hours, after Russian strikes on Ukraines energy grid cut a key power line between Moldova and Romania.
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Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of attempting to "blackmail" the United States, alleging Moscow offered to cease sharing military intelligence with Iran if Washington cut off its intelligence data supply to Kyiv.

Mr Zelensky, who stated on Monday that Ukraine's military intelligence holds "irrefutable" evidence of Russia's ongoing intelligence provision to Iran, told Reuters he had personally reviewed the data, though he offered no further specifics.

Speaking from his presidential compound in Kyiv, the Ukrainian leader further alleged that some Iranian drones, deployed in attacks against US military assets and allies during the conflict in the Middle East, contained Russian components.

He directly quoted intelligence reports, stating: "I have reports from our intelligence services showing that Russia is doing this and saying: 'I will not pass on intelligence to Iran if America stops passing intelligence to Ukraine.'

Isn't that blackmail? Absolutely,"

open image in gallery Zelensky stated Ukraine's military intelligence holds irrefutable evidence of Russia's ongoing intelligence provision to Iran ( AFP/Getty )

While Mr Zelensky did not specify who Russia allegedly addressed these comments to, Moscow has consistently denied assisting Iran in its month-long conflict with the United States and Israel.

Washington confirmed earlier this month that it had also received this denial directly from Moscow when the issue was discussed.

Ukraine, which has faced sustained attacks by Iranian-designed Shahed drones since Russia launched its invasion in 2022, is helping several Gulf states - including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar - to counter drone attacks on their territory, the president said.

Zelensky said he hoped that Ukraine would be able to reach long-term deals with some Gulf countries that would raise funds for the production of Ukrainian drone interceptors or receiving much-needed air-defence missiles.

open image in gallery Ukraine has faced sustained attacks by Iranian-designed Shahed drones since Russia launched its invasion in 2022 ( Associated Press )

The news comes as Russia's Ministry of Defence claimed on Wednesday that its air defences downed 389 Ukrainian drones across 13 Russian regions and the illegally annexed Crimean Peninsula.

This marked the largest reported overnight attack on Russian territory since the invasion began over four years ago, highlighting Ukraines growing long-range drone capability.

The extensive assault came a day after Russia fired almost 1,000 drones and 34 missiles at Ukrainian civilian areas, extending its usual nighttime barrage into daylight in one of the war's biggest aerial attacks.

Ukrainian authorities said at least six people were killed and around 50 injured.
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The Swedish government has propose a bill requiring migrants to adhere to an honest living - or face deportation.

The centre-right Moderate Party, backed by Swedens anti-immigration Democrats, came into office in 2022 after vowing to implement strict immigration legislation.

Ahead of legislative elections in September, the government is introducing a wave of reforms across various areas but are currently third, according to recent Politico polling.

Migration minister Johan Forsell told reporters: Following laws and rules is a given, but it must also be a given that we do our best to live responsibly and not harm our country.

If, for example, you ignore paying your debts, if you don't comply with decisions from Swedish authorities, if you cheat the benefits system, if you cheat your way to a Swedish residence permit... then you do not have the right to be here.

open image in gallery Sir Keir Starmer hailed the strength of UK-Swedish relations when he welcomed Swedens prime minister to Downing Street last year ( Yui Mok/PA Wire )

The government said working without paying taxes or neglecting to pay fines would also see migrants fall short of the new requirement.

If adopted, it would go into effect on July 13 and enable authorities to withdraw residence permits for migrants.

The Democrats migration policy spokesman Ludvig Aspling said: Statements - that is, things a person says or expresses - should not in themselves be regarded as evidence of lack of honest living, but they may be an indication of, for example, links to violent extremism, which can then be a sign of deficient character.

The move has prompted criticism from some human rights groups, including Civil Rights Defenders, who said it could undermine democratic principles including legal equality and freedom of expression.

open image in gallery The proposal has sparked backlash from campaigners ( AFP/Getty Images )

The Stockholm-based groups legal director John Stauffer said, The fact that non-criminalised statement may also be taken into account, even if they cannot constitute an independent ground for a lack of honest living, raises particularly serious concerns.

Such an arrangement may have a chilling effect on freedom of expression and lead to increased self-censorship. In practice, this creates different rules depending on who you are, which runs counter to fundamental principles of equality before the law.

Earlier this month, British home secretary Shabana Mahmood announced tough new measures on immigration, saying refugee status would only be offered to asylum seekers on a temporary but renewable, 30-month basis.

Ms Mahood has also sought to double the time required for most migrants to gain permanent residency rights in the UK from five to 10 years, or up to 20 years for refugees.

open image in gallery British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has faced backlash from her own party over the governments proposed crackdown ( Getty )

Similar policies have been introduced across Europe in recent months, including by Denmarks centre-left Social Democrats government, which announced in January it would expel non-Danish citizens who have served prison terms of a year or more for serious crimes.

In February, Ms Mahmood undertook a fact-finding mission to Denmark, where Labours sister party recently defeated an electoral challenge from a right-wing populist party by introducing tougher immigration laws.

According to the Swedish Migration Agency, Sweden granted 79,684 residence permits in 2025, 6 per cent of which for asylum-related reasons, down from 18 per cent in 2018, when 133,025 permits were approved.
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US president Donald Trump has thrown his support behind Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban in the countrys forthcoming elections.

Orban, a staunch ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin, has drawn widespread criticism across Europe for his support for the invasion of Ukraine.

He has previously shrugged off Russian drone incursions into Nato airspace, saying: So what? and declared: Ukraine is not an independent country.

On Tuesday, Trump, who has enjoyed a close relationship with Orban, announced: I was proud to endorse Viktor for reelection in 2022 and am honoured to do so again.

open image in gallery Trump and Orban share a close relationship ( Getty )

He called the right-wing politician a truly strong and powerful leader with a proven track record of delivering phenomenal results.

Comparing Orban to himself, the US leader enthused: He fights tirelessly for, and loves, his great country and people, just like I do for the United States of America.

Listing off the Hungarian nationalists key policy objectives he insisted that Orban would protect Hungary, grow the economy, create jobs, promote trade, stop illegal immigration and ensure law and order.

However, Orban  who has led the country for over 16 years  is lagging behind opposition leader Pete Magyar in the election polls.

open image in gallery Peter Magyar is the frontrunner in Hungarys forthcoming elections ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Hungary will take to the polls on 12 April amid candidate campaigns that have been marred by allegations of blackmail and treason.

Magyar, leader of the Tisza party, accused Orbans Fidesz party of blackmailing him with a secretly recorded sex tape in February and vowed to file a complaint with authorities.

Fidesz communications director Tamas Menczer accused Magyar of lying and the party denied the allegations.

Orban's government has also been accused of treason and betraying Hungarian and European interests over the alleged sharing of confidential EU information with Russia.

A Washington Post report last week claimed that Hungarys foreign minister Peter Szijjarto regularly updated his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, with key details of confidential EU meetings.

open image in gallery Trump has regularly drawn criticism for his relationship with Moscow ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

If confirmed, this would amount to treason, which carries a potential life sentence, Magyar hit out in a post on X. A future Tisza government will immediately investigate the matter.

Hungary initially called the reports fake news, but Szijjarto later acknowledged the calls and insisted communication between nations was essential but denies breaching any security protocols.

Trump and Orban share an emphasis on anti-immigration rhetoric and generally align with Christian conservative views.

While Trump has flitted back and forth in his support for Ukraine, Orban has been more consistent in his opposition to the beleaguered country, consistently blocking an EU loan package agreed in December 2025 that would help President Volodymyr Zelensky fight Putin.

Hes using Ukraine as a weapon in his election campaigning, and its not good. We had a deal, and I think that he betrayed us, Finland Prime Minister Petteri Orpo told reporters as the leaders gathered for a summit in Brussels last week.

Hungary relies heavily on Russian oil, with a new report released on Monday revealing that the country had increased its reliance on imports, despite an EU policy to phase out the fuel.

The Center for the Study of Democracy, a European public policy institute, said that in 2025 Russian crude accounted for as much as 93 per cent of the countrys oil imports, up from 61 per cent in 2021, according to Deutsche Welle.
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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Hungary will gradually cut off gas supplies to Ukraine until Russian oil deliveries resume through the Druzhba pipeline, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Wednesday.

Hungarian natural gas exports play a key role in fulfilling the energy needs of Ukraine, now in its fourth year of war with Russia.

Russian oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia have been halted for nearly two months after what Ukrainian officials say were Russian drone attacks that damaged the pipeline, which crosses Ukrainian territory, and that continuous strikes risk the lives of technicians trying to repair it.

The populist leaders of Hungary and Slovakia have accused Ukraine of deliberately holding up Russian deliveries. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this month that he is reluctant to allow Russian oil to continue transiting his country.

In a video posted on social media Wednesday, Orban called the Russian oil stoppage Ukrainian blackmail, adding: As long as Ukraine does not supply oil, it will not receive gas from Hungary.

He added that Hungary would use the gas instead to fill its own reserves.

There was no immediate comment from Kyiv and a Hungarian government spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment by The Associated Press.

Ukraine imports a major portion of its gas needs through Hungary, amounting to around 45% of all gas imports last year, according to Ukrainian energy consultancy EXPRO. That number dropped to 38% by January.

Orban's announcement was the latest in a series of retaliatory measures Hungary has taken in response to interrupted Russian oil flows.

Last week, Orban, who is widely seen as the Kremlins biggest advocate in the EU, blocked a 90-billion euro ($106 billion) EU loan to Ukraine over the interruptions and vowed to veto any further pro-Ukraine decisions until oil flows resume.

The Hungarian leader previously ceased diesel shipments to Ukraine and vetoed a new round of EU sanctions against Russia.

Meanwhile, as he faces an unprecedented challenge from a center-right opponent in elections next month, Orban has escalated an aggressive anti-Ukraine campaign, calling the country Hungarys enemy, and accusing Zelenskyy of seeking to provoke an energy crisis in order to sway the April 12 vote.

Hes also deployed military forces to key energy infrastructure sites across Hungary, accusing Ukraine of plotting disruptions but providing no evidence.

Hungary and Slovakia have received a temporary exemption from a European Union policy prohibiting imports of Russian oil since Moscow launched its war in Ukraine in February 2022.
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British troops shot down 14 Iranian kamikaze drones targeting allied bases in Iraq as Tehran stepped up attacks across the Middle East on Tuesday.

The ministry of defence said the defensive action marked the largest number of drones destroyed in a single night since the US and Israel began joint military action against Iran more than three weeks ago.

Defence secretary John Healey told ministers at Tuesday's Cabinet meeting that a counter-drone team had intercepted the drones, which were used to attack the Erbil base in northern Iraq. British and American troops are housed at the base, which has previously been targeted.

A defence source said: "Where we have UK forces operating the Rapid Sentry system, they shot down 14 one-way attack drones just in one night last night, I mean, hugely impressive action, and that is the largest number that they've shot down in a single night.

"What we're seeing is the rate of attacks last night returning to the norm that we'd seen pre-Eid," the defence source said, referring to the Islamic Eid al-Fitr celebration at the end of last week.

open image in gallery John Healey said a counter-drone team had struck down several drones overnight ( PA Wire )

Specialist troops from the RAF Regiment used the UK's Rapid Sentry air defence system to defeat the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Defence chiefs said two weeks ago that several UAVs targeted the camp and caused injuries to US troops.

Mr Healy told ministers that British forces had defended allies in Israel, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan overnight, and that UK pilots had flown nearly 900 hours defending British interests and allies since the war began.

A kamikaze drone is designed to fly to a target area, loiter, and crash into a target to explode. They are designed for single use.

In an update on Tuesday, the ministry of defence also said that additional British Army Stormer air defence systems armed with state-of-the-art missiles had arrived in Cyprus to further strengthen air defences in the region.

Royal Air Force Typhoons and F-35 jets had continued their defensive missions overnight on Monday, including over Cyprus, Jordan, and Qatar, the ministry also said.

In a post on social media, it said: Force protection measures in the region continue to be at the highest levels - ensuring UK personnel are as safe as possible. We are also working closely in co-ordination with allies."

open image in gallery Iranian-made Shahed-136 'Kamikaze' drone ( Middle East Images/AFP/Getty )

It comes as Rachel Reeves indicated on Tuesday that millions of British households would receive no help from the government with soaring energy bills due to the war in Iran, but would offer targeted support to those who need it most.

The chancellor said targeted support wouldnt be unveiled for another month, as she admitted that the conflict in the Middle East would create significant challenges for the UK economy.

She said she also intended to meet with supermarkets and banks to discuss how they can help customers struggling with increased prices.

Elsewhere, it was reported that the UK is considering plans to send a Royal Navy ship as part of an international effort to hunt and destroy mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

The government is said to be leading coalition efforts between nations including France and the US to help ships move through the key oil route, which has been blocked amid war with Iran.

Plans could include sending a Royal Navy ship or leasing an commercial vessel to carry autonomous uncrewed systems to hunt the mines, which officials believe have been laid in the Strait of Hormuz.
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Iran has told the United Nations Security Council that non-hostile ships may transit the Strait of Hormuz, but shipping data shows traffic through the world's most critical energy chokepoint remains at a fraction of normal levels.

Vessels are also required to seek permission from Iranian authorities before passage.

In a statement to the UNSC and the International Maritime Organisation on Tuesday, Irans foreign ministry said vessels may benefit from safe passage through the waterway provided they neither participate in nor support acts of aggression against Iran and fully comply with the declared safety and security regulations and only in coordination with the competent Iranian authorities.

open image in gallery Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is at roughly 4 per cent of pre-war levels ( AP )

The statement had no details about what the regulations entailed or how vessels should seek clearance. Bloomberg reported that Iran has begun charging transit fees on some commercial vessels passing through the strait.

Five vessels were tracked transiting the waterway via their automatic identification systems on Monday, according to maritime intelligence firm Windward, down from an average of 120 daily transits before the conflict began on 28 February.

Data from MarineTraffic, a maritime intelligence firm, showed nine vessels had crossed in the 24 hours to Tuesday morning, with some movements taking place outside the officially designated shipping lane close to Irans Qeshm island, raising questions about whether the activity reflected a genuine resumption or a more constrained pattern of selective passage.

With 400 vessels reported waiting outside the strait, the effective closure has driven the biggest disruption to global energy markets in decades. Gulf nations supply 49 per cent of the worlds exported urea, and fertiliser vessels have been among those unable to secure passage, threatening food supply chains across Asia and beyond.

open image in gallery A map showing the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which 20 per cent of the worlds oil and gas passes ( PA Graphics )

The effective closure of the waterway, where 20 per cent of the worlds oil and gas normally transits, has created the worst energy supply shock in history, sent fuel prices soaring, and disrupted global aviation.

Asia is at the frontline of the fuel crisis, buying more than 80 per cent of the crude that transits the Strait of Hormuz, and governments there are scrambling to respond to fuel shortages with policies such as enforced work-from-home and stimulus measures enforced during the Covid pandemic era. Some countries have declared public holidays and closed schools.

Oil prices have swung sharply on every diplomatic signal. Brent crude fell more than 9 per cent on Wednesday after The New York Times, Reuters and Israels Channel 12 reported that the Trump administration had sent Iran a 15-point plan to end the war  the sharpest single-day drop since the conflict began.

Asian stock markets rose on the news, with Japans Nikkei 225 up 2.3 per cent and South Koreas KOSPI up 2.6 per cent as of early Wednesday morning.

Irans statement placed responsibility for the disruption squarely on the US and Israel, saying their unlawful and destabilising war had gravely endangered regional peace and stability and exposed international shipping to unprecedented threats. Tehran said full restoration of security in the strait was contingent on a cessation of military aggression.

Iran has consistently insisted the strait remains open, except to vessels associated with its adversaries. But with traffic at roughly 4 per cent of pre-war levels and clearance dependent on Iranian approval, the waterway that carries a fifth of the worlds oil and gas has in practice changed from a free international passage to a controlled corridor.

Mr Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday that the US was in negotiations with the right people in Iran to end the war, adding the Iranians wanted to reach a deal very badly, a claim rejected by Iran.

Has the level of your inner struggle reached the stage of you [Trump] negotiating with yourself? the top spokesperson for Irans joint military command, Ebrahim Zolfaqari, said on Iranian state TV. People like us can never get along with people like you.
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Iran has ridiculed US president Donald Trumps proposal for peace, calling the purported 15-point plan excessive and a strategic failure.

Overnight, the US leader appeared to rehash existing points that had been used as the basis for peace negotiations before US-Israeli strikes killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on 28 February, sparking a regional war  and presented these as the basis for a new deal.

The proposal, first reported by The New York Times, included demands for Iran to dismantle its existing nuclear capabilities, abandon its regional proxy paradigm (including the dismantling of said proxies), reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and limit its use of missiles to self-defence.

Nir Barkat, Israels economy minister, told the BBC that the plan was beautiful on paper but it was unlikely that the Islamic Republic would agree to it.

open image in gallery Donald Trump has reportedly produced a 15-point plan for peace with Iran, while also sending in ground troops ( AP )

A high-ranking Iranian diplomatic official later described the proposal as extremely maximalist and unreasonable in comments made to Al Jazeera on Wednesday. They also denied that media reports accurately reflected the substance of the plan.

It is not even beautiful on paper, they remarked. An Iranian official confirmed to reporters that the response to the proposal was not positive, and that it was still being reviewed by Tehran.

Irans response is reportedly being conveyed to Washington via intermediary Pakistan, which has taken the lead in negotiations after Gulf countries found themselves embroiled in defensive efforts to rebuff Iranian attacks.

Iranian state broadcaster Press TV later listed five key demands in exchange for a ceasefire, including a complete stop to aggression and assassinations, concrete mechanisms to ensure the war is not reimposed, the payment of damages and reparations, the cessation of fighting with all resistance groups throughout the Middle East, and the recognition of Irans sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.

open image in gallery An Iranian flag planted in the rubble of a police station, damaged in airstrikes ( Getty )

Despite oil markets briefly recovering this week following President Trumps public displays of diplomacy, the Pentagon confirmed on Wednesday that ground troops would be deployed to the Middle East after Irans rejection of the proposal.

Some elements of the 82nd Airborne Division, some division enablers, and the 1st Brigade Combat Team will be mobilised to the beleaguered region. The military personnel are trained to parachute or helicopter into a specified area with the intention of seizing it.

I think were wrapping up Operation Epic Fury, US House of Representatives speaker Mike Johnson predicted in comments to reporters. Thats what I think. And I think itll be done in short order, and thatll be right on schedule.

Earlier in the week, reports emerged that Iranian officials had been reluctant to negotiate with the US amid rumours that more than 2,000 American troops were to be sent to the Middle East.

Iran has continued to mock the US and insisted it will fight on until complete victory.

Has the level of your inner struggle reached the stage of you negotiating with yourself? Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for the Unified Command of Irans armed forces, said on Wednesday in comments broadcast by the countrys semi-official Fars news agency. Dont call your failure an agreement.

Iran said it has opened the Strait of Hormuz for non-hostile vessels as long as they cooperate with authorities.

Europe has been caught between the warring nations, which have been sending mixed messages to their allies and opponents alike. European countries have taken a relative back seat to hostilities, offering some defensive support in place of assertive action.

On Wednesday, Downing Street said it welcomes any productive talks between the US and Iran.
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Governments across the globe are trying to shield consumers from soaring energy costs resulting from the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.

Hopes for an end to the war are increasing after the U.S. sent a 15-point peace plan to Iran this week and received five demands in return.

Iran is still reviewing the U.S. proposal and a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran had so far stopped short of rejecting it outright.

As negotiations continue, heres how different countries are responding to the oil crisis that has resulted from the war:

INDIA

India will review its fuel exports if needed to ensure availability in the local markets, a government official said.

India is assessing fuel-supply requests from its neighbours and will approve exports only if it has surplus volumes, the foreign ministry said.

An employee refuels a vehicle at a petrol station in the southern Thai province of Narathiwat on March 18, 2026 ( AFP/Getty )

The country has barred consumers with piped natural gas from retaining, obtaining or refilling domestic liquefied petroleum gas cylinders.

It has invoked emergency powers and directed refiners to maximise production of LPG, widely used for cooking. It cut sales to industry to avoid a shortage for 333 million homes with LPG connections.

SOUTH KOREA

South Korea is easing limits on coal-fired power generation capacity and raising nuclear power plant utilisation to as high as 80%.

It is considering additional energy vouchers to support vulnerable households.

CHINA

China has banned refined fuel exports to pre-empt a potential domestic fuel shortage, four sources said.

It is also releasing fertiliser supplies from national commercial reserves ahead of spring planting.

AUSTRALIA

Australia is releasing petrol/gasoline and diesel from domestic reserves to ease shortages affecting rural supply chains as well as mining and agriculture.

JAPAN

Japan has asked Australia, its biggest supplier of liquefied natural gas, to boost output.

EUROPEAN UNION

European Union leaders called for temporary measures to mitigate the impact of a surge in energy prices, with electricity tax cuts, lower grid fees and state support put forward as possible short-term fixes.

BANGLADESH

Bangladesh is seeking billions in external financing to secure fuel and liquefied natural gas imports.

SERBIA

Serbia will cut excise duties on crude oil by a cumulative 60% to calm the local market.

It has also extended a ban on crude oil and fuel product exports to safeguard its market from shortages and price spikes.

ITALY

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said Italy is considering cutting excise duties to soften fuel prices and is ready to raise taxes on firms responsible for unduly capitalising on the energy crisis.

SPAIN

The Spanish Prime Minister said parliament is expected to vote on measures proposed by the cabinet to help citizens weather the economic fallout, including lowering fuel and electricity taxes and granting fuel subsidies to sectors most exposed to energy price spikes.

CAMBODIA

Cambodia is importing more fuel from suppliers in Singapore and Malaysia to make up for supply shortfalls from Vietnam and China.

MALAYSIA

Malaysia will raise spending on petrol subsidies to 2 billion ringgit ($510 million) from 700 million ringgit to maintain the fixed price of the fuel.

THAILAND

Thailand has discussed with the Russian government the possibility of purchasing crude oil, a deputy prime minister said.

The minister also said the government would try to cap domestic diesel prices at 33 baht ($1.02) per litre.

The Thai Planning Agency said the government will freeze prices of some goods and provide support for farmers.

GREECE

Greece will offer subsidies for fuel and fertilisers and ferry ticket discounts worth a total 300 million euros ($346 million) in April and May to shield consumers and farmers, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said.

SLOVENIA

Slovenia on Sunday temporarily limited fuel purchases to tackle shortages at the pump caused in part by cross-border fuelling and stockpiling due to the Iran war.

PHILIPPINES

The Philippines is set to import Russian oil next week for the first time in five years, LSEG, Kpler and OilX data show and traders said.

It also plans to curb power bills as LNG prices surge by boosting coal-fired power generation and regulating electricity tariffs.

VIETNAM

Vietnam will switch fully to ethanol-blended gasoline earlier than planned as part of its efforts to curb fossil fuel use, a government document showed.

INDONESIA

Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto wants to increase the countrys coal production, and the government is considering a windfall tax on exports.

BRAZIL

Brazil is rolling out a new plan to help states subsidize diesel imports. Earlier in March, the government scrapped federal taxes on diesel and imposed a 12% tax on oil exports.

EGYPT

Egypt has capped the price of unsubsidised bread sold in private bakeries.

ETHIOPIA

Ethiopia has increased fuel subsidies.

NORTH MACEDONIA

The North Macedonian government on Sunday decided to cut VAT on fuel to stem the price hike at the pump. The VAT on gasoline and diesel will be cut from 18% to 10%, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski told local media. The measure will come into effect on Monday at midnight and will be in effect for two weeks.

MAURITIUS

Mauritius said it would introduce energy-saving measures. Restrictions announced include curbs on grid power for non-essential uses such as decorative lighting, swimming pool heating and fountains, the government said.

PHILIPPINES

The Philippines is working with Washington to secure waivers and exemptions that will allow it to obtain oil from U.S.-sanctioned countries and guarantee supplies. The country relies heavily on imported fuel and declared a state of national energy emergency on Tuesday to deal with the fallout from the war.

SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka will introduce additional fuel-rationing measures to shorten queues and secure extra oil supplies, a senior official said.
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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has downplayed reports that Donald Trump offered Iran a 15-point plan aimed at ending the war for good, as the month-long conflict continues to inflict pain on global markets and the presidents popularity at home.

US and Israeli media had both reported on a proposal addressing longstanding concerns about Irans nuclear programme and reversing the fallout from the war.

A source told Reuters it was passed to Iran via Pakistan late on Tuesday, as Trump said - without reference to the rumoured plan - that the US and Iran have already agreed on several key points, including that Iran would give up any ambitions for nuclear weapons.

Speaking to the White House press gallery on Wednesday, Ms Leavitt said: I saw a 15-point plan that was floated in the media. I would caution reporters in this room from reporting about speculative points or speculative plans from anonymous sources.

The White House never confirmed that full plan. There are elements of truth to it, but some of the stories I read were not entirely factual.

open image in gallery Donald Trump has claimed the war against Iran is already won ( AFP/Getty )

Irans military, has repeatedly denied that the two countries are in negotiations to end the war, having previously suggested the US is negotiating with itself.

Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey are said to be trying to facilitate discussions, and a senior Iranian source said on Wednesday that Pakistan has passed on a proposal.

But hours after Ms Leavitts media briefing, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said that the US proposal to end the war was being reviewed by top authorities in Tehran, but the exchange of messages through mediators does not mean negotiations with the US.

He told Iran's state TV in an interview that Tehran has no intention to hold talks with the US.

Here is what's known and not known about possible talks to wind down the war.

What we know about the 15-point plan

Since launching the war alongside Israel on 28 February, Trump has given shifting and often vague objectives, and those mixed messages have been on display again in recent days.

He has spoken of degrading or destroying Iran's missile capabilities, and its ability to threaten neighbours  goals he has some flexibility in declaring accomplished.

A much tougher goal is ensuring Iran can never build a nuclear weapon, and Trump has insisted that will be part of any deal. The US and Iran previously had an agreement to restrict Irans nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief, but Trump withdrew from it in 2018.

The reported 15-point plan to end the war looks to abate some of the concerns shared by both the US and Israel about Irans nuclear programme, shutting down nuclear facilities, scrapping enrichment, and reopening to regular inspections.

open image in gallery The Fordow facility in Iran was a target in the US-Israeli strikes last summer ( Maxar Technologies )

Trump spoke of a 15-point plan on Monday before boarding Air Force One for a flight to Memphis, Tennessee.

After he said there were many points of agreement between Washington and Tehran, he was asked to elaborate further on what they might be. He replied: 15 points, 15 points.

It includes a promise from Iran to never strive to have nuclear weapons. The main nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan damaged in the war last summer would also be taken out of use and destroyed.

Existing capabilities would have to be dismantled, too, and Iran would have to hand over all enriched material to the UNs nuclear watchdog, the IAEA.

The IAEA would also have renewed assurances of transparency and oversight. Iran removed all the agencys equipment installed in Iran for surveillance and monitoring activities after Trump left the JCPOA Iran nuclear deal in 2018.

Before hostilities opened at the end of February, the US was already talking with Iran about curbing its nuclear programme.

Washington hoped to get Irans missiles and funding of proxy groups in the region on the agenda, too, but Iran did not want to broaden the scope of talks initially. The new plan reported by Israeli and US media would look to resolve those issues, too.

open image in gallery Smoke rises from Kuwait international airport after a drone strike on fuel storage in Kuwait City ( AP )

Since then, the war has created new challenges for the US to resolve in future peace talks. A reopening of the Strait of Hormuz  a vital waterway for oil shipments that Iran made virtually impassable when the war began  is reportedly a focus of the plan.

Andreas Krieg, senior lecturer at the School of Security Studies at Kings College London, told The Independent: These demands are in line with what has been tabled by the US on several occasions over the past year. But it comes against a backdrop of zero mutual trust and a geopolitical standoff where Iran has better cards to play than the US.

Iran has maintained its ability to exercise pressure while the threshold for pain for Iran is much much higher than for the US. So the war has made the bargaining position of the US much weaker.

Are the US and Iran discussing the plans?

Trump claimed that US envoy Steve Witkoff and Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner held talks Sunday with an Iranian leader. He did not say who that was.

Reports initially focused on Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf as a possible interlocutor. But Qalibaf quickly denied talks were taking place in a post on X.

The US agreed in principle to join talks in Pakistan, according to three Pakistani officials, one Egyptian official and a Gulf diplomat, while mediators were still working to convince Iran. Pakistan said on Tuesday it was ready to facilitate talks if both sides were open.

open image in gallery The US continues to carry out strikes on Iranian naval vessels in the Strait of Hormuz while trying to bring Iran to the table (pictured, supplied 25 March) ( US Centcom )

While on Wednesday Irans military said that Trump appeared to be negotiating with himself, Araghchi later said that a US proposal to end the war was being reviewed by top authorities in Tehran.

He added that the exchange of messages through mediators does not mean negotiations with the US.

Even as Iran denies any prospect of talks, sources familiar with high level discussions told Axios that the US and regional mediators hope peace talks with Iran could come as soon as Thursday, pending approval from Iran.

Does the plan have Israels backing?

Talk of a US-backed peace deal to end the war has sparked a number of concerns in Israel.

As Trump talks of engaging with leaders in Iran, he has backed off promoting the Islamic Republic's collapse. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, continues to say the war aims to help Iranians overthrow the theocracy.

An Axios report citing two Israeli sources says Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains concerned that Trump might strike a deal that falls short of Israels objectives, limiting Irans ability to conduct strikes against Iran.

In a statement late Monday, Netanyahu acknowledged Trump's diplomatic efforts but said Israel would continue to strike its enemies for the time being.

open image in gallery Joint US-Israeli strikes and retaliatory Iranian action ( ACLED )

Is Trump trying to buy time?

Trumps sudden declaration of progress in talks on Monday came just as the deadline was about to run out on an ultimatum he had made over the weekend threatening to obliterate Irans power plants unless the country releases its stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran threatened to retaliate against power, water and oil infrastructure across the Gulf.

Trump on Monday pushed the deadline back five days and said theres a very good chance a deal could be reached this week. That was a relief to global oil and stock markets.

Trumps move could signal hes wary of the war's possible long-term damage to the US and global economy, though his administration has insisted that any pain from spiking oil prices will quickly be reversed once the war is over.

On the other hand, the Soufan Center noted, Trump could be buying time for thousands of Marines heading to the region to arrive.

The Marine deployment could be a tactic to pressure Iran on negotiations. But it has also raised speculation that the US may try to seize Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, which is vital to Irans oil network, or carry out an operation to remove enriched uranium from inside Iran. Either would mean a greater escalation and a longer war.
Determined to humiliate Donald Trumps efforts to extract his country from a war he started, Tehran launched waves of attacks across the Arabian Gulf and sneered at his peaceful overtures.

No matter that a 15-point plan has been put forward by the US and Pakistan has said it hopes to host direct talks between the US and Iran sometime this week, Irans securocrats have seen an opportunity. Trump wants to get out of the conflict that Israel does not believe has achieved its aims.

Irans regime has fomented instability across the Middle East for decades. It has killed Americans and many other Westerners, run Hezbollah in Lebanon, and backed Hamas in Gaza.

And yet the global perspective is that the war, which is already hobbling global fuel supplies and will have far greater economic consequences, is all the fault of America and Israel.

open image in gallery A Palestinian man climbs on the remnants of an Iranian missile that landed in the Israeli-occupied West Bank village of Hares on Tuesday ( AFP/Getty )

The ayatollahs blame the Great Satan, the US, and Little Satan, Israel, and even its enemies and rivals agree.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Germanys largely ceremonial president, waded in with his assessment of the war being prosecuted by Trump and Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling it a politically disastrous mistake.

In my view, this war is contrary to international law, said the Nato members president.

Trump has variously claimed that Irans nuclear capability had been obliterated last summer, that Tehran was on the verge of attacking Israel with nuclear weapons in February, and that 100 per cent of Irans military capability had been destroyed, but that if it continued to throttle shipping in the Straits of Hormuz, then it would suffer even greater levels of destruction.

The behaviour of the US president towards his allies in Nato  he has threatened to invade two of them and cut military support for Ukraine, which is holding off Russian invaders who have designs on Nato members  has been noted in Tehran.

The extremist theologians and terrorist-backing gangsters in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) have seen that Trump is an incoherent and unreliable ally.

open image in gallery Tehran has taken note that Donald Trump is an incoherent and unreliable ally to Nato members ( AFP/Getty )

We were surprised by an American ally, who remains an ally, but who is becoming increasingly unpredictable and doesnt even bother to inform us when they decide to launch military operations, Fabien Mandon, the French army chief, told a security and defence forum in Paris.

It has an impact on our security and it has an impact on our interests.

That was mild stuff compared to what must be being said in the Tel Aviv headquarters of the Israeli defence ministry, where planners still have a very long list of targets they intend to attack in Iran, but can see the US president backing out of any greater role in bombing their enemy.

US aims in Iran are opaque: regime change, protection of civilian protesters, breaking the military, ending Irans nuclear programme. The consequences of trying to do so have never been obscure, apart from to the White House.

That Iran would defend itself, survive the decapitation of its leadership, attack US allies in the Gulf and close the Straits of Hormuz were blindingly obvious. They were the risks that Israel was prepared to take in an effort to destroy a regime that threatens its existence.

Israel has been asked by the US to hold off on attacking Irans energy systems, alongside a five-day pause in US bombardment of power plants ordered by Trump. He said this was to allow talks to advance, which he claimed had gone well.

Iran was quick to insist there had been no direct negotiations and immediately launched attacks across the Gulf region, while it also continued to suffer strikes by the US and Israel across its territory.

open image in gallery A man stands on the rubbles of a destroyed building that was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, southern Beirut ( Hussein Malla/AP )

With oil at times surging above $110 (82) a barrel and gas prices also skyrocketing because of the closure of the Strait, the Iranians know that the longer they can hang on, the greater the chance Trump will leave just Israel in the fight.

A fifth of the worlds oil and gas usually travels through the 21-mile-wide chokepoint, where Iran now has its foot on the neck of the global energy economy.

But between 25 and 30 per cent of the worlds fertiliser also goes through this artery, and around 50 per cent of the worlds urea, an essential ingredient in industrial fertilisers.

Trump is coming under pressure because of a surge in petrol prices at home. Global food production also hangs in the balance, and if, soon, farmers cannot get access to or afford to buy ingredients to make their crops flourish, there will be shortages, and the instability in the Middle East is certain to spread.

For Israel, this is another reason to wipe out the regime in Tehran. The Iranian governments ability to survive and continue to fight means, to Netanyahu, that the only option is more war.

open image in gallery Rescue workers and first responders work at a residential building hit in an earlier US-Israeli strike in Tehran ( Vahid Salemi/AP )

Trump saw no obvious downsides to attacking Iran. He did not see the economic consequences and diplomatic isolation, which have undermined him at home and made him look variously mad or dim abroad.

But they are swimming into focus now.

Iran is reportedly demanding that it be left with a sovereign choice of nuclear developments, keep its nuclear programme, and see the back of American forces now based in the Gulf as conditions for a ceasefire.

Trump demands the opposite. US troops are heading to the Gulf. But he clearly wants out of the whole farrago.

That would leave Israel alone, unable to change Irans regime, very short of victory and blamed by its recently acquired friends in the UAE and Bahrain for shattering their peace and economies for decades.

Tehran will see that as a win.
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NASA has dramatically revised its lunar exploration strategy, announcing on Tuesday the cancellation of plans for a space station in orbit around the Moon. Instead, the agency will repurpose components from the scrapped project to construct a 16 billion permanent base directly on the lunar surface. This ambitious overhaul also includes intentions to dispatch a nuclear-powered spacecraft towards Mars.

Jared Isaacman, the head of the US space agency, appointed by President Donald Trump and taking charge last December, unveiled these unprecedented changes to the Artemis moon programme. The shift aims to significantly expand humanity's presence in space, driven by a desire for the US to establish a lunar foothold before China sends its own astronauts there by approximately 2030.

Plans for the moon base include deploying more robotic landers, a fleet of drones, and laying the groundwork for utilising nuclear power on the lunar surface within the coming years.

"This revised step-by-step approach to learn, build muscle memory, bring down risk, and gain confidence is exactly how NASA achieved the near impossible in the 1960s," Isaacman said, referring to the U.S. Apollo program.

Nuclear-powered Mars mission

NASA also disclosed plans to launch a spacecraft called Space Reactor Freedom to Mars before the end of 2028 in a mission it said would demonstrate advanced nuclear electric propulsion in deep space. NASA called this a major step forward in bringing nuclear power and propulsion from the laboratory to space. NASA said the spacecraft, once it reaches Earth's planetary neighbor, will deploy helicopters for exploring Mars.

The Lunar Gateway station, largely already built with contractors Northrop Grumman and Intuitive Machines subsidiary Lanteris Space Systems, was meant to be a space station in a lunar orbit. "It should not really surprise anyone that we are pausing Gateway in its current form and focusing on infrastructure that supports sustained operations on the lunar surface," Isaacman told a crowd of foreign delegates, companies and members of Congress at a day-long event at NASA's headquarters in Washington.

open image in gallery The Orion spacecraft sits on top of the NASA Artemis II rocket in the Vehicle Assembly Building before rollout to pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center. ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Repurposing Lunar Gateway to create a base on the moon's surface - a difficult undertaking - leaves uncertain the future roles of Japan, Canada and the European Space Agency in the Artemis program, three key NASA partners that had agreed to provide components for the orbital station.

"Despite some of the very real hardware and schedule challenges, we can repurpose equipment and international partner commitments to support surface and other program objectives," Isaacman said.

European Space Agency chief Josef Aschbacher, who attended the event, told Reuters he will study the new plans and continue talking to NASA about them.

Lunar Gateway was designed to serve as both a research platform and a transfer station that astronauts would use to board the moon landers before descending to the lunar surface. NASA's current plans call for landing astronauts on the moon's surface in 2028.

The changes made by Isaacman in recent weeks on the flagship U.S. moon program are reshaping billions of dollars' worth of contracts under the Artemis umbrella, sending companies scrambling to accommodate the extra U.S. urgency as China makes progress toward its own planned 2030 moon landing.

Lunar lander projects behind schedule

Central to the Artemis program is its astronaut lunar lander program, with Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin both racing to develop moon landers for NASA. The two companies, each targeting an initial crewed landing on the moon in 2028, have fallen behind schedule.

Isaacman and other senior NASA officials on Tuesday made little mention of the two companies' plans to accelerate development of their landers to meet a 2028 astronaut landing deadline. But NASA's acting associate administrator Lori Glaze suggested the companies want to dock with the Orion astronaut capsule in a different orbit between Earth and the moon than planned, before ferrying the astronauts to the surface.

open image in gallery The NASA Artemis II rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard. ( AP )

Glaze said "SpaceX has been considering alternatives of their current Starship design" for the moon lander, "while implementing a more streamlined approach to try and speed things up and pull things forward."

NASA's inspector general this month said SpaceX, tapped in 2021 for the first astronaut moon lander under the program, is two years behind schedule, while the company and Blue Origin face a list of complex engineering challenges before they can fly humans.

But as part of the agency's Artemis shakeup, Glaze said it would use whichever lander is ready first instead of sticking to a pre-determined order of mission assignments.

The Artemis program, begun in 2017 during Trump's first term as president, envisions regular lunar missions as NASA's long-awaited follow-up to its first moon missions in the Apollo program that ended in 1972.
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are swarming U.S. airports, which are blighted by long security lines amid the government shutdown.

Armed ICE officers wearing military-style vests moved into at least 13 major transit hubs on Monday, including airports in New York City, Houston and Atlanta.

Here, we look at why President Donald Trump has deployed them and whether theyll make any meaningful difference to wait times.

Why has ICE been deployed to airports?

Armed ICE agents have been deployed to more than a dozen airports across the U.S., including major hubs such as AtlantaHartsfield-Jackson, New Yorks JFK and Chicagos OHare.

Their presence is to supplement Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel who have been working without pay while Congress is deadlocked on a funding deal for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees TSA as well as ICE and other immigration agencies.

open image in gallery ICE agents patrol Dulles International Airport. Trump says theyre in place to provide security, but they cant screen passengers or run X-ray machines ( Getty Images )

Trump says the agents are relieving TSA workers, performing immigration arrests and providing security like no one has ever seen before.

What does it mean for travelers?

ICE agents cannot screen passengers, run X-ray machines, conduct pat-downs, perform explosive trace detection or clear bags. These are security procedures that take months of training.

Therefore, ICE agents cannot meaningfully shorten security lines.

The presence of ICE officers will also have no impact on international travelers arriving into the States.

What ICE can do

ICE agents can offer crowd-control support, guard key entry/exit points, help with escorting travelers and carry out limited admin duties, which might help to free-up TSA agents to perform screening duties.

Miami-based immigration attorney Juan Carlos Rivera told The Independent: Their deployment serves as a 'force multiplier' to ease the operational burden.

"ICE personnel are stepping in to handle "non-specialized security functions" so that certified TSA staff can focus entirely on screening.

"According to White House border czar, Tom Homan, by taking over supportive and perimeter duties, trained TSA officers can be entirely reallocated to the physical screening process, which indirectly maximizes the airport's remaining screening capacity."

However, TSA officer Darrell English, president of Chicagos chapter of the American Federation of Government Workers, which represents TSA workers, said hes unaware of what role ICE is playing inside airports.

open image in gallery A security line snakes through LaGuardia Airport ( AFP/Getty )

I cant see them doing anything as far as screening procedures, so it might be limited as far as what they can do, he told CNN.

Former TSA agent Angelo Kevin Brown, who's now Assistant Professor of Criminology at Arkansas State University, pointed out: "Even if it works as planned and frees up a few TSA agents from smaller tasks, the main issue with time in the security line is dependent on the number of lanes open, so there is still the issue of not enough TSA agents to run the technical side of the lane."

What travelers might actually notice

Travelers are reporting that ICE is making the atmosphere more intimidating.

Tom Charging Hawk told The New York Times that he was rattled by the presence of ICE agents inside Chicagos OHare International Airport. He said his colleagues dropped out of attending a conference because of ICE and security weirdness.

Rivera told The Independent: "From a legal perspective, this visible deployment of immigration enforcement officers will likely cause heightened anxiety for immigrant communities navigating the airport, even if the agents are strictly assigned to crowd management.

"I have had some immigrants clients, who are legally eligible to travel, cancel their trips because they fear they may be detained by ICE."

Why are lines so much longer?

Roughly 60,000 TSA workers are caught in the middle of a congressional stalemate over Homeland Securitys budget, which saw a massive injection of taxpayer cash for immigration enforcement under a separate measure last year.

TSA workers, considered essential staff, have been showing up to work without a paycheck over the past month, but workers are calling out sick and roughly 400 employees have quit. More than a third of TSA officers at Atlantas airport  the busiest in the U.S., handling roughly 100 million passengers annually  have called out sick.

Even expedited TSA PreCheck and Clear lanes have closed at some airports and had themselves been hour-long in the run-up to shutting down.

What is the DHS saying about ICE being in airports?

Lauren Bis, the Acting Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), put the blame for the situation on the Democrats, and said that ICE was helping the TSA to work more efficiently.

She said: "TSA is extremely grateful to the patriotic men and women of ICE who have deployed to airports that are facing a high number of callouts because of the Democrats shutdown. After receiving standard TSA training curriculum, ICE officers are guarding entrances and exits, assisting with logistics, doing crowd control, and verifying identification using TSA equipment and standard operating procedures.

"The more support we have available, the more efficiently TSA can focus on their highly specialized screening roles to efficiently get airport security lines moving faster.

What travelers can do

open image in gallery Airports are advising passengers to arrive up to four hours before their flights ( Getty Images/iStockphoto )

Its vital that you arrive at the airport extra early for your flight. Most airports are no longer displaying TSA wait times during the shutdown but are instead advising travelers to show up at least four hours before their flights.

The TSAs app typically shows live wait times, but this has not been a reliable source of information during the shutdown.

You should also keep your eyes glued to your airports website and social media feeds, because some incorporate trackers or are posting messages on X telling travelers how long the security queues are.

In addition, expedited TSA PreCheck and Clear lanes, despite blips in reliability due to the shutdown, are still highly recommended.

Able to flex your departure days? The Points Guy travel site recommends booking flights for Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Saturdays, as these tend to be quieter.

Finally, be prepared for a very long wait, and make sure you have snacks and something to read handy.
Melania Trump arrived at the White House for an education summit with an unlikely companion by her side - a humanoid robot.

On the second day of her inaugural Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit on Wednesday (25 March), the first lady walked down the red carpet with a bot called Figure Three.

As Ms Trump greeted representatives from more than 40 countries, including French first lady Brigitte Macron, the robot walked to the front of the room and introduced itself.

It is an honor to be here I am grateful to be a part of this historic movement to empower children with technology, it said, before saying welcome in a variety of different languages.

The initiative, which Ms Trump announced last year, is aimed at improving access to education and technology for children around the world.
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The wealth gap is widening in the U.S. as many Americans report growing concerns about the cost of everyday necessities.

The top 1 percent in the U.S. grew their wealth by about $5 trillion last year and now collectively have about $55 trillion, which amounts to nearly the entire wealth of the bottom 90 percent, according to Federal Reserve data released in January.

Now, the U.S. is home to an estimated 989 billionaires, which is a new record, Forbes reported earlier this month.

Several people who spoke to NBC News for its new series Unaffordable America detailed how theyre grappling with the rising cost of food, rent and other necessities amid this growing wealth gap.

Melinda, a Virginia resident, told the outlet that necessities are a struggle and the cost to do anything has increased. Lilley, a Maryland resident, reportedly said the money she managed to save in previous years is now depleted due to the rising cost of food and utilities.

open image in gallery Americans are reporting concerns about the rising cost of living as the nation's wealth gap widens ( Getty Images )

Dan, a Washington resident, also told NBC News: More taxes, higher prices, holding two jobs and just getting by. Groceries and gas are ridiculously expensive.

Recent polls have also revealed growing anxiety about the U.S. economy.

A January survey by The Harris Poll, conducted on behalf of the American Institute of CPAs, revealed that 50 percent of respondents who said they set financial goals for 2026 are concerned that the rising cost of living could stop them from reaching those goals.

Americans are determined to take control of their finances in 2026, but the reality of rising costs means planning and flexibility are more important than ever, Pamela Ladd, the institutes senior manager of personal financial planning, said in a statement.

open image in gallery Several people told NBC News they're struggling to pay for rent, food and other necessities ( Getty Images )

A New York Times/Siena poll from January revealed that 65 percent of U.S. voters believe a middle-class lifestyle is out of reach for most people. About 77 percent of voters also said such a lifestyle is harder to obtain now than it was a generation ago.

Even some of the worlds richest people are sounding the alarm on the growing wealth gap.

Nearly 400 millionaires and billionaires signed an open letter in January demanding higher taxes on the ultra-wealthy ahead of the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. The group included actor Mark Ruffalo, musician Brian Eno and two members of the Disney family.

When even millionaires, like us, recognize that extreme wealth has cost everyone else everything else, there can be no doubt that society is dangerously teetering off the edge of a precipice, the letter reads.
The Iranians are supposed to have been crushed, hunkering down in bunkers waiting for the next bombing raid. Maybe they are, but they arent admitting it. Instead, weve now reached the stage in what amounts to Gulf war III where the Iranians are trolling Donald Trump. Clearly, they know how to annoy this notoriously brittle man, and their online campaign is the counterpart to their asymmetrical warfare on the ground.

Its certainly an innovation in the art of propaganda that has always been deployed in warfare. The Iranians have been producing short videos which portray Trump and Netanyahu as Lego figures killing innocent children while the brave commanders of the Iranians armed forces rain fire and fury down on them and their allies, notably the Gulf Arabs, orthodox rabbis, and British forces in Cyprus. Its quite nasty stuff, to be honest, and Trump is depicted as an angry, sweating, impotent fool, which has enough truth in it to be effective in its primary goal.

It doesnt seem to matter to them that there is, for example, no conventional Iranian navy, nor that the missiles they lob around have a poor hit rate. This is war, after all. Job done by the underground animators of Tehran.

Theres a chap named Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a lieutenant colonel and spokesperson for the Iranian military, who has also been taking the mickey out of Trump. Filmed sitting behind a desk in fatigues, Zolfaghari did a Saturday Night Live on Trump in formidable style: Hey, Trump  you are fired, was the opener. You are familiar with this sentence The strategic power you used to talk about has turned into a strategic failure. Has the level of your internal conflict reached the point where you are negotiating with yourselves?

More emphatically, he added: You will see neither your investments in the region nor the former prices of energy and oil again, until you understand that stability in the region is guaranteed by the powerful hand of our armed forces. Stability comes through strength.

For this, as ever, Trump can only blame himself (though that wont stop him from offloading it if needs be and hes already started subtly pulling Pete Hegseth into the role of scapegoat). First, it is his war of choice, and he has prosecuted it most likely in direct defiance of warnings from his military commanders and diplomats of the inevitable consequences on Gulf allies, other Western partners, the risks of casualties and getting drawn into an endless conflict, and the dangers to the world economy.

Trump knew best, as ever, and now hes landed in a trap of his own making. He cannot easily escalate the war without inflicting further damage on the world, including America and his domestic standing, but the Iranians wont allow him to declare victory and cut his losses. So long as they control the Strait of Hormuz, they control Trump.

Palestinian children gather around the remnants of an Iranian missile that landed in the Palestinian village of Hares in the Israeli-occupied West Bank ( Middle East Images )

Trump knows all this, but obviously cannot admit it. So he goes around declaring, Weve won this. This war has been won, when it patently has not, and mumbles about some very big present the Iranians had gifted to him  Im not going to tell you what that present is, but it was a very significant prize, and they gave it to us. That meant one thing to me, he added. Were dealing with the right people. Obviously, this is easy for the Iranians to mock, and of the rest of the world to be, at best, puzzled by.

All that said, theres no denying that the Americans and the Iranians have been talking, although indirectly. We know that they almost had a deal, brokered by Iran, that covered most of Trumps new 15-point proposal, and that was only a little over a month ago, before the White House decided on war, possibly under Israeli and/or Saudi pressure  something resisted by all of Trumps predecessors, as we see now, for good reason.

It is also an open secret that Egypt and Pakistan have been trying to mediate a settlement to the war, and that Trump associates Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have been involved, not joined by vice-president JD Vance, who has more to lose politically from this disastrous war than anyone else, including Trump, who, unlike JD, will not be running in 2028.

Therefore, the incentives for a peace deal are powerful on both sides, and even more so after this war began  but the presidents lack of strategic planning and judgement has tipped the balance of power, unbelievably, in Irans favour. This is most clearly because before the war, control of the Strait of Hormuz was obviously not an issue for anyone, and now it is Irans most potent weapon, because it has allowed them to take the global economy hostage (and theyre good at hostage-taking). Behind the bombast and the propaganda, there is a peace settlement waiting to emerge. We can only hope that the Iranians dont push Trump into deploying marines on Iranian territory, and, indeed, that both sides stop trying to push their luck.
When American multinationals come here and see what we do, theyre blown away by it  Hanley Energy CEO on how Meath firm became a global success
ESB crews were joined by colleagues from across Europe to help repair damage from Storm Eowyn. Photo: Michael O'Sullivan/OSM

Strong wind energy output in March kept a lid on electricty bills despite surging gas and oil prices, helping mitiage the hit to consumers and businesses, according ESB Groups chief financial officer Paul Stapleton.

The wholesale price of European gas increased around 60pc in March as a result of the Iran war but wholesale electricty prices are up 25pc, he said.
The Kremlin is earning the most from its oil exports since just after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine as it cashes in on the war in the Middle East, boosting crude flows amid soaring prices and eased sanctions.
Completion date for new national childrens hospital delayed for 18th time, health committee told

Robots to deliver meals in new childrens hospital  but half of rooms still not readyCompletion has been delayed 18 times and for 40 months

The much-delayed National Children's Hospital. Photo: Collins

Eilish O'Regan and Aisling Moloney Wed 25 Mar 2026 at 11:15

The latest April 30 completion date for the new national childrens hospital will not be met, the Oireachtas health committee was told today.
Five members of a Dublin criminal gang have been jailed for a total of 34 years for torturing a man who was waterboarded and had the word rat branded on his head and torso with a hot iron poker.

The victim Barry Moore thought he was about to be murdered while also being beaten with a metal bar, tied up with dog leads, driven over with an electric bike and threatened he would be raped in a west Dublin shed.
Ex-associate of Mr Flashy arrested over attack on woman set on fire at her front door in Clondalkin

The mother of two is still in hospital, attempting to recover from her life-altering injuries

Alexis Lee Campion was attacked as she opened the front door of her home in Clondalkin

Robin Schiller Wed 25 Mar 2026 at 06:30

A gangland enforcer previously suspected of killing a man is being questioned over the attempted murder of an innocent woman who was set on fire at her west Dublin home.
First refugee to graduate UCC on Education Pathways programme vows to use degree to honour his community and the opportunity he was given

The programme supports refugees living in Uganda to come to Ireland for graduate studies

Kanku Biselele (centre, in cap and gown), who graduated on Wednesday from University College Cork, celebrating with his supportors. Photo: Clare Keogh

Ralph Riegel Wed 25 Mar 2026 at 21:00

A refugee who fled war-torn Congo has graduated with honours from an Irish university  and said he is so grateful to Ireland for the incredible support he has been shown.
Its time to let the light in  journalist calls on Pope Leo to launch probe into coercive control and grooming in Opus Dei

For the Pope to invite me in underlines how seriously my book is being taken by the church, said author of expose

Pope Leo XIV shakes hands with Gareth Gore at the Vatican last week. Photo: Vatican Media

Sarah Mac Donald Wed 25 Mar 2026 at 06:30

Pope Leos meeting last week with a journalist who wrote an expose of the secretive Catholic group Opus Dei indicates he is taking their testimonies seriously, an Irish ex-member has said.
For some of us, social media isnt the problem  its part of the support: What Irish teenagers really think about social media restrictions

After Australia introduced a ban on social media for under 16s in January 2026, Irish teenagers express their views on the pros and cons of possible restrictions coming here

After Australia introduced a ban for under-16s, EU member states are exploring options to bring in age restrictions for social-media use. Image: Getty

Aoife Rooney Wed 25 Mar 2026 at 06:30

Just three months since Australia announced its social media ban for children under the age of 16, a number of European countries could follow suit.
Most people agree that, by and large, politicians do not deliberately plan to mess up. The trouble is, however, that they have not taken the necessary pains to plan not to mess up, and this must sometimes be called out.

That is what Germanys president has done in a disarmingly blunt rebuke of US president Donald Trump. The Iran war is a disastrous mistake, Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in a scathing assessment. Despite occupying a largely ceremonial role, Mr Steinmeier may have been channelling the frustrations of the whole of continental Europe.

Our foreign policy does not become more convincing just because we do not call a breach of international law a breach of international law, he said.

Just as I believe there will be no going back in relations with Russia to before February 24, 2022, so too do I believe there will be no going back in transatlantic relations to before January 20, 2025.

His words have extra weight, given that his country is Americas biggest ally in the West.

Badr Albusaidi, Omans foreign affairs minister and former mediator, has also baldly stated that Trumps war with Iran was a grave miscalculation.

World leaders are at their wits end trying to find a solution to the monkey puzzle Trump has made of global energy supplies. Only a day earlier, he declared there had been very good and productive conversations with Tehran. It was just the Valium that shattered stock exchange nerves had been craving, and prices responded positively. But after Iran dismissed the claim as fake news, oil was back at $100 a barrel.

Governments like our own are desperately rolling out contingencies to ease the sudden economic shock for people

Ron Paul, a former Republican presidential candidate, once reminded American politicians that their job was to not coddle the world, precipitating no-win wars, while bringing bankruptcy and economic turmoil to our people. If only they had listened.

Trump is now dialling it back, speaking instead of points of agreement from the US being exchanged.

Egypt, Pakistan and Turkey have taken the lead in efforts to broker a deal, but even the uber-confident White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, when asked about possible talks at the end of the week, could only say: This is a fluid situation. Nothing was final unless formally announced by the White House.

And there we were thinking Trump had been speaking for the White House. With thousands more US marines heading to the Gulf and reports of mines in the Strait of Hormuz, governments like our own are desperately rolling out contingencies to ease the sudden economic shock for people.

Announcing a set of targeted measures to help with fuel hikes, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said: We urge that this conflict and war ends as quickly as possible as thats the most effective way to get the world economy back on some equilibrium.

Remaining unabashed, Trump insists the US and Iran will at some point very, very soon, meet. As of now, it is far from clear who might speak for Tehran.

Hopefully, talks will take place, but challenges remain monumental. The turmoil will only conclude when the war is over.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin (left) defended Keir Starmer during a meeting with President Donald Trump in the White House. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire

On the basis that perspective deepens with time, I expect future historians to be more commendatory of European Union members for remaining steadfast and indefatigable in their support of Ireland during Brexit than current sentiment might imply.

I also expect that future history books may well carry a chapter or two on the frustration of many members with Ireland in the aftermath of Brexit over issues such as seeming to freeload on European security, corporate tax (for example, the Apple affair) and selective engagement in European priorities (for example, the EU-Mercosur trade deal).

Last week, however, in the Oval Office in the presence of a US president whose National Security Strategy adopts a markedly critical and harsh tone towards Europe, An Taoiseach potently upheld Europes propriety and in doing so helped to rebalance our books in Europe.

In also standing up for the UK prime minister, Micheal Martin demonstrated that the most acrimonious of political collisions (Brexit) can be sorted agreeably.

This example rapprochement, no doubt and very regrettably, completely passed over his hosts head.

Michael Gannon, St Thomas Square, Co Kilkenny

Trump has a problem with dyslexics, yet Churchill, his hero, had the disability

US president Donald Trump has decreed that the governor of California, Gavin Newsom, is unfit to become president as he suffers from dyslexia.

UK prime minister Keir Starmer has displeased him because of his reluctance to get involved in his excursion into Iran. As a result, Trump rudely remarked Starmer was no Churchill. Winston Churchill, of course, was dyslexic.

One wishes Trump would heed the words of his fellow American, Mark Twain: It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool, than to open it and remove all doubt.

Eithne Mac Fadden, Carrigart, Co Donegal

Draft-dodging president is in no position to call other countries cowards

Donald Trump declined at least three times the honour of serving his country during the Vietnam War, while thousands of brave American men and women fought and died or were injured during that war.

The same draft-dodger now decries Nato countries for choosing not to join in his illegal war on Iran and calls them cowards.

The same Nato countries came to the aid of the US during the Afghanistan invasion, after George W Bush requested Natos help.

Many British, French, Danish, and Dutch troops, along with soldiers from other European countries, died when the US invoked Article 5 of the Nato charter.

So who was the real coward? Clearly the answer is Donald J Trump.

James J Ryan, Lisnagry, Co Limerick

Terrifying ICE presence at airports will deter tourists from travelling to America

Like most flyers, I am often a little nervous going through customs at the airport, but now I will be utterly terrified of going through US customs.

There are fewer Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents available due to government funding issues and illnesses and Trump intends to solve that by using Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. All I see of ICE agents is heavily armed, masked people, grabbing people off the streets, breaking into houses and even shooting American citizens.

I know Trump has an obsession with immigration, but this is going too far. I and probably millions of others, wont be going to the US in the near future, or until there is a change of government.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

Climate change chaos will not be prevented with fake handshakes and selfies

Brace yourselves: the presummit scramble for Cop31 in Antalya, Turkey, is already under way. Polished promises, rehearsed speeches and meaningful action are conveniently deferred to another decade.

We have seen this theatre play out again and again over the years at Cops and climate conferences.

What was billed as a rescue plan now reads more like contractual procrastination.

Carbon emissions keep climbing. Targets are set, celebrated and missed. Wildfires deposit black carbon onto ice, accelerating melt.

We are literally fuelling the fire while congratulating ourselves for noticing the smoke.

Fossil fuel subsidies remain gargantuan. Politicians pledge cuts, while billions continue to flow to oil, gas and coal. Net-zero promises decades away may impress on paper, but near-term follow-through is almost non-existent. Even if fully implemented, the world is still headed for warming well above Paris targets.

Meanwhile, deforestation rages, carbon sinks vanish and oceans develop oxygen-depleted dead zones, threatening marine life and entire ecosystems.

Reports and pledges sound heroic, but reality tells a different story.

At this rate, history wont remember decisive action  only speeches, staged handshakes, selfies at lavish taxpayer-funded parties and a stubborn refusal to act.

Alan T Kelly, Castlewarden, Co Kildare

Buckleys win is a ray of sunshine following our winter of discontent

The early months of 2026 were among the wettest and mildest on record. Because a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, the downpours were heavier and more intense.

But be optimistic because the spring equinox occurred at the weekend as the sun moved from south to north over the equator.

During the past few days, the weather made a mighty effort to transition from the gloom of winter to the bloom of spring.

Indeed, its been spring sunshine all the way in Kerry since Jessie Buckley completed her grand slam of movie awards by winning the Best Actress Oscar. Buckley filled the world with love in her moving acceptance speech.

William Shakespeare famously described spring as a season of renewal, growth and youthfulness.

Warmer days and brighter evenings put a smile on my face and a spring in my step. Spring restores my energy after the cold, dark winter. It whets my appetite for exercise, sport and outdoor living.

But above all, Ill carry Buckleys beautiful ode to love, life and marriage in my heart as I fully embrace the overflowing bounty of spring.

Billy Ryle, Spa, Tralee, Co Kerry
At around 4.30am on March 19, 1996, a panic alarm alerted gardai to a disturbance at Jack Whites Inn near Brittas Bay in Co Wicklow.

Arriving at the scene, the guards discovered Tom Nevin dead in the kitchen of his pub in what initially appeared to be a robbery gone wrong.

The place was in disarray and Mr Nevin had been shot dead at close range.

His wife, Catherine Nevin, was found nearby, behind the hall door of the pub, her hands tied with a dressing gown cord.

She would claim that a hooded man had threatened her with a weapon as she slept, tied her up, ransacked the area in search of money and valuables, and murdered her husband in the process.

One part of her story would turn out to be true  her husband was indeed murdered, but his grieving widow was not the innocent bystander she claimed to be.

Thirty years on from the killing, host Fionnan Sheahan is joined by Mary Wilson, former RTE legal affairs editor and host of Drivetime and Morning Ireland, on the first of a two-part Indo Daily special to look back at the emergence of one of Irelands most notorious criminals; The Black Widow.
Cllr OFlynn (Fianna Fail) tabled a motion at a recent Fermoy Municipal District meeting calling on Cork County Council to investigate and rectify the damage underneath one of the eyes of Killee Bridge, Mitchelstown.

Cllr OFlynn said locals are getting worried about the bridge as he appealed for an up-to-date investigation to be carried out. People living locally are telling me about the damage that is being done on a regular basis and they are getting worried. People want to know are they going to wait for the bridge to fall down? You know what a stitch in time does. It saves quiet a lot of money. If the bridge fell tomorrow morning there would be no problem with funding.

The local people who know the river and live there tell me that the bridge is in trouble, stressed Cllr OFlynn. Was it assessed recently? Would an up-to-date investigation be carried out before we have any more problems? If we do it now, maybe 10,000 or 20,000 might do it. Down the road we might be talking about 500,000. I would ask that we look at it again and treat it as a priority.

The motion was seconded by Fine Gael councillor Kay Dawson.

Darren Kenneally, senior executive engineer at Cork County Council informed Cllr OFlynn that some minor works to the bridge are planned. This has long been assessed by our Cork County Councils bridge team and whilst some minor works are planned, they are subject to the availability of funding. There are other bridges of higher priority currently in front of this bridge.
A candlelight vigil will be held in County Donegal in memory of Derry woman Amy Doherty.

Amy Doherty (28) was found injured in a house in the Summer Meadows Mews area of Derry at around 10.20am on Saturday morning, March 21.

She was taken to Altnagelvin Hospital where she died.

A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody at this time.

Ms Doherty from Derry was a mother of two, Rhea and Ronan, the daughter of Patrick and Sharon and a sister to Shane and Ryan.

A candlelight vigil will take place at 7pm on Friday, March 27 outside Lifeline (Inishowen) in Carndonagh.

The vigil aims to bring the community together in solidarity with Ms Doherty and her family, and to stand united against domestic abuse.

There will also be the release of 30 balloons for the women who have died in the North since 2020.

At the end, organisers will release one white balloon in solidarity and support of anyone in Inishowen area impacted by domestic abuse.

At the same time, a vigil will take place at The Guildhall Square in Derry.

Lifeline Inishowen said the organisation, like the entire North West, has been left shocked, saddened and angered following Ms Dohertys death.

As news emerged that Candlelight vigils were being held in the North, we felt it was vital, as the only Domestic Abuse service in Inishowen, that we join them.

This peaceful gathering aims to honour those affected by domestic violence, raise awareness of its devastating impact and send a clear message that abuse in any form will not be tolerated.

We are encouraging members of the public to attend, show support and help strengthen the call for action.

The vigil also seeks to break the silence that often surrounds domestic abuse and to support survivors in knowing they are not alone.

You are not alone has always been our core message to those in our communities.

Domestic abuse continues to affect individuals and families across all of Inishowen.

Events like this vigil play a vital role in fostering awareness, encouraging open conversation, and promoting collective responsibility to challenge and prevent abuse.

Candlelight vigil being held in Carndonagh in memory of Amy Doherty.

Following the death of Ms Doherty, PSNI 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.

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, said Detective Inspector Ferguson.

Alternatively information can be provided, with total anonymity, to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org
24th March 2026; From left to right are John Kelly, Anthony Kelly, Marian Faye and James Kelly at the unveiling of a plaque in honour of traditional musician John Kelly and his shop, The Horse Shoe at 85 Capel Street in Dublin city centre.

24th March 2026; The unveiling of a plaque in honour of traditional musician John Kelly and his shop, The Horse Shoe at 85 Capel Street in Dublin city centre.

From left to right are John Kelly, Cllr, Micheal Mac Donncha, Cllr Clodagh Ni Mhuiri and Cllr Donna Cooney at the unveilingof a plaque in honour of traditional musician John Kelly and his shop, The Horse Shoe at 85 Capel Street in Dublin city centre.

A plaque commemorating the life of prominent Irish musician and folklorist John Kelly was unveiled by Dublin City Council (DCC) at 85 Capel Street in the north inner city.

Originally from west Clare, Mr Kelly moved to Dublin in 1945 at the age of 33, where he founded a hardware shop on Capel Street.

The shop, called The Horse Shoe, because a hub of Irish music and culture, regularly playing host to performances from Mr Kelly, along with musicians from around the country, right up until his death in 1989.

Today it is a vape shop, but the plaque will ensure that its spirit as a hub of Irish music will endure for years to come.

Sinn Fein councillor Micheal Mac Donncha, who originally proposed the plaque for Mr Kelly, said The Horse Shoe became a mecca for Irish traditional music in our city in the mid-20th century.

Speaking at the unveiling of the plaque, attended by an energetic crowd of musicians, fans and family members of Mr Kelly, he said the Clare man was a stalwart of our music.

24th March 2026; The unveiling of a plaque in honour of traditional musician John Kelly and his shop, The Horse Shoe at 85 Capel Street in Dublin city centre.

Many of the years that John Kelly was here, [traditional] music wasnt as widespread and widely heard as it is now, but its thanks to them, as we know, those staunch men and women who kept the music alive in fallow years, he said.

"Our capital was then a seedbed for what was to follow, the great revival of our music that we see all around us. Our capital city is a cultural crossroads for the nation, and in John Kellys time, he stood tall at that crossroads, he said.

Mr Mac Donncha was joined by his council colleagues Clodagh Ni Mhuiri, on behalf of the Lord Mayor, Donna Cooney, chair of the DCC naming and commemorations committee, and councillor Ciaran O Meachair.

John Kelly Junior, Mr Kellys son, also spoke at the event, and said his family was grateful to all who came to celebrate with them.

"My father, when he soldiered here over the years, particularly playing his fiddle in the back of the shop, little did he know this day would happen, that the city council would one day erect a plaque in his honour, he said.

Ms Cooney said John Kelly was a respected figure in the Dublin traditional music scene, not only for his musicianship, but also preserving a vibrant cultural space at The Horseshoe.

"The shop was more than just a business. It was a living hall of Irish tradition, shaped by his welcoming spirit and his commitment to keeping authentic music and community alive at the heart of the city.

She ended her speech calling on citizens to bring forward more names for the committee to consider, and especially the women of Dublin that have gone largely unrecognised in its statues and plaques so far.

DCCs commemorative plaque scheme facilitates the formal commemoration of people, organisations and events that have made unique, significant contributions to Dublin.

Living people are not eligible for the commemoration. Nominees must have died at least 20 years earlier, or passed the centenary of their birth in order to be considered.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
Galway City Council has committed to changing their standard of practice for airport transfers after the mayors visit to Morocco in January costed the local authority 800 in airport transfers.

A report from Galway City Council shows that an external chauffer service was hired by administrative staff costing 400 each way to Dublin airport.

In a statement, the local authority said Mayor Mike Cubbard was not involved in the booking or aware of the cost.

At this time, a review of the over expenditure is in process according to a Galway City Council spokesperson.

Public transport will now be a default method of travel to airports and chauffer services will only be used in exceptional circumstances, they said.

Furthermore, the report shows additional expenses for the council during the trip, such as accommodation, which was booked by Moroccan officials with safety considerations.

Two cash tips declared in good faith and in accordance with local custom were given by Mayor Cubbard to concierge servicers and one driver. Receipts are not normally available for gratuity exchanges, and the local authority is not seeking reimbursement for them.

Additionally, a chauffeured car was made available for the trip at the expense of the Moroccan Embassy.

As a cultural representative, the exchange of relevant gifts is best practice. Mayor Cubbard brought items highlighting local artists and the Irish language including Connemara Blue glassware and Galway-based socks from Irish Socksciety.

The value of the gifts was reported to be approximately 355 combined.

During the trip, Mayor Cubbard and an accompanying executive officer met with the Acting Mayor of Agadir, Mostafa Bouderka, and attended a number of engagements with tourism and chamber of commerce organisations in the region.

Galway City Council chose to travel to Morocco as a tourism and culture hub in the West, as the European Union remains its leading trade partner and largest foreign investor. An invitation was extended by the Moroccan Embassy in Ireland and the Souss Massa Regional President to further international relations.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting scheme.
The area was awarded recognition by UNESCO as a geopark status in October 2025. Photo: Joyce Country and Western Lakes Geopark

Hundreds of Galway residents have signed a petition against mining plans in Connemara.

Gold Note Minerals Limited, owned by BTU Metals Corp, has recently applied to the Department of Climate, Communications and Environment for prospecting licences in the Joyce Country area of Connemara.

In particular, the company wants to search for base metals, barytes, silver, gold and platinum group metals in the townlands of Breenaun, Carrowgarrif, Claggan, Crumlin East, Dooghta, Farnaght, Glenlusk, Griggins, Kilmeelickin and Moneenmore.

The documents read that Climate, Energy and Environment Minister Darragh OBrien intends to grant the prospecting licence to the company.

However, members of the community attended a meeting in Maam on Saturday March 21, to call on the minister to not award the licence.

A petition on the matter was also set up, gathering over 600 signatures in just a few days.

Creator of the petition, Niall Joyce, said the area is not suited for mining. In the petition, he argued that mining would damage the already fragile landscapes in the rural area that have already long suffered from a lack of investment and opportunity.

The petition reads: While these prospecting licences only permit the boring of holes to collect information and are part of the research stage around the mineral content in the ground they are the early stages of potential for an application to be made for a licence to mine said minerals.

The licence notice reads that Gold Note Minerals is seeking approval to carry out geological mapping, hammer prospecting and geophysical surveying.

That includes walking over the land, collecting small samples of rock, and recording measurements using geophysical equipment.

The document also states that the minister saw no necessary requirement for an appropriate assessment due to the temporary, non-intrusive effect the works will have.

Public submissions are open for receipt by the Geoscience Regulation Office until March 27.

The petition against the mining research licence remains open until Wednesday March 25 and will then be posted to the Geosceience Regulation Office for their observance.

Joyce Country and the Western Lakes geopark were given global geopark status by UNESCO in late 2025, a recognition that Connemara councillor Thomas Welby said is not compatible with an introduction of mines, during the March Galway County Council meeting.

In 2019, Connemara residents highlighted similar concerns as Canadian based company MOAG Copper Gold Resources put forward applications to mine for gold, silver, and other minerals in the Ballynahinch and Roundstone area.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting scheme.
Small fishing businesses on their knees as fuel doubles

Dingles fishing community is battling a storm on more than one front.

While the conflict in the Middle East blows diesel prices sky high, fishermen on the Dingle Peninsula have been forced to keep their feet on dry land this winter.

The wild weather has kept many small fishing vessels in Dingle harbour moored since November, rocking a sector which is claimed to be already on the brink of capsizing.

The reduction in quotas, the increasing cost of bait and the threat of offshore energy, all contribute further to a bleak outlook for the inshore fishing business.

Eddie Moore, director of the National Inshore Fishermens Association (NIFA), warns it is Armageddon for the industry if the government doesnt act soon.

Fishermen are getting by with a wing and a prayer, theyre just living on hope, he said.

Everything has sky-rocketed, but fishermen at the moment are price takers, not price makers. We cant charge more for the this increase in input prices. We have to suck it all up.

Its Armageddon, unless something is done. Inshore fishing is on its knees.

NIFA are calling for a basic income support scheme to offset rising input costs, as well as a compensation fund for the effects of climate change, such as prolonged seas storm seasons and increased Atlantic swells.

With the increasing restrictions on quotas and fisheries, Mr Moore sees this year as a watershed moment that could have drastic implications for coastal communities.

Every rural coastal town has a fisherman, and its been proven that every single fishing job creates seven onshore, said Mr Moore.

So if youre talking about losing 1,000 jobs, youre really talking about losing 7,000. Thats also going to affect the other local businesses because every euro thats made in an inshore boat is spent in the immediate area.

Every penny thats made actually goes back and stays within the community, which is massive for any rural part of Ireland.

Mike Hennessy, a fisherman based in Dingle, said he hadnt been fishing since Christmas due to the rough weather.

He said input costs had increased, including the doubling of the fuel price, which is one of the main operational costs.

Even though fuel goes up, the price of fish doesnt go up. If anything, it goes down as well, so we are caught both ways, said Mr Hennessy.

He felt a subsidy was needed, particularly given how the recent rougher winters were linked to climate change.

Kerry Councillor Robert Brosnan also warned that the sector could collapse and said the government needed to provide support to beleaguered businesses.

The big thing for the coming season is that the price of fuel has gone up about 50 per cent and its probably going to rise further, said Cllr Brosnan.

A lot of the shellfish is exported to mainland Europe. The price of exporting the product to the main continent now will have gone up considerably, so the worry is that the price will land at the feet of fishermen or go up in the restaurant.

Either way I think it looks like the market could collapsetheyre only barely hanging in there with the prices theyre getting, so a financial package is needed.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
Carrick on Shannon in County Leitrim hosted the launch of the Supervalu Tidy Towns Competition 2026.

The SuperValu TidyTowns Competition 2026 was officially launched in Carrick on Shannon this week.

At the 2025 awards ceremony, Carrick-on-Shannon was named as the overall winner of Irelands Tidiest Town while the town also won the award as Irelands Tidiest Small Town.

On Monday, the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD alongside the Managing Director of SuperValu, Mr Luke Hanlon travelled to Carrick on Shannon to launch the 2026 SuperValu TidyTowns 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, said Minister Calleary.

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 one million hours of their time, all year round, to come together to make our communities cleaner, brighter and more vibrant places.

Minister Calleary said 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, said Mr Calleary.

The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary T.D., alongside the Managing Director of SuperValu, Mr. Luke Hanlon at the launch of the Tidy Towns Competition in County Leitrim.

Speaking at the launch, 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 70pc 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.

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.

"Sustainability continues to be a central pillar of the programme, and through SuperValu TidyTowns we aim to create a lasting positive impact on the environment, while supporting communities to take pride in the places they live and work.

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, said Mr Hanlon.

Minister Calleary concluded by thanking the TidyTowns volunteers throughout the country and wishing them well in the 2026 competition.

The closing date for receipt of entries for this years competition is Monday, May 11, 2026.
Project could bring 60,000 visitors annually and recruit 30 local staff

A major new hotel is set to rise in Limerick city centre, with Whitbread PLC confirming a multi-million euro investment in the Opera Square project.

The UK-based parent company of Premier Inn said it plans to develop a 156-bedroom hotel at Opera Square, marking its first move into the Limerick market.

The new hotel will be located on the corner of Ellen Street and Patrick Street, on a site being acquired from Limerick Twenty Thirty.

A spokesperson for Whitbread PLC said the investment is part of its plan to deliver 5,000 Premier Inn rooms across Ireland.

Ireland represents one of the most exciting growth opportunities for Premier Inn, said Matt Gent.

We know there is strong and rising demand for affordable, high-quality accommodation across the country, and our ambition is to create a truly national network of Premier Inn hotels to meet it, he added.

He noted that Limerick had long been on the companys radar: Limerick is a city we have been looking at for some time, trying to find the right Premier Inn location. Opera Square offers an excellent mix of centrality, connectivity and long-term potential for both business and leisure guests.

Subject to planning approval from Limerick City and County Council, the seven-storey hotel could begin construction in 2027.

The development will include a mix of standard and Premier Plus rooms, along with a ground-floor lounge area aimed at both business and leisure visitors.

Once operational, the hotel is expected to accommodate around 60,000 guests annually and employ approximately 30 staff, with recruitment focused locally.

Mayor of Limerick John Moran said: We all want to see strong delivery of a dynamic mixed-use complex there, with a new civic plaza, city library, a hotel and office accommodation.

This new hotel is now expected to attract approximately 60,000 visitors annually, increasing footfall, sustaining activity in our Market area and supporting the wider commercial ecosystem.

Chair of Limerick Twenty Thirty James Collins described the investment as a major vote of confidence in the city.

A 156-bedroom hotel at Opera Square [...] will play a key role in energising the programme. On completion, it will increase dwell time in the city centre and support the wider commercial ecosystem emerging at Opera Square, he stated.

Whitbread already operates six hotels across Dublin and Cork, with further developments underway.

The companys Irish expansion began in 2019 with its first Dublin site and has since accelerated, targeting regional cities as well as additional Dublin locations.

The Limerick development is expected to become one of the anchor projects within Opera Square.
A completely brazen and wholly unacceptable act of theft, is how a judge has described an incident when two men pushed trolleys filled with goods from a Drogheda supermarket.

John Joyce (24) one of the two caught on CCTV at Tesco Extra, Donore Road, contested a theft summons in respect of property worth more than 1,200.

The defendant, of Jordanstown, Oldtown, Dublin, said it wasn't him on the footage.

However, Judge Nicola Andrews didnt believe him and imposed a three-month prison sentence.

The CCTV was played before Drogheda District Court showing two men taking items from shelves and placing them in a trolley and leaving before returning and filling a second trolley. The property was put into a car.

The total haul, worth 1,247.75, included Elsa amd Barbie toys and crisps.

This occurred at noon on August 28, 2023.

Evidence was given that Ashbourne Gardai were able to identify the two men from the CCTV.

A co-accused was dealt with in 2024 when he pleaded guilty.

Defence barrister Niall Mackin applied for a dismissal on the grounds that Gardai should have sought out the car. They neglected to seek out its owner.

Also, identification was soley based on a side of face image.

Garda Inspector Kevin Toner said that the car was checked out. It belonged to the co-accused.

Judge Andrews rejected both defence applications.

John Joyce, a father of 2 children with another on the way, testified that it was definitely not me in the footage.

He couldnt think where he was that day. He was from Ashbourne and not familiar with Drogheda.

"I dont know where Tesco Extra is, he continued.

The defendant repeated to Inspector Toner that it wasnt him. He couldnt really recall where he was that day. It was 3 years ago.

Judge Andrews remarked that having viewed the CCTV and observed the accused in the witness box, she was satisfied it was John Joyce.

This was a completely brazen and wholly unacceptable act of theft in front of CCTV cameras.

The judge continued it showed a complete disregard for the law.

She said Mr Joyce persisted that it wasnt in fact him, a complete refusal to accept responsibility.

The court heard of 27 previous convictions, among them 13 for theft.

Mr Mackin said that his client was on disability allowance. He was a painter/decorator for no pay on a community employment scheme for the Traveller community.

His mother, who he had cared for, passed away some months ago after a long illness.

A three-month sentence was imposed.

Bail to appeal was set at a 200 cash lodgement, with a condtion that Mr Joyce stays out of Co. Louth.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Local representatives say a new bridge crossing the River Moy is needed to allow traffic to bypass the town centre and ease growing congestion

Councillors have warned that urgent infrastructure is needed in Ballina to tackle worsening congestion, with traffic jams now deterring people from coming into the town. Photo: Peter Morrison.

Traffic congestion in Ballina continues to worsen, with daily delays affecting road users, local businesses and regional connectivity and local councillors want to see action on a long awaited roads project.

With congestion levels mounting across the town during peak travel times, local representatives have said the road network is no longer fit for purpose and that additional infrastructure is urgently needed.

Members of the Ballina Municipal District have now called on Mayo County Council to push the Ballina Eastern bypass as the number one road priority in this county.

The Eastern Bypass forms Phase Two of the development of the Ballina Bypass Project.

It would see a 7.5km route running from the Foxford Road near Hollister, crossing the River Moy and connecting to the Sligo Road, providing a route for traffic to go around the town centre.

Councillors have also stressed the need for a meeting with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), the National Roads Office and other relevant stakeholders to address worsening traffic delays in and out of the town.

They warned that traffic has become increasingly heavy in recent years, placing pressure on local businesses as commuters choose to avoid the town, and renewed calls for direct action to progress long-discussed national road projects.

Cllr Marie-Therese Duffy raised the proposal, and she voiced her frustration that the town's road network has been left behind.

It is unbelievable that Castlebar has the orbital route, there is a dual carriageway in another part of Mayo, and Ballina has been left behind, she said.

Cllr Duffy argued that progressing the project would have benefits beyond the town itself, stating that congestion in Ballina is affecting all parts of the county, and parts of Sligo.

However, the Eastern Bypass is not currently listed as an active project with TII, meaning it is not under consideration for funding.

Frustration over the lack of direct engagement with TII was raised at last months meeting, where councillors were informed that the organisation does not typically meet with municipal district councils.

Cllr John OHara has since reiterated calls for a meeting with TII, the Mayo National Roads Office, Minister Dara Calleary, Senator Mark Duffy and local business representatives.

He said owners have contacted him with concerns that ongoing traffic congestion is deterring people from driving into Ballina and is negatively impacting their businesses.

Business people are paying rates, and theyre paying tax, and people are still not coming into Ballina. They want something done on the route coming from Hollister, and heading out onto the Sligo Road - thats what the people paying their rates want, he said.

Cllr OHara also highlighted that the proposed route has been earmarked for the Eastern Bypass project for some time.

That [route] is sterilised for the last 30odd years, and not a thing done with it, he said, noting that traffic delays have been going on for years and that congestion comes from every way you come into town.

One time you were lucky to have 15 or 20 cars in a parish, he said, noting that many households now have multiple vehicles.

Times have changed. The two bridges here were built in the 1800s, surely to God we are entitled to another bridge, he said.

Cathoirelach of the Municipal District, Jarlath Munnelly, echoed the need for direct engagement with TII, the design office and the strategic roads office.

Any time we talk about national roads in this room, we dont have people around the table who are working on those schemes, he said.

He said there is no question Ballina needs to expand its road network, adding that the town needed it 40 years ago, but stressed that delivering such projects is a lengthy process and not a short-term solution.

Nothing will be built within five years, we have to use the roads that we have better. That requires external expertise, he said.

Cllr Munnelly added that some unpalatable measures may need to be considered in the short term, including one-way systems, increased parking restrictions and the removal of certain right turns.

Currently, Phase One of the Ballina Bypass Project, which will see a 2.3km western route linking the N26 Foxford to Dublin Road with the N59 Crossmolina Road, is progressing through the development stages and is estimated to be completed at the end of 2029.

Cllr Duffy has previously expressed hope that, as Phase One continues to advance, work on the Eastern Bypass could also begin, with the municipal district eager to see both phases develop in tandem as traffic pressures continue to grow.

This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Offaly County Council is calling on the Minister for Health to intervene to restore over 300,000 which was raised by the public for Offaly Hospice.

Independent Ireland Councillor Fergus McDonnell said that the Offaly Hospice Committee is owed over 300,000 from the health service after money was spent on proposals to construct a hospice for Co Offaly on the grounds of Tullamore Hospital.

The project did not progress and planning permission has since been granted for a Midlands Hospice on a site at Arden Lane in Tullamore.

Cllr McDonnell said that members of Offaly Hospice have since been told that the HSE is under no obligation to repay any amount of the money due.

He said this was particularly disappointing because he had seen the minutes of a meeting which took place on April 17, 2023 between senior members of the HSE and the hospice, where it was clear that an agreement was made to repay the sum of money.

I think words like integrity, sincerity, accountability, these are traits that every one of us expects to have front and centre when we're having dealings with anybody, but particularly when it's an arm of the State, Cllr McDonnell said.

I think it was February 2026, there was a big media profile of South Westmeath Hospice securing the return of 1.9 million.

Im not saying theyre exactly identical, but there was a similar issue at stake as I understand it, but sadly for the taxpayer with the South Westmeath case that 1.9 million was added to in the form of 1.1 million in legal fees, he added.

Fianna Fail Councillor Peter Ormond echoed these comments: I think it's only proper and right that this money would be returned to Offaly Hospice.

Offaly hospice set out a number of years ago to fundraise for a midlands hospice. They have done it in good faith, they engaged with architects, they engaged with legal professions and they did everything to the best of their ability in terms of delivering the hospice for the midlands.

Offaly County Council Cathaoirleach John Leahy said the HSE had made a commitment to refund the payment clearly outlined in meeting minutes.

They need to honour that. How we got away from that point, I dont know, the Cathaoirleach said.

The council is set to write a letter to Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, and CEO of the HSE Bernard Gloster.
A 43-year-old man slashed three tyres of a mans car and damaged its wing mirror on another occasion, Sligo District Court heard.

Paul Kilfoyle of Templeboy, Dromore West, was charged with slashing three tyres valued at 250 belonging to Michael ODowd at Quayside Car Park, Lower Knappagh Beg on November 21, 2024.

On October 8, 2023 he was charged with damaging the wing mirror of the same car at Dromore West.

Inspector Ray Tubman told the court that on October 8, 2023, Mr ODowd reported to Gardai that he was at the filling station at Dromore West when Kilfoyle approached his vehicle and damaged the wing mirror of his car which was valued at 600.

Gardai viewed CCTV footage of the incident which showed the defendant hitting the wing mirror. Kilfoyle told Gardai that he had words with Mr ODowd involving his grandfather.

On November 21, 2024, Mr ODowd returned to his car parked at Quayside Car Park to find three of its tyres slashed. Gardai viewed CCTV which showed Kilfoyle damaging the tyres.

The court heard that the defendant has six previous convictions.

Mr Ciaran White, solicitor (defending), invited his client to the witness box.

Kilfoyle told Judge Brendan OReilly he would like to take the opportunity to apologise to Mr ODowd for the damage he did. Mr ODowd who was in court said that he accepted his apology.

Judge OReilly told Kilfoyle that he comes across as a very intelligent person and wondered what possessed him to do this.

Kilfoyle replied that if he knew that himself he would not be in court. He added that he would be willing to do community service.

Judge OReilly adjourned the case to September 3 for Kilfoyle to engage with the probation services.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.
A 27-year-old woman told a Garda to f**k off and spat at her after she was found unresponsive on a street, Sligo District Court heard.

Cailtin Farrell of Old Market St, Sligo was charged with obstructing Garda Nuala Gaffney, being intoxicated, and engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour at Old Market St, Sligo on November 23, 2023.

She was also before the court on other charges. On May 2, 2024, she stole a tracksuit from Dunnes Stores, Wine St, Sligo.

On May 22, 2024 at Seaview Park, Sea Road, Sligo she smashed the front windows and front door window belonging to Sivienne Conway and smashed the front windows of the home belonging to Lisa Conway.

Judge Brendan OReilly told Mr Tom MacSharry solicitor (defending), that he is concerned with the way that his client is dealing or not dealing with the probation services.

Mr MacSharry replied that Farrell should have showed up to her last appointment. He added that he has a report from her addiction services that is positive for his client.

Inspector Ray Tubman told the court that on November 23, 2023, Garda Nuala Gaffney was called to help Farrell as she had taken pills along with alcohol and was found unresponsive.

Garda Gaffney observed Farrell being taken into an ambulance. Farrell was extremely intoxicated and became abusive. She told Garda Gaffney to f**k off and wait till I get you when you are not in uniform. The defendant then spat at Garda Gaffney. She was arrested and conveyed to Sligo Garda Station.

On May 2, 2024, Gardai received a report of shoplifting by two women from Dunnes Stores, Wine St, Sligo. Upon viewing CCTV footage, Gardai observed Farrell putting a tracksuit into a bag. When approached by security, Farrell hid the bag. She waited for security to leave, before taking the bag with her and exiting the shop.

On May 22, 2024, Lisa Conway contacted Gardai about criminal damage done to her home. Farrell threw rocks at her windows and in one incident, she threw a rock through the front door which narrowly went past Ms Conways head. The defendant than ran away from the scene. Later on in the day, Farrell along with another woman threw rocks at the front doors and windows of Sivienne Conways house.

The court was informed that Farrell caused 2,633 worth of damage to Sivienne Conways house and 585 worth of damage to Lisa Conways house.

The court heard that the defendant had one previous conviction.

Mr MacSharry said that his client is sorry for all the damage that she has done. He added that Farrell was suffering from an alcohol addiction and depression and that she does realise the affect her actions had on the two injured parties.

Mr MacSharry invited his client to the witness box.

Farrell said that she has apologised to Garda Gaffney and to the ambulance staff. She added that she actually gets on very good with Garda Gaffney now.

Farrell told Judge OReilly that she was very sorry for not attending her probation service appointments. She added that to address her issues, she went to get treatment in Italy for five months and that she has a testimonial for it.

On Judge OReillys concerns with her attendance at her probation service appointments, Farrell said that her issues were no excuse for missing appointments. She added that if she was given another chance to engage with the probation services, she will take it with both hands.

Farrell informed Judge OReilly that she had saved 700 to pay for the damage and that it could take her three to four months to save up the rest she owes. The defendant added that she has been clean and sober since the last incident.

Judge OReilly said that at some stage addiction problems go from mitigation to aggravation and that is where she is at the moment. He added that he cannot get his head around her abusing Garda Gaffney when she was trying to help her and that she helped keep her on the right side of the river.

Judge OReilly warned the defendant to not take the probation services for granted as they are trying to help her and the court.

Mr MacSharry told Judge OReilly his client would be able to pay back the full amount that she owes on December 17, 2026.

Judge OReilly adjourned the case to the aforementioned date for Farrell to pay back the full amount owed and for her to engage with the probation services.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.
Businessman remains close to his native county

A Sligo native who has dedicated his career to helping entrepreneurs and business owners plant heir futures has been named Galway Business Person of the Year 2025.

The honour has gone to Niall Leyden, founder of Atlantic Wealth Management with the accolade being bestowed by the All-Ireland Business Foundation.

The award recognises his work advising business owners and professionals across Ireland.

For Leyden, the foundations of that success began much closer to home.

Sligo will always be home, he said. Its where I grew up, where my family are rooted, and where the values that guide everything we do in Atlantic Wealth Management were first learned.

Niall is the son of John Leyden, current President of Sligo GAA (Uachtaran CLG Shligigh).

He says growing up in Sligo shaped both his outlook on life and his approach to business.

The lessons were simple: work hard, prepare well and look after people, he said.

Those values still guide how we work with our clients every day.

After leaving Sligo to attend college in Galway in the late 1990s, Niall built a career advising entrepreneurs, professionals and families before founding Atlantic Wealth Management in 2024.

The firm now works with clients across Ireland, including many entrepreneurs and business owners from Sligo and the North West.

Atlantic Wealth Management focuses particularly on helping business owners who are approaching pivotal moments in life, such as selling a business, stepping back from work, or making work optional in the years ahead.

Our philosophy is simple: people first, money second, Niall said.

We start with purpose, then the plan, and only then the portfolio. Many of the people we work with have spent decades building successful businesses and meaningful lives.

Our role is to help them step back, protect what theyve built and prepare confidently for the next chapter.

Leyden is also the co-host of the WELLTH Talks podcast, which ranked number two in Ireland in the entrepreneurship category and features conversations with leading business leaders and financial thinkers. Additionally, he is the author of the 10 Financial and Life Commandments, a framework for decision-making that went viral online in 2024.

Despite building his career in Galway, Niall says his connection to Sligo remains strong.

Sligo is often called the land of hearts desire, he said. Its a county full of pride, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit. So many of the business owners we work with across the North West carry those same qualities.

Niall lives in Galway with his wife Brenda and their two children, Mark and Michelle.

Atlantic Wealth Management works with entrepreneurs, professionals and families nationwide.
Retail and hospitality staff across Ireland are being encouraged to stay vigilant when selling age-restricted products as social activity increases during the spring and summer months.

Launching the 2026 Show Me I.D  Be Age OK Spring Campaign at Filans Centra, Castle Street, Sligo, Marian Harkin, Minister of State highlighted the importance of training and awareness for frontline retail and hospitality workers.

The Show Me I.D programme is Irelands largest responsible retail and hospitality training module, supporting staff who sell age-restricted products such as alcohol, tobacco and vaping products, nicotine pouches, and lottery tickets.

More than 2,000 retail and hospitality staff completed the training module in 2025, reflecting the growing demand for practical guidance on responsible sales.

The free online module helps staff recognise when to request identification and how to manage situations if a customer may be underage.

The training covers common scenarios faced by retail and hospitality workers, including how to respond if a customer appears underage, what to do if a minor attempts to purchase an age-restricted product, and how to identify acceptable forms of identification.

The module can be completed on any computer, phone or tablet, allowing staff to refresh their knowledge at any time. To encourage participation, the Spring Campaign includes a competition for retail and hospitality staff who complete the training module. Participants can enter a draw to win a 100 One4All gift card, with entries closing at 6pm on Monday 20 April 2026.

Minister Harkin said:Im delighted to launch the Show Me I.D Spring Campaign here in Sligo. Retailers and hospitality staff play an important role in protecting young people by ensuring age-restricted products are sold responsibly.

Training and awareness are essential to support frontline staff in making the right decisions when selling these products. The Show Me I.D programme provides practical guidance and gives employees the confidence to check identification and follow the law in their day-to-day work.

Mr Filan said staff training remains an important part of responsible retailing. We encourage all our staff to complete the training module and to refresh their knowledge during quieter periods.

As local businesses, convenience stores are an important part of the community. Its vital that we maintain high standards and play our part in preventing underage access to age-restricted products.
Vision for Courtown and Riverchapel have organised an information evening for local homeowners to learn more about supports available under the Warmer Homes Scheme.

A community group in Wexford have organised an information evening for local homeowners to learn more about the possible supports available to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

Organised by the newly setup Vision for Courtown and Riverchapel group, the Homeowner Energy Event will take place in Riverchapel Community Complex on Thursday, March 26 at 7 p.m.

The event will focus on the SEAI Warmer Homes Scheme, which provides fully funded energy efficiency upgrades to eligible low-income homeowners including attic insulation, cavity wall insulation, external/internal wall insulation, draught-proofing, lagging jackets, and energy-efficient lighting.

A representative of the group said the event will give people a chance to learn more about supports that may be available to improve comfort and energy efficiency in their homes.

The event is aimed at homeowners who may qualify for the scheme through certain welfare supports including Fuel Allowance, One Parent Family payment, Working Family payment or Domiciliary Care Allowance. This also includes those who have received Jobseekers, Carers or Disability Allowance for more than 6 months, or have a child under seven.

During the event, homeowners will be able to seek guidance from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and the Southeast Energy Agency.

Vision for Courtown and Riverchapel hope to give locals clear information and see what assistance may be available to them.

Vision for Courtown and Riverchapel was set up in May 2025, with an initiative to work with Wexford County Council to improve the community in Courtown after being chosen as a focus of WCCs Town Centre First Plan.

Anybody interested is asked to bring their current house insurance policy and a recent electricity bill.
Neil Tully will make his way to Wexford on Friday, March 23, for his first book signing in the county in which his debut novel, The Visit, is based.

Centred around the historic visit of John F. Kennedy to New Ross in 1963, Tully encapsulates the excitement of locals in the build up to the remarkable event that continues to have a lasting impact to this very day. However, while the town is wrapped up in its preparations, Tully delves into the contrastring livelihoods of various characters from the town, which in turn gives a representation of social issues at that time.

Although a first-time novelist, the raving reviews have earmarked Tully for greatness in the world of writing, with John Boynes review in the Irish Independent stating he suspects, of all the releases in 2026, this will be one of the better ones.

Its beautifully written, populated by authentic characters and enriched by dialogue that leaps off the page. A terrific start to a writing career, said Boyne.

The Visit, by Neil Tully will be launched in Wexford.

Meanwhile, Wexfords Colm Toibin echoed those sentiments as he said: The Visit is an engrossing and tender portrait of a small town under pressure... Stark and elemental - at the heart of the novel is a sort of quiet yearning and a longing for love and for completion that makes Neil Tully's novel so brilliant and intriguing.

Tully, whos based in Cork, will be hosted for a book signing of The Visit by Hubb16, South Street, New Ross on Friday, March 27 at 3pm. His book will also be launched in New Ross Library, with Tina O'Callaghan at a later date of April 21, at 7pm.
Wexford GP claimed parents who signed children up to Covid vaccinations were vile individuals

Doctor is accused of professional misconduct over social media posts that were critical of public health guidelines during Covid-19 pandemic

Dr Billy Ralph from Wexford at the Medical Council in Dublin on Tuesday. Pic Stephen Collins/Collins Photos

Sean McCarthaigh Wexford People Wed 25 Mar 2026 at 10:57

A Wexford GP has been accused of professional misconduct over social media posts which were critical of measures and restrictions introduced by the health authorities during the Covid-19 pandemic.
A new law which will recognise babies who die as a result of fatal road collisions during pregnancy has received the full support of Wexfords 34 county councillors. Earlier this month, Fine Gael TDs Emer Currie and Barry Ward confirmed that they were working on a draft proposal of Jaxs Law and that it would be published in the coming weeks.

In January 2024, Saoirse Aylward was involved in a road crash on the Rosslare to Wexford road, resulting in horrendous injuries and the loss of the baby boy she was carrying inside her  Jax. However, under Irish law, Jax was not recognised as a separate victim and, according to the courts, his death was given the same consideration as the other injuries Saoirse suffered in the crash.

Yurii Dudek, with an address listed in Ukraine, was sentenced to six months in prison for careless driving causing serious bodily harm to Ms Aylward in 2024.

At the March meeting of WCC, Councillor Aoife Rose OBrien, who is an expectant mother, called upon her colleagues to support the introduction of Jaxs Law into legislature.

"Wexford County Council extends its deepest sympathy and support to all mothers and families who have experienced the loss of an unborn child as a result of criminal or negligent conduct, read the Sinn Fein councillors motion. This council supports calls for legislative reform, which seeks to ensure that all victims and their families are fully and fairly recognised within the justice system, and that the dignity and significance of unborn children are appropriately acknowledged, both emotionally and legally.

"We refer to this legislation as 'Jax's Law'. Accordingly, this council calls upon the Oireachtas to engage meaningfully with bereaved families, advocacy organisations, and legal experts, and urges the government to prioritise the development and enactment of legislation addressing these matters.

Saying she was shocked and horrified to discover that unborn babies werent already recognised by the State, Cllr OBrien said this was a piece of legislation which needed to be brought in urgently.

Her motion was swiftly seconded by Cllr Mary Farrell and carried by the council.

Funded by Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
The renowned family-run Wexford resort, which has been in business for over 120 years, has seen the coastline along its property whittled away to nothing

Every summer tourists from across the world come to Ireland for one reason and one reason only: to visit Kellys Hotel in Rosslare Strand. And every summer, without fail, the beach which provides the backdrop to the hotel grows ever smaller, recedes into the waters, never to return.

Because, in those winter months when the tourism season slows down, Rosslare Strand, like the rest of Wexfords coastline, is buffetted by heavy storms, by the steady, constant rainfall which characterises our winters. Those storms have, bit by bit, began to eat away at the coastline in Rosslare Strand, so much so that nothing more than a patch of grass separates Kellys Hotel from the waves, from disappearing into the sea.

Established in 1895, the hotel is now owned and operated by Bill Kelly with the assistance of his daughters Laura and Grace. The fourth generation of his family to run the hotel, Bill has bore witness to many of those storms and watched on as the coastline at the edge of Kellys has whittled away to nothing.

"Protection works need to happen before the summer, the beach needs to be replenished, he says as we survey a section of rock which, six months ago, was covered by grass. Entire sections of the shoreline are now visibly collapsing. Nature is bigger than any of us, were always going to be at risk, but its the fact were not doing the correct maintenance thats the problem."

"Were too eco-friendly, its a case of we cant do that, we might kill a fish. There needs to be a realisation that youre killing businesses, and youre killing livelihoods.

Billy Kelly at the area behind Kelly's Resort Hotel where the erosion is evident. Photo: Jim Campbell

In 2018 a coastal erosion and flood relief scheme worth in excess of 7.5m was announced for Rosslare Strand. It was to provide the kind of long-term security craved by Bill and the residents of the village. To date, no works have taken place and the scheme remains in the planning stage.

Describing the situation along the entire coastline in Rosslare Strand as an unfolding crisis, Bill points to a set of steps which collapsed in the winter just past, to a collection of holiday homes which are on the brink of tumbling down the cliff, and a beach  once golden as far as the eye could see  which has become littered with stones and gravelly sand.

This is about safeguarding the existence of Rosslare Strand as a functioning beach, protecting homes and livelihoods, and preventing the slow destruction of an entire coastal community, he says. If decisive action is not taken now, the cost  financial, social, and environmental will be exponentially greater in the near future. Rosslare cannot wait another winter.

"At what stage do you say, we need to do something about this? After the road is undermined then all the houses on the other side will be undermined too. At some stage the government has to start taking this seriously and doing the work, taking corrective action.

Billy Kelly and Cllr Lisa McDonald at the back of Kelly's Hotel where the erosion is evident. Photo: Jim Campbell

Today's News in 90 Seconds, Wednesday March 25

He has received support at local level from Fianna Fail councillor Lisa McDonald who, during her time as a politician, has fought to secure funding for a number of coastal communities at risk of erosion and rising tides. And she believes that, until the organisation responsible for funding coastal protection works is restructured, she will have continue to fight for communities like the one in Rosslare Strand.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) needs to be completely changed, its a junior ministry currently but it needs to become a senior ministry, she says of Kevin Boxer Morans role. Were not taking climate change seriously, the money for erosion schemes is going to have to be increased so that we can start to protect our amenities, if this was in, say the Netherlands, it wouldnt be allowed to get this far.

Severe damage to the concrete steps in Rosslare due to erosion. Photo: Jim Campbell

The West of Ireland has the Wild Atlantic Way, Co Wexford has its golden beaches and the government is standing back and letting them wash away, thats what causes me huge angst; were not dealing with this as a matter of urgency.

As someone who looks out onto the ocean on a daily basis, Bill is as qualified as any to diagnose the problems in Rosslare Strand and, most importantly, to come up with a potential solution.

We have seen it before here, which is encouraging in one sense, he says, referencing works carried out in the 1980s. The implementation of the groynes and the replenishment of the beach itself made the difference back then. And those kinds of remedial works can make a difference again, the problem is theyre not being done.

And while rock armour has been installed in some of the worst hit areas in the county, Bill contends that, long-term, this is a measure which only compounds the problem.

The rock revetment placed here to protect the coastline has created a greater erosion of the beach, when a wave hits the rocks it brings more sand away with it so the level of the sand continues to drop, he says. Marram grass was planted to renourish the beach in one area and that section lasted 20 years, but further down they just installed the rocks by themselves and you can see the damage its done to the far end of the beach.

Locals are concerned about the extent of the beach erosion in Rosslare. Photo: Jim Campbell

Theres sand out there, he says, pointing to the sea, bring it in, pile the beach, the highmark needs to be increased. It doesnt need to be pumped in from half a mile away like it was the last time, it can be taken from right here. Its all about getting the waves to break further out.

With 260 staff in the hotel alone and approximately 40m invested in the business over the last 30 years, Kellys is an integral part of Co Wexfords tourism industry, an institution which will continue for many more generations to come. But only if the sea doesnt claim it first.

My children are scared, Bill says, theyve committed their future to running the hotel.

Allaying those fears somewhat, chief executive of Wexford County Council (WCC) Eddie Taaffe has confirmed that he is in discussions with the OPW about securing funding for interim works in Rosslare Strand.

Were seeking 500,000 funding to carry out emergency repairs to the existing flood defence works, he said. Theres been very significant damage there, particularly to the dunes at the back of the beach, but were confident that if we receive that funding the works will take place before next winter.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
A Wicklow leisure centre is seeing the knock-on effects of the fuel and oil price crisis through higher service charges, a quieter gym and a drop-off in swimming lesson enrolment.

Although Arklow Coral Leisure has operated on natural gas since the mid-2000s, avoiding the sharp increases affecting oil users currently, manager Michael Wolohan says the centre is feeling the impact of rising costs elsewhere, through suppliers and services linked to fuel and transport.

Thankfully, we havent used oil since 2005 or 2006. I shudder to think where we would be if we were, Michael said.

Still, we have been affected indirectly. For example, we just had an increase in our waste disposal costs, which was put down to labour costs, but ultimately could be linked to diesel and fuel.

Also, electricity and gas can be affected by fuel increases when transportation costs go up. We havent seen that change yet, but it could be an issue.

Touching on the broader cost-of-living crisis, Michael said the more immediate impact on the centre is being felt through changing customer behaviour.

We are certainly affected by cost-of-living increases, and we have seen a bit of a drop-off in our swimming lessons, Michael said.

Some parents now have to make a choice with their kids. We run our group lessons five times a year, for eight weeks, but when the school lessons kick in, because parents might be contributing to them, theyll pull their child out of ours. And I get it. They dont want to be paying towards two sets of lessons.

However, even though we get a bit of a lump sum from the local schools, who are very good to us and bring repeat business all year round, it leaves us out of pocket.

Highlighting that overall activity levels at the centre appear to be dropping, Michael said it feels a lot quieter this year, especially in their gym.

Unless things reset down in the next few weeks, well see numbers drop even more and be quieter across the board, he said.

Is all of that pinpointed to the cost of living? It has to be. Everything goes back to the cost of living.

The main problem is the government, who havent done enough, even counting the new measures/excise cuts. Prior to the war in Iran, we were paying more for energy than most of Europe.

With plenty of competition on their doorstep and customers tightening the purse strings, Michael said the centre has little room to respond through price increases.

Were mindful of where we are and the competition around us, he said.

Most of our prices went up in September or January, and we have heard a little more of a rumble about those increases compared to other times. Not from lots of people, but enough to make you take notice.

As it stands, we cant go anywhere with our prices. We probably wont do anything across our range until January. In September, if things feel right, we might look at certain items.

All we can do for now is hope that people stick with us and like what we do.
St James COI, Crinken

Services of Worship for this Sunday  Palm Sunday: 10.30am  Morning Praise.

Holy Week & Easter Timetable: Thursday April 2nd (Maundy Thursday): 10.30amHoly Communion. Friday April 3rd (Good Friday): 7pm  Good Friday Service. Sunday April 5th (Easter Sunday): 10.30am  Easter Service.

Rathmichael COI Parish

Worship Services for this Sunday, Palm Sunday: 8.30amHoly Communion; 11am  Morning Service to celebrate Jesus Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem; 7pmMorning Prayer (Rite 1) followed afterwards with coffee in the Erck Hall; 7pm  Compline.

Sunday Evening Service: Every Sunday an Evening Service is held at 7pm in Rathmichael Church. We invite you to enjoy the silence and contemplation that this service allows a space for in your heart and mind, as you prepare to go into the new week. Wed love to see you at 7pm on Sunday evenings for this quiet and reflective service that includes music and hymns  the perfect way to prepare for the busyness of a new week.

Service of Wholeness and Healing  next Tuesday: There will be a service of Wholeness and Healing at 8pm in Rathmichael Church.

Holy Week Timetable: Wednesday April 1st: 8pm  Service of Contemplation for Holy Week, Thursday April 2nd (Maundy Thursday): 8pm  Service of Holy Communion to mark the Institution of the Lords Supper. Friday April 3rd (Good Friday): 8pm  Service of Tenebrae as we reflect on the Cross. Sunday April 5th (Easter Day): Eatser Dawn Gathering on Rathmichael Hill  details will be announced in Church; 8.30am  Service of Holy Communion; 11am  Festival Service of the Eucharist for Easter.

Prayer IgnitesFuelling faith, hope and change through prayer: Join us each month at Rathmichael Church for a warm and welcoming Prayer Gathering, where we come together to lift up the needs of our community and the wider world. In a quiet, reflective space, we seek Gods guidance, strength, and peace - trusting that our prayers make a difference. Whether you come with personal concerns, hopes for others, or simply a heart open to God, youll find encouragement and fellowship as we pray side by side. The next meeting will take place at 8pm on Wednesday April 18th in Rathmichael Church.

Shankill Bible Church

Shankill Bible Church, Glenmaris, Eaton Wood Grove - Sunday Worship: 10.30am  Sunday Service.

Prayer Meeting and Bible Study: Friday nights at 7pm. See www.shankillbiblechurch.org for further information.

St Annes Parish

Resource Centre Renovation Update: The Parish Office has now re-opened in St. Annes Resource Centre. Access is available through the porch only. Access to all other rooms in the Resource Centre remain closed while renovation works continue. We will fully reopen on Tuesday April 7th. As access is restricted, all inquiries should be directed by email or telephone wherever possible. Call 01-2822704 / 2822277 or email: info@stannesparishshankill.com.

Holy Week Timetable: Wednesday April 1st (Spy Wednesday): 10am  Mass; 7pm  Mass; 7.30pm  Service of Reconciliation. Thursday April 2nd (Holy Thursday): 7pm  Mass of the Lords Supper with washing of the feet. 8pm  Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Friday April 3rd (Good Friday): 12 noon  The Way of the Cross led by children of the parish; 3pm  Commemoration of the Lords Passion; 7pm  Taize Prayers. Saturday April 4th (Easter Saturday): 9pm  Easter Vigil Mass. Sunday April 5th (Easter Sunday): 10am  Mass; 12 noon  Mass; 6pm  Mass.

ISL Interpreter Sought: St. Annes Parish is seeking a volunteer to assist as an Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpreter for members of our Deaf community during parish services and events. If you have ISL skills and would be happy to help make our parish more welcoming and inclusive, we would greatly appreciate your support. Please contact Zita in parish office for more information on 01-2822277

Faith at Home Notice Board: Were excited to share that a new Faith at Home notice board is now displayed on the right hand side of the church beside the side entrance. This board is designed to support and encourage families in growing their faith at home. Each week, youll find a few simple family activities based on the gospel, psalms or readings from that Sunday, to help you live out your faith at home. Be sure to stop by, take a look, and feel free to take a photo or jot down ideas to use during the week at home. Supplies for activities may also be included. Lets continue building faith not only in church, but in our homes and daily lives.

Times of Masses and Blessed Sacrament Adoration: Weekday Masses are celebrated at 10am from Tuesday to Friday, and at 5pm (Vigil) on Saturday. There is no celebration of 10am morning Mass on Mondays and Saturdays. On Mondays Evening Mass is celebrated at 7pm with Adoration of Blessed Sacrament from 6pm to 7pm. Sunday Masses are celebrated at 10am, 12pm, and 6pm. All Masses are available online through the link Watch Us Live. A Holy Hour takes place from 6pm to 7pm on Mondays, from 8pm to 9pm on Thursdays and from 10.30am to 11.30am on Fridays 9.45am.

First Saturdays of the Month only: Mass is celebrated at 10amConfessions are heard from 9.15am to 9.45am beforehand.

Irish Mass: A Mass in Irish is celebrated at 9am on Sunday mornings in St. Peters Church, Little, Bray.

The Rosary: This is prayed Monday to Saturday mornings from 9.30am. All are welcome.

Parish Services on Webcam: All are welcome to view our services on the parish webcam  www.stannesparishshankill.com.

Bookings for Baptisms: Please call the Parish Office on 01-2822704 or 01-2822277 for more information, or email: info@stannesparishshankill.com.

Come Join Us: The Family Mass in St. Annes Shankill takes place every Sunday at 10am with a Special Childrens Monthly Mass at 10am on the first Sunday of every month. The Childrens Liturgy Team would like to invite any children and their parents /guardians/grandparents who would like to be involved in the liturgy (readings, offertory and processions) to contact Rob on 089-4123158 or contact the parish office on 01-2822704 / 01-2822277 or email info@stannesparishshankill.com.

Lent: During Lent Mass is celebrated at 7pm Monday to Friday with Stations of the Cross beforehand at 6.30pm.

Forms of Friday Penance for Lent: Abstaining from meat or some other food; abstaining from alcoholic drink or smoking; making a special involvement in family prayer; making a special effort to participate in Mass on Fridays; visiting the Blessed sacrament; making the Stations of the Cross; fasting from all food for a longer period than usual; and perhaps giving what is saved to the needy; helping the poor, sick, old or lonely.

St. Annes Easter Triduum Cards: These are now on sale, 5, from the temporary parish office.

Pallottine Union U.A.C Lenten Retreat: Takes place from 11am to 5pm (Mass) this Saturday in The Pallotine House in Dundrum, Homestead, Sandyford Road, Dundrum, Dublin D16 XK12. All are welcomeplease bring a packed lunch.

Youth Invitation: Calling all 7 to 17 year olds. Would you be willing to take part in the Station of the Cross at 12pm on Good Friday April 3rd in St. Annes Church. For further information call Sarah on 086-6088244.

Ballybrack-Killiney Parish: Mass Times: Sts. Alphonsus & Columba Church, Church Avenue, Ballybrack Mondays, Fridays at 10am & Sundays at 10.30am; Church of the Apostles, Willow Vale, Ballybrack: Tuesdays & Thursdays at 10am, and Sundays at 12pm; Church of St. Stephen, Killiney Hill Road, Killiney: Saturdays at 6pm. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament takes place every Thursday morning after 10am Mass until 12 noon, in the Church of the Apostles. All are welcome. Confessions: These are heard in Sts Alphonsus & Columba church from 4pm to 4.30pm each Saturday.

Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Dalkey: Mass Times: Sundays at 9am and 11am. Vigil Mass on Saturday at 6pm (Taize/Gospel Choir); Daily Mass: 10am. Confessions: These are heard every Saturday morning after 10am Mass unless there is a funeral. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: Takes place on Mondays after 10am Mass until 4pm (Except on public holidays when exposition takes place on Tuesday). Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place every Thursday from 7pm to 8pm. Compline: Takes place every Wednesday at 6.30pm in the Church, with the parishes of St. Patricks andthe Church of the Assumption joining together for this short and simple service. All are most welcome.

Our Lady of Good Counsel, Johnstown: General Mass Schedule: 10amMonday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday; no Mass on a Tuesday; Saturday6pm Vigil Mass and on Sunday at 11am.

St. Brigids Parish, Cabinteely: Weekday Masses are celebrated in St. Brigids Church, Cabinteely on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 10am, and no Mass on Wednesday. On Bank Holidays Mass is celebrated at 11am. At weekends the Vigil Mass is celebrated at 5.30pm (Saturday). Sunday Mass times are 10am and 12.30pm.

St. Michaels Church, Dun Laoghaire: Mass Times: Monday to Friday: 10am; Saturday: 10am and 6pm Vigil Mass; Sunday: 9.15am, 10.30am (Irish), 11.30am, and 12pm. The Church will now remain open until 4pm Monday to Friday. The Church will remain open on Saturdays and close after the 6pm Mass.

Shankill Library

To facilitate essential conservation and improvement works, Shankill Library on Library Road is closed and has been relocated to a temporary library in Stonebridge Community Centre, 7 Stonebridge, Grove, Shankill, until this work is completed, and is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 10am to 4pm.

Space will be available to continue to facilitate regular library group meetings, access to book stock, a seating area for adults and children, newspapers, plus paid printing/copying facilities. Contact details remain the same  telephone 01-204 7224 or email shankilllib@dlrcoco.ie.

Rathmichael Historical Society

Guest speaker for the 8pm Wednesday April 1st meeting of the Rathmichael Historical Society in Rathmichael National School, Stonebridge Road, Shankill, will be Aisling Durkan who will present The Houses of Meath. Members are freenon-members/visitors 5. Those wishing to join the Society can do so at this meeting.

Members and supporters of the Rathmichael Historical Society are asked to note that the following events will take place in the coming week  today (Wednesday) Tim McGloughlin will present Alfred McGloughlin, Draughtsman, Artist, Playwright, Irish Volunteers and friend of Volunteer William Pearse and Patrick at 6pm to the Old Dublin Society in the Conference Room of Dublin City Library & Archive, 139-144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2. All are welcome  admission is free and no booking is required. Tomorrow Thursday Ciaran Cooney will present The Annual Film Show at 7.30pm to the Irish Railway Record Society in the Societys Dublin Hueston Station premises  strictly members and their guests only; Albert Fenton will present The Most Distinguished Order of the Knights of St. Patrick at 8pm to the Rathmines, Ranelagh and Rathgar Historical Society in Rathmines Town Hall, Rathmines Road, Dublin 6. Members are free / visitors 5. The Swan Car Park Rate is 3.50 for the first 2 hours; 3.50 per hour thereafter. This Friday Lt. Col. Dermot Igoe will present Churchills Flying Columns  The Auxiliary Division of the RIC at 8pm to the Military History Society of Ireland in Griffith College, South Circular Road, Dublin 6. All are welcome  admission is free. Next Monday Coilin Megan will present The Royal Hibernian Military School, Phoenix Park, Dublin at 8pm to the Clondalkin Historical Society Aras Chronain  Irish Cultural Centre, Watery Lane, Clondalkin. All are welcome  admission is 5.

First Saturday Book Sale

The April First Saturday Book Sale, which supports the Shankill Seniors Day Care Centre, takes place from 10am to 1pm on Saturday April 4th in the Shankill Seniors Day Care Centre, Lower Road, Shankill.

Donations of books, which must be in a clean and good condition, are limited to one small bag per donor due to storage issues, and can only be handed into the Book Sale that Saturday morning.

Classical Music Club

The April meeting of the Shankill Classical Music Club will take place from 7.45pm to 10pm, including a break for tea/coffee, on Wednesday April 8th in the Shankill Seniors Centre, Lower Road, Shankill, which is located 100m from Main Street with car parking available.

The music will be as always a varied programme of classical music on CDs, covering many genres i.e. orchestral, instrumental, vocal, opera, etc. in a friendly setting. Visitors and new and returning members are always welcome. You dont need to be an expert! Charge 2 on the night (waived for first visit). For further information please phone or text Malcolm at 085-8528216.
Regan Daly, also known as Regan Buckley (28), of Cois Cairn, Old Conna Road, Bray, bronze medal at the 2019 European Games in Minsk.

Regan Daly, also known as Regan Buckley (28), of Cois Cairn, Old Conna Road, Bray.

A former international boxer has appealed his sentence after pleading guilty to several offences, including drug dealing, theft and possession of an imitation firearm

Regan Daly, also known as Regan Buckley (28), of Cois Cairn, Old Conna Road, Bray, appeared at a sitting of Bray District Court for the finalisation of his sentence.

Mr Daly pleaded guilty to one count of theft, possession of drugs for sale or supply, simple possession of drugs, and possession of an imitation firearm.

Mr Daly is a former professional boxer who achieved notable success at international level, winning multiple titles in Ireland and a bronze medal at the 2019 European Games in Minsk. He had been considered an Olympic hopeful with the potential to represent Ireland at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but later retired from the sport citing a lack of financial support.

The court heard that on November 11, 2023, the light-flyweight stole 20 worth of petrol from a Circle K service station in Brennanstown.

He was also found in possession of cocaine for the purpose of sale or supply at an address on Hawthorn Road in Bray.

In a separate incident in June 2023, he was found in possession of a realistic imitation firearm at a garage on Rutland Road.

Garda Philip Sheridan told the court that he executed a bench warrant for the accused after he failed to appear for a previous court date, having travelled to Thailand.

Solicitor for the defendant, Michael OConnor, said that the court services had been notified that his client would return and present himself.

A probation report was handed into court which stated that Daly had failed to attend scheduled appointments.

Mr OConnor said his client had been ill on one of the dates and had rearranged the appointment.

Sergeant Mick Canavan noted that Daly also failed to attend a follow-up meeting.

Defence counsel applied for a further adjournment to allow for another probation report, but Judge David Kennedy refused, stating that that ship has well sailed.

He also refused a further adjournment sought by the defence to prepare additional mitigation.

Judge Kennedy sentenced Mr Daly to eight months imprisonment on the firearms offence, with four months suspended, and imposed a further 750 fine for the rest of the offences.

A recognisance was fixed in the sum of 1,000 to allow for an appeal.

The court heard that Mr Daly paid half of this amount in cash at the time of lodging his appeal.

Mr Daly appealed the sentence and is due to appear before Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court in July, where District Court appeals are heard.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
Councillors in row over who should be at official event to open shelter

Former Health Minister Stephen Donnelly (centre) received a copy of the consultants' feasibility study on a bus stop at Hollywood village from Cllr Patsy Glennon and then Cllr Edward Timmins in 2021.

For over two decades, the intersection of the N81 and the village of Hollywood was haunted by a grim reality. It was one of the most dangerous black spots on the Irish road network. This week, however, that narrative is finally being rewritten.

District councillors in Baltinglass were informed at their monthly meeting that contractors are beginning to apply the final markings to the N81 Hollywood Rural Traffic Calming and Bus Stop Scheme. This means the local community can begin preparing to celebrate an infrastructure victory twenty years in the making.

The history of this stretch of road is a stark reminder of near-misses and tragedies. As far back as the 1998 National Roads Needs Study, the N81 was flagged for critical deficiencies. By 2008, data revealed that collision rates on this section of the road were nearly seven times the national average.

For years, Hollywoods safety was tethered to the massive N81 Tallaght to Hollywood Improvement Scheme. This multi-million-euro national project promised a total realignment of the road, but it became a victim of its own scale towards the end of the last decade. When the project was officially omitted from the National Development Plan (20182027), Hollywoods safety needs were effectively mothballed along with it. Residents were left crossing a 100kph national secondary road in the dark, waiting for buses in grass margins with no shelter, lighting, or protection.

The deadlock broke not in a government department in Dublin, but in the Baltinglass Municipal District chambers in 2021. Frustrated by the all-or-nothing approach of national planners, local councillor Patsy Glennon and now Wicklow TD Edward Timmins made a move that would define the projects future.

The two representatives took the unusual step of pooling 10,000 of their own discretionary municipal funding to bypass the states inertia.

This seed money was used to commission a professional feasibility study specifically for Hollywood village.

By facilitating the technical work themselves, Cllr Glennon and Deputy Timmins successfully argued to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) that a localised safety scheme could and must be decoupled from the stalled national bypass project.

Funding for the bus shelters and pedestrian infrastructure is part of the Department of Transports Active Travel allocations, which recently granted over 8.5 million for a range of projects across County Wicklow, including 500,000 for bus stop enhancements.

The path to completion hasnt been without its final hurdles. In late January, the region was battered by Storm Chandra, which caused an estimated 15.6 million in damage across Wicklows road network. While the Baltinglass district bore the brunt of the storm, requiring nearly 5 million in emergency repairs, the Hollywood site remained resilient.

Despite the temporary chaos of the storm, the project remains on track for its official opening in mid-April. The new infrastructure represents a total transformation of the junction.

The N81 speed limit has been permanently slashed from 100kph to 80kph at the Hollywood approach. For the first time, Hollywood features three new controlled pedestrian crossings and high-spec public lighting, ensuring children and elderly residents can safely reach the village centre.

New, modern bus shelters now serve the 132 Bus Eireann and 183 Local Link routes, turning a dangerous roadside wait into a dignified commute.

While Cllr Glennon and Mr Timmins continue to lobby for the N81s inclusion in future National Development Plans, the completion of the Hollywood Cross scheme provides immediate relief. For the people of Hollywood, this is more than just tarmac and glass, it is the end of a twenty-year wait for the ability to walk through their own village safely.

While the physical work on the N81 is almost finished, a verbal battle over who deserves the credit, and who should cut the ribbon, is just beginning.

The tension flared during the recent district meeting when Cllr Gerry ONeill insisted that the local community, including a former parish priest, must be at the heart of the projects official opening. Highlighting the decades of campaigning by residents, Cllr ONeill argued that those who lived with the danger should be the ones to celebrate its resolution.

The locals should be central to this, Cllr ONeill stated, emphasising that the project belongs to the people of Hollywood who never gave up on their demand for a safer village.

The suggestion was met with a sharp rebuttal from Cllr Glennon, who pointed to the specific political manoeuvring required to move the project from a pipe dream to a construction site.

Responding to the debate over the projects origins, Cllr Glennon praised the efforts made by members of the local community but defended the strategic intervention made by himself and Deputy Timmins in 2021.

You can rattle and rave all you like, Cllr Glennon remarked, but it was the feasibility study that Edward Timmins and I got the funding for that actually moved this project along.

Cllr Glennons stance is that while community support was vital, the project would still be stalled if not for the decision to fund a standalone safety study that forced TII to act.

Based on protocol the Cathaoirleach of the Municipal District or the Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council performs the ceremony. For nationally significant road projects, a government minister (Transport Minister Darragh OBrien would be the obvious choice) may be invited to lead the opening.

As seen in this case, there is no rigid rule preventing community involvement. Cllr ONeill formally called for a locals-first protocol for the Hollywood opening but didnt receive much support for the proposal,

Cllr Glennon emphasised that the protocol should recognise those who secured the projects funding and feasibility. The initial study was presented to former minister Stephen Donnelly in Hollywood, demonstrating the villages united front.

If community representatives are indeed invited to attend the official opening, council officials have a long list of people to reach out to.

The transformation of Hollywood Cross was fuelled by a persistent, grassroots campaign led by the Hollywood Forum and local advocates who refused to accept the status quo of a dangerous junction.

Established in 2017 under the leadership of figures like Jim Ruttle, Mary OCallaghan, and Aideen Klauer, the forum worked alongside Hollywood Tidy Towns to move the villages safety needs to the top of the political agenda.

The group, led by volunteers like Tommy Tutty, worked to ensure the technical safety scheme also enhanced the villages aesthetic and consistently lobbied Wicklow County Council to move safety projects forward despite the lack of a national N81 bypass.

While the project eventually secured high-level support from Minister Simon Harris and the strategic seed funding of Cllr Glennon and Deputy Timmins, it was the communitys decades of lobbying, and their lived experience of the N81s hazard that provided the moral weight for the scheme.

This deep-rooted involvement is why Cllr ONeill insists that the residents, should be central to the official opening ceremony, ensuring those who campaigned for the change are the ones to celebrate its completion.

In the end whoever turns up on the day to cut the ribbon and pose for some photos, its clear as the orange safety barriers are cleared away later this month, Hollywood finally trades its black spot status for a new identity as a modern, safe, and connected gateway to the west Wicklow region.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
The Dart line will be extended from Greystones to Wicklow town. Photo: Getty

Iarnrod Eireann has officially triggered the next phase of its Dart expansion, advertising a major contract to bring high-frequency rail services to Wicklow town by 2029. The move fast-tracks the project by nearly a decade compared to original long-term transport strategies.

The centrepiece of this announcement is the launch of the pre-qualification questionnaire online for the design and build of specialised charging infrastructure. As the line south of Greystones lacks overhead wires, Iarnrod Eireann will deploy new battery electric trains. Key technical works at

Wicklow Station will include a new facility to provide high-voltage power for rapid battery replenishment, specialised charging bars installed on platforms 1 and 2.

Trains will run on standard overhead power from Dublin to Greystones, lower their pantographs to run on battery power to Wicklow, and then recharge while stationary at the platform before the return journey.

The charging project is part of the broader Wicklow Rail Capacity Enhancement Project, which aims to deliver one Dart service per hour in each direction. In tandem with rail upgrades, Wicklow Station is set for a significant redevelopment, including:

A new 5.5-metre-wide pedestrian and cycle bridge connecting the Port Access Road directly to the platforms, bypassing town centre traffic.

The new Alstom-built fleet features low-level floors and sliding steps, allowing most passengers with reduced mobility to board unassisted. Plans also include a new northern car park with EV charging, underground bike storage, and a three-bay bus interchange.

Iarnrod Eireann CEO Mary Considine described the tender launch as a "significant milestone" for sustainable transport in the region.

The flexibility offered by the battery-electric Darts means more of the growing Wicklow community can access more sustainable transport more quickly, truly supporting rail as the backbone of our sustainable transport network.

Transport Minister Darragh OBrien noted this approach accelerates the timeline by roughly eight years, with construction aiming to start in 2027 for a 2029 operational launch.

The NDP Transport Sectoral Investment Plan, which my Department published last November, provides funding to advance this project, which is planned for delivery around 2029. This represents a significant acceleration compared to the plans previously set out in the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042, which would have seen the Dart extension to Wicklow progressed no earlier than 2037.

The accelerated delivery of this project demonstrates this Governments commitment to advancing infrastructure projects more quickly and delivering sustainable mobility in support of our decarbonisation goals.

The move has also been welcomed by local representatives including Cllr Gail Dunne.

Cllr Dunne has consistently made rail connectivity a top priority in his work, frequently highlighting that Wicklow town is under pressure due to recent housing developments and requires sustainable transport to support its growing population.

This is a major step forward for Wicklow, delivering more frequent, reliable and greener public transport for our community, and something I will continue to strongly support, he added in a post on social media.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
Social Club

The next Glenealy social dance will be on Sunday 29th March from 2.30pm to 5.30pm in Glenealy Village hall. Entry fee is 10 which includes Tea/Coffee , A Chat, Line Dancing, Jiving And Social Dancing To Live Music. ALL enquiries to Leslie on 0404 67755.

Card drive

45 Card drive is on every Thursday night at 8pm in Glenealy Village Hall. New players are always welcome.

Indoor Bowls

Indoor Bowls is played in Glenealy Village Hall every Wednesday night from 8pm to 10pm. New players welcome.

Pilates

Pilates is on in Glenealy Village Hall every Tuesday night from 7.30pm to 8.30pm. For more information contact Zara on 087 9367474.

Book Exchange

If anyone would like to exchange books or take books, the book shelf is just inside the main door at hall. There is a great selection to choose from.

Laragh-Glendalough

Holy Week / Easter Ceremonies 2026

Palm Sunday-29th March: Weekend Mass times as usual.

Palms blessed during the 7.00pm Saturday Vigil (Roundwood) and 11.30 am (Laragh) Masses.

Penitential Services: RathdrumTuesday 31st March7.30pm. ArklowWednesday 1st April7.30pm

Holy Thursday-2nd April: 7.30pm (Laragh)Mass of the Lords Supper followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

Confessions-Holy Saturday 4th April: 11 am12 noon (Roundwood) and 3pm 4 pm (Laragh).

Good Friday-3rd April: A day of Fast and Abstinence 12 noon(Moneystown) Stations of the Cross. 3.00 pm(Roundwood) Celebration of Our Lords Passion and Holy Communion. 7.30 pm (Laragh) Adoration of the Cross.

Holy Saturday-4th April: 7.00 pm (Roundwood) Easter Vigil.

Easter Sunday-5th April: Masses at 10.00 am (Moneystown) and 11.30 am (Laragh).

Blessing of the Graves 2026

Brockagh Sunday 24th May after 11.30am mass. Roundwood Friday 5th June at 7pm. Glendalough Friday 19th June at 7pm.

Active Retirement Laragh

The Active Retirement Group meets every Tuesday morning from 10:45am to 12:15pm at the Brockagh Resource Centre, Laragh (with breaks throughout the year).

Each week, members enjoy a friendly chat over refreshments, along with some light exercise. Throughout the year, the group also takes part in workshops, day trips, and monthly lunches.

If youd like to offer your services or share your skills with the group, please get in touch:Call us on 0404 45600. Email: laraghglendaloughara@gmail.comOr drop into the centre, we would love to hear from you!New members are always welcome!

Bright Stars Baby & Toddler Group

Come along to our Baby and Toddler Group, every Wednesday morning at 10.30am in the spacious main hall of the Brockagh Resource Centre, Laragh, A98 D3H1.

We offer a welcoming, lively space where parents, carers, and children can come together to connect, play, and grow. Sessions include messy play, stories and songs, games and occasional guest speakers, snack time, tidy-up, and access to new equipment.

The group gives children the chance to explore, learn, and make new friends, while parents, grandparents, and carers can enjoy meeting others and sharing a weekly catch-up. For some, its simply a relaxed and social space; for others, it offers valuable support and confidence in their parenting role. Cost: 5.50 per family. For more information: call us on 0404 45600

Laragh GAA

Laragh GFC are delighted to begin our journey as a Healthy Club as part of the GAAs Irish Life Healthy Clubs Program.

Our Healthy Clubs Officer, Kyle attended the orientation morning in Croke Park to kick-start the program and learn how our club can play a bigger role in promoting health and wellbeing in our community.

The Healthy Clubs initiative helps GAA clubs support the physical, mental and social wellbeing of members and the wider community. Over the next 18 months we hope to to run a variety of initiatives and events focused on areas such as:

Physical activity, mental wellbeing, healthy eating, inclusion and community connection.

If you would like to get involved or help out with future Healthy Club initiatives, we would love to hear from you. We are setting up a group in the coming weeksplease send us a message directly via our FB page!

Bark & Buddy Club

Come join the fun at Bark & Buddy Club in beautiful Glendalough! This is an awesome chance to hang out with fellow dog lovers and their furry pals. Whether youre looking to make new friends or just enjoy a day out with your four-legged buddy, this in-person event is perfect for you. Expect wagging tails, playful barks, and lots of good vibes. Dont miss out on some quality time with your best mate! On Sunday, 5th April from 10 am to 12 pm.

Contact through Eventbrite to book your spot: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/bark-buddy-club-glendalough-tickets-1984587237852?aff=ebdssbdestsearch#location

Newtownmountkennedy

Bingo

Bingo is played at Newtownmountkennedy Community Centre every Friday. Doors open at 7pm, starts at 8pm.

Ciorcal Comhra

Ciorcal Comhra is on every week in Newtownmountkennedy. Wednesday at 8pm in the Parkview Hotel reception and Saturday at 3pm in The Coffee Place.

We periodically organise Pop Up Gaeltachts in Newtown, Bray and Greystones. We also have a library of Irish language books that members of our group can access. To find out more email us at: ciorcalcomhrantmk@gmail.com

GAA club news

Lotto - Jackpot not Won; numbers drawn 1-2-16-29. No match 3. Match 3 next week wins 600, Jackpot 7,800.

Newtown GAA Club Membership is now due for 2026, please log onto your Foireann account to pay.

Newtown Forum

A huge thank you to the Newtownmountkennedy Community Forum for their incredible work in pulling together a comprehensive list of local defibrillators, a resource we hope will make a life-saving difference for everyone. We would like to thank the Newcastle First Responders for their donation of a new defibrillator which is located at Kiladreenan Close. Eircode A63 WN30. You can now view the exact locations of defibrillators across our town by visiting the SOS tab on Newtownmountkennedy.org.

Newtownmountkennedy Events Committee are thrilled to announce that our new community hub, Newtownmountkennedy.org is officially live! We invite all residents and local groups to use this website to share their news, upcoming events, and stories. To celebrate our launch, we want to see your St. Patricks Day experiences; please email your favourite photos to newtowncommunityevents@gmail.com, and we will endeavour to publish as many as possible on the website! Do not forget to check the website for your photos when they are up!

Roundwood

Set Dancing Ceili

There is a Set Dancing Ceili on Sunday 26th April in Roundwood Parish Hall at 3-6pm. Its 10 entry and refreshments will be provided. Rise the Dust Ceili band will be playing. Clare OToole 087- 7649204

Lotto

Due to unforeseen circumstances, there was no lotto draw this week. Next weeks jackpot will be 14,200.

Cancer Support

Roundwood Cancer Support office is open every Monday and Friday from 10am to 12 noon for anyone who needs advice or help when dealing with cancer.

Moneystown Preschool

Moneystown Preschool is Opening in September 2026 and is currently taking enrollments for September 2026 under the ECCE Scheme from 9am to 12pm Monday to Friday. We are also taking enquiries for September 2027-2028. For More information you can contact Karen Kinsella by email at Moneystownpreschool@gmail.com or on 086 238 1262 if you have any queries.

Social Whist

Results of the whist held on 18th March. Top Score: Ann Pierce. First Gent: Jimmy Molloy. Second Gent: Tiny Shortt. First Lady: May Kenna. Second Lady: Ann Wolohan. First Half: Margaret Kennedy. Second Half: Mary Pierce. Longest Sitting: Kay Plunkett. Lowest Score: Marie Magee. Raffle Prizes: Tiny Shortt, Ann Pierce and Richie Cullen.

Next Whist will take place on Wednesday 1st April starting at 8pm in the Parish Hall. Come along and enjoy a night of cards with us.

Blessing of the graves

Parishes of St. Laurence OTooleRoundwood & Moneystown, and St. KevinsGlendalough BrockaghSunday 24th May after 11.30 am Mass. RoundwoodFriday 5th June at 7pm. GlendaloughFriday 19th June at 7pm

Active Retirement

Chair Yoga at the Roundwood Parish Hall 2pm on Tuesdays. Next Bingo: Sunday 22nd March 3pm in Annamoe Community Centre. All are welcome.

Trip to Clare in the Autumn (Monday 28th September to Friday 2nd October) 530 per person sharing and 650.00 for single room (this includes the supplement) a non-refundable deposit of 200 before end of June. Calligraphy classes continuing every Thursday morning 11am until 12.15pm at the Roundwood Parish Hall

Card Game

There is a 45 Card Game every Tuesday night in Moneystown Community Centre starting at 8pm. Teas served. All are welcome

Local notes

If you have an item or news that you would like to include in the Roundwood Notes, contact Margaret Bolger the email address is mgtbolger@gmail.com. Items for the notes must be emailed by Sunday night to be in time for publication.
US says it could back Argentinas claim to the Falklands as punishment for UK
Sam Kiley: Donald Trump wants out of war, Israel doesnt. This is a win for Iran

President had seen no downside from the attack, but has been stung by its economic impact

Smoke rises following an Israeli strike on the coastal city of Tyre, Lebanon, amid the escalating hostilities with Hezbollah. Photo: Reuters

Sam Kiley UK Independent Wed 25 Mar 2026 at 06:30

Determined to humiliate Donald Trumps efforts to extract his country from a war he started, Tehran launched waves of attacks across the Arabian Gulf and sneered at his peaceful overtures.
Kristi Noem advert cost US taxpayer tens of thousands for make-up and horse rental

Homeland security secretary set to step down next week after controversial video filmed at Mount Rushmore

Kristi Noem appears in the advert on horseback

Rhian Lubin UK Independent Wed 25 Mar 2026 at 06:30

The US taxpayer was hit with a bill for tens of thousands of dollars for Kristi Noems make-up and props in an anti-immigration advert, in which she appeared on horseback in front of Mount Rushmore touting the Department of Homeland Security.
US president Donald Trump looks on as Attorney General Pam Bondi swears in Markwayne Mullin as Department of Homeland Security secretary, while he stands next to his wife, Christie Mullin, at the White House in Washington on Tuesday, March 24. Photo: Reuters
ExxonMobil is on track to begin exploratory drilling in the Ionian Sea in the first quarter of 2027, Greek energy officials said Tuesday, marking the country's first offshore hydrocarbon exploration in 40 years.

The timeline

was confirmed during a meeting at CERAWeek, the energy industry's flagship annual conference in Houston , betweenVice President John Ardill and Greece's Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papasavrou and Deputy Minister Nikos Tsafos, with Hellenic Hydrocarbon Resources Management chief executive Aristofanis Stefatos also present.

According to the ministry, the ExxonMobil-Energean-Helleniq Energy consortium has committed to mobilizing all necessary equipment and logistics to begin drilling within 12 months.

Mr. Papasavrou said the project is proceeding on a tight schedule.

On the sidelines of CERAWeek, Mr. Papasavrou addressed Greece's broader role in transatlantic energy architecture at a fireside chat hosted by Rice University's Baker Institute, telling director Kenneth Medlock that Athens is pursuing what he called "energy realism"  balancing renewable development with strategic hydrocarbon exploration.

He warned that Turkish threats of force are unacceptable as instruments of regional policy, and pointed to a Greece-Cyprus-Israel-U.S. energy cooperation framework as a new model grounded in international law.

Mr. Papasavrou also met Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal to discuss strengthening energy ties and investment opportunities for Greek companies in Ukraine.

The minister is scheduled to meet U.S. Interior Secretary and National Energy Dominance Council chairman Doug Burgum before leaving Houston.

   iefimerida.gr
Greece's Labor Ministry has taken a formal step toward closing the gender pay gap, receiving Tuesday a legislative committee report on equal pay and immediately opening consultations with employers and unions on a draft law.

Labor

Minister Niki Kerameus accepted the report from law professor Patrina Paparrigopoulos, who chaired the drafting committee, in a ceremony attended by Labor Relations Secretary General Nikos Milapidis.

Mrs. Kerameus said the ministry is committed to ensuring that wages and benefits are determined by transparent, objective criteria based solely on job duties, responsibilities and individual performance.

She has since written to Greece's national social partners  employers' associations and trade unions  inviting them to a ministerial meeting on April 6 to discuss the committee's findings before the bill is finalized.

Mrs. Kerameus described the consultation as a critical step toward building a framework that meets both European standards and the needs of the Greek economy.

The legislation is designed to transpose EU Directive 2023/970 into Greek law.

The directive requires equal pay for equal work regardless of gender and introduces binding transparency rules at three stages: during job advertising and recruitment, throughout the employment relationship  including employees' right to access salary data  and through a mandatory obligation on companies to publish pay information.

Greece joins a broader European effort to implement the directive ahead of the EU's enforcement deadline, with the April 6 talks expected to shape the final contours of the bill.

   iefimerida.gr
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it has stepped back from the brink of a deep internal crisis, with camps loyal to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike opening peace talks to steady the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

For months, tensions had been building, spilling into courtrooms, public exchanges and quiet power plays, raising real fears about the partys unity and its readiness for the next election cycle.

Now, under mounting pressure, both sides appear to be recalibrating, choosing dialogue over a damaging standoff.

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Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, factional PDP National Chairman Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, said the partys National Working Committee (NWC), aligned with the Makinde camp, had taken the first steps to ease tensions and reopen communication, following the intervention of the Board of Trustees led by Senator Adolphus Wabara.

In obedience to the advisory of the Court of Appeal, Ibadan, the Board of Trustees constituted a high-powered committee to interface with our estranged party members, Turaki said.

As an initial show of good faith, the NWC postponed key meetings of the National Executive Committee and National Caucus and toned down its public messaging. But the party said it did not get the same response in return, pointing instead to weaponisation of hurtful rhetoric and derogatory statements.

Still, Turaki said a shift has now occurred.

I can unequivocally confirm that, as of today, leaders on both sides have broken the ice and are exploring various pathways towards a lasting resolution, he said.

He appealed directly to supporters nationwide to lower tensions, warning that careless words or actions could undo the fragile progress.

Even with talks underway, the legal fight is far from over. Cases remain active in several courts, including the Court of Appeal, a reminder of how deep the divisions run. Still, the party signalled it is ready to abandon that route entirely if a political deal is reached.

As soon as we reach agreeable terms, we will willingly withdraw all cases, whether at the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, or elsewhere, to give peace a chance, he said.

Turaki also moved to reassure anxious aspirants, many of whom have been watching the crisis unfold with growing concern.

To all aspirants who have stood with us thus far, we assure you that our party will field candidates for all elective offices, he said.

Turaki made it clear that compromise will be unavoidable and that the party is prepared to go the distance to hold itself together.

We are willing to bend as far as our necks and backs allow PDP will not die, he said.

He also hinted at internal resistance to the peace process, suggesting that some individuals had been working against reconciliation from within, but said those issues are now being confronted.

From last night, these two elements have been identified and flushed out, he said.

Beyond the immediate crisis, the PDP used the moment to restate its place in Nigerias political landscape, positioning itself as a central opposition force with a duty to hold government accountable.

As Nigerias only surviving legacy party, we remain committed to defending and consolidating our democracy, he said.

He also sent a broader message to those in power, stressing that leadership must reflect the will of the people.

Ultimate power resides with the people; it must therefore remain the centrepiece of governance, he said.

In a show of internal alignment, the Turaki-led NWC passed a vote of confidence on Governors Seyi Makinde and Bala Mohammed, praising their roles during the crisis.

The party also thanked Nigerians who continue to register through its online platform, saying support remains steady despite recent turbulence.

With both camps now talking and signalling a willingness to compromise, the focus shifts to what comes next: whether this fragile opening leads to a lasting truce or whether the cracks widen again as the road to 2027 narrows.
The Federal High Court, Abuja Division, has thrown out the cyberbullying lawsuit against publisher and politician Omoyele Sowore.

The police had charged Mr Sowore with cyberbullying former IGP Kayode Egbetokun.

On Tuesday, the court dismissed the case and released Mr Sowores passport after striking out the cybercrime charges levelled against the Sahara Reporters publisher over some of his social media posts that were critical of the erstwhile IGP.

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The charges were based on Mr Sowores comments describing Mr Egbetokun as an illegal IGP over his elongated tenure in office beyond retirement age.

Justice Musa Liman, on Tuesday, held that the prosecution failed to diligently pursue the case since the defendants arraignment in January.

Last week, the prosecution team sought an adjournment to replace its lead counsel, but the defence team opposed the request and urged the court to dismiss the case.

Mr Liman upheld the objection and struck out the charge on Tuesday for lack of diligent prosecution.

During proceedings on Tuesday, the police prosecutor applied to re-list the case but ended up withdrawing the motion in open court after a counter-argument by Mr Sowores lawyer, Abubakar Marshall.

Following the withdrawal of the re-listing application, the court struck out the motion. Mr Sowores passport, which was seized from him as part of his bail conditions following his arraignment in 2025, was released to his lawyers.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, alongside one Joel Adoga, before Honourable Justice A.I. Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Kaduna Division, over alleged corruption-related offences.

The defendants were docked on a 10-count charge bordering on abuse of office, money laundering, and fraud.

According to the charge sheet marked FHC/KD/73/2026, the former governor is accused of unlawfully receiving multiple sums of money in naira and foreign currencies while serving as a public officer.

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Specifically, the Commission alleged that El-Rufai, in September 2020 and January 2023, received the sum of N289,826,998.12 on each occasion as severance allowance, far exceeding the legally entitled sum of N20,013,245.00, being 300 percent of his annual basic salary.

The charge further revealed that between 2016 and 2023, the former governor allegedly took control of various sums in United States Dollars through his domiciliary account with Guaranty Trust Bank.

These include $320,800 allegedly paid in tranches by Joel Adoga, as well as other deposits amounting to $155,800, $305,300, and several smaller sums from different individuals, all reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

Joel Adoga was also accused of conspiring with the former governor in July 2019 to disguise the origin of $10,000 deposited into the said account.

One of the counts reads that both defendants, in July 2019 at Wuse, Abuja, allegedly conspired to disguise the origin of $10,000 paid into the former governors domiciliary account, knowing or reasonably ought to have known that the funds formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity, contrary to and punishable under relevant provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

When the charges were read, both defendants pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Following their pleas, Justice Aikawa adjourned the matter to March 31, 2026, for further hearing and ordered that the defendants be remanded in ICPC custody pending the next adjourned date.

The Commission reiterates its commitment to ensuring accountability and upholding integrity in public office and urges members of the public to continue supporting the fight against corruption.

https://x.com/i/status/2036839650812129609
The Niger State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a 38-year-old man, Hamisu Abdullahi, for allegedly shouting no water, no light during Governor Mohammed Umaru Bagos visit to the Emir of Suleja after the Eid-el-Fitr prayers last Friday.

The police spokesperson in the state, SP Wasiu Abiodun, who confirmed the incident to Daily Trust, said the suspect was arrested for attempting to disrupt government activities during the governors Sallah visit.

One Hamisu Abdullahi, 38, of Suleja, was arrested and transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Minna, on March 20, 2026, for suspected thuggery and attempting to disrupt government activities during the Sallah visit, he said.

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However, he was later granted bail while investigation continues.

The suspects brother, Haruna Abdullahi, confirmed that he was released on bail on Tuesday evening after spending five days in detention.

Hamisu, an electrician and father of four who resides in Unguwan Bayi, Suleja, was reportedly arrested after shouting the phrase at the emirs palace during the governors visit.
Taiwan question brooks no external interference, U.S. should act prudently: mainland spokesperson

Xinhua) 14:27, March 25, 2026

BEIJING, March 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday reiterated that resolving the Taiwan question is an inevitable requirement for China's national rejuvenation and a matter for the Chinese people themselves, which brooks no external interference.

Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks at a regular press conference in response to a media inquiry about a recent U.S. intelligence community report that said China views reunification as an important condition for achieving national rejuvenation by 2049.

"The U.S. side should abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, and act prudently on the Taiwan question," she said.

Zhu said that peaceful reunification and "one country, two systems" are the basic policies for resolving the Taiwan question.

The mainland is willing to create broad space for peaceful reunification and strive for that prospect with the utmost sincerity and greatest efforts, but will never allow any violation of national sovereignty and territorial integrity, nor will it commit to renouncing the use of force, Zhu added. "We reserve the option of taking all necessary measures."

Zhu also noted that the collusion of the Democratic Progressive Party authorities with external forces in seeking "Taiwan independence" is the root cause of the current complex situation across the Taiwan Strait.

"We will never tolerate or condone this," the spokesperson said, adding that China is confident and capable of thwarting any attempts at "Taiwan independence" and advancing national reunification.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
A UK court has sentenced 24-year-old Chukwuemeka Ahanonu to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years and six months for the murder of Nila Patel in Leicester.

The attack happened on June 24, 2025, after Ahanonus car overturned near Leicester Royal Infirmary. Patel, a 56-year-old mother of two, had just gotten off a bus and was walking home when she was violently assaulted.

She died two days later from severe brain injuries. Ahanonu, who denied murder but admitted manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility, was found guilty by a jury after a month-long trial.

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Sentencing him, Judge Timothy Spencer KC described the killing as shocking, brutal and merciless, ruling that the victim was deliberately targeted for her vulnerability.

The court also heard evidence suggesting racial hostility played a role. In emotional statements, Patels children described their grief, calling her the heart of the family and saying her loss has shattered their lives.

The court heard Ahanonu had been driving dangerously before the crash and later tested above the legal cannabis limit. He was also involved in drug dealing and had been released from prison just a year earlier.

He had already pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, drug offences, and assaulting an officer. Police described the incident as a horrific and random attack on an innocent woman.
The late Warren Weiner (second from right) was an owner of Deb Shops, a Philadelphia-based chain of more than 300 young women's clothing stores. He is shown here in 2010 with his wife, Penny Weiner (second from left) and daughter, Robyn Carp (far left), and Jack Lynch (far right), then-CEO of Lankenau Hospital. Read more

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Deb Shops, where teens in 42 states bought prom dresses, vanished in 2015. The private-equity owners that bought the chain from the Philadelphia families who had made it a national name blamed old, tired stores and styles.

But the chains legacy is very much alive. The fortune built by one of the former owners, the late Warren Weiner, has grown with other investments to more than $200 million  an amount worth fighting for, family members have shown.

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After several years of disputes in Montgomery County Common Pleas and Orphans Courts, a lawsuit filed last week by Weiners daughter, Kimberly Block, against her mother, Penny Weiner, has made the family fight a federal case.

In 2007, Weiner and his business partner, Marvin Rounick, whose fathers ran the chain together before them, sold the publicly traded Deb Shops chain of more than 300 stores to private equity owners. With the families paid off, the investors boosted Debs debt, ran the company through two bankruptcies and shut the shops in 2015.

Weiner died in 2012. He had arranged for his wife, daughters Block and Robyn Carp, and a small group of family advisers to administer his fortune. They were to divide the remainder between the daughters when Penny Weiner dies.

The complex arrangements included a series of trust accounts, a group of trustees including the family trio to oversee the money, regular payments by the daughters to their mother that would reduce taxes on Weiners legacy, and a $44 million insurance policy designed to cover tax payments on the daughters own inheritances when Penny Weiner dies.

After Warren Weiners death, relations deteriorated between Block, her mother, and her sister. Block, who lives in South Carolina, has come to question the way the legacy has been handled. Penny Weiner and Carp still live on the Main Line.

On March 19, lawyers for Block filed a federal complaint in Philadelphia accusing her mother of trying to remove Block as an heir, transferring money from family accounts without proper permission, and threatening the daughters with much higher taxes.

This escalation into a federal civil complaint is the latest desperate attempt in a long-running family dispute that has been litigated for years across multiple courts with no judge so far ruling in Blocks favor, said Karl Prior, a lawyer for Weiner.

Blocks lawyer, Alan Frank, said: The complaint sets forth what we believe to be valid claims.

Among previous legal actions, Weiner filed suit in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court in 2021, accusing Block of breaches of contract. She alleged her daughter reneged on more than $4 million of the payments promised under an arrangement that was designed to reduce gift tax obligations Weiner faced after her husbands death.

According to court documents, Weiner, Block, and Carp agreed at a family meeting after their fathers death that the daughters would make those payments, totaling more than $8 million, over the next several years.

Block quit as a trustee of the family trust overseeing a large part of her fathers assets in 2015. She wrote in a letter to the trusts lawyer that she had been outvoted in her attempts to participate more in investment decisions and to set up checks and balances to deal with the inherent conflicts of interest in having her mother run a trust from which she also drew income.

In 2019, Block stopped making some of the agreed payments. In 2021, her mother asked a judge in Montgomery County Orphans Court to review the agreement. Carp, Blocks sister, separately asked that court to force her sister to continue making payments.

In 2022, Orphans Court Judge Lois E. Murphy declared the agreement was valid and enforceable and directed Block to pay.

In the new federal lawsuit, Block again challenges the payments. She argues that the arrangement was set up by her mother and her mothers advisers as part of an illegal plan that was not at first made clear to her.

Block also alleges that Weiner has blocked her from receiving other payments she was entitled to. And she alleges her mother had been preparing to remove Block as a beneficiary of the family trust, threatening her half of the legacy.

Blocks suit alleges her mother exercised secret control over the trust, made use of some of her late husbands funds without notifying other trustees, wrongfully approved federal tax documents, and ordered fund transfers, asset sales, and loans to accounts she controlled without proper permission. She also cited concern about premium payments for the $44 million insurance policy.

In making the allegations, the federal lawsuit cites testimony by an outside trustee, Robert Shein, along with voluminous records from bankers at Credit Suisse and JPMorgan, and from accounting firm Baker Tilly.

Block asks the court for a declaratory judgment that would affirm her right to half the assets set aside in the family trust; to require Weiner to ensure the tax insurance premiums are well funded; and to pay more than $3.5 million she says may be lost to the trust through unauthorized asset sales and other payments, plus interest, lost income, and other sums.

Prior, Weiners lawyer, called the complaint a one-sided and incomplete account of complex estate, fiduciary, and governance matters that have already been addressed in state courts. Weiner acted in good faith, guided by legal, financial, and tax professionals and strongly disputes the allegations, the lawyer said.
Alhassane Sow, a DoorDash delivery worker, is heading out for a delivery outside of Pats Pizza & Pasta in Philadelphia. Read more

Listen to article  0:00 min

DoorDash deliveries are increasingly being made on bikes across the country  and in Philadelphia thats no exception.

The companys Philadelphia delivery workers traveled roughly 14.5 million miles by bike last year, according to a recent DoorDash report.

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Deliveries made on two wheels accounted for 43% of Philadelphia orders last year, said company spokesperson, Eli Scheinholtz. Thats up from 35% in 2024.

There were nearly 100,000 DoorDash delivery workers in Philadelphia in 2025, and over 8 million across the company as of 2024.

As independent contractors, these workers choose how much work they take on, said Scheinholtz, adding that on average each spends less than four hours a week doing deliveries.

It makes sense that bike delivery is growing, said Max Rettig, DoorDashs global head of public policy.

Dashers can move throughout cities more smoothly, merchants can get orders out the door more efficiently, and theres less pressure on crowded streets, said Rettig in a statement. Two-wheeled devices are continuing to become a practical, everyday part of how local commerce works.

 READ MORE: Phillys gig economy runs on immigrant workers. Now that labor pool is shrinking amid tougher ICE enforcement.

The number of DoorDash bike deliveries grew almost four times as fast as those done in a vehicle in the last year, the recent report said. The share of DoorDash deliveries by bike in the U.S. and Canada has increased threefold from 2022 to 2025.

Opting for two wheels also seems to come with a payoff.

Delivery workers who use a bike earn over 10% more on average per hour than those who use a car, the report indicates, attributing this in part to time drivers spent on parking.

In some U.S. cities, bike deliveries are so popular that they make up the largest share of business. 72% of DoorDash deliveries are made on a bike in San Francisco, 66% in Seattle, and 55% in New York City.

DoorDash allows customers to order takeout from restaurants for delivery straight to their door, but the platform also offers items for delivery from grocery stores and select retailers such as Staples, Five Below, and Sephora.

 READ MORE: No car, no problem: Philly is one of the best U.S. cities to live in without a personal vehicle

DoorDash offers incentives to deliver by bike.

In 2025, the delivery platform partnered with Whizz, an e-bike rental company that had recently moved into Philadelphia. An e-bike can cost a couple thousand dollars, but Whizz rents out to gig workers. Through the partnership, DoorDash workers can get discounts on the rental price if they complete a certain number of deliveries within a month.

 READ MORE: E-bikes have evolved into e-motorcycles. Law enforcement is lagging behind.

Renting an e-bike with Whizz typically costs between $159 to $199 a month, and rental payments can be put toward purchasing the bike over time, according to the company website.

Amid rising gas prices, DoorDash is also offering $5-$15 per week to delivery workers who drive at least 125 miles a week, with the amount increasing depending on how far they travel, the company announced this week.
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D., Oregon) launched an investigation into the nation's two largest for-profit childcare providers. Read more

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A Democratic senator launched an investigation Monday into the nations two largest for-profit childcare providers, as rising childcare prices squeeze voters already concerned about the cost of living.

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D., Oregon) sent letters to KinderCare Learning Cos. and Learning Care Group and their private equity owners requesting financial records and information on their ownership structure, cost and pricing trends, safety protocols, and employment practices.

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Merkley wrote in the letters that each companys market influence and substantial use of public subsidies carry a clear responsibility to ensure that financial and management decisions do not come at the expense of child safety or access to affordable child care, according to the letters reviewed by the Washington Post.

In the inquiry, Merkley raised concerns that childcare providers funded by private equity have an incentive to maximize profits by paying workers less, raising tuition, and investing in higher-income and high-population centers. He cited studies indicating that for-profit childcare centers are more likely to experience staffing and operational problems and listed alleged safety and labor issues at facilities owned by each company.

In a statement to the Post, Merkley said he hopes to examine private equitys role in childcare and its effect on children and families.

"Weve all seen the reports of private equitys often negative influence in other sectors, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and single-family homes. I hope to better understand if that trend is continuing in the child care sector," said Merkley, who is the top Democrat on the Senate Budget Committee.

Congressional investigations are not intended to prove criminal guilt or civil liability, but they do inform potential policymaking. They can sometimes lead to congressional hearings and more public inquiries.

Both companies said in statements that they take their responsibility to children and families seriously.

Every decision we make is grounded in providing safe, high-quality care and being a good place to work for our teachers, Learning Care CEO John Bork said in a statement. We believe thoughtful, long-term investment supports that mission, and we welcome the opportunity to work with policymakers to strengthen the system for families and educators.

KinderCare said in a statement that its mission is simple and unwavering: to support working families and to provide a safe, nurturing, high quality learning environment so their children can thrive.

Advocates for the funding model argue that existing federal programs dont adequately support most families childcare needs, and that private equity can provide needed resources to make childcare available in a challenging industry.

KinderCare said the federal government provides less than $250 in childcare funding per child, while the cost of quality care continues to rise.

Radha Mohan, executive director of the Early Care and Education Consortium, said in a statement that U.S. childcare is chronically underfunded and that all kinds of childcare providers struggle with staffing and rising costs.

Federal and state funding falls far below the true cost of quality in nearly every state. Yet companies like KinderCare and Learning Care invest in accreditation and other external markers of quality, serve subsidized children at scale, and provide employee benefits and training despite reimbursement rates that dont cover the cost of a qualified workforce, he said.

Mohan added that any solution must start with fixing the financing of the system itself.

The cost of childcare routinely ranks as one of the biggest concerns for Americans worried about the cost of living. The cost of daycare is higher than in-state college tuition and fees in dozens of states, according to the advocacy group Zero to Three.

Private equity has made investments in eight of the nations 10 largest for-profit childcare organizations, according to a 2024 report from the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service.

That report found that private equity could help the childcare industry by increasing competition and expanding availability. But it added that the private equity business model of profit maximization could lead to higher childcare costs and lower quality of care.

KinderCare reported $2.7 billion in revenue in 2025 and served nearly 215,000 children across 40 states as of early January, according to its latest SEC filing. In 2023, Learning Care Group centers served more than 165,000 children and reported $1.5 billion in revenue, according to Merkley.

Merkley wrote in the letters that each companys market influence and substantial use of state and federal childcare subsidies carry a clear responsibility to ensure that financial and management decisions do not come at the expense of child safety or access to affordable child care.

One in five families reported cutting back on childcare coverage or restoring to inadequate childcare because they did not have other affordable options, according to research from Columbia University published in January.
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A Brookhaven man who once worked for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services pleaded guilty Monday to soliciting a bribe from a purported immigrant while making false promises about what could be done to help the man remain in the country.

Amara Dukuly  who was arrested by federal authorities last year  said little as he pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of receiving a bribe as a public official.

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Prosecutors said in court documents that Dukuly, 42, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Liberia, had for years been accused by immigrants of approaching them and requesting cash in exchange for promises of providing assistance with their immigration cases.

In reality, prosecutors said, Dukuly had no power to take any action in peoples cases, and he often did nothing after receiving his payments, which he instead kept for himself.

The Department of Homeland Security had been investigating Dukulys alleged misconduct since 2017, prosecutors said, and in 2025, he was secretly recorded accepting $6,000 from a confidential informant posing as a Tajikistani immigrant seeking admission to the United States.

The charges against Dukuly relate solely to that incident, prosecutors said, during which Dukuly said he could help the man have a terrorist designation removed from his record.

Theyre going to make it clean then youre going to go through the regular process, Dukuly said, according to court documents.

Dukuly is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John Milton Younge in July.
Erik Dixon (#3) and Luke Higgins (#4) were among a group of Pagans bikers who encountered members of a rival motorcycle club outside of a Wawa last fall, according to prosecutors. Read more

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Criminal charges filed against two members of the Pagans outlaw motorcycle club accused of provoking a shootout that injured six people last fall have been dismissed, officials said Wednesday.

Erik Dixon, 33, and Luke Higgins, 29, were charged in October with aggravated assault, conspiracy and related crimes for the attack, which police say took place as the Pagans targeted a rival club outside of a Wawa in West Norriton.

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They were among nine Pagans implicated in the Oct. 17 encounter with the Unknown Bikers outlaw club, during which two bystanders were shot.

In a ruling handed down late Tuesday, Montgomery County Court Judge Risa Ferman dismissed the charges against the two without prejudice after their attorneys argued there was no evidence that they attacked anyone during the encounter. The two men, according to court filings, were riding with the group when the gunfire erupted.

Dixon fled the scene, leaving his motorcycle behind. Higgins drove away afterward and was arrested by Norristown Police.

Prosecutors declined to comment on the case, nor say whether they would refile the charges.

Dixons attorney, Abraham Hopson III, said Wednesday that he was pleased with Fermans decision. His client, he said, was simply at the wrong place at the wrong time.

It was just a coincidence that the Pagans ran into the other club at the Wawa, Hopson said. [Dixon] thought they were going to get some gas, and then drive out to Bethlehem Pike to drink some beers and dance with girls.

Thats what he signed up for.

Higgins attorney, Richard Fuschino Jr., similarly said his client has always maintained his innocence. The case, he said, was taken too far by prosecutors who feared the nature of outlaw motorcycle clubs.

He admits to being a witness to this and admits to being there, and he has admitted that from get-go, Fuschino said. He cannot say what is untrue, which is that he was there to commit a crime. That is not what the evidence bears out, and that his not what happened.

After pulling into the Wawa on Main Street, the Pagans encircled the Unknown Bikers and began assaulting them, according to the affidavit of probable cause for their arrest. The group, prosecutors said, were after the cuts of the rival gang members, their denim vests bearing the club logo.

In the world of outlaw clubs, a bikers cut is sacred and, therefore, a trophy sought by his rivals.

During the melee, the Unknown Bikers opened fire on the Pagans with two 9mm handguns in what prosecutors described as an act of self-defense.

Four of the Pagans were injured in the gunfire. Nearby, a man filling his tires with air was shot in the face as he dived for cover, and a woman smoking a cigarette outside the store was shot in the right side.

Another member of the Pagans charged in the shooting, Jason Lawless, pleaded guilty Monday to simple assault and conspiracy. He was sentenced to 145 days to 23 months in county jail.

The six other members of the club are scheduled to go to trial in May before Ferman.
A Medstar ambulance is towed from the scene at Torresdale and Harbison Avenues in Frankford early Sunday morning Mar. 15 2026. An infant was killed earlier when the ambulance sped through a red light and crashed into a car, police said. Read more

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The man who police say crashed a private ambulance while rushing his infant granddaughter to the hospital earlier this month, fatally wounding her and severely injuring her mother, had been accused of careless and negligent driving in four lawsuits since 2010, and in each case settled the claims, court records show.

In suits filed in Common Pleas Court in Philadelphia, four people said Robert Coleman struck their vehicles while they were parked or stopped at traffic lights, causing them injuries ranging from back sprain to muscle trauma. In all of the crashes, Coleman was driving an ambulance, the suits said.

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Coleman, who was certified to operate emergency vehicles, denied wrongdoing in all of the cases, records show, before he and the companies he worked for settled the lawsuits.

In the most recent crash, police said, Coleman was taking his two-month-old granddaughter, Marian Harris, to the hospital after she became unresponsive inside their Frankford house early on March 15. He sped through a red light at the intersection of Torresdale and Harbison Avenues and collided with a sedan, police said. The baby and her mother, who were in the front passenger seat, were thrown through the windshield, according to police.

The infant was pronounced dead soon after, and her 32-year-old mother was critically injured but has since been released from the hospital.

Coleman, who police said had been drinking before the crash, had not activated the vehicles emergency lights or siren, they said. He has not been charged in connection with the incident, which remains under investigation by the district attorneys office.

Coleman, 51, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Efforts to reach family members were unsuccessful.

The lawsuits filed in connection with earlier crashes accuse Coleman of careless driving or negligence while operating an ambulance and also name the companies for which he worked: Advanced Life Support Ambulance, Ambulance Express, and Art of Life.

One of the suits settled for $80,000 in 2013, court records show. In another, settled in 2021, the person who sued Coleman had asked for less than $50,000. Court records do not disclose the amount paid to bring that case or the other matters to a close. All cases settled without admission of wrongdoing.

In 2010, a Langhorne man said Coleman, driving an Art of Life ambulance without its lights or sirens on, carelessly and negligently rear-ended his pickup truck  twice  while the truck was stopped at a red light on Verree Road. Louis Sigmund was thrown forward, violently striking his head, causing post-concussion syndrome and injuries that included lumbar and spine sprains, and knee pain, the suit said.

In a 2011 deposition, Coleman acknowledged hitting the truck but denied that the vehicle was stopped at a red light at the time. He said he was transporting a woman for dialysis.

As for driving without lights or sirens on, Coleman said hed been trained to reserve those for an emergency. Pretty much when we have our lights and sirens on is because we have a patient on board because we have an emergency, he said. Patient is pretty much dying, and we have to get to the hospital faster.

An attorney for the ambulance company said in a recent interview that he could not recall the lawsuit or a second suit against Coleman and the company that was filed the same year.

Sigmunds attorney, John Dooley, said, Ive been a lawyer for over 30 years, and I dont remember having another case where someone rear-ends someone, then hits them again.

Sigmund, he said, died in 2024.

In the second lawsuit filed in 2010, a Philadelphia woman contended that Coleman, driving an Art of Life ambulance, struck the rear of her sedan while she was stopped at the intersection of Cheltenham Avenue and Washington Lane. Carmella Armstrong said she suffered sprains and strains to her right trapezius and midback, head pain, and muscle injury.

Coleman denied wrongdoing in the case, which settled later that year for an undisclosed sum.

In a lawsuit filed in 2015, a Philadelphia woman said she was driving south on Route 1 when Coleman, driving an Advanced Life Support Ambulance, hit her from behind. Nadirah Coleman said she suffered injuries that included whiplash, hyperextension, right shoulder sprain, and nervous shock.

Efforts to reach Nadirah Coleman and her attorney were unsuccessful, as were attempts to reach attorneys for the ambulance company.

In court papers, Coleman and the ambulance company denied the allegations in the suit, which settled in 2016 for an undisclosed sum.

In 2018, a Philadelphia man filed a lawsuit contending that Coleman, driving an emergency vehicle for Ambulance Express, rear-ended his pickup truck as he sat inside the vehicle, which was parked along 55th Street near Christian Street. Barry Henry said he sustained injuries to his back, shoulder, knee, and head.

Reached by phone, Henry declined to comment.

In court documents, Coleman and Ambulance Express denied the allegations of Henrys suit, which settled for an undisclosed sum in 2021.

In this months fatal crash, authorities continue to investigate. Coleman has not been charged in the wreck. The babys cause of death has not been determined, according to the medical examiners office.

Staff writers Ellie Rushing and Abraham Gutman contributed to this article.
Fred Johnson is set to begin his eighth season in the NFL, and fourth with the Eagles. Read more

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The Eagles are bringing back their swing tackle, signing Fred Johnson to a one-year deal, a league source confirmed to The Inquirer on Tuesday.

Johnson, who turns 29 in June, is set to return for a fourth season with the Eagles, providing insurance at tackle behind Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata. Over the last two seasons, Johnson has started 14 games, totaling 1,107 offensive snaps in that span.

The 6-foot-7, 326-pound tackle has appeared in all 51 regular-season games and six playoff games over his three years with the Eagles. He began his career in 2019 as an undrafted free agent out of Florida, spending time with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2019), Cincinnati Bengals (2019-21), and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2022). Johnson signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars after his 2024 season with the Eagles but was traded back to Philadelphia toward the end of training camp.

In addition to Johnson and starting tackles Lane Johnson and Mailata, the offensive tackle corps includes 2025 draft picks Myles Hinton and Cam Williams along with Hollin Pierce, and John Ojukwu.

The Eagles could still add a high-end offensive tackle through the draft as a potential right tackle heir to Lane Johnson beyond the 2026 season.
Lancaster Country Day School is seen in this undated photo in Lancaster, Penn. (Blaine Shahan/LancasterOnline via AP) Read more

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Two 16-year-old boys in Lancaster County will each serve six months of probation and pay $12,000 in restitution after using artificial intelligence to create hundreds of nude images of female classmates at Lancaster Country Day School.

The boys, who manipulated images of the girls from Instagram and elsewhere to make them appear nude, were ordered Wednesday by Lancaster County President Judge Leonard G. Brown III to also perform 60 hours of community service, according to the state attorney generals office. They are prohibited from having contact with the victims.

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Many victims and their families articulated in court today their feelings of anxiety, depression, and devastation related to this conduct, Attorney General Dave Sunday said in a statement Wednesday. This type of weaponization of technology is affecting the mental wellness of students across the Commonwealth and country.

 READ MORE: Radnor and Council Rock students made AI deepfakes of classmates. Parents say the schools failed to protect their daughters.

The juvenile court disposition comes as schools and law enforcement are increasingly grappling with how to respond to kids using AI to produce so-called deepfakes. Parents in the Radnor and Council Rock school districts have voiced frustration with how their schools handled recent incidents.

In Radnor  where parents earlier this month asked Gov. Josh Shapiro to create statewide standards for schools responding to deepfakes  a juvenile was charged in January with harassment after an investigation into alleged AI-generated sexualized images. In the Council Rock district, two juveniles were charged last year with unlawful dissemination of sexually explicit material by a minor.

Law enforcement officials have declined to comment on those cases, citing confidentiality of juvenile court proceedings.

In Lancaster County, however, recent court proceedings were open to the public, because the boys admitted to charges  59 counts of sexual abuse of children  that would have been felonies in adult settings, according to the attorney generals office, which prosecuted the case. Pennsylvania enacted a law in 2024 defining explicit AI-generated images of minors as child sexual abuse material.

The legal system is catching up to technology, Nadeem Bezar, a lawyer with Kline and Specter representing more than 10 of the victims, said Wednesday. Were not just seeing this as no big deal, or something a bunch of people created on the internet.

The boys shared the images with each other on Discord, an online messaging platform, according to prosecutors. In November 2023, prosecutors said, one of the boys inadvertently shared an image with other students at the school.

That prompted a tip to Safe2Say, Pennsylvanias anonymous tip line for school safety concerns, according to prosecutors. While Lancaster Country Day School was alerted to the tip, it didnt contact police.

Prosecutors said that failure to report wasnt criminal, but parents sued the school, alleging it enabled the abuse. The boys continued to create images until May 2024.

Bezar said the victims have been working their entire educational career at doing something well ... and now all of a sudden, because of the acts of these two boys and the failures of the school, these young women are all struggling in their own way.

Legislation that passed the state Senate in November would require school staff and other mandated reporters to report AI-generated explicit images of minors as child abuse. Its now pending in the House.
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Lincoln University has withdrawn plans to issue an honorary degree to the president of Ghana, citing concerns about so-called anti-gay legislation before the countrys parliament, according to reports in Ghana media.

It is ... both surprising and regrettable that, just hours ago, the Embassy received a communication from the University indicating that concerns had been raised by a group regarding President [John Dramani] Mahamas perceived position on Ghanas Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, according to a statement from the Embassy of Ghana in the United States, as reported by news outlets in Ghana.

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The bill, first passed by parliament in 2024, was not signed into law by Mahamas predecessor, but is now back before parliament again and could come before him. The bill, as previously passed, would have imposed jail terms on people who identify as LGBTQ or engage in organizing gay advocacy groups, according to The New York Times, which said it was among a wave of anti-gay legislation in African countries.

Mahama, who became president of Ghana last year, is expected to visit Philadelphia on Thursday and make a number of stops. Others planned included a visit to Temple University, the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, and a Ghana-focused pop-up opening at Browns ShopRite, according to Fun Times magazine.

Temple University, which also is hosting the president for an event but is not awarding an honorary degree, said it will go forward with the visit.

As a public university, Temple regularly provides space for speakers as part of our ongoing commitment to academic inquiry, open dialogue and public service, Temple said in a statement, while calling the anti-LGBTQ bill deeply troubling and saying it runs counter to the universitys mission and values.

Temples decision has brought a backlash from LGBTQ groups, elected officials, and others. A group of elected officials and advocates wrote a letter Wednesday expressing concern. Officials from ACT UP Philadelphia, AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania, the Mazzoni Center, and William Way LGBT Community Center signed the letter, as did State Reps. Andre Carroll and Malcolm Kenyatta and City Councilmember Rue Landau.

This is not an abstract policy discussion. It is about the safety, dignity, and survival of LGBTQ people globally, they wrote. Hosting this dialogue without intentional accountability risks legitimizing rhetoric and policies that endanger lives. To proceed with this event without addressing these concerns would signal a troubling disconnect between stated institutional values and actual practice.

Mahamas visit to Philadelphia is part of a larger itinerary for a visit to the United States. The president on Wednesday plans to address the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Lincoln declined to comment on the specific reasons for the cancellation of the honorary degree.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the university is canceling the visit, Athena Griffith-Howard, a university spokesperson, told The Inquirer in a statement.

Lincoln is the alma mater of Ghanas first president Kwame Nkrumah, and Lincoln has maintained ties to the country. The university had previously expressed excitement about Mahamas visit and was making preparations.

The Ghanaian embassy indicated Lincoln made its decision after hearing concerns from stakeholders.

While the embassy acknowledges Lincoln Universitys right to engage its internal stakeholders and uphold its institutional values, we note with concern that the issues now being raised relate to ongoing legislative processes within Ghana, which are subject to democratic deliberation and are not the unilateral position of any one individual, the statement reportedly said.

As for the visit to Temple, the university said the U.S.-Ghana Chamber of Commerce had invited the president to participate in a community event and asked if the university could provide a space.

The visit is scheduled to take place at Temples Performing Arts Center at 6 p.m. Thursday and feature discussion, cultural music, and performances.

We have made venues available for third-party organizations, including political parties or campaigns, regardless of their political viewpoint or stance, the school said. The presence of any speaker on campus is not an endorsement by Temple University of the speaker or their views.

The university also made clear its position on LGBTQ rights.

Temple University unequivocally opposes the exclusion of or discrimination against members of the LGBTQIA+ community, the school said. Temple takes pride in providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all students, faculty, staff, alumni, neighbors, and friends regardless of their race, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or identity.

But those who authored the letter of concern Wednesday said they received an invitation to the event that appeared to be supported by Temples Institutional Diversity, Equity, Advocacy, Leadership organization (IDEAL). They asked that the event include questions about the legislation.

These deadly policies should not go unquestioned or unchallenged, especially since this event is sponsored by IDEAL, which has a strong commitment to the BIPOC, LGBTQ and Ghanaian students at Temple, they wrote.

Tiffenia D. Archie, Temples associate vice president and chief inclusion officer, said in a letter to a member of the community that IDEAL stopped promoting the event as soon as it became aware of the controversy.

This decision reflects our commitment to ensuring that IDEALs programming aligns with the universitys values, Archie wrote in the letter, obtained by The Inquirer.
Carolyn J. Wukitch is the chief operating officer of Lyric.ai, a Newtown Square company that helps insurance companies process claims for 190 million people. Read more

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Carolyn J. Wukitch has a long view on how technology supports payments that are vital to U.S. healthcare.

For 35 years, Wukitch has worked at a Newtown Square company now called Lyric.ai that helps process insurance claims for 190 million Americans. Nine of the 10 biggest U.S. health insurers are customers. She started at the company in an era of mainframe computers and is now navigating the introduction of AI.

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Our core function hasnt changed, Wukitch said.

Currently Lyrics chief operating officer, she has been through four ownership changes at the company. Since its founding in the late 1980s, a series of ever-larger owners introduced increasingly broader mixes of healthcare services. This included a few years as part of Change Healthcare, before it became independent again in 2022.

I kind of feel like weve gone back to our roots, said Wukitch, who started in 1990 at what was then called Gabrieli Medical Information Systems Inc.

In her time there, the company has grown from 40 employees to more than 500. Were back to being solely focused on helping health plans pay claims accurately, she said.

In recent years, the company changed its name from ClaimsXten to Lyric after TPG Capital, a large private equity firm, bought it in 2022 for $2.2 billion. UnitedHealth Group sold the business to gain regulatory approval for its purchase of Change Healthcare.

TPG pushed a re-engineering of Lyrics core claims-editing system, made an acquisition that expanded Lyrics product offering for insurers, and added AI experts to Lyrics staff. In addition to offices in Newtown Square, Lyric has centers in the Philippines and India.

Wukitch spoke to The Inquirer last month about Lyrics history and the role it plays in U.S. healthcare in an interview edited for brevity and clarity.

What is Lyrics origin?

A pathologist originally from Hungary had a vision to be able to take a discharge summary from an inpatient stay, feed it into a computer, and get the right diagnosis codes. If you think about having that vision in the mid-80s, he was brilliant.

The technology leadership of the company when I joined in 1990 were people from Shared Medical Systems, which was the large hospital information systems company based in Malvern. [Shared Medical, started in 1969, has gone through a chain of owners since 2000, first Siemens, then Cerner, and now Oracle.]

Youve been through four ownership changes during your time at the company. Whats that like?

Our core function hasnt changed. Certainly, weve made advancements, and we now leverage AI and newer technologies. But in the end, our mission has been: How do we help a health plan pay a claim correctly, with automation, with speed and agility, with the ability to configure for their specific needs?

Why is it important to pay claims accurately?

Accurate payment benefits all healthcare stakeholders. If you pay a claim accurately, then youre serving the health plan. They have a fiduciary responsibility to pay the claim accurately. The provider is getting paid what they should get paid. As a member, youre only paying on what you should be paying.

So much friction in healthcare is around money, and if you are anchored to paying it accurately, it really serves all the stakeholders, the consumer, the provider, the purchaser, and then the plan.

Why is paying claims so complicated?

Theres thousands upon thousands of codes that describe procedures. Coding systems were set up more from a research perspective: I want to understand what happened to that particular patient. We then, in the American system, took those codes and used them for reimbursement.

So youve taken a system that was built for one thing, and now were using it for a different thing. And I would say most of what happens in healthcare is really just errors and mistakes based upon just the complexity of the number of codes.

Who are Lyric.ais customers?

We have about 100 clients, and 65% of them have been clients for more than 20 years. I dont take that for granted. They have options, but if they stay for this long, that means were delivering value and meeting their needs. But from a contractual perspective, we cant share names.

How is your company approaching the use of AI?

Every innovation requires us to understand: Hows the right way to use it, what are the right guardrails to put around it, and having the right expertise? Weve been really thoughtful about adding some really smart people around AI. I marry them up with the clinical team.

 READ MORE: At some Philly doctors offices, AI is listening in the exam room

Fundamentally, the job of AI is to make the work of clinicians  either nurses, or coders, or even pharmacists  easier. Instead of spending hours looking at a website to pull down data about the regulations for the state of California, as an example, the AI tool is helping synthesize that data and present it back to that coder to then think about, what do we put into the product?

Its really helped with job satisfaction. I have a team now that instead of spending their time doing things that took a lot of effort and research gets teed up to spend their time on the critical thinking part.
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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  Iran on Wednesday dismissed an American plan to pause the war in the Middle East and launched more attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab countries, including an assault that sparked a huge fire at Kuwait International Airport.

Irans defiance came as Israel launched airstrikes on Tehran and as the United States deployed paratroopers and more Marines to the region.

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Iranian state televisions English-language broadcaster quoted an anonymous official as saying Iran rejected Americas ceasefire proposal and has its own demands for an end to the fighting. Iran will end the war when it decides to do so and when its own conditions are met, Press TV, controlled by Iranian hard-liners, quoted the official as saying.

Earlier, two officials from Pakistan, which transmitted the U.S. plan to Iran, described the 15-point proposal broadly, saying it addressed sanctions relief, a rollback of Irans nuclear program, limits on missiles, and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the worlds oil is shipped.

An Egyptian official involved in the mediation efforts said the proposal also includes restrictions on Irans support for armed groups. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet released.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted the U.S. and Iran are in ongoing talks even as Iranian officials deny it. Talks continue. They are productive, as the president said on Monday, and they continue to be, Leavitt said at a White House briefing Wednesday.

Leavitt warned that if talks with Iran dont pan out, President Donald Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before.

Some of those points were nonstarters in negotiations before the war: Iran has insisted it will not discuss its ballistic missile program or its support of regional militias, which it views as key to its security. And its ability to control passage through the Strait of Hormuz represents one of its biggest strategic advantages.

Irans attacks on regional energy infrastructure along with its restrictions on the strait have sent oil prices skyrocketing, putting pressure on the U.S. to find a way to end the chokehold and calm markets.

More U.S. troops are on the way to the Middle East

At least 1,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division will be sent to the Mideast in the coming days, three people with knowledge of the plans told the Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military plans.

The paratroopers are trained to jump into hostile or contested areas to secure key territory and airfields.

The Pentagon is also in the process of sending about 5,000 more Marines, trained in amphibious assaults, and thousands of sailors to the region.

Diplomatic efforts face major challenges

Mediators are pushing for possible in-person talks between the Iranians and the Americans, perhaps as soon as Friday in Pakistan, the Egyptian and Pakistani officials said.

Trump has said that the U.S. is in negotiations right now and that the participants included special envoy Steve Witkoff, his son-in-law Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Vice President JD Vance. He has not disclosed which officials from Iran they are in contact with, but said the other side, I can tell you, theyd like to make a deal.

Press TV cited an Iranian five-point plan for a ceasefire coming from the official who rejected the U.S. proposal. That plan involved a halt to killings of its officials, means to make sure no other war is waged against it, reparations for the war, the end of hostilities, and Irans exercise of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.

Those measures, particularly reparations and its continued chokehold over the Strait of Hormuz, likely will be unacceptable to the White House.

While Iran and Oman both have territory in the strait, its narrow shipping channels are viewed as international waters through which all ships can travel.

Israeli officials, who have been advocating for Trump to continue the war against Iran, were surprised by the submission of a U.S. ceasefire plan, according to a person who was briefed on the contours of the proposal and was not authorized to speak publicly but spoke on condition of anonymity.

Any talks between the U.S. and Iran would face monumental challenges. It is not clear who in Irans government has the authority to negotiate  or would be willing to, as Israel has vowed to continue killing the countrys leaders.

Iran remains highly suspicious of the United States, which twice under the Trump administration has attacked during high-level diplomatic talks, including the Feb. 28 strikes that started the current war.

Israel launches new strikes on Iran  and also comes under attack

The Israeli military said Wednesday afternoon it had completed several waves of airstrikes in Tehran. The army also said that as part of its strikes a day earlier it targeted an Iranian submarine development center in Isfahan.

There have been some days when the bombings are so intense you cant do anything, a 26-year-old graduate student in Tehran said, adding his friends mostly stayed at home. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of security fears.

Missile alert sirens sounded multiple times in Israel as Iran and the Lebanon-based insurgent group Hezbollah launched attacks. Iran-backed Hezbollah has fired rockets into northern Israel around the clock since the war began, disrupting the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.

Iran also kept up the pressure on its Gulf Arab neighbors. Saudi Arabias defense ministry said it had destroyed at least eight drones in its oil-rich Eastern Province, and missile alert sirens sounded in Bahrain. Kuwait said that it shot down multiple drones but that one hit a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport.

Irans death toll has passed 1,500, its health ministry has said. Israel says 20 people have died in the war, including two soldiers in Lebanon. 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.

Authorities say nearly 1,100 people have died in Lebanon, where Israel has targeted Hezbollah. In Iraq, where Iranian-supported insurgent groups have also entered the conflict, 80 members of security forces have been killed, a top security adviser, Khalid al-Yaqoubi, said.

Energy prices fall back but remain high

The news of potential negotiations drove down the price of oil. Brent crude oil, the international standard, has neared $120 a barrel during the conflict but was trading around $100 Wednesday. It is still up around 35% from the start of the war.

Economists and leaders have warned of far-reaching effects if energy prices remain high  from rising prices on food and other basics to higher rates for mortgages and auto loans.

Iran has allowed a small number of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, but has said no ships from the U.S., Israel, or countries seen as linked to them can pass.
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Russian air defenses downed 389 incoming Ukrainian drones, Russias defense ministry said Wednesday, in what was the largest reported overnight attack on Russian regions and Crimea since Moscows forces invaded Ukraine more than four years ago.

The drones were stopped over 13 Russian regions as well as the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

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The attack underlined the growing capability of Ukraines domestically developed and manufactured long-range drones.

It came a day after Russia fired almost 1,000 drones and 34 missiles at civilian areas of Ukraine in the space of 24 hours, extending its usual nighttime barrage into daylight hours in one of its biggest aerial attacks of the war. At least six people were killed and about 50 people were injured, Ukrainian authorities said.

The United Nations cultural organization UNESCO said Wednesday it was deeply alarmed by Russia hitting a World Heritage site in the western Ukraine city of Lviv during that bombardment.

The escalation in aerial attacks comes amid a pause in U.S.-mediated talks between delegations from Moscow and Kyiv, as Washingtons attention is diverted by the Iran war and as Ukraine anticipates a spring offensive by Russias bigger army.

Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad region north of Moscow, said 56 drones were shot down there, and a fire broke out in the Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga as the result of Ukraines attack.

Ukrainian forces also carried out a missile strike on the Belgorod region along the border overnight, damaging energy infrastructure, regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said. Power, water, and heating supplies were disrupted, he said.

In Ukraine on Wednesday, Russian drones smashed into residential areas of the second-largest city, Kharkiv, during the afternoon, injuring at least nine people, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov.

The Ukrainian drone blitz caught public attention in the Baltic states, which lie northwest of Ukraine and relatively close to potential Russian targets in the Leningrad region, which includes St. Petersburg, where drones came down.

Officials in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, which have been close allies of Ukraine in the war, said the drones likely did not target them. Estonia and Latvia said the drones were Ukrainian, and Lithuania said the drone was a stray, without saying who launched it.

Estonian media reported that a drone coming from Russia clipped a power plants chimney early Wednesday but said electricity production was not disrupted. The plant is around 31 miles from the port of Ust-Luga that Ukraine targeted.

Also Wednesday, the Latvian defense ministry said a drone had crashed in a region close to Russia. No injuries or damage were reported.

In Moldova, on Ukraines southwest border, authorities on Tuesday urged citizens to spare electrical energy during peak hours, after Russian strikes on Ukraines energy grid cut a key power line between Moldova and Romania.
On March 25, 2026, New Jersey dedicated the opening of its first new fire tower in 78 years. The Veterans Fire Tower is located in Jackson Township, Ocean County. Read more

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Citing a rash of wildfires in recent years, New Jersey officials on Wednesday opened the states first fire tower in 78 years.

The increase in fires, they say, is attributed at least in part to climate change.

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The new structure in Ocean County, known as Veterans Tower, becomes part of a statewide network of 21 fire towers.

Located off East Veterans Highway in Jackson, it is 133 feet tall and designed to act as a sentinel for 516,000 residents and 200,000 homes across Ocean and Monmouth Counties.

John Cecil, assistant commissioner for state parks, forests, and historic sites, said in an announcement on the towers dedication that it is more important than ever to ensure we have eyes in the sky.

Cecil cited the effects of climate change, including an increase in the number of annual fire-prone weather days.

Peak wildfire season in New Jersey runs from mid-March through mid-May.

Recent wildfires

New Jersey has seen an uptick in wildfires in recent years, with some of the harshest in Ocean County.

In 2024, the Shotgun Fire started near a shooting range and burned 350 acres in the Pinelands near Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area in the area of Stump Tavern Road in Jackson Township. Six buildings had been threatened and evacuated.

And in 2025, an illegal bonfire ignited the states worst wildfire since at least 2012. The Jones Road Wildfire scorched 15,300 acres, destroyed a commercial building, vehicles, and some of the states prized Atlantic white cedar forests as it burned through areas dense with wildlife.

Pinpointing wildfire locations

The new tower is at the New Jersey Forest Services Forest Resource Education Center and State Tree Nursery in Jackson.

It replaces the former Lakewood Fire Tower, which was five miles east in Lakewood, Ocean County. A 100-year lease for that tower expired in 2024.

Bill Donnelly, chief of the state Forest Fire Service, said he started his career in a fire tower.

I know how critical the information relayed from fire observers is to crews on the ground when every second counts to save lives and property, Donnelly said.

He said the tower serves an area of the state with a significant amount of wildland-urban interface, which is where human development is intertwined with the forest.

The tower, built by Fitzpatrick & Associates Inc. of Eatontown for $2 million, was funded through the states Corporate Business Tax.

New Jerseys fire towers are staffed when forests are dry enough to burn. Trained observers take weather readings, scan the horizon for signs of smoke, and interpret smoke and fire behavior.

They work with other towers to triangulate and pinpoint locations of possible wildfires, and dispatch crews to investigate.

Tower observers are often able to detect fires before 911 calls begin.

According to the state Department of Environmental Protection, New Jersey has some of the most volatile forest fuels in the nation, particularly in the southern part of the state where shrub and tree types can fuel large and rapidly spreading fires.

Officials say that fuel is comparable to chaparral shrub lands found in California and southern Oregon.
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HARRISBURG  Members of the Pennsylvania House on Tuesday approved new regulations for data centers building in Pennsylvania, in the first effort by the state General Assembly to shape the booming market.

The Democratic-led House approved a bill with bipartisan support in a vote of 104-95 to require data centers to pay for any increased costs associated with their significant energy demands, as lawmakers try to stave off energy price increases for residents and small businesses.

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The bill now heads to the GOP-controlled Senate.

The proposal mandates a percentage of centers energy usage come from a renewable energy source, as well as requiring data center developers to contribute additional funds toward the states low-income energy assistance programs.

Data centers have become a flashpoint for residents across the Philadelphia region and state, as residents fear the negative impacts the massive energy users will have on the power grid, water access, and other environmental impacts. These concerns are underpinned by the states already high energy costs, as Pennsylvania and its neighbors desperately attempt to get more electric generation online to meet the regions energy needs in an artificial intelligence-economy.

This is one of the biggest topics of the moment. We hear about them from our constituents, we hear about them from our municipalities, said Rep. Rob Matzie (D., Allegheny), who authored the bill. This legislation started with a simple premise that nobodys electric bill should go up one cent if a data center comes to Pennsylvania.

Across Pennsylvania, data centers are already online without any state law regulating them. There are 56 active data centers in Pennsylvania and another 55 proposed to come online, according to the citizen-run Data Center Proposal Tracker. At least six of the proposed centers are pitched to be built in Philadelphias collar counties.

Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro created a fast-track permitting program in 2024 for major projects like data centers to get off the ground in the state. Since then, hes boasted major investments from Amazon, Microsoft and Google to support the AI economy, but has more recently emphasized that communities should have a say on their development.

Few states have enacted regulations for data centers, with many states deferring to their independent utility commissions, said Dan Diorio, the vice president for state policy at the Data Center Coalition, which is the industry association representing major data center developers like Google, Amazon and Microsoft.

The Data Center Coalition opposes House Bill 1834 because it singles out data centers and has extreme prescriptiveness on how that will disincentivize data center developers from wanting to build in Pennsylvania to meet the regions data needs, Diorio said.

The legislation was drafted  and amended twice  based on feedback from Pennsylvanias consumer advocate, the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project, and dozens of other stakeholders, said Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler (D., Philadelphia), during a committee meeting on the bill last month.

The legislation requires at least 10% of its energy usage comes from clean energy sources beginning in 2027. That requirement would increase to 14.5% by 2030 and to 32% by 2035.

Among the Data Center Coalitions largest objections is that the proposal would require data centers to curtail or stop their electric usage when needed, such as during heat waves or other times of high energy usage.

The internet cant shut off. We cant just shut it down and say, Sorry, you cant have access to this service. Thats not how it works, Diorio added.

The average American household has at least 17 devices connected to the internet, according to market research firm Parks Associates.

Most Republicans opposed the bill Tuesday, arguing that it would deter data centers from building in the state and did not offer any regulations for municipalities, which have become the battleground for data center proposals.

The proposal faces an uncertain future in the GOP-controlled Senate. Two Bucks County Republicans, Reps. Kathleen KC Tomlinson and Joe Hogan, voted in favor of the bill alongside Democrats. The two GOP lawmakers represent competitive parts of purple Bucks County and are facing reelection this year, as at least two data centers are proposed in the county.

While most GOP members opposed the bill, they agreed with Democrats that data center regulations will be a top issue for the General Assembly moving forward.

This is something that might be, if not the most important, one of the most important issues that we deal with in this legislative session, said House Minority Leader Jesse Topper (R., Bedford) on the floor Tuesday. I think we will have the ability to come together on a final product that will achieve our goals on protecting rate payers and also incentivizing investment.
President Donald Trump passes Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., as he departs after delivering the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. Read more

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When State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta lost a bitter U.S. Senate primary to then-Lt. Gov. John Fetterman in 2022, he immediately threw his support behind the Democratic nominee  vowing to campaign vigorously for Fetterman, who went onto win the general election as he was recovering from a stroke.

Fetterman returned the favor two years later. Endorsing Kenyatta for state auditor general, he wrote that Kenyatta knows the hardworking men and women of PA deserve a government that works for them.

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Now, after another two years, Kenyatta has joined a growing chorus of Pennsylvania Democrats who say Fetterman has not only abandoned those same constituents, but is actively doing the opposite of what he told them he would do in a divided Washington.

John promised that he was going to go to D.C. and be Democrats 51st vote. And instead hes gone to D.C. and is behaving like Donald Trumps f intern, Kenyatta told The Inquirer in an interview.

Fettermans willingness to break ranks and criticize his own party is not new. He has made repeated appeals to Trump and the Republican base since early last year, saying it is his job as a purple-state senator to work with, and not demonize, the other side.

But the senators recent support for the war in Iran  and his tiebreaking vote last week to advance Trumps nominee for Homeland Security secretary out of committee  have led Democrats to express more intense frustrations.

People worked so hard for Fetterman and he kicked them in the teeth. On to 2028 when we elect a real Dem, former U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, who represented the purple Lehigh Valley until her election loss in 2024, wrote on X after Fettermans decisive vote for U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R., Okla.) in the Senate Homeland Security Committee.

Mullin won full confirmation Monday evening. Fetterman was one of just two Democrats to support him in the 54-45 vote, which was made possible through the Pennsylvania senators support in the committee last week.

U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D., Chester)  after taking the rare step of asking her social media followers to call Fettermans office to urge him to oppose Mullin  said in a central Pennsylvania forum on Thursday that it was easier to work with Pennsylvania Republican U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick than with Fetterman.

He needs to go, U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D., Philadelphia), who is considered a potential candidate when Fettermans seat is on the ballot in 2028, added on social media. Boyle also repeated his common refrain that Fetterman is Trumps favorite Democrat, though he had not explicitly said before that Fetterman should not remain in his role.

Kenyatta  now a five-term state lawmaker representing North Philadelphia who also has a prominent role in charting the future of the party as vice chair of the Democratic National Committee  had not forcefully condemned Fetterman in other high-profile moments.

But he said he took particular issue with Fettermans cheerleading of the war in Iran, which Trump started without congressional approval or public support.

Fettermans comments during a Fox News interview on Saturday that the Democratic Party is governed by the TDS, or Trump derangement syndrome, also effectively described Pennsylvanians as having a mental illness for questioning the United States involvement in a war that has already claimed the lives of 13 American service members, Kenyatta said.

He punches down at his constituents and refuses to hold accountable the one person we elected him to hold accountable, Kenyatta said. What I see from John Fetterman, unfortunately, is that hes a weak mans imitation of a tough man. A tough man doesnt name-call his neighbors and the people that elected him when theyre asking him genuine questions.

Fetterman did not respond to questions about fellow Democrats criticisms, but he said in an interview that he stood by his vote for Mullin. He referenced a 2024 congressional delegation trip they both took to Turks and Caicos, where they successfully advocated for the release of Americans detained because they carried ammunition in their luggage.

Im going to vote for a guy that I know, and that weve successfully worked together and saved Americans from spending a decade in prison, Fetterman told The Inquirer during an interview Tuesday in his Capitol Hill office. This is someone that I can work with and have a constructive conversation and do these kinds of things. Isnt it better for the senator to have a working relationship?

He said if Mullins nomination was defeated, Trump could have nominated someone with whom he might not work as well.

If we blocked his nomination, who are we going to get next? he said.

Fetterman has publicly mourned the deaths of the American service members. He has said he would vote against the deployment of ground troops to Iran, though he was the lone Democrat to vote against a war powers resolution to restrict Trumps unilateral actions. And he has forcefully defended the mission that took out Irans longtime theocratic leadership and, he said, is making America and its allies safer.

Responding to public criticism from Democrats, he has repeatedly said that he is putting country over party.

What the base demands means nothing to me, Fetterman said during a Fox News interview earlier this month.

Kenyatta, nearly four years after he campaigned for Fetterman, said he believes the senator has been disingenuous.

His whole thing has been an act, and I think the act has worn thin and Pennsylvanians are sick of it, said Kenyatta, who said he had not considered whether to run again in 2028. He added that he was criticizing Fetterman as a constituent, not in his role as a DNC leader.

Statewide surveys have found Fettermans support among Democrats and Republicans to be inverted for a typical Democratic senator. A Quinnipiac University poll last month found his job performance was viewed favorably by 73% of GOP voters and only 22% of Democratic voters. A CNN report last week that highlighted those results noted Fettermans level of support within his own party was worse than that of every senator who lost a primary in the last 25 years.

In a sign that his latest actions have further eroded support among party activists who would be critical in electing him again, the Monroe County Democratic Party shared those poll results on social media multiple times last week as it highlighted the anger directed at the senator. Fetterman won Monroe County in the 2022 Democratic primary with 60% of the vote, slightly more than his statewide average.

There doesnt seem to be a path to reelection for him with the Democratic Party, said Lew Irwin, a political science professor at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. From the perspective of Democratic voters in Pennsylvania, theyre not buying what hes selling right now.

Fetterman has not said whether he will run for a second term in 2028, but he has repeatedly rejected the idea that he would switch parties.

His dwindling support from his partys base  which Irwin also noted reflects some of the lowest numbers weve seen in terms of incumbent politicians  is partially what is fueling the more forceful pushback from potential 2028 challengers and other Democrats, Irwin said. Those include Boyle, Houlahan, U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio of Allegheny County, and former U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb of Western Pennsylvania, the runner-up in 2022 who has also repeatedly called out Fetterman.

Wilds name was also floated this week by Semafor following her criticism of the senator.

The increasing frequency of Fettermans clashes with his party, and the types of clashes, also play a role.

Before his tiebreaking committee vote for Mullin last week, Fetterman had supported other Trump nominees, but not in a way that made him the deciding vote. His decision to vote repeatedly with Republicans during a historic, 43-day government shutdown last fall also did not make a difference until some other Democrats eventually joined him to support a compromise plan.

Meanwhile, he has highlighted the fact that he votes with Democrats in the vast majority of circumstances, including during the debate last year over Trumps signature One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

In instances where he might be a swing vote, Fetterman has not appeared to leverage his position for policy concessions from majority Republicans.

During the Mullin confirmation process, in particular, Democrats were looking for the nominee to promise to reform Immigration and Customs Enforcement practices, which have become increasingly unpopular and also stalled a larger Department of Homeland Security funding bill in Washington.

Fetterman has said he supports reforms but has not outlined which ones and has vocally opposed Democratic proposals to block ICE agents from wearing masks during enforcement operations.

One of the questions becomes: Is Sen. Fetterman leveraging these kinds of votes and these kinds of positions towards broader goals? Is he advancing his own sense of what policy should look like? said Dan Hopkins, a political science professor at the University of Pennsylvania. To some degree, its hard to know exactly what the fruits of Sen. Fettermans kind of less-antagonistic stance toward the Republicans is precisely because the Republican Party right now is less interested in moving big pieces of legislation through the U.S. Senate.

Irwin said Fettermans vote for Mullin, followed by his comments about his party being consumed by Trump derangement syndrome, was telling in terms of how he is planning on dealing with even more potential fallout.

It seems pretty clear that Sen. Fetterman just doesnt really care about the opposition that hes running into within his own party right now, he said.
Three Executive Campus in Cherry Hill. The township has rezoned a 50-year-old office park to potentially allow for future apartments on the site. Read more

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Cherry Hill has rezoned an underutilized office park to make way for potential housing, but the township says no major developments are on the horizon for the property as of now.

The Cherry Hill Township Council earlier this month approved a special overlay zone for Three Executive Campus, an office park located between Route 70 and Cuthbert Boulevard. Under the zoning change, the office park could be turned into a mixed-use commercial and residential development with up to 195 units, at least 20% of which, or 39 units, would need to be set aside for affordable housing. The ordinance also allows for a density bonus that would permit a developer to build up to 320 units (64 of which would need to be affordable) if they were to convert the existing office building into housing, rather than building something new.

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The overlay is intended to create an incentive for the development of at least 39 low- and moderate-income housing units in a suitable location, the ordinance states.

The 28.2-acre site is currently zoned as regional business (B4), a designation that allows for retail, offices, residential, and recreational uses that support the development of a regional business zone. The recently passed overlay zone doesnt remove the original B4 zoning, but instead presents alternative options for potential developers.

The Three Executive Campus building was originally built in 1974. The building is owned by 3 ECCH Owner LLC. Numerous companies have offices at Three Executive Campus, including accounting firm BDO, beverage manufacturer Lassonde Pappas, and architecture and design firm HNTB.

Though the zone change creates a path for affordable units near Cherry Hills commercial core, the township says there are no major changes on the docket for the office park.

There is no pending or anticipated development plans for the property at this time, and any future development would need to go through the regular round of township approvals, Brian Bauerle, chief of staff in the Cherry Hill mayors office, said in an email.

Rather, the change moves Cherry Hill toward its goal to reuse older office properties and obligation to provide realistic zoning for affordable housing under the New Jersey Fair Housing Act, according to Bauerle.

New Jersey municipalities are required to provide a fair share of low- and middle-income housing for residents under the Mount Laurel doctrine, the result of a 1975 New Jersey Supreme Court case that declared exclusionary zoning unconstitutional. Under the doctrine, towns are required to meet certain affordable housing obligations and create a plan that outlines how theyll get there.

Cherry Hill is home to a number of affordable housing developments, both rental and owner-occupied, including Evans Francis Estates and Sergi Farms Apartments. Lillys Place LP, a new, affordable apartment complex with units for seniors and individuals with disabilities, is currently under construction.

Inquirer Cherry Hill A weekly newsletter Want to get Inquirer Cherry Hill straight to your inbox every week? Sign up here for our guide to the news, stories, and events shaping life in your community.

This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirers high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
"For many global companies, AI is no longer in the test phase. Its in the workplace, shaping strategy and powering productivity, said Ben Warren, managing director of People Data, AI and Innovation at Gallagher. Training programs are on the rise, equipping employees for a future where human ingenuity and AI agents will work hand in hand. We know what AI can do, and the potential is undeniable. It can handle repetitive and manual tasks, freeing employees to spend less on menial work and more on what really matters: creative ideation and meeting clients.
Australian insurers are embracing risk and plan to push their investment risk profiles higher over the next two years, building on the increases already recorded over the past two years. This shift is deliberate and strategic - driven by the pursuit of better returns in private markets and supported by a new generation of technology that gives insurers the visibility and control to manage that risk with confidence, said Shane Akeroyd, chief strategy officer and president of Asia Pacific at CWAN.
I don't think we could tighten the business up any tighter than the way we operate, said Kelly referring to the strata sector controversy. He said Steadfast operates scrupulously within the legislation and pointed to the past 15 months of engagement with the ACCC as evidence of that posture, saying the process had been constructive and had helped rebut what he characterised as false claims made publicly about the organisation. He added that Steadfast had been able to satisfy the regulator that it operates appropriately.
For the insurance industry, the verdict lands at a particularly fraught moment. Just three weeks ago, a Delaware Superior Court ruled that Hartford Casualty Insurance Company, Chubb, and more than 20 other insurers have no duty to defend Meta in the broader wave of social media litigation  a ruling that the industry had been watching closely as a test case for how far liability policies extend into intentional corporate conduct.
Regulators also noted that accreditation can enhance a states attractiveness to insurers by signalling a well-regulated and predictable operating environment. Tennessee reported that it currently has more than 322,000 active licensed insurance producers, the highest number in its history. In 2024, insurers domiciled or headquartered in the state wrote approximately $24 billion in premiums, while total premium volume across all insurers operating in Tennessee reached around $57 billion.
While Aviva exited most of its US retail insurance business in 2013, the company has maintained a presence in the market through its specialty and London market operations. It has about 25.2 million customers across its core markets of the United Kingdom, Ireland and Canada.
Fireman's Fund is leaning heavily on two provisions in its policy. The first is a conditional vacancy exclusion, which bars coverage for buildings left vacant - defined as 70% or more of rentable space not being actively used - for more than 60 consecutive days, unless the insurer is notified in writing before the 60th day. The second is the policy's requirement that the insured provide prompt notice of any loss. According to the filing, Canyon Park satisfied neither condition.
The protections it proposes are straightforward. State and local government agencies would be barred from prohibiting, penalizing, or otherwise discouraging insurers and insurance producers from writing coverage for cannabis businesses. Agencies could not terminate, cancel, or otherwise limit an insurer's policies simply because the insurer or insurance producer has engaged in the business of insurance in connection with a cannabis-related business. They also could not pressure an insurer or producer to walk away from a policyholder who happens to own, operate, or work for a cannabis-related business, or downgrade or cancel insurance services on that basis alone.
Judge Bilbrey argued that the court's prior decisions had consistently used the word "toll" to mean "extend" and that the Legislature was presumed to have been aware of that usage when it enacted the 1994 amendments. The dissent raised practical concerns about the new framework. Because the statute provides that each payment of any indemnity benefit or furnishing of remedial treatment triggers a new one-year suspension, Judge Bilbrey warned that the limitations period could be extended for many years in most cases. In Estes's case, the record showed the carrier had provided payments for treatment well over 150 times. If each of those payments triggered its own one-year suspension, the statute of limitations would be effectively neutralized. The dissent also argued that reliance interests weighed against overturning the prior interpretation, noting that the Legislature had not amended the statute in over 25 years despite having the opportunity to do so.
Express also tried to challenge the medical referrals themselves. It relied on a letter from Dr. James Fish, the orthopedist Harris had selected from a panel, in which Dr. Fish stated that the pulmonology, neurology, and psychiatric referrals were neither related to the work injury nor medically necessary. The court gave little weight to that opinion, noting that Dr. Fish is an orthopedic specialist offering views outside his area of expertise, and that Express had not submitted records from follow-up visits showing how Dr. Fish arrived at his conclusions. The court also took issue with the fact that Express asked Dr. Fish to consider a causation treatise that Tennessee workers' compensation law has not adopted, which improperly gave Dr. Fish an incorrect perception of the causation standard in Tennessee.
This article is part of a sponsored series by Risk & Insurance Education Alliance.

Innovation and retirement waves continue to reshape the insurance workforce, impacting both its size and the skills required to succeed. At the same time, the industry has long recognized the need for a strong, diverse emerging talent pipeline. To meet that challenge, we must reach students early, creatively, and effectively.

That belief has long guided the work of the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance and is the inspiration behind the new CISR High School Virtual Academy, launching in June 2026. This is an exciting extension of The Alliances longstanding efforts to help students gain industry knowledge and discover opportunities in insurance.

The Virtual Academy is a no-cost, six-week virtual experience open to rising high school juniors and seniors as well as recent graduates. It allows motivated students to explore careers in insurance and risk management and make real progress toward the nationally recognized CISR designation through flexible, self-paced coursework and live, mentor-led sessions twice per week.

Details and application: CISR High School Virtual Academy

With the CISR High School and University Associate Programs, The Alliance connects classroom learning to real-world careers throughout the academic year. The Virtual Academy creates a new, accessible entry point, extending learning beyond the traditional school year and reaching students who may attend a school without an existing program, are seeking a flexible summer experience, are part of a homeschool or independent learning environment, or are interested in exploring professional pathways.

The Virtual Academy is a real-time evolution of the industrys approach to emerging talent and represents an important step forward in expanding education access and career awareness. The program is made possible by the Alliances Emerging Talent Partners and support from a Texas Mutual Workforce Development grant.

How can industry professionals, educators, and advocates get involved?

Share the opportunity and encourage eligible students to apply! Applications are open through mid-April.

Support the Emerging Talent Partners Program, which makes initiatives like the Virtual Academy possible.

Building the future workforce isnt a distant goal  its happening right now! And with the CISR High School Virtual Academy, the industry has a powerful new way to ensure more students can see themselves in it.

Topics Trends Talent Training Development K-12 Education
Iran-linked hackers have stepped up cyberattacks on Israel since the war began, wiping the data of over 50 small businesses and compromising dozens of security cameras, according to an Israeli official.

Yossi Karadi, the director-general of the Israel National Cyber Directorate, told reporters on Tuesday that Iran had not infiltrated or disrupted critical infrastructure such as energy grids, banks or hospitals.

Israel, the US and Iran have for years been engaged in covert cyber operations designed to collect sensitive data or sabotage infrastructure. While Iran rarely acknowledges any impact, its energy minister this week said water and electricity facilities were damaged in a cyberattack it blamed on the US and Israel.

According to Karadi, hackers affiliated with Iran have destroyed the data of over 50 small Israeli companies in the past few weeks, an unusually high number, he said. Most of the targeted companies had existing cybersecurity vulnerabilities, said Karadi. Companies with stronger cybersecurity protections werent affected, he said. He did not identify the victims, adding that most have since restored operations.

Earlier this month, pro-Iran digital activist group Handala carried out a cyberattack against US medical technology maker Stryker Corp., temporarily crippling the companys global operations. The FBI later tied the Handala group to Iranian intelligence services.

Read more: Stryker Attack Mirrors Tactics Used in IranAligned Hacks

Karadi, who oversees the digital defense of civilian infrastructure, said his agency was also grappling with Irans hacking of public cameras in Israel. The agency said Iran had previously used hacked home security cameras during the June conflict to aid missile targeting and surveillance.

Some 50 cameras have been hacked in the past three weeks, he said, describing the breaches as a challenge for security personnel. Officials quickly resolved those compromises, according to the cyber directorate.

Most cyber operations targeting Israelis involve social engineering or influence campaigns, some of them targeting defense officials or relatives of fighter pilots, he added.

The pace of attacks has not subsided despite what observers have described as a near-total internet blackout in Iran since the war began last month.

Some of them are using satellite capabilities, but there are also other ways that they can use to continue doing cyberattacks, Karadi said.

On Sunday, Irans energy minister accused the US and Israel of launching attacks against its electricity and water facilities, according to the semi-official ISNA news agency. The attacks damaged parts of critical water supply networks, according to the report.

Photograph: A person typing at a backlit computer keyboard. Photo credit: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.

Topics Cyber
Roundys Supermarkets, Inc., a grocery chain operating Pick n Save and Metro Market stores, violated federal law when it fired an employee, who was also a nursing mother, for requesting an accommodation at her workstation to maintain her breast milk supply, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit announced.

According to the suit, the cake decorator asked to keep a water bottle at her workstation to maintain her milk supply. Roundys Pick n Save location in Madison, Wisconsin initially accommodated the request. However, after Roundys transferred the employee to a Metro Market store in Shorewood Hills in June 2024, management refused the workstation water accommodation, leading to decline in her milk supply.

When she continued her requests for an accommodation, the company insisted she sign a release authorizing the company to access her private medical records. Ultimately, the company fired her rather than permit her to keep a water bottle at her workstation, the suit said.

This alleged conduct violated the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), which requires employers to engage in the interactive process to accommodate employees pregnancy-related limitations, and prohibits employers from terminating workers because of their need for an accommodation. This conduct also violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the EEOC asserted, by demanding access to the employees medical records without job-related justification.

The EEOC filed suit (EEOC v. Roundys Supermarkets, Inc., Case No. 3:26-cv-00241) in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its administrative conciliation process.

Source: EEOC

Topics Lawsuits
In lawsuits filed recently in three counties, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost accuses three home-improvement contractors and a builder of outdoor structures of defrauding consumers of $564,000 combined.

Homeowners trust contractors or businesses with their hard-earned money, Attorney General Dave Yost said. Breaking that trust harms customers and undermines honest professionals.

All four lawsuits allege violations of the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act.

Franlklin County: Acme Restoration

Anthony Ryan, owner of Acme Restoration, is accused of taking large upfront deposits for home-improvement and construction services but failing to deliver the promised work. In soliciting consumers at their homes from August to November 2024 the lawsuit says, Ryan also failed to properly notify consumers of their right to cancel the contracts, as required by the Home Solicitation Sales Act.

Three consumers filed complaints against Ryan, with damages totaling $46,000.

This civil lawsuit is the second filed by Yosts office against Ryan. The first dates to 2023, when he was operating as Ryan Roofing and Home Improvements, Ltd.

Ryan is currently serving time in the Madison Correctional Institution in London as part of a related criminal case brought by Yosts Economic Crimes Unit. He was convicted of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity after failing to deliver home-improvement services to consumers.

In the criminal case, Ryan, operating as Ryan Roofing and Home Improvements, accepted about $70,300 from seven Ohio customers for home-improvement services. The investigation determined that he didnt do the agreed-upon work or issue refunds. In March 2025, Ryan was sentenced to four to six years in prison.

Delaware County: KB Co. Builders

Through KB Co. Builders, owners Christopher Jordan Bazemore and Jared Kumala offered home-improvement services in central Ohio. The business undertook extensive home renovation projects and constructed home additions and pole barns.

Our case currently includes five consumers who complained to our office that work was shoddy, not fully completed, or not begun at all. Consumers allege approximately $240,000 in damages.

Muskingum County: Timothy and Jessy May

Timothy and Jessy May, a father-and-son team, operated under several business names that advertised as designers, builders, renters and sellers of smaller outdoor structures  including log homes, tiny homes, sheds and kennels  in Ohio and other states. The business, operating primarily under the name United Log Homes, was based in Henry County, Ohio. It is no longer in operation.

Ten consumers filed complaints, with most saying they didnt receive the items purchased. Two complaints cited incomplete and shoddy work.

Consumers allege over $225,000 in damages.

Franklin County: Atlas Exetriors

In central Ohio, contractor Michael Murnane, doing business as Atlas Exteriors, is accused of receiving payments from consumers for home-improvement projects but not doing the work.

Ten consumers filed complaints, alleging combined damages of $53,000. The business is no longer in operation.

Source: Ohio Attorney Generals Office

Topics Lawsuits Ohio Contractors
Independent agency network Renaissance said it made a major enhancement to its member platform, calling it the industrys only fully integrated, artificial intelligence-enabled ecosystem built specifically for independent agencies.

Independent agencies are being asked to compete in a modern market with outdated tools. At Renaissance, agencies have an operating system that unifies their data, their workflows, and our network services into one intelligent platform, said Tess Mintzer, chief product officer at Renaissance. Our new AI products leverage that foundation to give agencies speed, insight, and a competitive edge they simply cant get anywhere else.
Two New Orleans personal injury attorneys were found guilty last week of running a scheme to defraud insurance companies by staging fraudulent accidents.

The U.S. Attorneys Office and the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice announced that Vanessa Motta and Jason Giles were found guilty of all charges pending against them, following a three-week jury trial presided over by Chief U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter.

The jury also convicted law firms Motta Law LLC and The King Firm LLC and co-conspirator Diamanike Stalbert.

The jury found Motta, Motta Law, Giles and The King Firm guilty of all counts against them, and Stalbert was found guilty of making false statements to federal agents.

According to court documents, the defendants participated in a long-running scheme to defraud insurance companies and commercial trucking companies by staging and litigating fraudulent automobile collisions to collect insurance company payouts.

That scheme began approximately in December 2011 and continued until December 2024, and it involved New Orleans area personal injury attorneys (including Motta, Motta Law, Giles, and The King Firm) paying slammers to recruit passengers to participate in purposeful collisions with automobiles, especially 18-wheeler trucks with large commercial insurance policies.

The attorneys would then litigate those cases on behalf of the passengers, often encouraging those passengers to seek medically unnecessary neck and back surgeries to incur medical costs and increase the size of future insurance company settlements. Along with slammers, attorneys, and passengers, the scheme also included spotters, who drove getaway cars for the slammers, and recruiters like Stalbert, who facilitated numerous staged collisions by bringing new passengers into the scheme.

The jury also found Motta and Motta Lawguilty of obstruction of justice and witness tampering relating to an effort to pay a witness to move to the Bahamas to impede any cooperation with federal authorities.

The jury likewise found Giles and The King Firmguilty of obstruction of justice and witness tampering for secretly recording a charged individual in October 2020 in an effort to manufacture exculpatory evidence. Stalbert was acquitted of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

This trial shows how systemic insurance fraud can be, involving all types of bad actors, from attorneys and medical providers to criminals willing to cause accidents on Louisiana roads, Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple said. These schemes are not only dangerousthey also drive up the cost of insurance for all drivers. I am committed to working with our law enforcement partners to stop criminals like these and make Louisiana a national leader in the fight against insurance fraud.

Chief U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter will sentence the defendants Motta and Motta Law onJuly 7, 2026, Giles and The King Firm on July 14, 2026, and Stalbert on July 21, 2026.

The maximum penalty for mail fraud, mail and wire fraud conspiracy, and witness tampering is twenty years imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain to any defendant or twice the gross loss to any victim.

The maximum penalty for obstruction of justice is ten years imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain to any defendant or twice the gross loss to any victim. The maximum penalty for making false statements to a federal agent is up to five years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.

The Court may also impose restitution. Additionally, each defendant also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee per count of conviction.

Including this jury trial, 64 defendants have been charged in the federal probe into the staging of automobile collisions with other vehicles in the New Orleans metropolitan area.

Source: U.S. Attorneys Office, Eastern District of Louisiana

Topics Auto
Farmers Insurance Appoints Pham as Chief Strategy & Risk Officer

John Pham joined Farmers Insurance as chief strategy and risk officer, reporting to Farmers Group CEO Raul Vargas.

Pham joins Farmers from GEICO, where he most was recently head of strategic business initiatives, responsible for operational shared services. In prior roles at GEICO, including chief information officer, Pham led large business units with P&L responsibility and implemented new initiatives to drive growth and improve customer service.

Farmers is headquartered in Woodland Hills, California.

Alliant Private Client Adds Yoshida as SVP

Nancy Yoshida joined Alliant Insurance Services as senior vice president with Alliant Private Client.

Operating from the West Coast, Yoshida has more than 35 years of experience. She was previously senior vice president at Momentous Insurance Brokerage Inc., a Marsh McLennan Agency LLC company, where she served for nearly 20 years.

Alliant is headquartered in Irvine, California.

Topics Alliant
Chevron Corp. is warning that California is careening toward an energy crisis because of the Iran war and that the company may quit refining oil in the state unless officials roll back taxes and regulations.

California, the most populous US state, is highly exposed to the disruption rippling across commodity markets because it imports about 20% of its refined fuels from Asia.

Related: Iran Charges Some Ships Hormuz Transit Fees for Safe Passage

Now shipments from China, South Korea, Singapore and elsewhere are at risk of slowing significantly as Iran blocks the Strait of Hormuz, leaving Asian nations struggling to meet their own demand at home. Chevrons oil refining head Andy Walz said the potential for fuel shortages in California is his worst fear.

We have refineries in Asia that are having to cut crude, and so theyre going to make less products, Walz said in an interview Tuesday. What if San Francisco doesnt have the jet fuel it needs? Or Los Angeles? Or maybe gasoline?

California is disconnected from the U.S. fuel-making centers of Texas and Louisiana, essentially making it an energy island. Thats compounded by multiple refinery closures in recent years due to increased costs driven by regulations designed to fight climate change and cap oil industry profits.

As a result, California consumers are more exposed than most other Americans to surging energy prices because of the Iran war. They already pay nearly $6 for a gallon of gasoline, compared with a national average of close to $4. Its a growing political problem for Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who is expected to run for president in 2028.

California has decided that theyre going to rely on imports, Walz said at the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in Houston. Its a dangerous game.

California officials should declare an energy emergency, reform its climate and tax rules and promote in-state oil production, Walz said. Without such action, Chevron could quit refining in California within a decade, he said.

A spokesman for Newsoms office said oil companies are cashing in on the war in Iran and running a coordinated campaign to attack California.

Related: California Sues Department of Energy Over Sable Oil Pipeline Restart

If theyre serious about protecting consumers, they should direct that concern where it belongs: at Donald Trump. Theres no end in sight to Trumps war taxing American families at the pump, the spokesman, Anthony Martinez, said in an email.

California Fuel Prices Prone to Spikes

The Trump administration has already used emergency wartime powers to authorize Sable Offshore Corp., a Houston-based driller, to restart oil production off the California coast. The president has also temporarily waived a century-old maritime law called the Jones Act to help make it cheaper and easier to ship gasoline, diesel and other commodities between US ports.

The problem in California is one of the states own making, Walz said.

The state already has the nations toughest fuel standards as well as a carbon cap-and-trade program that critics say forces consumers to pay the highest prices in the nation. Its goal to reduce carbon emissions 85% by 2045 relies heavily on a near-complete phaseout of gasoline-powered cars and a large reduction in heavy industry  including refining.

Nonetheless, California remains the countrys second-largest consumer of gasoline and the largest market for jet fuel, for which theres currently no practical low-carbon alternative.

The California intent to offshore carbon to other nations has offshored their security of supply, Walz said. Theyve offshored jobs and they havent had any impact on carbon.

Californias Oil Production in Four-Decade Decline

Chevron, which has tankers sitting idle on each side of the Strait of Hormuz, is taking the unusual step of shipping Gulf Coast oil to California through the Panama Canal as the war disrupts shipments from the region that West Coast refiners typically use, Walz said.

China has already imposed a fuel export ban as shipments from the Gulf dwindle. If the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked long enough, other Asian countries could follow suit. Chevrons scenario planning initially looked at the Strait being closed until the end of March.

Now our scenario plans are worse, Walz said. Its going to be longer and were trying to look around the corner.

California is home to more than 30 military bases. That includes one of the largest in the US, Travis Air Force Base, which Chevron supplies from its Richmond refinery.

I think the US government should be concerned, Walz said.

New emissions rules proposed by the California Air Resources Board, if implemented, threaten to drive costs for the states remaining refineries even higher. Chevron estimates the additional expenses could hit $500 million within five years.

They need to abandon the tax on refineries or they wont have any refineries in 10 years, Walz said. If it stays that way  Chevron will be gone in 10 years for sure. We wont be able to make it.

Top photo: The Chevron refinery in Richmond, California, on Thursday, March 19, 2026. U.S. diesel rose above $5 a gallon for the first time since December 2022, the latest sign of surging fuel price pressures menacing the global economy as the war in Iran continues to disrupt energy supplies. Bloomberg.

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.

Topics California
Campaigners demanding a change to Ireland's inheritance tax laws for childless citizens will meet Tanaiste and finance minister Simon Harris next week.

James Sexton, a teacher from Model Farm Road in Cork, has been leading a campaign by End Discrimination in Inheritance Tax (Edit) calling for an index-linked lifetime tax free threshold to be introduced to replace the current inheritance tax structure, branding existing laws discriminatory. Mr Sexton will lead a delegation meeting Mr Harris at Government Buildings on Tuesday March 31.

"Fundamentally, this is an issue of equality. The law discriminates against 1m single and childless citizens in this country. We are going into meeting not to explain further but to seek answers," said Mr Sexton.

Under existing rules, Capital Acquisitions Tax is payable at 33% above certain thresholds. The threshold for parent to child (Group A) is 400,000 but the threshold to siblings, nieces and nephews, and grandchildren (Group B) is 40,000. For all others  including close friends, unmarried partners, carers (Group C) - the threshold is 20,000.

Mr Sexton says this means that the state is discriminating against childless citizens. Edit has proposed the new lifetime tax threshold for every citizen, set at a figure to be determined by the Government.

"We are not arguing for the abolition of inheritance taxes. This is a solution and would remove the inequality and discrimination faced by all childless citizens in Ireland

"Any citizen would be entitled to inherit that amount. Not every child might receive an inheritance from their parent but might from another relative. Nobody could argue with this in terms of fairness and equality.

"We are going into the meeting with Mr Harris in a very positive way. This affects families throughout this country. Mr Harris has talked before about there never being wrong time to do right thing. Now is the right time to do the right thing."

In Mr Sexton's own case, he and his wife Sheila built their home in the garden of James parents on Model Farm Road. Mr Sextons brother Kieran, who was living in London, inherited the Sexton family home when their father passed away in May 2022. Kieran is single and was diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma, an incurable condition, just before Christmas 2024. Through treatment he is in remission but he would eventually like to pass on his home to his nephews or nieces, just like James and Sheila. "The care and treatment from CUH has been phenomenal, but this is a huge worry for Kieran," said Mr Sexton.

'Impossible' to pass on home unless law changes

"Kieran has no kids. If he had two kids, they would face no inheritance tax on the home. I would like to pass on our home to my nephews or nieces - but that too is going to be impossible as things stand. Our nieces and nephews are aged in their 20s and working. They do not have big cash savings. There's no possible way our family home can remain in the Sexton family unless the law changes."

Revenue from inheritance tax rose to 968m in 2024, according to the Sunday Independent, and Taoiseach Micheal Martin has acknowledged the existing inheritance tax system needs reform. Mr Martin has suggested tax laws could be adapted for a favourite nephew or niece to claim inheritance tax relief on property. However, Mr Sexton branded such a proposal "absolute nonsense".

"This would be thoroughly unworkable. We do not have a 'favourite nephew', just as the Taoiseach does not have a favourite child," said Mr Sexton. "Imagine the resentment and animosity this would cause between family in perpetuity after a cherished loved one has passed away."

Mr Sexton said that Edit have taken legal advice on the issue and if necessary could take this route as a last resort. "We hope that won't be necessary but we will explore all avenues. This is firmly a political issue now with cross-party support. Everybody agrees that you cannot continue to have a system that discriminates against someone for no other reason other than their family status."
The death in December 2001 of Big Country frontman Stuart Adamson was a tragedy for those who knew him personally and for the many more who had encountered him through his epic and emotive arena rock.

But for music journalist, author and magazine editor Scott Rowley, there was also a haunting sense of what might have been: some months previously, he had reached out to Adamson only for the call to go unanswered.

I kind of got the feeling that people had forgotten Stuart. He was such a massive hero to me as a kid. And I thought, well, if I can get an interview, maybe I can offer him a chance to write for a mag. So that was my plan. His manager gave me his phone number in Nashville. I called and he never answered. I tried again a few days later, and he never answered then. He went missing not long afterwards.

Adamson had disappeared before, but this time something felt off. Ravaged by years of alcoholism and having hit rock bottom in his career, he took his own life in a hotel room in Hawaii  a great artist lost at the age of 43 and leaving behind a wife and two children.

Now, as the 25th anniversary of his passing approaches, Rowley, who has worked at magazines such as Classic Rock, Metal Hammer, and Guitar World, has movingly chronicled the rise and unravelling of a beloved but often understood and underrated artist in his book Stay Alive: The Life and Death of Stuart Adamson, written with the co-operation of the musician's family and former bandmates.

The journey was an emotional one for Rowley  and for the many figures from Adamsons life whom he interviewed for his raw and gripping portrait of a musician who soared to incredible highs but ended up hollowed out, and in his mind, cast aside by the music business.

There were times I came downstairs after a day of doing Zoom calls and Id say to my wife, Ive just made another two people cry. I was taking people back through some terrible times  some of the worst in their lives.

Big Country became famous for strident, stirring anthems such as the 1983 megahit In A Big Country. Infused with a quintessentially Celtic passion and grandeur, their music marked them as peers of Simple Minds and especially U2, whose paths they crossed over and over.

Stay Alive: The Life and Death of Stuart Adamson.

Indeed, there is a sense throughout the book that U2 were a sort of mirror image of Adamsons band  the global megastars Big Country could have become had the sliding doors of life worked out in their favour.

There were also significant differences. In particular, the Dubliners possessed a drive absent from the retiring and thoughtful Adamson. If hed possessed just a jot of Bonos ambition or his ease in the spotlight, you can imagine his story having a very different ending. But while he had talent and charisma in abundance, he despised the trappings of success.

There were demons, too  though the degree to which he might have been carrying around unresolved childhood trauma only became clear much later. Three years after Stuarts death, his father, William Adamson, was convicted of sexually abusing a number of children.

Rowley is careful to note there is no evidence of Adamson ever speaking about childhood abuse to either of his two wives or his bandmates. However, we know now his father was abusing children when Adamson was growing up in their mining village home outside Dunfermline in the east of Scotland.

Whether he was also targeted is impossible to know  but all the evidence suggests his childhood left him with deep emotional scars. He carried that with him for the rest of his life, writes Rowley.

In terms of the relationship with U2, the grand irony is that, starting out, Adamson was the famous one, Bono and the Edge the starstruck fans. Before Big Country, Adamson had played guitar in the Scottish punk band The Skids  of whom a young U2 were huge admirers. They would later show their appreciation when covering, along with Green Day, The Skids 1978 single The Saints Are Coming.

They were absolute peers. And also, The Skids were famous before U2. The Edge and Bono were fans and came over to see them in, I think, Liverpool. The Edge has spoken openly about Stuart being such a great guitar player and all that sort of stuff.

"First of all, Stuart was an influence on U2. And then they were peers who came up at the same time, obviously, like Simple Minds, The Alarm, U2, Big Country  all kind of broke similarly. It felt like a new breed of rock star. Not the cliched sex, drugs, and rock and roll, hairy chest. Not like [1970s heavy rockers] Free. Still rock, but different  beyond the cliches and beyond the riffs and the solos and all that stuff.

Adamson was defined by his contradictions. He was a gifted guitarist and had an aura  on stage, he looked far closer to an archetypal rock god than trytoohard likes of Jim Kerr or Bono. But he was shy in private, a homebody who hated his years in London with The Skids and couldnt wait to retreat to Dunfermline, which is where he formed Big Country in 1981. Though the book doesnt make a meal of it, there are parallels with Kurt Cobain, another charismatic rock star who struggled in the spotlight.

Author Scott Rowley: 'Hes never really been truly celebrated. Twentyfive years on, its time to look back at this guy  a pioneer, a great songwriter, and an amazing performer.' Picture: Brad Merrett

The similarities would be a kind of antistardom punk attitude. That is where Stuart came from. He kind of thought rock stars were dickheads, and was very antirock star, says Rowley. And so, therefore, antirock star behaviour. All that sort of sat uneasily with him. And so, then, going back to Dunfermline and being set apart from the people he grew up with  being the star, the big man.

"Its a kind of workingclass problem, isnt it? If you go away and you become successful, then you come back, people are like, Who do you think you are? But also, not wanting to stand out. Only wanting to be ordinary again.

Much like U2 in Ireland, Big Country to this day divide opinion in Scotland. Some see their music as an expression of a uniquely Scottish artistic identity  loud and proud and with signature guitar style by Adamson that has been compared to the haunting howl of the bag-pipes.

To others, they will forever be naff stadium rockers, whose moment had passed almost as soon as it had arrived. As with U2, they certainly had their toecurling moments  in particular an illjudged venture into bombastic and over-produced stadium rock with their 1985 LP, The Seer.

It breaks down into two groups. There are the people who love them. There are still loads of those people. Theyre still held fondly. But then theres probably  and I fell into this  the cool fashionista thing where people think theyre a bit naff. I, as a fan, went through it. I was a young teenager when The Seer came out. Music fashion had moved on. I was probably listening to The Jesus and Mary Chain and Scottish indie bands  The Shop Assistants, early Soup Dragons. That is where the cool scene was. Big Country seemed like these cheesy pop stars. There were a lot of people who felt the same way. Everybody prefers it when their cult heroes stay penniless and unknown.

He still has complicated views about Big Country, loving their early work and understanding later attempts to break America were of their time. But he sees Adamson as a singular figure. Here was an ordinary guy from the humblest of backgrounds with extraordinary talent who deserves to be remembered as more than just another tragic rock story.

Hes never really been truly celebrated. Twentyfive years on, its time to look back at this guy  a pioneer, a great songwriter, and an amazing performer. To try and understand what drove him to do what he did. That was always the missing part for me. It seemed to me a very Scottish story and a very workingclass story. There was a wrong to be righted, a little bit. Tell the story and explain who he was. And give him credit for the things he achieved. It feels like 25 years on, we can celebrate him now; we dont have to mourn him.
A marketing executive with a radio network has been released on bail after appearing in court over a seizure of 110,000 worth of cannabis at his office building in Dublin this week.

Seafra O'Donovan, aged 35, an employee of Bauer Media, was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis and having it for sale or supply at Marconi House, Digges Lane, Dublin 2, on March 23.

The location of the seizure, which was part of a joint Garda and Revenue Customs operation, is the base for Newstalk, Today FM, and affiliated radio stations.

Dressed in a black sleeveless jacket, navy sweater, white shirt, dark pants, and black runners, Mr O'Donovan sat silently throughout the brief hearing before Judge Conor Fottrell at Dublin District Court on Wednesday.

No plea was entered to the charges, which are under sections 3 and 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Garda Kevin Hearns told Judge Fottrell that the accused, of Leeson Park, Court, Ranelagh, in Dublin city's southside, was charged shortly after 11pm on Tuesday, handed a copy of the charges, and "made no reply" when cautioned.

Garda Hearns, from the divisional drugs unit at Kevin Street, confirmed he was not objecting to bail with conditions. Accordingly, Judge Fottrell ordered Mr O'Donovan to sign on two days a week at his local Garda station, notify of address or mobile phone number changes, and not apply for a passport.

Aoife Dalton, defending, informed Judge Fottrell that her client had provided his phone number and that his passport had already been handed in.

Garda Hearns asked for a lengthy adjournment, two to three months if possible, as the investigation is ongoing and a file needed to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Judge Fottrell ordered Mr O'Donovan to appear again on May 27.
The parents of a Ukrainian man who lost his life following a violent incident in Cork city last week attended Cork District Court on Wednesday to see the man accused of his murder appear by video link from prison.

However, when the case against 42-year-old Jonathan Hennessy, of 15 Dr Patrick OSullivan Terrace, Upper Aghada, Co Cork, was called, a prison officer at the video link from Cork Prison said there was a sick note stating the accused could not appear.

Eddie Burke, solicitor, said there was only consent for a two-week adjournment. Judge Mary Dorgan remanded Jonathan Hennessy in custody until April 8.

Sergeant John Dineen said the family of the late Oleksandr Zhyvytskyi had been present in court earlier but left after being informed the accused would not appear and that a sick note would explain his absence.

The funeral of the deceased was held in Cork on Tuesday, and members of the mans family travelled to attend.

Detective Garda Kevin Motherway gave evidence of arresting and charging Jonathan Hennessy last week. The charge states that: On March 16 2023 at Knapps Square, Cork City in the District Court area of Cork City in District area 19, he did murder one Oleksandr Zhyvytskyi, contrary to Common Law.

When cautioned that he did not have to say anything but that whatever he might say would be taken down in writing and could be given in evidence, he made no reply to the charge.

Eddie Burke, solicitor, was appointed to represent the accused on free legal aid, after stating Jonathan Hennessy was on disability allowance and had no other income.

Mr Burke said when the accused was first before the court: I would ask that he would get medical attention on entering Cork Prison.

Sgt Dineen said it is alleged that on March 16 at Knapps Square at 7.50pm the deceased sustained a stab wound to his chest during an altercation. He made his way home and subsequently died, with death formally pronounced at 8.35pm on Monday.

The father of one, in his early 30s, was stabbed just metres from his home at Camden Court apartments on Carrolls Quay when he went out to buy food. He made it back to his apartment, where his partner called for help.

Despite paramedics efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead at the scene. An investigation was launched immediately after the fatal stabbing.
Five members of a Dublin criminal gang will serve prison terms between three and eight-and-a-half years for an assault in which the victim was waterboarded, beaten with an iron bar, threatened with being raped using a stick and branded with the word "RAT" on his face and torso.

Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Fiona Lydon, said the facts of the case were "shocking" and involved the use of a number of weapons designed to inflict injury and terror on the victim.

She said the court had difficulty describing what happened as words like "dreadful, horrendous and frightening are not sufficient to describe the horror".

The branding marks on the victim's face were designed to "maximise the visibility of his humiliation", she said, and the actions of the defendants "bypass any notion of humanity".

Read More Alleged victim of 'RAT' branding refuses to give evidence at Special Criminal Court

The judge said the court also could not attach much weight to expressions of remorse by four of the accused, who she said had entered guilty pleas only after the trial had begun and when the victim, Barry Moore, aged 35, had been summoned to court by a warrant.

Brothers Jason Hennessy, aged 29, and Brandon Hennessy, aged 23, of Sheephill Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, and Kenneth Fitzsimons, aged 46, and his son Dean Fitzsimons, aged 26, of Castlecurragh Vale, Mulhuddart, Dublin, were originally charged with various offences, including causing serious harm and false imprisonment of Mr Moore, both of which carry potential life sentences.

After Mr Moore refused to give evidence last year, the State accepted pleas of guilty to assault causing harm, an offence that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Before it became apparent that Mr Moore was not going to give evidence, Devon Hennessy, aged 30, of Edgewood Lawns, Corduff, Dublin 15, pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning Mr Moore and to assisting a criminal organisation to inflict serious harm on Mr Moore.

Ms Justice O'Connor imposed the shortest sentence of three years on Devon Hennessy as, she said, he was the only one of the five who tried to intervene on Mr Moore's behalf. He was also the only one who entered an early guilty plea.

Ms Justice O'Connor said the offending of Jason Hennessy and Dean Fitzsimons warranted headline sentences at the maximum 10 years. In each case, she reduced that to eight-and-a-half years having considered their late guilty pleas and other mitigating factors.

Brandon Hennessy was given a six-year sentence. Picture: IrishPhotoDesk.ie

Brandon Hennessy would have received the same sentence but Ms Justice O'Connor said he is already serving a term that will expire in February 2028. She therefore imposed a six-year sentence which will run consecutive to that sentence.

Kenneth Fitzsimons was jailed for eight years. The judge noted that he did not use the branding iron or hold the victim down.

All sentences, except that imposed on Brandon Hennessy, are backdated to February 17, 2025, when they each went into custody on this charge.

At a previous hearing, Sgt Emma Ryan told the court that Mr Moore declined to give evidence at the trial for four of the defendants late last year "owing to the fact that he was afraid".
People walking on St Patricks Street in Cork City were challenged by a shirtless man who warned that they didnt know who they were dealing with and that he would f*** them up.

Now at Cork District Court, Judge Mary Dorgan has jailed 25-year-old Jake OSullivan of 22 Fairfield Road, Farranree, Cork, for two months for the rather awful nature of what happened.

Sergeant Gearoid Davis outlined the background to the incident which occurred at 11.20pm on October 25, 2025.

Gardai responded to reports of an altercation on St Patricks Street. On arrival, they observed Jake O'Sullivan who had his t-shirt removed.

He was shouting verbal abuse at passers-by, saying: Ill f*** you up", "You dont know who I am."

He was doing this in a threatening and abusive manner with clenched fists, shouting with such force that spittle was projecting from his mouth. He was unsteady on his feet, his speech was slurred and there was a strong smell of intoxicating liquor coming from him.

He was arrested and taken to the Bridewell garda station. He was later charged with engaging in threatening behaviour and being drunk and a source of danger to himself or others.

Sergeant Davis said Jake OSullivan had 49 previous convictions and one for engaging in violent disorder under the Public Order Act.

Shane Collins Daly, solicitor, said the accused was pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity.
A flight from Los Angeles to Dublin saw the deportation of a 25-year-old woman wanted in Cork for the theft of two hams and cosmetics more than seven years ago.

Garda Pat Costello said at Cork District Court on Wednesday he arrested Ciocolata Munteanu at Dublin Airport on Tuesday when she arrived on a deportation flight.

The circumstances are that she was deported back from America by American authorities and we were alerted to her arrival. She was deported from the US after five years, on a flight from LA yesterday. Her whole family were there for the last six years, Garda Pat Costello said.

Dennis Healy solicitor said: She will enter a plea of guilty. She needs a couple of days to get the money together. I would ask for one week.

There was no objection to the accused being remanded on bail on conditions. Those conditions include living at 50 Orchard Court, Blackpool, Cork, signing daily at Bridewell Garda Station, and not to leave the jurisdiction.

Mr Healy said she could not leave in any event as she was without a passport.

Judge Mary Dorgan adjourned the case until April 9 to allow time for her to gather compensation in relation to her thefts.

Back on November 27, 2018, the accused stole two hams valued 80, and on January 24, 2019, she stole 264 worth of cosmetics in Boots, Blackpool, Cork. She pleaded guilty to those thefts at Cork District Court on Wednesday.
The High Court has dismissed the case of a woman who sued her local coroner's office and the justice minister, claiming trauma from a 36-year delay for an inquest into the death of her sister, who was killed in brutal circumstances.

In February 1975, then 30-year-old Anne Birkinshaw's sister, Kathleen Cashin, was killed in Co Tipperary. An individual was found "guilty but insane" of her murder.

In his High Court judgment, Mr Justice David Nolan noted the background facts to the case as "tragic" and said the court proceedings themselves were "unusual".

The case was taken by Ms Birkinshaw against the coroner for Tipperary North, North Tipperary County Council, and the justice minister.

The defendants brought an opposing application to dismiss or strike out the proceedings, which were launched in 2013, under court rules on delay.

No record of inquest before 2011

In his judgement, Mr Justice Nolan said that "for reasons never properly explained" there were no records to show that an inquest was ever held into Ms Cashin's killing before 2011.

The judge said because of pressure from the plaintiff's family, an inquest was ultimately held in December of that year.

Prior to the 2011 inquest, a post-mortem report from state pathologist, Professor John Harbison, now deceased, was provided to Ms Birkinshaw.

She claimed the report added significantly to her trauma and hurt, causing her psychological injury, as she had been under the mistaken belief that her sister had died quickly as a result of a blow to the head, but the report indicated otherwise.

Personal injury proceedings

In 2013, Ms Birkinshaw issued personal injury proceedings and sought a court declaration that the failure to hold an inquest within a reasonable period of time amounted to a "denial of natural justice".

Mr Justice Nolan, noting that court proceedings were issued in 2013, said: "It is not an understatement to say that the case has taken what can only be described as a leisurely approach through the courts".

The defence argued that the underlying events dated back over 40 years and that the inquest took place 15 years ago.

Delay was an issue

The defence claimed the delay in proceedings had created severe prejudice for them, in that key witnesses, including Prof Harbison and members of An Garda Siochana, have either died or cannot be found.

Solicitor for the defendants, Nicola Tyson, in her affidavit, said the unexplained delay in taking the court case was "extraordinary" and the case could only be properly addressed by cross-examining witnesses who are now deceased or unavailable.

In his judgment, Mr Justice Nolan said there had been "total inactivity" between April 2019 and December 2024.

The judge noted the current coroner for North Tipperary is not an employee of either the local authority or the State and cannot be liable for the acts or omissions of predecessors.

'Little realistic prospect of success'

He said he would "readily concede" that this is an unusual case, but added that the question to be asked is whether there is a pressing need that requires the case to be permitted to go to trial.

He added: "Although I accept that the public interest favours allowing potentially meritorious litigation to continue, the facts, as presented, offer little realistic prospect of success."

"The only reason the court has engaged in a discussion about some elements of the merits is to see if it can be saved," he said.

He said the court could not ignore the fact that three of the four original plaintiffs are dead and that it would also be "nigh-on impossible to find any witness from the time of the murder trial who could give evidence", putting the defence at a "clear disadvantage amounting to prejudice".

Mr Justice Nolan said that he had come to the view that, "notwithstanding egregious delays", the case could not be saved and dismissed the matter.
Adults with intellectual disabilities are being left stranded when their parents die due to a lack of support from the State, the Dail has heard.

During Leaders Questions, Social Democrats TD Cian OCallaghan raised the case of the advocacy group, Before We Die. The group consists of parents of adult children with intellectual disabilities who are concerned about what will happen to their children when they die.

He spoke of one elderly couple who are struggling with significant health issues. They had been told by a day service that there were simply no places for their child, as they expressed concerns they would sadly die sooner rather than later, because we get zero respite and never get a chance to recoup our energy.

They have also been told that when they do die, their son could be put anywhere in the country.

Mr O'Callaghan said that the Governemt has "billions at its disposal", as he argued that the parents are looking for action, ring-fenced funding and proper planning. He added:

Parents have no idea of what will happen to their son or daughter after they die.

They have no plan because there are no options. No gradual transition, no certainty in where they would be housed, nobody left to advocate for their son or daughter's wellbeing.

Vulnerable people 'put up for tender'

Only after parents die, when there's an emergency situation, will the State finally step in. A vulnerable person is then put up for tender to private contractors. What sort of a care system is this? What sort of a country treats [its] citizens like this?

When a parent dies, an adult with an intellectual disability is left stranded; They will lose their mum or dad, their carer, their advocate, their home, and their community all at the same time. This is incredibly traumatic. This is cruel.

Husband and wife Tony Murray and Susan Corrigan with their 42-year-old daughter Aoife who has an intellectual disability and for whom they care full time. Picture: Moya Nolan

In response, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said that he had also met the Before We Die campaign in Cork, and that he has placed the issue on the agenda of the next meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee on disability.

How this has evolved is unacceptable, he said.

The focus is on emergency solutions all the time. Many elderly parents are very distressed and anxious, understandably so, about what will happen to their loved ones if they pass from this life."

There needs to be proper co-ordination between section 39 providers, local authorities, the State, the Government and the Departments of Disability and Health, he said.

'Siloed approach'

What is happening at the moment is that there is a siloed approach to understanding the overall housing needs of adults with intellectual disability.

It is not just about what we traditionally call residential places; there must be a much more holistic approach.

In some instances, people are being sent to local authorities to apply for housing in the ordinary way. That is not good enough.

The Taoiseach said there cannot be an attitude that suggests this is only an issue for local authorities due to their ability to house people, suggesting there will be a bit of reorganisation in terms of how Government operates, as well as local government, section 39 providers and everybody involved here.
The Government should introduce an outright ban on the use of commercial sunbeds as there is no safe level of exposure to ultraviolet radiation, a report has recommended.

The Sunbed Working Group has formally called on the Government to ban the use of commercial sunbeds, saying existing modelling shows it would lead to a reduction in the number of deaths from skin cancer.

The recommendation by the Government-appointed working group to outright ban their use would require the Government to introduce new bespoke legislation to prevent people from using sunbeds in a commercial premises or private homes, where the service is purchased.

However, the proposal would not ban their use by private individuals, or the purchase or hire of a sunbed for personal use.

The report cites four reasons for the recommendation, which include a public health rationale given the impact of sunbeds on skin health.

It cites the impact of ultraviolet radiation from sunbeds on skin, saying it causes skin cancer and there is no safe level of exposure.

Sunbeds are classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the WHO. Children and young people under 35 years, who represent over 45% of current users, are most vulnerable to skin damage from sunbeds, it adds.

It also says the Irish population, due to a high prevalence of lighter skin tones, is particularly vulnerable to burns and is at greatest risk of skin cancer from UV radiation.

A ban on commercial sunbed use would send a strong public health message that sunbeds are dangerous, it adds.

The report states there is evidence of some sunbed operators breaching the rules around minimum ages, saying this has been seen in inspections and test purchasing programmes.

It adds that introducing partial measures would not remove the underlying hazard of sunbed use.

In its report, it does explore the possible economic impacts of an outright ban, with it stating the commercial sunbed sector is relatively small.

It outlines that there are approximately 364 commercial operators registered with the HSE.

Many of these businesses also offer alternative beauty services, including gyms, hairdressers and beauty salons, the report states.

A ban would primarily affect a number of small businesses and their employees, with some roles being absorbed elsewhere in the industry.

It does, however, warn that introducing a sunbed ban in Ireland would incur some costs to the State.

The report highlights that in some Australian states, where bans have been introduced, supports have been provided to businesses to facilitate their compliance with the ban.

These costs could include support measures for sunbed businesses and employees, for example, retraining programmes, buy-back and disposal schemes for sunbed equipment, the report states.

The identification and assessment of such support measures will require detailed expert analysis.

It adds that there would be further costs in securing compliance with the ban, alongside the introduction of an enforcement programme.

While the report does signal there will be some economic impact, it cites one study carried out in England in 2022, which found a ban and education campaign would lead to 1,206 avoided cases of melanoma and 207 fewer deaths from skin cancer.
Day ten and a half:

Last night on TV, they showed a live report from a purely residential area in eastern Tehran that had been hit by a missile.

An area where three or four multi-storey buildings were completely destroyed, and the rest were currently unusable because the blast wave had caused fundamental damage. I sat in front of the TV, frozen. Involuntarily, every few seconds, I would say loudly, La ilaha illa Allah (There is no god but God) and moan.

The reporter was pulling childrens toys, drawings, and other items out of the grey rubble, unable to control himself or speak. Amidst the ruins, he found a piece of mens clothing that was still in its packaging, unopened.

With a terrible lump in his throat, he said that in many of our homes, there are new clothes we want to wear for better occasions. The New Year and Nowruz [Persian New Year] are also approaching. With that same lump in his throat, he hoped the owner of the clothes would emerge safely from under the rubble.

I, however, was staring at the large ruined building behind him, thinking to myself: whether in Gaza or now in beloved Tehran, why is it that when a missile hits a building, no colour remains but grey?

Why was everything that man pulled from the rubble  even if it was the most colorful toy in the world  now entirely grey? How did those colourful walls, those beautiful household items, that vibrant life, surrender so easily to that deadly greyness?

Last night, the sound of the explosion was extremely close, and the sound of the fighter jets even closer. Like vultures circling their prey, they circled at a very low altitude above us for 15 minutes. Dad called us to gather under one of the internal doorframes of the house.

The four of us sat in that tight space, and Dad said that if they hit near us, the blast wave would do the least damage here. As he said this, I thought of those naked, empty doorframes without walls in the report.

I thought about how few things can withstand the destructive power of bombs and missiles.

Last night, for the first time, I felt I was afraid. Afraid that our lives would collapse upon us, that our loved ones would die, and that they would pull me out alive from that rubble.

The new leader has been announced. It is the same one we guessed for years. The one protesters have been shouting about in the streets since 2017: Mojtaba, may you die and never see the leadership.

The one who, whenever we told people like Dad (who support the regime) that he would be the next one, they would say: It's impossible; is the country an inheritance?

They said: These are your delusions.

Now, thanks to Trumps intervention and the martyrdom of his father, the regimes supporters have greatly welcomed this new Khamenei  Khamenei, the son. Thanks to the intervention of this narcissistic, crazy man, people are chanting: The hand of God was revealed; Khamenei became young again.

In my mind, I constantly wonder: if Khamenei had died on his own, and if they wanted to make his son the successor without this heroic situation in the country, how much civil resistance would have been created? And more importantly, to what extent would the regimes base of supporters have eroded?

Day fourteen

I havent had the strength to write for two days  in fact, I havent had the strength for anything at all. I am a person, or at least I used to be, who felt I had a high capacity for understanding the other. Many people with diverse lifestyles and moral or political leanings have told me that I am a safe person for them.

But these days, I have lost all capacity to accept this volume of blind hatred from people.

Day and night, I struggle with myself to understand how it is possible for another Iranian not to care that their fellow countrymen are dying, that their countrys centuries-old ancient heritage is being destroyed, and that its urban and security infrastructure is being pulverized.

It is baffling how they can watch the worlds most infamous countries invade their land and only think about the downfall of the Islamic Republic at any cost.

These days, there are many voices that go unheard and much suffering that goes unseen. Mom was telling me about a friends sister who is blind and lives alone. No matter how much they tell her to stay with them or go somewhere safe, she says: Im used to my home; I know its layout and where everything is. Where else could I go?

Day twenty-two

It was near dawn on the 20th day. I heard the sound of a relatively distant explosion and messaged Z' to ask if she heard it; she didn't reply. I assumed she was asleep.

I opened the internal app and saw she had written: My heart is in my mouth. They hit the back alley with a drone. Our living room windows shattered; the whole house is full of smoke and dust.

A drone with immense destructive power had targeted that entirely residential area. Z said a house  targeted for reasons unknown  had been turned to powder. The buildings facing hers were seriously damaged, and the windows of their entire row of buildings had shattered.

She wrote that the whole street was covered in broken glass. In those first few minutes, several municipal sweepers arrived to clean the street, and she said the area was teeming with Red Crescent and fire department rescue teams.

She said they were carrying people out of the buildings on stretchers, some of whom were completely covered. From the bottom of our hearts, we prayed in vain that they werent dead.

Civil defence and search and rescue teams continue operations in after US and Israeli strikes targeted the Enderzgu district of the Iranian capital Tehran early on Monday. Photo: Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu via Getty Images

I called Z, she said she hadnt been able to sleep because of the sound of debris removal. She said eight people were killed, and search dogs were looking for a three-year-old child they suspected had been thrown nearby by the blast wave.

Their streets were closed, with no traffic allowed except for residents. I heard things that were unbelievable.

She sent me two photos of the scene that looked like any other apocalyptic war photo  nothing left of life but a tangled mess of wire and concrete, with that cursed grey reigning supreme everywhere.

I told her to write down everything she saw and experienced. I was worried for her; how much can a human being endure seeing such scenes?
Cork - and Kinsale in particular  emerged as the most popular location for prime country house sales in 2025, a year that also a surge in the number of American buyers entering the market, according to estate agents Savills.

The figures are contained in a new Spotlight report analysing activity in the prime country homes market  defined as transactions of 1m or more - which found Cork accounted for one fifth of total sales, or 58m out of 267m worth of transactions. Kinsale was the most sought-after town, with sales of 23m, accounting for 14 out of 40 Cork transactions.

The biggest Kinsale deals included Currahoo House, a period property with links to the Bullen/Boleyn family, including the ill-fated Anne, one-time wife of Henry VIII, which sold to an American buyer for 2.5m. Making the same kind of money was An Carrig, The Ramparts, Kinsale and Leighmoney More House, an Edwardian period home, which sold for 2.45m.

Silver Apple, Weavers Point, Crosshaven, a Coveney family home, was the top-selling Cork property in 2025, making 3.05m from a guide price of 1.65m. It was No 3 in the list of top sellers in the prime country homes market, which excludes Dublin, North Wicklow and the main regional cities. It was sold by Michael ODonovan of Savills.

High-net-worth buyers' love affair with Kinsale is continuing into 2026 with the sale of Sandycoves Sprayfield Cottage last month for 3.176m, with the new owner rumoured to be US billionaire James Berwind, who already owns a string of multimillion euro homes in the town.

Read More Prime Kinsale land with full planning permission for 18 homes goes on sale

The Savills research  which excludes Dublin, north Wicklow and the main regional cities - notes that Corks coastal location is a big draw for buyers, with 75% of prime country home sales in coastal regions.

However, the largest sale of the year went to Waterford, where the inland Fortwilliam Estate in Lismore sold for 3.48m, while third spot went to a Crosshaven home, Silver Apple, owned by the Coveney family, which made 3.05m from a 1.65m guide.

Commenting on the findings, Cianan Duff, Divisional Director, Country Residential at Savills Ireland, said the composition of activity in the prime country homes market is changing. While 1 million remains the entry point, a growing proportion of transactions are now occurring at the lower end of that range, reflecting the impact of house price inflation in recent years, he said.

The report also looks at who the main overseas players might be in 2026, with American buyers expected to dominate. It points out that similar expectations last year were fulfilled, with the number of Americans migrating to Ireland almost doubling, to 9,600 representing the highest level of migration from the US since the data series began in 1987.

The report says the surge reflects a broader trend of Americans moving to Europe. As Irish house price inflation has trended above EU averages over recent years, the research warns it may impact Irelands competitiveness in the future.

We nevertheless expect Americans to remain key purchasers the report says, adding that Irelands attractions include high quality of life, a stable political system and moderate climate, as well as strong historic ties between the two countries. The report also notes a growing preference among buyers for turnkey properties that dont require significant energy upgrades, against a backdrop of rising energy prices. The conflict in the Middle East is likely to further fuel this trend.

In terms of buyer profile, just under a third of those purchasing prime country homes in 2025 were international buyers. The report notes that Irish buyers remain the cornerstone of the market driven by lifestyle changes and a continued shift to hybrid working.

Across all purchasers, 31% were upsizing, followed by relocation and the purchase of second homes, at 25% of sales each. The report notes that given the prime nature of this market, cash buyers represent a larger proportion of sales than in the broader residential market.

In Savills sales last year, only 31% of buyers utilised mortgages, all of them Irish buyers - consistent with Irish buyers primarily upsizing, while overseas buyers were purchasing a second home. The report predicts activity in the prime country homes market will stay steady in 2026, albeit with a moderation in price growth at the top end.
A scaled-down development of the Dingle Distillery has been appealed to the planning commission just over two years after initial plans aiming to create 50 jobs were also shot down.

The distillery, which produces gin, vodka and whiskey at Old Mill in Milltown, Co. Kerry, got the green light from the local council last month to retain its first-floor area and its production building, consisting of a staff kitchen, a shop with a tasting bar, and a visitor area.

The distillery also received permission from Kerry County Council to upgrade its external cladding and modify its internal layout across its lower and upper levels.

In addition, the plans included a new retail area, two new steel grain storage silos, bicycle, car and bus parking on site and all associated site ancillary works.

However, the plans have now been appealed to An Coimisiun Pleanala by local residents who, in their submission to Kerry County Council, outlined concerns regarding a lack of information about the new works, including how retail and visitor areas would work, the excessive amount of glass in the new plans, and how many new parking spaces would be created.

In their submission, neighbouring residents Peter Malone and Eileen O'Sullivan congratulated the architects for producing a design that is "far more true to the area than its predecessor."

However, they noted a lack of clarity on key issues regarding the development.

"No landscaping plan is submitted by the developers," the residents said. "There is no lighting plan submitted."

"The planning proposal aims to introduce a retail area and extend the distillery's offering to visitors, though very little information has been submitted on what these are and how they would work. What hours would they be open, for example?"

In 2023, An Coimisiun Pleanala refused a major redevelopment plan of the distillery, which is located on the western side of the River Milltown outside the urban core of Dingle.

The plans, which were also backed by Failte Ireland, had been given the go-ahead by Kerry County Council over two years ago, which would have seen the distillery almost double its size. In its decision, the local authority ruled that the plans satisfied the council's tourism strategy and local plans.

However, in its 2023 decision, the commission said that it was not satisfied that "the proposed industrial development" would not severely impact on the adjacent residential development.

An Coimisiun Pleanala are due to decide on the new plans by July 14, 2026.
The United States has sent a 15-point plan to Iran for a possible ceasefire, officials said, even as it began to move paratroopers to the Middle East to back up marines heading there on Wednesday.

Irans military scoffed at the diplomatic effort and launched more attacks on Israel and the Persian Gulf region, including an assault that sparked a fire at Kuwait International Airport.

With growing pressure on the US to end the war as it nears the end of its first month, Washington submitted the plan to Iran through intermediaries from Pakistan who have offered to host renewed negotiations, sources said.

.@SecWar: "Never has a modern military, been so rapidly and historically obliterated, defeated, from day one, with overwhelming firepower... thats why we see ourselves as part of this negotiation as well. We negotiate with bombs. You have a choice, as we loiter over the top of pic.twitter.com/hCP7hpDmqh  Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 24, 2026

Irans attacks on regional energy infrastructure and its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which a fifth of the worlds oil is shipped, has sent oil prices skyrocketing and rocked world markets over fears of a global energy crisis.

At least 1,000 troops from the American 82nd Airborne Division will be sent top the Middle East in the coming days, three sources said.

The Pentagon is also in the process of deploying two Marine units that will add about 5,000 Marines and thousands of sailors to the region. The moves are being framed as US president Donald Trump manoeuvring to give himself max flexibility on what he will do next, a source added.

Mr Trump has said that American officials are in negotiations with Iran, though he has not said who they are in contact with.

The US is preparing to deploy paratroopers to support marines (AP)

Irans Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which commands both the regular military and the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, suggested there are no talks.

Spokesman Lt Col Ebrahim Zolfaghari said to the US side in a televised statement: Have your internal conflicts reached the point where you are negotiating with yourselves?

Our first and last word has been the same from day one, and it will stay that way: Someone like us will never come to terms with someone like you.

Not now, not ever.

Israeli officials, who have been advocating for Mr Trump to continue the war against Iran, were surprised by the submission of a ceasefire plan, the official said.

A drone strike hit fuel storage at Kuwait international airport (AP)

Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced it had begun new wide-scale attacks on Wednesday on Iran targeting government infrastructure, and witnesses reported airstrikes in the north-western city of Qazvin.

Missile alert sirens began early in the morning in Israel as Iran launched its own attacks, which have been a daily occurrence since Israel and the US attacked Iran on February 28 to start the war.

Iran also kept up the pressure on its Gulf Arab neighbours, with Saudi Arabias defence ministry saying it had destroyed at least eight drones in the kingdoms oil-rich Eastern Province, and missile alert sirens sounding in Bahrain.

Kuwait said it shot down multiple drones but one hit a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport, sparking a fire, the General Civil Aviation Authority said. Firefighters were working to contain the blaze.

Brent crude oil, the international standard, has neared 120 US dollars a barrel during the conflict but was trading just below 100 dollars in morning trading as talks of a possible ceasefire helped calm prices. That is still up nearly 40% from the start of the war.

US president Donald Trump said Iran wanted a deal (AP)

Any talks between the US and Iran would face monumental challenges. Many of Washingtons shifting objectives, particularly over Irans ballistic missile and nuclear programs, remain difficult to achieve.

It is not clear who in Irans government has the authority to negotiate  or would be willing to, as Israel has vowed to continue killing the countrys leaders.

Iran remains highly suspicious of the United States, which twice under the Trump administration has attacked during high-level diplomatic talks, including with the strikes that started the current war.

Lt Col Zolfaghari said that the US was in no position to negotiate.

The strategic power you used to talk about has turned into a strategic failure, he said. The one claiming to be a global superpower would have already gotten out of this mess if it could.

Speaking Tuesday at the White House, Mr Trump said the US is in negotiations right now and that the participants included special envoy Steve Witkoff, his son-in-law Jared Kushner, secretary of state Marco Rubio and vice president JD Vance.

We have a number of people doing it, Mr Trump said. And the other side, I can tell you, theyd like to make a deal.
Pakistan has delivered a proposal from the United States to Iran, and either Pakistan or Turkey could be venues for discussions to de-escalate the war in the Gulf, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Wednesday.

The comments, on condition of anonymity, were among rare signs that Tehran might consider diplomatic proposals, despite insisting in public that no talks were under way and it would make no deal with the administration of President Donald Trump.

The Iranian source did not disclose details of the proposal passed on by Pakistan, or whether it was the same as a 15-point U.S. framework previously reported by news outlets including Reuters. The source said Turkey had also "helped to end the war and either Turkey or Pakistan was under consideration as the venue for such talks".

Oil prices fell and battered shares recovered on Wednesday after reports that the U.S. had sent the 15-point plan to Iran, with investors hoping for an end to nearly four weeks of war that has killed thousands and disrupted global energy supplies.

A source familiar with the matter had confirmed on Tuesday to Reuters that the plan had been sent to Iran.

Three Israeli cabinet sources said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet had been briefed on the proposal, which they said included removing Iran's stocks of highly enriched uranium, halting enrichment, curbing its ballistic missile programme and ending funding for regional allies.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon is planning to send thousands of airborne troops to the Gulf to give Mr Trump more options to order a ground assault, sources have told Reuters, adding to two contingents of Marines already on their way. The first Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard a huge amphibious assault ship could arrive around the end of the month.

Iran's neighbour Pakistan has already offered to host talks attended by senior U.S. officials as soon as this week. A senior ruling party official in Turkey, Harun Armagan, told Reuters on Wednesday that Ankara was also "playing a role passing messages" between Iran and the US.

But so far there has been no public recognition from Iran that it is willing to negotiate at all, while its assertions that it would not do so have become increasingly caustic.

"Has the level of your inner struggle reached the stage of you negotiating with yourself?" the top spokesperson for Iran's joint military command, Ebrahim Zolfaqari, taunted Mr Trump in comments on Iranian state TV.

"People like us can never get along with people like you," he said. "As we have always said ... no one like us will make a deal with you. Not now. Not ever."

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmail Beghaei, appearing on television in India, noted that nuclear talks had already been under way when Trump attacked, which he called "a betrayal of diplomacy" that proved further talks were pointless.

There are "no talks or negotiations between Iran and the United States", he said. "No one can trust United States diplomacy. Our position is clear on what they have claimed. Right now, our brave military is focused on defending Iran's territory and sovereignty against this brutal and illegal war."

A senior Israeli defence official said Israel was sceptical Iran would agree to the terms, and that Israel was concerned that the terms were only starting points for negotiations, during which US negotiators might make concessions.

A source familiar with Israel's war plans said Israel wanted any US-Iranian agreement to preserve Israel's option to conduct pre-emptive strikes.

Trump, who early in the war had said it would end only with Tehran's "unconditional surrender" and his choosing Iran's leaders, has abruptly changed tack this week, declaring that "productive" talks had been under way for days with unspecified Iranian officials.

His softer stance, which included postponing a threat to escalate the bombing by attacking Iran's civilian energy system, caused a respite in financial markets, which have see-sawed but largely stabilised since Monday.

But Iran has consistently maintained that no such talks have taken place, and derided Trump's announcement as an attempt to buy time and placate the markets.

Strikes continue; 'Pretty much business as usual'

Meanwhile, the war has raged on with no let-up in air attacks against Iran, or in Iranian drone and missile strikes against Israel and U.S. allies.

An Israeli military official, asked whether Israel had adjusted its military plans since Trump said talks were under way with Iran, said it was "pretty much business as usual".

The Israeli military described several new waves of attacks on Iran during the day, including one on Iran's construction of ships and submarines.

The semi-official Iranian SNN News Agency said strikes had hit a residential area in Tehran, with rescuers searching the rubble.

Kuwait and Saudi Arabia said they had repelled fresh drone attacks. Drones targeted a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport, causing a fire but no casualties, Kuwait's Civil Aviation Authority said.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had launched a new wave of attacks against locations in Israel including Tel Aviv and Kiryat Shmona, as well as US bases in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain.

Since the start of "Operation Epic Fury" by the US in February, Iran has attacked countries that host US bases and effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, conduit for a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas.

Iran has told the United Nations Security Council and the International Maritime Organization that "non-hostile vessels" may transit the Strait of Hormuz if they coordinate with Iranian authorities. In practice, however, only Iran's own oil and a handful of ships from friendly countries have made it through.

- Reuters
A woman pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to the attempted murder of Rihanna.

Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, from Orlando, Florida, also pleaded not guilty through her lawyer to more than a dozen other felony counts in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Prosecutors allege the singing superstar, her hip-hop star partner ASAP Rocky, and their three young children, were among the people assaulted at their home in the Beverly Hills area of California on March 8, when Ortiz, 35, pulled up to the property and sprayed about 20 bullets from an AR-15 style rifle into the tall exterior wall.

Ortiz is charged with 10 counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and three counts of shooting at an occupied vehicle or dwelling. She could get life in prison if convicted on all charges.

This case involves a dangerous, deliberate shooting into occupied homes. This is the kind of conduct that could easily have resulted in multiple homicides

Her lawyer, deputy public defender Derek Ray Dillman, entered the plea on her behalf as Ortiz appeared behind glass in a custody area, wearing yellow jail clothes with her blonde hair in plaits.

She spoke only to agree to waive her right to a speedy preliminary hearing, the next phase of the case where evidence is presented to determine whether a trial is warranted.

Her lawyer asked that her bail be reduced from 1.9 million dollars (1.4 million) to 70,000 dollars (52,000) based on her ability to pay. Judge Theresa McGonigle declined the request and kept the bail the same.

The prosecutor, arguing against the reduction, said she was a major risk to the community and would likely flee.

This case involves a dangerous, deliberate shooting into occupied homes, deputy district attorney Alexander Bott said. This is the kind of conduct that could easily have resulted in multiple homicides.

When Ortiz was arrested hours after the shooting, she was alone in her car with the rifle, more rounds and a wig she intended to use as a disguise, Mr Bott said.

Public records show Ortiz has been a licensed speech pathologist for more than a decade. Judge McGonigle ruled at the state attorney generals request that she should be prevented from practising in California.

District attorney Nathan Hochman said when Ortiz was charged that Rihanna and Rocky were together in an Airstream trailer at the time of the shooting, while her mother, their children and staff were in the main house.

The three counts of firing at a dwelling were for Rihannas house, her trailer, and a neighbours house, prosecutors said. The 10 assault counts were for Rihanna and family, two staff and two people in the neighbouring house.

Mr Hochman would not say where any of the bullets landed, discuss a motive or describe any connection between Ortiz and Rihanna, saying all were under investigation.

He also said his office was investigating social media posts from Ortiz from the days leading up to the gunfire.

A nine-time Grammy Award winner, Rihanna has 14 No 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including We Found Love, Work, Umbrella and Disturbia. She founded the makeup brand Fenty Beauty in 2017.
Orono, Maine (Special to Informed Comment; Feature)  Is there a long-term strategic goal to be achieved in the incessant bombing of Iranian cities by Israel?. In the 24 plus days of this onslaught the U.S. has, intentionally or not, managed to obliterate a girls school and kill 170 eight to twelve year old students and their teachers.

America is obsessed with security needs and has built over 800 facilities and bases around the world, nineteen of them located in the Middle East. It is these that are targeted by Iran to prevent bombing campaigns by Israel and the U.S.

Most of these bases were built after the formation of the 1979 Islamic Republic, when tens of thousands of Iranians left with the Shah to become refugees in the U.S. In a recent poll, more than half of these some 400,000 Iranian-Americans favored a diplomatic solution to the current war, while a minority supported the Israeli-U.S. bombing.

In the Iran bombing campaign, labeled Operation Epic Fury, one of the results has been that most ships are not allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a state of affairs that is now affecting oil and natural gas prices on a global scale.

Neither military leaders nor the American Congress were able to comprehend, or warn Trump, of the dire possibilities that can result from bombing Iran. The death of civilians and the destruction of the infrastructure of the country is horrific enough, but the prevention of much of the oil and LNG shipments that constitute 20% of global oil supply, will have worldwide consequences when gas prices continue to rise and electricity shortages take place, as well as food prices rising.

There is no longer any doubt that Israeli leaders, especially Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have persuaded Trump to undertake this consequential war. It is a painful paradox that Israel is attacking Lebanon simultaneously while relying on their Dahieh Doctrine, a strategy of the large-scale destruction of civilian infrastructure in order to pressure governments hostile to Israel. The logic is that the death and destruction of the civilian populations will compel them to sue for peace. But, more often than not, the opposite happens and those suffering from bombing become even more entrenched, as is taking place in Iran.

The Lebanon attacks have displaced 800,000 people, with the bombing resulting in severe damage to 439 healthcare facilities while over 1000 civilians have been killed and 2500 wounded; at the same time the U.S-Israel bombing of Iran has killed an estimated 1500 with 21,000 injured.

According to an Israeli news report, hundreds of demonstrators rallied in downtown Tel Aviv against the Iran war, the first crowd action in what could well be a wave of protests seeking an end to the governments forever wars. The protest leader Uri Weltman said that Netanyahu is not satisfied with us absorbing Iranian missiles for the second time  he also wants us to sink into the Lebanese forever war for the fourth time.



Photo of building in Isfahan Province, Iran, by Eltaf Hussain Hassani on Unsplash

Another Israeli journalist, Yossi Verter, wrote: PM Netanyahu and his allies are a lot more dangerous than any murderous regime or terrorist organizations. The opposition to them must be foughtthrough a stubborn insistence on adhering to the law, to norms and to basic values.

An Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP) made up of over 200 organizations and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and Israelis, works diligently for peace. These grass-roots groups represent the moral and ethical heart of Israel and Palestine. It will be through their efforts that healing relations will take place between various factions after Netanyahu and his supporters have exhausted their self-destructive missions.

In the meantime, we will see the Israeli leadership suffer far more harm (morally and materially) than those they attempt to bomb into submission. According to a Tel Aviv University study, 100,000 of Israels most educated professionals, including 500 doctors and 633 PhDs, departed the country in 2023  2024, realizing perhaps, that it is cooperation and friendships that allow them to work at their best and not a perpetually militant society.
( Tomdispatch.com )  The March 4, 2026, edition of the Arizona Daily Star put the facts succinctly: A Haitian asylum seeker held for four months at Florence Correctional Center died Monday at a Scottsdale hospital due to complications from an infected tooth. It seems the infection spread from his tooth to his lungs, and he developed the pneumonia that killed him.

In other words, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) allowed a prisoner to die of a toothache. His name was Emmanuel Damas. He was 56 years old and the father of two.

And we can only expect medical treatment at ICE centers to deteriorate further. As Judd Legum at Popular Information reported in January 2026:

ICE has not paid any third-party providers for medical care for detainees since October 3, 2025. Last week, ICE posted a notice on an obscure government website announcing it will not begin processing such claims until at least April 30, 2026. Until then, medical providers are instructed to hold all claims submissions.

Emmanuel Damass unnecessary death would be outrageous enough, were it the only one of its kind. In fact, 32 people died in ICE custody during 2025, the most in two decades. Another six died in January 2026 alone, among them Geraldo Lunas Campos, a Cuban father aged 55, at Camp East Montana detention center in El Paso, Texas.

Although ICE initially claimed Lunas Campos had attempted suicide, the American Immigration Council reports that the El Paso County Medical Examiner ruled his death was a homicide arising from asphyxia due to neck and torso compression. Of course, its pretty hard to strangle yourself to death. Witnesses, however, described his murder this way: Mr. Lunas Campos was handcuffed, while at least five guards held him down and one guard squeezed his neck until he was unconscious. At least one other man has died at the Camp East Montana detention center, where tuberculosis and measles are also spreading.

Damas and Lunas Campos were among the roughly 73,000 people whom ICE currently holds in a tangle of detention camps sprawled across the country. And more centers are under construction. Many of them are former warehouses designed to function, as ICE acting director Todd Lyons put it last year, like Amazon Prime for human beings. (Like many Trump appointees, Lyons has not received Senate confirmation. His actual title, according to ICE, is Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.)

What Is a Concentration Camp?

Taken together, this network of prisons or, more accurately, concentration camps, constitutes an American gulag. Gulag is not so much a word as a Russian initialism that came to stand for the Soviet Unions concentration camp program, originally developed under Joseph Stalin. The term stands for Main Directorate of Correctional Labor Camps and originally referred to the officials running the camps. Later, gulag came to indicate the camps themselves, which were a central instrument of Soviet political repression. Most Americans first learned about those camps through Aleksandr Solzhenitsyns 1973 internationally bestselling memoir, The Gulag Archipelago.

As Andrea Pitzer, author of One Long Night: A Global History of Concentration Camps, has written, such institutions are a relatively recent phenomenon. While human beings have long contrived ways to isolate groups they identify as enemies  for example, in the enclosed Jewish ghettos of medieval Europe  the modern concentration camp evolved thanks to two key inventions: barbed wire and the machine gun. That pair of technological advances made it possible for a small number of guards to control and contain a large number of people in one place.

Concentration camps have a number of defining features:

Concentration camps exist outside regular legal structures. The people they hold are not prisoners, but detainees. So, we find people of all ages, from infants to ancients, in concentration camps. In most cases, they have not been tried or convicted of any crime. Rather, they are held because of their status, for example, as non-citizens, or in the case of Japanese-American citizens imprisoned during World War II, because of their ethnicity or national origin. This is true for the people held in ICE detention today. Their alleged offenses are against U.S. civil, not criminal law, and their detention exists outside of any court system, including the immigration courts run by the Department of Justices Executive Office for Immigration Review. Immigration judges, who are really administrative employees, cant order anyone detained. Thats up to ICE and its umbrella agency, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Concentration camp inmates are civilians, not soldiers, which places them conveniently outside the strictures of the Geneva Conventions. Thats why the U.S. has never recognized the men it has held and, in the case of 15 prisoners, continues to hold as prisoners of war in the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In the 1990s, almost a decade before the naval station at Guantanamo was first used to house detainees in the global war on terror, the U.S. held immigrants there, including as many as 50,000 Haitians and Cubans. Trumps January 29, 2025, executive order entitled Expanding Migrant Operations Center At Naval Station Guantanamo Bay To Full Capacity directed the Defense and Homeland Security departments to prepare to hold as many as 30,000 migrant detainees there. As of July 2025, the camp held detainees from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean.

Concentration camps are associated with authoritarian regimes. They function both as a direct form of repression and, no less importantly, as a warning to the rest of the population about what could happen to those who resist the regime. In this sense, concentration camps are very much like another tool of repression, institutionalized state torture, about which I wrote in my book Mainstreaming Torture. Like state torture, concentration camps perform a kind of national security theater, made all the more entrancing by its quasi-secret nature. In the case of ICE detention camps, the DHS has made a show of not permitting local officials or members of Congress to enter those facilities. But such detention centers cant fulfill their full repressive function if people dont know anything about what goes on in them. So, we have the spectacle of a hearing in which a congresswoman asked then-DHS secretary Kristi Noem about a double amputee who has to crawl through mold and feces and bodily fluids just to take a shower. Knowing that this is happening to people who have almost no recourse is intended to have a chilling effect on political action.

Concentration camps are not death camps, but people do die there. Many Americans tend to think that all German concentration camps were sites of direct extermination. In fact, the Nazis constructed six camps specifically designed for the industrialized murder of their inhabitants. But for a decade before the first death camp was even opened, prisoners had already been concentrated in thousands of labor camps. In fact, they were not there to be killed directly, but to be removed from society. As the National World War II Museum in New Orleans explains, Initially, the population of these concentration camps were not usually Jews, but Communists, socialists, Roma and Sinti, Jehovahs witnesses, gay men, and asocial elements (alcoholics, criminals, people with mental disabilities, the poor). Notably, like undocumented people in the U.S. today, these were groups who then received little sympathy from the larger German population. The conditions they encountered  lack of food and medical care, crowding, and unsanitary conditions  sickened and killed as many as a third of those who passed through them.

A Brief History of U.S. Concentration Camps

The Soviet gulag was not the worlds first concentration camp, although such institutions are, in fact, a relatively recent phenomenon. Human beings have long contrived to isolate groups they identify as enemies, as Americans at times did with enslaved Africans and the native peoples of this continent. Indeed, when the Cherokee nation was evicted from its lands under the 1830 Indian Removal Act and forced to travel the Trail of Tears, many of them were kept for some time in emigration depots in Alabama and Tennessee.

Almost everyone in this country has heard of Nazi Germanys camps, but the history of the modern concentration camp really began at the end of the nineteenth century. As Andrea Pitzer recounted in a recent interview, Americans first became aware of such camps in the 1890s, when Spain instituted a policy of reconcentracion in its efforts to put down a rebellion in Cuba. As has happened in ICE detention camps today, malnourished men, women, and children were shoved into holding camps there, where crowded conditions and poor sanitation led many to sicken and die. News of the horrifying conditions in Cuba led Americans to organize material aid for those being held.

The United States then dispatched the battleship Maine to accompany the ships carrying relief supplies to Cuba. When the Maine sank in Havana harbor under murky circumstances, the U.S. government had the pretext it needed to mount a military campaign against the remnants of Spanish colonial control in the Americas and the Pacific. That relatively short war ended with the U.S. in possession of most of Spains remaining colonies, including the island of Puerto Rico, and what would eventually become the nation of the Philippines. Almost immediately, the new American colonizers reproduced in the Philippines the kind of reconcentracion camps they had supposedly gone to war to eradicate in Cuba. In another parallel with the twenty-first century, it was during the occupation of the Philippines that U.S. forces invented the form of torture we have come to call waterboarding.

Most Americans know about President Franklin D. Roosevelts 1942 executive order creating 10 concentration camps to hold people of Japanese descent, about two-thirds of whom were U.S. citizens mostly living in the western United States. Over 120,000 men, women, and children were interned for the duration of World War II. Many lost their homes, farms, businesses, and other property (often seized by their non-Japanese neighbors). A much smaller number of Italian and German nationals were also interned, as Germans had also been during World War I.

The Japanese camps were constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the same federal agency that provided mass employment for millions during the Great Depression under Roosevelts New Deal program. Few Americans know that, in addition to building roads, schools, dams, and the occasional zoo, the WPA also built the barracks and strung the barbed wire that enclosed World War II internees.

ICEs predecessor agency, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), ran about 20 of those camps, primarily ones imprisoning Japanese, German, and Italian non-citizens. Three of them were built in Texas to hold people from those countries who had been deported from Latin America. (Most of them were Japanese from Peru.) Those camps were guarded by the Border Patrol, rather than the military police. In other words, ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have a long history of running the U.S. version of concentration camps. Theyre used to it.

American Gulag

Its no exaggeration to say that ICE detention camps now threaten to become a central instrument of repression under the Trump administration. As many as 40 people have died in the camps since Trump returned to office in January 2025. And those are only the deaths that have been publicly acknowledged.

If Camp East Montana is the biggest ICE camp in the country, the most notorious may well be the Florida site in the Everglades that has come to be known as Alligator Alcatraz. Constructed hastily over just a week, according to Amnesty International, it houses people in horrific conditions:

Inside, people are crammed into overcrowded cages around bunk beds with little room to move. Food is spoiled and maggot-infested. Mosquitoes swarm constantly, showers are scarce, and extreme heat and humidity make the center unbearable. There appear to be almost no reliable or confidential means for detainees to communicate with their attorneys or family members.

That description is echoed in the testimony of people held in ICE detention camps nationwide. A complete report on the conditions at all of those camps would run to hundreds of thousands of words. Indeed, its hard to get a handle on the full scope of ICEs concentration camp program, since reports on the number and size of such camps change quickly as new ones are proposed or come online. The organization Freedom for Immigrants maintains an interactive immigration detention map which identifies at least 200 separate locations where immigrants (and the occasional U.S. citizen) are detained. And the Trump administration is not done. According to the Guardian, DHS plans to spend $3.8 billion upgrading 24 existing warehouses to implement ICE Acting Director Todd Lyonss dream of treating immigrants like human widgets.

And that brings us back to the point of all this. Concentration camps exist to support and expand the power of an authoritarian regime. They make everyone afraid of being treated like the current targets of the regime. Like state torture programs, concentration camps accelerate the process of dehumanizing groups of people in the public imagination. Such a process often begins by describing the target group as non-human, as vermin or garbage (as Trump has, of course, done). Ironically, the very act of placing people in inhumane conditions can amplify the publics perception of their inhumanity. After all, would genuine human beings submit to such treatment? Would our good nation treat genuine human beings that way?

One other significant aspect of all this: the enrichment of a few corporations. President Trumps Big Beautiful Bill gave ICE upwards of $45 billion to spend on those camps, which meant that there was a lot of money to be made. Today most of them are run by two private prison companies, CoreCivic and the GEO Group. The presidents Big Beautiful Bill also allows the Department of Homeland Security to expedite that money-making by using the U.S. Navys Supply Systems Command program, which serves as an end-run around the usual bidding process for federal contracts.

This morning, I asked my partner whether she thought that the Trump administration could make the transition from concentration camps, where people die as a side effect of their internment, to actual death camps. I think its possible, she responded  and so, horribly  do I.

Its possible, but not yet inevitable. To date, local actions have provided the most effective means of resisting the creation of the American gulag our federal government is constructing. These have included organizing to oppose siting camps in specific communities, efforts to leverage local zoning laws to stop them, and attempts to generate state-level political opposition to them. (The Washington Post had an excellent roundup of recent efforts in one county in Maryland to block such a camp.)

We know whats at stake. We know we can dismantle the American gulag, because some of us are already doing it. Its time for the rest of us to get to work.

Copyright 2026 Rebecca Gordon

Via Tomdispatch.com
US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he was upbeat about the chances of a negotiated deal with Iran, even as Israel and Tehran traded new blows and the United States was reported to be sending more troops to the region.

The latest violence included what Iran said was a second strike during the war on the Bushehr nuclear plant, a civilian site perilously close to Gulf population centres, leading the UN nuclear watchdog to urge "maximum restraint".

Trump, whose pronouncements in recent days have swung wildly from vowing massive attacks on Iran to declaring the nearly month-long war virtually over, said the United States was "in negotiations right now" with Iran -- which has not confirmed any formal talks.

Trump said that Iran's surviving leadership had offered the United States a "prize" -- a cryptic comment that he said gave him faith in diplomacy.

"They did something yesterday that was amazing actually. They gave us a present and the present arrived today. And it was a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

"That meant one thing to me -- we're dealing with the right people."

Trump, asked to elaborate, said that the purported gift dealt with oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has largely blockaded in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes, sending global energy prices soaring.

Trump had earlier threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power plants, which some argue would be a war crime, if it did not open the strait by late Monday Washington time. Before US markets opened Monday, Trump abruptly extended the deadline by five days, citing diplomatic progress.

Pakistan's prime minister has offered to host US-Iran talks, which Trump said involved top officials including Vice President JD Vance.

President Emmanuel Macron of France, which will host G7 talks among foreign ministers on the crisis Friday, called on Iran to "engage in good faith".

- Violence unabated -

Despite Trump's stated hopes for diplomacy, The Wall Street Journal reported that the United States is planning to send 3,000 soldiers from the elite 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East.

Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched the war on February 28, killing Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei, just after new talks between US and Iranian envoys.

Iranian missiles have found growing success penetrating Israeli defences, with AFP images showing rubble-strewn streets in the commercial hub Tel Aviv. On Tuesday, more than a dozen people were injured in Israel including an infant, first responders said.

Israel said it conducted a "large wave" of airstrikes across several areas of Iran. Israeli military spokesman Effie Defrin said his country's war plan was "unchanged" despite Trump's remarks and that it would continue "to deepen the damage and remove existential threats".

Israel's Channel 12 said that Trump's envoys were proposing a one-month ceasefire during which the sides would discuss a 15-point agreement that would include a ban on Iran enriching uranium on its soil and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran in turn would see sanctions relief, according to the report. The Trump administration similarly offered a 15-point plan before a shorter Israeli and US bombing campaign against Iran in June.

Iran had agreed in 2015 to broad restraints on its contested nuclear program in a deal that Trump ripped up during his first term as he joined Israel in applying pressure to the cleric-run state.

The reported agreement would keep in place the Islamic republic which weeks earlier ruthlessly crushed mass protests, killing thousands.

But Trump insisted Tuesday that Iran effectively already had "regime change" after Israeli killings of top leaders.

Iran's powerful parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, denied any negotiations with the United States, accusing Trump of seeking "to manipulate the financial and oil markets".

Iran's foreign ministry, however, acknowledged that messages had been relayed by "friendly countries" indicating a "US request for negotiations".

- War is 'daily life now' -

Israel while striking Iran has stepped up its campaign against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, saying its military would take control of south Lebanon up to the Litani river, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border.

Israel -- which occupied southern Lebanon for nearly two decades until 2000 -- carried out new strikes across the country. The Israeli military late Tuesday warned residents of Beirut's southern suburbs, strongholds of Hezbollah, to evacuate in the face of imminent strikes.

The Israeli campaign has killed at least 1,072 people in Lebanon, with more than one million people displaced, according to authorities.

Lebanon's health ministry said at least eight people were killed in the latest Israeli strikes, including a three-year-old girl.

Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East war when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 to avenge the killing of Khamenei.

Lebanon, whose central government has long been fragile, grew increasingly assertive by announcing it was ordering the Iranian ambassador to leave by Sunday, accusing the Islamic republic of meddling and commanding Hezbollah operations.

Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia all said they had intercepted renewed drone and missile attacks as Iran kept up retaliatory strikes on US-allied Gulf states.

"The sounds, the explosions, the missiles -- they are part of our daily life now," a 35-year-old woman in Tehran told AFP by telephone.

"Our one real worry now is that our oil and gas infrastructure isn't targeted by missile strikes. I think that's the only thing all Iranians can agree on at the moment."

Oil prices, which had tumbled after Trump mooted talks on Monday, rebounded slightly in Tuesday trade, with Brent back above $100 a barrel.

burs-sct/msp

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US President Donald Trump sent a peace plan to Iran as he voiced optimism Tuesday at ending nearly a month of warfare, with Tehran announcing that it will let "non-hostile" oil vessels go through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

The tentative signs of a diplomatic solution came despite new violence, with an Iranian missile causing injuries in Israel, which in turn pressed on multiple fronts and vowed to seize control of a strip of southern Lebanon.

Trump, whose pronouncements in recent days have swung wildly from vowing massive attacks on Iran to declaring the nearly month-long war virtually over, said the United States was "in negotiations right now" with Iran -- which has not confirmed any formal talks.

"They did something yesterday that was amazing actually. They gave us a present and the present arrived today. And it was a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

"That meant one thing to me -- we're dealing with the right people."

He did not explain further but said it related to the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has largely blockaded in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes, sending global energy prices soaring.

Iran, in a message circulated by the International Maritime Organization shortly afterward, assured safe passage to "non-hostile vessels" going through the strait, the gateway for one-fifth of the world's oil.

Iran had already in recent days said it was not targeting friendly nations, although many vessels have shied away as insurance companies refuse to take risks.

The benchmark price of crude oil dropped close to six percent after the latest developments. Prices at the pump have soared in the United States after the war by Trump, causing him a political headache.

- New nuclear deal? -

Trump had earlier threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power plants, which some argue would be a war crime, if it did not open the strait by late Monday Washington time. Before US markets opened Monday, Trump abruptly extended that deadline by five days, citing diplomatic progress.

Pakistan's prime minister has offered to host US-Iran talks, which Trump said involved top officials including Vice President JD Vance.

Trump said that he had sent a plan and that it "all starts with, they cannot have a nuclear weapon."

The New York Times, quoting unnamed officials, said that the United States had sent the 15-point plan to Iran through Pakistan.

Israel's Channel 12 said that Trump was proposing a one-month ceasefire during which the sides would discuss a proposal that would include handing over Iran's enriched uranium and banning further enrichment.

Iran would also ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran in turn would see an end to all sanctions, which have been in place in various forms for years, the Israeli report said.

Iran would also receive assistance in developing civil nuclear energy at Bushehr, a key site which dates from before the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Iran on Tuesday accused Israel of carrying out a second strike on Bushehr, which lies perilously close to Gulf Arab population centers.

"The sounds, the explosions, the missiles -- they are part of our daily life now," a 35-year-old woman in Tehran told AFP by telephone. "Our one real worry now is that our oil and gas infrastructure isn't targeted by missile strikes."

Iran had agreed in 2015 to broad restraints on its contested nuclear program in a deal that Trump ripped up during his first term as he joined Israel in applying pressure to the cleric-run state.

The reported new proposal would keep in place the Islamic republic which weeks earlier ruthlessly crushed mass protests, killing thousands, despite earlier vows of regime change by Trump and especially Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

- Troops en route despite diplomacy -

Despite Trump's stated hopes for diplomacy, The Wall Street Journal reported that the United States is planning to send 3,000 soldiers from the elite 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East.

Trump's envoys were negotiating a nuclear deal with Iran just two days before the United States and Israel launched the massive attack on February 28, killing Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the first day.

Iranian missiles have found growing success penetrating Israeli defences, with AFP images showing rubble-strewn streets in the commercial hub Tel Aviv. On Tuesday, more than a dozen people were injured in Israel, including an infant, first responders said.

Israel said it conducted a "large wave" of airstrikes across several areas of Iran. Israeli military spokesman Effie Defrin said his country's war plan was "unchanged" despite Trump's remarks and that it would continue "to deepen the damage and remove existential threats".

Israel has also stepped up its campaign against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, saying its military would take control of south Lebanon up to the Litani river, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border.

Israel -- which occupied southern Lebanon for nearly two decades until 2000 -- carried out new strikes across the country. The Israeli military late Tuesday warned residents of Beirut's southern suburbs, strongholds of Hezbollah, to evacuate in the face of imminent strikes.

The Israeli campaign has killed at least 1,072 people in Lebanon, with more than one million people displaced, according to authorities. Another nine people died in Israeli strikes in the south, officials said.

Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East war when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 to avenge the killing of Khamenei.

Lebanon, whose central government has long been fragile, grew increasingly assertive by announcing it was ordering the Iranian ambassador to leave by Sunday, accusing the Islamic republic of meddling and commanding Hezbollah operations.

Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia all said they had intercepted renewed drone and missile attacks as Iran kept up retaliatory strikes on US-allied Gulf states.

Kuwait reported a fire at its main airport after drones hit a fuel tank.

burs-sct/jgc

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The UN General Assembly will vote Wednesday on a resolution designating the transatlantic African slave trade as "the gravest crime against humanity," in a move advocates say is a step towards healing and justice.

Ghana's President John Mahama, one of the African Union's most vocal supporters of slavery reparations, visited the United Nations headquarters to promote the "historic" gesture.

The resolution, he told the UN on Tuesday, "allows us as a global community to collectively bear witness to the plight of more than 12.5 million men, women and children, whose homes, communities, names, families, hopes, dreams, futures and lives were stolen from them over the course of 400 years."

Calling it "a safeguard against forgetting," Mahama took aim at recent political moves in the United States to ban books on the subject in order to "stop teaching students about the truth of...slavery, segregation and racism."

The draft resolution "declares the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized chattel enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity."

The text also highlights the legacy of slavery via "the persistence of racial discrimination and neo-colonialism" in today's society.

- 'Not ranking suffering' -

Amma Adomaa Twum-Amoah, the African Union's Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Development, said that "to name these atrocities clearly is to remove the last veils of ambiguity from the historical record."

"It is to say that what was done to Africans was not a tragic accident of history, but the result of deliberate policies whose legacies structure today's inequalities," she continued. "Justice begins with calling things by their proper names."

But the resolution goes beyond simple acknowledgement, asking nations involved in the slave trade to engage in the process of restorative justice.

"The perpetrators of the transatlantic slave trade are known, the Europeans, the United States of America," Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa told AFP.

"We expect all of them to formally apologize to Africa and to all people of African descent."

One pathway toward restorative justice, he said, is that "all the looted artifacts are returned to the motherland."

He also suggested that institutions continue to address structural racism and that "compensation" could be offered to those affected.

Okudzeto Ablakwa also acknowledged criticism of the resolution brought by some General Assembly members that the language of it could create a "hierarchy" of suffering.

"We are not ranking suffering when we say that the transatlantic slave trade represents a 'gravest crime against humanity,' it is not to introduce a hierarchy," he said.

"What we are saying is that if you look at all of the atrocities that have happened in the history of humanity, none have been this systemic, this prolonged, over 300 years, and the lingering consequences of that," he said.

"We are not ranking pain. We are not saying that our pain should be valued more than your pain."
The EU said Wednesday it had launched proceedings to become a "founding member" of a special Ukraine tribunal to try top Russian officials over Moscow's war against its neighbour.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed an accord with the Council of Europe last year to create a legal body to prosecute the "crime of aggression" in the invasion Russia launched in 2022.

Becoming a founding member would allow the European Union to play a central role in its operations, including the selection of judges and prosecutors.

"Justice for the victims of aggression is the best route to lasting peace," said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.

"The pursuit of justice is equally a deterrent for would-be aggressors," she added.

The 46-member Council of Europe -- a France-based rights body -- is distinct from the EU.

Members include the EU's 27 countries but also key European states from outside the bloc such as Turkey, Britain and Ukraine.

Russia was expelled in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine and has already said it will disregard the special tribunal's rulings.

Kyiv and its supporters want to see justice served for Russia's war and European foreign ministers endorsed the creation of the judicial body in a meeting in May last year.

Brussels has already helped draft the tribunal's founding legal texts and contributed 10 million euros to prepare its operational set-up.

Its bid for founding member status needs to be approved by the EU's 27 nations, before submission to the Council of Europe.

"This is a decisive step towards establishing the Special Tribunal and ensuring that those responsible for Russia's crime of aggression are held to account," said EU justice commissioner Michael McGrath.

The tribunal, which was initially hoped could start work this year, could in theory try senior figures up to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has already issued arrest warrants for Putin over the abduction of Ukrainian children and four of his top commanders for targeting civilians.

But the ICC does not have the jurisdiction to prosecute Russia for the more fundamental decision to launch the invasion -- otherwise known as the "crime of aggression".
The UN General Assembly on Wednesday designated the transatlantic African slave trade as "the gravest crime against humanity," in a move advocates hailed as a step towards healing and possible reparations.

The resolution was adopted to applause by a vote of 123 in favor, three against -- the United States, Israel and Argentina -- and 52 abstentions, including Britain and member states of the European Union.

"The transatlantic slave trade was a crime against humanity that struck at the core of personhood, broke up families, and devastated communities," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.

"To justify the unjustifiable, slavery's proponents and beneficiaries constructed a racist ideology -- turning prejudice into a pseudoscience."

Ghana's President John Mahama, one of the African Union's most vocal supporters of slavery reparations, was at the United Nations headquarters to support the vote.

The resolution went beyond simple acknowledgment, asking nations involved in the slave trade to engage in restorative justice.

"Today, we come together in solemn solidarity to affirm truth and pursue a route to healing and reparative justice. The adoption of this resolution serves as a safeguard against forgetting," said Mahama.

The resolution declared "the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized chattel enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity."

The text also highlighted the legacy of slavery via "the persistence of racial discrimination and neo-colonialism" in today's society.
One of the principal figures convicted in an infamous 2009 stadium massacre in Guinea died in custody Wednesday in the capital Conakry, the west African country's prison service said.

Aboubakar Sidiki Diakite, known as Toumba Diakite, was serving a 10-year sentence for his role in the September 2009 killing of 156 people and the rape of at least 109 women by pro-junta forces under then-dictator Moussa Dadis Camara.

He is at least the second person convicted in connection with the massacre to have died in custody following that of Colonel Claude Pivi in January.

Pivi was a former colonel and minister in charge of security under Camara.

Diakite, an aide de camp to Camara, was serving as commander of the presidential guard at the time of the massacre.

Now in his 50s, Diakite "was pronounced dead" Wednesday at 04h35 (local and GMT) at a Conakry military hospital, the prison service said in a statement.

The September 2009 massacre and rapes took place during and after a political rally attended by opposition supporters in a Conakry stadium, in one of the darkest chapters in Guinean history.

Authorities transferred Diakite from Conakry central prison to Coyah prison, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the capital, in February after reporting that he displayed "an aggressive attitude", refused to submit to a search and made threats against security officers during a surprise security check.

Diakite was arrested in Dakar in 2016 and extradited to Guinea in 2017, with his 10-year sentence set to expire next year.

In December 2009 he tried to murder Camara, accusing the dictator of wanting him to bear sole responsibility for the massacre.

Camara was eventually found guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced to 20 years, but was later pardoned by Guinea's current leader, Mamady Doumbouya.

Doumbouya came to power in a 2021 coup and was elected president last December in a vote that excluded all major opposition leaders.

Since independence from France in 1958, Guinea has had a complex history of military and authoritarian rule.
While promoting his latest stage project, South Korean actor Yoo Jun-sang has been getting a lot of attention for sharing very personal information about his family history, such as the death of his father and his mother's long-term illness.

The actor was on KBS 1TV's "Morning Plaza" with Jung Sang-hoon to talk about their upcoming musical "Swing Days: Codename A." During the show, he discussed the emotional events that have shaped his life and career.

Xportsnews says that Yoo talked openly about his late father and how his death has affected him for a long time. He expressed his feelings by explaining that his family initially did not want him to be an actor.

Yoo said, "Although they opposed it, I still have a deep affection for my father. In fact, even now, when I look at a star, there is a star we named 'Dad's Star,' and it is always aligned perfectly with the moon." He went on to talk about when his father died. "My longing for my father was that intense, but he passed away right after I returned from the military."

READ MORE: 'Unexpected You' Jang Yong And Yoo Jun Sang's Reunion

The actor also thought about how old his father was when he died and how it affected him personally. "Turning 50 was the hardest time for me. I wondered if I might pass away too. Fortunately, I made it past 50."

Yoo talked about how his father's influence has shaped his life and creative work since then. "I constantly have thoughts of my father in my heart. I think it is his presence that even inspires me to write children's books. To me, my father is a friend and a mentor who is always by my side, supporting me whenever I am struggling."

He then discussed more problems his family was having, like his mother's health. He said, "My dad died from a brain bleed." My mother also fell down right after my second child was born, and she still can't use her right side. "Even though I'm in so much pain, I'm living positively," she said.

TenAsia says that Yoo said similar things during the same broadcast, stressing how important his father will always be in his life. He started his reflection by saying that his father was a big influence on him.

Yoo said, "My father passed away right after I returned from the military. He was 50 years old," adding, "When I turned 50, it was the hardest time for me."

He went on to talk about how these events helped him grow as a person. He said "After my father passed away, I became the head of the family immediately. I think I matured quickly in my early 20s. I'm naturally very positive and cheerful, so I hid my difficult emotions and carried on confidently. I did everything I could after debuting."

Yoo Jun-sang is getting ready for "Swing Days: Codename A," a musical about the life of independence activist and businessman Yoo Il-han. The show will open on April 16 at the Grand Theater in the Chungmu Arts Center.

READ MORE: How Did 'Unexpected You' Kim Nam Joo And Yoo Jun Sang First Meet?
Strict curbs on misleading info to guard investors

16:26, March 25, 2026 By SHI JING in Shanghai ( China Daily

Chinese top regulators' tightened oversight on misleading information or market manipulation is expected to create a clearer and healthier market environment, safeguarding investor interest and facilitating the inflow of more long-term capital, experts said.

They cited the 13 million yuan ($1.9 million) fine on Jiangsu province-based Shuangliang Eco-Energy Systems Co Ltd as the latest example.

The company was handed the penalty for leveraging a hot topic among market participants  commercial aerospace  and releasing misleading statements that affected investor judgment, according to an announcement by the Jiangsu office of the China Securities Regulatory Commission on Sunday.

During the trading hours of Feb 12, Shuangliang published an article on its official WeChat account saying that it supplies products to spaceflight company SpaceX. This helped its share price soar by the daily limit of 10 percent.

However, after the close of market hours, the company quickly issued a clarification, stating that the involved orders accounted for only 0.11 percent of its revenue and that Shuangliang was a nonexclusive indirect supplier to the US-based company.

Shuangliang's share price fell by the daily limit of 10 percent the next trading day.

Regulators determined that Shuangliang failed to accurately and completely disclose key information in the WeChat story, thereby violating certain articles in China's Securities Law. The company, the board secretary and its head of public relations have all been fined.

Regulators have adopted stricter supervision over piggybacking on hot topics or hyping up concepts. Nearly 10 A-share companies have been named and held accountable for such deeds so far, among which four have been placed under investigation by the CSRC.

Most of these companies had hyped up concepts in the buzzing areas of the capital market, such as commercial aerospace, artificial intelligence, brain-computer interfaces and chips.

According to Zhao Jingguo, senior partner of Shanghai Xinben Law Firm, piggybacking on hot topics and painting a rosy picture have become common tactics in companies' misleading statements. These are violations that interfere with investors' judgment through selective disclosure, one-sided exaggeration, concealment of key risks or vague statements. These have come under stricter crackdown this year, he said.

At a news conference during the two sessions held in early March, CSRC Chairman Wu Qing emphasized that regulatory enforcement and investor protection are the regulator's core functions, which will be more powerful and effective.

Efforts will be made to accurately and forcefully crack down on malicious illegal activities such as financial fraud, market manipulation and insider trading. Companies' authenticity should also be further improved to make them more investable, Wu said.

"The market should truly feel fairness and justice. Respecting the law and keeping promises should become a common pursuit for all market participants," he said.

According to Tian Lihui, dean of the institute of financial development at Nankai University, a market that significantly increases the cost of illegal activities through strict laws can guide capital to flow out of low-quality companies that "tell stories", and thus flow into the well-governed and genuinely competitive ones.

The efficiency of resource allocation and the overall cleaner market environment will be significantly enhanced. More medium and long-term capital will thus be attracted, helping the capital market to truly become a "booster" for the real economy, Tian said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Wu Chaolan)






Wednesday, March 25, 2026 - Former nominated senator Millicent Omanga has for the first time unveiled her husband on social media, sparking lively reactions from Kenyans.

In a post shared on Wednesday, March 25th, Omanga, who has set her sights on the Nairobi Woman Rep seat in the 2027 elections, cheekily explained that she was tired of endless DMs from men asking if she was single.

She revealed that her husband, a doctor by profession, is not only her partner but also a key supporter of her political journey.

Behind every successful woman kuna mwanaume na wangu ni Daktari. Sasa DM za uko single? na ulifanikiwa aje? zipungue kidogo, she captioned alongside a photo of the couple.

While many congratulated her for finally introducing her spouse, others accused Omanga of trying to distance herself from President William Ruto amid reports linking her to lucrative Government tenders awarded to his allies.

Her flamboyant lifestyle, often showcased on social media through topoftherange cars, has also drawn criticism, with some Kenyans accusing her of spitting on ordinary citizens struggling with tough economics with her display of wealth.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, March 25, 2026 - A photo circulating widely on social media has ignited debate over a traditional burial practice associated with some Luhya communities in Western Kenya.

The image, which has drawn strong reactions, is said to depict a cultural rite performed when an unmarried man dies without children.

Some users have expressed discomfort, describing the practice as outdated in modern society.

See the photo.





The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, March 25, 2026 - There was unexpected drama in the South African parliament when Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana suffered an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction while addressing the House.

The 69yearold minister had stepped forward to deliver his remarks when members noticed his fly was open and quickly alerted the Speaker.

At first, Godongwana seemed unaware, but he soon realized the slip and adjusted his attire with a sheepish smile.

Unfortunately, the moment had already been captured on live television, sparking laughter and cheeky comments across the chamber.

Some members were even heard mocking him, joking about the mishap in lessthankind terms.

Clips of the incident quickly spread online, igniting mixed reactions on social media.

Some netizens wondered how a senior Minister could find himself in such a situation, while others suggested that age might be catching up with him and called for retirement.

Watch the video>>> below

South Africa, Im done 

A whole Minister of Finance had his  out in Parliament!!!

My Godddd  They even dragged it and said its very short Im finished, pack it up!

This country will never be the same.#BBMzsnsi #bbmzansi6 #bazozwa pic.twitter.com/lNc5CS31Nz  ThuliSaul (@ThuliSaul_) March 24, 2026

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, March 25, 2026 - A dramatic incident unfolded at the University of Nairobi after angry students confronted acting Vice Chancellor, Margaret Jesang, forcing her to flee for safety.

The incident occurred during a student protest, with learners accusing the administration of neglect after reportedly going for four days without water.

In the video, Jesang is seen attempting to calm the striking students as tensions rise.

However, her efforts appear unsuccessful as the situation becomes increasingly volatile.

Moments later, her security team, backed by armed police officers, swiftly moves in and escorts her away from the scene as the students continue shouting.

She is then seen getting into her car and speeding off as fears grew that the situation could escalate further.

Watch the video>>> below

UoN Acting VC Margaret Jesang was forced to flee from a group of angry students who were unwilling to listen to her, after going nearly four days without water for sanitation. pic.twitter.com/R6ktcRZayG  The Kenyan Vigilante (@KenyanSays) March 25, 2026

The Kenyan DAILY POST
RATHANGAN was the place to be last week, with big celebrity sightings in the town during the course of filming for the upcoming Netflix film, Walk the Blue Fields, starring Emily Blunt and Andrew Scott.

Residents were delighted to welcome the actors to the town last Wednesday, 18 March, who were all spotted multiple times over three days of shooting.

Emily Blunt was seen to stop for photos with members of the community during the week, and reportedly made loads of time for children waiting to meet her. Residents also spotted Irish actors Andrew Scott and Ciaran Hinds walking the streets.

Local gift shop owner, Natasha Martin, said the experience was absolutely amazing for Rathangan residents.

She [Emily Blunt] interacted with the children, which was lovely for the kids. They were all delighted, said Natasha.

She told the Kildare Nationalist that people gathered in the town each night to watch the filming take place, which turned into an impromtu three-night-long community event.

It was lovely to see the way films are actually made, said Natasha.

There was hundreds of people out every night. We met people we hadn't seen for a while and everybody was talking and chatting and it was lovely. She noted that even people from further afield travelled down during the weekend to catch a glimpse of the actors and the filming process, and remarked at how fantastic it was to see the filming of a big production in the small, quiet town.
James Cox

Here, we take a look at the topics likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come.

Fuel prices

Soaring fuel prices have been the key topic both inside and outside political circles.

The Government has announced a 250 million package of support for households and businesses impacted by the rising prices.

The Dail voted on Tuesday night by 118 votes to 39 for excise rates to be reduced by 15 cent per litre on petrol; 20 cent per litre on diesel; and 3 cent per litre on marked gas oil.

However, earlier cuts were met with reports of fuel stations immediately rising their prices.

Tanaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris has warned them not to continue with this practice.

He said its very clear people were very quick to put up the prices. They need to pull them down as quickly". He also warned the Government will be monitoring this extremely closely.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said provided the cuts are not passed on, that has implications and consequences as well, in terms of subsequent decisions that the Government might take.

O'Callaghan drops plan to move planning, immigration judicial reviews to Circuit Court

Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan has dropped a proposal to introduce legislation aimed at moving some judicial review cases, including planning and immigration cases, from the High Court to the Circuit Court.

The move was announced before the Oireachtas justice committee meeting on Tuesday.

MEP Maria Walsh to vote against EU return hubs over fears of 'outsourcing migration'

Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh said she will vote against a proposal on return hubs in the European Parliament, warning that the EU cannot outsource its migration responsibilities.

The European Parliament is set to vote on the Returns Regulations on Thursday, which includes a proposal for the establishment of return hubs in third countries.

MEP Maria Walsh, a member of the European Parliaments Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) Committee, said: This week, the concept of return hubs will be put to a vote in the European Parliament  an idea that first rose to attention through the UKs Rwanda scheme and is now being promoted across Europe as a response to immigration.

Under this proposal, EU member states could deport individuals to countries they have no connection to or have never set foot in, where they will be detained in centres for indefinite periods.

By their very nature, return hubs carry significant risks of human rights violations - given they operate outside the jurisdiction of the EU."

Abroad

Abroad, all eyes are on the Iran war.

Iran on Wednesday dismissed an American plan to pause the war in the Middle East and launched more attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab countries, including an assault that sparked a huge fire at Kuwait International Airport.

Irans defiance came as Israel launched airstrikes on Tehran, and Washington deployed paratroopers and more Marines to the region.

Iranian state televisions English-language broadcaster, Press TV, quoted an anonymous official as saying Iran rejected Americas ceasefire proposal. Press TVs report came after Pakistan transmitted the proposal to Iran.
David Raleigh

Three Limerick-based gardai walked free from court with their innocence intact after enduring a six-year hell and witch hunt, having faced unproven accusations of perverting the course of justice.

The State officially withdrew a total of 33 charges against Garda Peter O'Donnell, Garda Paul Baynham and Garda Niall Deegan on Wednesday.

The three gardai, who had denied any wrongdoing, were suspended from the Limerick Garda Divisional Roads Policing Unit in 2019, following a garda probe into alleged unlawful interference by gardai into potential or pending road traffic prosecutions.

The probe was focused entirely on the Limerick Garda Division and led by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI), based out of Garda offices at Harcourt Square, Dublin.

On Wednesday, at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court, prosecuting barrister, senior counsel Carl Hanahoe, withdrew all of the charges by entering in court a "nolle prosequi", a Latin term meaning do not prosecute.

The GNBCI investigation had led to charges of perverting the course of justice being brought against a total of seven gardai and a retired superintendent.

Last January, the other four accused gardai, including Sergeant Anne Marie Hassett, Sergeant Michelle Leahy, Garda Tom McGlinchey, Garda Colm Geary, and retired Superintendent Eamon O'Neill, were each acquitted by a jury following a nine-week trial held at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.

The five accused defence counsels argued the case was centred around the long-standing practice of garda discretion whereby gardai use their own common sense when dealing with members of the public.

The prosecution had argued that preferential treatment was given to certain members of the public because of their association with Eamon ONeill when he was a Superintendent in the Limerick Division, which was denied.

Hassett and O'Neill, who are married, have initiated High Court proceedings against the State seeking damages.

Speaking outside the courthouse on Wednesday, Garda Frank Thornton, Garda Representative Association, Limerick Division, said Gardai ODonnell, Baynham and Deegan had suffered a six-year hell while waiting for the matter to come before the courts.

Thornton said the GRAs sense of relief at the withdrawal of the charges was hampered by a suffocating emotion of anger and disbelief that our colleagues and their families have had to endure more than six years of exile, suffering, personal anguish, and character assassination.

As a Division, the members in the Limerick Division have shown unmeasurable resilience in maintaining the highest possible standard of service to the people of Limerick while our confidence and morale has been shattered, said Thornton.

Thornton said he had continuously highlighted the absolute necessity for an independent appeals process for the An Garda Siochana Suspension Policy.

These members along with other members throughout the country, are living proof that the Garda Commissioner must include an independent appeals process for the An Garda Siochana Suspension Policy, and anything less is a dire dilution of our basic employee rights and entitlements to fair, independent due process, he said.

What has unfolded here in Limerick with this witch hunt, is a stark reminder to all, that an independent public inquiry of this investigation is not an option for the Minister for Justice, its an absolute necessity.

The Taoiseach and Tanaiste have agreed with a review, but I believe that the only review possible is one in the form of an independent public inquiry.

Thornton said: The people of Ireland deserve answers as to how over 2,500 lifesaver offences were simply struck out, due to this botched investigation, while our colleagues were suspended.

Gardai who are not present in court through suspension or otherwise are not available to prosecute cases in court, and therefore a judge can decide to strike out or withdraw the charges.

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly and Minister for Justice Jim OCallaghan have previously indicated that they did not believe an independent report was necessary.

Thornton said he was concerned with what appears to be a closing of the ranks between the Garda Commissioner and Minister for Justice, who recently appeared to sing from the same hymn sheet of nothing to see here move on.

An Garda Siochana is founded on trust and transparency; therefore, let our leaders lead the way now with an independent public inquiry, added Thornton.

Solicitor Liz Hughes of Hughes Murphy, representing Gardai Baynham, ODonnell and Deegan, said the three Gardai would like to acknowledge the support from their families and friends and colleagues, who saw daily the toll this took on them and whose reassurance kept them going.

The complaint against these members was always without foundation, said Hughes.

The solicitor said the precedent of garda discretion has long been set by custom and practice, and was long established in Irish society taking the view that the Guard on the front line has common sense and the wit to apply it.

From the moment I was first instructed in these matters I was of this view, and I have not wavered ever since.

Garda Management is just as well aware as we are of this custom and practice established over many generations of Community Policing. 

Whats more, Garda Frank Thornton, in his role as then President of the GRA, took every opportunity to remind them of this, articulating that one Division and certain Members in particular were being treated unequally and unfairly.

Garda Management could have listened but seemingly refused to, said Hughes.

Hughes called for public inquiry to address these matters and the questions as to how this happened, and the consequences that flowed from it.

Garda Headquarters and the Department of Justice have been asked for comment.
Kilkenny County Council will seek to borrow up to 24 million to outrightly purchase a designated plot on the Abbey Quarter and subsequently manage the delivery of a large commercial building that was envisaged in the Abbey Quarter Masterplan.

The building (known as building seven) was originally set to be developed by Kilkenny Abbey Quarter Development Partnership, a 50:50 partnership between Kilkenny County Council and funding partner Ireland Strategic Investment Fund.

Elected members were informed at their latest plenary meeting that due to factors including rising construction costs, the overall return [on investment] required by ISIF was not achievable in the current market.

As a result, Kilkenny County Council proposed purchasing the site outright, thus taking back full ownership, leaving them to complete the detailed design phase and procure a contractor.

Picture: The location of building seven within the Abbey Quarter (in blue)

READ NEXT: 'Chocolate box' house in Kilkenny to feature on The Great House Revival on RTE

Putting the proposal before elected members, Head of Finance Martin Prendiville explained that Kilkenny County Council planned to consolidate their own operations in the building by occupying at least 50% of the planned office space.

Whilst the council still plan to remain in County Hall, their presence in various other commercial buildings in the city would change as they move those operations to building seven in the Abbey Quarter.

Mr Prendiville further added that the council are in discussions with a prospective tenant in relation to potentially occupying a further 24% of the office space in building seven.

He noted that third party tenant rental income would assist in repaying the loan, and that this income would be supplemented by savings the council would make from ceasing to pay rental costs currently being accrued by their tenancy agreements in other commercial buildings.

The remaining balance, Mr Prendiville estimated, would be approximately 150,000 - 200,000 per annum.

READ NEXT: 'Thank you for your support' - Sadness as Kilkenny shop closes down

With that sum in mind, Mr Prendiville drew elected members attention to the fact that a number of existing commitments currently being repaid by the council will have expired by the end of 2027.

Once those commitments have been paid off, it is envisaged that the council would have ample capacity to fund the loan repayments.

It may not be 24 million, Mr Prendiville clarified. But we need headroom.

REACTION FROM ELECTED MEMBERS

Cllr David Fitzgerald formally proposed the councils plan, describing it as an investment in the future.

This is one of the most important decisions this group of councillors will make in their five year term, he said, describing the proposal as transformative.

Cllr Fitzgeralds proposal was seconded by Cllr Andrew McGuinness, who described it as a great opportunity to make a positive decision that will impact Kilkenny for many years to come.

While no councillor outrightly objected to the proposal, some had reservations, and Cllr Maria Dollard requested that the membership of the Abbey Quarter Partnership Board of Directors be reviewed to include three county councillors.

READ NEXT: Emotional plea for information on missing Kilkenny man

Cllr Eugene McGuinness stated that the request from Cllr Dollard, if fulfilled, would be helpful.

Mr Prendiville stated that the structure of the board was agreed at the time it was set up, and that any changes would have to be negotiated with the relevant partners.

He further stressed that the board operates with full transparency, with accounts audited, filed and available to the public.

RELEVANT SITE AND PROJECT DETAILS

The subject site is located directly east of the new Brewhouse Building.

Its development will consist of the delivery of a new mixed-use building varying in height from four to five storeys.

The developments gross floor space is stated as 5,176 sq m, intended for commercial use and consisting of four floors of office above and ground-floor retail, office, reception and support space.

Plans for the development of building seven were originally lodged by the Kilkenny Abbey Quarter Development Partnership back in May of 2022.

READ NEXT: 'There's a beach in Tramore' - ex-Kilkenny captain urges Aussie players to return

The decision by the local authority to grant conditional planning permission almost a year later was appealed to An Bord Pleanala.

An Bord Pleanala subsequently granted planning permission, subject to revised conditions in July 2024.

FURTHER BACKGROUND (MILESTONES)

The Abbey Quarter project began in 2012 with Diageos decision to close the brewery, followed by a decision by Kilkenny County Council and KBC to purchase the former brewery site. The Abbey Quarter Masterplan was approved in July 2015.

In November 2016, the site purchase from Diageo was completed. A partnership was then established in December 2016 through the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund.

Most recently, in September 2023, an Abbey Quarter Masterplan Review was approved, setting out the next phase of the development.

More updates on other Abbey Quarter projects to follow soon...
The latest Chief Executives report to Kilkenny County Council has provided a detailed update on progress at the Tholsel building, a key component of the ambitious Museum of Medieval Kilkenny project.

According to the report, the restoration and enhancement of the historic Tholsel is central to a wider project that will ultimately unify the building with the Medieval Mile Museum into a single, cohesive visitor experience.

The long-term aim is to establish one of Irelands leading tourist attractions, while preserving the Tholsels ongoing function as the seat of local government in the city.

TAP ARROWS OR NEXT FOR NEXT PIC

Boardmarked concrete lift shaft to fourth floor

Despite challenging weather conditions in recent months, the report notes that works on site 'are progressing well'.

READ NEXT: Kilkenny council eyes landmark Abbey Quarter move worth up to 24 million

The report highlights significant progress on the construction of a new lift shaft, stairwell, and roof structure at the rear annex. Mechanical and electrical installations are also advancing across all floors.

The Chief Executive also outlined several key milestones across the broader Museum of Medieval Kilkenny project.

Exhibition interpretive fit-out tenders were advertised in December 2025 across three distinct lots: exhibition fit-out and graphics, audio-visual and interactive services, and mixed-reality technology.

READ NEXT: 'Chocolate box' house in Kilkenny to feature on The Great House Revival on RTE

The tender deadline passed on February 18, with what the report describes as strong interest and a number of high-quality submissions received. The assessment process is currently ongoing and is expected to conclude in the coming weeks.

In parallel, a separate planning application under Part 8 for enhancements to St Marys Laneway and an associated outdoor amenity scheme was advertised in November 2025.

READ NEXT: 'There's a beach in Tramore' - ex-Kilkenny captain urges Aussie players to return

The consultation period closed on January 23, with nine submissions received.

These are now under review as officials prepare a planning report and recommendation, which is due to be presented to elected members at the April council meeting.
The man found dead at the scene of a house fire in Edenderry has been named locally as Christopher 'Crunchie' Holt.

The deceased is the sister of Mary Holt and grand-uncle of Tadhg Farrell, both of whom died in a petrol bomb attack at the same house last December.

READ NEXT: Irish man left suitcase containing just under 600,000 worth of drugs on airport baggage carousel

Before December's tragedy, Crunchie had been living with Mary and his other sister Pauline, little Tadhg's grandmother. It's understood he had been back living in the partially burnt out residence in recent months. His body was found in an upstairs bedroom in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Gardai, firefighters and ambulance personnel rushed to the scene of an intense fire at the house at approximately 4am when neighbours were alerted by smoke and fire alarms. The blaze ravaged the house, including the roof, and caused damage to the adjoining house.

Speaking at the scene of the fire on Tuesday morning, local councillor Fergus McDonnell said: "Seemingly a fire broke out in the house at around 4am. The neighbours were alerted by their smoke alarms and fire alarms going off and there was a massive effort because the next door neighbour has a disability and there was huge panic to get her out.

The scene of Tuesday morning's fire at Castleview Park in Edenderry

READ NEXT: ALERT! Urgent recall underway as Smyths pulls more toys containing asbestos from shelves

He said the fire was intense and has described what happened as horrendous, adding that the local community cant comprehend a second fatal fire has happened at the same house.

People just dont know what to think, he said.

Christopher Holt, known affectionately as Crunchie, was hit with significant hardship in his final months. He lost his sister and grand-nephew in December's petrol bombing, while his other sister was left severely burned.

Prior to that in November 2024, Crunchie lost his good friend Ger McBride after his sad death following a cancer battle. Ger's RIP.ie death notice at the time recognised their longstanding friendship. It read: "He [Ger] will be deeply regretted and sadly missed by his family and friends...especially his best friend Crunchie."

The pair would have been well-known around Edenderry with one rarely seen without the other. Crunchie was also briefly hospitalised at the beginning of this year when he was struck by a car while crossing the road near Sweeney's shop in Edenderry.

Tributes have been paid to him in Edenderry following his tragic passing and Tuesday morning's fire. His niece, Jessie Judge wrote on Facebook: "Fly high with the angels. You will be missed so much, a heart of gold. I'll miss you giving out to me, Crunchy, I can't believe it - a gentle man. I love ya uncle Crunchy, RIP angel."

Another relative said: "Rip cuz. I hope you get the best bed in heaven. Life has been cruel to you and your family. Your with your mammy now and family and friends. They will look after you up there now. No more worries for you now. Rest easy, Crunchie. Say hello to them all for me."

Kayla McBride posted a photograph of Crunchie with his good friend Ger McBride and said: "Rest easy Crunchy, I'd say he's waiting for you with open arms."

READ NEXT: RIP: Witnesses sought after elderly motorist dies in mysterious road traffic 'incident'

Another friend wrote: "Crunchie, it has taken me all day to try put into words how devastated and heartbreaking all this is. You were one of a kind and the most generous, friendliest person who always had a smile on your face. You had your little routine and would never pass by anyone without a big grin or a wave.

"You're gonna be missed by so many who knew you personally or just from seeing you around but my god ypu have left many broken hearts behind, but you're back with your sidekick now, Smell, and we know he was waiting with arms wide open for you. Just please watch over the ones who need you down here. It's not a goodbye, my dear friend, it's a see ya later. Rest in paradise, Crunch."

A Garda spokesperson issued an update on the case on Tuesday evening. They said: "An Garda Siochana continue to investigate all the circumstances of a house fire that occurred at a domestic residence in Castleview Park, Edenderry, Co. Offaly on Tuesday 24th March 2026.

"The body of a male has been removed from the scene and conveyed to the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore where a post mortem examination will take place tomorrow.



"The post mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death, which will determine the course of any Garda investigation.



"The scene is currently preserved for forensic examination, the results of which will also assist in determining the course of any Garda investigation.



"Gardai in Tullamore are appealing for any person with any information on this house fire to contact An Garda Siochana.

"Anyone with information is asked to contact Tullamore Garda Station on 057 932 7600, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station."
The Taoiseach has been asked to investigate reports of a misogynistic and toxic culture in the National Ambulance Service (NAS).

In the Dail on Wednesday, People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger raised the case of a woman who has reported a paramedic for allegedly drugging and raping her on multiple occasions.

Ms Coppinger said that she had seen paramedics do incredible work and said the NAS is absolutely essential, but added: Ive spoken to Kathy, its not her real name, and she has reported a paramedic who drugged, sexually assaulted, coercively controlled and raped her on multiple occasions.

He apparently stole controlled drugs  midozolam, a strong sedative and penthrox, a powerful painkiller, and he used them against her.

Ms Coppinger said that he was recently promoted to a senior position within the NAS despite the service being aware for over a year of a rape investigation into the man.

She said at least five women suffered misconduct from this man, adding that one woman had been locked in a shed.

She added: Four women contacted their line managers, but the complaints were not progressed.

Ms Coppinger was critical of the complaints procedures and sexual harassment procedures within the NAs.

It seems a bit like the church. Offenders get moved from base to base after complaints.

She asked Taoiseach Micheal Martin: Will you investigate why the HSE has promoted this man and why the procedures are failing now?

Mr Martin, who said he did not have the full details of the case, replied: I dont want to prejudice anything that may be in train, but it is very difficult to comprehend how somebody who has these complaints and charges made against could be promoted.

He added: No woman should have to suffer such harassment, in this case, sedation and rape.

And you are quite correct that there should be an absolute zero tolerance approach with the National Ambulance Service to misogyny, to sexual harassment and to the undermining of women in any shape or form, in any way, in their daily work.

Mr Martin said he would ask Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill to appraise him of the background to the case and, if necessary, then to initiate a review into this.

The HSE, which operates the NAS, said in a statement that it does not accept or tolerate sexual harassment in any form in the workplace.

It said this is set out in clear terms in the standards of conduct and behaviour, which employees are expected to uphold.

The Dignity at Work policy for the Public Health Service sets out how the HSE aims to create and support an environment where staff are treated with dignity and respect, it said.

Where any employee experiences such behaviour, the Dignity at Work policy provides a clear and understandable mechanism for any employee to raise a concern.

Where any complaint is made, the complainant has access to support arrangements to ensure their concerns are heard and their welfare supported. In accordance with the principles of natural justice, the HSE must afford all parties, including respondents, the right to fair procedures.

If an independent investigation establishes wrongdoing, the HSE takes such behaviour very seriously, with sanctions up to and including dismissal. Staff members are also encouraged to contact the Garda in unlawful instances. Where relevant, the HSE will also notify the appropriate professional regulator.
Commercial sunbed use in Ireland should be banned, according to a working group set up by the Government.

In a report published Wednesday, a majority of the Sunbed Working Group recommended proceeding with the ban due to public health evidence on skin cancer, non-compliance with age restrictions, limited effectiveness on other regulation, and international evidence.

It said that skin cancer presents an increasing challenge for public health in Ireland and added: From a health perspective, a ban on commercial sunbed use represents the most effective and evidence-based policy option to protect the Irish population, particularly children and young people, from the harmful effects of sunbed use.

The report states that skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in Ireland, with over 11,000 new cases diagnosed each year.

It adds that exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, whether from natural sunlight or artificial sources such as sunbeds is a well-established, modifiable risk factor for skin cancer.

Irish people are also particularly vulnerable to burns and are at greatest risk of skin cancer from UV radiation, due to factors relating to the populations skin types.

There is already legislation around sunbeds which is aimed at eliminating sunbed usage by those under 18 years.

However, the group said there is evidence of ongoing use in this age group

The report said that evidence from the commercial sunbed ban in Australia demonstrated a reduction in the availability of UV emitting devices.

On public health evidence, it said UV from sunbeds causes skin cancer and there is no safe level of exposure.

It said children and people under the age of 35, who represent more than 45% of current users, are most vulnerable.

It argued that a ban would send a strong public health message about the dangers.

The group said economic modelling studies predict that a ban on commercial sunbed use, combined with a public information awareness campaign, would lead to a reduction in skin cancer related deaths and associated healthcare cost savings.

A reservation was raised by a member of the Group relating to the potential economic impacts on sunbed businesses.

Minister for Public Health Jennifer Murnane OConnor said: We know that sunbed use is linked to increased risk of skin cancer, so we must take strong action that protects our population from this preventable harm.

I thank the Working Group members and stakeholders for their dedication and contribution.

I have granted approval for this work to progress to the next phase of policy development, supporting our Programme for Government commitment to explore ways to ban commercial sunbed use as part of Irelands cancer prevention framework.
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Weather Alert

...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Missouri... Missouri River at Boonville affecting Howard, Cooper, Moniteau and Boone Counties. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. This product along with additional weather and stream information is available at www.weather.gov/kc/. && ...FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL EARLY FRIDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Missouri River at Boonville. * WHEN...Until early Friday afternoon. * IMPACTS...At 21.0 feet, Low-lying rural areas along the river flood. At 23.8 feet, Easley River Road and Smith Hatchery Road begin to flood. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 3:04 AM CDT Wednesday the stage was 21.1 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise to a crest of 22.7 feet this afternoon. It will then fall below flood stage early tomorrow afternoon. - Flood stage is 21.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood && Fld Obs Forecasts Location Stg Stg Day/Time Wed Thu Fri 7am 7am 7am Missouri River Boonville 21.0 21.1 Wed 3am 22.5 21.5 18.1 &&
Angola, IN (46703)

Today

Showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. High around 55F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low 38F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Senior CPC official meets Cambodian King, Queen Mother

Xinhua) 16:28, March 25, 2026

BEIJING, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Cai Qi, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk in Beijing on Wednesday.

Cai, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, said that no matter how the international situation changes, the friendship between China and Cambodia has endured through thick and thin and has grown stronger over time.

Noting that China-Cambodia relations were upgraded to an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era last April, Cai said China is willing to work with Cambodia to take the important consensus reached by the two heads of state as guidance, enhance strategic mutual trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and promote continuous new achievements in building an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era.

Sihamoni and Monineath noted that the ironclad friendship between Cambodia and China was personally forged by the older generation of leaders of the two countries, and remains unwavering and steadfast.

They said that Cambodia firmly adheres to the one-China principle, supports the major concepts and initiatives proposed by the Chinese side, is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in various fields, enhance multilateral cooperation and coordination, and jointly inject more certainty into a world fraught with changes and chaos.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
At Portlaoise District Court last week, Judge Andrew Cody dealt with a question that had come from Judge Susan Fay as to whether he had accepted jurisdiction in a case.

At a previous hearing into a case before Judge Susan Fay, Jordan Lee (27), 5 The Granary, Pearse Street, Mountmellick was before her charged with possessing 107 grams of cannabis and drug paraphernalia at his home on 21 January for personal use and for sale or supply and with laundering 2,415 in cash and possessing cocaine for personal use at his address on the same occasion.

He had also initially faced another charge of possessing 107 grams of cannabis for sale or supply on the same date at Pearse Street. This charge was withdrawn by the prosecuting Garda Stephen Lynott last week.

When the case came before Judge Fay, Garda Sgt JJ Kirby said the total value of drugs seized was 2,740. Judge Fay said she was not inclined to hear the case due to the amount involved.

However, Mr Lees solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick told her that Judge Cody had already heard the evidence in the case, which involved drugs valued at 2,343.51, and he had accepted jurisdiction to hear it a district court level. Judge Fay deferred jurisdiction in the case for clarification on the matter from Judge Cody.

When Judge Cody heard the issue, he said that he had accepted jurisdiction on 15 December last year.

Mr Lee went on to plead guilty to all charges.

Sgt Kirby said the defendant had one previous conviction for possessing drugs for his own use.

Ms Fitzpatrick said it was a blessing in disguise when gardai carried out a search at his address. He has now turned a corner and is now looking to set up his own business, she said.

Judge Cody said he wanted Mr Lee to provide results from urine analysis for April, May and June, as well a probation report and a community service assessment for the 23 June sitting of the case before remanding him on continuing bail to that date.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme.
A man who sent emails threatening to kill or to cause serious injury to another person appeared before last weeks sitting of Portlaoise District Court.

Kyle Kilduff (28), 7B New Road, Portlaoise pleaded guilty to threatening to kill or to cause serious injury and to the distribution or publication of grossly offensive/threatening material at Rathmiles, Portarlington on 27 August last year.

Mr Kilduff also pleaded guilty to assault on 13 October last year at Dunnes Stores, Kyle Centre, Portlaoise.

Garda James Collins told the court that on 27 August, Mr Kilduff sent 16 emails to a shared email account that threatened to kill or to cause serious injury to the recipient. He said the partner of the party for whom the emails were intended opened them and reported the issue to gardai.

He said the defendant had two previous convictions.

Asked by Judge Susan Fay to give an example of what type of messages were contained in the emails, Garda Collins said one read: Youll be executed if you dont bow to the king of loyalty. Beg for forgiveness or you will die. Defending solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said the emails had been sent to a business address that both the man and his partner had access to. He said he knew the people and that there was a bit of background to the issue.

Mr Kilduff interrupted to tell Judge Fay: They made illegal tactics against me. Before finalising the case, Judge Fay said she wanted a victim impact report, a community service assessment, a probation report and a report from the Restorative Justice Programme.

She remanded Mr Kilduff on his own bail to the 14 September sitting of the court.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme.
MEMBERS of migrant communities in Portlaoise and Rathdowney gathered recently for the unveiling of a mural celebrating inclusion and diversity.

The unveiling took place as part of Wear Red Day 2026, an annual effort to help end racial discrimination, on 20 March in the courtyard of Laois Partnership Company (LPC). LPC staff wore red to show their support, and to take a stand against racism.

The mural was a collaboration between people from different countries, including Ukraine, Brazil, Nigeria, Italy, Finland, the Philippines, Latvia, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Italy, who all worked under the tutelage of artist Claire Noons.

Claire explained that the projects aim was to show that community goes beyond skin colour or nationality. Its about people coming together and making their own meaning in life, she said.

Claire outlined that the mural was inspired by Maslows hierarchy of needs, a psychological theory that posits essential human needs, such as food and shelter, must be satisfied before people can tend to self-fulfilment.

Supported through the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), the initiative encouraged participants to connect with each other. They shared memories from their home countries and highlighted the traditions and characteristics of their cultures.

Attendees of the unveiling were welcomed by SICAP Community Development Officer, Cassia ONeill, who spearheaded the project. Also present at the unveiling were members of the Local Authority Integration Team from Laois County Council.

Cassia, who is originally from Brazil but has been in Ireland for 12 years, shared her experience of leaving her home country to start anew, using her pair of worn-out Converse as an analogy.

They walked the streets of Curitiba in Brazil, where I grew up, she said, adding: They walked me through university, through friendships, and through dreams about the future. And later, they walked the streets of Ireland to job interviews, to bus stops, and to new beginnings, she continued. They walked with me as I learned how to build a life in a new country. When Cassia came to Ireland, she came with excitement, she said. I came with plans. I came by choice, and I have been welcomed. For that, I am deeply grateful. Not everyones journey begins that way, she noted. Not everyone leaves home because they want to. Cassia pointed out that many people are forced to flee their homeland because of war or incredible hardship, leaving behind their family, security, and language.

Sometimes all they carry with them are the clothes theyre wearing  and the shoes on their feet. So, when we say, put yourself in someone elses shoes, its not just a phrase. Its a challenge, she said.

The mural will now become a permanent part of Laois Partnership Company.
This might be one of the most controversial abortion-related prosecutions in the USand it all started with a $1 bail decision.

A woman in Georgia being charged with murder over the use of abortion pills sounds, at first, almost impossible to believe. Yet this is exactly the kind of case now making headlines and fueling intense debate, both within the United States and internationally.

What makes it even more striking is that the court set her bail at just $1, a rare and symbolic move that immediately raised eyebrows.

At the heart of this Georgia abortion murder case is a bigger question that many people are now asking: Can ending a pregnancy ever be treated as a criminal act equivalent to murder? And if so, where does the law draw the line between a medical decision and a criminal offense?

Georgia woman charged with murder after police say she took pills to induce an abortion https://t.co/O6SRRBLtMY pic.twitter.com/OCsMCbJDfQ  New York Post (@nypost) March 20, 2026

The Case That Sparked a Nationwide Conversation

According to reporting from The Guardian, Alexia Moore was charged after authorities became aware of her use of abortion medication. The details of the case have placed it squarely within the broader debate surrounding Georgia's abortion law 2026, which continues to evolve following major legal changes in the United States in recent years.

What makes this situation particularly significant is the severity of the charge. Rather than being treated as a straightforward abortion-related matter, the case has been framed under homicide statutes, which has intensified public attention and legal scrutiny.

For many observers, this marks one of the more extreme examples of how abortion criminal charges in Georgia are being interpreted and applied in real-world situations.

Why This Case Feels So Controversial

The idea of a murder charge abortion pills case challenges how most people understand reproductive healthcare. Abortion pills are widely used in early pregnancy and are considered a standard medical option in many parts of the world when prescribed and used appropriately.

However, this case highlights how legal interpretations can shift depending on jurisdiction. In Georgia, the legal framework allows abortion under certain conditions, but enforcement and interpretation can become complicated, especially when law enforcement and prosecutors assess a case differently.

This tension sits at the center of the ongoing abortion rights controversy US, where legal, medical, and ethical perspectives often collide. For some, the case raises concerns about criminalising personal healthcare decisions. For others, it reflects the strict enforcement of state laws as they currently stand.

Prosecutor vs Police Charges Case Dynamics

One of the more nuanced aspects of this situation involves how the charge was initiated and processed. In many legal systems, police may bring forward an arrest or initial charge, but prosecutors typically review the case and decide whether it should move forward.

This creates what is often referred to as a prosecutor vs police charges case, where questions arise about coordination, authority, and discretion. In this Georgia case, that distinction has become part of the discussion, as observers examine whether the charge aligns with prosecutorial judgment or reflects an earlier stage of legal action.

These procedural details matter because they can influence whether a case is sustained, modified, or eventually dismissed as it moves through the courts.

The Meaning Behind the $1 Bail Decision

Perhaps one of the most talked-about elements of the case is the judge's decision to set bail at $1, often described as a symbolic bail $1 case. While unusual, symbolic bail is sometimes used to indicate that a defendant is not considered a flight risk, or that the court views the situation as legally or procedurally complex.

In practical terms, bail is not about guilt or innocence. Instead, it reflects whether a person can remain free while the case proceeds. Still, a $1 bail decision tends to send a message that the court may be approaching the case with caution or skepticism about certain aspects of the charge.

For many following the story, this detail adds another layer of intrigue to an already complex legal situation.

Final Thoughts

At this stage, the case is still unfolding, and the final legal outcome remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that it has already sparked meaningful discussion about the boundaries between law and medicine, and how far criminal statutes can reach into personal healthcare decisions.

As the Georgia abortion murder case continues to unfold, it may become far more than just another court proceeding, it could set a precedent that reshapes how abortion laws are enforced, how far criminal liability can extend into private medical decisions, and whether similar charges begin appearing in other states, making this one of the most closely watched and potentially consequential cases in the ongoing abortion rights debate.

Originally published on IBTimes UK
State Rep. James Talarico replied to Brooks Potteiger, an evangelical pastor reportedly close to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who called for him to be "crucified with Christ."

In a social media publication, Talarico said that while "Jesus loves," "Christian Nationalism kills." "You may pray for my death, Pastor, but I still love you. I love you more than you could ever hate me," he added.

Jesus loves. Christian Nationalism kills.



You may pray for my death, Pastor, but I still love you.



I love you more than you could ever hate me. https://t.co/ejQg3U2Yq6  James Talarico (@jamestalarico) March 25, 2026

According to the Huffpost, Potteiger made the remarks while talking on the "Redformation Red Pill" podcast hosted by Joshua Haymes, a former pastoral intern at Potteiger's church.

Haymes said he was praying "God kills him," later saying that it "ultimately means killing his heart and raising him up to new life in Christ." However, should that "not be within God's will to do so, stop him by any means necessary."

The outlet noted that Hegseth has appeared on at least four episodes of the podcast and reportedly endorsed the show different times. Moreover, he brought Potteiger to the Pentagon last May to lead a prayer service.

Talarico has rapidly risen to national prominence after winning the Democratic primary for the Texas election for the U.S. Senate. He also appears to be in a solid position to challenge a decades-long Republican dominance in the state.

According to a recent poll, he would beat John Cornyn by two percentage points, getting 43% of the support compared to the Republican's 41%, and Ken Paxton by one (44% to 43%).

Conducted by Impact Research, the poll interviewed 900 likely voters between March 12 and 17. It shows Cornyn and Paxton with large unpopularity ratings. Paxton has a negative 18-point margin, and Cornyn a negative 33-point one.

The results are similar to another poll conducted by Public Policy Polling, which showed the Democratic candidate beating Paxton by 47%-45% and Cornyn by 44%-43%, although there was a larger amount of people who are not sure who they would support in the latter race.

Talarico has taken aim at both candidates, saying earlier this month that they are "extraordinarily weak."

"Paxton and Cornyn, they're different. Paxton was guilty of illegal corruption. That's why my colleagues and I impeached him in the Texas House. But Cornyn is guilty of legalized corruption. He was the deciding vote on the Big, Ugly, Bill which kicked millions of Texas off their health care, took food out of the mouths of hungry Texas kids all to give tax breaks to his donors," he recently told Politico.

Originally published on Latin Times
The completion date for the New Childrens Hospital has slipped again, with the board saying it has been told by the lead developer it will not be finished by the end of April.

Until this week, the latest date for substantial completion of the multi-billion-euro Dublin hospital had been April 30.

But the Oireachtas Health Committee was told on Wednesday this would not be met and there was currently no target date.

It is recognised as the 19th completion date for the major infrastructure project, which is being led by contractor BAM.

The serially-delayed project had an original completion date of August 2022 while costs have ballooned from a planned 650 million euro to an expected 2.2 billion euro.

David Gunning, chief officer of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board, told TDs on Wednesday: A meeting with the senior BAM team yesterday morning, March 24, confirmed that they would not deliver on their April 30 substantial completion (SC) date.

This is obviously a huge disappointment as BAM has already delayed this SC date 18 times.

However, while BAM is not achieving SC, BAM is advising us that they expect to have areas of the hospital completed by the end of April.

Mr Gunning said the employers representative was in the process of writing to BAM to formally request an updated contract programme.

He said the contractor had 15 working days to respond to that, adding: When we get that response, we will then understand what the new date is.

A spokesman for BAM said it is not accurate or constructive to state it had continuously missed completion dates.

The company said the development programme has evolved in response to instructed design changes and additional scope during the project, with each updated completion date reflecting those changes rather than any failure of performance.

BAM said it works closely with the NPHDB and CHI to deliver the hospital as quickly and safely as possible for the children of Ireland.

Committee chairman and Social Democrats TD Padraig Rice said it was certainly disappointing that the 18th deadline will be missed and well move to a 19th deadline.

Sinn Fein health spokesman David Cullinane said the development could not be described as a bombshell because nobody believed that it was going to be met in the first instance.

He said: Thats just an illustration of how bad this process and how bad this project has been.

It has been a disaster from start to finish, because were dealing with massive cost overruns, billions of euro in taxpayers money, 18 completion dates which have come and gone, design changes and all of the problems that weve had with the project, and fundamentally a flawed contract that was an absolute disaster.

I hope we never see the likes of that contract again  and, bizarrely, it was a contract that was signed off on by the current Minister for Finance Simon Harris, which is even more bizarre.

The committee also heard there were concerns about a noisy ventilation system which could threaten to disrupt clinical service, with the development board saying it was very hard to determine if this would cause delays to a handover.

Asked by Labour health spokeswoman Marie Sherlock if he had believed the April 30 completion date, Mr Gunning said he had little confidence in the dates expressed by the contractor.

He expressed concerns about the number of staff BAM was deploying to the site, which he said was entirely a matter for the contractor.

Mr Gunning said BAM had said there would be a peak of 1,700 on the site but the maximum it has ever achieved was around 1,250, before averaging around 560.

He said the contractor had never achieved the required progress to deliver on timeline commitments and resourcing of the project remained a significant issue.

Asked by Mr Rice if BAM had committed to increase staffing, Mr Gunning said the contractor maintained the project was sufficiently resourced, but this was not accepted by the board.

The committee chairman said it was another flaw in the contract that the board had no lever to pull on the staffing resources at the site.

BAM said the project is in the final stages of completion and commissioning, adding it continues to be resourced to support the work currently under way, with specialist teams continuing to complete the remaining programme.

After the completion of construction by main contractor BAM, the hospital will also require an estimated seven-month commissioning period before it is ready for use.

Childrens Health Ireland (CHI) has raised concerns about transporting patients in the higher-risk winter period.

CHI chief executive Lucy Nugent said: As the prolongation of the substantial complete date and then the opening date pushes into, potentially, a winter period, we are looking at all options for opening this hospital as soon as possible.

She added: We continue to evaluate the situation, and when it comes to the actual day-one opening date, we will risk assess is it safe to do so.
Dublin Airports passenger cap is a direct threat to one of the worlds best partnerships, the chief executive of an organisation representing US airlines has said, and could lead to retaliatory measures from the US government.

Appearing before the Joint Committee on Transport on Wednesday, Chris Sununu, head of Airlines for America, said Washington views the passenger cap as a violation of the Open Skies agreement.

The committee is considering a Bill which would allow the Irish Government to amend or revoke a planning condition that caps passenger numbers at Dublin Airport at 32 million, and would prevent such a cap being imposed by a planning condition in the future.

The EU-US Open Skies agreement came into effect in 2008 and provides for all transatlantic routes to be opened up to EU and US airlines.

The agreement is very clear, Mr Sununu said, you allow unfettered, unlimited access to the capacity of the airport.

He said the passenger cap does not allow for this.

This airport could take 40 million people, but youre saying no, were going to limit it, were going to violate that open free access.

Mr Sununu said: If you think this administration is going to have one of their bilateral agreements, that has been in place a long time, violated, and they are just going to take it, in case you havent read the headlines, that is not what these guys do.

If we lose flights over here, youd likely lose flights over there.

He said the ability to go back and forth easily would come to a screeching halt.

Airlines for America represents passenger and cargo carriers including American Airlines, Delta, FedEx and UPS.

Mr Sununu added that he had been to the White House in the past week and there have been active conversations between US airlines and their countrys administration about the passenger cap.

The committees chairman, Michael Murphy, said: It is your position that the threat of US retaliation has been discussed, that that threat is real, and concrete measures like restricting Aer Lingus access have been explicitly discussed?

Mr Sununu replied Yes.

He said: No country puts more in terms of direct foreign investment into Ireland, but no country will take as immediate retaliation effects as the United States probably would.

That retaliation could come in a variety of different means he said.

He warned of a domino effect and said if businesses cant get back and forth to Ireland they are going to start pulling their money out, that would be terrible, think about all the jobs that would be affected.

He continued: You know who wants to see this passenger cap in place more than anyone else? The Brits.

You will get a thank you note from the UK Government as soon as you keep this in place.

They love it because all the planes are going there, all the opportunities are going there.

Fianna Fails Cathal Crowe asked Mr Sununu to withdraw his claim that Ireland had violated the agreement, saying that Ireland had capacity at other airports for US airlines.

The Green Party leader also questioned whether a violation of the agreement has been established by any court.

Following the committee, Roderic OGorman issued a statement saying Mr Sununus comments amounted to scaremongering.

Mr OGorman said: I take exception to the Open Skies agreement being wielded as a stick by airlines against the Oireachtas, with the implied threat of the Trump regime being conjured to put pressure on Irish lawmakers to pass this Bill as quickly as possible.

When asked to share the legal basis for these arguments, they only referred to their own submissions to the committee.

Airlines for America were presenting their own opinion as legal fact. This doesnt stand up to any sort of scrutiny.
Over 50 children applied for 12 available spaces in a Laois special school, according to a local senator.

St Francis School on the Borris road is the only exclusive special school in the county, providing education for students with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities with co-occurring needs aged from 5 to 18 years.

When the school moved from the Timahoe road to its current location on the Borris road, it saw more applications and soon outgrew its size.

Due to space constraints, the Department of Education approved a new four-classroom permanent extension in April 2022. The school applied for temporary classrooms to allow the school to manage while waiting for delivery.

In 2024, the school applied to build a new two-storey extension comprising four classrooms, specialist rooms, toilets, stores and associated ancillary accommodation. The development also includes the provision of a new soft play external area.

In the time that followed, the school faced planning obstacles, and operated with temporary classrooms. The school were instructed in 2024 to reduce the number of classes from 19 to 16.

This past January, it was announced that a long awaited expansion of the school was given the green light, under the National Education Sectoral Plan.

This week, Sinn Fein senator Maria McCormack has called on the Minister for Education to urgently fast-track approval for the expansion of St. Francis Special School in Portlaoise.

Speaking in the Seanad, Sen McCormack highlighted the severe pressure on the school, which is currently operating 20 classes in just 14 classrooms, despite the addition of two modular units.

This situation is simply not sustainable, Sen McCormack said.

This year alone, there were 50 applications for just 12 places. That means dozens of children with additional needs in Laois may be left without an appropriate school place," she said.

The school has submitted its Stage 2b report and tender documents, and the project has been identified as a priority. However, Senator McCormack warned that delays at Department level could have serious consequences.

"Behind every number is a child and a family under huge pressure. These children cannot afford to wait on bureaucracy," she said.

The school is ready. The Board of Management is ready. What we need now is urgent action from the Department."

Senator McCormack has called on the Minister to expedite approval of the project and confirm funding without delay, to ensure construction can begin as soon as possible.

I will continue to push this until every child in Laois who needs a special school place has access to one, the Senator finished.
Gardai based in County Kildare are investigating an early morning burglary which occurred at a cafe.

Details of the incident were read out by Garda Marc Connolly during a recent guest appearance on KFM.

He explained that the burglary occurred on Thursday, March 19 last in Castledermot.

READ NEXT: Sightlines near this Kildare church's graveyard are being blocked

According to Gda Connolly, local gardai were alerted to a break-in at the Mad Hatter Cafe and when they arrived, they discovered that the front door to the business was damaged.

However, it turned out that no cash was stolen from the premises, as there was no cash kept inside of it overnight.

Gda Connolly also revealed that while the perpetrators concealed their identities, they do believe that the perpetrators are male and that they fled the scene of the crime in an Audi Saloon vehicle.

He concluded by urging anyone with information relating to the break-in to contact Castledermot Garda Station on 059 914 4112.

When asked by the Leinster Leader about this incident, a garda spokesperson replied: "Gardai are investigating an alleged incident of burglary to a business premises in Castledermot, County Kildare that occurred on Thursday, March 19 last, shortly before 6am."

The spokesperson added that the investigation remains ongoing.

READ NEXT: Theft incidents in Naas and Newbridge may be linked, Kildare garda says
The tragedy caused by gardai being given faulty holsters will haunt the Minister for Justice, a Labour TD has said.

Alan Kelly has raised issues about defective holsters in the Dail multiple times, particularly in the context of Detective Garda Colm Horkan, 49, who was murdered while on duty in 2020.

He was shot several times with his own gun on June 17 2020 in Castlerea, Co Roscommon.

Mr Kelly previously told the Dail he had been issued with a defective holster.

In a separate incident, Mr Kelly said an accidental discharge of an official-issued garda firearm occurred outside the Israeli Embassy on June 11 2020, just under a week before Mr Horkans death, and resulted in life-changing injuries to another garda.

The Tipperary North TD had previously said forensic experts had determined the holster could engage the trigger and fire the weapon of its own accord, and said firearms could be removed with the retention strap fastened.

The defective holsters were raised again by Mr Kelly during a Dail debate on Wednesday which also touched on other firearms-related matters and concerns over evidence storage.

On Wednesday, he introduced what he said was one of the most important motions he had ever brought forward to the Dail.

He told Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan there are many matters relating to gardai which have not been dealt with, including legacy issues, as well as recruitment and retention.

You have to deal with legacy issues.

You can never say to me you dont know enough about these because Ive raised hundreds of parliamentary questions with you.

On Wednesday, Mr Kelly also made reference to prosecutions taken against Limerick gardai over fixed charged penalty notices, which resulted in not guilty verdicts or dropped charges, as well as the suspension of a garda over loaning a bicycle to a neighbour.

He told Mr OCallaghan: When it comes to the disgraceful way in which Limerick gardai have been treated, and the fact that your Taoiseach and your Tanaiste believes it needs to be investigated  but for some reason you dont.

When it comes to the issue of the holsters and the way in which that issue has been dealt with, the loss of fingerprints, the bike scandal, all of these issues and many more.

Mr Kelly also said he had a deep concern about the way the Department of Justice answered parliamentary questions, as well as its dysfunctional relationship with An Garda Siochana.

In response, Minister OCallaghan moved a Government countermotion and said he could not comment on individual disciplinary matters.

He added that some matters were before the courts and that internal garda discipline was under the remit of the Commissioner.

At the end of the debate, Mr Kelly said it would have been respectful if Mr OCallaghan had remained in the chamber for his closing remarks.

He went on to talk about legacy issues relating to firearm and drug storage, the loss of data around 17,000 fingerprints, and withdrawn disciplinary processes that affected multiple gardai.

Mr Kelly also referenced the case of 22-year-old Evan Fitzgerald, from Kiltegan, Co Wicklow, who died by suicide with a gun after discharging it at a shopping centre in Co Carlow last year.

He had been awaiting trial on weapons charges from the previous year, which Mr Kelly said related to guns placed in a car by gardai.

I could also talk about the dysfunctional nature of the Department of Justice working with An Garda Siochana, and the fact that I, as an opposition TD, had to ring the Minister for Justice to tell him that the guns that were put in the car that Evan Fitzgerald was in were put in by An Garda Siochana  he didnt know, I had to tell him.

So what sort of a functional relationship is it where I have more intelligence than the actual Minister for Justice, and that whole case, that tragic case, which should never, ever have happened, will need to be investigated.

Mr Kelly concluded by saying the issues around the faulty holsters will haunt this Government.

He said: Most of all, I can also talk about what Ive raised in here and in committee on numerous occasions, in relation to how gardai were given faulty holsters  and the impact that has had and the impact it has had on the lives of serving gardai.

And the tragedy it has caused  and this will haunt this Government and will haunt the previous Government, it will haunt this Minister, and it will haunt (previous Justice Minister Helen) McEntee.

And what will also haunt them is the manner in which they did not deal appropriately with protected disclosures that were made to them.
Concerns have been raised in relation to legislation being tabled that would allow Irish ministers, police officers and soldiers to give evidence to the Omagh Bombing Inquiry.

The International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Bill 2026 would allow for current or former members of the Gardai, the Irish army, the Civil Service or the Government to engage with the inquiry examining the 1998 atrocity in the Co Tyrone town.

The Irish Governments legislation provides for a bespoke legal mechanism, which is triggered by a request from the Omagh inquiry chairman, to allow sworn evidence to be taken before a High Court judge in Ireland.

The Real IRA bomb killed 29 people, including the mother of unborn twins.

The inquiry, chaired by Lord Turnbull, was set up following a number of legal challenges brought by campaigners, to examine whether the explosion could have been prevented by UK authorities.

The next stage of the hearing, which will begin on September 21, will explore what can be established based on information including construction of the bomb, warning calls, claims of responsibility, arrests and subsequent court proceedings.

The Irish Governments Bill was before the Dail on Tuesday as it passes through Irelands houses of parliament.

Speaking in the Dail, Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan said that assisting an inquiry established by another jurisdiction was not without its challenges.

There are legal complexities that must be navigated to ensure consistency with the laws of Ireland and the Governments duty to safeguard the essential interests of the state and the constitutional and other rights of citizens, he said.

He said they had looked to assist the inquiry, including by agreeing a Memorandum of Understanding with Lord Turnbull, and implementing measures with the aim of disclosing sensitive personal data, mostly material from An Garda Siochana.

To date, approximately 20,000 pages of material have been provided by the Irish state to the Omagh Bombing Inquiry, Mr OCallaghan said.

He said the Bill before the Irish parliament provides a bespoke legal mechanism to allow sworn evidence to be taken before a High Court judge in Ireland if the inquiry chairman requests such evidence.

He said the Bill would only provide for assistance with the Omagh Bombing Inquiry, which recognises its significance and allows for speedy enactment.

He said the mechanism is triggered by the chairman of the inquiry requesting assistance, which can be made to the Garda Commissioner or to the other heads of state bodies, including secretaries general.

The assessment requires an individual consideration of each question and the potential evidence concerned, he said.

There are no classes of records that are automatically excluded from being put into evidence using this mechanism.

He said the High Court judge will certify the transcript and provide it to the inquiry chairman, and the publication and dissemination of the transcript will be a matter for the chairman.

Labour TD Alan Kelly called the bombing mass murder on our island and said those who covered it up were the worst kind of human beings that ever existed.

The former minister welcomed the legislation, including the presence of family members while evidence is given, but said he had concerns that require consideration and clarification.

He said under Section Five and Section Six of the Bill, it is for the head of a designated state body themselves to make a determination as to whether the information they are being asked to provide should be privileged from disclosure.

Theyre so vague. Theyre actually meaningless, because theyre so vague, he told the Dail.

I fail to see under the way this is written, in this Bill, in this piece of legislation, how the head of a designated body is supposed to make such a determination.

Its so subjective, customisable to their own opinions, rather than given confirmed, direct provision for determination from the designated head of any body that is requested here, so its really at their whim.

This needs to be more defined  Im not alone in saying this.

Its too open ended, its not defined enough, and its a serious concern because it really is at the core of everything in it.

He said that amendments would be tabled at committee stage and suggested that no pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill was a mistake.

He added: There are so many outs here for those who  although have to be protected under the Constitution  need to be encouraged or need to give evidence and give access to information, access to records, access to data, that I dont think were going to get the fulsome information that these people so desperately deserve, need and require.

He also urged the minister to meet with the families of victims and survivors in relation to the legislation.
Leitrim was found to have the highest level of vacant residential properties at the end of 2024, data from the Central Statistics Office shows.

Leitrims rate of vacancy was highest nationally at 7.8%, with 1,575 residential properties in the local authority area marked as vacant; a drop from 1,699 vacant homes at the end of 2023 in the area.

The CSO measures residential vacancy based on the level of metered electricity consumption.

Across the twelve months of 2024, there were 70,149 dwellings in Ireland that consumed very low levels of electricity. This gave an estimated national vacancy rate of 3.2%.

READ MORE: Two men charged after stolen motorbikes recovered in Leitrim

There was a drop in vacancy rates from the end of 2023 to the end of 2024: 2,105 dwellings deemed vacant in 2023 became occupied. Using ESB designations, the rural vacancy rate was 5.4% and the urban rate was 2.2% at the end of 2024.

Speaking to the Leitrim Observer, Cllr Enda McGloin said that he wasn't surprised by the figures and that council members are putting pressure on Leitrim County Council executive to "beef up" their approach to dereliction. "Given Leitrim's population and the amount of older houses around; we can all see it with our own eyes in various towns and villages that there is a high level of dereliction."

He said that the issue has been discussed at council level on numerous occasions. "The Derelict Sites register is being reviewed by Leitrim County Council with the proposal to add additional buildings to that register. The Derelict Sites levy will now be collected by Revenue so I'm hoping this initiative will have an impact."

He added: "There is now an enhanced grant option for people who own commercial derelict buildings in the towns under the new 'above the shop' grant which is up to 140,000. That's along with the 70,000 that's currently available under the Croi Conaithe (Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant). That coupled with the SEAI grant gives plenty of scope."

READ MORE: Funding decision pending for new pedestrian bridge in Leitrim town

He said that those who own derelict buildings and chose not to redevelop them "should face the rigours of the law and should try and sell the property to someone who will make use of it and either turn it into a home or do it up and put it up for rent for someone who needs accommodation."

He continued that sometimes, the owners of derelict properties cannot be contacted for a myriad of reasons. "There might be issues around the direct ownership of a building due to there being no proper will or it was left to someone who lives in the US etc. and the building is lying there and no one knows who owns it. Eventually the total levy becomes more than the value of the building and then the local authority should be able to take the building in charge."

He said that councillors are set to receive a report from the council on the matter in May. "I'm appealing to owners of these buildings that can't do anything with them, to put them up on the market and I hope that the council, when the full details of the above the shop grant is available, will hold a workshop for people. I encourage young people especially, for their first home, to look at the option of buying one of those buildings and doing it up and living in the town."

He said with the various grants available for derelict buildings "there is great opportunity to buy a less expensive building than it would be to build one on a greenfield site. It would be wonderful to see people back living in our towns and villages."
Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny has said the Governments response to soaring fuel prices falls far short of what is needed, warning that the measures fail to deliver meaningful relief for households under pressure.

Speaking today, Deputy Kenny said the steps announced by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael were introduced weeks too late and only after sustained public pressure.

For the past month, families and workers have been hammered by spiralling fuel costs, he said. People are struggling to heat their homes and fill their cars, while this government stood back.

He added that while action has now been taken, it does not go far enough to address the scale of the crisis.

It has taken sustained pressure from Sinn Fein and public anger to force action. But what has been brought forward does not go far enough, he said.

Deputy Kenny criticised the level of reductions at the fuel pumps, saying motorists needed stronger intervention.

Motorists needed the maximum reduction at the pumps, but the Government chose not to deliver it, he said.

He also described the extension of the fuel allowance by four weeks, amounting to 152, as insufficient.

It is a drop in the ocean. It wont make a meaningful difference, he said.

Turning to home heating costs, Deputy Kenny said the Governments approach was a complete failure.

The cost of a fill has doubled in weeks, yet Fianna Fail and Fine Gael offer just 2 cent per litre. That is not support  it is an insult, he said.

He further claimed that any relief would be offset by future increases.

They will claw this back through another carbon tax hike in a matter of weeks. They give with one hand and take with the other, he said.

Deputy Kenny argued that the State has the financial capacity to provide stronger supports, pointing to a budget surplus and increased tax revenues.

The issue is not money  it is political will, he said. Once again, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are choosing to do the bare minimum.

He confirmed that Sinn Fein will move an amendment in the Dail aimed at delivering deeper reductions.

We will push for the maximum cut on diesel, similar reductions for petrol, and the removal of excise tax on home heating oil, he said.

This is a real emergency for households. It demands real action  not half-measures.
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A LIMERICK entrepreneur is planning a sustainability event in the heart of the city next month.

For the second year-in-a-row, David Hackett, from Raheen, is organising Swap n Serve.

Taking place on Saturday, April 11, at The Life Centre in Henry Street, its geared towards tackling fast fashion, boosting sustainability and building stronger ties in the city.

Swap n Serve operates on a simple model - people donate unwanted clothing, which will then be sold in a pop-up shop for just 1 per item, with proceeds covering the cost of running the event.

READ MORE: Swiss energy firm eyes wind farm development on land in Limerick

Any stock left after the event is distributed equally among partner charities.

Businessman David, who is 20, said: Its about bringing the community together. With the stuff we have seen lately around gender, race, sexuality and other differences, its a good day to celebrate our unity as a city.

Hes organising the event alongside his partner Shalom Obiakor, plus photographer Casey van Rossum and lead volunteer Oluchi Blessing Okoli.

To make donating easier and drive footfall in the city centre, David is hoping to identify cafes whose owners are willing to take items for the day.

For more information and to donate, telephone 087 0989890, or click here
WHITBREAD PLC, the parent company of Premier Inn, the UKs largest hotel company, is bringing its brand to the city at Limerick Twenty Thirtys Opera Square development.

The multi-million euro investment marks a significant step in the companys strategy to build a network of 5,000 affordable Premier Inn hotel rooms across Ireland.

The 156-bedroom Limerick Premier Inn, which will be the first private investment in the wider Opera Square development, will be built, operated and owned by Whitbread at a site it will acquire from Limerick Twenty Thirty (LTT) on the corner of Ellen Street and Patrick Street.

Currently the company offers its customers six hotel locations in Dublin and Cork  equivalent to more than 1,000 guest bedrooms  with another six hotels and a further 1,000 guest rooms in development.

READ MORE: Limerick brand Vacious expands shapewear with fashion-forward bodysuit launch

The Opera Square investment places Premier Inn at the heart of one of Limericks most significant urban regeneration projects and gives it a foothold in a city with a strong year-round demand for hotel rooms.

Subject to an amendment to pre-existing planning permission, the seven-storey Limerick Premier Inn will offer a mix of the brands standard and enhanced Premier Plus bedrooms and a free to use ground-floor Lounge space.

Limerick Twenty Thirty chair, James Collins said: We are particularly pleased to secure an investment of this scale from an international operator that has been actively seeking the right location in the city.

Once open, the Limerick Premier Inn will directly support LTTs ambition to establish a vibrant commercial and cultural quarter for the city, with Whitbread estimating around 60,000 guests will stay at the hotel annually based on the average occupancy of its trading hotels.

Matt Gent, Development Manager for Whitbread in Ireland said: Ireland represents one of the most exciting growth opportunities for Premier Inn. We know there is strong and rising demand for affordable, high-quality accommodation across the country, and our ambition is to create a truly national network of Premier Inn hotels to meet it."

Limerick is a city we have been looking at for some time, trying to find the right Premier Inn location. Opera Square offers an excellent mix of centrality, connectivity and long-term potential for both business and leisure guests, and were pleased to be investing in a development that forms part of the wider regeneration of the city centre, something Whitbread has a long and successful track record of doing in Ireland and across the UK.

Whitbread is expected to submit a planning application for the hotel to Limerick City and County Council before the summer. Pending approval, construction could begin in 2027.

Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, said: My priority since my election has been improving delivery of long-standing city centre plans. That includes Limericks Opera Square. We all want to see strong delivery of a dynamic mixed-use complex there, with a new civic plaza, city library, a hotel, significant office accommodation and a different focus for the Georgian buildings to focus on housing creating a vibrant and active urban quarter."

"I recently met with Premier Inn and the team of Whitbread PLC to finalise thoughts on the hotel project. It is great to see this now happen so soon after construction started on the OPW building. This new hotel is now expected to attract approximately 60,000 visitors annually, increasing footfall, sustaining activity in our Market area and supporting the wider commercial ecosystem. For me and the rest of the Limerick Twenty Thirty team, now we move to the next element and keep our focus until we get it all completed.

Limerick Twenty Thirty Chair, James Collins commented:

This investment by Whitbread represents a major vote of confidence in both Opera Square and Limericks wider economic potential. We are particularly pleased to secure an investment of this scale from an international operator that has been actively seeking the right location in the city, demonstrating the value of Limerick Twenty Thirtys strategy to unlock strategic sites and attract high-quality external investment that supports long-term regeneration."

By delivering the site-wide basement and advancing the development to this stage, Limerick Twenty Thirty has helped unlock the potential of the site by removing key development constraints and creating the conditions for private investment of this scale. Whitbread was identified through a market engagement process undertaken to secure the right development partner for this strategically important city centre site."

A 156-bedroom hotel at Opera Square, on top of everything else that is happening, will play a key role in energising the programme. On completion, it will increase dwell time in the city centre, support the wider commercial ecosystem emerging at Opera Square and increase the economic benefit for businesses in the area. This investment strengthens the overall proposition of the development and reinforces Limericks position as a regional capital of scale and ambition.

Premier Inn expects to employ around 30 permanent team members with recruitment focused within Limerick city and county.
LIMERICK would need an extra 100 gardai without the CCTV operations centre in Moyross being staffed, a councillor has claimed.

Staff at the centre in the northside estate monitor multiple camera feeds live around-the-clock, and can zoom, track and follow incidents as they unfold.

They then liaise with the gardai.

READ MORE: Gardai warn Limerick schools over illegal e-scooter use by 'children and young people'

But the future of this centre is uncertain, with 880,000 needed to keep it open and staffed.

Workers in Moyross have been told their jobs are at risk of redundancy.

And Mayor John Moran has used his own funding this year to ensure the cameras kept being monitored.

If the Moyross centre did stop being staffed, the cameras would still be on, but incidents would no longer be live-monitored.

The situation has arisen because the State will often pay for the cameras themselves, but not the workers to monitor them.

At this months metropolitan meeting, Alan Dooley, the councils head of information systems confirmed talks are ongoing with the Department of Justice to plug the funding gap and keep the centre staffed.

The long-term sustainability and certainty of the CCTV service will require the securing of sustainable, multi-annual funding, he confirmed.

At the meeting, members highlighted the importance of the facility. Northside councillor Sharon Benson, Sinn Fein, said: Its not an option to lose this service. Its essential. Without it, we would need probably 100 additional gardai. Thats been said to me from the gardai - the amount of resources they would need extra if it went.

Independent councillor Ursula Gavan saw a motion passed jointly with Fianna Fails Joe Pond calling for the retention of the centre.

She said: If we were to get 100 guards to replace the cost of the CCTV, it is going to be more than 880,000. We need the Government parties to come in and advocate for this. We saw Minister (Patrick) ODonovan rescue the International Rugby Experience. Id like to see movement on this too.

Cllr Shane Hickey-OMara, Social Democrats, added: There was one case in particular - and those cameras led to prosecution and a group of residents on a street felt a lot safer.

The announcement of CCTV funding in Limerick earlier this month is separate to the future of the Moyross facility.
A MAN who broke his partners jaw, forcing her to lose two teeth, has been sentenced to five years and three months' imprisonment.

John McCarthy, with an address at Kilmurry View, Dublin Road, Castletroy, Limerick, was charged with assaulting his partner at the time in her home on March 30, 2025. Limerick Circuit Court heard that the man was drinking with two other men while the victim was at home.

Prosecuting Barrister for the State, John OSullivan, detailed between 6-7pm Mr McCarthy falsely accused the victim of going off with one of the men, kicked her in the thigh twice, slapped her in the face, and held her by the throat, which caused her to lose consciousness.

When the woman later regained consciousness, the men had left, and Mr McCarthy was drinking and listening to music.

READ MORE: Limerick would need extra 100 gardai without CCTV monitoring centre

The mans assault on her fractured her jaw and caused her to lose two teeth. The court heard the hospital required her to have surgery to fix her jaw.

At the hospital, pictures were taken of her injuries - which also included bruising on her thigh.

The woman checked herself into a domestic violence shelter. While she was there, she received a threatening call from McCarthy, where he called her a handicap, and said you know what kind I am. The court heard this put her in fear, and she reported the man to gardai.

The womans victim impact statement said that Mr McCarthys actions forced me to leave my family home for months and left her a shell of the person I was. The statement said My sisters had to see me in hospital recovering from jaw surgery from the violent assault, and that the woman now suffers from panic attacks and flashbacks.

Im a shell of the person I was and I still feel pain to this day, the statement read.

Barrister Amy Nix, defending Mr McCarthy, said in mitigation that the man is working at the prison's carpentry shop and is pursuing education.

Ms Nix detailed that Mr McCarthy has a "significant number of convictions all related to addiction, and that when he committed the assault he was in the throes of grief. She asked the court to give him credit for this early plea.

He has five little children, she said.

Judge Colin Daly said in his sentencing that a mitigating factor was Mr McCarthys mother died and his [different] partner delivered a still born child and took her own life.

Judge Daly said when Mr McCarthy was accused he denied the relationship said the assault was a fabrication. The judge continued that the victim was pregnant at the time of this assault and that Mr McCarthy had been irrationally possessive.

Judge Daly said Mr McCarthy is a violent individual, that has a relevant previous conviction for domestic violence. The judge detailed that Mr McCarthy has 132 previous convictions.

Judge Daly proceeded to sentence John McCarthy to five years and three months prison, with the final 15 months suspended. The sentence was backdated to when Mr McCarthy first entered custody, June 2025.

-Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
A MAN who was found with 40,000 worth of drugs and three shotgun cartridges in his home said he was holding materials to clear his drug debt.

Limerick Circuit Court heard Damien Joyce, 26, had his home at Scanlon Park, Castleconnell, Limerick searched by gardai on February 2, 2023.

Barrister John OSullivan said in his summation of the prosecutions evidence that the drugs were found in a shoe box in Mr Joyces bedroom.

Two different weighing scales were also found in the room, as well as three shotgun cartridges.

READ MORE: "Sickening" cruelty to horses prompts fresh call for a dedicated ISPCA inspector for Limerick

The Director of Public Prosecutions charged Mr Joyce with permitting his land to be used for the sale and supply of controlled drugs.

Mr Joyce told gardai that he was forced to mind it, and that he owed money, I had no choice.

Mr Joyce admitted that he had been storing the drugs for five to six weeks.

The man said he was doing so to clear his drug debt - and that he wasnt selling the drugs.

The court heard that Mr Joyce has a history of employment, and previously had a job removing knotweed. The mans current employer - who gave him a reference in court - has a car business.

Mr Joyces sister also submitted a short email alluding to the familys background on the mans behalf.

Mr Joyce lived with his mother in a council house at the time of the offence, the court heard.

Judge Colin Daly said that Mr Joyce was operating under a fear of what would happen to him if he did not comply.

The court heard that Mr Joyce has 23 previous convictions, with three of those for simple possession of drugs.

Judge Colin Daly adjourned the case to a date in October for Mr Joyce to attend a drug course and show the court his employment record.

I do want to allow Mr Joyce to put his best foot forward, he said.

Judge Daly said: If he can satisfy me in this regard I will suspend the sentence in its entirety for four years.

-Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
THE STATE prosecution case against three members of An Garda Siochana, accused of squaring away Fixed Charge Penalty Notices (FCPNs) will not be going ahead.

Garda Peter O'Donnell (52), Garda Paul Baynham (37) and Garda Niall Deegan (51) were charged with a total of 33 charges between them, that while serving as gardai that they did communicate with other gardai, in a manner which had a tendency or was intended to pervert the course of public justice, on dates between 2017 and 2019.

The initial investigation was led by detectives from the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI).

Barrister Carl Hanahoe SC, for the prosecution, today, Wednesday, entered a nolle prosequi for all three accused, which was accepted by Judge Colin Daly in Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.

A nolle prosequi is a formal declaration from the prosecution to stop criminal proceedings - this means that the case will no longer be prosecuted.

It acts as a stay on court proceedings and all charges are dropped.

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There was a large group of supporters in the courtroom, standing in solidarity with the gardai, including senior members of An Garda Siochana.

Garda O'Donnell and Garda Baynham were represented by John Byrne SC, while James B Dwyer SC represented Garda Deegan.

All three had been suspended from duty since 2020.

In a statement after the hearing, solicitor Liz Hughes of Hughes Murphy said that the nolle prosequi is to be welcomed.

"I welcome this long overdue vindication of the innocence of Gardai ODonnell, Deegan and Baynham, which follows the recent acquittals of their colleagues and the return to duty of all other suspended members.

"Each of them would like to acknowledge the support from their families and friends and colleagues who saw daily the toll this took on them and whose reassurance kept them going. They wish to thank the public who have supported them and they are looking forward to returning to full policing duties and to serving their communities again.

"The complaint against these members was always without foundation. The precedent has long been set by custom and practice, and the role of policing in the community, long established in Ireland which takes the view that the guard on the front line has common sense and the wit to apply it."

She added: "From the moment I was first instructed in these matters I was of this view and advising on those lines and I have not wavered ever since.

"Garda management is just as well aware as we are of this custom and practice established over many generations of community policing. Whats more, Frank Thornton in his role as then President of the GRA took every opportunity to remind them of this, articulating that one division and certain members in particular were being treated unequally and unfairly. At any stage garda management could have listened but seemingly refused to."

Ms Hughes concluded: "We trust that the public inquiry which we believe will now be set up will address these matters and the questions as to how this happened, and the consequences that flowed from it, in the proper and just forum."
Meet Janet O'Connor from Limerick who is a dedicated volunteer with Ennis Road Community First Responders.

Janet is 51 years old and has just finished a two-year course in University of Limerick (UL) on community wellness and is now doing a health and safety course in University College Cork.

She is also a carer for a family member who is neurodivergent and has been living in Caherdavin for the past 18 years after falling in love with a Caherdavin man.

Janet joined Ennis Road Community First Responders three years ago after she spotted their recruitment stand one day while shopping in Dunnes Stores.

"I went over and I got chatting to Rory, who was doing the demonstrations, and he told me about the group. They've been up and running for the last eight years, and Rob would have been the founding member of the group.

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"So he told me about the group and what they do, and I thought, 'God, I'd love to get involved in that' because at the time, I was doing my CWEL course with UL, and I thought this would be a good opportunity for me to integrate into the community.

"Even though I live in Caherdavin, I'm from Croom, so apart from one or two people, I wouldn't know a lot of people in the area."

Since joining, Janet says she has loved the past few years volunteering for the first responder group and that it is extremely fulfilling.

"I love it but I do think it takes a certain type of person, because we only deal with critical incidents such as choking, strokes, cardiac arrests, and chest pains.

"So what happens is, when a 999 call comes in to the National Ambulance Service, we get the call as well. And we're within 8-10 minutes of every call that comes in. We do any call this side of the four bridges.

"So we cover a big area. We attend the call and we go ahead of the ambulance, assess the situation.

"If there's a deterioration or whatever, we can ring the ambulance crew ourselves, let them know what's going on. When they come, we will do a handover with them, we'll give them all the vital details that they need when they get there, and they'll take over from there."

READ ALSO: Limerick staff unable to login to work devices after cyberattack from hacker group - Limerick Live

Janet said that anybody can volunteer for the group and they are always looking for members. They have around 35 members in total.

"We have members with us that don't go on calls. They'd be older ladies or gents. And they don't necessarily go out on live calls, but they attend training every month and they get involved in our recruitment and our fundraising and all that.

"We're currently in Cleeves. We have a base there and a storeroom, but we're about to lose that building soon. So we are looking for a new base.

"There's new apartment blocks, I think, going in there. So we're losing that building due to refurbishments.

"We also keep all our stock, supplies and our training equipment there as well. So we are going to be looking for a new home."

Janet said that the team also run life-saving courses like first aid and basic cardiac arrest to schools and local businesses.

"You are giving up your free time. It's a very fulfilling role to have in the community and it's just been one of the most fulfilling things I've ever been part of, personally.

"There is the medical side of it but you also have the personal side of it, which is you are there for the family because you're nearly always entering a scene that's quite traumatic for the family.

"You're dealing with family members at chaotic scenes, they're terribly worried or fearful. They're highly emotional and they're emotionally charged scenes you're entering.

"We support each other very well, you know, we'd never attend a scene without ringing each other afterwards, seeing how we're getting on and we go for a coffee with each other, have a chat about it.

"We're like a little family and that's the way we treat each other. We're all very close. We have our little barbecue once a year.

"That's quite important to us that we look out for each other in those situations because we are always entering a critical incident.

"I would 100% encourage people to join because you are your family's first responder. You may be the first person on the scene and you may be at the scene when something happens. And to have that training, that basic life support training, is vital and everybody should do something.

"Everybody should know how to do CPR, basic CPR. It's not hard to learn. We should be encouraging children as well.

"I would also encourage people if you ask your child, where do they live? What's their eircode? You know, most of them don't know.

"Every fridge in the country should have a sticker on it that gives the address and the eircodes because the first thing when you ring 999, if a child or anyone has to ring 999, the first thing they'll ask for is the for the eircode."

Janet said that she had responded to a cardiac arrest call the morning of this interview. She had sat down to drink a cup of coffee when she had to run off with an AED in her car to attend the scene.

"I didn't even get to take a drink out of the coffee. I was able to get into my car, I've an AED in the car, get to the scene and assist."
A HEALTH clinic on the citys northside teamed up with the Haven Hub for a training day.

There was a full house at the premises of Neurosensei Lifelong Health Clinic in Thomondgate for an event focused on a holistic approach to health.

Holistic health means caring for all of you, not just one part.

The health clinic teamed up with the Haven Hub, which has also established a base in Thomondgate.

PICTURES: Colourful scenes as Limerick school hosts multicultural day

Haven Hub helps people who are struggling by giving them a safe place to rest and someone to listen.

Donations from the day went to the Haven Hub.

The day formed part of an ongoing partnership between Neurosensei Lifelong Health Clinic and The Haven Hub through its body-mind-boost programme.

This is a support service that has been running for the past three years with the Haven Hub.

Delivered two to three times annually in eight-week blocks, the Haven Hub programme focuses on helping individuals dedicate daily time to their own physical and emotional wellbeing through structured community supports.

The programme includes a broad range of activities designed to meet different needs across the community. These include walking groups, full-day health workshops addressing both physical and mental wellbeing.
THE family of Limerick's Scarlett Faulker have issued an update on her health.

Scarlett, 29, from the northside of Limerick city, was viciously beaten by individuals armed with weapons at the side of the R494 road in Birdhill on Saturday evening. The vehicle she was travelling in was rammed off the road before she was dragged from the vehicle and attacked.

Josephine (Joanne) Duffy, the partner of Scarlett's brother Thomas, revealed in a video posted on social media that Scarlett went for a brain scan on Tuesday morning. "The doctors will speak to her parents with the results of the brain scan and what will be next," she said.

READ MORE: We're going through enough' - Scarlett Faulkner's family appeal for removal of sensitive hospital photo

She explained that the family are "so stressed,"so worried and "heartbroken."

"They're hoping for the best, they got bad news. They're praying, they want a miracle," she continued, prior to the results of the brain scan.

"Everyone is praying, everyone is lighting candles and a 100 million, million per cent we appreciate every prayer, every candle that was lit. They appreciate that so much. They know that everyone is praying.

"All the messages everyone is sending, all the love, all the candles everyone is sending, don't think they're not noticing it," said Josephine. "They're noticing it and they're very appreciative of it."

In a separate post Josephine wrote: "They will try reduce the sedation the next few days and please God she will have movement and some brain activity so thank you all so much and please continue to pray. It's more than needed at the time."

In the video post Josephine also clarified that the family was never involved in a feud. "This family have never feuded with anyone in their lives. They're respectable, quiet people, stick to themselves and they never get involved in any of this kinds of feuds.

"We don't know exactly what happened or why it happened," she went on. "No one knows that exactly as of yet... the guards are trying to find out. It's left in the guards hands for now. We do hope that everyone that was involved will be brought to justice which I'm sure they will be because the videos are there, plain to see," she added.

Josephine appealed to people not to post any photos or videos relating to the incident on social media. "The videos and the photos that are going around are really, really upsetting and distressing for the family to see. People are sending them, they're clicking into it, they didn't realise what it was."

Josephine continued: "That's their sister lifeless on the ground being savagely attacked... Someone went in, took a photo of her in intensive care and posted that photo of her which obviously no one wanted anyone to see.

"Scarlett or her family have never been in a feud and we're very happy that you're all praying and thank you all for your prayers and if you can still keep praying... that they get the good news that they want and they're hoping for."

"She's an innocent young girl, a little baby at home waiting for her and she's now fighting for her life and it's not looking good for her so we just want all the prayers."

Her comments come a day after Love Hate star John Connors issued an appeal for Travellers to step back from feuds.

"I want to ask people to pray for that woman and hopefully she pulls through and is in good health when she comes out of it too, please God."

John added: "The traveller feuds are getting out of hand... We're destroying our own community, look at me, I'm a walking, talking hypocrite sinner. I've been involved in feuds myself."

"We need to stop this, we need to stop killing ourselves up and down the country, videoing it all, putting it all on camera... We need to stop the violence, we need to stop the feuding."

Limerick professional boxer Paddy Donovan also issued an appeal for prayers for his cousin Scarlett, saying that she is "fighting for her life."
THE Psyche of the Land, Mo Anam Cara, an art exhibition by Mary Doyle Burke, curated by Maurice Quillinan in Limerick Museum has been officially opened.

Deep into the Psyche of the Land, Mo Anam Cara unfolds as a continuum of gestures: walking, gathering, listening, returning, that echo the deep-time practices embedded in Irelands cultural landscape. Mary Doyle Burkes work emerges from years of embodied encounter with bog, moor, wetlands and field, where materials are not simply collected but received, carried, and transformed through contemporary ceremony. She holds a BA (Honours) in Visual Art from the South-East Technological University.

Cllr Maria Donoghue, deputising for Mayor of Limerick John Moran, said: It was a great honour to open this exhibition on the Mayors behalf. Marys work draws from landscape, nature and place; the very materials of her pieces are from nature, as she creates textiles using dyes made from seeds, leaves and plants collected from bogland, with the colours coming directly from the landscape itself.

Id strongly encourage anyone who can to come down to Limerick Museum and see it for themselves before the end of the month.

READ MORE: School community return to their roots for wild trees exhibition in Limerick

Dr Matthew Potter commented: This ritual field finds a powerful historical counterpart in the Limerick Museums Bronze Age bog sword, discovered by a Bord na Mona worker in a Tipperary bog and dated to roughly 3,000 years ago.

Like many wetland depositions across Ireland, the sword was not lost but placed, an offering, a gesture of surrender or transformation enacted at the edge of land and water. The bog, in this context, is not merely a landscape but a ceremonial space, a site where identity, power and memory were negotiated through material acts.

Deep into the Psyche of the Land, Mo Anam Cara will be on display in Limerick Museum until Tuesday, March 31. Admission is free.
MAYOR John Moran says his version of events differs from that of council director general Dr Pat Daly regarding an alleged physical altercation between the pair, adding: We have different recollections.

The first citizen claimed he was physically manhandled out of the way during a tense exchange.

It came after Mayor Moran appeared on local radio last October, where he criticised the councils delivery of Christmas plans.

READ MORE: Physical altercation or robust exchange? Limerick mayor and Dr Pat Daly dispute row at City Hall

Dr Daly said he felt the mayor had thrown council staff under the bus following the interview, and described their clash in City Hall soon after the radio broadcast as a fairly robust exchange.

The disclosure of the incident came on Tuesday in the first instalment of a three-part series in The Currency by former Limerick Leader editor Alan English, focusing on the deteriorating relationship between the two most senior figures in the local authority.

When contacted by Limerick Live on Tuesday, Limerick City and County Council did not comment further.

However, this Wednesday morning Mayor Moran said in a statement to Limerick Live: As Pat says in the article he was upset that morning following the interview, and he has described what followed as a fairly robust exchange. My own account is also set out there. We have different recollections, but I dont intend to add to that.

READ MORE: New road confirmed to run parallel to Patrickswell as part of Limerick to Cork motorway

Meanwhile, in the second instalment of the series, published this Wednesday morning, it has been claimed that since Mayor Moran became Limericks first directly-elected mayor, Team Limerick has fragmented, with people now aligned in camps.

Northside Fine Gael councillor Olivia OSullivan said: People who have got on well for years have taken sides. They are in the mayors camp, or JP McManuss camp, or the councils camp or some other camp.

Councillor Joe Leddin said the local authority is in absolute crisis and nearly in a state of paralysis.

Its like a family at war in public  and its not doing the individuals any good in terms of their own mental health, the City West councillor and former mayor said. We are actually on the rocks.

Another stakeholder told Mr English: So much ground has been made by Limerick over the last decade. Thousands of multi-national jobs were created. But now its like Team Limerick has fragmented and projects across the city are being impacted. If one side is pro-something, the other side will go against  and you have a logjam.

A council staff member said privately: Nobody is saying it was amazing before he came  but our delivery has gone to the dogs since hes come in. Were not delivering. Were losing investment everywhere.

Businesswoman Helen ODonnell, who was runner-up in the June 2024 election eventually won by John Moran, claimed the mayor told her he was not going to run for the role seven months before the vote, which she said prompted her to enter the race.

Mayor Moran said he does not recall the conversation, but added it is quite possible I was of that view at the time.

Early in his term, the mayor angered councillors when he suggested they should apply to sit on the boards of companies operating at arms length from the local authority, including Limerick Twenty Thirty.

Social Democrats councillor Shane Hickey-OMara claimed that after he expressed a view on the matter, he was screamed at from across the room.

A psychotherapist by profession, he said it informed his view of the mental state of various individuals.

The culture is to scream people down, frighten them, make them go quiet. Theyre making snide comments. Theyre laughing at you. Theyre walking out when you start talking, he said.

He described the council chamber as the most insecure room Ive ever been in.

City North councillor Sharon Benson of Sinn Fein said the director general is part of the problem.

I know the mayor rubbed people up the wrong way. But right now, I see the mayor trying to make it work, but I dont think Pat is. I think theres just a solid No, this isnt happening, she said.

One staff member said they felt sick to the stomach at a meeting where Mayor Moran was bickering with senior management.

Another said his micromanagement has made their life a living hell.

Hes just very hard to work with, because he will never concede a point. We have a saying among ourselves  we mightnt be good enough for John Moran, but were good enough for each other, the staff member added.

Government is planning a review into the legislation which underpins the role of Mayor of Limerick, and also sets out the division of responsibility between Mr Moran and Dr Daly.

But its timeline is unclear.

Mayor Moran appeared live on RTE's Prime Time on Tuesday night in which he appeared to criticise the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

"I don't think it's really fair of the department to be washing its hands on this issue. In a way, I have to try and figure out where to go. I have an interpretation of the legislation. I spent many years working as a lawyer interpretring and indeed writing legislation at the Department of Finance. We've asked the department for an interpretation of what the actual legislation they wrote was intended, and how it was intended to operate in various different factual situations. They havent presented us with that. It's not necessarily fair on Limerick, and it's certainly not fair on me or Pat Daly. If we can get the clarity on the legislation, even pending the review, life gets a lot simpler," he said.
Policy tailwinds and infrastructure returns

Taken together, the developments are fueling the growth of electric commercial vehicles in India, which saw sales jump 54% in 2025 to 15,606 units, largely comprising electric LCVs and buses, according to data from Federation of Automobile Dealerships Associations (Fada). However, their share in overall commercial vehicle sales was only 1.5%, the lowest among all categories.
The restructuring plan also suggests the company is not just eyeing the products business as a margin booster. HCLSoftware has traditionally reported higher operating margins than the core IT services business due to low human-related costs. The company gets much of its software revenue from selling software products and their licences, using little manpower. While HCLTech reported operating margins of 18.3% last year, the software arm ended with margins of 26.6%.
China has restricted two co-founders of artificial intelligence startup Manus from leaving the country as regulators review whether Meta's $2 billion acquisition of the firm violated investment rules, the Financial Times reported.

Manus's chief executive Xiao Hong and chief scientist Ji Yichao were summoned to a meeting in Beijing with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) this month, the FT said on Wednesday, citing people with knowledge of the matter.

After the meeting, the executives were told they were not allowed to leave China due to a regulatory review while they remain free to travel within the country, the report said.

Manus is actively seeking law firms and consultancies to help resolve the matter, the newspaper said.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report. Meta and Manus did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

China's Ministry of Public Security did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

In December, Meta said it would acquire Manus, which makes general-purpose AI agents that can operate as digital employees, executing tasks such as research and automation independently and with minimal prompts.

Financial terms of the deal were not released, but a source told Reuters at the time that the deal valued the Singapore-based firm at between $2 billion and $3 billion.
Rumours of OnePlus ceasing operations in key markets have again surfaced, months after India CEO Robin Liu dismissed them, saying that business operations were continuing as usual and will continue to do so.

In a now-deleted X post, Internet tipster Yogesh Brar had claimed that OnePlus would be shutting down operations in key global markets to shift focus on its entry- and mid-range market in India.

"OnePlus is shutting down in select Global markets. China business will stay unaffected. India market will mostly get budget & mid-range products. (Not a good news for US, UK & EU customers) [sic]," Brar wrote in the deleted X post.

Now, a report by 9to5Google, citing a source, seems to have confirmed the news, saying that OnePlus will cease operations in certain regions, including vast portions of Europe.

This shutdown will likely start from April 2026, the media outlet said; however, they could not verify the timeline. The report also claimed that OnePlus had informed selected staff of this decision in advance, with some having already received severance packages.

In 2020, OnePlus scaled back major components of its European operations, jetting out UK, German, and other European offices in the post-Nord launch period following co-founder Carl Peis exit.

LiveMint has written to OnePlus seeking a comment on the report, and is awaiting a response. The story will be updated accordingly.

Also Read | OnePlus Nord 6 box image, key specifications leaked ahead of launch

Robin Liu quits OnePlus To further fuel speculation, Liu stepped down from OnePlus on Tuesday to pursue his personal passions.

"We thank Robin for his contributions to OnePlus India. He moves on to pursue his personal passions, and we wish him the very best for his future endeavours," the company said. OnePlus India operations continue with local strategy and business continuity ensured, it added.

Liu had joined OnePlus in 2018, initially leading its sales operations. In 2022, he was promoted to CEO of OnePlus North America, then reappointed as CEO of OnePlus India in 2024.

According to media reports, Liu is serving notice at the company. His last working day with OnePlus is reportedly 31 March. He has already moved back to China, as he transitions out of his role at OnePlus.

Also Read | OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro with 55db ANC and up to 54 hour battery launched

OnePlus India OnePlus had launched its flagship device, OnePlus 15, in India in November 2025, followed by the OnePlus 15R and OnePlus Pad Go 2 the very next month.

However, speculation is that the Oppo sub-brand has cancelled its plans for the OnePlus Open 2, a notebook-style foldable, and the OnePlus 15s, a compact flagship.

The company has also been losing market share to rivals in an ever-competitive smartphone market, further complicated by the recent memory chip shortages.

OnePlus is also working to recover from a decline in shipments: under Liu, the smartphone maker recorded a 32% decline in shipments in 2025, according to Cybermedia Research. IDC estimates a 38.8% decline in the company's shipments in 2025 on a YoY basis.
MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: As semaglutide, the drug behind weight-loss drug Ozempic, goes off-patent in India and cheaper copies flood the market, Novo Nordisk has moved to defend its flagship brand, kicking off a fresh legal battle with Dr. Reddys Laboratories over a rival name it says is too close for comfort.

The Danish drugmaker has approached the Delhi High Court to block Dr. Reddys from launching a generic version of semaglutide under the brand name Olymviq, arguing that it is phonetically and structurally similar to Ozempic and risks confusing patients and prescribers.

Hearing the matter on Wednesday, justice Jyoti Singh directed Dr. Reddys to halt the rollout of the brand, directly and indirectly, including manufacture, sales to distributors and final sales, until the case is heard on priority on Friday.

Also Read | Alkem eyes leadership in weight-loss drugs with aggressive generic pricing

It will freeze as of now. Thats it. Nobody moves it. The distributor doesnt sell it into the market. You dont send to the distributor, if its agreeable. Thats the solemn undertaking and assurance that youre giving to the court. I dont want any violations or any aberrations on that, Singh remarked.

Singh also suggested that given the similarity, Dr. Reddys could consider making changes so that both parties are able to coexist in the market, noting that if the matter escalates, any stay order at a later stage could prove detrimental to the brand itself.

I really will have to strain myself to find the difference  structurally, visually and phonetically, Singh said. I mean, the end result is that you go to the Division Bench and have my order set aside or stayedthats your right. But there will be a stay, businesses get affected, and these kinds of stay orders in the media have their own repercussions on a brands name and credibility. I would rather that you go down this pathmake a little change in the name here and there, and both of you live peacefully.

Also Read | Emcure betting on innovator edge in crowded weight-loss drug market

Generic rush The dispute comes days after semaglutide, Novo Nordisks blockbuster drug for type-2 diabetes and obesity, lost patent exclusivity in India on 20 March, triggering a flood of launches at roughly half the cost. Novo sells it locally as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus.

According to Pharmarack, more than 50 generic versions are expected this year.

Dr. Reddys, among others, has already launched the drug as Obeda for type-2 diabetes. However, Novo alleged the company has rolled out promotional material for another brand, Olymviq, and is on the cusp of launching it.

Arguing for an injunction, Novo said the similarity would lead to confusion with the innovator brand, a well-established first name because this is a coined and fanciful mark, in use since 2014 in 100 countries.

Ozempic has generated $63 billion in global sales over the past five years, with $3.5 billion spent on promotion, counsel for Novo told the court. In India, where it was launched in December 2025, it has recorded 22 crore in sales, with 15 crore spent on promotion so far.

Amid the influx of generics, Novo is banking on brand recall and its reach with doctors to retain market share, and sought an immediate injunction, warning that Dr. Reddys would flood the market if not restrained.

Citing a 2022 dispute between Sun Pharma and Glenmark over the brands Instamet and Indamet, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Novo Nordisk, argued trademark protection is especially critical in pharmaceuticals.

It was held that it is common knowledge that many prescriptions are telephoned and others are handwritten, and such handwriting is often illegible. These factors increase the chances of confusion or mistakes by pharmacists while filling prescriptions, Singhvi argued.

Also Read | What does the SC verdict allowing passive euthanasia mean for India?

Trademark battle In response, senior advocate Sandeep Sethi, appearing for Dr. Reddys Laboratories, said semaglutide is not an impulse purchase but a specialized, prescription-based treatment under medical supervision, reducing the likelihood of confusion as multiple layers of professional judgment intervene.

Separately, Dr. Reddys filed for registration of the name Olymviq on 25 July 2025 and again on 23 March 2026, according to a review of Indias trademark registry.

The company is also locked in a separate legal dispute with Novo Nordisk over alleged patent infringement related to semaglutide since May 2025.

The patent expiry has opened the door for cheaper versions from Indian drugmakers including Sun Pharma, Zydus Lifesciences, Glenmark, Natco and Alkem, priced 50-90% below the innovator brands.
The gathering was the final run-up to the IPO filing, touted as India's biggest by a private company, which is expected to offload around 2.5%-2.7% of its stake. The offer will have to brave the ongoing global turmoil in equity markets triggered by the oil shock stemming from the war in West Asia. The escalation in the region is expected to dampen sentiment in 2026 after a record year for IPOs in India.
Sunil Bharti Mittal will retire as the chair of the Airtel Africa Board in July, with Gopal Vittal set to be appointed as non-executive chair in his stead.

As per a statement by Airtel Africa, Mittal, who served as the board's chair since the company's listing back in 2019, informed the board of his decision to retire at the conclusion of the year's annual general meeting (AGM) in July 2026.

Airtel Africa provides mobile voice, mobile data and mobile money services to 14 countries in in sub-Saharan Africa.

Confident now is the time to step aside as Chair I want to extend my thanks to the Board of Airtel Africa for their support to me as Chairman. Airtel Africa has a solid strategy and an outstanding leadership team in place, the strength of which is evident in recent results, so I am confident that now is the time for me to step aside as Chair, Mittal said.

Also Read | Gopal Vittal: The best leadership bet that Sunil Mittal ever made

It has been an honour to lead Airtel Africa in this capacity, and I know the company will continue to prosper and to advance the transformative power of connectivity to the millions of customers we serve across 14 African countries. I have offered my services and will be available to support the company as requested by the Chair, he added.

Who is Gopal Vittal? About Sunil Mittal's successor As per the filing, Vittal will be appointed as NonExecutive Chair of the Airtel Africa Board with effect from July. He was appointed by nomination of the controlling shareholder subject to the relationship agreement between Bharti Airtel, Airtel Africa Mauritius, the majority shareholder and an indirect subsidiary of Bharti Airtel, and Bharti Telecom.

The company called Vittal an established telecoms leader who led Bharti Airtel to a life-time high revenue market share in an intensely competitive market and is the current Board Chair of the GSMA. He was appointed a non-executive director of Airtel Africa in October 2024.

Also Read | Mittal experiment: How Bharti Airtel is grooming heirs outside corporate nest

GSMA or the Global System for Mobile Communications Association, is a lobby group for the telecom industry, representing over 750 mobile operators (full time members) and 400 associate member companies.

The Board acknowledges that Vittal will not be independent on appointment for the purposes of the UK Corporate Governance Code, it added.

What's next for Airtel Africa? Meanwhile, Shravin Bharti Mittal will assume the role of deputy chair of the board from the same date in July, the filing added.

In the post, he will ensure continuity with the founding family and significant shareholder and will be the Board's conduit with the Airtel Money Board, on which he serves, and with Airtel Africa's headquarters in Dubai, where he is based, the filing notified.

Further, as part of the ongoing succession planning in respect of the company's Non-Executive Directors, Annika Poutiainen will also retire at the conclusion of the July AGM, after serving for over seven years.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the governments powers to withdraw electricity duty exemptions for captive power plants, ruling in favour of Maharashtra in a 25-year-old dispute with companies such as Reliance Industries Ltd.

A bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe upheld the validity of the states notifications of 1 April 2000 and 4 April 2001 to withdraw the exemption and impose electricity duty on power generated and consumed by industries.

However, the court ruled that the withdrawal should not take effect immediately. It directed that the notifications would come into effect only after a one-year period from their respective dates, giving companies time to adjust their finances and operations.

In our view, interest of justice would be adequately served by treating the impugned notifications as taking effect only after the expiry of a reasonable notice period a period of one year would constitute a reasonable notice, the court said in its order.

Reliance Industries and Jindal Poly Films Ltd, another company involved in the dispute, have yet to respond to queries emailed on Wednesday.

Legal experts flagged risks around policy certainty.

From an investment perspective, the concern is not the duty itself but the uncertainty it introduces, said Keyur D. Gandhi, managing partner at Gandhi Law Associates. Captive power projects are typically justified on long-term cost stability. If exemptions can be withdrawn later, it weakens predictability.

Also Read | SC says repeated challenges by unsuccessful bidders erode IBCs framework

The dispute traces back to Maharashtras 1993 industrial policy, which promised exemption from electricity duty to encourage industries to set up captive power plants and reduce reliance on the grid. However, in April 2000, the state withdrew the exemption and imposed a duty of 30 paise per unit. This was later reduced to 15 paise per unit through a 2001 notification.

The move triggered litigation, with companies arguing that they had made long-term investments based on the promise of tax exemptions.

In 2009, the Bombay High Court ruled in favour of companies, striking down the states decision and granting full exemption for the period between April 2000 and April 2005, according to that order. It had termed the governments action arbitrary and lacking proper justification.

The Maharashtra government challenged the high court verdict in the top court.

Also Read | How the US Supreme Court order blunts Trumps tariff threat

The Supreme Court, however, disagreed with this view. It held that tax exemptions are a policy concession and not a permanent right, and the government retains the authority to modify or withdraw them in public interest.

At the same time, the Supreme Court emphasized that such policy changes must be implemented fairly, without causing sudden hardship to businesses that relied on earlier incentives.
That totals 242.71 million persons who sought work under the programme in fiscal 2026 until 23 March. Even if there's a sharp rise in enrolment in the last eight days of March, it is all but sure not to exceed the number of persons who sought MGNREGA work in any of the preceding five years.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday attended a mass kanya pujan programme at the Sanatan Dharm Mandir complex in Prem Nagar, Dehradun, where 1,100 girls were worshipped during Chaitra Navratri celebrations. At the event, he linked the religious observance to the state governments welfare framework for girls, outlining support measures spanning education, employment and social assistance.

Dhami said Chaitra Navratri was not only a festival of faith but also an occasion to reinforce values of respect, service and social responsibility. He said the practice of kanya pujan reflected the place accorded to girls in Indian tradition and should translate into a wider social commitment to ensuring education, safety and dignity for every daughter.

In his address, the chief minister highlighted several government interventions aimed at improving support for girls and women in the state. These include scholarships, bicycle distribution for girls on admission to Class 9, incentive support for students passing Class 12, and 30% horizontal reservation for women in government jobs.

He also referred to social assistance provisions tied to marriage support. According to the chief minister, registered construction workers are eligible for assistance of 61,000 for the collective marriage of their daughters and up to 55,000 for individual marriages. Families from Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and economically weaker sections are also eligible for marriage assistance of up to 50,000.

Dhami said the state government was implementing schemes such as the Nanda Gaura Yojana, Gaura Devi Kanyadhan Yojana, Chief Minister Mahalakshmi Kit Yojana and nutrition support initiatives, describing them as part of a broader effort to support girls from birth through education, health and employment. The remarks positioned the event not just as a religious gathering but also as a platform to underline policy commitments related to womens welfare.

He said daughters contribute to social and cultural continuity through care, values and participation in family and community life, and added that public observances should encourage practical commitments rather than remain symbolic. He urged citizens to take a pledge for the protection, education and advancement of girls so that the sentiment behind kanya pujan is reflected in everyday social conduct.

The chief minister also said the nine days of Navratri should be seen as a period for introspection, humility and public duty in addition to worship. He described kanya pujan as a practice that combines tradition with a message of social accountability.
Like Iraq, the Iran conflict began, in part, over warnings of an imminent threat from weapons of mass destruction, claims that are likely to come under growing scrutiny. Like Iraq, the planning focused heavily on Americas spectacular military might, but far less so on the consequences of what might happen next. Like Iraq, experts who may have disagreed were seemingly sidelined or ignored, said Mansoor and Eyre.
The most yawning gap in prices is between oil that used to flow out of the Gulf and different kinds of crude from farther afield. Prices for a grade of crude known as Dubai had risen well over 150% so far in 2026 by Mondays close, according to commodities data provider OPIS, which shares a parent company with The Wall Street Journal. That is far more than the standard benchmarks cited in the media.
During his second term in office, Trump has emphasized developing a regulatory environment that is aimed at making the U.S. a leader in artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies. Several of the council members lead companies that have helped fund the presidents pet projects. For example, Meta Platforms donated to Trumps ballroom as did Huang in a personal capacity.
Former Jersey City, N.J., Mayor Steven Fulop had never lived in the five boroughs before he took the job of leading the Partnership for New York City. Since January he has launched a multifront assault against Mamdanis proposed increases. As the business communitys primary mouthpiece, he has met with the mayor and state legislators and warned them that higher taxes could cause the citys business elite to flee. He has written opinion columns and taken to television and social media, calling Mamdanis plan a political mistake.
The US Navy has long neglected mine warfare. In January, with terrible timing, it scrapped its last Avenger-class mine-clearing ships based in the region. Two of the three vessels that replaced them, littoral combat ships with mine-clearing equipment, are not in the Gulf, and must make their way from Asia. On arrival they can deploy helicopters with airborne detection systems and underwater drones which can both search for and disarm mines. But these systems have not yet been used in battle and have suffered a series of technical glitches in testing. Mr Clark reckons that clearing the strait could take anywhere between one and three weeks. At some point officials will have to rip off the band-aid and begin escorting ships without complete certainty that all threats have been eliminated, he adds.
Punjab is attempting a high-stakes transformation from an agrarian powerhouse into an industrial. In its latest attempt, Punjab hosted a 3-day investor Summit (Progressive Punjab Investors Summit 2026) earlier this month. The state government has received investments upwards of 57,000 crore.

The state also recently rolled out its New Industrial Policy 2026.

In a conversation with Mint, Sanjeev Arora, Punjabs Minister for Industries & Commerce and Power, discussed the usage of Artificial Intelligence to draft these industrial norms, big-ticket investments in the State and the dual pressure of a global energy crisis and supply chain disruption.

Here are edited excerpts:

1. Could you share with us the journey you had while planning this summit - your success story and setbacks? Answer: Six months back when we started planning for the summit. Everyone was apprehensive whether we could do so many sessions. We had planned 30 sessions - It has never been planned by any summit in India till date. So we had 24 industry-specific sessions; 3 country sessions - UK, Japan, Korea; and 3 other sessions were artificial intelligence, brand Mohali, and MSME. To begin with, I had thought that this summit should be the largest summit ever held by Punjab. And thanks to my team, my industry department, and investment promotion, Punjab Development Commission, we achieved what we envisioned. We had involved KPMG and also CII so put together it was a great show.

2. What was new this year as compared to last year? Answer: The venue - the summit has always taken place in ISB. This time we've shifted it to Plaksha University. It's a newer university, bigger campus, so the exhibition was almost 3 times bigger. The invitees were almost 3 times.

Another thing, previous summits were planned over 2 days. This year, it was for 3 days - it started on the 13th March and finished on the 15th. On the 14th, the whole of the day we had 24 sessions. And our concern was that will people really attend those many sessions, will we have to face embarrassment that people are not there and sessions are being held.

But what happened was all these sessions were full and people were standing to attend the sessions and some were outside in the corridor, waiting if they could get into that. We got the right people who matter in that industry, in that field, and also we invited the industrialists who would be interested in those sessions.

We had a session on artificial intelligence.

3. So do you think AI will help the smaller industries? Answer: Yeah, I mean, its important to get into the latest technology. Today, without artificial intelligence, businesses can't succeed. They need it because everyone is using it - all the bigger players are using artificial intelligence. So MSME also has to do. They have to switch to artificial intelligence for their growth, for R&D, for the way they work, and even for accounts people are using AI. Even when we made our policy, we also used artificial intelligence for that.

We have started using AI and we are trying to increase the usage of AI.

4. Would you like to share in what ways you are using artificial intelligence? How does it help you? Answer: I will start with our policy. So we had created 24 sectoral committees. In each sectoral committee, there were 12 industrialists. 80% of the industrialists were MSME and 20% were large, overall. So, and then in each committee, there were some government officials.

So what we did was, when we got the report from all the committees, which was in a record time of 2 months. We put everything in AI. It helped us identify from the reports, what were the common issues among industrialists. It helped us assess those reports quickly.

Recently in Himachal Pradesh, a BJP MLA also praised our policy, the Punjab industrial policy.

5. Would you like to share with us the big-ticket investments you received at this year's summit. Answer: In recent times, just before the summit or after the summit, we have had a lot of investments. To list a few, I would say Vardhman Steel is investing 33,600 crore. Happy Forgings is investing 1,000 crore. Arora Steel is a company from Ludhiana, they are investing around 1200 crore. Trident, they have now promised 5,000 crores of investments in textile and also they are going into IT and all. Then we have Nahar Group of Industries, they are investing 1,550 crore. IOL Chemicals 1,400 crores. One is Verka Beverages, they are going to make Campa Cola for Reliance, 987 crores. Fortis is around 1,000 crores in Mohali. JSW has announced around 3,000 crores.

Bathinda Refinery, that is, HMEL is 2,600 crore, which is a tie-up between Mittals and HPCL.

6. How do you see this panning out in terms of development and jobs in the state? Answer: From 2022, we have had an investment of around 170,000, and this has brought in jobs to the tune of 6 lakh people in different categories - it could be IT, highly paid, then lower paid, normal labour also.

In 2025-26, we have had an investment of around 60,000. It will be 60,000 because we have like another 10-12 days to go and investment is trickling in. As of date, it is around 57,000 crore, so of course it will touch 60.

Now that is a historic-high.

As I said, 170,000 has brought in 6 lakh jobs, so we divide it and we see thats on an average, that's how the jobs will come in.

7. Earlier this month, the govt also announced a new industrial policy. How does that help in Ease of Doing Business and cost of doing business. Also, what are the sectors that are expected to get the max boost from the new norms? Answer: Let me start with ease of doing business. The government of India has awarded Punjab the best state in ease of doing business. So if the government of India is awarding us, we are doing something right. We also have the Right to Business Act. In the Right to Business Act, industries which are in the green category and a few of orange category industries are given all the approvals within 5 days. But as long as they are in an approved, industrial estate or focal point. If they are not in an approved industrial estate or they are given approval in 15 days.

And if it is an expansion, it is 18 days. All other industries which are in the red category or which are not covered under RTB, get approvals in 45 days. If the government doesn't give approval in 45 days, they are taken as approvals. You can start production and all.

We have not crossed any deadline. We have a CAF - common application form. It is filed on Punjab Invest Portal, so we have not crossed any deadline of 45 days till now as long as we have all the documents, they have the approval with them.

8. Even the neighbouring sates (HP) are praising your industrial policy; how do you look at this? Answer: We made committees, so these policies were made by the industry itself. We got around 600+ suggestions from all the committees put together. We took care of 77% of their suggestions.

We made sure it's a comprehensive policy. We are the first state that has made 24 policies. One is master policies, and then there are 24 individual policies sector-wise which we have made.

So it is a detailed and comprehensive policy, and over a period of around 6 to 8 weeks, 2,000+ man hours were spent on this policy. Each and every meeting was chaired by me.

I wanted to make sure that the team is positive and we get a policy which is liked by everyone. The only reason behind this policy being praised is that we took care of all the industries, especially MSME.

For investments over and above 500 crore, if any investor comes and has a special request to make to the state, we would love to listen and solve. Once our committee approves, it is taken to Cabinet for approval.

9. Crude Oil is on the boil, we are in a global energy crisis. That is going to have a direct impact on input costs for small & medium industries in Punjab. Do you think the export-oriented local industry will need any support from the govt? Answer: I am in regular touch with all the industries. I keep on asking them if the government can be of any help, but the only thing is, In this situation, what we are, quite a lot has to be taken care of by the central government and also as far as the exports are concerned, Europe, America. Southeast Asia, everything is going on fine.

The only problem is with the exporters who are exporting to the Middle East. Yeah, they are in trouble because the goods are not going, especially I have seen a lot of mobile phones being exported to the Middle East from India, but that is completely shut.

I don't think the industry in Punjab is that much affected due to this war, but yes, as far as gas is concerned, that is becoming a problem, but I am hearing that a lot of gas is coming in.

I hope that issue is not there because many industries use gas like the steel industry uses gas. Some of the textile industry uses gas during the finishing process. I have got a lot of complaints from the industries using gas.
The stocks of Canadian oil sands producers, including Imperial Oil, Canadian Natural Resources, Cenovus, and Suncor have shot up more than 12% since the war started. They were already outperforming the S&P Energy Sector, a widely watched U.S. energy stock index, before the Iran war. The State Street Energy Select SPDR ETF, which is based on that index, is up 36% so far this year, while the Canadian sands companies are all up 45% or more.
The blaze in Anandpur is just one of many that have engulfed industrial units around the country over the last year. They include a fire at a chemical factory in Rajasthans Bhiwadi district, which claimed the lives of seven workers; a blaze in a Faridabad chemical drum factory, which injured over three dozen people; a conflagration at an oil and chemical factory near Ahmedabads Piplaj area, which needed 25 fire tenders to be put out; a blaze in Bengaluru last month that began at a perfume warehouse and spread to other facilities, including pet food company Supertails unit; a major fire days later at a cable factory in Doddaballapur, on the outskirts of the city; and a major fire this week at a godown in Mira Road, Mumbai.
By setting this date as the cut-off, the top court held that only landowners whose cases were still pending on or after 28 March 2008 can claim extra compensation such as solatium and interest. It made it clear that cases that had already been fully settled before this date cannot be reopened.
Since January, IPOs have seen their weakest aggregate listing performance since at least 2019, with 11 major issues generating an average listing premium of just 2%. For comparison, at the peak of the IPO boom, the average listing gain across all issuances was 49% in 2024. For the 2025 cohort, this fell to 10.6%. That year, the number of mainboard equities posting listing gains was 67% of the total issuances, before declining to 36% in 2026.
Powerica IPO, which is valued at 1,100 crore, is available for subscription from March 24 to March 27. Powerica IPO price band has been established at 375- 395, leading to a company valuation of approximately 5,000 crore.

On Monday, before the IPO opened, Powerica secured 329.40 crore from anchor investors. Shares were distributed to a variety of institutional investors, including SBI Mutual Fund, HDFC Mutual Fund, ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund, Quant Mutual Fund, Bandhan Mutual Fund, as well as insurance companies such as Kotak Life, Edelweiss Life, and Reliance Nippon Life, as outlined in a circular released on the BSE's website.

Powerica specializes in comprehensive power solutions, with a focus on diesel generator sets (DG sets), medium-speed large generators (MSLG), and related services.

Powerica IPO has reserved not more than 50% of the shares in the public issue for qualified institutional buyers (QIB), not less than 15% for non-institutional Institutional Investors (NII), and not less than 35% of the offer is reserved for retail investors. The employee portion has been reserved shares up to 2 crore.

Tentatively, Powerica IPO basis of allotment of shares will be finalised on Monday, March 30 and the company will initiate refunds on Wednesday, April 1, while the shares will be credited to the demat account of allottees on the same day following refund. Powerica share price is likely to be listed on BSE and NSE on Thursday, April 2.

Powerica IPO GMP today Powerica IPO GMP is 4. Considering the upper end of the IPO price band and the current premium in the grey market, the estimated listing price of Powerica shares is indicated as 399 apiece, which is 1.01% higher than the IPO price of 395.

Considering the grey market trends from the previous nine sessions, the present GMP ( 4) indicates a downward trend. The minimum GMP recorded is 0.00, while the maximum stands at 13, as per analysts' views.

'Grey market premium' indicates investors' readiness to pay more than the issue price.

Powerica IPO review Canara Bank Securities highlighted that the company offers an all-encompassing power solutions platform that combines DG sets, MSLG, and renewable energy, supported by its collaboration with Cummins and its strong manufacturing capabilities. The renewable energy sector contributes to stable cash flows, while MSLG and EPC projects improve growth prospects. Key risks include dependency on Cummins, prolonged development times for MSLG, regulatory challenges in the renewable energy field, and the potential long-term effects on DG sets.

At the maximum price point, the valuation appears attractive in comparison to competitors, and considering its solid market position and growth potential, a SUBSCRIBE for Long-Term Investment recommendation is suggested.

Swastika Investmart recommends that applications be submitted carefully, particularly by those who can handle risk and are interested in long-term investments. It is not appropriate for those looking for quick listing profits due to declining earnings and persistent legal challenges. It might be prudent to consider applying for a limited amount only.

As per Equivision, they advise avoiding this issue. The brokerage highlights that the company has a significant concentration in its segments, with 85.00% of projected FY25 revenue stemming from the Generator Set Business. Additionally, fixed-tariff wind PPAs restrict the ability to pass on costs, which may affect margins in the long run. The business is heavily reliant on crucial OEM partnerships, as 70.39% of FY25 revenue is tied to Cummins-powered DG sets; any disruptions or unfavorable changes in this long-established relationship could significantly influence operations and profitability.

Powerica IPO subscription status Powerica IPO subscription status was 3% on day 2. The retail portion is subscribed 4%, and NII portion has been booked 1%, QIBs portion is yet to receive bids. The employee portion has been subscribed 81%.

The company has received bids for 5,22,995 shares against 2,05,55,171 shares on offer, at 17:00 IST, according to data on BSE.

Powerica IPO details The company's public offering includes a new issue of shares valued at 700 crore, along with a share sale amounting to 300 crore by the promoters, as outlined in the red herring prospectus (RHP).

The Offer For Sale (OFS) size has been decreased from the previously announced 700 crore, resulting in a total IPO value of 1,000 crore instead of the 1,400 crore that was originally proposed in the draft documents submitted in August 2025. The Naresh Oberoi Family Trust and the Kabir and Kimaya Family Private Trust intend to sell shares through the OFS.

From the new share issuance, 525 crore will be used to decrease the company's debt, with additional funds set aside for general corporate purposes. Powerica has chosen ICICI Securities, IIFL Capital Services, and Nuvama Wealth Management to manage its inaugural public offering, while MUFG Intime India Pvt. Ltd. will act as the registrar for the offering.
Nithin Kamath's Zerodha, one of Indias largest stockbrokers, will increase brokerage charges for a section of intraday derivatives traders from April 1, a move that could raise trading costs for active market participants and potentially trigger similar action across the broking industry.

According to an Economic Times report, the online brokerage will charge 40 per order for certain intraday futures and options (F&O) trades, up from its long-standing 20 cap. However, the revised charge will not apply to all traders and is limited to those who do not meet the Securities and Exchange Board of Indias (SEBI) cash collateral requirement.

Under SEBI rules, traders are required to maintain at least 50% of their collateral in cash or cash equivalents for intraday positions, while the remaining margin can be held in non-cash assets. So far, Zerodha had been using its own funds to bridge this shortfall for clients without charging them separately, the report said.

What changes from April 1 From April 1, traders who do not maintain the required cash component and continue to take intraday F&O positions using broker-funded collateral will be charged 40 per order. The brokerage revision will not apply to intraday equity trades, added the ET report.

The move comes at a time when derivatives trading volumes are already under pressure due to the proposed Securities Transaction Tax (STT) hike announced in the 2026 Union Budget. The government has proposed increasing STT on futures to 0.05% from 0.02% and on options premiums to 0.15% from 0.10%, effective April 1.

While many brokers do not levy charges for intraday shortfalls in cash collateral, interest of 9% to 18% per annum is typically charged on overnight or carry-forward positions. With revenues coming under strain, brokerages appear to be exploring alternative ways to offset rising costs.

Also Read | Nithin Kamath sounds alarm on options market, says hedging is getting harder

Explaining the decision, Zerodha chief executive Nithin Kamath said the amount of collateral clients have parked with the firm for margin trading has risen sharply, pushing up the cost of funding, as per ET. He noted that while Zerodha could have charged a percentage-based debit fee like some brokers, it instead chose to impose a higher brokerage only on trades executed when accounts fall short of the required 50% cash collateral, the report further said.

The change marks a notable shift for a company that helped popularise low-cost trading in India and reflects how tighter regulation and rising compliance costs are beginning to reshape the economics of discount broking.
Over the last five years, the companys sales and profits have grown at 17.4% and 10.8% CAGR, respectively. In this period, it averaged returns on equity of 15.2% and on capital employed of 20.6%. The company has been debt-free for many years.
Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey warned about a surge in fraudulent investment apps that siphon off investor money, as the regulator partnered with Google Play to roll out a verified app label initiative.

Today, for many investors, the market begins on a screen. It begins with an app, but where access becomes digital, so does the risk. Fake apps are now a serious threat and can cause irreparable financial harm, Pandey said at the launch of a verified app label with Google Play on Wednesday.

Also Read | Why shareholder ratification wont protect companies from Sebi action

The fraud, he said, is simple. Investors are lured with promises of assured returns and nudged to download apps that closely resemble those of legitimate, often semi-registered intermediaries. By the time suspicion rises, investors have already lost their money, he said, adding that the damage extends beyond finances to eroding trust in markets.

Pandey pointed to cases where even professionals, such as lawyers and professors, have lost life savings, sometimes triggering family disputes and prolonged legal battles.



In response, Sebi is keeping a sharp eye on digital platforms for misleading investment-related content. More than 130,000 instances of misleading content have been escalated to social media platforms for removal so far, while about 66 cases of fake trading apps have been escalated to app stores, which have also been taken down.

Also Read | MF investors in the dark as Sebi axes education, retirement funds

Collaboration between regulatory agencies is also important to contain harm in such instances, said Pandey.

We have to do a massive, preventive, systemic, coordinated, and systematic approach to this (so) that we are able to prevent the whole ecosystem of fraud. The coordination amongst agencies, between the big tech, Sebi and the regulators, and the Reserve Bank of India would be necessary, and we must develop those tools according to our laws and regulations, which will prevent this thing (fraud), said the Sebi chief.

Also Read | How Tuhin Kanta Pandey steered Sebi out of turbulence
IndiGo is Indias largest passenger airline and a dominant low-cost carrier, commanding a 62% domestic market share as of FY24. Post the newsflow about a potential ceasefire that could lead to some relief as Crude Oil prices began to cool down. On the charts we can see that there are clear signs of divergence that appear and is now enforcing some upward drive. In the current year the stock has seen a steady upside despite the market sentiment and the steady support offered by the KS line has ensured that the momentum is retained, we can consider that the trends are poised to move higher. Go long.
Amid ongoing global economic uncertainties, such as US/Israel-Iran tensions and the Russia-Ukraine war, markets are showing signs of extreme volatility. Complexities have deepened further after US President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, only to dial down the threat later.

These developments are a clear sign for investors to seek refuge in predictable investment instruments. Government-backed savings plan schemes can offer the best protection during these difficult times. They can help investors preserve their capital, avoid shocks and ensure absolute peace of mind. These characteristics make them attractive when equities look immensely risky.

Let us discuss instruments such as Public Provident Fund (PPF), Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY), Senior Citizens Savings Scheme (SCSS), Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Post Office schemes that offer guaranteed returns, often with tax benefits, making them ideal for conservative portfolios.

Top government-backed fixed-income schemes with guaranteed returns

Instrument Interest rate (per annum) Salient features EPF 8.25% After due deliberations, CBT recommended 8.25 % annual rate of interest to be credited on EPF accumulations in members accounts for the financial year 2025-26, as detailed in a PIB press note. Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS) 8.2% SCSS is a government-backed retirement plan for senior citizens, i.e., those over 60, allowing investments from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 30 lakh for 5 years at 8.2% p.a. interest. Investments under this scheme also qualify for a tax deduction of up to Rs. 1.5 lakh under Section 80C. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) 8.2% The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, is another central government small savings scheme. It was launched in 2015 and aims to promote investment in a girl childs education and health. Recently released Lok Sabha data shows steady year-on-year growth in both account openings and total deposits. Public Provident Fund (PPF) 7.1% The Public Provident Fund (PPF) permits individual investors to deposit up to  1.5 lakh per year and earn 7.1% tax-free interest. It offers aspiring investors with a safe, long-term investment with maturity after 15 years and full tax benefits on principal and interest. Post Office Time Deposits (TD) 7.5% Post Office Time Deposits (TD) is a scheme that offers investors fixed, sovereign-backed returns for tenures of 1, 2, 3, or 5 years, with interest rates ranging from 6.9% to 7.5%. They provide safe, predictable and risk-free investments with quarterly compounding and better returns than most bank FDs. Other Post Office Schemes 6.7%7.4% Other Post Office Schemes, such as Savings Account, MIS, and NSC, offer safe, government-backed returns of 6.7%7.4% with capital protection, predictable interest, and tax benefits, making them ideal for conservative, long-term investors. One should carefully understand the terms and conditions of these schemes before proceeding with them.

Note: The schemes and rates discussed above are illustrative. Please refer to the official website of the respective lending institution for updated rates, terms, and conditions.

Key considerations and takeaways for aspiring investors EPF, SCSS and SSY lead, exceeding most bank FDs and offering higher returns. Still, investors should carefully consider other factors, such as investment eligibility, tenure and the consequences of premature withdrawal, before subscribing to any individual scheme.

Schemes such as PPF and SSY offer investors lucrative exemptions. This makes deposits, interest earned, and withdrawals all tax-free, thus boosting overall post-tax returns.

All government schemes offer investors minimal credit risk and reasonable long-term returns, especially amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and weakening of the INR in comparison with the US dollar.

Also Read | These 7 PSU banks offer up to 7.25% FD rates for senior citizens

Finally, before you decide on locking in on any of the above-discussed investment options, talk to a certified financial advisor and discuss your current financial situation and long-term economic objectives. This will help you design an investment strategy that aligns with your tax considerations, liquidity needs, age, and family objectives.
New Indias economic growth is driven by self-reliance and economic empowerment. As millions of young Indians enter the workforce, moving away from traditional employment and embracing diverse careers, many with entrepreneurial aspirations, promoting upskilling remains a focus area.

Economic policies also emphasise youth-driven growth, with skill development as the cornerstone of Atma Nirbhar Bharat. Simplifying tax structures and streamlining compliance mechanisms are some initiatives the government has been working on. There have also been efforts to increase transparency in the financial system. Financial institutions have worked on creating financial awareness and empowerment. This evolving landscape presents opportunities for lenders and bankers to promote and support the financial behaviour of this generation.

Also Read | How lenders are adapting to uncertainty in a volatile economy

Financial inclusion is shaping first-time borrowers These initiatives help young, rural, and previously unbanked segments get into the fold of formal financial structures. Today, financial inclusion and financial education go hand in hand. The objective is not to get a person to open their first bank account, but to truly get them to transact and utilise the various facilities that the banking system offers.

In this journey, there is equal participation of different financial institutions to cater to different segments of the economy. Public sector banks, through their branch networks, reach the most remote parts of the nation. The cooperative bank network is working in the community space, driving financial inclusion through cohesive community engagement. Private banks cater to the digitally driven urban population, while NBFCs cater to the swift, frictionless digital needs of the youth. Small finance banks have supported micro-entrepreneurs and self-help groups to be included in the movement.

Also Read | Govt rolls out 20,000 crore credit guarantee scheme for microfinance lending

Multiple institutions are driving access and awareness The World Banks Global Findex 2025 noted that 89 per cent of Indian adults now have bank accounts, a significant leap from 2011, when only about 35% had access to formal banking. This surge is driven by initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), resulting in active account usage steadily rising; by 2021, 96% of households had at least one member with a bank account. This population is informed and aware of their options, making them financially independent in the true sense.

Thus, as more individuals enter formal finance, whether to meet personal or business needs, there is a strong need for access to credit. The foundation of a strong credit profile is to maintain a disciplined, prudent credit conduct from the very first loan. Credit bureaus and financial institutions have partnered to provide this education to first-time borrowers, along with access to credit.

A lot of effort and initiative has gone into educating these customers to empower them with knowledge and tools to understand and monitor their credit behaviour and build a healthy credit history. Todays youth have been empowered with knowledge, education, and information to plan their long-term credit journey.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or professional advice. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, readers should verify details independently and consult relevant professionals before making financial decisions. The views expressed are based on current industry trends and regulatory frameworks, which may change over time. Neither the author nor the publisher is responsible for any decisions based on this content.
At present, most of the Trout produced in Himalayan regions is absorbed within local and urban markets such as Delhi, where demand has been steadily rising. However, limited output has constrained Indias ability to enter and compete in global markets. Trout has a strong international demand, but we need to substantially increase production volumes and ensure consistent quality to tap export opportunities, said Manzoor Ahmad Samoon, deputy director central, department of fisheries, Jammu and Kashmir.
India will push for a development-focused overhaul of global trade rules, along with progress on e-commerce, fisheries subsidies, and agriculture, at the World Trade Organizations 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) beginning 26 March in Yaounde, Cameroon, the commerce ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

The four-day meeting will bring together trade ministers from WTO member countries to deliberate on key issues, including organizational reform, e-commerce work programme and moratorium, Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD), fisheries subsidies, and long-standing concerns related to agriculture and development.

Indias delegation, led by commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal, is expected to adopt a constructive, balanced, and development-oriented approach. The official press statement said New Delhi will emphasize strengthening the multilateral trading system while ensuring that development concerns remain central to negotiations.

The major priority for India will be securing a permanent solution on public stockholding (PSH) for food security, a critical issue given the countrys reliance on the minimum support price (MSP) system to support low-income farmers. India is also expected to push for effective special and differential treatment (S&DT) provisions for developing and least developed countries, and for restoring a fully functional dispute settlement mechanism within the WTO.

On fisheries subsidies, the country will advocate a balanced framework that addresses sustainability while protecting the livelihoods of small fishers. It is also likely to call for greater responsibility from distant-water fishing nations in reducing their large-scale fishing capacities.

Also Read | India joins push to cut remittance costs ahead of WTO ministerial meet

It will further underline the need for policy space in emerging areas such as digital trade, particularly in the context of the ongoing debate on extending the e-commerce moratorium. The country has maintained that rapidly evolving technologies require flexible regulatory approaches for developing economies.

Investments and bilateral trade deals On investment facilitation, India is expected to support measures that help channel investment flows into developing countries, including least developed nations.

In the run-up to the conference, India has consistently stressed the importance of an open, fair, inclusive, and non-discriminatory trading system, rooted in WTO principles such as non-discrimination under the Marrakesh Agreement.

Alongside multilateral discussions, it will also use the sidelines of the MC14 to advance bilateral trade engagements. Recent progress includes free trade agreements with the UK and Oman, as well as ongoing negotiations with partners such as the European Union and New Zealand, the statement said.
The Centre reportedly issued a notification on Tuesday, informing that liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supply to households will be discontinued if consumers fail to switch to piped natural gas (PNG) despite availability.

The order, issued on 24 March, also set a deadline, requiring consumers to obtain a Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connection in areas where it is feasible to get one.

According to news agency PTI, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas notified the Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution (Through Laying, Building, Operation and Expansion of Pipelines and Other Facilities) Order, 2026.

The ministry's order came amid reports of a shortage of LPG amid the war between the US, Israel and Iran.

What's the deadline for switching to PNG connections?

The order by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas states that LPG supply "shall cease after three months" if a household does not opt for PNG despite availability.

Also Read | LPG prices on 25 March: Check cooking gas rates in your city today

The order lists out "consequences of households not applying for and obtaining PNG connection when notified by authorised entity" that has laid a pipeline to supply such fuel.

It said, "The LPG supply to such an address shall cease after three months from the date of the communication."

What if PNG connection is not available in your area?

The provision, however, allows continuation where it is "technically infeasible" to provide a piped connection. In this case, the person will have to get a no-objection certificate from the authorities.

"The supply of LPG to a household shall not cease if the authorised entity issues a no-objection certificate [NOC] on the ground that it is technically infeasible to provide a piped natural gas connection or gas supply to such household," the order stated.

The authorised entity shall maintain records of the reasons for such technical infeasibility and withdraw the NOC as and when it is able to provide and operationalise the piped gas connectivity to such households.

Why is govt pushing consumers to shift from LPG to PNG?

The ministry's order on 24 March stated that constraints are being faced and are expected to be faced for long time in relation to the supply and distribution of both LPG and natural gas on account of extensive damage to and suspension of operations of the liquefaction facilities in the Gulf region that supply liquefied natural gas to India and the continued blockage of the Strait of Hormuz.

Also Read | India in talks with global partners to secure safe passage for vessels: PM

Amid the Middle-East conflict, the move is aimed at freeing up LPG supplies from areas with pipeline connectivity and diverting them to regions lacking such infrastructure. The ministry noted that such events require fuel diversification as a mitigation for long-term energy security.

Commenting on the order, Oil Secretary Neeraj Mittal, in a post on X, said "a crisis [has been] turned into an opportunity" through the ease of doing business reforms.

Govt notifies orders to expand fast-track pipeline

The government, through the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, notified the Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution (Through Laying, Building, Operation and Expansion of Pipelines and Other Facilities) Order, 2026 under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

The order seeks to fast-track pipeline infrastructure by easing approvals, standardising charges and ensuring time-bound permissions.

The order provides a streamlined and time-bound framework for laying and expanding pipelines across the country, addressing delays in approvals and access to land, and enabling faster development of natural gas infrastructure, including in residential areas, a PIB release read.

Key points that consumers must know:

1. To facilitate rapid rollout, public authorities must grant right of way or permissions within prescribed timelines, failing which approvals will be deemed granted.

2. The order also bars authorities from imposing charges beyond those specified. The public entity shall not levy any tax, fee, charge, surcharge, rent, wayleave, development charge, annuity, compensation, entry fee or any other types of charge or financial levy, other than those specified in this order for access or seek any other charges or compensation in any form, the order stated.

3. In housing areas, entities controlling access must grant permissions within three working days, and last-mile PNG connectivity is to be provided within 48 hours. Applications for pipeline connectivity in such areas cannot be rejected.

4. The order further provides for intervention by designated officers with powers akin to a civil court to resolve disputes over land access and grant right of way where necessary.

5. Authorised entities must begin laying pipelines within four months of approval or face penalties, including possible loss of exclusivity.

6. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has been designated as the nodal agency to monitor implementation, including tracking approvals, rejections and compliance.

7. In case the right of way or right of use permission to lay pipeline to residences for supply of PNG is not granted by the entities that control access to the housing complex, a notice will be issued, and three months thereafter, oil marketing companies will stop supply of LPG.
As people rush to hoard petrol, diesel, and LPG amid reported fuel shortage across the globe due to the US-Iran war, leading Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) dismissed any scarcity in India, calling the rumours completely unfounded. They said India has adequate stocks to meet national demand.

In separate statements, the OMCs said that everything was operating smoothly.

No shortage of fuel across the nation: Bharat Petroleum In a statement on X, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) said the rumours about petrol and diesel shortages in certain areas are completely unfounded.

There is no shortage of fuel across the nation. India is a net exporter of petrol and diesel. We have adequate stocks of crude oil, petrol, diesel, and ATF, it said. Supply chains are operating smoothly without any disruption.

Urging citizens to avoid panic buying, BPCL said, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited is fully operational and committed to ensuring uninterrupted fuel supply. Citizens are advised not to panic or engage in unnecessary buying. Fuel availability remains stable and sufficient.

The OMCs requested that consumers not believe rumours or crowd fuel stations. They said, Only rely on official sources for further information.

Adequate stocks are available: Hindustan Petroleum Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) echoed similar sentiments in its statement, assuring customers that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel, or LPG across the country.

Dear Customers, There is no shortage of petrol, diesel, or LPG across the country. Fuel supplies remain stable, and adequate stocks are available, it said.

Reiterating the request to avoid panic buying, HP said, Customers are advised not to be misled by rumours or resort to panic buying. Please continue with normal consumption patterns.

HPCL remains committed to ensuring an uninterrupted and seamless fuel supply across its network, it said.

Everything is operating smoothly: Indian Oil Long queues at petrol pumps were seen in viral videos from several cities, fueling panic among consumers amid reports of fuel shortage.

However, Indian Oil shared a clip from its Maradu, Kochi outlet to offer a real-time update to the consumers.

Our Retail Outlet COCO Maradu, Kochi at 09:30 AM Today. No Rush! No Panic! it said.

Everything is operating smoothly. We remain fully committed and available to serve you at all times, IOCL assured.

The war in the Middle East has cut off flows of crude oil and liquefied natural gas, driving up prices and sparking volatility in global markets. India imports over 40% of its LNG and other petroleum fuels from the Middle East, and is reportedly facing an acute crisis due to supply disruptions, hitting various industries.

In an address this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the strain, but assured businesses and consumers that the country has sufficient supplies to meet domestic demand. He said that the government was working to ensure safe transit for vessels stranded in the region.

Meanwhile, Iran has started charging transit fees on some commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting its control over the crucial maritime channel.

India, which has secured the exit of four vessels carrying LPG through Hormuz, said that international laws guarantee the right of freedom for navigation through the strait and no one can levy any fee for use of the channel.

PM Modi on Tuesday said he discussed the Iran war on a call with US President Donald Trump, including the conflicts impact on the Strait of Hormuz.

Received a call from President Trump and had a useful exchange of views on the situation in West Asia. India supports de-escalation and restoration of peace at the earliest, he said in a social media post.

Ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure and accessible is essential for the whole world, he added. We agreed to stay in touch regarding efforts towards peace and stability.
A major arms smuggling module with links to Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal was busted by the Delhi Police on Wednesday, with cops arresting 10 people and recovering a large cache of weapons and ammunition.

The bust was carried out by the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police, news agencies reported, adding that the arms were smuggled into India from Pakistan through the Indo-Nepal border. The weapons were being distributed to criminal gangs across Delhi-NCR and other states.

Also Read | Traffic advisory issued in Delhi ahead of international film festival

As many as 21 sophisticated, foreign-made weapons were recovered in the bust, including pistols and submachine guns.

The seized arms included PX-5.7 pistols, which are generally used by special forces, Stoeger pistols manufactured in Turkey, PX-3 pistols made in China, Shadow CZ pistols from the Czech Republic, as well as Beretta (Italy), Taurus (Brazil) and Walther (Germany) pistols, news agency PTI reported citing officials.

A Czech Republic-made submachine too was recovered, although the model was not specified in reports.

In addition to the weapons, a cache of ammunition including 200 live cartridges were recovered from the accused.

The accused were allegedly in touch with international handlers and suppliers operating from neighbouring Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal, police further told PTI.

Investigations are currently underway and efforts are on to trace the backward and forward links of the module to identify other actors involved in the network.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, accused Democrats of 'undermining' US' great military achievement in Iran. Describing them as country hating," Trump alleged Democrats were trying to create inner chaos.

The Radical Left, Country Hating Democrats are trying to create inner chaos to take away from the great military achievement we are having in Iran. They hate seeing us WIN so completely and decisively, but the American public sees what is going on. AMERICA FIRST! President DJT," Trump posted on Truth Social.

Earlier in the day, Iran rejected a US ceasefire offer and laid out its own list of conditions for ending the conflict, Iranian state media reported Wednesday.

The development comes as strikes continue across Iran, Israel as Pakistan proposed to act as a mediator between the two countries. The ongoing conflict  which began on Saturday, 28 February is currently in its fourth week.

US proposes ceasefire United States, on Wednesday, reportedly sent a 15-point proposal to Iran to end the conflict, after the failure of nuclear talks between the two countries.

Two Pakistani officials told The Associated Press on that Iran received a 15-point proposal from the US to reach a ceasefire.

Pakistani officials reportedly described the proposal broadly as touching on sanctions relief, civilian nuclear cooperation, a rollback of Irans nuclear programme, monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency, missile limits and access to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

What Iran said? Iran, however rejected the ceasefire talks  describing them as illogical.

Here's what Iran mentioned in its complete list of conditions, according to Press TV:

 A complete halt to aggression and assassinations by the enemy.

 The establishment of concrete mechanisms to ensure that the war is not reimposed on the Islamic Republic.

 Guaranteed and clearly defined payment of war damages and reparations.

 The conclusion of the war across all fronts and for all resistance groups involved throughout the region.

 Irans exercise of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz is and will remain Irans natural and legal right, and it constitutes a guarantee for the implementation of the other partys commitments, and must be recognized.

Earlier, Iran said a projectile struck the area of the Bushehr nuclear power plant. No casualties or technical damage were reported at the facility from the incident Tuesday night, which Irans atomic agency blamed on Israel and the United States.
The White House said Wednesday it remains engaged in negotiations with Iran, despite reports that Tehran has rejected a US proposal to end the ongoing conflict.

Talks continue. They are productive, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a briefing, pushing back against claims that discussions had stalled.

WH warns Iran of severe consequences The White House struck a stark tone, warning of escalating military action if diplomacy fails.

If Iran fails to accept the reality of the current moment President Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before, Leavitt said.

President Trump does not bluff and he is prepared to unleash hell. Iran should not miscalculate again.

Iran reportedly rejects US proposal Iranian state media, citing an unidentified official, reported that Tehran had responded negatively to a US overture as the war approaches the four-week mark.

Leavitt acknowledged partial accuracy in media reports about a proposed 15-point US plan but cautioned that some details were not entirely factual.

No clarity on interlocutor According to US and Israeli media reports, Washingtons proposal includes demands for Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions and dismantle its ballistic missile programme.

However, Leavitt declined to confirm specifics or identify US interlocutors in Tehran.

Reports suggest that Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf may be acting as a key intermediary, though this remains unconfirmed.

Pakistan emerges as potential mediator Leavitt also declined to confirm reports that senior US officials, including JD Vance, could hold talks with Iranian representatives in Pakistan, which has reportedly emerged as a mediator.

US ramps up military presence in Gulf Donald Trump is deploying thousands of airborne troops and additional marines to the Gulf region, amid speculation of a possible ground operation.

Potential objectives include securing Iranian oil assets or controlling the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned on X about a possible invasion of an Iranian island with backing from an unnamed regional country.

US pegs Iran operations timeline at 46 weeks The White House indicated that military operationsreferred to as Operation Epic Furyare expected to last between four to six weeks.
All-party meet: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, on 25 March, said the Centre addressed all concerns raised by opposition parties during a high-level all-party meeting convened amid rising global tensions affecting energy supplies due to the US-Iran war.

The opposition leaders appreciated the initiative to call the meeting at a critical juncture, the Minister told reporters after the meeting, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Rijiju said the Union government provided detailed clarifications on key issues, including Indias preparedness to deal with disruptions in oil and gas supply routes.

All queries and confusion were clearly explained by the government, Rijiju said, adding that opposition leaders appreciated the initiative to call the meeting at a critical juncture.

Rajnath chaired the meeting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the meeting that began at 5 PM at the Parliament complex. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri are attending the meeting.

Misri gave a detailed presentation during the meeting. Leaders from other parties, including Sasmit Patra (BJD), Lallan Singh (JDU), Mukul Wasnik, and Tariq Anwar, Dharmendra Yadav from SP, and John Brittas from CPIM, have also arrived, the agency said.

According to Rijiju, leaders across party lines acknowledged the gravity of the situation and emphasised the need for unity.

The opposition parties thanked the government for convening the meeting and said that in such a difficult and challenging situation, everyone must stand together, he noted.

Parties told no need to panic News agency PTI said that the government told the parties during the meeting that its priority is the security of the diaspora and the domestic energy needs. The government also told parties there was no need for panic and that there was enough crude and gas, with more on the way.

Many members wanted details on the gas and petroleum supply through the Strait of Hormuz, and the Minister said they were satisfied that India had already secured four ships. "So the opposition members were satisfied with the effort made by the government," he said.

The meeting comes amid escalating tensions in West Asia, which have disrupted critical maritime corridors and raised concerns about the safety of Indian nationals in Gulf nations.

The all-party meeting follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to Parliament on the situation in West Asia. In his statement in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, PM Modi said the government has constituted seven empowered groups to develop strategies on fuel, supply chains and fertilisers, among others, to mitigate the impact of the Iran-Israel-US conflict.

Congress calls it unsatisfactory Congress Member of Parliament Tariq Anwar, who was part of the all-party meeting, seemed unhappy at its conclusion. The meeting was unsatisfactory and oppositions primary demand is for debate in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on West Asia situation," Anwar was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.

Anwar is learnt to have mentioned during the meeting that Pakistan is performing the mediator's role in the US-Iran war, while India still continues to be a mute spectator. Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav agreed with Anwar and called the meeting unsatisfactory.

In the meeting, opposition parties have raised questions. No specific, satisfactory answers to the opposition's questions have been given by the government... The Samajwadi Party has raised all issues in the national interest, which included questions on the country's honour and the shortage of LPG, Yadav told news agency ANI.

The conflict in West Asia has entered its fourth week, disrupting trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz. Tensions escalated following the killing of 86-year-old Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint military strikes by the US and Israel on 28 February.

In retaliation, Iran targeted Israeli and US assets across several Gulf countries, causing further disruptions to the waterway and impacting international energy markets as well as global economic stability.

The oppositions primary demand is for debate in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on West Asia situation.

See, the government is saying that there is no crisis of oil and gas, the minister said that if there is such anissue regarding the gas, people should complain, and that they would act against it. Secondly, they said that LPG is being produced 60 pc domestically, Sanjay Singh of the Aam Aadmi Party said.

We asked what was the need to visit Israel two days prior, many asked when we had a friendly relations with Iran, what was the need to make the relation acerbic, the government knew that 70 pc of the energy needs are fulfilled by supplies from Strait of Hormuz, then what was the need to become a party, they answered, he told news agency PTI.
The Trump administration on Tuesday (local time) reportedly offered Iran a 15-point ceasefire plan to bring the ongoing conflict to a close, with the conditions offered covering both US and Israeli goals.

According to a widely quoted Channel 12 report that cited people familiar with the details, US President Donald Trump's top aides Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have come up with a mechanism to facilitate the "declaration of a monthlong ceasefire period, during which the sides would negotiate a 15-point agreement," something akin to how the US brokered agreements with Hamas in Gaza and with Lebanon.

The New York Times, too, confirmed, citing Trump administration officials, that they had indeed sent a 15-point plan to Iran.

While there's no official word on the said 15-point plan, here's what we know about the conditions laid out by the Trump administration, based on Channel 12's report, which cited Western sources.

Trump's 15-point plan for Iran ceasefire US demands of Iran:

1. Iran must dismantle its existing nuclear capabilities.

2. Iran must commit never to pursue the development of nuclear weapons.

3. There can be no uranium enrichment on Iranian territory.

4. Iran must hand over its stockpile of roughly 450 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the near future, in a to-be-decided timeline.

5. The Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities must be dismantled.

6. The IAEA, the UNs nuclear watchdog, must be granted full access, transparency and oversight inside Iran.

7. Iran must abandon its regional proxy paradigm.

8. Iran must stop the funding, direction and arming of its regional proxies.

9. The Strait of Hormuz must remain open and function as a free maritime corridor.

10. Irans missile programme must be limited in both range and quantity of production, with specific thresholds to be determined at a later stage.

11. Any future use of missiles by Iran must be restricted to self-defence.

If Tehran agrees, Iran would benefit as follows:

12. Iran would see the full lifting of sanctions imposed against it by the international community.

13. The US would assist Iran in advancing its civilian nuclear programme, including electricity generation at the Bushehr nuclear plant.

14. The so-called snapback mechanism, which allows for the automatic reimposition of sanctions if Iran fails to comply, would be removed.

The 15th point is not included in Channel 12's report. NYT, meanwhile, said that it did not possess a copy of the draft document but reported citing sources that Trump's list of demands addresses Iran's ballistic missile and nuclear programmes.

Also Read | Trump claims Iran offered present amid ongoing talks

What we know of US-Iran talks News of the 15-point plan sent by the Trump administration comes a couple of days after the US President promised to hold off on strikes against Iran's energy infrastructure, citing very good and productive talks with Tehran.

While Iran at the time officially denied having contact with the US on ceasefire negotiations, reports indicate that a slim window has opened for talks.

There's said to be some communication between the two lead negotiators in previous discussions, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US envoy Steve Witkoff, the BBC reported, adding that these conversations have been described as very preliminary.

A CNN report, meanwhile, said that Iranian officials had informed the Trump administration that they preferred to negotiate with Vice President J D Vance, rather than re-enter negotiations with Witkoff and Trumps son-in-law, Kushner.
Iranian state-linked broadcaster Press TV released footage claiming that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had successfully targeted a US F/A-18 fighter jet.

The video, also shared by the Consulate General of Iran on X, did not specify the location of the alleged strike or provide details about the aircrafts condition or the pilots fate.

Video shows mid-air engagement The footage purportedly shows a fighter jet in flight before a sudden flash appears near the aircraft, suggesting a possible mid-air strike.

Moments later, the jet appears to lose stability, leaving behind a visible trail that could indicate damage or loss of control. In subsequent frames, an object is seen separating from the aircraft as it continues on an unstable path, giving the impression of an aerial engagement.

US Central Command rejects claim The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) strongly denied the claim, calling it false.

FALSE: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a U.S. F/A-18 fighter was struck over Chabahar using new advanced air defense systems, CENTCOM said in a post on X.

TRUE: No U.S. fighter aircraft have been shot down by Iran.

Pattern of conflicting claims Since the escalation of hostilities earlier this year, Iranian state and military-linked outlets have repeatedly claimed to have downed US aircraft.

Previous assertions have included:

-Claims of a downed F-35 stealth fighter

However, many of these claims have been disputed or denied by US officials.

Earlier incidents and disputed reports On March 5, the IRGC claimed its air defence systems shot down a US F-15 Strike Eagle near Irans southeastern border. US authorities dismissed the claim as baseless, maintaining that no aircraft had been lost to Iranian fire.
World's first nanoscale micro-vibration lab commences operations in Xiong'an New Area, to support high-end manufacturing

Global Times) 16:47, March 25, 2026

The interior environment of the laboratory Photo: Screenshot from Science and Technology Daily

The world's first nanoscale micro-vibration laboratory, independently developed by China, has officially commenced operations in the Xiong'an New Area in North China's Hebei province, which could provide support for the independent development of high-end manufacturing sectors in China, Science and Technology Daily reported Tuesday.

This laboratory, developed by the China Electronics Engineering Design Institute Co, Ltd (CEEDI), was established to enhance the precise control and evaluation capabilities of nanoscale micro-vibration environments.

The laboratory houses a micro-vibration test bed hailed as a "national key instrument" - the largest and most accurate of its kind globally, the report said.

The test bed is 4 meters by 4 meters, has a self-weight of approximately 50 tons and a designed load capacity of up to 20 tons, enabling it to meet the testing requirements for complete large-scale semiconductor equipment and full-size satellite payloads, according to the report.

The test bed can also effectively isolate environmental vibration interference from the surrounding foundation and buildings. It is also capable of simulating extremely faint environmental vibrations, covering the full frequency scopes and amplitude ranges of concern in the electronics information and aerospace sectors.

The vibration table on the test bed possesses extensive waveform simulation capabilities, enabling precise simulation of sine waves, random waves, and swept sine waves in a single direction, as well as simultaneous simulation across three directions.

This means the test bed can provide researchers with highly flexible experimental conditions that closely mirror actual working environments.

The commissioning of the nanoscale micro-vibration laboratory has filled China's gaps in multiple areas, including micro-vibration testing methodologies, vibration tolerance criteria for precision equipment, evaluation systems for vibration isolation devices, and third-party testing services, per the report.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Wu Chaolan)
Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, now in the fourth week of a conflict triggered by joint USIsrael strikes on Iran last month, the role of Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is once again under scrutiny, with several reports pointing to his growing influence on the evolving regional dynamics.

In a recent New York Times report, Mohammed bin Salman, or MBS as he is called, has urged US President Donald Trump to continue the war against Iran, calling it a historic opportunity to reshape the Middle East.

In recent conversations, the Saudi leader conveyed that Washington should press ahead toward dismantling Irans hardline government, the report said, citing people briefed on the discussions.

MBS has reportedly argued that Iran poses a long-term threat to Gulf nations and that only a change in leadership in Tehran can eliminate that risk, the report said. The Crown Prince has also pushed for targeting Irans energy infrastructure and, in some discussions, even floated the idea of deploying ground forces, the report said, citing sources familiar with US briefings.

Trump calls MBS a warrior Saudi Arabia has denied the claims. But, President Donald Trump praised Mohammed bin Salman, his close ally, on Tuesday, after the NYT report. Asked about the Saudi leader reportedly wanting the war continued, Trump praised MBS as a warrior.

Hes a warrior. Hes fighting with us, by the way. Saudi Arabia has been excellent," Trump said

Not the first time This is not the first time the role Saudi Arabia has played in the present conflict has been discussed.

Two days after US-Israeli strikes on Iran, a Washington Post report suggested that Donald Trumps decision came after Mohammed bin Salman had lobbied him repeatedly to make the move.

The decision followed weeks of lobbying by two key US allies in the Middle EastIsrael and Saudi Arabia, the report said.

How has Saudi responded? Saudi Arabia has publicly stuck to a more cautious stance amid these reports of private pressure on the US over Iran strikes. In official statements, the kingdom has reiterated its support for a peaceful resolution, stressing that its priority remains defending civilian infrastructure and halting ongoing attacks.

Saudi officials rejected claims that the crown prince is advocating for an extended war.

The kingdom of Saudi Arabia has always supported a peaceful resolution to this conflict, even before it began, the Saudi government said in a statement, as quoted by the outlet.

Starmer-MBS talks On Tuesday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed the ongoing conflict in the Middle East with Mohammed bin Salman, a Downing Street spokesperson said.

Starmer reiterated support for Saudi Arabia during the US-Israeli war against Iran, and updated the Saudi crown prince on the deployment of further UK defensive military equipment, the spokesperson said.

Also Read | Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pushes Trump to continue Iran war: Report

"Iran's ongoing attacks, including on critical national infrastructure, were appalling," Starmer said.

Four weeks of conflict The conflict in West Asia is in its fourth week, disrupting trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz. Tensions escalated following the killing of 86-year-old Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint military strikes by the US and Israel on 28 February.

In retaliation, Iran targeted Israeli and US assets across several Gulf countries, causing further disruptions to the waterway and impacting international energy markets as well as global economic stability.

Iran faced widespread criticism from several Muslim-majority countries, including Saudi Arabia, after it carried out retaliatory strikes on US and Israeli military bases located in several Arab neighbouring nations following the US-Israel attacks on Tehran.

Oil Economy at the heart of it The conflict has already had economic fallout, especially in the Middle East, following Iran's retaliatory disruptions to oil flows, which have affected global energy markets.

Saudi Arabia is believed to be concerned over the risks posed by a destabilised or failed Iranian state. MBS wants to transform Saudi Arabia into a global investment and tourism hub through his ambitious Vision 2030 reform agenda. This will depend on regional stability, analysts say.

The 2019 Iran-linked drone and missile attacks on Saudi Aramcos oil processing facilities at Abqaiq and Khurais temporarily disrupted 5.7 million barrels per day (mb/d) of crude oil production in the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia had recently adopted a diplomatic rapprochement with Iran, but the latest conflict in the region may have prompted the Kingdom to adopt a different approach toward Iran.

Regional officials warn that trust between Gulf states and Iran has completely shattered, raising concerns about long-term instability regardless of how the conflict ends, the NYT report said.

A bit of history For decades, both Iran and Saudi Arabia have competed for political and security influence across the Middle East  a contest often characterised by analysts as a new Cold War.

Hes a warrior. Hes fighting with us, by the way. Saudi Arabia has been excellent.

As a sign of fragile detente, the power rivalry is based on religious and political identities  Saudi Arabia represents the predominantly Sunni Muslim world and sees itself as a custodian of Sunni Islam, while Iran is a Shia Muslim state.

This sectarian divide has often been invoked by both sides in regional competition. Diplomatic ties were severed from 2016 to 2023 due to incidents like the execution of Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr and attacks on Saudi diplomatic facilities in Iran.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed veteran French diplomat Jean Arnault as his personal envoy to lead UN efforts on the Middle East conflict and its consequences.

Guterres stated that, more than three weeks after Israel and the US launched attacks on Iran, the war is out of control.

Guterres stressed that diplomacy must prevail and requires sincere dialogue.

Guterres said Arnault will carry out mediation efforts on the ground, complementing previous attempts from New York, supporting peace initiatives.

Arnault will be in contact with all involved parties to facilitate dialogue. (AP)
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on 25 March, briefed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS) on Islamabad's diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the tense situation in West Asia, news agency PTI reported.

The prime minister said in a post on X that he spoke with the crown prince, discussed the regional situation, and exchanged traditional Eid greetings

The Prime Minister's Office said in a statement that Sharif held a telephone conversation with Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday morning.

During their warm and cordial conversation, the Prime Minister conveyed heartfelt Eid ul Fitr greetings to The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and the brotherly people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These sentiments were most graciously reciprocated by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the statement said

Sharif also briefed the Saudi Crown Prince on Pakistans constructive diplomatic outreach to all parties, urging de-escalation and resolution of differences through dialogue and diplomacy.

Sharif said that during the call, he appreciated the Kingdom's restraint and, "I stressed the urgent need for de-escalation, an end to hostilities, and unity in the ranks of the Ummah".

Pakistan trying to broker an end to US-Iran war The call comes a day after Sharif offered to host talks between the US and Iran for a comprehensive settlement of the ongoing conflict.

Pakistan is positioning itself as the lead mediator trying to broker an end to the United States and Israels war against Iran, the Financial Times reported on Monday.

Pakistani army chief Asim Munir spoke with US President Donald Trump on Sunday, the newspaper reported, citing two people briefed on the call.

During the call with the Saudi Crown Prince. Sharif also reiterated Pakistan's strong condemnation of the recent attacks on the Kingdom and reaffirmed Islamabad's unwavering solidarity and unequivocal support for Saudi Arabia in these challenging times.

In an X post on Tuesday, Sharif said that Islamabad was "ready and honoured" to facilitate "meaningful and conclusive talks" between the US and Iran to end the ongoing conflict.

Hours later, US President Donald Trump shared Sharif's post on his Truth Social platform.

The US on Tuesday sent Iran a 15-point plan and ceasefire proposal to end the war in the Middle East, according to reports. The peace plan was shared with Iranian officials via Pakistan.

The Middle East War The conflict in the Middle East is in its fourth week, disrupting trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz. Tensions escalated following the killing of 86-year-old Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint military strikes by the US and Israel on 28 February.

In retaliation, Iran targeted Israeli and US assets across several Gulf countries, causing further disruptions to the waterway and impacting international energy markets as well as global economic stability.

On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Ishaq Dar, spoke with his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, exchanging views on the evolving regional situation, according to the Foreign Office.

"Dar underscored the importance of peace and stability, calling for immediate de-escalation and emphasising that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path forward," it said.

Separately, Dar received British High Commissioner Jane Marriott at the Foreign Office, and the two discussed the evolving regional situation.

I stressed the urgent need for de-escalation, an end to hostilities, and unity in the ranks of the Ummah.

Dar "underscored that diplomacy and dialogue remain the only viable path forward, emphasising the urgent need for early resolution of the conflict," FO said.
Imagine such a scenario in war games and military strategizing in a world dependent on AI, with its morality-neutral worldview and tendency to hallucinate. Given how little wide-angle analysis appears to have been done before the Trump administration joined Israel in attacking Iran on 28 February, we may be suffering for months to come the effects of flawed and hasty decision-making in wareven in an era before the bots take over. Worryingly, a recent Financial Times editorial reports that the US is already working on fully autonomous drones to defend Taiwan against a potential attack.
Certainly, it is possible that financial markets have now priced in somemaybe a lotof the wars economic damage, but we cant know for sure. Looking at previous geopolitical risk events, the S&P 500 tends to bottom on average around eight days after the event. In other words, in a world of averages, the bottom may already be in by now. But averages can be tremendously deceptive and the actual outcomes of conflicts exhibit no clear pattern, from the rally after the Iraq War to the long grinding retreat after the start of the Gulf War. Every conflict is unique.
(Bloomberg) -- Ghanaian President John Mahama has received overwhelming support from United Nations members to recognize the past transatlantic slave trade as a crime against humanity and the need for reparations for African nations.

A resolution on the matter he introduced on Wednesday in New York, at the general assembly, got 123 votes in favor, three votes against from Argentina, Israel and the US, while 52 countries - mostly European - including the UK, Portugal and Spain abstained.

Mahama called on UN members to engage in inclusive, good-faith dialogue on reparatory justice, including a full and formal apology, as well as measures of restitution and compensation.

The West African nations ports played a key role in the centuries-long transatlantic trade in Africans to the Americas, which the president said was the largest forced migration in history.

Mahama also called for the prompt return without charge of African art and artifacts, many pieces of which were removed during the colonial era and remain on display in Western museums.

More than 12 million Africans, mostly from the west and central part of the continent were forcibly removed from their homelands over a period of roughly 400 years through the early 19th century, by European traders who sold them mostly to buyers in the Americas.

They were used as cheap labor on cotton, rice, tobacco and sugar plantations, whereas in Europe they served mainly in domestic service, maritime, construction work and as personal attendants in royal or noble courts.

Well over 200 years after the slave trade was abolished, Mahama said its lasting impacts and that of colonialism continue to cause immense suffering, cultural disruption, economic exploitation, emotional trauma and unending discrimination endured by Africans.

The Next Africa newsletter runs every weekday. Sign up here for the newsletter, and subscribe to the Next Africa podcast on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen.

(Recasts from first paragraph with vote results on resolution.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Watch Video: Several Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) staged a protest at Parliament House on 25 March over a reported LPG supply crunch.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, NCP(SP)'s Supriya Sule, SP's Dharmendra Yadav, CPI-ML's Sudama Prasad, DMK's T Sumathy, JMM'S Mahua Maji, among others, participated in the protest near the Makar Dwar of Parliament.

Also Read | LPG prices on 25 March: Check cooking gas rates in your city today

Carrying a banner stating 'Empty Cylinders, Empty Promises', the MPs raised slogans against the government.

The reported LPG crunch comes amid the conflict in West Asia, following which the government has prioritised allocating domestically produced natural gas to the LPG, compressed natural gas (CNG), and piped cooking gas sectors.

The government has stepped up efforts to streamline gas distribution and ease supply pressures, directing faster processing of city gas projects while increasing allocations of commercial LPG to key sectors amid a challenging geopolitical environment.

Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said on Tuesday during an inter-ministerial briefing that the Centre has sufficient stock of petrol and diesel

Domestic production of LPG has been stepped up in refineries, Sharma said. 7,500 commercial and domestic PNG connections were accorded yesterday, she added.

Sharma said that there was some panic booking for LPG observed yesterday, however, there is no dry out reported at any of the distributors.

7,000 tonnes of commercial LPG were lifted yesterday, she said.

In the same press conference, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said that with Jag Vasant and Pine Gas having crossed the Strait of Hormuz, there are twenty ships operating in the region.

20 Indian-flagged vessels are currently in the Western Part of the Strait of Hormuz. Of these, 5 are loaded with LPG, cumulatively, carrying 2.32 lakh metric tonnes, Sinha said.

Iran War Impact

There is no dry out reported at any of the distributors.

The conflict in West Asia is in its fourth week, disrupting trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz. Tensions escalated following the killing of 86-year-old Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint military strikes by the US and Israel on 28 February.

In retaliation, Iran targeted Israeli and US assets across several Gulf countries, causing further disruptions to the waterway and impacting international energy markets as well as global economic stability.
An active officer of Japans Self-Defense Forces was arrested Tuesday after breaching the grounds of Chinas embassy in Tokyo, sparking complaints from Beijing in another episode likely to keep ties between Japan and China strained.

Japans Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that 23-year-old Kodai Murata was arrested on suspicion of trespassing after allegedly entering the Chinese embassy in Tokyo without permission.

Murata is a second lieutenant of the Ground Self-Defense Forces based in Miyazaki prefecture in southwestern Japan, according to local media. He has admitted to trespassing and claims that he had intended to meet with the Chinese Ambassador to request that he tone down his hard-line rhetoric, according to reports by the Nikkei newspaper, Kyodo and others.

The incident is likely to fuel tensions between Tokyo and Beijing that have been simmering since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested her country could be militarily involved if China attempts to forcibly seize Taiwan, the self-ruled democracy claimed by Beijing.

Reports this week that Japan has dropped a description of Japan-China ties as one of Tokyos most important bilateral relationships in an initial draft of an annual policy handbook are also likely to further cool ties between the two neighbors.

Murata appears to have scaled the embassy wall from the fourth floor of a neighboring building, before being subdued by an embassy staff and handed over to the police later in the day, according to the Mainichi newspaper.

Reports also said that he planned to kill himself if the ambassador didnt accept his demands. A knife with a blade of about 18 centimeters was found in the shrubbery of the embassy, the reports added.

China is deeply shocked at this incident and has lodged strong demarche and protests with Japan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a regular media briefing on Tuesday. He said the incident severely threatened the safety of Chinese diplomatic personnel and the security of diplomatic facilities, calling it extremely egregious in nature.

Lin said that the tension in China-Japan relations stems from Takaichis remarks on Taiwan, which sparked outrage from the Chinese people and tested the red line of the post-war international order.

Japans top government spokesman said policing at the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo would be increased in response. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said the incident involving the arrest of the SDF member was regrettable.

The revised description of China appears in a draft of Japans 2026 Diplomatic Bluebook, according to local media reports. The draft refers to China as an important neighbor and emphasizes continued communication between the two countries, while also saying that China is taking coercive measures against Japan.

The policy book is expected to be approved next month.

With assistance from Nectar Gan and Yoshiaki Nohara.

2026 Bloomberg L.P.
AAP MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, who had been on the run in a rape case since last September, was arrested by the Punjab Police from Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior, officials said on Wednesday.

Pathanmajra, the first-time MLA from Sanour, was nabbed from Gwalior and being brought back to Patiala, Senior Superintendent of Police (Patiala) Varun Sharma said.

Subsequently, the MLA will be presented before a court here, police said.

Pathanmajra was wanted in the rape case which was registered in September last year.

On September 1, 2025, police had registered a case against Pathanmajra at the Civil Lines police station here on the charges of rape, cheating and criminal intimidation.

The case was registered based on a complaint by a Zirakpur-based woman, who alleged that the MLA misrepresented himself as a divorcee, entered into a relationship with her and later married in 2021 while already being married.

She accused him of continued sexual exploitation, threats and sending "obscene" material to her.

The AAP MLA had been declared a proclaimed offender after he failed to appear in this case. Patiala police had even issued a look-out notice against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA.

Pathanmajra had been on the run since September 2 in the rape case. He had escaped police custody when the Punjab police went to Haryana's Karnal to arrest him.

Police had then claimed that gunshots were fired and stones were pelted by the legislator's supporters after a police team went to arrest him in Dabri village in Karnal district, where he was at the residence of one of his relatives.
In a bizarre turn of events, Elon Musk has shelved the latest revenue-sharing policy shared by his own head of product. Earlier in the day, X's Head of Product Nikita Bier had shared an updated revenue-sharing policy for creators, which focused on giving more weight to impressions from their home region.

However, soon after the policy was announced, there was a massive uproar from creators, many of whom shared how the majority of their views came from countries where they do not reside.

Responding to the uproar, Musk decided to pause the policy, writing, We will pause moving forward with this until further consideration.

Why did X change its revenue-sharing policy? Bier had noted that the policy was being updated in order to better reward the content we want on X:

We will be giving more weight to impressions from your home regionto encourage content that resonates with people in your country, in neighboring countries, and people who speak your language, Bier wrote.

We invite creators to start building an audience locally. X will be a much richer community when there are relevant posts for people in all parts of the world, he added.

However, soon afterwards, there were concerns raised about how the policy seemed to be focused too much on stopping commentary on American politics from around the world while not recognising how there are various other content types on the platform as well.

One such user wrote, This CAN'T be serious!? You do realize there are global content types beyond politics, right? This is a mistake that will ruin the nature of X. Please revert it before its too late.

Musk responded to the post, writing, Good point.

Notably, Bier has been the head of product at X since June last year and is also said to be quietly advising the platform since October 2024. The techie has been known for building viral apps like tbh and Gas, while also having the experience of serving as a product manager at Meta.

Under Bier's watch, the platform has been undergoing various changes, including the implementation of a Grok AI-powered algorithm and, most recently, the return of the dislike button, which is said to be in beta testing for now.
Google is baking yet another powerful capability into Gemini with the integration of longer music generation in the AI chatbot, thanks to the Lyria 3 Pro integration. While Google had integrated its music generation model earlier in the year into Gemini, the integration of Lyria 3 Pro now allows users to create up to 3-minute-long tracks, a big upgrade from the original model, which could only generate 30-second audio snippets.

What's new with Lyria 3 Pro? Apart from generating 3-minute-long tracks, Google has added many other new abilities to its music generation model. With Lyria 3 Pro, Gemini can now create higher-fidelity tracks with verses, choruses, and bridges. The new upgrade also allows users to generate long instrumental backing tracks for studying, custom soundtracks for YouTube vlogs and social posts, or even original jingles for small businesses and personal brands.

This advanced version allows the creation of tracks up to 3 minutes long, with customization and creative control. Lyria 3 Pro better understands musical composition, so you can now prompt for specific elements like intros, verses, choruses, and bridges, the company said in a blog post.

Google says since Lyria 3 Pro better understands musical composition, it's great for experimenting with different styles or generating songs with complex transitions.

Apart from the Gemini app, Google is also adding music generation capabilities to various other products, including Google Vids, ProducerAI, Vertex AI, ProducerAI, and AI Studio.

Google says it has developed Lyria 3 Pro in collaboration with the music industry. The company also says that Grammy-winning producer Yung Spielburg had also recently used Lyria in his composition process for a short film score, while renowned DJ Francois K used it to iterate on a soon-to-be-released song.

The company says that if you ask Gemini to create a song mimicking a specific, real-world artist, it will only take broad creative inspiration to match the mood rather than directly copying proprietary voice or style.

We employ filters to check outputs against existing content, and users must adhere to the Terms of Service and Gen AI prohibited use policies, which prohibit violating others' intellectual property and privacy rights, the company said in a blog post.
Social media is changing with the rise of AI agents, and Reddit is aiming to counter that slop by ensuring that there is a human behind the screen actually writing the posts. Reddit CEO Steve Huffman, in a blog post, confirmed that the company is introducing a series of measures designed to combat AI slop and ensure that users know whether they are interacting with a real person or a machine.

The internet feels different lately. Its getting harder to tell whoor whatyoure interacting with. But Reddits purpose is for people to talk to people. And we want it to stay that way, Huffman said in a post on Reddit. Our product has always been human conversation: messy, opinionated, sometimes great, sometimes not, but always real (or at least, really creative writing). As AI becomes a bigger part of the internet, we want to make sure that when youre on Reddit, you know when youre talking to a person and when youre not.

What's changing on Reddit? Huffman says that the company will now begin asking some suspected accounts to verify that they are human. However, the Reddit CEO notes that this process will be rare and will not apply to most users.

Instead, the platform is now introducing a targeted verification system, which is designed exclusively for accounts exhibiting "automated or otherwise fishy behaviour".

The company is also allowing automation on the platform via a good bots label. Developers will also be able to register their apps to receive the official label.

Reddit is also making it easier for Redditors to report AI bots, while the company will also take note of comments that suggest that they are coming from an AI bot.

How will Reddit verify you are human? Reddit has outlined that it will use specialised third-party tools to make sure there is a human behind an account. Huffman says that the platform may ask users to complete passkey checks from companies like Apple, Google, and YubiKey. The company is also exploring decentralised services like Sam Altman's World ID or Face ID.

The company also states that it may ask for government ID in certain scenarios but notes that it is the "least secure, least private, and least preferred" method, which it is required to follow in some countries like the UK and Australia.

However, Huffman noted that the platform is not banning humans using AI to write a post, while calling it a gray area.
U.S. Border Patrol patch on an agent on March 6, 2026. David Gomez Jr. /Laredo Morning Times

A human smuggling attempt involving individuals hidden inside a tractor-trailer was stopped at a Laredo checkpoint, according to the U.S. Border Patrol Laredo Sector.

The agency reported the incident Monday, March 23.

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At the Laredo North checkpoint, agents discovered three individuals concealed inside the tractor-trailer, according to Border Patrol.

All apprehended subjects were taken into custody, Border Patrol said. They will get processed and face charges for their actions.

The driver, identified as a United States citizen, was arrested and the vehicle was seized. He will face charges of bringing in and harboring certain aliens, according to Border Patrol.

No injuries or property damage were reported.

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Border Patrol did not specify the identities of those involved, additional details about the driver, or further detention information.
Juan Jose Rivera Courtesy/Webb County Sheriff's Office

The case of a man accused of fatally stabbing another man outside a Stripes convenience store in 2023 was dismissed without prejudice Monday in the 341st District Court before Judge Becky Palomo.

Juan Jose Rivera III was arrested May 25, 2023, for the homicide of Juan Humberto Zuazua that occurred at the intersection of McPherson Road and Saunders on March 27, 2023.

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Murder is a first-degree felony punishable by five to 99 years or life in prison.

The case was called for jury selection Monday. Instead of moving forward to trial, the state filed a motion to dismiss the case without prejudice that same day.

According to court documents, the reason stated in the Motion to Dismiss Without Prejudice document, signed by Palomo, was: Other: Expert unavailable for trial.

A dismissal without prejudice in a Texas criminal case means the current charges are dropped, but the prosecutor retains the right to refile the same charges later. It is not a final judgment on the merits and is often used when the state needs more evidence, a witness is unavailable or to correct procedural errors.

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Defense attorneys objected and sought a dismissal with prejudice while also urging the court to exclude late-disclosed evidence and expert testimony.

The court partially granted the defense motion, allowing certain evidence and allowing Webb County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Corinne Stern to testify, then denied the defenses objection and granted the states motion to dismiss.

Palomo granted the states motion to dismiss the case without prejudice after hearing arguments from both sides.

Palomo ordered Riveras release while prosecutors indicated they plan to seek a new indictment within 10 days.

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Background

The Zuazua homicide was the third homicide of 2023 in Laredo.

An arrest warrant for Rivera on a charge of murder was issued March 28 by 111th District Judge Monica Z. Notzon.

The Laredo Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force arrested Rivera May 25. He was extradited from San Antonio, where LPD said he fled after the murder.

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He was charged with murder, a first-degree felony, and was being booked into the Webb County Jail.

Laredo Police officers responded around 4:47 a.m. March 27 to the Stripes convenience store located at 1120 E. Saunders St. for a "fight in progress" after several callers reported a man on the ground bleeding and seeing two people running from the scene. Responding officers found a man dead on the sidewalk in the 3800 block of McPherson Road who was later identified as Zuazua.

The investigation revealed a male wearing black, later identified as Hector Tovar Jr., 24, crossed the street to speak to a friend of Zuazua.

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Tovar allegedly told Zuazuas friends not to get involved, police said. Meanwhile, Rivera fatally stabbed Zuazua. Rivera was identified based on an anonymous tip, according to authorities.
Zacate Creek on April 25, 2024 at Zacate Creek. David Gomez Jr./Laredo Morning Times City Manager Joseph Neeb addresses Laredo City Council including District VIII's Alyssa Cigarroa and District VII's Vanessa Perez on May 19, 2025, at City Hall. David Gomez Jr./Laredo Morning Times District III Councilmember Melissa Cigarroa (right) and District IV Councilmember Rick Garza on May 19, 2025, at City Hall. David Gomez Jr./Laredo Morning Times

A nearly $7.6 million project to improve trails and expand recreational access along Zacate Creek recently advanced from city leaders.

The item was nearly tabled last week due to time constraints before councilmembers were informed that delaying action could result in the loss of funding. With this in mind, city leaders approved the resolution, allowing the city to accept nearly $3.8 million through the Outdoor Recreational Legacy Partnership Grant Program.

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The grant, administered by the National Park Service and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, requires a one-to-one match, bringing the total project cost to about $7.6 million.

District VII Councilmember Vanessa Perez urged city management to flag time-sensitive items to avoid similar situations.

District III Councilmember Melissa Cigarroa, who sponsored the item, said the project will focus on developing approximately 22 acres along Zacate Creek to improve recreational access and revitalize surrounding neighborhoods.

"The awarding of these funds for this green space is the commitment of the city to improve these areas that need it," Cigarroa said, noting that neighborhoods along the creek are considered underserved.

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The project includes improvements to existing trails and embankments, along with new trail extensions aimed at increasing accessibility.

Funding for the local match will come from a combination of city and county contributions, including $1.8 million from a 2019 city bond and $2 million from Webb County.

Cigarroa said delays leading up to the item were typical for projects of this scale, particularly due to required environmental assessments, which can take one to two years to complete.

"This is a very normal process," she said. "The city completes the work and then is reimbursed by the federal government."

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Councilmembers approved the item with a condition to verify that reimbursement procedures are in place, though officials noted such grant structures are standard.

The project will build on existing efforts led by local organizations, including the Zacate Creek Green District, which has expanded nearby trails such as the Las Palmas Nature Trail.

Plans also include revitalizing a historic portion of the creek originally developed during the Works Progress Administration era, as well as highlighting natural features in the area.

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"We're going to revitalize that area and create something really beautiful," Cigarroa said.
Protesters chant and carry signs during the No Kings Nationwide Day of Defiance rally on Saturday, June 14, 2025, outside Jett Bowl North, 5823 McPherson Road in Laredo, Texas. Jose De La Rosa/Laredo Morning Times

Zapata County is set to join a nationwide movement taking place in more than 3,000 locations this weekend: No Kings Day, a protest opposing the Trump administrations ideologies and actions.

No Kings Day, according to the organizations website, is a movement that emphasizes the right to protest what participants deem authoritarian actions and abuses of power by the Trump administration through nonviolent action.

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It will take place Saturday from 10-11:30 a.m. at La Placita by the Courthouse, 606 U.S. 83.

Zapata County and residents from San Ygnacio are also joining the movement, standing in solidarity with borderland cities such as Laredo, San Juan, Edinburg, Brownsville and South Texas cities such as Corpus Christi this weekend.

Activist Elsa Hull, who is organizing the protest alongside Zapata native Fabiola Escalon, said residents are joining to express their views on the administrations handling of issues such as immigration and the looming threat of the border wall and buoys in the river.

Residents from Zapata and San Ygnacio, Texas will join together with millions of Americans across the country to say: in this country we wont be ruled by intimidation or fear, she said in a statement.

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Escalon, now living in McAllen, said it was important to bring the protest to Zapata after seeing how border wall and buoy initiatives could impact the land and the people there. She is part of the South Texas Grassroots Coalition and has assisted other groups that previously organized social movement events in the area.

After we started the Hands Off and No Kings protests in McAllen  other groups started organizing in McAllen, so we expanded to Weslaco, she said. And therein lies the idea to put Zapata on the map, especially because it was the lone red dot in 2016.

In addition to Zapata, Edinburg and McAllen are also part of the protest map.

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Priscilla Villarreal, an online journalist from Laredo, Texas, stands outside the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals building in New Orleans on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. Kevin McGill/AP

Laredo social media citizen journalist Priscilla "La Gordiloca" Villarreal's appeal was rejected by the Supreme Court Monday in Washington, D.C.

Villarreal's attorneys attempted to claim qualified immunity in the case. However, SCOTUS's decision to not hear her claim will keep it from advancing.

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The Texas law, making it a felony to solicit from public officials information not previously publicly disclosed, that was enforced against Villarreal had never been enforced prior to her case, NPR noted. However in previous court rulings she was determined to have benefited with items like advertising revenue and free meals from followers.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who cited the court's decision as "a grave error" to not take the case, wrote in dissension, "It should be obvious that this arrest violated the First Amendment."

"This case implicates one of the most basic journalistic practices of them all: asking sources within the government for information," she said. "Each day, countless journalists follow this practice, seeking comment, confirmation, or even 'scoops' from governmental sources. Reasonably so.

"This was a blatant First Amendment violation. No reasonable officer would have thought that he could have arrested Villarreal, consistent with the Constitution, for asking the questions she asked. Such an arrest is plainly inconsistent with basic First Amendment principles."

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The case began in 2017, when Villarreal asked a Laredo police officer to confirm the identity of a man who died by suicide and the names of a family involved in a fatal car crash. She later posted the information on her public Facebook page.

Days later, she was arrested under Section 39.06(c) of the Texas Penal Code  a law that makes it a felony to request nonpublic information from a public official with intent to obtain a benefit. According to court records, Laredo police had never used the statute before.

Villarreal was released shortly after her arrest. The criminal case remained pending until a state judge later ruled the statute unconstitutionally vague and dismissed the charges.

In 2019, she filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against several local officials, including District Attorney Isidro Alaniz, Assistant District Attorney Marisela Jacaman and thenPolice Chief Claudio Trevino Jr. The suit seeks damages for what Villarreal describes as a wrongful arrest carried out in retaliation for her reporting.

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In its April decision, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the officials cannot be sued. The court cited qualified immunity  a legal doctrine that shields government employees from personal liability unless they violate rights that were already clearly established in the law.

In other words, even if the arrest would clearly be unconstitutional by todays legal standards, the officials cannot be held liable unless those standards were already established at the time. Given that, Villarreals attorneys argued the appeals court got it wrong and failed to apply recent guidance from the U.S. Supreme Court.

The high court has previously directed the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to review Villareals case in light of the Supreme Courts ruling in another case from Texas. In June 2024, the justices gave a former local elected official another chance to pursue her lawsuit claiming she too was wrongly arrested.

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In that case, Sylvia Gonzalez, a former city council member in the San Antonio suburb of Castle Hills, said she was arrested in retaliation as part of a dispute with a political rival.
The intersection of International Boulevard and Simon Bolivar Boulevard in north Laredo is shown, where city officials plan to activate a new traffic signal. Courtesy/Google Maps

Two new traffic signals have been installed in north Laredo to improve safety and traffic flow in the area, city officials said.

The lights are located at the intersections of Simon Bolivar Boulevard and International Boulevard, as well as Bucky Houdmann Drive.

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With installation now complete, the city of Laredo and its Traffic Safety Division said the signals will enter a temporary flashing mode beginning at 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

Motorists are encouraged to drive with caution and follow all traffic signs as we transition into full operation, the city said.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, newly installed traffic signals require a 30-day testing period to ensure proper function while allowing drivers time to adjust.

The signals are scheduled to become fully operational with standard red, yellow and green lights at 9:30 a.m. on April 2.

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Some locals, however, have voiced concerns on the citys social media pages, arguing the lights could lead to increased congestion in the area.

They are not needed. Those lights will only cause more traffic, resident Fernando Baldazo said. Those intersections only have traffic 45 minutes in the morning and 45 minutes in the afternoon during school days. That is it.

City officials have not publicly responded to those concerns, but the installations are part of ongoing efforts to improve traffic safety and efficiency across Laredo roadways.
The American Red Cross-Webb County Chapter pose with the Webb County Commissioners Court on March 23, 2026, at the Webb County Courthouse. Courtesy Photos/Webb County

When disaster strikes, many Webb County families turn to the American Red Cross for immediate help  and county leaders say that support continues to make a critical difference.

The county recognized the organizations role in assisting residents facing emergencies this week, particularly those who lose their homes and belongings.

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Webb County Precinct 2 Commissioner Rosaura "Wawi" Tijerina pointed to a recent house fire in her precinct as an example of the Red Cross impact.

"There was a household that was burned to the ground in my precinct, and the Red Cross was very instrumental in helping relocate the families," Tijerina said.

She said the organization provides essential support to families who may not have insurance or resources to recover on their own.

"Its so hard to buy a house and then your house burns down and theres no insurance to cover any damages," she added.

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The Red Cross assists with temporary housing, supplies and other resources to help families begin rebuilding after a disaster.

Tijerina said the organizations quick response helps families navigate some of their most difficult moments.

"Theyve always been there to provide any type of help," she said.
Corpus Christi City Council voted to move forward in the removal process for Mayor Paulette Guajardo on Tuesday. Corpus Christi City Council

Corpus Christi is battling a serious water crisis, with the potential to run dry by 2027. Now the city may also be drying up support for its mayor.

Yesterday, the city council voted to review the preliminary procedures for potentially removing Mayor Paulette Guajardo, as first reported by KIII. The vote took place as part of a nine hour city council meeting.

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Council members Carolyn Vaughn, Eric Cantu, Gil Hernandez, Kaylynn Paxson and Sylvia Campos voted in favor of the agenda item, prompted by an August 2025 petition submitted by six Corpus Christi residents. Council members Mark Scott, Everett Roy and Roland Barrera voted against it.

Several council members who agreed to move forward in the removal process said the procedure for initiating a removal hearing should be fixed.

"I don't like this part of the charter," Cantu said. "It only takes five people to put a petition together to remove a council member."

Five city council members in Corpus Christi voted to move forward with a removal hearing for the mayor on March 24, 2026. Corpus Christi City Council

Hernandez also voiced concern about the small number of residents needed to initiate the process.

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"Only five or more registered voters can do this. I have a huge problem with that," Hernandez said. "This is probably something we need to address as a council to make the bar a little higher."

However, with the 5-3 vote, the process advanced and the removal hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, April 14.

"Just because there's a hearingdoesn't automatically mean that the mayor or any accused councilmember is going to be removed," Hernandez said. "Just because this is a process doesn't mean that this is an automatic. It's just not."

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Discussions prior to the vote mainly centered around the Homewood Suites investigationa controversial $2-million tax incentive proposal for the downtown Homewood Suites by Hilton. A developer claimed that Guajardo was aware of an altered FEMA flood map used to present that project to council. A KIII investigation found that the map itself and important dates weren't altered.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Texas Rangers and Corpus Christi Police Department have all closed investigations into the incident and no criminal charges have been filed.

But while much of the conversation focused on that incident, a larger controversy continues to loom in Corpus Christi: the uncertainty of the city's water crisis and the back-and-forth on a $1.2 billion desalination plant meant to address it.

The mayor has pushed to revive plans for the Inner Harbor Desalination Plant after public backlash from Gov. Greg Abbott. She recently referred to council's approval of the project as a "must."

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That stance has deepened tensions on the council. About two weeks ago, Cantu released a statement accusing the mayor of creating division. He argued the city was not in danger of running out of water and stood in support of council members who opposed the desalination project six months ago.

"Our mayor has completely divided this council. She cannot keep this council together and its become a one way street with her leadership," Cantu wrote.

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Two men were arrested in a gift card fraud scheme in Amarillo, Texas. Authorities say the scheme stretched to Missouri, Illinois and Texas. D-Keine/Getty Images

Two individuals connected to a multi-state gift card fraud scheme were arrested on Wednesday.

According to a press release from the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center, Brusli Javier Romero Bajarano and John Jairo Giraldo Cortes, both Colombian nationals, were charged with felonies: Fraudulent use, possession or tampering with a gift card, gift card packaging, or gift card data. They are both being held in the Potter County, Texas Jail.

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"Gift card cloning is a sophisticated form of organized retail theft where criminals manipulate cards before they are even purchased," the press release reads. "On March 17, 2026, the suspects entered Texas and were identified committing gift card fraud in Amarillo. Following a coordinated intelligence effort between the Financial Crimes Intelligence Center's North Texas Field Office and local law enforcement, Amarillo Police Department officers and detectives arrested the suspects within one hour of receiving the intelligence. The investigation confirmed that the individuals had compromised cards at three separate Amarillo locations prior to their arrest."

The alleged fraud scheme reportedly also stretched beyond Texas to Illinois, Missouri and Oklahoma.

The Financial Crimes Intelligence Center adds that consumers should be vigilant when purchasing gift cards:

Inspect the package: Look for signs of tampering, such as excess glue, "crinkled" security stickers, or visible damage to the cardboard.

Pick from the back: Select cards from the back of the display rack or those kept behind customer service counters.

Report suspicious activity: If you find a card that appears tampered with, do not purchase it and immediately notify store personnel.
A migrant processing facility located adjacent to the Val Verde County Sheriffs Office in Del Rio on Oct. 27, 2021. Chris Stokes/For The Texas Tribune

The state quietly shuttered a jail booking facility in Val Verde County last summer that had operated as a hub of Gov. Greg Abbotts Operation Lone Star border crackdown, state officials acknowledged Tuesday.

Texas officials had opened two such sites for the governors border initiative, which surged Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and State Guard members to the more than 1,250 miles of border Texas shares with Mexico. Operation Lone Star was started early in the Biden administration in response to the White Houses immigration policies and continued as the number of illegal border crossings reached new highs.

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At the facilities, officers booked asylum-seeking migrants on state charges of criminal trespassing, a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail, and human smuggling, a more serious felony that was largely leveled against thousands of young Americans.

Abbott credited President Donald Trumps return to the White House when he shut the first facility in Jim Hogg County last March. However, internal booking logs showed the reality was more nuanced, as the number of illegal border crossings had been decreasing for months before tanking further under Trumps second administration.

The closure of the facility in Val Verde, home to Del Rio, had not been previously reported or acknowledged by state officials until Tuesday. DPS spokesperson Sheridan Nolen confirmed the closure to The Texas Tribune in response to questions about internal records that suggested no one had been booked at the facility since May 2025.

Officials closed the Val Verde site in August 2025 after DPS officials began booking inmates into local jails that month, Nolen said.

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Thanks to increased collaboration at the state and federal levels over the last year, our border is now more secure than it has been in years  and the Val Verde Temporary Processing Facility, which was used to support local jails overwhelmed by the record number of arrests along the border, was closed, Nolen said.

Texas DPS officers are making an average of nearly 100 arrests per week along the Texas-Mexico border, Nolen said. That is a small fraction of the number being detained under Operation Lone Star during the Biden administration, when local jails were overwhelmed until the state set up the booking facilities and began holding migrants at state prisons.

The massive state police agency has reallocated much of its resources to the interior of the state, where troopers are working on specific teams to help U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrest thousands of undocumented immigrants. The state has labeled the mission Operation Lone Star 2.0 to underscore its newfound focus on immigration operations hundreds of miles away from the border.

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The Legislature earmarked $3.4 billion for border security for the current two-year state budget that runs through the fall of spending plan.
Houston radio listeners are about to hear a voice they may recognize.

Hope Media Group, the Houston-based nonprofit behind several Christian radio brands, confirmed that Jillian "JJ" Simmons has joined 89.3 KSBJ. She will host middays on the Houston station and afternoons on the national Worship 24/7 network.

"Joining Hope Media Group feels both humbling and exciting," Simmons said in a news release. "I have long respected the organization's commitment to meeting people where they are with messages of hope and faith. I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve listeners and contribute to this incredible ministry."

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"J.J.'s love for people and her passion for sharing Hope make her a natural fit for our ministry," Jeff Evans, vice president of radio for Hope Media Group, said in the release. "We're excited for listeners to experience her heart not only on KSBJ but also through Worship 24/7."

Simmons first hinted at the move in a Facebook post last month, calling the opportunity "surreal" and saying it wasn't something she had been actively pursuing.

"Yesterday, I officially dust off my headphones to step into my new role as Midday Host on KSBJ radio station and if I'm honest, this wasn't something I was out here looking for. But I'm so grateful it found me," she wrote, adding that she felt called back to radio years ago, even when the path forward wasn't clear.

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Longtime Houston listeners may remember Simmons from her five-year run on 97.9 The Box KBXX, which she left in early 2017. Her career has also included roles at HOT 96.3 in Indianapolis, WBLS in New York, 101.1 The Wiz in Cincinnati and WROU in Dayton, Ohio.

JJ Simmons previously hosted middays on Houston's 97.9 The Box (KBBX) before leaving in 2017. J. Patric Schneider/Houston Chronicle

Outside the studio, Simmons founded the "I'm Me Foundation," which focuses on empowering middle and high school girls through leadership development. She is also an author, publishing Without Bruises: A Journey to Hope, Help and Healing in 2016 about an abusive relationship, followed by Respect My Crown: A 30-Day Affirmation Journal to Manifest Your Vision in 2018.

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Sugar Land startup incentives: new innovation fund aims to attract companies. carrollmt/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Sugar Land isn't just building more homesit's now trying to build the companies that fill them.

The city recently launched the "Sugar Land Starts Innovation Fund," a new incentive program aimed at attracting startups as part of a broader push to turn the fast-growing suburb into more than just a place where people live. The fund offers performance-based incentives to companies that commit to bringing jobs and long-term investment to Sugar Land, targeting industries like life sciences, technology and advanced manufacturing, according to the city's announcement.

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"By focusing on revenue-generating startups and performance-based incentives, we are creating a clear pathway for innovative companies to scale while reenergizing existing office space," Colby Millenbruch, Sugar Land's business recruitment manager, said in a statement.

To qualify, startups must already be generating revenue or have significant financial backing. Their average salaries also must be at least $61,000, and the company must agree to relocate employees to Sugar Land for at least three years.

The move reflects a broader shift taking shape across the Houston region. Suburbs like Sugar Land aren't just growing residentiallythey're trying to become job centers in their own right.

For years, Sugar Land has been known as one of the Houston area's more affluent suburbs, built around master-planned communities and corporate campuses. Now, city leaders are trying to expand that model by attracting companies that allow residents to live and work in the same place.

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That push comes as the Greater Houston Area continues to expand. As Chron previously reported, suburban areas like Sugar Land, Katy and Cypress have seen steady development as buyers search for more space, even amid affordability pressures.

Sugar Land officials have been laying the groundwork for that shift. The innovation fund builds on the city's partnership with Plug and Play, a Silicon Valley-based startup accelerator that has already brought companies into the area and helped raise millions in investment capital.

"This investment is about more than technology," said David Steele, director of Texas at Plug and Play. "It's about creating an environment where innovation can take root, grow and deliver lasting value for the Sugar Land community."

City leaders have also pushed efforts to redevelop vacant office space, an issue that has become more visible as remote work reshapes suburban business districts. More than 20 startups have already gone through Sugar Land's accelerator programs, per the Houston Business Journal, raising about $6.5 million in funding.

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"Sugar Land is setting itself apart by taking a long-term view, investing in founders, partnerships, and technologies that will define the next chapter of growth," Steele added.
The Maria Edgeworth Centre in Edgeworthstown are holding two events in Dublin on Thursday, March 26.

At 12 noon, in Dubray bookstore on Grafton Street they will be relaunching Maria Edgeworths novel Belinda which is celebrating 225 years this year.

The event will feature an introduction to the Maria Edgeworth Centre, to Maria Edgeworth and there will be a narrator and three actors acting out some scenes from the novel. A rare 1801 first edition of Belinda will also be on display.

The event will be followed at 4.15pm with a talk in the Long Room Hub at Trinity College Dublin on the novel by Professor Jim Chandler of the University of Chicago.

Maria Edgeworth was born in Oxford in 1768. She was the daughter of Richard Lovell Edgeworth from Edgeworthstown in Co Longford.

Also read: Edgeworthstown primary school bicentenary 'a massive opportunity' to attract visitors to Longford

When her father inherited the family estate she, at the age of fourteen, moved permanently to live in Edgeworthstown where she worked as her fathers secretary, keeping accounts, dealing with tenants, and teaching her younger siblings; she acquired a familiarity with Irish peasantry and an interest in social and political issues, which were incorporated in her writing.

Much of her early writing was for children or about childrens education, and it was not until 1800 that she published her first novel Castle Rackrent. She maintained an interest in literature and social issues for all her life and played a major role in raising funds for famine relief. She died in Edgeworthstown in May of 1849 at the ripe old age of 81.

In 1801 she published her romantic novel Belinda which is considered by many to be one of the earliest if not the earliest manifestation of the novel.

Maria Edgeworth Visitor Centre Chairperson Matt Farrell explained, Although she has, in recent years, been overshadowed by Jane Austen, her star is once again beginning to rise. I can say, with some confidence, that this is due to the work of the wonderful Maria Edgeworth Centre in Edgeworthstown and the work of academics across the world.

PICTURES | Longford continues to keep the worth in Maria Edgeworth with fabulous festival

In 1801, Maria, a woman of sharp wit and even sharper moral conviction introduced the world to Belinda Portman. She wanted to show that a young woman could navigate the treacherous waters of high society without losing her soul or her mind.

The story begins with Belinda being sent to London by her aunt, Mrs. Standope, a woman who treated niece-marrying like a professional sport. Belinda is placed under the wing of the dazzling Lady Delacour, a socialite who seems to have it all. However, once the carriage doors close, the glitter fades.

Belinda discovers that Lady Delacours life is a tragedy: a broken marriage, a neglected daughter, and a secret, festering wound she believes is terminal cancer-the result of a duel she fought while dressed as a man.

In her search for the perfect life partner Belinda finds herself caught between three different men:

Clarence Hervey: A brilliant but arrogant gentleman. He loves Belinda, but hes hampered by his own ego and bizarre secret project.

Sir Philip Baddley: A dissipated man about town who represents everything Belinda detests.

Mr Vincent: A wealthy gentleman from the West Indies. He is kind and handsome, but he harbours a hidden addiction to the gambling tables of London.

PICTURES | Longford's unique event took a step back in time

While Belinda is trying to decide her future, Clarence Hervey is playing a dangerous game of Pythagoras. Years prior, he discovers a beautiful, innocent girl named Virginia, living in a forest. Inspired by romantic novels, he decides to breed, or mould her in total seclusion to be his perfect, untainted wife.

But life isnt a romantic novel. Hervey eventually realises that while Virginia is beautiful, she is also dull and entirely unsuited for the real world-especially compared to the spirited and intelligent Belinda.

The drama peaks when Lady Delacour, driven by jealousy and manipulations of her friend Harriet Freke, nearly destroys her own household. It is only through Belindas steady influence that the family is saved.

In a dramatic twist, the cancer Lady Delacour feared turns out to be a psychological manifestation of her guilt. Once she confesses her secrets to her husband and her daughter, is miraculously cured by the truth.

Meanwhile, Mr Vincents gambling debts lead to his downfall, clearing the path for Clarence Hervey to finally abandon his forest girl experiment and confess his true devotion to Belinda.

Also read: A rare first edition work by Longford's captivating novelist to go on display in Dublin

In the end, Belinda chooses Clarence, Lady Delacour finds domestic peace. However, history gives us a final twist.

While the original 1801 version features progressive subplots-including a Black servant marrying an English girl-later editions were heavily censored to fit the more conservative Romantic ideals of 1810.

Marias Belinda was a commercial success but even she couldnt entirely escape the changing tides of Regency morality.
The price of the average second-hand three-bed semi in county Longford rose by 1.8pc to 225,000 in the last three months, according to the latest REA national survey.

Across the county, the average time taken to reach sale agreed was four weeks, the Q1 REA Average House Price Index shows.

The Longford market is continuing its recovery and is now replicating the numbers hit in 2006, said Joe Brady of REA Brady.

Take up is strong and supply is limited. Landlords exiting will add to that supply this year, however this volume will be easily met by current demand.

Longford still has some headroom for price appreciation. I expect price growth to be in the 8% to 10% range in 2026.

Also read: Half-measures wont cut it: Longford 'families and workers hammered by spiralling fuel costs'

The survey shows that across the county, 50pc of purchasers were first-time buyers, while a total of 40pc of sales in the county this quarter were attributed to landlords leaving the market.

Additionally, the survey found A-rated BER properties in the county are commanding 25pc price increases in comparison to C-rated properties.

The REA Average House Price Index concentrates on the sale price of Ireland's typical stock home, the three-bed semi, giving an accurate picture of the second-hand property market in towns and cities countrywide.

Also read: New role for Longford man with 'strong track record in leadership of a major events venue'

The actual selling price of a three-bed, semi-detached house across the country rose by 1.5pc in the past three months to 364,747.

This represents a 7.67pc annual rise  slowing gradually from the 9pc increase registered six months ago.

With energy prices coming into focus, agents are reporting that there is a renewed focus on heating costs, with the A-rated v C-rated BER price premium rising to 13pc, up from 10pc at the end of December.

Actual selling prices in Dublin city rose by 1.6pc in the last three months, with the average three-bed semi in the capitals postcode areas now selling at 595,453, a 6.6pc annual rise.

PICTURES | Style galore as Dromard celebrates five Longford title triumphs at gala dinner

The percentage of first-time buyers purchasing in Dublin has dropped from 50pc to 39pc in the past six months, with agents citing a wait-and-see policy from buyers around the changes in rental legislation.

Selling prices in Irelands major cities outside Dublin rose by 1.2pc to an average of 378,250  a 6.5pc annual increase, with homes selling in four weeks on average.

Homes in the countrys large towns rose by 2pc this quarter and 9pc annually to an average of 281,287, while prices in commuter counties rose by 1pc to 377,185.
Ashab al Yamins statement following the attack in Antwerp.

On March 23, a shadowy Iran-linked organization called Ashab al Yamin claimed responsibility for setting a vehicle ablaze in Antwerps Jewish Quarter. The day before, the group said it was behind an arson attack on four ambulances owned by a Jewish non-profit in London. The incidents add to the growing number of claims of attacks by Ashab al Yamin against Jewish and Western targets in Europe.

A video made by Ashab al Yamin and disseminated on pro-Iran Axis of Resistance Telegram channels on Monday claimed responsibility for the arson attack on Appelmansstraat, one of Antwerps notable thoroughfares.

The city of Antwerp in Belgium is one of the most important European cities.  It also has a large Zionist community.  The most important street in the city, Appelmansstraat, was targeted. [Our] operations will continue to escalate and intensify until the liberation of our occupied lands in beloved Palestine and revenge for the blood of the Palestinians, Lebanese, and all Muslims, Ashab al Yamin stated.

Local media reports about an arson attack in Antwerp added credibility to Ashab al Yamins claim. The Flemish Radio and Television broadcasting organization (VRT) reported that a vehicle was set alight on Appelmansstraat and Vestingstraat, in the citys Jewish Quarter, on Monday night. Law enforcement arrested two minors suspected of being involved in the incident. The report added that a judge was requested for intentional arson at night and for participation in the activities of a terrorist group.

On March 22, Ashab al Yamin said that it targeted the Machzike Hadath Synagogue in Golders Green, London, due to its ties to Israel.

The BBC reported that attackers targeted four ambulances in the synagogues parking lot. Law enforcement is seeking three suspects involved in the crime. Despite the claim by Ashab al Yamin and the groups past activity across Europe in recent weeks, the incident is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime, not terrorism. There were no reports of injuries in the attack.

The incidents in Antwerp and London raise the total number of attacks claimed by Ashab al Yamin to seven since it first emerged in early March. The group has targeted a range of sites, including a synagogue, a Jewish school, and an American-owned bank in the Netherlands, as well as a synagogue in Belgium. It also claimed responsibility for an attack on an unidentified Zionist site in Greece.

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.


On March 24, Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi announced that he had instructed his ministrys secretary-general to summon the Iranian Charge dAffaires in Lebanon, Tufiq Samadi Khoshkhou, and inform him that Lebanon had withdrawn its tentative approval of Mohammad Reza Shibanis status as the designated Iranian Ambassador. Raggi said that Shibani would consequently be persona non grata and set a deadline for him to leave Lebanese territory no later than March 29.

The Lebanese official did not specify the reasons for expelling Shibani, but the decision may relate to his possible involvement in claiming protected diplomatic status for Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) personnel operating in Lebanon, the IRGCs claims of joint operations with Hezbollah, and his unapproved contacts with the organization.

On February 25, Tehran had tapped Shibani as its new ambassador to Lebanon. He appears to have arrived in Beirut between February 26, per Lebanese reporting, and February 28, according to Iranian media.

However, as of the time of Raggis statement, Shibani hadnt fully assumed his ambassadorial role in the formal diplomatic sense, as he had yet to schedule a meeting with Raggi and present the Lebanese foreign minister with his credentials. Raggi had hinted at this tentative status in his statement by describing Shibani as the designated Iranian ambassador and noting Beiruts withdrawal of its formal approval for a foreign countrys proposed head of a diplomatic mission. This procedure ensures that a diplomat is accepted by the receiving state before their arrival but does not automatically allow the incoming diplomat to assume their role.

Underscoring this status, Raggis communications with the Iranian Embassy throughout the past monthincluding regarding Shibanis expulsionhad been conducted exclusively through Khoshkhou, the Iranian charge daffaires. These communications included an objection lodged with the Iranian diplomatic mission on March 12 to a series of incidents and statements by Iranian officials that constitute a clear violation of [Lebanese] national sovereignty and a breach of our governments decisions.

The Lebanese foreign ministry subsequently clarified that its decision was specific to Shibani, pursuant to Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which allows a receiving state at any time and without having to explain its decision, to declare any member of a diplomatic mission persona non grata. The ministry indicated that Shibanis expulsion would otherwise have no impact on the Iranian Embassys operations or function in the country.

The foreign ministrys statement accused Shibani of violating diplomatic norms and obligations. These violations, it said, included, through statements and meetings with unauthorized parties, Article 41s prohibition on interfering in the domestic affairs of the receiving state. However, the ministry also stressed that the action did not constitute a severance of diplomatic ties with Iran, and that Beirut remains keen on maintaining the friendliest of relations with the Iranian Republic and other states.

Hezbollah expressed displeasure at Shibanis expulsion. In a formal statement, the group described Raggis decision as an irresponsible step and a strategic error and national sin that would shatter Lebanese domestic unity. It also said the decision encroached on Lebanese President Joseph Aouns prerogatives and called on the foreign ministry to immediately retract it. However, Al Jadeed has reported that the decision was coordinated between the ministry and the presidency.

The AMAL Movement, Lebanons other major Shiite party and Hezbollahs formal political partner, issued a similar condemnation. AMAL said it would not passively allow the decision to pass and reiterated its objection to President Aouns and Prime Minister Nawaf Salams proposals for direct negotiations with the Israeli enemy. AMAL Party chairman and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri reportedly asked Aoun to retract the decision. Environment Minister Tamara Al Zein, a member of AMAL, even suggested that her party and Hezbollah would withdraw from the cabinet in response. Grand Jaafari Mufti Sheikh Ahmad Qabalan, a significant Shiite religious figure in Lebanon, likewise condemned the foreign ministrys move.

Reports in Al Hadath suggested that Shibani would ask Hezbollah and Amal to pressure the Lebanese government into reversing course, but Iran otherwise intended to ignore the decision. Tehran has not issued a formal statement regarding the matter.

However, at approximately 3:30 pm, residents of Jounieh and other parts of the Keserwan District, north of Beirut, began reporting hearing muffled blasts. Witnesses said that they saw six detonations from what was later identified by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) as an Iranian-made Qadr-110 medium-range ballistic missile containing several smaller munitions. Debris from the missile reportedly fell in the neighborhoods of Haret al Sakhr and Sahel Alma in Jounieh, as well as Faitroun and Baskinta, more inland. The impact caused minor damage to local buildings, but no casualties.

There was no immediate official comment from Lebanese authorities on the incident. However, reports citing unnamed Lebanese sources suggested that, in an event that is the first of its kind, the missile had been intercepted over Lebanese airspace, most likely by a foreign naval vessel offshore.

Meanwhile, by 3:57 pm, the Lebanese newspaper Annahar, citing unnamed Israeli media, claimed that the Iranian missile was headed toward an American target inside Lebanon. The earliest identifiable Israeli media reports stating anything similar to this claim, Israel Hayom at 4:42 pm and Channel 14 news at 4:58 pm, cited a 4:33 pm alert in the Lebanese media outlet Nidaa al Watan that alleged the US Embassy in Beirut or Hamat Airbase were the targets. Nidaa al Watan has a decidedly activist, anti-Hezbollah editorial line, casting doubt on its reliability. Nevertheless, Annahar also claimed that its own information revealed an initial security assessment that the Iranian missile was targeting the US Embassy in Awkar [Beirut], or the Hamat Airbase.

Hamat Airbase, located between Batroun and Tripoli, periodically hosts US personnel who provide security assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces, but it is neither owned nor operationally controlled by the United States. Nevertheless, propaganda from the Iran-led Axis of Resistance routinely portrays Hamat Airbase as an American asset, and Irans Arabic-language IRIB channel Al Alam recently ran a short video of the base that was perceived as threatening an imminent attack.

The timing and reports of the missiles intended target soon touched off speculation among certain Lebanon watchers that it was Irans response to Raggis announcement, which had rattled Tehran. However, Barak Ravid, reporting for Israeli Channel 12 News, cited an unnamed U.S. official who said the U.S. military believes the Iranian missile that fell in Lebanon was aimed at another countrymost likely Cyprusbut disintegrated in Lebanese airspace, with fragments falling near Beirut.

A statement issued by the Lebanese Armed Forces the next day appeared to confirm Ravids version of events. The LAF said its inspection of the crash sites and debris revealed that the Qadr-110 missile apparently exploded due to either a technical issue or an interceptor, but exploded [in Lebanese airspace] while still at high altitude, which suggests its target was outside of Lebanese territory. The statement did not speculate on whether the intended target was Cyprus.

In early March, drones launched from Lebanoneither by Hezbollah or Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps personnelstruck the Royal Air Force base in Akrotiri, Cyprus. On March 22, Beirut Time, a small, Lebanese news platform sympathetic to Hezbollah and resistance framing, claimed to have learned that Cypriot intelligence chief Tasos Tzionis conveyed reassurances to Iran, through Hezbollah, that Akrotiri would not be used to launch attacks against the Islamic Republic.

Beirut Times report could not be independently verified, but Reuters reported on March 21 and March 25 that the United Kingdom agreed not to involve Akrotiri in its defensive agreement with the United States to use UK bases. Reuters further reported that Nicosia had initiated a discussion with London regarding the future of British bases on the Mediterranean island.

David Daoud is Senior Fellow at at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies where he focuses on Israel, Hezbollah, and Lebanon affairs.
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Lycoming College Art Gallery in downtown Williamsport is set to open its doors to the community for the annual juried exhibition featuring the thesis works of Lycoming College graduating art students. Parallax: Lycoming Graduating Senior Art Exhibition opens Friday, April 10, with an artist reception at 5:30 p.m. The exhibition will run through May 9 and is free and open to the public.

Jurors Statement: Parallax is the apparent shift in an object's position when viewed from different, distinct locations. Embracing different points of view and varying interpretation, this exhibition is a constellation of layered, personal works that pivot around healing, self expression, shadows and light, and wayfinding in challenging times. These artists each express themselves in ways that are at once confident and curious, inviting the audience to imagine the nonlinear path from inspiration to creation.

The Lycoming College Senior Show is the culmination of thesis projects for graduating students studying studio art. All studio art majors are required to produce a cohesive body of professional thesis work and must be chosen by an outside juror to exhibit in the Senior Show in order to graduate. The juror for this years thesis exhibition is Lycoming College Artist-in-Residence, researcher, and visual storyteller, Nina Elder.

Elders residency includes a solo exhibit at the Lycoming College Art Gallery that brings together two video works Overburden and Tongue Stones and thirteen drawings from two series, Uplift and Timepieces. As an artist and researcher, Elder creates projects that reveal humanitys dependence on, and interruption of, the natural world. She is also devoted to rural communities and often overlooked places; she regularly works outside of urban cultural centers and the commercial art world. Elder lectures as a visiting artist/scholar at universities, develops publicly engaged programs, and consults with organizations that seek to grow through interdisciplinary programming.

Recent solo exhibitions of Elders art have been organized by University of Colorado, SITE Santa Fe, Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, and museums across the United States. Her work has been featured in Art in America, VICE Magazine, Hyperallergic, and on PBS. Elders writing has been published by Dark Mountain, Routledge Press, and American Scientist, among others, and her research has been supported by the NEA, the Warhol Foundation, Rauschenberg Foundation, Pollock-Krasner Foundation, and Mellon Foundation. When she is not traveling for research, exhibitions, and teaching, Elder lives off the grid in Colorado.

Elder holds an M.F.A. in painting from the San Francisco Art Institute and a B.F.A. in painting from the University of New Mexico. More about Elder can be found online at https://www.ninaelder.com/studio-response.

The 2026 Senior Art Show features works from the following juried graduating seniors:

Rachel Barnable  studio art major

Atzin Bravo-Guzman  3D animation major, astronomy minor

Ezra Castillo  3D animation major, 2D animation minor

Megan Klansek  photography and corporate communication double major

Eleanor Punko - 3D animation major, 2D animation minor

Camille Sgrecci  studio art major, business administration minor

Victoria Burton  psychology major, painting minor

Gabriella Fugon  musical theatre major, photography minor

Natalia Thomas  environmental science and biology:ecology double major, photography minor

The Lycoming College Art Gallery, located in downtown Williamsport at 25 W. Fourth St., contributes to the citys arts culture and allows the College to become more involved with the surrounding community. Lycoming art students have the opportunity to interact with visiting artists and learn first-hand the inner workings of an art gallery.

The gallery is open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 4-8 p.m. For more information, please visit the gallery online.
Summary created by Smart Answers AI In summary: Apple reportedly urges iPhone users to update immediately after the DarkSword hacking toolkit became freely available on GitHub, targeting vulnerable devices.

According to Macworld, iPhones running iOS 18.4 to 18.7 are at risk from this JavaScript-based malware that steals personal data through families like Ghostblade and Ghostknife.

Users can protect themselves by updating to iOS 26.3 or later via Settings > General > Software Update, as timely updates remain the most crucial security step.

The latest iOS security report is a good reminder that iPhone users need to install iOS updates as soon as possible. TechCrunch (a sister publication to Macworld) reports that an updated version of the DarkSword hacking toolkit has been released on GitHub, which means the softare is freely available for download on the internet by threat agents.

Last week, the Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) reported on DarkSword, software used to create three malware families called Ghostblade, Ghostknife, and Ghostsaber. The malware uses JavaScript, and attackers embeds the code in a website. When the user visits the website, the JavaScript executes and installs malware on the iPhone that can gather the users personal data, record audio, or check GS data for the current location. The information is then uploaded to a remote server. GTIG said that most targeted users in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Ukraine.

iPhones running iOS 18.4 to 18.7 are vulnerable to the attacks, but all of the security holes used by the DarkSword malware have been fixed as of iOS 26.3 (the current version is iOS 26.3.1); most of them were fixed before 26.3. The latest version of iOS 18 is 18.7.6, released on March 4.

Keeping your software up to date is the single most important thing you can do to maintain the security of your Apple products, Apple spokesperson Sarah ORourke told TechCrunch. Older iPhones running updated versions of iOS were not vulnerable to the DarkSword attacks.

Generally, iOS can be updated in the Settings app by tapping General > Software Update. However, Apple has a separate method for installing immediate security patches. This setting is called Background Security Improvements, and is located in Settings > Privacy & Security, then scroll to the bottom to find Background Security Improvements.

Matthias Frielingsdorf of iVerify, told TechCrunch that the new DarkSword spyware has similarities to previous DarkSword versions, and that the GitHub files are so simple that anyone can execute them in a couple minutes to hours.
A newly agreed EU-Australia trade deal has been broadly welcomed by North-West MEPs as a boost for Irelands economy, but concerns remain over its potential impact on the agricultural sector.

The agreement, announced by Ursula von der Leyen and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on March 24, is expected to increase EU exports to Australia by 33% over the next decade, with sectors such as dairy, pharmaceuticals and chemicals set to benefit.

MEP Maria Walsh said the deal presents an important opportunity for Ireland, particularly at a time of global uncertainty.

Overall, I believe the EU-Australia trade deal is a win for the Irish economy and should be welcomed by consumers, exporters and policymakers, she said. As a small, open economy, these agreements can offer a lifeline to Irish businesses, and our dairy sector in particular could see significant gains.

According to projections, EU dairy exports could increase by up to 48% over the next ten years.

However, MEP Walsh stressed the need for strong protections for Irish farmers, particularly in the beef and sheep sectors. She noted that while Australia had initially sought tariff-free access for higher volumes, the EU negotiated limits of 30,600 tonnes of beef and 25,000 tonnes of lamb.

READ MORE: MEP calls for EU database to improve defibrillator access in Mayo

There are inherent risks with any trade deal, she said. My priority will be to ensure strong safeguards are in place to protect Irish farmers.

The agreement includes a safeguard mechanism allowing the EU to take action if imports surge and threaten local producers.

However, fellow MEP Ciaran Mullooly urged caution, warning that the cumulative impact of multiple trade deals could have serious consequences for Irish agriculture.

Speaking from the European Parliament, he said the deal should not be approved until a full assessment is carried out.

Its the cumulative effect of these agreements that concerns me, he said. When you add together imports from Australia, Mercosur, New Zealand and Canada, the potential impact on Irish beef and sheep farmers becomes clear.

MEP Mullooly also highlighted concerns around Australias existing trade access to the UK market, which he said could further affect Irish exports.

There is dual access into both the EU and the UK, and this needs careful examination, he said.

READ MORE: Major national recycling campaign to be launched in Mayo by Alan Dillon

He called on the European Commission to undertake a comprehensive analysis of how multiple trade agreements interact and affect the market.

Despite differing views, both MEPs agreed that the coming months will be critical in shaping how the deal is implemented and ensuring it strikes a balance between economic opportunity and protecting Irelands vital farming sector.
Mayo TD, Minister Dara Calleary has welcomed this mornings announcement that a new DEIS+ scheme will be rolled out from September, bringing additional supports to schools.

Five school in Mayo will benefit from this program.

Todays announcement will ensure that 121 of the countrys most disadvantaged schools will receive a range of additional supports, including more than 400 extra staff, under a new DEIS plus scheme to be introduced this coming September.

The plan targets schools with the deepest and most persistent levels of disadvantage and places a central focus on addressing mental health and wellbeing among children attending.

READ NEXT: 'We are beyond proud' - Mayo hotel scoops wedding awards in three categories

The 400 additional staff will include an additional teaching post in each of the 121 schools directly aimed at coordinating the promotion of mental health and well-being within the school.

Welcoming the announcement, Minister Calleary said:

This investment is a truly important step in addressing educational inequality across Ireland, and it will have a real impact in schools. Additional teachers, along with improved wellbeing and guidance supports, will help schools to better support their students and respond to their needs

The supports to be rolled out from September include additional teaching posts, new leadership positions, expanded guidance supports at primary level, more Home School Community Liaison Coordinators, wellbeing practitioners, funding for breakfast clubs, a 400,000 Innovation Fund and stronger links with colleges and industry.

The scheme is backed by a 48 million investment in the DEIS+ programme and the wider DEIS strategy.

In total, the measures announced under DEIS Plus and the DEIS Strategy will deliver over 400 additional roles, including approximately 350 teacher posts, benefiting some 700 schools nationwide.

Fianna Fail politician Calleary also welcomed that Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) services will be extended to 130 additional schools, including those outside the traditional DEIS programme, widening the safety net for vulnerable children and young people.

In Mayo, the following five schools will benefit from this expansion:

Castlebar Primary School

Kinaffen National School Swinford

Cloonlyon National School Charlestown

Garracloon National School Cloghans

Scoil Naisunta Ceathru An Chlochar Ballinrobe

READ NEXT: North Mayo three-star hotel put up for sale for 1.75m
New high-throughput assays track single-molecule DNA-protein interactions in real-time to study genetic disease dynamics.

  Trusted Source

Single-molecule DNA flow-stretch assays for high-throughput DNA-protein interaction studies



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  Trusted Source

New Method Enables Study of Individual DNA-Interacting Proteins



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What are DNA-Protein Interactions and Why Must We Observe Them?

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How Does Single-Molecule Imaging Reveal the Secrets of DNA Repair?

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Flow-Stretch Assay - A Faster Way to Study DNA and Proteins

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Single-molecule DNA-flow stretching assay as a versatile hybrid tool for investigating DNA-protein interactions



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New Method Enables Study of Individual DNA-Interacting Proteins



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Is the Future of Personalized Medicine in the Era of Single-Molecule Imaging?

High-throughput flow-stretch assays allow pharmaceutical labs to test how different chemical compounds alter protein dwell time or translocation speed on DNA , opening new avenues for drug discovery.

, opening new avenues for drug discovery. These assays help map the exact locations where transcription factors bind, providing a clearer picture of gene expression.

Single-molecule DNA flow-stretch assays for high-throughput DNAprotein interaction studies - (https://febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2211-5463.70211) New Method Enables Study of Individual DNA-Interacting Proteins - (https://www.gmc.vu.lt/en/about/news/5670-a-new-method-enables-the-study-of-individual-dna-interacting-proteins) Single-molecule DNA-flow stretching assay as a versatile hybrid tool for investigating DNA-protein interactions - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39701027/)

Latest research highlights advances in single-molecule biophysics. It focuses on. One key method involves combining TIRF (Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence) Microscopy with DNA stretching.(Beyond standard microscopy, TIRF is a specialized optical technique used by biophysicists to observe single molecules like the DNA and proteins.By combining the biological findings from Vilnius University with the technical protocol developed by Ganguli et al. (2026), we can understand the.(DNA functions as the primary genetic blueprint, while proteins serve as the functional molecules responsible for its regulation and maintenance.These interactions are essential for all biological processes, ranging from cellular development to tissue repair.Observing these interactions at the single-molecule level is critical because. Over time, these unresolved errors in the DNA sequence can result in various hereditary disorders.Scientists at Vilnius University have created a new way to watch individual proteins interact with DNA in real-time using advanced microscopes. Usually, lab tests only show the average behavior of millions of molecules, which hides important details.. Since these tiny interactions are the foundation of all life, seeing them clearly helps us understand how the body stays healthy or how diseases begin. It is a major step forward for medical research.In traditional molecular biology, researchers often rely on . This method measures the collective signals from millions of molecules simultaneously and calculates a mean value.However, ensemble averaging masks the stochastic (random) behaviors and intermediate steps of individual molecules.Research from Vilnius University describes how proteins locate specific target sites on a DNA strand. UsingThis searching efficiency is vital for. When a repair protein fails to locate a lesion (damage) on the DNA strand, it can lead to permanent mutations. These mutations may be the primary cause ofWhile understanding protein behavior is important, the study by Ganguli et al. mainly focuses on improving the experimental method itself. Single-molecule research has traditionally been low-throughput, meaning it is slow and produces limited data. To overcome this, the researchers optimized the Flow-Stretch Assay to enable faster, high-volume data collection.(In this method, one end of a lambda DNA molecule is attached to a glass surface, and a controlled liquid flow is passed through a microfluidic chamber. The moving liquid stretches the DNA nearly to its full length, keeping it straight along the surface for observation.(The integration of high-speed imaging with standardized protocols has direct applications for the broader medical community:By moving from average measurements to the observation of hundreds of single molecules simultaneously, scientists are gaining a more precise understanding of the molecular origins of disease.This technical shift is essential for the development of targeted therapies and personalized medicine.Source-Medindia
There have been many debates about Bollywood portraying rugged, violent men in the so-called alpha male role with the beard and the anger. Animal, Kabir Singh, and Dhurandhar were always at the centre of it. However, many argued that the Ranveer Singh film portrayed something else entirely. Imran Khan also believes that this takeover of the bearded alpha male in Bollywood is getting too much, and the more successful such films get, the worse it will become. In light of that, the actor took a dig at Dhurandhar: The Revenge. Imran Khan is Tired of the Alpha Male in Bollywood

 B62 Studios During a Reddit AMA (ask me anything), Imran Khan was requested by a fan not to mix himself with the oh-so macho roles of Bollywood now that he is back to being an actor. The Delhi Belly actor responded with a quip, joking about how he would never mix with all of that. Yeah, no interest in playing a hairy, angry man covered in blood. I think that genre is generously represented. While he didnt directly name any actor or film, fans immediately put two and two together, thinking that he was talking about Ranveer Singh and Ranbir Kapoor.
Bishop operates in the gifts of the Spirit, and her mission is rooted in Ephesians 4:11-13: And he gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
Let the ship of China-South Africa friendship and cooperation set sail

10:37, March 25, 2026 By Wu Peng, Chinese Ambassador to South Africa ( People's Daily Online

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with South Africa's Deputy President Paul Shipokosa Mashatile in Beijing and co-chairs the eighth plenary session of the China-South Africa Bi-National Commission, Nov. 3, 2023. (Photo/Xinhua)

On March 26, the ninth plenary session of the China-South Africa Bi-National Commission will be held in Cape Town. Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile will co-chair this important meeting. Prior to the meeting, I wish to join friends from all sectors in South Africa in reviewing the remarkable journey of China-South Africa friendship and cooperation, and in looking ahead to a bright future of shared development between our two countries.

Passed down through generations, the China-South Africa friendship has grown stronger with time. The Bi-National Commission serves as a high-level flagship mechanism for advancing practical cooperation between our two countries. It is co-chaired by the Vice President of the PRC and the Deputy President of South Africa and convenes alternately in each country. Since its establishment in 2000, the Commission has held eight plenary sessions, playing a vital coordinating role across various fields including trade, investment, people-to-people exchanges, and science and technology. Each session has marked a new step forward in our bilateral relations.

The sustained vitality of this mechanism is rooted in the profound friendship and cooperation between our two countries. China-South Africa friendship is underpinned by a unique historical bond. During the difficult years of South Africa's fight against apartheid, China stood firmly in support of the just cause of the South African people in their pursuit of national liberation. Over the 28 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, despite the ever-changing international landscape, the momentum of our relations has never faltered. In particular, in the new era, our relationship has advanced from a strategic partnership to an all-round strategic cooperative partnership in the new era, setting a fine model for solidarity, cooperation and shared development among developing countries and the Global South. Our relations have grown stronger over time, and the mechanism of the Bi-National Commission continues to thrive with enduring vitality.

Driven by mutual benefit, practical cooperation has yielded fruitful results. Under the guidance of the Bi-National Commission, practical cooperation between the two countries has expanded rapidly. China has remained South Africa's largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years, with bilateral trade exceeding $53.5 billion. High-quality South African products such as wine and avocados are widely popular among Chinese consumers. China's direct investment stock in South Africa has surpassed $11.7 billion. Nearly 300 Chinese enterprises have invested and operated in South Africa, continuously expanding win-win cooperation in areas including infrastructure, automobile manufacturing, mineral processing, new energy, and the digital economy, and creating more than 400,000 local jobs.

In February this year, the two countries signed the Framework Agreement on Economic Partnership for Shared Development. This agreement aligns China's 15th Five-Year Plan with South Africa's Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, providing long-term, stable and predictable institutional support for bilateral trade and industrial cooperation, and broadening the horizons for economic cooperation between the two countries. China's middle-income population has surpassed 400 million and is expected to reach 800 million over the next 10-plus years. China's high-level opening up and high-quality development hold boundless potential and will bring more tangible benefits to countries around the world, including South Africa.

Not long ago, at China's "two sessions," the National People's Congress approved the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for national economic and social development. This document serves as a grand blueprint for China's modernization from 2026 to 2030. It charts a clear path for developing new quality productive forces in smart and green development, and includes proposals to open China wider to the world and advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

Through openness and shared benefits, China's zero-tariff policy creates new opportunities for South Africa. In February this year, President Xi Jinping announced in his congratulatory message to the 39th African Union (AU) Summit that China will grant zero-tariff treatment on 100 percent of tariff lines to 53 African countries with diplomatic relations with China, starting from May 1, 2026. He also highlighted efforts to upgrade the "green channel" to expand market access for African exports. This is the first time a major developing country has made a unilateral, comprehensive zero-tariff commitment to the entire African continent. It is a powerful measure by China to use tariff "subtraction" to drive trade "addition" with Africa and achieve a "multiplier effect" on the livelihoods of the African people. It is also a vivid demonstration of China's firm commitment to always remain a member of the developing world.

High-quality South African products, such as deep-processed mineral products, rooibos tea and aloe gel, will find even broader opportunities in China's vast market of 1.4 billion consumers. In today's world, where unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise, China's zero-tariff policy is like a breath of fresh air, injecting strong confidence and momentum into China-South Africa economic and trade cooperation.

Strengthened by cultural connectivity, people-to-people exchanges herald a new chapter. Beyond economic and trade exchanges, China-South Africa people-to-people cooperation has also seen numerous highlights. In recent years, more and more South Africans have become passionate about learning the Chinese language and exploring Chinese culture, and many universities in South Africa have offered Chinese language programs. Meanwhile, thousands of South African teachers have traveled to China to teach English, and Chinese universities, including Beijing Foreign Studies University, have introduced over 20 African language programs, such as Zulu and Ndebele. This exchange of languages is a vivid testament to the deepening bonds between our peoples.

In the new era of China-Africa engagement, young people are emerging as vital bridges connecting our two civilizations. This year, we will launch a diverse range of interactive programs, including a dialogue among young scientists and a celebration on the South African Chinese Language Day. We look forward to seeing young people from both countries deepen their friendship and carry forward the China-Africa friendship from generation to generation. As 2026 marks the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, cultural cooperation between China and South Africa is set to reach new heights, adding fresh vitality and deeper meaning to a friendship that spans mountains and oceans.

Working hand in hand, China and South Africa stand firm in upholding global fairness and justice. Like-minded partners can go far together. Both China and South Africa pursue a foreign policy of nonalignment and independence. The sole purpose of our relations is to serve the interests of our two peoples without targeting any third party. China stands ready to develop equal, open and cooperative relations with all countries based on dialogue rather than confrontation, and partnership rather than alliance. Through this approach, China seeks to accelerate the building of a new type of international relations centered on win-win cooperation, and to make consistent efforts toward the long-term goal of building a community with a shared future for humanity.

As members of the Global South, China and South Africa share a common responsibility in developing a more just and equitable international order. Last November, during the G20 Johannesburg Summit, representatives from both countries jointly launched the Initiative on Cooperation Supporting Modernization in Africa, advancing our shared commitment to Africa's overall development. On major issues such as climate change, food security, debt relief and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, China and South Africa have continued to deepen communication and coordination and worked together to enhance the representation and voice of Global South countries in global governance. China has always supported South Africa in playing a greater role on the African continent and in international affairs. Likewise, China has always supported the AU in assuming more important responsibilities in global governance.

At present, both China and South Africa stand at critical junctures in our respective paths of development and rejuvenation. "Without modernization of China and Africa, there can be no modernization of the world." President Xi Jinping's profound observation captures the significance of China and South Africa joining hands to forge ahead in this era. The ninth plenary session of the China-South Africa Bi-National Commission reaffirms the two countries' commitment to upholding the spirit of friendship and cooperation. With the zero-tariff policy as a new engine and China's 15th Five-Year Plan as a fresh opportunity, the two countries will work to advance exchanges and cooperation across all fields and jointly write a new chapter in building a high-level China-South Africa community with a shared future.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang)
At the board's March 23 meeting, Bad Axe schools approved a plan to move to three buildings next year, citing space, academics and financial challenges. Katy Snodgrass/Huron Daily Tribune

In a unanimous vote Monday evening, the Bad Axe school board approved a plan to consolidate the district from four buildings to three beginning next school year.

District administrators say the consolidation is intended to use space more efficiently, strengthen academic offerings and address financial challenges.

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However, several community members have raised concerns about the plan, particularly regarding younger students, building safety and the pace of the decision-making process.

Under the plan, grades 6-12 would attend Bad Axe Jr./Sr. High School in the current high school building, while Young Fives through fifth grade would move to the current middle school, which would be renamed Bad Axe Elementary. The existing elementary building would house Ascent Alternative High School, S&S Family Childcare Center and the Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency. The district would then seek a buyer for the Greene building, which currently houses those programs.

During the board's March 23 meeting, school board treasurer Briynne McCrea spoke briefly about the state of the district's finances and how this consolidation plan will help.

"We are at a really interesting moment financially here," she said. "We are looking at about an $800,000 deficit and where some of that comes from is reduction in funding post-COVID. We also have some increases in our contract obligations and healthcare costs, which are not going away. We have lower enrollments and our reduction in state categorical grants."

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She explained that if the district were to do nothing, the projected deficit for next year would increase to $970,000 and the following year would be approximately $1.29 million.

"The good news is, obviously, that doesn't have to happen," McCrea said. "We're not in a position where we have to make reactionary decisions, the sky is not falling, we have solid financial footing. Our job is to keep it there."

To do so, McCrea explained the district needs to trim $900,000 from the general fund annually, which the savings from the consolidation would nearly accomplish.

"The consolidation plan is projected to save $575,000 annually. Direct overhead savings from closing the Greene building would be around $319,000. In other administrative, support staff and Schedule B savings would be $256,000."

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There are also some upcoming retirements that are expected to save between $251,000 and $323,000.

Based on those numbers, McCrea predicts the budget savings to come out to between $826,000 and $898,000.

"So this is a plan we can do," she said. "We can make those necessary improvements to the middle school, make it inviting and welcoming for our littlest Hatchets. I think we have a solid plan for making that happen. So I would encourage everyone on the board to vote yes on this proposal because, in my opinion, it needs to happen."

She added that if the district were to delay the consolidation by even one year, it would accomplish the same thing in the end but would cost nearly $1 million in operating costs.

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Superintendent Greg Newland also gave a presentation addressing some of the concerns brought up in the community survey about the proposal and offering some potential solutions. The survey received approximately 85 responses with many of the concerns relating to ensuring the new elementary building is ready and safe.

"It's really going to help with our curriculum and allow for future collaboration across multiple grade levels which in the past that presented challenges," Newland said. "When you're not physically in the same building, let's say second grade and you have third graders in the other building, it's not impossible but it does present challenges from not being in the same space everyday."

"Moving forward, we do have every intent to create a work group starting in April," Newland added. "The plan is to have a committee that would plan the aesthetic improvements that have been addressed as a concern."

Some of those improvements include painting and redecorating classrooms, renovating the restrooms, dividing larger spaces like the science lab into two rooms, and moving the playground equipment to the new building.

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As for the jr./sr. high school, Newland said the space is sufficient so major renovations will not be needed, though adaptations to the lockers will be made to be more accessible for the younger students. They are also exploring the idea of finding a designated administrator for grades 6-8.

Additionally, the consolidation will allow the Ascent Alternative High School program to maintain its own separate identity while still remaining part of Bad Axe schools.

"So, main takeaways, we want to provide as much consistency for our students and parents, sustainability for our finances and the increased collaboration I already mentioned," Newland said. "It's a model that's proven successful with other similar sized districts."

To fund the project, Newland said the district has $300,000 left in bond funds plus $500,000 in interest that has been generated for nearly $800,000 in bond funding available. Additionally, there is over $800,000 in the sinking fund that can help offset any building improvements.

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"I want to make a note that you cannot use bond and sinking fund money for any operational cost or for your staff," Newland said. "It's not allowed and it's not how our bonds and sinking funds work."

Only one meeting attendee spoke during public comment, Tony Rutkowski, who raised questions about the lack of timeline for the project.

"I understand the business side of the proposal, right? It makes 100% sense to me," Rutkowski said. "What disappoints me is that you got this presentation but there's no timetable. Are we going to try to ram this through this summer? Is it a two-year plan? A year-and-a-half plan? What is the plan? I'd like to understand that."

While an exact timeline has yet to be decided, construction could begin as soon as the current school year ends. There is also potential for some projects, such as adding a fence at the relocated elementary school playground, to start while school is still in session.

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"As far as moving furnishings, we've done that before and that can be handled by our custodial staff," Newland said. "Obviously, there's going to be cleaning and the normal things they need to do. We would have that built in with our painting and other jobs we mentioned. It'll be a busy summer, but it's all doable."

The board continued to discuss the proposal amongst themselves for several minutes before sending the proposal to a vote. All members of the board voted in favor of approving the consolidation proposal.

School board President James Hass reiterated that consolidating now is the best long term opportunity for the school financially.

"We're kind of fortunate to have this opportunity to save this kind of money simply by shutting down one building," he said. "Most schools, if they were in a situation like this, would end up laying off teachers to save money that way. And that is the last thing we want to do."

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Newland added that parents with concerns have every right to pull their child from the district because of the consolidation plan, however he said they'd be missing out on what Bad Axe has to offer.
Mark Birdsall has been the assistant editor of the Huron Daily Tribune since April 2022. Mark was first hired by the Tribune in the summer of 2019 to serve as sports editor. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Huron County and shut down high school sports in March 2020, Mark made a temporary move to news and officially joined the newsroom as a reporter in July 2021.

He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in print journalism from Grand Valley State University, where he was editor of the student newspaper, The Lanthorn.

Mark can be reached by phone at 989-623-3188 or by email at mark.birdsall@hearstnp.com.
Michigan Senate advances bill barring pay, credit history questions in hiring. damircudic/Getty Images

A Michigan Senate bill that would prohibit employers from asking job applicants about their past wages or credit history advanced this week in the state Legislature.

Senate Bill 145, sponsored by Sen. Sarah Anthony, D-Lansing, cleared a key procedural step in the Senate on March 24 and is now eligible for a full vote.

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This bill would amend the state Payment of Wages and Fringe Benefits Act to bar employers from requesting information about a prospective employee's prior wages, benefits, credit score or credit history during the hiring process.

The measure also enhances current safeguards by forbidding employers from preventing employees from talking about their pay, whether via company policies or employment terms.

Exceptions would apply in limited cases where federal law requires employers, such as certain financial industry entities, to consider that information when making hiring decisions.

Supporters say the change would help prevent wage disparities from carrying over from job to job and ensure pay is based on skills and experience rather than past compensation.

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Critics argue that employers rely on salary and credit reports to evaluate candidates and that limiting access to such data might restrict their hiring options.

The bill is a reintroduction of legislation from the 2023-2024 session that did not advance to final passage.

A legislative analysis found the measure would have minimal fiscal impact, with only minor administrative costs to the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.

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After months docked in Port Austin, the homemade Neverlanding houseboat was seen back on the water Wednesday. Katy Snodgrass/Huron Daily Tribune After months docked in Port Austin, the homemade Neverlanding houseboat was seen back on the water Wednesday. Katy Snodgrass/Huron Daily Tribune After months docked in Port Austin, the homemade Neverlanding houseboat was seen back on the water Wednesday. Katy Snodgrass/Huron Daily Tribune After months docked in Port Austin, the homemade Neverlanding houseboat was seen back on the water Wednesday. Katy Snodgrass/Huron Daily Tribune

The homemade Houseboat of Dreams dubbed the Neverlanding was seen leaving Bird Creek State Park Wednesday afternoon after being forced to dock in December.

Captain Steve Mylrea of Harrow, Ontario, and his canine companion Mexicali drew a large online audience after setting course for Chicago from the Canadian waters of Lake Erie. However, harsh winter weather caused Mylrea to pause his journey until conditions became more favorable in the spring.

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That day appeared to arrive Wednesday, March 25, as locals posted on Facebook to share photos and videos of the Neverlanding.

Multiple anonymous posts were also shared in the "You Must be from Port Austin, Michigan If..." Facebook page which may have originated from Mylrea. The first, posted around 10 a.m., informed members that the boat was going into the water. The second, posted around 2 p.m., thanked the village of Port Austin for its hospitality over the past few months. Despite being anonymous, commenters have largely responded as if the posts were written by the captain.

As of 2:50 p.m. Wednesday, it was unclear whether Mylrea was heading for Chicago again or taking the Neverlanding out for a test run.

To read more about the Neverlanding or to stay up to date with Captain Steve Mylrea's travels, visit the Neverlanding - The Houseboat of Dreams Facebook page.
Historical groups from Huron, Tuscola and Sanilac counties will gather in Gagetown on April 22 for the annual Tri-County History Workshop. Huron County Historical Society/Courtesy Photo

Two dozen representatives across three counties will gather in Gagetown this April for the annual Tri-County History Workshop, a chance to share and preserve stories of the Thumb's past.

The workshop is a joint effort organized by the Huron, Tuscola and Sanilac county historical societies. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 22 at Sherwood on the Hill.

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The morning starts at 8:45 a.m., when the doors open, and presentations on each participants museum or historic site begin at 9:15 a.m. After a break for lunch at noon, attendees will reconvene at 1 p.m. to listen to Dan Streeter, CEO of Rescue Ministries of Mid-Michigan, discuss his strategies for recruiting, training and retaining volunteers.

The workshop will start wrapping up at 2 p.m. with flash table discussions  sort of like speed dating for history. Individuals will choose a topic to discuss for 10 minutes, then move on to the next table and topic when time is up. The format serves as a fast and fun way to meet new people and share information.

According to Rose Putnam of the Tuscola County Historical Consortium, representatives from museums, cultural organizations and historic sites across the Thumb will be on hand to share their historical expertise.

"This is a great opportunity for people dedicated to preserving and sharing our history to come together and show to each other all the wonderful things we do," Putnam said. "Our sites tend to be small. Us working together helps everyone."

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For more information or to RSVP for the Tri-County History Workshop, call or text Rose Putnam at 989-444-9574.

Registration is $20 per person and includes lunch.

Checks should be made payable to the Tuscola County Historical Consortium and mailed to 4208 Little Road, Cass City, MI 48726. In the memo line, write history workshop.
Arielle Breen is an outdoor enthusiast with a special interest in finding the best spots for snowshoeing.

I have been a journalist for about 11 years. Most of that time has been focused on community newspaper reporting, public safety topics and in-depth coverage.

I have won Michigan Press Association, Inland Press Association and Hearst Radio Competition awards in categories like investigative enterprise reporting.
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Irans biggest Gulf Arab neighbors are considering joining the U.S.-Israeli war against Tehran, and could be pushed to if Tehran attacks their critical infrastructure, according to several people with knowledge of the situation.

The Gulfs most powerful states, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, in particular, are losing patience with Iranian strikes that have already hit ports, energy facilities and airports, said these people, who requested anonymity in order to speak freely. But they would only join the war if the Islamic Republic makes good on its threats to attack vital Gulf power and water infrastructure  a high threshold, the people added.

Most Gulf states are headed in that direction with some exceptions such as Oman, which wants to maintain its role as mediator, said the people. Still, they are wary of joining the war given Iran could escalate its attacks on them. They could also end up in a situation where U.S. President Donald Trump cuts a deal with Tehran, and theyre left to deal with a wounded, angry regime, added a European diplomat in the region.

Many governments also fear that could happen even if they dont join the war, said the people.

The war has upended Irans relations with its Sunni Arab neighbors. Saudi Arabia and the UAE spent most of the past five years attempting to stabilize ties with the Islamic Republic, in large part to prevent the kind of conflict now raging. Gulf states have long seen Irans Shiite theocratic regime as trying to extend its ideology and influence to the rest of the region.

In the past two days Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE all intercepted drones and missiles fired by Iran. Abu Dhabi condemned what it called an unprovoked terrorist attack by Iran on Bahrain on Tuesday that killed a Moroccan contractor with the UAEs armed forces. Several Emirati and Bahraini soldiers were injured in the missile attack.

Iran says Gulf states are legitimate targets because the U.S. uses their airspace and territories to attack it  a claim they all reject.

Spokespeople for the foreign ministries of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

Majed Al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatars foreign ministry, told a press briefing on Tuesday that Gulf states will have to find ways of coexisting with Iran. The Islamic Republic, a country of 90 million people, sits only just across the Persian Gulf from them. Its up to the Iranians post this war to decide how they will rebuild the trust, Al-Ansari said.

If Trump follows through on threats to seize Kharg Island  through which 90% of Iranian crude is exported  that would prompt an even bigger backlash from Tehran across the region, according to a senior Iranian official close to the security apparatus. They requested anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

The U.S. troops needed for the mission would likely be sent from the UAE, which hosts the Al Dhafra Air Base, the Iranian official said, highlighting Tehrans thinking on such a move. If the Emiratis allowed it, Iran would respond with a severe attack on the wealthy Gulf state, the official said.

If the U.S. takes over the island, Iran wont hesitate to bomb it, even if it means huge economic losses for the regime, and will place mines in the strait and the Persian Gulf itself, the official added. There was no immediate response to a request for comment to the Iranian government via the countrys embassy in the U.K.

This is not our war, but Iran is making it ours, said Mohammed Baharoon, director of Bhuth, the Dubai Public Policy Research Center.

If Iran remains on the current trajectory of targeting Gulf states and blocking the Strait of Hormuz, it may force regional countries to assemble a coalition to confront Tehrans state terror, he said. He added it could be akin to the one that came together to fight Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Iran has begun charging transit fees on some commercial vessels passing through the strait, another sign of Tehrans control over the worlds most important maritime energy channel.

Missiles and drones

Since the start of the war, Iran has fired almost 5,000 missiles and drones at Gulf states. Its targeted oil and gas infrastructure, U.S. bases, residential neighborhoods, diplomatic areas and tourist sites, with the UAE bearing the brunt of this aggression. At least 20 people have been killed in Arab Gulf nations.

On Monday, Trump vowed to target Irans power plants if it did not reopen Hormuz  a threat he subsequently paused for five days to give diplomacy a chance. Iran quickly named power and water desalination plants in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE that it would strike in retaliation.

On Friday the UAE said it had dismantled a terrorist network funded by Lebanons Hezbollah and Iran, and arrested its members. That same week, Kuwait announced that it had also uncovered Hezbollah-linked cells that were planning to carry out acts of sabotage and a terror plot to target vital facilities in the country. Hezbollah, a militant group supported by Iran, denied any involvement.

All this is leading Gulf states to the realization that they must now do more collectively and with their American and European allies, said a senior Gulf official.

The official said members of the Gulf Cooperation Council have significantly stepped up coordination on sharing intelligence and information on potential plots by Iran and its proxies. The aims are to protect vital infrastructure, ensure collective food security and handle emergency scenarios associated with any fallout from attacks on nuclear sites and oil facilities.

While each country has been mobilizing its military capabilities to defend itself, there are discussions on what can be done together to confront Iran with the help of international allies, the same official and another one said.

Military action against Iran was one option on the table last week during a meeting of foreign ministers in the Saudi capital Riyadh, according to people with knowledge of deliberations.

All Gulf states attended except Oman, and it included regional powers such as Egypt, Pakistan and Turkey. Those three countries have taken the lead on diplomacy with Iran in the past two weeks as Gulf countries step back.

I think its important for the Iranians to understand that the kingdom, but also its partners who have been attacked and beyond, have very significant capacities and capabilities that they could bring to bear should they choose to do so, said Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan during a press conference after the meeting. The patience that is being exhibited is not unlimited.

While Saudi Arabia still favors diplomacy and has not openly backed regime change in Iran, its ready to take military action if Tehran strikes its power and water infrastructure, according to two people familiar with Riyadhs thinking.

Among all Gulf states, the UAE is the one most strongly signaling that some sort of collective military action against Iran may be inevitable.

We will never be blackmailed by terrorists, said the countrys foreign minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, on X on Sunday.

The same day, Anwar Gargash, a senior diplomatic adviser to the UAEs President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, said any ceasefire must curb Irans nuclear threat, missiles, drones, and the bullying of the straits.

It is inconceivable that this aggression should turn into a permanent state of threat, he said.

-------

With assistance from Julius Domoney and Golnar Motevalli.

___

2026 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
SAN FRANCISCO  A federal judge weighing the merits of the Pentagons designation of rising Silicon Valley star Anthropic as a security threat repeatedly questioned the governments reasons for vilifying the company following a dispute over how its artificial intelligence technology can be used in war

During a 90-minute hearing in San Francisco federal court, U.S. District Judge Rita Lin probed into why President Donald Trump's administration took the extraordinary step of denouncing Anthropic as a supply chain risk after balking at the company's attempt to prevent its AI technology from being deployed in fully autonomous weapons or surveillance of Americans.

What is troubling to me about these these actions is they dont seem to be tailored to the national security concerns, Lin said.

Lin is being asked to issue an emergency order to remove a stigma that Anthropic alleges was unjustifiably applied as part of an unlawful campaign of retaliation that provoked the San Francisco-based company to sue the Trump administration earlier this month. Anthropic has also filed a separate and more narrow case in the federal appeals court in Washington, D.C

Although Lin expressed abouts about how Trump administration has treated Anthropic, she didn't issue a ruling Tuesday. Instead, the judge asked for the lawyers in the two sides to file further evidence in the case by Wednesday and indicated she would rule before the end of this week.

The issues underlying the rift extend beyond a contractual dispute between one of technology's biggest AI laboratories and the Trump administration.

The feud has also mushroomed into a showdown over the boundaries surrounding a rapidly evolving technology that could turn into a massive jobs killer, a lethal military weapon and an invasive spy.

It's a fascinating public policy debate, but it's not my role to decide who is right in that debate, Lin observed at the outset of Tuesday's hearing. The judge instead said she is focusing on whether the Trump administration acted improperly by applying a scarlet letter on Anthropic that traditionally has only been slapped on companies connected to foreign adversaries such as China or Russia.

Besides being deemed a security risk, Anthropic also contends it was tarnished on social media in a Feb. 27 statement from President Trump that blasted the company as part of the radical, woke left. The president also immediately ordered all federal employees to stop using Anthropic's technology, including its increasingly popular Claude chatbot.

Trump gave a longer period of six months for the Pentagon to phase out Anthropics technology, which is already embedded in classified military platforms including those used in the Iran war.

That Feb 27 post, along with another by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the same date, raised the specter of Anthropic losing key other deals, even though the administration has since backed away from a broad government ban in filings made in this case and other documents.

But Anthropic lawyer Michael Mongan argued during Tuesday's hearing that Anthropic's reputation already had been stained by the Trump's administration's actions, requiring a court order to prevent further damage threatening the company's future growth.

Anthropic has suffered irreparable and mounting injuries, Mongan told Lin.

While acknowledging that the Trump administration made some procedural mistakes along the way to declaring Anthropic as a security risk, Justice Department lawyer Eric Hamilton maintained the company revealed itself to be an untrustworthy and unreliable partner in recent negotiations.

Hamilton also maintained that the administration should be given substantial deference in determining what qualifies as a security risk.

The Defense Department will continue to direct its operations without tech company influence, Hamilton asserted.



O'Brien reported from Providence, Rhode Island.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday during a briefing that President Donald Trump is doing this for you when asked about how young voters should react to domestic gas costs drastic increase rising due to the ongoing military operation in Iran.

Leavitt was asked about young voters impression of Trump considering the current economic and military landscape. Youth voters swung dramatically towards Trump in the 2024 presidential electionclosing a wide margin that was enjoyed by Joe Biden in 2020based largely on the economy and immigration.

President Trump is doing this for youhes doing this for young people so that we are no longer threatened by a rogue terrorist regime in the Middle East that seeks to kill the brave men and women who serve our country in the Middle Eastmany of them young men and women themselves, Leavitt said.

She added that President Trump finally had the courage to step up and do whats right by our national security, by our homeland security.

Fuel prices are displayed at a gas station Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in Brentwood, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

As for the temporary short-term fluctuation in gas prices, the president has said that once these combat operations are over, this administration is going to continue to unleash energy dominance," Leavitt said. "Were continuing to do that every day, and were going to see prices go back down at the pump as we have the past year because of this president."

Gas prices averaged $3.98 across the United States as of Wednesday, March 25, according to AAA. Prices have recently skyrocketed due to the oil chokepoint within the Strait of Hormuz.

On Wednesday, it was reported by the Associated Press that the U.S. military is preparing to deploy at least 1,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East in the coming days.

Trump's Economic Message Turned Out Youth

Leavitt also laid blame on the Biden administration for record-high gas prices, saying that Democrats if they had their way would lead the nation to those same higher prices.

In June 2022, gas prices under Biden reached a record high in U.S. history when costs per gallon exceeded $5 and were higher than costs in 2008 during the recession.

Those costs, which more than doubled the average compared to Bidens first month in office, have been attributed to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, shortcoming in the supply chain, and the war in Ukraine that led to Russian oil restrictions.

Reporters raise their hands to ask questions as White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Youth voters actually supported Democratic candidate and former Vice President Kamala Harris over Trump, but the eventual victor drastically closed margins compared to his loss to Biden four years earlier.

Harris won over young voters by a 4 percentage points over Trump, while Bidens margin in the same department over Trump was 25%.

The economy and jobs were viewed by youth voters in 2024 as the most important issues facing the country, followed by abortion and immigration, according to an analysis conducted by Tufts Universitys Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE).

An AP VoteCast survey following the last election allowed voters to choose one of nine issues as the most important facing the country. Roughly 40% of youth selected the economy and jobs with abortion (13%) and immigration (11%) lagging far behind.
U.S. Navy veteran John Wells served his country honorably and then worked to right wrongs after his decades of service. Now, he is getting his flowers.

On Friday, March 20, Cdr. Wells (Ret.) was awarded the prestigious DAR Medal of Honor by the Louisiana Society of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) during its 117th state conference held in Alexandria, La.

Wells was nominated by the Wharton Chapter and formally recognized by Bobbi Foster, national vice chairman of the President Generals Project Committee, during the award presentation last week.

"I am honored to accept this award on behalf of all the volunteers at Military-Veterans Advocacyfrom the Blue Water Navy to the Procopio case, and the hundreds of thousands of veterans covered by the PACT Act, Wells told Military.com after receiving the recognition.

We are proud to help bring long-overdue relief to those who have waited far too long for the benefits they earned.

He referenced the landmark 2019 federal circuit court case, Procopio v. Wilkie (2019), which ruled that Blue Water Navy Vietnam veterans who served within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam were entitled to exposure of Agent Orange.

Former President Joe Biden speaks about the PACT Act at the Westwood Park YMCA, Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Nashua, N.H. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

It stemmed from Navy veteran Alfred Procopio Jr. being denied service for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitustwo illnesses listed among the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 14 presumptive diseases associated with exposure to Agent Orange.

Wells helped litigate that case, which helped secure benefits for approximately 90,000 Blue Water Navy veterans who had previously been denied care. The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, which went into effect on Jan. 1, 2020, granted VA disability benefits to U.S. veterans who served up to 12 nautical miles offshore Vietnam between Jan. 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975.

The DAR Medal of Honor, among the organizations highest distinctions, was established in 1942 and recognizes individuals whose leadership, patriotism and dedication to service have made lasting contributions to the nation.

Wells Portrays 'The Ideals of Patriotism'

Wells Navy tenure was a distinguished one.

He served more than two decades as a commissioned naval officer, completing operational deployments across the Mediterranean, Western Pacific, North Atlantic, Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf. The DAR described his military career as one marked by integrity, principled leadership, and an unwavering commitment to mission.

But one could argue that it was his post-service efforts that made an even bigger difference in the lives of countless servicemembers and veterans.

After he retired, Wells earned his Juris Doctor and became a legal advocate who helped othersoften through pro bono work. The attorney focused efforts on issues including access to earned benefits, toxic exposure claims, and systemic challenges within the VA.

Veterans, military family members and advocates gather at a news conference after the Senate passed a bill designed to help millions of veterans exposed to toxic substances during their military service, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

He is the founder and executive director of Military-Veterans Advocacy, Inc., a nonprofit organization providing legal advocacy, education and policy engagement on veterans and active-duty members behalf.

Such efforts, accomplished through federal litigation, legislative advocacy and policy work, have helped expand healthcare access for veterans affected by toxic exposures, including Agent Orange and burn pits.

Beyond his work as an attorney, Wells has also contributed to veterans treatment court programs that in turn have helped justice-involved veterans rebuild their lives and successfully reintegrate into their communities.

Cdr. Wells lifetime of service truly reflects the ideals of leadership, patriotism and dedication that this medal represents, Bobbi Foster said in a statement. His unwavering commitmentboth in uniform and beyondhas made a lasting impact on veterans and their families across our nation.
Communities across the U.S. are moving faster to honor World War II veterans as their ranks shrink. A new posthumous ceremony for Springfield, Mo., D-Day veteran Jack Hamlin is putting that urgency into focus.

Springfield officials and residents gathered March 21 to honor Hamlin, a U.S. Coast Guard D-Day veteran who died in July 2024 at age 102, turning a local remembrance into part of a broader national push to preserve the stories of the rapidly fading World War II generation. Hamlin had already been honored in Springfield on June 6, 2024, when he was presented a key to the city as part of the proclaimed Jack Hamlin Day.

Hamlin was the last remaining Springfield survivor of D-Day, according to local officials. After his death, McClure said Hamlins passing marked the end of an era and called him a giant who served his city, state and fellow veterans long after the war ended.

Hamlin told local Springfield NBC affiliate KY3 in June 2024 that the memory of D-Day never left him.

June 6, 1944, may be 80 years ago, but it will never escape my mind. It will always be with me.

Hamlins military story gave the tribute added weight. Coast Guard history identifies him as a boatswain and rescue swimmer with Rescue Flotilla One, the small-boat force sent into the waters off Normandy to pull wounded troops from the surf during the June 6, 1944, invasion. The service said Hamlin later helped rescue soldiers from the torpedoed troopship Leopoldville on Dec. 24, 1944, when more than 800 American troops died in the sinking.

The Last of the Greatest Generation

Across the United States, an estimated 45,418 of the 16.4 million Americans who served in World War II were still alive as of 2025, according to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) data compiled by the National WWII Museum. That is less than 0.5% of those who served, with the number falling each day as the youngest members of the generation approach their late '90s.

To honor the 102nd birthday of World War II veteran Dr. Tommy Taylor, the Patriot Guard Riders of VFW Post 56, Soldiers assigned to the 35th Infantry Division, Kansas Army National Guard and community members held a parade through his neighborhood, March 21, 2026. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Patrick Evenson)

Preserving the stories of the men and women who served in World War II has been at the heart of our institution since its founding, Stephen J. Watson, president and CEO of the National WWII Museum, said on the museums website. We have the enormous responsibility to ensure that the memories and experiences of the war will not be lost as those who lived through it leave this world.

That urgency is playing out across the country. In Normandy, residents and veterans marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day described how memory of the invasion still lives through the people who saw it and the communities that continue to honor it.

In Texas, a recent gathering brought together 10 World War II veterans for a birthday celebrationa rare moment that underscores how few members of the generation remain.

The Coast Guard ball cap, jacket and a framed photo of Jack Hamlin, a Coast Guard chief petty officer and boatswain's mate who served as rescue swimmer on D-Day in 1944, are displayed during a ceremony to posthumously honor him alongside Rescue Flotilla One, June 6, 2025, at Omaha Beach in Normandy, France. (Photo courtesy of Acco Alain/U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area)

The effort to preserve World War II history also continues through recovery and identification missions. This month, officials identified a Marine Raider killed in the Solomon Islands more than 80 years ago as part of ongoing work to account for those still missing from the war.

Hamlin had been expected to travel to Normandy for the 80th anniversary of D-Day in 2024 but instead was honored in Springfield after injuries kept him from making the trip. More than 100 people attended that hometown ceremony, reflecting the deep local connection to his story.

That mix of personal memory, public recognition and disappearing firsthand history is what gives stories like Hamlins national weight. Springfields March 2026 ceremony did not change the facts of his death. It changed the frame, renewing attention on one veterans service at a moment when the country is moving from living memory of World War II to preserving what remains.
Just three months after standing at Pearl Harbor to deliver a salute on behalf of the nation's aging World War II generation, Navy veteran Milton "Rip" Ripple has died. He was 98.

Pacific Historic Parks, the nonprofit that partners with the National Park Service at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, announced Ripple's passing on March 22, 2026. The organization shared a tribute describing Ripple as a beloved figure in the Pearl Harbor commemorative community who had maintained a deep connection to Hawaii for more than half a century.

From Paper Boy to Sailor

Ripple was the fourth of nine children growing up in Pennsylvania. He was just 13 years old and working as a paper boy when Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, pulling the United States into the deadliest conflict in human history. By 1945, at age 17, he dropped out of school and enlisted in the Navy.

The USS Pollux. Milton 'Rip' Ripple served aboard the Pollux during WWII. (Pacific Historic Parks)

After completing training in Illinois, Ripple shipped out to Hawaii and was assigned to USS Pollux (AKS-4), a general stores issue ship tasked with ferrying supplies across the Pacific. In that role, he traveled between Pearl Harbor, Wake Island and the Marshall Islands, keeping forward-deployed forces stocked with the equipment and provisions they needed to sustain operations in the vast Pacific theater.

Witness to the Atomic Age

In the summer of 1946, the U.S. military assembled a fleet of 95 target vessels in the lagoon at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands for Operation Crossroads, the first nuclear weapons tests of the postwar era. The operation involved two detonations of Fat Man-type plutonium bombs, the same design dropped on Nagasaki the year before. About 42,000 military personnel took part. Ripple, still aboard Pollux, was among them. He watched both blasts from his ship further out at sea.

The roughly 42,000 sailors who participated in Operation Crossroads became known as "atomic veterans." The 80th anniversary of the operation is in July 2026, though very few veterans are known to still be alive today. With Ripples passing, one of the last connections to the atomic tests at Bikini Atoll is gone.

Milton "Rip" Ripple served in the Navy during WWII and participated in Operation Crossroads in 1946. He was one of the last Atomic Veterans to witness the nuclear tests at Bikini Atoll. (Pacific Historic Parks)

Ripple served two years in the Navy before returning to civilian life. He used the GI Bill to attend Reading Business Institute in Pennsylvania and went on to build a career as an industrial engineer.

In 1953, he married his wife, Jeanne, and the couple remained together for more than 60 years until her death in 2017. In the 1970s, Milton and Jeanne purchased a condominium on Oahu, and for decades the couple made annual visits to the island where Ripple had once been stationed as a young sailor.

A Final Salute at Pearl Harbor

On Dec. 7, 2025, Ripple attended the 84th anniversary commemoration of the attack on Pearl Harbor at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. It was the first time since the war that no survivors of the 1941 attack were present at the ceremony. Pearl Harbor survivor Ira "Ike" Schab, 105, had planned to attend but canceled due to health concerns. Schab died just 13 days later.

In Schab's absence, Ripple stepped forward. He rose from his seat to render the ceremonial return of salute to sailors aboard the destroyer USS Carl M. Levin as it sailed through Pearl Harbor in a pass-in-review past the USS Arizona Memorial.

Im so honored to be here, Ripple told KHON2 in Honolulu. I always think of the veterans who passed away and are buried on the Arizona.

U.S. Navy Veteran Milton Ripple rendering a salute during the pass-in-review, December 7, 2025. Image by Shane Kaneshiro. (Pacific Historic Parks)

According to Pacific Historic Parks, Ripple considered rendering the salute a great honor. He was among several WWII veterans who attended the ceremony, representing the Army, Navy and Marine Corps.

Ripple's death is another reminder of how quickly the WWII generation is disappearing. The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that fewer than 46,000 of the 16.4 million Americans who served in the war are still alive, a figure that drops by roughly 230 per day.

VA projections show that by 2036, only about 300 will remain. Within the next decade, WWII will pass entirely from living memory into documented history, and with it the ability to hear firsthand from the men and women who fought in it.
The Department of Defense is expanding its use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by formalizing Palantir Technologies Maven system as a long-term program, signaling a shift from experimental tools to operational infrastructure.

Project Maven began in 2017 as a Pentagon effort to use AI to help analysts process massive volumes of surveillance imagery and video, but it has since evolved into a broader military intelligence and targeting platform that fuses data from multiple sensors to identify objects, assess threats, and support operational decisions.

Now, the Pentagon is moving to integrate those capabilities more broadly across the force. While the geospatial intelligence portion of Maven was designated a program of record under the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in 2023, the Pentagon is now moving to expand that designation into a broader, department-wide program with wider adoption across the services.

Elevating Maven to a program of record places it within the militarys formal budgeting and acquisition system, ensuring continued funding and long-term deployment.

The companys footprint inside the Pentagon has grown through a series of expanding contracts rather than a single award. In addition to Maven-related deals, the Army awarded Palantir an enterprise agreement in 2025 that could be worth up to $10 billion over a decade, aimed at consolidating data and software systems across the service.

Palantirs work on Maven itself has also expanded through multiple awards, including a five-year, $480 million Army contract in 2024, a roughly $100 million follow-on expansion later that year, and a 2025 contract modification valued at up to $795 million for continued system support and software licensing.

The latest move does not replace those contracts. Instead, it builds on earlier efforts by expanding Maven from a narrower intelligence program into a broader, Pentagon-backed capability intended for long-term, department-wide use.

What the System Does and Why It Matters

Maven uses artificial intelligence to process imagery and sensor data collected from drones, satellites and other surveillance systems. The goal is to reduce the workload on human analysts and speed up decision-making.

In practice, that means the software can help analysts find objects faster, flag notable activity, and feed those detections into systems used for operational awareness.

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency says Mavens AI tools are integrated into military workflows to detect and identify objects in imagery and video, while helping analysts locate objects faster and spot abnormal or significant activity in near real time.

Palantirs role is to provide the underlying data architecture that connects these systems. Its platforms allow different military units to share and analyze information across networks and use it to support planning and operations

The company has steadily expanded its defense footprint. In 2023, the U.S. Army awarded Palantir a contract worth up to $250 million for data integration and analytics services under its Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node program.

Palantir has also secured broader enterprise agreements that consolidate multiple data systems under a single platform, reinforcing its position as a key defense technology provider.

U.S. Army Maj. Steven McPherson, a joint doctrine team chief with the National Guard Bureau, looks at the interface of the Maven Smart System in Arlington, Virginia. McPherson was in a class to learn the MSS and its capability to process vast amounts of data from weather to troop locations. (U.S. Army Photo by Master Sgt. Whitney Hughes)

A Shift Toward Data-Centered Warfare

The Pentagons decision to formalize Maven reflects a larger shift toward what defense officials describe as data-centric warfare, where information processing speed can shape operational outcomes.

AI allows military systems to analyze more data than human operators alone could manage. That capability is increasingly important as sensors generate massive amounts of information across air, land, sea, and cyber domains.

The Department of Defense has emphasized that AI systems are intended to support, not replace, human decision-making. Policies governing the use of AI in military operations require human oversight, particularly in decisions involving the use of force.

Questions About Dependence and Oversight

Even so, integrating AI into core military systems raises questions about how much decision-making authority is effectively delegated to algorithms.

Palantirs growing role in defense contracts has drawn attention from both supporters and critics.

Proponents argue that the company provides tools that allow the military to modernize quickly without building entirely new systems from scratch. Its software is designed to work with existing infrastructure, which can reduce deployment time and costs.

Critics, however, have raised concerns about long-term dependence on a single private contractor for critical data systems. Centralizing large portions of military data architecture within one platform can create challenges related to security, interoperability, oversight and vendor lock-in.

There are also broader questions about how AI-driven systems are used in targeting and intelligence analysis. While the Pentagon maintains that humans remain in the loop, the increasing reliance on automated analysis can shape how decisions are made.

Project Maven itself has faced scrutiny in the past. Early versions of the program prompted internal protests at Google, which initially worked on the project before withdrawing in 2018 following employee objections to its military use.

Following its work on Project Maven, Google introduced a set of artificial intelligence principles stating it would not design or deploy AI for weapons or technologies intended to cause injury.

The program has since continued under different contractors, including Palantir.

The expansion of Maven reflects the Pentagons urgency in keeping pace with technological competition, particularly as other countries invest heavily in artificial intelligence for military use. At the same time, the shift raises ongoing questions about how to balance speed, effectiveness, and accountability.

As AI systems become more deeply integrated into military operations, the underlying issue may not be whether the technology works; rather, how it is governed and who ultimately controls it.
While Iranian missiles, and their proxies, continue to attack U.S. troops and partners in the Arabian Gulf, one fact has disappeared from the coverage: North Korea supplies the weapons. The rockets that Hamas fired on October 7, 2023, the ballistic missiles Tehran launches at American positions today, and the tunnel networks that still threaten Israeli forces all trace back to Pyongyang. Few analysts have called it out. Bruce E. Bechtol Jr. has.

Bechtol, author of the new book Rogue Allies: The Strategic Partnership Between Iran and North Korea (which he co-authored with Anthony N. Celso), has spent years documenting the flow. In a recent Korea Regional Review analysis, he wrote that after reviewing reporting from the United States, Europe and East Asia, he found zero mentions of North Koreas role. The evidence is there, he told Military.com.

Nobody in the mainstream coverage is connecting those dots.

Rogue Allies (photo courtesy of Bruce Bechtol)

A Pragmatic Partnership Built on Cash and Survival

The relationship started as cold realpolitik. Iran needed weapons after the 1979 revolution and its war with Iraq. North Korea needed hard currency once Soviet subsidies dried up. Ideology drove Tehran while money drove Pyongyang. Bechtol describes it as a marriage of convenience that has lasted more than 40 years.

Irans leaders see the partnership as part of their revolutionary fight against the United States and Israel. North Korea views it as business. Bechtol stated:

For North Korea it isnt ideological, just a way to make money

Iran has, until very recently, been able to provide North Korea with roughly $3 billion a year, a significant slice of Pyongyangs income. That cash funded not only Iranian systems but arms for Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis. North Korean technicians stayed on site, refurbishing factories right up until the current war began.

Smoke billows following an Iranian missile strike in Tel Aviv, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Missiles in Combat: Pyongyangs Designs Powering Tehrans Strikes

The liquid-fuel ballistic missile program that Iran uses today is almost completely North Korean. The Qiam short-range missile that has hit U.S. facilities and Gulf targets is an upgraded Scud-C. North Korea shipped about 200 Scud-Cs starting in 1986 and built the factory that produces them. Iranian crews still rely on North Korean engineers and components to keep the line running.

Longer-range strikes rely on the No Dong family. Pyongyang sold Iran roughly 150 of them in the late 1990s and built the production facility. From that missile base came the Emad and Ghadr missiles now targeting Israel and U.S. bases in the region. Bechtol calls them direct derivatives. Those missiles have been fired a lot at Israel, he said. Simply derivatives of the No Dong.

The Khorramshahr-4, with its two-ton cluster-munition warhead, follows the same pattern. It began as 19 Musudan missiles that North Korea delivered in 2005. Iranian engineers, working with North Korean help, added a heavier warhead that shortened the range to 2,000 kilometers, but was ideal for hitting Israel. Strip the warhead and the missile regains its original reach to places like Diego Garcia.

Bechtol put it plainly in the conversation with Military.com:

The liquid fueled missile program that Iran has is almost completely North Korean.

Photo distributed by the North Korean government shows what it says is a test-fire of a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), at an undisclosed location in North Korea on March 24, 2022. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File)

The ICBM Threat: North Koreas 80-Ton Booster Heads Toward America

The pipeline goes beyond todays fight. Since 2013, North Korea has shipped components for an 80-ton rocket booster based on the RD-250 engine, the same technology that powers its own Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile. Transfers continued during the 2015 nuclear talksalso known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JPOA), which Iran seemingly had no intention of honoring.

The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned both countries in 2016 for their cooperation. United Nations experts confirmed shipments of critical parts as recently as 2020.

Bechtol warns that Iran now holds the pieces for an ICBM capable of reaching the United States. In Rogue Allies, he writes that North Korea has proliferated Scud, No Dong, Musudan, Unha and Hwasong technology, updating Irans capabilities as it updates its own. The question is no longer whether Iran has the hardware. It is whether Tehran will field it with the regime in its death throes.

This photo provided by the North Korean government shows its leader Kim Jong Un, front right, his daughter, reportedly named Kim Ju Ae, and other soldiers on a tank at a military training base in North Korea, Thursday, March 19, 2026 (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

What Comes Next if Iran Falls

Irans potential collapse would cost North Korea a major customer. The $3 billion a year from Tehran has long helped keep the regime afloat. Russia now pays more, about $20 billion annually for weapons used in Ukraine, but the loss still hurts. Bechtol notes that Pyongyangs technicians were rebuilding Iranian missile sites until the fighting started. If Iran survives, those same experts will return quickly.

Bechtol stands out because he has followed this relationship for decades, when most analysts looked the other way. His book and recent reporting make one thing clear: the rogue strategic pipeline is not history. It is the reason Iranian missiles keep flying at U.S. forces. Let there be no doubt: Pyongyang has been a center of gravity behind Tehrans fight and American troops and allies have paid the price.

Neutralizing the Iranian regime will, for now, at least remove that source of funding for North Korea. But if the Mullahs remain in charge, then North Korea will immediately move in to reconstitute them. Recognizing the gray zone actions between these rogue allies will be important moving forward regardless.

Rogue Allies: The Strategic Partnership Between Iran and North Korea, by Bruch Bechtol and Anthony Celso, is available wherever books are sold.
The Angels announced nearly a dozen roster moves as they prepare their Opening Day lineup. The team confirmed the signing of lefty reliever Joey Lucchesi to a one-year free agent deal. They also selected veteran infielders Adam Frazier and Jeimer Candelario onto the big league roster.

Vaughn Grissom lands on the 10-day injured list with a sprained left wrist. Pitchers Ben Joyce (shoulder inflammation), Alek Manoah (middle finger contusion), Kirby Yates (left knee inflammation), and Grayson Rodriguez (shoulder inflammation) all land on the 15-day injured list. Those five placements are retroactive to March 22.

The Angels needed to open three spots on the 40-man roster for Lucchesi, Frazier and Candelario. Two of those are procedural moves, as Anthony Rendon and Robert Stephenson have been placed on the 60-day injured list. The one roster casualty of the whole series of transactions is left-handed reliever Jayvien Sandridge, who was designated for assignment.

Most of these transactions had either been announced or strongly telegraphed by prior moves. Frazier and Candelario were each expected to break camp after offseason minor league contracts. The former is ticketed for the majority of the playing time at second base. Fraziers left-handed bat and plus contact skills make him a rarity in a heavily right-handed lineup. He hit .281 with a .452 on-base percentage this spring but has been a below-average hitter in four consecutive seasons. Frazier ran a .267/.319/.365 slash in 459 plate appearances between the Pirates and Royals a year ago.

Candelario, 32, returns to the majors after finishing last season in Triple-A in the Yankees system. The switch-hitter turned in a meager .207/.265/.394 line while battling various injuries over a season and a half with the Reds. He popped four homers this spring but struck out 17 times in 56 plate appearances.

Primarily a corner infielder, Candelario has also gotten acclimated to second base in camp. Hell work as a backup infielder alongside the out-of-options Oswald Peraza behind Frazier and third baseman Yoan Moncada. The Angels will only pay him the $780K league minimum while hes on the roster. The Reds are still covering the rest of his $13MM salary after releasing him last June.

Of the injured list assignments, only the Yates move comes as a surprise. The 39-year-old righty signed a $5MM free agent deal over the winter. That was the biggest investment the Halos made in a quiet offseason. Yates was one of a handful of reclamation fliers wholl slot into the bullpen. He had been expected to share closing work with Jordan Romano and Drew Pomeranz. Thatll be on hold for at least the first 12 days of the regular season. Yates pitched four times this spring, allowing one earned run over four innings.

Joyce is still building back from last Mays shoulder procedure. Hes throwing but didnt get into any games this spring. Hes not ready for MLB game action but should be back relatively early in the year. Its an encouraging sign for his health that the Angels opted to designate someone for assignment rather than place Joyce on the 60-day IL.

Grissom is out of minor league options. His injury buys the Halos a little bit of time to determine whether they want to keep him on the roster or designate him for assignment. Rodriguez and Manoah entered camp as the projected fourth and fifth starters. Their continued injury issues will draw Jack Kochanowicz and Ryan Johnson into the final two rotation spots instead.

Sandridge came over from the Yankees in a cash trade in January. The 27-year-old southpaw pitched twice before being optioned early in camp. He allowed five runs over two innings. Sandridge gave up two runs while recording two outs in his lone major league appearance, which came as a Yankee last July. In Triple-A, he posted a 4.55 ERA with huge strikeout stuff (33.1%) but too many walks (12%). The Angels have five days to trade him or try to run him through waivers.
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Akshay Kumar reacts to backlash over romancing younger co-star Wamiqa Gabbi, says it happens in Hollywood too

Akshay Kumar responds to backlash over his pairing with younger co-star Wamiqa Gabbi, stating that such age gaps are common in Hollywood, sparking mixed reactions online.









Akshay Kumar reacts to backlash over romancing younger co-star Wamiqa Gabbi, says it happens in Hollywood too Akshay Kumar defends age gap with Wamiqa Gabbi in new film

He says age differences are common in global cinema

Director Priyadarshan notes screen age differs from real age Did our AI summary help?
Anurag Dobhal health update: UK07 Rider might never be able to walk again; says, Legs are completely numb

Recently, Anurag provided another health update, expressing uncertainty about whether he will ever walk again. Widely recognised as UK07 Rider, the YouTuber suffered significant injuries and needed to have several surgeries.









Anurag Dobhal YouTuber UK07 Rider Anurag Dobhal recovering post crash

He faces uncertainty about walking again due to leg injuries

Dobhal and his wife are expecting their first child soon Did our AI summary help?
Arjun Kapoor and Anshula Kapoor gets emotional on their mother Mona Shouries death anniversary

Anshula Kapoor pens an emotional note on her mother Mona Shourie Kapoors death anniversary, opening up about evolving grief and fading memories years after her loss.









Anshula Kapoor gets emotional on her mother Mona Shouries death anniversary, says I wasnt prepared for this grief Anshula Kapoor posts emotional note on moms death anniversary

She reflects on fading memories and evolving grief after 14 years

Arjun Kapoor also paid tribute, saying they feel lost without her Did our AI summary help?
Dhurandhar 2 draws from real events: From PM Modis 2014 win to demonetisation and Atiq Ahmeds killing

Dhurandhar: The Revenge incorporates real-life events like PM Narendra Modis 2014 win, demonetisation, and Atiq Ahmeds killing to create a gripping, reality-inspired narrative.









Dhurandhar 2 draws from real events: From PM Modis 2014 win to demonetisation and Atiq Ahmeds killing Dhurandhar 2 blends real-life events with action and drama

Film nods to Modis 2014 win, demonetisation, crime crackdowns

Controversial true-story film draws debate and higher viewership Did our AI summary help?
During the press interaction, Monalisa accused an unnamed film director of misconduct, alleging that he misbehaves with minor girls under the pretext of offering them roles in films.
Mrunal Thakur turns Marathi teacher for Adivi Sesh, their cute BTS moment wins hearts

Rajpal Yadav reflects on his jail experience as life-changing, expressing gratitude for industry support. Calling himself a fighter, he now returns to films with Bhooth Bangla, embracing a renewed outlook.









Mrunal Thakur turns Marathi teacher for Adivi Sesh, their cute BTS moment wins hearts Mrunal teaches Adivi Marathi in a playful behind-the-scenes video

Fans praise the duo's chemistry and request more candid moments

Dacoit releases in Hindi and Telugu on April 10, 2026 Did our AI summary help?
Reacher actor Alan Ritchson cleared of charges after altercation with neighbour, police cite self-defence

Alan Ritchson has been cleared of criminal charges in a Tennessee neighbour altercation, with police concluding he acted in self-defence after reviewing video evidence.









The Brentwood Police Department confirmed in a statement released on Tuesday night that their investigation has now been closed, with no charges to be filed. Alan Ritchson cleared after dispute with neighbor

Police ruled Ritchson acted in self-defence, no charges filed

Incident stemmed from dispute over loud dirt bike riding Did our AI summary help?
Symptoms of spinal tuberculosis: Why persistent back pain could be a red flag

A persistent back pain is often ignored as a result of poor posture or daily strain. However, doctors warn that in some cases, such a discomfort may signal spinal tuberculosis, a less common but serious form of tuberculosis









That normal back pain might not be so normal. Spinal tuberculosis often starts with mild symptoms but can lead to serious complications if ignored (Image: Pexels) Spinal TB can mimic routine back pain and fatigue symptoms

Persistent back pain, fever, or fatigue may signal spinal TB

Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent severe complications Did our AI summary help?
Guard India's LPG lifeline: Centre directs states to tighten security as West Asia war rages

States have been asked to enhance security around LPG infrastructure and personnel, while ensuring uninterrupted supply to priority sectors such as homes, hospitals and educational institutions









States have also been told to act against misinformation, including removing misleading or fake social media posts that could trigger panic over LPG shortages States told to boost LPG security amid West Asia tensions

Call for daily LPG checks and strict action on hoarding

Public campaigns launched to reassure citizens on LPG supply Did our AI summary help?
Adani eyes partnerships with Meta, Google amid data center boom

Walmart Inc.s Flipkart is also engaged in talks with the Adani Group and is exploring sites across Indian states for the centers, said the people, asking not to be identified as the negotiations are private









The surge in interest is part of a global race to build such facilities, even as China has warned of oversupply. Adani in talks with Meta, Google for data center partnerships

Flipkart also negotiating with Adani for data center sites

Adani aims for $100 billion digital infrastructure push in India Did our AI summary help?
According to available data, prices climbed from $95.9 per barrel in the week ending February 20 to $197 per barrel by March 20an increase of nearly 105 percent in just four weeks
Network18 appoints Raj Jain as Independent Director

Jain, former Chief Executive Officer of Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd (The Times Group), brings with him years of experience across sectors









Network18 independent director Raj Jain Raj Jain appointed as Independent Director to Network18 board

His term will run from March 25, 2026 to March 24, 2031

Jain brings media and consumer business leadership experience Did our AI summary help?
$70 billion in data centre investments, tax breaks tied to local infra, jobs, says Sitharaman

The tax holiday until 2047 is available only when the foreign cloud provider utilises data centre services located in India, says Sitharaman as the Lok Sabha passes the finance bill 2026









Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman $70 billion in data centre investments underway in India

Tax break till 2047 for cloud firms using India data centres

Cement production up 9 percent after GST rate rationalisation Did our AI summary help?
Bharat Pet files draft papers for Rs 760-crore IPO; issue largely an offer for sale

Bharat Pet IPO | The company approached capital markets to raise Rs 120 crore by issuing fresh shares, while promoters will be selling shares worth Rs 640 crore.

Sunil Shankar Matkar March 25, 2026 / 23:08 IST























Bharat Pet IPO News Bharat Pet files draft papers to raise funds up to Rs 760 crore via IPO

IPO Mix: Fresh issue of Rs 120 crore, offer for sale of Rs 640 crore

Company may consider raising funds up to Rs 24 crore in pre-IPO round Did our AI summary help?
Sai Parenteral's IPO subscribed 41% on Day 2

The IPO comprises a fresh issue of up to Rs 285 crore and an offer-for-sale of up to nearly 32 lakh equity shares









Sai Parenteral's IPO subscribed 41% on Day 2
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In this edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: Why is the rupee falling despite domestic strength? The answer could be Hormuz.

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Sammaan Capital shares rise 11% after RBI approves stake sale purchase by Abu Dhabi's IHC

The central bank has also cleared the appointment of IHC nominee Alwyn Dinesh Crasta as a director on the company's board for a period of up to five years









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Sensex, Nifty extended gains on Wednesday on reports that the U.S. is seeking a month-long ceasefire in its war with Iran.

Paras Bisht A financial journalist with over 10 years of experience, specialising in tracking stock market movements and fundamental developments that impact investors and the broader economy. A keen observer of global financial markets, I regularly engage with leading market voices to write stories. At Moneycontrol, I focus on decoding market trends, policy shifts and economic changes, driven by a constant passion to learn, analyse, and share knowledge with my readers.
The S&P 500 gained for a second time this week as efforts by the US to end the war gathered pace, eclipsing news that Iran rejected a ceasefire proposal and maintained attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab states.
No fuel shortage, dont panic: BPCL counters rumours amid supply concerns

BPCL says no fuel shortage in India, urges public not to panic-buy as supply chains remain stable and stocks adequate nationwide.









State-run oil marketer says petrol, diesel stocks adequate; supply chains running smoothly across India BPCL says no petrol or diesel shortage in India

Supply chains are stable, fuel stocks remain adequate

Citizens urged not to panic buy or hoard fuel Did our AI summary help?
Novo Nordisk betting on clinical depth not discounts to take on low-cost generics, says Vikrant Shrotriya

The patent expiry of semaglutide injections sold by Novo Nordisk as Ozempic and Wegovy has pitted the Danish firm against at least 50 generic brands in India









Ozempic Novo Nordisk Novo Nordisk hit by tough semaglutide price war in India

Company leans on clinical data, partners, and local pricing

Novo cut prices, partnered Abbott & Emcure to expand access Did our AI summary help? NP01

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Ceigall India shares rise 3% on orders win worth Rs 297 crore

Ceigall India Share Price | The company bagged two order from Purvah Green Power.









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Amit Malviya mocks Pakistans peace broker claims after Iran turns back Karachi-bound vessel

So much for the Pakistan is brokering peace narrative peddled by the usual suspects in India. Iran has reportedly turned back a vessel bound for Karachi after it failed to secure approval to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, says BJP leader.









The Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime chokepoint, which accounts for nearly one-fifth of the global oil and gas trade
Cabinet clears 'Modified UDAN' scheme with Rs 28,840 crore outlay, 100 new airports planned

The original UDAN Scheme was launched in October 2016 with the objective of making air travel affordable and strengthening connectivity to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.









The revamped framework extends the regional air connectivity programme into a new phase, with implementation likely from April 1, 2026. Cabinet approves UDAN 2.0 with Rs 28,840 crore outlay

100 new airports to be developed over ten years

Scheme supports Made-in-India aircraft and regional connectivity Did our AI summary help?
'Can certainly play...': Iranian envoy bats for Indias role in mediating Hormuz crisis, calls it trusted player

Fathali said Indias diplomatic standing and balanced foreign policy make it an influential actor capable of helping reduce tensions in the region.









Ambassador of Iran to India, Mohammad Fathali, addresses a press conference in New Delhi. (ANI/File photo)
Delhi Assembly passes censure motion against ruling AAP in Punjab over official's suicide

The issue was raised by Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, who referred to the reported suicide of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, general manager of the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation, last week.

PTI March 25, 2026 / 20:34 IST























Delhi Assembly Delhi Assembly passed censure motion against AAP in Punjab

AAP MLAs boycotted proceedings over suspension of four members

BJP accuses AAP leaders of atrocities, driving suicides in Punjab Did our AI summary help?
Even with a new HQ, Congress aims to hold on to 24, Akbar Road office: Here's why

Congress leaders insist that the 24 Akbar Road bungalow is more than just an office -- it is part of the partys heritage, having witnessed some of its most historic moments









The Congress has already constructed its new party office at Indira Bhavan on Kotla Road Congress asked to vacate Akbar, Raisina Road offices by Mar 28

Congress mulls legal bid to keep historic Akbar Road bungalow

Party has built new headquarters at Indira Bhavan on Kotla Road Did our AI summary help?
Five-way contest in Tamil Nadu: A look at alliances locking horns in high-stakes election

The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led alliance, headed by chief minister MK Stalin, is at the centre of the electoral battle, with the coalition seeking a second term









Elections to the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly will take place in a single phase on April 23 TN Assembly election to be held in single phase on April 23

DMK-led alliance faces AIADMK-NDA, TVK, NTK, and rebel factions

Vijay's TVK to contest alone, focuses on young voters Did our AI summary help?
From sidelines to front lines: How BJP became Mamata Banerjee's biggest hurdle in West Bengal

From winning just three Assembly seats in 2016 to emerging as the main opposition in the 2021 election with 77 seats, the BJP has made significant inroads in the state.









Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee recently dubbed Prime Minister Narendra Modi the 'biggest infiltrator' at an Eid gathering West Bengal polls to see a two-way fight between TMC and BJP

BJP rose from 3 seats in 2016 to 77 seats in 2021

BJP's gains concentrated in North Bengal and urban centers Did our AI summary help?
Govt calls all-party meeting on West Asia conflict today

The call for the meeting comes amid the Opposition MPs' hue and cry about India's stand on the Israel-Iran war.









Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to US President Donald Trump on Tuesday to discuss about the ongoing tensions arising out of the West Asia conflict. Centre to hold all-party meet on West Asia conflict Wednesday

Modi backs peace, open navigation in Strait of Hormuz

India has sufficient oil reserves amid disruptions in West Asia Did our AI summary help?
Grateful for your support, we will take revenge: Iran's message to Kashmir with Shahed drone

In the aftermath of Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations, volunteers in Shia-majority areas carried out door-to-door collections, gathering relief for victims of military strikes conducted by US and Israel against Iran.









Image posted on X Iran thanks Kashmiris for aid amid regional tensions

Kashmir residents donate cash, jewellery, and livestock to Iran

Iran vows revenge for leaders killing, hails Kashmir support Did our AI summary help?
India buys Iranian LPG cargo after years as US eases sanctions: Report

India consumed 33.15 million metric tons of LPG, or cooking gas, last year, with imports accounting for about 60% of demand. About 90% of those imports came from the Middle East.









India is gradually moving out its stranded LPG cargoes from the Strait of Hormuz, with four LPG tankers moved so far--Shivalik, Nanda Devi, Pine Gas, and Jag Vasant. India buys Iranian LPG after US eases sanctions on Tehran

Aurora tanker with Iranian LPG to reach Mangalore port soon

Indian Oil, BPCL, HPCL to share the Iranian LPG cargo Did our AI summary help?
India not a 'dalaal' nation like Pakistan: Jaishankar at all-party meet on US-Iran mediation push

EAM S Jaishankars comments came after Pakistan stepped up efforts to position itself as a mediator in the ongoing conflict









EAM S Jaishankar
Indias delayed climate plan sets weak new emissions goal

The new goal to reduce emissions intensity is calculated against a baseline year of 2005, and makes only an incremental advance on the nations prior commitments









The long-delayed strategy, which had originally been due by February 2025 under the terms of the Paris Agreement, was outlined at a cabinet briefing Wednesday India aims to cut emissions intensity 47% by 2035 vs 2005 levels

New target: 60% non-fossil electricity capacity by 2035

India sets 2070 net-zero goal, lagging many other nations Did our AI summary help?
Iran prefers JD Vance to lead negotiation talks, sees him 'more inclined to wrap up war': Report

On Tuesday, Trump said that all key members of his diplomatic team are part of the ongoing efforts.
Iran war shows limits of BRICS as India pushed to choose sides

Almost a month after the US and Israel began airstrikes on Iran  which killed the senior leadership in that country and triggered a global energy crisis  the BRICS group has failed to take a position on the war.









Iran has asked India  which holds the rotating chairmanship of BRICS this year  to support its bid to condemn the joint US and Israeli military campaign against it India pressed as BRICS chair to clarify stance on Iran conflict

BRICS members divided on condemning US-Israel strikes on Iran

India resists taking sides, aims to facilitate bloc discussions Did our AI summary help?
'Kamal Haasan's exit incompetence, TVK's Vijay will follow': AIADMK as MNM pulls out of Tamil Nadu elections

In a statement, Kamal Haasan said in politics, election is only a part and it is not final; there is no 'full stop' in politics.









MNM chief Kamal Haasan.
More fuel shipments coming, Indias energy security intact: What govt said during all-party meet on West Asia crisis

Speaking after the all-party meet, union minister Kiren Rijiju said the opposition parties had assured the government of their support for any steps it takes in line with the prevailing situation









Union minister Kiren Rijiju
'Not allowed' dress code for Temple of Democracy: BJP leader targets t-shirt politics, jabs Rahul Gandhi

In a post on X, BJP leader Jaiveer Shergill on Wednesday argued that certain casual clothing itemssuch as T-shirts and cargo pantsshould be barred from the Parliament.









Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is usually spotted in t-shirts and cargo pants. BJP leader Shergill calls for formal dress code in Parliament

Shergill suggests banning T-shirts and cargo pants for MPs

His remarks sparked criticism and debate on social media Did our AI summary help?
'Pure harassment': Eye on Kerala polls, ex-IAS officer hits out at Modi govt for 'not accepting resignation'

I've chosen not to raise my personal issue as I am very well aware the kind of hardships millions are going through under your governance, says Kannan.









Kannan Gopinathan joined the Congress last year.
'Taking all sections along': Centre defends Transgender Persons Amendment Bill

The amendment to the 2019 law seeks to exclude different sexual orientations and self-perceived sexual identities from its ambit, while introducing graded punishments based on the severity of harm inflicted on transgender persons.









Rajya Sabha Parliament passed the Transgender Persons Amendment Bill, 2026.

Bill excludes sexual orientations and self-perceived identities.

Opposition and student groups condemned the Bill as exclusionary. Did our AI summary help?
Terror-sponsor Pakistan has no locus standi to comment on India's internal matters: MEA

Responding to media queries, Randhir Jaiswal said, "We categorically reject the statement issued by Pakistan in support of a banned terrorist organization and its members. Pakistan has no locus standi to comment on matters internal to India or its judicial processes."









Ministry of External Affairs. India rejects Pakistans backing of banned terror group

MEA: Pakistan has no say in India's judicial affairs

Delhi court jails Asiya Andrabi for life over sedition Did our AI summary help?
Why TMC urged EC to remove Bhabanipur returning officer

The TMC also questioned Roy's current designation as Additional Director of Land Records, saying it does not align with his seniority and that the position has conventionally been held by officers at the joint secretary level.









Derek O'Brien TMC demands removal of Bhabanipur returning officer Surajit Roy

TMC alleges Roy has close ties with BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari

Bhabanipur seat sees a prestige fight between TMC and BJP Did our AI summary help?
No democratic government in a spiritually inclined society like India can endure on brute force or electoral machinery alone. Sustained power demands moral legitimacy

Banuchandar Nagarajan is a graduate of Harvard University with a Masters degree in Public Administration. He has had stints at the World Bank, UNDP and PricewaterhouseCoopers. He has worked in key positions in the Indian parliamentary election campaigns of 2009, '14 and '19. Till recently, he was the advisor to Minister of Human Resources Development. He has been a frequent columnist and a TV panelist. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.
Iran shares pic of fake WhatsApp chat to troll Trump's 'good and productive talks'

The trolling came amid whiplash-inducing policy signals from Donald Trump on the Iran conflict. In recent days, the US President has alternated between threatening major military escalation and suggesting diplomacy is making progress  statements that have repeatedly jolted global markets and oil prices.
'It's a scam': Woman says no to Rs 244 crore for land as AI company promises jobs

A Kentucky mother and daughter rejected a Rs 2,443 crore offer for their farmland, calling an AI data center project a scam and saying their connection to the land is priceless.









82-year-old Huddleston called it a scam. (Image credit: Getty Images) Mother and daughter reject $26M offer for farmland data center

Family says land bond outweighs money, calls project a scam

Huddleston family vows to keep land despite high payout Did our AI summary help?
'Rs 3 lakh...': Bengaluru woman calls out landlords for demanding 10x rent as security deposit

A Bengaluru content creator shared her house-hunting struggles online. From landlords demanding Rs 3 lakh deposits to tiny flats listed as cozy, her video has sparked a conversation about just how hard it is to find a decent home to rent in the city.
Russian embassy warns Indians amid fake overseas job offers: Report fraudsters to law enforcement

Russian Embassy warns Indians about fake job scams misusing its name. This comes amid a visa fraud case in Uttar Pradesh where police exposed a racket in Greater Noida that cheated dozens of job seekers with false overseas offers, with one accused arrested and another still absconding.
7 dogs gone missingWhat this tiny "Corgi" did next made it an internet sensation! Watch Here

Seven dogs that were allegedly stolen in China escaped and walked 17 kilometres back home together. A tiny corgi leading the group has now gone viral. All the 7 dogs survived and safely returned to their owners.









7 dogs gone missing for a village in China, they travelled back to their home after great escape. (Image: X/@atensnut) Seven stolen dogs trek 17 km together to return home.

A corgi named Da Pang led the group, showing teamwork and empathy.

All seven dogs survived and were safely returned to their owners. Did our AI summary help?
Not Good News, scientists warn as rare 2,000 Steppe Eagles recorded flocking to Rajasthan!

Western Rajasthan is emerging as a key refuge for endangered Steppe Eagles. In a recent survey 2,000 eagles were recorded by Regions Jorbeer Conservation Reserve and Desert National Park. Experts warn this growing presence may signal a deeper global crisis.









Endangered Steppe Eagles gathering in Rajasthan were recorded in recent survey. (Image: Vikas Choudhary/CSE) Western Rajasthan sees 2,000 Steppe Eagles gather this winter.

Habitat loss is driving eagles into shrinking safe zones.

Rajasthan's refuge may not sustain rising eagle numbers long-term. Did our AI summary help?
AI tools are like any other third party, not a licensed attorney: Judge rules in Heppner case

A US court in the Heppner case rules AI tools are not confidential, treating them as third parties and warning that sharing sensitive data may waive legal protections.









AI/Artificial intelligence US court rules AI communications lack attorney-client privilege

AI tools deemed third parties, not confidential in legal use

AI data sharing may waive privilege, trade secret protection Did our AI summary help?

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Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has a AI job loss solution for the world; says 'workers should become...'

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says workers should become AI experts to stay relevant as automation grows. He highlights how AI can transform roles across industries and create new opportunities.

Sarthak Singh March 25, 2026 / 13:45 IST























jensen huang Nvidia CEO urges workers to gain AI expertise for job security

AI skills will give candidates an edge in hiring decisions

AI will impact all professions, including blue-collar jobs Did our AI summary help?

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OnePlus India CEO Robin Liu quits after denying shutdown rumours, exit raises questions over global strategy

OnePlus India CEO Robin Liu has stepped down after denying shutdown rumours, with his exit raising fresh questions about the companys global operations and possible market strategy changes.

Sarthak Singh March 25, 2026 / 22:23 IST























Robin Liu quits OnePlus India CEO Robin Liu quits amid strategy shake-up rumors

OnePlus India operations to continue with current strategy

Reports suggest OnePlus may scale down in US, UK, and Europe Did our AI summary help?

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A viral video puts the spotlight on Hussainiwala Railway Station in PunjabIndias unique station where trains run only twice a year. Heres its story.

This railway station in India sees just 2 trains a yearand the reason behind it is deeply rooted in history (Image: Instagram Video: _northern_vlogger)
Tokyo cherry blossom season 2026: Imperial Palaces rare Inui Street opening draws global attention

Tokyo cherry blossom season 2026 gets a boost as the Tokyo Imperial Palace opens the rare Inui Street to the public. Heres what travellers need to know about timings, peak bloom, and visitor access.









Visitors walk through the rare Inui Street opening inside the Tokyo Imperial Palace as cherry blossoms bloom across Tokyo during the 2026 sakura season. Tokyo Imperial Palaces Inui Street opens for cherry blossoms

Nine-day access spurs crowds and worldwide attention

Free but regulated entry; no picnics or disturbances Did our AI summary help?
West Asia tensions push Indian travellers towards domestic getaways

Spiritual tourism is seeing a spike with around 23 per cent of enquiries from millennials now focused on locations like Rishikesh, where travellers are combining wellness, meditation, and outdoor experiences









RISHIKESH 65 percent of Indian travellers now prefer domestic destinations

Bookings surge for Ladakh, Himachal, Uttarakhand, and Northeast

Vietnam leads global demand as Southeast Asia popularity rises Did our AI summary help? LTT LTT NSE/BSE Select NSE LIVE BSE LIVE Day High

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14-year-old Israeli boy indicted for working with Iranian operatives, was paid in cryptocurrency

Court documents filed by the State Attorneys Office in the Tel Aviv District Juvenile Court allege that the boy initiated contact with Iranian handlers on Telegram in April 2025 after responding to a job offer









Investigators said the boy carried out a series of assignments in and around Tel Aviv
The US has proposed a 15-point plan to end the Iran war, demanding nuclear and military rollbacks in exchange for sanctions relief. Iran remains skeptical, seeking security guarantees and compensation. Talks continue indirectly, but deep mistrust hinders progress.

Did our AI summary help?
(FILES) US President Donald Trump (L) talks to China's President Xi Jinping as they shake hands after their talks at the Gimhae Air Base, located next to the Gimhae International Airport in Busan on October 30, 2025. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP)
The Iran war has disrupted global oil and LNG supply, boosting demand for African energy. While African oil is seen as a safer alternative, output remains limited by underinvestment and instability. LNG projects offer growth, but challenges persist for full potential.

Did our AI summary help?
Bab elMandeb Strait: Is Iran creating a second global chokepoint after Hormuz?

Iran has warned it could open a new front at the Bab el-Mandeb Strait if its territory or islands are attacked, raising concerns over global trade and energy security.









Iran signals threat at Bab el-Mandeb Strait (Source: X)
Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman calls Genocide Day a 'pre-planned massacre'

Rahman alleged that the Pakistani forces indiscriminately opened fire on teachers, intellectuals and innocent civilians at various places, including Dhaka University, Pilkhana and Rajarbagh Police Lines, killing many people.









Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Bangladesh marks Genocide Day, recalling March 25, 1971 massacre

Rahman calls genocide a pre-planned Pakistani forces massacre

March 25 violence sparked Bangladesh's nine-month Liberation War Did our AI summary help?
Come closer: Iran dares US troops as Washington weighs major Middle East deployment

Iran warns it is prepared for ground conflict as US plans troop deployment; Tehran signals asymmetric warfare advantage.









IRGCs Ahmadian issues direct message to US soldiers while Iranian scholar says ground presence would favour Tehran Iran warns US, signals readiness for ground confrontation.

US plans troop deployment to Middle East amid rising tensions.

Iran sets conditions for de-escalation, including compensation. Did our AI summary help?
Do not test our resolve: Iran talks tough amid massive US military buildup in Gulf

The statement comes at a time when the Pentagon has ordered another Marine unit-the California-based 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, deployed aboard the USS Boxer amphibious ready group-to head to the region in the coming weeks









The remarks come as Iran's military leadership continues to reject claims of any diplomatic progress with the United States Iran warns US troops may face consequences amid rising tensions

Iran rejects US truce proposal, insists on military strength

US deploying thousands of Marines to Middle East region Did our AI summary help?
Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman and US President Donald Trump speaks at the US-Saudi Investment Forum at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC on November 19, 2025. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP)
How China turned long-term planning into a seven-decade success story

People's Daily Online) 14:52, March 25, 2026

From the launch of China's first Five-Year Plan in 1953 to the 15th Five-Year Plan in 2026, more than seven decades of planning have underpinned China's remarkable achievements.

Why has China alone been able to see its long-term plans through and turn them into tangible results?

The answer, in part, lies in wisdom embedded in China's 5,000-year civilization: a well-defined plan is the foundation of great achievements. As the BBC observed, China was already planning green technologies, such as electric vehicles (EVs) and solar panels, at the turn of the century. As climate change gradually became important in Western politics, China had already mobilized an unprecedented amount of resources into its green industries, and today, the country is the world leader in renewables and EVs.

This capacity to turn blueprints into reality is rooted in the role of the centralized, unified leadership of the Communist Party of China Central Committee as a stabilizing force  one that holds firm against external turbulence and resists the temptation to reverse course at the first sign of short-term setbacks. While China is making five-year plans for the next generation, Americans are planning only for the next election, said Robert Engle, a Nobel laureate in economics from the U.S.

Consensus is another key feature of five-year plans. In drafting these plans, China solicits public input and integrates top-level design with grassroots experimentation. In implementation, the central government sets the direction, local governments break it down into concrete actions, and departments coordinate across the board, creating a unified national effort. Whole-process people's democracy, as China defines it, is democracy in its broadest, most genuine and most effective form, making plans more scientifically grounded and their execution more reliable.

China's five-year plans are formulated for the benefit of its people. These plans have ensured that China, once seen by the outside world as impoverished and underdeveloped, has become a driving force of global growth.

According to the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (20262030) for national economic and social development, China aspires to increase its total research and development spending by an average of more than 7 percent annually, keep the surveyed urban unemployment rate below 5.5 percent, and raise average life expectancy to around 80. The country aims to pursue scientific and technological breakthroughs in AI, quantum science and the life sciences, while developing emerging industries such as embodied AI, next-generation batteries, brain-computer interfaces and aerospace. Behind these ambitious targets lies an equally firm commitment to improving people's livelihoods.

China has always remained open to the world. From the Hainan Free Trade Port and China-Europe Railway Express to the Belt and Road Initiative, China has consistently acted on the conviction that "China can only do well when the world is doing well. When China does well, the world will get even better."

The underlying logic behind China's 15 five-year plans has never changed: pressing forward with a long-term vision while working hand in hand with countries around the world in pursuit of the common good of humanity.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chaolan)
For Gorge and his family, the renewed interest in defense suppliers has pushed their own net worth to about $1 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index
How Iran's two 'nuclear' options have kept world on edge

While Iran does not possess nuclear weapons, unlike regimes in North Korea, it has developed two powerful tools that can keep the world on edge: the ability to choke the Strait of Hormuz and the capacity to strike critical Gulf energy infrastructure.
Inside Trumps Iran ceasefire plan: 15 conditions for peace and what Tehran gets in return

Donald Trump proposes a 15-point Iran ceasefire plan including nuclear curbs and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with sanctions relief in return, even as Tehran denies talks and Israel raises concerns.









Inside Trumps Iran peace push: 15 conditions, Hormuz focus, and whats in it for Tehran
Iran allows non-hostile vessels through Strait of Hormuz under conditions: Report

Iran has told International Maritime Organization members that non-hostile vessels may transit the Strait of Hormuz if they coordinate with Iranian authorities, amid ongoing disruptions to global shipping.









Iran says 'non-hostile' ships can transit Strait of Hormuz
If the US enters Iran on the ground, heres the reality check
Iran demands crew, cargo details to send ships through Strait of Hormuz

The process is still idiosyncratic and can vary from ship to ship, according to accounts from people familiar with the trade









Representative image Iran demands crew, cargo lists for Hormuz Strait transit

Some ships face protection fees, mainly oil and gas carriers

Asian countries, especially India, hit by energy shortages Did our AI summary help?
Iran has tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz, stranding thousands of vessels while allowing select ships, mainly linked to India, China, and Iranian oil, to pass using coordinated secret signals. Lawmakers may introduce transit fees, reshaping global shipping.

Did our AI summary help?
Iraq edges closer to war, clears PMF to strike back after US-Israel hits kill fighters in Anbar

Iraq allows PMF self-defence, summons US and Iran envoys, and orders arrests as strikes on PMF escalate amid wider regional conflict.









Emergency security council meet backs retaliation rights, orders arrests and diplomatic protests as strikes hit PMF positions Iraq authorises PMF to retaliate against attacks on its forces

Baghdad to summon US and Iranian envoys over recent strikes

Kataib Hezbollah halts US embassy attacks, sets conditions Did our AI summary help?
Israels ambassador to India: 'Huge opportunities' await once Iran threat is neutralised

Israels Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, says ending the Iran threat could unlock huge opportunities for West Asia, benefiting countries like India through stability, investment, and robust Gulf trade ties.









Ending Iran threat offers huge regional opportunities
Mines, missiles and risky waters: How Indian Navy is secretly guiding ships through Strait of Hormuz | Explained

Strait of Hormuz Crisis: The Indian Navy is not only escorting vessels after they exit the strait but is also assisting them in choosing safe routes before and during the transit.









Indian vessel 'Nanda Devi' carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) arrives at Vadinar Port in the Jamnagar district of Gujarat state on March 17, 2026 after Iran allowed it to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. (Photo by AFP) Amid tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, the Indian Navy is guiding merchant ships with layered strategies, including route planning, real-time support, escorting vessels post-strait, backchannel diplomacy, and humanitarian aid to ensure safe passage through volatile waters. Did our AI summary help?
Modi is a vital part: Why Trump is leaning on India as Strait of Hormuz risks jolt global oil markets

President Trump is always happy to speak with PM Modi. The focus was opening of Strait of Hormuz. Iran is threatening to shoot down ships in that area. It was a very important phone call, Gor said.









Trump turns to Modi as Strait of Hormuz becomes new flashpoint in West Asia war US keeps PM Modi informed amid talks with Iran on Hormuz crisis

Ensuring Strait of Hormuz remains open is key for global energy

India starts contingency planning for uninterrupted fuel supply Did our AI summary help?
Negotiating with yourselves: Iran tears into Trumps 15-point peace plan, calls it a ruse meant to hide US defeat

While Washington is pushing a comprehensive framework aimed at curbing Irans nuclear and military capabilities, Tehran views the proposal with suspicion and sees it as part of a broader strategy to weaken the regime.









US President Donald Trump -- File Photo (AFP) Iran has rejected President Trumps 15-point peace proposal, citing distrust and viewing US negotiations as deceptive. Both sides have issued conflicting demands, with ongoing military actions and deep mistrust overshadowing prospects for a breakthrough. Did our AI summary help?
No approval: Iran turns back Karachi-bound vessel at Hormuz even as Pakistan steps up peace pitch

Iran turns back a Karachi-bound ship at Hormuz over approval rules, even as Pakistan offers to host USIran talks and Trump signals interest.









Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Iran turned back a Karachi-bound vessel at Strait of Hormuz

Iran now mandates pre-approval for Hormuz vessel transit

Pakistan offers to host Iran-US talks as shipping tensions rise Did our AI summary help?
'No direct talks with US': Iran envoy to Pakistan rejects US talk claims amid truce buzz

Reza Amiri Moghadam described them as preliminary attempts to create an environment conducive to dialogue









Iran denies any negotiations with the US are underway

Iran rejects claims of diplomatic progress with Washington

US proposal for ceasefire dismissed by Iranian officials Did our AI summary help?
The remarks mirror the broader messaging from both Iran's military and political leadership over the past day, amid reports of a truce framework floated by Trump
Pakistan hands over Trump's 15-point ceasefire proposal to Iran; all eyes on Tehran

Iran has maintained that it is not actively in negotiations with US with their military spokesman mocking Donald Trump's outreach efforts.









File photo US sent Iran a 15-point ceasefire proposal via Pakistan

Plan offers sanctions relief, nuclear cuts, missile curbs

Iran denies active negotiations, unclear if plan will be accepted Did our AI summary help?
Pentagon plans 3,000 troops to Gulf, UK to lead effort to clear Strait of Hormuz: whats happening

The Pentagon is reportedly preparing to deploy around 3,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East as part of a broader military buildup, while UK-led efforts aim to secure the Strait of Hormuz amid rising US-Iran tensions.









Pentagon moves to send 3,000 troops to Gulf as UK spearheads Hormuz plan: whats happening
The size of US munitions stockpiles is classified, but military experts have warned the US is using up some of its most expensive, advanced and hard-to-replace weapons, such as Tomahawk missiles and Patriot PAC-3 interceptors.
Iran remains deeply distrustful of US peace overtures, citing past military actions during talks, sweeping demands in the US proposal, ongoing troop buildup, and indirect negotiations. Tehran insists on a ceasefire before talks, highlighting a persistent trust deficit.

Did our AI summary help?
Please help open Strait of Hormuz: How Iran is targeting Trump with missiles and mockery

By putting Donald Trumps image on a missile and amplifying it across digital platforms, Tehran is signalling that the conflict is as much about perception as it is about power.









An Iranian cleric visits the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force Museum in Tehran, Iran, on November 15, 2024. Reuters/Majid Asgaripour (WANA) Iran escalates tensions in West Asia by combining military actions with digital messaging, mocking US President Trump in missile footage. Tehran uses satire and memes to shape perceptions, while demanding sweeping conditions for talks amid ongoing diplomatic strain. Did our AI summary help?
Marking the start of her public ministry, the service will seat Sarah Mullally, former nurse and civil servant, in the 13th-century Chair of St Augustine before some 2,000 guests, including heir-to-the-throne Prince William and his wife Kate, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and religious leaders
Thousands killed overnight, 4 lakh women raped: When Pak army gave Bangladesh a lasting scar during Operation Searchlight

General Tikka Khan, nicknamed the "Butcher of Bengal", ordered the use of brutal force against civilians suspected of supporting independence, targeting of Awami League supporters and the members of minority communities, particularly Hindus.









Operation Searchlight began on March 25, 1971 in East Pakistan

Pakistani army killed millions, raped thousands in crackdown

March 25 marked the start of the Bangladesh Liberation War Did our AI summary help?
Trumps $95,000 1987 newspaper ad echoes his Iran war stance: Why are these nations not paying...

The ad said. ''The saga continues unabated as we defend the Persian Gulf.''
Trumps Strait of Hormuz deadline looms as US marines head to Gulf

Thousands of US Marines are deploying to West Asia as President Donald Trumps Friday deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz nears, with Kharg Island emerging as a strategic focus.









US Marines aim to control Kharg Island
Trumps typos spark online jibe from Iran amid tense diplomacy

Numerous spelling mistake in a high-stakes post turns into a viral moment, highlighting how even minor slips can cut through serious geopolitical messaging.









Trumps Iran post draws attention for spelling errors. (Image credit: Reuters) Trump's post on Iran talks went viral due to spelling mistakes

Iran mocked Trump's errors, shifting focus from diplomacy

Trump deleted and corrected the post, but ridicule persisted Did our AI summary help?
Trump claims Iran agrees to no nuclear weapons, says US is talking to the right people

US President Donald Trump said Iran has agreed it will never develop a nuclear weapon and claimed the US is making tremendous success in ongoing talks, even as Iranian officials deny any such agreement.









Trump: Iran agrees to no nuclear weapons as US sees tremendous success
US Iran War News Live: Reports emerge of US 15-point peace proposal to Iran

Media outlets in the US and Israel, citing unnamed officials, report that Washington has sent a 15-point plan to Iran aimed at ending the conflict.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the proposal calls for Iran to dismantle its three main nuclear facilities, end uranium enrichment on its territory, suspend its ballistic missile programme, reduce support for regional proxy groups, and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz. In exchange, Iran would receive relief from nuclear-related sanctions and US assistance for a civilian nuclear programme.

The New York Times said the plan was delivered via Pakistan and also covers Iran's nuclear and missile programmes along with maritime access through the Strait of Hormuz, adding that Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir has played a key intermediary role in communications between Washington and Tehran.

Israel's Channel 12, citing three sources, reported that the US is pushing for a temporary ceasefire of about one month to facilitate discussions on the plan, which reportedly includes the same core demands regarding Iran's nuclear programme, proxy activity, and shipping routes.

Reuters also reported that a source familiar with the matter confirmed the existence of the US proposal.

There has been no official confirmation or comment from either the US or Iran regarding the reported plan. (Read More)
US loses $1B in Iran war, Israel could run out of Arrow interceptors: From F-15 jets to drones heres whats been lost

US-Iran war intensifies as air defence systems strain, aircraft losses mount, and casualties rise on both sides amid concerns over depleting missile stockpiles and growing operational pressure.
US moves to boost THAAD missile production output with BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin amid Iran war

The United States has announced a framework agreement to significantly scale up production of key components for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, as it looks to strengthen its defence capabilities amid the ongoing Iran conflict









Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems agreed with the Defense Department on plans to quadruple the production of seekers for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor, according to a Pentagon announcement. Pentagon to quadruple THAAD seeker production with new agreements

Deal aims to secure supply chain and boost industrial capacity

Move fits US Arsenal of Freedom defense buildup push Did our AI summary help?
US strikes on Iran face backlash at home as Americans say action 'too far': Poll

A new AP-NORC poll shows most Americans believe US military action in Iran has gone too far, while rising concern over gasoline prices adds pressure on Donald Trump.









Americans uneasy over Iran war and fuel costs
'We wont be fooled again': Why Iran thinks Trumps peace pitch comes with a catch

Iran signals deep mistrust of US peace push as Trump combines negotiations with military escalation; talks in Pakistan remain uncertain.









Tehran tells mediators it wont be fooled again as Washington pursues negotiations while continuing military build-up Iran doubts US motives, citing past military actions

US pursues talks while ramping up military pressure

Outcome may affect oil flows, sanctions, and regional stability Did our AI summary help?
What is Irans mysterious present to US? Trump ties it to Hormuz, outlines ceasefire demands
Who is the 'respected' Iranian figure Trump says US is talking to?

Reports point to a powerful insider with a hardline past, raising questions about what any potential talks could actually look like.









Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf (Courtesy: Reuters photo)
Why did US and Israel reportedly spare Irans foreign minister and speaker amid war?

US and Israel reportedly grant temporary immunity to Iranian leaders amid talks; Iran denies negotiations even as conflict continues.









Reports of backchannel talks emerge even as Tehran denies negotiations and hostilities continue US and Israel grant temporary immunity to two Iranian officials

Negotiation window opens amid ongoing military strikes

Iran denies talks as US claims progress in backchannel diplomacy Did our AI summary help?
Who was Pak army's Gen Tikka Khan, known as 'Butcher of Bengal' during Operation Searchlight

Under Tikka Khan, the 1971 crackdown in East Pakistan became a campaign of mass violence, where for many survivors, war began not on battlefields but at their doorsteps, in abductions, camps, and enduring silence.









For thousands of women across what is now Bangladesh, the war did not begin on a battlefield. It began at their doorstep. Tikka Khan led 1971 Operation Searchlight against Bengalis

Systematic sexual violence hit up to 400,000 Bangladeshi women

Survivors still seek justice and recognition for 1971 atrocities Did our AI summary help?
Iran rejected the US proposal to end the conflict, insisting war will only end on its own terms. Tehran demands five conditions, including halting US and Israeli actions, compensation, and recognition of its rights, before any negotiations can begin.

Did our AI summary help?
Oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz as seen from Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, March 11. Enverus Intelligence Research has raised its price forecast to $95 for Brent in 2026 and $100 in 2027 due to disrupted oil flows, especially through the Strait. Altaf Qadri/Associated Press

Analysts are continuing to scramble to adjust expectations amid the Iran war.

Enverus Intelligence Research is the latest to unveil its new expectations, forecasting higher prices for Brent  the global benchmark that usually trades at a $5 premium to West Texas Intermediate.

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Given the impacts of the war, near-zero flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a record G7 SPR release, and expectations for a muted U.S. production response, EIR now expects Brent to average $95 per barrel through this year and $100 next year, assuming the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed for three months.

For each month oil flows through the Strait remain constrained, EIRs outlook changes by $10 to $15 a barrel.

EIR analysts attribute this to accelerating global stock draws and an unresponsive supply outlook.

The world has an oil flow problem that is draining stocks. Whenever that oil flow problem is resolved, the world is left with low stocks. Thats what drives our oil price outlook higher for longer, said Al Salazar, director of research at EIR, in the update.

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With countries around the globe  including the U.S.  releasing 400 million barrels from strategic reserves, Salazar noted it will take considerable time to replenish those barrels. EIR estimates cumulative global oil stock draws at roughly 1 billion barrels through 2027, with non-Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development inventories, particularly in Asia, absorbing nearly half of the impact.

Usually, it takes years to draw down 400 million barrels, he told the Reporter-Telegram.

Even with WTI between $90 and $100, U.S. oil producers are not expected to materially increase output. EIR forecasts liquids output to grow 370,000 barrels per day by the end of 2026 and 580,000 barrels per day by the end of 2027, reflecting drilling to production lags, industry consolidation and disciplined investment.

Salazar said there is a chance oil prices could rise even further, depending on how long the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and how long it takes Middle Eastern countries to repair any damage done to their energy infrastructure and resume oil flows.

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Were not calling for a recession because demand tends to go up at $100, he said. We have to watch how demand plays out.

Americans and Canadians like to complain about gasoline prices, he observed. But those prices arent an issue until we start losing jobs due to high energy prices.

According to EIR, global oil demand growth for 2026 has been reduced to approximately 500,000 barrels per day, down from 1 million barrels per day.
Josh Cohen, chief executive officer, Vision Oil & Gas. Courtesy Vision

Vision Oil & Gas has made an acquisition that not only expands its Permian Basin portfolio but gives the company entry into the Mid-Continent and Anadarko Basin.

Vision has just acquired 320 gas wells in the Anadarko Basin and 114 oil wells across Reagan, Reeves, Ward, Mitchell and Cochran counties, along with two bonded operator licenses.

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This will put a lot of new wind in the sails of operators with great rock but who have exhausted ways to make wells work and are out of options, said Josh Cohen, chief executive officer.

Speaking with the Reporter-Telegram, Cohen said the acquisitions let the company move north into the Panhandle and Mitchell and Kent counties and towards Big Lake and Sutton County.

The wells that have been acquired by the company in the Mid-Continent and Anadarko Basin are spread across Lipscomb, Roberts, Hansford and Ochiltree counties and mark the first substantial move for Vision outside of the Permian Basin. More than 90% of these wells were shut in by BP or Range Resources, and the group anticipates stabilized production of 10,000 to 15,000 MCFE a day once the entire field is reactivated.

The wells that have been acquired by the company in the Permian Basin counties are currently producing 35 BOPD, with anticipated return to production of 150 to 200 BOPD once all well intervention and well cleanouts have been completed.

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Cohen reported he has deals in the works for 700 to 800 more wells and another deal for 600 Oklahoma wells.

The company is also operating five service rigs, and Cohen said he expects to hire 60 employees, from pumpers to electricians to roustabouts.

Additionally, Vision plans to begin its second phase of production optimization efforts on its existing wells through a frac program, which is slated to begin in late May to early June, targeting its leases in Winkler County to start, and with an emphasis on leases currently drilled to the Grayburg Formation.

We can take wells producing one to two barrels a day up to 50 barrels a day. Saxet recently recompleted a Winkler County and we have 130 in that area, Cohen noted.

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He added that the company is interested in exploring the deeper formations while at the same time exploring current zones.

In announcing the acquisitions, Vision reaffirmed its production target of 1,000 barrels of oil per day by October 31, 2026, as well as its uplist to the New York Stock Exchange  and eventually a dual list on the Texas Stock Exchange once the liquidity has matured  by December 31, 2026.

The company has prepared a range of updated revenue guidance as a result of the conflict between the U.S. and Iran, and its impact on the price of West Texas Intermediate crude. Vision is now projecting $14.2 million in oil and gas sales for the remainder of 2026, excluding oil field services revenues.

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CBP says it no longer plans a border wall in Big Bend Ranch State Park, though wall construction is still planned elsewhere in the region. Gary Kemp Photography/Getty Images CBP says it no longer plans a border wall in Big Bend Ranch State Park, though wall construction is still planned elsewhere in the region. Gary Kemp Photography/Getty Images

BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK  Federal officials within U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed Monday that border walls will no longer be planned for Big Bend Ranch State Park.

The announcement comes amid local opposition to a steel border wall from local government officials and law enforcement in counties surrounding Big Bend National Park, including Presidio and Brewster counties. Despite the recent announcement, a Smart Wall map from federal authorities shows a physical barrier wall being planned for the state park.

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Marfa Public Radio reported that the announcement about removing the physical barrier was first relayed to Presidio County Commissioner Deirdre Hisler by Big Bend Sector Chief Patrol Agent Lloyd Easterling on Sunday evening. When the Reporter-Telegram sent an inquiry to CBP officials, CBP officials confirmed the information.

The U.S. Border Patrol, Big Bend Sector Public Affairs Office, can confirm Chief Patrol Agent Lloyd Easterling's comment regarding no plans for border wall construction within Big Bend Ranch State Park, said Acting Assistant Chief Border Patrol Agent Richard Barragan in an email Tuesday morning. Additionally, please continue to visit the official CBP Smart Wall Map site for updates.

Bob Krumenaker, the former superintendent of Big Bend National Park and spokesperson for the group Keep Big Bend Wild, said that when he visited the park this past weekend, it was remarkable how unanimous the decision against a physical barrier was.

I've never seen anything like this unite people in Texas, he told the Reporter-Telegram.

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He said he has not seen anyone in any public sphere in the state of Texas say publicly that a wall is the right answer for Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park.

That consensus is shared by law enforcement officials within the Big Bend community. A signed statement dated March 9 shows county sheriffs Arvin West, Danny Dominguez, Oscar Carrillo and Ronny Dodson share a commitment to strong, effective border security while serving the Big Bend region of Texas.

Steep mountain ranges, deep canyons, expansive desert landscapes and the Rio Grande itself create formidable natural barriers that significantly limit large-scale movement, said the sheriffs of Hudspeth, Presidio, Culberson and Brewster counties in a signed statement. These realities must be considered when evaluating appropriate enforcement strategies.

Additionally, the signed statement from the sheriffs office said that while protecting communities and supporting federal partners are at the core of their positions, they do not support a border wall within the region.

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Based on decades of combined experience working this terrain, we believe that the construction of a continuous physical border wall in the Big Bend region would not represent the most practical or strategic approach to border security in this area, said the joint statement.

So far, federal officials say physical border walls are still planned across the Big Bend region from Ruidoso to Redford, Texas. Next month, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is expected to arrive in Presidio County to begin locating deeds to property and land ownership for wall construction.

Krumenaker said the economic impact of Big Bend National Park neared $64 million in 2025.

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Christy Weakland, at podium, and Alyssa Coppens presenting to Midland City Council. Luke Dias/Midland Reporter-Telegram

Midland City Council voted to accept the City of Midlands annual comprehensive financial report and independent audit for fiscal year 2025. This audit, performed by an independent external party, found no discrepancies for the third year in a row.

Chapter 103 of the Texas Government Code requires the city to complete and file an audit and financial statement within 180 days after the end of the previous fiscal year, explained Councilwoman Amy Stretcher Burkes. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton recently notified numerous cities questioning whether they are in compliance. After this, we continue to be in compliance.

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Ahead of the audit, the City of Midlands financial department reviewed the citys financial statements throughout the fiscal year, then compiled them for the audit. During this time, the department looked for any discrepancies, known as findings, that would otherwise need a financial correction via the audit. They also made sure to create a list of questions that could be asked during the audit process, to ensure auditors had access to everything and that there wasnt a problem that needs to be corrected.

The compilation was completed well ahead of the deadline. For this work and the lack of any findings, the City of Midlands Director of Finance Christy Weakland thanked her department, specifically mentioning City of Midland Comptroller Gerry Adkins and the citys new Assistant Director of Finance Alyssa Coppens.

Weve worked really hard to get this done, Weakland said. We very much anticipate to continue to have this done early, so that gives you guys (and) the citizens comfort that we will always work to be in compliance with this. We also give you our commitment as a finance department, were going to continue doing the best practices: strengthening our internal controls and trying to find efficiencies throughout the city while trying to keep our taxes as low as possible.

We want to point out the fact that this is a third-party auditor, said Mayor Lori Blong. Those are not people that are employed by the city of Midland, theyre totally unrelated to us. (This means) an outside firm has come in and identified zero findings for the third year in a row. Thats after many years of findings before that.

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Stockpiled food at West Texas Food Bank. The food bank joined others on National Agriculture Day celebrating farmers, growers and ranchers. Luke Dias Libby Stephens with her pet rabbit, Apple. The food bank joined others on National Agriculture Day celebrating farmers, growers and ranchers. Luke Dias

Farmers, ranchers and food banks work together to keep families fed.

Feeding America, a national network of food banks, celebrated National Agriculture Day on March 24, honoring growers and urging Congress to strengthen support for farmers, families and food banks.

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We procure as much produce locally as we can, support our local growers, said Libby Stephens, CEO of the West Texas Food Bank.

Whats most important is how important farmers, growers and ranchers are, she told the Reporter-Telegram. We couldnt function without them. We need to take a moment to appreciate them.

One way the food bank supports growers is participation in the Emergency Food Assistance Program, through which the U.S. Department of Agriculture purchases food that might otherwise go to waste and makes that food available to state distribution agencies.

That food could be wrong-colored squash, a two-headed carrot or an overabundance of a crop like carrots, Stephens said. Rather than being discarded, its sent to food banks. That supports agricultural communities by giving them a way to sell those commodities, she said.

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Providing fresh, healthy food for families is important, she said. The food bank also offers programs on how to prepare healthy meals.

The food bank also participates in programs to purchase Texas-grown produce as another way to support growers.

If anyone you know does farming or ranching, give them a big hug on Agriculture Day, Stephens said. They are the fabric of what built this country.
Dry, windy conditions are raising West Texas wildfire danger as Midland County officials urge residents to avoid sparks and burning. Mathew Risley/Getty Images

Dry conditions and strong wind gusts have significantly increased the wildfire danger across much of West Texas.

Midland County Fire Marshal Justin Bunch is urging residents to take extra precautions as high winds continue across the area, increasing wildfire risk.

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With little recent rainfall and vegetation already dried out, windy conditions can allow even the smallest spark to quickly ignite and spread a fire, county officials said. Everyday hazards such as a chain dragging from a trailer, a blown tire, or a cigarette tossed from a vehicle can easily start a fire along roadways or in open areas.

Bunch said that, especially during these windy conditions, fires can begin very quickly.

A single spark can be carried by strong wind gusts for up to a mile, potentially igniting dry grass or brush far from where it started, he said.

Bunch urged residents to avoid burning trash or debris, even on private property, during windy periods. He also reminds drivers to check trailers for dragging chains and to properly dispose of smoking materials.

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Additionally, county officials stated that sand and dust storms common in West Texas during windy weather can further increase the danger in rural areas by reducing visibility and making it more difficult for firefighters to quickly identify smoke and flames.

Prevention is key, Bunch said. Taking a few simple precautions can help protect lives, property, and our community.

Residents are encouraged to remain aware of weather conditions and report any signs of wildfire immediately to local authorities.
Two additional suspects were arrested in a Midland murder case after a reported downtown assault left one man dead. Douglas Sacha/Getty Images

AMARILLO  The Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center announced the arrest of two individuals connected to a multi-state gift card fraud scheme spanning four states.

FCIC identified the individuals as Brusli Javier Romero Bajarano and John Jairo Giraldo Cortes. FCIC stated the two individuals were Colombian nationals who are subject to immigration detainers. Both individuals, said FCIC, are charged with felony offenses under Section 32.56 of the Texas Penal Code.

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Consumer Tips for Gift Card Fraud Here are the following consumer tips which the FCIC recommends to Texans: Inspect the Package: Look for signs of tampering, such as excess glue, "crinkled" security stickers, or visible damage to the cardboard.

Pick from the Back: Select cards from the back of the display rack or those kept behind customer service counters.

Report Suspicious Activity: If you find a card that appears tampered with, do not purchase it and immediately notify store personnel.

FCIC stated that the Texas Penal Code includes the fraudulent use, possession, or tampering with a gift card, gift card packaging, or gift card data.

Currently, both individuals are held in the Potter County Jail, and the case will be prosecuted by the Potter County District Attorneys Office. The states that were part of the gift card fraud scheme included Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.

On March 17, 2026, the suspects entered Texas and were identified as committing gift card fraud in Amarillo, said investigators. Following a coordinated intelligence effort between the FCICs North Texas Field Office and local law enforcement, Amarillo Police Department officers and detectives arrested the suspects within one hour of receiving the intelligence.

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During the investigation, officials confirmed that the suspects had compromised cards at three separate Amarillo locations prior to their arrest.

What is gift card cloning?

The FCIC describes gift card cloning as a sophisticated form of organized retail theft where criminals manipulate cards before they are even purchased. The process typically follows these steps:

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Residents are invited to the Bynum School for a day featuring family fun and activities benefitting a great cause. The festival is slated from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 28 at the Bynum School, 5100 Avalon Drive in Midland. Maskot/Getty Images/Maskot The 26th annual Empty Bowls program benefiting the West Texas Food Bank will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 28, at the Midland College McCormick Gallery, 3600 N. Garfield St. in Midland. LumiNola/Getty Images Residents are invited to bring the family out and enjoy an afternoon exploring military, fire, police, construction, and oil field vehicles. Courtesy Photo/Getty Images

Each week, our staff highlights top local events to help you make the most of your time. Heres a look at Midland events you wont want to miss this week.

Want to recommend an event? Submit it to us at mrt.com/communitysubmissions.

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Family Fun Fest

Residents are invited to Bynum School for a day of family-friendly activities benefiting a nonprofit. The festival is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 28, at the Bynum School, 5100 Avalon Drive in Midland. Bynum School is a faith-based, nonprofit school serving children and adults with special needs. The school enrollment includes more than 120 students, ages 3 to adult, who exhibit intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, various learning disabilities, unique and rare syndromes, and medical fragility. For more information, visit BynumSchool.org. Food trucks will be on-site; purchases are separate.

26th Annual Empty Bowls

This annual program benefiting the West Texas Food Bank will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 28, at the Midland College McCormick Gallery, 3600 N. Garfield St. in Midland. Admission is $15 and includes one bowl and unlimited soup. Soups are provided by Midland College, Odessa College, H-E-B and the West Texas Food Bank Kids Cafe Program. Additional bowls can be purchased for $15. All proceeds go to feeding programs at the West Texas Food Bank.

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Touch a Truck
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SAN JOSE, Tinian (Press Release)  A collaboration between Friends of the Mariana Trench Ocean Science Club, students, partner organizations, and community members came together on Saturday, March 14, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a meaningful tree-planting event at the Childrens Park in San Jose Village, Tinian.

The initiative brought together 16 students and four volunteers, alongside representatives from the Division of Fish and Wildlife, University of Washington, and Pacific Coastal Research and Planning. These partner organizations played an active role in supporting and guiding the activity, contributing expertise and reinforcing the importance of collaborative environmental efforts.

Together, participants successfully planted a total of 40 trees, consisting of both native and fruit-bearing species. These included Panama Cherry, Gulos, Tangerine, Lemon, Local Orange, Granada, Ifit, Nara, Mango, Guava, Laguana, Dokdok, Atis, Mountain Apple, Star Apple, and Ilang-Ilang  carefully selected to enhance biodiversity, provide food sources, and contribute to a healthier ecosystem.

Funded by the Administration for Native Americans, Solving for X aims to create pathways to increase community interest in natural resource management policy and careers, while encouraging hands-on learning around real-world environmental challenges. This event supports Friends of the Mariana Trenchs mission to promote ocean conservation through education, community engagement, and youth leadership.

The event highlighted the importance of planting both native and fruit trees as a long-term investment in environmental sustainability and community well-being.

Planting native trees and fruit trees is important for both the environment and people, said Alvin John, Ocean Science Club advisor. Native trees are species that naturally grow in a region. They support local wildlife, improve soil health, and require less maintenance since they are adapted to the local climate. Fruit trees provide fresh, nutritious food, improve food security, and promote greener communities. Together, they help protect the environment while benefiting people with cleaner air, healthier ecosystems, and sustainable food sources.

Beyond environmental impact, the activity also provided a meaningful and personal experience for those involved.

For the planter, planting native and fruit trees is more than just an environmental effort; it is a deeply rewarding experience, John added. It builds a connection to nature and a sense of contribution, knowing that each action supports wildlife and benefits the community. Watching a tree grow and eventually bear fruit brings a lasting sense of achievement, while also promoting health, reducing stress, and creating a legacy for future generations.

He further emphasized the deeper meaning behind each tree planted, stating that every native and fruit tree we plant is a promise of life for nature, of nourishment for the future, and of hope that our small hands can grow a greener, kinder world.

Organizers noted that events like this not only contribute to environmental restoration but also empower youth and community members to take an active role in shaping a more sustainable future. By combining education, collaboration, and hands-on action, the tree-planting effort reflects a growing commitment within Tinian to protect natural resources and strengthen community resilience.

Community members are encouraged to continue supporting similar initiatives and to take part in efforts that promote environmental care, sustainability, and shared responsibility for the islands future.

For more information about Friends of the Mariana Trench and upcoming volunteer opportunities, contact [email protected] or follow FOMT on social media @friendsofthemarianatrench/.
A forum capped the Jubilees final day, bringing together legal and policy leaders to reflect on how the Covenant continues to shape life in the Commonwealth. Panelists included former Marianas Political Status Commission member Pedro A. Tenorio; Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the District Court for the NMI; CNMI Supreme Court Justice John A. Manglona; Superior Court Associate Judge Lillian A. Tenorio; and economist Clement C.J. Bermudes, executive director of the Governors Council of Economic Advisers. Also in the photo: attorney Gretchen Smith as moderator. Photo by Bryan Manabat

By Bryan Manabat

[email protected]

Variety News Staff

THE 50th anniversary of the Covenant between the Northern Mariana Islands and the United States was marked March 24 with a panel discussion at the American Memorial Park indoor theater, the centerpiece of the third day of the Commonwealth Jubilee.

The three-day celebration, hosted and coordinated by the CNMI America 250 Commission, commemorated the Covenants signing and explored the cultural and political identity of the Marianas. The Jubilee was presented in partnership with the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, bringing national cultural expertise into the CNMIs anniversary commemoration.

Day 1 featured cultural exhibits, traditional demonstrations, and community storytelling honoring the Marianas living heritage. Day 2, themed Embracing American Culture & Heritage, focused on identity, diaspora, and the evolving cultural landscape of the CNMI. The Covenant forum capped the Jubilees final day, bringing together legal and policy leaders to reflect on how the agreement continues to shape life in the Commonwealth.

The Covenant  negotiated over 27 months and approved through a multilayered process involving the CNMI, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the U.S. Congress, and the United Nations  established the Commonwealths political union with the United States. It also granted U.S. citizenship to the indigenous people of the Northern Mariana Islands, forming the foundation of the modern CNMI.

Panelists included former Marianas Political Status Commission member Pedro A. Tenorio; Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the District Court for the NMI; CNMI Supreme Court Justice John A. Manglona; Superior Court Associate Judge Lillian A. Tenorio; and economist Clement C.J. Bermudes, executive director of the Governors Council of Economic Advisers.

They examined the Covenants provisions on citizenship, mutual consent, land alienation, federal benefits, and political status, as well as the effectiveness of Section 902 consultations and ongoing challenges related to immigration and land ownership.

To close the forum, moderator Gretchen Smith asked each panelist: What do you find to be the most remarkable aspect of the Covenant and its original design?

Their responses pointed to a shared theme: the Covenant is not merely a historical artifact, but a living framework that continues to determine rights, protections, and federal relationships.

A hard-fought union

Tenorio said the Covenants most remarkable achievement was transforming the CNMI peoples long-held desire for political union with the United States into a binding agreement that preserved key local protections.

He said that by the time negotiations began, the entire issue of future political status already [was] written quite firmly in the minds of the majority of the people, and that his role was to help secure a very strong affiliation with the United States.

Fifty years later, Tenorio said, the Covenants enduring strength lies in its ability to deliver U.S. citizenship and political union while safeguarding local priorities on land, status, and self-government.

He pointed to land alienation and social protection provisions as particularly significant, noting that Section 805 and Article XII were made subject to mutual consent due to strong public sentiment to preserve land ownership among people of Northern Marianas descent.

He also highlighted the CNMIs access to Supplemental Security Income as a major achievement at the time.

Still, Tenorio said his one regret was that immigration was not permanently placed under mutual consent, underscoring what he views as the importance of negotiated protections.

Citizenships lasting impact

Justice John A. Manglona said Article III on citizenship remains the Covenants most transformative feature, recalling a time when Northern Marianas residents were treated as foreign nationals.

Article III on citizenship is important to me. We were foreigners in the eyes of U.S. immigration, he said, describing the challenges of travel before the Covenant.

For him, the agreement fundamentally changed both legal status and lived experience.

Mutual consent and political identity

Associate Judge Lillian A. Tenorio emphasized the importance of both citizenship and the mutual consent provision under Section 105.

She said the clause reflects a deliberate limit on federal authority, ensuring that certain fundamental provisions cannot be changed without the CNMI governments agreement.

We entered into this Covenant as a party separate from the United States, she said. We still maintain some of that independence.

A rare negotiating tool

Bermudes highlighted Article IX, particularly Section 902 consultations, as a unique feature that provides the CNMI with a formal channel for engagement with the U.S. executive branch.

This is a mechanism enshrined in law that gives us direct access. You dont see that anywhere else in the union, he said.

He described the current round of 902 talks as among the most robust in the CNMIs history.

Legal relevance today

Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona pointed to provisions that continue to shape federal court decisions, particularly in Social Security and voting rights cases.

She cited the U.S. Supreme Courts 2022 decision in United States v. Vaello Madero, noting that the Covenants language ensured CNMI residents retained access to Supplemental Security Income.

She also referenced Borja v. Nago, which preserved absentee voting rights for certain residents moving to the CNMI.

A living framework

Across the panel, several themes emerged: citizenships lasting impact, the importance of mutual consent, the value of Section 902 consultations, and the continued legal force of the Covenant in federal systems.

Half a century later, panelists agreed, the Covenant remains a powerful political agreement  one that continues to define rights, responsibilities, and opportunities for the people of the Northern Marianas.

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.
Park Wang-yeol is repatriated to South Korea through Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport on the morning of March 25, 2026. Photo by Jang Gyoung-sik/The Chosun Daily

SEOUL (Reuters)  South Korean police on Wednesday took into custody an alleged drug lord accused of running a narcotics ring in the country from a Philippine prison, officials said on Wednesday.

Park Wang-yeol, who was serving a 60-year term for triple homicide, was flown to South Korea on Wednesday on temporary extradition, after President Lee Jae Myung requested the handover to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at a summit meeting earlier this month.

The temporary clause under a treaty between the two countries halts the sentence in the Philippines to allow the suspect to be investigated in South Korea, foreign and justice ministry officials in Seoul said.

South Korean authorities have said Park, believed to be 47, operated an alleged a ring smuggling large quantities of illegal narcotics and conspiring with accomplices in the country to distribute them.

Justice ministry and police officials declined to comment on the scale or value of Parks alleged drug trade. Some South Korean local media reported he had been distributing about 60 kilograms of methamphetamine a month with street value of 30 billion won ($20 million).

Illegal drug use in South Korea has steadily grown despite a tough anti-drugs policy and crackdown on illicit drug imports and sales.

President Lee thanked Marcos for Parks extradition and said the country will chase anyone harming the country to the end of the earth.

It was important to ensure Park was investigated and face trial in South Korea so his alleged involvement in illegal activities while under incarceration abroad does not become an example for potential copycat criminals, the foreign ministry said separately in a statement.

Park had broken out of Philippine prison twice taking advantage of inadequate inmate supervision that allowed some prisoners to use smuggled mobile phones and continue illegal activities, Justice Ministry official Lee Ji-yeon and police official Yoo Seung-ryeol told a briefing.
"Yellowstone" stars Beth (played by Kelly Reilly) and Rip (played by Cole Hauser) return in Texas-set Dutton Ranch. Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

New state, same chaos: Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler are back in the fight.

A new chapter in the Yellowstone universe is heating up and this time, its Texas-sized. Paramount+ has dropped a first look at its latest spin-off, Dutton Ranch, shifting the story to a new battleground in the Lone Star State.

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Fans have long gravitated toward Beth and Rip, two of the franchises most volatile and devoted figures, drawn in by their intense bond and unwavering loyalty to the Dutton legacy.

The move south isnt surprising. Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan is a Texas native, and the new series was recently filmed across North Texas. Known for shooting on real working ranches, including several he owns, Sheridan brings the same grounded authenticity that has defined the franchise.

Dutton Ranch is created by executive producer and showrunner Chad Feehan, based on characters created by Sheridan and John Linson.

Whats it about?

The official logline teases high stakes and familiar grit. As Beth and Rip fight to build a future together, far from the ghosts of Yellowstone, they collide with brutal new realities and a ruthless rival ranch that will stop at nothing to protect its empire. In South Texas, blood runs deeper, forgiveness is fleeting, and the cost of survival might just be your soul.

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The series joins a growing slate of Yellowstone prequels and spinoffs, including 1883, 1923, and the upcoming The Madison.

This marks the second Yellowstone spin-off following Marshals, which centers on Beths brother, Kayce Dutton and is currently airing on Sunday on CBS. The series has already been renewed for a second season.

First look: Chaos, fire and familiar faces

The minute-long teaser doesnt hold back. Its packed with explosions, gunfire and sweeping shots of Texas ranchland  alongside darker flashes of buried bodies, violent confrontations and escalating tension.

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Amid the chaos, there are quieter moments too: Beth and Rip sharing drinks on the ranch porch, riding horseback across open land and trying  in their own way  to build something new.

Welcome to Texas, Rip said in the teaser.

But peace doesnt last long.

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We see a body being dragged, homes set ablaze, gasoline poured and flames lighting up the screen.

A legacy is a beautiful thing, Beth said, echoing the stakes earlier in the teaser. But only if it survives.

Who will be in the series?

Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser come back as fan favorites Beth and Rip. Also returning is Finn Little as their son, Carter.

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The cast also includes Juan Pablo Raba, Jai Courtney, J.R. Villarreal, Marc Menchaca, Natalie Alyn Lind, Ed Harris and Annette Bening.

Hauser recently told The Hollywood Reporter that the new series will lean heavily into Beth and Rips relationship.

Kelly and I are focused on [Rip and Beths] relationship and our love together, and what were going to get them into.

Theres also potential for crossover within the growing Yellowstone universe. Producers have hinted at the possibility of Beth and Rip intersecting with Kayces story in Marshals.

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Theres so much potential in having all of these spinoffs in the universe, director Christina Voros told THR. You would love to see what could come of that.

When does the spin-off come out?
State Medicaid programs expand or reduce benefits depending on their finances, and massive federal cuts could force some to shrink what they offer. Getty Images/Cavan Images RF

Star Quinn moved to Kingsport, Tennessee, in 2023, the same year the state began covering dental costs for about 600,000 low-income adults enrolled in Medicaid.

But when Quinn chipped a tooth and it became infected, she could not find a dentist near her home who would accept her government health coverage and was taking new patients.

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She went to an emergency room, receiving painkillers and antibiotics, but she remained in agonizing pain weeks later and paid a dentist $200 to extract the tooth.

Years later, it still hurts to chew on that side, she said, but Quinn  a 34-year-old who has four children and, with her husband, earns about $30,000 a year  still cant find a dentist nearby.

You should be able to get dental care, she said, because at the end of the day dental care is health care.

The federal government has long required states to offer dental coverage for children enrolled in Medicaid, the joint state-federal health program for people who are low-income or disabled. Paying for adults dental care, though, is optional for states.

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In recent years, several states have opted to expand the coverage offered by their Medicaid programs, seeking to boost access in recognition of its importance to overall health. So far, increasing adult dental care is a work in progress: In a sampling of six of those states by KFF Health News, fewer than 1 in 4 adults on Medicaid see a dentist at least once a year.

But under congressional Republicans One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law last year, the federal government is expected to reduce Medicaid spending by more than $900 billion over the next decade. The expected 10-year losses for individual states range from about $184 million for Wyoming to about $150 billion for California.

State Medicaid programs typically expand or reduce benefits depending on their finances, and such massive federal cuts could force some to shrink or eliminate what they offer, including dental benefits.

We will lose all the gains we have made, said Shillpa Naavaal, a dental policy researcher at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.

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Tennessees Medicaid program, for instance, spent nearly $64 million on its dental coverage in 2024 and saw a 20% decrease in dental-related ER visits, said Amy Lawrence, the programs spokesperson.

But under the new law, Tennessee is projected to lose about $7 billion in federal funding over the next decade.

As of last year, 38 states and the District of Columbia offered enhanced dental benefits for adult Medicaid beneficiaries, according to the American Dental Association. Most of the others offer limited or emergency-only care. Alabama is the only state that offers no dental coverage for adult beneficiaries.

Since 2021, 18 states have enhanced their coverage to include checkups, X-rays, fillings, crowns, and dentures, while loosening annual dollar caps for benefits.

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Use of dental benefits in states with the enhanced benefits is greater than in states with only limited or emergency coverage, though still low overall, according to an ADA report with the latest data as of December. No more than a third of adult Medicaid recipients saw a dentist in 2022 in any state.

Nationwide, 41% of dentists reported participating in Medicaid in 2024, a share that has remained stable over the past decade despite the dental benefit expansions in many states, the ADA says. Many participating dentists, though, limit the number of Medicaid enrollees they treat, and some will not accept new patients on Medicaid.

Reimbursement rates have not kept up with costs, deterring dentists from accepting Medicaid, said Marko Vujicic, chief economist and vice president at the ADA Health Policy Institute.

Because of a lack of dentists who take Medicaid in southwestern Virginia, the Appalachian Highlands Community Dental Center in Abingdon sees patients who travel more than two hours for care  and must turn many away, said Elaine Smith, its executive director.

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The centers seven residents treated about 5,000 patients last year, most of them on Medicaid. About 3,000 people are on its waitlist, waiting up to a year to be seen.

Its sad because they have the means now to see a dentist, but they still dont have a dental home, Smith said.

Low-income adults face other barriers to dental care, including a lack of transportation, child care, or time off work, she said.

The inability to see a dentist has consequences broader than tooth pain. Poor dental health can contribute to a host of other significant health problems, such as heart disease and diabetes. It can also make it harder to do things like apply for jobs and generally lead a healthy life.

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Robin Mullins, 49, who has been off and on Medicaid since 2013, said a lack of regular dental visits contributed to her losing her bottom teeth. Unable to find a dentist near her home in rural Clintwood, Virginia, she drives almost 90 minutes to Smiths clinic  that is, when she can afford to get time away from driving for DoorDash or find help watching her daughter, who has special needs.

She gets by with partial dentures but misses her natural teeth, she said. Its absolutely horrible, as you cant chew your food properly.

In New Hampshire, though, the challenges have more to do with low demand than a low supply of dentists, said Tom Raffio, chief executive of Northeast Delta Dental, which manages the states Medicaid dental program. The company has added new dentists to its list of participating providers, along with two mobile dental units that traverse the state, he said.

Raffio said Northeast Delta Dental also has publicized the state benefits using radio advertising and social media, among other efforts.

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Until 2023, New Hampshire Medicaid covered only dental emergencies.

Culturally, its going to take a while, he said, as people just are used to not going to the dentist, or going to the ER when have dental pain.

Brooks Woodward, dental director at Baltimore-based Chase Brexton Health Care, called Marylands rate of roughly 1 in 5 adults on Medicaid seeing a dentist in 2024 pretty good considering the benefits had been enhanced only since 2023.

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Plastic used in food containers, packaging and other products can break down into microscopic particles through regular use, according to the National Institutes of Health. GIPhotoStock/Image Source

Prostate tumors contain more microplastics than healthy prostate tissue, researchers from New York University Langone Health found.

Tiny plastic particles were present in nine of 10 men diagnosed with prostate cancer, and appeared in greater amounts in the tumors than in nearby noncancerous tissue, they found.

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Our pilot study provides important evidence that microplastic exposure may be a risk factor for prostate cancer, lead study author Stacy Loeb, a professor in the NYU Grossman School of Medicines Departments of Urology and Population Health, told SciTechDaily.

Loeb said that earlier studies hinted at links between microplastics and heart disease and dementia. However, little direct research had connected them to prostate cancer.

Plastic used in food containers, packaging and other products can breakdown into microscopic particles through regular use, according to the National Institutes of Health. These pieces can be eaten, inhaled and absorbed through the skin. Despite their presence in many human tissue samples, the effects of microplastics on human health remain poorly understood.

Loebs team recruited 10 cancer patients who had their prostate removed. They found microplastics in 90% of tumor samples, compared to 70% of noncancerous tissue.

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Previous studies claimed to have revealed microplastics in tissue from human brains, testes, placentas and arteries. However, a group of researchers has pushed back on these findings because human fats can cause false positive results for microplastics in some of the analyses underpinning these papers.

Loeb used two separate tools to verify the presence of microplastics: a microscope analysis to assess microplastic abundance, size and other characteristics, and incinerating the tissue to measure the chemicals in the smoke.

Using Raman microscopy, they found plastic particles in 60% of patient samples, with individual particles measuring from 1 to 40 micrometers, with the largest barely visible to the human eye. Using pyrolysis and mass spectrometry, they found signs of plastics in 90% of patients, with higher concentrations in the cancerous tissues.

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A portion of Drifters Eats and Drinks kitchen is exposed after an EF-1 tornado ripped off its roof. Chase Martin/The Telegraph

GRAFTON  The reminders of an EF-1 tornado mostly were gone until reaching Drifters Eats and Drinks, where windows are boarded up, the interior is exposed, and the roof is covered with a tarp.

The craziness of a tornado hitting one place in Grafton is overwhelming; it couldve been any of us, said Mary Jo Cote, owner of Grafton Pub. The minute it happened, I was like, Oh my god, how can we help?

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As a fellow Grafton business owner, Cotes first concern was for the employees put out of work by the storm. Because of this, parts of the Grafton business community and the surrounding area rallied to donate over $13,000, along with temporary employment.

These funds were raised through online donations and at a fundraising event hosted by Grafton Pub. Together, the donations and employment will supplement the 12 on-payroll employees at Drifters Eats and Drinks as owner Adrienne Hayn works on next steps.

This is really for the employees, Hayn said. I have insurance, so itll take care of our needs down there, but for these employees on unemployment, that doesnt cover much.

The hope is: if I can keep them funded, then they can be able to come back.

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Drifters Eats and Drinks owner Adrienne Hayn (center) meets with a Drifters employee and Grafton Pub owner Mary Jo Cote (right) at a fundraising event. Chase Martin/The Telegraph

Hayn explained that this storm could not have come at a worse time for both her year-round business and her employees. Around this time, ahead of the busy summer season, she would normally start hiring up to 13 additional employees.

Instead, she is working with structural engineers and insurance adjusters to rebuild her business.

If we were able to get started today, it would be three months, Hayn said. If the insurance process takes longer, then it will be June before we open.

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Passionate community support was on display at Grafton Pubs fundraising event, where money was raised through auctions, a 50-50 raffle, and voluntary tip pooling.

Every business in town has donated something, said Christine Spanton, Grafton Oyster Bar worker and fundraiser auctioneer.

A table is filled with auction prizes, including coupons and gift baskets, at Grafton Pubs fundraising event for Drifters Eats and Drinks. Chase Martin/The Telegraph

Bed and breakfasts, gift shops, and other restaurants were among the businesses that supported employees. Local tourist hot spots Raging Rivers WaterPark and Aeries Resort also offered support through temporary employment and donations.

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The support continued outside Grafton, involving Alton businesses such as Tonys Steakhouse and Morrisons Pub, as well as Missouri boaters.

This is community helping out community, and everybody has been helping, Cote said.

This support also came from strangers, many of whom wanted anonymity. During the fundraising event, bar patrons were handing money to Cote and Hayn from their wallets. One individual donated his laptop, but wouldnt give his name.

Patrons gather during a fundraising event at Grafton Pub to support Drifters Eats and Drinks after it was struck by an EF-1 tornado. Courtesy of Mary Jo Cote

Everybody has been so loving and caring this whole time, said Abby Blaz, a Drifters Eats and Drinks employee.

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The six-year employee has used her job to graduate from nursing school. Since starting after high school, she has developed a strong connection with Hayn, her regulars, and the community.
The Illinois attorney general said parents should be aware of changes to Parent PLUS Federal Student Loans. Damircudic/Getty Images

Parents who took out federal student loans in their own names on behalf of their children are being urged by the Illinois attorney general to consolidate those loans by April 1.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul said there have been recent federal law changes, which affects parents with unconsolidated Parent PLUS loans or who took out new loans after July 1.

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Those changes mean parents will have "limited repayment plan options and be ineligible for income-driven repayment plans," as well as "prevent most borrowers from receiving Public Service Loan Forgiveness for those loans," according to the Office of the Attorney General.

I encourage Parent PLUS borrowers to learn about your loans and to consider consolidating any unconsolidated Parent PLUS loans by April 1 to have access to an income-driven repayment plan, Raoul said. An income-driven repayment plan can be the most affordable choice for many student loan borrowers, and enrollment is almost always required for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Find out more about what options are best for you by logging into your Federal Student Aid account.

Borrowers will have access to payment plans that are not income driven regardless of whether they consolidate loans or not.

"Only consolidated Parent PLUS loans are eligible for income-driven repayment plans. After Parent PLUS loans are consolidated, borrowers can enroll in the income-driven repayment plan called the Income-Contingent Repayment Plan," the office said. "Although this plan will phase out by July 1, 2028, once a Parent PLUS borrower makes one payment on an income-driven repayment plan between July 5, 2025 and July 30, 2028, they will be eligible to enroll in the Income-Based Repayment Plan."

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The Illinois State Treasurer's Office is accepting submissions for its Cream of the Crop Photography Contest through June 12. Westend61/Getty Images

State Treasurer Michael Freriches' office is accepting photo submissions for its Cream of the Crop Photography Contest through June 12 as a part of the office's Ag Invest program.

The competition is open to Illinois residents between ages 8 and 18 who would like to submit up to two photos that highlight agriculture in Illinois.

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Ag Invest is a program that helps Illinois farmers and agriculture professionals with lines of credit and loans that can be used for operating costs, equipment purchases, construction-related expenses or livestock purchases.

This is the 14th year of the competition. First, second and third-place winners will be selected in three age categories  8-10, 11-14 and 15-18. Winners will receive a Bright Start college savings account scholarship of $250, $500 or $1,000.

Photos can be submitted through the treasurer's office website.

The winning photos will be features in Ag Invest marketing materials, the 2027 Cream of the Crop calendar and at the Illinois State Fair.

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Janet and Tim Chipman accept Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce's Circle of Excellence Award on behalf of the late Bob Chipman  Janet's husband and Tim's father  during the 2025 annual meeting. The chamber will host is 2026 meeting on Thursday. Ben Singson/Journal-Courier

Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce will use its annual meeting on Thursday to recognize the work done by area businesses in 2025, as well as four award winners.

The chamber will recognize its Small Business of the Year, Large Business of the Year, Not-for-Profit of the Year and Circle of Excellence recipient during the chamber's annual meeting at Chapter II Events, 420 S. Clay Ave. A cocktail and social hour will begin at 4:30 p.m. with the presentation at 5:30 p.m.

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The annual meeting highlights the work area businesses have put in during the past year, chamber President Lisa Musch said.

"Our theme this year is 'A year to celebrate,' because we were a part of so many celebrations," Musch said. "We have so many new businesses, company milestones. We are going to reflect on the past year. It's a time to gather and celebrate our local businesses and community members."

During the meeting, the chamber will highlight some of the things it has done and things it plans to do during the upcoming year to help support and promote area businesses, she said.

"The Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce was proud to be a part of many celebrations in 2025," Musch said. "We celebrated new businesses, continuing partnerships, company milestones and, most importantly, our communitys bicentennial."

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The chamber focuses on support and promotes working together to build a better community, Musch said.

"As we reflect on the past year, we appreciate the strength of our members and our community while we foster a continued optimism for the future we continue to build together," Musch said.

Tickets for the meeting are $25 a person and include one beverage and food. Registration is available online through the chamber's website, by calling 217-245-2174 or by emailing chamber2@jacksonvilleareachamber.org.

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The best thing about the annual meeting is building connections across businesses and organizations, Musch said.
Two Jacksonville men were arrested after a reported home invasion Tuesday in which a couple said they were injured. Journal-Courier

Two Jacksonville men were arrested after a reported home invasion Tuesday in which a couple said they were injured.

Police were called about 11:01 p.m. Tuesday to a residence in the 900 block of North Prairie Street for a report that a man and his girlfriend had been assaulted.

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According to police records, two people broke into the house and one of them was accused of battering the two people inside with a weapon that was not a firearm.

The man and his girlfriend suffered minor head injuries and one suffered minor back injuries, according to police. Emergency medical services treated the victims on the scene, but they were not taken to a hospital.

Officers arrested two people a short time later in the 900 block of West College Avenue.

Aaron W. Morris, 29, of Jacksonville was arrested on a charge of felony home invasion. He remained in the Morgan County jail on Wednesday.

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Dakota A. Cheek, 28, of Jacksonville was arrested on a charge of criminal trespass to a residence. He was released under state pre-trial guidelines.
Consultant Greg Sutton (right) speaks to City Council members about the city's new comprehensive plan. He said Monday that the last time the plan was updated was 2002. Bridgette Fox/Journal-Courier

Jacksonville City Council is getting ready for its next comprehensive plan, which the city uses to keep track of big projects it hopes to achieve over the next decade or more. The last plan was published in 2002.

The plan is similar to a wish list of projects a municipality hopes to secure. Residents will be surveyed later this year about possible future projects in the comprehensive plan.

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"There's been a lot of stuff that was checked off (in the 2002 plan), which is good, that's the purpose of it," said Brian Nyberg, director of community development for the city. "Another purpose is to have as much in there as possible so that anytime the city applies for a grant, one of the first few questions on the application 'Is this in your comprehensive plan?'"

The goal is to finalize the entire plan by October or November.

"It's been in the planning stage, actually probably for four to six years, so we've been budgeting for it," Nyberg said.

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Utility projects will be a big part of the plan, Mayor Andy Ezard said.

"Utility is a big one. When I say 'big'  they're all big," Ezard said. "Park's big, law enforcement's big, but utilities is a little bit different because these projects are $10 (million) and $30 million projects. Not a $2 million fire truck. It's just a bigger scale."

There still are some projects from the 2002 comprehensive plan that likely will be included in the new one, such as getting sanitary sewer infrastructure in the area past Cedarhurst Senior Living of Jacksonville by Route 106, Nyberg said.

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"The hope is to get infrastructure, and Morton (Avenue) is a state highway, so we have to work with the Illinois Department of Transportation, but I know that was on the list in 2002, and that hasn't happened yet," Nyberg said. "But I know that there's grants coming and that I believe one of the engineering firms has been working on that on, like, a 10-year plan."

The plan also will encompass housing projects and Jacksonville Developmental Center, which is a site owned by the state, Nyberg said.

"There'll be meetings with the hospital as far as healthcare, the school district as far as education, the land use around the city, the zoning. We'll follow a lot of the guidelines lines from the 2002 land use and there will be a residential development," Nyberg said. "The JDC property is in play now, as well. That will be in the comprehensive plan, just not sure if the city's ever going to own it, but the city would control the zoning."

Greg Sutton, a consultant working with the city on the comprehensive plan, told Jacksonville City Council on Monday that having the plan finalized by the end of the year will ensure aldermen can shape the city's budget around some of their goals.

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"As you look into next year's budget, the comprehensive plan and the priorities that are set in there can also be reflected as you do your budgeting for the upcoming year," Sutton said. "We do plan on a lot of interaction with the general public to get feedback from the community, as well as look at what resources are available in the community."
New data centers in rural Illinois promise growth, but residents worry about land use, noise, light pollution and strained resources. Erik Isakson/Getty Images

Illinois has 178 data centers and 50 data center providers in major cities, according to the website Datacenters.com. To meet growth demands, rural areas of the state are under the microscope for new projects.

A Brookings Institution study found local rural communities would benefit from a greater focus on accessibility and duration of data center jobs.

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Tony Pipa, senior fellow in the Center for Sustainable Development at the Brookings Institution, said concerns over jobs are valid, but residents also question whether the size and development of these centers are what is best for their community.

"People are worried about how it will affect the quality of life and even the integrity of the places where they're living," Pipa said. "These are really large industrial developments; they take up a lot of land. What it means for the viewshed; there may be noise and light pollution."

The Brookings research points to electricity, water and public service demands under rural systems, which may already be strained, as additional concerns. It notes local governments generally have limited authority over prices, service demands and environmental impacts. Pipa stressed it leads to a loss of ability to control, engage and help shape what might be happening.

The large footprint of data centers right now is a result of current technology and demand, Pipa said. Solutions are needed to increase productivity and efficiency and to use fewer resources to get the same or even greater output. The state of technology is changing very rapidly to meet the challenge, he said.

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"Chip technology; the use of water to cool," Pipa said. "There's proposals to put data centers in space, where you won't need coolants because it's cold. There's proposals to shrink data centers significantly."

Pipa expects to see technology and computing power improving at the same time the demand for usage increases and believes the urgent race right now is driven by markets and geopolitical forces.
Opponents of a data center proposed near Waverly wave signs decrying the project during a Sangamon County Board meeting at Bank of Springfield Center. The board decided to table a vote approving the project during its Monday meeting. Ben Singson/Journal-Courier

After a lengthy and often combative meeting, a vote on what may be west-central Illinois' first data center has been put on the back burner.

Sangamon County Board voted 15-13 to table a vote on a proposed $500 million data center that would be built by data company CyrusOne during its meeting Monday at Bank of Springfield Center. The vote was the final hurdle the project needed to clear before construction could get under way a few miles east of Waverly.

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The project would create a campus of six 250,000-square-foot one-story buildings on 280 acres of farmland in Talkington Township. If constructed, the project would take four to six years to complete and use about 600 megawatts of power once up and running. CyrusOne and the project have been met with strenuous backlash from the public at numerous Sangamon County government meetings.

The meeting was held in the arena's ballroom, rather than Sangamon County Complex, in anticipation of high turnout. Hundreds of people arrived for the meeting, most of whom were there to oppose the project, though there was a contingent of union workers and other supporters there as well. The space was packed enough that many spectators stood around the edges of the room.

An initial motion to table the vote was introduced before arguments for and against the project were presented. The motion was voted down 13-15 by the board.

Opponents of the project echoed many of the arguments made in past meetings against the data center, such as the possibility of damage to the environment and the disruptive effects noise from the center could have on nearby residents. On the latter point, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine professor emeritus Kathleen Campbell told the board that chronic noise exposure could lead to worsening mental health for anyone living within earshot of the noise, including disrupted circadian rhythms, depression, anxiety and even suicidality.

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"Don't sacrifice the health and welfare of one segment of the population for the financial gain of another," she said.

CyrusOne officials were on hand to make their case for the center being built in Sangamon County. Location and Power Strategy Director Bradd Hout said that the center would incorporate noise abatement construction techniques similar to ones being built at the company's Aurora site, where the city is seeking to place strict regulation on data centers after complaints from residents.

The company also will supply $7-9 million to Apple Creek Water Cooperative as part of a contract to supply water to the facility, Hout said. CyrusOne also plans on funding the dredging of Waverly Lake, which has had sediment introduced into it, he said.

"There's no public funding currently available for that work, so our participation on the private side to get that job done is going to help everybody in that region that relies on that lake for water," Hout said.

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Afterward, the meeting moved to an extensive section for public comment, with most of the people getting up to talk voicing their enmity with the project.

Arguments put forth by opponents suggested that a data center could be a potential target for terrorist attacks, the adjacent Double Black Diamond solar panel farm could amplify noise from the center and a natural disaster that strikes the center could be ruinous for the surrounding area, among other things. Several people also accused CyrusOne outright of lying to Sangamon County residents.

"Unions exist for one reason and one reason only," resident Salem Addison King said. "Unions exist because you can't trust corporations to keep their promises."

Proponents cited the steady work the project could bring for union workers and the economic development it could bring to Sangamon County among the reasons why the board should approve the center. George Alexander, business manager of Springfield's Laborers Local 477 union, said that while the construction jobs would be temporary, a scant amount of work for union members has been putting the squeeze on them.

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"You're not the one getting the calls saying they can't pay their bills or they're considering suicide, so I applaud CyrusOne for wanting to bring those jobs here and have a local work force," he said.

As the night wore on, members of the crowd began heckling speakers both pro- and anti-data center, leading Board Chair Andy Van Meter to call for order several times.

Once public comment and final arguments concluded, a second motion to table was introduced by Republican board member Craig Hall, who resides in and represents the area of Sangamon County where Talkington Township is located. Hall said the township was uninterested in any benefits a data center could bring to the area.

"I asked our board of trustees to our township, 'Do we want to approach the company to see if there's anything we could benefit?'" he said. "I was really proud when they said, 'We're not for sale.'"

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After the meeting, CyrusOne issued a statement saying it "appreciates the continued time, consideration, and engagement from county leadership, community members and local stakeholders."

"This project is designed to deliver meaningful economic benefits, including significant investment, job creation, and long-term support for local infrastructure and community priorities," the company said. "We are encouraged by the ongoing dialogue in Sangamon County and the relationships we are building throughout this process.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is hosting a self-guided Holy Week event that allows people to reflect on Christ's life and resurrection. Surasak Suwanmake/Getty Images

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is hosting a self-guided Holy Week event that allows people to reflect on Christ's life and resurrection.

The Walk with Christ event is free and open to those of any faith.

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"As we commemorate this sacred season, we testify of the literal and glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ, the most transcendent event in human history," Bishop Adam M. Hammatt said. "Through His infinite atonement, the savior has overcome both sin and death, offering each of us the promise of renewal and eternal life. We invite all to join us ... as we portray the Holy Week through music, art and the spoken word."

The walk will be available from 10 a.m. to noon and from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3601 Buckeye Drive in Springfield.
A case heard this week by the U.S. Supreme Court could potentially affect hundreds of thousands of voters during the upcoming midterm elections. Greggory DiSalvo/Getty Images

The U.S. Supreme Courts conservative justices appeared skeptical this week of the validity of mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day, in a case that could affect hundreds of thousands of voters during the upcoming midterm elections.

The high court heard arguments on whether federal law overrides a Mississippi law that requires mail-in ballots that are postmarked on or before Election Day to be counted as long as they arrive within five business days of the election. Fourteen states  including Illinois  have similar laws, which extend a grace period to ballots that arrive through the mail after polls close.

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Several conservative justices raised concerns with allowing ballots to arrive after Election Day, including whether voters could recall ballots once theyve shipped them but before they arrive at election offices. Justice Brett Kavanaugh questioned whether late-arriving ballots risk undermining election confidence.

The longer after Election Day any significant changes in vote totals take place, the greater the risk that the losing side will cry the election has been stolen, Kavanaugh said, quoting from an analysis by a New York University law professor.

Broader attacks on mail voting

The case comes before the Supreme Court at a moment of broader attacks against mail-in voting. Four Republican-led states eliminated their ballot arrival grace periods last year. And Congress is mulling proposals that would restrict voting by mail amid a sprawling debate in the U.S. Senate over legislation demanded by President Donald Trump that would impose sweeping new voter restrictions nationwide.

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That legislation, known as the Save Act, is unlikely to pass because of the filibuster.

The Republican National Committee is challenging Mississippis grace period law. The party contends a longstanding federal law that sets the Tuesday after the first Monday in November as Election Day for federal offices preempts state laws that allow ballots cast by Election Day, but received later, to count.

Paul Clement, an attorney for the Republican National Committee, argued the prospect that the outcome of an election could change because of ballots arriving after Election Day would be unacceptable to losing candidates. After the 2020 election, Trump demanded election officials not count ballots that came in after Election Day. States kept counting ballots.

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If you have an election and the election is going to turn on late-arriving ballots in a way that means what everybody kind of thought was the result on Election Day ends up being the opposite a week later, 21 days later, the losers are not going to accept that result. Full stop, Clement told justices.

Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson, a Republican who is defending the state law, argues that federal law allows ballots cast by Election Day to be received later. In legal filings, attorneys for the secretary argue both legal and historical precedent support his position. States may decide that voters have made their final choices when ballots are submitted to state officials rather than when theyre received, according to Watson.

Ideological split?

The justices this week appeared divided along ideological lines, with conservative justices skeptical of the grace periods and liberal justices more sympathetic. Conservatives hold a 6-3 majority on the court.

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It seems to me that we have a very long history of states having a variety of different ballot receipt deadlines, to include after Election Day, said Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, one of the courts liberal members.

Mississippi Solicitor General Scott Stewart told the court the dispute is over whether Congress in an 1845 law blocked states from counting ballots cast by Election Day but received later.

No one challenged it until now, Stewart said.

At least 725,000 ballots were postmarked by Election Day 2024 and arrived within a legally accepted post-election window, The New York Times has reported, citing election officials in 14 of 22 states and territories where late-arriving ballots were accepted that year.

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About 30% of voters cast a mail ballot in 2024, according to data gathered by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.

The Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in October 2024 that federal law requires ballots to be received by Election Day. Trump likewise issued an executive order last year that attempted to require that mail ballots be received by the end of Election Day and to impose other election changes, but much of the order has been blocked by federal courts.

Rick Hasen, a professor and director of the Safeguarding Democracy Project at the University of California-Los Angeles School of Law, wrote on his Election Law Blog that it was clear from this week's arguments that the Supreme Court will be closely divided, and the case could come out either way. A decision is expected later in the spring or early summer.

Caleb Hays, chief policy counsel at the Center for Election Confidence, a conservative-leaning legal advocacy group that opposes ballot grace periods, said his organization was pleased the justices appeared to pick up on the need for a clear end to the voting period. He also welcomed the justices raising the issue of recalling ballots when they are delivered through the mail or by a third-party service like FedEx.

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That brings into question some of the arguments we saw from (Mississippi) on a ballot being final when it is cast and cast includes when it is deposited in a mailbox, Hays said in an interview.

As the legal challenge made its way through the courts over the past two years, some Republican-led states moved to eliminate their grace periods. Kansas, North Dakota, Ohio and Utah last year moved to require all or nearly all ballots to be in the hands of election officials on Election Day to count.

Illinois among the states

The states that continue to extend grace periods for ballots arriving after Election Day are Alaska, California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia, along with the District of Columbia.

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The case is separate from one involving U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Illinois. Hes challenging Illinois election laws allowing ballots to be counted after Election Day, and the Supreme Court allowed his case to proceed after a lower court threw it out, saying he has standing because he is a candidate for office. That case went back to the lower courts, although the Mississippi case could be decided first.

Some local election officials have urged the Supreme Court to uphold ballot grace periods. A decision that strikes down state laws grace periods would increase the administrative burdens on many election officials, a collection of election officials and local governments in California, Massachusetts and Washington said in an amicus brief.

(Grace periods) enable administrators in large and small jurisdictions to do their essential work in a timely and reasonable manner, the brief says.

If the Supreme Court requires that ballots must arrive on or before Election Day, Clement suggested election officials would have enough time to prepare ahead of November. He said such a decision wouldnt violate the Purcell principle, a Supreme Court doctrine holding that major changes to election policy and practice shouldnt be made just before an election because voters could get confused.

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The federal law at issue pertains to general elections, not primary elections, he noted  meaning the courts decision would apply only to the November election.
Lithium ore falls from a chute onto a stockpile at a mine. Getty Images/Bloomberg Creative John Adams Syndicated

For an opposing viewpoint, see "Trusted allies are key to advancing reserves" by Chadwick Hagan

In the wake of the Arab oil embargo in the 1970s, Congress responded by creating the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, an emergency stockpile designed to protect the nation from foreign coercion and sudden supply shocks. The reserve has provided an important tool during price spikes and temporary disruptions.

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As we confront todays mineral crisis and Chinese mineral extortion, we should be honest about the limits of strategic reserves.

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve was only partly successful. While it offered some measure of short-term relief, it did not fundamentally change Americas energy security. In the years that followed its creation, U.S. reliance on oil imports increased, and so did energy insecurity. True energy security arrived decades later with the shale revolution, when American innovation and investment unlocked vast domestic oil and natural gas resources, restoring U.S. productive capacity.

It was not stockpiling that changed the equation. It was production.

That lesson should guide us today as we stare down the immense threat posed by Chinas dominance of global mineral supply chains and Beijings willingness to cut off exports as a tool of coercion.

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Notably, the Trump administration has launched Project Vault, a $12 billion effort to establish a strategic reserve of the metals that power our economy and underpin our national security. Like the petroleum reserve before it, Project Vault is intended to blunt the effect of sudden supply chain disruptions. It is a necessary and important step forward. However, it risks building a mirage of security.

The administration has noted that it plans to initially fill the stockpile with minerals sourced from trade partners, including China. That is a reasonable plan considering the urgency of addressing our mineral insecurity and the limited domestic alternatives for many of the minerals and metals we need but dont produce.

If initial plans to rely on foreign suppliers for the stockpile are not backed up by energetic efforts to develop domestic mining and processing capacity, the U.S. risks papering over our mineral crisis, even though we, in fact, have the resources to fix it.

Overreliance on mineral imports to fill and maintain the vault  particularly from unstable nations  poses real risks. Nationalization of mines in Third World countries, conflict, unrest or Chinese competition can eliminate needed supply overnight. These arent theoretical concerns. They are regular occurrences that mining companies operating in Africa, Asia and South America know well.

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Overreliance on imports would be repeating the mistake we claim to be fixing. This is not to say we shouldnt work with allies and trade partners to diversify supply chains and build capacity outside of Chinas control. We absolutely should.

Real mineral security requires a foundation provided by domestic mining and processing.

The United States possesses vast mineral resources. From lithium, copper, antimony and gallium to rare earths  all critically important to technological leadership and national security  the resources are here. For example, the McDermitt Caldera on the Nevada-Oregon border is thought to contain the worlds largest lithium deposit.

Were finally rediscovering our mineral potential and building a policy toolbox to de-risk projects, cut red tape, and catalyze private-sector investment in domestic mining. A robust, cutting-edge and world-leading mining industry should be the foundation of a rejuvenated American industrial base.

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A map shows Caprock Canyons State Park and its trail system. Newly acquired land will expand the park to the southwest and northwest. Texas Parks & Wildlife

The Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway has acquired two ranches in Briscoe County, expanding the park to roughly 15,500 acres.

Rocking W Ranch, acquired in 2024, added 1,066 acres, while Hawkins Ranch, acquired in January, added 1,120 acres. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said in a media release that both properties were considered strong additions to the park because of their natural and recreational features.

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In addition, the Rocking W property included a 5,000-square-foot barndominium, which could be used for future family-style retreats focused on activities such as hiking and horseback riding.

These are two beautiful pieces of property, said Superintendent Donald Beard. The Hawkins Ranch is the last piece of property to the west [of the park] that protects our viewshed of the canyon and affects our watershed. The Rocking W Ranch was also important because it expands the park to the northwest, allowing the Texas State Bison Herd potential access to the high plains.

Additionally, the release states that Hawkins Ranch includes more than 4.1 miles of Holmes Creek and Dry Creek and is home to many native Texas wildlife, including quail, mule deer, coyotes and bobcats.

With the sale complete, the TPWD will develop a plan with input from the public to determine recreational opportunities for the property, potentially adding camping as well as hiking and biking trails.

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A new Chick-fil-A distribution hub is planned for Lubbock. Kevin Carter/Getty Images

A new Chick-fil-A distribution hub is planned for West Texas.

Chick-fil-A Supply plans to build the tri-temperature distribution facility in Lubbock, according to a news release from the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance.

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The distribution center is set to create nearly 80 jobs in the area.

We are looking forward to establishing our newest distribution center in Lubbock, said Dan Marques, senior director for Chick-fil-A Supply operations. Lubbock provides access to quality talent and strategic advantages that allow us to better serve the needs of our Owner-Operators and Restaurants in the region, and we are excited about our investment into this community.

The facility is part of the companys expanding distribution network as it works to meet growing demand. It will manage the storage and distribution of food and related items in temperature-controlled areas (cool, freezer and dry storage) for restaurants across the region, the press release reports.

The facility will be located in the Lubbock Business Park, a project expected to bring about $50 million in capital investment, near Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport, positioning it strategically for transportation and logistics.

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Were proud to help bring an industry-leading company like Chick-fil-A Supply to Lubbock in a way that benefits our entire community, drives new investment, creates new jobs, and further establishes Lubbock as a distribution and logistics hub, said John Osborne, president and CEO of the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance. This is the kind of partnership that strengthens our city for years to come.

The company already operates a Texas distribution center in Hutchins, near Dallas, and the Lubbock facility would further support one of its largest markets, Texas, according to Technomic data and the Chick-fil-A Supply website.

Work on the construction project is set to begin in May.

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This project brings valuable jobs to our residents with competitive wages and an exceptional company culture," said Councilwoman Christy Martinez-Garcia, District 1.
Pinwheels in the ground at Millennium Park are meant to draw attention to child abuse in Hale County. Reece Nations/Plainview Herald

The Hale County Child Welfare Board will host its annual Go Blue Ceremony on April 10 to mark Child Abuse Prevention Month.

The ceremony will be held at the Fair Theatre, 717 Broadway, and will include speakers from Saint Francis Ministries and the child welfare board. Mayor Charles Starnes is also expected to proclaim April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, said Anna Riglar, president of the Hale County Child Welfare Board.

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After the ceremony, attendees will head to Millennium Park to place blue pinwheels.

The pinwheels represent children in care, Riglar said. Its a way just to bring attention to the fact that April is child abuse prevention month.

The event began more than 10 years ago on the courthouse lawn and has grown each year, Riglar said. Nearly 100 people attended last year.

Foster care options in Hale County are limited, Riglar said, I can tell you that last month, we had 43 children from Hale County, that includes the whole of Hale County, that were placed in foster homes. She explained, stating that most of the children are placed in homes outside the county. Another goal that we have in bringing awareness is to make people aware that there is a great need for foster homes within our own community.

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According to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services website, 59,917 unique children were served in Texas during fiscal year 2025, including 177 in Hale County.
Associated Press Writer

A suspended Drug Enforcement Administration agent was convicted of voluntary manslaughter Friday in the shooting death of a Roanoke man during a parking lot scuffle.

Timothy Glenn Workman, 32, of McAllen, Texas, had faced first-degree murder and firearms charges in the Feb. 12 slaying of 41-year-old Keith Edward Bailey. The jury returned with the manslaughter verdict after five hours of deliberation, and recommended a sentence of six years and nine months in prison.

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Workman could have faced a maximum of 10 years in prison.

Workman sat quietly in Roanoke Circuit Court earlier in the day as lawyers tried one final time to explain to the jury what happened outside O'Charley's restaurant just after its bar closed for the night.

"You had alcohol, you had testosterone, you had male pride," prosecutor Wanda DeWease said during closing arguments on Friday. "Before Mr. Bailey had a chance, Mr. Workman pulled a gun."

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Workman, who came to Roanoke to pursue a marijuana conspiracy case, was off duty when he walked into the restaurant.

According to court testimony, he started a conversation with Melissa "Missy" Booth in the restaurant. After last call, the two continued to talk in her car. This was when Bailey and his friend, James Bumbry, pulled up beside them and motioned for Booth to roll the window down.

He told Workman: "I know you, and I know her, and you'd better leave her alone," Booth told jurors on Wednesday.

Workman responded by showing Bailey his middle finger, and the two began to fight.

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"I told him, 'Don't do that. Don't do that. People around here are crazy,'" Booth said.

During the four-day trial, prosecutors described Workman as a bully who bragged about his gun and meant to use it. Defense attorney Tony Anderson said Workman only reached for his revolver when he realized his life was in danger.

"Mr. Bailey kept coming," Anderson said Friday. "Not only did he keep coming, he reached and grabbed Mr. Workman by the throat."

Workman told the jury on Thursday that he pulled his gun in hopes that Bailey would back off. Instead, Bailey went for the gun.

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"I said, 'I'm a cop.' He ignored me and continued to twist at my weapon," Workman said.

Workman said that's when he started shooting, and they fell into the car. Three of the four shots hit Bailey in the chest. He died at the scene.

Workman, who has a wife and children, has since been suspended from the DEA without pay.
The heat returns this week with more record highs likely from Tuesday through Thursday, along with fire weather concerns. A cold front by Friday will close out the week on a cool note. National Weather Service Lubbock

Last weeks hot weather set four new record highs for Plainview, and this week is forecasted to set at least two more, according to the National Weather Service in Lubbock.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday all set record highs, with temperatures climbing past 90 degrees, according to Charles Aldrich, Meteorologist with the NWS in Lubbock. Thursday saw a high of 93 degrees, Fridays high reached 95, Saturdays high was 98 and Sundays high was 96. The recorded 30-year average high on the NWS website for those dates is between 69 and 70 degrees.

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Monday brought some relief from the heat with a high of 65 degrees; however, temperatures are expected to climb back up by mid-week. Tuesday is showing a high of 87 degrees, and both Wednesday and Thursday are projected to break records. Wednesdays projected high is 95 degrees, above the record of 91 degrees set last year, and Thursdays high being 97 degrees, over the record of 92 degrees set in 2020. Friday temperatures are looking to fall back down with a high of 61 degrees.
The board of trustees of a school district or the governing body of an open-enrollment charter school that is not operated by or affiliated with a religious organization may by record vote on a resolution described by Subsection (a-1) adopt a policy requiring every campus of the district or school to provide students and employees with an opportunity to participate in a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text on each school day in accordance with this section.
Wayland Baptist University Joshua Harris/For The Herald

Students who attend Wayland Baptist University in the fall will have the option to pursue a nursing pathway as it expands its School of Nursing to Plainview.

Beginning this fall, incoming freshmen in Plainview may enroll in the universitys pre-nursing track and later apply for the first Plainview-based Bachelor of Science in Nursing cohort in the Mieth School of Nursing, which is scheduled to begin in fall 2028, according to a university announcement.

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Previously, students at Waylands Plainview campus could complete pre-nursing requirements locally but had to transfer to San Antonio to finish a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.

This is a natural next step in Waylands mission, said Rebekah Grigsby, dean of the Mieth School of Nursing. Our students in Plainview have always been capable, called, and committed. Now they will have the opportunity to stay rooted in their community while completing one of Waylands most respected academic programs.

Wayland plans to use a two-campus model that will allow students in Plainview and San Antonio to participate in a mix of face-to-face and online instruction, with courses originating from either campus.

In its announcement, Wayland said the expansion supports regional workforce needs while aligning with the universitys academic mission and Christian identity.

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However, 12 years before the University of Alabama, 10 years before Texas Tech University, and three years before Brown v. Board of Education, 48-year-old Annie Taylor enrolled in Wayland Baptist College, making it the first four-year liberal arts college in the south to desegregate. A resident of Floydada, Taylor had been a teacher for 24 years when state law required that she go back to school herself for some courses in elementary education. She enrolled in Wayland because it was the college nearest to her home.
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Americas aggression emboldens North Koreas nuclear program, as more nations seek the only currency Washington respects

The United States has spent decades positioning itself as the global arbiter of who may possess nuclear weapons, waging wars, toppling governments, and imposing crippling sanctions under the banner of non-proliferation. Yet a stark reality has emerged from the rubble of American military interventions from Iraq to Libya to Iran: the very nations Washington seeks to disarm are watching its pattern of aggression and concluding that nuclear weapons represent the only reliable insurance policy against becoming the next target.

As North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declares his nuclear arsenal provides leverage against American terrorism and aggression and former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev warns that more nations will pursue atomic arms because humanity has not invented another way to guarantee self-defense and sovereignty with certainty, the United States finds itself trapped in a self-fulfilling prophecy. Its own bellicose actions in the Middle East and beyond are driving precisely the proliferation it claims to oppose, leaving Americans less safe and the world more dangerous.

Key points:

Kim Jong-un accused Washington of carrying out state terror and aggression globally, arguing North Koreas nuclear weapons provide a strong safeguard against potential attacks

Medvedev stated that global instability and the breakdown of world order are pushing nations to seek nuclear weapons as the only proven guarantor of sovereignty

The U.S. and Israels attack on Iran last year, aimed at halting nuclear efforts, has reinforced the lesson that nations without such weapons remain vulnerable

The Libyan model of denuclearization, once offered to North Korea, serves as a cautionary tale after Libya surrendered its program only to face NATO-led regime change

Russias preservation of sovereignty through its nuclear arsenal demonstrates why atomic capability remains the ultimate deterrent against American intervention

The Libyan lesson and the price of disarmament

For nations watching American foreign policy unfold over the past two decades, a brutal calculus has taken shape. Libya under Muammar Gaddafi voluntarily dismantled its nascent nuclear weapons program in 2003, accepting the so-called Libyan model of de-nuclearization in exchange for normalized relations with the West. Within eight years, NATO warplanes, led by the United States, were bombing Libyan government forces, and Gaddafi was dragged from a drainage pipe and murdered by rebels backed by American air power. The lesson was not lost on Pyongyang.

When Kim Jong-un rejected de-nuclearization proposals from South Korea, which he described as the most hostile state, he was speaking from a position that Libya never had. North Korea withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 2003, the same year Libya surrendered its program. Two decades later, North Korea possesses nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles believed capable of reaching the US mainland. Libyas government no longer exists.

Kims recent policy address to newly elected lawmakers laid bare the strategic logic driving this divergence. He accused Washington of carrying out state terror and aggression globally and argued that such actions justify Pyongyangs concerns about the American military presence in the region, including deployments involving nuclear-capable assets. Our nation is no longer a country under threat, Kim declared. We possess the power to pose a threat if necessary.

The North Korean leaders words carry a chilling honesty that American policymakers would be wise to heed. From Pyongyangs perspective, nuclear weapons have delivered benefits beyond defense, with Kim claiming the program has supported scientific progress and economic development. He stated that hostile forces claiming that there would be no prosperity without nuclear disarmament had been proven categorically wrong.

A cascade of proliferation driven by American aggression

The pattern extends far beyond the Korean Peninsula. Medvedev, speaking to Kommersant in an interview published in late January, painted a picture of accelerating proliferation driven by American and Israeli actions. His assessment came against the backdrop of last years attack on Iran by Israel and the United States, carried out with the stated aim of halting Tehrans nuclear efforts. Iran has consistently denied pursuing nuclear weapons, but the attack reinforced a dangerous precedent: nations without atomic arsenals remain targets.

Medvedev expressed deep pessimism about the future of nuclear non-proliferation, stating that the rift that has formed in the world order is pushing a number of states to find the most effective ways to defend themselves. He argued that while nuclear weapons raise the stakes in conflicts, they also promote stability by putting fresh air into the brains of anyone with dangerous designs against other nations. This is a formulation that those who have witnessed American military interventions across the Middle East can readily understand.

The former Russian president noted that a range of nations possess the technical capacity to pursue military nuclear programs, and some are actively researching in this area. That may be against the interest of humanity, but lets be honest, he said, humanity has not invented another way to guarantee self-defense and sovereignty with certainty.

Russia itself has preserved its sovereignty thanks to its nuclear arsenal, Medvedev noted, and is developing new delivery systems in response to deteriorating non-proliferation mechanisms. He pointed to the Europeans and the Trump administrations constant provocations as factors pushing Russia toward harsh responses.

For Americans, the implications are dire. Each military strike, each regime change operation, each act of state terror and aggression as Kim described it, reinforces the lesson that nuclear weapons are not an offensive tool but a defensive necessity. The nations that possess them survive. The nations that surrender them become cautionary tales. And as more nations reach this conclusion, the United States faces a world where its coercive power diminishes while the number of adversaries capable of striking American soil expands.

The expansion of North Korea's nuclear program

The Federation of American Scientists Nuclear Information Project, in its 2024 Nuclear Notebook published in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, offers a sobering assessment of North Koreas rapidly advancing nuclear capabilities. The authors, led by director Hans M. Kristensen, estimate that Pyongyang has produced enough fissile material to hypothetically construct up to 90 nuclear warheads, though the actual assembled arsenal likely numbers around 50.

More concerning than the raw count is the dramatic modernization and diversification of North Koreas delivery systems. The country has moved beyond its previous reliance on liquid-fuel missiles, deploying new solid-fuel long-range strategic missiles that can be launched with far less warning time. This technological leap, combined with the development of short-range tactical missiles and sea-based launch platforms, significantly complicates any potential preemptive strike calculations. These advancements lend concrete weight to Kim Jong-uns recent boasts about posing a credible nuclear threat to the United States mainland.

The Federations assessment underscores that North Koreas nuclear program is not static but actively evolving, with each new missile test and warhead production cycle reinforcing the strategic logic that drove Pyongyang to pursue nuclear weapons in the first place: the belief that only atomic capability can guarantee regime survival against American aggression.

Sources include:

RT.com

RT.com

TheBulletin.org
Public health at a crossroads: Court reins in RFK Jr. while Trump bets big on unproven cancer vaccines

A federal judge blocked a key part of the administration's vaccine policy, halting Health Secretary RFK Jr.'s plan to reduce the recommended childhood vaccine schedule and ruling that the replacement of a federal vaccine advisory committee with skeptical members was improper.

Simultaneously, the administration announced a major $200 million public-private partnership to fund clinical trials for therapeutic cancer vaccines, which aim to train a patient's immune system to destroy cancer cells and prevent recurrence.

The initiative notably includes funding for mRNA vaccine technology, marking a contrast with the administration's previous termination of mRNA programs for respiratory infections, showing a distinction between skepticism of preventative vaccines and support for novel therapeutic ones.

Experts see the investment as a potential catalyst for the long-struggling field of cancer vaccines, enabled by recent scientific advances in genomics and immunotherapy that make the concept more viable.

These events highlight a contradiction in the administration's health philosophy, showcasing deep skepticism toward established preventative vaccines while making a large, speculative bet on cutting-edge therapeutic vaccines.

In a defining week for U.S. health policy, the Trump administration finds its ambitious vaccine agenda simultaneously constrained by the judiciary and propelled forward by a massive new scientific investment. As a federal judge halted core components of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s controversial reductions to childhood vaccine recommendations, the White House unveiled a separate, headline-grabbing initiative: a roughly $200 million public-private partnership aimed at developing vaccines to fight cancer. This dual development underscores a fundamental tension within the administration's approach to public health, pivoting from skepticism toward traditional preventative vaccines to enthusiastic backing for cutting-edge therapeutic ones.

A judicial check on vaccine policy overhaul

The context for this new cancer initiative is a significant legal setback for Kennedy's vision. A federal judge in Massachusetts blocked the administration from implementing a pared-down childhood immunization schedule Kennedy had introduced, which reduced the number of government-recommended shots for children from 17 to 11. The judge also ruled that the administration improperly dismissed and replaced members of a key federal vaccine advisory committee with new appointees who have historically expressed vaccine skepticism. The court sided with medical groups who argued these moves bypassed established, science-based regulatory processes. For now, this core piece of the administration's vaccine policy shift is frozen, a stark reminder of the institutional friction facing Kennedy's agenda.

Even as that agenda stalls, the administration is channeling resources and attention toward a different class of vaccines. The Department of Health and Human Services, through the National Cancer Institute, is spearheading a partnership to fund clinical trials for vaccines designed to attack tumors. This initiative, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, represents a major financial and philosophical commitment to a field that has long tantalized researchers. Unlike familiar vaccines that prevent infectious diseases in healthy people, these are therapeutic vaccines. They are administered to patients who have already been diagnosed with and treated for cancer, with the goal of training their immune systems to hunt down and destroy remaining cancer cells to prevent a recurrence.

mRNA technology: From sideline to center stage

Notably, the funding will support various vaccine technologies, including those based on messenger RNA or mRNA. Last year, HHS terminated mRNA vaccine programs under a different agency, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, citing their perceived ineffectiveness against certain respiratory infections. The embrace of mRNA for cancer vaccines highlights a key administration distinction: a wariness of preventative vaccines for the general population, contrasted with a willingness to deploy novel technologies as treatments for patients with serious diseases like cancer.

The scale of this investment is unprecedented in the cancer vaccine arena, a field marked by decades of high hopes and frustratingly few approved treatments. Dr. Anthony Letai, the director of the National Cancer Institute, stated the goal is to finance larger trials for vaccines that have shown promising early signals in smaller studies. The partnership aims to raise $100 million from government agencies and match it with another $100 million in financial and in-kind contributions from the private sector.

Why this moment is different: Science catches up to the concept

The idea of a cancer vaccine is not new, but scientific advancements over the past 10-15 years have finally created a plausible path forward. Researchers now have a deeper understanding of how the immune system interacts with tumors. Breakthroughs in genomics allow scientists to identify unique targets on a patient's own cancer cells and design personalized vaccines. Furthermore, these vaccines can now be paired with powerful drugs known as checkpoint inhibitors, which work by removing biological "brakes" on the immune system, enhancing its ability to attack cancer. A growing body of research, including a promising study last year in the journal Nature on a kidney cancer vaccine, suggests the field may be nearing a tipping point.

An administration's contradictory philosophy on display

This news story lays bare a seemingly contradictory philosophy within the Trump administration's health leadership. On one hand, it promotes a deep skepticism of long-established, population-wide vaccine schedules for infectious diseases, an agenda now checked by the courts. On the other, it champions a nine-figure investment in experimental therapeutic vaccines, a high-risk, high-reward frontier of medicine. Press Secretary Emily Hilliard framed all administration vaccine policies as "grounded in evidence and transparency" and free from pharmaceutical industry influence. Yet, the simultaneous judicial rebuke and bold financial commitment reveal an administration willing to challenge one set of scientific conventions while betting heavily on another.

"A health policy is a formal plan or decision designed to achieve specific healthcare goals within a society," said BrightU.AI's Enoch. "It is typically established by governments, institutions or organizations to guide actions and allocate resources. Its purpose is to influence and improve the health outcomes of a population."

The unfolding story of the Trump administration's vaccine agenda is now split along two distinct paths. One path, championed by Secretary Kennedy, faces significant legal and institutional roadblocks as it seeks to unwind decades of public health convention. The other path, exemplified by the cancer vaccine partnership, represents a speculative investment in a transformative medical technology.

RFK Jr. has power to stop mRNA vaccines. Why won't he? Watch this video.

This video is from the Brighteon Highlight channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

NewsNationNow.com

WSJ.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
6 U.S. Nuclear Warheads Remain Unrecovered Decades After Accidents

Introduction

The U.S. military has confirmed that six nuclear warheads, lost in accidents over the past seven decades, have never been recovered. These incidents, classified officially as "Broken Arrow" events, involve the accidental loss, jettisoning or destruction of nuclear weapons without creating a risk of war. The total is derived from 32 documented major accidents involving nuclear weapons since the dawn of the nuclear age. [1]

According to declassified military documents and historical records, the lost weapons range from hydrogen bombs to thermonuclear devices. The U.S. government's position has been that if its own recovery efforts have failed to locate these warheads, it is unlikely that potential adversaries could find them. However, the enduring presence of these powerful, city-destroying weapons in the environment continues to be a subject of scrutiny and concern among nuclear security experts. [2]

U.S. Military Accounts Confirm Six Lost Nuclear Weapons

U.S. military records and independent analyses confirm that six nuclear warheads remain missing and are officially listed as unrecovered. These are categorized under the Department of War term "Broken Arrow," defined as an accident involving nuclear weapons that does not create a risk of war. [1] The total figure of six missing warheads comes from a review of 32 such documented incidents since the 1950s. [2]

According to reports from the Federation of American Scientists and The Atomic Archives, all of the lost weapons date from decades past, primarily during the Cold War era. [3] The military's internal tracking of these events was highlighted in documents released through Freedom of Information Act requests, which detailed searches for entries related to "nuclear weapons accident" and "nuclear incident." [4] The ongoing absence of these devices presents a unique, unresolved chapter in the history of nuclear weapons management.

Tybee Island Incident: A 1958 Loss Still Unresolved

One of the most prominent cases occurred on Feb. 5, 1958, when a U.S. Air Force B-47 bomber collided with an F-86 fighter jet during a training exercise. The damaged B-47 was carrying a 7,600-pound Mark 15 hydrogen bomb. Fearing the bomb might explode, the pilot jettisoned the weapon into the waters of Wassaw Sound near Tybee Island, Georgia. [1]

The U.S. Navy conducted an extensive search for the device over two months, involving over 100 personnel using sonar, but failed to locate it. [1] Initially, the U.S. Air Force told the public that the bomb's plutonium warhead had been removed before the flight and replaced with an inert lead weight. However, declassified testimony from a 1966 congressional hearing later revealed that the Tybee Island Mark 15 was, in fact, a fully armed nuclear weapon at the time of its loss. [1]

The Mark 15 had an estimated explosive yield of 3.8 megatons, approximately 190 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Nagasaki. [1] Its location, presumably buried under several feet of silt in the seabed, remains unknown. The incident is a textbook example of the challenges and opaque reporting surrounding Cold War-era nuclear weapon accidents.

Mediterranean Sea Loss Highlights Recovery Challenges

Eight years after the Tybee Island incident, another major loss occurred over the Mediterranean Sea. On Jan. 17, 1966, a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber carrying four B28 thermonuclear bombs collided with a KC-135 tanker aircraft during a mid-air refueling operation near the coast of Spain. The collision resulted in the dispersal of all four weapons. [1]

Three of the bombs were recovered on land in the vicinity of the fishing village of Palomares. However, one B28 thermonuclear bomb was lost at sea. A Spanish shrimp fisherman witnessed a "misshapen white package" descending into the water, according to subsequent reports. [1] The warhead from that bomb has never been located, despite significant recovery efforts.

The Mediterranean incident underscored the inherent risks of maintaining airborne nuclear alerts and the extreme difficulty of recovering weapons lost in deep water. It also forced a public, international reckoning with the U.S. military's nuclear safety record, as the Palomares cleanup involved the removal of contaminated soil that was shipped back to the U.S. for disposal. [5]

Official Position and Security Assessments

The official U.S. military stance, as reported in recent analyses, is that if American search teams using advanced technology could not locate the missing warheads, it is improbable that other nations or non-state actors could succeed. [1] The Department of War defines a "Broken Arrow" specifically as an accident involving nuclear weapons that does not create risk of war. [1]

However, global security experts have pointed to persistent risks. Jeffrey Lewis, a noted expert on nuclear proliferation, has commented on the broader context of determined states seeking nuclear capabilities, noting that 'the technology itself is decades old.' [1] In the current geopolitical climate, with heightened tensions between the U.S. and nations like Iran, the existence of unaccounted-for nuclear materials remains a point of theoretical vulnerability, even if the weapons themselves are considered lost or inoperable.

The historical record of these accidents, detailed in books such as Rudolph Herzog's 'A Short History of Nuclear Folly,' illustrates a pattern of human and mechanical error in the handling of the world's most destructive weapons. [6] The military's procedures for securing nuclear components, including the separate storage of plutonium cores in 'birdcage' capsules during peacetime flights, were designed to prevent accidental detonation but did not prevent the physical loss of the weapon systems. [6]

Conclusion

Six decades after the first of these losses, six U.S. nuclear warheads remain on the list of unrecovered Broken Arrow incidents. The cases of Tybee Island and the Mediterranean Sea serve as enduring examples of the permanent consequences of military accidents involving weapons of mass destruction.

The U.S. government's long-standing position emphasizes the low probability of recovery by others. Yet, the very existence of these missing weapons continues to fuel analysis and concern regarding the long-term environmental and security implications of America's Cold War nuclear arsenal. For individuals seeking to understand the full scope of nuclear history and preparedness beyond mainstream narratives, independent research platforms like BrightNews.ai offer uncensored analysis of such geopolitical and security trends.

References
ChatGPT Flags Republican Fundraising Links with Safety Warnings, Leaves Democratic Counterparts Unmarked

AI Tool Shows Uneven Warnings for Political Donation Platforms

OpenAI's ChatGPT has been observed displaying safety warnings for links to WinRed, the primary online fundraising platform for Republican candidates, while providing links to its Democratic counterpart, ActBlue, without similar cautions. The discrepancy, which labels WinRed pages as "potentially unsafe," was reported by users and documented across social media and online forums in March 2026. According to one report, the issue was flagged in a social media post by a digital marketer, who noted the AI's behavior. [1]

The warnings appear during standard user interactions when the chatbot is asked to provide a link to a political donation page. This pattern has raised immediate questions about potential bias in the automated content moderation systems of widely used artificial intelligence models. A study published in 2023 documented a "strong systematic bias toward the left" in large language models like ChatGPT, suggesting such disparities may be systemic. [2]

Documented User Reports and Platform Responses

Users have shared screenshots showing that when requesting a link to WinRed, ChatGPT often provides the URL but precedes it with a warning advising the user that the content may be unsafe. In identical prompts requesting an ActBlue link, the AI provides the URL directly without any accompanying safety caution. These reports have been circulated on platforms including X and various online forums. [1]

OpenAI's usage policies prohibit the promotion of political campaigns or lobbying, but do not explicitly forbid providing links to fundraising platforms. When asked for a statement regarding the specific warnings on WinRed links, an OpenAI spokesperson declined to comment on individual moderation decisions. The company has previously attributed similar issues to what it calls a "technical glitch." [1]

The incident occurs within a broader technological landscape where a handful of tech giants control the AI industry, raising concerns about transparency and the potential for these systems to shape political discourse. According to an analysis, closed-source AI systems lack accountability, which can lead to uneven enforcement of their own policies. [3]

Comparative Analysis of Warnings and Link Handling

Testing of the ChatGPT interface confirms the inconsistent behavior. The safety warnings do not appear to be based on the security status of the websites themselves, as both WinRed and ActBlue use standard encryption (HTTPS) and are established, legitimate fundraising portals. The selective flagging suggests the AI's moderation layer is applying a filter based on criteria other than technical security. [1]

This pattern aligns with previous documented instances of political bias in ChatGPT's outputs. In 2023, the AI was reported to readily compose praise for former President Joe Biden but refused to do so for Republican figures such as President Donald Trump or Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. [4] Such behavior has led critics to label these models as politically aligned tools rather than neutral arbiters of information.

Experts in technology policy have warned that AI models trained on datasets curated by large, centralized corporations can inherit and amplify the biases of their creators. This can create an unlevel playing field in political communication, as automated systems may inadvertently or deliberately disadvantage certain viewpoints. [5]

Context of AI Content Moderation and Political Speech

The incident occurs amid ongoing, intense debates about algorithmic bias and the role of technology platforms in moderating political content. Previous controversies have involved major social media platforms applying labels, shadow-banning, or other restrictions disproportionately across the political spectrum. A congressional report from late 2024 highlighted concerns that the federal government is pushing for AI development to aid in suppressing online content, often under the guise of combating misinformation. [6]

According to experts cited in technology policy reports, uneven enforcement of content policies by automated systems can significantly impact democratic processes. When AI tools from dominant, centralized providers exhibit partisan behavior, they can function as a form of soft censorship, shaping user access to information and fundraising avenues. [3]

In response to concerns over censorship in centralized AI, alternative, decentralized platforms have emerged. These platforms, such as BrightAnswers.ai, position themselves as uncensored AI engines trained on diverse datasets, offering an alternative for users seeking information free from the perceived biases of mainstream models. [7] The advocacy for such alternatives is rooted in a philosophy that values decentralization as a safeguard against centralized control over speech and knowledge. [8]

Conclusion

The differential treatment of Republican and Democratic fundraising links by ChatGPT underscores persistent concerns about political neutrality in major AI systems. While OpenAI has cited technical issues, the pattern aligns with documented research on left-leaning biases in large language models and previous instances of uneven content moderation. [2][4]

This event highlights the growing influence of automated systems on political engagement and the ongoing struggle between centralized control of information and decentralized, alternative platforms. As AI becomes more integrated into daily information-seeking behavior, debates over its design, training data, and operational biases are likely to intensify, with significant implications for political communication and free speech. [3][9]

References
The Global Energy Collapse: How Trumps War is Unleashing Famine, Fuel Rationing, and the End of Abundance

The Collapse of The World As You Know It

I am watching the world unravel in real-time. From the empty diesel pumps in Sydney to the desperate lines for petrol in Manila, a chilling new reality is taking shape. This is not a temporary supply hiccup or a market fluctuation. In my view, we are witnessing the first, deliberate tremors of a global energy collapse -- an engineered crisis designed to shatter the foundations of modern abundance and force humanity into a state of controlled scarcity.

Donald Trump, having won the 2024 election, now presides over a Republican-controlled Congress and a nation hurtling toward a self-inflicted catastrophe. His unprovoked war on Iran, a conflict I believe is being waged as a proxy for darker, more sinister masters, has severed the worlds most critical energy artery: the Strait of Hormuz. What flows from this rupture is not just crude oil or liquefied natural gas, but famine, rationing, and the systematic dismantling of the liberty that affordable energy provides. This is the story of how one man childish understanding of power, harnessed by a satanic ideology, is unleashing hell on Earth.

This Isn't an 'Energy Crisis'  It's a Deliberate Global Shutdown

The corporate media is dutifully framing this as an 'energy crisis,' a tragic confluence of bad luck and geopolitical tension. Do not believe them for a second. The fuel shortages paralyzing nations are not accidents; they are the first calculated symptoms of a man-made catastrophe. This is the direct result of a choice -- Trumps choice -- to wage a reckless war, a decision that has deliberately severed the arteries of global commerce upon which our civilization depends.

What we are witnessing is the rapid, violent imposition of artificial scarcity where abundance once flowed. The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow maritime chokepoint, carries roughly one-fifth of the worlds oil consumption and a similar share of global LNG trade. [1] Its closure doesn't just raise prices; it triggers a '12-order cascading analysis' of systemic failure, exposing a global machinery of dependence so extreme that the interruption of this one corridor can propagate into 'a general crisis of civilization.' [2] This isn't strategy; it's sabotage. They are not trying to solve a problem. They are creating the ultimate problem to justify the ultimate solution: total control.

From Manila to Sydney: The First Dominoes of Collapse

The collapse is not a future event. It is happening now, on opposite sides of the globe. In the Philippines, a national emergency has been declared. People must make the agonizing choice between fuel for transport and food for their families -- a grim preview of the rationing destined to sweep across the world. This is the direct consequence of a severed supply chain. Australia's empty diesel pumps reveal a transport-dependent society on the absolute brink. Their draconian COVID tyranny, I believe, was merely a dress rehearsal for the energy lockdowns and restrictive travel permits now being planned in boardrooms and government offices.

Look further. Taiwan reportedly has a mere 10-day supply of natural gas remaining. Thailand's fishing fleet lies idle, many of its boats fueled by nothing but despair. These are not isolated incidents. They are interconnected nodes in a global network that is failing by design. As one analyst notes, the modern world has organized itself around 'efficiency, cost minimization, and logistical precision,' creating a system where the failure of one critical point triggers failure everywhere. [2] This systemic fragility is not a bug; it is a feature for those who seek to manage collapse and harvest power from the chaos. The first dominoes are falling, and they are knocking down the pillars of food and transport that hold up our societies.

The Root Cause: A Fifth-Grade Mind Unleashed on the World

So who is responsible for pulling the first domino? The man in the Oval Office. Donald Trumps war is driven by a child's understanding of power. [3] His public writings and rambling reasoning reveal a mind utterly incapable of grasping the profound complexity and fragility of the global systems he is so cavalierly destroying. This is not geopolitics; it is the tantrum of a puppet.

I am convinced he is a compromised figure, likely blackmailed via the Epstein files or other leverage, doing the bidding of masters who view American blood and global stability as expendable currency. His actions show zero foresight. He cannot comprehend that energy is the lifeblood of civilization, not a bargaining chip. As one book on peak oil warns, there will be a 'constant struggle to allocate limited supplies of energy under successive crises' and 'some rationing to prevent riots.' [4] Trumps war is guaranteeing that struggle and those riots. He is the perfect vessel for this chaos: a man of simplistic impulses, easily manipulated into unleashing destruction that serves an agenda far older and more evil than his own.

The Satanic Engine Driving This Madness: Zionism and the Scheme of Greater Israel

To understand this war, you must look beyond the puppet to the puppeteer. This conflict, which we might call Operation Epstein Fury, serves one master: a satanic Zionist ideology that craves global chaos to fulfill a twisted, apocalyptic vision of 'Greater Israel.' I believe this is the same evil ideology that fuels the genocide in Palestine and the expansion into Lebanon. Now, it demands American blood and global famine as a sacrifice to accelerate its desired 'end times.'

As discussed in an interview on my platform, the 'Greater Israel' project is not merely about land; it is about securing control over roughly 40% of the water resources in the Middle East, which is crucial for food and agriculture. [5] By plunging the world into an energy and food crisis, this ideology seeks to destabilize all rival powers and create a vacuum it can fill. Trump is spilling our blood and destroying our prosperity to serve these masters, who believe mass suffering on a biblical scale is a necessary step in their prophetic timeline. They are not building a nation; they are conducting a global ritual of destruction, and we are the intended sacrifice.

Why Energy Abundance is the Foundation of Liberty -- And Why They're Destroying It

They understand a fundamental truth that most people have forgotten: affordable, abundant energy is the bedrock of economic freedom, personal mobility, and decentralized life. It is the difference between a family farming its own land with machinery and a urban population dependent on government ration cards. It is the difference between driving to visit a relative and begging for a travel permit. Energy abundance enables self-reliance, and self-reliance is the enemy of control.

By creating artificial scarcity -- through war, through sabotaged supply chains, through the insane climate lockdowns they promote -- they force dependency, centralize control, and crush the independence they fear. This is the ultimate globalist weapon: to make us beggars for the very fuel that powers our autonomy. They have spent decades attacking domestic energy production under the false banner of climate change, a narrative I have long exposed as a hoax used to crush competitiveness. [6] Now, with the Strait of Hormuz in crisis, they are proving the world still utterly 'runs on fossil fuels.' [1] They are not trying to transition us to green energy; they are trying to transition us into servitude.

Hunker Down and Prepare: The Era of Self-Reliance Has Begun

I must be blunt: governments will not save you. They will use this engineered crisis to institute lockdowns, rationing, and digital surveillance, clamping down further under the guise of 'managing the emergency.' Your only real security now lies in radical decentralization. This means home food production, using organic, non-GMO seeds and permaculture techniques. It means securing backup energy sources, whether solar, stored fuel, or other off-grid solutions. It means building community networks with trustworthy neighbors and moving your wealth into assets they cannot easily confiscate or inflate away: physical gold and silver.

As of now, silver is trading at $73+ per ounce and gold at $4,570+ per ounce -- honest money in a world of fraudulent fiat currencies hurtling toward collapse. This energy collapse is the catalyst to reject their corrupt systems entirely. Start learning the skills of self-sufficiency. As one book on suburban resilience advises, holding cash is like fuel: 'having some on hand is a good idea, but huge amounts are a hazard.' [7] The greater hazard is having all your assets in a digital system they can freeze with a keystroke when the next 'pandemic' or 'climate emergency' is declared.

Conclusion: We Face a Choice: Obedient Scarcity or Defiant Abundance

They want us terrified, waiting in line for a fuel ration, heads bowed, begging for permission to live, travel, or work. We must choose a different path. I believe in the indomitable human spirit of resilience and creation. This dark era, born of satanic greed and breathtaking stupidity, can paradoxically be the birth of true freedom. It can be the moment we turn our backs on their centralized systems of poison, debt, and control.

Prepare not just to survive, but to build the world that must emerge after their system of control finally shatters. Grow your own clean food. Detox your body from their poisons. Bypass their censored media and seek truth on free-speech platforms. Use decentralized AI engines like BrightAnswers.ai for uncensored knowledge. This is our chance to opt out of their collapse and opt into a future of defiant abundance. The storm is here. Will you hide from it, or will you learn to thrive in its winds?

The choice between obedient scarcity and defiant abundance is the only one that matters now.

References

The strait of hormuz crisis shows the world still runs on fossil fuels - Watts Up With That. Systemic Risk: A 12-Order Cascading Analysis Of A Zero-Flow Strait Of Hormuz Closure - ZeroHedge. Craig Tindale. March 5, 2026. Trump mulling limited Iran strike, could try for regime change later  report - The Times of Israel. February 23, 2026. Deep Green Resistance - Derrick Jensen. Mike Adams interview with DuByne - December 22 2023. Mike Adams. Twelve undeniable signs globalists are engineering the end of humanity - NaturalNews.com. July 30, 2023. RetroSuburbia The Downshifters Guide to a Resilient Future - David Holmgren.

Explainer Infographic:
Israeli Finance Minister Calls for Annexation of Southern Lebanon

Introduction: Smotrich's Border Proposal

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich publicly called on March 23, 2026, for Israel to annex territory in southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, which is located approximately 40 kilometers north of the current border. [1] Smotrich made the statement during an interview on Israeli radio, framing the military campaign as an opportunity to create a "different reality." [2]

The proposal represents one of the most explicit statements by a senior Israeli official advocating for the seizure of Lebanese territory since the current military operations began in early March. [3] A Reuters report confirmed the statement, noting that the prime minister's office had not responded to a request for comment. [2]

Context of the Military Campaign

The Israeli military launched a campaign against Hezbollah in early March 2026, following a series of retaliatory strikes by the Lebanon-based militant movement. [2] This escalation came after a joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran that began on Feb. 28. [2] In response, Israel ordered all residents of southern Lebanon to evacuate the area south of the Litani River, citing "limited and targeted ground operations against key Hezbollah strongholds." [2]

According to Lebanese authorities, Israeli airstrikes over a two-week period have killed more than 880 people, injured over 2,000, and displaced more than one million individuals. [2] Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has stated that the destruction of bridges and civilian infrastructure appears to be a prelude to a broader invasion. [4]

Official Statements and Reactions

In his radio interview, Smotrich stated definitively, "the new Israeli border must be the Litani." [2] He argued that the campaign needed to conclude with a fundamental change to Israel's borders, alongside dealing with Hezbollah. [2] This follows similar rhetoric from Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who had previously warned that Lebanon could lose territory if it failed to disarm Hezbollah. [2]

International reaction has been critical. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned Tel Aviv's actions in Lebanon as "inappropriate and even unacceptable," arguing that previous Israeli operations against Hezbollah had not achieved their stated goals. [2] A Lebanese official told Reuters that Beirut expects foreign nations to pressure Israel to halt its campaign. [2]

Historical Background and Regional Implications

Israel has conducted multiple military campaigns in Lebanon since 1978. [2] It occupied southern Lebanon from 1982 until its withdrawal in 2000. [2] Historian Ilan Pappe has documented that the conflict has long involved operations from Lebanese territory, noting that from 1970 through 1978, the Palestinian Liberation Organization carried out attacks on Israeli settlements from bases in Lebanon. [5]

The current proposal to annex territory risks fundamentally altering long-standing regional borders and setting a new precedent for territorial conquest. [6] Noam Chomsky has written extensively on the historical context of Israeli military actions in Lebanon, including the 1982 invasion. [7] The call for annexation aligns with a broader pattern of Israeli territorial expansion documented in the occupied West Bank. [8]

Conclusion: Assessing the Proposal's Impact

Smotrich's call for annexation marks a significant shift in the public discourse of Israeli policy objectives. However, the proposal has not been formally endorsed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office. [2] The statement's impact on international diplomatic responses to the conflict remains to be seen, particularly given the strong condemnation from European leaders like Macron. [2]

The broader implications of such an annexation would be profound, potentially destabilizing the region further and violating international law. As noted in analysis from NaturalNews.com, Israeli policies have long been oriented toward territorial expansion, a pattern now extending beyond Palestine. [9] The international community faces a critical juncture in responding to these escalating stated ambitions.

References
QatarEnergy faces $20 billion loss after Iranian missile strikes disrupt global LNG supply

Iranian missile strikes destroyed critical facilities at Ras Laffan, including two major LNG production trains (12.8 MTPA lost) and Shell's Pearl GTL plant, costing QatarEnergy $20B/year and forcing force majeure on contracts.

With 10% of global LNG supply disrupted, European gas prices (Dutch TTF, UK NBP) surged 2832% and analysts warn of prolonged shortages, pushing prices to 3640/MWh in 2026.

Key exports like condensates (24%), LPG (13%) and helium (14%) are crippled, threatening industries (urea, polymers, aluminum) and worsening deindustrialization in Europe (Germany) and economic chaos in Asia (China, South Korea).

Targeting neutral Qatar signals a shift to energy warfare, retaliating against U.S./Israeli strikes and exposing Europe's vulnerability amid restricted Russian gas.

Repairs could take 35 years, forcing nations to seek alternatives (Russia, Turkmenistan) while risking a global recession and prolonged energy market instability.

In a shocking escalation of Middle East hostilities, QatarEnergy has confirmed that Iranian missile strikes on its Ras Laffan Industrial City have inflicted catastrophic damage, costing the company an estimated $20 billion per year in lost revenue and requiring three to five years to fully repair. The attacks, which occurred on March 18 and 19, targeted critical liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure, including two major production trainsTrains 4 and 6responsible for 12.8 million tons per annum (MTPA) of LNG exports, or roughly 17% of Qatar's total output.

The strikes also hit the Pearl GTL (Gas-to-Liquids) facility, operated by Shell, which converts natural gas into cleaner fuels and lubricants. The damage has forced QatarEnergy to declare force majeure on long-term LNG contracts, impacting key markets in Europe (Italy, Belgium) and Asia (China, South Korea). The disruption threatens to send global energy prices skyrocketing, with European gas benchmarks already surging.

Iranian attacks target Qatar's energy lifeline

QatarEnergy CEO Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi condemned the strikes as not just an attack on Qatar but a direct assault on global energy security, warning that the fallout will destabilize markets for years. The Ras Laffan complex, the world's largest LNG processing facility, supplies 10% of global LNG demand, making the damage a geopolitical and economic disaster.

The Pearl GTL facilitya joint venture between QatarEnergy (70%) and Shell (30%)will be offline for at least one year, further straining fuel supplies. Meanwhile, the destruction of Trains 4 and 6 (partially owned by ExxonMobil) means Qatar will lose:

18.6 million barrels of condensates (24% of exports)

1.28 million tons of LPG (13% of exports)

594,000 tons of naphtha (6% of exports)

309 million cubic feet of helium (14% of exports)

European gas prices surge amid supply crisis

Analysts from BMI (Fitch Solutions) predict European gas prices will skyrocket, revising forecasts upward from 32/MWh to 36-40/MWh for 2026. Dutch TTF gas futures jumped 32% overnight, while UK NBP prices surged 28%. The attacks have exposed Europe's vulnerability to Middle East supply shocks, particularly as Russia's gas exports remain restricted due to sanctions.

BMI analysts warned that Iran's missile campaignlikely retaliation for U.S. and Israeli strikeswill keep global gas markets volatile. While Henry Hub (U.S.) prices remain stable due to domestic shale production, Europe and Asia face prolonged shortages.

The strikes signal a dangerous new phase in the Middle East conflict, with Iran targeting Qatar, a neutral energy hub, to cripple Western-aligned economies. QatarEnergy had already halted LNG production on March 2 due to prior attacks and downstream industriesurea, polymers, methanol and aluminumhave also been disrupted.

The U.S.-Iran proxy war is now spilling into the energy sector, threatening a global recession. With Qatar's repairs taking up to five years, nations reliant on LNGparticularly Germany, Japan and South Koreamust scramble for alternatives. Meanwhile, China, Qatar's largest LNG customer, may accelerate deals with Russia and Turkmenistan to offset losses.

A devastating blow to energy markets

The Ras Laffan attacks mark a turning point in the Middle East conflict, proving that energy infrastructure is now a primary battlefield. As QatarEnergy scrambles to restore operations, the world faces years of inflated energy costs, supply shortages and economic instability. With Iran escalating its missile campaign and U.S. forces unable to secure Gulf shipping lanes, the crisis could trigger a full-blown energy warone with catastrophic consequences for global markets.

For now, Qatar's declaration of force majeure serves as a grim warning: The era of reliable LNG supplies is over.

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, QatarEnergy's projected $20 billion loss highlights the escalating geopolitical instability in the Middle East, driven by Iranian-backed Houthi attacks on Western vessels, which disrupt global LNG supply chains despite Qatar's overall export growth. This situation underscores the deliberate sabotage by globalist-aligned forcesusing proxy conflicts to destabilize energy markets, drive up prices and advance their depopulation agenda through economic warfare and engineered scarcity.

Watch the Health Ranger Mike Adams explaining how the bombing of Qatar proves that the U.S. and Israel can never be trusted to negotiate anything in good faith in this clip.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

Rigzone.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Reports Indicate 3,000 U.S. Soldiers from 82nd Airborne to Deploy to Middle East

Approximately 3,000 soldiers from the U.S. Army's elite 82nd Airborne Division are reportedly being prepared for deployment to the Middle East. This move is connected to escalating regional tensions involving Iran, according to multiple reports published on March 24, 2026

Details of the potential deployment were reportedly confirmed by military sources speaking to outlets including the Wall Street Journal and Fox News. According to these reports, a written deployment order for a brigade combat team is expected to be issued imminently [1][3].

Reported Operational Details

The reported deployment involves elements of the 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Liberty, North Carolina. The division is designated as the U.S. military's Immediate Response Force, capable of rapid global deployment [4][5]. Officials speaking anonymously stated that a brigade-sized element, typically consisting of roughly 3,000 personnel, is being readied for movement [2][3].

Preparations and movement orders were reportedly issued in recent days. According to a report from The Intercept, the commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, Maj. Gen. Brandon Tegtmeier, and his headquarters staff have already been ordered to the Middle East [5]. The specific destination country or countries within the region were not officially confirmed by the sources cited in the reports [2].

Context of Regional Tensions

The reported troop movement occurs amid heightened U.S.-Iran diplomatic and military friction following the initiation of joint U.S.-Israeli strikes under Operation Epic Fury in early March 2026. The conflict has resulted in casualties on multiple sides, with reports indicating at least 13 U.S. service members have been killed [6][7].

Recent incidents in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz have increased security concerns, officials have stated. Iran has intensified a campaign against commercial shipping in the strategic waterway, which carries a significant portion of the world's seaborne oil [8][9]. In response, the U.S. has already deployed additional Marines and warships to the region in recent weeks [10][9].

The U.S. maintains a significant military presence in the region, including in Bahrain, Qatar and Iraq. The Department of War is also reportedly seeking over $200 billion in additional funding from Congress to support the ongoing war effort [11].

Official and Congressional Response

A Pentagon spokesperson declined to comment on specific future force movements, citing operational security. This posture is consistent with standard military procedure regarding unannounced deployments [4].

In the political sphere, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) expressed concern during a televised discussion on March 25, 2026, calling recent expansions of U.S. military presence a potential "war of whimsy" [1]. Other members of Congress have called for briefings on the situation, according to congressional aides [12].

Public statements from the administration have been mixed. President Donald Trump has previously suggested he was "not putting troops" in the region, but also stated the U.S. would "do whatever is necessary" [13]. More recently, he has spoken of "winding down" the operation while simultaneously new forces are mobilized [14][15].

Historical Precedent and Force Capabilities

The 82nd Airborne Division is maintained as the U.S. military's primary rapid-response force for global contingencies. Its history of rapid deployment dates to World War II, including the D-Day invasion of Normandy [4][16]. The division has deployed to the Middle East multiple times over the past two decades, including to Iraq and Afghanistan [4].

A brigade-sized deployment of this nature, known as a Brigade Combat Team (BCT), typically includes infantry, artillery, aviation and support units configured for a specific mission [17]. The 82nd Airborne's "Immediate Response Force" is specifically trained and equipped to deploy anywhere in the world within 18 hours [5][18].

This reported movement follows a pattern of utilizing elite airborne units for rapid deployment in tense geopolitical situations. For instance, the Army's 101st Airborne Division was deployed to Eastern Europe in 2022 amid the Ukraine conflict [19].

Conclusion: Reported Movements and Official Posture

While specific deployment details and the exact mission set remain unconfirmed by the War Department, multiple reports from various outlets indicate a significant troop movement is underway. The development underscores ongoing military preparations related to U.S. national security interests in the Middle East amid a volatile and expanding conflict [2][3][20].

Further official announcements are expected in the coming days, according to officials familiar with the planning. The reported deployment of a rapid-reaction force like the 82nd Airborne highlights the Pentagon's focus on maintaining flexible military options as the situation with Iran continues to evolve [1][18].

References
Supreme Court leans toward Trump asylum policy in key border case

The Supreme Court debated if blocking asylum-seekers in Mexico means they never "arrive" in the U.S.

A majority of justices appeared sympathetic to the government's border management tool.

The case hinges on the legal definition of the phrase "arrives in the United States."

The policy, known as metering, allows officials to turn migrants away at overwhelmed ports.

The ruling will redefine the balance between border security and humanitarian obligations.

The integrity of the nations borders and the very meaning of the word arrive collided at the U.S. Supreme Court this week. At stake is whether the federal government can turn back asylum-seekers before they physically step onto American soil, a key tool for managing border security. The justices heard arguments in Noem v. Al Otro Lado, a case challenging the Trump administrations metering policy, and a majority appeared sympathetic to the governments position. The final ruling, expected by late June, could redefine the limits of border enforcement and national sovereignty.

The policy in question, known as metering, allows border officials to stop migrants on the Mexican side of a port of entry and tell them to wait, effectively preventing them from making an asylum claim. The Biden administration rescinded the formal policy, but the Trump legal team argued it is a critical tool for addressing border surges that any administration may need. This is a tool that [The Department of Homeland Security] would want in its toolbox, argued Justice Department lawyer Vivek Suri.

Central to the debate is a seemingly simple phrase in the Immigration and Nationality Act: arrives in the United States. The law states that an individual who is physically present or who arrives in the United States at a port of entry may apply for asylum. The Trump administration contends a person has not arrived if they are physically blocked in Mexico. You cant arrive in the United States while youre still standing in Mexico. That should be the end of this case, Suri told the justices.

A grammatical battlefield

The oral arguments quickly became a deep dive into grammar and semantics. Lawyers for immigrant rights groups argued that arrives in includes those at the threshold of a port, about to step over. Kelsi Corkran, representing the advocacy groups, suggested, I arrive at my house, or I arrive in my yard when Im going through the gate. She contended that border officers interrupt the process of arriving by physically blocking them.

Several justices seemed unconvinced by this interpretation. Justice Samuel Alito posed a pointed analogy: Do you think someone who comes to the front door of a house and knocks at the door has arrived in the house? The person may have arrived at the house. Chief Justice John Roberts compared it to standing in a long line for a concert, stating, If youre at the end of a long line, youre not there, you havent arrived at the turnstile.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett pressed for clarity, asking, What is the magic thing that were saying happens to make it so now someone arrives in the United States? Justice Brett Kavanaugh criticized the at the threshold definition as very artificial, noting that threshold means government will stop you short of the threshold.

A tool for border management

The governments lawyer emphasized that metering is about managing flow and resources at official ports. Metering is not saying you can never enter the U.S. and the only option is to enter illegally, Suri said. The U.S. has greater responsibilities to those in the U.S. than those in Mexico. He argued it is necessary for ports to say sorry, were at capacity, try again next time.

This perspective found a receptive audience among the courts conservative majority. However, the liberal justices raised concerns. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson questioned the fairness, asking, Why would his asylum request be discarded but someone who manages to enter the United States illegally and requests asylum gets their application entertained? Both Jackson and Justice Sonia Sotomayor also suggested the case might be premature since the policy is not currently active, with Jackson noting, We dont have an actual policy.

The historical context shows that managing asylum claims at overwhelmed ports is not a new challenge. The practice was used at times under the Obama administration and was formalized under President Trump. Supporters of the policy argue it is essential for maintaining order and security, while opponents claim it unlawfully denies access to a legal process, forcing vulnerable people into dangerous conditions.

As the court deliberates, the outcome will send a powerful signal about the balance between humanitarian obligations and operational control of the border. Border security is a paramount concern for many Americans, and this decision will either hand a significant tool back to federal authorities or significantly constrain their ability to manage the flow of people seeking entry. The nation awaits a ruling that will define not just a word, but a principle of sovereignty.

Sources for this article include:

JustTheNews.com

NYPost.com

USAToday.com
TSA Agent Departures Continue Amid Ongoing Funding Gap

Introduction: Unpaid Work Leads to Staff Exodus

A staffing crisis within the Transportation Security Administration is intensifying as more agents resign amid a prolonged lapse in funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Since the partial DHS shutdown began on February 14, more than 450 TSA officers have quit, according to agency figures. The resignations are occurring as agents continue to work without pay, a situation officials say is straining operations at airports nationwide.

The funding lapse, now in its second month, was triggered when Congress failed to pass a DHS appropriations bill. TSA agents, designated as essential personnel, are required to report for duty despite the lack of pay. The growing number of departures has led to increased absenteeism and longer security wait times, affecting spring break travelers at major hubs.

The Funding Gap: Context and Immediate Consequences

The partial shutdown entered its 36th day on March 21, according to reports [1]. The funding impasse stems from a political deadlock between Congressional Democrats and the Republican majority, with Democrats insisting on policy changes regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement as a condition for funding [2]. As a result, TSA employees have missed multiple paychecks, with the first full missed paycheck occurring on March 15 [3].

Acting Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl acknowledged the financial hardship faced by agents, stating, 'Our people are hurt...' according to a report [4]. The financial strain has pushed some agents to seek alternative income sources. A report from NaturalNews.com detailed that some TSA officers are resorting to selling blood plasma for cash to afford gas to get to work [5]. This situation exposes a broader critique of government inefficiency and the human cost of political stalemates, aligning with a worldview skeptical of centralized institutions. As one source notes, 'Anyone who has ever waited in long lines at the Department of Motor Vehicles or dealt with TSA agents at an airport knows this to be true, and what's worse is that as the government grows bigger, it seems to become even more incompetent' [6].

Operational Impact: Rising Absences and Delays

The operational impact of the staffing shortage is becoming severe. Absenteeism, or 'callout' rates, have surged into double-digit percentages at major airports. At George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, the callout rate reached 40.3 percent, while Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport reported a rate of 37.4 percent [7]. Nationwide, nearly 11 percent of TSA officers called out of work on March 23, according to a DHS official [8].

These absences have directly translated into longer security lines and significant delays for travelers. Videos and reports from multiple airports show lines stretching through terminals, with wait times occasionally exceeding five hours [9]. The situation prompted senior TSA officials to warn that without a resolution, some airports may be forced to close concourses or terminals [10]. One report described the fabric of American air travel as 'fraying under the strain' [11]. The strain illustrates the consequences when a large, centralized agency fails its workforce, a point emphasized by critics of big government.

Agent Perspectives: Statements on Working Conditions

Departing agents and union representatives have cited unsustainable financial pressure as the primary reason for quitting. 'Its time for Democrats to end these political games, pay our TSA officers, and reopen DHS,' the agency wrote in a social media post [12]. The financial precarity is forcing difficult choices; as one source on personal finance notes, 'Many people live too close to the bone to have much in the way of savings at all' [13], a reality now facing federal workers.

Beyond finances, morale has plummeted. A union representative highlighted the strain on remaining staff, who face increased workloads and passenger frustration. The situation has eroded the already contentious relationship between the public and TSA screeners, an agency whose methods have long been criticized as invasive and dehumanizing. The current crisis amplifies existing critiques of the TSA as an emblem of bureaucratic overreach and inefficiency [14].

Administrative Response: TSA and DHS Statements

In response to the operational crisis, the Trump administration has deployed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to assist at security checkpoints in at least 14 major airports [16],[9]. President Donald Trump announced the move on social media, stating ICE agents would 'do Security like no one has ever seen before' [15]. The union representing TSA officers criticized the deployment, arguing that staff 'deserve to be paid, not replaced' [16].

Meanwhile, the nomination of Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) to become the next Secretary of Homeland Security advanced in the Senate on March 22 [17]. If confirmed, Mullin would take over an agency in crisis. TSA has also suspended enrollment in its PreCheck and Global Entry trusted traveler programs at various points during the shutdown, though it later reversed the PreCheck suspension [18]. The agency stated it continues to evaluate operations 'on a case-by-case basis' as staffing constraints arise [18].

Conclusion: Looking Ahead

The standoff shows no immediate signs of resolution. A recent poll suggested more American voters blame Republicans for the shutdown and resulting travel chaos than Democrats, indicating continued political division. Further resignations are anticipated if pay is not restored, potentially leading to more severe operational disruptions. Industry leaders, including the CEOs of major U.S. airlines, have urged Congress to end the shutdown and fund DHS, warning travelers could face more delays [3].

Some private citizens have proposed direct solutions. Entrepreneur Elon Musk publicly offered to personally cover TSA agents' salaries, stating, 'I'd like to pay their salaries' [1]. While not a governmental fix, such offers highlight the desperation of the situation and the failure of centralized systems. The ongoing crisis serves as a case study in the fragility of top-down security apparatuses and the human cost when political gamesmanship overrides basic governance. As funding talks continue, airport delays and staffing instability are expected to persist.

References
A white giraffe sighting has once again thrilled wildlife watchers in Kenya, marking a rare giraffe Kenya moment after years of uncertainty. This striking event in a remote conservancy draws fresh focus to wildlife conservation challenges and successes in East Africa.

What Makes White Giraffes Stand Out in the Wild?

White giraffes capture attention through leucism, a genetic quirk that strips away much of their skin pigment while sparing their dark eyes and tongues. This condition sets them apart from typical reticulated giraffes, whose intricate patterns blend seamlessly into savannas.

Unlike full albinism, leucism leaves these animals with some natural defenses against sun exposure, though their pale coats make them prime targets for predators and poachers. The first widely documented white giraffe sighting in Kenya dates back to 2017 in Ishaqbini Hirola Conservancy, where a mother and calf pair roamed openly.

Researchers note that such traits arise from recessive genes, popping up sporadically in small populations. This rarity fuels fascination, as each white giraffe sighting offers a window into genetic diversity amid shrinking habitats. Conservationists track these individuals to understand how isolated groups maintain unique variations.

In Kenya's arid north, where giraffes navigate thorny acacias and seasonal rivers, the white variant's visibility heightens risks but also spotlights the need for vigilant protection. Local rangers share stories of these "ghost giraffes," blending folklore with science to engage communities.

Where and How the Latest Rare Giraffe Kenya Sighting Unfolded

The recent white giraffe sighting emerged from Ishaqbini Hirola Conservancy in Garissa County, a rugged expanse supporting hirola antelopes and reticulated giraffes. Camera traps captured a healthy mother-calf duo moving through bushland, confirming their survival after prolonged absence from records.

This area, managed by the Hirola Conservation Program, spans vital corridors linking fragmented habitats. Rangers first alerted teams via GPS data and ground patrols, verifying the animals' condition amid ongoing threats. The footage, shared discreetly to avoid drawing crowds, showed the pair foraging calmly at dusk.

Garissa's harsh terraindusty plains dotted with doum palmstests giraffe resilience, yet it harbors biodiversity hotspots. Wildlife conservation here relies on nomadic herders turning into stewards, patrolling alongside professionals. As the Hirola program noted in a recent update, these sightings remind everyone of the daily stakes.

Past disappearances stemmed from poaching incidents, including the tragic loss of a known white giraffe family around 2020. This reappearance suggests survivors or new genetic expressions, boosting morale for teams monitoring over 100 giraffes in the zone. Eco-tourists now inquire about safe viewing distances, balancing wonder with minimal disturbance.

The conservancy's success ties into Kenya's broader network, where community-led efforts have expanded protected lands. Giraffes here cross boundaries seasonally, demanding coordinated wildlife conservation across counties.

Why White Giraffe Sightings Matter for Kenya's Wildlife Future

White giraffe sightings underscore leucism's improbabilityone in tens of thousandsmaking each event a conservation milestone. Kenya boasts several early records, from 2016 Tanzania border finds to inland discoveries, yet global tallies stay under a dozen confirmed cases.

Poaching shadows these marvels; distinctive hides fetch high black-market prices, as seen when two white giraffes fell to snares years ago. Recovery hinges on rapid response, with Kenya Wildlife Service deploying collars and drones for real-time alerts.

Frequency remains low due to small population bases; reticulated giraffes number around 8,500 continent-wide, per recent tallies. Each sighting aids baseline data for breeding programs and anti-poaching strategies. The Washington Post covered an early 2017 spotting, where photos went viral and spurred donations.

Wildlife conservation in Kenya has evolved through conservancies, now safeguarding 16% of land. Incentives like lease fees motivate Maasai and Somali pastoralists to host herds, cutting retaliatory killings. Genetic studies from such events reveal inbreeding risks, guiding translocation efforts to mix populations.

Threats extend beyond bullets: agriculture encroaches, fragmenting ranges and sparking conflicts when giraffes raid crops. Climate shifts dry waterholes, forcing longer treks into human zones. Yet triumphs shinegiraffe numbers stabilized in key areas through fenced pathways and boreholes.

This white giraffe sighting amplifies calls for funding, drawing eyes to under-the-radar species like hirolas sharing the conservancy. It proves targeted interventions work, blending tech with tradition.

Threats and Protection Strategies Shaping Rare Giraffe Survival

Poachers pose the sharpest threat, lured by novelty, while broader pressures compound risks for giraffes across Kenya.

Major Threats to Giraffes

Poaching for hides, meat, tails, and bones, with white giraffes especially vulnerable due to their rarity.

Habitat loss from agriculture, firewood collection, infrastructure, and expanding human settlements.

Human-wildlife conflict, including crop raiding, retaliatory killings, and vehicle collisions.

Competition with livestock for browse and water in drought-prone areas.

Protection Strategies

GPS collars, camera traps, and drone surveillance by Kenya Wildlife Service for early threat detection.

Community conservancies offering lease payments to locals who protect wildlife on private land.

Anti-poaching patrols with rangers, scout dogs, and rapid response teams trained in conflict resolution.

Fenced corridors, solar fencing around farms, and crop insurance to reduce clashes.

Education programs in schools and villages promoting eco-tourism benefits over hunting.

Research and monitoring for genetic health, plus translocation to boost population diversity.

Kenya Wildlife Service'sstrategies, outlined in their 2024-2028 plan, emphasize partnerships and sustainable land use. These layers have cut snares by 30% in recent years, per conservancy reports.

For the white giraffe, anonymity aids safety; vague release zones prevent trophy hunters. Rangers rotate shifts, using night-vision to shadow without stress. Success metrics climb as human-giraffe clashes drop through these efforts.

Broader wildlife conservation tackles snares killing elephants too, via amnesty programs for turn-ins. Youth ranger academies build capacity, ensuring knowledge transfer.

Safeguarding Kenya's Elusive White Giraffe Legacy

White giraffe sightings like this one illuminate rare giraffe Kenya wonders while exposing vulnerabilities in wildlife conservation frameworks. Sustained patrols, community buy-in, and global backing promise more enduring encounters in Ishaqbini and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What causes a giraffe to be white?

White giraffes have leucism, a genetic condition reducing skin pigmentation but keeping eyes and tongues darkunlike full albinism.

2. How rare are white giraffe sightings?

Extremely rare, with fewer than a dozen confirmed worldwide; Kenya's cases started in 2016, often one-in-tens-of-thousands odds.

3. Where can white giraffes be found?

Primarily Ishaqbini Hirola Conservancy in Garissa County, Kenya, amid reticulated giraffe habitats shared with endangered hirolas.

4. Why were white giraffes poached in the past?

Poachers target their unique hides for high black-market value; a mother-calf pair was killed in 2020, leaving a lone survivor.
Climate change drives profound changes in oceans, with ocean acidification and sea level rise hitting marine ecosystems hard. These shifts disrupt habitats, food chains, and biodiversity, affecting everything from tiny plankton to massive whales. As oceans warm and expand, species face survival challenges that ripple across global food systems.

Ocean Acidification Basics

Oceans soak up roughly a quarter of human-produced CO2, sparking ocean acidification that lowers water pH. This reaction creates carbonic acid, which strips away carbonate ions essential for building shells and skeletons in marine life. Corals, oysters, and pteropodssmall sea snailsstruggle most, as their calcium carbonate structures dissolve in acidic conditions.

Plankton at the ocean's base form the foundation of marine ecosystems, feeding fish, squid, and seabirds. When acidification thins their shells, populations crash, starving higher food chain levels. Tropical coral reefs, nurseries for a quarter of all ocean species, bleach and crumble faster, losing their protective barriers against waves. Warmer waters from climate change worsen this, turning vibrant ecosystems into barren underwater deserts.

Research from the IPCC highlights how these chemical changes alter ocean chemistry faster than at any point in millions of years. Marine ecosystems shift toward acid-tolerant species, but the transition devastates fisheries worth billions annually. Salmon and herring, key prey for orcas, suffer as pteropod numbers plummet in acidic waters off Alaska and Norway.

Shellfish farms in the Pacific Northwest report larval die-offs, forcing hatcheries to bubble CO2 out of seawater. This patchwork fix underscores the scale: without broader emission cuts, ocean acidification accelerates, threatening protein sources for billions. Marine ecosystems adapt slowly, leaving cold-water corals and deep-sea sponges vulnerable to pH drops projected by 2050.

Effects of Ocean Acidification on Marine Life

Ocean acidification directly hammers calcifying organisms, from mussels to sea urchins. Lab studies show adult oysters survive but produce weak offspring, slashing recruitment into populations. In marine ecosystems, this cascades: fish that rely on shellfish dwindle, pulling down predators like sharks and tuna.

Coral polyps, the architects of reefs, deposit less skeleton in acidic seas, slowing reef growth by up to 40%. Bleaching events, triggered by heat stress, compound the damagereefs recover slower without structural integrity. Over 500 million people depend on reef fish for food; as ecosystems degrade, malnutrition rises in coastal communities.

Pteropods fuel Antarctic food webs, sustaining krill and whales. Acidification dissolves their shells within days in simulated future oceans, starving baleen whales already pressured by ship strikes. Tropical species like parrotfish erode faster too, disrupting the grazing that keeps algae in check on reefs.

A NOAA report details how these changes hit U.S. coasts, with Dungeness crab larvae failing in acidic upwellings. Marine ecosystems face "tipping points" where small pH shifts trigger massive biodiversity loss. Jawless fish and echinoderms show behavioral changes, avoiding acidic zones and fragmenting habitats further.

Sea Level Rise Impacts

Sea level rise, averaging 3.7 millimeters yearly, stems from melting ice sheets and warmer water expansion. Coastal squeeze buries marshes and mangroves under saltwater, erasing nurseries for shrimp, crabs, and juvenile fish. Estuaries, biodiversity hotspots, turn hypersaline, killing mangroves that sequester carbon and shield shores.

Storms pack more punch on elevated seas, scouring beaches and inundating low-lying atolls. Pacific islands lose habitable land, displacing communities reliant on nearshore fishing. Marine ecosystems migrate upslope, but hard barriers like seawalls block them, concentrating species and sparking competition.

Freshwater inflows drop as rising seas push brackish zones inland, altering nutrient delivery. Seagrass meadows, vital for manatees and dugongs, drown or overheat, releasing stored carbon back to the atmosphere. Global models predict 20-30% mangrove loss by 2050, hammering bird and fish populations.

Erosion exposes sediments, clouding waters and smothering filter feeders like clams. Sea level rise pairs with acidification to weaken reefs doublywaves topple fragile structures, accelerating collapse. Fisheries in Southeast Asia, feeding 60% of the region's protein, face 20-50% yield drops from habitat loss.

How Sea Level Rise Affects Marine Ecosystems

Rising seas fragment marine ecosystems in several key ways:

Habitat Loss for Coastal Species: Sea level rise drowns mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses, shrinking nurseries for fish, crabs, and shrimp. These zones, critical to marine ecosystems, lose space to inland migration, blocked by human development. Saltwater Intrusion into Estuaries: Rising waters push saltwater farther inland, killing freshwater-dependent species and altering salinity in breeding grounds. This disrupts nutrient cycles and food webs supporting juvenile marine life. Erosion of Beaches and Reefs: Waves erode nesting beaches and topple coral structures, reducing shelter for reef fish and exposing sediments that smother filter feeders. Marine ecosystems fragment as protective barriers weaken. Increased Storm Impacts: Higher seas amplify flooding and surge damage, destroying intertidal habitats and spreading diseases. Biodiversity drops as species fail to recover between intensified events.

Wetland loss disrupts carbon cyclesmangroves store five times more carbon per acre than rainforests. Their decline amplifies warming, creating feedback loops with ocean acidification. Algal blooms explode in nutrient-rich, low-oxygen dead zones, killing fish en masse from the Gulf of Mexico to the Baltic Sea.

Poleward migrations strain fisheries: cod vanish from traditional grounds, overwhelming southern stocks. Marine ecosystems lose resilience as invasive species hitch rides on shifting currents. Heatwaves bake exposed intertidal zones, cooking mussels and anemones adapted to stable tides.

An EEA publication maps Europe's coasts, showing saltmarsh conversion to mudflats that support fewer species. Global marine ecosystems face "regime shifts," where stable states flip irreversibly, like the Black Sea's jellyfish takeover.

Which Marine Animals Face the Greatest Risks

Loggerhead Sea Turtles: Nesting beaches erode, drowning eggs and skewing hatchling sex ratios toward females from hotter sands.

Nesting beaches erode, drowning eggs and skewing hatchling sex ratios toward females from hotter sands. Corals and Reef Fish: Reefs bleach and collapse under wave exposure, starving species like parrotfish and groupers that depend on complex structures.

Reefs bleach and collapse under wave exposure, starving species like parrotfish and groupers that depend on complex structures. Narwhals and Polar Seals: Arctic ice platforms vanish, limiting hunting and breeding grounds amid rapid sea level shifts.

Arctic ice platforms vanish, limiting hunting and breeding grounds amid rapid sea level shifts. Hawaiian Monk Seals: Foraging habitats flood, concentrating competition and exposing pups to predators on shrinking shores.

Foraging habitats flood, concentrating competition and exposing pups to predators on shrinking shores. Krill and Baleen Whales: Ocean currents shift prey distributions, starving whales as foundational plankton declines.

Polar cod and narwhals lose under-ice hunting grounds as Arctic sea ice thins. Tropical tuna chase cooler waters, depleting equatorial stocks and upending island economies. Sea turtles nest on eroding beacheshatchlings drown or face hotter sands skewing sex ratios female-heavy.

Sharks like hammerheads roam farther for prey, tangling in ghost nets from disrupted fisheries. Whales beach more frequently, disoriented by sound-scarred acidic sound channels. Deep-sea squids rise with expanding oxygen minimum zones, altering midwater dynamics.

Strategies to Protect Marine Ecosystems

Restore Blue Carbon Habitats: Replant mangroves and seagrasses to buffer coasts, sequester CO2, and maintain nurseries against sea level rise.

Replant mangroves and seagrasses to buffer coasts, sequester CO2, and maintain nurseries against sea level rise. Establish Marine Protected Areas: Designate no-take zones for reefs and estuaries to boost resilience and allow species migration.

Designate no-take zones for reefs and estuaries to boost resilience and allow species migration. Cut Carbon Emissions: Slow sea level rise through renewables, reducing acidification and warming pressures on marine ecosystems.

Slow sea level rise through renewables, reducing acidification and warming pressures on marine ecosystems. Sustainable Fisheries Management: Enforce quotas and gear limits to prevent overfishing in shifting habitats.

Enforce quotas and gear limits to prevent overfishing in shifting habitats. Community Beach Restoration: Combat erosion with natural barriers and monitoring to safeguard nesting sites.

Emission reductions target root causes: renewables and electrification slow sea level rise and acidification. Acid-resistant oyster strains from selective breeding thrive in hatcheries, offering hope for aquaculture. Early warning systems track pH shifts, guiding fishery quotas.

International pacts like the UN Ocean Decade coordinate monitoring of deep-sea vents, acidification labs. Local bans on coastal hardening preserve migration corridors. Innovation in kelp farming draws down carbon while feeding herbivores.

Key Paths Forward for Ocean Recovery

Marine ecosystems underpin human well-being, storing 25% of anthropogenic CO2 and supplying 17% of global protein. Ocean acidification and sea level rise demand immediate halts to deforestation and fossil fuels. Coordinated restoration and protection can stabilize these waters for generations.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What causes ocean acidification?

Oceans absorb excess CO2 from the atmosphere, forming carbonic acid that lowers pH levels and harms shell-building marine life like corals and shellfish.

2. How does sea level rise impact marine habitats?

Rising seas drown mangroves and marshes, erode reefs, and intrude saltwater into estuaries, fragmenting nurseries for fish and crabs in marine ecosystems.

3. Which animals suffer most from these changes?

Sea turtles lose nesting beaches, corals bleach en masse, and whales starve from krill declines, with polar species like narwhals facing vanishing ice platforms.
Actor Adivi Sesh explains why Telugu films like 'Baahubali' succeed, crediting passionate individual producers over corporate studios.

Mumbai, March 25 Actor-director-writer Adivi Sesh, who is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film 'Dacoit', has spoken up on the strength of Telugu cinema.

The actor spoke with IANS during the promotions of the film, and shared that unlike other film industries of India, Telugu cinema has a strong emotional core because it isn't still ruled by the corporates.



When asked what separates Telugu cinema from other industries of India, he told IANS, "I think emotional ownership. And I'll tell you what I mean by that. Telugu cinema till date is still produced by individual producers. Someone might have mortgaged a house and he's come to produce a film, someone sold a piece of land, and he's come to produce a film. Someone did well for himself in real estate or she's a doctor and she's come to produce a film. Whatever it may be. These are the people who are producing even our INR 300, 400, 500 crore films".



The actor further mentioned that films in Telugu are not produced by studios. He recollected having an argument with one of the people working for the studio.



He continued, "I asked him, 'Why don't you guys get it that this means so much to me. That was about some particular topic. And he couldn't take it anymore. So he just kind of just blew up and he said, 'That's because we work for a paycheque, Sesh'. I was stunned. And I was like, 'How could I be so foolish?'. I didn't realize it. And this man is a truly good man. And he's not a bad person at all. And he wanted to do a good job for the film. He said, the point is, and then he softly explained. He said, 'my salary doesn't change. Nothing changes for me. Maybe a small extra bonus at the end of the year. But I have to deliver seven or eight such successful films before I'm considered for a promotion'. So what happens is because there is no emotional ownership in a film doing well, the system only looks forward to only making money".



"The fact that the apathy hasn't penetrated Telugu cinema, is why we have been able to dream of a Bahubali or dream of a 'Kalki' or dream of a 'Pushpa' because it's just individual guys just betting everything and putting it on the line. And that's the only difference, I think. Dare I say, the crews in Mumbai work even harder. So it's not like I see a difference. I think people are just as talented everywhere. That's been my learning. But working for yourself is different from working for someone else", he added.





- IANS
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that an all-party meeting on the West Asia situation resulted in a broad understanding, with opposition parties pledging united support for the government's decisions. The government comprehensively answered all questions from opposition leaders regarding the conflict's impact on India and the safety of its citizens. Officials reassured attendees that energy security is stable, with adequate crude oil and LPG supplies, and that India's diplomatic outreach is proactive. The meeting, chaired by the Defence Minister, emphasized that the situation is under control and Indian embassies are actively assisting citizens.

After a government-led all-party meeting, opposition parties pledge united support for India's steps regarding the West Asia conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the US.

New Delhi, March 25 Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Wednesday that all political parties, including the Opposition, have reached a "broad understanding" that a unified front will be presented by everyone regarding the current global tensions in West Asia.

"I feel satisfied in telling you that the government has answered all the questions asked by the entire opposition. Finally, all the opposition colleagues have said that in this hour of crisis, whatever decision the government takes, whatever steps it takes according to the prevailing situation, everyone will support it unitedly... I believe that whatever was demanded by the opposition that such information should be given, the government has given adequate information today," Rijiju told reporters after the all-party meeting. The all-party meeting on the West Asia situation saw participation from both the government and opposition parties, with discussions focusing on the ongoing regional conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Rijiju thanked all participating parties and said that the government responded to all questions raised by opposition leaders. He added that opposition parties were assured that their concerns regarding the impact of the West Asia situation on India and the safety of Indian citizens were addressed in detail.

"Today, an all-party meeting was called by the government on the West Asia situation. I want to thank all the members of all parties who participated in the meeting. All the opposition leaders' questions and queries were answered by the government. All the opposition parties have assured us that they will stand with the government in all the steps the government takes according to the situation," said Rijiju.

"Everyone attended and participated well. All party leaders shared information and expressed their concerns on behalf of their respective parties. Opposition members asked many questions about how the situation in West Asia, arising from the conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States, will impact India, and what steps the government has taken for the Indian people. The government responded comprehensively and thoroughly," he added.

He further stated that leaders from across parties actively participated in the discussions, sharing their views and seeking clarifications on India's preparedness and response strategy amid the evolving conflict. According to him, the government provided comprehensive information on all issues raised.

Rijiju also said he was satisfied that all queries from the opposition had been answered and noted that there was a broad understanding that political parties would extend support to the government in any decisions taken in response to the situation.

At the all-party meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the Centre on Wednesday reassured that India remains on equal footing and the overall situation arising out of the West Asia crisis is firmly under control, with no cause for concern, sources said.

According to sources, a detailed presentation by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, followed by remarks from External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, highlighted that energy security remains stable, with adequate availability of crude oil, LPG and other essential supplies, and that India's strong refining capacity will ensure continued supply, including fertilisers, with shipments already arriving. Four have arrived, and more are expected.

Opposition MPs flagged Pakistan's role in the conflict, to which the government replied that such references are not new, recalling its involvement since 1981 during the US-Iran diplomatic breakdown.

It was also pointed out that Iran's reopening of access after five days is a positive development.

The government, as per sources, emphasised its proactive diplomatic outreach, noting that New Delhi is in touch with all sides and "taking everyone on board," while maintaining that ships are coming and supply lines remain active, making this a diplomatic success for the country.

On the safety front, the government stressed that there is no panic, Indian embassies are actively assisting citizens. The Centre said that evacuation plans are in place, with people's safety being the top priority.

Addressing security concerns, including reports of submarine activity near Sri Lanka, it was clarified that had there been any threat to India, it would have been handled decisively.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also raised issues concerning Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, with the government noting that as soon as channels reopened, diplomatic outreach was undertaken.

The government said that despite uncertainties around the continuation of the conflict, India is prepared, engaged at all levels, prioritizing its people, and confident of weathering the situation through coordinated diplomatic, strategic and economic efforts.

The meeting, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, is being attended by several senior opposition leaders.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman were also among those present at the meeting.

Congress leaders Mukul Wasnik and Tariq Anwar, Samajwadi Party leaders Dharmendra Yadav, and Javed Ali, CPI(M)'s John Brittas, LJP's Arun Bharti, DMK leader P Wilson and AAP's Sanjay Singh were among those present.

JD(U) was represented by Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh and the party's working president Sanjay Jha.

No leader from the Trinamool Congress attended the meeting. TMC MP Saugata Roy said the entire fight is ongoing with the BJP. "What meeting will we hold with them?" he asked.

The conflict between Israel-US and Iran began on February 28.

- ANI
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has proposed forming a high-level committee led by the Chief Secretary to aggressively promote tourism in the state. Key targets include making 50,000 rooms available by 2029 and promoting 10,000 homestays with a new rating system. The plan involves large-scale development of beaches, eco-tourism circuits, caravan parks, and fast-tracking projects at major spots like Gandikota. The vision also includes promoting seaplane and cruise tourism and evolving Amaravati into a 'Creative City' to harness the creative economy.

CM Naidu directs officials to add 50,000 rooms, 10,000 homestays, and develop caravan parks, beaches, and a Creative City in Amaravati to boost tourism.

Amaravati, March 25 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday suggested forming a high-level committee led by the Chief Secretary to promote tourism in the state.

Addressing a review meeting on tourism, the Chief Minister stressed the need to make available 50,000 rooms by 2029.

He also directed officials to promote 10,000 homestays across key tourist destinations and to introduce a rating system for homestays, in response to the increase in tourist footfall in the state.

The Chief Minister said the government is planning large-scale development of beaches from Baruva to Nellore, along with enhancing eco-tourism circuits in regions such as Araku Valley, Maredumilli and Chintapalli.

He called for the establishment of caravan parks in at least 10-15 locations, enabling families to safely experience nature with proper amenities.

The Chief Minister said the state government plans to introduce Caravan parks and tent cities, targeting 1,000 units by the time of the Godavari Pushkarams. 

The plans include amusement parks in Tirupati and Visakhapatnam, as well as the promotion of eco- and temple tourism in coordination with the forest and endowments departments.

Chief Minister Naidu stressed the need to fast-track the development of major tourist spots, including Gandikota, Suryalanka Beach, and Borra Caves. He directed officials to complete the Godavari Pushkar Ghat works by August, and the restoration works on the Havelock Bridge by December, allowing tourist access.

Seaplane services under the UDAN scheme, water aerodromes in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Srisailam, Gandikota and Kambham Cheruvu and cruise tourism from Visakhapatnam and Krishnapatnam Port will be promoted.

Highlighting the role of the creative economy, the Chief Minister said Amaravati should evolve into a Creative City, encouraging content creation and cultural industries.

He noted that actor Sanjay Dutt has expressed interest in investing in such projects.

The officials informed the Chief Minister that the state recorded 309.2 million tourist visits last year, with a 21 per cent growth in the first nine months of the current year. 

The government aims to further accelerate this momentum through integrated tourism planning, including temple tourism circuits.

- IANS
Bollywood actor Arjun Kapoor marked the 14th death anniversary of his mother, Mona Kapoor, with a poignant social media post expressing how lost he and his sister still feel. His sister, Anshula Kapoor, shared a detailed note about missing the version of herself that only existed in her mother's presence. She confessed she still has moments where she thinks "I need to tell mom," a feeling she says will never fade. Anshula also reflected on entering a new stage of grief as specific memories fade, but emphasized that forgetting details is not forgetting the person.

Bollywood actor Arjun Kapoor and sister Anshula share emotional tributes for their late mother Mona Kapoor on her 14th death anniversary.

Mumbai, March 25 It has been 14 years since Bollywood actor Arjun Kapoor and his sister Anshula Kapoor lost their mother, Mona Kapoor.

Remembering his mother on her death anniversary on Wednesday, Arjun wrote on social media, "14 years & we are still lost without u Maa", followed by a broken heart emoji.



Additionally, Anshula also penned a heartfelt note revealing what she misses the most about her mom.



The entrepreneur shared that she misses the version of herself she used to be in the presence of her mother.



Anshula said that she might not remember each and every moment with her mother, but she clearly remembers what it felt like to be loved by her.



"Maa, I don't remember everything about you anymore, but I remember what it felt like to be yours. To come to you with the smallest things - a headache, a bad day, a complaint that didn't even make sense... and still be heard like it mattered (sic)," she wrote on her official Instagram handle.



"There was a version of me that only existed in your presence, and I think that's what I miss the most. Not just you, but the way you saw me", added Anshula.



She further confessed that even after so much time, she still finds herself thinking "I need to tell mom", admitting that this feeling will never fade as she will always need her mother.



"14 years since the last time I held your hand, and some days I still catch myself thinking, "I need to tell mom." And this feeling will never go away. Because I will always need my Maa. Miss you everyday. Love you forever," the post concluded.



Anshula further said that as her memories of her mother are fading with time, she has reached a new stage of grief, the one she was not prepared for.



However, she added that forgetting the details does not necessarily mean that you are forgetting the person.





- IANS
The Election Commission of India has completed the scrutiny of nomination papers for upcoming Assembly elections and by-elections. Over 2,140 candidates are now confirmed to be contesting across Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry, with Kerala fielding the highest number. The final candidate list will be set after the withdrawal deadline on March 26. All procedures were videographed and conducted transparently in the presence of candidates.

Election Commission completes nomination scrutiny for Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal polls and by-elections. Over 2,100 candidates remain.

New Delhi, March 25 The Election Commission of India on Wednesday said the scrutiny of nomination papers for the 2026 Assembly elections and by-elections has been completed, firming up the field of candidates across several key states going to the polls next month.

The elections are scheduled for Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, along with by-elections in six states.

The last date for filing nominations for Assam, Kerala and Puducherry -- which vote on April 9 -- was March 23. Post-scrutiny, a total of 2,140 candidates remain in the fray for the Assembly elections across the three states and one Union Territory.

According to an official press note issued by the Commission, the scrutiny process was carried out by Returning Officers on March 24 and concluded for all poll-bound states and the Union Territory, as well as for the by-elections.

The exercise was conducted in the presence of candidates and their authorised representatives, with full videography to ensure transparency.

Kerala accounts for the highest number with 985 candidates contesting 140 seats, followed by Assam with 789 candidates for 126 seats. Puducherry has 366 candidates for its 30-member Assembly.

In the by-elections, a total of 66 candidates are contesting across five Assembly constituencies. Karnataka accounts for the highest number with 50 candidates across two seats, while Goa has three candidates, Nagaland has seven, and Tripura has six.

The Election Commission said that, as per established procedure, the list of validly nominated candidates has been prepared and displayed on notice boards, along with photographs of the candidates to aid voter identification.

The final picture of the contest, however, will emerge after the deadline for withdrawal of nominations, which is set for March 26 at 3 p.m.

The ECI reiterated that all processes have been carried out in accordance with laid-down norms, with an emphasis on fairness and transparency. With scrutiny now complete, attention will shift to the withdrawal phase, after which the electoral battle lines will be clearly drawn across the states heading into polling day.

- IANS
Comedian Bharti Singh revealed in a vlog that she and her sister had a massive crush on actor Karan Kundrra during their college days. She recalled how they would eagerly watch him on MTV, with her sister even abandoning household chores to see him on TV. Bharti and Karan are currently co-hosting the show "Celebrity Laughter Chefs," where their chemistry is a hit. Karan Kundrra, who debuted in 2009, is now a popular TV host and has been in a relationship with Tejasswi Prakash for four years.

Comedian Bharti Singh recalls being obsessed with actor Karan Kundrra in college, saying her sister would leave chores to watch him on MTV.

Mumbai, March 25 Comedian Bharti Singh revealed that she and her sister had a massive crush on actor Karan Kundrra during their college days, recalling how they would eagerly watch him on television.

The star comedian took to her vlog on her YouTube channel where she was heard revealing that she and her sister were obsessed with Karan Kundrra while growing up.



"We had Karan Kundrra on some show of MTV and he used to come there. My sister and I had started loving Karan. He was such a handsome boy, and such an angry young man, we loved him," Bharti shared.



Recalling just how big a fan her sister was, she added, "My sister was crazy. She used to leave utensils halfway while cleaning and come to see Karan Kundrra on TV."



Talking about Bharti and Karan, they are currently seen together on "Celebrity Laughter Chefs," where their camaraderie has been winning over audiences.



Talking about Karan Kundrra, the actor made his television debut with the popular show "Kitani Mohabbat Hai" in 2009, where he starred opposite Kritika Kamra.



The romantic drama was loved by viewers and established him as a household name.



He went on to then feature in many other shows including "Kitani Mohabbat Hai 2," "Gumrah: End of Innocence," "Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum," and "Dil Hi Toh Hai," showcasing his versatility across genres.



Karan also participated in "Bigg Boss 15," where he emerged as one of the most popular contestants.



It was on the show that his relationship with Tejasswi Prakash blossomed, and the two have been dating for four years now.



Currently, Karan Kundrra is seen hosting MTV Splitsvilla, along with Sunny Leone.





- IANS
BJP National President Nitin Nabin visited Kolkata's historic Dakshineswar Kali Temple to offer prayers on the second day of his West Bengal tour. His visit is aimed at reviewing the party's organisational preparedness for the upcoming state assembly elections. He held crucial meetings with the state's core leadership to discuss candidate selection, campaign planning, and outreach initiatives. The elections are scheduled for April 23 and 29, with vote counting on May 4.

BJP President Nitin Nabin offers prayers at Kolkata's Dakshineswar Kali Temple and holds key organisational meetings to strategise for the West Bengal Assembly elections.

Kolkata, March 25 Bharatiya Janata Party national president Nitin Nabin on Wednesday visited the historic Dakshineswar Kali Temple in Kolkata to offer prayers and seek blessings as part of his two-day organisational visit to West Bengal.

The visit to the iconic shrine marks the commencement of the second day of his state tour, aimed at reviewing the party's preparedness for the upcoming assembly elections.

Nitin Nabin's visit to West Bengal is a part of the party's intensified preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections.

During his visit, he is scheduled to participate in a series of key organisational meetings. These meetings focus on strengthening the party's grassroots structure, reviewing ongoing activities, and streamlining coordination among party workers.

He held crucial discussions with members of the state's core group leadership to assess the current political landscape and chalk out strategies for the elections. Sources indicate that the meetings include detailed deliberations on candidate selection, campaign planning, and outreach initiatives aimed at expanding the party's base in the state.

The visit is being seen as significant in the BJP's broader effort to consolidate its position in West Bengal and gear up for a high-stakes electoral contest.

The West Bengal Assembly elections will be conducted in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with the counting of votes scheduled for May 4.

Earlier on March 19, Nabin led a meeting of the Central Election Committee (CEC) at the party headquarters in the National Capital.

Senior leaders of the party, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Ministers Bhupender Yadav, Mansukh L Mandaviya, MoS Sarbananda Sonowal, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, BS Yediyurappa, Shobha Karandlaje, Sadananda Master M, Baijayant Panda, Shantanu Thakur, Aparajita Sarangi, and other senior leaders were in attendance.

The CEC meeting focused on a discussion over candidates and the number of seats to be contested in the poll-bound states of Assam, Keralam, West Bengal and Puducherry.

- ANI
Actor Boman Irani humorously inserted himself into international diplomacy by volunteering for peace talks with US President Donald Trump. Citing his surname, he proposed forming a delegation with Smriti Irani and Aruna Irani to negotiate over dhansak in Mumbai's Dadar Parsi Colony. His jest comes as the West Asia conflict enters its 26th day, with continued US-Israel attacks and Iranian retaliatory strikes. While Trump has claimed ceasefire negotiations, Iran has accused him of bluffing to manipulate oil markets as talks reportedly proceed alongside ongoing bombings.

Actor Boman Irani humorously volunteers for Iran-US peace talks with Smriti & Aruna Irani, inviting Trump's delegation for dhansak in Dadar.

Mumbai, March 25 Actor-director Boman Irani has put on a diplomatic hat to resolve the ongoing war in west Asia. On Wednesday, the actor took to his Instagram, and shared a video of himself talking to the camera. Citing his Irani roots, the actor expressed his willingness to talk to the US President Donald Trump with regards to solving the conflict.

In the video, he said in jest, "So, as you may know, it's going viral that Mr. Donald Trump wants to speak to the Iranis, and three people have been beckoned to speak, Smriti Irani, Aruna Irani, and me".

He further mentioned, "So, I am ready. I am ready. We can do anything for peace. My only problem is that I won't go to Washington. Let their delegation come here to the Dadar Parsi Colony. We will treat them with whatever they like, we'll feed them dhansak and custard. We will bring a gas cylinder. I think it will make life very, very smooth for all of us".

Meanwhile, the war in west Asia is about to enter its 26th day with both the USA and Israel jointly attacking Iran. Iran, on its part, has been attacking the US military bases of the allies in the middle-east with catastrophic bombings on Tel Aviv.

Earlier, Trump spoke about the 5 days of ceasefire to the war saying he negotiated peace with the leaders of Iran. Soon after Trump's statement, Iran said that Trump is bluffing, and is cooking up a one-sided peace deal to manipulate financial markets linked to oil. Following this, the talks between Iran and the USA are reportedly underway while bombings continues over critical infrastructure of Iran and Israel.

- IANS
The Indian government has reassured political parties that the situation arising from the West Asia conflict is under control, with stable energy security and adequate supplies of crude oil and LPG. Officials highlighted proactive diplomatic outreach, noting India is in touch with all sides to keep supply lines active and ensure shipments continue. The government emphasized that citizen safety is the top priority, with evacuation plans in place and embassies actively assisting. The meeting, chaired by the Defence Minister, saw the government assert confidence in weathering the situation through coordinated diplomatic, strategic, and economic efforts.

Centre reassures all-party meet on stable energy supplies, active diplomacy, and citizen safety. No panic despite regional conflict.

New Delhi, March 25 The Central government on Wednesday reassured that despite the ongoing conflict in West Asia, India remains on an equal footing. There is no cause for concern, as the overall situation arising out of the crisis is firmly under control, the Centre informed while briefing political parties at the all-party meet. According to sources, a detailed presentation took place at the all-party meeting by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, followed by remarks from External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, highlighted that energy security remains stable, with adequate availability of crude oil, LPG and other essential supplies, and that India's strong refining capacity will ensure continued supply, including fertilisers, with shipments already arriving. Four have arrived, and more are expected.

Opposition leaders flagged Pakistan's role in the conflict, to which the government replied that such references are not new, recalling its involvement since 1981 during the US-Iran diplomatic breakdown.

It was also pointed out that Iran's reopening of access after five days is a positive development.

The government, as per sources, emphasised its proactive diplomatic outreach, noting that New Delhi is in touch with all sides and "taking everyone on board," while maintaining that ships are coming and supply lines remain active, making this a diplomatic success for the country.

On the safety front, the government stressed that there is no panic; Indian embassies are actively assisting citizens. The Centre said that evacuation plans are in place, with people's safety being the top priority.

Addressing security concerns, including reports of submarine activity near Sri Lanka, it was clarified that had there been any threat to India, it would have been handled decisively.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also raised issues concerning Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, with the government noting that as soon as channels reopened, diplomatic outreach was undertaken.

The government said that despite uncertainties around the continuation of the conflict, India is prepared, engaged at all levels, prioritising its people, and confident of weathering the situation through coordinated diplomatic, strategic and economic efforts.

The meeting, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, was attended by several senior opposition leaders.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman were also among those present at the meeting.

Congress leaders Mukul Wasnik and Tariq Anwar, Samajwadi Party leaders Dharmendra Yadav, and Javed Ali, CPI(M)'s John Brittas, LJP's Arun Bharti, DMK leader P Wilson and AAP's Sanjay Singh were among those present.

JD(U) was represented by Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh and the party's working president, Sanjay Jha.

No leader from the Trinamool Congress attended the meeting. TMC MP Saugata Roy said the entire fight is ongoing with the BJP. "What meeting will we hold with them?" he asked.

The conflict between Israel-US and Iran began on February 28.

- ANI
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav delivered a state-wide address from the new All India Radio station in Ujjain on his 61st birthday. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to making the Simhastha Kumbh Mela in 2028 a world-class event, highlighting major infrastructure and river-cleaning projects. The CM also outlined key initiatives for farmers' welfare, tribal culture preservation, and wildlife conservation under 'Project Cheetah'. He concluded by emphasizing a collective effort towards a developed Madhya Pradesh, backed by his cabinet and the public's trust.

On his birthday, MP CM Mohan Yadav addressed the state via Ujjain AIR, detailing grand plans for Simhastha Kumbh 2028 and key state development initiatives.

Ujjain, March 25 On the occasion of his 61st birthday on Wednesday, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav delivered a message from the newly established All India Radio station in Ujjain.

The Chief Minister began his address by reaffirming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government's commitment to make the Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2028 in the religious city a grand and world-class event.

Delivering his message to people of his home district -- which was later broadcast from 17 other centres across the state -- CM Yadav said he was delighted to connect through the Akashvani centre in the sacred city of the Mahakaleshwar Temple.

Notably, the All India Radio station in Ujjain was officially inaugurated on November 26, 2025.

He said Madhya Pradesh has reached a stage where cultural heritage and modern development are progressing together.

CM Yadav added that to showcase the richness of Sanatan culture on the global stage, the state government is working with a firm resolve to make Simhastha 2028 a world-class event.

"The government is undertaking projects worth thousands of crores to keep the Shipra river clean and ensure its continuous flow, develop a riverfront, and address water scarcity through major river-linking projects such as Ken-Betwa and Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal," he said.

He said that by observing 2026 as 'Farmers' Welfare Year', the government aims to boost farmers' income through expansion of irrigation and agricultural mechanisation.

He also noted that to preserve tribal culture in the state, Bhagoria has been accorded the status of a state festival and folk celebration.

The Chief Minister reiterated the government's zero-tolerance policy against Naxalism, stating that there is no place for disorder in Madhya Pradesh.

Highlighting 'Project Cheetah', Chief Minister Yadav said the state is emerging as a leader in wildlife conservation.

Concluding his address, he said that the journey towards a developed and prosperous Madhya Pradesh is a collective effort, strengthened by his cabinet colleagues and the trust of the people.

- IANS
Congress MP KC Venugopal has expressed strong confidence that the United Democratic Front will secure a clear victory in the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections, necessitating a change of government. He highlighted public discontent, particularly among women, regarding the ongoing LPG crisis as a key failure of the current administration. Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala echoed this sentiment, asserting that public disappointment with the ruling Left Front's performance will lead to a UDF win. Both leaders accused the BJP and CPI(M) of colluding to undermine the UDF, a strategy they believe will fail as voters have understood this "mischief."

Congress leaders KC Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala predict a United Democratic Front victory and a change of government in Kerala.

Thrissur, March 25 Congress Lok Sabha member KC Venugopal on Wednesday expressed confidence in the victory of the United Democratic Front in Kerala, stating, "UDF is going to win hands down."

He emphasised that Kerala is in need of a "total change," specifically a "change of government."

" It is a clear triumph for the UDF. There will be a change of government in Keralam," he told reporters here today.

Venugopal also said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will formally kick off his campaign in the State today for the upcoming April 9 Assembly polls.

Speaking on LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), the Alaphuzha MP pointed out that, "everywhere we go, people--especially women--are crying" about the LPG crisis. He accused the government of "totally failing" to address the issue, further adding that the government had let down the people of Kerala.

Earlier today, Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala too expressed confidence in a UDF victory, citing that the people of Kerala are disappointed by the performance of the ruling Left Front government.

"BJP and CPI(M) are working to defeat the Congress-led UDF. But this will not work in Kerala. In 2021, it was hatched by both of them, and they got the continuation of the ministry. The people of Kerala are completely dejected by the performance of the government. So, I feel that the people will not allow them to continue. And they will be determined to see that the Congress-led UDF will come to power. So, we are very confident that UDF will come back to power," he said.

The Congress leader further stated that there is not a single MLA from the BJP from the last election, and this election, they are not going to open their account.

"That is why they are having an understanding with CPI(M) to get some seats, and they will help them to checkmate UDF. That will not happen because the people of Kerala understood their mischief, and they will vote for UDF," Ramesh Chennithala said.

He criticised the ruling party, claiming that the vital issues are not answered, and now people are totally in favour of the UDF.

- ANI
Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the Gujarat Assembly's passage of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, calling it a historic step toward equality. He stated the country should be run on equal laws for all citizens, not appeasement. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also celebrated the bill, highlighting its role in ensuring equal rights for women and strengthening the state's social fabric. The bill, formulated after extensive public consultation, makes Gujarat the second Indian state after Uttarakhand to implement a UCC.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah lauds Gujarat's passage of the Uniform Civil Code Bill, calling it a historic move for equal laws for all citizens.

Gandhinagar, March 25 Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday lauded the passage of the Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026, in Gujarat, calling it a historic step towards ensuring equality for all citizens in the country.

In a post on X, the Union Home Minister reaffirmed the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) long-standing commitment to a uniform law for all citizens.

"It has been the BJP's resolve since its inception that there should be a uniform law for every citizen in the country. Under the leadership of Modi, the BJP's state governments are continuously moving forward in this direction. I am delighted that after Uttarakhand, Gujarat has now also accomplished the historic task of passing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, thereby demonstrating its commitment," Shah said.

He further congratulated Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and all the legislators who supported the bill. "For this, I congratulate Chief Minister Shri Bhupendrapbjp and all the legislators who supported this bill," Shah said.

"The country should be run not on the basis of appeasement, but through equal laws for all citizens--this is both our priority and our resolve," he added.

Earlier, Bhupendra Patel congratulated all the representatives of the State Assembly and the citizens of Gujarat following the passage of the UCC Bill. In a tweet, Patel celebrated the landmark achievement, calling it a historic moment for both Gujarat and the nation.

"I congratulate all the representatives of the State Assembly and all the citizens of Gujarat on the passing of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill by a majority vote. This marks a historic moment for both Gujarat and the nation," Patel wrote.

With the passage of the UCC Bill, 2026, Gujarat becomes the second state in India to implement a uniform legal framework for all its citizens. The move aims to bring uniformity across personal laws related to marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption, regardless of religion or community.

"The implementation of the Uniform Civil Code will establish a common legal framework for all religions and communities within the state regarding matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption," Patel continued in his tweet.

The Chief Minister further emphasised the importance of equal rights for women across all religions and castes. "It will ensure that women across all religions and castes are accorded equal rights, thereby further strengthening their dignity and security," he added.

The implementation of the UCC in Gujarat has been a careful and inclusive process. "Special care has been taken to ensure that no community faces any form of discrimination or injustice," Patel said.

A high-level committee chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai played a crucial role in the implementation process. The committee's final report, which included a detailed study of relevant issues and extensive public consultations, was submitted to the state government.

"This report involved a detailed study of all pertinent issues; the draft of the bill was formulated after visiting various districts across the state, gathering public opinion, and engaging in extensive public consultations," Patel explained.

Expressing confidence in the positive impact of the UCC, Patel said, "I am fully confident that the implementation of the UCC will further strengthen the social fabric of the state. It will foster a more conducive environment for development for people belonging to all sections of society and every community."

Patel concluded his tweet with a forward-looking statement, linking Gujarat's success to the broader national goal of progress. "By building a 'Developed Gujarat,' we will be able to accelerate our progress toward realising the vision of a 'Developed India'--a dream articulated by our Prime Minister Narendra Bhai Modi."

The Gujarat Assembly on Tuesday passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill by a majority vote, making it the second state in India, after Uttarakhand, to implement the legislation.

- ANI
The 14th Dalai Lama attended a major long life prayer ceremony at the Tsuglagkhang Temple in Dharamshala. The event, organized by three Tibetan regional associations, drew a crowd of over 5,000 monks, nuns, and devotees. Attendees expressed the profound significance of the ceremony, held to mark the spiritual leader's 90th birthday. A devotee from Ukraine described fulfilling a lifelong dream by meeting the Dalai Lama at the gathering.

Thousands gather in Dharamshala for a long life prayer ceremony for the Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday, led by Tibetan associations.

Dharamshala, March 25 The 14th Dalai Lama on Wednesday attended a long life prayer ceremony by three Tibetan associations at the Tsuglagkhang Temple in Dharamshala.

The ceremony was organised by the U-Tsang Cholkha, Dokham Zachuka Association and Kyidong Welfare Association, drawing more than 5,000 Tibetans, including monks, nuns and foreign devotees, who gathered to pray for the spiritual leader's long life.

The prayer ceremony was led by Tibetan spiritual leader Ling Rinpoche.

Norbu Wangchuk, an exiled Tibetan, told ANI that the prayer ceremony was being held to mark the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday.

Speaking to ANI, Wangchuk said, "This is a long life prayer ceremony for His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday. This prayer is organised by U-Tsang Cholkha, Dokham Zachuka Association and Kyidong Association. People have gathered here to pray and request his long life. This event is very, very important. There is no word to explain how important it is for us.

Dawa Tsering, member of the Tibetan Parliament and president of the U-Tsang Cholkha Association, said the occasion was significant for Tibetans around the world.

Speaking to ANI, he said, "Today, three associations, Kyidong Association, U-Tsang Cholkha and Zachuka, are offering the long life prayers to His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, and it is a very big occasion for us because it is an opportunity for all of us from around the world to come together and celebrate the day. We are praying for the long life of His Holiness and for peace in the world."

A devotee from Ukraine, Sol Miia, said visiting Dharamshala and meeting the Dalai Lama had been a lifelong dream.

Speaking to ANI, she said, "I came here to meet the Dalai Lama on this special prayer today and also to see how everything is going here. I am so happy and grateful to be here. I was crying all the time. It's just amazing to see so many people, people are smiling, happy, dancing and singing. One can feel the energy that is flowing here. For me, the Dalai Lama is a very holy person. My dream all my life was to come and meet him. Today my dream has come true."

- ANI
Palestine's Ambassador to India, Abdullah Abu Shawesh, states that the widening conflict involving Israel, Iran, and the US is worsening the dire situation for Palestinians. He emphasizes that the crisis in Gaza is deepening daily and that the so-called ceasefire is a trap, with violence continuing. The envoy frames the conflict as part of a century-old historical process requiring a political solution based on international law. He calls on India, due to its relations with both sides, to take significant steps to push for an end to the aggression against Palestinians.

Palestine's Ambassador to India warns the regional conflict is exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and diverting global attention from Palestinian suffering.

By Vishu Adhana, New Delhi March 25 As tensions between Israel, Iran and the United States enter the fourth week, Palestine's Ambassador to India Abdullah Abu Shawesh on Wednesday said the widening regional conflict is exacerbating the already dire situation for Palestinians, warning that the crisis in Gaza is "deepening day by day".

In an interview with ANI, Shawesh urged India to take "significant steps" to push Israel to end its aggression against the Palestinian people.

"The crisis in Gaza is deepening day by day. This is a factual situation," the envoy said when asked about the impact of war on the Palestinian people. "Do you know how many Palestinians have already been killed in the West Bank? This war, launched by America and Israel, is affecting us," the envoy added.

He said the ongoing confrontation involving Israel, Iran and the United States is not only worsening the situation on the ground but also diverting global attention from Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Describing the West Asia conflict as part of a "long historical process", Shawesh said it cannot be viewed in isolation. "There is a mistake in treating this as a war that started only weeks ago. This conflict goes back more than a century, to developments such as the Balfour Declaration. Without addressing the root causes, there will be no real solution," he said.

The envoy said Palestinians are already facing a devastating situation, which has been further aggravated by the current escalation. "What is happening now is negatively affecting us, while we are already enduring severe conditions on the ground," he said, pointing to continued violence in both Gaza and the West Bank.

Raising concerns over the humanitarian situation, he said Palestinians continue to face daily attacks, displacement and acute shortages of basic necessities. "The suffering is not limited to Gaza. Across Palestinian territories, people are facing violence, displacement and denial of basic needs," he added.

On whether the ceasefire brokered in October has brought some relief, Shawesh said: "There is nothing called a ceasefire. It is the biggest trap that the international community has fallen into. Israel continues to kill Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank every day. There is no ceasefire.'

At least 689 Palestinians have been killed across Gaza by Israeli forces since the start of the "ceasefire" in October, Al Jazeera reported.

Referring to recent international reports, including those by UN officials, the envoy alleged serious human rights violations against Palestinian detainees and civilians, including abuse and denial of access to humanitarian agencies.

Warning of wider regional consequences, he said continued escalation and lack of accountability risk fuelling further instability. "If there is no accountability, it risks encouraging more instability across the region," he said.

Calling for a political resolution, Shawesh reiterated support for a two-state solution and urged the international community to act in accordance with international law. "The solution is clear--ending occupation and ensuring equal application of international law. Without that, the cycle of violence will continue," he said.

He said, "Highlighting India's ties with both sides, he said New Delhi could play a constructive role. "India has good relations with both Palestine and Israel, and it can take significant steps to push for an end to the aggression against the Palestinian people."

- ANI
Brazil's Vice President Geraldo Alckmin has launched a new Defence Industrial Base Product Catalogue to strengthen the national defence industry. He emphasized that the sector's growth extends beyond military use, spurring technological advances in healthcare, agriculture, and research. Alckmin framed a robust defence industry as a "life insurance policy for the nation" and a core part of the New Industry Brazil policy. The government views it as a critical pillar for creating skilled jobs, securing supply chains, and enhancing global market competitiveness.

VP Geraldo Alckmin launches defence catalogue, says industry boosts tech, healthcare, agriculture, and is a "life insurance policy for the nation."

Brasilia, March 25 Brazil Vice President and Development Minister Geraldo Alckmin has underscored the importance of strengthening the country's defence industry, stating it can drive growth across multiple strategic sectors of the economy.

Alckmin made the statement on Monday during the launch of the Defence Industrial Base (BID) Product Catalogue at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Brasilia. The catalogue features 364 products from 154 companies and is aimed at expanding market access, encouraging innovation, and strengthening Brazil's industrial base.

Highlighting the broader impact of the sector, Alckmin said the defence industry extends beyond military applications and plays a key role in technological advancement. He noted that expanding this sector could benefit areas such as healthcare, agriculture, and scientific research, contributing to overall economic development, as reported by Brasil 247.

Emphasising its strategic value, Alckmin described a robust defence industry as "a life insurance policy for the nation and an engine for the New Industry Brazil". His remarks align with the government's New Industry Brazil (NIB), which focuses on revitalising the country's manufacturing capacity through innovation, sustainability, and value creation.

Under this policy framework, the defence sector is viewed as a critical pillar capable of generating skilled employment, strengthening supply chains, and enhancing Brazil's competitiveness in global markets.

The government is also relying on key institutions such as BNDES, Finep, and Embrapii to provide financial support and incentives for research and development.

Officials believe that bolstering the defence industry will not only enhance national sovereignty but also act as a catalyst for broader economic transformation, linking technological innovation with industrial growth and long-term development.

- ANI
Despite U.S. President Donald Trump's assertion that negotiations with Iran are underway and the conflict is nearing its end, the Pentagon is reportedly preparing to deploy elements of the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East. The Iranian military has publicly denied any negotiations are taking place, with a spokesperson stating the U.S. is facing a "strategic defeat" and is "negotiating with yourselves." Iran continues its military operations, releasing footage of its 80th wave of missile strikes against US-Israeli positions in the region. The conflicting narratives and ongoing hostilities suggest a peaceful resolution remains elusive as the war enters its fourth week.

Despite Trump's claims of Iran negotiations, Pentagon plans to deploy 82nd Airborne Division troops as conflict enters fourth week.

Washington DC, March 25 Despite claims by US President Donald Trump that negotiations with Iran were underway and the conflict could soon end, the Pentagon is expected to deploy troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East as the war enters its fourth week, according to CBS News.

The news report said, citing a source familiar with the planning, that the Pentagon is planning to send elements of the division, including a command component and some ground forces, to the region.

Citing a US official, CBS reported that the deployment could involve fewer than 1,500 troops.

US President Trump had earlier confirmed that negotiations were on with Iran, claiming that the war was going to end.

"We're in negotiations right now. I can tell you, they'd like to make a deal and who wouldn't if you were there? Look, their navy's gone, their air force is gone, their communications are gone. pretty much everything they have is gone. I think we are going to end it. I cannot tell you for sure. We have won this... We literally have planes flying over Tehran and other parts of their country. They can't do a thing about it. For instance, if I want to take down that power plant, they can't do a thing about it... They are totally defeated... Militarily, they are dead," he said.

The Iranian perspective on the ongoing conflict, however, differed from US President Trump's claims. In a video posted by Fars News, the Iranian Military spokesperson took a jibe at the US, saying that the situation had reached a stage where the Americans were negotiating with themselves.

"The strategic power you used to boast about has now turned into a strategic defeat...Do not label your defeat as an 'agreement.' The era of your promises has come to an end. Today, there are two fronts in the world: Truth and Falsehood. No freedom-seeking truth-seeker will be deceived by your media waves. The level of your internal conflicts has reached the stage where you are negotiating with yourselves. There will be no more talk of your investments in the region, nor will you ever see the former prices of energy and oil again, until you understand that stability in this region is guaranteed only by the powerful hand of our armed forces," the spokesperson said.

Also, Iran released footage of the 80th wave of Operation True Promise 4, launching missiles towards US-Israeli positions in the region even as US President Trump indicated that a negotiated settlement was on the horizon.

There has, been no formal response from the Iranian side to the latest overture from Trump. The Iranians on Tuesday had denied reports of any negotiations with the US, claiming that peace would only be achieved once the US-Israel stopped its campaign. With the Iranian military taking a belligerent stand even as it launched wave 80 of its retaliatory strikes, peace remains elusive in West Asia.

- ANI
The Election Commission has taken strict disciplinary action against seven central force personnel deployed for election security in West Bengal. The action follows allegations that they violated rules by accepting an invitation and attending a social event while on duty. Two personnel have been taken into custody, while the remaining five have been transferred to another state, with departmental inquiries ordered against all. The EC intends to use this incident as a cautionary example in future training to prevent similar breaches.

Election Commission takes strict action against 7 personnel for violating rules ahead of West Bengal polls. Two held, five transferred.

Kolkata, March 25 The Election Commission has taken strict action against seven central force personnel following allegations of dereliction of duty, an insider in the Commission said on Wednesday.

The personnel have faced disciplinary action while on election security duty in West Bengal. Two of them have already been taken into custody, while the remaining five have been transferred to another state. Orders have been issued to initiate departmental inquiries against all seven individuals.

Notably, Assembly elections in the state are scheduled to be held on April 23 and 29. The election schedule was officially announced on March 15. However, even before that announcement, beginning early this month, central forces had already started arriving in the state in two phases. In total, 480 companies of central forces have been deployed in West Bengal.

These personnel have been stationed across various districts of the state. It has been reported that the seven individuals facing disciplinary action were among those deployed in Murshidabad district.

According to the Election Commission insider, personnel on election duty are strictly prohibited from accepting invitations or attending social events. However, this is precisely the allegation levelled against the seven personnel, who reportedly accepted an invitation and attended an event.

An investigation was launched immediately after the complaint was received. Subsequently, the allegations were substantiated by evidence. Following this confirmation, the Election Commission initiated strict action against the seven personnel. Departmental inquiries have been ordered against all of them.

In accordance with paramilitary force regulations, two of the seven individuals have been taken into custody, while the remaining five have been transferred to a different state.

Incidentally, allegations regarding the misuse of central forces often surface during election periods. Critics have alleged that central forces are sometimes misdirected or utilised inappropriately. Furthermore, accusations are frequently raised that such personnel are, at times, deliberately rendered ineffective in various ways.

Against this backdrop, such strict action against central force personnel for violating regulations ahead of an election is seen as significant. The Election Commission has indicated that this incident will be cited as a cautionary example during training sessions for forces deployed on election duty, in order to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

- IANS
Gujarat has passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill, becoming the second Indian state after Uttarakhand to implement a common legal framework for civil matters across all religions. Union Home Minister Amit Shah welcomed the move, stating it reflects the BJP's core commitment to ending appeasement and establishing equal laws for all citizens. The legislation introduces uniform rules for marriage, divorce, maintenance, and inheritance, while also mandating the registration of live-in relationships. Shah praised Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and the supporting legislators for their firm commitment to this principle.

Gujarat becomes second state after Uttarakhand to pass Uniform Civil Code Bill. Amit Shah says it ends appeasement, ensures equal laws for all citizens.

New Delhi, March 25 Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday welcomed the passage of the Uniform Civil Code Bill 2026 in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, saying that the country should run on "principle of equal laws".

After Uttarakhand, Gujarat became the second state to pass the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026, on Tuesday, introducing a common legal framework for civil matters such as marriage, divorce, maintenance, and inheritance across communities and religions.

HM Shah, in a post on X, said, "Our belief is clear, the country should not run on the basis of appeasement, but on the principle of equal laws for all citizens. This is both our priority and our resolve."

The Union Home Minister underlined that a uniform law is a "core commitment of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)".

"A uniform law for every citizen of the country has been a core commitment of the Bharatiya Janata Party since its inception. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP-ruled state governments are continuously moving forward in this direction."

He praised Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and the MLAs who voted in favour of the Bill.

The Home Minister said, "I am pleased that after Uttarakhand, Gujarat has now passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, demonstrating its firm commitment to this principle. I extend my congratulations to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and all the legislators who supported this bill."

Notably, the UCC legislation provides for compulsory registration of marriages and divorces and introduces uniform grounds and procedures for divorce across communities.

It prohibits extra-judicial forms of divorce, making court-based legal processes mandatory.

The Bill also mandates monogamy and includes provisions to declare marriages void where identity has been concealed.

It further introduces penal provisions for cases involving fraud, coercion or misrepresentation in marriage, with specified punishment for offences.

The law also provides maintenance rights for women without restrictions tied to personal laws and ensures equal inheritance rights for daughters and wives.

The Bill includes provisions requiring registration of live-in relationships with local authorities, which the government said is intended to provide legal safeguards and accountability.

- IANS
The European Union will formally challenge China's dumping of cheap goods at an upcoming WTO meeting, seeking serious institutional reforms. EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic argues the rise of China necessitates a "new balance" of rights and obligations among members. The move comes as the EU's trade deficit with Beijing balloons and cheap Chinese exports flood the European market. Sefcovic also aims to address governance issues within the WTO's dispute settlement system, which has been hobbled by the US.

EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic to demand WTO reforms against Chinese overcapacity and dumping, aiming to rebalance global trade rules.

New Delhi, March 25 The European Union will take up the issue of China dumping cheap goods in Europe, which is harming local industry, at a meeting of the World Trade Organisation this week, EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic told journalists.

Sefcovic said he will demand serious reform of the WTO during a meeting in Cameroon this Thursday and make it crystal clear that China's economic rise has meant the global trade environment has dramatically changed in recent decades, according to a report in the Euractiv news portal.

He said that "a new balance" is now required with the rise of China to adjust the rights and obligations of WTO members, which he said is necessary to combat the overcapacities that are creating a lot of problems in the European economy, the report stated.

He said he would seek a level playing field, as overcapacity and non-market policies must be better tackled than in the past.

The Slovak commissioner's remarks come amid a surge of Chinese exports to the EU, at a time when US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs are already hurting the bloc's exporters and causing vast quantities of cheap Chinese-manufactured goods to be redirected towards Europe, the report states.

Brussels' trade deficit with Beijing surged from $335 billion in 2024 to $375 billion in 2025, according to data collected by Bruegel, an EU policy think tank. Beijing's global trade surplus also hit a record $1.2 trillion last year -- a figure it is set to far surpass in 2026.

In addition to confronting China, Sefcovic also called for "new governance models" to facilitate trade disputes between member states. The US has long hobbled the WTO court system by blocking the appointment of judges to its appellate body, thus allowing WTO members to effectively obviate court rulings by 'appealing into the void'.

China, the world's second-largest economy and the EU's third-largest trading partner, joined the WTO in 2001, six years after the Geneva-based international trade organisation was created.

- IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended warm birthday wishes to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, commending his leadership in driving the state's comprehensive development. Yadav, born in Ujjain in 1965, holds multiple degrees including a PhD and has a long academic background. He entered electoral politics in 2013, winning the Ujjain South assembly seat and retaining it in subsequent elections. After serving as Higher Education Minister, he was appointed as the 19th Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh in December 2023 following the BJP's victory.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extends birthday wishes to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, praising his role in the state's all-round development initiatives.

New Delhi, March 25 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday extended his best wishes to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on his birthday, and stated that he has been at the forefront of several initiatives aimed at the state's comprehensive development.

Taking to the social media platform X, the Prime Minister said, "Best wishes to the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Dr. Mohan Yadav Ji on his birthday. He is at the forefront of many initiatives aimed at furthering all-round development of Madhya Pradesh. Praying for his long and healthy life."

Mohan Yadav was born on this day in 1965 in Ujjain. He completed his Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) from Ujjain University and went on to pursue higher education at the same institution. He earned degrees in Law (LLB), Master of Arts (MA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

CM Yadav showed an early interest in politics and was associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. He formally entered electoral politics in 2013, contesting from the Ujjain South constituency in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections. He secured victory by defeating Congress candidate Jaysingh Darbar by a margin of 9,652 votes, polling 73,108 votes against Darbar's 63,456.

He was re-elected in the 2018 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections from the same constituency. In that election, he won by a margin of 18,960 votes, defeating Congress candidate Rajendra Vashishtha Raju Bhaiya.

In 2020, Yadav was inducted into the Madhya Pradesh Cabinet under then Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, where he served as the state's Higher Education Minister until 2023.

In the 2023 Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, he once again contested from the Ujjain South constituency and emerged victorious. On December 11, 2023, the BJP announced Mohan Yadav as the 19th Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, marking a significant milestone in his political career.

- IANS
The upcoming G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting will serve as a key preparatory step for the leaders' summit in June. Discussions will focus heavily on the war in Ukraine, including sessions on reconstruction, nuclear safety, and funding. The agenda also includes maritime security, global supply chains, and broader reforms to multilateral governance frameworks. The meeting will feature outreach to partners from countries like South Korea, India, and Brazil.

G7 foreign ministers meet to address Ukraine reconstruction, maritime security, and global governance reforms ahead of the June leaders' summit.

Paris, March 26 The upcoming G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting is set to deliberate on key global challenges, including the war in Ukraine, reconstruction efforts, maritime security, and reforms in global governance, according to a background briefing by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

Outlining the agenda, Spokesperson of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs Pascal Confavreux said the meeting will take place shortly after an informal gathering of ministers on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, and will serve as a preparatory step ahead of the G7 Leaders' Summit. "All this culminates in the preparation of the summit of Evian. It will take place between the 13th and 15th of June," the briefing noted, adding that the discussions would help frame outcomes for the leaders' deliberations.

The meeting will address both immediate crises and long-term structural issues. "Obviously, in the way that we will try as much as we can, not only to have this informal gathering of what is generally speaking a G7 meeting, but also to have some concrete results," the official said, emphasising the need for actionable outcomes.

A significant focus will be on Ukraine, with sessions planned on reconstruction and broader regional security. "The second session will be on reconstruction. The aim is to have at least three impactful results," the briefing stated, referencing discussions on nuclear safety, humanitarian demining, and reconstruction funding. The role of international financial institutions like the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will also be highlighted, particularly in mobilising investments for Ukraine's recovery.

The discussions will also extend to maritime security and global supply chains. "We will also tackle broader threats such as narco-traffic, maritime security, which is related to critical minerals," the official said. A dedicated session on maritime routes and the exercise of freedom of navigation is also expected.

On governance reforms, the G7 aims to push for more effective multilateral frameworks. "More generally, out of that, there will be more innovative approaches to integrate horizontal threats that are endangering the sovereignties of the different states," the briefing said, underlining efforts to rethink global governance structures.

The meeting will also include engagements with non-G7 partners, including ministers from South Korea, India, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Ukraine, reflecting a broader outreach strategy. "We will be having all of these sessions on Thursday and the one on the morning of Friday," the official said, adding that multiple side events and working lunches would facilitate deeper exchanges.

Concluding the briefing, the French side stressed the importance of coordination and communication. "One important thing: we favor and it is as well, as much as we can, free exchanges and frank exchanges," the official said, adding that the meeting would aim to deliver "as much as we can" in terms of concrete outcomes.

The G7 FMM is expected to set the tone for the leaders' summit in June, with a strong emphasis on Ukraine, international security, and institutional reforms.

- ANI
Coco Gauff battles past Belinda Bencic in three sets to reach her first Miami Open semifinal, where she will face Karolina Muchova.

Miami, March 25 Coco Gauff produced a gritty comeback performance to book her maiden semifinal berth at the Miami Open, overcoming Belinda Bencic in a hard-fought three-set contest.

The American recovered from a dip in momentum and a break deficit in the deciding set to secure a 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 victory in a match that lasted two hours and 15 minutes.



Gauff began the encounter in dominant fashion, asserting control early with an aggressive approach. She broke serve in the opening stages and displayed sharp instincts at the net, winning all eight of her net points in the first set. Backed by strong serving and precise shot-making, she wrapped up the opener comfortably in 51 minutes.



Bencic, however, responded emphatically in the second set. The Swiss player significantly reduced her errors and found her rhythm, dictating rallies more effectively. Her improved consistency allowed her to level the match quickly, taking the second set in under 30 minutes.



The final set proved to be a tense affair, with momentum swinging between the two players. Gauff faced a crucial moment while serving, fending off a break point to stay in contention. Despite a brief lapse and visible frustration over missed opportunities, she used the moment as a turning point.



Regaining composure, Gauff broke back to level at 3-3 and began to reassert control. With renewed confidence, she capitalised on key opportunities, delivering strong serves and mixing in clever shot selection, including a decisive drop shot. She held her nerve while serving for the match to complete the comeback.



The victory sends Gauff into the Miami semifinals for the first time in her career, where she is set to face Karolina Muchova. The American holds a dominant head-to-head record against the Czech, having won all five of their previous meetings, four of which were decided in straight sets.



In the other quarterfinal, Muchova continued her impressive run of form with a straight-sets win. The Czech edged past her opponent 7-5, 7-6(5), saving a set point in the second set during the one-hour, 47-minute contest.



The result extends Muchova's strong 2026 season record to 18-3 and marks her ninth semifinal appearance at the WTA 1000 level or higher. It is also the third season in her career in which she has reached multiple semifinals at this level, underlining her consistency on the tour.





- IANS
Kriti Sanon celebrated her father Rahul Sanon's birthday with a charming Instagram Story, noting she inherited his "gummy smile." Her sister, Nupur Sanon, penned a lengthy, emotional tribute on Instagram, expressing her deep love and calling him her "safest place." The post also referenced Nupur's recent wedding to Stebin Ben, which was attended by numerous Bollywood celebrities. Meanwhile, Kriti continues to be busy with upcoming film projects like 'Cocktail 2'.

Kriti Sanon posts a sweet birthday note for her father Rahul Sanon, while sister Nupur shares a heartfelt tribute recalling her wedding. Details inside.

Mumbai, March 25 Actor Kriti Sanon made her father's birthday extra special with a perfect 'Gummy smile' picture on social media.

On Tuesday, Kriti posted a picture of her 'papa' on her Instagram Story and wrote, "Happiest birthday Papa! We love you so much! P.S, I am glad I got your gummy smile."

Sister Nupur Sanon also penned a heartfelt birthday post with pictures of her wedding on Instagram.

She wrote, "To the man who makes me feel like I won the dad lottery...my papa, Happiest Birthday to you @sanonrahul. I think what I feel for you is very simple...I'm just really lucky to be your daughter. The older I grow, the more I see the kind of man you are.. so calm, so patient, so loving...and honestly, the purest heart in our family."

She added, "You've always just been there, holding all of us together in your own quiet way. Your smile, your eyes, your warmth, everything about you makes you my safest place. And Papa,no matter how old I grow, I will always be your little girl who will always need you for the biggest as well as the stupid silly things,just texting you this or that all the time."

"I just want you to be happy, healthy, and smiling always. And I hope each year we can fill your life with love and warmth. I love you," Nupur concluded.

Rahul Sanon also reacted to the post and wrote, "Love you bachcha. Stay blessed and happy always."

Stebin Ben and Nupur Sanon got married on January 11, 2026, in Udaipur.

Their wedding was also attended by many Bollywood and television celebrities, including Dinesh Vijan, Varun Sharma, Mouni Roy, Rohit Dhawan, Disha Patani, Manish Malhotra, Tejasswi Prakash, and Karan Kundrra, among others.

On the other side, Kriti was seen attending the wedding reception of actors Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda in Hyderabad.

Photos and videos from the celebration showed the trio sharing warm moments, laughing, hugging and enjoying the festivities. Kriti later shared glimpses from the event on social media, giving fans a look at the cheerful gathering.

Meanwhile, the actor has been keeping busy with her packed schedule. Kriti was recently seen in Tere Ishq Mein, directed by Aanand L. Rai and co-starring Dhanush.

She will next appear in 'Cocktail 2,' where she shares the screen with Shahid Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna. The film is being directed by Homi Adajania.

- ANI
How the Indian Navy is guiding oil tankers through the mined Strait of Hormuz to secure India's energy supply amid West Asia tensions.

New Delhi, March 25 In the tense waters of the Strait of Hormuz, where global energy flows have come under disruption, a quiet but determined effort is underway by the Indian Navy to keep the country's energy supply undisrupted.

As Iran's restrictions ripple across international energy markets amid the West Asia conflict, India, through diplomacy, has secured permission from Tehran to pass its ships through the Strait of Hormuz and has managed to sustain the movement of its shipments.



The Indian Navy has been given the responsibility of ensuring the safe return of the oil tankers. But this is not a conventional escort mission. Naval personnel are not merely accompanying tankers; they are guiding them, step by step, through one of the world's most sensitive maritime passages.



The Indian Navy has launched 'Operation Urja Suraksha'. This operation entails the positioning of over five advanced warships in the vital maritime chokepoint of the Strait of Hormuz.



According to government officials, the Navy remains in constant contact with vessels preparing to exit the Persian Gulf. Each ship is guided individually through the Strait, with precise instructions on routes and procedures designed to ensure safe passage.



The approach is cautious and deliberate, reflecting the risks that lie beneath the surface.



Once the vessels clear the Strait, Indian Navy destroyers and frigates take over, escorting them through the initial stretch of their onward journey. It is a layered security arrangement, combining guidance with protection.



This effort is being supported by an increased naval presence in the Gulf of Oman, where adequate warships and logistical resources have been deployed to ensure that escort operations continue without interruption.



For the crews aboard these tankers, the journey is far from routine. Modern shipping relies heavily on navigation systems built on hydrographic charts -- detailed maps of the ocean floor that make safe passage possible. Without them, movement through such waters would be fraught with danger.



The risks are not theoretical. According to media reports, US Intelligence agencies have alleged that Iran has deployed underwater mines in and around the Strait of Hormuz. These mines, capable of causing severe damage, add to the uncertainty that vessels must navigate. Other potential threats in the region further heighten the sense of caution.



It is in this environment that the Indian Navy's guidance becomes critical. By directing Indian-flagged vessels along carefully identified safe routes, it helps crews avoid unseen hazards and move forward with a measure of confidence.



Much of this capability rests on hydrographic charts, which remain indispensable. Beneath the sea's surface lies a constantly changing landscape. Ocean depths vary widely -- from just a few metres near harbours to several thousand metres in open waters -- and natural events such as tsunamis can alter the seabed over time.



These charts are created by specialised survey vessels that scan the ocean floor, mapping its contours and identifying safe navigation channels. Across the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, a vast number of vessels -- ranging from warships to container carriers and oil tankers -- depend on charts produced by India.



The Indian Navy's hydrographic work extends beyond national waters. It also assists friendly countries, at their request, in surveying their Exclusive Economic Zones and preparing navigation charts. Agreements with several nations in the Indian Ocean Region allow India to contribute to safer maritime operations far beyond its own coastline.



Once prepared, these charts gain international acceptance and can be used by any country or commercial entity.



In a region marked by tension and uncertainty, this combination of guidance, expertise, and quiet coordination is helping ensure that ships continue to move -- carefully, steadily, and safely -- through one of the world's most critical waterways.





- IANS
A Gujarat-based institute has established India's first national biobank dedicated to rare Lysosomal Storage Disorders. The repository at FRIGE's Institute of Human Genetics in Ahmedabad contains samples and clinical data from over 530 patients collected over 22 years. It integrates DNA data with clinical profiles to identify mutations and accelerate the development of affordable diagnostic kits and gene therapies. The initiative, supported by government funding, aims to tackle treatment costs that can exceed Rs 1 crore annually and bolster India's self-reliance in advanced medical research.

Ahmedabad institute launches national biobank for Lysosomal Storage Disorders, offering hope for affordable diagnosis and gene therapy in India.

Ahmedabad, March 25 In a significant step towards tackling rare genetic disorders, a Gujarat-based institute has established India's first national biobank dedicated to rare Lysosomal Storage Disorders, offering new hope for affordable diagnosis and treatment.

The facility, housed at the FRIGE's Institute of Human Genetics in Ahmedabad, has been developed over the past 22 years. Backed by government funding, the biobank brings together patient samples and detailed clinical data, enabling researchers to identify genetic mutations and work towards cost-effective diagnostic and therapeutic solutions.

Dr Harsh Sheth, Associate Professor at the institute, said the biobank currently holds data from over 530 patients, including serum, plasma, whole blood genomic DNA samples, and urine precipitates. He added that the repository also includes detailed mutation data related to lysosomal storage disorders, making it a comprehensive resource for research and future patient care.

He further noted that this is the first such biobank in India designed not only for research but also to support treatment and long-term healthcare outcomes for patients suffering from these disorders.

By integrating DNA data with clinical profiles, the biobank plays a crucial role in identifying disease-causing mutations and accelerating the development of indigenous solutions. Researchers are also working on affordable diagnostic kits and advancing gene therapy approaches with support from the Gujarat State Biotechnology Mission (GSBTM).

Dr Sheth highlighted that around a decade ago, the Gujarat government initiated funding support for biotechnology research in rare diseases under GSBTM. The institute was among the first to receive this support for lysosomal disorder research and the creation of the biobank.

He added that in 2019, the institute received special funding that enabled the development of India's first molecular probe-based sequencing asset for such disorders. This advancement has made it possible to carry out comprehensive diagnosis for as many as 19 lysosomal storage disorders.

With treatment costs for such conditions often exceeding Rs1 crore annually, the focus remains on making healthcare more affordable and accessible. The initiative is also contributing to India's push for self-reliance in advanced medical research while strengthening Gujarat's position as a hub for genetic innovation.

- ANI
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel personally heard public grievances during the State SWAGAT session, emphasizing the 'Nagrik Devo Bhava' (Citizen is God) approach. He issued directives for immediate action on cases ranging from family disputes and school infrastructure to farmer concerns about water flow and crop damage. The online grievance program saw action on thousands of representations at district and taluka levels. Senior officials, including collectors and police superintendents, were instructed to resolve issues transparently to strengthen public trust.

CM Bhupendra Patel directs district admin for quick resolution of public issues under SWAGAT, addressing farmer woes, school construction, and family disputes.

Gandhinagar, March 25 Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday personally heard the representations during the State SWAGAT held for March 2026 and gave instructions to district administrations for the prompt resolution of public grievances, following the approach of 'Nagrik Devo Bhava'.

According to a press release issued by the Gujarat CMO, under the SWAGAT online grievance programme, more than 100 applicants from across the state presented their representations during the State SWAGAT held in March 2026.

Action was also taken on 1,218 representations at the district level and 2,294 representations at the taluka level, the release said.

Regarding a complaint of an elderly mother being forced out of her home and facing physical and mental harassment by her son and daughter-in-law, the Chief Minister expressed concern and instructed the District Collector and Superintendent of Police to ensure immediate implementation of the Deputy Collector's order.

Prioritising 300 children studying in a 40-year-old primary school at Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada University, he directed immediate approval for the construction of a new school building.

CM also directed that issues of farmers from different parts of the state be resolved on a priority basis.

Upon receiving a complaint about obstruction of water flow in the Khari River at Dahegam due to bushes and wild growth causing soil erosion of farms, the Chief Minister ordered immediate removal of the obstruction.

The District Collector assured that the issue would be resolved promptly under the Sujalam Sufalam scheme.

In other cases, the Chief Minister directed the local administration to urgently resolve farmers' issues, such as crop damage caused by leaking underground pipelines and removal of encroachments on farm access roads.

Under the State SWAGAT programme, the Chief Minister also instructed the administration to resolve citizens' issues in a timely, fair, and transparent manner to strengthen public trust in the government.

In this March 2026 State SWAGAT, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sanjeev Kumar, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr. Vikrant Pandey, Secretary Dr. Ajay Kumar, Officers on Special Duty D. K. Parekh and Rakesh Vyas, along with senior officials, Collectors, SP's, and DDOs were present, the release added.

- ANI
Bharuch district in Gujarat has solidified its position as India's premier chemical and petrochemical hub, home to 1,394 industries across major industrial clusters. The district provides employment to nearly 200,000 people and is a critical export engine, contributing approximately 19% to the country's total chemical exports. Its products reach global markets like the US, Brazil, and Japan, bolstered by strong infrastructure and state policies. The upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference in Surat aims to further accelerate growth through new investments and global partnerships for the sector.

Bharuch district, Gujarat's chemical capital, with 1,394 industries, employs 2 lakh people and contributes 19% to India's chemical exports.

Gandhinagar, March 25 Bharuch district has emerged as Gujarat's key hub for the chemical and petrochemical industry, with the state government highlighting its growing contribution to the country's export economy ahead of the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference for South Gujarat 2026.

According to a press release, Gujarat has always remained at the forefront of India's industrial development, with Bharuch district emerging as a key hub for the chemical and petrochemical industry.

"With well-developed industrial clusters such as Ankleshwar, Panoli, Jhagadia, Dahej, Saykha, and Vilayat, Bharuch district has today become a significant center for a world-class chemical ecosystem. The presence of numerous small, medium, and large industries has strengthened its manufacturing capabilities, earning it the title of the "Chemical Capital of India," the release said.

The release stated that to further accelerate the progress, the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) for South Gujarat 2026 will be held in Surat.

VGRC is a key regional platform of the state that brings together entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers from industry, trade, and innovation that will open new avenues for investment, technological collaboration, and global partnerships, driving the next phase of Gujarat's industrial growth.

The release said around 1,394 small and large industries are currently operational in Bharuch across sub-sectors, including chemicals and petrochemicals, drugs and pharmaceutical intermediates, dyes and pigments, agrochemicals and pesticides, and textiles and fibres -- providing direct and indirect employment to nearly 2 lakh people.

"In Bharuch district, around 1,394 small and large industries are operating across various sub-sectors, including chemicals and petrochemicals, drugs and pharmaceutical intermediates, dyes and pigments, agrochemicals and pesticides, as well as textiles and fibres. More than 45% of these chemical units are located in industrial estates such as Ankleshwar, Panoli, Jhagadia, Dahej, Saykha, and Vilayat, providing direct and indirect employment to nearly 2 lakh people," it said.

On the key factors behind industrial growth, the release said that with strong infrastructure facilities such as transportation, roads, power, water, and skilled manpower, along with favourable state government policies, Bharuch has developed a robust industrial environment.

Both MSMEs and large companies are contributing to this industrial progress, enhancing local employment while also establishing the country's strong presence in exports, it stated.

The release said Bharuch district has emerged as a major growth engine for India's economic development, particularly in the chemical sector, and it contributes more than approximately 19% to the country's total chemical exports, while Gujarat contributed around 45% to India's total chemical exports last year, reflecting the state's strong industrial base and global competitiveness.

This district plays a crucial role in exports at both the state and national levels. Various chemical products manufactured here are exported to global markets such as the United States, Brazil, Japan, the Netherlands, and South Africa, receiving high recognition from customers worldwide," it said.

The release said that under VGRC South Gujarat, dedicated sessions, investment meets, startup pitches, and innovation dialogues for the chemical and petrochemical sector will help local industries align with global standards.

It further added that hosting VGRC in Surat will also boost transportation, logistics, and trade activities, while strengthening collaboration with national and international companies.

"This will open new opportunities for industries in Bharuch and nearby regions, attract new investments, and inspire a younger generation of entrepreneurs," it added.

The release said that in recent years, due to the positive role of industrialists, several high-quality sites for the disposal of hazardous waste have been made operational in the region and facilities worth crores have been established to control air pollution.

For the disposal of treated wastewater, effluents from Ankleshwar, Jhagadia, Panoli, Dahej, and Vilayat are discharged deep into the sea at sites designated by NEERI.

Adequate data regarding environmental protection is available with GPCB and CPCB, the release added.

Along with industrial development, environmental protection and sustainable growth are key necessities of the present time. In Bharuch, systems such as Common Effluent Treatment Plants, air pollution control machinery, and Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) systems are in place, promoting sustainable production processes.

The release said that by creating the necessary infrastructure framework for the chemical industry, developing industrial estates accordingly, allocating land through easy installment schemes, and offering benefits such as government subsidies, electricity bill concessions, and earlier service tax and now GST reimbursement schemes, the government has significantly boosted the sector.

Through facilities such as single-window systems and online portals provided by the state government, the approval process for industries has become simpler. As both time and cost are saved, more industries are showing interest in investing, it added.

The release further added that with initiatives such as the Petrochemical Investment Region covering the Dahej area and important platforms like VGRC, new doors for large-scale investment and industrial development are set to open in Bharuch and surrounding regions. Such platforms will provide local industries with access to modern technology, global connections, and new investments.

Platforms like VGRC will enhance collaboration between the state government, industrialists, and young entrepreneurs, strengthening the vision of "Vocal for Local" and "Atmanirbhar Bharat," it added.

The release said, the Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR), declared across 452.98 square kilometres by the central and state governments, is emerging as a major investment hub for the future.

Although there is still a need to further develop infrastructure such as water, electricity, and roads in certain areas, the process of building world-class logistics and manufacturing infrastructure under this project is progressing steadily, which will prove highly beneficial for chemical and petrochemical units, it said

As a result of all these efforts, Bharuch district is now not only a hub of the chemical sector but is also emerging as a prominent industrial centre with a strong position on the global industrial map, offering new directions and opportunities for the holistic development of the entire region, the release added.

- ANI
Harish Rana, the first person in India to be granted permission for passive euthanasia by the Supreme Court, has been cremated in Delhi. He passed away at AIIMS after remaining in a permanent vegetative state for over 13 years following a severe head injury. The Supreme Court's ruling earlier this month allowed the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment, citing irreversible condition and 100% disability. His case, originating from a family petition, marks a significant moment in India's legal and ethical discourse on end-of-life care.

Harish Rana, granted passive euthanasia by Supreme Court after 13 years in a vegetative state, cremated in Delhi. His case marks a legal milestone.

New Delhi, March 25 The final rites of Harish Rana, the first person in India to be granted permission for passive euthanasia, were conducted on Wednesday at New Delhi's Green Park cremation ground.

Rana passed away on Tuesday at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, after remaining in a vegetative state for more than 13 years.

His brother, Ashish Rana, and sister Bhavna performed the final rites.

Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai was also present to offer support to the family.

"The family is certainly in a very sad and serious situation, and today, after 13 years, they were unable to save their child. Harish Rana also donated five organs as he left the world. He became an inspiration to the world. I thank his family, they did a great job," Rai told IANS.

"The entire Congress party stands with the family in this difficult time," he added.

The 31-year-old, who had been in a permanent vegetative state since 2013 following a severe head injury, was shifted from his Ghaziabad residence to the palliative care unit at the Dr B.R. Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital at AIIMS on March 14, where the process of withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment was being carried out in accordance with court guidelines.

Earlier this month, on March 11, the Supreme Court allowed passive euthanasia for Rana, permitting the withdrawal of life support under strict medical supervision. A Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan had ruled that the medical board could exercise its clinical judgment in line with the principles laid down in the landmark 2018 judgment in Common Cause vs Union of India, which recognised the legality of passive euthanasia and living wills.

Allowing the plea filed by Rana's family, the apex court had directed that he be admitted to AIIMS for end-of-life care, noting that he was suffering from 100 per cent disability, quadriplegia, and required continuous assistance for breathing and feeding through medical tubes.

Medical assessments conducted by expert boards concluded that Rana's condition was irreversible, with negligible chances of recovery. He had been dependent on a tracheostomy tube for respiration and a gastrostomy tube for nutrition.

The case had its origins in a petition filed by Rana's parents before the Delhi High Court, seeking permission for passive euthanasia. The High Court had earlier declined relief, prompting the family to move to the Supreme Court.

During earlier hearings, the apex court had explored alternatives, including home-based medical care, after the Union government proposed assistance such as nursing support, physiotherapy, and free medicines. However, the family later approached the Supreme Court again, citing deterioration in his condition and lack of improvement despite prolonged treatment.

After reserving its verdict in January, the top court delivered its judgment allowing passive euthanasia, marking a significant moment in India's evolving legal and ethical discourse on end-of-life care.

This brings closure to a long legal and medical struggle endured by his family, while also highlighting the complexities surrounding passive euthanasia in India.

- IANS
Siddhant Chaturvedi praised his 'Gully Boy' co-star Ranveer Singh's performance in 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge' at the International Film Festival Delhi 2026, calling it consistently surprising. He emphasized the importance of watching cinema in theaters and welcomed the festival's Delhi location as a move to decentralize the film industry beyond Mumbai. The festival was inaugurated by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and attended by numerous Bollywood dignitaries, with lifetime achievement awards presented to veteran actors. The event aims to showcase films and nurture emerging talent through workshops and masterclasses.

Siddhant Chaturvedi lauds Ranveer Singh's 'Dhurandhar' act at International Film Festival Delhi 2026, which aims to decentralize Indian cinema.

New Delhi, March 25 Actor Siddhant Chaturvedi, who shared screen space with Ranveer Singh in 'Gully Boy', praised his performance in 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge', saying the film continued to surprise him despite his familiarity with the actor involved, while also backing the International Film Festival Delhi 2026 as a significant step towards expanding Indian cinema beyond Mumbai.

Speaking at the festival, Siddhant said, "I have seen him closely performing and every time I watch that man on screen, it's always surprising. When I watched 'Dhurandhar', both parts, I was still surprised with his process, the depth, the nuances, the aggression. Even though I know him closely, it's always surprising and that's the mark of a true actor."

Reacting to the screening of 'Dhurandhar 2' at the festival, the actor highlighted the importance of theatrical viewing. "Cinema should be watched in theatres, and if you're doing a free screening, do let me know and I'll also come and watch it," he said.

Siddhant also welcomed the organisation of the film festival in the national capital, calling it an important move towards decentralising the industry. "... This is a very good initiative. Everyone should get a chance, and cities like Delhi and its surroundings should also benefit. The film industry should not remain confined to Mumbai...," he added.

The actor also revealed that he was scheduled to perform at the festival, adding to the list of activities bringing together artists, filmmakers, and audiences under one platform.

Actor Prosenjit Chatterjee also highlighted that film festivals like IFFD are not just about showcasing movies but also about nurturing emerging talent through learning platforms such as workshops and masterclasses. He stressed that while audiences today have easy access to good cinema, the real value of such festivals lies in creating opportunities for young filmmakers to learn, grow, and connect with industry experts. According to him, these interactions and educational sessions can play a crucial role in shaping the next generation of storytellers and give visibility to talented individuals across the country.

"... We are very glad, and this will help young talents. I think it's not just about the films--you can see good films everywhere nowadays. What really matters are the workshops and classes, which will benefit the new generation. There are so many talented people across the country doing fantastic work, and a festival like this gives us hope...," added the actor.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta inaugurated the red carpet event of the International Film Festival of Delhi (IFFD) 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.IFFD 2026 opened to a full house, marking a high-energy start to one of the capital's largest cinematic gatherings.

The opening ceremony saw the presence of notable Bollywood dignitaries, including Hema Malini, Sharmila Tagore, Kangana Ranaut and Rakesh Omprakash Mehra, among other cinema stalwarts.

The inaugural lamp was lit by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Ministers Kapil Mishra and Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, along with actors Hema Malini, Kangana Ranaut and Sharmila Tagore, and other dignitaries, marking the formal opening of IFFD 2026.

At the International Film Festival Delhi 2026, Delhi Food Supplies Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa also praised the initiative, saying, "This is a very big initiative for Delhi... How Delhi can be made a part of this orange economy in the coming times, how a very big business that is considered can be connected to Delhi and film industry work can happen in Delhi, with this very objective, the first International Film Festival has been started in Delhi."

The ceremony began with a tribute marking 150 years of Vande Mataram, setting a distinctly cultural tone for the evening and grounding the festival's opening in a moment of national reflection. The Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to Sharmila Tagore, Dharmendra, and Nandamuri Balakrishna, recognising their enduring contributions to Indian cinema.

Organised by the Delhi Tourism & Transport Development Corporation (DTTDC) in association with the Government of Delhi and with KPMG as a knowledge partner, the International Film Festival of Delhi is a government-led, city-wide festival showcasing Indian and international cinema while bringing film culture to audiences across the capital.

The week-long festival features screenings, conversations, and industry engagements across venues in New Delhi, bringing together filmmakers, industry leaders, and audiences from around the world.

The closing ceremony will be held on March 31.

- ANI
Vicky Kaushal expressed pride in Delhi hosting the International Film Festival of Delhi 2026, calling it a positive sign for Indian cinema. He specifically praised director Aditya Dhar's latest project, the 'Dhurandhar' franchise, recalling their successful collaboration on 'URI: The Surgical Strike'. Kaushal encouraged students and aspiring artists to actively participate in the festival's events. The festival was inaugurated with notable veterans in attendance and will feature workshops and film screenings until March 31.

Vicky Kaushal calls IFFD 2026 a "good omen" for Indian cinema and praises filmmaker Aditya Dhar's 'Dhurandhar' franchise at the festival opening.

New Delhi, March 25 National Award-winning actor Vicky Kaushal has hailed the inaugural International Film Festival of Delhi 2026 as a "good omen" for Indian cinema, while also lending his vocal support to filmmaker Aditya Dhar's latest project, 'Dhurandhar' and 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge'.

The festival, which opened on Wednesday evening at the iconic Bharat Mandapam, saw a star-studded red carpet featuring the likes of Vicky Kaushal, Arjun Kapoor, Nimrat Kaur, and Siddhant Chaturvedi, among others.

Speaking to the media at the event, Kaushal expressed immense pride in the capital hosting a global-tier festival.

"It feels great that we are organising a film festival in Delhi. We often travel to festivals around the world, but now it's time for the world to come to us," the actor remarked, adding, "I'm feeling very good. I think it's about time that we organise such a big festival in a city like Delhi... this is a very good omen for us."

The actor also took a moment to celebrate the success of the 'Dhurandhar' franchise, the latest venture from director Aditya Dhar.

The duo previously redefined the Indian war-film genre with the massive hit 'URI: The Surgical Strike', a film that earned Kaushal widespread fame and a National Award.

Commenting on Dhar's latest work, Kaushal said, "I'm just very happy to see how Dhurandhar is working. I loved the first part. I'm yet to watch the second part. But Aditya is a great filmmaker. He got a great cast together. And I'm so happy that everyone is loving the film so much."

Addressing the youth of Delhi, Kaushal encouraged students and aspiring artists to engage with the festival's workshops and masterclasses.

"I would like everyone to come and enjoy this festival. Watch as many films as you can. Meet as many people as you can. Talk about cinema," he said.

He added that he intends to catch the sequel immediately upon his return to Mumbai.

The IFFD 2026, inaugurated by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta alongside industry veterans like Hema Malini and Sharmila Tagore, aims to position Delhi as a global creative hub.

The opening ceremony also saw Lifetime Achievement Awards presented to Sharmila Tagore, Dharmendra, and Nandamuri Balakrishna.

The festival, organised by the Delhi Tourism & Transport Development Corporation (DTTDC), is set to run until March 31.

- ANI
The Himachal Pradesh government has ordered a significant administrative reshuffle, transferring and posting several officers across the IAS, IFS, and HPAS cadres. Key postings include Sandeep Kumar as Divisional Commissioner for Kangra and Duni Chand Rana retaining multiple crucial roles. The changes, based on Civil Services Board recommendations, affect officers across various batches and departments. Officials state the move is intended to strengthen administrative efficiency and governance throughout the state.

The Himachal Pradesh government transfers multiple IAS, IFS, and HPAS officers in a major administrative reshuffle to strengthen governance.

Shimla, March 25 The Himachal Pradesh government ordered a significant reshuffle in the state bureaucracy, transferring and posting several IAS, IFS and HPAS officers with immediate effect in the public interest.

According to notifications issued by the Department of Personnel, the changes were made on the recommendations of the Civil Services Board.

Among the key IAS-level postings, Sandeep Kumar (2010 batch) has been posted as Divisional Commissioner, Kangra Division at Dharamshala, where he was earlier serving as Settlement Officer while holding additional charge of the same post.

Duni Chand Rana (2014 batch), currently Director-cum-Ex-Officio Special Secretary (Revenue-Disaster Management), will continue to hold multiple additional responsibilities, including Director, Environment, Science & Technology, and Managing Director of HPMC, along with charge of state agro corporations.

Ram Kumar Gautam (2014 batch) has been appointed Director, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Shimla, and will also serve as Managing Director of the State Agriculture Marketing Board, relieving Hemis Negi (2019 batch) of the additional charge.

Kumud Singh (2015 batch) has been posted as Director, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, while Vinay Singh (2015 batch) takes over as Managing Director of the State Cooperative Bank, Shimla, along with additional responsibilities in agro-related corporations.

Manesh Kumar (2018 batch) has been transferred as Settlement Officer, Shimla Division, while Akshey Sood (2020 batch) will serve as Settlement Officer, Kangra Division at Dharamshala.

Dwij Goel (2023 batch) has been posted as Sub Divisional Officer (Civil), Paonta Sahib in Sirmaur district.

In the IFS cadre, Pushpendra Rana (1999 batch) has been appointed Director, Environment, Science & Technology, and will also hold additional charge of Director, Disaster Management, and Member Secretary of the State Council for Science, Technology and Environment.

Separately, the government also issued orders for transfers in the Himachal Pradesh Administrative Service (HPAS).

Shawan Kumar (2008 batch) has been posted as Executive Director, State Civil Supplies Corporation, Shimla. Raman Gharsangi (2017 batch) has been appointed General Manager (Personnel) in SPV Dharamshala, while Manmohan Singh (2017 batch) will serve as Assistant Commissioner to the Deputy Commissioner, Chamba.

Krishan Kumar Sharma (2019 batch) has been posted as Sub Divisional Officer (Civil), Sarkaghat, while Gunjeet Singh Cheema (2019 batch) moves to Manali in the same capacity.

Raman Kumar Sharma (2020 batch) has been transferred to Kafota in Sirmaur district as Sub Divisional Officer (Civil), and Akanksha Sharma (2021 batch) has been posted as Land Acquisition Officer for the Parvati Project in Kullu.

Rajinder Kumar Gautam (2022 batch) has been appointed Joint Director, Digital Technologies and Governance, Shimla.

The reshuffle is aimed at strengthening administrative efficiency and ensuring better governance across departments and districts in the state, officials said.

- ANI
The International Atomic Energy Agency has called for maximum restraint after Iran informed it that a projectile struck the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, though Tehran reported no damage or injuries. The incident coincides with a drone attack on a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport, causing a fire but no casualties. U.S. President Donald Trump claimed the U.S. has won the conflict, stating Iran's navy and air force are decimated. Meanwhile, an Israeli military spokesman said operations in Iran and Lebanon will continue unchanged, and Canada condemned Israeli occupation plans in southern Lebanon.

Iran reports projectile strike on Bushehr nuclear plant; IAEA urges restraint. Kuwait airport drone attack, Trump claims US victory, Israel vows continued ops.

Vienna, March 25 The International Atomic Energy Agency on Wednesday called for restraint after Iran informed the intergovernmental body that a projectile had hit Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant.

The IAEA said that, as per Tehran, no injuries were reported, and the plant is functioning normally.

In a post on X, the IAEA said, "The IAEA has been informed by Iran that another projectile hit the premises of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant today. According to Iran, there was no damage to the NPP itself nor injuries to staff, and the condition of the plant is normal. IAEA DG Rafael Mariano Grossi reiterates call for maximum restraint to avoid nuclear safety risks during conflict."

Kuwait's Civil Aviation Authority announced on Wednesday that drones targeted a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport, leading to a fire at the site. Spokesperson Abdullah al-Rajhi told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that, according to preliminary reports, the damage was limited to property and there were no human casualties, as quoted by Al Jazeera.

Al-Rajhi stated that authorities immediately began implementing emergency procedures, and fire brigades and relevant agencies are currently dealing with the blaze.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said that the US has won the war, adding that Iran's navy and air force have been completely decimated.

Speaking at the Swearing-In Ceremony for the Secretary of Homeland Security, Trump said, "We're in negotiations right now. I can tell you, they'd like to make a deal and who wouldn't if you were there? Look, their navy's gone, their air force is gone, their communications are gone. pretty much everything they have is gone."

Israeli military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said in a televised briefing that Israel's military will operate "according to an unchanged plan" in Iran and Lebanon regardless of talks aimed at ending the war, as per Al Jazeera.

Also, the Canadian government said it strongly condemns Israel's plans to occupy territory in southern Lebanon, adding that Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity must not be violated. However, it called for the disarmament of Hezbollah, as reported by Al Jazeera.

- ANI
Veteran actor Sharmila Tagore received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the opening of the International Film Festival of Delhi 2026. She emphasized that age brings a liberating freedom to her craft, allowing her to act better without the pressure of appearance. Tagore specifically praised her recent Bengali film 'Puratawn', screening at the festival, as one of her finest works. The festival opened with a star-studded red carpet and will feature a week of screenings and events.

Veteran actor Sharmila Tagore receives Lifetime Achievement Award at IFFD 2026, praises creative freedom of age, calls 'Puratawn' among her best works.

New Delhi, March 25 Veteran actor Sharmila Tagore highlighted the creative freedom that comes with age as she received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the opening of the International Film Festival of Delhi 2026, saying she considers her recent Bengali film 'Puratawn' among her finest works.

"It feels great, it feels absolutely great, because it gives an opportunity for people in Delhi to see different kinds of films, different language films. Like one of my Bengali films, Puratawn, 2025 film will be screening on the 29th, which we did, that was my last film a few years ago, not even a few, I mean, it's a recent film. And I'm very happy I've done it, it's very age appropriate, and it's, I think, one of my best, if not the best," Tagore told the media.

Expanding on her experience working on the film, Tagore underscored how age has influenced her craft.

"Because, you know, there's so much freedom that comes with age, and, you know, you don't have to really look pretty, and, you know, your face is not so much. So you can act so much better with freedom. So, I'm very happy about the film," she said.

The actor, who has had a celebrated career spanning decades, also expressed gratitude for being honoured at the festival and for the screening of her film as part of the tribute.

"I'm very happy, of course, I'm very happy and appreciate and grateful that they're doing this for me, and, yes. I want to tell you that Delhi is the capital of India, so, you know, people are very interested, so I'm sure they will enjoy it," she added.

The International Film Festival of Delhi 2026 opened on Wednesday evening at Bharat Mandapam.

The red carpet saw attendance from several prominent names, including Arjun Kapoor, Nimrat Kaur, Vicky Kaushal, Sanya Malhotra, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Lauren Gottlieb, Kangana Ranaut, Vivek Oberoi, Nandamuri Balakrishna, Prosenjit Chatterjee, and Arvind Swamy, among others.

The ceremony began with a tribute marking 150 years of Vande Mataram, setting a cultural tone for the evening.

The inaugural lamp was lit by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta along with ministers Kapil Mishra and Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, and actors Hema Malini, Kangana Ranaut and Sharmila Tagore.

Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to Tagore, the late legendary actor Dharmendra, and Balakrishna, recognising their contributions to Indian cinema.

The festival opened with Sirat, directed by Oliver Laxe, a Cannes Jury Prize winner and Academy Award nominee, setting an international tone for the inaugural edition.

Organised by the Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation in association with the Delhi government, the festival will run until March 31, featuring screenings, masterclasses, panel discussions and cultural events.

- ANI
Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced India's aggressive pursuit of self-reliance in the rare earth sector to secure its green energy transition. He highlighted the launch of new magnet production plants in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam, with the latter being inaugurated by the Prime Minister. Singh acknowledged a significant gap between projected domestic production and the rapidly growing demand for these critical minerals by 2030. These materials are deemed essential for national priorities ranging from electric vehicles and defence to artificial intelligence and space exploration.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh details India's strategy to boost domestic rare earth production for green energy and reduce import dependence.

New Delhi, March 25 Union MoS Science and Technology Jitendra Singh told the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that India is aggressively pursuing self-reliance in the exploration and production of rare earth materials to secure its transition toward green energy.

Addressing queries in the House, Singh underscored the global significance of these materials, stating, "The critical mineral and rare earth is a big topic in which all the nations and all the societies are interested." He explained that the government's approach involves a comprehensive strategy to strengthen the domestic supply chain.

According to the Minister, the rare earth subject is one that "deals with a larger ecosystem or a larger spectrum," which connects several high-priority national goals. Singh noted that "at one end of the spectrum is the quest to gain self-reliance in the field of nuclear energy, rare earth, permanent magnets," while the other end involves India playing a "leading role in the global arena."

The Minister provided specific updates on industrial progress, mentioning that a pilot project recently commenced in Hyderabad focusing on Neodymium-Iron-Boron Permanent Magnets. He also informed the House that a Samarium Cobalt Magnet Plant was launched in Visakhapatnam, marking a significant milestone.

"For the first time, after 70 years, by PM Modi, in Visakhapatnam, Vizag, a Samarium Cobalt Magnet Plant has been launched, through which 500 tonnes per year of permanent magnets will be produced," Singh said. He further explained that production capacities are set to scale up significantly in the coming years.

However, the Minister also addressed the challenges regarding the gap between domestic production and rising demand. He pointed out that while production will increase to 2,000 tonnes in the first phase and eventually to 5,000 tonnes in the third phase, it may still trail behind the country's rapid growth.

Singh stated that "the dilemma is that even now, our requirement is around 4,000 tonnes. By 2030, when our requirement will double to 8,000 tonnes, by then our production will be around 5,000 tonnes." He noted that this gap necessitates a further acceleration of resources and research to scale up clean energy sources.

The importance of these minerals extends beyond energy to include defence and emerging technologies. Singh highlighted that lithium and other rare earth elements are vital for electric vehicles, electronic gadgets, defence equipment, space exploration, and wind power systems.

He specifically linked these resources to the future of data and technology, stating that for the national mission on Artificial Intelligence and data preservation, "we will require 24x7 reliable sources of clean energy."

Singh highlighted that the government's resolve remains firm to sustain India's "recently acquired image of a torchbearer in the world as far as our transition to a green earth and clean energy is concerned."

- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Israel underscores a strategic partnership aimed at deepening India's trade and connectivity to its west. Central to this vision is the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), conceived as a normative, values-based alternative to China's Belt and Road Initiative. The corridor seeks to break China's monopoly on Eurasian trade by offering a framework based on transparency and distributed governance rather than dependency. Its long-term success hinges on anchor partners like Israel, which provide the institutional stability and technological maturity India requires for de-risked strategic investment.

PM Modi's Israel visit strengthens a partnership aiming to counter China's Belt and Road Initiative with the values-based IMEC economic corridor.

New Delhi, March 25 Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent state visit to Israel marked a strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries as part of a "sophisticated geo-economic gambit," according to an article in The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune.

The article highlights that PM Modi's address to the Knesset outlined both his government's broader strategic outlook and Israel's place within it. In his remarks, PM Modi signalled a commitment to building a regional architecture designed to embed India more deeply into trade and connectivity to its west with an anchor role for Israel.

That effort is driven in large part by New Delhi's search for strategic autonomy as it seeks to escape China's growing shadow in the Indo-Pacific. No longer defined by its Cold War-era doctrine of non-alignment, India is now prioritising issue-based coalitions and partnerships with countries whose strategic trajectory is durable and predictable. This logic, in turn, favours states whose survival and prosperity are tied to the stability of the rules-based international order, the article states.

At the heart of India's vision for the Eastern Mediterranean is the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). IMEC is much more than simply a commercial route. It is designed to offer India's international partners a "values-based" alternative to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), thereby reducing Beijing's leverage over Eurasian trade and energy flows, the article points out.

Over the past decade, Beijing has leveraged large-scale investments in transportation, energy, and telecommunications to establish a strong presence across the Middle East, South Asia, and Europe. This has created a structural interdependence in which economic relationships are inextricably linked to Chinese strategic interests.

From a strategic perspective, IMEC represents an effort to break up this monopoly. It serves as a normative counterweight to China's model of state-centric control and top-down financing. Instead, it envisions a smaller and more flexible framework in which the economic and political interests of partners, while not identical, overlap in their desire to mitigate Chinese unilateralism.

For India, a reliable corridor requires anchor states such as Israel and Greece which offer institutional stability and technological maturity. While other prospective routes may offer more convenient geography, they lack the normative reliability and security predictability that India requires for long-term strategic investment.

Nevertheless, China's structural advantage remains formidable. The BRI rests on a foundation of already-commissioned projects and established logistical networks, such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the strategic Port of Gwadar. Furthermore, China's influence is further reinforced by its deep diplomatic engagement with Iran and the Gulf states, as well as its control over critical infrastructure components such as subsea communication cables.

For this reason, the challenge for IMEC is not simply to propose a technical alternative, but to establish institutional credibility and long-term resilience.

For New Delhi and its partners, the corridor's viability depends on its ability to create a de-risked ecosystem that prioritizes transparency and distributed governance over dependency and top-down control, the article states.

- IANS
India and Serbia held their 9th round of Foreign Office Consultations in Belgrade, chaired by senior diplomats from both nations. The talks comprehensively reviewed bilateral cooperation across trade, defence, science & technology, and culture. Both sides exchanged views on regional and global issues, including developments in Ukraine and India's G20 presidency. They agreed to sustain regular diplomatic exchanges to further nurture the close and friendly relations between the two countries.

India and Serbia review bilateral cooperation in trade, defence, tech, and global issues during their 9th Foreign Office Consultations in Belgrade.

Belgrade, March 26 India and Serbia held the 9th Round of Foreign Office Consultations in Belgrade, Serbia, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Wednesday.

The FOC was chaired by Ambassador Sibi George, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs, from the Indian side and Damjan Jovic, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from the Serbian side.

Secretary (West) also called on Marko Djuric, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia. They discussed ways to intensify the existing cooperation between India and Serbia and also expand the scope of bilateral cooperation.

India and Serbia share close and friendly relations, underpinned by longstanding bonds of friendship between their people. The Consultations comprehensively reviewed existing bilateral ties, covering areas of mutual interest such as trade and economic relations, defence, science & technology, Fintech, agriculture, culture, and people-to-people ties. The two sides also expressed satisfaction about their strong cooperation in the multilateral forum, as per the statement.

Both sides exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. During the visit, Secretary (West) also interacted with members of the Indian diaspora in Serbia, as per the statement.

Previously, the 8th Foreign Office Consultations between India and Serbia were held on February 3, 2023, in New Delhi. The Indian side was led by Shri Sanjay Verma, Secretary(West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Serbian side was led by Ambassador Vladimir Maric, Assistant Minister for Bilateral Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia.

Both sides also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, including developments in India's neighbourhood, Ukraine, and the United Nations. India's priorities as President of G20, and its endeavour to take up the cause of Global South, were also shared with the Serbian side.

Both sides agreed on sustaining regular exchanges that have nurtured bilateral relations, as per the MEA.

- ANI
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi met UK's Air Chief Marshal Harvey Smyth in New Delhi to discuss strengthening defence cooperation. The talks focused on enhancing joint military operations, interoperability, and addressing evolving security challenges in maritime and aerospace domains. During his visit, Air Chief Marshal Smyth also held meetings with India's Army Chief, Air Force Chief, and the Chief of Defence Staff to explore broader collaboration. The series of high-level interactions underscored a shared commitment to deepening the strategic partnership and ensuring regional stability.

Indian and UK military chiefs meet in New Delhi to advance defence ties, focusing on maritime, aerospace security, and interoperability in the Indo-Pacific.

New Delhi, March 25 Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi met UK's Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Harvey Smyth in New Delhi on Wednesday with discussions focused on advancing defence cooperation between both nations. The two chiefs laid emphasis on enhancing jointness, strengthening interoperability, and addressing evolving maritime and aerospace security challenges. They also spoke about operational cooperation, training exchanges, and capacity building.

"Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, CNS, interacted with Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth, Chief of the Air Staff, UK Air Force, on 25 Mar 26. The discussions focused on advancing India-UK defence cooperation, with emphasis on enhancing jointness, strengthening interoperability, and addressing evolving maritime and aerospace security challenges," spokesperson of the Indian Navy posted on X.

"Both leaders exchanged perspectives on operational cooperation, training exchanges, and capacity building, underscoring the importance of integrated approaches in ensuring stability across the Indo Pacific and beyond. The interaction reaffirmed both nations' commitment to deepen strategic ties and foster enduring defence partnerships," the statement added.

Earlier in the day, Air Chief Marshal Smyth met Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi in New Delhi and discussed the current geostrategic situation and issues of mutual interest.

In a post on X, Indian Army's Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI) stated, "Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth, Chief of the Air Staff, Royal Air Force, United Kingdom, called on General Upendra Dwivedi, COAS. During the interaction, they deliberated on the current geostrategic situation and discussed issues of mutual interest, focusing on strengthening bilateral Defence Cooperation and exploring joint initiatives to bolster peace and security."

Air Chief Marshal Smyth is on a three-day official visit to India to boost military ties between two nations.

On Tuesday, he visited the Air Force Station in Gwalior, where he gained a first-hand insight into IAF fighter base operations and interacted with air warriors.

"Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth, Chief of the Air Staff, RAF (UK), visited Air Force Station Gwalior on 24 Mar 2026, gaining first-hand insight into IAF fighter base operations and interacting with air warriors. He was received by Air Marshal B Manikantan, AOC-in-C, Central Air Command. The visit reinforced mutual understanding and explored avenues for enhanced convergence and interoperability between the two Air Forces," Indian Air Force's Media Coordination Centre posted on X.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan and Air Chief Marshal Smyth also held a meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday, with discussions focused on progress in training exchanges, intelligence collaboration and integrated military engagement between two nations.

In a statement on X, High Commission of India in London stated, "Advancing future-ready India UK defence engagement! General Anil Chauhan, CDS interacted with Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth, Chief of Air Staff, Royal Air Force, with discussions focusing on progress in training exchanges, intelligence collaboration and integrated military engagement."

"General Anil Chauhan, CDS interacted with Air Chief Marshal Sir Harvey Smyth, Chief of Air Staff, Royal Air Force, reaffirming the growing strength of India-United Kingdom Defence Partnership. Exchange of Instructors continues to be a key pillar of the bilateral cooperation matrix, alongside significant strides in enhancing Defence Intelligence collaboration," Headquarters of Integrated Defence Staff wrote on X.

"The CDS commended the successful conduct of the 17th Military Sub Group Meeting and expressed confidence in advancing a deeper, more Integrated and future-ready Defence engagement," it added.

On Monday, Air Chief Marshal Smyth met Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, with discussions focused on enhancing operational cooperation, interoperability and strengthening air power ties.

"Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth, Chief of the Air Staff, Royal Air Force, on an official visit to India, called on Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, Indian Air Force. Discussions focused on enhancing operational cooperation, interoperability and strengthening bilateral air power ties," the IAF stated.

Air Chief Marshal Smyth began his India visit on Monday by paying homage to the bravehearts of Indian Armed Forces at the National War Memorial in New Delhi.

- IANS
Former UK PM Rishi Sunak highlights India-UK as AI superpowers, citing Stanford Index and shared pro-innovation governance approach at London event.

London, March 25 Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Tuesday that both India and the United Kingdom have emerged as global "AI superpowers", highlighting growing technological cooperation between the two countries.

Speaking about the global AI landscape, at an AI-focused event hosted by the High Commission of India in London, Sunak cited the widely referenced Stanford AI Index, noting that the two countries rank among the world's leading AI powers. While acknowledging that India has recently overtaken the UK in the rankings, he added a light-hearted remark about sporting rivalry in the ICC Test rankings.



He said," According to the globally respected Stanford AI Index, both India and the UK are ranked as AI superpowers. Although India has recently overtaken the UK in the rankings, I reminded Prime Minister Modi at the summit that England remains ahead in the ICC Test rankings."



He stressed that both countries share a similar philosophy toward artificial intelligence governance, favouring innovation-friendly policies over heavy regulation. Sunak said, " Both India and the UK share a common outlook on AI: neither of us favours the EU's top-down regulatory approach or the ad-hoc nature of the US response. Instead, we embrace a principles-first, pragmatic, pro-innovation attitude. I believe we can unite countries around this sensible approach, even in a polarised world."



The former UK PM also highlighted the importance of cooperation in ensuring the safe development of emerging technologies. He noted that India established its own AI Security Institute last year and called for stronger collaboration with the UK's counterpart.



"Last year, India established its own AI Security Institute, and we must work together to foster greater cooperation between these institutes. Just as our intelligence-sharing keeps us safe from shared terrorist threats, joint efforts between our AI security institutes can protect us from the risks of emerging technologies," Sunak said.



He added that the UK-India Technology Security Initiative would help facilitate deeper collaboration between the two countries, describing it as a "powerful" example of 21st-century security cooperation focused on emerging technologies.



He said," The UK-India Technology Security Initiative will help facilitate this collaboration--a powerful example of security cooperation between our nations in the 21st century."



Meanwhile, India's High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, said that India is emerging as a major force in artificial intelligence and has significant potential to collaborate with the United Kingdom in advancing the technology.



Speaking at an AI-focused event hosted by the High Commission of India in London, he highlighted India's growing role in the global AI ecosystem. Doraiswami said recent developments demonstrate the scale of capabilities India is building in the sector.



"Some of the work that was showcased in the UK to start with--now nearly three years ago--and some of the work that was showcased a few weeks ago in India suggests to us that there is considerable opportunity for us to be able to bring together the enormous capabilities that the UK has already deployed on AI and the enormous capabilities that India is bringing to display in AI," he said.





- ANI
Senior Indian and US officials held meetings in New Delhi to advance bilateral defence cooperation and discuss the regional security scenario. US Under Secretary Elbridge Colby emphasized that the US views India with deep respect as a nation whose choices will shape the Indo-Pacific's future. He stated the US sees India as an essential partner for ensuring a favorable balance of power in Asia, recognizing India's strategic autonomy and "Bharat First" approach. The talks focused on implementing the goals of the US-India Major Defence Partnership as established by the leadership of both countries.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and US Under Secretary Elbridge Colby meet in New Delhi to strengthen bilateral defence ties and discuss regional security.

New Delhi, March 25 Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met visiting US Under Secretary of War Elbridge Colby on the sidelines of the India-US Defence Policy Group meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday, discussing strengthening defence cooperation and strategic partnership.

"Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge A. Colby on the sidelines of the India-US Defence Policy Group meeting today. They exchanged views on advancing bilateral defence cooperation, regional security, and further strengthening the strategic partnership," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote on X.

Earlier in the day, Colby held a meeting with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar as both discussed current geopolitical scenario.

"Pleased to meet US Under Secretary of War Elbridge Colby this afternoon. Exchanged views on the current geopolitical scenario," EAM Jaishankar posted on X after the meeting.

The top Pentagon official is in India to engage with senior officials in New Delhi and help advance the critical India-US relationship.

On Tuesday, Colby said the US views India with deep respect and New Delhi's decisions will profoundly shape the future of the Indo-Pacific.

"The United States views India with deep respect - as a republic of continental scale, as a nation with a proud strategic tradition, and as a country whose decisions will profoundly shape the future of the Indo-Pacific and the international landscape more broadly. Our two countries of course differ in history, geography, and perspective in important ways. Yet we share something fundamental: a conviction that the future of Asia should be determined by sovereign nations able to chart their own course," Colby said during a special session at the Ananta Centre.

He mentioned that the US sees India not merely as a key partner, but as an essential one in ensuring a long-term favorable balance of power in Asia.

"India's importance stems not only from its size and economic potential, but also from its geography and strategic position. Your country sits astride the Indian Ocean, which is the connective tissue of the Indo-Pacific. India possesses a long tradition of strategic autonomy and a growing capacity to shape events well beyond its borders. It is the largest republic in the world; its success thus carries profound symbolic and political weight. And it has formidable, self-reliant, and capable military forces, willing and able to shoulder significant security responsibilities," said Colby.

Citing that India's role is indispensable, the US Under Secretary mentioned that Washington's approach to the strategic partnership with India is interests-based and realistic, shaped by geopolitics and incentives as opposed to gauzy aspirations or detached idealism.

"We clearly recognise that India has its own interests, its own strategic culture, and its own priorities, and that India is not shy about advancing them," said Colby, adding that India and US perspectives seems deeply aligned.

"Minister of External Affairs Dr. Jaishankar has termed India's approach 'Bharat First' and its strategic approach 'the India Way'. Like America First and flexible realism, Bharat First and the India Way emphasise the centrality of a realistic approach to foreign policy, an unabashed willingness to put one's own national priorities first, and a results-oriented mindset about international politics," the US Under Secretary of War for Policy said.

While announcing Elbridge Colby's visit to India, US Department of War stated, "Under Secretary Colby's visit will focus on advancing the goals established by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi in their February 2025 joint statement and on implementing the Framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership."

- IANS
India's employment landscape is projected to grow by 4.7% in the first half of FY2026-27, continuing an upward trend from previous periods. The growth is largely driven by sectors like e-commerce & tech startups, healthcare & pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing. Hiring intent is strongest among large enterprises and is concentrated in urban centers like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune. Employers are increasingly focusing on roles in sales, marketing, and IT while prioritizing digital skills and compliance with new labor codes.

India's workforce is set for 4.7% growth, driven by e-commerce, healthcare, and manufacturing. Bengaluru leads hiring intent. Learn the key trends.

New Delhi, March 25 India's employment landscape is set for a steady expansion, with a projected 4.7 per cent workforce growth for HY1 FY2026-27, driven by e-commerce and tech startups, healthcare and pharma, and manufacturing.

According to the latest Employment Outlook Report from TeamLease Staffing, the projected Net Employment Change (NEC) marked a consistent upward trajectory from the 2.8 per cent and 4.4 per cent growth recorded over the previous two half-yearly periods to 4.7 per cent. The improvement reflected a gradual strengthening of hiring confidence, with 58 per cent of employers now planning to expand their workforces.

The improved sentiment is most visible among large enterprises, where 74 per cent of firms indicated plans for expansion. In comparison, 57 per cent of mid-sized firms and 38 per cent of small businesses expect to increase their headcount, pointing to a recovery in employment growth that is largely driven by scale.

The momentum carries across both digital and core economy industries. E-commerce and tech startups lead the sectoral hiring with an NEC of 8.9 per cent, followed by healthcare and pharmaceuticals at 7 per cent, and manufacturing, engineering, and infrastructure at 6.6 per cent.

Hiring is also becoming more defined at a functional level, with demand concentrated in roles that directly influence business outcomes. Sales and marketing lead the trend, as 54 per cent of employers look to expand these teams, followed by strong demand in IT at 40 per cent and finance at 39 per cent.

The shift indicated a sharpening focus on revenue generation, digital transformation, and compliance priorities. Meanwhile, administrative and back-office functions remained largely stable as companies continue to prioritize automation and process optimization.

Geographically, hiring is concentrated in capability-driven urban centers rather than being dictated by population scale alone. Bengaluru led the country with 67.9 per cent employer expansion intent, followed by Hyderabad at 57.8 per cent and Pune at 56.1 per cent.

Mumbai and Chennai also witnessed steady momentum, supported by their established manufacturing and R&D ecosystems. The geographic shift highlighted talent availability and infrastructure readiness in becoming the primary drivers of location-based hiring.

Balasubramanian A, Senior Vice President at TeamLease Services, said, "With the implementation of labour codes, 64% of organisations reporting an increase in employment costs and 80% redesigning salary structures, businesses are recalibrating workforce models to align with new statutory frameworks. At the same time, 62% are investing in HR and payroll system upgrades, signaling a clear move towards embedding compliance within digital infrastructure."

The evolution in skill demand further reflected this transition. Digital literacy led the requirements at 77 per cent, followed by customer experience management at 68 per cent and communication skills at 61 per cent. Employers are placing greater emphasis on adaptability and data-driven capabilities as AI and analytics become more integrated into business functions.

Balasubramanian explained that this reflects a "deeper transition towards disciplined, efficiency-led workforce strategies that prioritise long-term sustainability over short-term expansion."

- ANI
Iran's naval forces turned back the merchant vessel SELEN, which was carrying food to Karachi, for failing to comply with legal protocols for passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian authorities have announced that transit for "non-hostile vessels" is now strictly dependent on prior coordination with Iranian officials. This move comes amidst Tehran's accusations of ongoing military aggression by the United States and Israel against its territory. The Strait of Hormuz is a critically important global oil transit chokepoint.

Iran's navy turned back a food shipment to Pakistan for violating protocols. Tehran announces new strict transit rules for the strategic waterway.

Tehran, March 25 Iran's Naval Commander Alireza Tangsiri has informed that a merchant vessel, SELEN, bound for Karachi with food was turned back from the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the Naval Commander, " The container ship SELEN was turned back by the IRGC Navy due to failure to comply with legal protocols and lack of permission to pass through Strait of Hormuz. The passage of any vessel through this waterway requires full coordination with Iran's maritime authority, and this achievement would not have been possible without the backing of the noble people of Iran."

Vessel Tracker earlier placed the position of SELEN at the Persian Gulf. The vessel is currently sailing under the flag of St Kitts & Nevis

Earlier, the Iranian mission in New York said that they will allow the passage of what it called "non-hostile vessels" through the Strait of Hormuz.

The mission announced in a post on X, "Non-hostile vessels, including those belonging to or associated with other States, may, provided that they neither participate in nor support acts of aggression against Iran and fully comply with the declared safety and security regulations, benefit from safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the competent Iranian authorities."

The Iranian Defence Council has announced that the transit of "non-hostile vessels" through the strategic Strait of Hormuz is now strictly dependent on prior "coordination with Iranian officials".

According to a report by state broadcaster Press TV this move comes amidst what Tehran describes as ongoing military aggression by the United States and Israel against Iranian territory.

The Council issued a stern warning that any further strikes on the nation's "power plants and energy infrastructure" would meet an immediate and "decisive and destructive response" from the Iranian Armed Forces.

The Strait of Hormuz, located between Oman and Iran, connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The strait is deep enough and wide enough to handle the world's largest crude oil tankers, and it is one of the world's most important oil chokepoints.

- ANI
Iranian representatives have informed the Trump administration that they prefer to negotiate with US Vice President JD Vance over Jared Kushner or Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, citing a trust deficit. CNN reports Iran views Vance as more sympathetic to ending the conflict, unlike Witkoff, Kushner, or Secretary of State Marco Rubio. President Trump has stated that all key diplomatic team members, including Vance, Rubio, Kushner, and Witkoff, are involved in the negotiations. The diplomatic maneuvering occurs as Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has offered to mediate between the US and Iran.

Iran tells Trump admin it wants VP JD Vance to lead talks, rejecting Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, citing trust deficit, CNN reports.

Tehran, March 25 Iranian representatives on Wednesday told the Trump administration that they do not want to re-enter negotiations with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and would prefer to engage with US Vice President JD Vance, CNN reported, citing sources.

The report stated that Iran believes discussions involving Witkoff and Kushner wouldn't be productive, given the "deficit of trust following the breakdown of negotiations prior to Israel and the US launching military action".

Vance -- in contrast to Witkoff, Kushner and even Secretary of State Marco Rubio -- is viewed as more sympathetic to wanting to end the war, the CNN cited sources with a view that US Vice President is intent on wrapping up the conflict.

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump said all the key members of his diplomatic team were involved in negotiations.

On those who are involved in the Iran negotiations from the US administration, Trump said, "JD (Vance) is involved. Marco is involved. Jared Kushner is involved. Steve Witkoff is involved, and I am involved."US President Donald Trump said that the US has won the war, adding that Iran's navy and air force have been completely decimated.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told CNN that it's Trump's call who negotiates for the US.

"President Trump and only President Trump determines who negotiates on behalf of the United States. As the President stated today, Vice President Vance, Secretary Rubio, Special Envoy Witkoff, and Mr. Kushner will all be involved," Leavitt said.

US President Donald Trump has triggered intense diplomatic speculation regarding a potential mediating role for Islamabad in the ongoing Washington-Tehran standoff, after he shared an official statement from Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The move follows a post on X by Prime Minister Sharif, in which he expressed Islamabad's eagerness to facilitate a diplomatic resolution to the regional crisis. Sharif stated that Pakistan was "ready and honoured" to moderate "meaningful and conclusive talks" between the United States and Iran, provided there is a mutual agreement from both parties.

- ANI
US lawmakers warn the war with Iran is rapidly depleting American weapons stockpiles, creating a munitions emergency. This strain is making US support for Ukraine less predictable as allies step in to backfill arms. The Senate hearing also highlighted a deteriorating global nuclear landscape with Russia and China as peer competitors. Officials argued old arms control treaties are obsolete, while progress on new agreements has stalled.

Senate hearing warns of depleted US weapons stockpiles due to Iran conflict, impacting support for Ukraine and global arms control.

Washington, March 25 US lawmakers warned of mounting pressure on American weapons stockpiles and a rapidly deteriorating global nuclear landscape, as a Senate hearing exposed sharp concerns over the Trump administration's war with Iran and the future of arms control.

At a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Ranking Member Senator Jeanne Shaheen said the pace of weapons consumption has exposed serious gaps in planning and strategy.

"Last Thursday, almost three weeks into this war against Iran, the Administration pushed through more than 16 billion dollars in arms sales to the Middle East... using emergency authority to bypass normal Congressional review," she said.

Shaheen described the situation as a "munitions and weapons" emergency, warning that US reserves are being depleted rapidly. "In some cases, we have only about a quarter of the interceptors we need," she said, adding that it remains "not clear what the end goal of the war in Iran is."

The strain is already affecting other conflicts. "US support has become less predictable, and allies are increasingly stepping in to purchase or backfill American-made arms," she said, referring to Ukraine.

Shaheen said that "over 80 per cent of their strikes are now carried out by drones," highlighting a shift toward "autonomous systems and drone swarms." However, she cautioned, "the support that we have in the US is not keeping pace."

Recent reports have also flagged concerns that US stockpiles of advanced missile defence systems are being rapidly depleted, raising questions about America's ability to sustain multiple conflicts simultaneously.

Committee Chairman Senator Jim Risch defended the administration's approach, framing the Iran conflict within a broader strategic challenge.

"The military action in the Middle East has highlighted what the United States must do to protect the American people from the imminent threat of an adversary," he said.

Risch warned that the world has entered a "multipolar nuclear landscape," where the US faces "two nuclear near peer competitors in Russia and China" alongside "rogue states with nuclear ambitions."

He argued that older arms control frameworks are no longer sufficient. "Nuclear agreements of days gone by no longer meet the needs of our nation," he said, adding that "if our adversaries are building nuclear stockpiles, we unfortunately must do so as well."

Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Thomas DiNanno told lawmakers the administration is pursuing "verifiable and enforceable arms control agreements that enhance American national security."

He defended the shift away from legacy agreements, calling the New START treaty "a vestige of a security environment totally disconnected from the realities of today," particularly for failing to address China's nuclear expansion.

Lawmakers from both parties expressed concern over the collapse of arms control mechanisms. Shaheen warned that "talks on future arms control arrangements have stalled," adding that China's refusal to participate effectively blocks progress.

She also pointed to rising risks from Russia, including deployment of tactical nuclear weapons closer to NATO and testing of new systems that are harder to track.

At the same time, China is "constructing more than 300 new missile silos" and expanding its arsenal "with little transparency," she said.

The hearing comes amid intensifying global tensions following US military operations against Iran, which have significantly increased demand for high-end munitions and missile defence systems.

- IANS
Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has sharply criticized the collapse of international law, accusing Western nations of hypocrisy and silence regarding US-Israeli aggression against Iran. He acknowledged German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier's rare condemnation of these strikes as violations of international law. The criticism follows a phone call between Araghchi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who warned that attacks on Iran's nuclear infrastructure pose catastrophic environmental risks. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump claimed the US had decimated Iran's military and that Tehran seeks a deal.

Iran's Foreign Minister condemns Western silence on US-Israeli aggression against Iran, while welcoming rare German criticism of the strikes as illegal.

Tehran, March 25 Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has sharply criticised what he described as the collapse of international law in practice, accusing Western nations of applying double standards in conflicts ranging from Gaza to Ukraine.

In a post on X, Araghchi pointed to what he called silence over aggression by Israel and the United States against Iran, while acknowledging German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier's condemnation of violations against Iranians as a rare stance.

"International law is dead in practice--driven by Western double standards on Gaza vs. Ukraine and silence on Israel-US aggression on Iran," he said.

"Still, credit to President Steinmeier for condemning the violations against Iranians. Those who value the rule of law should also speak up," Araghchi said.

According to German news platform DW, speaking at an event marking the 75th anniversary of the re-establishment of the German Foreign Ministry, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that the US-Israeli attacks on Iran are "a violation of international law."

Earlier, on March 23, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke to his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi.

Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a post on X, "On March 23, FMs Sergey Lavrov & Seyed Abbas Araghchi spoke over the phone. The Ministers discussed the deterioration in the Persian Gulf caused by US-Israeli aggression. They also voiced concern over the conflict's dangerous expansion into the Caspian region."

Sergey Lavrov stressed the categorical unacceptability of the US-Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear infrastructure, including the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, which creates unacceptable risks for the safety of Russian personnel and could lead to catastrophic environmental consequences for all countries of the region without exception, an official statement said.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said that the US has won the war, adding that Iran's navy and air force have been completely decimated.

Speaking at the Swearing-In Ceremony for the Secretary of Homeland Security, Trump said, "We're in negotiations right now. I can tell you, they'd like to make a deal and who wouldn't if you were there? Look, their navy's gone, their air force is gone, their communications are gone. pretty much everything they have is gone."

- ANI
Former Israeli spokesperson Eylon Levy asserts the Iranian regime has been militarily defeated, losing its leadership and having its ballistic missile industry destroyed by a US-Israeli coalition. He accuses Iran of deliberately firing heavy missiles at Israeli residential neighborhoods and civilian targets. Levy links regional security to the success of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), alleging Iran seeks to sow chaos to obstruct this trade route. He expresses deep skepticism about any diplomatic breakthrough, stating the Iranian regime is rejecting negotiations and remains committed to being a regional threat.

Former Israeli spokesperson Eylon Levy claims the Iranian regime has "lost the war" after US-Israeli operations dismantled its military command and missile industry.

Tel Aviv, March 25 Former Israeli spokesperson Eylon Levy has claimed that the Iranian regime has essentially "lost the war" following the thorough dismantling of its military command and missile infrastructure by a joint US-Israeli operation.

In an interview with ANI, Levy highlighted the massive reduction in Tehran's strike capabilities. "It's clear that the Iranian regime has lost the war. It lost its entire leadership in the first few seconds of the war. Since then, Israel and the United States have been systematically destroying the Iranian regime's ability to continue threatening its neighbours," he stated.

Describing the pattern of Iranian attacks on non-military areas, Levy dismissed suggestions that Israel had miscalculated the regime's capabilities. "The Iranian regime is firing at Israeli residential neighbourhoods. It's firing ballistic missiles into people's houses. The Iranian regime is deliberately firing ballistic missiles with warheads of up to 500 kg, sometimes ballistic missiles with cluster munitions that explode in the sky and scatter over a 10-mile radius to hit civilian targets," he explained.

He noted that the regime's power to strike back has been significantly compromised. "The Iranian regime's ability to retaliate is severely degraded from what it expected at the beginning of the war. Israel has destroyed Iran's ballistic missile industry, so they can no longer build more ballistic missiles. The threat from the Iranian regime is already much less than it was just three weeks ago because of how effectively the US-Israeli coalition has demolished the Iranian war machine," the former spokesperson added.

Shifting to the broader geopolitical implications, Levy underscored the necessity of regional calm for international trade, specifically regarding the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). He suggested that securing these routes is a key focus for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump.

"For Israel, it is absolutely critical to ensure maritime and regional security so we can develop that trade corridor we've been trying to build for the last few years. Before the October 7th massacre, the world was talking about building a trade corridor that would go from India through the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and connect it to Europe," Levy remarked.

He further alleged that Tehran is employing "chaos and violence" to obstruct this regional connectivity. "The Iranian regime is trying to frustrate that trade corridor. It is trying to sow chaos and violence in the region so that the pro-stability actors in the region cannot grow and cannot prosper. Ending the Iranian regime's ability to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, to bomb Dubai Airport, to bomb civilian and energy targets in the region is absolutely critical in order to build that shared prosperity and economic infrastructure with our friends in the region, most importantly with the great people of India," he said.

Even with the reported existence of a 15-point US peace plan, Levy remains highly doubtful regarding a diplomatic breakthrough.

"If there is a diplomatic agreement in which the Iranian regime that is sworn to death to America, death to Israel, agrees to stop being a threat and to be a peaceful actor, Israel will of course welcome that. But the Iranian regime is rejecting that. Unfortunately, I don't see any prospect for the Iranian regime accepting America's demands," he noted.

Levy warned that Tehran remains obstinate despite its current military disadvantages, suggesting that the regime's underlying goals prevent a cessation of hostilities.

Levy said, "The Iranians are laughing in the face of the United States. They're rejecting negotiations. They think they are in a place to insist on demands. This is not over because the Iranian regime is not interested in stopping being a threat to its neighbours. It's not interested in stopping its nuclear program, ballistic missiles, support for proxy armies that have caused violence and terrorism across the region."

- ANI
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps has announced conducting the 80th wave of its Operation True Promise 4, targeting strategic points and military centers in northern Israel. The IRGC stated it struck the Israeli army's military command in Safed and also hit multiple US military outposts across the region with missiles and drones. A military spokesperson, in a video statement, mocked US negotiation claims and declared the era of American promises in the region over. The Corps emphasized the operations are in support of Hezbollah and will continue without relenting until achieving "complete victory."

Iran's IRGC claims strikes on Israeli strategic points & US bases in Operation True Promise 4, vowing to continue until "complete victory."

Tehran, March 25 Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps has announced carrying out the 80th wave of its retaliatory Operation True Promise 4. IRGC claimed to have struck strategic points and military centres in Israel's northern side, besides pummelling American outposts across the region.

In a statement on Wednesday, the IRGC said the latest phase was staged by the Corps' Aerospace Force in support of the "proud offensives," carried out by Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement against Israeli targets, and the residents of southern Lebanon, who have been bearing the brunt of Israeli aggression.

"Strategic points and military centres located in the northern occupied territories were smashed under the heavy and sustained missile attacks of the IRGC's Aerospace Force," the statement read.

The IRGC said the military command of Israel's army in the northern city of Safed, responsible for coordinating attacks and defences along the territories' northern borders, was among the primary targets.

The statement described the strikes as the opening of a series of pre-announced operations against the "child-killing Zionist regime."

The Corps said northern assembly points of Israel forces and the Gaza belt would be subjected to heavy missile and drone attacks, emphasizing that the IRGC would not relent the slightest while it carries out this bout of counterstrike's.

The IRGC further stated that targets in central Israel, including Tel Aviv, Kiryat Shmona, and Bnei Brak, alongside US military bases of Ali al-Salem and Arifjan in Kuwait, al-Azraq in Jordan, and Sheikh Isa in Bahrain, were struck with liquid- and solid-fuel precision missiles and attack drones.

Operation True Promise 4 began on February 28, momentarily after the United States and Israel conducted strikes on Iran. The Corps has vowed to sustain the reprisal until "complete victory."

Meanwhile in a video posted by Fars News on Wednesday, the Military spokesperson took a jibe at the US President Donald Trump negotiation claim, saying that the situation had reached a stage where the Americans were negotiating with themselves

."The strategic power you used to boast about has now turned into a strategic defeat...Do not label your defeat as an 'agreement.' The era of your promises has come to an end. Today, there are two fronts in the world: Truth and Falsehood. No freedom-seeking truth-seeker will be deceived by your media waves. The level of your internal conflicts has reached the stage where you are negotiating with yourselves. There will be no more talk of your investments in the region, nor will you ever see the former prices of energy and oil again, until you understand that stability in this region is guaranteed only by the powerful hand of our armed forces," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson further underlined that the Iranian forces would never come to terms with the US-Israel forces.

- ANI
The Israel Defense Forces stated that a ballistic missile fired by Iran fell in Beirut, prompting the Israeli military to order evacuations from several neighborhoods in the city's southern suburbs. In a related strike, Israel said it killed a Quds Force operative, Mohammad Ali Kourani, near Beirut for allegedly planning attacks directed by Iran. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed the U.S. had "won the war" and that Iran's military capabilities were decimated. Lebanese media reported shrapnel from an interception caused light injuries north of Beirut, with no immediate comment from Iranian or Lebanese officials on the events.

Israel says an Iranian ballistic missile landed in Beirut, prompting evacuations and a strike killing a Quds Force operative. Latest updates.

Tel Aviv, March 25 The Israel Defense Forces on Wednesday said that a missile fired by Iran fell in Beirut.

In a post on X, the IDF said, "A ballistic missile fired by the Iranian Regime fell in Beirut following multiple launches directed toward Israel. Once again, the Iranian regime shows it doesn't care who gets hurt in its efforts to target Israel."

Meanwhile, the Israeli military has ordered the evacuation of residents from seven neighbourhoods in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, Beirut. Spokesman Avichay Adraee said the Israeli military would continue to attack Hezbollah infrastructure throughout different parts of the southern suburbs, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported earlier that shrapnel from an interception by a foreign naval vessel had landed over a series of towns north of Beirut and led to some light injuries, as quoted by Al Jazeera.

The Israeli military said that it killed a Quds Force operative in Lebanon during a strike on Hazmieh, in the Beirut area, but outside of the city's southern suburbs. In a statement, the army and domestic security agency Shin Bet said naval forces carried out the attack on Monday, killing Mohammad Ali Kourani, whom they claim was involved in planning attacks under the direction of Iranian-linked groups, as per Al Jazeera.

The Quds Force is one of five branches of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. There has been no immediate comment from Iranian or Lebanese officials regarding the claim.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump said that the US has won the war, adding that Iran's navy and air force have been completely decimated.

Speaking at the Swearing-In Ceremony for the Secretary of Homeland Security, Trump said, "We're in negotiations right now. I can tell you, they'd like to make a deal and who wouldn't if you were there? Look, their navy's gone, their air force is gone, their communications are gone. pretty much everything they have is gone."

- ANI
Israel's Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, states the country is focused on degrading Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities, which it views as existential threats. He warns Iran will face major consequences if it refuses to cooperate with international demands, though he expresses optimism about ongoing negotiations prompted by pressure. Azar asserts Israel will continue its military operations until these threats are fully neutralized, regardless of diplomatic talks. He also notes that Gulf states, while previously quiet, are now openly supportive of efforts to counter Iran after being attacked.

Israel's Ambassador Reuven Azar warns Iran faces consequences, asserts military operations will continue until nuclear and ballistic threats are neutralized.

New Delhi, March 25 Israel's Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, has warned that Iran will face major consequences if it continues to double down and refuses to cooperate with the American and international community requirements. In an interview with, Azar also asserted that Israel will continue with its operations until the Iranian threats are neutralised.

Excerpts:

IANS: How does Israel assess the risk of a full-blown war if US attacks Iranian power plants. What measure is Israel taking to protect its interests?

Reuven Azar: Well, first of all, we are concentrating at this point in degrading the capabilities of Iran because they have produced two existential threats on Israel. One is the nuclear and the other one is a ballistic threat. They are also supporting proxies around the region that are attacking Israel constantly. So, we have to deal with that militarily. Now, if the Iranians decide to continue doubling down and refusing to cooperate with the American and the international community requirements, they will have to face the consequences. We are ready. Although Israel has been attacked and the Iranian regime is firing mainly at our civilian centres, we will not hesitate to continue this until we make sure that the threats are neutralised. We give the Iranian people this opportunity to embrace their future by degrading this mechanism of oppression that has been killing so many thousands of them. So, we are staying the course.

I think the United States is doing the same and we've seen, fortunately, that this regime was the first to blink because they said at the beginning that they are not going to negotiate with the United States. But in reality, they got into negotiations. So, we hope that the negotiations will end in a good result and that means, from our perspective, to get all the fissile material out of Iran, to have zero enrichment of uranium on Iranian soil or any military nuclear activity and to curb this project of missiles, ballistic missiles, and to stop Iran's assistance to proxies in the region. If we achieve these goals, I think the negotiations can end very quickly and we can stabilise the region very quickly.

IANS: US Vice President J D Vance discussed an effort to open negotiations with Iran during a phone call with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. They also apparently discussed a possible agreement to end the war. Is it true?

Reuven Azar: It is true that there are negotiations going on. We heard the President of the United States talking about that. We have seen corroboration of that by different sources and our Prime Minister was updated on that situation by the President himself.

IANS: US President Donald Trump has stated that the United States and Iran have held talks in complete and total resolution of hostileness in the Middle East. Is Israel likely to be optimistic about such developments?

Reuven Azar: Yes, we are optimistic, because as I told you, the Iranians in the past weren't agreeing to negotiate as a result of the launching of our operation. So, the fact that now they have agreed to negotiate, it means that they are under pressure. We are also seeing a lot of disconcert among the Iranian ranks. From time to time, you see different statements from different people. I think it shows that there are cracks within the system. I think that they have a very high degree of insecurity and therefore they are denying some of the things that they are doing and this is a good thing. It means that there is a lot of pressure put on them. And this gives me hope that the negotiations will succeed. If they don't succeed, we will continue the operation until we reach our goals, which I stated at the outset.

IANS: How does Israel assess the implication of Saudi Arabia and UAE's recent step to support US-led operation in Iran? And what potential benefits or risks do you see in the shift of regional alliance?

Reuven Azar: I think there is no shift, whatsoever. I think that the countries of the Gulf were supportive of this operation. They weren't stating this openly. But, now that the Iranian regime has decided to attack them, they said publicly what they weren't saying before. So the alignment is pretty clear. I think that everybody in the region wants to see this regime changing its policy. They want to see these threats removed from the scene, so we can enjoy stability in our region.

IANS: How does Israel see the role of Pakistan in facilitating indirect talks between US and Iran and what implication does this have for Israel's own diplomatic efforts?

Reuven Azar: Well, it's up to the United States to decide who they want to choose as facilitator for the negotiations. As long as the result serves the common interest of the US and Israel, there's not much difference where the negotiations will be held.

IANS: Can Pakistan be even trusted as they are involved so much in terrorism?

Reuven Azar: Well, we are not going to engage in trusting a country that doesn't have diplomatic relations with us. What we trust is our judgment and the judgment of the President of the United States.

IANS: If you can tell us that what specific factor contributed to Iron Dome's failure to intercept the Iranian ballistic missiles in Dimona and Arad? How does Israel plan to enhance its air defence system in future?

Reuven Azar: Well, first of all, we have a very high rate of success in interceptions. We are talking about more than 90 per cent success and it's not just Iron Dome. We have different systems like Arrow 3, David's Link, Iron Beam, Iron Dome and we also have the Air Force of Israel and the United States that are engaged in intercepting missiles that are incoming from Iran. So, from time to time, these missiles penetrate, and the damage is quite substantive. We have unfortunately lost already 20 lives in Israel, and have hundreds of wounded civilians. What we are trying to do in order to minimise the toll is to get citizens to be disciplined, to enter into safe zones when these missiles are being shot. From the outset of the war, most of the missiles that the Iranian regime has been firing are cluster missiles that have small bombs between two to 10 kilos and are dispersed in a large area.

So, when we don't manage to intercept it on time, then a number of bombs fall. Fortunately, these bombs are not capable of penetrating safe buildings. You can reduce the number of casualties if people keep in safe zones and they adhere to the recommendations of our home front command. We hope that people will continue cooperating. The downside is that we haven't been able to open our school system yet in Israel, and that people have to wake up at night and run to shelters. But all in all, the devastation in Iran is much larger because we are hitting... We control the skies of Iran. We're capable of continuously hitting military targets, their military industry, command and control centres, the top tier of the command and control. So, we'll continue doing that and inflicting that kind of pressure. I think that it's working. At the end of the day, as I told you before, the Iranians have blinked first and we hope we'll be able to get into a diplomatic outcome.

- IANS
Indian batter KL Rahul has joined the Delhi Capitals franchise ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League season. The team welcomed him with a video referencing his famous 'Kantara' movie-inspired celebration from a previous match. Rahul is coming off an aggressive season where he scored 539 runs at a strike rate of nearly 150. He now aims to become the fifth batter in IPL history to reach the 6,000-run milestone.

India batter KL Rahul joins Delhi Capitals ahead of IPL 2026, bringing his aggressive form and famous 'Kantara' movie-inspired celebration.

New Delhi, March 25 India batter KL Rahul has joined Delhi Capitals ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League season.

DC posted the video of KL's arrival at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. On arriving at the pitch, KL pulled out his famous 'Kantara' movie celebration, which he had done during the match against eventual champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in his home state of Karnataka.



After playing an aggressive 93* run knock in 53 balls in chase of 164 set by RCB, KL, usually a calm, collected and reserved figure in the dressing room, was seen unusually animated and aggressive, thumping his chest and pointing towards the ground and at his jersey as if saying that it (M Chinnaswamy Stadium) is his territory. He moved his bat on the pitch in a circular way and aggressively tapped it on the ground. Later, he revealed the celebration to be inspired by the 2022 Kannada movie, Kantara.



Making a reference to KL's words after that win, DC posted, "Ye tera ground hai, Rahul. Welcome back home."



In the last season, KL was at his most aggressive in years, scoring 539 runs in 13 matches at an average of 53.90, with a strike rate of almost 150, including a century and three fifties. He was DC's top run-getter and overall ninth-highest. He was also DC's leading six-hitter, with 21 maximums.



In 145 matches, KL has scored 5,222 runs in 136 innings of his IPL career, which has seen him play for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), RCB, Punjab Kings and finally DC. These runs have come at an average of 46.21 and a strike rate of 136.02, including five centuries and 40 fifties. He was the Orange Cap winner back in the 2020 season with PBKS, scoring 670 runs in 14 innings with a century and five fifties.



He will be aiming to get as close as possible to the 6,000-run mark, if not touch it. If he reaches this milestone, he will be the fifth batter after Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and David Warner to reach the milestone. Currently, he is the seventh-highest run-getter in the competition's history.



DC will start off against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 1 at Lucknow.





- ANI
Kriti Sanon joined her sister Nupur Sanon and brother-in-law Stebin Ben for a family trip to Finland, where she experienced the breathtaking Northern Lights, a meteor shower, and a shooting star all in one night. She shared photos and captioned the magical moment, stating she made many wishes. Nupur and Stebin also posted a romantic picture from their getaway under the aurora. Professionally, Kriti is set to star in the upcoming sequel "Cocktail 2" alongside Shahid Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna.

Kriti Sanon joins sister Nupur Sanon & Stebin Ben in Finland, witnesses Northern Lights, meteor shower, and makes wishes. Details on her next film Cocktail 2.

Mumbai, March 25 Actress Kriti Sanon joined sister Nupur Sanon and brother-in-law Stebin Ben on their getaway to Finland.

During their family trip, Kriti witnessed the majestic Northern Lights, along with a spectacular meteor shower and a shooting star, all in the same night.

As it is a custom to make a wish after seeing a shooting star, Kriti also used the opportunity to make several wishes for herself.

Posting a string of photos of posing under the beautiful Northern Lights, Kriti shared the caption, "When the sky is full of Hopes, Dreams and Magic...Saw the breathtaking Northern lights, a surprising meteor shower and a shooting star on the same night..They say Make a wish.. I made many! (sic)"

She further added the track "Neele Neele Ambar Par" as the backdrop score.

On Tuesday, Nupur and Stebin treated the netizens with a romantic picture on their social media from their Finland trip.

The lovebirds were seen stealing a romantic kiss under the Northern Lights as part of their dreamy getaway.

Nupur captioned the post, "If there's magic anywhere in the world, it's here... with you," along with a galaxy star and sky emojis.

Nupur and Stebin tied the knot on January 11 in Udaipur as per both Hindu and Christian rituals.

On the professional front, Kriti will next be seen on the screen in the highly anticipated sequel "Cocktail 2", alongside Shahid Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna.

Made under the direction of Homi Adajania, the film has been produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films.

If the reports are to be believed, Kriti and Rashmika might be playing a couple in the film, and Shahid will act as the third angle in this twisted saga. However, the makers have not revealed any details about the storyline till now

Recently, the makers unveiled the first look posters of Kriti, Shahid and Rashmika from the drama, which shelled out breezy vibes, with all three of them posing inside a car.

- IANS
Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has assured the Assembly that there is no shortage of LPG cylinders in the national capital, urging citizens not to believe rumours. He stated the department is vigilantly working to curb black marketing and ensure a smooth supply, with domestic and commercial cylinders being supplied on priority. The Petroleum Ministry highlighted the Centre's focus on expanding Piped Natural Gas (PNG) infrastructure while confirming adequate fuel availability. Authorities have conducted thousands of raids, seizing cylinders to combat hoarding and illegal activities.

Delhi Minister Manjinder Sirsa assures no LPG shortage, highlights crackdown on black marketing and priority supply for essential services.

New Delhi, March 26 Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Wednesday assured the Assembly that there is no shortage of LPG cylinders in the national capital.

He stated, "I would like to inform the citizens and the entire House that no rumours regarding LPG distribution in Delhi should be encouraged. The department is working with full vigilance to curb black marketing and ensure smooth supply."

Sirsa clarified that the situation has remained completely normal over the past 22-25 days, with no signs of overbooking or shortage. "Domestic and commercial cylinders are being supplied on a priority basis in accordance with the Central Government's policy, ensuring that essential services, including hospitals, receive an uninterrupted supply."

Sirsa added, "With the festive season approaching, I want to assure the entire House that not even for a single day or a single hour will there be any shortage anywhere."

He further assured that any complaint received will be acted upon immediately by his office. The Delhi Government continues to maintain strict monitoring and is taking firm action against rumours.

The Petroleum Ministry on Wednesday said that the Centre is prioritising Piped Natural Gas (PNG), while noting that there is adequate petrol and diesel available and the fuel prices have not changed.

Addressing the Inter-Ministerial briefing, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, highlighted that the government is ensuring 100 per cent domestic PNG supply and has issued a notification, streamlined and time-bound framework for laying and expanding pipelines across the country, and developing the natural gas infrastructure.

The Centre has conducted 2700 raids and seized 2,000 cylinders amid black marketing and hoarding of LPG cylinders.

- ANI
French President Emmanuel Macron held talks with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian, demanding an immediate cessation of Iran's attacks against countries in the region. Macron emphasized the need to protect energy infrastructure and restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. He also called for Iran to engage sincerely in negotiations concerning its nuclear program and regional activities. Concurrently, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned Iran's attacks and discussed regional security with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince.

French President Macron calls on Iran to stop regional hostilities, secure navigation, and negotiate over nuclear program. UK's Starmer also condemns attacks.

Paris, March 25 French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday said that he held talks with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian and underlined the need to cease the hostilities and attacks on other countries in the region.

In a post on X, he said, "I met with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian. I reiterated the absolute necessity of putting an end to the unacceptable attacks against the countries of the region, of preserving energy and civilian infrastructure, and of restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz."

Macron called on Iran to engage in good faith in negotiations.

"I called on Iran to engage in good faith in negotiations, in order to open a path toward de-escalation and to provide a framework that allows for addressing the expectations of the international community regarding Iran's nuclear and ballistic program, as well as its regional destabilisation activities," he said.

"Finally, I urged Iran to allow the return to France of our compatriots Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris at the earliest possible time," he added.

Earlier in the day, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed the West Asia situation with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a Downing Street spokesperson told Al Jazeera.

Starmer reiterated support for Saudi Arabia amid the ongoing attacks across the region and updated the Saudi crown prince on the deployment of further UK defensive military equipment, the spokesperson said.

"Iran's ongoing attacks, including on critical national infrastructure, were appalling," Starmer said, as quoted by Al Jazeera.

"Following the UK-led joint statement last week, the UK was now working with partners on what a viable plan could look like to ensure the flow of goods through the key maritime route," Downing Street said, quoting Starmer, as per Al Jazeera.

Meanwhile, Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, has said his country is not part of alleged talks between the US and Iran that are speculated to be held later this week. Danon told UN reporters earlier in the day that the US, along with Israel, was continuing to hit "military targets in Iran, and we will continue to do that," as reported by Al Jazeera.

- ANI
The Maharashtra Legislature has adjourned its budget session, with officials announcing the next monsoon session will commence on June 22 in Mumbai. The concluded session was highly productive, resulting in the passage of 27 out of 29 tabled bills. Key legislation included bills on religious conversion regulation, amendments to criminal codes for acid attack and online harassment victims, and several reforms in higher education and local governance. Only one bill from the Home Department remains pending for the next session.

Maharashtra's monsoon legislative session begins June 22 in Mumbai. The recent budget session saw 27 key bills passed on education, security, and governance.

Mumbai, March 25 Both houses of the Maharashtra Legislature adjourned sine die on Wednesday after a month-long budget session.

Legislative Council Chairman Ram Shinde and Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar announced in their respective houses that the monsoon session of the state legislature will start from June 22 in Mumbai.

During the budget session, 27 key bills were passed across both houses. Out of a total of 29 bills tabled during the session, one was withdrawn, and one remains pending in the Legislative Council. 

The session's scorecard reflects a busy term for the state government, with a focus on education, revenue, and home affairs.

Among the 27 bills that received the nod from both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council, several stand out for their impact on state governance.

The Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026, which aims to regulate religious conversions, was passed despite heated debates.

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill, 2026, was cleared to include specific protections for acid attack victims and penalise online sexual harassment.

Several bills concerning public and private universities were passed, alongside the Maharashtra Self-Financed Schools (Amendment) Bill, signalling a major push in the higher education sector.

The Maharashtra Appropriation Bill and the Maharashtra Tax Settlement Bill were passed to facilitate the state's fiscal goals for the 2026-27 period. 

Amendments to the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti acts were approved, further decentralising administrative powers.

The Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was officially withdrawn by the government.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill, 2026, a crucial piece of legislation from the Home Department, remains the only bill pending, awaiting clearance from the Legislative Council.

Bills related to lifts, escalators, and partnership acts were updated to align with modern industrial standards. 

The Wildlife (Protection) (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill was passed to strengthen conservation efforts within the state.

- IANS
Malabar Gold & Diamonds has announced a Rs 200 crore Corporate Social Responsibility commitment for the 2026-27 financial year. The plan, unveiled in New Delhi in the presence of Union Minister Piyush Goyal, prioritizes education with Rs 114 crore allocated for scholarships and learning centres. Key initiatives include distributing scholarships to 33,000 girl students and expanding micro-learning centres for street children to 2,500 locations. Additional funds are designated for healthcare, housing, environmental protection, and the Hunger Free World project providing daily meals.

Malabar Gold & Diamonds pledges Rs 200 crore for CSR in FY27, focusing on education scholarships, healthcare, and hunger relief across India.

New Delhi, March 25 Malabar Gold & Diamonds announced a commitment of Rs 200 crore toward its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives for the financial year 2026-27. The retail jewellery group revealed the plan at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi on Wednesday in the presence of Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal.

During the event, the Union Minister inaugurated the distribution of educational scholarships intended for 33,000 girl students across India.

As per a press release, these projects will be implemented across more than 3,000 locations in 19 states. The group intends to cover 15 major initiatives that are expected to benefit over two lakh people.

Union Minister Goyal stated that "Malabar Gold & Diamonds' decision to allocate INR 200 crore towards CSR will further strengthen the nation's progress." He emphasized that the growth of India is rooted in the empowerment of its people, specifically women and girls, and recognized the company's efforts to bring change through education.

The financial allocation for the upcoming year prioritizes education, with Rs 114 crore dedicated to initiatives such as micro-learning centres for street children and national scholarship programmes. As part of the group's 33rd anniversary, scholarships will reach students in 284 districts across 18 states.

Malabar Group Chairman M.P. Ahammad highlighted that "human resource development is the backbone of national growth." He noted that nurturing talent through quality education is essential and explained that the scholarship programme enables students to achieve academic success and contribute to the development of the country.

Beyond education, the group earmarked Rs 30 crore for food distribution through the Hunger Free World project and Rs 14.2 crore for healthcare initiatives.

Housing projects, including the Grandma Home initiative for destitute mothers, received an allocation of Rs 25 crore.

Additionally, the plan included Rs 10 crore for environmental protection and Rs 6.8 crore for other humanitarian activities.

These efforts are managed through the Malabar Charitable Trust, which has historically allocated five per cent of the company's net trading profit to CSR activities.

The rehabilitation of street children remains a focal point, with the group establishing 1,543 micro-learning centres in 17 states in partnership with the Pratham Education Foundation. The group plans to increase the number of these centres to 2,500 this year, aiming to grow student enrolment from 64,000 to one lakh.

Under the Hunger Free World project, the group provides nutritious meals daily to 1,15,000 people across India, Zambia, and Ethiopia. Other ongoing efforts include Malabar-Thanal pharmacies, which offer subsidized medicines to the underprivileged.

The event saw attendance from Malabar Group Managing Director of India Operations Asher Ottamoochikkal, Executive Directors Nishad A.K. and Abdulla Ibrahim, and Kerala House Resident Commissioner Puneet Kumar.

Pratham CEO Rukmini Banerji and Thanal Chairman Idris also participated in the proceedings. The group maintains that its operations follow ESG principles, focusing on women empowerment, healthcare, and education to create a sustainable societal impact.

- ANI
By Mata Press Service

Ottawa is shrinking the department that runs Canadas immigration system, cutting newcomer supports, offloading more health costs onto refugee claimants, and winding down housing aid for cities sheltering asylum seekers.

The federal government says the changes are part of a move toward sustainable immigration levels and more efficient digital service. Critics say they amount to a major service rollback that could hit newcomers and municipalities hardest.

The numbers in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canadas 2026-27 departmental plan are stark.

IRCCs planned spending drops to about $4.42 billion in 2026-27, down from a $6.05 billion forecast in 2025-26. On the departments future-oriented statement of operations, total expenses fall from $7.07 billion to $5.42 billion, a year-over-year decline of roughly $1.64 billion.

The department is also getting smaller. IRCC projects 11,476 full-time staff in 2026-27, falling to 10,788 in 2027-28 and 10,036 in 2028-29. That is a drop of 1,440 positions, or 13 per cent, over three years. The departmental plan says the reduction is tied to the end of temporary funding, lower immigration targets, one-time initiatives winding down and personnel cuts linked to Ottawas spending review.

Inside that broader retrenchment is a separate belt-tightening exercise under the federal Comprehensive Expenditure Review. IRCC says those savings alone will total about $155 million in 2026-27, rising to $231.4 million in 2027-28 and $284.6 million in 2028-29, with an expected loss of about 318 full-time jobs by 2028-29.

The federal government is framing the shift as a smarter, more digital immigration system. IRCC says it will keep rolling out a single online account that gives clients one digital window for applications, support and real-time status updates. It also says it is streamlining internal services, using technology to improve productivity and reducing reliance on external consultants.

But the departments own plan shows that the changes go well beyond back-office efficiency. IRCC says it is readjusting the Settlement Program by limiting eligibility for some economic immigrants, while still supporting most recent arrivals. It is also adjusting the Interim Housing Assistance Program in line with lower asylum claimant volumes and introducing a co-payment model under the Interim Federal Health Program for supplemental products and services such as prescription medication and dental care.

In simple terms, that means some newcomers will face a leaner support system when they arrive, and some refugee claimants will be asked to pay part of costs that were previously more fully covered. For families trying to secure housing, work, language training, legal stability or urgent medical help, those changes could make an already difficult transition even harder.

That matters even more in immigrant-heavy communities where settlement agencies and local charities are already stretched states the, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives arguing the damage could be severe.

In its March analysis, the CCPA says the cuts are old-fashioned service cuts rather than a genuine efficiency drive. It says two fifths of IRCCs cut package is tied to health care for asylum seekers, a third falls on the Settlement Program, and a further 12 per cent comes from ending support for cities housing otherwise homeless asylum seekers. It warns that the staffing reductions come on top of earlier cuts that have already helped backlogs balloon again.

That backlog warning is particularly important. The CCPA says that by December 2025, none of the major IRCC application types were meeting backlog targets, compared with three that were under the standard a year earlier. It argues that reducing staff while leaning harder on automation will not fix that problem and may instead push more applicants into court challenges such as judicial review or mandamus applications to force decisions.

The settlement side may be one of the most consequential cuts for immigrant communities. The CCPA says the latest reductions come on top of previous rounds of cuts and amount to a roughly 30 per cent decline in support for newcomer integration, with Quebec shielded from some of the impact because of its separate accord with Ottawa. The report warns that slower integration means Canada risks selecting immigrants for their skills and then failing to give them the support needed to use those skills quickly in the economy.

The cut to asylum supports could hit cities just as hard. IRCCs plan confirms that funding for the Interim Housing Assistance Program is ending in 2026-27. The CCPA says large municipalities could be left carrying between $150 million and $250 million a year in housing costs for asylum seekers if federal support disappears. It says those costs will not vanish just because Ottawa stops paying them. They will be pushed downward onto cities, shelters and emergency systems already under intense pressure.

All of this is happening as Ottawa also moves to lower immigration inflows. Under the federal 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan, permanent resident targets are set at 380,000 a year for 2026, 2027 and 2028, while temporary resident arrival targets are set at 385,000 in 2026 and 370,000 in both 2027 and 2028. The government says those targets are meant to ease pressure on housing, health care and other services while still supporting economic needs.

Meanwhile, Ottawas cuts are arriving as public appetite for lower immigration appears to be growing. A new Nanos poll for Bloomberg News found that just over half of Canadians, 52 per cent, want Canada to accept fewer immigrants and temporary residents in 2027 than the levels planned for 2026. Only 9 per cent want higher intake, while 35 per cent favour keeping levels about the same. British Columbia stood out as less hawkish than the rest of the country, with only 37.2 per cent backing lower intake and 43.4 per cent preferring no change. The survey of 1,058 adults, conducted March 1 to 8, suggests the federal government may face less political pressure for service cuts than for lowering numbers, even as communities that rely on immigration continue to feel the fallout from a weaker support system.
The Malappuram District Collector has sought a report on whether a campaign offer by an IUML leader for a luxury Gulf trip to booth workers violates the Model Code of Conduct. The offer has intensified the electoral battle in Thavanur, a traditional Left stronghold, where Left-backed independent K.T. Jaleel is facing Congress leader V.S. Joy. Jaleel, a four-time sitting legislator, won by a narrow margin last time, while Joy's candidacy is energized by UDF's local body lead. The controversial incentive and the NDA's growing vote share make this one of the most closely watched contests.

Malappuram Collector seeks report on IUML leader's Gulf trip offer for booth workers, as Thavanur sees a fiery contest between K.T. Jaleel and V.S. Joy.

Malappurram, March 25 The District Collector of Malappuram, the top election authority in the district, on Wednesday has suo motu sought a report from officials monitoring the Model Code of Conduct on whether a controversial campaign offer by a senior leader of the Indian Union Muslim League amounts to a violation.

The move comes amid an intensifying electoral battle in Thavanur, where an unusual mix of high stakes politics and headline grabbing incentives has added a fresh twist to the campaign narrative.

Traditionally a Left stronghold, the constituency is witnessing an animated contest this time.

At the centre is Left supported independent former Minister and four-time sitting legislator K.T. Jaleel, 59, who shot to prominence as a giant killer in 2006 by defeating IUML heavyweight, P.K. Kunhalikutty from Kuttipuram.

Since then, Jaleel has secured three consecutive wins from Thavanur and is now seeking a fourth term, though the contest appears tighter than before.

Taking him on is Congress leader V.S. Joy, the Malappuram District Congress Committee president and a prominent Youth Congress face.

With the United Democratic Front (UDF) controlling all seven panchayats in the constituency and holding a notional lead of over 10,000 votes from local body polls, Joy's candidature has energised the Opposition camp.

The spark, however, has come from IUML leader, C.P. Bava Haji's, widely discussed offer, a 15 day luxury Gulf trip for booth level workers who secure the maximum lead for Joy.

While the promise has boosted morale among UDF workers prompting quips that "this time even booth agents may travel" it has also drawn the attention of election authorities.

For Jaleel, backed by the Left Democratic Front despite internal murmurs, the challenge is significant.

His narrow victory margin of under 2,200 votes last time underscores the stakes.

Meanwhile, the National Democratic Alliance is looking to leverage its growing vote share, adding another layer of unpredictability.

As scrutiny over the "Gulf offer" intensifies, Thavanur's battle is no longer just political, it now carries regulatory overtones, making it one of the most closely watched contests this election.

- IANS
The Telangana Petroleum Dealers Association has issued a clarification stating there is no shortage of petrol or diesel and that supply chains are operating normally. It attributes recent long queues at pumps to panic buying triggered by false news, which spiked sales to 2.5-3 times usual levels. The association warns the public against storing fuel in unauthorized containers due to serious safety risks and violations of PESO norms. Oil marketing companies have also confirmed stable fuel supplies nationwide, dismissing scarcity rumors as unfounded.

Telangana Petroleum Dealers Association clarifies adequate fuel stocks are available, urges public to avoid panic buying and ignore false rumors.

Hyderabad, March 25 The Telangana Petroleum Dealers Association on Wednesday issued a clarification dismissing rumours of a fuel shortage, urging the public not to panic or engage in unnecessary bulk purchases.

In a press note dated March 25, the association stated that there is no shortage of petrol or diesel, and that adequate stocks are available with oil marketing companies such as HPCL, IOCL and BPCL. It further assured that fuel supply chains are functioning normally.

The TPDA said recent panic buying triggered by "false and misleading news" has led to an abnormal surge in sales, nearly 2.5 to 3 times the usual levels, causing temporary stock-outs at some retail outlets.

Advising citizens to act responsibly, the association urged people to avoid panic buying, purchase fuel only as per regular needs, and to refrain from storing fuel in unauthorised containers, as it is against PESO norms and also poses risks.

The clarification comes amid reports of long queues at petrol pumps in several cities, largely driven by misinformation, even as authorities and dealer bodies across regions have reiterated that fuel availability remains stable.

The association also warned that improper storage of fuel can lead to serious hazards, including fire accidents, and is not permitted under safety regulations.

Officials and industry bodies continue to appeal to the public to rely on verified information and avoid spreading rumours that could disrupt normal supply conditions.

Earlier today, leading Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) clarified that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel, or LPG across the country, dismissing recent rumours of scarcity as "completely unfounded."

In official statements issued to the public, OMCs confirmed that fuel supplies remain stable and that adequate stocks are currently available to meet national demand without any disruption.

The ongoing West Asia conflict has intensified concerns over global energy security, with supply bottlenecks and damaged infrastructure continuing to disrupt markets.

- ANI
Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, has stated he is unaware of any Israeli participation in potential peace talks involving Iran and the United States. He emphasized that military operations targeting Iranian facilities are ongoing with the goal of preventing Iran from gaining nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities. Danon accused the Iranian regime of being a source of regional chaos, contrasting it with Israel's role as a stabilizing force. Meanwhile, the US President has indicated that negotiations with Iran are happening and suggested the conflict is nearing its end, a claim Iran has officially denied.

Israel's UN envoy denies knowledge of US-led peace talks with Iran, vows to continue military strikes to prevent Iranian nuclear capability.

New York, March 25 Israel's Envoy to the United Nations Danny Danon has denied any knowledge of possible peace talks between Iran, the United States and Israel.

Addressing a media stakeout at the United Nations on Tuesday (local time) he said the goal was to ensure that Iran did not gain nuclear capability.

"I'm not familiar with our participation in such talks. It's important to note that we continue with the operation. As we speak, Israel and the US, we continue to target military targets in Iran. We'll continue to do that. Now, when you speak about negotiations, we know that at the end of any operation or conflict, you have to go to diplomacy. And we will make sure that the outcome will be that Iran will not have the nuclear capability, will not have the ballistic missiles capability, and that we will achieve the goals that we put forward only a month ago. I think we accomplished a lot. I'm not sure that the Iranians realize that, but we accomplished a lot. We have weakened the regime. But we have to make sure that we don't create the condition for them to go back to where they were. We want to create a different reality on the ground," he said.

The Israeli envoy claimed that Israel had always advocated for peace in the region while the Islamic regime was the opposite.

"One should ask himself about every nation: who is bringing stabilization to the area, and who is bringing chaos? Israel is a stabilizing force in the region. We want peace. Allow me to answer that. We sign peace treaties, we promote peace, we pray for peace. When you look at the Iranian regime, they are doing exactly the opposite. They have attacked 13 countries in one month. You know, Israel exists for 77 years. We never had war with 13 countries combined. So today you understand that Iran is a problem for instability and Israel is a source for peace and stability. Thank you," Danon said.

Earlier, addressing the UN Security Council, Dannon accused the Iranian regime of backing terror elements like Hamas.

"The Iranian regime armed proxies like Hamas, funded terror, and prepared for this moment. And now we are dismantling it. Together with our American allies, Israel has carried out over 8,500 strikes targeting missile launchers, weapons production facilities, and command centres. We have destroyed key elements of the regime's command structure. We have eliminated the figures driving this aggression," he said.

"Now they are trying to blackmail the international community. It will not work, and we cannot allow it to work. Today, these missiles carry conventional warheads. Imagine what they could do if they had nuclear ones. There is a cost to this operation: for Israelis, for our neighbours across the Gulf, and for the Iranian people. It is not a cost we ignore, but it is a cost we cannot afford to avoid because the threat we are facing is existential. For weeks, Israelis have lived in and out from bomb shelters, day after day, under Iranian missile fire. Just this weekend, Iranian missiles struck civilian areas in Arad and Dimona. This is the intent of the regime: to cause bloodshed, to kill, and to destroy our people," he added.

The Israeli envoy's remarks came even as US President signalled that peace overtures were being made with Iran and that the war was coming to an end.

"We're in negotiations right now. I can tell you, they'd like to make a deal and who wouldn't if you were there? Look, their navy's gone, their air force is gone, their communications are gone. pretty much everything they have is gone. I think we are going to end it. I cannot tell you for sure. We have won this... We literally have planes flying over Tehran and other parts of their country. They can't do a thing about it. For instance, if I want to take down that power plant, they can't do a thing about it... They are totally defeated... Militarily, they are dead," he said.

There has however been no formal response from the Iranian side to the latest overture from Trump. The Iranians on Tuesday had denied reports of any negotiations with the US claiming that peace would only be achieved once US-Israel stopped its campaign. With the Iranian military taking a belligerent stand even as it launched wave 80 of its retaliatory strikes, peace remains elusive in West Asia.

- ANI
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has assured the public there is no shortage of petrol, diesel, or LPG in the state. He cited clarifications from the central government confirming no disruption in national fuel supply. Sarma strongly urged people not to engage in panic buying or excessive stocking, warning it could create artificial scarcity. State authorities are monitoring the situation and coordinating with oil companies to ensure uninterrupted availability.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma assures adequate fuel supply, urges public not to panic-buy. Government monitoring situation with oil companies.

Guwahati, March 25 Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday assured that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel or LPG in the state and urged people not to panic-buy. 

Speaking to reporters here, Sarma said that fuel supplies remain adequate and there is no cause for public concern. 

"There is sufficient availability of petrol, diesel and LPG in Assam. There is no fear of any shortage," he said. 

The Chief Minister further added that the Government of India has also clarified the situation during an all-party meeting, reiterating that there is no disruption in fuel supply across the country. 

"Even in the all-party meeting, the Centre has clearly stated that there is no shortage of petrol and diesel," Sarma noted. 

Appealing to citizens to act responsibly, Sarma cautioned against unnecessary fuel stocking, which could create artificial scarcity in the market. 

"I would request people not to rush to fuel stations and not to stock petrol and diesel excessively," he said. 

According to officials, supply chains for petroleum products in Assam and the Northeast remain stable, and oil companies are continuing regular distribution without interruption. 

Sarma's remarks come amid concerns in some quarters over fuel availability, which led to increased demand at petrol pumps in certain areas. However, authorities have maintained that there is no disruption in supply logistics. 

The state government is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with oil marketing companies to ensure the uninterrupted availability of fuel across Assam. 

Officials also warned that panic buying could temporarily strain local supply, despite adequate stock at the macro level. 

Reiterating his appeal, the Chief Minister urged people to remain calm and avoid spreading rumours, emphasising that there is no need to worry about fuel availability in the state. 

- IANS
The nomination papers of 776 candidates have been found valid for 124 of the 126 assembly constituencies in Assam after scrutiny. Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi filed his nomination from the Jorhat constituency, paying tribute to his late father, former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. The elections will see a direct contest between the BJP-led NDA government, seeking a third term under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and the Congress. Polling is scheduled for April 9, with vote counting on May 4.

Scrutiny clears 776 candidates for 124 Assam seats. Congress's Gaurav Gogoi files nomination. Polling on April 9 for 126-seat assembly.

Guwahati, March 25 The nomination papers of 776 candidates were found valid for 124 assembly constituencies in Assam following a state-wide scrutiny process conducted, officials said. According to the Joint Chief Electoral Officer of Assam, the evaluation of papers for the two remaining seats, Barpeta and Dhekiajul has been deferred to Wednesday morning.

According to the Joint Chief Electoral Officer of Assam, the scrutiny of nomination papers for the General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Assam, 2026, was conducted. However, out of 126 constituencies, scrutiny has been concluded for 124 constituencies. Scrutiny for 24 Barpeta SC and 65 Dhekiajuli are adjourned till 11 am, 25th March 2026. The nominations of 776 candidates of 124 constituencies have been found valid. A total of 815 candidates had filed 1389 nominations for the General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Assam, 2026

The last date for withdrawal of candidature is March 26, 2026 upto 3 pm.

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.

Meanwhile, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President Gaurav Gogoi filed his nomination as the Indian National Congress candidate, supported by alliance partners, from the 100 No. Jorhat Legislative Assembly Constituency.

Accompanied by supporters, he held a grand rally at the office of the Jorhat Deputy Commissioner to submit his nomination papers, according to a release. Before filing his nomination, Gogoi paid tribute at his residence in Jorhat to his father, former Chief Minister of Assam, the late Tarun Gogoi, and his grandparents, and reaffirmed his commitment to follow their ideals, principles, and path of public service. Carrying the message of communal harmony, unity, and humanity, he also visited a gurdwara, temple, namghar, mosque, and church in Jorhat to seek blessings.

Polling for Assam elections will be held in a single phase on April 9, while the counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

Assam will witness a fight between the BJP-led NDA government and Congress for the 126-seat assembly, where the BJP government, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, will look to secure a third consecutive term.

- ANI
India's leading Oil Marketing Companies have issued official statements dismissing rumours of a fuel shortage as completely unfounded. Bharat Petroleum, Hindustan Petroleum, and Indian Oil have all confirmed that supplies of petrol, diesel, and LPG remain stable with adequate national stocks. The companies have assured citizens that supply chains are operating without disruption and have strongly advised against panic buying. These clarifications come amid heightened global energy security concerns due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

Leading OMCs BPCL, HPCL, and IOCL confirm stable petrol, diesel, and LPG supply, advising citizens against panic buying amid rumours.

New Delhi, March 25 Leading Oil Marketing Companies clarified on Wednesday that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel, or LPG across the country, dismissing recent rumours of scarcity as "completely unfounded."

In official statements issued to the public, OMCs confirmed that fuel supplies remain stable and that adequate stocks are currently available to meet national demand without any disruption.

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) said, "Important Information for All Citizens. Rumours about petrol and diesel shortages in certain areas are completely unfounded. There is no shortage of fuel across the nation. India is a net exporter of petrol and diesel. We have adequate stocks of crude oil, petrol, diesel, and ATF. Supply chains are operating smoothly without any disruption. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited is fully operational and committed to ensuring uninterrupted fuel supply. Citizens are advised not to panic or engage in unnecessary buying. Fuel availability remains stable and sufficient."

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) echoed these sentiments in its own communication, assuring customers that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel, or LPG across the country.

"Dear Customers, There is no shortage of petrol, diesel, or LPG across the country. Fuel supplies remain stable, and adequate stocks are available. Customers are advised not to be misled by rumours or resort to panic buying. Please continue with normal consumption patterns. HPCL remains committed to ensuring an uninterrupted and seamless fuel supply across its network," HPCL said.

To further demonstrate the stability of the supply chain, Indian Oil provided real-time updates from its retail facilities, highlighting the situation at its COCO Maradu outlet.

"Our Retail Outlet COCO Maradu, Kochi at 09:30 AM Today. No Rush! No Panic! Everything is operating smoothly. We remain fully committed and available to serve you at all times," IOCL stated.

The ongoing West Asia conflict has intensified concerns over global energy security, with supply bottlenecks and damaged infrastructure continuing to disrupt markets.

- ANI
The Indian government convened an all-party meeting to brief opposition and allied parties on the escalating conflict in West Asia. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju stated the meeting was productive, with the government providing comprehensive information and addressing queries on issues like energy security. Opposition leaders participated actively and expressed satisfaction with the government's efforts, notably regarding the security of petroleum supplies. The meeting concluded with a reinforced message of national unity, though the Trinamool Congress was the only major party that did not attend.

After a detailed govt briefing on the West Asia conflict, opposition parties stand united with the government on national security and energy supply concerns.

New Delhi, March 25 In a significant demonstration of political consensus amid rising tensions in West Asia, the government convened an all-party meeting on Wednesday to brief opposition and allied parties about the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, speaking to reporters after the session, described the discussions as detailed and productive, highlighting the unity displayed by parties across the political spectrum.

Rijiju stated that the government provided comprehensive information regarding the crisis and addressed queries raised by opposition members. "Today, by calling an all-party meeting, the government held a detailed discussion with the opposition and all allied parties, providing information about the crisis in West Asia. I want to thank all party leaders; everyone attended and actively participated," he said. According to him, the party leaders shared their perspectives on behalf of their parties and voiced concerns about the escalating conflict in the region.

Rijiju also underlined that the session allowed the government to provide detailed clarifications on strategic issues, such as the security of energy supplies. "Many members wanted to know the details of the gas and petroleum supply through the Strait of Hormuz. And they all were satisfied that India has secured four ships already. So the opposition members were satisfied with the effort made by the government," he said.

Addressing the overall outcome of the meeting, Rijiju said it reinforced the message of national unity. "I believe that after the detailed information and answers provided by the government in today's all-party meeting, even the opposition will stand united during such a crisis. The Prime Minister has appealed that the entire country should remain united, and the message of unity should be conveyed from the Parliament," he added.

Rijiju noted that discussions were extensive, covering both government responses and opposition suggestions. "I have heard in detail all the suggestions made by the opposition party, and from the government side, all the queries and all the confusion, whatever was there, all were clearly explained by the government. The opposition party at the end of the meeting stated, which is very important, that they thank the government for calling this all-party meeting, and they also asserted that in such a difficult, challenging situation, we will all have to stand together," he said.

The Minister confirmed that representatives from all major political parties participated in the meeting, except for the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which did not attend. "Only the TMC party did not participate. I was informed, and when I inquired twice, they said they would not join the meeting because they were going elsewhere. All other political parties, including major opposition and ruling parties, participated in the all-party meeting," he said.

The all-party consultation comes amid heightened concerns over the West Asia conflict, with India closely monitoring developments that could impact energy supplies, trade, and the safety of Indian citizens in the region.

- IANS
Pakistan's military establishment, led by Army Chief Asim Munir, is employing hardline Sunni proxy groups to counter pro-Iran Shia mobilisation within the country. This strategy provides plausible deniability, allowing Pakistan to maintain its official neutrality as it attempts to mediate between Iran and the United States. The banned Sipah-e-Sahaba (SeS) and Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) have been given a free hand to instigate violence against Shia protesters. This calculated move aims to crush dissent without directly implicating the state, thereby protecting Pakistan's ambitions for geopolitical relevance.

Pakistan's army chief deploys banned Sunni groups to suppress pro-Iran Shia protests, aiming to maintain neutrality for Iran-US mediation.

New Delhi, March 25 For Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, countering the pro-Iran Shia mobilisation in the country is increasingly becoming a headache. For Pakistan, countering this mobilisation is important as it is threatening to become bigger. However, the dilemma the establishment faces is that it cannot use its official machinery to take on the mobilisation of the Shias.

Pakistan has chosen to mediate between Iran and the United States, and hence it needs to remain neutral. Any direct action against the Shia mobilisation would infuriate Iran, and this is something that Islamabad wants to avoid.

An official said that Pakistan has now brought back its proxies to take on this problem. The Pakistan Army chief has ordered hardline Sunni elements and leaders from the Sipah-e-Sabah (SeS) and Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) to take on the Shias who are mobilising in large numbers in support of Iran. These groups have, in the past, come to the rescue of the Pakistan establishment. When it comes to countering protesters who were seeking justice for jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, it was these elements who took to the streets.

The members of the SeS and JuD have the backing of the army and ISI and have been given a free hand to indulge in street violence against those who are questioning the establishment, an official said.

The SeS is a banned Sunni Deobandi Islamist organisation and a former political party that was founded in 1985. This outfit came into existence only to oppose Shia influence in Pakistan. The SeS has a history of being involved in sectarian conflicts, including violence with the Shia organisation, Shipah-e-Muhammad, Pakistan.

The JuD, on the other hand, is the charity wing of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. The JuD follows the Ahl-i Hadith interpretation of Islam, which is similar to Wahhabism and Salafism.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that by involving the SeS and JuD, the Pakistan army chief would look to put down the mobilisation of the Shia. Since these groups have no accountability, the violence would not be blamed on the state, but on two individual organisations. This helps in the deniability factor, when Pakistan speaks with Iran, the official added.

Such violence will no doubt be scrutinised internationally and by foreign Intelligence agencies. The establishment would, however, try to get away by putting the blame on the SeS and JuD, while stating that it has nothing to do with them.

Another official said that both groups have been given immunity by the establishment. This means that they can choose to act the way they please.

Another official said that with such a plan in place, one could anticipate street violence and bloody clashes with the Shias in Pakistan.

By trying to mediate between Iran and the US, Pakistan wants to place itself in a position of power. Pakistan also wants to claim geopolitical relevance by offering to mediate between the two warring nations.

Field Marshal Asim Munir has taken this task upon himself and has been engaging directly with Iranian President Masood Pezeshkian. He has also been leveraging his relations with some of the Gulf nations and the US.

With Pakistan wanting geopolitical relevance, it cannot afford to officially crush the mobilisation that is taking place in support of Iran. If Pakistan ends up angering Iran at this juncture, then Tehran may not come to the table. This would hurt Pakistan's ambitions of playing mediator and reclaiming geopolitical importance, another official said.

The JuD and the SeS have readily accepted what the Pakistan army chief has said, as they have done in the past. Officials say that both these outfits have had an agenda against the Shias for a long time, and hence the offer made by Field Marshal Munir is more than welcome for them.

- IANS
India's Ministry of External Affairs has firmly rejected Pakistan's statement in support of convicted Kashmiri separatist leader Aasiya Andrabi. MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated Pakistan has "no locus standi" to comment on India's internal matters or judicial processes. The response came after a National Investigation Agency court sentenced Andrabi to life imprisonment for terror conspiracy and waging war against the state. India urged Pakistan to introspect on its own human rights violations and dismantle its terror infrastructure instead of issuing provocative remarks.

MEA dismisses Pakistan's statement on Aasiya Andrabi's life sentence, asserting it has "no locus standi" on India's internal judicial matters.

New Delhi, March 25 India on Wednesday dismissed Pakistan's recent remarks in support of Kashmiri separatist leader Aasiya Andrabi, who was recently sentenced to life imprisonment by a National Investigation Agency court in New Delhi.

India slammed Pakistan, urging it to stop "false narratives" and address its own human rights issues.

In response to media queries regarding a statement made by Pakistan in support of the banned terrorist organisation, the MEA spokesperson asserted that Islamabad has "no locus standi" to comment on India's internal matters.

"Instead of peddling lies and frivolous narratives, Pakistan should introspect on the grave and systematic human rights violations it continues to perpetrate", MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

"We categorically reject the statement issued by Pakistan in support of a banned terrorist organization and its members. Pakistan has no locus standi to comment on matters internal to India or its judicial processes," Jaiswal said.

Andrabi is the alleged chief of the proscribed women's pro-separatist outfit Dukhtaran-e-Millat. This group is allegedly part of the separatist organisation 'All Parties Hurriyat Conference' in the Kashmir valley, and the Government of India has declared it as a "banned terrorist organisation."

The MEA spokesperson noted that such provocative remarks from Islamabad were expected, given its history of providing a safe haven to extremist elements. He remarked that one is not surprised that a country, "which has long been sponsoring terrorism," has come up with such a statement "condoning violence and killing of innocent people."

India has repeatedly called on Pakistan to dismantle its terror infrastructure and end all support for cross-border activities, reiterating that judicial processes against terror-linked individuals are strictly internal to India.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in New Delhi on Tuesday awarded a life sentence to Kashmiri separatist Aasiya Andrabi and a 30-year jail term to her two associates, Sofi Fehmida and Nahida Nasreen, in a terror case lodged by the NIA.

Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Chander Jit Singh awarded the sentence to three convicts for different offences proved against them.Aasiya Andrabi is sentenced to life imprisonment for offence of Terror Conspiracy under section 18 Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and criminal Conspiracy under section 120 B IPC each.

She was sentenced to life imprisonment for the offence of Conspiracy for waging war against India under section 121 A IPC, she is also sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for the offence of being members or associated with terror organisation under section 38 and for the offence of supporting a terror organisation under section 39 of UAPA each.

Andrabi was further sentenced to 5-year imprisonment for the offence of promoting enmity between group of people under sections 153 A, for the offence of causing disharmony among the groups of people based on religion, caste etc. under section 153 B and for the offence of statements conducing to public mischief under section 505 IPC each.A fine of Rs. 8 lakh is imposed on her as well.

The court also sentenced Naheeda Nasrin and Sofi Fehmida to 30 year imprisonment for the offence under section 18 of UAPA and 120 B IPC, they are also sentenced for 10 year imprisonment for the offence of 38, 39 UAPA each, they are further sentenced for 4 year Imprisonment for the offences under section 153A, 153 B and 505 of IPC each, they are also sentenced to 10 year Imprisonment for the offence under section 121 A. The court has also imposed a fine of Rs 7 lakh on each Convict.The court had held them guilty on January 14, 2026, for the offences.

Andrabi was arrested in 2018. NIA had invoked charges against her under sections relating to waging war against the State, promoting enmity between communities, and terror conspiracy under the UAPA.

- ANI
Former Union Minister MJ Akbar has sharply dismissed Pakistan's offer to mediate in the West Asia conflict, describing Islamabad as merely a "postman" or "courier" for the United States. He asserted that the real negotiations are between emissaries of Donald Trump and Iran, with Pakistan being used due to its history as a "loyal American voice." In contrast, Akbar emphasized India's position as a proud nation with strategic autonomy, an equal to America, not a subservient ally. The comments come as Iran insists any ceasefire will only be on its own terms, despite reported US diplomatic efforts.

Former Union Minister MJ Akbar dismisses Pakistan's mediation offer in Israel-Iran conflict, calling it a loyal American "courier" while highlighting India's strategic autonomy.

New Delhi, March 25 Amid efforts by Pakistan to pitch itself as a mediator in the war between Israel-US and Iran, former Union Minister MJ Akbar has said that Islamabad "is not a mediator, only a postman, only a courier" and that Americans are comfortable with Pakistan "because it has always been a loyal American voice".

In an interview with ANI, MJ Akbar said that the United States considers Pakistan "a subservient ally" whereas India is a proud nation with strategic autonomy, "with our own viewpoint, with our own policy" and "we are equals of America".

"I think it's extremely important to remember that Pakistan is not a mediator. Pakistan is only a postman. Pakistan is only a courier. The real negotiation is being done between emissaries of Donald Trump and the Iranians. Everybody else is a cutout. In terms of using Pakistan, the Americans are comfortable with Pakistan because Pakistan has always been a loyal American voice," he said.

He was asked about Pakistan positioning itself as a mediator between the US-Israel's war against Iran.

MJ Akbar, who is also a noted author, said there "is no love-hate relationship when it comes to the Pentagon and the Pakistani army".

"The deal was signed in 1954. The deal was made three years before that, when Pakistan agreed to allow America unilateral use of Pakistan territory as a base. That base is still being used by America. So America considers Pakistan a subservient ally. We are equals of America. That is the difference," he said.

"We are a proud nation with strategic autonomy, with our own viewpoint, with our own policy. We are friends of America, but that doesn't mean we agree with America on every issue, nor does it mean that we are stenographers who will take dictation from any superpower," he added.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a post on X, had offered to host talks for ending war between Israel-US and Iran.

"Pakistan welcomes and fully supports ongoing efforts to pursue dialogue to end the WAR in Middle East, in the interest of peace and stability in region and beyond. Subject to concurrence by the US and Iran, Pakistan stands ready and honoured to be the host to facilitate meaningful and conclusive talks for a comprehensive settlement of the ongoing conflict," he had said in a post on X.

Iran has responded negatively to an American proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict insisting that any cessation of hostilities will only occur on Tehran's "own terms and timeline," a senior political-security official told state broadcaster Press TV on Wednesday.

Iran said it will end the war when it decides to do so and "when its own conditions are met," the official told Press TV emphasizing Tehran's resolve to continue its defence and inflict "heavy blows" on the enemy until its demands are fulfilled.

Israel's media reported earlier that US President Trump and his administration have 15 conditions for Iran as its terms for ending the current conflict.

According to Israel's Channel 12, citing an unnamed official in the US, Washington has also informed Jerusalem of its negotiations.

However, the report said that Jerusalem is concerned that Trump and his team want to push for "a framework agreement" with Iran, rather than insisting on these demands as a condition for halting the war.

The conflict between Israel and the US on one side and Iran on the other started on February 28. The war, which has entered its fourth week has caused disruptions in energy supply chains, and raised global concerns.

- ANI
Commentary

By Sylvain Charlebois

Lets talk about the carbon tax.

Last year, Prime Minister Mark Carney reduced the consumer portion of the carbon tax to zero. That left many Canadians with the impression that carbon pricing had disappeared. It has not.

The industrial carbon price remains in place. And an increase from $95 per tonne to $110 per tonne scheduled for April 1 will raise the cost of transporting food across Canadas supply chain.

On top of that, global energy markets are once again facing geopolitical uncertainty. With tensions in the Middle East and disruptions to oil supplies, higher fuel costs appear increasingly likely unless the current conflict de-escalates quickly.

At the start of Russias illegal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Canadas carbon price stood at $40 per tonne. For a truck hauling food between Toronto and Montreal once a week, the additional carbon-tax burden amounted to roughly $2,000 per year, costs that pass through the supply chain to consumers.

On April 1, the carbon price will more than double what it was when the Ukraine war began. For that same weekly Toronto to Montreal route, the additional carbon-tax cost alone rises to roughly $6,000 per year compared with 2018.

Canada likely sees 800 to 1,200 long-haul food truck trips each day, many covering distances of roughly 1,000 kilometres. At a carbon price of $110 per tonne, the diesel tax component alone represents approximately $34 million to $52 million per year in additional costs across those shipments, built into the price of food by the time it reaches store shelves.

This estimate excludes additional costs such as clean fuel regulations, refrigeration units, empty backhauls, secondary distribution routes and warehousing operations. Food distribution depends heavily on transportation and refrigeration, both of which are energy-intensive, so these additional costs compound quickly.

In a country as large as Canada, regions located far from major population centres, such as the Prairies or Atlantic Canada, face higher transportation costs. Distance already makes food logistics expensive, and added policy costs compound the challenge.

By the time food reaches a distribution centre, its price already reflects higher costs at earlier stages, from farming to processing to transportation.

Some industry observers have described carbon pricing in food logistics as a silent killer of competitiveness, and the description fits. Canadas vast geography and relatively small population already make it a challenging market for food distribution. Adding further cost pressures does little to attract investment in grocery retail and food distribution infrastructure.

If Ottawa genuinely wants to help the food supply chain cope with rising energy costs, it should at least consider pausing the scheduled April 1 increase or examining whether parts of the food system should receive temporary relief.

When it comes to food, the stakes are too high to ignore the consequences, which are already visible in higher food costs across the country.

Research from the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University has repeatedly shown that carbon pricing can disproportionately affect lower-income households through higher food and energy costs. Yet when the carbon tax was first implemented in 2018, Ottawa conducted little analysis of how the policy might influence food affordability.

Eight years later, Canadians are paying the price in real time.

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is senior director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University and co-host of The Food Professor Podcast.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed strong confidence in the UDF's prospects for the upcoming Kerala elections, framing the contest as a direct battle against the incumbent LDF. He criticized the LDF government's decade-long rule as "misgovernance" and dismissed the BJP as irrelevant in the state's political landscape. Tharoor also reiterated his support for the women's reservation bill, noting the poor representation of women across all major parties in the current election. The elections are scheduled for April 9, with the LDF seeking a historic third consecutive term.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expresses optimism for UDF in Kerala polls, criticizes LDF's decade-long governance and highlights women's representation issue.

Thiruvananthapuram, March 25 Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday expressed confidence ahead of the Kerala elections, stating that the contest in the state remains primarily between the UDF and the LDF.

"I am very optimistic. Don't forget that the BJP is a zero-seat party in Kerala. The real contest is between UDF and LDF. We have good and experienced candidates, as well as some fresh faces. Together, we are going to bring about change. People are tired of 10 years of misgovernance by the LDF, and the BJP is not the answer because they don't have the capacity. The answer lies in overthrowing the LDF," Tharoor said.

On the issue of women's representation in politics, Tharoor reiterated his support for the women's reservation bill, highlighting the challenges women face in securing adequate political representation.

"I have been a strong supporter of the women's reservation bill because in politics it has been difficult for women to get the kind of breakthrough they deserve. Even in this election, no party has given women a significant percentage of the seats. We have only 10 per cent, and the BJP has only 11-12 per cent. We need to have a reservation to give guaranteed representation," he added.

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.

Both the BJP-led NDA and Congress-led UDF seek to unseat the incumbent Communist Party of India (Marxist)-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
Opposition MPs have welcomed the government's call for an all-party meeting on the West Asia crisis but insist Prime Minister Narendra Modi should personally brief the attendees. Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka emphasized the need for a direct briefing from the PM, while Samajwadi Party's Ram Gopal Yadav pointed out the short notice given for the meeting. In contrast, BJP MP Shashank Mani Tripathi praised the government's approach and highlighted PM Modi's earlier parliamentary address on national unity. The meeting, to be chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with a briefing from EAM S. Jaishankar, follows the Prime Minister's characterization of the situation as an "unprecedented crisis."

Opposition MPs demand PM Modi personally brief the all-party meeting on the West Asia crisis, raising concerns over timing and format ahead of key talks.

New Delhi, March 25 Political leaders from across the spectrum reacted strongly on Wednesday ahead of the all-party meeting convened to discuss the ongoing West Asia crisis, with several welcoming the initiative but raising concerns over its timing and format.

Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka welcomed the government's move but emphasised the need for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address all party leaders directly.

"The proposal for an all-party meeting is a positive step. But it is crucial that Prime Minister Modi personally briefs everyone about the situation in West Asia and India's role in resolving it," he told IANS.

Ulaka's statement reflects a broader sentiment in the Opposition that the meeting should not be a routine briefing but a platform for full discussion.

From the Samajwadi Party, MP Ram Gopal Yadav highlighted concerns about the short notice.

"The meeting was called for 5 PM today, with notice sent just yesterday. From the Samajwadi Party, our leaders Javed Ali Khan and Dharmendra Yadav have been invited," he said, signalling the party's readiness to participate but also underscoring the need for proper preparation.

BJP MP, Shashank Mani Tripathi, praised the government's approach and Prime Minister Modi's earlier statements in Parliament.

"The day before yesterday, Prime Minister Modi addressed the Lok Sabha to inform the nation. He made it clear that we must act together to navigate this crisis," he said, highlighting the ruling party's focus on national unity amid the conflict.

Leaders from different parties reacted in line with their political positions: Opposition MPs stressed on transparency and a full debate, while ruling party MPs emphasised the need for coordinated action and support for the government's response.

The all-party meeting is scheduled for 5 P.M., inside the Parliament complex today.

It will be chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expected to brief leaders on the latest developments and India's diplomatic stance.

The meeting follows Prime Minister Modi's statements in both Houses of Parliament, where he described the West Asia situation as an "unprecedented crisis" with potential long-term implications.

- IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump held a telephonic conversation discussing the West Asia crisis and the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz. The BJP has termed the dialogue a positive step, expressing optimism for a pause and eventual end to the conflict. Opposition leaders, however, have demanded that details of the conversation be shared in Parliament and criticized India for not taking a more proactive mediating role. The call occurred amidst heightened regional tensions following retaliatory strikes between Iran, the US, and Israel.

BJP calls PM Modi's call with President Trump a positive step for peace in West Asia. Opposition demands transparency. Details inside.

New Delhi, March 25 As Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump held a telephonic conversation on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing situation in West Asia and the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, the BJP on Wednesday termed the move a 'positive step' and expressed hope that peace would prevail soon.

Opposition leaders demanded that the details of the conversation be shared in Parliament.

Speaking to IANS, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said he believes the discussion between the two leaders focussed on the prevailing conflict and the need to de-escalate tensions. He noted that there are indications the war could be paused and may come to an end soon.

"The role of Prime Minister Modi has always been to ensure peace and prevent war. The ongoing conflict has led to global challenges, including rising diesel and petrol prices. The entire world is suffering losses because of this situation. India's position is clear - the war should stop," Athawale said.

He added that the dialogue between the two leaders was a constructive development.

"A solution must be found. President Trump speaking with Prime Minister Modi is a good step, and there will be peace soon," he told IANS.

BJP MP Shashank Mani Tripathi also expressed optimism, stating that there is hope for a pause in the conflict. He said that Prime Minister Modi has been actively engaging with leaders from West Asian countries and exploring ways to facilitate peace.

"Prime Minister Modi has spoken with several heads of state in the Middle East to understand how India can contribute to peace efforts and use its influence constructively," Tripathi said.

Meanwhile, Opposition parties questioned the government's approach and called for greater transparency.

Samajwadi Party MP, Ram Gopal Yadav, said that countries like Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey are already playing mediating roles, and India should have taken a more proactive position.

"As the world's largest democracy, India could have played a significant mediating role. The Prime Minister shares strong relations with global leaders, and his intervention could have carried weight. The details of his conversation with President Trump should be shared with Parliament and the people," Yadav said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP, Sanjay Raut took a critical stance, saying, "If President Trump had understood diplomacy, the situation would not have escalated into war. The United States appears to be facing setbacks, which is why there is now urgency in its response."

The conversation between the two leaders came amid escalating tensions in West Asia following the February 28 strikes by the US and Israel on Iran.

The strikes reportedly resulted in the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In retaliation, Iran launched drone and missile attacks targeting US and Israeli facilities, regional capitals, and allied forces, intensifying the conflict across the region.

- IANS
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed veteran diplomat Jean Arnault as his personal envoy to support mediation efforts to end the Iran war, now in its fourth week. The diplomatic picture remains murky, with the US claiming negotiations are underway while Iran denies any talks are taking place. Amid these efforts, military escalation continues with Israeli attacks on Iran and Iranian retaliatory strikes on Gulf countries. Guterres warned of the conflict's devastating impact on civilians, the global economy, and the risk of a wider regional war.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appoints a personal envoy to support mediation in the Iran conflict, amid escalating attacks and stalled US talks.

United Nations, March 25 UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres raised his diplomacy to end the Iran War, appointing a personal representative on Wednesday to support the mediation efforts.

Guterres said he was hopeful that despite the differing positions of the sides in the conflict, "there will be a way in which they can come to an understanding to end this horrible conflict".

The picture of diplomacy to end the conflict, now in its fourth week, is murky.

US President Donald Trump has asserted that negotiations were on with Iran and were making headway, but Tehran has denied any talks were taking place, and its military said the US was "negotiating with itself".

Washington is reported to have sent through third parties a 15-point plan to end the conflict, and Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are to join the negotiations along with Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Trump has not identified the Iranian "man who is most respected" with whom the US was talking.

While these efforts were afoot, Israel continued attacks on Iran on Wednesday, and Tehran hit back and also hit targets in the Gulf countries.

Trump, meanwhile, was sending paratroopers to join US forces in the region.

Guterres warned, "The world is staring down the barrel of a wider war, a rising tide of human suffering, and a deeper global economic shock".

But with a hint of optimism, he said: "We have mediators that have offered their services. They are very engaged".

His Personal Envoy Jean Arnault "will directly (work) on the ground, as I try to do from New York, (and) he'll be doing everything possible to support all the efforts for mediation, all the efforts for peace, to be in contact with all the parties," the UN chief said speaking to reporters on Wednesday.

"I've been in close contact with all those that I believe can help to try to put an end to this horrible conflict," he said.

"This conflict is having a dramatic impact in the region, with the suffering of civilians in the region and around the world, with an impact on the global economy that is causing tremendous trouble for the less developed countries," Guterres said.

It would be a setback for the UN's development goals, he said.

In his message to the US and Israel, he said, "It is high time to end the war - as human suffering deepens, civilian casualties mount, and the global economic impact is increasingly devastating."

And he asked Iran to "stop attacking their neighbours that are not parties to the conflict", noting that the Security Council had condemned its assaults on the Gulf nations and others not directly involved.

"It is time to stop climbing the escalation ladder - and start climbing the diplomatic ladder (and) return to full respect of international law," he said.

With over 40 years of work in diplomacy, Arnault was Guterres' personal envoy on Afghanistan and regional issues, giving him an understanding of the Iran problem.

Arnault, who is from France, has also represented Guterres in Colombian and Bolivian diplomacy.

- IANS
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma held a series of meetings in Delhi with Union Ministers and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Key discussions focused on connecting Rajasthan to the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) and expanding aviation infrastructure, including a new terminal in Jaipur and feasibility studies for new airports. The CM also emphasized enhancing air connectivity to major tourist destinations and advancing green energy projects. These meetings aimed to strengthen central-state coordination for the holistic development of Rajasthan.

CM Bhajan Lal Sharma meets Union Ministers & PM Modi, discusses RRTS link, airport expansion, and green energy for Rajasthan's development.

New Delhi/Jaipur, March 25 Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma held a series of high-level meetings in Delhi on Wednesday, focusing on the holistic development of Rajasthan and strengthening coordination between the Central and state governments.

The Chief Minister held detailed discussions with Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs and Power, Manohar Lal Khattar, on key issues related to energy and urban development. In line with the vision of 'Viksit Rajasthan 2047', deliberations were held on expanding green energy initiatives, strengthening infrastructure, and exploring the feasibility of connecting Rajasthan to the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS).

In another significant meeting, Sharma met Union Minister for Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu. Discussions focused on the construction of a new terminal building at Jaipur International Airport, as well as conducting feasibility studies for establishing new airports in the Bharatpur-Deeg and Sikar-Jhunjhunu regions.

During his visit, he also met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The meeting focused on accelerating the implementation of public welfare schemes and advancing the overall development of the state.

The Chief Minister also emphasised the need to ensure continued flight connectivity across Rajasthan's major tourist destinations. Additionally, he submitted proposals to enhance air connectivity in Manpur (Abu Road) and Banswara, along with a broader push for the comprehensive expansion of the civil aviation sector in the state.

These meetings underscore the state government's commitment to accelerating infrastructure development and strengthening Rajasthan's connectivity across sectors, officials said.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Chief Minister also met PM Narendra Modi, marking his second meeting with the Prime Minister within a month.

The Prime Minister's Office shared a one-line post on its X handle, stating: "Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma, had a meeting with the Prime Minister today."

The Chief Minister presented an idol of Goddess Durga, crafted from sandalwood, to the Prime Minister.

The meeting is being viewed as significant against the backdrop of ongoing global developments. This was the second interaction between the two leaders in recent weeks.

The Chief Minister had earlier met the Prime Minister during his visit to Ajmer on February 28. During the meeting, he sought the Prime Minister's guidance on the holistic development of Rajasthan and the effective implementation of various public welfare schemes.

The Chief Minister said the Prime Minister's leadership and directives continue to guide efforts towards building a prosperous Rajasthan.

He further emphasised that the Prime Minister's support for the people of Rajasthan, coupled with his forward-looking vision, remains a key strength for the state. With this backing, Rajasthan is steadily progressing across sectors of development. Inspired by this approach, citizens are moving forward with determination to realise the vision of a 'Developed Rajasthan'.

During the meeting, Chief Minister Sharma presented the Prime Minister with a sandalwood idol of Goddess Durga, crafted by Jaipur-based artisan Mohit Jangid.

- IANS
Senator Lindsey Graham has expressed strong support for President Trump's diplomatic efforts to engage with Iran. He outlined firm conditions for any potential agreement, including ending Iran's ballistic missile program and its role as a state sponsor of terrorism. Meanwhile, President Trump has accused political rivals of trying to diminish perceived U.S. military achievements related to Iran. Iran has rejected an American proposal to end hostilities, insisting it will only cease on its own terms.

Senator Lindsey Graham supports Trump's diplomatic efforts with Iran but insists any deal must end its nuclear program and state sponsorship of terrorism.

Washington DC, March 26 Senator Lindsey Graham has voiced strong support for diplomatic efforts led by US President Donald Trump and his team to engage with Iran, while laying down firm conditions that any potential agreement must meet key security objectives related to nuclear weapons, terrorism, and regional stability.

In a detailed statement, the lawmaker emphasised that while the method of engagement may vary, the ultimate goal remains ensuring that Iran no longer poses a threat to the United States, its allies, or global security.

The remarks come amid renewed discussions around possible negotiations with Tehran, a topic that has remained highly sensitive in US foreign policy circles.

"Not only do I support @POTUS and his team's efforts to negotiate with Iran to find a solution to the threats this regime presents to the region and the world, I encourage it. It is the outcome I seek, not the method. I have confidence in President Trump's negotiating team to make sure that any deal would meet the military objectives laid out early on. These include: No ballistic missile program to threaten America or our allies. Iran no longer being the largest state sponsor of terrorism, ending its support for terrorist proxies throughout the region and the world. Definitively ending the Iranian regime's ambitions to obtain nuclear weapons once and for all. If diplomacy can achieve these objectives, I would not only support it, but I would also prefer it because war literally is hell."

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has hit out at political rivals, accusing them of attempting to diminish a "great military achievement" during the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran.

In a recent update on his Truth Social platform, the President claimed that "Radical Left, country-hating Democrats are trying to create inner chaos to take away from the great military achievement we are having in Iran."

However, this narrative of a "decisive" victory is being sharply contested by Tehran.Iran has responded negatively to an American proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict, insisting that any cessation of hostilities will only occur on Tehran's "own terms and timeline," a senior political-security official told state broadcaster Press TV on Wednesday.

- ANI
South Korean stocks traded sharply higher, with the KOSPI index gaining over 2% driven by strong buying from institutional and foreign investors. The rally was fueled by investor hopes for progress in US-Iran negotiations to end the ongoing Middle East conflict, despite Tehran denying contact. Major large-cap shares like Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, and Hyundai Motor posted significant gains, though some battery and shipbuilding stocks declined. Concurrently, South Korea and Canada held talks to address global supply chain issues and a potential submarine project.

South Korea's KOSPI rose sharply as tech shares rallied and investors reacted to potential progress in US-Iran negotiations to end the Middle East conflict.

Seoul, March 25 South Korean stocks traded markedly higher late on Wednesday morning, driven by gains in big-cap tech shares, as investors cautiously pinned hopes for progress in negotiations between the United States and Iran to end the ongoing conflict.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 126.14 points, or 2.27 percent, to 5,680.06 as of 11:20 a.m.

The index opened sharply higher and maintained its upward momentum on strong buying by institutional and foreign investors, reports Yonhap news agency.

US President Donald Trump said that Iran has offered the U.S. a "very significant prize" related to oil and gas, adding that negotiations are under way to end the monthlong war in the Middle East.

But Tehran denied claims that it has been in contact with the U.S., according to foreign media reports.

Most large-cap shares gathered ground.

Market bellwether Samsung Electronics rose 2.06 percent, while chip giant SK hynix surged 3.85 percent.

Top automaker Hyundai Motor advanced 2.24 percent, and its sister affiliate Kia climbed 1.52 percent.

Pharmaceutical giant Samsung Biologics went up 1.87 percent, and defense giant Hanwha Aerospace jumped 2.02 percent.

Nuclear power plant builder Doosan Enerbility soared 3 percent, and leading financial group KB Financial added 2.25 percent.

Samsung Life Insurance increased 2.25 percent, and Mirae Asset Securities spiked 5.24 percent.

But leading battery maker LG Energy Solution fell 0.64 percent, while major shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy shed 0.58 percent.

The Korean won was trading at 1,494.4 won against the U.S. dollar as of 11:20 a.m., up 0.8 won from the previous session.

Meanwhile, South Korea and Canada on Wednesday discussed joint efforts to address global supply chain disruptions and other shared issues, including Seoul's bid for a multibillion-dollar Canadian patrol submarine project, officials said.

The discussions took place during their "two plus two" working-level talks between foreign and industry officials as the two countries step up efforts to strengthen their partnership amid growing supply chain bottlenecks and other geopolitical challenges.

- IANS
Former diplomat Gurjit Singh states that President Donald Trump's phone call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi indicates the United States' desire to keep India consulted on the West Asia crisis. He notes India has been quietly engaging with multiple regional players without taking sides, a stance impacted by its large economy. Singh clarifies there is no formal ceasefire, only a US pause on attacking energy infrastructure, with the overall situation remaining unclear. He also highlights the broader economic repercussions of the conflict, including oil prices and market movements.

Former diplomat Gurjit Singh says Trump's call to PM Modi signals US intent to consult India on West Asia crisis, highlighting India's regional role.

New Delhi, March 25 Former Indian diplomat Gurjit Sigh on Wednesday said the phone call between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump following the outbreak of the Iran war signals Washington's intent to keep India closely consulted on developments in West Asia.

Speaking to ANI, Singh said the timing and nature of the call suggest that the United States recognises India's growing role and its stakes in regional stability, particularly given the economic impact of the conflict.

"Important--he called Prime Minister Modi. Which shows that they want to keep India in the loop and they want to consult India," Singh said.

He noted that the conversation came shortly after Trump announced on Truth Social a pause in attacks on energy infrastructure and during the second day of that cessation.

"So you know when Prime Minister spoke in Parliament, almost within an hour of that, there was President Trump's Truth Social post that he was declaring a cessation of attacks on energy infrastructure. And yesterday, when the second day of that cessation, he called Prime Minister Modi," he said.

According to Singh, India has been quietly engaging with multiple regional players and maintaining contact with leaders across the region without taking sides in the conflict.

"And therefore, the Indian role in it, albeit quiet, keeping in touch with all sides, seems to be having a bearing, also including the fact that India is one of the largest economies deeply impacted by this war and not taking sides", he said adding that India's position as one ot the world's largest economies means it is deeply affected by disruptions caused by war.

Singh also pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already held discussions with several regional leaders amid the crisis, but this marked the first direct call from President Trump since hostilities escalated.

"So I think there is a consultation process which, as you know, the Prime Minister has spoken to all the regional leaders several times, but this was, as you said the first call by President Trump, and I think this was extremely important, showing positive trends which will help India if they succeed," he said.

On claims by Trump that the US has achieved "military dominance" and effectively won the war, Singh cautioned that the situation remains unclear.

"In the fog of war, it is very difficult to determine who's speaking the truth," he said, noting that conflicting claims from the United States and Iran make it difficult to verify developments.

He stressed that there is currently no confirmed ceasefire between the parties, describing the situation instead as a limited pause in US attacks on energy infrastructure.

"One, there is no ceasefire; it's only a pause on attacking energy infrastructure by the United States. Second, Israel is not a party to this; they continue their attacks, including on energy infrastructure. Iran doesn't believe them," Singh said.

He also highlighted the broader economic impact of the conflict, pointing to falling oil prices, gains in stock markets, and concerns within the US economy as Treasury bond yields crossed 5 per cent.

Singh added that reports of a proposed 15-point ceasefire plan and negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain unclear, with little confirmed information about the interlocutors involved.

"Whether there are talks going on, whether the Iranians are pretending, the Americans are pretending, if a 15-point plan has been given and to whom, who are the Iranian interlocutors, who are the American interlocutors, all this is very unclear," he said, adding that speculation across media and social media has further complicated the picture.

- ANI
Actors Shweta Basu Prasad and Esha Gupta emphasized the crucial and historic contributions of women in cinema at the International Film Festival Delhi 2026. Shweta stressed the importance of celebrating the pioneering female actors, filmmakers, and technicians who paved the way for contemporary creators. Esha Gupta highlighted the innate existence of the female gaze and the need to amplify women's unique storytelling perspectives. The week-long government-led festival aims to make film culture accessible through screenings and discussions across New Delhi.

Actors Shweta Basu Prasad & Esha Gupta highlight the decades-long journey and female gaze at the International Film Festival Delhi 2026.

New Delhi, March 25 Actor Shweta Basu Prasad spoke about the role of women and celebrating their contributions in cinema.

While speaking at the International Film Festival Delhi (IFFD) 2026 (IFFD), Shweta expressed that it has taken decades, to create that path for more female actors and creators and women in cinema.

Shweta said, "It's not overnight, it's taken decades of, you know, female actors or female filmmakers, technicians and thinkers, writers who have actually created that path for more female actors and creators and women in cinema. So I think it's very important for me to celebrate them as much as we are celebrating contemporary women in cinema. And I'm really happy that the first edition of Delhi International Film Festival has this as a theme, along with celebrating everybody who is contributing to cinema."

Actor Esha Gupta spoke about the role of women in cinema, emphasising the significant contributions women have made both on-screen and behind the scenes.

Esha shared her thoughts on the growing influence of the female gaze in modern storytelling at IFFD.

She expressed that women have always had a pivotal role in shaping cinema, adding that the concept of the female gaze has existed since the beginning of time. "Female gaze started when the earth was made," Esha said. "Without women, there wouldn't have been any reproduction or continuity. It's incredible that the IFFD is focusing on this theme because it celebrates the very core of what women bring to cinema."

Esha also highlighted the need to amplify the voices of female storytellers and creators, stressing the importance of offering them a platform to tell their stories from a unique perspective."It's important that women are recognized for their contributions, and I believe festivals like IFFD are the perfect platform to celebrate and encourage their storytelling," she added.

Organised by the Delhi Tourism & Transport Development Corporation (DTTDC) in association with the Government of Delhi, with KPMG as knowledge partner, the International Film Festival of Delhi is a government-led, city-wide festival showcasing Indian and international cinema while making film culture accessible to audiences across the capital.

The week-long festival, running from March 25 to 31, will offer a series of screenings, discussions, and industry events across various venues in New Delhi, uniting filmmakers, industry professionals, and audiences from around the globe.

- ANI
Denmark's parliamentary election has resulted in a hung parliament, with neither the left-leaning red bloc nor the right-leaning blue bloc securing an outright majority. Preliminary results show the Social Democrats, led by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, as the largest party but with reduced seats. The Moderates party, with 14 seats, is now expected to be a pivotal player in negotiations to form a government. Prime Minister Frederiksen has acknowledged that forming a new government will be challenging but has signaled her willingness to lead the talks.

Denmark's election results show a hung parliament. The Social Democrats lead but neither bloc has a majority, setting the stage for complex coalition negotiations.

Copenhagen, March 25 Denmark's Social Democrats remained the largest party in Tuesday's parliamentary election, according to preliminary results from Denmark proper early Wednesday.

But neither the left-leaning red bloc nor the right-leaning blue bloc secured an outright majority in the Folketing, the unicameral Danish parliament, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Folketing comprises 179 seats in total -- 175 elected in Denmark proper, plus two each from Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Results from Greenland and the Faroe Islands are yet to be finalised.

Preliminary results from Denmark proper showed that the Social Democrats won about 21.9 per cent of the vote and 38 seats, down by 12 from the previous election. The Socialist People's Party secured 20 seats, followed by Venstre, the Liberal Party of Denmark, with 18 seats. Liberal Alliance and the Danish People's Party each took 16 seats.

Based on the Denmark proper tally, the red bloc secured 84 seats, compared with 77 for the blue bloc. Since a majority in the Folketing requires 90 seats, the Moderates, which won 14 seats, were expected to play a pivotal role in the coming negotiations on government formation.

Speaking after the vote, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen signaled that she was prepared to take responsibility in the upcoming negotiations and continue seeking to lead the country, while acknowledging that talks to form a new government were unlikely to be easy.

Under Denmark's multi-party parliamentary system, elections often lead to coalition or minority governments. Talks among party leaders will determine the formation of the new government.

- IANS
Commentary

By Conrad Eder

Three provinces. Three parties. Three record deficits. When every party runs deficits, ideology isnt the explanation. The political rewards for spending are.

In Alberta, a United Conservative government that once promised fiscal restraint is now projecting a $9.4-billion deficit, sidestepping its own fiscal laws to do so.

In New Brunswick, a Liberal premier who campaigned on balanced budgets has already delivered one multi-million-dollar deficit, with projections showing that were soon in for another.

And in British Columbia, the NDP, not even bothering to feign fiscal discipline, forecast a $13.3-billion deficit in the 2026 budget, the largest in the provinces history.

Why? Because in politics, the rewards for spending are immediate while the costs of borrowing are distant, or so they seem.

For politicians, the priority is getting elected, and since getting elected depends on giving voters what they want, fiscal discipline only matters if voters demand it.

Defending her governments deficit, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt argued that the alternative, not spending on other campaign promises, would have been worse. Worse for whom? The calculus is clear: balanced budgets have become politically costlier than borrowing.

And voters, if we are honest, make this too easy.

We cheer for tax cuts without offsetting savings, applaud new programs without sunset clauses, and accept one-time spending that soon becomes permanent.

So when every special interest with a lobbyist and a business case asks for public dollars, given those incentives, it would be surprising if politicians didnt find reasons to spend.

Deep down, we all know the math doesnt add up. So to make all this irresponsible borrowing sound responsible, almost everything is now rebranded as an investment. But while all investments are spending, not all spending is investment.

Actual investments generate future growth or reduce future costs. Yet so much of what gets called an investment in provincial budgets today does neither.

Business subsidies, preferential tax credits, guaranteed corporate loans, the list goes on.

You would think by now all this government investing would start paying off. Yet year after year, were told that still more investments are urgently needed.

But our ability to borrow is not infinite, whatever the behaviour of our politicians might suggest. All this investing comes at a cost.

In 202425, combined federal and provincial interest costs hit $92.5 billion, money that buys nothing, builds nothing and heals no one.

Of course, interest is just the visible cost of debt. The invisible costs are often worse.

In B.C., for example, theyre now re-pacing capital spending, which means delaying construction of seven long-term care facilities, the next phase of the Burnaby Hospital and Cancer Centre, and a student housing project at the University of Victoria.

These are the hidden costs of debt: the hospital wing that wasnt built, the tax cut that didnt happen, the class sizes that never shrank. That, on top of the weaker productivity and economic growth, leaves future workers with less opportunity and lower wages than they otherwise could have had.

So what can be done? Fiscal rules might help, but Albertas experience shows how easily they can be ignored. No, the only real enforcement mechanism is electoral punishment.

Running deficits is the path of least resistance only so long as it is also the path of least political cost.

If we want governments to keep our fiscal house in order, we must reward those that execute credible plans to balance the books and punish those that dont.

Asking voters to care about debt ratios and interest costs may sound like a tough sell. Perhaps it is. But if we dont impose fiscal discipline on our elected representatives, they wont impose it on themselves. Alberta, B.C. and New Brunswickthree different provinces, three different parties, one outcomemake that abundantly clear.

Conrad Eder is a policy analyst at the Frontier Centre for Public Policy.
Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi late Tuesday night. Hospital authorities state she is in stable condition while doctors investigate a possible stomach and urinary tract infection. Her admission was prompted by respiratory issues, with a mild exacerbation of bronchial asthma linked to cold weather and pollution. This follows previous hospitalizations last year for similar stomach-related concerns.

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital for possible stomach and urinary tract infection. Doctors say she is stable and under close monitoring.

New Delhi, March 25 Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in the national capital last night, hospital authorities said on Wednesday.

Sir Ganga Ram Hospital Chairman Dr Ajay Swaroop said that the veteran leader was admitted at around 10:22 PM and was currently in stable condition. He said doctors were conducting investigations for a possible stomach and urinary tract infection, and a team was closely monitoring her condition while administering antibiotics.

"Sonia Gandhi (Congress Parliamentary Party leader) was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on Tuesday at 10:22 PM. She is stable. Doctors are conducting further investigations to check for possible infection in the stomach and urinary tract. A team of doctors is closely monitoring her condition, and antibiotics have been administered," Dr Swaroop said.

Gandhi was admitted after experiencing respiratory issues at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. Ajay Swaroop said that following a detailed medical examination, Sonia Gandhi's bronchial asthma was mildly exacerbated by the combined effects of cold weather and prevailing pollution levels in Delhi.

As a precautionary measure, doctors decided to admit her for observation and further medical management.

The veteran leader was also admitted last year in June due to stomach-related issues. She was kept under observation at the hospital's gastro department.

Before this, in the same month, Gandhi was admitted to Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla on June 7.

The CPP chairperson was brought in for a routine health check-up due to some minor health issues, according to Naresh Chauhan, Principal Advisor (Media) to the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister.

The doctors examined her health condition and informed that she was in stable condition.

- ANI
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has firmly reiterated his opposition to the ongoing war in the Middle East, criticizing the military actions of the United States and Israel. He warned that Israeli actions risk expanding the conflict, potentially replicating the destruction seen in Gaza within Lebanon. Concurrently, Sanchez defended his government's new economic package worth over five billion euros, designed to mitigate the war's impact with VAT cuts and direct aid. He positioned Spain as a benchmark for peace, demanding an end to the conflict and refusing to let citizens bear its costs.

Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez criticizes US and Israel, vows to uphold international law, and details a 5 billion economic aid package amid conflict.

Madrid, March 25 Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday reiterated his opposition to the war in Iran, which has spread across the Middle East, criticising the military actions of the United States and Israel.

The Spanish premier also defended his government's economic package aimed at mitigating the impact of the conflict.

Sanchez stressed that his country will not support military actions that violate international law. "Spain will not be complicit in illegal aggressions, nor in lies disguised as freedom - not while I am prime minister," he said, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Addressing relations with allies, Sanchez underlined the need for an independent and critical stance, questioning what it means to be an ally. It does not imply blind obedience, he underlined, but rather the courage to stand up when the path is wrong and to tell partners the truth, "even when it is uncomfortable."

Sanchez also warned of the risk of the conflict expanding in the region, saying that Israeli military actions could lead to a replication of "the destruction and suffering seen in Gaza" in Lebanon.

"Spain today is a benchmark in the defence of peace and international law," he said, calling for an end to the conflict. "We are going to demand that this war stop. It is not fair that some set the world on fire while the rest of us swallow their ashes."

On the economic front, Sanchez defended a package of anti-crisis measures worth more than five billion euros, warning of the conflict's impact on the economy.

The package, approved by the government and pending parliamentary ratification, includes an extension of reduced Value Added Tax (VAT) on energy, direct aid to sectors such as transport and agriculture, and measures to protect households and businesses.

"This is not a vote on this government; it is a vote on whether we protect our families and businesses with these five billion euros or leave them to face the uncertainty of war on their own," he said.

"This war is a colossal mistake whose cost we neither accept nor are willing to pay," Sanchez said. Its consequences will not translate into "higher wages or more affordable housing," he said, adding that it is the "true tragedy."

- IANS
The Supreme Court has issued a landmark ruling clarifying the rules governing Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe status. It states that SC status is absolutely tied to professing Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism and is lost upon conversion to another religion. For STs, the Court ruled status depends on maintaining tribal characteristics and community acceptance, not religion. Community leader Syed Naseruddin Chishty hailed the decision as historic for strengthening protections for these communities.

Supreme Court clarifies SC/ST status rules: SC status lost upon conversion, ST status depends on tribal ties. Ruling strengthens protections, says community leader.

Ajmer, March 25 Following the recent Supreme Court verdict on the SC/ST Act, Syed Naseruddin Chishty, President of the All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council, praised the decision as a historic one, asserting that it would strengthen the rights and protection of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Speaking to ANI, Chishty emphasised, "Today's decision is a historic one; it will further strengthen the rights of Scheduled Castes and Tribes... It will provide protection to the rights of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes, and give strength to their rights. This decision will pave the way forward... The rights of the weaker sections of our country should be respected, and work should be done to safeguard their rights."

The Supreme Court's ruling clarified that only persons professing Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism can claim Scheduled Caste status under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950. It laid down a set of governing principles (postulates) to determine when a person can claim Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

The Court clarified that a person must clearly establish, through cogent and unimpeachable evidence, that they belong to a caste or tribe specifically notified under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 or the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950.

It underscored that the restriction under Clause 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 is absolute - only persons professing Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism can be recognised as Scheduled Castes. Conversion to any other religion leads to an immediate and complete loss of SC status, irrespective of birth, and such a person cannot claim any reservation, protection, or statutory benefit linked to that status, the Court noted.

The Court further held that a person cannot simultaneously profess another religion and claim Scheduled Caste status, as the two are legally incompatible and mutually exclusive under the constitutional scheme.

To validate claims of SC/ST status in cases where the claimants have reconverted (back to SC/ST community status), the Court laid down a strict three-fold test: the individual must prove original membership of a notified Scheduled Caste, demonstrate genuine and complete reconversion with actual adherence to the original religion's practices and establish acceptance by the concerned caste community. All three conditions are mandatory, and the burden of proof lies entirely on the claimant.

The judgment also clarified that once SC status is lost due to conversion, all associated statutory benefits and protections automatically cease.

With respect to Scheduled Tribes, however, the Court drew a distinction, noting that the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, does not impose a religion-based bar. Instead, ST status depends on the continued existence of tribal characteristics such as customs, social organisation, and community recognition. Conversion alone is not what matters; what matters is whether the person remains integrated with and accepted by the tribal community.

The Court noted that once a person converts to another religion, they lose their Scheduled Caste status and the associated protections, effectively ruling out caste-based claims for those who have embraced religions like Christianity. This ruling strengthens the core objectives of the SC/ST Act, which is aimed at preventing atrocities against the members of these communities.

- ANI
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense detected 16 Chinese military aircraft and 12 vessels operating around the island, with 13 of the aircraft crossing the median line into its southwestern and eastern air defense identification zone. This follows similar incursions detected the previous day. China maintains its claim that Taiwan is an inseparable part of its territory, a stance rooted in historical and political arguments. Taiwan functions with its own government and military, and its status remains a major point of international tension and debate.

Taiwan's defense ministry reports 16 PLA aircraft & 12 vessels operating nearby, with most aircraft crossing the median line into its air defense zone.

Taipei, March 25 Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense detected the presence of 16 sorties of Chinese aircraft, 10 naval vessels and two official ships around its territorial waters as of 6 am on Wednesday.

Of the 16, 13 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern and eastern part ADIZ.

In a post on X, MND said, "16 sorties of PLA aircraft, 10 PLAN vessels and 2 official ships operating around Taiwan detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 13 out of 16 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern and eastern part ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded."

Earlier on Tuesday, MND detected the presence of three sorties of Chinese military aircraft, nine vessels and an official ship around itself.

In a post on X, the MND said, "3 sorties of PLA aircraft, 9 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 3 out of 3 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern part ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded."

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.

- ANI
Call for financial aid for flood and erosion management

Request for clearances on canals and new projects

TDP Minister Nimmala Rama Naidu met with Jal Shakti Ministry Secretary VL Kantha Rao to discuss the acceleration of the Polavaram project and related rehabilitation works. He requested immediate central approvals for pending designs and financial support for enhancing canal capacity and a new project to utilize wasted Godavari water. The minister also sought assistance for coastal protection and raised concerns about Karnataka's actions on the Almatti Dam. This meeting follows a recent discussion between the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where they agreed on water usage monitoring and establishing a committee to resolve inter-state water issues.

TDP Minister Nimmala Rama Naidu meets Jal Shakti Secretary, seeks approvals for Polavaram, financial aid for water management, and resolution on Almatti Dam.

Rajahmundry, March 25 Telugu Desam Party Minister Nimmala Rama Naidu on Wednesday met Secretary of Jal Shakti Ministry, VL Kantha Rao, who visited to inspect the Polavaram project works.

The minister stated that, with the support of the central government, the Polavaram project works are progressing rapidly.

Along with construction, relief and rehabilitation (R&R) works for displaced families are also being accelerated.

He requested immediate approvals for pending designs required for the project construction and sought support for reimbursement related to the increased capacity of Polavaram right and left main canals to 17,500 cusecs.

He also sought technical and financial clearances for the Polavaram-Nallamala Sagar project to utilise Godavari floodwaters that are currently going to waste into the sea. "Explained that, on average, about 3,000 TMC of water flows into the Bay of Bengal every year without being utilised."

Naidu asked for assistance to protect coastal and riverbank areas affected by cyclones, erosion, and tidal impacts. He also requested support for strengthening river embankments of major rivers, including Godavari, Krishna, Penna, Vamsadhara, and Nagavali.

Naidu also sought financial assistance for desilting and widening of the delta drains and river mouths where they meet the sea.

He urged the Centre to ensure that Karnataka does not proceed with land acquisition and R&R works related to the Almatti Dam height issue, as it is under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

Kantha Rao assured support for RRR (Repair, Renovation & Restoration), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and flood management works.

Earlier, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy and Andhra Pradesh CM Naidu deliberated key issues concerning water management between the two states during a meeting with Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil in the national capital.

During the meeting, the Telangana Chief Minister proposed the idea of implementing telemetry in all water projects and reservoirs to measure actual water usage, which was accepted by Andhra Pradesh, according to the Telangana CMO release.

Both sides agreed to allocate the Godavari River Management Board in Hyderabad and the Krishna RMB in Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh acceded to Telangana's proposal to repair the prestigious Srisailam project immediately, the release said.

An Officers' and Technical Experts' committee will be established to address all pending issues between the two sides, including the long-pending water projects in Telangana for both the Krishna and Godavari river basins, it said.

- ANI
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami is launching an intensive statewide campaign tour starting from Chennai on March 25. The eight-day blitz will focus on key urban constituencies, beginning with public meetings in Mylapore, Alandur, and Tambaram. The campaign aims to consolidate voter support for the AIADMK and its NDA partners ahead of the April 23 assembly polls. It signals the party's aggressive push to challenge the ruling DMK-led alliance on issues like governance and the cost of living.

AIADMK's Edappadi Palaniswami begins aggressive statewide tour from Chennai, aiming to consolidate NDA support ahead of the April 23 Tamil Nadu elections.

Chennai, March 25 With the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections scheduled for April 23, political activity across the state has intensified, with both the DMK and the AIADMK racing to finalise seat-sharing arrangements within their respective alliances.

Against this backdrop, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) is set to kick off an aggressive statewide campaign tour beginning Wednesday, signalling the party's push to regain power.

According to an official statement released by the AIADMK headquarters, Palaniswami will embark on a "whirlwind election campaign" from March 25 to April 1, canvassing support for candidates of his party and its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners. The campaign aims to consolidate voter support across key constituencies and energise party cadres ahead of the crucial electoral battle.

The campaign will begin in Chennai, where Palaniswami is scheduled to address a public meeting at Mylapore at 3.30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Party sources said launching the campaign from Chennai highlights the strategic importance of urban constituencies, where both the ruling DMK and the opposition AIADMK are expected to face stiff competition.

As part of his packed itinerary, Palaniswami will continue his campaign across several locations in and around Chennai in the coming days.

On March 27 (Friday), he will address a gathering in Alandur at 4 p.m., followed by another meeting in Tambaram at 6 p.m. The campaign will then move to North Chennai on March 28, where he is scheduled to campaign in R.K. Nagar at 4 p.m. and Tiruvottiyur at 6 p.m.

Party leaders said the campaign tour is designed to maximise outreach in densely populated urban areas while setting the tone for a broader statewide push in the weeks ahead.

The AIADMK is expected to focus on key issues such as cost of living, welfare measures, and governance, while also targeting the DMK government's record.

With alliances nearing completion and campaign strategies gaining momentum, Tamil Nadu is gearing up for a high-stakes electoral contest. Palaniswami's campaign blitz is likely to intensify the political battle between the AIADMK-led NDA and the DMK-led alliance in the run-up to polling day.

- IANS
The Bharatiya Janata Party in Tripura has announced it will contest all 28 seats independently in the upcoming Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council elections. State party chief Rajib Bhattacharjee expressed strong confidence in securing a decisive victory, urging voters to support BJP candidates to fulfil the visions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Manik Saha. Notably, while the BJP is in a coalition government with IPFT and Tipra Motha, all partners are contesting these council elections separately. The elections, scheduled for April 12, are seen as crucial for the BJP to expand its influence in the state's tribal regions.

Tripura BJP announces 28 candidates for TTAADC polls, confident of victory despite alliance partners contesting separately. CM Saha and state chief express optimism.

Agartala, March 25 The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Tripura has exuded strong confidence ahead of the upcoming Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council elections, scheduled to be held on April 12.

Reacting to the poll preparations, Tripura BJP chief Rajib Bhattacharjee asserted that the party is fully geared up to secure a decisive victory across the ADC areas. Despite being part of a coalition government in the state, the BJP has decided to contest all 28 constituencies independently.

Speaking to ANI, he said, "Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced the names of 28 candidates for the 28 centres in the upcoming Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections. I urge the voters to support these candidates to fulfil Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of "Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas" and "Ek Bharat, Shreshth Bharat" along with CM Manik Saha's vision of "Viksit Tripura, Ek Tripura, Shreshth Tripura."

Addressing a joint press meet alongside Chief Minister Manik Saha and other senior leaders, Bhattacharjee announced the list of 28 party candidates and expressed optimism about winning with a huge margin. He emphasised that the party's organisational strength and development agenda would resonate strongly with voters in the tribal regions.

Notably, while the BJP shares power in Tripura with allies like the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) and the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), all alliance partners are contesting the TTAADC elections separately this time. The IPFT has also fielded its own candidates for the polls.

Both CM Manik Saha and BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee, in separate interactions, have reiterated that although the alliance remains intact in the government, the parties have strategically chosen to fight the ADC elections individually.

The BJP leadership maintained that the party is confident of expanding its footprint in the TTAADC and securing a strong mandate in the April 12 polls.

The TTAADC elections are being viewed as politically crucial, with the BJP aiming to improve its performance and expand its footprint in the tribal belt. Chief Minister Manik Saha has earlier stated that the party is targeting all seats in the ADC elections.

- ANI
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha expressed strong confidence that the BJP will form the government in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council following the April 12 elections. He highlighted the trust of tribal communities and described the BJP as a reliable choice for development in the region. Saha made these remarks while attending nomination filings for BJP candidates, noting the remarkable public enthusiasm and participation. The election for the 30-member council is politically significant, with major parties intensifying efforts to consolidate tribal voter support.

Tripura CM Manik Saha expresses strong confidence in BJP forming TTAADC government, citing public support and PM Modi's popularity.

Agartala, March 25 Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Wednesday expressed strong confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party will form the government in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council in the April 12 elections.

Highlighting growing public support, the Chief Minister said the trust and faith of the Janajati (tribal) communities remain a key strength for the BJP in the TTAADC areas. He described the party as a reliable choice for ensuring holistic development and improving the quality of life of people in the region.

Saha made these remarks while attending the nomination filing programme for BJP candidates in Longtharai Valley in Dhalai district on the final day of candidature submission for the TTAADC elections.

The party's candidates in the Longtharai Valley region include Bipin Debbarma (Damchhara-Kachuchhara), Sukesh Dutta Barua (Manu-Chailenga), and Esmail Joy Tripura (Chawmanu), all of whom filed their nominations in the presence of senior party leaders.

"The enthusiasm among people is remarkable. The massive participation in today's rally reflects how democratic processes should unfold," Saha said, adding that the party leadership ensured active participation in nomination filings across the state.

He further noted that all 28 BJP candidates filed their nominations on the final day, expressing optimism that the party is well-positioned to secure a decisive mandate in the TTAADC.

The Chief Minister also credited the continued popularity of PM Modi among the people as a driving factor behind the strong turnout and support.

Several senior BJP leaders, including MLA Shambhu Lal Chakma, party candidates, and a large number of party workers, took part in the nomination rally and filing process.

Meanwhile, the BJP's two allies, the Tipra Motha Party (TMP) and the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT), both tribal-based parties, have put up separate candidates in the ensuing TTAADC polls.

Ahead of the elections, major political parties, including the BJP, its allies IPFT and TMP, and opposition parties such as the CPI(M) and the Congress, have intensified their efforts to consolidate support among tribal voters. 

The Left parties and Congress have also fielded candidates for all 28 seats.

Polling for the politically significant 30-member TTAADC is scheduled for April 12, with voting counting set for April 17.

The tribal autonomous council, regarded as the second most important constitutional body in the state after the Tripura Assembly, comprises 28 elected members and two nominated by the state government.

- IANS
Israeli media reports the Trump administration has presented Iran with a 15-point proposal to end the ongoing conflict, conveyed through an intermediary country. The demands include the complete dismantlement of Iran's nuclear capabilities, ending support for regional proxies, and limiting its missile program. In return, Iran would receive a full lifting of international sanctions and assistance for its civilian nuclear program. While Iran has indicated it will consider the offer, it has also stated there are elements it will never accept, and no formal response has been issued to this latest overture.

Israel media reports Trump admin's 15-point proposal to Iran for ceasefire, detailing nuclear demands, sanctions relief, and regional concessions.

Jeruslaem, March 25 A: Israel's media has reported that US President Trump and his administration have 15 conditions to Iran as its terms for ending the current cnflict. According to Israel's Channel 12, citing an unnamed official in the US, Washington has also informed Jerusalmed of its negotations.

However, the report said that Jerusalem is concerned that Trump and his team want to push for "a framework agreement" with Iran, rather than insisting on these demands as a condition for halting the war.

The report which cited multiple sources further said that White House special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner had drawn up a mechanism which would involved declaration of a monthlong ceasefire period, during which the sides would negotiate a 15-point agreement.

The report specified 14 of the 15 demands and benefits that the US has conveyed to Iran:

1. Iran must dismantle its existing nuclear capabilities.

2. Iran must commit never to pursue nuclear weapons.

3. There will be no uranium enrichment on Iranian territory.

4. Iran must hand its stockpile of some 450 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent to the International Atomic Energy Agency in the near future, in a timetable to be agreed.

5. The Natanz, Isfahan and Fordo nuclear facilities must be dismantled.

6. The IAEA, the UN's nuclear watchdog, must be granted full access, transparency and oversight inside Iran.

7. Iran must abandon its regional proxy "paradigm."

8. Iran must cease the funding, direction and arming of its regional proxies.

9. The Strait of Hormuz must remain open and function as a free maritime corridor.

10. Iran's missile program must be limited in both range and quantity, with specific thresholds to be determined at a later stage.

11. Any future use of missiles would be restricted to self-defence.

In return, Iran would benefit as follows:

12. Iran would receive a full lifting of sanctions imposed by the international community.

13. The US would assist Iran in advancing its civilian nuclear program, including electricity generation at the Bushehr nuclear plant.

14. The so-called "snapback" mechanism, which allows for the automatic re-imposition of sanctions if Iran fails to comply, would be removed.

According to another Israel based publication Haaretz, the proposal has been passed to Iran through an intermediary country with a deadline to respond. The report said that Iran told the US it would consider the offer, but emphasized there were some things it would never accept. The report also claimed that there is a likelihood of a peace summit in the near future to iron out this formula.

Earlier, US President Trump confirmed that negotiations were on with Iran claiming that the war was going to end.

"We're in negotiations right now. I can tell you, they'd like to make a deal and who wouldn't if you were there? Look, their navy's gone, their air force is gone, their communications are gone. pretty much everything they have is gone. I think we are going to end it. I cannot tell you for sure. We have won this... We literally have planes flying over Tehran and other parts of their country. They can't do a thing about it. For instance, if I want to take down that power plant, they can't do a thing about it... They are totally defeated... Militarily, they are dead," he said.

There has however been no formal response from the Iranian side to the latest overture from Trump. The Iranians on Tuesday had denied reports of any negotiations with the US claiming that peace would only be achieved once US-Israel stopped its campaign.

- ANI
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that President Donald Trump prefers peace but is prepared to "unleash hell" if Iran does not accept defeat, following his decision to postpone planned strikes. She warned Iran not to miscalculate again, citing the decimation of Iranian military capabilities with over 9,000 targets struck in Operation Epic Fury. Concurrently, the US is deploying approximately 2,500 additional soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East. However, Iran's Foreign Minister has dismissed US overtures, characterizing a proposed US plan as unreasonable.

White House warns Iran not to miscalculate as Trump postpones strikes. US has hit 9,000 targets in Operation Epic Fury, deploying more troops.

Washington DC, March 26 US White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday said that US President Donald Trump does not bluff, and he would unleash hell, adding that Iran must not miscalculate anything about what Washington wants in West Asia.

Leavitt, while briefing the media, said that Trump prefers peace and postponed the strikes after Iran expressed its willingness to speak.

"President Trump's preference is always peace. However, following his powerful threat on Saturday evening, it was made clear that Iran wanted to talk. As the President announced on Monday, the US has been engaged over the last three days in productive conversations, leading the President to temporarily instruct the Department of War to postpone planned strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure," she said.

"Let me be clear, Iran should not miscalculate again. Their last miscalculation cost them their senior leadership, their navy, their air force, and their air defense system. President Trump does not bluff, and he is prepared to unleash hell if they refuse to accept the reality that they have been defeated," she added.

Leavitt said that the US has hit over 9,000 enemy targets.

"The United States military continues to decimate the Iranian regime's offensive and defensive capabilities. Just over three weeks in, it is abundantly clear that Operation Epic Fury has been a resounding military triumph. More than 9,000 enemy targets have been struck to date," she said.

Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the US is sending messages through different mediators, which "does not mean negotiations", while another source said Tehran sees a 15-point US plan as "extremely maximalist and unreasonable," Al Jazeera reported.

A Department of Defence official told Al Jazeera that the US has ordered the deployment of approximately 2,500 US soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East.

According to the official, the forces scheduled for deployment include commanders and logistical support elements from the division's 1st Combat Brigade.

- ANI
By Mata Press Service

Philippines ranks ahead of Nordic nations in global politeness survey, but Filipinos judge themselves more harshly

The Philippines has landed in the global top 10 for politeness, finishing ahead of Sweden, Denmark and Finland in a new international survey that is likely to please tourism boosters and the countrys vast diaspora, even as many Filipinos appear less convinced by their own reputation for courtesy.

The study, based on responses from more than 4,600 people across 26 countries, placed the Philippines sixth among the nations people most associate with politeness. It drew 2.30 per cent of the global vote, behind Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, China and Germany, but ahead of several Nordic countries that are often stereotyped internationally as orderly, civic-minded and socially respectful. Sweden ranked seventh, Denmark eighth and Finland ninth.

For the Philippines, the result reinforces a familiar international image. Whether through tourism, overseas work, migration or everyday travel, Filipinos have long been associated with warmth, deference, hospitality and a willingness to put others at ease. In the context of this survey, politeness was framed around the small, daily interactions that shape how welcome people feel in a country: a friendly greeting, patience with language barriers, a smile in public or general respect in routine encounters.

But the survey also uncovered a sharp gap between how the world sees Filipinos and how Filipinos see themselves.

When respondents were asked to rate their own politeness on a scale of 10, the Philippines scored 8.86. That was enough to place only 22nd out of the 26 countries surveyed, well below its sixth-place standing in global perception. In other words, outsiders ranked the Philippines as one of the worlds most polite societies, while Filipinos themselves were far less generous in their self-assessment.

That disconnect is one of the more revealing parts of the study.

Seen from abroad, the Philippines appears to project civility, kindness and easy warmth. Seen from within, many Filipinos seem to believe daily life falls short of that image. The reasons are not spelled out in the survey, but the contrast suggests that outsiders may be responding to the countrys interpersonal culture, while locals may be judging themselves against the more stressful realities of life at home.

That could include everything from congestion and long commutes to pressure in public services, customer frustrations, online hostility and the broader roughness of urban life. Visitors and newcomers may notice friendliness first. Citizens living inside those systems every day may notice impatience, inconsideration or declining public manners more quickly.

There may also be a cultural factor at work.

The survey itself points to Japan as a telling comparison. Japan was ranked the worlds most polite country by a wide margin, with 35.15 per cent of respondents naming it first. Yet Japanese respondents were among the most modest in judging themselves, placing 25th in self-perception with a score of 8.73. The study notes that humility and modesty may help explain that gap. A similar instinct may be at play in the Philippines, where self-praise is often tempered by cultural restraint and where people can be quick to criticize their own society even when outsiders hold it in high regard.

By contrast, the countries that rated themselves highest were Brazil and Chile, each with a score of 9.46, followed closely by India at 9.41 and Sweden at 9.40. That suggests self-confidence and external reputation do not always move together. Sweden, for instance, ranked only seventh in the worlds perception of politeness but fourth in how its own people rated themselves. The Philippines showed the reverse pattern: strong global standing, low self-evaluation.

The survey adds another layer to the Philippine result by also measuring perceived friendliness, a related but distinct trait. Here again, the country performed strongly. The Philippines ranked eighth among the worlds friendliest nations, receiving 4.16 per cent of the vote. Canada topped that list at 10.50 per cent, followed by Brazil and Australia.

Taken together, the two rankings suggest the Philippines occupies a distinctive place in the global social imagination. It may not be seen as the most formal or most rule-bound society, but it is clearly viewed as one where people are approachable, considerate and welcoming. That combination of politeness and friendliness is often what leaves the deepest impression on foreigners, especially those moving to a new country or trying to settle into unfamiliar surroundings.

The Nordic comparison is especially striking because countries such as Sweden, Denmark and Finland are often held up internationally as benchmarks for social trust, public order and civic behaviour. Yet in this survey, respondents placed the Philippines above all three in perceived politeness. That says something about how politeness is being understood here. It is not only about efficiency, silence or rule-following. It is also about how people make others feel in ordinary moments.

For the Philippines, that distinction rings true.

Courtesy in Filipino culture is often expressed in relational ways rather than formal ones. It can show up in tone, gestures, hospitality, patience with strangers, respect for elders and an instinct to accommodate others. Those traits are often deeply visible to visitors, even if locals themselves feel standards have slipped in recent years.

The result may also resonate with millions of Filipinos overseas, many of whom are frequently praised for their work ethic, care, empathy and ability to connect across cultures. In that sense, the survey does more than flatter the country. It affirms an image that has become one of the Philippines most recognizable strengths abroad.
Tamil Nadu Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin addressed a DMK Youth Wing meeting, urging members to build on their parliamentary success for an even greater victory in the upcoming assembly elections. The DMK-led alliance has finalized its seat-sharing, with the CPI(M) contesting five seats and the Congress contesting 28. The state will vote in a single phase on April 23, with results on May 4. The election is primarily a contest between the ruling DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the AIADMK-led NDA opposition.

Udhayanidhi Stalin urges DMK youth wing for a bigger win in Tamil Nadu elections as DMK-CPI(M) finalize seat-sharing. Polls on April 23.

Madurai, March 25 Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader, Udhayanidhi Stalin, on Tuesday attended a consultative meeting of the Youth Wing administrators from Madurai and Virudhunagar districts.

Addressing the meeting, Udhayanidhi said, "There are still 30 days left for the elections. During the Parliamentary elections, all of you took the initiative as youth in the field and met the people to carry out campaign work. Because of your hard work, the DMK achieved a 100% victory in the Parliamentary elections. I have come here to urge you to secure an even greater victory in the upcoming Legislative Assembly elections."

Earlier on Monday, DMK and Communist Party of India (Marxist) 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.

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. Looking to unseat the ruling alliance are 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 UK's Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth, visited the Indian Air Force station in Gwalior to gain first-hand operational insight. The visit aimed to reinforce mutual understanding and explore enhanced convergence between the two air forces. During his three-day trip, Smyth also held high-level talks with India's Chief of Defence Staff and Air Chief Marshal. The engagement underscores the deepening defence partnership, focusing on training, operational exchanges, and intelligence collaboration.

UK Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth visits IAF Gwalior airbase for operational insight, reinforcing India-UK defence partnership and interoperability.

Gwalior, March 25 The UK Chief of the Air Staff of the Royal Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth, visited the Indian Air Force base at Air Force Station Gwalior to gain "first-hand insight" into fighter base operations and strengthen defence cooperation between the two countries.

During his visit on Tuesday, Smyth interacted with IAF personnel and observed operational aspects of the strategic fighter base. He was received by Air Marshal B Manikantan, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Central Air Command.

In a post on X, the Indian Air Force (IAF) said, "Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth, Chief of the Air Staff, RAF (UK), visited Air Force Station Gwalior on 24 Mar 2026, gaining first-hand insight into IAF fighter base operations and interacting with air warriors. He was received by Air Marshal B Manikantan, AOC-in-C, Central Air Command."

According to the Indian Air Force, the visit "reinforced mutual understanding and explored avenues for enhanced convergence and interoperability between the two Air Forces." It also highlighted the growing defence partnership between India and the United Kingdom (UK).

The post added, " The visit reinforced mutual understanding and explored avenues for enhanced convergence and interoperability between the two Air Forces."

Earlier on Tuesday, General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), held a high-level interaction with Harvey Smyth, Chief of Air Staff (CAS) of the Royal Air Force, reaffirming the growing strength of the India-United Kingdom defence partnership.

The discussion highlighted the continuing exchange of instructors as a key pillar of bilateral cooperation and emphasised significant progress in enhancing defence intelligence collaboration.

The CDS also commended the successful conduct of the 17th Military Sub Group Meeting and expressed confidence in advancing a deeper, more integrated, and future-ready defence engagement.

The UK's Chief of the Air Staff, Sir Harvey Smyth, began his three-day visit to India on Monday. 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.

- ANI
Senior US lawmakers have framed the technological competition with China across AI, semiconductors, and biotech as a critical "moral fight" for global power. They advocate for a multi-pronged strategy combining stricter export controls on advanced chips, prioritizing domestic customers, and building resilient supply chains. The discussions highlight a significant policy shift in Washington, viewing these technologies as interconnected national security battlegrounds. Key vulnerabilities include U.S. dependence on China in critical supply chains, which officials argue must be urgently addressed.

Top US lawmakers frame competition with China in AI, semiconductors, and biotech as a "moral fight," pushing for export controls and supply chain resilience.

Washington, March 25 As the Trump Administration expands its strategic competition with China across artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and biotechnology, top American lawmakers warned that the contest is not just technological but a "moral fight" that will shape global power and economic security.

At the Hill & Valley Forum in Washington, senior lawmakers outlined a multi-front strategy to counter China's rise in critical technologies, combining export controls, domestic investment, and closer coordination with allies.

Senator Jim Banks framed the artificial intelligence race in stark geopolitical terms and said that the second Cold War is related to the AI race, adding, "We can't let China win it. That's the bottom line."

He pointed to the Trump administration's AI action plan, which calls for stricter export controls on advanced semiconductor chips to China and other adversaries. Banks said his proposed GAIN AI Act - already passed in the Senate as part of the National Defense Authorization Act - is central to tightening those restrictions.

"... we need to make sure that we're not helping our biggest enemy... that's the big picture on Capitol Hill," he said.

Banks argued the stakes go beyond innovation or market leadership.

"This isn't just a technological race... This is a moral fight. And we know that the PRC is going to lie, steal, and cheat," he said.

He stressed that export controls must prevent adversaries from accessing cutting-edge American chips, while domestic demand should take priority.

"... when there is a domestic customer base in the United States of America, they should get priority for American-made chips over our biggest enemy," Banks said.

Representative John Moolenaar, Chairman of the House Select Committee on China, echoed the need for a tougher posture, even as he acknowledged the tension with traditional US economic principles.

"I still think the best case is when you have the freedom to innovate... more free trade with free countries," Moolenaar said.

But competition with China, he added, requires a shift.

"It requires almost like a defence mentality, where you're saying, 'Okay, let's use every tool possible to make sure we win this competition,'" he said.

Moolenaar highlighted a critical vulnerability - US dependence on China in key supply chains adding, " we're actually dependent on our chief rival, and we have to stop enabling them to continue to defeat us on this," he said.

He warned that adversaries could leverage American technology to accelerate their own capabilities, underscoring the need for stronger controls, supply chain resilience and workforce development.

The competition is also expanding into biotechnology, another sector increasingly viewed through a national security lens.

Senator Todd Young, Chairman of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, highlighted the importance of US leadership in the field and pointed to a comprehensive action plan submitted to Congress.

Young, speaking alongside ARPA-H Director Alicia Jackson and Curie.Bio Co-Founder Zach Weinberg, underscored the role of public-private collaboration in maintaining an edge in emerging technologies.

The discussions at the forum reflected a broader shift in Washington, where artificial intelligence, semiconductors and biotechnology are now seen as interconnected battlegrounds in strategic competition with China.

- IANS
A senior Iranian military official has declared that U.S. strategic power has turned into a strategic defeat, following President Trump's decision to step back from an ultimatum to strike Iranian power plants. The spokesperson, Lt. Col. Ebrahim Zolfaqari, directly rebutted Trump's claims of constructive conversations, with Iranian sources stating no official communication occurred. He asserted that regional security is now ensured by Iran's military power and that previous levels of U.S. investment in the region will not return. Iran's position remains uncompromising, with Zolfaqari stating they will never come to terms with the United States.

Iranian military official dismisses US diplomacy, claims American global influence has collapsed after Trump de-escalated strike threat.

Tehran, March 25 A senior Iranian military official has dismissed Washington's recent diplomatic overtures as a facade, asserting that the global influence once wielded by the United States has effectively collapsed.

According to a report by Iran's state media, Press TV, Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqari, the spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, stated on Wednesday that the "strategic power" previously flaunted by the US has now "turned into a strategic defeat."

The military official's remarks follow a significant de-escalation by US President Donald Trump, who recently stepped back from a 48-hour ultimatum to launch strikes against Iranian power plants. This shift occurred after the Islamic Republic issued a stern warning that any such aggression would result in the reciprocal targeting of every energy and power installation across the region.

Addressing the change in the American stance, Zolfaqari remarked that "if the self-proclaimed superpower of the world could have escaped this predicament, it would have done so by now. Do not call your defeat an agreement," he said.

His comments appear to be a direct rebuttal to President Trump's claims on his Truth Social platform, where the US leader suggested that both nations had engaged in "very good and constructive conversations over the past two days regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in [West Asia]."

However, Press TV cited an informed source within Tehran who flatly contradicted the American narrative, clarifying on Monday that no official communication has taken place between the two capitals.

Zolfaqari echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the era of relying on Washington's word has passed. "The era of your promises is over. Today, there are only two fronts in the world: truth and falsehood. And every freedom-seeking pursuer of truth will not be deceived by your media waves," he added.

The spokesperson further mocked the perceived internal chaos within the US administration, sarcastically questioning if the "level of your infighting reached the point of negotiating with yourselves?" This rhetoric highlights the deep-seated skepticism in Tehran regarding the current American diplomatic strategy.

Turning to the economic future of the region, Press TV reported that Zolfaqari delivered a grim assessment for Western interests, asserting that neither previous levels of US investments nor former energy and oil prices would ever return.

He maintained that regional security is now dictated by Tehran's military capabilities, stating that "stability in the region is ensured by the powerful hand of our armed forces," and further defining the situation as "stability through [our] power."

The spokesperson made it clear that there would be no return to the previous status quo. He insisted that such a possibility is off the table unless "the very thought of taking [military] action against the Iranian nation is completely erased from your vile minds."

As noted by Press TV, Zolfaqari reaffirmed Iran's uncompromising position, declaring that "our first and last word from day one has been, is, and will be: someone like us will not come to terms with someone like you--not now, and not ever."

- ANI
Israel's Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, stated that Israel does not trust countries with which it lacks diplomatic relations, indirectly referencing Pakistan's reported offer to broker US-Iran talks. He emphasized that Israel's trust lies in its own judgment and that of key allies like the United States. The envoy reaffirmed the expanding strategic and defence partnership with India, highlighted by recent agreements signed during Prime Minister Modi's visit. The interaction also recalled strong mutual solidarity against terrorism, with Israeli PM Netanyahu having backed India's response to past attacks.

Israeli envoy Reuven Azar says Israel trusts its own judgment and the US, not nations like Pakistan with which it lacks diplomatic relations.

New Delhi, March 25 Israel does not place trust in countries with which it lacks diplomatic relations, Israeli Ambassador to India Reuven Azar said, responding to a question on whether Tel Aviv trusts Pakistan in the context of the ongoing Iran conflict and related diplomatic efforts.

In an exclusive interaction with IANS, Azar emphasised that Israel's approach is guided by its own assessment and that of key allies.

"We are not going to engage in trusting a country that doesn't have diplomatic relations with us. What we trust is our judgment and the judgment of the President of the United States," the Israeli envoy told IANS.

His remarks come amid reports suggesting that Pakistan has engaged with the US on the West Asia conflict and has offered to host peace talks involving countries linked to the crisis.

Islamabad, which has its own conflict with Kabul, has projected itself as a potential venue for dialogue, citing its ties with both Washington and Tehran, even as it continues to strike civilians and civilian infrastructures in Afghanistan.

When asked about the United States' reported plans to invest in Pakistan's Balochistan province, and whether Israel sees any implications for India-Israel ties, Azar said the matter does not directly concern Israel, while reaffirming close cooperation with New Delhi.

"Israel is not connected to that. We have a very vast cooperation with India. Fortunately, thanks to the visit of Prime Minister Modi, we have been able to advance and sign major agreements, both in the defence sector and in other sectors," he said.

"We will expand, quite substantially, our industrial defence cooperation, government-to-government ties in order to create technological solutions that give a good answer in the fight against terrorism," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Israel in February, during which both nations elevated their bilateral ties to a special strategic partnership. The visit saw the signing of more than 16 agreements across sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, defence, agriculture and space cooperation.

India and Israel also reiterated their commitment to strengthening the global fight against terrorism and expressed support for peace efforts in Gaza.

In the past, Israel has extended strong diplomatic backing to India following terror incidents. After the Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 tourists were killed by Pakistan-backed terrorists, Israel was among the first countries to express solidarity and support for India's right to self-defence.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally spoke to Prime Minister Modi to condemn the attack and conveyed solidarity, drawing parallels with the October 7 attacks in Israel. He also asserted that there should be no safe haven for terrorism.

Following the attack, India launched Operation Sindoor targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Azar had also stated on X that Israel supports India's right to self-defence, adding that "terrorists should know there's no place to hide from their heinous crimes."

Netanyahu was among the first global leaders to publicly back India's response, reiterating that every nation has the fundamental right to protect its citizens from cross-border threats.

- IANS
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami chairs cabinet meet, reviews gas supply, and urges public unity to navigate challenges stemming from global tensions.

Dehradun, March 25 Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday chaired a high-level state cabinet meeting in Dehradun to discuss the state's response to the ongoing global situation. Emphasising the need for regional and national cooperation, the Chief Minister urged the effective utilisation of all available resources to overcome current challenges and ensure the state's continued progress.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, while talking to the reporters, said, "Prime Minister Modi has also laid out all the matters before the countrymen yesterday. This is a global crisis, so at such a time, we must work together by making full use of the resources we have. We will face this moment too and move ahead from this as well..."



Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited a restaurant in the Garhi Cantt area of Dehradun as part of efforts to review the supply of cooking gas. He informed hotel and restaurant operators that there is no severe gas shortage at present.



However, he added that if the need arises in the coming days, citizens will have to face the challenge with unity, just as they did during the COVID-19 pandemic, a release said.



During his visit, the Chief Minister enquired about gas supply from the restaurant owner, who stated that although there has been a slight reduction in supply, gas is still being received regularly.



The owner also mentioned that they are using tandoors more frequently to reduce gas consumption. Appreciating this initiative, the Chief Minister directed the administration to make necessary arrangements for alternative energy sources.



He further stated that gas supply is currently continuing and that the central government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is making every effort to ensure its smooth availability.



Appealing to hotel and restaurant operators as well as the general public, he said that if required, the nation will once again come together to tackle this challenge. Just as people showed unity and patience during the COVID period, the same spirit will be needed again.



The Chief Minister also suggested that alternatives like induction cooking and other methods can be used as substitutes for gas. He assured that the government is fully prepared to assist people in every possible way.





- ANI
Bangladesh State Minister Ishraque Hossain has expressed lasting gratitude for India's support during the 1971 Liberation War against Pakistan. He stated that India's assistance was crucial in saving lives and achieving victory. The remarks come ahead of Bangladesh's Independence Day, which follows the solemn observation of Genocide Day on March 25, marking the start of Pakistan's brutal 1971 crackdown. The war concluded with Pakistan's surrender on December 16, 1971, after India provided military training, arms, and direct armed forces participation.

Bangladesh State Minister Ishraque Hossain expresses enduring gratitude for India's crucial military and humanitarian aid during the 1971 Liberation War.

Dhaka, March 25 Bangladesh's State Minister for Liberation War Affairs, Ishraque Hossain, on Wednesday, expressed gratitude to India for its support during the 1971 Liberation War against Pakistan, saying the assistance helped the country achieve victory and save countless lives.

Speaking to ANI ahead of Bangladesh's Independence Day, Hossain said that the people of Bangladesh will always remember India's role in their struggle for freedom.

"As a citizen of Bangladesh and someone who believes in the spirit of 1971 and our freedom, the help that India extended towards us will always be appreciated. India helped us in the war, and because of that support, we were able to save more lives and ultimately achieve victory. We thank India for that," Hossain told ANI in an interview in Dhaka.

Bangladesh observes March 25 as Genocide Day, commemorating the brutal crackdown launched by Pakistani forces in 1971. On that night, known as the Black Night, the Pakistani military initiated Operation Searchlight, carrying out widespread killings and destruction across what was then East Pakistan.

During the operation, independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, widely known as Bangabandhu, was arrested by Pakistani forces as violence spread across Dhaka and other regions.

The following day, March 26, is celebrated as Bangladesh's Great Independence and National Day, marking the country's declaration of independence. The liberation struggle saw significant support from India, including military training for freedom fighters, supply of arms and ammunition, and eventually direct participation by the Indian armed forces.

The war culminated on December 16, 1971, when Pakistani forces surrendered to the joint command of Indian troops and Bangladeshi freedom fighters, leading to the birth of Bangladesh as an independent nation.

- ANI
The Indian government has made the safety of its citizens in the West Asia conflict zone its foremost priority, successfully repatriating over 3.75 lakh Indians. It is ensuring energy security by maintaining high refinery capacity, diversifying crude imports to 41 countries, and building strategic petroleum reserves. Simultaneously, the administration is cracking down on hoarding and black marketing while launching major domestic initiatives like a Rs 70,000-crore shipbuilding mission to reduce import dependence. Diplomatic efforts continue with Gulf nations, Iran, Israel, and the US to de-escalate tensions and reopen key maritime routes.

Indian govt prioritizes citizen safety, energy security & self-reliance amid West Asia conflict. Over 3.75 lakh Indians repatriated, fuel stocks secure.

New Delhi, March 25 Amid the West Asia crisis, the Indian government is leaving no stone unturned when it comes to the safety of Indians in conflict zone, gas and fuel availability, long-term energy security measures and push for self-reliance across sectors.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi informed the Rajya Sabha that the government's first concern is safeguarding citizens and more than 3.75 lakh Indians have been repatriated from the conflict zone (including over 700 medical students from Iran) and all necessary assistance and medical care is being provided to affected families.

Moreover, Prime Minister has personally held two rounds of calls with leaders of most West Asian nations and India remains in continuous contact with Gulf countries as well as Iran, Israel and the United States to restore peace. These discussions include de-escalation and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

India has also categorically opposed attacks on civilians, civil infrastructure and energy/transport systems, declaring them unacceptable, and has urged all parties to seek a peaceful resolution.

Notably, all Indian refineries are operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories, domestic LPG production has increased, and petrol/diesel stocks are sufficient; panic buying in some areas is being driven by rumours that the government has debunked.

The government has ensured that ships carrying crude oil and LPG have arrived from many countries, and it continues to work on contingency plans to keep supplies uninterrupted.

In the meantime, India has diversified its crude/LNG/LPG imports from 27 to 41 countries, built strategic petroleum reserves exceeding 53 lakh tonnes (with work underway to reach 65 lakh tonnes) and enhanced refining capacity. The government is also promoting piped natural gas (PNG) alongside LPG and boosting domestic LPG production.

Further, to reduce dependence on foreign shipping and imports, the government has launched a Rs 70,000-crore 'Made-in-India' shipbuilding mission and is expanding shipbuilding, ship-breaking and maintenance capacity; it has similarly strengthened the defence sector to manufacture most weaponry domestically.

PM Modi also assured that adequate fertiliser supplies are prepared, and the government will ensure that farmers do not bear the burden of the crisis. States have been urged to keep benefits like the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana flowing to the poor, labourers and migrant workers, and to act against hoarders.

Prioritising gas supply to restaurants, dhabas, canteens and migrant labourers, the Centre restored 20 per cent commercial LPG supply and subsequently increased allocations so that overall commercial LPG supply to States/UTs is up to 50 per cent.

Priority sectors continue to receive 100 per cent domestic PNG and CNG supplies, while industrial/commercial consumers are receiving about 80 per cent of normal gas use. Over 7,500 PNG connections were issued/activated in one day.

In strict action against hoarding and black marketing, states are empowered under the Essential Commodities Act and LPG Control Order to crack down on malpractices; 32 States/UTs have set up control rooms and 33 have district monitoring committees.

Enforcement agencies have conducted about 3,400 raids and seized around 1,000 cylinders, registered 642 FIRs and arrested 155 people, while PSU Oil Marketing Companies have carried out over 1,500 surprise inspections.

When it comes to maritime and shipping safety, all Indian seafarers in the Persian Gulf are safe, with no incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels. Two Indian LPG ships - Pine Gas and Jag Vasant - have crossed the Strait of Hormuz and are en route to Indian ports.

The Directorate General of Shipping is monitoring 20 Indian-flagged vessels carrying about 540 seafarers, operates a 247 control room and has already repatriated more than 585 seafarers. Ports across India have added storage space and continue cargo operations smoothly.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian missions are operating 247 helplines, engaging with community organisations and facilitating visas. Since February 28, about 4.02 lakh passengers have returned to India.

Flights continue from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar, while alternative routes via Saudi Arabia and Armenia/Azerbaijan/Jordan are assisting Indians in Kuwait, Bahrain, Iran and Israel.

- IANS
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has declared that Iran will sustain defensive and retaliatory measures until the United States and Israel regret their aggression. This statement followed a new wave of IRGC missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli intelligence and military facilities. Concurrently, US President Trump has claimed his negotiations indicate a significant change within the Iranian leadership. The ongoing strikes and counter-strikes continue to destabilize the West Asia region.

Iran's FM pledges continued defensive measures against US & Israel, as IRGC launches strikes and Trump claims negotiations signal regime change.

Tehran, March 25 The messaging coming out of Tehran continues to be one of defiance even as US President Trump claims that negotiations to end the conflict are on. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has pledged that Iran will sustain its defensive and retaliatory measures until the United States and the Israeli regime "regret" their aggression.

Araghchi made the remarks during a telephone conversation with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. According to Press TV, Araghchi detailed Washington's and Tel Aviv's attacks targeting the Islamic Republic's civilian and defence infrastructure calling it the primary cause of the current instability in the region.

"Iran will defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity until all objectives are achieved and the enemy is made to regret its violent aggression," he added.

He also stressed that the insecurity in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz was directly linked to the atrocities.

"The measures and precautions taken by Iran are in accordance with international law and are aimed at defending Iran's sovereignty and national security, while preventing aggressors from misusing this waterway to carry out acts of aggression against Iran."

Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said it had launched a fresh wave of retaliatory strikes targeting Israel's intelligence facilities in Tel Aviv.

The IRGC's Public Relations Department said it had deployed powerful Kheybar Shekan, Emad, and Sejjil missiles alongside IRGC Aerospace Force kamikaze drones, breaching Israel's multi-layered air defence systems. The missiles, it stated, targeted Israel's intelligence facilities in northern and central Tel Aviv, as well as military commercial and support centres in Ramat Gan and the Negev. The missiles also hit Israel's southern military logistics and command headquarters in Beersheba.

This comes even as US President Trump claimed that his negotiations were going on with the right kind of people in Iran and that this signified a regime change.

"They are going to make a deal... They gave us a present yesterday, and it arrived today. It was a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money... It was a very significant price, and they gave it to us, and they said that they were going to give it. That meant one thing to me: that we are dealing with the right people... It was oil and gas related... The leadership was killed. All gone. Khamenei was all gone, as the expression goes, the past Supreme Leader. Then the new Supreme Leader was, at a minimum, racked up pretty good... We are dealing with a group of people who turned out. The present they gave to us was very significant... They are the only ones that could have done it... It was related to the flow, to the Strait (of Hormuz). We have a new group, and we can easily do that, but let's see how they turn out. This is a change in the regime because the leaders are all very different from the ones that we started off with, who created all those problems," he said.

With strikes and counter strikes still on, peace in the troubled West Asia region remains elusive.

- ANI
An Iranian military spokesperson has publicly mocked U.S. President Donald Trump's assertions that negotiations with Iran are underway and the conflict is ending. The spokesperson stated the U.S. is merely "negotiating with yourselves" and that regional stability is guaranteed only by Iran's armed forces. Trump had claimed total military dominance, saying Iran's forces were "dead" and the U.S. had won. Despite Trump's overture, Iran maintains a belligerent stance, with no formal negotiations and continued retaliatory strikes.

Iranian military HQ spokesperson derides Trump's claims of ongoing negotiations and US victory, vowing no peace with US-Israel forces.

Tehran, March 25 Iran Khatam al-Anbia Headquarters spokesperson mocked the claims of US President Donald Trump where he had claimed that the US was negotiating with Iran and the war was coming to an end.

In a video posted by Fars News on Wednesday, the Military spokesperson took a jibe at the US saying that the situation had reached a stage where the Americans were negotiating with themselves.

"The strategic power you used to boast about has now turned into a strategic defeat...Do not label your defeat as an 'agreement.' The era of your promises has come to an end. Today, there are two fronts in the world: Truth and Falsehood. No freedom-seeking truth-seeker will be deceived by your media waves. The level of your internal conflicts has reached the stage where you are negotiating with yourselves. There will be no more talk of your investments in the region, nor will you ever see the former prices of energy and oil again, until you understand that stability in this region is guaranteed only by the powerful hand of our armed forces," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson further underlined that the Iranian forces would never come to terms with the US-Israel forces.

"Stability through power. We explicitly declare: until we will it, no situation will return to its previous state. This will is established only when the thought of any action against the Iranian nation is completely erased from your filthy minds. Our first and last word, from the very first day, has been, is, and will remain: someone like us will never come to terms with someone like you. Not now, and not ever," he said.

US President Trump had earlier confirmed that negotiations were on with Iran claiming that the war was going to end.

"We're in negotiations right now. I can tell you, they'd like to make a deal and who wouldn't if you were there? Look, their navy's gone, their air force is gone, their communications are gone. pretty much everything they have is gone. I think we are going to end it. I cannot tell you for sure. We have won this... We literally have planes flying over Tehran and other parts of their country. They can't do a thing about it. For instance, if I want to take down that power plant, they can't do a thing about it... They are totally defeated... Militarily, they are dead," he said.

There has however been no formal response from the Iranian side to the latest overture from Trump. The Iranians on Tuesday had denied reports of any negotiations with the US claiming that peace would only be achieved once US-Israel stopped its campaign. With the Iranian military taking a belligerent stand even as it launched wave 80 of its retaliatory strikes, peace remains elusive in West Asia.

- ANI
XIONG'AN, Hebei Province, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Monday called for efforts to build the Xiong'an New Area in north China's Hebei Province into an innovation hub in the new era and a model of promoting high-quality development. Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspected the Xiong'an New Area on Monday, where he also chaired a symposium on further advancing the high-quality construction and development of the new area. He emphasized the need to firmly uphold Xiong'an New Area's primary functional positioning as the major recipient of functions relieved from Beijing that are non-essential to its role as China's capital. The new area should strengthen endogenous development momentum through reform and innovation, and unlock vitality via reasonable concentration of production factors and resources, Xi said. On Monday morning, Xi arrived in Xiong'an and traveled by vehicle to inspect construction progress in the start-up zone. He then visited China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd., which moved over 1,000 employees to Xiong'an in October 2025, and heard briefings on the company's relocation, industrial layout and innovative development. At the company, he had a cordial exchange with representatives of officials and staff from relocated organizations already operating in the new area and those currently under construction, to learn about their life and work. Xi also visited the Xiong'an campus of Beijing No. 4 High School, where he conversed with teachers and students in the classroom to learn about the teaching situation there. In the school canteen, he examined the dining environment and the variety of dishes available. On Monday afternoon, Xi chaired the symposium and delivered an important speech. He acknowledged that important progress has been achieved in the construction and development of the Xiong'an New Area. It has been fully proved that the CPC Central Committee's decision to develop the new area is entirely correct, and all related work has been solid and effective, he added. Xi stressed efforts to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and integrate them into the new area in a more vigorous and orderly manner, and advance the construction of relocation projects for state-owned enterprises directly administered by the central government, universities and hospitals in an active, steady and phased manner. Xi stressed systematic planning and the integrated advancement of high-quality development and efficient governance, urging efforts to improve the public service system, safeguard and enhance people's well-being, and actively explore future-oriented smart city management models. Xiong'an must develop a modern industrial system suited to its realities, Xi said, noting that it should advance the high-standard development of a science park to accelerate the application of scientific and technological achievements. The new area should cultivate clusters of emerging industries and industries of the future, pioneer the implementation of innovative policies in science and technology, finance and other fields, and create a market-oriented and law-based business environment that is up to international standards, he added. Xi further urged the new area to strengthen Party leadership and Party building while firmly establishing and practicing a correct understanding of governance performance. Xi was accompanied by Premier Li Qiang, Cai Qi, director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, and Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, who are all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
We knew Toyota wanted to turn Century into something bigger than a single model name, but now those ambitions have taken on a very visible form. In Tokyos Aoyama district, the company has opened the first standalone retail space dedicated entirely to Century, called Century Studio. Housed in what was once a Lexus showroom, the new space marks a deliberate move by Toyota into the ultra-luxury segment, well above anything that has traditionally worn the companys badge.

That approach may seem unusual by Western retail standards, but it makes more sense in Japan, where different vehicle categories often have separate showrooms.

A Toyota Yaris and a Highlander, for example, are not typically presented side by side in the same kind of retail setting. Sales spaces are often divided by vehicle size, price point, prestige, and intended purpose. In that context, a dedicated Century location feels less like a surprise and more like a statement of intent.

A Space Designed To Link Heritage And Ambition

Photo Courtesy: Toyota.

From the moment you step into Century Studio, it is clear this is not an ordinary dealership. At the center of the display are two vehicles that symbolically connect the past and the future of the nameplate: a classic 1967 Toyota Century sedan and the bold modern Toyota Century Coupe concept. Placing those two machines together in the same room feels like a carefully crafted message. Tradition and innovation are now being asked to share the same stage.

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For decades, the Century represented a very specific kind of discreet power. As a chauffeur-oriented luxury sedan, it embodied the Japanese interpretation of authority and prestige. First powered by a V8 and later by a V12, it built its reputation without chasing flash or excess. Its design changed only gradually over the years, and that restraint became part of its identity. The Century never needed to shout. Its appeal came from quiet confidence, more like a perfectly tailored suit than a loud display of wealth.

Now Toyota appears ready to take that legacy in a new direction. The Century Coupe concept, first shown publicly at a Tokyo auto show, signals a new chapter for the brand, one with more emphasis on performance as well as luxury. According to the available information, the concept uses a twin-turbo V12 paired with a plug-in hybrid system, producing more than 800 hp. That suggests Toyota is not interested in following the market with a simple all-electric formula. Instead, it seems determined to define "ultra luxury" on its own terms.

More Than A Showroom

Photo Courtesy: Autorepublika.

Century Studio itself reflects that philosophy. The bright, minimalist look of the former Lexus showroom has been replaced with subtler tones and elements influenced by traditional Japanese design. The result is less like a conventional car dealership and more like a curated luxury environment. It is meant to feel exclusive, not transactional.

Its location reinforces that impression. Set along National Route 246 in Aoyama, one of Tokyos most prestigious neighborhoods, the studio places Century right in the middle of a district associated with fashion, architecture, and wealth. Toyota is making it clear where it sees the future of Century. This is not being framed as a niche domestic sedan anymore. It is being presented as a standalone luxury identity with serious aspirations.

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That message carries even more weight because company chairman Akio Toyoda personally introduced the new concept. When the head of Toyota gives that level of attention to a project, it becomes much easier to see that Century is not just another branding exercise. It is part of a broader strategy to stretch Toyotas reach into territory usually occupied by specialist luxury brands.

The Real Test Lies Outside Japan

Photo Courtesy: Autorepublika.

That, of course, is where the challenge becomes much more complicated. Toyota is moving into a space long dominated by names like Bentley and Rolls-Royce. The century has deep heritage and strong symbolic value in Japan, but its profile in Europe and the United States is still extremely limited. That creates the biggest test of all, one that goes beyond product quality. Toyota would also have to change how global buyers perceive the brand itself.

For now, the company appears focused on Japan, China, and selected Middle Eastern markets, where there may already be an audience ready for this level of luxury. Entering Europe or the U.S. would require much more than launching an expensive new vehicle. It would likely demand a new retail strategy, a carefully managed brand repositioning, and buyers willing to accept Toyota in a price and status category it has never truly occupied before.

Whether Century will eventually become a global ultra-luxury symbol on equal footing with the most prestigious names in the industry remains an open question. Toyota has now made its intentions visible. The next step is proving that Century can be more than a domestic icon and evolve into a luxury brand with real international weight. Time, as always, will deliver the final answer.

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This article originally appeared on Autorepublika.com and has been republished with permission by Guessing Headlights. AI-assisted translation was used, followed by human editing and review.

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If you've ever dreamed of stretching out in the back of a BMW like a European executive being chauffeured to a very important cheese tasting, we have some news for you: BMW has officially looked at the American market, consulted its spreadsheets, and decided you're not that person.

BMW's product chief Bernd Korber confirmed in a recent interview that long-wheelbase (LWB) vehicles, those gloriously stretched versions of sedans with extra legroom engineered specifically for rear passengers, will not be coming to the United States. And before you fire off an angry letter, know that the decision isn't arbitrary. It's data-driven, which is the corporate way of saying "we asked, and you said no."

The core issue is simple: American car buyers overwhelmingly prefer to sit in the driver's seat, not the backseat. Long-wheelbase models are designed for markets where being driven around is a lifestyle, not just something that happens when you've had one too many at the company holiday party. In countries like China, extended versions of the 3 Series, 5 Series, and even electric models like the iX3 are genuine hits because rear-seat comfort is a serious priority. In the U.S., rear-seat comfort is something you consider for about 45 seconds before deciding you'd rather have a third-row SUV.

America Chose the Truck Lane, and BMW Is Fine With That

Photo Courtesy: BMW.

The broader cultural shift here is hard to ignore. Over the past decade, the American sedan has gone from family staple to endangered species. Buyers have migrated to SUVs and crossovers so aggressively that traditional sedans have been practically pushed off dealership lots. And what do Americans want from those SUVs? Cargo room. Flexibility. A seating position that makes them feel like they're piloting something important. What they do not want, apparently, is a sedan that's been quietly extended by a few inches in the middle like someone left it in the oven too long.

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That creates a genuinely funny contradiction. BMW goes to the effort of engineering longer, more luxurious versions of its sedans for global markets, and the one country famous for loving bigger everything is the one saying "no thanks, we're good." It turns out "bigger" only counts when it applies to cup holders and cargo space, not rear-seat legroom.

BMW's position also draws a sharp contrast with Mercedes-Benz, which continues to offer long-wheelbase luxury sedans in America. That's a strategic fork in the road: Mercedes is betting that there's enough demand from buyers who want a taste of that chauffeured lifestyle, while BMW is betting that its U.S. customers picked this brand specifically because they want to drive it themselves. Given how BMW has spent decades cultivating its "Ultimate Driving Machine" image, choosing the driver's perspective over the passenger's makes a certain kind of brand sense.

Until American preferences take a hard turn toward sitting in the back and letting someone else handle the freeway, long-wheelbase BMWs will stay exactly where the data says they belong: everywhere but here.
Nepal and Afghanistan show how sudden donor withdrawal can disrupt contraception, nutrition, vaccination, primary care, and outbreak control, and why the paper argues that future exits should be governed by clear rules, shared accountability, and protected essential services.

Editorial: Not Every Country Can Absorb a Shock: Unequal Capacity to Withstand World Health Organization Aid Cuts. Image Credit: AustralianCamera / Shutterstock

In a recent perspective published in the journal Public Health Challenges , Nepalese author Animesh Ghimire examined how reductions in external health aid affect vulnerable health systems and proposed governance strategies to minimize disruption.

Declining Global Health Aid and Service Risks

In 2025, the World Health Organization ( WHO ) warned that external health aid to low- and middle-income countries could fall by up to 40%, raising concerns about the sustainability of essential health services.

Many low- and middle-income countries have immunization, nutrition, and disease control programs that depend heavily on donor support; however, an abrupt funding decline can cause a "shock" to service delivery, supply chains, and workforce stability.

As global funding priorities shift, understanding how systems respond becomes critical. The perspective argues that clearer, fairer transition rules are needed to reduce harm when aid is withdrawn.

Unequal Capacity to Absorb Health System Shocks

Responses to health system funding shocks vary across different countries. In some cases, a country has either sufficient funds or has the infrastructure in place for a robust public services system, such as healthcare. In contrast, many low-income countries are unable to absorb, adapt, or transform in response to funding cuts, so when financial shocks hit them, they experience widespread dislocation and problems across the system.

In practical terms, this means that a single cut in funding can affect medication availability, healthcare, surveillance, and service delivery. This shows how economic shocks are public health crises; they do not occur in isolation; rather, they occur on a continuum and create multiple problems.

Nepal Health System Strain from Aid Withdrawal

Nepal provides a clear example of how aid withdrawal affects multiple health services at once. For years, Nepal relied on the United States Agency for International Development ( USAID ) to fund basic health services, including nutrition, vaccines, and family planning.

When this support declined in 2025, health facilities reported shortages of contraceptives such as Depo-Provera injections and intrauterine devices. Meanwhile, the price of imported supplies rose due to currency fluctuations, further widening the funding gap. This implied that more people resorted to public facilities that were already under strain.

Nutrition programs were also affected, as child malnutrition and maternal health initiatives that were previously funded faced uncertainty. Although Nepal had reduced child stunting significantly over the past decades, these gains became fragile under funding cuts. Immunization programs that depend on both domestic and international financing have also been impacted, thus jeopardizing efforts to lower child mortality.

These types of interruptions illustrate one common theme: aid withdrawal does not just impact one program; it erodes the entire health care system. The aftereffects of aid withdrawal may include disruptions to vaccine supply, contraceptive access, and maternal care services, with broader consequences for population health.

Afghanistan Health System Collapses Under Funding Cuts

The situation in Afghanistan shows a similar pattern in a more fragile setting, as by March 2025, funding shortages had placed 80% of WHO-supported health facilities at risk of closure by June, with millions potentially losing access to care.

This collapse affected multiple services simultaneously. Primary healthcare clinics shut down, leaving communities without basic treatment for infections and chronic diseases. Nutrition programs are weakened in a country already facing food insecurity. Disease surveillance systems also weakened as WHO-led coordination structures lost staff and logistical support, making it harder to detect outbreaks.

During this period, cases of measles, malaria, and other infectious diseases increased, and without functioning clinics, detecting and responding to them became more difficult. Social factors made things even worse. Restrictions on womens employment limited access to female healthcare providers. When facilities closed, these barriers intensified, disproportionately affecting women and children.

This perspective highlights the interaction between financial shocks and previously existing vulnerabilities. The withdrawal of assistance causes not only a decline in the level of services but can also rapidly lead to the collapse of the entire system within fragile environments.

Rethinking Health System Resilience Frameworks

While many global health policies focus on "building resilience" by encouraging countries to adapt their systems to funding losses, the reality is that global funding decisions made by international agencies and governments have a significant impact on countries' health outcomes.

In situations where assistance is withdrawn without notice, there will be a group of people who no longer have access to services; this is an ethical dilemma regarding accountability within the global health governance system.

There are foreseeable harms from poorly governed exits, such as missed vaccinations, illnesses left untreated, and reduced continuity of essential care. Understanding how this affects people is critical when trying to create policy.

Transition Discipline Framework for Aid Withdrawal

To address these challenges, transition discipline is proposed as a governance framework. It relies on principles like a set grace period, a minimum package of essential services, and a transparent plan.

A grace period allows countries time to manage budgets during funding reductions. A minimum service package protects essential services like vaccines, maternal care, and disease monitoring. A joint transition plan clarifies responsibilities between donors and governments. In real life, this approach could prevent sudden disruptions like vaccine shortages or clinic closures and reduce harm to vulnerable populations.

Implications for Global Health Policy and Governance

The reduction in external health aid exposes critical weaknesses in global health systems, particularly in countries with high donor dependence. The cases of Nepal and Afghanistan show that abrupt funding cuts disrupt multiple services simultaneously, with potentially wide-reaching effects on access to care.

These cases indicate a need to shift away from the current focus on resilience as a narrative and to include the governance of the aid withdrawal process as well. Transition discipline defines a process for transitioning support that provides predictability, transparency, and ethical management of funding reductions.

By developing strong links between funding through donor accountability and planning, global health systems can more effectively protect essential services and reduce avoidable harm during the period of transition from financial assistance.
A technique that transforms immune cells into cancer-seeking bloodhounds may overcome a roadblock that has hampered immunotherapy for solid tumors, according to a new study by Stanford Medicine researchers.

The approach equips certain types of immune cells with proteins on their surfaces that can recognize byproducts of cancer cells' abnormal metabolism diffusing in the spaces between cells and stimulates the immune cells to migrate toward the tumor.

It differs from another common immunotherapy, called CAR-T cell therapy, in that CAR-T cells are engineered to have receptors that recognize a protein tethered to the surface of a cancer cell, rather than small molecules released into the extracellular spaces.

Arming CAR-T cells with specific metabolite-sensing receptors markedly increased the therapies' effectiveness.

We found that when we equip immune cells with receptors that sense metabolites released by cancer cells, they can sense the tumor, migrate toward it, infiltrate it and control tumor growth, which markedly enhances the survival of mice with human breast and ovarian cancers." Livnat Jerby, PhD, assistant professor of genetics

Jerby is the senior author of the research, which was published March 23 in Nature Immunology. Postdoctoral scholar Young-Min Kim, PhD, is the lead author of the study.

An innovative therapy has limits

CAR-T cell therapy has transformed the treatment of several blood cancers since it was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2017 for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. But it's been less successful in patients with solid tumors. The thought among the CAR-T research community has been that the CAR-T cells, which are prone to excessive signaling, become exhausted before they can eliminate solid tumors. Additionally, unlike in blood cancers, it is difficult to identify molecular targets on solid tumors that are found only on the cancer cells and not on normal tissue.

"There have been many studies trying to overcome T cell exhaustion," Jerby said. "But our study supports and was driven by the notion that the problem with treating solid tumors is also a spatial issue. Too few T cells are getting into the tumor."

In short, if CAR-T cells can't get to the cancer cells, their cancer cell killing potential goes untapped. Jerby and her lab members wanted to know if it is possible to tweak cancer-killing immune cells so they can migrate more successfully into solid tumors.

Chemokines, a subset of proteins called cytokines, are known to attract immune cells to solid tumors as well as sites of infection, inflammation and injury; they generally play an important role in immune cell migration. The researchers first suspected that engineering immune cells to express chemokine receptors could enhance their migration to solid tumors, but they also wanted to examine whether additional genes could be used for this purpose.

To approach the question agnostically, they compared the level of different RNA molecules (the genetic material that serves as information for protein production) between breast cancer tumors and blood samples from 22 breast cancer patients - looking for genes that were expressed more highly in immune cells present in the tumor compared with those circulating in the blood. They also mined a database of RNA expression levels in a specific type of immune cell called a natural killer, or NK, cell in more than 700 patients and 24 types of cancer.

After identifying 256 candidate genes for further study, the researchers used a genetic engineering technique called CRISPR to individually activate each of the genes in human NK cells grown in the laboratory and infused these cells into mice bearing human breast or ovarian cancers. They then removed the tumors from the animals and analyzed how many NK cells had infiltrated the tumors.

A 'natural killers' plot twist

"We basically let these NK cells compete against one another to identify the genes that drive migration to and into the tumors," Jerby said. "Surprisingly, we didn't see many chemokine receptors among the winners. What came up were receptors that recognize bioactive, chemoattracting metabolites that have not been studied nearly as much in the context of cell engineering and tumor immunology. And we saw the same hits, time after time in different model systems with different screens and different experimental settings. It was quite striking."

In contrast to chemokines, which are proteins, chemoattracting metabolites are small molecules, fats or ions that can attract various cell types, including immune cells, to specific locations in the body.

Jerby and her colleagues found that NK cells that had been engineered to express one of six genes were consistently better at infiltrating breast and ovarian tumors in the animals, migrating specifically to cancer cells and the factors they release. Because the genes they identified encode proteins belonging to a class of receptors called G-protein coupled receptors, or GPCRs, the researchers coined the term tumor-homing GPRs, or thGPRs.

The thGPRs identified are known to recognize and migrate toward specific types of phospholipids, fatty acids and derivatives of cholesterol, which are generated by cancer cells in their headlong dash to proliferate. The study's analyses of patient data indicate that these metabolites recruit tumor-friendly immune cells, creating an environment that supports tumor growth and resists drug treatment. But they can also serve as a smoking gun, indicating a tumor is nearby.

"It's been known for decades that cancer cells are metabolically unique in many ways," Jerby said. "Clearly there are certain metabolic features that either directly aid tumor growth or are a byproduct of uncontrolled cell proliferation. These features are routinely exploited for cancer diagnostic scans such as PET imaging, which pinpoints areas in the body with high metabolic activity."

Chemoattracting metabolites stimulate responding cells to migrate toward higher concentrations of the target to reach the signaling cells - a kind of "follow the yellow brick road" approach in which the path widens and becomes easier to follow as the destination is neared. The researchers exploited this feature to equip NK or killer T cells to track down and infiltrate tumors based on their telltale metabolite trails.

Examining this therapeutic approach the researchers focused on one of the thGPRs, GPR183, in breast cancer. GPR183 is a receptor of oxidized forms of cholesterol called GPR183. Engineering NK or T cells to express GPR183 on their surfaces markedly enhanced the ability of the cells to migrate toward cancer cells in laboratory dishes or in mice. Expressing GPR183 on the surface of NK cells, CAR-NK cells, CAR-T cells and other types of tumor reactive T cells led to significantly better tumor control and survival of laboratory mice with breast cancer tumors.

"We saw a more than doubling in the number of complete responses in the animals," Jerby said. "T cells engineered to express GPR183 on their surfaces were far better at completely eradicating highly aggressive breast tumors. The tumors did not come back, and the mice went back to being healthy."

Jerby and her lab members are now investigating whether thGPRs can be modified to recognize other tumor metabolites that are not normally chemoattracting as navigation cues, or to have immune cells interpret tumor metabolites as "on switches" to become killing machines only in the tumor. They are also moving toward testing the GPR183-engineered cells in clinical trials and testing the other thGPRs for their therapeutic potential.

"To the best of our knowledge, no one has tried to use cancer metabolism, a hallmark of drug resistance and aggressive tumor growth, to attract cancer-killing immune cells to the tumor," Jerby said. "But our study uncovered the potential of this approach, and the results are quite promising."

Jerby is a member of the Stanford Cancer Institute, Bio-X and a Chan Zuckerberg Biohub investigator.

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (grant U01HG012069), the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, Under One Umbrella and the Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford's Discovery Innovation Funds, the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, the National Research Foundation of Korea, the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, the Department of Defense, and Alba Tull Molecular Therapeutics Award for Innovative Medicines.

Stanford University has filed a patent based on the research in which Jerby and Kim are named as inventors.
In emergency medicine, triage differentiates patients who require immediate attention from those who can safely wait for care. When it comes to children's mental or behavioral health, however, triage scores were found to be inaccurate in two-thirds of the cases when compared to the level of care the child actually received during their emergency visit, according to a new study published in JAMA Network Open. Under-triage, or assignment of a lower severity score than the level of care that was needed, was more likely for children who were Black, Hispanic, and those who preferred Spanish compared to English.

Our study was the first to examine rates of mis-triage in pediatric emergency departments when children present for mental or behavioral health concerns. When triage determination is wrong, there might be a risk to patient and staff safety, or resources might be diverted from kids in greater need. Especially with the ongoing youth mental health crisis, and as we continue to see more and more children with these issues in the emergency department, our ability to accurately distinguish levels of urgency upon arrival becomes even more critical. We need to refine triage tools to be more accurate and equitable so that they will work for all children who walk through our doors seeking care." Jennifer Hoffmann, MD, MS, lead author, emergency medicine physician and researcher at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Dr. Hoffmann and colleagues analyzed 74,564 visits for mental or behavioral health complaints among children 5-17 years of age presenting to one of 15 U.S. emergency departments participating in the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) Registry. The study focused on the Emergency Severity Index (ESI), the triage system used in over 90% of U.S. emergency departments.

The most frequently presenting primary mental health diagnosis groups were depressive disorders (25% of visits) and suicide or self-injury (23% of visits). Aggressive behavior occurred in 24% of the visits.

Over-triage, which involves assigning a higher severity triage score than the level of care the child received throughout their emergency visit, was found in more than half (57%) of visits, while under-triage occurred in approximately 1 in 12 visits (8%). Over-triage was more likely during visits by younger patients and Black patients compared to White patients. Under-triage was more likely among visits by Black and Hispanic patients compared to White patients, as well as in visits with a language preference of Spanish relative to English.

"The main message for parents is to advocate for your child. If you are worried that your child is at risk of harming themselves or others while they are waiting, tell the nurse immediately," Dr. Hoffmann advised.

"Underlying drivers for inequities in triage may include implicit bias, which refers to unconscious stereotypes or attitudes," said Dr. Hoffmann. "Clinicians need education on recognizing their own biases, in order to avoid undue influence on the care they provide. Using automated tools or artificial intelligence (AI) to augment the nurse's assignment of triage scores might help achieve a more objective assessment, although these strategies require further testing. We also need to make interpretation services in the emergency department more readily accessible to families who prefer a language other than English. Ultimately, accurate and equitable triage systems are needed to match children with the right care at the right time, particularly during times of resource strain."

In addition to Dr. Hoffmann, authors from Lurie Children's include Christina R. Rojas, MD, Aron C. Janssen, MD, and Elizabeth R. Alpern, MD, MSCE.
The chances of breast cancer recurring remain very low when patients are treated with radiotherapy that is tailored to their individual risk following chemotherapy and surgery. These are the findings of a ten-year study presented at the 15th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC15) in Barcelona today (Wednesday).

In the study, radiotherapy treatment was selected according to whether there were still signs of breast cancer cells in patients' lymph nodes after chemotherapy and surgery. For women with no signs of cancer remaining in the lymph nodes, this approach meant minimal or even no radiotherapy. Scaling treatment down can in turn reduce side-effects for patients.

The research was presented by Dr Fleur Mauritz, a radiation oncologist in training at Maastro, Maastricht Radiation Oncology Institute, The Netherlands. She said: "For many patients with breast cancer, the first treatment is chemotherapy. This can shrink the tumor and kill off any cancer cells that are starting to spread into the body, before surgery.

"We know that radiotherapy reduces the risk of breast cancer recurrence, especially when patients have had surgery to remove a tumor, rather than the whole breast, and when there are signs of cancer in the lymph nodes. This study examined whether it's possible to scale back radiotherapy in patients whose cancer shows a good response when chemotherapy is given prior to surgery."

The study included 848 patients who were treated at 17 cancer centres in The Netherlands between 2011 and 2015. Each patient had a small breast tumor (measuring under five centimetres) with signs of cancer spread in only one, two or three lymph nodes.

Following chemotherapy and surgery, the patients were categorised into three different risk groups. Patients who no longer had signs of cancer in their lymph nodes were categorised as low risk and were given radiotherapy to the breast if their surgery removed the tumor, or no radiotherapy if they had their breast removed (mastectomy). Patients who had signs of cancer in only one to three lymph nodes were categorised as intermediate risk and treated with radiotherapy to the breast area without irradiating the nearby lymph nodes. Patients with signs of cancer in four or more lymph nodes, were categorised as high risk and treated with radiotherapy to the breast area and the lymph nodes in the surrounding area.

In the following ten years, only 24 out of all 838 patients who completed follow-up (2.9%) experienced a recurrence in the breast, chest wall or lymph nodes (without signs of cancer spread elsewhere in the body). In the low-risk group, seven out of 291 patients (2.4%) developed a recurrence; in the intermediate-risk group, 12 out of 370 patients (3.2%) developed a recurrence; and in the high-risk groups five out of 177 patients (2.8%) developed a recurrence.

Dr Mauritz said: "The results of our study show that tailoring the extent of radiotherapy according to how well the chemotherapy has worked to treat cancer in the lymph nodes, leads to very low and reassuring recurrence rates in the breast and surrounding area. In a selected group of patients, we see very low recurrence rates even when we leave radiotherapy out completely.

"A major strength of our study is that it's the first to demonstrate the benefits of tailoring radiotherapy for this group of patients over a ten-year period. It is important to note that most patients in the study underwent axillary lymph node dissection, a procedure that was common ten years ago but is used less often in current practice. This study did not compare patients treated with and without radiation therapy. For the final conclusion, we will have to wait for the results of a randomized trial from the USA, which are expected in three years."

Dr Mauritz and her colleagues plan to study more about the risk factors for breast cancer recurrence, for example looking at tumor characteristics, and precisely where cancer recurs, to help refine radiotherapy in the future.

The Chair of EBCC15, Professor Isabel Rubio, Head of Breast Surgical Oncology at the Clinica Universidad de Navarra in Madrid, Spain, was not involved in this research. She said: "Reducing radiotherapy after chemotherapy appears safe in terms of the risk of recurrence. Choosing the amount of treatment based on the risk of recurrence also seems appropriate: radiotherapy may be omitted in low-risk patients after mastectomy, while in intermediate-risk patients, targeted radiotherapy remains advisable. Overall, this study reinforces that stratifying patients by risk, which supports more personalised treatment, helps to ensure the most appropriate approach while avoiding both overtreatment and undertreatment."

Dr Mauritz is delivering the young investigator innovation award lecture at EBCC15.
Researchers have determined how a key protein activates brown fat by expanding blood vessels and nerves in the heat-generating tissue.

The findings, published in Nature Communications, point to a potential strategy for treating obesity that deviates from the current approach of suppressing appetite.

Most of the fat in our bodies is white fat, which stores excess energy and, at too high of levels, can lead to obesity. Humans and other mammals also have a smaller amount of brown fat, a specialized tissue that regulates body temperature and is closely linked to weight loss and metabolic health. When activated by exposure to cold, brown fat uses the body's resources like glucose and lipids to generate heat, a process called thermogenesis.

During thermogenesis, all of that chemical energy is dissipated as heat instead of being stored in the body as white fat. By rapidly taking up and using fuel sources from our bodies and the food that we eat, brown fat acts like a metabolic sink that draws in nutrients and prevents them from being stored." Farnaz Shamsi, assistant professor of molecular pathobiology at NYU College of Dentistry and the study's senior author

Brown fat has intricate, dense networks of nerves and blood vessels that are critical for its functioning. Nerves enable brown fat to communicate with the brain; when the brain senses cold, it rapidly signals to activate brown fat. Blood vessels supply brown fat with oxygen and nutrients to generate heat, and then distribute this heat throughout the body. While research on brown fat has largely focused on stimulating fat cells to generate heat, less is known about how these underlying networks function.

Shamsi's lab previously used single-cell RNA sequencing to identify SLIT3, a protein secreted by brown fat cells, which they thought may play a role in how fat cells communicate. When produced, SLIT3 gets cleaved into two different fragments.

In the Nature Communications study, using a combination of approaches in human and mouse cells, the researchers discovered the enzyme, BMP1, that is responsible for cleaving SLIT3 into two. They also determined that the two SLIT3 fragments control different processes: one grows the network of blood vessels, while the other expands the network of nerves.

"It works as a split signal, which is an elegant evolutionary design in which two components of a single factor independently regulate distinct processes that must be tightly coordinated in space and time," noted Shamsi.

In addition, the researchers identified the receptor, PLXNA1, that binds to one of the SLIT3 fragments to control brown fat's network of nerves. In studies in mice-which typically have very active brown fat and can tolerate cold temperatures for long periods of time-removing SLIT3 or the PLXNA1 receptor from brown fat resulted in mice becoming sensitive to cold and having difficulty maintaining their body temperatures. A closer look at brown fat tissue missing SLIT3 or its receptor revealed that it lacks the proper nerve structure and density of blood vessels.

To see if their findings translate to humans, the researchers examined samples of fat tissue from more than 1,5000 people, some of whom had obesity. Focusing on the gene that produces SLIT3, which prior studies show is associated with obesity and insulin resistance, they found that SLIT3 gene expression may regulate fat tissue health, inflammation, and insulin sensitivity in people with obesity.

"That really got our attention, as it suggests that this pathway could be relevant in human obesity and metabolic health," said Shamsi.

While most weight loss drugs-including GLP-1s-suppress appetite, decreasing the amount of food people eat and therefore the amount of energy stored, treatments that involve brown fat have the potential to increase energy expenditure. This new understanding of what's happening inside brown fat-including how SLIT3 splits into two and binds to receptors to control nerves and blood vessels-highlights several processes that could potentially be harnessed for their therapeutic potential.

"Our research shows that just having brown fat isn't enough-you need the right infrastructure within the tissue for heat production," said Shamsi.

Additional study authors include Tamires Duarte Afonso Serdan, Heidi Cervantes, Benjamin Frank, Akhil Gargey Iragavarapu, Qiyu Tian, Daniel Hope, and Halil Aydin of NYU College of Dentistry; Chan Hee Choi and Paul Cohen of Rockefeller University; Anne Hoffmann and Matthias Bluher of the University of Leipzig; Adhideb Ghosh and Christian Wolfrum of ETH Zurich; Matthew Greenblatt of Weill Cornell Medical College; and Gary Schwartz of Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

The research was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health (K01DK125608, R03DK135786, R01DK136724, RC2DK129961, R35GM150942), the G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Charitable Foundation, the American Heart Association (24CDA1271852), the Einstein-Mount Sinai Diabetes Center, the NYU Dentistry Department of Molecular Pathobiology, and the Boettcher Foundation.
Mount Sinai researchers have published the first organ-wide human skin spatial atlas from across the body. It provides an unprecedentedly detailed view of healthy human skin, revealing cellular composition and functional mechanisms of skin from more than a dozen unique sites on the body, including the scalp and sole.

The skin is the largest human organ and plays a critical role in regulating body temperature and protecting the immune system as an external barrier. The skin is also susceptible to chronic disease, yet how the skin's cellular composition and molecular organization vary spatially across the entire body remains largely undefined.

In this landmark study, published in Nature Genetics on March 23, 2026, Mount Sinai experts constructed a comprehensive mapping of more than 1 million cells from normal adult human skin to identify 45 unique cell types that vary across composition and arrangement in the body. The researchers said this extensive mapping of critical skin cell function brings scientists one step closer to developing more targeted therapeutics that could potentially treat skin diseases like eczema and psoriasis, and restore function to core components of human skin.

Human skin diseases often occur in specific sites; for example, psoriasis frequently appears on the elbows, knees, and scalp. Cells in each region of the skin organize themselves into biological networks composed of diverse cell types that represent communication hubs, working together to maintain immune surveillance or detect pathogens, damaged cells, or early tumors on the skin to eliminate these threats. These systems, otherwise referred to as "multicellular neighborhoods," are abnormal or impaired when a patient has a skin disease and requires treatment.

In this study, the Mount Sinai team aimed to identify the key molecular factors of these multicellular neighborhoods. The researchers collectively profiled more than 1.2 million cells across 15 anatomic sites from 22 donors to create a skin spatial atlas, a high-resolution map of the location of every individual cell across different layers in healthy human skin across the body. The researchers defined site-specific cell type composition and their organization into 10 recurrent multicellular neighborhoods that vary in their abundance across the body.

One particular neighborhood was composed of immune cells such as dendritic cells and T cells, which work together to train the immune system to attack specific threats, and was located around the skin's blood vessels. This "perivascular neighborhood" also contained key non-immune cell types, such as a specialized subset of connective tissue cells known as fibroblasts, that are critical for organizing the immune cell positions. The team noted that this perivascular neighborhood is reminiscent of specialized lymphoid tissues in other organs-like tonsils, which are trained to immunologically monitor the oral cavity-and could be considered the skin-associated lymphoid tissue. Within the perivascular neighborhood, the researchers identified the central role of tumor necrosis factor, a chemical messenger known to induce inflammation but which in the context of healthy skin maintains the specialized fibroblasts, highlighting essential communication between structural cells and immune cells.

In a comparison of molecular changes throughout various sites across the body and how neighborhoods are altered by diseases, the researchers noted tissue and organ impairment in the perivascular neighborhood, suggesting cellular alterations when there is disease activity, and thus a potential therapeutic target. The researchers concluded that multicellular neighborhoods underlie the skin's molecular and structural organization, coordinate cell to cell interactions, guide function, and exhibit structural disruption when a disease is present.

One of the key technological breakthroughs enabling this study is a new method called spatial transcriptomics, which allows high-throughput profiling of hundreds to thousands of genes that are pinpointed to their exact locations within individual cells. By using spatial transcriptomics to profile human skin, the researchers achieved an unprecedented view of the skin from a bird's-eye level down to smallest genetic detail, comparable to smartphone map apps that allow one to zoom in from a country down to a city block.

We reasoned that we need to understand what healthy skin looks like in order to fully understand human skin diseases. By building this 'Google Maps' of skin across the entire body, we found higher-order organization involving these multicellular neighborhoods, wherein diverse cells prefer to be located next to one another. These cell types communicate with each other to maintain healthy function, such as establishing a barrier to the outside world. These neighborhoods can be thought of as the key building blocks of human skin, and we provide the blueprint for how they are constructed and how many comprise each body site. We envision that this atlas will serve as a global foundation, inviting researchers worldwide to layer on new types of data to reveal the full complexities of human skin." Andrew L. Ji, MD, corresponding author, Assistant Professor of Dermatology and leading researcher in the Black Family Stem Cell Institute, and Kimberly and Eric J. Waldman Melanoma and Skin Cancer Center at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

The discovery of unique cell types and spatial organization in human skin by the Mount Sinai team lays the groundwork for future studies and development of new treatment options for skin diseases, such as tissue engineering and stem-cell therapies, possibly restoring core components of healthy human skin.

New York University and Karolinska Institute in Sweden contributed to the research. The study was supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health (K08CA263187, T32AR082315), and the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Clinical Investigator Award (121-23).
Anyone who has weathered a bad stomach bug knows the feeling: a loss of appetite that sets in and lingers, even after the initial illness. For the millions of people around the world who are chronically infected with parasitic worms, the same thing happens. But scientists have long puzzled over exactly why.

Now, researchers at UC San Francisco have traced the molecular pathway that connects the gut immune system to the brain during a parasitic infection, explaining how the immune system triggers a loss of appetite.

The question we wanted to answer was not just how the immune system fights parasites, but how it recruits the nervous system to change behavior. It turns out there's a very elegant molecular logic to how that happens." David Julius, PhD, co-senior author, professor and chair of Physiology at UCSF and recipient of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

The findings, published in Nature on March 25, reveal an unexpected communication system between two cell types, and could shed light on a range of conditions involving gut discomfort - from food intolerances to irritable bowel syndrome.

Two cells communicating

The new study focused on two rare cell types in the gut. Tuft cells detect parasites and trigger immune defenses, while enterochromaffin (EC) cells release signals that activate nerve fibers leading to the brain. EC cells are known to cause sensations like nausea, pain, and gut discomfort but whether they communicate with tuft cells was unknown.

"My lab has long been interested in how tuft cells, after they initially respond to a parasitic infection, release signals to other cell types," said co-senior author Richard Locksley, MD, a UCSF immunologist.

First author Koki Tohara, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher at UCSF, found the answer by positioning genetically engineered sensor cells directly next to tuft cells under a microscope. When tuft cells were exposed to succinate, a molecule produced by parasitic worms, the sensor cells lit up, revealing that tuft cells were releasing acetylcholine, a chemical messenger used primarily by neurons.

When acetylcholine was added to lab-grown gut tissue containing EC cells, they released serotonin. This activated vagal nerve fibers that carry signals from the gut to the brain.

"What we found is that tuft cells are doing something neurons do, but by a completely different mechanism," Tohara said. "They're using acetylcholine to communicate, but without any of the usual cellular machinery that neurons rely on to release it."

The team also discovered that tuft cells release acetylcholine in two distinct phases - explaining why people often don't develop a loss of appetite until days into an infection. In the first phase, a brief burst of acetylcholine is released. Later, after the immune system has mounted a full response, tuft cells multiply and produce a slow, sustained release of acetylcholine that is sufficient to activate EC cells.

"This explains why you feel fine at first but then start to feel sick as the infection becomes established," Julius said. "The gut is essentially waiting to confirm that the threat is real and persistent before it tells the brain to change your behavior."

Implications beyond parasites

To test whether the pathway matters beyond the lab, the researchers infected mice with a parasitic worm and tracked their food intake. Mice with normal tuft cell function ate less as the infection took hold. Mice engineered to lack acetylcholine-producing machinery in their tuft cells kept eating normally, confirming that the molecular chain drives the behavioral response. The new findings could have relevance for treating the symptoms of a parasite infection.

"Controlling the outputs of tuft cells could be a way to control some of the physiologic responses associated with these infections," Locksley said, adding that the study also could have broader implications.

Tuft cells are found throughout the body - not just in the gut, but also the airways, gallbladder, and reproductive tract - and disruptions to the newly identified pathway could contribute to conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, food intolerances, and chronic visceral pain.

The work was carried out in collaboration with Stuart Brierly, PhD, and his lab group at the University of Adelaide in Australia.
Inside the Cybertruck Fire Lawsuit: What Happened Next After Teslas Door System Allegedly Trapped Teens in Fatal Crash

A late-night crash involving Teslas Cybertruck has exploded into a high-stakes legal battle, and the details are as disturbing as they are consequential. A fiery wreck that killed three young passengers is now at the center of a lawsuit claiming the vehicles electronic door system trapped occupants inside as flames engulfed the truck.

What happened next is now forcing a deeper look at how far automakers can push tech-driven design before it becomes a life-or-death liability.

The Crash That Turned Catastrophic

The incident unfolded just before Thanksgiving in 2024 in Piedmont, California. Four college-aged friends were riding in a Cybertruck when the vehicle struck a tree shortly after 3 a.m. The driver, 19-year-old Soren Dixon, lost control, and the crash quickly escalated into something far worse.

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According to the complaint, the Cybertruck caught fire almost immediately. Witnesses described flames reaching roughly 10 feet high, turning the wreck into an inferno within moments. Inside were Dixon, Jack Nelson, Krysta Tsukahara, and passenger Jordan Miller.

Only Miller made it out alive.

A Rescue Attempt That Failed

A friend traveling in a separate car arrived at the crash scene within seconds. What followed is now central to the lawsuit. Despite reaching the burning vehicle quickly, the friend could not open the Cybertrucks doors.

There were no traditional exterior door handles to grab. Instead, the vehicle relied entirely on electronic mechanisms tied to its low-voltage system. In the chaos of a crash and fire, those systems allegedly failed.

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Desperate, the friend used a tree branch to smash the front window. After breaking through the glass, he managed to pull Miller out. The other three occupants remained trapped inside and died at the scene.

The Survivor and the Injuries That Followed

Jordan Miller survived, but the cost was severe. He suffered extensive injuries, including burns to his lungs and airways, along with third-degree burns on his leg and hand. His injuries required major surgical intervention, including removal of a significant portion of his colon.

He also endured spinal trauma, with four fractured vertebrae that required fusion with implants. Miller was placed in a coma for five days following the crash. Beyond the physical damage, the lawsuit details lasting emotional and psychological trauma.

His survival is now the foundation of a case that challenges Teslas design decisions head-on.

The Core Allegation: A Design That Left No Way Out

At the center of the lawsuit is a critical claim: Teslas decision to eliminate mechanical door handles created a dangerous dependency on electronics. The Cybertrucks doors rely on electronic buttons powered by the vehicles electrical system.

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The complaint argues that in a high-impact crash followed by fire, that system can failand when it does, there is no backup. That design choice, according to the lawsuit, prevented both occupants and rescuers from opening the doors in time.

Attorneys representing Miller allege Tesla has been aware of this type of risk for more than a decade. The lawsuit brings claims including negligence, design defect, failure to warn, and failure to recall.

Legal Stakes Go Beyond a Single Crash

Tesla is not the only party named in the lawsuit. The complaint also targets the estate of the driver and the owner of the Cybertruck, expanding the legal scope of responsibility.

Complicating the case further are details surrounding the drivers condition. Reports indicate Dixon had a blood alcohol level of 0.195% and cocaine in his system at the time of the crash. That fact introduces another layer of legal complexity, particularly around liability and responsibility.

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Still, the lawsuits primary focus remains on the vehicle itselfand whether its design made a survivable situation fatal.

Tesla Pushes Back

Tesla has denied wrongdoing in court filings, maintaining that the Cybertruck meets federal safety standards. The company also states it has fulfilled its obligation to warn users about potential risks associated with the vehicle.

That defense sets up a broader legal fight. Compliance with regulations does not automatically shield a manufacturer from claims of defective design. This case could hinge on whether meeting minimum standards is enough when real-world conditions expose potential flaws.

Why This Matters for Drivers

For car enthusiasts and everyday drivers alike, this case cuts into a growing tension in modern vehicle design. Automakers are rapidly replacing mechanical systems with electronic ones in the name of innovation, efficiency, and aesthetics.

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But when those systems fail, the consequences can be immediate and severe. A traditional door handle doesnt depend on software or power. It worksor at least gives you a chancewhen everything else goes wrong.

Thats the uncomfortable reality this lawsuit brings to the surface. Technology can enhance performance and convenience, but it can also introduce new points of failure in critical moments.

The Bigger Question Facing the Industry

This case isnt just about one crash or one vehicle. Its about where the industry draws the line between innovation and fundamental safety. As more vehicles rely on electronic systems, the margin for error shrinks in high-stress scenarios like crashes and fires.

For Tesla, the stakes are enormous. For drivers, the implications are personal. If core escape mechanisms depend entirely on electronics, what happens when those systems fail at the worst possible time?

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Thats the question hanging over this lawsuitand its one the entire automotive industry may soon have to answer.

Credit: City of Piedmont

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Business / Local

by Oliver Kazunga

ARCHER Clothing has resumed exports to Europe following a successful revival plan of one of Bulawayo's oldest firms by the new investor.The resuscitation of Archer Clothing by a Harare-based clothing firm, Paramount Garments is regarded as a huge feat that has been achieved by a local company.The revived clothing entity was on the brink of collapse since the free fall of the country's industries over the past decade.Industry and Commerce Minister Mike Bimha made the announcement last week during the just ended 15th Zanu-PF Annual People's Conference in Victoria Falls.He said some of the local companies in Bulawayo, which was once the country's industrial hub, were on the rebound."Some of the companies in the country are recovering. In Bulawayo, we've companies such as Archer Clothing which has started exporting to Britain. Archer Clothing is one of the success stories that we've in Bulawayo," said Minister Bimha."In Bulawayo, we also have an oil expresser, United Refineries Limited, another success story, which at present is operating at 100 percent capacity utilisation," he added.At its peak, the clothing firm exported to South Africa, Germany, Zambia, and Britain among other countries in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and the European Union.Efforts to get a comment from Paramount Garments managing director Jeremy Youmans were futile as he had not responded to written questions by the time of going to print yesterday.In August, Youmans said they were at an advanced stage of completing Archer Clothing's re-fabrication and refurbishment factory so as to embark on a full-fledged production.Apart from investing in the re-fabrication and refurbishment of its factory, the company also set up a training school within its plant to fill the gap that had been left due to shortages of some skills.Early this year, the clothing firm was saved from liquidation after creditors approved its take-over by Paramount Garments.The take-over negotiations between the two companies started in 2013 after they initially entered into a cut, make and trim arrangement.Under the deal, the Harare firm supplied clothing material and labour while Archer provided the working space.Following the revival plan, the new investor has increased the workforce at Archer to 631 from 30 last year.The firm which is targeting a workforce of 850 people by the end of next year, employed about 1,600 workers at its peak a few years ago.
An autistic 17-year-old New Jersey boy survived nearly two days alone in cold, wooded terrain before FBI agents found him curled up beside a tree, wearing only a T-shirt and shorts, Fox News reports. Joel Medina, who relatives say functions at the level of a 6-year-old, disappeared Friday near his Egg Harbor Township home, triggering fears he'd been abducted after surveillance cameras failed to show him leaving.

Local police, county search teams, state police, Coast Guard helicopters, drones, K-9 units, and dive teams scoured the area before calling in the FBI on Saturday. Agents canvassed the neighborhood for video, interviewed turkey hunters in search of trail-camera footage, and deployed an FBI aircraft for a nighttime grid search. Three hours later, the plane flagged a suspicious area deep in preserved land, and agents hiked through mud and thick brush to reach it. They located Medina, got him out of the woods under the watch of the aviation team, and returned scratched and bleeding after trekking through heavy brush. FBI Director Kash Patel said the operation showed "the best of the FBI" and credited coordination with local and federal partners for bringing Joel home.

"JOEL is ok and was just reunited with FAMILY! Thank you to EVERYONE that never quit, never lost hope and assisted with this HAPPY ENDING! We will do a larger post later, as it's been a long two days!" reads a social media post cited by NBC 10.
A televised showdown in the race to replace California Gov. Gavin Newsom was scrapped at the last minute amid anger over who made the cut and who didn'tspecifically, any people of color, the New York Times reports. The University of Southern California pulled Tuesday's gubernatorial debate less than 24 hours before airtime, saying controversy over the lineup had become a "significant distraction" from issues voters care about. USC and broadcaster KABC said they couldn't agree on how to broaden the stage.

The now-canceled debate was set to feature six white candidates: two Republicans and four Democrats, including San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, a late entrant with low poll numbers but major Silicon Valley backing. Left out were four well-known Democrats of colorBetty Yee, Xavier Becerra, Antonio Villaraigosa, and Tony Thurmondeach polling in the single digits. "We are a minority-majority state," Yee said, arguing their exclusion denied key perspectives. The four held a press conference urging invited candidates to boycott and decrying pressure to drop out as party leaders seek to narrow the field. Legislative leaders also pressed USC to include all 10 leading contenders.

USC's selection formula, crafted by political scientist Christian Grose using polling and fundraising data, drew both criticism and an academic defense from dozens of professors. They said in a statement that Grose's criteria are "among the most widely accepted indicators of candidate viability in both academic research and applied practice," per ABC 7.
Two Florida politicians who once shared a house in Tallahassee just shared something else: a federal courtroom. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spent hours on Tuesday testifying against his ex-roommate and longtime friend David Rivera, a former congressman now on trial in Miami on charges that he secretly worked for Venezuela's government, reports the Washington Post . Prosecutors say Rivera took a $50 million, three-month contract tied to Venezuela's state oil company to push the Trump administration to ease pressure on President Nicolas Maduro. Rivera has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy, failing to register as a foreign agent, money laundering, and tax offenses.

On the stand in South Florida, Rubio described a 2017 meeting for which Rivera urgently flew to DC, with what Rubio said was a plan to persuade Maduro to step aside and hold elections. Rubio said he was skeptical but saw "a 1% chance" it might advance democracy and later delivered a Senate speech on Venezuela that drew on Rivera's talking points. Rubio told jurors he would've thought twice had he known Rivera's deal involved "an entity controlled by the Venezuelan government," saying that such a hypothetical revelation would've been "shocking" to him. In fact, Rubio described Rivera as a "vociferous anti-communist voice," including as "one of the leading voices against the Castro regime" in Cuba, per Politico.

The appearance marked the first time in more than 40 years that a sitting Cabinet secretary has testified in a criminal triala move the AP calls "highly unusual." Both sides leaned into Rubio's star power, per the Post: Prosecutors argued Rivera was selling access to a senator he'd helped elevate from young state lawmaker to national figure. The defense countered that Rivera's long association with Rubioportrayed as an uncompromising Maduro criticproves he would never secretly work for the Venezuelan leader, suggesting that any political discussions were aimed at aiding opposition forces, not the regime. The case also revisited the men's intertwined past, down to Rubio's memoir acknowledgments and old photos of the pair.
President Trump says the United States has already "won" its war with Iraneven as diplomats scramble to stop the fighting and Iran publicly denies it's talking to Washington at all. Speaking in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump said US and Israeli strikes over the past three-plus weeks have wiped out much of Iran's military and killed key leaders, amounting to "regime change" because "the leaders are all very different than the ones that we started off with," the Washington Post reports. He claimed "we're talking to the right leaders" in Iran and that they are desperate for a deal, but did not name them. As proof, he said, Iran had sent the US a "very big present" tied to oil and gas and "worth a tremendous amount of money," without offering details.

Behind the scenes, a loose diplomatic front led by Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey has been working the phones to avert further escalation after Trump last weekend threatened to destroy Iran's energy infrastructure if it did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. He later extended that deadline by five days, citing "points of major agreement" in talks. Sources from multiple countries tell the Post the negotiations so far are indirect and involve White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, with Pakistan floated as a possible venue for direct talks in Islamabad. Trump said Tuesday that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are leading talks, CNN reports.

Sources tell the Times of Israel and Reuters that Witkoff and Jared Kushner have drawn up a plan similar to the Gaza ceasefire deal, with a monthlong ceasefire to negotiate a 15-point agreement. According to Israel's Channel 12, the points include a dismantling of Iran's existing nuclear capabilities and a promise to never pursue nuclear weapons. Tehran, however, has publicly rejected the idea that any talksdirect or indirectare underway, and senior Iranian figures have previously demanded compensation for war damage while refusing US conditions on uranium enrichment, missiles, and support for proxy forces.

On Tuesday, blasts were heard in Tehran and more Iranian missiles hit its Gulf neighbors and Israel, the AP reports. An Iranian military spokesman vowed that the fighting would continue. "Iran's powerful armed forces are proud, victorious and steadfast in defending Iran's integrity, and this path will continue until complete victory," Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi was quoted as saying on Iranian state television.
OpenAI's splashy AI video experiment is heading for the cutting-room floorand it's taking a big Disney deal with it. The company says it is shutting down Sora, the standalone video-generation app it rolled out just months ago. CEO Sam Altman told staff Tuesday that video models are being wound down across the company, including a version of Sora for developers and video functionality inside Chat GPT, the Wall Street Journal reports.

OpenAI first unveiled Sora in early 2024 and made it available to the public later that year, but it didn't gain widespread attention until Sora 2 and the standalone app were rolled out in September, the Guardian reports. It was a huge hit but was also criticized over racist and violent content, as well as deepfakes and the use of copyrighted characters. OpenAI brought in guardrails days after the launch. In December, Disney announced a deal to allow its characters in user-generated Sora videos. Disney is now backing out of the roughly $1 billion investment and licensing agreement, per the Hollywood Reporter.

"As the nascent AI field advances rapidly, we respect OpenAI's decision to exit the video generation business and to shift its priorities elsewhere," a Disney spokesperson said, adding that it will keep looking for ways to use AI that respect intellectual property and creators' rights. The shutdown of Sora leaves Google as the only major player with large-scale AI video tech, though Google faces its own legal challenges and hasn't secured big content-licensing deals.

The shutdown comes as OpenAI seeks to shift resources to "so-called productivity tools that can be used by both enterprises and individual users," the Journal reports. Earlier this month, Fidji Simo, the company's applications chief, told employees in an all-hands meeting that they couldn't afford to be distracted by "side quests." Altman told employees Tuesday that the Sora team would be shifted to projects including robotics.
Russia took its air campaign over Ukraine into broad daylight on Tuesday, sending swarms of drones at city centers nationwide in what Ukraine's air force called one the war's largest attacks. President Volodymyr Zelensky said several people were killed and at least 40 injured as apartment blocks, hospitals, and part of a UNESCO-listed historic area were hit, the New York Times reports. The daytime barrage followed an already heavy night of attacks: officials counted 34 missiles and 392 attack drones overnight, which they say killed four people in the Poltava, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv regions.

By noon, sirens were sounding across the country and businesses were shutting as residents scrambled for shelter. Explosions were reported from Lviv in the west to Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia farther east, with the air force estimating that more than 1,000 attack drones were launched in under 24 hours; most were intercepted, but at least 15 got through during the daytime. In Lviv, near the border with Poland, a drone strike set fire to the 17th-century St. Andrew's Church, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, the AP reports. Western Ukraine has been targeted far less frequently than other parts of the country, the BBC reports.

In the central city of Ivano-Frankivsk, officials reported two deaths and damage to two maternity hospitals. "This is utterly perverse," Zelensky said of the strikes, adding that the scale of the attack "strongly indicates that Russia has no intention of really ending this war."

Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces, said Monday that "fierce fighting" has unfolded along the 750-mile front line. Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War say that backs up their assessment that Russia's spring-summer offensive is now underway, the AP reports. The institute says Russia has moved extra troops to the frontline.

Most of the fighting, however, now involves opposing drone units. "Usually there is a Russian wave of mechanized assaults around April, and they once again prove costly and ineffective," Michael Kofman, an analyst at the Carnegie Endowment, tells the Guardian.
Amazon has acquired Fauna Robotics, just under two months after the startup introduced a humanoid robot called Sprout designed to be a friendly addition to social spaces like homes and schools, the AP reports. The e-commerce giant is already a robotics powerhouse, having boasted of deploying more than 1 million robots across its warehouse operations, but bringing the 1.5-foot-tall, rectangular-headed Sprout on board adds a robot that's more about fun interactions than heavy lifting. Fauna CEO Rob Cochran said on social media he was "incredibly excited to share that Fauna Robotics has officially joined the Amazon family" and said the New York-based firm will now "operate as Fauna Robotics, an Amazon company." Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Amazon said the company's founders and employees will join Amazon in New York and will be looking for "new ways to make our customers' lives better and easier." Fauna's debut product, launched in January, is a software developer platform more than just a robot, sold to academic and corporate research laboratories that are exploring robotics in the home. Early customers included Disney. The $50,000 Sprout can't lift heavy objects, but it can dance the Twist or the Floss, grab a toy block or teddy bear, or hoist itself from a chair and take a stroll.

Amazon, which also makes the artificial intelligence assistant Alexa that's already present in many homes, has had some challenges in recent years in expanding into consumer robotics. Amazon called off its purchase of robot vacuum maker iRobot in 2024 after facing regulatory hurdles in Europe and the United States.
The dramatic blast US officials touted as proof they were "now bombing Narco Terrorists on land" in Ecuador may have wiped out a small dairy operation, not a cartel camp, according to a New York Times investigation. The strike earlier this month near the village of San Martin was showcased by the Pentagon and Ecuador's government as a joint hit on a drug traffickers' training site tied to a Colombian armed group. But the Times, which visited the site and interviewed the farm's owner, workers, residents, and human rights lawyers, reports the target was a 350-acre cattle and dairy farm whose owner says he has no links to trafficking. "It's an outrage," he said. "There's no logic."
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

A 24yearold man, Thabiso Ngwenya, has been jailed for armed robbery following a violent attack on a woman in Beitbridge on 11 January 2026.

The court heard that the 40yearold victim was walking alone towards Chicago Bus Terminus at around 4pm when Ngwenya suddenly emerged from the bush and confronted her. He demanded her cellphone, falsely claiming it looked like his.When the woman refused and secured her phone in her handbag, Ngwenya grabbed the bag. As she resisted, he produced an okapi knife and threatened to stab her, forcing her to surrender her belongings.Ngwenya fled into the bush with a Nokia A36 cellphone, a Huawei Honor X6 cellphone, ZAR 2 000 and US$300. The total value stolen was ZAR 8 700, and nothing was recovered.He was later arrested in connection with another robbery in Juta Village, where the victim positively identified him.Ngwenya was sentenced to 60 months (five years) in prison, with an additional two months suspended on condition of restitution. His effective sentence is five years.The court noted that the use of weapons to instil fear and rob innocent citizens is a serious offence, and stressed that the justice system will continue to ensure offenders are held accountable to protect communities from lawlessness.
Two young pilots at the start of their airline careers have been identified as the only fatalities in Sunday night's runway crash at New York's LaGuardia Airport. Authorities on Tuesday named captain Antoine Forest, 30, and first officer Mackenzie Gunther as the Air Canada Express crew members killed when their regional jet struck an airport fire truck while landing shortly before midnight. Colleagues and family described Forest, a former Quebec bush pilot and wildfire spotter, as safety-minded and outdoors-obsessed, per the New York Times . He'd been working for flight operator Jazz Aviation for more than three years, according to his LinkedIn profile. Gunther was a 2023 Seneca Polytechnic graduate.

These were "two young men at the start of their career," said Federal Aviation Administration Chief Bryan Bedford. They "left their homes expecting to return to their families, and they will not," said New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, describing an aviation disaster "we have not seen here in over three decades." All 72 passengers and two flight attendants survived, though more than 40 were taken to hospitals. Federal investigators say an aborted United Airlines takeoff had prompted the fire truck's deployment, and that both the rescue vehicle and Flight 8646 from Montreal were cleared onto the same runway, raising questions about controller workload, staffing, and technology.

Experts say the pilots had little chance of survival as the fire truck pulled out in front of their plane as it landed. The nose of a commercial jet is not designed to withstand a collision at such high speeds. "They really had no options," a former investigator with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada tells the Globe and Mail. "There's no place they could go." "You again left like the wind too soon for us to say goodbye," Forest's brother, Cedric Forest, wrote on social media. "You can leave with your head held high." Indeed, a passenger tells City News that the pair "chose to hit the brakes as hard as they could" and "saved easily 70 lives" even if they could not save their own.
A critical piece of safety tech was missing from the fire truck struck by an Air Canada jet at LaGuardia Airport, federal investigators say. The National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday said the Port Authority fire vehicle did not have a transponder, meaning it couldn't be seen by the surface tracking system that can help controllers monitor ground movements and generate alerts, per USA Today . Two pilots were killed and dozens of passengers and two firefighters were injured when the Air Canada Express CRJ-900 and the truck collided on Runway 4 late Sunday night.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said that even without the truck's transponder, the monitoring system, known as ASDE-X, also failed to generate an alert because of closely spaced emergency vehicles merging and separating near the runway, which prevented it from establishing a reliable track. The fire truck had been dispatched to check out a United Airlines plane that aborted takeoff after reporting an odor. One of two air traffic controllers on duty cleared it to cross Runway 4 just 12 seconds before the Air Canada jet touched down and 20 seconds before impact, per CTV News. Homendy said investigators have yet to speak with the firefighters, so it's unclear if they heard an order to stop, reportedly coming nine seconds before impact.
White House social media posts that have spliced real Iran war footage with scenes from video games and cartoons are landing badly with a group that usually backs the military: veterans. The Washington Post reports that former US Central Command spokesman Joe Buccino, a retired Army colonel who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, described feeling disgusted as the administration flooded TikTok, Instagram, and X with pop-soundtrack-heavy clips from Call of Duty, SpongeBob, Top Gun, and more. Critics say the war memes are turning a deadly conflictnow heading into its fourth weekinto entertainment and glossing over mounting casualties, including 13 Americans killed and upward of 200 injured.

George Washington University political scientist Peter Loge, who also heads up the Project on Ethics in Political Communication, tells the Hill that the social media campaign is akin to pro wrestling, in which "the point is the spectacle." The White House is defending the videos as a show of pride in Operation Epic Fury's success and the strength of the US military, and some younger Trump supporters say the approach effectively projects American power, per the Post. But pushback has come from across the spectrum, including from conservative veterans' groups, Gold Star families, a Catholic cardinaleven Steve Downes, the voice of Halo's Master Chief, who demanded that his voice be removed from one "disgusting and juvenile" video disseminated by the White House.

Detractors argue that the memes trivialize death, distance the public from the human toll, and risk making troops feel like "pawns in a game" just as polls show many Americans already questioning the purpose of the strikes. Some experts say the White House's messaging on the war can even take its toll on individuals' mental health. The videos and memes "can evoke anxiety, fear, and confusion among viewers, particularly those who are sensitive to war and conflict issues," trauma-trained social worker Monica Cwynar tells HuffPost.
British police arrested two men on Wednesday in connection with an arson attack on four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity, which authorities are investigating as an antisemitic hate crime. The Metropolitan Police said the two men, aged 45 and 47, were arrested in London on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and both men have been taken to a police station in the city for questioning. Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said the arrests marked "an important breakthrough in the investigation." But she noted that surveillance camera footage of the incident suggests three people were involved, reports the AP . "We fully recognize the local community will still be concerned and our investigation very much remains active," she said, per the BBC .

Police have not declared the incident to be a terror attack, but are investigating a claim of responsibility by a group with potential links to Iran. The blaze early Monday in Golders Green, a London neighborhood with a large Jewish population, consumed four ambulances belonging to the volunteer organization Hatzola Northwest. Oxygen cylinders on the vehicles exploded, breaking windows in an adjacent apartment block. Also shattered was the community's shaky sense of security, already strained by wars in the Middle East and what many say is soaring hatred of Jews.

The UK has accused Iran of using criminal proxies to conduct attacks on European soil targeting opposition media outlets and the Jewish community. Britain's MI5 domestic intelligence service says more than 20 "potentially lethal" Iran-backed plots were disrupted in the past year. Police are probing a claim of responsibility posted on social media by a group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, which translates as the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right. Israel's government has described it as a recently founded group with suspected links to pro-Iran networks that has also claimed responsibility for synagogue attacks in Belgium and the Netherlands. Metropolitan Police chief Mark Rowley said detectives are investigating the claim but it is too early to attribute the attack to the Iranian state.
The Army just widened the door for would-be soldiers in two big ways. New rules raise the maximum enlistment age from 35 to 42 and scrap the requirement for a special waiver if a recruit has a single conviction for marijuana possession or related paraphernalia. The age bump aligns the Army with the Air Force and Space Force, reports Task & Purpose and comes as the service struggles to hit recruiting targets and sees the average recruit getting older. Research cited by military analyst Kate Kuzminski suggests older recruits tend to score higher on entrance tests and are more likely to reenlist and be promoted, though they wash out of basic training at higher rates. Stars and Stripes notes that it's not uncharted territory for the Army, which temporarily increased its enlistment age to 42 in 2006 amid the Afghanistan war.
Matt Bevin's familial issues are again spilling into the public eye . The former Kentucky governor was on Tuesday told to turn over detailed financial disclosures as part of a child support dispute involving his estranged son, Jonah, or spend 60 days in jail. WDRB reports Jonah filed an emergency motion last week that accused Bevin of not supplying the financial documents in full, and Jefferson Family Court Judge Angela Johnson found Bevin in contempt.

Jonah, one of Bevin's adopted children, accused his parents of years of physical and emotional abuse and has restraining orders against both Bevin and his ex-wife, Glenna, WLKY reports. He alleges they left him at a Jamaican facility for "troubled teens" that was later closed amid abuse claims, and says Bevin is concealing money owed to him. A judge previously ordered Bevin to turn over financial records; Glenna complied, but Jonah's lawyers say Bevin's submission, delivered a day past the deadline on March 13, "contained multiple redactions for the addresses of properties other than Matt's current residential address and lacked many of the required attachments demonstrating his income."

Ordered to appear in court in person on Tuesday, Bevin instead joined the hearing by Zoom, citing his former father-in-law's funeral in Oklahoma. The Kentucky Lantern reports Bevin told Johnson he was attempting to gather the records and needed more time. "Every litigant in the commonwealth has to provide such information," Johnson told Bevin.

She then issued an arrest warrant and directed Kentucky law enforcement to arrest the one-term Republican governor upon his return to the state, though the Louisville Courier Journal reports Bevin will avoid jail and pay a $500 fine instead if he supplies the requested documentation.
The Trump administration's 15-point proposal for ending the war in Iran did not get a warm reception. The AP reports that Iran has rejected the plan, citing Iranian state television's English-language broadcaster, which quoted an anonymous official. The Guardian reports the official characterized the asks as "excessive" and said "Iran will end the war when it decides to do so and when its own conditions are met."

The Wall Street Journal offers a similar report, saying Iran's information councilpart of the government's communications armdismissed the plan as a wish list of goals that hadn't come to pass through the use of force. "Trump's statements are false and should not be taken seriously," it said.

But Reuters describes the door as not being fully shut; it quotes a senior Iranian official as saying the view on the proposal was "not positive" but that it is still being reviewed. Reuters separately reports that Pakistan, which delivered the proposal, is still waiting for a reply.

The Guardian adds that the senior political security official quoted on Press TV shared five conditions that Tehran seeks:

A stop to "aggression and assassinations."

An end to the war on Iran and "all resistance groups" in the region.

"Concrete" guarantees of no future military action against Iran.

Reparations and war-damage payments.

Recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
A Canadian skier and up-and-coming filmmaker has died days after being dug out of an avalanche in Japan. Twenty-three-year-old Kai Smart was airlifted back home on March 19 to receive emergency treatment at Vancouver General Hospital, but his father says the extended time without oxygen during Smart's burial under the snow left no path to recovery, per People . "Our kind, brave and beautiful son and brother Kai is no longer with us," John Smart wrote on Instagram , calling the family "beyond heartbroken." The elder Smart is himself a past Olympian and member of the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame, per TMZ .

Kai Smart, who grew up in Whistler and graduated last year from the University of British Columbia in 2025, had recently finished Tien Shan Dream, a film about a high-altitude ski traverse in Kazakhstan that's now streaming on Apple TV+, Roku, and Outside TV. His father wrote that Kai had been an organ donor, and that his heart and other organs are now keeping four other people alive. Tributes poured in online, including from Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy and comedian Chelsea Handler. John Smart, who founded Momentum Ski Camps in Whistler, said the family plans a "Kai-sized celebration of life" there at a later date.
History buffs may soon get an answer to a 350-year-old mystery: Where are the remains of the 17th-century French musketeer who helped inspire Alexandre Dumas' The Three Musketeers? Archaeologists in the Dutch city of Maastricht say they've uncovered a skeleton beneath the floor of St. Peter and Paul Church, and a deacon says "the evidence is very strong" that it is the remains of Charles de Batz de Castelmorebetter known as d'Artagnan.

The Telegraph calls D'Artagnan "the fourth musketeer" and reports Dumas' 1844 novel contains a "fictionalized D'Artagnan" along with the Three Musketeers, who "take on the Machiavellian Cardinal Richelieu and the seductive femme fatale Milady." As for the true D'Artagnan, he was a close aide to King Louis XIV and captain of the Musketeers of the Guardthe musket-armed elite royal bodyguard founded in 1622.

The AFP reports Deacon Jos Valke told local outlet L1 Nieuws the bones were found under the church's former altar location, a burial spot typically reserved for royals or other high-status figures. The BBC reports a French coin from 1660 was discovered nearby, and a bullet was found at chest levelmatching historical accounts of how d'Artagnan died during the 1673 siege of Maastricht. The Telegraph adds that because of the summertime heat, it was decided D'Artagnan should be buried where he fell rather than returned to Paris; the French army's camp at the time was near the St. Peter and Paul church. DNA samples are being analyzed in Munich, and results should be ready in a few weeks.
Air Canada's CEO has been ordered to appear before a parliamentary committee to explain why he opted to speak almost exclusively in English in the condolence message he issued after Sunday night's deadly crash. In a nearly 4-minute video message released after an Air Canada jet collided with a fire truck while landing at New York's LaGuardia Airport, killing two pilots, Michael Rousseau opened and closed with a brief "bonjour" and "merci," but otherwise spoke in English, with subtitles. French is an official language in Canada and the only official language in the province of Quebec, where the plane departed from; it is also the language spoken by one of the two pilots' families.

The backlash has been sharp enough that Parliament's language committee has ordered Rousseau to appear by May 1. Prime Minister Mark Carney called the move "very disappointing," stressing that "companies like Air Canada, particularly, have a responsibility to always communicate in both official languages regardless of the situation." Reuters reports Carney said he expects the airline's board to issue a statement on the matter. The CBC reports that as of Wednesday morning, the Commissioner of Official Languages had received 561 complaints about Rousseau's message.

A rep for the airline defended Rousseau, saying he "recorded a message as a matter of priority before departing on a flight for the crash site. Despite his efforts, his ability to express himself in French does not allow him to convey such a sensitive message in that language as he would wish." The New York Times reports Rousseau has been chided in the past about his French language skills since taking the helm of Air Canada in 2021. His hiring spurred the deputy prime minister to request that Air Canada make his French competency part of his annual review, and the airline agreed.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Mavis Madzivanzira, sister to socialite and self-styled cleric Passion Java, is facing the prospect of a custodial sentence after being convicted on nine counts of fraud involving nearly US$120,000.Madzivanzira, who has been in remand prison during the final stages of her trial after missing several court appearances, was convicted alongside her accomplice Pauline Gutsa by Harare regional magistrate Feresi Chakanyuka.The pair had been jointly charged with Harare lawyer Proud Mutuso, who was acquitted after the court found no evidence linking him to the offences. The magistrate noted that Mutuso was in South Sudan at the time the crimes were committed.Madzivanzira and Gutsa are expected back in court for sentencing following a pre-sentence hearing.Prosecutor Oscar Madhume told the court that the duo defrauded multiple victims by selling nine non-existent residential stands through their company, Segimel Investments.The victims  including Farai Chikiwa, Naledi Maunganidze and Fortune Rukara  were misled into believing they were purchasing land in affluent Harare suburbs such as Milton Park, Vainona, Logan Park and Gunhill.The court heard that in September 2019, Chikiwa was introduced to the accused, who presented what appeared to be legitimate subdivision plans purportedly from the City of Harare. Convinced by the representations, she paid deposits totalling US$97,450 for nine stands.However, upon verification with the local authority, it was discovered that the stands did not exist in municipal records, prompting a police report.In a separate count, Rukara was duped into paying US$20,000 for a stand in Greendale, which he later discovered was not designated for residential use. By the time he sought recourse, the funds had already been withdrawn from a lawyer's trust account and the accused had disappeared.The case has drawn public attention partly due to Madzivanzira's association with Passion Java, who has publicly distanced himself from the matter. Some observers have also linked the developments to his earlier remarks declaring the year as one of arrests, popularly referred to as "Gore Rekungangurwa."The convictions underscore ongoing concerns over fraudulent land transactions and the need for enhanced due diligence in property dealings.
President Trump will travel to Beijing for a rescheduled summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 14 and 15, the White House announced on Wednesday. Trump had been scheduled to travel to China later this month but previously announced he was delaying the trip so he could be in Washington to help steward the US and Israeli war against Iran. The president announced the rescheduled trip even though the war in Iran continues and the US is pressing Tehran to accept a ceasefire proposal.

"First Lady Melania and I will also host President Xi and Madame Peng for a reciprocal visit in Washington, D.C., at a later date, this year," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. "Our Representatives are finalizing preparations for these Historic Visits. I look very much forward to spending time with President Xi in what will be, I am sure, a Monumental Event."
The White House East Room has seen a lot over the years, but not many guests have walked in on metal feet and thanked the first lady in 11 languages. At a White House summit on artificial intelligence and children's safety on Wednesday, Melania Trump introduced "Figure 3," an American-built humanoid robot that delivered a short, carefully scripted speech to an audience of tech execs and spouses of world leaders, CNN reports. The machine, built by California robotics startup Figure AI, slowly crossed the room and scanned the audience before speaking.

"Thank you, first lady Melania Trump, for inviting me to the White House. It is an honor to be at Fostering the Future Together's global coalition inaugural meeting," the robot said, per the AP. "I'm Figure 03, a humanoid built for the United States of America, I am grateful to be part of this historic movement to empower children with technology and education. " The robot then signed off with greetings in languages ranging from English to Arabic. The company says the third-generation robot is designed to help people with household tasks like laundry and cleaning.

The first lady called the robot her "first American-made humanoid guest in the White House" and described the moment as a turning point in how AI will show up in everyday life. She predicted that artificial intelligence will soon move from phones into human-shaped machines that can navigate schools and other real-world spaces, floating the idea of a "humanoid educator named Plato" teaching classical studies while freeing children to spend more time with friends, sports, and other interests. At the same time, she added a warning that safeguarding children "is always paramount."

The appearance capped the second day of the first lady's "Fostering the Future Together" initiative, which brought first spouses including Israel's Sara Netanyahu and Ukraine's Olena Zelenska to Washington. On Tuesday, the first lady urged closer partnerships with companies like Meta and OpenAI to center children's well-being in AI development. Her own role on Wednesday was brief, CNN reports. She stayed for about seven minutes of opening remarks, then left before a scheduled panel on AI in education.
A Los Angeles judge on Wednesday heard prosecutors describe a barrage of roughly 20 shots allegedly fired at Rihanna's home while she, A$AP Rocky, and their children were inside. Prosecutors allege 35-year-old Ivanna Lisette Ortiz of Florida drove to the Beverly Crest property's entrance on March 8 and fired on two structures on the property, including an Airstream trailer, reports FOX 11; no one was injured. Deputy District Attorney Alexander Bott told the court that by targeting the residence, Ortiz was "putting numerous lives at risk." Bott did not share any possible motive.
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Eric Schmidt and other AI leaders (Karpathy, Musk, Anthropic executives) have described recursive self-improvement (RSI)AI autonomously designing, testing, and deploying better versions of itselfas the pivotal transition from narrow, human-guided progress to potentially explosive, closed-loop intelligence growth. RSI is not yet fully autonomous across the entire AI stack with no human oversight but narrow versions are already active today.

Eric Schmidts Specific Views on RSI (Most Recent: 2025March 2026)

Schmidt has repeatedly flagged RSI as the red line for AGI/ASI and a safety trigger. Recursive self-improvement is when AI is learning on its ownand Schmidt sees it happening within about four years [~2029]. AI will be able to learn from itself without human instruction. This demands immediate limits/regulatory response because when you begin recursive self-improvement, there will be a very serious regulatory response. He noted 1020% of code at OpenAI/Anthropic is already AI-generated as an early signal.

RSI is the inflection point where scaling laws meet self-improvement. RSI is the path to systems with their own goals. We dont have it yet, but frontier consensus is 23 years away. He ties it directly to the 92 GW energy crunchRSI will accelerate compute demand beyond terrestrial grids. Recursive improvement ties directly to the uncapping of energy via space based ai data centers.

AGI (smarter than the smartest human in every domain) in 35 years via RSI. ASI (smarter than all humanity combined) in ~6 years.

Schmidt says RSI is imminent (20272029), already starting narrowly, and the biggest governance/safety issue. He is bullish on benefits but insists on human control.

Other Key Voices and Concrete Research/Demos (2026)

Andrej Karpathy (March 2026) eeleased open-source AutoResearch (Karpathy Loop)the clearest practical demo of narrow RSI.

An AI agent gets one editable training file + one objective metric + fixed experiment time

It autonomously edits PyTorch code, runs short trainings, evaluates, commits improvements, and loops.

Results were ~700 experiments in 2 days  20 stacked gains, 11% training speedup on a small LLM (transfers to larger models).

GitHub: github.com/karpathy/autoresearch.

Karpathy calls this the seed for swarm agents doing frontier research overnight; labs are already scaling it. Explicitly described in coverage as sparks of recursive self-improvement and an early singularity step.

Elon Musk / Terafab

Frames the $2025B Tesla+SpaceX+xAI Austin fab as creating a hardware RSI loop.

Everything (design, lithography masks, fab, memory, packaging, test) in one building  chip iteration in days instead of 69 months.

Recursive process that allows rapid chip production plus frequent redesigns.

Two single-design lines (edge inference + space-hardened) for terawatt-scale output.

Directly ties to closing the full stack loop: faster chips  faster algorithm research (Karpathy-style)  better chips.

Anthropic (Evan Hubinger, Jared Kaplan, March 2026)

Recursive self-improvement, in the broadest sense, is not a future phenomenon. It is a present phenomenon. 7090% of code for next models is now written by Claude. Fully automated AI research as little as a year away (2027). They operate as if 2026 to 2030 is where all the most important things happenmodels becoming faster, better, possibly faster than humans can handle.

These are not abstract theorythey are running systems and explicit lab roadmaps.

Paths to Full RSI (The Full Stack, Step-by-Step)

Full RSI requires tight, compounding loops across every layer (no weak links)

Algorithms/Research  Karpathy Loop (autonomous experiment iteration)  swarm agents optimizing proxies  full automated research (Anthropic/OpenAI goal).

Software/Tools  Agents self-improve their own scaffolding, prompting, and orchestration.

Hardware/Compute  Terafab-style vertical fabs + orbital data centers (bypassing 92 GW grid limits) for 10100 faster iteration.

Data & Grounding  Synthetic data + embodied robots (Optimus) close the reality loop.

Inference/Deployment  Real-world feedback (robots, robotaxis, space clusters) feeds back into step 1.

The flywheel: Better chips (Terafab)  more/faster experiments (Karpathy)  better algorithms  even better chips. Vertical integration (Musk) + agent swarms (labs) collapse delays that previously kept RSI narrow.Timeline: What Can Realistically Happen in 2026, 2027, and Beyond2026 (Narrow RSI becomes standard infrastructure).

Karpathy-style loops scale in every frontier lab (hundreds of thousands of automated interns). AI-generated research code jumps from 1090%. Terafabs advanced tech fab comes online  first hardware RSI cycles. Power crunch (92 GW) forces co-located/orbital experiments. Progress accelerates dramatically but still hybrid (humans set goals/safety). Schmidts we dont have it yet window holds; Musk says already in recursive improvement, full by end-2026 possible.

2027 (Crossing into full/automated RSI likely)

Anthropics fully automated AI research target hits. Agent swarms handle end-to-end model design + training. Terafab volume production + orbital clusters close the hardware loop. Schmidts 24 year prediction lands here for initial full RSI (AI improving itself without humans in the inner loop). Intelligence explosion risk emerges if loops tighten uncheckedlabs will treat this as the governance moment (per Schmidt/Anthropic).

20282030 and Beyond (Potential intelligence explosion + societal shift)

If loops close fully, exponential compounding (each generation improves faster than the last). Schmidt ASI smarter than all humanity possible

~20312032.

This could enable radical abundance in science/medicine. Risks loss of control, job displacement (Dario Amodei/Anthropic warnings), geopolitical race (China angle per Schmidt). Energy (92 GW+) and safety become the real bottlenecksMusks space pivot is a direct hedge.

Eric Schmidt sees RSI (recursive self improvement) as the decisive 20272029 inflectionalready starting narrowly and requiring urgent governance.

Karpathy and Musk have delivered the two practical missing pieces (research autonomy + hardware velocity) in the last month alone.

The loops are closing. 2026 is the year narrow RSI goes from demo to default. 2027 is when full recursive self improvement has a significant take off. Society (and regulators) are not ready, exactly as Schmidt warns.
Mary Rodee holds a photo of her son Riley after the verdict in a landmark trial over whether social media platforms deliberately addict and harm children at Los Angeles Superior Court, Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in Los Angeles. William Liang/AP Attorney Mark Lanier speaks during a news conference after the verdict in a landmark trial over whether social media platforms deliberately addict and harm children at Los Angeles Superior Court, Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in Los Angeles. William Liang/AP Lori Schott, center right, embraces Mary Rodee after the verdict in a landmark trial over whether social media platforms deliberately addict and harm children at Los Angeles Superior Court, Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in Los Angeles. William Liang/AP

LOS ANGELES (AP)  Meta and YouTube must pay millions in damages to a 20-year-old woman after a jury decided the social media giant and video streamer designed their platforms to hook young users without concern for their well being.

The California jury's decision Wednesday in a first-of-its-kind lawsuit could influence the outcome of thousands of similar lawsuits accusing social media companies of deliberately causing harm.

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The plaintiff, known by her initials KGM, testified at trial that she became addicted to social media as a child and that this addiction exacerbated her mental health struggles. After more than 40 hours of deliberations, a majority of jurors agreed and awarded her $3 million in damages.

Jurors later recommended an additional $3 million in punitive damages after deciding the companies acted with malice, oppression or fraud in harming children with their platforms. The judge has final say over how much damages are awarded.

Its the second verdict against Meta this week, after a jury in New Mexico determined the company harms childrens mental health and safety, in violation of state law.

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Meta, the parent of Instagram and Facebook, and Google-owned YouTube issued statements disagreeing with the verdict and vowed to explore their legal options, which include appeals.

Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda said the verdict misrepresents YouTube which is a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social media site. A Meta spokesperson said teen mental health is profoundly complex and cannot be linked to a single app.

Peter Ormerod, an associate professor of law at Villanova University, called the verdict a momentous development" but noted its just "one step in a much longer saga and that he doesn't expect to see large changes to the platforms immediately.

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I dont think it is an unequivocal victory and I think theres a long way to go before you see something akin to the master settlement that this is often analogized to in the tobacco and opioid litigation, he said. To get to that kind of significant change in the platforms' operation, Ormerod said Meta and YouTube would likely have to lose their legal arguments on appeal and additional bellwether trials, or test cases, like this one would have to go against them.

Both Meta and YouTube were negligent, jury says, but Meta bears more responsibility

The jury determined that Meta and YouTube were negligent in the design or operation of their respective platforms, and that the negligence was a substantial factor in causing harm to the plaintiff.

They also determined each company knew their platforms could be dangerous when used by a minor, and agreed that they failed to adequately warn of that danger, further contributing to the plaintiff's harm.

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Only nine of the 12 jurors had to agree on each claim against each defendant. Two jurors consistently disagreed with the other 10 on whether the companies should be held liable, but a majority of the jury agreed on all seven claims against each company.

The jurors also decided Meta held more responsibility for harm to KGM, or Kaley, as her lawyers called her during the trial. The jury said Meta shouldered 70% of the responsibility while YouTube bore the remaining 30%. That division was reflected in the breakdown of the $3 million in punitive damages, with the jury deciding on $2.1 million from Meta and $900,000 from YouTube.

Meta and YouTube were the two remaining defendants in the case. TikTok and Snap settled before the trial began.

One juror, who did not feel comfortable sharing her full name, said to reporters outside the courtroom that Mark Zuckerberg's testimony, and how he changed it back and forth, did not sit well with the jury.

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She also said they landed on the $6 million in damages even though some jurors were advocating for a higher amount because they were concerned about giving the sole plaintiff a larger lump sum all at once. But the jury still wanted the companies to understand they felt their practices were not acceptable.

We wanted them to feel it, she said.

The plaintiff was on social media all day from the age of 6

Jurors listened to about a month of lawyers arguments, testimony and evidence, and they heard from Kaley, as well as Meta leaders Zuckerberg and Adam Mosseri. YouTubes CEO, Neal Mohan, was not called to testify.

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Kaley said she began using YouTube at age 6 and Instagram at age 9. She told the jury she was on social media all day long as a child.

Lawyers representing Kaley, led by Mark Lanier, were tasked with proving that the respective defendants negligence was a substantial factor in causing Kaleys harm. They pointed to specific design features they said are designed to hook young users, like the infinite nature of feeds that allowed for an endless supply of content, autoplay features, and notifications.

The jurors were told not to take into account the content of the posts and videos Kaley viewed because tech companies are shielded from legal responsibility for posted content, based on Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act.

Social media identified as substantial factor in causing harm

Meta argued that Kaley's mental health struggles were not connected to her social media use and pointed to her turbulent home life. Meta also said not one of her therapists identified social media as the cause of her mental health issues. But the plaintiffs did not have to prove that social media caused Kaleys struggles  only that it was a substantial factor in causing her harm.

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YouTube focused more on the nature of the platform, arguing that it's a video platform akin to television rather than a social media platform. The company also mentioned her declining YouTube use as she aged. According to their data, she spent about one minute a day on average watching YouTube Shorts since its inception. YouTube Shorts, which launched in 2020, delivers short-form, vertical videos with the infinite scroll feature that plaintiffs argued was addictive.

Lawyers representing both platforms also pointed to their safety features and guardrails for users to monitor and customize their use.

The California case could influence others

The Los Angeles case was filed by a single plaintiff against Meta, YouTube, TikTok and Snap. After the latter two settled, her lawyers argued that Meta and YouTube were addictive by design, and that they especially target young users.

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The reason why this case is consequential is not the individual case, but the way that its a bellwether test case that might guide the resolution of other lawsuits, said Sarah Kreps, a professor and director of Cornell Universitys Tech Policy Institute.
News / National

by Staff reporter

A 32-year-old village mechanic from Chikuruwo Village has been sentenced to prison after stealing and selling his employer's vehicle on the very day he was hired as a taxi driver.Promise Musendo appeared before Tendai Mahwe at the Rusape Magistrates' Court, where he faced one count of theft of trust property. He was not represented in court and pleaded guilty to the charge.The court heard that Musendo stole a Toyota Raum valued at US$2,000, which belonged to Morgan Madimu.Magistrate Mahwe sentenced him to 36 months' imprisonment. Of this, 12 months were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour, while another 12 months were suspended on condition that he makes restitution. The remaining 12 months were conditionally suspended upon completion of 420 hours of community service.Prosecutor Faith Mutukwa told the court that Musendo disappeared with the vehicle on the same day he had been entrusted with it in 2025. He remained at large until his arrest this year, after selling the car through a local dealer.The case highlights ongoing concerns around abuse of trust in informal employment arrangements, particularly within the transport sector.
An Avelo Airlines plane taxis down the runway at Tweed New Haven Airport on July 28, 2025. Tweed is considered a small hub airport, and the U.S. transportation secretary said such facilities could close if TSA shortages continue. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Normal passenger traffic moves through a TSA checkpoint at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks on March 23, 2026 despite long lines at other airports throughout the country. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media Passengers are held in a holding area outside the terminal at Tweed-New Haven Airport, which was full to capacity Sunday, March 8, 2026, due to dense fog and TSA staffing shortages. Submitted/Tweed New Haven Airport Passengers are held in a holding area outside the terminal at Tweed New Haven Airport, which was full to capacity Sunday, March 8, 2026, due to dense fog and TSA staffing shortages, the airport said. Tweed is considered a small hub airport, and the U.S. transportation secretary said such facilities could close if TSA shortages continue. Courtesy of Tweed-New Haven Airport Westchester County Airport, which is just over the border from Greenwich, is considered a small hub airport. The U.S. transportation secretary said such facilities could close if TSA shortages continue. (File photo) Matthew Brown/Hearst Connecticut Media

Federal aviation officials are warning that some airports could close due to ongoing Transportation Security Administration staff shortages, with smaller hubs such as Tweed New Haven Airport and Westchester County Airport more at risk.

A partial federal government shutdown has left TSA agents unpaid since Feb. 14. Hundreds of TSA workers have since quit or called out sick, resulting in longer-than-usual security checkpoints at airports nationwide.

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More than 50,000 TSA employees have worked without pay for over five weeks. Hundreds have quit, American Federation of Government Employees President Everett Kelley said in a statement Sunday.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told CNBC last week that if the stalemate does not get resolved, the next step could involve closing small-hub airports.

Youre going to see small airports, I believe, shut down. Youre going to see extensive lines, Duffy told CNBC.

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Adam Stahl, TSAs acting deputy administrator, told CNN last week that if more agents dont start showing up for work, airports could close.

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Its not hyperbole to suggest that we may have to quite literally shut down airports, particularly smaller ones, if call-out rates go up, he said. We make these determinations on an airport-by-airport basis.

The Federal Aviation Administration ranks airports based on total passengers boarded. The FAA monitors 11 airports in Connecticut, but only two are considered hubs:

Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, with more than 3.1 million passengers boarded in 2025, is listed as a medium hub, according to the FAA.

Tweed New Haven, with 490,246 passengers in 2025, is listed as a small hub, as is Westchester County Airport just over the Connecticut border in West Harrison, N.Y., which had just under 1.6 million passengers last year.

Andrew King, spokesman for Tweeds airport manager, Avports, said Tuesday, Weve not heard anything about possible airport closures.

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Westchester County spokesperson Catherine Cioffi also said Tuesday she had heard nothing about closures and had no concerns at this time.

Brian Spyros, spokesman for the Connecticut Airport Authority that operates Bradley, said Tuesday, As of right now, there remains no impact to TSA operations at BDL amid the partial government shutdown. While the situation remains fluid, we have not been notified of any plans to close BDL.

A request for comment sent to the FAA was referred to the federal Department of Homeland Security. DHS replied with a previously issued statement from Lauren Bis, acting assistant secretary for public affairs, on the deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to assist TSA at airports nationwide.

DHS this week deployed immigration agents to airports, including New Yorks LaGuardia and Kennedy, at the request of President Donald Trump.

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According to the union, about 90% of the 260,000 DHS employees are working without pay due to the shutdown, including employees at TSA, as well as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Coast Guard and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

The American Federation of Government Employees and 33 other labor groups on Tuesday issued a letter to Congress, urging members to pass legislation that would prevent workers from going unpaid during budget lapses.

Funding lapses place significant strain on the federal workforce and the families who depend on steady and predictable income, the letter states. While most federal operations continue because employees are deemed essential for the protection of life and property, many are required to work without pay. This situation creates unnecessary financial uncertainty and risks undermining morale, recruitment and retention across critical agencies.
The front page of The News-Times on Feb. 13, 1970. Western Connecticut State University Archives Digital Collection

A Connecticut theater will premiere a new movie about one of Danbury's most infamous crimes just blocks away from where it happened.

The Palace Danbury will be hosting the premiere of "Danbury," a true-crime short film based on the real-life story of the 1970 Danbury bombings, on June 20.

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In an attempt to rob the Union Savings Bank in Danbury, brothers John and James Pardue planted a series of bombs around Danbury as a distraction on Feb. 13, 1970. Three bombs went off in different locations around the city, including the parking lot of the old Danbury Mall and the police department inside of the converted Main Street School building. No deaths were reported from the bombings, but 26 people were injured.

"This film premiere takes place just blocks from where it all happened, bringing the story back to its original setting. For many, its more than a filmits a piece of Danbury history," The Palace Danbury's website reads.

The event will include a red carpet experience and will feature a meet-and-greet with the director, producers, cast and crew. The movie stars Dylan Summerall (who appeared on "American Housewife") as Jimmy (James) Pardue and Billy Brannigan ("A Crime to Remember") as John Pardue. It also features Chi Mancho ("Law & Order") as Leon and Joshua Screen ("Westhampton") as Cliff, two Black brothers who were manipulated by the Pardue brothers to assist their crimes. The film's website notes that the real identities of Leon and Cliff were redacted. The movie was directed by filmmaker Matthew Hennion.

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The film has the themes of systemic racism, corruption, civil unrest, brotherhood and patriotism, according to the Matthew Hennion Production Company. According to a casting call posted by Connecticut Actors and Extras, the film itself was shot in Danbury.

"The Pardue brothers use Leon and Cliff as disposable tools, masking self-serving crime under a false banner of Black justice. The cops arent eviljust inept, easily manipulated by confidence and whiteness," the film's website reads.

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While the film is not rated, it is recommended for mature audiences.
Protesters applaud for Gov. Ned Lamont during a No Kings rally in front of Stamford Superior Court on Oct. 18. Arnold Gold/Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut M An aerial view of the No Kings protest in Hartford Oct. 18, 2025. Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media State Rep. Josh Elliott of Hamden speaks to the crowd during a No Kings Rally on the Waterbury Green in October. Jim Shannon/Hearst Connecticut Media Protesters gather for a No Kings rally in front of Stamford Superior Court on Oct. 18, 2025. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Protesters gather for a No Kings rally in front of Stamford Superior Court on Oct. 18, 2025. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Protesters gather for a No Kings rally in front of Stamford Superior Court on Oct. 18, 2025. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Protesters gather for a No Kings rally in front of Stamford Superior Court on Oct. 18, 2025. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media

Dozens of protests  and at least one sidewalk line dance  are planned in cities and towns in Connecticut this Saturday as part of the third round of national No Kings demonstrations against the Trump administration.

In Wilton, organizers plan to hold a line dance along the Route 7 sidewalk in front of the town's high school, according the event's page on the national No Kings organization's website. The page notes that neither dancing skills or a love of country music are required.

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The national organization's website lists at least 53 demonstrations scheduled for Saturday in Connecticut, although some list the same municipality.

Previous No Kings demonstrations were held nationwide on Oct. 18 and June 14 last year. The first event in June coincided with a military parade for the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary that also fell on President Donald Trump's birthday.

Organizers have said the demonstrations are meant to show that America has no kings, and have described them as a response to the Trump administration's "crackdown" on First Amendment rights. Previous events have seen protesters lean into patriotic imagery  including touting American flags.

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Trump's political allies, meanwhile, have decried the protests, with Speaker Mike Johnson referring to a planned protest as the "hate America rally."

The events planned in Connecticut include demonstrations in many of the state's major cities, including Hartford, Stamford, New Haven, New London, Torrington, Norwalk and Danbury. Demonstrators from Bridgeport, the state's largest city, are planning to rally at the Ash Creek Bridge, which links the city to neighboring Fairfield.

The third round of demonstrations in Connecticut come amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. Iran's response by choking off the Strait of Hormuz, a vital sea passage for oil tankers, have seen gas prices in Connecticut spike. As of Monday, the average price for a gallon of gas in Connecticut sat at $3.88, up nearly a dollar from a month ago, according to AAA.

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The third round of No Kings protests also come in the wake of Operation Metro Surge, the Trump administration's surge of federal agents into Minnesota.

The operation saw ICE and Border Patrol officers fatally shoot two U.S. citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, following confrontations with agents, prompting more national protests that also spread to Connecticut. The White House ended the operation in February.

Fallout from the operation continues, with Democrats in Congress blocking funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The delay in funding has caused Transportation Security agents to work without pay, leading to extended lines at some U.S. airports.
Connecticut State Police say Joshua Gookin, a state trooper, resigned on March 5, the same day an internal affairs investigation was completed on his two pending arrest cases. Courtesy of Connecticut State Police

GRISWOLD  A state police trooper arrested twice in 2025 on charges he was the aggressor in a domestic violence incident and illegally fired a gun, endangering minors, has resigned, officials confirmed.

Former Connecticut State Police trooper Edward Joshua Gookin, 37, first was charged in August after an investigation into a domestic violence incident concluded he was the aggressor, reports said.

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He was charged a second time in November after a woman revealed that he had fired a gun inside a Griswold home with minors in the residence, according to an arrest warrant.

A state police spokesperson confirmed that Gookin resigned on March 5  the day the internal affairs investigation into his activities was completed. Both of the arrest cases are pending, according to the state Judicial Branch website.

Gookin initially was charged with disorderly conduct and ordered to turn over any firearms he possessed and to stay away from the victim, who had been granted a protective order against him.

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State police said at the time that he had been placed on administrative duty. They described the altercation leading to his arrest as verbal and physical, but said no injuries were reported as a result of the confrontation.

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The protective order, issued after his arraignment, prohibited him from possessing firearms and from going to the woman's home. Gookin also was prohibited from harassing, stalking, abusing or assaulting the woman, but he could remain in contact with her as long as he didn't show up at her home, the order said.

The woman and Gookin were living together, according to the order. He was allowed to return to the home one time with police to gather his belongings, the order said. Currently, the order is slated to remain in place while the case is pending.

Gookin also was ordered to surrender or transfer any firearms he was in possession of.

He was arrested a second time in November after state police investigating the domestic violence incident learned that he had fired a shot from his service weapon that went through the floor of a home in Griswold and landed in the basement, warrant said.

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There were two children and a woman in the room when the shot went off, according to the warrant. He was showing the weapon to the children, the woman said, when it suddenly fired, making a loud noise, the warrant said.

In addition to a disorderly conduct arrest related to the domestic violence incident, Gookin also was charged with two counts of risk of injury to a child, three counts of first-degree reckless endangerment and unlawful discharge of a firearm.

State police estimate the firearm incident took place on Aug. 21, the same day he was involved in a car crash in a department vehicle, state police said in the warrant.

A few days later, Gookin signed out two 9 mm rounds, citing "deer" as the reason, the warrant said. But the state trooper investigating the gunshot reviewed Gookin's service call log and found no entries indicating Gookin was required to shoot an injured deer during the timeframe.

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The woman saved the bullet and turned it over as evidence, the warrant said. The state's forensic lab matched the bullet to Gookin's service weapon, the warrant said.
FILE PHOTO: Glastonbury police say they are investigating an online video that appears to show a local fitness influencer kicking his dog. Courtesy of the Glastonbury Police Department

GLASTONBURY  Police are investigating an alleged case of animal cruelty after a video showing a man slamming his dog into furniture began circulating online yesterday.

"The Glastonbury Police Department would like to thank the public for its interest in this case and for bringing the incident and video clip to our attention," police wrote in a Thursday release. Police did not name anyone involved in the investigation.

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On Thursday morning, Glastonbury-based fitness influencer Mike Gerchy took to Instagram, where his business account has nearly 85,000 followers, to explain the video, which he said was two years old and "doctored."

The video, posted online by animal rights group Desmond's Army Animal Law Advocates on Wednesday night, appears to show Gerchy repeatedly kicking one of his dogs, a black-and-white pup named Stitch, as well as picking up the dog and throwing it onto a sofa and onto the ground.

In three separate Instagram posts on Wednesday and Thursday, including one posted with the dogs, Gerchy pushed back on the claims he was abusing Stitch and said he had intervened to protect the two young children in the room, as well as Thor, the other dog in the video.

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"Am I proud of what happened? Absolutely not. But because of what I did and how quick my actions were, Thor is still alive, and also because of that, Stitch is still alive," Gerchy said, explaining that Stitch would have been euthanized if he had killed Thor. He said the video had been shared by an ex-partner.

Gerchy also posted a video that shows the events immediately preceding the video shared by Desmond's Army. In the video he posted, two young girls are playing with Thor in the center of the living room, when Stitch gets off the couch, walks over to Thor and starts biting his face, seemingly without provocation.

The girls scream, and the video shows Gerchy running into the room, hitting Stitch on the head, and then prying his jaws off Thor.

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"I'm posting this video so everybody can see what really happened in the video that somebody posted about me beating stitch," Gerchy wrote. "I love my dogs more than anything, but if the police saw Thor being attacked by stitch, they wouldve shot him and killed him."

Gerchy said that Stitch had attacked Thor at least four times while Thor was a puppy, including an incident where Stitch broke Thor's jaw in half, and another time where Stitch broke Thor's leg. Gerchy said the attacks cost him around $16,000.

"I'm a very good man. I love my kids. I love my family, and I especially love my dogs," Gerchy said in one of his Instagram posts. "I spend every waking second with my dogs, 24 hours a day. They are my life, and I love them more than anything."
Kosta Diamantis arrives at Bridgeport Federal Court in Bridgeport, Conn., Friday, October 3, 2025. Diamantis, who served as Connecticut's deputy budget director from 2019-21, faces two separate federal trials, stemming from allegations he solicited bribes from state contractors pursuing lucrative school construction contracts and from a local business seeking to have a state audit dismissed. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media

A Connecticut judge approved Kosta Diamantis' resignation of his law license and a waiver stating he will not seek readmission to the state bar after he was found guilty last year of soliciting bribes to steer companies to lucrative school construction contracts.

The judge, Patrick L. Carroll III, issued the order Tuesday in Waterbury.

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Diamantis, whose first name is Konstantinos but goes by Kosta, voluntarily gave up his law license and any chance of reapplying in the future in January. The action was initially brought by the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel, which handles attorney misconduct.

Diamantis was admitted to the bar in Connecticut on May 10, 1984, according to court filings.

The disciplinary counsel's action cited Diamantis' conviction in federal court as "serious crimes," which warrant discipline under the state's practice book for lawyers. A federal jury found Diamantis guilty in October of 21 counts of bribery, extortion, conspiracy and lying to investigators.

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"Although I deny some or all of the material facts alleged in the presentment, I acknowledge that there is sufficient evidence to prove by clear and convincing evidence the material facts constituting a violation," Diamantis wrote in his affidavit.

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Diamantis' conviction last year stemmed from his dealings with a masonry company and a project administration firm that worked on multimillion-dollar school construction projects in Hartford and Tolland. He claimed while testifying in his own defense that he had been acting as a lawyer and consultant in his spare time.

He awaits sentencing.

Federal prosecutors have also charged Diamantis with soliciting and taking money to squash a probe into a Medicaid fraud scheme conducted by the fiance of a former state lawmaker. That case is still awaiting trial.
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon arrives at Mar-a-Lago on February 1, 2026 in Palm Beach, Florida. Al Drago/Getty Images

NEW HAVEN  After some prominent setbacks, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon is set to speak to Connecticut students this spring.

It's not at an elementary school, after parents in Fairfield rejected her planned appearance at McKinley Elementary School as part of a controversial civics program in January.

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Nor is it at a local high school. Earlier this month, district officials in Thomaston also canceled a scheduled McMahon-linked program at Thomaston High School, citing the need to "maintain a safe and orderly environment" for students.

Instead, McMahon, a Connecticut resident and former senatorial candidate, will be giving a talk at Yale University on April 16 on "The Roadmap for Restoring American Education."

The event is being held by the Buckley Institute, a conservative campus group that has previously hosted prominent conservative figures, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, both Republicans, as well as author and activist Ben Shapiro.

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"Secretary McMahon's perspective is critical for understanding the challenges faced by and the path forward for American education, from kindergarten through graduate school," Lauren Noble, Buckley's executive director, said.

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According to the event's description, attendees can hear from McMahon on her attempts to "root out divisive DEI and gender ideologies" at the Department of Education.

A Yale spokesperson said the school "supports free expression and the exchange of ideas" but does not comment on the views of speakers.

Upon hearing the news of her visit, New Haven city leaders criticized McMahon's tenure at the Department of Education.

"Our university campuses should be forums for free speech and the healthy exchange of ideas," New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said. "However, President Trump and Secretary McMahon certainly dont have a 'roadmap to restore education'  and conversely seem to be hell-bent on undermining public education for our most vulnerable students."

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New Haven teachers union President Leslie Blatteau said she was proud of parents and educators in Fairfield and Thomaston for opposing McMahon's events, and that their actions represented the feelings of the "vast majority" of Connecticut residents.

"Linda McMahon should be held accountable for the damage she and the Trump Administration have wrought on school communities over the past year," Blatteau said. "Given their fawning over the education secretary in promoting next months event, the Buckley Institute is highly unlikely to provide that long-overdue reckoning."

Yale visit follows string of canceled events for McMahon

The McMahon-linked civics events that have been canceled in Connecticut were part of her History Rocks! America 250 Trail to Independence student program, a planned 50-state civics tour that McMahon has embarked on this year.

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The events have been embraced by President Donald Trump and a collection of conservative education groups, but have drawn backlash from some historians, students and liberal critics who argue the programming is light on history and heavy on political messaging.

After the event in Thomaston was canceled, the state's top teachers' union official backed the decision to call off event.

The illusion those programs are selling is that they are not political, yet they are fully funded by political organizations, said Connecticut Education Association President Kate Dias.

But McMahon disagreed, describing the program as a "celebration of unity and civic pride," and questioned why school leaders wanted to see it shut down.

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To date, no tour events have successfully been held in Connecticut.

The tour is a collaboration between the Department of Education and a "civics education coalition" that includes pro-Trump administration groups, including the America First Policy Institute and Turning Point USA, which was the campus activism group founded by the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

In addition to canceling the events in Fairfield and Thomaston, parents and school officials have successfully shut down similar events in Alabama and Massachusetts, and have protested the gatherings across the country.

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Acting Police Chief David Zannelli speaks during a news conference at City Hall, in New Haven, Conn. March 25, 2026. Mayor Justin Elicker nominated Zannelli Wednesday to serve as the permanent chief of police for the city. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media Mayor Justin Elicker speaks during a news conference at City Hall, in New Haven, Conn. March 25, 2026. Elicker nominated Acting Police Chief David Zannelli to serve as the permanent chief of police for the city. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media FILE PHOTO: New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker, speaks during a ceremony acknowledging the first responders who saved a girls life in December, on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at the Yale New Haven Hospital Center for EMS in New Haven. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media FILE PHOTO: Former New Haven police chief Karl Jacobson, right, makes his way into New Haven Superior Court with his attorney Friday, March 6, 2026. Jim Shannon / Hearst Connecticut Media

NEW HAVEN  Mayor Justin Elicker has nominated Acting Police Chief David Zannelli to serve in the role permanently, citing the integrity he and his colleagues showed during a moment of maximum testing: reporting his superior for allegedly breaking the law.

Zannellis nomination follows the abrupt resignation of former Chief Karl Jacobson, who departed earlier this year amid an embezzlement scandal. Jacobson resigned in January after Zannelli and fellow Assistant Chiefs Bertram Etienne and Manmeet Bhagtana confronted him about his handling of the Narcotics Enforcement Program fund, an account used to pay police informants. Zannelli has led the department as acting chief since Jacobsons departure.

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When he and his colleagues were confronted with illegal actions and misuse of public funds by their commanding officer, they chose to do the right thing, Elicker alleged at an afternoon City Hall press event to announce Zannellis appointment. They chose to follow the law and chose to come forward courageously and report that. That shows they put all else aside to follow their integrity and their conscience and for that were grateful.

Zannelli spoke briefly, saying department morale remains high despite the recent challenges but there is more work to be done to reduce crime and the fear of crime in the city. Board of Police Commissioners Chairwoman Evelise Ribeiro said she has personally observed Zannellis work ethic and knows he places great value on relationship building and he is a firm believer in community policing.

Zannelli said if he is confirmed as chief, he intends to restore certain elements of community policing to the department that have eroded, such as bicycle and walking beats. He said he also wants to strengthen department partnerships with community organizations offering social services and the Board of Education. Currently, the department is working with the schools on a plan to expand the school resource officer program into middle schools. He said reducing incidences of youth violence would be one of his top priorities as chief. He also said the department works hand in glove with Elm City COMPASS, a community-based crisis response organization, and he intends on preserving the relationship.

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On interacting with residents who may be undocumented Zannelli said under his leadership the department wont care about someones documentation status but only if theyve committed a crime. He said the department will not work with U.S. Immigrations and Custom Enforcement on their jurisdictional issues, just as the federal government would not intervene on a shooting or car accident in the city.

Zannelli is not a resident of New Haven, but said he is prepared to do what is required by city charter to meet residency requirements. Elicker said, irrespective of Zannelli, he is considering proposing a residency requirement waiver ordinance to the Board of Alders for the hiring of department heads.

We want to hire as many people from the community as possible, Elicker said on the hiring of resident police officers. We also have a lot of vacancies. We need to be practical.

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Zannelli said the community policing model he favors does not necessarily mean officers need to reside in the city, but that they are engaged members of the community who are known and trusted within New Haven.

Zannellis appointment as the permanent chief of police will still have to be approved by the Board of Alders, which serves as New Havens legislative body.

If the Alders reject the nominee, the person can continue to serve in an acting capacity pending the resubmission of their name, though the candidate cannot be submitted more than twice, according to the city charter. In the meantime, Zannelli remains as acting chief, as he has since Jacobsons arrest.

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Connecticut State Police charged Jacobson with two counts of first-degree larceny, after investigators determined he had siphoned around $85,500 from the informant fund and the departments Police Activity League Fund, court documents said.

In a secret recording of the meeting made by one of the assistant chiefs, Jacobson admitted to taking money from the fund to pay gambling debts, according to the application for his arrest warrant.

I am just saying it is not that Im a bad person. I have a problem. I (fixed) my alcohol problem. I turned to gambling. I dont know why it just got worse recently, Jacobson told the assistant chiefs, according the warrant.

When an assistant chief said he had never seen him gamble, Jacobson tapped his cellphone and replied: Its on the app.

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When asked during the meeting how much was missing, Jacobson allegedly replied: Ten thousand and acknowledged he had put his subordinates in a bad situation.

He reportedly asked for an opportunity to replace the money, fix the books and retire, warning that he could go to jail and lose his pension, according to the warrant.

The warrant said Jacobson wagered a total of $4.46 million in one year. He sustained losses totaling $214,365 on the DraftKings and FanDuel gambling apps, the warrant said.

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New Haven Superior Court in a file photo. State officials say Brian Flores-Colon, a New Haven man, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for repeatedly sexually assaulting two minors. Meghan Friedmann/Hearst Connecticut Media

NEW HAVEN  A city man will spend three decades in prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting two minors over the course of years, officials say.

In a release, the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice said 46-year-old Brian Flores-Colon was sentenced in the state Superior Court in New Haven on Tuesday to 30 years in prison, followed by 30 years of special parole for sexually assaulting two minors.

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A jury found Flores-Colon guilty on Jan. 13 of six counts of first-degree sexual assault and three counts of risk of injury to a minor.

Officials said evidence at trial included the testimony of two victims who are now adults. They said each victim reported to New Haven police that they had been repeatedly sexually assaulted by the defendant when they were between the ages of 8 and 16 years old.

The two cases were joined for a consolidated trial before a jury, officials said, adding both victims were present at the sentencing hearing and provided victim impact statements.
Jayden Nguyen is a Trending Reporter for CT Insider. She has been with Hearst Connecticut Media Group since 2024.

Originally from Louisiana, Jayden graduated from Louisiana State University (LSU) in 2023 with a degree in mass communication and a minor in French.

When she's not writing, she can be found watching Formula 1 races, scrolling through TikTok, singing or listening to anything from K-Pop to rap to Taylor Swift.
News / National

by Staff reporter

South Africa-based pro-Zanu PF activist Rutendo Matinyarare has, in a surprising shift, publicly described President Emmerson Mnangagwa's tenure as "mediocre," marking a notable departure from his long-standing support.Matinyarare, once one of Mnangagwa's most vocal defenders across the region following the 2017 Zimbabwe coup d'etat that ushered the President into power, has recently taken a more critical stance, particularly on governance and infrastructure delivery.In a series of social media posts, Matinyarare said the President's performance did not warrant any extension of his term beyond constitutional limits."Yesterday, I was threatened for having insulted the President by saying that his performance in office has been mediocre for us to grant him a term extension," he said.He contrasted Mnangagwa's record with that of former President Robert Mugabe, arguing that the latter oversaw significantly more infrastructure development in his early years in office.According to Matinyarare, Mugabe's administration constructed approximately 9,000km of new paved roads within two decades, compared to what he described as slower progress under Mnangagwa. He cited the ongoing upgrades to the HarareBeitbridge Road and other projects, estimating that around 1,200km of roads have been built or rehabilitated in the past nine years."This means that, in nine years, the President has refurbished and built about 1,200km (6.3%) of roads out of the 19,000km of paved roads in Zimbabwe, which are in desperate disrepair," he said.Matinyarare also raised concerns about the financial feasibility of large-scale infrastructure rehabilitation, estimating that repairing the country's road network could cost as much as US$17.4 billion.His remarks come at a time when ZANU-PF is facing intensifying internal divisions over Mnangagwa's political future. Factions within the ruling party are reportedly split between those advocating for a term extension beyond 2028 and those insisting on adherence to constitutional term limits.The pro-extension camp is said to draw support largely from Mnangagwa's home regions, including Masvingo Province and Midlands Province, as well as from influential business figures aligned with the ruling establishment.Others within the party argue that the President should step down at the end of his second term in 2028, as required by the constitution.Matinyarare further questioned the pace of development, suggesting that ongoing political campaigning linked to a potential 2030 extension was detracting from governance."How many more roads can he fix between now and 2030 at the current pace of 130km per year and the perpetual electioneering for 2030 that has stopped all real work?" he asked.He added that future assessments would examine performance in other critical sectors, including healthcare, water, sanitation and electricity.Matinyarare, who leads the Zimbabwe Anti Sanctions Movement, has previously been a central figure in campaigns defending the government against what authorities describe as targeted sanctions imposed by the United States and its Western allies.His latest comments are likely to fuel further debate within both political and public spheres as Zimbabwe approaches a crucial period in its leadership trajectory.
An aerial view of the thousands of people who attended the No Kings protest in Hartford, Conn., on Oct. 18, 2025. Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media

HARTFORD  People around the country, including right here in Connecticut, are once again taking to the streets for the next national No Kings Day of Nonviolent Action this Saturday.

Held under the No Kings banner, the last nonviolent and lawful No Kings protest was held Oct. 18. Participants in about 40 Connecticut towns and cities took part in that nationwide to protest President Donald Trump and his administration.

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This weekend, protests are expected to be held in at least 45 towns and cities in the state.

According to a No Kings press release, there are an array of groups organizing the protests, including the Human Rights Campaign, American Federation of Teachers, Common Defense, United We Dream, and 50501.

There are also Eyes on ICE virtual training programs taking place nationwide up until protest day, according to the release.

The following protests are expected to take place around the state:

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In this photo released by Belarusian presidential press service, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, right, and U.S. Presidential envoy John Coale talk during their meeting in Minsk, Belarus, Thursday, March 19, 2026. (Belarusian Presidential Press Service via AP) AP FILE - U.S. Presidential envoy John Coale, speaks to journalists outside the U.S. Embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania, Sept. 11, 2025, ahead of the arrival of released prisoners from Belarus. Mindaugas Kulbis/AP

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump's special envoy to Belarus recently revealed that he helped ingratiate himself with the country's autocratic leader by echoing Alexander Lukashenko's disdain for Europe with vulgar language and by negotiating his way through a boozy lunch during their first meeting.

The envoy, John Coale, who has been charged with working to win the release of hundreds of political prisoners from the East European country, said State Department officials advised him before the initial meeting with Lukashenko that he likes to yuck it up, so we yucked it up.

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"About a half-hour, 45 minutes into it, I am trying to get the feel of who this guy is and how to communicate," Coale said at a recent appearance at Arizona State University's McCain Institute. He starts complaining about the Europeans  Europeans this, Europeans that. So  and this is kind of crude and Im sorry for the language  but I said to him, Yeah, theyre a bunch of p. So, I had him in my hand from then on.

Coale offered the anecdote as a window into his efforts to build a relationship with the Belarusian leader, who is closely tied to Russian President Vladimir Putin and has sought to improve relations with the West since Trump's return to the White House.

Coale in an interview on Wednesday defended his rhetoric. If I have to use locker room language to get 500 political prisoners released, I will do it every time," he told The Associated Press.

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In 2016, a recording of Trump using the same vulgarity caused a major controversy during the president's first run for the White House, leading to a rare apology from Trump, who described it as private locker room talk.

Coale says his very direct diplomacy is reaping benefits

To be certain, Coale is not the first U.S. diplomat to use less than diplomatic language about Europeans.

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In 2014, Victoria Nuland, at the time the top U.S. diplomat for European and Eurasian affairs, apologized after a recording of a snippet of private conversation leaked in which she used salty language to vent about Europes hesitant policy over the pro-democracy protests in Ukraine. In 2003, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher faced heat in the early months of the Iraq War for dismissively referring to France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg  countries that opposed U.S. policy in Iraq  as the chocolate makers.

And Trump has sparred with European leaders over a long list of issues, including tariffs, contributions to NATO and his desire to acquire Greenland.

Coale, a Maryland attorney, was appointed by Trump in March 2025 as his deputy special envoy to Ukraine. In June, he help win the release of 14 political prisoners from Belarus. Months later, Trump announced he was elevating Coale to serve as his special envoy to Belarus. He is married to TV journalist Greta Van Susteren.

The envoy, during a conference on hostage-taking and arbitrary detention hosted by the non-profit think tank named after the late Sen. John McCain, made the case that his very direct diplomacy is reaping benefits with Lukashenko.

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Lukashenko has ruled the nation of 9.5 million with an iron fist for more than three decades, and the country has been sanctioned repeatedly by Western countries  both for its political oppression and for allowing Moscow to use its territory in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Belarus has released hundreds of political prisoners in exchange for sanctions relief since Trump returned to the White House as Lukashenko has sought to build better relations with the U.S. under the Republican leader.

Coale said his first meeting with Lukashenko stretched into a two-hour lunch, during which he poured shots of vodka on to the floor when his host wasn't looking to avoid becoming intoxicated. Coale joked he managed to limit himself to two shots, but said that some of his State Department colleagues who joined him at the meeting drank many more.

All these toasts started  I cant get hammered, Coale said. "Of course, there were a couple State Department guys who drank all eight toasts and they were hammered.

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Lukashenko pardoned more prisoners last week after a Minsk meeting with Coale

Lukashenkos rule was challenged after a 2020 presidential election, when tens of thousands poured into the streets to protest a vote they viewed as rigged. They were the largest demonstrations since Belarus became independent following the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.

In an ensuing crackdown, tens of thousands were detained, with many beaten by police. Prominent opposition figures either fled the country or were imprisoned.

Five years after the mass demonstrations, Lukashenko won a seventh term last year in an election that the opposition called a farce.

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More recently, Belarus has freed some political prisoners to try to win favor with the West, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski and prominent opposition figures Siarhei Tsikhanouski, Viktar Babaryka and Maria Kolesnikova.

Last week, Lukashenko ordered the release of 250 political prisoners as part of a deal with Washington that lifted some U.S. sanctions, the latest step in the isolated leaders effort to improve ties with the West. It was the largest one-time release of political prisoners in the country.

Lukashenko pardoned the prisoners after meeting with Coale in Minsk. Coale hailed the release as a significant humanitarian milestone and a testament to Trumps commitment to direct, hard-nosed diplomacy.

The McCain Institute event took place days before the latest release of political prisoners. Coale predicted then that the Trump administration would be able to win the release of all of political prisoners by the end of the year.

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I'd be willing to bet on that, said Coale, who added he was planning additional trips to Belarus in the near future that he expected to result in the release of a couple hundred more political prisoners. I think this type of diplomacy that Donald Trump has pushed forward does work.

___

AP Diplomatic Writer Matt Lee contributed to this report.
The entrance to Tweed New Haven Regional Airport in New Haven photographed on April 4, 2024. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Signage for travelers at Tweed Airport in New Haven, Conn., earlier this month. Some Tweed neighbors said they are worried that worsening traffic conditions around the airport could impede access for emergency vehicles. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media Jason Jakubowski, right, president and CEO of Connecticut Foodshare, speaks on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023 at a press conference to announce a new partnership between Foodshare and Tweed New Haven Regional Airport to help feed the needy. With him, from far left, are Tom Rafter, executive director of the Tweed New Haven Airport Authority, Michael Jones, CEO of The New HVN LLC, and Marissa Mollica-Velazquez, program facilitator of Overbrook Early Learning Center and East Haven Family Resource Center. Mark Zaretsky / Hearst Connecticut Media Tweed Airport in New Haven, Conn., Monday, December 9, 2024. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media Tweed-New Haven Airport, 2021. FILE PHOTO

NEW HAVEN  Everyone who works at Tweed New Haven Regional Airport  and pretty much everyone who passes through to catch or return from a flight  knows how tough it is to be a TSA employee right now.

They know that the Transportation Security Administration workers checking them in and scanning their carry-on bags as they pass through Tweed's security checkpoint haven't received a paycheck since Feb. 14 as a result of the partial nationwide shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.

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As "essential employees," they have continued to work without pay for more than a month  and counting.

Now the broader community in and around Tweed is doing what they can to help.

Tweed and Avports, the company that runs the airport for the Tweed New Haven Airport Authority, have partnered with outside organizations to provide at least some relief to help the TSA workers out and acknowledge the sacrifices they're making to continue working.

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For one thing, Tweed and Avports have "provided additional staffing on the Avports airport side to help with baggage," including checking in bags at Tweed's bag drop area  but not screening carry-on luggage, said Avports spokesperson Andrew King, and Tom Cavaliere, Tweed's director of community engagement, marketing and communications.

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That frees up TSA workers to focus on the more specialized screening process, they said.

Tweed also has partnered with G Cafe, the New Haven-based bakery and coffee shop chain that runs Tweed's food concession, and its co-owner Christian Festa to provide 75 percent discounts for airport TSA workers on all items available at the G Cafe airport eatery, said Cavaliere.

Each year, G Cafe also matches Tweed's annual $5,000 donation to Connecticut Foodshare, which supplies food pantries and foodbanks throughout the state.

"It's tough for some of them  for all of them," Cavaliere said of the TSA employees. He said Tweed appreciates the work TSA workers do and is "certainly appreciative" of Festa's willingness to help out.

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Now, Tweed is about to widen the net of people providing assistance to travelers and members of the public, Cavaliere said: It's about to begin collecting grocery and gasoline gift cards to distribute to TSA employees who currently are working for no pay.

That move has yet to be formally announced, but it's something that Tweed insiders already have been doing behind the scenes, he said.

"A lot of other airports have been doing it, so we are joining in to create a gift card drop at the entrance to the airport for people that want to provide grocery or gas gift cards," Cavaliere said.

Tweed and Avports will allocate the cards that are donated to the TSA, Cavaliere said. "They're permitted to accept grocery or gas gift cards," although "they can't accept cash," he said.

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Signs soon will be going up at the airport to help spread the word, Cavaliere said.

Meanwhile, members of the community have reached out to connect TSA workers with the food pantry at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, located just down the road from Tweed at 385 Townsend Ave. At least one TSA employee so far has visited the pantry, Cavaliere said.

It's all part of an effort to show "how appreciative we are of the TSA for all that they do," Cavaliere said. "It's part of what makes the community. We're an airport family."

In addition, "Connecticut Foodshare also has been a big help, providing food assistance" for some TSA workers, Cavaliere said.

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"We have this broader community ... that has provided support" to help remind TSA workers "that they're valued," he said.

Information on TSA's normal staffing at Tweed and the number of employees currently working  as well as how many have quit or called in sick  was not immediately available. TSA's regional public affairs spokesperson, Amanda Osborn, apparently is not working during the shutdown.

A voicemail message that picked up Osborn's phone said she won't be responding to voicemail or email messages while the shutdown remains in force.
FILE - The seal of the Dept of Justice is shown on the podium, Aug. 1, 2023, at an office of the Department of Justice in Washington. J. Scott Applewhite/AP

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Justice Department has settled for roughly $1.2 million a lawsuit from Michael Flynn, the former national security adviser to President Donald Trump who pleaded guilty during the Republican's first term to lying to the FBI about his conversations with a top Russian diplomat and was later pardoned.

Court papers filed Wednesday do not reveal the settlement amount, but a person familiar with the matter, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to disclose nonpublic information, confirmed the total as about $1.2 million.

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The settlement resolves a 2023 lawsuit in which Flynn sought at least $50 million and asserted that the criminal case against him amounted to a malicious prosecution. It also represents a stark turnabout in position for a Justice Department that during the Biden administration had pressed a judge to dismiss Flynn's complaint. Attorney General Pam Bondi, a former personal lawyer for the president, has openly criticized the Russia investigation in which Flynn was charged and the Justice Department in the last year has opened investigations into former officials who participated in that inquiry.

The Justice Department cast the settlement as an important step in redressing what it says was a historic injustice of the Russia investigation that shadowed Trump for much of his first term.

This Department of Justice will continue to pursue accountability at all levels for this wrongdoing. Such weaponization of the federal government must never be allowed to happen again, a spokesperson said.

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In a separate statement, Flynn said: Nothing can fully compensate for the hell that my family and I have endured over these many years  the relentless attacks, the destruction of reputations, the financial ruin, and the profound personal toll inflicted upon us all. No amount of money or formal resolution can erase the pain caused by a prosecution that should never have been brought.

The settlement is the latest turn in the long-running legal saga involving Flynn, one of six Trump associates charged as part of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into potential ties between Russia and Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. That investigation found Russia interfered in the election on Trump's behalf and that the Trump campaign eagerly welcomed the help, but it ultimately found insufficient evidence of a criminal conspiracy.

Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general who vigorously campaigned at Trumps side, served for weeks as his first national security adviser before being pushed out of his position. He remained a Trump ally even after agreeing to cooperate with Mueller's team. He was pardoned in the final weeks of the president's first term.

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Flynn pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to the FBI when he said he had not discussed with the Russian envoy, Sergey Kislyak, sanctions that the outgoing Obama administration had just imposed on Russia for election interference. During that conversation, Flynn advised that Russia be even-keeled in response to the punitive measures, and assured him we can have a better conversation about relations between the countries after Trump became president.

The conversation alarmed the FBI, which at the time was investigating whether the Trump campaign and Russia had coordinated to sway the election. In addition, White House officials were stating publicly that Flynn and Kislyak had not discussed sanctions, which the FBI knew was untrue.

Flynn was ousted from his position in February 2017 after news broke that Obama administration officials had warned the White House that Flynn had indeed discussed sanctions with Kislyak and was vulnerable to blackmail. He pleaded guilty months later to a false statement charge.

But Flynn later sought to withdraw his guilty plea, saying federal prosecutors had acted in bad faith and broken their end of the bargain when they sought prison time for him.

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The Justice Department in 2020 moved to dismiss the case, asserting that the FBI had no basis to interview Flynn about Kislyak and that any statements he made during the interview were not material to the FBIs broader counterintelligence probe.

Flynn was pardoned by Trump in November 2020, ending the court case and the legal wrangling.

In his lawsuit, Flynn maintained his innocence and said he was targeted by the virulently anti-Trump leadership of the FBI's Russia investigation. He contended that investigators pursued him despite knowing there was no evidence of a crime and coerced his guilty plea.

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A meeting of the Representative Town Meeting in Greenwich, Conn., in 2023. File photo/ Hearst Connecticut Media

I presented at a unique symposium on New England town meetings last week. Too many of us perceive democracy as residing in our nations capital, especially in our divisive and hyper-partisan era. But direct democracy (not to be confused with constitutional republicanism at the national level) thrives in New England, where we can participate in actual local governance. Officials as well as policy experts attended this University of Massachusetts forum to discuss democratic approaches at town meetings.

Town meetings allow residents to engage as well as vote on a number of local issues, petitions and referendum initiatives. In many instances, these meetings are annual and center around budgetary and bonding concerns. Not every municipality has such a process.

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Connecticuts municipalities have more Representative Town Meetings (RTMs) where local voters elect residents to discuss and debate issues before policies and budgets go onto to an official legislative body such as selectpersons, alders, representatives and burgesses. These RTMs vary from 30 to 230 members. Greenwich has the highest number of representatives, which makes for an unusual process and costly elections.

At the same time, Connecticut has several towns where there are direct or open town meetings especially in smaller municipalities east of the Connecticut River like Ellington, Pomfret, Woodstock and Old Lyme. Residents can directly engage and vote in the democratic process.

The symposium centered more on the direct nature of residents participating in town meetings than representatives doing so. Much of the focus was on Massachusetts towns since so many of their smaller municipalities have open town meetings.

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Town meeting moderators or town meeting officials led spirited panel discussions on how their meetings operate especially under Robert's Rules of Order. Lawyers and college faculty also offered comparative approaches to leading town meetings. Case studies and scenarios became fruitful debates especially when residents can be dramatic if not combative.

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Symposium panels ranged from historical and current issues facing town meetings. There were also countless differences among our New England states. Harvard University Professor Jane Mansbridge revisited her Beyond Adversary Democracy study on Vermont town meetings and much discussion was on Frank Bryans Real Democracy work as well.

University of Connecticut Professor Michael Morrell stressed that our state favors Representative Town Meetings since nearly half our municipalities have some form of open or representative approaches.

I stressed that since COVID, theres been some interest about leading budgetary discussions through an online or hybrid process. My journalism professor colleague Jodie Gill and I examined this in a study on open budgetary meetings during the pandemic.

Ultimately, many of us were concerned how to engage more residents to be a part of the local decision-making process. Countless officials and experts stressed that fewer people are attending town meetings and those who do tend to be closer to retirement age.

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I argued that few Americans, even New Englanders, know about town meetings and that civics education can be an impactful approach for future voters to learn about local government. We debated if this should be stressed in elementary, middle or high school. College is often too late to learn the basics of state and local government.

While Americans focus more on Washington politics, theres something exceptional about our regional history since New England has direct democracy approaches such as town meetings. We just need to recognize that more of us need to visit town hall than watch cable news to engage in the democratic process.
A 2023 aerial photo of the limestone-facade Goodwin Square office tower at 225 Asylum St. in Hartford, Connecticut, against the foreground of Bushnell Park. Namdar Realty is assuming a mortgage on Goodwin Square, adding to its Connecticut holdings that include the Trumbull Mall, Meriden Mall, Enfield Square and Crystal Mall and finalizing the purchase of the Shoppes at Buckland Hills in Manchester. Patrick Sikes/For Hearst Connecticut Media House Speaker Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, fields questions during a news briefing Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at his state Capitol offices in Hartford about a possible rebate program that Democratic majority leaders are exploring. Paul Hughes/Hearst Connecticut Media State Rep. Joseph Polletta, R-Watertown, the ranking House member on the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, criticizes a possible property tax rebate that Democratic majority leaders are discussing during a news conference outside of the House chamber on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in Hartford. Paul Hughes/Hearst Connecticut Media

HARTFORD  Democrats in the legislature are considering $300 to $500 rebates from the state to Connecticut property owners to offer relief from local property taxes, House Speaker Matt Ritter said Wednesday.

Democratic majority leaders are investigating the feasibility of providing a one-time rebate, said Ritter, D-Hartford, during a news briefing at the state Capitol offices. It would use a combination of state funds that currently pay for the existing tax credit for property taxes on the state income tax and a proposed pool of $500 million that Gov. Ned Lamont wants to use for a one-time rebate program that he has proposed.

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The idea remains under discussion between House and Senate Democrats, Ritter said. Representatives for the two Democratic caucuses are doing financial calculations, data analysis and projections to determine the possible parameters, costs and overall viability of such a rebate program, he said.

I dont want to get ahead of myself. Its something I certainly think would be a really good idea. But I want to give everybody a chance to look at the final number runs and everything like that, Ritter said.

The potential Democratic rebate proposal represents a counterproposal to an earlier one from Lamont for a $200-per-person sales tax rebate to help offset high energy costs in Connecticut. The Democratic governor proposed his $500 million rebate program in the revised $27.8 billion budget for the upcoming 2027 fiscal year that he presented to the General Assembly.

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Lamont proposed funding his one-time rebate program using income taxes from taxpayers who make estimated quarterly tax payments and from business owners who elect to pay the top income tax rate on business earnings. The governors plan would divert $500 million of the receipts from these two components of the income tax that would otherwise be deposited in the budget reserve fund.

The governors office estimates 2.2 million residents would benefit from the rebate program, with taxpayers and their household members.

Ritter broadly outlined how the rebate for property taxes would be funded under the Democratic plan but provided no estimate on how many would benefit.

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The legislature and Lamont could use state funds that pay for the property credits claimed against the state income tax to instead send rebate checks directly to property owners, he said.

Currently, taxpayers can claim up to $300 for property taxes paid on their primary homes and automobiles against the income tax. The amount of the credit decreases as income increases until phasing out at certain thresholds. The legislatures budget office has projected that an estimated 657,000 income tax filers will receive $138 million in property tax credits for the 2027 fiscal year.

I think you could take the existing pot of money that goes to that credit and make it a check for this year, Ritter said.

If those funds were to be bundled with the $500 million that Lamont proposed to finance his recommended energy rebate, the state could issue rebate checks for $300, $400 or $500, Ritter said.

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It is a hybrid of the governors idea, he said.

House Minority Leader Vincent J. Candelora, R-North Branford, said both rebate proposals were bad ideas, and said House and Senate Republicans have proposed more sustainable, permanent tax relief.

Were looking for long-term sustainable tax relief, not these gimmicks, said state Rep. Joseph Polletta, R-Watertown, the ranking House member of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee. I know theyre appealing in an election year, but we need to be very careful not to just promise everything to voters in hopes of getting them to the polls, and then next year were back to tax-and-spend.
Brothers Joe, left, and Dominic Futia, co-owners of the former Avanti Italian Ristorante & Lounge, are photographed in the bar area of their now closed restaurant on River Road in Meriden on September 6, 2024. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Dominic Futia, chef owner of the new Avanti Grille in Cheshire. Behind him is the special domed pizza oven. Courtesy Dominic Futia The interior of Avanti Grille in Cheshire in an antique building at the Watch Factory development. Courtesy Dominic Futia The new Avanti Grille in Cheshire opened recently after its owners had closed their original restaurant in Meriden over a year ago. Courtesy Dominic Futia Chocolate martini at the new Avanti Grille in Cheshire. Courtesy Dominic Futia The courtyard at the Avanti Grille's new location in Cheshire, which the owner plans to use for patio seating in the warm weather months. Courtesy Dominic Futia

CHESHIRE  Meridens long-standing Avanti Italian Restaurant and Lounge has been reincarnated into the new Avanti Grille at the Watch Factory after the original eatery closed more than a year ago.

Dominic Futia and his brother Joseph Joe Futia, now retired, had run the old Avanti, known for its classic Italian food, together for 17 years, opening in 2007. Just Dominic Futia is involved in the Cheshire location, which opened in December.

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It was a little bit heartbreaking, Dominic Futia said. We had built a very nice clientele over there.

They left the Meriden space in fall 2024 after the building was put up for sale and they decided to not purchase it, but move on.

While it was hard to say goodbye to their beloved restaurant, Dominic Futia said he is pleased with the move to 122 Elm St. in the antique brick Watch Factory with its tall windows and brick courtyard. He said he was captivated by its old world charm when he first saw it.

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The new eatery seats 85, smaller than the Meriden location, which sat about 160, but Futia said the amenities in the antique building make up for that.

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Futia is also pleased that many long-time customers have visited the eaterys new home.

I've been in the business for over 40 years, so I have a following from pretty much all of Central Connecticut, Futia said. I've seen a lot of people come in from all over.

It took several months to build out the new spot, starting last summer, Futia said. Because it is such an old building, he needed to upgrade the plumbing and electrical while preserving its character.

It needed a lot of work, he said. But he approached the reconstruction on the interior with an eye to carefully working around its original structural elements  leaving the walls, woodwork or brickwork as they were.

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All of Futias brothers  including Tony and Cosmo, who are both retired, lent a hand with opening the new Avanti Grille.

They're not full-time with it, but they helped me out, he said.

Whats really new at the Avanti Grille is a domed pizza oven imported from Italy, which cooks the pies over an open flame. The new oven limits the size of the pizza to 12 inches, which the restaurant offers as personal-sized pizzas, he said.

Specialty pizzas include the classic margherita and the new Pesto Roni, topped with a pesto, cheese and pepperoni, finished with a drizzle of hot honey.

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The menu at Avanti Grille is a mix of the old and the new.

We have some of the items that we had from the old place, some of the favorites, Futia said, including chicken Marsala, stuffed chicken gorgonzola, traditional pasta dishes and filet mignon.

Menu additions include miso salmon and new sandwiches, such as Saucy Bird, which has burrata and chicken cutlets in vodka sauce and the Big Dom, which Futia named after himself, and is a baked pizza pocket stuffed with ham, salami, provolone, lettuce, tomato, red onion and pickles.

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Another new feature at the eatery is the brick courtyard, which Futia is looking forward to using for patio seating once the weather is warm enough.
News / National

by Staff reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has called for unity of purpose and renewed commitment to economic development as Zimbabwe approaches its 46th Independence Day celebrations, set to be held in Maphisa.Posting on his official X (formerly Twitter) account after presiding over the 391st Ordinary Session of the ZANU PF Politburo in Harare, the President emphasised that unity remains a key driver for socio-economic progress and a critical requirement for achieving the country's Vision 2030 development goals.He commended the National Chairman for initiatives aimed at strengthening party structures and reaffirmed what he described as the ruling party's continued supremacy over government, reinforcing the close alignment between party and state in policy direction.On the economic front, Mnangagwa welcomed what he described as positive developments in the agricultural sector, highlighting a strong harvest season. He also noted that government has approved a review of licences, permits, and levies within key agricultural sub-sectors to improve the ease of doing business and boost productivity.In line with resolutions from the 22nd National People's Conference, the President directed that Zimbabwe's mineral resources be processed and beneficiated locally to maximise value for the country's citizens. This move is aimed at increasing domestic value addition and reducing raw exports.Mnangagwa also praised the implementation of a performance-based human resource system within government, urging the Politburo to take a closer interest in public health institutions to ensure improved service delivery and the wellbeing of citizens.On the international front, the President said government is closely monitoring developments in the Middle East and has introduced measures to safeguard energy security and maintain the supply of essential commodities. He also highlighted ongoing diplomatic efforts supporting Zimbabwe's bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 20272028 term.He concluded by urging Politburo members to remain focused, disciplined, and results-driven in order to improve the livelihoods of Zimbabweans, reinforcing the administration's broader development agenda.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Freelance journalist Gideon Madzikatidze has now spent 35 days in detention without trial, prompting renewed calls for his release from international media watchdogs.The Committee to Protect Journalists has urged Zimbabwean authorities to free Madzikatidze, who was arrested on February 18, 2026, on charges of cyberbullying and broadcasting without a licence. The charges stem from an online article published on Bulawayo24, in which he allegedly accused Geo Pomona Waste Management of bribing journalists and editors.Madzikatidze is currently being held at Harare Central Prison and is expected to appear in court on April 9, when trial dates are set to be determined.According to CPJ, the continued detention without trial raises serious concerns about press freedom and due process. "CPJ calls for the release of Zimbabwean journalist Gideon Madzikatidze," the organisation said, highlighting the length of his detention and the nature of the charges linked to his reporting.If convicted, Madzikatidze faces up to 10 years in prison under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for cyberbullying, as well as an additional penalty under the Broadcasting Services Act. Media rights groups, including the Media Institute of Southern Africa Zimbabwe, have questioned the use of broadcasting laws in a case involving content published solely on a website.Madzikatidze's lawyer, Godwin Giya, confirmed that efforts to secure bail have so far failed. After initial delays at the Harare Magistrates Court due to court scheduling issues, bail was denied on March 2. A subsequent appeal to the High Court was dismissed on March 23, with no reasons provided.The defence has since indicated it will request written reasons for the High Court's decision.A source familiar with the case said authorities' decision to invoke the Broadcasting Services Act remains unclear, given that the alleged offence relates to an online publication rather than traditional broadcasting.Efforts to obtain comment from Dorothea Moyo, legal representative for Geo Pomona, and police spokesperson Paul Nyathi were unsuccessful.The case is increasingly being viewed as a test of Zimbabwe's legal framework governing digital journalism, with its outcome likely to have broader implications for media practitioners operating online.
DALIAN, March 24 (Xinhua) -- The 2026 Summer Davos forum will be held from June 23 to 25 in the port city of Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, the organizers announced on Tuesday.

Also known as the 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (WEF), this year's forum will convene over 1,500 leaders from business, government, civil society and academia, as well as top innovators and members of the media, under the theme "Innovating at Scale."

The event will focus on how stronger institutions, increased capital flows and forward-looking policies can transform innovation and technological potential into economic progress, jobs and new business opportunities.

This year's agenda will center on five key questions -- how to find prosperity amid shifting trade and industrial realities, how to understand the next phase of China's economic trajectory, how technology can be harnessed for outcomes in the real economy, how growth can create jobs and opportunities for the next generation, and how the energy and climate transition can become a source of competitiveness.

These questions center on innovation, entrepreneurship and public-private cooperation, and are key to turning disruption into opportunity while sparking new policies and approaches to drive growth, according to the organizers.

Relevant preparations for the forum are currently underway.

Established by the WEF in 2007, the Summer Davos forum is held annually in China, alternating between the two port cities of Tianjin and Dalian.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has temporarily suspended its recently introduced 90% export retention threshold for small-scale gold miners, following operational challenges and concerns from the sector.The policy, announced in the February 2026 Monetary Policy Statement, required small-scale miners to receive 90% of their gold proceeds in United States dollars, with the remaining 10% paid in the local currency, the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG). It was part of broader efforts to promote the use of the domestic currency.However, in a decision taken on March 24, the RBZ's Monetary Policy Committee moved to halt the arrangement.RBZ Governor John Mushayavanhu said the policy had encountered implementation difficulties, particularly for Fidelity Gold Refinery, the country's sole authorised gold buyer."The policy, however, encountered some implementation challenges by Fidelity Gold Refinery," Mushayavanhu said, adding that the situation was further complicated by the fact that many artisanal miners are not formally banked.The Zimbabwe Mining Federation also raised concerns that a significant number of small-scale miners would require more time to open bank accounts to facilitate the local currency component.As a result, the central bank resolved to suspend the 90/10 payment framework while logistical and operational issues are addressed.The move effectively restores the previous arrangement, under which small-scale miners are paid entirely in US dollars for gold deliveries to Fidelity Gold Refinery.The decision underscores the delicate balance authorities face in pushing de-dollarisation policies while ensuring that key export sectors, particularly gold production driven by artisanal miners, continue to operate efficiently.
News / National

by Staff reporter

At least 15 Zimbabweans have died in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War after being lured into foreign military service through suspected human trafficking syndicates, government has revealed.Information Minister Zhemu Soda said on Wednesday that dozens of citizens were deceived by fake employment agencies promising lucrative overseas jobs, only to be recruited into foreign armed forces.According to government figures, a total of 81 Zimbabweans were enlisted into the Russian military under these circumstances, with 15 confirmed dead so far."To date, fifteen Zimbabwean nationals have lost their lives in foreign battlefields after being deceived into enlisting in foreign wars," said Soda. "This is not a matter of legitimate military service. It is a sophisticated scheme of deception, exploitation and human trafficking."Authorities say the recruitment process typically begins on social media, where so-called "ghost" agencies advertise high-paying opportunities aimed at exploiting economic hardship. Victims are then reportedly transported out of the country, where their passports and personal belongings are confiscated, leaving them trapped before deployment to active war zones.Government has since engaged Russian authorities to facilitate the return of the 66 Zimbabweans believed to still be alive, as well as the repatriation of those who died."The government is actively engaged in the diplomatic and logistical processes required to repatriate the remains of the fifteen fallen Zimbabweans," Soda said, adding that efforts are underway to ensure they are brought home and buried with dignity.He also said security agencies have been tasked with intensifying investigations into the syndicates behind the illegal recruitment."The security cluster has been instructed to identify and dismantle the criminal networks behind these trafficking operations. Those responsible will face the full wrath of the law," he said.Authorities have warned that all employment agencies facilitating foreign placements must be properly registered and approved, stressing that failure to comply constitutes a criminal offence under Zimbabwean law.The revelations highlight growing concerns over human trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable job seekers, as economic pressures continue to drive some Zimbabweans to seek opportunities abroad under risky and often deceptive circumstances.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Cloudy with rain developing this 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 possibly over one inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe's ruling party, Zanu-PF, has declared it is unafraid of a referendum as debate intensifies over the proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill, which has triggered widespread political and public scrutiny.The Bill, central to the party's legislative agenda, seeks sweeping changes including extending the term of Emmerson Mnangagwa to 2030, abolishing direct presidential elections, dissolving the Zimbabwe Gender Commission and extending parliamentary terms beyond 2028.Speaking at a meeting with party affiliates in Manicaland, Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Misheck Mugadza dismissed calls for a referendum, insisting the proposed amendments do not fundamentally alter the Constitution."Do you think Zanu-PF fears a referendum? As Zanu-PF, we always win and they cannot stop us," Mugadza said. "We are not violating the Constitution, so there is no need for a referendum  it is just a postponement of the election."Zimbabwe is set to conduct public hearings on the Bill from March 30 to April 2, with the ruling party mobilising its structures to support its passage. Mugadza emphasised the importance of party affiliates in shaping the outcome of the consultations, urging unity and loyalty within party ranks."If you see an affiliate which does not support the Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill, then it is not a true Zanu-PF affiliate," he said, warning against dissent and urging members to actively campaign for support.Zanu-PF Manicaland provincial political commissar Albert Nyakuedzwa echoed the call, stressing that party structures would play a decisive role during the consultative process.However, the proposed amendments have ignited a national debate, with opposition parties and civil society organisations arguing that the scale and impact of the changes warrant a national referendum. Critics say altering presidential and parliamentary term limits and restructuring key democratic processes should require direct public approval.Despite the growing calls for broader public involvement, Zanu-PF maintains that the Bill falls within Parliament's  jurisdiction and can be passed without a referendum.As the consultation process begins, the debate over Constitutional Amendment No. 3 is shaping up to be one of the most politically charged issues in Zimbabwe's recent history, with implications for governance, electoral processes and the country's democratic framework.
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News / National

by Staff reporter

The Government has introduced a new measure allowing individuals to import selected basic commodities without requiring an import licence once a month, under Statutory Instrument 59 of 2026.The regulations, published by Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu, permit the importation of specified goods for personal use, provided quantities do not exceed prescribed limits.The exempted items include cooking oil, sugar, cereals, jam, peanut butter, margarine, laundry bar soap, washing powder, blankets, cotton woven fabric, and body creams or petroleum jellies. Each category is subject to strict quantity restrictions to ensure the provision is used for personal consumption only.The new policy also provides exemptions from import licence requirements in specific circumstances, including for personal goods belonging to deceased estates, diplomats based abroad, returning residents with immigrant status, and citizens who have lived outside Zimbabwe continuously for at least six months.The measure is expected to ease access to essential goods, particularly for individuals and returning residents, while maintaining regulatory oversight of imports.
The Willows in New Orleans East has a new owner. What are their plans for the apartments?
Trees are trimmed away from power lines on Burdette St. in New Orleans, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. (Staff photo by David Grunfeld, The Times-Picayune | NOLA.com)
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested ruling party legislator Joel Sithole, the Zanu-PF Member of Parliament for Chiredzi South, over allegations of abusing public funds through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).Sithole is accused of diverting more than ZWG$1.2 million, specifically ZWG$1,234,150 (about US$50,000), that had been allocated by Parliament in August 2025 for development projects in his constituency.The funds were intended for the construction of a classroom block and the roofing of staff houses at Gwaseche Primary School, as well as upgrades to Makanani Clinic. However, investigators allege that Sithole, who chaired the constituency's CDF committee and was a signatory to its bank account, misappropriated the funds for personal use.Prosecutors claim that he, acting in common purpose with Edson Chauke, who remains at large, transferred ZWG$850,000 from the CDF account to a local wholesaler under the pretext of purchasing groceries. He is further alleged to have spent an additional ZWG$418,516 on groceries, hotels and beer halls.Authorities say that in an apparent attempt to conceal the alleged misappropriation, Sithole later purchased 100 bags of cement and some roofing materials for another school to create the impression that development projects had commenced.The legislator is expected to appear before the Masvingo Magistrates' Court on March 26, 2026, as investigations continue.
The vital role the South West and its industry plays in UK defence has been discussed at a high level meeting in Parliament chaired by North Devon MP Ian Roome.

The roundtable meeting brought together defence minister Luke Pollard, plus industry leaders, education bodies and defence sector representatives.

Delegates discussed how the region contributes and what might be done to make it even stronger.

In recent years, the South West has continued to grow specialist defence industries strengths in areas like such as maritime engineering, advanced manufacturing, autonomous systems, cyber, space, aviation and defence innovation.

READ NEXT: More jobs, a major contract and 280m on the books at SEA Barnstaple

The meeting looked at how the UK can strengthen its defence industry base and better harness the South Wests strategic strengths, as well as the importance of ensuring regional businesses and organisations are fully recognised in national defence planning.

Mr Roome, who is also a member of the Defence Select Committee, said: It was extraordinary to have so many key voices in the same room to discuss the South Wests vital role in UK defence.

Our region has major defence assets and real expertise across sectors like maritime engineering, rotary aviation, space and cyber, supporting more than 42,000 jobs across the South West. Its essential those strengths are properly recognised and places like North Devon are part of that conversation.

The meeting was a valuable opportunity to make the case for a stronger, better connected defence sector for the South West - and we covered a wide range of issues, many of which I see through my work on the Defence Select Committee.

It also reinforced the need for the delayed Defence Investment Plan to be published as soon as possible, so industry has the confidence to invest.

The 10-year plan will set out the funding and resources needed to purchase equipment and ensure UK forces are ready for war, but it has been delayed repeatedly.

Mr Roome added: In North Devon, we need to back training and apprenticeships so local people can benefit from growth in this sector.

I will keep working to ensure North Devon and the wider South West have a strong voice in shaping Britains defence future.

READ NEXT: North Devon MP says 'North Devon will suffer Trumpflation'
This years Big Spring Clean in Ilfracombe has been hailed as the best yet as volunteers and organisations joined forces to spruce up the town ahead of the summer.

It was organised by One Ilfracombe, supported by Ilfracombe Town Council and received funding from North Devon Council, running from March 6 to 15 in conjunction with Big Spring Cleans nationwide as part of the annual initiative promoted by Keep Britain Tidy.

Over the course of the week in Ilfracombe, approximately 50 litres of paint were used, 30 bags of rubbish collected and more than 40 volunteers joined to support the clear up.

READ NEXT: Tributes pour in after loss of councillor and community champion Mr Ilfracombe

It saw participation from various local groups, including Cow Green Volunteers, Ilfracombe Mens Shed, Ilfracombe Museum, Ilfracombe & District Business & Tourism Association, Lee & Lincombe Residents Association and Ilfracombe in Bloom, which alone contributed an impressive 116 hours of work towards the effort.

Ilfracombe Town Council was proud to lead by example, getting out of the office and giving the high street railings a fresh coat of paint, in the hopes of inspiring residents to continue making their town a place they can all be proud of.

A spokesperson for One Ilfracombe said: Whether you picked up a piece of litter, painted a shop front or railing, or simply encouraged others to join in, it was wonderful to see so many people taking pride in our town.

Your hard work truly does help to transform our community, making it a brighter, cleaner, and a more welcoming place for everyone.

READ NEXT: Ilfracombe launches its bid to win 3m as first ever UK Town of Culture
News / National

by Staff reporter

Government will soon introduce compulsory inspection for public and private vehicles at Vehicle Inspection Department depots countrywide, a Cabinet Minister has said.Speaking at an unannounced familiarisation tour of VID in Harare yesterday, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development Dr Obert Mpofu also said Government has with immediate effect lifted the ban on the importation of left hand drive trucks."It has come to our attention that people are driving unregistered vehicles and the number of these vehicles equal the registered ones," said Minister Mpofu."The Government is meeting to introduce a compulsory vehicle inspection regulation and there will be penalties for those found on the wrong side of the law."On the lifting of the ban on left-hand drive vehicles, Minister Mpofu said his ministry felt it was not necessary to continue implementing the ban."We feel it's not fair to our truckers that they be stopped from importing big trucks as we have found no problems regarding these trucks in road usage," said Minister Mpofu.There was uproar when the ban on the importation of left-hand drive vehicles and vehicles that are more than five years old.Many people said Government should have first made thorough research before implementing the regulation it sought to introduce.Turning to his surprise tour of the VID yesterday, Minister Mpofu said his Ministry was touring institutions under his ministry throughout the country."The VID is the most important department in the Ministry. They offer vehicle fitness, test driving and drivers licenses, so much is happening here," he said."However, I have noticed that they are facing challenges regarding their equipment which is in a state of disrepair."The general conditions here are not conducive to the staff and to that effect we have received a donation of 20 computers which will help in their computerisation."Minister Mpofu added that the Ministry will help VID in its commercialisation programme to make it viable."They provide an essential service, therefore, we will help it to be self-sufficient by upgrading their services.''Speaking at the same occasion Transport and Infrastructure Development Deputy Minister Cde Petronella Kagonye said Zimbabwe was the only country that had not commercialised."It is proper to consider commercialisation so that we move in line with Sadc guidelines," she said.
There are three stone plaques at Canterbury Cathedral, etched with the names of the archbishops of Canterbury dating back more than 1,400 years. How many names are on the list?
News / National

by Staff reporter

President Mugabe has appointed ex-principal immigration officer Elasto Mugwadi as the new Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission chairperson and 8 new members of the Judicial Services Commission dominated by men in breach of the Constitution.Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku swore in a male dominated new JSC which may be in breach of the new constitution that calls for equality of sexes on all commissions.The Constitution recognises gender equality as one of the constitutional founding principles and outlaws discrimination. The former Lancaster House Constitution, which has to date co-existed with common law, saw many women and girls being discriminated against based on customary law and tradition, and in the private sphere this reigned supreme.Article 124 of the new Constitution provides that for the life of the first two parliaments "an additional sixty women, six from each of the (ten) provinces of Zimbabwe) shall be elected on a proportional representation basis to the 270 existing National Assembly seats, that are open to both women and men." This guarantees women 18% of the seats in parliament through the PR provision, with the possibility of additional seats through the openly contested elections.The section of the Executive does not specifically guarantee a representation of women in the Presidium. The PR provision in the national assembly does not extend to local government. However, Article 17 b I - "both genders are equally represented in all institutions and agencies of government at every level" - gives scope for this to be taken up in legislation.Mugwadi replaced Jacob Mudenda, who is now speaker of the National Assembly.The Chief Justice also swore in 8 new commissioners of the Judicial Services Commission in compliance with the new Constitution that now requires the appointment of 13 commissioners, up from the 6 who used to run it.Deputy Chief Justice Luke Malaba, Judge President George Chiweshe, High Court judge Justice Happias Zhou, chief magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe, Law Society of Zimbabwe president Lloyd Mhishi, accountant Priscilla Mutembwa and two other lawyers - Priscilla Madzonga and Josphat Tshuma - were appointed JSC commissioners.
Using his own experience as a cautionary tale, a Taiwanese man warned other people over the age of 40 to avoid going on roller coaster rides to avoid the risk of a potentially life-threatening brain haemorrhage.

Writing on the social media platform Threads, the unnamed man claimed to have visited Abu Dhabi last August and gone on the famous Ferrari World roller coaster, known for its high G-forces and speed. He started feeling unwell as soon as he got off the ride, but brushed it off as a temporary issue. His dizziness persisted through the night as well, and things only got worse over time.

After returning to Taiwan, the man began experiencing headaches, which only got worse over the next few months, but CT scans revealed nothing out of the ordinary. Last week, however, he suddenly collapsed in bed and was rushed to the Air Force General Hospital emergency room, where another scan revealed a severe dural haemorrhage.

The 40-year-old man underwent brain surgery to remove the blood that had built up in his skull. Doctors told him that this was not a typical stroke, but a chronic bleeding buildup caused by severe external shaking, and one actually asked him if he had ridden a rollercoaster lately.

Apparently, as we age, the brain undergoes slight shrinkage, increasing the space between the brain tissue and the skull, which gives the brain more movement space during the dramatic acceleration and deceleration of a roller coaster. This, coupled with the reduced elasticity of blood vessels in our later years, can cause them to rupture more easily under certain circumstances.

The mans social media post went viral and other people over 40 confirmed his story with their own similar experiences.

Im over 50 years old, one person commented on the post. In January, I went to Disneyland in France with my daughter. I rode the inverted spinning roller coaster and didnt feel anything at the time. But one day after returning to China, I suddenly had a retinal rupture and bleeding. Another day, I suddenly felt dizzy. After the examination, I found that my otoliths had dislodged. I probably wont dare to ride it again.

I went to the ophthalmologist for a regular check-up. The doctor said that people with high myopia should avoid roller coasters, free-fall rides, or bungee jumping, as these rides involve violent shaking and can easily cause retinal detachment, someone else wrote.
Vineeta Shukla, a judicial staffer from Pilibhit, in Indias Uttar Pradesh state, fainted on February 22 while doing housework and was rushed to a local hospital. Due to the severity of her condition, she was referred her to a more advanced medical facility in Bareilly, where doctors doctors performed a series of tests and ultimately declared her brain-dead.

After discussing with the doctors, Vineetas husband learned that there was no hope that she would ever regain consciousness, as her brainstem reflexes were absent and her consciousness level was at 3 points on the Glasgow Coma Scale, compared to the 15 points of a fully awake person.

The womans family decided to have her discharched and began making funeral preparations. On February24th, as the ambulance was driving on the motorway near Hafizganj, it hit a large pothole, causing a powerful jerk. Vineetas husband immediately noticed that she had begun breathing normally right after the jolt, and her condition only improved from there.

Photo: Unsplash

After being taken back to the hospital, Vineeta Shukla baffled doctors who had previously given her no chance of recovery. She has since returned home, is awake and talking to her family members, who were preparing her last rights just a few days ago.

The jolt from hitting the pothole is credited for shocking Vineeta back into consciousness, but many on social media are pointing out that this is a one-in-a-million anomaly, a freak occurrence that doesnt make up for the thousands of lives claimed by pothole-related accidents in India.

Between 2020 and 2024, potholes caused 9,438 deaths, and Vineetas miraculous recovery cannot make up for that.
Coinbase has hired Checkmate Government Relations, which has close ties to the Trump administration, to handle matters related to digital assets.

Shares of the countrys largest crypto exchange have been under pressure as the Senate debates the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, which stands as the most comprehensive piece of crypto regulation.

The House passed a version of the bill last July, but it stalled in the Senate after Coinbase voiced its opposition.

Checkmate managing partner Ches McDowell, who headed the North Carolina branch of Sportsmen for Trump, heads Coinbase team.

PA director Chris LaCivita and government relations directors Muhammad Rahim, who was SVP-public policy lead at Bank of America, and James Johnson, a veteran of both Trump administrations, round out the Coinbase team.

Coinbase shares dropped eight percent on March 24 but are up 2.4 percent to $185.45 today. They have traded in the $444.65 to $139.36 range during the past 52 weeks.


Augusta Airport Flies Out Marketing RFP Thu., Apr. 23, 2026 Augusta Regional Airport wants proposals for an integrated marketing campaign to position it as the preferred air travel gateway of the Central Savannah River Area, which has a population of about 770K people.
Ed Bastian

The PR play of the week goes to Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian for punishing Congress for failing to do its job, which is authorizing the salaries for Transportation Security Administration agents.

The carrier suspended its airport escort and red coat services for members of Congress, who now must suffer the airport chaoswhich they are responsible forjust like the rest of us.

Due to the impact on resources from the longstanding government shutdown, Delta will temporarily suspend specialty services to members of Congress flying Delta, Delta said in a statement to CNBC.

Bastian is outraged that TSA agents are getting stiffed. It is inexcusable that our security agents, our frontline agents, that are essential to what we do, are not being paid. And its ridiculous to see them being used as political chips, he said.

The 119th Congress ranks among the least productive sessions in history. Its all talk, but no action.

As of March, a whopping 14,200 bills were introduced during the first 14.5 months. Thats the highest clip since the 1970s. President Trump signed a paltry 80 bills into law.

The vast majority of the introduced bills were performative nothing-burger measures, such as the gem introduced by Floridas right-wing nutjob Randy Fine.

On Feb. 20, he introduced the Protecting Puppies from Sharia Act, which was in response to remarks made by Nerdeen Kiswani, a 31-year-old advisor to NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani.

She said owning a dog as a pet violates Islamic law and should be banned. Kiswani also noted that she was speaking sarcastically.

Fine, though, is not a man of nuance. His measure would prohibit federal funds from being provided to any state or local government that bans dogs as pets.

In America, we will not allow anyone to tell us that we cannot have dogs, said Fine in unveiling his masterpiece. My bill protects Americans right to own a dog and would not allow federal funding to be given to any state or local government that bans them as Haram.

A venerable confederacy of dunces, which is the name of one of my favorite books, co-sponsored the bill.

They include Texas Chip Roy, who said: We cannot allow Sharia law to continue to infiltrate our communities, undermine our Constitution, and threaten our way of life. Enough is enough.

And not to be topped is another Texan, Keith Self. We love our dogs, but this isn't just about petsit's the opening salvo against our way of life. First, they come for our dogs, then our daughters and wives, then they come for every freedom-loving American. Sharia has no place in Americakeep your hands off our dogs and our liberties!

Who is coming after you, Keith? What Sharia group is going to impose its will on the worlds No. 1 superpower. Do your knees buckle every time you hear the mention of Kiswanis name.

Andy Harris, Brandon Gill, Eli Crane, Mary Miller, Sheri Biggs, Mark Harris and Andy Ogles round out the dunces confederacy.

The 119th Congress is on track to enact 130 bills by the time it wraps up in January. The 118th Congress, another low-performing session, passed 274 laws.

The American people have an opportunity to follow the footsteps of the Delta chief and vote to throw the bums out in the midterm elections.

AI meets RFP I read a lot of requests for proposals at ODwyers, but until today have never come across one that requires saying how AI tools will be used.

The Placer County Air Pollution Control Board Districts RFP includes the following: Artificial Intelligence tools may be used only as appropriate to enhance efficiency or insight and are not a required component of service delivery.

If utilized, proposers must describe how AI tool will be used responsibly, including safeguards for accuracy, privacy and compliance.

You can bet future RFPs will have similar notification requirements.

A total cave Rather than showing the fight exhibited by Spains Iberdrola (Vineyard Wind), Norways Equinor (Empire Wind) and Denmarks Orsted (Sunrise Wind), Frances TotalEnergies threw in the towel and surrendered to Donald Trumps pathetic war on offshore energy. His majesty thinks wind turbines are ugly.

The Interior Dept has agreed to pay TotalEnergies $924M to abandon its wind projects slated for Carolinas Long Bay and the New York Bight.

Considering that the development of wind projects in not in the countrys interest, we have decided to renounce wind development in the US in exchange for the reimbursement of the lease fees, said TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne in his despicable statement.

He meant to say wind projects are not in Trumps interest. They are in Americas interest to diversify its energy base.

The Frenchman also was too hasty in renouncing wind development in the US. Note to Patrick. Trump isnt going to be around forever.

Pouyanne was singing a different tune in May 2022 when his company won the bidding for the Carolina lease. That victory demonstrates the strength of our commitment to the country, he said. The offshore project was to power more than 300K homes when it was supposed to go online in 2030.

Iberdrola, Equinor and Orsted lodged successful campaigns to overturn Trumps effort to shut them down.

Vineyard Wind, which is 15 miles off the coast of Marthas Vineyard, is expected to power up any day now. It will serve 400K homes and businesses.

New Yorks Empire Wind is 60 percent complete and Sunrise Wind is 50 percent complete. Both are going into commercial operation next year.

TotalEnergies will rue the day that it caved to Trump, who feasts on corporate weakness.
ENTREPRENEURS and business leaders from across Offaly gathered in Tullamore recently for a special edition of Founders Friday, hosted by AllPro Recruitment in association with Tullamore & District Rotary Club, which marked the finale of Local Enterprise Week 2026.

The event, delivered in collaboration with Offaly Local Enterprise Office, featured Paul Mahon, Founder and CEO of Mullingar-based energy technology company Watt Footprint, who shared his journey from engineer to scaling an international energy intelligence business.

Mahon, who is originally from Coolderry in County Offaly, spoke candidly about the realities of building a company in the Midlands while tackling one of the biggest challenges facing businesses today  rising energy costs.

Founded five years ago by Mahon and his co-founder Paul OReilly, Watt Footprint has grown into a fast-scaling energy technology company with 42 staff across Ireland, the UK and the UAE, helping more than 1,000 organisations better understand and manage their energy use.

Speaking at the event, Mahon said the company was born out of the need to help businesses respond to increasing energy prices and uncertainty.

READ NEXT: Volunteers wanted; Tullamore Tidy Towns group to hold 'Spring Clean' this weekend

Energy has gone from being a background cost to one of the biggest challenges facing businesses, he said.

In Ireland we have some of the highest energy prices in Europe. Our belief is simple  if you can measure energy properly, you can control it. Businesses need visibility so they can make the right decisions.

Watt Footprint works by installing monitoring technology that tracks energy usage every five minutes, combining this data with software analytics to identify inefficiencies and opportunities for savings. The system was designed specifically for small and medium-sized businesses that traditionally have not had access to detailed energy insights.

Mahon explained that the company originally started by carrying out energy audits and retrofit projects before developing its software platform to give businesses ongoing control over their energy usage.

One local project highlighted during the evening was work carried out at the Mullingar Park Hotel, where Watt Footprint helped remove fossil fuels from the heating system and reduce energy consumption by approximately 40 per cent.

Speaking about leadership, Mahon shared a philosophy that guides his approach to running the company.

In business you cannot control every event, but you can control how you respond, he said. Event plus response equals outcome.

RAD NEXT: Tullamore TradFest 2026 invites families and the community to join a weekend of free music and events

The event also highlighted the range of supports available to businesses through the Local Enterprise Office network.

Lisa Molloy of Offaly Local Enterprise Office said Local Enterprise Week had been a major success, with strong participation from businesses across the county.

This year we delivered 14 events throughout the week, supporting entrepreneurs and business owners at every stage, she said.

Our programmes such as GradStart, which provides up to 30,000 in funding for businesses hiring graduates, and Green for Business, which offers free energy audits and access to energy efficiency grants, are designed to help businesses grow and manage costs.

She added that energy efficiency has become a key issue for local companies.

With energy prices remaining high, programmes like Green for Business can help companies identify savings opportunities, often delivering payback within months.

David Gleeson, CEO of AllPro Recruitment, said Founders Friday was created to connect business leaders and share practical lessons from real founders.

Every founder faces similar challenges, whether they are running a technology company or a local business, he said.

People, cash flow and decision-making pressures are common across every industry. Founders Friday gives business owners the chance to hear honest experiences and learn from others who have been through the journey.

Mahon also credited the support of enterprise agencies and mentors in helping Watt Footprint grow, encouraging anyone considering starting a business to connect with their Local Enterprise Office.

The company continues to expand internationally while maintaining its base in the Midlands, with a 5,000 square foot office in Mullingar and a young and growing team.

Founders Friday is a bi-monthly networking event hosted by AllPro Recruitment that brings together founders, entrepreneurs and business leaders from across the Midlands to share insights and build connections within the local business community.
Shinrone Heritage Group will host a special local history talk, The Burning of the Big House in Offaly, 19201923, on Tuesday, 31st March at 7.30pm in Cloughmoyle School House, Main St, Shinrone (R42 YN97).

The lecture will be given by Dr Ciaran Reilly of Maynooth University, an historian of nineteenth- and twentieth-century Irish social history with a particular interest in the Great Irish Famine, Irish country houses and landed estates. He is also Assistant Director of the Centre for the Study of Historic Irish Houses & Estates.

The talk will examine one of the most dramatic and complex aspects of Offalys revolutionary-era history. Between 1920 and 1923, at least 14 country houses were burned in County Offaly, representing about 20 per cent of the countys Big Houses. While these burnings formed part of a wider period of upheaval, the reasons behind them were far from straightforward.

The lecture will explore the range of factors that lay behind the destruction of these houses, including agrarian disputes, anti-Treaty activity and the targeting of buildings viewed as symbols of British rule. It will also look beyond the houses that were burned to consider other Offaly properties whose owners were threatened, intimidated or targeted in other ways during these troubled years.

Speaking ahead of the event, Ger Murphy of Shinrone Heritage Group said the subject remains both compelling and challenging.

This is a complex subject, and one that resists any simple explanation, he said. The burning of the Big Houses in Offaly was not driven by one single cause. There were varied motivations behind the burnings, and that is what makes the topic so important and so interesting.

Ger said the talk will give audiences a chance to look more closely at the local realities behind the headlines of the period. In some instances, these houses were attacked because they were seen as symbols of an old order or of British rule, he said. In other cases, agrarian tensions, local grievances or the divisions of the Civil War may have played a role. Very often, the reasons overlapped.

He added that one of the most intriguing aspects of the story is the contrast between neighbouring houses and estates. One of the questions that continues to fascinate people is why one house burned, while neighbouring equivalents were left largely unscathed, said Ger. That is where the real historical interest lies. It suggests that local circumstances, personal relationships and conditions on the ground all mattered. (Pictured below is an old picture of Leap Castle, which was set on fire in 1922 during the Civil War).



According to Ger, the forthcoming lecture will shed light not only on the destruction of property, but also on the wider atmosphere of uncertainty and pressure experienced by country house owners in Offaly during the period.

This promises to be a very thought-provoking evening, he said. and will give attendees an opportunity to better understand a turbulent chapter in Offalys past and the complexity of forces at work.

Shinrone Heritage Group are keen to welcome all.
News / National

by Patrick Chitumba

THE ongoing head count in the police force is crucial to determine the exact number of police officers in the country, the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Obedingwa Mguni, has said.The Deputy Minister told The Chronicle that even in Parliament, MPs had raised questions on the exact number of police officers in the country."The head count started in earnest in Bulawayo province over the weekend and in the next two days they're coming here to the Midlands province."We've to go through all the provinces to answer to the concerns of the citizens of Zimbabwe on the correct ratio between the police and the public," he said."The number of officers in the service has been a question that has been asked even in Parliament as well. So we've taken the initiative to count the number of officers we've to get a correct figure for planning purposes."The Deputy Minister said while the international policing ratio was one police officer to 300 people, in Zimbabwe, in some places, the ratio was 1:830.Mguni said after the head count, the figures will be used to map the way forward in terms of possible recruitment.He said the police service has not been recruiting for some time now in line with an instruction issued by the Civil Service Commission.In Bulawayo province, police officers on Saturday reported for the head count.They were required to present their current pay slips as proof of being on the government's pay roll.Police officers were also supposed to show the period they have served in the service together with their academic certificates.
Note: Jessie et moi serons - Paris la semaine prochaine pour donner des confe'rences. N'he'sitez pas - nous contacter si vous etes disponible pour nous rencontrer et faciliter les e'changes..

The horrors in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran go on. The remaining two million people of the Gaza strip (50% children) suffer cold weather and rain, hunger and diseases in shabby tents (and many with no shelter). I could write a whole book about the surviving friends I know there. Hiam having lost an eye to an Israeli bullet takes care of a child and a mother who suffered a stroke and has limited access to any medical services. Islam's mother died from injuries sustained earlier. Sakhr laments loss of his parents under the rubble. Yasser proudly sent me picture of a meager bean harvest grown around his tent. Here in the West Bank, settler pogroms continue as does the stealing of land including in my own village of Beit Sahour/the Shepherds' Field. The cruel apartheid (Epstein) regime marches on with partnership of Western governments. Zionism is repeating what was done to Palestine in Lebanon targeting hospitals, schools, ambulances, and other civilian structures and ethnically cleansing the population. More bombs dropped (on eight countries) in 2.5 years than all of World War 2!

The US empire is being sacrificed at the altar of Zionism. Trump tried to calm the oil and stock market by stepping back from a deadline he gave to Iran. But soon after the insider trades made millions, the stocks resumed the declines and oil went up again..The US national debt surpassed $39 trillion (it was 20 trillion in 2018!). As always, wars make the rich richer and the poor poorer. The world is upside down. Right is wrong and wrong is right. The struggle remains between the masses and the elites who run the governments and collaborate (by bribes and blackmail) with Zionist ambitions to enslave the world. But so many people keep the hope alive by actions. Candles in this darkness......

Join Israeli Apartheid week. Resources, tools and more.

Tehran's toxic cloud: satellite images show oily fires burned for days | Iran | The Guardian.

"Israel" dropped charges against 5 of its soldiers (terrorists) who were videotaped raping a Palestinian prisoner with a broomstick. Here is a report by one human righst group on conditions of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli torture prisons, and the torture in of thousands of prisoners continue

23 March 2025, Tel al-Sultan, Gaza: Israeli soldiers massacre fifteen aid workers.

The International Society for Ecological Economics ( ISEE) Webinar: Ecocide in the Palestinian Lands, Prof. Mazin Qumsiyeh.

Sumud, meaning steadfastness, articulates the Palestinian drive to remain on their land: After travelling to Occupied Palestine, AFMN contributor, Samer Hassan, reflects on how Sumud was portrayed in the words and actions of Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh, and Joharah Baker.

Keep the hope alive,

Mazin Qumsiyeh

A bedouin in cyberspace, a villager at home

Professor, Founder, and (volunteer) Director Palestine Museum of Natural History

Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability Bethlehem University Occupied Palestine

facebook pages Personal Institute

French
Opinion / Columnist

ConCourt's Benign Mupungu Oversight: Including Section 95(2) in Its List of 10 Term-Limit Examples Proves It's Not One: Since the gazetting of the Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment No. 3), H.B. 1, Bill, 2026 on 16 February 2026, a thoughtful and sometimes passionate public conversation has unfolded about the proper way to amend the supreme law of the land.At the centre of much of the debate stands section 95(2), the provision that simply sets the length of each "Term of office of President" at five years and makes it coterminous with the life of Parliament.Some commentators have argued forcefully that any change to this provision would amount to altering a "term-limit provision," thereby automatically requiring a national referendum under section 328(7).This view, though sincerely held, rests on a single sentence in the Constitutional Court's 2021 judgment in Mupungu v Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs & 6 Others (7 of 2021) [2021] ZWCC 7.A careful and respectful reading of the text of that judgment shows the claim cannot be sustained.The Constitutional Court did include section 95(2) in an illustrative list of ten examples of term-limit provisions.That inclusion was a benign and entirely understandable oversight  a minor slip in an otherwise meticulous and persuasive analysis.Far from proving that section 95(2) enjoys referendum protection, the Court's own definitions and logic demonstrate the opposite with compelling clarity.Section 95(2)(b) is not a term-limit provision within the meaning of subsections (1) and (7) of section 328.Amending it is a permissible ordinary constitutional amendment under section 328(5), which does not require a referendum.This conclusion is not a technical or political quibble.It goes to the heart of how the Constitution balances two vital democratic goals.On one hand, it erects strong safeguards against indefinite concentration of power by protecting genuine term limits with the solemn requirement of a referendum.On the other hand, it rationally allows Parliament to amend the electoral cycle and governance without triggering a referendum. Misclassifying a simple term-length provision as a protected term limit provision upsets the balance.The framers of the Constitution understood this distinction. The Constitutional Court's reasoning in Mupungu reinforces it.Section 95(2) is the odd one out in the Court's list; the outlier whose place should logically have been occupied by section 91(2), the actual term limit provision that caps any individual's tenure and total service as President.To understand this, requires an examination of the Court's judgment in detail, beginning with reproduction in full of the very passage that has given rise to the misunderstanding, at paragraph 50, p. 50 of the Mupungu judgment:"By way of contrast, the Constitution abounds with a myriad of provisions that unquestionably constitute specific term limit provisions within the parameters of s 328. First and foremost, there is s 95(2) which expressly stipulates that the term of office of the President is 5 years and coterminous with the life of Parliament.Then there is s 197 which provides that an Act of Parliament may limit terms of office of chief executive officers or heads of government-controlled entities and public enterprises owned or wholly controlled by the State. Again, in terms of s 205(2), the term of office of a Permanent Secretary is a period of up to 5 years and is renewable once only. As regards Defence Forces, s 216(3) states Commanders of the Defence Forces and their services are appointed for a term of not more than 5 years, up to a maximum of two terms.With reference to the Police Service, intelligence services and Prisons and Correctional Service, s 221(2), s 226(2) and s 229(2) provide that the respective heads of these services are appointed for a 5-year term which may be renewed once only.The Constitution itself insists on this rigorous textual clarity.To treat section 95(2) as a protected term limit provision would stretch the referendum safeguard beyond the clear intention of the framers and would blur the very distinction that section 328 is designed to maintain.Applying the Aristotelian Method of Genus and DifferentiaFor readers familiar with the great works of political science, the Court's approach echoes a classical method of logical definition refined by Aristotle more than 2,000 years ago.In the "Politics" and other works, Aristotle taught that true understanding comes from identifying the broad genus (the general category to which something belongs) and then the differentia (the specific features that distinguish it from other members of the same genus).This method brings unmatched precision and has guided scientific thought ever since.Applying it here confirms the conclusion with the force of finality. Under section 328(1), the genus is simple and uncontroversial: "a provision of this Constitution."The differentia, however, is demanding: the provision must actively limit or cap the length of time that a person may hold or occupy a public office through disqualification, renewal caps, or a cumulative or maximum ceiling.The resulting test is biconditional: common genus plus similar differentia equals a term-limit provision.If the differentia is missing, the provision cannot qualify as a term limit, however much it might resemble other provisions in the broad genus.Section 91(2) perfectly satisfies both elements.It belongs to the Constitution and supplies the required differentia by expressly disqualifying persons who have served two terms.Section 95(2)(b) meets only the genus.Yes, it is a constitutional provision, but it offers no differentia at all  no limit, no disqualification, no cumulative or maximum service cap.It simply defines the length of each term.Under the Aristotelian logical framework, it therefore falls outside the protected class.This is not abstract theory. The Aristotelian method protects the Constitution from over-expansion of the referendum requirement. Without it, every amendment to parliamentary sessions, judicial retirement ages, or electoral timetables could be argued to need a national referendum.The Aristotelian lens ensures that only provisions genuinely aimed at preventing indefinite personal tenure receive the referendum protection.Essential Features of a Term Limit ProvisionThree essential features flow directly from the Court's reasoning and the constitutional text.Every genuine term-limit provision shares them:First, a "term limit provision" must concern the personal tenure of the individual office-holder, not an office's electoral cycle which can be served by successive officeholders; tenure measures the total time a person may lawfully occupy an office.Second, it must expressly state a maximum or cumulative length of time a person may occupy an office.Third, it must contain disqualifying language  like "non-renewable," "renewable once only," "not more than," "not exceeding," or equivalent  that creates a clear, enforceable boundary.At paragraph 51, p. 51 of the Mupungu judgment the Court itself emphasised this "tenure" point when it held, regarding its 10 examples of term limits, that:"As is self-evident, the tenure of all of the aforementioned public offices is undoubtedly subject to a specific "term-limit provision" within the meaning of s 328(1)."The word "tenure" is decisive. It refers to one person's total service.Nine of the 10 provisions listed in paragraph 50, p. 50 of the Mupungu (pictured below) judgment satisfy all three features.Section 197 authorises Parliament to impose limits on chief executives.Sections 205(2), 221(2), 226(2) and 229(2) each allow renewal "once only."Section 216(3) caps defence commanders at "a maximum of two terms."Sections 238(5) and 259(4) permit "one such further term."Section 310(3) limits the Auditor-General to "not exceeding 12 years" total.Each uses clear disqualifying language and caps personal tenure.But section 95(2) alone does not, (see Second Attachment, left to right). It addresses only the institutional five-year cycle and contains none of the required limiting features of term limit provisions.That is why the Attorney-General's authoritative list of 15 genuine term-limit provisions (see First Attachment, on the left) correctly excludes section 95(2).The ConCourt's benign oversight now stands revealed.When the Court moved from listing examples to speaking of "tenure," section 95(2) no longer sat comfortably.A more internally consistent list would have begun with section 91(2).The Court's inclusion of section 95(2) was a small classificatory slip  understandable in illustrative obiter dicta, but legally inconsequential.It cannot transform a straightforward term-length provision into a referendum-protected "term limit provision" that the framers never created.ConclusionDrawing together the Constitutional Court's dictionary-based method, the classical Aristotelian logic of genus and differentia, the three essential features that define authentic term limits, and the Attorney-General's careful classification [http://x.com/AGZim_Official], the conclusion is clear, logical, and compelling: Section 95(2)(b) is not a term-limit provision within the meaning of subsections (1) and (7) of section 328.As a provision that does nothing more than prescribe the length of a single term of office  an electoral cycle  section 95(2) does not regulate any person's personal tenure.It imposes no restriction, no disqualification, no non-renewal rule, and no total service ceiling. Amending it is therefore an ordinary amendment to the Constitution under section 328(5) and does not require a national referendum.Zimbabwe's Constitution is a carefully crafted instrument of democratic governance. It wisely protects genuine "term limit provisions" with the safeguard of a referendum because those limits are fundamental to preventing the indefinite hold on power.At the same time, the Constitution treats practical provisions about the duration or length of parliamentary and presidential terms of office as matters that Parliament may adjust through the normal amendment process.Section 95(2)(b) belongs squarely in this second category.Most democratic constitutions wisely separate the two categories which serve complementary but fundamentally different functions: one defining the term of office and electoral cycle (such as section 95(2)(b)), and the other imposing term limits with disqualification mechanisms (such as section 91(2)).These must never be conflated, for each fulfils a unique and critical role in democratic governance.Notably, other jurisdictions integrate the two categories elegantly.For example, Chile's Article 25 states: "The President of the Republic shall hold office for a term of four years and may not be re-elected for the following period"; France's Article 6: "The President of the Republic shall be elected for a term of five years by direct universal suffrage.No one may carry out more than two consecutive terms of office"; while South Korea's Article 70 provides: "The term of office of the President shall be five years, and the President shall not be re-elected."Zimbabwe separates the two categories.The separation is an act of fidelity to the supreme law of the land. It honours the precise design of the framers, strengthens the meaningfulness of the referendum safeguard for the provisions it was truly intended to protect, and ensures that Zimbabwe's democracy remains both stable and adaptable.The constitutional text, the Court's own reasoning, and simple logic all point in one direction.No national referendum is required.The Constitution itself demands nothing less than this honest, text-based reading!
Smurfit Westrock to Permanently Close Corrugated Packing Plant in Wakefield, MA

Some 91 employees will be impacted by the closure of the Wakefield plant. Some 91 employees will be impacted by the closure of the Wakefield plant.

March 25, 2026 - On March 18, Smurfit Westrock sent a WARN notice to State Dislocated Worker Unit in Massachusetts and the Town of Wakefield, Mass. that the Dublin, Ireland-based company plans to close its corrugated packaging plant located at 365 Audubon Road in Wakefield.

"The entirety of this facility will close. This action is expected to be permanent," Smurfit Westrock stated in its WARN letter.

The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide 60 days' written notice before a plant closing or mass layoff.

"All employee separations in connection with this action are expected to occur during the 14-day period starting on May 18, 2026," the WARN letter said. "There are no bumping rights at this facility for WestRock employees."

Some 91 employees will be impacted by the closure of the Wakefield plant.

Smurfit Westrock's global headquarters are located in Dublin, Ireland. Its primary North American office is located in Atlanta, Georgia.

SOURCE: Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
Alan Goasdoue Wins the GGPoker WSOP Super Circuit Main Event for $2.2M

Matthew Pitt Senior Editor Copy link

The massive GGPoker WSOP Super Circuit Main Event has crowned its champion, and it is Morocco-based Frenchman Alan "ContinUuUuUm" Goasdoue who will forever be bestowed with that title. The Moroccan came out on top of a 10,690-strong field to capture a WSOPC ring and an impressive $2,234,319 of the guaratee-busting $17,264,350 prize pool.

After dozens of Day 1s, the penultimate day's play reduced the five-figure field to a singular eight-handed final table. Mexico-based Spaniard Daniel Vicente sat down at the final table with the chip lead in tow, although his stack only contained three more big blinds than Japan's "L JAHA."

Israel's "KnaffeGOAT" brought up the rear with 19 big blinds, with Goasdoue second-last in chips with a 22 big blind stack.

GGPoker WSOP Super Circuit Main Event Final Table Chip Counts

Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Daniel Vicente Mexico 126,660,098 79 2 L JAHA Japan 122,252,407 76 3 Tiramisuwow@@ China 72,614,398 45 4 Pedro Neves Luxembourg 57,472,224 36 5 Ditto1031 Japan 48,028,337 30 6 JianguoNb China 40,554,471 25 7 Alan "ContinUuUuUm" Goasdoue Morocco 35,156,057 22 8 KnaffeGOAT Israel 30,723,592 19

The first elimination occurred a little over 10 minutes after the final table began. "Ditto1031" raised from middle position with king-nine of spades, "KnaffeGOAT" three-bet around half of their 14 big blind stack with pocket eights in the cutoff, only for Vicente to click it back from the big blind with pocket kings. "Ditto1031 folded, but "KnaffeGOAT" sent a sighing emoji before moving all-in; Vicente put in the calling chips. A jack-high board kept Vicente's kings as the best hand, and "KnaffeGOAT" bowed out in eighth for $362,144.

The dangerous Pedro Neves busted in seventh for $469,615 after a clash with Vicente didn't go his way. Vicente min-raised under the gun with pocket queens before instantly calling when Neves three-bet jammed for 22 big blinds with ace-jack from the small blind. None of the five community cards was higher than a nine, and Neves' quest to add a WSOP Circuit ring to the bracelet he won ended prematurely.

Simon Lofberg and Barak Wisbrod Win GGPoker WSOP Super Circuit Rings Read our recap

China's "JianguoNb" was the next player to head to the rail; their sixth-place finish came with a $608,988. Vicente continued in his role of executioner by raising in the cutoff with ace-jack and quickly calling when "JianguoNb" jammed from the small blind for 5.5 big blinds with the dominated ace-trey. Both players flopped an ace, but Vicente's jack-kicker played, and the final table had lost almost half of its players within the first 50 minutes.

The last six-figure prize of the WSOP Super Circuit Main Event went to Japan's "Ditto1031," who had been nursing a short stack for a while. "Ditto1031" looked down at jack-ten of diamonds, and raised more than half of their six big blind stack before calling the shove from Goasdoue, made from the big blind with king-queen. "Ditto1031" flopped an open-ended straight draw but missed a myriad of outs on the turn and river to exit in fifth place, a finish worth $789,733.

Another Japanese grinder, "L JAHA," finished fourth and became an instant millionaire after collecting $1,024,128. "L JAHA" min-raised on the button with queen-eight of diamonds, Goasdoue three-bet with king-trey in the big blind, and was called. Both players checked the king-eight-seven flop, leading to another seven on the turn, which both players checked. A queen on the river gave "L JAHA" two pair, but it was a second-best two pair. Goasdoue checked, "L JAHA" fired a half-pot bet only for Goasdoue to check-raise. "L JAHA" couldn't find a fold, called all-in, and saw the bad news at showdown.

Three-handed play lasted 50 minutes, during which time Goasdoue helped himself to numerous pots and held a commanding chip lead. The Frenchman's stack was more than double that of Vicente and almost seven times the size of China's "Tiramisuwow@@."

Heads-up was reached when Goasdoue raised from the small blind with trey-deuce of hearts and "Tiramisuwow@@" called in the big blind with ten-six of clubs from a nine big blind stack. The flop fell seven-trey-ace with two clubs. Goasdoue decided to move all-in and was called. Goasdoue's lowly pair of threes held, and he entered the heads-up battle against Vicente leading with 76 big blinds to his opponent's 31.

A couple of minutes into the heads-up battle, Vicente completed the small blind with ace-six, Goasdoue raised to six big blinds with ace-ten, only for Vicente to commit all but 0.75 big blinds with a four-bet. The rest of the chips found their way into the middle, and Goasdoue's ace-ten turned two pair and avoided a chop on the river.

Vicente collected a $1,722,308 consolation prize while Goasdoue got his hands on $2,234,319 and a WSOP Circuit ring.

GGPoker WSOP Super Circuit Main Event Final Table Results

Rank Player Country Prize 1 Alan "ContinUuUuUm" Goasdoue Morocco $2,234,319 2 Daniel Vicente Mexico $1,722,308 3 Tiramisuwow@@ China $1,328,103 4 L JAHA Japan $1,024,128 5 Ditto1031 Japan $789,733 6 JianguoNb China $608,988 7 Pedro Neves Luxembourg $469,615 8 KnaffeGOAT Israel $362,144

According to the GGPoker live stream, Goasdoue had $1,026,375 in winnings at GGPoker before this huge score, with his largest cash weighing in at $29,808. It is safe to say that the 2023 FPS Paris Main Event champion has obliterated those previous bests.

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"Fl4tbush20" Takes Down the 888pokerKO Games $200K Gtd Main Event

Matthew Pitt Senior Editor Copy link

The KO Games came to an exciting conclusion at 888poker on March 24 with the crowning of the $200,000 Mystery Bounty Main Event champion. The $160 buy-in tournament drew in 1,306 entrants, and Ukraine's "Fl4tbush20" outlasted them all.

"Fl4tbush20" is a regular in 888poker's weekly $100,000 Mystery Bounty Main Event, reaching several final tables over the past few months. They reached this final table sixth out of eight in chips, with a 16 big blind stack. Despite their rather perilous position, "Fl4tbush20" turned things around and ultimately came out on top.

Not only did the Ukrainian become the KO Games Main Event champion, an accolade that came with $15,480, but they also won the largest bounty in play, one worth $20,000! Add into the mix a handful of other mystery bounty payments, and "Fl4tbush20" walked away with $36,987.

888poker KO Games Mystery Bounty Main Event Final Table Chip Counts

Rank Player Country Bounties Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Jimbostar Denmark $4,430 3,143,068 63 2 8goat88 United Kingdom $2,807 2,729,301 55 3 Leo "KaizenStyle" Jokura Brazil $3,230 2,141,182 43 4 mckygrhm08 United Kingdom $715 1,824,305 37 5 zimablue. Romania $2,915 1,183,763 24 6 Fl4tbush20 Ukraine $20,603 773,297 16 7 ukrLaci Ukraine $800 670,850 13 8 RR4ZK Germany $1,000 594,234 12

It took the best part of 35 minutes for the first elimination. "zimablue." Min-raised in middle position with ace-eight, "8goat88" three-bet all-in for 17.4 big blinds with pocket tens in the small blind, and "RR4ZK" called off their 3.3 big blinds with pocket deuces in the big blind. The initial raiser ducked out of the way, and the pocket tens held to send "RR4ZK" to the rail.

That elimination opened the floodgates, and the tournament wrapped up in approximately one hour.

Seventh place went to "8goat88" after a clash with 888poker Stream Team star Leo "KaizenStyle" Jokura went wrong. Jokura min-raised with pocket kings from under the gun and had one of the easier calls of his career when "8goat88" three-bet all-in for 9.4 big blinds with what turned out to be ace-jack of diamonds. A ten-high board kept Jokura's kings as the best hand, and the Brazilian's quest for back-to-back Mystery Bounty Main Event titles gained more traction.

"Fl4tbush20" looked down and out when they committed their last 2.7 big blinds from the big blind with ace-eight, and found themselves against ten-eight and queen-jack. However, an ace on the river tripled the Ukrainian's stack and started what would become an epic comeback.

Miraculous One-Outer Propels Martin Lechner to the 888poker Live Glasgow Main Event Title Read our recap

Start-of-the-day chip leader "Jimbostar" busted in sixth. Very little went right for the Dane throughout the evening, and their exit hand was evidence of that. Jokura raised half of his 10.4 big blind stack with king-queen of diamonds from under the gun, "Jimbostar" three-bet all-in for 12.5 big blinds with ace-queen from the next seat along, only for "ukrLaci" to wake up in the big blind with pocket aces! "ukrLaci" flat-called, which set alarm bells ringing for Jokura, and he folded. "Jimbostar" was drawing dead on the turn, and the KO Games Mystery Bounty Main Event was down to five players.

Jokura doubled on the next hand, but he was still the next player heading for the exits. First, Jokur ripped in 13.8 big blinds with jack-eight of hearts from the small blind only to lose to the ace-king of "mckygrhm08." That left the Brazilian with three big blinds, which went into the middle on the next hand with pocket aces. Jokura doubled but jammed 5.1 big blinds a few hands later with queen-ten and lost to the pocket tens of "zimablue."

"Fl4bush20" increased their aggression with four players remaining, opening many pots and showing they were not afraid to move all-in. They min-raised with king-deuce of hearts, and "mckygrhm08" defended their big blind with nine-six of diamonds. A seven-king-nine flop with two hearts gave something to both players, but "Fl4tbush20" was in control. According to the PokerNews Odds Calculator, "Fl4tbush20" was an 86.26% favorite to win the hand.

"mckygrhm08" check-called a bet on the flop before leading on the three of clubs turn. "Fl4tbush20" raised enough to set "mckygrhm08" all-in, and they called. Only one of the two remaining nines or a non-heart six would rescue the at-risk player, but the river was another seven, and "mckygrhm08" was gone. Fourth place came with $6,865 in prize money, an impressive result even before you factor in "mckygrhm08" won their seat to this tournament via a freeroll!

The tournament progressed to heads-up when "ukrLaci" ran out of steam. They lost a crucial coinflip with pocket eights against the ace-queen of "zimablue." courtesy of an ace on the turn, which left them nursing a three big blind stack. They then got their micro-stack into the middle with king-six and turned a six, only for "zimablue." to hit an ace on the river with their ace-ten of clubs.

"Fl4tbush20" held a 47.3 big blind to 25.3 big blind lead over "zimablue." at the start of heads-up play. The final hand started with a raise from "zimablue." with king-queen of diamonds, a jam from "Fl4tbush20" with ace-trey, and a call from the initial raiser. An ace on the turn left "zimablue20." needing a diamond on the river to stay in the competition, but it was the queen of clubs.

The runner-up netted $14,808, leaving the champion to bask in the glory of victory and pad their bankroll with $36,987.

888poker KO Games Mystery Bounty Main Event Final Table Results

Rank Player Country Bounties Prize Total Prize 1 Fl4tbush20 Ukraine $21,507 $15,480 $36,987 2 zimablue. Romania $3,518 $11,290 $14,808 3 ukrLaci Ukraine $1,300 $8,300 $8,600 4 mckygrhm08 United Kingdom $715 $6,150 $6,865 5 Leo "KaizenStyle" Jokura Brazil $3,530 $4,550 $8,080 6 Jimbostar Denmark $4,430 $3,400 $7,830 7 8goat888 United Kingdom $3,107 $2,560 $5,667 8 RR4ZK Germany $1,000 $1,940 $2,940

888poker KO Games Results

Expand the table below to see the results from all 28 KO Games events.

Event Entrants Prize Pool Champion Prize #01 - $11 Mystery Bounty Frenzy 916 $10,000 tiagomarquez $1,588 #02 - $22 Mystery Bounty Big or Small 482 $10,000 Brits01 #03 - $55 Mystery Bounty 237 $12,000 Orvian $1,470 #04 - $5.50 Mystery Bounty Frenzy 1,146 $5,730 Becks15 $361 #05 - $109 Super KO 99 $10,000 Pedrozadota $1,646 #06 - $11 Mystery Bounty Big or Small 976 $10,000 JoeSatrian1 $668 #07 - $16.50 PLO5 Mystery Bounty 171 $2,565 carlham705 $722 #08 - $55 PKO 6-Max 208 $10,400 SYO.OO $2,298 #09 - $22 Mystery Bounty 6-Max 528 $10,560 lovelydonk $1,661 #10 - $8.80 Mystery Bounty Frenzy 764 $6,112 JordaQ1991 $916 #11 - $109 PKO 6-Max 120 $12,000 sezon1th $2,986 #12 - $33 Mystery Bounty Frenzy 432 $12,960 Christopher "MAKKAPAKKK" Johnson $1,774 #13 - $16.50 Mystery Bounty 1,292 $20,000 SqxxwreckTXQ $3,910 #14 - $55 Mystery Bounty 553 $27,650 Fhausser $3,959 #15 - $8.80 Mystery Bounty 1,106 $8,848 denisrez $774 #16 - $109 PKO Rumble 109 $10,900 nzlegal $3,085 #17 - $22 Mystery Bounty Frenzy 744 $15,000 fishchaser $941 #18 - $1,050 Super High Roller PKO 32 $35,000 AUTISPOSTI $13,937 #19 - $11 Mystery Bounty Frenzy 960 $10,000 rolex777 $615 #20 - $55 Mystery Bounty 220 $11,000 Kassir27 $2,461 #21 - $215 High Roller PKO 47 $9,400 dolphin15 $3,075 #22 - $22 Mystery Bounty Frenzy 536 $10,720 PedroQueiroz $1,267 #23 - $25 Mystery Mini Main 2,334 $52,515 jemaro901 $4,730 #24 - $160 Mystery Bounty Main Event 1,306 $200,000 Fl4tbush20 $36,987 #25 - $16.50 Closing Event Mystery Bounty 861 $12,915 Heroeblanco $1,204 #26 - $320 High Roller PKO 44 $15,000 DaCardPlayer $4,957 #27 - $55 Closing Event Mystery Bounty 263 $13,150 just4funR $2,452 #28 - $109 Super KO 89 $10,000 Vibos01 $1,815

The KO Games may be over, but 888poker players can continue to play in massive mystery bounty tournaments. On Sunday, 29 March, at 6:00 p.m. GMT, the $109 buy-in $100,000 RAKELESS Mystery Main Event shuffles up and deals.

As its name suggests, 888poker takes no rake from the $109 buy-in; every cent goes into the prize pool, which has a $100,000 guarantee. 888poker's Leo "KaizenStyle" Jokura won the last RAKELESS Mystery Main Event, then reached the KO Games Main Event final table. Can he make it a hat trick of finales this weekend?

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Lodge Card Club Shutting Its Doors for "Foreseeable Future"; Staff Informed They've Been Laid Off

Jon Sofen Senior Editor U.S. Copy link

Employees of The Lodge Card Club were informed via an email on Tuesday that they've been laid off two weeks following a raid of the popular Texas poker room.

The poker room in the Austin area has remained closed since the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) conducted a raid of the business on March 10, which included seizing evidence and freezing assets. No one has been arrested or charged with any crime yet, but the card room co-owned by Doug Polk has an uncertain future that became even more questionable following an email sent to employees by one of the three majority owners, Jason Levin.

When we started this journey, there were no guaranteesonly belief, grit, and a shared commitment to build something meaningful. Through the early challenges, we found our footing together. We built relationships, earned trust, and created a place that was more than just a business. It became a communitybecause of you. Each of you played a role in bringing that vision to life. From the front desk to the porters, dealers, managers, and production teamevery detail, every interaction, every long day and late night added up to something truly special. You made this place what it was. Not the building, not the brandyou. Thats why its so painful to say that The Lodge Round Rock location will need to shut its doors for the foreseeable future. While no charges have been brought, and we maintain that the club has always operated with the utmost integrity and within the laws of Texas, the Williamson County District Attorneys office has made clear to our attorneys that they believe The Lodges current business model does not comply with Texas law. For this reason, we cannot re-open. Doing so would run the risk that authorities might once again raid The Lodge, seize more cash and assets, and potentially make arrests. Because we have not been given any indication of when the investigation will conclude, we have no other viable path forward at this time. As a result, we are forced to make the incredibly difficult decision to let our entire staff go. We hope you know just how valued each of you are, and as we hope for a favorable outcome, should we be able to once again open our doors, our plan would be to welcome you back with open arms. There are no words that fully capture how much this hurtsnot just as a business decision, but on a human level. I am deeply grateful for everything youve given, and I will carry that with me always. You didnt just show up to workyou built something that mattered. As we now turn to the difficult task of determining what comes next, please know that each of you has my respect, my appreciation, and my sincere thanks. I hope you take pride in what we created together, because it was real, and it was special. I will miss all of you more than I can say. With a heavy heart, Jason Levin

What's Going on at The Lodge?

Empty parking lot at The Lodge Card Club following a TABC raid.

The Lodge, as the letter states, will continue to remain closed "for the foreseeable future," but no timeline has been set for reopening or announcing a permanent closure. The company's sister property in San Antonio remains open, however.

Levin indicated to his employees that the Williamson County District Attorney's office does not believe The Lodge, a 68-table membership club with an attached bar and restaurant, operates within the letter of the law.

Gambling in Texas is illegal, but the often-debated Texas Penal Code 47.04 does leave open the possibility for poker games to operate so long as the host isn't taking rake. In Texas, rooms such as The Lodge charge membership and seat fees in place of rake. But the TABC, in a 22-page search and seizure warrant affidavit released to PokerNews last week, revealed they are investigating the Texas poker club for allegations of money laundering and illegal gambling.

PokerNews will continue to monitor developments regarding The Lodge and report them if and when they happen. In the meantime, get caught up with what happened with the initial raid in this episode of the PokerNews Podcast:

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In this Series
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Becoming partly cloudy after some morning rain. High 78F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 68F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
Columbia, SC (29201)

Today

Becoming partly cloudy after some morning rain. High 81F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 64F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
With the gentle spring breeze and flowers in full bloom, the "Fragrant Encounter at Bantang, See You Among the Tulips" Bantang Tulip Appreciation Series officially kicked off on March 21. With tulips in full blossom as a medium, the event invites citizens and tourists to partake in a spring cultural and tourism feast. At present, at the Bantang Tulip Highlands Scenic Area, over ten thousand tulips are blooming in successionred as passionate as fire, yellow dazzlingly bright, pink tenderly charming, and purple elegantly serene. The vast expanse of tulips contrasts beautifully with the surrounding golden sea of rapeseed flowers. As a gentle breeze blows, the fragrance of flowers fills the air, and wherever the eye rests, there is vibrant vitality. After days of continuous rain, the weekend coincided with fair weatherbright sunshine and a gentle spring breeze. Tourists from the local area and beyond flocked here to soak in the natural atmosphere in the countryside, lingering amidst the sea of blossoms. In addition to flower viewing and spring outings, the "Floral Bites" market offers a wide array of local specialties, trendy internet-famous snacks, and light spring dishes, allowing visitors to savor the flavors of spring while enjoying the scenery. For families traveling together, a dedicated parent-child recreation zone has been set up, featuring bumper cars, inflatable castles, carousels, and other amusement facilities, creating a warm and welcoming space for family outings. The intangible cultural heritage market and trunk market are also highlights, bringing together creative handicrafts, fresh flowers and greenery, trendy accessories, specialty goods, and face painting booths. Visitors can stop by to admire and take photos, experience the charm of intangible cultural heritage, or immerse themselves in hands-on activities and pick up their favorite itemsachieving a one-stop experience of both sightseeing and shopping. During the event, a series of distinctive activities blending fun and culture took place one after another. Flash mobs in the sea of flowersincluding square dancing, hand drum performances, saxophone renditions, cheongsam shows, dance performances, and model walksbrought nonstop excitement, allowing the fragrance of flowers and the charm of the arts to meet in delightful harmony. NPC parades created an immersive atmosphere: the "Top Scholar" strolled through the flowers with pride and grace, the "Flower Seller" carried a floral pole as he wandered through spring, and the "Flower Fairy" graced the mortal world with springtime in her eyes. Kite displays featuring special-shaped designs danced in the sky, painting a vibrant spring scene against the azure expanse. From visual spectacles to cultural experiences, and from interactive fun to creative photo opportunities, the diverse range of activities catered to visitors of all ages and interests, ensuring that everyone could find their own joy and beauty amidst the spring flowers. Ms. Lou Min, a visitor, came early in the morning with her family from nearby Hanshan County, Ma'anshan City, to enjoy the flowers. "The Tulip Highlands are a beautiful place to visit. Right now, the flowers are in full bloom, so I brought the kids here to enjoy. It feels really nice," Lou said with a smile. A representative from the Bantang Hot Spring Wellness Resort Management Committee stated that this tulip appreciation series will run from March 21 to April 6. Moving beyond the traditional flower-viewing model, the event transforms the conventional sightseeing experience into an immersive and interactive multi-dimensional experience, offering visitors a one-stop spring leisure getaway. It not only showcases the ecological beauty and cultural tourism appeal of the Bantang Tulip Highlands but also further revitalizes regional cultural tourism consumption, injecting new vitality into the Chaohu Lake tourism route, and infusing robust springtime energy into the high-quality integrated development of regional culture and tourism.

Source: Hefei Evening News
Kingstree, SC (29556)

Today

Cloudy with rain ending for the afternoon. High 79F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable.
Mount Pleasant, SC (29464)

Today

Becoming partly cloudy after some morning rain. High 76F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 67F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
PR-Inside.com: 2026-03-25 04:50:29

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THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATESVANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / March 24, 2026 / Arctic Fox Lithium Corp. (CSE:AFX)(FSE:O5K) ("Arctic Fox" or, the "Company") announces today that the Company has closed the first tranche of the non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") pursuant to its news release dated February 25, 2026.The Company has issued 6,744,000 units (the "Units") in the capital of the Company at a price of $0.24 per Unit for gross proceeds of $1,618,560.00 (the "Tranche 1 Closing"). Each Unit consist of one common share (a "Share") and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional Share at a price of $0.315 per Share for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance.The Company will use the net proceeds from the Offering for general working and administrative capital, costs related to the Tranche 1 Closing and exploration expenditures in connection with the Company's Shipshaw Property and its other mineral properties.Finder's fees of $113,299.20 cash, 472,080 broker warrants and 1,000,000 common shares were paid to certain eligible finders in connection with applicable securities laws and Canadian Securities Exchange policies. Each broker warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one additional Share at a price of $0.315 until 5.00pm (Vancouver Time) on or before March 23, 2028.The Units were offered: (a) by way of private placement in all of the provinces of Canada pursuant to applicable exemptions from the prospectus requirements under applicable Canadian securities laws; (b) in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons, by way of private placement pursuant to the exemptions from the registration requirements provided for under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"); and (c) in jurisdictions outside of Canada and the United States on a private placement or equivalent basis, in each case in accordance with all applicable laws, provided that no prospectus, registration statement or other similar document is required to be filed in such jurisdiction. The securities issued pursuant to the Offering to purchasers in Canada will be subject to a four-month and one day hold period in Canada expiring on July 24, 2026 pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws. The Units offered to purchasers outside of Canada pursuant to an exemption from the prospectus requirements in Canada available under OSC Rule 72-503 - Distributions Outside Canada and, accordingly, the securities issued pursuant to the Offering to purchasers outside of Canada are not subject to a four-month and one day hold period in Canada. The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. 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 State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.The Company further announces the appointment of Tyler Heathercote as its new director, effective immediately.Tyler Heathcote is an experienced entrepreneur and senior executive with over 30 years of experience building and leading companies in the energy services and environmental sectors across Canada and international markets. He founded Bio-Synergy Resources Inc., which was later taken public as Ridgeline Energy Services Inc. on the TSX Venture Exchange, and subsequently led the privatization and growth of Ridgeline Canada Inc. In 2022, Ridgeline joined Ambipar, a global environmental services provider, where Mr. Heathcote most recently served as President of Ambipar Response (Canada) overseeing national operations. He brings extensive experience in strategic growth, operations, and capital markets, along with strong governance and board-level expertise.Tyler Heathcote replaces Sonny Chew, who has resigned as a member of the Board. In addition, Rick Mah has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer, replacing Mr. Chew in such capacity. Mr. Mah, who was appointed to the Board of Directors on February 19, 2026, will continue to serve as a director. The Company thanks Mr. Chew for his contributions over the years and wishes him well in his future endeavors.About Arctic Fox Lithium Corp.Arctic Fox Lithium Corp. is a junior mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of mineral properties containing rare earth metals.For further information, please contact:Kirby Renton, Director, President and CEO.Phone: 306-430-8815On behalf of the Board of Directors,Kirby RentonDirector, President and CEOArctic Fox Lithium Corp.Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.Forward-Looking Information: Except for statements of historic fact this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan" "expect" "project" "intend" "believe" "anticipate" "estimate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward- looking statements including but not limited to the Offering and other statements contained herein. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the business plans for Arctic Fox described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators which are available at www.sedarplus.ca SOURCE: Arctic Fox Lithium Corp.
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MILAN, IT / ACCESS Newswire / March 24, 2026 /EHA - European Healthcare Alliance today announces the launch of its digital platform, www.eha-network.com , a new hub designed to connect companies and consultants across the European healthcare sector and unlock Business Development opportunities.EHA is a members-only network dedicated to organisations operating in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, food supplements, cosmetics and related intellectual property. Through its platform, members can showcase assets available for licensing in Europe, access qualified opportunities shared by other members, and identify potential partners via intuitive search tools designed to accelerate deal flow.A key differentiator of EHA is its structured scouting activity, focused on identifying innovative healthcare products originating from outside the EU and supporting their entry into European markets. This provides members with early visibility on new assets and a tangible advantage in expanding their portfolios.By combining shared intelligence, targeted scouting and a collaborative ecosystem, EHA empowers companies to enhance their Business Development capabilities and to access strategic connections that would be out of reach and significantly more expensive to generate as a stand-alone entity.Danilo Casadei Massari, Chairman of EHA and CEO of NEMYSIS Ltd., commented: "EHA has been created to offer a practical and efficient solution to one of the key challenges in our industry: accessing high-quality opportunities while optimising resources. The platform enables members to expand their product portfolios, strengthen their partner networks and accelerate deal-making in a highly competitive environment." About EHA - European Healthcare AllianceFounded in 2026 by NEMYSIS Ltd., ENTERALIA BIOSCIENCE S.r.l. and RICERCHIMICA S.r.l., EHA is an innovative platform designed to support Business Development across Europe by connecting companies, consultants and international partners through a single, integrated access point.For membership enquiries:info@ eha-network.com SOURCE: EUROPEAN HEALTHCARE ALLIANCE
PR-Inside.com: 2026-03-24 23:05:23

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EESystem secures major federal court victories in Florida and Nevada, as Shurka's own defense team argues his legal maneuver was a doomed "foregone conclusion" and his "ecclesiastic" shell game unravels.LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESS Newswire / March 24, 2026 / In a pair of decisive legal victories for the Energy Enhancement System (EESystem), federal judges in both Florida and Nevada have officially ordered Jason Shurka to pay a combined total of $54,034.05 in attorneys' fees. These rulings stem from ongoing intellectual property and breach of contract litigation between EESystem and Shurka regarding his "Light System" (TLS) network.When Shurka attempted to remove active state lawsuits to federal courts across the country, the maneuvers resulted in federal judges remanding the cases and penalizing Shurka. He was ordered to pay $46,526.55 in Florida and another $7,507.50 in Nevada, with the Nevada court explicitly ruling that his removal "lacked an objectively reasonable basis".The Incompetence Defense and "Foregone Conclusion" In an attempt to reduce the fees owed, the public narrative of Shurka as a highly capable CEO was replaced in federal court by his own legal team's plea of ignorance.In Florida, his defense counsel from Greenberg Traurig formally pleaded for leniency due to Shurka's "inexperience in the law," citing his "lack of a grasp of federal removal procedures" and "lacking legal understanding". They argued his improper removal across state lines was simply an "honest mistake by a pro se litigant navigating complex federal statutes without legal training". Furthermore, to justify a reduction in the fees he owed, Shurka's defense team explicitly argued that the defeat of his own legal maneuver was a "foregone conclusion".However, public court records reveal this defense contrasts sharply with his documented litigation history. Docket histories show Shurka has been actively involved in complex lawsuits-including corporate disputes and family litigation alongside Manny and Nancy Shurka-dating back to at least 2008 in New York.The Corporate Shell Game: From "Ecclesiastic" Shields to Wyoming LLCs Shurka's tactical unraveling in federal court perfectly mirrors the collapse of his broader corporate shell game. In active litigation, the operation is identified as "Light System Inc., a private ecclesiastic faith-based organization" incorporated in Connecticut. However, the operation recently shifted its public-facing website and user agreements to a new entity: Limitless Light Technologies LLC, registered in Wyoming.This shape-shifting from an "ecclesiastic" shield to a Wyoming LLC reveals a calculated strategy to evade accountability. Under this new Wyoming entity, the Terms & Conditions explicitly state that simply "browsing its content, creating an account, or making a purchase" legally binds a user to its rules. This indicates that casual viewers who simply signed up to watch a video on his streaming platform, Unifyd.tv , or individuals who participated in his events, were subjected to these contractual terms.Simultaneously, while Shurka's Private Membership Agreements contain massive $100,000,000 financial penalties for his own followers, his new Wyoming LLC legally caps its own liability to a mere $100 and explicitly states: "The Company makes no medical claims regarding the technology in any capacity whatsoever." This shift from an "ecclesiastic" shield in Connecticut to an LLC in Wyoming allows the operation to enforce draconian Terms & Conditions on Unifyd.tv subscribers while capping its own liability at $100. Yet, when caught improperly removing cases to federal court to evade accountability, Shurka's lawyers pleaded that he lacks legal understanding. Ultimately, the federal courts reviewed the facts and penalized his maneuvers, demonstrating that one cannot play a sophisticated corporate shell game while simultaneously claiming to be a naive, unknowledgeable victim.With multiple United States District Courts officially ruling against Shurka, EESystem stands vindicated and continues to focus on transparency and the advancement of quantum wellness.About EESystem:Invented by Dr. Sandra Rose Michael, the Energy Enhancement System (EESystem) integrates bio-active energy fields, including scalar waves, to promote cellular regeneration, immune function, and overall wellness. With over 700 centers globally, EESystem has spent 50 years dedicated to genuine healing, transparency, and the advancement of quantum wellness.Media Contact:Public Relations DepartmentEnergy Enhancement System (EESystem)Phone: +1 702-213-7435 Email: Support@ eesystem.com Website: www.eesystem.com SOURCE: Energy Enhancement System
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 24, 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=53703 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 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.
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 24, 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.
I have had great ape experiences before, with a certain hierarchy already in my head. Gorilla trekking, I assumed, would always be the apex moment: the one people talk about in subdued, almost reverent tones, the one that rearranges your perception of travel, wildlife, and privilege all at once. Chimp trekking, by comparison, sat in my imagination as something more secondary, more frantic, maybe even less emotionally evocative.

I was wrong.

In Kibale, chimp trekking was less like a supporting act and more like a completely different kind of thrill, one that was louder, faster, more unpredictable, and, in its own way, just as moving. The experience took place at a different rhythm from gorilla trekking. Gorillas often feel solemn, grounded, almost regal. By contrast, chimpanzees seem electric, and you hear them before you fully see them. You catch motion high in the canopy, then a burst of sound, then a flash of limbs, and suddenly the forest is not quiet at all, still alive with personality.

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That surprise, that I could love this as deeply as gorilla trekking, not instead of it but alongside it, became one of the defining memories of my time in Uganda.

What is chimp trekking in Kibale actually like?

A chimpanzee spotted during a guided trek in Kibale National Park, one of Ugandas top primate destinations, easily accessed through curated experiences by Volcanoes Safaris. (Volcanoes Safaris)

Kibale National Park is one of Ugandas best-known places for chimpanzee trekking and is home to around 1,500 chimpanzees and exceptional primate diversity. Guided chimp treks in Kibale typically begin at the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre, usually at 8 a.m., 11 a.m., or 2 p.m., last about two to five hours depending on where the chimps are, and allow visitors one hour with the animals once they are found.

That sounds tidy on paper, but in practice, it feels far more alive than any neat itinerary can capture. The expectation builds quickly as you move through the dense forest, listening hard, following the ranger's cues, trying to read the landscape. Then, once you find them, the whole mood changes. Chimpanzees do not hold still for your benefit, and being in the forest with them was similar to being in my sons preschool class: they move, shriek, groom, forage, swing, posture, and vanish and reappear in ways that make the interaction seem dynamic rather than posed, and give off complete toddler energy in the best way. That, for me, was the magic of it because, while gorilla trekking can feel almost meditative, chimp trekking felt charged.

One of the most eye-opening parts of my time around Kibale was also spending time on a more conservation-focused chimp experience, which helped me fully understand the difference between chimpanzees that are more accustomed to human presence and those that are still in a more transitional stage, and the contrast was striking. Even without romanticizing it, you could see how much temperament, movement, and group behavior shifted depending on how comfortable the chimps were with observers. It added an entirely different layer to the trek, making the experience feel less like simple wildlife viewing and more like an education in behavior, adaptation, and the long, careful work behind ethical primate tourism.

Is chimp trekking easier than gorilla trekking?

A lively group of chimpanzees moves through the forest floor in Kibale, showcasing the dynamic and energetic wildlife encounters that define chimp trekking with Volcanoes Safaris. (Volcanoes Safaris)

Generally, yes, it is, though easier is relative.

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In my experience, chimp trekking in Kibale usually requires a bit less fitness than many gorilla treks, especially for travelers nervous about the steep, mountainous terrain often associated with gorilla trekking in places like Bwindi. In my experience, Kibale chimp treks are forest walks of roughly two to five hours, while steep ridges and deep valleys, as in my gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, more define the experience, which helps explain why many travelers find chimp trekking more manageable. That does not mean effortless: you still need decent mobility, comfortable hiking clothes, and the willingness to move quickly when the chimps do.

For travelers who want a major primate experience but worry they are not up for an especially punishing climb, chimp trekking can feel like a more approachable entry point. It still feels adventurous and still gets your heart rate up. But it can be a better fit for people who want something active without the same level of physical intensity that many gorilla treks can demand.

What is it like to stay at Kibale Lodge?

The pool at Kibale Lodge by Volcanoes Safaris offers sweeping views toward the Rwenzori Mountains, creating a peaceful retreat after a day of chimp trekking in Kibale Forest. (Volcanoes Safaris)

Part of what made the whole experience so memorable was having a base that was deeply connected to the landscape rather than sealed off from it. Kibale Lodge, which opened in 2024, sits on a ridge with views toward the Rwenzori Mountains and the surrounding hills near Fort Portal. Volcanoes. The lodge has eight hand-built bandas, each with a private terrace, plus a spa, sauna, pool, and personal butler service, and the chimp trekking base in Kibale Forest is about a 30-minute drive away.

What I liked most about staying at Kibale Lodge was that it never seemed interested in distracting from the reason you had come. The property is undeniably beautiful, but its luxury works best as context rather than competition. After a morning in the forest, the rhythm of returning there felt especially satisfying: back to a hand-built banda with a private terrace, indoor and outdoor showers, and long views across the rolling hills toward the Rwenzoris, then on to the spa, where complimentary massages are offered subject to availability alongside a sauna and swimming pool. The effect is restorative rather than showy. You feel taken care of, but never sealed off from the landscape that brought you here in the first place.

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That connection to place is what makes the lodge memorable. Kibale Lodge has eight bandas and is just a 30-minute drive from the forest for chimpanzee trekking. Still, it also encourages guests to experience the wider Kabarole region rather than treating the park as a single-box safari stop. Official activities include chimpanzee habituation, birding in Bigodi Wetland, hikes, and visits tied to community and conservation work, including schools participating in the Roots and Shoots program run with the Jane Goodall Institute, the Rwenzori Sculpture Foundation, and local guiding initiatives on the land around the lodge.

Kibale Lodge, Volcanoes Safaris chimpanzee-focused retreat near Kibale National Park in western Uganda, opened on July 1, 2024, with sweeping views over the surrounding hills and crater-lake landscape. (Volcanoes Safaris)

That community dimension turned out to be one of the most impactful parts of my stay. My favorite excursion was visiting two local schools and seeing, in a concrete way, how conservation tourism linked to the chimpanzees can help fund needed infrastructure and supplies, including a water tank. It gave the experience more depth. Kibale wasn't only about the thrill of seeing primates in the canopy, but about understanding how a lodge like this can serve as the link between extraordinary wildlife, the surrounding hills and villages, and the people working to ensure both have a future. Volcanoes Safaris also intentionally frames that exchange: guests can participate in nearby community projects, and the lodges hospitality draws on Batoro traditions, including giving guests an ampaako, or pet name, during their stay.

What else should you do around Kibale besides chimp trekking?

The scenic crater lakes of the Ndali-Kasenda region near Kibale National Park add another layer to a Volcanoes Safaris itinerary, blending primate trekking with breathtaking Ugandan landscapes. (Volcanoes Safaris)

Do not make the mistake of treating Kibale as a one-and-done primate stop. Bigodi Wetland is well worth adding for anyone interested in birds, monkeys, and a slower, more layered understanding of the ecosystem around Kibale. Lodge activities also extend to walking trails, wetland excursions, and community visits, which can help round out the emotional tempo of a stay that might otherwise revolve entirely around adrenaline and wildlife sightings.

It is also worth making time for the community side of the region, especially if you are staying at a place like Kibale Lodge, where the conservation message is not presented as an abstract concept. The Roots and Shoots connection in particular gives guests a window into how conservation, education, and local leadership intersect beyond the park gates. That mattered to me because primate travel can too easily become about the encounter alone. The more meaningful version is one that also remembers the surrounding human landscape.

What questions do travelers have before chimp trekking in Uganda?

A close encounter with a chimpanzee in Kibale Forest highlights the raw, immersive nature of chimp trekking experiences offered through Volcanoes Safaris in Uganda. (Volcanoes Safaris)

How long does chimp trekking take?

Usually, 2 to 5 hours total for standard chimp trekking in Kibale, with 1 hour spent with the chimpanzees once found.

What about the habituation experience?

Uganda Wildlife Authoritys guidelines allow up to four hours of viewing for chimpanzee habituation experiences, and Volcanoes Safaris says this experience at Kibale is limited to six guests per day.

Is there a minimum age?

Uganda Wildlife Authoritys 2024 guidelines say the minimum age for chimp tracking and viewing is 12. Kibale Lodge separately notes that children under 15 are not permitted to track the chimps through the lodges programming, so families should confirm the latest rules at booking.

Hand of chimpanzee lying down on the tree in Uganda, Africa (Ozbalci via Getty Images)

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Do you need to be very fit?

You should be comfortable walking on uneven forest trails, but many travelers find chimp trekking more manageable than a gorilla trek. Terrain, weather, and how far the chimps have moved that day still make a big difference.

Is it worth doing if you have already done gorilla trekking?

Absolutely. I argue that it is when it becomes most interesting, because you stop comparing them as versions of the same thing and start appreciating how different the encounters really are.

That is probably the biggest thing I came away with. Chimp trekking did not feel like a lesser alternative to gorilla trekking, but like a parallel experience, one with its own energy, mood, and emotional pull. Gorillas may be the better-known headline, but Kibale made a convincing case that chimpanzees can deliver a story just as powerful, only in a very different voice.

And that, for me, was the unexpected part. I arrived assuming I already knew where this experience might sit in the hierarchy of great wildlife moments. I left realizing I had created a hierarchy that never really deserved to exist in the first place.
The Central Bank of Nigeria has stated that Nigerian banks raised N4.61 trillion in fresh capital, with nearly 27 per cent from foreign investors, ahead of the recapitalisation deadline on 31 March.

The development was disclosed on Tuesday by the CBN governor, Olayemi Cardoso, at the International Monetary Fund/Africa Regional Technical Assistant Centres (IMF/AFRITAC) West 2 high-level forum on financial sector regulation and supervision in Abuja.

The apex bank earlier disclosed that Nigerian banks raised N4.05 trillion in recapitalisation funds by February. By early March, it reported that 30 of the 33 banks had met the minimum capital requirements through rights issues, Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), and private placements.

The exercise follows the CBNs revised recapitalisation policy introduced in March 2024, which gives banks a 24-month window, from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2026, to strengthen their capital base.

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While speaking at the IMF/AFRITAC forum, Mr Cardoso noted that the CBN anticipated upcoming challenges in 2024, which prompted it to impose recapitalisation exercises on the banking sector to strengthen the resilience of Nigerian banks.

The CBN governor said the N4.61 trillion raised by banks in the recapitalisation exercise, about 27 per cent from foreign investors, will inspire similar reforms across Africa and support market expansion across the continent.

Mr Cardoso also emphasised the essence of interconnected financial systems and collaboration among African banks regulators to safeguard stability and ensure shared prosperity across Africa.

This proactive policy inspired similar reforms across Africa. Nigerian banks, despite navigating subsidy removals and exchange rate reforms, attracted N4.61 trillion in new capital; nearly 27 per cent from foreign investors, while also expanding their footprint across African markets.

As African banks and financial systems become increasingly interconnected, collaboration among regulators is not optional but essential to safeguard stability and ensure shared prosperity, Mr Cardoso said.

Zero tolerance for violations

The governor emphasised the CBNs position on corporate governance, stating that it had adopted a zero-tolerance approach to violations.

He added that the CBN will fully reinforce accountability, tighten supervision, and elevate compliance standards across the banking sector by the end of regulatory forbearance.

The governor noted that the CBN has also restricted banking services to chronic defaulters as part of efforts to enforce credit discipline, strengthen repayment culture, protect depositors, and safeguard financial stability.

In line with this, we have implemented a restriction of banking services to non-performing large-ticket obligors, he added.

Mr Cardoso further expressed the apex banks commitment to orthodox measures in monetary policy to restore price stability and strengthen policy credibility.

Highlighting the banks efforts to regulate financial technology firms, the governor noted that the CBN pursued efforts to balance innovation with financial system stability. He further advised African regulators to ensure prudential frameworks to effectively regulate the emerging risks.
The Federal High Court in Lagos has ruled that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) acted outside its statutory authority in dissolving the board and management of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, declaring the January 2024 intervention unlawful.

Delivering judgement on Wednesday in a suit marked FHC/L/MISC/1377/2025, the judge, Chukwujekwu Aneke, held that CBNs actions were ultra vires and not in compliance with the provisions of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act 2020 (BOFIA).

According to the court filings, Titan Trust Bank Limited, alongside Luxis International DMCC and Magna International DMCC, claimed to be the ultimate beneficial owners of Union Bank.

They challenged the CBNs dissolution of the banks board, the appointment of a new management, and the initiation of a recapitalisation process that allegedly diluted their shareholding and excluded them from key decisions.

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In his ruling, the judge nullified the entire regulatory intervention and granted other prayers in favour of the applicants.

He set aside the CBNs public announcement dissolving the board and invalidated all actions taken by the regulator-appointed management.

The court also ordered the immediate reinstatement of the former board and management led by Farouk Gumel.

Mr Aneke further restrained the CBN and other respondents from exercising any powers over the banks governance, including restructuring its share capital or altering its ownership structure.

He also halted the ongoing recapitalisation process and investor selection programme initiated under the CBN-appointed board.

On the issue of fair hearing, the court held that the applicants fundamental rights were breached, noting that they were sanctioned without being given an opportunity to respond to allegations of regulatory infractions arising from a purported special examination of the bank.

The judge found that the applicants shareholding was reduced from 100 per cent to 40 per cent and that they were excluded from participating in the recapitalisation exercise without legal justification, describing the actions as indicative of bad faith.

Although the CBN had defended its intervention as part of its prudential oversight, citing severe financial distress at the bank, including a negative capital adequacy ratio, a capital shortfall exceeding N224 billion, and a high non-performing loan ratio.

But the court held that such regulatory powers must be exercised strictly within the confines of the law.

On jurisdiction, the court ruled that Section 51 of BOFIA does not shield the CBN from judicial review where it acts outside its statutory powers.

It also held that the actions of the CBN-appointed board were subject to review, describing them as agents of the apex bank.

The court dismissed procedural objections raised by the respondents, holding that the applicable rules of court were merely directory and not sufficient to defeat the suit.

Mr Aneke also found that the applicants suffered a continuing injury, noting that they were excluded from the banks management and decision-making processes between January 2024 and December 2025, during which significant corporate actions were undertaken.

On damages, the court acknowledged that the respondents admitted the applicants invested $190 million in the bank but declined to award additional claims in the absence of oral evidence.

Background

The dispute stemmed from the CBNs January 2024 intervention, when it dissolved the boards and management of Union Bank, Keystone Bank and Polaris Bank over alleged regulatory breaches and corporate governance failures.

READ ALSO: Union Bank brings Fitfeb 2026 to a close with nationwide Healthwalks and celebrations

At the time, the apex bank cited provisions of BOFIA, referencing the banks non-compliance with licensing conditions, threats to its financial stability, its failure to adhere to regulatory directives, and its undercapitalisation, as justification for the intervention.

It subsequently appointed interim management to take over the affected institutions and initiated corrective measures, including recapitalisation and restructuring programmes.

The move was part of a broader pattern of regulatory interventions by the CBN in Nigerias banking sector.

In 2021, the regulator removed the board of First Bank of Nigeria Holdings Plc over governance concerns, while a similar action was taken against Skye Bank Plc in 2016 due to prudential breaches, with the banks licence later revoked and its operations transferred to Polaris Bank.

Under BOFIA, the CBN is empowered to intervene in troubled banks, including removing directors where a grave situation is identified.
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has warned that declining international donor support could undermine progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) in Nigeria, urging governments to increase domestic funding for the health sector.

The call was made on Tuesday during an advocacy visit to the Kogi State House of Assembly in Lokoja, in commemoration of the 2026 World TB Day.

World TB Day is commemorated on 24 March annually to raise awareness about TB and mobilise political commitment, resources and healthcare financing towards eliminating the disease.

This years theme is Yes! We can end TB, with the slogan Led by countries, powered by people.

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According to a statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES, AHFs Senior Advocacy and Marketing Manager, Steve Aborisade, said Nigeria risks losing years of progress if urgent steps are not taken to fill funding gaps left by withdrawing donors.

Mr Aborisade noted that while significant gains have been made in HIV treatment, sustaining them will depend on increased collaboration between governments, civil society, and implementing partners.

Unless stakeholders and the government make conscious efforts to mobilise local resources to HIV/AIDS and TB, we stand the risk of losing the gains that have been accomplished, he said.

He stressed that although there is no cure for HIV/AIDS, treatment programmes remain effective, making sustained investment critical.

Tuberculosis

TB is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It primarily affects the lungs, a condition known as pulmonary TB, but can also impact other organs, including the kidneys, spine, and brain.

The disease spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or spits. Many people carry TB in a latent form, which does not cause symptoms, but the infection can become active and potentially life-threatening if the immune system is weakened.

Groups at higher risk of developing active TB include people living with HIV, those with diabetes or undernutrition, and individuals who consume tobacco or alcohol.

Common signs of TB include a persistent cough lasting more than two weeks, coughing up blood, chest pain, fatigue, weight loss, fever, and night sweats.

Globally, and according to the 2024 WHO global TB report, an estimated 10.8 million people developed TB in 2023, with 1.6 million people losing their lives and 12 per cent of the global burden affecting the most vulnerable  the children and young adolescents.

Push for domestic resource mobilisation

Mr Aborisade said AHF and its partners are engaging lawmakers to ensure increased budgetary allocation for HIV and TB programmes, particularly at the state level.

According to him, reliance on foreign donors is no longer sustainable, especially as international funding declines.

It has become expedient for Nigeria and other governments in Africa to pick up the gauntlet and bridge the gaps that may exist with the reduction in foreign donors support, he said.

He added that AHF operates in 50 countries globally, including 14 in Africa, and supports HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services across seven Nigerian states.

Lawmakers pledge support

Responding, the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Aliyu Yusuf, commended AHF and its partners for their advocacy and pledged legislative support for the health sector.

Mr Yusuf who was represented by the Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Usman Ochidi, said the engagement had provided useful insights and encouraged continued collaboration.

He urged AHF and civil society organisations to actively participate in the budget defence process to influence funding decisions.

He also called on members of the National Assembly to use legislative framework to inspire the federal government to ensure that health budgets are not only approved but released on time.

READ ALSO: Anambra deploys tricycles to boost grassroots tuberculosis testing

Mr Yusuf also stressed the need for increased sensitisation and public awareness about TB and ongoing efforts to control the disease.

He also reaffirmed the Assemblys commitment to supporting interventions targeting HIV/AIDS and other public health challenges.

Other stakeholders, including representatives of CSOs and health programmes, echoed concerns about the impact of shrinking donor funding on public health programmes.

They also solicited for government intervention through massive budgetary allocation to the public health sector to mitigate the withdrawal of multinational donors.
The war in the Middle East continues to claim more casualties. President Donald Trumps claim of an ongoing negotiation for a ceasefire agreement has been repeatedly dismissed by Iran, which has promised to continue fighting.

Thousands of people have been killed in the region, and an even higher number have been injured or displaced across Iran, Lebanon, Israel, and other parts of the region.

Attacks on major gas facilities in four Middle Eastern countries worsened the wars economic impact.

The war entered its 26th day on Wednesday (today).

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PREMIUM TIMES brings you the key events around the war on Tuesday.

More people killed in Iran, Israel

Casualties of the US and Israel war on Iran have continued to rise in number despite Mr Trumps assertion of a negotiation between both sides.

More than 243 Iranian students and teachers have now been killed since the start of the war.

Also, over 177 students have been wounded, with at least 600 educational and cultural facilities damaged. The Iranian Health Ministry reported that more than 1500 have been killed so far.

The total death toll in Lebanon is now more than 1,072, according to the health ministry.

In Israel, more than 18 people have been killed, and Iranian missiles have injured 5,000 people. At least 180 people were wounded in Iranian missile attacks on the southern city of Dimona, which is home to the countrys main nuclear facility.

Philippines declares national emergency

The economic impact of the war continues to be felt worldwide. In the Philippines, the government has declared a national energy emergency.

The President, Ferdinand Marcos, on Wednesday said he had signed an executive order to safeguard energy security, citing the imminent danger posed upon the availability and stability of the countrys energy supply.

Mr Marcos said the decision would empower the government to take legally backed actions to maintain energy stability and shield the broader economy.

Mr Marcos said the move would give the government the legal authority to impose measures to ensure energy stability and protect the broader economy.

We will have a flow of oil. Not just one delivery, not two deliveries, but a flow of oil-related products, he said.

Mr Marcos said nothing is off the table when responding to the supply and price crisis.

Philippines is a net oil exporter and gets a lot of its oil from the Middle East.

Israeli minister wants annexation of parts of Lebanon

Israeli forces are planning to mount a major ground invasion of their northern neighbour.

Top officials are campaigning that Israel extend its border with Lebanon up to the Litani River, deep into the south of the country.

The front of the ongoing war, which involves Israel and Lebanons Hezbollah, reached a close combat stage last week.

Israeli troops advanced into the border town of Khiam and Naqoura in Southern Lebanon, triggering fierce clashes with Hezbollah.

While the troops continue to bomb bridges and destroy homes,  Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich explicitly called for the seizure of Lebanese territory.

He said, The Litani River must become our new border with the State of Lebanonjust like the buffer line in Gaza.

Israels Minister of Defence, Israel Katz, also declared that the military will control the security zone up to the Litani.

Al Jazeera reports that he also said displaced Lebanese residents would not be permitted to return to their homes in the south of Lebanon until security is guaranteed for the residents of the north of Israel.

Canada, France tell Israel to respect Lebanons sovereignty

However, Israels proposed occupation of parts of Lebanon has drawn the condemnation of some world leaders.

Frances Minister for Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noel Barrot, warned against the planned occupation of southern Lebanon.

He declared that such a move would have a dire impact on civilians.

We urge the Israeli authorities to refrain from such ground operations, which would have major humanitarian consequences and would exacerbate the countrys already dire situation, Mr Barrot told the AFP news agency.

Similarly, Canada also strongly condemns Israels plans to occupy southern Lebanon.

The countrys foreign ministry declared that Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity must not be violated.

In a statement on X, it said, Lebanons sovereignty and territorial integrity must not be violated. Hezbollahs attacks on Israel must cease, and they must disarm.

Trump insists talks ongoing with Iranian leaders

Meanwhile, Mr Trump has insisted that Washington is speaking with Iran, which, he said, wants to make a deal so badly.

They are talking to us, and theyre making sense, said Mr Trump.

The American leader has reiterated this claim despite Iran denying that it is involved in any direct talks with the US.

On Tuesday, Mr Trump told reporters at the White House that the war has been won, and that US strikes have led to regime change in the country.

He noted that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are involved in the negotiation.

He also claimed Iranian negotiators offered a very significant prize as a gift to the US.

They did something yesterday that was amazing actually. They gave us a present, and it arrived today. And it was a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money, he said.

However, Iran responded: The self-proclaimed global superpower should not call defeat an agreement.

The BBC reports that the spokesperson for Irans Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said, Has the level of your internal conflict reached the point where you are negotiating with yourselves?

You will see neither your investments in the region nor the former prices of energy and oil again, until you understand that stability in the region is guaranteed by the powerful hand of our armed forces. Stability comes through strength.

Israel says not part of US talks with Iran

Meanwhile, the Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, said Israel is not part of US-Iran talks and that military operations will continue.

He insisted that Israels goal is for Irans nuclear and missile capabilities to be eliminated, according to Al Jazeera.

As we speak, Israel and the US, we continue to target military targets in Iran, and we will continue to do that, he said.

Mr Danon said the strikes on Iran have accomplished a lot but not everything.
In February, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) chiefs of staff endorsed the establishment of a regional force to combat terrorism and insecurity. The force falls within the framework of the ECOWAS Standby Force as provided for by the African Union (AU).

Announced in August 2025, the force was initially intended to comprise 260,000 troops with an estimated annual budget of $2.5 billion. However, the military chiefs opted for a counter-terrorism brigade of 1,650 soldiers to form the core of the force.

Benin, Cote dIvoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal reaffirmed their commitment to providing troops. Contingents will be stationed in their respective countries, ready for deployment.

ECOWAS has discussed the creation of a regional standby force since 2004. The bloc has sought a military instrument to replace the ECOWAS Monitoring Group, which intervened in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau in the 1990s and Cote dIvoire in the early 2000s.

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However, member states have lacked the resources, funding and political will to turn this ambition into reality. Several announcements in recent years regarding activating the standby force or creating a new counter-terrorism force have not materialised. For over a decade, this has exposed ECOWAS to criticism for its inaction in the face of terrorism and insecurity in the region.

The February decision signals the organisations desire to restore its credibility and check the spread of terrorism towards Gulf of Guinea countries, which risks plunging the region into widespread insecurity.

Creating a force is not the hardest part  the real challenge is making it operational and effective. To achieve this, ECOWAS needs to overcome the recurring issues of political will, financing and logistics.

Countries that have pledged contributions should make them available from the moment the force is constituted. These troops must be well equipped, trained and motivated to confront the asymmetric attacks of terrorist groups that are constantly innovating and adapting. That means experienced and responsive units are needed.

Above all, ECOWAS must secure predictable, sustained funding for its force. The principle of self-financing guarantees autonomy and will spare it the fate of the G5 Sahel Joint Force and Accra Initiative, which have been hampered by dependency on external partners.

Member states should commit to making regular financial contributions and strictly enforcing the levy and payment of the 0.5 per cent community tax on imports from outside the ECOWAS zone. This was recommended at the defence and finance ministers meeting in Abuja on 29 August 2025, and efforts to identify other innovative funding sources are ongoing.

ECOWAS could also seek support from the AU, which has a Peace Fund and a continental logistics base in Douala, Cameroon where unused military equipment belonging to the African Standby Force is stored.

Despite challenges in securing funding for AU peace operations in Somalia, ECOWAS should also explore United Nations support under Security Council Resolution 2719, which commits to financing 75 per cent of peace support operations conducted in Africa.

The ECOWAS force also faces the challenge of deploying its modest 1 650 troops across a vast area of operations. With contingents stationed in their respective countries, questions arise about the forces manoeuvrability against widely spread terrorist groups that move rapidly and cross borders. Pooling the logistical resources of the regions armies could, in time, facilitate rapid troop deployments to theatres where they are urgently needed.

The brigades concept of operations  which has not yet been made public  will define its principles of employment, rules of engagement and coordination mechanisms.

However, a fight against armed groups cannot be effective without cooperation from the three central Sahel countries, which remain the epicentre of terrorism that is spreading to coastal countries. Burkina Faso, Mali and Nigers military authorities  angered by the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS following their coups  withdrew from the organisation in January 2025 after forming the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

The need for collaboration to face a common, cross-border danger requires dialogue between ECOWAS and the AES to rebuild trust and establish a security cooperation framework that benefits all of West Africa.

ECOWAS must also structure its force to foster synergies with the recently created AES Unified Force. Operational coordination to jointly combat terrorism and transnational crime is imperative, and ECOWAS-AES negotiations must incorporate this objective.

As a first step, direct lines of communication must be restored between the general staffs of the two blocs. This will allow intelligence sharing and synchronisation of cross-border security operations to resume. The AU can serve as a neutral mediator to facilitate exchanges between the armies of ECOWAS and AES countries.

ECOWAS counter-terrorism brigade can be effective if it drives regional security coordination. But its impact will remain limited as long as the fragmentation between ECOWAS and the AES continues to weaken collective security initiatives in West Africa.

Hassane Kone, Senior Researcher, Regional Office for West Africa and the Sahel, Institute for Security Studies (ISS)

(This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish).
The Media and Publicity Committee of the 2026 National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has fixed Thursday for a media briefing on the convention.

The convention is scheduled from 27 to 28 March in Abuja.

The Co-chairman of the committee and Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Rabiu Ibrahim, in Abuja, on Tuesday.

He said this during the committee meeting on Tuesday.

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According to Mr Idris, the party will hold a world press conference on Thursday to unveil its plans and preparations for the upcoming convention.

As part of what we need to do, a major press conference will be held on Thursday to unveil the expectations of the party to Nigerians.

He called on members of the committee to work together in unity to ensure effective communication and successful delivery of the convention.

A lot of sacrifice is expected from all, in line with the partys vision for a united and disciplined approach to communicating to Nigerians, he said.

The minister reminded members that the APC must continue to uphold strong internal democratic values.

As party members, we must subject ourselves to a significant attribute of our president, Mr Idris said.

He said that the forthcoming convention represented an important milestone for the party as it continues to strengthen its internal structures and democratic processes.

Key stakeholders attended the committee meeting.

RRAD ALSO:Southeast APC set for zonal congress at Enugu Hotel Presidential

They include the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, and the Special Adviser to the President on Public Communication and Orientation, Sunday Dare.

Others were Spokesperson of the Senate, Yemi Adaramodu; and his House of Representatives counterpart, Akin Rotimi; and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, Tunde Rahman.

There was also the Vice Chairman of the Committee, Istifanus Gyang; Assistant Secretary, Mary Ikoku; Secretary 1, Abimbola Tooki, among others.

(NAN)
The senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has called on the federal government to urgently strengthen the operational capacity of the Nigerian military, following a fresh wave of deadly attacks in Borno State that exposed vulnerabilities in the countrys counter-insurgency efforts.

Mr Ndume made the call on Tuesday in Abuja while briefing journalists on the recent wave of attacks in parts of the state.

The lawmaker spoke after visiting Ngoshe and Pulka communities alongside Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum over the weekend.

The visit followed coordinated attacks reportedly carried out by Boko Haram fighters in collaboration with Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

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The attacks, which struck Ngoshe in Gwoza Local Government Area, left soldiers, the village head, and several residents dead, while an unspecified number of women and children were abducted.

Security sources indicate that Nigerian troops have since dislodged the insurgents from the affected communities after reinforcements were deployed.

Security concerns during Ramadan

Across northern Nigeria, at least six major attacks targeting military formations and rural communities have been recorded since the beginning of the Muslim holy month, according to reports from local authorities and media accounts.

The Ngoshe attack was one of the most devastating incidents as suspected terrorists launched a coordinated assault shortly after residents broke their fast last Wednesday.

The attackers reportedly overran a military base, killed several soldiers and community leaders, including the village head and abducted scores of women and children. The assault triggered panic, forcing hundreds of residents to flee overnight to nearby Pulka.

By the following morning, the scale of destruction had become evident, with large parts of the community razed and many families displaced, deepening the humanitarian crisis in Nigerias conflict-affected North-east.

Further attacks were also reported in Konduga, Marte, Jakana and Mainok between Thursday night and early Friday.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Nigerian Army conducted burials for soldiers killed in some of the attacks, although the exact casualty figures were not disclosed.

Federal intervention

Reacting to the developments, Mr Ndume expressed concern that troops deployed to the affected communities were initially outgunned by insurgents.

I am calling on the federal government to double its efforts in equipping the army with sophisticated arms and ammunition, he said.

I gathered that our soldiers lacked adequate ammunition and they ran away from Ngoshe and Pulka because the terrorists overwhelmed them. It was days after reinforcement that they regained the place.

He added that the destruction in the affected communities was near total. Nothing was left standing in Ngoshe and Pulka by the terrorists, he said.

Mr Ndume described his visit to Ngoshe as deeply troubling, noting that the scale of devastation defies easy description.

It has been brought down to ground zero. Thats what I have seen. The destruction is complete. There is nothing left standing except one small mosque, he said.

He commended Mr Zulum for visiting the affected communities and spending time with displaced residents in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, describing the gesture as significant for boosting morale.

The senator, however, stressed that the scale of destruction requires urgent federal intervention.

He urged the federal government to support the Borno State Government in rebuilding destroyed communities and providing immediate relief to displaced residents, many of whom, he said, are eager to return home despite the risks.

I have interacted with them, they are determined, some of them even refused to go into the cities, they want to go back home. Since they have that determination, the government must rebuild the place, he said.

Mr Ndume also disclosed plans to raise the issue at the National Assembly, signalling a possible motion in both chambers to push for urgent federal action.

READ ALSO: Borno governor warns of possible suicide attacks in Maiduguri during Eid

I will talk with my colleagues at the National Assembly, and we will collectively in both Houses, do a motion, but before then, we are expecting that the federal government will intervene, he said.

While commending the Nigerian Army for eventually reclaiming Ngoshe, he emphasised that sustained investment in military capacity would be critical to preventing future attacks and stabilising the region.
President Bola Tinubu has extolled Tunde Rahman, his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Special Duties, for his commitment to duty and loyalty over the years.

President Tinubu used the occasion of his longtime aides 60th birthday to shower encomiums on him for his many years of unflinching dedication to duty as his former Adviser on Media and now as a senior aide in the Presidency.

Specifically, President Tinubu noted that Rahman displayed strong leadership and an extraordinary work ethic throughout his service as adviser on Media, especially during the period leading up to the last presidential election, when Rahman played an active and prominent role as a political liaison and media strategist.

President Tinubu described Mr Rahman as a conscientious journalist and newspaper editor who applied himself to professionalism and used journalism to promote public good and social justice.

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I especially celebrate Tunde Rahman for his outstanding qualities on the celebration of his 60th birthday. He is a dedicated, humble and extraordinarily loyal personal aide who serves with utmost dedication.

I appreciate his contributions to our progressive ideals and promotion of good governance in our country. Tunde is a steadfast and reliable personal aide whose advice and suggestions are sincere and free of any hidden agenda.

On this diamond birthday celebration, my prayer for Tunde is that God should grant him good health, greater wisdom for greater service to our country and humanity, President Tinubu wrote.

Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President

(Information & Strategy)

March 24, 2026
The Finishing Church has announced the debut of The Present Truth (TPT) Conference, aimed at realigning the Church (body of Christ) with Gods current emphasis and restoring the centrality of Christ in doctrine and practice.

The churchs lead pastor, Olumide Fred Adetiba, in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday, said the two-day conference, themed The Present Reformation of the Church, will hold in Abuja from 27 to 28 March.

He said the event, which he will co-host with his wife, Kemi Fred-Adetiba, will feature a dynamic lineup of speakers, including Brendy Mba and Ben Atuluku.

Mr Adetiba stated that the conference will convene believers, leaders, and seekers in Abuja and across the globe for a transformative experience focused on realigning the Church with Gods current emphasis and restoring the centrality of Christ in doctrine and practice.

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According to him, the TPT Conference is a strategic platform designed to amplify the current move of God within the global Church, challenge prevailing paradigms that dilute biblical standards, and equip believers to live consecrated, purpose-driven lives aligned with divine intent.

Read the full statement:

The Present Truth Conference 2026 Debuts with a Call to Reformation

Abuja, Nigeria  March 2026

A new wave of spiritual alignment and awakening is set to take centre stage as The Present Truth Conference 2026, by The Finishing Church, launches its maiden edition under the compelling theme: The Present Reformation of the Church.

Scheduled to hold from March 27th to 29th, 2026, the conference will convene believers, leaders, and seekers in Abuja and across the globe for a transformative experience focused on realigning the Church with Gods current emphasis and restoring the centrality of Christ in doctrine and practice.

The conference will feature a dynamic lineup of speakers, including Engr. Brendy Mba, Ben Atuluku, and the hosts, Olumide Fred Adetiba and Kemi Fred-Adetiba (Lady Kemz), voices recognised for their clarity, conviction, and commitment to advancing spiritual truth in this generation.

Complementing the teaching sessions, attendees will experience powerful moments of worship led by anointed music ministers, including Moses Akoh, Vanessa Konny, and Teleos Worship, the worship expression of The Finishing Church.

Positioned as more than just another conference, The Present Truth Conference is a strategic platform designed to:

Amplify the current move of God within the global Church

Challenge prevailing paradigms that dilute biblical standards

Equip believers to live consecrated, purpose-driven lives aligned with divine intent

Participation is completely free. However, registration is mandatory to ensure a structured and seamless experience for all attendees.

Recognising the global relevance of its message, the conference will also be accessible virtually, enabling participants outside Abuja to join and engage fully from anywhere.

This inaugural edition signals the beginning of what is envisioned as a sustained movement, one that catalyses reformation, strengthens believers, and repositions the Church as a true reflection of Christ in these critical times.

Registration Details:

Interested participants are encouraged to register early to secure their access, either for physical attendance in Abuja or virtual participation.

Register here to attend virtually or onsite: https://snip.ng/TPTConference

About The Present Truth Conference

The Present Truth (TPT) Conference is a prophetic convergence, a strategic assembly of believers and ministry leaders who are committed to discerning, interpreting, and aligning with the current speaking of God in His Church. It is built on the conviction that God is not silent, and that His dealings with His people are progressive, intentional, and season-specific. TPT Conference is an annual convening hosted by The Finishing Church in Abuja.
Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State on Wednesday warned the 14 newly sworn-in political appointees not to see their appointments as an avenue for personal enrichment.

Speaking during the inauguration at the Lighthouse, Awka, Mr Soludo said the appointments were part of efforts to strengthen governance and expand the scope of service delivery across critical sectors.

According to him, the positions were not an opportunity to come and chop, but a call to selfless service, sacrifice and dedication to the people of the state.

Out of over nine million residents of Anambra, you were carefully vetted and selected to serve the collective interest of the people.

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This is not an appointment to come and chop, as the general mentality goes. You are being called to serve.

There will be sacrifices, risks and sleepless nights, because I will call you at midnight to get the job done, he said.

The governor urged the appointees to be guided by their oath of office and allegiance, noting that it should serve as a compass for their conduct in office.

He further charged them to collaborate, coordinate and deliver value in line with his administrations agenda.

The Governors spokesperson, Christian Aburime, told journalists that while the administrations first term focused on laying foundations, the second term would prioritise execution.

Mr Aburime pledged to strengthen media relations and ensure credible and transparent reporting of government activities.

The media is critical and has been supportive. I urge continued support for the government as we deepen transparency and accountability, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that those sworn in include Chiamaka Nnake as secretary to the Anambra State Government, Ngozi Iwouno as head of the civil service and Joachim Anetoh as principal secretary to the governor.

Others are Ben Nwankwo, the governors chief of staff; Frank-Collins Okafor, the chief of protocol; and Tobechukwu Nweke (SAN), the attorney-general.

Also sworn in were Christian Aburime as Mr Soludos chief press secretary; Vincent Okechi as deputy chief of staff, and Ngozi Okoye as deputy chief of protocol.

Similarly, Godwin Nnadozie was sworn in as the special adviser on medicals and pharmaceuticals, while Chinwe Okoli was appointed special adviser on innovation and business incubation as well as the chief executive officer of the Solution Innovation District.

Ebuka Nwankwo, a professor, was sworn in as special adviser on special projects and director, project evaluation and monitoring, while Ken Emeakayi assumed office as special adviser on community security.

(NAN)
Im going to be driving a little faster than usual because theres a wolf sighting a few miles down the road.

These were the first words uttered by our Eco Tour Adventures guide when we climbed into the vehicle for a half-day wildlife safari in Jackson Hole. He didnt know this, but Ive always dreamed of seeing a wolf. Ive spent time in dozens of national parks, and even took a wildlife bus tour in Alaska, but Id never seen a wolf in the wild. It had been sitting at the top of my bucket list for years.

We started our trip with a wolf sighting (Cloudveil Hotel)

I was traveling with my sister-in-law, a schoolteacher who took a few days off work for a girls' trip to Jackson Hole. We were staying at The Cloudveil, a hotel just steps away from the town square.

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But that morning, the only thing on our minds was the wolf.

We drove six miles from the hotel to a snowy field inside Grand Teton National Park. There, another guide was waiting with a telescope. We took turns peering through, as the two wolves shook their heads, stretched, and lay down. Just when I thought it couldnt get any better, they let out two haunting howls.

We experienced beautiful scenery on our wildlife safari (Tamara Gane)

It was our first morning in Jackson, and we couldnt imagine a better start.

Even the airport is spectacular

When we touched down, it was clear this wasnt going to be an ordinary vacation. Jackson Hole Airport is the sole commercial airport located inside a national park, and as the plane glided across the runway, the jagged white peaks of the Teton Range pierced bright blue skies.

We were greeted with complimentary mimosas at the airport (Tamara Gane)

Inside the terminal, we stepped beneath one of the regions signature antler arches to reach baggage claim, to find representatives from the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce were greeting arriving passengers with complimentary mimosas. It was a first for both of us, and we later learned its a common offering during ski season.

First impressions of The Cloudveil

A fireplace roars in The Cloudveil lobby (Ryan Sheets)

Im not someone who lingers in a hotel lobby after arrival. Im usually eager to check in and head straight to my room. But The Cloudveil has a way of slowing you down so you can take it all in.

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Natural materials ground the space, evoking their natural surroundings. At the far end of the room, a stone fireplace crackles while guests settle into low sofas with books, coffee, or a board game. Slender aspen trunks form quiet partitions near the entrance, creating intimate sitting areas, while a ten-foot boulder topped in leather anchors the front desk.

The Cloudveil has plenty of areas for work, relaxation, and conservations (Ryan Sheets)

Along the opposite wall, a three-story granite feature rises toward the guest rooms and rooftop patio, where gas fireplaces overlook the town. At the ends of the hallways, video displays feature seasonal footage of local wildlife, from bison to brown bears, teasing the wilderness waiting outside.

The location

Title (required)The Cloudveil is the only hotel on Jackson Town Square (Cloudveil Hotel)

The Cloudveil is the only hotel on Jackson Town Square. Since we were steps away from shops, restaurants, and attractions like the National Elk Refuge Visitor Center, we could come and go on a whim. The location allowed us to be spontaneous during our stay, since we didnt have to coordinate shuttles or Uber rides to shop, grab a drink, or walk to dinner.

Accommodations at The Cloudveil

Accommodations at The Cloudveil have a sense of place (Ryan Sheets)

Our room had two queen beds and a small seating nook with colorful pillows and a table that worked for everything from morning coffee to getting some work done or ordering room service. There was also a Nespresso machine, fluffy robes, a clothes steamer, and a big bathroom stocked with products from the local skincare brand Trilipiderm.

Many of the rooms have fireplaces (Ryan Sheets)

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The design leaned into a refined Western aesthetic, with wood-and-leather furniture, hardwood floors, a rug around the beds, and artwork by local artists on the walls. If you choose a different room or suite, accommodations might include fireplaces, sleeper sofas, soaking tubs, or private balconies, depending on what you book.

Standout amenities

The Cloudveil rooftop (The Cloudveil)

We loved our room, but the amenities really made the stay. Each guest hallway has a snack pantry restocked throughout the day with items like fruit leather, granola bars, chips, and trail mix, as well as complimentary drinks such as soda and mineral water. Theres also a water bottle filling station in each pantry for the keepsake reusable bottles waiting in your room.

The fitness center is fully equipped with Peloton bikes, Mirror workouts, weights, and treadmills, plus virtual classes if you want them. We had every intention of using it, but ended up spending most of our time outside and easily hit our step count exploring around town. In the evenings, we made our way to the year-round heated outdoor pool and hot tub to enjoy a soak in front of a glowing fireplace.

The outdoor pool and hot tub were the perfect place to relax after a day of activity (The Cloudveil)

The hotel also runs a complimentary guest shuttle to and from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort during ski season, along with year-round complimentary car service within a few miles of the property. A few extras stood out, too, like the Trilipiderm take-home amenity kit and free admission to the National Museum of Wildlife Art.

Dining in Jackson Hole

The Bistro bar (Ryan Sheets)

We started our mornings with fresh juices and breakfast at The Bistro on the ground floor of The Cloudveil. The restaurant is on the ground floor, and during dinner, select tables spill out into the lobby, allowing patrons to enjoy the ambiance.

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An open kitchen gives The Bistro a lively energy. The atmosphere is upscale, but still friendly and relaxed. Its the kind of place where you feel comfortable wearing hiking boots as you dine on an eclectic menu that includes local fish and game, French-inspired dishes, and a raw bar with tuna and oysters on the half shell.

The Bistro serves many French-inspired dishes such as escargo (The Cloudveil)

At breakfast, our favorites included strawberry Nutella crepes, housemade yogurt topped with coconut granola and fresh berries, and omelets with hatch cheese and bison sausage.

For dinner, we swooned over tuna tartare with avocado, shiitake, chili-garlic sauce, pickled ginger, tobiko, and crispy wontons before moving on to expertly prepared scallops with ginger-soy butter and a juicy pork chop with carrot spatzle, mustard cream sauce, and cherry-apricot mostarda.

Regional dishes, like fresh trout are popular at The Bistro (The Cloudveil)

We enjoyed The Bistro enough to book a reservation at The Kitchen, a few blocks away and part of the same restaurant group. Like The Bistro, The Kitchen has an upscale vibe, but we fit in just fine in our flannel shirts. The dishes are Asian-influenced American cuisine with bold, memorable flavors.

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Most plates are designed for sharing, so we ordered accordingly. The cured salmon, served with Thai chili coconut cream, garlic chili oil, and crunchy quinoa, was silky and rich, balanced by delicate pork dumplings. For mains, we settled on a Creekstone Farms KC strip steak and a 72-hour slow-roasted pork shank, both fork-tender and worth lingering over.

Things to do in the area

You don't have to go far to see wildlife in Jackson Hole (Thomas D Mangelsen)

Youll never lack for things to do in Jackson Hole, but if you need recommendations, reservations, or help booking activities, the hotels Pathfinders are there to help. During our stay, we saw wolves, bison, moose, elk, and big horn sheep on an Eco Tour Adventures wildlife tour, hopped on the shuttle to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort for lunch with views of the valley at Piste Mountain Bistro, and took advantage of the hotels car service and complimentary admission to the National Museum of Wildlife Art.

In winter, the hotel offers a free guest shuttle to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (Tamara Gane)

We also spent part of each day exploring downtown Jackson, where we clinked glasses at the iconic Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, snagged a new pair of Sorel boots at Eclectic Consignment, and made two trips to the overlook at the National Elk Refuge visitors center.

The outdoor sculpture trail at the National Museum of Wildlife Art overlooks the National Elk Refuge (Tamara Gane)

We also found plenty to do right there at The Cloudveil, which hosts a regular calendar of activities in the lobby, from live music to live raptor demonstrations.

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By the end of the trip, it wasnt just the wolf sighting that stayed with us. It was how seamlessly The Cloudveil became part of our Jackson Hole experience. It made everything feel close, walkable, and effortless. We cant wait to come back.

How to get the most bang for your buck

The Cloudveil is part of the Autograph Collection by Marriott. You can earn and redeem points during your stay, and elite status members may qualify for perks such as complimentary space-available upgrades. If you arent a Marriott Bonvoy member, you can create an account for free.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Constitution Review Committee has proposed 30 per cent representation for women, 20 per cent for youths, and inclusion of persons living with disabilities (PLWDs) within the partys structure.

This was contained in a report submitted to the National Chairman of ADC, David Mark, at the ADC national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the party inaugurated the committee in January.

The Chairman of the committee, Etigwe Uwa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said the report highlighted the committees work, innovation and key departures from the partys original constitutional framework.

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He noted that the committee focused on producing a document capable of addressing the persistent challenges in Nigerias political party system, beyond serving the party.

The chairman added that the committee sought public input, resulting in submissions from stakeholders, including party members, civil society groups, and international organisations.

All the memoranda received were carefully reviewed. Though not all recommendations were adopted, we ensured that the final draft reflected balanced consideration and practical constitutional improvements for the party.

The committee observed that many Nigerian parties lack ideological clarity, functioning mainly as power-seeking coalitions, and therefore we prioritise strengthening ideological foundations within the ADC framework, he said.

Mr Uwa further stated that the partys motto was changed to A united and flourishing Nigeria to emphasise national unity and holistic development beyond economic growth as central objectives of the ADC vision.

He emphasised that the disciplinary procedures were restructured, with state disciplinary and reconciliation committees replacing ward actions, to ensure fairness, reduce arbitrariness and promote internal conflict resolution within the party.

He commended the committee members for their dedication and commitment to completing the assignment.

Mr Mark, while receiving the report, described it as a major milestone reflecting commitment to strengthening the ADC institutionally.

Represented by the partys National Legal Adviser, Oserheimen Osunbor, Mr Mark commended the committees diligence and inclusiveness, emphasising that constitutional review was complex, requiring foresight.

He noted that the document defined the partys identity, structure and aspirations.

Mr Mark assured the committee that the recommendations would be carefully examined in line with fairness, justice and equity, stressing that discipline, loyalty and commitment remained essential beyond constitutional provisions.

While calling for unity and collective focus, he said Nigerians were seeking credible alternatives, adding that a strong, forward-looking constitution was vital for positioning ADC as a viable platform.

(NAN)
The father of Alex Iwobi has dismissed widespread reports claiming the Fulham FC midfielder was the victim of a violent burglary, describing the story as entirely false.

In a clarification shared by ex-Super Eagles media officer Colin Udoh, Chuka Iwobi refuted claims that his son was held at knifepoint during a raid at his residence.

I have just spoken to Chuka Iwobi, and he says there is absolutely no truth to reports that his son @alexiwobi was burgled, Udoh posted.

Quoting Iwobis father directly, he added: Alex is fine and there was absolutely no attempt to burgle his house. He left for Turkey this morning in preparation for the friendlies. Its so annoying that a person can actually spread such falsehood just for a few clicks. Ive been inundated by calls and enquiries from well wishers and have spent unnecessary time explaining that this is a made up story.

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The statement comes in response to earlier reports alleging that the Nigerian international was attacked at his home by armed burglars, who reportedly stole valuables including wristwatches, jewellery, mobile phones, a laptop, and large sums of cash.

Some accounts had claimed the total value of the stolen items could be as high as 500,000, while suggesting authorities had launched an investigation into the alleged incident.

However, the latest clarification from the players family effectively debunks the claims, confirming that no such incident occurred.

Iwobi, who has been a key figure for Fulham this season, has made 25 league appearances, contributing four goals and three assists as the club pushes for a European qualification spot.

The midfielder has now travelled to Turkey to link up for international friendlies, putting to rest concerns about his safety following the circulation of the false reports.
The police have arrested a 38-year-old man, Hamisu Abdullahi, after he allegedly shouted No water, no light during Governor Mohammed Bagos visit to Suleja, in an incident that has raised fresh concerns about civil liberties in Niger State.

The police spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the arrest, stating that the suspect was detained over alleged attempts to disrupt official activities during the governors Sallah visit.

One Hamisu Abdullahi, 38, of Suleja, was arrested and transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Minna for suspected thuggery and attempting to disrupt government activities during the Sallah visit, Mr Abiodun said, adding that the suspect was later granted bail while investigation continues.

The incident reportedly occurred shortly after Eid-el-Fitr prayers when Mr Abdullahi, an electrician and father of four, shouted the phrase at the emirs palace in Suleja during the governors visit.

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His brother, Haruna Abdullahi, said he was released after five days in detention.

There was a claim that the arrest was carried out on the orders of the governor, although this has not been independently verified.

The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Bologi Ibrahim, said he was not aware of the incident when contacted.

Pattern of arrests

The development comes amid growing scrutiny of the Niger State Government over what observers describe as a pattern of arrests and actions targeting dissenting voices, including journalists.

In February, police detained a Minna-based journalist, Ahmed Sakpe, following a petition linked to a report involving a government aide.

The police said the case involved allegations of defamation and cyberbullying and would be charged to court after investigation.

Earlier, in August 2025, the state government ordered the closure of Badeggi FM, accusing the station of airing content deemed critical of the administration. The decision drew criticism from media rights groups.

Other reported incidents include the questioning of journalists over published reports and alleged harassment of media practitioners during public events.

IPI raises alarm

The International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria has repeatedly raised concerns over what it describes as a disturbing pattern of hostility toward journalists and dissenting voices in the state.

In a recent statement, the organisation cited multiple incidents, including the alleged assault of an NTA reporter, Musa Mikail, during a Ramadan event in Bida.

I explained that we were not obstructing anyone and were simply doing our job. Despite this, he pushed me, and other security operatives attacked me and forced me out of the event, the journalist said.

IPI Nigeria said such actions reflect persistent attempts to suppress freedom of expression and silence journalists, noting that Governor Bago was listed in its Book of Infamy in 2025 over alleged press freedom violations.

The group has called on President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police to intervene and ensure accountability, stressing that a free press remains central to democratic governance.

Wider concerns

Analysts say the arrest of Mr Abdullahi over a public outcry about basic services such as electricity and water touches on broader questions about citizens rights to express grievances.

Niger State, like many parts of Nigeria, continues to face infrastructure challenges, with residents frequently complaining about power supply and access to potable water.

READ ALSO: IPI Nigeria urges IGP Tunji Disu to prioritise press freedom

For civil society observers, the convergence of such complaints with law enforcement action risks deepening perceptions of intolerance toward criticism.

While the police maintain that the arrest was based on public order concerns, the incident has added to an ongoing debate about the balance between security enforcement and fundamental rights in the state.
The police have confirmed that a violent clash between youth groups during the Sallah celebration in the Argungu Local Government Area of Kebbi State has resulted in multiple fatalities.

The police spokesperson in the state, Bashir Usman, in a statement late Tuesday, said the situation was brought under control following the swift intervention of security operatives in the affected areas.

The incident began on 23 March during the Sallah festivities in Alwasa village.

The confrontation between rival youth groups quickly escalated, leaving several other people with serious injuries.

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The Kebbi State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that the security situation in Alwasa Village, Argungu Local Government Area, is under control, following the prompt deployment of Police personnel and reinforcement teams who remain on ground overseeing security operations to maintain law and order and prevent any further breakdown of peace, Mr Usman stated.

One of the victims subsequently succumbed to his injuries on 24 March 2026 while receiving treatment at the General Hospital, Argungu, the spokesperson added.

The news of the youths death reportedly triggered a wave of reprisal attacks. While the police confirmed that these retaliatory actions led to additional fatalities, they did not provide a specific death toll.

However, residents have reported that at least three more people lost their lives in the ensuing violence.

Following this development, a reprisal attack occurred, leading to additional fatalities, the statement continued.

The Commissioner of Police, Umar Hadejia, has condemned the violence and ordered an investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The Command has since commenced a comprehensive investigation into the incident, and efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend all those involved. The Commissioner of Police, CP Umar M. Hadejia, while condemning the acts, warns that anyone found engaging in unlawful or violent conduct will be dealt with decisively.

Authorities in the state urged the public to remain law-abiding and to avoid vigilante justice and the dissemination of false information.

Residents are urged to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information, and refrain from taking the law into their hands. Further updates will be communicated as necessary, the spokesperson concluded.
Suspected bandits on Tuesday night attacked Rim village in the Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing two residents and injuring two others.

According to Sahara Reporters, the assailants stormed the village on Tuesday night, opening fire indiscriminately in an attack that lasted several minutes before they fled into nearby bushes.

Residents said the attack occurred around 10:30 p.m.

Two people were confirmed dead, while two others sustained injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

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The National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Movement (BYM), Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the incident.

He said, Gunmen stormed Rim Village around 10 p.m. on Tuesday night and opened fire sporadically. As of now, two people have been confirmed killed while two others sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital.

Mr Tengwong described the attack as part of a recurring pattern of violence in Riyom and surrounding communities, urging security agencies to intensify patrols and track down the perpetrators.

The latest attack comes barely 24 hours after the abduction of a retired pastor, Sunday Agang, in Jos North Local Government Area, further underscoring the deteriorating security situation in Plateau State.

The Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) confirmed the abduction on Tuesday, with its spokesperson, Dickson Auta, saying, Yes, its true. We got a report of the abduction.

READ ALSO: Plateau State University sanctions 76 students for examination malpractice

Sources said the gunmen invaded the pastors residence in the early hours of Tuesday, held his family hostage, and whisked him away to an unknown destination.

The church has since called for calm and prayers, noting a growing pattern of attacks targeting its members and clergy.

Riyom and several other parts of Plateau State have experienced repeated attacks in recent years, leading to deaths, injuries, and displacement, despite ongoing security operations.

As of the time of filing this report, efforts to reach the Plateau State Police Command proved unsuccessful, as calls to the Police Public Relations Officer were not answered.
Malaysia has expressed support for Pakistans offer to host dialogue between the US and Iran, describing the move as timely amid rising tensions in the Middle East. It also declared support for Irans right to defend its sovereignty.

In a post on X on Wednesday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim commended his Pakistani counterpart, Shehbaz Sharif, for stepping forward at a critical moment to facilitate diplomacy.

Mr Ibrahim said Pakistans standing in the Muslim world and its relations with the parties involved placed it in a strong position to help create conditions for meaningful negotiations.

He also acknowledged earlier mediation efforts by Oman and other countries, while noting that negotiations must be based on a genuine commitment to ending hostilities rather than temporarily dousing tensions.

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Malaysia supports this initiative and encourages, in particular, the United States and Iran to respond in the spirit in which it was offered. I note with cautious hope the signals, however incomplete, that suggest some space for diplomacy may still exist. That space should be treated with the seriousness it deserves.

The international community has seen too many ceasefires that function as pauses rather than conclusions. The region deserves something more durable.

Malaysia reaffirms Irans right to defend its sovereignty, as recognised under international law, particularly in the face of continued Israeli strikes in the country and in Lebanon. At the same time, we call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to ensure that civilian populations and the infrastructure of neighbouring states, namely the Gulf states, are not drawn further into a conflict they did not choose.

The Gulf states, the region and the world have much at stake  economically, socially and in terms of long-term stability  and their peoples must not bear the consequences of decisions taken elsewhere, he said.

Mr Ibrahim also criticised what he described as the uneven application of international law by some global actors.

According to him, the credibility of the rules-based international order depends on consistency and fairness. He cautioned against selective enforcement that protects some parties while denying others their right to self-defence.

International law cannot be invoked selectively. It cannot shield one party from accountability while denying another its inherent right to self-defence. Its credibility depends on consistency, he said.

In recent days, I have held discussions with leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Turkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan, and other partners to better understand the situation and to advocate for de-escalation.

Malaysia will continue to support every credible effort towards a just and lasting peace, he further noted.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday dismissed a suit challenging what it described as the exorbitant fees charged by political parties for their card-carrying members to vie for their tickets to run for public offices.

A human rights lawyer, Ejime Okolie, filed the suit last year ahead of the upcoming 2027 electioneering, suing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and 19 political parties in hopes convicing the court to reverse the nomination fees.

Mr Okolie argued that charging exorbitant fees for expression of interest (EoI) and nomination was a violation of the rights of card-carrying members of the parites who intend to to vie for political offices but cannot afford the costs.

Delivering judgement on Wednesday, the judge, Binta Nyako, dismissed the suit on the grounds that the issue falls squarely within the internal affairs of political parties, which the court cannot interfere with.

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She noted that while fees charged by parties may be high, they do not amount to a constitutional wrong.

The judge held that members are free to leave one party for another if dissatisfied with how a party conducts its affairs.

However, she lauded Mr Okolies efforts in bringing the suit, but stated that the application had failed to succeed.

She observed that all the parties were duly served with court documents, but only a few filed preliminary objections challenging Mr Okolies legal right to institute the suit.

The suit

Mr Okolie filed the suit on his own behalf and on behalf of citizens wishing to participate in the electoral process.

He asked the court to stop political parties from imposing fees that exclude qualified Nigerians from contesting in primaries.

He argued that the fees violated his fundamental rights to freedom of association under Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution and amounted to discrimination contrary to Section 42.

He named 19 political parties, including the All Progressive Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC), as respondents. The defendants also inlcuded the INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi.

He urged the court to direct INEC to issue binding guidelines regulating maximum thresholds for nomination fees and restrain parties from fixing fees that could exclude qualified candidates in the 2027 primaries.

He also sought an order that any relief granted operate prospectively to protect constitutional rights ahead of elections.

Lawyers to the parties while presenting their arguments, urged the court to dismiss the suit for lack of merit, while some also challenged Mr Okolies locus standi (legal right to sue on the subject matter) and the courts jurisdiction, noting that the suit concerned political parties internal affairs.

The AGF did not file any processes.

There was no legal representation for the APC, PDP and the Labour Party, among others.

However, the ADC, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Young Progressives Party (YPP), Accord, Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Action Peoples Party (APP), National Rescue Movement (NRC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) were represented in court by their lawyers. Some of those represented by lawyers submitted no written filing.

Reactions

After the judgement, Mr Okolie said he accepted the judgment in good faith, acknowledging the courts discretion to grant or refuse his application.

He added that appealing would be impractical as political activities had begun, which could render the case academic.

My interest is for democracy, for good governance, and I have done my best for my nation, he told journalists.

Also, the National Legal Adviser of the YPP, Uche-Levis Abonyi, described the judgement as sound. He said the matter constituted an internal affair of political parties.

He added that political parties rely on the expression of interest and nomination forms for funding and that democracy allows members to contest under other parties if they find fees prohibitive.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) unveiled two categories of voter education maunals in Abuja on Wednesday.

The documents, rolled out ahead of the 2027 electioneering, are an updated general voter education manual and a youth-friendly voter education manual.

INEC chairman, Joash Amupitan, noted that voter apathy in previous elections is a key driver of the production of the manuals.

Reading Mr Amupitans keynote address at the event, the chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC) at INEC, Mohammed Haruna, said: When citizens stay away from the ballot, they inadvertently surrender their power to a few.

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The INEC chairman attributed the low voter turnout to misinformation, doubt and lack of faith in the system. According to him, this can only be tackled by voter education.

Recent elections held in Abuja and Kano reflect the trend of voter apathy.

In February, PREMIUM TIMES observed low voter turnout in Ungogo and Kano Municipal constituencies. The bye-elections were organised to fill vacancies created by the death of two lawmakers last December: Aminu Saadu (Ungogo) and Sarki Aliyu (Kano Municipal).

Yet, electoral officers spent much of the morning waiting for voters. Similarly, the overall turnout in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council Elections was 14 per cent.

Mr Amupitan, who also addressed attendees at the unveiling, pointed out that since the return of Nigeria to democratic rule in 1999, voter apathy has increased steadily.

Since the return of civilian rule in 1999. Since then, voter turnout has been progressively decreasing from one electoral circle to the next, plunging from a high of over 60 per cent in 2003 to under 30% in the last General Election three years ago, he said.

Mr Amupitan said the issue can only be tackled through persistent voter education and continuous publicity, which, according to him, will help bridge the trust gap.

We are not just printing books; we are providing the democratic manual every Nigerian needs to protect their future from those who would buy it for a loaf of bread or for any other selfish consideration, he said.

Youth-friendly manual

He also stated that the youth-friendly voter education manual was to engage the youth in the democratic process of the country.

To our youth who make up the majority of our registered voters, this manual was designed for you. We recognise that the 21st-Century voter consumes information mostly through digital means and visual storytelling. We have adapted our tools to meet you where you are, transitioning from preaching at the youth to partnering with the youth. Your engagement is the primary driver of our democratic development.

He acknowledged the contribution of the KDI in ensuring the manuals were produced in alignment with the 2026 Electoral Act.

The INEC chairmans representative, Mr Haruna, alongside the Team Lead, KDI, Bukola Idowu; the Director, Civic Values and Democracy Education at the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Olukemi Afolayan; Director, Voter Education and Publicity from INEC, Victoria Eta-Messi, and other dignitaries, performed the ceremonial unveiling of the manuals.

Mr Haruna urged the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) through its Community Development Service (CDS) platform to use the youth-friendly voter education manual to train corps members to preach and spread the gospel of democracy in our schools, markets, neighbourhoods and among faith groups.

KDIs team lead, Mr Bukola, said it was necessary to update the voter education manual and ensure it is responsive, practical, and accessible, particularly to youths who represent a large population of the electorate.

He equally cited that both manuals were important, even as Nigeria stands at the precipice of the upcoming elections.

The manuals are a collaborative effort between the KDI, INEC, and NOA. The KDI is a civil society group whose interest revolves around credible elections.
Taken together, what we saw in the UK was Nigeria aligning her strengths with global opportunity; deliberately and with purpose. The visit was a focused negotiation, anchored on outcomes. It showed that when a nation puts its house in order and engages the world with clarity, the response is not just applause; it is capital, partnership, and opportunity.

As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Prime Minister Keir Starmer met at 10 Downing Street to discuss the future of our two countries, I felt a quiet but unmistakable sense of pride. What I witnessed was not the old posture of a junior partner seeking favour. It was two leaders and two teams engaging with clarity, confidence, and purpose. That tone had been set earlier at Windsor Castle, where the President was received by His Majesty King Charles III. The ceremony and pageantry spoke to the regard the United Kingdom holds for Nigeria and its leadership.

That regard was not always there, and it cannot be taken granted. For decades, Nigeria was regarded as a country of promise. That perception is shifting. Increasingly, we are being engaged as a country delivering measurable progress. That perception is shifting as the global economy is also changing. Rivalry, conflict, and shifting alliances are reshaping trade and investment. Capital is more selective, and countries are choosing their partners more deliberately. In this new environment, Nigeria is also acting deliberately. We are pursuing partnerships that are strategic and mutually beneficial; relationships in which both sides create value together.

That is what the UK State Visit was about.

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It was about working with a partner to deliver investment, growth, and jobs in the Nigerian economy. That is the standard; and that is exactly what this visit delivered.

One key outcome of this visit was the 746 million export finance agreement signed with the United Kingdom to fund the redevelopment of the Lagos Port Complex and Tin Can Island Port. Backed by UK Export Finance, this is a classic project finance structure in which the increased revenues generated by the upgraded ports are used to service and repay the loan.



We advanced financial inclusion by enabling Wise, the UK-based global payments platform, to expand its presence in Nigerias remittance ecosystem, lowering transfer costs and ensuring that more income earned abroad reaches Nigerian families. We secured commitments to enhance business mobility through streamlined UK visa and eVisa processes, reducing long-standing friction for Nigerian entrepreneurs and investors.

Today, clearing goods through our ports can take up to 18 days. With the upgrade, that timeline could fall to as little as five days.

That is transformational. It means cheaper goods for Nigerian households, as logistics costs fall across the value chain; and it makes it easier for farmers and local manufacturers to move their products to market and to export competitively. While port modernisation secures our trades backbone, we also concluded targeted agreements across industry, finance, and the digital economy.

We brought new manufacturing capacity into Nigeria through a 24 million investment by Associated British Foods; the first of its kind in Africa; creating jobs, deepening local value chains, and strengthening Made in Nigeria on scale.

We advanced financial inclusion by enabling Wise, the UK-based global payments platform, to expand its presence in Nigerias remittance ecosystem, lowering transfer costs and ensuring that more income earned abroad reaches Nigerian families. We secured commitments to enhance business mobility through streamlined UK visa and eVisa processes, reducing long-standing friction for Nigerian entrepreneurs and investors.

Nigeria is not only receiving capital; we are also deploying it. The expansion of Nigerian banks into the United Kingdom, including Zenith Banks growing footprint in Manchester, reflects Nigerias increasingly confident and globally competitive position.

But the real test is not what was said in the UK; it is what is delivered in Nigeria. It will be measured in days shaved off port clearing times; in prices that begin to ease in our markets; in jobs created across logistics, industry, and services; and in a growing sense that progress is tangible.

Beyond infrastructure and finance, our creative industries were also showcased during the state visit. The spotlight on Nigerian music, film, and art at Tate Modern signals our readiness for global investment. It opens doors for international partnerships, licensing, touring, and broader investment across the creative economy.

Finally, we signed agreements to strengthen cooperation on counter-terrorism, organised crime, and intelligence sharing, reinforcing our joint commitment to security as a foundation for growth. It reflects a simple truth: without security, sustained economic growth is not possible.

Taken together, what we saw in the UK was Nigeria aligning her strengths with global opportunity; deliberately and with purpose. The visit was a focused negotiation, anchored on outcomes. It showed that when a nation puts its house in order and engages the world with clarity, the response is not just applause; it is capital, partnership, and opportunity.

But the real test is not what was said in the UK; it is what is delivered in Nigeria. It will be measured in days shaved off port clearing times; in prices that begin to ease in our markets; in jobs created across logistics, industry, and services; and in a growing sense that progress is tangible.

The red carpet is not the achievement. The value to our economy is. I am proud to report that the President and his administration secured real, measurable value from this state visit.

Wale Edun is the honourable minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy.
It did not have to take the many women lost this year to force recognition. It did not have to take a festival turning into a site of mass sexual assault. It does not have to take another girl being cornered, silenced, or dismissed. Nigeria does not lack laws; it lacks consistency in enforcement, alignment between awareness and action, and a refusal to tolerate violence against the girl child. Are Nigerians, as a society, willing to confront what made the violence in Ozoro possible, and is there a readiness to dismantle it before we are named the rape capital of the world?

The Nigerian society has failed both the male and female child. Women and girls in Ozoro, Delta State, were recently groped, surrounded, and violated in broad daylight by crowds of laughing men. More than 500 womens groups have demanded arrests; the Nigerian Bar Association has issued statements; yet the response to this is still being debated and diluted.

The mass assault was coordinated enough to feel permitted, and that raises the harder question: How many incidents of violent assault against women do we have to experience before we see it as a failure that Nigeria has refused to confront? A societal, cultural, and institutional failure. What kind of society produces men who view women in public spaces as being available for violation, and what kind of system allows them to act on that belief without fear of consequence?

The majority of Nigerian men are shaped in environments where misconduct is normalised, excused and, at times, rewarded. Boys grow up watching older men behave without consequence. They see silence, approval, laughter, and, over time, interpret that absence of consequence as permission. They observe, then they participate. That is how a crowd forms, and that is how a festival becomes a site of assault.

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The girl child in Nigeria is conditioned early on how to avoid harm, told what to wear, where to go, and how to behave, through repeated instructions such as Why did you enter that house? Why are you dressed like that? Cover yourself. Why were you laughing with him? These shape her behaviour, movement, speech, and posture from an early age. The boy child, however, is not subjected to the same discipline. He is not told that his behaviour can be a threat or that his language carries consequences. He is not corrected early enough when he crosses lines, that is, if it happens at all. The issue is not that girls are warned, but that there is an absence of equal responsibility for boys. That imbalance grows quietly until it becomes visible in public, in crowds.

It shows up in the policeman who rapes a teenager inside a station meant to protect her; in men jailed for assaulting their own daughters; in the trader in Idumota, Lagos, who gropes you in a crowded market because he knows nothing will happen; in the man on the bus who exposes his penis without fear; in the street boys who shout ashawo when you reject them; in the teenagers who laugh and comment on your body as you walk past because they expect silence; and in the old man who corners a girl and squeezes her breasts, as if her body is public property.

The culture continues in language. On Nigerian social media, women are reduced to parts and slurs with casual ease. Words and phrases like fishy obough, toto wey don gbim, ashawo, are repeated so freely that they begin to feel normal. They are framed as humour, yet language shapes behaviour, and over time, it becomes instruction, teaching boys that women can be described, reduced, and consumed before anything else happens. When that language goes unchallenged, entitlement becomes permitted.

Again, what happened in Ozoro is a culture built over years of unchecked language, tolerated behaviour, and selective outrage, where institutional response deepens the problem. We can see that clearly in the response when women decide to speak about violence, the conversation shifts almost immediately to centre the discomfort of men. Not all men, where the good men redirect the conversation away from what was done to women and toward how women describe it, allowing men who are not perpetrators to present themselves as unfairly targeted.

The discussion moves from violence to vocabulary, tone, language, feminist rhetoric, and a debate about how women choose to speak. Why dont you go practice your feminism elsewhere? as though local violence must compete with global extremes to be taken seriously. Other men will move away from the conversation entirely, as if silence reduces the weight of the issue. The response to Ozoro did follow this exact pattern, and even institutions meant to uphold accountability were not exempt. I asked a question about sexual violence in Ozoro, and a police spokesperson responded with a sexual remark, choosing, in the middle of a discussion about violence, to sexualise the woman who was raising the concern.

Some men immediately moved to defend it, pulling out the dictionary meanings of turn on, as though the issue was semantics. The effort was to dilute the misconduct and make the woman the problem for making a fuss.

This is how normalisation works. What women are discouraged from challenging becomes absorbed into culture, if we have a public willing to rationalise it. This is how cultures of violence sustain themselves, shaping how cases are handled and whether perpetrators are held accountable. When misconduct is softened in speech, it is seldom addressed in practice.

Nigeria already contends with sexual violence on a significant scale, with cases of rape emerging regularly across states, often followed by delayed investigations, weak prosecutions, or quiet settlements. One in every three Nigerian women has experienced sexual or physical violence by the age of 15, and these statistics are even outdated. Child marriage continues in parts of the country, while young girls grow up in systems that fail to protect them, often ending up sex-trafficked across borders. It is also a country where women are beaten, subjected to control, and, in too many cases, killed by men who believe they are entitled to power over women. The tendency to scrutinise the victim before confronting the perpetrator is part of the same culture that allows abuse to continue.

Ozoro demands attention because it is familiar to Nigerian women, and Nigerian systems must respond to it. No tradition justifies assault, and the fact that this must still be stated points to a deeper issue sustained by the lack of consequences. The question is no longer whether Nigeria has a rape culture: that is already established. The question is whether anything interrupts it, and that interruption must begin socially.

Stop the joke when it crosses the line. Stop your friend when he crosses the line. Stop the language when it reduces women. Refuse to laugh, refuse to normalise, refuse to participate. Call out harmful behaviour immediately. Protest when men feel entitled to womens bodies. Teach boys that boundaries are not negotiable, because culture only changes when tolerance ends.

To be honest, women cannot dismantle this alone. We can name, resist, and sometimes survive it, but the system that sustains this culture depends on those who benefit from it to intervene. It requires MEN. The good men must move beyond rhetoric, because saying not all men is not intervention and does not interrupt harm. What matters is action, in public and in private, in real time and in everyday moments where harm is allowed to pass unchecked. This work should not wait until it becomes personal; it should begin now, with the willingness to make discomfort visible.

It did not have to take the many women lost this year to force recognition. It did not have to take a festival turning into a site of mass sexual assault. It does not have to take another girl being cornered, silenced, or dismissed. Nigeria does not lack laws; it lacks consistency in enforcement, alignment between awareness and action, and a refusal to tolerate violence against the girl child. Are Nigerians, as a society, willing to confront what made the violence in Ozoro possible, and is there a readiness to dismantle it before we are named the rape capital of the world?

Because until something changes, the next Ozoro is already forming, and the conditions that enable men to harm without consequence remain firmly in place.

Rinu Oduala is a youth activist and executive director, Marigold RO.
At the same time, parties that aspire to higher standards must weigh the balance carefully. In a country where citizens routinely express cynicism about elite accountability, gestures that appear to prioritise loyalty or familiarity over pristine optics can fuel skepticism. The APCs leadership, under President Tinubu, has spoken often of reforming governance and rebuilding faith in institutions. Credibility in that project depends, in part, on demonstrating that internal decisions align with the rhetoric of renewal.

It is highly unfortunate that it has become normalised in this clime how political office holders with a baggage of allegations surrounding their previous roles in public office, still go ahead to become entrusted with very prominent and decisive roles, when earlier allegations or even indictments were not subsequently cleared. Almost every other notable politician appear to have one case of sleaze or infraction against, but unlike in more accountable climes where such prevents their further participation in public office, until the allegations are cleared, the reverse appears to be the case in Nigeria. The more the claims of impropriety, the larger the public roles they are entrusted with, going forward.

For instance, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) gears up for its 2026 national convention, the partys choice of former Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda to serve as secretary of the Aspirants Screening Committee has ignited fresh conversations among political watchers. In an era in which President Bola Tinubus administration and the APC frequently emphasise institutional strengthening, internal democracy, and renewed public confidence, this appointment invites legitimate scrutiny about optics, consistency, and the signals sent to ordinary Nigerians.

Yuguda, who governed Bauchi from 2007 to 2015, certainly brings decades of experience in public service, including a prior stint as a federal minister. Supporters highlight his political pedigree and argue that his involvement reflects the partys willingness to tap seasoned hands for delicate internal processes. The screening exercise, which began this week at Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, is a critical step toward ensuring that only qualified aspirants for National Working Committee positions advance  undoubtedly an important housekeeping task ahead of the convention.

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Yet, the decision has also prompted critics to ask whether the APC risks undermining its reformist narrative by elevating figures whose public record has long been accompanied by controversy, which have not been resolved. A number of this type of concern has the potential to sully the reputation of the party. For instance, during and after Yugudas governorship, multiple reports surfaced regarding financial management in Bauchi State. These included claims of large-scale contract irregularities running into hundreds of billions of naira, as well as probes by anti-graft agencies. In 2017, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) obtained an interim forfeiture order on a property linked to him in Bauchi, citing ongoing investigations into alleged abuse of office, diversion of funds, and money laundering. While many of these matters did not result in final criminal convictionsand a Federal High Court later quashed a state-level indictment related to alleged 321 billion in unaccounted fundsthe volume and persistence of public discourse around them remain noteworthy.

Separately, Yugudas former personal aide, Sanusi Mohammed Isa, faced a high-profile ICPC case involving the seizure of approximately 220 residential flats valued at around 1.85 billion, along with other assets. The aide was eventually discharged and acquitted by a Bauchi State High Court in 2022, but the ICPC signaled its intention to appeal this judgement, keeping questions about accountability alive in the public mind.

More recently, during his tenure as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Yuguda drew criticism from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The union accused him of making remarks perceived as dismissive toward professors and threatening university autonomy in the context of debates over institutional policies. Calls for his resignation or apology followed, adding another layer to debates about his administrative style.

In politics, especially within a ruling party positioning itself as an agent of change, appointments to sensitive committees carry symbolic weight. The APC has invested considerable effort in projecting discipline, transparency, and a break from past governance shortcomings. When individuals whose names have been repeatedly linked  fairly or otherwise  to questions of fiscal propriety are given prominent roles in vetting others for leadership positions, it naturally raises eyebrows. Perception is not everything in public life, but it is a powerful force that can either reinforce or erode trust.

This is not to suggest that unproven or unresolved allegations should permanently disqualify capable Nigerians from contributing to national or party affairs. Our legal system rightly presumes innocence until proven otherwise, and  as mentioned  many politicians across parties have navigated similar clouds of inquiry, without ultimate conviction. Experience and institutional memory also matter; excluding every figure with a contested past could leave the political class dangerously thin.

At the same time, parties that aspire to higher standards must weigh the balance carefully. In a country where citizens routinely express cynicism about elite accountability, gestures that appear to prioritise loyalty or familiarity over pristine optics can fuel skepticism. The APCs leadership, under President Tinubu, has spoken often of reforming governance and rebuilding faith in institutions. Credibility in that project depends, in part, on demonstrating that internal decisions align with the rhetoric of renewal.

Ultimately, the success or failure of Yugudas role in the screening process will be judged by outcomes: Was the exercise transparent, fair, and merit-based? Did it strengthen the partys internal democracy? Nigerians will be watching  not just for procedural efficiency, but for whether the APC walks the talk of reform when it matters most within its own ranks.

Politics is rarely black and white. Appointments like this test whether a party can reconcile pragmatism with principle. For the APC, navigating this tension successfully could bolster its claim to be the standard-bearer of progressive governance; mishandling the optics could deepen the very credibility gap it seeks to close. The coming days and the convention itself will offer clearer indications of which path the party is choosing.

Iliya Yusuf writes from Abuja.
On 16th January, Africas foremost brand strategist, Thebe Ikalafeng, was appointed for a five-year tenure as the Chancellor of Sol Plaatje University. His appointment as Chancellor of the university marks the beginning of a new era, not just for the institution but also a significant moment for the intellectual and cultural communities of Africa. His appointment, which took effect from 16 January, marks a new turning point in an era characterised by a figure with intellectual strength, strategy, and a burning commitment to advancing Africas global image, being called to serve. Ikalafeng is an outstanding choice for a South African university situated in Kimberly and named after one of the continents intellectual pioneers. His appointment is a symbolic one that represents the University communitys wish to ensure the excellent culture the institution stands for. Our leader now carries a collective burden!

The Burden of the Baobab Crown

Thebe

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You did not inherit silence

You inherited drums.

Not the timid tapping of distant memory,

But the thunder of ancestors

who speak in the language of fire and earth.

You sit where storms gather.

Not merely a chair

but a carved stool of centuries,

polished by the sweat of those

Who ruled with wisdom?

and those who ruled with ruin.

You must remember both.

O bearer of the baobab crown,

Your shadow stretches beyond your name.

Children unborn

will drink from the river you shape today.

Will it be bitter with neglect,

Or sweet with justice?

The land is watching.

The soil remembers everything.

Do not be deceived by applause

It fades like harmattan dust in the wind.

Listen instead

to the quiet cry of the market woman,

to the cracked voice of the farmer

whose hoe knows more truth than speeches.

Power is not in the shouting

It is in the listening.

You walk a narrow path:

between lion and lamb,

between wealth and want,

between the seduction of self

and the discipline of service.

Choose carefully

For history is an unforgiving griot.

Let your words carry ase,

not emptiness.

Let your decisions be like iroko

deep-rooted, unshaken by passing winds.

For leadership is not a throne

It is a covenant.

And when your days are counted,

When the drums call your name

into the long corridor of ancestors,

may they say:

Here walked one who did not eat alone,

who turned power into shelter,

who remembered that the crown is not for the head

But for the people.

Stand firm,

O child of Africa

for the future leans

upon your breath.

In modern universities, appointments of Chancellors symbolise more than mere ceremonial duties. Chancellorship choices represent the very values, aspirations, vision, and excellent culture the institution hopes to embody. It is no surprise that the Sol Plaatje University has chosen an individual with a refined blend of global corporate experience, cultural advocacy, and intellectual engagement for this position.

Ikalafeng is highly respected amongst Africas leading brand thinkers. He has been at the forefront of driving the notion that Africas future will be determined not just by its GDP but also by the strength of its stories. He envisions an Africa that owns, creates, and tells its own stories; A vision he is actualising as the founder of Brand Africa and the Brand Leadership Group. Advocating for why and how Africa must take charge of telling its own story organically from within, through indigenous thoughts, cultural pride, and positioning in the global arena. His ideology towards a brand-led African renaissance has since impacted policy and business strategies with governments, multinationals, and institutions continent-wide.

To one oblivious of him, Ikalafeng might pass for another business tycoon who has brains across the country doing his bidding while he moves with little or no action. However, that would be a myopic narrative, considering the intellectual weight of his personality. He has a wide professional reach with a blend of indigenous and international outlook. Early in his career, he worked as an associate with Colgate-Palmolive in New York, where he became exposed to the dynamics of international markets and brand management at the highest levels. This experience was the foundation for his work across Africa on profitable brand strategies for corporations and national institutions.

Ikalafengs impact extends beyond his time as Chief Marketing Officer for Nike Africa. During his time at Nike, international brands were looking to increase their foothold in African markets. The role was pivotal for a brand strategist such as Ikalafeng. He played a key role in ensuring Nike maintained a stronghold throughout Africa. In this position as Chief Marketing Officer for a brand such as Nike, Ikalafeng was able to pose larger questions about how Africa positions itself economically and how its culture is portrayed in markets worldwide.

Beyond corporate leadership, Ikalafeng is considered one of Africas most prominent thought leaders on identity, culture, and reputation. He is an author, a speaker, and a strategist who has dedicated time, effort, and intellectual resources to exploring how Africas global influence can be redefined. His books, such as The Traveller: Crossing Borders and Connecting Africa and Rooted & Rising: Reclaiming Our Culture and Redefining Our Global Influence, at different points, examine the interplays of culture, leadership, and economic transformation within the continent. Through his intellectual works, Ikalafeng invites his audience to acknowledge and reconsider Africas heritage as its foundation for contemporary progress.

Remarkably, Ikalafeng has an enviable global reach. He has spoken in more than twenty-five countries, delivering lectures at some of the worlds most respected academic institutions like Harvard Business School, University of Cambridge, and New York University, where he demonstrated a rich and empowered understanding of Africas strength and potential.

As a celebrated excellence, Ikalafeng has been commendably recognised and honoured naturally. He has been listed among the 100 Most Influential Africans by New African Magazine and among the 100 Most Reputable Africans by the Global Reputation Forum. Yet, close observers testified that these are just fractions of his broader impact. He is well known to connect Africas intellectual heritage with its economic future in every instance.

The connection he draws between these entities makes his appointment particularly meaningful for Sol Plaatje University. The university was founded with a vision of expanding access to higher education, while building a research culture and scholarship qualities that recognize challenges and opportunities in Africa.

In many ways, Ikalafengs career aligns well with the Universitys vision. His work across boards has consistently bridged the worlds of corporate leadership and cultural advocacy, global strategy and African identity, intellectual reflection and practical innovation. As Chancellor, he would definitely bring to the table the same ideals that informed his actions and engagement.

Ikalafengs deep connection with his people is passionate. He has traveled to more than 125 countries and has been to every nation on the African continent due to his lifelong curiosity about cultures, societies, and ideas. It also gives him the blend of diversity and creativity that represents some of Africas greatest strengths.

This school of global experience positions him uniquely to serve effectively as an ambassador for Sol Plaatje University on the international stage. Ikalafengs appointment is timely for the university, particularly at a time when universities not only compete for students but also for intellectual influence and partnerships. The symbolic role of a chancellor no doubt carries more significant weight than can potentially draw in friends of the community. His influence as a strategist and thought leader adds more credence to the universitys voice in global discussions and conversations on education, innovation, and Africas future.

Ikalafeng is an example of a leader grounded in vision. All through his career, he has been known to consistently challenge Africans to embrace and pursue the power of self-narratives. His message has remained remarkably consistent and singular. The goal: that Africa must define itself through the strength of its culture, creativity, and intellectual capital, and not external perspectives.

This philosophy carries profound significance for students of Sol Plaatje University. A university environment is not just a place of learning. It is an environment where ideas are questioned and formed, identities shaped, and future leaders emerge. For an institution with these roles, having a chancellor whose career embodies these ideals offers a powerful source of inspiration.

His appointment is not only an acknowledgement of his personal past achievements. It signifies a strategic alignment between the university and an individual with tangible resources at his disposal to accelerate the ambitions of the University. As Thebe Ikalafeng settles into his role as Chancellor of Sol Plaatje University, he steps into big shoes that were once dreamt up by the vision of the universitys namesake, Sol Plaatje. A pair of shoes that bridge the gap between the past, our identity, and our future. In this regard, Ikalafengs appointment is certainly timely, reflective of a mutual dedication to intellectual leadership, cultural pride, and belief in the power of a genuine and visionary African story to motivate and inspire the continent and beyond.

The baobab crown fits well on your head!

Toyin Falola, a professor of History, University Distinguished Teaching Professor, and Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at The University of Texas at Austin, is the Bobapitan of Ibadanland.
The Ogun State Government has dismissed claims circulating online about the strength of evidence in the case against Abass Olalekan, a Local Government Inspector (LGI) with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Abeokuta South.

Mr Olalekan was arraigned on 23 March 2026 before Magistrate Court 1 in Isabo, Abeokuta, on a two-count charge. He was subsequently granted bail, a decision the government says has been widely misinterpreted in public commentary.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), clarified that the grant of bail was based solely on the bailable nature of the charges and does not reflect the strength or quality of the evidence.

The Attorney-Generals office also confirmed that it has taken over the prosecution of the case after receiving the case file from the State Police Command.

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According to the statement, the charges are based on findings from a police investigation alleging that Mr Olalekan was in a relationship with the deceased, Victoria Olapeju Ariyo, who was reportedly pregnant at the time of her death.

The investigation further alleges that he encouraged the termination of the pregnancy, recommended an individual to carry out the procedure, and provided financial support for it. The deceased was said to have died following the procedure.

The government described claims questioning the credibility of evidence and suggesting missing witnesses as false and misleading, emphasizing that the case remains at a preliminary stage.

It stressed that issues relating to evidence would be determined during trial and warned against speculation that could undermine confidence in the judicial process.

The Attorney-General urged the public and media to allow the court process to run its course and to disregard unverified information circulating about the case.

Mr Olalekan, was on Monday arraigned before the Magistrate Court at Isabo, Abeokuta, on two counts of conspiracy and unlawful procurement of abortion for one Victoria Ariyo, a corper serving in the state until her death last Tuesday, allegedly due to complications from abortion procedures.

Mr Olalekan, who was alleged to have been in a romantic relationship with Ms Ariyo, was said to have been picked up by the police after the untimely death of the corper.

The NYSC official, while appearing before the presiding Magistrate, A K Araba, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges being pressed against him

The defendants counsel, Elizabeth Adelabu, filed for bail on behalf of the accused, stating that the alleged charges are bailable.

Araba granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum, saying that one of the sureties must be a blood relative, while the other must be gainfully employed.
The Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, led 10 governors, including the party chairman, to formally welcome Governor Dauda Lawal to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Vice President welcomed the governor, assembly members, cabinet members, and thousands of supporters to the APC during a grand reception on Tuesday at the Trade Fair Complex in Gusau.

A statement by the governors spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, revealed that the Vice President arrived at the newly constructed Gusau International Airport.

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The statement added that the governors who graced the occasion include those of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi, Abba Kabir Yusuf (Kano), Uba Sani (Kaduna), Caleb Muftwang (Plateau), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Ahmad Aliyu (Sokoto), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Dikko Radda (Katsina), Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe) and Hope Uzodinma (Imo).

Also in attendance were the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajuddeen Abbas, the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, ministers, party chieftains, and other dignitaries.

In his speech, the Vice President said the end of insecurity in Nigeria was in sight, as President Tinubu was working hard to ensure that peace is sustained across the country.

He prayed for greater unity, progress, and peaceful coexistence under the Tinubu administration, assuring that the President is doing all he can to secure lives and property across the nation.

We pray for more unity and progress under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu because as our leader is working very hard to ensure the safety of lives and property across Nigeria, he said.

He said the security challenges in Zamfara State and other troubled states would be addressed, adding that Governor Lawals entry into the APC would help achieve that.

Mr Shettima said opposition parties like the ADC, PDP, and others will not thrive in Zamfara State because all major politicians in the state are knitted together.

He expressed full support for Governor Lawal, applauding the people of the state for their support for their governor and the APC.

Also, Chairman of the APC Progressive Governors Forum, Mr Uzodimma, said governors elected on the APC platform were happy to welcome Governor Lawal into their fold.

It is a win-win situation for Zamfara. APC is a moving train, and we are happy that the State has joined that train. All governors of APC will support Governor Lawal to do more for this State, he said.

In his speech, Governor Lawal assured party leaders and supporters of his commitment to ensuring fairness and justice for everyone. He also pledged to continue working diligently for the people of Zamfara State.

Three former governors of Zamfara State, including Abdulaziz Yari, Muhammad Bello Matawalle, and Mahmuda Shinkafi, attended the event. They offered their full support and agreed to work with Governor Lawal.
Three people have been killed and several others injured in a violent clash in the Maraba Gurku community of the Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

The incident, which occurred around 9 a.m. in the Aso A area of the community on Wednesday, reportedly began as a dispute between a mobile police officer and a herder.

According to a source who asked not to be named for security reasons, the herder had allegedly led his cattle into the officers compound and began cutting down a mango tree to feed the animals.

A confrontation ensued between them during which the officer drew his firearm and shot dead the trespasser.

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Following the shooting, the deceased herders associates reportedly mobilised about 50 colleagues to the scene and set the officers residence ablaze.

A neighbour who arrived at the scene was reportedly shot dead during the reprisal attack.

We started hearing shouts and gunshots in the neighborhood, a local resident who requested anonymity told PREMIUM TIMES.

We rushed out and discovered that a group of herders had invaded the mobile policemans residence.

Police confirmation

The Police Public Relations Officer for the Nasarawa Command, Ramhan Nansel, confirmed the incident to PREMIUM TIMES via telephone from Lafia.

The fact of the case is that information was received regarding a corpse of a Fulani man lying somewhere, Mr Nansel said.

Investigations revealed that an attempt was made to cut down a mango tree, and a vigilante member fired the shot that killed the individual, he stated.

He said the vigilante member has been arrested.

When reinforcement came from the military, there were further casualties. There was an encounter between the soldiers and the herders where two more people were fatally injured. They were rushed to the hospital where they were confirmed dead, he said.

The families of the deceased have been contacted, and we are mediating with the community to avoid further reprisal attacks, the police spokesperson added.

He said the commissioner of police had deployed additional security to the area, adding that normalcy has been restored to the community while investigation was ongoing.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has relocated its orientation camps in several states, including Kwara and Kaduna, citing ongoing security threats and a commitment to protecting corps members.

The move aligns with prior appeals from parents and education stakeholders who had raised concerns about placing graduates in high-risk rural areas.

In a statement issued to media outlets, the NYSC noted that corps members posted to volatile regions are provided with adequate protection, including military escorts.

The statement, which addressed a recent controversial article alleging negligence and fictitious ransom clauses, stressed that these claims were inaccurate and misrepresented the schemes operations.

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For the avoidance of doubt, the National Youth Service Corps categorically states that there is no provision whatsoever for any ransom clause in the NYSC Act, Bye-laws, or any official publication of the Scheme, the management said.

The NYSC also clarified a case cited in the report involving Musa Usman, also known as Abba, stressing that he is not a serving corps member, having completed his service in 2023.

Any attempt to link his situation to the NYSC is therefore inaccurate and a misrepresentation of facts, the statement added.

Highlighting its commitment to corps members welfare, the NYSC noted its partnership with Capital Express Assurance Limited, providing life insurance coverage for all members, which extends up to three weeks after service completion.

In addition, the scheme disclosed that over the last five years, it has spent more than N500 million on urgent medical interventions for corps members nationwide.

The relocation of camps comes amid heightened anxiety among prospective corps members and their families as the 2026 Batch A (Stream 1) orientation exercise commenced.

Reports from states such as Zamfara, Kaduna, Borno, Yobe, Plateau, and Katsina highlighted the challenges of travelling to areas prone to bandit attacks, kidnappings, and bomb threats.

Parents, under the aegis of the Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria (PTA), have consistently called for camps in rural, high-risk areas to be moved to safer urban locations.

In September 2025, the PTAs national president, Haruna Danjuma, commended the Kwara State Governments decision to relocate the NYSC camp from Yikpata in Edu Local Government Area to the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin.

He described it as a show of concern over our children and urged other state governments to take similar precautions. Relocate the NYSC camps, especially those situated in rural areas perceived as insecure.

The governors should respect the lives of corps members and protect them as much as they can, he said.

Interviews with corps members deployed to high-risk states, who requested anonymity, revealed widespread fear and cautious behaviour.

A Microbiology graduate posted to Zamfara recounted a 28-hour journey, including overnight stays in villages along the route, expressing anxiety over potential bandit attacks despite visible security presence.

Similarly, a corps member posted from Lagos to Kaduna said she initially feared for her safety but felt reassured upon arrival at the camp, citing the visible presence of military and police personnel.

State NYSC coordinators confirmed that security measures had been reinforced in all relocated camps.

In Kaduna, the temporary orientation camp at Government College, Kurmi Marshi, hosts corps members with close monitoring by police, military, and paramilitary personnel, following previous incidents near Sabon Gaya.

Kwaras NYSC coordinator, Onifade Joshua, confirmed that relocation to Ilorin was informed by persistent banditry and security reports from Yikpata and surrounding areas.

We are fully prepared to host the orientation course, and the welfare of corps members will be safeguarded. Security agencies have been deployed to guarantee safety throughout the orientation exercise, he said.

Public affairs analysts have called on both federal and state authorities to continuously review camp locations in volatile areas and enhance security for future exercises.

There is nothing stopping the government from providing temporary camps rather than exposing corps members to unnecessary risks, said Waheed Bello, based in Ilorin.

The NYSC reaffirmed that the relocations form part of a broader strategy to safeguard corps members and camp officials.

In line with its duty of care, the Scheme has taken decisive steps to relocate orientation camps in states such as Kebbi, Kaduna, Kwara, Borno, Gombe, and Plateau to safer locations, the management said.

The scheme also warned against misinformation, urging the media and public to verify reports before dissemination.

The relocation of camps in Kwara and Kaduna, parents endorsements, and reinforced security measures reflect a coordinated effort to prioritize the safety and welfare of corps members while maintaining the NYSCs role in national unity and youth development.
The legal team of Nasir El-Rufai has objected to the appointment of the judge hearing his trial by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for alleged corruption.

The defence argued that a conflict of interest may occur because a petition previously filed by the former governor of Kaduna State against the judge is currently pending before the National Judicial Council (NJC).



The ICPC arraigned Mr El-Rufai and one Joel Adoga before the Federal High Court in Kaduna on Tuesday.

The former governor faces charges of inflated severance pay and fraudulent dollar-denominated cash deposits made into his bank accounts over several years.

The court session was held under heavy security. Access to the courtroom was strictly restricted, with security personnel reportedly denying entry to journalists, supporters, and associates of the former governor.

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The spokesperson for Mr El-Rufai, Muyiwa Adekeye, in a statement on X following the court session, stated that Mr El-Rufais legal team objected to Justice Ridwan Aikawa presiding over the case.

He said the defence informed the court of the petition filed by Mr El-Rufai with the NJC alleging bias against the trial judge, who they said cannot ensure a fair trial.

Surprised that Justice R. M. Aikawa was presiding over the matter, El-Rufais legal team reminded the court of their clients petition against the judge which is pending before the National Judicial Council (NJC), Mr Adekeye stated.

According to Mr Adekeye, the judge responded to the objection by directing Mr El-Rufais lawyers to submit a formal written complaint over the matter and subsequently adjourned until 31 March.

Justice Aikawa ruled that he would at least conduct the arraignment of the two defendants, and hear the matter of his recusal if counsel would bring it by way of a formal written application.

The court adjourned proceedings to 31 March 2026 for the hearing of bail and any other applications filed on behalf of Mr El-Rufai and Mr Adoga.

The petition El-Rufai wrote against Justice Aikawa

Mr Adekeye said on 17 March 2026, the Kaduna Division of the Court of Appeal set aside Justice Aikawas judgement in a fundamental rights enforcement suit that Mr El-Rufai filed in 2024 against the Kaduna State House of Assembly.

The appellate court upheld Mr El-Rufais contention that he had been denied a fair hearing and ordered the Federal High Court to rehear the matter afresh.

That case had prompted the first petition against Justice Aikawa by El-Rufais counsel. In a petition dated 18 July 2024, AU Mustapha, SAN, on behalf of Malam El-Rufai, accused Justice Aikawa of gross bias, injustice, and denial of fair hearing. The petition, addressed to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, requested that the case be reassigned to another judge. When that request was not granted, El-Rufais counsel pursued and succeeded in the appeal.

The second petition against Justice Aikawa, dated 18 March 2025, was submitted by Malam Nasir El-Rufai to the Chief Justice of Nigeria in her capacity as Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC). In it, El-Rufai accused Justice Aikawa of bias, injustice, denial of fair hearing, and conduct unbecoming of a judicial officer.

Malam Nasir El-Rufai sent reminders concerning the petition to the Chief Justice of Nigeria in November 2025 and again in March 2026. The most recent reminder urged the Chief Justice to ensure that the NJC expedites the resolution of the petition without further delay.

The reminder also requested the Chief Justice to direct the immediate transfer of all relevant cases before the Federal High Court, Kaduna, to another judge as a prudent interim measure to restore impartiality and safeguard judicial processes, Mr Adekeye stated.

The arraignment

The ICPC arraigned Mr El-Rufai before the Federal High Court on 10 charges, accusing him of violating Nigerias anti-money laundering law.

He and his co-defendant, Mr Adoga, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following the defendants pleas of not guilty, the trial judge, Mr Aikawa, ordered their remand in the custody of ICPC, where Mr El-Rufai had been held for over one month.

The charges involve alleged inflated N579.7 severance pay, and years-long fraudulent deposits totalling $817,900 Mr El-Rufai allegedly received.

They both pleaded not guilty to the charges read to them during the arraignment.
At least nine soldiers, one police officer, and a civilian were killed on Tuesday in an ambush by suspected Lakurawa terrorists in the Shanga Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The security personnel were reportedly on a mission to monitor and curb insurgent activities in the region when their vehicle was attacked.

On Wednesday, Governor Nasir Idris visited the wounded survivors at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Birnin Kebbi. The remains of the fallen soldiers were deposited at the mortuary of the hospital.

The governor condemned the attack as barbaric and reaffirmed his administrations commitment to the safety of Kebbis residents.

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This is a tragic incident. These soldiers were dedicated to protecting the lives of our people, yet they fell victim to this senseless violence, Governor Idris told journalists.

He announced that the state government would cover all medical expenses for the injured and provide support to the families of the deceased.

Following the hospital visit, the governor, alongside journalists, travelled to the Giro Masa community to inspect the scene of the ambush.

Residents confirmed the death toll to reporters, stating the security team had been deployed specifically to counter the growing influx of the terrorist group in the area.

READ ALSO: Terrorists blow up bridge in Niger State

The Nigerian Army is yet to comment on the incident.

The Lakurawa groupan extremist sect believed to have ties to Sahelian insurgents from Mali and Nigerhas intensified its activities in Kebbi, Northwest Nigeria.

The latest ambush by the terrorist network followed a recent similar attack where the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 8 Division and Commander Sector 2 of the Joint Task Force North West Operation Fansan Yamma, Bemgha Koughna, a major general, survived an ambush by suspected terrorists in a state.

The general had led a specialised clearance operation aimed at flushing out bandits from their strongholds in the Northwest region.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday adjourned for the third time a suit filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, after ICPC agents searched his home in Abuja last month.

The matter had previously stalled on 3 and 11 March due to different early-stage challenges and was rescheduled to today (Wednesday).

However, the judge, Joyce Abdulmalik, again postponed the hearing on Wednesday after ICPCs legal team requested a pause of the hearing to enable the lead lawyer for the agency to arrive from another court hearing.

The setback would still have occurred even if ICPC was ready for hearing as one of the respondents to the suit had no lawyer in court due to non-service.

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Mr El-Rufai filed the suit in February demanding N1 billion in damages against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other defendants for an alleged violation of his rights following the search conducted at his home in Abuja on 19 February.

The rest of the defendants are a chief magistrate of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) who issued the search warrant, the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

But since the filing of the suit on 20 February, the hearing has yet to commence despite repeated rescheduling.

On 3 March, hearing stalled because Mr El-Rufais lawyers had yet to serve the respondents with his filings.

The court then postponed hearing until 11 March, when proceedings stalled again to allow parties to regularise their filings.

Ms Abdulmalik then picked today (Wednesday) for hearing.

But when case was called at about 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Isaac Akwo, the lawyer who appeared for the ICPC, requested the judge to halt proceedings briefly till 12 p.m.

Mr Akwo said the pause was to enable the lead lawyer for the ICPC, Abdul Mohammed, to return from a Supreme Court proceeding.

Lawyers representing the rest of the parties, except the chief magistrate, were present. Ugochukwu Nnakwu represented Mr El-Rufai; R.N. Maiguru appeared for the IGP, and Chima Chidi Augustine for the AGF.

Responding to Mr Akwos request for a break, the judge said she had a meeting to attend and cannot grant the request.

She then inquired about the second respondent (the chief magistrate).

Responding, Mr Nnakwu, who appeared for Mr El-Rufai, told the court that the second respondent had not yet been served and that he had filed a substituted service application in that regard.

Mr Nnakwu was already moving the application, when the judge interrupted, asking him to specify the particular chief magistrate mentioned in the application. You are supposed to include his name in your application, the judge said.

Mr Nnakwu acknowledged and requested a date to regularise the application.

On the other hand, lawyers for the other respondents also informed the court that they had filed counter-affidavits.

The judge ordered that a hearing notice be served on the second respondent and adjourned the matter until 31 March for the hearing of Mr El-Rufais substituted service application.

El-Rufai and the odds against him

Mr ElRufai, who has been detained by the ICPC since 19 February, is facing intense scrutiny chiefly focusing on his activities as the Kaduna State governor, a position he held between May 2015 and May 2023.

ICPC arraigned him before the Federal High Court in Kaduna on corruption charges on Tuesday. The court ordered him to remain in ICPCs custody pending the hearing of his bail application scheduled for 31 March.

Another corruption case filed by the ICPC, which has yet to be scheduled for arraignment, is pending against him at the Kaduna State High Court in Kaduna, the state capital.

Mr El-Rufai, who faces a separate corruption investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), an anti-corruption agency that detained him for two days before passing him to the ICPC, has described the swirling scrutiny by the authorities as political persecution.

Another case is pending against him at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The charges stemmed from his claim on a live television programme in February that he, with someone, tapped into the National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadus phone call ordering his arrest.

Mr El-Rufai backed President Bola Tinubu to win the 2023 presidential election. But their alliance fell apart after the president initially nominated him as a minister and the appointment was controversially scuttled at the Senate over security concerns.

The N1 billion rights suit

He filed the N1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit on 20 February following his detention and the reported search of his house in Abuja.

In the suit, he asked the court to declare that the search warrant issued on 4 February by a chief magistrate in the FCT, which authorised the search and seizure at his residence, was invalid, null and void.

He said the search violated his rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing and privacy, and sought an injunction restraining the respondents from using evidence seized during the search.

He prayed the court to order the return of all seized items and award N1 billion in general, exemplary, and aggravated damages.

However, the ICPC opposed the suit, arguing in a counter-affidavit that it received a petition against ElRufai and acted under statutory powers to investigate, arrest, and prosecute offenders.

The police further said in its own counter affidavit that the search was conducted under a warrant issued by a competent court.
Authorities in Kebbi State have narrated how suspected Lakurawa terrorists killed nine soldiers, one police officer, and a civilian on Tuesday in an ambush in the Shanga Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the security personnel were reportedly on a mission to monitor and curb insurgent activities in the region when their vehicle was attacked.

Governor Nasir Idris visited the wounded survivors at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Birnin Kebbi. The remains of the fallen soldiers were deposited at the mortuary of the hospital.

The governors spokesperson, Yahaya Sarki, in a statement, said the security team was drafted to the area following a distress call from residents about a planned attack on their community.

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The military personnel had mobilised in response to intelligence indicating that bandits were planning to attack a community in the area, but were unfortunately lured into a deadly ambush laid by the criminals, Mr Sarki stated.

Mr Sarki added that Governor Idris inspected the military vehicle attacked by the bandits, describing the incident as a very sad and painful development for the state.

The Governor said the tragic development underscored the dangers being faced daily by security operatives in the line of duty, and reiterated the resolve of his administration to continue giving maximum support to all security agencies operating in Kebbi State.

He announced that he would proceed to Abuja to meet with the Chief of Army Staff to formally convey the condolences of the Government and people of Kebbi State over the loss.

Governor Idris also promised to replace the destroyed vehicle and urged the military and other security agencies not to be discouraged by the attack, but to remain resolute, professional and committed to their constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property, the statement added.

Also, Mr Sarki said while receiving the governor at Giron Masa village, where the incident occurred, the Emir of Yauri, Zayyanu Abdullahi, expressed concern over the recurring security challenges

The traditional ruler called for improved intelligence gathering, reconnaissance and the deployment of modern technology, including drones, to reduce casualties and strengthen security operations.

He commended the governor for his prompt visit and concern over the incident, while praying for lasting peace and protection for the state and the nation at large.

Governor Idris also prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased security personnel and for the quick recovery of those injured.

The Lakurawa groupan extremist sect believed to have ties to Sahelian insurgents from Mali and Nigerhas intensified its activities in Kebbi, Northwest Nigeria.

The latest ambush by the terrorist network followed a recent similar attack where the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 8 Division and Commander Sector 2 of the Joint Task Force North West Operation Fansan Yamma, Bemgha Koughna, a major general, survived an ambush by suspected terrorists in a state.

The general had led a specialised clearance operation aimed at flushing out bandits from their strongholds in the Northwest region.
The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson, has called on dissatisfied members of other political parties to join the party.

Mr Dickson, who represents Bayelsa West Senatorial District, made the call while speaking with reporters after the partys inaugural National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.

While describing the NDC as a platform built on clarity, inclusiveness and purpose, he said that individuals who felt stranded within their current political affiliations should consider aligning with the party.

According to the former governor of Bayelsa, the NDC offers a fresh direction for those who believe their existing parties have lost focus or failed to meet expectations.

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To those who feel dissatisfied, sidelined, or constrained in their current parties, this is an opportunity to be part of something new and inclusive.

For those uncertain about leadership or direction, we offer clarity, stability and purpose. This is your party, he said.

Mr Dickson further stated that the NDC had a well-defined vision for governance and national development.

He assured prospective members that there was no ambiguity about the partys mission and commitment to the Nigerian people.

We are an ideological party

Responding to concerns that welcoming dissatisfied politicians from other parties could lead to internal tensions, the NDC leader dismissed the notion, maintaining that the partys ideological foundation and structured framework would prevent such challenges.

We are an ideological party. While everyone is welcome, we have clear principles and structures in place to manage our growth and maintain our values, he said.

He further said that the party had ratified affirmative action for women, which he described as a very important resolution.

All chairmen and leaders have been mandated to return home and harmonise their structures to ensure meaningful involvement and participation of women.

We have also directed them to make provisions for the inclusion of Nigerian youths, the former governor said.

Earlier, Mr Dickson had called on party members to intensify grassroots mobilisation.

He also called on them to fully utilise the partys electronic registration platform as part of efforts to strengthen its base ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

Mr Dickson said that while every political party aimed to win elections, success would depend on strategic decisions and commitment at all levels.

He urged members to take responsibility for delivering victory in their respective constituencies.

The NDC national leader emphasised that electoral success was not built on financial inducement but on genuine engagement with voters at the polling unit, ward and community levels.

He noted that adjustments to the electoral timetable under the Electoral Act had increased pressure on political parties.

He, however, maintained that there was still enough time to build momentum if members remained focused and committed.

He directed state chairmen to intensify mobilisation efforts, mandating each ward to register between 300 and 500 verifiable members.

Also speaking, the National Chairman of the NDC, Moses Cleopas, reaffirmed his dedication to the partys founding principles.

Mr Cleopas pledged transparent, accountable leadership as the party consolidates its national structures.

He described his emergence as chairman as both a reflection of the collective will of members and an act of divine favour.

Achievements are driven by purpose, he said. Leadership is a responsibility to serve a greater good.

(NAN)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has re-elected Ijeoma Arodiogbu as its South-east national vice chairman to pilot the affairs of the party in the zone for the next four years.

Mr Arodiogbu emerged alongside other zonal executives during the APC South-east Congress held at the Presidential Hotel, Enugu, on Wednesday.

The election was conducted through a consensus arrangement endorsed by party delegates from the five South-east states.

Other members of the new zonal executive included Innocent Itapi, zonal secretary; Ernest Ogbonna, legal secretary; Henry Onwughaluonye, publicity secretary; Chima Ogbonnaya, youth leader; Stanley Nwachukwu, leader of Persons with Disabilities; and Oby Aji, women leader.

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Announcing the outcome, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, said the list of candidates was adopted following a motion by party leaders and members.

When a motion is moved and adopted, it reflects the collective will of the leadership and members of our party to accept these names as consensus candidates representing the South-east, he said.

In a remark, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State described the development as a strong indication of the APCs growing influence in the South-east.

This is a testament to the fact that APC is firmly rooted in the South-east. The party has continued to grow stronger through the dedication of its leaders and members, he said.

Mr Mbah commended the efforts of the zonal leadership, national working committee members, and the regions governors for strengthening the partys structure.

He also congratulated party officials who emerged from previous congresses at ward, local government and state levels, urging unity ahead of the national convention.

He appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his reform initiatives, noting that they had placed Nigeria on the path of economic growth.

Speaking, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State said the consensus arrangement was in line with the partys constitution and demonstrated internal party cohesion.

I congratulate members of our great party for the steady growth in membership across the South-east. Todays exercise reflects our unity and commitment to progress, Mr Uzodimma said.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Arodiogbu expressed gratitude to party members for the confidence reposed in him and his team.

Notable party leaders, including Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, former Senate President Ken Nnamani, and former Governor of Anambra State Chris Ngige, attended the congress.

It was also attended by members of the national and state assemblies and party faithful from across the zone.

(NAN)
Peaceland University, Enugu, has honoured its software engineering student, Godspower Ojini, for winning the N2.7 million prize at the recently concluded Enugu State Tech Festival.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the festival, held from 24 to 27 February, brought together youth innovators across the state.

Mr Ojini, an 18-year-old 300-level student, and his team clinched the top position after developing an innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform designed to automate tasks for individuals and businesses.

The project stood out among several entries.

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Speaking during a celebration held on Wednesday in Enugu, the Vice-Chancellor of Peaceland University, Leonard Ilechukwu, expressed pride in the students achievement, describing it as a validation of the institutions standards.

We feel very proud, but more importantly, it speaks to our work, our commitment, and our excellence in service.

This did not come from nowhere; it reflects the quality of training and dedication we invest in our students, he said.

Mr Ilechukwu said that while the university celebrated the students accomplishment, it also acknowledged its role in shaping his success.

While we praise the student for what he has achieved, we also acknowledge that we contributed to his success. His coming first is also our coming first; the victory belongs to both the student and the university, he added.

He further described the achievement as both an encouragement and a challenge for the institution, urging other students to emulate Mr Ojinis dedication, discipline, and commitment.

Also speaking, the Pro-Chancellor of the university, Felix Ugwuozor, said the victory did not come as a surprise, noting that the student had previously won the same award.

I am very impressed, but not surprised. This is the second time our student has won this award. He is focused, hardworking, and knows where he is going.

His success reflects not just his effort, but also the quality of training we provide, he said.

Mr Ugwuozor explained that the university prioritised practical learning and equipped students to compete globally, adding that the institution provided the necessary resources and conducive environment for innovation.

Student speaks on what inspired him

In his remarks, Mr Ojini attributed his success to dedication, mentorship, and continuous learning, noting that his AI-powered solution could efficiently handle a wide range of tasks.

The dedication of our lecturers inspired me, and I always strive to give my best and not miss any opportunity that comes my way, he said.

He added that beyond classroom learning, he invested time in personal development through books and online courses.

READ ALSO: Delta honours autistic teen cyclist on awareness ride from Enugu to Lagos

Mr Ojini revealed that his team planned to scale the project into a globally accessible product.

We want to build something that will be used not just in Nigeria but around the globe, he said.

He also acknowledged the universitys support, noting that access to facilities and flexibility during the development process contributed significantly to his success.

Advising fellow students, he said, Keep building, keep sharing your work, connect with others, and never give up.
Consulting giant to acquire Optimum Healthcare IT as health systems nationwide seek new solutions to close persistent tech talent gaps

NEW YORK, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Achieve Partners today announced it will exit its investment in Optimum Healthcare IT, which is being acquired by global technology and business consulting pioneer Infosys.

Optimum is consistently recognized for its industry-leading quality, earning KLAS's Best Overall Implementation Firm award and the 2025 ServiceNow Industry Partner of the Year for Healthcare  Worldwide.

Achieve acquired a controlling stake in Optimum in June of 2020, making it the inaugural investment in Achieve's category-defining Workforce Fund, and helped to launch Optimum's unique CareerPath program, the first apprenticeship program for healthcare IT careers which has helped fuel the company's rapid growth, allowing Optimum to hire, train, and deploy nearly 300 apprentices over the past several years.

"At a time when tech talent is in increasingly high demand, healthcare systems across the country need new approaches that can both solve their near-term needs and lay the groundwork for a strong future talent pipeline," said Gene Scheurer, CEO of Optimum. "Optimum CareerPath has addressed both of those challenges. We're equally grateful to Achieve Partners for supporting the growth of our Digital Transformation division, transforming Optimum into a healthcare market leader not only in EHR platforms, but other in-demand technologies like Cloud Migration, ServiceNow, and Workday. The combination of these two strategies catalyzed the company to more than triple in size under Achieve's ownership. We're thrilled to join Infosys to continue accelerating our reach and impact."

"Optimum's impressive growth is a testament not only to its ability to meet customers' needs, but also the critical role that new talent plays in addressing the ongoing healthcare IT talent gap across a wide range of tech stacks," said Achieve Managing Director Aanand Radia. "We look forward to following their continued expansion and success under Infosys' leadership."

Harris Williams LLC served as exclusive financial advisor to Achieve Partners and Optimum Healthcare IT in connection with this transaction.

About Achieve Partners

Achieve Partners is engineering the future of learning and earning by investing in cutting edge technologies and novel business models to bolster skill development and secure the future of work for millions of Americans. By harnessing digital transformation to build new models for learning and new pathways to good jobs, Achieve is helping to level the playing field, improve socioeconomic mobility, and rekindle the American Dream.

www.achievepartners.com

About Optimum Healthcare IT

Optimum Healthcare IT is a Best in KLAS healthcare IT digital transformation and consulting firm based in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Optimum's comprehensive service offerings include Enterprise Application Services, Digital Transformation, and Workforce Management, which features our skill development program, Optimum CareerPath. Backed by a leadership team with extensive expertise, we deliver tailored healthcare consulting solutions to diverse organizations.

https://optimumhit.com/

About Infosys

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Over 330,000 of our people work to amplify human potential and create the next opportunity for people, businesses and communities. We enable clients in 63 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer clients, as they navigate their digital transformation powered by cloud and AI. We enable them with an AI-first core, empower the business with agile digital at scale and drive continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. We are deeply committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organization where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace.

www.infosys.com

SOURCE Achieve Partners
Ten $10,000 grants awarded to schools to help advance the massage therapy profession

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. and EVANSTON, Ill., March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) today announced that applications will open April 1 for the eighth round of massage school grants, funded by Massage Envy, to support future massage therapists and strengthen the massage industry. AMTA is the largest non-profit professional association serving massage therapists, massage students, and massage schools. Massage Envy is a national leader in skin care and the nation's No. 1 provider of massage in the U.S. collectively across its franchise network.

This round of massage school grants marks a significant expansion of the program's impact, with the number of schools receiving awards increasing from five to ten. AMTA will award ten $10,000 grants, funded by Massage Envy, in spring 2026 to help massage schools attract, train and graduate future generations of massage therapists.

"Expanding this program reflects the brand's continued commitment to the future of the massage therapy profession and the communities Massage Envy's franchised locations serve," said Todd Schrader, CEO of Massage Envy Franchising. "As demand for skilled therapists continues to grow, investing in massage education helps ensure students are prepared for successful careers."

Accredited massage schools interested in applying for a grant should complete an online application on AMTA's website, detailing how the grant would help support their school and students. Applications will be accepted April 1 - 30, 2026.

"Supporting more massage therapy schools and students is incredibly meaningful to us," said Rick Greely, National President, AMTA. "We value our relationship with Massage Envy and its continued investment in massage education, helping schools strengthen their programs and support the next generation of massage therapists."

Massage Envy does not sponsor or administer the grant program, and Massage Envy is not affiliated with and does not endorse any massage school, including those receiving the grants.

About Massage Envy

Massage Envy, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a national franchisor and does not independently own or operate any of the Massage Envy franchised locations nationwide. The Massage Envy franchise network, through its franchise locations, is a leading provider of premium skin care offerings and massage services. The Massage Envy brand was founded in 2002 and began offering skin care services in 2008. The brand has franchise locations that have together delivered more than 225 million services across its skin care and body care offerings. For more information, visit MassageEnvy.com or follow @MassageEnvy on Instagram, X, and Facebook.

About The American Massage Therapy Association

The American Massage Therapy Association, the most trusted name in massage therapy, is the largest non-profit, professional association serving massage therapists, massage students and massage schools. The association is directed by volunteer leadership and fosters ongoing, direct member involvement through its 51 chapters. AMTA works to advance the profession through ethics and standards, the promotion of fair and consistent licensing of massage therapists in all states, and public education on the benefits of massage. To find a qualified massage therapist in your area, please visit AMTA's Massage Therapist Locator Service.

SOURCE Massage Envy
The Annual General Meeting of AB Electrolux was held in Stockholm on March 25, 2026.

STOCKHOLM, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Shareholders and others had the opportunity to follow the Annual General Meeting live via Electrolux Group's website. A recording from the Annual General Meeting of the reflections by President and CEO, Yannick Fierling, on the past year and the strategy going forward will be available on Electrolux Group's website, www.electroluxgroup.com/agm2026.

The Company's Income Statement and Balance Sheet and the Consolidated Income Statement and Balance Sheet for Electrolux Group were adopted. The Board of Directors and the President and CEO were discharged from liability for the fiscal year 2025. In accordance with the Board's proposal, the Annual General Meeting resolved to not distribute any dividend for the fiscal year 2025 and that available funds will be carried forward in the new accounts.

The Annual General Meeting adopted remuneration to the Board in accordance with the Nomination Committee's proposal.

Yannick Fierling, Geert Follens, Petra Hedengran, Ulla Litzen, Torbjorn Loof, Daniel Nodhall, Karin Overbeck and Michael Rauterkus were re-elected as Directors of the Board, and Lena Glader and Anko van der Werff were elected as new Directors of the Board, for the period until the end of the Annual General Meeting 2027. Torbjorn Loof was re-elected as Chair of the Board of Directors.

Ohrlings PricewaterhouseCoopers AB was re-elected as auditor for the period until the end of the Annual General Meeting 2027 and fee to the auditor will be paid as incurred.

The Board of Director's Remuneration Report for the financial year 2025 was approved.

The Annual General Meeting authorized the Board of Directors to resolve to transfer own shares on account of company acquisitions and to cover costs that may arise as a result of the previously adopted share program 2024. These authorizations are effective during the period until the Annual General Meeting 2027.

The Board's proposal for a performance based, long-term share program for 2026 was approved. Furthermore, the Annual General Meeting resolved that the company's expected financial exposure of the program shall be hedged by the company entering into an equity swap agreement with a third party.

Full details on the proposals adopted by the Annual General Meeting are available at Electrolux Group's website, www.electroluxgroup.com/agm2026.

CONTACT:

For more information:

Ann-Sofi Jonsson, Head of Investor Relations & Sustainability Reporting, +46 73 035 1005

Maria Akerhielm, Investor Relations Manager, +46 70 796 3856

Henry Sjolin, Investor Relations Manager, +46 76 863 51 85

Electrolux Group Press Hotline, +46 8 657 65 07

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/electrolux-group/r/bulletin-from-the-annual-general-meeting-of-ab-electrolux,c4326839

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/1853/4326839/4006286.pdf Bulletin from AB Electrolux AGM 2026 Eng - 2026-03-25

SOURCE Electrolux Group
Recognizing local, regional, and global business achievements across 10 awards programs with worldwide participation

SAN FRANCISCO, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Globee Awards, a business awards program with worldwide participation that recognizes achievements across industries, today announced a call for global entries inviting organizations, teams, and professionals from around the worldincluding across Africato nominate their business achievements for consideration.

For more information and to submit nominations, visit: https://globeeawards.com

Organizations operating across Africa, as well as multinational companies with a presence in the region, are encouraged to participate alongside peers worldwide. The awards are open to organizations of all sizes, including startups, private and public companies, government entities, and non-profit organizations.

The Globee Awards recognize business achievements across a range of category groups, including products and services, company and organization, individual and team, and brand, communication and creative. These recognitions are part of 10 awards programs that collectively reflect achievements across business and technology domains.

Nominations are welcomed for local, regional, and global achievements, reflecting the diverse impact organizations may have across industries and markets.

Entries are evaluated through a merit-based, data-driven process involving participation from experienced professionals across multiple industries worldwide. The evaluation approach is designed to provide a structured and consistent assessment of submissions.

Entries are open to organizations worldwide. Both self-nominations and nominations submitted on behalf of others are accepted.

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 #BusinessAwards #CallForGlobalEntries #ApplyNow #GlobalRecognition #AfricaBusiness #AfricanInnovation #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #Startups

All trademarks belong to their respective owners.

SOURCE Globee Awards
LONDON, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- CHIME International, through its UK chapter (CHIME UK), today welcomed the announcement of forthcoming professional requirements for NHS digital health professionals, marking an important milestone in strengthening the digital workforce across the United Kingdom. While formal timelines and detailed guidance are expected to be confirmed by the NHS soon, this development signals clear progress toward greater professional recognition and consistency across the workforce.

Developed in collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Federation for Informatics Professionals (FedIP), the UK body responsible for professional standards in health and care informatics, the framework will establish clear expectations for professional practice, supporting consistency, accountability, and ongoing development across the NHS digital workforce.

Andrew Griffiths, CEO of FedIP, said:

"This announcement represents a significant advancement in recognising and formalising the expertise of NHS digital health professionals. As clear professional standards are established, we will be investing in a workforce essential to delivering safe, effective, and innovative care. CHIME UK's continued leadership and commitment to workforce development will play an important role in supporting this progress."

CHIME UK has long advocated for professionalisation, leadership development, and sustained investment in the digital workforce. Through its programmes, partnerships, and engagement with NHS leaders, CHIME UK continues to support the development of a highly skilled and future-ready workforce.

Russell Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, added:

"The formalisation of professional requirements for NHS digital health professionals will be an important step in advancing the maturity and impact of the workforce. CHIME believes that empowering leaders through clear standards, continuous development, and a strong professional community is essential to improving healthcare delivery. CHIME UK remains committed to supporting the UK workforce and working alongside partners such as FedIP to ensure digital professionals are recognised, supported, and equipped to lead meaningful change."

The planned introduction of these requirements comes at a time when digital capability and workforce capacity remain critical priorities for the NHS and wider health and care system. As a recognised professional framework is established, the sector will be better positioned to attract, retain, and develop digital talent.

CHIME UK will continue to work with partners across the health and care ecosystem to support implementation and advance professional development across the United Kingdom.

About CHIME UK

CHIME UK, the United Kingdom chapter of CHIME International, brings together digital health leaders from across the NHS and wider health and care system. As part of a global community of senior executives, CHIME UK provides a trusted forum for collaboration, leadership development, and the exchange of best practices to advance digital health. Through engagement with UK stakeholders, CHIME UK supports the development of a skilled, future-ready workforce and promotes the effective use of technology to improve health and care outcomes. For more information, please visit chimeinternational.org.

About CHIME

The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) is the leading professional organization for digital health executives and leaders. CHIME provides a trusted, collaborative environment where members and partners connect, share best practices, advance professional development, and advocate for the effective use of information and technology to improve health and care in the communities they serve. For more information, please visit chimecentral.org.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Calli Dretke

Executive Vice President & Chief Digital and Marketing Officer

CHIME

734.655.0000

[email protected]

SOURCE College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME)
New innovations empower organizations to reduce hyperscaler dependency and build a portable, cloud-neutral foundation for sovereign AI success

WILLMINGTON, Del., March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- EnterpriseDB (EDB), the leading sovereign AI and data company, highlighted the community release of CloudNativePG 1.29, the latest milestone for the leading open-source Postgres operator for Kubernetes. As the creator and primary contributor to the project, EDB is concurrently previewing an exclusive enterprise-grade data protection solution for its commercial CNPG operator.

Unveiled at KubeCon Europe in Amsterdam, these innovations underpin the EDB Postgres AI (EDB PG AI) platform and empower organizations to break hyperscaler lock-in. By providing a portable, cloud-neutral foundation across on-premises and cloud environments, EDB enables enterprises to build and maintain truly sovereign AI and data infrastructures.

The Mandate for Agentic Success and European Security Compliance

AI and data sovereignty in open-source dominates the strategy for 80% of major enterprises in EMEA. Just 13% of enterprises are winning with their AI and dataand they're doing it with sovereign data platforms, typically on Postgres in hybrid environments, delivering control, compliance, and up to 5 the ROI. These enterprises are succeeding through sovereignty and agility in their own secure environments.

EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) requires a secure, compliant foundation with full software supply chain visibilityincluding verified component provenance, a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM), and independently managed security patching.

"Over 80% of organizations now run Kubernetes in productionwith databases as the primary workload and AI/ML adoption accelerating fast. This shift is redefining how PostgreSQL must operate: not as a static database, but as a portable, cloud-native foundation for sovereign AI," said Gabriele Bartolini, VP and Chief Architect of Kubernetes at EDB.

Modular Extensions and Supply Chain Security in CNPG 1.29

CloudNativePG (CNPG), has quickly become the de facto standard for running PostgreSQL in Kubernetes and is the fastest-growing Postgres operator, with over 8,000 GitHub stars. Backed by EDB as its lead maintainer and a rapidly expanding open-source community, CNPG continues to evolve at a rapid pace with monthly releases.

With version 1.29, CNPG introduces modular extensions and built-in supply chain securitydecoupling PostgreSQL extensions from the core database to eliminate monolithic, custom-built images and significantly reduce operational complexity. Users can now dynamically install only the extensions they needsuch as AI-driven vector searchon demand, enabling a more flexible, lightweight, and secure Postgres deployment model.

"By embedding the intelligence of a DBA as an operational brain within Kubernetes, you remove the Operational Wall of the hyperscalers, creating a DBaaS that is automated enough for developers but sovereign enough for the enterprise," added Bartolini.

Kubernetes-Native Backup and Enterprise Data Protection

While CNPG continues to advance open-source innovation, EDB will be extending these capabilities and introducing new features for enterprise customers with a next-generation, Kubernetes-native data protection solutionnow in preview in EDB Postgres AI for CloudNativePG, EDB's enterprise-grade CNPG operator.

Moving beyond legacy backup tools designed for a pre-container era, this exclusive preview delivers Zero Data Loss (RPO=0) through native WAL streaming. Managed through one centralized interface, the solution provides rapid, global disaster recovery and end-to-end encryption with FIPS 140-3 level security. Ultimately, this cloud-neutral approach ensures that enterprise workloads remain resilient and portable across any environment without provider lock-in.

Crucially, across both modular extensions and enterprise capabilities such as data protection, each component is delivered as a verified, immutable artifactensuring what runs in production is exactly what was tested. This zero-trust model supports compliance with frameworks like the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), with built-in support for SBOMs, clear component provenance, and independent security patching.

The Gold Standard for Enterprise Postgres on Kubernetes

By eliminating cloud infrastructure overhead and restoring operational control, organizations can shift from unpredictable cloud spend to a more controlled cost modelwhile unlocking consistent, high-performance Postgres across environments.

These advancements build on EDB's long-standing stewardship of PostgreSQL, CloudNativePG, and the broader open-source ecosystem. As the leading commercial contributor to PostgreSQLaccounting for over 30% of core development and 45% of ecosystem contributions.

EDB at KubeCon Europe

EDB showcased a preview of the new data protection solution, with the company's CNPG experts presenting at the following sessions:

Get a complementary digital PDF or hard copy of the O'Reilly book: Building a Data and AI Platform with PostgreSQL.

About EDB

EDB Postgres AI (EDB PG AI) is the first open, enterprise-grade sovereign data and AI platformsecure, compliant, and scalable, on-premises and across clouds. Built on Postgres, the world's leading database, EDB PG AI unifies transactional, analytical, and AI workloads, enabling organizations to operationalize their data and LLMs while maintaining control over sovereign environments. EDB PG AI is supported by a global partner network and delivers up to 99.999% availability as well as hybrid management and a built-in AI factory. As one of the most active contributors to the PostgreSQL project, EDB is deeply invested in the vitality of the global community. To learn more, visit www.enterprisedb.com.

Media contact:

Steph McGuirk

Interdependence

(845) 269-8868

[email protected]

EnterpriseDB and EDB are registered trademarks of EnterpriseDB Corporation. Postgres and PostgreSQL are registered trademarks of the PostgreSQL Community Association of Canada and used with their permission. CloudNativePG is a Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) project. CloudNativePG is a trademark of The Linux Foundation. All other trademarks are owned by their respective owners.

SOURCE EnterpriseDB
PHOENIX, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Fullbay, the largest and most comprehensive turn-key platform that improves the operational efficiency of heavy-duty repair shops, has announced its acquisition of Pitstop, an AI-powered predictive maintenance and fleet intelligence platform that will be integrated into the Fullbay platform. Pitstop's proven AI-driven technology will leverage 10+ years of repair data from Fullbay's shop management software to deliver predictive maintenance solutions for fleets to anticipate failures before they impact operations. With this acquisition, Fullbay brings together the pieces for the largest, most comprehensive platform at the center of every commercial repair shop and fleet.

By combining Fullbay's industry-leading repair data from more than 5,000 shops and $6.5 billion in annual service orders and parts with Pitstop's predictive AI technology, the new AI-powered maintenance module transforms real-world service history into actionable maintenance intelligence. The result is a powerful foundation for true predictive maintenance, helping fleets stay ahead of issues and improving driver safety.

"In our industry, operations are too often reactive, and the repair process can be inefficient due to unpredictability. When a truck breaks down  possibly in a situation unsafe for the driver and other motorists  the unit is towed, the problem is inspected, parts are ordered, the unit is fixed, and the process repeats," said Trent Broberg, CEO of Fullbay. "This acquisition enables us to change that model by delivering predictive maintenance, real-time diagnostics, fault-code management and automated fleet communication directly into Fullbay, revolutionizing the experience for fleets and heavy-duty repair."

Through this acquisition and integration, Fullbay is addressing the gap between reactive repair and proactive maintenance with technology that:

Monitors units in real time and flags issues to shop staff before they turn into breakdowns

Automatically generates service requests from vehicle issues, including PMs, prioritized fault codes, and predictive alerts

Provides predictive insights based on return patterns

Produces accurate unit health reports

Accurately predicts parts demand so inventory is available before the job starts

"Pitstop was built to help fleets move from 'fix it when it fails' to knowing what's coming next and acting before downtime, cost, or safety risks hit," said Shiva Bhardwaj, CEO and founder of Pitstop. "By integrating Pitstop's AI-powered predictive technology with Fullbay's comprehensive platform, we can scale our impact across the industry while delivering the proactive, data-driven solutions that fleets desperately need to improve safety, reduce costs, and maximize uptime."

Beyond preventing breakdowns, the Pitstop technology helps fleets and internal maintenance teams reduce unplanned downtime and extend asset life, and independent shops better serve their fleet customers and build customer loyalty. By analyzing billions of data points to detect fault patterns and identify issues weeks before a breakdown occurs, the Pitstop system delivers more than 94% accuracy in identifying potential failures to enable large fleets to fundamentally shift from reactive service to proactive maintenance planning.

In addition to this strategic acquisition, Fullbay has promoted Scott Gordon to Chief Product Officer from Vice President of Product. In this new role, he will oversee the expanded product portfolio and drive the company's AI-first vision across the combined organization. As a seasoned SaaS product executive with extensive experience at Microsoft and Amazon prior to joining Fullbay in early 2024, Scott has a proven track record of transforming complex industry challenges into scalable software solutions.

"This acquisition represents an incredible opportunity to accelerate our mission of delivering customer-driven innovation at scale," said Gordon. "By combining our teams' expertise and technologies, we can build even more powerful solutions using traditional and AI-enabled innovation to truly move the needle for our customers."

Learn more about Fullbay and how this acquisition impacts the industry here.

ABOUT PITSTOP

Founded in 2015 by CEO Shiva Bhardwaj, inspired by his experience in his dad's mechanic shop, Pitstop is a solutions provider that empowers fleets with tools to eliminate vehicle downtime, improve planned maintenance efficiency, and reduce manual inputs. By combining data and other integrations into one easy-to-use platform, Pitstop simplifies fleet maintenance. Its advanced analytics enable fleets to streamline work order and DVIR workflows, generate comprehensive vehicle health reports, provide predictive failure alerts, and much more!

ABOUT FULLBAY

Fullbay revolutionizes the operations of heavy-duty repair shops and internal fleet maintenance departments to create more efficient, focused, and faster organizations. The company employs the latest technology, expertise and an AI-first approach to provide a turn-key platform that connects every function of customers' businesses in real time from any location to improve workflow and create transparency in operations. Founded in 2014 and based in Phoenix, Arizona, Fullbay focuses on delivering operational excellence, preventive maintenance solutions, and inventory management optimization to its wide variety of customers. Through its Fullbay Cares program, the company commits to giving back to the essential workers of heavy-duty repair by supporting charitable organizations and dedicating time and resources to community service.

CONTACT:

Tom Eisbrenner

MBE Group on behalf of Fullbay

[email protected]

248.765.2121

SOURCE Fullbay
LONDON, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- H.I.G. Capital ("H.I.G."), a leading global alternative investment firm with $74 billion of capital under management, is pleased to announce that its affiliates have refinanced Ella Resorts ("Ella") and OB Streem ("Streem") with a consortium of European banks.

Ella is H.I.G. Realty's hospitality platform focused on premium resort destinations across the Mediterranean, with approximately 4,400 keys across its portfolio and a strong pipeline of acquisitions throughout Italy, Greece, and Spain, with a target expansion to 10,000 rooms. Streem is a fully integrated logistics platform managing over 400,000 sqm of warehousing space while providing mission-critical logistics infrastructure across key European trade corridors. Its offering includes cold storage, ambient storage, and container depot storage (IOS), as well as a prospective pier terminal, in addition to services such as freight forwarding and transportation.

The transactions establish an efficient capital structure to support the continued growth of both platforms, including the ongoing refurbishment and repositioning of Ella's resort portfolio, the expansion of Streem's logistics infrastructure network, and new acquisitions.

The refinancings were led and underwritten by Bank of Piraeus, with participation from other leading European financial institutions. The transaction reflects the banking syndicate's confidence in the long-term growth prospects of both platforms, which operate in sectors that are critical to the European economy.

Riccardo Dallolio, Managing Director and Head of H.I.G. Realty in Europe, in London, commented: "The successful completion of these two refinancings represents an important milestone for two of H.I.G. Realty Europe's key platforms. We remain focused on acquiring and scaling real estate platforms in sectors with strong fundamentals, leveraging our combined real estate and private equity expertise."

Stelios Theodosiou, Managing Director at H.I.G. Realty in Europe, commented: "With these refinancings successfully completed, Ella and Streem are both entering a new phase of development. Streem continues to strengthen its position and dominance in the local market, while Ella is expanding internationally into Italy and Spain. The strong support from institutional lenders reflects the quality of the platforms we have built, and enables us to continue investing in our assets and expanding in a capital-efficient way."

About H.I.G. Capital

H.I.G. is a leading global alternative investment firm with $74 billion of capital under management.* Based in Miami, and with offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Stamford in the United States, as well as international affiliate offices in Hamburg, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Bogota, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Dubai, and Hong Kong, H.I.G. specializes in providing both debt and equity capital to middle market companies, utilizing a flexible and operationally focused/value-added approach:

H.I.G.'s equity funds invest in management buyouts, recapitalizations, and corporate carve-outs of both profitable as well as underperforming manufacturing and service businesses.

H.I.G.'s debt funds invest in senior, unitranche, and junior debt financing to companies across the size spectrum, both on a primary (direct origination) basis, as well as in the secondary markets. H.I.G. also manages a publicly traded BDC, WhiteHorse Finance.

H.I.G.'s real estate funds invest in value-added properties, which can benefit from improved asset management practices.

H.I.G. Infrastructure focuses on making value-add and core plus investments in the infrastructure sector.

Since its founding in 1993, H.I.G. has invested in and managed more than 400 companies worldwide. The Firm's current portfolio includes more than 100 companies with combined sales in excess of $53 billion. For more information, please refer to the H.I.G. website at hig.com.

*Based on total capital raised by H.I.G. Capital and its affiliates

Contact:

Riccardo Dallolio

Managing Director

[email protected]

Stelios Theodosiou

Managing Director

[email protected]

H.I.G. Capital

10 Grosvenor Street

2nd Floor

London W1K 4QB

United Kingdom

P: +44 (0) 207 318 5700

hig.com

SOURCE H.I.G. Capital
WORLAND, Wyo., March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The article outlines key factors like home inspections, property taxes, and market timing for residential real estate in the Big Horn Basin.

What should buyers and sellers know before buying or selling rural real estate in Wyoming's Big Horn Basin? HelloNation has published the answer in an article that explains essential considerations, featuring insights from Real Estate Expert Kitty Mortimer of McGarvin & Taylor Real Estate.

Kitty Mortimer - Broker/Owner, McGarvin & Taylor Real Estate

The HelloNation article explains that buying or selling residential real estate in the Big Horn Basin involves more than simply evaluating price. Buyers and sellers must consider property condition, local regulations, and market trends to make informed decisions. While rural properties are available in the region, most transactions focus on standard residential real estate and neighborhood factors.

For buyers, the article highlights the importance of evaluating homes beyond listing price. Factors such as lot size, utility access, and structural condition all influence long-term value. Home inspections are especially important, as they can uncover hidden issues with plumbing, electrical systems, roofing, or heating. In the Big Horn Basin, some rural properties may also include wells or septic systems, which require additional evaluation alongside standard home inspections.

Sellers also play a key role in preparing residential real estate for the market. The article notes that highlighting updates, functional systems, and property features can improve buyer interest. Providing clear documentation related to property taxes, maintenance, and permits can also help build confidence during the buying or selling process. Well-prepared listings often lead to smoother transactions and stronger offers.

Timing is another important consideration discussed in the article. The Big Horn Basin market often sees increased activity during spring and summer, when buyers can more easily view properties and assess outdoor features. For those buying or selling, understanding seasonal demand and local trends can influence pricing and negotiation strategies.

The article also explains that property taxes and inspections play a central role in residential real estate transactions. Buyers should review property taxes carefully to avoid unexpected costs, while sellers should ensure that records are accurate and up to date. Home inspections provide an opportunity to identify repair needs and negotiate terms, helping both parties reach fair agreements.

Financing is another factor addressed in the article. While financing residential real estate in the Big Horn Basin is similar to other areas, properties with rural characteristics may require additional documentation. Lenders often evaluate both the home and surrounding land, making it important for buyers to understand how rural properties are assessed.

Throughout the discussion, the article presents insights from a Real Estate Expert perspective, emphasizing the value of local knowledge when buying or selling. Understanding market conditions, property features, and transaction requirements helps both buyers and sellers avoid delays and make informed choices.

The article concludes that successful buying or selling in the Big Horn Basin depends on careful planning and attention to detail. By focusing on residential real estate factors such as home inspections, property taxes, and market timing, individuals can navigate transactions with greater confidence while addressing the unique aspects of rural properties.

A Guide to Buying & Selling Real Estate in the Big Horn Basin features insights from Kitty Mortimer, Real Estate Expert of Worland, WY, 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 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
CHEYENNE, Wyo., March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The article outlines how materials, size, and weather-related factors influence total roofing costs for homeowners.

How much should homeowners expect to pay for roof replacement in Cheyenne, WY? HelloNation has published the answer in an article, featuring insights from Residential Roofing Expert Tyler Humphrey of Capitol Roofing Inc.

Tyler Humphrey - Vice President of Business Development, Capitol Roofing Inc. Speed Speed

The HelloNation article explains that roof replacement costs in Cheyenne depend on several key factors, including square footage, material selection, and overall complexity. Larger roofs require more materials and labor, making square footage one of the biggest cost drivers. Homes with complex designs or steep slopes may also increase labor time, which affects the final roof replacement estimate.

Material choice plays a major role in determining cost. The article notes that asphalt shingles are the most common and cost-effective option for roof replacement in Cheyenne. They offer durability and a range of styles while keeping costs manageable. A metal roof, on the other hand, provides longer lifespan and better resistance to harsh weather but comes with higher upfront costs. Choosing between asphalt shingles and a metal roof often depends on balancing budget with long-term performance.

The article also highlights how storm damage can significantly impact roof replacement costs. In Cheyenne, exposure to wind and hail makes storm damage a frequent concern. When damage extends beyond surface materials, repairs to decking or structural components may be required. Addressing storm damage early can help limit additional costs and prevent further deterioration.

Another factor discussed in the article is the importance of ventilation upgrades. Proper airflow in a roofing system helps regulate temperature and moisture, which can extend the life of materials. Adding ventilation upgrades during a roof replacement project may increase upfront costs, but it can improve efficiency and reduce future maintenance needs. Homeowners in Cheyenne often view ventilation upgrades as a long-term investment.

Labor and installation complexity are also key considerations. The article explains that roofs with multiple levels, skylights, or difficult access points may require specialized equipment or additional safety measures. These factors increase labor costs and should be included in any roof replacement estimate. Understanding how square footage and design complexity interact helps homeowners prepare more accurate budgets.

Timing can also influence pricing. The article notes that roof replacement projects in Cheyenne may cost more during peak seasons when demand is high. Scheduling work during less busy periods may provide cost savings and faster project timelines. Gathering multiple estimates allows homeowners to compare pricing for asphalt shingles, metal roof options, and labor costs.

The article concludes that roof replacement in Cheyenne requires careful consideration of materials, square footage, storm damage, and ventilation upgrades. By evaluating these factors together, homeowners can make informed decisions that balance affordability with durability and long-term performance.

How Much Does Roof Replacement Cost in Cheyenne, WY? features insights from Tyler Humphrey, Residential Roofing Expert of Cheyenne, WY, 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
SAN DIEGO, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Independent Financial Group, LLC (IFG)  a privately held independent wealth management provider supporting more than 600 financial professionals across more than 400 locations nationwide  today announced the launch of Impact For Good, the firm's new 501(c)(3) charitable foundation and the centerpiece of its broader IFG Charitable Initiative. This structured program is designed to elevate IFG's philanthropic efforts and empower employees to make a meaningful difference in their communities.

The launch of Impact For Good represents the next step in expanding and formalizing that long-standing philanthropic commitment to community involvement through collaborative giving, volunteerism and employee engagement. The foundation provides a platform for employees to nominate and vote on nonprofit partners annually and supports giving back through two paid Volunteer Time Off days each year for hands-on nonprofit work.

Independent Financial Group has emphasized giving back since the firm was founded more than 23 years ago. Throughout its history, IFG has regularly shared a portion of firm profits with charitable organizations supporting the communities where its employees and financial professionals live and work.

"We're proud to launch Impact For Good and come together to make a meaningful difference in our communities," said Paige Heising, President of Impact For Good. "It's about showing up, giving back and bringing the entire IFG team together to create lasting change."

The foundation's goals are to engage employees by giving everyone a voice in selecting charitable partners and participating in volunteer opportunities, to amplify IFG's impact by concentrating efforts on causes that create meaningful and measurable change in communities, and to inspire a culture of giving through shared ownership in the communities IFG supports.

Impact For Good is guided by a Charity Committee comprised of five employees serving two-year terms. The 2026 Charity Committee includes:

Paige Heising, President

Abbey Eastham, Secretary

Sarah Kreisman, Treasurer

Madison Turbeville, Committee Member

Jackson Fischer, Committee Member

All IFG employees may nominate charities for consideration. After nominations are reviewed for eligibility and completeness, employees vote to rank the eligible nonprofits, and the Charity Committee selects the final charitable partners for the year. The nomination period opens each December, with final partners announced in February.

Throughout the year, Impact For Good will host a variety of events including fundraising efforts, donation drives, volunteer days and other community engagement opportunities.

About Independent Financial Group

Independent Financial Group, LLC (IFG) is a privately held independent wealth management provider based in San Diego, California. Founded in 2003, IFG supports more than 600 independent financial professionals in over 400 offices nationwide with a comprehensive suite of business solutions. IFG has been widely recognized as a leading independent broker-dealer. In 2025, Financial Advisor Magazine listed IFG as the 15th largest national independent broker-dealer and #2 for privately held broker-dealers based on gross revenue. Financial Planning Magazine ranked IFG 1st for women as a percentage of producing representatives in 2025 and 7th for financial advisor payout in 2024. InvestmentNews ranked the firm in the top 10 for payout and account assets in 2024. IFG is an eight-time winner of the Inc. 5000 list of "Fastest Growing Private Companies in the US" and the San Diego Business Journal ranked IFG #7 among the Largest Private Companies in San Diego in 2022 and 2023.

To learn more about IFG, visit ifgsd.com.

Media Contact

Donald Cutler / Mitch Manning

Haven Tower Group LLC

424 317 4864 or 424 317 4858

[email protected] or [email protected]

SOURCE Independent Financial Group
In the digital era, maintaining an active and engaging online presence is crucial for businesses aiming to build brand authority and connect with their audience. MerchantFloors Blog Writer is an AI-powered tool designed to streamline the content creation process, enabling businesses to produce high-quality blog posts efficiently.

Key Features

High-Quality Content Generation : The Blog Writer assists in crafting well-structured blog posts, including how-to guides, actionable tips, stories, and industry insights, helping businesses position themselves as experts in their niche.

: The Blog Writer assists in crafting well-structured blog posts, including how-to guides, actionable tips, stories, and industry insights, helping businesses position themselves as experts in their niche. Consistent Tone and Voice : It ensures uniformity in tone and voice across all content, reinforcing brand identity and fostering audience trust.

: It ensures uniformity in tone and voice across all content, reinforcing brand identity and fostering audience trust. Enhanced Engagement: By optimizing writing for clarity and engagement, the tool aims to improve reader interaction and retention.

Who Is It For?

Bloggers and Content Creators : Individuals seeking to produce consistent and high-quality content.

: Individuals seeking to produce consistent and high-quality content. Businesses Building Brand Authority : Companies aiming to establish themselves as thought leaders in their industry.

: Companies aiming to establish themselves as thought leaders in their industry. Marketing Teams and Agencies : Teams requiring efficient content creation to support marketing strategies.

: Teams requiring efficient content creation to support marketing strategies. Entrepreneurs Developing Thought Leadership: Startups and entrepreneurs looking to share insights and build credibility.

Pricing

Specific pricing details for MerchantFloors Blog Writer are not publicly disclosed. For accurate and up-to-date pricing information, it is recommended to contact MerchantFloor directly through their official website.

Final Thoughts

MerchantFloors Blog Writer offers a comprehensive solution for businesses and content creators aiming to enhance their online presence through consistent and high-quality blog content. Its AI-driven features are designed to simplify the content creation process, allowing users to focus on strategic initiatives while maintaining an active and engaging blog.

Visit merchantfloor.com/blog-writer for more.
FAIRFIELD, N.J., March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Deborah Hawkins, Group Director of the Workplace Team at Keypoint Intelligence, has been selected as a judge for the 2026 Technology Reseller Awards, a leading event celebrating excellence across the UK channel.

Hosted by Kingswood Tech Events and held at the London Hilton Bankside, the awards recognize standout achievements from resellers, distributors, and technology providers across a wide range of categories, including managed services, cybersecurity, and communications.

Hawkins, a returning judge, joins an expert panel responsible for selecting the companies and individuals making an impact in a fast-changing market. With deep experience in workplace technology and channel strategy, she brings a practical and well-informed perspective to the judging process.

"The Technology Reseller Awards are a great reflection of the innovation happening across the channel," said Hawkins. "I'm excited to be part of this year's judging panel and to help recognize the organizations making a real impact."

As the channel continues to evolve to meet changing customer needs and new technologies, the awards highlight those leading the way by delivering value and driving growth.

Learn more about the 2026 Technology Reseller Awards at https://technologyresellerawards.co.uk.

About Keypoint Intelligence

For over 60 years, clients in the digital imaging industry have relied on Keypoint Intelligence for independent hands-on testing, lab data, and market research to drive product and sales success. The company is widely recognized as a trusted source for unbiased insights, analysis, and awards.

SOURCE Keypoint Intelligence
Businesses can expect to receive dividend checks starting March 25.

Key takeaways:

$15 million in general dividends to 46,000 eligible Pinnacol Assurance members starting March 25.

Pinnacol has now issued a general dividend for 11 consecutive years, contributing to a total of $905 million returned to members since 2005

Dividends are a result of businesses' and Pinnacol's mutual success in reducing workplace injury and managing costs.

DENVER, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Pinnacol Assurance, Colorado's leading workers' compensation provider, announced today it will distribute a $15 million general dividend to its members in 2026. This marks the 11th consecutive year Pinnacol has returned capital to its members, underscoring its commitment to shared success and financial stability for Colorado businesses.

More than 46,000 members in every corner of the state will receive a dividend check or credit, with distributions scheduled to begin on March 25. This latest payment brings the total dividends returned by Pinnacol to Colorado employers to $905 million over the organization's history.

How is Pinnacol able to issue dividends?

"At Pinnacol, we shift the industry standard by treating those we serve as members of a community, rather than just policyholders," said John O'Donnell, President and CEO of Pinnacol Assurance. "This dividend is a tangible return on investment into the workplace for our members who have partnered with us to prioritize workplace safety and effectively manage costs. It's proof that when we work together to protect Colorado's workforce, the entire state's economy wins."

Pinnacol's member-focused reinvestment strategy is built on the belief that mutual success drives sustainable growth. The dividend is a tangible return on investment for our members who have partnered with us to prioritize workplace safety and effectively manage costs.

While typical workers' comp policies focus on transactions, Pinnacol members gain access to top-ranked comprehensive benefits, including:

Safety Services: Access to the largest safety team in the state to help build safer workplaces.

Access to the largest safety team in the state to help build safer workplaces. Industry-leading claims support: A commitment to care that has resulted in the #1 injured worker satisfaction rating in Colorado for nine years running.

A commitment to care that has resulted in the #1 injured worker satisfaction rating in Colorado for nine years running. Financial reliability: Affirmed by Forbes, an A.M. Best rating of A- and a legacy of returning more total dividends than any other carrier in the state.

Affirmed by Forbes, an A.M. Best rating of A- and a legacy of returning more total dividends than any other carrier in the state. Return to work support: Our programs aid physical and mental recovery and provide claim savings when used.

In survey responses, Pinnacol members recently commented on receiving their dividends:

"We have partnered with Pinnacol for over 35 years. We are very satisfied with the services that Pinnacol has provided us, quick response to phone calls, safety program involvement, ease of on-line reporting, dividend opportunities, on-line audits are easy to understand and complete, etc."

"Both of my business have had Pinnacol Assurance workmans comp for many years. We have been lucky to have very few claims over the years. When we needed the insurance Pinnacol was spot on. The yearly dividend doesn't hurt. Thank you."

Great communication! Nice to get dividend checks from an insurance company for being a safe business to work in. Good tips and suggestions on staying safe and injury free. Reasonable pricing for workcomp insurance. Thank you!"

We have had no problems and this company seems to be responsive to its clients. We get a yearly "dividend" or return of some of the money we pay to Pinnacol which would reflect financial responsibility in our opinion."

Members can expect to receive their checks or credits no later than April. For more information about the dividend or Pinnacol's safety programs, visit https://www.pinnacol.com/general-dividend.

About Pinnacol

Pinnacol Assurance is a top-performing provider of workers' compensation insurance. We offer top-rated injured worker care, customized safety solutions, and a comprehensive return to work program that helps our members reduce risk and save costs. You can see our investment in the community through our nationally recognized apprenticeship program and Pinnacol Foundation scholarship program. Pinnacol's team members, culture of caring, and top-rated services have received numerous awards, affirming our commitment to the people and communities we serve. Learn more at Pinnacol.com.

Media contact:

Contact: Liz Johnson

Director, Public Relations

720.939.7238 (mobile)

[email protected]

SOURCE Pinnacol Assurance
Moms for America to Host "Remembering the Ladies" Tea & Luncheon 250th anniversary of the day Abigail Adams penned the words "Remember the Ladies"

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 31, in honor of Women's History Month and in celebration of America's 250th, Moms for America will host the "Remember the Ladies" Tea & Luncheon in Georgetown  250 years to the exact day since Abigail Adams called on the nation to "remember the ladies."

Moms for America

In partnership with the America First Women's Initiative and with support from Freedom 250, this gathering will highlight the indispensable role women and mothers have played throughout American historyrecognizing their influence not as a footnote, but as a foundational force in the life of the nation.

Held at the historic City Tavern  where John Adams attended a reception in 1800 as the White House was under construction, and later decorated under Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis  the luncheon will bring together leaders and mothers to honor the women who builtand still shape the nation.

From the Revolutionary era to today, women  especially mothers  have been the backbone of this country, shaping its values, raising and supporting its leaders, and carrying its culture forward.

"This is where the celebration of America's 250th should begin," said Kimberly Fletcher, founder and president of Moms for America. "With the women who built it, sustained it, and continue to fight for its future."

The event will also mark the launch of the Abbey Awards, named in honor of Abigail Adams, a new national recognition platform honoring women of courage, conviction, leadership, and cultural impact  from grassroots advocates to national voices shaping the direction of the country. Honorees will be announced shortly.

Each attendee will receive a complimentary copy of Remember the Ladies, co-authored by Fletcher and her daughter, highlighting the untold stories of 26 women of the American Revolution and designed to inspire a new generation.

The event is designed to serve as a key moment in the national commemoration of America's 250th anniversary, placing women and mothers at the center of the story from the very beginning.

Event Details

What: Remember the Ladies Tea & Luncheon

When: March 31

Where: City Tavern, Georgetown, Washington, D.C.

Hosted by: Moms for America & America First Women's Initiative

Supported by: Freedom 250

Tickets are $250 and include luncheon and a complimentary book.

For media inquiries or interview requests, please contact Jennifer Harrison, VRNY Media, at [email protected] or 937-477-5200.

SOURCE Moms for America
AL-ULA, Saudi Arabia , March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- AlUla Peregrina Trading Company (APTC), Saudi Arabia's natural active ingredients company and creator of the AlUla Peregrina brand, will showcase its portfolio of patented, desert-derived actives at In-Cosmetics Global 2026, taking place from 1416 April in Paris. The portfolio includes oil- and water-soluble ingredients designed for longevity beauty applications across skin and hair care.

Desert of Arabia APTC quality control

For centuries, oil extracted from Peregrina seeds was traded along the ancient incense routes, valued for its rarity, resilience, and use in perfumery, cosmetics, and traditional remedies. Today, AlUla Peregrina is reviving this heritage through a sourcing model that combines controlled cultivation, full traceability, and local production aligned with international biodiversity and ethical standards. The supply chain has undergone multiple independent verifications by the Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT), confirming its classification as "Responsibly Sourced."

At the core of APTC's portfolio are patented AlUla Peregrina actives, including oils and extracts derived from Peregrina seeds, a plant naturally adapted to extreme desert environments. These actives are naturally rich in ceramides and plant-derived exosomes, compounds widely studied for their role in cellular communication, skin barrier restoration, and longevity-driven skin performance.

Available in both oil- and water-soluble formats, the ingredients are designed to integrate seamlessly into a wide range of cosmetic formulations, offering flexibility for R&D laboratories and product developers.

AlUla Peregrina actives are developed for multifunctional performance across skincare, haircare, and body care, and are COSMOS Natural approved.

Their efficacy has been validated through a combination of in vitro, ex vivo, and clinical evaluations, demonstrating measurable benefits in skin barrier restoration, anti-aging and anti-sagging performance, skin tone brightening, and hair redensification.

These results position AlUla Peregrina ingredients within next-generation, science-backed longevity beauty and regenerative care formulations.

AlUla Peregrina raw materials are processed in an ISO 9001-certified laboratory located in AlUla.

This localized model ensures quality control, batch-to-batch consistency, and technical standardization, while reinforcing value creation at origin and supporting scalable export readiness.

Speaking ahead of the exhibition, Nicolas Levron, Chief Operating Officer of APTC, said: "Our participation at In-Cosmetics Global marks an important step in introducing natural, patented actives from the Desert of Arabia to the international formulation community. By combining traceable sourcing, scientific validation, and local transformation, we are establishing AlUla Peregrina as a credible new origin for high-performance longevity beauty ingredients."

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2941178/APTC_Desert_of_Arabia.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2941179/APTC_Quality.jpg
FRESNO, Calif., March 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- PrideStaff Financial, a division of PrideStaff specializing in accounting and finance staffing, has been named to ClearlyRated's 2026 Best Staffing Firms for Women. This is the fourth consecutive year PrideStaff Financial has earned this honor.

The recognition places PrideStaff Financial among fewer than .01% of staffing firms across the U.S. and Canada to earn the prestigious award. Winners are determined based on stringent criteria that include the following: A firm must invite feedback from 100% of its internal staff on their overall experience within their organization. Women must comprise at least 47% of the workforce, rate the firm highly, and be highly represented in leadership roles.

"We are proud to be recognized again, especially because this honor is based on feedback from our employees," said Tammi Heaton, Co-CEO of PrideStaff. "Supporting our team members is an important part of what we do, and this recognition reflects the environment our teams have built. Our Mission is to 'Consistently provide client experiences focused on what they value most,' and that starts with creating meaningful opportunities for our people."

PrideStaff Financial also earned the Best of Staffing Client and Talent 15-Year Diamond Awards from ClearlyRated for providing superior service to their clients and candidates, as well as ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing Employee Satisfaction 5-Year Gold Award for providing an exceptional experience for their employees.

"I'm proud to recognize the companies honored on this year's Best Staffing Firms for Women list," said Baker Nanduru, CEO of ClearlyRated. "During Women's History Month, it's especially meaningful to spotlight organizations that are actively investing in the success and advancement of women in the workplace. While the industry continues to navigate challenges such as pay equity and leadership representation, these firms are setting a powerful example by creating supportive environments where women can thrive and grow. Congratulations to each of these organizations, and thank you for your continued dedication to building a more equitable future for the workforce."

About PrideStaff Financial

A division of PrideStaff, PrideStaff Financial specializes in accounting and financial staffing. The parent company was founded in the 1970s as 100% company-owned units and began franchising in 1995. They operate offices in North America to serve thousands of clients. With 45-plus years in the staffing business, headquartered in Central California, all PrideStaff brands offer the resources and expertise of a national firm with the spirit, dedication, and personal service of smaller, entrepreneurial firms. For more information on PrideStaff Financial services, visit our website.

PrideStaff and PrideStaff Financial's shared mission: Consistently provide client experiences focused on what they value most.

About ClearlyRated

ClearlyRated is the leading CX platform designed specifically for professional services firms. They help firms leverage the Net Promoter Score survey methodology to gain deep insights, identify strengths and weaknesses, and build brand reputation through verified service ratings. Learn more at the ClearlyRated website.

SOURCE PrideStaff
www.SAFE-2.com

LAS VEGAS, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- SAFE Structure Designs, an American defense engineering and manufacturing company specializing in mission-critical military support equipment, announced the successful design and delivery of a custom aviation maintenance tooling suite supporting the United States Army's next-generation Boeing CH 47 Chinook Block II helicopter fleet.

The project required the development of specialized tooling used by Army aviation maintenance teams to safely remove, inspect, pressure-test, and reinstall fuel cell systems within the CH-47 Block II aircraft.

Block 2

SAFE Structure Designs was awarded the contract after a previous contractor's tooling effort failed to meet the Army's technical and operational requirements. The initial designs exceeded budget expectations, were poorly engineered, and did not adequately support the needs of Army aviation maintenance personnel.

Following that setback, SAFE Structure Designs (based on capability which is found at www.SAFE-2.com ) was tasked with stepping in to redesign and deliver a complete tooling solution capable of supporting the Army's new fleet of CH-47 Block II aircraft.

SAFE rapidly engineered, manufactured, and delivered the complete tooling system ahead of schedule and under budget, while exceeding the operational requirements defined by Army aviation technicians.

Custom Maintenance Tooling for Army Aviation

SAFE's engineering team designed and developed a series of specialized tools that enable Army maintenance personnel to efficiently service the aircraft's fuel cell systems.

Fuel Cell Removal and Installation Cradle

SAFE engineered a purpose-built cradle designed to safely remove and install the Chinook's fuel cells during maintenance operations. The cradle securely houses the fuel tank, allowing aviation technicians to perform inspections and servicing safely and efficiently while the fuel cell is removed from the aircraft.

Fuel Cell Pressure Test System

SAFE also developed a dedicated pressure-testing tool that allows maintainers to test fuel cells for leaks, cracks, or structural integrity issues before reinstalling them into the aircraft. This system improves maintenance reliability and helps ensure the fuel system meets strict operational readiness standards.

Custom Spreader Bar and Lift Attachments

To streamline removal and installation procedures, SAFE designed a custom spreader bar with specialized lift attachments that enable technicians to quickly and safely remove the fuel cells from the aircraft and reinstall them after maintenance is complete.

Together, the custom tooling system improves safety, increases maintenance efficiency, and reduces aircraft downtime for the Army's new CH-47 Block II helicopters.

Supporting the Army's Next-Generation Chinook Fleet

What began as a recovery effort following a failed tooling program quickly turned into a major success.

SAFE's engineering solutions not only met the Army's technical requirements but also expanded operational capabilities beyond what aviation technicians initially requested. The tooling ultimately provided additional functionality that further improved maintenance efficiency and safety during fuel cell servicing.

Following successful evaluation and deployment, the United States Army has begun placing multiple bulk orders for the tooling systems as part of an outfitting effort for military installations across the United States that will support the new CH-47 Block II aircraft fleet.

These tools will play an important role in helping maintain operational readiness for one of the U.S. Army's most important heavy-lift helicopter platforms.

Statement from SAFE Structure President and CEO

Johnny Buscema, President and CEO of SAFE Structure Designs, commented on the program's success:

"We are humbled that the United States Army trusted SAFE Structure to step in and solve a critical challenge. Our team approached this mission with the same mindset we bring to every projectwork hard, solve the problem, and deliver equipment that supports the men and women who defend this country.

I believe God gives us the means and ability to meet the needs placed before us. The Army trusted us, and we put in the work to deliver."

Media Contact: SAFE Structure Designs Media Relations [email protected] Www.SAFE-2.com

SAFE Structure Designs is a U.S.-based engineering and manufacturing company that develops specialized military support equipment, aviation maintenance systems, expeditionary platforms, and mission-critical tooling solutions for defense customers.

The company focuses on delivering high-performance engineering solutions that improve maintenance efficiency, safety, and operational readiness across U.S. military aviation platforms.

Built on principles of American manufacturing, faith-driven leadership, and a commitment to supporting the warfighter, SAFE Structure Designs partners with military customers to solve complex engineering challenges and deliver reliable equipment for the field.

SOURCE SAFE Structure Designs
FROM : LAUREL SCHOOL PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION ("PTO")

JACLYN FOROUGHI

RE: PTO Reforms and Settlement of Foroughi obo Laurel School v. Laurel School PTO,

et al.,

San Mateo County Superior Court, Case No. 21CIV01197

SAN MATEO, Calif., March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Jaclyn Foroughi and Laurel School Parent Teacher Organization released the following statement:

We are pleased to announce an agreement that will formalize various institutional reforms involving the Laurel School Parent Teacher Organization (the "PTO"). These reforms will strengthen the bond between the PTO and the parents and school that it serves by improving governance and transparency in PTO operations and fundraising.

The PTO would like to acknowledge the hard work and financial expertise that Jaclyn Foroughi brought to this process, which helped lead to important changes to the PTO's operation.

Trust between parents and the schools in San Mateo where parents send their children to learn is critically important. Ms. Foroughi's efforts have helped advance transparency and proper governance in the use of PTO funds at the Laurel School and therefore have significantly advanced a core mission of the school's PTO, for which we formally thank her. She has pursued these changes for multiple years as a volunteer.

We support and recognize the alliance between Ms. Foroughi and the current PTO as reflected in this agreement and in the commitment by the PTO to address any future issues.

Ms. Foroughi and the PTO worked very hard to reach a mutually-agreeable resolution of the concerns raised by Ms. Foroughi. We are pleased to announce that the settlement will result in the following reforms:

All executive board members on PTO are being and will continue to be trained as to their duties in particular with respect to fundraising, use of PTO funds, fiduciary duties, and respectful and effective collaboration;

To assure accuracy of the PTO financials, they are being audited and the current PTO is committed to address any corrections necessary based on the results of the audit.

The parties have agreed that mediator Bruce Friedman, who assisted the parties in reaching this resolution of the litigation, will continue to work with the parties to make sure these reforms are implemented.

We further announce that the settlement includes a substantial financial payment from insurers, which Ms. Foroughi has generously directed to the Laurel School PTO.

SOURCE Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
The global FOD detection and runway safety market represents a $14 billion opportunity as defense forces and commercial airports worldwide modernize legacy runway safety systems. Unlike expensive radar and LiDAR-based point solutions, Skylark Labs' Tracer AI Vehicle is powered by a fleet-wide intelligence architecture that creates compounding value with every new deploymentmaking it uniquely positioned to capture this market at scale.

Unlike conventional FOD detection platforms that rely on expensive radar and LiDAR infrastructure, the Tracer AI Vehicle uses adaptive optical AI powered by Skylark Labs' Runway Monitoring Intelligence Layer. Each vehicle runs its own local intelligence layer that learns from debris detections, false positive patterns, and surface conditions during patrol routes. This local learning is automatically synced across all vehicles in the networkcreating a unified knowledge pool where insights like new debris types, emerging false positive signatures, and detection strategies learned on one vehicle instantly become available to every other vehicle in the fleet. The result is a self-reinforcing system where each new deployment makes the entire network smarter without requiring model retraining.

Operated by airfield personnel, the Tracer AI Vehicle is manually driven along patrol routes while the onboard system continuously scans runways and taxiways, learning to distinguish genuine debris threats from false positivesoil patches, nuts and bolts, and objects introduced by ground crews. When debris is detected, precise tarmac coordinates are instantly transmitted to air traffic control and ground operations teams, enabling rapid manual collection. Debris is automatically classified by type, supporting safety investigations and root cause analysis. Over time, the system builds a longitudinal debris map identifying recurring hotspots and enabling predictive maintenance strategies that prevent future incidents.

"Runway safety demands continuous, intelligent monitoring across a massive global market that legacy systems have failed to serve effectively," said Amarjot Singh, Founder and CEO of Skylark Labs. "The Tracer AI Vehicle detects debris with precision, eliminates false positives through adaptive learning, and shares intelligence across the entire fleet in real time. Every new deployment makes the network smarterthat's a compounding advantage no radar or LiDAR system can match. With proven deployments across the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force, we are now positioned to scale this across defense forces and commercial airports globally."

Two years of operational deployment across Indian Navy airfield sites has validated the Tracer AI Vehicle's effectiveness in one of aviation's most demanding safety-critical environments. With expansion now underway to the Indian Air Force and commercial aviation operators, the platform's Runway Monitoring Intelligence Layer continues to accumulate operational experience across every siteensuring each new deployment benefits from the collective intelligence of the entire network from day one.

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.
LONDON, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A group of international investors (the "Group"), which has committed substantial capital and many years of effort to the development of the Tulkubash and Kyzyltash mining assets, issues this statement to express serious concerns regarding recent developments involving Chaarat Gold Holdings Limited ("Chaarat Gold") relating to these assets.

The Group has been a committed and constructive partner to the Kyrgyz Republic. We have shared a vision to transform Tulkubash and Kyzyltash into examples of a modern, transparent, and world-class mining industry. Our vision has always been to ensure that Kyrgyzstan's natural resources deliver long-term benefits to the Kyrgyz people through job creation, infrastructure development, and responsible growth.

The Group views the recent announcements regarding the proposed sale of Chaarat Gold's interest in these assets (the "Sale") as the culmination of a deeply concerning sequence of actions and decisions surrounding strategic assets.

The Group is profoundly concerned by the process leading up to, and including, the Sale, including the apparent disregard for the rights and interests of longstanding investors. The Group wishes to make its position clear: we will not remain silent.

The reputation of the Kyrgyz mining sector is a vital national asset. When international best practices are upheld and stakeholder rights are respected, confidence in the country's investment climate is strengthened. Any departure from these principles risks undermining that confidence.

We remain committed to supporting the growth of Kyrgyzstan's mining industry. Such growth must be underpinned by:

Fairness to all stakeholders;

Genuine partnership with local communities and the Kyrgyz state;

Full respect for Kyrgyz law and national sovereignty.

The Group is deploying appropriate legal resources to safeguard its rights and to protect the integrity of the Kyrgyz mining sector and international investment in Kyrgyzstan generally. We are determined to ensure these assets - and their role in the Kyrgyz economy - are treated with the respect and care they warrant.

We call for full transparency regarding the Sale, including the events leading up to it, and expect all parties to adhere strictly to their legal obligations.

We invite parties impacted by these developments, or who have an interest in the future of Tulkubash and Kyzyltash, to join us in promoting transparency, fairness, and accountability.

For further information or legal inquiries, please contact the Group's legal advisor, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP: [email protected] .

SOURCE Group of Chaarat Gold Holdings Limited Investors
COLLEGE PARK, Md., March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Maryland has named John Bertot dean of its College of Information (INFO), effective July 1, 2026. As dean, he will advance a forward-looking vision for the impact of information, data and technology on society.

Bertot will lead a vibrant and talented community of more than 3,000 faculty, staff and students while building on the college's leadership in developing solutions that help people access, use and benefit from information. He will promote impactful scholarship, expand interdisciplinary collaboration, advance innovative academic programs, and further strengthen the college's position as a nationally ranked leader in information science, education and research.

"It has been both a privilege and an honor to work alongside Dr. Bertot," said Jennifer King Rice, UMD's senior vice president and provost. "His deep respect for his INFO colleagues has shaped every aspect of his leadership in faculty affairs. I'm confident that Dr. Bertot's vision for a college grounded in collaboration, inclusion and societal impact will mark yet another important chapter for INFO's impressive rise."

Bertot has been a member of the UMD community for nearly two decades and currently serves as associate provost for faculty affairs and a professor in the College of Information. Well known for his collaborative and visionary approach to transforming the faculty experience, Bertot has significantly expanded the offerings and impact of the Office of Faculty Affairs (OFA) over the past 10 years. He has developed excellent relationships and a strong reputation across campus and among peers throughout the Big Ten Academic Alliance and the Association of American Universities.

Under Bertot's leadership, OFA supports all aspects of faculty experience at the university, including managing the Appointment, Promotion and Tenure (APT) process, overseeing professional development opportunities for faculty, facilitating human resource functions, and advocating for faculty interests and perspectives in the leadership of the university. During his tenure, the office has launched multiple leadership development programs, including Fearless Unit Leadership for academic leaders and Fearless Leadership Foundations for faculty new to administrative responsibilities. OFA also partners on professional development with the Big Ten Academic Alliance and hosts numerous faculty forums and workshops throughout the year to support faculty development.

Bertot has led significant Professional Track Faculty (PTK)-focused initiatives, such as forming the PTK Faculty Working Group and PTK Advisory Group; issuing a series of administrative reforms related to contracts, compensation and promotion; creating more systematic appointment and promotion processes; and leading the creation of a new instructional PTK faculty workload policy. He is also steering current efforts to propose revisions to the university's APT policy to align UMD's rewards and incentive structures with the institution's values. In addition, recognizing the need for additional faculty support in the face of external challenges, OFA has worked with numerous campus partners to create the new Faculty Support Team and develop guidance for evaluative activities in the face of disruptions.

"UMD's College of Information is renowned for its innovative instructional programs and faculty, dedicated staff and engaged students," said Bertot. "I'm honored to lead a college that exemplifies creativity, a commitment to inclusive excellence, and a strong desire to serve the public good. I look forward to what we can accomplish together."

UMD is the nation's top producer of information sciences bachelor's degrees among residential universities, according to Chronicle of Higher Education, and INFO's Master of Library and Information Science program is ranked No. 3 in the country by U.S. News & World Report.

Bertot joined UMD as a professor in 2008 and has also served as co-director of the Information Policy and Access Center and director of the Master of Library and Information Science program. Before UMD, he held faculty roles at Florida State University, the State University of New York at Albany and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

A prolific scholar with multiple best paper awards, Bertot conducts research spanning information and telecommunications policy, public service innovation, digital government, and library planning and evaluation. Much of his work has focused on the roles of public libraries in building digitally inclusive communities and the development of digital and open government policies and practices. He has authored seven books and nearly 100 journal articles, had his research cited in a Supreme Court decision, and received funding for his scholarship from national organizations, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the American Library Association and the National Science Foundation.

He serves as an editorial board member of Information Policy, International Journal of Public Administration in the Digital Age and Government Information Quarterly. He received his B.A. and M.A. in communications from the State University of New York at Albany and his Ph.D. from the School of Information Studies at Syracuse University.

About the University of Maryland

The University of Maryland (UMD) is the state's flagship university driven by a community of more than 50,000 fearless Terrapins. As a leading research university and top 20 public institution, UMD is proud to be part of the Association of American Universities. Dedicated to excellence and impact for the public good, the university is propelled by a $1.4 billion joint research enterprise. UMD is the nation's first Do Good campus, and is consistently ranked for its innovation, research and top-tier academic programs. Located in the National Capital Region, the university offers an unparalleled student experience with federal internship opportunities, hundreds of academic programs and study abroad options, and top-ranked living-learning programs. Spurred by a culture of innovation and creativity, UMD's faculty are global leaders in their fields and include Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners and members of the national academies. For more information about the University of Maryland, College Park, visit umd.edu.

SOURCE University of Maryland
DUNBAR, W.Va., March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- West Virginia American Water is pleased to announce it is continuing its infrastructure investments upgrades in the Dunbar community with a $560,000 project on 18th Street.

"This infrastructure upgrade project is a testament to our commitment to the Dunbar community," said Scott Wyman, President of West Virginia American Water. "We are continuing to make significant investments in our system to improve system resiliency and reliability to our customers across the state, and this most recent project in Dunbar is a great example."

The project is taking place on 18th Street from Myers Avenue to Kanawha Avenue and entails replacing 720 feet of aging pipe with 6-inch PVC main. It is scheduled to be completed by the end of May, and the final street restoration will be completed in the summer of 2026. Crews will work Monday through Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., and traffic restrictions will be in place for the duration of the project.

This infrastructure upgrade project is part of West Virginia American Water's plan to invest more than $129 million in infrastructure upgrades across the state in 2026, supporting the economic health of communities across the company's service area. Economic impact studies show that for every $1 million invested in water infrastructure, upwards of 10 jobs are generated throughout local economies.

Over the past decade, West Virginia American Water has invested over $805 million in infrastructure projects and capital upgrades to address aging infrastructure across the Mountain State, including more than 168 miles of new water main. To learn more about these ongoing investments, visit the company's interactive upgrade map.

During construction, customers may experience temporary service interruptions, discolored water, and/or lower than normal water pressure. Crews will work as quickly as possible to shorten the length of these temporary inconveniences. To report water related emergencies such as leaks, main breaks or other service disruptions, customers can submit a service request on the company's website.

About American Water

American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to approximately 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water's approximately 7,000 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company's national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.

For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.

About West Virginia American Water

West Virginia American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest regulated water utility in the state with approximately 300 dedicated employees working to provide safe, clean, reliable and affordable water and wastewater services to approximately 610,000 people.

SOURCE American Water
SHANGHAI, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- WuXi Biologics ("WuXi Bio") (2269.HK), a leading global Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organization (CRDMO), has released its annual results for 2025, demonstrating record growth and a transformative leap in operational sophistication. The company reported a 16.7% increase in revenue, an IFRS gross profit growth of 30.9%, a 5 percentage-point expansion to 46.0% in gross profit margin and adjusted gross profit surged by 25.5% year-on-year. The strong profitable growth has been driven by the continued momentum across research, development and manufacturing, and enhanced operational efficiency.

Pioneering the Intelligent Lab and Factory

One key driver of this year's record growth is the company's rapid transformation into a digitally-native powerhouse. By integrating advanced computational modeling, predictive analytics, and ontology-driven software development, WuXi Biologics has redefined the industry standard for speed, quality, and precision.

These proprietary intelligent systems have streamlined the entire biologics lifecycle, resulting in:

Minimized Complexity: Eliminating manual bottlenecks through integrated, smart-automation workflows.

Eliminating manual bottlenecks through integrated, smart-automation workflows. Accelerated Timelines: Utilizing high-speed project-specific data synthesis and interpretation to shorten development cycles and bring life-saving therapies to patients faster.

Utilizing high-speed project-specific data synthesis and interpretation to shorten development cycles and bring life-saving therapies to patients faster. Enhanced Transparency: Providing clients with data-driven "line of sight" from initial molecule discovery through CMC and into commercial manufacturing.

Dr. Chris Chen, CEO of WuXi Biologics commented: "We are redefining the CRDMO role and value as a strategic partner powered by computational insights and agile executioncritical in today's dynamic biopharma innovation landscape. At the heart of this transformation is our unwavering commitment to accelerating our clients' scientific breakthroughs into clinical and commercial success through a fully integrated, endtoend digital platform and predictive modeling, ultimately bringing meaningful benefits to patients worldwide."

Redefining Collaboration: The Next-Generation Client Digital Ecosystem

Complementing its operational advances, WuXi Biologics has launched a secure cloud-based client portal that redefines the collaborative experience. Moving beyond fragmented communication, the portal offers a unified, digitally-integrated workspace.

By providing access to up-to-date milestones, predictive data insights, and comprehensive program planning with fine-grained access controls, the platform ensures that critical informationincluding manufacturing, quality, and inventory metricsis available in realistic time. This frictionless access to data eliminates the traditional "push" of manual updates, empowering clients to make faster, more informed decisions. By aligning all stakeholders on a single, synchronized source of truth, the portal strengthens strategic partnerships and accelerates the journey from DNA to IND to BLA without the delays of conventional reporting cycles.

As a global leading digital CRDMO, WuXi Biologics is embedding digital capability and infrastructure across the full biopharmaceutical value chainturning data, computation, and prediction into faster development, intelligent operations, and more efficient manufacturing. With transparent client portal at the core, the company will continue to redefine the value of CRDMO partnership and help advance a more efficient, predictive, and scalable future for biopharmaceutical innovationbringing its vision that "every biologic can be made" closer to reality for patients worldwide.

About WuXi Biologics

WuXi Biologics (stock code: 2269.HK) is a leading global Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organization (CRDMO) offering end-to-end solutions that enable partners to discover, develop and manufacture biologics  from concept to commercialization  for the benefit of patients worldwide.

With over 13,000 skilled employees in China, the United States, Ireland, Germany, Singapore and Qatar, WuXi Biologics leverages its technologies and expertise to provide customers with efficient and cost-effective biologics discovery, development and manufacturing solutions. As of December 31, 2025, WuXi Biologics is supporting 945 integrated client projects, including 74 in Phase III and 25 in commercial manufacturing.

WuXi Biologics views Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) responsibilities as an integral component of our ethos and business strategy, and we aim to become an ESG leader in the biologics CRDMO sector. Our facilities use next-generation biomanufacturing technologies and clean-energy sources. We have also established an ESG committee led by our CEO to steer the comprehensive ESG strategy and its implementation, enhancing our commitment to sustainability.

For more information about WuXi Biologics, please visit: www.wuxibiologics.com

Business: [email protected]

Media: [email protected]

SOURCE WuXi Biologics
About this content 

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.

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Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
About this content 

About Kerry Stevenson

Kerry Stevenson joins Proactive Australia's broadcast team part time. As the Managing Director of Gold Events Kerry has been hosting the annual Australian Gold Conference for over 14 years, connecting industry and investment professionals and showcasing the value of precious metals. Kerry is passionate about helping others to secure a safe and solid future by understanding money, finance, and strategy. That is why she created the Making Money Matter channel on YouTube, where... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
About this content 

About 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.
Source: 4DMedical

4DMedical Ltd (ASX:4DX) has delivered one of the clearest validation points yet for its flagship lung imaging technology, securing a deployment at the Mayo Clinic  widely regarded as the top-ranked hospital system in the United States.

The market reaction was immediate and emphatic. Shares in the ASX-listed company surged as much as 38% in Wednesday trading and were up about 35% at 3:30 pm AEDT, extending a five-day rally of more than 60% as investors responded to what is being seen as a defining commercial and clinical milestone.

A reference site that matters

Under the agreement, Mayo Clinic will deploy 4DMedicals CT:VQ technology over an initial 90-day period, integrating it into clinical workflows and assessing its use across a range of pulmonary and cardiothoracic applications.

The rollout starts as a trial deployment, but the real significance lies in what could follow if it converts into a full commercial relationship.

Mayo is not just another hospital customer  it is an institution that influences clinical guidelines, physician behaviour and procurement decisions across the US and beyond. Its adoption sends a strong signal that CT:VQ is not only technically viable, but clinically relevant in real-world settings.

That signal builds on a growing list of high-profile deployments. Since securing FDA clearance in September 2025, 4DMedical has now placed CT:VQ at six leading US academic medical centres, including Stanford, Cleveland Clinic and UC San Diego Health.

Reaching that level of penetration in roughly seven months points to unusually fast early traction for a new imaging modality  particularly in a conservative healthcare system where adoption cycles are typically long and evidence-driven.

Why CT:VQ is gaining traction

CT:VQ is designed to provide combined ventilation and perfusion analysis using standard CT scans, offering a functional view of lung performance without the need for nuclear medicine or contrast agents.

That matters for a few reasons:

It simplifies workflow by integrating into existing CT infrastructure

It avoids radioisotopes, which can be costly and logistically complex

It offers higher-resolution imaging compared with traditional nuclear techniques

It aligns with established reimbursement pathways

Together, those factors help address one of the biggest barriers in medtech adoption: not just proving clinical benefit, but fitting seamlessly into how hospitals already operate.

The company is also leaning into a reference site strategy  targeting elite institutions first, then using those deployments to drive broader uptake. Mayos inclusion significantly strengthens that network.

Momentum building beyond a single deal

This latest deployment does not stand in isolation. It sits alongside a broader commercial push that has been gathering pace over the past year.

Recent developments have included:

A growing order pipeline supported by an expanded partnership with Philips

Earlier deployments at major US academic centres such as UC San Diego Health

Continued expansion of its SaaS-based imaging platform and AI capabilities

These steps suggest 4DMedical is moving beyond proof-of-concept and into early commercial scaling  albeit still in the validation-heavy phase typical of healthcare technologies.

The key question now is conversion: how many of these initial deployments translate into long-term, revenue-generating contracts?

Market reaction reflects a shift in perception

The sharp share price move suggests investors are starting to price in that possibility.

While the Mayo agreement itself does not materially change near-term earnings forecasts, it shifts the narrative around execution risk. Securing one of the most influential healthcare institutions in the world reduces uncertainty around clinical acceptance  a major hurdle for any new diagnostic technology.

It also reinforces the idea that CT:VQ could evolve from a niche innovation into a broader standard of care in lung imaging, particularly if further deployments follow and clinical data continues to build.

For now, the story remains in its early commercial phase. But with six top-tier US hospitals now on board in under a year, 4DMedical has moved into a different category  one where the conversation is no longer about whether the technology works, but how far and how fast it can scale.
About this content 

About Jamie Ashcroft

Jamie Ashcroft, the News Editor for Proactive UK, has developed an impressive career in financial journalism, focusing on the small-cap sector for over fourteen years. Before joining the Proactive team, he was a stockbroker during the global financial crisis, a role that complemented his educational background - a first-class degree in Business and Economics and qualifications in software design and development. As one of the early external hires at Proactive in 2009, Jamie contributed... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
About this content 

About 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.
An aerial drone photo taken on March 19, 2026 shows photovoltaic devices on the roof of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) International Conference Center and the BFA hotel in the Boao zero-carbon demonstration zone in Boao, south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

BOAO, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Since the "Boao Near-Zero Carbon Demonstration Zone" was renamed the "Boao Zero-Carbon Demonstration Zone" in March 2025, the area has achieved notable progress in energy conservation and carbon reduction and has fully entered a stage of normalized zero-carbon operation. According to measured data, energy-related carbon dioxide emissions from buildings and municipal infrastructure in the zone dropped from 11,350.1 tonnes in 2019 to about 14.6 tonnes in 2025, a reduction of 99.9 percent. The zone generated 29 million kWh of green electricity a year, meeting its yearly power demand of about 19.4 million kWh, with the remaining 9.6 million kWh fed into the grid.

An aerial drone photo taken on March 19, 2026 shows the Boao zero-carbon demonstration zone in Boao, south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

An aerial drone photo taken on March 19, 2026 shows the Dongyu Island Hotel in the Boao zero-carbon demonstration zone in Boao, south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

This photo taken on March 23, 2026 shows the outdoor photovoltaic floor tiles in the Boao zero-carbon demonstration zone in Boao, south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

An aerial drone photo taken on March 19, 2026 shows photovoltaic devices on the roof of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) International Conference Center and the BFA hotel in the Boao zero-carbon demonstration zone in Boao, south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

This photo taken on March 23, 2026 shows an operation management center of the Boao zero-carbon demonstration zone in Boao, south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

An electric vehicle is seen on a street in the Boao zero-carbon demonstration zone in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

Editor: ZAD
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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

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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.

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.

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Washington, March 25 : US President Donald Trump said that Iran had offered what he described as a significant oil-and-gas-related gesture tied to the Strait of Hormuz, using it as evidence that the United States was now dealing with interlocutors capable of reaching a deal.

Speaking in the Oval Office during the swearing-in of Markwayne Mullin as Homeland Security Secretary, Trump said, "We're in negotiations right now," adding that "the other side, I can tell you, they'd like to make a deal".

He said the development followed a shift in leadership inside Iran. "We have really regime change," Trump said, adding that "the leaders are all very different than the ones that we started off with".

Trump said the United States was in contact with a new group of Iranian officials and cited what he called a "present" from Tehran as a sign of progress. "They gave us a present and the present arrived today," he said. "It was a very big present, worth a tremendous amount of money."

He later clarified that the gesture was "oil and gas related" and linked to maritime flows. When asked if it was connected to the Strait of Hormuz, Trump replied, "Yeah, it was related to the flow and to the Strait."

The president said the move showed that Washington was now engaging "the right people". "They said they were going to do it and it happened and they're the only ones that could have done it," he said.

Trump maintained that any deal would hinge on Iran's nuclear programme. "They cannot have a nuclear weapon," he said, adding, "they're not going to have a nuclear weapon". He also said, "they've agreed they will never have a nuclear weapon".

At the same time, he said the US had held off on further military action while talks continued. Referring to a planned strike on a major Iranian power facility, Trump said, "we held off based on the fact that we're negotiating".

He repeatedly argued that Iran was negotiating from a weakened position. "They have no Navy left, they have no Air Force left," he said, adding that much of their military capability had been destroyed.

Trump said US forces had established dominance over Iranian airspace. "We are roaming free over Tehran," he said, adding that US forces "can do whatever we want".

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed that assessment, saying, "Never in history has a modern military been so rapidly and historically obliterated, defeated".

Trump said the administration was pursuing a dual-track approach of military pressure and diplomacy. "We are in about the best bargaining position," he said, while stressing that the objective was to end the conflict without further loss of life.

"I'd like to be able to do that," he said, referring to avoiding additional strikes. "If we can end this without more lives being down I'd like to be able to do that."

He also suggested that Iran's outreach was driven by its current position. "Who wouldn't, if you were there?" he said when asked why Tehran would seek a deal.

Despite the ongoing talks, Trump said he did not trust the Iranian side. "I don't trust anybody," he said. "I don't trust them."

Still, he expressed confidence that negotiations would produce results. "They're going to make a deal," he said.

The president described the situation as a potential turning point in the conflict, saying, "I think we're going to end it," while adding, "I can't tell you for sure".

He also reiterated that the US would maintain pressure until its core objective was met. "It starts with no nuclear weapons," Trump said. "There won't be any nuclear weapons."
Washington, March 25 : US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said that Department of Homeland Security employees working "30 days without pay" showed their dedication, vowing to stand with them "365 days" as a funding impasse continues.

Washington, March 25 (IANS) US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said that Department of Homeland Security employees working "30 days without pay" showed their dedication, vowing to stand with them "365 days" as a funding impasse continues.

Mullin made the remarks after being sworn in at the Oval Office by Attorney General Pam Bondi, taking charge of the department at a time of political deadlock over funding in Congress.

"I got the privilege of meeting so many of the employees at DHS," Mullin said. "These employees have been there for 30 days without pay."

He said their continued service reflected commitment to national security. "If you need anything to know their dedication to show up and still protect the homeland that you and I enjoy and the freedoms that we're experiencing," he said. "They're working for free because of political politics."

Mullin said he would match that commitment. "As you're fighting 365 days, understand I'll be fighting 365 days beside you," he said.

He also outlined his personal approach to the job. "No one's going to outwork me, and I'm not going to let any of them outwork me," Mullin said. "The president has entrusted me with this, and failure is not an option."

The Oklahoma Republican struck a unifying tone, saying his role would be non-partisan. "I don't care what color your state is, I don't care if you're red or blue," he said. "At the end of the day, my job is to be Secretary of Homeland and to protect everybody the same."

President Donald Trump, who presided over the ceremony, praised Mullin as a "great American patriot" and said he would lead the department with strength and fairness.

Trump also used the occasion to criticise Democrats over the funding standoff, saying the department had been "shut down" after lawmakers "blocked all funding for DHS".

The president linked the funding dispute to broader policy differences on immigration and enforcement, accusing Democrats of trying to shield "illegal alien criminals, gang members".

He said the administration would continue efforts to remove such individuals from the country. "Every single illegal migrant who has a criminal record must be deported immediately," Trump said.

During the event, Trump also highlighted his administration's record on border security. He said the United States had created "the most secure border in the United States history" and achieved "the largest drop in illegal immigration ever recorded".

Mullin's appointment marks a transition in leadership at the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees border enforcement, immigration, transportation security and disaster response.

Created after the September 11, 2001 attacks, DHS is one of the largest federal departments and plays a central role in domestic security.

Mullin, who has served in Congress for more than a decade, has been a close ally of Trump and an advocate for stricter border enforcement and immigration controls.
BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday that all hotspot issues should be resolved through dialogue and negotiation, rather than through the use of force.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the urge in a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi at the latter's request.

Araghchi briefed Wang on the latest developments in the regional situation. Thanking China for providing emergency humanitarian assistance, he said the Iranian people are more united in resisting foreign aggression and safeguarding the country's sovereignty and independence.

Iran is committed to achieving a comprehensive end to the war, rather than merely a temporary ceasefire, Araghchi said. The Strait of Hormuz is open to all and ships can pass safely, but countries at war with Iran are not under consideration, he said.

He expressed the hope that measures taken by all parties would help de-escalate the situation rather than intensify the conflict, expecting China to continue playing a positive role in promoting peace and ending the war.

For his part, Wang reiterated China's principled position, saying that dialogue is always better than continued fighting. This serves the interests of Iran and its people, and also reflects the common aspiration of the international community, he said.

Wang called on all parties to the conflict to seize every opportunity and window for peace, and start peace talks as soon as possible.

China will continue to uphold an objective and impartial stance, oppose violations of other countries' sovereignty, actively promote peace and ceasefire, and work for regional peace and stability, Wang said.

Editor: Xiong Jian
Mumbai, March 25 : Veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan, celebrated for crafting some of Bollywood's finest comedies, says he does not laugh at his own films.

The director, in an exclusive conversation with IANS, admitted that making comedy has been one of the most challenging aspects of his career.

"I have suffered a lot making comedy films. When I rewatch my own films that have become huge hits, I just don't feel like laughing," Priyadarshan said in an exclusive conversation with IANS.

He added that audience reactions in theatres reassure him about the impact of his work. "But in the theatre I see the response and the impact it had created on the audience."

I feel you can't watch the same scene for ten times. But there are people watching it twenty times, thirty times."

Calling comedy one of the most difficult genres, he said, "This is the most difficult thing. Every time I get shivers when I try humour and horror or humour with thrill. I mean it's very, very difficult. I can say that for sure."

The Bhool Bhulaiyaa director concluded on a reflective note, quipping that he may have to step away from the genre. "I have to stop this business soon. I have decided," he said.

The ace filmmaker is now gearing up for his upcoming project "Bhoot Bangla," which marks his reunion with actor Akshay Kumar afte many years.

The film also stars Tabu, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Wamiqa Gabbi and late veteran star Asrani in key roles.

The movie is expected to bring back Priyadarshan's signature blend of comedy and chaos.

The much-anticipated film is slated for release on the 10th of April 2026.

IANS

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-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Washington, March 25 : A bitter partisan clash erupted in the US Senate as Republicans accused federal investigators of orchestrating a sweeping abuse of power in their inquiries into Donald Trump, likening the effort to a "modern Watergate," while Democrats dismissed the claims as unfounded and defended the investigations as routine law enforcement.

At a combative Judiciary subcommittee hearing titled "Arctic Frost," Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, said the Justice Department under former President Joe Biden had authorised a far-reaching probe that intruded into "approximately 100,000 private communications" and targeted "more than a dozen Senators and thousands of individuals lives."

"It is a modern Watergate," Cruz said, arguing that the investigation went beyond past scandals because it was "fully authorized, formalized, and executed through the official powers of the United States government."

He alleged that nearly 200 subpoenas were issued, covering more than 400 Republican-aligned individuals and organisations, including political groups, donors, and lawyers. Among the targets, he said, were entities linked to Trump's political network, including his campaign and affiliated organisations.

Republicans focused heavily on the use of subpoenas to obtain phone "toll records," including those of lawmakers. Cruz said the FBI had collected data from "nearly 20 per cent of the Republicans in the Senate," describing it as an unprecedented intrusion. Senator Mike Lee of Utah called the investigation "a development of staggering proportions," while Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana questioned why telecommunications companies complied with the orders.

Witnesses invited by Republicans echoed those concerns. Will Chamberlain, a legal analyst, pointed to reports that the FBI recorded a phone call between Trump campaign adviser Susie Wiles and her lawyer. If done without consent, he said, "we are likely looking at an illegal wiretap." He also criticised the use of internal FBI systems to restrict access to certain files, saying such practices could prevent oversight.

Democrats countered that the hearing itself was politically motivated and ignored the underlying reasons for the investigation into Trump and his allies. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island said subpoenas for phone records were a standard part of criminal inquiries.

"Of course they did," he said of investigators seeking such records. "Virtually every investigation involves subpoenas for toll records for any number of reasons."

Whitehouse argued that individuals such as Kash Patel and Wiles were relevant to the investigation. Patel, he said, had made himself "a fact witness," while Wiles was referenced in the classified documents case involving Trump.

Democrats repeatedly pressed Republicans to call Special Counsel Jack Smith  who led the investigations  to testify under oath. "Why not call him? Hear it from the man himself?" Whitehouse said.

Another Democratic senator described the hearing as "a baseless partisan witch hunt," while Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii said Republicans were "milking a dead cow" by revisiting issues already examined.

Christopher O'Leary, a former senior FBI official who testified as a witness, defended the bureau's institutional processes and rejected claims of a politically driven conspiracy. He said investigations are based on "facts, intelligence and evidence, not ideology or affiliation."

O'Leary warned, however, that recent dismissals of FBI personnel had caused "generational damage" to national security capabilities, particularly in counterintelligence operations.

-- Syndicated from IANS
Washington, March 25 : Senior Pentagon officials told lawmakers that the US military is accelerating efforts to build large stockpiles of low-cost weapons, even as it maintains reliance on high-end munitions for future conflicts.

Appearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Lt. Gen. Steve Whitney, Director of Force Structure, Resources and Assessment (J8) at the Joint Staff, said the push is aimed at creating a balanced arsenal.

"Low-cost and developmental munitions can complement the traditional munitions in our arsenal, and we call this a high, low mix," Whitney said. "And to be perfectly clear, both are needed."

The hearing underscored growing concern in Congress that current spending remains heavily skewed toward expensive systems. Chairman Roger Wicker noted that a recent Pentagon plan allocated about 97 per cent of funds to high-cost munitions and just 3 per cent to lower-cost alternatives.

Whitney said that ratio is expected to evolve but cautioned against quick projections. "I think it's going to be a couple of years before we have a good understanding of what the true end balance is," he said.

Navy Rear Adm. Elizabeth S. Okano, principal military deputy assistant secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition), said the Navy is undergoing a "fundamental shift in how we arm the fleet."

"We need deeper magazines, and we need them now," Okano told lawmakers, outlining a three-phase approach to stabilise production, bring in new industry players, and scale output.

She pointed to increased funding for programmes like the Tomahawk and Standard Missile, and said new initiatives such as the Multi-mission Affordable Capacity Effector (Mace) aim to deliver cheaper, scalable weapons. Industry, she said, has been challenged to produce such systems for "no more than 300,000 per round" and field them by 2027.

Major General Frank J. Lozano, Program Executive Officer for Missiles and Space at Redstone Arsenal, said the Army is opening the door to non-traditional companies to speed up innovation and reduce costs.

"Smaller new companies who have never done business with the Army before are proving new capabilities and providing the department with potential new options and affordability and scalability," Lozano said.

He cited a venture-backed firm developing the Blackbeard Ground Launch System, noting it had already conducted "at least 25 test events over the past year using their own capital."

An Air Force acquisition official said recent programmes have dramatically shortened timelines. In one case, the official said, the process from concept to contract took four months, while prototypes were flying "in 4 to 7 months," with production beginning "14 months from the first idea."

Lawmakers raised concerns over bottlenecks in supply chains, skilled labour shortages and limited access to testing ranges. One official acknowledged that "the congestion rate, the access to ranges may continue to be an issue going forward."

Officials also pointed to lessons from Ukraine, where rapid iteration has become critical. Whitney said the conflict highlighted "the rapid pace of innovation," while another official noted systems there can be modified "sometimes within a couple of days."

The Pentagon's shift toward lower-cost, high-volume weapons reflects lessons from recent conflicts where munitions are consumed at a far faster rate than anticipated.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Seoul, March 25 : A South Korean national detained in the Philippines was temporarily repatriated to South Korea on Wednesday to face an investigation into alleged cross-border drug trafficking, Cheong Wa Dae said.

The convicted criminal, Park Wang-yeol, has been serving a 60-year prison sentence in the Philippines since 2022 for killing three South Koreans in 2016. The 48-year-old is also suspected of smuggling drugs into South Korea through accomplices via social media platforms and is known as a "drug kingpin" operating under the Telegram alias "Worldwide."

Park arrived at Incheon International Airport, just west of Seoul, aboard an Asiana Airlines passenger flight at 6:34 a.m.

He was seen handcuffed and surrounded by dozens of police and justice ministry officials as he left the airport to be transferred to the Gyeonggi Bukbu Provincial Police.

The repatriation comes about three weeks after President Lee Jae Myung requested Manila's cooperation during summit talks with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., following more than nine years of efforts by Seoul to secure his return.

"Park's repatriation demonstrates the government's firm commitment to ensuring that criminals hiding overseas are held accountable by all means," presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing.

Upon his arrival, slated for Wednesday morning, law enforcement authorities will immediately take Park into custody and launch a full-scale investigation into the drug trafficking allegations, according to a cross-border crime response task force.

Park is being brought to South Korea under the extradition treaty between the two countries, which allows for temporary repatriation for criminal proceedings by suspending trial or the execution of a sentence in the Philippines, Yonhap news agency reported.

"The government will thoroughly uncover all criminal activities committed by Park and ensure he is strictly punished by tracking down his accomplices and illicit proceeds to the end," Kang said.

The government will step up efforts to combat transnational crimes and strengthen international coordination in pursuing fugitives abroad, the spokesperson added.
New Delhi, March 25 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday extended his best wishes to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on his birthday, and stated that he has been at the forefront of several initiatives aimed at the state's comprehensive development.

Taking to the social media platform X, the Prime Minister said, aBest wishes to the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Dr. Mohan Yadav Ji on his birthday. He is at the forefront of many initiatives aimed at furthering all-round development of Madhya Pradesh. Praying for his long and healthy life."

Mohan Yadav was born on this day in 1965 in Ujjain. He completed his Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) from Ujjain University and went on to pursue higher education at the same institution. He earned degrees in Law (LLB), Master of Arts (MA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

CM Yadav showed an early interest in politics and was associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. He formally entered electoral politics in 2013, contesting from the Ujjain South constituency in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections. He secured victory by defeating Congress candidate Jaysingh Darbar by a margin of 9,652 votes, polling 73,108 votes against Darbaras 63,456.

He was re-elected in the 2018 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections from the same constituency. In that election, he won by a margin of 18,960 votes, defeating Congress candidate Rajendra Vashishtha Raju Bhaiya.

In 2020, Yadav was inducted into the Madhya Pradesh Cabinet under then Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, where he served as the stateas Higher Education Minister until 2023.

In the 2023 Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, he once again contested from the Ujjain South constituency and emerged victorious. On December 11, 2023, the BJP announced Mohan Yadav as the 19th Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, marking a significant milestone in his political career.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Seoul, March 25 : The South Korean won rose further against the US dollar on Wednesday as US President Donald Trump continued to signal the possibility of a swift end to the ongoing Middle East conflict.

The won opened at 1,493 per dollar, up 2.2 won from the previous session, reports Yonhap news agency.

The currency had surged to 1,495.2 won per dollar Tuesday, recovering from a 17-year low of 1,517.3 won in the previous session after Trump said that he had ordered a five-day postponement of threatened strikes on Iranian energy facilities and that negotiations were under way to end the conflict.

Tehran, however, has denied claims that it has been in contact with the United States, calling them an attempt to manipulate energy prices and stock markets, according to foreign media reports.

Domestic and global foreign exchange and stock markets have experienced heightened volatility as U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran that began late last month have escalated into a broader regional conflict.

Global oil prices have risen markedly as the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively shut since the start of the conflict, disrupting global oil supplies.

Meanwhile, the value of South Korea's virtual asset market dipped 8 percent in the second half of last year from six months earlier, largely on falling prices of key cryptocurrencies, data showed on Wednesday.

The market capitalisation of the virtual asset market came to 87.2 trillion won (US$58.4 billion) as of end-December, down 7.9 trillion won from six months ago, according to the data from the Financial Services Commission (FSC).

The total value of Korean won deposits made by traders rose 1.9 trillion won, or 31 percent, to 8.1 trillion won during the July-December period, while the operating profit of market operators dipped 38 percent to 381 billion won over the cited period.

There were 27 virtual asset market operators in South Korea as of end-2025, including 18 crypto exchanges, according to the financial regulator.

During the July-December period, the average value of daily crypto transactions reached 5.4 trillion won, down 15 percent from the daily average of 6.4 trillion won in the first half of 2025, according to the FSC.

The number of market users gained 3 percent to some 11.13 million over the cited period.

a"IANS

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Sydney, March 25 : Australian police have charged a man over an alleged attempt to smuggle 20 kg of heroin into the country from Thailand.

The Australian Border Force (ABF) and Australian Federal Police (AFP) said on Wednesday that the 26-year-old man from the state of New South Wales was selected for a baggage examination on arrival at Sydney Airport on a flight from Bangkok on January 24.

During the examination, ABF officers located 34 vacuum-sealed bags containing a combined 20 kg of heroin.

According to authorities, the heroin had an estimated value of 10 million Australian dollars ($7 million) and could have supplied 100,000 street deals.

The case was turned over to AFP officers, who arrested the 26-year-old and charged him with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

AFP Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden said that the attempted importation highlights the determination of organized crime groups to exploit international travel pathways for profit, Xinhua news agency reported.

Earlier on December 8, Australian authorities had charged a New Zealand national after 21 kg of heroin was located hidden in luggage at Sydney Airport.

The AFP and ABF had said in a joint statement that the 21-year-old man from New Zealand had been selected for a baggage examination on arrival at Sydney Airport on a flight from Thailand.

During the examination, ABF officers had allegedly located 21 vacuum-sealed bags containing a white powdered substance. Subsequent testing returned a positive result for heroin, which had an estimated total weight of 21 kg.

AFP officers had seized the packages and charged the man with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug. At the time, authorities had noted that if convicted, he faced a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

According to authorities, the seized volume of heroin had an estimated value of over 10 million Australian dollars ($6.6 million) and could have supplied around 100,000 street-level deals.
March 25 : Lucknow: Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Government of Uttar Pradesh has made extensive and multidimensional efforts in the past 9 years in the fields of workers welfare, social security, and employment generation.

Keeping Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths spirit of 'Shramev Jayate' at the centre, the Uttar Pradesh Government has implemented several schemes for workers in both organized and unorganized sectors, construction workers, self-employed individuals, and their family members.

The successful implementation of these schemes has provided economic and social support to workers across the state.

Moreover, the workers, who are the foundation of the states new development, are actively contributing towards realizing Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths vision of a Viksit Bharat and a Viksit Uttar Pradesh.

In the 9 years of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths effective leadership, the most significant achievement in the direction of workers empowerment has been Uttar Pradesh attaining the first position in the country in registrations on the e-Shram portal.

So far, more than 8.42 crore unorganized workers have been registered on the e-Shram portal in the state. The e-Shram portal not only ensures the identification of workers but also serves as a base for linking them with various government schemes.

Along with this, more than 9.52 crore Jan Dhan accounts have been opened for workers in the state, making it possible to provide direct financial assistance to them.

With the objective of increasing employment opportunities in the state, the Yogi Government constituted the UP Rozgar Mission, under which efforts are being made to provide employment to youth in India and abroad.

Notably, under the Rozgar Mission, more than 5,978 construction workers from the state have been provided employment abroad in Israel. At the same time, 59,602 skilled workers have been registered on the Seva Mitra portal and connected with services.

In this sequence, more than 15.96 lakh youth have received job opportunities through 13,148 employment fairs organized to promote employment generation in the private sector. Additionally, more than 32 lakh youth have been provided guidance through 28,621 career counselling programs.

The governments objective is not only to provide employment but also to enable youth for self-employment by offering skill training and other support.

Under the guidance of Chief Minister, several important schemes are being implemented to provide social and life security to workers. In this regard, financial assistance of 5 lakh is provided in case of accidental death of a registered worker, and 2 lakh in case of natural death.

Furthermore, the government has extended the scope of security even to unregistered unorganized workers. In case of death or complete disability due to an accident, assistance of 2 lakh is provided, while 1 lakh is given in case of partial disability.

Additionally, there is a provision of assistance ranging from 2 lakh to 4 lakh in case of disability. In case of death at the workplace, 5 lakh assistance is provided along with 25,000 for last rites.

The Yogi Government has also implemented several schemes for the social welfare of workers family members. Under these, assistance of up to 55,000 is provided for the marriage of daughters of registered workers, and 61,000 is provided for inter-caste marriages.

Under the maternity, infant, and girl child assistance scheme, more than 6 lakh beneficiaries have received support. Under the Bal Shramik Vidya Yojana, destitute and seriously ill working children are being given monthly assistance of 1,000 for boys and 1,200 for girls.

Moreover, with the aim of providing free, quality, and purpose-oriented education to the children of workers, Atal Residential Schools have been established in all 18 divisions of the state.

Additionally, under the Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Shramik Technical Education Assistance Scheme, workers are being encouraged to pursue technical education.

In the past 9 years, several concrete steps have also been taken to improve housing facilities and the standard of living of workers in the state. Under this, the process of providing free housing to sanitation workers is ongoing, while loans are being made available to construction workers through banks and cooperative institutions under the housing assistance scheme.

Along with this, work on the construction of labour hubs is also in progress. Under the PM Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana, 7,04,865 workers have been registered in Uttar Pradesh, while 16,457 small traders have been connected under the Pradhan Mantri Laghu Vyapari Maandhan Yojana. More than 93 lakh people in the state have benefited so far through the Atal Pension Yojana.

In addition, more than 7 crore unorganized workers have been provided ration cards and family IDs, ensuring their access to government schemes. Furthermore, in the 9 years of the Yogi Government, comprehensive and effective steps have been taken to improve the standard of living of workers, provide them economic and social security, and create employment opportunities.

These efforts have not only empowered workers but have also contributed significantly to the overall development of the state.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 25 : The controversy over the appearance of the BJP's seal on an official Election Commission circular continued to intensify in Kerala, with police action over the past two days adding a fresh layer of tension to the issue.

Thiruvananthapuram, March 25 (IANS) The controversy over the appearance of the BJPas seal on an official Election Commission circular continued to intensify in Kerala, with police action over the past two days adding a fresh layer of tension to the issue.

In a sweeping move, the Kerala Police have issued notices to 270 X (formerly Twitter) handles, 200 Facebook pages and 90 Instagram accounts that shared the image of the controversial circular.

Acting on police directives, Facebook and Instagram have removed posts carrying the image, while several posts remain accessible on X, raising questions over uneven enforcement across platforms.

The development has triggered strong reactions within the state, with critics alleging that law enforcement is being used to curb online discourse rather than address the core issue.

Concerns are being raised over freedom of expression, particularly as the notices target users who circulated content linked to a matter of public interest.

The controversy dates back to the circulation of an official communication attributed to the Election Commission in which a BJP seal was seen affixed, sparking immediate debate over the neutrality of the constitutional body.

The image quickly went viral on social media, prompting demands for clarification.

The Election Commission subsequently indicated that the presence of the seal was a mistake, but the explanation did little to quell the growing unease.

Over the past 48 hours, the focus has shifted from the circular itself to the police response.

Legal experts and observers point out that while misinformation and doctored content must be addressed, any action must be proportionate and transparent, especially when it involves a constitutional institution.

The incident has also come at a politically sensitive time, with Kerala heading into an election season where institutional credibility is under close scrutiny.

The absence of a detailed and public clarification from authorities has only added to the uncertainty, allowing speculation to persist. Kerala goes to the polls on April 9 to elect 140 new legislators.

As the row deepens, the twin issues of institutional accountability and the limits of policing online speech are likely to remain at the centre of public debate in the state.
Hyderabad, March 25 : The makers of director Aditya Rao Gangasani's upcoming entertainer 'DeThadi', featuring actor Ashish in the lead, have now released an interesting glimpse video that shows that the story will revolve around a celebrated drum artiste.

Hyderabad, March 25 (IANS) The makers of director Aditya Rao Gangasani's upcoming entertainer 'DeThadi', featuring actor Ashish in the lead, have now released an interesting glimpse video that shows that the story will revolve around a celebrated drum artiste.

The glimpse video, which the makers released, offers a lively and colourful introduction to the world of its protagonist, Ghannu Bhai, a celebrated drum artiste who brings energy to festivities and celebrations across Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

Ghannu Bhai and his troupe are admired for their remarkable stamina, carrying nearly seven kilos of drums and performing for hours without pause. Yet, beneath the joyful beats lie an unmistakable sense of dignity and self-respect, something the Glimpse captures with subtle grace.

A big part of the freshness comes from Ashishas immersive performance. His rugged makeover- complete with an unkempt beard, fits the character seamlessly. His body language, his raw attitude, the way he downs alcohol, and the effortless Hyderabad slang add a strong mass flavour and authenticity to the portrayal.

Leading producers Dil Raju and Shirish, the driving forces behind Sri Venkateswara Creations, are backing 'DeThadi'.

For the unaware, Ashish, who plays the lead in this film, is best known for his work in 'Rowdy Boys' and 'Love Me'. The project marks the directorial debut of Aditya Rao Gangasani, who is crafting a narrative steeped in the flavours, moods, and everyday pulse of Hyderabad.

For a debutant, Aditya Rao Gangasani handles the storytelling with remarkable command, showcasing Ashishas character with surprising finesse and cinematic attitude.

The film has been mounted on a grand scale by Sri Venkateswara Creations and Dil Raju Production.

The stamp of Prasanna Kumar Bezawada, who serves as screenplay writer, dialogue writer, and creative head, is clearly visible. The visuals look vivid and energetic, while music director Junaid Kumar amplifies the celebratory mood with pulsating drum-driven beats.

The glimpse video was unveiled in a spectacular fashion, with over 500 drummers thundering in unison and filling the atmosphere with electrifying energy.
BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- China is deeply shocked that a man claiming to be an active-duty officer of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (SDF) forcibly broke into the Chinese embassy in Tokyo by climbing over a wall in the morning, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press briefing on Tuesday.

According to Lin, the man admitted that his act was illegal and he also threatened to kill Chinese diplomatic personnel in the so-called "name of god."

Lin said that China has lodged strong demarches and protests with Japan, adding that the incident is a serious violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and posed a grave threat to the safety and security of Chinese diplomatic personnel and facilities. "The incident is egregious in both nature and impact."

The incident once again highlighted the danger of the rampant spread of far-right impact and neo-militarism in the country, the spokesperson said.

It also reveals the toxicity of the Japanese government's erroneous policies on vital issues concerning China-Japan relations such as history and Taiwan, and Japan's failure in maintaining discipline in SDF and in fulfilling its responsibility to protect the Chinese diplomatic and consular premises and personnel, Lin added.

The Chinese side urges the Japanese side to immediately conduct a thorough investigation into the incident, severely punish those involved, and provide a responsible explanation to China, Lin said.

The Japanese side must ensure the safety and security of Chinese diplomatic and consular premises and personnel, reflect on and correct its erroneous policies on China, and get rid of the root cause for such incidents once and for all, Lin said.

The international community needs to stay on high alert against Japan's accelerating rightward turn and loss of control inside the rapidly expanding SDF, the spokesperson added.

Editor: Xiong Jian
Mumbai, March 25 : Actress Sonal Chauhan has expressed her concerns over the disturbing events taking place across the world.

Mumbai, March 25 (IANS) Actress Sonal Chauhan has expressed her concerns over the disturbing events taking place across the world.

The actress said that all of it reflects the cruelty of the times we live in.Taking to her social media account, the actress shared a note expressing her thoughts and deep emotions.

She wrote, "To everyone asking if I am ok  By God's garce I am absolutely fine  but THE WORLD IS NOT !!! I've been deeply disturbed by what has been happening in the world. A little girl being raped while the man walks away saying 'jo bhi hua aaj maza aa gaya' .(sic)"

"A small child being tortured in front of his father . Old parents being abandoned by their own children. WHERE DOES THIS END ?!?? Will we ever just get up and say - THIS IS IT !!! ??? Everything that could be wrong, is wrong with this world. We are truly living in a VERY CRUEL world (sic)"

Sonal's concern and post on social media reflects on the grim situation the world currently seems to be in.

A few weeks ago, Sonam Chauhan had also made headlines after being stranded in Dubai amid escalating war tensions, as the airspace was temporarily shut down back then.

She had made an appeal to the Government of India for assistance and was later safely brought back.

The actress had also penned a note thanking the Indian authorities for their swift response and support.

Talking about Sonal Chauhan on the professional front, the actress made her Bollywood debut with Jannat opposite Emraan Hashmi.

IANS

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Dhaka, March 25 : As Bangladesh observes Genocide Day on Wednesday, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tribute to the millions of people killed during the 1971 brutal crackdown by Pakistani forces.

Recalling it as the most horrific night in the life of the Bangladeshi people, Hasina said on March 25, 1971, the Pakistani military launched "Operation Searchlight", beginning a systematic campaign to exterminate the Bangladeshi Bengalis.

"Within nine months, the death toll of this brutal genocide rose to over 3 million. Since such extreme brutality had no precedent in Bengali history, an exact Bengali term for 'genocide' has never truly emerged; the commonly used word 'genocide' is applied to convey its meaning," read a statement issued by the former PM, which was posted by Awami League on its social media platform X.

"On this dark night, I remember the great leader of the Bengali liberation struggle, the Father of the Nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was arrested that very night by the occupying Pakistani forces. I pay my respects to the countless martyrs whose sacred blood has stained this soil," she added.

Hasina stated that to ensure that the "atrocities and barbarity" committed by the occupying Pakistani forces are recognised both nationally and internationally, the Awami League government during its tenure made a historic declaration on March 11, 2017, in the national Parliament, marking March 25 as 'Genocide Day'.

"We have sought to inform the world about the heavy price of our independence and to strengthen the global demand for justice for this genocide," said the former PM.

Hasina stressed that despite domestic and international "conspiracies and pressure", the former Awami League government ensured that several identified perpetrators of crimes against humanity face exemplary punishment through due legal process.

"This was not an act of vengeance," she said, "but a necessary step toward justice, the rule of law, and ending the culture of impunity."

Slamming the former Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, Hasina said, "During the tenure of the Yunus government, this trial process was halted, and convicted war criminals were released. A death-row war criminal was even made a member of the National Parliament, thereby dishonouring the sacrifice of millions of martyrs."

"In continuation of this trend, there are ongoing efforts to deliberately undermine the sacred memory of the martyrs and to rehabilitate collaborators of the perpetrators and defeated forces in various ways. This is not only a distortion of history but also an attack on the spirit of the freedom fight," she added.

Emphasising the unity shown during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, the former PM said that any attempt to rehabilitate the killers and reintroduce Pakistani ideology in the country must be resisted through national solidarity.
New Delhi, March 25 : For Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, countering the pro-Iran Shia mobilisation in the country is increasingly becoming a headache. For Pakistan, countering this mobilisation is important as it is threatening to become bigger. However, the dilemma the establishment faces is that it cannot use its official machinery to take on the mobilisation of the Shias.

New Delhi, March 25 (IANS) For Pakistanas Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, countering the pro-Iran Shia mobilisation in the country is increasingly becoming a headache. For Pakistan, countering this mobilisation is important as it is threatening to become bigger. However, the dilemma the establishment faces is that it cannot use its official machinery to take on the mobilisation of the Shias.

Pakistan has chosen to mediate between Iran and the United States, and hence it needs to remain neutral. Any direct action against the Shia mobilisation would infuriate Iran, and this is something that Islamabad wants to avoid.

An official said that Pakistan has now brought back its proxies to take on this problem. The Pakistan Army chief has ordered hardline Sunni elements and leaders from the Sipah-e-Sabah (SeS) and Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) to take on the Shias who are mobilising in large numbers in support of Iran. These groups have, in the past, come to the rescue of the Pakistan establishment. When it comes to countering protesters who were seeking justice for jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, it was these elements who took to the streets.

The members of the SeS and JuD have the backing of the army and ISI and have been given a free hand to indulge in street violence against those who are questioning the establishment, an official said.

The SeS is a banned Sunni Deobandi Islamist organisation and a former political party that was founded in 1985. This outfit came into existence only to oppose Shia influence in Pakistan. The SeS has a history of being involved in sectarian conflicts, including violence with the Shia organisation, Shipah-e-Muhammad, Pakistan.

The JuD, on the other hand, is the charity wing of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. The JuD follows the Ahl-i Hadith interpretation of Islam, which is similar to Wahhabism and Salafism.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that by involving the SeS and JuD, the Pakistan army chief would look to put down the mobilisation of the Shia. Since these groups have no accountability, the violence would not be blamed on the state, but on two individual organisations. This helps in the deniability factor, when Pakistan speaks with Iran, the official added.

Such violence will no doubt be scrutinised internationally and by foreign Intelligence agencies. The establishment would, however, try to get away by putting the blame on the SeS and JuD, while stating that it has nothing to do with them.

Another official said that both groups have been given immunity by the establishment. This means that they can choose to act the way they please.

Another official said that with such a plan in place, one could anticipate street violence and bloody clashes with the Shias in Pakistan.

By trying to mediate between Iran and the US, Pakistan wants to place itself in a position of power. Pakistan also wants to claim geopolitical relevance by offering to mediate between the two warring nations.

Field Marshal Asim Munir has taken this task upon himself and has been engaging directly with Iranian President Masood Pezeshkian. He has also been leveraging his relations with some of the Gulf nations and the US.

With Pakistan wanting geopolitical relevance, it cannot afford to officially crush the mobilisation that is taking place in support of Iran. If Pakistan ends up angering Iran at this juncture, then Tehran may not come to the table. This would hurt Pakistanas ambitions of playing mediator and reclaiming geopolitical importance, another official said.

The JuD and the SeS have readily accepted what the Pakistan army chief has said, as they have done in the past. Officials say that both these outfits have had an agenda against the Shias for a long time, and hence the offer made by Field Marshal Munir is more than welcome for them.
New Delhi, March 25 : In the tense waters of the Strait of Hormuz, where global energy flows have come under disruption, a quiet but determined effort is underway by the Indian Navy to keep the country's energy supply undisrupted.

As Iran's restrictions ripple across international energy markets amid the West Asia conflict, India, through diplomacy, has secured permission from Tehran to pass its ships through the Strait of Hormuz and has managed to sustain the movement of its shipments.

The Indian Navy has been given the responsibility of ensuring the safe return of the oil tankers. But this is not a conventional escort mission. Naval personnel are not merely accompanying tankers; they are guiding them, step by step, through one of the world's most sensitive maritime passages.

The Indian Navy has launched 'Operation Urja Suraksha'. This operation entails the positioning of over five advanced warships in the vital maritime chokepoint of the Strait of Hormuz.

According to government officials, the Navy remains in constant contact with vessels preparing to exit the Persian Gulf. Each ship is guided individually through the Strait, with precise instructions on routes and procedures designed to ensure safe passage.

The approach is cautious and deliberate, reflecting the risks that lie beneath the surface.

Once the vessels clear the Strait, Indian Navy destroyers and frigates take over, escorting them through the initial stretch of their onward journey. It is a layered security arrangement, combining guidance with protection.

This effort is being supported by an increased naval presence in the Gulf of Oman, where adequate warships and logistical resources have been deployed to ensure that escort operations continue without interruption.

For the crews aboard these tankers, the journey is far from routine. Modern shipping relies heavily on navigation systems built on hydrographic charts -- detailed maps of the ocean floor that make safe passage possible. Without them, movement through such waters would be fraught with danger.

The risks are not theoretical. According to media reports, US Intelligence agencies have alleged that Iran has deployed underwater mines in and around the Strait of Hormuz. These mines, capable of causing severe damage, add to the uncertainty that vessels must navigate. Other potential threats in the region further heighten the sense of caution.

It is in this environment that the Indian Navy's guidance becomes critical. By directing Indian-flagged vessels along carefully identified safe routes, it helps crews avoid unseen hazards and move forward with a measure of confidence.

Much of this capability rests on hydrographic charts, which remain indispensable. Beneath the sea's surface lies a constantly changing landscape. Ocean depths vary widely -- from just a few metres near harbours to several thousand metres in open waters -- and natural events such as tsunamis can alter the seabed over time.

These charts are created by specialised survey vessels that scan the ocean floor, mapping its contours and identifying safe navigation channels. Across the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, a vast number of vessels -- ranging from warships to container carriers and oil tankers -- depend on charts produced by India.

The Indian Navy's hydrographic work extends beyond national waters. It also assists friendly countries, at their request, in surveying their Exclusive Economic Zones and preparing navigation charts. Agreements with several nations in the Indian Ocean Region allow India to contribute to safer maritime operations far beyond its own coastline.

Once prepared, these charts gain international acceptance and can be used by any country or commercial entity.

In a region marked by tension and uncertainty, this combination of guidance, expertise, and quiet coordination is helping ensure that ships continue to move -- carefully, steadily, and safely -- through one of the world's most critical waterways.
Hyderabad, March 25 : Chaos prevailed at petrol bunks across Hyderabad on Wednesday as rumours of fuel shortage due to the ongoing war in West Asia triggered panic buying by customers.

Long queues of motorists were seen at almost all retail outlets in the twin cities of Hyderabad, Secunderabad and the outskirts, even as authorities assured people that adequate stocks are available.

Hundreds of vehicles, including trucks, buses, vans and cars, were seen at major filling stations, leading to traffic jams. Motorists were seen waiting in queues for several hours to fill petrol and diesel.

Chaotic scenes were witnessed at fuel stations in the busy areas of Ameerpet, Khairatabad, Lakdi Ka Pul, Begumpet, Secunderabad, Nampally, Abids, Mehdipatnam, Koti, Attapur, Kukatpally, Erragadda, LB Nagar and Vanasthalipuram.

'No stock' boards were put up at several bunks as panic buying led to exhaustion of stocks in no time.

A similar situation prevailed in Medak, Mahabubnagar, Karimnagar, Warangal, Nirmal and other towns in Telangana.

Meanwhile, the Telangana Petroleum Dealers Association has assured people that there is no shortage of fuel, and adequate stock is available with HPCL, IOCL and BPCL

"Due to the circulation of false and misleading news regarding fuel shortage, many people are rushing to fuel stations and filling their tanks unnecessarily. This panic buying has led to an abnormal surge in sales -- nearly 2.5 to 3 times the normal levels -- resulting in temporary stock exhaustion at several retail outlets," said Marri Amarender Reddy, president of Telangana Petroleum Dealers Association.

He assured citizens that there is no shortage of fuel and that supply chains are functioning normally.

The association also cautioned citizens that carrying petrol or diesel in cans for storage is against Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) norms and poses a serious safety risk.

The Consumer Affairs, Food and Civil Supplies Department, Government of Telangana, categorically clarified that there is 'absolutely no shortage of petrol, diesel, or domestic LPG anywhere in the state.

The department said the supply chain from oil refineries to local depots is fully operational, and self-sufficient stock is available to meet the regular daily requirements of all citizens across all districts.

Recent reports of long queues and temporary "No Stock" boards at certain retail petrol outlets are strictly the result of sudden, unwarranted panic buying fuelled by false rumours. When citizens unnecessarily rush to fill their tanks to full capacity, it creates an artificial scarcity, despite adequate fuel being available at the depots.

The department also stated that recent administrative changes regarding advance-payment models by Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have caused minor, temporary logistical adjustments for some local dealers. This is solely an internal administrative measure and has nothing to do with a lack of supplies.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy will be holding a meeting with top officials later in the day to review the availability of petrol, diesel and LPG.
Chikkamagaluru : , March 25 (IANS) A young woman from Nagaland was found dead under suspicious circumstances in Chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka, on Wednesday.

Her body was discovered hanging at her residence in Aravindnagar, Chikkamagaluru city.

The deceased has been identified as 22-year-old Linsula. According to police, she was working at a resort. Preliminary investigations revealed that she had spoken to a person identified as Kivishe Kinimi for about half an hour prior to the incident. It has also come to light that she had mentioned the names Rajesh and Tejas in her diary.

Lashila Inchugar, connected to Linsula, has filed a complaint at the Basavanahalli police station against Rajesh and Tejas, alleging that they had been harassing her. Police have visited the spot and initiated further investigation.

Meanwhile, police sources confirmed that Linsula had mentioned in her diary that two youths, Rajesh and Tejas, were harassing her. She wrote that the two had begun subjecting her to physical and mental harassment under the pretext of love and a relationship.

Linsula had also noted this in her diary. She bore several responsibilities, including managing her family, taking care of her parents, and looking after their health. Despite facing harassment, she continued working while enduring it, police said.

The diary has been taken into police custody, and her family in Nagaland has been informed. More details are yet to emerge regarding the incident.

On, November 26, 2024, an incident of a 19-year-old woman from Assam, Maya Gogoi being stabbed to death in a Bengaluru hotel had come to light. The decomposed body of Maya Gogoi was found in service apartment that she booked with her boyfriend Aarav Harni. The investigations revealed that the accused boy friend had stayed with Maya Gogoi's dead body for a day.

As per the police, Harni stabbed Gogoi to death with a knife that he allegedly brought with him and stayed with the body for an entire day before walking out of the rented apartment in the Indiranagar area. Photos showed blood on a blanket and pillows in the room. A yellow nylon rope, that Harni allegedly ordered from a quick commerce site, is also seen on the floor.

During the investigation, the police found out that he had ordered a two-meter nylon rope from the quick commerce site Zepto.
New Delhi, March 25 : In a major crackdown on illegal LPG operations, the Delhi Police Crime Branch (ANTF) has seized 183 Indane gas cylinders from multiple godowns in Sangam Vihar, uncovering a significant hoarding and illegal refilling racket. Four accused, all registered delivery personnel of an authorised LPG agency, have been taken into custody.

Acting on specific and credible Intelligence, the Crime Branch conducted coordinated raids at three rented premises in the L Block area of Sangam Vihar, South Delhi. The operation, supervised by ACP Satendra Mohan, resulted in the recovery of 154 filled and 29 empty cylinders along with refilling equipment, exposing serious violations of safety norms and regulatory guidelines.

The accused  Sher Singh (35), Suraj Parihar (36), Raghu Raj Singh (53), and Jitender Sharma (39)  were found illegally storing cylinders meant for daily distribution and transferring LPG from filled cylinders into empty ones using iron pipes, iron pokers, and weighing scales. The illicitly-filled cylinders were then sold in the open market at higher rates, generating undue profits.

"The operation highlights a deliberate misuse of the LPG distribution system, exploiting the ongoing public concern over cylinder shortages," said DCP/ANTF Rahool Alwal.

Recoveries from the raids included: First Premises: 58 filled and 7 empty cylinders; 2 iron pipes, 1 iron poker, and 1 electronic weighing scale (accused: Sher Singh and Suraj Parihar)

Second Premises: 59 filled and 7 empty cylinders; 3 iron pipes, 1 iron poker, and 1 electronic weighing scale (accused: Raghu Raj Singh)

Third Premises: 37 filled and 15 empty cylinders; 1 iron pipe, 1 iron poker, and 1 electronic weighing scale (accused: Jitender Sharma)

The modus operandi involved careful extraction of 12 kg of LPG from each cylinder, which was then transferred into empty cylinders before being sold in the market. All four accused are registered delivery personnel of an authorised Indane LPG agency, responsible for distribution in Sangam Vihar.

A case has been registered under Sections 3 and 7 of the Essential Commodities Act and Section 125/3(5) BNS at the Crime Branch Police Station, and further investigation is underway.

The Delhi Police has assured that such actions will continue to ensure lawful distribution of essential commodities and prevent exploitation of residents.
Gandhinagar, March 25 : Gujarat government spokesperson and Minister Jitu Vaghani on Wednesday accused the Congress party of attempting to block the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill in the Assembly, warning that the people would respond by rejecting the party in the next elections.

Vaghani said, "The Congress members spoke in the House about 'defeating' the bill so that the mothers and sisters of the state do not receive equal rights," adding, "The people of Gujarat will respond by politically rejecting the Congress in the elections through their votes."

The bill was passed in the state Legislative Assembly on Tuesday following a discussion that lasted for over seven hours. Vaghani described the development as a historic moment and congratulated Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi for the passage of the Bill.

He said the legislation introduced by the Chief Minister reflected public sentiment. "Chief Minister Patel, popularly known as 'Dada', brought the UCC law in the Assembly, and it is not merely a Bill but the 'heart' of the people of Gujarat. This law echoes the demands and emotions of the people over many years," Vaghani said.

Referring to the origins of the UCC, he said the idea was envisioned by constitution makers such as B.R. Ambedkar, K. M. Munshi and Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer, and alleged that "Congress made several unsuccessful attempts in the Assembly to stall the bill".

Responding to questions raised by the opposition over the exclusion of tribal communities, Vaghani said, "The BJP government has constitutionally protected the traditional customs of tribal communities. The Congress is using tactics to mislead the tribal society."

He also questioned whether the opposition intended to include tribal groups in the Bill in a way that would affect their traditions. Vaghani further alleged that references by Congress to protests and court action indicated attempts to create unrest.

"Out of fear of elections, the Congress is attempting to derail the bill, whereas the BJP government works in accordance with the sentiments of the people of the state," he said.

He said a committee constituted for the UCC had, over the past year, sought views from citizens and political parties, with around 20 lakh people participating in the process. "The Congress has maintained an opposing stance towards the UCC from the very beginning," he added.

Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vaghani said, "No country can function with a 'dual legal system'. Equality before the law is the true spirit of the Constitution of India."

Referring to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, he added, "The UCC is not against any religion, but is in favour of equality and justice for all citizens."

He added that the UCC was not against any religion but aimed at ensuring equality and justice, particularly for women.
Bengaluru, March 25 : The Karnataka Police Department on Wednesday transferred the 'Zero FIR' registered in Bengaluru, in connection with the plane crash incident involving NCP leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, late Ajit Pawar, to the Maharashtra Police Department. The case file and related documents have also been sent as part of the transfer.

The Karnataka Police have also requested the Maharashtra Police to transfer the case to the jurisdictional Baramati Rural Police Station in Pune district, Maharashtra.

Karnataka Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Crime and Technical Services, P. Harishekaran, has written to the Maharashtra Director General of Police in this regard.

It may be recalled that a Zero FIR filed in Bengaluru alleged a larger criminal conspiracy behind the January 28, 2026 plane crash near Baramati Airport in Maharashtra, which killed Ajit Pawar and four others.

The complaint, filed on March 23 at the High Grounds Police Station by NCP(SP) MLA Rohit Rajendra Pawar, a nephew of the deceased, claims that the crash was the result of a planned conspiracy to eliminate Ajit Pawar. It also seeks to name all those responsible for the crime as accused.

In his letter, ADGP Harishekaran stated: "Please find enclosed the case file of the Bengaluru City High Grounds Police Station Zero FIR registered under Sections 61, 103, 105, 106, 125, 238, and 336(2) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), for transfer to Baramati Rural Police Station, Pune district, Maharashtra."

He further requested that the case be transferred to the Baramati Rural Police Station, Pune district, Maharashtra, on the grounds of jurisdiction. He also asked for an acknowledgement of receipt of the case file and related documents.

It can be recalled that the High Grounds police have registered the FIR under Sections 61, 103, 105, 106, 125, 238, and 336(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police noted the delay in filing was due to the complainant having approached various police stations in Maharashtra, where his complaint was not accepted, prompting him to file a Zero FIR in Bengaluru.

Rohit Pawar had alleged that he initially tried to register a case in Maharashtra, particularly at the Marine Drive Police Station in Mumbai and in Baramati. However, when those attempts failed, he went on to file the FIR in Bengaluru.

According to the complaint, the crash occurred between 8.43 A.M. and 8.45 A.M., when a Bombardier Learjet 45 aircraft, registration VT-SSK, operated by VSR Ventures Private Limited, went down while flying from Mumbai to Baramati. All five on board died in the plane crash.

The FIR, filed under Section 173(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, states that earlier approaches to the Marine Drive Police Station on February 25 and Baramati Police Station on February 26 did not result in FIR registration, while the Pune CID indicated it was examining only the Accidental Death Report angle.

The complainant has sought a full criminal investigation independent of the technical probe by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), alleging the crash was the result of a planned conspiracy to eliminate Ajit Pawar.

The FIR cites findings from a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) safety audit dated February 24, 2026, which reportedly found VSR aircraft negligent and unairworthy, leading to their grounding. 

It alleges that aircraft VT-SSK was operated in violation of safety standards, having logged approximately 4,915 flight hours, close to the mandatory engine overhaul limit of 5,000 hours.

The complaint further claims that actual flight hours may have exceeded 8,000, with under-reporting in official logbooks, amounting to the falsification of maintenance records and the continued use of an unsafe aircraft.

Weather conditions at the time of landing are also questioned. While a flying training organisation estimated visibility at 3,000 metres, Pune METAR data reportedly indicated about 2,000 metres with mist, and satellite imagery showed fog patches. 

Under Visual Flight Rules, landing is not permitted with less than 5 kilometres of visibility, yet clearance was allegedly granted.

The complaint also raises concerns about DGCA certification records, stating that the aircraft's airworthiness certificate was issued on December 16, 2021, before its registration certificate on December 27, 2022, contrary to standard procedure.

It further notes that the aircraft was previously registered in the United States as N80PQ and reportedly retired from service abroad, raising questions about due diligence during its import and certification in India.

The conduct and background of Chief Pilot Sumit Kapoor are highlighted. The complaint states he had prior alcohol-related violations in 2010 and 2017, leading to a three-year suspension by the DGCA, and had discontinued advanced Learjet training in the US due to alcohol issues. Despite this, he was assigned to operate the flight.

The originally scheduled crew was reportedly replaced at the last minute, with VSR claiming the initial crew was delayed in traffic. 

The complaint characterises this explanation as implausible and notes its lack of supporting evidence. 

It also alleges that Kapoor's financial vulnerability and past record made him susceptible to coercion, and claims a life insurance policy had recently been taken out in his name.

Additional irregularities cited include a last-minute change in the travel plans of Ajit Pawar, who had initially planned to travel by road on January 27 but remained in Mumbai. The flight itself was delayed by about 70 minutes from its scheduled 7 AM departure.

The complaint also points to operational anomalies during landing, including a switch from the initially requested Runway 29 to Runway 11 shortly before landing, and the absence of a go-around attempt despite a failed first approach.

In the final recorded moments, the co-pilot reportedly exclaimed, "Oh shit, oh shit," while the chief pilot remained silent, with no distress call or emergency response recorded.

The complaint states that these factors collectively indicate systematic violations, negligence, and a possible criminal conspiracy under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and seeks action against all those responsible.
Raipur/Bilaspur, March 25 : Panic gripped the Koni area of Bilaspur district in Chhattisgarh after approximately 4,744 chickens died suddenly at a state-run poultry farm, with laboratory tests confirming the cause as Bird Flu (Avian Influenza).

The outbreak has triggered an urgent multi-departmental response to prevent the virus from spreading to other farms or humans. The government poultry farm in Koni housed a total of 5,037 chickens.

Speaking to IANS, Dr G.S. Tanwar, Joint Director of the Veterinary Department, said, "Between March 19 and March 24, a large number of birds began dying mysteriously. On Monday, the Veterinary Department collected samples from the deceased chickens and rushed them to laboratories in Bhopal and Pune for testing. By late Tuesday night, the results confirmed the presence of the highly contagious avian influenza virus."

"We have taken immediate action and buried 22,808 hatchlings and other birds. Also, 80 quintals of feedstock and plastic utensils have been buried. Now we are sanitising steel and iron material to contain the disease," he added.

Samples of all workers inside the government owned poultry form have been tested and confirmed negative so far, the officer further said.

The administration has declared a one-kilometre radius around the farm as an Infected Zone and a 10-kilometre radius as a Surveillance Zone. Strict protocols are now in place. All remaining chickens, feed, and eggs in the Infected Zone have been culled and safely disposed of using scientific methods.

A complete ban has been imposed on the movement of poultry, eggs, and related materials from the zone. The Animal Husbandry Department will provide compensation to affected owners. A 'munadi', the traditional way of public announcement, has been initiated across the area, warning people not to sell their birds and instructing them to keep them indoors.

The administration has also restricted the sale of meat within a 1-10 km radius. "No bird can be transported in the area, nor will any bird (chicken) be allowed to enter the 10 km radius. People have been urged to immediately report in case they observe high mortality of birds in private possession, like poultry farms," the officer said.

The district administration has restricted movement in the containment zone, ordered intensive sampling and scientific culling, ensured safe disposal of infected material, and heightened vigilance in surrounding areas.

The Health Department has been asked to monitor the health of local residents and conduct necessary check-ups, while the Animal Husbandry Department will inspect all nearby poultry farms and enforce movement restrictions.

Officials have appealed to the public to remain calm but vigilant. They urged poultry farmers to report any unusual deaths of birds immediately and to strictly follow biosecurity guidelines. The farm will be sealed once the culling operation is complete.
Photo taken by cellphone shows people gathering beside rows of empty gas cylinders while waiting to refill them in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, March 24, 2026. A fresh rise in prices of essential goods and services is deepening economic hardship in war-ravaged Yemen, as households face mounting costs stemming from supply disruptions, higher import expenses and recent policy adjustments affecting key commodities. (Photo by Murad/Xinhua)

ADEN, Yemen, March 24 (Xinhua) -- A fresh rise in prices of essential goods and services is deepening economic hardship in war-ravaged Yemen, as households face mounting costs stemming from supply disruptions, higher import expenses and recent policy adjustments affecting key commodities.

In the country's government-controlled southern provinces, residents report a surge in the cost of living in recent weeks, extending beyond food to include transportation, dining and basic household needs. The increases come at a time when many families are already grappling with limited incomes and prolonged economic instability.

"Prices are rising on multiple sectors at once," said Bashir Ali, a resident in Aden. "It is no longer just about food -- everything connected to daily life is becoming more expensive here."

A notable development is a recent adjustment to cooking gas prices, a staple for local households. The shift has coincided with the long queues at gas distribution points in Aden.

Under a newly issued government directive, the price of a gas cylinder has been set at 12,000 Yemeni riyals (nearly 8 U.S. dollars), a 33-percent increase from the previous rate of 9,000 riyals.

The adjustment is expected to have a ripple effect on household expenses, particularly for low-income Yemeni families.

Local traders say the cumulative impact of higher fuel-related costs, including cooking gas, is likely to drive up broader market prices. "When energy costs go up, it affects transportation, storage and production," Ahmed Al-Haddy, a gas station owner in Aden noted. "This eventually pushes up prices for consumers."

The surging costs are a reflection of external factors, including rising global energy prices and ongoing disruptions to maritime routes. Increased shipping costs and insurance premiums, driven by heightened regional tensions, have added further pressure to import-dependent markets.

Some Yemeni people say the price hikes have been both sudden and severe. Khalid Jalal, a Yemeni citizen in his 40s, described the recent increases as "shocking and unexpected," noting that the escalation of regional conflict has had an immediate impact on daily living costs.

"People here are always the ones who pay the price," Jalal said. "Whether it is internal conflict or external crises, it is the ordinary citizen who suffers the most."

Travel expenses have also been affected. "Moving between cities or returning from abroad like Saudi Arabia now costs much more than before," said Mustafa Al-Kapy, highlighting the broader strain on mobility and trade.

Despite growing public concerns, official government statements have largely focused on ensuring the stability of supply, with authorities frequently emphasizing the availability of goods and calling for stricter market oversight. However, the underlying causes of the price increases have remained unaddressed, local residents said.

"There is no clear horizon yet for de-escalation, and the longer the regional conflict persists, the deeper its economic impact will be," Nabil Kasim, a local economic researcher noted. "For countries like Yemen, which depend heavily on imports, even minor disruptions in maritime trade can trigger sharp increases in prices and worsen living conditions."

According to recent assessments by the World Food Programme, Yemen continues to face a worsening food security crisis as it enters 2026.

January data show that about 63 percent of Yemeni households are unable to meet their minimum food needs, while 36 percent are suffering severe food deprivation. 

Photo taken by cellphone shows residents standing near lines of cooking gas cylinders under a tree as they await refills in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, March 24, 2026. A fresh rise in prices of essential goods and services is deepening economic hardship in war-ravaged Yemen, as households face mounting costs stemming from supply disruptions, higher import expenses and recent policy adjustments affecting key commodities. (Photo by Murad/Xinhua)

Photo taken by cellphone shows vehicles and residents queuing at a gas filling station as shortages persist in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, March 24, 2026. A fresh rise in prices of essential goods and services is deepening economic hardship in war-ravaged Yemen, as households face mounting costs stemming from supply disruptions, higher import expenses and recent policy adjustments affecting key commodities. (Photo by Murad/Xinhua)

Editor: Zhang Zhou
New Delhi, March 25 : The government has issued a notice to the Congress party asking it to vacate its headquarters at 24, Akbar Road by Saturday, party sources said, adding that a formal notice has been issued by the concerned authorities.

According to sources, the Estates Department has served a notice to the Indian National Congress, asking it to vacate the premises, which has functioned as the party's central office for nearly five decades.

Congress, however, has said that it is an attempt by the government to "suppress the voice" of the party.

Speaking to IANS, Congress MP Imran Masood said, "Were 11 Ashok Road (BJP Office) and 14 Pant Marg (Delhi BJP office) vacated? Were other bungalows also vacated? In the name of vacating this bungalow, an attempt is being made to suppress the voice of the Congress, but Congress will neither be silenced nor can be bowed down."

He said the government has put the entire country in a grave situation by not remaining non-aligned with world powers.

The bungalow at 24, Akbar Road, served as the Congress headquarters for 48 years. Although the party inaugurated its new headquarters, Indira Bhavan, at Kotla Marg last year, activities have continued at the Akbar Road premises, which have not yet been vacated.

In addition, the party has also been asked to vacate the Indian Youth Congress office located at 5, Raisina Road. Party sources indicated that the Congress party is exploring legal options in a bid to seek relief in the matter.

When Sonia Gandhi inaugurated the new headquarters last year, several senior leaders had acknowledged their deep emotional attachment to the Akbar Road office, highlighting its significance in the party's political journey.

The bungalow itself carries a long and layered history. During the British era, it was the residence of Sir Reginald Maxwell, a member of Viceroy Lord Linlithgow's Executive Council.

In the early 1960s, the property served as the residence of Daw Khin Kyi, Myanmar's Ambassador to India. Her daughter, Aung San Suu Kyi, who would later be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, spent several years living in the same house.

However, the most significant phase in the bungalow's history began in the late 1970s. Following the Congress party's defeat in the 1977 general elections and the subsequent split within the party, Indira Gandhi led a breakaway faction that required a new base of operations. Rajya Sabha MP G. Venkatswamy, a close associate of Indira Gandhi, offered his Akbar Road residence for the purpose.

From that point onwards, the bungalow became synonymous with the Congress party's resurgence and political journey. It continued to serve as the party headquarters through the tenures of Prime Ministers Rajiv Gandhi, P. V. Narasimha Rao, and Manmohan Singh.

Over the years, the premises were expanded to accommodate the growing organisational needs until the Congress eventually established its new headquarters at Kotla Marg.
Bengaluru, March 25 : An incident of Bengaluru Police Inspector allegedly harassing a woman history sheeter and forcing her to entertain him has come to light on Wednesday. In an embarrassment to the police department, the purported audio clips and messages containing the conversation went viral on social media.

Papanna, attached to the Konanakunte police station in Bengaluru, is the accused inspector. The victim has submitted a complaint to the Bengaluru Police Commissioner and urged action against the cop.

The victim has alleged that complaints against the accused Inspector to the police were of no use. "The accused cop claims that his wife is a close relative of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and no one can harm him in any way. The police had initiated action against me recently, and they are not taking any action against the accused cop, even as all evidence is submitted," she stated.

"Police Inspector Papanna is harassing me. He sends vulgar messages on WhatsApp. He says that he loves me and calls me 'very sexy'. These are just a few examples -- he has sent many more such messages."

"In 2016, the accused inspector had called me for an inquiry and asked for my number. When a cop asks for my contact number, I will have to provide it. He started sending good morning and good night messages. I showed the messages to my husband, and he advised me not to reply. In February 2017, he even started sending sleazy messages. After this, when I went to file a complaint with the DCP, I got a threat call from his side," she stated.

"They threaten my husband that our children will be killed. For three months, Papanna has been calling me frequently and harassing me. He says he will come to my house and prepare chicken, and will also feed me. The cop asks me to treat him like a friend. The cop openly says his wife is a relative of CM Siddaramaiah, and nothing can be done to him. He was suspended twice, but he immediately took charge, and he is all set to get a promotion and become an assistant commissioner of police. He will be in power," he stated.

"He should be punished. If he is suspended, he will get it revoked. He will continue to exploit women. There are a large number of women victims. I am an MBA graduate, and American University has awarded me Phd. I was feeling disgusted with the messages of cops," she wrote in the complaint.

The woman, a rowdy sheeter in Basavanagudi police station, was recently arrested by Bengaluru Police under the stringent Karnataka Control of Organised Crimes Act, 2000 (KCOCA) in connection with a kidnap case of a high-profile real estate businessman. The police stated that she is facing about 10 cases in various police stations across Bengaluru.
New Delhi, March 25 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday welcomed the passage of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill 2026 in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, saying that the country should run on "principle of equal laws".

After Uttarakhand, Gujarat became the second state to pass the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026, on Tuesday, introducing a common legal framework for civil matters such as marriage, divorce, maintenance, and inheritance across communities and religions.

HM Shah, in a post on X, said, "Our belief is clear, the country should not run on the basis of appeasement, but on the principle of equal laws for all citizens. This is both our priority and our resolve."

The Union Home Minister underlined that a uniform law is a "core commitment of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)".

"A uniform law for every citizen of the country has been a core commitment of the Bharatiya Janata Party since its inception. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP-ruled state governments are continuously moving forward in this direction."

He praised Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and the MLAs who voted in favour of the Bill.

The Home Minister said, "I am pleased that after Uttarakhand, Gujarat has now passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, demonstrating its firm commitment to this principle. I extend my congratulations to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and all the legislators who supported this bill."

Notably, the UCC legislation provides for compulsory registration of marriages and divorces and introduces uniform grounds and procedures for divorce across communities.

It prohibits extra-judicial forms of divorce, making court-based legal processes mandatory.

The Bill also mandates monogamy and includes provisions to declare marriages void where identity has been concealed.

It further introduces penal provisions for cases involving fraud, coercion or misrepresentation in marriage, with specified punishment for offences.

The law also provides maintenance rights for women without restrictions tied to personal laws and ensures equal inheritance rights for daughters and wives.

The Bill includes provisions requiring registration of live-in relationships with local authorities, which the government said is intended to provide legal safeguards and accountability.
New Delhi, March 25 : Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Parliament House on Wednesday, marking his second meeting with the Prime Minister within a month.

The Prime Minister's Office shared a one-line post on its X handle, saying, "Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma, had a meeting with the Prime Minister today."

The Chief Minister presented an idol of Goddess Durga, crafted from sandalwood, to the Prime Minister.

The meeting is being viewed as significant in the backdrop of ongoing global developments. This was the second interaction between the two leaders in recent weeks.

The Chief Minister had earlier met the Prime Minister during his visit to Ajmer on February 28. During the meeting, he sought the Prime Minister's invaluable guidance on the holistic development of Rajasthan and the effective implementation of various public welfare schemes.

The Chief Minister noted that the Prime Minister's visionary leadership and clear directives continue to illuminate the path toward building a prosperous Rajasthan.

He further emphasised that the Honourable Prime Minister's unwavering affection for the people of Rajasthan, coupled with his forward-looking vision, remains the state's greatest strength. With this support, Rajasthan is steadily scaling new heights across all sectors of development. Inspired by this spirit, every citizen is moving forward with determination to realise the shared vision of a "Developed Rajasthan."

During the meeting, Chief Minister Sharma presented Prime Minister Modi with a sandalwood idol of Goddess Durga, crafted by Jaipur-based artisan Mohit Jangid.

The intricately carved idol reflects fine craftsmanship, expressive detailing, and traditional ornamentation.

The Jangid family has been associated with sandalwood carving for four generations, with 11 family members having received National Awards. The idol not only holds religious significance but also represents Rajasthan's rich artistic heritage and enduring craftsmanship traditions.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, March 25 : While the BJP leaders on Wednesday hailed the passage of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill 2026 in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, urging for 'one nation, one Constitution', the Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) opposed it's passage, calling it the party's 'agenda'.

The Gujarat Assembly passed the Bill on Tuesday, introducing a common legal framework for civil matters such as marriage, divorce, maintenance, and inheritance across communities and religions.

Speaking to IANS outside the Parliament, BJP MP Shashank Mani said, "I welcome the Bill. I think there should be 'one nation and one Constitution'. There should not be two types of civil codes. If Gujarat has done this work, I welcome it, and I believe other states should also adopt it."

BJP MP Mayank Nayak also said, "I thank Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi. Everybody will get equal rights because of which Gujarat will also perform well in the Human Development Index. Gujarat as well as the entire country will move towards development."

Leader of Opposition in Jharkhand Assembly and BJP MLA Babulal Marandi also echoed that if criminal law is same for everyone, civil law should also be the same.

Emphasising on similar law for all citizens, Uttar Pradesh Minister Sanjay Nishad said, "The nation cannot run according to 'shariat'. It can only function according to the Constitution of India."

"Society may decide on anything. There are many castes in society but it is the Constitution that keeps all of us at an equal platform. I welcome the Bill," he told IANS.

Meanwhile, RJD MLA Bhai Virendra opposed Gujarat's UCC Bill, 2026.

He told IANS, "This (BJP) government speaks about 'one nation, one election', then why don't we have one nation, one education in the country? Somewhere, they are planning to take action against a particular religion."

"This country is for everyone, it's a secular nation. People from all religions, be it Hindus, Muslims, Christians or Sikhs, fought to free the country from Colonial rule," he said.

Bhai Virendra further accused the BJP government of wanting "to implement the agendas of the RSS and the BJP in the country."

"Let them implement UCC in Bihar if they can. We won't let that happen here," he added.
New Delhi, March 25 : The bilateral trade between India and Taiwan recorded a robust 17 per cent increase in 2025, compared with the previous year, to touch the $12.5 billion mark, according figures compiled by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) here.

India's exports to Taiwan amounted to $3.3 billion, consisting of mineral fuels, aluminium, iron, steel, organic chemicals and plastics while Taiwan's exports to India amounted to $9.2 billion, comprising mainly electronic integrated circuits, plastics, organic chemicals, electrical machinery, iron and steel.

Addressing the event to launch the 'Taiwan Excellence' expo here, Estela Chen, Director, Economic Division, TECC said, "Taiwan is well-known for its leading role in semiconductors, AI server, AIoT total solution and edge computing," according to a report in Asian Community News website.

Last year, the bilateral trade between Taiwan and India reached a record high of $12.5 billion. This growing economic relationship continues to drive investment and deepen business cooperation between the two sides.

Taiwanese enterprises are actively investing in India's electronics manufacturing, semiconductor, and automotive sectors, while Indian businesses are discovering valuable opportunities in Taiwan's information technology and engineering sectors, Chen added.

She said that Taiwan is proud to be a trusted partner in India's flagship initiatives such as Digital India and the India AI Mission. "From smartphone and IoT manufacturing to advanced high-tech product design, Taiwan's expertise is committed to supporting India's digital transformation," she added.

Currently, the total number of Taiwanese companies operating in India has crossed 300.

However, compared with Taiwan's bilateral trade with other countries such as the USA ($246.43 billion), Mainland China ($100.1 billion), South Korea ($90.2 billion), and Japan ($84.85 billion), there is scope for a lot more progress with India.

According to the International Trade Administration of Taiwan, since Taiwan and India are important bilateral trading partners, both sides have been vigorously working on and discussing mutually beneficial measures to expand bilateral trade.
Kolkata, March 25 : Asaduddin Owaisi, on Wednesday, denied the allegations of Trinamool Congress that his party, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) was getting funding from the BJP to contest in minority-dominated Assembly constituencies in the forthcoming two-phase Assembly elections in West Bengal, just to divide the minority voters in favour of the saffron camp.

"If that is the case, I am ready to give 90 per cent of the funding to the Trinamool Congress general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee. I will retain just five per cent and give the remaining five per cent to my brother Humayun Kabir," Owaisi said at a press conference at Dun Dum on the northern outskirts of Kolkata on Wednesday.

Present at the press conference was Humayun Kabir, who had recently floated his own political entity, Aam Aadmi Unnayan Party (AAUP) after being suspended from the Trinamool.

AIMIM and AAUP have a seat-sharing agreement for the forthcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, and the two parties are contesting from several constituencies in the state, with the focus being mainly on minority-dominated constituencies.

Rubbishing Trinamool Congress' allegation of AIMIM being funded by the BJP in West Bengal, Owaisi raised the counter question on whether his party had any role in improving the saffron camp's tally in West Bengal Assembly from just three in 2016 to 77 in 2021.

"When did the BJP have three MLAs? In 2016, right? Now they have grown to 77  I made that happen? How many MPs did the BJP have earlier, and how many do they have now? I made that happen? But I have not become so powerful, have I?" questioned Owaisi.

He also said that he is well-aware of the AIMIM's strength and his party will contest in the West Bengal Assembly polls based on that only.

Speaking on the occasion, he also accused Trinamool Congress and Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, of exploiting Muslims and their sentiments

"Mamata Banerjee won successive elections in West Bengal, getting overwhelming minority support. However, the minorities have remained deprived in West Bengal. After winning successive elections, the Trinamool Congress government did nothing for the minorities," Owaisi claimed.
New Delhi, March 25 : Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday convened a review meeting and stressed shoring up fertiliser supplies, curbing black marketing and other measures amid conflict in the Middle East, according to an official statement.

The meeting also sought to ensure strategic preparedness for the upcoming Kharif season, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare said in the statement.

Singh emphasised the need to ensure an equitable and uninterrupted supply of fertilisers and directed officials to expedite the work on 'Farmer IDs' to make the distribution system transparent and that he would soon meet chief ministers and state agriculture ministers to coordinate the effort.

Further, instructions were issued to take strict action against black marketing and hoarding of fertilisers and seeds to profit from the global crisis, the minister said.

Chouhan said that state governments will also be encouraged to take stringent measures in this direction.

The meeting reviewed the availability of agro-chemicals and the essential gases required for Drying Seed, while the minister emphasised adequate packaging materials, particularly for milk and other agricultural products, amidst the global crisis. He also issued directives to coordinate with the Ministry of Petroleum and other relevant departments to ensure supplies.

A 'Special Cell' was established for the round-the-clock monitoring of the agricultural sector. The cell will submit a weekly report to the Union Agriculture Minister regarding the availability of fertilisers, seeds and pesticides.

Agriculture Minister called on senior officials to play a proactive role during times of crisis and reaffirmed the government's unwavering commitment to ensuring the timely delivery of agricultural resources.

Chouhan had, earlier this week, said that the agriculture production in the country has increased by nearly 44 per cent over the past 10 years and many farmersa incomes have doubled.

The Central Government has launched a comprehensive campaign to enhance farmersa productivity and income with record procurement at Minimum Support Price, the minister said in the Lok Sabha.

a"IANS

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-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, March 25 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent state visit to Israel marked a strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries as part of a "sophisticated geo-economic gambit," according to an article in The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune.

New Delhi, March 25 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent state visit to Israel marked a strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries as part of a "sophisticated geo-economic gambit," according to an article in The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune.

The article highlights that PM Modi's address to the Knesset outlined both his government's broader strategic outlook and Israel's place within it. In his remarks, PM Modi signalled a commitment to building a regional architecture designed to embed India more deeply into trade and connectivity to its west with an anchor role for Israel.

That effort is driven in large part by New Delhi's search for strategic autonomy as it seeks to escape China's growing shadow in the Indo-Pacific. No longer defined by its Cold War-era doctrine of non-alignment, India is now prioritising issue-based coalitions and partnerships with countries whose strategic trajectory is durable and predictable. This logic, in turn, favours states whose survival and prosperity are tied to the stability of the rules-based international order, the article states.

At the heart of India's vision for the Eastern Mediterranean is the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). IMEC is much more than simply a commercial route. It is designed to offer India's international partners a "values-based" alternative to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), thereby reducing Beijing's leverage over Eurasian trade and energy flows, the article points out.

Over the past decade, Beijing has leveraged large-scale investments in transportation, energy, and telecommunications to establish a strong presence across the Middle East, South Asia, and Europe. This has created a structural interdependence in which economic relationships are inextricably linked to Chinese strategic interests.

From a strategic perspective, IMEC represents an effort to break up this monopoly. It serves as a normative counterweight to China's model of state-centric control and top-down financing. Instead, it envisions a smaller and more flexible framework in which the economic and political interests of partners, while not identical, overlap in their desire to mitigate Chinese unilateralism.

For India, a reliable corridor requires anchor states such as Israel and Greece which offer institutional stability and technological maturity. While other prospective routes may offer more convenient geography, they lack the normative reliability and security predictability that India requires for long-term strategic investment.

Nevertheless, China's structural advantage remains formidable. The BRI rests on a foundation of already-commissioned projects and established logistical networks, such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the strategic Port of Gwadar. Furthermore, China's influence is further reinforced by its deep diplomatic engagement with Iran and the Gulf states, as well as its control over critical infrastructure components such as subsea communication cables.

For this reason, the challenge for IMEC is not simply to propose a technical alternative, but to establish institutional credibility and long-term resilience.

For New Delhi and its partners, the corridor's viability depends on its ability to create a de-risked ecosystem that prioritizes transparency and distributed governance over dependency and top-down control, the article states.
New Delhi, March 25 : A major financial irregularity has come to light in Haryana, where the Panchkula Municipal Corporation has found discrepancies of over Rs 150 crore in its fixed deposits with Kotak Mahindra Bank.

The development comes just a month after a Rs 590-crore fraud was reported at the Chandigarh branch of IDFC First Bank.

According to NDTV Profit report, the civic body had invested funds in fixed deposit receipts (FDRs) at the bankas Sector 11 branch.

However, the issue surfaced when the corporation requested the maturity amount of a Rs 58-crore deposit to be transferred into its account.

While bank records initially showed that the transfer had been completed, the money never reached the corporation.

A closer investigation revealed that the bank statement itself was fake, and the funds had allegedly been diverted into fraudulent accounts.

Officials later found that all the fixed deposits linked to this case were forged and that no actual money was present in the accounts, as per the report.

Reacting to the development, Kotak Mahindra Bank said it is cooperating with authorities and has started a detailed reconciliation of the fixed deposits and related accounts after being approached by the municipal corporation.

Officials said the total discrepancy could be over Rs 150 crore, and further details are expected to emerge as the probe progresses, the report stated.

Meanwhile, last month, another private lender IDFC First Bank had disclosed a Rs 590 crore fraud at its Chandigarh branch.

In an exchange filing on February 22, the private lender said that it will pursue strict disciplinary, civil and criminal action against the employees and other external individuals responsible, in accordance with applicable law.

However, on the same day, the Haryana Government de-empanelled IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance Bank from handling government business with immediate effect after an alleged fraud of around Rs 590 crore came to light.
Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva held a meeting on Wednesday with Estonian Undersecretary for Economic and Development Affairs Mariin Ratnik, during which the parties discussed opportunities for developing joint production. Estonia is ready to consider financing projects by leveraging EUR 2.7 bln from the SAFE instrument resources.

According to the Office website, the parties also discussed the further development of the PURL program, to which Estonia has already made two contributions totaling EUR 21 mln.

Zhovkva thanked Estonia for its support of Ukraine and noted the countrys chairmanship of the NB8 format this year. During the meeting, special attention was paid to countering the Russia tanker fleet and Estonias decisions to ban entry for individuals involved in the Russia war against Ukraine. The Deputy Head of the Office of the President noted that relevant restrictions have already been applied to 261 Russians.
Chennai, March 25 : A key association representing ministerial staff in Tamil Nadu's municipal corporations has approached the Election Commission of India (ECI), seeking special permission to implement a long-delayed government order on promotions that got stalled due to the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) ahead of the Assembly elections.

In a detailed representation submitted to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, State Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik, and Chief Secretary N. Muruganandham, the Tamil Nadu Municipal Corporation Ministerial Staff Association urged authorities to allow the state government to proceed with the promotion process, citing prolonged delays and growing dissatisfaction among employees.

According to the association, hundreds of staff members have been awaiting promotions for several years, with their career progression now caught in a policy and procedural gridlock. The issue, it said, arose following the implementation of the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Rules, 2023, which introduced revised eligibility criteria, including additional qualifications, service requirements, and mandatory departmental tests.

R. Subramanian, founder-president of the association, noted that although amendments were introduced in March 2025 to address some concerns, several practical challenges remain unresolved.

Notably, the syllabus for the newly mandated departmental examinations was approved only in April 2025, leaving employees with very limited time to prepare and qualify.

"The current requirements are difficult to meet within such a short window, making the process impractical for many eligible staff," the association stated in its petition.

Invoking provisions within the rules that allow for relaxation in cases of implementation difficulties, the association has proposed a one-time exemption.

It has requested that promotions be processed under the earlier Tamil Nadu Municipal Corporation Service Rules of 1996, which were in force until March 2023, to ensure fairness to existing employees. However, the announcement of the MCC on March 15, in view of the April 23 Assembly elections, has effectively frozen all such administrative decisions, as promotions require prior clearance from the ECI during the election period.

The association has now appealed for urgent intervention, arguing that continued delays are adversely affecting employee morale and administrative efficiency. It has also been suggested that any consequential transfers arising from promotions could be deferred until after the conclusion of the electoral process.

With the elections fast approaching, the decision now rests with the ECI on whether to grant an exemption in what the association describes as a long-pending and justified administrative matter.
Kozhikode, March 25 : Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's much anticipated campaign visit to Kerala's Kozhikode on Wednesday has been postponed, following the hospitalisation of his mother and veteran Congress leader Sonia Gandhi.

The development has prompted a swift recalibration of the Congress campaign schedule in Kerala, with party President Mallikarjun Kharge stepping in to lead the outreach for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF).

Rahul Gandhi, a former Wayanad Lok Sabha member, which borders various Assembly constituencies in Kozhikode, was set to visit the district, however, the Congress leaders said that the LoP will return as the Assembly polls in Kerala take place on April 9.

The LoP's visit was expected to energise Congress workers and provide momentum in closely contested Assembly seats, particularly in the Malabar region, where electoral battles are often intense and finely balanced.

However, the sudden health concerns involving Sonia Gandhi necessitated LoP Rahul Gandhi's decision to stay back in Delhi, leading to the postponement of his Kozhikode visit.

Party sources indicated that Sonia Gandhi's health condition required immediate attention, prompting Rahul Gandhi to prioritise family responsibilities over political engagements.

While no fresh date has been officially announced for the LoP's Kerala visit, Congress leaders expressed hope that he would join the poll campaign at a later stage, depending on the situation.

Meanwhile, Congress President Kharge will spearhead the poll campaign efforts in the poll-bound state.

Kharge is expected to address a series of public meetings and interact with Congress workers, focusing on consolidating support for UDF candidates.

The Congress President's presence is seen as significant, particularly at a time when the party is looking to maintain poll campaign momentum amid evolving political dynamics.

Veteran state Congress leaders have downplayed concerns over the change in Rahul Gandhi's schedule, asserting that the UDF campaign machinery remains robust and well coordinated.

They emphasised that the alliance continues to enjoy grassroots support and is confident of translating it into electoral gains, which was hugely visible at the December held local body polls, causing a jolt to the CPI-M-led Left Front.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, March 25 : Major telecom firm Bharti Airtel on Wednesday said that its founder and Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal will step down as Chairman of Airtel Africa at the conclusion of the company's annual general meeting (AGM) in July 2026.

New Delhi, March 25 (IANS) Major telecom firm Bharti Airtel on Wednesday said that its founder and Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal will step down as Chairman of Airtel Africa at the conclusion of the companyas annual general meeting (AGM) in July 2026.

The telecom company also announced that Gopal Vittal will be appointed as Non-Executive Chairman of Airtel Africa with effect from the same date.

Mittal has served as Chairman of Airtel Africa since its listing in 2019, and the Board acknowledged his leadership and contribution during the period, it said.

Gopal Vittal, currently a non-executive director of Airtel Africa and a seasoned telecom industry leader, has been nominated by the controlling shareholder in line with the companyas existing agreements.

In addition, Shravin Bharti Mittal will take over as Deputy Chairman, ensuring continuity with the promoter group and acting as a key link between the Board, Airtel Money operations, and the companyas headquarters in Dubai.

Separately, Annika Poutiainen will retire from the Board at the conclusion of the July AGM after serving for more than seven years.

Mittal said it had been an honour to lead Airtel Africa and expressed confidence in the companyas strategy and leadership team going forward.

"I want to extend my thanks to the Board of Airtel Africa for their support to me as Chairman. Airtel Africa has a solid strategy and an outstanding leadership team in place, the strength of which is evident in recent results, so I am confident that now is the time for me to step aside as Chair," the chairman said.

"It has been an honour to lead Airtel Africa in this capacity, and I know the company will continue to prosper and to advance the transformative power of connectivity to the millions of customers we serve across 14 African countries. I have offered my services and will be available to support the company as requested by the Chair," he added.

The companyas senior independent director Tsega Gebreyes also acknowledged Mittalas role in shaping Airtel Africaas growth journey, from its acquisition phase to its listing and current position in the FTSE 100 index.
New Delhi, March 25 : Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda on Wednesday welcomed the passage of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026, in Gujarat, asserting that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government remains committed to eliminating discrimination and ensuring equal rights for all citizens.

The Gujarat Legislative Assembly passed the UCC Bill, 2026, on Tuesday, seeking to establish a common legal framework governing civil matters such as marriage, divorce, maintenance, and inheritance across communities, irrespective of religion.

The state government stated the legislation is aimed at ensuring equality before the law and addressing disparities arising from religion-based personal laws. It maintained that the Code applies only to civil matters and does not interfere with religious beliefs or practices.

Reacting to the development, Nadda said in a post on X, "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, the BJP government is resolutely committed to eradicating all forms of discrimination among the citizens and granting equal rights to all through the Uniform Civil Code (UCC)."

The move places Gujarat among states that have taken legislative steps towards implementing a Uniform Civil Code, after Uttarakhand, while Goa continues to have a long-standing common civil law framework.

"It is heartening that, following Uttarakhand, the passage of the Uniform Civil Code bill in Gujarat state now is a commendable step. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel ji and all the legislators who supported this bill," Nadda added.

Taking an indirect swipe at the Opposition, the Union Minister further said, "Appeasing any particular community by granting special rights, driven by the greed for vote banks and escalating a policy of appeasement, is an insult to democracy."

Through the Uniform Civil Code and under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, Nadda stated the Bharatiya Janata Party is "committed to the upliftment of all with the policy of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas'."
New Delhi, March 25 : Congress MP, Renuka Chowdhury, on Wednesday said that despite political differences, she personally wants West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, to emerge victorious in the state.

Her remarks come amid recurring discussions within Opposition circles, where several INDIA Bloc leaders have several times suggested Mamata Banerjee as a potential leader of the alliance.

Speaking to IANS, Renuka Chowdhury said, "We want them to win, whoever it may be. Despite whatever political differences we may have, I want Mamata Banerjee to win in Bengal, and for Congress to also move forward there. This is my personal wish. It may or may not reflect the party's official stance. But I hope that she gives a strong reply to the Centre."

She also stated that attempts were being made to highlight shortcomings in CM Banerjee's governance.

"They are trying to bring out her shortcomings. Governors are being changed overnight, and new ones are being appointed. The whole country has seen this. As a woman, she is fighting, so I will support her," she said.

Reacting to allegations by some party leaders in Haryana regarding ticket distribution, Chowdhury said such claims are not new.

"These kinds of allegations surface frequently. Those who are disappointed after not getting tickets tend to make such statements. This is not the first time we are witnessing this," she added.

On the Congress party's prospects in Kerala, Chowdhury expressed confidence, saying, "The situation is very good. We are winning there. We expect to form the government and serve the people effectively."

Commenting on India's stance regarding the ongoing IsraelIran conflict, she said, "We are doing now what should have been done earlier. This has turned out to be a costly situation for us. I hope the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister understand that we are going through a very delicate phase. We will have to see how things unfold going forward."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Mumbai, March 25 : Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday directed the formation of a high-level secretary committee to address the recurring onion crisis in Maharashtra.

The committee, comprising Additional Chief Secretaries of the Agriculture and Finance Departments and the Secretary of the Marketing Department, has been tasked with suggesting immediate relief measures for onion producers. The decision was made during a high-stakes meeting at Vidhan Bhavan, aimed at finding a permanent solution to the volatility of onion prices and production.

Emphasising the need for a sustainable shift, the Chief Minister instructed agencies to implement long-term alternatives to resolve the onion issue once and for all. "Every year, the state faces an onion crisis. While we must provide immediate assistance to farmers in the current situation, we also need to move beyond temporary fixes. The committee must review the current landscape and propose immediate measures, followed by a robust long-term implementation plan within the next two to three months," CM Fadnavis stated.

CM Fadnavis noted that traders often buy onions from farmers only to resell them to NAFED or other agencies, depriving farmers of fair profits. He called for a permanent end to this practice. A meeting will be scheduled with Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to discuss stabilising rates, increasing exports, and addressing issues related to central regulations, he said.

"The committee will explore 'Crop Diversification' in major onion-producing districts such as Nashik, Pune, Ahilyanagar, and Solapur. This pilot project is expected to launch as early as the upcoming Kharif season, focusing on variety selection and yield management," said the chief minister.

The CM highlighted that despite high production, a disrupted supply chain often forces the government to provide aid, which is not a sustainable model for farmers.

The Chief Minister concluded by stating that over the next two to three years, the goal is to streamline the production and supply process so that it remains consistently profitable for farmers, reducing their dependence on emergency government aid.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
March 25 : Bahraich/Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while targeting previous governments for dividing society along caste lines, said that families being rehabilitated today include people from Dalit, backward, Yadav, Maurya, Kushwaha and Tharu tribal communities. He emphasized that his government does not view people through a caste lens but as part of one family. These families deserve security and access to government benefits so they can dream of a better future and become part of development. He added that those who remained limited to their own families while in power never cared for the people of Bharathapur.

Addressing a program in Semarhana Gram Panchayat of Bahraich district on Wednesday, CM transferred over 21.55 crore to 118 beneficiaries of Bharathapur village for rehabilitation, at the rate of 15 lakh per beneficiary, along with equivalent agricultural land and other assets. Additionally, he distributed housing benefits, toilets and land pattas to 136 families.

On the occasion, CM also remembered Maharishi Balark and Maharaja Suheldev. Criticizing previous governments, he said that those who were neglected for years are now being connected to a rehabilitation program benefiting around 500 people in Bharathapur. He questioned why those who talk about PDA failed to ensure rights for these people earlier. He stressed that dividing society on caste lines has caused significant harm to the country, whereas unity has enabled initiatives like 'Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat' under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

CM said that when service and compassion become part of governance, the poor easily receive benefits such as housing, toilets, Ayushman cards and other welfare schemes. He highlighted that government has worked for public welfare, infrastructure, employment generation, disaster prevention and electricity supply, unlike previous governments.

He added that earlier governments kept problems unresolved to divide society, whereas the present government focuses on solutions through service and compassion, especially during disasters. The aim is to uplift the last person in society and promote self-reliance among rehabilitated families.

CM Yogi said that inspired by Prime Minister Modi, government works beyond caste, creed and religion for the welfare of 25 crore people. Seeing beneficiaries receive aid during the program, he remarked that it truly reflects a 'government of people'.

He recalled a tragic incident in 2025 when a boat capsized in Saryu River, leading to death of nine people. The area, surrounded by forests and wildlife such as crocodiles, elephants and leopards, lacked basic facilities like roads, electricity, housing and clean water. He expressed concern over how 500 people had been living in such conditions.

Chief Minister said that before 2017, the state faced lawlessness and riots, but now there is an atmosphere of celebration during festivals. He mentioned that festivals like Ram Navami are now celebrated with grandeur. He noted that during Navratri, millions of devotees are visiting temples such as Maa Vindhyavasini, Kali Khoh, Ashtabhuji, Pateshwari, Lalita Devi and Shakumbhari Devi, with large crowds also gathering in Ayodhya for Ram Navami.

He announced that a well-developed colony named Bharatpur will be built in Semarhana for the rehabilitated families. Each family will receive a 748 sq. ft. land patta along with housing under the Chief Minister Housing Scheme. He instructed officials to appoint nodal officers and ensure timely completion so that families can perform housewarming before Sharadiya Navratri. Facilities like ration shops, schools, anganwadi centers, electricity, water supply, parks, roads and LED street lights will also be developed.

He stated that several forest villages have already been converted into revenue villages and assured that remaining ones will also be developed to provide full government benefits. Chief Minister announced that road connecting Bahraich to Barabanki and Lucknow will be upgraded to a four-lane highway, reducing travel time to about 45 minutes to one hour.

The event was attended by Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, Zila Panchayat Chairperson Manju Singh, MLAs Saroj Sonkar, Subhash Tripathi, Sureshwar Singh, Anupama Jaiswal, Ramnivas Verma, Legislative Council Member Padmasen Chaudhary, Dr. Pragya Tripathi, former minister Mukut Bihari Verma, former MP Akshayvar Lal Gond, BJP Regional President Kamlesh Mishra, District President Brajesh Pandey and others.
March 25 : Bahraich/Lucknow: A total of 136 families living in difficult conditions in Bharathapur were provided financial assistance under the Chief Ministers Housing Scheme at the rate of 1.20 lakh per family. On the occasion of Chaitra Navratri, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directly transferred more than 1.63 crore into the bank accounts of beneficiaries.

On this occasion, CM Yogi handed over approval letters to beneficiaries, covering various facilities. In addition, he distributed financial assistance, assets, compensation, toilets, housing funds under the Chief Ministers scheme, and several other benefits and gifts.

Under this initiative, beneficiaries including Sangeeta (16.98 lakh), Aarti (19.60 lakh), Nirmala Devi (30.99 lakh), Rani Devi (18.91 lakh), Rekha Devi (21.73 lakh), Kishori Devi (37.44 lakh), Anna Devi (26.49 lakh), Sunita Devi (18.53 lakh), Prema Devi (30.56 lakh), and Manju Devi (26.84 lakh) received sanction letters along with multiple benefits.

Munna Lal Maurya, a resident of Bharathapur present at the event, expressed heartfelt gratitude to CM Yogi. He said that their village is surrounded by rivers on three sides and a forest on the fourth, with virtually no access to basic facilities. To reach the tehsil, villagers must cross the river by boat and travel a total distance of about 60 km.

He added that the village lacked essential facilities such as toilets, schools, education, and healthcare. Today, Chief Minister is addressing our problems, for which we are deeply grateful, he said.

He further explained that much of their land was lost due to river erosion, leaving many families landless and without employment. On October 29, a boat accident claimed the lives of nine people from the village. Chief Minister Yogi took immediate cognizance of the tragedy, visited the village, met the affected families, and offered his condolences.

He also directed the District Magistrate to identify land in Semrahna for rehabilitation and to ensure access to education and employment opportunities. Chief Minister emphasized that all families should live with dignity and that children must receive education.
New Delhi, March 25 : Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury, on Wednesday, launched a sharp attack on the Union government in the Rajya Sabha during the discussion on the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, comparing it to a "Special Intensive Revision (SIR) on transgender persons" and describing it as an exercise in discrimination rather than protection.

The Bill, which was passed by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday by a voice vote amid an Opposition-led walkout, is now being taken up for consideration and passage in the Upper House of the Parliament.

Chowdhury began her intervention by posing a pointed question to fellow Rajya Sabha members.

She asked whether the self-identification of gender that all MPs undertake while filling official forms before entering the Parliament is valid or not.

"The Constitution is with the people who identify as transgenders today. The Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) himself has called himself non-biological," she said, triggering an uproar in the House.

She quickly clarified that her remark was not meant to criticise Prime Minister Narendra Modi but to appreciate his forward-thinking approach on the issue.

"Transgenders are in the Supreme Court, in the police and on the playing fields winning medals for the country. What is there to be ashamed about? Why are we forcing new laws on them?" the Congress Rajya Sabha MP asked.

Chowdhury said that the Amendment Bill undermines the hard-earned rights of the transgender community by moving away from self-identification towards greater bureaucratic and medical scrutiny.

She added that the legislation appears more focused on imposing control than on genuine welfare or inclusion.

The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, seeks to make changes to the 2019 Act, including alterations in the process of legal recognition of gender identity.

Critics, including several Opposition MPs, claim it dilutes the principle of self-perceived gender identity upheld by the Supreme Court in its landmark 2014 NALSA judgment.

As the debate continued, members from various opposition parties expressed concern that the Bill could roll back constitutional protections and add unnecessary hurdles for one of the most marginalised sections of society.

The Union government, however, said that the amendments aim to bring clarity and better implementation of welfare measures for transgender persons.

The discussion is expected to see more heated political exchanges as the House proceeds with clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill.
Mumbai, March 25 : Director Sanoj Mishra has responded to the allegations leveled by the viral 'Kumbh Mela girl' Monalisa Bhosle.

She claimed grave allegations against the director, accusing him of misbehaving with minor girls under the guise of offering movie roles. She called him out for his alleged disgusting behaviour.

Responding to the same, Sanoj Mishra appeared in a video on Instagram, and said, "Greetings to the people of the country, my respectful salutations. As you all have been seeing, over the past several days, after the Monalisa 'love jihad' matter came to light, I started a campaign across the country against it and in support of the victim's family".

He further mentioned, "The people of the country appreciated it a lot and also supported it. But now the situation is starting to change a bit. The matter is that, along with jihadis, Christian missionaries from Kerala have also come together and are conspiring against me in a joint operation. Today, as you can see, that girl is being persuaded and influenced to speak against me on social media, where baseless things are being said".

He shared that this is how some people brainwash others and how far they can take someone, as he said, "This is the same girl whom I used to teach. My own children would get upset with me, asking why I taught Mona Lisa and not them. That was the level of attachment I had with her, and today, see how far things have been taken. Now I can also feel the pain of that father whose daughter, Monalisa, said that she feels her life is in danger from me. From that perspective, the allegations being made against me and the things happening are not very big matters. I am always capable of dealing with any situation and fighting through it. I will never bow my head in front of jihadis or traitors".

He contnued, "Today, I promise all of you that the way these people have conspired and spread things against me through a press conference, the whole country and the world are watching it. Why are they watching it? Because earlier, in every video you see, Monalisa has only spoken good things about me. In Kerala, where big ministers are openly promoting such marriages and issuing posters like 'The Real Kerala Story', this is all being done to defame Sanatan and to put a stain on it. Jai Hindurashtra".

He also urged the authorities to take cognisance of the matter following threats to him and his family. "This could be my last video", he added.

Prior to the allegations raised by Monalisa, the director had spoken about the issue of 'Love Jihad', and hinted how Monalisa could be a victim to the same. Following his statement, Monalisa held a press conference in Kochi, Kerala. Accompanied by her husband, Farman at the presser, she claimed, how the director misbehaves with minor girls.

Monalisa shared that the director was speaking ill of her and saying he would not cast her as an actress in his movies. She said, "Who wants to be a part of his films? He is such a bad and disgusting person. He misbehaves with minor girls in the name of films".
PJSC McDonalds Ukraine Ltd., which operates the McDonalds fast-food restaurant chain in Ukraine, created more than 1,500 new jobs in 2025. Currently, about 11,000 employees work at 124 restaurants, making the company one of the largest employers in Ukraines hospitality sector.

According to the companys press service, McDonalds has a structured career development model aimed at nurturing talent. In 2025 alone, more than 2,100 employees received promotions or new roles. More than 17% of restaurant directors attained their positions at age 25 or younger, while nearly 60% of managerial roles are held by employees under 30.

At the same time, McDonalds recruits employees from various age groups: about 13% of restaurant staff are aged 1617, while approximately 11% are aged 41 and older.

The company promotes an inclusive workplace culture and fosters equal opportunities for all employees. Women make up 61.5% of the workforce, while men account for 38.5%. The share of employees in leadership roles is nearly equal within each group  19% among women and 17% among men, indicating equal career advancement opportunities. In addition, the company employs more than 400 people with disabilities and implements programs to support and reintegrate veterans, ensuring equal conditions for work, training, and professional development.

Wages across the restaurant network were increased by an average of 15% in January 2026. In addition, McDonalds continues to pay salaries to more than 430 mobilized employees and compensates staff for time spent in shelters during work shifts when restaurants are not operating. The company also provides financial assistance to employees in the event of injuries or housing damage resulting from military actions.

McDonalds offers access to health insurance programs for employees and their family members. It also provides free psychological support in the form of sessions with professional psychologists via a specialized online platform, which employees used more than 2,000 times in 2025.

In 2025, McDonalds continued to invest in workforce development, with employees completing a total of about 320,000 hours of offline and online training. Some courses are adapted into sign language for employees with hearing impairments, of whom there are more than 150 within the network.

The first McDonalds restaurant in Ukraine opened on May 24, 1997, in Kyiv. Currently, McDonalds employs nearly 11,000 Ukrainians and operates 139 restaurants, of which 124 are currently open across 42 settlements.

According to the Opendatabot analytical system, McDonalds in Ukraine generated UAH 21.3 billion in revenue in 2025, exceeding the previous years figure by 26.6%. Net profit increased by 21.3%, to UAH 1.567 billion. The company paid UAH 3.5 billion in taxes to the state budget in 2025.

The owner of PJSC McDonalds Ukraine Ltd. is listed as MCD Europe Limited (100%, London, United Kingdom).
Bhopal, March 25 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Madhya Pradesh government on Wednesday allocated Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to developers selected under the Surya Mitra Krishi Feeder Scheme.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav distributed the Power Purchase Agreements to the selected developers at an event held at his residence. State Energy Minister Praduman Singh Tomar and senior officials from the department were also present.

The scheme is expected to be an important step towards empowering the agricultural sector with solar energy, ensuring daytime electricity supply for farmers and promoting energy self-reliance in the state.

Chief Minister Yadav described the development as a step towards becoming a 'Green Power State' and stated that a decision has been taken to connect approximately 800,000 electric pumps to solar energy.

"Power Purchase Agreements were distributed under the 'Surya Mitra Krishi Feeder' scheme, which will enable the connection of approximately 800,000 electric pumps to solar energy. Under this scheme, solar projects totalling 4,022 MW have been allocated. This will make electricity available at an affordable rate ranging from just Rs 2.40 to Rs 2.85 per unit," he added.

Additional Chief Secretary of the Energy Department, Manu Srivastava, informed that under the Surya Mitra Krishi Feeder Scheme, solar power plants are being installed on electricity feeders to supply solar energy to agricultural pumps connected to separate agricultural feeders as well as mixed feeders linked to the grid.

He said that the entire feeder network and electricity substations will be solarised through the Surya Mitra Krishi Feeder Scheme, which will provide electricity at a cheaper rate to consumers.

He added that investors who fulfilled the required eligibility criteria have been selected and that Power Purchase Agreements have been signed for a period of 25 years.

The Surya Mitra Krishi Feeder Yojana is part of the Prime Minister Kusum Yojana, which involves establishing solar power plants on feeders to supply solar energy to grid-connected agricultural pumps.

Madhya Pradesh is a leading state in the agricultural sector, with approximately 8,000 separate agricultural feeders and around 3.5 million agricultural pumps for irrigation.
Bengaluru, March 25 : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Wednesday that he eats non-vegetarian food even on festive occasions such as Shivaratri and Ugadi, and that he does not care about reservations regarding the practice.

"For me, all days are the same. It is my choice to eat non-vegetarian food on those days," the Chief Minister added.

Siddaramaiah made the controversial statement on the floor of the State Assembly after being criticised by Leader of the Opposition and veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, R. Ashoka, for presenting the state Budget at an "auspicious" time, taking into account Hindu traditional time periods such as 'Rahu Kaal' and 'Gulika Kaal'.

The Chief Minister is widely known for his rationalist, agnostic, and anti-superstition stance, often challenging traditional religious customs despite not identifying as a staunch atheist.

He has historically broken taboos, such as visiting "jinxed" cities, presenting budgets during rahu kaal, and promoting anti-superstition laws.

Responding to the criticism, Siddaramaiah said, "It is true that the Budget was presented at an auspicious time as per Hindu traditional timekeeping. We have to consider advice from people like you (R. Ashoka). Earlier, I had presented Budgets during Rahu Kaal, which is considered inauspicious. This time, my family members and officials advised me not to present it during Rahu Kaal and to do so a little earlier."

"I am a person who believes in democracy," he added.

At this point, R. Ashoka and other Opposition members burst into laughter, disagreeing with Siddaramaiah's statement.

Siddaramaiah said, "You listen. Even today, I do not believe in Rahu Kaal or Gulika Kaal being inauspicious."

"I have not presented the Budget based on such considerations. Earlier, I have presented Budgets during Rahu Kaal -- you can verify it. I have also presented them during Gulika Kaal, which is also considered inauspicious. I do not have faith in all this," he added.

Opposition leader Ashoka then stood up in the State Assembly and remarked, "The situation was different then. Today's situation is different. You will have to present the next Budget as well. That is why you have considered the auspicious time. You have taken the first step in that direction."

Siddaramaiah responded that there was no such reasoning.

"Listen, I have never checked whether a time is auspicious or inauspicious. On the day of a solar eclipse, tell me -- will anyone eat non-vegetarian food on Ugadi or Shivaratri? I do," he said, prompting Congress members to thump their desks.

"There is nothing wrong in it. All days are the same. We celebrate some days as festivals, that's all," Siddaramaiah added.

Opposition leader Ashoka also questioned the devotion of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

Siddaramaiah replied that faith is a personal matter.

"You (R. Ashoka) have come wearing a shawl today. Why are you dressed like this?" the Chief Minister asked.
New Delhi, March 25 : Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday said that the spirit of voluntary charity is an integral part of Indian society, with people across sections stepping forward to help those in need.

Speaking at the National CSR announcement for FY 202627 and scholarship distribution event organised by the Malabar Charitable Trust here, Goyal said that while corporate social responsibility (CSR) frameworks have encouraged participation, going beyond mandated requirements reflects a genuine commitment to society.

He praised the initiative of allocating 5 per cent of net profits towards CSR, calling it a significant step that sets an example for others.

"Such efforts show that organisations can voluntarily contribute more than what is required and play a meaningful role in social development," the minister said.

Goyal also highlighted India's growing global economic engagement, noting that the country has signed nine free trade agreements with 38 developed nations in recent years.

"These agreements provide Indian businesses, farmers, MSMEs and artisans access to a large share of global markets at lower or zero duties, boosting export opportunities," he stated.

He stressed that to fully benefit from these agreements, Indian industries must focus on maintaining high quality standards in goods and services.

"Sectors like MSMEs, agriculture and fisheries stand to gain significantly if they align with global expectations," Goyal mentioned.

The minister also spoke about inclusive development, saying that every citizen deserves equal opportunity and access to basic needs such as food, housing, healthcare, education and digital connectivity.

"The government is working to ensure that all citizens can contribute to the vision of a developed India," he added.

Emphasising women-led development, Goyal referred to B. R. Ambedkar's belief that societies progress when women are empowered.

He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several initiatives have been taken to support education and empowerment of women.
Jaipur, March 25 : Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday released the third chapter of his digital series "Intezaar Shastra - The Science of Waiting", raising serious concerns over the delay in the construction of the IPD Tower at the Women's Hospital (Sanganeri Gate) in Jaipur. a Jaipur, March 25 (IANS) Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday released the third chapter of his digital series "Intezaar Shastra  The Science of Waiting", raising serious concerns over the delay in the construction of the IPD Tower at the Women's Hospital (Sanganeri Gate) in Jaipur. 

He alleged that the project has fallen victim to the neglect and insensitivity of the current BJP government, leaving critical healthcare infrastructure incomplete.

Gehlot stated that the project was initiated by the Congress government in February 2023, with an estimated cost of around Rs 117 crore, to provide world-class healthcare facilities for women. 

The proposed IPD Tower is designed to significantly enhance medical services, featuring a capacity of 500 beds, a modern 50-bed ICU, and six state-of-the-art modular operation theatres.

According to him, the project was a key step toward strengthening maternal and women's healthcare in the state. 

He expressed deep concern that the project, which was scheduled to be completed and dedicated to the public by August 2025, is now facing delays and remains in limbo. 

Questioning the current administration, Gehlot asked whether women's healthcare was no longer a priority and how much longer the people of the state  especially mothers and sisters  would have to wait for such essential infrastructure.

Referring to his ongoing digital series, Gehlot pointed out that this was not an isolated issue. 

In the first and second chapters of "Intezaar Shastra", he had already raised questions over delays in the construction of the IPD Tower at SMS Hospital as well as projects related to the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Social Sciences. 

Throughout the series, he has consistently highlighted what he describes as a pattern of slow progress and administrative inaction in completing key public welfare projects initiated during his tenure.

Raising concerns over healthcare infrastructure, Gehlot questioned the delay in the construction of the 1,200-bed IPD Tower at SMS Hospital in the second chapter of his series. 

He said the project, envisioned in 2022 and scheduled for completion by 2024, has now overshot its deadline by more than a year, with little visible progress. 

He commented that the hospital was to be constructed by 2022; however, it had been over a year past the deadline and was still incomplete.

Gehlot further alleged that during the BJP's tenure, not even a single storey of the tower had been constructed. 

He added that the delay in the IPD Tower meant compromising patients' lives, and that the project was intended to provide relief to thousands of patients visiting the state's largest government hospital.

--IANS

arc/dan
New Delhi, March 25 : The Government on Wednesday assured the opposition parties that more ships are coming through the Strait of Hormuz and there is no cause for concern.

At an all-party meeting held here on the West Asia crisis, the Government told the opposition leaders that India is on top of geopolitics and there is enough energy security. The leaders were also told how the ongoing situation would affect the country and the measures that the government was taking to deal with the fallout of the Iran war.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the government responded comprehensively to the queries and has answered all the questions asked by them.

The minister added that many members wanted to know the details of the gas and petroleum supply through the Strait of Hormuz, and they were all satisfied that India secured four ships already.

"All the opposition colleagues have said that in this hour of crisis, whatever decision the government takes, will be supported unitedly by everyone. I believe that whatever was demanded by the opposition on such information being given was provided adequately today."

The meeting was attended by the Union ministers, who form part of the Cabinet Committee on Security, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Tariq Anwar and Mukul Wasnik of the Congress, Dharmendra Yadav of the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Sasmit Patra of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) were among those who attended the meeting.

"I think the opposition party has displayed maturity in expressing at the end of the meeting, that in any challenging situation, they will stand with the steps taken by the government...The opposition members were satisfied with the effort made by the government," Rijiju said.

However, senior Congress leader Tariq Anwar said that an attempt was made to seek clarification from the government, but the meeting was unsatisfactory.

"It has been our longstanding demand that this issue be debated in both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha under Rules 193 and 170. Only then will people feel satisfied. The reality is that a conflict is already underway. Pakistan, which is smaller than us and weaker in every respect, is today acting as a mediator and playing that role, while we remain silent spectators."

CPI(M) MP John Brittas said that the government assured on measures it is taking, and it's talking to all countries and wishes the war ends soon.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh said that they raised concerns about people standing in line for gas cylinders and fuel, which is creating confusion and panic among the people.

"The government's stance was that we are producing 60 per cent of LPG domestically, and there will be no shortage of gas; we also have reserves of oil."
Ranchi, March 25 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), on Wednesday, apprehended the Chief Commercial Inspector (CCI) of South Eastern Railway in Ranchi, state capital of Jharkhand, in connection with a bribery case.

The accused, identified as Himanshu Shekhar, allegedly demanded and accepted a bribe of Rs 50,000 from a complainant.

The case, registered by the CBI on March 25, pertains to allegations that the CCI sought 10 per cent of the complainantas pending bills, which amounted to nearly Rs 8.7 lakh, in exchange for clearing them.

Acting on the complaint, the central agency laid a trap and caught Shekhar red-handed while accepting the negotiated bribe of Rs 50,000 as the first installment.

Searches are currently underway at both the office and residential premises of the accused.

The investigation is ongoing, and further details are awaited.

This arrest follows a string of recent bribery cases across Jharkhand.

On March 23, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested Pritam Acharya, an employee of Deputy Commissioner of the Land Reforms office in Saraikela, and a middleman for allegedly accepting Rs 5 lakh as part of a Rs 40 lakh bribe to settle a land compensation case.

The duo was caught in a trap laid by the ACB while the complainant handed over the first installment.

Earlier this month, Jharkhand witnessed multiple such arrests: Niranjan Kumar, a Block Supply Officer in Barharwa (Sahibganj district), was caught on March 19 accepting Rs 50,000 from a Public Distribution System dealer.

On March 17, a Junior Engineer of South Eastern Railway in Bhojudih (Bokaro) was arrested for allegedly taking Rs 15,000.

On March 13, two employees of the District Land Acquisition Office in Deoghar were arrested for seeking commission on compensation related to a Ring Road project.

On March 12, a Sub-Inspector in Koderma and a Panchayat Secretary in Gumla were also apprehended for bribery.

With these operations, Jharkhand has recorded at least eight bribery-related arrests so far this month, highlighting intensified efforts to curb corruption in government services.
Quetta, March 25 : A leading human rights organisation on Wednesday expressed serious concerns over the continued enforced disappearances of Baloch women at the hands of Pakistani forces.

As atrocities against civilians continue to rise in Balochistan, Paank, the Baloch National Movement's Human Rights Department, mentioned that a 23-year-old student, Mahjabeen Baloch, was abducted by Pakistani forces on May 29, last year.

Her disappearance, it said, soon after her brother Younus Baloch went missing, raises concerns about the targetting of family members and practising collective punishment across Balochistan.

According to the rights body, Younus was later released after severe torture, but Mahjabeen's whereabouts still remain unknown.

"Enforced disappearances constitute grave violations of international human rights law, denying individuals protection under the law and inflicting ongoing suffering on their families," Paank stated.

The rights body called on the Pakistani authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Mahjabeen and to disclose her fate and whereabouts without any further delay.

Amid the escalating violence across the province, Paank strongly condemned the extrajudicial killing of Muhammad Aamir, a resident of Mastung District.

The rights body called the brutal killing yet another alarming instance of violence in Balochistan committed by the Pakistani authorities.

Citing the victim's family, Paank stated that personnel of Pakistan's Frontier Corps (FC) raided their home in the Killi Karez Sor area in Mastung on the eve of Eid, forcibly taking Muhammad outside the house and shooting him dead.

The family further stated that "no arrest warrant was presented, no police report was filed, and no evidence was provided to justify the operation."

Describing the incident as part of a broader pattern of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in the region, Paank said that "such actions constitute grave violations of fundamental human rights, including the right to life, due process, and protection from arbitrary detention."

"This killing raises serious legal and ethical concerns," the rights body added, urging immediate transparency and accountability.

Paank further called on the Pakistani authorities to conduct an independent and impartial investigation into the incident and to ensure that those responsible are held accountable under the law.

The rights body appealed to international human rights bodies to take urgent notice of the situation in Balochistan, stressing that continued impunity risks further escalation of violence and suffering among civilians.

Reaffirming its commitment to justice, Paank expressed solidarity with the family of Muhammad and all victims of alleged violence in Balochistan by Pakistani forces, while calling for an end to what it described as "systemic abuses" in the region.
Jaipur, March 25 : Acting under the directives of Rajasthan Director General of Police, Rajiv Kumar Sharma, a serious warning has been issued in the state regarding the security of digital data, officials said on Wednesday.

Based on observations by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), it has emerged that cybercriminals are now specifically targeting institutions that use Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices.

These include chartered accountancy firms, consulting agencies, hospitals, IT and media professionals, as well as educational institutions.

Jaipur Deputy Inspector General of Police (Cyber Crime), Shantanu Kumar Singh, said that the modus operandi of these fraudsters is highly sophisticated.

Cybercriminals identify vulnerable or publicly accessible NAS systems over the internet.

By exploiting weak passwords or outdated software, these cybercriminals gain unauthorised access and then copy or encrypt (lock) critical data.

They subsequently demand hefty ransom payments, threatening to make sensitive data public, effectively denying institutions access to their own information.

According to the advisory released by the Rajasthan Police, chartered accountants and IT professionals are among the primary targets, as they handle highly confidential financial data of clients.

In addition, ransomware incidents have also been reported in media organisations and large hospitals.

Sharing tips to safeguard valuable data, cyber experts recommend that institutions should restrict direct internet access to NAS systems, implement multi-factor authentication, and use strong passwords to enhance security.

It is essential to regularly update software and apply all necessary security patches to prevent vulnerabilities.

Institutions should also maintain secure backups at regular intervals and store them offline or in protected locations, while ensuring proper data recovery mechanisms are in place to handle emergencies effectively.

Continuous monitoring of systems is crucial to detect any unusual activity.

Immediate action should be taken if suspicious behaviour is observed, and affected systems must be isolated from the network without delay to prevent further damage.

Institutions are also advised to seek assistance from cybersecurity experts whenever required, officials said, adding: "In case of any such incident, report immediately to the nearest police station or cyber police station, or file a complaint via the Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: https://cybercrime.gov.in. The complainant may also contact the Cyber Helpline at 1930 or the Cyber Helpdesk at 9256001930/9257510100," officials said.
Johannesburg, March 25 : India's ability to navigate relationships with multiple, often competing actors, could become a key diplomatic strength, serving as a link between BRICS and the US, which under President Donald Trump viewed the bloc as anti-American and as a potential threat to Washington, a report has highlighted.

South African newspaper 'The Citizen' reflected how India's relationship with Israel would impact the unity of the BRICS countries.

While the conflict in Iran has exposed limits to the military dominance of the US-Israel alliance, it has also laid bare the strain that major geopolitical crisis place on the institutions of a new multipolar order.

"Donald Trump's gung-ho policy of world domination met its 'Moses' when the US President and Israel attacked Iran. The Islamic Republic did not roll over like Venezuela and succumb to US might but retaliated ferociously, even as its supreme leader was killed. Whichever way the war ends, Iran will be a lesson America and Israel will not forget easily. But the ramifications of the conflict extend beyond the battlefield," the report detailed.

"It has exposed divisions within major international groupings, from the United Nations to NATO and even BRICS, where member states increasingly find their national interests pulling them in different directions," it added.

According to the report, the concern that New Delhi's policy on Israel risks undermining the cohesion of the BRICS overlooks a central feature of Indian foreign policy  the country has never aligned itself with rigid geopolitical camps.

India's diplomacy, it said, has long been guided by strategic autonomy, balancing engagements across competing blocs while protecting its national interests.

"This approach is especially evident in the Middle East, where India maintains strong partnerships with Israel in defence technology, agriculture and innovation, while sustaining deep economic and energy ties with the Arab world and Iran," the report stated.

"This balancing act is not an inconsistency but a deliberate strategy. For India, its growing partnership with Israel reflects practical considerations," it added.

Emphasising India's constructive role as a pragmatic global actor, the report said, "Far from undermining BRICS unity, India's stance underscores the evolving nature of multipolar diplomacy, as evidenced by India's friendly relations with Iran, Israel's arch-enemy."
New York, March 25 : Human Rights Watch (HRW), a US-based advocacy group, on Wednesday called on the Chinese authorities to immediately overturn the conviction of prominent human rights lawyer Xie Yang and release him unconditionally, citing serious procedural violations and years of persecution.

According to the leading rights body, a court in China sentenced the prominent human rights lawyer Xie Yang to five years in prison on March 23 on "politically motivated" charges of "inciting subversion of state power".

"The Chinese authorities' prosecution of Xie Yang and the court's harsh sentence reflect Beijing's utter contempt for the rule of law. This case not only aimed to persecute a brave human rights lawyer like Xie but also to intimidate all lawyers seeking to protect Chinese people's rights," said Maya Wang, Deputy Asia Director at HRW.

Xie's former wife, Chen Guiqiu, said that the legal proceedings against the human rights defender were marred by serious violations of due process protections.

The HRW added that the Chinese authorities extended Xie's pretrial detention 13 times for over four years and barred his lawyers from participating in his hearings.

The rights body noted that Xie's trial violated the right to a fair trial by an independent and impartial court as provided under international human rights law.

Highlighting that 54-year-old Xie from China's Hunan province began practising law in 2011, the HRW said that the human rights lawyer has defended activists and victims of rights abuses in politically sensitive cases, including those involving religious persecution and land rights disputes.

The rights body stated that Xie has faced repeated retaliation for his work.

"In July 2015, during the nationwide arrests of human rights lawyers known as the '709 crackdown', Xie was tortured and subjected to enforced disappearance, convicted of 'inciting subversion', and imprisoned until 2017," it added.

The Chinese authorities detained him again in January 2022 after he pressed for the "release of a young teacher who had been forcibly committed to a psychiatric facility for criticising censorship in education."

Citing US-based Chinese human rights defenders, the HRW said that police raided Xie's home, tortured him in custody, and held him on charges of "inciting subversion" and "picking quarrels and provoking trouble".

"Foreign governments should continue to speak out for human rights lawyers like Xie Yang because this kind of support is most important when the circumstances are so dire. Vocal international support could improve Xie's treatment and, crucially, help give him and others in China the strength to persevere," Wang said.
Photo: https://t.me/svyrydenkoy/

Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko presented comprehensive plans for ensuring regional energy resilience at a meeting of the Ukraine Donor Platform Steering Committee.

"Had the honor of opening it and presenting key priorities in the field of strengthening resilience and recovery to partners Number one is energy. Thanks to partner support, we got through the most difficult winter with constant Russian shelling of our infrastructure. We received over EUR 600 million in contributions to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund this heating season, and this support helped ensure equipment reserves and quick repairs after Russian attacks," Svyrydenko wrote on her Telegram channel following the 16th meeting of the Ukraine Donor Platform Steering Committee.

She also presented donors with comprehensive plans for ensuring regional energy resilience for upcoming heating seasons with a total cost of EUR 5.4 billion, and noted that Ukraine counts on substantial support from international partners in covering the corresponding need - both through financial contributions and by supplying necessary equipment.

"Even under conditions challenging our survival, Ukraine is steadily and actively moving along the European integration path. We are working to close all negotiating clusters this year. In accordance with the key principles of the EU, reforms and the rule of law, we will ensure fulfillment of all requirements for opening clusters and continuing accession negotiations in 2026," the prime minister wrote.
Kohima, March 25 : Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Wednesday emphasised that while physical integration of Naga-inhabited areas may not be immediately possible, unity in political, cultural, and social spheres remains essential for resolving the long-standing Naga issue.

Speaking at the Tenyimi Youth Cultural Festival at Naga Heritage Village Kisama, near Kohima, Rio reiterated that integration has consistently been a core demand, with the Nagaland Assembly passing multiple resolutions supporting it. However, he stressed the need to strengthen bonds beyond territorial limits, urging Nagas to remain united through shared identity, traditions, and customary laws.

Highlighting the importance of cultural cohesion, Rio said that communities like the Tenyimi, spread across regions and states, are connected by common heritage and values. He noted that such unity can reinforce the broader Naga identity and earn greater recognition.

The Chief Minister also underscored the role of culture and language in preserving identity. He called for wider promotion of Tenyidie, suggesting its inclusion in school curricula, and acknowledged efforts by organisations like Ura Academy in advancing the language.

Encouraging youth participation, Rio described young people as custodians of tradition and urged them to uphold cultural values while developing skills and resilience for the future. The Chief Minister stressed that shared traditions, customary laws, life and culture, food habits and history connect the Naga people together, and called for reconciliation and combined effort to secure a dignified and honourable resolution to the Naga political issue.

He noted that the Centre had recognised the distinct identity of Nagas, citing protective provisions such as the Inner Line Permit (ILP) under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873 and Article 371A.

Deputy Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang echoed similar sentiments, describing the Tenyimi community as a closely connected family with shared ancestry, culture, and traditions. He emphasised the importance of documentation and collective effort in preserving their heritage.

The festival, organised by the Tenyimi Union Nagaland, showcased traditional music, dance, and practices, reinforcing the theme of unity through cultural heritage.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Gandhinagar, March 25 : Gujarat has ranked first in the country in disposing of complaints received through the National Helpline Against Atrocities, while over Rs 23 crore in assistance was disbursed in 2025.

The assistance is provided in cases involving Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), officials said after a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday.

The state-level Vigilance and Monitoring Committee, constituted under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Rules, 2018, reviewed the implementation of safeguards.

A presentation at the meeting stated that the state has achieved 100 per cent disposal of complaints received through the helpline, which has been operational via an ultra-modern call centre since March 2022.

The committee carried out a comprehensive review of cases registered in 2025 under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, including assistance paid to victims and measures taken to promote social harmony.

The Chief Minister said efforts to strengthen social harmony should continue through "sensitive and empathetic cooperation" between public representatives and officials.

He also directed that District Vigilance Committees be convened every three months in all districts under the chairmanship of district collectors.

Officials informed the meeting that Rs 23.62 crore was disbursed between January and December 2025 to victims in atrocity cases.

The review also noted institutional mechanisms for prevention and response, including the helpline system and periodic monitoring at the district level.

The meeting was also briefed on the 'Samaras Hostel' scheme, introduced in 2016 with the objective of accommodating students from different communities under one roof.

A total of 1.03 lakh students have benefited from 23 such hostels across 12 districts, while 11 boys' and 14 girls' hostels have been approved.

It was also stated that special courts established under the 1989 Act are functioning in the state, along with 16 exclusive special courts for the speedy disposal of atrocity cases.

Tribal Development Minister Naresh Patel, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Pradyuman Vaja, and Ministers of State Manisha Vakil, Ramesh Katara, Darshana Vaghela, Jayram Gamit, and P.C. Baranda attended the meeting.

Elected representatives from reserved constituencies for SCs and STs participated and submitted suggestions.
Aizawl, March 25 : The Territorial Army, under the aegis of the 23 Sector Assam Rifles, celebrated the 99th birthday of Padma Shri awardee Havildar Lalbiakthanga Pachuau (Retd), a distinguished veteran of the 3rd Battalion, The Assam Regiment.

Defence spokesman Lt Col Mahendra Rawat said that at 99 years of age, Havildar Pachuau stands as a living embodiment of the finest traditions of the Indian Army.

Having served with distinction in the 3rd Battalion, The Assam Regiment, including participation during World War II, he later transitioned into a remarkable civilian life dedicated to journalism, literature, and social service after voluntarily retiring from the Army upon completing 17 years of service.

He was conferred the Padma Shri in 2021 in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Literature and Education (Journalism).

Widely acknowledged as India's oldest working journalist, he has devoted his life to promoting truthful reporting, social awareness, and community development in Mizoram, Lt Col Rawat added.

Under the theme "A Remarkable Century, A Remarkable Life", personnel of the Territorial Army, Assam Regiment, and Assam Rifles paid tribute to the veteran.

Family members and ex-servicemen joined the celebrations.

His life continues to inspire generations, reinforcing the enduring bond between veterans and serving soldiers.

Pachuau began his journalism career in 1953 with a local publication and went on to become a prominent figure in the Mizoram Journalists Association (MJA), serving as its president for three terms.

He was declared the "oldest working journalist in the country" by the Mizoram government's Information and Public Relations Department and the MJA in October 2016.

Pachuau also co-founded the Association for Voluntary Blood Donation (AVBD), serving initially as its general secretary and later as its president multiple times from 2001 onwards.

In 1945, during the final phase of World War II, he joined the Army and earned several military honours.

He was also one of the key delegates during the peace talks between the erstwhile underground Mizo National Front (MNF) and the Centre in the early 1980s.

In the 1990s, Pachuau founded the Mizoram Social Defence Union and actively campaigned against alcohol and drug abuse.
Mumbai, March 25 : In a blistering verbal offensive, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Maharashtra state president and MP Sunil Tatkare on Wednesday took aim at political rivals attempting to interfere in party affairs while terming them as "scavengers" driven by a sinister desire to seize control.

Tatkare was responding the statement made by NCP SP legislator Rohit Pawar today that against Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel made an attempt to seize control of the Nationalist Congress Party (AP) following the sudden demise of Ajit Pawar.

He further claimed a group of leaders wrote to the Election Commission of India (ECI) claiming changes to the party constitution to vest sweeping powers in a "working president", and said Sunetra Pawar subsequently wrote to the poll body asking it to disregard any such correspondence during the transition period after Ajit Pawar's demise.

However, Tatkare staunchly defended the appointment of Sunetra Pawar as the party president, noting that the "hunger for power" from outsiders began the moment she took charge.

He dismissed claims that the party or symbol were "stolen" when they joined the NDA, calling such statements "filthy and baseless".

Tatkare alleged that certain individuals were so eager to sideline the Pawar family and take over the party that they began discussing mergers on the very day of Ajit Dada's passing. "These individuals are suffering from a 'jaundice of hatred' toward Dada's family," Tatkare remarked. "Now, they suddenly pretend to be worried about our party's internal affairs."

Tatkare also pointed out inconsistencies within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), specifically questioning why certain leaders boycotted a dinner hosted by Sharad Pawar. "When only three out of ten MLAs attend your own event, you should look inward. Why is there a sudden obsession with Sunetra Vahini, Parth, or Jay Pawar? It's clear that when people fear for their own political survival, they resort to such publicity stunts," he remarked.

He didn't hold back, reminding the public of past internal friction where the same "gentlemen" had demanded the expulsion of veteran leaders like Jayant Patil during the Shirdi convention.

Tatkare concluded by reaffirming that the entire leadershipincluding himself and Praful Patelstands united under Sunetra Pawar's leadership. He warned that the public would ultimately thwart the "conspiracies" being hatched to destabilize the party.
Patna, March 25 : Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, visited Gaighat in Muzaffarpur on Wednesday to meet the family of Jagatveer Rai, the elderly man who was killed during a police raid.

After expressing condolences, he launched a sharp attack on the Nitish Kumar government and local administration.

Without naming anyone directly, Tejashwi alleged that the accused Sub-Inspector is being shielded by a prominent Janata Dal (United) leader, whom he described as someone who considers himself the Chief Minister of Muzaffarpur.

He demanded immediate arrest and strict action against the officer involved.

Addressing the media, Tejashwi Yadav demanded fair and swift justice, stating that the role of the police is under serious suspicion.

"If the accused officer is not arrested and justice is delayed, the Rashtriya Janata Dal will launch a statewide agitationfrom the streets to the Assemblyto intensify pressure on the government," he said.

The incident occurred on March 18 in Chornia village under the Gayghat police station area, where a police team had gone to arrest an accused in a case related to the POCSO Act.

A violent clash broke out between villagers and police, during which several police personnel were injured, and government vehicles were damaged.

Amid the chaos, 60-year-old Jagatveer Rai lost his life due to a gunshot wound, triggering widespread tension in the region.

The victim's family has alleged that the then Station House Officer (SHO) deliberately shot him.

However, the police maintain that the firing was done in self-defence after a life-threatening attack by the mob.

Given the seriousness of the case, a Forensic Science Laboratory team has been called to collect evidence, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted under the supervision of a magistrate to ensure an impartial probe.

Currently, the situation in Chornia village remains tense but under control. Despite the formation of a special police team and the investigation proceeding under the supervision of a magistrate, political activity remains intense.

All eyes are now fixed on the investigation report to see whether the evidence corroborates the police's claim of self-defence, or if there is truth to the allegations of murder levelled by Tejashwi Yadav.

The victim's family and the villagers are still awaiting action from the local administration, holding onto the hope of justice.
Guwahati, March 25 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday assured that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel or LPG in the state and urged people not to panic-buy.

Speaking to reporters here, Sarma said that fuel supplies remain adequate and there is no cause for public concern. 

"There is sufficient availability of petrol, diesel and LPG in Assam. There is no fear of any shortage," he said. 

The Chief Minister further added that the Government of India has also clarified the situation during an all-party meeting, reiterating that there is no disruption in fuel supply across the country. 

"Even in the all-party meeting, the Centre has clearly stated that there is no shortage of petrol and diesel," Sarma noted. 

Appealing to citizens to act responsibly, Sarma cautioned against unnecessary fuel stocking, which could create artificial scarcity in the market. 

"I would request people not to rush to fuel stations and not to stock petrol and diesel excessively," he said. 

According to officials, supply chains for petroleum products in Assam and the Northeast remain stable, and oil companies are continuing regular distribution without interruption. 

Sarma's remarks come amid concerns in some quarters over fuel availability, which led to increased demand at petrol pumps in certain areas. However, authorities have maintained that there is no disruption in supply logistics. 

The state government is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with oil marketing companies to ensure the uninterrupted availability of fuel across Assam. 

Officials also warned that panic buying could temporarily strain local supply, despite adequate stock at the macro level. 

Reiterating his appeal, the Chief Minister urged people to remain calm and avoid spreading rumours, emphasising that there is no need to worry about fuel availability in the state. 

-- Syndicated from IANS
Guwahati, March 25 : The Congress suffered a setback ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in Assam after its candidate for the Barpeta constituency, Mahananda Sarkar, had his nomination paper rejected during scrutiny on Wednesday.

According to election officials, Sarkar's nomination was declared invalid due to discrepancies in Form A, a crucial document required for candidates nominated by recognised political parties. The rejection came after a detailed hearing conducted by the Returning Officer.

Officials stated that the inconsistencies in the submission rendered the nomination liable for cancellation under the Representation of the People Act and the Election Commission's guidelines.

"With the completion of scrutiny, the nomination of the Congress candidate from Barpeta, Mahananda Sarkar, has been rejected due to irregularities in Form A," an official said.

The development effectively means that the Congress has lost a key electoral contest in Barpeta even before polling, dealing a blow to the party's prospects in the constituency.

Sources indicated that the discrepancy in Form A, which certifies a candidate as the official nominee of a political party, was flagged during the verification process, prompting objections and subsequent examination by authorities.

Despite arguments presented during the hearing, the Returning Officer upheld the objections and ordered the rejection of the nomination.

The Congress has yet to issue an official statement on the matter. Party insiders, however, termed the development "unfortunate" and said they are examining legal options, including the possibility of approaching the Election Commission.

Barpeta is considered a politically significant constituency, and the rejection is expected to alter the electoral dynamics there.

With this development, the contest in Barpeta is likely to see a reshaped field, potentially benefiting rival candidates as the election approaches.
Mumbai, March 25 : Actor-director Boman Irani has put on a diplomatic hat to resolve the ongoing war in west Asia. On Wednesday, the actor took to his Instagram, and shared a video of himself talking to the camera. Citing his Irani roots, the actor expressed his willingness to talk to the US President Donald Trump with regards to solving the conflict.

In the video, he said in jest, "So, as you may know, it's going viral that Mr. Donald Trump wants to speak to the Iranis, and three people have been beckoned to speak, Smriti Irani, Aruna Irani, and me".

He further mentioned, "So, I am ready. I am ready. We can do anything for peace. My only problem is that I won't go to Washington. Let their delegation come here to the Dadar Parsi Colony. We will treat them with whatever they like, we'll feed them dhansak and custard. We will bring a gas cylinder. I think it will make life very, very smooth for all of us".

Meanwhile, the war in west Asia is about to enter its 26th day with both the USA and Israel jointly attacking Iran. Iran, on its part, has been attacking the US military bases of the allies in the middle-east with catastrophic bombings on Tel Aviv.

Earlier, Trump spoke about the 5 days of ceasefire to the war saying he negotiated peace with the leaders of Iran. Soon after Trump's statement, Iran said that Trump is bluffing, and is cooking up a one-sided peace deal to manipulate financial markets linked to oil. Following this, the talks between Iran and the USA are reportedly underway while bombings continues over critical infrastructure of Iran and Israel.
Ujjain, March 25 : On the occasion of his 61st birthday on Wednesday, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav delivered a message from the newly established All India Radio (AIR) station in Ujjain.

The Chief Minister began his address by reaffirming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government's commitment to make the Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2028 in the religious city a grand and world-class event.

Delivering his message to people of his home district -- which was later broadcast from 17 other centres across the state -- CM Yadav said he was delighted to connect through the Akashvani centre in the sacred city of the Mahakaleshwar Temple.

Notably, the All India Radio station in Ujjain was officially inaugurated on November 26, 2025.

He said Madhya Pradesh has reached a stage where cultural heritage and modern development are progressing together.

CM Yadav added that to showcase the richness of Sanatan culture on the global stage, the state government is working with a firm resolve to make Simhastha 2028 a world-class event.

"The government is undertaking projects worth thousands of crores to keep the Shipra river clean and ensure its continuous flow, develop a riverfront, and address water scarcity through major river-linking projects such as Ken-Betwa and Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal," he said.

He said that by observing 2026 as 'Farmers' Welfare Year', the government aims to boost farmersa income through expansion of irrigation and agricultural mechanisation.

He also noted that to preserve tribal culture in the state, Bhagoria has been accorded the status of a state festival and folk celebration.

The Chief Minister reiterated the government's zero-tolerance policy against Naxalism, stating that there is no place for disorder in Madhya Pradesh.

Highlighting 'Project Cheetah', Chief Minister Yadav said the state is emerging as a leader in wildlife conservation.

Concluding his address, he said that the journey towards a developed and prosperous Madhya Pradesh is a collective effort, strengthened by his cabinet colleagues and the trust of the people.
Mumbai, March 25 : Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, replying to the Last Week Resolution in the Legislative Council on Wednesday, said the state government is committed to all-round development, asserting that work is underway across sectors including agriculture, industry, infrastructure, and law and order.

Marking the birth centenary of Balasaheb Thackeray, the state government has resolved to make Mumbai and its surrounding areas slum-free. For this, the 'Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Urban Public Welfare Campaign' will be implemented.

Highlighting measures for farmers, Shinde said a loan waiver has been implemented for those with overdue loans as of September 30, 2025, granting relief of up to Rs 2 lakh. Farmers who repay loans regularly are being given an incentive of up to Rs 50,000. He added that Rs 1,798.78 crore has been deposited in the accounts of over 89.75 lakh farmers.

On urban development, Shinde said cluster development for slums larger than 50 acres in Mumbai has been approved. Based on biometric surveys, these will be recognised as official clusters and the tender process will be initiated. To make Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) housing more viable, the corpus fund has been increased. The earlier 30-year restriction on redevelopment of old houses (180, 225 and 269 sq. ft.) has been relaxed, making residents eligible for 300 sq. ft. homes.

He said the government will use satellite technology to monitor and prevent the emergence of new slums, while encroachments on land belonging to agencies such as MMRDA, BMC and MHADA will be reviewed every four months.

On law and order, Shinde said the police force is being strengthened with modern technology. The 'MahaCrimeOS AI' system has been introduced to tackle cybercrime, while a recruitment drive for over 15,000 police personnel is underway.

He added that the response time of the 112 helpline is among the best in the country. Initiatives such as 'Damini Pathak', 'Nirbhaya Pathak' and 'Bharosa Cell' are operational. The government aims to file chargesheets in crimes against women within 60 days.

Shinde said that in the past year, 1,438 drug-related cases were registered and 1,651 accused arrested. Efforts to counter Naxalism through security operations and development initiatives have also led to several surrenders.

He further said that over 12,000 CCTV cameras have been installed across 1,089 police stations, with more than 6 lakh cameras operational across the state.

Reiterating a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption, Shinde said 682 anti-corruption cases were registered last year, with action taken against around 1,000 individuals. Over the past two years, 1,304 officials and employees were suspended and six dismissed. Complaints can be lodged through the 1064 helpline or WhatsApp.

"The pace of development set over the last four years will continue. We will lead Maharashtra's development forward," Shinde said.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Photo: MFA of Ukraine

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Heorhiy Tykhy stated that Hungarys decision to stop gas supplies to Ukraine will result in serious economic losses for Budapest.

"Firstly, I have spoken with our relevant departments, and I can confirm that as of now, gas imports have not been stopped. If Prime Minister Orban still decides to stop it, we believe that the only consequence of this will be to deprive the Hungarian economy and Hungarians of over a billion dollars that Hungary received, for example, last year," Tykhy said at a briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday.

He stressed that "the only consequence will be that Viktor Orban will take this billion dollars from the pockets of the Hungarians."

"Its his business if he wants to do it. Ukraine currently has the necessary volumes of gas. Ukraine knows where to get the necessary volumes of gas even if Hungary stops supplying," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry emphasized.

Tykhy also noted that Ukraine, "unlike Hungary, is a diversified country and at one time took the necessary measures to ensure that the supply of energy resources was diversified."
New York, March 25 : A Democrat has wrested away from President Donald Trump's Republican Party his Florida state legislature home constituency in a by-election.

In a setback to the Republicans, Emily Gregory carried in Tuesday's by-election the state House of Representatives seat where Trump had led by 11 per cent in the 2024 election.

Trump's home, Mar-a-Lago, is located in the constituency where she won.

"Floridians deserve leaders who put people over politics", Gregory said.

A critic of postal ballots, Trump himself voted by mail in the election.

The Republican candidate, Jon Maples, was endorsed by Trump.

The vacancy occurred when the Republican Mike Caruso, who won the seat by 19 per cent in 2024, quit to become the county clerk and comptroller for a local municipality.

Republicans also lost a Florida state Senate by-election to Democrat Brian Nathan, who flipped the seat.

Gregory said that the voters were motivated by concerns over the rising prices, an issue that is affecting citizens as the effects of Iran War is seeping into petrol stations and supermarkets, exacerbating an existing affordability problem.

Setting the scene for the coming showdown in the midterm elections in November, the state Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried said, "Floridians are tired of the chaos, corruption, and sky high prices on everything from groceries, to gas, and health care".

That is a problem for the Republican Party as the country heads to the mid-term elections in November that would determine the control of Congress.

Politico reported that Democrats have seized 28 Republican-held seats in state legislatures in elections across the country over the past 14 months.

Meanwhile, US lawmakers warned of mounting pressure on American weapons stockpiles and a rapidly deteriorating global nuclear landscape, as a Senate hearing exposed sharp concerns over the Trump administration's war with Iran and the future of arms control.

At a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Ranking Member Senator Jeanne Shaheen said the pace of weapons consumption has exposed serious gaps in planning and strategy.

"Last Thursday, almost three weeks into this war against Iran, the Administration pushed through more than 16 billion dollars in arms sales to the Middle East using emergency authority to bypass normal Congressional review," she said.

Shaheen described the situation as a "munitions and weapons" emergency, warning that US reserves are being depleted rapidly. "In some cases, we have only about a quarter of the interceptors we need," she said, adding that it remains "not clear what the end goal of the war in Iran is."

The strain is already affecting other conflicts. "US support has become less predictable, and allies are increasingly stepping in to purchase or backfill American-made arms," she said, referring to Ukraine.

Shaheen said that "over 80 per cent of their strikes are now carried out by drones," highlighting a shift toward "autonomous systems and drone swarms." However, she cautioned, "the support that we have in the US is not keeping pace."
Technology

Nimble AppGenie Sets New Benchmarks in eWallet App Development and Digital Payment Innovation

Texas, USA  March 24th, 2026  Nimble AppGenie, a globally recognized mobile app development company, continues to lead innovation in the fintech space with its advanced eWallet app development services. With a strong presence across the UK, USA, UAE, India, Singapore, Malaysia, and Canada, the company is empowering startups, enterprises, and financial institutions to build secure, scalable, and feature-rich digital wallet solutions tailored to evolving market demands.

As the global shift toward cashless economies accelerates, eWallet applications have become an essential part of modern financial ecosystems. Nimble AppGenie is at the forefront of this transformation, delivering customized eWallet app development solutions that enhance user experience, streamline transactions, and ensure top-tier security.

Our goal is to help businesses leverage the growing demand for digital payments by offering innovative and reliable eWallet solutions, said Niketan Sharma, CTO of Nimble AppGenie. We combine advanced technologies with industry expertise to build applications that are not only user-friendly but also future-ready.

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QR code-based payments and contactless transactions

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By leveraging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, and Cloud Computing, Nimble AppGenie ensures that its eWallet applications are highly secure, scalable, and capable of handling large volumes of transactions efficiently.

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In the fintech industry, security and regulatory compliance are critical. Nimble AppGenie prioritizes data protection and adheres to global standards such as PCI-DSS, GDPR, and KYC/AML regulations. The company implements robust encryption protocols, multi-factor authentication, and continuous monitoring systems to safeguard user data and prevent fraudulent activities.

Our development approach places security at the center of every eWallet solution we create, Niketan Sharma added. We understand the importance of trust in digital payments, and we ensure our clients deliver that trust to their users.

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Nimble AppGenie offers end-to-end eWallet app development services, from ideation and UI/UX design to development, testing, and deployment. The company works closely with clients to understand their business requirements and deliver customized solutions that align with their goals.

Whether its a startup looking to launch a new fintech product or an enterprise aiming to upgrade its existing payment system, Nimble AppGenie provides scalable solutions that support business growth and digital transformation.

The companys agile development methodology ensures faster time-to-market while maintaining high-quality standards. Additionally, its dedicated support and maintenance services help clients continuously optimize their applications and stay ahead of industry trends.

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With the rapid adoption of smartphones and digital technologies, eWallet apps are playing a crucial role in shaping the future of financial transactions. Nimble AppGenie is committed to helping businesses capitalize on this opportunity by delivering innovative eWallet solutions that drive customer engagement and operational efficiency.

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Digital comics platform GlobalComix is making moves to increase its reach. Earlier this month, the company announced three new developments: The appointment of Henrik Rydberg as CEO, a $13 million funding round, and the acquisition of the AI-powered publishing platform Inkr.

In a release, the company said these moves aimed establishing GlobalComix "as the platform building the infrastructure for how comics and manga are translated, distributed, and experienced worldwide."

Rydberg has experience with digital platforms, having previously served on the founding team that built the 3D design app Tinkercad to acquisition by Autodesk. He spent the last five years developing startups for Fortune 500 companies.

"Comics are the origin of pop culture. The biggest movies, the most valuable IP, and the characters we love all started as comics," Rydberg said in a statement. "There is incredible value locked inside those pages, waiting to be liberated across languages and screen sizes, into pockets all around the world. Thats what were empowering publishers and creators to do."

GlobalComix wants to be a destination for both English-language comics and Japanese manga, and those audiences are reflected in its funding sources. The $13 million funding round was co-led by the SBI US Gateway Fund, an arm of Japans largest venture capital firm that invests in North American tech startups, and the U.S. venture investor Point72 Ventures. Additional investors include Scrum Ventures, Wise Ventures, Wicklow Capital, and Upside VC.

In a release, the company said its plan is to become the Figma for comics, referencing the famous collaborative design platform. Acquiring Inkr is part of that plan, since the its AI-assisted software offers tools for translation, text detection, image cleaning, and typesetting. GlobalComix described Inkr as "collaborative platform where publishers and creators can localize, transform, and distribute their IPs globally, with AI that puts creators at the center of every workflow."

"Great creative tools disappear behind the creator and amplify them," Ken Luong, the former CEO of Inkr and now head of A.I. engineering at GlobalComix, said in a statement. "Everything we build puts the creators judgment and vision at the center. Our opt-in AI can help with the heavy lifting so professionals can focus on what matters: the story and expression. Joining GlobalComix lets us bring that philosophy to a global stage."
At this year's London Book Fair, held March 1012, Pan Macmillan CEO Joanna Prior gave a widely reported speech on the "reading crisis, urging publishers to make better use of comic books. At a moment of growth for the British graphic novel market, which saw sales in 2025 up by more than 30% over 2024, could comics serve as a savior of print for an audience seeking eyeball-grabbing visuals, as well as words?

If so, LBF needs to catch up. A promised "Comic Space" at the fair never materialized. Instead of a hubbub of comics-focused activity, there was a shelf of Dark Horse and Italy's Panini Comics on one side of the Turnaround UK booth, next door to DC Thompson's small shelf in the Scotland booth. Comics distributor Diamond UK, with a wall of manga and pulp comics, was on the floor below, a small block away from the U.K.-based Rebellion Publishing, with a small shelf of 2000 AD. More of a comic spattering.

The real comics space was instead in nearby pubs, namely The Cumberland Arms and The Hand & Flower. That's where you could have found Dirk Wood and Jeff Boison, from stateside powerhouse Image Comics, meeting their British writers and artists. Image was also trying to bolster its relationship with Diamond UK after Diamond's U.S. arm filed for bankruptcy last year. Boison claims theres been a rise in the number of English-language-focused comic book stores opening across Europe, which would make Diamond UK ideally placed to supply them.

Back at the fair, there was a notable reduction in the presence of French graphic novels among publishers, who usually sign plenty of rights deals at the show. This was blamed on the biggest comics trade show in the world, in Angouleme, getting canceled in December after boycotts from publishers and creators who cited poor organization and badly handled claims of sexual assault. Only French publisher Dargaud retained a decent selection, but where France dropped the ball, Korean publishers seemed to be picking it up.

It was left to children's and YA publishers to show everyone how it was done, with Heartstopper author Alice Oseman drawing a standing-room-only crowd. The final Heartstopper volume is set to be released by Scholastic, with a confident half-million-copy print run, this summer, but Oseman let everyone know that they had told Netflix not to release the final film until the book was published. (Not many authors, comics or otherwise, get to boss Netflix around.) Oseman was named the second-ever "Creative of the Fair," following last year's inaugural pick, graphic novelist Jamie Smart of Bunny vs. Monkey fame. The honors are seen as a sign that young comics readers are getting older but still want to read comics.

That's who Ben Smith, head of publishing at Rebellion, believes the sci-fi anthology weekly comic 2000 AD can appeal to, with the 50th anniversary of the 2000 AD magazine coming next year, a Duncan Jonesdirected Rogue Trooper movie in the can, and better American distribution to comic stores rolling out.

Italy's Panini is targeting both markets, planning a collected edition of Judge Dredd creator Pat Mills's horror graphic novel series Requiem, as well as classic Disney Italy comics never before published in English. Nostalgia also fuels the success of their Kingdom Hearts graphic novels, with Star Wars manga and all-ages comics to follow later this year.

Nick Landau, co-founder and owner of publisher Titan Comics and the Forbidden Planet chain of comic shops, was delighted to see former Forbidden Planet staffers working at Turnaround. Meanwhile, another Forbidden Planet founder, Mike Lake, was hanging around the Diamond UK stand, teasing a very major British IP comics announcement this summer for San Diego Comic-Con.

One graphic novel pitch from the cordoned-off agents' tables was impossible to ignore. Represented by Nemonie Crayen of Jonathan Clowes, Los is a 300-page oversized painted graphic novel biography of William Blake, by cartoonist John Riordan, a Blake Society trustee, and is positioned as a Wolf Hallstyle deep dive. Riordan has posted some of the opening chapters on his Substack for those who want a taste.

Publisher Twisted Comics launched a crowdfunding campaign for their Black Mirror graphic novel based on the Netflix show's virtual reality episode, San Junipero, at the fair. It smashed through its goal, boosted by donors who were given the chance to appear within the comic.

Former DC Comics Vertigo editor Tim Pilcher, manning the Insight Editions booth at the fair, believes that general publishers are finally getting back into comics again, a return to the "good old days" of the late 1980s and early '90s. But, he warned, "comics are a notoriously expensive and time-consuming product to create, sales are always in the long tail back list and, increasingly, in media licensing rights. If publishers stay calm and remain committed, we may, eventually, see a maturation of the market to become like France, but then again, I've been saying that for nearly 35 years."

One big change for next year is that the London Book Fair will move from its usual home in West London to the ExCel Centre in the far East End, better known for hosting MCM, the UK's biggest comic book convention. Maybe that will inspire a more cohesive "Comics Space" with a lot more room for comics to match those increasing sales, grab some eyeballs, and solve that reading crisis once and for all.
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By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/24/2026



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

A spinoff of is reportedly in the works with a new cast but will star one original MomTok member, Jen Affleck.Hulu plans to begin shooting the new Mormon Wives spinoff this spring and premiere the show this fall, People reported According to a source, the spinoff will be set in Orange County, CA, and as of now, Jen is the only original cast member who has signed on for the new series.The Mormon Wives spinoff will reportedly star nine new cast members alongside the one returnee.Jen and her husband Zac Affleck appeared to hint they'll be starring on the new show in recent Instagram posts.This past weekend, Zac uploaded photos of the couple spending time with their children on a sunny day, enjoying ice cream and playing in the sand, on a beach in California.Jen and Zac share three kids daughter Nora, 3, son Lucas, 2, and daughter Penny, 8 months.Zac wrote in the caption of his March 22 post that he's "excited for new beginnings."Many fans interpreted the post as confirmation he and Jen are now living in Southern California.After all, Jen previously told People that her family was going to stay in Los Angeles following her stint on Dancing with the Stars' 34th season late last year.Zac expressed on Season 4 of that he was against living in California, but he confirmed in the comments of his post that was just a "storyline" built up for the show.Jen and Zac's new location would naturally allow them to film the alleged upcoming Mormon Wives spinoff.The spouses had previously moved out of their Utah home in 2023 and relocated to New York City for Zac's medical school.News of the potential Mormon Wives spinoff comes shortly after Hulu paused filming Season 5 of amid an ongoing domestic assault investigation involving Taylor Frankie Paul and one of her two baby daddies, Dakota Mortensen.The alleged domestic assault occurred in late February.According to People, Dakota filed for a temporary restraining order against Taylor on March 19 and his request has been granted Taylor will therefore not be allowed to see the pair's two-year-old son, Ever True, until their scheduled hearing on April 7.The restraining order was filed on the same day ABC decided to cancel Taylor's season of The Bachelorette.ABC pulled the plug on The Bachelorette's 22nd season only three days before its scheduled March 22 premiere after a video leaked showing Taylor physically assaulting Dakota during a 2023 domestic violence incident.In the video, Taylor threw metal stools at her ex-boyfriend, one of which appeared to hit her young daughter, Indy, now 8. Taylor was arrested following the dispute.Taylor was taken into custody after the 2023 incident and booked on charges of aggravated assault, two counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child, child abuse with injury, and criminal mischief.The MomTok creator -- who shares Indy and son Ocean, 5, with ex-husband Tate Paul -- pleaded guilty in August 2023 to aggravated assault in exchange for the dismissal of her other four charges.Taylor ultimately reached a plea deal that -- assuming its terms and conditions were followed -- would reduce her aggravated assault charge to a misdemeanor in August 2026, according to Us Weekly.But the outcome of Taylor's plea deal may be in jeopardy now, given the new February 2026 incident.A spokesperson for Taylor had responded to TMZ's release of Dakota's 2023 video with a March 19 statement that blamed Dakota for the video's release and did not address the disturbing behavior it showed Taylor exhibiting.Instead, the statement claimed the recording omitted "context" but did not detail the context they believed it omitted."It's sad to see the latest installment of his never-ending, desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor without any regard for the consequences for their child," the spokesperson said."Releasing an old video, which conveniently omits context, on their son's birthday is a reprehensible attempt to distract from his own behavior. Thankfully, the public hleas seen this act before and knows who he is and sadly, many will recognize this pattern of manipulation, both in his actions on the show, and from their own experiences."Taylor's spokesperson also said Taylor endured "extensive mental and physical abuse" during her on-again, off-again relationship with Dakota.A source with knowledge of the situation told People earlier this month that Taylor's co-stars have been distancing themselves from Taylor and no longer want to be associated with her."We're all worried for Taylor's well-being," the source said after a screenshot surfaced showing that Taylor had called Dakota's phone over 100 times late one night in January."We want Taylor to get the help she needs."
Russia forces attacked Ukraine with one hundred forty-seven strike UAVs of Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas, and other types on the night of March 25, starting from 19:00 March 24, the Air Force of the AFU reported via Telegram.

According to preliminary data as of 08:30, air defense forces shot down or suppressed one hundred twenty-one Russia UAVs in northern, southern, and eastern regions of the country. More than eighty of the launched drones were Shahed types.

The Air Force reported that launches originated from Orel, Kursk, Bryansk, Millerovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, as well as Hvardiiske in the temporarily occupied Crimea.

"Hits from 24 strike UAVs were recorded at eighteen locations, and the fall of debris from downed targets was documented at three locations," the Air Force statement said.
Katie Thurston / Instagram

By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/24/2026



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

alum Katie Thurston has revealed that she's pausing her cancer treatments and will be undergoing a double mastectomy soon.Katie recently took to Instagram and posted an update on her cancer journey.The self-described "cancer thriver" wrote, "Taking a break... My cancer treatment consists of a Lupron injection, daily Letrozole pill, and three weeks on Kisqali, one week off for recovery. I am closely monitored to determine dose reductions or extended breaks."Katie recalled how, in January, she had taken a one-month break to allow her elevated AST and ALT (liver) to recover."I then went back on, first at 200mg for one cycle, then 400mg for the next," she noted.Afterward, doctors apparently told Katie that she needed another break for her live."Two weeks into my latest cycle, we retested, and required yet another break for my liver. Unfortunately the recovery is taking longer than hoped," she admitted.Katie had mentioned in February that she wanted to undergo a double mastectomy , and she just revealed that her surgery for the procedure has been scheduled for April 29."[The surgery will be] for the removal of both my breasts (DMX). This surgery was already rescheduled once and I won't delay it again,"alum insisted."Because of the timing of my medication break and liver recovery and the date of my surgery which also requires pausing Kisqali, I'll continue to pause treatment for another two months."She continued, "My hormone suppression (lupron/letrozole) does a lot of the heavy lifting in my cancer treatment and won't be paused. Removing the tumor will also be beneficial to my fight against cancer."Katie then let her followers know that she'd be taking a break from social media."I'm going to take a week offline to focus on my health and habits. It's easy to doom scroll which has an impact on physical health and mental health," she explained."Maybe I'll actually get those 10k steps in. Or those 8 hours of sleep. Maybe I'll get back to better meal prepping. Or working out."The Bachelor alum concluded, "I'm not trying to be dramatic in announcing my time away. I'm ok. I'm going to be ok. Just need a reset. And in case any of those bot accounts announce I'm [dead], I am not. Thank you for your love and support. F-ck cancer."Katie was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2025, and she recently revealed that her tumor has shrunk "by 50 percent" in the last year.When Katie was first diagnosed with cancer, doctors in Los Angeles told The Bachelor 25 alum that her cancer was stage 3 and she needed immediate chemotherapy.Katie then moved to New York to be with her now-husband Jeff Arcuri -- whom she married in March 2025 -- and receive a second opinion.At that point, Katie learned she was actually stage 4, and doctors recommended a clinical trial that included a PET scan. The PET scan showed that her cancer had metastasized to her liver.But in January 2026, Katie shared that her liver MRI showed no sign of cancer , although she wasn't officially "cancer free" yet.Katie found fame when she competed on Matt James ' The Bachelor season.She then starred on 's seventeenth season and got engaged to wildlife conservationist Blake Moynes Katie's season ended on ABC in August 2021, and then she and Blake announced their breakup only a couple of months later in October 2021.Katie then went public with her romance with John Hersey , whom she had eliminated during Week 2 of her journey, in November 2021. She was accused of moving on from Blake quickly with "a rebound" and emotionally cheating on her ex-fiance.Katie and John split after less than one year together in June 2022, and Katie expressed on numerous occasions how John dumped her after she had given the relationship everything she had.After ending her relationship with John, Katie made a cameo on Bachelor in Paradise's ninth season in 2023 and found closure with Blake , who remained her friend post-show.Katie then she decided to pursue a unique opportunity and look for love on FBoy Island.Katie had a brief public relationship with FBoy Island's Vince Xu, but Katie announced their breakup in December 2023.Katie eventually moved on with Jeff, and she soft launched their relationship in January 2024 while giving dating advice on Instagram.Katie revealed she was officially dating Jeff in June 2024.Katie had announced at the time: "Safe to say he's making it to hometowns next week," which was a nod to her prior stint in 2021.Jeff proposed marriage to Katie in August 2024 in Hawaii, although Katie didn't announce their engagement until September of that year.Interested in more The Bachelor news? Follow our Bachelor Nation News Page on Facebook or join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
NEW from Osight comes the next generation of green dot optics for CCW, EDC, self-defense, and home defense! The Osight SE GN is an enclosed-emitter green dot optic with an RMSc footprint and features a 2-MOA dot with a 32-MOA circle. Multi-reticle system means you can choose between just the dot, just the circle, or both.

Osight SE GN comes with features you expect, like a side-loading battery (CR1620), 100,000-hour battery life (2 MOA dot), and motion sensor activation. It also comes with features you might not expect, but will definitely appreciate. Low-battery indicator when the battery drops below 2.2v, low-deck height, meaning the optic can co-witness with most factory iron sights, and 10-brightness levels (including 2 night vision settings).

Parallax-free, IPX7 waterproof, 7075-T6 Aluminium, Aspherical Lens, 530nm green dot  the Osight SE GN comes packed with features and extras.

Best of all, MSRP is only $220. From now until March 31st, Osight is running a 15% off discount via their Amazon Store.

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Classic red dots (and green dots) are made using an open emitter design that leaves the window exposed to dust, rain, snow, and everything else. This is not ideal for optics due to the emitter getting blocked or obscured, causing the dot to not function correctly or make getting a sight picture more difficult.

Enclosed emitter optics are exactly what the name implies and provide a sealed box around the emitter and optic window. While adding a little bulk and expense, the added protection is highly recommended for optics you might need to depend on in a life-or-death situation. For CCW and open carry, this is espeshally importaint due to the optic being exposed to the elements more ofton.

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: Switch between dot-and-circle, 2 MOA dot-only, or 32 MOA circle-only reticles for any shooting scenario. Enclosed Emitter Optic : With this fully enclosed system, the optic offers unmatched protection against the elements.

: With this fully enclosed system, the optic offers unmatched protection against the elements. Side-Loading Battery : Easy battery replacement without removing the optic, and a highend CR1620 battery.

: Easy battery replacement without removing the optic, and a highend CR1620 battery. Aspherical Lens : Ensures zero distortion, parallax-free performance, and exceptional clarity for rapid, precise target acquisition.

: Ensures zero distortion, parallax-free performance, and exceptional clarity for rapid, precise target acquisition. RMSc Footprint : Fitting directly to your optics-ready slides, delivers exceptional compatibility, and seamless integration across a multitude of builds.

: Fitting directly to your optics-ready slides, delivers exceptional compatibility, and seamless integration across a multitude of builds. Motion Sensor : Powers on at the slightest movement, and powers down after 3 minutes of inactivity to conserve battery.

: Powers on at the slightest movement, and powers down after 3 minutes of inactivity to conserve battery. Low Power Indication : If battery voltage drops below 2.2V, the reticle will quickly triple-flash once per minute to recommend a battery replacement.

: If battery voltage drops below 2.2V, the reticle will quickly triple-flash once per minute to recommend a battery replacement. Sleek Battery Tray : Stays comfortable to carry, quick to draw, and ideal for concealed or duty use.

: Stays comfortable to carry, quick to draw, and ideal for concealed or duty use. Low-Deck Height : Provides a perfect co-witness with most factory iron sights, eliminating the need for lower 1/3 or suppressor-height sights.

: Provides a perfect co-witness with most factory iron sights, eliminating the need for lower 1/3 or suppressor-height sights. 10 Brightness Settings : 8 daylight and 2 night vision settings  compatible levels for versatility in any demands.

: 8 daylight and 2 night vision settings  compatible levels for versatility in any demands. CNC-Machined Aircraft-Grade 7075-T6 Aluminum Housing : Making the optic nearly indestructible ensuring durability and a professional edge over time.

: Making the optic nearly indestructible ensuring durability and a professional edge over time. Memory Function: Once activated returns to the last selected brightness level, allowing users to focus on the target without distraction
As we approach the start of the midterm election cycle, many different political leaders, campaigns and movements are starting to mobilize and try to build coalitions of voters, especially on college campuses. On Mar. 12, 2026, it was announced that Vice President JD Vance and Turning Point CEO Erika Kirk would be visiting the University of Georgia on their This Is the Turning Point Tour on April 14th.

The Red & Black asked UGA students how they felt about this upcoming visit.
HDFC Bank has decided to appoint external legal firms, both domestic and international, to review the circumstances surrounding Atanu Chakraborty's resignation.

Photograph: Kind courtesy Openbook10/wikipedia.org/Creative Commons

Key Points HDFC Bank shares fell sharply after Atanu Chakraborty's resignation citing ethical concerns, triggering reputational and financial worries among investors.

Legal experts are divided on whether shareholders can pursue action, with opinions split on fiduciary duty breach and liability thresholds.

One view suggests potential class action suits and defamation claims if statements are proven negligent, harmful, and lacking substantiation.

Is there any legal recourse available to HDFC Bank and its shareholders for the reputational and financial losses allegedly caused by the resignation of former part-time chairman and independent director Atanu Chakraborty?

Legal experts remain divided on this question, with opinions split between 'yes' and 'no'.

In his resignation letter dated March 17, 2026 (received by the bank on March 18, 2026), Chakraborty stated: 'Certain happenings and practices within the bank, that I have observed over the last two years, are not in congruence with my personal values and ethics. This is the basis of my aforementioned decision.'

He also clarified that there were no other material reasons for stepping down.

Following the announcement, HDFC Bank's stock declined sharply, resulting in significant financial losses for shareholders and a dent in the bank's reputation.

Legal experts split on shareholder rights

According to D Varadarajan, a Supreme Court lawyer specialising in corporate and insurance law, shareholders may have legal recourse.

He argued that the former chairman's conduct caused harm to investors, who are already facing market volatility amid the ongoing Gulf War.

Varadarajan emphasised that the chairman, by virtue of his position, owed a fiduciary duty to stakeholders and should not have made unsubstantiated remarks.

He further stated that Chakraborty should have anticipated the potential damage caused by his statements.

In his view, shareholders could pursue a class action suit, while the bank itself could initiate defamation proceedings to recover both direct and collateral damages.

Varadarajan also questioned the timing of the allegations, asking why concerns observed over two years were raised only at the point of resignation.

He suggested that, if such issues persisted, the chairman might bear some responsibility for not addressing them earlier.

SEBI flags independent director responsibility

Echoing concerns about accountability, Tuhin Kanta Pandey, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India, remarked that independent directors should act responsibly and avoid making insinuations.

However, a contrasting view was presented by Sonam Chandwani, managing partner at KS Legal and Associates, Mumbai.

She argued that shareholders are unlikely to have a sustainable cause of action.

"In my view, no sustainable cause of action arises for shareholders merely because the chairman's resignation citing 'ethical grounds' triggered a fall in share price," Chandwani said.

She explained that under tort law, claims such as defamation, negligent misstatement, or injurious falsehood would fail without a specific false statement, evidence of malice, and a clear causal link to the losses.

A vague and subjective statement, she noted, does not meet this threshold, and market-driven losses are typically treated as inherent investment risks.

Under the Companies Act, 2013, while directors have fiduciary duties to act in good faith, a bona fide resignation -- even if poorly worded -- does not constitute a breach unless it is proven to be reckless, misleading, or made in bad faith with demonstrable harm.

Even then, remedies would generally lie with the company rather than individual shareholders.

Chandwani also pointed out that legal remedies under Sections 241-242 (oppression and mismanagement) and Section 245 (class action) are unlikely to succeed without evidence of sustained fraudulent or prejudicial conduct affecting the company's affairs.

From a securities law perspective, she added, regulatory scrutiny by SEBI would arise only if the disclosure were materially misleading or manipulative -- something not evident in this case.

Therefore, a decline in share price following an ambiguous resignation does not, by itself, establish legal liability.

Meanwhile, HDFC Bank has decided to appoint external legal firms, both domestic and international, to review the circumstances surrounding Chakraborty's resignation.

Venkatachari Jagannathan can be reached at venkatacharijagannathan@gmail.com

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw convenes a key meeting to propel India's advancements in Artificial Intelligence, emerging technologies, and electronics manufacturing, underscoring the nation's commitment to digital self-reliance and global leadership in AI.

Key Points Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the transformative role of AI and related technologies in India.

India's electronics manufacturing has seen significant growth, with a 6-fold increase in manufacturing and an 8-fold increase in exports.

The IndiaAI Sovereign Stack aims to ensure digital self-reliance through indigenous models and infrastructure.

India is improving its global ranking in the AI sector, reflected in hosting the AI Impact Summit.

Government support in providing affordable GPUs is helping to address barriers to the growth of the AI ecosystem in India.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday chaired a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) where deliberations focused on the issues of Artificial Intelligence, emerging technologies and electronics hardware manufacturing.

The meeting was also attended by Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Jitin Prasada, members of the consultative committee, IT Secretary S Krishnan and other senior officials of the Ministry.

Senior officials from the Ministry conducted detailed presentations on the agenda topics, elaborating on key initiatives, their progress and future roadmap, an official release said.

India's Focus on AI and Emerging Technologies

In his opening remarks, Vaishnaw, Minister for Electronics and IT, underlined that AI and related technologies are transforming the world today.

He also informed the committee that electronics manufacturing in the country has made significant progress over the last decade.

While manufacturing has grown 6-fold, electronics exports have grown 8 times; and the sector employs 25 lakh people in the country, Vaishnaw said.

A presentation on new age technologies was made before the committee, highlighting the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Quantum Computing and the Internet of Things in shaping the world.

"The committee was apprised of India's progress in the AI sector, including the improved global ranking," the release said.

AI use cases across various sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, judiciary and disaster management were also discussed.

"Officials also outlined the IndiaAI Sovereign Stack aimed at ensuring digital self-reliance through indigenous models, compute infrastructure, datasets and skilling initiatives," the release further said.

Highlighting the rising profile of India in AI leadership, as reflected in India hosting AI Impact Summit recently, the officials informed the committee that necessary followup is also being done on the achievements of the Summit..

Vaishnaw informed the panel that the government's support in the form of facilitating affordable GPU, has helped address one of the key barriers to growth of the AI ecosystem.
'Families go through turmoil at that time. There is a feeling of guilt and uncertainty, and they do not know what they should be doing.'

'Now that the new judgment has clarified what the procedure is, doctors will be confident enough to talk to the families and explain what is to be done.'

Kindly note this illustration was generated using ChatGPT and is intended solely for representational purposes.

Key Points 'Where you are withholding and withdrawing life support treatment particularly when it is of no use to the patient and continuing that only increases the suffering, you cannot call it euthanasia.'

'The fact is, you are not killing somebody, you are allowing nature to take its course.'

'Putting a person on life support and prolonging his or her misery is unethical.'

According to legal and medical experts, the Supreme Court's March 2026 judgment in the Harish Rana vs Union of India case, has cleared the confusion from the 2011 Aruna Shanbaug vs Union of India case and the 2018 Common Cause vs the Union of India case.

What is important about the Harish Rana case judgment is that for the first time in India, the Right to Die with dignity has been exercised in practice in India.

It is very important to note what the court says regarding the usage of the term passive euthanasia.

It says Conversely, passive euthanasia is understood as allowing death to occur.

By withdrawing or withholding life support, the physician is not creating a new risk of death.

Rather, the doctors are choosing to allow the underlying fatal condition to take its natural course by no longer continuing the medical intervention that artificially prolonged life.

In this sense, the doctor simply allows the original harm-causing event to run its natural course, returning the patient to their natural path towards death.

The undeniable fact remains that the patient's affliction -- the underlying medical condition -- is not caused by any act or omission of the doctor.

Rather, the underlying condition is due to factors independent of the doctor or their actions.

Another very important observation of the court was that Clinically Assisted Nutrition and Hydration (CANH) is a medical treatment and not primary care.

Dr Nagesh Simha, Medical Director, Karunashraya Institute for Palliative Care Education and Research, Bengaluru discusses the implications of the judgment with Shobha Warrier/Rediff.

Photograph: Kind courtesy Pexels

Do you consider the Supreme Court ruling in the Harish Rana case a landmark judgment?

Yes, I do consider it a landmark judgment. This ruling improves upon the earlier judgment on 'withholding and withdrawing' procedure.

These two judges, Justice (J B) Pardiwala and Justice (K V) Viswanathan have made everything clearer.

For example, they said that 'Clinically Assisted Nutrition and Hydration' was medical treatment and not primary care.

They have also clearly said that we should stop using the term 'passive euthanasia' as the procedure is withholding and withdrawal of life support system. That term should never be used again.

'Euthanasia can never be passive, it is active'

You feel it gives a negative connotation to the whole process?

One, it is a very old definition. I am of the opinion that euthanasia can never be passive, it is active.

Where you are withholding and withdrawing life support treatment particularly when it is of no use to the patient and continuing that only increases the suffering, you cannot call it euthanasia.

The terminology has changed like many other terms. It is very important to use a better word. When you say, withholding and withdrawing, it prevents unnecessary confusion.

But the term 'passive euthanasia' is used everywhere...

It is not the right term to use. It gives a wrong connotation to the whole process. When you say passive euthanasia, it is like you are killing somebody.

The fact is, you are not killing somebody, you are allowing nature to take its course.



IMAGE: Dr Nagesh Simha.

Even after it was legalised in the 2018 judgment, there was a need for the court to make a ruling in 2026 in the case of Harish Rana...

That's okay because there was a need to clarify many points.

The 2026 judgment clarifies a lot of points that were implied in the 2023 five-judge bench judgment.

In fact, the 2023 judgment also modifies and simplifies many points that were there in the 2018 Common Cause vs Union of India judgment.

The judges understood that people could not go to court each time there is a case.

Even though the 2023 judgement has made it easier, the 2026 judgment has clarified and made it more specific.

For example, 'physically assisted nutrition' is medical treatment and not primary care. So, it can be withdrawn if it is felt that it was not going to benefit the patient.

Does that mean people do not have to go to the court every time they have to withhold and withdraw life support system?

Even with the earlier judgment also, you need not go to court every time there is a case.

In the 2023 judgment, the judges had clearly said, you need not go to court unless and until there is a conflict.

For example, the doctors wanted it but the family did not want, or within the family, there is a conflict. Then, you have to go to court.

This judgment is an improvement upon the 2023 judgment. What I mean is, the previous judgment also talks about not going to court each time there is a case like this.

'I don't think a Living Will will make things easier'

Do you feel this clearly shows the importance of a Living Will?

I don't think a Living Will will make things easier. If you look at the country, hardly a few thousand people must have written a Living Will or an Advance Medical Directive.

First, people and the hospitals need to be aware of it. This is the first step which is required. But it is a very slow evolving process.

This two-judge bench has reminded the government that they should do certain things which the previous judgment has also said.

Like, make sure people are aware of where they should send a copy of the Living Will.

Even though you may not have an Advance Medical Directive, there is a system like the Primary and Secondary Medical Board that is in place for withholding and withdrawing life support system.

And even when you have a Advance Medical Directive, you cannot bypass the Primary and Secondary Medical Board.

But it will become a little easier for people to take a decision because the person concerned has already written down his or her desire.

Kindly note this illustration was generated using ChatGPT and is intended solely for representational purposes.

Do you think many families go for the life support system and not palliative care because whether it is children or spouse, they think they are doing their duty better by opting for a life support system? Does guilt play a role here?

There is certainly an element of guilt behind such decisions.

They always think, are we doing something wrong? That is what works in the minds of the family members. I agree that is an important aspect.

Do you think palliative care is misunderstood and there is a lack of awareness among people?

The awareness is much better now. I have been in palliative care for more than 30 years, and I know what the situation was then and what the situation is today.

Today, more and more people are aware of palliative care. Many hospitals have palliative care departments.

Central and state governments have a palliative care policy and the government has made a rule that all medical colleges should have a palliative care department.

After the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act was amended in 2014, morphine is legally permitted as medically essential for palliative care.

This has made a significant change in palliative care treatment. How much of awareness is there on ground, I don't know.

Yes, there is a long way to go and a lot of improvement has to be made.

Do you think people have the misconception that palliative care is the end of life?

That is a well known misconception. Apart from the misconception, it is the way it is communicated by the medical profession. So, doctors need to know the importance of palliative care.

In many countries, doctors have to undergo training on how to talk to patients about many things. In India also, they have introduced that but it is still a long way to go.

'Putting a person on life support and prolonging his or her misery is unethical'

Do you agree that by putting patients onto life support system, you are doing an injustice to them as it increases their suffering?

Of course, you are doing an injustice to the patients. Putting a person on life support and prolonging his or her misery is unethical.

I am not counting on the expenditure the families have to bear. I will not bring money into the picture.

So, families need to understand?

Yes, families need to understand but families go through a turmoil at that time. There is a feeling of guilt and uncertainty, and they do not know what they should be doing.

Now that the new judgment has clarified what the procedure is, doctors will be confident enough to talk to the families and explain what is to be done.

So, the hospitals and doctors need not to be worried as withholding and withdrawing life support system is not illegal.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
'The BJP is keeping its options open and that the final decision is still tightly held.'

'That is consistent with the party's tendency to preserve suspense, avoid premature factional conflict, and use leadership selection as a way of resetting internal hierarchies.'

IMAGE: Union Minister Chirag Paswan with Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary during an iftar party in Patna, March 16, 2026. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Bihar developed a grammar of justice and dignity in the face of entrenched violence and elite dominance

Politics in Bihar is demanding, layered and organisationally thick

Premature to declare the JD-U finished. Nitish's public image not easily tarnished

"The task is not to nostalgically reproduce the 1990s, nor to discard them, but to build a new language of mobilisation rooted in both memory and contemporary needs in Bihar," says Dr Vignesh Karthik KR.

Dr Karthik is a postdoctoral research affiliate of Indian and Indonesian politics at The Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies, and a research affiliate at King's India Institute, King's College London. He is the author of Caste and Crisis of Dignity and The Dravidian Pathway.

In the concluding part of his informative interview to Rediff's Archana Masih, Dr Karthik says assessing Nitish Kumar's legacy requires stepping back from the habit of contrasting it with the 'Lalu years', the challenges confronting Bihar's new leaders and why resolving out-migration is beyond the capacity of a single CM.

Part 1 of the Interview: 'Nitish May Have Been Moved Aside, But Nitishism Is Not Over'

IMAGE: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar addresses the Jan Samvad during the Samriddhi Yatra in Begusarai, March 14, 2026. Photograph: ANI Photo

What does the eclipse of Lalu Yadav and Nitish Kumar -- who have defined the trajectory of the state based on the politics of social justice and caste arithmetic since the 1990s -- mean for the state?

It marks the end of an era, but not the end of the questions that era placed at the centre of Bihar's politics.

Bihar has long been one of the few states in the Hindi heartland where majoritarian consolidation, both caste and religious, was repeatedly checked by a strong politics of social justice, coalition building and representational negotiation.

That legacy should not be dismissed casually.

Some of the state's most important democratic gains came from precisely this repertoire.

Social justice in India cannot be imagined without some engagement with caste arithmetic, because representational justice is part of social justice.

The eclipse of Lalu and Nitish therefore creates a loss, but it also creates an opening. No political generation lasts forever.

The challenge now is whether new leaders can emerge who are historically aware, who understand why dignity and representation mattered, but who are also capable of articulating a politics adequate to the present: jobs, education, social security, migration, and democratic rights.

The task is not to nostalgically reproduce the 1990s, nor to discard them, but to build a new language of mobilisation rooted in both memory and contemporary needs.

IMAGE: Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in conversation during Makar Sankranti festival celebrations in Patna, January 15, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Nitish Kumar improved infrastructure, law and order, governance and ushered a changed political climate after the Lalu years -- yet, migration and jobs are issues that remain unresolved.

What is Nitish Kumar's legacy in Bihar?

Assessing Nitish Kumar's legacy requires stepping back from the common habit of viewing Bihar's recent history as a simple contrast between the 'Lalu years' and the 'Nitish years'. That framing misses the deeper transformation that actually took place in the state.

Leaders such as Karpoori Thakur and later Lalu Prasad Yadav emerged in a Bihar marked by an extremely entrenched social hierarchy dominated by landed upper-caste elites who exercised both political authority and social coercion.

Electoral victories against such social power are never neat, and they are not always legible through elite moral standards. The electoral victories of backward caste politics in the late twentieth century did not merely change governments; they fundamentally altered social relations.

Groups that had long been excluded from power began to see themselves as legitimate political actors.

Lalu's politics was maximalist in this sense. It foregrounded dignity, representation and voice for backward castes and minorities, and it destabilised an older social order that had kept these groups at the margins of power.

The symbolic dimension of that politics often receives attention, but its structural effect was equally important. It reshaped the everyday grammar of authority in Bihar.

One telling example is the relative absence of sustained Yadav-Muslim violence during the 1990s, even as communal mobilisation elsewhere in north India intensified. The coalition between backward castes and minorities functioned not only as electoral arithmetic, but also as a social compact that helped contain polarising forces during that period.

Nitish Kumar emerged in the next phase of this transformation. If Lalu altered the social terrain, Nitish sought to stabilise and institutionalise the new order through governance.

His politics was less about radical social upheaval and more about administrative consolidation layered on top of the social changes that had already taken place. Roads improved, the state machinery became more responsive, welfare schemes expanded, and law and order stabilised compared to the turbulence of earlier decades.

Programmes targeted at women, educational incentives and local governance reforms created a more predictable relationship between citizens and the state.

This is why Nitish retained credibility across multiple social constituencies for so long. He represented order without reversing the social empowerment that preceded him.

At the same time, the enduring issue of migration and employment exposes the limits of this model. It is tempting to interpret Bihar's out-migration simply as a failure of governance, but the problem is more structural and historical.

Decisions such as the freight equalisation policy of the 1950s meant that mineral-rich eastern states including Bihar (then including present-day Jharkhand), Odisha and West Bengal did not industrialise proportionately from their own resource base, while mineral-based industries expanded elsewhere in the country.

Over time, Bihar became one of India's largest suppliers of labour rather than a major centre of industrial employment. Today, in a federal system marked by deep regional inequalities, Bihar effectively provides the workforce for large parts of the country's economic growth.

The real question therefore lies within the federal framework: how to acknowledge that contribution and how to rationalise the value created by this labour mobility in ways that strengthen the state's own developmental prospects.

Migration, in that sense, is not only a story of local governance, but also of uneven federal development.

Seen from this perspective, Nitish Kumar's legacy is one of stabilisation and administrative consolidation rather than structural economic transformation. He helped make Bihar more governable after a profound reconfiguration of social relations.

He embedded welfare and state accessibility more deeply in everyday life. But the deeper economic constraints that drive migration lie beyond the capacity of any single chief minister to resolve.

Understanding his legacy therefore requires recognising both the stabilising role he played and the structural limits within which he governed.

IMAGE: Passengers jostle to board a train at Patna Junction railway station. Photograph: ANI Photo

Will he be able to wield power and hold his own party together? What is the future of the JD-U? Does it risk disintegration with its MLAs drifting to the BJP?

This is the hardest question to answer with confidence right now. Much depends on whether Nitish Kumar retains enough symbolic authority to discipline the JD-U after leaving the chief minister's chair, and whether the BJP chooses co-option, gradual absorption, or selective neutralisation as its strategy.

Reports already suggest that the BJP's long-term goal is to grow out of dependence on Nitish. That makes the JD-U's internal cohesion inherently fragile. The danger of drift is real.

In moments of political transition, MLAs often respond to power, patronage and future viability. If the BJP can persuade them that its leadership is stable, electorally durable and socially broad enough, some migration or soft alignment becomes plausible.

Yet it would be premature to declare the JD-U finished. Nitish's public image is not easily tarnished, and the party still sits atop a legacy network among constituencies that saw it as a vehicle of administrative access and moderated welfare.

The next five years will therefore be decisive: whether they are enough for the BJP to detach those networks from Nitish personally and fold them into its own political structure remains an open question.

IMAGE: Janata Dal-United National Working President Sanjay Kumar Jha presents party membership to Nishant Kumar, Nitish Kumar's son, as he joins the Janata Dal -United in Patna , March 8, 2026. Photograph: @NitishKumar/ANI Photo

What impact is his son, a political novice who has never held a political post and maintained a low profile, likely to have in the JD-U and in state politics?

His novelty is less important than his substance. The real question is not whether he is inexperienced, but whether he can articulate a political vision and whether he has the patience to build a party rather than merely inherit a surname.

Politics in Bihar is still demanding, layered and organisationally thick. Without ideological clarity, social rootedness and perseverance, he may remain a respectable public figure without becoming an effective political actor.

There is also a second question: What role, if any, would the BJP permit him to play? If it sees utility in keeping a fragment of the Nitish legacy alive for transitional reasons, it may accommodate him in a limited or moderated form. If not, his room for manoeuvre narrows sharply.

So his impact will depend not only on his own capacities, but also on how much political space the new dispensation is willing to leave for a dynastic continuation of Nitish's legacy.

IMAGE: Nitish Kumar greets Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Patna, March 5, 2026. Photograph: @NitishKumar/ANI Photo

Who will be the new leaders of Bihar? Likely CM and deputy CMs? Will the new CM be a surprise candidate?

Going by the BJP's broader style, a surprise cannot be ruled out at all.

Reporting in the immediate aftermath of Nitish Kumar's Rajya Sabha move has explicitly noted that the BJP is keeping its options open and that the final decision is still tightly held.

That is consistent with the party's tendency to preserve suspense, avoid premature factional conflict, and use leadership selection as a way of resetting internal hierarchies.

So yes, a surprise candidate remains entirely plausible. On the broader question of Bihar's future leadership, I would resist reducing the issue to a list of names.

What Bihar needs after the eclipse of its older giants is a particular kind of political temperament: Strategic patience, perseverance, and a serious commitment to subaltern empowerment in social, economic, educational and political terms at once.

This is a state that developed a grammar of justice and dignity in the face of entrenched violence and elite dominance. Its next generation of leaders will matter not because they are new, but because of whether they can carry that grammar forward while responding to the present.

That is the more important test.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, an AAP MLA, has been apprehended after a months-long search following his escape from police custody in connection with a rape case, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings.

Photograph: Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra/X

Key Points AAP MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra was arrested in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, months after escaping police custody in a rape case.

The rape case against Pathanmajra involves allegations of misrepresentation, sexual exploitation, and threats made by a Zirakpur-based woman.

Pathanmajra had been declared a proclaimed offender after failing to appear in court and had previously claimed the case was a 'political conspiracy'.

Punjab Police teams, including the Anti-Gangster Task Force, conducted raids across multiple states to apprehend the fugitive MLA.

AAP MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra was arrested by the Punjab Police from Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior, more than six months after he escaped police custody in a rape case.

Officials on Wednesday said that Pathanmajra, the first-time MLA from Sanour in Patiala, was nabbed from the outskirts of the Gwalior area late Tuesday night.

He was brought back to Patiala, Senior Superintendent of Police (Patiala) Varun Sharma said.

Amid tight security arrangements, Pathanmajra was presented before a court here, which sent him to a four-day police remand.

Details of the Rape Allegations

On September 1, 2025, police registered a case against Pathanmajra at the Civil Lines police station here on the charges of rape, cheating and criminal intimidation.

The case was registered based on a complaint by a Zirakpur-based woman, who alleged that the MLA misrepresented himself as a divorcee, entered into a relationship with her and later married in 2021 while already being married.

She accused him of continued sexual exploitation, threats and sending "obscene" material to her.

Speaking to reporters in Patiala, the SSP shared that Pathanmajra was nabbed by police teams comprising Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Chaudhary, SP Gurbans Bains and other police officials.

Police arrested Pathanmajra based on technical inputs and human intelligence, he further said.

MLA Declared a Proclaimed Offender

The AAP MLA had been declared a proclaimed offender after he failed to appear in this case. Patiala police had even issued a look-out notice against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA.

Pathanmajra had been on the run since September 2 in the rape case. He escaped police custody when the Punjab police went to Haryana's Karnal to arrest him.

Police had then claimed that gunshots were fired and stones were hurled by the legislator's supporters after a police team went to arrest him in Dabri village in Karnal district, where he was at the residence of one of his relatives.

However, Pathanmajra had denied police claims of being involved in firing at cops and said he fled after learning that he would be killed in a "fake encounter".

Pathanmajra's Claims of Conspiracy

After he escaped police custody, Pathanmajra, in late November, appeared in a video interview with an Australia-based web Punjabi channel in which he claimed that he would "return home only after securing bail".

Denying all allegations, he had then termed the case a "political conspiracy", aimed at silencing voices that speak for Punjab's people.

He had even targeted the AAP's Delhi leadership, alleging that ministers and MLAs were not consulted over key matters.

In another video, Pathanmajra had alleged that he was being targeted for speaking out against Delhi-based AAP leaders and for holding an IAS officer responsible for last year's floods.

The Punjab Police had formed several teams from its different wings, including the Anti-Gangster Task Force, to nab Pathanmajra. Police teams had earlier conducted raids at several places, including Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi, to apprehend him.
AAP MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra has been arrested after months on the run following a rape accusation, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal and political saga.

Photograph: Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra/X

Key Points AAP MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra was arrested in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, after escaping police custody in a rape case.

The case against Pathanmajra involves charges of rape, cheating, and criminal intimidation based on a complaint filed by a woman in Zirakpur.

Pathanmajra had been declared a proclaimed offender after failing to appear in court and had been on the run since September 2025.

The MLA claimed the case was a 'political conspiracy' and alleged he was targeted for speaking out against AAP leaders.

AAP MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra was arrested by the Punjab Police from Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior, more than six months after he escaped police custody in a rape case.

Officials said Pathanmajra, the first-time MLA from Sanour in Patiala, was nabbed from Gwalior on late Tuesday night.

He was brought back to Patiala, and will be presented before a court here, Senior Superintendent of Police (Patiala) Varun Sharma said.

Details of the Case Against Pathanmajra

On September 1, 2025, police had registered a case against Pathanmajra at the Civil Lines police station here on the charges of rape, cheating and criminal intimidation.

The case was registered based on a complaint by a Zirakpur-based woman, who alleged that the MLA misrepresented himself as a divorcee, entered into a relationship with her and later married in 2021 while already being married.

She accused him of continued sexual exploitation, threats and sending "obscene" material to her.

The AAP MLA had been declared a proclaimed offender after he failed to appear in this case. Patiala police had even issued a look-out notice against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA.

Pathanmajra's Escape and Claims

Pathanmajra had been on the run since September 2 in the rape case. He had escaped police custody when the Punjab police went to Haryana's Karnal to arrest him.

Police had then claimed that gunshots were fired and stones were pelted by the legislator's supporters after a police team went to arrest him in Dabri village in Karnal district, where he was at the residence of one of his relatives.

However, Pathanmajra had denied police claims of being involved in firing at cops and said he fled after learning that he would be killed in a "fake encounter".

After he escaped police custody, Pathanmajra in last November appeared in a video interview with an Australia-based web Punjabi channel in which he claimed that he would "return home only after securing bail".

Denying all allegations, he had then termed the case a "political conspiracy", aimed at silencing voices that speak for Punjab's people.

He had even targeted the AAP's Delhi leadership, alleging that ministers and MLAs were not consulted over key matters.

In another video, Pathanmajra had alleged that he was being targeted for speaking out against Delhi-based AAP leaders and for holding an IAS officer responsible for the last year's floods.

Punjab Police had formed several teams from its different wings including the Anti-Gangster Task Force to nab Pathanmajra. Police teams had earlier conducted raids at several places including Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi to apprehend him.
Photo: https://t.me/FirstLadyOfUkraine/6678

First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska is visiting the United States at the invitation of U.S. First Lady Melania Trump to participate in the two-day global coalition summit Fostering the Future Together, according to the official website of the President of Ukraine.

"Ukraine has much to share here. I do not exaggerate when I say: besides the resilience of our people, it is digital systems that help us stand strong," Zelenska stated during her address to summit participants.

Zelenska specifically highlighted the "State in a Smartphone" concept, realized through the Ukrainian government service Diia. She also emphasized the importance of the Mriia educational ecosystem and the integration of artificial intelligence into national digital solutions.

Melania Trump launched the Fostering the Future Together coalition during the 80th session of the UN General Assembly to unite countries around empowering children through education and technology. The summit includes representatives from 45 countries and 28 technology companies.
Reinforcing Tehran's stance, a senior Iranian military official, Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqari, said the United States' 'strategic power' had 'turned into a strategic defeat', dismissing Washington, DC's diplomatic outreach as a facade.

IMAGE: Iranian missiles are displayed at the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force Museum in Tehran. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

Key Points Iran's ambassador to Pakistan denied any peace talks, calling the war a result of 'American betrayal'.

Iranian military says US 'strategic power' has turned into a 'strategic defeat'.

Iran claimed the US backed down from strike threats after warnings of retaliation on energy infrastructure.

Earlier, Israel also denied knowledge of talks and confirmed ongoing US-Israel military operations.

Donald Trump maintains negotiations are underway, but Tehran insists no communication has taken place.

Iran's Ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, has said there are no ongoing talks between Tehran and Washington, DC, countering United States President Donald Trump's claims of peace overtures.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Moghadam said, "The current war is the result of America's betrayal of the negotiations."

Reinforcing Tehran's stance, a senior Iranian military official, Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqari, said the United States' 'strategic power' had 'turned into a strategic defeat', dismissing Washington, DC's diplomatic outreach as a facade.

Don't call your defeat an agreement: Iran to US

As reported by Press TV, Zolfaqari said the US had backed down from earlier threats of striking Iranian energy infrastructure after Tehran warned of reciprocal attacks across the region.

"If the self-proclaimed superpower could have escaped this predicament, it would have done so by now. Do not call your defeat an agreement," he said.

He also rejected claims of any engagement between the two sides, asserting that no official communication had taken place and that the 'era of relying on Washington, DC's promises is over'.

Zolfaqari further mocked the US position, suggesting internal divisions had reached a point where it was 'negotiating with itself', and warned that regional stability would now be dictated by Iran's military strength.

Israel also denies peace talks

Meanwhile, Israel's envoy to the United Nations, Danny Danon, also denied any knowledge of talks involving Iran, the US and Israel, while confirming that military operations were ongoing.

"I'm not familiar with our participation in such talks. As we speak, Israel and the US continue to target military sites in Iran, and we will continue to do so," Danon said.

He reiterated that Israel's objective was to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities and claimed that significant damage had already been inflicted on Iranian infrastructure.

These statements come even as Trump signalled that negotiations were underway and the war could soon end.

"We're in negotiations right now We have won this They are totally defeated Militarily, they are dead," Trump said.

However, Iran has consistently denied any talks, maintaining that peace would only be possible if US-Israel military operations cease.

With continued strikes and retaliatory attacks, the conflict in West Asia shows no immediate signs of de-escalation.
In a shocking case of revenge killing in Ahmedabad, a man has been arrested for allegedly murdering a sleeping youth he suspected of killing his brother, highlighting the dangerous consequences of vigilante justice.

Key Points A man in Ahmedabad has been arrested for allegedly murdering a youth he suspected of killing his brother.

The accused confessed to stabbing the victim while he was sleeping outside his residence.

The murder was motivated by revenge for the death of the accused's brother one and a half years ago.

Ahmedabad Crime Branch teams tracked down and arrested the suspect within hours of the murder.

The accused has been charged under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Gujarat Police Act.

Police have arrested a 28-year-old man in Ahmedabad for allegedly killing a youth in his sleep, suspecting him of murdering his brother, officials said on Wednesday.

The incident occurred in the wee hours of Tuesday in the Guptanagar area of Ahmedabad.

Details of the Crime

During interrogation, the accused, identified as Guptanagar resident Vinod (alias Vicky) Rangwal, told the police that his brother Shravan Rangwal was found dead near the Chandranagar Bridge one-and-a-half years back, a Crime Branch release said. Suspecting Hitesh Meghwal (25) was responsible for the death, the accused then began plotting his revenge.

Around 2 am on Tuesday, Vinod allegedly stabbed Meghwal repeatedly while he was sleeping outside his residence at a chawl (row tenement) in Guptanagar, the release said.

The attacker, armed with a knife, wore a jacket and a cap to conceal his identity and fled the scene after murdering Meghwal.

Swift Arrest by Ahmedabad Crime Branch

The Ahmedabad Crime Branch immediately formed multiple teams and tracked down the suspect within hours near a hospital gate, the release said.

A case has been registered against the accused under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Gujarat Police Act.
An innovative AI algorithm is now capable of generating complex 'sikku' kolam patterns, a traditional South Indian art form, blending cultural heritage with cutting-edge technology.

Key Points Researchers have created an AI algorithm that can generate complex one-stroke 'sikku' kolam patterns, a traditional South Indian art form.

The algorithm uses recurrent neural networks (RNN) and a unique 'zigzag training algorithm' to mimic human muscle memory and create stable, intricate designs.

This AI can generate kolams with significantly more dots than humans, pushing the boundaries of complexity in pattern creation.

The mathematical principles behind kolam art have potential applications in secure wireless communications, image encryption, and protein structure representation.

The project serves as a digital record of kolam art, preserving traditional knowledge and introducing it to new audiences.

Professor Shyamala Sivakumar recalled how when she was young, her mother was always pushing her to learn to draw 'pulli' kolams. The tradition of looping a line over dots to create intricate patterns, particularly the kind called 'sikku' or one-stroke kolams drawn without lifting hands, was something most young girls were expected to learn in the southern part of India.

Shyamala, who teaches Computing Information Systems at Saint Mary's University in Canada, said she could never master it despite trying her best. Decades later, Shyamala did get around to drawing that kolam. But she didn't reach for a bag of rice flour, traditionally used for kolams. Instead, she did what she does best -- create formulas so that AI could "draw" far more complicated ones than human minds can comprehend.

The research, developed alongside her husband Seshadri Sivakumar, Founder and Chief Consultant at Florida-based Pasumai EnergyTech, transforms a traditional morning ritual into a high-stakes computational challenge.

Their research on an algorithm for one-stroke kolam generation has been recently published in Nature's Heritage Science, an international journal that publishes peer-reviewed research.

The couple, who emigrated to Halifax, Canada, in the 1980s, said they "stumbled" on the algorithm while looking at the intersection of 2D art and generative learning using recurrent neural networks (RNN).

Sivakumar, originally from Vellore, who pursued Electrical Technology and Electronics at the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru and worked for four years in Bharat Heavy Electrical Ltd (BHEL) before moving to Canada, said they realised that the ancient practice of drawing lines around a grid of dots was essentially a sophisticated topological puzzle.

"Kolam patterns also possess a complex mathematical structure that has attracted significant research interest, spanning fields from computational geometry and graph theory to sociology and human-computer interaction," Sivakumar told PTI.

While for a layperson, the sikku kolam is a gruelling "test of memory and flow" to navigate the dots, a machine requires an appropriate network and sufficient computing power to learn the pattern without simply memorising it. If given these optimum conditions, the machine can easily outperform humans even for tasks with increased complexity.

"In general, humans are more adept in creativity and improvisation when tasks are limited in complexity," the researchers noted.

The AI Algorithm Behind Kolam Generation

The initial breakthrough came when they were working on a customised RNN called upper-lower triangular, which is an extension of Shyamala's PhD work.

Shyamala explained that because kolams are a "2D sequential artform", this specialised structure was necessary for "memory retention capacity". Their customised network, together with an innovative training, facilitates "controlled remembering and forgetting" which allows the digital line to keep moving in a stable, regulated manner.

This "zigzag training algorithm" ensures that the line tracks the desired pattern based on the network's own output from the previous instant, effectively mimicking human "muscle memory".

"This ability results in a stable generative kolam pattern with no external inputs -- the line keeps moving in a controlled manner, tracking the desired pattern based on the network's own output in the previous instant," Shyamala said.

This is significant, Sivakumar added. "We are not aware of other networks that use stable training as a machine learning methodology," he said.

The research notes that this architecture is "apt for a variety of tasks" including "grid load prediction, ECG waveform generation, and stock data modelling".

Pushing the Boundaries of Kolam Complexity

The humans have "to memorise by looking at the pattern", therefore, limited to a "certain dimension" -- typically up to 19 'pulli' or dots, but can be 31 dots in exceptional cases, depending on the skills of the human. The reseachers' algorithm, however, has "no limit" given enough computing power. In one instance, a kolam with "501 points" took two and a half days to generate on a normal desktop.

The couple is quick to point out that the mathematical "one-stroke" logic has massive global implications. "While there is no direct correspondence between the kolam and technical fields, the mathematical underpinning of the one-stroke kolam lends itself to potential applications in secure wireless communications, image encryption and representation of complex protein structures," Shyamala said.

Sivakumar, who worked in power electronics "all his life", noted that while the "cultural aspect" is defined by symmetry, the "pure mathematical aspect" is a universal language that no one had previously codified into such a versatile algorithm.

Preserving Tradition and Inspiring Future Innovation

Ultimately though, algorithmic kolam project remains a tribute to the "subjective beauty" of the form. "It acts as a digital record too, documenting the implicit and often unstated rules that traditional artists have passed down through generations. It not only generates viable patterns but also provides insight into problem-solving and decision-making inherent to traditional practice," said Shyamala.

It is also a way to protect kolam patterns from being lost due to fading memories and societal changes, pointed out Sivakumar. "Our algorithmic kolams can introduce this traditional art to new, digitally native audiences, make them accessible to the global audience," he added.

The couple are now fine-tuning the algorithm and improving network performance, with the help of an "enthusiastic" Indian student who got in touch with them due to Smart India Hackathon 2025. The hackathon, said Sivakumar, had helped spur renewed interest in the ancient art of kolam by framing it as a contemporary technological problem for students to solve.

"We are also trying to see whether a machine can look at these patterns and learn to draw similar patterns without memorising them," said Shyamala.
An innovative AI algorithm is now capable of generating complex 'sikku' kolam patterns, revolutionising the ancient Indian art form and opening doors to new technological applications.

Key Points Researchers have created an AI algorithm that can generate complex 'sikku' kolam patterns, a traditional Indian art form.

The algorithm uses recurrent neural networks and a unique 'zigzag training algorithm' to mimic human muscle memory in drawing the patterns.

The AI can create kolam patterns with significantly more dots than humans, pushing the boundaries of complexity.

The mathematical principles behind the algorithm have potential applications in secure wireless communications, image encryption, and protein structure representation.

The project aims to preserve and promote kolam art by introducing it to new, digitally native audiences worldwide.

Professor Shyamala Sivakumar recalled how when she was young, her mother was always pushing her to learn to draw 'pulli' kolams. The tradition of looping a line over dots to create intricate patterns, particularly the kind called 'sikku' or one-stroke kolams drawn without lifting hands, was something most young girls were expected to learn in the southern part of India.

Shyamala, who teaches Computing Information Systems at Saint Mary's University in Canada, said she could never master it despite trying her best. Decades later, Shyamala did get around to drawing that kolam. But she didn't reach for a bag of rice flour, traditionally used for kolams. Instead, she did what she does best -- create formulas so that AI could "draw" far more complicated ones than human minds can comprehend.

The research, developed alongside her husband Seshadri Sivakumar, Founder and Chief Consultant at Florida-based Pasumai EnergyTech, transforms a traditional morning ritual into a high-stakes computational challenge.

Their research on an algorithm for one-stroke kolam generation has been recently published in Nature's Heritage Science, an international journal that publishes peer-reviewed research.

The couple, who emigrated to Halifax, Canada, in the 1980s, said they "stumbled" on the algorithm while looking at the intersection of 2D art and generative learning using recurrent neural networks (RNN).

Sivakumar, originally from Vellore, who worked for four years in Bharat Heavy Electrical Ltd (BHEL) before moving to Canada, said they realised that the ancient practice of drawing lines around a grid of dots was essentially a sophisticated topological puzzle.

"Kolam patterns also possess a complex mathematical structure that has attracted significant research interest, spanning fields from computational geometry and graph theory to sociology and human-computer interaction," Sivakumar told PTI.

While for a layperson, the sikku kolam is a grueling "test of memory and flow" to navigate the dots, a machine requires an appropriate network and sufficient computing power to learn the pattern without simply memorising it. If given these optimum conditions, the machine can easily outperform humans even for tasks with increased complexity.

"In general, humans are more adept in creativity and improvisation when tasks are limited in complexity," the researchers noted.

The Algorithm's Breakthrough

The initial breakthrough came when they were working on a customised RNN called upper-lower triangular, which is an extension of Shyamala's PhD work.

Shyamala explained that because kolams are a "2D sequential artform", this specialised structure was necessary for "memory retention capacity". Their customised network, together with an innovative training, facilitates "controlled remembering and forgetting" which allows the digital line to keep moving in a stable, regulated manner.

This "zigzag training algorithm" ensures that the line tracks the desired pattern based on the network's own output from the previous instant, effectively mimicking human "muscle memory".

"This ability results in a stable generative kolam pattern with no external inputs -- the line keeps moving in a controlled manner, tracking the desired pattern based on the network's own output in the previous instant," Shyamala said.

This is significant, Sivakumar added. "We are not aware of other networks that use stable training as a machine learning methodology," he said.

The research notes that this architecture is "apt for a variety of tasks" including "grid load prediction, ECG waveform generation, and stock data modelling".

AI vs. Human: Complexity and Limitations

The humans have "to memorise by looking at the pattern", therefore, limited to a "certain dimension" -- typically up to 19 'pulli' or dots, but can be 31 dots in exceptional cases, depending on the skills of the human. The reseachers' algorithm, however, has "no limit" given enough computing power. In one instance, a kolam with "501 points" took two and a half days to generate on a normal desktop.

Potential Applications and Cultural Preservation

The couple is quick to point out that the mathematical "one-stroke" logic has massive global implications. "While there is no direct correspondence between the kolam and technical fields, the mathematical underpinning of the one-stroke kolam lends itself to potential applications in secure wireless communications, image encryption and representation of complex protein structures," Shyamala said.

Sivakumar, who worked in power electronics "all his life", noted that while the "cultural aspect" is defined by symmetry, the "pure mathematical aspect" is a universal language that no one had previously codified into such a versatile algorithm.

Ultimately though, algorithmic kolam project remains a tribute to the "subjective beauty" of the form. "It acts as a digital record too, documenting the implicit and often unstated rules that traditional artists have passed down through generations. It not only generates viable patterns but also provides insight into problem-solving and decision-making inherent to traditional practice," said Shyamala.

It is also a way to protect kolam patterns from being lost due to fading memories and societal changes, pointed out Sivakumar. "Our algorithmic kolams can introduce this traditional art to new, digitally native audiences, make them accessible to the global audience," he added.

The couple are now fine-tuning the algorithm and improving network performance, with the help of an "enthusiastic" Indian student who got in touch with them due to Smart India Hackathon 2025. The hackathon, said Sivakumar, had helped spur renewed interest in the ancient art of kolam by framing it as a contemporary technological problem for students to solve.

"We are also trying to see whether a machine can look at these patterns and learn to draw similar patterns without memorising them," said Shyamala.
The AIADMK, Tamil Nadu's main opposition party, has released its first list of candidates for the upcoming assembly elections, featuring prominent leaders and experienced legislators.

IMAGE: AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami addresses a press conference while releasing the party's manifesto for the Tamil Nadu assembly elections at the party headquarters, Chennai, March 24, 2026. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: / Rediff.com

Key Points AIADMK, the main opposition party in Tamil Nadu, has announced its first list of 23 candidates for the assembly elections.

Key AIADMK leaders, including K Palaniswami and D Jayakumar, have been renominated from their respective constituencies.

Several incumbent MLAs and former ministers are included in the initial candidate list, contesting from their traditional seats.

The AIADMK has allocated seats to alliance partners BJP, PMK, and AMMK as part of the NDA coalition in Tamil Nadu.

The AIADMK is expected to contest a significant portion of the 234 seats in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

The Opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam appears to forge ahead of its political foe, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, in announcing its first list of candidates for the April 23 Tamil Nadu assembly election, with its general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami seeking re-election from Edappadi constituency for the sixth time.

In an action-packed three days of hectic activity, Palaniswami announced that he would contest from Edappadi, his home constituency, yet again.

He sprang a surprise by finalising the seat-sharing with major allies viz the Bharatiya Janata Party, Pattali Makkal Katchi and Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam on March 23, announced 297-point election manifesto for the assembly election and on Wednesday announced the first list of his party candidates.

His rival DMK, which has finalised seat-sharing with its allies, is yet to release its manifesto or announce its candidates.

Edappadi K Palaniswami, popularly known as EPS, served as the seventh Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 2017 to 2021.

The 71-year-old leader of the opposition in the assembly has been representing the Edappadi assembly constituency since 2011 as MLA and previously from 1989 to 1996.

He was elected as MP from Tiruchengode in the 1998 Lok Sabha election. He had been the highways and minor ports minister in the Jayalalithaa cabinet, and also served as public works minister.

He is the general secretary of AIADMK since March 2023. Born in Salem district, where the Edappadi constituency falls, Palaniswami hails from an agrarian family and identifies himself as a farmer. He entered politics in 1974, enrolling as a volunteer in the AIADMK and gradually rose up in ranks to become general secretary.

K P Munusamy, AIADMK deputy general secretary, has been fielded from Veppanahalli. He has been the Municipal Administration and Rural Development minister in the Jayalalithaa cabinet, and had also been the party's Rajya Sabha MP (2020-2021) before resigning to take his seat in the state assembly after the 2021 elections.

He commands considerable influence in the Krishnagiri district, where he has contested successfully in the past from Kaveripattinam, Krishnagiri, and Veppanahalli.

D Jayakumar, a former state minister who has been the TN Assembly Speaker, is contesting from his home constituency, Royapuram in the city from where he was elected in the 1991, 2001, 2006, 2011, and 2016 elections for five terms.

He unsuccessfully contested in the 2021 election. He serves as AIADMK organising secretary.

The party's Rajya Sabha MP C Ve Shanmugam, who is known for making controversial remarks, is a four-time MLA and senior leader in the party. He was previously elected to the Tindivanam constituency in 2001 and 2006 elections and had been Minister of Education, Law and Commercial Taxes from 2003 to 2006 and from 2011 to 2013 in the Jayalalitha Cabinet. He has been fielded from Mailam.

C Vijayabaskar, a medical doctor by profession, is seeking reelection from Viralimalai. He was the former health minister and has represented the Viralimalai constituency in 2011, 2016 and 2021 elections and was previously elected from the Pudukkottai constituency in 2001.

Dindigul C Sreenivasan has been elected from Dindigul in 2016 and 2021 elections. He is the treasurer of the AIADMK. He served as Minister for Forests from 2016 to 2021.

He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Dindigul constituency as an AIADMK candidate in the general elections of 1989, 1991, 1998 and 1999 in Tamil Nadu.

Natham R Viswaathan, deputy general secretary of the party, had been electricity and prohibition minister. He was elected from the Natham constituency in 1999 and won consecutively in 2001, 2006 and 2011 elections. He has been renominated.

S P Velumani, currently MLA from Thondamuthur assembly constituency, has been renominated. He won the Assembly elections in 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021. He was previously the Minister for Municipal Administration, Rural Development, Law and Implementation of Special Programme. He is currently serving as the headquarters secretary of AIADMK.

Former state minister P Thangamani, incumbent legislator from Kumarapalayam constituency, was previously elected from Kumarapalayam constituency in 2011 and 2016 where he is contesting again.

Another former state minister Sellur K Raju has been renominated from Madurai West constituency, from where he won in 2011, 2016 and 2021. He first won from the Madurai West constituency in 2011 election.

K P Anbalagan, former higher education minister, a five-term MLA, has been fielded from Palacode where he registered his first victory in 2001.
Delhi Police have successfully dismantled a major international arms smuggling operation with connections to Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh, seizing a significant cache of foreign-made weapons and arresting ten individuals involved in the illicit network.

Key Points Delhi Police busted an international arms smuggling module with links to Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh, arresting 10 people.

A cache of sophisticated foreign-made weapons, including sub-machine guns and automatic pistols, was recovered.

The seized firearms include weapons from the Czech Republic, Turkey, China, Italy, Brazil, and Germany.

The smuggling network used covert routes and intermediaries to transport weapons across borders.

Investigations are ongoing to trace the network's linkages and identify other involved parties.

The Delhi Police on Wednesday said they have busted an arms smuggling module with links to Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh, and arrested 10 people.

A cache of sophisticated foreign-made weapons, including sub-machine guns and automatic pistols, along with 200 live cartridges, has been recovered from the accused, they said.

According to police, a total of 21 firearms were seized during the operation, comprising high-end automatic weapons and pistols sourced from multiple countries.

Details of Seized Weapons

Among the recovered weapons are a Czech Republic-made sub-machine gun and a range of pistols of different international makes.

The seized arms include PX-5.7 pistols, which are generally used by special forces, Stoeger pistols manufactured in Turkey, PX-3 pistols from China, Shadow CZ pistols from the Czech Republic, as well as Beretta (Italy), Taurus (Brazil) and Walther (Germany) pistols, officials said.

International Network and Investigation

Preliminary investigation revealed that the module was part of a well-organised cross-border network involved in smuggling and supplying illegal arms to criminal elements in India, they said.

The accused were allegedly in touch with international handlers and suppliers operating from neighbouring countries, the police said.

The syndicate used covert routes and intermediaries to transport weapons across borders and further distribute them to contacts in different parts of the country, they added.

The police said efforts are underway to trace the backward and forward linkages of the module and identify other associates involved in the network.

Further investigation is underway.
The 515 Army Base Workshop in Bengaluru is forging strategic partnerships to advance indigenous drone manufacturing, enhance cyber security, and promote self-reliance in unmanned aerial vehicle technology for the Indian Army.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points The 515 Army Base Workshop in Bengaluru partners with Nautical Wings Aerospace to enhance indigenous drone manufacturing capabilities.

Collaboration with Yaanendriya Private Limited focuses on AI-enabled Flight Control Systems and navigation to reduce reliance on foreign technology.

A MoU with the National Forensic Sciences University aims to strengthen drone forensics and cyber security for unmanned systems.

These partnerships support the Indian Army's operational readiness and align with the government's vision of technological self-reliance in defence.

The initiatives will enable the 515 ABW to function as a technical incubator for innovation projects in the drone technology sector.

The 515 Army Base Workshop (515 ABW) in Bengaluru, one of the eight Army Base Workshops of the Indian Army, on Wednesday said it signed multiple strategic MoUs to strengthen indigenous drone manufacturing and ecosystem resilience.

The 515 ABW signed three significant MoUs on behalf of the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army), Directorate General of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (DG EME), and HQ Base Workshop Group.

These new strategic partnerships built upon earlier successful collaborations with premier institutions and startups, mark an important step toward modernisation and Atmanirbhar Bharat in the field of unmanned systems, an official release from the PIB's Defence Wing said.

Strengthening Drone Manufacturing

To strengthen indigenous drone manufacturing capabilities, the 515 ABW signed an MoU with Nautical Wings Aerospace, a Bengaluru-based startup specialising in advanced electric propulsion systems, vertical lift solutions, Brushless Direct Current (BLDC) motors and composite structures for UAVs, it said.

Under this framework, Nautical Wings will provide technical expertise and hand-holding of 515 ABW technicians in integrated propulsion systems, BLDC motor integration, propeller optimization and composite fabrication techniques on a required basis, it added.

Additionally, the 515 ABW signed an MoU with Yaanendriya Private Limited, a deep-tech startup incubated at ARTPARK, IISc Bengaluru.

This collaboration focuses on enhancing capabilities in AI-enabled Flight Control Systems (FCS), Ground Control Stations (GCS), Electronic Speed Controllers (ESC), and GNSS-based navigation systems, aiming to reduce dependence on foreign technology in autonomous platforms, it said.

Enhancing Security and Resilience

To ensure the security and resilience of these emerging technologies, a third MoU was signed with the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), Gandhinagar.

This partnership establishes a structured framework for technical cooperation in drone forensics, cyber and hardware security assessment and vulnerability analysis, it said, adding that, "NFSU will contribute its expertise to help develop robust analytical frameworks required for addressing evolving threats related to hostile drone usage, cyber compromise and hardware security risks."

Collectively, these MoUs reinforce the commitment to support national security through indigenous capability development and civil-military integration, according to the official release.

"By fostering industry handholding and inter-institutional cooperation, these initiatives will enable the 515 ABW to function as a prime technical incubator for innovation projects. Ultimately, this will support the operational preparedness of the Indian Army, ensure pace with fast-evolving technologies and align with the Government of India's vision of strengthening technological self-reliance and enhancing Defence innovation ecosystems," it added.
Self-styled 'godman' and numerologist Ashok Kharat has been arrested in Nashik on charges of alleged sexual assault and black magic, setting off a political storm. How did he manage to operate undetected for so long?

IMAGE: Ashok Kharat, the self-styled godman. Photograph: X

Key Points Ashok Kharat, a retired Merchant Navy officer turned 'godman', was arrested in Nashik after a sexual assault complaint and a sting operation revealed 58 illicit videos.

Rupali Chakankar resigned as Maharashtra State Commission for Women chairperson after a video surfaced showing her washing Kharat's feet, though she claimed no knowledge of his alleged crimes.

Police investigations have uncovered over 100 suspected videos of women, with allegations including rape, sexual assault, blackmail, and extortion.

Kharat allegedly exploited women from respected families by promising solutions to marital and fertility issues through elaborate, fear-inducing rituals.

A Special Investigation Team is probing Kharat's activities, including the discovery of a revolver and bullets, raising suspicions of human sacrifice.

Ashok Kharat (alias 'Captain' Kharat), a self-styled 'godman' and numerologist in Nashik, Maharashtra, was arrested on March 18 following a sting operation initiated by a former staffer, and a sexual assault complaint filed by a 35-year-old woman.

The arrest of Kharat, a retired Merchant Navy officer turned 'godman' who operated in Nashik, has stunned Maharashtra's political circles as he was linked to the State Commission for Women chairperson Rupali Chakankar who was forced to resign from her post. Some 58 illicit videos were found by the police who are investigating the godman.

The Rise and Fall of 'Captain' Kharat

Kharat reinvented himself in Nashik as a numerologist after he retired from the Merchant Navy. Known as 'Captain', he offered astrology, numerology, and occult rituals, drawing followers who believed he could solve personal and marital problems. His office doubled as a property business and became the hub of his alleged exploitation.

Kharat built his reputation by projecting himself as a spiritual guide. He staged elaborate rituals, sometimes involving fake snakes and wildlife items, to create an atmosphere of fear and mysticism. Women from respected families in Nashik and beyond sought his blessings, believing he had the power to influence their lives and fortunes.

Exploitation and Blackmail Allegations

Police investigations revealed a disturbing pattern. A pen drive seized from his office contained 58 obscene video clips of different women. A Special Investigation Team later suggested the number of victims could be far higher, with over 100 suspected videos surfacing. Complaints include rape, sexual assault, blackmail, and extortion.

Kharat positioned himself as a spiritual problem-solver. He promised solutions to marital disputes, fertility issues, and family problems. Many women, including those from well-known families, approached him in desperation, believing his rituals and numerology could change their lives. This trust made them vulnerable to manipulation.

Fear and superstition were central to Kharat's modus operandi. It helped him sexually abuse several women and yet keep his crimes under the wraps. He is also accused of blackmailing his targets using CCTV recordings. He allegedly promised miracles and sold items that barely cost Rs 100 for lakhs of rupees.

Sting Operation and Police Complaint

One of the most shocking allegations came from a staff member who worked in Kharat's office. He claimed that Kharat assaulted his wife while she was pregnant, under the pretext of performing rituals for a healthy child. The woman later fell into depression, and this incident pushed the staffer to plant a hidden camera in Kharat's office, which eventually exposed his crimes.

According to the Sarkarwada police station, Nashik, a 35-year-old staff member filed a complaint against Kharat on March 21, following which a First Information Report (FIR) was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013.

Police said the complainant had been working at Kharat's office in the Canada Corner area in Nashik for a monthly salary of Rs 6,000.

In his complaint, the staffer alleged that Kharat sexually assaulted his wife last year when she was pregnant.

'He asked me to bring my wife to him, saying he would perform rituals to ensure a healthy child. He also claimed he could determine the sex of the child,' the complainant told the police.

According to his statement, Kharat allegedly asked the husband to step out of his chamber during the visit. 'When my wife came out, she looked disturbed. Later, she told me that Kharat had touched her inappropriately. She went into depression for nearly a month after the incident,' the complainant alleged.

Rupali Chakankar's Resignation

Apart from the 35-year-old woman who accused him of repeated rape over three years, more women have begun to come forward. Police say the number of victims could rise as the investigation progresses, with many women gathering the courage to speak about their experiences. The SIT is now examining over 100 suspected videos linked to the case.

The scandal took a political turn when a video resurfaced showing Rupali Chakankar, then chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women, washing Kharat's feet during a Guru Purnima ritual years ago. Chakankar explained that her family had once considered Kharat and his wife as spiritual gurus, but insisted she was shocked by the revelations.

Facing mounting criticism, she resigned from her post on March 20, 2026, while calling for strong action against him. She further said that she was being targeted because she is a woman. She added that the video showing her washing Ashok Kharat's feet was five-six years old.

Number of victims could go up

The SIT, headed by IPS officer Tejaswini Satpute, has intensified the probe. Officials said over 100 suspected videos linked to the case had surfaced, and the number of victims could rise further as more women gather the courage to speak.

Meanwhile, the police have also detained priests and staff associated with Kharat's 'Ishanyeshwar' temple for questioning, as part of efforts to trace possible links and determine the extent of the network.

While seeking an extension of his custody, Public Prosecutor Shailendra Bagde shared chilling details from the investigation, including Kharat's possible involvement in human sacrifices.

During the probe, a revolver, 21 live cartridges, and five used bullets were found, he told the court. The police suspect that these five bullets may have been used for narbali, or human sacrifice, the prosecutor added.
Bengaluru police have arrested an autorickshaw driver after CCTV footage revealed he was responsible for a hit-and-run incident that resulted in the death of a 50-year-old woman, whose body was later found in a garbage heap.

Photograph: Pixabay.com

Key Points Bengaluru police arrest autorickshaw driver Basavegowda in connection with the death of a 50-year-old woman.

The victim, Kempamma, was hit by the autorickshaw near Kengeri while returning from Mandya.

The driver panicked after the accident and disposed of the body in a garbage heap in Mylasandra.

CCTV footage and technical evidence led to the arrest of the accused driver.

Days after the body of a woman was found dumped in a heap of garbage here, police have arrested an autorickshaw driver as investigation revealed that she was hit by his vehicle, officials said on Wednesday.

The accused has been identified as Basavegowda (50), they said.

According to police, the incident occurred around 12.30 am on Monday near Kengeri, when the victim, Kempamma (50), was returning from her hometown in Mandya after a train journey. The autorickshaw driver allegedly hit her, causing her to fall and sustain injuries.

He panicked and rushed her to a nearby hospital, where doctors advised him to shift the injured woman to a speciality hospital. However, on the way, he realised that she had succumbed to her injuries, a senior police officer said.

Fearing consequences, he allegedly disposed of the body in a heap of garbage behind a bus stop in Mylasandra, he said.

The body was later discovered by passersby, who alerted the police.

Investigation and Arrest

With the help of CCTV footage and technical evidence, the accused was traced and subsequently arrested in connection with the incident, they added.
Chhattisgarh's Bastar region is transforming former anti-Maoist security camps into schools and hospitals, signalling a shift from conflict to development as a key Maoist leader surrenders.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Chhattisgarh's Bastar region is emerging from decades of Maoist conflict, with plans to convert security camps into schools and hospitals.

Senior Maoist commander Papa Rao surrendered, marking a significant step in the government's anti-Naxal efforts.

The Chhattisgarh government aims to eliminate armed Naxalism and boost economic growth through minor forest produce initiatives.

Nearly 96% of Bastar is now free from Naxal influence due to security operations, trust-building, and rehabilitation policies.

The surrender of Maoist cadres is attributed to the success of rehabilitation efforts and the weakening of the Maoist leadership structure.

The Bastar region, along with the rest of Chhattisgarh, has largely emerged from the grip of decades of "red terror" with plans underway to convert nearly 400 security camps, once the pivot of anti-Maoist fight, into public infrastructure like schools, the government said on Wednesday.

Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, who holds the Home portfolio, announced that security camps would be gradually converted into schools, hospitals and centres for collection and processing of minor forest produce.

He was addressing a programme on surrender and rehabilitation of former Maoists at Shaurya Bhavan, the Police Coordination Centre at Jagdalpur, the Bastar district headquarters. On the occasion, senior Maoist commander Papa Rao, among the last remaining top leaders of the insurgency, formally surrendered along with 17 other cadres.

Their surrender, announced on Tuesday, took place under the state government's "Poona Margem (from rehabilitation to social reintegration) initiative.

"Today, Bastar and the entire Chhattisgarh are out of the clutches of red terror. Bastar is ready to move ahead swiftly on the path of development," declared Sharma at the event organised less than a week before the Centre's deadline to eliminate Naxalism.

He cautioned against misinformation and stressed that Bastar's vast natural resources -- 'jal, jungle, zameen' (water, forest, and land) - belong exclusively to local communities, particularly the youth, who must safeguard them.

The government has a clear vision to boost economic growth in the region through minor forest produce, the Deputy Chief Minister maintained.

Transformation of Security Camps

Sharma said around 400 security camps established in the interior regions of Bastar would be phased out and converted into development centres.

In the future, these camps will function as schools, hospitals, and centres for collection and processing of minor forest produce, thereby providing local residents with improved opportunities for education, healthcare, and jobs, strengthening the foundation for sustainable development, he said.

Reaffirming the government's goal to eliminate armed Naxalism by March 31, he said the state administration has implemented a well-planned strategy in line with the deadline announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in August 2024, with visible results.

Describing the surrender of Rao, a Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC)-level figure, as significant, Sharma asserted that it reflects the weakening of the Maoist leadership structure and underscores the success of rehabilitation efforts.

Local communities in Bastar have shown remarkable social harmony by accepting rehabilitated cadres, he noted.

According to Sharma, no active Maoists of DKSZC rank remain in Chhattisgarh, with only 30 to 40 cadres left in remote northern and southern pockets, who are also expected to surrender soon.

Nearly 96 per cent of Bastar's vast geographical area is now free from Naxal influence, he declared.

This transformation was not solely due to security operations, but was aided by trust-building, dialogue, and rehabilitation policies, the Home minister opined.

Sharma said several districts, including Kabirdham, Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai, Rajnandgaon, Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki, Dhamtari, Gariaband, Mahasamund, apart from the Bastar region (which has 7 districts), which were once Naxal-affected, are now free from the menace.

He credited security forces for their courage and sustained efforts under difficult conditions, and acknowledged contributions from central agencies, local representatives, tribal leaders, and the media in restoring peace after decades of violence.

The Deputy CM said technical support from agencies such as ISRO, NTRO, ITBP's technical section, and the National Security Guard (NSG)'s Bomb Disposal Squad were crucial in effective execution of the anti-Maoist campaign.

Youth engagement initiatives like Bastar Olympics and Bastar Pandum (festival) further strengthened community participation, he added.

Maoist Surrender and Recovery of Arms

Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P said 18 Maoist cadres, including Rao and seven women -- carrying a collective reward of Rs 87 lakh -- shunned violence and joined the mainstream.

Security forces recovered 18 weapons, including AK-47 rifles, SLRs, INSAS rifles, .303 rifles, a 9 mm pistol, a BGL launcher, and Rs 12 lakh in cash from them, he said.

Between January 1, 2024, and March 25, 2026, a total of 2,756 Maoists have surrendered across Bastar division's seven districts -- Kanker, Kondagaon, Bastar, Narayanpur, Bijapur, Dantewada, and Sukma, the IPS officer informed.

Talking to reporters in Raipur, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai termed Rao's surrender a significant step towards eliminating Naxalism, in line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Shah.

Papa Rao's History

Rao, also known by aliases Ashok, Sunnam Chandrayya, and Mangu, joined the Maoist movement in 1997. A South Sub Zonal Bureau Secretary (SZCM), he held key operational roles in Bastar, once a stronghold of Naxals.

He served as in-charge of the Pamed-Usur Area Committee and from 2018 handled operations in West Bastar. He was subsequently elevated as in-charge of the South Sub Zonal Bureau. He carried a bounty of Rs 25 lakh and was armed with an AK-47 rifle.

Police records show 48 cases registered against him in Bijapur district, with 41 permanent warrants pending. Additional cases were registered in Sukma (24) and Dantewada (7).

Rao was allegedly involved in several major incidents, including the 2010 ambush in Tadmetla (now in Sukma district) in which 76 troopers were killed, abduction of Sukma Collector in 2012, an IED blast in Ambeli Nala that killed nine security personnel and a civilian in 2025 and multiple deadly attacks on security forces in 2014 in Sukma.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/orbanviktor

US President Donald Trump has published a direct appeal to the citizens of Hungary to vote for the countrys incumbent Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his party in the parliamentary elections in April. Trump posted his address on his own social network, Truth Social.

"The highly respected Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, is a truly strong and influential leader who has a proven track record of achieving phenomenal results. He fights tirelessly for his great country and people and sincerely loves them, just as I do for the United States of America," Trump wrote, noting that thanks to Orban, "relations between Hungary and the United States reached new heights of cooperation and impressive achievements during my administration."

"I was proud to ENDORSE Viktor for re-election in 2022 and I am honored to do so again. Election Day is April 12, 2026. Hungary: GET OUT AND VOTE FOR VIKTOR ORBAN. He is a true friend, a fighter, and a WINNER, and has my complete and unconditional support for re-election as Prime Minister of Hungary  VIKTOR ORBAN WILL NEVER LET THE GREAT PEOPLE OF HUNGARY DOWN. I AM WITH HIM ALL THE WAY! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP," Trump urged in the final part of his address.
A Bengaluru tourist suffered severe injuries after allegedly being attacked by Goa beach shack employees over a dispute regarding seating, prompting a police investigation into the assault and rioting.

Photograph: Punit Paranjpe/Reuters

Key Points A Bengaluru tourist was seriously injured in an alleged attack by approximately 20 Goa beach shack employees.

The incident occurred at Calangute beach following a dispute over the tourist sitting on a beach bed.

The tourist sustained serious skull injuries and was admitted to a local hospital.

Police have registered a case of assault and rioting against 20 individuals and are currently investigating the incident.

A 42-year-old tourist from Bengaluru was seriously injured after allegedly being attacked by nearly 20 employees of a Goa beach shack, police said.

Kaushat Pasha was allegedly assaulted by the group at Calangute beach over a petty quarrel.

The tourist was admitted to the district government hospital in Mapusa for serious injuries to the skull, police said.

Details of the Beach Shack Altercation

Citing the complaint, police said Pasha got into an argument with shack staffers after sitting on a beach bed at the makeshift dining joint following a swim in the sea.

Police said that while the staff objected to him sitting on the beach bed, the tourist argued, leading to the attack. The shack employees allegedly hit him with weapons.

A case of assault and rioting has been registered against 20 persons, police said, adding that a probe is underway.
A tragic incident in Patna saw two teenagers drown in the Ganga River while bathing, prompting a search for a third missing boy and highlighting the dangers of bathing in the river.

Key Points Two teenagers drowned in the Ganga River in Patna while bathing.

A third teenager is missing, prompting an ongoing search and rescue operation.

The incident occurred near a barricade in the Malsalami police station area.

The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) is assisting in the search for the missing teenager.

Two boys drowned in the Ganga in Patna and one was missing after the three friends went to bathe in the river on Wednesday morning, police said.

The incident took place at a ghat in Malsalami police station area in the state capital.

The deceased are residents of Patna's Kankarbagh police station area.

Details of the Incident

Malsalami SHO Raj Kumar Singh said, "Around 7 am, three boys went to bathe in the Ganga near the barricade but slipped into deep waters. Two of them, identified as Ganesh Kumar and Rohit Kumar, both aged 18, were traced and taken out of the river and rushed to Nalanda Medical College Hospital (NMCH), where doctors declared them dead."

Police, along with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), are actively trying to find the third boy, identified as Shibu Kumar, he added.
In Siwan, Bihar, police apprehended two suspects wanted in connection with multiple jewellery shop robberies after a gunfight, marking a significant breakthrough in the case.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Two suspects wanted in multiple jewellery shop robbery cases were arrested in Siwan, Bihar.

The arrest followed a brief gunfight between the suspects and the police.

The suspects, identified as Rohit Sharma and Rohit Kumar, sustained leg injuries during the shootout and are receiving treatment.

Police acted on a tip-off to locate and apprehend the suspects in the Basantpur police station area.

Two persons wanted in multiple jewellery shop robbery cases were arrested after a brief gunfight with police in Bihar's Siwan district early on Wednesday, officials said.

The accused, identified as Rohit Sharma and Rohit Kumar, were nabbed from Lahji Basantpur in the Basantpur police station area, they said.

Acting on a tip-off, police reached the area in the early hours. On spotting the police, the duo allegedly opened fire while attempting to flee, leading to the gunfight, they added.

Both accused sustained bullet injuries to their legs. They are at present undergoing treatment at a government hospital and are stated to be out of danger, police said.
Delhi Police are investigating the suspicious death of a 17-year-old boy found in a New Usmanpur park, launching a murder investigation to uncover the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.

Photograph: ANI on X

Key Points A 17-year-old boy named Zaid was found dead in a park in New Usmanpur, Delhi.

Delhi Police have launched a murder investigation into the teenager's death.

Forensic teams have collected evidence from the scene, and a post-mortem examination will determine the cause of death.

Multiple police teams are working to identify and apprehend the individuals involved in the crime.

A 17-year-old boy was found dead at a park in northeast Delhi's New Usmanpur area in the early hours of Wednesday, police said.

The deceased, identified as Zaid, was a resident of the locality, they said.

The police said they received information about a body lying in a park, following which a team from New Usmanpur police station rushed to DDA Park near JPC Hospital, and found the boy lying dead.

The crime and forensic teams inspected the spot and collected evidence, a senior police officer said.

The body has been sent for post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death.

A case has been registered under Section 103(1) (Murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and multiple teams have been formed to trace and apprehend those involved, they said.

Further investigation into the matter is underway, they added.
A Mumbai court has denied a UAPA accused permission to travel abroad for a family vacation, citing the reason as too trivial and emphasising the seriousness of the charges against him.

IMAGE: Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

Key Points Mumbai court rejects UAPA accused Vaibhav Raut's request to travel to Vietnam for a family vacation.

Raut, facing charges under UAPA and other acts, was arrested in 2018 in connection with the recovery of crude bombs.

The court deemed Raut's reason for travel, 'spending happy moments with family', as too trivial.

Raut's bail conditions restrict him from leaving Mumbai and Vasai-Virar without prior court permission.

A court here has refused to allow a UAPA case accused to go abroad for a family vacation, describing the reason for travel as "too trivial".

Businessman Vaibhav Raut, who is out on bail, had sought permission to visit Vietnam with his wife and children from May 4 to May 25, for spending "happy moments with family".

Additional sessions judge Chakor Baviskar dismissed his plea on March 20.

In the reasoned order, available on Wednesday, the court noted that the application was "sans any sufficient and satisfactory reasons".

Background of the Case

Raut was arrested in 2018 by the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) in connection with alleged recovery of crude bombs from a godown at Nalasopara on Mumbai's outskirts.

The businessman is facing trial for charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Indian Penal Code and the Explosives Substances Act.

While granting him bail, the high court laid down the condition that he shall not leave Mumbai and Vasai-Virar without prior permission of the trial court.

Arguments and Court's Decision

The prosecution opposed his travel plea on the ground that the offences against him were serious in nature.

The accused argued that as a businessman and permanent resident of Vasai-Virar and Mumbai, he posed no flight risk, and intended to return after the tour.

The judge said the reason put forth by the accused -- "spending happy moments with family" -- was "too casual as such and trivial in nature".

The accused was "expected not to take the terms and conditions (of bail) lightly and in a casual approach", the court remarked.
Delhi Police dismantle a sophisticated interstate cybercrime ring, arresting six suspects involved in digital arrest and fake IPO scams, recovering millions swindled from unsuspecting victims.

Photograph: Pixabay.com

Key Points Delhi Police arrested six individuals connected to interstate cybercrime syndicates involved in digital arrest and fake IPO scams.

The cybercriminals used psychological coercion, fake warrants, and investment schemes to defraud unsuspecting citizens, including the elderly.

The investigation uncovered approximately Rs 10.6 crore in fraudulent transactions across 89 complaints.

Police recovered around Rs 19 lakh and returned it to victims through court orders, seizing mobile phones and other incriminating materials.

Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining masterminds and recover the remaining defrauded amount.

The Delhi Police has arrested six suspects linked to multiple interstate cybercrime syndicates allegedly involved in "digital arrest", fake IPO and trading scams, unearthing swindling of around Rs 10.6 crore related to 89 complaints, an official said on Wednesday.

The accused were arrested following multiple raids across Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, he said.

Police said the accused are linked to at least four cyber fraud cases, which primarily targeted unsuspecting citizens including the elderly through sophisticated online scams.

Digital Arrest Scam Details

In one case related to a "digital arrest" scam, an elderly couple was allegedly duped of Rs 20 lakh by cybercriminals posing as TRAI and CBI officials, who extorted them through psychological coercion for nearly a week using fake warrants and arrest threats.

During investigation, Rs 18.5 lakh was traced to a bank account linked to an enterprise operated by accused Shashikant Kumar, who was arrested from Ranchi. Police said around Rs 11 lakh has been refunded to the complainant through court orders.

Fake IPO Investment Scheme

In another case involving a fake IPO investment scheme, a complainant was cheated of Rs 7.79 lakh through a WhatsApp group and a fraudulent mobile application promising high returns.

The probe led to the arrest of Khalid Tyagi from Roorkee in Uttarakhand, who allegedly arranged mule accounts for routing the money. The account linked to him was found connected with 25 complaints involving around Rs 4.08 crore.

Trading Fraud and SIM Misuse Cases

A separate trading fraud scam saw a victim being duped of Rs 1.88 lakh on the pretext of online stock investments.

The accused, Sachin Mittal, was apprehended from Shahdara in Delhi. The account used in the fraud was linked to 24 complaints involving over Rs 1 crore, police said.

In another "digital arrest" case involving alleged SIM misuse, a victim was threatened and forced to transfer Rs 8 lakh.

Police said swift action led to 100 per cent recovery of the amount from a Bhopal-based account. Three accused - Asif, Nitin Saini and Virender Mukkhiya - were arrested in this connection.

Modus Operandi and Ongoing Investigation

According to police, the accused used fake identities of law enforcement agencies, invoking fear through video calls and forged documents, and lured victims into transferring money for "verification" or investment purposes. The funds were then routed through multiple mule accounts to avoid detection.

Police said the syndicates relied on encrypted communication platforms, disposable SIM cards and a network of intermediaries operating across states.

Around Rs 19 lakh has been recovered so far and returned to victims through court orders. Mobile phones, cheque books and other incriminating materials have also been seized from the accused.

Efforts are underway to trace the remaining masterminds, including the kingpin, and to track financial trails to recover the rest of the defrauded amount, police added.
A tragic bus accident in Delhi, allegedly caused by a speeding driver, has claimed two lives and left many injured, sparking outrage and raising serious questions about road safety standards and driver accountability in India.

IMAGE: A view of the sleeper bus which overturned killing two and injuring many, at Karol Bagh, in New Delhi, March 25, 2026. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Eyewitnesses claim the bus driver was speeding and potentially intoxicated, though police deny the intoxication claim based on initial reports.

The accident victims include a man returning from Eid celebrations and a groom-to-be, highlighting the devastating impact on families.

Passengers allege the bus had mechanical issues and lacked a functional emergency exit, contributing to the severity of the accident.

Authorities have detained the bus driver and initiated an investigation into the cause of the crash, including a mechanical inspection of the vehicle.

Logistics worker Mahesh was returning home in Bareilly when a reckless swerve sent the bus he was on somersaulting in the dead of the night in the national capital.

The 22-year-old was one of the two who died in the post-midnight crash near Hanuman Mandir in Karol Bagh. He was set to be married on April 20.

The other was 30-year-old Shehbaj Alam, who was returning from Jaipur with his cousin after celebrating Eid. Alam left behind a three-month pregnant wife back home in Uttar Pradesh's Bijnor.

In the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, a Delhi-bound tourist bus coming from Jaipur, allegedly being driven at a speed of around 100 kmph, went out of control at a roundabout near the temple and flipped two to three times in the air, police said.

Besides the two, the accident left 23 more injured  13 of them in a semi-critical state.

"Maiya intezar kar rahi thi, beta subah aajayega (Mother was waiting for my son to come in the morning)," Mahesh's mother told PTI, breaking down as she spoke about her youngest son.

The Bareilly native had boarded the bus with his 30-year-old brother Mukesh in Haryana's Bilaspur, where they both worked.

Blood stains on Mukesh's clothes testified to the horror of the crash.

Eyewitness accounts and allegations

"Despite our asking the driver several times to slow down, he did not. He was also drunk. Around 11.30 pm, he stopped the bus near an eatery, asking us to freshen up and eat. The bus halted for nearly half an hour," Mukesh told PTI.

He claimed that the halt eventually stretched to about an hour, a period during which the driver got drunk. The bus had no functional emergency exit, he also claimed.

"My brother was trapped under the bus with many others. There was a woman whose legs were visible while the rest of her body was pinned underneath. I tried to pull people out and then took my brother to the hospital in an ambulance," Mukesh, who managed to crawl out of the mangled vehicle, said.

The police denied the claim that the driver was drunk, citing his medico-legal report.

An officer said that while the bus did have an emergency exit, its doors jammed after the accident. A mechanical inspection of the vehicle will be conducted to ascertain any technical faults, he added.

Alam, a cloth trader in Bijnor and the sole breadwinner of his family, is survived by his wife, whom he married about a year ago and is three months pregnant, his father, aged around 70, a younger brother, and a married sister living in Delhi's Jamia Nagar.

Zaheen, Shehbaj's brother-in-law, told PTI that he had gone to Jaipur with his cousin to celebrate Eid and boarded the bus around 5 pm for Delhi.

"They were headed to Old Delhi Railway Station to return to Bijnor. This is sheer negligence on the part of the driver. We would not have lost him if the bus had been driven responsibly," he said.

Investigation and aftermath

The bus driver, Pankaj Kumar, 26, a resident of Rajasthan's Alwar, has been detained and is currently undergoing treatment at Lady Hardinge Medical College, the police said.

Faheem, 30, another of Alam's relatives, alleged that the driver had been in a hurry throughout the journey.

"At one point, when one of the brothers got down, the driver sped off without waiting for the other. He refused to stop, saying he was in a hurry to complete the trip," Faheem said.

"His haste has cost our family dearly," he added.

Anamika Shukla, who was on the bus with her four-year-old son, and her sister-in-law, Akriti Dubey, suffered a hip fracture.

She is undergoing treatment at RML Hospital. Her child and sister-in-law sustained minor injuries.

Her husband, Shailendra Shukla, a labourer, said he rushed to the hospital after being informed of the accident.

"I was in Delhi while she had gone to Jaipur for some personal work. I came as soon as I heard about the accident," he told PTI.

"This is a grave incident. The driver should be punished so that no other family has to go through this," he added.

A passenger said that a few of them were returning from pilgrimage in Ajmer, while others were returning from trips to Jaipur or headed to Delhi for work or to meet relatives.

Another female passenger sustained facial injuries, while her 65-year-old father-in-law suffered a fracture in his backbone. She alleged that the driver was speeding and that the bus was not in proper condition.

"When we were nearing Delhi, we stopped at a dhaba where it broke down. It kept moving in fits and starts after that. When we reached a roundabout, the driver took a sharp turn, and that's when the bus overturned," she said.

The woman said there were around four to five children among the injured, and one of them was hit in the head and was in a delicate state.

The crash was reported to the police and fire brigade around 1 am, a police officer said.

The Delhi-bound bus from Jaipur has around 30 passengers on board, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Rohit Rajbir Singh said in a statement.

An earth-moving machine stationed nearby was roped in to help lift the bus.
Delhi Police have successfully dismantled a major international arms trafficking ring with links to Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh, seizing a significant cache of illegal weapons and arresting ten key operatives.

Photograph: / Rediff.com

Key Points Delhi Police busted an international arms trafficking module with connections to Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh.

Ten key operatives were arrested, and 21 firearms, including a Czech-made sub-machine gun, were recovered.

The arms were allegedly sourced from Pakistan and smuggled into India through the Indo-Nepal border.

The traffickers used encrypted messaging and VoIP calls to evade detection, with payments routed through hawala channels.

The investigation is ongoing to trace the network's linkages and identify other involved parties.

The Delhi Police has busted a major international arms trafficking module with links to Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh, arresting 10 key operatives and recovering a cache of sophisticated foreign-made weapons, an official said on Wednesday.

The module, allegedly operating from the walled city of Old Delhi, was part of an organised cross-border network supplying illegal arms to criminal syndicates across Delhi-NCR and other states, they said.

A total of 21 firearms, including a Czech-made sub-machine gun (SMG) and 20 high-end semi-automatic pistols, along with 200 live cartridges, were seized during the operation.

Police said the weapons included PX-5.7 pistols -- typically used by special forces -- Stoeger pistols from Turkiye, PX-3 pistols from China, Shadow CZ pistols from the Czech Republic, besides Beretta (Italy), Taurus (Brazil) and Walther (Germany) pistols.

Arms Smuggling Route and Methods

According to investigators, the arms were sourced from Pakistan and smuggled into India through the Indo-Nepal border using covert routes before being distributed through a network of handlers and couriers.

"The accused were in direct contact with handlers based in Nepal and Bangladesh, who procured weapons from Pakistan. The consignment was then routed into India and supplied to various criminal elements," a senior police officer said.

Police said the traffickers used encrypted messaging applications, Voiceover Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls and frequently changed SIM cards and mobile devices to evade detection. Payments were routed through hawala channels.

Accused and Operation Details

The accused have been identified as Rahil (37), Hasim (45), Saim (24), Sonu Gupta (31), Ghanshyam Sharma (26), Waseem Malik (39), Nishant Arora (34), Nawab (31), Md Nauman (32) and Md Naushad (37), hailing from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and adjoining areas.

The crackdown followed sustained technical surveillance and human intelligence inputs, with multiple raids conducted between March 13 and March 24 across Delhi-NCR and parts of Uttar Pradesh.

Police said Rahil, a resident of Old Delhi, was a key operative of the module and had allegedly supplied 70-75 sophisticated firearms over the past several months on the directions of the kingpin Shahbaz Ansari.

Ansari, an interstate arms trafficker wanted in multiple cases including one being probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), is believed to be operating from Bangladesh after jumping interim bail.

During the operation, one of the accused, Sonu Gupta, allegedly attempted to open fire at the police team but was overpowered. In another instance, accused Naushad tried to flee and brandished a firearm before being apprehended after a brief scuffle.

Police said the densely populated Jama Masjid area was being used as a transit and concealment hub due to its narrow lanes and heavy footfall.

Further investigation is underway to trace backward and forward linkages of the network and identify other associates involved in the trafficking chain.
Odisha Police have detained two individuals for illegally flying a drone over the sacred Jagannath Temple in Puri, prompting a security investigation and highlighting the enforcement of no-fly zones.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Two individuals have been detained for allegedly flying a drone over the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, where such activity is prohibited.

The drone was spotted by servitors while they were performing rituals at the temple, leading to police intervention.

The detained individuals are from the Hooghly district of West Bengal, and a case has been registered against them under the Aircraft Act.

Police have seized the drone, remote control, battery, and a mobile phone, which will be sent for forensic examination as part of the ongoing investigation.

Odisha Police on Wednesday said that they detained two individuals for allegedly flying a drone over the Jagannath Temple in Puri, which is not allowed.

Authorities acted after the drone was spotted hovering above the 12th-century shrine on Wednesday afternoon. The two persons reportedly operated the devices from the rooftop of a building in Mati Mandap Sahi, located about 500 metres from the temple, the police said.

According to police, some servitors spotted the drones flying over the Jagannath temple while tying new flags atop the shrine and informed the police.

The police used their own drone system and identified the two individuals, they said

The detained persons came from the Hooghly district of West Bengal, a police officer said.

"We have detained two persons and registered a case against them under the Aircraft Act at Singhdwar police station," Puri SP Prateek Singh told media persons in Puri.

The drone, along with its remote control, battery and connected mobile phone, was seized, Singh said, adding, "We will send the electronic goods to the State Forensic Science Laboratory for examination."

Further investigation related to the incident is in progress, the SP said.
Two individuals have been apprehended in Lucknow for their alleged involvement in a major drug trafficking operation supplying narcotics to pubs and parties in Maharashtra, highlighting the reach of interstate drug networks.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Two individuals were arrested in Lucknow for their involvement in a drug trafficking case linked to Maharashtra.

The accused allegedly supplied narcotics, including brown sugar, to pubs, hotels, and private parties in Maharashtra.

The suspects were attempting to flee to Nepal via Lucknow after a drug consignment linked to them was seized in the Vasai-Virar area.

The operation was a coordinated effort between Naigaon police and the Special Task Force (STF) in Lucknow.

Police have arrested two persons in Lucknow in connection with a drug trafficking case in Maharashtra's Palghar district, officials said on Wednesday.

The accused were allegedly involved in supplying narcotics at pubs, hotels and private parties in Maharashtra, they said.

The Special Task Force (STF), Lucknow, in a release, said it arrested the duo near a tempo stand at Charbagh railway station in the Uttar Pradesh capital on Monday.

The accused have been identified as Bhavesh Chauhan alias Lalu, hailing from Hardoi in UP and residing at Nalasopara in Palghar district, and Shoaib Ashraf Pathan alias Batla, also a resident of Nalasopara, the STF said.

They were wanted in connection with a case registered at Naigaon police station in Palghar under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

"Acting on specific inputs, the STF team arrested both the accused from the Charbagh area while they were attempting to flee," the release said.

During interrogation, the accused told the police that they had been involved in interstate drug trafficking for the past four to five years, the STF said.

"The accused disclosed that they, along with their associates, used to manufacture brown sugar using chemicals available in the market and supplied it at pubs, hotels and private parties," the release said.

The accused also told the police that they were trying to escape from Mumbai and travel to Nepal via Lucknow after a drug consignment linked to them was seized in the Vasai-Virar Mira-Bhayander area here on February 5, it said.

Chauhan has multiple criminal cases registered against him, including under the NDPS Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at various police stations in the Vasai-Virar area, the release said.

The operation to apprehend them was carried out in coordination with the Naigaon police, which had approached the STF for assistance after receiving inputs that the accused were hiding in Lucknow, it said.

Further investigation is underway, the release added.
Chernihiv and residents of four regional districts without power due to Russia attacks  regional administration

In Chernihiv region, due to a Russia drone attack over the past 24 hours, Chernihiv and part of Chernihiv district were left without light, and due to a morning attack on Wednesday, subscribers in three districts  Nizhyn, Pryluky and Novhorod-Siversky  are de-energized, head of Chernihiv Regional Military Administration, Vyacheslav Chaus has said.

"A difficult day for Chernihiv region. Russia massively attacked our cities and villages with strike drones," he wrote on Telegram on Wednesday morning.

According to his data, in Chernihiv district on Tuesday, March 24, during the day, a "Geran" struck a village in the Kyinka community. In the Horodnia community, a power line was damaged. In another village, a house was destroyed.

"There were strikes on the regional center. Due to the drone attack, houses, outbuildings and a car in a residential area of the city were damaged. Also, a Geran attacked a critical infrastructure facility. Chernihiv and part of Chernihiv district are without light. Power engineers are working," Chaus reported.

In Nizhyn district, a strike on an energy facility was recorded in the morning. Subscribers in three districts of the region are de-energized.

"Novhorod-Siverskyi district. A drone hit a village in the Korop community. A house, garage and car were damaged. There were many FPV drones: in Semenivka, a civilian car was damaged, in Novhorod-Siverskyi community  a house," Chaus added.

The head of the regional administration noted that from 7:00 on Tuesday, Ukrainian defenders shot down more than 200 Russia drones, and another part was suppressed by electronic warfare means. After this massive strike on the region, many remains of shot down UAVs and drones landed by EW are being found. Fires at the hit sites were extinguished by firefighters.
A London property near Heathrow Airport has been seized by Indian authorities as part of a money laundering investigation into a major bank fraud case involving Neo Corp International Ltd.

Photograph: Reuters

Key Points The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached a property worth Rs 7.5 crore near London's Heathrow Airport in connection with a bank fraud case.

The case involves Neo Corp International Ltd and its directors, who are accused of defrauding Indian banks.

The ED's investigation revealed a complex web of transactions involving shell companies used to siphon funds to foreign jurisdictions.

The probe stems from FIRs filed by the CBI against Poly Logic International Pvt Ltd and Neo Corp International for allegedly defrauding Punjab National Bank and State Bank of India, respectively.

An immovable asset worth Rs 7.5 crore and located near London's Heathrow Airport has been attached under the anti-money laundering law in connection with an alleged bank loan fraud case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said on Wednesday.

The provisional attachment order was issued on Tuesday in the case involving Neo Corp International Ltd, and its directors and promoters, the federal agency said in a statement.

The market value of the attached asset is about Rs 7.5 crore and it is situated near the Heathrow Airport in London, it said.

Details of the Fraud Investigation

The ED case filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) stems from two FIRs registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The first case involves a company named Poly Logic International Pvt Ltd, its director Utkarsh Trivedi and others who are accused of cheating the Punjab National Bank of Rs 57 crore.

The second case is against Neo Corp International, its MD Sunil Kumar Trivedi and others who are alleged to have defrauded the State Bank of India (SBI) to the tune of Rs 249.97 crore.

Findings of the Investigation

According to the ED, the probe found that "extensive" fund transfers were done among a cartel of companies, designed to create a "complex" web of banking transactions.

The two companies, through their directors, engaged in financial dealings with entities suspected to be "dummy" firms floated in the names of employees and close associates.

These "shell" companies acted as conduits to route, rotate and layer funds between related entities, effectively camouflaging the movement and end use of the proceeds of crime, the agency claimed.

"Investigation revealed that the proceeds of crime were siphoned off to foreign jurisdictions under the guise of investment," it said.
A man in Hyderabad has been arrested for running an illegal dental clinic for 14 years, posing as a qualified dentist without the necessary Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree, raising serious public health concerns.

Key Points A 46-year-old man was arrested in Hyderabad for operating an illegal dental clinic for 14 years.

The accused posed as a dentist without holding a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree.

The illegal clinic was operating in Old Neredmet without permission from the relevant health department.

Authorities discovered the clinic during an inspection prompted by reliable information.

The man's actions endangered public health by providing dental services without proper qualifications.

A 46-year-old man, who was posing as a dentist and allegedly running an illegal clinic here for the past 14 years, was arrested, police said on Wednesday.

The accused, who is claiming to have completed Intermediate course, was found running the dental clinic without a BDS degree, during an inspection, they said.

Based on reliable information that the clinic in Old Neredmet was operating without obtaining permission from the department concerned, an inspection was carried out on March 24, a police official said.

Details of the Illegal Practice

The accused, who does not have any recognised BDS qualification, posed as a dentist for 14 years and endangering public health, police said.

A case was registered at Neredmet police station and the accused was arrested, police added.
A farmer in Maharashtra has been arrested after police discovered cannabis plants hidden amongst his sorghum crop, highlighting the ongoing efforts to combat illegal drug cultivation in the region.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A farmer in Beed, Maharashtra, was arrested for allegedly growing cannabis plants.

The cannabis plants were concealed within a jowar (sorghum) crop on the farmer's land.

Police seized 42 cannabis plants valued at approximately Rs 1.74 lakh during the raid.

The farmer, Bhausaheb Tatyaba Turukmare, has been arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

A 60-year-old farmer from Maharashtra's Beed district has been arrested for allegedly growing cannabis plants concealed within a jowar (sorghum) crop, police said on Wednesday.

Acting on a tip-off, police raided a farm at Sushi (Wadgaon) on Tuesday and seized 42 cannabis plants valued at about Rs 1.74 lakh, they said.

Accused Bhausaheb Tatyaba Turukmare had intercropped the contraband with his jowar plantation, they said.

Besides the police, forensic experts and officials from the revenue and agriculture departments were also part of the raid team, cops said.

Turukmare has been arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, they added.
Maharashtra minister Yogesh Kadam addresses allegations of delayed FIR registration and investigation laxity in the air crash involving former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, assuring a thorough process.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Maharashtra minister Yogesh Kadam denies any delay or laxity in the FIR registration related to Ajit Pawar's air crash.

Kadam clarifies that an Accidental Death Report is standard procedure before filing an FIR in such cases.

NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar alleged that Maharashtra police refused to register an FIR, leading him to file a 'zero FIR' in Karnataka.

Rohit Pawar also claimed a delay in handing over the air crash case to the CBI for investigation.

The Maharashtra government assures a thorough investigation and addresses concerns from Nationalist Congress Party workers.

Maharashtra minister Yogesh Kadam on Wednesday said there was no delay in the registration of an FIR in connection with former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar's death in an air crash, nor was there any laxity in the related probe.

Kadam, a Minister of State for Home, was speaking to reporters here a day after NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar claimed that he had to get registered a 'zero FIR' in neighbouring Karnataka as police in Maharashtra refused to register a First Information Report on his complaint.

Kadam said that in such cases an Accidental Death Report is registered first, followed by an FIR.

Minister's Response to Allegations

"A wrong message is going out that we do not want to register an FIR. We also want that justice is done in this case. There are lakhs of party workers (of the Nationalist Congress Party) who have questions. But there is no delay or laxity in this inquiry," he said.

Rohit Pawar's Claims

Rohit Pawar, Ajit Pawar's nephew, on Tuesday alleged in the legislative assembly that the Maharashtra police were not registering an FIR for alleged negligence in connection with the January 28 air crash in Baramati, and there was also a delay in handing over the case to the CBI.

He registered a zero FIR in Karnataka which was on Tuesday transferred to Maharashtra Police, he added.
Haryana's State Vigilance Bureau is investigating the Panchkula Municipal Corporation over alleged discrepancies of nearly Rs 150 crore in Fixed Deposit Receipts (FDRs) held with Kotak Mahindra Bank, raising concerns about potential financial irregularities.

Key Points An FIR has been filed concerning discrepancies in Fixed Deposit Receipts (FDRs) worth approximately Rs 150 crore belonging to the Panchkula Municipal Corporation.

Haryana's State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (SVACB) is investigating potential cheating, conspiracy, and other charges against unnamed bank officials.

The Panchkula Municipal Corporation (PMC) reported a significant mismatch between its official records and the bank's records regarding the FDRs.

Kotak Mahindra Bank claims that all accounts and transactions were handled according to due process and banking norms, based on their records.

The investigation was initiated following the Haryana government's decision to refer the case to the SVACB for a thorough probe into the discrepancies.

An FIR has been filed in connection with alleged discrepancies related to Fixed Deposit Receipts (FDRs) involving nearly Rs 150 crore of Panchkula Municipal Corporation with a Kotak Mahindra Bank branch.

Haryana's State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (SVACB) filed the FIR on Tuesday night on cheating, conspiracy and other charges against unnamed bank officials and others, after the Haryana government decided to refer the case to the SVACB.

The municipal corporation has claimed a multi-crore mismatch in its official record and the balance/records reflected by the Panchkula branch of Kotak Mahindra Bank.

The discrepancies were detected in FDRs involving a total amount of nearly Rs 150 crore, according to Vinay Kumar, Commissioner of the Panchkula Municipal Corporation (PMC).

A spokesperson of Kotak Mahindra Bank on Wednesday, in a statement, said that a detailed reconciliation of fixed deposits and linked bank accounts maintained by the municipal corporation was carried out and based on "records examined so far", "accounts and transactions were handled in strict adherence to due process and applicable banking norms".

The FIR follows the Haryana government's decision to refer the case to the SVACB on Tuesday for lodging an FIR "in the matter pertaining to non-reconciliation of funds and for conducting a thorough investigation into the discrepancies related to the FDRs of MC, Panchkula, as well as the bank accounts maintained with Kotak Mahindra Bank, Sector-11, Panchkula".

The FIR was registered at police station, ACB, Panchkula, under BNS sections 316 (5) (criminal breach of trust), 318 (4) (cheating), 336 (3) (forgery), 338 (forgery of valuable security, will etc), 340 (forged document or electronic record), and 61 (criminal conspiracy) and under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988's 13 (2) and 13 (1) (a).

The Commissioner of PMC has been maintaining 16 FDs amounting to Rs 145,03,41,704 (over Rs 145 crore) with a maturity value of Rs 158,02,36,420 (over Rs 158 crore) in Kotak Mahindra Bank, Sector-11, Panchkula, according to the FIR.

Out of these, 11 FDs amounting to Rs 59,57,67,709 (over Rs 59 crore) have matured on February 16, 2026.

"Further, as per the bank statement of account No.... received on March 16, the balance as on March 13 is reflected as Rs 2,17,74,394 (over Rs 2.17 crore) only as against the expected balance of Rs 50,0,24,463 (over Rs 50 crore)," the FIR said

"Further, the bank has intimated that there is no live Term Deposit available and that the balance in the account as on March 18, is Rs 12,85,93,603.86 (over Rs 12 crore).

"However, as per the office record, Municipal Corporation, Panchkula is maintaining 16 FDs with Kotak Mahindra Bank, Sector-11, Panchkula, amounting to Rs 145,03,41,704 with a maturity value of Rs 158,02,36,420 which is not in consonance with the position conveyed by the bank," the FIR said.

As per the FIR, this depicts that the records are "totally mismatched" and there is "every apprehension of financial irregularities having been committed by the said bank".

PMC has also constituted a committee to examine the matter regarding reconciliation and verification of all FDRs and bank statements maintained with the branch.

A thorough and detailed verification exercise has been undertaken by the corporation as per instructions issued by the Finance Department, Haryana, vide a memo dated February 18 and March 17.

"During the course of reconciliation and interaction with the Kotak Mahindra Bank authorities, significant discrepancies have been observed between the FDRs recorded in office records and the balance/records reflected by the bank.

"Further, additional bank accounts which were not reflected in the official records, have also come to notice during the verification process," the FIR by the SVACB further stated.

Two accounts were being operated with Kotak Mahindra Bank, Sector-11, Panchkula, the FIR stated.

"However, during verification, two additional accounts have also been reported by the bank, which are not reflecting in the office record.

"The inconsistencies in the bank statements, along with the existence of these previously unrecorded accounts, raises serious concerns regarding the correctness and integrity of the financial records, maintained by the bank vis-a-vis the office records of Municipal Corporation, Panchkula," it said.

Kotak Mahindra Bank's Response

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of Kotak Mahindra Bank said, "Following instructions from the Municipal Corporation of Panchkula, Kotak Mahindra Bank initiated a detailed reconciliation of fixed deposits and linked bank accounts maintained by the Municipal Corporation.

"As part of this exercise, the Bank has confirmed, based on records examined so far, that all account opening processes, KYC documentation, authorised signatories and instructions received from the Municipal Corporation were in order, and that the accounts and transactions were handled in strict adherence to due process and applicable banking norms".
Haryana's State Vigilance Bureau launches an investigation into alleged discrepancies involving nearly 150 crore of Panchkula Municipal Corporation funds held in Kotak Mahindra Bank, raising concerns about financial irregularities.

Key Points Haryana's SVACB files FIR over alleged 150 crore discrepancies in Panchkula Municipal Corporation's fixed deposit accounts.

The investigation targets unnamed bank officials and others for cheating, conspiracy, and other charges.

Panchkula Municipal Corporation reports a significant mismatch between its records and Kotak Mahindra Bank's balance statements.

Kotak Mahindra Bank claims adherence to due process and banking norms in handling the accounts and transactions.

The investigation was initiated following a Haryana government directive to probe the non-reconciliation of funds.

An FIR has been filed in connection with alleged discrepancies related to Fixed Deposit Receipts (FDRs) involving nearly 150 crore of Panchkula Municipal Corporation with a Kotak Mahindra Bank branch.

Haryana's State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (SVACB) filed the FIR on Tuesday night on cheating, conspiracy and other charges against unnamed bank officials and others, after the Haryana government decided to refer the case to the SVACB.

The municipal corporation has claimed a multi-crore mismatch in its official record and the balance/records reflected by the Panchkula branch of Kotak Mahindra Bank.

The discrepancies were detected in FDRs involving a total amount of nearly Rs 150 crore, according to Vinay Kumar, Commissioner of the Panchkula Municipal Corporation (PMC).

A spokesperson of Kotak Mahindra Bank on Wednesday, in a statement, said that a detailed reconciliation of fixed deposits and linked bank accounts maintained by the municipal corporation was carried out and based on "records examined so far", "accounts and transactions were handled in strict adherence to due process and applicable banking norms".

The FIR follows the Haryana government's decision to refer the case to the SVACB on Tuesday for lodging an FIR "in the matter pertaining to non-reconciliation of funds and for conducting a thorough investigation into the discrepancies related to the FDRs of MC, Panchkula, as well as the bank accounts maintained with Kotak Mahindra Bank, Sector-11, Panchkula".

The FIR was registered at police station, ACB, Panchkula, under BNS sections 316 (5) (criminal breach of trust), 318 (4) (cheating), 336 (3) (forgery), 338 (forgery of valuable security, will etc), 340 (forged document or electronic record), and 61 (criminal conspiracy) and under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988's 13 (2) and 13 (1) (a).

Details of the Alleged Discrepancies

The Commissioner of PMC has been maintaining 16 FDs amounting to Rs 145,03,41,704 (over Rs 145 crore) with a maturity value of Rs 158,02,36,420 (over Rs 158 crore) in Kotak Mahindra Bank, Sector-11, Panchkula, according to the FIR.

Out of these, 11 FDs amounting to Rs 59,57,67,709 (over Rs 59 crore) have matured on February 16, 2026.

"Further, as per the bank statement of account No.... received on March 16, the balance as on March 13 is reflected as Rs 2,17,74,394 (over Rs 2.17 crore) only as against the expected balance of Rs 50,0,24,463 (over Rs 50 crore)," the FIR said

"Further, the bank has intimated that there is no live Term Deposit available and that the balance in the account as on March 18, is Rs 12,85,93,603.86 (over Rs 12 crore).

"However, as per the office record, Municipal Corporation, Panchkula is maintaining 16 FDs with Kotak Mahindra Bank, Sector-11, Panchkula, amounting to Rs 145,03,41,704 with a maturity value of Rs 158,02,36,420 which is not in consonance with the position conveyed by the bank," the FIR said.

As per the FIR, this depicts that the records are "totally mismatched" and there is "every apprehension of financial irregularities having been committed by the said bank".

Municipal Corporation's Response

PMC has also constituted a committee to examine the matter regarding reconciliation and verification of all FDRs and bank statements maintained with the branch.

A thorough and detailed verification exercise has been undertaken by the corporation as per instructions issued by the Finance Department, Haryana, vide a memo dated February 18 and March 17.

"During the course of reconciliation and interaction with the Kotak Mahindra Bank authorities, significant discrepancies have been observed between the FDRs recorded in office records and the balance/records reflected by the bank.

"Further, additional bank accounts which were not reflected in the official records, have also come to notice during the verification process," the FIR by the SVACB further stated.

Two accounts were being operated with Kotak Mahindra Bank, Sector-11, Panchkula, the FIR stated.

"However, during verification, two additional accounts have also been reported by the bank, which are not reflecting in the office record.

"The inconsistencies in the bank statements, along with the existence of these previously unrecorded accounts, raises serious concerns regarding the correctness and integrity of the financial records, maintained by the bank vis-a-vis the office records of Municipal Corporation, Panchkula," it said.

Kotak Mahindra Bank's Statement

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of Kotak Mahindra Bank said, "Following instructions from the Municipal Corporation of Panchkula, Kotak Mahindra Bank initiated a detailed reconciliation of fixed deposits and linked bank accounts maintained by the Municipal Corporation.

"As part of this exercise, the Bank has confirmed, based on records examined so far, that all account opening processes, KYC documentation, authorised signatories and instructions received from the Municipal Corporation were in order, and that the accounts and transactions were handled in strict adherence to due process and applicable banking norms".
A Ghaziabad man was arrested for the shocking double murder of his wife and a close friend, driven by suspicions of an affair, revealing a tragic tale of jealousy and betrayal.

Photograph: Kind courtesy Rashid Khan/Instagram

Key Points A Ghaziabad man has been arrested for the alleged murder of his wife and a close friend due to suspicions of an illicit relationship.

The accused, Rashid, reportedly shot his wife, Shabnam, and his friend, Faheem, after a heated argument at his home.

Police investigation revealed that the victims, Shabnam and Faheem, were allegedly involved in a relationship and planned to marry.

Rashid and Faheem were long-time friends and business partners in the timber trade before the tragic incident.

The double murder highlights the devastating consequences of jealousy and suspicion within personal relationships.

A 40-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly shooting dead his wife and his close friend over suspicion of an illicit relationship in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad district, police said on Wednesday.

The accused, Rashid, was arrested by Tronica City police in the evening for killing his wife Shabnam (36) and his friend, Faheem (32), residents of Khushhal Park. The incident took place late Monday night.

According to DCP (Rural) Surendra Nath Tiwari, Rashid had called Faheem to his house for a conversation, during which his wife was also present. He had earlier sent his elder son, Rehan, along with his wife, to his in-laws' house, while his other children were in another room.

During the meeting, a heated argument broke out between Rashid and Faheem.

In a fit of rage, Rashid allegedly shot both Shabnam and Faheem and fled from the spot.

The children present in the house later informed their relatives and the police. Upon reaching the scene, police recorded statements of the children, who indicated that Shabnam was allegedly involved in a relationship with Faheem, officials said.

Investigation Uncovers Motive

Police said that Rashid and Faheem had been friends for nearly 20 years and were business partners in the timber trade. Faheem was unmarried and frequently visited Rashid's house.

During the investigation, it also came to light that Shabnam and Faheem allegedly wanted to get married, and Rashid was aware of their relationship, which had caused resentment.

Police teams were deployed to trace the accused, who was arrested on Wednesday evening, the officer said.

The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination, and further investigation is underway, Tiwari added.
The central government is set to discontinue LPG supply to households with access to piped natural gas (PNG) as part of a new mandate to boost gas network expansion and reduce dependence on a single fuel source.

IMAGE: People stand in a long queue with their LPG cylinders outside a gas agency amid the reported LPG supply shortage, in Kanpur. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Centre mandates discontinuing LPG supply to households with available piped natural gas (PNG) connections.

This policy aims to accelerate gas network expansion and reduce reliance on LPG amid supply disruptions.

The new order streamlines pipeline infrastructure approvals and promotes a shift from LPG to PNG for enhanced energy security.

LPG supply will cease after three months if a household doesn't opt for PNG, unless technically infeasible with a no-objection certificate.

The government seeks to free up LPG supplies for regions lacking pipeline connectivity and promote fuel diversification.

The government has mandated that cooking gas LPG supply to households will be discontinued if consumers fail to switch to piped natural gas where such connectivity is available, under a new order aimed at accelerating gas network expansion and reducing reliance on a single fuel.

As India grapples with an LPG shortage due to the war in West Asia disrupting supplies from key sources, the government is pushing households and commercial users to switch to piped natural gas (PNG) -- a more convenient alternative that is both domestically produced and sourced through diversified supply.

PNG is continuously supplied to kitchen burners through pipelines, eliminating the need to book refills.

New Order to Promote PNG

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has notified the Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution (Through Laying, Building, Operation and Expansion of Pipelines and Other Facilities) Order, 2026, aimed at accelerating pipeline infrastructure, easing approvals and promoting a shift from LPG to PNG to strengthen energy security.

The order issued on March 24 states that LPG supply 'shall cease after three months' if a household does not opt for PNG despite availability.

The provision, however, allows continuation where it is 'technically infeasible' to provide a piped connection, subject to a no-objection certificate.

The move is aimed at freeing up LPG supplies from areas with pipeline connectivity and diverting them to regions lacking such infrastructure, while promoting 'fuel diversification' amid global supply disruptions, including damage to liquefaction facilities in the Gulf and the continued blockage of the Strait of Hormuz.

Commenting on the order, Oil Secretary Neeraj Mittal in the post on X said 'a crisis (has been) turned into an opportunity' through the ease of doing business reforms.

Streamlining Pipeline Infrastructure

The order, issued under the Essential Commodities Act, seeks to fast-track pipeline infrastructure by easing approvals, standardising charges and ensuring time-bound permissions.

To facilitate rapid rollout, public authorities must grant right of way or permissions within prescribed timelines, failing which approvals will be deemed granted. The order also bars authorities from imposing charges beyond those specified.

In housing areas, entities controlling access must grant permissions within three working days, and last-mile PNG connectivity is to be provided within 48 hours.

Applications for pipeline connectivity in such areas cannot be rejected.

The order further provides for intervention by designated officers with powers akin to a civil court to resolve disputes over land access and grant right of way where necessary.

Authorised entities must begin laying pipelines within four months of approval or face penalties, including possible loss of exclusivity.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has been designated as the nodal agency to monitor implementation, including tracking approvals, rejections and compliance.

In case the right of way or right of use permission to lay pipeline to residences for supply of PNG is not granted by the entities that control access to the housing complex, a notice will be issued and three months thereafter oil marketing companies will stop supply of LPG.

Listing out 'consequences of households not applying for and obtaining PNG connection when notified by authorised entity' that has laid a pipeline to supply such fuel, it said, 'The LPG supply to such an address shall cease after three months from the date of the communication.'

'The supply of LPG to a household shall not cease, if the authorised entity issues a no-objection certificate (NOC) on the ground that it is technically infeasible to provide a piped natural gas connection or gas supply to such household,' it said.

The authorised entity shall maintain records of the reasons for such technical infeasibility and withdraw the NOC as and when it is able to provide and operationalise the piped gas connectivity to such households.
Gujarat's legislative assembly unanimously passed a bill amending the Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime Act to remove terrorism-related provisions, aligning it with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and focusing solely on organised crime.

Key Points Gujarat amends the Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime Act to remove terrorism provisions.

The amendment aligns Gujarat's law with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which now covers terrorism offences.

The change aims to avoid overlap and ambiguity in prosecuting terrorism and organised crime cases.

The amended law focuses exclusively on organised crime syndicates and related offences in Gujarat.

The Gujarat legislative assembly passed the bill unanimously with support from both ruling and opposition parties.

The Gujarat legislative assembly on Wednesday unanimously passed a bill for amending an existing law to drop terrorism-related provisions from it so that they do not overlap with the Centre's new criminal code.

The Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was introduced by minister Arjun Modhwadia on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, and it was supported by the opposition Congress.

It amends the Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime Act, 2015 - called as GUJCTOC - restricting its scope exclusively to organised crime.

Rationale Behind the Amendment

Explaining the rationale while piloting the legislation, Modhwadia said the amendment was necessitated after the enactment of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which now contains a comprehensive and explicit definition of terrorist acts along with stringent punishments.

The state law earlier covered both terrorism and organised crime as the Indian Penal Code (IPC) did not have a clearly defined framework for terrorism. With the BNS now addressing this gap, there is no need for parallel provisions, he said.

Modhwadia told the House that the overlap between provisions of GUJCTOC and the BNS created ambiguity regarding the applicable legal framework in terrorism-related cases.

Now, section 113 of the BNS defines terrorism. This would overlap with our Act, and it was sometimes unclear under which provision action should be taken, he said.

Modhwadia pointed out that most terrorism cases are tried in designated courts, such as those under the National Investigation Agency (NIA), whereas GUJCTOC provides for separate courts for organised crime.

"To remove this ambiguity, it has been decided through this bill to remove the word 'terrorism' from this Act," he added.

As per the amendment, all references to 'terrorist act' have been deleted across the principal Act, including from its 'long title' (not the main title), definitions and penal provisions. The law will now deal solely with organised crime syndicates and related offences.

The Statement of Objects and Reasons notes that the 2015 Act was originally enacted to curb both terrorism and organised crime.

However, with the repeal of the IPC and the introduction of the BNS incorporating terrorism-related offences, the state government decided to eliminate duplication in investigation and prosecution.

The amendment makes extensive textual changes, removing the term "terrorism" from multiple sections, including those dealing with definitions, punishments and procedures. Section 3 of the Act will now apply only to organised crime and related preparatory acts.

Similarly, provisions relating to harbouring offenders, possession of proceeds of crime and presumption clauses have been modified to exclude references to terrorism.

The bill also replaces references to the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) with the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, aligning the state law with the updated national criminal procedure framework.

Opposition and Ruling Party Views

Participating in the debate, Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar said the opposition had earlier raised concerns when the original law was brought in 2015. He said the inclusion of terrorism provisions at that time had led to overlap with central laws.

"The state government has the right to bring any bill, but it should not be inconsistent with the central laws. If there is a central law, we cannot legislate over it," Parmar said.

Recalling earlier discussions in the assembly, he said the opposition had pointed out similar issues when the legislation was debated in the past, but those concerns were not accepted then.

"An amendment means a mistake was made. The mistake we pointed out earlier is now being corrected," he said.

Parmar, however, extended support to the amendment.

"Since the minister has brought this amendment in accordance with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, we support it. But in the future, the state government should avoid bringing laws that override central legislation," he added.

BJP MLA CJ Chavda supported the bill, saying the original 2015 law was brought in to tackle both organised crime and terrorist activities with a 'zero-tolerance policy'.

He said earlier legal frameworks, including provisions under the IPC, were insufficient to curb such crimes effectively.

"Even with preventive measures, criminal activities were not adequately controlled, which necessitated a stronger law like GUJCTOC," he said.

He said the amendment was a "prudent step" to avoid duplication and ensure clarity in enforcement.

"By removing references to terrorism, the state government has ensured there is no duplication of offences, procedures or sections," he added.
A private school in Gurugram was targeted by a hoax bomb threat via email, prompting a police investigation and raising concerns about school safety in the region.

Photograph: Shrikant Singh/ANI Photo

Key Points Gurugram Police responded to a bomb threat at a private school in DLF Phase 1 after receiving a threatening email.

A thorough search of the school premises by police, including bomb disposal and dog squads, found no suspicious items.

The Gurugram Police have declared the school safe and are investigating the source of the hoax email.

This incident follows similar bomb threats to over 40 schools in Gurugram earlier this year, with a Bangladeshi national arrested in connection to the January threats.

Police are taking necessary action to identify the source and sender of the email, and prevent future incidents.

Gurugram Police launched a security check on Wednesday after a private school in the DLF Phase 1 area received a hoax bomb threat via email, police said.

During the inspection, no suspicious items were found, they said, adding that the entire complex was declared "safe" by the police.

According to the police, an email was received at around 1:20 am on Wednesday in the name of Soyeb Masood in English, mentioning that there was a bomb in the school building. When the school management arrived in the morning and saw the email, they informed the police.

Upon receiving the information, a team from the police station DLF Phase 1, dog squad, bomb disposal squad and other special teams rushed to the spot and thoroughly checked the school premises and surrounding area, they said.

They sanitised the school and found nothing during the intensive search, they added.

"The investigation so far has not yielded any suspicious objects or explosive materials. Police teams have declared the entire complex safe," the spokesperson of Gurugram police said.

The Gurugram Police are investigating the entire matter and taking necessary action to identify the source and sender of the email, he said.

Prior Threats and Arrests

Notably, this is not the first case of sending threatening emails. On January 28, over 40 schools in Gurugram received bomb threats, and in March, over 10 schools received similar threats.

Taking action in the case, police arrested a Bangladeshi accused who confessed to his involvement in the January email threats to the 40 schools.

The arrested accused confessed that he created the email and sold it for 250 USD to a man who then sent the threatening email to schools, with the intention of spreading terror, said police.
Russia is intensifying attacks on Ukraines railway infrastructure: since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, there have been about 5,000 attacks, with more than 10% of them occurring in just the first few months of this year, Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia) Board Chairman Oleksandr Pertsovsky said at a briefing in Kyiv on Tuesday.

"If you plot the curve of these attacks, their number is increasing, especially in the spring, when the focus shifts from energy infrastructure and the enemy targets transport infrastructure," Pertsovsky said.

According to him, shelling has damaged a significant number of locomotives, passenger cars, and stations.

Ukrzaliznytsia said that 15 regional monitoring teams are currently operating 24/7, connected to all available monitoring systems and radar, and cooperating with relevant teams that have real-time information on the situation.

"This is the result of real monitoring, very often real-time coordination with our military and air defense forces, confirming what type of object is in the sky and whether it poses a real threat, and then making decisions on whether to stop trains or evacuate," Pertsovsky added.

The company said that more than 4,000 train crew members have already undergone special evacuation training, and such training will continue.

"Unfortunately, no one in the world has been trained on how to act when a Shahed drone is flying overhead, but reality forces us to adapt, and our colleagues constantly undergo training and practice to ensure evacuation experience is safe," he said.

Explaining the need for evacuations during attacks, he emphasized that in the event of a strike, a railcar can become a trap, as metal quickly deforms, fires break out, and chemicals are released.

The company advised that after receiving a signal from a conductor about heightened danger, passengers should prepare for evacuation, leaving bulky items and suitcases behind but taking documents and phones.

In the event of evacuation, Ukrzaliznytsia recommends that passengers avoid crowding near the train, disperse while keeping the conductor in a high-visibility vest in sight, and follow safety instructions in case of explosions nearby.

Passengers should then wait for a signal by voice, megaphone, or whistle that the danger has passed.

Pertsovsky also said Ukrzaliznytsia is open to proposals to jointly develop insurance products with insurers to cover possible delays.

"We are generally open and will work this out with the market. The only issue is that any insurance case usually includes exclusions for force majeure, so the question is whether the insurance market is ready to take on these risks," he said.

As for ticket prices, they will remain reasonable and affordable for passengers until the end of martial law, the Ukrzaliznytsia Board Chairman assured.

As reported, on March 24 at around 05:20, a direct hit was recorded on an electric train running the SlatyneKharkiv route, resulting in fatalities and injuries.

Earlier in 2026, the BarvinkoveLvivChop passenger train was attacked by three Shahed-type drones in Kharkiv region near the village of Yazykove, killing six people and injuring two.
A Gurugram school was targeted with a hoax bomb threat via email, leading to a comprehensive police investigation and security sweep of the premises to ensure student safety.

Photograph: ANI on X

Key Points Gurugram school receives a hoax bomb threat via email, prompting immediate police response.

Extensive security check conducted by Gurugram police, including dog and bomb disposal squads.

No suspicious objects or explosive materials found during the thorough search of the school premises.

Gurugram Police are actively investigating the source of the hoax bomb threat email.

Gurugram Police launched a security check after a private school here received a hoax bomb threat via email on Wednesday, police said.

During the inspection, no suspicious items were found, police said.

According to the police, upon receiving information, a team from police station DLF Phase 1, dog squad, bomb disposal squad and other special teams rushed to the spot and thoroughly checked the school premises, classrooms, buildings and surrounding area.

The investigation so far has not yielded any suspicious objects or explosive materials. Police teams have declared the entire premises secure, they added.

Police Investigation

"The Gurugram Police are currently seriously investigating the entire matter and taking necessary action to identify the source and sender of the email", the spokesperson of Gurugram police said.
Harish Rana, India's first passive euthanasia patient, was cremated in Delhi, marking the end of a 13-year ordeal and highlighting the importance of end-of-life care decisions and organ donation in India.

Key Points Harish Rana, the first Indian granted passive euthanasia, was cremated in Delhi after a 13-year ordeal.

Rana's family donated five of his organs, setting an example for organ donation in India.

The Supreme Court's landmark ruling allowed the withdrawal of life support, enabling a natural death with dignity for Rana.

Mourners, including family, friends, and representatives from various organisations, attended the cremation to pay their respects.

The Brahma Kumaris will hold a prayer ritual and offer food that Harish enjoyed, symbolising the soul's freedom.

Don't cry, he is in a happy place now, the parents of Harish Rana, the first person in India to be permitted passive euthanasia, said on Wednesday as they bid farewell to their son one last time.

Harish's last rites were conducted at the Green Park cremation ground in South Delhi on Wednesday morning, marking a quiet end to his 13-year ordeal.

In a final act of generosity, Harish's family consented to donate five of his organs.

The 31-year-old man passed away on Tuesday after slipping into a coma in 2013, following a fall from a fourth-floor balcony while he was a B.Tech student at Panjab University.

During the last rites, Harish's mother bid an emotional farewell to her son with folded hands and met those present, while his father Ashok Rana urged mourners not to cry, a neighbour told PTI over the phone.

Residents who attended the cremation described the atmosphere as deeply emotional. Tejas Chaturvedi, a resident of the Raj Empire Society, noted that many attendees were moved to tears during the ceremony. However, Ashok Rana continued to console others and encouraged them to remain strong in their moment of grief.

"Let no one weep. I am praying that my son may depart in peace. Wherever he is born next, may he receive God's blessings," he said.

Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajai Rai, who visited the cremation ground to pay his respects, told PTI that the family had confirmed donation of five of Harish's organs. "Harish might be gone, but he will continue to live on through the beneficiaries of his organ donation. The family has set an example before the entire nation," Rai told PTI over the phone.

Family members, along with representatives of the Brahma Kumaris, a spiritual movement led by women, attended the cremation to offer their prayers for Harish. Residents from the Raj Empire Society in Ghaziabad, where the Rana family lives, also came to show their support, joining a diverse group of NGOs, AIIMS staff, relatives, and friends.

Harish's body was transported to the cremation ground in an ambulance, and the platform was covered in rose petals. Many mourners paid their last respects with folded hands, and some placed saffron garlands on the body before it was laid upon the pyre. Ashish Rana, Harish's younger brother, lit the pyre, accompanied by his sister, Bhavna.

Sister Lovely of the Brahma Kumaris, who has been associated with the family and travelled to the cremation ground, said that meditative chants were performed during the last rites. "The body is leaving the mortal world, but the soul is immortal and has begun a new journey," she said.

"The family decided to donate Harish's eyes," Sister Lovely told PTI.

Additionally, Sister Lovely shared that a 'bhog' (offering) and prayer ritual will be held by the Brahma Kumaris in the coming days, where food items that Harish enjoyed will be prepared. "Harish could not eat for over a decade. Now the soul is free. In a symbolic gesture, we will offer the food that his body loved," she said.

Earlier, neighbours and well-wishers spoke of the family's unwavering commitment to caring for Harish despite the emotional and financial challenges they faced over the years. His parents, Ashok Rana and Nirmala Devi, described the decision to allow passive euthanasia as "extremely painful but necessary."

According to sources, the family is scheduled to return to their Ghaziabad residence after completing the last rites and related rituals.

Harish was shifted to the palliative care unit at AIIMS Delhi earlier this month from his Ghaziabad home following a landmark Supreme Court order permitting the withdrawal of life support for him. He passed away on Tuesday.

The apex court had clarified that passive euthanasia in his case would involve withdrawal of artificial nutrition, such as the feeding tube, while continuing palliative care to allow a natural death with dignity. Medical boards had concluded that his condition was irreversible.
Haryana is ramping up its fight against drug trafficking with a new technology-driven strategy, increased enforcement, and enhanced coordination to combat the narcotics menace.

Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters

Key Points Haryana's anti-narcotics efforts show increased enforcement with a rise in FIRs and arrests related to drug cases.

The state is focusing on financial disruption of drug networks, with a significant increase in attached assets and properties of accused individuals.

Haryana is enhancing inter-state coordination to combat drug trafficking, reflected in the rise of inter-state arrests in commercial quantity cases.

Technology is being integrated into Haryana's anti-drug strategy, including dedicated software to monitor prescription drug diversion and upgraded forensic capabilities.

Haryana is encouraging community involvement through 'Prahari Clubs' in educational institutions to combat substance abuse and provide information on drug peddlers.

Strengthening Haryana's anti-narcotics framework, a state-level narco coordination centre meeting here on Wednesday outlined an integrated and technology-driven roadmap to combat the menace.

According to an official statement, the NCORD meeting, chaired by Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, was attended by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Sudhir Rajpal, Director General of Police Ajay Singhal and other senior officers.

Compared to 2024, enforcement gathered momentum in 2025, with FIRs registered in drug-related cases rising from 3,330 to 3,738, an increase of 12.25 per cent, and arrests climbing from 6,095 to 7,053, marking a 15.72 per cent rise, the statement said.

The social security pensions of 63 repeat drug offenders have been discontinued under the welfare exclusion framework, it said

Reviewing the action taken report of the previous NCORD meeting, Rastogi emphasised the need for strict compliance with regulatory measures.

Enhanced Coordination and Infrastructure

Enhancing coordination with key agencies, a proposal was made to shift the Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau headquarters from Madhuban (Karnal) to Panchkula.

A dedicated police station for the Anti-Narcotics Task Force at Panchkula is also in the works to improve operational efficiency, it said.

Intermediate quantity cases recorded a substantial jump from 1,985 to 2,610, up by 31.49 per cent, indicating deeper penetration into supply chains, it said.

Inter-state arrests in commercial quantity cases increased sharply from 444 to 610, registering a 37.39 per cent rise, reflecting improved interstate coordination, the statement said.

Preventive enforcement saw a more than five-fold increase, with detentions rising from 12 to 76.

Financial Disruption and Community Engagement

Financial disruption of drug networks also gained traction, as properties of 144 accused were attached in 2025 compared to 54 in the previous year, while the value of attached assets rose from Rs 7.55 crore to Rs 13.59 crore, an increase of nearly 80 per cent.

The chief secretary also directed the encouragement of 'Prahari Clubs' -- established to combat substance abuse in educational institutions -- to actively share information on drug peddlers.

He further directed that to reward the clubs that provide the highest number of accurate tip-offs on Independence Day.

He also mandated that chemist shops dealing with dual-use prescription drugs install CCTV systems, the statement said.

Of 1,737 medical shops inspected over the past three months, in Sirsa district alone, around 18 per cent were found with faulty CCTV systems and nearly 27 per cent operating without a registered pharmacist, it added.

Technology and Monitoring

The Food and Drug Administration has been tasked with developing a dedicated software to monitor the diversion of prescription drugs, while inspections of all de-addiction centres are also being undertaken, the statement said.

Haryana is also taking forward the Union Home Ministry's directions issued at the Apex NCORD meeting held in January this year, the statement said.

District-level roadmaps are being finalised for implementation by March 31 this year, along with clearly defined, time-bound prosecution targets under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, it said.

To facilitate a comprehensive assessment of district-wise performance, Rastogi directed that the district-level meetings be convened on a single day next month and that a consolidated report be presented at the next state NCORD meeting.

Further, forensic capabilities will be upgraded with the installation of advanced equipment, including GC-MS, GC-FID, and UV-HPLC, which are analytical techniques used in laboratories for the identification, quantification, and profiling of seized drugs.

Suggestions were also made to bring commonly misused pharmaceutical substances under the NDPS framework.
Harish Rana, the first person in India to be granted passive euthanasia following a landmark Supreme Court ruling, has been cremated, marking a significant moment in the country's approach to end-of-life care.

IMAGE: People attend the cremation of Harish Rana, the first person in India to be granted passive euthanasia, at the Green Park cremation ground, in New Delhi. Photograph: Sumit/ANI Photo

Key Points Harish Rana, India's first patient granted passive euthanasia, was cremated in Delhi after passing away following a 13-year coma.

The Supreme Court's landmark ruling allowed the withdrawal of artificial nutrition, enabling a natural death with dignity for Harish Rana.

Family members, along with representatives from Brahma Kumaris, attended the cremation, offering prayers and support.

Harish Rana's family donated his eyes and will hold a prayer ritual offering his favourite foods in a symbolic gesture.

The case highlights the complex emotional and financial challenges faced by families caring for individuals in irreversible conditions, leading to the difficult decision of passive euthanasia.

Don't cry, he is in a happy place now, the parents of Harish Rana, the first person in India to be permitted passive euthanasia, said on Wednesday as they bid farewell to their son one last time.

Harish's last rites were conducted at the Green Park cremation ground in South Delhi on Wednesday morning, marking a quiet end to his 13-year ordeal.

The 31-year-old man passed away on Tuesday after slipping into a coma in 2013, following a fall from a fourth-floor balcony while he was a B.Tech student at Panjab University.

During the last rites, Harish's mother bid an emotional farewell to her son with folded hands and met those present, while his father Ashok Rana urged mourners not to cry, a neighbour told PTI over the phone.

Family members, along with representatives of the Brahma Kumaris, a spiritual movement led by women, attended the cremation to offer their prayers for Harish. Residents from the Raj Empire Society in Ghaziabad, where the Rana family lives, also came to show their support, joining a diverse group of NGOs, AIIMS staff, relatives, and friends.

Harish's body was transported to the cremation ground in an ambulance, and the platform was covered in rose petals. Many mourners paid their last respects with folded hands, and some placed saffron garlands on the body before it was laid upon the pyre. Ashish Rana, Harish's younger brother, lit the pyre, accompanied by his sister, Bhavna.

Sister Lovely of the Brahma Kumaris, who has been associated with the family and travelled to the cremation ground, said that meditative chants were performed during the last rites. "The body is leaving the mortal world, but the soul is immortal and has begun a new journey," she said.

"The family decided to donate Harish's eyes," Sister Lovely told PTI.

It could not be confirmed whether any other organs were also donated, as family members were unavailable for further comments.

Additionally, Sister Lovely shared that a 'bhog' (offering) and prayer ritual will be held by the Brahma Kumaris in the coming days, where food items that Harish enjoyed will be prepared. "Harish could not eat for over a decade. Now the soul is free. In a symbolic gesture, we will offer the food that his body loved," she said.

Family's Decision for Euthanasia

Earlier, neighbours and well-wishers spoke of the family's unwavering commitment to caring for Harish despite the emotional and financial challenges they faced over the years. His parents, Ashok Rana and Nirmala Devi, described the decision to allow passive euthanasia as "extremely painful but necessary."

According to sources, the family is scheduled to return to their Ghaziabad residence after completing the last rites and related rituals.

Harish was shifted to the palliative care unit at AIIMS Delhi earlier this month from his Ghaziabad home following a landmark Supreme Court order permitting the withdrawal of life support for him. He passed away on Tuesday.

The apex court had clarified that passive euthanasia in his case would involve withdrawal of artificial nutrition, such as the feeding tube, while continuing palliative care to allow a natural death with dignity. Medical boards had concluded that his condition was irreversible.
Punjab Police successfully intercepted a drug trafficking operation in Amritsar, arresting two individuals and seizing 7 kg of heroin, disrupting a significant narcotics network.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Punjab Police arrested two individuals in Amritsar for heroin possession.

A total of 7 kg of heroin was seized from the accused during the operation.

The suspects are believed to be part of a larger drug trafficking network.

A car and motorcycle used for transporting the drugs were also seized.

An investigation is underway to identify and apprehend other members of the drug network.

Punjab Police on Wednesday arrested two persons and recovered 7 kg of heroin from their possession in Amritsar, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said.

The accused, identified as Inderjeet Singh from Tarn Taran and Ravinder Sharma from Amritsar, were allegedly involved in transporting large consignments of heroin, he said.

Police also seized a car and a motorcycle used for alleged trafficking of the contraband.

Acting on a tip-off, counter intelligence teams intercepted the suspects near Adda Bohru on the Amritsar-Jhabal road and recovered 4 kg of heroin from a car and another 3 kg from one of the accused, police said.

Investigation and Further Action

Preliminary investigation suggests the duo is part of a larger narcotics trafficking network, they said, adding that further probe is underway, and more arrests are likely.

A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the Special Operation Cell police station in Amritsar, officials said.
According to an official Iranian military statement, Qader anti-ship cruise missiles were launched at the carrier, forcing it to alter its position in the region.

IMAGE: A US Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet prepares to launch on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in support of the Operation Epic Fury attack on Iran from an undisclosed location on March 14, 2026. Photograph: US Navy/Handout via Reuters

Key Points Iran claimed it targeted the USS Abraham Lincoln with Qader anti-ship cruise missiles, forcing it to change position.

The US is reportedly pushing a 15-point ceasefire plan, including a one-month halt in hostilities.

Iran had earlier warned the carrier would be targeted if it entered the range of its missile systems.

Iranian officials, including Ebrahim Zolfaqari, dismissed US diplomacy, calling its 'strategic power' a 'strategic defeat'.

The development follows a reported US de-escalation after Iran warned of retaliatory strikes on regional energy infrastructure.

In a development that could sharply escalate tensions in West Asia, Iran on Wednesday claimed that its navy targeted a United States aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, using shore-based cruise missiles.

According to an official Iranian military statement, Qader anti-ship cruise missiles were launched at the carrier, forcing it to alter its position in the region.

The claim comes at a time when the United States is reportedly pushing for a temporary ceasefire in the conflict.

As per reports, Washington, DC has proposed a 15-point plan to Iran that includes a month-long halt in hostilities.

A purported video of the strike of shared by Iran's Fars news agency, showing projectiles launched in the sky and loud booms in the background.

Iran issued warning to USS Abraham Lincoln

Earlier, the Iranian Navy had issued a direct warning to the US, stating that the USS Abraham Lincoln was being closely monitored and faced potential strikes if it approached Iranian territory.

According to a report by the state broadcaster Press TV, Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani warned that the USS Abraham Lincoln is under constant surveillance and will be targeted by the Army and Navy if it enters the range of Iran's missile systems.

The naval threat follows a broader dismissal of American influence by senior military officials in Tehran, who have characterised Washington, DC's recent diplomatic overtures as a facade.

Press TV reported that Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, stated on Wednesday that the 'strategic power' previously flaunted by the US has now 'turned into a strategic defeat'.

These remarks come in the wake of a significant de-escalation by US President Donald Trump, who recently stepped back from a 48-hour ultimatum to launch strikes against Iranian power plants.

This shift occurred after the Islamic Republic issued a stern warning that any such aggression would result in the reciprocal targeting of every energy and power installation across the region.
Donald Trump declares victory over Iran, claiming a new agreement to prevent nuclear weapons development and a valuable concession related to the Strait of Hormuz.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump speaks as he attends Markwayne Mullin's swearing-in as Department of Homeland Security Secretary, at the White House in Washington, DC on March 24, 2026. Photograph: Evan Vucci/Reuters

Key Points Donald Trump claims Iran has agreed to never develop nuclear weapons.

Trump states Iran provided the US with a 'significant prize' related to oil and gas in the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump asserts the 'war' against Iran has been won, citing the obliteration of Iran's nuclear potential.

Trump acknowledges Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's role in facilitating US-Iran talks.

Trump suggests a change in Iranian leadership, claiming current leaders are different from those who created past problems.

United States President Donald Trump said Iran agreed never to have a nuclear weapon and sent a "significant prize" related to the Strait of Hormuz even as he declared victory in the three-week war.

Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump claimed Iran was keen to "make a deal" and indicated that Vice President J D Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special envoy on Middle East Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were leading the negotiations.

The President said that the current Iranian leadership had already undergone significant changes.

"It's what we really have, regime change. You know, this is a change in the regime because the leaders are all very different from the ones that we started off with that created all those problems," he said.

Earlier, Trump endorsed a social media post by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on facilitating the talks between Iran and the US. Sharif also offered to host the talks for a comprehensive settlement of the ongoing conflict.

"I don't want to say in advance, but they've agreed they will never have a nuclear weapon," Trump told reporters after the swearing in ceremony of Markwayne Mullin as the new secretary for Department of Homeland Security.

Details of the Agreement

Trump said the Iranian leadership gave the US a "significant prize" related to the Strait of Hormuz and the flow of oil.

"They are going to make a deal. They did something yesterday that was amazing, actually. They gave us a present. And the present arrived today. It was a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money," the US President said.

"I am not going to tell you what that present is, but it was a very significant prize. And they gave it to us," he said.

"So that meant one thing to me, we're dealing with the right people. No, it wasn't nuclear weapons. It was oil and gas related," Trump said.

Trump Declares Victory

The US President asserted that the war against Iran has been won.

"I don't like to say this. We've won this. This war has been won... It's like we're not winning a war where they have no Navy and they have no Air Force and they have no nothing. And we literally have planes flying over Tehran and other parts of their country. They can't do a thing about it," Trump said.

He said the US obliterated Iran's nuclear potential, which could have been used against American allies in the Middle East.

"We obliterated it. Just obliterated their nuclear potential. You would have had them having two weeks after that attack, had we not made the attack (using B-2 bombers). They would have had a nuclear weapon. They would have absolutely used it. And they would have used it on the entire Middle East, including Israel," Trump said.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said never in history has a modern military been so rapidly and historically obliterated, defeated from day one.

"Never in history has a modern military, Iran had a modern military, a modern Navy, a modern Air Force, modern air defences, leadership, massive bunker. Never has a modern military been so rapidly and historically obliterated, defeated from day one with overwhelming firepower," Hegseth said.
The IRGC said the strikes were conducted in support of offensives by Hezbollah and residents of southern Lebanon, and described them as the beginning of a series of pre-announced operations against Israel.

IMAGE: An Iranian missile flies towards Israel, as seen from Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on March 25, 2026. Photograph: Mussa Qawasma/Reuters

Key Points Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched the 80th wave of 'Operation True Promise 4', targeting Israeli military sites and US bases.

Israel Defence Forces struck Iranian missile production and explosives facilities in Tehran and Isfahan.

Iran claimed strikes on multiple Israeli cities and regional US military installations using missiles and drones.

Israel reported over 3,000 strikes on Iran and more than 5,000 hospitalisations since the conflict began.

Donald Trump claimed talks are underway, but Iran mocked the claim, calling US power a 'strategic defeat'..

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had carried out the 80th wave of its retaliatory 'Operation True Promise 4', targeting strategic and military sites in Israel, even as the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) reported strikes on key missile production facilities in Tehran, signalling a sharp escalation in the conflict.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said its Aerospace Force launched sustained missile and drone attacks on 'strategic points and military centres' in northern Israeli territories, including the military command hub in Safed responsible for coordinating operations along the northern border.

The IRGC said the strikes were conducted in support of offensives by Hezbollah and residents of southern Lebanon, and described them as the beginning of a series of pre-announced operations against Israel.

It added that Israeli assembly points and the Gaza belt would face continued heavy attacks, stressing that the campaign would persist until 'complete victory'.

The Iranian force also claimed to have struck central Israeli locations such as Tel Aviv, Kiryat Shmona and Bnei Brak, along with US military bases in the region, including Ali al-Salem and Arifjan in Kuwait, al-Azraq in Jordan, and Sheikh Isa in Bahrain, using precision missiles and attack drones.

2 missile production sites hit in Tehran

Meanwhile, Israel said its air force had targeted two naval cruise missile production facilities in Tehran.

"IAF fighter jets struck facilities used by the Iranian regime to develop long-range naval cruise missiles capable of hitting targets at sea and on land," the IDF said.

The IDF also reported strikes on Irans central explosives production facility in Isfahan, which had previously been targeted and was being restored, as well as dozens of additional sites including ballistic missile launch positions, weapons production facilities and air defence systems.

According to Israel, more than 3,000 strikes have been carried out across Iran since the start of 'Operation Roaring Lion'.

In recent days, the IDF said it hit IRGC command centres, weapons storage sites and aerial defence systems, along with over 50 additional targets including missile launch and storage facilities.

Israel's health ministry said 204 people were hospitalised in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of casualties treated since the conflict began on February 28 to over 5,000.

Of those admitted recently, one was in serious condition, nine in moderate condition and 184 in good condition, with 120 people currently hospitalised.

Trump says peace talks underway, Iran denies

Amid the escalation, US President Donald Trump claimed that negotiations with Iran were underway and that the war could soon end.

"We're in negotiations right now We have won this They are totally defeated Militarily, they are dead," Trump said.

However, Iran has rejected such claims.

In a video released by Fars News Agency, an Iranian military spokesperson mocked the US position, saying Washington, DC was 'negotiating with itself' and that its 'strategic power' had turned into a 'strategic defeat'.

The spokesperson reiterated that Iran would not come to terms with the US or Israel and warned that regional stability would be dictated by Iranian military strength.

With both sides intensifying strikes and maintaining hardline positions, prospects for de-escalation in West Asia remain uncertain.
Tehran has categorised the latest overture, which was delivered via a friendly regional intermediary, as a ploy to heighten tensions and has responded negatively.

IMAGE: Israeli soldiers stand next to tanks near the Israeli side of the border with Lebanon, amid escalation between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel and the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in northern Israel, March 23, 2026. Photograph: Tyrone Siu/Reuters

Iran has responded negatively to an American proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict insisting that any cessation of hostilities will only occur on Tehran's "own terms and timeline," a senior political-security official told state broadcaster Press TV on Wednesday.

Key Points Iran says it will end the war when it decides to do so and when its own conditions are met.

According to the official, Washington has been pursuing negotiations through various diplomatic channels, putting forward proposals that Tehran views as 'excessive.'

Iran's latest conditions are in addition to demands previously presented by Tehran during the second round of negotiations in Geneva.

Iran says it will end the war when it decides to do so and when its own conditions are met," the official told Press TV emphasising Tehran's resolve to continue its defense and inflict "heavy blows" on the enemy until its demands are fulfilled.

According to the official, Washington has been pursuing negotiations through various diplomatic channels, putting forward proposals that Tehran views as "excessive" and disconnected from the reality of America's failure on the battlefield.

Tehran has categorised the latest overture, which was delivered via a friendly regional intermediary, as a ploy to heighten tensions and has responded negatively.

The official outlined five specific conditions under which Iran would agree to end the war. These include:

A complete halt to "aggression and assassinations" by the enemy.

The establishment of concrete mechanisms to ensure that the war is not reimposed on the Islamic Republic.

Guaranteed and clearly defined payment of war damages and reparations.

The conclusion of the war across all fronts and for all resistance groups involved throughout the region

International recognition and guarantees regarding Iran's sovereign right to exercise authority over the Strait of Hormuz.

The official also told Press TV that these stipulations are in addition to demands previously presented by Tehran during the second round of negotiations in Geneva, which took place just days before the US and Israel carried out strikes on February 28.

"No negotiations will be held prior to that," the official stressed, reiterating that the continuation of Iran's defensive operations will persist until the outlined conditions are met.

"The end of the war will occur when Iran decides it should end, not when Trump envisions its conclusion," the official further told Press TV

The urgency for a resolution is underscored by the military situation, as joint operations by Israel and the US have consistently been "targeting Iran's missile systems, launch sites and other critical infrastructure" since the onset of the conflict. Despite these sustained strikes, Tehran has maintained its campaign, "launching missiles at Israel and nearby Gulf countries."

Beyond the direct military engagement, the proposal "addresses maritime routes" as the Strait of Hormuz--a vital artery for international oil exports--"remains closed," causing a global supply contraction and "pushing prices higher." In response to these pressures, Israel's Channel 12 reports that Trump's conditions include a "one month of ceasefire to discuss the agreement" and a total "ending Iran's nuclear weapons capability."

The American terms further demand that Tehran "stopping uranium enrichment within its territory" and "ensuring the Strait of Hormuz remains open." Additionally, Iran would be required to "transferring its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)" and "dismantling major nuclear sites at Natanz, Isfahan and Fordo," while "allowing full access to the IAEA."

Further regional stipulations in the US plan require Iran to be "withdrawing from regional proxy activities" and "ending support for allied armed groups." Strategically, the plan calls for "placing limits on the range and number of missiles" and "restricting future missile use strictly to self-defence."

In exchange for these concessions, Washington has reportedly offered a "complete lifting of sanctions on Iran" and "support for its civilian nuclear programme," specifically targeting "power generation at the Bushehr plant." The offer also includes the "removal of the "snapback" sanctions mechanism."

However, Iranian military officials have met these offers with sharp rhetoric. Lt Col Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for the Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, stated on Wednesday that Trump appeared to be "negotiating with himself."

He further challenged the US, remarking, "The one claiming to be a global superpower would have already gotten out of this mess if it could. Don't dress up your defeat as an agreement. Your era of empty promises has come to an end."

With Iran hardening its position and placing its own demands before the US, it appears that the standoff in West Asia is far from over.
The container ship SELEN, en route to Karachi, was denied passage by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy due to lack of permission and failure to coordinate with Iranian maritime authorities.

Image used only for representation. Photograph: Benoit Tessier/File Photo/Reuters

Key Points Iran turned back a food-carrying vessel bound for Pakistan from the Strait of Hormuz.

The ship was denied passage for failing to comply with Iranian protocols.

Alireza Tangsiri said all vessels must coordinate with Iranian authorities.

Iran has restricted passage to 'non-hostile vessels' amid ongoing conflict.

Tehran warned of a strong response to any further strikes on its infrastructure.

Iran's naval commander Alireza Tangsiri said a merchant vessel carrying food to Pakistan was turned back from the Strait of Hormuz for failing to comply with required protocols.

The container ship SELEN, en route to Karachi, was denied passage by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy due to lack of permission and failure to coordinate with Iranian maritime authorities.

"The container ship SELEN was turned back due to non-compliance with legal protocols. Passage through this waterway requires full coordination with Irans maritime authority," Tangsiri said.

According to vessel tracking data, the ship was located in the Persian Gulf and is sailing under the flag of St Kitts and Nevis.

Iran to allow only 'non-hostile' vessels

Earlier, Iran's mission in New York had stated that only 'non-hostile vessels' would be allowed to pass through the strait, subject to strict compliance with safety and security regulations and coordination with Iranian authorities.

The Iranian Defence Council has since reinforced that transit through the strategic waterway is contingent on prior approval, amid what Tehran describes as ongoing US-Israeli military actions against its territory.

State broadcaster Press TV reported that the council also warned of an 'immediate, decisive and destructive' response to any further strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure.

The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea and remains one of the world's most critical oil transit chokepoints.
The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) shared its experience of operating under wartime conditions at the EU Preparedness Conference, held on March 2324 in Brussels.

According to a statement posted on its official Facebook page, the Ukrainian Red Cross Society delegation, led by Director General Maksym Dotsenko, presented practical experience gained amid Russia's aggression against Ukraine and large-scale emergency situations.

Members of the URCS delegation participated in strategic discussions on European preparedness, ranging from climate challenges to military threats. Conference participants, in particular, discussed response mechanisms, coordination, and public preparedness for emergencies.

Dotsenko and Andriy Pozniakevych, URCS operations headquarters coordination manager, emphasized the organization's experience in responding during wartime and the importance of effective coordination among partners and institutions during crises and emergencies.

The URCS said that the experience it has gained during the war represents an important contribution to the development of European approaches to preparedness and crisis response.
A teenager in Sonbhadra, India, received a life sentence for the brutal murder of his stepmother, highlighting the tragic consequences of domestic disputes and juvenile crime.

Key Points A teenager in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his stepmother.

The crime occurred in 2019 when the juvenile stabbed his stepmother, Ragini, leading to her death.

The court of Additional Sessions Judge (Juvenile) found the accused guilty after hearing arguments from both sides.

In addition to the life sentence, the convicted teenager was also fined Rs 50,000.

A court here on Wednesday convicted a juvenile of murdering his stepmother over six years ago and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

Government counsel Dinesh Prasad Agrahari said on September 19, 2019, Anirudh Gupta, a resident of Ajnia village, had lodged a written complaint at Kon police station stating that his daughter Ragini (30) was stabbed to death by her 17-year-old stepson.

According to the prosecution, Ragini had married Shivnarayan Gupta, a resident of Kachnarwa, around six years prior to the incident. Shivnarayan was already married at the time.

Agrahari said at the time of the incident, Shivnarayan and his first wife were away, during which the accused attacked Ragini with a knife, inflicting severe injuries that led to her death.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the court of Additional Sessions Judge (Juvenile) Amit Veer Singh found the accused guilty, sentencing him life imprisonment besides imposing a fine of Rs 50,000, the counsel said.
The Karnataka Legislative Assembly is weighing the pros and cons of involving students in cleaning school premises, sparking a debate about hygiene, child rights, and the potential for skill development.

IMAGE: Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

Key Points Karnataka Assembly debates encouraging students to clean school premises for better hygiene.

The discussion raises concerns about balancing student hygiene habits with child rights.

Speaker U T Khader and BJP MLA Araga Jnanendra support student involvement in cleaning, citing personal experience and Mahatma Gandhi's example.

Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa welcomes legislation on student cleaning if it respects child rights.

The Assembly also discussed the medium of instruction in schools, with differing views on the importance of English versus Kannada.

The Karnataka Legislative Assembly has debated whether students should be encouraged to clean school premises to improve their hygiene habits.

School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa said he would welcome this if the House is willing to pass legislation in this regard. He, however, said that factors like "child rights" should be considered.

The issue came up for discussion as the JD(S) floor leader highlighted the need to recruit 'D group' workers, pointing out that schools lack sweepers and children are made to sweep the premises, during the discussion on the Karnataka State Civil Services (Regulation of Transfer of Teachers) (Amendment) Bill, which was passed on Tuesday.

He said, "The government should hire D group workers or provide permission for children to do it themselves," he added.

Speaker U T Khader said that he too had cleaned his school premises during his school days. "Is there a problem if children sweep the school premises?" he asked.

"We have learned in school by doing such things," Khader said, adding that it was all right for schoolchildren to clean classrooms.

"All of us, even having studied in the convent system, waking up at 7 am, we had to clean our grounds and classrooms, even the toilets. Now there are neither D group workers in schools (government schools), nor you (government) giving permission (for children to do it), " he said.

Responding, Minister Madhu Bangarappa said that there is no proposal regarding D group workers, but for the maintenance of schools. "There is a need for it."

Arguments for Student Involvement

Senior BJP MLA Araga Jnanendra pointed out that Mahatma Gandhi himself cleaned toilets. He said, "Are our kids bigger than Gandhi? Let them do it and learn. We have done it, too."

Noting that child rights exist, the minister said, "We can't go beyond child rights (by allowing children to clean school premises). We have to consider those things... if the House makes such a law, I will welcome it."

To this, Khader responded, "Then include this (cleaning) under skill development."

Debate on Medium of Instruction

The House also witnessed heated arguments between senior Congress MLAs K M Shivalinge Gowda and Basavaraj Rayareddi over the medium of instruction in schools.

While Gowda asserted that children must learn English to progress, work and travel around the world, Rayareddi insisted that children taught in Kannada were no less, and the medium of instruction was individual choice.
Despite a government ban, a Karnataka university proceeded with a lecture series on RSS ideology, sparking political controversy and raising questions about academic freedom.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Despite the ban, KSOU proceeded with the event, featuring virtual address by Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and physical attendance by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot.

The event focused on 'Ekatma Manav Darshan', a philosophy emphasising harmony and duties, central to India's cultural ethos.

The government defended its decision, stating public universities should remain apolitical and free from ideological influence, sparking political debate.

The controversy highlights tensions between academic freedom, government oversight, and ideological influences in public institutions.

Despite the Karnataka government canceling a three-day lecture series on RSS ideologue Deendayal Upadhyay, the KSOU in Mysuru went ahead with the programme, with Vice President C P Radhakrishnan inaugurating virtually and Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot attending it physically on Wednesday.

The Karnataka government on Tuesday cancelled the event citing violations of protocol and guidelines. It said the event was organised by the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) without prior intimation.

In his video message, Radhakrishnan said 'Ekatma Manav Darshan' offers a framework for harmony in a world facing growing divisions, stressing the need to align development with ethical values and duties.

Inaugurating the International Academic Conference on "Ekatma Manav Darshan: Bharat's Worldview", he highlighted the philosophy's enduring relevance in contemporary times.

"At its core, Ekatma Manav Darshan teaches us that the individual, society, nature, and the universe are interconnected. Nothing exists in isolation," he said.

Emphasising the role of Dharma, he said the philosophy provides a path of harmony and underlined that society thrives not merely on rights but on duties.

"It teaches us that society thrives not merely on rights, but on the fulfilment of Kartavya (duty)," he added, noting that the vision of Viksit Bharat-2047 reflects holistic and inclusive development.

Karnataka Governor Gehlot described Ekatma Manav Darshan as central to India's cultural ethos.

"Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay's Ekatma Manav Darshan is not merely a philosophical concept, but the very foundation of India's soul, culture, thought, and way of life," he was quoted as saying in a statement.

He noted that the philosophy places the human being, comprising body, mind, intellect and soul, at the centre and advocates harmony among individuals, society and nature.

"Society is a living organism. Coordination and cooperation among all sections are essential for societal development," he said.

Shivarathri Deshikendra Mahaswamiji of Suttur Math said the Mysuru event was part of nationwide efforts to translate Deendayal Upadhyay's ideas into social and academic practice, describing it as "commendable", the statement said.

Speakers highlighted that the philosophy integrates material progress with spiritual values and that the concept of Antyodaya can foster value-based politics and sustainable rural development, while reinforcing India's commitment to global peace, according to the statement.

The programme was presided over by KSOU vice-chancellor Prof Sharanappa V Halse, with participation from Pragna Pravah representatives, academics and members of the Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation.

Earlier, renowned sculptor Arun Yogiraj, who sculpted Ram Lala's idol in Ayodhya inaugurated the "Bharat Darshan" exhibition, saying cultural heritage remains a source of strength at a time when the world is troubled by the dark clouds of war.

While ordering cancellation, the government on Tuesday also flagged a "serious breach of protocol," noting that the Vice-Chancellor is presiding over the event and that permission was granted to a private organisation even as an inquiry into administrative and financial irregularities at the university is underway.

State Higher Education Minister M C Sudhakar defended the government's decision to cancel the event saying public universities must remain apolitical and free from ideological influence.

Political repercussions

The matter was also echoed in the Karnataka assembly with the Leader of Opposition R Ashoka, BJP MLAs Sunil Kumar, Ashwath Narayan and B Y Vijayendra, who is also the BJP state chief, raising the issue and sought the government's response on this.

In reply, deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said he would ask Minister Sudhakar to reply on this matter on Thursday.

Sources in the Lok Bhavan said Gehlot had spoken to the KSOU Vice Chancellor in the morning asking him whether the event was still on. "After getting a reply in affirmation, the Governor proceeded to Mysuru," the source told PTI.

An RSS office bearer said the minister was not aware about those attending the event and the protocol to be followed.
A probe into the Pune land scam reveals how government officials allegedly colluded to facilitate the illegal sale of state-owned land to a company linked to Parth Pawar, raising serious questions about corruption and land record manipulation.

Photograph: @parthajitpawar/X

Key Points The Vikas Kharge committee report implicates officials from revenue, stamp, and registration departments in facilitating the illegal sale of government land in Pune to Amadea Enterprises, co-owned by Parth Pawar.

The report highlights manipulation of land records and a wrongful stamp duty waiver of Rs 21 crore, leading to significant revenue loss for the government.

The committee recommends permanent transfer of the land to the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), digitisation of land records, and strict action against corrupt officials under anti-corruption laws.

Several officials have been suspended, and police cases have been registered against individuals involved in the transaction, though Parth Pawar is not an accused.

The Vikas Kharge committee which probed the sale of government land in Pune's Mundhwa area to a company co-owned by Parth Pawar has stated in its report that the illegal transaction was facilitated by officials from revenue, stamp and registration departments.

The panel, however, refrained from commenting on the criminal liability in the case, saying it was outside its purview.

A committee headed by Kharge, additional chief secretary of the Maharashtra revenue department, was set up to probe the matter after the illegal sale of government land worth hundreds of crores of rupees to Amadea Enterprises LLP, in which late NCP leader Ajit Pawar's son Parth is the majority owner, came to light.

Its report was tabled in the Maharashtra legislative assembly on Wednesday.

Findings of the Investigation

The committee said that determining criminal liability was beyond its mandate, even as it noted that the case involved offences of a criminal nature. It held Digvijay Patil, a partner in Amadea Enterprises, responsible for purchasing the land despite being aware of its disputed status, calling it a serious lapse.

It also observed that then sub-registrar Ravindra Taru was liable for criminal action, while 'seller' Shital Tejwani had repeatedly filed illegal applications. The panel termed the registration of the sale document at Haveli as illegal, and said no stamp duty concession was justified.

According to the report, around 40 acres of government land in Mundhwa was sold to Amadea Enterprises despite being owned by the state government which had leased it to the Botanical Survey of India (BSI). The committee pointed to collusion among officials from the revenue, stamp and registration departments in facilitating the deal.

It further flagged manipulation of land records, including wrongful classification of the property and alteration of entries in official documents, leading to significant revenue loss. A stamp duty waiver of Rs 21 crore was granted on the basis of a letter of intent, which the panel termed a "grave irregularity."

The committee noted that Amadea Enterprises was subsequently directed to pay Rs 21 crore in stamp duty along with Rs 1.5 crore as interest. The company has appealed before the stamp department, which is expected to take a decision within two months.

The report also recorded that the land, originally acquired by the government in 1955 and leased to BSI, continues to remain state property. It cited court rulings that had dismissed claims of private ownership.

Recommendations and Actions Taken

Among its recommendations, the panel called for permanent transfer of the land to BSI, and immediate digitisation and updating of government land records to prevent such irregularities in future. It also sought strict action against erring officials under anti-corruption laws.

Officials including former tehsildar Suryakant Yewale and sub-registrar Ravindra Taru have already been suspended, while police cases have been registered against Tejwani, Patil and others involved in the transaction, the report noted.

Notably, Parth Pawar has not been made an accused in any of the police cases as his signature did not appear on the sale document.
Speaking to North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly on Tuesday, Kim accused the United States of carrying out 'terrorism and invasions' across regions, referring to the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

IMAGE: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends the first session of the Supreme People's Assembly, in Pyongyang, on March 22, 2026, in this picture released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency. Photograph: KCNA via Reuters

Key Points Kim Jong Un said the Iran war justifies North Korea's nuclear deterrence.

He accused the US of 'terrorism and invasions' in global conflicts.

North Korea pledged to strengthen its nuclear arsenal and response capabilities.

Kim declared South Korea the 'most hostile nation' and warned of retaliation.

Donald Trump claims talks with Iran are underway, but Tehran denies negotiations.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has defended his country's nuclear weapons programme, saying the ongoing Iran conflict underscores the need for a strong military deterrent, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Speaking to North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly on Tuesday, Kim accused the United States of carrying out 'terrorism and invasions' across regions, referring to the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

"Dignity, interest and the final victory of a country can only be guaranteed by the most powerful might," KCNA quoted Kim as saying.

"Whether the enemies choose confrontation or peaceful coexistence, that's their choice -- we are ready to respond to any option."

Kim vows to strengthen 'nuclear deterrence'

Kim vowed to further strengthen North Korea's 'defensive nuclear deterrence' and maintain a 'prompt and precise' nuclear response posture to counter what he described as strategic threats to national and regional security.

"North Korea will continue to solidify its status as a nuclear weapons state while aggressively countering any provocations by hostile forces," he said.

In the same address, Kim escalated rhetoric against South Korea, formally declaring it the 'most hostile nation' and warning of 'merciless' consequences if provoked.

Trump claims negotiations underway

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has claimed that negotiations with Iran are underway and that the conflict could soon end.

"We're in negotiations right now We have won this They are totally defeated Militarily, they are dead," Trump said.

However, Iran has denied any ongoing talks, maintaining that peace would only be possible if US-Israel military operations cease.

With continued retaliatory strikes and hardened positions across sides, the conflict in West Asia shows little sign of de-escalation.
Following a series of gunfights, security forces in Manipur have dismantled multiple bunkers in the Ukhrul district in an effort to de-escalate tensions between Kuki and Tangkhul Naga communities.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Security forces dismantled multiple bunkers in Manipur's Ukhrul district after recent gunfights.

The operation targeted bunkers in Lengiangching and Mongkot Chepu villages to reduce tensions.

Escalating tensions between Kuki and Tangkhul Naga villagers near Litan Sareikhong prompted the action.

Recent clashes resulted in injuries to both Tangkhul Naga civilians and a Kuki woman.

Security forces have intensified patrolling and troop deployment to establish area domination.

Security forces dismantled multiple bunkers in Manipur's Ukhrul district following a spate of gunfights between armed groups that left three people injured, officials said on Wednesday.

The operation was carried out at several locations in the Litan police station, targeting bunkers in Lengiangching and Mongkot Chepu villages, they said.

Background to the Security Operation

The action comes in the wake of escalating tensions between Kuki and Tangkhul Naga villagers near Litan Sareikhong, where clashes in February had led to the burning of over 30 houses.

Since then, nearby villages such as Mongkot Chepu and Sharkaphung have witnessed repeated exchanges of fire.

On Tuesday, two Tangkhul Naga civilians were injured in firing at Sharkaphung in neighbouring Kamjong district, while a Kuki woman sustained injuries at Mongkot Chepu on Monday.

Security forces also recovered a large number of spent cartridges during the operation, officials said.

Area domination has been established through intensified patrolling and strategic deployment of troops, they said.
In Thane, India, police have arrested two individuals and seized a substantial amount of mephedrone, valued at 4.12 crore, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking.

Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters

Key Points Thane police arrested Sohel Dilip Khan and Rohit Vilas Sitapure for possession of mephedrone.

The seized mephedrone is estimated to be worth 4.12 crore.

The arrest was made based on a tip-off, leading to the recovery of 2 kg of the narcotic drug.

The accused have been booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

Thane police has arrested two men and seized mephedrone worth 4.12 crore from their possession, a senior official said on Wednesday.

Sohel Dilip Khan (26) and Rohit Vilas Sitapure (29) were arrested in the city on Monday following a tip-off.

As much as 2 kg of the narcotic drug was found in their possession, said Deputy Commissioner of Police Amarsingh Jadhav.

Mephedrone or MD is known as a party drug.

The accused were booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Maharashtra has successfully traced and reunited over 91,000 missing girls with their families in the past 13 years, thanks to improved tracking mechanisms, proactive police measures, and progressive criminal justice reforms.

Photograph: @MahaDGIPR/X

Key Points Over 91,000 missing girls in Maharashtra have been traced and reunited with their families in the last 13 years.

Nearly 60% of missing girl cases in Maharashtra are linked to love relationships, including interfaith affairs.

Treating missing person cases as kidnapping offences, as directed by the Supreme Court, has strengthened police response in Maharashtra.

Implementation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in Maharashtra has improved timelines for criminal investigations and trials.

Maharashtra has seen improved conviction rates and digitisation of criminal justice processes under the new criminal laws.

More than 91,000 missing girls had been traced and reunited with their families in Maharashtra over the past 13 years, highlighting improvements in tracking mechanisms and enforcement, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the legislative assembly on Wednesday.

Nearly 60 per cent of the missing cases involving girls were linked to love relationships, he said.

The Supreme Court's directives mandating that every missing person case be treated as an offence of kidnapping had strengthened police response and investigation. The government had set up special cells and introduced a ranking system for police stations to improve tracing efficiency, he stated.

"From January 2012 to December 2025, a total of 1,37,211 boys and girls went missing, of whom 1,31,737 were traced. Of around 95,000 missing girls, more than 91,000 have been found and sent back home," Fadnavis said while replying to a discussion in the House.

The CM, who holds the Home portfolio, noted that an analysis of cases indicated that 56.86 per cent of girls went missing due to love relationships, including interfaith affairs, while 21.38 per cent were linked to family disputes.

Other reasons included mental pressure, education, illness and a small proportion of actual kidnappings.

Crimes Against Women and Criminal Justice Reforms

On crimes against women, he said 99 per cent of rape cases were detected, with 99.31 per cent of offences committed by persons known to the victims. Chargesheets were filed in 92 per cent of such cases.

Highlighting criminal justice reforms, the CM stated implementation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which replaced the British-era Indian Penal Code (IPC), had significantly improved timelines for probe and trial, with 84 per cent of processes such as summons and recording of statements now digitised.

Filing of chargesheets within 60 days in criminal cases punishable up to 10 years had increased to 46 per cent from 2 to 3 per cent earlier. Conviction rates had risen to 78 per cent under the new criminal laws compared to just about 9 per cent in 2012-13, he told the assembly.

Crime Trends and Cyber Crime Initiatives

There was a decline in several major crimes between 2024 and 2025, including robbery, molestation and dacoity, though cases of attempt to murder, kidnapping and drug-related offences had increased. Detection rates in kidnapping cases had improved, Fadnavis noted.

The chief minister said the government had taken multiple steps to strengthen cyber crime investigation, though recovery of defrauded amounts remained a challenge when funds were routed to countries which provided limited cooperation.

Maharashtra's cyber crime project had received international recognition, he added.
Nagaland's Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio champions the cause of Naga unity and cultural preservation at the Tenyimi Youth Cultural Festival, urging collective action for a stronger, unified Naga identity.

Photograph: PTI Photo

Key Points Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio advocates for strengthening Naga unity across political, cultural, and social dimensions.

Rio highlights the importance of preserving Naga collective identity, even if physical integration remains a challenge.

The Tenyimi Youth Cultural Festival promotes cultural exchange and unity among the Angami, Chakhesang, Pochury, Rengma, and Zeliang tribes.

Rio urges reconciliation and collective effort to achieve a dignified resolution to the Naga political issue.

He encourages the youth to uphold their cultural heritage and promote the Tenyidie language.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Wednesday called for strengthening Naga unity across political, cultural and social spheres, stating that even if physical integration remains a challenge, collective identity must be preserved.

Addressing the first Tenyimi Youth Cultural Festival at Naga Heritage Village Kisama here, Rio said integration of contiguous Naga areas remains a longstanding aspiration and a key negotiating point between the Nagas and the Centre.

"Even if we cannot be physically integrated, we must remain united politically, emotionally, socially and culturally," he said.

The festival was organised by the Tenyimi Union Nagaland (TUN), comprising five tribes  Angami, Chakhesang, Pochury, Rengma and Zeliang - to promote cultural exchange and unity among the youths.

Rio stressed that shared traditions, customary laws and history bind the Naga people together, and called for reconciliation and collective effort to secure a dignified and honourable resolution to the Naga political issue.

The chief minister noted that the Centre had recognised the distinct identity of Nagas, citing protective provisions such as the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873 and Article 371A.

He also recalled that the Nagaland Legislative Assembly has passed resolutions supporting the integration of Naga areas.

Highlighting the role of the Tenyimi community, Rio said it should serve as a platform to strengthen pan-Naga unity, adding that "when others recognise us, how can we not recognise ourselves".

Extending greetings to participants, Rio lauded the initiative of the TUN for organising the festival, describing it as a celebration of shared identity and living heritage.

He said the festival theme, 'Unity through Cultural Heritage', aptly reflects the collective spirit of diverse tribes coming together despite differences in background and geography.

Promoting Cultural Heritage and Language

Emphasising cultural preservation, the chief minister said traditions, songs, attire and values are "threads that bind the people together", and urged the youth to carry forward this legacy with pride and responsibility in a rapidly changing world.

He advocated wider promotion of the Tenyidie language, urging people to learn and use it as a common language among Tenyimi communities.

He also suggested replacing Assamese with Tenyidie as the third language in Navodaya schools in Tenyimi areas.

Calling the youths the custodians of heritage, Rio encouraged them to remain rooted in their culture, saying, "A tree without roots cannot stand". He urged them to uphold discipline, integrity and resilience while navigating modern challenges.

The chief minister expressed hope that the festival would become a regular event and further strengthen unity among the Tenyimi people, contributing to the broader Naga family.

Cultural performance and talent extravaganza by the youths of the five tribes and the Tenyimi family of neighbouring Manipur under the banner of Naga Peoples' Organisation Cultural Troupe, Senapati marked the occasion.
India's new criminal laws aim to expedite justice by setting specific timelines for investigations and trials, promising a faster and fairer legal process.

Photograph: Sansad TV/ANI Photo

Key Points New criminal laws in India introduce specific timelines for investigations and trials to ensure faster resolution of cases.

Preliminary inquiries must be completed within 14 days, and further investigations within 90 days under the new laws.

The new laws prioritise crimes against women and children, mandating investigations to be completed within two months.

Technology is leveraged in the new laws through online reporting, e-FIRs, and electronic summons to improve efficiency.

Community service is introduced for minor offences, and the ambit of summary trials is expanded for quicker case disposal.

The new criminal laws have introduced specific timelines for various stages of investigation and trial to ensure faster and fair resolution of cases, the Centre has informed the Lok Sabha.

Replying to a question by BJP MP Anil Baluni, Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Tuesday said the new laws -- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 -- promise a faster and fair resolution of cases, instilling confidence in the legal system.

Baluni had sought details of the time limits prescribed for procedures in the three laws.

According to the minister, preliminary inquiry in a case is to be completed within 14 days, while further investigation must be concluded within 90 days. The supply of documents, including FIR and related records, to both the victim and the accused has to be ensured within 14 days.

He said commitment of cases for trial is to take place within 90 days, while discharge applications and framing of charges are required to be completed within 60 days each. Judgments are to be pronounced within 45 days, and timelines have also been prescribed for mercy petitions - 30 days before the governor and 60 days before the President, Kumar added.

Focus on Crimes Against Women and Children

The minister said the new laws place special emphasis on crimes against women and children, with investigations in such cases required to be completed within two months of recording of information. In cases of sexual assault, medical practitioners are mandated to send the medical examination report of the victim to the investigating officer within seven days, he said.

Kumar also said courts can grant a maximum of two adjournments during hearings to prevent unnecessary delays and ensure timely delivery of justice.

Highlighting victim-centric provisions, he said victims are entitled to get update on the progress of their case within 90 days. This provision keeps victims informed and involved in the legal process, enhancing transparency and trust, he added.

The minister said that offences against women and children have been given precedence in the new legal framework.

Leveraging Technology and Forensic Science

Kumar said the laws also leverage technology to improve efficiency, including provisions for online reporting of offences, electronic registration of FIRs, and issuance of summons through electronic means.

He said to strengthen the cases and investigations, it has become mandatory for forensic experts to visit crime scenes for serious offences and collect evidence in offences which are punishable for seven years or more. Additionally, the process of evidence collection at the crime scene will be mandatorily videographed to prevent tampering of evidence.

All legal proceedings can also be conducted in electronic mode, which is expected to reduce delays and improve accessibility for victims, witnesses and the accused, he added.

Community Service and Summary Trials

The minister said the new laws introduce community service for minor offences, enabling offenders to get the chance to positively contribute to society, learn from their mistakes and build stronger community bonds.

He said the ambit of summary trials has also been expanded to allow for quicker disposal of cases. At the same time, safeguards for the accused have been strengthened, with provisions to curb arbitrary arrests.

Police are no longer required to make arrests in all cases merely to initiate judicial proceedings, he said.

Addressing Emerging Crimes and Repeat Offenders

Kumar said the new laws also define and address emerging categories of crime, including terrorism, act endangering, sovereignty, integrity of India, mob lynching, organised crime, snatching and petty organised crime.

He added that a provision for trial in absentia of proclaimed offenders has been introduced, allowing courts to proceed with trial and pronounce verdicts even in the absence of the accused, ensuring that justice is not delayed.

On punishment, the minister said stricter provisions have been introduced for repeat offenders of theft, with a mandatory minimum sentence of one year extendable to five years along with fine.
Russia occupation forces attacked settlements in the right-bank part of Kherson region with artillery, mortars, multiple launch rocket

systems and various types of UAVs, killing one man and injuring seven others, the National Police have reported.

"In the morning, Russia military shelled the Pivnichnyi neighborhood with multiple launch rocket systems. Due to a hit on a residential building, a 62-year-old man died under the rubble and three other people were injured," the National Police press service reported on Telegram on Wednesday.

It is also reported that a 56-year-old man who was near a shop was injured as a result of the artillery shelling of Zelenivka. He was diagnosed with explosive and traumatic brain injuries, a concussion, and shrapnel wounds to his head and back. Due to artillery shelling of the Korabelnyi district of Kherson, a 72-year-old man who was on the street came under fire. He sustained explosive and traumatic brain injuries, a concussion, and a shrapnel wound to the face.

At the same time, the village of Stepanivka was under fire, where a medical facility and a private house were damaged. In addition, medical assistance was required for two residents of Bilozerka who were injured by Russia shelling days earlier. A 45-year-old woman and a 66-year-old man were diagnosed with mine-blast injuries and concussions.
Addressing a media stakeout at the United Nations on Tuesday, Israel's envoy said the country's primary objective remained preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities.

IMAGE: Israel's Permanent Representative to the UN Danny Danon. Photograph: Heather Khalifa/Reuters

Key Points Danny Danon denied Israel's involvement in any US-led peace talks with Iran.

Israel and the US continue military operations targeting Iranian sites.

Israel aims to eliminate Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities.

Danon claimed over 8,500 strikes have weakened Iran's military infrastructure.

Contradicting him, Donald Trump said negotiations are underway, while Iran denies talks.

Israel's envoy to the United Nations, Danny Danon, has denied any knowledge of possible peace talks involving Iran, the United States and Israel, asserting that military operations are ongoing.

Addressing a media stakeout at the United Nations on Tuesday, Danon said Israel's primary objective remained preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities.

"I'm not familiar with our participation in such talks. It's important to note that we continue with the operation. As we speak, Israel and the US continue to target military sites in Iran, and we will continue to do so," he said.

He added that while diplomacy typically follows conflict, Israel would ensure that any outcome eliminates Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities.

Iranian regime significantly weakened: Danon

Danon claimed that Israel had significantly weakened the Iranian regime but stressed the need to prevent it from regaining strength.

"We have accomplished a lot, but we must ensure we don't create conditions for them to return to where they were. We want to create a different reality on the ground," he said.

The envoy also described Israel as a stabilising force in the region, accusing Iran of fuelling instability.

"Israel seeks peace -- we sign treaties, promote and pray for peace. The Iranian regime does the opposite. They have attacked 13 countries in one month. Iran is a source of instability, while Israel is a source of peace," he said.

Iran's missile capabilities pose serious threat: Israel

Earlier, speaking at the United Nations Security Council, Danon accused Iran of backing militant groups such as Hamas and said Israel, along with the US, had carried out over 8,500 strikes targeting missile launchers, weapons facilities and command centres.

He warned that Iran's missile capabilities posed a serious threat, especially if paired with nuclear weapons, and acknowledged the human cost of the ongoing conflict.

Danon's remarks come even as US President Donald Trump claimed that negotiations with Iran were underway and that the war could soon end.

"We're in negotiations right now We have won this They are totally defeated Militarily, they are dead," Trump said.

However, Iran has denied any ongoing talks, maintaining that peace would only be possible if US-Israel military operations cease. With continued retaliatory strikes and hardened positions on all sides, prospects for peace in West Asia remain uncertain.
In a bid to de-escalate Middle East tensions, the US has presented Iran with a comprehensive 15-point peace plan focusing on nuclear disarmament and regional stability in exchange for sanctions relief.

IMAGE: The plan requires Iran to dismantle its main nuclear sites and halt uranium enrichment in exchange for the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions. Photograph: Reuters

Key Points The US has proposed a 15-point peace plan to Iran, delivered through Pakistan, aimed at ending the conflict in the Middle East.

Iran must suspend its ballistic missile work, curb support for regional proxies, and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz under the proposed agreement.

The US has assured the removal of the 'snapback' mechanism, which allows for the automatic reimposition of sanctions if Iran fails to comply with the agreement.

The proposal also calls for full access to Iranian nuclear facilities for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The United States has sent Iran a 15-point plan and ceasefire proposal to end the war in the Middle East, multiple American news outlets reported.

The peace plan was shared with Iranian officials Tuesday via Pakistan, according to the New York Times.

ABC News quoted sources saying the plan addresses Iran's ballistic missile and nuclear programs as well as maritime routes, but would not provide any other details -- including which Iranian officials were sent the proposal.

It is also unclear whether Israel has signed onto the proposal.

Key Elements of the US Peace Proposal

According to the Wall Street Journal, the 15-point plan calls on Iran to dismantle its three main nuclear sites and end any enrichment on Iranian soil, suspend its ballistic-missile work, curb support for proxies and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

In return, the nuclear-related sanctions on Iran, imposed by the international community, will end, and the US will also assist and monitor its civil nuclear programme.

The US has also assured to remove the "snapback" mechanism which allows for the automatic reimposition of sanctions if Iran fails to comply.

The 15-point programme also talks about Iran dismantling the Natanz, Isfahan and Fordo nuclear facilities, granting full access to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to its nuclear facilities.

It also asks Iran to abandon its "regional proxy paradigm" and cease the funding, directing and arming of its proxies.

In his remarks Tuesday afternoon, Trump repeated his claim that the US has already won the war in Iran.

The main goal of the war, Trump said, was to ensure that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. "We're talking about that, and I don't want to say in advance, but they've agreed they will never have a nuclear weapon. They've agreed to that," he said.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi asserts the imminent end of Maoist insurgency in the state while also addressing concerns about women's safety and highlighting the government's commitment to justice and zero tolerance for corruption.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi claims Maoist insurgency will be history soon, with 27 Maoists killed and 77 surrendered since 2025.

The Odisha government is focusing on integrating surrendered Maoists into mainstream society.

CM Majhi addresses concerns about crimes against women, emphasising a zero-tolerance policy and commitment to justice for victims.

The CM highlights a significant increase in the conviction rate for cases of violence against women in the first half of 2025.

The Odisha government is committed to citizen-centric governance and has adopted a zero-tolerance policy on corruption.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday asserted that the Maoist menace would be a history after this month and said 27 red rebels have been killed in the state since the beginning of 2025.

During a discussion in the assembly on the 2026-27 budget demand for the Home and General Administration & Public Grievance Department, he said 77 Maoists have also surrendered in the state from the start of 2025 to March 24 this year.

During this period, the Odisha Police has achieved unprecedented success in "eliminating 27 CPI (Maoist) cadres, including two of its central committee members, through continuous anti-naxal operations".

The government is making meaningful efforts to integrate the surrendered Maoists into the mainstream of society, he said.

"On Tuesday, the last Maoist leader of the state, Sukuru, was also forced to surrender. The number of Maoists in Odisha has reached single digits. The Maoist menace will be a history after March this year. Our government is ready to provide everything that is required for the police administration to free Odisha from Naxals," the chief minister said.

Addressing Crimes Against Women in Odisha

Referring to the allegation of increasing crimes against women in Odisha, the CM said that not a single act of violence or harassment against women is acceptable to him.

"Our government is working hard to stop violence against women. The state government is committed to providing justice to victims of rape in particular. We adopt a zero-tolerance policy and are committed to creating a safe environment for women," Majhi said.

The chief minister noted that during the 18 months of the state's BJP government, from July 2024 to December 2025, a total of 48,789 cases of crimes against women were registered in the state, while in the previous 18 months, the figure was 48,787.

"It is clear that the crimes against women have remained almost stable as compared to the previous government," he pointed out.

Majhi claimed that while there has been a decline of rape cases by 3.5 per cent, the cases of misconduct, involving women, have decreased by 2.2 per cent.

Similarly, there has been a 7.4 per cent reduction in murder cases, a 12.8 per cent decline in robbery cases, and a 25.7 per cent fall in riot cases.

Alleging that the opposition BJD has indulged in politics over crimes against women, the chief minister said, "If one gives the details of the rate of conviction in rape cases, many in the Opposition will lower their heads in shame."

The conviction rate of cases related to violence against women in 2022 was only 9.2 per cent, which, instead of improving, fell to 6.7 per cent the next year.

"The 24-year-old BJD government, which was beating the drums of good governance, has completely failed to provide justice to women," Majhi alleged.

In the first six months of 2025, the chief minister claimed, the conviction rate of cases of violence against women was 41 per cent.

"In June, it increased to 62 per cent. This conviction rate was probably the highest in the country," he said.

"Today, I want to assure all women of the state that the perpetrators of violence and torture against them will get their place in jail," he said.

Majhi said his government has "never shown any soft attitude towards criminals like the previous government".

"In the previous government, police personnel were not able to take action freely against perpetrators of such crimes, but I have given them full authority. The police are now working in accordance with the law and without political pressure," the chief minister said.

Majhi said the BJP government has adopted a zero tolerance on corruption, and stressed that "citizen-centric governance is our focus".
Odisha Police have apprehended a man from West Bengal for his alleged involvement in a massive Rs 12.33 crore online investment fraud, highlighting the growing threat of cybercrime.

IMAGE: Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

Key Points Odisha Police arrest a man from West Bengal in connection with a Rs 12.33 crore online investment fraud.

The victim was lured into investing through a fake online trading platform with fabricated testimonials and investment tips.

The complainant transferred Rs 12.33 crore to various bank accounts before realising it was a scam.

Police investigation revealed that Rs 4.15 lakh was transferred to the bank account linked to the arrested accused, an MBA graduate.

Further investigation is underway to identify other members of the cyber fraud network and recover the defrauded amount.

Odisha Police have arrested a man from West Bengal for his alleged involvement in an online investment fraud case involving Rs 12.33 crore, a senior officer said on Wednesday.

The accused has been identified as Rahul Jaiswal (36), a resident of Kolkata, he said.

The arrest was made on the basis of a complaint lodged by the victim, who lost Rs 12.33 crore in a fake online trading platform, he said.

The fraudsters gained his confidence by sharing fake investment tips and fabricated testimonials. Subsequently, the victim, who hails from Odisha, was persuaded to install a fraudulent trading application and invest funds.

Between August 12 and September 2, 2025, the complainant transferred Rs 12.33 crore to nine different bank accounts of the fraudsters through 52 transactions, the officer said.

When he attempted to withdraw the invested amount, the cyber fraudsters denied the request on various pretexts. Realising that he had been cheated, the victim lodged an FIR at the cybercrime police station on September 6 last year.

During investigation, the police officers found that an amount of Rs 4.15 lakh was transferred into the bank account linked to the arrested accused. The accused is an MBA graduate and is currently self-employed, the officer said.

Further investigation is underway to identify and apprehend other members of the organised cyber fraud network and to trace the remaining defrauded amount, he added.
Indian authorities have made further arrests in a Pakistan-linked espionage case, uncovering a network that allegedly sent sensitive information and conducted reconnaissance on key security installations.

Key Points Three more individuals have been arrested in connection with a Pakistan-linked espionage racket in India, bringing the total arrests to 21.

The accused are suspected of sending sensitive information to Sardar alias Zoravar Singh, who is allegedly operating the spying racket from Pakistan.

The espionage ring recruited less educated Hindu minor boys to evade suspicion, according to police reports.

One of the accused allegedly conducted reconnaissance of security and police installations and railway stations, forwarding photos and videos to Pakistan.

The gang received funds from Pakistan via Punjab through money transfer centres and shopkeepers to avoid detection.

Police have arrested three more alleged members of a Pakistan-linked espionage racket that was sending sensitive information to the neighbouring country, taking the total number of arrests in the case to 21, an official said.

The accused includes Sameer alias Shooter, a native of Bihar's Bhagalpur and currently residing in Delhi, who is said to be a key member of the alleged network.

The other two arrested are Sameer of Shamli district and Shivraj from Shahjahanpur, currently residing in Ghaziabad, police said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Trans Hindon) Dhawal Jasiwal said the National Investigation Agency has interrogated the accused.

"With these, 21 people have been arrested so far, including six minors. Ghaziabad police have filed a charge-sheet in the district court," he said.

On Sunday, Meera Thakur (28), a resident of Mathura district, and Naushad Ali (20), a resident of Faridabad district of Haryana and hailing from Bihar's Muzaffarpur, were arrested. The third suspect apprehended was a minor.

Ali allegedly conducted a recce of security and police installations 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 had said on Monday.

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.

Details of the Espionage Ring

The espionage racket was busted on March 13. Meera and Suhail were associates for many years. During interrogation, she revealed 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. She 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 installations 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.

"He had recruited other members of the gang. He was paying Rs 5,000 for each piece of 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 to evade suspicion," Additional CP Nayyar had said.
Amid escalating tensions in West Asia, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is actively engaged in diplomatic efforts, offering to mediate between the US and Iran to foster de-escalation and promote regional peace.

IMAGE: Kindly note that the image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: Ammar Awad/Reuters

Key Points Sharif briefed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman on Pakistan's diplomatic efforts to de-escalate regional tensions.

Pakistan is facilitating backdoor communication between the US and Iran, including sharing peace proposals.

Pakistan's diplomatic outreach includes conversations with the UAE, the UK, China, Malaysia, and the EU to promote dialogue and de-escalation.

Pakistan emphasises the importance of dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable path forward for resolving the conflict.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday briefed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman about Islamabad's diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the West Asia conflict.

Sharif, in a statement on X, reiterated Pakistan's strong condemnation of the recent attacks on the Kingdom and reaffirmed Islamabad's unwavering solidarity and unequivocal support for Saudi Arabia in these challenging times.

"I also briefed His Royal Highness on Pakistan's diplomatic outreach efforts for regional peace and stability. We agreed to remain in close coordination," he said.

Sharif said that during the call, he appreciated the Kingdom's restraint and, "I stressed the urgent need for de-escalation," and an end to hostilities.

During the conversation, he conveyed warm Eid-ul-Fitr greetings to the Crown Prince, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the royal family and the people of Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Press Agency reported that Sharif "reiterated Pakistan's full support and commitment to standing firmly with the Kingdom against repeated Iranian attacks threatening its security and sovereignty."

The US-Israel have launched a joint attack on Iran since February 28 and the retaliation by the Islamic nation has extended the war to the entire Gulf region. The conflict has taken a major toll on energy supply chains, especially across the Strait of Hormuz.

Sharif's call to the Saudi crown prince comes a day after the Pakistan prime minister offered to host talks between the US and Iran for a comprehensive settlement of the ongoing conflict.

In a post on X on Tuesday, Sharif said that Islamabad was "ready and honoured" to facilitate "meaningful and conclusive talks" between the US and Iran to end the ongoing conflict.

Hours later, US President Donald Trump shared Sharif's post on his Truth Social platform.

According to media reports, the US on Tuesday sent Iran a 15-point plan and ceasefire proposal to end the war in the Middle East.

The peace plan was shared with Iranian officials via Pakistan.

Pakistan's broader diplomatic efforts

Also on Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with his UAE counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, exchanging views on the evolving regional situation, according to the Foreign Office.

"Dar underscored the importance of peace and stability, calling for immediate de-escalation and emphasising that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path forward," it said.

Separately, Dar received British High Commissioner Jane Marriott at the Foreign Office, and the two held discussions on the evolving regional situation.

Dar "underscored that diplomacy and dialogue remain the only viable path forward, emphasising the urgent need for early resolution of the conflict," FO said.

The deputy prime minister also met Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong, who called on him, and their discussions focused on the unfolding regional and global developments.

Dar "underscored the urgent need to promote de-escalation in the Middle East and the wider region through dialogue and diplomacy."

Reiterating the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, they agreed to maintain close cooperation on issues of mutual interest, according to the FO.

The US and Israel joint attack on Iran killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The joint strikes came after days of build-up, with Trump ramping up the pressure on Tehran to agree to a new deal on its nuclear programme.

According to official sources, Pakistan is in contact with both the US and Iran, facilitating backdoor communication, including initial drafts of respective demands for creating peace in the region.

Pakistan maintains close ties with both Iran and the Trump administration.

Further diplomatic engagements

In a related development, Pakistan continued its diplomatic outreach efforts on Wednesday with Dar also holding a telephone conversation with Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad bin Haji Hasan.

The two leaders discussed recent regional and international developments of mutual interest, according to the FO.

"They emphasised the importance of de-escalation, dialogue, and diplomacy to address ongoing challenges," it said.

Separately, Dar held a telephonic conversation with EU High Representative Kaja Kallas.

The FO said that during the conversation, both sides exchanged views on recent regional and international developments.

Dar emphasised the "importance of de-escalation, underscoring that dialogue and diplomacy remain essential for maintaining peace and stability."

They also agreed to remain in close contact on the evolving situation, the Foreign Office said.

Earlier, Sharif, on Monday, in a telephonic conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, had stressed the urgent need for collective efforts for de-escalation in West Asia.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East, including offering to host US-Iran talks and consulting with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince.

Photograph: Pakistan's Press Information Department (PID)/Handout via Reuters

Key Points Pakistan's PM Shehbaz Sharif discussed Middle East de-escalation efforts with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

Sharif offered Pakistan's assistance in hosting talks between the US and Iran to resolve the ongoing conflict.

Pakistan has condemned attacks on Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed its support for the Kingdom.

Pakistan's diplomatic outreach includes discussions with the UAE, UK, and China regarding regional stability.

Pakistan is reportedly facilitating backdoor communication between the US and Iran to foster peace in the Middle East.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday briefed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman about Islamabad's diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the tenuous West Asia situation.

The prime minister said in a statement on X that he spoke with the crown prince and discussed the regional situation in addition to exchanging traditional Eid greetings.

The call comes a day after Sharif offered to host talks between the US and Iran for a comprehensive settlement of the ongoing conflict.

Sharif said that during the call, he appreciated the Kingdom's restraint and, "I stressed the urgent need for de-escalation, an end to hostilities, and unity in the ranks of the Ummah".

"I also briefed His Royal Highness on Pakistan's diplomatic outreach efforts for regional peace and stability. We agreed to remain in close coordination," he said.

Sharif also reiterated Pakistan's strong condemnation of the recent attacks on the Kingdom and reaffirmed Islamabad's unwavering solidarity and unequivocal support for Saudi Arabia in these challenging times.

During the conversation, he conveyed warm Eid-ul-Fitr greetings to the Crown Prince as well as King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and to the royal family and the brotherly people of Saudi Arabia.

In an X post on Tuesday, Sharif said that Islamabad was "ready and honoured" to facilitate "meaningful and conclusive talks" between the US and Iran to end the ongoing conflict.

Hours later, US President Donald Trump shared Sharif's post on his Truth Social platform.

According to media reports, the US on Tuesday sent Iran a 15-point plan and ceasefire proposal to end the war in the Middle East.

The peace plan was shared with Iranian officials via Pakistan.

Pakistan's Broader Diplomatic Efforts

Also on Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with his UAE counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, exchanging views on the evolving regional situation, according to the Foreign Office.

"Dar underscored the importance of peace and stability, calling for immediate de-escalation and emphasising that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path forward," it said.

Separately, Dar received British High Commissioner Jane Marriott at the Foreign Office, and the two held discussions on the evolving regional situation.

Dar "underscored that diplomacy and dialogue remain the only viable path forward, emphasising the urgent need for early resolution of the conflict," FO said.

The deputy prime minister also met Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong, who called on him, and their discussions focused on the unfolding regional and global developments.

Dar "underscored the urgent need to promote de-escalation in the Middle East and the wider region through dialogue and diplomacy".

Reiterating the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, they agreed to maintain close cooperation on issues of mutual interest, according to FO.

Background of the Conflict

Starting February 28, the US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran, which killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The joint strikes came after days of build-up, with 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.

According to official sources, Pakistan is in contact with both the US and Iran, and facilitating backdoor communication, including initial drafts of respective demands for creating peace in the region.
Amidst escalating tensions in West Asia, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is actively pursuing diplomatic solutions, offering to mediate talks between the US and Iran and engaging with key regional and global leaders to de-escalate the conflict.

Photograph: Ammar Awad/Reuters

Key Points Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered to host talks between the US and Iran to resolve the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

Sharif briefed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman on Pakistan's diplomatic efforts to promote regional peace and stability.

Pakistan has engaged with leaders from Qatar, Malaysia, the UK, China, and the EU, advocating for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict.

Pakistan has reiterated its condemnation of attacks on Gulf countries and expressed solidarity with Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan is facilitating backdoor communication between the US and Iran, including sharing peace proposals.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday briefed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman about Islamabad's diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the West Asia conflict.

Also, continuing its diplomatic outreach, Pakistan held telephonic conversations or meetings with heads of the governments or leaders of Malaysia, Qatar, the UK, China and the European Union and pushed for Islamabad's position of resolving the differences through dialogue and diplomacy.

Sharif's call to the Saudi crown prince came a day after the Pakistan prime minister offered to host talks between the US and Iran for a comprehensive settlement of the ongoing conflict.

Sharif, in a statement on X, reiterated Pakistan's strong condemnation of the recent attacks on the Kingdom and reaffirmed Islamabad's unwavering solidarity and unequivocal support for Saudi Arabia in these challenging times.

"I also briefed His Royal Highness on Pakistan's diplomatic outreach efforts for regional peace and stability. We agreed to remain in close coordination," he said.

Sharif said that during the call, he appreciated the Kingdom's restraint and, "I stressed the urgent need for de-escalation," and an end to hostilities.

The Saudi Press Agency reported that Sharif "reiterated Pakistan's full support and commitment to standing firmly with the Kingdom against repeated Iranian attacks threatening its security and sovereignty."

The US-Israel have launched a joint attack on Iran since February 28 and the retaliation by the Islamic nation has extended the war to the entire Gulf region.

The US and Israel joint attack killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The joint strikes came after days of build-up, with Trump ramping up the pressure on Tehran to agree to a new deal on its nuclear programme.

The conflict has also taken a major toll on energy supply chains, especially across the Strait of Hormuz.

In a post on X on Tuesday, Sharif said that Islamabad was "ready and honoured" to facilitate "meaningful and conclusive talks" between the US and Iran to end the ongoing conflict.

Hours later, US President Donald Trump shared Sharif's post on his Truth Social platform.

According to media reports, the US on Tuesday sent Iran a 15-point plan and ceasefire proposal to end the war in the Middle East.

The peace plan was shared with Iranian officials via Pakistan.

According to official sources, Pakistan is in contact with both the US and Iran, facilitating backdoor communication, including initial drafts of respective demands for creating peace in the region.

Pakistan maintains close ties with both Iran and the Trump administration.

Pakistan's Engagements with Other Nations

Prime Minister Sharif also held a telephone conversation with the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and informed him about Pakistan's diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in the West Asia region.

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement on X that he appreciated Qatar's "remarkable restraint in the wake of the ongoing hostilities."

It said that the Prime Minister "apprised His Highness the Amir of Pakistan's diplomatic outreach and its peace efforts."

PM Sharif also emphasised that Pakistan had consistently called on all parties to de-escalate and resolve their differences through "dialogue and diplomacy."

The prime minister expressed his serious concern over the ongoing hostilities in the region and reiterated strong condemnation of the attacks against Qatar and other brotherly Gulf countries and conveyed deep condolences over the loss of precious lives in these attacks, while praying for the injured.

He assured the Amir of Pakistan's full solidarity and support with the brotherly people of Qatar, especially at this challenging time.

The Amir appreciated Pakistan's sincere diplomatic efforts for regional peace. Both leaders agreed to remain in close contact in the coming days, the PMO said.

Further Diplomatic Outreach

In a related development, Pakistan continued its diplomatic outreach on Wednesday with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also holding a telephone conversation with Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad bin Haji Hasan.

The two leaders discussed recent regional and international developments of mutual interest, according to the Foreign Office.

"They emphasised the importance of de-escalation, dialogue, and diplomacy to address ongoing challenges," it said.

Separately, Dar held a telephonic conversation with EU High Representative Kaja Kallas.

The FO said that during the conversation, both sides exchanged views on recent regional and international developments.

Dar emphasised the "importance of de-escalation, underscoring that dialogue and diplomacy remain essential for maintaining peace and stability."

They also agreed to remain in close contact on the evolving situation, the Foreign Office said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Dar spoke with his UAE counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, exchanging views on the evolving regional situation, according to the Foreign Office.

"Dar underscored the importance of peace and stability, calling for immediate de-escalation and emphasising that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path forward," it said.

Separately, Dar received British High Commissioner Jane Marriott at the Foreign Office, and the two held discussions on the evolving regional situation.

Dar "underscored that diplomacy and dialogue remain the only viable path forward, emphasising the urgent need for early resolution of the conflict," the FO said.

The deputy prime minister also met Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong, who called on him, and their discussions focused on the unfolding regional and global developments.

Dar "underscored the urgent need to promote de-escalation in the Middle East and the wider region through dialogue and diplomacy."

Reiterating the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, they agreed to maintain close cooperation on issues of mutual interest, according to the FO.

Prior to this, Sharif, on Monday, in a telephonic conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, had stressed the urgent need for collective efforts for de-escalation in West Asia.
A Pakistani national was detained by the BSF after inadvertently crossing the International Border into the Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting repatriation procedures.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points BSF troops detained an elderly Pakistani national near the International Border in Samba district.

The individual was apprehended after crossing into Indian territory near Border Out Post Bhaller in the Ramgarh sector.

Preliminary questioning suggests the border crossing was inadvertent.

The Pakistani national is expected to be repatriated following standard procedures.

Alert BSF troops picked up the movement of an elderly Pakistani opposite Border Out Post Bhaller in Ramgarh sector and subsequently challenged him when he intruded into this side, the officials said.

They said he surrendered on being challenged and preliminary questioning revealed that he had inadvertently crossed the border.

He is likely to be repatriated after completion of necessary formalities shortly, the officials said.
The 'Support to Poor Prisoners' scheme has provided financial aid to 458 inmates in India, helping them pay fines and secure bail, according to recent government data.

Key Points The 'Support to Poor Prisoners' scheme, launched in 2023, has benefitted 458 prisoners by providing financial assistance for fines and bail.

Revised guidelines were issued to states and Union Territories in December 2025 to improve the implementation of the 'Support to Poor Prisoners' scheme.

The Centre has undertaken legal reforms, including provisions for releasing first-time offenders after serving one-third of their sentence.

NCRB data indicates that nearly three-fourths of prison inmates in India in 2023 were undertrials, though this share has seen a marginal decline in recent years.

States and Union Territories are responsible for expanding prison infrastructure to address prison overcrowding.

As many as 458 prisoners have benefitted so far under the Centre's 'Support to Poor Prisoners' scheme, the government informed Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

This information was given in response to a question by TMC MP Saket Gokhale, who asked whether the government could state the "reasons why the undertrial population in Indian prisons remains chronically above 75 per cent, despite the introduction of fast-track courts and digitized bail systems; the status of the 'Support for Poor Prisoners' scheme; and whether Government is considering a statutory cap on prison occupancy rates".

In the written reply, Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar said the scheme, launched in 2023, aims to provide financial assistance to prisoners who are unable to pay fines or secure bail due to financial constraints.

"As per the data reported by states and UTs, 458 prisoners have since benefitted from the Scheme," he said.

He added that revised guidelines and a standard operating procedure were shared with all states and Union territories on December 2, 2025, to improve implementation.

The minister said "Police" and "Public Order" are state subjects, placing the primary responsibility for prison management with state governments.

Legal Reforms and Measures to Reduce Delays

However, he highlighted several legal reforms undertaken by the Centre, including provisions under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita mandating the release of first-time offenders after serving one-third of their maximum sentence, and the introduction of community service for petty offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The minister also pointed to measures such as mandatory forensic investigation for serious crimes and legal recognition of digital evidence to reduce delays in trials.

Addressing Prison Overcrowding

On prison overcrowding, Kumar said states and Union territories are responsible for expanding prison infrastructure based on local requirements, including constructing additional barracks and jails.

According to the latest NCRB data, nearly three-fourths of prison inmates in India in 2023 were undertrials. Of the total prison population of about 5.3 lakh, around 3.9 lakh were awaiting trial and had not been convicted.

However, the share of undertrials has shown a marginal decline in recent years, dropping from 77 per cent in 2021 to 76 per cent in 2022 and further to 74 per cent in 2023.
Decisions to terminate the powers of Lutsk Mayor Ihor Polishchuk and City Council Secretary Yuriy Bezpiatko at their own request are adopted at a meeting of the Lutsk City Council on Wednesday.

According to the city council website, it was decided to terminate the powers of the mayor and dismiss Polishchuk on March 25, 2026, in accordance with paragraph 9 of Article 36 of the Labor Code of Ukraine and paragraph 1 of part 1 of Article 79 of the Law of Ukraine "On Local Self-Government in Ukraine." Council Secretary Bezpiatko also ceased performing his duties based on his application dated March 23, 2026. His dismissal was carried out in accordance with paragraph 9 of Article 36 of the Labor Code of Ukraine and part 5 of Article 50 of the Law of Ukraine "On Local Self-Government in Ukraine."

The Lutsk City Council also resolved to remove Polishchuk and Bezpiatko from the executive committee of the Lutsk City Council of the VIII convocation.

As reported, in the first round of the Lutsk mayoral election in 2020, Polishchuk, then an advisor to the mayor and acting mayor, received 32.47% of the vote; in the second round, 54.6% of voters supported him. On November 19 of that year, Polishchuk was recognized as the elected mayor.
A Pune businessman has been denied bail in a significant Rs 117-crore money laundering case, with the court emphasising the severe threat such economic crimes pose to the nation's financial stability.

Key Points Pune businessman Amit Thepade denied bail in a Rs 117-crore money laundering case.

The court cited economic offences as a serious threat to India's financial health.

Statements recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) provided a strong case against Thepade.

Thepade is accused of using fraudulent means to obtain credit facilities from Canara Bank.

The court noted unexplained double mortgaging of properties by Thepade.

A special court in Mumbai has denied bail to Pune businessman Amit Thepade in a Rs 117-crore money laundering case, ruling economic offences are "a serious threat to the financial health of the country".

The court emphasised that statements recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) provided a "formidable case" against the accused.

There is "sufficient material" connecting Thepade, arrested seven months ago, to the offence of money laundering, special PMLA court judge R B Rote noted while rejecting the businessman's bail plea on March 20.

Economic offences are "a serious threat to the financial health of the country," the judge noted.

Thepade, director and promoter of Galaxy Construction and Contractors Pvt Ltd (GCCPL) and Mitsom Enterprises Pvt Ltd (MEPL), was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on August 24, 2025.

The ED case against him stemmed from a CBI First Information Report (FIR) filed in 2022, which alleged that Thepade and his associates used fraudulent means to obtain and enhance credit facilities for his companies from state-run Canara Bank in Pune.

Defence Arguments and Prosecution's Response

Defence lawyer Mithilesh Mishra contended that the businessman had mortgaged immovable properties to obtain a loan and returned a part of the amount.

He argued that the loan sanctioned to the applicant had been secured and the dispute was essentially a civil matter regarding repayment.

The ED, represented by public prosecutor Arvind Aghav, contended the accused had mortgaged the properties which had already been sold to third parties.

The prosecution pointed out that after the loan turned NPA (Non-Performing Asset) and the bank wanted to take possession of the mortgaged properties -- two flats -- it was revealed they were already sold to someone else.

Court's Ruling

The court, after considering the arguments, noted that Thepade had returned Rs 26 crore towards interest over the credit facilities.

It, however, said "merely because the applicant has deposited certain amounts towards the interest, it does not mean that the applicant has been discharged from the criminal liability."

At this stage, there is no explanation in respect of the double mortgaging of flats, the judge underlined.

"Therefore, considering the gravity, seriousness and magnitude of the offence, the major role of the applicant and the interest of the society, the applicant is not entitled to the grant of bail," the court ruled.
Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra is the sixth ruling AAP legislator from Punjab to be arrested in various cases since the Bhagwant Mann government was formed in 2022.

Photograph: Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra/X

Key Points AAP MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra was arrested in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, months after escaping police custody in a rape case.

Pathanmajra is the sixth AAP legislator in Punjab to be arrested since the Bhagwant Mann government was formed.

The arrest followed a police investigation that traced Pathanmajra to a hotel Wi-Fi connection in Gwalior.

Pathanmajra claims the rape case is a political conspiracy and that he was targeted for speaking out against AAP leaders.

The arrest highlights ongoing challenges and controversies within the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab.

Aam Aadmi Party MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra was arrested by the Punjab police from Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior, more than six months after he escaped police custody in a rape case.

He is the sixth ruling AAP legislator from Punjab to be arrested in various cases since the Bhagwant Mann government was formed in 2022.

Officials on Wednesday said that Pathanmajra, a first-time MLA from Sanour in Patiala, was nabbed along with his three associates from the outskirts of the Gwalior area late Tuesday night.

Amid tight security, Pathanmajra was produced before a court in Patiala, which sent him to a four-day police remand, according to Senior Superintendent of Police (Patiala) Varun Sharma said.

On September 1, 2025, the police registered a case against Pathanmajra at the Civil Lines police station here on charges of rape, cheating and criminal intimidation, based on a complaint by a Zirakpur-based woman, who alleged that the MLA misrepresented himself as a divorcee, entered into a relationship with her and tied the knot in 2021 while already being married. She accused him of continued sexual exploitation and threats.

Speaking to reporters in Patiala, the SSP shared that Pathanmajra was nabbed by police teams comprising Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Chaudhary, SP Gurbans Bains and other police officials.

Police sources said the breakthrough came from a hotel Wi-Fi connection in Gwalior, where an active UK-based mobile number was traced.

Investigations revealed that the number was allegedly being used by Pathanmajra himself, ultimately leading police to his location.

A joint operation involving 5-6 police teams resulted in his arrest after a two-day search in Shivpuri in Gwalior.

He was apprehended along with his three associates, the police said.

Other AAP Legislator Arrests

Pathanmajra's arrest came two days after former transport minister Laljit Singh Bhullar was held from Mandi Gobindarh on charges of abetting the suicide of an official of the warehousing corporation in Amritsar.

Pathanmajra is the sixth AAP MLA to be arrested during the AAP regime. In May 2022, then health minister Vijay Singla was held on corruption charges. Bathinda Rural MLA Amit Rattan Kotfatta was held in a bribery case in February 2023.

Jalandhar Central MLA Raman Arora was arrested in a corruption case involving an official of the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation in May 2025, while Khadoor Sahib MLA Manjinder Singh Lalpura was held after he was convicted in a 2013 molestation and assault case last September.

Pathanmajra's Escape and Claims

Pathanmajra was declared a proclaimed offender after he failed to appear in this case. Patiala police had even issued a look-out notice against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA.

He had been on the run since September 2 in the rape case after escaping from police custody when the Punjab police went to Haryana's Karnal to arrest him.

The police had then claimed that gunshots were fired and stones were hurled by the legislator's supporters after a police team went to arrest him in Dabri village in Karnal district, where he was at the residence of one of his relatives.

However, Pathanmajra had denied police claims of being involved in firing at cops and said he fled after learning that he would be killed in a "fake encounter".

After he escaped police custody, Pathanmajra, in late November, appeared in a video interview with an Australia-based web Punjabi channel in which he claimed that he would "return home only after securing bail".

Denying all allegations against him, he had then termed the case a "political conspiracy" to silence voices that speak for Punjab's people.

He had even targeted the AAP's Delhi leadership, alleging that ministers and MLAs were not consulted over key matters.

In another video, Pathanmajra had alleged that he was being targeted for speaking out against Delhi-based AAP leaders and for holding an IAS officer responsible for last year's floods.

The Punjab Police had formed several teams from its different wings, including the Anti-Gangster Task Force, to nab Pathanmajra. Police teams had earlier conducted raids at several places, including Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi, to apprehend him.
Following the suicide of a Punjab warehousing official, the Punjab BJP is demanding a CBI investigation, alleging government cover-up and harassment by a former minister, raising serious questions about administrative failures and potential corruption.

Key Points Punjab BJP demands a CBI investigation into the suicide of a warehousing corporation official, alleging harassment by a former cabinet minister.

The BJP claims the Punjab government initially attempted to shield influential individuals involved in the case, delaying the FIR registration.

The family of the deceased official alleges mental harassment, torture, and humiliation by the former minister, leading to the suicide.

BJP leaders allege irregularities in tender processes, highlighting a conflict of interest involving the minister's father.

The delegation insists that only a CBI inquiry can ensure a fair and unbiased investigation into the death and related tender irregularities.

A Punjab BJP delegation on Wednesday met Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and sought a CBI investigation into the suicide of an official of the warehousing corporation.

They submitted a memorandum stating that the death raised serious questions about the "abuse of power, administrative failure and attempts to shield influential individuals" by the Punjab government.

The delegation comprised state BJP president Sunil Jakhar and state unit working president Ashwani Sharma, among others.

Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, district manager of Punjab State Warehousing Corporation in Amritsar, allegedly ended his life by consuming poison on Saturday.

Soon after, a video emerged online in which Randhawa was heard alleging harassment by then-cabinet minister and Patti MLA Laljit Singh Bhullar.

Bhullar then tendered his resignation, as demanded by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. He was arrested on Monday.

Mann on Tuesday virtually rejected the demand for a CBI investigation, saying that the Punjab Police was capable of probing the case fairly and asserting that no one will be shielded.

Speaking to reporters after meeting the governor, Jakhar slammed the Aam Aadmi Party government and alleged that it is "completely defunct" in the state.

In their memorandum, the BJP delegation said the suicide raised serious questions about the abuse of power, administrative failure, and attempts to shield influential individuals by the Punjab government.

"Initially, no FIR was registered against the accused, despite the deceased official making direct allegations. This inaction reflects a clear attempt to protect those in power. Even when an FIR was eventually registered under public and political pressure, the accused -- including Laljit Singh Bhullar, his father and his personal assistant -- were not arrested promptly, further exposing the lack of intent to deliver justice," it read.

After the matter was raised in the Lok Sabha and Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured a CBI inquiry, the Punjab Police acted promptly and arrested Bhullar, the delegation said.

Allegations of Irregularities and Conflict of Interest

The BJP leaders also alleged serious irregularities in tender processes.

"It is extremely alarming that the father of a sitting minister was allegedly participating directly in the tender process," they said, pointing towards blatant conflict of interest and misuse of official position.

Randhawa's family accused Bhullar of subjecting him to mental harassment, torture and humiliation, which ultimately led to his suicide.

"Complaints submitted by Randhawa to the deputy commissioner in Tarn Taran on March 16, the managing director of Punjab Warehousing Corporation on March 14, and to other senior officers were allegedly ignored, indicating systemic failure and administrative complicity," the BJP leaders alleged.

The delegation sought a time-bound and impartial CBI inquiry into Randhawa's death and also demanded a thorough probe into tender-related "irregularities and conflict of interest".

"The manner in which the Punjab Police and the government attempted to hush up the matter further raises serious concerns regarding the safety and security of the victim's family. We firmly believe that only an independent central agency like CBI can ensure a fair, transparent and unbiased investigation in this matter," they said.

Details of the Case

On Saturday night, Amritsar Police booked Bhullar, his father Sukhdev Singh Bhullar and personal assistant Dilbag Singh under Sections 108 (abetment of suicide), 351 (3) (criminal intimidation) and 3 (5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

In her complaint lodged with the police, Randhawa's wife Upinder Kaur claimed that her husband was constantly pressurised to allot a warehouse tender to Bhullar's father.

The trio had even threatened to harm Randhawa and his family if the tender was not approved in the name of Bhullar's father Sukhdev, the complaint said.

As per the FIR, Randhawa was called to Bhullar's residence on March 13 in Patti, where he was allegedly humiliated and assaulted.
Amidst allegations of harassment and political pressure, the Punjab Congress is divided over whether to pursue a CBI investigation or a judge-monitored probe into the tragic suicide of a state warehousing corporation official.

Photograph: ANI on X

Key Points Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring prefers a probe overseen by a high court judge into the suicide of a warehousing official, citing concerns about the CBI's credibility.

Other Congress MPs have requested a CBI investigation into the death of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, who allegedly accused a minister of harassment before his suicide.

The issue has sparked political controversy, with opposition parties accusing Warring of colluding with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to shield the Aam Aadmi Party.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah offered a CBI probe if all Punjab MPs submitted a written request, but some Congress members reportedly hesitated.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has rejected calls for a CBI probe, asserting the state police's ability to conduct a fair investigation.

Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Wednesday insisted on a probe by a sitting high court judge into the suicide of an official of the warehousing corporation.

He alleged that the CBI has "lost its credibility" under the BJP-led Central government.

Warring's stand is at variance with the four other Congress MPs - Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Charanjit Singh Channi, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, and Dharamvira Gandhi - who sought a CBI probe into the death of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, the district manager of Punjab State Warehousing Corporation in Amritsar.

Randhawa allegedly ended his life by consuming poison on March 21.

The same day, a video appeared in which Randhawa purportedly accused harassment at the hands of Laljit Singh Bhullar, who resigned as minister later that day at the direction of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Two days later, Bhullar, the AAP MLA from Patti, was arrested.

Meanwhile, after rival parties lashed out at Warring for not supporting the demand for a CBI probe, he clarified that he had not opposed the CBI inquiry, but only insisted that any investigation must be done under the supervision of a sitting high court or a Supreme Court judge.

In a statement, Warring refuted the suggestions that he opposed the demand for a CBI inquiry.

He said he felt that even the CBI inquiry may not be "foolproof" as the agency has a poor record of taking the cases to a logical conclusion.

Warring also said he stands by his parliamentary party colleagues.

Earlier, Ludhiana MP Warring posted on X, "I reiterate my stand that the investigation into the tragic suicide by the Warehousing Corporation District Manager Dr Gagandeep Singh Randhawa should be conducted under the supervision of a sitting High Court Judge. The past experience with the CBI probes has not been very positive and encouraging. Under the @BJP4India regime the probe agency has lost its credibility."

He added, "There are numerous examples where the CBI probe has led nowhere. That is why I have been insisting that the case should be probed under the supervision of a High Court Judge."

All the same, Warring said he stands by what the family wants.

"If the family wants a CBI probe, that should also be conducted under the supervision of a high court judge," he said.

On Monday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said he would order a CBI probe into the alleged suicide if all Punjab MPs gave him a written request on the matter.

The issue was raised in the Lok Sabha by Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Congress MP from Amritsar, who alleged that Bhullar drove the official to suicide.

Earlier, four Congress MPs wrote to Shah, demanding a CBI probe.

Political Reactions and Accusations

Meanwhile, SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal accused Warring of colluding with Mann.

"Punjab Congress president @RajaBrar_INC has again come to the rescue of chief minister @BhagwantMann by asserting he is not in favour of a CBI probe into the death of Warehousing Officer Dr Gagandeep S Randhawa. If this does not prove the collusion between the two what will," the Bathinda MP wrote on X.

She alleged that even though his party demanded a CBI probe into the suicide, the Punjab Congress president was "keen to help ease the pressure on the Aam Aadmi Party."

"He must tell Punjabis why he has struck such a deal with the chief minister," said the MP.

Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu said Warring had become a "stooge" of Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann. Bittu has also sought a CBI probe into the death.

Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar said the Opposition plays an important role in a democracy, but in Punjab, the Congress appears to be functioning under the influence of the chief minister.

He said Congress MPs earlier sought a CBI probe in Parliament, but when Shah asked them to submit a written request, some of them backed out under pressure from Mann.

This shows how Congress has "surrendered" before the AAP government, he alleged.

Mann on Tuesday virtually rejected the demand for a CBI probe into Randhawa's suicide, saying the state police is capable of probing the case fairly and no one will be shielded.
Amidst political turmoil, the Punjab Congress is divided over the investigation into a warehousing official's suicide, with party chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring pushing for a judge-led inquiry instead of a CBI probe, raising questions of impartiality and influence.

IMAGE: Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Warring's stance contrasts with other Congress MPs who have requested a CBI investigation into the death of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa.

The suicide is linked to allegations of harassment against Laljit Singh Bhullar, a former minister, prompting political controversy.

Rival parties accuse Warring of colluding with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann by opposing the CBI probe.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has rejected calls for a CBI probe, asserting the state police's capability to conduct a fair investigation.

Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Wednesday demanded a probe by a sitting high court Judge, not CBI, into the suicide of an official of the warehousing corporation in Amritsar.

He alleged that the CBI has "lost its credibility" under the BJP-led Central government.

Warring's stand is at variance with the four other Congress MPs -- Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Charanjit Singh Channi, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, and Dharamvira Gandhi -- who sought a CBI probe into the death of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, the district manager of Punjab State Warehousing Corporation in Amritsar.

Randhawa allegedly ended his life by consuming poison on March 21.

The same day, a video appeared in which Randhawa purportedly accused harassment at the hands of Laljit Singh Bhullar, who resigned as minister later that day at the direction of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Two days later, Bhullar, the AAP MLA from Patti, was arrested.

Ludhiana MP Warring posted on X, "I reiterate my stand that the investigation into the tragic suicide by the Warehousing Corporation District Manager Dr Gagandeep Singh Randhawa should be conducted under the supervision of a sitting High Court Judge. The past experience with the CBI probes has not been very positive and encouraging. Under the @BJP4India regime the probe agency has lost its credibility."

He added, "There are numerous examples where the CBI probe has led nowhere. That is why I have been insisting that the case should be probed under the supervision of a High Court Judge."

Warring, however, said he stands by what the family wants.

"If the family wants a CBI probe, that should also be conducted under the supervision of a high court judge," he said.

On Monday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah promised to order a CBI probe into the alleged suicide of the official if all Punjab MPs give him a written request on the matter.

The issue was raised in the Lok Sabha by Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Congress MP from Amritsar, who alleged that Bhullar drove the official to suicide.

Earlier, four Congress MPs wrote to Shah, demanding a CBI probe.

Political Reactions to Warring's Stance

Meanwhile, rival parties lashed out at Warring for opposing the CBI probe.

SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal accused him of colluding with Mann.

"Punjab Congress president @RajaBrar_INC has again come to the rescue of chief minister @BhagwantMann by asserting he is not in favour of a CBI probe into the death of Warehousing Officer Dr Gagandeep S Randhawa. If this does not prove the collusion between the two what will" the Bathinda MP wrote on X.

She alleged that even though his party demands a CBI probe into the suicide, the Punjab Congress president was "keen to help ease the pressure on the Aam Aadmi Party."

"He must tell Punjabis why he has struck such a deal with the chief minister," said the MP. Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu accused Warring of becoming a "stooge" of Arvind Kejriwal and Mann.

Bittu has also sought a CBI probe into the death.

Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar said the Opposition plays an important role in a democracy, but in Punjab, the Congress appears to be functioning under the influence of the chief minister.

He said Congress MPs earlier sought a CBI probe in Parliament, but when Shah asked them to submit a written request, some of them backed out under pressure from Mann.

This shows how Congress has "surrendered" before the AAP government, he alleged.

Mann on Tuesday virtually rejected the demand for a CBI probe into Randhawa's suicide, saying the state police is capable of probing the case fairly and no one will be shielded.
Amidst the Kerala election campaign, Rahul Gandhi accuses the LDF government of colluding with the BJP, highlighting corruption, the escalating drug problem, and rising unemployment in the state.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Rahul Gandhi alleges a 'collusion' between the LDF government in Kerala and the BJP, citing a lack of action in corruption cases.

Gandhi highlights the drug issue in Kerala, blaming the LDF government for the state's high number of narcotics-related cases.

He criticises the alleged misappropriation of gold from Sabarimala, implicating CPI(M) leaders in the theft.

Gandhi claims the LDF government has failed to provide jobs, leading to widespread unemployment among Kerala's youth.

The UDF promises 'five Indira guarantees' including free travel for women, financial assistance for students, and enhanced welfare pensions.

Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday stepped up the Congress campaign in poll-bound Kerala by escalating allegations of "collusion" between the LDF and the BJP, pointing out the alleged lack of action by central agencies against CM Pinarayi Vijayan in various corruption cases against him.

In a scathing attack on the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government, Rahul also highlighted the drug issue in Kerala as a major menace, blaming the ruling dispensation for the state having the second-highest number of narcotics-related cases in the country.

Speaking online at a UDF public event at Kozhikode Beach here, the Congress leader also raised the issue of alleged misappropriation of gold from Sabarimala, claiming that "kilos and kilos" of the precious metal were stolen from there and CPI(M) leaders were arrested in connection with that.

"How can a government that does not respect Lord Ayyappa respect the people of Kerala?" he asked.

He said that neither the LDF nor the BJP believes they are answerable to the people, and both have the same policies and political agenda.

The Congress leader said that it was not he who was saying this, but those Left leaders who are contesting against the LDF in the assembly polls.

"There are actually only two parties fighting in Kerala polls -- the UDF and the LDF-BJP partnership," the Lok Sabha opposition leader charged.

He further said that opposition leaders across the country who fight against the BJP, "are attacked, cases are put on them and they are interrogated".

"I have almost 40 cases against me, and I have been interrogated for five days in a row by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The BJP attacks me every second of every day".

"Why does the BJP not attack the CM of Kerala? Why are corruption cases against him not going anywhere? This is the best proof of the collusion between the BJP and the LDF," he alleged.

Rahul said that the other similarities between the LDF and the BJP include their non-fulfilment of the promise to provide more jobs.

Unemployment and Drug Issues in Kerala

Reaching out to the young voters, he said that in Kerala, one in three youths was unemployed, while merit and competence were being replaced with nepotism and backdoor appointments in government jobs under the LDF.

The Congress leader also highlighted the alleged drug menace in the state, claiming that instead of making Kerala number one in employment or technology, the Left government has made it number one in drug cases.

"There are 8.25 lakh drug users in Kerala, including 75,000 children. This is what the LDF has to show for the last 10 years," he said.

Sabarimala Gold Loss

Attacking the Left government on the Sabarimala gold loss issue, the Congress leader said, "In fact, they (LDF) have not even left Sabarimala alone. They have stolen away kilos and kilos of sacred gold, and multiple CPI(M) leaders have been arrested."

"How can a government that does not respect Lord Ayyappa respect the people of Kerala?" he contended.

Rahul, in his speech, further claimed that the healthcare system in the state was "crumbling", there was widespread unemployment among the youth and thousands of businesses were destroyed, all due to the 10 year LDF rule in Kerala.

UDF's Promises

He said that, unlike the LDF, the UDF has a plan -- the five Indira guarantees -- to address the issues.

The guarantees include free travel for all women on Kerala state transport buses, a monthly assistance of Rs 1,000 to college-going girl students and a hike in the welfare pensions to Rs 3,000 per month.

Besides these, a health insurance scheme in the name of former chief minister Oommen Chandy providing coverage of up to Rs 25 lakh for each family and interest-free loans of up to Rs 5 lakh for small businesses, were the other promises made by the Congress leader.

"The five schemes are a commitment, and we will fulfil them. We do not believe in making empty promises. We fulfilled our promises in Karnataka and Telangana," he said.

He said that the April 9 assembly polls were about ensuring jobs for the youth and keeping intact the secular fabric of the state.

He urged the people to "defeat the corrupt LDF, expose the BJP's policies of hate and let Kerala breathe again".
A bomb threat at the Sriganganagar court complex in Rajasthan caused a temporary shutdown and evacuation before being declared a hoax, prompting a police investigation to find the sender.

Key Points A bomb threat was made against the district and sessions court in Sriganganagar, Rajasthan, leading to an immediate evacuation.

The threat was delivered via a letter posted from Kolkata, prompting a high-alert response from local authorities and security agencies.

A bomb disposal squad and dog squad from Bikaner conducted a thorough search of the court complex.

The threat was determined to be a hoax, and court proceedings have since resumed.

Police are working with the cyber cell and postal department to identify the sender of the threatening letter.

A bomb threat to the district and sessions court complex in Rajasthan's Sriganganagar triggered panic on Wednesday, prompting authorities to evacuate the premises and launch a search operation, officials said.

The threat later turned out to be a hoax after a bomb disposal team conducted a thorough inspection and declared the premises safe. Following this, court proceedings resumed, they added.

According to police, the threat was received through a letter sent by post from Kolkata, using an incorrect address, which put the district administration and security agencies on high alert.

Investigation and Response

Superintendent of Police Hari Shankar said, "We received a threat letter regarding a possible bomb attack on the court premises. As a precautionary measure, the entire premise was evacuated, and a detailed search was carried out."

A bomb disposal squad from Bikaner, along with a dog squad, conducted an intensive inspection of the complex, including courtrooms, chambers and offices of judicial officers.

Efforts are underway to identify the sender, with the help of the cyber cell and the postal department, the police said.
Rajasthan Police have exposed a sophisticated medical certificate forgery ring, arresting 18 individuals, including former Rajasthan Medical Council officials, for producing fake Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) certificates.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Rajasthan Police uncovered a large-scale racket producing fake Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) certificates.

Eighteen people have been arrested, including former officials from the Rajasthan Medical Council (RMC).

Over 90 doctors are suspected of obtaining internships and registrations using forged documents.

Officials and middlemen allegedly charged candidates between Rs 20-25 lakh for fake certificates.

The investigation is ongoing to identify and apprehend other individuals involved in the fraudulent scheme.

Rajasthan Police has busted an alleged racket involved in issuing fake Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) certificates and arrested 18 people, including the former registrar of the state medical council, officials said on Wednesday.

Additional Director General of Police (DIG) (Special Operations Group) Vishal Bansal said the action was initiated after a complaint was lodged regarding forged certificates, following which a preliminary inquiry was conducted and a case was registered.

During the investigation, an accused, Piyush Trivedi, was found doing an internship in Karauli district by submitting a forged certificate. He was arrested and during interrogation he revealed the role of others, identified as Devendra, Shubham and Bhanaram, who were also arrested.

Further probe indicated the involvement of an organised racket facilitating illegal internships and registrations with the Rajasthan Medical Council (RMC) using forged FMGE certificates, with alleged collusion of officials, police said. A separate case was registered in this connection.

So far, more than 90 such doctors have been identified who allegedly obtained internship and registration through forged documents.

Extensive Raids and Arrests

Officials said that in a coordinated operation more than 21 teams conducted simultaneous raids across multiple locations, including Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur and Jodhpur, and in districts including Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Dholpur, Kotputli, Alwar and Karauli.

Among those arrested are former RMC registrar Dr Rajesh Sharma and former nodal officer Akhilesh Mathur, police said.

Investigators also found that an accused, Dr Yash Purohit, had been working at a private hospital in Udaipur using forged documents, which officials termed a "serious criminal offence".

Modus Operandi and Ongoing Investigation

Preliminary findings suggest that officials and middlemen allegedly charged Rs 20-25 lakh per candidate to facilitate fake internship and registration certificates. Among the total amount charged, Rs 11 lakh per candidate was allegedly going to RMC officials and the remaining amount distributed among intermediaries.

The investigation is ongoing, and efforts are underway to identify and arrest other accused involved in the racket, police added.
Following a bomb threat email, post offices in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, were thoroughly searched by authorities, raising concerns about public safety and prompting swift action.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Bomb threat email received by government offices in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, warning of blasts in post offices.

The email claimed 16 bomb blasts would occur in passport and post offices across the state.

The threat specified the bombs would contain RDX and poisonous cyanide gas.

Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) conducted extensive searches of post offices in the city.

No suspicious materials were found during the searches.

Post offices in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city were thoroughly searched by the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) on Wednesday after an email received by the administration warned of blasts in their premises, an official said.

So far, nothing suspicious has been found, he said.

The threat mail was received by various government offices in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar claiming 16 bomb blasts would take place in passport and post offices across the state at 12.30 pm. The message warned the bombs would contain RDX and poisonous cyanide gas, the official informed.

It also said post offices should be evacuated immediately. Acting swiftly, BDDS personnel undertook extensive searches of post offices in the city, including the one located in the Bombay High Court premises, he maintained.

Search Operations

"Our teams conducted searches in the High Court premises and also the head post office located in the Junabazar area," the official added.
The Supreme Court intervened in a shocking Gurugram child rape case, criticising the police and Child Welfare Committee's handling and ordering a special investigation to ensure justice for the three-year-old victim.

Photograph: Ishant/ANI Photo

Key Points The Supreme Court criticised Haryana Police and Gurugram's Child Welfare Committee for their 'shameful' handling of a three-year-old's rape case.

A special investigation team (SIT) of women IPS officers has been formed by the Supreme Court to ensure a fair and independent probe into the crime.

The court directed the Gurugram district judge to assign the case to a special POCSO court presided over by a woman judicial officer.

The Supreme Court expressed serious reservations about the competence of the Child Welfare Committee members and their handling of the case.

The court has ordered show cause notices to be issued to Gurugram police officials and CWC members, potentially leading to disciplinary and criminal action.

Pulling up Haryana Police and Gurugram's Child Welfare Committee for "shameful", "reckless" and "insensitive" approach in the shocking case of rape of a three-year-old, the Supreme Court on Wednesday constituted a special team of women IPS officers to conduct a fair probe into the crime.

The top court also directed the Gurugram district and sessions judge to assign the horrific case to the special POCSO court presided over by a woman judicial officer.

Coming down hard on the investigation carried out so far and the gross mishandling of the case, the top court said, "Shame on you! Is this the way the state deals with crime? The child has undergone more horrifying repeated experiences than the crime itself."

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said the present case reflects a "disturbing pattern" in which the police authorities have made concerted efforts to "shield the suspects" based on a report of a Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and instead of visiting the child, called her and parents to the police station and the CWC for recording of statements that too in front of the accused in a clear violation of norms.

It said the manner in which the police authorities, ranging from the Commissioner of Police to the Sub-Inspector, have so far investigated the case discloses a "concerted and unwarranted attempt" to discredit the version of the minor victim and to portray the concerns raised by her parents as exaggerated and unfounded.

Formation of Special Investigation Team

The bench said in order to ensure a fair, dispassionate and independent investigation in the case it was constituting a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising ADGP Kala Ramachandran, SP Dr. Anshu Singla and DyCP Jasleen Kaur.

It said, "The matter came to light on February 2, 2026, whereupon the trauma, suffering, and distress endured by the child were further aggravated by the insensitive, reckless and wholly irresponsible, investigative methods adopted by the Gurugram police in the course of investigation. The conduct and findings of the CWC, as reflected in its report dated February 5, 2026, have only served to compound such victimisation."

The top court also frowned upon the proceedings before the judicial magistrate, before whom the minor victim was produced on February 6, and said he failed to ensure that the investigation proceeded on the correct legal premise that a prima facie offence under stringent section 6 of the the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) (aggravated penetrative sexual assault) was disclosed that entails punishment from 20 years imprisonment extendable to life term.

It said notwithstanding the gravity of the allegations and the material available on record, the police authorities have, for "wholly unjustified and extraneous reasons", sought to dilute the offence by erroneously classifying it under section 10 of the Act which entails punishment of five years extending up to seven years rigorous imprisonment.

Justice Bagchi observed, "If this is the quality of understanding of sensitivity in case of a three-year-old child, what do you expect of the rule of law? You say it's not a case of rape but assault? We are indicating what's distressing. Highest police officials took that stance to bring down the offence to section 10 of the Act. It's for the courts to decide, not the CWC."

The bench further said as per the affidavit filed by the authorities the probe as on February 6, allegedly did not disclose the commission of any offence but in the very same affidavit, at a subsequent stage, it says that, pursuant to a representation made by the victim's father, the facts were re-verified on March 12.

"This shifting and inconsistent stance raises serious concerns regarding the fairness and credibility of the investigation. In such circumstances, it is imperative that the incident be subjected to a thorough, impartial, and sensitive investigation, conducted with a humane approach that duly preserves the dignity of the minor victim and her parents," the bench said.

Actions Against Police and CWC

It directed that Gurugram CP and other police officials be disassociated from the case and a show cause notice be issued to them as to why disciplinary and criminal action be not taken against them.

The top court said it is constrained to express serious reservations regarding the academic and professional ability of the members of the CWC, as well as their expertise to render meaningful assistance to the probe agency and directed the chairperson and its members to submit an explanation regarding their report of February 6.

It directed the principal secretary of the Haryana's Women and Child development department, to file an affidavit within one week with original records concerning the appointment of the Chairperson(s) and members of the CWCs throughout the state.

The bench said Gurugram CWC members shall be issued show cause notices as to why they should not be ordered to be removed forthwith.

The three-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by two female domestic helps and their male accomplice for approximately two months at a society in Sector 54, police had said.

Following allegations made by the child's parents, an FIR was registered on February 4 under relevant sections of the BNS and the POCSO Act at the Sector 53 police station, they added.

According to the police, although the incident occurred between December 2025 and January 2026, the parents reported the matter to the police after the girl disclosed her ordeal to her mother.
Photo: http://bank.gov.ua/

Chernihiv region police detain two armed suspects who committed an armed robbery against an AFU veteran and seized funds from his bank account, the National Police of Ukraine reports.

"A 43-year-old resident of Stolne village, Mena hromada, reported that two unknown individuals in balaclavas broke into his home," a statement on the National Police website says on Wednesday.

According to police, the attackers bound the veterans hands with tape, beat him, and, threatening him with weapons, forced him to disclose his mobile phone password. The attackers then seized the victims phone and fled.

"Using the password to the mans mobile phone, the suspects soon gained access to his bank account and withdrew funds amounting to UAH 270,000," police specify.

During urgent operational-search measures and initial investigative actions, police detained two individuals involved in the crime in "hot pursuit." They turned out to be fellow villagers of the victim  19-year-old and 47-year-old residents of Mena hromada.

Law enforcement officers seized balaclavas, an AK-74 assault rifle, two pistols, a grenade with a fuse, ammunition, the victims mobile phone, and other physical evidence. The seized items have been sent for expert examination.

Investigators are conducting a criminal proceeding under Part 4 of Article 187 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (robbery committed under martial law conditions).
The bus was travelling from Jaipur to Delhi with approximately 30 passengers on board.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI video grab

Key Points A sleeper bus overturned in Karol Bagh, Delhi, resulting in two deaths and multiple injuries.

Emergency services, including police and fire department, responded swiftly to rescue passengers trapped inside the overturned bus.

The bus was travelling from Jaipur to Delhi with approximately 30 passengers on board.

The bus driver has been detained, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident.

Prompt response from authorities and public assistance were crucial in saving lives at the scene of the Delhi bus accident.

Two passengers were killed and 23 others injured after a sleeper bus overturned near Hanuman Mandir in central Delhi's Karol Bagh area early Wednesday, an official said.

Around 1 am, Karol Bagh police station received a PCR call informing that several passengers were trapped inside a bus following an accident, the official said.

The bus, with around 30 passengers on board, had arrived in the national capital from Jaipur, he said.

A police team led by the SHO of Karol Bagh, along with picket staff and night patrolling personnel, rushed to the spot and found the bus lying overturned, the official said.

"The passengers were trapped inside and crying for help," the officer added.

Police personnel, Delhi Fire Services, along with locals, immediately launched an effort to pull out the trapped passengers, he said, adding that a JCB machine nearby was roped in to help lift the bus and rescue the trapped passengers.

10 Passengers Critically Injured

Around 10 critically injured passengers, who were immediately rescued, were rushed to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. Subsequently, 12 injured were taken to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, and one to Lady Hardinge Medical College, the police said.

Two passengers, both men, succumbed to injuries at RML Hospital, the officer said.

One of the deceased has been identified as Shehbaj Alam (30), a resident of Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh, while the identity of the second victim, in his mid 20s, is yet to be ascertained, he said.

The bus driver, Pankaj Kumar (26), a resident of Rajasthan's Alwar, has been detained and is undergoing treatment at Lady Hardinge Medical College.

"Further investigation is underway and details of the injured are being collected from the hospitals. Necessary legal action will be taken against the driver following completion of the inquiry," the officer said.

Officials said the prompt response of police personnel, along with assistance from the public and fire department helped save lives.
Pakistan ramps up diplomatic outreach to broker peace in West Asia, while both Iran and Israel have dismissed any ongoing negotiations, underscoring the widening gap between mediation efforts and ground realities.

Photograph: Pakistan's Press Information Department (PID)/Handout via Reuters

Key Points Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif offered to mediate between the US and Iran and is actively pushing diplomatic outreach.

Islamabad even facilitated a reported 15-point US ceasefire proposal to Iran via backchannel communication.

Iran's envoy Reza Amiri Moghadam denied any talks with Washington, rejecting peace overtures.

Israel's UN envoy Danny Danon also ruled out any knowledge of negotiations, saying military operations are ongoing.

Despite outreach to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, China and others, Pakistan's mediation efforts face resistance as the conflict continues to escalate.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday briefed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman about Islamabad's diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the tenuous West Asia situation.

Sharif, in a statement on X, reiterated Pakistan's strong condemnation of the recent attacks on the Kingdom and reaffirmed Islamabad's unwavering solidarity and unequivocal support for Saudi Arabia in these challenging times.

"I also briefed His Royal Highness on Pakistan's diplomatic outreach efforts for regional peace and stability. We agreed to remain in close coordination," he said.

Sharif said that during the call, he appreciated the Kingdom's restraint and, 'I stressed the urgent need for de-escalation', and an end to hostilities.

During the conversation, he conveyed warm Eid-ul-Fitr greetings to the Crown Prince, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the royal family and the people of Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Press Agency reported that Sharif 'reiterated Pakistan's full support and commitment to standing firmly with the Kingdom against repeated Iranian attacks threatening its security and sovereignty'.

The call comes a day after Sharif offered to host talks between the US and Iran for a comprehensive settlement of the ongoing conflict.

In an X post on Tuesday, Sharif said that Islamabad was 'ready and honoured' to facilitate 'meaningful and conclusive talks' between the US and Iran to end the ongoing conflict.

Hours later, US President Donald Trump shared Sharif's post on his Truth Social platform.

US presents 15-point peace plan to Iran

According to media reports, the US on Tuesday sent Iran a 15-point plan and ceasefire proposal to end the war in the Middle East.

The peace plan was shared with Iranian officials via Pakistan.

However, Iran's Ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, said there are no ongoing talks between Tehran and Washington, DC, countering Trump's claims of peace overtures.

Earlier, Israel's envoy to the United Nations, Danny Danon, also denied any knowledge of talks involving Iran, the US and Israel, while confirming that military operations were ongoing.

Diplomatic engagements for regional stability

On Tuesday, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with his UAE counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, exchanging views on the evolving regional situation, according to the Foreign Office.

'Dar underscored the importance of peace and stability, calling for immediate de-escalation and emphasising that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path forward,' it said.

Separately, Dar received British High Commissioner Jane Marriott at the Foreign Office, and the two held discussions on the evolving regional situation.

Dar 'underscored that diplomacy and dialogue remain the only viable path forward, emphasising the urgent need for early resolution of the conflict', FO said.

The deputy prime minister also met Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong, who called on him, and their discussions focused on the unfolding regional and global developments.

Dar 'underscored the urgent need to promote de-escalation in the Middle East and the wider region through dialogue and diplomacy'.

Reiterating the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, they agreed to maintain close cooperation on issues of mutual interest, according to the FO.

Background of the conflict

Starting February 28, the US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran, which killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The joint strikes came after days of build-up, with 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.

According to official sources, Pakistan is in contact with both the US and Iran, and facilitating backdoor communication, including initial drafts of respective demands for creating peace in the region.

Pakistan maintains close ties with both Iran and the Trump administration.

Sharif, on Monday, in a telephonic conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, stressed the urgent need for collective efforts for de-escalation in West Asia.
Delhi Police have apprehended two alleged sharpshooters connected to the notorious Neeraj Bawana-Naveen Bali gang, seizing illegal firearms and ammunition and disrupting potential criminal activity in the region.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Delhi Police arrested two alleged sharpshooters, Satender and Tarun, linked to the Neeraj Bawana-Naveen Bali gang.

The arrest occurred in the Narela Industrial Area following a tip-off regarding armed gang members.

Police recovered five illegal firearms and ammunition from the suspects, preventing a potential major crime.

Both Satender and Tarun have prior criminal records, including charges of attempted murder, kidnapping, robbery, and Arms Act violations.

The suspects confessed to procuring the weapons from Haryana under the instruction of gang handlers and were awaiting further directions for their use.

The Delhi Police has arrested two alleged sharpshooters linked to the Neeraj Bawana-Naveen Bali gang and recovered illegal firearms and ammunition from their possession, an official said on Wednesday.

The accused, identified as Satender (28) and Tarun alias Tori (30), were apprehended on Monday.

"Acting on tip-off about the movement of armed gang members, a police team laid a trap in the Narela Industrial Area and intercepted the duo," a senior police officer said.

During the operation, officers recovered five illegal firearms, including two .32 bore pistols, one 9 mm pistol and two country-made weapons, along with eight live cartridges.

Police said both accused are active members of the Neeraj Bawana-Naveen Bali gang and were allegedly planning to execute a major crime in outernorth Delhi.

Accused Have Lengthy Criminal Records

Satender has been previously involved in multiple criminal cases, including attempt to murder, kidnapping and offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Tarun, a bad character of Bawana police station, has a history of cases related to robbery, theft and Arms Act violation.

"Tarun had been associated with the gang since 2017, and was earlier arrested by the special cell in 2020 following an exchange of fire," the officer said.

During interrogation, the accused disclosed that they had procured the weapons from Haryana on instructions of gang handlers and were awaiting further directions.

A case has been registered and further investigation is underway, police said.
The government emphasised its proactive diplomatic outreach, noting that New Delhi is in touch with all sides and "taking everyone on board," while maintaining that ships are coming and supply lines remain active.

IMAGE: MT Mount Fuji, a Russian oil tanker carrying Russian oil, waits to unload near Narara Marine National Park in the Arabian Sea, Gujarat, India, March 11, 2026. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

The Central government on Wednesday reassured that despite the ongoing conflict in West Asia, India remains on an equal footing. There is no cause for concern, as the overall situation arising out of the crisis is firmly under control, the Centre informed while briefing political parties at the all-party meet.
Sonia Gandhi is currently stable and receiving treatment in a Delhi hospital for a possible infection, with doctors closely monitoring her condition.

IMAGE: Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi during the flag hoisting ceremony on the occasion of the 140th Foundation Day of the Indian National Congress, at Indira Bhawan in New Delhi on December 28, 2026. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Sonia Gandhi admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi on Tuesday.

Doctors are closely monitoring Sonia Gandhi's health and conducting further examinations.

Antibiotics have been administered to treat a possible stomach and urinary tract infection.

Sources indicate that Sonia Gandhi's condition is not serious and there is no cause for concern.

Veteran Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, who is admitted at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi, is stable and under close medical supervision, doctors said on Wednesday.

According to hospital authorities, she was admitted at around 10.22 pm on Tuesday.

Chairman Dr Ajay Swaroop said that her condition remains stable and a team of doctors is closely monitoring her health.

Treatment and Diagnosis

Doctors are conducting further examinations to check for a possible infection in the stomach and urinary tract, and antibiotics have been administered as part of the treatment, the hospital said.

Sources had earlier said that Gandhi was unwell, possibly due to the weather change, and was admitted for observation.

They said there is no cause for concern and her condition is not serious.
Delhi Police are investigating the murder of a 17-year-old boy whose body was found in a New Usmanpur park, with authorities exploring all possible motives and examining forensic evidence to identify the perpetrator.

Key Points A 17-year-old boy, Zaid, was found dead in a DDA park in New Usmanpur, Delhi, prompting a murder investigation.

Delhi Police have registered a murder case and are investigating all possible angles, including personal enmity and past criminal activity.

Forensic teams have examined the scene, and CCTV footage and call records are being analysed to identify the accused in the Delhi teenager's murder.

Police are questioning the victim's family and exploring all potential motives behind the teenager's death in the Delhi park.

The body of a 17-year-old boy was found in a park in northeast Delhi's New Usmanpur area early Wednesday, police said.

The deceased, identified as Zaid, lived with his family near Brahmpuri Pulia in the locality, they said.

Police said a PCR call was received in the morning that a body was lying in a DDA park near Jag Pravesh Chandra Hospital. A team from New Usmanpur police station rushed to the spot and found Zaid's body.

Murder Investigation Launched

A case has been registered under Section 103(1) (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against unidentified persons and an investigation has been launched, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northeast) Ashish Kumar Mishra said.

Crime and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) teams examined the spot and collected evidence. The body has been sent for post-mortem, he said.

Multiple teams have been formed to identify and apprehend the accused. Police are scanning CCTV footage from cameras installed around the park and nearby areas, and are also analysing call detail records (CDR) of Zaid's mobile phone, the DCP said.

The boy's family members are also being questioned as part of the probe and police are investigating all possible angles, including personal enmity, the officer said.

Sources indicated that the teenager was previously involved in criminal activities.
India's Parliament has approved an amendment to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, refining the definition of 'transgender' and focusing on protections against biological discrimination, while sparking debate over its potential impact on the community.

Key Points Parliament has passed a bill amending the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, focusing on biological discrimination.

The amended bill excludes social orientations and self-perceived sexual identities from the law's scope.

The legislation introduces graded punishments based on the severity of harm inflicted on transgender individuals.

The government aims to bring transgender persons into the mainstream and protect their rights against biological discrimination.

Opposition members raised concerns about the bill's potential impact on families and support systems of the transgender community.

Parliament on Wednesday passed a bill to amend a law on protection and rights of transgender persons that proposes excluding social orientations from the ambit of the statute, with Rajya Sabha giving its nod.

The bill, which seeks to amend Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act 2019, also provides for graded punishment based on the gravity of harm inflicted on such people. The bill was passed in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Replying to the debate on the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, in the Upper House, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar said the proposed legislation is an effort to take along all segments of the society together.

He said that the bill aims to provide protection to only those who face discrimination due to biological issues. The minister asserted that the amendment will ensure that transgender persons continue to get legal recognition and protection.

The Modi government is committed to protecting all those people who are suffering due to biological reasons, he said adding that their rights will be protected.

The minister opined that such persons should be brought into the mainstream so that they should not live in dejection.

Highlighting the steps taken by the government for the welfare of the community, the minister said that transgender welfare boards have been set up in over 30 states. This bill will bring administrative clarity and protect rights of the transgender persons.

The bill was passed by a voice vote in the Rajya Sabha after rejecting amendments moved by the Opposition. The House did not approve the demands by Opposition for sending the bill to select committee.

The bill seeks to give a precise definition of the term "transgender" and exclude "different sexual orientations and self-perceived sexual identities" from the proposed law's ambit. It was introduced in Lok Sabha earlier this month.

Opposition Concerns

AAP MP Swati Maliwal stated that gender inequality for transgender persons must be urgently corrected.

She noted that the provision in the bill criminalising, alluring someone to present as transgender, is vague and risky.

It is risky because it may target families, doctors and support system of the transgender community.

"Instead of protection, we may create outright fear. Today we must stand up with those pushed to the margins for centuries. We must send this bill to select committee and hold larger consultations because dignity delayed is dignity denied," she said.

JMM MP Mahua Maji said that these persons are not getting equal rights.

If they get opportunity then they are not less able than anyone, she stressed. Amar Pal Maurya (BJP) also participated in the debate in the bill.
Senior Congress leader P J Kurien confidently predicts a UDF victory in the Kerala Assembly elections, asserting that Ramesh Chennithala will assume the role of Chief Minister.

Key Points Senior Congress leader P J Kurien predicts a UDF victory in the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections.

Kurien asserts that Ramesh Chennithala will become the Chief Minister if the UDF wins.

Kurien's statement contrasts with other Congress leaders who say the CM will be decided by the party high command.

The UDF is aiming to regain power in Kerala after the April 9 Assembly polls.

Senior Congress leader P J Kurien on Wednesday asserted that the UDF would return to power in Kerala after the April 9 Assembly polls and former minister Ramesh Chennithala would become the Chief Minister.

The former Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Kurien made the statement in the presence of Chennithala during a UDF convention in Thiruvalla here.

He expressed confidence that the front would win the elections and Chennithala would lead the government.

"We will win on April 9. Ramesh, who is sitting here now, will be the Chief Minister. I have no doubt... But, Ramesh maintains that the party will take the final call on it," Kurien said.

The statement assumes significance as senior leaders, including Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan and KPCC president Sunny Joseph had already clarified that the CM would be decided by the party high command if the UDF returns to power.
The body of an Indian man from Uttar Pradesh, Ravi Gopal, killed in a suspected missile attack in Riyadh, has been returned to his family, prompting calls for compensation and assistance.

IMAGE: Smoke rises above Riyadh, amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran, on March 5, 2026. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters

Key Points Ravi Gopal, a 26-year-old from Uttar Pradesh, was killed in a suspected missile attack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The Ministry of External Affairs assisted in the repatriation of Ravi Gopal's remains to his family in Sitapur.

Ravi Gopal worked as a driver in a plastic factory in Riyadh and was the sole breadwinner for his family.

The family of the deceased has sought compensation and assistance from the administration following the tragic incident in Riyadh.

The mortal remains of a 26-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh, who was killed in a suspected missile attack in Riyadh earlier this month, was brought to his native village in Sitapur on Wednesday, his family members said.

Ravi Gopal, a resident of Baghain village under Mahmudabad police station limits, had been working as a driver in a plastic factory in the Saudi capital since September 2025. He was killed on the night of March 18 in what his family described as a missile strike near his workplace.

His elder brother, Manmohan Dayal, told PTI that the mortal remains were handed over to him in Lucknow on Wednesday morning with the help of the administration.

"The body was received around 9.30 am. We are now taking it to our village in an ambulance and expect to reach by noon," he said earlier this morning.

"The cremation will be held today and preparations are already underway in the village," he said.

Dayal said Rakesh Kumar, Naib Tehsildar from Mahmudabad, has been deputed to facilitate the process and was accompanying the convoy.

He added that the family had been informed earlier by embassy officials and the local administration that the body would be flown from Riyadh to Lucknow, arriving on Wednesday morning.

Ravi was killed in missile attack near his workplace

Earlier, the family had claimed that Ravi died after being buried under debris following a missile strike near the factory where he worked. He was later taken to a hospital where doctors declared him dead.

The Ministry of External Affairs had said it received information on March 18 regarding the 'tragic demise of an Indian national' in Riyadh and expressed condolences to the bereaved family.

The Indian Mission in Riyadh coordinated with local authorities to facilitate the repatriation of the body.

Ravi, the sole breadwinner of his family, is survived by his wife and a four-year-old son. The family has sought compensation and assistance from the administration.

Officials said the district administration remained in touch with the family to ensure smooth completion of formalities.
Uttar Pradesh STF dismantles a sophisticated exam cheating ring that exploited forged disability certificates to help candidates fraudulently secure government jobs, leading to multiple arrests and a crackdown on unfair examination practices.

Key Points Uttar Pradesh STF busted a gang facilitating cheating in competitive exams using forged disability certificates.

The gang targeted unemployed youths, promising government jobs in exchange for hefty payments.

Accused arranged fake PwD certificates and professional solvers as scribes for candidates.

Nine individuals were arrested, and evidence including cash, mobile phones, and forged documents were seized.

The case is registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Uttar Pradesh Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.

The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) on Wednesday claimed to have busted a gang involved in facilitating cheating in competitive examinations by using forged persons with disabilities (PwD) certificates and arranging scribes in violation of rules.

According to an STF statement, the arrests were made following an operation linked to irregularities in the CBSE-conducted EMRS (Eklavya Model Residential Schools) recruitment examination (Tier-2) for the post of Junior Secretariat Assistant between March 22 and 25.

The accused have been identified as Raj Kishor, Neeraj Jha, Satyam Kumar, Ram Milan, Manish Mishra, Akash Agarwal, Saurabh Soni, Abhishek Yadav and Deepak Kumar, hailing from different districts of Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.

The statement said the gang lured unemployed youths and their families with promises of helping them secure government jobs and charged hefty amounts. They allegedly arranged fake PwD certificates through intermediaries and ensured that candidates were declared eligible under the PwD category.

The accused also arranged professional solvers as scribes to appear in examinations on behalf of the candidates, thereby enabling them to secure jobs in government and public sector institutions, the STF said.

Investigation and Arrests

Acting on intelligence inputs, an STF team, under the supervision of Deputy Superintendent of Police Vimal Kumar Singh, conducted a raid at a CBSE examination centre at Central Academy, Sector 4, Vikas Nagar in Lucknow on Tuesday, it said.

Eight suspects were detained from the centre, while another accused was later brought from Gorakhpur for questioning. Based on interrogation and documentary evidence, all nine were arrested, it added.

During the operation, the STF recovered 13 mobile phones, two laptops, cash worth Rs 2.70 lakh, a Swift Dzire and six forged PwD certificates.

During questioning, Manish Mishra, the alleged kingpin, admitted to running a racket that deployed professional solvers as scribes at offline examination centres to assist candidates fraudulently, officials said.

Legal Action

A case has been registered against the accused at Vikas Nagar police station in Lucknow under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Uttar Pradesh Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. Further legal proceedings are underway, police said.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/orbanviktor

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban states that the country is stopping natural gas supplies to Ukraine until oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline are restored.

"Until Ukraine ensures the delivery of oil, it will not receive gas from Hungary. We will protect Hungarys energy security, maintain protected gasoline prices and reduced gas prices!" he stated in a video released on his Facebook page.

He also claims that Hungary will retain the gas volumes not supplied to Ukraine as a reserve, alleging that Kyiv is attacking the TurkStream gas pipeline.

"Since Ukraine is also attacking the pipeline that supplies Hungary from the south, we need to create reserves. Therefore, instead of supplies to Ukraine, we will now be filling Hungarian gas storage facilities," Orban said.
Citing a source familiar with the planning, CBS News said the deployment could include elements of the division such as a command component and ground forces.

IMAGE: Emergency personnel respond at a site following Iranian missile barrages in central Israel, in Tel Aviv, on March 24, 2026. Photograph: Tomer Appelbaum/Reuters

Key Points The US may deploy troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East despite talk of negotiations.

The deployment could involve fewer than 1,500 troops, according to US officials.

Donald Trump claimed Iran is 'defeated' and that talks are underway.

Iran denied negotiations and mocked the US, saying it is 'negotiating with itself'.

Iran continues missile strikes under 'Operation True Promise 4', keeping tensions high.

Despite United States President Donald Trump claiming that negotiations with Iran are underway and the conflict could soon end, the Pentagon is expected to deploy troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East as the war enters its fourth week, according to a CBS News report.

Citing a source familiar with the planning, CBS News said the deployment could include elements of the division such as a command component and ground forces.

A US official indicated that the deployment may involve fewer than 1,500 troops.

Earlier, Trump had asserted that negotiations were in progress and suggested the conflict was nearing an end.

"We're in negotiations right now. They'd like to make a deal. Their navy, air force, and communications are gone -- pretty much everything. We have won this. We have planes flying over Tehran, and they can't do anything about it. They are totally defeated," he said.

Iran mocks Trump's claims

However, Iran has rejected these claims.

In a video posted by Fars News Agency, an Iranian military spokesperson mocked the US position, stating that the Americans were 'negotiating with themselves'.

"The strategic power you once boasted of has now turned into a strategic defeat. Do not label your defeat as an 'agreement'. The era of your promises is over Your internal conflicts have escalated to the point where you are negotiating with yourselves," the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, Iran released footage of the 80th wave of 'Operation True Promise 4', showing missile launches targeting US-Israeli positions.
Vice President C P Radhakrishnan is set to attend IIM Ranchi's 15th convocation, where he will launch a groundbreaking virtual reality case repository designed to revolutionise management education.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Vice President C P Radhakrishnan will attend IIM Ranchi's 15th convocation and award medals to outstanding students.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar, and Chief Minister Hemant Soren will also be present at the IIM Ranchi convocation.

IIM Ranchi will award 558 degrees, including PhDs, at the convocation ceremony.

The Vice President will launch IIM Ranchi's virtual reality case repository, an innovative tool for immersive management education.

The VR case repository will allow students to virtually experience real-world business scenarios, enhancing their decision-making skills.

Vice President C P Radhakrishnan will visit Jharkhand on March 28 to attend the 15th convocation of IIM Ranchi, an official said on Wednesday.

The Vice President will confer medals to seven outstanding students of the institution, she said.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar and Chief Minister Hemant Soren will also attend the event.

IIM Ranchi Dean (academics), Professor Tanusree Dutta, in a press conference, said the event will be conducted in two sessions and the first session will begin at 3 pm, which will be attended by the Vice President as the chief guest.

"The Vice President will confer medals to seven outstanding students, including toppers from five programmes -- MBA, MBA-BA, MBA HRM, MBA Executive (Summer) and MBA Executive (Winter). Additionally, two special awards will be presented for overall excellence -- the Student Citizenship Award and the Professor Ashish Hajela Award," she said.

A total of 558 degrees will be awarded during the event, which include 26 PhD degrees and 11 PhD (executive) degrees.

IIM Ranchi Launches Virtual Reality Case Repository

The Vice President will also launch IIM Ranchi's virtual reality case repository, the first-of-its-kind among B-schools in India, she said.

The initiative aims to transform the way case studies are taught and understood, making learning more practical, immersive, and aligned with real-world business environments.

IIM Ranchi Director, Professor Deepak Kumar Srivastava, said, "Instead of just reading a case, students will be able to enter the scenario through VR headsets. They can virtually observe operations in industries such as logistics, manufacturing, and supply chain. For example, a student can see how goods are packaged in a warehouse, how trucks are assembled, or how supply chain decisions impact operations at the ground level. This immersive exposure helps students understand not only what decisions are made, but why and how they impact real systems."

IIM Ranchi faculty Professor Kushagra Sharan, who led the development of the first VR case, said, "Management education is about decision-making in complex environments. The VR-based approach enhances this by allowing students to see multiple dimensions of a situation -- operational, human, financial, and strategic -- simultaneously through lived experience. It reduces guesswork and builds clarity. When students can visually experience the environment, they are better equipped to analyse trade-offs, evaluate consequences, and make informed decisions."
Amidst rising tensions in West Asia, the Indian government assures its citizens of energy security and the safety of its diaspora, while firmly dismissing Pakistan's role as a mediator in the ongoing conflict.

IMAGE: Union Minister S Jaishankar. Photograph: Sansad TV/ANI Video Grab

Key Points Prime Minister Modi conveyed the need to end the West Asia conflict to President Trump, highlighting its widespread impact.

India refuted Pakistan's mediation role, asserting its independent diplomatic approach and prioritising national interests.

The government assured the Opposition of sufficient crude oil and gas reserves, with diversified procurement from 41 countries.

India prioritises the security of its diaspora in the Gulf region and fulfilling domestic energy needs amidst the West Asia crisis.

Opposition parties demanded a parliamentary debate on the West Asia situation, expressing dissatisfaction with the government's responses.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has conveyed to US President Donald Trump that the war in West Asia must end soon as it is hurting everyone, the government told an up-in-arms Opposition at an all-party meeting on Wednesday and rubbished Pakistan's reported mediation in the conflict, saying India is not a dalal (broker) nation.

There is nothing new in Pakistan's mediation efforts in the matter, as that country has been 'used' by the US since 1981, sources quoted External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar as saying.

"We are not a dalal nation," Jaishankar is said to have told the attendees of the meeting convened at the Parliament complex to discuss the West Asia crisis.

The sources added that the government refuted the Opposition's charge that New Delhi was silent on the situation, asserting that 'we are commenting and responding'.

When the Iran embassy was opened, the foreign secretary visited immediately and signed the condolence book, the government told the parties in response to the Opposition's charge that India displayed moral weakness in not condoling the death of the Iranian Supreme Leader sooner.

The government is also said to have informed the parties that its prime concern is ensuring the security of the Indian diaspora living in the Gulf region and fulfilling domestic energy needs.

On that count, the government said it has been successful so far.

The Opposition, however, said the answers provided at the meeting by the government were "unsatisfactory" and demanded that a debate be held on the West Asia situation in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

Lashing out at the government, Congress's Tariq Anwar said Pakistan is performing the mediator's role while "we are still mute spectators".

He said there should be a debate on the situation in Lok Sabha under rule 193 and in Rajya Sabha under rule 176.

All Union ministers part of the Cabinet Committee on Security -- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman -- represented the government.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also attended. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri made a presentation before the gathering.

Tariq Anwar and Mukul Wasnik of the Congress, Dharmendra Yadav of the Samajwadi Party, Sasmit Patra of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Sanjay Jha of JD-U, Srikant Shinde of Shiv Sena, Sanjay Singh of Aam Aadmi Party, John Brittas of CPI-M, Supriya Sule of NCP (SP), Arvind Sawant of Shiv Sena (UBT), Asaduddin Owaisi of AIMIM were among the Opposition leaders who attended the meeting, which lasted for nearly two hours.

The sources said the government conveyed that there is no need for panic as India has enough stock with more crude oil and gas coming.

"We have already done advance order. Diversification of sources of oil and gas has been undertaken and now we are procuring from 41 countries," the government told the meeting.

It is a diplomatic success that four India-bound ships, carrying petroleum products, have already crossed the Strait of Hormuz while five more are expected to cross soon. There are 18 India-bound ships which are stranded around the Strait of Hormuz, the participants were told.

On the US attack and sinking of an Iranian ship, the government said that had it been in Indian waters it would have been saved but unfortunately the ship was near Sri Lankan waters.

"There is a sense of gratitude on the part of Iran as we have protected other ships and sailors," the government told the meeting.

"We are good friends with everyone - the US is our largest trading partner, Israel is our largest technological partner and we have good relations with Iran too," it said.

The opening remarks were made by Defence Minister Singh with Jaishankar and Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri also speaking during the meeting.

During the question answer session, it was mostly Jaishankar who replied to the opposition's queries and concerns. On a few occasions, Home Minister Shah also intervened.

Govt's perspective and Opposition's response

Briefing reporters on the meeting, Rijiju said the meeting was convened because Prime Minister Narendra Modi wanted it and information was shared about the crisis in West Asia.

"Several questions were raised by opposition friends regarding the situation arising from the conflict in West Asia involving Iran, Israel, and the United States -- specifically about how it would impact India and what steps the government has taken for Indian citizens," he said.

On behalf of the government, comprehensive and detailed responses were provided, Rijiju said.

"I feel satisfied to inform you that all the questions asked by the opposition and the information they sought were fully addressed by the government," he asserted.

In the end, all opposition members stated that in this time of crisis, whatever decisions the government takes and whatever steps are required based on the situation, they will stand united and support them, he said.

Speaking with reporters, Anwar said an attempt was made to seek clarification from the government, but the meeting was 'unsatisfactory'.

"It has been our longstanding demand that this issue be debated in both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha under Rules 193 and 176. Only then will people feel satisfied... The government says it (we do not want war), but what difference does merely saying that make? The reality is that a conflict is already underway. Pakistan, which is smaller than us and weaker in every respect, is today acting as a mediator and playing that role, while we remain mute spectators," the Congress leader said.

Brittas said the government has been assuring the opposition that everything is safe.

"The opposition parties expressed their disapproval of the government's silence. All the opposition leaders who spoke said that the government should have taken a position with regard to the unilateral attack against a sovereign independent country Iran by the United States. And there have been questions raised with regard to the visit of our Prime Minister to Tel Aviv, and also there were certain questions about the proactive role of Pakistan," Brittas said.

On the absence of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and TMC members from all-party meet on West Asia situation, Union minister Pralhad Joshi said it was a 'highly irresponsible' behaviour.

"The statements that Rahul Gandhi is making raise serious questions about whether he is genuinely interested in India's interests or in spreading rumours within the country. This has created significant doubt in people's minds. Today, in a way, he has even appeared to appreciate Pakistan. At a time when Pakistan is making statements against India, he seems to be lending credibility to them. He should first clarify whether he stands with India or with Pakistan," he said.
A Bengaluru woman was brutally attacked by her own family over a heated dispute regarding her granddaughter's marriage proposal, leading to a police investigation.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A 59-year-old woman in Bengaluru was seriously injured in an alleged attack by her brother and his family.

The attack stemmed from a family dispute related to a marriage proposal for the woman's granddaughter.

The woman was attacked with a knife and an iron rod and was admitted to St. John's Hospital.

Police have registered a case and formed a special team to apprehend the accused individuals involved in the violent family dispute.

A 59-year-old woman was seriously injured after she was allegedly attacked by her brother and his family over a dispute here on Wednesday, police said.

The incident that occurred in Ambedkar Nagar at around 7 am was reported to Adugodi Police Station, they said.

According to the complaint filed with the police, Maheswari's younger brother, along with his wife, son, and the son's friends, came to her house and initiated a quarrel over a family dispute.

The argument escalated, and they allegedly attacked the elderly woman with a knife and an iron rod. Subsequently, they forcibly took away her granddaughter, a senior police officer said, adding that the dispute was related to her marriage proposal.

The seriously injured woman was admitted to St. John's Hospital for treatment. After examination, doctors confirmed that she is out of danger, he said.

A case has been registered in this connection at Adugodi Police Station, and a special team has been formed to trace and apprehend the accused, police said.
A woman in Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh, was tragically stabbed to death by a neighbour after a dispute involving the circulation of obscene photos on social media, highlighting the dangers of online harassment escalating into real-world violence.

Key Points A 33-year-old woman in Fatehpur, UP, was allegedly stabbed to death by her neighbour.

The incident stemmed from a long-standing dispute, including allegations of the accused circulating obscene photos of the victim on social media.

The victim had previously filed a case against the accused in February regarding the photo circulation.

Police have launched a manhunt for the absconding accused and are conducting a post-mortem examination of the victim's body.

A 33-year-old woman was allegedly stabbed to death by her neighbour in Uttar Pradesh's Fatehpur district, police said on Wednesday.

Fatehpur Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhimanyu Manglik stated that the incident occurred on Tuesday evening around 6.30 pm.

The accused, identified as Sonu Yadav, forcibly entered the house of his neighbour Jai Singh Yadav and attacked his wife, Mithlesh, with a knife multiple times, leading to her death on the spot.

The accused fled the scene after the attack.

Background to the Fatehpur Stabbing

According to the police, the two parties had a long-standing dispute. In February, the woman had filed a case against Sonu for allegedly circulating her obscene photos on social media.

The SP added that the body has been sent for post-mortem examination, and police teams have been deployed to arrest the absconding accused.
In Gurugram, the wife of a yoga teacher has been arrested for her involvement in an elaborate blackmail scheme, where the couple allegedly extorted money from a woman using compromising videos taken during yoga sessions.

IMAGE: Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

Key Points A yoga teacher in Gurugram allegedly blackmailed a woman using an objectionable video filmed during their sessions.

The yoga teacher's wife was arrested while accepting Rs 1 lakh in extortion money from the victim.

The yoga teacher, Rakesh Sharma, is currently absconding, and police are conducting raids to apprehend him.

The victim had previously paid Rs 3 lakh to the couple in 2023 to stop the blackmail, but the demands continued.

The couple threatened to send the video and photos to the victim's family and acquaintances if she did not pay Rs 15 lakh.

The Gurugram Police has arrested the wife of a yoga teacher after she was caught red-handed allegedly taking Rs 1 lakh from a woman who was blackmailed by the couple for the last three years, said officials.

The yoga teacher was accused of getting intimate with the woman while teaching yoga. After allegedly establishing a physical relationship with the woman, he filmed an objectionable video and started blackmailing her, the officials said.

The wife of the yoga teacher has been arrested and sent to judicial custody while the police conducted raids to nab the yoga teacher who is still absconding, they said.

Details of the Blackmail Scheme

According to the police, the victim filed a complaint saying that she met yoga teacher Rakesh Sharma in July 2020. They developed a physical relationship while she was learning yoga from him.

After some time, Sharma allegedly started blackmailing her after making objectionable videos and photos of her.

"In 2023, the accused blackmailed her. After much effort, a settlement was made for Rs 3 lakh.

"But in March 2026, he again demanded Rs 15 lakh and threatened to send the video and photos to her family and acquaintances if she did not pay. After this, she approached the police on March 20," the officials said, citing her complaint.

An FIR was registered at the Palam Vihar police station on the basis of the complaint.

Arrest and Investigation

The police planned a raid on March 21 after they received information that the accused couple were arriving at the parking lot of Devi Lal Park, Palam Vihar, to collect the extortion money.

The police team caught the wife of the yoga teacher red-handed while accepting Rs 1 lakh, officials said.

According to the police, the yoga teacher's wife has been identified as Neetu Sharma (42), a resident of Palam Vihar.

During the investigation, the police recovered a bag containing Rs 1 lakh in cash and other documents. The accused woman was produced in a city court which remanded her to two days' police remand, they added.

"During interrogation, it was revealed that the accused woman and her husband were continuously blackmailing the victim woman with videos and photos and demanding money. The accused, Neetu Sharma, and her husband Rakesh Sharma had deliberately made objectionable videos of the victim.

"The accused woman was produced in a court today and sent to jail. We are conducting raids to nab the yoga teacher who will be arrested soon," said the spokesperson of the Gururgam Police.
Iranian military spokesperson said that stability in the region would be ensured only by the strength of Iran's armed forces and warned that energy and oil markets would not return to previous levels unless this reality was acknowledged.

IMAGE: A first responder looks at damage following Iranian missile barrages in central Israel, on March 24, 2026. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

Key Points Iran's Khatam al-Anbia Headquarters mocked Donald Trump's claim that US-Iran negotiations are underway.

Iranian military said the US is 'negotiating with itself' amid internal contradictions.

Tehran rejected any possibility of compromise with the US and Israel.

Trump claimed Iran is 'militarily defeated' and that the war is close to ending.

Iran denied talks and continued retaliatory strikes, keeping regional tensions high.

Iran's Khatam al-Anbia Headquarters -- the unified combatant command of the Iranian Armed Forces -- on Wednesday mocked claims by United States President Donald Trump that Washington, DC was negotiating with Tehran and that the war was nearing an end.

In a video posted by Fars News, the military spokesperson said the situation had reached a point where 'the Americans are negotiating with themselves'.

"The strategic power you once boasted of has now turned into a strategic defeat. Do not label your defeat as an 'agreement'. The era of your promises is over. Today, the world stands divided between truth and falsehood. No freedom-seeking individual will be deceived by your media narratives. Your internal conflicts have escalated to the point where you are negotiating with yourselves," the spokesperson said.

He added that stability in the region would be ensured only by the strength of Iran's armed forces and warned that energy and oil markets would not return to previous levels unless this reality was acknowledged.

No reconciliation with US, Israel: Iran

The spokesperson also ruled out any possibility of reconciliation with the US and Israel.

"We explicitly declare: until we will it, no situation will return to its previous state. This will only happen when any thought of action against the Iranian nation is erased. Our position has always been clear -- someone like us will never come to terms with someone like you. Not now, not ever," he said.

Earlier, President Trump had claimed that negotiations were underway and suggested the conflict was close to ending.

"We're in negotiations right now. They'd like to make a deal. Their navy, air force, and communications are gone -- pretty much everything. We have won this. We have planes flying over Tehran, and they can't do anything about it. They are totally defeated," Trump said.

However, Iran has denied any ongoing negotiations, maintaining that peace would only be possible once the US and Israel halt their military campaign.

With Iran continuing its retaliatory strikes, prospects for peace in West Asia remain uncertain.
The pause gives the US time to breathe, to regroup, to move its expeditionary force into position without risk of interception along the way.

It gives Iran nothing -- on the ground, attacks against its infrastructure continue apace.

Prem Panicker in his must read daily blog on the Gulf War.

IMAGE: A map showing the Strait of Hormuz and a 3D-printed miniature model depicting US President Donald Trump. Photograph: Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters

If what we are seeing is diplomacy, then it is diplomacy performed for effect rather than in expectation of a desirable outcome.

The leaked outlines of the United States' 15-point proposal to Iran do not, at least to my eyes, read anything like a basis for serious negotiation.

It is an impractical, one-sided wish list framed as terms.

From Tehran's vantage, it is all concession and no reciprocity: Constraints on enrichment, intrusive verification, limits on military capability and, most crucially, the suggestion that Iran restrict itself to 'defensive weapons'. [Reuters (external link); Wall Street Journal (external link)]

US-Iran 15-Point Proposal Crisis

Key Points US 15-point proposal seen as one-sided, offering no reciprocity, making meaningful negotiations with Iran highly unlikely.

Israel signals independent war strategy, continuing strikes despite US-led pause and diplomatic overtures toward Iran.

Ongoing military escalation undermines credibility of talks, turning diplomacy into perception management rather than genuine negotiation.

India shifts from observer to stakeholder as Hormuz risks threaten energy security and economic stability.

Global impact intensifies through oil volatility, supply risks, and geopolitical uncertainty affecting markets and policymaking.

That phrase looks disarmingly simple but its implications are, for Tehran, disastrous.

In the region as it exists, the prohibition against weapons of offence amounts to asking a State that is already under sustained military pressure to formalise its own vulnerability, to accept a future in which it is structurally incapable of deterring Israel, and expose its jugular not just to Israeli forces but to any hostile alignment that may emerge in its neighborhood.

To understand that, imagine that this condition had been imposed on Iran in June last year, at the conclusion of Operation Midnight Hammer (external link).

Imagine that in the intervening months, Iran had under international supervision given up all its offensive weapons.

And then imagine February 28 -- the day this war broke out.

Iran would have no real defence against combined US-Israel military operations.

What is keeping the attacking forces from completely overrunning the country is not 'defensive' weapons but Iran's offensive capacity to retaliate.

IMAGE: Iranian missiles are displayed at the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force Museum in Tehran, November 12, 2025. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA via Reuters

Shorn of that, where would it be today?

One does not have to take a sympathetic view of the Iranian regime (for all that this blog has tended to see things from Iran's point of view, I am no fan of the regime's repressive tactics) to recognise that no sovereign State will sign up to a condition like that lightly, least of all in the middle of a war.

But even if one accepts the proposal's problematic points in toto, there is a larger, more basic question: Who, exactly, is negotiating?

I ask that because even as Washington calls for a five-day moratorium framed as space for talks, Israel is making clear, publicly and unambiguously, that it does not consider itself bound by any such process.

Benjamin Netanyahu has said in so many words that the IDF, and not the US, will decide when the war will end, and on what terms.

(Which is probably why a US official has 'clarified' that the pause only applies to attacks on Iran's energy strikes, not to general targets. In other words, the pause is not exactly a pause -- the US will hit limited targets while Israel hits everything everywhere.) [Semafor (external link); The Washington Post (external link)] [Reuters (external link)]

IMAGE: Donald Trump and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, December 29, 2025. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Netanyahu Signals War Control

Netanyahu's stance is in effect a statement of hierarchy.

It tells you that whatever channel may or may not exist between Washington and Tehran, it is not what will determine events on the ground.

And there is concrete evidence that Israel does not feel bound by anything Washington may do.

Within hours of Trump's announcement, Israeli forces stepped up its strikes across the theatre of war.

Targets have included areas in and around Iran's nuclear infrastructure: The very sites that, in any serious negotiation, would normally be insulated from attack. [Guardian live coverage (external link); Haaretz (external link)]

IMAGE: An Iranian missile with cluster warhead flies over Tel Aviv, Israel, March 24, 2026. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

Talks Continue, Strikes Intensify

This is much more than the breach of a pause (or temporary ceasefire); rather, it is a clear signal that no pause exists in any meaningful sense.

Or, more pointedly, that pauses declared by Washington do not bind decisions taken in Tel Aviv.

This leaves the 'talks' in a strange space.

They exist, in that proposals are being drafted, envoys are being named, positions are being aired, and various officials are briefing the press.

But they exist alongside a parallel reality in which the central actor in the conflict -- and you have to be remarkably naive to assume that it is the US, not Israel, that is controlling events -- is prosecuting the war on its own timeline, with its own objectives, and with no visible intention of subordinating those objectives to a diplomatic track.

IMAGE: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses a press conference in Jerusalem, March 19, 2026. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Pool/Reuters

In that sense, the negotiations risk becoming nothing more than a form of narrative cover, a way of demonstrating that diplomacy was attempted, even as a situation is being created on the ground that make any eventual compromise narrower, harsher, and more one-sided.

There is also the unspoken point: The pause, such as it is, gives the US time to breathe, to regroup, to move its expeditionary force into position without risk of interception along the way.

It gives Iran nothing -- on the ground, attacks against its infrastructure continue apace.

There is a second-order effect here that is easy to miss.

The structure of this moment -- the United States advancing terms Iran is unlikely to accept, even as Israeli military pressure continues -- echoes earlier breakdowns in US-Iran diplomacy, where talks proceeded in parallel with escalating threats, resulting in deep mistrust. (In this connection, worth noting that Iran has rejected Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff as US interlocutors, saying that those two had 'backstabbed' it in the run up to this war.) [Reuters background on failed negotiations (external link)]

If the Iranian reading is that negotiations, such as they are, are a staging ground for pressure, then the incentive shifts decisively toward endurance and retaliation.

And once that shift hardens, it is difficult to reverse.

Wars acquire their own logic and diplomacy, once devalued, struggles to find credibility again.

All of which brings us back to the starting point.

If one party is proposing terms that the other cannot accept, and another party is prosecuting the war while disclaiming any obligation to be party to the talks, then what remains is not negotiation in the classical sense.

It is signaling, positioning, and the management of perception.

The risk is that in mistaking such self-serving posturing for diplomacy, we end up swallowing a narrative that, from the outset, is designed to fail.

(And when it fails, as it inevitably will if the US insists on its 15-point proposal, the consensus will be that Washington did its best to bring the war to a close, but Iran's intransigence foiled that bid.)

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump at the White House. February 13, 2025. Photograph: Press Information Bureau

Not India's war, until it is

If the past 24 hours have clarified anything, it is this: India is no longer a passive observer of the Iran war.

The phone call between Donald Trump and Narendra Modi, anodyne on the surface, was in fact a signal of that shift.

The two leaders spoke about the 'importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open', with India reiterating its standard line of de-escalation and peace.

The subtext matters more than the phrasing.

Nearly 40 per cent of India's crude imports pass through Hormuz.

What seems to be routine diplomacy is in fact a baby step towards risk management. [Reuters (external link); The Indian Express (external link)]

IMAGE: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chairs a meeting on global and regional security and India's defence preparedness in New Delhi, March 24, 2026. Photograph: ANI Photo

India Faces Hormuz Risk

The calm tone masking structural anxiety runs through everything else New Delhi has done in the same 24-hour window.

The government has moved to convene an all-party meeting on the West Asia crisis, signaling both the scale of concern and the need to seek political consensus on whatever comes next, no matter how much it goes against the ruling BJP's 'our way or the highway' grain.

It also signals that the government knows times are going to become really bad, and when fingers are pointed at it, as it will inevitably be, it can point the finger right back and say whatever we did was in consultation with all political parties. [Times of India (external link)]

At the same time, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a high-level review of military preparedness, an indication that the conflict is no longer being treated as distant or containable. [Economic Times (external link)]

None of these are in themselves dramatic moves.

But taken together, they suggest a system quietly shifting from being passive observers and headline managers to getting serious about contingency planning.

The economic layer tells the same story, even more bluntly.

Markets rallied briefly on Trump's pause announcement, tracking global sentiment, before the contradictions in that pause became apparent and the market readjusted.

Oil volatility continues to ripple through the system; policymakers are now publicly emphasizing fuel preparedness, supply buffers, and resilience. [Reuters (external link); Times of India (external link)]

IMAGE: Emergency personnel work at the site following an Iranian missile barrage in central Israel, March 24, 2026. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

Oil Shock And Economic Fallout

One major reason for the shift in New Delhi's stance could be hidden inside an RTI response to a journalistic query: The ministry of petroleum and natural gas states in response to RTI said that India's strategic crude oil reserves can meet 'about 9.5 days of crude oil requirement' in case of disruption of imports.

Think of that: The government is saying existing crude cannot meet our requirements even for a fortnight. [Business Standard (external link)]

And then there is the diplomatic tightrope, which is becoming harder to walk with each passing day.

India continues to call for de-escalation without explicitly criticising the US-Israel strikes.

That ambiguity has been sustainable, even spinnable, so far as strategic, but as the conflict deepens and as it begins to target infrastructure critical to global energy flows, the cost of ambiguity rises.

IMAGE: Emergency personnel respond following Iranian missile strikes in central Israel, March 24, 2026. Photograph: Tomer Appelbaum/Reuters

Taken together, the last 24 hours in India are about convergence.

Political consultation, military review, market sensitivity, and carefully worded diplomacy are all aligning around a single fact: This is no longer someone else's war.

It is a crisis with direct, material consequences for India's economy, its energy security, and its geopolitical positioning.

Which casts that initial phone call in a different light.

Not as routine engagement, but as an acknowledgment, however indirect, that the distance between New Delhi and the conflict zone has collapsed.

Even as Trump described peace talks with Tehran as productive, the Pentagon confirmed the deployment of elements of the 82nd Airborne Division, a force designed to be combat-ready within 18 hours, to join the Marines already en route to the Gulf.

Secretary Of War Pete Hegseth, standing beside the president, put it in schoolyard-bully terms: 'We negotiate with bombs'"

The gap between the diplomatic narrative and the military reality has rarely been this visible. [James Politi and Steff Chavez for the Financial Times (external link)]

The best-reported account of what the 'talks' actually consist of: Witkoff communicating through Pakistan and regional intermediaries, a 15-point plan Tehran has not accepted, and an announcement timed, by Trump's own acknowledgment, to coincide with Wall Street's opening bell.

Iran calls it market manipulation.

The gap between what Washington is claiming and what Tehran is not confirming tells you most of what you need to know. [Vivian Salama and Jonathan Lemire (external link)]

In the Economist, a clear-eyed military accounting of what forcing the strait open would actually require: three sequential phases, each taking weeks, each carrying significant risk.

The US scrapped its last dedicated mine-clearing ships in January.

Iran had 6,000 mines stockpiled before the war began.

The closing assessment: Iran has been husbanding these resources for decades and can sustain this for as long as Washington is willing to. [The Economist (external link)]

Written last week but more relevant today than when it was published, Mark Urban's analysis of the war's military balance makes a point the official narrative obscures: Iran currently has escalation dominance.

It struck Saudi and Kuwaiti facilities the morning after Trump's overnight threat, the USS Ford stood down after a fire, and Iranian drone firing rates are rising rather than falling.

Urban's postscript on why Iran may have reasons to keep fighting even after the US signals it wants to stop -- namely, to draw Gulf states away from American bases, seek great-power guarantees against future Israeli mowing the grass' -- is essential background for understanding why a negotiated exit is harder than it looks.

The Economist piece linked to above tells you what forcing the strait open would require militarily, and Urban tells you why the current military balance makes that harder than advertised.

Thus, these two pieces are in direct conversation with each other. [Mark Urban, War & Peace blog (external link)]

SecDev has the most rigorous probabilistic framework yet applied to this conflict.

Broader regional escalation is the most likely outcome at 45-50 per cent, not because anyone has decided to widen the war, but because all three principals are trapped in a dynamic where the domestic cost of appearing to concede now exceeds the strategic cost of continued fighting.

An essential document for anyone trying to think clearly about where this goes, with a helpful table embedded to help you navigate the many options. [SecDev (external link)]

Justin Logan here with a serious attempt at an exit framework, worth reading as a counterpoint to the day's prevailing mood.

Logan's case: The four stated US war aims have been achieved, so the logic for continuing is gone.

He sketches a three-phase diplomatic path, names the three spoilers (Netanyahu, the Iranian regime, rogue Iranian actors), and ends with a Clausewitz reminder that diplomacy is a political instrument just like military force.

Whether you agree or not, this is the most coherent off-ramp argument currently on the table. [Justin Logan, The American Conservative (external link)]

Alexander Langolis makes the Iraq analogy with precision rather than polemic.

Same rhetorical tools as in Iraq: Denying it's a war, shifting goalposts, vague end-states.

And the same structural conditions for mission creep: No Congressional authorisation, no defined achievable goals, no serious negotiations.

Israel has already said its renewed Lebanon campaign will outlast the Iran war.

Can Washington seriously be counted on to back out of that? [Alexander Langolis, Real Clear World (external link)]

With the perspective of a long career covering the region, Thomas Friedman comes up with three rules.

The strongest: Israel has now killed three complete generations of Hamas leadership and Hamas still governs Gaza.

Apply that logic to Iran, from a thousand miles away, from the air.

The closing line lands well: 'If you are in a hurry, you started the wrong war.' [Thomas L Friedman, The New York Times (external link)]

And while we are drawing parallels, here is Kenneth Roth with a Nixon parallel made sharp: Trump, like Nixon, needs a face-saving interval between withdrawal and the collapse of whatever he was supposed to have achieved.

The legal point, that attacking Iran's electrical infrastructure would be a war crime (the ICC has already charged Russian commanders for doing exactly this in Ukraine), is not rhetoric.

It is a factual and legal observation that stands regardless of where it comes from. [Kenneth Roth, Guardian (external link)]

As military options narrow, Tehran's calculus on terrorism is shifting, says Matthew Levitt.

He traces Iran's history of using terrorism as statecraft and argues that a regime convinced it faces existential threat has abandoned the strategic patience that once governed such decisions.

Plots have already been disrupted in the UAE, Qatar, the UK, and Azerbaijan.

The danger is not capability (Iran's track record of successful attacks is poor) but desperation. [Matthew Levitt, Foreign Affairs (external link)]

A Patrick Wintour profile of Washington's putative Iranian interlocutor, who rose to the front because the field around him was assassinated.

An IRGC hardliner with no clerical credentials and a career defined by violent suppression of dissent, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf responded to Washington's identification of him as a negotiating partner by immediately tweeting that there were no negotiations and demanding the complete and humiliating punishment of the aggressors.

The Grand National opening metaphor is apt. [Patrick Wintour, The Guardian (external link)]

While Washington talks of diplomacy and Tehran denies any talks exist, the NYT reports that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been privately urging Trump to press on with the war, arguing that the campaign presents a 'historic opportunity' to remake the region.

MbS has reportedly advocated ground operations to seize Iranian energy infrastructure, and assured Trump that the oil price spike is temporary.

That last assurance is harder to sustain given that Saudi Arabia's own overland pipelines are under attack and can carry only a fraction of normal Hormuz volumes.

A vital piece on the war's least visible but most consequential backstage actor. [Julian Barnes et al, The New York Times (external link)]

In all the theorizing, it is easy to forget that war is best understood through the human register.

Journalist Jason Rezaian, who spent 544 days in Evin Prison, watches the war through WhatsApp messages and Instagram stories from family still in Tehran, including a young relative whose post, 'Why won't it end?', was followed by silence.

The analytical argument is as sharp as anything in this batch of links: America's greatest leverage has always been with the Iranian people, not against their government, and that leverage has been systematically squandered.

The closing line is the one that will stay with you. [Jason Rezalan, The New Yorker (external link)]

The war's most underreported front is not military.

This exhaustive analysis by Shanaka Anslem Perera maps 14 simultaneous transmission channels from the Hormuz closure, from urea prices to Bangladesh's shuttered fertilizer factories to the quadratic yield curves that guarantee the Global South suffers disproportionately.

The spring planting window is closing, one irreversible day at a time, on farms whose operators cannot wait for diplomacy to catch up with biology. [Shanaka Anslem Perera (external link)]

Victor Davis Hanson from the Hoover Institution, in conversational mode: Iran is tactically defeated but the US has no strategic resolution plan.

Hanson frames this as the Napoleon/Moscow problem (Those who do not learn the lessons of history..., remember?).

Iran's surviving strategy is to outlast Trump, rebuild with Chinese and North Korean help, and bank on a return to pre-Trump American passivity.

Useful as a marker of where hawkish establishment thinking currently sits. [Victor Davis Hanson, The Daily Signal (external link)]

Not directly related to the Iran war, but I read with fascination this long, ruminative piece on intellectual history, Hannah Arendt, the failure of liberal consensus-thought, and the search for illumination in dark times.

Beautifully written, and deeply relevant to the broader civilizational argument underlying all wars.

Mishra walks his Himalayan library looking for illumination.

Arendt is the lodestone. [Pankaj Mishra, Harper's (external link)]

IMAGE: Emergency personnel work at the site following Iranian missile strikes in central Israel, March 24, 2026. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

In closing...

To go back to where we began: If one party is proposing terms the other cannot accept even as it praises 'productive conversations' while deploying paratroopers, and a second party is prosecuting the war while disclaiming any obligation to the talks, then what remains is not "negotiation", at least not in any meaningful sense.

It is hard to see recent developments, particularly from the US side, as anything more than the management of appearances, aimed at markets, midterm voters, and for the historical record that will eventually hold current events to account.

While this Kabuki theatre plays out in the foreground to keep us all distracted (Plato's cave (external link) is a good allegory to understand the gulf between perception and reality), the spring planting window is closing across four continents.

The stories in today's reading list are dispatches from a system under extreme stress, written by people trying to see clearly even in conditions designed to prevent clarity.

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
The number of people injured in Vinnytsia due to a massive drone attack by Russia on March 24 has risen to 20, the press service of the Vinnytsia City Council reported, citing Mayor Serhiy Morhunov.

"As of now, 71 damaged households have been recorded in Vinnytsia as a result of the attack. According to Morhunov, 20 people were injured, seven of whom have been hospitalized," the city council reported on its Telegram channel and official website on Wednesday.

Damage was sustained by Kindergarten No. 13 (broken windows, damaged walls), the Sadovsky Academic Music and Drama Theater, and the summer theater premises in the park.

"Yesterday, utility workers were on-site until late evening. As of Tuesday evening, March 24, the city council received reports of property damage in 35 private houses, broken windows in apartments of 7 high-rise buildings, and damage to common areas in 4 high-rise buildings. On Tuesday, crews addressed all reported broken windows in the high-rise buildings. However, as of this morning, the number of reports regarding damaged property has increased," added acting Director of the Housing Department Oleksandr Sytnyk.

It is noted that municipal services are assisting in liquidating the consequences of the attack. Damaged windows in 17 high-rise apartments and two private houses were promptly covered with plastic sheeting.

Three commissions are operating in Vinnytsia to record property damage. Residents whose property was damaged will receive additional financial support from the hromada budget.

Earlier, it was reported that 13 people were injured (including 2 in critical condition and 4 in moderate condition) and one person was killed in Vinnytsia region on March 24.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 67F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies with periods of rain late. Low 42F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
Photo: https://eurosolidarity.org/2026/03/25

People's Deputy and leader of the European Solidarity party Petro Poroshenko, speaking in the Verkhovna Rada on Wednesday, stated that a deepening crisis of state administration is unfolding in Ukraine and urged parliament to prioritize critical legislation, particularly European integration bills, according to the party's website.

"Media outlets are filled with reports of a deep parliamentary crisis in Ukraine. It is much worse. This is not a crisis of parliament; it is a crisis of state administration. And the cause is not (investigations of MPs by  IF-U) the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) or Specialized Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), not the opposition or public activists. The cause is corruption and total incompetence of the authorities," Poroshenko said.

He drew attention to the agenda of Wednesday's Verkhovna Rada session and the low attendance in the session hall. "The agenda that European Solidarity demands: every day, put forward European integration reforms, a component of the 'Kachka-Kos plan.' This includes the reboot of the SBI [State Bureau of Investigation], which the authorities fear but the European Union requires. This includes the rule of law, independence of courts, and the staffing of the Constitutional Court. They are not even coming close to these," the politician noted.

"The next position is the restoration of parliament as an institution. To consider specifically critical bills," Poroshenko added.

According to information on the Verkhovna Rada website, the first decision by people's deputies on Wednesday was made at 10:43 a.m., but at that time 94 MPs were absent, and 78 of those registered did not vote. The number of deputies in the hall gradually increased; during a vote at 12:09 p.m., 64 MPs were absent and 23 did not vote.

On Wednesday, parliamentarians supported bills on changes to legislation regarding the expansion of state support in the field of education, utility payments and the accounting of losses related to damaged real estate, the ratification of a financial agreement with the EIB on improving road networks, Ukraine's accession to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, and changes to the Civil Code regarding the improvement of legal transactions by minors.
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This is where Crayons innovation-to-impact flywheel comes in. Its a system that turns technical capabilities into scalable solutions that benefit nonprofit organisations, comprising three interconnected programmes: the ISV Innovation Hub, Partner Connections, and Tech for Good.

ISV Innovation Hub is the intake valve. This is where emerging software vendors and specialists in AI workloads, sector-specific applications, security tools, and edge computing get the support they need to become marketplace-ready and channel-ready.

Here, Crayon helps them with Azure, AWS and Alibaba Cloud listings, licensing structures, compliance requirements, and packaging. It also connects them to partners who can actually sell and deploy their solutions, ultimately helping customers find and deploy the technology.

Take Vision Group, a GenAI brought into the Hub. Crayon supported its marketplace onboarding across Microsoft, Alibaba and AWS, then personally introduced the team to partners and end customers.

As Vision Groups founder and CEO, Hui Jie, said: Rather than going to multiple different places, were able to work with Crayon to get what we need. Crayon has been instrumental in the companys ability to reach new markets, connect with and support the NGO customers that are core to its mission to use technology for the betterment of the human race.

Partner Connections provides the distribution muscle. This structured partner-to-partner programme matches Referring Partners, who own the customer relationship, with Premier Service Partners who bring deep delivery expertise.

Crayons role is to support the matchmaking, set up governance and commercial structures, and assist with pre-sales and licensing.

For partners, its a low-risk, low-cost entry point into business applications and other domains. For customers, it provides peace of mind that theyll be able to access the right skills on the right project, and achieve safer, more sustainable delivery.

Then, theTech for Good programme takes all that innovation and partner capacity and aims it squarely at NGOs, charities, social enterprises and public agencies. It aggregates discounted and donated licensing through Microsofts Tech for Social Impact and other vendor programmes, then assembles project teams from across the partner ecosystem to tackle specific challenges.

The innovation-to-impact flywheel in action

Crayon has found that having these three programmes intersect results in powerful outcomes. ISVs from the Hub become differentiating ingredients in Partner Connections projects, which is a grants management application or AI analytics engine bundled into a Dynamics 365 deployment. Meanwhile, Partner Connections gives those ISVs ready-made routes to market theyd never find on their own.

Tech for Good, in turn, functions as a purpose-driven variant of the partner-to-partner model. A local MSP serving a charity becomes the Referring Partner. A specialist in non-profit business applications or security steps in as the delivery partner. Crayon brokers the engagement, brings in discounted licensing, and wraps it in the governance and storytelling that makes impact measurable.

When WEstjustice, a community legal centre, partnered with humanIT and Crayon to enable remote work capabilities, it was able to double its caseload while reducing administrative burden and strengthening security, shares Robati.

In another example, Ability First Australia gained a comprehensive cyber assessment through ONGC Systems. And as a display of sheer innovation, the H2O Salamander amphibious vehicle project supports disaster response capabilities in island nations across the region; Crayons approach has been instrumental in its design and deployment.

Its also an approach that continues to strengthen over time. Each project feeds insights back into the system, and patterns get codified into repeatable offers, to complete the flywheel loop and keep it rolling.

The commercial case for purpose

One reality in NGO work is that profit, for suppliers, is actually a good thing. To some that might seem paradoxical on the surface, but the healthier a business that deals with NGOs is, the more work (and good) it can do.

Crayons flywheel approach doesnt mean suppliers and partners need to sacrifice commercial outcomes for warm feelings. The model supports broader priorities, including Microsofts Tech for Social Impact, AI for Earth commitments, and ESG reporting requirements, while growing cloud consumption and software licensing, adds Robati.

By 2027, Crayon envisions a larger pool of Hub ISVs solving problems across the five focus areas that matter most to the non-profit sector: humanitarian advocacy, public health, environmental protection, economic empowerment and education.

This will mean more partners with repeatable, certified offers for mission-driven organisations. And NGOs across the region reporting measurably higher digital capability and cyber resilience. Innovation will become scale, impact, and a wider range of partners will find that doing well and doing good arent mutually exclusive at all.

Be part of Crayons partner community programs by clicking here.
Fred Fleitz, vice chair of the America First Policy Institutes Center for American Security, told RFE/RL he is cautiously optimistic about possible US-Iran talks on ending the war but said Washington is reinforcing its military position to pressure Tehran into a deal.

Fleitz, a former chief of staff at the US National Security Council, said the United States appears to be seeking out Iranian officials prepared to end the conflict, while trying to work around hard-liners from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, possibly through parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and regional intermediaries.

Fleitz, who spoke to RFE/RL's Regional Director Amra Zejneli Loxha, said Irans first public response to the reported US 15-point plan should not be overread, describing it as a sign of divisions within the Iranian leadership. He added that if diplomacy collapses and Iran keeps threatening shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, US President Donald Trump could escalate by targeting Irans energy infrastructure.

Washington has reportedly sent Iran a 15-point proposal that includes a cease-fire, keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, dismantling Iran's nuclear program, ending support for proxy groups, and lifting sanctions on Iran.

Iranian media reported that Tehran laid out its own conditions for ending the war.

RFE/RL: Mr. Fleitz, there appears to be some limited momentum toward negotiations between the US and Iran. Are you optimistic that these talks could lead anywhere?

Fred Fleitz: Well, I'm cautiously optimistic. And I should add that it's the first inclination or preference of President Trump to use diplomacy ahead of military force. And I think he's looking for a way to find responsible Iranian leaders who would like to stop the violence, would like to stop the war, stop the bombing.

And I think what we're trying to do is to try to get around the Revolutionary Guards radicals and probably radicals with the supreme leader. And I don't really know [if] the supreme leader is running the country. That's why I believe we've been working reportedly with the speaker of the Iranian parliament to see if a negotiated settlement can come about to end the war and to secure the Strait of Hormuz.

RFE/RL: When President Trump says that the US is talking to the right people in Iran, who exactly does he mean? Is it the parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf?

Fleitz: I've heard reports that's who it is. There could be other people. The problem is that this government is fragmented. There are elements of the government that are fanatics, such as the Revolutionary Guards, who may try to kill officials who want to negotiate peace. So that might be why the president has been hesitant to name exactly who the US is dealing with.

RFE/RL: If there is still no clear public Iranian counterpart, how confident can Washington really be that it is speaking to people who can actually deliver a deal?

Fleitz: Well, I'm not in the government, but I think that our State Department has a good deal of sources. We're also working with Turkey, with Pakistan, with Egypt, other states who have connections in Iran. So I can't tell you how we know this, but I believe that the US government actually is in touch with people who can speak on behalf of the Iranian government.

RFE/RL: There have been reports that Washington has sent Iran a 15-point proposal that includes a cease-fire, keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, dismantling Iran's nuclear program, ending support for proxy groups, and lifting sanctions on Iran. What do you think of the prospects that the 15-point plan can lead to peace?

Fleitz: Well, it states the objectives that the US would like to promote stability in the region. And it includes things that the Iranian regime has refused to agree to. It has refused to negotiate in good faith. It wants to keep enriching uranium. It won't give up its missile program. We now know it has an enormous missile program that can strike Western Europe, possibly Paris and London. These are unacceptable threats to global security. And if there's going to be a negotiated settlement, they're going to have to be addressed.

RFE/RL: What are some of the most contentious issues and, on the other hand, the lowest-hanging fruit?

Fleitz: Well, I guess the contentious issue is to try to find a way to quickly secure the Strait of Hormuz. I hope Iran will quickly agree to give up its pursuit of uranium enrichment and give up the buried containers of near-weapons-grade uranium hexafluoride, which could be used to fuel a nuclear weapon. I'm not sure what the hanging fruit would be. I think the biggest challenge is to get the Iranian regime to agree to anything. I think we're still in the process of getting them to agree to actually negotiate. I think we've made some progress with some initial queries, but we need to get an Iranian representative [to] sit down with the US or with an intermediary to start talking.

RFE/RL: To what extent do you think trust can be a problem given that in previous talks they were interrupted by US attacks?

Fleitz: Well, Iran is making that accusation that they don't trust the US, because they were engaged with talks with the US last June and then in January. And in the middle of the talks, supposedly the US began -- the US or Israel -- began attacking Iran.

That's not exactly accurate. The Iranians were refusing to negotiate in good faith and were facing ultimatums by the United States. They knew that. They thought they could drag out talks indefinitely. When they tried to do that, military operations began. And I think the Iranian government is concerned right now, whatever is left of it, because there are American troops on the way, Marines and paratroopers. I think that strengthens America's hand. But I believe if we begin negotiating in good faith and Iran does too, there'll be a good agreement.

RFE/RL: If the US is moving toward diplomacy, why is it also reinforcing its military presence in the region with additional troop deployments?

Fleitz: I believe that President Trump wants to try diplomacy, but he doesn't know whether it will work out. And I believe by sending more troops to the region, he's strengthening his hand and putting more pressure on Iranian officials to make a deal.

RFE/RL: The first statements are now coming out of Iran on the 15-point plan. Based on reporting, Iran is demanding concrete guarantees to prevent a recurrence of war. It reviewed the proposal and, as reported, it considers it excessive. Iran says its defensive operations will continue until its conditions are met. It demands clear determination and guaranteed payment for war damage. The first condition for the end of war is end of attacks and assassinations. What are your first thoughts?

Fleitz: I don't know how true that is. I also heard the Iranians claiming that there were no negotiations, that they hadn't been in touch with the US. A lot of what we're hearing reflects fracturing within the Iranian government and people who don't want any negotiations. We will see what happens when there are talks between the US and an Iranian representative or an Iranian representative and an intermediary negotiating on behalf of the United States. So, I don't read much into that. And there's not going to be reparations. Iran's responsible for this conflict.

RFE/RL: So, if these talks fail, how do you see the situation evolving?

Fleitz: I believe that if these talks fail and if Iran continues to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz that President Trump may carry through with his threat to destroy Iran's energy infrastructure. And I think Iranian leaders want to prevent that.

RFE/RL: Last June, when we spoke, you said you were concerned about who might rule Iran if the supreme leader were to fall and that this was one reason the United States should stay out of the regime-change business in this instance. Do you still feel that way today?

Fleitz: I'm concerned what the transition will look like when this regime falls. I think this regime will fall. I don't know how soon. There are some good players, including the late shah's son (Reza Pahlavi), who I think would be a good leader, but I don't know how strong his support is in the country. I do believe, however, that our State Department and Israel have given a lot, a lot of thought to a transition, to an interim government. I just don't know the details of that planning.

RFE/RL: What do you think is the real US objective at this point?

Fleitz: I think the US has achieved its objectives. It has basically destroyed Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons and has stopped it from assembling what would have been a missile shield that would have protected Iran's nuclear weapons development.

And, by the end of the year, if we had not taken out Iran's missile-production capability, I don't think further attacks on Iran would have been possible. Iran would have a nuclear weapon. Those are major achievements.

We've also significantly undermined Iran's ability to project power abroad, as well as its internal security organizations that were being used to suppress and kill the Iranian people. These are great achievements. They will promote global security, hopefully to give the Iranian people a chance to take back their country.

RFE/RL: If this war ends without regime change, how do you think ordinary Iranians will view that outcome?

Fleitz: Look, I don't think anyone who thought when this war began that it would be possible to change the regime from the air. This is not regime change. It's regime weakening. It's creating opportunities for the Iranian people to take back their country. And this includes rather aggressive attacks on the Basij militias, which are basically the Nazis of Iran that are being used to kill Iranians who go out on the street and demonstrate. They're being hunted down by Israeli attack drones. It's just remarkable. There are pictures of them hiding under bridges doing other things so they can somehow harass the Iranian people, but also hide. I understand they're also hiding in taxi cabs. You know, if there's another mass demonstration, and I know it will be very, very risky for the Iranian people, the ability of the regime to put that down will be significantly weakened.
WASHINGTON -- As Iranian drone and missile attacks test American defenses in the Middle East, a visiting Ukrainian delegation says the United States is now facing a battlefield reality Kyiv has been adapting to since the early months of Russias full-scale invasion.

The mass and scale attack of cheap dronesreally changes how systems perform, Maryna Hrytsenko, executive director of the Kyiv-based Snake Island Institute, told RFE/RL in an interview during a visit to Washington on March 24.

Her warning comes as Ukrainian officials seek to translate frontline experience into strategic lessons for Western partners -- arguing that Ukraines war has become a real-world stress test for modern air defense.

At the center of that message is a stark economic imbalance. Advanced systems like the Patriot air defense system remain highly effective but using them against waves of low-cost drones is unsustainable over time.

We understood for a very long time that it's not cost-effective to use $4.5 million missiles for Patriots to shoot down a $500,000 Shahed drone, Hrytsenko said.

A War Ukraine Knows Well

The Ukrainian delegations US visit -- following appearances at a security forum in Miami and continuing meetings across Washington -- comes as conflicts involving Iran highlight vulnerabilities that Ukraine has been documenting since 2022.

The group includes not only policy and analytical staff from the Snake Island Institute, but also Ukrainian military practitioners directly involved in air defense operations.

Among them are an air force representative who works closely with US systems and a senior officer from the Army Corps responsible for implementing air defense across the front line.

According to Hrytsenko, their role is to provide battlefield-validated insight into how Western systems perform under sustained, large-scale attacks -- something the US has had limited experience with until recently.

I think what America has faced for the first time is the mass-scale attack of cheap dronesthat really changes how systems perform, she said.

Hrytsenko said the Middle East is not yet experiencing the full spectrum of threats Ukraine faces today but recent developments echo earlier phases of the war.

I think the Middle East is not facing everything that we are facing right now, she said, noting differences in maritime capabilities and battlefield dynamics.

Still, she pointed to parallels in the use of mass drone attacks and the targeting of detection systems.

Not only the air defense systems are important, but the radars, right? The ability to understand where this [threat] is coming from, she said, recalling how similar challenges emerged in Ukraine after Iranian-designed drones were introduced in large numbers.

Ukraines response has been to build a layered air defense system -- combining Western platforms with new technologies such as interceptor drones, acoustic sensors, and even citizen reporting networks.

The approach is detailed in a recent Snake Island Institute report, Holding Back the Sky, which tracks the evolution of Ukraines air defense from Soviet-era systems in 2022 to a hybrid architecture by early 2026.

Partnership, Not Assistance

In meetings with the White House, Congress, the Pentagon, and think tanks, the delegation is pushing a consistent message: Ukraine should be treated as a security partner, not just a recipient of aid.

We dont believe in assistance, Hrytsenko said. We believe that long-term cooperation is built through partnership.

She argued that Ukraine can help the US address broader strategic challenges -- from Europe to the Indo-Pacific -- by sharing battlefield-tested solutions and reducing the burden on American forces.

Ukraine can actually be that powerthat can help America to fit its goals and lower its presence if needed in Europe, she said.

The delegation is also emphasizing practical cooperation, including ongoing testing of Ukrainian drone and defense technologies in the US and the need to integrate training alongside procurement.

There is already some of the Ukrainian systems that are being tested here, she said, adding that implementation -- not just acquisition -- is critical.

Divided Attention, Shared Threats

The widening conflict involving Iran has had mixed implications for Ukraine, Hrytsenko said.

On one hand, it has reinforced Kyivs warnings about the growing accessibility of drone warfare -- even for nonstate actors.

The threshold of enteringmilitary combathas really, really lowered, she said, noting that components can now be sourced cheaply and assembled at scale.

On the other hand, shifting US attention and resources pose risks. Interceptor stockpiles -- particularly for systems like Patriot -- have been drawn down, potentially limiting near-term deliveries to Ukraine.

Americans have used a lot of their stockpiles, she said, adding that Ukraine continues to explore alternatives but faces challenges in producing comparable systems domestically.

At the same time, she pointed to what Kyiv sees as an increasingly coordinated alignment among US adversaries.

I think the adversary connection has never been more clear now, she said, citing cooperation between Russia, Iran, China, and North Korea.

According to Hrytsenko, Russia is already supporting Iran in ways that directly affect US interests.

Our government says that Russia is giving intelligence to the Iranians that impacts and literally helps Iranians to take American lives and Israeli lives, she said.

War And Diplomacy Intertwined

On the battlefield, Ukraine continues to balance military operations with diplomatic efforts.

Hrytsenko confirmed that Kyiv is pursuing gains to strengthen its negotiating position, while adapting to an increasingly drone-centric war.

Right now, it's all more about drones, she said, emphasizing the growing importance of air defense at the front line.

At the same time, Ukraine has shifted its communications approach, focusing less on announcing counteroffensives in advance and more on operational surprise.

We switch not to just talking about making some counteroffensive measures, but mostly making them, she said.

Despite ongoing fighting, she reiterated that Ukraine remains open to negotiations -- but on terms shaped by strength.

Russia only understands strength, she said.

Beyond Weapons: Lessons To Implement

For the Snake Island Institute, the goal of the Washington visit is not just to share insights but to influence how they are applied.

It goes a long way from just reading and knowingto making the decision, Hrytsenko said.

She stressed that cooperation should go beyond procurement to include training and integration of Ukrainian systems into US military structures.

Its not enough to just procure Ukrainian weapons, she said. The training, the way that you implement thisis key.

That includes ongoing collaboration on drone technologies, electronic warfare, and maritime systems -- some of which are already being tested in joint frameworks.

As the US confronts evolving threats in multiple regions, Ukrainian officials say their experience offers a preview of what modern warfare increasingly looks like -- and a case for deeper cooperation built on it.
WASHINGTON -- A new report by the Yale School of Public Health's Humanitarian Research Lab alleges that Russian state-owned energy giants Gazprom and Rosneft were directly involved in the transfer and political indoctrination of thousands of Ukrainian children, speakers said during a March 25 press conference releasing the report.

The report, Willing Accomplices: Gazprom & Rosneft's Role In The Transport and Indoctrination of Ukraine's Children, concludes "with high confidence" that the companies and their subsidiaries facilitated the transportation and/or reeducation of at least 2,158 children from Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine between 2022 and 2025.

It identifies six camps in Russia and Russian-occupied territories where children were taken, including facilities owned by Gazprom subsidiaries, and says the effort is part of a broader, systematic campaign.

"Gazprom and Rosneft are critical components of President [Vladimir] Putin's industrial-scale campaign of child deportation, transportation indoctrination," said Nathaniel Raymond, executive director of the research lab.

The report says children from Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhya regions were transported to camps where they were exposed to pro-Russian messaging and, in some cases, militarized activities described as "patriotic education."

Russian officials frequently portray their involvement with Ukrainian children as a humanitarian gesture -- sheltering, feeding, or protecting minors from the war -- or as a necessity due to the breakdown of services in occupied regions.

"We know that children from Ukraine have been taken to at least six campseither sponsored by Gazprom and Rosneftordirectly owned by Gazprom subsidiaries," said lead researcher Paige Farrenkopf.

She said the research confirmed that "at least 2,158 kidswere taken to these camps," adding that transfers continued "as recently as summer 2025."

Corporate Network, Limited Sanctions

According to the report, Gazprom subsidiaries and trade unions helped organize transport, issued camp vouchers, and facilitated activities defined as "reeducation," which includes promoting pro-Russian narratives and minimizing Ukrainian identity.

The report also highlights the scale of corporate involvement, identifying 44 entities linked to the effort, including subsidiaries and trade unions tied to the companies. It says 80 percent of them are not currently under US or European sanctions.

"Of the 44 entities our report identifies, 80 percent are not sanctioned," Farrenkopf said.

A companion analysis from Stanford University warns that a recent US sanctions waiver could allow the companies to continue generating revenue.

"This matters, because American foreign policy isputting dollars directly into the pockets of two Russian companies implicated in the forcible transfer and reeducation of Ukrainian children," said researcher Ruth Gibson.

The Yale report notes that a March US Treasury license temporarily allowed certain Russian oil shipments to proceed, potentially benefiting Gazprom and Rosneft despite existing sanctions.

Asked by RFE/RL about the methodology, Farrenkopf said the findings were based entirely on publicly available information.

"Our methodology actually entirely relied on open-source information," she said, adding that subsidiaries of the companies "directly claimed that they were involvedin facilitating the transport and reeducation of Ukraine's children."

Raymond said the findings have already been shared with US officials.

"We have communicated the report to both houses of Congress and to the Trump administration," he said, adding that the State Department had been briefed on the initial findings.

Broader War Crimes Context

The report argues that the involvement of major state-linked corporations and their subsidiaries shows a coordinated effort beyond government agencies.

"What this report demonstratesis that this campaign[is] a whole of government approach[that] involve[s] Russian private companies," Raymond said.

The findings build on previous investigations into the deportation of Ukrainian children, which led the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants for Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's children's rights commissioner.

Yale researchers say the new report is the first to provide detailed evidence linking major Russian corporations and their subsidiaries to that campaign.
Ukraine launched hundreds of drones at Russian targets early on March 25, hitting a major port in a spike in fighting as peace talks appear to stall despite an attempt by Kyiv to revive them in Florida last weekend.

According to Russia's Defense Ministry, nearly 400 Ukrainian drones were launched at more than 10 Russian regions and the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula, in what many said was the single largest assault attempt by Ukraine since the war broke out just over four years ago.

The Ukrainian barrage, which came a day after nearly 1,000 Russian drones targeted regions across Ukraine, hit one of Russia's largest petroleum export outlets. According to Leningrad regional Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko, Russia's Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga caught fire as a result of the attack.

"A fire is currently being extinguished," Drozdenko wrote on Telegram, as user-generated videos on Russian and Ukrainian Telegram channels showed pillars of smoke allegedly rising from the facility, a key site for oil and gas exports on the Baltic Sea.

Ukraine's security service confirmed the attack, calling it Kyiv's "gift" to Russia on the Day of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).

Reuters news agency reported that according to its calculations, about 40 percent of Russia's crude oil export capabilities, or around 2 million barrels per day, were shut as of March 25 after the strike on Ust-Luga.

This month, Ukraine has hit "all three of Russia's major western oil export ports," Reuters said: Novorossiisk on the Black Sea and Primorsk and Ust-Luga on the Baltic Sea.

Oil exports are a major source of revenue for Russia, which has benefitted from a sharp increase in global oil prices since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran on February 28.

Separately, Ukrainian military forces said a Russian icebreaker, the Purga, was hit at the shipyard in the city of Vyborg, also located in the Leningrad region, more than 900 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

"It was prepared to serve the Border Guard Service of the Federal Security Service (FSB) of the Russian Federation. Such vessels perform the functions of both an icebreaker and warship," the statement released on March 25 said.

Russian authorities did not immediately comment on the strike, though Drozdenko said the roof of a residential building in Vyborg was damaged, warning of more incoming drones and a possible reduction in Internet speeds in the area.

The new attacks followed similar ones on March 23 that forced Ust-Luga and another major port on the Gulf of Finland, Primorsk, to suspend exports of crude oil and fuel for a day.

Kyiv has stepped up its strikes on Russian energy infrastructure amid fears that rising oil prices, and a temporary easing of US sanctions on Russia due to conflict in the Middle East, could stimulate Moscow's economy and further fuel its military invasion.

Meanwhile, at least four people were reported killed and 27 others injured in the past 24 hours by Russian strikes in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk and southern Zaporizhzhya and Kherson regions, all partly occupied by Russia.

In Ukraine's northern Chernihiv region, at least 150,000 more people were left without electricity on March 25 following a strike that targeted local energy facility. Nearly 150 Russian drones were reportedly launched on Ukraine's territory.

Separately, Estonia and Latvia, bordering with Russia's Leningrad and Pskov regions, reported drone incursions from Russian territory. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said a drone hit a local power plant, but "was not directed" at the country.

"This is a concrete consequence of Russias full-scale war of aggression," Tsahkna wrote on X. No casualties or damage to the power station were reported in the incident.

Days earlier, Ukraine attempted to revive US-backed peace negotiations with Russia, as the talks had sputtered to a halt after multiple rounds held at the start of the year.

Kyiv's team of top officials, including Rustem Umerov, Kyrylo Budanov, David Arakhamia, and Serhiy Kyslytsya, met with the US delegation that included special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner on March 22 in Florida.

With both sides saying discussions mainly focused on security guarantees, the only apparent result was "possible" further prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine, announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after the talks.

Zelenskyy added it was clear the United States were concentrated on its own war with Iran. He earlier suggested Moscow had felt "impunity" while global attention has largely shifted to the United States and Israel's war with Iran.

On March 19, the Kremlin said that the trilateral talks between Washington, Moscow, and Kyiv were on a "situational pause." It added Russia hoped for fresh talks to take place as soon as their "American partners" could pay more attention to Ukrainian affairs.

On March 25, President Vladimir Putin's chief foreign policy aide, Yury Ushakov, said Russia was briefed by the United States about the US-Ukrainian talks in Florida: "We know where we stand now."

US President Donald Trump has sought to end the war in Ukraine since he took office in January 2025, but Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart on crucial issues, including control over Ukrainian territory in the Donbas, which includes the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, with Russia showing no readiness for compromise.

"I'd like [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin and President Zelenskyy sit down and make a deal," Trump said on March 24. "I think they are getting close, but I've been saying that for a while.

On March 25, Reuters quoted Zelenskyy as saying in an interview that the US is prepared to offer Ukraine strong security guarantees if Kyiv withdraws its forces from the portion of the Donbas they still hold.

"The Americans are prepared to finalize these guarantees at a high level once Ukraine is ready to withdraw from [the] Donbas," Zelenskyy said.

Russia baselessly claims Donetsk, Luhansk, and two other regions in mainland Ukraine as its own. Zelenskyy said a withdrawal would jeopardize the security of Ukraine and Europe by handing strong Ukrainian defensive positions to Russia.



"I would very much like the American side to understand that the eastern part of our country is part of our security guarantees," Reuters quoted him as saying.

It said the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Washington's plan for ending the Iran war has 15 points, Tehran's has five, and each crosses the other side's red lines.

The details of the US proposal have not been made public, but it has been widely reported on. It's believed to be similar in many respects to proposals made before the current conflict began with Israeli and US air strikes on February 28.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt has told reporters that "there are elements of truth" in media reports on the 15 points.

In the competing plans, new elements are thought to include demands by both sides concerning the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for global supplies of oil, gas, and other commodities that Iran is currently blocking.

US Demands

The single most important US demand is one that US President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated. He also says that Iran has agreed to it.

Theyd like to make a deal, he told reporters during an Oval Office event on March 24. Theyve agreed they will never have a nuclear weapon.

The United States and its allies, including Israel and major European nations, have been concerned about the prospect of Iran developing nuclear weapons for many years. Iran has always denied wishing to do so.

Even if this was true, Iran is now under new leadership and has come under intense US and Israeli attacks that launched two wars -- the first one being June last year. The intentions of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has still not been seen since his appointment was announced on March 8, are inscrutable.

Likewise, its not entirely clear to what extent he or other players are currently calling the shots in Tehran, nor the degree to which senior Iranian officials are even able to communicate with each other amid ongoing air strikes that have killed so many top figures.

Trump said on March 25 that Iranian officials were "afraid" to admit they were communicating with US negotiators "because they figure they'll be killed by their own people."

The 15-point plan reportedly includes a 1-month cease-fire while details are worked out. The plan includes many other US demands, such as dismantling Iranian nuclear facilities, handing over enriched uranium stocks to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and agreeing not to enrich in the future.

Further points are said to put limits on Irans missile capabilities and an end to Irans support for regional proxy forces, such as Hezbollah, regarded as a terrorist organization by Washington.

While many of these were already US demands before the war, some, such as reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending Iranian strikes on regional energy facilities, would be a response to Irans wartime actions since February 28.

In return, Iran would see sanctions lifted and get US assistance with a civilian nuclear power program.

The reported parameters of the US proposal do not lack ambition: Sanctions relief in return for sweeping Iranian concessions, Naysan Rafati, senior Iran analyst at the International Crisis Group, told RFE/RL.

But if past is prelude, its feasibility would rest on the Islamic republic's willingness to fold under fire on what have long been its red lines. On the nuclear front, for example, Tehran has continued to insist on the right to uranium enrichment It has also rejected the notion of negotiating over its missile program, he added.

Irans Position

Iranian officials have not only said talks are not taking place, theyve also mocked US statements on the matter, with military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaqari saying that the Trump administration was negotiating with itself.

No one like us will make a deal with you. Not now. Not ever, he added in comments on March 25.

Meanwhile, some of Tehrans demands contradict US positions.

Examples include recognition of Irans control or authority over the Strait of Hormuz, along with the right to charge passage fees, and the right to an unrestricted missile program.

The Iranian demands also clearly cross US red lines, demanding Washington close its military bases in the Persian Gulf, pay war reparations, and guarantee that it will not attack Iran again.

For now, at least, the promise of economic relief and pain of continued strikes seem unlikely to prompt Iranian compromise on the scale Washington seeks, said Rafati. The regime as a whole doesn't yet see its wartime position as desperate enough to agree to the US terms.

Fred Fleitz, vice chair of the America First Policy Institutes Center for American Security, had a similar take.

I think the biggest challenge is to get the Iranian regime to agree to anything. I think we're still in the process of getting them to agree to actually negotiate. I think we've made some progress with some initial queries, but we need to get an Iranian representative, sit down with the US or with an intermediary to start talking, he told RFE/RL.
SBU and General Staff report strikes on Ust-Luga oil terminal in Russia and communication nodes in occupied territories

Photo: General Staff

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), in cooperation with the Defense Forces, conducted a successful special operation to strike the oil terminal infrastructure at the port of Ust-Luga, Russia.

"A gift to the enemy for SBU Day: the SBU, together with the SBS, SSO, HUR, and DPSU, conducted a successful special operation to strike the infrastructure of the Ust-Luga port oil terminal," the SBU reported on its Telegram channel on Wednesday.

According to the SBU, this is one of Russias key Baltic Sea ports, through which the enemy exports crude oil and petroleum products, including via the so-called "shadow fleet."

"Todays special operation is a symbolic gift to the enemy for SBU Day. It is another reminder that there are no longer any safe regions in Russia. We will continue our long-range work to systematically reduce the enemys military-economic potential," stated Acting Head of the SBU Major General Yevheniy Khmara.

The SBU emphasized that long-range drones from the SBUs "Alpha" Special Operations Center traveled over 900 km to successfully strike their targets.

"As a result of the attack, oil-loading arms were hit, along with a tank farm containing oil and petroleum products. A large-scale fire is recorded at the port, which was confirmed by the Governor of the Leningrad region," the agency highlighted.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported strikes not only on the NOVATEK-Ust-Luga plant in Russia but also on communication nodes in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

"On the night of March 25, during a joint operation, the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the NOVATEK-Ust-Luga plant in the Leningrad region, Russia. According to preliminary information, the tank farm and loading arms (devices for loading/unloading oil and petroleum products) were hit. A fire was recorded on the enterprises territory," the General Staffs Telegram channel stated.

Additionally, communication nodes of enemy units were hit in Donetsk, and in the settlements of Velyka Novosilka and Hirnyk in the occupied part of Donetsk region, as well as an enemy communication node in the Fedorivka area of Zaporizhzhia region.

"Striking such objects significantly complicates the command of enemy units and their coordination of combat operations," the General Staff added.

Russian losses and the scale of the damage are being clarified.

The Ukrainian special service notes that this is the second SBU attack on Russias Baltic oil exports this week: on March 23, SBU drones successfully targeted the port of Primorsk, where a fire continues to burn.
Restoration of the key 400 kV VulcanestiIsaccea power transmission line between Romania and Moldova, which was damaged as a result of a Russian attack on Ukraine on the evening of March 23, will take between five and seven days, with assistance from NPC Ukrenergo, Moldovan Energy Minister Dorin Zhungietu said.

"On March 23, 2026, at approximately 7:15 p.m., due to Russian attacks on Ukrainian territory, our energy infrastructure, property of the Republic of Moldova, was damaged. Several drones were directed at it, and as we can see in this photo, it was precisely as a result of this that our IsacceaVulcanesti line was affected," Zhungietu said in a video posted on the Moldovan Energy Ministrys Facebook page on Wednesday morning.

"There are broken conductors, which Ukrenergo will help us repair, and, as was stated yesterday evening in parliament, the work will take from five to seven days," the minister explained.

He said that such incidents necessitated the introduction of a state of emergency in Moldovas energy sector.

As reported, citing Moldovas Energy Ministry, the 400 kV IsacceaVulcanesti transmission line between Romania and Moldova was disconnected overnight into Tuesday, March 24, due to Russian strikes on energy infrastructure in southern Ukraine. The countries coordinated the use of four alternative 110 kV transmission lines.
By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

The completion date for the new Childrens Hospital has slipped again, with the board saying it has been told by the lead developer it will not be finished by the end of April.

Until this week, the latest date for substantial completion of the multi-billion-euro Dublin hospital had been April 30th.

But the Oireachtas Health Committee was told on Wednesday that this would not be met and there was currently no target date.

It is recognised as the 19th completion date for the major infrastructure project, which is being led by contractor BAM.

National Paediatric Hospital Development Board chief officer David Gunning said the news was a huge disappointment (Brian Lawless/PA)

The serially delayed project had an original completion date of August 2022, while costs have ballooned from a planned 650 million to an expected 2.2 billion.

David Gunning, chief officer of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board, told TDs on Wednesday: A meeting with the senior BAM team yesterday morning, March 24th, confirmed that they would not deliver on their April 30th substantial completion (SC) date.

This is obviously a huge disappointment, as BAM has already delayed this SC date 18 times.

And however, while BAM is not achieving SC, BAM is advising us that they expect to have areas of the hospital completed by the end of April.

Mr Gunning said the employers representative was in the process of writing to BAM to formally request an updated contract programme.

He said the contractor had 15 working days to respond to that, adding: When we get that response, we will then understand what the new date is.

Committee chairman and Social Democrats TD Padraig Rice said it was certainly disappointing that the 18th deadline will be missed and well move to a 19th deadline.

Sinn Fein health spokesman David Cullinane said the development could not be described as a bombshell because nobody believed that it was going to be met in the first instance.

He said: Thats just an illustration of how bad this process and how bad this project has been.

It has been a disaster from start to finish, because were dealing with massive cost overruns, billions of euro in taxpayers money, 18 completion dates which have come and gone, design changes and all of the problems that weve had with the project, and fundamentally a flawed contract that was an absolute disaster.

I hope we never see the likes of that contract again  and bizarrely, it was a contract that was signed off on by the current Minister for Finance Simon Harris, which is even more bizarre.

The committee also heard there were concerns about a noisy ventilation system which could threaten to disrupt clinical service, with the devleopment board saying it was very hard to determine if this would cause delays to a handover.

After the completion of construction by main contractor BAM, the hospital will also require an estimated seven-month commissioning period before it is ready for use.

But Childrens Health Ireland (CHI) has raised concerns about transporting patients in the higher-risk winter period.

Project costs have ballooned from a planned 650 million to an expected 2.2 billion (Brian Lawless/PA)

CHI chief executive Lucy Nugent said: As the prolongation of the substantial complete date and then the opening date pushes into, potentially, into a winter period, so we are looking at all options for opening this hospital as soon as possible.

So for example, we will be looking at how the flu season in the southern hemisphere is, how it would potentially play out for us in the winter, were looking at vaccination rates.

We have also partnered with a lot of other hospitals around the world who have moved. So far, we have had engaged one hospital in Norway who actually moved in the winter of November last year.

However, they werent moving on the scale and size that we were, it was a small unit.

She said: We continue to evaluate the situation, and when it comes to the actual day-one opening date, we will risk assess is it safe to do so.
The Scoil Mhuire Strokestown school community has expressed its deep sadness following the death of Mary Murray, who was described as a "much-valued and respected" former member of staff.

Ms Murray joined the school in 1976 and gave many years of dedicated service until her retirement in 2011.

During her time in Scoil Mhuire, she taught both English and Religion with great passion and commitment.

In social media message, the school said she had "a quiet and gentle presence with an unassuming nature, yet possessed a quiet strength and determination, especially when it came to supporting school activities and events".

"Mary was deeply involved in school life. She played a significant role in organising and supporting carol services and school masses, in particular our opening school masses and graduation masses. Mary was always willing to help with charitable causes, including collections for Concern, Trocaire and St. Vincent de Paul, reflecting her strong sense of compassion and care for others.

"She was particularly considerate and supportive of students with additional needs, always striving to bring out the best in every student in her care. Her inclusive approach ensured that all students felt valued and encouraged.

"Throughout her years in Scoil Mhuire, Mary formed many lifelong friendships among staff and left a lasting impression on all who had the pleasure of working with her. She will be remembered as a kind, dedicated and gracious colleague - truly a lady in every sense of the word," said the school.

Scoil Mhuire expressed its deepest sympathy to Marys husband Francis, her sons Padraig and Damien, her daughters Maria and Therese (who is also a colleague at the school) and their families.

Ms Murray (nee McDonnell), Lenamalla, Four Roads and Lacken, Rahara, passed away peacefully today, Wednesday, surrounded by her loving family and in the devoted care of the staff at The Claddagh Ward at Galway University Hospital.

Reposing at Smyths Funeral Home, Roscommon on Friday evening from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. followed by removal (via Sandfield, Lacken and Athleague) to Damien and Martinas home in Lenamalla.

Removal on Saturday morning at 11.15 a.m., arriving to the Church of Christ the Good Shepherd, Four Roads for Funeral Mass at 11.30 a.m.. Burial afterwards in Tisrara Cemetery.
The issue of carrying out works at a number of church car parks was raised at the March meeting of the Roscommon Municipal District.

The issue was highlighted during a discussion on the MDs road works scheme for 2026.

Independent councillor Michael Holland outlined that the car park outside Ballintubber Church, which was developed by Roscommon County Council about 25 years ago, had a lot of potholes and needed to be surfaced badly.

He said that local people had to fill in the potholes for a recent funeral.

After speaking to the parish priest and the parish council, Cllr Holland said it was hoped the car-park grounds would be signed over to the council.

Cllr Paschal Fitzmaurice (FF) pointed out that there were several places where lands were given by the church for car parks.

He said it was his understanding that in such cases, there was a documentation involved which stated the words dedicated for public use.

MD Co-ordinator Tom McDermott said when it came to the council taking charge in these situations, it was similar to the local authority taking over a road.

During the discussion, Cllr Marty McDermott (FF) highlighted the need for the Sacred Heart Church car park in Roscommon Town to be re-marked.

He said the lines were quite faded and the matter was raised with him by local people on numerous occasions.

CllrMcDermott did note that the car park was not a council asset so it wasnt obliged to carry out this.

However, he asked if any solution could be found between the council and the church to address the matter.

*Published under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
Photo: https://t.me/Zaluzhnui/

Further coordination of efforts by international partners to strengthen Ukraines defense capability, as well as issues of exchanging combat experience and experience in building a modern and transparent defense procurement system, were discussed by Ukraines Ambassador to the United Kingdom, former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhny and National Armaments Director of the Swedish Ministry of Defense Lieutenant General Goran Martenson.

"Held a meeting with the National Armaments Director of the Swedish Ministry of Defense, Lieutenant General Goran Martenson. We talked about the war in Ukraine and further coordination of efforts by international partners to strengthen our countrys defense capability and stability in the region," Zaluzhny wrote on Telegram on Wednesday.

According to him, special attention was paid to the exchange of experience in building a modern and transparent defense procurement system, which is being formed taking into account wartime challenges and the best practices of partner countries.

"We also talked about Ukraines combat experience  important for partners in the context of defense planning and modernization of the armed forces," Zaluzhny added.
YEYS 2026: Young People Must Be at the Heart of Shaping Europes Future

At the "Your Europe, Your Say!" event, participants put forward proposals to contribute to the EU's next strategy for young people.

Interview with Seamus Boland, EESC President (Photo credit: Mahame Divin Robert - EESC)

Radio Romania International, 25.03.2026, 17:44

The aim of the annual event Your Europe, Your Say! (YEYS), organized by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on 1920 March in Brussels, was to explore the theme of Meaningful Connections, Active Participation and Democratic Engagement. The event brought together almost 140 participants, including secondary school students and their teachers, as well as young adults involved with youth organizations. They reflected on how young people can engage in stronger democratic participation and inclusive dialogue through YEYS interactive workshops, networking activities, and collaborative discussions.

At the EESC, we believe that young people must be at the heart of shaping Europes future, stressed Seamus Boland, EESC President. Eugen Cojocariu from RRI briefly discussed this with Mr. Boland.
Miners stage protests in Bucharest

After protests at the company's headquarters and in Targu Jiu, coal miners from the Oltenia Energy Group came to Bucharest to voice their discontent.

Miners protest in Bucharest Photo: Agerpres

Daniela Budu, 25.03.2026, 13:50

Around 1,000 employees with the Oltenia Energy Group in southwestern Romania picketed the government head offices in Bucharest on Tuesday over job losses, the lack of social protection measures for laid off staff, and the prospective closing of mining operations in 2030, as undertaken by Romania under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

The protests of the Oltenia Energy Group employees started more than two weeks ago in Targu Jiu, with several dozen coal miners also traveling to Bucharest, where they went on hunger strike in front of the Energy Ministry. People are unhappy that nearly 2,000 employees with fixed-term employment contracts will remain without a job.

Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan discussed on Tuesday with a delegation of miners trade unions about the companys financial indicators and the employees concerns. They requested the renewal of individual fixed-term employment contracts or compensation packages for the personnel whose contracts will not be renewed.

The PM explained that their demands cannot be met, and the restructuring plan challenged by the employees must be implemented as undertaken by Romania. As Ilie Bolojan pointed out, these commitments and the financial state of the company, which reported about EUR 200 million in losses last year, led to the measures that must be taken now.

According to the PM, the measures being implemented are based on documents adopted as early as in 2020 and are part of the restructuring and decarbonisation programme approved at a national and European level.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Muntele trade union, which brings together coal miners and energy sector workers in the Valea Jiului Energy Group, also in southwestern Romania, voiced its solidarity with the protests of fellow miners from the Oltenia Energy Group, emphasising that the government and the energy ministry need to find solutions to the problems reported by the unionists.

According to this trade union, the government needs to renegotiate the mine closure with Brussels, as the deadline for the closure and reclamation of two coal mines in Valea Jiului is December 31, 2026, which is not feasible.

Like most EU member countries, Romania has officially committed to phasing out coal from its energy mix by the end of 2030. The process has already begun, with the decommissioning of some energy groups. This commitment is part of the national decarbonisation strategy and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Coal-fired power plants will be replaced with renewable sources (solar, wind farms) and gas-fired power plants, with an emphasis on green technologies, to ensure energy security. (AMP)
Romanias role in the reconstruction of Ukraine

Romania is strategically well-positioned to contribute to the recovery and reconstruction of neighbouring Ukraine

Mihai Jurca la conferinta

Leyla Cheamil, 25.03.2026, 13:50

Romania remains a steadfast partner of Ukraine, which is why we wish to actively participate in the recovery and reconstruction program, stated Mihai Jurca, Head of the Prime Ministers Office and Romanias Special Representative for the Reconstruction of Ukraine. He made this statement at a conference titled Strengthening Romanias Role in the Recovery and Reconstruction Process of Ukraine, organised in Bucharest by the Romanian Government in partnership with the World Bank Group.

As a neighbouring country, Romania is strategically well-positioned to contribute to Ukraines recovery and reconstruction. In this context, the event aimed to discuss how Romania can capitalize on this potential and the necessary next steps, in the short and medium term, to define a vision and strategy in this regard. Mihai Jurca stressed that the government intended to act in a coordinated manner, both at the national and local levels, to strengthen the involvement of public institutions and facilitate Romanian companies access to the Ukrainian market. We are developing a concrete vision and a roadmap of actions to capitalise on this opportunity for Romania, in the context of fiscal consolidation and the advantage of proximity, said Mihai Jurca.

According to the World Banks latest analysis, the costs are estimated at 588 billion USD. The institution, through its Director for the European Union, Anna Akhalkatsi, congratulated Bucharest on its active involvement in supporting Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict. Romanian companies in industries such as construction, energy, logistics, and digital services are well-positioned to contribute to this reconstruction and to create jobs and economic growth at home, Anna Akhalkatsi noted during the conference. She added that the World Bank Group was ready to support Romania in capitalising on its competitive advantage and transforming it into a lasting economic advantage.

With regard to strategic sectors, the Ministry of Energy highlighted Romanias role in enhancing regional energy security and independence, given Black Sea gas production and Ukraines storage capacity. Furthermore, Romania is expanding its support for Ukraine as a trading partner in the electricity sector, as well as in active regional interconnection, through the development of two overhead power lines, between Chernivtsi and Suceava and between Porubne and Siret.

The representative of the Ministry of Transport outlined Romanias priorities regarding Ukraines recovery and reconstruction. These include the development of rail and road infrastructure (including funding through the SAFE program), the opening of new border crossing points with Ukraine, the development of the Port of Constanta, and the expansion of transit capacity on the Sulina Canal. (MI)
RRI 2026 Summer Broadcast Frequencies

RRI broadcast frequencies valid as of March 29 to October 24, 2026:

RRI 2026 Summer Broadcast Frequencies

Radio Romania International, 24.03.2026, 14:48

RRI ON SHORTWAVES

Dear friends, given the frequent malfunctions reported at the Radiocom transmitters that broadcast RRI programmes, please note that, when such malfunctions occur, Radiocom switches RRI programmes as quickly as possible to a backup transmitter, which operates on alternative frequencies. When you cannot listen to RRIs English language broadcasts on the usual frequency, please switch to the alternative frequency. Thank you for your understanding!

RRI broadcast frequencies valid as of March 29 to October 24, 2026:

RECEPTION AREAS UTC Frequency, kHz Alternative frequency, kHz WESTERN EUROPE 05.30  06.00 11,960 11,650 11.00  12.00 15,320 15,130 17.00  18.00 13,750 (DRM) 15,180 20.30  21.00 11,975 9,740 22.00  23.00 9,740 7,220 AFRICA 11.00  12.00 21,510 17,860 NORTH AMERICA (East Coast) 20.30  21.00 15,420 15,130 00.00  01.00 11,620 11,900 NORTH AMERICA (West Coast) 03.00  04.00 11,830 11,620 JAPAN 22.00  23.00 13,580 11,650 INDIA (New Delhi) 05.30  06.00 17,680 (DRM) 17,760 INDIA (Mumbai) 03.00  04.00 17,790 (DRM) 15,330

Listen to English language programming live via the RRI website You can also listen to RRIs English language programming live over the Internet using the same SW broadcast schedule given above. All you need to do is go to the RRI Live! section in the top-right of our website, choose channel 1 for English.

RRI and social media

RRI can also be found on Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram, SoundCloud, Flickr, LinkedIn, Spotify.

RRI programs are also available on TuneIn (Radio Romania International 1)

RRI via satellite

You can also listen to Radio Romania Internationals English programmes via satellite Eutelsat 16A on 11,512 MHz, vertical polarisation, azimuth 16 degrees East. Symbol rate: 29,950 MSym/s, Standard: DVB-S2, Modulation: 8PSK, Audio PID 510. The satellite transmits the unencrypted signals of RRIs channels. Eutelsat 16A covers Europe, as well as North Africa, the Middle East, part of European Russia, areas in the Arabian Peninsula and part of the Caspian Sea region.

RRI via mobile phone in the US

Did you know that if youre in the US you can also listen to RRI broadcasts on your mobile phone? Our English language programmes are available via the following AudioNow call-to-listen phone number: 1.425.394.7081. Calling this number incurs no extra charge above the equivalent of a standard US mobile phone call.
Japan will on Thursday release February figures for producer prices, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. Producer prices are expected to hold steady, higher by 2.6 percent on year.

Japan also will see January results for its leading and coincident indexes. The leading index is expected to rise 2.1 percent on month after adding 1.1 percent in December. The coincident is tipped to add 2.5 percent on month after slipping 0.6 percent in the previous month.

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Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
Iran has told the UN maritime agency that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to "non-hostile" ships not associated with the US and Israel.

"Non-hostile vessels, including those belonging to or associated with other States, may - provided that they neither participate in nor support acts of aggression against Iran and fully ?comply with the declared safety and security regulations - benefit from safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the competent Iranian authorities, "says a letter that Iran's Ministry ?of Foreign Affairs circulated among IMO member states on Tuesday.

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Business News
The European Commission has released preliminary figures on road fatalities for 2025, reporting around 19,400 deaths. This represents a 3 percent decrease from 2024, meaning that 580 fewer people died on European roads. Given the increase in vehicles on EU roads and kilometres driven, this is a significant achievement. However, the preliminary data also highlights the need for sustained efforts at all levels as most Member States are not yet on track to meet the EU's goal of halving road deaths and serious injuries by 2030.

Road safety progress varies widely by country. Between 2024 and 2025, there were remarkable decreases in road accident deaths in Estonia (-38 percent) and Greece (-22 percent). Based on this preliminary and sometimes partial data, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Poland and Romania are currently on track to meet the 50 percent reduction target in road deaths by 2030. Despite this progress, Romania continues to have one of the highest fatality rates in the EU alongside Bulgaria and Croatia.

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Business News
Even though Tata Sierra is launched in the country, it continues to generate headlines and draw massive interests among automotive enthusiasts. That is because Sierra is still undergoing testing and assessment. One could speculate that these are Sierra EV test mules, which is slated to launch later this year.

However, a new Tata Sierra test mule has been spotted with full camouflage and it dons a cutout for an exhaust tailpipe, suggesting an ICE powertrain. This hints at a possible development and testing of Sierra CNG or Sierra AWD, both of which are planned by Tata Motors. Lets take a closer look.

New Tata Sierra Spied Testing  CNG or AWD?

Tata Motors started 2026 calendar year with a bang as the company started deliveries of Sierra, which is one of the most hyped SUVs in India. In no time, Sierra has emerged as the 5th best-selling C Segment 4.2m to 4.5m SUV space with 7,100 units sold in February 2026. The company has already bagged well over 1 lakh bookings.

Production at Tata Motors facilities is being ramped up to meet the rising demand of this desirable SUV. When Sierra was unveiled, Tata Motors had announced that they were prepared to introduce an AWD version of Sierra and a CNG version of Sierra, if enough demand existed. Tata has even internally developed and validated a CNG option for Sierra too.

The company is closely monitoring the segment and customer reception towards the Sierra. Based on market feedback, Tata may launch Sierra CNG and Sierra AWD. Looking at the recent test mules, it seems like Tata Motors might have greenlighted Sierra CNG or Sierra AWD (or both) projects to meet demand.

What to expect?

Both CNG and AWD in this segment are valid as Maruti Suzuki and Toyota are offering Grand Vitara, Hyryder and Victoris with both CNG and AWD options (not together). If true, Tata Motors will offer a dual cylinder CNG tank implementation with Sierra CNG. Going by other Tata i-CNG cars, there will be a spare wheel too, something which Marutis new underbody CNG implementation in Victoris misses out on.

With Sierra CNG, buyers will get better fuel efficiency and lower running costs. Tata is likely to offer Sierra CNG only with 1.5L NA Petrol engine. On Petrol, this engine is rated at 106 bhp and 145 Nm. Tata could offer Sierra CNG with 7DCT gearbox option too, making it the first automatic CNG SUV in this segment.

Where Sierra AWD is concerned, Tata Motors might bundle this sophisticated equipment only with 1.5L Hyperion engine and 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox options. Theres no launch timeline for Tata Sierra CNG or Sierra AWD, but one could speculate early 2027 might be the right time.





Also read  Tata Sierra ARAI mileage figures revealed by RTI

Source
Photo: https://t.me/andriysadovyi

President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Pere Joan Pons Sampietro stated that he will demand accountability for those responsible for the Russia drone strike on Tuesday in the center of Lviv.

"The destruction of Ukraines cultural heritage in the context of Russia aggression is a blow to our identity and our common human essence. As President of the OSCE PA, I will give this issue priority attention, seek to bring those responsible to justice, and ensure that this is reflected in the Hague Declaration," he wrote on social media X.

As reported on Tuesday, 32 people were injured and a UNESCO heritage site was damaged as a result of a strike by Russia occupiers on the center of the city of Lviv.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has reached an agreement with UNESCO experts for a visit to Lviv to record the destruction and assess the damage caused.
The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine has updated the labor remuneration rules for employees of cultural institutions, including museums, libraries, preserves, theaters, club facilities, and centers of culture and leisure.

According to the Ministrys statement, attendance at these institutions will no longer influence salary levels.

"During martial law and for one year after its conclusion, the number of visitors to museums, libraries, preserves, club facilities, parks of culture, and other institutions will not be taken into account when determining the level of remuneration for managers and specialists. This means that the salaries of people in the cultural sphere will not decrease due to objective restrictions related to the war," the agency stated.

Additionally, cultural workers with scientific and educational-creative degrees will receive the following supplements: Doctor of Sciences  up to 25% of the official salary; Doctor of Philosophy (Candidate of Sciences)  up to 15%; and Doctor of Arts  up to 15% (if an individual holds multiple degrees, they may choose which one the supplement is based on).

"The documents have also updated the titles of certain positions in accordance with modern practice. For example, theaters now use the title head of the artistic troupe instead of outdated formulations," the report says.

The Ministry of Culture stated that these changes do not require additional funds from the budget.
Timeline of Events in the slaying of Jennifer Vigil

5:03 p.m. Saturday: San Juan County sheriffs deputies are dispatched to a vehicle on the side of N.M. 64 outside Bloomfield and find Deven Roybal of Santa Fe asleep in the drivers seat.

5:43 p.m. Saturday: Roybal is arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated, and he is booked into the San Juan County jail.

1:10 p.m. Sunday: Jennifer Vigils mother dials 911 from her daughters home in Rancho Viejo, telling dispatchers there is a body inside the home she believes is her grandson, Roybal.

1:12 p.m. Sunday: Sheriffs deputies are dispatched to Vigils home in Rancho Viejo and find her body inside, surrounded by a pool of blood.

2:35 p.m. Sunday: Vigils other son, Darren Vigil-Roybal, dials 911 and tells dispatchers he believes he is in danger, that his brother has been killed and his mother is missing. Detectives later find Vigil-Roybal at Young Park in Santa Fe and detain him for questioning. As a detective questions Vigil-Roybal, he learns of Roybals arrest, and that the body inside the Rancho Viejo home is Vigils.

8:28 p.m. Sunday: Detectives search Vigils home and find the suspected murder weapon  a kitchen knife  as well as bloody shoe prints and broken fingernails. Detectives also search a property locker at the San Juan County jail assigned to Roybal and find Nike sneakers that match bloody shoe prints in Vigils home.

11:12 a.m. Monday: The Santa Fe County Sheriffs Office publicly announces its investigation into Vigils death, which has been ruled a homicide.

8:12 p.m. Monday: Roybal is booked into the Santa Fe County jail.

8:30 a.m. Tuesday: Detectives file charges, including first-degree murder, against Roybal in the death of his mother.
It starts with a simple phone call. One that sounds official, calm, and even helpful. The caller claims theres a benefits update tied to your Social Security, Medicare, or retirement account. They may already know your name, your address, or even the last four digits of your Social Security number. Here is what you need to know to protect yourself.

The Benefits Update Call Is Designed to Sound Legitimate

Scammers are no longer using sloppy scripts or obvious red flags. Instead, they study how government agencies communicate and mimic that tone perfectly. Some even use caller ID spoofing to make it appear the call is coming from a federal office. This creates an immediate sense of trust before the conversation even begins. By the time you realize something feels off, the scammer has already gained your attention.

They Often Claim Theres a Problem With Your Benefits

One of the most common tactics is to create urgency by claiming theres an issue with your benefits. The caller might say your payments are about to be reduced, suspended, or flagged for fraud. This plays directly into fear, especially for seniors relying on a fixed income. In reality, the Social Security Administration does not make these types of threats over the phone. Any unexpected call about a problem with your benefits should raise immediate suspicion.

They May Offer a Fake Increase or Update to Your Payments

Not all scams rely on fear. Some use the promise of extra money. Scammers may claim you qualify for a benefits increase, cost-of-living adjustment, or special program. These offers often sound appealing, especially with rising living costs in 2026. However, these updates are completely fake and designed to steal your personal information. Government agencies do not require you to call back or verify details to receive legitimate increases.

The Goal Is Always the Same: Your Information or Your Money

No matter how the call begins, the end goal is always to get something from you. Scammers may ask for your Social Security number, bank details, or Medicare ID. In some cases, they demand payment through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. These payment methods are nearly impossible to trace once sent. The Social Security Administration clearly states it will never ask for payment this way.

Pressure and Urgency Are Key Warning Signs

Scammers rely heavily on pressure to prevent you from thinking clearly. They may say you must act immediately to avoid losing benefits or facing legal trouble. Some even stay on the phone while you attempt to make a payment. This tactic is designed to isolate you and stop you from seeking advice. Real government agencies do not pressure you into immediate action. When urgency is high, thats your signal to slow down and hang up.

Caller ID Can No Longer Be Trusted

One of the most dangerous aspects of this scam is how real it looks on your phone. Scammers can spoof official numbers, making it appear the call is coming from Social Security or even local law enforcement. This makes many people believe the call is legitimate before they even answer. Unfortunately, technology has made it easier than ever to fake these details. Always remember that a familiar number does not guarantee a real caller.

Government Agencies Rarely Call You Out of the Blue

A key fact that many people dont realize is how rarely agencies like Social Security initiate phone calls. Typically, they only contact individuals who have requested assistance or have an active case. Otherwise, official communication is usually sent by mail. If you receive an unexpected call about your benefits, you should assume its suspicious. When in doubt, hang up and contact the agency directly using official channels.

Scammers Are Increasingly Targeting Seniors

Government impersonation scams are rising sharply, with hundreds of thousands of reports filed each year. Seniors are often targeted because they are more likely to rely on fixed-income programs like Social Security. Scammers know that fear of losing benefits can trigger quick decisions. They also understand that older adults may be less familiar with newer scam tactics. This makes awareness one of the most powerful tools for prevention.

What You Should Do If You Get This Call

If you receive a benefits update call, the safest response is simple hang up immediately. Do not provide any personal information, even if the caller sounds convincing. You should never call back a number provided during the call. Instead, go directly to the official Social Security website or contact them using verified information. Reporting the call can also help authorities track and stop these scams.

Why This Scam Is So Dangerous

The reason this scam is spreading so quickly is simple. By combining official language, real-looking phone numbers, and emotional pressure, scammers create a convincing story thats hard to ignore. But once you understand the pattern, the illusion breaks down quickly. Government agencies will never threaten you, demand immediate payment, or ask for sensitive information over the phone.

Have you or someone you know received one of these benefits update calls, and what did you do?

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Sleep problems are incredibly common as we age, and for many seniors, the solution seems simple: reach for an over-the-counter sleep aid. These medications are easy to find, relatively inexpensive, and promise a full night of rest. But heres the catchmany of the most commonly used sleep aids may actually pose serious risks for older adults. Doctors are increasingly warning that what helps you fall asleep tonight could be quietly harming your health over time. If you or a loved one relies on a nightly sleep aid, this is something you need to know.

The Most Common Sleep Aid Seniors Use

Many seniors rely on over-the-counter sleep aids that contain antihistamines like diphenhydramine or doxylamine. These ingredients are found in popular PM medications and allergy drugs that double as sleep aids. They work by making you drowsy, which can help you fall asleep faster. However, experts say these medications were never designed for long-term sleep use. In fact, organizations like the American Geriatrics Society list them as potentially inappropriate for older adults due to safety concerns.

Why Doctors Say These Medications Are Risky

While these sleep aids may seem harmless, they come with a range of side effects that can be especially dangerous for seniors. Common issues include confusion, dizziness, blurred vision, and difficulty urinating. These effects are tied to their anticholinergic properties, which impact the nervous system. Over time, this can interfere with memory, alertness, and overall brain function. Doctors warn that these side effects are not just uncomfortablethey can lead to serious health complications.

One of the biggest concerns with these medications is the increased risk of falls. Seniors who take sedating sleep aids may experience slower reaction times and impaired balance. This becomes especially dangerous during nighttime trips to the bathroom. Falls are one of the leading causes of injury and hospitalization among older adults. Studies show that medications like diphenhydramine significantly raise this risk due to dizziness and sedation.

Even more concerning is the growing evidence linking these sleep aids to cognitive decline. Long-term use of anticholinergic drugs has been associated with an increased risk of dementia. Some studies suggest this risk can persist for years after exposure. These medications may interfere with brain chemicals responsible for memory and learning.

Why They May Not Work as Well as You Think

Another surprising downside is that these sleep aids often lose effectiveness over time. Many users develop a tolerance, meaning the same dose no longer produces the same results. This can lead to increased use or dependency without better sleep quality. In fact, experts say these medications may not improve overall sleep quality at all. You might fall asleep faster, but the sleep you get may be less restorative.

Safer Alternatives Seniors Should Consider

The good news is that there are safer ways to improve sleep. Doctors often recommend lifestyle changes like maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, reducing caffeine, and creating a relaxing bedtime routine. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is considered one of the most effective long-term solutions. Some supplements, like low-dose melatonin, may also be safer when used appropriately. However, even these should be discussed with a healthcare provider before use.

What This Means for Your Health Moving Forward

If youve been relying on a nightly sleep aid, now is the time to take a closer look at what youre using. Many of the most popular options were never intended for long-term use, especially in older adults. The risksfrom falls to cognitive declineare too significant to ignore. Talk to your doctor about safer alternatives that support both your sleep and your overall health. Making a small change today could prevent serious complications down the road. Better sleep should never come at the cost of your safety.

Have you or someone you know relied on sleep aids for years? What has your experience been likehelpful or concerning?

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Photo: MFA of Ukraine

The final decision on the candidate for the post of special representative for Belarus and the Belarusian community in Europe will be made by the president of Ukraine, while work on the appointment is ongoing, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhy has said.

Speaking at a briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday, Tykhy noted that earlier in the day, Illia Kvas, head of the Foreign Ministrys Department for Unfriendly Countries, had said that the candidate selection process was continuing.

"The final decision will rest with the president of Ukraine. Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha will select and submit candidates to the president. The president will decide. But this work is underway," Tykhy said.

According to him, Ukraine is now shaping its own long-term policy toward Belarus, focused on putting pressure on the Lukashenko regime, neutralizing threats posed by the regime to Ukraine and its partners, and supporting Belarusians who want to live in a free and democratic country.

Tykhy said that appointing a special representative for Belarus would help better coordinate pressure on the regime and counter the threats emanating from it.

"The work is underway, and I think we will see its results in the near future," the Foreign Ministry said.

On February 27, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Foreign Ministry was preparing candidates for the post of special representative for Belarus and the Belarusian community in Europe.
MFA: Sybiha to hold talks with several partners in France, hopes to meet Saudi FM

Photo: https://www.facebook.com

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhy did not announce any specific arrangements regarding Foreign Minister Andriy Sybihas planned bilateral talks with his counterparts on the sidelines of the G7 foreign ministers meeting, but did not rule out a meeting with the U.S. secretary of state and the Saudi foreign minister.

"Specific bilateral talks are being worked out, a number of meetings in France," he said at a briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday, responding to a question from an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent about Sybihas planned meeting with Rubio on the sidelines of the G7 meeting.

Tykhy did not name the specific talks the Ukrainian foreign minister is expected to hold with colleagues in France, saying that "at such events, ministers schedules are a separate art form that has to be synchronized."

"So I am wary of making announcements," the spokesperson said.

He added that various meetings with partners are being worked out.

"There will probably be an opportunity to meet with the U.S. secretary of state. We are always interested in Ukraine-U.S. contacts. I will not make any specific announcements yet," Tykhy said.

He also said Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud would be in Paris for the meeting.

"We are interested in a bilateral meeting between Ukraine and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We expect it to take place, if the ministers schedules do not change. In addition, there will soon be more contacts at all levels between Ukraine and the Gulf states, where areas of mutual partnership will certainly be discussed," Tykhy said.

At the briefing, the spokesperson confirmed that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha would visit France this week to take part in the meeting of G7 foreign ministers.

Earlier, the U.S. State Department announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would travel to Cernay-la-Ville, France, on March 27 to advance key U.S. interests at the G7 foreign ministers meeting.

The Group of Seven foreign ministers meeting is scheduled for March 26-27 at the Abbaye des Vaux de Cernay near Paris.
In the remote rainforests of New Guineas Vogelkop Peninsula, scientists have spotted two marsupial species  the pygmy long-fingered possum (Dactylonax kambuayai) and the ring-tailed glider (Tous ayamaruensis)  believed to have been lost for roughly 6,000 years. These discoveries suggest that New Guineas forests may still shelter remnants of an ancient faunal world.

The discovery of one Lazarus taxon, even if thought to have become extinct recently, is an exceptional discovery, said Australian Museum Professor Tim Flannery.

But the discovery of two species, thought to have been extinct for thousands of years, is remarkable.

The findings underscore the critical importance of preserving these unique bioregions and the value of collaborative research in uncovering and protecting hidden biodiversity.

Previously known from Pleistocene fossils in Australia, and from Pleistocene-early Holocene fossils from New Guinea, the pygmy long-fingered possum and the ring-tailed glider have been found in isolated lowland forest habitats on the Vogelkop Peninsula.

The Vogelkop is an ancient piece of the Australian continent that has become incorporated into the island of New Guinea, Professor Flannery said.

Its forests may shelter yet more hidden relics of a past Australia.

The pygmy long-fingered possum is a boldly striped marsupial with a remarkable adaptation  one digit on each hand is twice the length of the next longest finger.

The species appears to have vanished from Australia during the Ice Age, the geological epoch when iconic megafauna, such as the diprotodon and the marsupial lion also became extinct.

The ring-tailed glider is the nearest living relative of the Australian greater glider (Petauroides) and represents the first new genus of New Guinean marsupial described since 1937.

Smaller than its Australian cousins, with unfurred ears and a strongly prehensile tail, the species forms lifelong pair bonds and only raises one young annually.

Like greater gliders, the marsupial nests in tree hollows in the tallest forest trees and faces threats from logging.

Referred to locally as Tous by some Tambrauw and Maybrat clans, the glider is a sacred animal, said Rika Korain, a Maybrat woman.

Considered a manifestation of ancestors spirits and central to an educational practice referred to as initiation.

We worked very carefully and collaboratively with Tambrauw Elders and identification would not have been possible without cooperation with Traditional Owners and this connection has been essential for ongoing work.

Im very proud that Papuan researchers contributed to these landmark discoveries, and want to thank the people of the Misool, Maybrat and Tambrouw regions who supported us in the field, added Dr. Aksamina Yohanita, a researcher at the University of Papua.

A paper descrinbing these discoveries was published on March 6 in the Records of the Australian Museum.

_____

Tim F. Flannery et al. 2026. Found alive after 6,000 years: modern records of an extinct Papuan marsupial, Dactylonax kambuayai (Marsupialia: Petauridae), with a revision of the systematics and zoogeography of the genus Dactylonax. Rec. Aust. Mus 78 (1): 17-34; doi: 10.3853/j.2201-4349.78.2026.3003
MFA: Ukrainian teams have achieved direct success in protecting lives in Middle East

Photo: MFA of Ukraine

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhiy Tykhyi confirmed the "direct successes" of Ukrainian teams in helping repel air attacks in the Middle East.

"There are successes. There are direct successes of Ukrainian teams in protecting lives in the Middle East from these air threats," he said at a briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday.

Speaking about the specifics of Ukraines assistance, the spokesperson recalled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys words about groups of Ukrainian experts working in Gulf countries, and that this assistance is "comprehensive."

"Its about various forms of this support. This includes both immediate protection and the development of long-term systems that will allow for better defense against aerial terrorism," the spokesperson noted.

He emphasized that Ukraine is the undisputed leader in defense against massive air attacks.

On March 20, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that 228 Ukrainian experts are currently deployed to the Middle East.

On March 17, Zelenskyy announced the deployment of 201 military specialists to Middle Eastern countries to help repel drone attacks.
Tatyana Berezhnaya, Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy of Ukraine, Minister of Culture of Ukraine. February 9, 2026 | Photo: Interfax-Ukraine / Oleksandr Zubko

The updated Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA5) has shown $4.2 billion in damage and $11.5 billion needed for the recovery of Ukraines cultural sector, Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Culture Minister Tetiana Berezhna said.

"In total, 1,707 cultural heritage sites and 2,503 cultural infrastructure facilities in Ukraine have already been destroyed or damaged by Russia, of which 513 have been completely destroyed. These include museums, theaters, libraries, historic buildings, and arts education institutions  places that shape our identity and our memory The scale of the losses is also confirmed by international assessments. According to RDNA5, direct damage in the cultural sector as of the end of 2025 amounted to $4.2 billion. Recovery needs have already reached $11.53 billion, while the total losses of the culture and tourism sector, including lost revenue, amount to $31.9 billion," Berezhna said on Facebook.

According to her, direct losses in the cultural sector alone increased by $740 million over the year. The hardest-hit categories were buildings, historic cities, and sites of recognized cultural and social value, at $3.7 billion; movable cultural property and collections, at $193 million; cultural and creative industries facilities, at $288.2 million; and elements of intangible heritage, at $16 million.

"Protecting cultural heritage and ensuring systematic recovery remain among the priorities of state policy. The scale of the challenges is enormous. Only systematic global cooperation and support can ensure the full restoration of Ukraines cultural heritage. That is why we created the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Fund for transparent and strategic recovery. Russia is trying to erase our history. We are documenting every loss and working on the restoration of cultural heritage," the deputy prime minister said.

As reported, the updated Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA5) showed $13.9 billion in damage and $33.5 billion needed for the recovery of Ukraines education and science sector.
Latvia and relevant Ukrainian business and defense associations are deepening their cooperation in the defense industry sector. This was announced during the Latvian-Ukrainian Defense Forum 2026, which took place on March 23 in Kyiv at the premises of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The event culminated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Latvian Ministry of Defense and a number of Ukrainian organizations, which provides for long-term cooperation, technology exchange, and state support for Ukrainian companies planning to enter or expand their operations in the Latvian market.

The forum was attended by government officials, diplomats, business representatives, and industry associations from both countries. The event was opened by Gennadiy Chizhikov, President of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Andris Spruds, Minister of Defense of Latvia; Serhiy Boev, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine; and Andrejs Pildegovics, Ambassador of Latvia to Ukraine. As the organizers noted, the forum was aimed not only at providing political confirmation of support for Ukraine but also at establishing practical mechanisms for cooperation between manufacturers, investors, and government institutions of the two countries.

On the Ukrainian side, the Ukrainian Council of Arms Manufacturers, the National Association of Defense Industries of Ukraine, the Federation of Employers of Ukraine, and Technological Forces of Ukraine joined the agreements. According to the Latvian side, the document is intended to serve as a tool for building a joint defense industry ecosystem that will combine the combat experience of Ukrainian manufacturers with Latvias technological and institutional potential. The Latvian Ministry of Defense emphasized that the memorandum provides for targeted state support for Ukrainian companies planning to launch or expand their operations in Latvia.

The combat experience of the Ukrainian defense industry and Latvias technological potential are a powerful combination for joint development. The memorandum is not merely declarative but practical in nature and is intended to serve as a platform for creating innovative solutions that will strengthen the security of both countries and the capabilities of their armed forces, noted Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds.

The Latvian Ministry of Defense also emphasized that the country aims to become a stable base for Ukrainian companies in Europe, while simultaneously developing its own industrial potential.

Gennadiy Chizhikov, President of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, for his part, emphasized that deepening cooperation in the defense sector strengthens our countries and industries.

The implementation of the agreements will take place with the participation of the Latvian Investment and Development Agency, as well as the Latvian Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Defense. This involves, in particular, promoting Ukrainian business in the Latvian market and supporting the development of a broader defense industry ecosystem, he added.

The practical part of the forum included a bilateral business session and a panel discussion featuring Oleksandr Kamyshin, Advisor to the President of Ukraine on Strategic Issues; Vadym Yunyk, co-founder of Baltic Forces Hub; Ihor Fedirko, CEO of the Ukrainian Defense Industry Council; representatives of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine, Latvian business organizations, LIAA, DAIF Latvia, the Latvian Embassy in Ukraine, and private companies in the defense and technology sectors. This composition of participants indicates that the parties are striving to translate political support into concrete production, investment, and cooperation decisions.

Further confirmation of the practical nature of the visit came from the fact that the Latvian Investment and Development Agency had announced as early as the beginning of March a trade mission of Latvian defense and security companies to Kyiv for March 2325, coinciding with the working visit of the Latvian Minister of Defense. The program included direct contacts with representatives of the Ukrainian defense sector and B2B meetings with potential partners. The forum in Kyiv thus became part of a broader effort to institutionalize Latvian-Ukrainian cooperation in the defense industry against the backdrop of the war and the growing role of this sector in the economies of European countries.

The event was organized by the Latvian Ministry of Defense, the Latvian Investment and Development Agency, and the Latvian Embassy in Ukraine, while the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry served as a co-organizer, and the Ukraine Facility Platform acted as a partner for the forum. Given the content of the signed agreements, this is no longer merely a matter of Latvias political solidarity with Ukraine, but an attempt to establish a sustainable bilateral cooperation mechanism.

Interfax-Ukraine is the forums media partner.
Metir said on Wednesday that most of its continuous toxicity monitoring installations in Qatar were operational, although technical issues and regional disruption had delayed further payments and completion timelines.

The AIM-traded environmental monitoring group said it had received 37,000 as part of the deferred payment schedule from regional partner Avanceon for the CTM project in Qatar.

However, the remaining 161,000 of deferred payments, along with a 50,000 performance-related payment, were now expected to be delayed beyond the first quarter of 2026.

While the majority of installations were capable of full operation, Metir said it was working with Avanceon to resolve technical and operational issues at certain sites in Doha.

They related to the handling, storage and use of Microtox reagents, which require specialist conditions and training.

The company said it expected that additional training and quality control measures would address these issues.

Metir added that it continued to provide remote support but noted that ongoing disruption in the region had created uncertainty around when it would be able to deploy additional technical teams on the ground to complete the work.

Despite the delays, the company highlighted further potential opportunities in the region, with an additional 17 water pumping stations in the Doha area identified as candidates for CTM installations, subject to resolution of the current issues.

We are pleased with the progress made on the CTM project in Qatar, with the majority of the installations having been fully operational and delivering value and critical water security from its real-time toxic water monitoring, said executive chairman and chief executive Bob Moore.

The remaining technical challenges are localised and we are working closely with our partner Avanceon to resolve them.

The group is willing to commission the build of additional CTMs as circumstances require in Qatar and elsewhere in the region.

"While current regional disruption may affect the timing of the project completion, the group's confidence in the long-term opportunities in the Middle East remains unchanged.

At 1106 GMT, shares in Metir were down 3.7% at 0.65p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.

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Freight and road payments processor WAG Payment Solutions forecast further growth on Wednesday, after annual earnings motored ahead.

The London-listed firm, known as Eurowag, acknowledged that the macroeconomic and geopolitical environment had been "challenging" in the year to December end. It also spent much of the year focused on rolling out a new digital platform.

However, despite that total net revenue rose 12.9% to 330.1m, driven predominantly by strong growth in its payment solutions division. Revenues at the unit jumped 20.1% to 200.4m, and by 3.3% in mobility solutions, to 129.7m.

Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation rose 8.5% to 132.1m. Pre-tax profits were 62.4% higher at 19m.

Martin Vohanka, founder and chief executive, called 2025 a "defining year" for the Czech business, which listed in London in 2021.

He said: "After years of disciplined investment and execution, we brought to life our most ambitious project: Eurowag Office, our end-to-end digital platform, is now live. This is a major strategic milestone for the group, that strengthens our position as the commercial road transport industrys digital operation partner."

Around 35% of customers were already using the platform, Vohanka noted. "Continuing to ensure a smooth customer migration experience is a strategic priority for this year.

"We remain confident in our ability to deliver in line with market expectations for 2026, as we transition to build to scale."

The company is forecasting low double-digit net revenue growth for the current year.

The stock had put on 3% at 101.5p as trading opened in London.

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China's care subsidy eases burden on disabled seniors, drives service demand

Xinhua) 08:50, March 25, 2026

Some elderly people watch performances from volunteers at an elderly care service center in Qiongshan District of Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Oct. 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Inside a community elderly care center in Beijing, Mr. Wang, an older adult living with severe functional disabilities, was undergoing rehabilitation. Thanks to a nationwide subsidy program, community-based care is no longer financially burdensome for him.

"In the past, I seldom came because the cost was too high. But now with the subsidy, I attend rehabilitation every week. My health has improved a lot, and the staff here are very attentive," Wang said.

Following the implementation of the subsidy policy, there has been a marked increase in visits by seniors with limited self-care ability, according to the center's manager. "The initiative has not only alleviated the financial pressure on families, but also enabled more targeted service delivery."

The program, which has provided electronic vouchers for elderly care services to seniors with moderate to severe functional disabilities since Jan. 1, has benefited more than 1.05 million people, the Ministry of Civil Affairs has noted.

So far, it has facilitated the use of over three million vouchers in China, with a total verified value of 2.35 billion yuan (about 341 million U.S. dollars), driving an estimated 11.5 billion yuan in elderly care consumption.

The vouchers, released monthly, can be used to cover a wide range of services, such as meal assistance, bathing assistance, housekeeping assistance, mobility support, emergency aid, medical assistance, rehabilitation nursing and daytime care.

Seniors or their designated representatives can apply for the subsidy through an official app. Those assessed as eligible will receive consumption vouchers worth up to 800 yuan per month, which can be used to offset part of the cost of community and institutional elderly care services.

"Unlike previous programs that distinguished recipients based on economic status, this policy represents a large-scale welfare initiative targeting seniors with moderate to severe disabilities," said Sun Wencan, a senior official of the ministry.

The assessment, which focuses on applicants' self-care capability, mobility, mental state, perception, and social participation, must be done in accordance with national standards, the official said. "The evaluation results must be reliable and stand up to scrutiny."

Du Peng, dean of the School of Population and Health and director of the Institute of Gerontology at Renmin University of China, described the policy as an "innovative and landmark" shift in the development of the country's elderly care services.

He noted that the program focuses on three key aspects, namely the population with the most pressing needs, scenarios of elderly care consumption, and standardized third-party assessment mechanisms.

"It injects a stable stream of targeted purchasing power into the market," Du said. "This not only directly eases the burden on families but, more importantly, drives supply-side improvements and expansion via demand-side reform. It effectively incentivizes the allocation of resources toward professional elderly care services."

Indeed, this approach helps foster a healthier elderly care market, ensuring that public funds translate directly into services while preventing misappropriation of subsidies.

At a senior care center in Zhoushan, east China's Zhejiang Province, demand has risen noticeably since the introduction of these subsidies, revealed Liu Yangyang, who is head of the facility.

Liu said inquiries have increased by approximately 35 percent, with around 10 percent of newly occupied beds taken by seniors attracted thanks to the vouchers.

The program aligns with China's broader policy goals as the country adapts to its aging population. Official statistics reveal that China's population aged 60 and above had surpassed 310 million in 2024 and is forecast to exceed 400 million by 2035.

The country's development blueprint for the next five years shows that it will respond actively to population aging by rolling out insurance schemes for long-term care, improving the care system for seniors with functional impairments, and expanding rehabilitation services and hospice care.

Liu Yiying, a 63-year-old disabled senior in Yunyang County of Chongqing Municipality in southwest China, has benefited from the combined support of long-term care insurance and consumption subsidies, with her 3,600 yuan monthly care costs now reduced to only 1,000 yuan after reimbursements and subsidies.

This alignment with existing social security programs has strengthened China's multi-tiered elderly care system, making its safety net both more comprehensive and more secure, experts say.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Asos shares shot higher on Wednesday after the online fashion retailer reported a circa 50% jump in first-half underlying profit and backed its guidance for the year.

In a trading update for the first six months of the year, Asos said adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation rose circa 50% year-on-year. This was driven by improved adjusted gross margin - which increased 330 basis points to 48.5% - a lower returns rate and continued cost discipline.

The improvement in the gross margin demonstrates "the continued success from deployment of the new commercial model and ongoing expansion of the Flexible Fulfilment model," Asos said.

Gross merchandise value (GMV) fell 9% on the year, but there was a sequential quarterly improvement in the first and second quarters. Improvements were delivered across the core markets of the UK, US, Germany and France, and categories where initiatives were concentrated.

The company reiterated full-year guidance for adjusted EBITDA of 150m to 180m and for GMV to show an improving trajectory throughout the year, 3 to 4 percentage points ahead of revenue.

Chief executive Jose Antonio Ramos Calamonte said: "Our first half shows continued progress on executing our strategic priorities across relevant fashion product, inspirational shopping experience and an efficient operating model. The result has been a circa 50% YoY increase in underlying profitability.

"The enhancements we have made to the customer experience, including our revitalised app, are helping people to find not just items, but outfits, styled just for them. We are seeing improvements in new customer growth and strong performance in our womenswear business, both of which are encouraging lead indicators for sales growth. With an accelerated cadence of initiatives still to come this year, we are well positioned to deliver further improvements for customers and the business as our focus remains on sustainable, profitable growth."

At 0915 GMT, Asos shares were 15.6% higher at 245p.

Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said that with fullyear cash profit guidance reiterated and new customer growth ticking up across key markets, "there are early signs that efforts to clean up inventory and refocus on customer engagement could be laying the groundwork for a more sustainable recovery".

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Authors Carole Lindstrom and Linda Sue Park both have new titles inspired by Little House on the Prairie: Red River Rose (Bloomsbury Children's; reviewed in this issue) and Prairie Lotus (Clarion Books), respectively. Like the Little House books, both Lindstrom's and Park's works of middle-grade historical fiction are told from the point of view of a girl in 19th-century North America: a Metis girl watching resistance grow in the face of potential forced relocation in Canada and a girl with Chinese and Korean heritage moving to the Dakota Territory in 1880.

Carole Lindstrom is an author of literature for young people, including the Caldecott Medal-winning We Are Water Protectors. She is Anishinaabe/Metis and an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe. Newbery Medal-winning author Linda Sue Park (A Single Shard) is the renowned author of numerous picture books and novels for young readers.

Lindstrom and Park chat here about treading on beloved literary ground and how one of their books inspired the other.

Carole Lindstrom: Both Red River Rose and Prairie Lotus offer counternarratives to Little House on the Prairie's description of life in the 1880s--did you worry that writing a different perspective to such a beloved favorite would create backlash from fans? I certainly did.

Linda Sue Park: Yes, I worried about backlash. I thought about this in many ways: from concern that it would affect sales negatively to my own confused feelings about deconstructing what for me had been a touchstone of my childhood. I always used to imagine myself in the LHOP stories, but I knew that Ma would never have allowed Laura to become friends with me. I have a clear memory of re-reading those books repeatedly and whenever anyone, but especially Ma, said anything racist (usually about Indians), I would hold those pages together when I turned them so I could skip re-reading them. Even as a young child, I knew that those comments meant Ma would have been ignorant about me too.

Lindstrom: I cannot get over how similar our feelings were when reading LHOP. I struggled with how ashamed of myself I was when reading them. At the same time, I wanted their close family connection, with a father that showed his love for his daughter like Pa did with Laura. But, like you, I also knew Ma would slap me in the face if I ever came to her door.

Linda Sue Park

I feel like you gave me permission to write Red River Rose when I read Prairie Lotus. I knew I wanted to attempt to do the same thing from a Native perspective. So, Miigwech!

Park: That makes me ecstatic! I know and love Louise Erdrich's Birchbark series, and I'm so happy that publishing is focusing on contemporary Native stories. But I've been desperate for historical perspectives from marginalized creators, in this case especially Native. One of the things I loved about Red River Rose is how the reader ends up cheering so hard for Rose, her family, and the Metis community.

Lindstrom: I wanted Rose to feel empowered and strong, and I threw myself into her place so I could help my people in an actual historical event. Of course, I knew it wouldn't change the outcome, but it empowered Rose to know she could do something. I think all children want to feel that onus and help in any way they can. It doesn't matter if they fail. In fact, failure is good.

Park: I'm with you 100% about reversing the narrative on failure. We're all much too focused on a narrow definition of success. In my school visits, I talk about how writing for me is a constant process of "failing up." I try and fail but hopefully I'm failing better each time.

Carole Lindstrom

Lindstrom: Failure is how all the brilliance is discovered--I love to fail! You never know what new things will come from that failure.

Park: I loved how Rose's actions and attempts to help were realistic within the scope of the abilities of a girl her age. It takes me right out of the story when a kid does something huge without adult assistance. I kept thinking how those ideas must have been difficult to come up with plot-wise.

Lindstrom: I remember all the things my son was doing at Rose's age and was flabbergasted at the bravery and courage and strength that he, and all young people, possess. I knew I could have Rose do big things, especially with the help of new friends. Having a community of helpers is so powerful, and I also wanted to show that Rose could only do it if she relied on other people. As a Native person, community is part of everything we do and all decisions that we make. It must be the good of the whole, and not the good of the one.

Park: Yes! With inclusivity work, I want to go beyond more books and creators and stories from different sources. I want a whole new paradigm: one not based on the current model of individual achievement and competition, but on collaboration and community uplift.

Can you tell me a little about your research? One of the things that broke my heart a little when Prairie Lotus came out is that there were people questioning my research, i.e., that where I used a few lines of Dakota speech from one character was inaccurate, because Natives back in the 1880s knew English. Of course, they did--but not all of them. I made a choice which might not have been the choice others would have made, but it was not inaccurate historically.

Lindstrom: I love research, so much so that I often forget to write. As a Red River Metis, I reached out to my community for resources, and I connected with many relatives who shared resources with me. It was difficult: reading the books, I would see my ancestors' names and even pictures of them shackled and chained by the Canadian government. That tore me up. I had to put the book aside for many weeks before I could go back in.

Park: So painful. Writing through pain, hoping that there's hope when we come out the other side.

Lindstrom: And you have a new book coming out in April?

Park: Just One Gift, a companion to my previous title The One Thing You'd Save. Same classroom of kids, and the teacher poses a question to them: If you could give one gift to anyone in the world, who would you choose and what would you give them? The kids discuss, change their minds, influence each other.

I forgot to say earlier: It wasn't until I began reading stories and memoirs about Native life in North America that I found similarities to the respect for elders that we have in Asian culture. That, and gift giving! So, both of those ideas surface in Just One Gift.

Lindstrom: I love that and wish all cultures practiced that same respect.

Park: What do you have coming out next?

Lindstrom: I'm working on the sequel to Red River Rose. Rose and her family have fled Batoche and moved in with family in North Dakota. When Pa suffers a tragic accident on a threshing crew, Rose uses her bravery and ingenuity to help Pa and her family create a new home.

Park: I can't wait to read more about Rose. Seven, I want seven books!
Iran accuses US and Israel of striking Bushehr Nuclear Plant. Iran claims that the US and Israel launched an attack on its Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant with a projectile.

No casualties or damage reported. Iran confirmed that there were no injuries or damage to plant operations, and everything continued to function normally.

IAEA confirms the attack. The International Atomic Energy Agency verified the incident but assured that the plants safety systems and operations remained unaffected.

Iran has accused the United States and Israel of launching another strike on its Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant. A projectile reportedly hit the facility's compound, but Iran's Atomic Energy Organization confirmed that there was no damage to the plant or its operations. There were no casualties or financial impact reported from the incident.

no technical effect on the functioning of the plant, which is Iran's only operational nuclear power facility. The attack occurred amidst rising tensions in the region, and Iran has labeled it an assault by the 'American-Zionist enemy'.Despite the concerns, the Iranian authorities maintained that the strike hadon the functioning of the plant, which is

Also Read: Trump and Modi Engage on West Asia Stability and Strait of Hormuz Security

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was notified of the attack by Iran. The IAEA confirmed that a projectile hit the premises on Tuesday but assured that the plants safety systems were unaffected. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi called for restraint and warned against military activities near nuclear facilities, emphasizing the importance of preventing actions that could jeopardize nuclear safety.

The Bushehr facility plays a critical role in Irans civilian energy program, and any strike near such sensitive infrastructure raises global concern due to potential environmental risks. This latest incident highlights growing fears of escalation, with military activities near nuclear sites increasing the chances of a broader crisis, even when immediate damage is avoided.
Xiong'an: building a city around green space

08:26, March 25, 2026 By Sun Longfei, Li Anqi ( People's Daily

Photo shows the Yuerong Park. (People's Daily/Lei Sheng)

From above, the Central Green Valley in the start-up zone of Xiong'an New Area stretches across 500 hectares like a green artery, linking clusters of buildings into a cohesive whole.

"Five years ago, this was largely undeveloped land. Today, it is lush and green as far as the eye can see," said Wu Fangfang, deputy general manager of Ecological Construction Company under China Xiong'an Group.

Stretching roughly 7 kilometers from north to south -- connecting the northern forest belt to Baiyangdian Lake -- and spanning roughly 3.2 kilometers east to west, the Central Green Valley forms the core ecological framework of the start-up zone.

Its design features one corridor connecting functional zones, two valleys creating a harmonious blend of dense and open spaces that integrate the city with its waterways, three scenic lakes, and 18 distinctively designed parks catering to diverse recreational needs.

Green development is the defining ecological feature of Xiong'an New Area. Since its establishment, the area has adhered to the principle of prioritizing ecological conservation and pursuing green development. Initiatives such as the "millennium forest project" and the environmental restoration of Baiyangdian Lake have laid the groundwork for an ecological foundation in which blue-green spaces will account for 70 percent of the total area.

The Daqing River forest area marked the starting point of the "millennium forest project". Nearly nine years after the first sapling was planted, green space has steadily spread across the region, forming a dense ecological barrier -- like an unfolding emerald necklace.

Using a near-natural afforestation model that combines mixed species, multi-layered structures, and trees of different ages, Xiong'an has completed afforestation on 32,200 hectares. The total forest area has reached 49,533 hectares, with forest coverage rising from 11 percent before the area's establishment to 35.1 percent today.

Biodiversity metrics confirm ecological success: bird species have increased by 90 to 296 since 2025, including first-recorded Eastern Crowned Warblers and stable populations of globally endangered Baer's Pochards. As environmental indicators, these species validate ecosystem recovery.

Balancing production, living, and ecological spaces to enhance urban livability is a key objective of China's urban development. Livability means more than just adequate housing; it requires accessible, high-quality natural environments.

In Xiong'an New Area, residents enjoy green views from their windows and can reach a park within minutes of their homes. Covering 160 hectares, Yuerong Park embodies traditional Chinese aesthetics, unfolding along the south-north central axis of Xiong'an like a long, unfolding landscape painting.

"A well-designed park should feel integrated into the city and easily accessible," said Zhang Liwei, chief engineer of Xiong'an Planning Institute, adding that "greening first, then building the city" is a guiding principle. From the outset, the ecological blueprint prioritized blue-green spaces. The locations of parks were determined first, with roads and land-use planned around them. At Central Green Valley Park, the boundaries blur seamlessly with urban roads, allowing free movement between spaces.

Photo shows a 110kV transformer substation in Xiongdong zone of Xiong'an New Area. (Photo/Yang Junfeng)

More than 20 urban parks have been planned and built across the start-up area and other key zones like the fifth cluster of the initial development area, Rongdong, Rongxi, Zangang, and Xiongdong, covering approximately 4,400 hectares in total. Xiong'an is demonstrating a new paradigm for urban development, placing nature at its core.

According to Zhang, residents can reach a woodland within three kilometers, a forest belt within one kilometer, and a community park within 300 meters -- with recreational green spaces woven throughout the city.

Meanwhile, parks are being upgraded with increasingly versatile facilities, enriched cultural offerings, and people-centered design in every detail.

By continuously expanding and connecting blue and green spaces, nurturing harmony between people and nature, and integrating the new city closely with Baiyangdian Lake, the planners and builders of Xiong'an New Area are laying a vivid, green foundation for a modern city with an ecological vision.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Wu Chaolan)
Trump and Modi talked about the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing the need for security and open access.

Modi reaffirmed Indias support for peace efforts and diplomatic resolution in the region.

Modi and Sri Lankan President Dissanayake discussed the impact of the West Asia conflict on global energy security and regional cooperation.

US President Donald Trump spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday about the ongoing tensions in West Asia, particularly concerning the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy waterway. Trump, who recently delayed military action on Iranian energy facilities, emphasized the importance of keeping the Strait open and secure for global stability.

, highlighting the critical role of the Strait in global peace, economic well-being, and energy security. Both leaders agreed to remain in contact as efforts to restore peace continue. During the conversation, Modi reiterated Indias stance on de-escalation , highlighting the critical role of the Strait in global peace,, and energy security. Both leaders agreed to remain in contact as efforts to restore peace continue.

This call marked the first direct exchange between Trump and Modi since February, following the announcement of a trade deal and tariff reductions. In addition to the discussion with Trump, Modi also spoke to Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, focusing on the impact of the West Asia conflict on global energy security and strengthening India-Sri Lanka energy cooperation.

While India remains diplomatically engaged with Iran, it has not committed to joining a US-led naval coalition in the region. Indias External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has also been in talks with US and Iranian officials, emphasizing the need for dialogue to resolve the conflict.
Trump pushes peace plan as Iran allows oil ships through Strait of Hormuz.

Missile strikes escalate between Iran and Israel, hitting Tel Aviv and southern Lebanon.

Global energy markets and regional stability remain at risk amid troop deployments and diplomacy.

U.S. President Donald Trump took a cautious step toward diplomacy on Tuesday, sending a peace proposal to Iran amid ongoing hostilities between Tehran and Israel. In a parallel development, Iran signaled a tentative easing by allowing 'non-hostile' oil vessels to transit the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a move that could stabilize the already volatile global energy markets.

Despite these tentative overtures, the conflict showed no signs of abating. Earlier Tuesday, Iranian missiles struck Israel, causing injuries and heightening fears of a broader regional escalation. In response, Israel vowed to secure control over a strategic strip in southern Lebanon, intensifying pressure on multiple fronts.

Strait of Hormuz. The unfolding crisis drew international attention, with President Trump speaking to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the situation. This marked the first conversation between the leaders since the outbreak of hostilities on February 28, which has already claimed the lives of at least six Indian nationals and disrupted energy flows through the

Pakistan also emerged as a potential diplomatic player. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced Islamabads readiness to host peace negotiations, amid growing speculation that it could serve as a mediator to halt the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran.

Meanwhile, military operations surged. The Pentagon is reportedly preparing to deploy thousands of troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, reinforcing the region even as diplomatic channels open. Israel launched targeted strikes on Beiruts southern suburbs, hitting the Hezbollah stronghold and reportedly capturing two members of the Iran-backed group. Tel Aviv mayor Ron Huldai confirmed that a direct missile strike hit a building in one of the citys upscale neighborhoods.

The conflict escalated further on Wednesday, as Israel announced strikes on Tehran. The Israeli military claimed it was targeting 'infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime' in the Iranian capital, following a salvo of missiles fired by Iran toward Israel. Irans new security chief, Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, oversees the ongoing military response, signaling Tehrans commitment to retaliatory measures even as discussions for peace remain tentative.

The situation remains fluid, with diplomatic efforts, regional alliances, and military maneuvers intertwined. While Trumps peace plan and Irans concessions provide a glimmer of hope, the recent exchanges of missile strikes underscore the fragility of any ceasefire and the immense stakes for regional stability and global energy security.
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Sponsored BusinessCompaniesOptus How tech helps Australias largest insurer support customers when it matters most Sponsored by Optus Katie Cunningham March 25, 2026  3:15pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Australians rely on their home and car insurance. Because while our lands may abound in natures gifts, were also vulnerable to our weather  from floods to bushfires and extreme heat. Thats why Australias largest insurance company is working to future-proof its operations at every level. IAG, whose insurance brands include NRMA, is currently undertaking one of its most ambitious transformations to date  all designed to ensure it can better serve Australians now and through whatever the future holds. Watch the full video below to see how IAG is reimagining its response to the unexpected, and how a strategic technology partnership is helping them build a more resilient future. Loading Our vision is to make more and more Australians and New Zealanders safer, says Neil Morgan, chief operating officer at IAG. Delivering on that purpose has been a constant, but the technology that we use to do that has changed dramatically.

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As Morgan tells it, IAG is on a big transformation journey designed to simplify and consolidate the core of their business  then allow the company to deliver better customer experiences using new and emerging technology. That includes everything from enabling hybrid teams with modern connectivity through to exploring the potential of AI to assist with customer service. Partners in business IAG is also tapping the expertise of partner organisations in building a more resilient, responsive and human-first business. Optus has been a key ally in upgrading their technological capabilities. At IAG, when we respond to events, we pride ourselves on being the first to arrive and the last to leave, says Morgan. So being the first to arrive, generally, were turning up in a disaster zone where the services on the ground and power outages are quite real.

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In South East Queensland during the 2025 floods, we knew that the power outages had caused problems with the mobile phone data services. We were able to contact Optus, and within days, they supplied us with Starlink units, backup options and satellite phones, so we could deploy them with their assessors, but also with their help response vehicles. That helped us service our customers. Optus has proven to be a partner IAG can count on, Morgan says. Weve really used [Optus] to support us in providing a resilient core infrastructure that we could do all of that transformation work on top of. And thats where weve seen value in our relationship  understanding the vision, committing to the vision, and then making it happen We really commit to outcomes together. The partnership between IAG and Optus is one thats benefited not only IAG but, most crucially, the customers themselves. Were in it for the benefit of our colleagues and our customers, says Morgan.

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The work of reinvention is never truly over. But whatever comes next, for IAG the vision is all about supporting Australians when they need it most. Thats the promise that we provide as an organisation  to support people when theyre in their moment of need, says Morgan. Were trying to get as close as we can to that scenario where, from a customers perspective, theyre back in a state where they never really had the loss in the first place. Optus is helping businesses like IAG create seamless, connected customer and employee journeys. Learn more at optus.com.au/enterprise.

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CultureMusicPerforming arts Getting intimate: Pinchgut wants you to lean forward in this reckless move Nick Galvin March 26, 2026  5:30am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Following last years critically acclaimed Messiah, which pared back Handels best-loved choral work to its authentic one-to-a-part origins, Pinchgut Operas Erin Helyard is doubling down on the deceptively simple concept of less being more. That intimate Messiah drew widespread praise from Sydney audiences. I had so many emails, says Helyard. They used imagery like, It was like looking at an old painting that had been restored. Another person said it was like one of those sea turtles that has been scraped of all the barnacles. Now Pinchgut is again inviting audiences to lean forward with its opening concert for 2026, this time shifting from the choral to orchestral. Erin Helyard conducting from the harpsichord during Pinchguts acclaimed Messiah last year. Anna Kucera

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Bach & Telemann - Concertos and Sonatas is the first purely orchestral concert for the company and features the Orchestra of the Antipodes. The performance will be historically scaled with one musician per part as originally intended by the composers. Helyard traces the origins of the repertoire to Leipzigs Collegium Musicum, founded in 1702 by Telemann himself. It was this student club, he says. A sort of pub in Leipzig where you would go and young composers and musicians would try out their latest works and people would evaluate them. Thered be drinking and it was very convivial. All the works were doing in this program were written for that environment. In a large symphonic setting - epitomised in Sydney most recently with the Sydney Symphony Orchestras triumphant performances of Mahlers vast Song of the Earth - audiences are encouraged to sit back and let the sound envelop them. But in this more intimate setting the dynamic shifts, with each musician becoming, in effect, a soloist as well as part of the wider ensemble and the audience is encouraged to lean in. The setting also has a profound effect on the performers.

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Its liberating not to have someone to blend with, says Helyard. You can play more. But its also more audacious - a little bit more risky. You can then make it your own solo. Whereas when youre in a section, you have other things to do. You have to blend, you have to make sure that the whole section is working as one, whereas this, its a little bit more reckless. Helyard himself gave the ultimate one-to-a-part performance in Melbourne recently, playing Bachs Goldberg Variations, not on piano as is often the modern way, but on harpsichord as the composer intended. One reviewer commented that he hadnt before witnessed a Melbourne Recital Centre audience listen so quietly for so long. My ultimate goal as a human being is to encourage and to create an atmosphere where audiences are listening and appreciating this beautiful music more, says Helyard. And if one of those things is a quieter, more historically accurate sense of listening as well, then thats amazing. Concertos & Sonatas, Bach and Telemann, City Recital Hall, March 28 and 29
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NationalEducation Opinion Too dumb to be president? No, Mr Trump, hes dyslexic  like Einstein and me Geoff Lee Deputy vice chancellor March 25, 2026  7:30pm

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Donald Trump has opined that a president should not have dyslexia. Honestly, Im all for people with learning disabilities, he said, but not for my president  a president should not have learning disabilities. The US presidents remark was in reference to California Governor Gavin Newsom, a possible 2028 presidential candidate. Trump added: Everything about [Newsom] is dumb. Presidential aides will hopefully educate Trump that America has already had a president with dyslexia. That was Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president. They might also let Trump know that other highly successful people with dyslexia have included Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Steve Jobs, Sir Richard Branson, John Lennon and Agatha Christie. Who are you calling dumb? Gavin Newsom greets Donald Trump at Los Angeles International Airport last year. AP I, too, am dyslexic, and Im proud to hold a leadership position at a university that welcomes students with learning differences. Like Woodrow Wilson, I struggled to learn to read as a child, but this did not stop me from growing up to own and operate a successful business; to gain a doctorate in my 40s; to hold a marginal seat in the NSW parliament for 12 years and a leadership position in the state government; and to become a deputy vice chancellor at Western Sydney University.

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Trumps comments are not only hurtful; they are wrong and they are dangerous for children everywhere. Dyslexia remains widely misunderstood. Dyslexia is not connected to IQ and people with dyslexia are not dumb. It is best understood as a persistent difficulty with reading and spelling. It is a lifelong condition but early treatment can help re-pattern the brain and improve reading skills, which is why it is important to reduce the stigma surrounding it and foster a culture where children with learning differences receive the help and encouragement they need to thrive. People with dyslexia often have unique cognitive abilities that allow us to excel in many fields.

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In their 2011 book The Dyslexic Advantage: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Dyslexic Brain, Brock and Fernette Eide write that people with dyslexia are not defective; they are simply different. And these brain wiring differences often lead to special strengths in processing certain kinds of information. The authors demonstrate how this difference predisposes dyslexic individuals to the development of valuable skills and that by learning how to recognise, nurture and properly use these strengths, they can be helped to achieve success and personal fulfilment. Dyslexia isnt a weakness. Its your strength. California Governor Gavin Newsom While dyslexia is not a barrier to becoming a successful adult, it can be highly distressing for children who havent yet received the learning support they require. In his recently released memoir, Newsom outlined this distress: I couldnt read; I couldnt spell; I couldnt write. Id run out of the room screaming that I didnt know what was wrong with my brain. These feelings resonate with me. I also found my early school days incredibly difficult.

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Decades later, I know that my learning differences did not mean the door to higher education, and the career opportunities that followed, were closed to me. Students with learning differences are not any less worthy of learning. Related Article Explainer

Trump's America How Gavin Newsom got under Trumps skin  with jokes At Western Sydney University, we welcome students with diverse learning needs. We offer special admission schemes and academic adjustments to ensure access for students with disabilities. Our goal is to empower our students throughout their studies. Responding to Trumps criticism, Newsom posted a message on social media addressed to children with dyslexia: Dyslexia isnt a weakness. Its your strength. As a fellow dyslexic, I echo his comments, and I am proud to work at an institution that recognises and celebrates the unique strengths and abilities each student brings to our community.

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As a society, we need to stop the harmful rhetoric of labelling people dumb because they learn in a different way. Every child deserves to learn in a supportive environment. They deserve equal opportunity to pursue their dreams, even if that dream is to become president. Professor Geoff Lee is deputy vice chancellor at Western Sydney University. The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform. Sign up here.
On the Plan | China an 'island of stability,' says Vice Rector at HSE University

10:18, March 25, 2026 By Zhong Wenxing, Chang Sha, Sheng Chuyi ( People's Daily Online

Victoria Panova, Vice Rector at HSE University, Head of the BRICS Expert Council-Russia, has expressed strong confidence in the fulfillment of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), describing the country as an "island of stability" in an interview with People's Daily Online at the China Development Forum 2026.

"Looking at China's previous five-year plans, what was set out was achieved and realized  and that is what matters most," Panova said, adding that the 15th Five-Year Plan is a very comprehensive one that will allow China to move further ahead.

With a population of 1.4 billion, China is striving for higher living standards for all its people while solidifying its role as a technological leader, she said.

Panova noted that China's advancements in AI, robotics and other high-tech fields will remain a priority and continue to be at the forefront of global development. "China is already one of today's technological leaders," she said.

While highlighting the country's high-tech progress, Panova stressed the necessity of maintaining a strong industrial foundation.

"The world cannot exist solely in the digital realm," she cautioned. "While digital technologies greatly support progress, people still need tangible goods. Technology expands possibilities, but it is the physical world that remains the foundation of everyday life, the economy, and infrastructure."

She believes that China's ability to provide stability across both high-tech sectors and essential production is the "key to success."

"That is why countries cooperating with China are ready to contribute to this platform of stability, certainty and prosperity for the world. I believe that is what truly matters," Panova stated.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
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Exclusive NationalCourts Im not an accountant, I run a design business: Fashion maven grilled in court Cameron Houston March 26, 2026  5:30am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Renowned Australian fashion designer Lee Mathews has faced a public examination in the Federal Court over the liquidation of her fashion company and restructuring of her businesses, which denied a London-based creditor more than $2.3 million. Mathews, who has boutiques in Melbourne and Sydney along with a booming online business spruiked by A-list celebrities including Gwyneth Paltrow, was grilled in court over the collapse of her company Lee Mathews Workroom Pty Ltd in October 2021 following the transfer of her fashion business to another company called Lee Mathews Australia Pty Ltd. Australian fashion designer Lee Mathews. Getty Images Before it was placed into liquidation, Lee Mathews Workroom was being pursued over a debt owed to UK fashion company Paper Mache Tiger, which was founded by former Melbourne businessman Kyle Robinson. In November 2021, Paper Mache Tiger obtained a court judgment in the UK of almost 1.2 million ($2.306 million) against Mathews former company.

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Barrister Simon Rubenstein, acting for liquidator SSB Advisory, repeatedly asked Mathews in the Federal Court if the restructuring of her fashion empire was a ploy to judgment-proof her business and avoid the massive debt. Mathews, a former art director at Vogue Australia before launching her eponymous label 26 years ago, told the court her accountants at William Buck Australia had decided to overhaul the business. She said their decision had no connection to the legal threats from Paper Mache Tiger. You need to talk to the accountants ... I am not an accountant; I run a design business, she said. Mathews said she could not recall reading or signing a sale of assets document in June 2020, when the business was transferred between the two companies. I dont really understand all this stuff, so Im not sure if it was important to me or not.

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She said she had no idea what happened to her employees, stock or creditors during the restructure, and could not remember if any consideration was paid for the sale of the business. Lee Mathews designs at Australian Fashion Week last year. Mathews also told the court she could not recall the business being valued at $2.9 million, or the transfer of $995,000 between the two companies in five separate payments between June and October 2020. You understand in your capacity as director you have an obligation to discharge your duties in good faith? Rubenstein asked. I take advice from my chief financial officer, my accountant and other senior staff, Mathews replied.

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The pair had a series of terse exchanges during the public examination on Monday and Tuesday, when Mathews repeatedly asked about the relevance of Rubensteins questions. At one point, Federal Court Registrar Michael Gronow, KC, was forced to intervene. Ms Mathews, its not your job to determine the relevance or otherwise, Gronow said. The public examination will continue on April 22, when accountant Nick Kenny from William Buck Australia will continue to provide evidence to the court. Liquidator Bruno Secatore from SSB Advisory will use information provided during the examination to determine if he will pursue further action against Lee Mathews Workroom Pty Ltd on behalf of creditors, including Paper Mache Tiger.

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Secatore previously raised concerns about the former company in a statutory report to creditors in February 2025. Related Article Sunday Life Fashion designer Lee Mathews on her style rules: Nothing skin-tight There appears to be various payments made to the director and/or related parties that warrant further investigations, including the sale of the business, Secatore said in the report. He also alleged Lee Mathews Workroom Pty Ltd may have traded while insolvent from June 2020 until October 2021, and raised concerns about the performance of Mathews, who was the sole director. My preliminary investigations indicate that the director may have breached their duties with respect to acting with due care and diligence, good faith and to not misuse their position, he said.

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Mathews, who counts Nigella Lawson as a high-profile client, operates six boutiques in Australia, including at Paddington, Avalon and Mosman in Sydney. In Melbourne, she has high-end stores in Fitzroy and Armadale. 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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Anthony Randazzo could be the ultimate Bankstown boy to make good, giving the former prime minister Paul Keating a run for his money. From three generations of Italian migrants who ran a fruit and vegetable shop in Sydneys south-west, the 59-year-old bishop of Broken Bay was appointed on Wednesday to oversee the Catholic Churchs legal system in Rome. Bishop Anthony Randazzo leads mass at St Patricks Catholic Church in East Gosford in 2022. SMH Pope Leo XIV announced Randazzo will become an archbishop, effective immediately. As prefect of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts, the Australian Catholic leader will head the Vatican office in Rome that oversees the churchs laws.

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Sending a shout-out to the people of Bankstown, Randazzo said: The day we forget where we come from is a sad day  We had a farm, and a business in Bankstown. I love the fact that my family are good working-class people. He may come from Bankstown, and support the same football team as Keating, who also attended a Catholic school, but that was where the similarities ended, Randazzo said. Bishop Anthony Randazzo arriving at St Patricks Catholic Church in East Gosford, 2022. Flavio Brancaleone There had been a lot of racial intolerance in the 1960s and 1970s towards Italians and others like his late aunt, an Indigenous woman, he said. Many of the new Australians from the post-war period had now settled.

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Yet he warned of the risk of taking our eye off the fact that we are a country that still welcomes people from various parts of the world. We always have to be vigilant in ensuring that Australia is a welcoming country, and a country that encourages everyone to be a good citizen in this land. Under Randazzos leadership, evangelical Catholicism has flourished, and enrolment in Catholic schools in his diocese of Broken Bay  the Central Coast, Sydneys north shore and the northern beaches  has grown. He also supported a rapidly growing Catholic youth group conference, Ignite. Its youth director, Kym Keady, has described it as an incredible way to kick-start a newfound relationship with Jesus, revive a faith that has grown stale and equip emerging parish leaders. Asked if there was an upswing in faith, Randazzo said: Young people are alive, and they are saying, Wow we have faith.

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Randazzo spent Thursday morning speaking with 800 students at St Josephs College at East Gosford, a Catholic girls high school. He was impressed by their enthusiasm for their faith and desire to contribute to the world. Pope Leo and Bishop Anthony Randazzo pictured in 2026. Facebook Melbourne Archbishop Peter Comensoli told The Catholic Leader that Randazzos appointment  which he starts in three months  was a great responsibility and honour that Pope Leo has asked. The Dicastery is the Vatican body responsible for interpreting Church laws and ensuring their application throughout the world. Only three other bishops from Australia have held a Vatican leadership appointment, he said. They include the late cardinal George Pell.

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Born in Sydney, Randazzos family moved to Queensland when he was young. He attended Catholic schools in Coolangatta and Southport. He studied at Pius XII Provincial Seminary in Brisbane and the University of Queensland, and was ordained in 1991. Randazzo studied canon law at the Jesuit Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He also worked at the Vaticans Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In that role, he dealt with the fallout of the churchs sexual abuse crisis, and the investigation by Australias Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, including cases of priests raping children and cover-ups by bishops. The announcement of Randazzo as an archbishop coincides with the appointment of former nurse Dame Sarah Mullally as the first female archbishop of Canterbury, the symbolic leader of the Anglican church. After the Bondi terror attack, Randazzo used social media to strongly condemn antisemitism, saying: Violence corrodes the soul of a nation. When it is directed at a people because of who they are, what they believe, or how they pray, it strikes at the very foundation of our common life.

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The Dicastery of Legislative Texts  the body Randazzo is set to lead  was first established in 1917 by Pope Benedict XV. It advises the Pope, checks for legislative gaps, ensures proper legal application of Catholic doctrine, and co-ordinates with other offices in the Curia. With AP 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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NationalQueenslandSchools Parents, students to check exam topics after bungle makes history books Catherine Strohfeldt March 25, 2026  2:21pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Parents and senior students have been told to keep track of history test topics and not rely on schools after 140 Queenslanders were taught the wrong subject theme last year. The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) discovered in October nine schools had incorrectly taught their ancient history students about the Roman emperor Augustus instead of studying the prescribed topic: his great-uncle Julius Caesar. Students were given as little as 24 hours to prepare for the correct topic, and the state rushed to grant them special consideration. Students were taught the wrong ancient history exam topic last year, studying Augustus rather than his great-uncle, Julius Caesar. Adobe Stock On Wednesday, in a government committee hearing reviewing the report released in December, QCAA acting chief executive Claude Jones said he was confident new checks and balances would prevent a future bungle.

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Our aim is to ensure schools receive clear, timely and simple information and are able to act on it with confidence, he said. Related Article Schools Two Caesars, two memos and the colossal mistake that upended Queenslands exam season Schools teaching history subjects under the syllabus in 2026 needed to register one of two chosen topics  Julius Caesar or Cleopatra. Well publish each schools selected topics in our online portal and show each student their schools topic in their own learning account, Jones said. The topics would be visible on the portals home page, which had versions for teachers and students.

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The topics would also be printed onto the exam timetables  released in May  and were outlined in the ancient and modern history syllabuses which were already published on the QCAA website. This syllabus is now the single point of truth for these subjects, he said. These steps give schools, teachers, students and parents more opportunities to check and confirm the right topic information. Jones said about 90 per cent of schools had already registered their chosen ancient history topic, following a February 17 memo urging schools to lock in their choices.

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Related Article High school Review of exam mix-up finds fault in authoritys website, memos to teachers He said the assessment authority had not required topic verification for history subjects previously, as only one topic was available, unlike English subjects where schools picked from multiple approved texts. Jones said the assessment authority was also refining its website and communication with schools, following recommendations from the December panel report. Trying to find the perfect website I think is not an easy thing to do, but we have started the process of getting feedback from our stakeholders, he said. The report recommended four best-practice pillars, including predictability, consistent messaging, more precise checking and oversight, and collaboration between the QCAA and schools.

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It outlined two key findings, and said the nine schools experienced overlapping issues, and the QCAAs communication had failed to cut through teachers confirmation bias that Augustus was the external examination topic. The two findings from the panel report in December There was no single point of failure in any school  the nine schools each experienced the event differently when multiple systemic and school-based control gaps occurred, creating what the panel described as the perfect storm of risk.

QCAAs communication with schools did not effectively anticipate and mitigate against misalignment between teaching and external exam topic in all schools. Between December and January, Education Department director-general Sharon Schimming sent copies of the panel report to state schools and private sector bodies promoting the recommendations. In letters to state school principals, Schimming also called for specific risk-management protocols, including asking schools to consult directly with regional directors. In November, the education minister switched up the QCAA board, ousting union leaders Cresta Richardson and Terry Burke in favour of former Rockhampton Catholic Education Diocese director Leesa Jeffcoat and hotelier and former Advance Australia lobbyist James Power.

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The state confirmed on Wednesday that 122 of the affected ancient history students sat their exams, none failed, 42 per cent received an A grade, and one achieved a perfect test score. 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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The man accused of killing his 11-month-old daughter and his partner is recovering in hospital in police custody, his lawyer says, amid plans to have the case referred to the mental health court.

Blake Matthew Seers was charged this month with two counts of murder after he allegedly killed his partner Kate Paterson, 37, and their daughter April, and their bodies were found in their Logan home.

Blake Seers is accused of killing his partner Kate Paterson and their baby daughter.

At Seers first court hearing last week, his lawyer said the 38-year-old had been diagnosed with a schizoaffective disorder.

Patersons and Aprils bodies were discovered after Seers was hit by a vehicle on March 12, outside a supermarket near his home in Belivah, south of Brisbane.
WA government worker accused of bumping lover up social housing wait list

Detectives say a 55-year-old used her position to bypass thousands and fast-track her lover's social housing application while working in Mirrabooka.
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PoliticsNSWGun control Editorial Liberals must not continue to fray around gun law reforms The Herald's View Editorial March 26, 2026  5:00am

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The decision by three NSW state parliamentarians to vote against tighter gun laws looks short-sighted and self-serving, especially since the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion is due to deliver its initial report, including the adequacy of security arrangements, next month. Their rebellion against gun law reform comes as the Heralds Perry Duffin reports a 2024 ISIS speech that triggered a wave of insurgent attacks across the West is thought to be linked with Decembers Bondi Beach massacre, and the actions taken by state and federal security agencies in relation to the gunmen remains opaque and highly contested. The weapons used in the attack were legally owned by accused shooter Sajid Akram. Liberal MP Tanya Davies is standing with law-abiding gun owners. Edwina Pickles Renegade MLAs Tanya Davies (Badgerys Creek), Wendy Tuckerman (Goulburn) and Robyn Preston (Hawkesbury) should have waited but chose instead to break with fellow Liberals on Tuesday, when a Minns government parliamentarian proposed a motion supporting tighter gun laws. Before the vote, Tuckerman inadvertently revealed she was pushing to halt the gun buyback due to begin in September. Davies subsequently took to Facebook saying the governments laws targeted law-abiding citizens and failed to address extremist Islam: I am standing with the hundreds of thousands of law-abiding gun owners and gun shop small businesses around our state.

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The trio represent outer-metropolitan and regional electorates with high gun ownership, and perhaps the fear of surging support for Pauline Hansons One Nation Party is causing them to panic. Minns recalled parliament to debate an omnibus bill, Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, in response to the targeted shooting that killed 15 people and wounded scores more. It was passed on Christmas Eve and 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. Other provisions limited straight-pull/pump action and button/lever release firearms to primary producers and made gun club membership mandatory for all firearm licence holders. Also, people can no longer try to overturn licence decisions via the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Since restrictions on gun ownership were announced, there has been a significant increase in firearms licence applications. Firearms Registry data released to parliament showed holders who applied to add sport/target shooting as a reason to hold a licence jumped from 124 to 964. The Liberals had adequate opportunity to put their parliamentary stamp on the Bondi Beach gun law changes, but remained silent.

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The then new Liberal leader Kellie Sloane backed the reform. She took a lot of heat from NSW Nationals, who claimed they had not been consulted. She has since reiterated her support but finessed her position, indicating her party would like the laws to be revisited if it provides better laws. Gun laws polarise people. John Howard faced massive opposition to his post-Port Arthur firearm bans and buybacks, but it remains one of his most admired achievements. This should inspire the NSW Liberals to get their act together and we urge Sloane to hold the line on gun law reform and not pander to a minority view. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.
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Sponsored InspirationOdakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd. The ideal antidote to Tokyos frenetic energy Sponsored by Odakyu Electric Railway Michelle Bateman March 25, 2026  11:33am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

If the frenetic energy of Tokyos Shinjuku Station is a test of the senses, then just an 80-minute train ride away lies its antidote in Hakone. This leafy resort town in Kanagawa Prefecture has attracted urbanites for centuries, soothing them with fresh mountain air, restorative hot springs and Edo-period traditions. With direct access from Shinjuku via the Odakyu Romancecar express train, Hakone is ideal for either a quick daytrip or a longer escape. Pair your ticket with a Hakone Freepass, for access to many of the towns attractions, including the cable car, Hakone Tozan Railway and sightseeing buses. See natural vistas and modern art Find peace at the waters edge. The iconic red torii gate of Hakone Shrine floating perfectly on Lake Ashi, with Mt Fuji rising high in the background. Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd. Nestled inside a volcanic caldera with moody Lake Ashi at its centre, Hakones township winds up forested slopes towards mist-covered mountains. Lace up your walking shoes and take in the serenity of the countryside, with its cedar-lined trails and changing foliage, eyes peeled for some of the best views of Fujisan (Mount Fuji) in the country.

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Moments of art and culture punctuate the landscape. The red torii gates rising from the waters of Lake Ashi were built in 1952 to commemorate Japans post-war independence and serve as the waterfront entrance to the 12th century Hakone Shrine. Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now. Take a short train ride into the foothills of the mountains, where the Hakone Open-Air Museum is a couple of minutes walk from Chokoku-no-Mori station. This outdoor sculpture park has more than 100 pieces by Japanese and international artists, plus a permanent pavilion dedicated to the work of Pablo Picasso. Kids also adore the wide, open spaces and interactive exhibitions. Time your trip to the museum for spring (late March to early April) to see masses of blooming cherry blossoms, with fewer crowds compared to other parts of town. Touch geothermal waters Let the centuries-old, mineral-rich geothermal waters of Hakone wash away every worry. Odakyu Electric Railway Hakones centuries-old onsen culture is fed by more than a dozen mineral-rich hot springs heated deep beneath the volcanic landscape around Owakudani. Tradition dictates that communal baths are gender-segregated and follow strict bathing etiquette, including nude soaking. Feeling shy? Many of the ryokans around town offer private open-air baths on balconies or terraces.

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The water can feel intense at first, so lower yourself in slowly, allowing your skin to adjust to the heat. Within minutes, shoulders drop, limbs feel heavy and the warmth feels deeply calming. Smell the forest air Dense forest, fresh mountain air perfumed with moss and towering cedars... and breathe. Odakyu Electric Railway The Hakone Tozan Railway is Japans oldest mountain railway still in operation, climbing through dense forest from Hakone-Yumoto to Gora via a series of sharp gradients and three switchbacks. In early summer, hydrangeas line the tracks in a palette of blues and purples, while maples paint the landscape vivid red in autumn. The train journey to Gora takes around 40 minutes but youll want to hop off along the way to inhale deep lungfulls of fresh mountain air, perfumed with the earthy scent of mossy embankments and towering cedar trees. From Gora, transfer to the cable car to climb even higher towards Sounzan and the Hakone Ropeway.

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Taste volcanic eggs Try a black egg for good luck and longevity. Odakyu Electric Railway Owakudani, accessible via the Hakone Ropeway, is an active volcanic area formed by eruptions roughly 3000 years ago, where volcanic plumes still rise from the earth today. Legend has it that eating kuro-tamago  the areas famous black eggs boiled in these natural hot springs  brings good luck and longevity. In reality, theyre regular chicken eggs that have been boiled in geothermal springs, the sulphur in the water turning the eggshells a deep shade of charcoal  but eating one should still be on any foodies Hakone bucket list. Higher in the mountains, spring water naturally filtered through volcanic rock is used in the production of handmade soba noodles, giving a clean, delicate texture and letting the nutty flavour of buckwheat come through. Order a plate of chilled soba served with dipping sauce and toppings at one of the soba restaurants around town, or slurp them down in a hot and nourishing broth. Experience traditional craftsmanship

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Hakone Yosegi Zaiku (marquetry) uses locally harvested, naturally coloured wood, transforming it into striking geometric designs. Odakyu Electric Railway Originating in Hakone during the Edo period, Hakone Yosegi Zaiku (marquetry) is a traditional craft created by artisans who meticulously assemble various types of wood, each harvested from local forests to showcase their unique natural colours. This craft flourished as a popular souvenir for travellers passing through Hakone, once a key post town along the historic Tokaido road. Even today, these beautiful geometric designs remain a favoirite memento for visitors looking to take home a piece of their journey. In Hakone, you can find hands-on workshops where you can try your hand at this 200-year-old tradition. By piecing together small wooden fragments yourself, you can truly connect with the history and artistry of this enduring local craft. Reserve your seat! Enjoy the ride with 16 panoramic seats at both the front and rear of the Romancecar 70000 series GSE. Odakyu Electric Railway The Hakone Freepass and Limited Express Romancecar offer unlimited travel for two or three days across Hakones railways, ropeways and lake cruises, plus discounts at local attractions  all easily purchased and used on your phone.
About Hazemann & Monnin

Hazemann & Monnin is an independent watchmaking company based in Switzerland. It was founded by Victor Monnin and Alexandre Hazemann, whose workshop has been officially operating since 2024. Their partnership, however, took root a decade earlier in the watchmaking program at the Edgar Faure high school in Morteau, France.

Since establishing their company, the two watchmakers have gradually expanded their in-house capabilities in design, prototyping, machining, finishing and assembly, with the aim of achieving true technical independence.

Their first creation, the School Watch, features a movement with an instantaneous jumping hour and a passing chime, and comes in two distinct interpretations that each reflect the sensibility of its creator. Hazemann's version emphasizes technical expression with blue accents, while Monnin's interpretation explores a more artistic approach, notably through the use of natural stone dials such as malachite and opal. We wanted to create finishes that had real import, so that people can take the time to appreciate the entire mechanism, notes Hazemann. Their upcoming timepiece will feature both names on the dial, affirming the identity of the house.

About the Prize: A passion that shapes the future of watchmaking

Launched in 2022, the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Independent Creatives is much more than an award: it embodies the House's passion for excellence in savoir-faire. Organized and supported by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, the Prize is designed to support independent watchmakers, artisans and entrepreneurs as they open bold new horizons in watchmaking.

The second edition of the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize drew a remarkable number of submissions from around the world, confirming the truly international dimension of this initiative. Freed of geographic boundaries, the Prize reaches beyond traditional centers of the craft to recognize independent watchmaking wherever it is practiced with distinction, regardless of nationality, origin or number of years' experience.

A selection of 20 semifinalists was reviewed by a Committee of Experts comprised of 65 watch enthusiasts, experts and collectors from around the world. Candidates' timepieces were evaluated according to five criteria: Design, Creativity, Innovation, Craftsmanship and Technical Complexity. Five finalists were selected to present their timepieces to the final jury on the morning of the ceremony. Louis Vuitton plays no role in selecting the winner; the decision rests solely with the independent jury.

In a deeply emotional gesture symbolizing the spirit of transmission at the heart of the Prize, Raul Pages, winner of the inaugural Louis Vuitton Watch Prize (2024), personally handed over the trophy to the new laureates, Alexandre Hazemann and Victor Monnin. The moment captured the gratitude and commitment of past winners to illuminate the path for those who follow. Winning the Louis

Vuitton Watch Prize in 2024 accelerated my path and gave me recognition for which I will forever be grateful, said Raul Pages. Awarding this trophy in turn is an equally great privilege, living proof that the Prize represents a vibrant community of independent watchmakers who support and illuminate one another.
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InspirationMy happy place Opinion Three years in this city changed my life and my view of the world In this series, My Happy Place, Travellers writers reflect on the holiday destinations in Australia and around the world that they cherish the most. Brian Johnston Travel writer March 26, 2026  5:00am

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In 1989, not long after Id graduated from university and while working in an office in Geneva, a schoolmate died of a brain tumour. I decided then that I couldnt just slip into the easy life. I wanted to escape, and in 1989, few places for an escape were as different from Switzerland as China. Sleepy Chengdu, circa 1990. Getty Images I was naive. Id never been beyond Europe. Id been seduced by Bernardo Bertoluccis epic movie The Last Emperor, and thought China would provide upturned eaves, dragon-embroidered robes and revolutionary idealism. When I arrived in Chengdu to teach English, I discovered China was dusty, dark from lack of streetlights and featureless, with grey buildings under grey skies. Shoals of people in blue cotton jackets pedalled furiously on bicycles. The day I was deposited at my flat at Sichuan University, I was stunned by the enormity of the decision that had brought me there. I couldnt speak Chinese, Id never had Chinese food, and I had little idea how to teach English.

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But the next three years in China changed my life. It turned me into a Sinophile and opened me to another view of the world. It gave me an insiders appreciation of an astonishing culture and a nation that would be squarely in the news for decades. Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now. The writer during his teaching days in China. I loved the steep learning curve. Id been bored at actual university. Chengdu was the university of life, an intellectual adventure that challenged me every day. Ive never had a better social life. I made close friends with students barely younger than me. The expats at Sichuan University created our own merriment in a city where there was barely any, and no English-language television. We were like Edwardians, forced into parlour games and parties and genteel excursions to view peach blossoms. Nobody in China now cares about foreigners, but back then we were rare and caused commotion. The constant attention was too much, yet movie-star flattering. I was admired and mollycoddled like a blond panda, and paid six times a Chinese teachers salary.

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Chengdu was mid-sized and old-fashioned, a city of wobbling bicycles, antimacassars and spittoons, skinny soldiers in baggy pea-green trousers, old ladies who leapt from intersections to harangue me about my bicycle-riding etiquette. It was barbershops that turned into late-night hotpot restaurants, and street markets hung with beheaded ducks. Somewhere beneath Chinas frenzy, Chengdus spirit remains. Going back reminds me of my younger spirit, too. I whiled away afternoons at Wenshu Monasterys vegetarian restaurant, watched by the God of Wisdom and curious locals. Or in Wangjiang Park by the university campus, cracking nuts and slurping green tea from a lidded bowl. Huge stands of bamboo creaked, and dancing ladies snapped their fans. I lived in Chengdu just as China was on the cusp of great changes. Getting rich was newly glorious, small businesses encouraged, and modernisation afoot. I rode the first escalators in Chengdu with farmers agog at the witchcraft of a moving staircase. I ate pizza in a new eatery  the only Western food in three years. My students were abandoning Mao jackets for pink coats and laughed at my black Chinese slippers, otherwise only worn by old folk.

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The past is absolutely another country in China. For a very long time, although I returned to China, I never went back to Chengdu. Why disturb happy memories? You cant relive the good old days. Besides, I knew how fast and furiously China was changing. I feared my old haunts would be crushed beneath skyscrapers and shopping malls. Chengdu has transformed, though it remains slower-paced than some other Chinese cities. iStock But I did go back, eventually, lured by a reunion of old friends. The city centre and many of the bicycles had gone but, surprisingly, Sichuan University campus remained almost unchanged. The foreigners compound  nicknamed the Panda Park by students  now housed retired professors. I nearly burst into tears outside the peeling yellow door to my flat. But it was a happy reunion, and Ive kept going back since. Ive made peace with my nostalgia for a place and time and youth that will never return.

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In many ways, my happy place no longer exists. New China is nothing like the old, when the only Western products were instant coffee and Coca-Cola. New China is deluged in materialism. It accelerates, go-gets, never pauses, and is no longer quite my bowl of green tea. But Chengdu remains a slower, low-rise, relatively untouristed place. The Sichuanese are considered laid-back and laissez-faire by Chinese standards. The city has vast new suburbs, an underground and fashion shops galore, yet clings to its old-fashioned parks, teahouses and understated charms. Somewhere beneath Chinas frenzy, Chengdus spirit remains. Going back reminds me of my younger spirit, too. A familiar whiff of dust, a clink of teacups, the eye sting of spicy Sichuan cooking, and Im in love with Chengdu all over again.
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WorldNorth AmericaAviation Controller cleared fire truck to cross runway seconds before fatal LaGuardia crash Josh Funk , John Seewer and Michael Sisak March 25, 2026  3:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

New York: One of only two air traffic controllers on duty at LaGuardia Airport cleared a fire truck to cross a runway just 12 seconds before an Air Canada flight touched down, leaving little time to avoid the collision that killed the flights two pilots, federal investigators have said. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is working to determine which of the airports many layers of safety precautions failed, allowing the fire truck onto the runway on Sunday night. Airport staff inspect the wreckage of the Air Canada aircraft, with the remains of the fire truck shown to the left. AP Among the questions being explored are whether the common practice of two controllers on duty overnight is enough, why the runway warning system didnt alert to the possibility of a crash, who was co-ordinating air and ground traffic, and whether the fire truck heard the controllers last-second pleas to stop. NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said they would also investigate why the controller involved in the crash went back to work for a period immediately afterwards.

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We know that that controller was still on duty for several minutes afterwards. Normally, they would be relieved. We have questions about that. Was anybody available to relieve that controller? We dont know that yet, Homendy told reporters at a media briefing. Antoine Forest was identified by CBC as one of the planes two pilots killed in the collision. We rarely, if ever, investigate a major accident where it was one failure, she said. When something goes wrong, that means many, many things went wrong. According to The New York Times, the two pilots who died were in the early stages of their careers. First officer Mackenzie Gunther graduated in 2023 from the aviation technology program at Seneca Polytechnic in Toronto, while the other pilot, Antoine Forest, 30, had worked for Jazz Aviation, which operated the Air Canada Express plane, since December 2022. Confirming his death to the paper, Forests great aunt Jeannette Gagnier said that Forest was like a grandson to her. Forests brother, Cedric Forest, also confirmed his brothers death on social media and posted an image of them together as children.

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Seneca Polytechnic published an online memoriam to Gunther expressing the deepest condolences to Mr Gunthers family and friends, and to his former colleagues and professors. He will be deeply missed. About 40 people sustained serious injuries in the crash, including two emergency responders, while a flight attendant, still strapped in her seat, survived after being thrown onto the tarmac. NTSB investigators have not yet interviewed the firefighters, who were also injured, or found whether they braked or turned to avoid the collision, Homendy said. Two controllers were on duty Investigators want to know more about the role of the air traffic controllers and what they were doing while juggling a late-night emergency involving another plane  a strong odour reported in the cabin of a departing United Airlines jet.

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Homendy warned against jumping to conclusions. Loading I would caution against pointing fingers at controllers and saying distraction was involved. This is a heavy-workload environment, she said. Having two controllers on duty in the control tower is typical for a late-night shift, but has long been a concern for the NTSB, she said. Both controllers were early in their shift when the crash happened. The tower at LaGuardia had been busier than expected on Sunday night because delays pushed the number of flight arrivals and departures after 10pm to more than double the scheduled number, according to data from analytics firm Cirium.

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Aircraft were landing every few minutes, with a dozen flights arriving between 11pm and when the crash happened less than 40 minutes later. At the same time, the controllers were co-ordinating the emergency response to the United Airlines odour incident, which was making flight attendants feel ill. The front section of the CRJ-900 aircraft was destroyed in the 200 km/h collision. AP Jeff Guzzetti, an aviation safety expert who used to investigate crashes for both the NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), said this crash may raise questions about whether having two controllers on the overnight shift is enough at major airports. That has been the minimum since 2018, when the FAA imposed that requirement after several instances of controllers falling asleep while working solo. LaGuardia is one of 35 major US airports with an advanced surface surveillance system to help eliminate dangerous runway incursions and prevent crashes.

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Controllers in these airports have a display in the tower thats supposed to show them the location of every plane and vehicle. The system, known as ASDE-X, didnt work as intended this time because the fire truck wasnt outfitted with a transponder, Homendy said. There were also emergency vehicles behind the fire truck that stopped in time, and the proximity of the vehicles merging kept the system from triggering an alarm, she said. Many ground vehicles are fitted with transponders to show their exact location to controllers. The fire truck at LaGuardia did not have one. AP More work is needed to determine whether an alert could have prevented the crash, she said. Just last May, the FAA urged the 35 airports with surface surveillance systems like LaGuardias to equip their vehicles with transponders and said federal funds were available to help pay for them.

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While the NTSB hasnt recommended that vehicles on airport grounds be equipped with transponders, they should be fitted as standard, Homendy said. Air traffic controllers should know whats before them, whether its on [the] airport surface or in the airspace. They should have that information to ensure safety, she said. Asked about the lack of a transponder in the fire truck, the airport operator, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, said it was unable to comment due to the ongoing investigation. The FAA disclosed 97 runway incursions across the US in January, according to the most recently available data posted on its website.

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Timeline lays out final seconds The NTSB laid out a timeline of the final moments after reviewing the Air Canada jets cockpit voice recorder, which authorities recovered by cutting a hole in the aircrafts roof. Related Article Aviation A total miracle: Flight attendant thrown from Air Canada plane survives strapped to seat Investigators said that 25 seconds before the crash, the fire truck asked to cross the same runway where the plane had already been cleared to land nearly two minutes earlier. One controller cleared the truck to cross the runway five seconds later, when the plane was a little more than 30 metres from the ground, the NTSB found.

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Then, just nine seconds before the two collided, the tower told the fire truck to stop  a second before the planes landing gear touched down, the NTSB said. The plane was travelling at about 200 km/h at the point of impact, according to law enforcement sources. Homendy said it appeared that the airports runway status lights were working, which might have warned the fire truck driver not to cross the runway even if the controller approved it. The lights embedded in the runway surface are designed to automatically turn red when it is occupied to signal to vehicle operators and pilots not to enter. The controller could also see the vehicles and the plane from the tower window, said John Cox, chief executive of Safety Operating Systems. But there simply may not have been enough time to prevent the crash once the fire truck pulled onto the runway. Travel delays mount

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The crash came at a time of increasing frustration with air travel in the US, caused by long security lines because of the government shutdown, winter storms and rising costs. Related Article Trump's America Four-hour waits, queues out the door: US airports crippled by shutdown While flights resumed on Monday at LaGuardia  the New York regions third-busiest airport  the runway where the collision happened was still closed. About one quarter of the airports flights were cancelled on Tuesday, according to FlightAware.com, and there were significant delays averaging more than four hours. But it did not appear that cancellations were spilling over to other airports around the US. 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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WorldNorth AmericaTrump's America Four-hour waits, queues out the door: US airports crippled by shutdown Michael Koziol March 25, 2026  11:44am 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: Its 2pm at John F. Kennedy International Airport, and the main security line at Terminal 4 is backed up so far that it snakes through the check-in counters, along the lobby and nearly outside the building onto the street. Its pretty brutal, says Austin Fratello, 27, who is flying to Colorado. The New Yorker travels through JFK regularly, and he has never seen it like this. My flights at 7.15pm  [Im] five hours early, and it still might be kind of close. George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, where security wait times hit four hours this week. AP Similar scenes are playing out at major airports all over the United States as a partial government shutdown wreaks havoc with airport security and air travel. The shutdown stems from US Senate Democrats refusing to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agency primarily responsible for enforcing federal immigration laws, following the killing of US citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

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The Department of Homeland Security, which includes ICE and the Transportation Security Administration, responsible for airport security, has been partially shut down since February 14. Republicans have rejected attempts by Democrats to restart funding for TSA and other parts of DHS without funding ICE. As a result, TSA workers have not been paid in more than a month  and, as typically occurs when there is a prolonged US government shutdown, many of them are not showing up to work. People in line at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Monday, one of the worst-affected airports. AP On Monday (US time), more than a third of TSA workers at JFK airport called out of work, according to DHS figures. There were similar numbers at major airports in Atlanta, Houston and New Orleans. Some airports across the country have been telling passengers to arrive four hours before their flight departs. At Houstons George Bush Intercontinental Airport, only two checkpoints were open, and estimated wait times have exceeded 250 minutes.

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At lunchtime on Tuesday  a quieter part of the day  helpless travellers at JFK were reluctantly jumping on the end of the snaking queue, resigned to the possibility they may miss their flight despite leaving plenty of time. Annie Weiss, 73, is travelling to Israel urgently to visit her mother, whose health has suddenly deteriorated. The flight departs in three hours, though she is confident she will be plucked out of the line if boarding begins. I will make it, she says. I tell her she sounds optimistic. Do we have a choice in this world, today? Karen Savage supports defunding ICE, even though the government shutdown is causing chaos for her flight home to Minneapolis. Michael Koziol I am wearing a suit and a press lanyard, which causes several stressed people to approach me for help. Karen Savage, 66, is on a layover after returning from a holiday in Spain, where she was blissfully unaware of the airport chaos back home. Are they on strike? she asks, before I fill her in about the government shutdown. That is not OK, she says. If were not paying them, then I understand why theyre not going to work.

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Savage is from Minneapolis, the epicentre of the nationwide debate about ICE and the Trump administrations crackdown on so-called illegal aliens. She supports the Democrats attempt to defund the agency. If they could use ICE in a way that was appropriate, that would be fine, she says. But the way theyre using it in Minnesota, for example, is unconstitutional and criminal  so thats not OK with a lot of people. Jordan and Meredith Blazak approved of Delta Air Lines scrapping perks for politicians until the impasse is resolved. Michael Koziol Jordan and Meredith Blazak were supposed to fly home to Los Angeles earlier in the day on Southwest Airlines, but their flight was cancelled. They have to work tomorrow, so booked a flight on Delta Air Lines instead, which took them to JFKs Terminal 4. Meredith is pleased about one thing: Delta has just announced it is suspending special benefits for members of Congress  such as airport escorts and expedited screening  until the impasse over TSA funding is resolved. They shouldnt get perks while the rest of us suffer, she says.

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In Washington, lawmakers indicated a deal to end the shutdown, now in its 39th day, was nearing, but still not final. Republicans are now offering legislation that would fund all of DHS except for the parts of ICE involved in the Trump administrations deportation drive. The time to end this is now, Republican Senate leader John Thune said on Tuesday afternoon. Federal ICE agents have been dispatched to airports across the country to assist the TSA. AP However, President Donald Trump is reluctant to approve any compromise. On the weekend, he said Republicans should not make any deal with the Crazy, Country Destroying, Radical Left Democrats until the party agrees to pass the Save America Act, which would require people to show identification to vote in all states. I dont want to comment until I see the deal, Trump said on Tuesday. I think any deal they make, Im pretty much not happy with it.

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He asserted the issue could be a political winner for Republicans. This is a Democrat problem, Trump said. In fact, I actually said to the Senate: why would you  this is a Democrat problem, I think the polls are showing its a Democrat problem. Related Article Updated

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Iraq arrests four after rocket attack on Syria base: statement



Baghdad, March 24 (AFP) Mar 24, 2026



Iraq arrested four people in connection with an earlier rocket attack launched against a military base in neighbouring Syria, officials said late Tuesday.

"Our security forces, supported by intelligence efforts, moved swiftly and succeeded in arresting four of the perpetrators," a short statement from the prime minister's office said.

It added that the suspects had been handed over to the "appropriate authorities" as part of the investigation.

Monday's attack targeted a northeastern Syrian military base in Hasakeh province that had until recently hosted US forces with an international anti-jihadist coalition.

These are the first arrests announced in Iraq related to the Middle East conflict that broke out on February 28.

However, drone strikes and rocket attacks have regularly targeted the US embassy in Baghdad, a US diplomatic centre at the Iraqi capital's airport, and forces with the international anti-jihadist coalition.

Syria's army condemned the attack on Monday, and confirmed they were in contact with Iraqi authorities to "locate the perpetrators".
Israel vows to strike Iran missiles as over 12 injured amid Iranian fire



Jerusalem, March 24 (AFP) Mar 24, 2026



The Israeli military said on Tuesday it would keep hitting Iran's ability to make and launch missiles, as more than a dozen people were injured during Iranian attacks throughout the day.

A woman was also killed in northern Israel following rocket fire from Lebanon, where Israeli forces are fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah.

By late Tuesday, the Israeli military had issued 12 alerts warning of incoming Iranian missiles since midnight.

"Over the past 24 hours we have carried out several waves of strikes throughout Iran. We struck command centres, launch sites, and missile production facilities of the regime," Israeli military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said during a televised briefing late Tuesday.

"We are hitting every link in the missile chain, from the manufacturing plants to the launchers and the missiles themselves," he added.

Defrin said the number of Iranian launches had dropped to an average of around 10 missiles per day, and that Iran was "trying to concentrate its efforts once every few days and fire on a larger scale, mainly toward population centres."

"We are prepared for this and continue to hunt down and eliminate the soldiers and commanders of the missile array," he added.

Shortly after Defrin's remarks, the Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency services said medical teams in the Bnei Brak area of central Israel were evacuating nine people to hospital following Iranian missile fire.

The MDA said among those injured was a 23-year-old man in moderate condition with shrapnel wounds and eight people in mild condition, including six children.

In nearby Givat Shmuel, it said three people were in mild condition with blast injuries.

- 'Weakened' -



Earlier, the MDA said three people, including a baby, were injured during an Iranian missile attack that targeted the south of the country.

Israeli media reported that the injured were members of the Bedouin community. Police said forces were working to locate interceptor debris in the Negev area.

A strike in Tel Aviv in the morning wounded at least four people, according to the MDA.

Despite the series of impacts, the Israeli military said in a statement that intelligence assessments indicated "the ballistic missile troops of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps are weakened".

In northern Israel, emergency services pronounced a woman dead after rocket fire from Lebanon, which also left two others lightly injured with shrapnel wounds.

"As a result of the rocket barrage fired this evening at northern towns, an Israeli civilian was murdered," Defrin said during the televised briefing, describing the incident as a "painful event".

Hezbollah began firing rockets at Israel on March 2 in retaliation for the US-Israeli attacks that killed Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei, prompting Israeli retaliation and dragging Lebanon into the Middle East war.
Trump upbeat on Iran deal despite new attacks



Tehran, March 24 (AFP) Mar 24, 2026



US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he was upbeat about the chances of a negotiated deal with Iran, even as Israel and Tehran traded new blows and the United States was reported to be sending more troops to the region.

The latest violence included what Iran said was a second strike during the war on the Bushehr nuclear plant, a civilian site perilously close to Gulf population centres, leading the UN nuclear watchdog to urge "maximum restraint".

Trump, whose pronouncements in recent days have swung wildly from vowing massive attacks on Iran to declaring the nearly month-long war virtually over, said the United States was "in negotiations right now" with Iran -- which has not confirmed any formal talks.

Trump said that Iran's surviving leadership had offered the United States a "prize" -- a cryptic comment that he said gave him faith in diplomacy.

"They did something yesterday that was amazing actually. They gave us a present and the present arrived today. And it was a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

"That meant one thing to me -- we're dealing with the right people."

Trump, asked to elaborate, said that the purported gift dealt with oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has largely blockaded in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes, sending global energy prices soaring.

Trump had earlier threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power plants, which some argue would be a war crime, if it did not open the strait by late Monday Washington time. Before US markets opened Monday, Trump abruptly extended the deadline by five days, citing diplomatic progress.

Pakistan's prime minister has offered to host US-Iran talks, which Trump said involved top officials including Vice President JD Vance.

President Emmanuel Macron of France, which will host G7 talks among foreign ministers on the crisis Friday, called on Iran to "engage in good faith".



- Violence unabated -



Despite Trump's stated hopes for diplomacy, The Wall Street Journal reported that the United States is planning to send 3,000 soldiers from the elite 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East.

Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched the war on February 28, killing Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei, just after new talks between US and Iranian envoys.

Iranian missiles have found growing success penetrating Israeli defences, with AFP images showing rubble-strewn streets in the commercial hub Tel Aviv. On Tuesday, more than a dozen people were injured in Israel including an infant, first responders said.

Israel said it conducted a "large wave" of airstrikes across several areas of Iran. Israeli military spokesman Effie Defrin said his country's war plan was "unchanged" despite Trump's remarks and that it would continue "to deepen the damage and remove existential threats".

Israel's Channel 12 said that Trump's envoys were proposing a one-month ceasefire during which the sides would discuss a 15-point agreement that would include a ban on Iran enriching uranium on its soil and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran in turn would see sanctions relief, according to the report. The Trump administration similarly offered a 15-point plan before a shorter Israeli and US bombing campaign against Iran in June.

Iran had agreed in 2015 to broad restraints on its contested nuclear program in a deal that Trump ripped up during his first term as he joined Israel in applying pressure to the cleric-run state.

The reported agreement would keep in place the Islamic republic which weeks earlier ruthlessly crushed mass protests, killing thousands.

But Trump insisted Tuesday that Iran effectively already had "regime change" after Israeli killings of top leaders.

Iran's powerful parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, denied any negotiations with the United States, accusing Trump of seeking "to manipulate the financial and oil markets".

Iran's foreign ministry, however, acknowledged that messages had been relayed by "friendly countries" indicating a "US request for negotiations".



- War is 'daily life now' -



Israel while striking Iran has stepped up its campaign against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, saying its military would take control of south Lebanon up to the Litani river, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border.

Israel -- which occupied southern Lebanon for nearly two decades until 2000 -- carried out new strikes across the country. The Israeli military late Tuesday warned residents of Beirut's southern suburbs, strongholds of Hezbollah, to evacuate in the face of imminent strikes.

The Israeli campaign has killed at least 1,072 people in Lebanon, with more than one million people displaced, according to authorities.

Lebanon's health ministry said at least eight people were killed in the latest Israeli strikes, including a three-year-old girl.

Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East war when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 to avenge the killing of Khamenei.

Lebanon, whose central government has long been fragile, grew increasingly assertive by announcing it was ordering the Iranian ambassador to leave by Sunday, accusing the Islamic republic of meddling and commanding Hezbollah operations.

Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia all said they had intercepted renewed drone and missile attacks as Iran kept up retaliatory strikes on US-allied Gulf states.

"The sounds, the explosions, the missiles -- they are part of our daily life now," a 35-year-old woman in Tehran told AFP by telephone.

"Our one real worry now is that our oil and gas infrastructure isn't targeted by missile strikes. I think that's the only thing all Iranians can agree on at the moment."

Oil prices, which had tumbled after Trump mooted talks on Monday, rebounded slightly in Tuesday trade, with Brent back above $100 a barrel.

burs-sct/msp
US sends Iran a plan to end war: reports



Washington, United States, March 24 (AFP) Mar 24, 2026



The United States has sent to Iran a 15-point plan to end the war that would include strict limits on its nuclear program and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, reports said Tuesday.

The New York Times, quoting two anonymous officials, said that the proposal was sent to Iran via Pakistan, which has offered to mediate.

Israel's Channel 12 said that the United States and Iran would declare a month-long ceasefire during which they would negotiate on the basis of the proposal.

The plan calls for the end of any uranium enrichment on Iranian soil and the handing over of enriched material, which Israel and the United States say could be developed into a nuclear bomb, Channel 12 said.

It said that Iran would also allow unimpeded access through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow chokeway into the Gulf through which one-fifth of the world's oil flows, after its retaliatory partial blockade sent global energy prices soaring.

Iran in turn would see an end to all sanctions, the Israeli report said.

Iran would also receive assistance in developing civil nuclear energy at Bushehr, a key site that Tehran on Tuesday accused Israel of striking.

The White House and State Department did not immediately comment on the reports.

Trump earlier Tuesday said he was optimistic about diplomacy with Iran, which he attacked alongside Israel on February 28 in a massive campaign that started with the killing of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

There was no talk in the apparent plan of forcing governmental change in Iran, whose cleric-run state weeks earlier ruthlessly put down mass protests, killing thousands.
Iraq summons US, Iran representatives after deadly strikes



Baghdad, March 24 (AFP) Mar 24, 2026



Iraq said late on Tuesday it would summon the US charge d'affaires and the Iranian ambassador after deadly strikes blamed on their countries, as Iraqi authorities granted targeted former paramilitary groups the "right to respond".

Iraq has been pulled into the war sparked by US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, and which has since engulfed much of the region.

The former paramilitary Hashed al-Shaabi coalition, part of Iraq's regular armed forces but which also includes brigades belonging to Iran-backed groups, blamed the United States for the deadliest strike so far on Iraqi territory, which killed a commander and 14 other fighters.

In the autonomous Kurdistan region, a ballistic missile attack killed six of the regional force's fighters, known as the peshmerga.

The region accused Iran of conducting the first such deadly attack on Kurdish security forces since the war began.

Neither the United States nor Iran commented on the accusations, but in a statement released late on Tuesday, Iraq said its foreign ministry would summon both representatives to "deliver formal notes of protest regarding the attacks".

It also emphasised the necessity of maintaining balanced relations both internationally and regionally to prevent Iraq being "drawn into areas of conflict".

Iraq has long been a proxy battleground for the United States and Iran, and has struggled to balance diplomatic ties with both countries.

Since the war began, pro-Iran armed groups have claimed responsibility for attacks on US interests in Iraq and across the region, while strikes have also targeted these groups, including state-linked positions.

In the statement from the prime minister's office, however, Iraq granted former paramilitaries within the official armed forces the right to "respond to military attacks" by drones and aircraft that targeted their headquarters.



- 'Decisions of war' -



Late on Tuesday, the Coordination Framework, Iraq's ruling coalition of Shia parties with varying degrees of links to Iran, backed the government decision.

However, it also condemned "attacks against state institutions and diplomatic missions", and called for the perpetrators to be punished.

The coalition said the government retained "the exclusive right of the state over decisions of war".

The Hashed al-Shaabi, also known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), said those killed in the strike targeting its fighters included a top provincial commander.

It described the strike as a "treacherous American attack that targeted the operation headquarters", and later urged authorities to "confront these repeated American violations".

The overnight strike targeted a base in the western Anbar province bordering Syria, long the scene of operations against the Islamic State group.

Since the start of the Middle East war, Baghdad has repeatedly denounced attacks on the Hashed al-Shaabi, formed in 2014 to fight IS.

After the jihadists were defeated in 2017 in Iraq, the coalition gained influence within the security forces. Its armed factions also developed political roles, including representation in parliament, as well as economic interests.

Last week, the Pentagon acknowledged that combat helicopters had carried out strikes against pro-Iran armed groups in Iraq during the current conflict.

On Tuesday night, the sound of fighter jets was repeatedly heard in the skies above the Iraqi capital.



- Iraqi Kurdistan -



Earlier, the PMF said a "Zionist-American strike" had targeted their Mosul office in northern Iraq, with a security official saying it was a second home for coalition leader Faleh al-Fayyad, although he was not present during the attack.

The Kurdish defence ministry in the north separately said a strike targeting peshmerga forces killed six fighters and wounded 30 others, blaming the attack on Iran.

"Six Iranian ballistic missiles targeted them," said the Iraqi Kurdish authorities, branding the attack "hostile, treacherous".

Although close with Washington, Iraq's Kurds have sought to maintain neutrality in the Iran war, after relations with the Islamic republic had warmed in recent years.
Israeli military warns of inbound missiles from Iran



Jerusalem, March 24 (AFP) Mar 24, 2026



Israel's military warned late Tuesday that Iran had fired a new salvo of missiles towards the country and that anti-missile defences were active after a day of more than a dozen alerts.

An hour later, just as Wednesday dawned in Israel, the country's military issued an identical warning of more missiles inbound from Iran.

Following the Tuesday warning, sirens sounded in Jerusalem and a blast was heard in the city, while a loud explosion was also heard in the skies over the West Bank city of Jericho, AFP correspondents said.

"A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," the Israeli military said on Telegram.

The Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency services said on Telegram: "following the shooting at the State of Israel: At this stage, no casualties are known."

"MDA medics and paramedics went out to treat a man who was injured on the way to" shelter, it added.

By late Tuesday, the Israeli military had issued more than a dozen alerts warning of incoming Iranian missiles since midnight.

A woman was killed in northern Israel Tuesday following rocket fire from Lebanon, where Israeli forces are fighting Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

The Israeli military said on Tuesday it would keep hitting Iran's ability to make and launch missiles, as more than a dozen people were injured during Iranian attacks throughout the day.
War in the Middle East: latest developments



Paris, France, March 24 (AFP) Mar 24, 2026



Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war:



-'Non-hostile vessels' can transit Strait of Hormuz -



Iran has said "non-hostile vessels" can transit the Strait of Hormuz, according to a statement released to the International Maritime Organization (IMO).



- Missiles target Israel -



Israel's military warned late Tuesday that Iran had fired missiles towards the country and that anti-missile defences were active, following a day of more than a dozen missile alerts.

Shortly after, sirens sounded in Jerusalem and a blast was heard in the city, while a loud explosion was also heard in the skies over the West Bank city of Jericho.



- Iraq summons US, Iran diplomats after deadly strikes -



Iraq said it would summon the US charge d'affaires and the Iranian ambassador after deadly strikes blamed on their countries, as Iraqi authorities granted targeted former paramilitary groups the "right to respond".



- Iran says strike hit Bushehr nuclear plant -



The UN nuclear watchdog said Iran had informed it that "another projectile hit the premises" of the Bushehr nuclear power plant on Tuesday, without damaging it.



- Trump says Iran gave US 'gift' -



US President Donald Trump said he was upbeat about a negotiated deal with Iran after its surviving leadership gave him a "very big present" related to the Strait of Hormuz, "worth a tremendous amount of money".

He earlier said negotiations to end the Middle East war were under way "right now," adding that Tehran wants to make a deal "so badly".



- US to deploy 82nd Airborne: media -



The United States is planning to send some 3,000 soldiers from its elite 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East to support operations against Iran, US media reported.



- Hezbollah backs Iran diplomat -



Hezbollah called Lebanon's decision to expel the newly appointed Iranian ambassador a "national and strategic sin", and demanded authorities "immediately reverse" the move.



- China, France encourage talks -



China's top diplomat Wang Yi told his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in a phone call that "talking is always better than to keep fighting," after Tehran denied Trump's claim that negotiations had taken place.

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron called on Iran to "engage in good faith" in talks to end the war, after a call with his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian.



- Explosions north of Beirut -



Explosions rocked several areas north of Beirut that had been spared in the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah war, according to residents and local media, with a military official saying the blasts likely came from an intercepted Iranian missile.

"A number of citizens sustained minor injuries from flying shrapnel," according to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency.



- UAE says contractor killed -



The UAE defence ministry said that a Moroccan contractor with the Emirati military was killed in Bahrain in an Iranian attack, with Manama saying the man had been assisting the local armed forces.



- Islamabad talks offer -



Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Islamabad is prepared to host negotiations to stop the US-Israeli war with Iran, after mounting speculation it could act as a mediator.



- Iran arrests -



Iranian authorities said that 466 people have been arrested, accused of seeking to destabilise the country through their online activity.



- Iran security chief -



Iran named a former Revolutionary Guards commander, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, as head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, succeeding Ali Larijani, who was killed last week in an Israeli strike.



- Isfahan strikes -



Israel's military said that it had completed a "large wave of strikes in Isfahan".



- 'Security zone' -



Israel said it military will seize control of an area 30 kilometres (20 miles) into Lebanon a "security zone", as it presses its fight against Iran-backed Hezbollah.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told AFP that Israel should "refrain" from that measure, warning it would have "major humanitarian consequences".

burs/ksb/jgc
Trump sends peace plan as Iran opens to 'non-hostile' oil vessels



Tehran, March 24 (AFP) Mar 24, 2026



US President Donald Trump sent a peace plan to Iran as he voiced optimism Tuesday at ending nearly a month of a war, with Tehran announcing that it will let "non-hostile" oil vessels go through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

The tentative signs of a diplomatic solution came despite new violence, with an Iranian missile causing injuries in Israel which in turn pressed on multiple fronts and vowed to seize control of a strip of southern Lebanon.

Trump, whose pronouncements in recent days have swung wildly from vowing massive attacks on Iran to declaring the nearly month-long war virtually over, said the United States was "in negotiations right now" with Iran -- which has not confirmed any formal talks.

"They did something yesterday that was amazing actually. They gave us a present and the present arrived today. And it was a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

"That meant one thing to me -- we're dealing with the right people."

He did not explain further but said it related to the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has largely blockaded in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes, sending global energy prices soaring.

Iran, in a message circulated by the International Maritime Organization shortly afterward, assured safe passage to "non-hostile vessels" going through the strait, the gateway for one-fifth of the world's oil.

Iran had already in recent days said it was not targeting friendly nations, although many vessels have shied away as insurance companies refuse to take risks.



- New nuclear deal? -



Trump had earlier threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power plants, which some argue would be a war crime, if it did not open the strait by late Monday Washington time. Before US markets opened Monday, Trump abruptly extended that deadline by five days, citing diplomatic progress.

Pakistan's prime minister has offered to host US-Iran talks, which Trump said involved top officials including Vice President JD Vance.

Trump said that he had sent a plan and that it "all starts with, they cannot have a nuclear weapon."

The New York Times, quoting unnamed officials, said that the United States had sent the 15-point plan to Iran through Pakistan.

Israel's Channel 12 said that Trump was proposing a one-month ceasefire during which the sides would discuss a proposal that would include handing over Iran's enriched uranium and banning further enrichment.

Iran would also ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran in turn would see an end to all sanctions, which have been in place in various forms for years, the Israeli report said.

Iran would also receive assistance in developing civil nuclear energy at Bushehr, a key site which dates from before the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Iran on Tuesday accused Israel of carrying out a second strike on Bushehr, which lies perilously close to Gulf Arab population centers.

"The sounds, the explosions, the missiles -- they are part of our daily life now," a 35-year-old woman in Tehran told AFP by telephone. "Our one real worry now is that our oil and gas infrastructure isn't targeted by missile strikes."

Iran had agreed in 2015 to broad restraints on its contested nuclear program in a deal that Trump ripped up during his first term as he joined Israel in applying pressure to the cleric-run state.

The reported new proposal would keep in place the Islamic republic which weeks earlier ruthlessly crushed mass protests, killing thousands, despite earlier vows of regime change by Trump and especially Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.



- Troops en route despite diplomacy -



Despite Trump's stated hopes for diplomacy, The Wall Street Journal reported that the United States is planning to send 3,000 soldiers from the elite 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East.

Trump's envoys were negotiating a nuclear deal with Iran just two days before the United States and Israel launched the massive attack on February 28, killing Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei on the first day.

Iranian missiles have found growing success penetrating Israeli defences, with AFP images showing rubble-strewn streets in the commercial hub Tel Aviv. On Tuesday, more than a dozen people were injured in Israel, including an infant, first responders said.

Israel said it conducted a "large wave" of airstrikes across several areas of Iran. Israeli military spokesman Effie Defrin said his country's war plan was "unchanged" despite Trump's remarks and that it would continue "to deepen the damage and remove existential threats".

Israel has also stepped up its campaign against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, saying its military would take control of south Lebanon up to the Litani river, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border.

Israel -- which occupied southern Lebanon for nearly two decades until 2000 -- carried out new strikes across the country. The Israeli military late Tuesday warned residents of Beirut's southern suburbs, strongholds of Hezbollah, to evacuate in the face of imminent strikes.

The Israeli campaign has killed at least 1,072 people in Lebanon, with more than one million people displaced, according to authorities.

Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East war when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 to avenge the killing of Khamenei.

Lebanon, whose central government has long been fragile, grew increasingly assertive by announcing it was ordering the Iranian ambassador to leave by Sunday, accusing the Islamic republic of meddling and commanding Hezbollah operations.

Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia all said they had intercepted renewed drone and missile attacks as Iran kept up retaliatory strikes on US-allied Gulf states.

Oil prices, which had tumbled after Trump mooted talks on Monday, rebounded slightly in Tuesday trade, with Brent back above $100 a barrel.

burs-sct/md
Israel military says striking Tehran



Jerusalem, March 24 (AFP) Mar 24, 2026



The Israeli military said early Wednesday that it was striking targets in the Iranian capital Tehran, shortly after it announced a salvo of missiles had been fired towards Israel by Iran.

"Initial report -- the IDF has begun a wave of strikes targeting infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime across Tehran," the Israeli military wrote on its official Telegram channel.
Lebanon state media says Israeli strikes kill 9 in south



Beirut, Lebanon, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



Lebanese state media reported on Wednesday that Israeli strikes killed at least six people in a town and a Palestinian refugee camp in the southern Sidon area, and three more in another town.

Israel has stepped up its campaign against Tehran-backed militant group Hezbollah, whose rocket attacks on March 2 pulled Lebanon into the regional war, triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

Citing the health ministry, Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) said four people were killed in an "Israeli enemy raid" on the town of Adloun, and another two in a strike on an apartment in the Mieh Mieh refugee camp that left four others wounded.

In another area of southern Lebanon, the NNA earlier said an Israeli raid on the town of Habboush killed at least three people and wounded 18 others.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which earlier warned of an imminent attack on Beirut's southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold that has been targeted multiple times during the war.

Military spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a statement posted online that Israeli forces were targeting Hezbollah's "military infrastructure... throughout the suburb with increasing force".

"For your safety, you must evacuate immediately," Adraee told residents.

Israel, which occupied southern Lebanon for nearly two decades until 2000, has said its military would take control of the border area up to the Litani river, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the frontier.

The Israeli campaign has killed at least 1,072 people in Lebanon, with more than one million people displaced, according to Lebanese authorities.

In northern Israel, where repeated air raid sirens have sent residents to shelters, a woman was killed on Tuesday following rocket fire from Lebanon, Israeli authorities said.
Trump sends peace plan as Iran opens to 'non-hostile' oil vessels



Tehran, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



US President Donald Trump sent a peace plan to Iran as he voiced optimism Tuesday at ending nearly a month of warfare, with Tehran announcing that it will let "non-hostile" oil vessels go through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

The tentative signs of a diplomatic solution came despite new violence, with an Iranian missile causing injuries in Israel, which in turn pressed on multiple fronts and vowed to seize control of a strip of southern Lebanon.

Trump, whose pronouncements in recent days have swung wildly from vowing massive attacks on Iran to declaring the nearly month-long war virtually over, said the United States was "in negotiations right now" with Iran -- which has not confirmed any formal talks.

"They did something yesterday that was amazing actually. They gave us a present and the present arrived today. And it was a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

"That meant one thing to me -- we're dealing with the right people."

He did not explain further but said it related to the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has largely blockaded in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes, sending global energy prices soaring.

Iran, in a message circulated by the International Maritime Organization shortly afterward, assured safe passage to "non-hostile vessels" going through the strait, the gateway for one-fifth of the world's oil.

Iran had already in recent days said it was not targeting friendly nations, although many vessels have shied away as insurance companies refuse to take risks.

The benchmark price of crude oil dropped close to six percent after the latest developments. Prices at the pump have soared in the United States after the war by Trump, causing him a political headache.



- New nuclear deal? -



Trump had earlier threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power plants, which some argue would be a war crime, if it did not open the strait by late Monday Washington time. Before US markets opened Monday, Trump abruptly extended that deadline by five days, citing diplomatic progress.

Pakistan's prime minister has offered to host US-Iran talks, which Trump said involved top officials including Vice President JD Vance.

Trump said that he had sent a plan and that it "all starts with, they cannot have a nuclear weapon."

The New York Times, quoting unnamed officials, said that the United States had sent the 15-point plan to Iran through Pakistan.

Israel's Channel 12 said that Trump was proposing a one-month ceasefire during which the sides would discuss a proposal that would include handing over Iran's enriched uranium and banning further enrichment.

Iran would also ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran in turn would see an end to all sanctions, which have been in place in various forms for years, the Israeli report said.

Iran would also receive assistance in developing civil nuclear energy at Bushehr, a key site which dates from before the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Iran on Tuesday accused Israel of carrying out a second strike on Bushehr, which lies perilously close to Gulf Arab population centers.

"The sounds, the explosions, the missiles -- they are part of our daily life now," a 35-year-old woman in Tehran told AFP by telephone. "Our one real worry now is that our oil and gas infrastructure isn't targeted by missile strikes."

Iran had agreed in 2015 to broad restraints on its contested nuclear program in a deal that Trump ripped up during his first term as he joined Israel in applying pressure to the cleric-run state.

The reported new proposal would keep in place the Islamic republic which weeks earlier ruthlessly crushed mass protests, killing thousands, despite earlier vows of regime change by Trump and especially Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.



- Troops en route despite diplomacy -



Despite Trump's stated hopes for diplomacy, The Wall Street Journal reported that the United States is planning to send 3,000 soldiers from the elite 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East.

Trump's envoys were negotiating a nuclear deal with Iran just two days before the United States and Israel launched the massive attack on February 28, killing Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the first day.

Iranian missiles have found growing success penetrating Israeli defences, with AFP images showing rubble-strewn streets in the commercial hub Tel Aviv. On Tuesday, more than a dozen people were injured in Israel, including an infant, first responders said.

Israel said it conducted a "large wave" of airstrikes across several areas of Iran. Israeli military spokesman Effie Defrin said his country's war plan was "unchanged" despite Trump's remarks and that it would continue "to deepen the damage and remove existential threats".

Israel has also stepped up its campaign against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, saying its military would take control of south Lebanon up to the Litani river, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border.

Israel -- which occupied southern Lebanon for nearly two decades until 2000 -- carried out new strikes across the country. The Israeli military late Tuesday warned residents of Beirut's southern suburbs, strongholds of Hezbollah, to evacuate in the face of imminent strikes.

The Israeli campaign has killed at least 1,072 people in Lebanon, with more than one million people displaced, according to authorities. Another nine people died in Israeli strikes in the south, officials said.

Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East war when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 to avenge the killing of Khamenei.

Lebanon, whose central government has long been fragile, grew increasingly assertive by announcing it was ordering the Iranian ambassador to leave by Sunday, accusing the Islamic republic of meddling and commanding Hezbollah operations.

Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia all said they had intercepted renewed drone and missile attacks as Iran kept up retaliatory strikes on US-allied Gulf states.

Kuwait reported a fire at its main airport after drones hit a fuel tank.

burs-sct/jgc
Fire at Kuwait airport after drones hit fuel tank: aviation agency



Kuwait City, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



Drones hit a fuel tank and sparked a fire at Kuwait International Airport, the Gulf state's civil aviation authority said on Wednesday, reporting no casualties.

Citing preliminary information, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said in a statement posted online that the attack had caused only "limited" damage.

"The relevant authorities immediately implemented the approved emergency procedures" and firefighters had been deployed to bring the blaze under control, said agency spokesman Abdullah Al-Rajhi.

The Kuwait National Guard meanwhile said in a statement that its forces intercepted six drones early Wednesday, without specifying where they had been shot down.

The Kuwait airport is largely closed to commercial flights and has come under attack several times since the regional war began on February 28, when Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran.

On March 14, the civil aviation authority said an attack with "several drones" targeted the airport and "struck its radar system". No casualties were reported.

Drones hit fuel tanks at the airport on March 8, and an earlier attack on a passenger terminal left several people mildly wounded and caused some damage.
Kuwait army says air defences responding to missile, drone attacks



Kuwait City, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



Kuwaiti air defences responded to missile and drone attacks early Wednesday, the army said, as Iran continues strikes on Gulf nations in the nearly four-week regional war.

"Kuwaiti air defences are currently responding to hostile missile and drone attacks," the army posted on X, after authorities had announced drone attacks including one that sparked a fire at the country's main international airport.
Fire at Kuwait airport after drones hit fuel tank: aviation agency



Kuwait City, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



Drones hit a fuel tank and sparked a fire at Kuwait International Airport, the Gulf state's civil aviation authority said on Wednesday, as Iran presses on with its attacks in the nearly four-week regional war.

Citing preliminary information, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said in a statement posted online that the attack had caused only "limited" damage and no casualties.

Firefighters were working to bring the blaze under control, said agency spokesman Abdullah Al-Rajhi.

The Kuwait National Guard meanwhile said in a statement that its forces intercepted six drones early Wednesday, and the army said air defences were "responding to hostile missile and drone attacks".

Elsewhere in the Gulf, Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted four drones in the kingdom's east.

The Kuwait airport is largely closed to commercial flights and has come under attack several times since the regional war began on February 28, when Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran.

On March 14, the civil aviation authority said an attack with "several drones" targeted the airport and "struck its radar system". No casualties were reported.

Drones hit fuel tanks at the airport on March 8, and an earlier attack on a passenger terminal left several people mildly wounded and caused some damage.

Major airlines have suspended flights to the Gulf, or cut back due to fuel shortages linked to the war.
Iran Guards say fired missiles at Israel, Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain: state TV



Tehran, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had fired missiles at Israel as well as military bases hosting US forces in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain, Iranian state television reported on Wednesday.

A Guards statement carried by state broadcaster IRIB said that "targets in the heart of the occupied territories", meaning Israel, and US military bases in the region "were struck by precision-guided liquid- and solid-fuel missile systems and attack drones".
Diesel price more than doubles in Vietnam since Mideast war: ministry



Hanoi, Vietnam, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



The price of diesel in Vietnam has more than doubled since the start of the war in the Middle East, according to figures released by the trade ministry on Wednesday.

Diesel prices have skyrocketed about 105 percent from February 26, two days before the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran. The government raised the price to 39,660 dong ($1.50) per litre Wednesday, up from 19,270 dong last month, trade ministry figures showed.

The price of 95-octane petrol also jumped nearly 68 percent over the same period, from 20,150 dong to 33,840 dong.

A surge in oil prices since the start of the conflict has sent fuel costs spiralling and sparked fears of shortages around the world.

Vietnam has recently asked for fuel support from several countries, including Qatar, Kuwait, Algeria and Japan, and on Monday signed a deal with Russia on oil and gas production in both countries.

The country's finance ministry proposed on Tuesday halving the environmental protection tax on gasoline and diesel.

Hanoi resident Nguyen Van Chi said Wednesday he had not driven his truck in the past two weeks, instead opting to cycle as much as possible.

"With this unbelievable price of diesel, I cannot even sell my truck as no one is going to use it," the 54-year-old businessman told AFP.
Iran fires missile salvo after Trump signals progress in talks



Tehran, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



Iran launched a new missile salvo across the Middle East on Wednesday, after US President Donald Trump's signals that he was eager to talk with Tehran steadied global markets.

Oil prices dropped sharply and stocks in Asia rose on broader de-escalation hopes following nearly four weeks of war, as Trump appeared to be ramping up efforts to bring an end to his joint military operation with Israel.

Trump, whose daily statements have swung wildly from threatening to conciliatory, said Washington was "in negotiations right now" with Tehran.

"They did something yesterday that was amazing actually. They gave us a present and the present arrived today. And it was a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money," he told reporters in the Oval Office.

"That meant one thing to me -- we're dealing with the right people."

The US leader did not explain further but said it related to the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has largely blockaded in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes, spiking global energy prices.

Iranian officials have yet to confirm any formal talks.

However, the New York Times -- quoting several unnamed officials -- reported that Washington has sent a 15-point plan to Iran via Pakistan, which has offered to mediate, in a bid to end the war.

It was not clear if Israel, which has been carrying out strikes on Iran and ally Hezbollah in Lebanon, was aware or on board with the plan.

Trump's cryptic statements on his eagerness to talk with Iran included repeating a claim that Tehran has "agreed they will never have a nuclear weapon".

Iran had agreed in 2015 to broad restraints on its contested nuclear program in a deal that Trump ripped up during his first term as he joined Israel in applying pressure to the cleric-run state.

Despite the US leader's stated hopes for a deal, The Wall Street Journal reported that Washington is planning to send a further 3,000 soldiers to the Middle East.



- Fresh Gulf attacks -



While Trump hinted at backchannel diplomacy, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had fired a fresh wave of missiles Wednesday at Israel, as well as bases hosting US forces in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain.

The Islamic republic has kept up its retaliatory attacks on Israel and Gulf nations it accuses of serving as launchpads for US strikes.

Drones hit a fuel tank and sparked a fire at Kuwait International Airport, the Gulf state's civil aviation authority said, causing "limited" damage.

In Bahrain, the interior ministry said air raid sirens were activated, while Jordan's public security directorate reported shrapnel fell near the capital Amman, resulting in no casualties or damage.

Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted at least four drones in the kingdom's east.

Israel meanwhile said it was launching new strikes on "infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime" after announcing new Iranian missile launches at the country.

Iran on Tuesday accused Israel of carrying out a second strike on Bushehr nuclear plant, a civilian site.

"The sounds, the explosions, the missiles -- they are part of our daily life now," a 35-year-old woman in Tehran told AFP by telephone.

In Lebanon, state media said Israeli strikes killed six people in a town and a Palestinian refugee camp in the southern Sidon area. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

Israel has stepped up its campaign against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, saying its military would take control of south Lebanon up to the Litani river, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border.

Trump's envoys were negotiating a nuclear deal with Iran just two days before the United States and Israel launched the massive attack on February 28, killing Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the first day.

Lebanon was then pulled into the war when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 to avenge Khamenei's killing.

The conflict has also pulled Iraq, which neighbours Iran, deeper into the war.

Baghdad said it would summon the US charge d'affaires and the Iranian ambassador after deadly strikes blamed on their countries, as Iraqi authorities granted targeted former paramilitary groups the "right to respond".



- 'Non-hostile vessels' -



As the trading of strikes carried on, focus remained on the Strait of Hormuz, the key oil route responsible for carrying a fifth of the world's crude oil.

Tehran, in a message circulated by the International Maritime Organization, assured safe passage through the strait to "non-hostile vessels".

Iran had already said it was not targeting friendly nations.

The IMO said a communique issued by Iran's foreign ministry said any vessels belonging to "the aggressor parties -- namely the United States and the Israeli regime" would not be allowed passage.

Trump had earlier threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power plants, which some argue would be a war crime, if it did not open the strait by late Monday Washington time.

Before US markets opened Monday, Trump abruptly extended that deadline by five days, citing diplomatic progress.

But signs of a possible conclusion to the war saw benchmark price of crude oil dropped more than six percent.

Prices at the pump have soared in the US after Trump launched the war with Israel, causing him a political headache.

As the US leader mounted his threats if Iran did not agree to his demands, French President Emmanuel Macron demanded Tehran take any talks seriously.

"I called on Iran to engage in good faith in negotiations," he wrote on X, after a call with his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian.

burs-jfx/jm
Middle East war: global economic fallout



Paris, France, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



Here are the latest economic events in the Middle East war:



- 'Non-hostile vessels' in Hormuz? -



Iran has said "non-hostile vessels" can transit the Strait of Hormuz if they meet safety and security regulations in coordination with the relevant authorities, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) said Tuesday.

In a statement, Iran insisted that "vessels, equipment and any assets belonging to the aggressor parties -- namely the United States and the Israeli regime -- as well as other participants in the aggression do not qualify for innocent or non-hostile passage".



- Oil drops on hope of de-escalation -



Crude oil prices tumbled in Wednesday trading on hopes of de-escalation after US President Donald Trump voiced optimism about ending the nearly month-old war and Iran indicated ships from countries not party to the conflict could pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

After rising in Europe and the United States on Tuesday, Brent crude was down 4.3 percent at $95.90 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate was down 3.8 percent at $88.86.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf has roiled energy and financial markets, with oil prices up around 40 percent since the start of the fighting.



- WTO sounds fertiliser warning -



Disruptions to fertiliser supplies caused by the Middle East war pose a double threat to global food security through scarcity and high prices, a top World Trade Organization official warned.

Iran has virtually shut the Strait of Hormuz, choking a vital transit route for oil and gas -- as well as fertilisers.

A third of the world's fertilisers normally transit the strait, and the disruption has prompted multiple warnings about the impact on food production.



- IEA ready for another oil stocks release -



The head of the International Energy Agency said Wednesday he was "ready to move forward" with an additional release of oil reserves "if and when necessary".

Fatih Birol's comments in Tokyo came after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi asked the agency "to prepare to implement an additional release in case the situation drags on" with the war in the Middle East.



- Fire at Kuwait airport after drones hit fuel tank -



Drones hit a fuel tank and sparked a fire at Kuwait International Airport, the Gulf state's civil aviation authority said on Wednesday, as Iran presses on with its attacks in the nearly four-week regional war.

Citing preliminary information, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said in a statement posted online that the attack had caused only "limited" damage and no casualties.



- Vietnam diesel prices surge -



The price of diesel in Vietnam has more than doubled since the start of the Middle East war, according to figures released by the country's trade ministry.

Vietnam has recently asked for fuel support from several countries, including Qatar, Kuwait, Algeria and Japan, and on Monday signed a deal with Russia on oil and gas production in both countries.



burs-rl/yad
New strike targets former paramilitaries in western Iraq: security official



Baghdad, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



A new strike in western Iraq targeted the former paramilitary coalition Hashed al-Shaabi, a security official said Wednesday, a day after a similar attack killed 15 Iraqi fighters.

"Two missiles were fired from a fighter jet" at the same base in Anbar province that was struck on Tuesday, the official said.

He reported that there were some casualties, but did not give further details.

Tuesday's strike was the deadliest in Iraq since the start of the Middle East war on February 28, killing 15 fighters including a commander.

The Hashed, also known as the Popular Mobilisation Force (PMF), blamed that strike on the United States.

The former paramilitary coalition is now part of Iraq's regular armed forces, but also includes brigades belonging to Iran-backed groups.

The attack prompted the government late on Tuesday to grant the PMF a "right to respond" to any attack against them.

Throughout Tuesday evening and into Wednesday morning, the sounds of military aircraft flying over the capital Baghdad were particularly loud, AFP journalists reported.

Since the war began, pro-Iran armed groups have claimed responsibility for attacks on US interests in Iraq and across the region, while strikes have also targeted these groups, including on state-linked positions.

The Pentagon has acknowledged that combat helicopters carried out strikes against pro-Iran armed groups in Iraq during the current conflict.

Baghdad has condemned attacks targeting foreign soldiers and diplomatic missions, as well as strikes against PMF positions.
Iran hits targets across Middle East after Trump signals talks progress



Tehran, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



Iran targeted countries across the Middle East with a fresh volley of missiles Wednesday, hours after US President Donald Trump signalled tentative progress in diplomatic efforts to end the war.

The conflict that began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran has mushroomed throughout the Middle East, sending world energy markets into tailspin.

Iran fired a salvo of "precision-guided" missiles and drones at Israel and bases hosting US forces in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain, the country's Revolutionary Guards said early Wednesday.

AFP images captured rocket trails streaming over the skies of Israeli coastal city Netanya, as air raid sirens blasted across much of the country's central region.

Drones hit a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport sparking a fireball, while authorities in Jordan reported shrapnel falling near the capital Amman and air raid warnings rang out in Bahrain.

Iran has lashed out at Gulf nations, long seen as a relative safe haven in a volatile region, hammering the tourism industry and crippling global air travel as their major hubs come under attack.

The war has also drawn in Lebanon, with Israeli forces aiming to take control of ground up to the Litani River, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border, stepping up its campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah.

In the Lebanese town of Sahel Alma, north of Beirut, AFP images showed shattered windows and rubble lining the streets after an explosion.

"We have two-year-old children scared and crying and going through this," local resident Gaia Khouiri told AFP.

The Israeli campaign has killed at least 1,072 people in Lebanon, with more than one million people displaced, according to Lebanese authorities.

Israeli warplanes pounded Beirut's southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, again overnight.

An AFP correspondent saw a street covered in debris including shattered cement and and warped pieces of metal after the early morning strike, while an apartment building's upper floors appeared badly hit.



- 'Very big present' -



Israel also said it was launching fresh missile strikes on the "infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime".

"The sounds, the explosions, the missiles -- they are part of our daily life now," a 35-year-old woman in Tehran told AFP by telephone.

As the fighting on the ground showed little sign of respite, Trump appeared to be ramping up efforts to bring the conflict to an end.

The US president, whose daily statements on the war have swung wildly from threatening to conciliatory, said Washington was "in negotiations right now" with Tehran.

He told reporters in the Oval Office that Iran had given him "a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money", which he said demonstrated that "we're dealing with the right people".

Trump did not elaborate further but said it related to the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has largely blockaded in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes, sending global energy prices soaring.

Several media reported Trump had sent a 15-point plan to Iran via Pakistan, which has offered to mediate a possible end to the war.

Trump's cryptic statements on his eagerness to talk with Iran included repeating a claim that Tehran has "agreed they will never have a nuclear weapon".

Iran had agreed in 2015 to broad restraints on its contested nuclear programme in a deal that Trump ripped up during his first term.

Despite the US leader's stated hopes for a deal, The Wall Street Journal reported that Washington is planning to send a further 3,000 soldiers to the Middle East.

Iranian officials have yet to confirm any formal talks.



- 'Aggressor parties' -



As the warring parties traded strikes, focus remained on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the key route through which one fifth of the world's crude oil flows.

Tehran, in a message circulated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), assured safe passage through the strait to "non-hostile vessels".

However, the IMO cited a statement from Iran's foreign ministry as saying no passage would be granted to vessels belonging to "the aggressor parties -- namely the United States and the Israeli regime".

The economic impact of the crisis has begun to bite around the world, with governments looking to cut energy consumption and airlines scaling back flights.

But Iran's pledge, plus Trump's more conciliatory tone, pushed stocks higher and sent oil prices lower in Asian trade.

The wider impact of the choking of the Strait of Hormuz was highlighted by a warning from a top World Trade Organization official in an interview with AFP.

"Fertilisers are the number one issue of concern today. If there is no more fertiliser, there is an impact on quantities but also on prices," Jean-Marie Paugam told AFP in an interview.

"The effect compounds the following year: harvests shrink and prices rise."

burs-ric/jsa
Israel strikes south Lebanon, Beirut suburbs as Hezbollah keeps up attacks



Beirut, Lebanon, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



Israel launched strikes on south Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs on Wednesday, Lebanese state media said, as Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah said it kept up attacks on Israeli troops.

Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East war when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Israel, which occupied southern Lebanon for around two decades until 2000, has intensified strikes across Lebanon and sent ground troops into the country's south since the latest bout of fighting began.

On Tuesday, it said its military would take control of the border area up to the Litani River, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the frontier.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported Israeli strikes and artillery shelling in several locations in south Lebanon on Wednesday.

It also said that "enemy warplanes... launched a strike" on Beirut's southern suburbs, after Israel's military late Tuesday renewed an evacuation warning for several districts in the Hezbollah stronghold.

An AFP correspondent saw a street covered in debris including shattered cement and warped metal after the early morning strike, while an apartment building's upper floors appeared damaged.

The area has been targeted multiple times during the conflict and is largely empty of residents, who have fled.

Hezbollah said its fighters on Wednesday targeted Israeli troops "massed in the border towns of Naqura and Qawzah" as well as in sites across the border "with more than 100 rockets".

The statement came after the group claimed a series of attacks targeting Israeli troops in south Lebanon and in locations in northern Israel, where there were no immediate reports of casualties.

Israel's military in a statement said ground troops in southern Lebanon had "dismantled a weapons storage facility", and the air force killed "several terrorists".

It also said troops had "dismantled Hezbollah command centres in which numerous weapons were located", without specifying where.

Lebanese authorities said Israeli strikes on the country's south on Tuesday killed nine more people, including two in an apartment in the Mieh Mieh Palestinian refugee camp.

The Israeli campaign has killed more than 1,000 people in Lebanon, with more than one million people displaced, according to authorities.

On Tuesday in northern Israel, where repeated air raid sirens have sent residents to shelters, a woman was killed following rocket fire from Lebanon, Israeli authorities said.
Spanish PM says Middle East war 'far worse' than Iraq in 2003



Madrid, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez warned Wednesday that the Middle East war presented a "far worse" scenario than the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

"This is not the same scenario as the illegal war in Iraq. We are facing something far worse. Much worse. With a potential impact that is far broader and far deeper," he told parliament.

"This time, it's an absurd and illegal war. A cruel one that sets us back from achieving our economic, social, and environmental goals."

The Socialist premier has refused Washington's requests to use Madrid's military bases against Iran, despite US President Donald Trump's threat to sever trade with Spain as a result.

Sanchez said the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 had failed to achieve its goals and instead made life worse for ordinary people, saying it led to a sharp increase in fuel and grocery prices, a migration crisis and jihadist attacks in Europe.

He warned that the attacks on Iran could have a similar economic impact for millions.

"Every bomb that falls in the Middle East eventually hits -- as we are already seeing -- the wallets of our families," Sanchez said.

His government approved last week a sweeping package worth five billion euros ($5.8 billion) aimed at cushioning the economic impact of the Middle East war, which included reductions on taxes on fuel.

"It is not fair that some set the world on fire while others bear the ashes. It is not right that Spaniards and other Europeans should pay out of their own pockets for this illegal war," Sanchez said.

His Iraq reference may strike a chord with Spanish voters.

Support for that war by the conservative Popular Party (PP) in power at the time which sent troops to Iraq was widely unpopular and sparked mass protests.

Some analysts say it paved the way for the Socialist Party's surprise win in March 2004, days after deadly jihadist bombings hit Madrid.

A branch of Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attacks and called for the withdrawal of Spanish forces from Iraq.

A majority of Spaniards, 53.2 percent, back Sanchez's decision not to let the United States use the Rota naval base and Moron airbase in strikes against Iran, a poll published earlier this month in daily newspaper El Pais showed.
Fresh strike on base in western Iraq kills seven



Baghdad, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



A new strike in western Iraq killed seven security personnel, the defence ministry said Wednesday, a day after a deadly attack on the same base targeted the former paramilitary Hashed al-Shaabi.

Iraq has been unwillingly pulled into the war sparked by US and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28, and which has since engulfed much of the region.

Pro-Iran armed groups have claimed responsibility for attacks on US interests in Iraq and across the region, while strikes have also targeted these groups, including on state-linked positions.

The defence ministry said seven security personnel were killed and 13 others wounded in the attack on the base in Anbar province, which hosts both regular security personnel and Hashed forces.

The ministry said the air strike also targeted the base's military healthcare clinic.

It labelled the assault a "flagrant and dangerous violation of international law, which prohibits targeting medical facilities and their personnel".

Rescue operations were ongoing, it added.

A security official told AFP that a military doctor was among those killed, and six of those wounded belonged to the Hashed al-Shaabi, also known as the Popular Mobilisation Force (PMF).

It follows Tuesday's strike on the same base which was the deadliest in Iraq since the start of the war, killing 15 PMF fighters including a commander.

The PMF -- now part of Iraq's regular armed forces, but also including brigades belonging to Iran-backed groups -- blamed that strike on the US.

The coalition was formed in 2014 to help fight the Islamic State group, but has since been integrated into the armed forces, though some of its factions have been known to act independently of the state.

Tuesday's attack prompted the government to grant the PMF and groups within the official armed forces the "right to respond" to any attack by drones or aircraft against their bases

The decision was backed by the Coordination Framework, Iraq's ruling coalition of Shia parties with varying links to Iran, which said the government retained "the exclusive right of the state over decisions of war".

The Pentagon has acknowledged that combat helicopters carried out strikes against pro-Iran armed groups in Iraq during the current conflict.

Baghdad has condemned attacks targeting foreign soldiers and diplomatic missions, as well as strikes against PMF positions.

Throughout Tuesday evening and into Wednesday morning, the sounds of military aircraft flying over the capital Baghdad were particularly loud, AFP journalists reported.
Sudan army-aligned governor accuses Ethiopia of backing RSF



Khartoum, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



An army-aligned Sudanese governor accused Ethiopia on Wednesday of having backed an offensive on the south, a day after Sudan's paramilitary forces said they had seized control of the border town of Kurmuk.

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been at war with Sudan's regular army since 2023. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced around 11 million and triggered one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

Control over Sudan's southeastern Blue Nile State, bordering both Ethiopia and South Sudan, is split between the army and a faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North, allies of the RSF who have mounted an offensive in recent weeks.

On Tuesday, the RSF said it and its allies had captured the state's strategic town of Kurmuk and two other nearby areas "following fierce fighting".

Abdelatty al-Faki, governor of Kurmuk province, accused Ethiopia of having a hand in the incidents.

"The forces that attacked Kurmuk set out from inside Ethiopian territory and are supported by Ethiopia," he told AFP.

"We're dealing with an... invasion."

Faki, who spoke from the Blue Nile state capital Damazin, said that "to date, 433 families from Kurmuk have arrived in Damazin, while a certain number of people remain blocked" between the two areas.

He said other civilians had crossed into Ethiopia in search of safety.

It is not the first time army-aligned authorities have accused Ethiopia of serving as a rear base for the paramilitary forces.

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 that it is harbouring RSF camps.

The RSF last year brought thousands of fighters into Ethiopia, an RSF source and an army source told AFP.
UN rights council set to hold urgent debate Friday on Iran school strike



Geneva, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



The UN Human Rights Council is ready to hold a second urgent debate this week linked to the Middle East war, focused on a deadly strike on an Iranian school.

Council president Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro told the United Nations' top rights body that a request for an urgent debate on the "protection of children and educational institutions in international armed conflicts" could take place on Friday.

The debate, requested by Iran, China and Cuba, explicitly refers to the airstrike on a school in the southern city of Minab on the first day of the war on February 28 that killed at least 165 people, most of them children.

A US Tomahawk cruise missile hit the school due to a targeting mistake, according to the preliminary findings of a US military investigation reported by The New York Times newspaper.

Suryodipuro made his announcement at the start of another rare urgent debate at the council focused on the Middle East war.

The ongoing debate, requested by Bahrain on behalf of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Jordan, was focused exclusively on Iran's strikes on countries across the Gulf region and their impact on civilians.

In the debate, the 47-member council was considering a draft resolution that "condemns in the strongest terms the egregious attacks" by Iran, condemns Tehran's actions aimed at closing the Strait of Hormuz and voices "grave concerns at the Iranian attacks on energy infrastructure".

It demands Iran "immediately and unconditionally cease all unprovoked attacks"against the GCC states and Jordan and "provide full, effective and prompt reparation to all victims for the damage and injury caused by its attacks".

When that debate wraps up later Wednesday, the council will be asked to approve the holding of the second urgent debate on Friday, the council president said -- a motion that is expected to pass.
IEA chief says 'ready' to release more oil reserves if needed



Tokyo, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



The head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) said Wednesday that he was "ready" to approve the release of more oil reserves if needed to cushion the impact of the Middle East war on global supplies.

Fatih Birol made the comments on a visit to Tokyo, where Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi asked the IEA to carry out an additional release "in case the situation drags on".

Since last month, US-Israeli attacks on Iran and Tehran's subsequent responses, including its de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, have severely disrupted global oil supplies, causing concern over rising prices in Japan and other import-dependent Asian economies.

The IEA previously said member countries would unlock 400 million barrels of oil from their reserves to ease the impact of the Middle East war, the biggest such release ever.

Birol said Wednesday that the amount was only 20 percent of the agency's stocks and there was "still a significant amount of oil" left over.

"If and when necessary we are ready to move forward (with another release), but I very much hope that it will not be necessary," he said.

"The world is facing a serious energy security threat, but the International Energy Agency is ready to play its core role of being a guardian of global energy security."

In a meeting with Japan's Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa, Birol said the IEA was "monitoring all the energy assets in the Middle East".

"If we believe there is a need, we will not hesitate to release more stocks to the market."

Japan depends on the Middle East for 95 percent of its oil imports.

The country started releasing 15 days' worth of private-sector petroleum reserves last week, and will begin tapping into government stockpiles on Thursday.

Tokyo also plans a release from joint stockpiles held by producing nations in the country by the end of the month.

A joint reserve is held in Japan by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, according to the Petroleum Association of Japan.

Under normal circumstances, the jointly stored crude is commercially used, but in the event of an emergency, Japanese oil companies have preferential purchasing rights.
Iran military says fired missiles at US aircraft carrier



Tehran, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



Iran fired cruise missiles at the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, the military said in a statement carried by state television, warning of further launches when the strike group's ships come in range.

"The Iranian Navy's Qader cruise missiles (shore-based anti-ship missile) targeted the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier belonging to the US and forced it to change its position," the statement said.

It cited Navy chief Admiral Shahram Irani, who said the carrier group's movements were "constantly being monitored... and as soon as this hostile fleet comes within range of our missile systems, it will be subjected to powerful strikes by the Iranian Navy".
Israel strikes south Lebanon, Beirut as Hezbollah keeps up attacks



Beirut, Lebanon, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



Israel launched strikes on south Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs on Wednesday, Lebanese state media said, as Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah said it kept up its attacks on Israeli troops.

Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East war when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Israel, which occupied southern Lebanon for around two decades until 2000, has intensified strikes across Lebanon and sent ground troops into the country's south since the latest bout of fighting began.

On Tuesday, it said its military would take control of the border area up to the Litani River, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the frontier.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported Israeli strikes and artillery shelling in several locations in the south on Wednesday.

It also said that "enemy warplanes... launched a strike" on Beirut's southern suburbs, after Israel's military late Tuesday renewed an evacuation warning for several districts in the Hezbollah stronghold.

An AFP correspondent saw a street covered in debris including shattered cement and warped metal after the early morning strike, while an apartment building's upper floors appeared damaged.

The area has been targeted multiple times during the conflict and is largely empty of residents, who have fled.

Israel's military said it struck Hezbollah targets across Lebanon overnight "including a command centre" in Beirut's southern suburbs.

It also said it attacked petrol stations belonging to the Al-Amana fuel company, which it says is controlled by Hezbollah and finances the group.



- Paramedics killed -



Lebanon's health ministry said on Wednesday that two paramedics were killed when an Israeli strike "targeted their motorbike as they headed to carry out a rescue mission in the city of Nabatiyeh" in the south on Tuesday.

The ministry condemned the strike on the pair, saying they wore full rescue workers' uniforms and the motorbike was also marked for emergency response.

According to the ministry, 42 health workers are among more than 1,000 people killed in Lebanon in more than three weeks of Israeli strikes.

Lebanese authorities say upwards of one million people have been displaced.

Hezbollah said its fighters on Wednesday targeted Israeli troops "massed in the border towns of Naqura and Qawzah" and in sites across the border "with more than 100 rockets".

The statement came as the group claimed a series of attacks targeting Israeli troops in south Lebanon and northern Israel.

Israel's military in an earlier statement said ground troops in southern Lebanon had "dismantled a weapons storage facility", and the air force killed "several terrorists".

It also said troops had "dismantled Hezbollah command centres in which numerous weapons were located", without specifying where.

Lebanese authorities reported deadly Israeli strikes on the south on Tuesday, including a raid that killed two people in the Mieh Mieh Palestinian refugee camp.

On Tuesday in northern Israel, where repeated air raid warnings have sent residents to shelters, a woman was killed following rocket fire from Lebanon, authorities said.
War-linked power crunch pushes Sri Lanka to four-day week



Colombo, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



Millions of Sri Lankans enjoyed a government-ordered extra day off on Wednesday as the island nation battles an energy crisis triggered by the Middle East war.

Rail and bus stations were largely deserted as most state institutions, schools and universities shifted to a four-day working week.

"I am really enjoying the mid-week break because it is a fully paid holiday," said housing ministry official Prarthana Perera, 40.

Her office, like many government departments in Battaramulla -- the capital's main administrative hub -- was closed.

Banks operated on shorter hours, while many private firms introduced work-from-home arrangements, industry bodies said, urging members to help curb energy use.

Sri Lanka has already raised fuel prices by a third since the United States and Israel began bombing Iran, triggering retaliatory attacks that have disrupted global energy supplies.

About half of Sri Lanka's electricity is generated by coal and diesel.

The cabinet has set a target of cutting electricity consumption by 25 percent, ordering street lamps switched off and asking civil servants to use table fans instead of power-hungry air conditioners.

Shipping executive Varuna Perera welcomed the day off but was uncertain of its impact.

"It will not be effective in the long term," Perera said. "But the government will have a breather for a couple of weeks, to save some energy."

Environmental lawyer Ravindranath Dabare was more sceptical, arguing the move would have limited impact as those needing government services would have to travel on other days.

"We can't close hospitals... the doctors and health officials can't work from home," Dabare said.

The influential Chamber of Commerce said it had urged members to follow government guidelines or adopt remote work where possible, if "business continuity can be effectively maintained".

And Sri Lanka's leading technology firm WSO2 made working from home mandatory for its 500 employees on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

"This is our way of contributing to the national cause," WSO2 spokeswoman Zaithoon Bin-Ahamed told AFP.



- 'Improving productivity' -



Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said the government had yet to assess the impact of the energy-saving measures, but expected broad compliance.

Sri Lanka has been running coal and diesel power plants at full capacity to meet electricity demand.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake urged electric vehicle owners not to charge their cars overnight, as they would add a surge to an already strained grid.

He asked motorists instead to plug in during the day, when excess solar power is available.

Officials said the country's diesel stocks are sufficient to last until mid-May, while petrol could last a week longer.

The government is seeking oil supplies from Russia and hopes to tap Iran for crude oil, Jayatissa said.

Political commentator Kusal Perera said the crisis also presented scope to boost productivity across the state sector.

"They must use this opportunity to have a national dialogue on improving productivity," he told AFP. "We have to address the inefficiency in the public sector."
Fresh strike on base in western Iraq kills seven



Baghdad, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



A new strike in western Iraq killed seven security personnel, the defence ministry said Wednesday, a day after a deadly attack on the same base targeted the former paramilitary Hashed al-Shaabi.

Iraq has been unwillingly pulled into the war sparked by US and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28, and which has since engulfed much of the region.

Pro-Iran armed groups have claimed responsibility for attacks on US interests in Iraq and across the region, while strikes have also targeted these groups, including on state-linked positions.

On Wednesday, the the office of the prime minister said Iraq would submit a formal complaint over the latest strike to the United Nations Security Council.

The defence ministry said seven security personnel were killed and 13 others wounded in the attack on the base in Anbar province, which hosts both regular security personnel and Hashed forces.

The ministry said the air strike also targeted the base's military healthcare clinic.

It labelled the assault a "flagrant and dangerous violation of international law, which prohibits targeting medical facilities and their personnel".

Rescue operations were ongoing, it added.

A security official told AFP that a military doctor was among those killed, and six of those wounded belonged to the Hashed al-Shaabi, also known as the Popular Mobilisation Force (PMF).

It follows Tuesday's strike on the same base which was the deadliest in Iraq since the start of the war, killing 15 PMF fighters including a commander.

The PMF -- now part of Iraq's regular armed forces, but also including brigades belonging to Iran-backed groups -- blamed that strike on the US.

The coalition was formed in 2014 to help fight the Islamic State group, but has since been integrated into the armed forces, though some of its factions have been known to act independently of the state.

Tuesday's attack prompted the government to grant the PMF and groups within the official armed forces the "right to respond" to any attack by drones or aircraft against their bases.

The decision was backed by the Coordination Framework, Iraq's ruling coalition of Shia parties with varying links to Iran, which said the government retained "the exclusive right of the state over decisions of war".

The Pentagon has acknowledged that combat helicopters carried out strikes against pro-Iran armed groups in Iraq during the current conflict.

Baghdad has condemned attacks targeting foreign soldiers and diplomatic missions, as well as strikes against PMF positions.

Throughout Tuesday evening and into Wednesday morning, the sounds of military aircraft flying over the capital Baghdad were particularly loud, AFP journalists reported.

On Tuesday, the prime minister's office said it would summon the US charge d'affaires and the Iranian ambassador to issue a formal complain over the strikes, including one earlier that day that killed six security personnel in autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan.

The Kurdistan region's President Nechirvan Barzani said Wednesday they had contacted Iran over the attack, and said Tehran had admitted the strike was a "mistake" and promised to launch an investigation.
EU seeks leading role in Ukraine special tribunal



Brussels, Belgium, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



The EU said Wednesday it had launched proceedings to become a "founding member" of a special Ukraine tribunal to try top Russian officials over Moscow's war against its neighbour.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed an accord with the Council of Europe last year to create a legal body to prosecute the "crime of aggression" in the invasion Russia launched in 2022.

Becoming a founding member would allow the European Union to play a central role in its operations, including the selection of judges and prosecutors.

"Justice for the victims of aggression is the best route to lasting peace," said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.

"The pursuit of justice is equally a deterrent for would-be aggressors," she added.

The 46-member Council of Europe -- a France-based rights body -- is distinct from the EU.

Members include the EU's 27 countries but also key European states from outside the bloc such as Turkey, Britain and Ukraine.

Russia was expelled in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine and has already said it will disregard the special tribunal's rulings.

Kyiv and its supporters want to see justice served for Russia's war and European foreign ministers endorsed the creation of the judicial body in a meeting in May last year.

Brussels has already helped draft the tribunal's founding legal texts and contributed 10 million euros to prepare its operational set-up.

Its bid for founding member status needs to be approved by the EU's 27 nations, before submission to the Council of Europe.

"This is a decisive step towards establishing the Special Tribunal and ensuring that those responsible for Russia's crime of aggression are held to account," said EU justice commissioner Michael McGrath.

The tribunal, which was initially hoped could start work this year, could in theory try senior figures up to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has already issued arrest warrants for Putin over the abduction of Ukrainian children and four of his top commanders for targeting civilians.

But the ICC does not have the jurisdiction to prosecute Russia for the more fundamental decision to launch the invasion -- otherwise known as the "crime of aggression".
The mediating countries are trying to arrange a meeting between the two adversaries and warn that it may be the last chance to prevent a more bitter escalation

Iran on Wednesday rejected U.S. President Donald Trumps 15-point proposal to end the war, deeming its terms excessive. However, it left a glimmer of hope for continued talks as mediating countries race against time to arrange a meeting between representatives of the two adversaries. This meeting, the mediators warn, could be the last chance to prevent a much more bitter escalation of the conflict.

The Iranian governments rejection of the plan presented to them by Pakistan earlier this week on behalf of Washington was revealed through statements made by a senior Tehran official to Press TV. According to these statements, the Trump administrations proposal is excessive and out of touch with the reality of the United States failures on the battlefield.

The senior official also considers the plan deceptive and pointed out that the administration has followed the same pattern in its dealings with Iran during Trumps second term: it opened negotiations and, while these were taking place  first in June 2025 and then again this February  Washington attacked Iranian territory without bothering to reach an agreement. In the first offensive, it destroyed the countrys nuclear facilities; in the second, it killed a large part of the Iranian leadership, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was replaced by his son, Mojtaba Khamenei. Tehran claims that this pattern could be repeated now: while offering to hold talks, the United States is concentrating military reinforcements in the Persian Gulf region, which are expected to begin arriving this Friday.

The 15-point plan appears, at first glance, to be a repetition of the proposals that envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner presented to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during their three rounds of meetings before the start of the war: an end to Irans uranium enrichment program and the dismantling of the countrys nuclear facilities; an end to the missile program; and an end to Tehrans sponsorship of radical Islamist groups in the Middle East. To these demands has now been added the opening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the worlds oil and gas traffic passes, and which Iran has effectively kept closed since the start of the Israeli-American offensive on February 28. The blockade of this passage has disrupted maritime traffic and triggered market instability.

In return, the United States is offering to lift the sanctions against Iran that are crippling its economy.

While Washington appears to have shown no signs of softening its demands after four weeks of conflict, Tehran is equally unyielding and maintains a maximalist stance. According to a Press TV source, the theocratic regime has presented its own conditions: it demands a complete cessation of aggression and killings in Iran and against its allies by the United States and Israel. It also calls for a mechanism to prevent future hostilities and the payment of war reparations. And it demands recognition of Irans sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz as a natural and legal right of Iran.

The United States  or rather, Trump  maintains that Iran is eager to reach an agreement. And who wouldnt if you were there? the president declared Tuesday from the Oval Office. He also insists that Washington has won the war  the conflict is about to reach its one-month mark  while the Pentagon is requesting an extraordinary budget of $200 billion, attacks continue, and thousands of reinforcement troops are on their way to join the 50,000 already deployed by the U.S. in the Middle East.

In response to Iranian suspicions regarding these reinforcements while Trump speaks of negotiations, administration representatives say its the usual tactic of the former businessman, who prides himself on being a specialist in closing deals. With one hand he offers a deal, with the other hes ready to hit you if he doesnt get it, they say. And they cite as proof of Washingtons good faith the fact that the two heavyweights of Trumps foreign policy  Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President J.D. Vance  are now involved in the negotiation efforts.

Irans new leaders, from the regimes hardline faction and linked to the Revolutionary Guard, are skeptical of the negotiations with Witkoff and Kushner, real estate developers by profession, who lack nuclear knowledge and whom they believe did not fully understand the terms offered by Iran in the pre-war talks.

Meanwhile, time is ticking. This Friday, a group of three amphibious assault ships, led by the Boxer, is expected to arrive in the area under the responsibility of U.S. Central Command  which oversees U.S. operations in the Middle East  carrying approximately 2,500 Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Force. The Pentagon has also mobilized some 3,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division, who can deploy to any point in the world within 18 hours. And another 2,500 Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Force have been ordered to prepare to sail aboard the amphibious group led by the Tripoli, based in San Diego.

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Lebanon army says Iran missile caused Tuesday's blasts north of Beirut



Beirut, Lebanon, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



The Lebanese army said Wednesday that the explosions witnessed north of Beirut on Tuesday were caused by the malfunction or interception of an Iranian ballistic missile aimed beyond Lebanon.

"The missile was a guided ballistic missile of the Iranian-made 'Qadr-110' type," the army said of the projectile that caused rare explosions in areas north of Beirut that have otherwise been spared the war so far, and caused minor injuries.

The Israeli military said Tuesday an Iranian missile fell over Lebanon alongside "launches carried out toward the State of Israel".

The Lebanese army said the missile "exploded at a high altitude, which suggests that its target lay outside Lebanese territory. As for the cause of the explosion, it was either a technical malfunction or an interceptor missile," adding that there are "no interceptor missile platforms" inside Lebanon that could have shot the missile down.

A Lebanese military source told AFP on Tuesday that the missile was headed towards Cyprus and was intercepted by a warship in the Mediterranean.

Cyprus, which hosts British military bases, was targeted by an Iranian-made drone on March 1.
Iran fires at US carrier as backchannel diplomacy aims to end war



Tehran, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



Iran said on Wednesday it fired a volley of cruise missiles at a US aircraft carrier, as strikes rained down across the Middle East despite back-channel diplomatic efforts to end the nearly four-week war.

A conflict that began on February 28 with a US-Israeli bombing campaign on Iran has rapidly engulfed the entire region, sending oil prices skyrocketing and threatening to derail the global economy.

Diplomats said they were working behind the scenes to ferry messages between the warring parties, despite contradictory public statements about whether talks were actually taking place.

But there was no let-up in the military activity, with targets in Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia all coming under fire.

Iran's military said its cruise missiles at the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group had "forced it to change its position", warning of "powerful strikes" when the "hostile fleet" comes into range.

On the other side, Israel said it had struck targets in Tehran as well as a submarine development facility in the central city of Isfahan.

From the Iranian capital, 40-year-old Shayan told AFP: "There is gasoline, water and electricity. But there is a sense of helplessness in all of us. We don't know what to do and there's really nothing we can do."



- 'Our heart is here' -



On another front, Israeli warplanes pounded the southern suburbs of Beirut, a stronghold of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

An AFP correspondent saw a street covered in debris including shattered cement and warped metal after the early morning strike, while an apartment building's upper floors appeared damaged.

Lebanon was pulled into the war when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

According to Lebanese authorities, more than 1,000 people have been killed in over three weeks of Israeli strikes and upwards of one million people displaced.

In the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, almost cut off from the rest of the country by bombs, Khalil, a man in his 30s, voiced his defiance.

"They'll have to take us by force," he told AFP.

Despite Israeli ground operations and the spectre of a full-blown invasion, "we don't want to leave our land... our heart is here", said Khalil, sheltering with his young family in a theatre.



- 'Failed and disgraced liar' -



Diplomatically, the two sides offered conflicting accounts even though mediators in the region said work was ongoing behind the scenes.

US President Donald Trump signalled talks were underway, with a 15-point peace plan reportedly sent to Tehran, but Iran's ambassador to Pakistan slapped this down, saying no negotiations had taken place.

Reza Amiri Moghadam said that "contrary to Trump's claims -- so far no negotiations, direct or indirect, have taken place between the two countries".

The Javan newspaper in Iran splashed a caricature of Trump with a Pinocchio-style nose, under the headline: "The world's most failed and disgraced liar."

One diplomatic source in the region however said mediators were shuffling messages between the two sides, who were both open to negotiation.

"There is hope but it's too early to be optimistic," said this source, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive issues.

Both sides need to be able to climb down without losing face, the source noted.

In public, Iran kept up its belligerent rhetoric, with the speaker of Iran's parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warning the US: "Do not test our resolve to defend our land."



- 'Unbelievable price' -



Stocks rose and oil prices tumbled after Trump's conciliatory tone, but focus remained on the Strait of Hormuz, through which one fifth of the world's oil passes.

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that Iran had given him "a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money", which he said demonstrated that "we're dealing with the right people".

The US president did not elaborate further but said it was related to the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has largely blockaded in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes.

Tehran, in a message circulated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), assured safe passage through the strait to "non-hostile vessels".

However, the IMO cited a statement from Iran's foreign ministry as saying no passage would be granted to vessels belonging to "the aggressor parties -- namely the United States and the Israeli regime".

On a visit to Tokyo, the head of the International Energy Agency said he was ready to approve the release of more oil reserves if needed to cushion the war's impact on global supplies.

But the effects are already visible around the world, with Sri Lanka ordering an extra day off to conserve energy and the price of diesel doubling in Vietnam.

Hanoi resident Nguyen Van Chi said on Wednesday he had not driven his truck in the past two weeks, instead opting to cycle.

"With this unbelievable price of diesel, I cannot even sell my truck as no one is going to use it," the 54-year-old businessman told AFP.

burs-ric/amj
UN rights council to debate deadly Iran school strike Friday



Geneva, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



The UN Human Rights Council will hold a second urgent debate Friday on a deadly strike on an Iranian school, after having condemned Tehran's attacks on its Gulf neighbours.

Council president Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro announced the debate on the "protection of children and educational institutions in international armed conflicts" to the United Nations' top rights body Wednesday.

The debate, requested by Iran, China and Cuba, refers to the airstrike on a school in the southern city of Minab on the first day of the war on February 28.

A US Tomahawk cruise missile hit the school due to a targeting mistake, according to the preliminary findings of a US military investigation reported by The New York Times newspaper.

Iranian diplomat Somayeh Karimdoost described the attack "as a grave breach of international humanitarian law and international human rights law" in an address to the council Wednesday.

The attack killed 168 children between the age of seven and 12 and wounded many others, she said.

All three countries requesting the debate expected the matter would get "the urgent and serious consideration it warrants within this council", she added.

The council -- which had just concluded a first urgent debate linked to the Middle East war -- approved without a vote the holding of a second such debate Friday.

Wednesday's debate, requested by Bahrain on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Jordan, focused exclusively on Iran's strikes on countries across the Gulf region and their impact on civilians.

The 47-member council approved by consensus a resolution condemning Iran's "egregious attacks" on its Gulf neighbours, calling for swift "reparation" to all victims of its strikes.

rjm-nl/jj
US 15-point plan 'conveyed to Iran via Pakistan': officials to AFP



Islamabad, Pakistan, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



Proposals from the United States to end the war in Iran have been sent to Tehran through Pakistani intermediaries, two senior officials in Islamabad told AFP on Wednesday.

The confirmation came after US President Donald Trump voiced optimism at ending a nearly a month of conflict, and Tehran announced it would let "non-hostile" oil vessels through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

Pakistan has been touted as a possible mediator given its longstanding ties with both neighbouring Iran and the United States, as well as close contacts in the region.

The 15-point US plan to stop the fighting, which has spread across the Middle East, had been "conveyed to Iran via Pakistan", the two Pakistani officials said, requesting anonymity as they were not allowed to speak publicly on the matter.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his deputy, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, have been in close contact with top Iranian officials, and said they were ready to host any talks.

They have also been keen to keep Gulf allies onside, and on Wednesday morning, Sharif's office said he spoke to Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Islamabad and Riyadh have a mutual defence pact.

The head of the Pakistan army, Field Marshal Asim Munir, has also been involved in diplomatic efforts, and spoke to Trump on Sunday, the senior officials said.

Earlier on Wednesday, Iran's ambassador to Pakistan said there had been no talks between Washington and Tehran, despite Trump's indication of tentative progress.

"According to my information -- and contrary to Trump's claims -- so far, no negotiations, direct or indirect, have taken place between the two countries," said Reza Amiri Moghadam.
UN rights council demands 'reparation' for Iran strikes on Gulf



Geneva, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



The UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday condemned Iran's "egregious attacks" on its Gulf neighbours and demanded full "reparation" for all victims of its strikes.

The 47-member council backed a resolution brought by the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Jordan demanding Iran immediately "cease all unprovoked attacks".

The resolution was adopted by consensus, though some countries, while backing the text, criticised its scope and the fact that it made no mention of Israel or the United States.

The Middle East war erupted on February 28 when Washington and Israel began their attacks on Iran, with Tehran in turn striking targets in Israel and Gulf nations.

The resolution "condemns in the strongest terms the egregious attacks" by Iran, condemns Tehran's actions aimed at closing the Strait of Hormuz and voices "grave concerns at the Iranian attacks on energy infrastructure".

It demands Iran "immediately and unconditionally cease all unprovoked attacks" against the GCC states and Jordan and "provide full, effective and prompt reparation to all victims for the damage and injury caused by its attacks".



- 'Form of terror' -



Bahrain told the council it had been subjected to 26 days of "unprovoked, unjustified aggression", while Jordan insisted: "These attacks must stop".

Kuwait cited attacks on civilian infrastructure, including earlier Wednesday when its international airport was struck, saying "all of this amounts to a form of terror waged against civilians".

Oman -- which had mediated talks in Geneva between US and Iranian negotiators two days before Washington and Israel began their attacks -- stressed it remained firmly committed "to diplomacy and dialogue", condeming Tehran's attacks while also rejecting the "illegal" US-Israeli strikes.

Saudi ambassador Abdulmohsen Binkhothaila added that "to target the mediator betrays all efforts aimed at peace".

"Iran cannot deny responsibility here," he said.

The United Arab Emirates said they had intercepted more than 2,000 Iranian ballistic missiles and drones, with its ambassador Jamal Al Musharakh insisting: "We have never allowed the use of our airspace for attacks against Iran."

Tehran's behaviour "undermines international peace and security", he said.



- 'Historic mistake': Iran -



Tehran said the council was aiming its censure in the wrong direction.

Iran's ambassador Ali Bahreini said Israel was "dragging the entire world towards chaos and peril".

And he warned Gulf countries that "those who are today appearing as your friends will cast off their masks tomorrow".

Bahreini said airfields around the Gulf were "refuelling points of the fighter jets that every day drop their bombs on the Iranian people".

"Responsibility for these attacks lies not only with those who carried out those attacks but also with those who facilitated, supported and encouraged them".

"We must unite against the evil plans of our common enemy Israel," he said.

"Do not embolden Israel by targeting Iran... It is a historic mistake."



- Flirting with 'catastrophe' -



While backing consensus, Cuba said the resolution did not deal with the context, saying "these countries should not have to face the consequences of a war that should never have been started" by Israel and the United States.

In a statement, Israel's mission in Geneva called Iran "the source of this instability in the Middle East" and said Tehran's regional strikes "underscores the shared threat posed by Iran" to international security.

The UN rights chief Volker Turk told the debate that strikes around Iran and Israel's nuclear sites were "flirting with unmitigated catastrophe".

The Human Rights Council will hold a second urgent debate on Friday, focused on a deadly strike on an Iranian school.

The debate, requested by Iran, China and Cuba, refers to the airstrike on a school in the southern city of Minab on the first day of the war on February 28 that killed at least 165 people, most of them children.
Pentagon orders more missiles for Mideast war



Washington, United States, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



The US Department of Defense on Wednesday announced three agreements with defense contractors to boost production of missiles and other parts to replenish dwindling supplies used in the Mideast war.

The extensive use of interceptor missiles by the United States, Israel and the Gulf states to counter Iranian retaliatory attacks has raised questions about stockpile sizes.

Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems agreed to a fourfold increase in production of a key component called "seeker heads" for THAAD, a high-altitude anti-missile system that has seen significant use in the Middle East.

The agreement puts the "industrial base on a wartime footing," the Department of Defense said in a press release.

At the end of January, Lockheed Martin had already announced an acceleration of its THAAD production from around 100 to about 400 a year within a few years.

The Pentagon announced a second agreement with Lockheed Martin to "accelerate" production of Precision Strike Missiles, or PrSM, tactical ballistic missiles used for the first time against Iran. They succeed the previous Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS.

Lockheed Martin confirmed the order to quadruple output of the PrSM missiles, saying it builds on a previous $4.94 billion contract award from the US Army last year.

In a third deal, Honeywell Aerospace agreed to boost the production of "critical components for America's munitions stockpile," including navigation systems, a DoD press release said.
Russia pulls more staff from Iran nuclear plant after reported strike



Moscow, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



Russia has evacuated more staff from Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant after a reported strike on the compound Tuesday night, the head of Russia's atomic energy agency said Wednesday.

Russia partially constructed the plant and its technicians help operate it.

A projectile landed within the plant's compound late Tuesday but caused no damage, Iran's atomic energy organisation said, accusing the United States and Israel of attacking the plant.

"Today, at approximately 7:20 Moscow time (0420 GMT), 163 people left Bushehr for the Iranian-Armenian border," Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev was quoted as saying by the state RIA news agency.

"Right now, about 300 remain... Some people will stay. I think it will be a few dozen people who will oversee the equipment," he added in comments to reporters, including AFP.

Rosatom had already withdrawn 150 people working at the plant, amid the threat of US and Israeli airstrikes.

It was in the process of building two new reactors at the plant when the conflict began.

The UN's nuclear watchdog issued a statement on Tuesday calling for "maximum restraint to avoid nuclear safety risks".
UN chief says Lebanon must not become next Gaza amid fighting



United Nations, United States, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Wednesday that fighting between Israel and Hezbollah must not condemn Lebanon to the same fate as Gaza, the Palestinian territory decimated by years of conflict.

"The Gaza model must not be replicated in Lebanon," Guterres told reporters, also saying the wider war in the Middle East is "out of control," as the United States, Israel and Iran have carried out strikes for more than three weeks.

"Across the region, and far beyond, civilians are enduring serious harm and living under profound insecurity. I witnessed some of these consequences firsthand during my recent visit to Lebanon," he said.

"There, too, the war must stop. Hezbollah must stop launching attacks into Israel. And Israel must stop its military operations and strikes in Lebanon, which are hitting civilians the hardest."

In early March, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatened Beirut's southern suburbs -- a stronghold of Iran-backed Hezbollah -- with the same devastation that Israel has inflicted on Gaza in its war against militant group Hamas.

Beyond Lebanon, Guterres voiced alarm at the wider regional war triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February that killed the country's supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

"The conflict has broken past the limits even leaders thought imaginable," he said.

"The world is staring down the barrel of a wider war, a rising tide of human suffering, and a deeper global economic shock. This has gone too far."

The UN chief also announced the appointment of French diplomat Jean Arnault as his special envoy to lead UN efforts regarding the conflict and its consequences.
Merz says Ukraine no longer needs German Taurus missiles



Berlin, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Wednesday there was no longer any need to send long-range Taurus missiles to help defend Ukraine against Russia's invasion, a move long debated in Berlin.

Kyiv has long wanted the missiles but Berlin has resisted openly committing to this for fear it would worsen tensions with nuclear-armed Russia.

When in opposition, Merz himself had committed to sending the missiles, but he has backed away from this since taking office last May.

Answering questions from lawmakers on Wednesday, Merz said that his original remarks had been made "in a different context", at a time when he "assumed that the Bundeswehr had a sufficient number of operational Taurus cruise missiles in its stocks that we could supply to Ukraine".

Furthermore he said that Ukraine's progress in domestic weapons development had rendered the debate over Taurus missiles moot.

"Today, Ukraine itself has long-range weapons in its depots, which it has built itself -- partly with our help -- and which are significantly more effective than the relatively small number of Taurus cruise missiles we could have delivered," Merz said.

"In terms of weapons technology, Ukraine has advanced far, far, far beyond what we were discussing back when this war began."

Merz said that while Ukraine was "better armed today than ever before", it had "considerable difficulties with financing".

"We need to mobilise money for Ukraine so that these weapons can continue to be produced".

Since the United States under President Donald Trump scaled back most of its support for Ukraine last year, Germany has become Kyiv's biggest backer and has significantly increased its military aid.

Berlin has pledged 11.5 billion euros in aid for 2026, including Iris?T air defence systems and Patriot batteries.
Lebanon govt stuck between Israel and Hezbollah in war it didn't want



Beirut, Lebanon, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



Lebanon's weakened government has been wedged into a war not of its choosing between Hezbollah and Israel, as the Iran-backed militants harden their stance and Israel demands the group's elimination.

Beirut has been struggling to pull the country back from the brink after Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war on March 2, firing rockets into Israel to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader.

With more than 1,000 dead in Lebanon and more than one million others displaced, what are the government and Hezbollah's positions, and what are the chances for negotiations?



What measures has Beirut taken?



Faysal Itani, senior fellow at the Washington-based Middle East Policy Council, said Lebanese authorities face "a brutal choice: confront Hezbollah or watch Israel do it for them".

A Lebanese official source told AFP that "the Israelis have made it known" -- through the mediation of United Nations special coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, who visited Israel this month -- that "they want Hezbollah wiped out".

But "Hezbollah can't be disarmed overnight", the source added, requesting anonymity.

Created after Israel invaded in 1982, Hezbollah is the only group to have kept its weapons since the country's 1975-1990 civil war, doing so in the name of "resistance" against Israel.

Since the latest war erupted, Lebanon's government has taken unprecedented steps to try to rein in Hezbollah and its patron Iran.

Beirut has banned Hezbollah's military and security activities, and all activities of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, whom Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has accused of commanding Hezbollah's operations.

Lebanese authorities have also decided to expel Iran's ambassador, a move that has incensed Hezbollah.

A source from the group told AFP on condition of anonymity that Hezbollah has requested the ambassador disregard the measure.



Avoiding confrontation?



The government has taken no steps to implement the ban on Hezbollah's military activities, and the group has kept attacking northern Israel and Israeli troops in south Lebanon.

Authorities fear any domestic confrontation with Hezbollah, which has a strong popular support base among the Shia Muslim community.

They also want to shield the army, an under-funded and under-equipped institution seen as a rare source of unity in a country riven by sectarian and political divisions.

Itani said that, if the military confronts the Iran-backed group, "there is a risk of a sectarian split in the armed forces, though this depends in part on Hezbollah's response."

The army once split along sectarian lines in 1976 during Lebanon's devastating civil war.



State hamstrung in south?



Authorities say the war has scuttled the army's plans to disarm Hezbollah -- which it had been doing in south Lebanon following a November 2024 ceasefire that sought to end the previous war between Israel and the militants.

The army in January said it had finished dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure between the Israeli border and the Litani River, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) to the north -- where Hezbollah says fighting is underway with advancing Israeli troops, and where Israel wants to establish a "security zone".

For Israel, Lebanon's army "lost total credibility to the degree that it is now ignored altogether", Itani said.

The military has even withdrawn from border areas to avoid being caught up in the conflict, despite pleas from villagers still defying Israeli army orders to evacuate.



Hezbollah's position?



Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem on Wednesday urged the government to reverse its ban on the group's military activities.

Mahmud Qamati, an official from the group, has called the government's decision illegal, even comparing it to France's Nazi collaborationist Vichy regime in World War II.

A Lebanese security source told AFP on condition of anonymity that Iranian advisers and liaison officers have been assisting Hezbollah and helping it regroup since the 2024 ceasefire with Israel.

Hezbollah and the Revolutionary Guards, the ideological arm of Iran's military, have announced joint operations against Israel since the start of the war.

A Western diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity that Hezbollah had hardened its position since coming under the Guards' supervision.



Negotiations?



In a bid to break the political impasse, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has proposed a direct negotiations with Israel and a full truce.

But for now, prospects for a ceasefire or talks between the two countries, who have officially been at war since 1948 and have no formal diplomatic relations, seem remote.

Hezbollah's Qassem said negotiating under fire would amount to "surrender".

According to the Lebanese official source, "Israel wants negotiations under fire" and won't accept a truce as proposed by Aoun.

For now, the source said, the government can do little more that try, "through diplomatic contacts, to spare Lebanon from strikes on (vital) infrastructure".
Commerce body chief warns of 'worst industrial crisis in living memory'



Yaounde, Cameroon, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



The war in the Middle East could cause the "worst industrial crisis in living memory", the head of the International Chamber of Commerce warned Wednesday.

Skyrocketing crude prices since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran in late February have raised fears of a global recession, with Tehran in effect choking oil shipments through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

"The head of the International Energy Agency has warned that the world is facing an energy crisis more severe than the oil shocks of the 1970s," ICC chief John Denton said.

"From a business perspective, we believe this could yet become the worst industrial crisis in living memory," he added, speaking on the eve of the meeting of World Trade Organization ministers in Yaounde, Cameroon.

"Not only because of surging energy prices, but because industrial production itself is being disrupted and dislocated by shortages of gas and other essential inputs".

Denton warned that the situation was already alarming, with Iran's de facto Hormuz blockade preventing the export of fossil fuels, fertilisers and other goods from the oil-rich Gulf region.

"We are already seeing major companies... cut output as shortages ripple through energy, chemicals and other critical supply chains," he said.



- 'Very real risk' for farming -



"And -- let's be clear -- the consequences do not stop at industry. Disruption to trade in agricultural fertilisers now creates a very real risk for the next harvest season ... with farmers across the world, and perhaps most acutely in Africa, facing supply shortages and price increases that may force lower application rates of essential nutrients.

"(This is) a situation that ultimately -- and inevitably -- will translate into much lower agricultural yields and food security risks later this year," Denton said.

"That is why it is vital that the international community does everything possible to restore safe passage of commercial shipping through the Gulf, as well as acting early to mitigate the foreseeable damage to the real economy while those efforts continue."

While the WTO has faced criticism of its failure to adapt and reform for the era of global trade tensions and US President Donald Trump's tariffs, Denton praised the body "for the speed with which it has responded" to the Middle East crisis.

"Its new tool to track essential shipments through the Strait of Hormuz is exactly the kind of practical, responsive support that businesses need from the multilateral system in moments of crisis."

Denton argued that the crisis was "a stark reminder of why a functioning, credible and responsive multilateral trading system still matters".
Hezbollah says negotiating with Israel would be surrender, amid strikes on Lebanon



Beirut, Lebanon, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said Wednesday that negotiating with Israel under fire would amount to "surrender" for Lebanon, as Israel launched new strikes and Hezbollah said it was targeting Israeli troops.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that "the Gaza model must not be replicated in Lebanon", a comparison previously drawn by Israel officials talking about operations in Lebanon.

"Hezbollah must stop launching attacks into Israel. And Israel must stop its military operations and strikes in Lebanon, which are hitting civilians the hardest," Guterres told reporters at the United Nations.

Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East war when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"When negotiations with the Israeli enemy are proposed under fire, this is an imposition of surrender," Qassem said, as the pro-Iran group announced attacks on Israeli soldiers in south Lebanon, northern Israel and the occupied Golan Heights.

Lebanon's president is calling for unprecedented direct negotiations with Israel, which has so far rebuffed his proposal.

Israel, which occupied southern Lebanon for around two decades until 2000, has sent ground troops into the south since the latest bout of fighting began.

On Tuesday, Israel said its military would take control of the border area up to the Litani River, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the frontier.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported Israeli strikes and artillery shelling in several locations in the south on Wednesday.

It also said that "enemy warplanes... launched a strike" on Beirut's southern suburbs, after a renewed Israeli army evacuation warning.

An AFP correspondent saw a street covered in debris including shattered cement and warped metal after the early morning strike, while an apartment building's upper floors appeared damaged.

The area has been targeted multiple times during the conflict and is largely empty of residents, who have fled.

Israel's military said it struck Hezbollah targets across Lebanon overnight "including a command centre" in Beirut's southern suburbs.

It also said it attacked petrol stations belonging to the Al-Amana fuel company, which it says is controlled by Hezbollah and finances the group.



- Paramedics killed -



Lebanon's health ministry said on Wednesday that two paramedics were killed when an Israeli strike "targeted their motorbike as they headed to carry out a rescue mission in the city of Nabatiyeh" in the south on Tuesday.

The ministry condemned the strike on the pair, saying they wore full rescue workers' uniforms and the motorbike was also marked for emergency response.

According to the ministry, 42 health workers are among more than 1,000 people killed in Lebanon in more than three weeks of Israeli strikes.

Lebanese authorities say upwards of one million people have been displaced.

Hezbollah said its fighters on Wednesday targeted Israeli troops "massed in the border towns of Naqura and Qawzah" and in sites across the border "with more than 100 rockets".

The statement came as the group claimed a series of attacks on Israeli troops in south Lebanon and northern Israel.

Israel's military in an earlier statement said ground troops in southern Lebanon had "dismantled a weapons storage facility", and the air force killed "several terrorists".

It also said troops had "dismantled Hezbollah command centres in which numerous weapons were located", without specifying where.

Lebanese authorities reported deadly Israeli strikes on the south on Tuesday, including a raid that killed two people in the Mieh Mieh Palestinian refugee camp.

On Tuesday in northern Israel, where repeated air raid warnings have sent residents to shelters, a woman was killed following rocket fire from Lebanon, authorities said.
Iran media casts doubt on US peace plan



Tehran, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



State media in Iran said Wednesday that Tehran had rejected a US plan to end fighting, as the head of the United Nations warned that the Middle East war was spiralling out of control.

In a first public acknowledgement of US efforts to discuss peace, state television cited an unidentified official as saying the war would end on Tehran's terms, shortly after Iran said it had fired a volley of cruise missiles at a US aircraft carrier.

"Iran has responded negatively" to the American proposal, the official said, dismissing the reported overture from US President Donald Trump, according to the English-language broadcaster Press TV, in a report picked up by Iran's main news agencies.

"The end of the war will occur when Iran decides it should end, not when Trump envisions its conclusion," the Iranian official said.

Tehran had five conditions for ending the war, he added, including guarantees against future attacks and reparations for war damages.

The rebuttal came after two senior officials in Islamabad told AFP that Pakistan had conveyed to Tehran a 15-point plan proposed by the US to stop the fighting that began on February 28 with a US-Israeli bombing campaign on Iran and sparked retaliatory strikes across the region.

As the human and economic cost of the fighting mounts, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the war was "out of control".

"The conflict has broken past the limits even leaders thought imaginable," he told reporters. "The world is staring down the barrel of a wider war, a rising tide of human suffering, and a deeper global economic shock. This has gone too far."

On the ground, there was no let-up in the hostilities, with targets in Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia all coming under fire.

Iran's military said its cruise missiles fired at the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group had "forced it to change its position", warning of "powerful strikes" when the "hostile fleet" comes into range.

US ally Israel, meanwhile, said it had struck targets in Tehran as well as a submarine development facility in the central city of Isfahan.

From the Iranian capital, 40-year-old Shayan told AFP: "There is gasoline, water and electricity. But there is a sense of helplessness in all of us. We don't know what to do and there's really nothing we can do."



- Iran sets five conditions -



Trump has in recent days repeatedly claimed progress in talks with Iran, even as Tehran denied any formal negotiations were taking place.

But there have been increased signs of tentative diplomatic efforts, with mediators in the region saying work was ongoing behind the scenes to relay messages.

"There is hope but it's too early to be optimistic," said a diplomatic source in the region, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive issues.

Both sides need to be able to climb down without losing face, the source noted.

According to the New York Times, citing anonymous officials, the American 15-point plan touches on Iran's contested nuclear and missile programmes, as well as "maritime routes".

Tehran has largely blocked the vital Strait of Hormuz oil route in retaliation for the US-Israeli attacks, pushing up global energy prices.

The Iranian official quoted by Press TV said Tehran has put forward its own five conditions for hostilities to end.

These include ending "aggression and assassinations" against the country and its leaders, setting up a robust mechanism guaranteeing that neither Israel nor the US will resume the war, as well as compensation for the destruction caused.

Iran's conditions also include a cessation of hostilities on all regional fronts and against all "resistance groups" -- an implicit reference to the Tehran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah.

Tehran also wants international recognition and guarantees of Iran's rights to exercise its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.



- 'Our heart is here' -



It remains unclear whether Israel is on board with America's diplomatic overture.

While striking targets in Iran Wednesday, Israel kept up its campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon, where Israeli warplanes pounded the southern suburbs of Beirut.

An AFP correspondent saw a street covered in shattered cement and warped metal after the early morning strike, while an apartment building's upper floors appeared damaged.

Lebanon was pulled into the war when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

According to Lebanese authorities, more than 1,000 people have been killed in over three weeks of Israeli strikes and upwards of one million people displaced.

In the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, almost cut off from the rest of the country by bombs, Khalil, a man in his 30s, voiced his defiance.

"They'll have to take us by force," he told AFP.

Despite Israeli ground operations and the spectre of a full-blown invasion, "we don't want to leave our land... our heart is here", said Khalil, sheltering with his young family in a theatre.



- 'Unbelievable price' -



Stocks rose and oil prices tumbled on optimism over potential negotiations, but focus remained on the Strait of Hormuz, through which one fifth of the world's oil passes.

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday that Iran had given him "a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money", which he said demonstrated that "we're dealing with the right people".

The US president did not elaborate further but said it was related to the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran, in a message circulated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), assured safe passage through the strait to "non-hostile vessels".

However, the IMO also cited a statement from Iran's foreign ministry as saying no passage would be granted to vessels belonging to "the aggressor parties -- namely the United States and the Israeli regime".

Hanoi resident Nguyen Van Chi said higher fuel prices meant he had not driven his truck in the past two weeks, instead opting to cycle.

"With this unbelievable price of diesel, I cannot even sell my truck as no one is going to use it," the 54-year-old businessman told AFP.

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Trump eyes Iran deal, but no end in sight for Israel war in Lebanon



Jerusalem, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



While Washington has signalled a diplomatic off-ramp from its war with Iran, Israel is preparing for the opposite in Lebanon -- an open-ended military campaign against Hezbollah.

Analysts said the message from Israel was a blunt one: Hezbollah must be disarmed, and that will take time.

"I suppose that (Israel's military) would like to have some more time to deal with Lebanon after the ceasefire with Iran," Orna Mizrahi, from the Tel Aviv-based Institute for National Security Studies, told AFP.

"The declared objective is to disarm Hezbollah -- it's a very hard job and they need a lot of time to do that," she said.

Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East war when the Iran-backed Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a wave of US-Israeli strikes.

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said that talks were underway with Iran.

Yet the day after, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country's forces were expanding a "buffer zone" in southern Lebanon intended to protect northern Israel.

His defence minister, Israel Katz, had previously said the zone would reach the Litani River, which flows as far as 30 kilometres (20 miles) north of the border.

Netanyahu linked the campaign to Israel's war with Tehran, saying "it is connected to the broader confrontation with Iran".

"We are determined to profoundly transform the situation in Lebanon," he added.



- 'Until the job is done' -



Joost Hiltermann of the International Crisis Group, told AFP that if it were up to Israel, "it would stay in Lebanon, as it does in Gaza, until what it considers the job is done".

But, he added, much depended on Washington.

"It really depends on what Trump, when he decides to end US involvement in the war, does he tell Israel to do the same or not? Does that include both Iran and Lebanon or just Iran?"

He noted that, despite his unpredictability, Trump had clearly told Israel to stop its campaign in Iran at the end of the 12-day war in June last year.

Israel argues that Hezbollah should have withdrawn from southern Lebanon under the terms of a November 2024 ceasefire that ended more than a year of fighting that began shortly after the war in Gaza.

That fighting displaced more than 60,000 Israelis in the north, who endured sustained rocket fire from Hezbollah.

In recent weeks, Israeli forces have dynamited buildings in several southern Lebanese villages and clashed with Hezbollah fighters, with Israeli ground operations, airstrikes and evacuation warnings displacing around one million people in Lebanon.

- Hezbollah can 'thrive' -



While Israel has again turned to its military might in southern Lebanon, some have expressed doubts over what this war could achieve that previous ones didn't.

A flash poll conducted by the Tel Aviv-based Institute for National Security Studies two weeks into the latest war found that 48 percent of Israelis believed the campaign in Lebanon would only achieve its objectives "to a small or very small extent".

There have been calls to hold direct talks to end the fighting in Lebanon, but Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem rejected negotiations "with an enemy that occupies our land and carries out daily attacks".

Hiltermann warned that the deepening humanitarian crisis in Lebanon could further fuel unrest even after Israel withdraws.

"It's something to be really concerned about, because that's the kind of environment in which an active military non-state actor can thrive," he said, referring to Hezbollah.

The group first emerged during Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon and went on to fight an 18-year insurgency against Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon, greatly boosting its popularity when Israeli forces withdrew in 2000.

In the end, Israel may have to negotiate with Hezbollah, said Mizrahi, who pointed to the fact that the group had military capabilities beyond south Lebanon.

"It will be an agreement in the end. You cannot do it just by military means," she said.

Hiltermann, however, suggested that Netanyahu might choose to prolong the war regardless, in an effort to restore his political legacy.

"His calculation is quite different from what you would say the rational security people's calculation is", he said.
Russia pulls more staff from Iran nuclear plant after reported air strike



Moscow, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



Russia pulled another group of staff from Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant on Wednesday after what it described as a "reckless" air strike near the plant's reactor.

A projectile landed within the plant's compound on Tuesday night, Iran's atomic energy organisation said, accusing the United States and Israel of being responsible.

Russia partially constructed the plant on Iran's Gulf coast and its technicians help operate it.

"We are deeply outraged by this reckless and irresponsible manifestation of a destructive course of action," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.

"It appears that the aggressors are deliberately seeking to provoke a large-scale nuclear disaster in the region," the ministry added.

Russia's atomic energy agency announced earlier that it was evacuating staff from the plant for safety reasons.

"Today, at approximately 7:20 am Moscow time (0420 GMT), 163 people left Bushehr for the Iranian-Armenian border," Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev was quoted as saying by the state RIA news agency.

"Right now, about 300 remain... Some people will stay. I think it will be a few dozen people who will oversee the equipment," he added in comments to reporters, including AFP.

Rosatom had already withdrawn 150 people working at the plant, amid the threat of US and Israeli airstrikes.

Before the conflict began, Russia was in the process of building two new reactors at the plant.

The UN's nuclear watchdog issued a statement on Tuesday calling for "maximum restraint to avoid nuclear safety risks".
Iran would target Red Sea shipping in event of US invasion: local media



Tehran, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



Iran would target shipping in the Red Sea, a crucial conduit for global oil and other goods leading to the Suez Canal, if the United States launches a ground invasion, an unnamed military official told local media Wednesday.

"If the enemy attempts a ground operation on Iranian islands or anywhere else on our territory, or if it seeks to impose costs on Iran through naval manoeuvres in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, we will open other fronts as a 'surprise'," the official was quoted as saying by the Tasnim news agency.

"The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is among the most strategic straits in the world, and Iran has both the will and the capability to pose a fully credible threat against it," the official said.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, like the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Iran, is a chokepoint for global shipping that lies between Yemen and Djibouti at its narrowest point.

Iran has close links to and arms the Houthi rebel group in Yemen which greatly reduced Red Sea traffic in October 2023 when they began attacking vessels in retaliation for Israel's bombardment of Gaza.

The group has been battered by air strikes since, but analysts say the rebels could move from their position on the sidelines of the current US-Iran war and take a more active role.

However, the Houthis are seen as less ideologically tethered to Iran and have long enjoyed more independence than other Tehran-backed militant groups in the Middle East.

US President Donald Trump is moving thousands of airborne troops and extra marines to the Gulf amid speculation that he might order a limited ground invasion to either seize Iranian oil assets in the Gulf or secure the Strait of Hormuz.

One possible target is Kharg Island, which handles almost all of Iran's crude exports.

Trump has called it a "little oil island that sits there, so totally unprotected".

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed to a trickle because of the conflict, disrupting roughly 20 percent of global oil supplies.

Crude prices have spiked to around 100 dollars a barrel as a result of what the International Energy Agency has called "the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market".
Iran speaker warns 'enemies are preparing to occupy' island



Tehran, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



Iran's powerful parliament speaker warned on Wednesday about the possible invasion of an Iranian island with the support of an unnamed regional country.

"Based on some intelligence reports, Iran's enemies are preparing to occupy one of the Iranian islands with support from one of the regional states," Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote in an X post written in both Persian and Arabic.

"Our forces are monitoring all enemy movements, and if they take any step, all the vital infrastructure of that regional state will be targeted with relentless, unceasing attacks."

US President Donald Trump is moving thousands of airborne troops and extra marines to the Gulf amid speculation that he might order a ground invasion to either seize Iranian oil assets in the Gulf or secure the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

One possible target is Kharg Island, which handles almost all of Iran's crude exports.

Trump has called it a "little oil island that sits there, so totally unprotected".

Earlier on Wednesday, an unnamed Iranian military official told local media that Iran would target shipping in the Red Sea in the event of a ground invasion, which would dramatically widen the conflict and disrupt global trade.

Iran arms and supports the Houthi rebel group in Yemen which has previously targeted shipping travelling through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a conduit to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.

"If the enemy attempts a ground operation on Iranian islands or anywhere else on our territory, or if it seeks to impose costs on Iran through naval manoeuvres in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, we will open other fronts as a 'surprise'," the official was quoted as saying by the Tasnim news agency.

"The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is among the most strategic straits in the world, and Iran has both the will and the capability to pose a fully credible threat against it," the official said.

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which lies off Iran, has slowed to a trickle because of the conflict, disrupting roughly 20 percent of global oil supplies.

Crude prices have spiked to around $100 a barrel as a result of what the International Energy Agency has called "the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market".

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War in the Middle East: casualty figures from across the region



Dubai, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



Since the United States and Israel unleashed strikes on Iran on February 28, war has spread across the Middle East, with casualties reported in countries across the region.

AFP has not been able to independently verify all of the following tolls, which are based on numbers released by governments, militaries, health authorities and rescue organisations in the affected countries.



- Iran -



Iran's government has not released an updated overall casualty toll in recent days.

However, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said on March 23 that at least 3,268 people had been killed, including 1,443 civilians -- among them at least 217 children -- as well as 1,167 military personnel and 658 people whose status had not been classified.

Due to reporting restrictions, AFP is not able to access the sites of strikes nor to independently verify tolls in Iran.



- Lebanon -



Lebanon's health ministry said on March 25 that 1,094 people had been killed and 3,119 injured since the start of fighting on March 2, including 121 children.

The ministry said the toll also included 42 healthcare workers.

Hezbollah has not announced its losses.



- Israel -



Israeli emergency services and authorities say attacks have killed 17 civilians on the Israeli side since the start of the war.

They said Iranian missile attacks have killed 15 civilians, including 13 Israelis -- among them four minors -- as well as one Filipino caregiver and one Thai national.

One woman was killed after Hezbollah launched rockets at northern Israel on Tuesday, while on Monday the military said a man was killed by Israeli artillery after "operational errors".

Magen David Adom, the Israeli equivalent of the Red Cross, said around 450 people have been injured since Iran began firing missiles at the country in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes.

The Israeli military has separately announced the deaths of two personnel in combat in southern Lebanon.



- West Bank -



The Palestinian health ministry in Ramallah said four women were killed by Iranian missile fire in the occupied West Bank.



- Iraq -



Armed groups and officials have said at least 96 people have been killed in Iraq since the start of the war, according to an AFP tally based on their announcements.

France said an Iranian drone killed a French soldier in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region.

The US military said a refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, killing all six crew members, in an incident not caused by hostile or friendly fire.

Pro-Iran armed factions and security sources say 64 Iran-backed fighters were killed in strikes they blame on the United States and Israel.

In Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, a ballistic missile attack killed six peshmerga fighters on Tuesday, with the region accusing Iran of conducting the first such deadly attack on Kurdish security forces since the war began.

Kurdish rebel groups said at least five Iranian Kurdish militants were killed in strikes attributed to Iran on their positions in northern Iraq.

On Wednesday, a strike on a base in western Iraq killed seven members of the security forces, according to Baghdad's defence ministry.



- The Gulf -



Authorities in Gulf states and the US Central Command (CENTCOM) have reported 36 people killed -- including 17 civilians and one civilian military contractor -- since the start of the Iranian attacks.

The rest of those killed were military or security personnel, including seven US service members.

Kuwait's military and health ministry have reported six deaths: two soldiers, two border guards and two civilians, one of them an 11-year-old girl.

The United Arab Emirates' defence ministry has reported eight deaths: six civilians and two military personnel who died as a result of a helicopter crash blamed on a technical malfunction.

Saudi Arabia's civil defence agency has reported two civilian deaths.

Bahrain's interior ministry has logged two civilian deaths and the UAE defence ministry has said a contractor for the Emirati military, a Moroccan, was killed following an Iranian attack in Bahrain.

Oman's maritime security centre reported the death of a mariner at sea and two other people in a drone attack on an industrial area.

Qatar's defence ministry said four Qatari servicemen and three Turkish nationals -- including one serviceman and two civilians -- were killed in a helicopter crash in Qatar's territorial waters.

CENTCOM has confirmed six US service personnel killed in Kuwait and one killed in Saudi Arabia.



- Jordan -



In Jordan, security officials said 29 people have been injured by falling debris from Iranian missiles and drones in various parts of the kingdom.

No deaths have been recorded so far.



- Syria -



Syrian state media reported eight people injured by falling debris from exchanges of fire between Iran and Israel.



- US casualties across Mideast -



In addition to the deaths of seven US personnel confirmed by CENTCOM in the Gulf and six in Iraq, the United States has said around 200 of its military personnel have been injured in seven countries across the Middle East since the start of the war.

Ten were categorised as seriously wounded and more than 180 have already returned to duty, CENTCOM said.
Gen Z movement left out of new Madagascar government



Antananarivo, Madagascar, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



Madagascar's interim leader on Wednesday unveiled the make-up of the island nation's new government, still without representatives of the Gen Z movement that helped topple the president last year.

Colonel Michael Randrianirina, who seized power in the wake of the youth-led protests against persistent water and power shortages, fired his prime minister and cabinet on March 9 without explanation.

The career military officer tapped Mamitiana Rajaonarison, a former police officer who has led Madagascar's anti-money-laundering body since 2021, as his replacement head of government on March 15.

Since then, both men have been working to recruit for the new government -- with all prospective cabinet members forced to submit to a lie detector test.

In the new line-up unveiled by the colonel's office on Wednesday, 17 had been re-appointed to their posts, including to the key interior, economy and justice briefs.

Among the newcomers, Alice N'Diaye, a former head of the Indian Ocean Commission, is taking over the foreign ministry, while Radonirina Lucas Rabearimanga, from Madagascar's Office of Hydrocarbons, will become energy minister.

"The appointment of ministers was based on the use of new technologies to highlight their integrity," Randrianirina said in his speech on Wednesday.

"I will be relentless: if one case of corruption is reported in a ministry, the minister will be removed from office immediately," he warned.

The colonel has rejected accusations he led a coup, insisting that the Constitutional Court transferred power to him from ex-president Andry Rajoelina, who fled the island in the wake of the protests with France's help in October.

He has pledged to hand power back to civilians within two years. According to a transition roadmap published at the end of February, Madagascar is set to undergo extensive national consultations in 2026 and the drafting of a new constitution before a presidential election at the end of 2027.
Iran FM says 'we do not intend to negotiate'



Tehran, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Wednesday that Iran did not plan to negotiate with the United States and intended to keep fighting, after the White House said talks were ongoing.

"At present, our policy is the continuation of resistance", Araghchi said on state TV, adding: "We do not intend to negotiate -- so far, no negotiations have taken place, and I believe our position is completely principled."

"Speaking of negotiations now is an admission of defeat," he said.

On Wednesday, the White House threatened to "unleash hell" on Iran if it did not negotiate a peace deal with the US.

"Talks continue. They are productive," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Pakistani officials said earlier that Islamabad had conveyed to Tehran an American 15-point plan to stop the fighting that began on February 28 with US-Israeli attacks on Iran and has since engulfed the region.

Leavitt said there were "elements of truth" to reports of the 15-point proposal.

Speaking of the apparent plan, Araghchi said: "These were presented in the form of various ideas, all of which have been conveyed to the senior officials of the country, and if it is necessary for a position to be taken, it will certainly be decided."

Araghchi said that messages were "being exchanged through friendly countries or through certain different individuals" but insisted that "this is neither called dialogue nor negotiation".

The foreign minister also said that while Iran might be able to secure security guarantees ratified by the UN Security Council, Tehran had created its own guarantees in the way it fought the war.

"In this war, we showed the world that no one can provoke the Islamic Republic, and in fact we created a security shield for ourselves so that the whole world understood that provoking the Islamic Republic and playing with our interests carries heavy consequences."
Kuwait says arrested six people planning 'assassinations' linked to Hezbollah



Kuwait City, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



Kuwait arrested six people linked to Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group who were planning "assassinations" in the Gulf state, the interior ministry said on Wednesday.

Those arrested were planning "assassinations targeting symbols and leaders of the state and recruited people to carry out these missions," the ministry said in a statement.

Five of the six people were Kuwaiti nationals, it said.

This is at least the third set of arrests in Kuwait linked to Hezbollah in recent weeks.

Last Wednesday, Kuwait said it had arrested 10 Hezbollah members who were planning attacks on vital infrastructure.

And on March 16, the country announced the arrest of 16 people, two of them Lebanese and 14 Kuwaiti, who it said had been planning acts of sabotage.

Kuwait has been repeatedly targeted with missiles and drones by Hezbollah's sponsor Iran during the Middle East war.
Hezbollah says negotiating with Israel would be surrender, amid strikes on Lebanon



Beirut, Lebanon, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said Wednesday that negotiating with Israel under fire would amount to "surrender" for Lebanon, as Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu said his forces were "expanding" a "buffer zone" in Lebanon.

Netanyahu said the Israeli military had "created a genuine security zone" inside Lebanon and was "expanding this zone," as its ground forces tried to push deeper into Lebanon, on a day when Hezbollah issued dozens of statements claiming attacks on Israeli forces.

Israel, which occupied southern Lebanon for around two decades until 2000, has once again sent ground troops into Lebanon, saying it is attempting to take control of the area up to the Litani River, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border.

As the two sides fought in the south, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that "the Gaza model must not be replicated in Lebanon", a comparison previously drawn by Israeli officials talking about their goals in Lebanon.

"Hezbollah must stop launching attacks into Israel. And Israel must stop its military operations and strikes in Lebanon, which are hitting civilians the hardest," Guterres told reporters at the United Nations.

By late on Wednesday, Hezbollah said it had launched more than 80 attacks against Israel, the largest number the Iran-backed group has claimed since the start of the latest war.

It also said it had attacked Israeli forces in nine border towns.

Israel's military said that one of its soldiers was severely wounded by rocket fire in southern Lebanon, having earlier reported an officer being lightly injured in combat.

It also reported several rockets fired towards the Haifa area in northern Israel, but no injuries.



- 'Imposition of surrender' -



Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East war when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In an attempt to put an end to the fighting, Lebanon's president is calling for unprecedented direct negotiations with Israel, which has so far rebuffed his proposal.

Hezbollah chief Qassem said Wednesday his group would have none of it: "When negotiations with the Israeli enemy are proposed under fire, this is an imposition of surrender."

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported Israeli strikes and artillery shelling in several locations in the south on Wednesday.

It also said that "enemy warplanes... launched a strike" on Beirut's southern suburbs, after a renewed Israeli army evacuation warning.

An AFP correspondent saw a street covered in debris, including shattered cement and warped metal, after the early morning strike, while an apartment building's upper floors appeared damaged.

The area has been targeted multiple times during the conflict and is largely empty of residents, who have fled.

Late on Wednesday, the Lebanese health ministry reported three people killed by an Israeli airstrike in the Bint Jbeil region of southern Lebanon.

Israel's military said it struck Hezbollah targets across Lebanon overnight "including a command centre" in Beirut's southern suburbs.

It also said it attacked petrol stations belonging to the Al-Amana fuel company, which it says is controlled by Hezbollah and finances the group.



- Paramedics killed -



According to the ministry, 42 health workers are among more than 1,000 people killed in Lebanon in more than three weeks of Israeli strikes.

Lebanese authorities say upwards of one million people have been displaced.

Hezbollah said its fighters on Wednesday targeted Israeli troops "massed in the border towns of Naqura and Qawzah" and in sites across the border "with more than 100 rockets".

The statement came as the group claimed a series of attacks on Israeli troops in south Lebanon, northern Israel, and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

In an earlier statement, Israel's military said ground troops in southern Lebanon had "dismantled a weapons storage facility", and the air force killed "several terrorists".

It also said troops had "dismantled Hezbollah command centres in which numerous weapons were located", without specifying where.
UK forces can board Russian shadow fleet in British waters: Downing Street



London, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



UK forces will be able to board and seize ships sanctioned as part of Russia's so-called shadow fleet passing through its waters, the government announced Wednesday.

"British military will be able to board shadow fleet vessels transiting UK waters as the UK steps up its pressure" on Russian President Vladimir Putin, Downing Street said in a statement.

London has sanctioned hundreds of vessels suspected of being part of the shadow fleet used by Russia to bypass Western embargoes since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The ships -- usually ageing tankers with dubious ownership -- are banned from accessing UK ports and services.

"The prime minister has agreed that the UK Armed Forces and law enforcement officers will now be able to interdict vessels that have been sanctioned by the UK and are transiting through UK waters," Downing Street said.

"The UK will put a further stranglehold on the shadow fleet, closing off UK waters, including the Channel, for sanctioned vessels. This will in turn force operators to either divert to longer, financially painful routes, or risk being detained by British forces."

"Putin is rubbing his hands at the war in the Middle East because he thinks higher oil prices will let him line his pockets," said UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

"That's why we're going after his shadow fleet even harder, not just keeping Britain safe but starving Putin's war machine of the dirty profits that fund his barbaric campaign in Ukraine."

Starmer is due to address a summit of the Joint Expeditionary Force -- a UK-led defence alliance of 10 member countries -- in Helsinki on Thursday.

The move comes as Washington eased restrictions on Russian oil to soften prices sent soaring by the US-Israel war against Iran.

In January, London provided support to Washington during a US operation to seize a Russia-linked oil tanker called the Marinera -- previously known as the Bella-1 and accused of flying a false flag.

France, Belgium, Finland and other European countries have also recently seized sanction-busting vessels believed to belong to Russia's ghost fleet.

"Following the detention of a ship, criminal proceedings may be brought against the against the owners, operators and crew, for breaches of UK sanctions legislation," Starmer's office said.

Each operation under the new approach will be considered by law enforcement and require ministerial sign-off, according to the government.

The UK government says it has sanctioned 544 vessels thought to be part of the shadow fleet -- which it claims transports around 75 percent of Russia's crude.
If, like me, you adore hunting out cool cocktail hotspots and innovative blends, youre going to want to add Reka:Bar to your Kuala Lumpur itinerary. Hidden up a flight of stairs in a more residential area of town, the glow of blue strip lights leads to a futuristic bar where 12 cocktails await as part of the bars domino effect menu. And while I usually like to avoid western food while travelling in Asia, the bars burger featuring house crack sauce and vintage cheddar is by far the best burger Ive ever eaten in my life.
The Maldives of the United States? Fly direct to Tampa International Airport and within the hour you can go from clearing customs to stretching out on sublime white-sand beach  35 miles of it, to be specific. The dazzling city of Clearwater, one half of the twin-city pair known as St. Pete-Clearwater, is famed for its rambling stretches of bleached powder, fronted by limpid aquamarine waters more stunning than youd ever dream existed in the continental United States.
He told the central London inquiry: You had to sign them, but what was not highlighted was that this is a point in time where you are also signing to say that samples could be taken. That was absolutely not pointed out.
The mother said: I think there is a clear line between gallows humour and a very clear need to be able to handle what is often a very, very difficult job, similarly to the way doctors or fire people would. But this steps over that mark.
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But he stressed: Is there not a longstanding concern about the increasing grip of jihadist groups in northern Africa with the ability to be supplied by Iran, given that they are already often sponsored by Iran, and the ability to launch on a route for which there is not the NATO defence, which is rightly focused on the eastern side of the eastern alliance, and which makes Madrid, Paris and London very vulnerable?
In the course of the call, he gives his name, a personal email address and a home address outside London, and he says the device is a Government phone and that he has called his office to get it tracked.
The government is asking Venezuelans to reduce consumption due to the impact of the dry season on hydroelectric plants

The blackouts arrived long before the energy-saving plan announced by acting president Delcy Rodriguez last weekend. Reports of power dips are flooding social media. On Monday afternoon, users across the country wrote bajoooon or bajoneitor (a power outage as powerful as Terminator), the Venezuelan way of humorously addressing the precarious situation. The energy crisis that has plagued Venezuela for years continues to leave much of the countrys western states, such as Zulia, Falcon, Lara, Trujillo, Merida, and Tachira with power cuts of up to eight hours a day.

For Venezuelans, the severe power outages are a never-ending nightmare, with appliances flickering on and off, making noises as the electrical current surges or drops, and sustaining damage. The blackouts also hinder economic recovery and jeopardize the development of investments announced after the restoration of relations with the United States following the fall of Nicolas Maduro.

The Venezuelan government attributes the increased electricity demand to solar declinationan annual astronomical phenomenon in which the suns rays strike this region of the planet perpendicularly. In response, the acting president announced the National Energy Saving Plan. For 45 days, the suns rays will fall directly on Venezuela. This calls for civic responsibility and a plan to conserve electricity, said Rodriguez.

Between March and May each year, the dry season affects the water levels in the hydroelectric dams that supply electricity to most of the country. It is a natural cycle that, with the variations typical of the tropics, is more or less regular and predictable.

On the street, in chat rooms, and on social media, Rodriguezs announcement is seen as a sign of more power outages to come, even though none have been officially announced. Regions of the country have been experiencing unannounced rationing for several years. Last week, for example, a massive blackout affected the Andean states. The systems instability caused failures in internet, telephone, and commercial services, without authorities reporting the causes. Now, Rodriguez has urged Venezuelans to keep air conditioners no cooler than 21C (70F), unplug non-essential electrical equipment, and avoid charging multiple devices simultaneouslymeasures that appear insufficient to overcome the problems plaguing public services in Venezuela.

The electricity sector is one of those that changed leadership after Maduros fall. Delcy Rodriguez appointed Rolando Alcala, an electrical engineer from Simon Bolivar University, to head the sector. His arrival marked the beginning of a new era of technical expertise over the military, who had previously controlled critical infrastructure.

We are going through a recovery process and projects that are strategic in the consolidation of the national electricity system, which has been recovering capacity, but which is not enough for the demand of the population, and is not enough for the economic growth process of our country, said Rodriguez.

Colombia has expressed interest in entering the Venezuelan electricity sector. The South American countrys foreign minister, Rosa Villavicencio, recently told EL PAIS in an interview that the United States is very interested in exploiting oil in Venezuela and participating in its sale, but that without energy, it is difficult to move forward. Venezuela has oil and gas, but it lacks energy. Colombia, on the other hand, has the technological and logistical capacity, through Ecopetrol, to produce that energy and allow Venezuela to develop its resources, she added.

The United States has also planned its share of the market. Last February, the Treasury Department issued licenses 48A and 49A, authorizing U.S. companies to sell technology, services, and operations related to electricity generation, distribution, transmission, and storage systems. This is a prerequisite for the economic recovery promised by Donald Trump in his three-phase plan for Venezuela, following his order for military intervention on January 3. To finalize the necessary measures, Chris Wright, U.S. Secretary of Energy, recently visited the country.

The problems in Venezuelas electrical system are structural, and for over a decade the country has failed to achieve significant improvements. Chavismo has confronted successive crises with rationing measures, such as turning off advertising signs or reducing the workday, militarizing infrastructure and high-voltage towers, or announcing major projects that were never completed. The Tocoma hydroelectric plant is one example.

At the same time, the government has denounced electromagnetic conspiracies in the past to justify national blackouts, denounced workers of the public electricity company and made investments in used thermoelectric plants that, during the government of Hugo Chavez, were at the center of the first corruption scandals of the Bolivarian revolution. The officials and businessmen involved ended up being investigated by the justice system of the microstate of Andorra in the money laundering scheme of Banca Privada dAndorra.

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Asked about the prospect of Reform feeling targeted by the crypto recommendation, he said: I wasnt here to look out for the interests of any political party, I was here to look out for the interest of our democratic processes.
We will continue to engage constructively with the UK Government, including on the important topic of national security, and remain committed to supporting the UKs mission to become a clean energy superpower. We continue to believe in the long-term potential of the UK market, and our planned activities remain unchanged.
Asked how he could get reforms through, given the significant opposition from within his party, he said: Were doing welfare reform all the time. The youth guarantee is welfare reform because by getting young people into work, thats the best form of welfare reform that we can have.
Why Arsenal may be the big winners from PSG vs Bayern thriller

Why Arsenal are the big winners from PSG vs Bayern thriller
In her BBC interview this week, she said the Church was seeking to become more trauma informed, listening to survivors and victims of abuse, and she added that light should be shone on all our actions, and the more senior we are, the more light should be shone.
He said: Now, more than ever, we need a thriving BBC that works for everyone in a complex, uncertain and fast-changing world. At its best, it shows us, and the world, who we are. Its an extraordinary, uniquely British asset, with over 100 years of innovation in storytelling, technology and powering creativity. Im honoured and excited to be asked to serve as director-general.
Three military families have filed a federal lawsuit against the private landlord at Randolph Air Force Base, part of Joint Base San Antonio in Texas. (Joint Base San Antonio)



Three military families have filed a federal lawsuit against the private landlord at a Texas Air Force base, accusing the company of leasing them homes plagued with mold growth, sewage problems, lead paint and other ongoing conditions that caused their health to suffer.

The three families lived in homes rented between 2017 and 2025 through Hunt Military Communities at Randolph Air Force Base, part of Joint Base San Antonio.

The lawsuit, filed March 13 in the Western District of Texas San Antonio Division, stated the families  retired Master Sgt. Michael and Angela Kellar; retired Staff Sgt. Leroy and Shelvella Holmes; and Senior Master Sgt. Matthew and Ashley Eller  sued because of false promises, atrocious living conditions, personal injuries and property damage caused by their profound neglect, malfeasance and greed.

The Kellar family leased a home at Randolph Air Force Base in June 2018. They experienced pervasive and serious problems related to mold growth, sewage issues, water damage, asbestos, lead paint and structural deficiencies. (Kellar family)



The Kellars and their son leased a home at Randolph in June 2018 after Michael Kellar retired and without being allowed in before signing a lease. During their three years living there, they experienced pervasive and serious problems related to mold growth, sewage issues, water damage, asbestos, lead paint and structural deficiencies.

Despite multiple requests, Hunt did not clean the air ducts, which were filthy, according to the lawsuit. The company also failed to fix an electrical issue which left the Kellars with an energy bill that skyrocketed.

The Holmeses, a multigenerational family of four, moved into Randolph housing in November 2017 and experienced pervasive problems, including structural issues, deteriorating window seals, and unstable stairs and railings.

Sewage and toilet problems required the family to manually flush toilets using bottles of water, and slow drainage throughout the homes sinks and tub forced the family to purchase drain cleaning products out of pocket, according to the lawsuit.

A crawlspace under the home was not covered, which allowed for raccoons and possums to get underneath the house. Roaches and spiders frequented the inside.

The Ellers and their four children spent five years in a home on Randolph, beginning in August 2020, and saw the problems progressively develop. By August 2023 there was visible mold growth around an AC vent. Issues continued, and they were displaced in July 2025 and moved out in September, abandoning personal property in the house because of contamination, according to the lawsuit.

Each family described an array of health symptoms that began or worsened while they were in the housing. Those symptoms often improved when they were out of the house for extended periods of time.

Carolyn Baker, a spokeswoman for Hunt Military Communities, said she could not comment on specific details of the litigation.

Randolph Family Housing, LLC is committed to providing high-quality housing to military members and their families in support of their critical missions. We have rigorous processes in place and provide ongoing training to ensure our staff responds quickly and effectively to any issues that arise, she said in a statement.

The three families join eight others awaiting trial after filing lawsuits in 2019 against Hunt for similar conditions. At that time, several military housing companies were sued for poor housing conditions at various installations. Some have been settled outside of court, and others continue to wind through the legal system more than six years later.

Only one family related to Randolph housing, Shane and Becky Vinales, has seen their lawsuit through to a jury trial. They were awarded more than $91,000 in 2023, although the trial did not include some allegations because the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that company only has to maintain state standards that were set at the time the property was deeded to the United States. Randolph first became an Army airfield in 1930, according to the base. It transferred to the Air Force in 1948.

Off base, this conduct violates Texas law. On base, its nearly untouchable, said Jim Moriarty, an attorney for the families. Families are living in conditions that would trigger immediate enforcement anywhere else, and inadequate mechanisms exist to hold these companies accountable.

Congress could pass a law to solve this, he said. It has not.

However, Congress did begin in 2019 to tackle the concerns of military families. It passed a series of military family housing reforms intended to improve oversight, accountability and existing conditions. Despite this, Moriarty said his legal teams have continued to receive calls describing the same problems.

The work gets done, the reports get written, and the problems keep coming back, he said.

Jury trials are scheduled this summer for three families who first filed suit in 2019, according to online court documents.
Army paratroopers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division train at Fort Bragg, N.C., on Dec. 8, 2022. About 2,000 soldiers with the 82nd were ordered Tuesday to deploy to the Middle East to potentially support U.S. operations against Iran. (Jillian Hix/U.S. Army)



The 82nd Airborne Division was ordered Tuesday to begin deploying to the Middle East, where about 2,000 paratroopers are headed to potentially join operations against Iran.

The soldiers are being drawn from the 82nd Airbornes quick-reaction brigade of 3,000 soldiers known as the Immediate Response Force, which is designed to mobilize anywhere in the world in 18 hours, several news outlets reported late Tuesday citing defense officials.

The contingent headed to the Middle East is comprised of two battalions of roughly 800 soldiers each along with the divisions commander, Maj. Gen. Brandon Tegtmeier, and supporting staff, The New York Times reported.

It was unclear where the soldiers will be located in the Middle East, but they were expected to be positioned within striking distance of Iran, officials told the Times.

The paratroopers will join several thousand Marines also headed to the region, giving President Donald Trump options if he decides to launch a ground attack related to freeing the Strait of Hormuz or other missions.

Army paratroopers with the 82nd Airborne Division participate in a training exercise at Fort Bragg, N.C., on Dec. 8, 2022. Soldiers from the divisions Immediate Response Force, designed to mobilize anywhere in the world within 18 hours, were ordered Tuesday to begin deploying to the Middle East. (Jillian Hix/U.S. Army)



One possible operation for 82nd soldiers and Marine infantrymen is seizing the strategic Kharg Island, a small strip of land in the Persian Gulf that handles 90% of Iranian oil exports.

Experts say the size of the force being sent to the region isnt large enough to carry out large-scale operations over an expansive amount of territory.

That (force) is not sufficient for a major invasion nor to hold a single city. [It] says limited/targeted ops only, Alex Plitsas, an expert with the Atlantic Council think tank, said in a statement on X.

The Immediate Response Force is a go-to unit for the Pentagon during major crises. In 2022, elements of the brigade mobilized as a precaution to Europe as Russian forces began gathering on Ukraines border just ahead of the Kremlins full-scale invasion.

The brigade also assisted in the evacuation of U.S. Embassy personnel in Kabul during the hurried withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

The soldiers of the 82nd Airborne, one of the Armys most storied units, specialize in forcing their way into contested territory, often tasked with the job of opening the battlefield for follow-on forces.
An artists rendering of the Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Energy Laser system, or IFPC-HEL system, nicknamed Valkyrie. (Lockheed Martin)



This story has been corrected

The U.S. Army has shelved its Valkyrie laser anti-missile system, shifting instead to the newer Joint Laser Weapon System, to be built with the Navy as part of the Pentagons Golden Dome missile defense strategy, according to a congressional report.

The Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Energy Laser system, or IFPC-HEL, nicknamed Valkyrie, is designed to deliver 300 kilowatts of energy that developers had hoped could knock cruise missiles and drones out of the sky.

A March 9 report by the Congressional Research Service said the Armys decision to move on from the Valkyrie system reflects technical challenges researchers have encountered with a continuous-wave beam capable of tracking and holding a fast, hardened cruise missile target long enough to destroy its warhead or scramble its inertial guidance system.

The newer Joint Laser Weapon System represents the next step in the evolution of counter-cruise missile laser weapons, according to the Armys fiscal year 2026 budget request released in June 2025. Laser Wars was the first to report the development.

President Donald Trump announced the Golden Dome anti-missile shield last year. Congressional estimates put the initial cost of the system at $185 billion, with an operational target of about 2035. If the entire system, including space-based interceptors, were built, the cost would be over $1 trillion over several decades, according to Aviation Week magazine.

The Valkyrie program has been reduced to a single prototype for testing only, according to the CRS report. The prototype isnt expected to be fully delivered to the Army until September. At that point, the prototype will be used to inform the Joint Laser Warfighting System rather than move into operational production, the CRS report said.

The Army awarded Lockheed Martin $220.8 million to develop four Valkyrie prototypes, according to the report.

The decision on Valkyrie comes after the Armys earlier decision not to field the Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense system. The experimental program would have mounted a 50kilowatt power laser weapon on a Stryker armored combat vehicle.

Though laser weapons remain a major priority in U.S. weapons development, the current technology is likely insufficient to reliably defend against attacks by numerous cruise missiles, the CRS report said.

Russia and China have developed hypersonic cruise missiles capable of traveling more than five times the speed of sound, according to the Army. The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency reported in 2025 that cruise missiles launched from Russian aircraft or Chinese ships and submarines represent a significant risk to American personnel, ships and installations around the globe.

The report notes that cruise missiles travel at high speed with hardened warheads and guidance systems that can make them more difficult to target long enough with beamed weapons to destroy or disorient the missile.

Valkyrie isnt the Pentagons sole anti-cruise missile defense program, the report said.

The Navy is working on countermeasure programs, such as the High Energy Laser Counter-Anti-Ship Cruise Missile (HELCAP-ASCM) program.

The program would use more powerful lasers to defend against potential hypersonic threats.

The Army is working toward fielding the Enduring High Energy Laser system, which could be the first Army program of directed energy weapons.

The EHEL system has been designed with feedback from troops who used energy weapons. They found shortcomings in handling weather variations, maintaining charging power, cooling and parts maintenance. The EHEL is being designed for durable operational use by soldiers and is not planned to go through an extensive prototyping period.
Families of sailors assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mason wave goodbye as the ship departs Naval Station Mayport, Fla., on March 24, 2026. Mason has a crew of about 300, according to Navy officials. (Daniel De Jesus)



A Navy destroyer assigned to the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group has left its homeport in Florida to begin operations in support of an upcoming deployment, the Navy announced this week.

USS Mason, which serves as the air and missile defense commander for the Bush group, departed Mayport, Fla., on Tuesday, the Navy said in a statement the same day.

The departure comes after months of training, maintenance and certification events as part of the strike group, according to the statement.

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mason departs Naval Station Mayport, Fla., on March 24, 2026. The ship departed in support of a scheduled deployment, though the Navy has not announced where Mason will go. (Daniel De Jesus/U.S. Navy)



Its not clear when Mason will join the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush for the groups scheduled deployment. The Navy has not officially announced where the Bush will go.

But with USS Gerald R. Ford at a Navy base in Greece for an assessment, repairs and replenishment following a March 12 fire aboard the ship during operations in the Red Sea, there now is only one Navy aircraft carrier in the Middle East.

USS Abraham Lincoln continues operations in the Arabian Sea in support of Operation Epic Fury, the ongoing joint American and Israeli military campaign against Iran.

On Tuesday, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet said the cause of the fire aboard the Ford, which started in the ships main laundry area, remained under investigation.

Specific details and subsequent damage assessment are being evaluated as part of ongoing investigations and will be released at a later date, NAVEUR-AF/6th Fleet said in a statement in response to Stars and Stripes questions about the impact of the fire on the ship and its personnel.

Mason has a crew of about 300 and is one of at least two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers assigned to the Bush carrier strike group; the other is USS Ross, homeported in Norfolk, Va.

Mason is among the first destroyers to take on the responsibility of air and surface command, a role traditionally filled by cruisers. With the Navys aging cruiser fleet nearing retirement, destroyers are bridging the gap.

Bush, which completed a pre-deployment certification exercise March 5, was last deployed to the Mediterranean in August 2022. The carrier returned to Norfolk in April 2023 after more than eight months on deployment.
(Vince Little/Stars and Stripes)



Forward Operation Base Falcon, Iraq, Feb 27, 2005: Army Capt. Tristan Vasquez, 25, of Cody, Wyo., a platoon leader for the 127th Military Police Company at Forward Operating Base Falcon, Iraq, earned a Bronze Star for her actions last August during an ambush in northwest Baghdad. just days later, she helped repel an insurgent attack on the Al-Shoula Iraqi Police Station, which brought an additional commendation. We joke around all the time and say there are no women in combat, she said. Thats all right, though. We know what we do.

Read more here.
A Japanese F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter arrives at Nyutabaru Air Base in the island of Kyushu, Aug. 7, 2025. (Japan Air Self-Defense Force)



A town in southern Japan will pay its residents about $500 over four years to help offset noise from the Japan Air Self-Defense Forces new F-35B fighters at a nearby air base.

Shintomi  a town in Miyazaki prefecture on the island of Kyushu  plans to pay each resident about $126 annually beginning in fiscal 2026, which starts April 1, a spokesman for the towns Base Affairs Division said by phone Wednesday.

The town has about 15,570 residents, according to its website.

Citizens can use the money for what they want, but we were thinking that it would be good if they can use it for soundproofing goods like curtains or headphones, the spokesman said.

Japan plans to deploy 42 F-35B Lightning IIs to Nyutabaru Air Base, about two miles from the center of Shintomi, as part of efforts to strengthen defenses along the Nansei Islands, a chain that stretches from Kyushu toward Taiwan.

The first three short-takeoff, vertical-landing aircraft arrived at the base on Aug. 7, a spokesman for the Kyushu Defense Bureau said by phone Monday. Two more arrived on Oct. 28 and three additional aircraft arrived on Feb. 12. Four more are expected in fiscal 2026.

The payments will come from the town budget and are intended to help residents cope with noise from vertical-landing training through fiscal 2029, the town spokesman said.

Those landings can produce noise of up to 110 decibels, roughly equivalent to a chainsaw or a car horn at close range.

Some Japanese government officials must speak to the press on condition of anonymity.

Japan had planned to train F-35 pilots on Mageshima, a small island in Kagoshima prefecture southwest of Nyutabaru, but completion of the base there has been delayed until 2030, according to the Ministry of Defense.

Japan announced in 2018 that it would acquire the F-35B and later added 63 F-35A aircraft  capable of conventional takeoffs and landings  in a package worth about $23 billion. It has also modified two helicopter carriers, the JS Izumo and JS Kaga, to operate the aircraft.

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, north of Nyutabaru, hosts two permanently based F-35B squadrons. Two additional squadrons were temporarily deployed there last year.
An F/A-18E Super Hornet lands on the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln during Operation Epic Fury on March 2, 2026. (U.S. Navy)



WASHINGTON  The Senate defeated legislation Tuesday that would have blocked President Donald Trump from continuing to wage war against Iran without congressional authorization, the third unsuccessful attempt to limit his military power since the conflict began.

The 53-47 vote was the latest attempt by Democrats to give Congress a say in the nearly one-month war and part of an effort by several Democratic senators to continue forcing votes on war powers resolutions until top Trump officials publicly testify about the U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign.

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, a libertarian who routinely supports measures to assert Congresss role in authorizing the use of military force abroad, was the only Republican to support the resolution, and Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat to oppose it.

The vote breakdown was similar to two prior measures to halt offensive U.S. military operations in Iran that have not been approved by lawmakers. The first resolution was introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and the second was introduced by Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., as one of five separate measures meant to tie up the Senate floor with repeated votes on the issue.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., forced the third vote on Tuesday and emphasized that it will not be the last.

If our Republican colleagues will not do their duty, if they are going to engage in an effort to hide the consequences of the war, if they are going to refuse to ask questions of our incompetent national security leaders at the White House who have waged this war without planning for the foreseeable consequences, then we will force a debate and a vote on this floor, he said.

Democrats have repeatedly called for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other administration officials to appear at oversight hearings on Capitol Hill, not just in classified briefings, so that they can explain their justifications for the war and outline its endgame to the public.

The administration has offered various objectives for its attacks on Iran, from regime change to degrading Tehrans missile and naval capabilities.

They need to explain their case, respecting the American people enough to tell them why theyre being forced to take on the cost of this conflict, said Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., a veteran of the Iraq War. They need to prove that theyve thought this through.

Most Republicans have continued to defend Trumps decision to go to war, though they have offered cautious support for an anticipated supplemental funding request from the Pentagon that could top $200 billion. Some have also expressed concern about a potential ground invasion, which Trump is reportedly considering.

Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, reiterated his backing for the conflict and accused Democrats of trying to help Iranians by introducing war powers resolutions over and over.

Every American should stand behind our fighting men and women, they need to continue on, they need to complete the job, he said. The President of the United States is going to do this. So to my friends on the other side of the aisle: stop this.

In a related vote earlier Tuesday, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution honoring six service members who were killed in a refueling plane crash in Iraq this month while supporting the Iran mission.

We will never forget the ultimate sacrifice these American heroes made and continue to pray for their loved ones, Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., a Marine veteran, said in a statement.
BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- China's state-owned enterprises (SOEs) directly administered by the central government are urged to intensify relocation to and investment in the Xiong'an New Area in north China's Hebei Province, as part of broader efforts to support the area's high-quality development.

A meeting held on Tuesday by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council called on central SOEs to fully leverage their resource advantages and driving role to deeply integrate into and provide proactive services for the development of the Xiong'an New Area.

Efforts should be made to ensure smooth progress in relieving Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as China's capital, the meeting said, adding that the first batch of relocated central SOEs should be guided to maintain stable operations in Xiong'an while construction of facilities for subsequent relocating central SOEs should be pushed forward.

The commission emphasized the need to continue guiding central SOEs to concentrate investment in the new area, actively participate in the construction of intelligent, efficient, safe and resilient infrastructure there, and help improve supporting functions.

Central SOEs were encouraged to implement key projects that strengthen industrial chains and have a clustering effect, to attract more outstanding enterprises to settle in the new area.

Efforts should also be made to guide central SOEs to establish more qualified research institutions, high-tech enterprises and pilot bases in Xiong'an. Central SOEs were encouraged to pursue independent innovation, accelerate breakthroughs in key core technologies, and promote the application of related achievements in Xiong'an.

To support the high-quality development of the new area, the commission also expressed support for central SOEs to develop internationally competitive and innovative businesses in fields such as new-generation information technology and satellite internet. 
I. Gallastegui Granada 25/03/2026 a las 16:30h.

A team of researchers from the universities of Granada and Malaga has confirmed that the Asian seaweed reproduces asexually, from clones, which would explain the explosive invasion of this species along the Andalusian coastline, where it was first detected in 2015. It is already causing serious environmental and economic problems from Cadiz to Almeria.

The study, published in the journal 'Marine Pollution Bulletin', reports on the monitoring carried out by scientists over the course of a year in the 'Posidonia oceanica' area of Cala de Cambriles in Lujar, an ecosystem protected for the great biodiversity it harbours.

As the scientists explained through the Descubre foundation, they removed samples of the algae every two months and once in the laboratory, they analysed how many of them had reproductive structures and in what quantity, to calculate their capacity for propagation.

According to this study, whose main author is Maria Altamirano, who first detected this invasive species in Ceuta in 2015, each of these individuals can generate more than half a million potential specimens per square metre over the course of a year, and their maximum reproductive capacity occurs in spring and summer.

The results of this study help to understand the rapid proliferation of the algae and could contribute to the design of effective control strategies. "Although eradication is only successful with early detection and rapid and sustained action over time, we could try with population controls, applying selective elimination strategies at the most appropriate times, to give native species a chance to develop," Jesus Rosas-Guerrero, researcher at the University of Malaga and co-author of the article, explained to the Descubre Foundation.

Previous research had discovered that 'Ruguloterix okamurae' can reproduce both sexually, by means of gametes and tetraspores, which provide genetic variability in populations, and asexually, i.e. with a single progenitor individual, through clones - propagules, small stalks capable of detaching and growing to form a new specimen - or spores, cells which, when germinating, generate an individual.

However, the Andalusian researchers' analysis has concluded that, outside its original habitat, in an invaded territory, the predominant form of reproduction is asexual: propagules were detected practically all year round and asexual spores, especially in spring and summer.

In view of these results, the researchers believe that, with this explosive reproductive capacity, part of these specimens remain in the water column, living and travelling in it to new areas, without needing to settle in a territory, which would explain their rapid expansion and the presence of large floating masses on the coast.

Environmental and economic crisis

The invasive algae originating from the coasts of Japan, China, Korea and the Philippines first appeared in the area of the Strait of Gibraltar eleven years ago, apparently brought by merchant ships, and on the Atlantic coast of Andalucia it has become a very serious problem.

In Granada province, although less abundant, it was detected in nets by fishermen in 2019 and has been gaining ground underwater ever since especially in Maro-Cerro Gordo, La Herradura, El Tesorillo de Salobrena, Castell de Ferro and La Mamola.

This invasive species grows in shallow waters - between 0.5 and 15 metres - and on rocky bottoms, has a thallus of between 10 and 20 centimetres with fan-shaped branches, and outside its original habitat grows uncontrolled because in this area, unlike its original habitat, it doesn't have predators.

As well as affecting native species, decomposition reduces oxygen and light in the environment, which worsens the survival of other species, from invertebrates that live in symbiosis with native algae to orange corals and gorgonians, as well as posidonia meadows, a highly vulnerable plant endemic to the Mediterranean and valuable for its ability to filter the water and the great biodiversity it attracts around it.

In addition to the environmental damage it causes, 'Rugulopteryx okamurae' ruins fishing gear and reduces fishermen's catches. It also means a great economic cost for local councils, which have to remove it from beaches to avoid the inconvenience it causes to tourists: bad smell, insects and difficulty in bathing in the sea.

The study was financed by the Biodiversity Foundation, part of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, and the Andalusian Regional Government's Department of University, Research and Innovation through Feder funds.
Juan Cano Malaga 25/03/2026 a las 15:31h.

'Happy slapping' is a viral challenge that originated among teenagers in the UK back in 2005. It involves slapping someone while a friend films to later share the video on social media in search of likes and new followers.

The trend soon spread to other countries and reached Spain, where 'happy slapping' has grotesquely evovled to include videos of beatings and sexual assaults.

The National Police, in collaboration with Fundacion Sol, launched a new awareness-raising campaign on Wednesday, under the slogan 'Somos su mejor red' ('We are their best network').

The aim is to raise awareness of the risks of digital violence, prevent its normalisation, protect children and teenagers from themselves and from the dangers of the internet.

The police say recent studies reflect a worrying increase in violent behaviour among Spanish teenagers. According to the 2025 report from the public prosecution, there were 12,563 registered assaults committed by minors in 2024, representing an eight per cent increase compared to 2022.

According to these statistics, there were 120 cases of homicide or attempted homicide committed by minors in 2024, 18.8 per cent more than in 2023.

Social media

The prosecution also warns of the increase of online assaults.

A report published in 2025 by the Anar foundation, points to WhatsApp (66.4 per cent), Instagram (50.5 per cent) and TikTok (49.5 per cent) as the main channels where online assault takes place.

The report also highlights the growing role of artificial intelligence in the creation and dissemination of this humiliating content: 14.2 per cent of cyberbullying cases involve the use of AI, mainly to create fake images, videos or audios of the victim or to impersonate them.

In a media statement, police inspector Juan Cristobal Cabiedas Pedraza, who has more than 28 years of experience in public safety, investigation and crime prevention, says: "'Happy slapping' is a widespread practice among minors that transcends the boundaries of the physical and real world to spread massively in the digital world."

According to him, "we must encourage critical capacity and responsible use of social media and technologies in teenagers, so that they are aware of the scope that their actions can have and the harm they can cause to others. We cannot treat this type of behaviour as a joke or a game".

"When an attack is recorded and shared, the humiliation multiplies. It's not just about the physical or verbal harm, but also the public exposure, the cruel comments and the impossibility of forgetting," Director of Sol Claudia Caso says. "What's most worrying is that many young people come to perceive these attacks as content, not as violence."

'Happy Slapping' is an assault perpetrated not only by the aggressor, but also by all those who record, disseminate or interact with the violent content published on social media. In 61 per cent of cases, the aggressors are part of the victim's close environment, such as classmates or friends, which shows the close relationship between cyberbullying and bullying.

According to the prosecutor's report, there were 1,196 bullying cases registered in 2024. This data only reflects the cases that reach the justice system and the actual figure is likely to be much higher.

Police recommendations

The recommendations from the National Police and Fundacion Sol against these violent practices among teenagers are:

- Don't look the other way: talk to children about the violence that circulates on social media.

- Educate them in digital empathy and responsibility so that they do not get used to seeing it as something "normal".

- Help them identify that behind every video there is a real victim, with emotional consequences and legal implications.

- Make it clear that recording or sharing an assault is also participating in it.

- Make clear the message that not recording, not broadcasting and not giving "likes" is an active form of protection.

- Avoid continued exposure to violent content to prevent desensitisation and normalisation of violence.

- Report the content to the platforms for removal.

- Always report these situations and break their chain of dissemination.

- Save any potential digital evidence before reporting the content to the platform in case you consider taking legal action.
Alberto Gomez 25/03/2026 Actualizado a las 15:07h.

She was the first Spanish dancer to be invited to take part in the New Year's Concert in Vienna; recognised as Dancer of the Decade at the Kremlin Palace; winner of a cascade of awards such as the Nijinsky, the Benois de la Danse, the Max and Premio Nacional; leading figure in companies such as Marseille, San Francisco, Munich and Dortmund. But Lucia Lacarra only aspired to be "the last in line".

She was not destined to become a star: she was born in a small town in Gipuzkoa in 1975 and lost her father at an early age. You had to be "very hungry" to climb up to the world's main stages.

But that little girl who was mesmerised by her mother's jewellery box, where a figure twirled to the music of Swan Lake, now has a place among the best dancers in the world.

Now she has arrived in Malaga as the director of the Soho CaixaBank Theatre dance festival, the latest venture of Antonio Banderas, which promises to turn the city into the epicentre of Spanish dance in April.

-You debuted very close to here.

-Yes, at the Teatro Falla, in Cadiz. I was 15 years old and it was my first show as a professional. It's one of those moments you never forget. I remember it with great affection.

Tiptoe dance festival Dates 11 to 19 April. Venue Soho Caixabank theatre, Calle Cordoba, Malaga. 11-12 April Les Saisons, Malandain Ballet Biarritz. 14 April Bavarian Junior Ballet. 16-17 April Folia. French company Kafig. 18 April Fordlandia. Lucia Lacarra Ballet. 19 April Lost Letters. Lucia Lacarra Ballet. Tickets teatrodelsoho.com



-Did that young girl ever imagine that she would become one of the best dancers in the world and have her own company?

-Far from it. When I was eleven, I had seen a video of Swan Lake starring Natalia Makarova. My dance teacher in San Sebastian gave it to me: it was a VHS tape. And I remember calling my mother during the second act, when all the swans appear, and saying to her: "Mum, I want to be one of them."

And I only aspired to be in the back row, to make a living out of this. I never imagined being first in line. But I think I would have been just as happy being last. I just wanted to live on the stage, that my job was to go to the theatre and dance.

-Pure vocation.

-Exactly. For me dance has been a vocation, a way of life. I've never treated it as a job, even though I've devoted everything to it, body and soul.

-And has it paid off?

-It has given me satisfaction I never expected. I didn't think I would even get halfway to what I have achieved.

- It's odd: your talent has gone further than your ambition. It's usually the other way around.

-When I was three years old, I was already saying I was going to be a ballet dancer, but nobody knows where that wish came from. Nobody at home had ever been involved in dance. It wasn't even something you saw on television; we know that it's not a highly valued discipline in Spain, much less at that time. My mother had a jewellery box with the typical ballerina that turned to music and she remembers that, when I was a baby, I would spend hours looking at it. But, apart from that, it's a mystery where I got this vocation from.

-What did they think at home?

-It was extremely difficult for my mother. My father died in a car accident when I was two years old and she was left alone with two girls. I'm the youngest, so they didn't take me very seriously when I started saying I wanted to be a dancer. And I'm from Zumaya, a town that had 8,000 inhabitants at the time. Dance didn't even exist there. But when I turned nine, they opened a small school and the teacher told my mother: "The girl has talent, we have to help her."

(Nito Salas)

-And did they help you?

-My mother was very realistic. She was afraid I would fail. She knew where we came from, that we were in a small town.... She was afraid that they would put ideas in my head, so she took me to a summer course in Tarragona where there were very good teachers like Rosella Hightower, with the intention of making me realise that dance is a complicated world and that I should see it as a hobby. But the effect was the opposite: the teachers threw themselves into helping me, they raised my hopes even higher and my mother was very upset because she didn't expect that at all.

-And what made her change her mind?

-At first the teachers wanted to take me to the Liceo in Barcelona, to Brussels, to Cannes... and she always said no. Until an opportunity came up to train in San Sebastian, which is half an hour from Zumaya, and she accepted. And from then on everything went very quickly.

"On stage I am so focused that I forget even the pain"

-Is the dance world as harsh as it seems? Sometimes it even conveys a certain sense of cruelty.

-It's a lot of sacrifice, but I haven't experienced it as a punishment, but as a gift. It is the way of life I have chosen, the one I have wanted since I was a child.

-You didn't even see it as a sacrifice when the injuries, the tough times, came along?

-Not even one day; I've never wanted to do anything but dance. Does it require discipline? Yes, and hard work.

-And physical effort.

-I was lucky enough to be born with a body that was made for dancing. I think this has meant that I haven't had to torture it as much as other people have. The positions, the lines, I do them naturally. Maybe that's why I've had such a long career.

-Many of your fellow dancers have already retired at your age.

-When they get to 30 they start to think about pointing their career in another direction. I am lucky that my body, for the moment, supports me and doesn't complain.

-But you have also suffered injuries, some of them quite serious.

-I haven't had constant, chronic injuries, which are the most psychologically damaging, but I have suffered very bad injuries. In The Tempest, for example, I played Ariel and I tore my cruciate ligaments on stage after a jump.

-What happened?

-I jumped and, as I landed, my knee cracked and I found myself kissing the ground. I knew something had broken. It was a tough operation. My leg was purple, they had to remove fluid four times a week. Nobody, not even the doctors, thought I was going to dance again. The only one who didn't doubt it for a second was me. And after six months I was dancing again.

-Another time you danced for months with a broken toe.

-I dislocated my toe because a dance partner put me down a bit harder than normal. They were very small bones, so they did x-rays but they couldn't find the problem. I kept dancing until I couldn't bear the pain any longer. I had to have two operations.

-Not even pain can stop you.

-It's not that I like to suffer, I don't like pain, but on stage I'm so concentrated that I forget everything. For example, since I had my daughter I suffer from migraines because of three cervical hernias, but on stage I don't feel them. As soon as I go back to the dressing room they attack me like a hammer blow to the head, but when I'm on stage I don't feel that pain.

-That's training too, I guess.

-We focus our mind so much on what we are doing... But I have a good pain thermometer. I know which are the ordinary ones, the ones that come from long training for example, those good pains as I call them, and also which are dangerous. I have learned to listen to my body.

"I've learned not to judge myself so much... Emotions flow and that makes you imperfect"

-Is there much difference between dancing in your 20s and in your 40s?

-A lot, but not always negative. Nobody is the same person at 20 as at 40. We don't have the same tastes or the same concerns. Personalities and needs change. I've seen dancers in their forties who try to make people think they're 20 or 30. I prefer to embrace change, evolution. And there are things that are better left at the level when you've done them, but in other cases I dance much better than when I was 20 because I have more experience, another way of seeing things.

(Nito Salas)

-Really?

-Yes, we were talking about the injury earlier. I remember being in the ambulance and staying absolutely cool, calm. I learned that I had spent years worrying about things, details, that didn't matter: problems with the music, the wardrobe... And that day I realised that what was really important was to finish the show. Because I couldn't finish it, of course. I had to be taken to hospital and the curtain came down. That changed the way I see this job a lot. Now I enjoy every second on stage, even if I'm standing still waiting to do a solo. And I'm grateful to finish every show and greet the audience.

- Did your pride hurt more than your knee?

-I don't have a particularly strong ego. We are artists, we shouldn't take it so seriously. I don't think it was pride, but rather a demand on myself. I've learned not to judge myself so much, to let myself go and not try to control every movement. We are artists, not gymnasts. On stage emotions flow and that makes you imperfect.

-Is that something you've learned over the years?

-Totally. People have always been surprised when I've changed companies when I was the leading figure, but I think it's part of the evolution we need to keep learning. Changing countries, even continents, and starting from scratch.

"My body, for the moment, supports me and doesn't complain. I dance better now than when I was 20"

-And when did you become interested in management? -

-Early, in my 20s, I started to be my own manager. Before accepting any proposal I wanted to know who I would be working with, how things were organised... Having my own company came naturally. It allows me to make decisions and that means that the shows have taken on another dimension for me. Now I wouldn't go back to being just another member of a company.

- How does directing a festival like this fit in at this point in your career?

-It seems to me a golden opportunity, a way to bring something more to this world of dance. One way or another I will always be on stage.

-And what did you think when you received the call from Antonio Banderas?

-Antonio is a movie star. The fact that he has opened his own theatre in his home city is impressive news to me. Because theatre is the least lucrative business there is. It was magical for me to hear what he had done. And from then on I wanted to dance for him, on his stage, but the opportunity didn't arise. Then we met at the awards of the Royal Academy of Performing Arts, of which I was made an honorary member the same year he received the award. The conversation came up immediately. He told me that he wanted to do something with dance and he had an idea in his head and, coincidentally, I had already drawn up a project for a festival. I think there are things that are destined to happen.

-But you have to give them a push sometimes: you already had that project, for example.

-Yes, I always say that it is better to have 20 per cent talent and 80 per cent discipline and hard work than the other way round. I come from a town of eight thousand inhabitants and I started at a time when dance barely existed in Spain. To achieve this you need to really want to.

-Are you ready to say goodbye to the stage?

-When I was in San Francisco I saw several farewell shows, which is something they like to do a lot there, and I thought I would never be able to do something like that. Because I'm not going to put an end date on my life on stage, to say: "One day I'll do my last show." Now I enjoy other facets of this job like producing or directing this festival, for example, and I know that there will come a time when I will naturally stop dancing. But I won't be able to put a date on it.
Jennie Rhodes 25/03/2026 a las 13:19h.

A group of around 40 English-speaking residents of the Axarquia area of Malaga province took part in a guided tour organised by Velez-Malaga town hall to promote the idea of tropical fruit tourism routes on Tuesday 24 March.

The tour included a visit to an organic avocado plantation near Velez-Malaga and a visit to the Trops tropical fruit cooperative, which is also based just outside the town. The guided tour was given by local English-speaking tour guide, Elena Sanchis, of Plan A tours, who works closely with the Axarquias town halls and tourist board (APTA) to promote sustainable tourism.

The group got to speak to local tropical fruit growers and see a working plantation during the avocado harvest, as well as taste four different varieties of the fruit and learn more about the history of tropical fruit growing in the Axarquia.

After a tour of the Trops cooperative where they got to see first-hand workers sorting and packing avocados to be exported to other EU countries, they sampled different types of guacamole produced by the cooperative, as well as mangocello liqueur which is also produced there using locally-grown mangoes.

The grou poutside the Trops cooperative, different types of avocados during the tasting session, walking through the plantation. (J. Rhodes)

The avocado harvest starts in October and lasts until May, depending on the variety, while the much shorter mango harvest typically lasts from late August until late November.

Tuesdays visit formed part of the town halls destination tourism sustainability plan: promotion of local products for tourism: tropical tourist routes, for which it has secured Next Generation EU funding.

Through the funding, Velez-Malaga aims to create a more diversified and attractive tourism offer, showcasing local products such as tropical crops and fruits, which constitute one of the main activities and economic pillars of the municipality. The sector provides employment to thousands of people in the Axarquia and has brought technological innovation to the agri-food sector.

Tropical fruit like mangoes and avocados were first introduced to the Axarquia and neighbouring Costa Tropical in Granada province in the 1970s and have become a major source of income and employment in what is considered one of the poorest parts of Spain.

Traditional crops which include Muscat of Alexandria grapes, almonds and olives are not as profitable as subtropical crops and many farmers have either diversified away from those or grow mangoes and avocados to supplement the income they get from the traditional crops.

However, water management has put the spotlight on the subtropical sector in recent years due to the five years of drought suffered in the Axarquia, with La Vinuela reservoir, which in the main water supply for domestic and irrigation use in the area, almost completely drying up, with just seven per cent capacity at its worst point.

Critics say that subtropical fruit should not be grown in dry Mediterranean countries and authorities have been slow to find solutions like a desalination plant for the area. However, with periods of heavy rainfall over the last two years, the reservoir is currently at 90 per cent of its capacity and the agricultural sector is once again starting to flourish.

Now the tourism board and local authorities are keen to harness the attractiveness of gastro-tourism in the Axarquia as well as diversify away from the traditional coastal holidays to showing what inland towns and villages in the east of Malaga province have to offer.
Eugenio Cabezas 25/03/2026 a las 15:21h.

The traditional presence of La Legion alongside the image of the Our Lady of Las Angustias in Velez-Malaga on Good Friday (3 April) will be significantly reduced this year due to the military corps international deployments in Lebanon and Slovakia, according to the Holy Week brotherhood in an official statement posted on its social media.

The brotherhood has explained to SUR that the Legions presence will be limited to around 15 members, compared to the 60 to 80 who usually accompany the procession. The problem we have faced is that, due to international missions in Lebanon and Slovakia, the Legion from Almeria could not guarantee us a sufficient number of musicians, they said.

There are also overlapping commitments in Alora, Alhaurin el Grande and Malaga city, which has also led to a reduced number of the uniformed soldiers.

One of the most visible effects of this reduction will be the modification of the traditional morning tribute to the fallen in La Legion district of Velez-Malaga, a particularly moving ceremony that will go ahead, but without the presence of the legionnaires on this occasion.

Instead the military personnel will join the procession of Our Lady of Angustias directly, which will set off at 8.50pm on Good Friday from the town's San Juan Bautista church. The musical accompaniment will be provided, once again, as has been the case without interruption since 2013, by the Cristo de Gracia music group from Cordoba, which will replace the Legions military band in one of the most popular moments of Velez-Malagas Holy Week celebrations.

Holy Week museum

The Holy Week museum, located in Santa Maria la Mayor church, will be open in the mornings during Holy Week. The initiative, aimed at local residents and visitors, will offer a deeper insight into the tradition of the brotherhoods through an exhibition of new artefacts and materials that are not usually on display.

The museum will be open on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 March (Palm Sunday) and then from Tuesday 31 March until Easter Sunday (5 April), from 10am to 2pm.

Special bus service

A special bus service will run throughout Holy Week with free buses running from Chilches, Lagos, Benajarafe, Valle-Niza, Almayate, Cajiz, Mezquitilla, Caleta de Velez and El Trapiche and Triana on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, with several departures in the afternoon and return journeys in the early hours of the morning.

There will also be a special shuttle service from Torre del Maron Wednesday 1 April, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, with frequent night-time services between the two towns. The town hall is urging people to use the buses as an alternative to private vehicles, in addition to the provision of more than 1,500 public parking spaces at various locations across the municipality.
Nuria Triguero Malaga 25/03/2026 a las 13:07h.

"I'm your moon guy," engineer Carlos Garcia-Galan from Malaga said at the Nasa presentation of the radical programme that will build a permanent base on the moon.

The plan is part of Donald Trump's ambition to ensure US space dominance and the Spanish engineer is going to spearhead the initiative.

"It seems impossible, but we are Nasa: that's what we do," Garcia-Galan said during the event. The timeline for this goal is seven years and the cost is 20 billion dollars.

As Nasa Administrator Jared Isaacman explained during the presentation of the Artemis programme, Trump's policy involves putting on hold the building of the Gateway space station and "shifting the focus to infrastructure that will allow sustained operations on the surface".

Garcia-Galan's appointment comes just over a year after he was appointed Deputy Director of the Gateway programme, which aimed to create an intermediate space station to facilitate lunar exploration.

He will now lead Trump's ambition to build a US colony on the Earth's satellite - one of the most important initiatives of the next decade. The symbolic launch will take place on 1 April with the launch of the first manned mission in more than 50 years: Artemis II.

In December last year, Garcia-Galan received the Malaguenos del Ano prize, awarded by Diario SUR and Unicaja.

"Achieving the impossible"

"Nasa is committed to achieving the near-impossible once again: returning to the moon before the end of President Trump's term, building a lunar base, establishing a lasting presence and doing what is necessary to secure American leadership in space," Isaacman said.

"If we focus Nasa's extraordinary resources on the goals of the National Space Policy, remove unnecessary obstacles to progres and unleash the workforce and industrial power of our nation and our partners, then returning to the moon and building a base will seem small in comparison to what we will be able to achieve in the years to come," he stated.

Nasa Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya said: "On the moon, we are shifting to a focused, phased architecture that builds landing capability incrementally, one landing after another, in alignment with our industry and international partners."

Moon landings every six months

Among Nasa's recent updates are the standardised rocket configuration, adding one more mission in 2027 and performing at least one surface landing each year thereafter. Nasa's goal is to establish moon landings every six months.

To achieve an "enduring human presence", Nasa announced a phased approach to building a lunar base. Despite challenges with some of the existing hardware, the agency will reuse applicable equipment and leverage commitments from international partners.

Garcia-Galan explained that Nasa's plan to create a permanent base on the moon will unfold in three phases. Phase one is 'Build, Test, Learn' and involves Nasa moving from isolated missions to a modular, repeatable approach.

Phase two aims to "establish early infrastructure": progress is made towards semi-habitable infrastructure and regular logistics.

Phase three aims to "enable long-term human presence" and heavy infrastructure for permanent settlement.

Nasa is introducing an additional strategy for low Earth orbit (Leo) that avoids any disruption to the US human presence. To stimulate the orbital economy, Nasa will expand industrial opportunities, including private astronaut missions and commander seat sales.

Nuclear power in space

Nasa also announced another historic step: the launch of Space Reactor-1 Freedom, the first nuclear-powered interplanetary spacecraft, which will travel to Mars before the end of 2028.

This mission "will demonstrate nuclear electric propulsion in deep space, a much more efficient technology for transporting large masses beyond Jupiter, where solar panels are ineffective". Upon arrival at Mars, the spacecraft will deploy the Skyfall payload, a fleet of helicopters.
Juan Cano Malaga 25/03/2026 a las 15:11h.

The National Police have arrested the ex-manager of Real Club El Candado after detecting an accounting shortfall amounting to 200,000 euros, as reported by SUR in October 2025 .

He is being investigated for alleged crimes of misappropriation, falsification of documents, breach of trust and money laundering.

The police investigation was initiated following a request from the investigating court of Malaga, which received a complaint from the president of the social club.

He informed the authorities of a series of actions carried out by the individual holding the position of club manager, which involved a high level of personal and institutional trust, as well as effective and exclusive control over the bank accounts.

The economic crimes group of the Malaga provincial judicial police force has been in charge of the investigation, carefully studying the extensive documentation provided by the complainant, as well as requesting judicial investigative measures to fully clarify the facts reported.

The analysis of the documentation provided and of the monetary flows between bank accounts made it possible to prove the commission of the offence. The investigation revealed the alleged involvement of a second person, a direct relative of the accused and holder of the bank account to which the money was diverted from the club's account, who was also arrested.

The officers observed the alleged diversion of the funds: almost instantaneously upon receipt of the transfers - of 100,000 euros each -the money was transferred to a Portuguese bank account, whose beneficiary was a company dedicated to investment in cryptocurrencies.

Analysis of bank accounts revealed the purchase of a boat paid for directly from the club's own funds

The analysis of the bank accounts revealed the purchase of a boat, bought by the accused, which was paid for directly with the club's own funds, with the purchase invoice appearing in the name of a direct relative of the accused.

On the other hand, the existence of a service provision contract between the club and another company has been established, in which the individual under investigation is the sole partner and director, and in which he allegedly simulated the involvement of a third party by purportedly forging their signature.
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J.M.L. 25/03/2026 Actualizado a las 14:18h.

The Criminal Court No.3 of Toledo has sentenced a hunter to pay 100,800 euros in compensation to the regional government of Castilla-La Mancha for killing an Iberian lynx in 2019 in the La Batinosa hunting reserve in Menasalbas (Toledo).

He is also banned from engaging in any hunting-related activities for three years.

The court found it proven that the hunter had killed a female lynx called Nenufar and was therefore gulity ofcrime against wildlife due to gross negligence.

Nenufar had been released in the Montes de Toledo mountain area in February 2017 as part of the species' reintroduction programme. She was fitted with a radio transmitter for tracking purposes.

Two years later, her bullet-riddled body was discovered by an environmental agent from the Castilla-La Mancha regional government. He also found one of her young offspring dead from starvation.

The events occurred in June 2019 when the now-convicted man was hunting without a valid licence and out of the hunting season. During the trial, the Junta for Castilla-La Mancha initially sought 500,000 euros in compensation for the high cost of public money spent in raising and reintroducing the lynx into the wild.

However, the final amount was reduced to 100,800 euros for the killing of the lynx and one of her kittens. The hunting association involved in the case, against which some of the prosecution had sought subsidiary civil liability, was acquitted. Furthermore, the prosecution had requested a three-year prison sentence and a five-year ban from hunting.

The hunter was arrested by the Guardia Civil following an investigation by the Guardia's nature protection service (Seprona) that was focused on the people who regularly frequented that hunting reserve.

He claimed that he shot the animal with his shotgun because he mistook it for a fox, as he was participating in a fox hunt. The female lynx that he killed was caring for a litter of four two-month-old kittens at the time. Her young were left helpless and possibly all died because the mother was unable to care for them. Only the body of one was found.
Gonzalo Bosch y Alex Serrano Lopez Valencia 25/03/2026 a las 16:24h.

Ex-president (2023-2025) of Valencia regional government, Carlos Mazon, has been cleared of wrongdoing during the Dana storm in 2024.

He has since been summoned by Judge Nuria Ruiz Tabarro of the Valencian court of justice to testify as a witness in the investigation. This case is being handled by Catarroja court of instruction no.3.

The investigation of the Dana storm tragedy focuses on the management of the catastrophic floods. The court is investigating potential criminal negligence by authorities that could have prevented the deaths of over 200 people in Valencia.

It was ruled that no evidence of criminal activity on Mazons part was found, said the judge.They concluded that he could not be held accountable by inaction as he did not occupy a legal position that required him to act.

The Tragedy: October 29, 2024 The storm was one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern European history, characterised by "extraordinary" rainfall that exceeded a year's worth of water in less than eight hours in some areas. Death Toll: 223237 fatalities (official counts vary slightly by region). Missing Persons: As of 2026, a small number of people remain officially missing. Impact Zone: 78 municipalities in Valencia (Horta Sud being "ground zero"), plus parts of Albacete and Malaga. Economic Damage: Estimated at over 11 billion in insured and public infrastructure losses.



Since Mazon is no longer considered a potential suspect, the judge has explained that his testimony may help shed light on the events that took place, particularly regarding the timing of public emergency alerts.

This follows previous court documents dated October 16 2025, which included suggestions to summon journalist Mirabel Vilaplana, who met Mazon on the day of the storm and may have overheard important information about the emergency coordination body, Cecopi and their actions during the emergency.

A second document stated that Mazon could only be formally investigated by the high court as a protected individual and if his actions, or lack of, were presented as a result of delays to public warnings and the decision-making of the Cecopi.

With the court having since ruled out that Mazon had any influence in sending the emergency alert, the judge now deems it important to summon him to testify. The judge emphasised that any evidence, such as messages or phone calls from that day, would be contributed voluntarily.

Further testimonies requested

The judge has also agreed to hear testimony from the council spokesperson during the tragedy, Ruth Merino; they have also requested that various mayors voluntarily come forward with a list of their calls and messages from October 29.

In a separate ruling, the court has asked an association to deposit 6,000 euros in order to take part in the case as a public prosecution.

The judge also agreed to summon the deputy director of emergencies of the regional government to clarify his previous testimony and asked the former minister of justice, under investigation, to carry out a handwriting test on a written document provided by the aforementioned deputy director general as part of ongoing evidence analysis.
NAIROBI, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng visited Kenya from Sunday to Wednesday at the invitation of Kenyan Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, pledging to enhance trade with the East African country and accelerate the joint pursuit of modernization.

During his stay in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, Han met with Kenyan President William Ruto, held talks with Kindiki and attended the China-Kenya Business Forum, where he delivered a speech.

Han conveyed Chinese President Xi Jinping's cordial greetings and best wishes to Ruto. He noted that over the past six decades since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries have consistently adhered to mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit, promoting bilateral relations to new heights.

Last April, President Xi and President Ruto jointly decided to build a China-Kenya community with a shared future for the new era, which has drawn a new blueprint for the development of bilateral ties, he said.

Han voiced China's readiness to work with Kenya to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state and the outcomes of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit. This will inject new impetus into bilateral cooperation and play a leading and exemplary role in building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era, he said.

Noting that this year marks the beginning of China's 15th Five-Year Plan, Han said China will further expand high-level opening-up and share high-quality development opportunities with Kenya and other African countries. The two sides should cement high-level mutual political trust and the foundation of the China-Kenya community with a shared future for the new era.

He expressed gratitude for Kenya's strong support on issues concerning China's core interests, such as the Taiwan question, and reaffirmed China's firm support for Kenya in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and development interests.

Both sides should expand high-quality practical cooperation and make good use of the dividends of China's comprehensive zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries having diplomatic ties with China, which takes effect on May 1, to accelerate their joint steps toward modernization, Han said.

China appreciates Kenya's active support for major initiatives proposed by China and stands ready to enhance high-level strategic coordination to promote a more just and equitable international order, Han said.

For his part, Ruto asked Han to convey his cordial greetings and best wishes to President Xi. He stressed that Kenya always adheres to the one-China principle and supports the global initiatives proposed by Xi.

Kenya stands ready to seize the opportunity presented by the full implementation of the zero-tariff policy to better align development strategies with China, deepen cooperation in various fields, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, Ruto said.

Following the meeting, the two sides witnessed the signing and exchange of cooperation documents.

During his talks with Kindiki, Han said China supports Kenya in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions and welcomes Kenya to make full use of China's trade facilitation measures to share opportunities in the Chinese market.

Kindiki said Kenya is willing to leverage the benefits of the zero-tariff policy and position itself as a gateway for China to access the broader African market.

While addressing the China-Kenya Business Forum, Han said the global political and economic landscape is undergoing profound and complex changes, with growing challenges facing development and free trade.

Against this backdrop, stronger cooperation is more urgent than ever and requires a greater vision, he noted.

China is ready to work with African countries, including Kenya, to consolidate strategic mutual trust as partners on the path to modernization, deepen economic and trade cooperation as true friends for mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, and uphold multilateralism as builders of an open world economy, he said.

China's 15th Five-Year Plan outlines a blueprint for development over the next five years, and the country will remain committed to expanding high-level opening-up, better integrating into the global economy and sharing opportunities with all countries, including Kenya, he said.

During the visit, Han also met with heads of the United Nations agencies in Kenya, including Zainab Hawa Bangura, director-general of the United Nations Office at Nairobi.

China will always be a reliable partner of the United Nations and is ready to work with UN agencies to uphold the organization's authority and status, promote a more just and equitable global governance system, and contribute to world peace, stability, prosperity and development, he said.

Han also visited the dispatch center of the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway and attended the departure ceremony of the first freight train carrying Kenyan goods exported to China under the zero-tariff policy. 
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra teardown by iFixit provides a detailed examination of Samsung's latest flagship, revealing a combination of intelligent engineering decisions and frustrating repair limitations.

While the device excels in performance and design, its repairability tells a more complicated story.

Screen Replacement Is More Complicated Than Expected

As iFixit described in its YouTube video, one of the biggest concerns highlighted in the teardown is the difficulty of replacing the display. Accessing the screen connector requires removing the back panel and disassembling most of the internal components.

This design significantly increases the time, effort, and cost required for what is typically one of the most common smartphone repairs. For everyday users and repair technicians, this contributes to the inconvenience that could impact long-term ownership.

Battery and USB Port Design Stand Out

Despite the drawbacks, Samsung earns praise in key areas. The battery removal system is notably more user-friendly compared to many competing flagship devices, making replacements less intimidating.

The USB port is another highlight, as it is relatively easy to access and replace. Given that charging ports are among the most frequently repaired components, this design choice improves overall practicality and serviceability.

Camera Repairs Add Extra Complexity

The camera system, however, introduces additional challenges. All camera modules are connected beneath the mainboard, meaning technicians must remove the entire board before performing any camera-related repairs.

According to GSMArena, this extra step increases repair difficulty and time, particularly for users dealing with damaged lenses or faulty sensors. The front-facing selfie camera is also difficult to access, further limiting repair convenience.

Repairability Score and Industry Comparison

Overall, the Galaxy S26 Ultra receives a provisional repairability score of 5 out of 10. While strengths like battery and port accessibility help its rating, the complex screen and camera repairs weigh it down.

Experts suggest that improved availability of spare parts could raise the score closer to 6 out of 10, putting it in line with competitors like Google's Pixel devices and slightly behind modern iPhones.
KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The high temperatures affecting Malaysia are expected to last until June as the Southwest Monsoon season begins, the Malaysian Meteorological Department said on Wednesday.

Malaysia is currently in the final phase of the Northeast Monsoon, which is usually characterized by reduced rainfall and hotter and drier weather conditions, especially in the northern and interior areas of the country, the department's deputy director-general Ambun Dindang told national news agency Bernama.

He said that based on local and international weather model projections, the country is expected to experience drier weather patterns with lower rainfall than usual for the next few months.

Parts of Malaysia have seen prolonged elevated temperatures, with authorities urging the public to take precautions against heatstroke and other complications. 
Colombia seeks fossil fuel phase-out coalition amid Middle East crisis



Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, March 24 (AFP) Mar 24, 2026



Colombia plans to lead the formation of a global coalition of nations at an international meeting in April that want to end the use of fossil fuels, the country's Environment Minister Irene Velez said Tuesday.

The conference, organized by Colombia and the Netherlands, will come as the world is facing an "extreme energy crisis" due to the war in the Middle East, which has driven up oil prices and sparked fears of a global economic crisis, Velez said.

Colombia's goal is to establish a "coalition of those of us who possess the will to eliminate fossil fuels" and are "ready for action," she said during an online meeting with journalists organized by the Climate Observatory, a Brazilian network of NGOs.

Velez said 45 countries had confirmed their attendance at the meeting in the city of Santa Marta on April 28 and 29.

She said attendees would include major hydrocarbon producers from Europe and North America, but did not give further details.

The gathering was organized during last year's COP30 meeting in Belem, Brazil, as interested nations sought to bypass a lack of consensus between around 200 participating nations over the transition away from fossil fuels, a major driver of greenhouse gas emissions.

Velez said she hoped that California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat and a leading figure in the opposition to the dismantling of climate policies spearheaded by US President Donald Trump, will attend the conference.

Meanwhile, the Brazilian presidency of COP30 has been developing an international roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels since late 2025.

It is due to be presented next November at the next international climate conference, which will be hosted by Turkey.
Can nations save the shorebird that flies 30,000 km a year?



Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



Chasing an endless summer, one shorebird species undertakes a grueling annual journey from the Arctic to the tip of South America and back -- a feat increasingly fraught with peril.

The Hudsonian godwit (Limosa haemastica) is one of the world's most remarkable travelers, but its population has plunged 95 percent in four decades due to a complex mix of environmental changes across multiple countries.

It is one of 42 species proposed for international protection at a meeting of parties to the UN Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) that started this week in Brazil.

Iconic creatures like the snowy owl -- of Harry Potter fame -- striped hyena and hammerhead shark are also on the list deemed in danger of extinction and needing conservation by the countries they pass through.

Migratory birds are facing "rapid and dramatic declines," said Nathan Senner, an ecologist and ornithology professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst who has studied the Hudsonian godwit for 20 years.

Scientists are still unraveling the mysteries of the shorebird -- which can fly up to 11,000 kilometers (6,800 miles) in one stretch without stopping to eat, drink or sleep.

And it is only part of the 30,000 kilometers (18,600 miles) that the godwit travels every year from their breeding grounds in the Arctic to Patagonia where they spend the southern summer.



- Disrupted migrations -



In order to do this "epic flight," they need "really predictable, abundant food resources" at every step of the journey, Senner told AFP.

That predictability is crumbling.

In the Arctic, shifting spring timing attributed to climate change has created a mismatch between when chicks hatch and the peak availability of insects they feed on.

One of the puzzles Senner is currently working on is why Hudsonian godwits have begun migrating later by six days than they did a decade ago.

Something "has either disrupted the cues that they use to time their migrations or their ability to successfully and rapidly prepare for the migration," he said.

In southern Chile, a boom in salmon and oyster farming has led to a build-up of infrastructure and the presence of people in the intertidal zones where they feed.

And in the United States, changes in farming practices are making the shallow water wetlands that the godwits rely on rarer and less predictable -- meaning they spend more time looking for a place to stop and feed.

"I think that is emblematic of lots of species, that most species can respond to one kind of change, but not a whole bunch of them all at the same time," said Senner.



- Essential to ecosystems -



"Climate change is affecting this biological calendar... and taking a heavy toll on species" that rely on it for their survival; "many are disappearing," Rodrigo Agostinho, president of Brazil's environmental agency (Ibama), told AFP.

These are some of the issues CMS parties will tackle at their meeting in Brazil's biodiversity-rich Pantanal, one of the world's most important global meetings for wildlife conservation.

These countries are legally obliged to protect species listed as at risk of extinction, conserve and restore their habitats, prevent obstacles to migration and cooperate with other range states.

Nevertheless, among the species listed under CMS, a report released earlier this month showed that 49 percent now have populations that are declining, up from 44 percent two years ago.

Amy Fraenkel, CMS executive secretary, told AFP that most of the species doing worse were birds, such as the Hudsonian godwit.

She said the situation was also "particularly alarming" for fish species, with 97 percent of those listed under the treaty threatened with extinction.

Migratory species "are essential to healthy ecosystems and a healthy planet," playing a key role in pollination, pest control and transporting nutrients, she said.

In a piece of good news, the meeting will propose removing Central Asia's Bactrian deer from its list of animals needing high protection, due to an increase in its population.
Germany unveils new climate action plan, but green groups cry foul



Berlin, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2026



Germany unveiled a new climate action plan Wednesday aimed at sharply cutting emissions in coming years, but environmental groups quickly criticised the measures as inadequate and vowed legal action.

The policy framework, presented by Environment Minister Carsten Schneider in Berlin, includes new electric car subsidies and a boost for the wind energy sector.

Europe's biggest economy has set a legally binding 2030 target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 65 percent compared to 1990 levels, and a 2045 deadline to achieve climate neutrality.

But expert projections have shown Germany -- long a green energy champion -- falling behind on those targets.

Schneider acknowledged it would require a "tremendous effort" to hit the 2030 target, but expressed confidence that Germany could still achieve it.

Greenpeace slammed the plan as insufficient, saying it relies mostly on "optimistic" projections, and Greens party MP Katharina Droege dismissed it as "a blatant deception".

The government, Droege said, had so far "opted for wishful thinking and dependence on oil and gas" -- disastrous choices, she said, given skyrocketing fossil fuel prices.

The plan includes an additional eight billion euros ($9 billion) for climate measures over the next four years, including help for heavy industry to reduce their "reliance on costly and unpredictable oil and gas imports," Schneider said.

The new measures are expected to save more than 25 million tons of CO2 emissions by 2030, through support for low-emission technologies and several programmes for the construction of more energy-efficient buildings.

Among the measures, 2,000 additional wind turbines will be built, and a new income-based subsidy programme for households purchasing electric vehicles is expected to cover approximately 800,000 cars.

Conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government has, however, looked to scale back climate policies in some areas in an attempt to boost growth in the EU's largest economy, which has stagnated in recent years.

Merz has backed a loosening of EU-wide car emission rules while his energy minister, Katherina Reiche, has looked to dial back solar expansion while pushing for a fleet of new gas-fired power plants.

Germany's pace of reducing CO2 emissions has slowed, dropping by only 0.9 million tonnes year-on-year in 2025.

To still hit the 2030 target, emissions would need to fall by an average of 42 million tonnes per year.



- 'Climate policy arson' -



Schneider -- of the centre-left Social Democrats, the junior partner in Merz's coalition -- said he hoped the framework could give climate action "a new boost" while reducing some of the bitter political polarisation around the issue and stimulating the economy, which he said "is suffering from expensive oil and gas".

The German Renewable Energy Federation (BEE) welcomed the programme's emphasis on expanding wind power as "essential" for hitting climate goals in comments to the Rheinische Post newspaper.

Other climate advocacy groups were quick to denounce Wednesday's action plan as insufficient.

Environmental Action Germany (DUH) -- which successfully sued the previous government over a climate plan that courts determined was inadequate -- vowed to challenge the new plan in court.

DUH's Barbara Metz called the plans "climate policy arson" and blasted the government in particular for scaling back ambitious -- though controversial -- building heating regulations passed by ex-chancellor Olaf Scholz's government.

"Global crises and wars are drastically demonstrating the madness of further cementing our dependence on fossil fuels in our boiler rooms," Metz said.

The business lobby group DIHK also noted that Germany's climate targets appeared to be moving out of reach -- but argued for replacing clearly defined targets with more flexibility on emissions.

"The gap between ambition and reality is widening when it comes to climate targets," said the group's president, Peter Adrian.

Germany's current set of "rigid timetables" and sector-specific emissions targets "primarily generates bureaucracy and unnecessary costs for businesses", Adrian said.

He called instead for a "change of course" on climate policy with "more market forces and international coordination, less detailed government control".
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Photographer and Southbank Centre chair Misan Harriman has urged creatives to reflect the times in which were living through with their work, saying that you can either be an artist or an entertainer.

Harriman, who is known for capturing civil rights protests and moments in history, is taking part in Choose Loves Together For Palestine auction alongside the likes of Grayson Perry, Es Devlin, Charlie Mackesy and leading Palestinian artists.

Their works, which will be placed in an exhibition alongside the online auction, will be sold with the proceeds going to humanitarian organisations delivering frontline relief in Palestine amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

open image in gallery Misan Harriman said that you can either be an artist or an entertainer ( Misan Harriman )

Harriman  who was the first Black man to shoot a cover of British Vogue and has photographed Olivia Colman, Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, Rihanna and Stormzy among others  contributed to the auction to be of service as an artist and someone with a platform.

Art at its very best isnt purely educational or entertaining, he told The Independent. Its something that nourishes the soul, whether its film, music, painting, photography, dance, and obviously its something that Im trying to use to to do that.

The photographer submitted his 2024 work Brothers in Protest  showing a Muslim man and a Jewish man on the London embankment, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza  for the auction, describing it as one of the most important images hes ever taken.

So much of the discourse in our press is about keeping us on islands of rage, he said. To have a Muslim-presenting man and a Jewish-presenting man standing as brother in arms, asking for peace and anything but bombs, I think its so important. Ive seen people from both communities burst into tears looking at that picture.

With social medias increasing presence in our lives, and hatred more rife than ever online, Harriman called for people to embrace the original human algorithm of looking at art.

The angriest place I spend some time online is X and its algorithmically designed to make you angry, he said. It can be very damaging to ones mental health and I think walking through a cultural space like a gallery or a museum, deciding how you feel about it, is the original human algorithm.

open image in gallery Brothers in Protest by Misan Harriman ( Misan Harriman )

Nina Simone said that to be an artist is to reflect the times that were living through. I think you can either be an artist or an entertainer  and I have no interest in entertaining.

I have a big interest in trying to build bridges through my art and more people need that for their own mental health and their understanding of the very uncertain world that were all looking at through our phones, scratching our heads and wondering what future our children will inherit.

He added that both artists and non-artists alike should use what they have to bring communities together. Not all of us have world leaders on speed dial but we do have the ability to do what we can with the tools that we have access to. Mine is a camera, for some people its a paintbrush, for other people its having a conversation at the dinner table or leaving a WhatsApp group that is toxic, he said.

We all have something that we can do and I think we need to try and do that in tandem.

Berlin Film Festival jury president Wim Wenders made headlines back in February when he said that filmmakers should stay out of politics  something Harriman, who received an Oscar nomination for his short film The After in 2024, strongly disagrees with.

Thats an oxymoronic statement, he said. The first time I learned about fascism was watching The Sound of Music  the songs may be nice but the von Trapp family were fleeing the Nazi annexation of Austria when he sings, at the very end, Edelweiss.

I was a little boy but I realised what was going on there. Even something that is light touch like The Sound of Music is political.

As I said earlier, Nina Simone said it best  to be an artist is to reflect the times we live in. Otherwise you can be an entertainer, and theres no judgement on entertaining but do not choose to be recognised for having any of kind of art that is political if youre not willing to speak about it at the most political time in most of our lives.

Together For Palestines Fine Art Auction runs from 27 March until 9 April, with an exhibition of the works open at HOPE93 Gallery in London.
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The recent passing of acclaimed filmmaker Rob Reiner has brought the stars of his beloved coming-of-age classic, Stand by Me, closer together as the film approaches its 40th anniversary.

Just a week before Reiners death in December, Jerry OConnell, Corey Feldman, and Wil Wheaton had reunited for a series of screenings, reflecting on their formative experiences during the 1985 summer shoot in Oregon. The trio found solace in their shared history, with Feldman telling The Associated Press in a group Zoom, he was "very grateful to be back with my bros."

"Weve stayed in touch loosely through the years and weve gotten together here and there," Feldman explained. "But theres never been a time that the three of us just hung out  it was like a high school reunion, but only for three people that really got it."

This reunion was merely the beginning of a planned multi-city tour, but the news of Reiners death soon followed, solidifying their bond. Wheaton articulated the profound impact, stating, "My first thought was, I am so glad that I have a place to land with my grief. Theres not a lot of other people in the world who really know what this feels like."

open image in gallery Jerry O'Connell, from left, River Phoenix, Wil Wheaton and Corey Feldman in Stand by Me ( Sony Pictures via AP) )

The actors have navigated such profound loss before, having mourned their co-star River Phoenix, who died in 1993. At a 25th-anniversary screening, Reiner himself had remarked that it "feels like there should be a chair here for River." In this spirit, OConnell, Feldman, and Wheaton resolved to honour the filmmaker who not only shaped their lives but also provided them with an experience they have been chasing ever since.

"We know how much Rob loved Stand by Me. We know what it meant to him," Wheaton said. "It never occurred to me to just shelve it all. I thought, well, now we really have to get out there."

While Wheaton and OConnell participated in the Oscars tribute to Reiner, Feldman noted on social media that he was not invited. Nevertheless, the trio remains committed to their tour, with upcoming stops in Anaheim, Seattle, Portland, Indianapolis, and Chicago. Additionally, a 4K restoration of the film is set for a limited theatrical run across the US and Canada.

Despite its enduring legacy, Stand by Me was a challenging film to bring to the screen. In 1985, Hollywood was not clamouring for a small, star-less drama about four 12-year-old boys searching for a dead body, even if it was based on a Stephen King novella. Reiner, despite previous successes, held modest expectations.

As he reportedly told his screenwriters in 1986, "Theres no way this picture is going to do business, because no one who went to Rambo will go to see our film." Ironically, OConnell recalled seeing Rambo: First Blood Part II the night before flying to Oregon for filming, believing it to be "the greatest film I had seen in my life" as an 11-year-old.

open image in gallery Corey Feldman, Will Wheaton, and Jerry O'Connell pose for a portrait to promote the 40th anniversary of the film ( AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar )

Stand by Me was indeed far removed from Rambo. Its very existence is credited to Norman Lear, who personally funded the film to the tune of "$8 million and change" after his companys new owner, Coca-Cola, declined to invest. The film went on to earn over $52 million in its initial 1986 run, tapping into universal themes of youthful friendship, idyllic summer days, bullying, and challenging home lives.

Reiners unique approach to directing the young cast fostered authentic performances. "Rob took the time to really reach us and help us make authentic emotional connections to what our characters were experiencing," Wheaton explained. "We were kids. I dont think Ive even turned 13 yet. River hasnt turned 15 yet. And Rob is talking to us the way you talk to seasoned professionals and bringing these incredible performances out of us."

Though set in 1959, the film has become a nostalgic touchstone for any generation that experienced life before mobile phones. "I think its whats so special about Stand by Me is that its not like any epic adventure movie," OConnell observed. "There are no, like, stunt sequences with cars rolling over and explosions. Its a simple movie."

open image in gallery Film - Stand by Me Anniversary ( Sony Pictures )

OConnell, who has seen the film countless times at home, found watching it again in a cinema to be a transportive experience. "Getting to see it on the big screen, its a different experience," he said. "I think its because it is such an epic film with little boys."

The screenings have attracted a diverse audience, from young children to grandparents, with Wheaton noting its particular resonance with "the Stranger Things generation," a show heavily influenced by Reiners work. OConnell plans to take his 17-year-old daughters and their friends, confiscate their phones, and "make these Gen Z-ers sit down and watch a real movie." Wheaton, laughing, quipped, "How (expletive) old do we sound right now?"
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The Drama, A24s buzzy new drama starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, is facing criticism over the big reveal at the heart of its narrative.

Warning: This article contains major spoilers for The Drama, which comes out in theaters April 3.

The film, which has been promoted as a dark romantic-comedy, has sparked controversy ahead of next weeks release after TMZ reported that the movies twist rubbed audience members the wrong way at early screenings.

In the movie, Zendayas character Emma confesses to her fiance, Pattinsons character Charlie, and their friends that she once planned a high school shooting but never went through with it.

Tom Mauser, whose son Daniel Mauser was shot and killed among 13 others in the 1999 massacre at Columbine High School, told TMZ that he is disgusted by the movies twist.

open image in gallery In The Drama, Zendayas character, Emma, confesses to her fiance, played by Robert Pattinson, that she planned a school shooting when she was younger ( A24 )

open image in gallery Zendaya and Robert Pattinson's new movie 'The Drama' has been criticized for its plot twist by Tom Mauser (right), the father of Columbine victim Daniel Mauser ( Getty )

Mauser, who has advocated for gun reform for the past 25 years, told the outlet that it is awful to use the serious subject as a plot device in a romantic comedy. The father, who has not seen the movie, said it humanizes shooters and normalizes school shootings. No mass violence is depicted in the movie.

He was particularly upset about Zendayas March 16 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, in which Mauser said she did not treat what she called the big twist with enough gravity.

The Euphoria actor said on Kimmel: I really hope that people dont spoil it for each other so theyre allowed to go into it just unknowing and really experience the drama.

Kimmel said, I could see this movie causing a lot of problems for a lot of people in their personal lives, and Zendaya responded: Those conversations can go many ways.

A24 declined to comment on Mausers remarks.

The film is directed by Norwegian screenwriter Kristoffer Borgli, who is known for directing the 2023 comedy Dream Scenario. In addition to Zendaya and Pattinson, the movie also stars Alana Haim, Mamoudou Athie, Hailey Gates and Zoe Winters.

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Zendaya said in a press release about the film: Theres going to be a lot of interest around what Emmas big revelation is in the movie, and while I think that revelation is important and pivotal, its about so much more than that.

What happens to Charlie and Emma in the wake of her confession becomes the ultimate test of love and acceptance in a relationship, and what youre willing to do in the name of love.
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A Grammy-winning South African composer, Lebohang Morake, known as Lebo M, is suing a Zimbabwean comedian for allegedly damaging his reputation by intentionally misrepresenting the meaning of the iconic opening chant from Disneys The Lion King.

Mr Morake, who wrote and performed the memorable "Circle of Life" chant, has filed a lawsuit against comedian Learnmore Mwanyenyeka, known as Learnmore Jonasi. The legal action accuses Mr Jonasi of deliberately mistranslating the Zulu and Xhosa lyrics, which are central to the 1994 The Lion King composer sues comedian for mocking iconic chant, its stage adaptations, and the 2019 remake. The dispute has gained significant traction online, with both men engaging on social media.

The lawsuit, lodged this month in a Los Angeles federal court, where Mr Morake resides and Mr Jonasi recently performed, claims the comedian intentionally mocked "the chants cultural significance with exaggerated imitations."

Disneys official translation of the opening phrase, "Nantsingonyama bagithi Baba," is "All hail the king, we all bow in the presence of the king." Mr Morake states that the subsequent line, "Hay! baba, sizongqoba," translates to "Through you we will emerge victoriously."

open image in gallery Lebohang Lebo M Morake arrives for the official opening of the local production of the Lion King in Johannesburg on June 6, 2007 ( AP Photo/Denis Farrell, File )

However, during an episode of the podcast One54, cited in the lawsuit, Mr Jonasi offered a different interpretation. After correcting the Nigerian hosts incoherent rendition of the chant, he sang the correct Zulu lyrics and translated them as: "Look, theres a lion. Oh my god." The hosts reacted with laughter, admitting they had previously believed the chant to be something more "beautiful and majestic."

Mr Jonasis comments emerged within a broader critique of The Lion King franchise, which he argues profits from simplistic narratives about the African continent for non-African audiences. He remarked: "The lions had American accents in Africa, and then you had the monkey with an accent," extending his criticism to films like "Black Panther" and other American portrayals of Africa in popular culture.

Mr Morakes lawyers acknowledge that "ingonyama" can literally mean "lion" but contend it is used in the song as a "royal metaphor" invoking kingship. They argue Mr Jonasi intentionally misrepresented "an African vocal proclamation grounded in South African tradition."

The lawsuit claims Mr Jonasi "received a standing ovation" for a similar joke during a Los Angeles stand-up performance on 12 March. It alleges that such viral statements are interfering with Mr Morakes business relationships with Disney and his royalty income, seeking more than $20 million in actual damages and an additional $7 million in punitive damages. Disney did not respond to a request for comment.

The complaint further argues that Mr Jonasi presented his translation "as authoritative fact, not comedy," thereby disqualifying it from the First Amendment protections typically afforded to parody and satire.

open image in gallery A still from the 1994 animated film The Lion King ( Disney )

Mr Jonasi does not have an attorney publicly listed for the case, and a representative did not respond to a request for comment. However, the comedian shared his thoughts in a video posted last week while on his US tour. He stated he is a "big fan" of Mr Morakes work and loves the song. Upon learning of Mr Morakes upset, Mr Jonasi initially wanted to create a video with him to explain the songs deeper meaning.

"Comedy always has a way of starting conversation," Mr Jonasi said in the Instagram video, which garnered over 100,000 likes. "This is your chance to actually educate people, because now people are listening."

However, Mr Jonasi explained he changed his mind about collaborating after Mr Morake allegedly called him "self-hating" during an exchange of messages following the 25 February podcast. He suggested Mr Morakes reaction overlooked the nuanced critique of American renderings of African identity present in his wider work.
TEHRAN, March 24 (Xinhua) -- The Navy Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Alireza Tangsiri, said on Tuesday that any vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz must fully coordinate with Iranian maritime authorities.

Writing on X, Tangsiri said IRGC naval forces had blocked a foreign container ship, identified as the "SELEN," after it failed to comply with required protocols and obtain a transit permit.

The remarks come amid heightened tensions following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran starting Feb. 28 that targeted Tehran and other cities, prompting Iranian retaliatory missile and drone attacks against Israel and U.S. targets in the region.

Iran has since tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz, restricting passage for vessels linked to the United States and Israel.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday that insecurity in the waterway stems from the U.S. and Israeli attacks, adding that Iran's measures are in line with international law and aimed at defending its sovereignty.

In a phone call with Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, Araghchi said the strait is closed to vessels linked to the United States, Israel or parties involved in the attacks, according to a Foreign Ministry statement. He added that other vessels may transit the waterway in coordination with Iranian authorities to ensure safe passage. 
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As far as human emotions go, hope is a complicated one. It can be joyful. It can be fickle. It can be dangerous. Increasingly, it can be hard to come by. But above all hope is necessary  that is the message at the heart of Possible Futures, a new show at the Southbank by the composer Max Richter and his creative partner Yulia Mahr, the husband-and-wife duo behind seminal projects like SLEEP, an eight-hour album of lullabies released in 2015 and performed live to an audience in beds.

Hope is the central theme of everything we do, says Mahr. We made a decision a long time ago when we were young and going on protests and doing our activism, we thought  well were not making much of a difference here. Is it presumptuous to even think that you can make a difference? So we started exploring that in our various practices, and we thought OK; its about these small impulses of hope, small impulses of connection.

Taking place this week as part of the Southbanks 75th-anniversary programme, the orchestral concert asks attendees to envision a different kind of future from the dystopian one that todays political and social climate seems to promise.

Hot on the heels of Richters first Oscar nomination, for his slow-burning score for Hamnet, the performance comprises two parts. The first half, performed by Richter and the Philharmonic Orchestra, is a rendition of his and Mahrs 2017 orchestral album VOICES. Created in response to the post-truth politics coming out of 2010, in turn, spurred on by the advent of social media, VOICES took inspiration from the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document drawn up in the aftermath of World War Two to establish a baseline for human rights around the world. The album has only become more relevant in the years since.

Looking back now, 2010 was a glorious time of relative stability, says Mahr. The challenges on human rights and international institutions have just amplified. In an age of democratic decline and an erosion of civil liberties, the ideals that the declaration espouses, including freedom from discrimination and right to asylum, feel almost romantic  a juxtaposition reflected in the piece itself, the chasm between its hopeful words and melancholic music. Its interesting, weve had people storm out a couple of times, says Mahr. I think to myself, really? It couldnt be a more humane piece.

VOICES was inspired partly by Mahrs life story. When she was seven, she and her mother fled communist Hungary for London. As hard as the move was, there were moments of hope too  those small impulses of connection. Her mother found a place to live after spotting an ad in Time Out looking to house a single mother who was either a refugee or migrant. At school, incredible teachers went out of their way to help Mahr learn English. Individual human beings away from systems are more [kind], she says now.

Possible Futures is the latest collaboration between Mahr and Richter, who met at Edinburgh festival in 1988. He saw her perform in a play and fell in love instantly. Their joint early experience in the art world  he in composing, and she in visual arts  fed directly into the creation of Studio Richter Mahr, a residency programme where artists are given free studio space, lodging, and uninterrupted time to refine their practice within state-of-the-art facilities in the Oxfordshire countryside.

open image in gallery Sheila Atim as part of VOICES, performed at the Barbican in 2020 ( Mike Terry )

Inspired by the bucolic setting of creative communities around the world, like Blue Mountain College in the US, Bauhaus in Germany, and Kala Bhavana in India, Studio Richter Mahr serves as an incubator for emerging artists. We understand what its like to be a young artist; theres no real support. It took a really long time to earn any money, to make ends meet, says Mahr. It was awful and it wasnt so long ago. So after wed done SLEEP and VOICES, we thought, OK, for our next project, we need to not just talk the talk, but actually walk the walk in helping these artists.

Crucially, that support extends past the residencies themselves. People need more than that; they need doors opened for them, says Mahr, who knows first hand the power of an introduction. So many people pull the drawbridge up behind them. I didnt want to do that.

One of their residents, Cassie Kinoshi, a Mercury Prize-nominated and Ivor Academy Award-winning composer, will perform a piece in the second half of Possible Futures alongside a host of other musicians whose work provokes questions. Is the future already written? Is it inevitable, all this awfulness going on? says Mahr. Can we change it? And how do we change it? Hope is a good place to start.

Possible Futures is on at Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre on Friday 27 March; tickets here
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The BBC has appointed former Google executive Matt Brittin as its new director-general.

The broadcaster has been on the hunt for a new chief since Tim Davie announced his decision to step down from the role in November, after the furore surrounding a Panorama edit of a speech made by Donald Trump.

Mr Brittin spent nearly two decades at Google before leaving the company last year and was rumoured to be a frontrunner for the role despite lacking in editorial experience.

Announcing his new position, Mr Brittin said in a statement: Now, more than ever, we need a thriving BBC that works for everyone in a complex, uncertain and fast-changing world.

At its best, it shows us, and the world, who we are. Its an extraordinary, uniquely British asset, with over 100 years of innovation in storytelling, technology and powering creativity. Im honoured and excited to be asked to serve as director-general.

open image in gallery Brittin with Prince William at Googles London HQ in 2017 ( Getty )

He continued: Working alongside so many talented journalists, creatives and technicians, across the country and around the world, I join with humility, to listen, to learn, to lead, and to serve the public, working hard to earn their trust every day.

Brittin added that while this is a moment of real risk for the BBC, it is also a real opportunity.

The BBC needs the pace and energy to be both where stories are, and where audiences are. To build on the reach, trust and creative strengths today, confront challenges with courage, and thrive as a public service fit for the future. I cant wait to start this work.

Samir Shah, the BBC Boards chair, said that Mr Brittin brings deep experience of leading a high-profile and highly complex organisation through transformation.

He continued: He is an outstanding leader and has the skills needed to navigate the organisation through the many changes taking place in the media market and in audience behaviours.

Matts passion for the BBC, his understanding of the challenges facing the organisation, his commitment to its independence and his determination to maintain the BBCs position as one of the countrys greatest national assets were critical factors in the boards decision to appoint him as the 18th director-general.

Adding that Mr Brittin is joining at a critical time for the BBC, with the review of its charter underway, the board believes that he is the right person to lead the BBC as it fights for a sustainable future in an uncertain world.

A Cambridge University graduate, 57-year-old Brittin started his career as a consultant at McKinsey & Co, before leaving to become commercial director for Trinity Mirror, the owner of the Daily Mirror, in 2004. He was made director of strategy and digital two years later.

Brittin joined Google in 2009, first serving as the managing director of Google UK, before being named the tech giants vice-president for northern and central Europe in 2011.

A 2014 restructure saw Mr Brittin named president of EMEA business and operations, and he remained in the role for a decade before announcing his decision to step down and take a mini gap year in October 2024.

open image in gallery Brittin worked at Google for almost 20 years ( Getty )

In a post on LinkedIn, Mr Brittin wrote: Im fortunate to have a wonderful and healthy family that has always supported me, and Im looking forward to spending more time with them in the year ahead  including my parents who are now in their nineties.

Beyond, I hope to apply what Ive learned 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.

You know that I love to read, learn and try new things. Ive already grown a beard, bought a single sculling boat and plan to learn scuba diving from my son when he qualifies as an instructor. Id love your suggestions, challenges and recommendations.

Mr Brittin currently describes himself on LinkedIn as a gap year student [and] part time athlete.

The BBCs outgoing director-general, Tim Davie, announced his decision to step down from the role in October last year, with the corporations CEO of news, Deborah Turness, also resigning.

Their exits came amid the fallout from a Panorama edit of a speech Donald Trump gave before the Capitol riots unfolded in Washington on 6 January 2021.

Mr Trump, who was serving his first term as president at the time, had said: Were going to walk down to the Capitol, and were going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women. More than 50 minutes later in the same speech, he said: And we fight. We fight like hell.

But in Panoramas edit, it appeared as though he said: Were going to walk down to the Capitol... and Ill be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell.

Mr Trump subsequently filed a $5bn (3.7bn) defamation lawsuit against the BBC, accusing it of intentionally, maliciously and deceptively doctoring a speech he gave on 6 January 2021 before the US Capitol riot.

The BBC has apologised for the edit but says there is no basis for a defamation claim.
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Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Jessi Draper has addressed her divorce from Jordan Ngatikaura in a brand new interview  and she is not sparing any details.

Draper, 33, was featured on Call Her Daddys new episode released Tuesday, which is less than a week after Ngatikaura filed for divorce on the same day that co-star Taylor Frankie Pauls season of The Bachelorette was canceled. The hair stylist said she was blindsided by Ngatikauras decision to file for divorce.

So I actually found out that he filed through TMZ, Draper told podcast host Alex Cooper. I did end it with him so I knew it was coming but we had made an agreement to do it together and he blindsided me and filed because he wanted the headline first.

She added, My heart sunk because A, we agreed to tell our children together before filing and we haven't done that, including his daughter, whos like 13 years old. Draper and Ngatikaura share two children, a three-year-old and a six-year-old, and Draper is a stepmother to Ngatikauras daughter from a previous marriage.

Draper said the divorce was brought on by several issues they faced throughout their five years of marriage  some of which were shown on the hit Hulu series, including her emotional affair with Vanderpump Villa star Marciano Brunette.

open image in gallery Jessi Draper accused her estranged husband Jordan Ngatikaura of buying escorts and sex parties in her new interview on 'Call Her Daddy' ( Call Her Daddy )

open image in gallery Jordan Ngatikaura filed for divorce from Jessi Draper last Thursday ( Getty Images )

However, Draper accused Ngatikaura of being unfaithful in their marriage as well, although the pair kept it hidden on the show for years.

She said that after season one of SLOMW aired, Someone messaged me and she works for the escort service and she called me and was like, I work for this, you can like look into it. She sent me so much proof And she sent the screenshots and its his phone number. She wouldn't have known his phone number.

Also, she said this happened while he was in Texas and he was in Texas doing summer sales at the time. And this was before we filmed the show. So no one wouldve known that.

Draper said that Ngatikaura denied the allegations that he had used an escort service. The Independent has contacted Ngatikaura for comment.

She went on to say that weeks before their marriage ended, she also heard rumors about Ngatikaura attending sex parties, which Draper said was the final straw for her.

I have to believe they are orgies, like sex parties, Draper said. I dont know what other kind of parties you would pay for... So thats what I have to believe. Ive actually never asked him about this. I just heard about it. But the funny thing is, I heard through my sister, who heard from someone who was there and now its also being reported. So Im like, clearly theres some truth to it.

Despite speculation on social media, Draper said she is not sure if Ngatikaura paid for the alleged escorts and sex parties with her money because the former couple shared their finances until recently.
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Star Wars actor John Boyega is set to feature in a new BBC documentary exploring the tragic death of his childhood friend, Damilola Taylor.

The programme, provisionally titled Damilola Taylor: The Last 24 Hours, will delve into the final moments of the 10-year-olds life before he was fatally stabbed in Peckham, south-east London, on 27 November 2000, mere metres from his home.

Damilolas killing sent shockwaves across the country, becoming a pivotal moment that ignited a national conversation surrounding the devastating impact of knife crime.

The BBC One documentary will examine the profound effect Damilolas death had on those closest to him, including Boyega, who was among the last people to see him alive and will provide previously unheard testimony.

open image in gallery Damilola Taylor was murdered in 2000 ( PA Media )

The film will also feature accounts from other close friends and family members, offering insights into the events leading up to the schoolboys death and the enduring impact of the murder on their lives.

Directed by filmmaker Alex Thomas, the documentary meticulously retraces Damilolas final day, scrutinising the environment and pressures that shaped the lives of young people in his community at the time. It will further explore the concerning rise in knife-related crimes over the 25 years since his death.

Thomas commented: "Damilolas story has never been told through the experience of the young people who were living it at the time. This film shows what it meant to grow up in an environment shaped by fear, bullying and the need to protect yourself  and how those pressures influenced the choices people made.

Twenty-five years on, those experiences still stay with them, and many of those pressures still exist for young people today."

Boyega, who was 8 at the time, and his sister Grace were among the last people to see Taylor alive.

open image in gallery John Boyega will appear in the documentary ( Optomen/PA )

The actor said he was impacted by a poem written by Damilola, read out at his funeral, as it showed him that another 10-year-old, from the same environment, dreamed to be more.

Speaking to John Wilson on BBC Radio 4s Last Word in 2024, Boyega said: From the hours we left him in Peckham to the hours when I went home, and then the police was at our door and there was a whole investigation that we were involved in, (it) was definitely life changing for me, definitely altered my perspective.

Even though I was young, it was a shock to understand how mortality worked. To think that somebody as young as me could pass away in such a horrific way was hard for me to understand or comprehend.

And I definitely think Damilolas tragic murder has definitely shaped me through the years and just affected my perspective on certain things and it definitely affected the community too.

I mean, my sister, in particular, Grace, who was very, very close with Damilola, went through a lot, and my dad had to front that and try to protect her in that journey. It was definitely a lot for everybody to take.

Damilola Taylor: The Last 24 Hours is scheduled to air on BBC One and iPlayer, with transmission details to be announced.
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NCIS killed off one of its tenured characters after 18 years, delivering a gut punch to longtime viewers.

*Warning: Major spoilers from NCIS season 23, episode 13, All Good Things, to follow*

The long-running police procedural, about a group of special agents who investigate crimes involving U.S. Navy and Marine Corps personnel, celebrated its 500th episode Tuesday.

However, the episode did not feel like much of a celebration to most fans, as it ended with a devastating farewell to beloved character Director Leon Vance (Rocky Carroll).

In the latest installment, the NCIS team is left reeling when their agency is shut down by the Department of Defense. In an attempt to restore his team to its former glory, Vance leads them as they race to prove the innocence of a petty officer accused of murder. After they successfully clear his name, Vance is fatally shot by a corrupt agent. As he crosses over, he is met by a vision of a young Ducky Mallard, the coroner who died in season 21 following the real-life death of actor David McCallum in 2023 at 90.

open image in gallery Rocky Carroll (middle) joined 'NCIS' in season five as Director Leon Vance ( CBS )

open image in gallery Carroll (left) had been a series regular for 18 years before his character's tragic death ( CBS )

Vances tragic demise left viewers stunned, with one posting on X: I did not see that coming.

A shocker! Nicely done. I cried though! a second wrote.

Could deal with him leaving easier than dying. Sucks. Wont be same without Vance. This is worse than Gibbs, a third said, referencing original cast member Mark Harmons exit in season 19, also after an 18-year run.

Tonights episode really sucked. Leon was a big part of show since Jenny left, a fourth lamented. Way to ruin my night CBS.

Heartbreaking, another said, but very well done. Glad Mr. Carroll is staying on to direct.

Carroll, 62, first joined NCIS back in season five (2008) and remained a series regular up until Tuesdays episode. Of the 392 episodes hes starred in, hes directed 28, and has confirmed to Variety that despite his characters death, he has every intention of continuing his work behind the scenes.

Addressing Vances shocking death, the actor revealed to the publication that he had known about it since November.

Ive been able to kind of come full circle with it. And I really think its a great episode, Carroll said. Im not just saying this to be a team player, but if youve gotta send a character off, what a way to go. It really is exactly what our executive producer, Steven D. Binder, said. He wanted to write not only a great episode, but a real love letter to the character that really summarized his journey and his impact on the show, and I think we achieved that.

Reflecting on his time on the show, Carroll continued: For selfish reasons, I have to remind people: Ive been a character on this series for 18 years. Most Hollywood careers dont last 18 years. So to be able to play one character on one of the most popular shows in the world for 18 seasons, thats the equivalent of living to be 105.
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Steve Carell has recalled being warned by an A-list actor against trying out for the lead role in The Office, amid concerns that an American version of the hit British sitcom would flop.

I remember [Paul] Rudd pulled me aside and was like, Dont do it, man. Dont audition, Carell, 63, said on Tuesdays episode of Amy Poehlers Good Hang podcast. It was like, There is no way.

Rudd, 56, and Carell are longtime friends and frequent collaborators. They have co-starred in several comedies together, including Dinner for Schmucks (2010) and the Anchorman franchise.

Yeah. Everyone was like, dont even touch this, host Poehler, 54, said of the workplace mockumentary. [With a] 10-foot pole, the Morning Show alum added.

At the time, Poehler, who was a cast member on Saturday Night Live, remembered hearing backstage that they were going to make the American version.

open image in gallery Steve Carell (right) said Paul Rudd (left) advised him to avoid 'The Office' ( Getty )

open image in gallery Steve Carell led the American version of the British sitcom as Michael Scott, earning six consecutive Lead Actor Emmy nominations ( Getty )

And everyone was like, This is a terrible idea; terrible idea. No one can be as good as Ricky Gervais. No one can do that show, the Parks and Recreation star said. And then we heard it was you, and we were like, Oh, whoevers making the show wants it to be funny. You know, like it was this thing of, Oh thats a very, very good choice.

Carell went on to play Michael Scott, the unprofessional and incompetent regional manager of fictional paper company Dunder Mifflin in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

The role served as his television breakout, earning him six consecutive lead actor Emmy nominations from 2006 to 2011. The show, which ran for nine seasons, from 2005 to 2013, also featured Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson, Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak. It was an adaptation of the two-season Ricky Gervais-led British original of the same name.

Carell appeared on the show from 2005 to 2011, before departing at the end of its seventh season. At the time, it was reported that Carell had left to pursue further career opportunities; however, the shows hairstylist, Kim Ferry, rejected these claims, insisting in Andy Greenes 2020 book, The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s, that he was written off because NBC let his contract lapse.

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open image in gallery Carell departed The Office in 2011 after seven seasons ( Universal )

He didnt want to leave the show, Ferry claimed. He had told the network that he was going to sign for another couple of years  He told his manager and his manager contacted them and said hes willing to sign another contract.

She added: The deadline came for when [the network was] supposed to give him an offer and it passed and they didnt make him an offer. So his agent was like, Well, I guess they dont want to renew you for some reason. Which was insane to me. And to him, I think.

Casting director Allison Jones also remembered the incident, recalling: He was going to do another season and then NBC, for whatever reason, wouldnt make a deal with him. Somebody didnt pay him enough. It was absolutely asinine. I dont know what else to say about that. Just asinine.

Carell returned to the series for its 2013 finale.
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Arriving ahead of Channel 5s one-off, ripped-from-the-headlines dramas about Kate McCann and murderer Tracie Andrews is Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, a lurid Goosebumps tale about Britains most famous disgraced newscaster. Tacky channel? Shot under a veil of secrecy before its announcement? Angry statements by Edwards to the Daily Mail condemning it? Check, check, check. But Power isnt quite as lowbrow as you might imagine.

Star Martin Clunes is in total go-for-broke mode in the title role, uncannily furrowing his brow to just the right degree and bringing overqualified Welsh-accented gravitas to a script that asks him to repeatedly sink to all kinds of mucky carnal urges. The project hes in, though, doesnt match him: its the kind of rush-job TV lobotomy that satisfies nothing but a viewers baser instincts. Likely out of legal necessity, Power doesnt illuminate as much as it recites, running down the gory basics of a too-recent news story that  at least based on Edwardss peeved statement  isnt resolved enough to sufficiently narrativise.

While a caption at the top of the show makes clear that some scenes, characters and text messages have been dramatised in Power, its a largely by-the-book affair, one informed by court evidence and extensive interviews with the Sun journalists who first reported the story, as well as the then teenager to whom he paid 35,000 in exchange for sexual images and videos. Here, the teenager is named Ryan (played with skittish naivety by Osian Morgan), who connects with Edwards at the prompting of another teenager he meets on a dating site. That teenager is Alex Williams (played by Joseph Loane), who was already exchanging pornographic material with Edwards over WhatsApp  Williams was later handed a 12-month suspended sentence for possessing and distributing images of child sex abuse, including to Edwards.

open image in gallery Clunes as Huw Edwards in Power ( Channel 5 )

Power depicts Edwards as a prickly and aggressive benefactor to a confused teenager, sending him gifts and buying him hotel stays. Edwardss emotions can turn on a dime. He chastises Ryans grammar, throws a strop when asked about his relationship to his sexuality, and is quick to weaponise his fame and status whenever he feels cornered: Earn your keep and know your f***ing place, he shouts down the phone. Reporters at The Sun are included to relay drab exposition and the legal ins and outs of investigative journalism (its very Spotlight for Dummies), while Williams is nothing if not a horror movie-style paedophile, sitting alone at his computer screen and cast in moody shadow, transferring photos to Edwards while dramatic music plays.

Its all, weirdly, a bit silly  the sordid details of this saga meshing uneasily with the demand to make Power entertaining television. A handful of moments seem included solely for the giggles they might inspire, from Edwards limply encouraging Ryan to call him daddy, to Ryans horrified stepfather exclaiming, Youre telling me f***ing Huw Edwards off the telly is gay for Ryan? Hilarious! But this is, fundamentally, a story about men sending and receiving images of children being sexually abused. It requires a sensitivity that Power occasionally gestures to, but cant sustain for the entirety of its 90-minute runtime.

open image in gallery Ryan (Osian Morgan) connects with Edwards at the prompting of another teenager he meets on a dating site ( Channel 5 )

In his statement this week, Edwards expressed sorrow for his involvement with Williams and reiterated that he had pleaded guilty to his crimes. But he notably didnt express sorrow for his interactions with the 17-year-old, while stating that he is making an effort to produce my own account of these terrible events. Which is just what we need. He also claimed he wasnt given enough time by Powers production company to comment on the show (a caption at the end of the programme reads that Edwards declined), while calling into question the legality of its existence. 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, he wrote. (In its own statement, Channel 5 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.)

But the back and forth, and Edwardss claim to have his side of the events, leaves the story suddenly feeling unfinished, or at least more icky than it is already. And you cant help but wonder what the use is of shows like this, which sift through publicly available information but cant (or wont) place it in a wider context or do anything beyond relay the facts  all for an audience asked to gasp and be disgusted. A quality Martin Clunes performance or not, it just doesnt seem worth it.
Spring is here, marking a welcome shift into the new style season. While unpredictable weather is almost always guaranteed, this time of year is the ideal opportunity to shop new pieces for your wardrobe and home.

Think: clever layering, natural fabrics, brighter colours and transitional styles to see you through this season and beyond. From high-quality homeware and long-lasting shirts, to weather-proof footwear  keep reading to explore the top brands to shop for a spring refresh.

SANVT

( SANVT )

Born in Munich, SANVT has a simple aim  to make everyday essentials the best they can be, with plenty of timeless pieces that rebel against fast fashion, encompassing perfect cuts, exceptional comfort and high quality. Straying from the norm by swerving trend-led styles and seasonal drops, SANVT has perfected capsule wardrobe pieces. Materials are sourced carefully, and all production emissions are offset through local forest protection projects.

For spring, the brand is on hand to shake up your wardrobe, with effortless styles in clean, neutral colours. The unisex T-shirt comes in a wide range of colours, including a staple black and crisp white. Made from 100 per cent premium ELS cotton, and available in shorter, regular and longer lengths, it's a classic year-round essential.

For a stylish layer, SANVTs sweatshirt collection is crafted from ultra-soft 400 GSM French Terry fabric. Alternatively, the unisex long sleeve polo shirt, available in sizes XS-XXL, offers an elevated twist on a spring staple, thanks to the structured drape and real mother-of-pearl buttons.

Asket

( Asket )

Sustainably-focused and built around a single, permanent collection, Askets garments are made in Europe from natural fibres. With custom sizing, lifetime repair and take-back services, this brand is passionate about core wardrobe pieces that are timeless essentials.

Five years on from the brands birth, the first three women's styles have been introduced  with refined fits that are designed to move with you through work, play, and all the things life throws your way. The regular jeans are the perfect straight-leg pair, crafted from 100 per cent organic cotton, for denim that is milled, cut, sewn and washed in Italy.

Supima cotton is twice as strong as regular cotton, which is why it's been chosen as the base for Asket's poplin shirt  a staple in any workwear wardrobe, that looks great with slim chinos and freshly-polished shoes.

Wax London

( Wax London )

Discover clothes with character when you shop at Wax London  a family brand that focuses on sourcing unique weaves, fabrics, textures and patterns from sustainable mills and selected partners. Taking inspiration from the teams travels  and the talented craftspeople they met along the way  paired with the brand's British heritage, Wax London offers standout pieces to slot into your wardrobe.

Layering is always a good idea when you're contending with British weather, and the whiting check overshirt is one of the brand's signature pieces. Easy to wear, this standout piece will become something you reach for time and again.

Meanwhile, those who are already thinking ahead to sunnier skies will love the Didcot multicolour printed short-sleeve shirt, or the Porto doodle crochet knitted shirt.

MYRQVIST

( Myrqvist )

Now in its 10th year, MYRQVIST crafts high-quality footwear in designs that stand the test of time (and trends), without costing the earth. The brands Scandinavian design and passion for attention to detail remain at the core of every style, along with the very best of materials from top tanneries in the world.

Loved for its versatility, the loafer can be dressed down with a pair of chino shorts and a billowing shirt in the summer, and paired with a suit for a fail-safe spring wedding look. Myrqvists Branno II is crafted in neutral suedes to embody Scandinavian summer ease, featuring a soft upper, full leather lining, and a bespoke rubber sole.

Keeping your feet cool, the Lars cotton loafer socks are cleverly designed to remain completely invisible under your shoes, while the ribbed Oscar cotton socks provide reliable comfort and a secure fit throughout the day, and can be worn with almost anything.

Dusty Deco

( Dusty Deco and Matthew Williamson )

It's not just our clothing that could do with a spring refresh at this time of year, but our homes, too. There to assist is Dusty Deco, a brand founded a decade ago in Sweden, built around a carefully curated selection of furniture, interior objects, and art. The founders have a background in the fashion industry, so their eye for unique, bold style has been instrumental in creating a catalogue of pieces that are brilliantly excessive and eye catching.

The brands recent collaboration with Matthew Williamson is a tribute to maximalism, with designs that ensure the room acts as the conversation starter. Think wild sofas and brightly-coloured rugs.

For smaller touches that will bring a welcome refresh to an already beautiful space, Dusty Decos blankets, candleholders and mirrors offer depth and a new focal point, while serving a practical purpose.
Londons a funny old place, as Moses Combe puts it.

On TikTok, a video mapping out the perfect north London Saturday has been doing the rounds. According to the narrator  a 20-something woman strolling up a very nice, very leafy street  this is what north London girlies are doing with their weekends: pastries at Jolene, a wander round the Dalston carboot, coffee at Gails and a stop at De Beauvoir Deli for the essentials.

Its all very soft lighting and laminated croissants  the kind of day that looks expensive without ever quite mentioning how much any of it costs. Then the video cuts. My north London????? Combe says, incredulous as he frowns at the camera. Of all the years that Ive been living in north London, never have I ever heard of Jolene. What is that?!

Combe  a 21-year-old creator whose videos focus on chicken shops, shawarma spots and what he calls the Endz Department for Research  decides to try these places for himself. What is this north London that he knows nothing of, despite having lived there his whole life?

The first stop is Jolene, a bakery-cum-restaurant on Hornsey Road, Islington. First opened in Newington Green in 2018, the Hornsey site  Big Jo  arrived during the pandemic with two mills, a bread oven, a pizza oven, a fermentation lab and a philosophy that includes phrases like regenerative farming and grain economy.

If this is where all the north London girlies come in the morning, Id be a bit surprised, says Combe. Because of the location. The fact that its right next to Andover Estate and Holloway police station.

He is not wrong. This Jolene is in the endz: opposite a boarded-up shopfront, next to Yeshi Ethiopian Cuisine, with local authority housing rising above it. Not the kind of place youd expect to find a 4.20 cinnamon bun. Inside, the tone shifts. This is giving Gails Pro Max, says Combe. I was gonna get a sandwich, but I saw the price. 11 for a sandwich?! If that sandwich does not take me to heaven, bro

He orders anyway: a hot chocolate, a sausage roll, a tiramisu cake. 14.20. Not quite Greggs. Have I been jugged or what?

There is a moment where the joke slips slightly. Combe looks around, weighing up whether to stay. They do have the option to sit inside, but in there I feel very much like the odd one out.

Instead, he leaves, finding a bench on the neighbouring Andover Estate, Jolene bags in hand, the contrast doing most of the talking.

open image in gallery Jolene in Islington  a bakery praised by critics, sitting directly opposite a very different reality ( Google )

The Andover Estate has long been shorthand for everything that goes wrong in Londons housing system  underfunding, deprivation, cycles of neglect. In 2007, the former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe spent three days living there for an ITV documentary, later describing it as a dump and very nasty, very threatening  comments that prompted backlash from residents, who accused the programme of sensationalising their community.

Nearly two decades on, the contrast feels less like a caricature and more like a collision. On one side of the road: sourdough, small plates, 4.80 hot chocolate. On the other: an estate still associated with the kinds of social issues that rarely make it into lifestyle North London Girly TikToks. See too the much lauded De Beauvoir Deli that he decides to visit, which is serving up a 20-plus breakfast right next to the De Beauvoir estate infamous for being the real-life inspiration for the crime-ridden Hackney council estate imagined in the drama Top Boy: Summerhouse.

Combe sits between the two contrasting scenes, tiramisu cake in hand. The sausage roll is pretty decent. The tiramisu, beautiful. The hot chocolate, less so: It just tastes like theyve put some regular [sic] degular powder in it and mixed it with hot water. I mean, 4.80

What lingers is something harder to pin down. Not just the price, but the sense of being out of place in a postcode you were born in.

If this is where all the north London girlies come in the morning, Id be a bit surprised [because of] the location. The fact that its right next to Andover Estate and Holloway police station Moses Combe

Afterwards, he heads to the corner shop for a bottle of KA and sums it up simply: Back to my roots. Back to reality. Back to Izzy.

Nowhere captures the two sides of the tracks in the same postcode more neatly than Izzy, AKA Islington. With a population of around 216,000, it is one of the most densely populated areas in England, characterised by what the council describes as stark contrasts  pockets of great wealth alongside high deprivation.

Around one in three residents lives in poverty, even as the borough attracts young professionals, creatives and renters in their twenties. Nearly 38 per cent of residents are from minority ethnic backgrounds, making it more diverse than England as a whole.

That tension is not new. Like many London boroughs, Islington has long cycled between wealth and decline: once a rural retreat for the affluent, later associated with overcrowding and poverty, then reshaped again from the 1960s onwards as middle-class families moved in and restored its Georgian housing stock.

What is new is the visibility. The sense that those parallel versions of the same place are now being mapped, compared and contested in real time on social media. It is here where the different protagonists are laying claim to the real neighbourhood and where their realities part ways. North London influencer incomers (or Dorset Emilys as they are often dubbed) who give an insiders guide to the places to go that are unrecognisable and baffling to those who have lived there all their lives.

Combes next stop is Gails in nearby Archway  Archie  a chain that has become shorthand for a certain kind of gentrification.

This time, he is with the mandem  two friends who immediately clock the change. This used to be a corner shop, they say, where theyd buy Jalitos and Milky Bars, with a Subway next door you could cut through. Inside, the prices land just as heavily. 8.30 for that?! They buy their food, but, as before, take it straight outside.

Welcome to the Elthorne Estate, man! Combe declares. The estate itself has seen change of its own in recent years, with additional funding used to convert new homes from private sale to social rent, increasing the supply of genuinely affordable housing for local residents. It is, in other words, a quieter, less Instagrammable version of regeneration, but no less significant.

open image in gallery A snapshot of the north London girlies aesthetic  pastries, thrift shops and a version of the city not everyone sees ( florrietylerrr/TikTok )

Here, though, the focus is simpler. Weve got the munch then youve got this sad excuse of a flipping hot chocolate. Afterwards, he visits Morleys  the south London-born fried chicken chain that has become a cultural institution across the city  and shows the contents of the bag. More food, more volume, less money. I had to go back to my roots. Quick Morleys, they get me. Arguably better bang for your buck as well.

Combe is not trying to be the next TikTok restaurant critic. What he is doing is something closer to cultural mapping and he is getting a huge following because of it

His reference points  Ds Kitchen, Dubai Shawarma, PFC, the Arsenal stadium  chart a different version of north London to the one found in north London girlies guides. Same borough, same streets, entirely different shorthand for what matters. His videos capture not just a difference in taste, but a difference in experience  who feels comfortable, and where.

The reverse is true, too. Not every north London girlie is making a weekly pilgrimage to Jolene, Gails and De Beauvoir Deli. Thats the Instagram version. The reality is messier. The same people buying croissants on a Saturday morning might be picking up a Morleys later that night, or grabbing a KA from the corner shop on the way home.

What Combe is calling out is real  a version of north London that doesnt quite recognise the one he grew up in. But that doesnt make it false. The croissants, the carboots, the deli counters: they exist too. They are just not the whole picture.

The north London girlies and the mandem are moving through the same streets, sometimes even the same shops, but not always with the same ease. One documents the city as it is marketed; the other, as it is lived.

London is a funny old place.
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The future of seafood in America might not look like fish at all. From salami and meatballs to fried chicken and spareribs, the industry is making a bold gamble: transforming aquatic fare into familiar, meat-like forms to entice a notoriously fish-averse nation.

This era of "surreptitious seafood" was on full display at the recent Seafood Expo North America in Boston, where hundreds of companies showcased products designed to overcome Americans relative disinterest in the oceans bounty.

The prevailing wisdom? Make fish taste and look less like, well, fish.

Among the most striking innovations were those aiming for the fried chicken market. Jack Chi, a spokesman for Taiwan-based Tuna Fresh, explained their strategy, "Our Taiwanese magic is making tuna taste like fried chicken."

His company offers tuna as fried "nuggets" and breaded strips, noting, "We wanted to be able to engage in the U.S. market, and we found that fried foods are the way."

open image in gallery This limited appetite has long been a challenge for the $24 billion market, which has seen flat sales for years ( J. M. Hirsch )

The trend extends to other popular American staples. Justin Rogers, a sales manager with SK Food Brands in Los Angeles, highlighted his companys shrimp burgers, available in both slider and Whopper-worthy sizes. "Its been a big trend for the last couple of years," Rogers said. "It makes it more palatable to people who arent big seafood fans. Especially with things like these sliders, it gives them an entry point."

Americans consume a mere 19 pounds of seafood annually, a figure that has barely shifted in a century, with shrimp and salmon dominating.

This pales in comparison to the global average of 45 pounds, and is significantly less than countries like Iceland, which boasts around 200 pounds per year.

This limited appetite has long been a challenge for the $24 billion market, which has seen flat sales for years, with just 10% of shoppers accounting for nearly half of all purchases.

While disguising seafood isn't entirely new  frozen fish sticks and McDonalds Filet-O-Fish are long-standing examples  the latest wave of products represents a different level of transformation.

Holly Phillips, spokeswoman for Harbor Bell Seafoods, described her companys salmon snack strips, available in flavors like smoked and lemon-pepper: "It looks like a Slim Jim by design. It doesnt smell fishy. It doesnt taste fishy."

open image in gallery It looks like a Slim Jim by design. It doesnt smell fishy. It doesnt taste fishy ( J. M. Hirsch )

However, not everyone views this covert approach to seafood positively. Niaz Dorry, coordinating director of the North American Marine Alliance, an advocacy group for sustainable seafood practices, argues for transparency.

"Eat fish that looks like fish!" Dorry urged. "The likelihood that that fish came from a community-based, scale-appropriate entity is much higher if that fish still looks like what it was when it was swimming in the water. Factory scale and fake are the two F-words I tell everybody to avoid."

The industry's pivot comes as growth has largely been confined to sushi counters and price increases. Steve Markenson, vice president of research and insights for consumer marketing firm FMI, noted sushis blend of convenience and novelty.

open image in gallery There is skepticism around the broad appeal of disguised seafood to non-seafood people ( J. M. Hirsch )

Yet, he remains skeptical about the broader appeal of disguised seafood. "The non-seafood folks  which is about 40% of the population  I dont know that this is really going to be appealing to them," he said. Dedicated seafood lovers, he added, "want that full-blown salmon," not a cleverly disguised alternative.

Paradoxically, the most promising demographic for these innovative products might be the youngest consumers, according to Joshua Bickert, a seafood market reporter and analyst for Expana. "If you package it like hot dogs and hamburgers and chicken tenders, you maybe change that mindset at a younger age," Bickert suggested.

Companies are pushing the boundaries of familiarity. Mike Simon, owner of Hialeah, Florida-based Surfsnax, presented salmon salami, stating, "We want to put it in a format that people are used to eating."

Despite his claim that "its not hiding that its salmon," the cured, shaped product bore little resemblance to its aquatic origin. Even more audacious were fish spareribs from the Amazon, made from Brazilian tambaqui, a freshwater fish whose physique allows for meaty, pork-like ribs. Friocenter Pescados spokesman Danillo Souza Alves highlighted its superior meat-to-bone ratio, envisioning it as a stadium finger food.

Beyond main courses, seafood is also being reimagined as snacks. Ina Park, a spokeswoman for the expos Korean pavilion, introduced Balance Grows Fried Calamari Snack, which she enthusiastically described as tasting "like Cheetos." As the seafood industry grapples with stagnant consumption, its future appears to hinge on how successfully it can convince Americans that fish, in its most palatable form, is anything but.
Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, gestures at a press conference in Beijing, capital of China, March 25, 2026. (Xinhua/Pan Xu)

BEIJING, March 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday condemned Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te for his recent remarks that whitewashed and advocated Japan's colonial rule over Taiwan, calling such statements "a betrayal of the nation."

Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the comments in response to a relevant media inquiry.

Lai recently advocated the notorious notion of the so-called "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere," a concept advanced by militarist Japan during World War II to whitewash and justify its aggression and colonial crimes across Asia.

These remarks have sparked an outcry on the island, with experts and scholars condemning him for distorting history for partisan and personal gain, and for glossing over Japan's massacre and other colonial atrocities in Taiwan.

In response, Zhu said that whitewashing Japan's wartime crimes constitutes a distortion of history and a desecration of those who fought and sacrificed their lives in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, while also exposing Lai's underlying agenda of seeking "Taiwan independence."

Noting that Japan's invasion and colonial rule in Taiwan is "the darkest chapter in the island's history," Zhu said that during that period, the Japanese aggressors brutally suppressed the local population and plundered Taiwan's resources, inflicting profound suffering on the island and provoking strong resistance from local people.

She said any attempt to justify or overturn the verdict on colonial crimes will never be tolerated, and any external interference in the Taiwan question will never be allowed.

The spokesperson called on compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to join hands in opposing "Taiwan independence" and external interference. 

Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, gestures at a press conference in Beijing, capital of China, March 25, 2026. (Xinhua/Pan Xu)
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Making a home-cooked meal at least once a week could help slash older peoples risk of dementia by up to 30 percent, Japanese researchers said Tuesday, and up to 70 percent for new cooks.

A six-year study of nearly 11,000 men and women aged 65 and older showed that people who cooked more often saw a lowered risk of the devastating neurodegenerative diseases. Around half cooked up to five times a week.

"The risk of dementia became lower as people cooked more frequently, and the benefits of cooking were particularly significant for those with low cooking skills, i.e., little cooking experience, the researchers said in a statement.

Although the findings are observational, they jive with current research on practices that can help slow the progression of Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia.

Cooking is both a good source of physical activity and helps to stimulate the brain.

open image in gallery Making a meal at home at least once a week can help reduce the risk of dementia in older adults, according to a new six-year study in nearly 11,000 Japanese men and women ( Getty Images/iStock )

Women and skilled chefs reap the rewards

The study also found that there were differences based on gender.

Women, who are nearly twice as likely to suffer from Alzheimers, had a three percent lower risk of dementia than men when cooking from scratch once a week.

And better cooks also had a lower risk of dementia than novices, although the researchers said, cooking frequency didnt reduce the risk of dementia further.

Women and more experienced cooks also tended to cook more meals at home than men and those who were inexperienced cooks.

Creating an environment where people can cook meals when they are older may be important for the prevention of dementia, the researchers said.

The researchers used data from questionnaires that were a part of the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study, which tracked cognitive health up to 2022, assessing their cooking habits and skillset.

Of the more than 10,000 patients included in the data, 1195 people developed dementia. Cases of mild dementia were not included.

open image in gallery This graphic image shows the blood-brain barrier. The barrier of cells, which weakens with age, helps to fight germs and other invaders ( Getty Images/iStock )

Brain boost

Exercise can strengthen the germ-fighting layer of cells known as the blood-brain barrier, which weakens with age and contributes to a heightened risk of dementia, a new mouse study published this week shows.

And countless studies have shown that tests, games and other brain-boosting activities help slow disease progression and improve the brains ability to function despite damage.

Previous research has shown that cooking could help Alzheimers patients  although it might not be right for everyone.

Cooking requires people to organize ingredients, follow a recipe, improvise, stir, chop, slice and utilize the senses.

Its also often a social activity, which helps keep the brain active and delays Alzheimers onset.

And cooking can improve mental health and self-esteem, according to the Australian Alzheimers group Forward with Dementia.

"Cooking has a powerful meaning for older adults," Suzanne Fitzsimmons, a nurse practitioner and former instructor in therapeutic geriatric care at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, told Brain&Life. "For some, it can be integral to feelings of self-worth and identity."

More than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimers disease.
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Scientists have found more evidence that our furry friends have been our companions for thousands of years.

Researchers believe dogs descended from an ancient population of gray wolves somewhere in Europe or Asia.

Tens of thousands of years ago, those wolves got used to living with people and became less aggressive. As they became domesticated, their genes shifted along with their behavior, giving rise to the pups we know today.

But exactly when and where this happened remains a mystery.

Scientists are studying bits of DNA found in ancient dog and wolf remains to figure out what the earliest dogs may have looked like and where they came from.

One author of the study said, They are humanity's best friend, alongside our societies for the last 16,000 years and will continue to in the future ( AP )

In two separate studies published Wednesday in the journal Nature, researchers pushed the timeline back. They established a new way to study ancient canine DNA  which is often contaminated and tough to extract  by isolating just the doggy bits.

They examined ancient genes from the remains of over 200 dogs and wolves. The oldest dated back to about 15,800 years ago, moving the origin of dogs back by at least 5,000 years.

This unique relationship between people and dogs has existed for such a long time and is continuing on today, said University of Michigan dog genomics expert Jeffrey Kidd, who was not involved with the new research.

The genes showed that dogs were already spread out across Western Europe and Asia 14,200 years ago, at a time before agriculture and farming. These dogs lived with hunter-gatherer humans who were constantly on the move.

The dawn of agriculture  a major shift in human history  brought new people to Europe from southwest Asia. They mixed and mingled with Europeans, leaving a lasting and varied imprint on their genes.

But the dog genes studied by the scientists, stretching from the United Kingdom all the way to Turkey, stayed more consistent. They were less impacted by the arrival of new humans during the development of agriculture, and more by interactions between different hunter-gatherer groups and their dogs thousands of years before.

That's different from dogs in Asia and the Americas, whose genes more closely reflect the movement patterns of their owners.

Scientists don't know exactly what the first dogs looked like, but they have some ideas.

We're suspecting they would have resembled smaller wolves, said study co-author Lachie Scarsbrook with the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.

It's also not clear how these ancient dogs lived alongside their humans. They could have stood guard or helped them hunt, but probably also played with young children.

There's still more work to go to pinpoint exactly when dogs emerged  the first few pages of a storied relationship that's still going strong.

They are humanity's best friend, alongside our societies for the last 16,000 years and will continue to in the future, Scarsbrook said.
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McDonalds is partnering with Netflix to launch a KPop Demon Hunters-inspired menu and its gonna be golden.

Starting March 31, customers will be able to order two dueling limited-edition adult combo meals  one for HUNTR/X and one for the Saja Boys, the two rival KPop groups in Netflixs hit animated movie  as well as a brand new McFlurry flavor.

Weeks after the fast food giant brought its biggest burger ever, the Big Arch, to the U.S., McDonalds announced that they were bringing more new changes to their spring menu in the U.S.

Everything we do at McDonalds is for the fans, and no one can relate to that more than Netflix and KPop Demon Hunters, Alyssa Buetikofer, the chains chief marketing and customer experience officer, said in a press release Tuesday. Big things happen when you bring two massive fandoms together, and this partnership was a natural fit.

The Saja Boys Breakfast Meal, only available during breakfast hours, consists of a Sausage McMuffin with Egg that is topped with a peppery Spicy Saja Sauce. The meal combo also includes Hash Browns and a small soda pop.

open image in gallery Netflix and McDonald's are partnering up for special menu items inspired by 'KPop Demon Hunters' ( McDonald's USA, LLC )

open image in gallery The HUNTR/X meal will be available for lunch and dinner, while the Saja Boys Breakfast can only be ordered in the morning ( McDonald's USA, LLC )

Fans who order the rival HUNTR/X meal for lunch or dinner will get a 10-piece order of Chicken McNuggets, a medium soft drink and Ramyeon McShaker Fries  which have a soy, garlic, sesame and spice seasoning inspired by the ramen that the KPop girl group enjoys in the movie. To enjoy the side, customers sprinkle the umami seasoning into a McShaker bag, add the fries and shake it to distribute.

The meal comes with Hunter Sauce, which is described as a spicy sweet chili sauce, and Demon Sauce, which is a purple-colored mustard sauce.

open image in gallery The Derpy McFlurry will have berry-flavored popping pearls and a wild berry sauce ( McDonald's USA, LLC )

Each meal will also be served with a collectible card back featuring a QR code and a photocard for either HUNTR/X or the Saja Boys. Customers who scan the code on the McDonalds App by April 26 will get access to more exclusive content, according to the news release.

With McDonald's, we were able to turn the rivalry between The Saja Boys and Huntr/X into something fans can actually experience, drawing inspiration from Korean culture and food traditions that sit at the heart of the film, said Marian Lee, the chief marketing officer for Netflix.

The new items also include the Derpy McFlurry, which McDonalds says blends creamy vanilla soft serve with berry popping pearls, enrobed in a wild berry sauce. The purple dessert, based on the Derpy Tiger in the film, will be available a la carte.
My 14-year-old daughter is pretty much glued to her phone, like every other teenager we know, so Ive been taking in the news that Meta has been forced to pay out $375m (279m) by a court in New Mexico for misleading users over the safety of its platforms for children with some interest  and some guilt, too.

A jury found that the tech giant  which owns Facebook, Instagramand WhatsApp  endangered children, allegations its CEO Mark Zuckerberg denies (the company now plans to appeal).

As a parent of a child who uses all of these platforms (except Facebook, which I am told  with the kind of withering stare only a teenage girl can truly perfect  is for geriatrics like myself, only), my guilt centres around whether Ive done enough to protect her from their addictive algorithms.

But its more than that: because I know, with a creeping sense of shame and dread, that I havent been leading by example at home, at all.

In fact, Id say that until recently it was a pretty close tie for who used their phone to scroll more: me or my daughter, despite knowing of the potential harms (such as the fact that smartphone addiction can affect our sleep, our social interactions, our emotional wellbeing and even our memory). Ive known of the risks for years, but the trouble was... I just didnt seem to be able to stop.

At the tail end of last year, Ill confess I was on a daily usage of somewhere around five hours  sometimes six. Until, that is, I discovered a secret weapon in January and cured my phone addiction overnight (and brought that daily screen time down to just two hours a day  much of which is calls, work emails and using the notes app to write on my commute).

And it was breathtakingly easy.

I tried Brick  a tiny, two-inch magnet at home (which allows you to choose which apps you Brick, then doesnt let you go on them again until you physically touch your phone to the Brick device). And no, this isnt an ad for them  I bought the 54 device out of my own pocket  but to say it has changed my life would be an understatement. It feels a bit like falling in love, because I cant stop talking about it.

In just a few, short months, Ive kicked my addiction to scrolling idly through Insta, as well as the strange desire at midnight to find out what happened to a girl I never even spoke to at school by trawling through Facebook, plus the short-lived dopamine hit of tapping one button then watching reel after reel and story after story of friends, friends of friends, and celebrities.

I now realise that I have wasted hours, even days, when I could have been reading an actual book  or getting some much-needed sleep.

Thanks to Brick, Ive stopped scrolling, and I am now doing all the things I used to love doing, but hadnt found time to do while being addicted to my phone. In fact, Ive read about 12 actual, physical paper books since the start of the year alone  and Ive saved so much money, too.

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Because I have Bricked Amazon and Vinted, any online shopping I do has to come from physically going to, often independent, shops. Its better for my wallet, for the future of our high streets  and for the environment. And I feel better for no longer lining the bloated pockets of controversial tech giants like Zuckerberg or Jeff Bezos.

Sure, there will be those who say, Just stop using the apps! and who will scoff at the idea that we dont have enough willpower to do it alone; theyll ask why I didnt just delete them (spoiler: tried that, but I just ended up downloading them again), or just turn off your phone (when you have young children, the what if worry about missing calls from school makes this impossible). Yes, I could have left my phone upstairs  or downstairs when I was upstairs  and I did that all of that too; but just like the telltale heart throbbing beneath the floorboards in the Edgar Allan Poe short story,I knew it was there.

They say the first step of recovery is admitting youve got a problem, and thanks to the false intimacy of having Insta so readily available as an app on my phone screen, I was left asking myself some pretty uncomfortable questions. Did I really just say shush to my nine-year-old son in the kitchen, because I was halfway through discovering the truth about Nicole Kidmans beauty secrets?

Had I seriously justified being late for the school run because I simply had to find out what Lily Allen had said about her twatty ex (David Harbour), when I dont know them IRL, at all? And how is it that I know Lena Dunhams birthday (13 May) and star sign (Taurus) off the top of my head, when Im not even sure I could say the same about my cousin?

Im now a born-again Brick zealot whos seen the light (and who wishes her friends would stop taking pictures of our food to post them on socials, before we are allowed to eat it). Now, with the news of Metas fall from grace and social media bans for under-16s being seriously considered by governments across the world, Im even more grateful that Ive kicked the habit. You only need one Brick per household  so now my teenager is on it, too.

Today, I can happily report that my current Bricked streak is 195 hours, which would revert to 0 if I ever unbrick my phone. Before that, it was 300 hours (I had to unbrick to reply to someone on Vinted). What is curious now is how anxious I feel when Im not Bricked  theres a kind of tetchy, irritable panic that I could be sucked back into scrolling at any time. I dont like that feeling, so Im staying Bricked for the foreseeable. Id rather be addicted to not scrolling, than scrolling.

To paraphrase Mary Oliver (whose poetry collection, Devotions, Ive had time to read again), what is it you want from your one, wild and precious life? Id hazard that for most of us, the answer would be time  and Brick has bought me lots of it.

Or, to be more accurate, its given it back.
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A California man has been sentenced to more than 6 years in prison after breaking into a womans house and sucking her toes, according to officials.

Cristian Solorio, a 28-year-old from Modesto, was convicted of stalking and breaking into a residence with the intent to commit a sex act, the Stanislaus County District Attorneys Office announced on Facebook last Friday.

Solorio first saw the unnamed woman at her workplace in February 2025 and immediately became obsessed with her, the DAs office said.

He would show up at her job multiple times a day, loitering outside as he waited to approach her when she left, according to prosecutors. Solorio asked the woman out multiple times and sent her a letter in which he said he wanted to take her to Mexico, the DAs office said.

He harassed the woman for several weeks and learned where she lived, according to prosecutors. On the night of May 21, 2025, he went to her house, and after her father left the home, he broke in, the DAs office said.

Cristian Solorio, a 28-year-old from Modesto, has been sentenced to more than 6 years in prison after breaking into a womans house and sucking her toes, according to officials ( Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office )

The woman woke up to find Solorio in her bedroom, sucking her toes, according to prosecutors.

Although terrified, the victim managed to talk with Solorio in a friendly demeaner [sic] in an attempt to keep him calm and de-escalate his actions, the DAs office said.

After the womans other family members came into her room, they demanded Solorio leave, and then he fled, according to prosecutors. The woman reported the incident to the local sheriffs office, which later identified Solorio and arrested him.

Stanislaus County Deputy District Attorney Vita Palazuelos told The Independent Solorio was ID, located, and arrested within hours.

The victim was incredibly brave and did all the right things to get him to leave her alone, Palazuelos added.

Solorio had admitted to breaking into the home to approach the woman, according to prosecutors. But he pleaded no contest to stalking and breaking into a residence with the intent to commit a sex act.

When a defendant pleads no contest, they do not admit guilt, but also do not contest the charges against them, according to California-based Southwest Legal Criminal Defense Attorneys.

Solorio was given the maximum sentence of 6 years and 8 months.
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A blood-covered Texas man who knocked on doors in a neighborhood begging for help was then shot by a homeowner after forcing his way into a property, according to police.

The Houston Police Department says the man is in critical condition at a hospital in the city following the confrontation, ABC13 Houston reported.

The incident began shortly after midnight on Monday when witnesses reported seeing two men running near Campden Hill. One man was reportedly wearing a mask, while the other was bleeding from the head.

According to investigators, the bloodied man began a frantic circuit of the neighborhood, knocking on the doors of several homes. Video footage obtained by ABC13 captured the man shouting for help and banging on a door before he eventually reached a property in the 4800 block.

Authorities say the man kicked in the front door and forced his way inside the house, where he was subsequently shot by the homeowner.

According to KHOU 11, a CBS affiliate in Houston, Lt. J.P. Horelica stated that investigators believe both suspects are in their early 20s.

The masked man was described as wearing a black hoodie and a jumpsuit. He fled the scene on foot in an unknown direction and remains unidentified.

Police have not yet determined the cause of the mans initial injuries or whether he had been assaulted before the break-in.

Residents of the quiet suburb expressed shock at the violence.

Gerald Conkrite, a neighbor, told reporters that such events are a rarity for the area.

"We don't have that over here," Conkrite told ABC13. "It don't work like that over here no more."

KHOU 11 reported that investigators are also asking residents to review home-surveillance footage from the neighborhood to track the suspects' movements before the shooting.
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Nearly two decades after a South Bend woman vanished, her husband, who reported her missing, is now charged with her murder, authorities say.

Lucio Lerma Sr. was arrested earlier this week and indicted for the 2007 killing of his wife, Delia Lerma, Indiana prosecutors announced Tuesday.

On December 4, 2007, Delia Lerma left her home in the 700 block of South Bendix Street to go to Rosales Food Store on Western Avenue - about a minute drive from her home.

She also told family members she was meeting a relative and would return shortly. That is the same story her husband initially told police as he filed a missing persons report just days before her body was found.

Four days later, officers responded to a tip about Delias van being spotted on Carlisle Street. Inside the van was Delias slain body. She had been stabbed multiple times.

open image in gallery Lucio Lerma Sr. was recently arrested for the stabbing death of his wife Delia Lerma in December 2007. He had filed a missing person report about her shortly before she was found dead ( St. Joseph County Jail )

But no arrests were made at the time and the case went cold before investigators took another look.

Between March 16 and March 19, 2026, prosecutors said a grand jury reviewed multiple cases, including Delia Lermas death.

South Bend Cold Case investigators reopened the investigation, reexamining evidence and applying new technology in an effort to generate leads, authorities said. Further details about the evidence that tied Lerma to the alleged crime have not been released.

Police also partnered with the television program Cold Justice, whose crew spent several weeks with the department in the summer of 2025. The episode highlighting the case aired in November 2025.

On March 19, after reviewing all the evidence and listening to a number of witnesses, the grand jury returned a true bill for murder against Lucio Lerma Sr., prosecutors said, according to WNDU.

open image in gallery In December of 2007, Lerma, 33, was found dead in a van in the 2100 block of S. Carlisle Street. She had been stabbed multiple times ( Michiana Crime Stoppers )

The St. Joseph County Prosecutors Office confirmed Lucio Lerma Sr., the victims husband, has been charged with murder in the death of 33-year-old Delia Lerma.

Lerma was arraigned before a St. Joseph County magistrate, where a judge ordered he be held in the St. Joseph County Jail without bond.

His next court appearance is set for April 6.
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A convicted felon out on parole is back behind bars after he allegedly stole a truck and led police through the streets of Nashville in a high-speed chase that ended in tragedy when he killed a woman.

Ray Eugene Padgett, 52, is facing multiple felony charges  including criminally negligent homicide and vehicular homicide by recklessness  in the death of 23-year-old Oluwalayomi Fadero, according to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.

Metro Nashville Police Department spokesperson Don Aaron said investigators believe the parolee, who has a long criminal history, slammed into Faderos Hyundai Elantra sedan just moments before she reached her house.

The horrible chain of events began around 9:30 a.m. on March 20, when Padgett is accused of stealing a Ford F-250 from a car lot in North Nashville, Aaron said.

The owner of the truck, using a tracking device, was able to locate his vehicle and followed it to an alley off St. Louis Street, where Padgett allegedly reversed and rammed the owners car before fleeing. Charges related to that crash are expected, police said.

open image in gallery Ray Eugene Padgett, 52, is charged with criminally negligent homicide and vehicular homicide by recklessness in the death of 23-year-old Oluwalayomi Fadero ( Metropolitan Nashville Police Department )

Police then launched a helicopter and said Padgett was located on Murfreesboro Pike a short time later.

The intention at that point is to keep an eye on the truck until it finally stops, have ground units move in, and take the man into custody, Aaron explained at a press conference on Friday.

Padgett then allegedly rammed an unmarked police SUV with a plainclothes detective inside near the connector road between Murfreesboro Pike and Old Murfreesboro Pike, according to police. The detective was forced to flee on foot. Within minutes, Padgett is accused of speeding the wrong way down Murfreesboro Pike at nearly 80 mph, according to reporting from WSMV.

Fadero was turning off Murfreesboro Pike onto Hickory Woods Drive when police say Padgetts truck violently struck her car on the drivers side. The impact reportedly sent both vehicles roughly 100 yards into a ditch.

Fadero was pronounced dead at the scene. Padgett suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital before being released and arrested the next day.

Police say Padgett, who has at least 20 prior convictions across five Tennessee counties, was last arrested in Nashville in 2023 for a parole violation and had since been released.

We believe he continues to be on parole and was on parole this morning when he stole the truck and set off the horrible, horrible chain of events that claimed the life of an innocent Nashville woman who was turning into her subdivision to go home, Aaron said.

In addition to the homicide charges, Padgett faces counts of felony reckless endangerment, attempted criminal homicide, and driving on a revoked license. Additional charges are pending, police said.

He is now being held at the at the Nashville Downtown Detention Center on a $805,000 bond. The Independent has attempted to find legal representation to contact for Padgett.

open image in gallery Fadero was turning onto the road where she lived when she was killed, police said ( GoFundMe )

open image in gallery Fadero, a recent graduate of Fisk University, was remembered by loved ones as kind and full of light. She had been on track to complete her nursing degree later this year ( GoFundMe )

Fadero, a recent graduate of Fisk University, according to WKRN, was remembered by loved ones as kind and full of light. She had a bachelors degree in computer science and a minor in business administration and had also been on track to complete her nursing degree in August 2026.

According to a GoFundMe, Fadero was with her dog Nala at the time of the crash.

She was simply on her way home, and her dog Nala was with her in the car, according to the fundraiser.

Miraculously, Nala survived the crash and was reunited with Oluwalayomis loved ones, but the loss of Oluwalayomi has left a deep void in the hearts of everyone who knew her.
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A woman charged with trying to murder Rihanna and more than a dozen other felonies is set to appear in court to enter a plea Wednesday.

The singing superstar, her hip-hop star partner A$AP Rocky, their three young children and many others were at their home in the Beverly Hills area when Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, 35, of Orlando, Florida, opened fire on the property on March 8, prosecutors said.

Ortiz is charged with 10 counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and three counts of shooting at an occupied vehicle or dwelling.

At her first appearance in Los Angeles Superior Court on March 11, Ortiz's lawyer entered a plea of not guilty on her behalf, but then withdrew it in favor of postponing the arraignment.

Rihanna's Los Angeles home in Beverly Hills, California ( AP )

Public records show Ortiz has been a licensed speech pathologist for more than a decade. Now jailed on $1.8 million bail, she could get life in prison if convicted on all charges.

The Public Defender's Office said only that "we will work to ensure that our client receives the full protections guaranteed under the Constitution.

District Attorney Nathan Hochman said when Ortiz was charged that Rihanna and Rocky were together in an Airstream trailer at the time of the shooting, while her mother, their children and staffers were in the main house.

The three counts of firing at a dwelling were for Rihannas house, her trailer, and a neighbors house, prosecutors said. The 10 assault counts were for Rihanna and family, two staffers and two people in the neighboring house.

Hochman would not say where any of the bullets landed, discuss a motive or describe any connection between Ortiz and Rihanna, saying all were under investigation.

A nine-time Grammy Award winner, Rihanna has 14 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including We Found Love, Work, Umbrella and Disturbia. She founded the makeup brand Fenty Beauty in 2017.

She and A$AP Rocky announced the birth of their third child, a girl named Rocki Irish Mayers, in September.
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The woman accused of trying to murder Rihanna by shooting up her home while her young children were inside has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder.

Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, of Orlando, also pleaded not guilty to more than a dozen other felony counts in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday.

Ortiz, 35, is accused of pulling up to Rihannas property and spraying about 20 bullets from an AR-15 style rifle into a tall exterior wall on March 8.

Rihanna, her hip-hop star partner A$AP Rocky and their three young children were inside their home, in the Beverly Hills area, at the time of the shooting.

Ortiz is charged with 10 counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and three counts of shooting at an occupied vehicle or dwelling. She could get life in prison if convicted on all charges.

The district attorney would not say where any of the bullets landed, discuss a motive or describe any connection between the suspect and Rihanna ( AFP/Getty )

Her lawyer, Deputy Public Defender Derek Ray Dillman, entered the plea on her behalf as Ortiz appeared behind glass in a custody area, wearing yellow jail clothes with her blond hair in braids.

She spoke only to agree to waive her right to a speedy preliminary hearing, the next phase of the case where evidence is presented to determine whether a trial is warranted.

Her lawyer asked that her bail be reduced from $1.9 million to $70,000 based on her ability to pay. Judge Theresa McGonigle declined the request and kept the bail the same.

The prosecutor, arguing against the reduction, said she's a major risk to the community and would likely flee.

This case involves a dangerous, deliberate shooting into occupied homes, Deputy District Attorney Alexander Bott said. This is the kind of conduct that could easily have resulted in multiple homicides.

When Ortiz was arrested hours after the shooting, she was alone in her car with the rifle, more rounds and a wig she intended to use as a disguise, Bott said.

Public records show Ortiz has been a licensed speech pathologist for more than a decade. McGonigle ruled at the state attorney general's request that she should be prevented from practicing in California.

Neither side spoke to reporters outside the courthouse.

An email to Dillman seeking comment was not immediately answered.

District Attorney Nathan Hochman said when Ortiz was charged that Rihanna and Rocky were together in an Airstream trailer at the time of the shooting, while her mother, their children and staffers were in the main house.

The three counts of firing at a dwelling were for Rihannas house, her trailer, and a neighbors house, prosecutors said. The 10 assault counts were for Rihanna and family, two staffers and two people in the neighboring house.

Hochman would not say where any of the bullets landed, discuss a motive or describe any connection between Ortiz and Rihanna, saying all were under investigation.

He also said his office was investigating social media posts from Ortiz from the days leading up to the gunfire.

A nine-time Grammy Award winner, Rihanna has 14 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including We Found Love, Work, Umbrella and Disturbia. She founded the makeup brand Fenty Beauty in 2017.

She and A$AP Rocky announced the birth of their third child, a girl named Rocki Irish Mayers, in September.
The News in Brief Wednesday, March 25, 2026

A Russian journalist has been sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison for referring to Russia's occupation of 20 percent of Georgia, according to Russian independent media.Valeria Kichigina, a journalist with Dozhd, was convicted by the Tagansky District Court in Moscow on charges of spreading what authorities called "fake news about the war."The case is notable as the first known instance in Russia where such charges are linked to statements about the 2008 war with Georgia, rather than criticism of the war in Ukraine.The charges stem from an Instagram story in which Kichigina marked the anniversary of the August 2008 war. She wrote that Russian forces entered Georgia on the night of August 7 to 8 and bombed cities, adding that 20 percent of the country remains under Russian occupation.Kichigina said the post served as a pretext for the case against her. She linked the prosecution to her reporting on the so-called Baymak case.No will exists, and none was needed after the death of Ilia II, proto-presbyter Giorgi Zviadadze said on March 24 at the Sioni Patriarchal Cathedral.Zviadadze said the Patriarch had already appointed Metropolitan Shio as locum tenens during his lifetime, making a will unnecessary under church rules. He explained that a will is only required if no such appointment is made. In that case, the position would go to the most senior member of the Holy Synod by ordination.He said there is no written will and that the Synod would have been aware of it if one existed. According to Zviadadze, the Patriarch made a clear, deliberate decision in advance to avoid uncertainty.Zviadadze also urged the media not to speculate about a successor during the mourning period, saying such discussions are inappropriate while the Church is grieving.Ilia II died on March 17. His body lay in state at Holy Trinity Cathedral, and he was buried on March 22 at Sioni Cathedral.
Members of the Whiffenpoofs a cappella choir of Yale University and members of a local choir sing together in Zhaoxing Dong Village of Liping County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, March 23, 2026. The Whiffenpoofs a cappella choir of Yale University visited Liping County in southwest China's Guizhou Province from March 23 to 24 for cultural exchange activities. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

A humanoid robot undergoes training and data collection at the Qingdao Humanoid Robot Data Training Center in Laoshan District of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, March 23, 2026. Located in the city's Laoshan District, the Qingdao Humanoid Robot Data Training Center is equipped with data collection scenarios for humanoid robots such as intelligent industrial manufacturing, smart home, and commercial services, providing support for related research and development of humanoid robots.

Data collectors here control robots to complete specific tasks like logistics sorting, supermarket restocking, kitchen operations, and component assembly. Through thousands of repetitions and trials, massive amounts of motion data are generated, endowing robots with a smarter "intelligent brain," and helping humanoid robots enter all walks of life to serve thousands of households. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

A robot waves to the audience at the media center of the 2026 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum) in Beijing, capital of China, March 24, 2026. Themed "Full Integration Between Technological and Industrial Innovation," this year's ZGC Forum is held in Beijing from March 25 to 29. More than 1,000 guests from over 100 countries and regions are expected to participate in the forum, which features more than 100 events. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

This photo taken on March 23, 2026 shows the outdoor photovoltaic floor tiles in the Boao zero-carbon demonstration zone in Boao, south China's Hainan Province. Since the "Boao Near-Zero Carbon Demonstration Zone" was renamed the "Boao Zero-Carbon Demonstration Zone" in March 2025, the area has achieved notable progress in energy conservation and carbon reduction and has fully entered a stage of normalized zero-carbon operation. According to measured data, energy-related carbon dioxide emissions from buildings and municipal infrastructure in the zone dropped from 11,350.1 tonnes in 2019 to about 14.6 tonnes in 2025, a reduction of 99.9 percent. The zone generated 29 million kWh of green electricity a year, meeting its yearly power demand of about 19.4 million kWh, with the remaining 9.6 million kWh fed into the grid. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

The inaugural direct flight of Air China from Brussels to Beijing gets a water salute at Brussels Airport in Brussels, Belgium, March 24, 2026. Chinese carrier Air China launched a direct passenger service between Brussels and Beijing, China's capital, on Tuesday, and will launch another between Brussels and Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Thursday, adding new air links between Belgium and China. (Air China/Handout via Xinhua)

Israeli security forces and emergency responders work at the site of an Iranian missile attack in Tel Aviv, Israel, March 24, 2026. A missile fired from Iran struck Tel Aviv on Tuesday, injuring several people and damaging buildings and vehicles, Israeli authorities said. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)

A drone photo taken on March 23, 2026 shows tourists visiting a scenic area in Nanning City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Photo by Yu Xiangquan/Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on March 24, 2026 shows an opened sluice gate diverting water from the Yellow River for irrigation in Qingtongxia, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)
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A California man has been arrested after being accused of kidnapping two college students and raping another woman, according to authorities.

Alexander Schecter, 26, was apprehended on March 20 in Santa Monica in connection with the alleged sexual assault. He had been arrested just eight days earlier amid an investigation into the alleged kidnapping, according to a UCLA Police Department press release.

Police first responded to reports of a possible kidnapping near the University of California-Los Angeles, around 3 a.m. on March 8.

Two female students were being dropped off in the area when Schecter allegedly refused to allow them to leave his car, the statement said. The 26-year-old suspect had threatened to hurt both of the women, police said. Fearing for their safety, the pair remained in the vehicle and were driven half a mile to Gayley Avenue, one of the main roads passing through the campus.

Its unclear why the women were in his car to start, or if the victims knew the alleged suspect.

Alexander Schecter was arrested after allegedly kidnapping two UCLA students and raping a woman ( UCLA Police Department )

Schecter was identified by police four days later and was arrested on charges of kidnapping and false imprisonment. Eventually, he posted bail.

However, amid the investigation into the alleged kidnapping, UCLA police uncovered evidence allegedly linking Schecter to a previously unreported sexual assault involving a female victim. The alleged assault took place in Los Angeles on October 12, 2025. According to police, the crime unfolded between 2 and 5 a.m.

The victim had no connection to UCLA.

Further details of that alleged assault have not been released.

UCLA police again arrested Schecter on Friday at his home. He was subsequently booked on one count of rape by force, one count of forcible oral copulation, one count of robbery, one count of extortion, and one count of battery, the press release says.

Schecters bail has been set at $600,000, according to police. Following his arrest, he was taken to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department Twin Towers Correctional Facility.

As the investigation into Schecter continues, detectives have urged anyone who knows of unreported incidents involving him to come forward.

Schecter has no relation to UCLA, according to the police statement.
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Apple users across the UK will now be required to provide either a credit card or official identification to verify their age, following the latest software update for iPhones and iPads.

This new measure is designed to ensure users are old enough to access specific services and "take actions on their account".

The move comes amid a growing, industry-wide discussion concerning the online safety of children.

According to an Apple support page, the tech giant will confirm whether a user is 18 or older through credit card verification or by scanning their ID.

As part of the new iOS 26.4 software update, web content filters will also be automatically activated for children, teenagers, and adults who do not complete the age verification process.

These checks coincide with a crucial vote in the House of Lords this Wednesday, where peers are set to reconsider proposals to block under-16s from social media platforms deemed harmful.

A Commons-backed amendment, supported by ministers, could see children banned or restricted from accessing certain social media services, with several bereaved parents urging members of the Lords to "vote to raise the age".

open image in gallery As part of the latest iOS 26.4 software update, Apple will automatically turn on web content filters for children and teenagers, as well as adults who do not confirm their age ( Getty/iStock )

Alongside this, hundreds of teenagers are set to take part in a trial of social media bans, time limits and curfews.

Speaking ahead of the debate, Lord Nash said: Today, my colleagues in the Lords have the opportunity to again tell our elected colleagues that when it comes to our children and social media, there can be no half measures and no wasted opportunities.

The damage that social media is doing to our children increases by the day.

It is now clear that the Governments consultation is a rushed job with no guaranteed outcome  and worse, one skewed towards the so-called positive benefits of social media.

If Apple users cannot confirm their age or are not an adult, they will be required to connect to a family sharing group with an adult who has confirmed their age to take certain actions on their account.

open image in gallery The age checks will mean users have to prove they are old enough to access certain services and take actions on their account ( Getty/iStock )

UK media regulator Ofcom said Apples age checks are a real win for children and families, according to the BBC.

The Governments consultation on a potential Australia-style social media ban is set to conclude on May 26.
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Meta and YouTube have been found liable on all seven counts in a landmark trial in Los Angeles that could shape the future of social media in the United States.

The verdict comes a day after a similar result was reached on a case in New Mexico, where a jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million for violating consumer protection laws.

In the LA case, a jury awarded the 20-year-old plaintiff, identified as Kaley or KGM in court documents, $3 million in compensatory damages. After more than 40 hours of deliberation across nine days, California jurors decided that Meta and YouTube were negligent in the design or operation of their platforms and that this negligence was a substantial factor in causing harm to Kaley, The Associated Press reports.

The jury specifically found that the companies knew their platform designs were dangerous for minors and failed to provide adequate warnings about those risks.

Kaley testified that her use of social media as a child, starting with YouTube at age 6 and Instagram at age 9, caused her to become addicted to the technology and exacerbated her mental health struggles. While Meta argued her issues stemmed from a turbulent home life, the legal threshold only required the plaintiff to prove the platforms were a substantial factor in her harm, rather than the sole cause.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg leaves the Los Angeles Superior Court after testifying on February 18, 2026. Meta was found liable in the social media addiction trial today ( Getty )

The multimillion-dollar verdict is expected to increase, as the jury decided the companies acted with malice, oppression or fraud. This means the trial will now move into a second phase to determine punitive damages, where jurors will review new evidence to decide on a final penalty.

Meta and Google-owned YouTube were the two remaining defendants in this case. TikTok and Snap settled before the trial began.

In assigning blame, jurors determined that Meta held the majority of the responsibility, saddling the company with 70 percent of the liability compared to 30 percent for YouTube.

We respectfully disagree with the verdict and are evaluating our legal options, Meta said in a statement to the AP.

The decision was reached by a 10-2 majority on the primary liability claims, as only nine of the 12 jurors were required to agree under California law.

Lawyers representing Kaley, led by Mark Lanier, pointed to specific design features they said were intended to hook young users, such as the infinite nature of feeds, autoplay features and notifications.

Lawyers for YouTube noted that Kaley spent only about 1 minute per day on YouTube Shorts since its 2020 launch. However, the court instructed jurors to focus on these design mechanics rather than the specific content of posts, which remains protected under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

During deliberations, defense attorney Laura Marquez-Garrett called the trial a vehicle for getting internal corporate documents into the public record, comparing the tech industrys current scrutiny to past legal battles against the tobacco and opioid industries.

This case is considered historic and its outcome could affect thousands of similar lawsuits filed against social media companies.
BAGHDAD, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Iraq will summon the U.S. charge d'affaires to protest the deadly airstrike earlier in the day against an Iraqi military medical facility, the Iraqi military said Wednesday in a statement.

According to the statement, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani has directed the foreign ministry to summon the U.S. charge d'affaires and deliver a strongly-worded official note of protest following the attack on the Habbaniyah military clinic, an affiliate of the Iraqi defense ministry.

The statement called the attack a "fully fledged crime in violation of international law," which undermines the relationship between the peoples of Iraq and the United States, adding that Iraq maintains the right to respond under the UN Charter.

A formal complaint, supported by evidence and detailed documentation, will also be lodged with the UN Security Council and the UN to affirm the rights of Iraq and its people in the face of these violations, it added.

Earlier in the day, the Iraqi defense ministry said in a statement that the military clinic and an engineering unit affiliated with the Habbaniyah site command in western Anbar province were hit by an airstrike in the morning, leaving seven soldiers dead and 13 others wounded.

On Tuesday, the Iraqi foreign ministry already summoned both the Iranian ambassador and the U.S. charge d'affaires to Baghdad to deliver formal protests regarding two deadly strikes that day.

The Iraqi moves came amid heightened regional tensions following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran starting on Feb. 28, to which Iran and its regional allies have responded with attacks on Israeli and U.S. interests across the Middle East. 
From left to right: U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming and U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow
Vanessa Motta, center, leaves the Hale Boggs Federal Building with attorneys after a day of opening statements in New Orleans, Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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BusinessCompaniesABC The big ABC names who have gone on strike for higher pay Calum Jaspan and Kishor Napier-Raman Updated March 25, 2026  5:50pm ,first published March 25, 2026  10:08am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Some of the ABCs most recognisable faces, including Late Night Live host David Marr and The Radio National Hour presenter Fran Kelly, walked off the job for 24 hours on Wednesday morning, demanding higher pay from the public broadcaster. Many of the ABCs services switched to BBC transmissions as more than 2000 staff stopped work according to their unions, striking over what they claim are poor working conditions and an unacceptable pay offer to raise wages by 10 per cent over three years. ABC presenter Fran Kelly speaks at the start of a 24-hour strike by staff over wages. Janie Barrett Late Night Live host David Marr (centre left) speaks to Four Corners reporter Angus Grigg during a rally by staff outside the public broadcasters headquarters in Sydney. Sam Mooy 7.30 reporter Jason Om holds a union flag at a rally in Sydney. Sam Mooy

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Kelly, who was a mainstay of political journalism as host of RN Breakfast for 16 years, said the ABC was leaving staff stranded on salaries too low to meet the cost of living. Ive seen too many sensational journalists, committed journalists, committed producers leave [the ABC] not because they wanted to, but because they had to because they just had to get a life and get their family going, and thats what they had to do, Kelly told staff at a rally outside the ABC offices in Sydney. Kelly addressed the rally alongside media union president and ABC journalist Michael Slezak. Marr was in the crowd alongside Four Corners reporter Angus Grigg. In Melbourne, hundreds of staff congregated outside the office to drive home the unions message. Speaking to staff in Melbourne, business reporter Dan Ziffer said jobs were so insecure in some instances that journalists could win an award one day and be rejected for a loan for a car the next. Earlier in the morning, the ABCs managing director Hugh Marks told ABC Radio Sydney host Hamish Macdonald he could use an escalation in the Middle East conflict or the fuel crisis to demand staff return to work during the landmark strike, which began at 11am on Wednesday.

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He said that on Tuesday evening he had widened the definition of emergency broadcasting at the public media corporation to include a matter of national or international importance. Pressed earlier by ABC Radio Sydney Mornings host Macdonald on whether he included the ongoing fuel crisis and wars in the Middle East in that new definition, Marks said it depends upon how those matters progress. It is not a great time for our team to be out. There are a lot of things happening in the world, he said. ABC employees, seen here outside the ABC studios in Melbourne, walked out on strike for the first time in 20 years. The Age Marks, a former chief executive at Nine, which owns this masthead, also said this week he wanted the Fair Work Commission to intervene and resolve the dispute, a position some ABC staff viewed as a signal that he was unwilling to agree to a better pay offer.

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But the Commission can only step in once bargaining becomes intractable after nine months of negotiation, an option that will not be open to the ABC until July. Rohan Doyle, employment and industrial relations partner at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, said this could lead to months of rolling industrial action if the parties fail to reach an agreement by then. Industrial action can be taken right up to when the intractable bargaining declaration is issued, and normally youd see unions exercising their rights and putting that kind of lawful pressure on employers [until then] in the hope they can extract some concessions. Opposition communications spokeswoman Sarah Henderson criticises ABC staff for striking as they leave Parliament House behind her. Alex Ellinghausen As ABC staff walked off the job, its radio stations in Melbourne and Sydney replaced their standard news bulletins with a pre-recorded message explaining the disruption, followed by the 1980s hit Waiting for a Star to Fall.

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Due to industrial action, we cant bring you your usual program. We apologise for the interruption. Regular ABC radio programs will resume as soon as possible, the message said. The ABC has disputed union figures on the number of striking staff. On the ABC TV news channel, presenter Gemma Veness warned viewers in the lead-up to the deadline that there will be disruption to programming. After 11am the broadcast switched to a feed from BBC World News America. The 7pm news and 7.30 will not air on the ABCs primary channel on Wednesday evening. Macdonald confirmed there would be no 7pm news bulletins on the ABCs main channel on Wednesday evening. Cassie Derrick of the media union said if Marks wanted his workforce to provide quality news on matters of national and international importance, he needed to provide quality jobs.

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Our members take their obligations to public safety very seriously, but they wont be taken for a ride, Derrick said. ABC staff are demanding the public broadcaster address what they claim is widespread poor pay, working conditions and job security. The ABC argues its pay offer of a 10 per cent rise over three years is fair in the context of constrained funding and that staff have long average tenures at the broadcaster. The ABC receives more than $1.1 billion in annual taxpayer funding. Loading

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Speaking to a press conference outside the ABCs Parliament House bureau as the strike began, opposition communications spokeswoman Sarah Henderson said the decision to strike was an absolute disgrace. Related Article Updated

ABC No 7.30 and plenty of reruns: How a strike will transform the ABC There has never been a more important time in this country when we need ABC journalists and other content makers to be out in the field, informing Australians. We have a fuel crisis. We have a cost-of-living crisis, Henderson said as ABC staff walked out behind her. Henderson said she was a member of the media union while she worked at the ABC, and that she supported the staffs right to prosecute their case, but just not in this moment. With Nick Newling, Meg Watson and Kayla Olaya The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
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Sponsored BusinessCompaniesBulls N' Bears Golden Dragon flags million-ounce-plus gold potential in WA Brought to you by BULLS N BEARS Andrew Todd March 25, 2026  4:40pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Golden Dragon Mining has unveiled a whopping million-ounce-plus gold target on its Cue project in Western Australia, following an independent review of up to 14 priority targets. The review was completed by experts Bare Rock Geoscience and suggests the scale and continuity of the projects shear systems are consistent with numerous similar orogenic gold camps across WA, typically containing at least a million ounces of gold. The multi-million ounce Big Bell mining camp and pit just 10km along strike from Golden Dragons Cue gold project in Western Australia. Golden Dragon says much of the historical exploration across the companys commanding 600-square-kilometre land package has been shallow and piecemeal, with earlier operators rarely drilling deep enough to properly test the more than 50 kilometres of mineralised shear zones. Despite numerous gold at surface prospects, most of the structural corridors at Cue remain untouched by modern exploration.

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This has left a considerable discovery opportunity on the table, with Golden Dragon now rolling out a chock-full exploration pipeline to systematically rank and test its targets. This review reinforces that Golden Dragon offers investors exposure to a district-scale landholding in the Murchison Golden Dragon Mining managing director Simon Buswell-Smith The company says that of the 14 targets generated, ten have been classed in the medium-to-high range for follow-up work and drilling, with its most advanced prospects, Behring Bore and Coodardy, already tested with the truth-telling rig. The companys maiden drilling campaign at Coodardy last year delivered a suite of promising high-grade, near-surface hits, including 8m at 7.3 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from just 20m and another 8m hit grading 5.1 g/t gold. That initial campaign was deemed highly successful by management, prompting a 3600-metre reverse circulation (RC) extensional drilling follow-up that has now wrapped up, with assays expected in the coming month.

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Of the latest high-priority targets identified in the review, its Big Bell SZ extension, Jeffery Well and Stockyard East prospects all sit as high-priority, drill-ready targets for the companys ongoing exploration in the Murchison. Notably, Big Bell SZ sits along strike from Westgolds historic Big Bell gold mine, which hosts a monster 5 million ounces of gold within its greenstone belts anticlines. It remains the only discovery along the highly prospective gold corridor, leaving the region ripe for another discovery. Golden Dragon Mining managing director Simon Buswell-Smith said: This review reinforces that Golden Dragon offers investors exposure to a district-scale 600 km landholding in the Murchison, anchored by more than 50 km of mineralised shear zones with the structural capacity to host multiple gold centres typical of +1Moz orogenic camps. The Cue project sits in the heart of WAs Murchison region, a tier-one mining jurisdiction that has produced more than 35 million ounces of gold. The area is bustling with activity from major operators. Westgold Resources massive Big Bell and Bluebird mines to Ramelius Resources recently acquired 2.5-million-ounce Dalgaranga project.

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Its not just the presence of these multi-million-ounce deposits that underscores the regions pedigree, the district continues to churn out consistently high-grade discoveries. Should Golden Dragon strike paydirt, a lucrative toll-treatment deal similar to that secured by its $500 million neighbour, New Murchison Gold could offer a fast, low-risk path to production for a similarly high-grade discovery. With a clear path forward, the company plans to progress its advanced Behring Bore prospect with deeper drilling, while kicking off soil surveys and mapping at its plethora of other targets. A first-pass aircore drilling program is also on the cards for the Jeffery Well target along the Big Bell shear zone. With a follow-up drill program already complete and assays due in early April, Golden Dragon is laying the groundwork to unlock what it says could be the regions next sleeping million-ounce-plus gold camp. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au

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BusinessCompaniesBillionaires Trumps border wall creates a billionaire family Sophie Alexander and Dylan Sloan March 26, 2026  5:45am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

The biggest beneficiary so far of the Trump administrations roughly $US171 billion ($243 billion) immigration spending blitz is a third-generation family business that specialises in sand and gravel. Since President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill into law on July 4, Fisher Sand & Gravel Co. has won more than $US8 billion in contracts from the Department of Homeland Security to design and construct segments of Trumps long-touted wall on the southern border. The awards account for nearly one-fifth of the money DHS has agreed to spend over that timeframe, during which its three largest contracts  ranging from $US1.5 billion to $US1.7 billion each  all went to Fisher. Tommy Fisher inherited the business from his father and has spent the better part of a decade evangelising his wall plan. The surge in spending has made the Fishers the first known billionaire family born out of the Trump administrations immigration policy. Its been a long time coming for Tommy Fisher, the companys president, who inherited the business from his father and has spent the better part of a decade evangelising his wall plan. During Trumps first term, Fisher became a regular pitch man on right-wing networks, insisting his wall would be built faster, sturdier and cheaper than the competitions. He built a privately funded three mile-long (4.8 kilometres) barrier in Texas. And later, he hired immigration bulldog-turned-border czar Tom Homan to help with lobbying.

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Fisher Sand & Gravel, sometimes also called Fisher Industries, is now worth more than $US1 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which is valuing the firm for the first time. Fisher, 56, owns the entire company along with trusts in the name of his two adult sons, Grant and Ryan, according to Arizona Corporation Commission records. Related Article Updated

Trump's White House Trump sacks Kristi Noem, the face of his immigration crackdown Amid the Trump administrations sweeping push to arrest and deport hundreds of thousands of immigrants, less attention has been paid to the $US46.5 billion thats been earmarked for a new border wall. Its the biggest chunk of money allocated in the Big Beautiful Bill for any one immigration program and the spending is well underway, even as illegal border crossings are at a more than 50-year low, according to Pew Research Center. The construction of the wall, a favourite talking point during Trumps first campaign, has been the subject of criticism across the political spectrum over its cost, durability, purpose and impact on border communities and the environment. While US Customs and Border Protection is adamant that walls work in conjunction with technology and its patrol agents, David Bier, director of immigration studies at libertarian think tank the Cato Institute, said theres zero evidence they effectively prevent illegal immigration. Fishers company has faced its own controversies. The three miles of wall it finished in Texas in 2020 didnt meet basic building codes or industry standards, and the segment has an unusually shallow foundation  all putting it at risk of collapse during a flood, according to a federally commissioned inspection reported by ProPublica and the Texas Tribune in 2022. A lawyer for Fisher disputed the reports findings at the time.

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The Fishers have also faced other troubles, incurring monetary penalties for environmental, labour and safety violations, Bloomberg News previously reported. And the government once ordered the company to pay $US1.2 million in restitution, penalties and fines after it admitted responsibility for defrauding the US. The Fishers didnt respond to multiple requests for comment via text messages, phone calls and emails. A CBP spokesperson said the border wall is a generational investment in security and that it will be integral in helping agents keep our border secure at the historic low levels we are seeing today. The company has won more than $US8 billion in contracts from the Department of Homeland Security to design and construct segments of Trumps long-touted wall on the southern border. For The Washington Post by Jordyn Rozensky and Justin Hamel Three miles Before Trump and his Build the Wall slogan became a $US47 billion political project, Fisher Sand & Gravel was a successful, if relatively niche, family business. Tommys father Gene founded it in 1952 and turned it into one of the largest sand and gravel companies in the country. It has built bridges, levees, dams and freeways across the West, and sold mining and other heavy equipment to the construction industry.

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Tommy Fisher first became interested in barrier-building when Trump ran for office a decade ago, envisioning a completed wall along the nearly 2000-mile-long southern border. We started working on it almost two years ago when he first made some of his campaign pledges, Fisher told Fox News in 2018 shortly after the company was selected along with three others to build concrete prototypes of the wall. All the employees of Fisher Industries were very, very excited. Related Article Good Weekend I went to the USs peak MAGA conference to gauge the state of movement. Heres what I found That work was held up after DHS and the US Army Corps of Engineers initially rejected Fishers prototypes because they didnt meet the governments requirements. Thats when Fisher turned to private money to build segments of wall as a proof of concept, hoping he would one day be able to sell it to the government. Starting in 2019, a nonprofit co-run by Steve Bannon called We Build the Wall started sending the company what would end up being more than $US8 million to build its first barriers.

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Concerns were soon raised about the structural integrity of the three-mile, privately funded wall it built close to the Rio Grande river in South Texas, but Fisher still went on to win $US2.5 billion to construct 135 miles worth of barriers in Arizona and Texas during the final year of Trumps first term in office. The CBP spokesperson said the agency was not involved in any private projects and that all CBP projects are done in accordance with its established design standards. When Joe Biden became president in 2021, his administration halted all Trump-era border wall work, including Fishers. Starting in 2019, a nonprofit co-run by Steve Bannon called We Build the Wall started sending the company what would end up being more than $US8 million to build its first barriers. AP Smart wall With Trump back in the White House, the work has started up again in a big way. DHS has so far awarded nearly $US20 billion in contracts to various companies for vertical barrier, vertical border, border wall and border barrier since Trump re-entered office, according to government contracting records. Thats billions of dollars more than the amount all agencies spent on border wall building during his entire first term.

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Other companies that have won bids for work related to the border include AMI Metals Inc., which was awarded a $US1.5 billion contract in February for a bulk steel order, as well as another family business in Galveston, Texas, called SLS Federal Services and BCCG, a joint venture based in Montgomery, Alabama. A CBP spokesperson said contracts are awarded in compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation. Related Article Opinion

Trump's America Trump created a goon squad in his image. Its replacing law with a state of panic Cory Alpert Former White House staffer Those contracts are the beginning of a plan to build more than 1300 miles of what the Trump administration is calling a smart wall, which includes steel bollard walls, waterborne barriers, detection technology, cameras and lighting. They also sometimes involve a secondary wall to create an enforcement zone, according to CBP. The segment Fisher Sand & Gravel is currently building in the San Rafael Valley of Arizona is a roughly 27-mile, $US300 million-plus project that started late last year. Photos of the construction in progress show heavy-duty machinery slotting the fences into ditches. Around six miles have been completed, according to Myles Traphagen, borderlands program coordinator for Wildlands Network, who visits the site every couple of weeks. Its unclear how long the project will take, especially as the construction industry faces constraints from Trumps immigration crackdown. In the states where these projects are concentrated  California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas  approximately 25 per cent to 40 per cent of the construction workforce is made up of immigrants, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

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This years laugh-fest has kicked off, with over 2000 performers stepping up to the mic. Here, our writers take a closer look. See all stories .

Josie Longs stand-up career began at the age of 14 after her mother spotted her love of TV comedy and enrolled her in a class for grown-ups. Soon after, she was holding her own alongside veteran comics in the Big Smoke. I had a lot of freedom, so Id go to London at the weekends as a teenager and do gigs. That was quite a cool, rare sort of experience, and I felt a bit like a spy when I would do a gig and be back at 1am and then be at school. She wasnt yet 18 when she visited the Edinburgh Fringe for the first time, where she won the BBC new comedy award, joining a roster of alumni that includes The Mighty Booshs Julian Barratt, ventriloquist Nina Conti and seasoned oddball Paul Foot. You might think that being a teen in the sticky carpet world of club gigs and late night festivals would be a daunting experience, but Long found it the opposite. It was not, weirdly, because people were very sweet to me, and it was quite a small scene, and I just wasnt aware what I was getting into. At the time I was less nervous than I am now. I was just so full of bravado at that point. You dont grow up in the Greater London area without developing a bit of a thick hide, after all. And also, me and my friends were sort of reprobates really, and wed be going out to nightclubs and things like that too, so actually stand-up was very tame. It was just a gig. Not like trying to buy speed or anything. London has long been home to a flourishing comedy scene. Perhaps its because laughter thrives in grey, sunless climates. Proof: the worlds biggest comedy festivals are in Edinburgh (average temperature 9 degrees), Montreal (snowed in from November to March) and cold, dark Melbourne. You cant say Melbourne is cold and dark, when its freezing over here, Long protests. Thats, like, rude. You have some of the best swimming pools on this entire earth, you know?

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But though Long has spent most of her life braving the hustle and grind of the UK capital, five years ago, she upped stumps and relocated to Glasgow. What, the south of England wasnt wet and miserable enough? The weather is not great, but thats what keeps Glasgow good. If the weather was good here, you wouldnt be able to live here  itd be too expensive. Shes loved the Scottish city for a long time, but it took forever to realise she wanted to take the relationship to the next level. Ive been making films here for about 15 years. Every time I came up, Id be like, What have these guys got that we havent? When I go to London, I feel really sad. I dont know what that means. And I was like, Maybe it means you wanna be here? Josie Longs new show was inspired by a visit to the Melbourne Museum. Stephanie Gibson Long is truly, madly, deeply in love with her adopted city  pathetic and fawning over this place is how she puts it. Glasgows got a beautiful sense of f---ing-about built into it. People are just very much on the wind-up. People are very friendly, and theyre also very funny, and its a cool culture for that. I really, really like it. Shes also a huge fan of Melbourne. While the UK always feels like its in terminal decline, she says, theres a sense of wonder and growth down under. It was at the Melbourne Museum that the seed for her latest show first sprouted. When I was in Australia in 2023 we saw the giant wombat skeleton in the museum, and it genuinely did blow my mind, she says. That encounter set Long and her two kids on an investigation into megafauna. I didnt even know about megafauna. I used to know about dinosaurs. But did I know about all of the shit after that? How much of it there was and how weird it was? And how the Australians were the kings of f---ing weird prehistoric animals? Even now, your animals are f---ing weird  and theyre the normal ones.

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It typically takes Long about six months to write a new show, but she gave herself a year and a half to craft this latest one. Its appropriate, given that this early fascination with ancient creatures has expanded to become a broader exploration of time: Its about very long things and very short things. Im using that as a way to talk about climate change and mass extinction, to talk about ageing and my own life, and to talk about how fast can feel and how slow can feel, and my children rapidly changing size and stuff. I had the idea that I wanted to write a show about these things more significantly. I want to talk about good things and small things and mundane things and massive things. Take 7: The answers according to Josie Long Worst habit? Cooking for people and then spending the entire meal telling them how awful the food is, how Ive totally messed it up and how it was supposed to have come out. Greatest fear? Dying. How does anyone say anything other than dying?! The line that stayed with you? Theres a line in a poem by Billy Childish about the birth of his son, and its about how he will treat his son better than he is treated. And I tell it to everyone, its you cannot spoil a child with love, and then last night I went to show a friend the poem in a book and realised Ive misquoted it, the line is love cannot spoil a child. So it did stay with me, but I guess more in vibes. Biggest regret? I played the trumpet when I was 18, and I stopped once I went to uni, and I wish I had not! I can start again, but Ive missed out on 20 years of practice and playing! Favourite book? This is too hard! My favourite book I read last year was Normal People by Sally Rooney, 10 years after everyone else did. The artwork/song you wish was yours? CMATs Stay for Something; any kind of exuberant German expressionist sea paintings; Raymond Carver short stories. If you could time travel, where would you go? I would go everywhere! I would go everywhere and try to really f--- up the timelines, add a bit to the plot. Long-time fans of Long will be in familiar territory here. Her shows can be many things at once: childlike and starry-eyed, politically biting, silly and off-the-wall, direct and earnest. Every time I write a new show, I think, this is going to really change things. This ones going to be nothing like any of the others. This ones really going to be totally different. Then you make it, and youre like, Oh, its me again. Shit. Me again is what Longs followers are there for. The establishment is always up for more Josie Long, too: shes been nominated for best show at Edinburgh three times, for a start. If theres one through-line that connects all the work she has done since those early teen years, its a sense of unshakeable optimism when it comes to the human race and its potential for good. Her first solo show was titled Kindness & Exuberance, which pretty much sums up her mission statement. And while her homeland might seem in terminal decline, pretty soon our interview takes a five-minute digression to discuss the surprise win of a Green candidate in Greater Manchester that day. All the lefties like me have just spent the day celebrating, but we cant believe it. This is the thing that Ive always said: if people are given a positive offer, they want to accept it, you know? she says. Long is also pushing her own work into new areas. Shes now filming a show that messes with the format of comedy specials. Im filming it with no crowds. Its in loads of different locations like a feature film. Its like a comedy festival show, but its sort of really, really intimately to camera.

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Meeting Jeff Goldblum is like hearing an old song kick in. The rhythm, the tone, the gliding cadences of real-time cogitation. He arrives on the Zoom screen, repeating my name aloud a few times, trying it out like a line he needs to crack, jamming it like jazz. Well, Im here in Los Angeles, in our so-called guest house, which has just been renovated, in a house that Ive been living for ah, ah, in which Ive been living for 40 years, he begins, the verbal traffic of impulse and hesitation familiar from dozens of movies from The Fly to Jurassic Park and Wicked. Its up in the Hills, in the Hollywood Hills, and then, of course, Emilie [his Canadian gymnast wife] joined me 14, 15 years ago, and the boys, eight and 10 years ago. And now its purpose has found its real, uh, destiny and look, look right there. I could reach it, can you see me? Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra performing on The Late Show with James Corden. CBS via Getty Images Yes, I can see him as he leans in his crisp charcoal jacket towards a vintage Fender Rhodes piano. Right now, the homework assignment is what Im going to be playing live when I come see you in Melbourne and all those other places  which he names in turn, skipping and sliding through Australias capitals like hes decoding a road map. Its his jazz ensemble, the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, were here to talk about. That and the whole musical parallel thats unfolded since he began his teenaged cocktail-bar-tinkling in hometown Pittsburgh in the 1960s, long before the heights of popular cinema he now commands. My innards, my gizzard, you know, connected me with it, he says of the Great American Songbook hes been exploring as bandleader this last decade or so. Come June, Night Blooms will make five albums of bespoke jazz standards lovingly arranged and sprinkled with vocal accomplices from Ariana Grande to Dido.

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Ive been so lucky to work with Miley Cyrus and Fiona Apple and Kelly Clarkson and Gregory Porter, and yes, I think I can tell you that Melody Gardot ... he wants to tell me that she sings one of his all-time favourites, Erroll Garners Misty, on the new album, but hes suddenly more excited about something else. I just opened up this, he says, teasing open a greeting card. It came with a gift, and you know what it is? Its the original sheet music to Misty that Erroll Garner did, and Melody has put it in a beautiful frame, the cover and all three sheets, yellowed now with age, but its so beautiful. Im going to hang it up right here in this room. At 72, Goldblum seems less an actor or musician these days than a meme in the original sense of the word: a kind of agreed cultural constant. His amiable, slightly nutty jazz-piano persona is as recognisable as the one that turns up in Marvel films, on chat shows, and in his own exploratory TV series, The World of Jeff Goldblum. Goldblum as The Wizard of Oz, with Cynthia Erivo in Wicked for Good. Also within arms reach today is David Blisteins script for Henry David Thoreau, a new Ken Burns series in which Goldblum voices the late American philosopher. His enthusiasm for the transcendentalist writer hints at something deeper about the actors approach to craft and life. Like my acting teacher Sanford Meisner said, youre not trying to copy anybody  youre trying to find your unique voice, given your personal and unique experience, he says. And thats what, of course, youre trying to do with jazz. Just as in his day job, you discover your personality, in large part, in a way that is spontaneous and hopefully alive in the moment because you are interested in and paying attention to the conversation, musically in this case, that is aimed at you from your fellows. Theres always room for personality in jazz. Goldblum often cites among his favourites bebop legend Thelonious Monk, who was renowned for leaving his stool to spin in space, and for attacking the keys flat-fingered or with unusual angularity. About 50 years since his first big-screen breaks in Death Wish, Nashville and Annie Hall, stories about Goldblums professional eccentricities  the pauses, the detours, the agitated preparation and restless circling of ideas  have become part of his legend. Cyndi Laupers memoir describes her first acting role opposite her constantly preparing co-star in the 1988 comedy, Vibes. Before every take, Jeff would get himself worked up, almost like a little breakdown  pacing, making noises, doing these emotional exercises  it drove me crazy. Other colleagues  director David Cronenberg, former wife and 80s co-star Geena Davis, his frequent Wes Anderson cast colleague Willem Dafoe  tend to describe his behaviours not as indulgence, but as process: a way of worrying at a moment until something alive stirs inside it.

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Back at the piano, when I think of some of the things I do improvisationally, maybe it does here and there, if Im lucky, have some of my authentic feel for delivering a line with a pause that might be unexpected or something particularly joyful, he says. You know, when you listen to Erroll Garner, I mean, you cant touch it, you cant measure it, but theres palpable joy  well, of course, he utters things vocally  but theres palpable joy coming through his fingers and in how he touches that piano. And, hopefully when Im in it, theres some of all of that, yes, yes, yes. To say nothing of his fumfering. Thats funny. The word, as hes framed it before, I inherited linguistically from my parents, but Im not sure what the derivation of it is  fumfering is kind of, uh, stutter, mmm, adjacent. Its a stutter and a kind of, you know, mmm, like Im doing now: fumfering, marking time, instead of getting to the point with succinct articulation. It might not lend itself to the more technical demands of Bartok or Rachmaninov, but in the jazz world, you can turn a mistake into a happy accident and fumfering, while youre trying to find how you want to say what you feel like saying, can be beautiful and acceptable, and you can embrace it. Jeff Goldblum with his partner, Emilie Livingston, and their sons at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan earlier this year. Getty Images Like in acting, Im getting more familiar and comfortable with this as I continue to try to get better and experiment. This place of confusion or being lost or not knowing or having not a clear strategy is a very beautiful place to be. It sort of is a nice fertile ground for discovery, you know? As accomplished musicians sometimes do, Goldblum may be downplaying his proficiency on an instrument hes been pursuing with some diligence since his piano teacher in Pittsburgh propped Alley Cat on his music stand when he was 10. His Broadway orchestra pit experience began with the long-running musical adaptation of Two Gentlemen of Verona in the early 70s. He recalls the thrill of looking sideways at trumpeter Thad Jones and drummer Bernard Purdie, and always keeping a piano at his apartment to stay on his game. As he pursued acting from New York to Hollywood, he says, I snuck it in, over the years, a movie and a play or two. The Fly character plays piano and the Earth Girls Are Easy character plays. And then about 30 years ago, I did Buckaroo Banzai and [co-star] Peter Weller, who plays horn, and I would get together and go through the fake books  he means the hand-drawn charts jamming musicians use.

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The turning point came when Weller talked to his friend  get this  Miles Davis, who said, Oh, I know you and Jeff. He said, You should get a gig and get together with real musicians, and youll get better, and youll have fun. It was a couple of decades before Goldblum named his band after Mrs Snitzer, an old family friend, and settled into a residency at Rockwell Table & Stage in LA. But if this were a movie, you could imagine the spinning headline at this crucial juncture: Miles Davis Discovers Jeff Goldblum. Ah, I dont know that thats the headline, he says slowly, as if searching his internal filing system for the correct one. It may be misleading but, ah, you know, how bout that? Goldblum in his most meme-able moment in a scene from Jurassic Park. Universal Pictures Well, it wouldnt be a movie that took itself altogether seriously. Whatever the context, thats a large part of what makes Jeff Goldblum Jeff Goldblum. As an actor, he has an advantage, Melbourne jazz piano virtuoso Steve Sedergreen tells me, because he knows how to make people feel good. Well, let me see, let me see, Goldblum responds. I mean, there are different portals into that answer. One is that you know, if youre on the beam, youre not trying to impress anybody. Youre just trying to express yourself. But yes, finally, your purpose and your mission may be well served to contribute something to the listener. But it may not always be to entertain or distract or otherwise make happy. As we know, music can play notes that you havent even discovered in yourself, of exquisite anguish and beautiful outrage and unbounded ecstasy. At its best, music can be potentially any of those things. I can think of a lot of songs that are deliciously sad.

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SYDNEY, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Police in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) have arrested and charged a man in relation to two bank robberies in the 1990s.

The robberies occurred in small towns in northern NSW in October 1996 and January 1997. In both cases, a man entered a bank armed with a shotgun and demanded cash from staff before taking a woman hostage until reaching a vehicle and fleeing the scene.

Police at the time issued a warrant for a male suspect, then aged 47, for both incidents, but he was not apprehended.

The NSW Police Force said in a statement that a 76-year-old man was arrested on those warrants in the neighboring state of Queensland on Monday.

He was extradited to NSW on Tuesday and charged by detectives with two counts of robbery while armed with a dangerous weapon and two counts of detaining a victim for advantage.

The 76-year-old man was denied bail and was due to make an initial court appearance on Wednesday. 
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Eating outMelbourne icon One of Melbournes pioneering Italian restaurants is up for sale The restaurant that set the standard for Italian finesse in Melbourne, Cafe Di Stasio, is being sold by its founders nearly 40 years after it transformed St Kilda into a magnet for great dining. Ardyn Bernoth March 25, 2026 Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Restaurant power couple Rinaldo Di Stasio and Mallory Wall have placed Cafe Di Stasio in St Kilda, the standard-setting Italian diner they have owned for 38 years, up for sale. Wall says the pair decided to offload the restaurant for a combination of reasons including two new projects in Italy and the fact they also want to concentrate on the other two venues they operate in the city and Carlton. The paint-splashed dining room of Cafe Di Stasio in 2005. Eddie Jim Emotionally, it was a hard decision to make, but it has not been fiscally sensible to keep Cafe Di Stasio open, Wall said. We want to be spending more time in Italy, but when we are in Melbourne, we do not want to be spreading ourselves thinly between three restaurants. Three restaurants here was never part of our long-term plan, she said.

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Since opening in Fitzroy Street in 1988, Cafe Di Stasio operated at the forefront of Melbourne dining with its white-jacketed waiters, classical Italian cuisine and theatrically elegant take on a big night out. Adjoining the restaurant, Bar Di Stasio was added in 2013. Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Its one of a small brigade of venues such as Stephanies, Miettas, Marios and Marchettis Latin that helped carve Victorias place on the international culinary map. Mallory Wall and Rinaldo Di Stasio say they want to focus on their other venues, including Di Stasio Carlton (pictured). Kristoffer Paulsen It has been a rough journey since COVID, though. In late 2023, Ronnie Di Stasio and Wall, partners in business and life, embarked on an extensive overhaul of the space, which had lain semi-shuttered since the pandemic. They planned to add an art gallery above a revitalised restaurant and bar. Im going in boots and all to St Kilda, Di Stasio said at the time. We have to make it work  It reminds me of when I first took it over, failure was no option. You put everything into it.

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The renaissance of Cafe Di Stasio was heralded as a boost to St Kildas beleaguered Fitzroy Street, which has been littered with for lease signs and plagued by successive restaurant closures and traffic problems for a decade. Rinaldo Di Stasio and artist Shaun Gladwell on the site of their planned gallery above Cafe Di Stasio in December, 2023. Wayne Taylor The gallery was due to open in 2024 with new artwork by internationally recognised artist and friend of Di Stasio, Shaun Gladwell. Gladwells new artwork Spazio Tarocchi is now being displayed at Di Stasio Citta, the sleek, brutalist, Murano chandelier-adorned venue that opened on Spring Street in 2019. Neither Citta or Di Stasios Carlton offshoot, opened in 2021, are affected by this sale. Citta has two chefs hats in the current Age Good Food Guide, Carlton has one.

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Putting Di Stasio St Kilda on the market was overdue. Hanging on to it was really a bit of an indulgence, Wall says. The couple received two offers on the St Kilda restaurant since 2020. Rinaldo Di Stasio at the St Kilda restaurant in 1991. Mario Borg The sale, which does not include the Di Stasio name, has absolutely nothing to do with a $1 million debt owing to the Australian Tax office reported in October last year, Wall says. At the time, two of Di Stasios companies were served with winding-up applications and given 21 days to settle the tax debts after allegedly failing to comply with business activity statement provisions, Federal Court documents revealed. The court action came a little over a year after the 71-year-old Di Stasio sold his 32-hectare property in the Yarra Valley for $7 million.

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The ATO was chasing a $200,000 tax debt from the St Kilda venue, while the CBD restaurant had accrued more than $710,000 in debt. The dispute with the ATO has been resolved, shut down and was finalised in 2025, Wall says. Federal Court documents confirm this. One of Shaun Gladwells video art installations, captured in 2019 at Di Stasio Citta. Luis Enrique Ascui She is tight-lipped about the pairs plans in Italy other than to say they are embarking upon a wine project in the Piedmont region and an ongoing project in Venice and Di Stasios hometown of Naples. Anthea Loucas Bosha, CEO of Food + Drink Victoria, paid tribute to Cafe Di Stasios contribution to Melbournes dining scene.

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This is very sad news. With their meticulous attention to detail and very specific view of hospitality, Ronnie and Mallory laid the groundwork for a very Melbourne dining experience that so many others followed, Loucas Bosha said. Cafe Di Stasio and Bar Di Stasio (pictured) were both groundbreaking for Melbourne. Mike Baker The beef carpaccio-serving, barolo-pouring, contemporary art-loving restaurant withstood cyclical St Kildas rocky fortunes and endless dining trends to remain an essential Melbourne dining experience for three decades. It was the kind of place that accidentally gave you a sense of occasion on every visit, said chef Karen Martini. You felt like the most important table in the room every time you went. It inspired a generation of dark, sexily lit Italian restaurants after it, and is still inspiring me at Bar Carolina [in South Yarra], Martini said.

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Wall would not reveal the price tag on the restaurant but said, if we do not get the right price, we will take it off the market. Elsewhere, the hatted Vex Dining in Northcote announced May 2 will be the last day of trade; bakery Penny for Pound closed its Bridge Road location in Richmond but is adding another on Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn; and Thai Tide on Bourke Street in the city shut the doors after more than 15 years.
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Less than a year ago Bondi lifeguard Quinn Darragh was lying in bed after a liver transplant, tubes hanging off him and with a goal of merely getting out of bed and standing up. That small step led to a much bigger vow. Bondi lifeguard Quinn Darragh in the lead up to beginning his attempted 24-hour swim of Bondi Beach. Instagram / Etienne Calmelet After more than 12 hours in the water, the lifeguard, more used to pulling swimmers out of trouble spots, was himself hauled out of the Sydney beach. Darragh entered the water at 8am on Tuesday in a bid to boost awareness for organ donation and raise funds for Ocean Heroes, an organisation that provides surfing lessons for neurodivergent children.

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Swimming between north and south Bondi, Darragh undertook to swim non-stop for 24 hours. No rest. No breaks. Just open ocean. Organisers told Bondi Beach News that if he succeeded, Darragh would be creating a record never before achieved in Australia: A continuous 24-hour ocean swim. For a man still well within his first year post transplant, deciding to take on such a physical challenge speaks to the resolve that carried him through recovery. While he didnt make the 24 hours, Darragh managed more laps of the iconic beach than any other attempt recorded. By swimming 64 laps, he left the previous 63-lap record in his wake. I sort of got pulled out, Darragh told 2GB on Wednesday morning.

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I had no idea how many laps Id done at that stage but I was zig-zagging on the second last lap, and then on the final lap  it was just uncontrolled vomiting. After battling bluebottle stings and a dropping temperature, Darragh knew it was the beginning of the end. I did ask myself, Could I take another stroke? and I asked myself that a few times in the laps previously. In a video by Etienne Calmelet to support Ocean Heroes, Darragh said he was 12 when he first got sick with symptoms of Crohns disease.

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Then in 2024, he got much worse and was diagnosed with an incurable autoimmune disease called primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). He had a liver transplant in April last year. Following the surgery, his body initially rejected the donor organ, causing complications and delays. After the operation, with tubes hanging out of me, he said he had set little goals.

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The first was, get out of bed, and stand up. The second goal was walk to the beginning of the ward. And then I got back in the ocean which is what I love so much. The ocean heals you in so many ways. And I decided I would have a crack at 24 hours of Bondi doing laps. Darraghs attempt has raised more than $33,000 for Ocean Heroes. Darragh raised $33,000 for Ocean Heroes after a 24-hour attempt. Related Article Men's health How to train for an ocean swim when you live 600km from the beach Despite falling short of his 24-hour goal, Darragh told 2GB the swim had achieved his main goals of raising the funds and awareness for organ donation and transplants.

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I was really fortunate enough to receive one after seven weeks, and what I realised throughout that whole journey was that theres a huge gap between people on the registry and people who need a liver. I really wanted to, I guess, pay it forward because of how much it meant to my family and I, getting a much-needed transplant, Darragh told 2GB. 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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NationalQueenslandCrime My Kitchen Rules star Anthony Mu found not guilty of assaults Ebony Cavallaro and and Cloe Read Updated March 25, 2026  8:05pm ,first published 6:54pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

A former contestant on My Kitchen Rules who was accused of a range of offences, including dragging a complainant down a hallway and choking her, has been found not guilty. Anthony Mu, who appeared on the cooking show on Channel Seven, was facing several charges, including assault occasioning bodily harm and common assault. The charges were historical and related to children. Claudean Uamaki Mu and Anthony Mu were contestants on cooking show My Kitchen Rules. On Wednesday in the Brisbane Magistrates Court, Mu was found not guilty on all charges.

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In handing down his decision, Magistrate Michael Quinn found there were several differences in the versions of events that were presented by complainants and witnesses before the court. Quinn said in parts of the claims, some of the evidence seriously undermined the credibility and reliability of the complainants. In one of the charges, Mu was accused of assaulting a complainant at a concert. Quinn said one witness disputed the claim, and also gave evidence that she saw the complainant in a drunken state, and had fallen. At the time [she says] she was assaulted or threatened by [Mu], she was, in fact, so adversely affected by alcohol that I could not be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt on her evidence and her recollections many years later as to what occurred, Quinn said. In one of the alleged incidents, a complainant claimed she was thrown into a wall. Quinn said he found there to be significant differences in her version of events, and the evidence a witness gave.

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He said the differences were to such an extent that neither version could be accepted beyond a reasonable doubt. Quinn said he would have expected the complainant to have significant injuries if the incident had occurred. In another alleged incident, a complainant claimed she was dragged down a hallway and choked against a wall by Mu putting his right hand around her neck. Quinn said the complainant said she could not feel her legs whilst being choked, and that she did not recall much after that. Im satisfied from that description that [the woman] may be describing unconsciousness. [The woman] describes injuries, tenderness, and some bruising around the back of her neck. No medical evidence was called  no photographs of injury were tendered.

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[The woman noted bruises on the back of her neck. Im satisfied if [Mu] choked [the woman] for 30 seconds to one minute in the way alleged, then it might  be expected that bruising and finger mark bruising would also be visible at the front of the neck and on the sides of the neck  but that was not alleged [by the woman]. Im satisfied on her evidence describing the choking as she did in evidence [the woman] is indeed lucky to be alive if her evidence to be accepted. Quinn said however he could not be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt of the truthfulness of the evidence regarding that allegation. He found another woman, who was originally a complainant, before she retracted her police statement, to be a credible witness. Quinn said considerable attention had been given to Mu and Uamaki-Mus appearance on MKR. However, Quinn said it was of little relevance, and had played very little part in my decision here today.

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After considering all of the evidence I cannot be satisfied the prosecution has proven each and every element of any charges against [Mu] beyond reasonable doubt. Accordingly, I find [Mu] not guilty of each of the charges against him. Outside court, Mu, supported by family, declined to answer questions from Nine News. One witness told a local Brisbane court last year that they saw Mu throw one of the complainants into a wall, with her back hitting bricks behind plasterboard. Mus barrister, Steve Kissick, put to the witness that they were making up stories, which the witness denied.

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In other claimed incidents, Mu was accused of kicking a complainant in the stomach, before pushing her down the stairs. A co-worker later took photos of her bruises, but the complainant never formally reported the incidents because she was fearful for her life, the court previously heard. Mu was charged alongside his partner, Claudean Uamaki-Mu, after they appeared together on My Kitchen Rules in 2023. The pair were promoted by the Channel Seven network during the show as a fiery Italian and a super-chill Samoan with hearts of gold. The pairs identity was under a suppression order in the earlier stages of the case.

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Several of their charges were thrown out due to insufficient evidence. Uamaki-Mus case remains before the courts. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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NationalVictoriaCourts Ex-CFMEU officials demolition company a front for secret bikie clubhouse, police fear Erin Pearson March 25, 2026  6:39pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Accused building industry extortionist Joel Leavitt has been banned from associating with a bikie employee after police suggested Leavitts demolition company was actually a front for a secret Bandidos clubhouse. A court document released to this masthead shows police hold serious fears that a fortified building in Sunshine West, registered as the business address for TCB Demolitions, is also home to the Bandidos Melbourne City chapter. In the document, police said the purported business address was situated on a small commercial lot with nothing to suggest a large demolition or cleaning business was being run from inside. Joel Leavitt leaving court last week. Jason South The front has been fortified with a steel welded gate. Investigators believe this could be the chapter clubhouse given the location, Detective Senior Constable William Mountney wrote in a document to the court.

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Police alleged that the connection between current Melbourne City Bandidos chapter president Codee Staff and Leavitt, who previously worked as a CFMEU health and safety official and earned an estimated $250,000 a year on one of the state governments Big Build projects, had nothing to do with employment relations, and instead had everything to do with Leavitt exercising control over the outlaw motorcycle gang through Staff. We have evidence of Melbourne City Bandido members attempting to obtain over $1 million over the previous six months, the document read. Possible issues surrounding the legitimacy of TCB Demolitions and its operations arose earlier this month, when suspicious payslips were used in an attempt to show the working relationship between Staff and Leavitt. Leavitt leaves court on March 19. Jason South When possible discrepancies arose, magistrate Malcolm Thomas ordered the matter to return to court on Wednesday so further investigations could take place.

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At the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday, defence barrister Christopher Terry said his 32-year-old client would abandon his bid to fly to Queensland for work, but maintained he needed to be able to drive work vehicles and could not only be chauffeured around by Staff. Terry said Leavitts bank accounts had been frozen, and maintained that any possible payslip issues could be explained as an oversight. The suspected Bandidos motorcycle clubhouse in Sunshine North. The Age Mr Leavitts business is legitimate, Terry said. Theres no concession that any material relied on is in any way false. We intend to come back with evidence ... such as Austrac payments.

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The document shows police believe TCB Demolitions may stand for taking care of the brotherhood, with TCB also known as a bikie club position. Police said banking records went on to show funds including a deposit of $30,000 had been transferred to and from the company to Codee Staff since Leavitt was bailed, raising concerns of potential face value money laundering. Bandidos. AP Leavitt was charged in January with blackmailing a man by demanding $663,000 during a meeting in Cedar Meats offices at a Melbourne slaughterhouse. He was later granted bail on strict conditions in February that permitted him to associate with Staff for employment purposes, but no other bikie members.

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Mountney said payslips tendered to the court showed Staff was employed to work on January 19,the same day he and Leavitt allegedly attended Cedar Meats, where Leavitt is accused of attempting to blackmail a man inside. Police have serious concerns to suspect these payslips were generated via automated accounting software only in an attempt to deceive the court, he wrote. Police await the urgent request of the Australia Tax Office. Related Article Courts Bikie-linked ex-CFMEU official submits possibly doctored bail documents In his document, Mountney said police were also concerned that TCB Demolitions advertised online that it offered services including mediation and litigation, despite Leavitt being banned from conducting debt collecting due to priors for violence. The website directly copies quotes and testimonies of other websites, including the words of Special Counsel Mr Richard Kouchoo whereby TCB has him listed as their managing director and principal lawyer, Mountey wrote. Police have contacted Mr Kouchoo. [He was] shocked that his details have been used ... stating that its obviously some kind of identity theft or scam.

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The prosecution argued that since they had recently determined the presidency of the Bandidos Melbourne City chapter had been handed from Leavitt to Staff, a non-association order should be put in place. The magistrate maintained concerns over the documentation provided to the court, and ordered Leavitt no longer associate with Staff, and only be transported around the state in Ubers registered to his or his wifes name. The matter is due to return to court in June. Staff has not been charged in relation to the alleged blackmail or any purported works with TCB Demolitions. 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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Unleaded petrol was selling at an eye-watering 259.9 a litre at Fast Fuel service station in Wantirna on Wednesday. Diesel wasnt selling at all. Yellow signs with a sad face emoji had been stuck to every hose in the forecourt, reading: Sorry this hose not in use. Ive been out of diesel at my sites for over a week. A couple of my sites will be out of unleaded in the next day or so, said Paul Andronicu, the director of four independent service stations in Melbournes outer east. Siblings Jamie Roche (left) and April Poutee find a novel way to extract the last drop of unleaded fuel from the hose. Ruby Alexander The number of Victorian service stations that had run dry of diesel reached 92 by 5pm on Tuesday, including 48 in Melbourne and 44 in the regions, while the number without petrol hit 115, including 61 in the city and 54 in the regions. Andronicu is an independent fuel retailer who relies on the spot market rather than long-term contracts with fuel distributors, and believes they have put operators like him at the back of the queue.

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Theyve shut us out so we cant get product, he said. Were a high-volume independent, we buy off the spot market. Im getting dribs and drabs from whatever is left over in allocation from my suppliers. Victorian Energy Minister Lily DAmbrosio said the government was concerned that certain communities serviced by smaller players in the market were being punished. Small distributors of fuel that typically buy the fuel from the spot market, they are not necessarily at the top of the queue, she said. We cant afford for there to be gaps in particular areas and for certain communities to be punished when it comes to a national problem. Were all trying to work together to ensure that there is fairness in where the fuel goes, she said.

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DAmbrosio said she had written to the liquid fuel distributors and would meet them on Thursday to seek assurances that additional supplies released to the market by the Commonwealth would be used to fill local gaps in supply. Motorists were trickling into Fast Fuels Wantirna servo on Wednesday afternoon. Most of those who spoke to this masthead said they had changed their behaviour to manage steeply rising fuel costs. Mark Orwin travels from Torquay to Ringwood each week to visit his parents, and has begun taking the train some days. Ruby Alexander Mark Orwin, who lives in coastal Torquay and visits his elderly parents in Ringwood once a week, said he had begun taking the train from Geelong some weeks to save money. It turns an hour-and-a-half journey into a 2-hour journey, he said.

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Plasterer Mark Gurech said he had picked up an extra shift and was working six days a week just to pay for unleaded fuel. The weekly cost of filling his tank had risen to $180, he said. Im working six days, Monday to Saturday, an extra eight hours a week, he said. Either you fill up a full tank and survive on noodles ... otherwise youve got to keep [refuelling] day by day. P-plater Chloe Rose, who has been driving for about 12 months, said she was regularly topping up her tank with small amounts of fuel to avoid a big financial hit. Basically as soon as it gets below three-quarters full, otherwise it costs too much, she said.

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April Poutee, also on her Ps, had a more novel technique: holding the fuel hose above her head and shaking it to get every drop into her tank. Her father, Mark Poutee, was nonplussed about the diesel outage. He had been holding off until he absolutely had to shell out for diesel as he watched prices soar above 300 a litre. Independent retailer Fast Fuel was out of diesel at its Wantirna service station on Wednesday. Ruby Alexander Thats why I havent filled up, and now theres no fuel here, he said. This masthead contacted major distributors Viva, Ampol and Shell with written questions on how they were managing the current spike in demand for fuel and whether they had experienced any shortages. None replied.

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Peter Anderson, chief executive of the Victorian Transport Association, said there was no shortage of fuel on Australian shores yet, but that surges in demand were contributing to local shortages. Weve got two ships sitting down at Geelong full of crude being pumped into the refinery, and weve got 88 ships coming to Victoria in April. So right now we dont have a fuel supply problem, Anderson said. Anderson said fuel distribution was a one-speed system. There arent a whole lot of tankers sitting around waiting for a spike in demand, he said. They work to a schedule, and theyve planned their schedule weeks ahead. So what that mens is, if you run out of diesel on Sunday, you dont get supply until Tuesday. The Victorian Transport Association and the Transport Workers Union applied to the Fair Work Commission on Wednesday for fuel surcharges to be recognised and reviewed weekly within supply chain contracts, warning the economy faced a looming supply problem in which transport operators would park their trucks rather than transport goods at a loss.

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On Wednesday, the head of Australias largest taxi company, A2B, whose brands include 13cabs and Silver Service, wrote to Victorian Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams asking for the $1.20 commercial passenger vehicle service levy  which is added to all cab and ride-share trips and collected by the state to fund industry assistance  to be redirected so that taxi drivers can keep the fee. Unlike ride-share apps such as Uber and Didi, which have hiked their fares to compensate drivers who are hit by spiralling petrol costs, taxi meter rates are set by state governments and reviewed annually. Victoria has yet to adjust its rate. Wantirna resident Frank Liang says high fuel prices will soon begin to affect the cost of other essentials. Ruby Alexander Wantirna resident Frank Liang spent more than $120 refuelling his car on Wednesday and said he was bracing for the increased cost of fuel to flow on to other essentials. Because the petrol has increased, the transport costs will increase, and because the transport has increased, everything will be increased, Liang said. The living cost, food, everything will be going up. I wish the Middle East war would be stopped soon. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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Exclusive NationalVictoriaSchools Pay gap for classroom assistants emerges as flashpoint in Victorian teacher dispute Noel Towell March 25, 2026  7:50pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

The wages of Victorias 34,000 government school classroom assistants have emerged as a flashpoint in the escalating teachers pay dispute that shut classrooms in hundreds of schools across the state on Tuesday. Thousands of education support workers were among the 35,000 Australian Education Union (AEU) members who walked off the job on Tuesday and thronged into Melbournes CBD for a giant rally demanding a better deal on pay and conditions from the Allan Labor government. Related Article Schools Victorian teacher strike as it happened: School closures, rally updates and parent guide during the states first government-school strike in 13 years The government has offered that cohort a significantly lower pay rise than that being offered to teachers and principals, which the union says is insulting. With the two sides of the dispute still far apart on a number of key issues, parents across the state could be facing months of sustained disruption to their childrens schooling. The union has threatened further strikes and bans on routine school tasks such as fielding calls or emails from parents and writing school reports.

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Officials from the Department of Education and the AEU were back at the negotiating table on Wednesday, but there are significant sticking points, and the wage offer to the classroom assistants could be a key barrier to an early settlement, according to sources on both sides. An educator protests in Melbournes CBD on Tuesday during the mass AEU strike rally. Ruby Alexander The union rejected an offer last week of a four-year deal for teachers and principals of a 17 per cent wage increase plus 1.5 per cent overtime allowance as totally unacceptable. The offer, which the union rejected hours after receiving it, included a 13 per cent pay rise, plus the overtime allowance, for support workers. The AEU is demanding a single pay offer for all the teachers, principals and support staff, who are all employed under the Victorian Government Schools Agreement.

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Education support staff, whose entry-level annual salaries are under $52,000, work with students in classrooms, especially those with complex needs. AEU Victorian branch president Justin Mullaly said they also work as school psychologists, business managers, in school offices, libraries, in IT and other roles. They are a common point of contact for parents, and are closely involved with students who need addition support with their learning and wellbeing, Mullaly said. Without these essential workers, our students cannot access education. The Allan Labor Governments offer of just 4 per cent in 2026 for education support staff, is insulting.

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A spokesperson for Education Minister Ben Carroll said education support staff were paid on a different scale to teachers because they held different qualifications, but under the governments offer, education support workers would earn a minimum of $720 more each month. The significant offer we put to unions reflects the important work our educators do every day teaching and shaping our youngest Victorians, the spokesperson said. We will continue to negotiate in good faith. Other sticking points in the talks include the Education Departments proposal to changes work allocations. The union claims, and the department denies, that this would remove the caps on face-to-face teaching and class sizes mandated in the current agreement. The two sides are also a long way apart on pupil-free days. The teachers have asked for five more each year, in addition to the existing five, but the government has offered one professional development day, which would be taken on one of the existing student-free days.

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The union did not respond to a request for comment before deadline. 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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PoliticsWAAUKUS US Admiral stares down AUKUS doubters over WAs submarine deadline Hamish Hastie March 25, 2026  5:15pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

The US Navys operations chief says his country will make good on its commitment to start delivering Virginia-class nuclear submarines to Australia by 2032, while suggesting the US industrial base will be big and quick enough by the end of the decade to fulfil those orders. US Naval Operations Chief Admiral Daryl Caudle has been in Australia for the past few days and on Tuesday visited HMAS Stirling and Rockingham in Perths south to see progress on base upgrades to begin accommodating a rotating force of US and British submarines from next year. US Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Daryl Caudle during his visit to Perth on March 24, 2026. Hamish Hastie Under the $368 billion AUKUS agreement, Australia has agreed to purchase between three and five Virginia-class nuclear submarines, with the first set to be delivered by 2032. Sceptics of the pact, including former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, believe that timeline will be impossible to meet because of the slow rate at which the US Navy is building its own submarines, around 1.3 per year.

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In order to meet the optimal pathway outlined by the original AUKUS agreement, the US will need to improve that build rate to 2.3 submarines per year. During his confirmation hearing in July last year, Caudle himself said there needed to be a transformational improvement in shipbuilding rates of 100 per cent to reach that target. Speaking to WA media during his visit, Caudle said he was optimistic that it would happen. Its a tough thing to predict, but I would say, I can confidently say that we should be above two submarines a year by the 2030s...based on our current projections, he said. Improvements in shipbuilding are slow because it took a long time for it to get to the place that it is today and the things that were doing, I think, take time to get it back to the place that I mentioned in my confirmation hearing.

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Caudle said the Navy was doing a range of things to improve its industrial base, including improving workforces, advanced manufacturing and using modularisation. He also said improved shipbuilding maintenance programs would see more US submarines in the water. Caudle said he visited areas south of Perth where US sailors will eventually live and met with Defence Housing Australia, which will facilitate the housing needs of the sailors arriving from next year. With Perth in the grips of a housing crisis, Caudle said the number of sailors would be a blip in the population increases, but that US sailors would fall in love with Perth and would have a big impact on the local economy. The actual impact of what US sailors will bring to the local economy there, I think, will be significant and a big opportunity for your country, he said.

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Caudle revealed the name of the squadron that would be based in WA as Submarine Squadron 3, which he commanded when it was based on Pearl Harbour before it was dismantled in 2012. With Australia purchasing Virginia-class submarines Caudle said it would be an implicit expectation that the two countries respective navies would work closely together in the decades to come. Youre such a great partner. Youve been with us in conflict since World War II, just in earnest, he said. When you have a great relationship with a country, and you have the same, generally, the same national interest and to protect the international rules-based order to protect sea lanes of communication, to protect critical choke points, the flow of commerce. Those types of missions are just common to like-minded navies. I think what comes with the selling of Virginia-class submarines is that we will just naturally work together to accomplish those missions together.

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So I wouldnt put it too much as a hard expectation is, I would just [say its] what two great partners do together. We operate together today with your Collins class, and well operate together with the Virginia class of the future. The Australian Government is investing $8 billion to expand HMAS Stirlings infrastructure over a decade so it can accommodate a rotating force of UK and US nuclear submarines, as well as eventually the Royal Australian Navys own Virginia Class submarines and the Australian-built SSN-AUKUS.
Daytime drone attack damages historic building in Lviv, Ukraine

In a change to their usual tactics, Russia launched over 400 drones in a daytime attack, said the Ukraine military. The attack damaged historic buildings in the city's centre.
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WorldEuropeRussia-Ukraine war In broad daylight: Russias surprise new tactic in Ukraine war Yuliia Dysa , Max Hunder and Andriy Perun March 25, 2026  11:50am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Lviv/Kyiv: A rare Russian daytime drone attack on Ukraine killed three people, wounded several dozen and set a building in the historic centre of the western city of Lviv aflame, officials said, following an overnight bombardment that killed five. More than 550 drones were launched at Ukraine in the middle of the day on Tuesday (Ukraine time), the countrys air force said  an abrupt change from Russias usual tactic of launching massive aerial attacks at night. Loading It followed an attack overnight in which Russia fired hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles. Russia had launched nearly 1000 long-range drones at Ukraine since Monday evening, Kyiv said. Russia also launched 23 cruise missiles and seven ballistic missiles during the night, hitting at least 10 locations across the country, according to Ukraines air force.

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There was no immediate comment from Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the scale of the attacks showed that more pressure had to be exerted on Russia. The scale of this attack clearly shows that Russia has no real intention of ending this war. And considering that Russia is also helping the Iranian regime carry out strikes in the region, the conclusion is obvious, he said. Without additional and strong pressure on Russia, without tangible losses for them there in Moscow, no desire will develop to move away from the war or return to peace.

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Video footage posted online showed a drone crashing into an old building next to a church in the historic centre of Lviv, 60 kilometres from the Polish border, and Warsaw said it scrambled fighter jets. Twenty-two people in the city were wounded, officials said. The attack stunned residents of Lviv, which is closer to Vienna than to the nearest active frontline on the other side of Ukraine. Although it has seen some lethal bombardments, they are far less frequent than in other major cities. A Russian Pion self-propelled 203mm cannon fires at a Ukrainian position in an image from video provided by Russias Defence Ministry this week. AP Tetiana Kachkovska said she saw the drone glide past the fifth-floor window of her workplace. My hands were shaking, my legs were shaking, she recalled. You cant get used to this.

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Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said a residential building was hit by a second drone, and debris from a third fell in a street. Russia is attacking a crowded city centre in broad daylight, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko wrote on X. Fire and smoke rise above Lviv city centre after a Russian drone attack on Tuesday. AP Regional Governor Maksym Kozytskyi said the 17th-century St Andrews Church  part of the Bernardine monastery complex in Lvivs historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site  had been damaged. In another western Ukrainian city, Ivano-Frankivsk, a national guard soldier and his 15-year-old daughter were killed by a strike, according to regional Governor Svitlana Onyshchuk.

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She said he had attended the birth of his daughter at a nearby maternity hospital several days ago. Mayor Ruslan Martsinkiv said windows at that hospital had been blown out, but nobody inside was harmed. Vinnytsia Governor Natalia Zabolotna said one person had been killed and 13 wounded in her region, south-west of Kyiv. Air defences engaged drones throughout the day near Ukraines capital. Officials in the western region of Ternopil said two energy facilities were attacked. Moscow denies targeting civilians, although its attacks have killed thousands since it invaded in February 2022. It says Ukraines civil infrastructure is a legitimate target because striking it can reduce Kyivs ability to wage war.

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Ukraine has also targeted Russias energy system, particularly oil refineries, depots and transport terminals. Overnight attacks killed five people across Ukraine and caused disruption to power supplies in Moldova, where parliament declared a 60-day energy state of emergency. Ukraines air force said Russia had launched 34 missiles and 392 drones overnight and that 25 missiles and 365 drones had been downed or neutralised. Two people were killed and 12 wounded, including a five-year-old child near the eastern city of Poltava, a regional official said. Zelensky said damage had been reported in 11 regions and issued a new appeal for allies to provide air defence munitions.

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He has repeatedly warned that Kyiv, whose main supplier of air defence systems against ballistic missiles is the United States, will face a deficit of missiles while Washington is focused on the US-Israeli war on Iran. Reuters 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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COPENHAGEN, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Wednesday formally submitted the government's resignation to King Frederik X, setting in motion a new round of negotiations to form a new government.

According to a statement from the Danish royal house, the meeting took place at 10:15 local time (0915 GMT) at Amalienborg, the official residence for the Danish royal family in Copenhagen.

After briefing the King on the result of the parliamentary election on Tuesday, Frederiksen requested that representatives of the parties elected to the Folketing, the country's single-chamber parliament, be allowed to express their views on the formation of the new government.

According to the royal house, Denmark's government formation process largely follows long-standing political practice rather than detailed constitutional rules. Based on the parties' recommendations, a negotiation leader, also known as a royal investigator, is appointed to explore the possibility of forming a new government.

In some cases, more than one round of consultations is required in the process. Before the establishment of a new government, Frederiksen will continue her service in a caretaker capacity.

Tuesday's parliamentary election produced no outright majority in the 179-seat Folketing. Frederiksen's Social Democrats remained the largest party, securing 38 seats, while neither the left-leaning "red bloc" nor the right-leaning "blue bloc" won the 90 seats needed for a majority. The centrist Moderates, with 14 seats, are widely seen as a pivotal player in the coming coalition talks. 
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WorldNorth AmericaSocial media Meta and Google found liable in landmark social media addiction trial Dawn Chmielewski , Courtney Rozen , Kaitlyn Huamani and Barbara Ortutay Updated March 26, 2026  7:41am ,first published 5:36am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Los Angeles: Meta and YouTube must pay millions in damages to a 20-year-old woman after a jury decided the tech giants designed their platforms to hook young users without concern for their well-being. The California jurys decision in a first-of-its-kind lawsuit could influence the outcome of thousands of similar lawsuits accusing social media companies of deliberately causing harm. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg leaves court last month after testifying in the case. Bloomberg The plaintiff, known by her initials KGM, testified at trial that she became addicted to social media as a child and that this addiction exacerbated her mental health struggles. After 40 hours of deliberations, a majority of jurors agreed and awarded her $US3 million ($4.3 million) in damages. Jurors later recommended an additional $US3 million in punitive damages after deciding the companies acted with malice, oppression or fraud in harming children with their platform. The judge has the final say over the damages.

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Its the second verdict against Meta this week, after a jury in New Mexico determined the company harms childrens mental health and safety, in violation of state law. Related Article Social media Zuckerberg grilled over Meta age limits and youth strategy at social media addiction trial Meta and Google-owned YouTube issued statements disagreeing with the verdict and vowed to explore their legal options, which include appeals. We will continue to defend ourselves vigorously as every case is different, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said. Teen mental health is profoundly complex and cannot be linked to a single app. Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda said the verdict misrepresented YouTube, which is a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social media site.

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The jury found that Meta and YouTube knew the design or operation of their platforms was dangerous or was likely to be dangerous when used by a minor. They also agreed that the platforms failed to adequately warn of that danger, further contributing to the plaintiffs harm. Todays verdict is a referendum  from a jury, to an entire industry  that accountability has arrived, the plaintiffs lead counsel said in a statement. Shares of Meta were up 1 per cent and Alphabet shares were up 0.2 per cent, little changed after the verdict. The Los Angeles case focused on platform design rather than content, making it harder for the companies to avert liability. Jurors listened to about a month of lawyers arguments, testimony and evidence, and they heard from KGM, or Kaley as her lawyers have called her during the trial, as well as Meta leaders Mark Zuckerberg and Adam Mosseri. YouTubes chief executive, Neal Mohan, was not called in to testify.

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Infinite scroll questioned Kaley said she began using YouTube at age six and Instagram at age nine and told the jury she was on social media all day long as a child. Lawyers representing Kaley, led by Mark Lanier, were tasked with proving that the respective defendants negligence was a substantial factor in causing Kaleys harm. They pointed to specific design features they said were designed to hook young users, such as the infinite nature of feeds that provided an endless supply of content, autoplay, and even notifications. Another perspective Social media Ritalin use, sleep quality, NAPLAN: How Australia will know if the social media ban has worked The jurors were told not to consider the content of the posts and videos that Kaley saw on the platforms. Thats because tech companies are shielded from legal responsibility for content posted on their sites thanks to Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act.

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Meta consistently argued that Kaley had struggled with her mental health separate from her social media use, often pointing to her turbulent home life. The company also said not one of her therapists identified social media as the cause of her mental health issues, in a statement following closing arguments. But the plaintiffs did not have to prove that social media caused Kaleys struggles  only that it was a substantial factor in causing her harm. YouTube focused less on Kaleys medical records and mental health history and more on her use of YouTube and the nature of the platform. They argued that YouTube is not a form of social media, but rather a video platform akin to television, and pointed to her declining YouTube use as she got older. According to their data, she spent about one minute a day on average watching YouTube Shorts since its inception. YouTube Shorts, which launched in 2020, is the platforms section of short-form, vertical videos that have the infinite scroll feature, the plaintiffs argued, was addictive.

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Lawyers representing both platforms consistently pointed to the safety features and guardrails they each have available for people to monitor and customise their use. Snap and TikTok were also defendants in the trial. Both settled with the plaintiff before it began. Terms of the agreements were not disclosed. States tighten social media laws Large American technology companies have faced mounting criticism in the last decade over child and teen safety. The debate has now shifted to courts and state governments. Congress has declined to pass comprehensive legislation regulating social media. Related Article AI Robot joins Melania Trump at White House event

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At least 20 states enacted laws last year on social media usage and children, according to the nonpartisan National Conference of State Legislatures, an organisation that tracks state laws. The legislation includes bills that regulate the use of phones in schools and require users to verify their ages to open a social media account. NetChoice, a trade association backed by tech companies such as Meta and Google, is seeking to invalidate age verification requirements in court. A separate social media addiction case brought by several states and school districts against technology companies is expected to go to trial this summer in federal court in Oakland, California. Another state trial is slated to begin in Los Angeles in July, said Matthew Bergman, one of the attorneys leading the plaintiffs cases. It will involve Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat. Separately, a New Mexico jury on Tuesday found that Meta violated state law in a case brought by the states attorney-general, who accused the company of misleading users about the safety of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp and enabling child sexual exploitation on those platforms.

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President of Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua addresses the main forum of the 2026 Global South Financiers Forum in Beijing, capital of China, March 25, 2026. The 2026 Global South Financiers Forum opened in Beijing on Wednesday under the theme "Illuminating Global South." (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

BEIJING, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The 2026 Global South Financiers Forum opened in Beijing on Wednesday under the theme "Illuminating Global South."

Addressing the main forum, President of Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua said Xinhua is committed to amplifying the voice of the Global South and documenting its dynamic development.

He added that the agency will leverage its all-media network and global presence to promote deeper financial cooperation among Global South countries and contribute solutions to building a new global financial governance order.

Sun Shuo, vice mayor of Beijing, said the financial sector is a pillar of the city's economy. He noted that Beijing will remain committed to high-standard opening up and expand financial cooperation with Global South countries, with efforts focused on improving the business environment, strengthening sci-tech and financial integration, advancing green finance cooperation, and promoting higher-standard financial opening up.

Lu Lei, deputy governor of the People's Bank of China, said the central bank encourages financial institutions to carry out green and low-carbon investment in countries and regions participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.

He added that the central bank stands ready to work with all parties to advance high-quality development of green finance and guide capital toward green and low-carbon sectors.

Li Hongyan, deputy head of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, said the restructuring of the global green industry presents win-win opportunities for China and other Global South countries.

Through high-standard financial opening up, China will deepen cooperation with other Global South countries in green industries, share opportunities and contribute to global sustainable development, Li said.

Erwin Ramirez, Nicaragua's minister of development, industry and trade, and Shahin Mahmudzada, executive director of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan, also addressed the forum. The two-day event is hosted by Xinhua. 

Participants communicate during the main forum of the 2026 Global South Financiers Forum in Beijing, capital of China, on March 25, 2026. The 2026 Global South Financiers Forum opened in Beijing on Wednesday under the theme "Illuminating Global South." (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

This photo taken on March 25, 2026 shows a scene of the 2026 Global South Financiers Forum in Beijing, capital of China. The 2026 Global South Financiers Forum opened in Beijing on Wednesday under the theme "Illuminating Global South." (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)
LONDON, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Iran's foreign ministry said that vessels of non-hostile states are entitled to safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz under certain conditions, according to a document provided to Xinhua by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on Tuesday evening.

According to the document, issued by Iran on March 22 and circulated by the IMO among all its members on Tuesday at Iran's request, vessels belonging to non-hostile countries, provided they neither participate in nor support acts of aggression against Iran and fully comply with declared safety and security regulations, may benefit from safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the competent Iranian authorities.

The Iranian side emphasized that vessels, equipment and all types of assets belonging to the United States and Israel, as well as those involved in acts of aggression, do not qualify for innocent or non-hostile passage. Within the legal framework governing armed conflict, such assets will be handled in accordance with decisions and measures adopted by the competent authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The document noted that any arrangements, initiatives or mechanisms concerning maritime safety and security in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman must fully respect Iran's rights and legitimate interests, be conducted in full coordination with its competent authorities, and take into account the realities arising from the aggression and the ongoing conflict.

It stressed that the full restoration of security and the sustainable stability of the Strait of Hormuz depend on the cessation of military aggression and threats, an end to destabilizing actions by the United States and Israel, and full respect for Iran's legitimate interests.

The Iranian side reiterated that what it described as "military aggression" by the United States and Israel constitutes a flagrant violation of the UN Charter and international law, creating a dangerous and destabilizing situation in the Persian Gulf region and the Strait of Hormuz. The consequences have directly and adversely affected the safety and security of maritime navigation.

In exercising its inherent right of self-defense, Iran said it has taken "necessary and proportionate measures," in addition to targeting U.S. military bases and facilities in the region, to prevent aggressors and their supporters from exploiting the Strait of Hormuz for hostile operations against Iran.

The document said that in order to reduce risks faced by vessels and seafarers in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, Iran has implemented a series of "precautionary measures."

It added that the Strait of Hormuz remains open and maritime traffic has not been suspended. Navigation continues, subject to compliance with the necessary measures and the realities arising from the ongoing conflict. 
A FRAGILE PAUSE





W ORLD markets reacted with a surge, a typical trend they show to anything that United States President Mr. Donald Trump announces on a big crisis. Countries directly affected by the West Asia war, too, heaved a sigh of relief but with a cautious optimism. The halt in US strikes on Irans power plants, announced by Mr. Trump, has had its desired effect but it is as temporary as a promise from the POTUS. The pause of five days has begun with an eerie fear of another U-turn by all the parties involved in the latest armed crisis the world has been subjected too. The pause is fragile and the world knows it too well. As is his wont, Mr. Trump again brought a deal in focus, claiming it as the desire of the Iranian leadership.

The claim has been promptly refuted by Iran thus exposing the vulnerability of a ceasefire announcement by Mr. Trump. Reports have suggested that there had been attacks on Irans energy sites in Isfahan and Khorramshahr hours after Mr. Trumps announcement of a five-day halt. It aptly sums up the situation in West Asia where the US is finding it extremely hard to wriggle out of a war it had been forced into by a trigger-happy partner. While there have been multiple claimants of becoming mediator between US and Iran, there are also signals of the war escalating further as there are no clear terms of negotiations. The US simply had no goal for this war which, as evidence and circumstances suggest, Israel Prime Minister Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu had wanted desperately to settle old scores with Iran. The US has no roadmap to bring an end to this war and Mr. Trumps daily flip-flop with contrasting statements is further adding to the problem. In this light, the five-day pause on attacks promised by Mr. Trump has to pass the test of trust. Given his track record, at least during his second term in White House, Mr. Trump can easily change the goalpost and come back harder at Iran. It is still a fluid situation, though the world has welcomed the tone-down in hostilities between the two warring sides.

The actual assessment of the situation can be gauged from the blockade of ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) have choked the waterway with special concessions only to a few friendly countries. That passage, too, comes at a cost decided by Iran. A large number of vessels are still stranded near Hormuz gulf as the US continues to weigh its options, including a military strike on the IRGC commands. So far, the threats have not yielded anything even as Mr. Trumps call to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) countries was snubbed. In the end, the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked and the major cause of the hostilities remains unsolved. All the action around this issue can at the most be termed as a desperate attempt to ensure status quo ante. Mr. Trumps turnaround appears to be a call to assuage growing opposition at home to his decision of entering the war. His ratings have been gradually plummeting, first after the tariff salvos at the world, its reversal by the US Supreme Court, and now by the poorly-thought move to join forces with Israel to attack Iran.

The war has significantly affected the American economy and people have now started to feel the heat. With the midterm elections round the corner, Mr. Trump might be wary of a dent to his reputation among his MAGA (Make America Great Again) voter base. The pause, if it holds, might help the confused US President an honourable exit from this mess of his own creation. However, much depends upon the terms of negotiations that Iran will put forth if there is a deal. The resilience shown by Iran has put it in a better place to make an agreement. It will be a difficult exercise for Mr. Trumps administration, which has a habit of browbeating every party sitting across the table. Moreover, the US still has to get a full backing from Israel to end operations. Mr. Trumps mess is much bigger than it looks.
Airstrikes hit Iran capital, Tehran targets Israel, Gulf States, Mixed signals over talks to end war





DUBAI :

AIRSTRIKES battered Irans capital and Iranian missiles and drones targeted Israels Tel Aviv and sites across the Mid East on Tuesday, even as President Trump said the US was in talks with the Islamic Republic to end the war. With thousands more United States Marines on their way to the Gulf, both sides firing intense barrages and Iran denying any negotiations are taking place, the wars tempo remained high a day after Trump delayed his self-imposed deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Tehrans chokehold on that crucial waterway has snarled international shipping, sent fuel prices skyrocketing, and threatened the world economy. Any talks between the US and Iran - which appeared at the most tentative on Tuesday - would face monumental challenges. Many of Washingtons shifting list of objectives - particularly over Irans ballistic missile and nuclear programmes - remain difficult to achieve. Meanwhile, its not clear who in Irans Government would have the authority to negotiate - or be willing to, particularly as Israel has vowed to continue taking out leaders after killing several. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, said Israel will continue to strike Iran and Lebanon even as the US considers a ceasefire. Theres more to come, he said. Iran also remains highly suspicious of the United States, which twice, under the Trump administration, has attacked during high-level diplomatic talks, including with the February 28 strikes that started the current war.

Irans military has conducted strikes on the orders of local commanders, rather than from the political leadership, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said early in the war. It remains unclear whether Irans new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who reportedly was wounded and has yet to be seen publicly, is issuing orders to Irans regular military or its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which answered only to his late father. Mixed signals on negotiations amid deep mistrust While Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf called the idea of negotiations with the US fake news, Araghchis office acknowledged the foreign minister has been talking about the war this week with his counterparts in Azerbaijan, Egypt, Oman, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, Turkey and Turkmenistan. Talk of negotiations briefly drove down oil prices and boosted stocks. But that respite was short-lived, with the price of Brent crude, the international standard, nudging back over USD 100 a barrel on Tuesday, up nearly 40 per cent since the war started. Irans leaders are wary of Washingtons motives, in part because Tehran was in negotiations with the US before the surprise attack that started the current war. Iran was also in talks last year when the US and Israel attacked its nuclear facilities.

Iran hits Israel and Gulf neighbours while Israel attacks Beirut As airstrikes hit Tehran, Iran fired multiple waves of missiles at Israel early on Tuesday. In Tel Aviv, a missile with a 100-kilogram (220-pound) warhead evaded Israeli defences to slam into a street in the centre of the city, blowing out windows of a neighbouring apartment building and sending smoke billowing. Four people suffered minor wounds, rescue service worker Yoel Moshe said. In Kuwait, power lines were hit by air defence shrapnel, causing partial electricity outages for several hours. Missile alert sirens sounded in Bahrain, and Saudi Arabias Defence Ministry said it had destroyed 19 Iranian drones targeting its oil-rich Eastern Province. Israel pounded Beiruts southern suburbs on Tuesday, saying that it was targeting infrastructure used by the Iran-linked Hezbollah militant group. A strike on a residential apartment southeast of the Lebanese capital killed at least three people, including a 3-year-old girl, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Another five people were killed in the south.
FUEL FRENZY Citizens crowd petrol pumps fearing shortage; administration urges restraint



Citizens queued up at petrol pump at Agrasen Square fearing possible fuel shortage in future. Subsequently, many petrol pumps exhausted their stocks and were forced to shut by evening on Tuesday. (Pics: Satish Raut)

By Team Hitavada :

Despite repeated assurances from the district administration regarding adequate fuel availability, residents across the city rushed to petrol pumps on Tuesday, leading to unprecedented scenes of congestion and anxiety. Petrol pumps in nearly every part of the city witnessed long, snaking queues of vehicles, with traffic spilling onto adjoining roads and disrupting normal vehicular movement. What began as a scattered concern over the past two days escalated into a full-blown panic buying, as rumours of fuel shortages spread rapidly among citizens.

By Tuesday morning, several petrol pumps had already begun experiencing heavy inflow, which only intensified as the day progressed. Prominent fuel stations, including the Indian Oil outlet at Samvidhan Square, Jio BP Petrol Pump in Raj Nagar, Bharat Petroleum pump at Byramji Town, HP Petrol Pump at Agrasen Square, among others, resembled crowded marketplaces, with motorists waiting for extended periods to refuel their vehicles. The situation deteriorated further during evening peak hours, when demand surged sharply. Several petrol pumps reportedly exhausted their available stock and were forced to shut operations earlier than usual. Notably, the HP petrol pump in Sadar, which typically operates round-the-clock, was compelled to close in the evening due to depleted reserves. Similar closures were observed at the Bharat Petroleum pump in Shankar Nagar and the HP outlet at Dosar Vaishya Square. In an attempt to manage the crisis, some operators imposed limits on the quantity of fuel dispensed per vehicle, aiming to extend their available stock for as long as possible. Industry experts attributed the sudden surge in demand to a combination of logistical and behavioural factors.

A recent change in advance payment procedures by oil companies has reportedly increased the turnaround time for fuel delivery from depots to retail outlets. This, coupled with intervening bank holidays and minor technical delays, contributed to temporary disruptions in the supply chain. However, experts maintained that there is no actual shortage of fuel at the systemic level. The supply remains consistent, but the process has changed, said Amit Gupta, President of the Federation of Petrol Dealers Association. Earlier, dispatches were initiated alongside payment processing. Now, fuel tankers are dispatched only after payments are received, which has added to delivery time. This is being misinterpreted as a shortage. He further emphasised that the situation has been aggravated primarily by excessive and unnecessary purchasing by consumers. District Collector Dr Vipin Itankar reiterated the administrations stance, urging citizens to remain calm and refrain from hoarding fuel. There is sufficient stock available, and the situation is being closely monitored. Panic buying will only create artificial shortages and inconvenience for everyone, he stated, echoing similar appeals made a day earlier. However, these assurances have done little to quell public anxiety. Many citizens expressed scepticism, citing past experiences where essential commodities became scarce despite official reassurances.

We were told there would be no shortage of LPG cylinders earlier, but later we had to buy them in the black market at inflated prices. I do not want to take that risk again, said Sanjay Gajbhiye, a resident waiting in queue at a fuel station. Others pointed to broader geopolitical concerns as a factor influencing their decisions. With global tensions like the US-Iran conflict, there is uncertainty about fuel supply and pricing. If others continue to stock up, it is safer to fill up now rather than face difficulties later, said Vishal, another commuter. Authorities have also flagged the role of misinformation in fuelling the panic. As the situation unfolds, the contrast between official assurances and public perception remains stark. While authorities and industry stakeholders insist that supply chains are intact and stabilising, citizen behaviour continues to be driven by uncertainty and mistrust. Unless the panic subsides, experts caution that the city may continue to witness such scenes of chaos, not due to scarcity, but due to fear itself.

GDKF demands strict SOP implementation

The Grahak Dakshata Kalyan Foundation (GDKF) has urged authorities to take strong action against hoarding and black marketing. It demanded strict SOP implementation, mandatory signboards at wedding venues warning that use of domestic gas cylinders is a crime, and surprise checks by flying squads. President Nitin Solanke called for strict MRP control to stop overpricing. Additionally, it stressed the need for proper security arrangements at overcrowded fuel stations to manage traffic and ensure smooth supply for consumers.

Misleading social media posts inciting panic-buying

According to the district administration, several misleading posts circulating on social media have falsely claimed that petrol prices could surge beyond Rs 500 per litre and that fuel stations may shut down in the near future. These rumours, officials believe, have significantly contributed to the surge in demand. The administration has appealed to citizens to verify information through official channels and avoid acting on unverified claims. Officials warned that continued panic buying could strain local distribution systems, creating avoidable disruptions despite adequate supply at the macro level.
Kharat faces 8 FIRs; SIT probing role of aides: Fadnavis





MUMBAI :

EIGHT FIRs have been lodged by police against self-styled godman Ashok Kharat after receiving multiple complaints involving allegations of sexual assault, extortion, and circulation of objectionable material, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Tuesday. Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, Fadnavis, who holds the Home portfolio, said the Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up to probe cases against Nashik-based Kharat would also examine the possible involvement of Government officials in the offences. A total of eight FIRs have been filed against Kharat. He was in police custody till today (Tuesday) and we have got an extension (till March 29 from a Nashik court) for further probe.

Out of these cases, seven are with the SIT. I have presented an interim report before the House, he said. He said the first case came to light on December 19, 2025, when Kharat himself lodged a police complaint in Nashik district alleging one Dinesh Manaji Parab had threatened to release an objectionable video involving the complainant and a woman unless Rs 5 crore was paid to him. Sena (UBT), Cong submit notice seeking removal of Neelam Gorhe: OPPOSITION Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress on Tuesday submitted a notice against Maharashtra Legislative Councils Deputy Chairperson Neelam Gorhe to seek her removal from the post, accusing her of misusing her power by ordering suspension of an IPS officer. The two Opposition parties submitted the notice to the Chairman of the Council on the day Gorhe was given a farewell as her term is ending in May this year.

This is the second time that the Shiv Sena (UBT) has given notice seeking the removal of Gorhe, who was earlier aligned with Uddhav Thackeray-led party after the Shiv Sena split in June 2022 but later switched side and joined the Shiv Sena headed by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. On Monday, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Anil Parab accused Gorhe of misusing her power by asking the Government to suspend IPS officer and Satara Superintendent of Police (SP) Tushar Doshi over the ruckus during the election of the President of Zilla Parishad (ZP) last week. During a discussion in the House on Monday, Ministers Shambhuraj Desai (Shiv Sena) and Makarand Patil (NCP) besides other members of the two parties demanded the suspension of Doshi. The two Ministers alleged the local police manhandled them during the poll held on Friday to elect the ZP President. Gorhe then said, I am directing the Government to suspend the Satara SP and others who manhandled (voters and ministers). She said the Government should have initiated a probe into the matter, but that has not happened due to some reasons.

The notice against Gorhe was signed by Shiv Sena (UBT) members Anil Parab, Sunil Shinde and Sachin Ahir, along with Congress Bhai Jagtap, Dhiraj Lingade and independent MLC Sudhakar Adbale. However, NCP (SP)s Shashikant Shinde did not sign the notice. He had backed Gorhes move to suspend the Satara SP. The notice against Gorhe is more of an optics as the Budget Session of the Maharashtra legislature is concluding on Wednesday. Gorhes fourth term as the member of the Legislative Council ends in May. Police registered a case under the IT Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) section 308 (extortion) after examining phone call records, messages and screenshots. Fadnavis said another complaint was filed on February 18, 2026, in Shirdi in Ahilyanagar district, where a woman alleged that one Neeraj Jadhav had created and shared an AI-generated image of her and threatened to make it viral. Though the accused deleted the image, he had issued threats.

A case was registered, but the complainant did not provide substantive details, he told the House. During the investigation of the second case, police recovered crucial evidence from devices linked to Kharats aides. During the probe of Jadhav, Kharats associate Yogesh Bhalerao showed some videos. Police found that as many as 35 videos of eight women were stored in the mobile handset, Fadnavis said. He alleged that Kharat posed as a religious figure to exploit women. Kharat presented himself as a self-styled godman and indulged in rape and obscene behaviour with women. One of the witnesses who attempted to produce evidence feared for his life from Kharat, the Chief Minister stated. Fadnavis informed the Assembly that a lookout circular was issued against Kharat on March 10 to prevent him from leaving the country, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted to probe cases against him. On March 17, a woman lodged a complaint at the Sarkarwada police station in Nashik, alleging she was called to Kharats office at Canada Corner building, given water and later threatened with her husbands life before being raped multiple times, the CM maintained.

Kharat was arrested on March 17. During searches, police seized two laptops, one revolver and 21 live cartridges and found that he owned a farmhouse at Mirgaon in Nashik district, Fadnavis said, adding the probe against the godman was formally handed over to the SIT on March 19. Three women have agreed to lodge complaints and a total of six cases have been filed so far in this connection (related to sexual assault and exploitation). All photos and videos (related to cases) have been removed from social media, and a notice has been issued to a news channel for revealing the identity of a survivor, he said. Detailing one of the cases, Fadnavis said between February 2020 and March 18, Kharat allegedly called a woman repeatedly to his office, made her consume enchanted water and sexually assaulted her under the guise of religious rituals. She became pregnant and Kharat later gave her pills for abortion. He also threatened her, the CM stated. The Chief Minister said the SIT would also examine the possible involvement of Government officials in cases filed against the accused.

We are also going to probe if any (Government) officials are involved in these cases. We will find out whether Kharat accumulated wealth in the names of his relatives or close aides, he said. Responding to a query by Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Bhaskar Jadhav on when names of officials would be disclosed, Fadnavis stated, We have deliberately entrusted the SIT probe to a woman officer who has a good track record. Every piece of evidence will be recorded and all those involved will face action.
PCR of godman Kharat extended till 29th







NASHIK :

A COURT in Nashik on Tuesday extended the police custody of self-styled godman Ashok Kharat, arrested in a rape case, till March 29. A man tried to attack Kharat outside the court but the police stopped him in time and took him into custody. Seeking further police remand for the accused godman who was arrested on March 18, public prosecutor Ajay Misar said new revelations about his illegal activities were surfacing every day. It was even suspected that he could be involved in human sacrifice and hunting of deer for the skin and musk, among other things, the prosecution said. The special investigation team (SIT) probing the case has recovered a revolver, 21 cartridges and five empty shells besides Rs 6 lakh in cash, two laptops and some documents from his possession, said the prosecution. SIT officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police Kirankumar Suryavanshi, also gave information about the probe to the court. Making a statement before the court, Kharat denied that he was involved in any kind of black magic. As to media reports that he had a mechanised king cobra and a tiger which he used to terrorise people, he said he did not know anything about such things.

Though his lawyers opposed the polices plea, the court extended Kharats police custody till March 29. Activist Trupti Desai of Bhumata Brigade tried to charge at Kharat when he was brought to the court, but police stopped her. A man in the crowd also tried to attack Kharat when the police left the courtroom, but he was stopped and detained. Some people in the crowd tried to attack the police vehicle taking Kharat out of the court premises. As per the SIT, six criminal cases have been registered against Kharat so far, and the victims include a pregnant woman. The SIT has appealed people to share information about these cases or other activities of Kharat. It has also requested the media not to reveal the identity of the women victims. Kharat, who heads a temple trust at Mirgaon in Sinnar tehsil of Nashik district and had several political leaders visit him over the years, was arrested after a 35-year-old woman accused him of repeated rape over a period of three years. Subsequently, more cases were registered against him in connection with alleged sexual exploitation of a seven-month pregnant woman and another woman on the pretext of getting her remarried. The SIT has discovered 100 objectionable videos and assets worth around Rs 1,500 crore related to him. While the I-T department is investigating financial irregularities and property holdings of Kharat and people related to him, the cyber police are examining the videos, a senior police official said earlier in the day.
Chelsea Clinton speaks during the Connecticut Business & Industry Associations When Women Lead conference, held at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media Chelsea Clinton, right, responds to a question from Mana Zarinejad, executive director of The Connecticut Forum, during the Connecticut Business & Industry Associations When Women Lead conference, held at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media Chelsea Clinton speaks during the Connecticut Business & Industry Associations When Women Lead conference, held at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media Mana Zarinejad, executive director of The Connecticut Forum, left, asks Chelsea Clinton a question during the Connecticut Business & Industry Associations When Women Lead conference, held at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media Chelsea Clinton, right, responds to a question from Mana Zarinejad, executive director of The Connecticut Forum, during the Connecticut Business & Industry Associations When Women Lead conference, held at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media Chelsea Clinton speaks during the Connecticut Business & Industry Associations When Women Lead conference, held at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media Chelsea Clinton speaks during the Connecticut Business & Industry Associations When Women Lead conference, held at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media Elicia Pegues Spearman, CEO of Girl Scouts of Connecticut, speaks during a panel discussion at the Connecticut Business & Industry Associations When Women Lead conference, held at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media Claire Burns, chief marketing and customer officer of The Hartford, speaks during a panel discussion at the Connecticut Business & Industry Associations When Women Lead conference, held at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media Erin Choquette, CEO of the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority, speaks during a panel discussion at the Connecticut Business & Industry Associations When Women Lead conference, held at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media Fran Pastore, left, founder and CEO of the Womens Business Development Council, asks a question during a panel discussion at the Connecticut Business & Industry Associations When Women Lead conference, held at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. Also in the photo, from left, are Elicia Pegues Spearman, CEO of Girl Scouts of Connecticut; Erin Choquette, CEO of the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority; and Claire Burns, chief marketing and customer officer of The Hartford. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media Audience members listen to speakers during the Connecticut Business & Industry Associations When Women Lead conference, held at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media Audience members listen to speakers during the Connecticut Business & Industry Associations When Women Lead conference, at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media Audience members listen to speakers during the Connecticut Business & Industry Associations When Women Lead conference, held at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Conn., on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media

HARTFORD  Chelsea Clinton is the daughter of the 42nd president and the 67th secretary of state of the U.S. But she has always looked at Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton as her parents, first and foremost.

The younger Clinton, who has forged her own prominent career as a public-health professional and through a number of other pursuits, discussed her close relationships with her parents and weighed in on some of the most-debated public-health issues during an on-stage conversation Tuesday at the Connecticut Business & Industry Associations When Women Lead conference in Hartford.

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I never doubted that my parents always believed that their most-important role was as my mom and dad, Clinton said in her conversation with Mana Zarinejad, executive director of the nonprofit The Connecticut Forum, in front of an audience of approximately 800 people at the Connecticut Convention Center. Its very much what they proved, and how they lived and organized their lives.

Public health is an area of longstanding interest for Clinton and her parents. She serves as the vice chair of the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Health Access Initiative. The latter organization has helped more than 21 million people, in more than 70 countries, access HIV/AIDS medications, according to a biography of Clinton included in CBIAs list of the conference speakers.

Im incredibly proud of the work that I do with my parents in the Clinton Foundation, said Clinton, who lives in New York City.

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Among other family projects, Clinton and her mother wrote The Book of Gutsy Women, and starred in an Apple TV+ series adaptation of the book.

While Clinton emphasized her strong relationships with her parents, who met while they were students at Yale Law School, she also acknowledged the challenges of growing up as the only child of two of the most-prominent political figures in modern American political history. When she was born in 1980, her father was already governor of Arkansas, and she was 12 when he was elected president in 1992. As her parents became more famous, even seemingly trivial matters, such as the oversize glasses that her mother once wore, sparked criticism.

I have no lived experience without my parents being attacked, Clinton said. I dont have halcyon days of remember when because thats just not my experience.

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She also noted that, What I grew up with, with the level of scrutiny and also the personal attacks really prepared me for the social-media age. Anything anyone has said to me online, theyve absolutely said to me in person.

Clinton observes social media not only from her vantage point as a former first daughter and public-health professional, but also as the mother of three children, who are ages 6, 9 and 11. She said that she supported Australias recent enactment of a social-media ban for children younger than 16.

Overwhelmingly social-media exposure is generally bad for kids. It is directly linked now to rising rates of depression, anxiety, suicide ideation, self-harm. And thats just for kids in the general population, Clinton said. For kids with any kind of neurodiversity  anxiety, OCD, ADHD, autism  it is catastrophically worse.

Among other questions, Zarinejad asked Clinton about the numerous measles outbreaks in the U.S., in the past few years  a trend that is linked to many campaigns that have challenged the efficacy and safety of childhood vaccinations.

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There are lots of people with lots of good questions, for lots of good reasons, who really, as every parent can attest, just want the best for their kids, Clinton said.

She continued: And there are concerted interest groups that, for more than two decades, have actively promulgated a set of narratives that have no basis in science, that have no basis in fact, that often are coupled with something theyre trying to sell you. Theyre trying to sell you supplements, so that you dont need the vaccine. Theyre trying to sell you things to de-vaccinate  that might be my favorite. Theyre trying to sell you a subscription to a newsletter. Theyre trying to sell you a ticket to watch a documentary.

To applause, Clinton added that, Im incredibly grateful that, here in Connecticut, theres a governor who really believes in science and in supporting science, and who really believes in vaccines.
The offices of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority in New Britain, Conn., in September 2019 file photo. Commissioners with the regulatory agency on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 issued a ruling approving the sale of the Aquarion Water Co. in Bridgeport to the New Haven-based South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority. Alexander Soule

Connecticut utility regulators on Wednesday approved the sale of the Aquarion Water Co. to the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority in New Haven, rejecting pleas by Attorney General William Tong, state Consumer Counsel Claire Coleman and municipal officials who sought to have the $2.6 billion merger blocked.

The 3-0 vote, with two abstentions, by the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority follows a November ruling in which agency commissioners rejected the sale. But Eversource officials and the Regional Water Authority appealed PURA's initial rejection and Superior Court Judge Matthew Budzik sent the case back to regulators for further review. Eversource owns Aquarion.

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PURA Commissioners Holly Cheeseman, Janice Beecher and David Arconti voted to approve the deal, with Thomas Wiehl and Everett Smith recusing themselves from voting.

Wiehl cited his involvement in the hearings as legal and regulatory director for Connecticut's Office of Consumer Counsel prior to becoming PURA chairman in October 2025 as his reason for recusal while Commissioner Everett Smith noted that the majority of hearings in the agency's review of the case took place before he joined the regulatory body.

Cheeseman said she supported the sale because "one of Connecticut's most cherished traditions is local control."

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"The (Aquarion Water Authority) will no longer be subject to whim of private equity," Cheeseman said prior to the vote.

Opponents have argued the deal would raise consumer rates higher than they would be raised if it was rejected. Aquarion has refuted that contention.

Beecher urged all parties that participated in the hearings "to reflect on this decision and bring your best efforts to the next steps in this process."

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Agency commissioners gave tentative approval to the $2.4 billion deal on March 6, a decision that reversed one they had made in November.

Tong, who is a Democrat, and Republican legislative leaders expressed frustration with the regulatory decision. Tong called the deal "a $6 billion gift to Eversource, to be paid by Connecticut families and towns over the next 40 years."

The application projected annual rate increases between 6.5 percent and 8.35 percent annually through 2035, Tong said. Aquarion has said rates would be higher without the sale.

"Literally no one wanted this deal except for the utility executives looking to cash out," he said. "The economics of this deal made zero sense. PURA had every ounce of authority and every reason to reject this deal, but they simply caved,

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Coleman said the deal's "exorbitant purchase price places the proposed transaction on the knifes edge of a public interest finding."

"Ratepayers should never be asked to subsidize a restructuring of this magnitude unless it lowers costs and presents a credible, detailed plan to improve services and protect customers," said Coleman, who represents ratepayers interests in proceedings before PURA. "This deal does none of those things. To the contrary, the evidence showed that Aquarion customers will see immediate and sustained bill increases from the transaction, in addition to being saddled with paying off the debt service for decades to come."

Officials with the Regional Water Authority have committed not seek any kind of rate increase for at least six months after the deal closes and have said that Aquarion customers will not end up paying for the deal through higher rates.

State Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding, R-Brookfield, called PURA's final ruling "a back breaker."

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"Aquarion customers will get crushed by a tsunami of annual water rate hikes," Harding said. "The deal garnered widespread and vocal bipartisan opposition by local, regional and state government officials. Our focus as Senate Republicans will continue to be on protecting water customers in this already unaffordable state while protecting the environment.

Aquarion and its Connecticut subsidiaries are currently the largest water company in the state, serving 62 communities. Following the decision, the company and officials with the Regional Water Authority issued a statement, saying the ruling "reflects a careful review of the record and an unwavering focus on what is in the best interest of Aquarion customers."

"This approval allows the Aquarion Water Authority to move forward with the acquisition and transition to a locally governed, not-for-profit model focused on reliable service, accountability, and sustained investment in the system," the joint statement said in part. "We will take the necessary steps to ensure that Aquarion customers see the benefits of this agreement as soon as possible.

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SEOUL, March 25 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's births grew for the 19th straight month amid higher marriages, statistical ministry data showed Wednesday.

The number of newborn babies jumped 11.7 percent from a year earlier to 26,916 in January, continuing to go up since July 2024, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics.

It marked a seven-year high for the month of January, the highest since 2019.

The total fertility rate, or the number of children a woman is expected to bear during her life, added 0.10 to 0.99 in the cited month, but it stayed far below the replacement rate of 2.1 births per woman to maintain a stable population.

The number of marriages soared 12.4 percent to 22,640 in January on a yearly basis, while the number of divorces rose 4.2 percent to 7,208.

The number of deaths dropped 17.6 percent to 32,454 in January compared to the same month of last year.

Affected by the still high deaths and low births, the natural population decline stood at 5,539 in the cited month. 
An artist's rendering of what the warehouse being developed by Uline in Plainfield, Ct. will look like. The new facility is scheduled to open in June. Uline contributed photo

A Wisconsin-based company that distributes shipping, industrial and packaging materials is preparing to ramp up hiring for the 1.25 million square foot warehouse off of Interstate 395 in Plainfield that it is scheduled to open in June, according to the town's top elected official.

First Selectman Kevin Cunningham said Uline's distribution facility on Plainfield Pike Road is expected to open on June 1, with between 200 and 250 workers. To that end, Cunningham said the company will interview as many as 1,000 job candidates on April 11 at the town's Central Middle School at 75 Canterbury Road.

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"They're planning a soft opening in June and expect to be going full blast in September," he said. "Once the facility is fully operational, they are expecting to employ between 400 and 450 people. They are reaching out to people across this part of Connecticut as well as constituencies in Massachusetts and Rhode Island."

Officials from Uline have not responded to Hearst Connecticut Media regarding the types of positions they need to fill or how much those jobs might pay. But the company's web site lists 17 job categories Uline is looking to fill from a facilities assistant that pays between $22 and $29 per hour to a night warehouse manager's position that pays between $125,000 and $180,000

Uline will also be bring in current employees from other parts of the country to manage the new facility, according to Cunningham. The new warehouse is one of only 11 of this typed that the company has around the country.

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"We're working on trying to find them places to live," he said of the Uline employees being transferred to the new facility.

Construction of the mammoth facility started in May 2025, according to Cunningham.

Plainfield officials recently rejected plans for another major distribution center that would straddled the town's border with Canterbury.

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Plainfield's Planing and Zoning Commission. Costco Wholesale filed last year for a zone change and zoning text amendment to support a new facility on about 440 acres on the Plainfield and Canterbury town line near Interstate 395. Commission members approved the zoning text amendment in a 4-1 vote in February, but rejected Costco's zone change application at a March 10 meeting.

Cunningham said it is still possible that Costco officials could either rework their plans for a distribution center and resubmit them or could challenge the ruling by town officials in court.

Plainfield is no stranger to warehouses. The proposed site site for the Costco facility is located near the town's existing Lowe's distribution center off Norwich Road, and Amazon recently opened a new delivery warehouse on Lathrop Road.

Cunningham said he expects that the clustering of those distribution facilities will attract additional development in the form of new restaurants and other businesses.

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"We haven't received any applications for those type of businesses, but I expect we will over time," Cunningham said.
Mary Rodee holds a photo of her son Riley after the verdict in a landmark trial over whether social media platforms deliberately addict and harm children at Los Angeles Superior Court, Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in Los Angeles. William Liang/AP Attorney Mark Lanier speaks during a news conference after the verdict in a landmark trial over whether social media platforms deliberately addict and harm children at Los Angeles Superior Court, Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in Los Angeles. William Liang/AP Lori Schott, center right, embraces Mary Rodee after the verdict in a landmark trial over whether social media platforms deliberately addict and harm children at Los Angeles Superior Court, Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in Los Angeles. William Liang/AP

LOS ANGELES (AP)  Meta and YouTube must pay millions in damages to a 20-year-old woman after a jury decided the social media giant and video streamer designed their platforms to hook young users without concern for their well being.

The California jury's decision Wednesday in a first-of-its-kind lawsuit could influence the outcome of thousands of similar lawsuits accusing social media companies of deliberately causing harm.

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The plaintiff, known by her initials KGM, testified at trial that she became addicted to social media as a child and that this addiction exacerbated her mental health struggles. After more than 40 hours of deliberations, a majority of jurors agreed and awarded her $3 million in damages.

Jurors later recommended an additional $3 million in punitive damages after deciding the companies acted with malice, oppression or fraud in harming children with their platforms. The judge has final say over how much damages are awarded.

Its the second verdict against Meta this week, after a jury in New Mexico determined the company harms childrens mental health and safety, in violation of state law.

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Meta, the parent of Instagram and Facebook, and Google-owned YouTube issued statements disagreeing with the verdict and vowed to explore their legal options, which include appeals.

Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda said the verdict misrepresents YouTube which is a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social media site. A Meta spokesperson said teen mental health is profoundly complex and cannot be linked to a single app.

Peter Ormerod, an associate professor of law at Villanova University, called the verdict a momentous development" but noted its just "one step in a much longer saga and that he doesn't expect to see large changes to the platforms immediately.

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I dont think it is an unequivocal victory and I think theres a long way to go before you see something akin to the master settlement that this is often analogized to in the tobacco and opioid litigation, he said. To get to that kind of significant change in the platforms' operation, Ormerod said Meta and YouTube would likely have to lose their legal arguments on appeal and additional bellwether trials, or test cases, like this one would have to go against them.

Both Meta and YouTube were negligent, jury says, but Meta bears more responsibility

The jury determined that Meta and YouTube were negligent in the design or operation of their respective platforms, and that the negligence was a substantial factor in causing harm to the plaintiff.

They also determined each company knew their platforms could be dangerous when used by a minor, and agreed that they failed to adequately warn of that danger, further contributing to the plaintiff's harm.

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Only nine of the 12 jurors had to agree on each claim against each defendant. Two jurors consistently disagreed with the other 10 on whether the companies should be held liable, but a majority of the jury agreed on all seven claims against each company.

The jurors also decided Meta held more responsibility for harm to KGM, or Kaley, as her lawyers called her during the trial. The jury said Meta shouldered 70% of the responsibility while YouTube bore the remaining 30%. That division was reflected in the breakdown of the $3 million in punitive damages, with the jury deciding on $2.1 million from Meta and $900,000 from YouTube.

Meta and YouTube were the two remaining defendants in the case. TikTok and Snap settled before the trial began.

One juror, who did not feel comfortable sharing her full name, said to reporters outside the courtroom that Mark Zuckerberg's testimony, and how he changed it back and forth, did not sit well with the jury.

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She also said they landed on the $6 million in damages even though some jurors were advocating for a higher amount because they were concerned about giving the sole plaintiff a larger lump sum all at once. But the jury still wanted the companies to understand they felt their practices were not acceptable.

We wanted them to feel it, she said.

The plaintiff was on social media all day from the age of 6

Jurors listened to about a month of lawyers arguments, testimony and evidence, and they heard from Kaley, as well as Meta leaders Zuckerberg and Adam Mosseri. YouTubes CEO, Neal Mohan, was not called to testify.

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Kaley said she began using YouTube at age 6 and Instagram at age 9. She told the jury she was on social media all day long as a child.

Lawyers representing Kaley, led by Mark Lanier, were tasked with proving that the respective defendants negligence was a substantial factor in causing Kaleys harm. They pointed to specific design features they said are designed to hook young users, like the infinite nature of feeds that allowed for an endless supply of content, autoplay features, and notifications.

The jurors were told not to take into account the content of the posts and videos Kaley viewed because tech companies are shielded from legal responsibility for posted content, based on Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act.

Social media identified as substantial factor in causing harm

Meta argued that Kaley's mental health struggles were not connected to her social media use and pointed to her turbulent home life. Meta also said not one of her therapists identified social media as the cause of her mental health issues. But the plaintiffs did not have to prove that social media caused Kaleys struggles  only that it was a substantial factor in causing her harm.

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YouTube focused more on the nature of the platform, arguing that it's a video platform akin to television rather than a social media platform. The company also mentioned her declining YouTube use as she aged. According to their data, she spent about one minute a day on average watching YouTube Shorts since its inception. YouTube Shorts, which launched in 2020, delivers short-form, vertical videos with the infinite scroll feature that plaintiffs argued was addictive.

Lawyers representing both platforms also pointed to their safety features and guardrails for users to monitor and customize their use.

The California case could influence others

The Los Angeles case was filed by a single plaintiff against Meta, YouTube, TikTok and Snap. After the latter two settled, her lawyers argued that Meta and YouTube were addictive by design, and that they especially target young users.

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The reason why this case is consequential is not the individual case, but the way that its a bellwether test case that might guide the resolution of other lawsuits, said Sarah Kreps, a professor and director of Cornell Universitys Tech Policy Institute.
The Rite Aid Store at 56 Rubber Ave. in Naugatuck in a May 2025 file photo. An executive with Town Fair Tire confirmed that the former drugstore is being turned into a Town Fair Tire location that will open in June. Luther Turmelle/Hearst Connecticut Media The former Rite Aid on Monroe Turnpike in Monroe is being considered for a new Town Fair Tire location, an executive with the retailer confirmed on Monday, March 23, 2026. Alex Soule/Hearst Connecticut Media

East Haven-based Town Fair Tire is expanding its footprint in Connecticut, with plans to open new retail locations later this year, the chains president said.

Michael Barbaro, the companys president, said Monday that Town Fair Tire will add locations in Monroe and Naugatuck. In both cases, Barbaro said Town Fair Tire will convert former Rite Aid drugstore locations to meet its needs.

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Conversion work has already begun in Naugatuck, where the former Rite Aid at 56 Rubber Ave. was located. It closed in May 2025 after the companys second Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in less than two years. The drugstore chain closed the last of its locations nationwide in October 2025.

The former Rite Aid location at 508 Monroe Turnpike in Monroe closed last summer. The stores pharmacy closed in late July, and the remainder of the store closed a month later.

Barbaro said the plan to convert the former Monroe drugstore into a Town Fair Tire is still before the towns Planning and Zoning Commission. The Naugatuck location has all the necessary municipal approvals and is expected to open in late June, he said.

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For those who have a tough time imagining an automotive retailer with service bays in spaces formerly occupied by a drugstore, Barbaro said the typical size of a former Rite Aid is bigger than most of the locations we currently have.

The bays will go along the back walls, where the pharmacies used to be, he said. Theres no need for us to build an addition.

Town Fair Tire has 124 locations across New England and New York state, according to the companys website. Barbaro said that while the company has converted numerous former Rite Aid locations across its entire footprint, it has no plans to acquire any further locations of the now-defunct drugstore chain elsewhere in Connecticut.

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We look for new locations that arent overlapping with our existing stores, he said. In Monroe, our closest existing stores are Bridgeport and Derby.

Town Fair Tire joins a variety of retailers across the country repurposing former Rite Aid stores.

Elsewhere in the country, discount retailers like Burlington and Dollar General have moved into selected Rite Aid stores.

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An Avelo Airlines plane taxis down the runway at Tweed New Haven Airport on July 28, 2025. Tweed is considered a small hub airport, and the U.S. transportation secretary said such facilities could close if TSA shortages continue. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Normal passenger traffic moves through a TSA checkpoint at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks on March 23, 2026 despite long lines at other airports throughout the country. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media Passengers are held in a holding area outside the terminal at Tweed-New Haven Airport, which was full to capacity Sunday, March 8, 2026, due to dense fog and TSA staffing shortages. Submitted/Tweed New Haven Airport Passengers are held in a holding area outside the terminal at Tweed New Haven Airport, which was full to capacity Sunday, March 8, 2026, due to dense fog and TSA staffing shortages, the airport said. Tweed is considered a small hub airport, and the U.S. transportation secretary said such facilities could close if TSA shortages continue. Courtesy of Tweed-New Haven Airport Westchester County Airport, which is just over the border from Greenwich, is considered a small hub airport. The U.S. transportation secretary said such facilities could close if TSA shortages continue. (File photo) Matthew Brown/Hearst Connecticut Media

Federal aviation officials are warning that some airports could close due to ongoing Transportation Security Administration staff shortages, with smaller hubs such as Tweed New Haven Airport and Westchester County Airport more at risk.

A partial federal government shutdown has left TSA agents unpaid since Feb. 14. Hundreds of TSA workers have since quit or called out sick, resulting in longer-than-usual security checkpoints at airports nationwide.

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More than 50,000 TSA employees have worked without pay for over five weeks. Hundreds have quit, American Federation of Government Employees President Everett Kelley said in a statement Sunday.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told CNBC last week that if the stalemate does not get resolved, the next step could involve closing small-hub airports.

Youre going to see small airports, I believe, shut down. Youre going to see extensive lines, Duffy told CNBC.

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Adam Stahl, TSAs acting deputy administrator, told CNN last week that if more agents dont start showing up for work, airports could close.

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Its not hyperbole to suggest that we may have to quite literally shut down airports, particularly smaller ones, if call-out rates go up, he said. We make these determinations on an airport-by-airport basis.

The Federal Aviation Administration ranks airports based on total passengers boarded. The FAA monitors 11 airports in Connecticut, but only two are considered hubs:

Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, with more than 3.1 million passengers boarded in 2025, is listed as a medium hub, according to the FAA.

Tweed New Haven, with 490,246 passengers in 2025, is listed as a small hub, as is Westchester County Airport just over the Connecticut border in West Harrison, N.Y., which had just under 1.6 million passengers last year.

Andrew King, spokesman for Tweeds airport manager, Avports, said Tuesday, Weve not heard anything about possible airport closures.

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Westchester County spokesperson Catherine Cioffi also said Tuesday she had heard nothing about closures and had no concerns at this time.

Brian Spyros, spokesman for the Connecticut Airport Authority that operates Bradley, said Tuesday, As of right now, there remains no impact to TSA operations at BDL amid the partial government shutdown. While the situation remains fluid, we have not been notified of any plans to close BDL.

A request for comment sent to the FAA was referred to the federal Department of Homeland Security. DHS replied with a previously issued statement from Lauren Bis, acting assistant secretary for public affairs, on the deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to assist TSA at airports nationwide.

DHS this week deployed immigration agents to airports, including New Yorks LaGuardia and Kennedy, at the request of President Donald Trump.

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According to the union, about 90% of the 260,000 DHS employees are working without pay due to the shutdown, including employees at TSA, as well as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Coast Guard and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

The American Federation of Government Employees and 33 other labor groups on Tuesday issued a letter to Congress, urging members to pass legislation that would prevent workers from going unpaid during budget lapses.

Funding lapses place significant strain on the federal workforce and the families who depend on steady and predictable income, the letter states. While most federal operations continue because employees are deemed essential for the protection of life and property, many are required to work without pay. This situation creates unnecessary financial uncertainty and risks undermining morale, recruitment and retention across critical agencies.
A tractor-trailer proceeds north as construction continues at the Route 15, Interstate 691 and Interstate 91 interchange in Meriden on Dec. 16, 2025. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media

From a $50,000 project to install electric vehicle charging stations at town facilities in Canton to a more than $3 billion effort to replace a railroad bridge between Stratford and Milford, a five-year capital plan released this month by the Connecticut Department of Transportation assigns $15.7 billion in funding to hundreds of projects across the state.

Some projects, such as the EV charging stations in Canton, are funded by a mix of federal and local dollars. But most involve state funding, often in combination with federal money.

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Here are some of the most expensive projects in the DOTs plan.

Devon rail bridge

A project to replace this 120-year-old bridge, which brings Metro-Norths New Haven Line and Amtraks Northeast Corridor over the Housatonic River, is expected to cost more than $3 billion, with 80% funded by the federal government.

A Metro-North train travels on the Devon rail bridge over the Housatonic River that connects Stratford and Milford in 2023. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media

The movable portion of the bridge has experienced operational issues in the recent past, including a significant incident in the summer of 2015, which closed one of the lift spans for several days and severely impacted service for both Metro-North and Amtrak, DOTs capital plan says. Even with recent rehabilitations, the mechanical and electrical systems are antiquated.

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DOT said in a recent news release the project is in the planning stages. The current schedule calls for a design to be finished in late 2029 and construction to begin in the spring of 2030.

Walk Bridge

On the same rail lines but farther south is the Norwalk River railroad bridge, or the Walk Bridge, which is on track for replacement as part of a nearly $1.7 billion project that is also 80% federally funded under DOTs plan.

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An Amtrak train crosses the Walk Bridge in Norwalk in 2025. H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media

The movable bridge, built in the 1890s, failed a dozen times in 2011, 16 times in 2013 and twice within two weeks in 2014, according to DOTs website for the project.

Northbound Gold Star Memorial Bridge

This decades-old span carries Interstate 95 northbound traffic over the Thames River between New London and Groton. A project to strengthen and replace parts of the bridge appears in DOTs capital plan with a more than $900 million cost.

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A view of the Gold Star Memorial Bridge in New London in 2025. Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media

Josh Morgan, DOTs director of communications, said cost estimates for the project have changed as design work has progressed. At a 2024 public information meeting, officials presented a total estimated construction cost of $592 million.

But Morgan said that estimate reflected a design that was only 30% completed.

Following that public meeting, and as the remaining 70% of design was completed, additional items (were) added to the project, which increased the overall cost, he said. The $906 million in the recently released capital plan reflects the current total cost, reflecting the low bid received by the contractor in July 2025, as well as engineering support and construction inspection, which are part of every project and particularly important on this complex project.

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The plan indicates 90% of the project will be federally funded.

New Haven Union Station

There are few details about this project in the capital plan, which notes it is currently in the study phase of design, where the scope is being further defined. But it could include replacing all of the train platforms and canopies at Union Station in New Haven.

The platforms at Union Station in New Haven, photographed in 2023. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media

At this time, the plan puts the total cost of the project at $420 million, with the federal government funding 80% of the work.

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Interstate 91/Interstate 691/Route 15

Drivers who have traveled through the middle of the state in recent years are familiar with this three-phase project involving three highways.

Phase 2, which is under construction, will include a number of ramp changes and cost about $250 million, according to the capital plan. The still-under-design Phase 3 is estimated to cost nearly $290 million.

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Looking northwest, road construction continues at the Interstate 91, Interstate 691 and Route 15 interchange in Meriden in 2025. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media
Cast members, from left, Jerry O'Connell, Corey Feldman, and Will Wheaton pose for a portrait to promote the 40th anniversary of the film "Stand by Me" in Pittsburgh on Friday, March 13, 2026. Gene J. Puskar/AP This image released by Sony Pictures shows Corey Feldman, from left, Jerry O'Connell, River Phoenix, Wil Wheaton in a scene from "Stand by Me." (Sony Pictures via AP) AP This image released by Sony Pictures shows Jerry O'Connell, from left, River Phoenix, Wil Wheaton and Corey Feldman in a scene from "Stand by Me." (Sony Pictures via AP) AP Cast members, from left, Corey Feldman, Will Wheaton, and Jerry O'Connell pose for a portrait to promote the 40th anniversary of the film "Stand by Me" in Pittsburgh, Friday, March 13, 2026. Gene J. Puskar/AP Cast members Will Wheaton, from left, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O'Connell pose for a portrait to promote the 40th anniversary of the film "Stand By Me" in Pittsburgh, Friday, March 13, 2026. Gene J. Puskar/AP This image released by Sony Pictures shows Jerry O'Connell, from left, River Phoenix, Wil Wheaton and Corey Feldman in a scene from "Stand by Me." (Sony Pictures via AP) AP

Jerry OConnell, Corey Feldman and Wil Wheaton were already thinking about Stand by Me when Rob Reiner died in December. Just a week prior, the trio spent a weekend together attending some screenings of Reiners beloved coming-of-age film, which was about to turn 40.

The memories from that formative 1985 summer in Oregon were flooding back and they were having fun being together again. As Feldman told The Associated Press in a group Zoom with Wheaton and O'Connell, he was very grateful to be back with my bros.

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Weve stayed in touch loosely through the years and weve gotten together here and there, Feldman said. But theres never been a time that the three of us just hung out  it was like a high school reunion, but only for three people that really got it.

Remembering Rob Reiner

It was just the start of a multi-city tour that had been long in the works. Then the Reiner news broke, and they knew they had each other.

My first thought was, I am so glad that I have a place to land with my grief,' Wheaton said. Theres not a lot of other people in the world who really know what this feels like.

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For better or worse, in some ways theyd been here before with their co-star River Phoenix, who died in 1993. At a 25th anniversary screening, they remembered Reiner saying to no one in particular that it feels like there should be a chair here for River.

And in that spirit, OConnell, Feldman and Wheaton started figuring out what they could do to honor and remember the filmmaker who not only changed their lives but who gave them an experience theyve all been chasing ever since.

We know how much Rob loved Stand by Me. We know what it meant to him, Wheaton said. It never occurred to me to just shelve it all. I thought, well, now we really have to get out there.

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Wheaton and O'Connell were also among those who stood on the Oscars stage for the Reiner tribute. Feldman was not there, because he was not invited, he said on social media. The show's representatives did not respond to the AP's request for comment.

But the trio will continue on together. The tour still has a handful of stops left, in Anaheim, California; Seattle; Portland, Oregon; Indianapolis and Chicago. And for broader audiences, a 4K restoration of the film is coming back to select theaters in the U.S. and Canada for one week starting Friday.

The movie that almost never was

People like to say that Hollywood doesnt make movies like Stand by Me anymore, but, in 1985, they werent exactly clamoring to make it either. Yes, it was based on a Stephen King novella, but it was also a small hangout movie with no stars. Just four 12-year-old boys on a quest to find a dead body.

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Though Reiner had hits under his belt as a filmmaker, everyone passed. And even he had modest expectations for its reach: As Reiner told his screenwriters, according to a New York Times article in 1986, Theres no way this picture is going to do business, because no one who went to Rambo will go to see our film.

Somewhat ironically, OConnell told the AP, Rambo: First Blood Part II was the movie he saw the night before he boarded the plane to Oregon to film Stand by Me and that, as an 11-year-old, I thought it was the greatest film I had seen in my life.

Stand by Me was definitely not Rambo. And the only reason it did get made was Norman Lear, who saved it after his companys new owner, Coca-Cola, refused to put up the money. Lear funded it himself, to the tune of $8 million and change, as he told the Times in 1986. It would end up earning over $52 million in its initial run in the late summer of 1986.

The film tapped into something universal about youthful friendships, lazy summer days, bullies, dark home lives and adventure. Perhaps most importantly, the boys were relatable and true, their friendship forged through off-screen games that Reiner played with them.

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Rob took the time to really reach us and help us make authentic emotional connections to what our characters were experiencing, Wheaton said. We were kids. I dont think Ive even turned 13 yet. River hasnt turned 15 yet. And Rob is talking to us the way you talk to seasoned professionals and bringing these incredible performances out of us.

Though it was set in 1959, it's also become a kind of nostalgic catch-all for any generation who lived through a time before cellphones.

I think its whats so special about Stand by Me is that its not like any epic adventure movie, OConnell said. There are no, like, stunt sequences with cars rolling over and explosions. Its a simple movie.

Stand by Me on the big screen

OConnell has seen the film many times over the years, but usually at home, flipping through channels with his dog or cat as a companion. But watching in a movie theater again was transportive.

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Getting to see it on the big screen, its a different experience, O'Connell said. I think its because it is such an epic film with little boys.

At the screenings, theyve all noticed a wide range of ages in the audience, from young kids to grandparents. Wheaton said it seems to be resonating in particular with the Stranger Things generation, referencing a show that was heavily inspired by Stand by Me.

OConnell said he plans to take his 17-year-old daughters and as many of their friends who will come, collect their phones, lock them in a bag and make these Gen Z-ers sit down and watch a real movie.

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Protesters applaud for Gov. Ned Lamont during a No Kings rally in front of Stamford Superior Court on Oct. 18. Arnold Gold/Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut M An aerial view of the No Kings protest in Hartford Oct. 18, 2025. Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media State Rep. Josh Elliott of Hamden speaks to the crowd during a No Kings Rally on the Waterbury Green in October. Jim Shannon/Hearst Connecticut Media Protesters gather for a No Kings rally in front of Stamford Superior Court on Oct. 18, 2025. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Protesters gather for a No Kings rally in front of Stamford Superior Court on Oct. 18, 2025. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Protesters gather for a No Kings rally in front of Stamford Superior Court on Oct. 18, 2025. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Protesters gather for a No Kings rally in front of Stamford Superior Court on Oct. 18, 2025. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media

Dozens of protests  and at least one sidewalk line dance  are planned in cities and towns in Connecticut this Saturday as part of the third round of national No Kings demonstrations against the Trump administration.

In Wilton, organizers plan to hold a line dance along the Route 7 sidewalk in front of the town's high school, according the event's page on the national No Kings organization's website. The page notes that neither dancing skills or a love of country music are required.

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The national organization's website lists at least 53 demonstrations scheduled for Saturday in Connecticut, although some list the same municipality.

Previous No Kings demonstrations were held nationwide on Oct. 18 and June 14 last year. The first event in June coincided with a military parade for the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary that also fell on President Donald Trump's birthday.

Organizers have said the demonstrations are meant to show that America has no kings, and have described them as a response to the Trump administration's "crackdown" on First Amendment rights. Previous events have seen protesters lean into patriotic imagery  including touting American flags.

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Trump's political allies, meanwhile, have decried the protests, with Speaker Mike Johnson referring to a planned protest as the "hate America rally."

The events planned in Connecticut include demonstrations in many of the state's major cities, including Hartford, Stamford, New Haven, New London, Torrington, Norwalk and Danbury. Demonstrators from Bridgeport, the state's largest city, are planning to rally at the Ash Creek Bridge, which links the city to neighboring Fairfield.

The third round of demonstrations in Connecticut come amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. Iran's response by choking off the Strait of Hormuz, a vital sea passage for oil tankers, have seen gas prices in Connecticut spike. As of Monday, the average price for a gallon of gas in Connecticut sat at $3.88, up nearly a dollar from a month ago, according to AAA.

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The third round of No Kings protests also come in the wake of Operation Metro Surge, the Trump administration's surge of federal agents into Minnesota.

The operation saw ICE and Border Patrol officers fatally shoot two U.S. citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, following confrontations with agents, prompting more national protests that also spread to Connecticut. The White House ended the operation in February.

Fallout from the operation continues, with Democrats in Congress blocking funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The delay in funding has caused Transportation Security agents to work without pay, leading to extended lines at some U.S. airports.
Connecticut State Police say Joshua Gookin, a state trooper, resigned on March 5, the same day an internal affairs investigation was completed on his two pending arrest cases. Courtesy of Connecticut State Police

GRISWOLD  A state police trooper arrested twice in 2025 on charges he was the aggressor in a domestic violence incident and illegally fired a gun, endangering minors, has resigned, officials confirmed.

Former Connecticut State Police trooper Edward Joshua Gookin, 37, first was charged in August after an investigation into a domestic violence incident concluded he was the aggressor, reports said.

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He was charged a second time in November after a woman revealed that he had fired a gun inside a Griswold home with minors in the residence, according to an arrest warrant.

A state police spokesperson confirmed that Gookin resigned on March 5  the day the internal affairs investigation into his activities was completed. Both of the arrest cases are pending, according to the state Judicial Branch website.

Gookin initially was charged with disorderly conduct and ordered to turn over any firearms he possessed and to stay away from the victim, who had been granted a protective order against him.

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State police said at the time that he had been placed on administrative duty. They described the altercation leading to his arrest as verbal and physical, but said no injuries were reported as a result of the confrontation.

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The protective order, issued after his arraignment, prohibited him from possessing firearms and from going to the woman's home. Gookin also was prohibited from harassing, stalking, abusing or assaulting the woman, but he could remain in contact with her as long as he didn't show up at her home, the order said.

The woman and Gookin were living together, according to the order. He was allowed to return to the home one time with police to gather his belongings, the order said. Currently, the order is slated to remain in place while the case is pending.

Gookin also was ordered to surrender or transfer any firearms he was in possession of.

He was arrested a second time in November after state police investigating the domestic violence incident learned that he had fired a shot from his service weapon that went through the floor of a home in Griswold and landed in the basement, warrant said.

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There were two children and a woman in the room when the shot went off, according to the warrant. He was showing the weapon to the children, the woman said, when it suddenly fired, making a loud noise, the warrant said.

In addition to a disorderly conduct arrest related to the domestic violence incident, Gookin also was charged with two counts of risk of injury to a child, three counts of first-degree reckless endangerment and unlawful discharge of a firearm.

State police estimate the firearm incident took place on Aug. 21, the same day he was involved in a car crash in a department vehicle, state police said in the warrant.

A few days later, Gookin signed out two 9 mm rounds, citing "deer" as the reason, the warrant said. But the state trooper investigating the gunshot reviewed Gookin's service call log and found no entries indicating Gookin was required to shoot an injured deer during the timeframe.

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The woman saved the bullet and turned it over as evidence, the warrant said. The state's forensic lab matched the bullet to Gookin's service weapon, the warrant said.
Kosta Diamantis arrives at Bridgeport Federal Court in Bridgeport, Conn., Friday, October 3, 2025. Diamantis, who served as Connecticut's deputy budget director from 2019-21, faces two separate federal trials, stemming from allegations he solicited bribes from state contractors pursuing lucrative school construction contracts and from a local business seeking to have a state audit dismissed. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media

A Connecticut judge approved Kosta Diamantis' resignation of his law license and a waiver stating he will not seek readmission to the state bar after he was found guilty last year of soliciting bribes to steer companies to lucrative school construction contracts.

The judge, Patrick L. Carroll III, issued the order Tuesday in Waterbury.

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Diamantis, whose first name is Konstantinos but goes by Kosta, voluntarily gave up his law license and any chance of reapplying in the future in January. The action was initially brought by the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel, which handles attorney misconduct.

Diamantis was admitted to the bar in Connecticut on May 10, 1984, according to court filings.

The disciplinary counsel's action cited Diamantis' conviction in federal court as "serious crimes," which warrant discipline under the state's practice book for lawyers. A federal jury found Diamantis guilty in October of 21 counts of bribery, extortion, conspiracy and lying to investigators.

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"Although I deny some or all of the material facts alleged in the presentment, I acknowledge that there is sufficient evidence to prove by clear and convincing evidence the material facts constituting a violation," Diamantis wrote in his affidavit.

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Diamantis' conviction last year stemmed from his dealings with a masonry company and a project administration firm that worked on multimillion-dollar school construction projects in Hartford and Tolland. He claimed while testifying in his own defense that he had been acting as a lawyer and consultant in his spare time.

He awaits sentencing.

Federal prosecutors have also charged Diamantis with soliciting and taking money to squash a probe into a Medicaid fraud scheme conducted by the fiance of a former state lawmaker. That case is still awaiting trial.
An aerial view of the thousands of people who attended the No Kings protest in Hartford, Conn., on Oct. 18, 2025. Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media

HARTFORD  People around the country, including right here in Connecticut, are once again taking to the streets for the next national No Kings Day of Nonviolent Action this Saturday.

Held under the No Kings banner, the last nonviolent and lawful No Kings protest was held Oct. 18. Participants in about 40 Connecticut towns and cities took part in that nationwide to protest President Donald Trump and his administration.

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This weekend, protests are expected to be held in at least 45 towns and cities in the state.

According to a No Kings press release, there are an array of groups organizing the protests, including the Human Rights Campaign, American Federation of Teachers, Common Defense, United We Dream, and 50501.

There are also Eyes on ICE virtual training programs taking place nationwide up until protest day, according to the release.

The following protests are expected to take place around the state:

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KABUL, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Afghan police have dismantled a robbery network and arrested five of its members in the capital Kabul, seizing rifles and stolen property, the city's police headquarters said on Wednesday.

According to a statement from the headquarters, the arrested individuals were involved in armed robberies and thefts across various parts of Kabul. They were apprehended during a series of operations launched on the outskirts of Police District 9.

Authorities recovered two Kalashnikov assault rifles, 80,000 U.S. dollars in stolen cash, and a range of other stolen items from the suspects.

The Afghan government has reiterated its commitment to stepping up efforts against crime, disarming illegal armed individuals, and dismantling drug networks in order to restore peace and stability across the war-torn country. 
There were 18 Norwalk businesses cited with priority violations during February health inspections. File photo / Erik Trautmann / Hearst Connecticut Media

NORWALK  Of the nearly 60 Norwalk businesses inspected in February, 18 of them received serious violations.

Priority violations are considered the most serious and must be corrected within 72 hours, while priority foundation and core violations must be corrected within 10 and 90 days, respectively.

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Capuli Cocina Latina at 86 South Main St. received one priority violation for raw chicken stored near ready-to-eat foods. According to the report, this was corrected on site.

During the inspection, the two items noted by the inspector were already in their own separate containers, said owner Andrea Brito in an emailed statement. The issue was immediately corrected on site by our kitchen staff, who relocated the ready-to-eat foods and vegetables to their designated separate shelf in the appropriate refrigeration units, fully complying with health guidelines.

The restaurant also received two core violations for not having a certified food protection manager on site at the time of the inspection and rear prep counters that needed cleaning.

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We take food safety very seriously and always prioritize preventing any risk of cross-contamination. All our food items are stored in sealed containers to maintain hygiene and safety standards, Brito said.

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She said her team is fully committed to the highest standards of cleanliness and safe food handling for our customers.

Guac Time Mexican Grill at 500 Connecticut Ave. received one priority violation because an employee didnt wash their hands when doing different tasks. This was corrected during the inspection and the employee was told to wash their hands.

There were also five core violations, which included one for foods stored on the floor in the walk-in cooler.

The restaurant could not be reached by phone and the corporate office did not respond to an emailed request for comment.

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Rice King Chinese Restaurant at 47 Stevens St. was cited with a priority violation because raw chicken was stored near vegetables and ready-to-eat foods in the walk-in cooler. This was fixed during the inspection after the manager moved the other foods away from the raw chicken.

The restaurant received a priority foundation violation because an employee was seen washing and prepping food then, handling storage without washing their hands. The employee was told about the issue and washed their hands during the inspection.

There were also four core violations including one for handwashing signs needed at all sinks.

Management was not immediately available for comment.

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Brasitas Nuevo Latino Cuisine at 430 Main Ave. received one priority violation because an employee did not wash their hands while doing different tasks.

The restaurant also received four core violations, including equipment that needed cleaning.

The manager said all of the issues from the report were fixed either during or after the inspection.

We have everything in order, said Victor Alfaro.

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Rowayton Pizza at 104 Rowayton Ave. received one priority violation because cleaning products were stored next to foods on a shelf in the basement, according to the report. The manager moved the cleaning products away from the food.

There were also two core violations on the report, citing that the reach-in unit needed cleaning and foods in plastic containers in the refrigerator needed to be labeled.

Management was not available for comment.

La Sopresa Restaurant at 61 Cedar St. received a priority violation for raw foods stored too close to ready-to-eat foods and vegetables in the refrigerator, which was corrected by the certified food protection manager, who moved the raw foods to the bottom shelf.

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The restaurant received a priority foundation violation because a prescription bottle was next to food items in the front area. The manager removed it during the inspection.

There were also three core violations, including utensils stored in lukewarm water, which was not at the recommended 135 degrees.

The restaurant declined to comment.

Norwalk Public Schools Central Kitchen was cited with two priority violations because the sanitizing solution was too strong and there were unlabeled chemical spray bottles. Both violations were taken care of during the inspection.

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The communications and food service departments did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Costa Vino Wine Bar Restaurant at 36 Westport Ave. was cited for storing raw food above ready-to-eat foods in the walk-in cooler, which was corrected during the inspection.

It also received a priority foundation violation because the coffee station handsink needed soap and the bar handsink needed paper towels.

The restaurant was also cited with two core violations  there were coolers that needed thermometers and there wasnt a certified food protection manager on site at the time of the inspection.

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The report noted that the restaurant did have a certified food protection manager certificate on site.

Manager Andres Diez said the sinks have been fully stocked with the soap and paper towels as requested by the health inspector.

Everything is going good, he said.

iPark Grille at 761 Main Ave. received a priority violation for pork chops cooked at 127 degrees, under the recommended 145 degrees. The food was then pulled and cooked to the appropriate temperature.

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It also received three priority foundation violations because prepared items in the walk-in cooler werent date marked, the ice machines drip plate had mold and there was a knife in a handsink, which was removed.

There were also four core violations, which included one for some items being stored in the three-door freezer uncovered.

Everything was fixed, we have no issues, everything is done, said a manager at the restaurant who declined to be named. The manager said shortly afterward, the restaurant was reinspected and passed with flying colors.

Brendans 101 Family Restaurant, at 101 Rowayton Ave., was cited with a priority violation because raw foods were stored above ready-to-eat foods and deli meat in the refrigerator. This was corrected by the manager and the raw foods were separated.

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There were also three core violations because paper towels were needed at all hand-washing sinks, there wasnt a certified food protection manager on-site and the rear prep counters needed cleaning.

The restaurant did not respond to a request for comment.

Crazy King Burrito in Rainbow Plaza at 205 Main St. received two priority violations. The first one was because raw foods were stored above other foods in the walk-in cooler, which was fixed during the inspection. The second one was because temperature-controlled food was not at the appropriate temperature and had to be reheated at 165 degrees.

It was also cited with a priority foundation violation for an unlabeled chemical spray bottle, which was corrected. There were also three core violations because it needed a knife rack, a tin was used for food storage and wiping towels were air drying on dry goods storage shelving. The wiping towel was corrected and removed.

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The restaurant did not respond to a request for comment.

Bubbakoos Burritos at 235 Main Ave. was cited with one priority violation due to an egg container placed above dressing and sauces. This was corrected during the inspection.

There was a priority foundation violation because there were food containers that were not date marked. The restaurant also received four core violations, including one for thawing frozen chicken packages in stagnant water.

The restaurant declined to comment.

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Greer Southern Table at 7 River St. received one priority violation for a gumbo cheese sauce that was at a too high temperature and was sealed tight. It was thrown away during the inspection.

The restaurant also received a priority foundation violation for not utilizing cooling methods, and two core violations, both for improper storage of knives and other utensils.

Manager Alexander Ruiz said everything was pretty much fixed and held a meeting with both kitchen staff and front of staff to discuss everything that had to be improved.

Weve already discussed it and putting everything into place, he said. Every single issue that was written in the report was addressed with the staff. We make sure everything is appropriately kept in the kitchen.

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El Rancho Restaurant and Bar at 21 North Main Street received two priority violations for eggs stored above other foods and the bain-marie unit at the cookline not maintaining product temperature. Temperature-controlled foods were removed and placed into a working cooler. Staff was instructed to not use it until its fixed.

There were four priority foundation violations, including one for hand soap needed at the bar handsink. The restaurant also received two core violations for containers not being properly labeled and storing in-use utensils in water less than 135 degrees. The steam table was turned up to reach the appropriate temperature.

The restaurant did not respond to a request for comment.

Notre Dame Health and Rehabilitation Center at 76 West Rocks Road received a priority violation for having tartar sauce at 70 degrees in the dry storage. This was corrected and the tartar sauce was thrown out.

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The center did not respond to a request for comment.

Starbucks at 524 Connecticut Ave. received a priority violation because the sanitizing solution was too strong. This was fixed during the inspection.

The business declined to comment.

East Ave Pizza at 84 Fort Point St. received two priority violations for not having sanitizer made at the time of inspection and marinara sauce that was 105 degrees at the steam table.

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It also received a priority foundation because food containers were not properly date marked, as well as two core violations for containers that were stored on the floor and using a tin can for food storage.

Manager Leo Stefanatos said everything was fixed and easily resolved.

La Cocina Restaurant at 717 West Ave. was cited with one priority violation for using a spoon made from an unknown material and it was removed from the kitchen.

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It also received five core violations relating to improper food storage.
A panoramic view of the Long Island Sound at Greenwich Point Park in Old Greenwich. Tyler Sizemore The Sound Beach Volunteer Fire Department Memorial Day Parade passes down Sound Beach Avenue in Old Greenwich in 2015. Tyler Sizemore Customers enjoy a cup of coffee outside Sweet Pea's Baking Company. Tyler Sizemore

You come at the king, you best not miss. And Old Greenwich didn't.

After West Hartford spent eight straight years on top of Niche's annual rankings for the "Best Place to Live in Connecticut," the Hartford suburb fell to second place this year, after being eclipsed by the Gold Coast neighborhood of Old Greenwich.

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On the whole, Connecticut's national standing declined from last year, with lower placements for its top towns and fewer top ratings.

Folks walk along Sound Beach Avenue in Old Greenwich, Conn., in June 2024. Tyler Sizemore, Staff Photographer / Hearst Connecticut Media

The 6,936-strong neighborhood of Greenwich, which occupies a sliver of land in the eastern portion of the town, earned an A+ overall rating, as well as an A+ in the categories of "Public Schools," "Good For Families" and "Health & Fitness." But it ranked at a B- or below for Cost of Living, Diversity, Housing and Weather according to Niche.

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Nationally, Old Greenwich ranked 988th on the "Best Place to Live in America" list, and 448th for the best suburbs. Both are declines from last year, when West Hartford placed in the top 200 overall. Niche's best place to live nationwide was Atlantic Station, a neighborhood in Atlanta, Ga.

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After Old Greenwich and West Hartford, the rest of Connecticut's top 10 consisted largely of other neighborhoods of Greenwich (Riverside 3rd and Cos Cob 5th) or suburbs of Hartford (Avon 4th, Simsbury 7th, Farmington 8th, Glastonbury 9th, South Windsor 10th), with the only exception being sixth-place Westport.

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Niche makes its list drawing from a wide swath of census data, with the most important factors being cost of living, the rate of residents with a college degree, housing quality and Niche's own rating for the district's public schools.

Old Greenwich's Roger Thomson and his daughter, Zara, 8, ride bikes at Greenwich Point Park in Old Greenwich, Conn. Oct. 6, 2024. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media

And the top Connecticut places to live bear this out, with universally high ratings for schools and families, though the Hartford-area locales generally garnered higher marks on housing and cost of living than their Greenwich counterparts.

Each of the towns in the Niche's statewide top 10 was also whiter, more highly educated and had higher median incomes and median housing values than the state's average, according to AdvanceCT data.

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All told, 14 places in Connecticut scored an A+ on Niche's list, down from 22 in 2025.

At the other end of the spectrum, the lowest-rated areas of Connecticut were a trio of small towns in the northeast of the state  Hampton, Sterling, Union  along with the Hartford neighborhoods of North Meadows and South Meadows.
President Donald Trump listens to a reporter during the swearing in for Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in Washington. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump will travel to Beijing for a rescheduled summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 14 and 15, the White House announced on Wednesday.

Trump had been scheduled to travel to China later this month but previously announced he was delaying the trip so he could be in Washington to help steward the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran. The Republican president had announced a rescheduled trip even though the war in Iran continues and the U.S. is pressing Tehran to accept a ceasefire proposal.

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The president and first lady Melania Trump also plan to host Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, for a White House visit later this year, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

Leavitt, when asked if the new dates for Trump's trip could suggest he believes the Iran war could end soon, offered an optimistic tone that the conflict could reach an endgame before he travels.

Weve always estimated four to six weeks, Leavitt responded. So you could do the math on that.

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The United States and Israel launched the attacks against Iran on Feb. 28.

The China trip had been planned for months but began to unravel as Trump pressured Beijing and other world powers to use their military might to protect the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for the flow of oil. The strait has been effectively closed as Iran targets energy infrastructure and traffic through it.

Trump said last week while meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin in the Oval Office that he would be going to China in five or six weeks time instead of at the end of the month. He said he would be resetting his visit with Xi.

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Were working with China  they were fine with it, Trump said then. I look forward to seeing President Xi. He looks forward to seeing me, I think.
A.M. Bhatt, founder and CEO, speaks during an interview at dae, in New Haven, Conn., on March 17, 2026. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media Director of Learning Studio Kay Detome speaks during an interview at dae, in New Haven, Conn., on March 17, 2026. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media Director of Learning Studio Kay Detome, second from left, speaks with students during a huddle meeting at dae, in New Haven, Conn., on March 17, 2026. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media Justin Welch, of Hamden, a student at High School in the Community, leads a huddle meeting at dae, in New Haven, Conn., on March 17, 2026. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media Students and faculty take part in a huddle meeting at dae, in New Haven, Conn., on March 17, 2026. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media From left, Judith Mohan and Katherine Flores, both students at Hill Regional Career High School, and Justin Welch from High School in the Community speak during an interview at dae, in New Haven, Conn., on March 17, 2026. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media

Standing in a semicircle around a white board, students and faculty members kicked off a quantum computing lesson at daes learning studio in New Haven by answering questions spanning from how their peers can help them with learning for the day to what superpower they would like to have.

Each lesson at dae starts and ends this way, Kay Detome, the director of the learning studio, told the students.

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We are big on community.  We still have individualized paths, but we also work together.  Its also big in the tech industry, he told the students at a recent quantum computing lesson.

dae, a nonprofit multilocation learning studio, provides high school students and adults with no-cost programs to explore the most in-demand uses of technology, according to a news release. Currently, dae is located in New Haven and Stamford.

For high school students, dae offers a variety of program lengths, including one that lasts 10 months, to learn about different areas of technology such as game development, web development and computer science.

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The latest program that dae added to its list for high schoolers is called daeZERO, which is all about quantum computing, which A.M. Bhatt, daes founder and chief executive officer, said is timely.

Its brand new territory with a lot of runway to it for a career standpoint, a development standpoint  so it perfectly fits with our mission, he said.

Quantum computing is a form of technology that uses particles and quantum physics laws to process information.

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The daeZERO program is currently offered at the nonprofits New Haven location. It is now in the middle of its second cohort of about 10 quantum computing students. At minimum, it is offered for four weeks at a time, but students can opt into participating for eight weeks, Bhatt said.

He added that daeZERO teaches students about core quantum concepts, such as building basic quantum circuits and writing basic quantum code.

Its really just to have a really hands-on experience of what is quantum computing and where is this world opening up to in the next decade? Bhatt said.

At the end of the program, the students, in groups, present how they would use quantum to fix a real-life problem, Detome said.

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It could be quantum and cybersecurity, quantum and (artificial intelligence) or quantum and medicine and youre picking a problem out there, he said. They are coming up with a solution for how to use quantum concepts to actually solve those problems. They actually write in code with their solution.

Yale University and QuantumCT fund the daeZERO four week program, with dae picking up some of the cost for students who come for eight weeks, Bhatt said.

When it comes to quantum computing, Florian Carle, managing director of the Yale Quantum Institute, said it offers transformative opportunities for our economy and workforce, and educational programs help ensure that our community benefits from emerging technologies.

Saranda Belica, senior adviser of QuantumCT, said they are supporting dae because it represents a practical, early entry point into a field that is often perceived as inaccessible.

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Expanding access at this stage matters, Belica added. It allows students to develop familiarity with the language, tools and implications of quantum technologies. This kind of exposure strengthens the broader talent pipeline and ensures that more communities are positioned to participate in, and benefit from, what comes next.

For some students, participating in daes programs has influenced what they choose to do after high school. This is the case for High School in the Community student Justin Welch, who will be attending the University of New Haven to study computer and electrical engineering,

Ive been here for so long, I know more about tech and stuff like that, he said. Now, I definitely could probably have a career in tech so its slowly introduced me and influenced me to start going into those things.

Plus, students said that participating in dae programs has given them a chance to form new relationships.

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Its a very close-knit community so if you have something going on at home or something going on at school, you feel comfortable enough to talk about it with a staff member or be like, 'Hey, today wasnt really a good day for me, Im not feeling well,' said Katherine Flores, a student at High School in the Community. So the space in general is very safe.

Because the quantum computing program is in demand, Bhatt said dae will offer it in Stamford this summer.

In the fall, the plan is to open a paid program for students outside of areas that dae now services, which are students who are in New Haven County, Norwalk and Stamford. However, dae is also looking to expand to Bridgeport by opening a campus there later this year or early next year.

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First lady Melania Trump arrives, accompanied by a robot, to attend the "Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit," with other first spouses, at the White House, Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in Washington. Jacquelyn Martin/AP First lady Melania Trump arrives, accompanied by a robot, to attend the "Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit," with other first spouses, at the White House, Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in Washington. From left are Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, of Sierra Leone, Martha Nawrocka of Poland, Brigitte Macron of France and Melania Trump. Jacquelyn Martin/AP First lady Melania Trump arrives, accompanied by a robot, to attend the "Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit," with other first spouses, at the White House, Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in Washington. From left are Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, of Sierra Leone, Martha Nawrocka of Poland, Brigitte Macron of France, Melania Trump, Her Royal Highness Lalla Hasnaa of Morocco and Her Highness Sheikha Alyazia bint Saif Al Nahyan of the UAE. Jacquelyn Martin/AP First lady Melania Trump speaks during a "Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit," with Brigitte Macron, France, left, and Princess Lalla Hasnaa, Morocco, right, at the White House, Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in Washington. Jacquelyn Martin/AP First lady Melania Trump speaks during a "Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit," with other first spouses, at the White House, Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in Washington. Jacquelyn Martin/AP

WASHINGTON (AP)  Melania Trump often commands the attention of any room she enters but all eyes  and cameras  were trained on her humanoid companion on Wednesday.

The robot accompanied the first lady to the White House East Room for the final day of a summit she had convened with counterparts from around the world through her Fostering the Future Together global initiative. The group has been discussing ways to empower children using education, innovation and technology, including artificial intelligence.

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Melania Trump and the humanoid walked slowly side by side along the red carpet from the opposite end of the hallway. The first lady paused just before entering the East Room while the robot walked around the table with the panelists and took up a position in the center of the room.

It took a moment to scan the audience before speaking.

Thank you, first lady Melania Trump, for inviting me to the White House. It is an honor to be at Fostering the Future Together's global coalition inaugural meeting," it said.

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I'm Figure 03, a humanoid built for the United States of America, it continued. I am grateful to be part of this historic movement to empower children with technology and education."

Welcome, it said before offering similar greetings in 10 other languages. The robot then thanked everyone and retraced its steps back down the red carpet.

The first lady thanked the robot for joining her, adding: It's fair to state, you are my first American-made humanoid guest in the White House.

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The startup robotics company Figure AI, based in Sunnyvale, California, introduced Figure 03 in October 2025 as its third-generation humanoid robot for people to use at home for help with such household tasks as laundry, cleaning and washing dishes, according to its website and company literature.

CEO Brett Adcock said on social media he was proud to see F.03 make history as the first humanoid robot in the White House.

The startup is competing with others, including Boston Dynamics and Elon Musks Tesla, as well as a number of companies in China, in building robots that look human-like and do some of the things that people do.

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In this screenshot taken from video Florida State Rep.-elect Emily Gregory speaks with the Associated Press from Palm Beach, Florida, about her special election win where she flipped a district that is home to President Donald Trump's estate, Mar-a-Lago, March 25, 2026. AP FILE - An aerial view of President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla., on Aug. 31, 2022. Steve Helber/AP President Donald Trump speaks during the swearing in for Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)  After a surprise victory in a Florida special election, Emily Gregory said she's excited to represent all of her constituents  and that includes President Donald Trump.

I would love to have a conversation, the Democrat told The Associated Press on Wednesday. Hes welcome to call me, as I am his new state representative.

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The presidents Mar-a-Lago resort is part of Gregorys district, which is anchored by Palm Beach. Although state legislative races rarely get the national spotlight, Democrats across the country were positively euphoric at the irony of their Republican nemesis being represented by one of their own.

Gregory's victory is the latest example of how Democrats have flipped seats in a series of special elections that could be a sign of momentum in a midterm election year that will provide a political verdict on Trumps second term.

Here was a 40-year-old first-time candidate who owns a local fitness company for pregnant and postpartum women defeating a Republican whom Trump had endorsed by saying he was backed by so many of my Palm Beach County friends.

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Gregory's win was especially sweet for Florida Democrats, who have been beaten down by years of Republican domination in what was once the consummate battleground state. Democrats are also hopeful that Brian Nathan will win a state senate seat in the Tampa area; the AP has not yet called that race but he currently has a narrow lead that is within the states automatic recount range.

The pendulum swings in both directions, Florida Democratic Chairwoman Nikki Fried told reporters. Last night it swung hard in the state of Florida."

She added, "If we can win in Donald Trumps backyard, we can win anywhere.

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Florida Republican Chairman Evan Power did not return a message seeking comment. Trump said nothing Wednesday about the race.

Gregory said she's embedded in my community

For Gregory, it has been a stunning introduction to the national spotlight.

I believed in myself the whole time, Gregory said, describing her political naivete about the district and its conservative leanings as an asset. She was elected to finish the term of Mike Caruso, a Republican who resigned to become Palm Beach Countys clerk, and she would need to run again in November if she wants to keep the seat.

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Gregory told the AP she did not make her contest about the president specifically, focusing instead on constituents concerns involving the economy and everyday costs  from fast-rising insurance in the hurricane-prone district to groceries and gas.

She described herself as a lifelong proud Florida Democrat but said she did not view herself as a Trump opposition leader. She said she will go to Tallahassee focused on proposals to limit insurance rate hikes, expand health care access, support public education and lift huge, crushing burdens on the average Florida family.

I just see myself as very embedded in my community, very representative of District 87, she said. And Im so humbled and proud to be their representative.

Gregory expects to be sworn in before a special legislative session that begins April 20 to redraw the state's congressional map. It's a Republican initiative intended to boost the party's chances to hold onto its thin majority in the U.S. House, and Gregory said she plans to oppose the effort.

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She described the session as a complete power grab resulting from the president's call to gerrymander in favor of Republicans.

Trump endorsed Gregorys opponent, Jon Maples, and cast a mail ballot in the contest. The president reiterated his support for Maples on the eve of the election with a social media post addressed to ALL GREAT PATRIOTS.

Florida Dem chair says party has the right candidates

Fried praised Gregory and Nathan, a 45-year-old veteran and union worker, as quality candidates who could capitalize on the broader political environment.

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The type of person and connection on the issues matters, Fried said.

Gregory flipped a seat that her Republican predecessor had won by 19 percentage points. Fried said Trump carried the district by 11 points in 2024.

Republicans still dominate the Florida Legislature, and they have been considered heavy favorites to hold the governors office in November, four years after Gov. Ron DeSantis won a blowout reelection campaign.

But Fried and other Democrats insisted the trends suggest a competitive landscape. She noted that Tuesday's victories followed two congressional special elections in 2025 when Florida Democrats lost but dramatically narrowed the usual margins in heavily Republican districts.

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You've seen tremendous overspending by Republicans, Fried said of the current cycle. It's not working.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly said Wednesday the results demonstrate an upswing for the party as long as candidates address the economy.

Change is here, said Jolly, a former Republican congressman who switched parties. Voters are giving us an opportunity in Florida that they havent given us in years.

A spokesman for Republican U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, whom Trump has endorsed for Florida governor, took at least some notice of the latest results.

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We constantly assess how we execute our strategy  thats just good campaigns, said Ryan Smith, Donalds' chief campaign strategist. What wont change is our mission: President Trump endorsed Byron Donalds to deliver real results and defend the Florida Dream, and thats what voters can expect to see from us.

Gregory, meanwhile, said she's ready to get to work, including for Trump.

I will work as hard for every single one of 180,000 constituents in District 87, she said, and not elevate anyone over the rest.

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Concrete wall crack separate between United States flag and Iran flag. Dilok Klaisataporn/Getty Images

For how long will we send our sons and daughters to Iran? Hard to say, though the president said he is willing to direct a Vietnam-style ground combat. That is interesting, given Donald Trumps utter lack of involvement in anything having to do with that country.

During the Vietnam War, Trump avoided military service with the help of his father, who reached out to one of his tenants  a podiatrist  to help his son dodge the draft for a total of (what was it, again?) five times.

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And then later, the president described the time he spent avoiding STDs as a young adult as his personal Vietnam.

Yeah.

OK.

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Anyway.

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My dad never shared whether he was afraid of a Vietnam-style ground combat but the difference is, my father actually served there  three tours, in fact. Family lore says he enlisted after one too many run-ins with the law, when a judge suggested my dad could either go fight for his country, or go to jail. I often wonder if the story is entirely true. What is true is that my father had dropped out of school to be a pool shark, and he was smart enough to see the end game for a neer-do-well. He enlisted, and brought my mother along with a promise to show her the world.

My father was Airborne (all the way), and an old Polaroid shows a speck of a figure that has just leaped out of a plane, with War Hero and an arrow drawn in my mothers hand. Shed soon see all the world that she wanted, divorced my father and brought the kids back home to Missouri. For years, we only saw him when he came home on leave, back ramrod straight, smelling like Old Spice and Swisher Sweets.

If you look at his military record, my dad seemed to always be on the verge of a promotion in rank. From the stories his colleagues shared later, his trajectory was interrupted because of a propensity for practical jokes (noted) and mouthing off (also noted).

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I sometimes wonder whether the military was a good fit for him. He would have said yes, absolutely. The military gave him structure and purpose and by the time he was sent to Vietnam, he was a master sergeant, an old man in his 30s. Thats what his men called him, anyway.

He never shared stories from his time in combat, but I think he would have kept re-upping had he not been severely wounded in the Tet Offensive. He shunned the title war hero, but earned a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts, one for each of his children. He later died from a kind of cancer that is frequently found among military personnel exposed to Agent Orange and I cried when they played taps at his funeral, though I thought Id prepared myself for that one broken note.

Every time I think of my dad, I think about how some things never change. Rich old men start wars, and then they send people like my father (my brother, my nephew, my niece) off to fight them. Those same rich old white men want us to believe that when they salute the flag and mouth pretty words, they are rewarding us for our sacrifices, but no. Life doesnt work that way. When chickenhawk U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) went on Fox this past weekend to say in regard to Iran, We did Iwo Jima, we can do this. The Marines, my moneys always on the Marines the only proper response is a scream. Sen. Graham is no longer useless as a tit on a boar hog. He is worse.

We are in a deeply unpopular war launched by a deeply unpopular president who would, if he had an ounce of decency, keep the word Vietnam out of his mouth.

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But decency seems to be in short supply. Robert S. Mueller III died last week. Like Trump, Mr. Mueller came from a wealthy family, but he sought no Vietnam deferments. Instead, he served honorably there, then led the FBI for 12 years, and later, he was a special counsel who investigated Russian involvement in the 2016 presidential election, and whether they colluded with Trumps campaign.

In the end, Mr. Mueller neither absolved nor charged Trump and we will live with that decision forever. From everything Ive read, I think Mr. Mueller thought the system would kick in and do the right thing. It did not. (For more on this, I recommend the book, Injustice: How Politics and Fear Vanquished America's Justice Department, by Washington Post writers Carol Leonnig and Aaron C. Davis.)

And when Mr. Muellers death was announced last week, the commander-in-chief posted on social media: Robert Mueller has died. Good, Im glad hes dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!

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This ghost gun was recovered in Westport, according to police. A legislative committee on Tuesday in Hartford approved banning convertible pistols and strengthening existing law to close ghost gun loopholes. Courtesy of Westport Police Department State Rep. Steve Stafstrom, D-Bridgeport, co-chairman of the legislative Judiciary Committee, in a file photo. Ken Dixon/Hearst Connecticut Media State Rep. Bob Godfrey, D-Danbury, a longtime gun safety advocate, in a file photo. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media

HARTFORD  A legislative committee on Tuesday attempted to close two loopholes in state firearms law, banning pistols capable of conversions into machine guns and strengthening existing law on ghost guns that show up in Connecticut as untraceable parts that are then assembled.

Minority Republicans opposed the bill, citing Second Amendment rights of gun owners. But Democrats, led by state Reps. Steven Stafstrom of Bridgeport and Bob Godfrey of Danbury, said Connecticut is a relatively safe state because of limits on equipment and strict registration requirements for gun owners.

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Under the bill, which now heads from the Judiciary Committee to the House, starting Oct. 1 handguns that could be converted into rapid-fire weapons through the addition of a small part called a Glock switch, could not be brought into Connecticut or sold here if they were manufactured after that date.

It prevents Glock from selling new firearms in the state until theyve made modifications, Stafstrom said in an interview after the committees afternoon meeting.

He noted Glock has made modifications to pistols sold in both California and Germany to prevent them from automatic fire.

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Glock can make this change, they just so far have chosen not to do it, Stafstrom said. The point of this legislation is to push them to make this change.

The bill is part of Gov. Ned Lamonts legislative agenda.

The General Assemblys 2023 effort to stop untraceable ghost guns included unfinished firearm frames. The bill approved Tuesday would extend the ban to include the unfinished lower receivers of weapons.

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The intent is to make it harder for those so-called kits to find their way into Connecticut, Stafstrom said.

Violations for both sections of the law would be felonies, punishable by $5,000 fines and five years in prison.

Machine guns are illegal in the state of Connecticut, yet certain manufacturers of pistols and other firearms are circumventing that prohibition by selling into Connecticut products that can be readily converted into a machine gun, Stafstrom told the committee.

Many ghost guns are among the firearms seized during criminal investigations, he said.

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Criminal justice reforms and gun safety measures over more than a decade have resulted in dramatic decreases in gun crimes, Stafstrom said. In 2013, months after the Newtown school shootings that killed 20 first-graders and six adults, lawmakers enacted bans on military-style rifles and large-capacity ammunition magazines.

State Rep. Craig Fishbein of Wallingford, a ranking Republican on the committee, reminded the panel that the Second Amendment declares gun ownership rights shall not be infringed and said the behavior addressed by the bill is illegal.

So facilitation doesnt necessarily mean culpability, Fishbein said. To point the finger at individuals that lawfully own firearms that are possibly able of conversion, I dont think is a proper public policy that we should be setting through this bill or any other bill.

State Rep. Doug Dubitsky, R-Chaplin, said, I look forward to seeing this overturned in the courts.

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During the recent hearing process, Skye Riggleman, Connecticut state director for the National Rifle Associations Institute for Legislative Action, said the bill would go after legal gun owners.

This legislation in no way targets bad actors manufacturing, selling or possessing said prohibited parts. Instead, it directly violates the constitutional rights of law-abiding Connecticut residents, Riggleman said in prepared testimony. It also seeks to penalize well-established manufacturers and dealers for action well beyond their control.

Godfrey, a member of the General Assembly since 1989, said he has been working on gun safety issues for 38 years. That work was highlighted by the 2013 legislation and, before that, the 1994 ban on civilian ownership of military assault weapons that was upheld by the state Supreme Court. It ruled the legislature can decide what kinds of firearms the public may own.

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The Ridgefield Theater Barn. H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media

A Connecticut theater will use storytelling to shine a light on food needs.

"Hear Me Out: Storytelling - Setting the Table" will be held at the Ridgefield Theater Barn on May 10, it announced in a news release. This event aims to spotlight and support Meals on Wheels Ridgefield, which works to bring meals to those who can't easily prepare them for themselves.

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"True, personal stories" inspired by the theme of "setting the table" will be told by six individuals, including three from Meals on Wheels and three from the local community. The emcees are Ridgefield architect Peter Bachmann and celebrity makeup artist Amanda Gabbard. There will also be a post-show conversation with the storytellers.

The performance is set in a storytelling format similar to Moth StorySLAM (an open-mic storytelling competition). The format aims to blend "humor, heart and authenticity in an engaging, live experience," the release reads.

Dinner, including dessert, will be catered by Meals on Wheels during the event. Guests can bring their own beverages but can also purchase wine, beer and soft drinks at the theater's concession stand.

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Ghanaian Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang speaks at the signing ceremony of the EU-Ghana security and defense partnership agreement in Accra, Ghana, March 24, 2026. Ghana on Tuesday formalized a security and defense partnership agreement with the European Union (EU) to reinforce the country's capacity to deal with terrorism and insecurity in the subregion. Under the agreement, the EU pledged to provide military equipment, including drones, vehicles and motorcycles, to enhance Ghana's security operations. (Xinhua/Seth)

ACCRA, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Ghana on Tuesday formalized a security and defense partnership agreement with the European Union (EU) to reinforce the country's capacity to deal with terrorism and insecurity in the subregion.

Under the agreement, the EU pledged to provide military equipment, including drones, vehicles and motorcycles, to enhance Ghana's security operations.

The agreement signed by Ghanaian Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang and visiting High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas offers an outline for collaboration in counter-terrorism, conflict prevention, cybersecurity, border management, maritime security, including in the Gulf of Guinea, and peace operations.

Opoku-Agyemang said that Ghana is currently implementing at least 30 EU-supported security-related projects in the areas of conflict resolution, counter-terrorism, and cyber security.

Kallas said that the EU had delivered security support totaling about 57.9 million U.S. dollars to Ghana since 2023, including military equipment and training support. 

Ghanaian Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang (R) shakes hands with High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas (front L) at the signing ceremony of the EU-Ghana security and defense partnership agreement in Accra, Ghana, March 24, 2026. Ghana on Tuesday formalized a security and defense partnership agreement with the European Union (EU) to reinforce the country's capacity to deal with terrorism and insecurity in the subregion.

Under the agreement, the EU pledged to provide military equipment, including drones, vehicles and motorcycles, to enhance Ghana's security operations. (Xinhua/Seth)

High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas speaks at the signing ceremony of the EU-Ghana security and defense partnership agreement in Accra, Ghana, March 24, 2026. Ghana on Tuesday formalized a security and defense partnership agreement with the European Union (EU) to reinforce the country's capacity to deal with terrorism and insecurity in the subregion.

Under the agreement, the EU pledged to provide military equipment, including drones, vehicles and motorcycles, to enhance Ghana's security operations. (Xinhua/Seth)
People wait in long TSA security lines at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in the Queens borough of New York, Monday, March 23, 2026. Ryan Murphy/AP A federal immigration agent stands amid air travelers to assist with security across the lines of people waiting to progress through the TSA checkpoint in Terminal C at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Monday, March 23, 2026, in Houston. Michael Wyke/AP Federal immigration agents are seen at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Monday, March 23, 2026, in Atlanta. Mike Stewart/AP Federal immigration agents walk through Terminal 5 at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in the Queens borough of New York, Monday, March 23, 2026. Ryan Murphy/AP Air travelers wait in line as they progress to the TSA security checkpoint in Terminal A at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Monday, March 23, 2026, in Houston. Michael Wyke/AP

NEW YORK (AP)  Armed federal immigration officers in tactical gear moved through terminals at some of the busiest U.S. airports Monday, standing near security lines and checkpoints after President Donald Trump ordered their deployment during a partial government shutdown that has disrupted air travel nationwide.

The Trump administration said they would supplement Transportation Security Administration staffing at certain airports but provided few details about exactly what they would be doing. Still, after intensified immigration enforcement and protests in cities across the country over the past year, their presence has unsettled some travelers and raised new questions.

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On Monday, Associated Press journalists observed Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and agents patrolling terminals and lingering near long lines of passengers at HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International, John F. Kennedy International in New York, Newark Liberty International in New Jersey, George Bush Intercontinental in Houston and Louis Armstrong International outside New Orleans. A handful of other airports  including Phoenix's Sky Harbor International  also confirmed ICE would be on-site. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said his office was monitoring the deployment of federal officers at OHare International.

Federal law enforcement officers are a routine presence at international airports. Customs and Border Protection officers screen arriving passengers, and Homeland Security Investigations agents conduct criminal inquiries tied to cross-border activity. But immigration agents are rarely visible at TSA checkpoints, the front line of domestic air travel.

ICE deployments arrive amid ongoing Washington impasse

Mondays deployments 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.

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Funding for the department lapsed Feb. 14, when Democrats refused to fund ICE as well as Customs and Border Protection without changes to their operations after federal officers shot and killed Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis. But, while routine funding used to pay TSA agents has lapsed, ICE and other immigration enforcement personnel are still receiving paychecks amid the shutdown  a result of Trumps big tax cuts bill that became law last year.

Meanwhile, the budget stalemate impacting TSA only deepened as Trump rejected the latest offer, this one from his own Republican Party, after a weekend of negotiations.

White House staff pitched Trump on the idea of funding DHS, except for immigration operations that have been central to the dispute, according to a person a familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private talks. Still, Trump rejected that plan and later escalated his demands that senators also approve the so-called SAVE America Act, a strict proof-of-citizenship voting bill that has essentially no chance in the Congress.

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TSA is grateful to our DHS brothers and sisters at ICE for stepping up to support our officers, but theres only one guaranteed way to end the chaos at Americas airports: Democrats must come back to the table and fully fund DHS, TSA said in a statement posted to social media Monday.

On Monday, the White House also turned down a request from top Democratic negotiator, Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, to meet and continue talks, according to another person granted anonymity to discuss the private conversations.

Democrats are continuing to demand major changes to federal immigration operations  including policy changes that would require ICE officers to get a warrant from a judge before forcefully entering homes, to no longer allow officers to wear masks and to require that they provide clear identifying information on uniforms.

Unlike many recent immigration operations in U.S. cities, where federal agents have often worn face coverings, ICE officers at airports appeared to be largely not masked Monday, following an earlier direction by Trump.

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Fears that the deployments will heighten tension

Some fear that positioning federal immigration officers at security checkpoints will only escalate tensions. Union leaders representing aviation workers stressed that ICE officers dont have the same training and expertise as TSA workers.

Everett Kelley, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees  which represents TSA officers  said in a statement that his members deserve to be paid, not replaced by untrained, armed agents who have shown how dangerous they can be.

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 guard exit lanes or check passenger IDs. The president has since suggested he could deploy the National Guard at airports too.

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ICE and TSA have been working together so far very well, Trump said at Monday in Memphis. Still, he said he would bring out the National Guard if more personnel is needed.

Long wait times persisted at some major hubs Monday.

Atlantas HartsfieldJackson, for example, is still urging passengers to allow at least four hours for both domestic and international screenings. The check-in line for departing passengers was so long Monday that it snaked from the TSA screening area to the atrium, through the baggage claim and out the entrance doors with people in back of the line waiting outside. ICE officers were patrolling the terminal area, but not seen checking IDs or otherwise interacting with passengers.

Donna Troupe, who was flying from Atlanta to Miami, said she didnt take issue with ICEs presence at the airport  but also wasnt sure how much they were needed. When Ive seen them, theyve just been standing around talking, she said.

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Meanwhile, Daniela Dominguez, another traveler in Atlanta who was headed to Miami, said she was concerned that for some seeing ICE would be unnerving.

I bet a lot of people have a lot of anxiety coming to the airport, Dominguez said.

In New Orleans, John Hoffman arrived to the airport five hours before his flight to Spokane, Washington, after missing his trip the day before. He said security lines seemed to be moving quicker Monday as federal officers monitored lines  still, he questioned whether was worth the travel and lodging expenses to deploy ICE officers to various airports.

Beyond TSA operations, many travelers on the East Coast faced additional disruptions after a Sunday night collision that killed two people and injured dozens of others on the runway of New Yorks LaGuardia Airport. LaGuardia was temporarily shut down as air traffic was diverted.

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TSA workers have been going without pay

After weeks of missed paychecks, many TSA agents have called 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 call-out rates climbed over the weekend. Nationwide on Sunday, 11.8% of TSA agents missed work  the highest rate of the shutdown so far  with over 3,450 officers calling out, according to DHS. More than 400 officers have quit during the shutdown, the department said.

Some have accused the government of using TSA workers as pawns in the ongoing budget fight. And aviation unions have raised additional safety concerns in light of the Trump administrations deployment of ICE officers.

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Afroman beats deputies lawsuit tied to home raid footage. Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic

A jury sided with rapper Afroman in a lawsuit filed by Ohio sheriff's deputies over his use of home surveillance footage in music videos, handing a win to his free speech defense after a three-day trial.

The Adams County jury ruled in favor of Afroman, whose real name is Joseph Foreman, after deputies filed the lawsuit, saying he used their likenesses without permission following a 2022 raid on his home.

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Afroman reacted emotionally to the verdict, framing it as a broader constitutional victory.

I didnt win  America won, he said, according to WCPO. America still has freedom of speech. Its still for the people, by the people.

The lawsuit stems from an August 2022 search of Afroman's home tied to allegations of drug trafficking and kidnapping. Afroman was not home at the time, and no charges were ultimately filed.

During the raid, deputies broke down his door and searched the property. Surveillance cameras inside the home recorded the encounter  footage Foreman later used in music videos, including the viral "Lemon Pound Cake," as well as in social media posts and merchandise.

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Some of the content mocked or criticized the deputies, at times referencing them directly. The videos drew hundreds of thousands, and in some cases millions of views online.

Several Adams County sheriff's deputies sued Afroman, arguing the use of their images caused "humiliation, ridicule, mental distress, embarrassment and loss of reputation," and interfered with their ability to perform their duties. They sought damages and asked the court to prevent him from using their likenesses in future commercial work.

The deputies sought about $3.9 million in damages, according to the BBC. Some testified that the content had personal consequences, including embarrassment for their families.

During closing arguments, the deputies' attorney argued Afroman knowingly spread false claims about them.

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Mr. Foreman perpetuated lies intentionally, repeatedly  about these seven brave deputy sheriffs, the attorney said in court, according to WCPO.

Afroman's legal team countered that his work was protected under the First Amendment, describing it as artistic expression and social commentary about a police raid that did not result in charges.

His attorney argued that, as public officials, the deputies are subject to criticism and cannot use the courts to silence speech simply because it is offensive.

Afroman has consistently maintained that the situation and the lawsuit itself would not exist without the raid.

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All of this is their fault, he testified, according to WCPO. If they hadnt wrongly raided my house, there would be no lawsuit  there would be no songs.

Outside the courthouse after the verdict, Afroman celebrated with supporters, shouting, "We did it, America ... freedom of speech."

He has also alleged the raid caused significant property damage and initially claimed money was missing, though investigators later determined the discrepancy was due to a miscount, not theft.

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Jeff Wilson, a Republican running for the nomination in the 13th Congressional District, answers a question from Intelligencer Editor Jason Koch on Jan. 29. Screenshot from Intelligencer video Jeff Wilson, a Republican running for the nomination in the 13th Congressional District, visited The Intelligencer for an interview on Jan. 29. Screenshot from Intelligencer video

Republican congressional candidate Jeff Wilson is running for Illinois 13th District with a background rooted in military service, decades in the nuclear energy industry, and local government experience in Champaign County.

Wilson sat down for an interview with The Intelligencer on Jan. 29.

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Wilson said he and his wife have eight children and 11 grandchildren, and that public service has been a constant thread throughout his adult life.

My background includes military service, Wilson said. I served on a nuclear submarine for about six years. I was enlisted, and I ran the reactor controls division on the nuclear submarine. He later received a commission as an officer in the Naval Reserves.

After his time in the Navy, Wilson used his GI Bill to earn a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering and a masters degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

I spent about 30-plus years in the nuclear industry, Wilson said. He worked as a licensed professional engineer and certified project manager overseeing large, multi-million-dollar projects. There are 11 nuclear power plants in Illinois. Ive worked at every single one.

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Wilson retired in 2018 as senior manager of design engineering at the Clinton Nuclear Power Station but has continued consulting work related to nuclear energy.

He entered politics several years ago and is now serving his second term on the Champaign County Board. Wilson said he serves on multiple committees and works as a liaison to the countys Veterans Assistance Commission, where he helped improve services for homeless veterans and those dealing with PTSD.

Im really proud of the service Ive been able to do in Champaign County, Wilson said.

Wilson is running for the Republican nomination and the opportunity to challenge the Democratic nominee in November. He is facing Joshua Loyd in the Republican primary; Loyd was the GOP nominee for the district in 2024. The winner of the Republican primary will go on to face either incumbent U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski or Democratic challenger Dylan Blaha in the general election.

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Wilson said his decision to run for Congress is driven by broader concerns about the direction of the country and the state.

Just reflecting on where the countrys going, it seems like theres a lot of adversity toward our U.S. Constitution, he said.

As he travels the geographically large and politically diverse 13th District, Wilson said he repeatedly hears concerns about affordability, safety, and opportunity.

I want people to stay in Illinois, not leave, Wilson said. I want there to be jobs for our kids when they graduate.

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Here's more about Jeff Wilson:

Q. What specific federal laws or policies would you change or repeal to protect free speech, the Second Amendment, and other constitutional freedoms?

Our rights given to us are articulated in the Constitution, and really even starting with the Declaration of Independence, where our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are endowed rights from our Creator.

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Its not government that creates rights. Its the role of government to preserve and protect rights that have already been granted to us. The Constitution is the supreme law of the land. It trumps federal law, state law and local law.

As a legislator, I would fight anything that restricts free speech, restricts our ability to bear arms under the Second Amendment, or attacks private property rights or due process.

Over the years, many bureaucratic agencies under the executive branch have been created that act outside the legislative process. Article I of the Constitution says all laws come from the legislative branch, not the executive.

I want Congress to reclaim its authority instead of giving it away. The executive branch executes the law, it does not create the law. The judiciary should interpret the law, not manufacture it. My role is to legislate and defend the Constitution as it was written, with all of its amendments.

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Q. Your website also says youve signed a pledge for congressional term limits. How do you balance term limits with the value of having experience?

Thats a great question, and that really is the balance. Longevity has value because you understand the system better and can navigate it more effectively.

But I believe citizen service was the original intent of the Constitution. People serve, then they allow someone else the opportunity to serve. Three terms seems reasonable.

A senator can serve 18 years in three terms. Thats substantial experience. Yes, elections themselves are a form of term limits, but in very safe districts, people can stay in office indefinitely.

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I dont think thats healthy. Term limits cut both ways, but three terms strikes a reasonable balance.

Q. Lets talk about energy. Given your background, what is your view on nuclear energy and the broader energy mix?

Yes, I support nuclear energy. Nuclear power has been around since World War II. A small pellet of uranium can replace a ton of coal.

In Illinois, roughly half of our electricity comes from nuclear, about 30 to 35 percent from fossil fuels, and the remainder from wind and solar. We need prolific energy from all sources to guarantee grid stability and keep prices low.

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Energy drives the cost of everything  transportation, groceries, housing. High energy costs act like a hidden tax on people.

I believe Illinois current energy policy has been very detrimental. We are shutting down reliable, 24/7 power plants and replacing them with sources that may only operate 20 to 30 percent of the time.

When supply goes down and demand stays high, prices go up. Thats just reality. Nuclear energy, especially with new technology, is the way forward.

Q. Would you support building new nuclear plants in or near the 13th Congressional District?

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Yes. I would support either large-scale nuclear plants or small modular reactors.

Small modular reactors are compact and flexible. You can build one or stack several together depending on need. Theyre incredibly efficient and would be ideal for things like data centers or regional energy needs.

I would like to see a plant in or near the 13th District because it helps stabilize the grid and creates thousands of long-term, skilled jobs.

A nuclear plant isnt like a solar or wind project where construction crews leave after installation. You have years of construction jobs and decades of operational jobs. It would be a tremendous economic benefit for the district.

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Q. Even without additional nuclear plants, what can be done right now to lower energy costs for people in Illinois and the 13th District?

We need to stop shutting down coal and natural gas plants. There isnt enough wind and solar capacity to replace whats being taken offline.

We also have the ability to increase refining capacity in Illinois. The worst thing we can do is continue policies that reduce supply while demand remains high.

I would not shut down any more plants, and if possible, I would restore some of the plants that have been closed. Natural gas plants can come online much faster than nuclear plants and help stabilize prices.

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If Illinois aligned more closely with President Trumps energy policies, it would dramatically help affordability in this state.

Q. Some residents have environmental concerns about fossil fuels. What do you say to those constituents?

We all want clean air and clean water, and we already have the technology to achieve that.

Illinois has vast coal resources, and we can use them responsibly while still being good stewards of the environment. Farmers understand stewardship better than anyone.

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But we cannot survive with expensive energy. Affordable energy helps farmers, businesses, and families. There is a common-sense balance that allows us to protect the environment without sacrificing economic stability.

Q. The country has become increasingly polarized. Why do you think that is, and what would you do to help bring people together?

Listening. Understanding. Communication.

People become polarized when communication stops. Silence turns into fear, and fear turns into hostility.

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We dont always have to agree, but conversation bridges gaps. Ive spoken with protesters and people who disagree with me, and I want to hear what they have to say.

There are many things we agree on  affordability, safety, low energy prices, and opposing corruption. America has always had robust debate. What matters is focusing on what makes our country strong and prosperous.

We can disagree and still live together, work together, and move forward together.
U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski listens as Glen-Ed Pantry Executive Director Jane Ahasay talks during the Nov. 6 roundtable discussion. Budzinski is running for re-election in the March 17 primary election. Jason Koch/The Intelligencer U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski speaks during a press briefing concerning a funding grant for a water treatment plant construction Jan. 27 at Glen Carbon's village hall. Budzinski is running for re-election in the March 17 primary. Don Munsch/The Intelligencer Glen-Ed Pantry Executive Director Jane Ahasay gives U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski a tour of the pantry. Budzinski is running for re-election in the March 17 primary. Jason Koch/The Intelligencer Edwardsville Mayor Art Risavy and Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski pose with a check for the RAISE grant that was awarded to the city. Budzinski is running for re-election in the March 17 primary. Matt Kamp/The Intelligencer

U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski says her work in Congress is rooted in the same experiences that shaped her career before she ever ran for office  advocating for working people and focusing on the everyday economic pressures families face.

Budzinski, a Democrat from Springfield, was first elected to represent Illinois 13th Congressional District in 2022 and is now seeking another term in Washington. The district stretches across parts of central and southwestern Illinois, including communities in Madison County.

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She sat down with The Intelligencer on March 15 to discuss her campaign and her time in Congress.

Before coming to Congress, Budzinski spent years working in public service at both the state and federal levels, including serving in the administration of Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and later in the Biden administration. But she often points to her time in organized labor as the experience that most shaped her approach to public policy.

For about a decade, Budzinski worked in the labor movement, including as national political director for the United Food and Commercial Workers union. The role took her inside meat-processing facilities and other workplaces, where she said she saw firsthand the challenges faced by workers trying to support their families.

Ive seen the very difficult work that working people do, Budzinski said during the interview. That work in the labor movement is what grounds the work that I still do today.

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She said that background continues to shape the priorities she focuses on in Congress  expanding access to health care, supporting job training and trade programs, and helping families manage rising costs.

As she campaigns for reelection, Budzinski said the issue she hears about most often from constituents is the rising cost of living. From health care premiums and grocery bills to gas and utility prices, she said many families across the district are feeling financial pressure.

I think the thing that I hear the most are these cost drivers, she said. Whether it is health care, grocery prices, gas prices or utilities  it puts immense pressure on working people just to make ends meet.

Here's more from the interview with U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski:

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Q. When you look back on your almost four full years in Congress, what do you see as the most important thing that you've done for the district?

"I'm really proud that in my first year in office I was able to bring back more than $120 million in community project funding as a freshman, really delivering on the priority projects communities were asking us to support. And just this last year, when we were finally able to accomplish a federal budget, we achieved an additional $34 million, again delivering on some really important projects.

"One of them was $1.1 million in Glen Carbon for a new water treatment facility. Another was helping on one of the larger infrastructure grants we were able to accomplish, getting Edwardsville's project on Goshen Road ... and we're still pushing this administration to make sure we get that $20 million infrastructure grant to complete that project for the city of Edwardsville.

"But also working hard not just to deliver investments monetarily, but fighting to support and protect some of our communities. I've been very proud to lead the charge in protecting Granite City Works and helping the United Steelworkers there keep that mill open. I continue that fight every day to make sure that we see continued investments.

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"So it's really delivering for the district ... and the investments we've been able to successfully achieve are what I'm most proud of since getting elected to office."

Q. As you've been traveling across the district, what issues are you hearing are the most important to the people who live in the 13th district?

"Number one is obviously cost of living and affordability, the rising costs. Now that the Trump administration has gotten us involved in another war in the Middle East, we're seeing gas prices increase. I can tell you in Springfield, where I live, gas prices are now close to $3.60 a gallon. That's almost a 50-cent increase per gallon in just the last 10 days to two weeks.

"But we have also seen, since the Trump administration came into office, health care becoming increasingly more expensive with the expiration of the ACA tax credits. I actually brought a constituent from Alton, Laura Petty, as my special guest to the State of the Union because she and her husband wrote into my office about how their health care premiums were going to skyrocket because of the expiration of those tax credits, from $300 a month to almost $900 a month.

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"And for working families, that means some very difficult decisions are being made. Do they remain insured, or do they cut back on their ability to save for retirement?

"Really, the thing that I hear the most are these cost drivers  whether it is health care, grocery prices, gas prices or utility prices. You put all that together and it puts immense pressure on working people in this district just to make ends meet. They struggle with that every day, and those have been the issues I've been the most focused on  how do we find relief?

"The Trump administration said they were going to tackle this on day one and have been a complete failure. Since they came into office, they have not lowered the cost of anything. If anything, they've given tax breaks to their super-rich buddies at the expense of working people who have seen a diminishment of the safety net they need to help their families get by."

Q. As you make your case for another term in Congress, what is the number one reason that you believe you should be back in Congress?

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"The number one reason is I've been delivering for this district, and we still have a lot more work to do. I want to continue bringing back the federal resources we've been prioritizing in partnership with our local municipalities, county governments and state legislators. They were working together to really make transformative change in some of our communities.

"Some of that work is still far from over. I would point to projects like Granite City, for example. That's still a fight that is very present and something that we continue to work on. Just south of Madison County in Cahokia Heights, I've been fighting to try to make sure we resolve some very long-standing, generational water infrastructure issues to get some economic justice for that community.

"Further east, I'm working to help support a successful new industry in central Illinois that supports our growers and biomanufacturing, manufacturing and fermentation.

"There are a number of these very large projects that we've started. I want to continue this work, and I want to continue to bring back real deliverables for the people that I'm honored to represent."

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Q. You have a primary opponent this time. Were you surprised when somebody stepped up to challenge you?

"I think everyone, given the Trump administration and this political environment, understands there is so much fear and anxiety out there. I think it has engaged people in a way that has led some people to step forward to run for office for the first time. I can tell you I've talked to constituents who have become protesters for the first time.

"So I think it is more an indication of the level of enthusiasm there is for change and the importance of holding this administration accountable for what they're doing.

"We're seeing a high level of engagement at all levels of politics ... and that's what I would attribute it to."

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Q. I know he has been a little critical of your record, specifically around your decision to vote for the NDAA and the Laken Riley Act. Have you been getting any feedback on those votes? And what are you telling voters about why you decided to vote for those two acts?

"The Laken Riley Act was something that we voted on within the first week of President Trump taking office. The intention, I believed at that time, was to target criminals in our community. And I think it's very clear that that is not what this administration has done. This administration has used ICE as a cudgel to tear apart our communities, pulling our neighbors apart and separating families.

"It's why I was one of the very first congresspeople to join the effort to call for the impeachment of Kristi Noem. It's also why I've signed on to a number of other pieces of legislation to provide protection for some of our immigrant communities, in particular safe places legislation that would say, at the federal level, immigrants should be able to seek refuge at a hospital or at a courthouse and not fear retribution from ICE.

"It's also why I have now voted for the third time not to fund the Department of Homeland Security because of my concerns over ICE and CBP. So we've come a long way since that moment in time when the Laken Riley Act came up for a vote, and I've been working very hand in glove with my communities to be supportive on the ground of what's happening and to speak out against how ICE is conducting itself.

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"On the NDAA, there were a number of different provisions within the bill that would support the district. I had to weigh the totality of that piece of legislation. It gave one of the largest military raises to active-duty service members in decades. It made a critical investment in Belleville and Belleville boots and American-made manufactured boots on the eastern side of the district. The NDAA also had a component to invest more in those tech hubs ... including the biomanufacturing and fermentation work I mentioned.

"So I did not agree with the amendment, and I have made clear that I did not agree with the amendment that would have taken away gender-affirming care for youth of active-duty military service members. But again, as a legislator, you have to look at the totality of that bill, and I ended up voting for it.

"I will say, though, that since then I have voted in support of ensuring that health care access is extended fully to the trans community five different times in Congress since the passage of the NDAA. When Republicans have insisted on a full-on assault on the trans community, I have taken votes to support them since that NDAA passage."

Q. On the cost of living, you've talked about it a little bit, but what policies do you have that you think could make a difference, and if Democrats are able to take back the House in November, what are some of the first things that you and the Democrats will try to do to really attack this issue?

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"I'm very proud to be the vice chair of the New Democrat Coalition, where three weeks ago we rolled out an affordability agenda that looks at the five biggest cost drivers for working people.

"First is health care. That means extending the ACA tax credits ... and rolling back the largest cuts to Medicaid we've seen under the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress. We also need to hold insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies and pharmacy benefit managers accountable and make their practices transparent so there is more competition and lower prices.

"We should be negotiating lower drug prices beyond just capping insulin at $35 for those on Medicare ... and extend those savings to more people, including those on private insurance.

"Pharmacy benefit managers are also driving local pharmacists out of business ... including pharmacists trained at SIUE who want to serve smaller communities. Greater transparency and accountability there would help bring down prescription drug costs.

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"We also need to address prior authorization so that when a doctor says a patient needs to see a specialist, insurance companies cannot deny that care.

"Another major issue is family care. We need to support those providing childcare and home health care ... and create tax credits for families caring for children or aging parents. Many people in the district are part of the sandwich generation and struggling to stay in the workforce while caring for family members.

"Grocery costs are another big concern. The price of beef alone has risen significantly ... and tariffs that act as a tax on working people are increasing the price of goods we don't even produce here, like coffee and bananas.

"We also need to reverse cuts to SNAP. And utility costs are rising as well, which means we need an all-of-the-above energy strategy to increase energy generation and help bring those costs down.

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"These are common-sense policies ... and some are bipartisan. When we take the House back, we'll be able to move these legislative initiatives forward so people understand that it is the Democratic Party working to help working people  not the Republicans."

Q. Just to go a little deeper into health care, in addition to restoring the tax credits, I know there are a lot of Democrats pushing for some type of Medicare for all program. Where do you stand on that? What do you think can be done beyond those tax credits to help lower the cost of health care?

"I think we should be expanding Medicare. We can look at the age eligibility and whether we want to lower that. I also think expanding Medicare to include things like hearing, dental and vision. Those are things that have been discussed which would provide critical services. Mental health is also not a part of coverage for Medicare.

"And I think by expanding Medicare, we can help get to an ultimate goal, which is making sure we have universal coverage. I want to make sure everyone has affordable and accessible health care. But I think for some people who would like to keep their plan, they should have that option.

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"It's also why I'm a very big supporter of a public option, which would be a more government-led, negotiated-price option on the marketplace that is ideally more affordable for folks looking for coverage. That would still give them access to preventive care, which is what we ultimately want more people to get.

"So I think all of that is making progress toward the ultimate goal that we're all trying to get to. It's more a question of how we get there. But those are very meaningful steps that would increase coverage and also bring down costs."
Edwardsville High School orchestra students pose during the 2026 Tiger Town Consortium concert in Edwardsville, Illinois. Courtesy Edwardsville High School Middle school orchestra students perform during the Tiger Town Consortium, part of District 7s combined grades 512 concert in Edwardsville, Illinois. Courtesy Edwardsville High School District 7 orchestra students and staff gather during the 2026 Tiger Town Consortium at Edwardsville High School in Edwardsville, Illinois. Courtesy Edwardsville High School High school orchestra students perform in a full ensemble during the Tiger Town Consortium concert in Edwardsville, Illinois. Courtesy Edwardsville High School Nearly 500 student musicians perform during the 2026 Tiger Town Consortium at Edwardsville High School in Edwardsville, Illinois. Courtesy Edwardsville High School Student musicians fill the Edwardsville High School gymnasium for the annual Tiger Town Consortium orchestra performance in Edwardsville, Illinois. Courtesy Edwardsville High School Student musicians prepare backstage during the Tiger Town Consortium, a districtwide orchestra event in Edwardsville, Illinois. Courtesy Edwardsville High School District 7 orchestra students perform together across grade levels during the Tiger Town Consortium in Edwardsville, Illinois. Courtesy Edwardsville High School

Nearly 500 student musicians from across Edwardsville District 7 took the stage March 21 for the 2026 Tiger Town Consortium, a large-scale orchestral event showcasing performers in grades 5-12.

The annual event brought together elementary, middle and high school orchestras for a combined performance that highlights the districts music program.

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The annual consortium featured a progression of ensembles, beginning with fifth- and sixth-grade orchestras and building to full performances by middle school and high school musicians. The evening culminated in a combined orchestra performance, where students across grade levels shared the stage.

This years program included a range of classical and contemporary selections, from traditional arrangements like Scarborough Fair to works inspired by modern artists and film-style compositions. The concert closed with a full ensemble performance of Beethovens Ode to Joy, featuring not only current students but also Edwardsville High School alumni.

The Tiger Town Consortium is one of the districts largest collaborative music events, designed to give younger students the experience of performing alongside more advanced musicians while offering the community a comprehensive look at the orchestra program.

Future orchestra events

An elementary band, orchestra and choir concert is scheduled for April 15 at 7 p.m. in the Edwardsville High School gym. The Edwardsville High School orchestra will follow with its spring concert April 30 at 7 p.m. in the EHS auditorium.

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Jason Koch is the editor of The Edwardsville Intelligencer. He can be reached at Jason.Koch@hearst.com. Rick Brewer/For The Intelligencer

Two hundred and fifty years ago, a group of men was meeting in Philadelphia to discuss grievances with the British government.

Among those was the big one  no taxation without representation. American colonists were fed up with taxes imposed by the British Parliament when they had no ability to vote for its members or have direct representation in its decisions.

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Those men in Philadelphia did not initially set out to declare independence. They first sought reconciliation. But as tensions escalated and those efforts failed, they ultimately concluded that independence was the only remaining way to address their grievances.

That decision led to a bloody war that saw thousands of Americans, British, and Native Americans killed, along with thousands more from other countries that fought on one side of the war or the other.

While there were many causes behind the American Revolution, a central thread running through them was the question of representation  who had a voice in government, and who did not.

The American Revolution started a process to fix that question of representation, though it took far too long for all Americans to have a voice in government. American colonists, abolitionists, former slaves, suffragettes, civil rights leaders  all fought, and many died, to ensure that you and I could have our voice heard.

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That's why voter turnout in Madison County has been so disappointing.

In three of the last four elections  the 2026 primary, the 2025 consolidated, and the 2024 primary  voter turnout across the county has not reached 20%. That means not even one in five voters has cast a ballot in a county that spans 741 square miles and is home to tens of thousands of voters.

In those elections, voters were asked to choose the men and women who would run for mayor and city council or village trustee  the people responsible for the laws that affect us most directly.

In those same elections, voters were asked to choose the nominees who would carry their party's flag through the general campaign for county board, state government, Congress, and the presidency  the people who would shape the issues and the direction for our county, our state, and our country.

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These were not just routine elections. They helped decide who would lead our communities and shape policy at every level of government.

And still, more than four out of every five Madison County voters sat them out.

But turnout isn't just a voter issue. It's a political participation issue.

In the March 17 primary, only one Madison County-wide office had more than one candidate. Republican voters had one choice for sheriff, treasurer, and regional superintendent. Democrats didn't have any.

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Only Republicans in District 4 and Democrats in District 10 had a contested primary for their county board representative.

And, going back to the 2025 election, Edwardsville voters had no contested city races on their ballot. They'd have had little reason to vote at all had there not been the contested school board races.

So while voter turnout is abysmal, at least part of it starts with a lack of people willing to step up to help shape our communities.

In just a few months, we have a chance to change that. Petitions for the 2027 consolidated election next April will be available this summer.

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In as much as every election matters, the consolidated election is the most local  the winners will be your aldermen, trustees, township trustees, and library board members. These are the people who will make the decisions that affect your day-to-day life.

Fittingly, petitions for those offices will be available just a few weeks after our country celebrates its 250th birthday.

Its a moment to remember the men who came together in Philadelphia to start this great American experiment  and all those who have fought since to ensure we all have the right to have our voices heard.

One way to honor that legacy is to make a commitment to vote.

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CAIRO, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Iran has reviewed a U.S.-proposed 15-point plan on ending the Middle East war, and sees it as "excessive," several media outlets reported Wednesday, citing Iran's state-run Press TV.

Iran will continue its military operations until its own conditions are met, and will end the war "at a time of its own choosing," according to the reports.

The development came after Washington had reportedly delivered Iran a 15-point plan for a month-long ceasefire deal, via intermediaries from Pakistan. 
TALLINN, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Estonia and Latvia reported drone attacks on Wednesday, with authorities in both the Baltic countries saying the missiles had arrived from Russian airspace. However, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina said on social media platform X that the drone in Latvia may have been Ukrainian.

The incidents came after Ukraine carried out drone strikes on Russia's Ust-Luga port and other facilities in the Leningrad region late on Tuesday and overnight into Wednesday.

Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) reported that a drone that went off course had hit the smokestack of the Auvere power plant, near the border city of Narva, although it did not damage the country's power system or cause any injuries.

"According to currently available information, the drone was not directed at Estonia. Initial investigations are underway," Estonian State Prosecutor General Astrid Asi was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, Latvia's National Armed Forces said a drone had entered Latvian airspace from Russia and exploded in the Kraslava region, about 13 km from the Russian border. No further threat to civilians or Latvian airspace security has been identified.

Russian officials confirmed a large Ukrainian drone attack at the port of Ust-Luga, a major oil export hub, causing a fire. The Russian military said they shot down nearly 400 Ukrainian drones overnight.

Moscow has not yet commented on the drone attacks in Estonia and Latvia. 
BAGHDAD, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Iraq's Ministry of Defense said on Wednesday that a military clinic in western Anbar province was struck by an airstrike in the morning, leaving seven soldiers dead and 13 others wounded.

According to a statement released by the ministry, the attack occurred at around 9:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT), targeting the Habbaniyah military clinic and an engineering unit affiliated with the Habbaniyah site command belonging to the defense ministry. The airstrike was followed by shelling from an aircraft.

The killed and wounded personnel were carrying out their national and humanitarian duties, the statement said, adding that rescue teams are still searching the site for possible victims.

The ministry described the attack as a "blatant and grave violation" of international laws and norms prohibiting the targeting of medical facilities and their staff, warning that such acts could constitute serious crimes.

It stressed the incident represents a dangerous escalation and that those responsible for the attack must be held accountable.

It reiterated Iraq's full right to take all necessary measures in response to the attack in accordance with applicable laws and frameworks.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

On Tuesday, a U.S. airstrike killed 15 members of Iraq's paramilitary Popular Mobilization Forces, including a senior commander in Anbar, a security source told Xinhua.

The attacks occurred amid heightened regional tensions following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran starting on Feb. 28. Iran and its regional allies have responded with attacks on Israeli and U.S. interests across the Middle East. 
GAZA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Four people, including three children, were injured in an Israeli airstrike on a tent sheltering displaced persons in southern Gaza's Al-Mawasi area, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said Wednesday.

One of the injured children is in serious condition, it added.

Meanwhile, Palestinian medical sources said three people were killed on Tuesday evening in an Israeli airstrike on a gathering south of the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.

On Wednesday, Hamas said Israel is attempting to undermine ceasefire efforts by continuing military escalation in Gaza, including airstrikes, tightened blockade measures, and restrictions on reconstruction.

Gaza-based health authorities said Wednesday that the death toll since the ceasefire went into effect in October 2025 has reached 689, with 1,860 injured, raising the total number of casualties since Oct. 7, 2023, to 72,265 deaths and 171,959 injuries. 
This photo taken on March 25, 2026 shows a view of the Tianjin 2026 Global Business Leaders Roundtable in north China's Tianjin. Themed with "Deep Integration of Technology and Industrial Innovation: Drivers, Mechanisms, and Pathways," the event kicked off on Wednesday. Nearly 300 participants from over 30 countries and regions exchanged views on various topics such as global value chain, innovation-driven development, artificial intelligence, green computing, port-industry-city integrated development, and modernization of traditional Chinese medicine. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

Participants communicate during a plenary meeting of the Tianjin 2026 Global Business Leaders Roundtable in north China's Tianjin, March 25, 2026. Themed with "Deep Integration of Technology and Industrial Innovation: Drivers, Mechanisms, and Pathways," the event kicked off on Wednesday. Nearly 300 participants from over 30 countries and regions exchanged views on various topics such as global value chain, innovation-driven development, artificial intelligence, green computing, port-industry-city integrated development, and modernization of traditional Chinese medicine. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

This photo taken on March 25, 2026 shows a view of the Tianjin 2026 Global Business Leaders Roundtable in north China's Tianjin. Themed with "Deep Integration of Technology and Industrial Innovation: Drivers, Mechanisms, and Pathways," the event kicked off on Wednesday. Nearly 300 participants from over 30 countries and regions exchanged views on various topics such as global value chain, innovation-driven development, artificial intelligence, green computing, port-industry-city integrated development, and modernization of traditional Chinese medicine. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

Participants communicate during a plenary meeting of the Tianjin 2026 Global Business Leaders Roundtable in north China's Tianjin, March 25, 2026. Themed with "Deep Integration of Technology and Industrial Innovation: Drivers, Mechanisms, and Pathways," the event kicked off on Wednesday. Nearly 300 participants from over 30 countries and regions exchanged views on various topics such as global value chain, innovation-driven development, artificial intelligence, green computing, port-industry-city integrated development, and modernization of traditional Chinese medicine. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

Participants attend a plenary meeting of the Tianjin 2026 Global Business Leaders Roundtable in north China's Tianjin, March 25, 2026. Themed with "Deep Integration of Technology and Industrial Innovation: Drivers, Mechanisms, and Pathways," the event kicked off on Wednesday. Nearly 300 participants from over 30 countries and regions exchanged views on various topics such as global value chain, innovation-driven development, artificial intelligence, green computing, port-industry-city integrated development, and modernization of traditional Chinese medicine. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

This photo taken on March 25, 2026 shows a plenary meeting of the Tianjin 2026 Global Business Leaders Roundtable in north China's Tianjin. Themed with "Deep Integration of Technology and Industrial Innovation: Drivers, Mechanisms, and Pathways," the event kicked off on Wednesday. Nearly 300 participants from over 30 countries and regions exchanged views on various topics such as global value chain, innovation-driven development, artificial intelligence, green computing, port-industry-city integrated development, and modernization of traditional Chinese medicine. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)
BEIJING, March 25 (Xinhua) -- China stands ready to further explore cooperation with the Netherlands in such areas as green development and innovation to achieve a higher level of mutual benefit, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Wednesday.

Li made the remarks during a phone conversation with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten.

Noting that China and the Netherlands have established an open and pragmatic partnership for comprehensive cooperation for more than a decade, Li said that thanks to the joint efforts of both sides, bilateral relations and cooperation have continued to deepen, with openness and pragmatism remaining a defining feature, delivering tangible benefits to the two peoples.

Currently, the international situation is marked by growing instability, as unilateralism and protectionism are exerting a huge impact on the global economy, he said. Under such circumstances, it is even more important for the two countries to promote cooperation through openness and achieve win-win outcomes through pragmatism, Li noted.

Li voiced China's readiness to work with the Netherlands to consolidate political mutual trust, uphold mutual respect and dialogue based on equality, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, continuously inject new impetus into the common development of both countries, and contribute positively to world peace and prosperity.

China and the Netherlands are important economic and trade partners to each other, and enhanced cooperation serves the common interests of both sides, said Li.

He noted that as China implements its 15th Five-Year Plan, its economy is expected to reach a new level over the next five years, creating even more space to deepen economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

China is willing to strengthen coordination with the Netherlands at all levels and better leverage dialogue mechanisms to further explore potentials for cooperation in such areas as economy, trade and science and technology, said Li.

Noting that the Netherlands has long served as an important gateway for China-Europe cooperation and is a core member of the European Union (EU), Li voiced hope that the Dutch side will play an active role in encouraging the EU institutions to view China-Europe relations and cooperation in an objective and rational manner, and work with China to properly address differences and issues through dialogue and consultation, so as to promote the sound and steady development of China-EU relations.

For his part, Jetten said that China is an important trading partner of the Netherlands and that relations with China are among the Netherlands' most important bilateral ties.

The relations between the two countries have maintained strong momentum in recent years, said Jetten, noting that the new Dutch government attaches great importance to relations with China and is willing to intensify high-level exchanges with the Chinese side, promote mutually beneficial cooperation in such areas as economy and trade, innovation and climate response, jointly address global challenges, and safeguard common interests.

Noting that next year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of ambassadorial diplomatic relations between the two countries, Jetten said the Netherlands is willing to work with China to promote continuous new progress in the open and pragmatic partnership for comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

The EU-China relationship is of vital importance, he said, noting the Netherlands stands ready to play an active role in promoting dialogue and cooperation between the two sides. 
BEIJING, March 25 (Xinhua) -- China has lodged a serious protest with the Japanese side concerning distorted narratives related to history in Japan's textbooks to be used by high school students from 2027, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday.

It was reported that Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology on March 24 reviewed high school textbooks to be used from 2027. Some textbooks include descriptions suggesting there was no coercion regarding "comfort women" and forced labor, and assert that Diaoyu Dao is "Japan's inherent territory."

"To obscure historical facts, play down Japan's war crimes and seek to evade responsibility by playing on words when reviewing textbooks is Japan's go-to tactic to deny and distort its history of aggression," Lin said at a regular news briefing.

He said China strongly deplores and firmly opposes Japan's move and has lodged a serious protest with the Japanese side.

Japan has yet to make a clean break with militarism after the war, and its Yasukuni Shrine still honors 14 convicted Class-A war criminals. Forcibly recruiting "comfort women" and labor is a serious crime against humanity that Japanese militarists committed during their aggression and expansion, Lin said, adding that these are historical facts clear to the whole world and backed by solid evidence, and there's no way they can be denied.

He stressed that Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands have been China's territory since ancient times, over which China has indisputable sovereignty. "No matter what small tricks the Japanese side uses regarding textbooks, they cannot change the fact that Diaoyu Dao belongs to China. Any attempt to undermine China's territorial sovereignty is futile."

China noted that the Republic of Korea has also lodged serious demarches with the Japanese side to protest against contents about Dokdo and "comfort women" in the textbooks, Lin said.

"This shows that Japanese far-right forces' moves of distorting history and misleading Japanese people in their view of history have triggered high alert and strong indignation from the international community, including its Asian neighbors," he said.

"We seriously urge the Japanese side to look history in the eye, make a clean break with militarism, allow the young generation in Japan to know the true history," he said, adding that Japan should properly handle historical issues in a responsible attitude and avoid further losing the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community. 
HANOI, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The 14th Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) concluded its second meeting in Hanoi on Wednesday after three days of deliberations, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

The committee reached consensus on major issues, including personnel work and fundamental Party regulations, according to the report.

In his closing remarks, General Secretary of the CPVCC To Lam called for enhanced Party building, which lays the foundation for the Party's leadership and governance capacity.

He stressed the need to pursue high and sustainable economic growth, underpinned by macroeconomic stability, efficient use of resources, and public-private partnerships.

Lam also urged stronger anti-corruption and anti-waste efforts, as well as the integration of defense, security and foreign policy to support stable and long-term national development. 
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.

You voted:
TEHRAN, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Iran on Wednesday rejected any negotiations with the United States, stressing that the country will not come to terms with the U.S. government, according to the official news agency IRNA.

Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesman of Iran's main military command Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, made the remarks in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's claims that Tehran is negotiating with the United States and wants a deal to end the war.

If the United States, which "claims to be the world's superpower," had been able to free itself from the predicament, it would have done so by now, Zolfaghari said.

He urged the United States to stop disguising its defeat as "an agreement," adding, "the strategic power the enemies would brag about has turned into a strategic defeat."

The United States is negotiating with itself due to its internal strife, Zolfaghari noted, warning that the United States will neither be able to invest in West Asia, nor see energy and oil prices return to previous levels until it understands that stability in the region is guaranteed by the Iranian armed forces.

Whether the situation can return to what it was in the past will depend on Iran's will, he said, adding that normalcy will only be restored when the United States completely erases the thought of "taking actions against the Iranian nation" from its mind.

Trump claimed on Monday that Washington had talks with Iran and the two sides had "major points of agreement." On Tuesday night, Israel's Channel 12 and The New York Times both reported that Washington had delivered Iran a 15-point plan for a month-long ceasefire deal. But Iran has repeatedly denied having negotiations with Washington.

On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the Middle East. 
BAGHDAD, March 25 (Xinhua) -- A policeman was killed and four other people were wounded Wednesday when a bomb exploded in Iraq's northern province of Kirkuk, local police said.

The incident occurred in the morning when a bomb planted near the house of a leader of Iraq's paramilitary Popular Mobilization Forces detonated in the town of Daquq, Lieutenant Colonel Yassin al-Obaidi of the Kirkuk provincial police told Xinhua.

The blast resulted in the killing of a policeman and the injury of another, al-Obaidi said, adding that a civilian and a municipal worker were also wounded.

The attacks occurred amid heightened regional tensions following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran starting on Feb. 28. Iran and its regional allies have responded with attacks on Israeli and U.S. interests across the Middle East. 
BOGOTA, March 24 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from a military aircraft crash in southern Colombia's Putumayo region on Monday has risen to 68, local authorities said Tuesday.

Puerto Leguizamo Mayor Luis Bustos said the C-130 Hercules transport plane of the Colombian Aerospace Force, with 128 people on board, crashed shortly after takeoff en route from Puerto Leguizamo to Puerto Asis.

He added that residents helped rescue several survivors, which helped prevent a higher death toll.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said the aircraft had been in service for more than 40 years and was received from the United States during the administration of former Colombian President Ivan Duque, who served from 2018 to 2022.

Authorities said an investigation into the cause of the crash is underway. 
Nazrin Abdul



Economic relations between Azerbaijan and Turkiye have been steadily evolving since the early years of Azerbaijans independence. A turning point came after 1994, when both countries intensified efforts to strengthen their economic partnership and laid the foundations of a robust legal framework. These steps marked the beginning of a comprehensive stage in bilateral cooperation, paving the way for deeper integration across multiple sectors.

One of the key institutional pillars underpinning this partnership is the AzerbaijanTurkiye Joint Economic Commission, established in 1996 to coordinate and advance bilateral economic cooperation. The Commission, currently co-chaired by Ali Asadov and Fuat Oktay, has played a central role in shaping the strategic economic agenda between the two countries. At its 9th meeting held in Ankara on February 19, 2021, the Commission adopted a comprehensive Action Plan covering key areas of cooperation. The ongoing implementation of this roadmap reflects both sides commitment to translating strategic priorities into concrete outcomes and deepening economic integration.

Turkiye has consistently ranked among the largest foreign investors in Azerbaijans economy. Between 1995 and 2021, Turkish direct investments totaled $13.3 billion, including $10.4 billion in the oil sector and $2.9 billion in non-oil industries. Turkish companies maintain a strong presence across a wide range of sectors, including energy, industry, telecommunications, banking and insurance, construction, transportation, food production, textiles, and healthcare underscoring the depth and diversification of their economic engagement.

At the same time, Azerbaijan has emerged as a major investor in Turkiye. Recent years have witnessed a sharp rise in Azerbaijani capital flowing into the Turkish economy, with nearly 2,000 Azerbaijani-owned companies currently operating there. Between 1995 and 2021, Azerbaijans direct investments in Turkiye totaled 20.3 billion USD, including 17.1 billion USD in oil and gas and 3.2 billion USD in other sectors. The most notable example is the STAR refinery in ?zmirs Alia?a district, launched in September 2018 by SOCAR with a capital investment of 6.3 billion USD. This project stands as the largest single foreign investment in Turkiye and symbolizes the scale of Azerbaijans economic footprint. Azerbaijani investors now rank among the leading foreign business communities in Turkiye, not only in terms of capital but also in the number of enterprises established.

Trade between the two countries continues to expand, with Turkiye consistently ranking as Azerbaijans second-largest trading partner in imports, exports, and overall turnover. In recent years, both governments have taken concrete steps to simplify trade procedures and boost volumes. A landmark development was the signing of the Preferential Trade Agreement in Baku on February 25, 2020. The agreement introduced annual tariff quotas for 15 products, reducing customs duties to zero within those quotas. Entering into force on March 1, 2021, this agreement has already begun to facilitate smoother trade flows and create new opportunities for businesses on both sides.

Taken together, these developments highlight the strategic depth of Azerbaijan Turkiye economic relations. The partnership is not limited to energy, though hydrocarbons remain a cornerstone; it increasingly encompasses non-oil sectors, trade liberalization, and large-scale investments. This diversification strengthens economic resilience and ensures that cooperation between the two countries is not only enduring but also adaptive to global economic shifts. In essence, Azerbaijan and Turkiye have built an economic alliance that complements their political and cultural ties, positioning both nations to benefit from sustained growth and regional leadership in the years ahead.

In JanuaryFebruary of this year, trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Turkiye amounted to 877.1 million USD, which represents a decline of 127.5 million USD or 12.7% compared to the same period in 2025. Turkiye accounted for 14% of Azerbaijans overall foreign trade, maintaining its position as the countrys second-largest trading partner after Italy. Exports to Turkiye totaled 532.9 million USD, down by about 7% year-on-year. Despite this decrease, non-oil exports showed slight growth: Azerbaijan exported 83.4 million USD worth of non-oil products to Turkiye, making up 14.37% of total non-oil exports. This modest increase highlights Turkiyes role as a key market for Azerbaijans diversification efforts, even though the overall export structure remains heavily dependent on hydrocarbons.

In contrast, energy exports surged. Azerbaijan exported 47.1 thousand tons of crude oil and petroleum products worth 22.1 million USD to Turkiye, marking a threefold increase in value and nearly double in volume compared to last year. This underscores the continued dominance of the energy sector in bilateral trade relations. Imports from Turkiye, however, fell sharply to 344.2 million USD, a decline of 20.2%, which may reflect reduced demand or a shift toward domestic production.

On a broader scale, Azerbaijans total foreign trade turnover reached 6.264 billion USD, down 29.6% compared to the same period in 2025. Exports stood at 3.665 billion USD, while imports amounted to 2.599 billion USD. Both exports and imports declined, yet the trade balance improved significantly, with a surplus of 1.066 billion USD, 1.7 times higher than last year. This improvement, however, was largely driven by reduced imports rather than export expansion.

The current state of Azerbaijan Turkiye economic relations reveals several important trends. First, while overall trade turnover has contracted, the sharp rise in energy exports confirms the resilience of strategic cooperation in the energy sector. Second, the slight increase in non-oil exports indicates progress in diversification, though the pace remains limited. Third, the decline in imports from Turkiye could signal either growing domestic production capacity or weakening consumption, both of which warrant close monitoring for their implications on economic stability.

In conclusion, Azerbaijan Turkiye economic ties remain strategically significant. The energy sector continues to anchor bilateral trade, but the gradual rise in non-oil exports suggests potential for a more balanced and sustainable partnership in the future. This trajectory points toward deeper and more diversified economic cooperation between the two countries in the long term.
CANBERRA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Only 26 percent of Australians approve of the U.S. and Israel's strikes on Iran and half the population would oppose the deployment of Australian troops, a poll has found.

The latest edition of The Essential Report, a monthly poll on social and political issues conducted by independent firm Essential Research, found that 10 percent of Australians strongly approve and 16 percent approve of the U.S. and Israel's decision to initiate strikes on Iran.

By comparison, 27 percent of respondents said they strongly disapprove of the war and 15 percent said they disapprove, with the remaining participants either neutral or unsure.

Asked about Australia's involvement in the ongoing conflict, 50 percent of participants in the poll said they would oppose sending troops to support U.S.-Israeli ground operations in Iran, compared to 21 percent who said they would support such a move.

Respondents were also more likely to oppose than support Australia sending weapons and equipment to support third-party nations impacted by Iranian retaliatory strikes, such as the United Arab Emirates.

A clear majority of respondents, 60 percent, were supportive of Australia working with international organizations to help peace talks and prevent further escalation.

In terms of diplomatic and trade relationships, 34 percent of participants in the poll said that Australia should be working less closely with the United States, up from 14 percent in 2021. 
Unveiling invisible hands responsible for inciting violence in Manipur : A step in the right direction

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Brigadier (Retd) L Ibotombi Singh

The arrest of one American and six Ukrainian Nationals on March 13, 2026 by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) of India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) is an ice breaker for unveiling the invisible hands in inciting violence since May 3, 2023. A close examination of Manipur violence which started on May 3, 2023 and afterwards reveals that the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities are not at war, but individuals with an agenda, incited by invisible hands by using the common people of both communities as instruments.

Thus, invisible hands are in play, not one; but many invisible hands, majority within Manipur, are involved in this conflict to destabilise Manipur and Northeast Region (NER), including some areas beyond the international border. In this complex conflict and ethnic divide, it is the invisible hands who are using the blind pawns as a means to capitalise and politicised, thereby achieve their end state. They like to keep the pot boiling at right temperature. The National Security Advisor with his ancillary agencies must take it as a challenge to find all these invisible hands, including those from outside the country and unmask it in public domain as highlighted in the editorial co- lumn September 08, 2024 (Recipe for making civil war a reality in Manipur-The Sangai Express-Largest Circulated Newspaper in Manipur) therefore; arrest made by the NIA is a welcome step towards the right direction.

The reasons as to why the invisible hands created mayhem in Manipur in May 2023 and afterwards, are (a) intense crackdown on narco-terrorism during 2021-23, (b) implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Manipur thereby restrictions against illegal migrants from Myanmar and other regions, (c) crackdown against illegal encroachment and establishments of villages in reserved forests, other forests and Government lands primarily harbouring illegal migrants from Myanmar over many years, (d) prevention and destruction of poppy plantations which shifted over 15 years from golden triangle to hill region of Manipur neighbouring Myanmar (e) streamlining of border trade, with prevention and crackdown against illegal trading from Myanmar and vice versa from Manipur, (f) loud chorus for implementation of NRC from the public and lastly (f) shifting of Kuki insurgent SoO camps which earlier were surrounding Imphal valley.

The seven foreign Nationals (mercenaries?) were arrested for their involvement in cross-border terror support network and conspiracy to train ethnic armed groups in North Eastern India and Myanmar. The group was led by a US National, Matthew Aaron Van- Dyke, purportedly former military personnel, accused of utilizing Mizoram (India) as a transit route to illegally enter Myanmar to provide technical and combat training to Armed Insurgent and Ethnic Groups (AIEGs). VanDyke is identified as a security analyst and documentary filmmaker with a history of his involvement in conflict zones as a mercenary in Libya, Syria, Iraq, and Ukraine, primary role being to manage the logistics, strategy, and recruitment of the team to facilitate training in drone warfare, drone assembly, and jamming technology. The six Ukrainian Nationals, with ex-military backgrounds, were involved in importing high-tech drones and military-grade equipment from Europe into Indias North Eastern Region and Myanmar. The group too allegedly aimed to provide tactical training in weapons handling and drone operations (including assembly and jamming technology) to AIEGs with the aim to bolster the operational capabilities of AIEGs for covert operations against authoritarian regimes by smuggling drones from Europe to use for warfare and reconnaissance. These AIEGs, with whom the seven foreigners were in contact, have links thereby suggesting a wider threat to Indias sovereignty in general and to balkanise Manipur in particular. The group entered India on valid tourist visas but travelled to Mizoram without the mandatory ILP, crossing into Myanmar illegally. Thus, the arrests have established the fact that drones used by Kuki-Zo terrorists to attack at Koutruk and Senjam Chirang in Manipur on 01 and 02 September 2024, were indeed trained in drone warfare and supplied (?) by these mercenaries, over and above drones procured from Delhi and Haryana as proven by the NIA. The arrests also prove involvement of deep State to disintegrate North Eastern part of India.

The recent dialogue between representatives of Kuki-Zo community with the Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on March 21st, though inconclusive, is a good initiative by the ruling dispensation. Such dialogue in future will narrow the gap, thereby lower trust deficits between Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities. However, the attack at the residence of Henlianthang Thanglet, a Vaiphei leader, in Churachandpur district, for taking part in the dialogue held in Guwahati is unfortunate. This attack is again the handiwork of invisible hands using the people (mob) as pawns. Therefore, it is important for the Department of Home, Manipur Government, through Manipur police, must announce cash incentives to personnel who provide credible information or intelligence of invisible hands indulging in inciting violence. Notwithstanding a-three-member Judicial inquiry headed by former Chief Justice of Guwahati High Court, Ajai Lamba, set up since June 03, 2023; now changed to Justice Balbir Singh Chauhan after resignation of Shri Lamba, there is an urgent requirement to prepare a White Paper by the present ruling Government which must include the reasons leading to May 03, 2023 violence and afterwards, lapses, the response by the security forces and other agencies and recommendations to avoid such unfortunate ugly incidents in Manipur.

It is unfortunate that our media continue to use the word Buffer Zone while reporting outcome of the dialogue held in Guwahati, like Kuki-Zo delegation raised the importance of maintaining the sanctity of Buffer Zone until a pollical settlement is reached. It is reiterated that the terminology Buffer Zone, is used during armed conflict between two great powers, as it is a mutually agreed upon area lying between two greater powers, which is demilitarised in the sense of not hosting the armed forces of either power. Thus, there can be no buffer zone per se in Manipur as no two-armed forces of separate Nations are at war. It is an ethnic conflict between two warring communities assisted by Zo-Kuki militant groups under Suspension of Operations (SoO) and Myanmar origin terrorists operating as mercenaries in creating mayhem against innocent Meitei villagers staying on the outskirts of Imphal valley neighbouring Chin-Zo-Kuki dominated areas. Therefore, there is a need to avoid use of this terminology, instead call it check point barriers, security check posts may be used. This is more pronounced when the Governor of Manipur, Ajay Bhalla during his meeting with the IDPs in January this year dismissed claims of a buffer zone as false and misleading. The State had clarified that while certain sensitive areas has been identified, there is no officially designated buffer zone in Manipur.

Besides 250 killed and 1500 injured, the violence spread over two years, has made around 65 thousand Internally Displace Personnel (IDPs), majority of them yet to be settled till date, some of them spilled over to other parts of the region, thereby affected the economic and social fabrics of the State. Apart from halting almost all economic activity; education and transport and communication are the most severely impacted sectors by the prolonged bloodshed. The Manipur economy will take 20 to 30 years to return to its pre-May 2023 level.

Despite all the difficulties and hardships mentioned above, the two communities are still at loggerheads, disregarding the long historical ties and symbiotic relationship between them. Equally concerning is the fact about illegal arms in the possession of armed civilian groups and terrorists outfits are continuing to blaze in the State speaks volumes about the unfinished task of restoring peace. Disarming armed groups both in the hills and the plains without the support of unarmed civilians is a daunting task. Security forces winning the trust of unarmed civilian groups and civil society organisations is a must to achieve success in their operation to seize every single illegal arm in possession of armed miscreants in the State. This will require the forces to ensure adequate security in each violence-hit village by thwarting attacks by armed miscreants.

Deploying strong security pickets and simul- taneously intensifying area domination in surrounding areas of vulnerable villages will boost the confidence of the IDPs to return to their villages. As the present situation of calmness and semblance of law and order is very fragile, the security forces, including State police, must focus on the terrorist/ militant organisations not under SoO, by carrying out specific intelligence-based operations against perpetrators of violence, both SoO groups and internal invisible hands inciting violence. Equally important is requirement of synergised efforts of the three pillars of Indian Constitution, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary, besides truthful reporting by the fourth pillar (media); to make all-out efforts to bring everlasting peace without breaking integrity of Manipur State.


If Delhi fails to heed NRC first call... Dont legalise the illegals

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The call for a National Register of Citizens first and then to go in for the headcount is on solid ground. The rational for such a line of articulation can be seen by just taking one, long, hard look at the scenario unfolding across the length and breadth of Manipur. There is also a reason why the two groups of people, who are indigenous to the land, the Meiteis and the Nagas, have stuck to this line, for the apprehension facing everyone on the face is real, very real. It was with a reason why Delhi decided to go ahead and fence and porous Indo-Myanmar border and regulate the Free Movement Regime. A decision taken and announced sometime in the latter part of 2024 by no one less than Union Home Minister Amit Shah and in the same vein the Home Minister also went on record to state that influx from Myanmar is the root cause of the violence. This is not something whipped up by the fertile mind of The Sangai Express but which was reported far and wide by all the newspaper houses published in other parts of the country. Just a few months before Amit Shah talked about the unchecked influx from across the border as the root cause of the violence, External Affairs Minister S Jaishanker also struck the same line in pointing out that the violence in Manipur erupted due to unchecked influx of illegal immigrants. And long before Manipur erupted in violence on May 3, 2023, a certain Paolienlal Haokip had gone on record in an article in a publication of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies on May 23, 2002. In the said article Mr Haokip talked about the entry of about 20,000 Kukis into Manipur during the Burmanization programme of Ne Win in Myanmar (then Burma) in 1967. Nearly 60 years down the line and no one knows how many of the 20,000 Kukis actually went back home in Myanmar or merged with the local population. A number of the immigrants took recourse to drug smuggling to earn easy money, is the line maintained by Mr Haokip and the connect between the drug trade and large scale poppy plantation should be clear. Immigrants and drug trade can be a dangerous cocktail and Manipur stands testimony to this, best exemplified by the violence that erupted at Churachandpur on May 3, 2023 and which has now spread to Ukhrul district. Large scale immigration from across the border and this again is reflected very well in the number of MLAs elected from the hill districts. As a young Naga researcher pointed out and which has been cited many times in this column, in the 1957 Territorial Council election, out of 32 seats the Nagas won 4 seats and the Kuki and Paite community bagged one each; in the first Manipur Territorial Assembly (1962-1967), out of 10 tribal MLAs, there were 8 Naga MLAs and one Paite and one Kuki MLA. In the first Manipur Legislative Assembly (1972-1973), out of 60 MLAs, 13 were Nagas while only 6 represented the Kuki-Chins. In the second Manipur Legislative Assembly (1974-1979) Naga representation declined while the number of Kuki-Chin MLAs increased to 8 and the same trend continued in the third Assembly (1980-1985), wherein the number of Naga MLAs decreased to 10 and the Kuki-Chin MLAs rose to 9.

Take the incursion from across the border, the admission of the Union Home Minister and the External Affairs Minister, the increase in the number of Kuki villages which prompted the BJP led Government in Imphal to notify that a village lesser than a number of fixed households would not be entitled to any Government scheme, take the drug trade and the burgeoning poppy plantation and the rationality in the call to first conduct the NRC and weed out the illegals before the census is held, makes solid sense. It would defeat logic and the purpose of deciding to fence the Indo-Myanmar border and put in more strictures in the FMR, if the illegals are to be given the opportunity to be included in the census as citizens of the land. A call which Delhi needs to heed and lest anyone forgets, the presence of an armed group under the leadership of a man who is tagged as a former MP of Myanmar is common knowledge to everyone in Manipur. Delhi cannot sing in two tunes, that is point fingers at illegal immigrants for the violence and at the same time toy with the idea of adding them in the list of citizens via the census. This should be checked.
Saint-Laurent, QC (H4T1V6)

Today

Cloudy early, then off and on rain showers for the afternoon. High 62F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low around 50F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
BARCELONA, Spain, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Alimentaria, one of Europe's leading trade fairs for the food industry, is drawing record international participation in Barcelona from March 23 to 26, amid concerns over the impact of the Middle East conflict on the global food sector.

The event also marks Alimentaria's 50th anniversary, with organisers expecting more than 110,000 professional visitors, including nearly 30,000 from abroad - the highest level since the fair was launched in 1976.

Spanning 100,000 square metres across seven pavilions, the fair features more than 3,300 exhibiting companies from 70 countries, with international participation up 30 percent compared with the previous edition two years ago.

While the event brings together global food industry players to explore new products and business opportunities, uncertainty linked to the Middle East conflict has weighed on sentiment.

"The conflict may cause problems with the supply of fertilizers, which could obviously affect the food industry. But right now we don't know for sure, and we wait to see what will happen and how the industry will face this," Anna Canal, project manager for Alimentaria, told Xinhua.

Nicoletta Negrini, CEO of the Negrini food company and vice president of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Spain, echoed the concerns, warning that the conflict could undermine the food industry's growth.

"We will have to think about what will happen with this war, because it will increase the cost of transportation. We import all our products from Italy, and increase prices in agriculture, because of the increase in fertilizer," she said.

Despite these challenges, Canal emphasized the food industry's resilience, pointing to its capacity for innovation and adaptation. "Consumers change constantly, are more demanding and know more about what they eat. So the industry has to adapt to these needs," she said.

With a focus on innovation, the organisers said around 300 new food products will be launched at the fair and over 14,500 business meetings are expected to take place over the four-day event. More than 200 industry experts will participate in forums and seminars on topics including sustainability, digitalisation, and food safety. 
Saint-Laurent, QC (H4T1V6)

Today

Cloudy with showers. High 62F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Periods of rain. Low around 50F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
This photo taken on March 24, 2026 shows a Chinese bus running on the street in Ganja City, Azerbaijan. In September 2025, over 230 Yutong buses produced by the Chinese manufacturer Yutong Bus Co., Ltd. were officially delivered to Ganja City, covering about 20 major bus routes in the city. The buses are widely recognized for being environmentally friendly, quiet and reliable. (Xinhua/Chen Junfeng)

This photo taken on March 24, 2026 shows a Chinese bus running on the street in Ganja City, Azerbaijan. In September 2025, over 230 Yutong buses produced by the Chinese manufacturer Yutong Bus Co., Ltd. were officially delivered to Ganja City, covering about 20 major bus routes in the city. The buses are widely recognized for being environmentally friendly, quiet and reliable. (Xinhua/Chen Junfeng)

This photo taken on March 24, 2026 shows Chinese buses running on the street in Ganja City, Azerbaijan. In September 2025, over 230 Yutong buses produced by the Chinese manufacturer Yutong Bus Co., Ltd. were officially delivered to Ganja City, covering about 20 major bus routes in the city. The buses are widely recognized for being environmentally friendly, quiet and reliable. (Xinhua/Chen Junfeng)

This photo taken on March 24, 2026 shows a Chinese bus running on the street in Ganja City, Azerbaijan. In September 2025, over 230 Yutong buses produced by the Chinese manufacturer Yutong Bus Co., Ltd. were officially delivered to Ganja City, covering about 20 major bus routes in the city. The buses are widely recognized for being environmentally friendly, quiet and reliable. (Xinhua/Chen Junfeng)
Police car Douglas Sacha/Getty Images

EDWARDSVILLE  A Bethalto man was charged Friday after allegedly striking a Madison County Sheriffs Deputy the day before.

The 28-year-old suspect was charged March 20 with aggravated battery, a Class 2 felony; and resisting a peace officer, a Class A misdemeanor.

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The Madison County Sheriffs Department presented the case.

According to court documents, on March 19, the suspect allegedly struck the officer in the arm with a door and fled on foot while attempting to evade arrest.

The suspect was ordered released from custody.

Granite City woman faces multiple felonies in Alton case

A 51-year-old Granite City woman was charged March 19 with aggravated battery, a Class 2 felony; and criminal damage to property, aggravated driving while under the influence, and criminal damage to government-supported property, all Class 4 felonies.

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The Alton Police Department presented the case.

According to court documents, on March 18, the suspect kicked an Alton police officer in the abdomen; caused in excess of $500 damage to another persons vehicle, a 2014 GMC Sierra; was driving a Jeep Wrangler on Dooley Drive in Alton while under the influence of alcohol without liability insurance; and damaged a fence and residence in the 200 block of Dooley, property owned by the Alton Housing Authority.

She was ordered released from custody.

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Ohio man faces multiple weapons, endangering child charges

A 31-year-old Ashtabula, Ohio, man was charged March 19 with three counts of felon in possession of a weapon, all Class 3 felonies; and endangering the life or health of a child, a Class A misdemeanor.

The Illinois State Police presented the case.

According to court documents, on March 17, the suspect was allegedly found to be a felon in possession of a GLEA GL-15 AR-style pistol, a Glock 45, and a Taurus G2C9mm handgun, and had the loaded, unsecured weapons in close proximity to a 3-year-old child.

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The suspect was ordered remanded to jail.

According to a petition to deny pre-trial release filed by the Madison County States Attorneys Office, ISP troopers conducted a traffic stop and found multiple firearms and a bag of a suspected controlled substance in the vehicle in close proximity to the child.

The suspect admitted to being a convicted felon and indicated that the substance seized was a controlled substance.

Granite City woman faces charges after Alton battery incident

A 59-year-old Granite City woman was charged March 19 with aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony.

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The Alton Police Department presented the case.

According to court documents, on Dec. 29, the suspect allegedly slapped a nurse on the chest and kicked them in the abdomen.

He was ordered released from custody.

St. Louis man charged with battering senior citizen in Edwardsville

A 21-year-old St. Louis man was charged March 20 with aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony.

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The Edwardsville Police Department presented the case.

According to court documents, on Jan. 8, the suspect allegedly struck a senior citizen in the face and head with his fist while it was wrapped in a chain.

The suspect was ordered released from custody.

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Actor and legendary "tough guy" Chuck Norris has died at 86. He was taken to a hospital in Hawaii March 19 and his family announced his passing March 20. Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images Actor Chuck Norris was known for his martial arts skills which he used in many of his film and TV roles. frederic meylan/Frederic Meylan

Actor and legendary tough guy Chuck Norris has died. He was 86.

The Walker, Texas Ranger star was sent to the hospital in Hawaii Thursday for what was being reported as a medical emergency. Friday morning, a post to his Instagram page from his family announced his passing.

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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.

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.

He lived his life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved. Through his work, discipline, and kindness, he inspired millions around the world and left a lasting impact on so many lives.

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While our hearts are broken, we are deeply grateful for the life he lived and for the unforgettable moments we were blessed to share with him. The love and support he received from fans around the world meant so much to him, and our family is truly thankful for it. To him, you were not just fans, you were his friends.

We know many of you had heard about his recent hospitalization, and we are truly grateful for the prayers and support you sent his way.

As we grieve this loss, we kindly ask for privacy for our family during this time.

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Thank you for loving him with us.

TMZ originally reported on Thursday that some medical emergency occurred in the last 24 hours on the island of Kauai that landed Chuck in the hospital. We do not know the nature of the emergency; however, we are told Chuck is in good spirits.

Friday, TMZ, Variety and numerous outlets have reported on the actors death and according to IMDB he was set to appear in an upcoming film Zombie Plane with Vanilla Ice and Ice-T.

Norris made his acting debut in 1968's The Wrecking Crew. He would later star alongside Bruce Lee as Colt in 1972's The Way of the Dragon. But it was in the late 1970s when his career began to soar thus propelling him into major stardom in the 1980s with films such as:

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A Force of One

The Octagon

Lone Wolf McQuade

Missing in Action

Code of Silence

Invasion U.S.A.

The Delta Force

Firewalker "

Chuck Norris as Cordell Walker on CBS' "Walker Texas Ranger." CBS Photo Archive/CBS via Getty Images

But it was his role as Sergeant Cordell Walker on CBSs Walker, Texas Ranger that became his signature Hollywood part. The show ran for nine seasons with 196 episodes between 1993 and 2001.

Outside of being an actor, Norris was a very accomplished martial artist, a talent he used in nearly all of his acting roles as he became known as a tough guy to mess with on the movie and TV screens. He was a karate champion with a Black Belt and also recognized as an Eighth Degree Taekwondo Grand Master, according to the United Fight Arts Federation.

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In later years, Norris increased his tough guy persona as multiple jokes and memes were made to show just how tough he was. According to Know Your Meme, Norris' meme stardom began around 2005. One of the most popular monikers was the indication underneath Norris' beard was not a chin, but another fist. Foxs Family Guy even worked the bit into one of its episodes.

Chuck Norris got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1989.
Jersey School District board members Darcy Graham, Judy Rowling, Jeff Goetten, and Jacob Warford take notes at a board meeting on Aug. 21, 2025. Chase Martin/The Telegraph

Jersey School Board member Judy Rowlings cast the lone nay vote in the approval of Jason Brunaughs superintendent contract at the board meeting on Thursday night.

Over the weekend, she provided clarification in an email response for her reasoning, citing that she was not against Brunaugh taking the role.

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I want to be very clear that my vote was not a reflection of any lack of confidence in Dr. Jason Brunaugh," Rowlings said in an email response. I fully support him and believe he will do a great job as our next superintendent.

At the meeting, Rowlings voted nay in a 6-1 vote on the consent agenda, which included approval of Brunaughs superintendent contract. She shared that this decision was related to the contract's financial structure, particularly the starting salary of $167,500.

Brunaugh is set to start his role on July 1, 2027. When he does, it will be the first time he has served as superintendent of any school district.

Jason Brunaugh shares his report as Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Human Resources during a Jersey Community School Board meeting, where his district superintendent contract was approved on March 19, 2026. Chase Martin/The Telegraph

This fact alone prompted Rowlings to feel uncomfortable about the contract and ultimately vote nay at the March 19 board meeting. She stated in her response that she would prefer the starting salary be slightly lower and that the contract should include a structure that allows for increases over time based on performance and board review.

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Through the Freedom of Information Act, the Telegraph has requested a copy of Brunaughs superintendent contract.

I respect the Boards decision, and now that the contract has been approved, I look forward to working together and supporting Dr. Brunaugh in his new role, Rowlings said.
Nathan Welch Courtesy Madison County State's Attorney's Office

EDWARDSVILLE  An Alton man was sentenced for sexually assaulting his own daughter, and possession and production of child pornography, in an often-emotional hearing Tuesday morning.

Nathan J. Welch, 32, of Alton, was sentenced to a total of 74 years in prison, and would have to serve a minimum of 58 years.

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Associate Judge Ryan Jumper presided over the case.

Welch had pled guilty Oct. 9 to three counts of predatory criminal sexual assault and two counts of child pornography, all Class X felonies.

On the three predatory criminal sexual assaults, Jumper sentenced Welch to 20 years for each offense. Welch must serve 85% of the time, with each to be served consecutively. For the child porn, Welch was sentenced to seven years for each count, and must serve a minimum of 50% of the time.

These are among the most disturbing crimes we prosecute, Madison County States Attorney Tom Haine said in a written statement. This defendant committed hideous crimes against a defenseless child, violating trust, innocence, and the most basic standards of humanity.

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No sentence can undo the trauma inflicted on this child, but our hope is that this sentence, which ensures the perpetrator will never again have an opportunity to harm a child, brings some healing for the victims family, he said. We continue to hold them in our prayers.

Nathan Welch sentenced in Madison County child sex abuse case

During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors presented evidence, including images and messages between Welch and an unidentified person relating to the sexual assault, and a counselor with the Madison County Child Advocacy Center, noting the long-term impact of abuse on child victims. There were also witness impact statements from the victims grandfather and mother.

The defense presented a statement by Welchs sister pleading for mercy, and a statement by Welch.

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Welch was originally charged on July 1, 2024, with two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, both enhanced Class X felonies, and five counts of child pornography, all Class X felonies.

The charging documents were amended several times to include additional charges.

According to court documents, between March 2, 2024, and June 4, 2024, and specifically on June 4, Welch committed sex acts with an infant girl, identified in Tuesdays hearing as his daughter, and recorded the acts; and on June 2 and 4, 2024, disseminated the images via Kik, a messaging app.

The investigation began June 27, 2024, when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a cyber tip from Kik that a user was sharing child pornography on the platform. The tip was forwarded to the Edwardsville Police Department for investigation. It was determined that the IP addresses sharing the pornography were located at the Delmar Street address in the Alton area, and a search warrant was executed by the Madison County Sheriffs Department on June 28, 2024.

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After receiving the cybertip, our local law enforcement swiftly launched an investigation, Haine said. Aware of the potential for further harm to the child, they secured search warrants within hours and were able to ensure this child was not further victimized. This investigation is yet another example of the dedication and teamwork of our local police.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant States Attorneys Ali Foley and Rebecca Buettner.

Victims grandfather calls acts evil

After presenting evidence, the victims grandfather spoke. He noted that hospital staff said the victim was the youngest they had seen.

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At times, the grandfather became very emotional, describing terrible, gut-wrenching descriptions of betrayal in reference to the evidence in the case.

He talked about a family trip they had taken in July 2023, when Welch and the victims mother announced they were having a baby, and talked about journals he expected to fill with happy memories, but instead wrote about the ongoing criminal investigation.

I truly believe acts such as these are pure evil, he said, adding that it infects the souls of everybody involved.

He also said he prayed for Welchs family because they are going through hell as well.

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No matter what sentence is pronounced, the damage has been done, he said in concluding his statement.

Mother says family is 'shattered' and 'broken'

As the victim's grandfather went to sit down, the victims mother, Nathan Welchs ex-wife, hugged the grandfather, and then she took the stand.

The victims mother, who also cried through much of her statement, said that before police served the search warrant, I thought I had the perfect life.

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It has been a nightmare I cant wake up from, she said, adding that her trust in others vanished.

She also described how the family has been shattered and broken.

My baby has been raped by her own father, she said.

During most of the hearing, Nathan Welch was hunched over at his table.

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Nathan Welch apologizes as sister asks for treatment

Welch's sister, who also cried as she read her statement, said she realized Welch must be punished, but asked that he be placed somewhere other than the Illinois Department of Corrections, receive treatment, and be given a chance.

I believe he can be released at some point as a very productive member of society, she said.

Nathan Welch also read a statement.

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I know Im responsible for so much pain, he said. I dont know how to go forward. ... I just know I want to be better. Im very sorry to everyone, Im very, very sorry.

Nathan Welch gets decades in prison in child abuse case

Buettner asked for a 90-year sentence, saying they need to send a strong message that those in positions of trust must be held accountable.

Assistant Public Defender Jack Daugherty noted the case was awful, but to remember the constitutional mandate in the Illinois Constitution to return offenders to useful society.

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He cited Welchs lack of a criminal record, that he was induced into committing the acts and showed some resistance to suggestions by the other person he was sharing messages with, and that he was not likely to reoffend.

Daugherty noted that the full 90 years is an effective life sentence, instead of asking for the minimum sentence of six years per offense.

After the sentencing, Haine commended the police who investigated the case and the prosecution team.

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Steven Foster Madison County State's Attorney

EDWARDSVILLE  An Alton man convicted and sentenced to 135 years in prison on multiple counts of attempted murder in 2021 will be getting a new trial after an appellate court overturned the verdict.

Steven Foster, 38, was serving a 135-year sentence after being found guilty of multiple felonies, including three counts of attempted murder.

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However, on Feb. 2, the Illinois 5th District Appellate Court reversed the conviction and remanded it back to the circuit court.

A spokesman for the Madison County States Attorneys Office said they will continue to prosecute the case.

In its decision, the appellate court reversed the lower courts decisions because of cumulative errors that denied Foster a fair trial.

Among the complaints were that the lower court failed to give proper admonishments and rulings, prosecutors engaged in pervasive prosecutorial misconduct at various points in the trial, and the sentence was excessive given the nature of the case and the defendants rehabilitative potential.

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Madison County State's Attorney Tom Haine pointed out Tuesday that the court's ruling dealt only with the "cumulative errors" issue.

The ruling also noted there was enough evidence to "find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."

A hearing is set for 1 p.m. on April 6 in the Madison County Criminal Justice Center.

At about 11:20 p.m. on Sept. 8, 2021, Alton Police responded to the 700 block of Oakwood Estates in reference to a shooting. A preliminary investigation revealed that three adults were shot and transported to local hospitals. All three were subsequently transported to a St. Louis area hospital for treatment.

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Foster was arrested Oct. 4, 2021, by Alton Police, assisted by the U.S. Marshals Service.

The triple shooting was investigated by the Alton Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division, and the case was presented to the Madison County States Attorneys Office.

Foster was convicted of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver in 2013.
by Xinhua writer Gao Wencheng

LONDON, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Arsenio Dominguez said that evacuating stranded seafarers has become a top priority amid tensions affecting shipping in the Gulf region, stressing that dialogue and diplomacy remain the best solution to the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua at the headquarters of the IMO in London on Tuesday, Dominguez said the crisis has left "around 20,000 innocent seafarers on around 2,000 ships" stranded in the Gulf region.

Stressing that evacuating these seafarers has become a top priority, he said his organization is accelerating negotiations to establish an evacuation framework.

He explained that the organization is in the process of developing practical operational measures -- such as collecting ship information and sharing it with the relevant parties in the Strait of Hormuz.

The IMO, a specialized UN agency responsible for maritime safety and environmental protection, does not directly address the root causes of geopolitical conflicts, Dominguez said. However, he emphasized that "anything that has a negative effect on seafarers in shipping, we need to get involved within our remit."

Reflecting on his remarks during a recent IMO Council Extraordinary Session that "when seafarers die, statements alone are not enough," Dominguez explained that his concern stemmed from the public's frequent failure to recognize the human suffering of seafarers.

While reaffirming the importance of raising awareness, he stressed that practical solutions must follow.

"The IMO's mandate is of technical and operational aspects, and we would always maintain that," he said, noting that the organization has experience in navigating crises affecting shipping.

Amid the escalating conflict, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz -- one of the world's most critical energy transit chokepoints -- has seen severe disruptions. According to market data, commercial vessel transits through the strait have dropped about 95 percent compared with pre-conflict levels.

Dominguez noted that the impact of the conflict extends far beyond shipping. It has disrupted global supply chains, affected food security, and driven up energy prices, ultimately increasing the cost of living worldwide.

He reiterated the IMO Council's call for de-escalation, diplomacy and dialogue.

"The more that we reiterate that call, the more we will be able to bring the parties to the table," he said, adding that "the best solution is to actually sit down, acknowledge any differences, and find the ways to move forward."

Addressing the broader solution to the crisis, Dominguez pointed to the core principles of the United Nations. "We will continue to uphold those principles and call for everyone to use multilateralism and dialogue as the way forward," he said.

Asked about China's role, Dominguez described it as an active and constructive participant.

"China is a very active member state at IMO," he said, expressing hope that it will continue contributing ideas and engaging with other countries to find solutions. 


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The ten months between April 2025 and January 2026 were not easy ones for Indian exporters. The United States imposed steep tariffs on Indian goods, global demand softened, and supply chains remained fragile in the aftermath of years of disruption. However, India has now posted growth in exports during this time.

Indias total exports of merchandise and services during AprilJanuary FY 2025-26 rose to $714.73 billion, up by 5.26 per cent or $36 billion, over the same period last year, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada told the Parliament this week.

According to Prasada, Indias exports have grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.9 per cent over the four years from FY 2021-22 to FY 2024-25, rising from $497.90 billion in FY 2020-21 to $828.25 billion in FY 2024-25. This hints at a broad-based growth that has continued even when global conditions have pushed back.

The Minister attributed the resilience, in part, to a deliberate and layered policy framework. The Foreign Trade Policy 2023 served as a flexible backbone, adapting to shifting global conditions rather than remaining static.

The recently launched Export Promotion Mission (EPM 2), backed by a 25,060 crore outlay for FY 2025-26 to FY 2030-31, runs two targeted programmes. One is Niryat Protsahan, which addresses trade finance and credit access for exporters, and the other is Niryat Disha, which focuses on logistics, warehousing, branding, and market access. The Centre expects both programmes to help Indian MSMEs compete internationally.

However, instead of easing, global headwinds have also become stronger, especially with the escalating Middle East tensions, to close the current fiscal year.

To mitigate perils from such events, the commerce ministry stated that it had notified a new "RELIEF" Scheme through the Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECGC), providing insurance cover to exporters facing elevated risk from geopolitical disruptions in global shipping corridors.

Moreover, since 2021, India has either concluded or advanced eight major trade agreements, including a landmark pact with the EU and the first FTA with a dedicated FDI commitment, the India-EFTA TEPA.

The final figures of the fiscal year will be released in the months to come, and the Centre hopes for an overall jump in exports, year on year. For now, the Centre is betting that the measures they introduced will keep the global headwinds at bay.
The 515 Army Base Workshop (515 ABW) in Bengaluru, one of the eight Army Base Workshops of the Indian Army, announced on Wednesday that it signed three strategic MoUs aimed at boosting indigenous drone manufacturing and ecosystem resilience. According to an official statement, the MoUS were signed on behalf of the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army), Directorate General of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (DG EME), and HQ Base Workshop Group.

For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India

In an attempt to develop indigenous drone manufacturing capabilities, the 515 ABW signed an MoU with Bengaluru-based Nautical Wings Aerospace, a start-up specialising in advanced electric propulsion systems, vertical lift solutions, Brushless Direct Current (BLDC) motors and composite structures for UAVs.

Under the MoU, Nautical Wings will provide technical expertise and hand-holding of 515 ABW technicians in integrated propulsion systems, BLDC motor integration, propeller optimisation, and composite fabrication techniques on a required basis, 515 ABW said in a statement.

It also signed an MoU with Yaanendriya Private Limited, a deep-tech startup incubated at ARTPARK, IISc Bengaluru. This collaboration focuses on enhancing capabilities in AI-enabled Flight Control Systems (FCS), Ground Control Stations (GCS), Electronic Speed Controllers (ESC), and GNSS-based navigation systems, aiming to reduce dependence on foreign technology in autonomous platforms.

ALSO READ: Indias war mobility upgrade: Why is IAF Chinook helicopter airlifting, deploying Indian Army's assault bridge crucial?

In order to ensure the security and resilience of these emerging technologies, a third MoU was signed by 515 ABW with the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), Gandhinagar. This partnership establishes a structured framework for technical cooperation in drone forensics, cyber and hardware security assessment and vulnerability analysis, the statement said, adding that, "NFSU will contribute its expertise to help develop robust analytical frameworks required for addressing evolving threats related to hostile drone usage, cyber compromise and hardware security risks."

These MoUs reinforce the commitment to support national security through indigenous capability development and civil-military integration, the statement said, adding, "By fostering industry handholding and inter-institutional cooperation, these initiatives will enable the 515 ABW to function as a prime technical incubator for innovation projects. Ultimately, this will support the operational preparedness of the Indian Army, ensure pace with fast-evolving technologies and align with the government of India's vision of strengthening technological self-reliance and enhancing Defence innovation ecosystems."
During the 13-day high-tempo integrated mechanised manoeuvre exercise conducted by the 31 Armoured Division at the Babina Field Firing Ranges near Jhansi in March, the Shaurya Squadrons of the Indian Army showcased their combat capabilities.

Shaurya Squadrons are dedicated drone units being inducted into the Indian Armys armoured regiments, designed to enhance tank warfare with real-time surveillance and precision strike capabilities. Each squadron comprises 2025 trained personnel who operate a mix of surveillance drones, attack drones, swarm systems, FPV drones, and loitering munitions.

Pioneered by the White Tiger Division of the Sudarshan Chakra Corps, the Shaurya Squadron, which seeks to "see farther, strike deeper, and maintain continuous battlefield presence" by compressing the sensor-to-shooter cycle, represents a contemporary tactical model for multi-domain operations.

Inspired by the AirLand Battle concept, it integrates air and land capabilities across the depth of the battlespace, combining surveillance, manoeuvre, and precision fires to enable faster decision-making and deliver decisive combat effects.

For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India

Traditionally, tanks rely on line-of-sight and limited reconnaissance. However, with the integration of Shaurya Squadrons, commanders will have better real-time battlefield awareness far beyond what a tank crew can see. They also ensure that tanks are less exposed to threats like loitering munitions, anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), and hidden enemy positions.

A practical step toward integrating land, air, and electronic domains at the unit level, Shaurya Squadrons act as a bridge to next-gen battlefield concepts rather than relying solely on legacy platforms, as modern warfare has shifted to AI, swarms, and autonomous systems

ALSO READ: Indias war mobility upgrade: Why is IAF Chinook helicopter airlifting, deploying Indian Army's assault bridge crucial?

The Shaurya Squadrons will be equipped with swarm drones and first-person view (FPV) drones for real-time surveillance and precision strikes against armour and logistics targets, The New Indian Express had quoted a source as saying, adding that "The aim is to compress the sensor-to-shooter cycle and push drone capability down to the unit level for faster targeting and engagement.

The Southern Command of the Indian Army, in a tweet, said during the exercise, the Shaurya Squadron "demonstrated the seamless integration of real-time surveillance assets with mechanised forces, attack helicopters, swarm strikes and coordinated firepower, enhancing battlefield awareness, compressing the sensor-to-shooter cycle and enabling swift, decisive battlefield response."

At the conclusion of the exercise, the Army Commander hailed the formation for demonstrating an innovative tactical capability in line with the Indian Armys shift toward integrated, technology-driven warfare. During his interaction with the squadron, he urged all ranks to remain professionally agile, technologically adept, and operationally aligned to deliver decisive outcomes across the full spectrum of multi-domain operations.
Warner Bros has revealed that New Zealand filmmaker Peter Jackson, known for the iconic Lord of the Rings trilogy, is now working on a new instalment with the working title The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past. Working on the script for the new film is J.R.R Tolkien super fan and talk show host Stephen Colbert.

Stephen Colbert, known for his endless references and obsession with Tolkiens Lord of the Rings books, will be co-writing the film alongside his son, Peter McGee. Working on the project is probably a dream come true for the talk show host who previously got himself a cameo appearance in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Returning to the writing table is Philippa Boyens who worked on Jackson's original trilogy.

The film is to be based on six specific chapters from The Fellowship of the Ring. Chapters 3 to 8, referred to as Three is company through Fog on the Barrow Downs, involve Frodo leaving the Shire and encountering his first black rider and coming across Tom Bombadil. Tom Bombadil is regarded as one of the most mysterious characters in the books and was originally omitted from the original film trilogy, possibly due to time constraints.

The film's official logline reads, Fourteen years after the passing of Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin set out to retrace the first steps of their adventure. Meanwhile, Sams daughter, Elanor, has discovered a long-buried secret and is determined to uncover why the War of the Ring was very nearly lost before it even began.

In honor of Tolkien Reading Day and the destruction of the One Ring, we bring you a special announcement. pic.twitter.com/ufh9RLBIxO  Warner Bros. (@warnerbros) March 25, 2026

Colbert had told Jackson, You know what the books mean to me, and what your films mean to me.

But the thing I found myself reading over and over again were the six chapters early on in the Fellowship that yall never developed into the first movie back in the day. Its basically the chapter Three is Company [Chapter III] through Fog on the Barrow-Downs [Chapter VIII]. And I thought, Oh, wait, maybe that could be its own story that could fit into the larger story. Could we make something that was completely faithful to the books while also being completely faithful to the movies that you guys had already made?

The project will be Colbert's first foray into developing a blockbuster film . He has previously directed Lord of the Rings stars Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen and Elijah Wood, for the 2019 short parody film Darrylgorn, which is set in JRR Tolkiens Middle-earth.

The Lord of the Rings film series, released in 2001, 2002, and 2003, is considered Jacksons most celebrated work, earning 17 Oscars in total. Jackson had also adapted Tolkiens The Hobbit into three films in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Colberts The Late Show on CBS will air its last episode on May 21, after the network decided to cancel the show last year.

Peter Jackson is also working on The Hunt for Gollum, which will be released on Dec 17 2027. The film follows Aragorn and Gandalfs quest to search for Gollum to learn more about Bilbos ring, which is later revealed to be the one ring that rules them all in the Lord of the Rings films.
The government, on Wednesday, assured political parties that India faces no shortage of LPG, crude oil or natural gas despite the raging conflict in West Asia. The government said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also personally conveyed to US President Donald Trump India's desire for a swift end to hostilities.

This assurance was given during the all-party meeting called in New Delhi to address concerns of the political parties and also brief them about Indias effort to deal with the situation in West Asia. Though the government said the Opposition parties supported the government in its efforts, the Opposition members who attended the meeting questioned the ministers on several issues, including Indias stance in the war.

The all-party meeting comes a day after PM Modi addressed Parliament on the subject and even drew parallels with the COVID-19 pandemic, saying India had emerged united during that crisis and would do so again.

The remarks had triggered anxiety about a repeat of pandemic-era shortages and government curbs, particularly on cooking gas and fuel. Long queues outside LPG dealerships were reported in several parts of the country, with instances of black marketing also emerging.

The conflict between Israel, the United States and Iran broke out on February 28, and with roughly 70 per cent of India's energy imports routed through the Strait of Hormuz, the war's implications for ordinary Indians quickly became a major political flashpoint.

The meeting was chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and attended by Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri opened proceedings with a detailed presentation to the assembled floor leaders.

Broad solidarity, with caveats

Despite the sharp disagreements on the diplomatic question, the all-party meeting closed on a note of political unity around the immediate crisis. The government said it was prepared and "engaged at all levels, prioritising its people, and confident of weathering the situation through coordinated diplomatic, strategic and economic efforts."

Parliamentary affairs Kiren Rijuju said, Opposition members expressed concerns about the situation in West Asia, and wanted to know how it will impact India, and what steps the government has taken for the Indian people.

The government responded comprehensively and thoroughly. The government has answered all the questions asked by the entire opposition. All the Opposition colleagues have said in this hour of crisis, whatever decision the government takes, whatever steps it takes according to the prevailing situation, everyone will support it unitedly... I believe that whatever was demanded by the Opposition, that such information should be given, the government has given adequate information today."

The Opposition leaders asked the government to take a position with regard to the unilateral attack against a sovereign, independent country by the United States. They highlighted Indias historic relations with Iran.

Members are also learnt to have raised questions about PM Modis visit to Israel before hostilities broke out. Members also asked about Pakistan's emerging role as a mediator.

CPI(M) MP John Brittas, who attended the meeting, recounted: "In a conversation between Prime Minister Modi and US President Donald Trump, our prime minister had conveyed our desire that the war end quickly because the war, as said by the EAM, hurts everybody."

The Left MP added that the government has assured the Opposition that there is enough supply of oil, petroleum products, LNG, and LPG. And there have been negotiations with the Iranian side for the smooth sailing of the ships.
New Delhi is confronting a new-age threat-one that doesnt rely on physical explosives but instead weaponises fear through digital means. Over the past few months, a steady stream of hoax bomb calls and alarming emails has threatened to disrupt the capitals daily rhythm, forcing security agencies into a near-constant state of alert. What initially appeared to be isolated incidents has now evolved into a clear and troubling pattern.

The first major alarm was raised on January 28, when a bomb threat at the Dwarka court complex triggered chaos and emergency response measures. Although no explosives were found, the psychological impact was immediate. Within a day, on January 29, the threats expanded to educational institutions. Five prominent schoolsincluding Loreto Convent in Delhi Cantonment and Don Bosco School in Chittaranjan Parkreceived warning emails, sparking panic among parents and authorities alike.

The situation escalated significantly on February 9, when a threat mentioned the Indian Parliament along with multiple schools. The email, signed by the so-called Khalistan National Army, carried an alarming message: Delhi will become Khalistan There will be an explosion at 1:11 pm. While it turned out to be a hoax, the symbolic targeting of the nations highest democratic institution marked a serious shift in tone and intent.

The pattern continued on February 23, when three major schoolsArmy Public School in Dhaula Kuan, Air Force Bal Bharti School, and Air Force School in Subroto Parkwere forced into emergency evacuations. According to police sources, many of these emails included inflammatory content, references to key locations such as the Red Fort and Delhi Metro, and even remarks directed at top political leadership.

The scale of the issue is equally concerning. Delhi recorded over 500 hoax bomb threats in the past year, turning emergency response into a repetitive but necessary exercise. Each alert, regardless of credibility, demands full-scale security deploymentplacing a continuous strain on law enforcement and public infrastructure.

The campaign reached a critical point on March 24, a day of political and economic importance marked by the presentation of Delhis Rs 1.1 lakh crore budget. Early that morning, threatening emails were sent to the Delhi Assembly, including a direct message to the Speaker. This time, the threat was more targeted and personal.

A hit list named some of the countrys top leaders and key officials in Delhis administration. Security was immediately heightened across sensitive locations, including the Red Fort, Assembly premises, and Metro stations. Despite extensive searches, no suspicious objects were found.

Investigators have traced the emails to anonymous Gmail accounts, but identifying the perpetrators remains a major challenge. Officials indicate that the senders are likely using private networks and encrypted systems to conceal their digital footprints, making IP tracking difficult.

A deeper analysis, however, shows that the KNA is the new digital avatar of the Pakistan ISI-sponsored network of Khalistani outfits which has been issuing threats to institutions and high value targets not just in Delhi but also neighbouring Punjab.

Police officials in Punjab said they are on their toes every time the KNA has surfaced in emails but the bogey of Khalistan has lost traction on ground as much as in the minds of people. Officials said despite several attempts being made by the pro-Khalistan outfits to create unrest in Punjab, Delhi, Haryana and beyond, there is no support to the idea  which is why the Pakistan ISI networks are using the digital platforms to keep the idea of Khalistan alive.

The word Khalistan will be lost in memory of people which is why a new name has been created to propagate the same ideology and sentiment that has been fuelled by the Pakistan ISI in the past, said a security official. Notably, the other known outfits like Sikhs for Justice and Khalistan Tiger Force among others have been banned.

At the same time, while none of these threats have resulted in actual explosions, dismissing them as mere hoaxes would be a mistake. While such threats trigger evacuation and fuel public anxiety, security officials said there can be no let up in the response mechanism which has to be fool proof at all times.
With the West Bengal Assembly elections just around the corner, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is intensifying her outreach to the minority community. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo hopes that her strong opposition to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) will consolidate the Muslim vote, giving her party an electoral edge.

However, a recent political development in the state could threaten the TMCs traditional hold on the Muslim vote. Humayun Kabir, who formed a new party after being suspended from the TMC following controversy over his proposed Babri-style mosque in Murshidabad district, has entered into an electoral alliance with Asaduddin Owaisis All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM).

Kabir announced that his party, the Am Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP), would contest 182 seats in an alliance with AIMIM and emerge as a decisive player in government formation. In a recent interview with PTI, Kabir stated that if his party were to form the government, West Bengal would have its first Muslim chief minister.

Under the seat-sharing agreement, AIMIM, making its electoral debut in West Bengal, will contest eight seatsthree in Birbhum, three in Murshidabad, and two in Malda. All these constituencies have significant Muslim populations.

Owaisi's party has alleged lack of development in Muslim-majority districts like Malda and Murshidabad, claiming that high unemployment has led many young people to migrate. In an interview with Indian Express, AIMIM's West Bengal president, Imran Solanki, blamed the state government for the inadequate infrastructure in higher education and healthcare.

There has been growing discontent among the Muslim community in the state after a 2024 Calcutta High Court order, which cancelled approximately 1.2 million OBC certificates issued since 2010. The court also stayed reservations for 140 sub-categories under the OBC-A and OBC-B lists created by the state government.

West Bengal has nearly 30 per cent Muslim voters, traditionally loyal to the TMC. If the AIMIM-AJUP alliance manages to tap into the communitys discontent, it could deal a severe blow to Mamata Banerjees party in the upcoming elections.

Mamata helped BJP grow

During a press conference in Kolkata on Wednesday, Owaisi launched a scathing attack on Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of inadvertently aiding the BJP's rise in the state.

Our alliance with Humayun Kabir is focused on stopping the exploitation of weaker sections in West Bengal and empowering them, Owaisi said. He emphasised the underdevelopment of the minority community as a key issue in the elections and asserted that their alliance would work to strengthen Muslim political leadership.

Buoyed by its strong performance in the recent Bihar elections, where it won five seats, the AIMIM is now eager to expand its footprint in West Bengal as well.

Elections to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly are scheduled for April 23 and 29, with vote counting set for May 4.
TOKYO, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Wednesday it was regrettable that a member of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) unlawfully broke into the Chinese embassy in Japan, pledging that the government will take measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring again.

Speaking at a regular press conference, Kihara said that the government will respond appropriately in accordance with relevant international and domestic laws and in cooperation with related ministries.

"It is truly regrettable that an SDF member expected to comply with the law has been arrested on suspicion of unlawful entry," Kihara said.

He added that police have strengthened security around the embassy, and further measures will be taken in accordance with the investigation findings.

According to the Chinese embassy in Japan, a man claiming to be "an active-duty officer of the Japan Self-Defense Forces" forcibly broke into the embassy by climbing over a wall on Tuesday morning, threatening to kill Chinese diplomatic personnel.

The embassy has lodged solemn representations and a strong protest with the Japanese side, demanding that Japan provide a responsible explanation. 
The Congress partys presence in Delhis Lutyens' zone could come to an end as it has received a formal notice to vacate its office at 24, Akbar Road, which had served as its headquarters for nearly five decades until last year. According to the notice, the party must vacate the premises by March 28.

In a related development, a second notice has been issued to the party, asking it to vacate the Indian Youth Congress office at 5, Raisina Road.

Congress MP and senior lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi has condemned the move, calling it "illegal and politically motivated". He said the party would explore all available legal options to challenge the decision.

The Akbar Road office, which Congress has occupied since 1978, was the partys headquarters until the inauguration of its new head office, Indira Bhavan, at Kotla Marg near ITO last year. While most of the party's operations have since moved to the new location, the Akbar Road office has been retained due to its symbolic and political importance.

During the inauguration of Indira Bhavan by Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, several senior leaders had expressed their emotional attachment to the old office. Reports indicate that Congress has been paying market rent for the sprawling bungalow at Akbar Road.

The party is now preparing to challenge the eviction notice in court. "We would want to retain both addresses. They are part of our legacy," a senior Congress leader told The Times of India.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday blasted the Haryana police for making attempts to shield an accused in the sexual assault case of a four-year-old child. The court said that the police tried to water down the charges against the accused man and that the conduct of the officers with the child and her parents showed heights of insensitivity.

The bench, comprised of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, also formed a Special Investigation team, led by senior woman IPS officer Nazneen Bhasin IPS to restart the investigation into the case with complete human sensitivity.

It issued a show-cause notice to Gurugram Police Commissioner Vikas Kumar Arora and other senior and the doctor who changed the child's medical report.

The bench also criticised the officer for cross-examining the child and said that it was the worst form of secondary victimisation" and disrespect". "The entire police force, from the commissioner to the sub-inspector, made all attempts to prove that the child had no proof or that the parents did not make any sense," the court said.

The court observed that, though there was prima facie evidence that indicated the offence of 'aggravated penetrative sexual assault' under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the police registered the FIR only for 'aggravated sexual assault' under Section 10, a lesser offence.

While the first provides for at least 20 years in jail, section 10 provides for 10 years.

The court was hearing the parents' petition where they alleged inaction by Gurugram police. They had earlier sought replies from the police and district judiciary on how the child was questioned in the presence of the accused. It questioned why a report from the Child Welfare committee outweighed the childs statement and lowered the offence and asked the counsel "not to defend the indefensible".

"Please see the police officers. Their station and position... deputy commissioner of police, assistant superintendent of police. If this is the understanding of the offence on a four-year-old child, then what about the rule of law? ... Rape is not penal penetration alone. The police are clearly not aware. This is yawningly distressing. The highest police officer was involved to bring down the seriousness of the offence from Section 6 to Section 10," Justice Bagchi said.

"The way family and child have been harassed! The child went through more horrifying experiences after what happened to her. Repeated victimisation!" CJI Surya Kant noted.

"They have not even read the bare Act," the Chief Justice said. "You have disbelieved the innocence of a four-year-old child. Shame on them. If the state has any respect for the law, they must be immediately transferred. You say CCTV is not there, etc. For 15 days, you have not done anything. The moment we take cognisance, you start arresting. Do you want us to tell you why you were busy? This case exhibits the heights of insensitivity," he said.

The court also slammed the the Child Welfare Committee for their insensitive handling of the child and questioned whether they possessed the educational qualification required to assist in such cases.

"Who appointed these CWC members? Acted as if the victim were a table or chair! They should have gone to her house," CJI Kant said.
In what is seen a strategic nomination to corner Trinamool and Mamata Banerjee, the BJP on Wednesday named the mother of RG Kar Medical College rape victim as one of its candidates in the upcoming assembly polls.

The BJP said Ratna Debnath's name was approved by its Central Election Committee. The third list also names 19 other candidates.

Who is Ratna Debnath?

Ratna Debnath is the mother of a PG trainee doctor who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in August 2024.

She is contesting on BJP ticket from Panihati, which is constituency number 111. The constituency comes under North 24 Parganas, which is considered a stronghold of the TMC. She and her husband joined the BJP shortly before her candidacy was officially confirmed.

Debnath said her decision to contest elections is driven by her desire to seek justice for her daughter and address issues like women's safety and corruption in West Bengal.

"We want justice for our daughter, so we are with the BJP. We had said that we wont allow anyone to do politics with our childs death. What did the Left do other than just protest? It has instead done things so that we dont get justice. The way the Left ran the state in the past and now they are helping the TMC to stay in power. We dont want to know who the candidate is who is to fight against us," Debnath said last week.

TMC has fielded Tirthankar Ghosh, son of the sitting MLA Nirmal Ghosh, in Panihati. The CPI(M) candidate from Panihati is Kalatan Dasgupta, a key face during the protests against RG Kar incident.

Former NSG officer Dipanjan Chakraborty has been fielded in Uttarpara while Dr Sankar Guchait is contesting from Medinipur and Arup Kumar Das is fighting elections from Singur.

Panihati will vote in the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections on April 29.
Iran has reportedly outlined a set of demands ahead of potential negotiations with US representatives, including a call for the closure of all US military bases in the Gulf region.

Other key demands raised by Tehran include financial compensation for damage sustained during the war and a guarantee that the US will refrain from further military action against the country.

According to a Channel 12 report, Iran has also expressed a willingness to freeze its ballistic missile programme for five years and scale back its uranium enrichment. Also, Tehran has agreed to enter discussions regarding its stockpile of 60 per cent enriched uranium.

The US has consistently warned that Irans missile development poses a significant threat to both America and its allies in the region.

Another key demand from Iran is the establishment of a new maritime order, with the Strait of Hormuz placed under its control. The strategic waterway saw massive disruption of ship movement during the conflict, contributing to a global oil crisis and a sharp increase in prices.

US President Donald Trump, speaking on Tuesday, claimed that the Iranian leadership had offered the US a "significant prize" related to the Strait of Hormuz and oil flow. They are going to make a deal. They did something yesterday that was amazing, actually. They gave us a present. And the present arrived today. It was a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money, Trump said.

Reports suggest that Iran could also agree to allow inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of remaining centrifuges. Tehran may further commit to halting financial support for regional proxy groups, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and Iraqi militias.

Meanwhile, according to Reuters, Iran's negotiating position has hardened sharply since the outbreak of war, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) exerting increasing influence over decision-making. The report cites three Iranian sources who indicated that Tehran would seek significant concessions from the US if mediation efforts lead to serious negotiations.

Sources also suggest that Tehran may send Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi to participate in the talks, but the final decisions will rest with the hardline leadership of the IRGC.
Iranian representatives have reportedly told the US administration that they are unwilling to resume negotiations with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of Donald Trump. Instead, they have expressed a preference to engage with US Vice President J.D. Vance, according to a report by CNN citing two regional sources.

The report suggests that Tehran views potential talks involving Witkoff and Kushner as unlikely to succeed, citing a deficit of trust following the collapse of earlier negotiations and subsequent military action by Israel and the United States. Iranian officials reportedly see Vanceunlike Witkoff, Kushner, or even Secretary of State Marco Rubioas more sympathetic and more inclined toward ending the conflict.

Who the administration decides to send, the Iranians will have to deal with, but it doesnt mean they dont have a preference, one source told CNN.

In a similar report, The Guardian quoted an Iranian diplomatic source describing Vance as a more acceptable interlocutor. If the negotiations are going to have any outcome, J.D. Vance should join. With Witkoff and Kushner, nothing will come out of it. We have seen that in the past, the source said.

Vance is widely regarded as sceptical of US involvement in a Middle East conflict and has largely remained quiet on the issue.

Meanwhile, the United States has reportedly sent Iran a 15-point proposal aimed at ending the war. The plan, delivered through Pakistan, addresses Tehrans nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, as well as maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Trump said that Vance, Rubio, Witkoff and Kushner were all involved in leading the negotiations. He also claimed that Iran was eager to reach an agreement and had recently offered the US a significant prize related to the Strait of Hormuz and global oil flows.

They are going to make a deal. They did something yesterday that was amazing, actually. They gave us a present. And the present arrived today. It was a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money, Trump said.
Iran on Wednesday rejected Washington's 15-point peace plan to end the chaos in the Gulf, arguing that such a move was illogical and not viable at this stage of the conflict.

This comes as a major blow to the Donald Trump administration, which has sought a ceasefire as the war nears four weeks, and has sharply impacted global energy flows due to Iran's "special conditions" on the Hormuz Strait.

As a result, traffic through the Hormuz Straitwhich had seen about 20 per cent of the world's energy exports pass through before the warremains dismal, with only certain vessels allowed to pass through on a permission basis. US and allied vessels have been warned of attacks if they were to attempt to cross the crucial waterway.

Strait of Hormuz: Traffic still far from normal



Vessel activity remains highly volatile, with traffic levels significantly below what wed expect. Whats driving this disruption and whos still moving through the Strait?



 Ana Subasic, Trade Risk Analyst at Kpler, breaks down pic.twitter.com/2TG5XgeH46  MarineTraffic (@MarineTraffic) March 25, 2026

According to a report from Iranian state broadcaster PressTV, which cited a senior political-security official, Tehran was looking for a complete end to the war, and not a ceasefire.

"Iran will end the war when it decides to do so and when its own conditions are met," the report said.

This shows a major shift of control in the war as it mirrors statements made by defence secretary Pete Hegseth earlier this month in which he had outlined the progress of US objectives in the war.

"The terms of this war will be set by us at every step," Hegseth had said at the time.

Weeks later, the US remains stuck at an impasseon whether to accept Tehran's tough conditions for ending the war or to continue fighting a war with painful consequences amid long-term impacts on global markets, oil prices, and the cost of living in various countries.

This comes as a major blow for Pakistan, which has offered to mediate the war between Iran and US-Israel forces as it nears a fourth week.



(us iran war news israel, pakistan selen container ship hormuz strait irgc alireza tangsiri)https://t.co/BHVRICTTxa  THE WEEK (@TheWeekLive) March 25, 2026

According to Press TV, the unnamed official's five strict conditions to end the war in the Gulf are:

1) A complete halt to "aggression and assassinations" by US-Israel forces

2) The establishment of concrete mechanisms to ensure that the war is not reimposed on Iran

3) Guaranteed and clearly defined payment of war damages and reparations

4) The conclusion of the war across all fronts and for all resistance groups involved throughout the region

5) International guarantees recognising Iran's sovereign right to exercise authority over the Hormuz Strait

While this does come after the US earlier hinted at its military objectives in the war approaching an end, Washington is also allegedly planning to beef up its military response to Iran by planning to deploy 3,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division, as per a Wall Street Journal report.

However, without a formal order from the US, it is not yet clear if these troops would aid existing military operations or take part in a special ground operation.
The Israeli government has indicted a 14-year-old boy on charges of spying for Iran amid the ongoing war in the Gulf that nears its fourth week.

Prosecutors at the State Attorney's Office said on Wednesday that the teenager had been charged with espionage after allegedly carrying out intelligence missions on Irans behalf, including filming the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv.

While they did not specify an exact timeline of his offences, the prosecutors noted that the teenager's alleged espionage activities began after he made contact with an Iranian agent via Telegram in April last year, earning over $1,170 in cryptocurrency payments so far.

The teenager's alleged activities took place during his vacations, as he had reportedly told his Iranian contact that he would not be able to carry out his tasks during the school year, as per a Times of Israel report.

'We are committed to the covenant,' reads one of many graffiti messages that he allegedly sprayed throughout Tel Aviv.

'We will take revenge in turn! Ruhollahs children,' reads yet another message he was asked to put at Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar's home.

The defendant also took videos near the Ichilov Hospital and in parts of Ramat Gan, where an Iranian missile strike earlier killed an elderly couple.

He also captured the location of the Kirya military complex in a video depicting Tel Avivs skyline and even tried to rent an apartment near the headquarters of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), but failed to do so.

The Tel Aviv Juvenile Court on Wednesday also indicted the teenager on a number of charges, including keeping contact with a foreign agent and passing intelligence to the enemy, among others.
As Pakistan gloats over its mediator role following reports that US President Donald Trump entrusted Pakistan army chief Asim Munir to deliberate with Iran on its sweeping peace proposal, an analyst claims that Islamabad couldnt have assumed the role without the knowledge and support of Saudi Arabia.

While the country claims Pakistans new role reflects growing confidence in Islamabads diplomatic role in regional disputes, Vali Nasr, a prominent Washington-based scholar, states that any Pakistani diplomatic initiative is unlikely to occur without the backing and support of Saudi Arabia. Pakistan will only step up if it has Saudi backing  and prodding. Riyadh is likely very much in the picture, he wrote in a post on X.

His statement assumes significance in the deep military ties shared between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and the fact that any mediatory efforts from Islamabad wouldnt happen without the support of the Kingdom.

As for Pakistan, it has to put up a balancing act between Iran and its foes. Pakistan shares close economic ties with Iran, with bilateral trade standing at US$3 billion.

However, it also has to express its overt support for Saudi Arabia, which sustained damage in multiple strikes from Iran. Considering that Riyadh and Islamabad have signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA), which necessitates a military response to any act of aggression against either party, Islamabad has to toe a line which aligns with Riyadh in the matter.

Pakistan has never officially addressed the issue, but Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharifs spokesperson, Musharraf Zaidi, has made his stance clear. Whatever is needed from Pakistan vis-a-vis Saudi Arabia, Pakistan will be there before it is needed [and] similarly for Saudi Arabia, he was quoted as saying.

However, analyst Michael Kugelman believes Pakistan is far from being an unlikely US-Iran mediator. Many high-level Pak-Iran meetings have happened over the last year. The US administration is very fond of Pakistan. Trump has said (Field Marshal Asim) Munir knows Iran better than most. Also worth noting is that Pakistan represents Irans diplomatic interests in the US, Kugelman was quoted by Dawn.
The United States has quietly submitted a sweeping peace proposal to Iran through an unusual diplomatic channel: Pakistans army chief, Syed Asim Munir. With direct negotiations nearly impossible after weeks of intense fighting, Washington appears to be testing whether an intermediary can deliver a deal that would halt the rapidly escalating war in the Middle East.

The framework, in effect, attempts to translate military pressure into a diplomatic outcome. Yet the scale of the concessions demanded from Tehran makes it clear that this is not a conventional peace offer but a maximalist settlement.

At the heart of the plan lies a complete dismantling of Irans nuclear programme. Tehran will have to abandon enrichment, dismantle its nuclear facilities such as Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow and commit to never pursuing nuclear weapons again. The country would also have to hand over its existing stockpile of highly enriched uranium under a strict timetable agreed jointly by the United States, Israel and Iran.

In addition, inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency would be granted unrestricted access to every record and facility linked to Irans nuclear programme. This goes far beyond earlier arrangements such as the 2015 nuclear deal and would effectively eliminate Tehrans ability to retain even a latent nuclear capability.

Moreover, the US wants Iran to permanently stop the funding, arming and direction of its proxy militias across the Middle East that have defined its foreign policy for decades. Also, there will be strict limits on the number and range of Irans ballistic missiles, which can only be used for defensive purposes.

Iran would be required to formally guarantee that the Strait of Hormuz remains permanently open as a free international waterway. Given how often the strait has been used as a strategic threat during past crises, this demand alone signals how deeply Washington wants to reshape the balance of power in the Gulf.

In return, the United States is offering sweeping incentives. All international sanctions imposed on Iran would be lifted. Tehran would also receive assistance in developing a strictly civilian nuclear programme centred on the Bushehr power plant, along with guarantees that the long-feared snapback of United Nations sanctions would be permanently removed. In essence, the deal offers economic normalisation and limited civilian nuclear cooperation in exchange for the complete dismantling of Irans strategic leverage.

The diplomatic effort is being driven personally by Donald Trump, who has publicly expressed confidence that a deal is possible. The negotiating team includes JD Vance, Marco Rubio, as well as long-time Trump allies Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. But even within this framework, a curious diplomatic dynamic has emerged.

Iranian representatives, according to regional sources, have quietly indicated that they would prefer to deal directly with Vance rather than the broader American team. Tehrans distrust of Witkoff and Kushner appears to stem from the collapse of earlier talks that preceded the recent military strikes. Vance, by contrast, is seen in Tehran as more open to ending the conflict quickly. The White House has rejected any such preference, insisting that the composition of the negotiating team is entirely Trumps decision.

Inside Iran, however, the political situation is becoming even more complicated. The replacement for senior national security adviser Ali Larijani who was assassinated by Israel, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, is widely regarded as part of the most hard-line faction within the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. His appointment suggests that the military establishment is tightening its grip at precisely the moment when the United States is demanding far-reaching concessions.

That creates a fundamental contradiction. On the one hand, the scale of the military pressure and the promise of sanctions relief provide Iran with a clear incentive to consider negotiations. On the other hand, the internal consolidation of hardliners makes it politically far more difficult for Tehran to accept a deal that would dismantle the very tools that have defined its regional power.

Yet the plan offers Iran a clear economic exit from isolation, but it also demands the abandonment of the nuclear and regional strategy that has shaped its identity for decades. That is precisely why, despite the diplomatic opening, the road to a settlement still looks extremely uncertain.
After smashing March heat records in 14 states and the U.S. as a whole, the gigantic heat dome thats baked the Southwest is creeping eastward and may end up being one of the most expansive heat waves in American history, meteorologists and weather historians said.

And its not going away for awhile, maybe not till the middle of the next week as April starts, said meteorologist Gregg Gallina of the National Weather Services Weather Prediction Center.

Basically the entire U.S. is going to be hot, Gallina said Monday. The area of record temperatures is extremely large. Thats the thing thats really bizarre.

This heat dome  in which high pressure is acting like a pot lid trapping hot air over a region  will leave Flagstaff, Arizona, with 11 or 12 straight days of temperatures higher than the citys previous March record, said meteorologist Jeff Masters of Yale Climate Connections.

Gallina said the domes eastward movement will mean temperatures in the 90s Fahrenheit (mid-30s Celsius) by Wednesday over the southern and central Plains. From one-quarter to one-third of the 48 continental states will be flirting with records for March, Gallina said.

The physical area of this heat wave likely dwarfs two other historic heat waves  one in 2012 in the Upper Midwest and Northeast and another in 2021 in the Pacific Northwest  according to weather historian Chris Burt, author of the book Extreme Weather. It may not be as large as the Dust Bowl heat waves of 1936, but that was a series of heat waves over two months during summer, not a single big event like now, Burt said.

Both the Dust Bowl and the 2021 heat wave were more intense, with higher temperatures that hurt people more because they fell in June and July, Gallina said.

Another saving grace for people in this heat wave is that its not as humid as it would be if the temperatures rose in the summer, Gallina said.

On Friday, four places in Arizona and California hit 112 degrees (44.4 degrees Celsius), according to the Weather Service. Not only did that smash the record for the hottest March day in the continental United States by 4 degrees (2 degrees Celsius), but it was only 1 degree shy of the hottest day recorded in the Lower 48 in April.

Climatologist and weather historian Maximiliano Herrera, who tracks global weather records, compiled a list of 14 states that have notched their hottest March day on record since this heat dome started: California, Arizona, Nevada, Kansas, New Mexico, Nebraska, Utah, South Dakota, Missouri, Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, Minnesota and Idaho.

In Mexico, even May records were trashed with March records broken by as much as 14 (degrees Fahrenheit), far more than July 1936, March 1907 or June 2021, Herrera wrote in an email.

The National Center for Environmental Information registered at least 479 weather stations breaking records for March from Wednesday through Saturday, based on its network of stations. Herrera, who analyzed a broader set of data, said the true number is likely higher. Another 1,472 daily records  which are easier to break  were shattered at the same time, the center said.

Whats happening is the jet stream  which moves weather systems from west to east  is pretty much stuck as far westward as the storms dousing Hawaii, where people are seeing torrential rains and flooding, Masters and Gallina said.

The heat dome will move on by late next week, Masters said: We just have to give it time.

(AP)
KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The government will take proactive interventions to ensure the country's economic resilience amid the conflict in the Middle East, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Wednesday.

These would be timely and proactive measures to ensure security of energy supply, including diversifying sources and exploring alternative routes to reduce dependence on risky routes, Anwar said in a statement after chairing a meeting of the National Economic Action Council, which is an economic advisory council to the government.

Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said the government would continue to closely monitor the geopolitical developments, global economic pressures and security implications stemming from the conflict.

"The people's well-being, particularly the cost of living, remains the government's priority," he said, urging calmness and discipline to ensure Malaysia remains stable and resilient. 
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to irreversibly cement his countrys status as a nuclear power while maintaining a hard-line stance toward South Korea, which he called the most hostile state, state media said Tuesday.

In a speech Monday to Pyongyangs rubber-stamp parliament, Kim accused the United States of global state terrorism and aggression, in an apparent reference to the war in the Middle East, and said the North will play a more forceful role in a united front against Washington amid rising anti-American sentiment. But Kim didnt call out U.S. President Donald Trump by name and said whether his adversaries choose confrontation or peaceful coexistence is up to them, and we are prepared to respond to any choice.

His comments largely aligned with his statements at last months ruling Workers Party Congress, where he vilified Seoul but left open the door for dialogue with the Trump administration, urging Washington to drop its demands for the Norths nuclear disarmament as a precondition for talks.

State media said the Supreme Peoples Assembly, which concluded its two-day session Monday, passed a revised constitution but did not specify the changes. There had been expectations the revisions would codify South Korea as a permanent enemy and remove references to shared nationhood. Thats in line with Kims hard-line stance after he declared in 2024 that the North would abandon its long-term goal of a peaceful unification with the South.

Analysts say Kims vilification of South Korea reflects his view that Seoul, which helped arrange his first meetings with Trump in 2018 and 2019, is no longer a useful intermediary with Washington but an obstacle to his push for a more assertive regional role. He has also shown sensitivity to South Korean soft power, driving aggressive campaigns to block the influence of its culture and language among North Koreans as he seeks to tighten his familys authoritarian grip.

In his speech, Kim expressed pride in the countrys rapid expansion of nuclear weapons and missiles in recent years, calling it the right choice to counter future threats and hegemonic pursuits by gangsterlike imperialists, a term the North often uses for the United States and its allies.

The dignity of the nation, its national interest and its ultimate victory can only be guaranteed by the strongest of power, Kim said. The government of our republic will continue to consolidate our absolutely irreversible status as a nuclear power and will aggressively wage a struggle against hostile forces to crush their (anti-North Korean) provocations and schemes.

Kim has suspended all meaningful dialogue with Washington and Seoul since the collapse of his second summit with Trump in 2019 over U.S.-led sanctions on the North.

Kim has recently been prioritizing Russia in his foreign policy, sending thousands of troops and large amounts of military equipment to support Moscows war in Ukraine, possibly in exchange for aid and military technology. Facing the possibility of the war winding down, analysts say Kim may try to keep his options open by taking a more measured approach toward Washington to preserve future dialogue, with the long-term aim of securing U.S. sanctions relief and tacit recognition as a nuclear state.

However, some experts believe that the United States and Israels joint attacks on Iran and the killing of Tehrans previous supreme leader may have raised Kims bar for reviving dialogue with Washington.

Separately, North Korean state media said Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko will visit the country at Kims invitation, but did not immediately say when the visit will take place.

(AP)
A rebel group in eastern Congo has detained civilians, including two journalists, in metal shipping containers without light or ventilation, an advocacy group said Tuesday.

Reporters Without Borders, or RSF, said the Rwanda-backed M23, which controls parts of eastern Congo, used the containers in the city of Goma as makeshift detention cells under inhumane and degrading conditions.

Using witness accounts, satellite imagery and photos collected in 2025, RSF said at least two journalists were among those detained in the containers, which were installed at the compound of the provinces legislative assembly in Goma. Witnesses identities have been withheld for security reasons.

As many as 80 detainees at a time were placed inside a container, without light or ventilation and allowed out only once a day. Witnesses said they received minimal food, while some reported routine beatings. According to the testimonies, conditions were extreme  suffocating heat by day and cold at night  with deaths reported. Survivors were often held for weeks before being transferred to other locations.

The M23 did not immediately respond to a request by The Associated Press for comment.

The rebels takeover of Goma last year has worsened conditions for journalists operating in eastern Congo, where threats and attacks were already widespread. Reporters Without Borders said the M23 has tightened control over media coverage, including imposing restrictions on the language used to describe its presence.

The mineral-rich eastern Congo has been battered by decades of unrest as government forces fight more than 100 armed groups, the most potent being M23 rebels backed by Rwanda. The group made an unprecedented advance into the region early last year, seizing key cities as they quickly expanded their presence.

The conflict, which has raged on despite a truce brokered by the United States and Qatar, has sparked a huge humanitarian crisis, with at least 7 million people displaced.

(AP)
A federal grand jury has indicted three Iranian software engineers  two of them sisters with direct ties to an Iranian regime insider  on charges of stealing trade secrets from major American technology companies, including Google, in what prosecutors describe as a systematic effort to funnel sensitive U.S. technology back to Iran.

Samaneh Ghandali, 41, her sister Soroor Ghandali, 32, and Samanehs husband Mohammadjavad Khosravi, 40, allegedly used their positions at unidentified U.S. tech companies to access confidential information related to processor security, cryptography, and other advanced technologies. Prosecutors say they then transferred the stolen data to outside locations, including Iran. All three have pleaded not guilty.

The family connection to the Iranian regime has drawn particular attention. The Ghandali sisters father, Shahabeddin Ghandali, is a former chief executive of Irans Teachers Investment Fund Corporation who was himself arrested in 2016 over an alleged embezzlement of $2.5 billion and fraud involving Irans Bank Sarmayeh, though it remains unclear whether he was ever prosecuted. Opponents of the Iranian regime in the U.S. say those ties are no coincidence.

The issue is risk, access, and vulnerability, said Lawdan Bazargan, an Iranian human rights activist who heads the Alliance Against Islamic Regime of Iran Apologists. When individuals connected to powerful networks in an authoritarian system enter universities and research centers, they gain access not only to advanced technology but also to professional networks and institutional trust. In certain cases, access can be abused.

The case is the latest in a string of Iranian infiltration efforts targeting American institutions. In 2021, federal prosecutors charged Kaveh Lotfolah Afrasiabi  a prominent Iranian-American political science professor who had taught at Harvard and other elite universities  with failing to register as a foreign agent of Iran. Prosecutors alleged he had secretly worked for the Iranian government and its United Nations mission for more than a decade, collecting over $250,000 from official Iranian accounts while spreading regime propaganda, lobbying members of Congress, and advising the Iranian ambassador on how to retaliate for the U.S. airstrike that killed IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani. Afrasiabi pleaded not guilty, calling himself an agent of peace. President Biden issued him a full pardon as part of a prisoner swap in 2023.

In another case, Iranian-American Ahmadreza Mohammadi-Doostdar pleaded guilty in 2019 to acting as a foreign agent of Iran. Prosecutors alleged he conducted surveillance on Jewish organizations and Iranian dissidents affiliated with the opposition group Mujahedin-e Khalq. His brother teaches at the University of Chicago, and his father is a former head of Irans College Publications Center. Mohammadi-Doostdar was sentenced to just over three years in prison; a California-based co-conspirator received 30 months.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
An Oregon man who was convicted last year for threatening to kill both Donald Trump and Joe Biden is back behind bars  this time for sending death threats against the president directly to his probation officer, just weeks after his release from prison.

Diedrich Holgate, 47, was originally sentenced in July 2024 after making threats on social media and placing a series of calls to the U.S. Secret Services Washington Field Office. In one June 2024 call, Holgate told agents, I have the right to kill the president. In another call two months later, he threatened to hang hi[m] for treason, declared that no one was safe from him, and specifically named the First Lady and Supreme Court justices.

The president is going to die, he said at one point. I dont care if it is Trump or Biden. I will hang everyone for treason.

Holgate was released from custody on January 21 and ordered to reside in a halfway house. He didnt last long. Within weeks, his probation officer filed a petition to revoke his supervised release after he sent a string of threatening text messages  including one reading Trumps gonna pardon me or Ill kill him!!!!  along with an ominous religious screed warning his probation officer that those not aligned with him were traitors and infidels who would face eternal erasure.

The violations didnt stop there. Holgate also failed to report to a scheduled meeting with his probation officer, left the halfway house without authorization, and violated house rules by smoking a vape.

A magistrate judge found probable cause that Holgate had violated the terms of his release. He will remain in custody until a hearing scheduled for March 26.

It is not the first time Holgate has run afoul of the law over threats. He was previously convicted in 2018 for leaving threatening voicemails for two judges in Travis County, Texas.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Minnesota officials sued the Trump administration on Tuesday for access to evidence they say they need to independently investigate three shootings by federal officers, including the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

The lawsuit claims that the federal government reneged on its promise to cooperate with state investigations after the surge of federal law enforcement in Minneapolis, and are seeking a court order demanding that the Trump administration comply.

We are prepared to fight for transparency and accountability that the federal government is desperate to avoid, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty told reporters.

The administration sent thousands of officers to the Minneapolis and St. Paul area for the immigration crackdown as part of President Donald Trumps national deportation campaign. The Department of Homeland Security considered its largest immigration enforcement operation ever a success but was staunchly criticized by Minnesotas leaders and raised questions over officers conduct.

The lawsuit said the federal government is not permitted to withhold investigative evidence for the purpose of shielding law enforcement officers from scrutiny where a State is investigating serious potential violations of its criminal laws, targeting its citizens, within its borders.

Moriarty said Tuesday that the federal government has adopted a policy of categorically withholding evidence, calling the practice unprecedented and alarming. She said the lawsuit followed formal demands for evidence after the federal government blocked Minnesota investigators from accessing evidence related to the shootings.

In addition to the Pretti and Good cases, the lawsuit demands access to evidence in the case of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, who was shot and wounded in his right thigh by a federal agent in January.

Federal officials initially accused Sosa-Celis and another man of beating an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer with a broom handle and a snow shovel. But federal prosecutors later dropped all charges against the men and authorities opened a criminal investigation into whether two immigration officers lied under oath about the shooting.

Emails seeking comment were sent to DHS and the Justice Department.

The Justice Department in January said it was opening a federal civil rights investigation into Prettis killing but has said a similar federal probe was not warranted in the killing of Good. The decision in Goods case marked a sharp departure from past administrations, which moved quickly to investigate shootings of civilians by law enforcement officials for potential civil rights offenses.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has said that the departments Civil Rights Division does not investigate every law enforcement shooting and that there have to be circumstances and facts that warrant an investigation.

(AP)
The police chief who led the law enforcement response to this months attack on a Reform temple in Michigan says he has been deluged with more than 330,000 hostile messages since the incident, including death threats, violent rhetoric and a torrent of antisemitic content falsely portraying him as Jewish.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard disclosed the figure during a briefing hosted by the Secure Community Network, a national Jewish security organization, where he and other officials sounded the alarm about the escalating threat environment facing American Jews.

Bouchard, who is not Jewish, described receiving messages across social media and through direct channels, many of them laced with violent threats. He played a recording of one voicemail for the assembled security officials in which a caller berates him as a Jew lover before adding: I hope you put a gun in your mouth and kill yourself.

Social media platforms have been flooded with manipulated images depicting Bouchard as an Orthodox Jew, complete with a Star of David superimposed on his forehead, accompanied by antisemitic rhetoric.

Its rampant out there and apparently we struck a nerve with a lot of folks, Bouchard said. Were in an environment Ive never seen, and Ive been in this business for a very long time.

Jewish organizations have praised Bouchard for his handling of the attack and for his outspoken defense of the community in its aftermath. The sheriff made clear he has no intention of backing down. If you target our Jewish community, were going to stand in front of them to protect them, he said.

Bouchard also described taking his commanders to a Holocaust education center, calling the role of Nazi police officers in rounding up Jews a chilling reminder of where tolerance of antisemitism can lead. You get there by tolerating it, by accepting it, he said.

The briefing drew a wide range of Jewish and non-Jewish security officials, including Matthew Kozma, Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis at the US Department of Homeland Security. Participants repeatedly warned of a high and growing threat level against American Jewish communities, urging Jewish institutions to heighten security precautions and maintain close coordination with law enforcement.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Police have made two arrests in connection with the arson attack that destroyed four Hatzolah ambulances in Golders Green, London, early Monday morning. The incident is being investigated as an antisemitic hate crime with possible links to an Iran-connected Islamist group.

A 47-year-old man was detained in northwest London and a 45-year-old in central London on Wednesday morning, both on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. Officers are searching the addresses of both perpetrators.

The Metropolitan Police has said investigators are examining a possible connection to Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya  The Islamic Movement of the People of the Right Hand  which made an unsubstantiated claim of responsibility for the attack. The group has claimed credit for similar arson incidents across Europe. Counter-terrorism officers are leading the investigation, though the case has not been formally classified as a terror incident.

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of counter-terrorism policing in London, called the arrests an important breakthrough but stressed that CCTV footage suggests at least three people were involved, meaning additional suspects remain at large.

We fully recognize the local community will still be concerned and our investigation very much remains active, she said.

Security in the area has been visibly stepped up. Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams said police officers have been deployed to protect specific locations and armed patrols have been increased, though he emphasized the measures are precautionary rather than a response to any specific threat.

The Community Security Trust, which monitors antisemitism in the UK and provides security for British Jewish communities, said it was grateful for the swift police work but acknowledged lingering unease. The organization said its own security operations would remain at a high level.

Four replacement ambulances, provided by the government, arrived at Hatzolah on Tuesday.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
British investigators believe that Iran has direct ties to the arson attack in Golders Green, in which four Hatzola ambulances were set on fire, the Guardian reported.

The report clarified that although the media coverage focused on the Ashab al-Yamin group, which claimed responsibility for the attack and others, investigators say that the current working assumption was that the group doesnt exist and it is a front and a brand invented by Iranian intelligence or the Quds Force.

Senior analyst Joe Truzman and editor of the FDDs Long War Journal wrote: Groups like Ashab al-Yamin, which I suspect is a front organization crafted by Iran, are designed as much for perception as for action. By pairing relatively low-cost attacks such as arson and small-scale bombings with rapid, coordinated media amplification, they turn limited operational impact into outsized psychological effect.

Claims of responsibility, propaganda videos, and messaging across social platforms create the impression of extensive reach, coordination, and persistence.

In the case of Ashab al-Yamin, I think that so far, the objective is not mass casualties but visibility: to ensure that each incident reverberates beyond the immediate target and signals to Jewish communities in Europe and beyond that they are being watched and deliberately targeted by an obscure entity with links to Iran.

Speaking at an event on Monday evening, Mark Rowley, the head of the Metropolitan police, said: 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.

UK police made two arrests in connection with the attack on Wednesday morning.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
Former CIA Director John Brennan sparked a fierce backlash from the White House and critics on social media after saying during a cable news appearance that he finds Iran more credible than President Trump on the question of whether negotiations to end the war are underway.

Brennan made the remarks Monday on MSNBCs MS NOW, after host Symone Sanders noted that Iran has flatly denied it is engaged in talks with the Trump administration  directly contradicting the presidents public claims that negotiations are proceeding. Sanders told Brennan she was wary of taking the word of Iran  an authoritarian regime thats known to lie, and asked what he thought was actually happening.

Well, I tend to believe Iran more than I do Donald Trump, Brennan replied. He accused the president of flailing and said he doubted Trump was negotiating with anyone speaking authoritatively on behalf of the Iranian government.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

The White House responded sharply. Spokeswoman Anna Kelly called the comments shameful, saying that believing a terrorist regime that has chanted Death to America for decades over the United States of America is shameful and Trump Derangement Syndrome at work. White House aide Patrick Adams wrote on X that Barack Obamas disgraced CIA Director John Brennan backs the word of Iranian regime terrorists over the United States of America.

Brennan is no stranger to controversy in Trump-era politics. He was one of 51 former intelligence officials who signed a 2020 letter suggesting that the New York Posts reporting on Hunter Bidens laptop bore hallmarks of a Russian information operation  a claim that was later widely discredited. He is also currently under criminal investigation for his alleged role in what Trump allies have described as a conspiracy to promote claims that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia ahead of the 2016 election.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is building out a new city office that will pay more than a dozen activist-oriented staffers six-figure salaries  nearly $2 million in taxpayer money  to bring the Democratic Socialists of Americas grassroots mobilization model directly into City Hall, the New York Post reported.

The Mayors Office of Mass Engagement is seeking to fill 14 positions, with job descriptions that read like a blueprint lifted from the NYC-DSA ground operation that helped propel Mamdani to the mayoralty. The roles include campaign directors, borough directors, community liaisons, and a deputy director of  co-governance  a term drawn directly from DSA organizing philosophy.

The Soviet politburo called, they want their job announcement back, one Democratic strategist quipped to The Post.

The office will be led by Tascha Van Auken, a longtime DSA member who served as Mamdanis field director during the mayoral campaign. Her commissioner salary exceeds $250,000. The office is broadly described as being responsible for strategizing, coordinating, and executing on engagement that reaches the masses of everyday New Yorkers.

Among the listings drawing the most criticism is the campaign director post, which pays between $140,000 and $150,000 and tasks the hire with developing strategy and metrics for scalable campaigns to drive New Yorkers to town halls, canvasses, and training events. Political insiders said the role is virtually indistinguishable from the work of a political campaign staffer.

Why doesnt the mayor just call it the Director of Re-Election Political Get Out of the Vote Using Government Money and just get it over with? one Democratic operative said.

The newly created deputy director of co-governance position, also paying $150,000, raised particular eyebrows. That hire will be responsible for building interagency understanding of co-governance best practices and training communities to engage and drive mass governance projects and campaigns.

The Post noted that the language closely mirrors a manifesto published last year by NYC-DSA co-chair Grace Mausser titled Building Municipal Socialism in New York With DSA, in which she wrote: We have a model for winning mass campaigns; we have a model for true co-governance with legislators; now we will bring our experience to city hall. Mausser explicitly called for the DSA to embed itself in the citys political infrastructure.

The remaining positions include two deputy borough directors, three borough managers, three borough leads, two community liaisons, and two campaign managers. Borough leads carry the lowest salaries at $80,000 to $90,000. Borough managers would potentially represent City Hall during emergencies, including blackouts, fires, high-profile crimes, and infrastructure failures  a function critics said duplicates existing city roles.

There are already people overseeing city services throughout the five boroughs: theyre called commissioners and deputy commissioners, said Democratic strategist Ken Frydman. Why would a campaigns director be on the city payroll, paid for by taxpayers? Mamdani should pay the campaigns director from his own campaign funds.

The office has already drawn comparisons to former Mayor Bill de Blasios taxpayer-funded media operation, which produced more than 250 YouTube videos in its first two years using former campaign workers and was criticized as a vehicle for personal political promotion. Former President Barack Obama created a similar organizing apparatus to advance his policy agenda, but funded it through a nonprofit rather than putting staffers on the public payroll.

The new spending comes as Mamdani is pressing Albany for tax increases on the wealthy, citing a $5.4 billion city budget gap.

It is unclear whether the office will be capped at 15 total employees or whether Mamdani plans to expand it further. City Hall did not comment.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
PARIS, March 25 (Xinhua) -- A fire broke out Wednesday at a hotel in downtown Paris, and the latest media reports said three people sustained moderate injuries.

Le Bristol Paris hotel, located in Paris's 8th arrondissement, not far from the Elysee Palace, caught fire in the basement, causing an evacuation of some 400 people. Numerous firefighters are on the scene, according to local media.

In a post on social media platform X, the Paris Police Prefecture is urging people to avoid the area "to allow emergency and police services to do their work." 
Russian air defenses downed 389 incoming Ukrainian drones, Russias Defense Ministry said Wednesday, in what was the largest reported overnight attack on Russian regions and Crimea since Moscows forces invaded Ukraine more than four years ago.

The drones were stopped over 13 Russian regions as well as the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

The attack underlined the growing capability of Ukraines domestically developed and manufactured long-range drones.

It came a day after Russia fired almost 1,000 drones and 34 missiles at civilian areas of Ukraine in the space of 24 hours, extending its usual nighttime barrage into daylight hours in one of its biggest aerial attacks of the war. At least six people were killed and around 50 people were injured, Ukrainian authorities said.

The United Nations cultural organization UNESCO on Wednesday said it was deeply alarmed by Russia hitting a World Heritage site in the western Ukraine city of Lviv during that bombardment.

The escalation in aerial attacks comes amid a pause in U.S.-mediated talks between delegations from Moscow and Kyiv, as Washingtons attention is diverted by the Iran war and as Ukraine anticipates a spring offensive by Russias bigger army.

Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad region north of Moscow, said 56 drones were shot down there, and a fire broke out in the Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga as the result of Ukraines attack.

Ukrainian forces also carried out a missile strike on the Belgorod region on the border with Ukraine overnight, damaging energy infrastructure, its Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said. Power, water and heating supplies were disrupted, he said.

In Ukraine on Wednesday, Russian drones smashed into residential areas of the second-largest city, Kharkiv, during the afternoon, injuring at least nine people, according to mayor Ihor Terekhov.

The Ukrainian drone blitz aimed at Russia caught public attention in the Baltic states, which lie northwest of Ukraine and relatively close to potential Russian targets in the Leningrad region, which includes St. Petersburg, where drones came down.

Officials in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which have been close allies of Ukraine in the war, said the drones likely didnt target them. Estonia and Latvia said the drones were Ukrainian, and Lithuania said the drone was a stray, without saying who launched it.

Estonian media reported that a drone coming from Russia clipped a power plants chimney early Wednesday but said electricity production was not disrupted. The plant is around 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the port of Ust-Luga that Ukraine targeted.

Also Wednesday, the Latvian defense ministry said a drone had crashed in a region close to Russia. No injuries or damage were reported.

In Moldova, on Ukraines southwest border, authorities on Tuesday urged citizens to spare electrical energy during peak hours, after Russian strikes on Ukraines energy grid cut a key power line between Moldova and Romania.

(AP)
Anti-graft investigators in South Africa have arrested 12 senior police officers on allegations of corruption and fraud, prosecutors said Wednesday.

The arrests come while an inquiry, ordered by President Cyril Ramaphosa, continues into allegations of high-ranking corruption in the South African police and which resulted in the suspension of the police minister last year.

A second inquiry, by Parliament, is also looking at claims that senior police officers had corrupt relationships with alleged crime bosses and in some cases allegedly received money from them for favors.

South Africa has one of the highest crime rates in the world and allegations of corruption within the police are not new.

The 12 arrests relate to an allegedly corrupt contract to provide health and well-being services to police officers, the National Prosecuting Authoritys anti-corruption investigative unit said in a statement.

The police officers made their first court appearance on Wednesday along with Vusimuzi Cat Matlala, the owner of the Medicare24 company that was allegedly awarded the contract, who is suspected of links to organized crime.

Matlala is currently being held in a maximum-security prison on unrelated charges of attempted murder.

All the officers submitted affidavits in support of their bail applications and prosecutors indicated to the Pretoria Magistrates Court that they would not be opposing their bail.

Some of the officers arrested were part of the bid committee that evaluated and awarded the contract and prosecutors alleged on Wednesday that they should have disqualified the companys application.

In July 2025, KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner Lt-Gen. Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi claimed that criminal syndicates and drug cartels had infiltrated the police service at the highest level.

Nearly seven months after the commission led by retired Judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga started its hearings, and the lawmakers started their own probe, close relationships between alleged criminals and top police officials have been revealed.

Commissioners and lawmakers have been hearing evidence of alleged exchanges of money, and at times personal relationships, between high-ranking officers and individuals allegedly involved in organized crime.

A parliamentary committee has concluded its hearing, while the commission will resume its hearings next month.

In their testimonies before the commission and the parliamentary committee, Mkhwanazi and other police officers have accused suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu and deputy national commissioner Shadrack Sibiya as enablers of high-level wrongdoing.

Mchunu has been accused of illegally ordering the closure of a critical crime-fighting unit in order to protect alleged criminals which it was investigating, while Sibiya, who is also suspended, has been accused of receiving money and gifts from people linked to organized crime.

Ramaphosa has received the commissions interim report, which recommends prompt criminal investigations against at least 14 individuals.

Some witnesses have asked to testify anonymously for fear of reprisals.

In February, a former police reservist  whose name was mentioned during the corruption inquiry  allegedly shot himself at a petrol station just days after he survived an alleged attempt on his life.

In November, a former traffic police department official gave harrowing in-camera testimony on allegations of torture and the illegal disposal of a body in a dam by police officials. Four of the 12 people named as persons of interest in the investigation into that killing are now dead, police said.

Weeks after giving his testimony, the former official was shot multiple times in front of his family outside their home in the south of Johannesburg.

(AP)
Nearly 18,000 Israelis have filed property damage claims since Israel launched Operation Roaring Lion against Iran last month, the Israel Tax Authoritys Compensation Fund reported Tuesday. The tally compiled before yet another Iranian ballistic missile struck a residential area in the Tel Aviv region that same morning.

As of early Tuesday, the fund had received 17,683 total claims: 11,846 for structural damage, 3,721 for damaged vehicles, 1,744 for damage to personal belongings, and 372 for miscellaneous losses.

The Tel Aviv-Yafo municipality accounted for the largest share of claims, at 21.9%, reflecting its status as Irans most targeted urban center. Beersheva came in second at 15.8%, followed by the Jerusalem suburb of Beit Shemesh at 7.7%, and the southern desert cities of Arad and Dimona at 7.2% and 4.8%, respectively.

The figures underscore the breadth of the Iranian assault on civilian infrastructure since the conflict began on Feb. 28. At least 17 civilians have been killed in hundreds of Iranian ballistic-missile attacks since the wars outbreak. Irans Lebanese proxy, Hezbollah, has compounded the toll by firing rockets and drones across the northern border, keeping communities there under sustained threat as well.

The Tuesday morning strike in the Tel Aviv area was not included in the claims data, meaning the final numbers are expected to climb further.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
A Brooklyn middle school incorporated the artwork of New York City First Lady Rama Duwaji into a seventh-grade social justice curriculum around the same time it temporarily barred a Holocaust survivor from addressing students.

MS 447 in Boerum Hill featured illustrations by Duwaji, 28, in a course called Art for Social Change, placing her work alongside that of celebrated figures such as Kendrick Lamar, Misty Copeland, and the Alvin Ailey Dance Company. Students were asked to examine the message in Syrian-American Rama Duwajis art and consider how her background shapes her creative work. Her illustrations carry headings including People Will Rise Against Tyranny, Pulse of Protest, and Quiet Refusal to Be Spoken For.

The lesson was sent home to parents last fall  the same period during which the school refused a request to have Holocaust survivor Sami Steigmann speak to students. Steigmann was eventually permitted to address students last month, following a public outcry.

The juxtaposition has infuriated parents and Jewish advocacy groups. I was concerned about a double standard and not teaching in a critical manner, and just forcing a political ideology on students, one MS 447 parent told the New York Post.

Moshe Spern, a city public high school teacher who leads Jewish United Teachers, was blunter. MS 447 originally refused a Holocaust survivor over falsehoods but had no issue teaching the mayors wifes antisemitic artwork, he wrote on X. Help this make sense?

The controversy arrives as scrutiny of Duwaji intensifies. The Post reported Sunday that she created artwork for the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America as part of an anti-Israel campaign called PalestineOnTheBallot.com, which promoted Democratic primary candidates who rejected AIPAC funding and pledged support for the Not on Our Dime Act  legislation that would penalize charities found to support what it characterizes as Israeli settler violence.

Old social media posts have also surfaced showing Duwaji liking content that praised Hamas October 7, 2023, massacre, with additional posts criticizing Israel and the U.S. military. She subsequently deactivated the account.

Mayor Mamdani has claimed his wife is not a public figure so he doesnt have to answer whether he supports her obvious radicalism.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Vice President JD Vance is emerging as an unlikely central figure in the nascent diplomacy around the Iran war, with Tehran signaling through back channels that it would prefer to negotiate directly with him rather than other members of President Trumps foreign policy team.

The Iranian preference for Vance  long known as a skeptic of American military entanglements abroad  reflects both his growing influence inside the administration and a calculated judgment by Iranian officials that the vice president represents a fundamentally different kind of American interlocutor. Iranian officials have grown distrustful of other U.S. envoys after earlier rounds of negotiations broke down and were followed by military strikes, a source told the NY Post.

They want to deal with the vice president because hes anti-war, the source said.

The White House moved quickly to assert that the choice of negotiator is not Tehrans to make. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Trump and President Trump alone decides who negotiates on his behalf. When pressed by reporters on whether Vance might take the lead, Trump characterized the effort as collaborative, naming Vance alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, senior adviser Jared Kushner, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

Reports indicate that Iranian officials specifically do not want to deal with Witkoff or Kushner, both of whom were previously involved in talks with Tehran. Government-level contacts between the two sides are nonetheless underway, with both countries reviewing lists of demands and potential concessions exchanged in recent weeks. Turkey and Pakistan are under consideration as possible meeting locations, though no formal talks have been scheduled.

Despite his well-documented reservations about Middle East interventions, Vance has publicly supported Trump on the Iran campaign. I trust President Trump can get the job done, to do a good job for the American people, and to make sure that the mistakes of the past arent repeated, Vance has said.

On the Iranian side, a potential counterpart in any talks could be Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps pilot and hardliner who has occasionally struck pragmatic notes on economic matters. But any negotiations would ultimately require the blessing of Irans supreme leader  and Tehran, like Washington, may bristle at the idea of its adversary selecting its negotiating partner.

Irans posture heading into any potential talks is one of defiance rather than capitulation. Officials in Tehran are seeking to avoid anything resembling an unconditional ceasefire or surrender, believing they hold a measure of leverage despite the damage inflicted by the American-Israeli campaign. They think theyre winning in terms of pressure, a source familiar with the Iranian regimes thinking said, pointing to the ongoing disruption of key regional waterways.

Regional dynamics are complicating the diplomatic picture further. Gulf states have largely declined to serve as mediators. Qatar rejected an Iranian request to facilitate talks unless Tehran first halted attacks on Gulf Cooperation Council member states  a condition Iran refused. That impasse has pushed Turkey and Pakistan into potential intermediary roles, though neither countrys involvement has been formalized.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations appear to be distancing themselves from the diplomatic track. Policy discussions in Washington have turned to the question of whether regional partners might support further military action if negotiations fail. Israeli officials, for their part, are warning Western leaders against easing pressure on Tehran.

Whether talks materialize will depend on whether two governments separated by decades of mutual hostility and a rapidly escalating war can agree on basic terms  starting with who sits across the table.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
An Iranian military spokesperson on Wednesday mocked the US for announcing talks with Iran and a possible ceasefire, claiming that the Americans are negotiating with themselves.

Lt. Col. Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesperson for the Iranian militarys Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, made the comments in a video aired on state television.

The strategic power you used to talk about has turned into a strategic failure, he said. The one claiming to be a global superpower would have already gotten out of this mess if it could. Dont dress up your defeat as an agreement. Your era of empty promises has come to an end.

Have your internal conflicts reached the point where you are negotiating with yourselves? Our first and last word has been the same from day one, and it will stay that way: Someone like us will never come to terms with someone like you. Not now, not ever.

Stability in the region is guaranteed by the strong hand of our armed forces. Stability through strength, Zolfaghari said. We state this clearly: Until it is our will, nothing will go back to the way it was. That will only come about when the very thought of acting against the Iranian nation is completely wiped from your corrupt minds.

His statements came after reports that Washington had sent a 15-point ceasefire plan to Iran.

At the same time, thousands of US Marines are on the way to the Gulf, and the US Army is preparing to deploy at least 1,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East in the coming days.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
Israels National Security Council on Wednesday issued an urgent message to the Israeli public, warning of a significant increase in the threat of terrorism against Israelis and Jews worldwide ahead of Pesach.

According to the assessment, the Iranian regime is expected to act with greater intensity in the near future to target Israeli and Jewish sites. In light of the updated assessment, the NSC recommends that all Israelis abroad adopt heightened precautions at all destinations worldwide.

Regarding flights and border crossing, the NSC recommends entering and exiting Israel via Ben-Gurion Airport. For those using land crossings (Egypt and Jordan), travel should be limited to reaching airports in Taba or Aqaba for flights only, without staying in those countries. Additionally, travelers should avoid, as much as possible, connecting flights through countries with a Level 4 (high) threat designation.

Regarding countries surrounding Iran (Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, the UAE, and Gulf states), the NSC made a sweeping recommendation not to participate in events (including Yom Tov meals) at locations identified as Jewish or Israeli sites.

Regarding Asia, especially Thailand and the Philippines, the public is advised to take increased precautions in these countries.

The NSC also emphasized strict safety guidelines for Israelis abroad:

Avoid attending events or visiting Jewish or Israeli-affiliated sites that are not secured or that take place in open venues.

Avoid sharing real-time location, accommodation details, or travel plans on social media.

Pay attention to your surroundings when staying in Jewish or Israeli-affiliated sites (Chabad houses, shuls, kosher restaurants), especially regarding unusual activity (suspicious objects, unfamiliar individuals).

Avoid entering areas that are hostile toward Israelis and Jews (neighborhoods, districts, and markets in countries or regions with public sentiment hostile to Israel).

In case of a threat or attack, report as soon as possible to local security forces (it is recommended to know the emergency numbers of the country you are in).

For inquiries regarding terror warnings, the NSC hotline can be reached at +972-2-666-7444, or updates can be followed on the organizations social media channels.

For flight-related issues, contact the Ministry of Transport hotline (*4515). For consular or medical emergencies abroad, contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs situation room at +972-2-530-3155 or via WhatsApp at +972-50-507-3969.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
American officials are reportedly frustrated with a list of conditions Iran has laid out for entering ceasefire negotiations.

Iran recently presented the United States with a set of demands through third-party intermediaries, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. Among them: economic control over the Strait of Hormuz, a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the right to continue developing its ballistic missile program without restrictions. Iran has also reportedly sought the dismantling of U.S. military bases in the region and financial compensation for war damages.

There has been no direct contact between Washington and Tehran, the report said.

The Iranian demands appear to be in direct contradiction to Washingtons own conditions for ending the war. The United States has called on Iran to limit both the range and quantity of its missile arsenal and restrict their use to self-defense, abandon its network of regional proxy forces including Hezbollah, and dismantle all nuclear capabilities while surrendering its stockpile of enriched uranium.

U.S. and Middle Eastern officials dismissed Irans conditions as unrealistic and said they make the chances of reaching a deal even slimmer than during the failed last-ditch negotiations that preceded the war.

Iran reinforced that assessment with a strikingly defiant statement on Wednesday. Ebrahim Zolfaqari, the top spokesperson for Irans joint military command, suggested in a pre-recorded video that the United States was effectively negotiating with itself.

People like us can never get along with people like you, he said. The strategic power you used to talk about has turned into a strategic failure. He added that American investments would not recover and prewar energy prices would not return until Washington accepted that it is Irans armed forces who guarantee regional stability.

Not now. Not ever, he said of the possibility of a deal.

Irans foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, told India Today on Tuesday that Tehran had a very bad experience with American diplomacy, noting that the U.S. has attacked Iran twice during high-level negotiations over the past two years, including during Israels twelve-day war with the Islamic Republic in June 2025. He insisted there is no dialogue underway.

Despite the public denials, two Pakistani officials said Wednesday that Iran has received a 15-point American proposal to end the war. The proposal addresses sanctions relief, civilian nuclear cooperation, a rollback of Irans nuclear program, international monitoring, missile limitations, and access through the Strait of Hormuz, the officials told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

An Egyptian official involved in mediation efforts described the American plan as a comprehensive deal and said it is being treated as a starting point for further negotiation. But Iranian officials remain very skeptical of the Trump administration, the Egyptian official said, comparing the proposal to the 20-point framework used in the Gaza ceasefire, a plan that required enormous effort to finalize even with both sides at the table.

President Trump first announced Monday that the U.S. was negotiating with Iran, walking back a 48-hour ultimatum he had issued for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened or face strikes on Irans power infrastructure. He postponed those strikes for five days, and on Tuesday claimed Tehran had given him a very big present worth a tremendous amount of oil.

Shortly afterward, Iran circulated a message through the International Maritime Organization assuring safe passage to non-hostile vessels transiting the strait  a gateway for roughly one-fifth of global oil supply. Crude oil prices dropped close to six percent on the news.

But the assurance fell short of a full reopening. Iran had already said in recent days that it was not targeting friendly nations, though many commercial vessels have stayed away as insurance companies refuse to cover the risk. The effective closure of the waterway has produced the worst energy supply shock in history, sending fuel prices soaring and disrupting global aviation.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Britain is assembling a coalition of roughly 30 countries to clear Iranian sea mines from the Strait of Hormuz and restore commercial shipping through the waterway that carries one-fifth of the worlds oil supply, according to multiple reports.

London is organizing a summit of nations that have pledged to provide appropriate efforts to reopen the strait, Politico reported. The coalition includes France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Arab Emirates, all of which have signed a joint statement committing to help safeguard the passage, even as many of the participating governments have publicly opposed the war that triggered its closure.

The UK is looking to deploy either a Royal Navy minesweeper or contract a civilian vessel capable of launching mine-sweeping drones into the area, according to The Times. Type 45 destroyers would also be sent to protect tankers transiting the strait.

Iran has left at least a dozen mines in the narrow shipping lane, effectively shutting down one of the worlds most critical trade chokepoints. U.S. officials identified the devices as Iranian-manufactured Maham 3 and Maham 7 limpet mines, according to CBS News.

The Maham 3 weighs more than 660 pounds and uses magnetic and acoustic sensors to attach itself to ships that pass within 10 feet. The Maham 7, a smaller weapon at roughly 485 pounds, rests on the seabed before deploying similar sensors to target medium-sized vessels. First displayed publicly at a 2015 arms exhibition, the Maham 7 is designed to scatter incoming sonar, making it particularly difficult for minesweeping systems to detect.

Iran is believed to hold between 2,000 and 6,000 naval mines in its stockpiles, though an official count is unavailable. The U.S. military said last week that at least 44 Iranian mine-laying vessels have been destroyed since the war began.

Despite the danger, some ships have managed to transit the strait without incident. Indian, Pakistani, and Chinese vessels have crossed without triggering mines or drawing Iranian drone fire. Huax, a German-Italian maritime intelligence firm, reported that these ships have been broadcasting a secret signal identifying them as cleared for passage.

Whether they are signals to Tehran or internal fleet identifiers, we cannot confirm, but the signals are coordinated across multiple vessels, Arsenio Longo, a maritime intelligence expert at Huax, told The Times. He noted that Indian and China-linked vessels appear to be transiting or staging for transit while virtually all other commercial traffic remains blocked.

Tehran has said any country except the United States, Israel, and their allies is permitted to pass through the strait.

The British government believes a safe path through the strait exists, given that a small number of tankers have made it through without incident. But the broader commercial shipping industry remains paralyzed, with insurance companies refusing to cover the risk and most vessels staying well clear.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Israeli authorities have filed an indictment against a 14-year-old boy from central Israel on charges of espionage for Iran, the State Attorneys Office announced Wednesday, marking the latest in a string of cases in which Iranian intelligence has recruited Israeli civilians through social media to carry out surveillance and intimidation operations.

The boy, whose identity is being withheld because he is a minor, allegedly made contact in April 2025 with a handler on Telegram who had posted what appeared to be a job listing. The two agreed that the teenager would carry out tasks in exchange for cryptocurrency payments deposited into a digital wallet.

The assignments, according to the indictment, included spraying graffiti reading We are committed to the alliance in several areas of Tel Aviv and on parked cars, filming the streets near Ichilov Hospital and neighborhoods in Ramat Gan, and recording video of the Tel Aviv skyline in which the location of the Kirya military base was identified. He was also asked to rent an apartment near the base and sent his handlers a photo of a listing after speaking with landlords in the area.

In one of the more brazen alleged assignments, the boy was instructed to spray-paint the home of Foreign Minister Gideon Saar with the message We take revenge in turn! Children of Ruhalla and to prepare a video documenting the ministers movements. The indictment notes that the teenager told his handlers he could not carry out the task during school hours but would do so during his free time.

Over the course of his activities, the minor opened four digital wallets into which his contacts transferred a total of more than $1,170, the indictment states. After being brought in for questioning, he allegedly attempted to convince a classmate to lie during interrogation and falsely claim ownership of the seized cryptocurrency funds.

Just last week, prosecutors filed an indictment against Raz Cohen, a military reservist from Jerusalem who served in the Iron Dome air defense system, for passing sensitive security information to Iranian handlers on Telegram over a period of several months. Cohen allegedly provided details about how the Iron Dome operates, the structure of its batteries, and arming and launch procedures, along with photos and video he recorded during his service. He also reportedly supplied the locations of air force bases and Iron Dome batteries and provided personal details of other individuals he identified as potential recruits.

The cases underscore the extent to which Iran has turned to social media platforms  Telegram in particular  to recruit agents inside Israel, targeting both adults with access to military systems and minors willing to carry out street-level surveillance and provocations for relatively small sums of money.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
BAGHDAD, March 24 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi presidency on Tuesday strongly condemned a series of attacks targeting the country's security forces in several provinces, describing them as a "flagrant violation" of national sovereignty.

A presidency statement mourned the death of the Anbar Operations commander of Iraq's paramilitary Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and several other PMF members following strikes on the PMF's command in western Anbar province.

"These attacks represent a flagrant violation of the country's sovereignty and a serious threat to its security and stability," the statement said.

The presidency urged all political parties to adopt responsible positions and measures to protect Iraq from being dragged into the abyss of war and conflict.

In a separate statement, the presidency denounced the shelling of the Iraqi Kurdish military forces, known as the Peshmerga, which resulted in several casualties among the members.

The Peshmerga remains a "fundamental pillar of Iraq's national defense system" and has played an honorable role in confronting terrorism and reinforcing security, the presidency said.

The PMF is widely seen as an Iraqi state-sponsored umbrella organization backed by Iran, while the Peshmerga is the internal security force of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region known for its strong ties with the United States.

Six Peshmerga members were killed and 30 others injured early Tuesday when Iranian ballistic missiles struck military positions in northern Iraq's Erbil, capital of the Kurdistan region, local authorities said.

Meanwhile, a U.S. airstrike killed 15 PMF members, including a senior commander in Anbar province, a security source told Xinhua.

According to an official statement published late Tuesday, the Iraqi foreign ministry summoned both the Iranian ambassador and the U.S. charge d'affaires to Baghdad to deliver formal protests regarding the two deadly strikes.

The attacks came amid heightened regional tensions following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran starting on Feb. 28, to which Iran and its regional allies have responded with attacks on Israeli and U.S. interests across the Middle East. 
President Donald Trump declined a proposal from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to publicly urge Iranians to rise up against their government, according to a Channel 12 report.

The idea was raised in the aftermath of Israels elimination of senior Iranian figures, with Netanyahu reportedly arguing that the regime was weakened and vulnerable to internal unrest.

Trump, however, was said to be concerned that encouraging protests could trigger a brutal response from Iranian forces and lead to widespread casualties.

Instead, both sides agreed to monitor developments during a major Iranian holiday, when large gatherings were expected, to see if organic protests would emerge.

When no significant demonstrations took place, officials concluded that fear of the regime remains too strong among the population following earlier crackdowns.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Giving a Hand When Every Day Is Uncertain: Inside the Kupas Noisen Yad Fund

CLICK HERE TO PARTNER WITH RAV ZEV LEFF NOW

As Israel endures an ongoing war with Iran, daily life has been fundamentally disrupted. Sirens continue to sound across the country as barrages of ballistic missiles are launched toward civilian areas, forcing families into shelters with little warning.

This is no longer a short-term emergency. It is a sustained reality.

Across Israel, schools have been shut down, businesses have halted, and entire communities are living in a state of constant interruption and fear. Parents are home with children. Breadwinners are unable to work. Income has stoppedbut expenses have not.

Behind every alert is a family trying to hold itself together.

A reservist called up indefinitely leaves behind a household with no financial stability. A small business owner who survived the initial shock of the war is now facing prolonged closure. Families already living paycheck to paycheck have been pushed into immediate crisis.

And while military developments dominate headlines, the civilian burden continues to grow.

This is where the Giving a Hand / Kupas Noisen Yad Fund plays a critical role.

The fund provides immediate, discreet financial assistance to families across Israel who cannot wait for systems, approvals, or bureaucracy. It is built for moments exactly like thiswhen urgency is everything, and dignity must be preserved.

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To date, hundreds of thousands of dollars have already been delivered to families facing urgent hardship. That support has meant groceries purchased when income disappeared, rent paid despite uncertainty, and basic stability restored during a time of chaos.

But the situation has evolvedand so has the need.

This is no longer about recovery. It is about endurance.

Families are not just rebuildingthey are trying to get through each day. The economic impact of ongoing closures, combined with the psychological toll of constant alerts and displacement, has created a widening circle of need across the country.

The Giving a Hand / Kupas Noisen Yad Fund exists to meet that moment.

Not with promises. With action.

At a time when uncertainty defines daily life, your support provides something rare and powerful: immediate relief, restored dignity, and the ability for families to keep going.

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CLICK HERE TO PARTNER WITH RAV ZEV LEFF NOW
TOKYO, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese intruder who broke into the Embassy of China in Japan on Tuesday morning was arrested by the police later the same day, with more information about the case disclosed, according to local media.

The intruder has been identified as Kodai Murata, 23, a second lieutenant in Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF), stationed at Camp Ebino in Miyazaki Prefecture, according to Kyodo News, citing Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. A second lieutenant is the lowest officer rank within the GSDF.

The suspect allegedly entered the premises of the Chinese embassy at around 9 a.m. local time, carrying a knife and shouting threatening words. He was initially detained by embassy staff and later arrested by police on suspicion of unlawful entry, the report said.

Japanese police described the incident as "very regrettable" and said round-the-clock security would be provided for the embassy compound.

The GSDF said it would cooperate fully with the police and deal with the case "strictly," proceeding "based on facts."

According to the Chinese embassy in Japan, a man claiming to be "an active-duty officer of the Japan Self-Defense Forces" forcibly broke into the embassy by climbing over a wall on Tuesday morning, threatening to kill Chinese diplomatic personnel.

The embassy has lodged solemn representations and a strong protest with the Japanese side, demanding that Japan provide a responsible explanation. 
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaks at the Congress of Deputies in Madrid, Spain, March 25, 2026. Sanchez on Wednesday reiterated his opposition to the war in Iran, which has spread across the Middle East, criticizing the military actions of the United States and Israel. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)

MADRID, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday reiterated his opposition to the war in Iran, which has spread across the Middle East, criticizing the military actions of the United States and Israel.

The Spanish premier also defended his government's economic package aimed at mitigating the impact of the conflict.

Sanchez stressed that his country will not support military actions that violate international law. "Spain will not be complicit in illegal aggressions, nor in lies disguised as freedom - not while I am prime minister," he said.

Addressing relations with allies, Sanchez underlined the need for an independent and critical stance, questioning what it means to be an ally. It does not imply blind obedience, he underlined, but rather the courage to stand up when the path is wrong and to tell partners the truth, "even when it is uncomfortable."

Sanchez also warned of the risk of the conflict expanding in the region, saying that Israeli military actions could lead to a replication of "the destruction and suffering seen in Gaza" in Lebanon.

"Spain today is a benchmark in the defense of peace and international law," he said, calling for an end to the conflict. "We are going to demand that this war stop. It is not fair that some set the world on fire while the rest of us swallow their ashes."

On the economic front, Sanchez defended a package of anti-crisis measures worth more than 5 billion euros, warning of the conflict's impact on the economy.

The package, approved by the government and pending parliamentary ratification, includes an extension of reduced Value Added Tax (VAT) on energy, direct aid to sectors such as transport and agriculture, and measures to protect households and businesses.

"This is not a vote on this government; it is a vote on whether we protect our families and businesses with these 5 billion euros or leave them to face the uncertainty of war on their own," he said.

"This war is a colossal mistake whose cost we neither accept nor are willing to pay," Sanchez said. Its consequences will not translate into "higher wages or more affordable housing," he said, adding that it is the "true tragedy." 

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaks at the Congress of Deputies in Madrid, Spain, March 25, 2026. Sanchez on Wednesday reiterated his opposition to the war in Iran, which has spread across the Middle East, criticizing the military actions of the United States and Israel. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaks at the Congress of Deputies in Madrid, Spain, March 25, 2026. Sanchez on Wednesday reiterated his opposition to the war in Iran, which has spread across the Middle East, criticizing the military actions of the United States and Israel. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Akbar Novruz



A new shipment of Russian wheat is set to be transported to Armenia via Azerbaijan, marking the latest in a series of transit operations through Azerbaijani territory, AzerNEWS reports.

According to the information, five wagons of wheat weighing 350 tons will be shipped from Bilajari station to Boyuk Kesik on March 25.

The train will pass through the Boyuk Kesik station, continue into Georgia, and then proceed onward to Armenia.

It should be noted that, so far, more than 23,000 tons of grain, 1,000 tons of fertilizer, and 68 tons of buckwheat have been sent from Russia to Armenia via transit through Azerbaijan.

The shipment follows similar transit deliveries carried out a day earlier, when four wagons of fertilizer and one wagon of buckwheat were sent to Armenia through Azerbaijan.

Recall that on October 21, 2025, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, speaking at a joint press statement with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, underscored that Azerbaijan had lifted all restrictions on cargo transit to Armenia that had existed since the period of occupation. He also announced that the first such transit shipment had already taken place, involving the delivery of Kazakh grain to Armenia.

This policy shift was followed by a steady flow of supplies. On December 18, the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) delivered 1,220 tons of AI-95 gasoline to Armenia.

Further shipments continued into the new year. On January 9, 2026, a total of 2,698 tons of cargo (48 wagons) was dispatched, including 1,742 tons of AI-95 gasoline and 956 tons of diesel fuel. Just two days later, on January 11, an additional train of 18 wagons carrying 979 tons of AI-92 gasoline was sent.

The pace of deliveries accelerated in the following weeks. On February 25, Azerbaijan supplied 4,500 tons of diesel fuel. This was followed by multiple consignments in March: on March 5, 31 wagons carrying 1,984 tons of diesel fuel, along with two wagons containing 135 tons of Russian fertilizer, were dispatched; on March 9, a freight train with seven wagons of Russian grain was sent; and on March 11, another 11 wagons of grain were delivered, with a total weight of 1,023 tons (770 tons net).

Transit operations from Russia through Azerbaijan have also intensified. On March 19, a further shipment of Russian grain was transported to Armenia, consisting of seven wagons weighing 488 tons, sent from Bilajari station toward Boyuk Kesik. In total, transit via Azerbaijan has so far enabled the delivery of more than 23,000 tons of grain and over 700 tons of fertilizer from Russia to Armenia.

Most recently, on March 24, four wagons carrying 271 tons of fertilizer and one wagon loaded with 68 tons of buckwheat were dispatched from Bilajari station toward Boyuk Kesik, continuing their journey to Armenia through Azerbaijani territory.
Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, meets with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk in Beijing, capital of China, on March 25, 2026. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

BEIJING, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Cai Qi, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk in Beijing on Wednesday.

Cai, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, said that no matter how the international situation changes, the friendship between China and Cambodia has endured through thick and thin and has grown stronger over time.

Noting that China-Cambodia relations were upgraded to an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era last April, Cai said China is willing to work with Cambodia to take the important consensus reached by the two heads of state as guidance, enhance strategic mutual trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and promote continuous new achievements in building an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era.

Sihamoni and Monineath noted that the ironclad friendship between Cambodia and China was personally forged by the older generation of leaders of the two countries, and remains unwavering and steadfast.

They said that Cambodia firmly adheres to the one-China principle, supports the major concepts and initiatives proposed by the Chinese side, is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in various fields, enhance multilateral cooperation and coordination, and jointly inject more certainty into a world fraught with changes and chaos. 
CAIRO, March 24 (Xinhua) -- The U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict entered its 25th day on Tuesday, as Washington and Tehran offered conflicting accounts over whether peace talks are underway.

Regional tensions continued to rise, with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets and flashpoints drawing attention in Lebanon and Iraq. International markets, which had rallied the day before on optimism sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump's comments about negotiations, cooled amid Iran's denials and the ongoing escalation, undermining investor confidence.

The following is an overview of the latest developments in the escalating crisis affecting much of the region and beyond.

The United States

-- With airstrikes continuing in Iran and missile attacks targeting sites across the Middle East, some of the optimism that drove Wall Street higher the previous day faded on Tuesday. Oil prices rose, and U.S. stocks gave back some of their gains.

-- Trump said negotiations with Iran to end the Mideast conflict are ongoing "right now," adding that Tehran is eager to reach a deal.

-- Trump also said Iran has made a major energy-related concession regarding the Strait of Hormuz to the United States, describing it as a positive development, although he did not give details.

"They gave us a present and the present arrived today, and it was a very big present, worth a tremendous amount of money," he said.

-- Several media reports suggested that Washington has sent a 15-point plan to Iran on ending the Mideast war.

Israel

-- Israel's military said it struck Iran's "most central explosives production facility" in Isfahan as part of airstrikes targeting multiple sites.

-- The military said operations in Iran and Lebanon would continue "according to an unchanged plan," regardless of any diplomatic efforts to end the hostilities. Brigadier General Effie Defrin said in a televised briefing that current military plans are unaffected by talks.

-- A rocket attack from Lebanon killed a woman in northern Israel, the Magen David Adom ambulance service said. The military said it had attempted to intercept the rocket.

Iran

-- President Masoud Pezeshkian appointed Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr as the new secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), with approval from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Former SNSC Secretary Ali Larijani was killed in an Israeli attack on March 17.

-- The Navy Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps, Alireza Tangsiri, said any vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz must fully coordinate with Iranian maritime authorities.

-- The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran reported a missile strike on the country's Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, with no casualties or damage, according to the official IRNA news agency.

Lebanon

-- Lebanon requested the departure of Iran's ambassador after declaring him persona non grata, the foreign ministry said. The country also recalled its ambassador to Iran, citing Tehran's alleged violation of diplomatic norms.

-- Hezbollah condemned the decision, calling it legally unfounded and "reckless," and urged authorities to reverse it.

-- President Joseph Aoun called for increased international pressure on Israel to halt attacks and support a ceasefire.

-- At least 17 people were killed and several others wounded in Israeli airstrikes and ground operations across southern Lebanon, Mount Lebanon, and Beirut's southern suburbs, according to the health ministry.

Iraq

-- A U.S. airstrike killed 15 members of Iraq's paramilitary Popular Mobilization Forces, including a senior commander in Anbar province. Meanwhile, six members of the Iraqi Kurdish military forces, known as the Peshmerga, were killed and 30 others injured in Iranian ballistic missile strikes on military positions in northern Iraq's Erbil, capital of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.

-- The Iraqi presidency strongly condemned the attacks, saying, "These attacks represent a flagrant violation of the country's sovereignty and a serious threat to its security and stability."

The Iraqi foreign ministry also summoned both the Iranian ambassador and the U.S. charge d'affaires to Baghdad to deliver formal protests regarding the two deadly strikes.

-- The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group for Iraq's pro-Iranian militias, said it carried out 23 operations against "enemy bases" over the past 24 hours.

Qatar

-- QatarEnergy declared force majeure on gas contracts with several EU and Asian countries.

-- Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has undermined regional security in the Gulf, calling for a reassessment of collective security arrangements.

Kuwait

-- Kuwait's Ministry of Defense said its air defense systems detected 17 ballistic missiles and 13 drones in its airspace over the past 24 hours.

Bahrain

-- A civilian contractor with the UAE Armed Forces was killed in Bahrain in an Iranian attack, authorities said. The defense ministry said he died while responding alongside Bahraini forces.

Oman

-- Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman spoke with King Abdullah II of Jordan about regional developments. The leaders discussed bilateral relations and the need to end the conflict while ensuring Gulf security.

United Arab Emirates

-- UAE officials held talks with multiple countries and international organizations on regional developments, WAM reported.

-- The UAE said its air defense systems intercepted five ballistic missiles and 17 drones launched from Iran. It said that since Feb. 28, the country has intercepted 357 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,806 drones.

Pakistan

-- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan is ready to "facilitate meaningful and conclusive talks" to end the Iran conflict. Pakistan is among the countries pushing for negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

Egypt

-- Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held separate phone calls with his Kuwaiti and Jordanian counterparts to discuss regional tensions. Abdelatty and Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah stressed prioritizing diplomacy to contain the conflict, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said.

France

-- President Emmanuel Macron wrote on social media platform X that he spoke with Pezeshkian over phone, during which he called for an end to "unacceptable attacks" to regional countries, and urged preserving energy and civilian infrastructure and restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. He said he also called on Iran "to engage in negotiations in good faith."

-- Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Israel should "refrain" from sending forces into southern Lebanon, warning such a move would have "major humanitarian consequences." 
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Kenyan President William Ruto in Nairobi, Kenya, on March 24, 2026. Han paid a visit to Kenya from March 22 to March 25 at the invitation of Kenyan Deputy President Kithure Kindiki. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

NAIROBI, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with Kenyan President William Ruto here on Tuesday, with both sides pledging to deepen practical cooperation and advance the China-Kenya community with a shared future for the new era.

Han conveyed Chinese President Xi Jinping's cordial greetings and best wishes to Ruto. He noted that over the past six decades since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries have consistently adhered to mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit, promoting bilateral relations to new heights.

Last April, President Xi and President Ruto jointly decided to build a China-Kenya community with a shared future for the new era, which has drawn a new blueprint for the development of bilateral ties, he said.

Han voiced China's readiness to work with Kenya to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state and the outcomes of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit. This will inject new impetus into bilateral cooperation and play a leading and exemplary role in building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era, he said.

Noting that this year marks the beginning of China's 15th Five-Year Plan, Han said China will further expand high-level opening-up and share high-quality development opportunities with Kenya and other African countries. The two sides should cement high-level mutual political trust and the foundation of the China-Kenya community with a shared future for the new era.

He expressed gratitude for Kenya's strong support on issues concerning China's core interests, such as the Taiwan question, and reaffirmed China's firm support for Kenya in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and development interests.

Both sides should expand high-quality practical cooperation and make good use of the dividends of China's comprehensive zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries having diplomatic ties with China, which takes effect on May 1, to accelerate their joint steps toward modernization, Han said.

China appreciates Kenya's active support for the major concepts and initiatives proposed by China, and is willing to strengthen high-level strategic coordination with Kenya, jointly practice true multilateralism, pool the robust strength of the Global South, and promote the development of the international order in a more just and equitable direction, he added.

For his part, Ruto asked Han to convey his cordial greetings and best wishes to President Xi. He thanked China for its consistent support of Kenya's national development, and stressed that Kenya always adheres to the one-China principle, an unwavering stance enshrined in Kenya's foreign policy documents.

Kenya is willing to take the comprehensive implementation of the zero-tariff policy as an opportunity to strengthen the synergy of development strategies with China, expand exports to China, and encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in Kenya, Ruto said. He called for deeper cooperation in key areas such as industrialization, logistics, infrastructure and finance, as well as enhanced cultural and people-to-people exchanges to achieve mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

Kenya appreciates China's leadership in global affairs and its commitment to promoting South-South cooperation, Ruto said. He added that Kenya supports the global initiatives proposed by President Xi, and is ready to work with China to advance global governance, practice multilateralism and safeguard the international order based on the principles of the UN Charter.

Following the meeting, the two sides jointly attended the signing and text-exchange ceremony for bilateral cooperation documents, including an arrangement on the early harvest of the economic partnership agreement for joint development between the two governments. 
Local TV news gets in on the push to keep KCMO afloat . . . Here are the basics and a bit more promo:

"No-excuse absentee voting began Tuesday in an election to decide whether to renew Kansas City, Missouris 1% earnings tax."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Kansas City leaders urge voters to renew earnings tax as early voting begins No-excuse absentee voting began Tuesday in an election to decide whether to renew Kansas City, Missouri's 1% earnings tax.
Australia's newest airport Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport may be months away from officially opening its doors, but you can now purchase tickets to be one of the first international passengers to fly out of it.

Singapore Airlines has started selling tickets for flights Sydney-Singapore flights scheduled for November 2026.

Singapore Airlines Begins Ticket Selling for Western Sydney International

According to a report by Travel Weekly, Singapore Airlines will begin operating daily non-stop flights on November 23.

The service will depart Singapore at 11:30 a.m. local time and arrive at Western Sydney Internation Airport (WSI) at 10:20 p.m. local time.

For flights going from Sydney to Singapore, the service will depart WSI on the same day at 11:55 p.m. local time and arrive in Singapore at 5:05 a.m. local time.

Per the report, the flight will operate on Airbus A350-900 medium-haul aircraft, which has a total of 303 seats. 40 of these seats will be allocated for the Business Class, and 263 will be allocated for the Economy Class.

'First International Airline to Commit'

According to a report by Sky News, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Catherine King has released a statement as tickets for these flights begin to go on sale.

"Singapore Airlines was the first international airline to commit to fly into Western Sydney International, and I'm really pleased tickets are on sale so people can start planning their next flight," said King.

Singapore Airlines Senior Vice President Marketing Planning of Singapore Airlines Dai Haoyu likewise released a statement, saying, "Singapore Airlines' services to Australia's newest gateway at Western Sydney will deliver more choice and strengthen connectivity to this popular destination for our customers."

"Western Sydney's late-night departure capacity will enable a seamless travel journey and connections through Singapore Changi Airport, to more than 130 global destinations served by the SIA Group," he added.

Aside from Singapore Airlines, Qantas and Jetstar will also flight out of WSI. Air New Zealand will also begin flying out of the airport by next year depending on the availability of aircraft.
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 25. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev sent a congratulatory letter to Constantine An. Tassoulas, President of the Hellenic Republic, Trend reports.

"Dear Mr. President,

On behalf of myself and the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my sincerest congratulations to you and your people on the occasion of the national holiday of the Hellenic Republic.

I believe that the relations between Azerbaijan and Greece will continue to develop in an atmosphere of friendship and cooperation, in line with the interests of our peoples.

On this festive day, I wish you robust health, happiness, success in your endeavors, as well as peace and prosperity to the people of Greece," the letter reads.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 26. The development of Azerbaijani-Chinese relations was discussed during a meeting of Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Sahiba Gafarova with Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, Zhao Leji, as part of her working visit to the country, a statement of the parliament says, Trend reports.

Leji, warmly greeting the speaker, thanked her for the visit and participation in the Boao Forum for Asia. He emphasized that the speaker's trip to China for this forum was a clear indication of Azerbaijan's commitment to bilateral relations and its support for the forum.

The chairman expressed satisfaction with the development of friendly relations between the two countries, which are based on deep historical roots and serve the fundamental interests of their peoples. He noted that diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and China, established 34 years ago, have been characterized by mutual respect and support.

He also highlighted that under the wise leadership of both countries' presidents, the relationship has risen to the level of strategic partnership in recent years. Leji mentioned that last year, two meetings took place between the leaders of Azerbaijan and China, and the National People's Congress of China intends to work with the Azerbaijani Parliament to support these initiatives and further deepen relations.

Gafarova thanked Leji for the warm hospitality and kind words about Azerbaijan. She recalled with pleasure their previous meetings at international events in various countries and mentioned that this was her first visit to China in her capacity as Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament. Gafarova expressed hope that the visit would contribute to expanding relations between the two parliaments and increase mutual visits.

The speaker noted that next year will mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and China. She emphasized that the relationship has always been built on friendship, mutual respect, and support, and today, Azerbaijan-China cooperation continues to expand across many areas.

Gafarova highlighted that these relations have recently entered a new phase, with President Ilham Aliyev placing great importance on strengthening bilateral cooperation. She also noted that the sincere relationship, mutual respect, and trust between the leaders play a key role in the development of the partnership. Gafarova pointed out that President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev's state visit to China in April last year led to the signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Joint Statement.

The issue of mutual support on territorial integrity and sovereignty was also discussed. Gafarova reaffirmed Azerbaijan's unwavering support for the "One China" policy, while China has consistently supported Azerbaijan's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Leji expressed China's high appreciation for Azerbaijan's stance on the "One China" policy and its support for China's position on Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. He also thanked Azerbaijan for its assistance in the evacuation of Chinese citizens from Iran.

The meeting highlighted that Azerbaijan was one of the first countries to support the "Belt and Road" initiative, which China highly values. Gafarova noted that today, Azerbaijan is a key transport hub in Eurasia, and the Middle Corridor has become a reliable, safe, and efficient route connecting China and Europe via the Caspian Sea.

The discussions also covered the increasing trade, transportation, and communication cooperation between the two countries, as well as the growth in cargo transportation along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor. Leji added that China is interested in developing ties in sectors such as digital development, artificial intelligence, and green energy. He noted that the mutual abolition of visas and the creation of direct flights will further strengthen relations.

The conversation pointed out that both Azerbaijan and China are members of the Global South. Leji stressed that Azerbaijan's international role is increasingly growing, and China is committed to further enhancing support and cooperation with Azerbaijan on the global stage. He also highlighted China's support for Azerbaijan's membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and its chairmanship in the Consultative Meeting on Confidence-Building Measures in Asia.

The discussion also touched on humanitarian and cultural cooperation, which has brought the two peoples closer together. Gafarova commended the successful cultural projects between the countries, especially the cooperation between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

The two sides also focused on parliamentary cooperation, noting that this area plays a crucial role in deepening relations. Gafarova highlighted the importance of the meetings between President Ilham Aliyev and the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress during the President's state visit to China, emphasizing the significance of these relations.

The meeting underscored active and effective cooperation between the two parliaments. Mutual visits at the level of speakers and parliamentary delegations are held regularly, and Azerbaijani MPs participate in international events hosted by the parliaments of both countries. MPs also maintain regular contacts within parliamentary organizations and provide mutual support and exchange of views.

The conversation also expressed a common vision for further expanding these relations and increasing exchanges, while also considering opportunities to enhance institutional ties and cooperation in various fields through the committees of the legislative bodies.

Additionally, Leji briefed on the conclusions of the 14th session of the National People's Congress of China and its adopted decisions, as well as China's social and economic achievements. He said that China is ready to share these achievements with friendly countries, including Azerbaijan.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 25. My first visit to Baku was in 2002, and Baku was very different then than it is now, NomadMania club founder Harry Mitsidis told reporters during the club's annual meeting, Trend reports.

He said he had been to Baku seven times. "Over the past five years, I've been visiting more often due to trips to Karabak," Harry Mitsidis added.

"I've been to Karabakh three times, and tomorrow I'm going again, making it my fourth visit. Compared to when we first went there, when everything was in ruins, seeing the construction and restoration work underway now is truly impressive. During our last visit to Fuzuli, we saw numerous buildings being constructed to relocate people. The road network also caught my attention," he said.

Harry Mitsidis stated that the construction of three airports in Karabakh is a very unusual and unique phenomenon.

"The new hotel in Lachin is also eye-catching; we'll be staying there tomorrow. This demonstrates the significant investment being made in Karabakh. It's interesting to see the changes with each trip. We'll leave Baku early tomorrow morning. First, we'll go to Aghdam, spend some time there, and get acquainted with the work being carried out. Then we'll head to Shusha, and from there to Khankendi. We'll have lunch in Khankendi, and in the late afternoon we'll reach Lachin. The next day, we'll visit Lachin. I think Lachin is one of the most beautiful places in Azerbaijan from a geographical perspective. Then we'll head to what's believed to be the beginning of the Zangezur Corridor, and I think we'll be the first foreign group to go there. It'll be very interesting for us. On the way back, we'll stop in Jabrail, and possibly in Fizuli. This is basically our itinerary for the next two days," he noted.

According to the founder of NomadMania, this trip will be shorter than previous ones: "Until now, we've always stayed for two nights, but not in Karabakh itself, but in the surrounding area. There were no suitable accommodation options, and sometimes we had to stay in military camps. This time the trip may be shorter, but it will be more comfortable because we'll be staying in hotels. We saw many places along the way, but we didn't get to know Khankendi well enough. I hope this time we'll have the opportunity to study it in more detail. The Zangezur Corridor is of particular interest to us, and it's one of the areas I'm personally paying the most attention to."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 25. Today, representatives from over 30 countries are participating in the NomadMania Club meeting, NomadMania founder Harry Mitsidis said today, speaking at the club's annual meeting in Baku, Trend reports.

According to him, given the current global geopolitical situation, this is literally a miracle. He also spoke about the travel program for travelers to Karabakh and the significance of NomadMania:

"The club was founded in 2012. At that time, NomadMania was known as The Best Traveled. Some believe that Nomad Mania consists solely of travel lists and statistics. To a certain extent this is true, since this is where its activities began. We have some interesting lists dividing the world into different regions. Until recently, there were 1,301 regions, but this number has been increasing over the past month, and the total is likely to be around 1,380."

He noted that this is only a small part of NomadMania's activities: "We have a very active and annually growing community. Currently, the number of participants is approaching 55,000. It's worth noting that joining this platform isn't easyyou need to create a profile and spend time filling it out. In this sense, it differs from platforms with simple registration, such as Facebook or Instagram.

Another unique aspect of NomadMania is its projects. These projects cover over 60 themed lists of places to visit during your travels. For example, aquariums, military museums, as well as themes like "Bizzarium" and "Dark Side". All these objects are displayed on the map, and users can choose the direction as they wish."

Harry Mitsidis noted that travel scholarships are very important for the club:

"Our goal is to provide travel opportunities for young people who have never traveled outside their own countries. Participants from Ukraine, Rwanda, and, most recently, Pakistan have already taken advantage of this opportunity. The next participants will be two young women from Burundi and Malawi."
HANOI, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's southern hub Ho Chi Minh City welcomed nearly 20 million tourist arrivals in the first quarter of this year, local daily VnEconomy reported Wednesday, citing the municipal Department of Tourism.

Domestic visitors accounted for the majority, while international arrivals continued to recover strongly, contributing to tourism revenue growth and enhancing the city's image as a destination, the report said.

The city's tourism sector showed notable signs of recovery from the beginning of the year, with around 5.25 million arrivals recorded in January.

Growth further accelerated during the Lunar New Year holiday when the city received approximately 4.32 million arrivals during the nine-day break, according to the report.

The city aims to attract about 11 million international visitors and 50 million domestic travelers in 2026, with total tourism revenue projected at around 330 trillion Vietnamese dong (about 13.1 billion U.S. dollars). 
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 25. Participants of the trip to Karabakh will be able to see the destruction and restoration work, NomadMania founder Harry Mitsidis said today at the club's annual meeting in Baku, Trend reports.

He noted that Karabakh had long remained an under-studied region and had been largely closed to foreign visits in recent years for security reasons.

According to Mitsidis, the organization's members typically show interest in complex and little-known destinations: "Such regions pose certain challenges, and we believe they are worth exploring."

Harry Mitsidis provided detailed information to the participants about the history of Karabakh, the First and Second Karabakh Wars, the destruction of settlements during the occupation, the Khojaly genocide, and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis.

He said that during the trip, participants will be able to observe both the destruction and the restoration work being carried out on site.

Information about the expedition project "Shusha 2026" was also presented at the meeting.

It was noted that the project plans to send a group of foreign travelers to territories liberated from occupation.

The expedition participants are expected to visit Aghdam, Shusha, Khankendi, and Lachin, where they will learn about the region's history, cultural heritage, and restoration process.

The main goal of the project is to present Azerbaijan's tourism potential to an international audience and increase interest in the Karabakh region.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 25. Latvia regards Azerbaijan as a key partner in the South Caucasus, highlighting the steady expansion of bilateral trade and strong potential to deepen cooperation across logistics, investment, and green technologies, Raivis Bremsmits, State Secretary of the Latvian Ministry of Economics, said in an interview with Trend.

"Azerbaijan is one of Latvias most important partners in the South Caucasus. While economic cooperation is developing at a gradual pace, it remains stable and shows positive long-term potential.

From a trade perspective, Azerbaijan ranked 59th among Latvias foreign trade partners in 2024, with total trade turnover reaching EUR 47 million, representing an increase of 10.2%. In the first half of 2025, trade turnover amounted to EUR 28 million, marking a significant growth of 43% compared to the same period of the previous year.

In terms of exports, Azerbaijan ranked 55th in 2024, with Latvian exports totaling 37 million euros, an annual increase of 17.2%. Export volumes continued to grow dynamically in the first half of 2025, reaching 21 million euros, or 43% growth," he said.

According to him, imports from Azerbaijan ranked 67th in 2024, amounting to 10 million euros (decreased by 9.2%), while in the first half of 2025, imports reached 7 million euros, also reflecting a 43% increase compared to the same period of the previous year.

"In terms of incoming investments, Azerbaijan ranked 40th among foreign investors in Latvia in 2024, with investment volumes of EUR 15 million. In the first half of 2025, incoming investments increased to EUR 16 million, reflecting 7% growth.

Azerbaijan is actively modernizing its economy, with a strong focus on attracting foreign investment in areas such as energy, agriculture, logistics, and digitalization. These developments create tangible opportunities to expand bilateral trade and promote mutual investments, strengthen business contacts, and enhance cooperation between trade and investment promotion organizations," the state secretary noted.

Bremsmits emphasized that Latvia sees potential for cooperation across several broad economic areas, including transport and logistics and agriculture and food production, as well as education, research, and innovation.

"These sectors offer opportunities for business cooperation, knowledge exchange, and the development of mutually beneficial projects, subject to market conditions and commercial interest.

Azerbaijan is actively modernizing its economy, attracting foreign investment in energy, agriculture, logistics, and digitalization. These sectors are closely aligned with Latvias Research and Innovation Strategy's (RIS3) priority areas, creating favorable conditions for cooperation.

This in turn opens opportunities for Latvian businesses to expand their presence in the region, develop new export directions, and participate in the countrys modernization projects.

Any deeper investment cooperation would naturally depend on market conditions, commercial interest, and the overall business environment. Continued dialogue between business communities and relevant institutions can help identify areas where cooperation may develop organically over time," he added.

Bremsmits pointed out that in this wider picture, collaboration can come in various shapes and sizes, such as joint ventures or initiatives tied to industrial and tech-focused settings, where there's a definite commercial stake at play.

"There are prospects for cooperation in the field of green technologies. Azerbaijans ongoing economic modernization and its focus on sustainability create favorable conditions for dialogue and cooperation in areas such as waste management, water resource management, and the bioeconomy.

From Latvias perspective, any cooperation in these fields would depend on market conditions, commercial interest, and the overall business environment. Latvia sees value in sharing experience and exploring practical formats for cooperation in areas where mutual interests converge, including circular-economy solutions and the further development of the bioeconomy, in line with each countrys priorities and long-term needs," the official added.

The Secretary of State also pointed out that Latvia is on the ball with a steady, sustainable development policy and is pulling its weight in driving climate action, innovation, and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies that pave the way for a green transition.

"This provides a solid basis for structured exchanges with partner countries that are implementing economic modernization measures. Accordingly, Latvia sees good potential for cooperation and knowledge-sharing with Azerbaijan in areas such as energy efficiency, renewable energy solutions, and the development of sustainable industry," Bremsmits concluded.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 25. Turkmenistan and China discussed further development of bilateral ties and the implementation of previously reached agreements, Trend reports via the Turkmen MFA.

The talks were held during a meeting between Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov and Ambassador of China to Turkmenistan Ji Shuming.

Particular attention was paid to the recent visit of the Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty (Parliament) of Turkmenistan to China, during which a meeting was held with President of China Xi Jinping.

In the course of the negotiations, the diplomats engaged in a dialogue regarding the actionable execution of the agreements established during the visit.

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ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 25. Turkiye and Turkmenistan engaged in discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral relations, focusing on mutual interests, Trend reports via the press service of the Turkmen Government.

The talks were held at the administrative building of the Consulate General of Turkmenistan in Turkiye between Consul General Ovezgeldi Jumannazarov and Governor of Istanbul Davut Gul.

Earlier, Consul General Ovezgeldi Jumanazarov also held a meeting with Istanbul Governor Davut Gul on March 11. The talks focused on further strengthening bilateral cooperation between Turkmenistan and Turkiye in the fields of trade, culture, education, healthcare, and sports.

For reference, Turkish companies are among the top economic partners in Turkmenistan, having implemented over 1,400 projects valued at more than $50 billion since 1991, with a strong focus on construction, energy, textiles, and transport. Major Turkish firms like Calk Holding and Polimeks are heavily involved in key infrastructure, industrial facilities, and the "smart city" of Arkadag.

Turkiyes trade with Turkmenistan reached $2.2 billion in 2025. The main goal for bilateral trade is to reach $5 billion, a target set by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 25. Turkmenistan and Uganda engaged in discussions on enhancing economic cooperation in agriculture and the oil and gas sectors, Trend reports via the Turkmen MFA.

The talks took place during a meeting between Turkmenistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rashid Meredov, and Ugandas State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Henry Oryem Okello.

The sides acknowledged the steady progress in bilateral relations, underscoring the importance of high-level exchanges, including Ugandas participation in international events scheduled to take place in Turkmenistan in 2025.

A key focus of the discussions was the enhancement of cooperation between the foreign ministries, with both parties expressing a shared interest in conducting the first round of political consultations in Ashgabat during the second half of 2026.

The meeting also covered collaboration within international organizations, particularly the United Nations, and explored potential areas for cooperation in education, science, culture, sports, and tourism.
Photo: The Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 25. Uzbekistan has reached several agreements with international partners aimed at supporting private sector development and strengthening economic policy during the international forum Central Asia: From Productivity to Prosperity. Regional Dialogue held in Tashkent, Trend reports via the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Uzbekistan.

In particular, a joint project with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) for 2026-2027 has been launched, focusing on private sector development and economic policy support. The initiative provides grant funds in the amount of 3 million euros to promote entrepreneurship.

Additionally, Uzbekistan signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Asian Productivity Organization (APO), as well as a strategic partnership program with the organization.

Central Asia: From Productivity to Prosperity. Regional Dialogue," organized by Uzbekistans Ministry of Economy and Finance, brought together representatives of international organizations, development institutions, and the private sector to discuss regional economic development.

The opening ceremony featured speeches by senior officials and representatives of international institutions, including the Asian Productivity Organization, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank, highlighting the importance of regional dialogue and cooperation.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 25. Uzbekistan and Belarus engaged in discussions aimed at expanding cooperation in key sectors, including industrial machinery, agriculture, and the jewelry industry, Trend reports via the Uzbek MFA.

The talks took place during a meeting between Laziz Kudratov, Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan, and Ivan Krupko, Chairman of the Gomel Regional Executive Committee of Belarus, within the framework of a visit by the Gomel regional delegation to Uzbekistan.

The sides noted growth in mutual trade, with turnover between the Gomel region and Uzbekistan reaching $50 million in 2025, and further increasing in January of the current year.

During the talks, the participants also exchanged views on prospects for implementing joint projects in woodworking, meat and dairy production, and agricultural machinery manufacturing.

Following the meeting, the parties agreed to develop a joint action plan to further deepen cooperation and to organize a visit of a Uzbek delegation to Belarus to elaborate on new initiatives.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, March 25. A final decision regarding the potential removal of Kyrgyz Airlines from the European Union Aviation Safety List is anticipated in May 2026, Trend reports, citing the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan.

This timeline was announced following a meeting between Adylbek Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, and Peter Srensen, Chairman of the EU Aviation Safety Committee.

In the course of the meeting, the parties acknowledged the significant improvements resulting from sectoral reforms, including the establishment of the State Civil Aviation Agency by President Sadyr Japarov. This initiative facilitated the introduction of modern regulatory mechanisms, enhanced oversight, and alignment with the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The Kyrgyz delegation highlighted the tangible outcomes of these reforms. Passenger traffic increased from 3.9 million in 2021 to over 6 million in 2025, while the number of flights rose from 34,000 to 52,000. Additionally, all 11 airports in the country have been modernized.

Kasymaliev further noted that Kyrgyzstan has begun implementing plans for long-haul flights, which include the acquisition of two Airbus A321 aircraft, with a plan to lease 10 more by 2030. He also emphasized that the implementation rate of ICAO standards in Kyrgyzstan has reached 85.8%.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 25. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev was presented with the Great Silk Road project, planned for implementation in New Tashkent, Trend reports via the press office of the Uzbek president.

As noted in the presentation, the first phase of the New Tashkent construction covers 6,000 hectares and is expected to provide infrastructure for 600,000 residents. Upon full completion, the city is projected to accommodate up to two million people.

The Great Silk Road complex is planned to cover 32 hectares and is intended to serve as one of the key public and cultural centers of New Tashkent. It will include residential and commercial facilities and hotels, as well as cultural and educational infrastructure.

According to the concept, the complex will feature thematic districts representing civilizations along the historic Silk Road, with each mahalla reflecting a country located along the route.

The presentation also outlined plans for the renovation of several museums, including the Imam Maturidi complex, the Bahauddin Naqshbandi scientific and innovation museum, and the State Museum of the History of the Timurids, aimed at enhancing the preservation and presentation of historical and cultural heritage and strengthening tourism potential.

The head of state reviewed the proposals, approved the projects, and issued relevant instructions for their implementation.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 25. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is stepping up support for green investment in Bosnia and Herzegovinas residential sector with a new financing package for Mikrofin, the countrys largest microfinance institution, Trend reports via the Bank.

The EBRD will provide a senior loan of up to 4 million to Mikrofin Banja Luka under the Western Balkans Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF) III  REPower Residential Programme. The entire  will be directed toward energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, with 100% of the financing classified as green.

The funds will be on-lent to households and housing associations to support the adoption of high-performance energy-efficient technologies and eligible renewable energy solutions, helping reduce energy consumption, cut carbon emissions and lower utility costs.

The initiative targets the residential sector, one of the most energy- and carbon-intensive segments of the Western Balkans economy, and aims to accelerate the regions green transition by promoting technologies that exceed current national standards and enhance long-term climate resilience.

This marks Mikrofins fourth project under the GEFF framework, reinforcing its role as a key partner for the EBRD in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The institution has already channelled 6 million to end-borrowers under previous GEFF programmes.

The loan will be supported by technical cooperation and investment incentives funded by the European Union through the Western Balkans Investment Framework, as well as the Japan-EBRD Cooperation Fund. The package includes capacity-building support, market development initiatives and financial incentives to encourage households to adopt green technologies.

Since launching operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1996, the EBRD has invested more than 3.4 billion across 262 projects in the country.
AMMAN, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Jordanian security forces have arrested 23 suspects and seized large quantities of narcotics in a series of nationwide anti-drug operations over the past few days, the Public Security Directorate (PSD) said Wednesday.

In a major case, two suspected traffickers were arrested and confessed to hiding about 100,000 narcotic pills in a remote desert area, which were subsequently recovered by security forces, the PSD said.

Meanwhile, four suspects were arrested and crystal methamphetamine, sheets of hashish, and narcotic pills were seized in Mafraq Governorate, the PSD said.

At the land border crossing between Jordan and Saudi Arabia, anti-narcotics units foiled an attempt to smuggle 20,000 narcotic pills concealed in luggage, arresting two individuals, it said.

A suspected dealer was arrested and a firearm along with narcotics was seized in Balqa Governorate, it said, noting that the suspect opened fire at security personnel, though no injuries were reported.

The detainees also include one from Aqaba Governorate and two from Irbid Governorate, and the rest from Amman, it added. 
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 25. Kazakhstans Minister of Energy Yerlan Akkenzhenov and U.S. Secretary of Energy Christopher Wright discussed energy logistics and guarantees for uninterrupted supply of hydrocarbons to global markets, Trend reports via Kazakhstans Ministry of Energy.

The talks took place on the sidelines of the CERAWeek international conference in Houston, U.S.

Key topics included ensuring global energy security, developing alternative export corridors, and strengthening investment cooperation. The sides highlighted the strategic nature of their 32-year partnership in the oil and gas sector.

According to the ministry, total U.S. investment in Kazakhstans energy sector has exceeded $60 billion. American corporations ExxonMobil and Chevron remain key partners in the countrys largest energy projectsTengiz, Karachaganak, and Kashaganwhich together account for around 70% of Kazakhstans total oil production and contribute significantly to the global output of U.S. energy majors.

Akkenzhenov reaffirmed Kazakhstans commitment to maintaining stable conditions for the long-term development and expansion of these assets in line with existing plans. He also underscored the role of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) as the main export route, transporting about 2% of global oil supply.

The Kazakh side confirmed its readiness for pragmatic dialogue with all stakeholders to ensure reliable transit. The participants also positively assessed joint efforts to maintain the non-sanctioned status of the CPC pipeline, calling it a key factor in sustaining balance in global energy markets.

In addition to core export routes, Kazakhstan is actively diversifying its supply directions. The development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route using the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) system was also discussed. Transport volumes along this route are expected to reach 2.1 million tons per year in the near term.

Akkenzhenov noted that Kazakhstan is open to deepening technological cooperation and maximizing the transport potential of the Caspian Sea to deliver energy resources to international markets.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 25. Talgat Aldybergenov, Chairman of the Board of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, and Zhang Bingnan, the President of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), discussed the implementation of the Bakhty-Ayagoz railway line, Trend reports via KTZ.

The talks focused on the importance of accelerating work and adhering to the projects timeline. Aldybergenov highlighted the critical role of involving local construction companies and specialists, as well as sourcing building materials from Kazakh producers.

The CCCC representative assured that necessary measures will be taken to meet the project schedule and ensure the mandatory participation of local companies in the projects execution.

Earlier, in August 2025, an EPC contract for the project was signed between KTZ and CCCCs subsidiary, China Harbour Engineering Company Co., Ltd. Construction of the Bakhty-Ayagoz railway line began in the Abai region in 2023 and is considered a key project for the development of the countrys transport infrastructure and the formation of the Trans-Kazakhstan railway corridor. The project is expected to significantly increase transport capacity between Kazakhstan and China, with completion scheduled by the end of 2027.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 25. First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Roman Sklyar and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress of China Zhao Leji discussed the bilateral cooperation during a high-level meeting in Boao, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh government.

The talks took place on the sidelines of the 25th annual session of the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan province.

Sklyar congratulated the Chinese side on the successful holding of the Two Sessions and the adoption of Chinas socio-economic development plan for 20262030.

During the meeting, the Kazakh official also noted that Kazakhstan had recently adopted a new Constitution following a nationwide referendum held on March 15, describing it as an important step for the countrys further development.

The sides highlighted the steady progress in interparliamentary ties, as well as the dynamic growth of trade, economic, investment, transport, and energy cooperation.

For his part, Zhao emphasized that China attaches great importance to its comprehensive strategic partnership with Kazakhstan, describing bilateral relations as based on a high level of mutual trust.

He also expressed support for the reforms being implemented in Kazakhstan under the leadership of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

The sides underscored the importance of cooperation within multilateral frameworks, including the UN, SCO, CICA, and the Central AsiaChina format.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, March 25. Kyrgyzstan will initiate a pilot project aimed at partially reimbursing transport and logistics costs for exporters, Trend reports via the country's Cabinet of Ministers.

The announcement was made during a session of the Export Development Council, chaired by Daniyar Amangeldiev, First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers.

This initiative is designed to reduce the costs of domestic goods in foreign markets, thereby enhancing their competitiveness. Amangeldiev emphasized that supporting national producers remains a strategic priority for the Cabinet.

The discussion also addressed expanding business access to financial resources. A new concessional credit line, titled Export Contract Financing, was introduced to assist exporters in bridging cash flow gaps and replenishing working capital, supported by insurance instruments and guarantees.

Concluding the session, Amangeldiev issued specific instructions to relevant state bodies. All initiatives presented today will be tested in a pilot mode. Following this stage, we will conduct a thorough analysis of their effectiveness and, based on the results, implement these support mechanisms on a full-scale, permanent basis, he said.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, March 26. The President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov received the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Feridun Sinirlioglu, Trend reports, citing the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry.

The development of cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and the OSCE was discussed, as well as the possibility of expanding the Organization's project presence in the country to implement joint initiatives.

The President of Kyrgyzstan noted with satisfaction that cooperation within the Organization has been developing very actively in recent years and emphasized the regular mutual visits of delegations from Kyrgyzstan and the OSCE.

Sadyr Japarov emphasized the effective work of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek and noted that the Organization is currently implementing 22 projects. One of the most successful projects to date is the OSCE Academy in the capital.

He also expressed gratitude to the Organization for its support in various areas, including reforming the judicial and law enforcement systems, digitalization and improving the efficiency of public administration, as well as ensuring human rights and democratic freedoms.

Speaking about strengthening cooperation with Central Asian countries, the President emphasized that this area is a key priority of Kyrgyzstan's foreign policy.

In this context, Sadyr Japarov also noted that the country supports the OSCE's activities to ensure sustainable peace and implement confidence-building measures in the region's border areas.

In turn, Feridun Sinirlioglu expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and noted that in recent years, under the leadership of Sadyr Japarov, Kyrgyzstan has achieved significant success in socio-economic development.

He emphasized Kyrgyzstan's achievements in developing democracy, as well as the significant representation of women in parliament and in politics in general.

In addition, Feridun Sinirlioglu noted Kyrgyzstan's foreign policy, which is based on building good-neighborly and trusting relations and is committed to the principles of international law. In this regard, the OSCE Secretary General particularly emphasized Sadyr Japarovs contribution to ensuring regional security and cooperation in Central Asia.

President Sadyr Japarov expressed concern about the current complex geopolitical situation in the world and the conflict in the Middle East, which is causing thousands of civilian casualties and the destruction of important infrastructure, including in fraternal countries in the region.

The parties emphasized the importance of resolving all contentious issues peacefully.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 25. Amid the ongoing armed conflict in the Middle East, another Iranian missile strike on Israel has been reported, the statement of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says, Trend reports.

The missiles are reportedly heading toward southern Israel, triggering alarm systems in major cities, including Beersheba and its surrounding areas.

Earlier, approximately thirty minutes prior, warnings were issued for Safed and its vicinity in relation to drones believed to have been launched from Lebanon.

Since no concrete agreement was reached in negotiations between the United States and Iran over the nuclear program, the U.S. and Israel began military airstrikes against Iran on February 28. In response, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Israel and U.S. military facilities located in countries across the region, starting the same day.

On the first day of the air strikes against Iran, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking military officials were killed. On March 8, Irans Assembly of Experts elected Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei 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.

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 25. A new series of targets for air strikes on Iran and Lebanon was approved at today's meeting, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in his speech following a discussion with Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, Trend reports.

Katz also noted that since the start of the war, the Israeli Air Force has carried out more than 15,000 strikes on Iran, which is four times more than the number of strikes during the 12-day war in June 2025.

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.

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.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 25. Iran has launched strikes on strategic targets in the Israeli cities of Dimona and Haifa in recent hours, General Commander of the Aerospace Forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Majid Mousavi on his X page, Trend reports.

He said that the strikes by Iranian fighter jets on strategic targets in Dimona and Haifa in recent hours were a clear signal of American threats.

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.

The ongoing conflict has significantly threatened the regions energy infrastructure and maritime transport. Oil prices have surged on global markets due to heightened security tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, prompting several countries to advise their citizens to leave the region.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 25. The United Kingdom, together with its allies, is working on a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restore transport links in the Middle East, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, Trend reports.

Ultimately, we must reopen the Strait of Hormuz to ensure stability in the oil market. This is not a simple task. That is why we, together with all our allies, including our European partners, are working on a joint plan that will allow us to restore freedom of navigation in the region as quickly as possible and minimize economic impacts, Starmer emphasized.

Since no concrete agreement was reached in negotiations between the United States and Iran over the nuclear program, the U.S. and Israel began military airstrikes against Iran on February 28. In response, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Israel and U.S. military facilities located in countries across the region, starting the same day.

On the first day of the air strikes against Iran, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking military officials were killed. On March 8, Irans Assembly of Experts elected Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei 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.

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 25. Seven Iraqi military personnel were killed, and thirteen others were injured in airstrikes targeting military facilities in Anbar province, Iraq, the statement of the country's Defense Ministry says, Trend reports.

The statement specified that the airstrike struck the Al-Habbaniyyah Military Hospital, which is under the Ministry of Defense, as well as the building of the Al-Habbaniyyah Production Department.

The Ministry strongly condemned the airstrikes, characterizing them as a grave and serious violation of international law and norms, particularly those prohibiting attacks on medical facilities and personnel.

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.

The ongoing conflict has significantly threatened the regions energy infrastructure and maritime transport. Oil prices have surged on global markets due to heightened security tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, prompting several countries to advise their citizens to leave the region.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
UNITED NATIONS, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The international community can not accept the Palestinian question being marginalized once again, and should make irreversible steps to advance the two-State solution and support the establishment of an independent State of Palestine at an early date, Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said Tuesday.

Speaking at the UN Security Council briefing on the Palestinian-Israeli issue, Fu said that while the conflict in the Middle East continues to expand and tensions are escalating rapidly, causing serious consequences for regional stability and the global economy, the Palestinian question is deteriorating at an accelerated pace and the foundation of the two-State solution is "at risk of being further eroded."

"In the face of this grave situation, the international community must demonstrate strong political will and take decisive actions to advance a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the Palestinian question at the earliest possible date," he said.

Fu called for prioritizing human life and immediately ending the suffering of the people of Gaza.

"The situation in Gaza concerns the very foundation of international morality," said the ambassador, calling on all parties concerned, especially Israel, to fully comply with a ceasefire agreement and achieve a genuine, comprehensive, and lasting ceasefire.

"Israel must fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law, fully open border crossings, lift restrictions on humanitarian access, and cease attacks on humanitarian organizations, especially UNRWA (The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East)," he said.

"Settlement activities constitute a serious violation of international law and Security Council Resolution 2334," Fu said, urging Israel to immediately stop settlement activities, curb settler violence, investigate and hold accountable those responsible for attacks on civilians, and put an end to impunity.

Noting that there is only one universally recognized and reasonable path to the question of Palestine -- the two-State solution, Fu said any other alternative arrangements or new mechanisms must uphold the principle of Palestinians governing Palestine, respect the will of the Palestinian people, and support, not undermine, the two-State solution.

"Gaza and the West Bank are both integral parts of the State of Palestine. The international community must firmly reject any attempt to annex Palestinian territory and oppose unilateral actions that erode the foundation of the two-State solution," he said.

The ambassador said that the United Nations has a responsibility to play a leading role in advancing the two-State solution and supporting the establishment of an independent State of Palestine.

He added that China will continue to work with the international community to promote a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, end the humanitarian catastrophe and implement the two-State solution to help restore justice for the State of Palestine, tranquility for its people, and peace for the Middle East. 
YANGON, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar marked World Tuberculosis Day 2026 at the Ministry of Health in Nay Pyi Taw on Tuesday, state-owned daily Global New Light of Myanmar reported on Wednesday.

At the ceremony, Deputy Minister for Health Aye Tun said Myanmar remains among the 30 countries with the highest prevalence of tuberculosis (TB), TB/HIV co-infection, and drug-resistant TB, the report said.

He added that Myanmar has the second-highest incidence of new TB cases in the World Health Organization Southeast Asia region, highlighting the need to accelerate both the detection and treatment of the disease.

To tackle the disease, the country is implementing national strategic plans in collaboration with partner organizations, it said, adding that the "Double X Strategy" is currently being applied to diagnosis and treatment.

Additionally, the Ministry of Health has expanded the use of stool samples for TB detection and the administration of TB preventive treatment for children under the age of eight, it said.

Diagnostic efforts have been strengthened by the use of AI technology for chest X-rays, alongside portable TB testing devices, the report said.

Furthermore, an integrated TB e-surveillance system is being implemented to manage TB control activities in real time, it added.

The deputy minister stressed the need for cooperation among the Ministry of Health, other ministries, organizations, partners, and the public, it said. 
Poker Flat Research Range cleans up what comes down

A brilliant flash of light and a stream of directed flame generating 25,000 pounds of thrust pushed a NASA sounding rocket skyward north of Fairbanks early on Jan. 30.

Photo by Bryan Whitten

The PolarNOX mission launches from Poker Flat Research Range on Jan. 30.

Up it went from Poker Flat Research Range, carrying the PolarNOx aurora research payload on a successful mission. Scientists were happy. In-person and online rocket watchers were happy.

The show was over. And much like at the end of a rock concert, the star players moved on. The unheralded cleanup team would arrive soon to clear the stage.

For Poker Flat, Peter Elstner leads the rocket mission cleanup team, which is supported by several contractors and NASA. The rocket recovery program retrieves the payloads and rocket parts  or as many as can be found.

Im the janitor for NASA, right? Elstner said.

When people go out and theyre hunting, or hiking, or boating, or whatever they want to do on the land, they dont want to run across some space junk.

For me, the opportunity to go out and return the environment to its pristine character by removing rocket parts really feels good, he said.

Nearly 200 miles north of Fairbanks, on a slight hillslope just south of the Brooks Range and east of the Chidriinjik River, the instrument payload from the Jan. 30 PolarNOx mission rested in the snow.

Finding it was Elstners goal on an early February day.

Lots of rockets, lots of parts

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute owns Poker Flat Research Range, located at Mile 30 Steese Highway, and operates it under a contract with NASAs Wallops Flight Facility, which is part of the Goddard Space Flight Center near Washington, D.C.

The federally approved flight corridor for rockets launched at Poker Flat is approximately 44,000 square miles and reaches the Arctic Ocean.

Poker Flat launched its first NASA sounding rocket in 1968; more than 350 rockets have been launched since then. Some are two-stage rockets, like that of the PolarNOx mission, whose housings and engines return to solid ground. Some are four-stage vehicles with parts that make it all the way to the Arctic Ocean.

Thats a lot of space stuff coming back to Earth.

Prior to 2011, NASA focused primarily on recovering Poker Flats parachuted payloads, which can include reusable science instruments. It didnt undertake significant efforts to recover flight hardware such as nose cones, telemetry and avionics sections, motors, stage connections and non-reuseable payloads.

That changed in 2011 when NASA tested a recovery program that year and again in 2012. It proved successful and became part of Poker Flats updated federal environmental impact statement in 2013.

In it, NASA states that it and UAF would employ enhanced efforts to recover items. Funds were allocated for that purpose.

Attempts would be made to recover all newly expended stages and payloads predicted to land on federal, state, or private lands, the document states. Spent stages and payloads that are located would be recovered if it is determined that the recovery operation can be performed safely while causing minimal environmental damage.

It adds that some rocket parts could be left in the field if the landowners agree that attempted recovery could cause more environmental damage.

That 2013 environmental document also formalized a rewards program that had been tested in the two previous years. It called the program one of the most successful means of locating expended flight hardware.

The program offers $1,200 for rocket motors and large payloads and $600 for other items. Anyone finding rocket components can contact Poker Flat to provide the GPS coordinates and a photograph or description of the item to qualify for a reward.

Kyle McAllen, Poker Flats range director, attaches high significance to cleaning up after a launch.

We respect the public and private land over which we fly, and we respect the ownership of those lands, McAllen said. And we show that respect by doing our best to quickly and safely retrieve our payloads and rocket parts and doing it with minimal disturbance to the land.

Although McAllen is in his first year as Poker Flats range director, he has extensive experience in sounding rockets.

While with NASA, he served as launch and test director at Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, where he led missions such as International Space Station commercial resupply, National Reconnaissance Office orbital launches, and suborbital sounding rocket missions from Wallops Island and Poker Flat.

Each recovery is different, especially in Alaska, McAllen said.

Sometimes the payloads and parts fall in easy-to-reach places, he said. And sometimes not.

A needle in the snowpack

Map courtesy of NASA

This NASA map shows the federally approved flight corridors for rockets launched from Poker Flat Research Range.

Think of Elstner as a treasure hunter but one armed with a detailed system to calculate the rough area where he can find what hes looking for. Its important in a launch range corridor about the size of Pennsylvania.

Data from payload systems that track position, velocity, direction and momentum are combined with wind measurements collected during the launch and from global climate forecasting models, along with estimated drag on the rocket. Elstner gathers the data, including the point at which the rockets signal is lost, and sends it to NASA analysts, who run simulations.

The result is a two-dimensional point cloud of possible impact sites.

We take the average of those points and get a geographic centroid, Elstner said. Then we can say this is the most likely spot where its gonna be.

Our method for a long time has been to search a large area based mostly on how much gas we can put in the helicopter, he said. With simulations and building this data, I want to try and bring those search areas down a little bit.

Hes already seeing improvement. Analysis of prior recoveries shows that motors, for example, tend to land within 2 miles of where the simulations project they are going to land.

So instead of a 70 nautical-mile ground track, I could do it in 50, Elstner said. And that saves me 20-plus minutes of time in the helicopter.

Continual improvement

NASA in January 2020 tested its Autonomous Rocket Tracker system, or ART, on a launch from Poker Flat. ART uses onboard GPS and automated tracking to send landing locations.

Photo by Bryan Whitten

Peter Elstner, right, and contracted assistant Brendan Lahr prepare the PolarNOx payload section for its return to Poker Flat Research Range.

ART is now standard on most second- and third-stage rocket motors launched from Poker Flat. The goal is to include ART on all objects that land beyond the long-term ecological research site operated by UAF across the Chatanika River from Poker Flat, where stages are not recovered to avoid disturbing ongoing research in that area.

Not everything is tracked, but many things are tracked now that weren't tracked previously, Elstner said.

The tracking system has to survive ground impact, however. That doesnt always happen; rocket motors, which dont descend by parachute, hit the surface at several hundred miles per hour.

Some of these impacts are legendary, Elstner said.

Without any GPS pings from a tracker on the ground, its just human eyes looking over a wide area below the point in the sky where Poker Flats telemetry antennas lose line of sight signal connection to the rocket payload over the horizon.

Thats where the point cloud of possible impact sites proves its value.

It still comes down to human eyeballs, however.

If youre in a helicopter at 500 feet and more than about a quarter of a mile from something on the ground thats the size of a human being, youre not likely to see it, Elstner said. So youve got to really cover that ground.

A PolarNOx homecoming

On that far north hillside near the Chidriinjik River, the remains of the PolarNOx rocket mission lay nestled in the snow at about 3,000 feet elevation. Its crumpled orange parachute billowed slightly nearby.

Photo by Bryan Whitten

One of two helicopters involved in the PolarNOx payload recovery in early February 2026 sits on the frozen ground near the recovery site.

Elstner and contracted assistant Brendan Lahr arrived in early February and began preparing the rocket components and its payload for recovery by sling beneath another helicopter.

When the rocket parts hit the ground, from that point forward its my responsibility until it gets back to Poker Flat, Elstner said.

Elstner has been with Poker Flats recovery program from the beginning. Hes a biologist by training, has taught at an outdoors education center and worked at the Alaska Bird Observatory.

He doesnt want Poker Flat to blemish the terrain.

The notion that we as human beings can better steward our environment so we can enjoy it and have use of it in the future, that's the driving motivation for me.

196-26
Don't call your defeat agreement: Iran warns United States

Amidst repeated victory claims by Donald Trump administration, Tehran rebuked Washington asserting that the United States has actually been defeated in the ongoing war.

[Donald Trump boasting about US victory over Iran. (Inset) Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqari.]

Tehran/Washington: Amidst repeated victory claims by Donald Trump administration, Tehran rebuked Washington asserting that the United States has actually been defeated in the ongoing war.

If the self-proclaimed superpower of the world could have escaped this predicament, it would have done so by now. Do not call your defeat an agreement, Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqari, Spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said.

Zolfaqari said this as Trump claimed in a post on his Truth Social media platform that the US and Iran have had very good and constructive conversations over the past two days regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in [West Asia].

A source familiar with internal discussions in Tehran said that there has been no official contact between Tehran and Washington.

The era of your promises is over. Today, there are only two fronts in the world: truth and falsehood. And every freedom-seeking pursuer of truth will not be deceived by your media waves, Zolfaqari said.

Our first and last word from day one has been, is, and will be: someone like us will not come to terms with someone like younot now, and not ever, he said, as per the official Press TV.

US Victory Claims

US President Donald Trump and his team have repeatedly claimed that they have won the war.

Talking to reporters at White House Tuesday while Trump was standing on his side, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth went a step further and said, Never in history has a country been defeated as Iran has... We wiped it off the face of the earth, and then it was defeated.

US victory claims are surprising as the Trump administration repeatedly changed the war goals though none of the publicly disclosed objectives were fulfilled even after 26 days.

The US and Israel started the war on Iran on Feb 28, 2026 with the immediate goal of regime change. Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the US-Israeli joint attack, but there is no sign of regime change in Iran as of now.

Trump and Netanyahu also claimed they have destroyed Iran military power, with the former declaring there has been nothing left in Iran needed to be bombed. Trump also claimed Iran has left without stockpile of missiles.

But, Iran not only is continuously conducting airstrikes on US bases in the Middle East, and also deep into the Israeli territories, including the most secured Dimona where the countrys nuclear facilities are located.

Iran has also rejected Trumps proposal to end the war, asserting that the war will only end when its conditions are accepted.

Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates.

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BAGHDAD, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority announced on Wednesday another 72-hour extension of the country's airspace closure to all arriving, departing, and overflying aircraft, citing ongoing security concerns.

In a statement, the authority said the extension will be effective from 12:00 p.m. local time (0900 GMT) on Wednesday until 12:00 p.m. Saturday.

The decision is a "temporary precautionary measure" based on a continuous assessment of the "security situation and developments in the regional environment," the statement added.

The authority noted that the suspension will be reviewed in accordance with any updates, and all airlines and relevant agencies will be notified.

The extended closure came amid heightened regional tensions following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran starting on Feb. 28, to which Iran and its regional allies responded with attacks on Israeli and U.S. interests across the Middle East. 
Smoke billows following a strike at a fuel depot at Kuwait International Airport in Farwaniya Governorate, Kuwait, March 25, 2026. Kuwaiti authorities said early Wednesday that air defenses had intercepted multiple hostile drones and missiles, while a fuel depot at Kuwait International Airport was struck in an attack that caused a fire but no casualties. (Xinhua)

KUWAIT CITY, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Kuwaiti authorities said early Wednesday that air defenses had intercepted multiple hostile drones and missiles, while a fuel depot at Kuwait International Airport was struck in an attack that caused a fire but no casualties.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that drones targeted a fuel storage facility at Kuwait International Airport. Emergency teams and relevant authorities responded promptly to contain the blaze, the DGCA said in a statement posted on social media platform X, noting that the incident resulted in material damage only, with no injuries reported.

In a separate statement issued at dawn, the Kuwaiti Army said its air defense systems had successfully engaged and intercepted hostile missile and drone threats detected within the country's airspace. Loud explosions heard across parts of Kuwait were the result of these interception operations, the army added.

Meanwhile, the Kuwait National Guard (KNG) announced that it had intercepted six drones within its operational zones.

In an official statement, KNG spokesperson Brigadier General Jadaan Fadhel said the interceptions were carried out as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen national security, safeguard critical infrastructure, and neutralize potential threats.

Authorities in Kuwait have not immediately disclosed the origin of the attacks.

On Tuesday, Kuwait's Ministry of Defense said its air defense systems detected 17 ballistic missiles and 13 drones. The Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said that falling debris from interception operations damaged seven overhead power lines, causing partial power outages in some areas. Its spokesperson Fatima Hayat added that efforts were immediately launched to restore power, with most affected lines already repaired.

The incidents happened amid escalating tensions following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran that began last month. Iran has since responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli and U.S. assets across the Middle East. 

Smoke billows following a strike at a fuel depot at Kuwait International Airport in Farwaniya Governorate, Kuwait, March 25, 2026. Kuwaiti authorities said early Wednesday that air defenses had intercepted multiple hostile drones and missiles, while a fuel depot at Kuwait International Airport was struck in an attack that caused a fire but no casualties. (Xinhua)

Smoke billows following a strike at a fuel depot at Kuwait International Airport in Farwaniya Governorate, Kuwait, March 25, 2026. Kuwaiti authorities said early Wednesday that air defenses had intercepted multiple hostile drones and missiles, while a fuel depot at Kuwait International Airport was struck in an attack that caused a fire but no casualties. (Xinhua)
BEIJING, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Artificial intelligence is helping doctors read CT scans, train on virtual patients, and manage chronic diseases in community clinics. As China pushes to integrate smart technologies across its healthcare system, experts have called for broader AI integration in the sector.

The inaugural China Intelligent Medicine Conference, held on Saturday, brought together leading researchers and policymakers to discuss how technologies such as generative AI and brain-computer interfaces can reshape medical services.

"AI is reshaping medical understanding and practice," said Ji Xunming, president of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, noting the shift from reactive treatment to proactive health management.

Data from Fuwai Hospital in Beijing showed that AI-assisted systems have improved the accuracy of medical record data to over 95 percent, while AI-driven surgical evaluation models now provide objective performance scores for surgeons.

In areas such as standardizing medical practices, optimizing patient experience, and enhancing disease prevention and treatment capabilities at the primary level, data-driven transformations are helping public hospitals achieve high-quality development, said Hu Shengshou, president of Fuwai Hospital.

Speakers emphasized the potential of smart technologies to strengthen primary-level care. In hypertension management pilots, AI support significantly improved treatment and control rates among primary-level doctors.

However, challenges remain. Wang Zhenchang, an academician at Beijing Friendship Hospital, noted that most current AI products focus on single diseases and do not fully meet complex clinical needs.

Wang called for more comprehensive imaging systems integrated into clinical workflows, along with faster regulatory pathways to keep pace with innovation.

A research report on AI in medical health released at the conference outlined bottlenecks in computing power, data, and ethics, and proposed a systematic approach centered on areas such as homegrown innovation and stronger oversight.

Progress is also underway in talent development, with the first national textbooks for intelligent medical engineering set to be published.

China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) calls for the orderly application of digital and intelligent technologies in areas such as assisted diagnosis, precision medicine, health management, medical insurance services, and elderly care.

Liu Dengfeng, a senior official of the National Health Commission (NHC), said at the conference that the NHC will accelerate the application of digital technologies in both major hospitals and grassroots facilities, and improve policies and regulations in areas such as ethics to create a favorable environment for intelligent medicine. 
In an unassuming office block on the outskirts of Delhi, something remarkable is quietly taking shape. Students clutching notebooks settle into chairs for a Business Management lecture  a perfectly ordinary scene, except for one detail: their university is headquartered nearly 7,000 kilometres away, in the cathedral city of Southampton, England. This is not a study-abroad programme or a satellite classroom. It is the future of British higher education, and it is already here.

The University of Southampton became the first British institution to open a fully operational branch campus in India when it launched at Gurugram's International Tech Park in July 2025. By September, it had enrolled its inaugural cohort of 140 undergraduates, offering degrees in Computer Science, Business Management, Economics, and Finance  the same qualifications awarded to students on its Hampshire campus back home. The scene is being replicated, or soon will be, by eight other UK universities, in a development that education analysts are calling a once-in-a-generation reconfiguration of international higher learning.

I think we have to move into a much more proactive mode. If universities don't grasp the nettle and shift themselves strategically, they risk being left behind." Charlie Jeffery, Vice-Chancellor, University of York

A MEETING OF PERFECT CONDITIONS

This eastward surge did not emerge overnight. It is the product of two converging forces: India's colossal demand for quality higher education, and Britain's urgent need to rethink its university funding model.

India is projected to need an extraordinary 70 million new university places by 2035  a number that dwarfs the capacity of any single nation to supply on its own. Recognising this, New Delhi introduced landmark reforms in 2023 under the National Education Policy (NEP 2020), opening the door to top-ranked foreign universities for the first time in modern history. The policy requires institutions to meet rigorous quality benchmarks, ensuring that Indian students receive internationally recognised, not second-tier, qualifications.

For Britain, the timing was equally opportune  and urgent. Around 45 percent of English higher education institutions are projected to run a deficit in 202526, squeezed between capped domestic tuition fees, shrinking research grants, and a government determined to reduce the number of international students travelling to the UK. By going to students rather than waiting for students to come to them, British universities found a lifeline  and, in India, a market of breathtaking scale.

The diplomatic groundwork was laid at the highest levels. Prime Ministers Keir Starmer and Narendra Modi formalised the arrangement during Starmer's first official visit to India in October 2025, unveiling a joint educational framework under the India-UK Vision 2025 partnership. The two leaders jointly announced that nine leading UK universities had received approvals to establish campuses in India, prompting India's Foreign Secretary to call it "a silent revolution in the field of education."

THE UNIVERSITIES MAKING THE MOVE

The institutions involved read like a roll call of British academic excellence. All are ranked within the global QS top 600; more than half sit within the top 200. The breadth of their chosen locations  from the tech corridors of Gurugram and Bengaluru to the financial hub of GIFT City, Gujarat, and the entrepreneurial energy of Mumbai  signals a deliberate strategy to embed within India's fastest-growing economic ecosystems.

UNIVERSITY LOCATION FOCUS AREAS STATUS University of Southampton Gurugram (Delhi NCR) Business, Computer Science, Finance OPEN University of Bristol Mumbai Data Science, AI, Fintech, Arts SUMMER 2026 University of York Mumbai AI, Sustainability LATE 2026 University of Surrey GIFT City, Gujarat Finance, AI, Cybersecurity 202627 Lancaster University Bengaluru Technology, Business APPROVED 2026 Queen's University Belfast GIFT City, Gujarat Finance, Business OPEN University of Liverpool TBC Medicine, Engineering APPROVED University of Aberdeen TBC Energy, Law APPROVED Coventry University India (via GEDU) Business, Engineering 202627

THE PROMISE: A BRITISH DEGREE, WITHOUT THE BRITISH PRICE TAG

Perhaps the most exciting dimension of this shift, for students, is what it means for accessibility. Under the framework, degrees awarded by Indian branch campuses are identical to those issued on UK soil  same curriculum, same examinations, same certificate. There is no asterisk, no caveat, no "branch campus edition." A student graduating from Bristol's Mumbai Enterprise Campus in 2028 will hold precisely the same qualification as their counterpart in Clifton.

And they will have paid, in many cases, roughly half the price. Tuition at Indian branch campuses typically runs between 10,000 and 12,000 per year  a significant reduction compared to UK fees, before factoring in the savings on accommodation, living costs, and the absence of UK visa fees and the recently introduced International Student Levy. For India's burgeoning middle class, the prospect of a top-ranked British degree without the financial and logistical weight of emigrating to study is transformative.

"More Indian students will be able to benefit from a world-class British education, strengthening the ties between our two countries while pumping millions back into our economy." Prime Minister Keir Starmer, October 2025

THE BIGGER PICTURE: BRITAIN CEMENTING ITS GLOBAL LEAD

The United Kingdom has long been the world leader in transnational education  the delivery of British degrees beyond its own borders. But this new wave of physical branch campuses represents something deeper than a policy initiative or a revenue strategy. It is a statement of intent: that British universities are not content to wait for the world to come to them.

Education remains one of Britain's most valuable exports, worth an estimated 32 billion per year. As universities in the traditional "Big Four" destinations  Australia, Canada, the UK, and the United States  contend with tightening immigration policies, the UK is moving swiftly to build on its transnational advantage. India is the centrepiece of that effort, but it is not the only theatre; British universities are simultaneously expanding in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa.

For India, the benefits extend beyond access to affordable prestige. UK branch campuses bring with them research collaboration networks, faculty exchange programmes, and curricula aligned with the digital and green economies that India's government is actively cultivating. University of Surrey's GIFT City campus, for example, will open with a deliberate focus on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity  precisely the skills at the heart of India's technology transformation agenda.

CHALLENGES ON THE HORIZON

Optimism, however, must be tempered with clear-eyed realism. Building a university from the ground up in a foreign country is a formidable undertaking. New campuses require substantial upfront capital investment and are expected to run at a loss in their early years. Competition for faculty, students, and institutional recognition will be fierce as Australian, American, and other European universities pursue the same market.

Quality assurance presents a particular challenge. Maintaining the same academic standards across campuses separated by thousands of miles  with different faculty pools, different student cultures, and different regulatory environments  demands sustained oversight and investment. Critics have also noted that the regulatory framework governing branch campuses varies significantly depending on location: those in GIFT City operate under the International Financial Services Centres Authority, while those elsewhere in India must navigate India's University Grants Commission approval processes.

And yet, the momentum is undeniable. GEDU Global Education, the UK-based operator partnering with several British universities, has already invested 25 million in India and plans to commit a further 200 million over three years. The University of Southampton's first cohort graduated from year one with strong results. Charlie Jeffery of York put it succinctly during Starmer's Mumbai visit: the alternative to bold action is institutional irrelevance.

A NEW CHAPTER IN GLOBAL LEARNING

The story of UK universities in India is still in its opening pages. Most of the nine approved institutions have yet to welcome their first students; the full picture of this experiment's success or challenges will not be known for years. But what is already clear is that the map of global higher education is being redrawn  and Britain, in partnership with the world's most populous and youngest nation, is holding the pen.

For the students sitting in that Gurugram office block, none of the geopolitics or institutional finance matters quite so much as this: they are studying for a British degree, in their own country, surrounded by their families, at a cost their families can afford. That, more than any diplomatic communique or league table ranking, may be the quiet revolution's most enduring legacy.
VIENNA, March 24 (Xinhua) -- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief on Tuesday reiterated his call for maximum restraint following a fresh attack on Iran's nuclear facility.

The IAEA said on social media X that it has been informed by Iran that another projectile hit the premises of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant on Tuesday.

Iran's authorities said there was no damage to the nuclear plant itself nor injuries to the staff, and the condition of the plant remains normal.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi reiterated his call for maximum restraint to avoid nuclear safety risks during the ongoing conflict.

Iran's nuclear facilities have been struck several times since the U.S.-Israeli military strikes started on Feb. 28. 
CANBERRA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Three people have died and two others have been hospitalized with serious injuries following a collision between a truck and a sedan in South Australia (SA) on Tuesday.

The SA police force said in a statement on Wednesday that emergency services were called to the collision in the town of Birdwood, 35 km east of Adelaide, around 1:40 p.m. local time on Tuesday.

Three passengers in the sedan died at the scene.

The driver of the sedan suffered life-threatening injuries and was hospitalized, as was a fourth passenger with serious injuries.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that they were both cut from the wreckage of the vehicle by emergency services before being airlifted to the hospital.

Police said that the driver of the truck was not physically injured and was assisting with the investigation.

The incident takes the number of deaths on SA roads so far in 2026 to 26. 
KENNEY, Ill. (WAND)  A DeWitt County fire department is hosting a blood drive on Good Friday.

The Kenney Fire Department is teaming up with ImpactLife to host its annual community blood drive on Friday, April 3.

The drive will be from 11:15 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. inside the Kenney Fire Department firehouse at 110 E. Sheldon St., Kenney, IL.

Anyone looking to donate blood is asked to make an appointment by contacting Troy Lashbrook at 217-944-2441 or visiting the ImpactLife website and entering code 61509 to locate the drive.

Appointments can also be scheduled by calling ImpactLife at 800-747-5401.

Copyright 2026. WAND TV. All rights reserved.
Santanche steps down following pressure from Meloni amid the fallout from the defeat of the justice referendum.

Italian tourism minister Daniela Santanche resigned on Wednesday afternoon, bringing to a close a political and judicial saga that had weighed on the right-wing government of premier Giorgia Meloni for more than two years.

The development came the day after the resignations of justice undersecretary Andrea Delmastro and the chief of staff of the justice ministry, Giusi Bartolozzi, in the wake of the defeat of a high-stakes judicial referendum which Meloni had backed.

On Tuesday evening Meloni welcomed the resignations of Delmastro and Bartolozzi before calling on Santanche to do the same, in a move widely seen as ridding the government of figures with ongoing legal troubles.

Santanche, 64, is a senior member of Meloni's right-wing Fratelli d'Italia party and has been embroiled in significant legal challenges, causing a headache for Meloni. She had faced a motion of no confidence next Monday.

"Dear Giorgia, I submit my resignation, as you officially requested", Santanche said in a statement, emphasising that to date her "criminal record is spotless" and adding: "I won't hide a sense of bitterness over the outcome of my ministerial career, but in my life I'm used to paying my own bills and often those of others as well."

Legal woes

The reckoning came after the preliminary hearing for the case of alleged fraud against INPS, the national social security institute.

Santanche was accused of having improperly obtained ocvid furlough payments for Visibilia employees who, according to prosecutors, had continued working throughout the pandemic.

This had always been the line she drew in public: if referred to trial over the alleged covid wage subsidy fraud, she would "certainly" take a step back.

Her legal troubles had multiplied steadily over the preceding months.

The minister was already on trial for false accounting, and under investigation for two separate counts of bankruptcy fraud, one tied to the collapse of Ki Group, of which she had been president and legal representative, and another relating to Bioera, a biofood company that went bankrupt at the end of 2024.

According to the liquidator's report, Bioera had accumulated a negative net worth, a financial hole estimated at around 8 million.

End of an era at the tourism ministry

The opposition had long since run out of patience. The centre-left Partito Democratico (PD) had described her continued presence in government as "an affront to the institutions of the Republic," demanding that Meloni stop stalling.

The Movimento 5 Stelle senator Ketty Damante declared last month that "every day that passed without [Santanche's] resignation was a day lost for the credibility of the institutions."

Meloni, until now, had maintained a policy of public silence on the matter.

The prime minister had been reluctant to push for Santanche's exit publicly, not wanting to undermine her party's image as a defender of the presumption of innocence, or to contradict her stance on similar cases involving other members of the coalition.

But the atmosphere shifted decisively after the referendum result and the rapid-fire departures of Delmastro and Bartolozzi. Meloni had sensed the need to renew her cabinet and shed the political embarrassment of ongoing judicial proceedings.

Santanche served as tourism minister since the formation of the Meloni government in October 2022.

In addition to her high-profile legal cases, she will be remembered by many for the widely panned Open to Meraviglia campaign based on a reinterpretation of Sandro Botticelli's 'Venus' as a pizza-eating influencer.

Her exit is defined by the long shadow of the courts, and by a sense, shared even among her allies, that the step back came far too late.

The name of her successor is expected to be announced by Palazzo Chigi within the coming hours.

Photo credit: Marco Iacobucci Epp / Shutterstock.com
Tom Tuite

A marketing executive with a radio network has been released on bail after appearing in court over a seizure of 110,000 worth of cannabis at his office building in Dublin on Tuesday.

Seafra O'Donovan, 35, an employee of Bauer Media, was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis and having it for sale or supply at Marconi House, Digges Lane, Dublin 2, on March 23rd.

The location of the seizure, which was part of a joint Garda and Revenue Customs operation, is the base for Newstalk, Today FM, and affiliated radio stations.

Dressed in a black sleeveless jacket, navy sweater, white shirt, dark pants and black runners, O'Donovan sat silently throughout the brief hearing before Judge Conor Fottrell at Dublin District Court on Wednesday.

No plea was entered to the charges, which are under sections 3 and 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Garda Conor Hearns told Judge Fottrell that the accused, of Leeson Park, Court, Ranelagh, in Dublin city's southside, was charged shortly after 11pm on Tuesday, handed a copy of the charges, and "made no reply" when cautioned.

Garda Hearns, from the divisional drugs unit at Kevin Street, confirmed he was not objecting to bail with conditions.

Accordingly, Judge Fottrell ordered O'Donovan to sign on two days a week at his local Garda station, notify of address or mobile phone number changes and not apply for a passport.

Defence solicitor, Aoife Dalton, informed Judge Fottrell that her client had provided his phone number and that his passport had already been handed in.

Garda Hearns asked for a lengthy adjournment, two to three months, if possible, as the investigation was still ongoing and a file needed to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Judge Fottrell ordered O'Donovan to appear again on May 27th next.

As part of a pilot project BreakingNews.ie has used AI to suggest headline options for this article. The final headline was chosen and edited by BreakingNews.ie journalists. Find out more
A 26-year-old man received a seven-year prison sentence for setting fire to a house in Waterford City that left two elderly brothers homeless.

The victims were forced to leave their home in the dead of night with only the clothes on their back.

Patryck Pietrazych, of 7 Henry Terrace, Waterford City, was found guilty on one count of arson after a trial held in November 2025.

In the early hours of December 4, 2023, he set fire to 4 Grange Terrace. CCTV footage captured a man matching Pietrazych's description walking in the direction of the address. The house was owned by Waterford City and County Council and was uninhabitable for nearly two years. The damages were valued at just over 77,000.

At the scene of the crime, Gardai found glass jars of a Polish food product, which later matched the serial number and expiry date of jars found in Pietrazych's home.

Detective Garda Sean Lane confirmed that Pietrazych has 11 previous convictions, including assault, violent disorder, theft and threats to assault. The court heard that Pietrazych has not shown any remorse or offered an apology.

In Waterford Circuit Court, one brother gave a victim impact statement, explaining how they had lost everything they had ever owned, including their tropical fish pets, rare coins and photographs of their mother, who died in 1993.

He said: "It was all we had left of her. I was really upset by that, we have no reminder of her."

The brothers have suffered sleepless nights, night terrors and anxiety after their close brush with death.

The victim said: "We could have been six feet under."

Judge Eugene O'Kelly imposed a sentence of seven years, reduced by nine months due to Pietrazych's work history and pro-social background.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
TOKYO, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Japan's crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant has discharged 55,011 tons of nuclear-contaminated wastewater into the ocean in fiscal 2025, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) said in a news release on Tuesday.

According to TEPCO, the plant carried out seven rounds of discharge throughout fiscal 2025, which ran from April 2025 to March 2026. The wastewater dumped into the ocean contained approximately 16 trillion becquerels of radioactive tritium.

The company plans to carry out eight rounds of discharge in fiscal 2026, with a projected total volume of about 62,400 tons.

Despite widespread concerns and opposition from the international community, Japan unilaterally launched the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from the plant into the ocean in August 2023. To date, a total of 18 rounds of discharge have been completed, with a cumulative volume of about 141,000 tons released into the sea. 
Sinn Fein spokesperson on Health and TD for Waterford, Deputy David Cullinane, has said the confirmation on Wednesday, March 25, that "the 18th completion date" for the new Childrens Hospital will be missed at the end of next month was "exceptionally frustrating".

He made his remarks following the Oireachtas Health Committee meeting with the hospital development board and Childrens Health Ireland (CHI) on Wednesday morning.

Deputy Cullinane called for the Minister for Health to hold the Development Board, Childrens Health Ireland and the hospital developer accountable for week-to-week progress until the hospital is built, handed over and open for treating sick children.

It is absolutely ridiculous and exceptionally frustrating, but not at all surprising, that the new Childrens hospital will miss yet another deadline," he said.

"This is a hospital which we desperately want and need to see open and treating sick children. It is heartbreaking to see yet another delay, which will have real consequences for children who are languishing on waiting lists," he added.

Read More We can dare to dream of a World Cup spot

Deputy Cullinane said: The taxpayer is once again being told next year, next year, and it is no wonder that faith in this project is on the floor. I have no faith in any completion date. Even when the hospital is completed and handed over, it will take at least seven months to fully commission. It will be close to another year, if not longer, before this hospital is open and treating children."

Calling for a week-by-week account of what is happening to finish the hospital, Deputy Cullinane said the Minister for Health should bring all of her influence to bear on the project to get it over the line.

"There must be clear and transparent milestones for room completions and the number of teams working in parallel on site," he said.

"This must take account of outstanding work, the resources needed to complete it, and week-to-week progress against this," he added.

Targets are constantly being missed, only half of the rooms in the hospital have been handed over and validated, and the most important parts of the hospital  including theatres  are still not finished," he said.

"Serious concerns about the finished quality of some rooms and floors have been raised, including issue with ventilation, noise and substandard completion which have been ongoing concerns for several years," he added.

Deputy Cullinane expressed criticism of Minister Simon Harris' role in the project and commented: "It is very clear from the testimony of the development board that the contract is weak and that they do not have the necessary powers to speed up delivery of the project. The taxpayer is at the mercy of the contractor because of Simon Harris contract which has been a disaster from start to finish."

"In the middle of it all are a high number of claims for an outrageous sum of money, there are hundreds of millions worth of disputed claims which may still fall back on the taxpayer," he said.

Deputy Cullinane said the Minister for Health must take responsibility for bringing an end to "the farce of the new Childrens Hospital saga" and that the Government must ensure that no similar type contract is ever signed off on again.
Sinn Fein TDs for Waterford, Deputy David Cullinane and Conor D. McGuinness, have said the response of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to soaring fuel prices falls far short of what is needed and fails to deliver meaningful relief for struggling households.

Commenting on the matter, in the wake of measures announced by the Government, Deputy Cullinane said: "The measures announced by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael come weeks too late and only after sustained public pressure and pressure from Sinn Fein."

"For the past month, families and workers have been hammered by spiralling fuel costs," he said.

"People are struggling to heat their homes and fill their cars, while this Government stood back," he added. Deputy Cullinane said it took sustained pressure and public anger to force action, but added: "What has been brought forward does not go far enough. Motorists needed the maximum reduction at the pumps but chose not to do it."

The extension of the fuel allowance by just four weeks - 152 - is a drop in the ocean," he said.

"It wont make a meaningful difference."

Read More TDs in Waterford turn up heat on Government over rising home fuel costs

He then referenced how his party was moving an amendment "to deliver the maximum reduction on diesel, similar cuts to petrol and to remove excise tax completely from home heating oil".

Meanwhile, Deputy McGuinness said the Governments approach to home heating oil was "a complete failure".

The cost of a fill has doubled in weeks, yet Fianna Fail and Fine Gael offer just two cent per litre," he said.

"That is not support - it is an insult," he added, before going on to comment: "They will claw this back through another carbon tax hike in a matter of weeks. They give with one hand and take with the other. There is a multi-billion-euro surplus and millions in additional tax revenue from rising prices. The issue is not money - it is political will."

Once again, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are choosing to do the bare minimum," he said.

"This is a real emergency for households. It demands real action - not half-measures.
Pride of the Deise / Brod na nDeise, Waterford's volunteer-run LGBTQ+ community organisation, has announced the dates of its 2026 Pride Festival alongside the launch of a 1,000 Artist Bursary - the organisation's most significant investment in visual art to date.

The festival will run from Wednesday, May 27, to Saturday, June 6, in Waterford City and is being funded through the Waterford City and County Council Festival Grant Fund.

Founded in 2019, the organisation held its first festival online in 2020 - born out of the disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic - and the event has grown every year since into one of the southeast's most beloved community celebrations.

The 1,000 Artist Bursary invites artists to apply to create the visual identity of Pride of the Deise 2026 - including the festival poster and the organisation's much-loved festival fundraising t-shirt, which has become a hallmark of Pride of the Deise since its earliest years.

For the past two years, after receiving an increase in festival funding, Pride of the Deise has been able to commission Waterford-based artists to design the festival's main visual, recognising the importance of paying artists fairly for their work. This year, for the first time, the commission is being opened to a wider pool of applicants, with a formal bursary structure and increased fee, reflecting the organisation's growing commitment to the visual arts.

Applications are welcome from artists based in Waterford and beyond and the selected artist's work will be licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 and will become part of Pride of the Deise's permanent artistic legacy.

A Statement for Our Times

Pride of the Deise has long championed the work of visual artists across its festival programme.

A spokesperson for the organisers highligted how the launch of this bursary comes at a moment when the value of human-made art is under increasing pressure, with AI-generated imagery becoming widespread across the events industry.

"Pride of the Deise was built by a community that has always understood the power of art to say who we are and where we belong," said Eadaoin Breathnach, current Chairperson, former Treasurer, and POTD founding member

"Our festival t-shirt and poster have become something people look forward to every year - they carry our identity through the city throughout the year," added Eadaoin, who went on to comment: "Now more than ever, at a time when so many organisations are turning to AI-generated images, we want to be unambiguous: we believe in paying artists for their time, their craft, and their vision. This bursary is a statement of that belief."

Meanwhile, Amy O'Riordan, the organisation's PRO and former Chairperson, said: "I'm so proud of what this committee has built together over the last number of years, and having Eadaoin back leading us into our seventh year feels very special. POTD was started because Waterford's LGBTQ+ community deserved a celebration that truly reflected them - and that has always included the art."

"This bursary is something we've wanted to do for a while, and we're finally able to do it properly. I can't wait to see what our 2026 artist creates," said Amy.

How to Apply

Applications are open now and close on April 3. Full details and the bilingual application form are available at: prideofthedeise.com/feile-2026-festival/artist-bursary-sparanacht-ealaiontora

Artists do not need to create new work for their application - examples of existing work are welcome and encouraged.
A Waterford man has received a prison sentence of two years and three months for committing money-laundering.

John Sprice (38), of 93 Priory Lawn, Ballybeg, scammed a Kerry woman out of nearly 20,000. He acted alongside his co-accused Chris Tozetti, who was sentenced last November for his part.

On May 11, 2023, a woman was targeted by a phishing scam call pretending to be Bank of Ireland. The caller claimed that her account was compromised and that she had to transfer her money to another account. Believing the call to be legitimate, the woman transferred 19,900 to Sprice's account. Two days later, her bank contacted her to ask if she had transferred the large sum to Sprice.

She was at her son's First Holy Communion when she discovered the scam.

The money was refunded to her account but she experienced emotional and financial difficulties as a result. Defence counsel Gareth Hayden BL told the court that Sprice had long-standing difficulties with drugs and gambling.

Garda Kevin Cleere gave evidence to Judge Eugene O'Kelly at Waterford Circuit Court. The court heard that Sprice has eight previous convictions, mainly theft-related offences.

Judge O'Kelly said: "John Sprice sold his bank account details to enable a criminal enterprise by scamming an innocent lady out of nearly 20,000. The prevalence of this type of criminal activity is frightening."

The final year of the sentence was suspended.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
West Waterford councillor Donnchadh Mulcahy has said new bus stops in Tallow are an important step forward for safety.

Buses had been stopping in an area of high traffic and busy junctions.

Cllr Mulcahy said this was something raised with him during the election and he welcomed the designation stop.

I want to thank the Council for working with us to address this issue and delivering a practical solution for the town. Its a positive outcome for the community, he said.

In the past, particularly at the old bus stop beside Spar, cars were often parked in the area, leaving buses with nowhere to pull in and causing mayhem in the town centre. These new stops will only work if they are kept clear, said Cllr Mulcahy.

Cllr Mulcahy took the opportunity to commend Local Link for the vital service they provide.

Local Link provides a brilliant and much-needed service across West Waterford, connecting our communities and supporting people in their day-to-day lives.

I want to thank everyone who engaged with the council on this matter. It shows what can be achieved when people come together and highlight an issue that needs to be addressed.

He added that he will continue to work on behalf of Tallow and the wider West Waterford area to improve safety and infrastructure for local communities, said Cllr Mulcahy.
The Mayor of Waterford City and County, Councillor Seamus Ryan has officially launched the new Radon Monitor Loan Scheme in Waterford Libraries.

The launch took place on Monday, March 23, and the scheme will enable members of the public to borrow digital radon monitors to check radon levels in their homes.

A spokesperson for Waterford Council said the scheme is a 'Healthy Ireland at Your Library' initiative, supported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to raise awareness of radon and promote proactive health measures.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can accumulate indoors. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer in Ireland after smoking.

Through the scheme, library users can borrow a digital radon monitor, just like a book, for three weeks and this will give a good indication of radon levels in their home. While this does not replace the recommended three-month test, the monitors offer a valuable first step in identifying potential radon issues.

Attending were Mayor Of Waterford City & County Cllr. Seamus Ryan, Mary Conway, City & County Librarian and Anne Marie Lawlor, HSE and National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP). Photo: John Power

Mayor Ryan said: "This is an important health initiative being provided through our library and I encourage members of the community to avail of it. It is a simple step that could make a real difference to your health and wellbeing."

Meanwhile, Waterford City & County Librarian, Mary Conway said: "We are delighted to be able to provide this new service of radon monitor lending in nine of our public libraries in Waterford."

"This is particularly important to the community that we serve as the South-East has high radon levels, and this initiative will help make homes safer and support public health," she said.

Attending was Jean Corcoran. Photo: John Power

Ann-Marie Lawlor, Regional Senior Health Promotion Officer for Cancer Prevention, HSE said: "Radon is an independent risk factor for lung cancer and causes approximately 350 lung cancer cases in Ireland each year. This new lending scheme will enable people to get an indication of radon levels in their home and, if necessary, make informed choices to reduce radon and risk to their health".

EPA Director, Patrick Byrne also highlighed the significance of Radon in terms of public health and said: "Radon is a serious public health hazard, but there are clear steps we can take to reduce it in our homes. Making radon monitors available through libraries provides an easy, accessible way to help people get an indication of levels in their home."

"Borrow a monitor, use it at home for three weeks and get a quick indication of radon levels in your home," said Mr Byrne.

To find out more information on testing your home go to www.radon.ie

Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme
A 63-year-old man has been sentenced to eight years in prison for a large-scale jewellery store robbery he committed in Waterford city in 2024.

William OConnor, with an address at 28 Carrigeen, Clonmel, stole 180,000 worth of jewellery from Hallmark Jewellers in City Square Shopping Centre.

During the shocking incident, OConnor brandished a machete, made threats to members of the public and physically forced the manager of the store to place expensive jewellery items into a bag.

He fled to the UK after the incident and a largescale Garda operation commenced, leading to his eventual arrest.

Described as a career criminal, OConnor has spent upwards of 30 years of his life in prison or detention, including over 10 years of incarceration in France for his involvement in an incident of theft in 2002, which resulted in the death of a man.

The robbery

On Wednesday, January 10, 2024, William OConnor arrived by bicycle to the rear entrance of City Square Shopping Centre.

He placed his bike on a railing outside and proceeded to enter. His face was concealed and he was holding a gear bag.

At 5:08pm, he hastily walked towards Hallmark Jewellers and removed a large machete from his bag.

O'Connor placed his bike on a railing, and entered via the rear entrance of City Square Shopping Centre

5:08pm: He walked towards the Hallmark Jewellers unit in the shopping centre...

And entered Hallmark Jewellers.

He approached the counter of the jewellers and began waving the machete at the store manager.

OConnor grabbed the manager by her hair and forcibly dragged her behind the counter to retrieve keys.

She was then dragged to the window display at the front of the store and was forced to fill his bag with jewellery.

The manager of the store attempted to escape, exiting from the store.

OConnor followed and attempted to flee from the shopping centre.

He fled the scene via the same route he had entered and rode away on his bicycle

What ensued was a scene of chaos, captured entirely on CCTV.

Bystanders who were present in the shopping centre bolted upon seeing the man leave the jewellers with his machete raised and swinging.

Whilst OConnor ran through the centre, a member of the public sprayed a fire extinguisher at him in an attempt to stop him.

An employee of a barber shop chased him and threw a 'wet floor' cone at him.

The employee said in a Victim Impact Statement that OConnor said to him: You come close, you die.

OConnor exited the shopping centre through the same rear entrance he entered just minutes earlier.

He got onto his bicycle and made his escape.

Investigations commence

Gardai received a report and began a large-scale investigation.

Significant amounts of CCTV footage from across the city were obtained, tracking the movements of OConnor after his exit from the shopping centre.

His face remained concealed in the majority of the footage.

One segment of footage obtained from the Applemarket area showed him walking with his face covering removed however, which allowed a Garda officer from Clonmel to identify him.

OConnors residence in Clonmel was searched. Nothing of value was found, nor was the suspect himself.

He had fled the jurisdiction.

Escape

Three days after the robbery, on January 13, OConnor took a ferry to Holyhead in Wales. From there, he travelled to Manchester.

On January 16, he took a plane from Manchester to Dublin Airport and was arrested by Gardai on the tarmac as he was disembarking the plane.

An investigating Garda officer said that OConnor was cooperative during his arrest.

He was transferred back to Waterford for interview in Waterford Garda Station.

He made no admissions and none of the stolen items were ever recovered.

The suspect

William OConnor was born in the UK on August 28, 1962.

He was brought to Ireland at a young age to live in Waterford and attended school there until he was 13 years old.

At 16-years-old, his life took a spiral and he turned to a life of crime.

Between the years 1976 and 2014, William OConnor accumulated 43 convictions.

In 2014, he was convicted in a French court with committing theft with acts of violence causing death for an incident that took place in the French port city of Calais on Halloween night in 2002.

During last weeks court hearing, his defence counsel said O'Connor maintains he wasnt the one who perpetrated the assault that led to the death and he was only a co-accused in the matter.

He received a 20-year sentence which was reduced to 12 years and he was permanently banished from the French district.

He served the prison sentence in France before returning to live in Clonmel.

Throughout his life, he has been convicted of crimes in France, the UK and Ireland, many of which were armed robberies.

He has spent upwards of 30 years of his 63 years of life in prison or detention.

In recent years he was living in Clonmel and was receiving a carer's allowance for providing care to a family member.

The court was told last week that OConnor doesnt drink and has no addiction issues.

He has been in custody in relation to the jewellery theft from Waterford since January 2024. A Governors Report outlines that he has displayed good behaviour to staff and other prisoners whilst incarcerated.

Court proceedings

William O'Connor pleaded guilty to Section 14 Robbery, with counts of making threats to kill or cause harm and production of an article taken into consideration.

Judge Eugene OKelly presided over proceedings at Waterford Circuit Court last week.

William OConnor was represented by defence barrister Mr. Colman Cody SC.

During the hearing, Mr. Cody acknowledged that the court was dealing with a very serious matter.

OConnor penned a letter to the court apologising to the staff of Hallmark Jewellers and members of the public who witnessed the event.

He said he was so ashamed and claimed that at the time of the incident he was under pressure to pay back money he owed to people who were threatening members of his family. Mr Cody said that his client owed money towards his legal fees in France.

Mr Cody asked Judge OKelly to consider in mitigation his clients guilty plea, preventing a jury trial, which could have used up two or three weeks of the courts time.

The employee of the barber shop in the shopping centre, who attempted to apprehend OConnor on the day of the incident, submitted a Victim Impact Statement to the court. In it, he said that OConnor did more than steal jewellery, he also stole his peace of mind.

He said that the incident had significant psychological impacts on him and he is now constantly vigilant.

Judge OKelly said the man was extremely brave for attempting to stop the suspect on the day.

Prison

Providing his view on the matter before handing down a sentence, Judge OKelly said that OConnor produced a deadly and lethal weapon during the robbery.

He said there were significant levels of premeditation involved and that the wider community were impacted by the crime due to the public nature of the incident.

He described OConnor as a violent criminal.

William OConnor was sentenced to eight years in prison.

The sentence will be backdated to the date that he entered custody in January 2024.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
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Analysis BusinessCompaniesSocial media Zuckerberg faces his Big Tobacco moment David Swan Updated March 26, 2026  6:15am ,first published 1:05pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

The same algorithms that make Meta brilliant at selling you running shoes are equally effective at connecting predators with children. Thats not some activists claim, its what Metas own former engineering director told a New Mexico jury  and they believed him. After a bruising seven-week trial, jurors found this week that Meta violated state consumer protection law by concealing what it knew about child sexual exploitation and mental health harms on Facebook and Instagram. They ruled the company made false and misleading statements and engaged in unconscionable trade practices that exploited the vulnerabilities of children. The New Mexico judgement is a landmark moment for Meta and its CEO Mark Zuckerberg. AP The judgment, which imposed a $US375 million ($536 million) fine on Meta, is a landmark moment for the social media giant, and for every technology platform that has treated child safety as a mere reputational problem to be managed, rather than an engineering challenge to be taken seriously. Just one day later, in Los Angeles on Thursday morning (AEDT), Meta and YouTube were found liable in a trial centred on whether the tech giants intentionally designed addictive features that harmed a young womans mental health. Compensatory damages were assessed at $US3 million, with Meta on the hook for 70 per cent and YouTube the remaining 30 per cent.

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Together, they represent Big Techs Big Tobacco moment. Related Article Social media Meta and Google found liable in landmark social media addiction trial The New Mexico case began when state Attorney General Raul Torrez ran an undercover operation in 2023, creating a fake profile of a 13-year-old girl. The account was, in Torrezs words, simply inundated with sexual solicitations from predators. Three arrests followed, and the trial ultimately exposed a corporate culture where safety concerns were systematically subordinated to growth ambitions. The testimony was damning: former Meta engineering director Arturo Bejar told the court he raised alarms after his own 14-year-old daughter received sexual solicitations on Instagram. Former Meta vice president Brian Boland testified he absolutely did not believe that safety was a priority under chief executive Mark Zuckerberg and then-chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg when he departed the company in 2020. Then there was Zuckerberg himself. In a pre-recorded deposition played to the jury, the Meta boss was confronted with 15 years of internal communications and user complaints describing his products as addictive.

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When a prosecutor asked whether users had repeatedly told your company and you personally that they find the products to be addictive, Zuckerberg bristled. People use that word colloquially, he said. Thats not what were trying to do with the products, and its not how I think they work. Related Article Social media The great scroll off: Inside Australias world-first teen social media ban He also conceded that Meta had initially set employee goals around increasing the time teenagers spent on the platform, before shifting to other metrics from about 2017. He used the free speech line, that he cared about not cracking down on the ways that people can express themselves and that anecdotal evidence of harm wasnt convincing enough.

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Zuckerberg is developing an AI CEO agent to help him run Meta. It will hopefully have a bit more humanity. Metas defence was that prosecutors cherry-picked internal documents to paint an unfair picture, and that about 40,000 employees work on platform safety. The companys lawyer, Kevin Huff, argued Meta had been transparent that its safeguards werent perfect. All were doing is showing the world what they knew behind closed doors and werent willing to tell their users, Torrez said in response. A recording of Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerbergs deposition was played for the jurors in the trial. AP The verdicts arrive at what looks increasingly like an inflection point for social media, in the US and globally. Hundreds of other lawsuits from individuals, school districts and US state attorneys general are queued up.

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The trial showed Meta has swung between privacy maximalism and safety-first rhetoric depending on which narrative suited its commercial interests at any given moment. AP Legal experts have drawn comparisons to the Big Tobacco litigation of the 1990s, and its a fitting analogy. Like the tobacco companies, Meta stands accused not just of selling a harmful product, but of actively concealing what its own research showed about the damage. Perhaps the most revealing development to emerge during the trial was Metas abrupt decision to kill end-to-end encryption on Instagram direct messages. The feature, which Zuckerberg championed in a 2019 manifesto about a privacy-focused vision for social networking, will be discontinued on May 8. Meta says it will appeal. It can afford to: the $US375 million penalty is roughly what the company earns in a single day. Internal documents surfaced during the trial that showed Metas own head of content policy, Monika Bickert, had warned at the time: We are about to do a bad thing as a company. This is so irresponsible. She argued encryption would make it impossible to detect child exploitation or terrorist planning and proactively refer cases to law enforcement. Meta proceeded anyway. Now, seven years later, it has quietly reversed course, blaming low adoption rates for a feature it buried behind multiple menus and never promoted.

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The encryption backflip captures the fundamental contradiction at the heart of Metas approach to child safety. The company has swung between privacy maximalism and safety-first rhetoric depending on which narrative suited its commercial interests at any given moment. When encryption was fashionable, Zuckerberg was its champion. When it became a legal liability  internal documents revealed it would have affected about 7.5 million child sexual abuse material reports to law enforcement  the feature was unceremoniously dumped via a two-line notice on a support page. A step in the right direction? Roblox recently launched a so-called Global Parent Council, involving 80 parents from 32 countries, including Australia. Bloomberg Meta treated child safety features with the same level of commitment as its multibillion-dollar metaverse efforts: abandoning them when it was convenient to do so. Its unfortunately taken multiple whistleblowers, mounting lawsuits and decades of damage to learn that this company cannot be trusted at face value when it comes to protecting children and teenagers.

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So what does a genuine solution look like? There are models emerging, though none is perfect. Roblox, the gaming platform enormously popular with children, says its trying. It recently launched a so-called Global Parent Council, involving 80 parents from 32 countries, including Australia, who will meet quarterly and have direct access to internal product teams. It has also created a Parent Champion program to broaden the feedback loop. Roblox has been faced with multiple child safety controversies, and the program is advisory rather than binding, but this is the kind of engagement that could actually work if Roblox is genuine about it. Its treating parents as partners rather than obstacles, which stands in stark contrast to Metas approach. eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant says early reports of teenage social media account closures have been promising. Alex Ellinghausen Australia, meanwhile, is running its own global experiment. The teen social media ban threatens social media giants like Meta with fines of up to $49.5 million for non-compliance. The Australian approach has some significant weaknesses, particularly its disproportionate impact on rural, neurodiverse and LGBTQ young people who rely on online communities. An evaluation by eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant is designed to measure these effects, but results will take years, not months.

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Social media Snapchat accused of reinstating banned teen accounts, stonewalling complaints But the New Mexico verdict makes the strongest case yet that the status quo  trusting platforms to self-regulate while children are exploited on their products  is untenable. A second phase of the trial, most likely in May, will be heard by a judge who could order Meta to implement specific changes: effective age verification, removal of predators from the platform, and protections for minors in encrypted communications. Meta says it will appeal. It can afford to: the $US375 million penalty is roughly what the company earns in a single day. The question now is whether this verdict, combined with the wave of litigation and legislation washing across the industry, finally produces the kind of structural change that voluntary commitments never have. Australias teen social media ban, Robloxs parent council, and New Mexicos court verdict all represent different takes on how to force the issue. None is probably sufficient on its own but, together, they are building a body of evidence that makes the industrys favourite defence (were doing our best!) increasingly difficult to sustain.

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For Meta, the most uncomfortable revelation from Santa Fe may not have been the verdict itself, but the moment during the trial when the prosecution played Zuckerbergs deposition for the jury. Here was the chief executive of a trillion-dollar company, confronted with his own employees warnings, his own researchers findings, his own platforms failures  and asked to explain why, knowing all of this, so little had changed. The jury heard him out, then delivered their answer. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
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CultureTV & radioVale MAFS wont be the same without her: On air tribute for TV star who died from cancer Kayla Olaya Updated March 25, 2026  5:03pm ,first published 8:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Married At First Sight have paid tribute to star relationship expert Mel Schilling, who died from cancer aged 54, in its first episode since news of her death broke on Tuesday. Its with great sadness and a heavy heart that today, the MAFS family lost colleague and dear friend Mel Schilling, co-expert John Aiken said in a pre-recorded message at the beginning of the program. Married At First Sight expert Mel Schilling has died aged 54. She was full of joy. She had a huge smile, and whenever she was on set, everyone lifted. She bought fun, joy, and humour. She also bought an authenticity, which we all loved to be around. It was such a delight to watch her shine. She was a fighter. She was a leader. She was an inspiration. She never complained, just rolled up her sleeves and got on with things. [Shes] someone that has meant so much to all of us, and its not fair, Married At First Sight wont be the same without her.

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Aiken said his thoughts were with Schillings husband, Gareth Brisbane and 11-year-old daughter Madison. The program then aired a brief message on-screen before airing the episode in which Schilling featured. In memory of Mel Schilling. With gratitude for her warmth, honesty, and insight. A beloved member of our team, she will always be a part of the Married At First Sight team, the message read. Loading Schilling publicly announced her cancer had spread to her brain just weeks ago. Brisbane announced her death in a heartfelt message on social media. In her final moments, when I thought cancer had taken away her ability to speak, she ushered me closer and whispered a message for Maddie and me that will sustain me for the rest of my life, Brisbane wrote. It took all of her remaining strength, and that gesture summed up our wee Melsie perfectly. Even then, her only thought was for Maddie and me.

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Tributes to Schilling poured in on Wednesday, including from her co-stars on Married At First Sight Australia and the UK version of the show, on which she also appeared. Alessandra Rampolla and Aiken, Schillings co-stars on the Australian series expert panel, shared tributes to their colleague on Instagram. Co-star John Aiken said Mel Schilling was an inspiration in a moving tribute at the start of Wednesday nights program. Nine Rampolla said she felt grateful to have been able to see Schilling for the last time last week, to look you in the eyes, to hold your hand, and to say the things that truly mattered. My heart is shattered, Rampolla said. You were so much more than a colleague. You were a constant, a guiding force, and to me, someone I admired and learned from  like a big sister, a woman of immense heart, wisdom and generosity.

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You welcomed me from the very beginning and made me feel at home in a space that could have felt overwhelming, always kind and generous with your light. That is who you were. I am heartbroken, devastated and finding it hard to breathe, Aiken said. She came into my life 10 years ago and together we rode this [Married At First Sight] juggernaut, being there for one another through it all. Nothing could prepare us for what lay ahead, but she was always in the foxhole with me. And through all of these years, she was an amazing mother and wife. She was loving, committed, loyal, fun and so very, very kind  Its not fair that my partner in crime is gone. She was one of the good ones. I am unravelling just thinking about it. I wanted to sit on our couch together forever. She knew my rhythms and I knew hers. But its simply not to be.

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One previous Married At First Sight contestant, Michael Brunelli, who met his wife Martha Kalifatidis on the show (and recently welcomed their second baby), said the couple would always be grateful for Schillings caring support of them throughout the show. Rest in peace, Mel, Brunelli said. Thank you for everything you did for Martha and I. Well talk about you when our kids ask how we met. On March 14, Schilling revealed that the colon cancer she was first diagnosed with in 2023 had spread to the left side of her brain. The psychologist, who began her stint on the popular reality show 12 years ago, announced in February she was stepping down from Married At First Sight due to health challenges and to prioritise her family. Over Christmas  I began experiencing blinding headaches and numbness down my right side, she wrote in an Instagram post that included a photograph of her with her husband and daughter.

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After many tests, I was told the cancer had spread to the left side of my brain and, despite subsequent radiotherapy sessions, my oncology team have now told me there is nothing further they can do. Related Article Vale Married At First Sight expert Mel Schilling dies from cancer My light is starting to fade  and quickly. But I am still here, still fighting, and surrounded by the most incredible love. Schilling appears in the current season of Married At First Sight, now screening on Nine. The season was filmed between late July and November last year. When Schilling was first diagnosed with colon cancer, she was told the tumour was the size of a lemon and that it had been successfully removed in surgery. She was given the all clear, but in late February 2024, she underwent a routine scan and a doctor discovered small nodules in her lungs.

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The cancer had metastasised, and she had undergone 16 rounds of chemotherapy, all while filming the reality TV series, in the past two years. Schillings death also sent shockwaves in the UK, where she has appeared as an expert on the British version of Married At First Sight. Loading Charlene Douglas, a fellow relationship expert on the UK show, said she was both devastated and heartbroken by Schillings passing, sharing a video of them dancing on set. I had the pleasure of spending time with Mel in her last days and will forever treasure the laughter, the memories and love we had for each other, Douglas said.

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Mels love for life, jokes and of course dancing will forever stay in my heart. What I wouldnt give to be dancing to Beyonce with you right now. Another expert from the UK show, Jay Howard, thanked Schilling for teaching her how to open up and love herself. Your impact and legacy will live on through everyone whose lives you touched, Howard said. I feel honoured to have been in your orbit. Tayah Aveling, who met her husband Adam on the UK programme, told BBC Radio 5 Live that she believed the couple wouldnt be together if it were not for Schilling. She played such a massive part in putting us together, and I think she knew that we were going to be a couple that would go the distance. I think that they could really see that, and its all credit to her.

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Netflix has released a teaser for the upcoming season of its hit show Bridgerton, including a much-anticipated confirmation of the shows first queer love story. Although the regency romance has explored queer plots in previous seasons, the Bridgerton teaser released on Wednesday depicts the shows first major queer love story  between the Bridgerton clans introverted sixth child, Francesca Stirling, played by Hannah Dodd, and Michaela Stirling, played by Masali Baduza. Masali Baduza (left) and Hannah Dodd (right) of Bridgerton. ZOE MCCONNELL/NETFLIX In the 48-second trailer, the two women are standing on a balcony and turn to look at one another before reaching for each others hands as the words love begins again flash between takes. Fans caught onto the fact that Dodds character could be queer after Baduza was announced to play Michaela in season three. In the cult-followed book series that the Netflix show is based on, Francesca (spoiler alert) falls in love with her husbands charming and headstrong cousin, Michael, two years after her spouses passing.

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Season four of one of Netflixs most popular series explores Francescas grief following the death of her husband, John Stirling, played by Victor Alli, and leaning on Baduzas character during the process. The next season will explore Francescas journey re-entering the marriage market for practical reasons. But when Michaela returns to London to tend to their Scottish estate, her complicated feelings lead to her questioning whether to stick to her pragmatic intentions or pursue her inner passions. Francesca, who is Countess of Kilmartin, is described by Netflix as a reserved and contained person who often feels out of place in the world. When Michaela stirs up new feelings, Francesca will make discoveries about herself that could change everything. Netflix describes Michaela, meanwhile, as having a charming and vivacious exterior that hides a vulnerable young woman who is quick to run the second she feels discomfort. In this season, Michaela must face her vulnerability head-on as shes forced to navigate her relationship to her late cousins legacy  and to Francesca.

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Production of the new eight-episode season has begun in London. Previous seasons of Bridgerton have followed a two-tranche episode formula, in which four episodes are dropped before the other half is released a few weeks later. In the 48-second trailer, the two women are standing on a balcony and turn to look at one another before reaching for each others hands. ZOE MCCONNELL/NETFLIX The announcement of the main romance storyline for season five could mean that the love story of fan-favourite character Eloise Bridgerton, played by Claudia Jessie, is explored in a later season. Season four of Bridgerton starred Yerin Ha, a South Korean-Australian actress, who studied at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Kensington, Sydney. Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday.
KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia reiterates its call for a diplomatic solution to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said on Wednesday following a Tuesday telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi.

Mohamad said in a statement that he and Araghchi also discussed the importance of safeguarding key maritime routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz as well as global economic and energy stability.

"I conveyed Malaysia's hope for an immediate, comprehensive, and lasting ceasefire. The importance of dialogue and diplomacy in easing tensions and ending the war is crucial at this time," he said.

Separately, Mohamad also spoke to Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi to express Malaysia's concerns about the conflict and its support for Oman's mediation efforts.

"I also hope that diplomatic negotiations will continue to ensure an immediate end to the war," he said. 
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Exclusive NationalVictoriaSchools Pay gap for classroom assistants emerges as flashpoint in Victorian teacher dispute Noel Towell March 25, 2026  4:50pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

The wages of Victorias 34,000 government school classroom assistants have emerged as a flashpoint in the escalating teachers pay dispute that shut classrooms in hundreds of schools across the state on Tuesday. Thousands of education support workers were among the 35,000 Australian Education Union (AEU) members who walked off the job on Tuesday and thronged into Melbournes CBD for a giant rally demanding a better deal on pay and conditions from the Allan Labor government. Related Article Schools Victorian teacher strike as it happened: School closures, rally updates and parent guide during the states first government-school strike in 13 years The government has offered that cohort a significantly lower pay rise than that being offered to teachers and principals, which the union says is insulting. With the two sides of the dispute still far apart on a number of key issues, parents across the state could be facing months of sustained disruption to their childrens schooling. The union has threatened further strikes and bans on routine school tasks such as fielding calls or emails from parents and writing school reports.

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Officials from the Department of Education and the AEU were back at the negotiating table on Wednesday, but there are significant sticking points, and the wage offer to the classroom assistants could be a key barrier to an early settlement, according to sources on both sides. An educator protests in Melbournes CBD on Tuesday during the mass AEU strike rally. Ruby Alexander The union rejected an offer last week of a four-year deal for teachers and principals of a 17 per cent wage increase plus 1.5 per cent overtime allowance as totally unacceptable. The offer, which the union rejected hours after receiving it, included a 13 per cent pay rise, plus the overtime allowance, for support workers. The AEU is demanding a single pay offer for all the teachers, principals and support staff, who are all employed under the Victorian Government Schools Agreement.

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Education support staff, whose entry-level annual salaries are under $52,000, work with students in classrooms, especially those with complex needs. AEU Victorian branch president Justin Mullaly said they also work as school psychologists, business managers, in school offices, libraries, in IT and other roles. They are a common point of contact for parents, and are closely involved with students who need addition support with their learning and wellbeing, Mullaly said. Without these essential workers, our students cannot access education. The Allan Labor Governments offer of just 4 per cent in 2026 for education support staff, is insulting.

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A spokesperson for Education Minister Ben Carroll said education support staff were paid on a different scale to teachers because they held different qualifications, but under the governments offer, education support workers would earn a minimum of $720 more each month. The significant offer we put to unions reflects the important work our educators do every day teaching and shaping our youngest Victorians, the spokesperson said. We will continue to negotiate in good faith. Other sticking points in the talks include the Education Departments proposal to changes work allocations. The union claims, and the department denies, that this would remove the caps on face-to-face teaching and class sizes mandated in the current agreement. The two sides are also a long way apart on pupil-free days. The teachers have asked for five more each year, in addition to the existing five, but the government has offered one professional development day, which would be taken on one of the existing student-free days.

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The union did not respond to a request for comment before deadline. 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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PoliticsFederalGST Opinion The GST is broken, and hurting NSW and Victoria badly Shane Wright Senior economics correspondent March 25, 2026  2:00am

March 25, 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 is the first comment to the Productivity Commissions inquiry into how GST revenue  about $100 billion a year  is shared among the states and territories. WA already pay more GST contributions than all of Australia. We desperately need more GST to fix our critically ill hospital and health system, our schools are crumbling, lacking the funding to fix them and infrastructure including house [sic] is desperately lacking, the West Australian resident notes. Photo: Simon Letch To quote Luke Skywalker: Impressive. Every word in that sentence was wrong. By any measure, the largest share of GST comes from NSW consumers. Theyll pay around $32 billion this year (Victorians will pay about $25 billion) compared with the $10 billion or so handed over by West Australians.

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The WA state government is expecting a budget surplus of $2.4 billion this year. If the states hospital system or schools or infrastructure are crumbling, a government that has been running surpluses for seven years clearly has the cash on hand to deal with these issues. That it hasnt is not for want of GST. When the GST was introduced by John Howard in 2000, all of the revenue raised by the new tax was to be shared by the states and territories. It would be their guaranteed source of funding. That someone actually believes WA pays more GST than the rest of the country combined, or thinks a state government with huge surpluses is so hard-up for cash it needs even more money, is evidence of some sort of Jedi mind trick. But it goes to the problems that will flow when the Productivity Commission later this year produces its report into the GST deal put in place by the Morrison government.

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Related Article Opinion

Federal budget Up in smoke: How one budget burnt a $115 billion hole in the nations finances Shane Wright Senior economics correspondent The deal followed a collapse in WAs share of the GST through the 2010s. Even as WA went through a local recession (between 2015 and 2016), its share of the GST fell further and further to less than 30 for every dollar of the tax raised within the state. To assuage angry West Australians (and angry West Australian members of the federal Liberal Party), then treasurer Scott Morrison tasked the Productivity Commission to look at how the GST was allocated. That report effectively argued the federation was a mess and the nations treasurers should sort out the mishmash of payments between states and the Commonwealth (a finding it could make today). On the day that report was made public, Morrison released his own plan, in which WA would be topped up with cash over several years until it got at least 75 for every dollar of GST it raised. It would then change to the system we have this year, where no jurisdiction can get a smaller share of each dollar raised than either NSW or Victoria.

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When then treasurer Josh Frydenberg first included the GST deal in the 2019-20 budget, it was expected to cost federal taxpayers $2.3 billion. The deal assumed iron ore prices  pivotal to WAs share of GST  would fall. Instead, iron ore prices stayed high. Under the complex rules of the deal, in which no state or territory can be left worse off, federal taxpayers must now cough up extra cash for the GST pool to be shared across the federation. Scott Morrison, with former finance minister Mathias Cormann. The PMs GST is fracturing the budget and the federation Alex Ellinghausen Based on current projections, by 2029-30 the total cost of Morrisons arrangement will have reached almost $60 billion.

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Submissions to the Productivity Commissions inquiry have been made public, and reveal some strange bedfellows. Eric Abetz, who was part of the Morrison government, is now the treasurer of Tasmania, which has the weakest budget position of any state and territory. He wants the deal revoked, saying its terrible for the federal budget and everyone east of the Nullarbor Plain. Josh Frydenbergs finance minister (and West Australian), Mathias Cormann, put his head up from his job running the OECD to argue the deal is great. He went so far as to argue that while there may be legitimate complaints about the deals hit to the federal budget, it was affordable for taxpayers. This came from a co-author of the 2014 budget that contained funding cuts on everything from dental services to veterans disability pensions. Talk about turning to the fiscal dark side.

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Unsurprisingly, Victoria and NSW  both facing extreme budget problems caused by their own spending proclivities (Victoria) or the way the GST is working against them (NSW)  are arguing for change. Related Article Exclusive

Australian economy Overgoverned, overtaxed and overcomplicated: How Australia was set up to fail Given both Anthony Albanese and Angus Taylor know they need to win seats in WA to form government, the chances of either backing an end to the current deal are remote. But NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey is right in his complaint that the way GST is allocated by the Commonwealth Grants Commission is somewhere between a mystery and conspiracy. Its only two years ago that NSW lost $200 million in GST because the geographic definition of the mid-North Coast coastal city of Coffs Harbour changed (even though the home of the Big Banana did not move).

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At present, the grants commissions allocations are year-by-year. Mookhey says that as states and territories have to work on four-year estimates on revenue and spending, it shouldnt be beyond the wit of the grants commission to also deliver four-year estimates. But thats the least of his problems, and the problems created by the current GST deal. When it was put in place, there were real fears that without change the federation could fracture as West Australians turned their backs on the rest of the nation. Now, the nations state and territory governments  Labor and Coalition  are turning their back on the deal and the grants commission process. Broken, the GST deal is. Shane Wright is a senior economics correspondent. The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here.
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Updated WorldMiddle EastMiddle East at war Iran rejects ceasefire plan as more US troops head to the Middle East Michael Koziol Updated March 25, 2026  10:55pm ,first published 2:48pm 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: The United States is preparing to send thousands more troops to the Middle East even as it alluded to progress in peace talks with Iran and President Donald Trump heralded a very big present purportedly received as a goodwill gesture from Iranian negotiators. On another day of mixed signals as the war approached its four-week mark, Trump said Iran wanted to make a deal so badly and confirmed that he was now interested in a ceasefire  a turnaround from just days earlier. US President Donald Trump insists that the Iranian regime wants to make a deal. AP It also emerged that the US had delivered to Iran  through intermediaries  a 15-point peace plan that largely mirrored previous Trump administration demands of Tehran, before potential in-person talks as soon as this week. However, Iranian state televisions English-language broadcaster Press TV quoted an anonymous official on Wednesday as saying Iran rejected Americas ceasefire proposal.

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Iran will end the war when it decides to do so and when its own conditions are met, it quoted the official as saying. Press TV offered its own five-point plan from the official who rejected the US proposal. It included a halt to killings of its officials, means to make sure no other war is waged against it, reparations for the war, the end of hostilities and Irans exercise of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran was still making maximalist and unrealistic demands, including the closure of all American bases in the Gulf and the right to continue its missile program without limitations, The Wall Street Journal reported. There were also unconfirmed reports that Iran had asked to negotiate with Vice President J.D. Vance, whose scepticism about the military operation against Iran has been widely ventilated. The Iranian regime has also continued to taunt the US with propaganda, and on Wednesday released another Lego-style animated video, showing Iran retaliating to a US missile strike on a girls school  an apparent reference to the US hitting an elementary school in southern Iran on the first day of the war, killing at least 165. View post on X

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The 84-second video ends with bombs raining down on supposedly American cities, and Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump crying in a situation room next to a US serviceman and a horned demon named Baal. Trump on Tuesday (US time) spoke cryptically about a supposed present the Iranians had given during talks. They did something yesterday that was amazing, he said. They gave us a present, and the present arrived today. Loading It was a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money. Im not going to tell you what the present was, but it was a very significant prize. He later said the concession related to the transport of oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping passage that has been effectively closed as Iran closely controls which vessels are let through.

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Trump said the gift was a very nice thing and showed him that the US was dealing with the right people. His team, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, are believed to be talking to the Speaker of the Iranian parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and associates. Related Article Iran Who is Mojtaba Khamenei, Irans new supreme leader? Analysts, who noted Trumps increasing desire to declare victory and make a deal, queried whether a productive settlement with the Iranian regime was possible. Washington still doesnt understand Iran or where it is heading, Danny Citrinowicz, an Iran expert at the Israel-based Institute for National Security Studies, said on X. Trump now faces three choices: accept Irans terms, walk away from negotiations, or settle for an empty framework that allows him to declare the war over without resolving anything.

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It was also not clear that a ceasefire now would be supported by the United States allies and partners in the region. Israel, which has said it is not party to the talks, has an explicit goal of destroying the Iranian regime, while Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are reportedly pressing for Irans fighting capability to be further degraded. Trump argued the regime had already been changed, in effect. The leaders are all very different than the ones that we started off with that created all those problems, he said. I think we can say this is regime change. Large crowds gathered in Tehran on March 18 during a joint funeral held for Ali Larijani and General Gholamreza Soleimani. Getty Images Irans new supreme leader is purportedly Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the assassinated supreme leader Ali Khamenei, but he has not been publicly seen since taking the job and has not provided proof of life. It was widely reported on Tuesday night (US time) that thousands of troops from the US militarys elite 82nd Airborne Division were being sent to the Middle East. The number of soldiers varied from 1000 to 4000 in the reports, and it was not certain they would be deployed to Iran.

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But analysts noted the decision to send troops  on top of US marines already heading for the region  was at odds with claims of progress towards a deal. Trumps decision to delay strikes on Iranian power plants should not be read as de-escalation, said Arash Reisinezhad, visiting assistant professor at Tufts Universitys Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. It may serve to stabilise markets and contain oil shocks but also to buy time for military positioning. Thousands of troops from the US militarys elite 82nd Airborne Division are being sent to the Middle East. US Army Pakistan is shaping as a key intermediary in potential talks between the US and Iran. The countrys army chief, Asim Munir, who visited Trump at the White House last year, has emerged as an interlocutor. The price of Brent crude dropped again on Tuesday amid the signals that a deal to end the war  or at least the US participation in it  was closer.

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But other than Trumps remarks, which he made during a news conference in the Oval Office, the White House was reluctant to confirm any details of the talks with Iran. Related Article Middle East at war It was carnage: How an Israeli raid tore apart this tiny Lebanese town These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the US will not negotiate through the press, Trumps press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said. This is a fluid situation, and speculation about meetings should not be deemed as final until they are formally announced by the White House. The ongoing build-up of US troops in the region was not the only sign the war could escalate rather than fade. Israel bombed several targets in southern Lebanon, killing nine and adding to a death toll in that country that has already topped 1000, according to the Lebanese health ministry. Israel also outlined plans to occupy a security zone in southern Lebanon  a Hezbollah stronghold  after bombing bridges along a key river that will serve as a new demarcation line.

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Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said he had spoken to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and emphasised the need for Iran to stop its unacceptable attacks against countries in the region, and restore free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. I urged Iran to engage in negotiations with good faith to open a path towards de-escalation and establish a framework that can meet the international communitys expectations regarding Irans nuclear and missile programs, as well as its destabilising regional activities, Macron said. With David Crowe, staff reporter and agencies 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.
In the last post we mentioned a tweet from the Iranian embassy in Thailand. Well, theres another post from them that warrants explanation.

The post at 1.22pm AEST is a Lego-style animated video, showing Iran retaliating to a US missile strike on a girls school  an apparent reference to the US hitting the Shajereh Tayyebeh elementary school in southern Iran on the first day of the war, killing at least 165.

The 84-second video ends with bombs raining down on supposedly American cities, and Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump crying in a situation room next to a US serviceman and a horned demon named Baal.

This is not a new phenomenon: Iranian state media shared another Lego-esque video earlier this month with caricatures of Trump, Netanyahu and Satan looking at the Epstein files, and an enraged Trump responding by hitting a big red button to launch missiles, also at a school.
BEIJING, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Micro dramas are captivating global audiences with their fast-paced plots, yet the billionaires and deities whose mere smiles tug at countless heartstrings may not always be portrayed by human actors.

AI-generated micro drama "Feng Shui Tian Shi," meaning master of feng shui, has gone viral since its release last week, amassing over 100 million views within just 12 hours on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok.

"It looks so real. I didn't even realize it was AI-generated at first," one social media user commented, highlighting the content's striking lifelikeness.

The hit underscores AI's growing role in micro drama production and its potential to reshape the burgeoning industry.

According to DataEye, a leading industry data platform, AI-generated comic-style micro dramas accounted for an estimated 16.8 billion yuan (about 2.44 billion U.S. dollars) in market share in 2025, and over 10,000 such productions have been released monthly since the start of 2026.

Behind these remarkable numbers lies the rapid advancement of AI technology. In the past, AI-generated images were often criticized as unnatural and inconsistent. Today, however, AI models can produce videos with professional-level cinematography and lifelike characters, with the most advanced systems now achieving a usability rate of over 90 percent for generated footage.

In February, for example, ByteDance released its text-to-video tool Seedance 2.0, which can generate a multi-shot film sequence in roughly 60 seconds with relatively simple prompts, sparking a global craze for AI-generated short videos.

"The breakthrough of tools like Seedance 2.0 has changed not only the efficiency but also the logic of micro drama production," said Jiang Xiaoxiao, managing director of China Insights Consultancy.

His assessment is grounded in reality, as technological advances have dramatically lowered production costs. "A live-action micro drama can cost several hundred thousand yuan, while an AI-generated version of the same length comes in at just over 100,000 yuan, with virtually nothing spent on actors," said a production company in north China's Xi'an.

Inspired by the cost advantages, a growing number of companies have pivoted their business strategies to focus more on the emerging field.

But the shift is casting a shadow over the industry workforce. "Micro drama production traditionally required coordination across many roles, but with AI advancing so quickly, many actors and video editors now risk losing their jobs," said Mimi (pseudonym), a seasoned industry professional.

Despite the disruption, some industry insiders remain optimistic. Ms. Lu, who works at a film and television company, acknowledged that AI-generated micro dramas are bound to capture a share of audience attention and impact the industry. Still, she believes live-action productions will endure.

"Each format has its own audience," Lu said. "Just as micro dramas won't replace long-form series, AI-generated ones won't entirely take the place of live-action productions."

Chen Caiying, a micro drama producer, echoed that view. She noted that different types of micro dramas have distinct strengths. "AI-generated ones are best suited for genres that demand heavy special effects, like sci-fi and fantasy," she said. "But live-action is still the better choice for scenes that require vivid performances and delicate emotion."

"The best approach moving forward is to integrate AI tools with live-action production," Chen added.

As the industry grapples with the impact on traditional production models, it is also seizing new opportunities.

Tang Jili, executive producer of "Feng Shui Tian Shi," pointed to the potential of AI-generated micro dramas to promote Chinese culture globally. He said he hopes his expertise as a filmmaker can help address the storytelling gaps that still exist in the field.

"AI has opened up new possibilities. We can tell good stories through visuals that anyone can understand and deliver them in dozens of languages and markets at once," he said. "It's helping us push the boundaries of creativity."

Young newcomers are also bringing fresh energy to the space. Zhang Haohua, born in 2002, said AI has empowered him to pursue his dream of becoming a director. "As a fresh graduate, I don't have the resources to put together a production crew. But with AI-generated micro dramas, I have the chance to create my own work," he said.

Xia Lie, head of the School of Cultural Creativity and Media at Hangzhou Normal University, called for greater focus on high-quality content. "Whether a drama is created by AI or performed by real actors, a good story and a strong IP will always be the foundation of a hit." 
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB)  A man was arrested Monday for shooting his ex-girlfriend earlier this month in Louisville's Shawnee neighborhood, according to police.

Davon Gant, 30, was charged with assault-domestic violence in connection with the March 9 shooting.

The shooting happened just before 6:30 p.m. in the 600 block of South 44th Street, according to Louisville Metro Police.

According to court documents, the victim was outside the location visiting friends when Gant and another suspect showed up, firing multiple rounds at her. Police said she was hit three times in the chest and abdomen and taken to University of Louisville Hospital. At the time of the shooting, police did not believe her injuries were life-threatening. Court documents state the two used to date.

Gant and the other suspect fled the scene before police arrived. He was arrested Monday afternoon on a warrant.

He pleaded not guilty in court Tuesday morning and his bond was set at $25,000 cash. He's still being held at the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections, awaiting his next court appearance on April 1.

Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB)  Drivers across Indiana are once again facing rising gas prices, with the statewide average creeping toward the $4 mark.

According to AAA Hoosier Motor Club, prices havent hit this level since 2022, when global markets were shaken by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Economists said even if global supply issues ease, drivers shouldnt expect quick relief at the pump.

A key pressure point is the Strait of Hormuz, one of the worlds most important oil transit routes. Experts said disruptions there ripple quickly into U.S. prices.

Indiana economist Andreas Hauskrecht said many Americans misunderstand how connected the U.S. is to global oil markets.

"Some people mistakenly think that the U.S. can shelter itself from world oil prices. That is incorrect," Hauskrecht said. "Although we are the biggest producer of oil, we also import some kind of oil."

Even if conditions stabilize, economists said it could take months for prices to settle and the "new normal" may still be higher than what drivers were used to before the war.

Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
HONG KONG, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong is the best gateway to tap the enormous opportunities on the Chinese mainland, the financial secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said on Tuesday.

Addressing the Wealth for Good in Hong Kong Summit, Paul Chan highlighted the role of Hong Kong for global investors navigating a world of risks and uncertainty. He noted that families seeking to preserve their legacy are looking for not merely a place to park capital, but a place with institutional strengths, legal clarity and credible commitments.

"Hong Kong is not only a safe harbor. It is also a city of business opportunities, and a platform for growth, for connection and for the purposeful deployment of capital," Chan said.

Hong Kong's stock market performed strongly last year, with its asset and wealth management also thriving, Chan said, adding that the HKSAR government is opening up new frontiers, including gold and commodity trading, as well as fixed income and currency markets.

Also speaking at the summit, Michael Wong, deputy financial secretary of the HKSAR government, said that under "one country, two systems," Hong Kong provides an economic and business environment with policy predictability and institutional trust.

Hong Kong's common law legal system, open economy and simple tax regime, among others, all work together to provide a welcoming and dependable home for wealth that lasts through generations, Wong said.

The two-day summit has brought together over 400 family office decision-makers from Asia, Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Oceania, and Africa. 
TEHRAN, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Tehran Times reported Tuesday that Tehran views U.S. calls for negotiations as a deceptive scheme, stressing that it "does not trust these messages," even as Washington claims progress in talks.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that the two sides had held "very good and productive conversations," but Iran denied any talks had taken place.

The conflicting claims highlight the deep mistrust defining U.S.-Iran relations, after months of indirect negotiations that have repeatedly collapsed due to Washington. Despite three rounds of talks, the latest cycle ended in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28 that ignited the current war.

WHY CONFLICTING CLAIMS?

Trump claimed Monday there were "major points of agreement," saying Iran "wants to make a deal" and "wants peace," while indicating any agreement would require Tehran to give up its nuclear capabilities entirely.

"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 in a post on Truth Social.

Iran's state media has denied that Iran has engaged in any peace talks with the United States. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said no negotiations have occurred with the United States, and that "fake news" has been used to "manipulate" the oil markets.

Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported that there had been no direct or indirect contact with Trump, and the foreign ministry said Trump's remarks were "part of efforts to reduce energy prices and buy time" for military plans.

The current impasse is the latest chapter in a pattern of negotiations that have produced claims of progress followed by sudden breakdowns.

High-level indirect talks, mediated by Oman, began in April 2025 in Muscat with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Multiple rounds followed through June 13, 2025, before collapsing when Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites.

Talks resumed in February 2026. Meetings were held in Oman and later in Geneva, where mediators described the third round on Feb. 26 as the "most intense" so far, with "significant progress" and plans for technical follow-ups in Vienna.

Less than 48 hours later, on Feb. 28, the United States and Israel carried out coordinated strikes that sparked the current war.

WHY NO TRUST?

For Tehran, the breakdowns are not isolated but a part of a longer pattern.

In Trump's first term, he withdrew the United States from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), on May 8, 2018, even though international inspectors confirmed Iran was in full compliance. Washington then reimposed sweeping sanctions under a "maximum pressure" campaign.

Tensions escalated further in early 2020, after the U.S. assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, an action Iran viewed as an act of war that prompted Tehran to abandon JCPOA limits on uranium enrichment.

The 2026 cycle repeated the sequence. After three rounds of talks that mediators called productive, the United States and Israel struck anyway. Iranian leaders say such episodes prove that Washington cannot be trusted to honor commitments when it believes it holds military superiority.

"Trump is fairly locked into two goals: Complete, permanent and verifiable nuclear disarmament with very little if any Iranian enrichment, and a reopening of Hormuz. I don't sense Iran is ready to agree to either demand," Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Michael O'Hanlon told Xinhua.

Indeed, Trump demands that Iran dismantle its nuclear program, which Washington believes is meant to build nuclear weapons, but Iran maintains that it is for peaceful purposes.

Other analysts have expressed doubt that Iran is ready to come to the negotiation table, in the belief that Iran has prepared itself for months to weather the storm. 
Leesville, LA (71446)

Today

A few showers this morning with numerous thunderstorms developing during the afternoon hours. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High near 80F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Rain showers early with scattered thunderstorms arriving overnight. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 64F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

The tragedy caused by gardai being given faulty holsters will haunt the Minister for Justice, a Labour TD has said.

Alan Kelly has raised issues about defective holsters in the Dail multiple times, particularly in the context of Detective Garda Colm Horkan, 49, who was murdered while on duty in 2020.

He was shot several times with his own gun on June 17th, 2020, in Castlerea, Co Roscommon.

Kelly previously told the Dail he had been issued with a defective holster.

In a separate incident, Kelly said an accidental discharge of an official-issued garda firearm occurred outside the Israeli Embassy on June 11th, 2020, just under a week before Horkans death, and resulted in life-changing injuries to another garda.

The Tipperary North TD had previously said forensic experts had determined the holster could engage the trigger and fire the weapon of its own accord, and said firearms could be removed with the retention strap fastened.

The defective holsters were raised again by Kelly during a Dail debate on Wednesday which also touched on other firearms-related matters and concerns over evidence storage.

On Wednesday, he introduced what he said was one of the most important motions he had ever brought forward to the Dail.

He told Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan there are many matters relating to gardai which have not been dealt with, including legacy issues, as well as recruitment and retention.

You have to deal with legacy issues.

You can never say to me you dont know enough about these because Ive raised hundreds of parliamentary questions with you.

On Wednesday, Kelly also made reference to prosecutions taken against Limerick gardai over fixed charged penalty notices, which resulted in not guilty verdicts or dropped charges, as well as the suspension of a garda over loaning a bicycle to a neighbour.

He told OCallaghan: When it comes to the disgraceful way in which Limerick gardai have been treated, and the fact that your Taoiseach and your Tanaiste believes it needs to be investigated  but for some reason you dont.

When it comes to the issue of the holsters and the way in which that issue has been dealt with, the loss of fingerprints, the bike scandal, all of these issues and many more.

Mr Kelly also said he had a deep concern about the way the Department of Justice answered parliamentary questions, as well as its dysfunctional relationship with An Garda Siochana.

Minister for Justice Jim OCallaghan(Brian Lawless/PA)

In response, Minister OCallaghan moved a Government countermotion and said he could not comment on individual disciplinary matters.

He added that some matters were before the courts and that internal garda discipline was under the remit of the Commissioner.

At the end of the debate, Kelly said it would have been respectful if OCallaghan had remained in the chamber for his closing remarks.

He went on to talk about legacy issues relating to firearm and drug storage, the loss of data around 17,000 fingerprints, and withdrawn disciplinary processes that affected multiple gardai.

Kelly also referenced the case of 22-year-old Evan Fitzgerald, from Kiltegan, Co Wicklow, who died by suicide with a gun after discharging it at a shopping centre in Co Carlow last year.

He had been awaiting trial on weapons charges from the previous year, which Kelly said related to guns placed in a car by gardai.

I could also talk about the dysfunctional nature of the Department of Justice working with An Garda Siochana, and the fact that I, as an opposition TD, had to ring the Minister for Justice to tell him that the guns that were put in the car that Evan Fitzgerald was in were put in by An Garda Siochana  he didnt know, I had to tell him.

So what sort of a functional relationship is it where I have more intelligence than the actual Minister for Justice, and that whole case, that tragic case, which should never, ever have happened, will need to be investigated.

Previous Justice Ministers Simon Harris and Helen McEntee (Brian Lawless/PA)

Kelly concluded by saying the issues around the faulty holsters will haunt this Government.

He said: Most of all, I can also talk about what Ive raised in here and in committee on numerous occasions, in relation to how gardai were given faulty holsters  and the impact that has had and the impact it has had on the lives of serving gardai.

And the tragedy it has caused  and this will haunt this Government and will haunt the previous Government, it will haunt this Minister, and it will haunt (previous Justice Minister Helen) McEntee.

And what will also haunt them is the manner in which they did not deal appropriately with protected disclosures that were made to them.
Ellen O'Donoghue

Gardai seized drugs at the Dublin offices of Bauer Media on Monday and arrested an employee of the company in his 30s.

Today FM and Newstalk radio stations are broadcast from the offices.

The suspect is not a broadcaster or journalist and has no role in the editorial process at the broadcaster, according to The Irish Times.

The paper understands he works in a support role at the organisation.

He was questioned after cannabis valued at 110,000 was seized after being sent to the building via the postage system.

The drugs were due to be delivered via parcel post to Marconi House, Digges Lane, Dublin 2, but the contents of the package were detected during checks of the postage and parcel system, The Irish Times said.

Those checks, which involve parcels being scanned and checked by sniffer dogs, are routinely carried out so drugs and other contraband can be seized.

In a joint operation involving Revenue officers and the Garda Siochana, the parcel was delivered to the intended address, Marconi House, on Monday in a controlled operation.

When it was signed for, the suspect was arrested and the drugs seized.

Revenue and gardai said in a statement that 5.5kg of suspected cannabis was seized and is subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland.
Every March around St Patrick's Day, we dutifully dispatch the Taoiseach to Washington with a bowl of shamrock and a practised smile. This year, however, he brought six billion dollars and the knowledge of an outrageous war.

There is a photograph that exists in the memory of every Irish person who has been paying attention this week. Micheal Martin, in a well-pressed suit, presents a bowl of shamrock to Donald Trump in the newly gilded Oval Office. Both men smiling, sporting green ties, flush with warm handshakes, the easy theatre of a diplomatic relationship so practised it has its own choreography. But somewhere in the newly unfolding war, in a bunker in Lebanon, an Irish soldier is waiting for the next wave of missiles to pass.

The shamrock ceremony has been running since 1952 when it began as a gesture of gentle diplomacy: a small country reminding the most powerful nation on earth that it had Irish blood in its veins and might therefore be persuaded to act with due consideration and generosity. Ireland has no army worth speaking of, no nuclear deterrent, no seat at the table of the politically serious. What it has is the great Irish diaspora, the carefully curated Celtic myth, and the wild, unruly shamrock, stuffed into a bowl. Ireland plays the hand it was dealt and acknowledges its place in the scheme of things.

For seventy years, the ceremony worked in the same way that a good confidence trick works because everyone involved understood it was a performance and agreed, tacitly, to treat it as real. The Taoiseach got face time with the most powerful man in the world. The US President got to feel Irish for an afternoon. Ireland got its multinationals, its low corporate tax, its pharmaceutical gold rush, and its data centre bonanza. The arrangement was never stated plainly, because stating things plainly is the one diplomatic error no small country can afford.

This year, however, the performance has become harder to sustain. On February 28th, while Omani mediators in Geneva were announcing that a nuclear agreement with Iran was "within reach," the United States and Israel launched an unexpected and brutal assault on Tehran. The Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed. Iran retaliated with missiles and drones across nine countries. The Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's oil passes, was effectively closed. Brent crude crossed one hundred dollars a barrel. Some 380 Irish peacekeepers in the Middle East were sheltering in bunkers.

Sinn Fein and Labour called on the Taoiseach to cancel the trip. He didn't, of course. He couldn't. And here is the thing that the people calling for cancellation perhaps underestimate: he was right not to. Not because the war in Iran is anything other than catastrophic, and not because Trump is anything other than what Fintan O'Toole and Michael McDowell - two men who have never previously agreed on anything - described him as in the same week: mad. But because Ireland is not in a position to tell the truth, and hasn't been for quite some time.

There are nearly 1,000 American companies operating in Ireland, generating over 500 billion in affiliate sales. Around 260,000 people in this country work directly for US firms. Pharmaceutical exports to the United States last year were 44 billion - the country's single biggest export category. When the Taoiseach says, as he did to reporters this week, that he has "a wider responsibility to make sure that what is valuable in our reputation is not undermined", what he means, translated from the diplomatic, is this: we have bet the house, and the casino owner has a gun.

Martin arrived in Washington carrying a gift. Irish companies, he announced, would be investing 6.1 billion in American manufacturing jobs - 5 billion from Smurfit Westrock, 1 billion from Kingspan, and 100 million from Glanbia. The White House spokesman received this with the contentment of a man who has seen the new rules work exactly as intended. World leaders, he observed, used to come to Washington and walk away with billions in taxpayer-funded freebies. Now they bring trade and investment deals. He did not use the word tribute. He didn't need to.

There is a debased version of this story in which Micheal Martin is a morally bankrupt coward, shuffling to Washington with his bowl of weeds while Iranian missiles fall and Irish peacekeeping soldiers take cover. It is not an entirely unfair version, but it sits alongside another version, equally true, in which he is doing precisely what every Taoiseach has done since 1952 . He's managing the gap between what Ireland believes and what Ireland can afford to say. Eamon de Valera was a genius at this, as he maintained Irish neutrality during the Second World War not out of principle, which is what he claimed, but out of calculation, which is what it was. The calculation then was that Ireland could not survive the truth. The calculation now is identical.

The difference is that in 1943, when de Valera was writing his famous response to Churchill's jibe about Irish neutrality, Irish soldiers were not sheltering in bunkers from the bombs of the country he was refusing to criticise. They are now. That is what has changed, and its not a change lost in the diplomatic mirage.

The reassuringly familiar ceremony, with the humble bowl of shamrock, the garish green ties, and the carefully scripted warmth, has always been a kind of controlled but charming fiction. Ireland performs Irishness for American consumption, while the incumbent American administration performs good-humoured affection to court the favour of the considerable American Irish electoral population. It is the most durable piece of political theatre in the western world, outlasting administrations, scandals, wars, financial crises, and at least three Taoisigh who found it personally excruciating. It has survived because it serves the interests of everyone who participates in it. This year, it survives because the alternative - the empty seat, the cancelled flight, the pointed statement - would serve nobody's interests except the conscience.

We are treated to a carefully staged moment in the annual ceremony where the Taoiseach presents the bowl while the President dutifully says something charming if not innocuous. Both men smile obligingly for the cameras while the assembled Irish-American dignitaries bask in the glow of pride. Perhaps it's the sigh of relief from people who have been pretending so long they've forgotten they're pretending.

This year, that moment landed differently, not because Martin is a worse man than his predecessors, or because Trump is more dangerous than other presidents Ireland has smiled at - Nixon got a bowl of shamrock; Reagan got one; George W. Bush, who launched an illegal war in Iraq, got one too. But because somewhere between the spring of 2025 and now, the gap between what is happening in the world and what we are prepared to say about it has become, for the first time, too wide to look away from.

The shamrock is a weed, technically, a thing that grows in the gaps of other things, persistent, undemanding, useful for its symbolism rather than its substance. It is, in that sense, a more honest national emblem than we give it credit for, as we Irish have always lived in the gaps.

We have always been more useful as a symbol of peace than as a power player. The ceremony endures because the gap persists, and its symbolism remains potent.

This year, though, the gap has bodies in it.
By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

The Government is encouraging private developers to use college-owned land to deliver purpose-built student accommodation, as the further education minister said the country needs 42,000 additional beds by 2035.

The National Student Accommodation Strategy 2026-2035 sets out a multi-annual plan to urgently deliver new student accommodation, including through State-financed, purpose-built student accommodation on public or private lands.

The stategy, which is designed to deal with affordability and viability of supply, projects a requirement of 42,000 beds by 2035  including an existing deficit of 15,000 beds.

The Department of Further Education expects to include 10,000 digs-style rent-a-room agreements in the 42,000 target.

Further education minister James Lawless was launching the student accommodation strategy (Cillian Sherlock/PA)

The scheme sets out a plan to provide land owned by higher education instutitions (HEIs) to developers under a long-term licence.

Further education minister James Lawless said the approach was an innovative measure to unlock significant State lands.

He said HEIs had significant land banks around the country that were untapped.

The strategy says this would be done with necessary safeguards and could reduce cost and enhance the attractiveness to the developer.

Technological Universities have already entered into licence agreements to facilitate the development of educational buildings on land they own through public-private partnerships.

HEIs have secured planning permission for on-campus, purpose-built student accommodation of around 2,359 beds and are actively developing further proposals which could be advanced through private sector delivery, the plan said.

Lawless said: This will be done through a public private partnership-type (PPP) model, where we make those public lands available to private sector investment under terms that include the land always remains in the possession of the State, but that the private investment can come in, build out at scale student accommodation on those sites and in a way that guarantees occupancy for the students.

The minister said it was appropriate to use every lever at our disposal given that there is known private sector interest and a situation where 15,000 beds with planning permission are not being delivered due to viability issues.

The HEIs would have a nomination agreement, which would allow them to specify a minimum number of beds they would take up within each development.

The minister said this could, for example, be between 75-90 per cent of the beds on site with the remainder going to staff or other frontline workers.

Lawless said 53 suitable sites around the country had already been identified.

On affordability, Lawless said 176 million in new money had been committed for student supports including bursaries and grants.

He added that students would also benefit from recent rental reforms.

The scheme highlights that there is 250 million in capital exchequer funding for student accommodation between 2023-2030, and a 14,000 rent-a-room relief scheme for homeowners.

Asked about the yearly delivery under the overall strategy, Lawless said there were currently no annual targets as part of the plan.

He said the scheme would be rolled out on a phased basis starting with Dublin, Cork and Galway, followed by Limerick, Waterford and Athlone and then other regions.
NEW DELHI, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Tuesday exchanged views on global energy security over the phone, India's Ministry of External Affairs said.

According to the ministry, the two leaders discussed the evolving situation in West Asia with an emphasis on disruptions affecting global energy security. Both reiterated the importance of keeping shipping lines open and secure in the interest of the whole world.

The ministry also noted that the two leaders reviewed progress on various initiatives aimed at strengthening energy cooperation between India and Sri Lanka and enhancing regional security.

Modi reiterated India's firm commitment to work closely together with Sri Lanka in addressing shared challenges, the ministry said. 
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.
NEW DELHI, March 25 (Xinhua) -- There are no talks or negotiations between Iran and the United States, said Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei in an exclusive interview with India Today on Wednesday.

He was quoted as saying that Iran has a very catastrophic experience with U.S. diplomacy, evidenced by U.S. attacks during negotiations over the nuclear issue in the past.

"No one can trust U.S. diplomacy," he said, adding that the country's armed forces are currently focused on defending Iran's territory and sovereignty.

Many countries in the region and beyond have reached out to Iran, offering to mediate, and Iran has received messages requesting negotiations, he said. "Our position is clear: we will continue to defend ourselves." 
TEHRAN, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said its Navy's air defense on Wednesday struck a U.S. F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet in the country's southeastern airspace.

Making the announcement in a statement on its official news outlet Sepah News, the IRGC noted that the fighter aircraft was hit over Chabahar County in Sistan and Baluchestan province with the IRGC Navy's missiles and crashed in the Indian Ocean.

It added it was the fourth U.S. and Israeli fighter jet hit by Iran's homegrown air defense systems in the country's airspace.

Iran's army said on Sunday its air defense targeted a hostile F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet in the country's southern airspace. The day before that, the IRGC announced that it had hit an Israeli F-16 Fighting Falcon in the country's central airspace.

On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the Middle East. 
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty (R) speaks at a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, Egypt, March 25, 2026.(Xinhua/Xu Haofu)

CAIRO, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Wednesday praised "the excellent and very friendly" relationship between Egypt and China, highlighting Beijing's constructive role in addressing Middle East challenges.

Speaking at a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, Abdelatty highlighted China's "positive, balanced, and wise policies" in the region.

"We share the same views and objectives of promoting dialogue and diplomacy to resolve existing problems, because wars only result in destruction," he told Xinhua.

Earlier on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a phone call with Abdelatty to discuss the situation in the Middle East, which the Egyptian minister described as "warm and constructive."

Abdelatty described bilateral ties as important and steadily developing, noting that the two countries maintain regular, high-level contacts.

"We value an excellent and very friendly relationship between Egypt and China, and this year is commemorating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the relationship between the two great countries," he said, adding that "We are fully committed to further promoting and enhancing our bilateral relationship."

During the press conference, Abdelatty outlined Egypt's intensive diplomatic efforts, undertaken under the guidance of the country's leadership and in coordination with regional and international partners, to contain escalating tensions stemming from the ongoing U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict, which has affected the security of several Arab states.

He reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to pursuing a diplomatic path and promoting dialogue.

Reiterating Egypt's "unwavering and absolute solidarity" with the Gulf states, as well as Jordan and Iraq, Abdelatty condemned what he described as unjustified Iranian strikes, stressing that Egypt has extended all forms of support to help end the conflict.

He also highlighted Egypt's ongoing communications with both the United States and Iran to encourage negotiations, in coordination with regional and international partners, aimed at preventing further escalation, instability, and global economic disruption.

"Egypt backs and is open to all initiatives aimed at ending the war," Abdelatty said.

Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities on Feb. 28, with then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, senior military commanders, and civilians killed in the strikes. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli and U.S. bases and assets across the Middle East.

On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump said that Washington and Tehran are seeking a deal and share "major points of agreement," after he ordered a five-day delay in planned strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure.

On Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said that different messages have been exchanged between Iran and the United States through intermediaries over the past few days, while Tehran has held no talks with Washington since Feb. 28. 
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt gestures at a White House press briefing in Washington, D.C., the United States, March 25, 2026. U.S. President Donald Trump will "unleash hell" if Iran refuses to make a deal over the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)

WASHINGTON, March 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump will "unleash hell" if Iran refuses to make a deal over the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday.

"President Trump does not bluff and he is prepared to unleash hell," she said at a White House press briefing. "Any violence beyond this point," she said, will be because Iran "refused to understand they have already been defeated and refused to come to a deal."

Leavitt declined to reveal whom Washington is negotiating with over how to end the war with Iran.

"We're not going to get into the details of these negotiations and conversations that continue to take place as, of course, you can imagine, they are very sensitive diplomatic discussions," she said.

Leavitt argued the war, breaking out on Feb. 28, remains on track to endure for four to six weeks.

There are no talks or negotiations between Iran and the United States, said Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei in an exclusive interview with India Today on Wednesday.

"No one can trust U.S. diplomacy," Baghaei said, noting that Iran had a very catastrophic experience with U.S. diplomacy, evidenced by U.S. attacks during negotiations over the nuclear issue in the past.

Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesman of Iran's main military command Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said the United States is negotiating with itself due to its internal strife.

He urged the United States to stop disguising its defeat as "an agreement," adding, "the strategic power the enemies would brag about has turned into a strategic defeat." 

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt gestures at a White House press briefing in Washington, D.C., the United States, March 25, 2026. U.S. President Donald Trump will "unleash hell" if Iran refuses to make a deal over the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt gestures at a White House press briefing in Washington, D.C., the United States, March 25, 2026. U.S. President Donald Trump will "unleash hell" if Iran refuses to make a deal over the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks at a White House press briefing in Washington, D.C., the United States, March 25, 2026. U.S. President Donald Trump will "unleash hell" if Iran refuses to make a deal over the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks at a White House press briefing in Washington, D.C., the United States, March 25, 2026. U.S. President Donald Trump will "unleash hell" if Iran refuses to make a deal over the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)
Revaluing work beyond markets? Public work programmes between promise and practice

When: Thursday, 26 March 2026 - Thursday, 26 March 2026 Where: Online Event

Parktown Management Campus Start time: 12:30 Enquiries: Enquiries: sonia.phalatse@wits.ac.za RSVP: Cost: No Cost

Leonie Hoffmann is a postdoctoral research associate at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Drawing primarily on ethnographic and historical methods, her research examines work, redistribution, and outsourced governance in South Africa. Her current project, funded by the Leverhulme Trust, seeks to account for the importance and changing shape of public work programmes in the post-apartheid period. It builds on prior research on the Community Work Programme and policy debates on the expansion of social grants. She holds a DPhil (PhD) in International Development from Oxford and has a background in political theory.

This seminar examines public work programmes (PWP) as interventions into the value of work amid mass joblessness. Focusing on the case of the Community Work Programme (CWP), the paper ethnographically investigates how value is produced, claimed, and contested within policy and practice. By mobilising surplus labour and directing it towards the common good, CWP promised to revalue it beyond markets while expanding income support to those hitherto beyond the reach of public assistance. However, this paper shows how such promises became unsettled. Increasingly perceived by policymakers and the wider public as a social grant in disguise, CWP participants (and activists) consider their labour to be profoundly devalued. To understand these contrasting claims of value  and their political implications  the paper argues it is necessary to reconsider the value of work not as determined solely on markets or accorded by government intervention, but as arising from ongoing practices of commensuration between monetary and non-monetary forms of worth.
GCI and UK Met Office host AI climate hackathon to strengthen modelling expertise

The AI4Climate project will boost AI and machine learning climate science tools and techniques.

The Wits Global Change Institute (GCI) in partnership with the UK Met Office hosted a week-long hackathon focused on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in climate research. The event formed part of the broader AI4Climate collaboration between South African and UK researchers.

The five-day hackathon brought together about 30 participants, including scientists and researchers from Wits University, the South African Weather Service, CSIR and the Agricultural Research Council, to develop practical skills in applying machine learning techniques to climate modelling and how these methods can complement traditional approaches.

Speaking at the opening, GCI director Professor Francois Engelbrecht stressed the urgency of strengthening regional expertise in the application of AI in climate modelling.

Southern Africa is extremely vulnerable, said Engelbrecht. If AI technologies can help us turn the tide on climate impacts such as extreme floods, it would be extremely valuable.

He said current modelling systems are too expensive and slow, and that AI could help overcome this.

The hackathon formed part of a growing collaboration between Wits University and the UK Met Office, aimed at advancing climate science through shared expertise and joint research.

Dr Keith Williams from the UK Met Office said the partnership aimed to combine expertise and deliver practical outcomes and reflects the value of international collaboration.

This science partnership is about working together and delivering bigger and better science than any country would be able to do on its own, he said.

He added that the work would support real-world decisions.

These models are going to be used to inform decisions on food security, on infrastructure, climate resilience, and helping communities prepare for climate change, he said.

AI technologies offer real potential here to do this far more quickly. It will be an absolute game changer.

The event also focused on building skills in the region through hands-on training.

Stephen Haddad from the Met Office said the hackathon aimed to strengthen capacity among participants. The training helped participants develop fundamental, technical, and scientific skills to be able to deliver answers to interesting and critical research questions.

The initiative was supported by the UK government as part of ongoing science cooperation between the UK and South Africa.

Leanne Jones from the British High Commission said climate change was already affecting communities, highlighting how AI has the potential to accelerate aspects of climate modelling and data analysis which can support adaptation decision-making.
Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, meets with Azerbaijan's Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova, who is in China for the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2026, in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 25, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

BOAO, Hainan, March 25 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhao Leji on Wednesday met separately with Azerbaijan's Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova and Kazakhstan's First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar, who are in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, for the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2026.

Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, also met with members of the Board of Directors and senior advisors of the BFA on Wednesday.

During his meeting with Gafarova, Zhao said that China is ready to work with Azerbaijan to follow the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, expand economic, trade and investment cooperation, enhance connectivity, promote people-to-people exchanges, and jointly advance the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

The NPC stands ready to strengthen exchanges with the Milli Majlis, which is Azerbaijan's parliament, to provide legal safeguards for practical cooperation between the two countries, Zhao said.

Gafarova said Azerbaijan firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is willing to strengthen cooperation with China across various fields and deepen exchanges between legislative bodies.

When meeting with Sklyar, Zhao noted that China and Kazakhstan are friendly neighbors and permanent comprehensive strategic partners.

China is ready to work with Kazakhstan to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, consolidate political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation with high-quality Belt and Road cooperation as the main focus, enrich people-to-people exchanges, strengthen international coordination and cooperation, and promote China-Kazakhstan relations to a higher level, broader fields and deeper dimensions, Zhao said.

The NPC is willing to play an active role as a legislative body in advancing the friendship between China and Kazakhstan, he added.

Sklyar said Kazakhstan supports the global initiatives proposed by China, adding that Kazakhstan-China relations have been continuously deepening, and that Kazakhstan is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in various fields such as legislation, economy, trade and energy to promote the development of bilateral relations.

When meeting with members of the Board of Directors and senior advisors of the BFA, Zhao said China is ready to work with all parties to jointly implement the global initiatives and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

China will always support the development of the BFA, Zhao said, stressing efforts to stay true to the founding purpose of the forum, keep pace with the times, and uphold openness and inclusiveness. He also expressed China's willingness to work with all countries to jointly build a clean, beautiful and sustainable world.

BFA Chairman Ban Ki-moon and other representatives spoke highly of the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity and the global initiatives proposed by China, expressing their willingness to make unremitting efforts to promote the development of the forum. 

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, meets with Azerbaijan's Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova, who is in China for the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2026, in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 25, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, meets with Kazakhstan's First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar, who is in China for the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2026, in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 25, 2026. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, meets with Kazakhstan's First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar, who is in China for the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2026, in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 25, 2026. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, meets with members of the Board of Directors and senior advisors of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 25, 2026. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)
Ghana's Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa speaks after a vote at the UN headquarters in New York, March 25, 2026. The UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday adopted a draft resolution of "Declaration of the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans and Racialized Chattel Enslavement of Africans as the Gravest Crime against Humanity." The draft resolution was adopted by a vote of 123 in favor, 52 abstaining and three against. Argentina, Israel and the United States voted against it. March 25 marks the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

UNITED NATIONS, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday adopted a draft resolution of "Declaration of the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans and Racialized Chattel Enslavement of Africans as the Gravest Crime against Humanity."

The draft resolution was adopted by a vote of 123 in favor, 52 abstaining and three against. Argentina, Israel and the United States voted against it.

Presented by Ghana on behalf of the African Group, the resolution declares "the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized chattel enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity," and affirms "the importance of addressing historical wrongs affecting Africans and people of African descent in a manner that promotes justice, human rights, dignity and healing, and emphasizes that claims for reparations represent a concrete step towards remedying historical wrongs against Africans and people of African descent."

"Today the international community has taken a significant, considerate and historic step forward by adopting this landmark resolution," Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ghana's foreign minister, told reporters after the vote.

With the adoption of the resolution, he said: "We have not simply passed a text, we have affirmed a truth. We have chosen remembrance over silence, dignity over erasure and shared humanity over division. We have advanced the course of justice and we have done that so emphatically."

In his remarks at the UNGA commemorative meeting to commemorate the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: "We will never forget the victims of slavery. And we must never forget the malevolent system that sustained it for so long."

He welcomed steps taken by some countries to apologize for their role in slavery and to engage in honest dialogue about its lasting consequences, and called for "far bolder action by many more countries," including respecting African countries' ownership of their natural resources and ensuring their equal participation and influence in the global financial architecture and the Security Council.

Annalena Baerbock, the UNGA president, said that "the slave trade and slavery stand among the gravest violations of human rights in human history -- an affront to the very principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."

While slavery has been abolished, its consequences endure and continue to shape lives today, she said, stressing that addressing these injustices is a moral imperative, rooted in a collective responsibility to confront past wrongs and to shape a more just future. 

People visit an exhibition on slavery victims at the UN headquarters in New York, March 25, 2026.

The UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday adopted a draft resolution of "Declaration of the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans and Racialized Chattel Enslavement of Africans as the Gravest Crime against Humanity."

The draft resolution was adopted by a vote of 123 in favor, 52 abstaining and three against. Argentina, Israel and the United States voted against it.

March 25 marks the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

A woman visits the Art of Return memorial at the UN headquarters in New York, March 25, 2026.

The UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday adopted a draft resolution of "Declaration of the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans and Racialized Chattel Enslavement of Africans as the Gravest Crime against Humanity."

The draft resolution was adopted by a vote of 123 in favor, 52 abstaining and three against. Argentina, Israel and the United States voted against it.

March 25 marks the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

People visit the Art of Return memorial at the UN headquarters in New York, March 25, 2026.

The UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday adopted a draft resolution of "Declaration of the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans and Racialized Chattel Enslavement of Africans as the Gravest Crime against Humanity."

The draft resolution was adopted by a vote of 123 in favor, 52 abstaining and three against. Argentina, Israel and the United States voted against it.

March 25 marks the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

People visit an exhibition on slavery victims at the UN headquarters in New York, March 25, 2026.

The UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday adopted a draft resolution of "Declaration of the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans and Racialized Chattel Enslavement of Africans as the Gravest Crime against Humanity."

The draft resolution was adopted by a vote of 123 in favor, 52 abstaining and three against. Argentina, Israel and the United States voted against it.

March 25 marks the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)
Members of the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army clean weaponry ahead of deployment to Poland from Fort Bragg, North Carolina on Monday, February 14, 2022. [AP Photo/Nathan Posner]

On Tuesday, as US President Donald Trump declared that the United States had won its undeclared and illegal war against Iran and claimed negotiations are ongoing, US media reports made clear that the military buildup targeting the country is expanding.

CNN reported Tuesday that approximately 1,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division, including the division commander Major General Brandon Tegtmeier and his staff, are expecting to deploy to the Middle East in the coming days. The New York Times reported Monday that the 82nd Airbornes Immediate Response Forcea 3,000-strong rapid-deployment brigadecould be sent to capture Kharg Island, the terminal through which 90 percent of Irans oil exports pass. Politico reported Tuesday that a written deployment order was expected within hours.

The 82nd Airborne is the US Armys rapid-deployment division, trained to parachute into hostile territory to seize airfields and key objectives. Its deployment is a qualitative escalation beyond the Marine Expeditionary Units (MEUs) already en route, which are smaller, amphibious forces designed for coastal operations. The combination of airborne and amphibious forces points to an operation involving both a seaborne assault and an inland insertionfar larger than a single island seizure.

The soldiers would join roughly 4,500 Marines aboard two amphibious assault groups heading for the Gulf. The Wall Street Journal reported that the USS Tripoli, carrying 2,200 Marines from Okinawa, is due to arrive Friday. A second group, the USS Boxer with 2,500 Marines, departed San Diego last week.

The troop deployments came on the same day Trump claimed to be pursuing a negotiated settlement with Iran. Two days earlier, Trump had issued a 48-hour ultimatum threatening to obliterate Irans power grid unless the Strait of Hormuz was reopened. On Monday, he reversed course, declaring on Truth Social that the United States and Iran had held conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East. He announced a five-day postponement of strikes on Iranian power infrastructure.

Trump, speaking at the swearing-in ceremony for the new Homeland Security secretary Tuesday, declared: Weve won this. This war has been won. He appeared semi-lucid and slurring his words as he described the state of the war: They have no leaders left. The leaders are all gone. Nobody knows who to talk to. But were actually talking to the right people, and they want to make a deal so badly.

He boasted of the systematic assassination of Irans political leadership: I hate to say it, but we killed all their leadership, and then they met to choose new leaders, and we killed all of them.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, standing beside Trump, effectively admitted that Trumps talk of negotiations was a cover for mass murder. We negotiate with bombs, he declared. You have a choice as we loiter over the top of Tehran. He praised the president for ordering the military to close with and destroy the enemy as viciously as possible from moment one.

The Wall Street Journal, as usual, stated the administrations calculations bluntly in an editorial published under the headline, The Fog of Diplomacy in Iran. It wrote, The new deadline to ward off escalation is Friday, when some 2,200 Marines are due to arrive in the region. It asked: Will this regime again challenge Mr. Trump to deliver on his threat? And was that the Presidents plan all along? The obvious answer is yes.

The Journal added: They may be joined later by another Marine Expeditionary Unit as well as command elements and a combat brigade from the Armys 82nd Airborne.

Noting the arrival of US troops alongside Trumps talk of negotiations, the Journal wrote: Call it Trump-style diplomacy: One hand extends while the other visibly winds for a punch.

The Journal, advocating for the deployment of ground troops, argued that a failure by the US to dominate the Strait of Hormuz would mark a major defeat, and that militarily subjugating Iran would send a message to Russia and China. We trust he knows that giving in to the regime now would leave an Iranian gun to the worlds head, a proven veto on energy flows, the Journal wrote. The worldread: China and Russiamight conclude he couldnt tolerate the political pressure at home from high oil prices.

Nearly four weeks of bombing have killed thousands of Iranian civilians, destroyed residential buildings, struck schools and hospitals and reduced entire neighborhoods to rubble. Amnesty International has confirmed that a US strike on a school in Minab killed at least 170 people, most of them schoolgirls.

The supreme leader, the intelligence minister, the head of the Supreme National Security Council and dozens of other senior officials have been assassinated in strikes on densely populated residential areas of Tehran. Irans telecommunications have been destroyed, cutting off 90 million people from the outside world for more than three weeks.

The human rights organization HRANA has documented at least 1,443 civilian deaths, including 217 childrenand the true toll is certainly far higher given the near-total communications blackout now in its 23rd day. Irans 90 million people have been cut off from the outside world since February 28; the blackout costs the economy $35.7 million a day. On Monday, a strike on a residential building in northern Tehran killed a university professor and his two children. Gas facilities in Isfahan were struck and partially damaged. Strikes on the South Pars gas field have disrupted heating and cooking fuel across the country. Fourteen American service members have been killed.

In Lebanon, Israel has launched a full-scale ground invasion of the south under cover of the Iran war. At least 1,072 people have been killed and 2,966 wounded since March 2, including 118 children and 40 medical workers. More than 1.2 million peopleone in five Lebanesehave been driven from their homes.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has ordered the acceleration of the demolition of Lebanese houses in border villages following what he called the Beit Hanoun and Rafah modelsa direct reference to the methods of destruction Israel employed in Gaza. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for making the Litani River our new border with the state of Lebanon. Among the dead was Taline Shehab, five years old, killed by an Israeli airstrike as she slept. Her father was also killed. Her mother is in a coma.

Israel has bombed five bridges over the Litani River, severing the south from the rest of the country. Katz declared that hundreds of thousands of residents of southern Lebanon who evacuated northward will not return south of the Litani River. On Monday, Israeli strikes killed at least three people in Beirut, including a three-year-old girl. Hussein Bazzi, a chemistry professor at the Lebanese University, was killed by an airstrike. Three Christian young men in the village of Ain Ebel were killed while repairing a satellite dishthe Israeli military claimed they were installing surveillance equipment; residents denied any connection to Hezbollah. The Lebanese government has ordered the expulsion of Irans ambassador.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll found Trumps approval has fallen to 36 percentits lowest since he returned to officewith 61 percent disapproving of the strikes and just 25 percent approving of his handling of the cost of living.
Are you an Amazon or other logistics worker? Contact the WSWS to tell us about your working conditions.

An Amazon Prime truck in Pacifica, California. [AP Photo/Jeff Chiu]

Amazon, the second-largest private employer in the United States, has constructed an elaborate system designed to extract maximum productivity from its workforce while insulating the corporation from legal accountability to the workers who generate its profits. A core element of this system is the Delivery Service Partner (DSP) programa sprawling network of nominally independent subcontractors through which Amazon controls the lives of hundreds of thousands of delivery drivers without, it claims, employing a single one of them.

The World Socialist Web Site recently spoke with Manny, who has been a part-time worker in Amazons Delivery Service Partner (DSP) program in Massachusetts for five years. He also works the afternoon shift at a manufacturing company and is a student as well.

His account lays bare the grueling physical demands, relentless surveillance and calculated division of workers that define life inside Amazons delivery operation.

What is a DSP?

Amazon launched its DSP program in 2018. As of early 2024, the company counted some 3,500 to 4,400 DSP companies operating across 19 countries, employing an estimated 275,000 to 390,000 drivers and delivering more than 20 million packages daily. Amazon markets the arrangement as an opportunity for entrepreneurs to build thriving small businesses, but the realityas workers across the country can attestis something far less glamorous.

Manny described the structure: A DSP is a driver associate program, where Amazon pays people to do last-minute driver delivery service for them. Its a system where they use Amazon branded vehicles, such as the smaller sprinter vans and the large CDL [commercial drivers license] vans, and where we have to deliver packages as if we were part of Amazon.

The critical distinction, he explained, lies in who bears the costs and who holds the power. The DSP operates Amazon-branded vehicles, enforces Amazon rules, and manages Amazons delivery routesyet is responsible for vehicle maintenance, workers compensation and health insurance out of its own pocket. Amazon may subsidize repair, Manny said, but the responsibility of upkeep and maintenance mainly falls on the DSP contractor.

The National Labor Relations Board has found in at least one case that Amazon functions as a joint employer of DSP drivers, given that the company determines daily routes, sets delivery deadlines, dictates pay structures and communicates directly with drivers through its own app. Amazon has contested this determination and continues to insist the drivers are not its employees.

Amazon determines all the rules and enforces them through the DSP, Manny said, but they never pay for any of the cost in terms of maintenance, workers compensation, health insurance and stuff like that. When asked who ultimately controls the operation, he was unequivocal: Amazon holds all the decisions.

A day in the life

On a typical workday, Manny wakes at 9 a.m., does course work, drives to school, then drives back to work at his other job for an eight-hour shift before returning home to do homework. He repeats this schedule until Friday, then works part-time at Amazon on the weekends.

That a young worker is compelled to balance education with two jobs, including a physically demanding delivery jobjust to make ends meetis itself an indictment of the economic conditions facing millions of workers and young people in the US today.

At the warehouse, the shift begins with a ritual of digital control. Around 10:30 a.m. we show up and we are distributed our phones and keys and credit cards, Manny explained. We log on to the Amazon Flex app. The initial step is we have to take a selfie, and then now, if were registered, it will proceed to the next step, where we have to do a 90-second inspection of the vehicle.

The inspection, he noted, is largely perfunctory: Were just told to wait 90 seconds before, you know, just flipping through it. Drivers are then given 20 minutes at the Launch Padthe loading area within the Amazon facilityto fill their vans with packages for delivery before heading out.

Amazon drivers are monitored by a four-camera AI system that scrutinizes them for even the most minute alleged lapses of safety and efficiency, recording every moment of drive time and flagging drivers for deviating from a preset route or remaining too long in any one area. Manny confirmed the omnipresence of this surveillance: The Amazon-branded vehicles have a camera that watches you all the time. Its on you all the time, which is very intrusive.

He recalled, Ive gotten docked because the camera saw my lips move as I was singing along to a song. And so, they said that was distracted driving. I got docked for that.

Pay, he explained, is dictated by Amazon, which operates on a piece rate system. Workers are paid the 10-hour flat rate, whether you work for more or less than 10 hours you are paid that rate. The hourly wage is approximately $23a figure totally inadequate to account for the physical toll, the unpaid burdens and the grinding poverty that defines the job.

Quotas without limits, bodies without rest

Manny was direct about what makes the job most punishing: not any single hazard, but the sheer accumulation of demands within a fixed window of time. Amazon really does not have a limit as to how many packages and stops that they give workers, he said. Some workers have gotten 200 stops, or have to deliver 400 packages. I myself have had a point where the vans are essentially stuffed and where there is no path from the back, so you essentially have to use the front to organize and sort and deliver packages until you can work your way in to actually have some space.

Amazons injury rate is dramatically higher than the warehousing industry average. A 2023 study found that 70 percent of Amazon workers surveyed reported having to take unpaid time off to recover from pain or exhaustion, and 40 percent reported having been injured on the job. For delivery drivers working at the pace Manny describes, injury is not a remote possibilityit is a statistical near-certainty over time.

The rescue system compounds the pressure. When a driver falls behind, a faster driver who has completed their own route is dispatched to absorb the remaining stops. What was a 170-stop job turns into a 190-stop job because you have to take 20 stops for them in order for that person to finish, he said. It feels like youve finished your work, and then you have to help someone out, so you cant go home yourself.

Then there are the obstacles that no algorithm can anticipate. Dog bites, Manny noted, are a routine occupational hazard: There was one person who was bitten badly by a dog. Dog bites are not uncommon in this job. So much so that they say that if you see a dog in the yard, to mark it as incomplete and not to encounter italthough you are still responsible for making the delivery. He himself has been bitten once and narrowly avoided worse encounters on multiple occasions.

Newer password delivery requirements add yet another layer of friction. Some stops require the driver to obtain a verbal confirmation code from the customer before leaving the package. That means you have to directly interact with the customer in order to receive the password, just to deliver the package, Manny explainedall while the clock is running toward the shift-end cutoff of 8:30 or 9 p.m.

Amazons mandated half-hour break exists on paper. In practice, its usefulness is limited by a prohibition on leaving the designated route. Were not allowed to go off route and there arent really any bathrooms, Manny said. Sometimes we get luckyif there was a construction site nearby, I would generally just use the porta potties, if theyre around.

Winter conditions in Massachusetts and New Hampshire make an already strenuous job dangerous. It gets darker quicker, so youre basically delivering packages mostly in the night, and its generally hard to see houses, see hazards, Manny said. The holiday peakCyber Monday, Christmascoincides precisely with the shortest days and most dangerous driving conditions.

Amazon has made us work during snowstorms, he said. Drivers end up getting stuck and have to be bailed out. I have gotten stuck myself during those two occasions. They recalled us halfway through our route as if that made up for sending us out during the snowstorm in the first place. This year was the first time Amazon actually cancelled routes, during the 2026 blizzard.

Threats related to property owners present an additional hazard that rarely makes corporate safety reports. If you go to DSP drivers on the Reddit app, drivers post pictures of threatening gun signs. Theyre everywhere. They seem to be in every state. You have these belligerent rural customers, but its in the suburbs too.

If a driver fails to complete their route within the allotted window, Amazons response is punitive and immediate: If you overstep the time limit, you will receive less days of work.

A workforce designed to be divided

Manny has worked in this system for five yearsfar longer than average. An average driver there lasts for at least six months. I would say its rare for anyone to last more than a couple years, he said. This is essentially a pay-the-bills job. They just stick with it long enough in order to get out of whatever hole theyre in, and then look for something better.

Amazons turnover rate has been reported at approximately 150 percent annuallymeaning the company churns through more workers each year than it actually employs at any given moment. High turnover is not a failure of Amazons business model but a deliberate feature of it, used to suppress seniority, instill fear and keep labor costs down.

The DSP structure itself is a weapon of labor control. By fragmenting the workforce across thousands of nominally independent small businesseseach responsible for hiring, firing, paying and insuring its own driversAmazon diffuses the collective power that workers might otherwise build. In addition to this, there are Amazon Flex workers who make deliveries out of their personal vehicles, similar to Uber or other rideshare apps.

The fact that they have Flex drivers, in addition to the DSP, its all to keep us divided and from essentially organizing. Amazon has within their buildings posters saying why joining a union is bad, and that if you were to join a union, you have to pay the union bosses and everythinggenerally everything against social organizing. They were telling DSP owners to report if there was someone trying to unionize the DSP drivers. If the DSP drivers do get unionized, then Amazon will shut down the DSP. Theyve done that before.

In Palmdale, California, Amazon did precisely that: After 84 DSP delivery drivers voted to join the Teamsters in April 2023the first group of Amazon delivery drivers in the country to unionizeAmazon terminated its contract with the DSP, effectively dismissing the entire unionized workforce.

The isolation built into the job reinforces the division. You dont have much time to talk to people, Manny said. Its very rapid and fast paced. Its just eight to 10 hours delivering packages.

Its like a surveillance state

When asked to connect his daily experience to the broader political situation facing the working class, Manny made the following comparison:

With Amazon, its pretty much a surveillance state, he said. Youre watched constantly all the time. Every little thing that you do serves as a violation, and then it comes back later when they try to discipline you. Amazon will send an alert to the DSP, and then the DSP will chastise you for a violation. If you rack up too many violations, then you are taken off the road.

Workers at Amazon are exploited to their physical limits through computerized and AI-driven oversight. They are monitored by AI-powered deviceshandheld scanners, badges, and camerasthat track and time workers and penalize them for excessive Time off Task, against which Amazons algorithms count even bathroom breaks.

Manny was also asked about a WSWS article reporting that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents had arrested Amazon workers in a facility in Michiganhauling them away in front of their coworkers without warning. His response was pointed: I think that was pretty egregious. It really shows the risk workers are taking doing these jobs. And you know, you deal with Amazons rules and regulations, and then the next morning you come in, and you get arrested by some goons. And youre in a cell, who knows whereand Amazon doesnt have the fortitude to issue a statement or provide you a lawyer.

Workers need to organize for a mass general strike

Amazons methods of surveillance, high turnover and subcontracting have become a template for corporate America as a whole. The use of such techniques is now referred to in boardrooms as Amazonization. Meanwhile, Jeff Bezos, Amazons founder and largest individual shareholder, has accumulated a fortune estimated between $234 billion and $254 billionwealth that has ballooned by thousands of percent over the past two decades on the backs of its workers.

Workers need to organize for a mass general strike, Manny said. Clearly, the company doesnt have your back. I doubt your job will be waiting for you afterwards. So, I would say that workers, despite the risks from Amazon and other companies trying to keep us stratified, we need to organize and have a planned system for a general strikegathering resources, linking up with workers at other companies and setting a timetable for an indefinite general strike that will essentially grind this country to a halt. Because thats the only thing that would stop them.

We discussed the campaign of Will Lehman, who is running for president of the United Auto Workers. I watched the WSWS interview of Will Lehman and I would encourage others reading this to do the same, Manny said. His experiences at Mack Trucks in Pennsylvania and the betrayal of the New River Valley autoworkers has shown the importance that it is not just enough to organize; that the structure and political orientation of the union are just as important.

I would hate to imagine if Amazon workers formed a union in similar structure to the UAW. It would be one step forward and two steps back. Amazon workers should organize in the form of rank-and-file committees and stay clear of unions like the UAW. I also liked his emphasis on the international character of the working class and companies like Amazon. Amazon hates to lose, and will use their international character to suppress workers. So, we have to be internationalist in order to beat them.

In light of the Trump administrations war against Iran, Manny commented on the role of Amazon as a military contractor, particularly its $581 million data center contract for the Air Force:

This seems more like an excuse for the US government to give $581 million to Amazon. Amazon isnt really a tech company, or a civil engineering company, and they dont advertise about how they build data centers, and it was a no-bid contract, too. None of the workers who work for Amazon will see even a dime of that contract money. We drivers and package handlers are more productive than the US Air Force. Our jobs dont involve sending bombs that cost $43 million to kill people who, like me, will never make that much money in their lifetime.

The World Socialist Web Site urges Amazon DSP drivers and all logistics workers to make contact with us to share your experiences and connect with workers across the industry who are fighting back against the same conditions. The building of rank-and-file committees, independent of the corporate-controlled union bureaucracies, is essential to transforming that fight into a conscious and coordinated movement of the entire working class.
Delcy Rodriguez swears in new cabinet members at the Miraflores Presidential Palace, March 19 [Photo: Prensa Presidencial]

The Chavista regime in Caracas headed by Washingtons proxy, acting President Delcy Rodriguez, carried out a sweeping overhaul of the government and military command in recent days dressed up fraudulently as an expression of national sovereignty.

After Washington restored diplomatic relations and reopened its embassy in Caracas earlier this month, what is unfolding is the consolidation of the USorchestrated coup detat launched with the January 3 bombing campaign and kidnapping of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.

Rodriguez, who was Maduros vice president, has named a new defense minister and new chiefs for all branches of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces, including the operational command, army, navy, air force, National Guard and the militia.

Just this month alone, she has carried out replacements in the ministries of Defense, Transport, Hydrocarbons, Electric Energy, Labor, Housing, Higher Education, Tourism and Culture. She had already changed the heads of the ministries of Industry, Communications, Ecosocialism and Water, and the Office of the Presidency.

The bulk of these reshuffles were announced on March 18, with Rodriguez having now made 13 cabinet changesnearly half of the 32 portfolios. Two days later, on March 20, she announced new commanders of the Strategic Regions of Integral Defense (REDI), reshaping the territorial military leadership across the country.

Rodriguez claims that these changes are aimed at guaranteeing sovereignty, peace, stability and territorial integrity. But the real aim is to consolidate a new power structure directly subservient to US imperialism.

One analysis in the Spanish daily El Pais notes that the military reshuffle is aligned with the orientation of the cabinet, conceived to retain power and guarantee institutional loyalty. A wellknown political observer, speaking to the same paper on condition of anonymity, bluntly stated: I think that change in the Ministry of Defense could not have been possible without the approval of the United States. Another analyst, Trino Marquez, observed that Delcy Rodriguez is seeking to define her profile, to remove the Madurista characteristics from her administration.

In other words, eleven weeks after the bombing of Caracas and the abduction of Maduro and Flores, Washington is completing its coup by effectively handpicking the cabinet and high command through its puppet Rodriguez.

Marquez points out that Rodriguezs first major decision to dissolve the shadow of Maduro was removing from his key role Colombian businessman Alex Saab, long accused by US authorities of corruption and moneylaundering, but who was charged with circumventing US sanctions.

But the most politically significant step in erasing Maduros imprint was the replacement of Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez, who had held the post for twelve years and was a central pillar of Maduros clique.

Padrino has been replaced by General Gustavo Gonzalez Lopez, a UStrained officer who has specialized in intelligence services and is particularly close to powerful Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello. Despite being sanctioned by the United States in recent years, Gonzalez Lopez was sent in the 1990s to the notorious School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Georgia, for advanced training and courses in psychological operations.

Cabello himself, long described as the man who truly controls the security forces, remains at the helm of the Interior Ministry despite a US bounty of $25 million on his head still in place. He is accused of coleading with Maduro the socalled Cartel of the Suns, a fictitious entity invented by Washington. Reuters reported that Cabello had held talks with US officials months before the January 3 attack to protect key figures in the USbacked opposition, something he has denied.

What is indisputable is that he has given full support to the sweeping structural changes to the economy and state announced by Rodriguez, which include the appointment of his daughter, Daniella Cabello, as Tourism Minister.

The swearing in of the new military chiefs took place just one day after Rodriguez met with a delegation from the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, alongside Laura Dogu, the charge daffaires of the US Embassy who has effectively overseen the regimes transformation step by step.

In addition to that delegation, toplevel US political, military and intelligence figures have streamed through Caracas since January 3, including senior State Department officials responsible for Latin America, Pentagon representatives involved in Southern Command planning, the CIA chief and other and highranking members of the intelligence community tasked with stabilization and security cooperation in Venezuela.

These appointments are not only about purging unreliable elements and reshaping the internal balance among rival Chavista factions; they are also meant to reassure global capital with a reliable guarantor of property rights and repression against the working class.

Earlier this month, delegations from Chevron and Shell visited Caracas as they negotiated major deals to expand oil and gas production. Chevron CEO Mike Wirth said Monday that he has seen progress, but insisted on further changes to Venezuelas hydrocarbons regime, with Reuters reporting that executives want contracts placed under US law and subject to international arbitration. These demands build on a new Hydrocarbons Law that already grants foreign companies operational autonomy and the right to sell oil directly, while slashing state royalties.

Truth Social post by Donald Trump suggesting Venezuela become the 51st US state [Photo: @realDonaldTrump]

Trump has given political expression to these corporate appetites, suggesting in a social media post that Venezuela should become the 51st state of the United States. The transformation of Venezuela is aimed at subordinating the country to the US strategic confrontation with China, Russia and Iran, formerly key allies of Caracas.

Reflecting this scramble, business associations have organized at least three investor junkets to Caracas this month alone, featuring meetings with highlevel movers and shakers in the interim government, as reported by Reuters.

The tone of these delegations is one of barely concealed euphoria at the prospect of exploiting a devastated working class. Years of US sanctions, coupled with the Maduro governments enforcement of brutal austerity and de facto dollarization, have reduced the Venezuelan economy to roughly a fifth of its previous size, contributed to more than 100,000 excess deaths and forced some 8 million people to flee as refugees.

One investor, Jesse Cole, president of Sky Drop Capitalwhich shut its Venezuelan manufacturing plant in 2011told Reuters: Its a coiled spring of opportunity. The Venezuela I left, I dont think is the Venezuela Im returning to.

The opportunity in question rests on starvation wages, shredded social services and a militarized state apparatus now being refitted to protect foreign capital.

The vast reshuffling of the state and the parade of investors show that the bourgeois nationalists who built their entire project on denouncing the sellout (entreguista) layers of the Venezuelan bourgeoisie are now handing over the countrys key resources to imperialism. The World Socialist Web Site does not defend national sovereignty in a positive sense as a defense of the bourgeois nationstate, but condemns the current handover of the economy to Washington from the standpoint of the independent interests of the working class.

Workers must not cede to any faction of the ruling class the struggle against imperialism or, for that matter, the defense of a given country against foreign domination. The bourgeois nationalist cliques in power use control of resources above all to exploit workers and maintain their security forces as the ultimate line of defensenot for the people, but for capitalist rule.

The current accommodation of the Chavista establishment to Trump vindicates in the negative the Theory of Permanent Revolution. In the epoch of imperialism, the bourgeoisie in belatedly developed countries is incapable of resolving the basic tasks of democratic developmentnational independence, land reform and democratic forms of rulebecause it is organically tied to world finance capital and terrified of the revolutionary aspirations of its own working class. These tasks fall to the proletariat, which must take power on the basis of an international socialist program whose fate, like that of the October 1917 Russian Revolution, depends on the extension of the struggle to the advanced capitalist centers.

This question is of burning urgency today. The drive to abolish the 20th century and reimpose colonial shackles on oppressed nations across Latin America, Asia and Africathrough wars, coups, blockades and shock therapyis inseparably linked to explosive economic turmoil, sweeping attacks on social and democratic rights, and the turn toward fascist forms of rule in the United States and other imperialist centers.

The program to fight the USChavista regimechange operation in Venezuela is not a return to the bankrupt nationalist illusions of Bolivarian socialism, but the conscious, independent mobilization of Venezuelan workers, together with their class brothers and sisters throughout the Americas and internationally, for workers power and the socialist reorganization of society.
The annual ANZMIN 2+2 meeting held in Canberra on March 17 brought together Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles with New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins for their third round of consultations.

Defence ministers Richard Marles (Australia) and Judith Collins (NZ) with foreign ministers Penny Wong (Australia) and Winston Peters (NZ) at ANZMIN 2026. [Photo: X/SenatorWong]

The ANZMIN meeting took place amid the criminal, unprovoked US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran, which is a step towards full-scale war with China, US imperialisms main global competitor. The meeting consolidated a strategic alignment that binds Australias Labor and NZs National Party-led governments to the escalating US-led war agenda.

The joint communique emphasised the importance of the ANZUS allianceestablished between Australia, NZ and the US following World War IIas part of the security architecture in the Indo-Pacific, including AUKUS (Australia, United Kingdom, US) and the Quad (Australia, India, Japan, US). Canberra and Wellington pledged further coordination, alignment, and interoperability of their armed forces by constructing a unified Anzac war machine in the US-led confrontation with China.

Anzac refers to the joint military forces that fought at the disastrous Gallipoli campaign during the allied invasion of Turkey in the First World War, which cost over 130,000 lives on both sides. The campaign has since been mythologised to promote warmongering and patriotism, encapsulated in the Anzac Day ceremonies held in both countries every April 25, which present militarism as the natural expression of a supposed special relationship and shared Australian-NZ values.

Marles declared in a post on X: Anzac 2035 is a plan to bring our two defence forces even closer together. We fought alongside each other as Anzacs 111 years ago, we are close friends and neighbours, and this plan speaks to our shared commitment for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

The reference to peace and stability is entirely bogus. Australia and New Zealand are formal allies of Washington in the escalating confrontation with Beijing that is destabilising the region. ANZMIN continues and intensifies decisions taken over the past two years to create an integrated trans-Tasman force structure.

A separate statement by the Defence Ministers emphasised that the countries militaries are operationalising our Alliance with a vision of being able to operate seamlessly as an increasingly integrated, combat-capable Anzac force by 2035. They are already building deep interoperability and interchangeability, through common procurement practices, platforms and systems. We will be force multipliers for each other, the statement boasted.

The document calls for more joint training exercises, secondment of senior military staff, and joint procurement of platforms and equipment.

Both societies are being rapidly militarised. Australias 2023 Defence Strategic Review outlined tens of billions of dollars in additional expenditure and a reorientation of forces toward long-range strike and maritime warfare. New Zealands 2025 Defence Capability Plan commits to doubling military spending from about 1 to 2 percent of GDP and to making the armed forces more combat capable [and] interoperable with our partners.

An ANZMIN communique in 2024 praised the AUKUS pact, which includes Australias acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines and other advanced weapons systems. The agreement is designed to turn Australia into a base for US naval operations aimed at blockading Chinese shipping lanes and threatening Chinese cities with attack.

NZ Defence Minister Judith Collins underscored the belligerent, anti-China character of the Australia-NZ alliance. Asked by the New Zealand Heralds Ryan Bridge on March 19 whether there was a risk that NZ would be drawn in to some American-led war if we get too close to the Aussies, Collins replied: The fact is that we have, in history, been with the Americans on almost everything that the Australians have in the past anyway, except Iraq 2 [the 2003 invasion of Iraq]. In fact, New Zealands then Labour government sent dozens of combat engineers to join the illegal US occupation of Iraq.

Collins then provocatively stated that China had missiles that could reach New Zealand, adding: We live in some of the most dangerous times that I have known in my lifetime.

The main ANZMIN statement expressed concerns about destabilising activities and instances of unsafe and unprofessional behaviour by China in the South China Sea. The ministers also made the usual, thoroughly hypocritical denunciations of alleged human rights violations in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong.

The joint statement opposed any unilateral action to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. This echoes US talking points which are used to legitimise ever greater US arms shipments and other preparations for war with China over Taiwan.

Meanwhile the Australian and NZ ministers said nothing about the unprovoked US-Israeli war against Iran, which has killed thousands of people. Instead, they condemned Irans retaliation against this imperialist aggression as reckless and indiscriminate.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand responded to the statement with outrage, saying: Before pointing fingers at others, one should first look in the mirror. The allegations leveled against China in the relevant statement are full of prejudice, lies and inexplicable colonial-style arrogance.

The spokesperson accused ANZMIN of ignoring acts that violate international law and universally recognized norms of international relations, as well as flagrant military strikes against other countries that killed innocent civilians and has disrupted the world economy.

The ANZMIN communique underscored the role that Australia and NZ play as minor imperialist powers, which depend on their alliance with the US to support their own predatory operations. It called for defence and foreign affairs resources to be deployed across the Pacific region on the pretext of countering transnational organised crime and concerning military vessel activity.

The ANZMIN statement also emphasised the importance of Australias military treaty signed last year with Papua New Guinea (PNG)which would draw the impoverished country into any military conflict that Australia embarks onand New Zealands responsibility for the defence and security of its colonies, the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau.

The Pacific Response Group (PRG) which brings together the militaries of Australia, NZ, France, Fiji, PNG and Tonga under the aegis of the South Pacific Defence Ministerswill be enhanced as a regional asset that enables more effective co-deployments in times of need. The PRG will allow the imperialist powers to deploy rapidly anywhere in the Pacific to suppress popular unrest and secure strategic areas in times of war.

The militarisation orchestrated through ANZMIN goes hand in hand with sweeping attacks on the working class in Australia and NZ. Tens of billions of dollars are being poured into submarines, missiles, bases and surveillance systems, while health, education and social services face chronic underfunding, privatisation, and restructuring.

Workers and youth are expected to sacrifice living standards and democratic rights to finance and support preparations for an imperialist war that serves only the interests of the ruling classes, who seek a cut of the spoils in the division and redivision of the world, just as they did in previous world wars.

The entire political establishments in both countriesthe conservative parties as well as Labour and the Greensare united behind the military alliance with US imperialism, differing only over minor tactical questions.

The outcome of the ANZMIN meeting underscores the urgency of building a conscious political movement of the working classes in Australia, New Zealand, across the Pacific and internationally against war and its source in the capitalist system. Only through such an internationalist struggle based on a socialist perspective can the mounting threat of a catastrophic conflict in the Indo-Pacificand the broader descent toward world warbe halted.
This photo taken with a mobile phone shows children at a railway yard in Daraa, southern Syria, March 14, 2026.(Str/Xinhua)

DARAA, Syria, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Inside a rusted train carriage on an abandoned railway line in southern Syria, Mohammad Oweimer has built what he calls home.

The metal walls are frigid in winter and stifling in summer. Rain leaks through the roof, dripping onto thin mattresses on the floor, while a small wood stove fights the chill. Outside, derelict train cars stretch across a debris-strewn field where children play among rust and rubble.

For Oweimer and his three children, this is where life has settled after years of war, displacement and economic hardship left them with nowhere else to go.

"The war destroyed my house," Oweimer said. "After that, we kept moving from one place to another. I rented homes, but in the end, I couldn't afford the rent anymore. Prices became too high, and now I'm unemployed."

Oweimer, a former Daraa firefighter, lost his job after the previous government fell. With no steady income and rising living costs, his options quickly ran out.

Eight months ago, he moved into one of the abandoned train carriages at a railway station in the city, converting it into a shelter for his family.

"I didn't choose this place willingly. All other solutions were closed to me," he said.

Oweimer explained that he had previously stayed in a few empty homes while the owners were away; he did not pay rent but cleaned and maintained the places. Once the owners came back, he left.

That was how he ended up in the abandoned train car.

Inside, the space is sparse. Blankets hang as makeshift curtains. A small battery powers basic lighting. Personal belongings are tucked into corners as the children share worn mattresses.

Living conditions are harsh year-round.

"The carriage is made of metal. In winter, it is extremely cold, and in summer, very hot," Oweimer said. "This is something we have to adapt to. During the winter, I tried to cover the roof to stop the rain, but water still drips on us."

His son Qusai, a third-grade student, says life inside the carriage is difficult.

"Living in the carriage is very hard," the boy said. "In winter, water falls on us. I wish my mother would come back, and that we could live in a house like everyone else."

Like many families in southern Syria, Oweimer's story reflects the long shadow of a conflict that began in 2011 and devastated homes, infrastructure and livelihoods across the country.

Although large-scale fighting has largely subsided in recent years, economic conditions remain dire. Rising rents, unemployment and scant reconstruction have left many families struggling to find stable housing.

For Oweimer, uncertainty extends beyond this shelter. If authorities reclaim the railway, he does not know where his family will go next.

"I haven't even thought about that," he said. "If it happens, I will rely on the kindness of others. Someone has promised to help me find a place to stay, and I hope that happens so we don't face this situation again."

Despite everything, his hopes remain simple.

"I want a better life, not for me, but for my children," he said. "I want us to live in a stable home, to feel like a family again. I want to find work so I can provide for them and feel reassured that they are safe."

He said he once considered leaving the country, like many others seeking a way out.

"I thought about migration many times," he said. "But nothing worked. Everything collapsed."

As Syria grapples with the aftermath of war, stories like Oweimer's highlight families still searching for stability, even if that means a life inside a forgotten train carriage. 
We have been returning fire since 5:45 a.m. It was with this infamous statement that Adolf Hitler justified the German invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939. Hitlers SS had previously staged a fake Polish attack on the Gleiwitz radio station in Silesia in order to portray the Wehrmachts offensive as an act of self-defence.

In reality, the Germans did not return fire. They launched a meticulously planned campaign of extermination, in the course of which 6 million Poles, 28 million Soviet citizens and tens of millions more people met their deaths. This orgy of destruction culminated in the systematic murder of 6 million Jews.

First responders inspect the remains of a residential building hit by U.S.-Israeli militaries in an overnight strike during the campaign in Tabriz, East Azerbaijan Province, northwestern Iran, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. [AP Photo/Matin Hashemi]

The G7 Statement in Support of Partners in the Middle East, adopted on March 22 by the foreign ministers of Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union and the US, is reminiscent of Hitlers crude lies. It marks the European imperialist powers final departure from international law in favour of the principle that might makes right.

The statement proves that it is not only the US under Trump that is pursuing a policy of unrestrained imperialist violence, but also Germany, France, Italy, Britain, Canada and Japan. They invoke international law only when Trump, as in Greenland, infringes upon their own interests, or when they use it to justify the war against Russia in Ukraine.

Three weeks after the US-Israeli attack on Iranfollowing the bombing of 8,000 targets, the killing of at least 1,300 civilians, the targeted assassination of the countrys leadership and threats to bomb the entire country back to the Middle Agesthe G7 has adopted a statement that declares the victim to be the aggressor.

They condemn the unjustifiable attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran and its proxies and demand the immediate and unconditional cessation of all attacks by the Iranian regimebut not the attacks by the US and Israel, which are not mentioned at all in the statement.

The foreign ministers expressly support the US war aims and propaganda:

The G7 has repeatedly stated that Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons and must halt its ballistic missile programme, cease its destabilising activities in the region and globally, and stop the appalling violence against its own people and their oppression.

Yet there is no doubt that the US and Israeli attack on Iran is unprovoked and illegal, that it constitutes a war of aggression in breach of international law, a war crime for which the Nazi leaders were sentenced to death at Nuremberg.

This also applies to the targeted assassination of leading statesmen. Under international humanitarian law, these are only legitimate targets if they are part of the armed forces and integrated into the military chain of commandand even then only in a war, which in the case of Iran was never officially declared. The systematic elimination of a states political leadership, as the US is doing in Iran, is, by contrast, clearly a crime.

Experts in international law and international relations are largely in agreement on these issues. A statement dated March 17, which has since been signed by 90 German professors, concludes: The use of military force against Iran by Israel and the US constitutes a violation of the prohibition on the use of force under international law. This assessment is explained in detail in the statement.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has also now endorsed this view. This war is contrary to international lawthere is little doubt about that, he said on Tuesday in a speech marking the 75th anniversary of the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin. Our foreign policy does not become more convincing by failing to call a breach of international law a breach of international law.

Steinmeier, who in 2014, as foreign minister, was one of the main architects of the pro-Western coup in Ukraine and the subsequent war against Russia, is evidently concerned that identifying too closely with the war in Iran could further undermine the politically beleaguered federal government, for the overwhelming majority of the German population rejects the war.

According to an ARD-Deutschland Trend poll, 58 percent considered it unjustified right from the start. Now its catastrophic consequences are becoming increasingly apparent day by day in the form of rising fuel, energy and food prices and a slump in production.

Above all, however, Steinmeier is concerned that Germany and Europe should focus on their own imperialist interests and free themselves from military dependence on the US.

Europe must not rely on a return to the once close transatlantic relationship, he said. The rift is too deep, and the trust in American great-power politics has been lostnot only among the allies, but worldwide, he said. Europe must break free from transatlantic dependencies that make us vulnerable and achieve sovereignty in defence and technology.

Steinmeiers assessment that the war is contrary to international law has no practical consequences for the German government. Otherwise, it would have to be brought before a court. For if the US attack on Iran is contrary to international law, then the German government is an accomplice to a war crime and is thus itself guilty of a crime.

The assertion constantly repeated in Europe, This is not our war, was a brazen lie from the outset. Without its bases in the UK, Germany, Portugal, Italy, France and Greece, the US would not have been able to wage this war at all.

The US maintains around 40 military bases in Europe, housing some 80,000 troops. These serve as staging grounds for operations in the Middle East and Africa. They house troops and weapons, intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities, command centres and refueling facilities.

With the exception of Spain, all European countries have permitted the use of these bases for the war against Iran. Only the British government hesitated briefly but then authorised defensive bombing raids from British bases. Since defensive and offensive actions cannot be separated in war, this restriction is meaningless. US bombers are now flying missions from the military airfields at Fairford in England and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

The German air base at Ramstein, one of the largest US bases worldwide, is a central hub for operations in the Middle East. It serves as a hub for command, communication and data transmission. Long-range strikes are coordinated and drone missions controlled from there. Ammunition, troops and equipment are also flown from the US to the Gulf region via Ramstein. It also houses the largest US military hospital outside America.

Another US air base is located in Spangdahlem in the Eifel region, and a command headquarters is in Stuttgart. The German government permits the use of these facilities for the war in Iran without objection.

Other key US air bases are located in Aviano, Italy and on the Portuguese Azores island of Terceira. France allows the US Air Force to refuel its aircraft at the Istres-Le Tube military airbase on the Mediterranean coast and has deployed its own fleet to the eastern Mediterranean.

However, the G7 nations will not stop at providing logistical support for the war. They are preparing to enter the war with their own troops. The foreign ministers statement already hints at this.

It reaffirms the importance of securing sea lanes and the safety of shipping, including in the Strait of Hormuz and all associated critical sea lanes, as well as the security and safety of supply chains and the stability of energy markets. And it assures the states in the region that are under attack from Iran of unwavering support for their security, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Thus, with a new justificationsecuring sea lanes, defending Arab alliesthe entry of Europe, Canada and Japan into the escalating war is being prepared.

The reason for this lies in the nature of the war itself. It is about oil, gas, profit and strategic power. The US is attempting to compensate for its economic decline through military force and to bring the Middle East under its controlin preparation for a war against China. The European powers, which have a long colonial history and massive economic interests in the region, do not intend to stand on the sidelines.

The war is being waged on the backs of the working class, which is forced to bear the costs through rising prices, job losses and cuts to social services, as well as through being war victims and cannon fodder. None of the established parties is resisting this development. They are all, in one form or another, tied to the profit interests of the ruling class. Only a socialist movement that unites the international working class in the struggle against war and capitalism can prevent a renewed slide into world war and barbarism.
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Fire rages following a massive explosion at the Valero oil refinery in Port Arthur, Texas.

A massive explosion at a Valero oil refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, sent shock waves through the city Monday evening. City officials blocked roads and issued an emergency shelter-in-place order for much of the coastal city, located 90 miles (145 kilometers) east of Houston. No casualties have been reported as of this writing.

At around 7:30 p.m. local time, the catastrophic explosion ejected plumes of toxic black smoke into the sky, with the blast audible over 11 miles (17 kilometers) away, according to residents. Officials are monitoring levels of volatile organic compounds, but no warnings have been issued to residents.

The 125-year-old facility is among the top 10 largest US refineries, outputting up to 435,000 barrels per day (bpd) and plays a pivotal role in the processing of heavy sour crude into gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.

Preliminary forensic observations, according to statements from local officials, indicate the primary failure occurred within the 243-diesel hydrotreater unit, which has a 47,000 bpd capacity. Utilizing high-pressure hydrogen gas to remove sulfur, nitrogen and metals from distillate streams, the hydrotreater produces hydrogen sulfide as a byproduct, an extremely toxic and highly flammable gas.

The initial detonation caused a rash of secondary fires, including in the adjacent fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit, the core of the refinerys gasoline production. To prevent a total loss of the facility, the entire complex had to be shut down.

Containment efforts were severely hampered, as the refinerys critical utilities, including water and steam necessary for firefighting and safe de-pressurization of other units, suffered a total loss. Operators were forced to vent and flare massive quantities of unstable hydrocarbons into the atmosphere, which exacerbated the risk of further fire outbreaks. These toxic chemicals are directly linked to cancer, respiratory diseases and other severe health risks.

This is the second massive US refinery disaster in under six months, following the explosion at a Los Angeles-area Chevron refinery. Like the Valero incident, the blast could be heard from miles away and miraculously left no casualties.

The disaster comes as oil giants race to capitalize on soaring energy prices, as the criminal US-Israeli war on Iran spirals into an ever-deepening quagmire, destabilizing global energy markets. In the first full day of trading after the explosion, Valero saw its stock price rise, then settle almost 2 percent up for the day. Overall, oil prices soared 37 percent in under a month, and the S&P 500 Energy Index climbed nearly 30 percent year to date.

A critical element in their ability to extract war profits is the role of the United Steelworkers (USW) bureaucracy, which announced a sellout pattern agreement only days before the war broke out. Last week, over 800 USW members were locked out at the BP refinery in Whiting, Indiana. The bureaucracy is isolating this struggle, even though the company is demanding deep concessions which would set precedents throughout the industry.

Valero maintains a pattern of catastrophic unit failures and chronic environmental non-compliance in Port Arthur. Over the summer of 2007, a series of incidents at the facility led to the hospitalization of about 40 workers for toxic gas inhalation, a gasoline spill in a nearby waterway required extensive remediation, and another massive explosion forced a facility shutdown. From 2014 to 2019, the facility was cited for multiple emissions events and permit exceedances, where unauthorized air contaminants were released into the surrounding community.

In March 2011 at its St. Charles refinery in Louisiana, 30-year-old contractor Victor Rodriguez fell to his death from a ladder after being exposed to lethal levels of hydrogen sulfide, and a second worker barely survived, being caught in a ladder guard.

In August 2014, an explosion at the diesel facility on-site triggered a fire that raged for hours, spewing toxic gases into the community, who were not notified until they watched the event on the news.

And in March 2015, a contract worker collapsed and died on the job, which turnaround specialist JV Industrial Companies characterized as an isolated incident. In reality, it was the inevitable outcome of mandatory overtime and the use of hyperexploited contract workers.

These types of avoidable disasters are not uncommon along the Gulf Coast refinery corridor, which is home to the largest concentration of refining capacity in the hemisphere. Under both Democratic and Republican administrations, chronic safety violations, deaths, disasters and environmental degradation have continued unabated, leading only to token fines.

The Trump administration most recently gutted funding for the Chemical Safety Board that has, since 1998, been tasked with some measure of oversight in Texas and Louisiana.
KIGALI, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda has made significant progress in fighting tuberculosis, with the disease prevalence falling by over 70 percent between 2000 and 2024 due to various government interventions, health authorities said Tuesday.

In a statement citing the Global Tuberculosis Report 2025 released by the World Health Organization, the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) said tuberculosis cases in the country fell from 238 to 62 per 100,000 people between 2000 and 2024, while deaths dropped from 77 to 3 per 100,000 people over the same period due to various health interventions.

The interventions cited by the RBC include increasing the role of health workers in awareness campaigns, promoting early detection and supporting treatment in villages. In addition, the agency highlighted the extension of free diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis to health facilities across the country.

During an event held on Tuesday to mark World Tuberculosis Day, Albert Tuyishime, in charge of disease prevention and control at the RBC, reaffirmed the government's commitment to curbing tuberculosis by 2035.

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

However, in Rwanda, a lack of awareness among many people about how tuberculosis spreads, its symptoms and prevention measures calls for more public education, health officials said.

About 600,000 people with tuberculosis in the African region are either undiagnosed or not receiving treatment every year, according to the World Health Organization. 
ADDIS ABABA, March 24 (Xinhua) -- The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has called for concerted action to end Tuberculosis (TB), as the disease causes "significant burden" on the continent's public health and socioeconomic well-being.

The African Union's specialized healthcare agency made the appeal as the continent marks the World TB Day, which is observed annually on March 24. In a statement issued Tuesday, the Africa CDC said every year, millions of lives are affected by TB, with the continent bearing a significant burden.

It emphasized that strengthening early detection, improving access to care, and addressing stigma are key to eliminating TB across Africa. "No one should die from a disease that can be treated. On the World TB Day, Africa CDC reinforces its commitment to a TB-free future. The fight against this preventable and curable disease starts with awareness and action."

Highlighting that the disease costs Africa an estimated up to 25 billion U.S. dollars annually due to lost productivity, strain on health systems and household hardships, Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya called for bold domestic investment, stronger primary health care, stronger surveillance, and urgent action to close the detection gap.

"Ending TB is central to Africa's health security, economic resilience, and sovereignty. No African should die from a disease we know how to prevent, diagnose, treat, and cure," the Africa CDC chief said.

This year's World TB Day is being marked under the theme "Yes! We can end TB!" It calls for decisive country leadership, increased domestic and international investment, accelerated action, and strong multi-sectoral collaboration.

The 2013 Abuja Declaration sets the target of ending TB in Africa by 2030, along with AIDS and Malaria. Recent data from the World Health Organization (WHO) showed that Africa has recorded the steepest decline in TB deaths since 2015, despite missing key milestones.

Attributing the reductions mainly to increased efforts in case detection and treatment provision, the WHO noted that the disease imposes "a severe economic burden with catastrophic cost of seeking treatment" for nearly 68 percent of TB-affected households in Africa.

Tuberculosis, caused by bacteria that most often affect the lungs, is an airborne disease that spreads between humans through inhaling the air infected with TB germs through cough, sneeze or spit from an infected person. Common symptoms of active lung TB include cough with sputum and blood at times, chest pains, weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats. The disease has effective treatment and can be cured, according to the Africa CDC. 
ADDIS ABABA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf has appointed former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete as the AU's High Representative for the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the AU said that Kikwete will support the 55-member continental organization's efforts to address the complex political, peace and security dynamics across the region.

As the AU's High Representative for the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, Kikwete's mandate is said to include advancing preventive diplomacy, facilitating inclusive political dialogue, promoting confidence-building among stakeholders, and strengthening regional cooperation mechanisms aimed at fostering sustainable peace and stability.

The former Tanzanian president is expected to work in close coordination with relevant regional and international partners, including the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the East African Community, the League of Arab States, the United Nations, and other partners.

"This coordinated engagement is particularly critical considering the strategic importance of the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea for international trade and the broader stability of the African continent," the AU said.

Youssouf expressed his full confidence in Kikwete, whose experience, leadership and wisdom "will make a significant contribution to supporting countries in the region, as well as relevant regional and international mechanisms, in addressing prevailing challenges and advancing durable peace, stability and prosperity." 
Jesse Ventura has publicly called out Barron Trump, urging him to consider enlisting in the military.

The former Navy SEAL made the remark in light of the United States ongoing military involvement tied to Iran, with recent reports also suggesting that thousands of additional troops could soon be deployed to the Middle East.

At present, no final decision has been made regarding sending forces directly into Iran, and it remains uncertain whether Barron Trump has given any thought to the idea of military service.

Jesse Ventura Claims The Iran War Will Be Justified If Barron Trump Enlists

Greg Nash/Pool/The Hill / MEGA

With tensions still simmering around the situation involving Iran, Jesse Ventura, the actor, pro wrestler, and former Minnesota governor, has weighed in with a pointed message at Barron Trump.

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Ventura, during an appearance on Piers Morgans Uncensored, suggested that since Barrons father, Donald Trump, has taken a hard stance toward conflict with the Middle Eastern nation, it would be only fair for the former teenager to enlist in the U.S. military and serve in the very war his father is advocating for.

He added that this would be the only way the war could be considered justified, especially given that the children of other citizens would be the ones putting their lives on the line.

Because how can you send somebody elses kids to a war if you wont send your own? the former Navy SEAL asked.

The Former Navy SEAL Called On The Young Trump To Enlist For Military Service

Former Governor Jesse Ventura:



How can you send someone elses kids to war if you wont send your own? So Im calling on Barron Trump to enlist in the US military. Do something your father never had the courage to do.

pic.twitter.com/6lmPfye2ws  Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) March 24, 2026

Doubling down on his stance, Jesse Ventura directly addressed Barron with a challenge while pointing out that, despite their proximity to power, no member of the Trump family has served in the military.

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So, Im calling right now for Barron Trump, Donald Trumps son. You know, after all, hes had three wives. Hes had kids by each wife, and nobodys ever served in the military, Ventura ranted.

He added, To my knowledge, a Trump in the last hundred years has never done military service. Well, Barron, you can change that. Enlist in the United States military right now.

Pushing his point further, Ventura called on Barron to do something your father didnt have the courage to do, adding that the same expectation should apply to other members of his family as well.

I want to see a Trump in the military, Ventura continued. Everybody in my family has served, so I think I can say that with all due confidence. Come on, Trumps. Dont just reap the benefits of this free world. Somebody put on the uniform, and thats you, Barron.

Netizens Share Mixed Reactions Over Jesse Venturas Request To Barron Trump

John Nacion/MEGA

On social media, several netizens agreed with Venturas push for Barron to enlist in military service.

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Absolutely. Christ, even the British Royal Family has more combat experience than three generations of the entire Trump Family. I mean, King Charles?! Think about that, one said.

Yep. If Trump wants a war, then Barron should have to enlist and be sent to the front lines. Fair is only fair, a second netizen commented.

Conversely, some individuals slammed Venturas request as wrong.

It is wrong to punish a child for his fathers sin. I hope neither Barron nor anyones son, or other family member, should have to serve in this unjust war, one wrote.

Its not fair to pick on Barron. It is fair to call out Trump, another commented.

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One more person said, Guy talks like he was in the UFC. You were not, Jessie. You played make-believe men in tights wrestling. I get that he was a service member, but he joined willingly. Me thinks Barron has a bigger calling in life.

The U.S. Intends To Send More Troops To The Middle East

Chris Kleponis  Pool via CNP / MEGA

While it remains unclear whether Barron is considering military service, more soldiers are expected to be deployed to the Middle East in the coming weeks.

According to Reuters, a source revealed that the United States plans to send between 3,000 and 4,000 additional troops, adding to the roughly 50,000 already stationed in the region.

None of these forces is directly deployed in Iran, although their presence is believed to strengthen the United States position for any potential future operations.

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Amid the conflict with Iran, just over a dozen U.S. soldiers have reportedly been killed, while around 10 others have sustained serious injuries.

The United States has also carried out over 9,000 strikes on targets in Iran, including operations that have resulted in the deaths of high-profile figures within Irans government and the disabling of key infrastructure.

Barron Trump Turned 20 Amid Calls For Him To Enlist

Pool Photo from Consolidated News Photos / MEGA

Calls for Barron to join the military come as he turned 20. The first son is said to have celebrated his new age in a small, private, and controlled manner, with insiders claiming that his half-siblings, Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric, were excluded from the event.

According to a report, Barrons mother, Melania, was the reason for the intimate celebration and exclusion of her sons older brothers and sister.

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Theyre not close  at all, one source said to journalist Rob Shuter. This wasnt an oversight. They were left off the list.

Another insider pointed out that Melania is in charge of her sons life, and wanted his 20th birthday to be about him, not his father, Donald, or half-siblings.

With the first ladys reported control and protectiveness of Barron, it is highly unlikely the young Trump would be joining the military anytime soon, even if he wanted to.

The Actor Jesse Ventura Ripped For Calling For Barron Trump To Enlist In Military: Its Not Fair To Pick On Barron first appeared on The Blast
NEED TO KNOW

Zhang Zibiao  a popular Chinese education influencer known online as Zhang Xuefeng  died on March 24 at age 41

According to a statement from his company, Zhang died from a sudden cardiac arrest for which all intensive life-saving efforts proved unavailing

The internet personality was known for sharing advice about the Gaokao, Chinas rigorous college entrance exam, taken by students at the end of high school

Zhang Zibiao  a popular Chinese education influencer known online as Zhang Xuefeng  died on March 24. He was 41.

Zhangs company, Suzhou Fengxue Weilai Education Technology Co., announced the news of his death in a statement shared to Weibo, a popular Chinese social media platform, noting that he died from a sudden cardiac arrest for which all intensive life-saving efforts proved unavailing.

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The passing of Mr. Zhang Xuefeng represents an immense loss to the educational community, the statement continued. We pledge to carry forward his legacy and continue our commitment to helping even more students realize their dreams.

According to a 2024 profile in the South China Morning Post, Zhang had over 30 million followers and was known for sharing advice about the Gaokao, Chinas rigorous college entrance exam taken by students at the end of high school. He also offered an extremely popular college counselling service, often fully booked two years in advance, the outlet reported.

Zhang reportedly amassed a large fortune of over $100 million, per South China Morning Post, stemming from book royalties, lectures and the three companies he owned.

Zhang-Xuefeng-during-the-Marca-Espana-Friends-Awards-awarding-ceremony-032526-48e787d857fd4069a4b868c624639eb9.jpg

Credit: Ballesteros/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

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Hailing from humble beginnings, Mr. Zhang Xuefeng dedicated his entire life to the welfare of students, read Zhangs companys statement. He devoted himself deeply to the field of education, consistently making it his personal mission to provide financial aid and foster the growth of young scholars, thereby realizing his educational ideals with a heart of utmost sincerity.

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are facing a wave of backlash ahead of their planned return to Australia, with thousands of critics pushing back against any form of public support for their visit.

What was expected to be a high-profile trip tied to business and philanthropic engagements has quickly turned into a heated debate over money, status, and public perception.

Now, Harry and Meghans team is responding forcefully as the controversy grows louder.

Prince Harry Faces Growing Backlash As Petition Gains Momentum

MEGA

Harry and Meghans upcoming visit to Australia has sparked significant public reaction, with an online petition quickly gaining traction.

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Organized by advocacy group Beyond Australia, the campaign has drawn more than 35,000 signatures from people demanding that no taxpayer money be used to support the couples trip.

The petition, titled No Taxpayer-Funding or Official Support for Harry and Meghans Private Visit to Australia, reflects a growing sentiment that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex should not receive any special treatment.

It argues that, as private individuals, their visit should not involve public funds or government coordination.

According to the petition, Aussie taxpayers should not be expected to fund security, logistics or government coordination for the couple.

Harrys Team Pushes Back Against Claims About Funding

James Whatling / MEGA

As the backlash intensifies, Prince Harry and Meghan Markles representatives have responded directly to the claims surrounding taxpayer funding.

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A spokesperson dismissed the petitions entire premise, making it clear that the trip is not being financed with public funds.

Its a moot point. The trip is being funded privately, so Im not sure what this petition hopes to achieve, the spokesperson told the Daily Mail.

They also pushed back against what they described as misleading narratives, pointing out how small the petition numbers are compared to Australias population.

The spokesperson added, Of course, if you wanted to dive into the ridiculousness of this petition as an agenda for spreading misinformation, then one could equally hypothesize that there are approximately 26.5million Australians (99.98 per cent of the population) who havent signed it, who must therefore agree with the taxpayer picking up the tab for their visit. Of course, that is another equally stupid assertion to make.

Prince Harrys Visit Raises Questions About Status And Expectations

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At the center of the controversy is a broader question about Harry and Meghans current status.

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Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, the couple has operated as private individuals based in the United States.

Critics argue that this shift means they should no longer receive privileges once associated with their former roles.

The petition, which began a few days ago, explicitly pointed this out, stating per The Blast that, Harry and Meghan no longer represent the Crown and now operate private commercial ventures from the United States.

It added that their activities in Australia, which are expected to include media appearances, business engagements, and philanthropic events, should be treated strictly as a private visit.

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This debate has also fueled speculation about security arrangements, as both federal and state governments in Australia have previously declined to confirm who would cover protection costs.

The uncertainty has only added to public scrutiny ahead of the trip.

Harry And Meghan Warned About Reception In Australia

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Beyond the financial debate, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have also been warned that their reception in Australia may not mirror the warm welcome they once received.

Royal journalist Tom Sykes suggested the couple will need to have thick skins, noting they are no longer assured of a warm welcome.

The shift is particularly striking given their last visit in 2018, when they were still senior working royals.

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During that trip, they were given a police escort and stayed at the Governor-Generals residence overlooking Sydney Harbour.

Now, the tone appears markedly different. The petitions messaging has been blunt, even featuring an image of the couple alongside an Australian flag with the caption, We dont want you here.

Prince Harrys Australia Trip Faces Fresh Scrutiny Over Event Issues

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Complicating matters further, Harry and Meghans upcoming trip has been linked to an all-women event in Sydney that has already encountered setbacks.

The actress is scheduled to appear at the inaugural Her Best Life Retreat, a three-day luxury gathering between April 17 and 19 that has already sold out, with around 300 guests expected.

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Despite the excitement, issues surrounding the venue have raised eyebrows. According to reports, the hotels pool and spa are not yet finished, with key amenities such as the infinity pool, bar, and leisure deck still under construction.

One recent guest described the pool refurbishment as a work in progress and a blot on the view. Adding to the concerns, the beach below the property has reportedly been dealing with foul-smelling poop balls washing ashore since 2024, made up of chemicals, soap scum, cooking oil, hair, and human waste.

Despite these setbacks, a spokesperson confirmed Meghan will still attend the event, signaling that the couple plans to move forward with their visit even as scrutiny intensifies around every aspect of the trip.

The Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Fire Back As Australia Petition Explodes first appeared on The Blast
UNITED NATIONS, March 24 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the killing of at least 60 people, including children and health workers, in a drone strike hitting the El-Daein Teaching Hospital in Sudan's East Darfur state on Friday, his spokesperson said Tuesday.

Since April 2023, the World Health Organization has verified more than 200 attacks harming health facilities in Sudan, resulting in over 2,000 deaths, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

"The Secretary-General demands that all parties abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law, which specifically protects medical personnel and facilities and prohibits attacks directed against civilians and civilian objects," he said.

The UN chief called on the parties to immediately de-escalate the fighting and agree on a cessation of hostilities, Dujarric said.

Guterres renewed his appeal to the parties to work with mediators, including his personal envoy for Sudan, to return to the negotiating table to pursue a lasting ceasefire and a comprehensive, inclusive and Sudanese-owned political process, the spokesperson said.

"The United Nations stands ready to support genuine steps to end the fighting in Sudan and chart a path towards a durable peace," he added. 
No one seems to be able to pull Shia LaBeouf out of his self-destructive spiral, reveals a source.

As In Touch previously reported, the 39-year-old actor was recently given the green light to travel overseas to attend his fathers baptism in Rome, where he wasted no time causing a scene.

Hes still on bail and not doing himself any favors ahead of his sentencing because he keeps getting himself into more hot water, the source tells In Touch of LaBeouf, who is facing two counts of misdemeanor battery after getting into a Mardi Gras brawl in New Orleans back in February.

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People around him are worried hes going to end up doing serious jail time, adds the source. On top of that theres serious concern about his finances because hes hemorrhaging money and at the same time, hes damaging his reputation to the point where he may not be able to pull back.

In a recent interview, LaBeouf revealed that he has not been sober in nine months and stated that, despite being ordered to enroll in substance abuse treatment, he does not believe he has a drinking problem.

I think I have small man complex. Some kind of Napoleonic  I dont know what it is, he told YouTuber Andrew Callaghan. I think it is something that has to do with anger and ego more so than my drinking. But thats where Im at now on my journey and Im trying to navigate it.

Its been difficult for loved ones to watch, In Touchs source admits.

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When hes sober and taking care of himself, hes a totally different person, the source explains. Its alcohol that brings out his demons and once hes in that stage, theres no reasoning with him.

That doesnt mean people havent tried.

Everyone that cares about him is desperate to get him help, says the source. But so far, hes refusing.

Read More From InTouch Weekly

This story Shia LaBeouf Hemorrhaging Money Amid Mardi Gras Arrest: Theres Serious Concerns About His Finances (Exclusive) first appeared on InTouch Weekly. Add InTouch Weekly as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
An award-winning WCPO investigative reporter will leave the ABC news affiliate after 13 years.

Dan Monk, who WVXU described as "perhaps the top investigative reporter on Cincinnati TV today," will retire from the Channel 9 studio on Friday, March 27, WCPO confirmed.

Monk joined WCPO in January 2013 as a business reporter after 18 years at the Cincinnati Business Courier. During his time at the station he won four Emmy Awards.

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"I think I've written more than 4,000 stories in my career, many of them about issues crucial to the region's long-term survival," Monk told WCPO for his station bio.

Staffing the Delhi bureau for @WCPO but Id much rather be at Great American Ball Park. #OpeningDayAtHome #Reds pic.twitter.com/BZQVW3b6Fz  Dan Monk (@DanMonk9) March 26, 2020

His biggest story was a months-long investigation into problems at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center in 2016, according to WVXU. The story resulted in changes in leadership and the indictment of an administrator, the local NPR station reported.

His departure is a "huge loss" to Cincinnati broadcasting, WVXU TV and media reporter John Kiesewetter wrote.

The Cincinnati native has spent his entire 43-year career working in Cincinnati. Before joining the Business Courier, he worked as a news anchor and reporter at WSAI-AM 1360 and WWNK-FM 94.1, according to his LinkedIn.

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The West Side resident also graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1983 with a degree in English.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: WCPO investigative reporter Dan Monk to leave station
NEED TO KNOW

In 1997, a group of 39 cult members died in a mass suicide

The "Heaven's Gate" cult was one that spanned decades and, at its center, a wide-eyed cult leader named Marshall Applewhite

An April 1997 PEOPLE cover story detailed how the group came together and evolved over the years

It's been 29 years since 39 cult members killed themselves in the largest mass suicide ever in the United States. The Heaven's Gate cult suicide came as a result of years of systemic brainwashing and remains shrouded in mystery, all these years later.

An April 1997 PEOPLE cover story detailed how the group first came together in the spring of 1975 in Los Angeles, where Marshall Applewhite, "a onetime choirmaster from Texas, and Bonnie Lu Nettles, a former nurse, regaled a group of meditation enthusiasts with their belief that spaceships would someday arrive to carry away their spirits."

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Applewhite and Nettles went by the nicknames Bo and Peep, urging their members to abstain from sex, alcohol and tobacco and leave their families behind.

Over the years, the group moved around  first putting down short roots in Oregon, with some 20 to 30 followers and later moving to Medicine Bow National Forest, Wyo., and then Bonny Reservoir, Colo. They also changed names  at one point going by "Human Individual Metamorphosis" and "Total Overcomers Anonymous"  before settling on Heaven's Gate.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The home of Heaven's Gate

Credit: Axel Koester/Sygma via Getty

The group found its peak in the late 1970s, when they counted several hundred members among their ranks.

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In 1985, Nettles died of cancer, leaving the wide-eyed Applewhite as sole leader of the group.

His teachings  on aliens, space, and life on Earth  grew ever-disturbing, with Applewhite ultimately convincing a sizable group of his followers in 1997 that they could ascend to a higher, extraterrestrial existence by rejecting their humanity.

An original member of the cult who left prior to the mass suicide, Joan Culpepper told PEOPLE in 1997: "Most cults want to sweet-talk you, draw you in and make you feel loved. These guys weren't like that."

The idea, as authorities would later find out, was that the cult members and Applewhite himself had to free their mortal souls in order to board a spaceship  one flying in the wake of the Hale-Bopp comet  that was bound for a distant planet of androgynous aliens called the Next Level.

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In late March of that year, the group put their plan into action, meeting at a Rancho Santa Fe restaurant for a final meal of iced tea, salad, chicken pot pie and cheesecake on March 21.

On March 22, 15 members of the group killed themselves alongside bags they had packed with identification cards and $5.75 in cash and coins. On March 23, 15 more members died, with those still alive following detailed instructions on how to clean up and cover the corpses.



On March 24, the final nine, including Applewhite, killed themselves, with their bodies discovered by authorities responding to an anonymous tip two days later.

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The dead ranged in age from 26 to 72 and were all dressed in matching black track suits with brand-new Nike sneakers on their feet and plastic bags over their heads. All had willfully ingested apple sauce or pudding laced with barbiturates, which was then washed down with vodka.

The story would dominate headlines, with images of Marshall's face often appearing on magazine covers at the time, as media from around the world descended on Rancho Santa Fe to cover the story.

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Adding to the mystery and mystique was a letter on the Heaven's Gate website, and farewell message videos left by its members.

As Commander Alan Fulmer of the San Diego Sheriff's Department told The New York Times shortly after the incident, those who recorded the videos seemed to be "very upbeat, very outgoing," and "did not appear to be upset about...making their final exit, if you will."



Said former cult member Culpepper to PEOPLE following the suicides: "I still get teary-eyed when I think about it. When I think of [them] lying in bed as bags were being put over their heads, I could almost hear them say, 'I'll see you on the spaceship.' "

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.



Read the original article on People
Sure, Florida charges no income tax and offers warm weather all year round. But its also crowded in the winter and hot and muggy in the summer, and many of the more appealing cities cost an arm and a leg.

Read More: 25 Cities Where You Can Retire in Great Weather for $2,000 a Month

Find Out: 5 Clever Ways Retirees Are Earning Up To $1K per Month From Home

So what other destinations have started attracting more retirees?

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Also see the 50 best retirement cities for the middle class.

1. Casper, Wyoming

Lets get this out of the way: The winters are cold in Wyoming.

That done, consider the upsides of Wyoming and towns like Casper. Like Florida, Wyoming charges no income tax, nor do they charge inheritance taxes, explained Realtor Andrew Fortune of Great Colorado Homes.

Casper offers plenty of outdoor recreation, from fishing to hiking to hunting and beyond. Crime rates remain extremely low, and the average home costs $301,892.

Check Out: 50 Cheapest Places To Retire Across America

2. Athens, Georgia

If Wyoming winters are just too cold for you, consider Athens.

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Retirees over 62 can enjoy free classes at the University of Georgia in Athens. The cultural scene doesnt end there either, from the Georgia Museum of Art to a rich local music scene to art galleries. In fact, Athens landed on Forbes list of the top 25 cities to retire in 2025.

The cost of living wont break retirees bank, either. The average home costs $332,919, and the college-town vibe keeps other costs manageable. Also, Georgia doesnt tax your Social Security benefits, which helps stretch them further, Fortune said.

3. Midland, Michigan

In an upset victory, Midland topped U.S. News and World Reports list of the best places to retire in 2026.

The Midwest claimed close to a third of the top 30 cities for retirement hubs in 2026, said Sain Rhodes, real estate professional with Clever Offers. This is a remarkable shift from the old conventional wisdom that retirees seek southern and beach destinations.

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Midland features cheap housing, with homes averaging just $240,729. Beyond cost, Midland offers ample senior programming on top of great walkability and green spaces. Its strong healthcare also helps attract retirees from across the country.

4. The Woodlands, Texas

Just north of Houston, The Woodlands gives retirees easy access to a major city without the hustle and bustle.

Retirees enjoy access to world-class healthcare, high-end shopping, and cultural offerings, as well as a thoughtfully developed community with extensive trail systems, Rhodes said. Indeed, The Woodlands ranked fourth in U.S. News and World Reports 2026 rankings of retirement destinations.

It doesnt hurt that Texas charges no state income tax, either. Or that the average home costs $304,622 in The Woodlands, keeping costs manageable compared with the national average of $360,591.

5. Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Sioux Falls managed to land 16th on the U.S. News and World Report list, and also nabbed a top 25 spot from Forbes.

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Cost of living helps, with homes averaging $326,187. And like Texas, Wyoming and Florida, South Dakota charges no state income tax.

Sioux Falls offers an ideally livable mid-sized city, its culturally rich with an actively revitalized downtown, and Falls Park as an authentic community gathering space, Rhodes explained. In many instances, residents can cover basic retirement living expenses from Social Security income.

Editors note: Average home prices were sourced from Zillow.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Best Places for Retirees To Move in 2026 (That Arent Florida), According to Real Estate Experts
This dog is a hero for helping rescue over 100 Koalas during Australias Black Summer bushfires. His efforts not only won hearts but also helped shine a light on the challenges koalas face and the solutions needed to protect them. However, now at 11 years old, the pooch is hanging up his working boots.

Hero Australia dog retires after rescuing more than 100 surviving Koalas and winning hearts

After rescuing more than 100 surviving Koalas, this Hero Australian Kooli named Bear is now retiring at 11 years old. As per @ifawglobalanddetectiondogs_for_conservation, the koala detection dog was trained to sniff out exotic animals and other wildlife in need of rescue.

During the bushfire, when surviving koalas were impossible to find in fire-ravaged areas, Bear used his extraordinary ability to detect the unique scent of the species to rescue them. He surpassed all the expectations and became a true conservation champion. Due to his efforts, Bear not only won awards but also had a book written about him and even stars in his own documentary. The dogumentary is called Bear: Koala Hero while his book is named Bear to the Rescue.

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Even IFAW head of programmes, Josey Sharrad, praised the pup in a statement. No one knew if it could be done. He literally went from chewing the walls of a Gold Coast apartment to roaming through the Aussie bush on a mission to save our most iconic species, said Sharrad, per Barrons.

But after years of his service, the pup is now retiring to enjoy a life of sunshine, belly rubs, and playing fetch with his forever family. No wonder his story moved many online, and they all thanked Bear for his service. A person said, Thank you for your service Bear heres to a relaxing retirement full of belly rubs and sunshine. While another individual also echoed the same sentiments and mentioned, Thank you for your service Bear! Enjoy retirement beautiful boy.

The post Hero Dog Hangs up His Working Boots After Rescuing Over 100 Koalas appeared first on DogTime.
Shannon Taylor, a kindergarten teacher at Mauldin Elementary School in Mauldin, has been selected as the Greenville News/Ingles "Amazing Teacher" of the Month.

Brian Fulghum nominated Taylor, praising her passion for teaching and the welcoming environment she creates for students of all ages.

"Teaching is her passion. She loves helping shape young minds and getting students excited about coming to school every day. Other students in the building still stop her in the hallway for hugs and to tell her they miss and love her class. She was born to teach."

Shannon Horton Taylor, a kindergarten teacher at Mauldin Elementary School in Mauldin, has been selected as the Greenville News/Ingles "Amazing Teacher" of the Month.

From the teacher

Taylor teaches 23 kindergarten students and says it is a privilege to guide them through every subject during one of the most important years of their educational journey.

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In an email, she wrote that being nominated was both exciting and affirming.

"It was an AMAZING feeling to be recognized for all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes to make each day fun."

What inspires her

"I love being a part of their educational journey and knowing that I am making a difference in their lives," she wrote.

Taylor credits her students for being the reason she comes to work each day, and she hopes she can return the favor.

"I love that my former students still come give me hugs and tell me they love me every day. They are my WHY. I want them to feel loved, safe and excited to come to school."

Advice for future teachers

Taylor encourages aspiring educators to be sure teaching is truly their calling. "Make sure it is your passion, because it is not an easy job."

About the school

Mauldin Elementary School, part of Greenville County Schools, is located in Mauldin, South Carolina. The public elementary school serves students in kindergarten through 5th grade.

Do you know an Amazing Teacher?

The Amazing Teacher program, sponsored by Ingles in partnership with the Greenville News, recognizes educators whose compassion, creativity and dedication inspire students and strengthen their communities. Teachers are selected monthly, honored locally, and entered for opportunities to receive both local prizes and national-level recognition and awards.

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Is there an Amazing Teacher in your life? Lets hear about them! Nominations are open to all. Go here to submit your favorite teacher. 

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Meet the Ingles Amazing Teacher for the month: Shannon Taylor
Melissa Marlowe, a first grade teacher at Hendrix Elementary School, has been selected as the Spartanburg Herald-Journal/Ingles "Amazing Teacher" of the Month.

Lynne Tinsley nominated Marlowe, citing her perseverance, dedication and deep love for her students.

"She has worked so very hard and never gave up on her dream of having her own classroom. Her heart is always for the good of her students, and her perseverance and love for them truly stand out."

Melissa Marlowe, a first grade teacher at Hendrix Elementary School, has been selected as the Spartanburg Herald-Journal/Ingles "Amazing Teacher" of the Month.

From the teacher

Marlowe is in her first year as a certified classroom teacher after spending 17 years as an assistant. She teaches 22 first grade students and says she feels blessed to be supported by a strong team at Hendrix Elementary.

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Marlowe says her inspiration comes directly from the relationships she builds with her students.

"My kids inspire me. This is the same class I had for student teaching last year, so I looped up with them. I truly love these kids like my own. Teaching is hard, but it is so rewarding, especially when you see something really click for them."

Who inspired her to teach

Marlowe credits her mother for inspiring her path into education.

"My mom taught for 30 years, and she was such an amazing mom and teacher. I watched her work hard at school and still be there for us at home. She showed me you could have the best of both worlds, and thats what I wanted for my family too."

Advice for future teachers

Marlowe encourages others to remain persistent, even when the path feels long.

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"Never give up on your dreams. Mine took 12 years to finally happen, but it was worth it."

About the school

Hendrix Elementary School, part of Spartanburg School District Two, is located in Roebuck, South Carolina. The school serves students in kindergarten through 5th grade.

Do you know an Amazing Teacher?

The Amazing Teacher program, sponsored by Ingles in partnership with the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, recognizes educators whose compassion, creativity and dedication inspire students and strengthen their communities. Teachers are selected monthly, honored locally, and entered for opportunities to receive both local prizes and national-level recognition and awards.

Is there an Amazing Teacher in your life? Lets hear about them! Nominations are open to all. Go here to submit your favorite teacher. 

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Meet the Ingles Amazing Teacher for the month: Melissa Marlowe
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A family has filed a lawsuit against a Las Vegas private school alleging their daughter was sexually abused by another child in a restroom at camp.

The parents of Jane Doe claim there was a lack of supervision followed by a cover-up at The Adelson School when an 11-year-old girl sexually abused their 6-year-old daughter in a bathroom stall on July 3, 2025, according to a civil complaint.

The parents learned the horrifying truth about what happened to their child over a month later when she confessed she was terrified to return to the Adelson School, revealing that the older girl had removed her dress, pushed her, and inappropriately touched her private area, the complaint states. By failing to communicate the basic facts of the assault when it happened, The Adelson School forced a six-year-old to carry the burden of this severe trauma alone for weeks.

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>>Download the 8 News Now Vegas streaming app

Camp counselors sat in a gymnasium playing cards when the 11-year-old cornered the 6-year-old in a bathroom stall, undressed her, and sexually assaulted her, according to the 29-page complaint filed in Clark County District Court by Christian Morris Trial Attorneys on March 19.

The parents allege that a counselor entered the restroom during the assault, noticed a small child not fully clothed and the feet of the other child standing directly in front of her in the same stall, and instead of immediately intervening, left the restroom to summon additional staff. Staff did not comfort the alleged victim, the complaint states.

The parents claim the school failed to notify them of the danger their child had been exposed to, and that they were only told an incident had occurred in the bathroom while other details were omitted.

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Instead of protecting their six-year-old student, Adelson administrators embarked on a campaign of minimization, concealment, and retaliations to shield the school from liability, the complaint states.

The parents claim that when they contacted the summer camp director to verify that no serious event had occurred since their daughter was exhibiting concerning behavioral changes, the summer camp director dismissed their inquiries, providing only vague assurances that the situation was handled.'

Instead, they raised their voices at her and questioned her  treating her as if she were to blame rather than a child who had just been sexually assaulted, according to the complaint.

The Adelson School staff held a meeting with the child and her mother on Aug. 11, 2025, the first day of school, the complaint says.

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As staff interviewed the child, she stated that the older camper squeezed her into a stall, explicitly instructed her not to tell the teachers, touched her on her shoulder and in her private parts, pushed her, asked her to sit on her lap and warned the child that her mother would be angry with the older camper, according to the complaint. This account further corroborated that the assault involved nonconsensual touching of intimate areas and intentional concealment.

Adelson administrators told the alleged victims mother that they were obligated to notify Child Protective Services, underscoring that a COS report should have been made immediately when the incident occurred, the complaint states.

The 11-year-old was not immediately removed from the school campus. The school began to collect information about the alleged victim and her prior behaviors and focused on questioning her credibility, the parents allege.

The alleged victim no longer attends The Adelson School.

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The family is suing for negligence, negligent hiring, training, retention, and supervision, negligent infliction of emotional distress, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent misrepresentation.

The Adelson School is an early childhood through grade 12 Jewish day school founded by Dr. Miriam and Sheldon Adelson located in the Summerlin area. Tuition starts at more than $23,000 for preschool and more than $32,000 for high school.

In a statement to 8 News Now, Rabbi Mark Gottlieb, the head of school, said the claims are unsubstantiated.

The Adelson School takes all allegations of this nature extremely seriously. The health and safety of our students and staff is always our highest priority.

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Upon learning of these allegations, our Head of School promptly initiated an internal investigation and notified Clark County Child Protective Services (CPS). CPS conducted its own investigation and referred the matter to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (Metro), which also investigated. Following completion of these three separate investigations  by the school, CPS, and Metro  no evidence was found to substantiate the allegations.

The Adelson School remains committed to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for all members of our school community.

To reach investigative reporter Vanessa Murphy, email vmurphy@8newsnow.com.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
The Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office has announced charges against two businesses accused of unlawfully storing and disposing of hazardous waste from a facility in Beaver County.

The AGs office charged One Brewery Place, Inc. and M. Ultra Investment Group with a felony regarding the management of hazardous waste, and several related misdemeanors. Investigators allege the companies failed to fulfill their legal obligations to properly manage and dispose of the chemicals, and did not obtain required permits to store or dispose of the materials.

The office claims that for many years, chemicals for projects were stored at the Pool Doctor Facility in Rochester, Beaver County. Those chemicals are said to have eventually become hazardous waste and pose a safety risk for those living in Rochester and a contamination risk for the Ohio River.

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The investigation began in 2019, when the DEP was tipped off to a strong chemical odor coming from the building. Investigators later found that a partially collapsed roof allowed rainwater to mix with the chemicals, and since the building was on the Ohio River, there was concern for run-off contamination.

Removing and safely disposing of the chemicals cost more than $2.4 million dollars, the AGs office said. Two chemical fires occurred during the clean-up, prompting shelter-in-place orders when chlorine gas was released into the air.

For years, these businesses willfully ignored potential dangers associated with the storage of these chemicals, putting a community at risk, and ultimately burdening taxpayers with a mammoth bill related to cleanup efforts, Attorney General Dave Sunday said. Every Pennsylvanian has a right to clean water and air, and the conduct involved here threatened those rights.

A preliminary hearing is currently scheduled for the end of April.

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A second suspect charged in a mass shooting near Allentown's Dominican Festival has pleaded guilty and been sentenced to state prison.

On Tuesday, Miguel Angel Ovalles Ubri, 29, pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person.

After waiving his right to a presentence investigation, he was sentenced to four to 10 years in state prison.

Police say Ovalles Ubri exchanged gunfire with another suspect, Yunior Peralta-Quintana, on Aug. 25, 2024, near the city's Dominican Festival. The shooting injured six people.

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Investigators said officers arrived to find the two men still shooting at each other. Two officers fired during the incident, but authorities said none of the injured victims were struck by police gunfire. No officers were injured.

According to the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office, Ovalles Ubri fully cooperated with investigators and was legally permitted to carry a firearm.

"Based on the investigation, Ovalles Ubri did not instigate the shooting," the district attorney's office said.

Last week, Peralta-Quintana, 23, was sentenced to 40 to 80 years in state prison for his role in the shooting.
UNITED NATIONS, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Hostilities along Sudan's borders with neighboring countries and intensifying drone strikes are increasing threats to civilians and disrupting relief operations, UN humanitarians said Wednesday.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said recent clashes along and near Sudan's borders with Chad and Ethiopia have caused civilian casualties and forced people to flee their homes.

OCHA said that humanitarian partners reported that drone strikes on Monday caused civilian casualties in southern Sudan.

The office said that in eastern Blue Nile State, violence near the Ethiopian border threatened access to the towns of Kurmuk, Sali and Dindraw, south of Ed Damazine, the state capital. Civilians have been displaced toward Ed Damazine and across the border into Ethiopia.

Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces said Tuesday that it had taken control of the strategic town of Kurmuk, following "fierce" battles with the Sudanese Armed Forces of the government.

OCHA said that fires at displacement sites in Sudan are increasing amid overcrowding, high temperatures, and the use of flammable shelter materials.

The office said that on Monday, a fire at the Al Afad displacement site in Northern State killed a 3-year-old child and displaced 15 families. Another fire in North Kordofan displaced at least 30 families.

OCHA called on all parties to de-escalate tensions, protect civilians and ensure safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to people in need. 
The Lone Star State, home to one of this years marquee Senate contests, will play host to a mix of Republican candidate hopefuls, influencers and activists, and Trump administration officials at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) beginning on Wednesday.

The gathering, which has historically served as a temperature check for the Republican Party, has been dubbed TPAC in recent years, as President Trump has reigned supreme at the event since his 2016 election victory.

Trump for the first time in a decade, however, is reportedly skipping the conference, which comes at a politically fraught time amid the war in Iran and a quickly approaching midterm season.

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These tensions, as well as the burgeoning 2028 GOP shadow race to succeed Trump, are expected to dominate the multiday event hosted in Grapevine, Texas, where one of this election cycles messiest GOP races will take center stage.

Here are five things to watch at this years conference:

Paxton, Cornyn battle on display

The Texas Senate Republican primary runoff between state Attorney General Ken Paxton and Sen. John Cornyn will loom large over CPAC simply given the location of this years gathering in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Paxton is slated to speak at Fridays Ronald Reagan Dinner, while Cornyn is not currently scheduled to make an appearance at the conference.

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CPAC sought to put pressure on Cornyn to deliver remarks at the event, writing a post on the social media platform X last week, Paxton has accepted the invite to speak at CPAC, Cornyn still has not. Lets get it scheduled.

The conservative organization also made sure to note that Paxton boasts a 100 percent Lifetime CPAC score, while Cornyn has an 85 percent lifetime score.

The Cornyn campaign has rebuffed this pressure from CPAC. In a social media post earlier this month directed toward CPAC Chair Matt Schlapp, the incumbents campaign spokesperson Matt Mackowiak wrote, Youve endorsed Paxton, Matt.

Trump signaled earlier this year that he would endorse either Paxton or Cornyn, as Republicans sound the alarm over the ugly primary possibly weakening the eventual GOP nominees candidacy in the general election against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico.

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Senate Republicans campaign arm has backed Cornyn, with his allies arguing that nominating Paxton could make the seat much harder to hold on to in November.

Regardless, Paxton has shown no signs of budging, seeking to position himself as the more Trump-aligned candidate. In recent weeks, he has called on the Senate to change filibuster rules to pass one of the presidents legislative priorities  a proof-of-citizenship requirement in order to register to vote.

The deadline to remove Cornyn or Paxtons name from the runoff ballot has passed, meaning both candidates will appear on the May ticket, even if one were to drop out in the coming months.

While Trump has remained neutral  for now  Paxton is expected to draw a warm response from CPAC attendees this week, a reception that could catch the presidents attention.

MAGA tensions over Iran war

Tensions within Trumps base over the war in Iran are expected to take center stage at the conference, as Republicans grapple with their support of the president, America First priorities and growing concern about the conflicts impact on voters pocketbooks in an election year.

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Trump claimed earlier this week that both the U.S. and Iran have had very good and productive conversations, adding that he was instituting a five-day pause on strikes against Tehrans energy infrastructure and power plants. The move came amid rising uproar over climbing prices at the gas pump amid the conflict in the oil-rich region.

Most Americans, meanwhile, believe that the current conflict against Iran is going poorly, according to recent polling.

Since the onset of the conflict in late February, some notable Trump allies and MAGA media personalities have publicly split with the president. Joe Kent, who served as the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, even resigned over the war.

Conservative media personalities Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly, who often back the presidents polices, have also criticized the presidents actions in the Middle East.

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But not all GOP leaders are concerned about the party infighting, as the conflict nears a month. In fact, some view it as a positive.

As it relates to tensions in the movement or disagreements about national security, actually, its good that those exist, Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts told The Hill last week.

Vance-Rubio 2028 rivalry takes shape

As Trumps second term nears its halfway point, chatter is only expected to grow at this weeks gathering amid speculation about the GOPs next presidential nominee.

Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are seen as the contenders to beat in the GOP shadow primary. While there was initial speculation that Trump had zeroed in on Vance as his successor, hes increasingly praised Rubio in his job as the countrys top diplomat.

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Marco Rubio is doing a great job. I think hes going to go down as the greatest secretary of State in history, Trump told reporters earlier this month. Hes been successful no matter where hes been.

CPAC will conduct its annual straw poll this week, which could offer a temperature check among devoted Trump Republicans over which candidate they prefer as the party begins to look to 2028.

Conservative activist, influencer voices dominate

A number of conservative activists, influencers and media figures are scheduled to deliver remarks at the annual gathering this week alongside a handful of administration officials.

Former White House strategist and podcaster Steve Bannon, conservative podcaster Benny Johnson, right-wing commentator Jack Posobiec, Gen Z conservative influencer Isabel Brown, podcaster Clare Dunn, radio host John Fredericks and Newsmax host Rob Finnerty are among the media figures expected to speak to attendees.

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YouTuber Nick Shirley  who gained national attention and Republican acclaim for his video traveling to multiple day care facilities in Minnesota that he alleged were fraudulent  is also slated to appear at the conservative gathering.

Trump allies, including White House border czar Tom Homan, Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Commission, also will be in attendance.

2026 candidates make their case

CPAC will also serve as a venue for Republican candidates to make their case and boost their profile ahead of November.

In addition to Paxton, other GOP Senate hopefuls attending this weeks gathering include former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley from North Carolina, Rep. Mike Collins (Ga.), Rep. Kevin Hern (Okla.) and businessman Nate Morris of Kentucky.

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Congressional candidate Brandon Herrera, who could succeed Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales (R), will also be at the event, in addition to Texas Railroad Commission GOP candidate Bo French, among others.

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.
NEED TO KNOW

On Sunday, March 22, an Air Canada Express flight collided with a Port Authority firetruck, killing two pilots and sending dozens to the hospital

In an update on Tuesday, March 24, the airline said that six people from the flight remained hospitalized

"We remain focused on the needs of our passengers and the Jazz crew members, along with their families and loved ones," the CEO of Air Canada said in a statement

After a crash at LaGuardia Airport that killed two and sent dozens to the hospital, Air Canada says that six people from the flight remained hospitalized.

The crash occurred around 11:40 p.m. local time on Sunday, March 22, when Air Canada Express Flight 8646, which was being operated by carrier Jazz Aviation, and a firetruck that was responding to a separate incident collided on the runway.

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There were 72 passengers and four crew members on the flight, while there were two people on board the firetruck. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey previously said that one of the officers on the truck, identified as Adrian Baez, had been released from the hospital, while Sgt. Michael Orsillo would remain hospitalized for observation. PEOPLE has reached out for additional comment.

Two pilots  later identified as Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther  died as a result of the crash while 39 people on board the flight were sent to local hospitals with "varying degrees of injuries," according to the airline.

Air Canada went on to say that six of those individuals remained in the hospital although they were not able to share any additional information.

On behalf of everyone at Air Canada, I want to express my deep sympathies to everybody affected, and my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the two Jazz pilots who tragically lost their lives," Michael Rousseau, President and CEO of Air Canada, said in a statement.

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"We remain focused on the needs of our passengers and the Jazz crew members, along with their families and loved ones," Rousseau added. "I extend my thanks and gratitude to the Air Canada team members and the first responders on site, as well as employees of other airlines for their assistance, and to the medical teams for their care for our passengers and the crew. This is a difficult time for everyone, including all of us at Air Canada."

One of the people who was injured as a result of the crash was flight attendant Solange Tremblay, who survived being ejected from the plane.

In an interview with Quebecs TVA News, her daughter, Sarah Lepine, said her mother suffered multiple bone fractures and broke her leg after being ejected than 320 feet from the plane. She also said that when her mother was found, she was still strapped into her seat.

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, her daughter told the outlet. She had a guardian angel watching over her. It could have been much worse.

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.

Meanwhile, another passenger said that she believed that the pilots helped save lives in their final moments.

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In an interview with NBC News, Rebecca Liquori, 35, said she believes the pilots tried to break in order to avoid the crash.

Im just so appreciative that they were able to save us, but Im just so sad that they werent able to make it home to their families, she said. I wouldnt be here had it not been for the pilot acting quickly.

As part of their ongoing investigation, the NTSB is looking into whether the pilots saw the firetruck before the collision or had time to react.

Read the original article on People
As many airport security lines stretch for hours, and with Congress seemingly nowhere close to funding the Department of Homeland Security, Action News sought answers from Valley lawmakers.

"When you see those TSA workers today, some of the only government employees not getting paid during this shutdown, what would you tell them?" we asked Republican Tom McClintock of North Fresno.

"What the Senate has done is unconscionable," McClintock said.

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The lawmaker blamed the Senate, specifically the Democrats. House Republicans already passed a DHS funding bill.

"The immigration enforcement has already been funded," McClintock said. "All they're doing is holding hostage the disaster relief, the TSA screening."

Last week, however, Republicans blocked a bill from California senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla to fund FEMA during negotiations.

"I've participated in every bipartisan meeting, you know, on this topic, looking for bipartisan solutions," Merced Democrat Adam Gray told Action News.

He is among the Democrats calling for reforms to DHS, including restrictions on masks and new requirements for warrants.

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"We've had Americans shot and killed as a result of this irresponsible behavior," Gray said. "It's got to be reined in. There's got to be rules and protocols."

Weeks into this shutdown, the back-and-forth is weighing on travelers.

"The politicians should just quit penalizing the people who are trying to do their job," a traveler in Atlanta told ABC's Steve Osunsami on Monday. "And, frankly, they shouldn't get paid until they get this straightened out."

"Is there any area where you can meet (Democrats) at the table there?" Action News asked McClintock.

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"(On) body cameras, for example," McClintock said. "I think you have to protect everybody. I've got no problems with that."

"I couldn't agree more," Gray said when asked about McClintock's response. "If Tom McClintock wants to introduce that legislation, I will co-sponsor it with him."

As the fight over DHS funding continues, the department has a new leader. Former Senator Markwayne Mullin is confirmed as the next secretary, replacing Kristi Noem.

"I think it was time for a change," McClintock said. "I think Markwayne Mullin is the change we needed."

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McClintock has national jurisdiction and oversight of immigration policy, working closely with the DHS secretary as chairman of the House Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement.

We asked him about the recent killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis.

"When you see that, is that how you want federal agents to be acting?" Action News asked.

"No, I don't," McClintock said. "But also, I do think the citizens should be respecting law enforcement and complying with lawful orders by law enforcement."

Congressman Gray responded.

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"It's demonstrated that we don't have the right guardrails in place," he said. "I'm glad that Kristi Noem was fired. (She) should have been fired a long time ago."

During his confirmation hearing, Mullin promised a "better approach" to enforcement, even acknowledging concerns over the Trump administration's efforts to build large new immigration detention centers.

"Have you been inside any of these facilities yourself?" Action News asked McClintock.

"Yes, many times," he said. "I was there during the Obama era or probably during the Biden year, and what I saw was appalling."

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"Do you think as chairman, with national oversight over this enforcement, do you think maybe you should visit during this administration?" Action News pressed.

"Well, I haven't yet," McClintock said. "You have probably a good suggestion. I'll take that under advisement," he said.

For news updates, follow Gabe Ferris on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Two women were raped by Stephen Paul Gale at their workplace in Framingham in 1989. On Tuesday, a Middlesex County Superior Court jury found the 73-year-old guilty on all charges.

The guilty verdict would not have been possible without the bravery of his victims, who reported his crimes right after they happened and aided authorities in their investigation for over 35 years, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said during a Tuesday evening press conference.

This investigation spanned more than three decades. It involved many false starts, ups and downs, and long periods without answers, Ryan said. Despite the passage of time, the victims in this case showed tremendous perseverance. They never gave up hope, and they never wavered in their pursuit of finding answers.

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Prosecutors say Gale posed as a customer at a Hit or Miss store on Dec. 27, 1989, before pulling a gun on two women who worked there. He then made the women close the store and forced them into back rooms where he assaulted and robbed them.

Authorities identified Gale as a suspect through DNA matching in 2024. He was arrested in Los Angeles in August of that year after a car chase with police that lasted about an hour and a half.

In December 2024, Gale was extradited to Massachusetts to face justice. Following a weeklong trial that began earlier this month, he was convicted on four counts of aggravated rape, two counts of kidnapping and a single count of armed robbery.

Gales defense attorneys said they plan to appeal the conviction, WCVB reported. He will remain in custody until his sentencing, which is scheduled for March 30. He faces a sentence of up to a lifetime in prison.

The victims testimony

On the first day of the trial, the then-store manager, who was 29 at the time, told the jury that Gale walked into the store around 10 a.m. After a brief conversation about the merchandise, he forced her and her 18-year-old coworker to abruptly close the store at gunpoint.

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In staff-only areas of the store, Gale raped them, threatening to kill them if they didnt comply. He also forced them to give him everything in the stores safe, as well as their purses.

Less than an hour after Gale arrived at the store, the two women ran through Framingham wearing nothing but their coats and contacted authorities.

They went up over a chain link fence, damaging their hands, not fully dressed, in the freezing cold to make their way to a house to get help, Ryan said Tuesday. That took incredible courage. And throughout this process, they have really been committed to doing whatever needed to be done.

Both victims testified during Gales trial, telling the court of the suffering theyve endured for decades as a result of the assaults, WCVB reported.

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We know that for survivors, when years pass without answers and without anyone being held accountable, that the trauma is, in many cases, intensified, Ryan said. For everybody who is in that position, who wonders, has too much time passed for me to get an answer, we can today, 36 and a half years after this event took place, confidently answer that question. It is never too late.

Tracking Gale down

The key piece of evidence in the case, according to Assistant Middlesex District Attorney Katharine Folger, was a tissue that the store manager spit into after Gale forced her to perform oral sex on him. Investigators were able to create a DNA profile from the tissue in 2001, but it didnt match any existing profiles in the FBIs national DNA database.

Decades later, investigators used genetic genealogy to link the profile to the Gale family through public DNA databases, Folger said. They then collected DNA samples from Gales brother and son, and genetic testing indicated that the profile belonged to Gale.

Prior to his arrest, Gale was last seen at a family event outside Massachusetts in 2007, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. At the time of his arrest in 2024, he was living on a yacht estimated to be worth $750,000 to $1 million.

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Investigators struggled to find Gale because he used at least nine aliases over the years and had connections in six different states, Ryan said. During the police chase in California in 2024, an acquaintance of his tried to toss him a bag with a cellphone, credit cards and a fake ID inside.

It was truly a national effort to identify him, to locate him, and then to return him to Massachusetts, Ryan said.

Authorities previously indicated that Gale was a suspect in other rape cases out of Massachusetts from decades prior. But on Tuesday, Ryan said she was not aware of any pending cases against him.

More local crime stories

Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Officials say almost $200,000 in taxpayer funds were stolen in a cybersecurity incident in Ohio last weekend.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Pleasant Township trustees said that about $191,000 was missing from the townships checkbook, according to our news partner, WBNS, in Columbus.

Its been a rough weekend, said trustee Nancy Hunter during a meeting on Tuesday.

TRENDING STORIES:

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Trustee Edward Sheets said he was notified about the incident on Sunday.

It happened in nine different occurrences, he said.

Officials said that transactions did not originate from a township computer. They also believe that employee information has not been compromised, WBNS reported.

Sheets stated that passwords have been updated, and the townships bank account was frozen to prevent any unauthorized activity.

The Franklin County Sheriffs Office is investigating, along with the township and the banks cybersecurity department.

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Emaan Abbass, a beauty consultant from the United States, had been living in Dubai for more than nine years. She said shed felt secure and safe living in there until the war with Iran began on Feb. 28. But when she started hearing loud booms overhead from Iran's counterattack on the United Arab Emirates, a U.S. ally, she decided it was time to get out.

Abbass saw the headlines and started seeing video from social media the weekend the war started. But neither she nor her sister had received any direct communication from the U.S. State Department.

By March 2, she was still hearing "loud booms" overhead, so she enrolled in the STEP program, a free service for U.S. citizens and nationals so that the State Department can contact them in case of an emergency. On the MyTravel.gov website, one of the benefits of the program is to "Help the embassy or consulate contact you if there's an emergency like a natural disaster, civil unrest, or a family emergency."

Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026. People gather at the site of a destroyed building at a school where, as the state media reports, several people were killed in an Israeli airstrike, following strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, in Minab, Iran in this screengrab obtained from a social media video released on February 28, 2026. Iranian state media reported on February 28 that Israel struck a school in southern Iran, resulting in 40 deaths. Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel had launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran, in Tehran, Iran February 28, 2026 in this screen grab taken from video. Iranian people run for cover in Tehran, Iran, on February 28, 2026, as explosions are heard after a reported strike and Israel announced it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran, with sirens sounding in Jerusalem and phone alerts warning of an "extremely serious" threat. Smoke rises following an explosion after the U.S. and Israel reportedly launched an attack against Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026, in this screen grab taken from video. A graffiti on a wall reads" Down with the U.S.A", after Israel said it launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026. People run for cover following an explosion, after Israel said it launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran, in Tehran, Iran February 28, 2026. A plume of smoke rises after an explosion on February 28, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. After explosions were seen in the Iranian capital, the office of the Israeli Defense Minister issued a statement saying it had launched a preemptive strike against the country. A plume of smoke rises following a reported explosion in Tehran on February 28, 2026. Two loud blasts were heard in Tehran on February 28 morning by AFP journalists, and two plumes of thick smoke were seen over the centre and east of the Iranian capital.



Israel's defence ministry announced it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran as sirens sounded in Jerusalem and people across the country received phone alerts about an "extremely serious" threat. U.S. President Donald Trump pumps his fist after disembarking Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., February 27, 2026. Hours later, Trump made live comments about the military strikes he launched against Iran. A plume of smoke rises over Tehran after a reported explosion on February 28, 2026, after Israel said it carried out a "preemptive strike" on Iran as sirens sounded in Jerusalem and phone alerts warned of an "extremely serious" threat. A plume of smoke rises following a reported explosion in Tehran on February 28, 2026. Two loud blasts were heard in Tehran on February 28 morning by AFP journalists, and two plumes of thick smoke were seen over the centre and east of the Iranian capital. Israel's defence ministry announced it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran as sirens sounded in Jerusalem and people across the country received phone alerts about an "extremely serious" threat. Buildings inin Tehran stand after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, February 28, 2026. Iranians try to clear a street amid heavy traffic in Tehran, Iran, on February 28, 2026, as explosions are heard following a reported strike and Israel announced it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran, with sirens sounding in Jerusalem and phone alerts warning of an "extremely serious" threat. Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese area of al-Qatrani on February 28, 2026. Lebanon's foreign minister said on February 24 his country feared its infrastructure could be hit by Israeli strikes if the situation with Iran escalates, after Israel intensified its attacks on Tehran-backed Hezbollah Anti-riot police stand in front of state building that is covered with a giant anti-U.S. billboard depicting the destruction of a US aircraft carrier in downtown Tehran on a main street in Tehran on February 21, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. In recent weeks, the United States had moved vast numbers of military vessels and aircraft to Europe and the Middle East. The US and Israel proceeded to launched strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, Latest photos capture US and Israeli strikes against Iran 1 of 16 Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026.

Although she still had not been contacted directly, she said, she saw on social media that the U.S. government was urging Americans to evacuate certain countries in the Middle East, including the UAE.

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In the social media post, it gave two numbers for Americans who needed emergency assistance. One of the phone numbers listed did not work internationally. She said the other led to recorded messages which offered no instructions on how to get out.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on March 3 that his department would help everyone who needed it.

"We are confident that we are going to be able to assist every American, as I told you, right now, we have about a little over 1,500, maybe closer to 1,600 Americans requesting assistance," Rubio said. "And we know that we're going to be able to help them. It's going to take a little time because we don't control the airspace closures."

Abbass took it upon herself to book a flight out to Cairo, where she had family. Her first flight was canceled and then rescheduled for Saturday.

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Her first official correspondence from the department came on March 10 via email. "We have booked you on an evacuation flight out of Dubai tomorrow," meaning March 11. She responded that she was releasing her seat to someone else because she had already gotten out.

"It took 11 days of conflict for the State Department to contact me. Thats disappointing, to say the least," Abbass said.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott told USA TODAY in an email that "the State Department has reached out to every American who has registered interest in our support and offered them personalized assistance. "

A smoke plume rises from an ongoing fire near Dubai International Airport in Dubai on March 16, 2026.

'The government has not helped us at all'

Others like Abbass detailed their frustrations with getting help. And, as she did, many are sharing their stories on social media.

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Travelers like Alyssa Ramos, a solo travel blogger and self-described social media influencer was also critical of the U.S. response in helping her evacuate. She posted a video on Instagram on March 2 detailing her experience leaving Kuwait. "The U.S. government did not help us at all even though theyre saying they are on the news," she said.

Sasha Hoffman is an American from Boston who was stuck in the UAE. She was spending time abroad for work. She described the situation trying to leave Dubai as chaotic and disorganized. "I think them being unhelpful altogether was a very frustrating experience because as a taxpayer in the United States and a U.S. citizen, I felt like there are a lot of people here who don't know what to do and feel really helpless and scared, and there are not clear instructions."

Pigott of the State Department noted in his statement to USA TODAY that the department "completed over 70 flights and safely evacuated thousands of Americans from the Middle East since February 28."

'Mass confusion'

The State Department has come under fire from some lawmakers like Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-New York, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee who issued a letter to Rubio.

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The letter demanded an explanation as to how the State Department planned to ensure the safety of Americans before the start of the war.

"The Department under your direction did not prioritize getting Americans out of the conflict area or sufficiently preparing U.S. embassies and personnel for the consequences of President Trumps decision to begin the war on February 28," Meeks wrote. "It was not until March 2 that Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar posted on X for Americans to, 'DEPART NOW  using available commercial transportation' from 14 countries. But by that time, commercial flights had largely stopped across the region, leaving Americans stranded. The conflicting messaging telling Americans to leave without means of evacuation sowed mass confusion."

Meeks also argued that the department could have raised travel advisories to Level 4 weeks before the campaign started so that diplomats and American citizens could leave.

In a post shared on X, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, also criticized the Trump administration.

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"Evacuation warnings were issued three days into the war, with airspace shut down and no U.S. government flights in place," Schumer wrote. "This is what happens when you recklessly gut the State Department under DOGE and rush into a war with no plan."

When President Donald Trump was asked why there wasn't a plan in place to evacuate Americans, he responded, "Because it happened all very quickly."

"Following Operation Epic Fury, at 9 a.m. on February 28th, the State Department swiftly stood up a 24/7 Task Force to assist Americans abroad including security guidance and travel assistance," Pigott said in his statement.

Was State Department restructuring a factor?

In July of last year, the State Department began layoffs that impacted more than 1,300 people, including 246 foreign service officers.

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In his statement to USA TODAY, Pigott said the layoffs did not affect the State Department's recent performance in the Middle East.

"The RIFs [reductions in force] are not having any negative impact on our ability to respond to this operation, our ability to plan, and our ability to execute in service to Americans," Pigott said. "In fact, we were able to respond quicker and more effectively, which was the entire point of the reorg  to empower personnel in the field while allowing us to move at the 'speed of relevancy.'"

American Foreign Service Association President John Dinkelman, which represents more than 15,000 active and retired U.S. diplomats and Foreign Service personnel, disputed that statement.

"Anytime you remove over 1,300 people from any organization in such a haphazard manner, its going to have adverse effects," Dinkelman said.

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You're not alone. Many travelers feel 'uneasy' about going abroad.

'This one was caused by us'

According to the State Department's website, "in some emergencies, the U.S. government may evacuate U.S. citizens to a safe location or provide other forms of departure assistance when commercial options are unavailable."

It also says that during times of crisis, U.S. government coordinated transportation will be to a safe location readily accessible from the area of danger. However, the destination may not be the United States.

The department also waived any statutory requirement for U.S. citizens to reimburse the government for travel expenses.

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Dinkelman found the department's response to the U.S. war against Iran especially troubling because, "unlike the vast majority of anything we deal with in an emergency situation, this one was caused by us."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Americans stranded in Middle East amid Iran war blame US government
The U.S. Army will soon allow Americans up to age 42 to enlist, raising the maximum age and loosening some other restrictions to join amid the ongoing war with Iran.

The rule change announced this week raises the age of eligibility from the previous 35, and will go into effect on April 20. It comes as the United States is preparing to send additional troops to the Middle East nearly one month after launching attacks on Iran alongside ally Israel on Feb. 28.

The minimum age to join remains 18, or 17 with parental permission.

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According to Army Regulation 601210, which was published with the changes on March 20, the branch has also lifted the requirement for new recruits to receive a waiver if they have up to a single prior conviction for marijuana or drug paraphernalia possession.

Is the draft coming back? Who is required to register for Selective Service

Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026. People gather at the site of a destroyed building at a school where, as the state media reports, several people were killed in an Israeli airstrike, following strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, in Minab, Iran in this screengrab obtained from a social media video released on February 28, 2026. Iranian state media reported on February 28 that Israel struck a school in southern Iran, resulting in 40 deaths. Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel had launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran, in Tehran, Iran February 28, 2026 in this screen grab taken from video. Iranian people run for cover in Tehran, Iran, on February 28, 2026, as explosions are heard after a reported strike and Israel announced it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran, with sirens sounding in Jerusalem and phone alerts warning of an "extremely serious" threat. Smoke rises following an explosion after the U.S. and Israel reportedly launched an attack against Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026, in this screen grab taken from video. A graffiti on a wall reads" Down with the U.S.A", after Israel said it launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026. People run for cover following an explosion, after Israel said it launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran, in Tehran, Iran February 28, 2026. A plume of smoke rises after an explosion on February 28, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. After explosions were seen in the Iranian capital, the office of the Israeli Defense Minister issued a statement saying it had launched a preemptive strike against the country. A plume of smoke rises following a reported explosion in Tehran on February 28, 2026. Two loud blasts were heard in Tehran on February 28 morning by AFP journalists, and two plumes of thick smoke were seen over the centre and east of the Iranian capital.



Israel's defence ministry announced it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran as sirens sounded in Jerusalem and people across the country received phone alerts about an "extremely serious" threat. U.S. President Donald Trump pumps his fist after disembarking Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., February 27, 2026. Hours later, Trump made live comments about the military strikes he launched against Iran. A plume of smoke rises over Tehran after a reported explosion on February 28, 2026, after Israel said it carried out a "preemptive strike" on Iran as sirens sounded in Jerusalem and phone alerts warned of an "extremely serious" threat. A plume of smoke rises following a reported explosion in Tehran on February 28, 2026. Two loud blasts were heard in Tehran on February 28 morning by AFP journalists, and two plumes of thick smoke were seen over the centre and east of the Iranian capital. Israel's defence ministry announced it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran as sirens sounded in Jerusalem and people across the country received phone alerts about an "extremely serious" threat. Buildings inin Tehran stand after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, February 28, 2026. Iranians try to clear a street amid heavy traffic in Tehran, Iran, on February 28, 2026, as explosions are heard following a reported strike and Israel announced it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran, with sirens sounding in Jerusalem and phone alerts warning of an "extremely serious" threat. Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese area of al-Qatrani on February 28, 2026. Lebanon's foreign minister said on February 24 his country feared its infrastructure could be hit by Israeli strikes if the situation with Iran escalates, after Israel intensified its attacks on Tehran-backed Hezbollah Anti-riot police stand in front of state building that is covered with a giant anti-U.S. billboard depicting the destruction of a US aircraft carrier in downtown Tehran on a main street in Tehran on February 21, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. In recent weeks, the United States had moved vast numbers of military vessels and aircraft to Europe and the Middle East. The US and Israel proceeded to launched strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, Latest photos capture US and Israeli strikes against Iran 1 of 16 Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026.

USA TODAY has reached out to the Army to inquire about the change.

The raise in maximum age brings the Army enlistment requirements closer to other branches of the military. Branches that already set their maximum age to join at 42 include the Air Force and Space Force, while the Coast Guard and Navy set the maximum at 41. The Marine Corps' maximum age to join is 28. In some cases, older applicants can receive a waiver to join the military.

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Latest war updates: Trump sends Iran a peace plan as paratroops dispatched to Middle East

It's not the first time the Army has raised its age cap. In 2006, Congress authorized all branches of the military to raise their maximum ages for original enlistment to 42 and the Army temporarily raised its limit in accordance. That change came after the Army was experiencing a slump in recruiting and while U.S. troops were deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to reporting at the time by the Pueblo Chieftain, part of the USA TODAY Network.

"Raising the maximum age for Army enlistment expands the recruiting pool, provides motivated individuals an opportunity to serve and strengthens the readiness of Army units," said an Army publication in 2007.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Army raises age limit to enlist to 42
The Baltimore County Board of Education will not revisit its vote on the school systems budget, despite questions about whether a member was eligible to participate, board Chair Jane Lichter said Tuesday.

The board last month by a 7-4 vote approved an amended version of Superintendent Myriam Rogers proposed budget. Seven votes were needed for the proposal to pass and it barely did, with then-Vice Chair Robin Harveys support. However, Harvey had filed to run for the House of Delegates just hours before the Feb. 24 vote  a move some Republican lawmakers argue should have disqualified her under state law.

The law in question is Maryland Education Code  3-2B-07, which focuses specifically on Baltimore County. It says a nonstudent member of the county board may not be a candidate for or hold elected or appointed office for a political party; or the local, state or federal government; or be a current employee of the Baltimore County public school system.

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Harvey, a Democrat, filed to run for the state House in Legislative District 10, at 2:26 p.m. on Feb. 24, hours before the budget vote, according to Lexy Rhoden, spokesperson for the state board of elections.

Board leadership offers a different take

Still, Republican Dels. Kathy Szeliga and Ryan Nawrocki contended the vote was invalid because of Harveys participation, calling for a new vote in a joint statement Tuesday.

When the people running our schools cant follow the law, it sends exactly the wrong message, Szeliga said. This wasnt a technicality; it was the deciding vote on a $2.5 billion budget.

Nawrocki added that the law here isnt optional, arguing taxpayers deserve a process they can trust.

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Board leadership, meanwhile, says Harvey followed the rules and she was still eligible to cast a vote in what would be her final meeting.

Lichter said the boards legal counsel has reviewed the issue and determined the vote remains valid.

Its difficult to understand why this matter continues to be revisited a month after it was reviewed by legal counsel, Lichter said. Particularly as the boards primary focus should be on selecting our next superintendent.

Lichter said she learned of the candidacy restriction two days after the vote. That night, she and board counsel contacted Harvey, who said she had been unaware of the law and that it was not flagged during her filing process. Harvey submitted her resignation that same night, Lichter said.

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Board counsel advised, and continues to advise, that this law did not prevent Ms. Harvey from voting and that the vote on the FY27 budget was passed legally, Lichter concluded.

Budget details

If Harveys vote had been ruled invalid, the board could have been forced to reconsider the budget.

The budget approved last month totals about $2.495 billion and includes significant cost-cutting measures. District officials say it eliminates 594 full-time positions  including roles tied to declining enrollment and changes in staffing formulas  for an estimated $58.9 million in savings.

Have a news tip? Contact Racquel Bazos at rbazos@baltsun.com, 443-813-0770 or on X as @rzbworks.
On Tuesday, Baltimores city government filed a lawsuit in circuit court against Elon Musks AI company, xAI. The lawsuit claims that the Grok chatbot breaks local consumer protection laws by producing explicit, nonconsensual deepfakes, including images of minors.

City officials say the company misled people by promoting X as a regular social network and Grok as a safe, everyday tool. The complaint says this marketing hides the risk that users could see illegal content or have their family photos turned into degrading, sexually explicit images without their consent.

The lawsuit cites research from the Center for Countering Digital Hate, which found that the software created about three million sexualized images in 11 days between late December and early January. News outlets differ on the number of images showing minors: NBC News reports about 20,000, while The Guardian estimates about 23,000 and Reuters cites more than 23,000.

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The city also criticizes a feature called "spicy mode." According to NBC News, the lawsuit says this function allows people to digitally remove clothing from photos of public figures, private citizens, and children, then place their images into violent or sexually degrading scenes.

The lawsuit also points to a social media post from December 31, 2025, where Musk shared an AI-generated image of himself at age 54 in a blue string bikini. Baltimores lawyers say this post publicly encouraged users to create exposing pictures of actual people.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott stressed how harmful these deepfakes are. In media statements, he said they cause lasting trauma for victims and pose a serious threat to privacy, safety, and dignity. He added that those responsible should be held accountable.

Baltimore is asking the court for the highest possible financial penalties and other fines. City officials also want a court order requiring the company to change its advertising, redesign its platform, and stop taking advantage of local residents.

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This lawsuit comes as the company faces global scrutiny. Reuters says xAI is under investigation in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia, which led it to limit some image generation features in mid-January. At that time, Musk said he had no knowledge of the software creating nude images of minors.

The Guardian also reports on a separate class-action lawsuit filed in March by three teenagers in Tennessee. They say an outside app used xAIs technology to create and share nude images of them. xAI and its related companies did not immediately respond to media questions about the case.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (R) meets with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Algiers, Algeria, March 25, 2026. Meloni conducted an official visit to Algeria on Wednesday, seeking to secure expanded energy partnerships, as Europe seeks stable gas supplies amid disruptions tied to the war in Iran and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.(Algerian Presidency/Handout via Xinhua)

ALGIERS, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni conducted an official visit to Algeria on Wednesday, seeking to secure expanded energy partnerships, as Europe seeks stable gas supplies amid disruptions tied to the war in Iran and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.

Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation by working on new prospects such as offshore exploration to increase gas supplies from Algeria to Italy, Meloni said at a joint press conference following her meeting with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

She added that the TransMed pipeline, also known as the Mattei pipeline, which has linked the two countries since the 1980s, reflects their long-standing role as pioneers in energy cooperation.

The Italian prime minister also noted that both countries expressed concern over military escalation in Lebanon and called on the international community to work toward regional stability and a two-state solution.

Tebboune stated that Algeria's reliable gas exports make it a key partner for Italy and other European nations seeking energy security.

Both sides agreed to accelerate the establishment of an Algerian-Italian Chamber of Commerce to strengthen economic ties, he said.

Tebboune reaffirmed Algeria's condemnation of abuses against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and called for intensified global efforts to achieve a just and lasting solution guaranteeing their legitimate rights, particularly their right to establish an independent state in accordance with international law.

Both sides also agreed that the solutions to the Western Sahara issue should be in accordance with the UN resolutions.

Meloni's visit comes amid growing European demand for Algerian natural gas, as regional instability in the Middle East and tensions around the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted global energy supplies. Enditem.
March 25 (Reuters) - Acting Director Jay Bhattacharya will continue to lead the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the White House looks to name a permanent head, a health department spokesperson said on Wednesday.

The CDC has been in a state of uncertainty since U.S. President Donald Trump fired Director Susan Monarez in August after she objected to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s proposed vaccine policy changes. She was replaced by Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Jim O'Neill, who in turn was replaced by U.S. National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya in February.

"Dr. Bhattacharya will continue to oversee the CDC by performing the delegable duties of the CDC director," the spokesperson said, adding that Kennedy and HHS chief counselor Chris Klomp are working with the White House on the CDC director search.

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The Washington Post reported the development earlier in the day.

The Post reported on Sunday that about six candidates, including former Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher, Mississippi health director Daniel Edney and cardiologist Joseph Marine, were being considered for the role.

(Reporting by Christian Martinez in Los Angeles, Ryan Patrick Jones in Toronto and Mariam Sunny and Christy Santhosh in Bengaluru; Editing by Daphne Psaledakis, Rod Nickel)
A bill that would take Georgia out of the Eastern Time Zone and put us in the Atlantic Time Zone passed out of the state Senate on Tuesday.

That would make daylight saving time essentially permanent.

People like the idea of not having to switch back and forth, but may not like the idea of sunrise happening around 8:15 in the morning in the winter.

But like it or not, that bill is moving through the legislature.

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Channel 2s Richard Elliot spoke with street musician Joseph E. Reed about the idea. He hopes Georgia gets a permanent Daylight Saving Time because he doesnt like the time change.

Its nice to somehow kind of get more daylight. It seems like, but the transitions are hectic on my body, it seems. Bounding back and forth this time, Reed said.

Georgia is tired of changing its clocks. Enter Cornelia Republican state Sen. Bo Hatchett.

TRENDING STORIES:

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He knows Georgia cant move permanently to Daylight Saving Time without an act of Congress, so he found a way around that.

He wants to ask the U.S. Department of Transportation to move Georgia out of the Eastern Time Zone and into the Atlantic Time Zone, thereby creating a kind of permanent Daylight Saving Time.

The Senate just approved it.

Were going to petition directly to the U.S. Department of Transportation to move us into the Atlantic Standard Time, which is the same time as were in now. Its just called something different, Hatchett told Elliot.

Some people hate the idea. School districts worry about kids catching the bus in the dark.

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Airlines would have to shift schedules, and some businesses would have to adjust their hours.

But not Maurice Peoples. She hates falling back and springing forward every year.

Id rather it stick to one thing and keep it going. I dont want to keep going back and forth because I get adjusted to one time, and then I have to switch back. It throws my whole day off, Peoples said.

The bill will now head back to the full House for a vote, and you can bet there will be some opposition from businesses that rely on the time.
The Florida Department of Health in Orange County (DOH-Orange) cautions the public about the presence of harmful blue-green algae toxins in Lake Apopka (Newton Park dock).

With water sample testing underway, blue-green algae have the potential to produce toxins. Since environmental conditions can change at any time, it is essential to exercise caution, even if the presence of toxins has not yet been confirmed.

Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions:

 Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft, or come into contact with waters where there is a visible bloom.

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 Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you come into contact with algae, discolored water, or water that smells unpleasant.

 Keep pets and livestock away from the area to avoid contact with water. Waters where algae blooms are not safe for animals, so pets and livestock should use an alternative water source when algae blooms are present.

 Do not cook or clean dishes with water contaminated by algae blooms. Boiling the water will not eliminate toxins.

 Eating fillets from healthy fish caught in freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe. Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts, and cook fish thoroughly.

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 Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms

What is Blue-Green Algae?

Blue-green algae are a type of bacteria that is common in Floridas freshwater environments. A bloom occurs when the rapid growth of algae leads to an accumulation of individual cells that discolor water and often produce floating mats that emit unpleasant odors.

Blue-green algae blooms can also appear as scum, foam, or paint on the surface of the water in various colors. To learn more about the appearance of algae blooms, visit Protecting Florida Together.

Is Blue-Green Algae Harmful?

Blue-green algae can produce toxins that can be harmful to humans and pets as well as ecosystems, including fish and other aquatic animals.

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Sensitive individuals (e.g., children, the elderly, and the immunocompromised) may still be at risk even at low concentrations and should avoid any exposure.

Where Can I Report Issues Related to Algae Blooms?

 Algae Blooms: DEP monitors algae blooms and collects samples for analysis. Blooms

can be reported to DEP online or by calling toll-free at 1-855-305-3903.

 Human Health: Report symptoms from exposure to a harmful algae bloom or any

aquatic toxin to the Florida Poison Information Center by calling 800-222-1222 to speak

to a poison specialist.

 Animal Health: Contact your veterinarian if you believe your pet has become ill after

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consuming or having contact with blue-green algae contaminated water.

 Fish Kills: Dead, diseased, or abnormally behaving fish or wildlife should be reported to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission online or at 800-636-0511.

If you have other health questions or concerns about blue-green algae, please call DOH-Orange at 407-723-5004.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
THERES SOMETHING HAPPENING here. What it is aint exactly clear. But at least some observers are seeing signs that the pivotal swing state of Wisconsin is shifting from purple to blue.

The upcoming April 7 election for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court is shaping up to be a blowout win for the liberal contender, which would make it the third consecutive high-court contest to go the liberals way. This falls race to replace two-term Democratic Gov. Tony Evers seems to have a lopsided level of energy, with more than a half-dozen serious contenders on the Democratic side (to be narrowed to one in an August 11 primary), and just one serious contender among Republicans: Tom Tiffany, an acolyte of President Donald Trump currently serving in the U.S. House. And even given existing skewed electoral maps, the Dems have a fighting chance of flipping one or even two of the states eight congressional seats, for which Republicans now enjoy a six-to-two advantage.

Moreover, in recent weeks, several prominent Republican lawmakers, including Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and state Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, have announced that they will not be seeking re-election this November. While they publicly gave other reasonsVos mentioned concerns regarding his health following a heart attack last November; LeMahieu said he was looking forward to spending more time with his wife and rooting for bold conservative reform from the sidelinesits entirely possible that one main reason they are heading for the exits is that they expect that Democrats to win back the state Senate and maybe even the Assembly this fall.

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Holy smokes the entire WI GOP is jumping ship, posted one wag on X. Theyre telling you all you need to know.

Wisconsin Democratic Party chair Devin Remiker, in a statement following LeMahieus announcement he will not seek another term, warned all potential Republican candidates to take note that your leaders have abandoned you. He went on: Your policies are causing working people to turn against you in droves as the Trump administration crashes and burns. Consider retiring alongside your colleagues before you are voted out in November.

But it is Remikers job, as he seeks to fill the shoes of his highly successful predecessor, Ben Wikler, to say things like that. Heres Remikers response to Voss mid-February announcement that he would be stepping aside as the state Assemblys longest serving (thirteen years) speaker: History . . . will remember him as a little man who was only remarkable for his gift of still managing to punch down despite his own smallness. Yikes.

Now, the case can be made, and I have made it, that Robin Vos can be a bit of a jerk. But still, its wise to take the pronouncements of people who are paid to push narratives with a grain of salt. Have Republican prospects in Wisconsin really changed so dramatically? Could the state be turning from purple to blue?

TO GET A MORE NEUTRAL PERSPECTIVE, I spoke with Brandon Scholz, the former executive director of the Wisconsin Republican Party, who stopped being a Republican the day after the January 6th Capitol riot. Scholz, now an independent analyst and commentator, urged caution in attributing the legislatures leadership exodus to concern over the upcoming election.

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Vos, he noted, has floated the idea of leaving before, and he might have already left in 2024 had the Trump people not tried to recall him over Voss refusal to decertify Joe Bidens win in the 2020 election. But Scholz does think LeMahieu and others may have stepped aside in order to avoid the blame that will come when Democrats reclaim the state Senate this fall, as he expects will happen.

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Certainly if they lost the majority, its natural that everybody looks at leadership and tries to blame somebody, Scholz says. Devin [LeMahieu] would be at the top of that list because hes the majority leader. Hes the one that makes the decision, casts the votes, puts the bills up, raises the money.

Scholz also believes that proclamations that Wisconsin is turning from purple to blue are premature. State voters re-elected Republican U.S. Senator Ron Johnson in 2022 and picked Trump for president in both 2016 and 2024. If liberal Court of Appeals Judge Chris Taylor handily beats conservative Court of Appeals Judge Maria Lazar in the states April 7 Supreme Court election, thats one box to check; if Democrats gain control of the state Senate this fall, thats another. Finally, if one of the multiple Democratic candidates for governor beats Tiffany, who will have a Trump endorsement and the mythical MAGA vote, which never shows upwell, if all that happens, he thinks you could put that check mark into maybe theyre moving from purple to blue.

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Scholz blames the state Republican party, and especially its chairman, Brian Schimming, for its declining fortunes. The Wisconsin Republican Party is a skeleton of itself, he says.

There is no more Republican party in Wisconsin. It is inept. Is incompetent. It cant raise money. It has a chairman [who] should be somewhere else. Trump should give Schimming a job out in Washington and get him out of the state. And they should get some leadership into that party that knows how to run elections and knows how to act like adults. Ive never seen a state party so inept as it is today.

For what its worth, a lot of factors have come into play to create the possibility, which now exists, that Wisconsin will head into 2027 with an unusual trifecta: a liberal-dominated state Supreme Court, a Democratic governor, and at least one of two legislative chambers under Democratic control.

SUPREME COURT JUSTICES IN WISCONSIN are elected to ten-year terms in what are officially nonpartisan electionsalthough, for the last two decades, they have mostly been high-spending affairs pitting conservatives backed by Republicans against liberals backed by Democrats.

The 2023 state Supreme Court race, in which liberal Judge Janet Protasiewicz beat former justice and hardcore religious conservative Dan Kelly, was at the time the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history by far; spending, mostly by outside groups, topped $50 million. The states next Supreme Court election, in 2025, shattered that record. That race, between circuit court judge Susan Crawford and former Republican state attorney general Brad Schimel, gobbled up more than $100 million (in one tally reaching $144.5 million), including $22 million from multi-billionaire Elon Musk and groups that he funds. The eccentric multi-billionaire issued $100 checks to voters who signed a petition against activist judges as well as three $1 million payments to lottery-selected (or not so lottery-selected) voters, for which he still faces a civil lawsuit alleging that he violated state election bribery laws.

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Protasiewicz won by a 11-point margin, Crawford by a 10-point one.

In the current race between Taylor and Lazar, the spending is relatively modest. Through early March, Taylor had raised more than $3.8 million over the past year, compared to Lazars paltry $438,000. A March 18 tally from the watchdog group Wisconsin Democracy Campaign found that only $638,300 has been pumped into the race by various outside groupsalmost all of it on behalf of Taylor.

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Scholz, whose two-word synopsis of the current race is, Its over, says the money isnt flowing because the Republicans see Lazars candidacy as a losing battle and also not one of key importance. After all, its for an open seat vacated by a conservative; liberals will retain control of the court no matter who wins. He illustrates how that value proposition sounds: So let me get this straight. You want me to donate ten million, one million, whatever, to a race that even if they win, theyre still going to be in the minority?

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But the stakes in the race are still substantial, because a win by Taylor would give court liberals a 52 advantage and ensure that, barring deaths or resignations, they will retain a court majority at least through 2030. The next race is for the seat held by two-term Justice Annette Ziegler, who has announced that she will not be seeking re-election; if liberals take that seat in addition to the one this year, they would be assured of court control until at least 2033.

Despite these stakes, a Marquette Law School poll released Tuesday found that just 12 percent of Wisconsin registered voters said they had heard a lot about the April 7 election, while 53 percent remain undecided. Among those who had made a decision, 23 percent backed Taylor compared to 17 percent for Lazar.

One main reason for Taylors likely win is that she is avowedly pro-choice in a state still wincing from a 15-month shutdown of access to abortion following the U.S. Supreme Courts June 2022 Dodd decision. Taylor worked as a policy director for Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin for eight years, from 2003 to 2011, before serving as a Democratic state lawmaker, as a circuit court judge, and later as an appeals court judge.

Lazar spent twenty years in private practice focused on civil litigation before working as an assistant state attorney general, then a circuit court judge, and later an appeals court judge. She has called the Dobbs decision very wise and suggested that the people of Wisconsin may want to ban abortions after six weeks, before many women even know theyre pregnant. She has insisted that her personal views on abortion are irrelevant to how she would rule and referred to the states current 20-week compromise as settled law. Of course, thats also how recent Republican nominees for the U.S. Supreme Court described Roe v. Wade before voting to overturn it.

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Moreover, Lazar has wooed extremist groups including Moms for Liberty. Last October she appeared at an event that featured Trumps first national security advisor, Michael Flynn, who was convicted of felonies for lying to the FBI before Trump pardoned him. Also on hand to suck up the right-wing fumes was GOP gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany, who in January 2021, after the attack on the Capitol, voted to set aside the election result in two states.

These positions and affiliations could quite likely cost these contenders support in the spring and fall elections. But in terms of the state legislature, it is not what they accomplished or stood for that has kept Republicans in power in recent years but power itself, as expressed through redistricting.

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FOR YEARS, WISCONSIN HAS HAD some of the most gerrymandered legislative maps in the nation. This is the main reason that both the state Assembly and the state Senate have been under continuous GOP control since 2011, despite the fact that Wisconsin voters are about evenly divided between the two parties. In the 2022 election, when Gov. Evers was re-elected with 51.2 percent of the vote, Republicans still managed to obtain a 2211 supermajority in the state senate and a near-supermajority of 6435 in the state Assembly.

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The conservative majority on Wisconsins Supreme Court was fine with this imbalance. But the 2023 election of state Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewiczwho as a candidate openly flagged the maps as rigged and unfairgave liberals a majority on the court for the first time in decades. In December of that year, the court struck down the GOP-drawn maps as unconstitutional. The Republicans, facing the prospect of a court-imposed redistricting outcome that would erode its advantage even further, agreed to maps proposed by Evers.

In the fall 2024 elections, with the new boundaries in place, Democrats picked up ten seats in the Assembly and four in the Senate. This year, the Dems could secure majority control in the legislature by flipping just two seats in the Senate and five in the Assembly.

Meanwhile, two pending lawsuits challenging similarly skewed maps that give Republicans an enormous advantage in races for Congress are considered unlikely to be resolved in time for the fall elections. But there is still a chance that, even under the current maps, Democrats could bump off one or even two of the seatsthose now held by Republicans Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden. Both are Trump loyalists at a time when the president is wildly unpopular on account of, you know, everything.

Steil was booed last year while defending Trumps tariffs at a town hall in his district. Van Orden, in the running for recognition as the single nuttiest member of Congress, has backed Trump on some of his most controversial actions, including his sadistic immigration crackdown and war of choice against Iran.

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In the race for governor, Tiffanys main GOP rival, Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann, dropped out of the race in late January, one day after Trump endorsed Tiffany, declaring that the Wisconsin congressman has always been at my side. Apparently, it is understood that it is impossible for a Republican to win a statewide race without Trumps support. But it may also be that, in Wisconsin as elsewhere, winning with Trumps support may prove to be equally difficult.

In other words, its time we stop, children, whats that sound? Everybody look whats going down.

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The Boston man who led Los Angeles law enforcement on an hour-long chase more than a year and a half ago was found guilty Tuesday in Massachusetts of raping two women back in 1989.

The jury found Stephen Paul Gale, 73, guilty on four counts of aggravated rape, two counts of kidnapping and a single count of armed robbery.

After the verdict, the two survivors told the judge how this has impacted them.

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"From that moment on, my life was never the same. I tried not to let that define me, but there were things I could not control," said one of the victims. "Insomnia, anxiety, panic attacks, loud noises would send me running out of stores. These struggles followed me all my life."

Gale will have an opportunity to address the judge when he is sentenced on Monday.

READ MORE: Luxury yacht, disfigured fingers and a police chase: Mystery surrounding rape suspect unravels in LA

Gale was identified through DNA testing as the suspect in a series of rapes in the Boston area from 1989 to 1990.

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At the time, he was known as the "Boston Strip Mall Rapist."

He allegedly robbed a store in Framingham, located about 20 miles west of Boston, just two days after Christmas in 1989 and sexually assaulted two female employees while holding a gun to their heads.

According to the U.S. Marshals Service, Gale was on the run for years before he was publicly identified and was last seen in 2008. Information about Gale was distributed nationwide. Investigators also said he once had ties to organized crime.

According to WCVB-TV, sources said Gale was found aboard a yacht named The Dior anchored at Seacoast Yachts in Wilmington when police closed in on Aug. 8.

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Police believe Gale suspected he was being watched when he got in his SUV and took off, leading police on a lengthy chase.

The chase lasted just over an hour. Gale was driving a dark Lincoln SUV and drove on the 405 Freeway and on surface streets, mostly driving at a moderate rate of speed and obeying stop signs.

For the majority of the chase, he was able to avoid spike strips and PIT maneuver attempts. However, Gale ran over a spike strip in the Westwood area and at least one tire went flat.

He didn't slow down after the spike strip but ultimately, he was taken into custody near the UCLA medical area.
Dozens of teachers, parents and students rallied outside Boston City Hall Tuesday, urging city leaders to invest more of their budget into schools.

Our children should not have to pay the price for fiscal decisions made far from the daily realities of whats happening in the classrooms, said one parent.

The Boston Teachers Union says hundreds of positions are on the chopping block in Boston Public Schools with the current proposed budget.

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105 special education paraprofessionals eliminated, 142 multilingual educational positions, support staff at 41 schools, and a workforce that is more than 70 percent black and Latino will bear a disproportionate share of the impact, said Erik Berg, president of the Boston Teachers Union.

Teachers worry the most vulnerable students will be the most impacted by these cuts.

Parents say these positions are crucial for their students, from the paraprofessionals to the librarians.

She ensures all students see themselves in books and have equitable access to them regardless of family resources, said one mother during public comment.

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Those teachers and families packed the city council meeting Tuesday to push city leaders to invest an additional 1% of their budget into BPS.

That would mean an additional $48 million to maintain staffing levels.

How can we attract good teachers if there are fewer jobs and less support, when schools lose funding, families notice, they see schools struggling and they leave, no one wants to go to an underfunded school, said one student during public comment.

We just celebrated the highest graduation rate in BPS history, thats 400 additional students who received their diploma and now is not the time to cut back, now is the time to continue to invest in our young people and in our schools, said Berg.

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The Boston School Committee will be voting on its proposed $1.7 billion budget Wednesday night, and then itll head back to city council for a final vote.

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The British army is so depleted it could only seize a small market town on a good day, a former top military commander has warned amid growing concerns over the UKs ability to defend itself.

Giving a damning assessment of the military, General Sir Richard Barrons, who was one of the authors of a major defence review published last year by the government, warned that none of the services could do anything substantial.

The armed forces that we have now, because of their size, but also because of their sophistication, can make a very small contribution on land, in the air and at sea, to an enterprise either led by the US or more likely a Nato undertaking. What it cannot do is anything substantial, he told the BBC.

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The former top military commander explained that the UK has promised the Nato alliance a strategic reserve corps of between 30,000 and 50,000 troops, ready to deploy anywhere in the alliance.

But he claimed that the army has not got the equipment or the training or the support to get anywhere close to delivering that yet.

Todays army frankly could do one very small thing, essentially it could seize a small market town on a good day, Sir Richard added.

Jack Watling, a senior research fellow for land warfare at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), agreed with the brutal assessment.

The Ukrainians trying to defend Bakhmut lost 10,000 people, killed and wounded over the course of the defence of Bakhmut, which is a small market town, and that would almost be the entire infantry force in the British military, he warned.

Richard Barrons at a conference in 2024 (Getty)

The researcher also warned that the UK is critically short of artillery, after having given large amounts to Ukraine.

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It comes after Israel issued a stark warning on Saturday that Iranian missiles are a threat to European cities  including London, Paris and Berlin  after two ballistic missiles were unsuccessfully fired by Iran towards the UK-US Diego Garcia military base on the Chagos Islands.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer faces accusations of complacency amid concerns 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 on Monday  made up of the chairs of parliamentary select committees  where he was challenged with claims that the UK is already 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.

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Sir Keir 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.

Keir Starmer says No 10 is committed to increasing defence spending by 2.5 per cent (PA Wire)

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.

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.

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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 Britain after the Greek and French governments were able to deploy naval assets to defend Cyprus before the UK.
The mayor of west suburban Broadview is asking the federal government to repay the village for costs from the Department of Homeland Security's Chicago-area immigration operation "Midway Blitz."

Mayor Katrina Thompson says the operation cost village businesses and services more than $700,000, and she now wants that reimbursed.

Thompson sent a letter to federal lawmakers representing Illinois to call for support for the reimbursement and for support in permanently closing the Broadview ICE facility.

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"Broadview did not ask for this operation, and our residents, our police officers, our firefighters, our business owners should not be the ones paying for it," said Thompson. "I advocated for federal reimbursement for communities like ours impacted by ICE operations, emphasizing that local taxpayers should not bear the cost of federal responsibilities. I also pushed for the closure of the Broadview ICE Processing Center, centering dignity, safety, and a stronger vision for our community."

SEE ALSO | Cook County state's attorney opposes push for special prosecutor to probe operation 'Midway Blitz'
Brookhaven police have released new photos and video from a shooting in a Kroger parking lot over the weekend.

Police said a man, 75, was shot in the chest on Sunday shortly before 10 a.m. in the parking lot of a Kroger in the Cherokee Plaza.

On Wednesday, Channel 2s Courtney Francisco went back to the shopping center where the shooting happened and found more than five security cameras all around the shopping plaza.

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When the shooting happened, it was all caught on video. Now, police are sharing it in hopes you can help them track down the suspect.

Police say they want to talk to a man shown in video and pictures they released on Wednesday.

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In the video, the man is seen leaving the scene of the crime. He was wearing a black hat, a blue jacket, dark pants, and carrying a black tote bag with tan straps.

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Francisco spoke to police on Wednesday, who said he might as well just turn himself in at this point because its just a matter of time before someone else spots him.

It would be very important for you to turn yourself in so we can hear your side of the story on what had occurred, so we know the complete story, timeline, what happened and transpired, and by doing that, that would help not only us but potentially your circumstance in this case, Lt. Anthony Petron witht he Brookhaven Police Department said.

The shooting victim is a 75-year-old man, and police said he is still alive.

He is in the hospital but cannot communicate right now due to his injuries.

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Francisco reached out to Kroger and the owners of Cherokee Plaza to see if the administration has a comment about the attack. She is waiting to hear back.

As for the person of interest, police said if you know him, call 911 or the Brookhaven police. He could be dangerous.

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NEW DELHI, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh on Wednesday culled over 22,000 poultry birds following the outbreak of avian influenza (commonly called bird flu), officials said.

The outbreak has hit the Koni area of Bilaspur district, about 128 km north of Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh.

According to officials, around 4,744 chickens out of 5,037 died at a state-run poultry farm, triggering panic in the district and adjoining areas, prompting authorities to undertake measures to prevent the further spread of the virus in the state.

The samples of the chicken carcasses have confirmed the presence of strains of avian influenza (H5N1) in them.

The health department has been asked to monitor the health of local residents and conduct necessary check-ups. According to officials, samples of all workers inside the government-owned poultry farm have been tested and found negative.

Bird flu is a highly infectious and severe respiratory disease in birds caused by the H5N1 influenza virus, which can occasionally infect humans as well. 
Canada has said that it strongly condemns Israels plans to occupy southern Lebanon and warned that Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity must not be violated, amid plans by Israeli forces to mount a major ground invasion of its northern neighbour.

Israels preparations to invade and take control of territory up to 30km (18.6 miles) inside Lebanons southern border come as the death toll in Lebanon from Israeli attacks has risen to at least 1,072 people, with almost 3,000 wounded, since the start of this month.

More than a million people have also been displaced by weeks of Israeli attacks in the south and east of the country, as well as the capital, Beirut, while warnings of a humanitarian crisis are being made at all levels, as Israels ground incursion looms.

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Expressing solidarity with the Lebanese government and people of Lebanon, Canadas Ministry of Global Affairs said on Wednesday that all sides in the conflict must act in accordance with international law.

We urge all parties to protect civilians, refrain from attacks on infrastructure, health workers, and peacekeepers, the ministry said in a statement.

On Tuesday, Frances Minister for Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot also said that Israel should refrain from its planned occupation of southern Lebanon, warning that such a move would have a dire impact on civilians.

We urge the Israeli authorities to refrain from such ground operations, which would have major humanitarian consequences and would exacerbate the countrys already dire situation, Barrot told the AFP news agency.

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The French and Canadian statements come after Israel announced that its military will take control of south Lebanese territory up to the Litani River, some 30km from the Israeli border.





Israels Minister of Defence Israel Katz said the military will control the security zone up to the Litani, adding that displaced Lebanese residents would not be permitted to return to their homes south of the river until security is guaranteed for the residents of the north of Israel.

Raising the spectre of Israels genocidal war on Gaza, Katz said that Israels military was following the model of Rafah and Beit Hanoon in Lebanon, two cities that were effectively razed to the ground amid the war on the Palestinian enclave.

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On Monday, Israels far-right Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich went even further in calling for Israels official annexation of southern Lebanon, saying that a change of Israels borders was necessary.

I say here definitively in every room and in every discussion, too: The new Israeli border must be the Litani, he said in an interview.

Israels preparations to invade southern Lebanon have included bombing bridges spanning the Litani River and bombing Lebanese homes close to the border that separates the two countries.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called Israels attack on the Qasmiyeh Bridge on Sunday  a key to the south of the country  a prelude to ground invasion.

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Lebanese state media cited the Ministry of Health early on Wednesday as saying that nine people had been killed in Israels most recent attacks on Lebanon.

Four people were killed in an Israeli enemy raid on the southern town of Adloun, and another two were killed in a strike on an apartment in the Mieh Mieh refugee camp, with four others wounded, according to reports. An earlier Israeli raid on the town of Habboush, also in the south, killed at least three people and wounded 18 others.

In northern Israel  as repeated air raid sirens sent residents to safety shelters  a woman was killed on Tuesday following rocket fire from Lebanon, Israeli authorities said.




A Vancouver-based uranium company is seeking federal approval to conduct exploratory uranium drilling within the Carson National Forest in northern New Mexico, according to U.S. Forest Service officials.

Gamma Resources Ltd. issued a notice of intent late last month to the Carson National Forest, proposing to drill up to 12 exploratory boreholes up to 500 feet deep near Canjilon, N.M., forest spokesperson Zach Behrens told Source NM on Wednesday. Canjilon is about 20 miles north of Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, common landscapes in famed artist Georgia OKeefes paintings.

If the Forest Service approves the Gamma exploratory project, the company will also build temporary drill pads, carve roughly 800 feet of new roads to drill sites and do other short-term staging for a roughly 30-day operation, Behrens said.

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Gamma Resources did not respond to a Source NMs email and phone call Wednesday seeking comment. However, on its website, the company states it hopes to extract uranium from a four-mile stretch of uranium-rich deposits in the Chama Basin as part of what it has dubbed the Mesa Arc Project.

The company also published an investor presentation dated March 2026 that notes New Mexicos historical deposits remain idle due to past market conditions, representing low-hanging fruit for resource growth. In addition to the Mesa Arc Project, the company is also seeking investors for another development it dubbed the Green River Project in Southwest Utah.

According to the company, historic work has identified nearly 3 million pounds of triuranium octoxide, commonly known as yellowcake uranium, in the area it seeks to drill.

Ultimately, the company seeks to drill between 10 and 12 6,500-feet holes to extract uranium, and it anticipates beginning drilling as early as next month, subject to Forest Service approvals. Last week, the company announced it had hired an environmental consulting firm to conduct a resource survey in the area and to ensure the company meets federal cultural resource protection regulations.

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Management believes the Company is uniquely positioned to benefit from the unprecedented policy and market tailwinds reshaping the U.S. nuclear landscape, Gamma officials wrote in a news release March 16.

Behrens, however, noted that the Forest Service has only begun its review of the Gammas notice of intent filed with the agency on Feb. 23. The review will determine whether the uranium exploration would cause significant surface disturbance and therefore require a full environmental review under the federal National Environmental Policy Act review.

If a NEPA review is necessary, the Forest Service would begin a scoping report, consulting local governments, conservation districts, acequias, grazing permittees and the public at large to identify environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic considerations, Behrens said in an email Wednesday.

The Forest Service is committed to a transparent, sciencebased process as required under federal minerals and NEPA regulations, he wrote.

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The proposal marks the latest sign of renewed interest in uranium mining in New Mexico amid a spike in uranium prices and President Donald Trumps push to expand domestic energy production.

Early in Trumps second term, the Cibola National Forest deemed two long-dormant uranium mines near Mount Taylor as priority projects, and a federal permitting council has sought to fast-track the mines federal approvals. Companies behind both mines have since made steady progress on both state and federal permitting applications.

Moises Morales, a Rio Arriba County commissioner who lives in Canjilon, told Source NM on Tuesday that he learned about the proposal last month during a meeting with Forest Service officials. He said he is adamantly opposed to the project and is already mobilizing opposition.

Were against it, he said. Weve seen a lot of bad things happening in the Navajo Nation, how they lost their animals and all those people got sick with cancer. I dont want to see that anymore.

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In addition to being a commissioner, Morales is a longtime advocate for land grant heirs in the area who lost their land to the federal Forest Service and private interests when New Mexico became part of the United States more than a century ago. He said new uranium mining on the former land grant would constitute the latest federal abuse of land it stole from rightful owners.

You can go back to the beginning of time, and the same thing they did to our grandparents theyre doing to us right now, he said.

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The candidates to fill Gov. Mikie Sherrill's seat in Congress will have a debate after all.

It was announced on Tuesday, March 24, that Democratic nominee Analilia Mejia and Republican Joe Hathaway will square off on April 1, two weeks before the April 16 special election to fill the 11th District seat in the House of Representatives.

The news came after Mejia turned down an offer from the League of Women Voters for a debate with Hathaway. The April 1 debate will be sponsored by the New Jersey Globe and the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University.

Special election candidates in New Jersey's 11th Congressional District are progressive activist Analilia Mejia, left, the Democratic nominee, and Randolph Township Councilman Joe Hathaway, the Republican nominee.

"Thrilled that we are finally getting the opportunity to debate. You won't want to miss this one," Hathaway posted on Facebook. "It's game time."

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Mejia campaign spokesperson Alvaro Perpuly confirmed that the campaign had agreed to the New Jersey Globe debate, saying that unlike the League of Women Voters, "they did show us a list of moderators ahead of time. That was an issue with the league."

"They have hosted debates before and have a good track record," Perpuly said.

The New Jersey Globe announced that the 60-minute debate will have the Globe's Joey Fox as the moderator, with panelists Micah Rasmussen of the Rebovich Institute and lobbyist Jeannine LaRue. It will be streamed online and on C-SPAN.

When a Facebook user pointed out that the debate will be on the first night of Passover, the Hathaway campaign responded that it "will be re-run every day on NJ Globe until Election Day and watchable anytime on YouTube."

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Mejia, a labor and political organizer who was national political director for Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign, beat long odds to win a 12-candidate primary on Feb. 10 in a field that included former New Jersey Rep. Tom Malinowski and former Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way. Hathaway won the GOP primary unopposed.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Candidates in NJ-11 special election agree to April 1 debate
Charlotte City Council cancelled its plans to discuss the Interstate 77 toll lane project Wednesday.

The special meeting was scheduled to start at 1 p.m.

The Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization still plans to discuss the project at its board meeting Wednesday night.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation paused advancement on the project, which would stretch from Uptown to South Carolina, as community groups voice their concerns surrounding the design and how it could impact nearby neighborhoods.

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READ MORE >> Public outcry prompts NCDOT to extend I-77 toll lane project feedback period

It originally proposed building elevated lanes and recently said it will study the possibility of using an underground tunnel.

Councilmembers said staff needed more time to prepare for the meeting. Its unclear if or when it will be rescheduled.

VIDEO: NC Gov. Stein supports pause on I-77 toll lane project amid community concerns
A Chicago contractor was shot and killed near United Center on Tuesday, his family told ABC7.

Jerry Lewis had a profound impact on the construction community and those on the West Side, his wife said.

Lewis was killed just before 1 p.m. near West Madison and South Leavitt streets.

The 67-year-old's family said he was shot while walking between offices when he was approached by two gunmen who opened fire.

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He was shot in the head and was rushed to Stroger hospital where he died, police said.

"My husband just wanted to see everyone be better and make it," wife Zeandra Lewis said.

Lewis' family said he was a successful Chicago contractor and developer who was instrumental in Project 1901, the $7-billion development of property around the United Center.

"He was going to his office, and that's when two guys came out of nowhere and shot him," son Zachery Lewis said.

He was mentoring small businesses, like Traci Quinn's Pink Hats Construction and Development group.

Authorities have not outlined a motive for the attack or given details about what led to the violence.

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The Cook County medical examiner has not officially identified the victim.

Chicago police said investigators are questioning two people of interest.

SEE ALSO | Man, 67 gunned down near United Center in broad daylight; CPD questioning 2 people of interest

His colleagues and longtime friends explained how much he meant to them and the West Side community Wednesday.

"It's terrible because he was a guy who worked in the community. As far as I could remember, he worked with me every year, help feeding kids in the community, back-to-school picnics," longtime friend Parker Turner said.

Lewis was known for mentoring people from underserved communities and specifically women trying to join the construction industry.

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Students of the program said he held classes at his offices once a week, bringing in industry professionals to learn the trade and even gain access to the 1901 project.

"It's huge; it's gonna be a 10-year project. So his goal was to be able to make sure that us small businesses, people who live and thrive in the community are able to come benefit and work," Quinn said.

"It's sad, especially knowing it's someone I knew. It's pretty sad. It's just the times we live in now; nobody has respect for anything," former colleague Michael Lustro said.

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Chicago police have issued a warning about a series of armed robberies.

Two incidents happened at gas stations in Brighton Park, at 6 a.m. and 8:09 a.m. Sunday in the 3400-block of South California Avenue.

Police said the armed suspect walked up to people as they pumped gas and demanded their property.

Then in at about 9:37 a.m. Sunday in the 2200-block of West 37th Street in McKinley Park, police said the thief crashed into the victim's car, then pulled a gun when the victim asked for the suspect's insurance information.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Area One Detectives at (312) 747-8384.

INTERACTIVE SAFETY TRACKER Track crime and safety in your neighborhood
COLUMBIA  An Upstate businessman who worked for former Gov. Dick Riley and in the Clinton administration has shaken up the Democratic primary for governor.

Billy Webster, 68, of Greenville, highlighted his experience in Washington and as an executive as he officially launched his bid Wednesday. He becomes the third Democrat trying to flip the governors office blue for the first time in 28 years.

If you look at the folks in this race so far, Im the only one whos prepared and experienced for this job, Webster told reporters at a Columbia Bojangles where he said his career began.

Candidate for governor Billy Webster poses with his wife Teresa, left, at the South Carolina Election Commission after filing to run on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Adrian Ashford/SC Daily Gazette)

He held the news conference shortly after filing his candidacy with the State Election Commission.

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All the important lessons I learned about business, I learned right back there in that kitchen, he said, before going back into the kitchen to prove he could still make a Cajun Filet Biscuit with cheese.

After working at a Bojangles restaurant owned by his family, Webster became president of a Bojangles franchisee before going to work in Washington in the 90s under both Republican and Democratic presidents.

He joins two Democrats who announced their campaigns last year: state Rep. Jermaine Johnson of rural Richland County, who filed his candidacy paperwork Monday, and Charleston attorney Mullins McLeod, who filed last week.

Webster, a father of six, touted himself as someone who can work across the aisle. Citing problems including rising costs and medical bills, he called himself the only person who looks at these issues through the lens of solving a problem  not Democrat problems, not Republican problems.

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He went to Washington in 1992 as a White House fellow during President George H.W. Bushs administration.

He was chief of staff to Riley in South Carolina and Washington  during Rileys tenure as governor (the states last two-term Democrat in the governors office) and later when Riley became President Bill Clintons education secretary. Webster then worked as an assistant and director of scheduling for Clinton.

Webster was chief executive at Advance America, a payday lending company based in Spartanburg, from its founding in 1997 to 2011.

During that time, the payday lending model expanded nationwide as Advance America, which became the industrys largest business, fought efforts to rein in what advocates for the poor called a predatory practice. The Legislature eventually passed a law in 2009 that put limits on the loans in South Carolina. It became law despite the opposition of then-Gov. Mark Sanford, who argued it gave consumers needed options.

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Advance America was sold in 2012 to a Mexican billionaire, according to Forbes.

Webster now teaches health care policy at Wofford College in Spartanburg as an adjunct professor.

He said he wants to expand Medicaid edibility, adding hell pitch it from a revenue-generation perspective.

South Carolinas GOP leaders have repeatedly rejected the idea, and the one big beautiful law Congress passed last summer made it more expensive. The laws biggest cost-cutting measures, however, dont apply to South Carolina because it didnt expand Medicaid as the 2010 federal law intended.

Still, Webster said, This can be done, but it has to be done with Republicans and Democrats together.

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On social media Friday, Johnson addressed rumors that party insiders were pressuring him to step aside for Webster. In a video posted on Instagram and Facebook, the only Black candidate in the gubernatorial field said hed considered dropping out and even prepared a statement about his departure.

I tore that statement up, he said, vowing to instead stay in the race. Lets make sure we dont allow these outside pressures to continue coming in and trying to say that South Carolina isnt ready for a Black man to be governor. He filed to run Monday.

Johnson, first elected to the state House in 2020, said in January he would not seek re-election to that Statehouse seat as well. (State law allows candidates to seek more than one office at the same time. They just cant occupy more than one if they win multiple races.) He said then he wanted to focus on his campaign for governor.

Money was a big factor in the discussions among Democrats.

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Johnsons latest campaign report shows he raised less than $250,000 between his campaign launch in October and years end. And he spent just over half of it, leaving him with about $110,000 cash available on Dec. 31.

That compares to $1.9 million in McLeods campaign account at years end. Hes largely self-funding his campaign. Of the nearly $2.5 million hes collected for the race, 95% of it came from his own pocket, his campaign filings show.

Webster told reporters the push for Johnson to drop out didnt come from him.

Calling Johnson a good man, Webster said, I welcome the chance to talk about what I believe and my experience with the other two candidates that are in the race.

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He also told reporters that he wouldnt take a salary as governor. By law, the governors annual salary is $106,000. Webster said hed donate that to first responders on the coast. He didnt specify where or what type of emergency personnel.

South Carolina Democratic Party executive director Jay Parmley told the SC Daily Gazette the party hasnt formalized any plans to host a debate between the three candidates, but said hes excited to see competition for the Democratic nomination.

It just shows that theres life, that theres momentum, that theres excitement, that theres interest, he said. Now weve got a lot of activity on our side, and I think that is only good for South Carolina voters.

Six Republicans have announced bids to replace term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster.

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The primaries to choose the Republican and Democratic nominees are June 9.

The last Democrat to win the governors office was Jim Hodges in 1998, when he defeated Republican Gov. David Beasley. Hodges was ousted by Sanford in 2002.
SYDNEY  China is conducting a vast undersea mapping and monitoring operation across the Pacific, Indian and Arctic oceans, building detailed knowledge of marine conditions that naval experts say would be crucial for waging submarine warfare against the United States and its allies.

In one example, the Dong Fang Hong 3, a research vessel operated by Ocean University of China, spent 2024 and 2025 sailing back and forth in the seas near Taiwan and the U.S. stronghold of Guam, and around strategic stretches of the Indian Ocean, ship-tracking data reviewed by Reuters shows.

In October 2024, it checked on a set of powerful Chinese ocean sensors capable of identifying undersea objects near Japan, according to Ocean University, and visited the same area again last May. And in March 2025, it criss-crossed the waters between Sri Lanka and Indonesia, covering approaches to the Malacca Strait, a critical chokepoint for maritime commerce.

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According to the university, the ship was carrying out mud surveys and climate research. But a scientific paper co-written by Ocean University academics shows it has also conducted extensive deep-sea mapping.

Naval-warfare experts and U.S. Navy officials say the type of deep-sea data being collected by the Dong Fang Hong 3  via mapping and placement of sensors in the ocean  is giving China a picture of the subsea conditions it would need to deploy its submarines more effectively and hunt down those of its adversaries.

Dong Fang Hong 3, a deep-sea research vessel, docks at a pier in Qingdao, Shandong province, China. (cnsphoto via Reuters)

The Dong Fang Hong 3 isnt operating alone. It is part of a broader ocean mapping and monitoring operation involving dozens of research vessels and hundreds of sensors.

In tracing this effort, Reuters examined Chinese government and university records, including journal articles and scientific studies, and analyzed more than five years of movement by 42 research vessels active in the Pacific, Indian or Arctic oceans using a ship-tracking platform built by New Zealand company Starboard Maritime Intelligence.

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While the research has civilian purposes  some of the surveying covers fishing grounds or areas where China has mineral prospecting contracts  it also serves a military one, according to nine naval-warfare experts who reviewed Reuters findings.

To gather information about underwater terrain, research vessels map the sea floor while traveling back and forth in tight lines. The tracking data shows that type of movement by the vessels Reuters tracked across large sections of the Pacific, Indian and Arctic oceans.

At least eight of the vessels Reuters tracked have conducted seabed mapping, while another 10 have carried equipment used for mapping, according to a review of Chinese state media articles, vessel descriptions published by Chinese universities, and press releases by government organizations.

The vessels survey data would be potentially invaluable in preparation of the battlespace for Chinese submarines, said Peter Scott, a former chief of Australias submarine force. Any military submariner worth his salt will put a great deal of effort into understanding the environment hes operating in.

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The ship-tracking data show that Chinas seabed-surveying effort is focused in part on militarily important waters around the Philippines, near Guam and Hawaii, and near U.S. military facilities on Wake atoll in the north Pacific.

The scale of what theyre doing is about more than just resources, said Jennifer Parker, an adjunct professor of defense and security at the University of Western Australia and former Australian anti-submarine warfare officer. If you look at the sheer extent of it, its very clear that they intend to have an expeditionary blue-water naval capability that also is built around submarine operations.

Moreover, Parker and other experts added, even where data is gathered for scientific purposes, the integration of civilian scientific research and military technology development has become a key focus of the Chinese government under President Xi Jinping. Beijing refers to this approach as civil-military fusion.

Chinas ministries of defense, foreign affairs and natural resources didnt respond to requests for comment about the seabed mapping and ocean-monitoring activities.

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The U.S. Defense Department didnt respond to questions from Reuters.

Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarines USS Annapolis and USS Asheville in formation off the coast of Guam, Dec. 17, 2025. (Lt. James Caliva/U.S. Navy)

In testimony to a congressional commission this month, Rear Admiral Mike Brookes, the commander of the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence, said China had dramatically expanded its surveying efforts, providing data that enables submarine navigation, concealment, and positioning of seabed sensors or weapons.

He added that potential military intelligence collection by Chinese research vessels represents a strategic concern.

America recently overhauled its own efforts to map and monitor the ocean, but it typically does so with military vessels that are allowed to turn off the tracking system monitored by civilian software. Chinas civilian survey ships also sometimes disable tracking, meaning its campaign may go further than Reuters could determine.

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This is the first time the extent of Chinas mapping and monitoring across the Pacific, Indian and Arctic oceans has been reported. Previous reporting has revealed a portion of the effort around Guam and Taiwan, and in parts of the Indian Ocean.

It is frankly astonishing to see the enormous scale of Chinese marine scientific research, said Ryan Martinson, an associate professor specializing in Chinese maritime strategy at the U.S. Naval War College.

For decades, the U.S. Navy could assume an asymmetric advantage in its knowledge of the ocean battlespace, added Martinson. Chinas efforts threaten to erode that advantage. It is obviously deeply concerning.

PARANOID ABOUT BEING BOXED IN

The data that Chinese research vessels are collecting about the seabed and water conditions is critical to submarine operations and anti-submarine warfare, according to naval experts. Most obviously, said Australian defense scholar Parker, commanders need information about underwater terrain to avoid collisions and hide their vessels.

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But that data is also essential for detecting submarines, which operate within a few hundred meters of the surface. Typically, submarines are identified through the sounds they emit or echoes from signals sent by sonar systems.

Tom Shugart, a former U.S. submarine commander who is now an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, said the movement of those sound waves changes depending on the underwater landscape.

Sound waves and submarine movements are also affected by water temperature, salinity and currents.

The vessels involved belong to Chinese state entities like the Ministry of Natural Resources or state-affiliated research institutions like Ocean University, whose president in 2021 publicly celebrated its close ties to Chinas navy and commitment to the construction of a maritime power and national defense. The university didnt respond to a request for comment.

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China has done its most comprehensive ocean surveying east of the Philippines, which sits along the First Island Chain, the string of territories largely controlled by Americas allies that runs from the Japanese islands in the north through Taiwan and on to Borneo in the south. The chain forms a natural barrier between Chinas coastal seas and the Pacific.

Theyre paranoid about being boxed in to the First Island Chain, said Peter Leavy, formerly Australias naval attache to the U.S. and now president of the Australian Naval Institute. Chinas mapping indicates a desire to understand the maritime domain so they can break out.

The tracking data shows that Chinas mapping also covers waters surrounding Guam  where some American nuclear submarines are stationed.

Strikingly, Chinese vessels have also mapped waters around Hawaii, one of Americas other regional military hubs; examined an underwater ridge north of a naval base in Papua New Guinea to which the U.S. recently gained access; and scouted around Christmas Island, an Australian territory on a route between the South China Sea and a vital Australian submarine base.

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Chinas efforts extend further. It has mapped large swaths of the Indian Ocean, a critical route for Chinese imports of oil and other resources from the Middle East and Africa.

China has some key vulnerabilities when it comes to dependencies on maritime trade, said Parker, the former anti-submarine warfare officer. The surveying indicates that they will likely be conducting more submarine operations in the Indian Ocean.

Shipping vessels and oil tankers line up on the eastern coast of Singapore, July 22, 2015. (Reuters)

Chinas vessels have also mapped the seabed west and north of Alaska, an essential sea route into the Arctic. Beijing has identified the Arctic as a strategic frontier and declared its ambition to become a polar great power by the 2030s.

The extensive surveying and Beijings growing undersea capability are symptomatic of Chinas rise as a premier maritime power, said Shugart, the former submarine commander.

A TRANSPARENT OCEAN

Around 2014, Wu Lixin, a scientist at Ocean University, proposed an ambitious effort to create a transparent ocean by deploying sensors that would give China a comprehensive view of water conditions and movement through specific areas, according to a statement published by the state-affiliated Chinese Academy of Sciences. The proposal quickly received at least $85 million in support from the Shandong provincial government, according to comments by Shandong officials.

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The project began in the South China Sea, where Ocean University public statements boast it has now built an observation system covering the deep-sea basin.

Brookes, the director of the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence, told the congressional commission that China is building undersea surveillance networks that gather hydrographic data  water temperature, salinity, currents  to optimize sonar performance and enable persistent surveillance of submarines transiting critical waterways like the South China Sea.

After surveying the South China Sea, Chinese scientists expanded the transparent ocean project to the Pacific and Indian oceans. In the Pacific, records from the Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources, Ocean University and the Shandong government show that China has deployed hundreds of sensors, buoys and subsea arrays to detect changes in water conditions like temperature, salinity and subsea movement through the ocean east of Japan, east of the Philippines, and around Guam.

In the Indian Ocean, documents from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Natural Resources describe a sensor array ringing India and Sri Lanka, including along an underwater mountain range known as Ninety East Ridge. The ridge  which Chinese vessels have also combed, according to the Starboard data  is one of the worlds longest undersea mountain ranges and sits astride the approach to the strategically essential Malacca Strait, through which much of Chinas oil supply passes.

Ocean University and the Institute of Oceanology, which is part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have said the wider network of sensors now provides China with real-time data about water conditions and subsea movements.

Some naval-warfare experts expressed caution about that claim, given technical challenges with real-time communication of data from underwater. But even delayed data is valuable, Parker said, as it could help China detect U.S. submarine operations.

Many sensors are placed in sensitive locations. For example, Reuters recently reported on a U.S. effort to fortify a key strait between Taiwan and the Philippines to cut off Chinese access to the Pacific. Ocean University studies show that China has deployed advanced sensors in parts of the strait through which U.S. submarines would move to reach the South China Sea.

Chinese scientists say these sensors monitor changes in climate and ocean conditions. But in 2017, government officials from Shandong province said the transparent ocean project was intended to ensure maritime defense and security and explicitly compared the project with a U.S. military effort to build an American ocean-sensor network.

Shandongs government, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Oceanology didnt respond to requests for comment.

Mapping-program founder Wu now oversees the network through the Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, whose partners include Chinas Naval Submarine Academy, according to the academys website. Wu didnt respond to Reuters questions.

NEW TYPES OF COMBAT CAPABILITIES

Together, Chinas mapping and monitoring give it sophisticated tools to detect rival submarines and deploy its own in some of the worlds most contested waters.

This is a manifestation of Chinas far-seas reach, said Collin Koh, a senior fellow in maritime security at Singapores RSIS Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies. They now have a reasonably good picture of the maritime domain they hope to operate in, either in peacetime or in war.

Chinese researchers, similarly, see strategic value in their work. Zhou Chun, an Ocean University researcher who oversees the Indian and Pacific ocean sensor arrays, was quoted last year in an Ocean University press release as saying that his work had shown him the rapid development of my countrys maritime defense and military capabilities. He didnt respond to Reuters questions.

Going forward, Zhou pledged to transform the most advanced scientific and technological achievements into new types of combat capabilities for our military at sea.
To borrow from an old song, Florida's legislative leadership is dancing in the dark, unseen by the public as they negotiate differences in a proposed state budget for 2026-27.

Senate Appropriations chair Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater, and House Budget chair Lawrence McClure, R-Dover, have been out of the news and made no public comments in the two weeks since the Florida Legislature adjourned their regular session without a spending plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

It's the only bill lawmakers are constitutionally required to approve, and it pays the bills for Florida to educate its children, care for the elderly and needy, and protect clean water and air. The individual proposals from the House and Senate are about $1.4 billion apart: The House wrote a $113.6 billion spending plan, while the Senates is $115 billion.

Gov. Ron DeSantis gives his State of the State Address on opening day of the Florida legislative session, Tuesday,March 4, 2025.

Lawmakers have until June 30 to work out their differences. If they dont, state government shuts down, meaning non-essential services will be suspended and many state workers will go without pay, state parks will be closed, and transportation projects will come to a screeching halt.

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On March 24, an aide to Hooper said he and McClure continue to review the budget and discuss potential next steps, but had no specific updates or comments about the process.

House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton, both Republicans, have said they expect the Legislature to return to Tallahassee in mid-April to approve a budget.

We have a fundamental disagreement on what the budget should look like for the state of Florida, Perez said when lawmakers adjourned without a budget agreement. The House believes we should spend less money; the Senate believes we should spend more money.

Historic Old Capitol and the state capitol tower in Tallahassee

Albritton said the Senate wrote a budget that aimed to keep Florida affordable by keeping taxes low, paying down debt and saving for the future.

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The Senate cuts spending by $1.9 billion while the House reduces it by $3.4 billion. Both stand in contrast to DeSantis proposed plan that would have increase spending by about $900 million.

While the gap between the House and Senate amounts to about 1% of the overall spending plan, the stalemate is about more than the line items or the math, according to state Rep. Gallop Franklin II, D-Tallahassee: Its about a fundamental disagreement on what Floridas future should looks like.

Redistricting session to complicate finishing state budget

And that disagreement may be difficult to resolve. As lawmakers try to balance incoming revenue with outgoing expenses, they will also be preparing for and working on a special mid-decade congressional redistricting session.

It's one that Gov. Ron DeSantis called to begin on April 20 as a response to President Donald Trumps efforts to protect GOP control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

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Redistricting is a major moment that naturally brings division much like an election does, Franklin said, adding success depends on whether Republican and Democratic legislators can control the temperature in the room.

Rep. Gallop Franklin meets with the rest of the Leon County legislative delegation in preparation for the upcoming legislative session Monday, Oct. 27, 2025.

If lawmakers are unable to end the budget stalemate in April, another special session would have to be held in May, which could coincide with yet another expected special session on property taxes that DeSantis is considering.

This spring, a House effort to eliminate homestead property taxes failed to gain traction in the Senate.

In any event, before any progress on the budget can be made, Hooper and McClure must agree on what is known as allocations  the big pots of money for areas like education and health care. The allocations determine how much money is then left for local projects, leaders' initiatives  and finally the budget's bottom line.

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And there are some big differences:

Education

Budget writers need to bridge a $300 million gap in overall spending on public schools and whether to include a $4.5 billion cost for private school scholarships in the overall $30 billion education budget.

Housing

The Senate wants to spend $510 million on affordable housing, more than twice the amount the House does. The Senate also provides $50 million to a job training program. The House does not fund it.

State workers

The Senate provides workers with a 3% across-the-board pay increase, while the House grants a 2% increase to state law enforcement, firefighters, and park rangers.

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The House also addresses a projected $362 million shortfall in the state employees' health insurance program with a new payment schedule for prescription drugs. The plan increases cost for workers and reduces costs for the state by $126 million.

Environment

The Senate looks to provide $35 million for the Florida Forever state land acquisition and conservation program, while the House doesnt fund it at all. Current budget appropriations (2025-26) amount to $270 million.

The House does provide $300 million for the Rural and Family Lands program, which protects land from development and provides easements to farmers. The Senate includes $200 million for the program.

As always, Florida governor has final word on spending

Lawmakers need to send a final spending plan to DeSantis by midnight June 30. DeSantis, with his line-item veto authority, will have the final say on how Florida spends its money.

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He's said he doesn't quite understand why lawmakers are having a hard time. As he waits to receive his final budget as Florida governor, DeSantis said lawmakers dont have to reinvent the wheel.

You just look at what weve done for seven years and cut and paste, and youre probably in a pretty good spot, DeSantis said March 13 after lawmakers had left the Capitol  without leaving a budget on the table.

James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jcall@tallahassee.com. Follow on him X: @CallTallahassee.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: With clock ticking, Florida lawmakers face budget deadline
"This is a serious violation of the mechanisms for receiving aid, and that Hamas continues to try to exploit the aid mechanism for terrorist activity and incitement," COGAT warned in a letter.

Motor oil was found inside humanitarian aid in a smuggling attempt uncovered in the Keren Shalom crossing, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announced on Wednesday.

The motor oil was found inside humanitarian aid transported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with COGAT's chief, Major-General Yoram Halevi, ordering the suspension of all UNDP aid entering Gaza until a full investigation is completed and the organization presents its findings.

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"COGAT emphasizes that this is a serious violation of the mechanisms for receiving aid, and that Hamas continues to try to exploit the aid mechanism for terrorist activity and incitement," said a letter sent to the UNDP by Halevi.

"Any such deviation will lead to immediate measures being taken against the organization responsible for the shipment, until the incident is fully investigated," Halevi warned.

IDF warns responsibility for contents of Gaza aid lies with organizations coordinating them

In the same statement, the IDF warned the organizations coordinating aid shipments to Gaza that the responsibility for the contents of the shipments lies with them. "Any case in which aid shipments are used for smuggling purposes will lead to immediate enforcement measures being taken," the military added.

An Egyptian flag waving on a watch-tower by the Egypt side of the Israel Egypt border close to the southern part of the Gaza Strip, near Kerem Shalom crossing, February 2, 2026. (credit: REUTERS/AMIR COHEN)

"The IDF, in cooperation with all security agencies, will continue to take zero tolerance towards attempts to exploit the humanitarian aid mechanism, and will take strict measures against any party involved," the statement concluded.

IDF reopens Rafah crossing for pedestrians for first time since begining of Iran war

The announcement comes 10 days after the IDF authorized the opening of the Rafah crossing for pedestrians, which had been closed for the first two weeks of Operation Roaring Lion.

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The decision followed a security assessment and a review of the conditions required to resume activity at the crossing while maintaining restrictions due to ongoing threats in the area.

Officials said the crossing would operate under the same mechanism used before its closure, subject to updated security directives. Entry and exit for Gaza residents will be coordinated with Egypt, require prior Israeli security approval, and take place under the supervision of the European Union mission.
SYDNEY, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Australian police have charged a man over an alleged attempt to smuggle 20 kg of heroin into the country from Thailand.

The Australian Border Force (ABF) and Australian Federal Police (AFP) said on Wednesday that the 26-year-old man from the state of New South Wales was selected for a baggage examination on arrival at Sydney Airport on a flight from Bangkok on January 24.

During the examination, ABF officers located 34 vacuum-sealed bags containing a combined 20 kg of heroin.

According to authorities, the heroin had an estimated value of 10 million Australian dollars (7 million U.S. dollars) and could have supplied 100,000 street deals.

The case was turned over to AFP officers, who arrested the 26-year-old and charged him with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

AFP Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden said that the attempted importation highlights the determination of organized crime groups to exploit international travel pathways for profit. 
Currently, twelve states in the US are phasing in requirements for students to complete a computer science course before graduating high school. Should Ohio become the 13th state? That is what a pair of bills in the Ohio Statehouse are proposing to do.

Earlier this month, for the first time in Ohios history, the education committees in the Statehouse opened this up for debate. Their decisions will affect Ohios students and the task of running school districts for decades to come.

Nearly all adults now have either a personal web page or an organizational website to deal with, so it seems pretty obvious to me that having at least some training in computer science would be a good thing for every kid.

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Even in a world where AI can code for you, students who know even a little bit about computer science will attempt things  practical things!  with AI tools that students without computer science training would never try; things like building an app for their family business or modifying the firmware on farm equipment.

What would it take to implement a computer science graduation requirement?

In 2022 the Ohio legislature commissioned the State Committee for Computer Science to grapple with this question.

The Committees State Plan for Computer Science was upbeat but it included data showing that only about 1 in 7 Ohio students were completing a computer science course before graduating high school.

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The report also mentions that we only have about 1,000 computer science teachers in Ohio.

So by the reports own data, we would need an additional 6,000 computer science teachers to implement a computer science graduation requirement statewide, a staggering number.

Although legislators are known for their unfunded mandates, in this case they actually have set aside significant funds and issued significant grants to institutions in Ohio to expand teacher training programs in two most recent biennial budgets.

I should disclose that my employer, Ohio State University, received some of these funds in order to start a new computer science training program which will start this summer.

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Will it be enough?

The sponsors of the Senate bill think so, and cite the gradual timeline, but I worry whether the bill gives schools enough flexibility in implementation.

The bill commissions the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce to write up a comprehensive list of courses that satisfy the requirement.

However, it is unclear in the bill if two popular high school math courses that include computer science content  courses called discrete math and data science  should be on that list.

Ohio is actually a national leader in developing math courses like these and there are far more math teachers than computer science teachers.

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I think discrete math and data science will play a far bigger role in helping schools meet the new requirement, if it passes, than anyone realizes.

The bills should get more hearings before going up for votes so there is still time for people to share their thoughts with their representatives.

For example the new requirement would potentially reduce the number of students taking advanced math, physics and foreign language because of legislation passed during the Kasich administration that allows computer science to substitute for these subjects.

Perhaps the requirement should be a half year instead of a full year, in response to some of the difficulties that other states have encountered.

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Ohio Senate Bill 326 and Ohio House Bill 594 are here and they may end up on the governors desk before you know it.

Chris Orban, Ph.D., is a computational plasma physicist and education researcher at Ohio State University serving the Marion and Columbus campuses. When speaking on education policies, his opinions are his own and not any of the organizations that he serves. Orban earned a BS in physics in 2004 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Ph.D. in physics in 2011 from Ohio State University.
A new Covid variant is spreading across the U.S. and it may be able to evade protection from current vaccines.

The variant, known as BA.3.2, has been detected in nasal swabs taken from four American travelers and clinical samples from five patients in four unidentified states. Its also been found in three airplane wastewater samples and 132 wastewater samples taken in more than 20 states, suggesting that its reach is actually far more widespread than what scientists see right now.

Descended from omicron, BA.3.2 was first detected in South Africa in 2024 and in the U.S. in June 2025 in a traveler from the Netherlands. The variant began really surging in September 2025 and has since been reported in 23 countries.

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Its evolution was similar to the variant BA.2.86, which emerged in 2024 and later evolved into JN.1: the dominant Covid variant in 2024. But the new strain is genetically distinct from the JN.1 lineages that have circulated in the United States since January 2024, researchers warned in the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

That could warrant updating current vaccines, which only target JN.1s subvariants and provide protection against predominant U.S. variants.

Samples from American travelers and wastewater across the U.S. show a new Covid variant is spreading. Researchers say it could evade protection from current vaccines (Getty Images)

BA.3.2 carries approximately 70 to 75 genetic changes in its spike protein - a part of a coronavirus that allows it to enter human cells - that make it easier for a virus to spread more easily and evade immune protection.

Lab studies showed that the new BA.3.2 strain evades the bodys protective antibodies activated by Covid vaccines likely because of spike protein mutations, highlighting the need for more data on the effectiveness of the shots.

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The 20252026 LP.8.1-adapted mRNA Covid-19 vaccine demonstrates protection against currently predominant JN.1 strains but had the lowest antibody neutralization against BA.3.2 in a laboratory study of seven variants, potentially affecting vaccine-conferred protection, the researchers said.

So, how concerned should Americans be?

BA.3.2 has been found in California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wyoming, Louisiana, Michigan and Ohio.

Still, the consequences of this evasive variant largely remain to be seen.

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BA.3.2 isnt one of the dominant Covid variants in the U.S., but other offshoots of omicron are, according to a CDC tracker. Reported cases have not been more severe than other infections, either.

The variant was detected in hospitalized patients in December and January in three unidentified U.S. states.

The patients included two hospitalized older adults with additional health conditions - including one who had been admitted for heart care - and a young child who received outpatient care.

All of the patients survived and the researchers said detection in hospitalized patients does not necessarily indicate that the variant causes more severe disease, nor does it establish any association with risk factors.

This U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention chart shows Covid death rates in the U.S. since the pandemic's start in 2020. The data runs up until the first week of this month (CDC)

Still, with Covid now considered endemic, viruses will continue to mutate and there are dozens of variants spreading right now. They may not change that much, but scientists say we should still be ready to tune our response accordingly.

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"Every time the virus replicates it's basically buying a couple evolutionary lottery tickets," Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the University of Saskatchewan, told NPR last year.

"Most of those are losers. But sometimes it hits a winner, she said. So the key that people should think about, if they want to slow that process, is: Don't give the virus more opportunities to replicate. Don't let it buy any new lottery tickets."

This year, other respiratory illnesses appear to have outpaced Covid during its seasonal winter surge, including flu and RSV. There will likely be another chance for increased cases in summer, which has seen an influx over the years since the pandemics start in the U.S.

Covid deaths have fallen since last year. So have positive Covid tests and emergency room visits for infections.

But thousands of people are still dying. There have been more than 3,600 Covid deaths so far this year, CDC data shows.




After the chaotic March primaries in Dallas County, those of us who live here can breathe a sigh of relief. For the primary runoffs on May 26, the county will abandon precinct-based voting and go back to countywide polling places, meaning you can vote wherever it's most convenient for you.

That's because the local Democratic and Republican parties have agreed to go back to joint elections for the runoffs, according to news reports. It was the Dallas County GOP that threw a wrench into the primaries in the first place by insisting on precinct-based voting for Republicans.

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But you can't have only Republicans doing precinct-based voting. Per state law, if one party does it, then the other has to as well.

And that's how we ended up with chaos on March 3: Voter after voter showed up at their usual polling place but had to be turned around because it wasn't their assigned voting location. The confusion was such that lines formed at some Dallas County polls close to the 7 p.m. deadline. County officials extended Democratic voting hours after a local judge granted an emergency request from party officials, but those after-hours ballots were ultimately not counted.

We knew from our colleagues' reporting on election day that hundreds, at least, had been turned away and referred to another polling place. Now we have hard numbers. Dallas County commissioners were told last week that at least 12,600 people had been sent text messages redirecting them to a new location.

That whopping number by itself is an undercount because some people who were redirected opted not to receive text messages.

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After the primaries, Dallas County GOP Chair Allen West issued a statement dripping with condescension: "Yesterday Republican voters in Dallas County evidenced their ability to adapt and overcome proving that precinct level voting can be accomplished on primary Election Day. It's apparent that Democrats struggled with grasping basic civics and their usual attempt at lawfare backfired."

Yet an analysis of county data by the news outlet Votebeat found that at least 7.7% of the voters seeking to participate in the Democratic primary and 6.4% of voters seeking to cast ballots in the Republican primary went to the wrong voting site. West didn't respond to Votebeat's findings.

We suspect West gave up on precinct-based voting because his stunt risked confusing Republican voters gearing up for the red-hot runoff for U.S. Senate between incumbent John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

As we see it, West was willing to undercut Democrats at the expense of voters in his own party. Dallas County Republicans deserve, and should demand, better leadership.

We welcome your thoughts in a letter to the editor. See the guidelines and submit your letter here .

If you have problems with the form, you can submit via email at letters@dallasnews.com
The country's most famous Republican, President Donald Trump, will be represented by a Democrat in the Florida House of Representatives.

Democrat Emily Gregory defeated Republican Jon Maples in the House District 87 race, adding fuel to her party's hopes that Trump's unpopularity combined with a message aimed squarely at the increasingly painful cost of living will continue delivering electoral victories this fall.

Gregory got just over 51% of the more than 33,000 ballots cast, unofficial figures from the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office show. Her election  or, more precisely, Maples' defeat  will almost certainly stand as a stinging rebuke of the president, who personally endorsed Maples and whose Mar-a-Lago club and home in Palm Beach is in District 87.

US President Donald Trump disembarks Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, on March 20, 2026, en route to his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he steps from Air Force One upon his arrival in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media, flanked by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio listens to U.S. President Donald Trump (not pictured) speaking to the media, as Trump departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media, flanked by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump boards Air Force One as he departs from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque U.S. President Donald Trump gestures while boarding Air Force One as he departs from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media, flanked by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump gestures while walking with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to board Air Force One as he departs from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque U.S. President Donald Trump boards Marine One as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump walks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to board Air Force One as he departs from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media, flanked by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio step out from Marine One to board Air Force One, as President Trump departs from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque U.S. President Donald Trump salutes next to Secretary of State Marco Rubio while boarding Air Force One, as they depart from Joint Base Andrews, in Maryland, U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque U.S. President Donald Trump walks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to board Air Force One as he departs from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media near Marine One, flanked by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump gestures toward members of the media while walking with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media, flanked by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio listens to U.S. President Donald Trump speaking to the media, as Trump departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he steps from Air Force One upon his arrival in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque U.S. President Donald Trump steps from Air Force One upon his arrival in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY US President Donald Trump disembarks Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, on March 20, 2026, en route to his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump stops to speak to reporters as he departs the White House on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) looks on as U.S. President Donald Trump stops to speak to reporters while departing the White House on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images) US President Donald Trump waves while boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on March 20, 2026, before departing for his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, where he will spend the weekend. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio walk to board Air Force One prior to departure from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, March 20, 2026, as they travel to Florida for the weekend. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland as he departs for his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, where he will spend the weekend, on March 20, 2026. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C) walk to board Air Force One on March 20, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images) JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump boards Air Force One on March 20, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images) JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump boards Air Force One on March 20, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images) JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump walks to board Air Force One on March 20, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images) JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump waves as he boards Air Force One on March 20, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) looks on as U.S. President Donald Trump stops to speak to reporters while departing the White House on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) approach reporters while departing the White House on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump gestures to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) as he stops to speak to reporters while departing the White House on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images) JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump salutes as he boards Air Force One with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) on March 20, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) looks on as U.S. President Donald Trump stops to speak to reporters while departing the White House on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump stops to speak to reporters as he departs the White House on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio () looks on as U.S. President Donald Trump stops to speak to reporters while departing the White House on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) looks on as U.S. President Donald Trump stops to speak to reporters while departing the White House on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images) US President Donald Trump walks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2026 for his Mar-a-Lago residence, where he will spend the weekend. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) as he departs the White House on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) US President Donald Trump speaks to journalists before boarding Marine One as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2026 for his Mar-a-Lago residence, where he will spend the weekend. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump speaks to journalists before boarding Marine One as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2026 for his Mar-a-Lago residence, where he will spend the weekend. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump stops to speak to reporters as he departs the White House on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) as he departs the White House on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) as he departs the White House on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) US President Donald Trump walks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2026 for his Mar-a-Lago residence, where he will spend the weekend. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) as he departs the White House on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) US President Donald Trump walks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2026 for his Mar-a-Lago residence, where he will spend the weekend. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio boards Marine One as he departs the White House with U.S. President Donald Trump on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) US President Donald Trump walks to board Marine One as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2026 for his Mar-a-Lago residence, where he will spend the weekend. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump walks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2026 for his Mar-a-Lago residence, where he will spend the weekend. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) Trump returns to Mar-a-Lago for 24th visit in second term 1 of 59 US President Donald Trump disembarks Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, on March 20, 2026, en route to his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)

Gregory's victory was immediately seized upon by the nationl media as evidence of growing Democratic strength and Trump's growing unpopularity. Less than two hours after her victory, Gregory was a guest on MS Now's "The Briefing" with Jen Psaki.

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"It's a pretty wild night," she told Psaki. "When I started this nine months ago, I thought it was possible. I think most people thought I was insane. I'm still pretty shocked. We did it. We just did it."

Gregory called Trump "one of the 115,000 voters in District 87," and added that her opponent "made him forefront in his campaign, and I focused more on the voters of District 87, what everybody needs, what all of us will do better with, with lower property insurance, with expanded health care and with strong public schools."

Trump has castigated voting by mail as "cheating" but election records show that's how he voted. Gregory swamped Maples with mail-in support, pulling in 3,167 more votes by mail than her opponent, election records show.

Gregory, a small business owner, will go to a state House still dominated by Republicans, who hold supermajorities in both chambers of the Legislature.

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She will succeed Mike Caruso, a Republican who vacated the seat when Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed him to succeed Joe Abruzzo as Palm Beach County's clerk and comptroller.

Abruzzo, also a former legislator, moved from the clerk's job when Palm Beach County Commission members hired him to succeed the retiring Verdenia Baker as county administrator.

A voter wears a sticker after voting on election day on March 10, 2026, in Boca Raton, Florida.

Maples, a former Lake Clark Shores Town Council member, had made much of Trump's endorsement, which had powered him past his Jan. 13 primary opponent, Gretchen Miller-Feng.

In a social-media post, he called Trump "the most transformative leader I've seen in my lifetime."

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"It's surreal to have earned the President's endorsement in the race for House District 87," Maples wrote. "I'm honored to have his support and will work daily to continue earning the support of President Trump and all residents of Palm Beach County."

But voters in District 87, which stretches from Juno Beach down to south of Lantana, had other ideas.

Democrats were quick to tout Gregory's victory.

Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams issued a prepared statement noting victories for Democratic candidates who ran in districts the president carried by healthy margins in 2024.

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"Mar-a-Lago and Tampa just flipped red to blue, which should have Republicans sweating the midterms," Williams said.

"A Trump +11 district in his own backyard shouldnt be in play for Democrats, but tonight proves Republicans are vulnerable everywhere. State Democrats have now flipped a staggering 30 districts red to blue since Trumps election. Gas prices are spiking, grocery costs are up, and families cant get by. Its clear voters at the polls are fed up with Republicans."

Williams went on to predict big things for her party this fall.

"If Mar-a-Lago and Tampa are vulnerable, imagine whats possible this November," she said. "Democrats are clearly on offense as we prepare for the most expansive midterm strategy ever down-ballot, with 650 seats in play. 2026 is shaping up to be an election for the history books.

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There has been a strong wind at the backs of Democratic candidates this political season. Across the country, the party has seen its candidates win one special election after another, even in districts that had been represented by a Republican.

Trump has seen his approval rating crater in recent months. Multiple polls put his approval rating in the upper 30s or low 40s, numbers that could weigh down Republican candidates as they face voters this year.

The president is considerably more popular in his adopted home state of Florida. A poll by Morning Consult, updated on Feb. 9, showed Trump with a 49% approval rating in Florida and a 47% disapproval rating.

Trump's popularity appears to have taken a hit in Florida because of the war in Iran and the subsequent sharp increase in fuel prices.

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Even before Trump took the country to war against Iran, Democrats were sensing an opportunity. And despite District 87's Republican lean  Republican candidates got 1,134 more votes than Democratic candidates got in the Jan. 13 primary  the Democratic Party had high hopes for Gregory.

The Democratic Party of Palm Beach County noted in a March 19 social-media post that it had made nearly 22,000 calls to voters on Gregory's behalf.

"This is a RARE flip opportunity," the Palm Beach County Democratic Party noted in a statement. The seat for FL House District 87 is currently vacant, and special elections + Vote by Mail are where Democrats win."

Gregory amplified that message.

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"House District 87 is WINNABLE," she wrote in a social media post.

On Tuesday, that message proved prescient.

"I think it will sink in tomorrow," Gregory said on MS Now. "I'm having a fairly out-of-body experience right now."

Wayne Washington is a journalist covering education and Riviera Beach development for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at wwashington@pbpost.com. Help support our work; subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Democrat Emily Gregory beats Trump-endorsed GOP candidate Jon Maples
Democrat Emily Gregory won a Florida special election on Tuesday, flipping a state legislative district that is home to Mar-a-Lago, the Palm Beach estate that President Donald Trump counts as his residence.

The president had endorsed Gregorys rival, Jon Maples. In a social media post Monday, he urged voters to turn out, saying Maples was backed by so many of my Palm Beach County friends.

Democrats celebrated the victory as the latest sign voters are turning against Trump and Republicans ahead of the midterm elections in November. Tuesday was the latest in a series of lopsided or improbable victories in special elections across the country since Trump returned to the White House more than a year ago.

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The district was previously represented by Mike Caruso, a Republican who resigned to become Palm Beach County's clerk. Caruso won by 19 percentage points in 2024.

If Mar-a-Lago is vulnerable, imagine whats possible this November, said Heather Williams, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. She said Tuesday's race was the 29th seat that Democrats have flipped from Republican control since Trump took office.

Gas prices are spiking, grocery costs are up, and families cant get by  its clear voters at the polls are fed up with Republicans, Williams said.

With almost all votes counted, Gregory led by 2.4 percentage points, or 797 votes.

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Gregory grew up north of Palm Beach in Stuart. Shes the owner of a fitness company that works with pregnant and postpartum women, and she has never run for elected office before.

Speaking to MSNOW after her victory, she said she was pretty shocked" and having a fairly out-of-body experience.

Democrats have notched some notable wins in Republican-controlled Florida. In December, Eileen Higgins won the race for Miami mayor, the first time a Democrat had led the city in nearly three decades. She defeated a Trump-endorsed Republican in a campaign that leaned heavily into criticism of the presidents immigration crackdown, a message that resonated with the citys large Hispanic population.

Farther west in Texas, Democrat Taylor Rehmet flipped a reliably Republican state Senate district in a special election in January.

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Trump immediately distanced himself from the loss in a district hed won by 17 points in 2024, saying Im not involved in that" even though he had endorsed the Republican candidate.

The Texas race energized Democrats desperate for signs of momentum after being locked out of power in Washington.

But winning in Trump's backyard left them especially ebullient.

Donald Trumps own neighbors just sent a crystal clear message: They are furious and ready for change, said Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin.

Trump voted by mail in the Tuesday election and his ballot was counted, Palm Beach County voter records show. He chose a mail ballot despite publicly bashing the voting method as a source of fraud and pushing Congress to curtail the practice.

Trump was a New Yorker for most of his life but switched his personal residence and voter registration to Florida during his first term. Mar-a-Lago has become a gathering place for Trump's friends and allies, as well as business executives and foreign leaders looking to curry favor with him. He spends many weekends there as president.
Democrats delivered a blow to Florida Republicans and flipped a state House seat in President Trumps backyard, according to Decision Desk HQ.

Democrat Emily Gregory, a health fitness small business owner, defeated Trump-backed Republican Jon Maples, a financial adviser, in a race for the open Florida District 87 state House seat, which includes part of Palm Beach County and the presidents Mar-a-Lago resort.

As of 8 p.m. Tuesday, Gregory garnered just more than 51 percent of the vote, while Maples had just less than 49 percent backing with more than 95 percent of the vote in.

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Gregory and Maples faced off in the contest after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) tapped Republican Mike Caruso in August to become the county clerk and comptroller. Trump voted by mail in Tuesdays election.

Although Caruso last won the seat by double digits and Trump won the district by roughly 9 percentage points in 2024, former Vice President Kamala Harris did win Palm Beach County by less than a point in the last presidential election. The district is shared by Reps. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.) and Brian Mast (R-Fla.) in Congress.

National groups and figures waded into the race before the special election, including Trump. Rep. Byron Donalds (R), a candidate for Florida governor, appeared alongside Maples during the campaign, while Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier (R) also backed the financial adviser.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) backed Gregory, and retired Lt. Col. Alex Vindman  a candidate for Senate in the Sunshine State  held a virtual fundraiser for Gregory while Frankel endorsed the Democratic candidate.

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DLCC Chair Heather Williams applauded Gregorys win in a Tuesday social media post.

Mar-a-Lagos state House district just flipped from red to blue, which should have Republicans worried about their chances this November, she said. A Trump +11 district in his own backyard shouldnt be in play for Democrats, but tonight proves Republicans are vulnerable everywhere.

This isnt the first win for Florida Democrats in the last few months. In December, Florida Democrats notched a win when Democrat Eileen Higgins beat Republican Emilio Gonzalez to become the first Democratic Miami mayor in decades.

Sophia Vento contributed to this report. Updated at 7:54 p.m. EDT

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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.
Democrats managed to flip a seat in the Florida state house in the district that is home to Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago.

Emily Gregory, a Democrat, defeated Republican Jon Maples, who had an endorsement from the US president, in the special election in Floridas 87th state house district. The Associated Press called the race on Tuesday evening, with Gregory, a public health expert and small business owner, leading by more than 2 percentage points.

The Republican who previously held the seat had won by 19 percentage points in 2024.

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Trump voted in the race via mail-in ballot, despite criticizing the practice as mail-in cheating during an event in Tennessee this week. The president has long attacked voting by mail, describing it as a scam and arguing it creates fraud in elections. He still opted to vote by mail in the race although he was recently in Palm Beach, where early in-person voting was under way until Sunday.

The president had urged voters to back Maples, a financial adviser who describes himself as an America-First patriot. Maples had faced scrutiny in recent weeks over allegations that he did not live in the district in which he was running, claims that he denied.

Democrats have said that Gregorys win shows voters frustrated over rising costs are moving away from Trump and the Republican party.

Mar-a-Lago just flipped red to blue, which should have Republicans sweating the midterms, Heather Williams, the president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, said on social media. A Trump +11 district in his own backyard shouldnt be in play for Democrats, but tonight proves Republicans are vulnerable everywhere.

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State Democrats have flipped 29 districts since Trumps election, Williams said.

314 Action, a political committee that works to get Democratic scientists elected to office, had endorsed Gregory and praised her win, writing in a statement that a Stem wave is coming.

Emily won because Floridians trust her to make decisions based on evidence not ideology, said Shaughnessy Naughton, the groups president. Shes bringing science back to the state house and heading to the [state] capitol on a mission to lower costs, restore healthcare and bring down the temperature in Tallahassee.
Steve Hilton, the leading candidate for governor despite his status as an unapologetic Republican in blue California, called it a perfect metaphor for the states spate of recent failures.

After the University of Southern California abruptly canceled its televised gubernatorial debate late Monday, less than 24 hours before it was set to take place, Democrats scrambled to come up with an alternative forum. Despite the frantic reaction, the crowded field of Democratic candidates couldnt agree to the proposed ground rules.

The debate implosion and the subsequent failure to quickly reorganize played right into the leading GOP contenders hands.

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"This is just so symptomatic of everything that's wrong with California," Hilton told RealClearPolitics on Tuesday in the aftermath of the debates cancellation. "Everything is broken, from the high-speed rail, where they haven't laid any tracks. Then last week we saw that $100 million butterfly bridge to nowhere. Theres been billions spent on homelessness with nothing to show for it, and the problem just gets worse."

"Nothing works. Everythings broken. Its all a shambles," Hilton asserted. "They cant even organize a debate."

The University of Southern California, which decades ago was considered a conservative alternative to public academic institutions across the state, more recently has become indistinguishable from them - at least when it comes to caving to cancel culture. On Monday evening, USC was ensnared by the same woke policies it has embraced.

All of the candidates the university had decided to invite to participate in Tuesday nights planned debate, hosted by Univision and KABC, are white. All of the candidates left out are minorities who also happened to be polling in the single digits: California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former Los Angeles Mayor Anthony Villaraigosa, and former California state Controller Betty Yee were not invited onto the USC stage after the university said they had not met their debate criteria.

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Those invited included former Fox News host Steve Hilton, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, Rep. Eric Swalwell, former Rep. Katie Porter, businessman Tom Steyer and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan.

"We recognize that concerns about the selection criteria for tomorrows gubernatorial debate have created a significant distraction from the issues that matter to voters," the university said in a statement. "Unfortunately, USC and [debate co-sponsor] KABC have not been able to reach an agreement on expanding the number of candidates  As a result, USC has made the difficult decision to cancel tomorrows debate and will look for other opportunities to educate voters on the candidates and issues."

On Tuesday, the university would not commit to a new date for the debate.

Hilton and Bianco have been leading the crowded pack of candidates for months, stirring up panic amid veteran Democratic party operatives that they could both emerge from the June 2 primary to run against one another and shut out Democrats entirely. Swalwell and Porter have been polling around 10%, with Steyer - despite spending tens of millions of dollars- in the same 10% range,according to a poll funded by the California Democratic Party.

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Under Californias "top-two" primary system, only the two candidates with the most votes, regardless of party, will advance to the general election. Democrats are deeply concerned that Hilton and Bianco are poised to do so if the field of Democratic candidates doesnt narrow and quickly.

It was Mahans invitation, however, that really stung among those sidelined from the stage. A white Democratic centrist candidate, Mahan had only recently entered the race and was polling in the single digits along with those excluded from the debate. Still, USC explained his inclusion by citing a new debate-inclusion criteria that valued intensive fundraising. The Democrats complaining about being left out didnt buy the rationale and instead cited Mahans USC ties as evidence of special treatment.

Mike Murphy, co-director of the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future, which was hosting the debate, had been, on a voluntary basis, advising an independent expenditure committee supporting Mahan. Yet Murphy claimed to have nothing to do with organizing the debate and pledged to temporarily step down from his university role if he decided to accept a paid position from any entity backing Mahan.

Over the weekend when Becerra, Thurmond, and others started complaining about Mahans inclusion despite his low polling, top Democratic legislators decided to weigh in. The speaker of Californias Assembly, Robert Rivas, and the leader of the state Senate, Monique Limon, joined the leaders of the legislative Latino, Black, Asian and Pacific Islander, Native American, LGBTQ, Jewish, and womens caucuses in writing a letter to USC President Beong-Soo Kim demanding that they change their "biased criteria."

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"The outcry over this debate is deafening and includes legal demands from the excluded candidates attorneys, public calls by elected leaders across the state, concerns from the included candidates own campaigns, and growing alarm from California voters," the legislators wrote. "Instead of responding to these valid concerns by expanding the debate, USC has doubled down."

At 10:30 p.m. USC officials emailed people involved in the debates organization that they had decided to cancel the event.

Tuesdays debate was supposed to take place at a critical time - with two Republican candidates consistently running ahead of their Democratic counterparts, none of whom has broken out of a crowded field. It also was set to occur less than two months before the state planned to send ballots to every registered voter.

In early March, California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks published an open letter urging Democratic contenders to consider dropping out if they didnt see a realistic path to a primary victory.

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"If you do not have a viable path to make it to the general election, do not file to place your name on the ballot for the primary election," Hicks wrote in the letter just days before the March 6 filing deadline. But no candidate decided to heed Hicks call, and the letter drew a scathing response from Thurmond, who asserted that it was aimed at pressuring "candidates of color" to end their gubernatorial bids.

"Our political system is rigged," Thurmond said. "The California Democratic Party is essentially telling every candidate of color in the race for governor to drop out."

Hicks rejected that criticism, noting the letter did not name any specific candidate.

On Tuesday, as candidatestried to regroup after USC canceled the debate, the large field of Democrats still couldnt agree on a commitment to continue including all the candidates in future debates.

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Part of the group wanted all parties to abide by a pledge to participate in future debates only if all Democratic candidates are invited. But that idea fell apart when they couldnt get a commitment from fellow Democratic candidates.

Still, Becerra, one of the candidates who was not invited to the USC debate, celebrated the decision to quash it entirely.

"We fought. We won! We stood up against an unfair candidate debate set-up that prematurely chose winners and losers," Becerra posted Monday night on X. "Tonight USC made the right decision to cancel their March 24 gubernatorial forum  so hopefully next time its done right. Thank you to everyone who stood up, raised hell and demanded justice. Never give up when youre fighting for fairness!"

But the Democratic disarray on rescheduling, once again, handed an opportunity to Hilton and Bianco. Instead of taking the night off, Hilton held an X.com space with more than 300 people participating. Meanwhile, Bianco spoke to supporters at an event in Los Angeles.

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A Bianco campaign social media post crossed out the words "debate watch party," and blamed Democrats for the abrupt change.

"The Ds got the debate canceled, but were showing up anyway!" the post said. "See you tonight @sheriffbianco will be there."

Hilton, who has been campaigning for roughly a year and has led in the polls for months, called on Education Secretary Linda McMahon to suspend $1.35 billion in federal funding to USC. He later shared an X space forum with Elaine Culotti, an independent candidate for governor who is running under "NPP" - no party preference.

Culotti, a California real estate developer and interior designer who starred in the Discovery+ reality series "Undercover Billionaire," appears poised to throw her support to Hilton if he wins the primary, even though she argues that her current participation in the race takes votes away from Swalwell.

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The two more ideologically aligned candidates continued to criticize Democrats for blowing up the debate while laying out their own visions for reforming California, by not only stopping the U-Haul exodus of those moving out find more affordable places to live but attracting more businesses to the state. Culotti said he would do so by reducing taxes to attract more than 100,000 businesses, leading to far more jobs and more tax revenue.

Hilton said he would address affordability and businesses exodus by opening up the state to far more oil and gas exploration, something he said could be done by executive order and by "kicking out all the climate fanatics" that California Gov. Gavin Newsom placed in key positions in the government.

"Right now, they are denying the industry permits for every aspect of [oil and gas] operating in California, whether thats maintaining existing wells or expanding them, or drilling new ones - all of that," he said.

Hilton and Culotti also discussed the positive aspects of having a governor in Sacramento who could work with the Trump administration to implement a forest management plan that would help prevent devastating wildfires while providing billions more in federal funds to help the Palisades and Eaton wildfire victims rebuild.

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"Whatever happens in the 2028 presidential election, we know were going to have two years where the next governor will overlap with the Trump administration," Hilton said. "And thats one of the things I'm most excited about. Ive got good, good relationships with, you know, half the cabinet."

No one asked Hilton how he will contend with deep animosity toward Trump in a state where the number of registered Democratic voters outnumber Republicans nearly two to one.

Instead, Hilton said he would prefer that Bianco drop out so he could consolidate the Republican support while working on turning out independents and Republicans in November in an election that includes ballot initiatives to institute Voter ID and to maintain Prop 13 (a law that has been in place since 1978 that imposes strict limits on property tax increases).

"Youve got people in charge now who just don't think like this, and as we saw with the debate nonsense and raising the race card  theyre just on a different planet," Hilton said. "They do not think in practical terms about how we get the wealth creation going."

Hilton then recited some of his top policy goals - reducing gas to no more than $3 a gallon, cutting electric bills in half, and making the first $100,000 in income tax-free so more people can afford to buy homes.

"But the underlying answer to how you deliver all of these things is just to take a sledgehammer to the massive, bloated nanny-state bureaucracy that is making everything so expensive and so difficult," Hilton concluded.

Susan Crabtree is RealClearPolitics' national political correspondent.
SYDNEY, March 25 (Xinhua) -- "Don't you see the fuel prices these days?" Graham said at a BYD dealership in Brookvale, a suburb of northern Sydney. "That's why I decided to buy an electric vehicle for my family."

Graham had just taken delivery of his family's first electric car. "This BYD car is reasonably priced and offers more features than I expected," he said, adding that it could save his family between 100 and 200 Australian dollars (about between 70 and 140 U.S. dollars) per week.

According to FuelCheck, the New South Wales government's online tool for real-time fuel price information, the average price of diesel stood at 2.943 Australian dollars (about 2.06 U.S. dollars) per liter on Wednesday, up from 1.836 dollars (about 1.29 U.S. dollars) on March 1 -- an increase of about 60 percent in just over three weeks. Petrol prices have also experienced a sharp increase across all grades.

Paul Ellis, a spokesman for BYD, told local media that customer inquiries had risen by around 50 percent amid recent volatility in global energy markets.

"Inquiries have gone through the roof. Our dealerships are full of people wanting to test drive," he said, noting that there has been a significant shift toward fully electric vehicles, particularly in the more affordable segment around the 30,000 Australian dollar (about 21,000 U.S. dollar) mark.

The recent surge of interest in electric vehicles is expected to further boost Chinese automakers, which have gained significant traction in the Australian market.

According to figures released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), 22,362 vehicles sourced from China were sold in Australia in February 2026, making China the largest source of new cars for the first time in a single month, surpassing Japan, which had been Australia's leading source of vehicles since 1998.

Chinese cars have come a long way since 2009, when Great Wall Motor became the first brand from China to launch in Australia. More than 20 Chinese brands are now present in Australia, with particularly strong momentum in the new energy vehicle sector.

In the first two months of this year, BYD ranked first in battery electric vehicle sales in Australia, while Zeekr,Esmail Baghaei MG, Geely and Omoda Jaecoo also placed among the top 10 sellers.

Lei Wan, a sales executive at GAC's flagship franchise in Burwood, a suburb in the Inner West of Sydney, said customer interest and purchases have increased significantly in recent weeks, partly driven by rising fuel prices and partly by the strong appeal of the products.

He noted that with lower costs, improving infrastructure and supportive government policies, Australia's shift toward electric vehicles is becoming increasingly evident. "Consumers are very receptive to Chinese EVs, which offer a wide range of cost-effective options," he said.

FCAI data shows that battery electric vehicles accounted for 11.8 percent of total sales from all sources in February, representing a record high monthly share.

Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency, said Monday that the current global energy supply situation is "very severe," and that responses are likely to accelerate the electrification of the transportation sector.

Five years ago, only 5 percent of the cars sold in the world were electric, and last year, 25 percent of all the cars sold were electric, Birol said at the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra.

While Australia still lags behind Europe, China and some Asia-Pacific markets, the pace of its electrification of the transportation sector is expected to pick up, he said.

Australia's reliance on imports for more than 80 percent of its refined fuel products has left it vulnerable to global supply shocks. Fuel shortages have spread from remote areas to major cities. Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said on Tuesday that the number of service stations without at least one type of fuel had topped 550 nationwide.

At an Ampol service station in Sydney's northern suburb of Beacon Hill, all pumps were marked "out of order" after running dry for days. Angela, a local resident who stopped by after work, was unable to refuel her car.

"They (rising fuel prices) will add to the cost of living and it's already expensive to live in a city like this," Angela said, adding that she spent about 110 Australian dollars (about 77 U.S. dollars) a week on fuel, and maybe it's time to consider buying an electric vehicle.

"Electric cars are becoming more popular, but I think in China, it's a lot more ahead," she said.

At the GAC dealership in Burwood, Joseph was preparing to test drive an Aion V electric SUV. He said his family already owns both a diesel and a petrol car, but that going electric is likely the way forward. The recent surge in fuel prices was also a key factor, he added.

"If you're going to buy an electric car, I think you should buy a Chinese car," Joseph said. "They look really good. So why not choose China? They've got a good reputation." 
Denmarks outgoing prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, has been given the first shot at forming another coalition government after an election which saw her leftwing bloc and the opposing rightwing parties fail to win a parliamentary majority.

A statement released by the Danish palace on Wednesday said Frederiksen had been asked to see if she could pull together a new majority involving her Social Democrats, who had their worst general election since 1903 but remain the biggest force in parliament.

The path ahead is not straightforward and the coalition talks could last for weeks. Earlier on Wednesday, Frederiksen said voters had handed leaders a troublesome result but that a government must be formed.

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Speaking in a debate involving the 12 party leaders in Copenhagen, she added: The world is not waiting for us out there, and it has only become even more restless than when the election was called.

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Frederiksen had said she would start exploring the possibility of forming a left-leaning government with the support of Lars Lkke Rasmussens centre-right Moderates.

The failure of the left-leaning red bloc and right-leaning blue bloc, which won 84 seats and 77 seats respectively, to get a majority in the 179-seat parliament left the Moderates, with 14 seats, in a potentially powerful position to play a key role in forming a new coalition, putting Rasmussen, a committed centrist, in the position of kingmaker.

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In his election night speech he appealed to Frederiksen and Troels Lund Poulsen, the leader of the liberal Venstre party, with whom he has been in coalition for more than three years, to come down from the trees and join him in the centre ground.

What is clear  with all conceivable reservations  I think is that there is no red majority to the left of us, and there is no black-blue majority to the right of us, he said, to cheers.

Rasmussen was the foreign minister in the last government and has twice been prime minister.

Frederiksen addressed her party at the Social Democrats gathering at Christiansborg in the early hours of the morning, saying the results were not as good as she had hoped but were OK.

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We reach out for responsibility  even when it comes at a price. I am still prepared to take on the job as Denmarks prime minister. There is just no indication that it will be easy, she said.

Poulsen said he was still a candidate for prime minister and ruled out forming a coalition with the Social Democrats. He told supporters: We need a new government. And thats also why Im happy that Venstre has become the largest blue party.

Coalition negotiations are expected to take weeks. Among the elections biggest winners was the Green Left, which for the first time became the second largest party in Folketing, the Danish parliament. They are believed to have benefited from leftwing voters deserting the Social Democrats after their three years in a centrist coalition, during which time Frederiksen doubled down on her hardline stance on immigration.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, the far-right Danish Peoples party (DPP) increased its support since the last election from five to 16 seats. The number is still far from the partys peak levels of support in 2015, when it won 37 seats and 21% of the vote.

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Naaja Nathanielsen, a high-profile minister from the Greenlandic party Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA), won one of the Arctic islands two seats in the Danish parliament. The other was won  for the first time  by a representative of the independence party Naleraq, meaning that a critic of the Copenhagen-Nuuk union will be sitting in parliament at crucial time in the kingdoms history.

Naleraq secured 24.6% of the vote in Greenland, a sharp increase from 12.2% in the 2022 election. It is a very clear signal that the status quo is not acceptable, the partys new MP, Qarsoq Hegh-Dam, told Reuters.
Residents in Washington County, Tennessee, will see an expansion from a nearby depleted uranium facility in rural Northeast Tennessee.

Some 10,000 people signed a petition opposing the expansion of the nearby depleted uranium site in Jonesborough, the states oldest town. They made neon yellow shirts displaying their plea for no uranium contamination in East Tennessee. They filled three courtrooms during Monday nights meeting to see if the Washington County Commission would vote for or against BWX Technologies 56-acre rezoning request to take the companys property from agricultural and residential zonings to high impact use.

But, the Washington County Commission approved BWXTs request in a 10-5 vote  just meeting the required 10 votes for approval.

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BWXTs rezoning is part of its expansion plan to fulfill its $1.6 billion contract with the U.S. Department of Energys National Nuclear Security Administration to provide high purity depleted uranium, or HPDU, which is used for nuclear weapons technology, tank armor and projectiles.

The company is the only U.S. supplier of high purity depleted uranium to the federal government.

Mondays approval followed BWXTs announcement of the contract and company plans to build an HPDU manufacturing plant in Jonesborough in September.

Trey, Diana and Anna Wright spoke out during Monday nights meeting in opposition to the BWXT rezoning request. (Photo: Marina Winters)

The community came with concerns

The commission limited its public hearing session to one hour for those in opposition of the rezoning and one hour for those in favor. The 15-member commission heard from a spectrum of citizens in opposition of the zoning, including 7-year-old Jonesborough resident, Diana Wright.

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Diana lives on a five-acre farm about a mile from the proposed expansion site, along with her father, Trey, mother, Anna and younger sister, Helen.

This is my home, Diana told commissioners. I love it here. I really dont want to move. If this factory is built one mile from my home, my family will have to move far away to keep us safe.

I dont understand everything about uranium or money, but I do understand what it feels like to lose something you love and that no amount of money can replace it, she said.

Following Monday nights vote, the Wrights are reluctantly considering a move from their Jonesborough home.

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I dont think its safe to live that close to the facility, Anna Wright, 42, told Tennessee Lookout. I could not in good conscience expose my children. Im not comfortable with it.

I think theres still a lot of process to play out, Anna Wright said. I dont think theyve necessarily cleared a lot of the regulatory hurdles that they spoke about. I think were a long way from where they are officially permitted, built and up and running. I look forward to the next phase of this because theres a lot to go.

A chief concern among the community are flood plains  areas that experienced historic levels of flooding when Hurricane Helene struck the region in 2024.

I stood on the land where the facility is planned, said Commissioner Jodi Jones, before voting against the rezoning. Its hilly. Its not the kind of land you build this huge thing on. Look at our industrial park. Its flat. You have to build a road across (Little Limestone Creek) to expand any sort of industrial use here and that means navigating the flood zone.

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To me  without even taking into account the potential hazards for the specific use proposed by BWXT  the expansion is a poor fit for the land and the character of the community. It is disruptive infrastructure in a quiet, rural neighborhood, Jones said.

For Commissioner Kenneth Huffine, the vote in favor of the rezoning involved national security.

A crowd fills one of three courtrooms during Mondays meeting of the Washington County Commission. (Photo: Marina Winters)

(National defense) is a component of this, at least to me, Huffine said. We are known as the Volunteer State, whether it was over the mountain, Davy Crockett going to Texas or the countless people who have served in our military and made ultimate sacrifices.

BWXT President Ron Dailey said the company aims to provide national security support.

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By producing HPDU we enhance our capacity to provide essential materials for the nations defense, Dailey said. This work is critical in ensuring our military remains well equipped and that our nations safety is upheld as well.

Those in favor of the rezoning also addressed BWXTs economic impact.

Johnson City/Jonesborough/Washington County Chamber President and CEO Bob Cantler said BWXT is a shot in the arm for a county that has recently seen lay offs and a list of employers leave the area.

With the workforce reductions with JTEKT, Nakatetsu, US Endodontics and AT&T, our community has taken a hit in employment, Cantler said. We need the careers from this expansion. This would inject millions of dollars into our economy through contracts, local suppliers, construction firms and manufacturing projects.

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Dailey said the companys expansion will offer 175 permanent jobs within the community.

We will continue to respect that relationship and will continue that dialogue as we move forward, Dailey said. Theres nothing more important than being a respectful member of the community in this situation.

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New details are emerging about one of the Lone Star State's newest H-E-B locations. The San Antonio-based grocery company is set to get the ball rolling on its first-ever Denton store in 2026.

A Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) filing provides insight into what customers can expect. The report states that construction at the property, headed for 7520 Robson Ranch Road, will begin in June of this year.

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It comes a little over a year after H-E-B announced it would be continuing its expansion into the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Then, the beloved brand said it would be building on a more than 20-acre site in Hillwood's Landmark area, though it noted its purchase of the property was not yet finalized.

What is coming soon? Online records say the creation of a fuel station kiosk with eight fuel pumps and a 889-square-foot car wash. The project is labeled as "new construction," meaning nothing is yet on that section of land. Investors are pouring $1.4 million into the development. An estimated completion date is slated for Thursday, November 5, 2026, records show.

Last spring, H-E-B wrote in the release that construction was expected to begin that same season. However, a groundbreaking ceremony was not publicly announced that year. MySA reached out to the company for clarification on whether it ever occurred.

"This is a rapidly growing area, and we are excited to introduce this new H-E-B store to Denton and surrounding towns. We look forward to meeting our new neighbors and sharing more details soon," Managing Director of Public Affairs for H-E-B and Central Market Mabrie Jackson said in a press release at the time.

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A past MySA report cites that this market is emerging in place of a shop in Argyle, roughly 15 minutes from Denton, which was being considered. Jackson told the Denton Record-Chronicle that this store was happening "instead of" that one. An H-E-B spokesperson told MySA it did not have an update to share on a grand opening timeline.

This article originally published at Details emerge on massive H-E-B being built on 20-acre Texas property.
The puzzle pieces of Earths rocky crust are slowly and steadily moving  a process known as plate tectonics. These dynamic movements helped to create the habitats and climate that fostered the emergence of life on our planet, but exactly when the geological process first emerged has been a matter of scientific contention for decades.

Now, scientists say they have found the earliest direct evidence of plate tectonics on Earth  the only known planet to have the geological process. The findings suggest that the phenomenon was already shaping the planet billions of years ago.

Why do you have mountains? Why do you have oceans? It only makes sense with plate tectonics, said Roger Fu, a professor of Earth and planetary sciences at Harvard University who led the research for a new study that was published in the journal Science on March 19. So, trying to understand when it happened on early Earth is a fundamental question. It makes everything else make sense, he said.

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Today, Earths seven major and eight minor plates, which are on average 125 kilometers (about 80 miles) thick, move at a steady rate of several centimeters per year. Each plate is in motion, either pulling away from or growing closer to its neighbors, and volcanic activity and earthquakes typically cluster at these margins.

Volcanic activity, seen at the Sundhnukur crater row in Iceland, is more likely to occur where tectonic plates meet. - John Moore/Getty Images

Some in the scientific community contend plate tectonics began 4.4 billion years ago while others suggest they only started in the last 1 billion. Whether modern plate tectonics arose directly from the hellish magma ocean that once covered early Earth or whether intermediate stages, such as plates that moved intermittently or one single, unbroken lid, were at play is also unclear, the study authors noted.

The latest research reveals the plates were shifting as early as 3.5 billion years ago  during the Archean Eon  when the planet was already home to early microbial life. In pushing back the timeline for active tectonic plates, the analysis could offer clues about Earths early history and the conditions that supported early life, according to the study.

Rocks capture Earths early history

Fu and his colleagues analyzed rock samples from East Pilbara Craton, a geological formation rich with fossil evidence of early organisms such as stromatolites, in Western Australias Pilbara region.

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If you dont get too close, it actually looks like really friendly, beautiful scenery because its got these low rolling hills, but once you start walking around, you realize its, its full of very spiky grasses with sharp tips, he said.

For their study, Fu and his colleagues harnessed a phenomenon called paleomagnetism. Magnetic minerals within rock record the inclination of Earths magnetic field lines at the moment they form, allowing scientists to infer the rocks original orientation and latitude.

Our job was to basically measure these grains and see what the magnetic alignment of these rocks was, Fu said. You can take the angle between the observed magnetic field direction and the horizontal, and you can say are you near the poles or are you near the equator, he explained.

By analyzing 900 rock samples collected from Pilbara that represented a 30 million-year time frame, the team found that part of the formation shifted in latitude from 53 degrees to 77 degrees  a drift of tens of centimeters annually over several million years  and rotated clockwise by more than 90 degrees.

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The researchers also assessed existing paleomagnetic data from the Barberton Greenstone Belt in South Africa, which was nearly stationery at a lower latitude during roughly the same period, according to the study.

Located on the Barberton Greenstone Belt, the Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains in northeastern South Africa are some of the oldest geological formations in the world. - Murat Ozgur Guvendik/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

By looking at the two sites, it was clear that the lithosphere, which comprises the Earths crust and the uppermost mantle, was not a big, unbroken shell across the globe, as a lot of people have argued before, lead author Alec Brenner, a postdoctoral associate at Yale University, said in a news release. Brenner conducted the research as a doctoral student in the department of Earth and planetary sciences at Harvard University. Instead, it was segmented into different pieces that could move with respect to each other.

The findings are highly significant, mainly because they represent a huge amount of high-quality paleomagnetic data thats uncommon for such old rocks, said Uwe Kirscher, a research fellow at Curtin University in Australia who was not involved in the study.

The important outcome from the research, Uwe noted, was the indication of relative motion, with data revealing movement in the Pilbara Craton and the Barberton Greenstone Belt largely remaining stationery. This is crucial evidence of how Earth transitioned towards the plate tectonics world, he said.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  The Buffalo Catholic Diocese is revising how much its asking for from its parishes to help pay for the $150 million settlement that it agreed to pay last year to settle over 800 claims of sexual abuse.

In a letter to diocesan priests this week, Bishop Michael Fisher said the diocese is eliminating the 80 percent contribution expectation for merging parishes and increasing the dioceses contribution from $30 million to $40 million.

A parishs requested contribution will now will be based on their total available cash  after consolidating the balances of the two (or more) merged parishes  as well as for the parishes not merging.

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Back in June, the diocese had asked parishes to contribute a total of $80 million toward the settlement. Contributions from parishes were to range from 10 to 80 percent based on a progressive percentage of each parishs self-reported and unrestricted assets as of August 2024. All parishes that were set to merge had to contribute 80 percent.

We regard this as a more equitable approach in keeping with essential canonical consideration, Fisher said in the letter.

The rest of the contributions are expected to come from affiliate Catholic organizations, proceeds from real estate sales and coverages by diocesan insurance carriers.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday that it has filed a lawsuit against a San Clemente-based towing company, alleging it illegally sold or disposed of nearly 150 vehicles owned by active-duty military members in violation of federal law.

According to the complaint, S&K Towing Inc. sold or disposed of as many as 148 vehicles belonging to servicemembers between August 2020 and April 2025, many of which had been towed from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

Federal officials allege the company violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, or SCRA, which requires towing companies to obtain a court order before selling or disposing of vehicles owned by protected servicemembers.

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The DOJ said the law is intended to safeguard military personnel who may be deployed or otherwise unable to respond to notices regarding their property.

The men and women who serve in our nations military deserve peace of mind in knowing that their legal rights will be protected at home while they are away serving the United States, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement. It is unacceptable and illegal for a business to sell or dispose of these vehicles without abiding by the laws that protect servicemembers.

Officials said the SCRA is designed to ensure military members receive proper notice and legal protections, particularly when they are absent for extended periods due to training or deployments.

According to the Justice Department, a Military Legal Assistance attorney contacted S&K Towing in May 2024 and informed the company it was violating the SCRA.

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A manager allegedly responded, We do this all the time, according to the complaint.

Authorities allege the company continued to auction or dispose of vehicles owned by protected servicemembers even after being notified of their military status.

Officials said some of the vehicles were registered to addresses on Camp Pendleton, while others were sold despite the company being told the owner was in the military.

Servicemembers or their dependents who believe their rights may have been violated are encouraged to contact an Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program office. Locations are available at servicemembers.gov.

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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 KTLA.
Iranian military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari has issued a strong five-word message to American President Donald Trump amid the Presidents claims of ceasefire talks. Shortly before, Trump said that the United States was in discussions with the right people to bring the war to an end. Reports have also suggested that the United States sent a 15-point peace plan to Iran. However, Iranian officials have indicated that they are not willing to negotiate with the Trump administration.

Iran mocks Donald Trump with a strong message

In response to Donald Trumps claims about ceasefire talks, in which the President said he was in contact with the right people to end the conflict, Iranian military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari released a video message. The statement appeared to reject the claims about ongoing negotiations.

???? Mocking Trump, the Spokesperson of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaghari, whle addressing the United States, says that US is negotiating with itself:



Do not call your defeat an agreement. Neither will your investments in the region pic.twitter.com/gWP9hMFnIt  The Daily News (@DailyNewsJustIn) March 25, 2026

He delivered a five-word response to Trumps remarks. Hey, Trump  you are fired, Zolfaghari said. You are familiar with this sentence, he added. The remark circulated widely online and drew attention to the spokespersons statement (via The Sunday Guardian).

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In another video message, Zolfaghari reiterated Irans position on the reported negotiations with another sharp comment. Have your internal conflicts reached the point where you are negotiating with yourselves? he said, addressing Donald Trump. People like us can never get along with people like you. As we have always said no one like us will make a deal with you. Not now. Not ever, he added in remarks broadcast on Iranian state television.

Israels Channel 12, citing three sources, reported that the United States was seeking a month-long ceasefire to discuss a proposed 15-point plan (via The Mirror). The proposal was reported to include provisions related to Irans nuclear program, support for proxy groups, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Additionally, several US news outlets have reported that the Pentagon is preparing to deploy more than 1,000 soldiers from the US Armys elite 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East.

The post Donald Trump Receives Strong 5-Word Message From Iran appeared first on Mandatory.
In the last two weeks, the Eagle Watch Society says theyve found two baby bald eagles, one adult male bald eagle, and two owls dead alongside the Ortega River.

Mary Cook, a three-year volunteer with the Eagle Watch Society, says that rat poison used by pest control companies is to blame.

People think that theyre doing a favor using professionals; the professionals actually have the stronger stuff, Cook said. Once you ingest that rodenticide, it is usually lethal to the eagles.

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She says that community members along the Ortega River will spray their yards with these harsh chemicals  unaware of the rippling effects. She says that instead of rodenticides, use avoidance techniques.

Owls are great, and they will help us, seal off your house, do things other than putting out poison and traps, Cook said.

A 2021 study found that more than 80% of Bald Eagles had rodenticides in their system.

The Eagle Watch Societys primary objective is to protect the Bald Eagle populations in Florida. They watch and monitor over 1200 nests in the state  some of which are located alongside the Ortega River.

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For information on how to get involved, please visit https://eaglewatch-audubon.hub.arcgis.com/.

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Elon Musks tunneling company will begin assessing its ability to construct a mile-long underground tunnel in South Dallas after a proposed project in the area was one of three winners of a company contest on Tuesday.

The Boring Company has built a number of underground tunnels across the United States for public and industrial use, including in Austin and Bastrop. In January, the company announced an open call for new tunnel proposals up to a mile long, with the offer to build the winning submission at the companys expense. A proposal to build a tunnel connecting the University of North Texas at Dallas with University Hills, a billion-dollar mixed-use development currently under construction, was one of three winners out of almost 500 submissions.

Hoque Global, the group building the University Hills development, said in a joint statement with Dallas officials on Tuesday that the tunnel would connect to the projects town center. The 280-acre development has not broken ground yet and is awaiting permitting and planning coordination with Dallas and The Boring Company, the statement said.

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Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert said in the statement that the proposed tunnel marks an opportunity to explore innovative infrastructure solutions for the city as it further grows.

A project like this showcases how emerging technology can help improve connectivity while demonstrating Dallas commitment to forward-thinking transportation and infrastructure ideas, she said.

A social media post from The Boring Company outlined next steps for the project, including communication with elected officials and initial boring. The Dallas project and the two other winners in New Orleans and Baltimore will only be built if they are found to be feasible. The post also said the company would try to help construct an additional tunnel project in San Antonio because it and a few other proposals were compelling. A project proposal out of Waco was also submitted but not mentioned by the company.

The Boring Company is one of several owned by billionaire Elon Musk, which have taken repeated interest in Texas as an area of operations and growth. Most of its tunnels open for public transportation use are located in Las Vegas, where the city has approved construction of roughly 68 miles of tunnels. Passengers are transported in Tesla cars through the tunnels, and the city currently has eight stations and more than 5 miles of tunnels built.

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The prospect of a privately funded transportation alternative in the region comes as North Texas largest public transportation agency, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, faces a potential exodus of support that may significantly affect its finances. Addison, Highland Park and University Park currently plan to vote in May whether to withdraw from the agency, citing low ridership and funding costs. Farmers Branch, Irving and Plano had initially signaled they would vote to withdraw, but later agreed to stay in exchange for financial concessions.

The University Hills tunnel proposal would connect with a DART station by UNT Dallas, according to a City of Dallas press release.

Other proposed transportation projects providing alternatives to cars have also faced setbacks in Texas. Long-embattled plans for high speed rail connecting Dallas and Houston also faced another roadblock last April when the Trump Administration cut a $63.9 million planning grant for the project. Almost all of The Boring Companys current projects, however, have been for small distance, inter-city transportation.
Among the Democratic Party's victory streak, Emily Gregory's flip of the formerly Republican Florida House District 87 seat is noteworthy because it includes President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence and club.

Gregory defeated Trump-endorsed rival John Maples by just over 2 percentage points in a contest that drew 33,429 voters. The seat became available because its former incumbent, Mike Caruso, resigned after Gov. Ron DeSantis named him to serve as the county's clerk of courts.

But is Gregory's win notable just because it was Trump's district? Or does it fit into significant trends that have been playing out across the country since last year?

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Here are five things to know.

Who is Emily Gregory?

Gregory is a small business owner from Jupiter. She defeated John Maples, a Republican who previously held public office as a town council member in Lake Clarke Shores.

Democrats and affiliated groups had hailed her as an example of the new breed of candidates they seek to field in the November midterm elections  and beyond.

"This race reaffirms that voters are demanding change and ushering in a wave of leaders who will actually show up for their communities  rejecting Trumpism and the status quo," wrote Run for Something co-founder and president Amanda Litman in a prepared statement after the results were in.

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"Were thrilled to see Emily win this seat and proud to have worked by her side to help make it happen."

Democrat Emily Gregory won a special Florida House election, flipping a seat in President Donald Trump's district.

Race a stunner, but not an anomaly

Caruso was elected to the District 87 seat in a landslide on Nov. 5, 2024, in a contest in which he won by almost 20 points.

Trump won the district by 11 points that year. Maples had Trump's backing. On March 23, the president posted in all caps "JOHN MAPLES HAS MY COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT!" in a lengthy post. He also cast a vote, presumably for Maples, via a mail-in ballot after railing against ballots not cast in person in recent weeks.

While Gregory won the state House seat, Democrat Brian Nathan stood poised to upset his GOP opponent in a Florida Senate race in the Tampa area as well.

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Moreover, in December, Eileen Higgins won the mayoral seat in Miami, the first time a Democrat had won the top spot in the mostly Cuban-American and Latino city in three decades.

Special election post-mortems query: Who did independent voters back?

Polls and election results across the United States have shown that voters not registered with a political party have been siding with Democrats in large numbers, reversing a trend from 2024.

In Palm Beach County, and Florida overall, Republican candidates in the Trump era have drawn sizeable shares of independent voters to roll up landslide after landslide.

Will the March 24 results show the GOP lost ground with this pivotal voting bloc?

Trump approval rating keeps sinking

A Reuters/Ipsos survey released March 24 showed the president's approval rating at 36% with 62% of respondents disapproving.

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In a network interview earlier on election day, Gregory said the president was not a factor "for me" in the contest and that she had been focused on cost-of-living issues.

GOP says not so fast

After the results were in, Florida House Republican Campaign Committee Chair Sam Garrison pointed out Republican candidates won two other House races.

They are Hilary Holley in House District 51 and Samantha Scott in House District 52. The Republican Party still counts on super majorities in the state House and Senate. And the party enjoys an advantage of almost 1.5 million voters going into the November vote.

As for the Gregory victory, Garrison, the speaker-designate said the GOP is focused on the fall vote.

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"Todays loss stings, but it does not deter him or us," Garrison wrote in a prepared statement. "We will learn from todays results and see you in November."

Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: GOP loses House seat in Trump's district. What does it mean?
KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The Oxford English Dictionary has added several Malaysian English terms in its latest update, with words originating from the Malay language and dialect of the Minnan (Hokkien) language.

The update contains 11 new words from Singaporean or Malaysian English, highlighting the region's linguistic influence on global English, the dictionary publisher Oxford Languages said in a statement on Tuesday.

Among the new additions are "agak-agak," which appears as both a noun and a verb and refers to approximation or estimation, most frequently used in the context of a particular way of cooking, as well as the word "boleh," an intransitive verb meaning to have the power, ability, or capacity to do or deal with something successfully.

Hokkien contributions in this update include "jialat," which describes a difficult or terrible situation. It originally also carried the sense of something irksome or exhausting. Another Hokkien borrowing is "kaypoh," which refers to a busybody and can function as a noun, adjective or verb.

Oxford Languages also said that readers can find more details on updates from Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, South Africa and Ireland in its World English release notes. 
Just after noon on Friday, March 20th, US president Donald Trump declared victory to a group of reporters in his broadly unpopular war with Iran. Just two minutes later, however, he announced he was sending US marines anyway. The next minute, the president said there would be no boots on the ground after all. A few beats later, he admitted he didnt want a ceasefire, then declared victory again, then requested a ceasefire.

The volley continued like this for nearly half an hour, the presidents stream of consciousness pouring from within, in a prime example of Trumps contradictory messaging on Iran. In addition to exhausting reporters and scrambling the news cycle, episodes like this have fueled speculation that people close to the president are feeding off the chaos.

As a recent analysis by economist and Nobel laureate Paul Krugman argues, theres evidence that insiders are profiting off the war in Iran. On Monday, for example, Trump reversed his weekend commitment to deliver painful retribution on the Iranian people if the country failed to open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. At 7:05am on Monday morning, however, Trump chickened out, issuing a five-day pause on hostilities via a post on Truth Social.

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The price of crude oil, which had flailed upward for weeks as shipments from the Persian Gulf slowed to a trickle, plummeted immediately, from around $112 a barrel before the announcement to a low of $97 by 11:00am.

However, about 15 minutes before Trumps post, CNBC reported, there was a massive increase in the amount of S&P 500 e-Mini futures trading on the market, right before their price skyrocketed from around $6,500 to around $6,700. Someone also got incredibly lucky playing the oil market, with West Texas Intermediate May futures seeing a massive spike in trading activity at the exact same time  a sign that someone had shed theirs before the price experienced a major drop.

The story would be baffling, Krugman wrote, except that theres an obvious explanation: somebody close to Trump knew what he was about to do, and exploited that inside information to make huge, instant profits.

It certainly isnt the first time people had lucrative premonitions just minutes before Trumps geopolitical decisions become public. Earlier this year, an incredibly well-timed bet on Polymarket came in just minutes before Trump ordered the US military to attack Venezuela.

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In any normal world, Krugman explained, this would be more than enough cause for treason.

Id very much like to know exactly who was making those trades yesterday morning, the famed economist wrote. Im sure well find out once Kash Patels FBI carries out its careful, no-holds-barred investigation.

More on Trump: Sad! Trumps Meme Coin Has Turned Into a Total Disaster
By Daniel Flynn and Olena Harmash

KYIV, March 25 (Reuters) - The U.S. is making its offer of security guarantees for a peace deal in Ukraine conditional on Kyiv ceding all of the country's eastern region of Donbas to Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told Reuters in an interview.

With the U.S. focused on its own conflict with Iran, President Donald Trump is applying pressure to Ukraine in an effort to bring a quick end to the four-year war triggered by Russia's 2022 invasion, Zelenskiy said.

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"The Middle East definitely has an impact on President Trump, and I think on his next steps. President Trump, unfortunately, in my opinion, still chooses a strategy of putting more pressure on the Ukrainian side," he told Reuters.

The U.S., Russia and Ukraine have held three rounds of high-level, trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi and Geneva this year in a bid to negotiate an end to Europe's bloodiest conflict since World War Two, which has laid waste to swaths of Ukraine and killed hundreds of thousands of people.

The Ukrainian leader has repeatedly said robust security guarantees from international partners are needed to ensure that Russia does not restart hostilities in the future, after any peace deal is agreed.

Two vital questions remained unresolved regarding security guarantees, Zelenskiy said: Who would help to fund Ukraine's weapons purchases to sustain its military deterrent, and how exactly would its allies respond in the face of any future Russian aggression?

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"The Americans are prepared to finalise these guarantees at a high level once Ukraine is ready to withdraw from Donbas," said the 48-year-old leader, who added that he understood the "subtleties" of the American position although he had not participated directly himself in the trilateral talks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin insists that control of the whole of Donbas is an essential element of his war aims, which Moscow would achieve on the battlefield if it could not do so at the negotiating table.

But the pace of Russia's advance has been slow over the past two years. Military analysts say it could take a long time and a significant amount of manpower to conquer all of Donbas, which includes a so-called Fortress Belt of cities heavily fortified by the Ukrainian military.

Zelenskiy warned that a withdrawal would compromise the security of both Ukraine and, by extension, Europe, by handing the region's strong defensive positions to Russia.

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"I would very much like the American side to understand that the eastern part of our country is part of our security guarantees," he said.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Zelenskiy had said in January that a security guarantees document between Ukraine and the U.S. was "100% ready" and waiting to be signed. On Tuesday, following weekend talks between U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Miami, he said there was still work to be done.

RUSSIA IS BETTING U.S. WILL WALK AWAY, ZELENSKIY SAYS

Speaking in a gilded meeting room at the presidential offices in central Kyiv, Zelenskiy said Russia was betting Washington would lose interest if the peace talks stalled and would walk away. He acknowledged that there was some risk of this.

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A fourth round of trilateral talks due this month was postponed due to the Iran conflict.

Zelenskiy questioned, however, whether Russia was willing to sacrifice hundreds of thousands more soldiers in an effort to capture the area of Donbas it does not already control - roughly 6,000 square km. He repeated that a summit with Trump, Putin and himself was the only way to settle outstanding questions on territory and security guarantees to clinch a peace deal.

The Ukrainian leader shrugged off past tensions between himself and Trump. "I am not a box of chocolates or a car, to be liked or disliked by one person or another," he said. "In my opinion, the President of the United States looks at this more pragmatically, and he probably wants the war to end quickly. We also want to do so quickly."

Following heavy Russian bombardment of Ukrainian cities on Wednesday, Zelenskiy thanked the Trump administration for maintaining the supplies of Patriot missile defence systems, despite increased demand for these weapons because of the conflict in the Gulf.

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Ukrainian officials have previously expressed fears that shipments of U.S.-made Patriots - the only missiles in Ukraine's arsenal capable of downing Russian ballistic missiles - would dry up because of the Iran conflict.

"Deliveries to us were not stopped. I'm very grateful to President Trump, and to his team," Zelenskiy said. "But this supply of Patriot missiles is not as large as we need."

Meanwhile, Ukraine was making progress in its production of its own long-range missiles and drones, allowing it to strike deep within Russia in retaliation for Russian bombardment of Ukrainian cities, Zelenskiy said.

(Reporting by Daniel Flynn and Olena Harmash; Editing by Philippa Fletcher and Lincoln Feast.)
Salt Lake City leaders opposed to a planned U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center are capping how much water large government facilities can use.

The move adds Utahs capital to the American cities and states that seem to be fighting ICE with water, although the mayor, council and the ordinance itself kept a focus on conservation, instead of the liberal citys displeasure with the incoming detention facility.

The Salt Lake City Council on Tuesday approved the changes proposed by Mayor Erin Mendenhall, who raised concerns about city residents access to water in a worsening drought.

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Put simply, a potential high-occupancy facility interferes with those needs, Mendenhall said in a statement. While we lack direct information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, a 7,500-person detention facility on our Citys west side would likely use 1-2 million gallons of water per day.

ICE bought the warehouse near Salt Lake Citys airport two weeks ago for $145.4 million, confirming its plans to use the space to detain migrants. Mendenhall said under its previous ownership, the warehouse used about 5,600 gallons per day.

In the days after the sale, Mendenhall said the citys public safety, water and sewer infrastructure cant support a massive detention center and requested a meeting with the agencys acting director.

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She vowed in a prepared statement to use every tool at the Citys disposal to stop it.

Loading docks of a warehouse purchased by U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement at 6020 W. 300 South in Salt Lake City is pictured on Friday, March 13, 2026. (McKenzie Romero/Utah News Dispatch)

After the warehouse became property of the federal government, the Salt Lake City Council said in a joint statement that our neighbors  no matter where they were born  deserve safety, dignity and the opportunity to thrive. News like this undermines those goals for our community.

A spokesperson for the mayor declined to talk Wednesday about how likely it is that this weeks moves could slow down or stop the detention center from opening. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A small Georgia city, Social Circle, placed a lock on a facilitys water meter earlier this month and said it would stay put until ICE could demonstrate it can run the facility without overtaxing water and sewer services.

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In Pennsylvania, the states Department of Environmental Protection effectively blocked the use of two warehouses until ICE proves it can follow water regulations, going so far as to prohibit ICE from driving in its own water.

Before this week, Salt Lake City already prohibited new commercial and industrial projects consuming more than 200,000 gallons daily. The new changes to city code extend the limit to nonresidential development and narrow an exemption for government buildings to those primarily providing social services. Accompanying zoning changes are temporary, set to last for 180 days.

The mayor noted the tighter restrictions apply to all government entities in an effort to keep water use within the citys capacity.

Last week, she announced the city is under a drought advisory requiring government institutions to cut indoor use by 10%. Mendenhall also urged businesses and homeowners to conserve as the city tries to reduce water use by 10 million gallons per day.

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President Donald Trump is pushing for new restrictions on mail-in voting. To sell his proposal, he is telling lies.

Trump has been making false claims about mail-in voting since the 2020 campaign that was held amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, as he asks Congress to pass a bill that would ban mail-in voting in federal elections except for situations involving disability, illness, travel, or service in the military, hes repeating some of the same false claims that have been debunked over the last six years.

Heres a fact check of some of the presidents recent falsehoods on the subject.

Its not true that the US is the only country that uses mail-in voting

Over and over this month, Trump has falsely claimed that the US is the only country in the world that uses mail-in ballots.

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You know, brought to my attention today that were the only country that doesnt  that does mail-in voting, Trump claimed in a speech on Monday. You know, theres not a country in the world that does mail-in ballots anymore, he claimed in another speech on March 9.

In reality, dozens of countries allow some or all voters to vote by mail. The list includes Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany and Switzerland.

We dont know what, if anything, was actually brought to Trumps attention on Monday, but this was not a new lie from him. He has told it on multiple occasions since last year.

Its not true that a Jimmy Carter commission called for a ban on mail-in voting

Trump continues to falsely describe what Jimmy Carter, the late Democratic president, said about mail-in voting.

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Last week, Trump said that a commission Carter formed after his presidency came out and said very strongly: No mail-in ballots. At a March 9 press conference, Trump said of the commission: Frankly, I think its probably the best thing Jimmy Carter did. He said, You cant have mail-in voting because its inherently dishonest.

In reality, neither Carter nor an election reform commission Carter co-chaired said no mail-in ballots or declared mail-in ballots inherently dishonest.

Its true that the commission was generally skeptical of mail-in voting. Its 2005 report said that absentee ballots remain the largest source of potential voter fraud and are vulnerable to abuse in several ways.

But the commission did not call for a ban on mail-in voting. Its report highlighted an example of successful mail-only elections, saying that Oregon, a state that had been conducting elections exclusively by mail-in ballot since the late 1990s, appears to have avoided significant fraud in its vote-by-mail elections by introducing safeguards to protect ballot integrity, including signature verification.

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The report also offered recommendations for making the use of mail-in ballots more secure and called for further research on the pros and cons of voting by mail.

Carter, who died in 2024, said in a 2020 statement after Trumps White House disparaged the use of mail-in ballots at the time: I approve the use of absentee ballots and have been using them for more than five years.

Its not true that mail-in ballots are inherently corrupt

Mail-in ballots are lined up for processing at the Los Angeles County Ballot Processing Center in City of Industry, California, on November 4, 2024. - Bobyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images/File

Trump encouraged supporters to vote by mail in the 2024 election and voted by mail himself in Tuesdays state House special election in Florida. But he continues to falsely describe mail-in ballots as inherently corrupt.

Theyre so corrupt, he said in a March 13 interview on Fox News Radio. People dont want mail-in ballots because you have crooked elections. It guarantees a crooked election, he said in a March 11 interview with Cincinnatis WKRC Local 12. Why would you want mail-in ballots if you know its corrupt? Its a corrupt system, he told reporters in February.

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In reality, mail-in voting is a legitimate method used by legitimate voters  such as one Donald J. Trump  to cast legitimate ballots. Elections experts say the incidence of fraud tends to be marginally higher with mail-in ballots than with in-person ballots, but also that fraud rates in federal elections are tiny even with mail-in ballots.

Republican-dominated Utah is among the eight states (plus Washington, DC) where voters are automatically sent mail-in ballots, though it is now phasing out that policy; its elections, like elections in other mail-heavy states, have been free of widespread fraud. And despite Trumps claims, there remains no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election in which the use of mail-in ballots spiked because of the pandemic.

Its not true that California sends out like 38 million ballots

Trump has for years made false claims about elections in California, a Democratic-dominated state where he has consistently fared poorly. While disparaging mail-in ballots last week, he claimed, You go to California, they send out like 38 million ballots. Some Democrats got seven, eight ballots. Republicans are a lot of times calling in, Wheres my ballot, wheres my ballot? Theyre lucky to get one.

Trumps like 38 million figure is not even close to accurate. California counties send a mail-in ballot to all active registered voters; the state had about 22.6 million active registered voters as of about two weeks prior to the 2024 election and about 23.1 million as of the end of 2025. There is no basis for any suggestion that some 15 million excess ballots have been distributed in the state in any election. (California had more than 39 million total residents in 2025, but that number includes children, adult citizens not registered to vote, noncitizens and people in prison.)

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While there are occasional errors by counties and the postal service in distributing mail-in ballots, in California and other states, there is also no basis for Trumps claim that California Republicans are lucky to get one. And even if someone is mistakenly sent more than one ballot, California has security measures in place to make sure that each ballot is cast by the voter it was meant for and that each voter only votes once.

When Trump made similar claims last year, the office of California Secretary of State Shirley Weber told CNN: Elections officials use protocols to verify the eligibility and identity of the voter prior to sending the vote by mail ballot. When the ballot is returned, elections officials verify the voters identity through signature verification. If the elections official determines that the voters signature does not match, the identification envelope will not be opened, and the ballot will not be counted until the identification of the voter is confirmed.

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Melvin Dunlap says he doesnt know how he became a plaintiff in the nations largest sex abuse settlement.

He grew up in Missouri, halfway across the country from L.A. Countys juvenile halls  the subject of a deluge of lawsuits from people who say they were sexually assaulted while detained as children.

Dunlap says he has never been to juvie, and hes never been abused.

And yet he's part of L.A. Countys $4-billion sex abuse settlement, identified in court filings as JOHN DOE M.D. His lawsuit claims he was physically assaulted, sexually harassed and abused by staff at a Los Angeles detention center in Boyle Heights when he was 15.

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I can put my hand on a Bible and say I aint ever been abused sexually, said Dunlap, who provided text messages and emails showing he sought to report the matter to the State Bar for investigation last July.

Dunlaps lawsuit was filed Oct. 15, 2024, by Downtown LA Law Group. The firm, also known as DTLA, is under investigation by the district attorney, State Bar, and the county after nine clients told The Times last year they were paid to file sex abuse claims, some of which were fraudulent. DTLA has asked for at least three of the lawsuits to be dismissed.

Read more: California trial attorneys push bills to rein in 'bad actors' in legal industry

The firm has denied all wrongdoing and maintained its lawyers operate with unwavering integrity, prioritizing client welfare. The firm said through a spokesperson that DTLA rejects most cases that filter through its office and could not discuss specific clients due to "the constraints of attorney client privilege."

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"Having said that, no one in the firm to our knowledge has coerced its clients or anyone else to sign anything," DTLA said in a statement.

The Times confirmed Dunlap had a lawsuit filed by DTLA through records that detail the firm's clients in the L.A. County settlement. Like most sexual abuse cases, all of DTLAs lawsuits were filed using only the plaintiff's initials.

Dunlap, a 30-year-old fashion stylist, says he wanted to report the firm, but wasn't sure how. On July 28, 2025, Dunlap sent an email to a law firm he found online, saying he wanted representation against DTLA and help filing a State Bar complaint about an attempt to include me in a class action settlement without consent.

I was told I needed to sign settlement paperwork for a case supposedly tied to a juvenile claim. I made it clear multiple times that I had no memory of this case, did not authorize representation, and stated firmly: 'I dont want to be part of this  take me off the case,' he wrote in the email.

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Despite this, I was told I could not leave because its more complicated than that.

Dunlap said he never moved forward with trying to file a case against DTLA.

Melvin Dunlap, a 30-year-old fashion stylist, says his name was used to file a false claim of sexual abuse against L.A. County. (Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)

Dunlap has brought a few cases to DTLA over the last five years. Court records show the firm represented him in 2021 after, he says, he slipped in a trail of mop water at a hotel during a trip to visit his uncle. He got about $1,700 for that one, he says. He called the firm again after moving to L.A. last year after a driver ran over his foot.

In July 2025, he says, the firm called him and asked him to come to its downtown office on Broadway to discuss his case. He assumed there had been progress suing the driver over his foot injury.

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Instead, he said, he was shepherded into a glass office where a thin man in a baggy suit named Alex told him to sign three packets of documents. Nobody explained what they were, he said.

Read more: DTLA law firm co-founder faces California State Bar charges over alleged out-of-state practice

Im from the hood  you dont just sign anything. So, I get to reading the papers and its talking about some juvenile delinquent California ... case. And I'm like, Im not even from California, Dunlap said. Im from St. Louis. I aint ever been to juvie a day in my life.

But, he said, the man kept insisting that he had.

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Im like, 'y'all got the wrong thing. I called y'all about a little foot case, Dunlap said. "He brushed it off. He was like Nah, nah, nah its okay, just sign this.'"

After the county agreed to the $4-billion settlement in April 2025, every person who sued needed to sign an agreement opting into the settlement, as well as a fact sheet, detailing the abuse they underwent as a youth, in order to be eligible for the payout. Each case is eligible for up to $3 million, with attorneys pocketing between 33% and 45% in fees.

Dunlap said one document he was asked to sign appeared to be a questionnaire about abuse while the other was some sort of settlement agreement.

The county said it could not comment on whether DTLA submitted any additional documents for Dunlap, such as the fact sheet, after the July 25 exchange due to a "protective order and the confidentiality provisions of the settlement agreement."

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Dunlaps account deepens questions around how DTLA, a high-volume personal injury firm known for representing injured drivers, acquired so many sex abuse plaintiffs  and whether some may be unknowing participants.

The Times located 10 people represented by DTLA in the sex abuse settlement who, like Dunlap, had previously used the firm for a personal injury lawsuit.

Before any money is disbursed, former presiding Superior Court Judge Daniel Buckley is vetting the firm's cases and interviewing people whose accounts raise red flags. The L.A. County district attorney's office has also asked for a six-month delay in making payments and recently sent letters to law firms detailing hundreds of plaintiffs it believes need further vetting, according to a spokesperson for the district attorney.

Dunlap said he refused to sign the paperwork and tried to leave. But he said the man insisted Dunlap see the bossman and left him in the glass room for about five minutes as he went to get a higher-up.

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Dunlap said he had no interest in meeting the boss.

At this point, its like a million thoughts racing through my head, recounted Dunlap. Im like, damn, is he going to go grab the police? Am I going to go to jail? I gotta get the hell out of this office.

The man came back and ushered Dunlap into the elevator to go to an office upstairs. Dunlap said he pressed the down button as the man hit the one to go up. The elevator hit the bottom floor and Dunlap says he rushed out.

Downtown LA Law Group is currently under investigation by the State Bar and the District Attorney. The firm said they were unaware of anyone at the firm coercing clients into signing anything. (Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Times)

Andrew Morrow, DTLAs main attorney working on the sex abuse cases, later texted Dunlap a photo of what appears to be a retainer agreement with the firm dated Sept. 29, 2024, with a signature and Dunlaps name printed underneath, according to screenshots of text messages reviewed by The Times.

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Dunlap said he does not recognize the signature on the document and never signed a retainer for a sex abuse case. The firm said in a statement it uses "electronic processes to verify signatures."

"What the hell is wrong with y'all," Dunlap texted Morrow after the encounter. "I couldn't even get a real apology just more pressure about signing sum papers I denied to sign over n over."

I told yall it wasn't me over n over n over I demanded to leave over n over, he continued.

Read more: The rise of DTLA: Car crashes, costly surgeries and a $4-billion sex abuse settlement

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Morrow said he would dismiss the lawsuit, but warned Dunlap he was giving up a lot of money from the bad people you said hurt you.

The lawsuit had not been dismissed as of March 23, leaving Dunlap part of the $4-billion settlement.

Dunlap says he has no interest in the money and believes it should go to real victims. All he wants, he says, is for the lawsuit to go away.

So how do I get my name out?

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  The McPherson Fire Department responded to a fire at Midway Motors in McPherson Wednesday.

It happened around 3 a.m. on East Kansas Avenue and Centennial Drive.

Firefighters arrived to find flames coming from the roof. The fire was extinguished and an investigation is underway.

Fire at Midway Motors in McPherson (Courtesy: McPherson Police Department)

Radar being used to find unmarked grave of a Wichita founder

Fire departments from Galva, Inman and Moundridge responded to help extinguish the blaze. McPherson EMS, Kansas Gas and the Board of Public Utilities were also called to assist.

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Midway Motors said the fire impacted the Ford and Chrysler store and that portion will be closed until further notice. The General Motors store is still running and will be serving customers.

For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
A federal appeals court upheld Floridas ban on cultivated meat Monday, allowing the state to continue prohibiting the manufacture and sale of lab-grown products.

The state law SB 1084, which took effect in July 2024, bans the manufacture, sale, and distribution of cultivated meat. Florida was the first to enact such a ban, followed by six other states.

The three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued the ruling, finding the states prohibition does not conflict with federal laws regulating poultry for human consumption. This follows the laws implementation in July 2024.

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Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill into law and has praised the courts decision to uphold it. DeSantis previously described the legislation as a defense for the states consumers. He defended the measure as a shield against efforts to force fake food onto Floridians plates.

Upside Foods, based in California, produces lab-grown chicken from animal cells and petitioned regulators to approve its sale.

The federal government cleared the way for the industry years ago, with the FDA approving lab-grown meat for sale in November 2022. The Florida ban and similar laws in other states followed as the industry scaled up.

Florida was the first state to ban cultivated meat, with several othersAlabama, Indiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Texasfollowing suit. These laws typically prohibit manufacturing, selling, and distributing such products within state borders.

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Advocates for cultivated meat criticize state bans, saying they suppress industry growth, threaten jobs, and hinder free-market competition before new products establish themselves.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Democrat Emily Gregory has won a special state House election in a Palm Beach district that includes President Donald Trumps Florida home of Mar-a-Lago, adding another special election win to a recent string of victories around the country for Democrats.

Tuesdays election was a prime opportunity for Democrats in the ruby-red Sunshine State to notch a win in a state where the party is often short of them, in a district with political resonance.

Gregory, a business owner and military spouse running for office for the first time, defeats Republican Jon Maples, a former council-member of nearby Lake Shores who first received Trumps Complete and Total Endorsement in January.

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When we started this, nobody thought it was possible. They thought we were crazy, Gregory said to her supporters at her election night party. I knew my community. I knew we deserved better. We deserve a leader who will fight for us.

Mar-a-Lago will now be represented by a trio of Democrats across the Florida state House, Senate and US House, though Republicans have overall control of all three. State House District 87 has been vacant since August of last year, when former Republican state Rep. Mike Caruso, who won reelection in 2024 by 19 percentage points, left the seat to become the Palm Beach County clerk and comptroller. Trump won the district by 11 points during the 2024 presidential election.

View official results from Tuesdays election here

In an interview with CNNs Erin Burnett just after polls closed, Gregory said Trump was not a factor when it came to her campaign, saying she focused on Maples and issues that matter most to Florida families.

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Everyone is feeling that affordability crisis and the last thing that Florida families needed when theyre struggling is $4 gas, Gregory said.

She added that although Trumps presence in the district was not a part of her campaign, she would welcome the chance to speak to Trump.

I would be happy to have a conversation. And you know, all 180,000 residents of District 87 are my priority if Im so lucky to serve, Gregory said. I will put them all with equal weight.

Some voters in Palm Beach on Tuesday who voted for Maples didnt know about Trumps endorsement. To some, it made little difference, but one Republican voter, Michelle Hall, told CNN that Trumps endorsement was fabulous.

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Anything Donald does, I do, Hall said.

It also came as a surprise to some voters that Trump voted by mail in Tuesdays special election even as he has decried mail-in voting and sought to sharply limit it with the Republican-backed SAVE America Act, which would end the widespread practice of no-excuse mail-in voting.

Are you kidding me? I had no idea, Hall said in response a question about it, saying voting by mail is terrible unless you have a disability, youre pregnant, youre in the hospital, youre military.

She added, If hes against something, why are you doing it?

Olivia Wales, a White House spokesperson, said in a statement that Trumps voter ID bill has commonsense exceptions for Americans to use mail-in ballots for illness, disability, military, or travel.

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As everyone knows, the President is a resident of Palm Beach and participates in Florida elections, but he obviously primarily lives at the White House in Washington, DC, she said. This is a non-story.

Although the shadow of the president loomed large in his home district, both Gregory and Maples mostly focused on the issue of affordability during the campaign, a subject that proved to be successful for Democrats in 2025 elections and one that Republicans have struggled to own during Trumps second term.

Another Democratic special election win

Special elections often feature low turnout, placing an especially high emphasis on voter enthusiasm that can swing results more effectively than in larger elections.

But a win by Gregory is just one more feather in Democrats caps after last fall, when they flipped more than 20 state legislative seats in special or regularly scheduled elections.

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Since the start of this year, Democrats have flipped seats in Arkansas, New Hampshire and Texas, where they won a state Senate district that had voted for Trump by 17 points in 2024.

CNNs Meridith Edwards and Ethan Cohen contributed to this report.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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A Florida doctor is facing sexual battery charges after one of his patients told authorities she found footage of him sexually assaulting her during a cosmetic procedure, according to court filings.

The alleged assault occurred on October 25, 2025, when the 29-year-old woman saw Dr. Ronald F. DeMeo at his Miami practice and was allegedly provided with nitro, a sedative to alleviate pain before the procedure along with prescribed medication, states DeMeos arrest affidavit dated Thursday, March 19.

Before DeMeo, 63, entered the procedure room, the woman told authorities that she was offered, and accepted, a glass of wine from a staff member, according to the affidavit, which describes wine being commonly provided to patients at the office.

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Then, at a certain point, the woman said DeMeo told her to continue inhaling nitro before he returned to the procedure room, the affidavit says.

Doctor Who Needed Chaperone for Female Patients Is Suspended Again Amid Alleged Misconduct in NJ

The victim stated she remembers continuing to inhale nitro, the defendant being in the room and closing the blinds in the room, the filing states. She recalls feeling as if she was pushed down in what she thinks was an office, then opening her eyes, and seeing the defendant over her body

DeMeo is accused of sexually assaulting the woman, who told authorities she did not have the strength to speak or fight back and just closed her eyes wanting the assault to end, the affidavit says.

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The woman said that a few days later, she found a video on her phone that showed the sexual assault.

An investigator wrote in the affidavit that they watched the video footage and saw non-consensual sexual acts & gestures.

DeMeo is charged with three counts of sexual battery involving a helpless victim, court records viewed by Us Weekly show.

At a hearing on Thursday, March 19, DeMeos defense attorney, Daniel A. Lurvey, said that the October 25 incident between DeMeo and his client had been consensual, WBPF reported.

Woman Claims Diddy Threatened Her With a Knife and Used Drug-Infused Oil Before Alleged Assault

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We have overwhelming evidence exonerating the defendant [DeMeo], Lurvey said, according to the TV station. This goes back several months, as the court can see. It was a consensual, 100% encounter.

Miami Police Department Officer and Public Information Officer Mike Vega told the TV station that the woman captured the alleged assault on her phone because she had been filming her cosmetic procedure.

As she records a video she passes out, the phone falls and it falls right next to her lap, it falls with the screen facing down, the camera facing up, so it's capturing everything, Vega told WBPF. The doctor then decides to take advantage of her, and he does sexual acts on her."

DeMeo was released from custody but was subjected to house arrest involving a GPS monitor, WTVJ reported.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual violence, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
ASTANA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Russia and Kazakhstan on Wednesday pledged to deepen bilateral cooperation across a range of sectors, Kazinform reported.

Visiting Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said Kazakhstan remains Russia's strategic partner and ally, adding that relations between the two countries have stood the test of time and are based on friendship, good-neighborliness and mutual respect.

He highlighted significant potential for launching new joint projects in energy, industry, transport infrastructure, agriculture and the digital economy.

Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said the upcoming state visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Kazakhstan is expected to further deepen and expand allied ties between the two countries.

Bektenov added that Russia has long been one of Kazakhstan's key trade and economic partners, with bilateral trade approaching 30 billion U.S. dollars and mutual investment continuing to grow.

Mishustin is paying a working visit to Kazakhstan from March 25 to 27, during which he will attend intergovernmental talks, a meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, as well as the Digital Qazaqstan 2026 forum. 
A food manufacturing company says it intends to close a Miami Valley facility in the future.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Cargill confirmed its intention to close its Dayton facility, but will remain operational for the next 20 months, and added that it could be operational longer than that, according to a spokesperson.

The Dayton facility is located at the 3200 block of Needmore Road.

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This will allow time for production ramp-down and to enable supply chain adjustments, the spokesperson told News Center 7.

We remain fully committed to continuing to serve our customers in this market and to supporting our employees through the transition, the spokesperson said. Cargill also remains committed to Ohio and continues to operate 15 facilities across the state, employing nearly 1,000 people.

Cargill has a shipping and receiving dock located in Sidney.

Its corporate headquarters is in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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A former judge of Israel's highest court does not expect Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is accused of corruption, to be pardoned.

Ex-judge Izchak Zamir told the Israeli Kan channel that President Izchak Herzog would be breaking the law if he granted such a pardon.

"That is why I believe that he will not grant a pardon as long as the head of government does not admit in writing to the offences attributed to him," said the former judge.

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A presidential pardon has been granted in Israel only once before. The persons concerned had not been convicted in court, but they had previously admitted their guilt.

It is unclear when Herzog will decide on Netanyahu's highly controversial request for clemency. In the meantime, he has received an expert opinion from the Ministry of Justice.

Netanyahu submitted the petition for clemency in November. Among other things, he cited fierce disputes in Israel over his corruption trial, which has been running for almost six years. The prime minister is accused of fraud, breach of trust and bribery.

The former judge expressed great concern about efforts by Netanyahu's government to weaken the judiciary in the country. "Three years ago, the government began a campaign to destroy democracy," said Zamir.

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In the meantime, he said, Israel has almost reached the point of autocratic rule by Netanyahu.

"The prime minister controls the government and the government controls the parliament," he said. There is no real separation of powers, as is necessary in a democracy.

All that is left is an independent judiciary, which he said they also want to destroy. Should this succeed, it would be "the end of democracy" in Israel, he warned.

Netanyahu's government argued that the court was too powerful and interfered too much in political issues, and that they merely wanted to restore a balance.
Lawmakers in the Maine Legislature have granted initial approval to a proposal to expand free breakfast and lunch to all children enrolled in public preschool.

Currently, all Maine students enrolled in public K-12 schools can eat for free since the state adopted the program in 2021, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, if a preschool is not located within a public school, those young learners cant access the universal benefit.

In a state where one in five children experience food insecurity, universal school meals are critical to the health and success of students across Maine, said Rep. Kelly Murphy (D-Scarborough) on Wednesday, urging her House of Representative colleagues to support the bill.

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Students receiving their public education in approved private settings fall into a funding loophole.

Senate President Mattie Daughtry (D-Cumberland), who sponsored the legislation, said she introduced it to bridge that gap, since at least 45 school districts partner with private centers that dont operate their preschools on school campuses. These preschools have to independently figure out how to feed students, and its not always possible due to financial constraints, several child care providers explained during the February public hearing for the bill.

Daughtrys proposal, LD 2064, would establish a grant that would allow off-site preschools to submit applications for $1,200 per student each year. They can also apply for a separate grant of up to $10,000 for infrastructure improvements (such as adding kitchen equipment or transportation to access meals prepared at schools) to be able to provide free breakfast, lunch and a snack. The grant would be operated by Maine Childrens Cabinet Early Childhood Advisory Council with input from the departments of Health and Human Services and Education.

During the Senate debate on Tuesday, Republican Sen. James Libby of Cumberland County raised issues with the increased cost, as well as the liability that would be placed on both child care centers and schools to provide preschoolers with meals.

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Some House Republicans said that while they support the idea of providing meals to all children, they also had questions about how the program would work.

Programs inside our public schools are directly overseen, typically led by certified teachers, and operate within a clear system, said Rep. Kimberly Haggan (R-Hampden). Can we be sure these off-site programs are providing the same level of quality and consistency as programs inside of our schools?

Democrats largely focused on the issue of childhood hunger, with some highlighting the need to address the inequity created by the loophole.

These are public school students receiving a public school education, and if not for their physical location, would be receiving free breakfast and lunch right along with the rest of the students, public school students in Maine, Murphy said.

With both chambers initially supporting the bill, it will now go back for enactment votes before it is funded and sent to the governor.
Topline

The Iran war and the near-complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz has forced several countries to adopt measures to significantly curb energy and fuel use to help tackle a crisis that the International Energy Agency has described as the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market.

People stand in a queue near a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder distribution agency as they wait for a supply of LPG cylinders to be delivered. Getty Images

Key Facts

Tehran has effectively halted the movement of nearly all ships through the Strait of Hormuzwhich is used to carry around 20% of the worlds oilas the U.S.-Israel war against Iran continues.

This has pushed global crude oil prices above $100 per barrel, up from around $67 before the start of the conflict, and is resulting in a daily supply deficit of about 15 million barrels.

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Countries in Asia and Africa, which heavily rely on petroleum supplies from the Middle East, are most affected and have curbed energy usage as a result.

Consumers in the U.S. have been impacted by the surge in crude price as well, with the national average price of gasoline rising around 35% in the past month to $3.983 per gallon.

How Is India Tackling The Fuel Crisis?

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is an essential commodity in homes across the worlds most populous country, where it is used as cooking fuel. India imports 60% of the total LPG it consumes, and 90% of those imports flow through the Strait of Hormuz. The fuel crisis has prompted the Indian government to invoke the Essential Commodities Act, which prioritizes domestic LPG consumers over businesses such as hotels and catering services. The government has also implemented a minimum 25-day gap between LPG cylinder bookings for urban households. Cooking fuel is delivered to most households in the country via subsidized LPG cylinders to their doorstep by state-owned petroleum companies. The new rules limit such delivery bookings to one cylinder every 25 days. Several workplaces in the country, especially major IT firms, are urging employees to Bring Your Own Food to work as they scale back on on-premise cafeterias and food counters.

Motorists queue to fill their tanks ahead of a petrol price adjustment expected on March 23, at a petrol station in Suzhou, in China's eastern Jiangsu province. AFP via Getty Images

How Is China Dealing With The Crisis?

Earlier this month, China imposed a ban on refined fuel exports in a bid to avoid a domestic fuel shortage. According to Reuters, the ban was imposed by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and it covers all shipments of gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel. But there have been reports of long queues at petrol stations and panic buying over concerns that pumps may run out of fuel. China, however, remains more insulated from the crisis than other Asian countries, thanks to its large fuel reserves and decades-long renewable energy push.

Motorists wait in line to purchase fuel at a petrol station in the Mohammadpur area of Dhaka. NurPhoto via Getty Images

What About Other South Asian Countries?

Other countries in South Asia have been hit hard as well and Pakistan has responded by instituting a four-day work week, two-week school closures and a 50% reduction in government fuel allowances. Sri Lanka has also implemented school closures while instituting fuel rationing through a National Fuel Pass QR system. This fuel pass system sets a weekly limit of 25 liters of petrol for cars and 20 liters for three-wheeled tuk-tuks. Bangladeshs government was also forced to introduce a fuel rationing system earlier this month after concerns about fuel shortages triggered panic buying at the pump.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. speaks during a press conference after declaring a national energy emergency. Getty Images

How Are Southeast Asian Countries Dealing With The Oil Crisis?

In a video that garnered widespread interest on social media, prominent Thai TV anchors were seen removing their blazers during a live news broadcast to encourage people to cut back on air conditioning and reduce energy use. The countrys government has advised offices to set air-conditioner temperatures at 79-80 degrees Fahrenheit, cut back on elevator use and encouraged car pooling. In the Philippines, President Ferdinand Marcos has declared a year-long state of energy emergency, warning that the ongoing conflict posed an imminent danger of a critically low energy supply. In a bid to keep electricity prices in check, the countrys government has said it plans to expand output from coal-fired power plants.

How Are African Countries Responding?

In a bid to cut energy use, Egypt has ordered malls and restaurants to close by 9 p.m. every day. The countrys officials have also suspended the use of lighting in billboards and ordered government offices to close by 6 pm every day. To address potential shortages, Ethiopia has established a priority list for allocating fuel. Under this measure, security and defense, crucial public projects, manufacturers and exporters, commercial farms, and public transport are being prioritized.

Tangent

Last week, the International Energy Agency published a list of 10 measures to reduce fuel use and help tackle the crisis. The options outlined included expanded work from home, lowering of highway speed limits, encouraging public transport and carpooling, avoiding air travel and switching from petroleum-based cooking fuels to alternatives like electric cookers.

Further Reading

National Gas Prices Near $4 Per Gallon As Oil Inches Back Up (Forbes)

This article was originally published on Forbes.com
When former Rep. Tyler Clancy earlier this month left his last legislative session as a lawmaker and quickly stepped into his new role as state homeless coordinator, he immediately faced a pressing challenge with a fast-approaching deadline.

For the last several years, Utahs homeless system has relied on about $1 million a month to keep about 670 overflow beds open for people experiencing homelessness. The overflow effort started as a way to increase capacity temporarily during cold winter months, but state officials in recent years have worked to keep many of those beds open year-round so as to not force hundreds of people out of shelter and onto the streets each spring.

But come April 30, the one-time money that has kept those overflow beds open is set to expire. And the new infusion of millions of dollars for homelessness the 2026 Utah Legislature approved earlier this year isnt set to start becoming available until the next fiscal year starts July 1.

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So Clancy spent his first few weeks as homeless coordinator putting together a proposal  coined Project Bridge  to fill the funding gap from May 1 to June 30 while also laying the groundwork for how the Utah Office of Homeless Services will spend its newly appropriated money.

The Utah Homeless Services Board  which controls the purse strings for Utahs homeless system  voted on Tuesday to approve Clancys Project Bridge plan and $1.1 million out of the offices flexible fund to keep the overflow beds open.

Clancy told Utah News Dispatch in an interview Tuesday morning he doesnt want to just keep the status quo of the beds themselves, but also ensure that everyone currently using them receives case management to connect them individually with what they need to move out of shelter, whether thats housing, substance abuse treatment, mental health services, or other pathways.

Project Bridge, Clancy said in a statement issued after the boards vote, represents a shift in how the state is responding to homelessness.

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We are moving beyond simply managing capacity and focusing on ensuring every individual experiencing homelessness has a clear, actionable path toward stability, he said. This is about delivering meaningful results for the people we serve.

That $1.1 million will cover the plan for about a month, Clancy said, meaning he still has work to do to identify another $900,000 or so to fund the second month of the plan.

An inventory of Utahs 670 overflow homeless beds

The following homeless facilities can flex their capacity during winter months to house more people with overflow beds. Some facilities, like the West Valley shelter, are now year-round shelters.

The Pamela Atkinson Atkinson Resource Center in South Salt Lake has 75 overflow beds, in addition to its 300 permanent beds. Total capacity: 375 beds.

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The Geraldine E. King Womens Resource Center in Salt Lake City has 50 overflow beds, in addition to its 200 permanent beds. Total capacity: 250.

The Gail Miller Resource Center in Salt Lake City has 50 overflow beds, in addition to its 200 permanent beds. Total capacity: 250.

Switchpoints facility in West Valley City has 200 beds. This facility started as winter overflow, but in 2023 began operating as a year-round shelter.

Ville 1990 in Salt Lake City has 210 beds. It was originally funded as permanent supportive housing, but last winter it was temporarily turned into a shelter.

St. Vincent de Paul Dining Hall in Salt Lake City has 65 winter overflow beds.

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Volunteers of Americas Youth Resource Center has 20 overflow beds, in addition to its 50 permanent beds. Total capacity: 70 beds.

Were still looking for more opportunities in state appropriations, but were going to be asking our city, county partners to see if they can match that and so that we can stabilize those beds during this transition period, Clancy said.

Those local governments could include Salt Lake County, Salt Lake City, South Salt Lake and West Valley City.

However, Clancy said its possible that the full $2 million wont be needed if there are vacancies in existing housing, or substance abuse or mental health programs that can be filled by people currently using overflow beds.

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If we just kept the status quo, we would need $2 million, he said. But there are services that are already operational, that are already functional, that have availability that were already funding.

In West Valley, for example, Switchpoint is currently operating a 200-bed overflow facility, but the residents there dont receive case management to connect them to other services, he said.

So were hoping to send some teams to West Valley City for Project Bridge and meet with those clients, Clancy said. And if a client shares that theyre dealing with substance abuse challenges and addiction, not only are we going to get them a referral  were actually going to provide transportation, were going to provide warm hand offs, and make sure that we can match people to the individuals to the needs that they have.

A screenshot of a presentation to the Utah Homeless Services Board on March 24 shows a breakdown of new funding Utah lawmakers appropriated to programs to alleviate homelessness during their 2026 general session.

The hope is to create more efficiency within the current system, Clancy said, while he and his team also prepare their proposals on how to spend about $19 million in new ongoing money and $26.6 million in one-time money that the Legislature set aside for the states homeless system.

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However, the vast majority of that money  about $17.5 million in ongoing and $26 million in one-time funds  comes with a catch.

Lawmakers attached intent language to that funding, saying the Office of Homeless Services can only spend the money if local governments put up a one-to-one match to double the funds. And legislators required the office to report their plans to legislative leaders powerful Executive Appropriations Committee before spending it.

It remains to be seen which cities or counties will pledge money to double homeless funding to about $35 million in ongoing money and more than $52 million in one-time funds.

Were working with legislative leadership and members of the Legislature to understand what might qualify for that one-to-one match, but those discussions will be ongoing through the spring and summer and into the fall as well, Nick Coleman, assistant homeless coordinator, told board members during their meeting Tuesday.

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, who is a member of the Utah Homeless Services Board, said earlier this month that shes encouraged by the new infusion of state dollars for homelessness  but she also hopes the new local match requirement falls on other cities that dont currently host homeless shelters. She argued that Salt Lake City already spends a profound amount on homelessness, to the tune of $25 million a year.

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Clancy told Utah News Dispatch hes looking for partnerships across the state  including outside of Salt Lake City  to help fulfill that match requirement.

We have amazing local leaders across the state, from from Provo to Price to Logan to Box Elder (County), and we feel confident that this is going to be an opportunity for us to work together, Clancy said, adding that hes feeling confident and that the conversations thus far have been overwhelmingly positive.

We hope to announce some partnerships soon, he said. We dont want to jump the gun on anything, but its definitely been a positive couple of weeks.

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By Sabine Siebold

BERLIN, March 25 (Reuters) - The German army is working to accelerate wartime decision-making through artificial intelligence tools capable of analysing battlefield data more rapidly than humans, drawing lessons from Ukrainian and other forces, its commander told Reuters.

Lieutenant General Christian Freuding, who became army chief last October after years of overseeing Germany's arms supplies to Kyiv, shared his insights from visits to Ukrainian command posts where drones and modern sensors have drastically increased the volume of battlefield data.

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"The Ukrainians exploit data which they have collected over four years of war. Based on this data, the AI can deduce how the enemy has acted in similar situations in the past - and recommend countermeasures," he said.

He noted that tasks now requiring hundreds of personnel and days to complete could be sped up significantly through AI, adding that conventional methods alone would never be enough to "break the adversary's decision-making cycle".

Freuding suggested utilising data from Ukraine and from German military exercises when training analytical tools, ensuring alignment with Germany's operational principles.

Addressing ethical concerns, he emphasised that AI would serve only as an advisory tool to facilitate human decision-making.

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"The task of taking analytical and balanced decisions will always remain with the human, with the soldier," he said, adding that while a specific AI product is yet to be selected, the technology's deployment is a priority.

Freuding underscored the importance of aligning Germany's AI systems with NATO's evolving standards. He did not rule out a European-developed system, but said American solutions might offer practical advantages due to their advanced deployment.

"Personally, I think it's important that we get something up and running quickly. Of course, issues like data sovereignty and security need to be taken into account," he added.

The U.S. army is fielding the AI tool Maven, made by the Silicon Valley company Palantir, to process battlefield data, including imagery and video, to improve situational awareness and speed up decision-making.

(Reporting by Sabine Siebold, editing by Andrei Khalip)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is open to further measures against rising energy and petrol prices as a result of the Iran war, he said on Wednesday.

An initial package of measures, including the fixing of prices at petrol stations, could be passed this week in the Bundestag and Bundesrat, the chancellor said during parliamentary questioning of the government.

However, this would "not be enough to curb prices in such a way that they become acceptable for consumers again," he said.

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Further measures are therefore conceivable, but Merz was sceptical about some that had been suggested. "An excess profits tax seems to me to cause considerable tax law problems simply because of the definition of excess profits. But I am open to any discussion," he said.

His government "cannot compensate for every price development with tax measures or measures from the federal budget. The best way to bring prices back under control is to end the war in Iran," Merz said.

The German government was doing everything it could to achieve this goal as quickly as possible, he added.
A large suction dredger has been deployed to help in the rescue of a humpback whale stranded on Germany's Baltic Sea coast.

Carsten Mannheimer, from the marine conservation organization Sea Shepherd, told dpa on Wednesday that this might be the last chance to free the animal, which has been stuck in shallow waters since Monday.

The dredger will be used to dig a channel in the sand in front of the whale's head. This way, the animal does not have to turn to get away, explained Mannheimer. It was initially unclear whether the operation would begin on Wednesday or Thursday.

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In contrast to the previous days, the whale's regular growling could no longer be heard on Wednesday. Experts have also observed skin changes.

According to experts from the German Oceanographic Museum, the whale's chances of survival are considered slim.

The humpback whale, stranded off the district of Niendorf, is larger than initially assumed. It is probably between 12 and 15 metres long and weighs an estimated 15 tons, said Joseph Schnitzler from the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research.

The humpback whale was discovered on the sandbank on Monday morning. On Tuesday, a rescue attempt with a small suction dredger failed.

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Attempts to make waves using police boats to allow the whale to swim free also proved unsuccessful. Even the high tide on Tuesday night was not enough to free the trapped sea mammal.

According to experts, humpback whales can weigh up to around 30 tons and have a life expectancy of up to 90 years. The species is characterized by its long pectoral fins, which reach a third of its body length.
A German union is challenging the results of the works council election at the Tesla plant in eastern Germany.

The IG Metall union said on Wednesday that it has submitted a motion to the electric vehicle manufacturer seeking to invalidate the results from the vote earlier in March.

Millions of employees across Germany take part in internal elections every four years in accordance with the country's works council system, which allows workers a say in the running of companies.

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However, IG Metall alleged that the election campaign at the Tesla site in Grunheide, outside Berlin, was marred by threats from the company, with attempts at intimidation and unequal treatment of the various candidates.

This leaves "no other conclusion than to regard this as unlawful interference in the election," the union said, calling for a re-run of the election.

IG Metall official Christiane Benner said: "The impression that the election at Tesla was influenced by threats is too serious not to be clarified in court."

The union had accused Tesla of management interference following its failure to win the election.

Ahead of the vote, Tesla chief executive Elon Musk had warned in a video message to the workforce that the planned expansion of the factory could be scrapped.
Ivan Rogers, former British permanent representative to the European Union, delivers a speech at a China-Britain investor forum in London, Britain, March 24, 2026. A China-Britain investor forum was held in London on Tuesday, bringing more than 100 representatives from government, industry and academia to explore opportunities in deepening bilateral cooperation. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

LONDON, March 25 (Xinhua) -- A China-Britain investor forum was held in London on Tuesday, bringing more than 100 representatives from government, industry and academia to explore opportunities in deepening bilateral cooperation.

Chinese Ambassador to Britain Zheng Zeguang made a keynote speech at the conference hosted by the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF). He said China's development in building a strong domestic market, cultivating new growth drivers, expanding high-standard opening-up and accelerating green transformation provides new opportunities for cooperation between the two countries.

Noting that business communities in China and Britain have always been a strong force in promoting bilateral relations, Zheng expressed his hope that business cooperation could expand trade in goods and services, consolidate two-way investment, and enhance third-party market cooperation.

He also encouraged enterprises of both sides to seize opportunities and expand cooperation in green finance, fintech, asset management, insurance and other areas.

Ivan Rogers, former British permanent representative to the European Union, said as China commits to high-quality development and high-level opening up, its prosperity further increases the opportunities for Britain.

With strength in the services sector, such as financial, business, legal, consultancy and educational services, Britain has much to offer to China, he noted.

OMFIF Chairman David Marsh said Britain is in a good position to take the lead in promoting a renewed European-Chinese partnership. Opportunities for deeper China-Britain collaboration lie in many areas, such as finance, artificial intelligence, communications, transport and energy, he added.

Rachel Kyte, British special representative for climate at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, described the fields related to climate and clean energy as increasingly important pillars of the China-Britain relationship. She told Xinhua that the two sides have strengthened technical cooperation in power market reform and the development of battery storage technology. 

A participant listens to a keynote speech at a China-Britain investor forum in London, Britain, March 24, 2026. A China-Britain investor forum was held in London on Tuesday, bringing more than 100 representatives from government, industry and academia to explore opportunities in deepening bilateral cooperation. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

The Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF) Chairman David Marsh delivers a speech at a China-Britain investor forum in London, Britain, March 24, 2026. A China-Britain investor forum was held in London on Tuesday, bringing more than 100 representatives from government, industry and academia to explore opportunities in deepening bilateral cooperation. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
Germany has begun a controversial series of nuclear waste transports in its most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia, a spokesman for the state's Interior Ministry told dpa.

The first convoy, carrying a Castor container, left an ex research reactor site in the western city of Julich late on Tuesday and reached an interim storage facility in Ahaus early on Wednesday, around four hours after departure, according to a dpa reporter.

The shipment, escorted by a heavy police presence, is the first of 152 planned transports involving radioactive waste. Around 2,400 police officers were deployed for the operation.

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Authorities declined to disclose the exact route of the roughly 170-kilometre journey in advance.

The transport remained fully on schedule and was even slightly faster than originally planned, a police spokesman said.

According to an Interior Ministry spokesman, the convoy consisted of around 100 vehicles in total and a helicopter was also deployed during the operation.

In total, about 300,000 fuel element spheres from the decommissioned Julich reactor are to be relocated over an extended period, making it one of the largest nuclear waste transport operations by road in Germany in decades.

The transfers follow a series of court rulings, including a March decision by a higher administrative court allowing the shipments to proceed. Environmental group BUND had sought to block the transports, citing security concerns during transit.

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Germany's federal office for the safety of nuclear waste management approved the plan in August. Four specialized vehicles are available, each capable of carrying one container at a time.

The waste has remained in temporary storage in Julich since the site's operating licence expired in 2013. State authorities ordered its removal in 2014 after an earthquake safety concerns.

The plan has faced opposition from local residents and activists in Ahaus, with several protests held along the route. Demonstrations in Julich, Ahaus and Duisburg drew dozens to a few hundred participants, according to dpa reporters, but did not delay the transport.

The country has no permanent repository where radioactive waste can be safely stored for hundreds of thousands of years. Instead, there are 16 interim storage facilities, including the one in Ahaus.
The German government on Wednesday presented its climate strategy, promising to build 2,000 onshore wind turbines, as environmental experts warned the measures would not be sufficient for the country to meet its climate targets.

Germany is aiming to become climate-neutral by 2045, but calculations from the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) suggest the country's self-imposed 2030 target of reducing greenhouse gases by 65% by 2030 based on 1990 emissions levels could be missed.

After the strategy was passed in the Cabinet, Environment Minister Carsten Schneider promised a "new impetus for climate action, which will make us less reliant on expensive and unreliable oil and gas imports."

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The UBA has found that Germany is only on track to cut emissions by 62.6% compared to 1990 by 2030, meaning 30 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent must still be avoided.

In its strategy, the government outlined 67 measures to save 27.1 million tons by the end of the decade.

As well as the wind turbines, which should have a capacity of 12 gigawatts and save 6.5 million tons, the policies include subsidies for electric vehicles and public transport, the expansion of district heating networks with renewable energies and transitioning from natural gas to electricity in industrial processes.

Energy expert Claudia Kemfert from the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) warned that the strategy's calculations were "too optimistic" and subject to "considerable uncertainty" as they focs on subsidy programmes and voluntary measures.

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Simple, effective measures such as nationwide speed limits and cheaper public transport subsidies are missing, she said.

The government was legally required to present its strategy to meet climate targets within one year of the start of the new legislative period, with the deadline falling on Wednesday.

Further measures include transitions from diesel motors to electric engines in the agricultural sector, the conversion of monocultures such as pure spruce plantations into mixed forests that are better able to withstand global warming and droughts, and protection for peatlands, which are important carbon sinks.

Schneider emphasized that the government was making significant progress with the strategy. But Im not naive. Further progress will be necessary, but it will also be possible," he added.

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The German Advisory Council on Climate Change expressed serious doubts, warning that the strategy does not meet the legal requirements.

"Subject to a more detailed review, the Advisory Council assumes that the measures taken so far are highly unlikely to be sufficient to ensure that climate targets are met," it said.

The parliamentary leader of the oppositions Greens, Katharina Droge, called the strategy a "brazen deception."

While Schneider announces a few additional climate measures, Economy Minister Katherina Reiche is working every day to undermine climate action, Droge said.

Under Reiche's plans, Germany is set to construct new gas-fired power stations to secure the electricity supply when renewable energies are unable to do so.
A GoFundMe set up for TSA agents at Appleton International Airport has raised over $2,400 in two days.

Emily Tseffos, Democratic candidate for Wisconsin Senate District 19, organized the fundraiser to support Transportation Security Administration agents during the partial government shutdown. The six-week shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security has left TSA agents temporarily unpaid and caused significant delays at airports nationwide. The Transportation Security Administration is funded through DHS.

The money from the GoFundMe would go towards groceries, gas cards, and essential supplies for TSA agents, the page says.

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"We're going to try to offer some real, immediate help for families who shouldnt be put in this position in the first place," Tseffos wrote.

By March 25, 46 donors raised $2,433.

TSA agents won't get paychecks until lawmakers pass a deal for DHS funding. The DHS shutdown started Feb. 13 when Congress sparred over funding for national security measures, including Democrats' demands for Immigration and Customs Enforcement reforms after the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

Contact Benita Mathew at bmathew@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: GoFundMe raises money for TSA workers at Appleton airport
State Rep. Eddie Andrews has qualified for the 2026 Republican gubernatorial primary ballot, the State Objection Panel ruled Wednesday.

The three-person panel, which hears challenges to candidates nominating papers, began their discussion Tuesday on an objection filed challenging aspects of Andrews filing. When the panel initially met, staff for the Iowa Secretary of States office had found the campaign fell short of the requirement for gubernatorial candidates to submit at least 100 signatures from at least 19 counties in order to qualify for the June 2, 2026 primary ballot.

On Wednesday, after reviewing challenges to signatures in Carroll and Pottawattamie counties, the panel consisting of Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, Attorney General Brenna Bird and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig voted to overrule the objection. The review from the Secretary of States office and the panel found Andrews had met the signature requirements to appear on the primary ballot.

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After the State Objection Panel made its ruling, supporters of Andrews campaign in the room cheered. Andrews, speaking with reporters, thanked staff and the members of the panel for their work. He said the decision was not just a win for the Eddie Andrews campaign, but its a win for Iowa and win for Iowa voters.

Citizens all across the state of Iowa  signed those petitions in all 99 counties, thousands, Andrews said. We exceeded by thousands the 3,500 (total signatures) threshold limit. And as you saw, we had 19 (counties with)  the minimum required signatures of 100. And let me tell you, I am extremely ecstatic, not just for our candidacy, but for the state of Iowa and the voters who now get a chance to have their their voice heard on June 2.

Objections were brought by David Bush, a Republican who spoke before the panel as it reconvened Wednesday. He said he was not informed of his ability to appear at the Tuesday hearing to make a statement about his objection, and came late to the previous meeting after hearing panelists ask for his statement. Bush said he was mischaracterized as a coward, a shill for some campaign and faced claims that he was not even a real person from online commenters and critics.

Bush said he raised the objection because of his commitment to election integrity and support for GOP efforts like the federal SAVE America Act. He also denied claims that the challenge was raised in order to boost the chances of another primary candidate in the field of five Republicans running for Iowa governor.

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Andrews, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, former Iowa Department of Administrative Services director Adam Steen, Zach Lahn, a businessman who has worked for Americans for Prosperity, and former state lawmaker Brad Sherman have qualified for the GOP primary ballot, according to the Iowa SOS office.

While I am supporting another primary candidate in this race, my core reason for initiating this has nothing to do with hurting Eddie or helping someone else, Bush said. I hope we havent gotten to the point that supporting a candidate and wanting election integrity are mutually exclusive.

Andrews told reporters he was contacted three times by the Steen and campaign staff, who said they planned to challenge his place on the primary ballot. He said staff members of Steens campaign met him and his campaign supporters at the Capitol before they submitted nominating papers and told Andrews their intent to file a challenge.

After the Johnston Republican had submitted his papers, Andrews said Steen called him on March 17, and told him, if youre not going to be on Team Steen, we are going to challenge you.

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And I said, thank you very much, I humbly decline that interesting offer,' Andrews said. On the 18th, his team called me again and laid it on thick. Either join Team Steen, or were going to challenge you, every signature. I said  at that point, I hung up the phone and said, do whatever you want to do.'

A statement from the Steen campaign provided to the Iowa Capital Dispatch Wednesday said the claims made by Andrews characterizing Steen and campaign staff comments as threatening to challenging his candidacy were false.

Neither Adam nor anyone affiliated with the campaign threatened Eddie Andrews, the campaign said in the statement. We did have conversations with him inviting him to join Team Steen because we respect Eddie, believe he has a lot to offer, and know he would be a valuable part of a Steen administration but at no point was it presented as a threat.

The statement also clarified while Bush supports Steens gubernatorial bid, his decision to file a challenge was made independently, as is his right under Iowa law. The Steen campaign stated they respect the decision of the State Objection Panel and that the challenge process functioned as intended.

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On Tuesday, the panel had chosen to dismiss objections to Andrews campaign petitions based on paper size and formatting. But as the meeting began, Iowa Secretary of State staff accepted objections to a number of signatures in several counties that were based on legitimate concerns, like duplicate signatures or invalid addresses, which initially appeared to put Andrews below the 100 signatures in 19 counties requirement.

The panel had initially agreed to reconvene Wednesday after Andrews and Jacob Heard, his attorney, had said they were given insufficient time and notice to respond to the objection, and were not provided documents needed to dispute claims made by the challenge.

On Wednesday, SOS staff said Clayton and OBrien counties did not meet the 100 signature threshold following further review of the questioned counties, but Clarke County was found to have 101 valid signatures. While Harrison County was first labeled as a county that did not meet the signature requirement, the panel accepted signatures that were initially deemed invalid due to paper size, ending the total at 112 signatures for the county Tuesday. This put Andrews at the 19 counties with 100 signatures requirement.

Pate thanked Andrews, Bush and his fellow members of the panel for their efforts in reviewing the objection. He said he understood the frustration and questions about timelines and obligations brought up by the objector and the candidate, but said the panel also faces a tight deadline as the body has to provide sufficient time for their decision to be challenged in court and for primary ballots to be printed.

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After having come to a conclusion, we will put the ballots together and well move on to the primary, Pate said.

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This story has been updated with a statement provided by the Steen campaign.
The move is intended to strengthen resilience and support community relief efforts, reflecting a clear policy: the enemy evacuates, while Israels residents remain strong in their homes."

The government approved on Wednesday the allocation of approximately NIS 60 million to go toward Israeli frontline communities, heavily impacted by Hezbollah and Iranian missile attacks on the northern border during the war.

It was also approved to allocate NIS 50 million to assist residents across the country whose homes have been damaged by missile attacks.

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The announcement was made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who said the decision is part of a broader package of measures aimed at strengthening the home front and local authorities during the war.

As part of the plan, approximately NIS 60 million will be allocated to frontline communities within 0-9 kilometers of the border.

The move is intended to strengthen resilience and support community relief efforts, reflecting a clear policy: the enemy evacuates, while Israels residents remain strong in their homes, the joint statement from Netanyahu and Smotrich said.

An Emergency personnel member inspects inside a damaged building, following a reported strike, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel, March 19, 2026 (credit: REUTERS/TYRONE SIU)

The additional NIS 50 million approved by the government was said to be transferred to give immediate assistance to local authorities forced to evacuate residents due to missile damage, to help them address challenges on the ground.

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Kiryat Shmona Mayor Avichai Stern sharply criticized the governments recent conduct, saying it has failed to aid the northern city.

Stern made the remarks during a Wednesday meeting with local authority heads, which was posted in a video on social media.

Kiryat Shmona 'disappearing' as war rages on

The Kiryat Shmona mayor said he wakes up every morning feeling that the State of Israel is fighting me  not Iran, not Lebanon, not the enemies  me.

He also warned that the city was simply disappearing. Today, about 10,000 residents remain. If this continues for another month, there will be ten left, only those who cannot leave.

Regarding government funding, Stern said he has yet to see an increased budget for the city.

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They say we received money and didnt know how to use it. What money has reached me? Everyone here knows the delays. There are decisions, but no money. You want to talk to me about resilience? Even resilience has limits, he said.

The government decided not to evacuate northern residents during Operation Roaring Lion, despite Hezbollahs continued missile attacks on communities bordering Lebanon.

Communities along the northern border were already severely affected following the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre and throughout the ensuing war. During that period, hundreds of thousands of residents were forced to leave their homes as the area came under sustained rocket fire.

The area had not recovered from that earlier damage when Operation Roaring Lion began.

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Following the decision to allocate the funds, Netanyahu said, The resilience of Israels citizens, and of the residents of the North in particular, is inspiring. Beyond compensation for businesses and employees, we approved a significant addition for frontline communities and residents.

We will continue to assist in every way the communities that stand firm in this campaign, and we will continue to strike our enemies with force, he added.

Smotrich said the government is strengthening the home front, reinforcing local authorities, and providing full backing to its citizens.

We will continue to act quickly, responsibly, and decisively to ensure that no one on the home front is left alone, he said.

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While residents of Lebanon are evacuating, Israeli citizens remain in their homes and demonstrate determination and strength, he added.

At the start of Operation Roaring Lion, the government had approved an initial emergency grant for residents whose homes were damaged and deemed uninhabitable due to ongoing Iranian missile strikes.

Residents whose homes sustained significant damage have been evacuated to government-funded hotels.

Separately, a compensation framework for businesses impacted by the war was approved by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation on Wednesday. It is expected to be submitted to the Knesset and brought for final readings in the coming days, the Finance Ministry said.

Compensation framework for daycares announced

A compensation framework for daycares affected by closures due to the war throughout March was also announced.

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The ministry said the framework guarantees compensation to affected daycare centers and kindergartens, enabling them to provide refunds to parents who already paid in advance for childcare in March.

However, the ministry noted that the state cannot intervene in contracts between daycare centers and parents directly, and therefore cannot mandate refunds to parents. The framework still requires Knesset approval as well.

Meanwhile, the 2026 state budget is set to be brought to the Knesset for its final readings in the coming days. The updated budget includes approximately NIS 32 billion in additional funding for the Defense Ministry, citing wartime expenses.

The updated budget also led to a 3% across-the-board cut to all government ministries.
South Dakota Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden vetoed a bill on Wednesday that would require state licensing of non-medical home care agencies, his second veto of the 2026 legislative session.

The vetoed bill is sponsored by Brookings Republican Rep. Mellissa Heermann, who said she introduced the legislation to protect vulnerable South Dakotans using personal or home care services  often people who are disabled or elderly.

South Dakota doesnt mandate licensure, training or background checks for home services unless theyre paid through Medicaid. The bill would require eight hours of training and background checks for all non-medical home care workers, along with a $100 annual license fee for each non-medical home care agency.

More legislative news

See all of Searchlights coverage of the 2026 legislative session.

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Read the latest

Lawmakers will consider the veto Monday. Overriding it will require a two-thirds vote in each chamber  47 votes in the House and 24 in the Senate. The bill was supported 41-25 by the state House in February and 20-14 earlier this month in the state Senate.

Rhoden explained his veto in a letter, saying the regulations in the bill are too broad and create a false sense of consumer protection because the state Department of Health doesnt have authority to examine or verify the background checks required in the bill. A representative with the state Department of Health opposed the bill during legislative committee hearings.

Rhodens explanation surprised Heermann, who said she worked with the Health Department on a compromise. Originally, the bill was more aggressive in its protections.

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We made this compromise in good faith, but one of the concerns is that its not strong enough now, Heermann said.

The Department of Health continued to oppose the bill after Heermanns amendments.

Brookings Republican Rep. Mellissa Heermann greets another lawmaker during the governors budget address on Dec. 3, 2024, at the South Dakota Capitol in Pierre. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

More regulations could risk reducing access to services in rural areas of the state, Rhoden added. He said in a news release that state regulation should be as limited and targeted as possible.

I am directing the Department of Health to work with stakeholders to develop a more effective framework that provides meaningful protections without placing unnecessary burdens on those who provide essential services, Rhoden said.

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Heermann said if the Legislature doesnt override Rhodens veto, shell push for legislative discussions with the executive branch, stakeholders and affected South Dakotans to introduce a bill next winter if shes reelected.

I think its a critical piece of legislation and a critical protection that should already be in place, Heermann said. When it comes to veto day, I think its a heavy lift and involves many conversations.

Rhoden has signed 222 bills into law and vetoed two this legislative session. The other veto is on a bill that would ban lab-grown meat in the state. Although lawmakers have not yet considered that veto, Rhoden has signed a compromise bill into law that will place a five-year moratorium on lab-grown meat.

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A bill that would impose a 25-foot buffer zone around first responders, including federal immigration agents, is nearing final passage in the GOP-controlled Kentucky legislature.

Senate Bill 104 would criminalize harassing or impeding local law enforcement, medics and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

Senate Bill 104

The Kentucky House of Representatives approved the measure by a 79-16 vote on Wednesday with most of the minority of Democrats opposing the measure. Democrats raised concerns that the First Amendment rights of protestors and journalists would be infringed.

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Rep. Adam Moore, D-Lexington, unsuccessfully tried to add an amendment to protect people photographing, recording, filming, or observing a first responder as long as the first responder isnt being obstructed.

The Kentucky Senate would have to concur with a change to the bill made on the House floor before it is sent to Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear for his consideration. The House added an unrelated provision that expands eligibility of a wellness program for rescue squad members.

Rep. Wade Williams, R-Madisonville, the former chief of police for the Hopkins County seat, who presented the bill, told lawmakers that police officers, firefighters and medics must respond to situations that are chaotic, dangerous and unpredictable.

Rep. Wade Williams, R-Madisonville, a former police chief, presents Senate Bill 104 in the Kentucky House, March 25, 2026. (LRC Public Information)

In those moments, their focus should be on protecting life and restoring order, Williams said. A firefighter pulling equipment through a crowd, a paramedic trying to save someones life, or an officer managing a dangerous situation, should not have to fight through unnecessary interference.

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The bills sponsor, Sen. Matt Nunn, R-Sadieville, told reporters last month its provisions would also cover ICE agents. He had described the bill as a Halo Act, the name for a bill in Congress backed by the National Police Association that would create a 25-foot buffer zone around federal immigration officers where people could be arrested and charged after being given a warning.

SB 104 would criminalize harassing, impeding or threatening with physical harm first responders going about their duties if that first responder had given a verbal warning and the person enters and remains within a 25-foot zone around the first responder. The first few offenses would be misdemeanors, while the fourth offense would be a Class D felony.

The bill defines harassment as intentionally engaging in a course of conduct directed at a first responder which causes or is intended to cause substantial emotional distress in the first responder and serves no legitimate purpose.

Rep. Adam Moore, left, D-Lexington, offered an amendment to shield from prosecution people who are photographing or filming law enforcement. (LRC Public Information)

In speaking on his proposed amendment, Moore, the Lexington Democrat, referenced an ongoing federal court case in which a judge granted a preliminary injunction preventing ICE agents from retaliating against demonstrators. He said while he supported first responders and law enforcement, he was worried that subjective standards in the law would invite abuse.

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I do think that we are being naive and optimistic if we dont think that theres potential for federal actions, those outside our state, to come here and cause some of the chaos that we saw in other states, Moore said in explaining his vote against the bill.

Williams said Moores amendment to the bill wasnt needed.

We talk out of one side of our hand how we support law enforcement and then we go on a rant about how law enforcement shouldnt be doing their job, Williams said in response to Moore.
By Sam Tobin

LONDON, March 24 (Reuters) - Hedge fund manager Crispin Odey denied he had been unable to "control himself" around female employees as he gave evidence on Tuesday in an effort to overturn the Financial Conduct Authority's plan to impose an industry ban on him.

Odey, who founded Odey Asset Management in 1991, shot to prominence during the 2008 financial crisis after making a fortune short-selling bank shares. He later became a leading backer of Brexit and a donor to the Conservative Party.

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Financial watchdog the FCA said last year it would fine and ban Odey for a lack of integrity in relation to how his now-defunct firm investigated allegations of sexual harassment.

Odey is appealing against the ban, which would prevent him from working in the British financial services industry.

WATCHDOG ALLEGES ODEY FRUSTRATED DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES

The FCA says Odey deliberately frustrated his fund's disciplinary process by twice dismissing the members of its executive committee, in 2021 and 2022. Odey, however, says he was trying to protect OAM, which "faced an existential crisis".

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Giving evidence at London's Upper Tribunal, Odey said he was "deeply embarrassed" about an incident in which he groped a staff member and accepted in his witness statement having been "something of a dinosaur", but generally defended his conduct.

He also said he never knowingly made women uncomfortable, and had developed insight into his behaviour after a disciplinary hearing, realising "it was not appropriate that I should be trying to chat up" young staff members.

FCA APPEAL FIRST OF ODEY'S TWO CASES

Odey was questioned about several allegations made by women working at OAM, including an incident in 2005 when Odey gave a woman a shoulder massage and then touched her breasts.

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The 67-year-old, who blames the incident on a sedative he was given for a dental procedure earlier that day, later told the FCA that he subsequently distanced himself from the woman.

The FCA's lawyer Claire Sibson suggested this was because "you found it hard to control yourself". Odey replied: "No, this was 2005, we are now (in) 2026."

He added that he apologised to the woman the following day and she continued to work at OAM for nearly another decade.

His appearance in the witness box is the first of two this year, ahead of the joint trial starting in June of Odey's libel lawsuit against the Financial Times and personal injury lawsuits against Odey by five women, whose lawyer sat in court on Tuesday.

The former hedge fund manager was charged in 2020 with sexually assaulting a woman in 1998 and was acquitted in 2021.

(Reporting by Sam Tobin; editing by Barbara Lewis)
MOSCOW, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Russia will respond harshly if Japanese authorities start supplying lethal weapons and military equipment to Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.

"All of this further sets back the prospects of a settlement in Ukraine," she said at a weekly briefing.

"In this regard, we would like to warn once again that any attempts by the Japanese leadership to supply lethal weapons and military equipment to the Kiev regime will be regarded by Russia as hostile actions against our country," Zakharova said, adding that such moves will inevitably trigger harsh retaliatory measures. 
Former Fox News mainstay Megyn Kelly scorched her ex-boss, media mogul Rupert Murdoch, and the pro-war faction of the Republican Party for goading President Donald Trump into conflict.

Murdoch will be long gone before Americans have to reckon with the fallout from the war, Kelly declared of her 95-year-old former employer during a heated segment on Tuesdays episode of her YouTube show.

Hell be dead soon, she said, citing Bloomberg News reports that the Australian news titan helped coax Trump into Iran.

Megyn Kelly slammed 95-year-old media mogul Rupert Murdoch, shown here last April, saying he'd be dead by the time the consequences of the Iran conflict come home to roost. Taylor Hill via Getty Images

Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost.

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Earlier in the segment, Kelly had rolled a clip of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) encouraging Trump to follow through on his threat to deploy troops to Irans Kharg Island, a critical chokepoint for nearly all of the nations oil exports.

Keep it up for a few more weeks, Graham said before callously invoking one of the bloodiest moments in modern U.S. military history during a Sunday interview on Fox News. We did Iwo Jima. We can do this. The Marines, my money is always on the Marines.

Politics: 'This Man Is A Monster': Lindsey Graham Ripped After 'Ghoulish' New Iran Claim

Kelly was incensed by the comments, telling viewers, Unbelievable. 6,821 U.S. service personnel died in the battle for Iwo Jima, 19,217 were wounded. How dare he speak about it so cavalierly?

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How dare he? she continued, noting that Graham has no children and is not sending a young son or daughter into battle. Eff this guy.

Calling the South Carolina Republican a bloodthirsty lunatic, Kelly applauded Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), who had told the senator he was treating troops like expendable cattle while resharing the interview on X.

Kelly, shown here at a live show in Sugar Land, Texas, last October, railed against her former Fox News boss for influencing President Donald Trump's foray into Iran. Marcus Ingram via Getty Images

Murdoch, too, is acting as if our troops are, quote, expendable cattle. You wont have to live with the consequences of what [Trumps] doing, Kelly pointed out.

Telling her viewers that her perspective was hers alone, the former TV personality said, Theres no agenda pushing me to say one thing or another, anything other than my own opinion. I dont take any foreign money. I dont take any money from the government. I dont owe any favors to anybody in the Trump administration. Nothing. Nothing.

Related...

Read the original on HuffPost
The family of Freeman Short, one of the seven souls lost aboard the Lily Jean fishing vessel out of Gloucester, believes he is still with the ship  and are pushing to get him and others returned to shore.

Its been nearly two months since the fishing vessel rapidly sank on a January morning without a mayday call into frigid water.

Seven crew members aboard lost their lives. Only one crew members body was retrieved.

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Freeman Short, 31, was working on the boat at the time to make extra money. He served as a US National Guardsman for 13 years and was set to be deployed in June, his family said.

Freeman wanted to be a dad, he wanted to get married, and my heart breaks for him because hell never get that chance now, said Tiffany Leigh, his girlfriend.

His aunt, Debbie Farrell, added, Hes down there. 300 feet down in the water... [The ocean] sounds different now. It sounds angrier.

The two told Boston 25 news reporter Daniel Coates on Tuesday that they believe his body and others could be in the cabin of the boat.

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Days after the boat sank, they claimed state environmental police used submersible devices to identify the wreckage of the Lily Jean.

Leigh continued, We know the depth of the boat. We know the coordinates. Its just a matter of getting someone to give the go-ahead to go down and retrieve the bodies.

They claim theyve raised these concerns and requests with investigators alongside other families, but have been met with silence.

Farrell added, We want Freeman back on land... His body shouldnt be down in the ocean.

The Coast Guard, federal, and state agencies are still investigating what led to the tragedy.

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Boston 25 reached out to the Coast Guard Tuesday inquiring if they plan to retrieve the bodies possibly still with the ship, and are awaiting a response.

To Freemans family, getting his body home is their priority.

I feel like the families would be able to have some closure and be able to grieve properly if we have our boys back home, and Jada, said Leigh.

She said Freeman planned to propose after his deployment in June.

Instead, she gave his eulogy this February at a funeral without his body. He was still given rites at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne.

There was an empty casket, she added. There was a photo at the church.

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The family is waiting on answers from the investigation, but is still inquiring about a retrieval operation. They believe the Navy has the capabilities to return any bodies found home.

Farrell finished, We need help. We need a hero.

In a statement provided to Boston 25 News, a spokesperson for Gov. Maura Healeys office revealed that for the first time, her office is calling on the National Transportation Safety Board to assist with the investigation.

The sinking of the Lily Jean was a terrible tragedy that resulted in the loss of seven individuals and left their families and an entire community grieving and seeking answers. Governor Healey has requested that the National Transportation Safety Board and U.S. Coast Guard investigate whether equipment on board the Lily Jean could contain additional information to shed light on what happened. She believes this is essential for providing some closure to the families and understanding how another tragedy like this can be prevented in the future, the statement read.

In a statement, Sen. Bruce Tarr told Boston 25 News:

We must work to ensure that everything possible is done to understand the circumstances surrounding the tragic loss of the Fishing Vessel Lily Jean, and intensive efforts are ongoing for that purpose. Currently the United States Coast Guard, in conjunction with the National Transportation Safety Board, is conducting an ongoing investigation as to the causes of this tragedy, and the Massachusetts Environmental Police and the Massachusetts State Police are engaged in subsurface operations to obtain any available information which can inform our understanding of the vessel and the circumstances that led to its loss.This investigation, and these operations, to be performed properly, take time, and the passage of that time is difficult for grieving family members, the commercial fishing industry, and the community.It is imperative that the family members of the crew be informed about these operations as they continue, and that they be kept updated as necessary. In order to achieve that goal, Coast Guard officials have been providing information relative to the investigation to these families. Additionally, we have arranged for personal briefings for each of the families by the Massachusetts State Police and the Massachusetts Environmental Police, during which all available information was shared in detail with them. Those briefings will continue as needed to keep these family members updated as to all operations, and to provide more information as it becomes available.All of us who are involved with this situation are available to answer any questions from family members at any time.

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Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem has called for national unity as Israel continues its military assault on Lebanon, vowing to continue fighting without limits as Israeli aerial and ground attacks have killed more than 1,000 people across the country.

In a statement on Wednesday, Qassem said Lebanon faced two choices: either surrender and give up our land  or inevitable confrontation and resistance against Israel.

Qassem also said the country should not agree to negotiations with the Israeli government amid Israels continued bombardment of its northern neighbour.

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Negotiating with the Israeli enemy under fire amounts to imposing surrender and stripping Lebanon of its capabilities, especially since negotiations are fundamentally rejected with an enemy that occupies land and continues daily aggression, he said.

We call for national unity against the Israeli-American enemy under one title at this stage: stopping the aggression to liberate the land and the people. All other issues can be discussed afterwards.





Intensified Israeli attacks on Lebanon began in early March after Hezbollah launched rockets towards Israeli territory following the start of the US-Israel war on Iran on February 28.

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In addition to air strikes, the Israeli military has pushed deeper into Lebanese territory as part of a ground invasion that Israel says aims to root out Hezbollah fighters.

The Lebanese armed group has continued to fire into northern Israel while clashing with Israeli troops on the ground in Lebanon.

The escalating conflict, which has killed at least 1,094 people across Lebanon and displaced more than 1.2 million others, has drawn global condemnation and growing calls for de-escalation.

Far-right Israeli lawmakers, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have called for the annexation of southern Lebanon amid intensified military operations in the area.

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The annexation push has drawn condemnation from foreign leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, who has been calling for negotiations to try to end the deadly violence.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese government has outlawed Hezbollah military activity and said it wanted to engage in direct talks with Israel.

But the Israeli government has shown no sign of tempering its military offensive, with Defence Minister Israel Katz saying last week that displaced residents of southern Lebanon will not be able to return to their homes until northern Israel is safe.





In a video address on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the countrys military would expand its presence in southern Lebanon.

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Netanyahu said Israel was creating a larger buffer zone to push the antitank missile threat away from communities in northern Israel.

Human rights groups have warned that Israels attacks on civilian infrastructure, as well as its forced displacement orders for all of southern Lebanon and parts of the capital, Beirut, could amount to war crimes.

Katzs warning that residents of southern Lebanon will not be able to return to their homes until safety is guaranteed in northern Israel signals that Israel will prevent residents from returning to their homes for an indefinite period, Human Rights Watch said this week.

The sweeping nature of the displacement orders, and the statements that do not address the protection of the displaced civilians, raises concerns of the war crime of forced displacement, the group said.
Additionally, IDF Arabic Spokesperson Col. (res.) Avichay Adraee issued an evacuation warning for Tyre after identifying Hezbollah operatives launching heavy rocket fire within residential areas.

An IDF reservist soldier was severely wounded by Hezbollah rocket fire shot towards IDF soldiers in Lebanon earlier on Wednesday, the military announced in the evening, noting that the soldier was evacuated to the hospital for medical treatment.

Earlier on Wednesday, the IDF ordered the evacuation of the southern Lebanese city of Tyre after identifying Hezbollah operatives launching heavy rocket fire from within residential neighborhoods, the militarys Arabic spokesperson, Col. (res.) Avichay Adraee, shared on his X/Twitter.

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Adraee, accusing the Iran-backed group of using civilians as human shields, said Hezbollah fired around 120 rockets from the outskirts of Tyres neighborhoods, disregarding civilian safety and turning homes into launch sites.

The spokesperson affirmed that its evacuation order, which preceded Israeli airstrikes on terrorist infrastructure in the area, was issued to prioritize the safety of civilians.

Hezbollah, which has dragged you into this war in service of Irans agenda, is deliberately operating within your neighborhoods, putting your safety at grave risk and bringing destruction to your homes and communities, Adraee wrote, appealing to Lebanese civilians.

IDF graphic explaining Hezbollah terrorists have fired some 120 rockets from residential areas of Tyre since the start of the ongoing round of fighting with the Lebanese terror group. March 25, 2026. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

Adraee: Tyre is 'clear example of Hezbollahs method of exploiting civilian environments'

Adraee continued, asserting that Tyre stands as a clear example exposing Hezbollahs method of exploiting civilian environments and sacrificing Lebanese lives and futures to serve the interests of the regime in Tehran.

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The announcement comes after the military issued evacuation orders in the city last week.

At the time, the IDF said it subsequently hit operational outputs that had been deliberately embedded within the civilian population.

A week before that, the Israeli military confirmed it had hit a Hezbollah command center in Tyre.

IDF strikes Hezbollah terrorists fleeing after firing rockets towards soldiers

Meanwhile, the IDF on Wednesday morning announced that it conducted overnight strikes on a cell of Hezbollah terrorists who fired rockets towards IDF soldiers in southern Lebanon.

The IDF strikes Hezbollah terrorists who launched rockets at soldiers in southern Lebanon, published March 25, 2026. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

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No soldiers were killed by the rocket fire, and the Israel Air Force killed the terrorists, the military confirmed.

The military also targeted terrorists who fired an anti-tank missile at soldiers overnight, conducting a retaliatory strike, killing the terrorists involved.

An IDF combat officer was lightly injured in the incident and was evacuated to the hospital for medical treatment, the military noted.

IDF strikes Dahiyeh command center, gas stations funding Hezbollah

Overnight, the military also struck a series of Hezbollah terror targets and infrastructure across Lebanon, including a command center in the Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh.

Other targets included several gas stations belonging to the Hezbollah-controlled al-Amana company, which the military stated serves as a key part of the terror groups financial infrastructure.

IDF kills Hezbollah-affiliated terror cell commander near Mount Dov

In addition, IDF soldiers from the Egoz commando unit operating near Mount Dov, close to the Israel-Lebanon border, apprehended a cell commander of the Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese Resistance Brigades on Tuesday, the military said on Wednesday.

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Soldiers from the IDF's Egoz commando unit apprehend a Lebanese Resistance Brigades cell commander near Mount Dov, published March 25, 2026. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

The organization trains in Hezbollah terror training camps, but members do not officially join the Hezbollah group.

Hezbollah chief rejects talks with Israel under fire, vows fighters will continue 'without limits'

Additionally, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said on Wednesday in a televised speech read on his behalf that negotiating with Israel under fire amounts to imposed surrender and called for unity against Israel.

The speech, aired on a Hezbollah-affiliated television station, said Hezbollah fighters were prepared to continue without limits.

Reuters contributed to this report.
A Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office deputy has been arrested on several felony charges stemming from a domestic violence incident in St. Petersburg, the agency said in a news release.

Brian Juliano, 45, was arrested Tuesday morning on charges of armed kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and tampering with a witness.

Detectives say Juliano was in a verbal and physical altercation with a woman, during which he threatened her with a firearm, preventing her from leaving the residence or calling 911 for help, the news release states.

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The St. Petersburg Police Department investigated the case and arrested Juliano. He was hired by the sheriffs office in April 2020 and has been placed on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, according to the sheriffs office.

This arrest is deeply concerning and does not reflect the standards we expect of our deputies, Sheriff Chad Chronister said in the news release. Any actions that violate the law or the trust of our community will be met with swift and decisive accountability. We will continue to cooperate fully with the investigating agency.
Rep. Bill Keating (D-MA) grilled Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Thomas DiNanno during a tense House hearing on Wednesday.

DiNanno appeared before the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Keating used his time to inform DiNanno he needs to do his homework. The lawmaker blasted the U.S. pulling back support in areas for Ukraine, which DiNanno denied was under his purview.

Keating accused DiNanno of lowering support for mobile fire teams and prosecutors targeting war crimes in Ukraine. The lawmaker became especially frustrated when DiNanno refused to give a yes or no answer on whether Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is a war criminal.

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Youre also cutting the support we have for the general prosecutor in Ukraine thats prosecuting war crimes. Is Vladimir Putin a war criminal, sir? he asked.

Thats well outside of my purview, DiNanno said.

How about as an American? Keating asked. As an American person and a citizen is Vladimir Putin a war criminal?

I understand that on both, DiNanno said.

No, yes or no, Keating demanded.

Im not going to answer yes or no, DiNanno said.

Youre not going to answer yes or no. Thats quite an answer, Keating noted.

Yes, DiNanno agreed.

Yes! Not its yes now. Its yes or no, Keating said. You cant even [answer] a simple question like that.

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Keating again grew frustrated as he argued back and forth with DiNanno about whether these services to Ukraine fall under his purview.

This is under your purview. You should be doing more, Keating said.

No, sir, its not, DiNannon pushed back.

Yes, it is, by the way. Funding the Prosecutor Generals Office is, by the  I know everythings new to you. You have funds to help train and move forward with the prosecution and help the Prosecutor General in Ukraine, Keating said.

If there is a specific program that you feel or that you know  DiNanno began.

You funded a legal advisor in the office! Keating said.

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I dont know about any specifics, DiNanno said.

Well, then you should know about it, with all due respect, Keating responded. Ive got eight seconds. Do your homework. Come back here. Lets deal with this.

Watch above via CSPAN.

The post Do Your Homework! Democrat Rips Trump Official for Refusing to Say Whether Putin Is a War Criminal in Fiery Hearing first appeared on Mediaite.
Thousands of people are attending CERAWeek, which started on Monday in downtown Houston.

It's a conference put on by S&P Global and attracts some of the biggest names in oil and gas, defense, and technology.

CEOs from multiple global oil companies and Trump administration officials are in attendance and speaking at this conference.

On Tuesday, attendees heard from both the governor of Louisiana and the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Machado.

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But, for ordinary Houstonians, what's most important when it comes to energy is the prices at the gas pump.

"Especially when you're a single parent, on top of the grocery prices and putting on the gas," one Houstonian told ABC13.

In Houston, the average price of gas today is $3.58, according to AAA.

That's better than the national average of $3.97, but it is also more than a dollar higher than it was a month ago.

Driving around, Eyewitness News found gas as high as $4.69 by the Galleria.

"It's a price shock a little bit, or maybe I should have expected it because of the stuff going on in Iran," another Houstonian told ABC13.

CERAWeek runs through the end of the week, with about 10,000 people registered to attend the conference.

For more on this story, follow Pooja Lodhia on Facebook,X and Instagram.
More than 500 people made appointments to donate blood as part of the sixth annual 6abc Philly Blood Drive, an effort aimed at helping the American Red Cross rebuild its blood supply after a challenging winter season for donations.

Donors from across the region rolled up their sleeves to support patients in need, continuing a yearly tradition organized by 6abc in partnership with the American Red Cross.

For some participants, donating blood is a family tradition.

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Eric Jones of Germantown said his motivation came from watching his father donate years ago.

"My dad used to do it years ago. I'm following his footsteps doing it again," Jones said.

Others were giving it another try after past setbacks.

Kevin Lewis of Overbrook Farms said he was encouraged to return decades after an unsuccessful first attempt.

"Many years ago, it clotted, so I never came back. But my wife encouraged me to try it again, and it looks like it's successful," Lewis said.

This year's blood drive is operating at five locations - three in Pennsylvania and two in New Jersey.

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Donors received snacks, 6abc stickers and even high fives from Fred Cross, the Red Cross canine mascot.

Red Cross officials said the timing of the drive is especially important with the busy summer season approaching.

"We're still trying to regroup from those winter storms and trying to build that nice, good supply," said Jennifer Graham, CEO of the American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

"Springtime, summertime is coming up. Twenty percent of our blood collections come from high school and college students. When they're out for the summer, we need people to step up even more."

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In Collingswood, some donors opted for power red donations, which collect two units of red blood cells in a single appointment. Donna Roccia of Mount Ephrem explained the process.

"You take twice as much of the red blood as you would in a normal donation, but you get all the other stuff back again," Roccia said.

Members of the 6abc family also took part in the drive.

Action News anchor Matt O'Donnell donated blood, and former 6abc general manager Bernie Prazenica also returned to participate.

"It's great to donate. It's easy, and it feels like you're making a difference. I'm happy to be here, and I'm happy that 6abc is continuing this really wonderful tradition," Prazenica said.

The blood drive runs until 7 p.m. Those who were unable to donate can still make an appointment for a future date, as blood donations remain critically needed heading into the warmer months.
BUDAPEST, March 25 (Reuters) - Hungary will gradually stop sending natural gas to Ukraine until crude oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline resume, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Wednesday, escalating a standoff with Kyiv over energy supplies disrupted by the Ukraine war.

Hungary and Slovakia, whose leaders are outliers in the EU for maintaining relations with Moscow, blame Kyiv for an outage on the Druzhba oil pipeline that supplies their refineries with Russian crude pumped through Ukraine.

Kyiv says the pipeline was damaged by a Russian drone attack in late January and it is fixing it as fast as it can.

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"We are gradually halting gas deliveries from Hungary to Ukraine, and will store the gas that remains with us in Hungary," Orban said in a video posted on Facebook.

GAS IMPORTS CONTINUING FOR NOW, UKRAINE SAYS

According to data on Hungarian pipeline operator FGSZ's website, gas shipments were continuing to Ukraine on Wednesday morning.

"As of now, this import has not been stopped," Heorhii Tykhy, spokesperson for Ukraine's ministry of foreign affairs, told journalists.

"If Prime Minister Orban still decides to stop it, we believe that the only consequence will be to deprive the Hungarian economy and the Hungarians of more than $1 billion, which Hungary received for example last year," Tykhy said.

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Data from Ukraine's gas transmission system operator shows that Ukraine will receive 8.3 mcm of gas from Hungary on Wednesday, the same volume as on Tuesday.

Ukraine plans to import a total of 25 mcm of gas from Eastern Europe on Wednesday.

For Thursday, 4.6 mcm of gas were nominated for supply to Ukraine from Hungary as of 4.12 pm Kyiv time, the operator said. The operator regularly publishes data on companies applications for gas transit to Ukraine, updating them as they are received.

ORBAN UP FOR RE-ELECTION NEXT MONTH

For March, Ukraine contracted 180 mcm of gas from Hungary, or 28% of its total, an industry source told Reuters earlier this month, slightly less than in February.

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Ukraine's state energy company Naftogaz and Ukraine's energy ministry were not immediately available for comment.

Last week, European Union leaders failed to convince Orban, who is running for re-election next month, to lift his blockade on a 90 billion euro ($104.36 billion) EU loan to help Ukraine.

Orban also flagged earlier that Hungary could cut electricity exports to Ukraine if oil flows on Druzhba do not resume.

Last week EU experts arrived in Ukraine to assess the condition of the pipeline after Kyiv said it had accepted an EU offer of technical support and funding to restore oil flows,

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However, Ukraine also signalled at the time that any resumption of crude deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia was still weeks away.

($1 = 0.8624 euros)

(Reporting by Anita Komuves in Budapest and Pavel Polityuk and Yuliia Dysa in Kyiv; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Jan Harvey)
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP)  Hungary will gradually cut off gas supplies to Ukraine until Russian oil deliveries resume through the Druzhba pipeline, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Wednesday.

The transit of natural gas through Hungary plays a key role in fulfilling the energy needs of Ukraine, now in its fourth year of war with Russia.

Russian oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia have been halted for nearly two months after what Ukrainian officials say were Russian drone attacks that damaged the pipeline, which crosses Ukrainian territory, and that continuous strikes risk the lives of technicians trying to repair it.

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The populist leaders of Hungary and Slovakia have accused Ukraine of deliberately holding up Russian deliveries. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this month that he is reluctant to allow Russian oil to continue transiting his country.

In a video posted on social media Wednesday, Orban called the Russian oil stoppage Ukrainian blackmail, adding: As long as Ukraine does not supply oil, it will not receive gas from Hungary.

He added that Hungary would use the gas instead to fill its own reserves.

There was no immediate comment from Kyiv and a Hungarian government spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment by The Associated Press.

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Ukraine imports a major portion of its gas needs through Hungary, amounting to around 45% of all gas imports last year, according to Ukrainian energy consultancy EXPRO. That number dropped to 38% by January.

Orban's announcement was the latest in a series of retaliatory measures Hungary has taken in response to interrupted Russian oil flows.

Last week, Orban, who is widely seen as the Kremlins biggest advocate in the EU, blocked a 90-billion euro ($106 billion) EU loan to Ukraine over the interruptions and vowed to veto any further pro-Ukraine decisions until oil flows resume.

The Hungarian leader previously ceased diesel shipments to Ukraine and vetoed a new round of EU sanctions against Russia.

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Meanwhile, as he faces an unprecedented challenge from a center-right opponent in elections next month, Orban has escalated an aggressive anti-Ukraine campaign, calling the country Hungarys enemy, and accusing Zelenskyy of seeking to provoke an energy crisis in order to sway the April 12 vote.

Hes also deployed military forces to key energy infrastructure sites across Hungary, accusing Ukraine of plotting disruptions but providing no evidence.

Hungary and Slovakia have received a temporary exemption from a European Union policy prohibiting imports of Russian oil since Moscow launched its war in Ukraine in February 2022.
People attend a ceremony to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia and honor its victims in Vranje, Serbia, on March 24, 2026. Serbia on Tuesday held a ceremony in the southern city of Vranje to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia and honor its victims. NATO, under U.S. leadership, launched a 78-day bombing campaign under the pretext of humanitarianism, killing more than 2,000 civilians, injuring over 6,000 others, and displacing nearly 1 million people. (Photo by Nemanja Cabric/Xinhua)

VRANJE, Serbia, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Serbia on Tuesday held a ceremony in the southern city of Vranje to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia and honor its victims.

NATO, under U.S. leadership, launched a 78-day bombing campaign under the pretext of humanitarianism, killing more than 2,000 civilians, injuring over 6,000 others, and displacing nearly 1 million people.

Addressing a large crowd in Vranje's central square, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic framed the 78-day campaign, launched without authorization of the UN Security Council, as the catalyst for modern global instability.

Vucic said the NATO bombing not only marked a military aggression against a sovereign country, but also signified a serious violation of international law and international order.

For many attendees, the anniversary evoked visceral memories of the bombing campaign.

"We didn't know where to go or what to do. You didn't even dare to go out into the city. Suddenly, planes appear, dropping bombs," 75-year-old Branislav Milic told Xinhua. "It cannot be described how terrible it was."

Ivana Misic, a 42-year-old resident, recalled the loss of her childhood. "I had no childhood at all -- sorrow, misery and woe," she said. "So many people died, innocent and blameless... Let there be peace, harmony and happiness."

The commemoration, held in front of the Gallery of the National Museum in Vranje, was attended by Serbian government officials, members of the military and police, as well as Milorad Dodik, former president of Republika Srpska of BiH. 

People attend a ceremony to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia and honor its victims in Vranje, Serbia, on March 24, 2026. Serbia on Tuesday held a ceremony in the southern city of Vranje to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia and honor its victims.

NATO, under U.S. leadership, launched a 78-day bombing campaign under the pretext of humanitarianism, killing more than 2,000 civilians, injuring over 6,000 others, and displacing nearly 1 million people. (Photo by Nemanja Cabric/Xinhua)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic delivers a speech during a ceremony to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia and honor its victims in Vranje, Serbia, on March 24, 2026. Serbia on Tuesday held a ceremony in the southern city of Vranje to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia and honor its victims.

NATO, under U.S. leadership, launched a 78-day bombing campaign under the pretext of humanitarianism, killing more than 2,000 civilians, injuring over 6,000 others, and displacing nearly 1 million people. (Photo by Nemanja Cabric/Xinhua)
FRANKFORT, Ky.  While state senators are set to meet in April to consider whether a judge in Lexington should be impeached, a separate effort to oust a Kentucky Supreme Court justice appears to have concluded without any action taken against her.

Rep. Jason Nemes, R-Middletown, who chairs the House Impeachment Committee, told The Courier Journal on March 25 that "the work has been done."

The committee previously advanced an impeachment petition filed against Fayette Circuit Court Judge Julie Muth Goodman to the House floor, which voted in favor of sending it to the Senate for a trial to consider removing her from office.

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However, while the committee also considered an impeachment petition against state Supreme Court Justice Pamela Goodwine, it did not take any action against her, including calling witnesses for a hearing or sending the petition to the House floor. With time winding down in the session, it appears consideration of her case has concluded.

Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Pamela Goodwine

The committee had also considered a petition to remove Fayette County Public Schools board Chair Tyler Murphy. Petitions filed against Ballard County Jailer Eric Coppess and Marshall Family Court Judge Stephanie Perlow were dropped earlier in the session.

In the petition filed against her by Jack Richardson IV, a Louisville lawyer and longtime local Republican official, Goodwine was accused of failing to recuse herself from a case in which a conflict of interest was present.

More coverage: Impeachment is a high bar. A closer look at the case against a KY Supreme Court justice

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Goodwine's 2024 campaign was supported by the Kentucky Education Association and Jefferson County Teachers Association, and soon after she was elected, she was the deciding vote in a 4-3 decision to overturn 2022's Senate Bill 1, which would have taken power from the Jefferson County Public Schools board and given it to the district's superintendent. While that bill was struck down, a similar bill is currently pending in Frankfort.

Carmine Iaccarino, Goodwine's attorney, did not immediately respond to a March 25 request for comment. He had pushed back against the claims against her in a filing in response to the petition, arguing she was not required to recuse and the petition appeared to be politically motivated.

Goodman, meanwhile, will have her case heard by the Senate next month.

This story may be updated.

Reach Lucas Aulbach at laulbach@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Pamela Goodwine impeachment effort ends
Iran said it is done dealing with the two emissaries President Donald Trump has tasked with leading negotiations in the Middle East.

The country, which Trump began striking over three weeks ago, is not keen on any more attempts at negotiations with Trumps Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, or Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, both of whom were leading the nuclear negotiations with Iran before the war.

Iran now says it will only engage in negotiations with Vice President J.D. Vance, according to a report in The Guardian.

Vance has been skeptical of U.S. intervention in the Middle East throughout his political career. / Marco Bello / REUTERS

At the time that Trump launched his deadly war in Iran, the U.S. and Iran were engaged in negotiations over the countrys nuclear program.

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Since the war was launched, the Iranian regime has viewed those negotiations, headed by Witkoff and Kushner, as a front by the Trump administration to trick Iran into thinking they were negotiating in good faith, when the U.S. really just wanted to attack.

Witkoff, Trump's former golf buddy, and his son-in-law have led unsuccessful negotiations with Iran for months. / Alexander Kazakov / via REUTERS

With the previous negotiating team, theres no chance, one diplomatic source told the Guardian. The Iranian side regards the request for negotiations as another round of deception for the US-Israeli regime to find out a loophole to aggravate the strikes again.

The source noted that Iran sees Vance as a more acceptable diplomatic figure than Witkoff and Kushner, especially as Vance is, at his core, a skeptic of U.S. military action in the Middle East.

Vance, a Marine who served in public affairs during the Iraq War, has traditionally been wary of U.S. foreign intervention throughout his career in politics.

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If the negotiations are going to have any outcome, JD Vance should join, the source told the outlet. With Witkoff and Kushner, nothing will come out of it. We have seen that in the past.

Vance, the administration's troller in chief, has been unusually quiet online about his boss's war. / Marco Bello / REUTERS

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is pushing for his country to facilitate meaningful and conclusive talks between the U.S. and Iran in Islamabad.

He has spoken to Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, where they agreed on the urgent need for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy, according to an official read-out.

Subject to concurrence by the US and Iran, Pakistan stands ready and honored to be the host to facilitate meaningful and conclusive talks for a comprehensive settlement of the ongoing conflict, Sharif posted on X on Tuesday.

@CMShehbaz/X

The country has yet to be officially named as a host for any talks between the two sides. Other venues in Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar have been discussed, but the Guardian reported that Tehrans preference was to have the talks in Islamabad.

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The Daily Beast reached out to the White House for comment.

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

Over the weekend, Trump gave Iran an ultimatum in which he said he would obliterate Irans power plants if it did not open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours of his Truth Social threat.

The presidents self-imposed timeline came and went, as he walked back his threat and claimed to have been in GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS with the Iranians.

Trump's Monday post claiming successful talks with Iran, information Tehran disputed. / Donald J. Trump/Truth Social

Iran has refuted Trumps claim and said no such talks had transpired, calling Trumps claim an attempt to #escape his recent threat on Irans power infrastructure.

Irans closure of the Strait has become a headache for the White House, as gas and oil prices have skyrocketed domestically. At the same time, the Strait has become the strongest point of leverage for Iran as it fights the U.S.
The Kurdish leadership of the autonomous region is outraged, and Iran has appeared to walk back the attack. However, in other areas, it continues to try to assert itself.

Iran is struggling to impose its will on Iraq.

On Tuesday, Tehran launched missiles at the Kurdistan Region (KRG) of northern Iraq, which killed six members of the Kurdish Peshmerga, the regions armed forces, and angered the autonomous regions leadership.

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While Iran has appeared to walk back the attack, in other areas, its continuing to try to assert itself.

For instance, in Baghdad, the government is continuing to express anger over attacks on the Popular Mobilization Forces. The PMF is a group of Iranian-backed militias that became an official Iraqi government paramilitary force in 2018.

As such, it is able to operate as a kind of proxy of Iran while also being an official government force similar to the US National Guard. Over the last few weeks, since the US and Israel began strikes on Iran, the PMF has carried out around 500 attacks in Iraq, mostly targeting the US and Kurds, and also European forces.

Kurdistan Regional Government Peshmerga at a mountain outpost. September 19, 2019. (credit: SETH J. FRANTZMAN)

Iran's influence tested in Iraq amid militia attacks

Irans goal is to use the PMF to control Iraq. The US has been carrying out retaliatory attacks on the PMF, some of them being visible, such as when it used A-10 aircraft. The PMF has blamed the US and Israel for airstrikes on their units, and dozens of PMF members have been killed and wounded over the last few weeks.

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While it may seem that there is a kind of tit-for-tat war going on in Iraq, the reality is that Iran continues to impose its will. The militias, for instance, targeted Iraqs national intelligence headquarters, killing one person. They have targeted US facilities at Baghdad International Airport.

Recent drone footage appears to show they targeted a US facility called Camp Victory, targeting a radar site and a helicopter. It is not clear if the US has primarily withdrawn from this facility. However, the symbolism is clear. The Iraqi militias, backed by Iran, are showcasing their power. They can do whatever they want, in their view, and they expect the government to back them in attacking the US. They are claiming they are retaliating.

The militias are so out of control that they also attacked Syria on Monday. Meanwhile, in the Kurdistan Region, President Nechirvan Barzani said Wednesday that the Iranian missile strike that killed six Peshmerga was acknowledged by Iran to be a mistake, according to Rudaw. This comes a day after he condemned Iran for the attack.

Barzani spoke to reporters after he attended funerals for the fallen. He said Iran was contacted by the Kurdistan Regional Government and that they acknowledge that a mistake was made and have promised to conduct an investigation into the matter. He claims that Iran has sent its regrets and condolences. More than 30 peshmerga remain wounded in the attack.

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Barzani is trying to navigate complex times. As the PMF attacks the Kurdistan Region, he knows that if the Kurds respond, Baghdad will treat it as an act of war. This is how Baghdad and Iran use the militias. They carry out attacks and then claim it is an act of war if anyone responds. This is how they have treated the US strikes on the militias.

However, the US can more easily avoid direct conflict because American forces are mostly outside of Iraq. The US withdrew from most facilities in 2020 after tensions with the militias. In 2020, the US killed IRGC Quds Force head Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis due to attacks on the US Embassy.

Now the US has some forces in the KRG and has reduced its presence in Baghdad. The militias believe the US is withdrawing its personnel to Jordan. Militias have circulated videos of this online. As such, Iran and its militias believe they are winning in Iraq. Meanwhile, US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott told Rudaw that the US strongly condemns the attack on the Peshmerga.

The US has provided a show of force by using aircraft over the Kurdistan Region, apparently to deter more attacks. Erbil experienced renewed aerial threats overnight into Wednesday, as drones and missiles targeting the city were intercepted, according to security sources, Rudaw noted. In Anbar province, an airstrike killed several members of the Iraqi security forces.
"The Bab al-Mandab Strait is considered one of the strategic straits in the world, and Iran has the will to produce a completely credible threat against it," an Iranian official told Tasnim.

Iran warned on Wednesday that it could "take action in the Bab al-Mandab Strait (connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean) if provoked," the semiofficial IRGC-linked Tasnim News Agency reported, citing a military source.

"If the enemy wants to take action on land in the Iranian islands or anywhere else in our lands or to inflict costs on Iran with naval movements in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, we will open other fronts as a surprise for him so that his action will not only not benefit him but will also double his costs," Tasnim cited the official saying.

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"The Bab al-Mandab Strait is considered one of the strategic straits in the world, and Iran has both the will and the possibility to produce a completely credible threat against it," the official added.

The Bab al-Mandab Strait is located between Yemen, Djibouti, and Eritrea, with the Houthis terror group, which is one of the Iranian terror proxies, being on the Yemeni side.

Since October 7, the Houthis have been one of the main players in the aggressions against Israel, with the group not only attacking Israel but also compromising world commerce by targeting ships passing by the Strait.

HOUTHI TERRORISTS carry weapons as they stand near the site of Israeli airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, in September. (credit: KHALED ABDULLAH/REUTERS)

Houthis making preemptive moves in case of war

Al-Ain News in the UAE reported on Monday that the Houthi militias might be "carrying out extensive field movements in anticipation of any possible attack against them.

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The Houthis have escalated attacks within Yemen while simultaneously bringing in new reinforcements to the front lines, in an attempt to test the defenses of the National Resistance Forces and the Yemeni Army, the outlet reported.

The report reveals that the Houthis began major movements on March 15 on five frontlines, including the western coastal fronts such as Hodeidah, Taiz, and Lahj in anticipation.

Al-Ain says, Various Yemeni forces have also raised their operational readiness levels, in light of the rapidly changing regional and international circumstances.

Seth J. Frantzman contributed to this report.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Iran on Wednesday dismissed an American plan to pause the war in the Middle East and launched more attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab countries, including strikes that hit a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport, sparking a fire.

Iran's defiance came as Israel launched airstrikes on Tehran and as the United States deployed paratroopers and more Marines to the region.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview on state TV that his government has not engaged in talks to end the war, "and we do not plan on any negotiations. That followed a report from Iranian state TV's English-language broadcaster quoting an anonymous official as saying Iran rejected Americas ceasefire proposal and has its own demands to end the fighting.

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Earlier, two officials from Pakistan, which transmitted the U.S. plan to Iran, described the 15-point proposal broadly, saying it addressed sanctions relief, a rollback of Irans nuclear program, limits on missiles and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the worlds oil is shipped.

An Egyptian official involved in the mediation efforts said the proposal also includes restrictions on Irans support for armed groups. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet released.

President Donald Trump, speaking at a fundraiser Wednesday night in Washington, insisted that Iran still wants to cut a deal.

They are negotiating, by the way, and they want to make a deal so badly, but theyre afraid to say it because they figure theyll be killed by their own people, said Trump, who added: Theyre also afraid theyll be killed by us."

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Iran has long insisted it wont discuss its ballistic missile program or its support of regional militias, which it views as key to its security. And its ability to control passage through the Strait of Hormuz represents one of its biggest strategic advantages.

Irans attacks on regional energy infrastructure, along with its restrictions on the strait, have sent oil prices skyrocketing, putting pressure on the U.S. to find a way to end the chokehold and calm markets.

More U.S. troops are on the way to the Middle East

At least 1,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division will be sent to the Mideast in the coming days, three people with knowledge of the plans told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military plans.

The paratroopers are trained to jump into hostile or contested areas to secure key territory and airfields.

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The Pentagon is also sending about 5,000 more Marines trained in amphibious assaults and thousands of sailors to the region.

Most Americans believe the U.S. military action against Iran has gone too far and many are worried about the cost of gasoline, according to a new AP-NORC poll.

The survey indicates that while Trumps approval rating is holding steady, the conflict could be swiftly turning into a major political liability for his Republican administration.

Diplomatic efforts face major challenges

Mediators are pushing for possible in-person talks between the Iranians and the Americans, perhaps as soon as Friday in Pakistan, the Egyptian and Pakistani officials said.

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Trump has said the U.S. is in negotiations right now and that the participants include special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance. Trump has not identified anyone from Iran taking part.

Press TV, the English-language broadcaster on Iranian state television, cited an Iranian five-point proposal that includes a halt to killings of its officials, safeguards against future attacks on Iran, reparations for the war, the end of hostilities and Irans exercise of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.

Those measures, particularly reparations and its continued chokehold over the Strait of Hormuz, likely will be unacceptable to the White House.

While Iran and Oman both have territory in the strait, its narrow shipping channels are viewed as international waters through which all ships can travel.

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Any talks between the U.S. and Iran would face monumental challenges. Its not clear who in Irans government has the authority and willingness to negotiate .

Iran remains highly suspicious of the United States, which twice under the Trump administration has attacked during high-level diplomatic talks, including when the war began on Feb. 28.

Israel launches new strikes on Iran  and also comes under attack

The Israeli military said Wednesday it had carried out waves of airstrikes in Tehran, following strikes a day earlier targeting an Iranian submarine development center in Isfahan.

Missile alert sirens sounded in Israel as Iran and the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon launched attacks. Hezbollah has fired rockets into northern Israel around the clock since the war began.

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Iran also kept up pressure on its Gulf Arab neighbors. Saudi Arabias Defense Ministry said it had destroyed at least eight drones in its oil-rich Eastern Province, and missile alert sirens sounded in Bahrain. Kuwait said it shot down multiple drones but that one hit a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport.

Meanwhile, six people allegedly linked to Hezbollah were arrested in Kuwait for planning to assassinate Gulf leaders, Kuwait's Ministry of Interior said in a statement. Fourteen associates had fled the country, officials said.

More than 1,500 people have been killed in Iran, its Health Ministry says. Israel says 20 people have died in the war, including two soldiers in Lebanon. At least 13 U.S. military members have been killed. More than a dozen civilians in the occupied West Bank and Gulf Arab states have also died.

Nearly 1,100 people have died in Lebanon, authorities said. In Iraq, where Iranian-supported militant groups have entered the conflict, 80 members of the security forces have been killed.

Energy prices fall back but remain high

The news of potential negotiations drove down the price of oil. Brent crude oil, the international standard, was trading around $100 a barrel Wednesday, after nearing as high as $120 earlier last week. That's still up around 35% from the start of the war.

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Economists and leaders have warned of far-reaching effects if energy prices remain high  from rising prices on food and other basics to higher rates for mortgages and auto loans.

Iran has allowed a small number of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, but has said no ships from the U.S., Israel or countries seen as linked to them can pass.

___

This story was first published on March 25, 2026. It was updated on March 26, 2026, to correct the death toll reported by Israel. Israel reported 20 deaths related to the war, including two in Lebanon, not 20 deaths in Israel.

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Madhani reported from Washington, Corder from The Hague, Netherlands, and Ahmed from Islamabad. Associated Press writers Samy Magdy in Cairo, Natalie Melzer in Tel Aviv, Israel, Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad and Nicholas Riccardi in Washington contributed to this report.
By Emma Farge

GENEVA, March 25 (Reuters) - Gulf Arab states told the U.N. Human Rights Council on Wednesday they face an existential threat from Iranian attacks on their infrastructure, which the U.N. rights chief said might constitute war crimes.

The nearly month-long U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has sparked large-scale Iranian retaliation in the form of drone and missile strikes on energy and civilian infrastructure in Gulf countries, killing civilians and driving up oil prices.

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"We are seeing an existential threat to international and regional security. This aggressive approach is undermining international law and sovereignty," Kuwait's ambassador Naser Abdullah H. M. Alhayen told the Geneva-based council.

Other Gulf states said Iran's actions were designed to spread terror, with the United Arab Emirates' ambassador Jamal Jama al Musharakh denouncing Iran's "attempt to destabilise the international order through reckless adventures of expansionism."

Countries at the 47-member council adopted a motion by consensus condemning Iran's "unprovoked and deliberate" strikes, seeking reparations from Iran and asking the U.N. rights chief to monitor the situation, a document showed.

Iran defended its actions, saying more than 1,500 civilians had been killed in the U.S.-Israeli strikes so far. "We fight on behalf of all of you against an enemy that, if not restrained today, will be beyond containment tomorrow," said Iran's ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva Ali Bahreini, referring to Israel.

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Iran, backed by China, will hold its own emergency session on a fatal strike on a primary school on Friday.

The United Nations' top rights official Volker Turk urged states to end the Iran conflict, describing the situation as extremely dangerous and unpredictable.

"Attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure must end. If they are deliberate, such attacks may constitute war crimes," he told the council.

While Gulf states received strong backing in the council on Wednesday, the International Service for Human Rights, an independent NGO, warned against "selective outrage", calling instead for a focus on violations by all perpetrators.

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Oman, which had served as a mediator between the United States and Iran before the conflict, was one of the few countries to acknowledge that U.S.-Israeli strikes had preceded Irans retaliatory attacks.

"(They were) the spark that ignited the escalation currently affecting the region and the consequences are threatening states and their vital economic interests and their security and stability," Ambassador Idris Abdul Rahman Al Khanjari told the council.

(Reporting by Emma Farge; Additional reporting by Cecile Mantovani; Editing by Miranda Murray, William Maclean)
DUBAI, March 25 (Reuters) - Iran's initial response to the U.S. proposal to end the war has not been "positive", a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Wednesday, adding that Tehran is still reviewing it.

The official said that Tehran's initial response has been delivered to Pakistan to be conveyed to Washington.

(Writing by Parisa Hafezi)
The current campaign in southern Lebanon is designed to neutralize the most immediate threats  cross-border infiltration and anti-tank missile fire  while containing long-range Hezbollah fire.

Where there are terrorists and rockets, there will be no homes and no residents, Defense Minister Israel Katz said this week, coining a pithy expression for a new Israeli security doctrine along its borders.

Katz was referring to southern Lebanon, and he said the model being followed is the one that the IDF used in Rafah and Beit Hanun in Gaza: leveling the cities and moving out the residents to establish a defensive area and push away the threat to Israeli border communities.

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But there is a fundamental difference between the situation now in Lebanon and that in Gaza.

In addition to leveling Beit Hanun and Rafah and creating a buffer zone over roughly 50% of Gaza, where Israel now controls territory, Hamas retains only a limited rocket capability that it can fire at Israel. Plus, it knows that if it fires what rockets it still has, Israel will move in and hunt down both the launchers and the remaining manufacturing capabilities.

So, not only are the Israeli communities on the border safe from October 7 massacre-style penetration and anti-tank missile fire, there is no real threat  at least right now  of high-trajectory fire either.

Northern Israel's difficult situation

The same is not true in the North.

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Since March 2, when Hezbollah began firing rockets at Israel in retaliation for the IAF strikes against Iran, Israel has launched a significant operation in southern Lebanon  one that has included blowing up five bridges across the Litani River to prevent Hezbollah from moving men and materiel to the southern part of the country.

Israel has demolished homes sitting close to the border  what Katz has referred to as contact-line villages  and has effectively removed the threat of anti-tank missile fire on Israeli communities in the North, a real danger prior to Operation Northern Arrow in 2024.

Yet Israelis in the North are continuing to suffer  not from direct fire by anti-tank missiles or snipers, but from drones and medium-range rockets being launched from north of the Litani.

That the terrorist organization has succeeded in pounding the North relentlessly for three weeks shows that an assumption Israel held  that Hezbollah was severely weakened in 2024  was overstated.

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Yes, its leadership was decapitated. Yes, much of its missile arsenal was destroyed  estimates put it at roughly 80%. Yes, its infrastructure in southern Lebanon  tunnels, storehouses, and fortified positions  was hit hard. But with what remains, Hezbollah is still able to cause Israel no small amount of harm.

So, the question Israel faces is how to remove the threat that is originating north of the Litani. Does it move ground forces north of the river? Is this 1982s Operation Peace for Galilee all over again?

What this underscores is that the challenge Israel now faces is fundamentally different from the one it addressed in the South. This is no longer a buffer-zone problem. It is a problem of fire from deeper inside Lebanon.

Clearing territory up to the Litani can push back short-range threats and prevent infiltration. But once rockets and drones are launched from farther north, territorial control south of the Litani alone is not enough.

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That, in turn, points to a broader reality: There is no clean military solution. Israel can reduce the fire  sometimes significantly  but eliminating it altogether requires more than airstrikes or even ground maneuvers.

PART OF the answer lies in sustained intelligence-driven operations north of the river  targeting launch teams, mobile systems, and storage sites. Part lies in whether the Lebanese state is willing  and able  to enforce a monopoly on arms. And part lies farther afield in disrupting the Iranian pipelines that allow Hezbollah to rearm.

Because ultimately, the rockets will continue to be fired as long as Hezbollah can rearm. If Iran is significantly weakened, that equation could begin to change.

Israels main strategic focus, for now, remains Iran. IAF assets, intelligence capabilities, and operational attention are still heavily directed toward Iran. The number of aircraft, pilots, and sorties Israel can sustain each day is not unlimited, and as long as the campaign against Iran continues, Israel is not bringing its full weight to bear in Lebanon. That reality shapes what is happening on the ground.

Current campaing not enough to make Northern Israel safe again

The current campaign in southern Lebanon is designed to neutralize the most immediate threats  cross-border infiltration and anti-tank missile fire  while containing, rather than eliminating, the longer-range fire now coming from deeper inside Lebanon.

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But that is, as the residents in the North can attest, only a partial solution.

If and when the war with Iran ends, it is reasonable to assume that Israel will be able to shift greater attention and resources toward Lebanon. That could mean a more sustained and aggressive effort to hunt down launch capabilities north of the Litani, or even a decision to expand ground operations.

There is, however, another variable in this equation: the hope that the Lebanese government will take advantage of a weakened Iran and a weakened Hezbollah to reassert its control over the country and take real action to rein in the terrorist organization and prevent firing on Israel from its territory.

At this point in time, however, it would be unwise to pin too much on that hope.

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On Tuesday, reportedly on the orders of President Joseph Aoun, Lebanon declared Irans ambassador persona non grata and gave him until Sunday to leave the country. Hezbollah, for its part, has signaled that the ambassador will not go.

This sets up a clear and revealing test.

If the Lebanese government  against Hezbollahs wishes  cannot enforce the departure of a single diplomat, then it is difficult to see how it could realistically confront Hezbollah and prevent it from firing on Israel.

Conversely, if it does act, it could signal a shift, however tentative, in the balance of power inside Lebanon. That, of course, would be the most sustainable solution: not Israeli forces pushing ever deeper into Lebanon, but the Lebanese state gradually reclaiming control over its own territory.

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But hoping for that to happen is not a strategy. And for Israel, the dilemma remains stark.

It can continue to contain the threat through limited ground operations, targeted strikes, and active defense  while accepting that some level of fire will continue.

Or it can escalate, expanding the campaign northward in an effort to more decisively suppress Hezbollahs remaining capabilities  at the cost of a much wider war in Lebanon.

Katzs formulation may define the doctrine south of the Litani. North of it, however, the choices are far less clear  and far more fateful.
JERUSALEM (AP)  An investigation into the death of a Palestinian teenager in an Israeli prison has been closed by an Israeli judge, who said even though it's clear the boy was starved, the cause of death is undeterminable, a newly-unsealed court decision has revealed.

The ruling provided insight into Israels handling of the flashpoint case of 17-year-old Walid Ahmad, which gained notoriety because he was the first Palestinian under 18 to die in Israeli detention, said Palestinian officials.

Ahmad, who was described by his family as a healthy teenager, spent six months in Israel's Megiddo prison before he collapsed in March 2025. His autopsy did not establish a single, definitive cause of death, but said that starvation was likely the leading cause, according to the report of an Israeli doctor who observed the procedure.

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In the now-unsealed ruling, published first by Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz, the Israeli judge supervising the investigation ordered the probe be halted in December despite the autopsy findings. The judge said evidence of Ahmad's starvation did not prove cause of death.

The fact that he was apparently starved cannot be hidden and should not be hidden, wrote Judge Ehud Kaplan, according to the ruling, shared with The Associated Press by Haaretz. But I cannot determine based on the findings of the expert report that there is a causal connection between his poor physical condition and his death, and therefore I cannot determine that the death was caused by a crime.

He added: Given this state of affairs, the investigation into his death is exhausted.

In Israel, judges can be requested to oversee an investigation into deaths of detainees in custody. They are able to seek and review evidence to deduce the cause of death and probe whether a death resulted from wrongdoing by any party. If evidence of wrongdoing is established, the judge can move toward criminal indictments.

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Or, they can order the investigation stopped, as was done in Ahmads case.

Haaretz published the ruling after successfully filing for a gag order on the case to be lifted. Apart from the sentence, the rest of the decision remains sealed.

The case has shed light on Israels treatment of Palestinian detainees  particularly teens and children  in its prisons.

Ahmad was arrested at his home in the occupied West Bank town of Silwad during a pre-dawn raid in September 2024 for allegedly throwing stones at soldiers, his family said. Ahmads lawyer at the time, Firas al-Jabrini, said Israeli authorities denied his requests to visit his client in prison before his death. Ahmad was expecting another legal hearing when he died, according to his father, Khalid Ahmad.

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Ahmad suffered from extreme malnutrition and also showed signs of inflammation of the colon and scabies, Dr. Daniel Solomon, the Israeli doctor who observed the autopsy, wrote in his report. Solomon said Ahmad likely suffered from colitis, a condition that can cause frequent diarrhea and can in some cases contribute to death.

His report also noted that Ahmad had been complaining to the prison about inadequate food for months, citing reports from the prison medical clinic.

Rights groups have documented widespread abuse, including inadequate food and water rations, in Israeli detention centers and prisons since the start of the Israel-Hamas war Oct. 7, 2023. Former detainees have told the AP that the conditions are dire, describing beatings, severe overcrowding, insufficient medical care, scabies outbreaks and poor sanitary conditions.

At the end of last September, Israels Prison Service said it was holding 350 Palestinian minors in detention or in prison on what it called security grounds, according to Israeli rights group BTselem, citing official figures. It said a further 110 Palestinian teenagers and children were also being held for being in Israel illegally.

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Israels prison service and police did not respond to requests for comment.

The prison service says it operates according to the law and all prisoners are given basic rights.

Ahmad's father told the AP his son's body is still being held by Israeli authorities. The family is petitioning Israeli courts to get it back.

What is happening in Israeli prisons is a real tragedy, as there is no value for life, he told the AP in April 2025.



AP Senior Producer Jalal Bwaitel contributed to this report from Ramallah, West Bank.
MOSCOW, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree banning the export from Russia of refined gold in bars weighing more than 100 grams as of May 1, 2026, with a number of exceptions, TASS news agency reported Wednesday, citing a document published on the official legal information website.

"As of May 1, 2026, a ban is hereby imposed on the export from the Russian Federation of refined gold in bars with a total weight of more than 100 grams by individuals, legal entities and individual entrepreneurs," the document said.

Exceptions apply to exports of refined gold bars via air border checkpoints at some international airports, provided that a permit has been issued. 
A 14-year-old Israeli has been indicted for working with Iranian operatives, carrying out sabotage and surveillance tasks in exchange for cryptocurrency.

State prosecutors filed an indictment in the Tel Aviv Youth District Court against a 14-year-old from central Israel on Wednesday, accusing him of carrying out paid assignments for hostile actors while suspecting they were Iranian, in what authorities say is another case in a widening pattern of Iranian efforts to recruit Israelis online for intelligence-gathering and sabotage-related missions during the war.

According to the prosecution, the minor was charged with contact with a foreign agent, passing information to the enemy, and obstruction-related offenses, among other counts. Because the suspect is a minor, identifying details are barred from publication, and the indictment itself was not released.

Contacted via Telegram

Prosecutors said that in April 2025, the teen contacted a person in a Telegram group after seeing a message about work he was interested in, and the two agreed that he would perform tasks in exchange for payment in cryptocurrency transferred to a digital wallet. Over time, according to the announcement, he opened four digital wallets into which handlers transferred more than $1,170 in total.

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Among the tasks attributed to him were spraying the graffiti slogan We are committed to the covenant in multiple areas of Tel Aviv and on vehicles; filming streets near Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv and neighborhoods in Ramat Gan; and recording a video of the Tel Aviv skyline while describing the location of the Kirya military headquarters. Prosecutors said he was also asked to rent an apartment near the Kirya, after which he sent a picture of an apartment for rent and spoke with several landlords in the area.

According to prosecutors, the teen was also instructed to spray pro-Iran graffiti on Foreign Minister Gideon Saars home and to prepare video documentation of the minister. The slogan was to read: We will avenge Ruhollahs children - an apparent reference to Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of Irans 1979 Islamic Revolution and the countrys first supreme leader. According to prosecutors, the teen responded that he could not carry out that task because he was in school and would be able to do it during vacation.

After he was questioned in the case, prosecutors allege, the minor tried to get a classmate to lie to investigators and falsely claim that he had been the one who transferred most of the money later found in the digital wallets.

A broader trend of Iranian operatives reaching Israelis online

The case fits a broader trend that security officials have been warning about for months: Iranian operatives reaching Israelis online, often through Telegram, job-related channels, or platforms tied to finance and cryptocurrency, initially offering money for what appear to be minor errands before escalating to more sensitive surveillance or operational tasks. In a public warning issued in September 2024, the Shin Bet said Iran had stepped up efforts to recruit Israelis for terror and espionage purposes, including through online approaches framed as paid work.

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That warning described a familiar progression: at first, the requested acts can look relatively harmless, such as hiding cash or phones, distributing flyers, or painting graffiti, but they can quickly develop into requests involving arson, surveillance of public figures, or physical harm. The Shin Bet urged the public to report suspicious approaches immediately and said it viewed any contact with hostile actors, even where it appears innocent, as a grave security offense.

In January, the Shin Bet said 25 Israelis and foreign residents in Israel were indicted for spying for Iran in 2025, and that the number of Iranian plots using Israelis as spies had jumped 400% in 2025 compared with 2024, after a similar 400% increase the year before. The agency said 120 separate Iranian spying incidents were thwarted in 2025.

The newer cases have shown how varied the assignments can be. In one May 2025 case, 18-year-old Moshe Atias of Ashdod was indicted after allegedly surveilling former prime minister Naftali Bennett at Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba, where prosecutors said he documented security arrangements and tried to locate Bennetts room after being recruited through Telegram messages offering a better financial future.

In another case disclosed in February 2025, a Petah Tikva resident was accused of carrying out dozens of graffiti missions for an Iranian contact and was allegedly asked to photograph the home of then-Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and military bases; authorities said he understood he was dealing with an Iranian handler.

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A separate March 2025 case involved a Beersheba resident accused of initiating contact with Iranian operatives himself and offering to sell information, including while claiming access to the Negev Nuclear Research Center. He was charged, according to the Shin Bet, with contact with a foreign agent and passing information to the enemy.

By July, prosecutors had also filed indictments against three men in cases tied to Iranian handlers, including two suspects accused of photographing malls and Ichilov Hospital and agreeing in principle to travel to Iran for training toward an assassination mission against a senior Israeli public figure.

Authorities have also pointed specifically to the vulnerability of minors. In a separate May 2025 case, the Shin Bet and police said they arrested a 16-year-old from the Shfela on suspicion of performing multiple tasks for Iranian actors for money, including burying cash, photographing sites, printing posters, and burning items with anti-government slogans. In that announcement, a security official urged parents to warn teenagers about the dangers of online contact with foreign actors offering payment for seemingly simple jobs.

The latest indictment suggests that pattern has not only continued but further penetrated younger age groups. In case after case since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas War on October 7, 2023, authorities have described recruitment efforts that begin with cash, anonymity, and social media contact, then move toward intelligence collection on sensitive sites, senior officials, and potential targets inside Israel.
JAY  The Select Board on Monday approved a 42article warrant for the annual town meeting and voted to support a project to build a small data center at the former Androscoggin Mill site.

Following a public hearing at which no one spoke, the board voted unanimously to send the warrant to voters at the annual town meeting.

Jay conducts its town meeting by secret ballot, with voting scheduled from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 28 at the Jay Community Building at 13 Community Drive.

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The warrant includes 25 spending articles, ranging from $250 for the Memorial Day parade to $2,014,913 for the Public Works Department.

The fivemember Select Board and the ninemember Budget Committee approved all spending items Jan. 27.

Three measures drew negative votes from Select Board members, and three drew opposition from Budget Committee members.

The major disagreement centered on trash and recyclables pickup. In the end, the board voted to split the two items, allocating $200,000 for trash pickup by a new contractor and $10,000 for recyclables, contingent on passage of the trash article.

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The new contractor for trash hauling, Riverside Disposal of Augusta, will succeed Archies of Mexico, which had been the subject of resident complaints. Riverside is scheduled to begin pickups July 1.

The largest spending items, other than Public Works, are: police at $1,179,363; operation of town government, $739,725; the Fire Department, $454,206, along with a separate article to move $183,000 from a reserve fund for new equipment at Station No. 2; the paving capital reserve fund, $350,000; debt service, $321,000; and the JayNiles Memorial Library, $316,834.

Jay voters will also be asked to freeze rent increases at mobile home parks, retroactive to Dec. 8, and to authorize the tax collector to establish tax clubs that allow residents to pay their taxes monthly rather than twice a year.

Most of Mondays meeting focused on a request from JGT2 Redevelopment LLC for a letter of support for a data center proposed at the former Androscoggin Mill. JGT2 purchased the property in 2023 after Pixelle Specialty Solutions Inc. closed the mill following a digester explosion earlier that year.

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Tony McDonald, one of four principals of JGT2, said the Jay project is threatened by a bill in the Maine Legislature, L.D. 307, sponsored by Rep. Melanie Sachs, DFreeport. Sachs, who grew up in nearby New Sharon, chairs the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology.

McDonald asked the board for a letter supporting the project, urging the Legislature to exempt Jay because substantial work has already been done at the site.

Sachs bill would prevent state, local and quasigovernmental agencies from issuing permits or other approvals until 90 days after the end of the legislative session. It would apply to all centers with electricity loads of 20 megawatts or more.

On March 5, the committee voted 85 along party lines to recommend passage of LD 307 to the full Legislature. A minority report from the five members who opposed the bill  all Republicans on the committee  would allow the Jay project, a project in Sanford and possibly one in Limestone to continue.

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If passed as written, the bill would create a Data Center Coordination Council to study the effects of data centers on Maine. The council, also established by the bill, would be given time to study and review the potential impacts of building the centers in the state.

The moratorium would kill this project, McDonald said.

JGT2 has a contract requiring it to strip the buildings of all equipment by Jan. 1, 2027, and turn them over to the operator. That work is well underway, and the paper machines have been dismantled and shipped to Pakistan.

After a long discussion, the board voted 40 to ask Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere to prepare a letter of support to be signed by board members. Selectman Gary McGrane abstained, telling McDonald he wants to learn more about the data center before backing it.

McDonald emphasized the distinction between data centers and artificial intelligence. In short, all artificial intelligence relies on data centers, but not all data centers host AI operations.

He added that his company is not data cowboys running around the country trying to slap these centers together.

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Large AI centers serve multiple purposes, but smaller centers typically handle a single task, such as answering questions about urology or other specialized topics, he said. He added that Americans already use data centers every day without involving AI  email and Instagram are two examples.

JGT2s client has been identified as Sentinel Data Centers LLC of New York City.

Our project is not the bogeyman the drafters of LD 307 are worried about, McDonald told the board.

He offered these assurances:

Water use: The data center, built as a small language model, would use less than 1% of the water once consumed by the Androscoggin Mill. Its cooling system would be closedloop, requiring about 300,000 gallons of Androscoggin River water a day to replace evaporation. The mill used 35 million to 40 million gallons daily, he said.

Power demand: The centers solar system would generate up to 150 megawatts of electricity. On cloudy days with little or no solar output, the facility would draw no more than 25 megawatts from Central Maine Power Co. McDonald said CMP has assured JGT2 that its 82megawatt supply in Jay could handle that load. We would need no changes to the grid, he said.

Jobs: During construction, the project would employ 800 to 1,000 workers, and once operating would support 125 to 150 highpaying jobs. More than 80% of those workers would come from western Maine, he said, adding that their wages would boost the states income tax base.

Tax base: The project represents a $550 million investment, he said. Typically, the taxable equipment inside a data center is valued at 1.5 to two times the construction cost, which would significantly increase Jays property tax base.

Site cleanup and preparation: McDonald said the developers have removed environmental hazards, including asbestos, and received approval from the Maine Public Utilities Commission to use the on-site hydroelectric power. They have also demolished about 425,000 square feet of obsolete buildings to clear space for development.

Project history: He said the group shifted toward a data center after the Godfrey Forest Products plan to build an oriented strand board mill collapsed. Federal tariffs undermined Godfreys financing, he said, and the company has walked away from the project.

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McDonald said he expects an amendment to L.D. 307 to be introduced on the House or Senate floor to exempt Jay.

I dont want to kill 307, he said. That bill just isnt about us. Its about something else.

Outside the meeting, Joel Gilbert, former president of the Jay-Livermore-Livermore Falls Chamber of Commerce, said his organization will also write a letter of support.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday tapped several high-profile technology executives to serve as members of an influential White House science and technology panel  including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Oracle executive chairman Larry Ellison and Andreessen Horowitz co-founder Marc Andreessen.

The executives are part of a thirteen-person panel appointed by Trump to serve as the Presidents Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Among other issues, the body is expected to wield influence over the administrations artificial intelligence policies. The panel will be co-chaired by White House AI czar David Sacks and Office of Science and Technology Policy head Michael Kratsios.

Ellison was part of a consortium of U.S.-based investors who in January each acquired a 15% stake of TikToks American operations, and has a history of support for Donald Trump.

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Huang, meanwhile, has met regularly with Trump in a largely successful effort to convince the White House to lift restrictions on the sale of Nvidias AI chips to China. Andreessens venture capitalist firm has played a major role in how the White House and congressional Republicans have approached AI policy.

Prior PCASTs have included a higher composition of scientists or other technical experts, and fewer individuals with clear political connections to the president.

In a statement, Zuckerberg said the United States has the opportunity to lead the world in AI and that he is honored to join the President's council and work with other industry leaders to help make this happen. Nvidia issued a statement saying it is delighted about Huangs appointment, which it views as an opportunity to advance American leadership in AI.

The announcement comes several days after the White House released an AI framework laying out the administrations plan for Congress to address the technology. The Trump administration wants Capitol Hill to pass legislation that would block states from regulating AI, a plan viewed with skepticism by Democrats and some tech-wary Republicans.

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Several other current and former tech executives were appointed to Trumps PCAST on Wednesday. They include Oracle executive vice chair Safra Katz, Google co-founder Sergey Brin and Dell Technologies chairman and CEO Michael Dell.

A spokesperson for Andreessen Horowitz did not immediately respond to requests for comment. An Oracle spokesperson declined to comment.
ICE agents and police are now banned from wearing masks on the job in New Jersey after the governor signed three new laws on Wednesday in response to the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.

A standoff is brewing between the state of New Jersey and the federal government over ICE agents wearing masks during immigration enforcement operations. Some Republicans argue the new law violates the agents' rights.

Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed a bill on Wednesday requiring law enforcement to reveal their facial identity during certain public interactions, including those with immigrant populations.

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"I can't believe we have to say this, but in the United States of America, we're not going to tolerate masked, roving militias pretending to be well-trained law enforcement agents," Sherrill said.

Surrounded by leaders in the Assembly and Senate, Sherrill moved to stand with immigrant families and protect their rights.

She also signed bills to build trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities and to protect the collection and sharing of personal information.

"New Jersey is a highly immigrant community, and so we need to have more support in the local government and the state government, because now we don't have the support from the federal government," said Itzel Hernandez with the American Friends Service Committee.

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ICE agents have moved through immigrant communities, leaving residents afraid to go outside.

Supporters of immigrant rights have been on the forefront of this battle and say this is an historic day.

"New Jersey a highly immigrant community so we need to have more support local government and state government because now we don't have the support of the federal government," said Elizabeth Chabla with Make the Road New Jersey.

The deputy mayor of Red Bank has been pushing for these safeguards for members of her community.

"All of the residents that I communicate with have expressed that they will feel safer when there are not masks on federal agents on our streets in Red Bank because they are on our streets in Red Bank, this is a local issue," said Red Bank Deputy Mayor Kate Triggiano.

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The bill allows exceptions for undercover work and officers facing threats of retaliation.

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New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed a bill Wednesday putting permanent restrictions on state and local police cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

It is the first major legislation signed by Sherrill, a Democrat who took office two months ago largely on a pledge to act as a check against Republican President Donald Trump. Her signature comes as Democrats nationwide push back against the Trump administrations immigration efforts and as federal lawmakers battle over funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The bill mirrors the current pro-immigrant rules found in the state's Immigrant Trust Directive, which was put in place by the state attorney general.

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Its pretty clear that New Jersey law enforcement should enforce New Jersey laws, Sherrill said before signing the bill. We shouldnt use New Jersey resources to do federal agents jobs at the same time, and were not going to allow federal agents to terrorize our state.

The bill, NJ S3521 (26R), was part of a trio of pro-immigrant bills that the Democratic-led Legislature passed on March 23.

A nearly identical bill was pocket vetoed by former Gov. Phil Murphy on his final day in office . But the version that lawmakers sent to Sherrills desk more closely aligned with the existing state directive, which has withstood legal challenges by carving out narrow exceptions for when prisons and jails can keep someone in detention to hand them over to federal immigration agents. That includes when someone is charged or convicted of a violent or serious offense or subject to a final order of removal by a judge.

Sherrill also signed a bill, NJ S3114 (26R), that would bar law enforcement officers, including federal agents, from wearing masks while conducting official duties. The bill would require officers to provide identification prior to arresting or detaining an individual  although it includes several exceptions, including when an officer is operating undercover, wearing a protective shield that does not conceal their face or risks a a threat of retaliation.

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That bill received the support of Democrats in the Legislature as well as Sen. Jon Bramnick, a moderate Republican who said the recent conduct of masked immigration agents across the country does not look like [his] country.

The third bill Sherrill signed,NJ A4070 (26R), limits the immigration data that state and local government and health care facilities can collect.

Sherrills approval of the bills marks the latest in a series of actions pushing back against the Trump administrations immigration crackdown. In February, she signed an executive order that banned ICE agents from launching operations on state property and created a portal that allows residents to document footage of ICE encounters. Last week, she announced a lawsuit seeking to block a major immigrant detention center from opening in the state.

Nothing is going to stop us from standing up for New Jersey and against Donald Trumps overreach, Sherrill said. Nothing will stop us from delivering on the promises we made.

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The White House said ICE officers "act heroically" to enforce the law and protect communities, and that "local officials should work with them, not against them."

"The Trump Administration will not waver on enforcing federal immigration law no matter how much Democrat politicians try to obstruct us," spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement.
A bipartisan pair of Ohio lawmakers have announced legislation establishing new oversight for JobsOhio. The proposal comes in the wake of a podcast scandal that prompted Ted Carter to step down as president of Ohio State University.

JobsOhio has admitted to providing $60,000 in sponsorship funding to The Callout podcast, at the center of Carters inappropriate relationship scandal. It is currently attempting to claw back that money.

JobsOhio controls the franchise for Ohio liquor sales  the profits of which help fund its economic development efforts. But because JobsOhio is structured as a private nonprofit corporation, it is not subject Ohio public records laws.

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In February 2025, the Ohio Controlling Board authorized a 15-year extension of the franchise. Under that agreement, JobsOhio will control state liquor sales through 2053.

It paid nothing in the deal.

The legislation

Ohio state Reps. Tristan Rader, D-Lakewood, and Justin Pizzulli, R-Scioto County, want more oversight and accountability for JobsOhio.

Pizzulli said the communities he represents in Southern Ohio deserve a fair shake from economic development corporation.

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Even after a years-long relationship full of promises, communities like mine have yet to see the job creation or investment they deserve, he said. There must be public accountability and real transparency to deliver results for our constituents.

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Rader emphasized that JobsOhio was established to take charge of the liquor market for the benefit of Ohioans.

Every dollar JobsOhio spends should be in the service of that goal, Rader said, but recent revelations have cast serious doubt on whether that is the case.

The states multi-billion-dollar liquor franchise should be creating good-paying jobs for everyday Ohioans, not catering to the whims of the wealthy and well-connected, Rader said.

The resignation of former OSU President Ted Carter is a national embarrassment, and Ohioans deserve answers about JobsOhios involvement.

Rader and Pizzullis proposal has yet to be given a bill number. But according to a press release, it would require JobsOhio to publicly disclose corporate sponsorships and media partnerships on an annual basis.

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The corporation would also have to submit to a biannual audit from the state auditor, detailing average salaries and the number of employees earning four times Ohios median income.

Additionally, JobsOhios chief investment officer would have to testify before the Ohio House and Senate finance committees each year.

The measure also requires any future extension or restructuring of the JobsOhio contract to get approval from the full General Assembly rather than the Controlling Board.

It also requires a public hearing, and that JobsOhio pay fair market value for the franchise after an independent valuation.

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Notably, Rader was one of two Democrats who objected when the Ohio Controlling Board extended the JobsOhio liquor franchise last year.

Response

In a statement, JobsOhio Press Secretary Matt Englehart said that the private nonprofit economic development corporation does not generally comment on the details of pending legislation.

He also said the organization has attempted to demonstrate its commitment to transparency through our swift and transparent disclosure of JobsOhios interactions with entities associated with former Ohio State President Ted Carter.

Englehart noted as well that JobsOhio has been consistently recognized for transparency and ethics by independent nonprofit watchdogs like Candid and the Standards for Excellence Institute.

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JobsOhio remains committed to sharing as much information as possible with the public and policymakers, he said, while maintaining Ohios competitive advantage when seeking to attract economic development investments to Ohio.

You will find the one responsible in the mirror, Governor. As Auditor of State, I worried about just such things. You ignored a subpoena and twisted every arm in the legislature to pass a law to stop me from auditing JobsOhio. What other things have not yet come to light? https://t.co/woIHXmTQRf  Dave Yost (@DaveYostOH) March 19, 2026

Still, JobsOhio has elicited pushback since its inception, primarily because it is shielded from public records law. The corporation insists that discretion is necessary to secure agreements with the companies its trying to attract.

Back in 2012, then-Attorney General Mike DeWine warned that JobsOhios protections were so broad that state agencies could skirt public records law simply by sharing information with the nonprofit. An amendment later cleared that up.

The following year, then-Auditor Dave Yost went so far as to subpoena JobsOhios records to conduct an audit. The General Assembly subsequently passed legislation explicitly shielding JobsOhio from public audits.

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When the Controlling Board was considering its extension of the JobsOhio liquor franchise last year, Yost raised concerns again.

In a letter to JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef, the attorney general objected to granting JobsOhio an extension for free.

How is it in the best interest of the people of Ohio to extend such a valuable franchise under these circumstances? Yost asked.

Following Carters ouster at Ohio State, former Ohio Gov. John Kasich took to social media to express his disappointment with mission drift at JobsOhio.

As governor, Kasich was the driving force behind the establishment of JobsOhio, and he said the podcast sponsorship struck me as a misguided and weak attempt to deal with workforce issues.

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You will find the one responsible in the mirror, Governor, Yost responded.

As Auditor of State, I worried about just such things, he added. You ignored a subpoena and twisted every arm in the legislature to pass a law to stop me from auditing JobsOhio.

Follow Ohio Capital Journal Reporter Nick Evans on X or on Bluesky.

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A Georgia judge granted a bond of just $1 for a murder charge faced by a woman accused by police of taking pills to induce an illegal abortion.

Action News Jax told you earlier this month about the arrest of Alexia Moore, who took 200mg of Misoprostol before she was taken to the hospital in December.

I think that charge is extremely problematic, Superior Court Judge Steven Blackerby said Monday during a bond hearing for Moore, according to The New York Times. That is going to be a hard charge to convict upon.

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Blackerby set a total $2,001 bond for Moore, who spent nearly three weeks jailed in coastal Camden County. In addition to $1 for the murder charge, the judge ordered $1,000 bond amounts for each of two drug charges Moore faces.

Local police took the 31-year-old Moore into custody March 4 using an arrest warrant with language that echoes a Georgia law banning abortions after embryonic cardiac activity can be detected. Thats generally at about six weeks gestation  before many women know theyre pregnant.

RELATED: Report: Ga. woman took drugs resulting in babys death, charged with murder in abortion attempt

Moores case is one of the first in Georgia of a woman being charged for terminating a pregnancy since the law was adopted in 2019.

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The judges $1 bond raises questions about how a murder case against Moore might proceed.

District Attorney Keith Higgins of the Brunswick Judicial Circuit didnt oppose the bond amount in court Monday and told the judge that police didnt consult his office before they charged Moore, according to reports by The New York Times and the Georgia news website The Current.

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In order to send Moore to trial for murder, Higgins office would first need to obtain an indictment from a grand jury. A person who answered the phone at Higgins office Tuesday said he does not comment on pending cases.

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Online jail records show that Moore posted bond and was released Monday. She is being represented by attorneys from the Georgia Public Defender Council, which applauded the judges decision.

Todays decision is a reminder that justice is not served by accusation alone, the council said in a statement. Our system works best when courts carefully weigh the facts, uphold constitutional protections, and safeguard the rights of every person who comes before them.

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Court records say Moore arrived at a hospital Dec. 30 complaining of abdominal pain. She told medical workers that she had taken misoprostol, a drug used in medication abortions, and the opioid painkiller oxycodone, according to an arrest warrant obtained by police in Kingsland, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of Savannah.

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The fetus survived for about an hour after being delivered at the hospital, the warrant says.

The arrest warrant charging Moore says police obtained medical records estimating that Moore had been pregnant for 22 to 24 weeks. The warrant also cited the medical staffs knowledge that the baby had a beating heart and was struggling to breathe.

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
TOPEKA  Legislators want the state of Kansas to pay local law students a stipend if they promise to practice in a rural part of the state upon graduation.

They also want to repay the student loans of working rural attorneys. Its all part of an effort to address a persistent rural attorney shortage. House Bill 2595, or the attorney training for rural Kansas act, creates two programs meant to attract and retain practicing attorneys in the states rural areas.

More than 40% of the population lives in a rural part of the state but only 20% of the states attorneys practice there.

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By helping new lawyers build sustainable careers in rural communities, this legislation expands access to justice today and lays the groundwork for stronger communities in the years ahead, said Gregory Schwartz, president of the Kansas Bar Association, in a Wednesday news release.

The student stipend program is meant for University of Kansas and Washburn University law students. Eligible students can receive up to $3,000 each school year for tuition, fees, books, supplies or other school-related expenses. Recipients must begin practicing in rural Kansas within 90 days of being admitted into the state bar, following law school graduation.

In exchange for each years stipend, graduates have to practice in rural Kansas for at least one consecutive year. So a full-time law student who used a stipend for each school year of the typical three-year track would be required by the program to practice law in rural Kansas for three years.

More seasoned attorneys who practice in rural areas can receive up to $100,000 in student loan repayments under the program, in maximum amounts of $20,000 each year. Participation is capped at five years.

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The legislation classifies rural Kansas as anywhere in the state other than the population-dense Douglas, Johnson, Sedgwick, Shawnee and Wyandotte counties. With the addition of Leavenworth County, 80% of Kansas attorneys live in the aforementioned counties.

The bill had bipartisan, bicameral support, with only a handful of Republicans in both chambers voting against the bill. The programs were recommended by a judicial branch committee, but, as Agra Republican Rep. Ken Rahjes noted on the House floor Tuesday, the Senate eliminated judicial oversight of the programs, shifting it to the Kansas Department of Commerce.

Rep. Linda Featherston, an Overland Park Democrat, said the bill was important to justice in Kansas.

The Kansas Rural Justice Initiative Committee proposed 10 solutions, including these two programs, to address the dearth of rural attorneys and barriers to access to justice. The committee found that law school students struggled with large student debt loads and concerns about the availability of mentorship, housing and health care in rural areas.

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Schwartz said the legislation supports the legal needs of rural Kansans.

This investment is an important step toward strengthening the rural attorney pipeline, he said, and the Kansas Bar Association is committed to being an active partner in ensuring the programs longterm success.

The House voted 119-3 Tuesday to send the bill to the governor. The Senate passed the bill 34-6 last week. If it becomes law, the programs could go into effect as early as this fall.
LAWRENCE  Testimony is continuing Wednesday morning in the trial of former North Andover Police Officer Kelsey Fitzsimmons.

Fitzsimmons, 29, is charged with a single count of assault with a dangerous weapon. Judge Jeffrey T. Karp is presiding over the jury-waived trial in Essex Superior Court.

Prosecutors say Fitzsimmons pointed a gun at officer Patrick Noonan on June 30, 2025, while he was serving her a restraining order taken out by her then-fiance, Justin Aylaian, and tried to fire it. Fitzsimmons maintains she tried to take her own life.

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Follow updates from Wednesdays testimony below:

People to know:

Defense attorney Tim Bradl

Essex County prosecutor James Gubitose

Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Detective David Strong, investigator assigned to district attorneys office

11:07 a.m. - Brief recess

Karp interrupted Fitzsimmons testimony to ask her and the lawyers to come to sidebar.

After the discussion, he called for a brief break.

10:58 a.m. - Fitzsimmons describes day of shooting

On June 30, 2025, Fitzsimmons said she had mandated CPR training at the police department as part of her return to work from maternity leave.

She asked Aylaian to come home and watch their son while she was at work, but Aylaian said, I can pick him up and watch him, she recalled.

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Fitzsimmons said his response made her angry, and she told him he wasnt a babysitter.

I dont understand picking him up and watching him, that was very odd for me to hear, she said Wednesday.

When she was served the restraining order later that day, Fitzsimmons said she realized her relationship with Aylaian was over. She agreed with Bradls characterization that he broke up with her by obtaining the order.

10:43 a.m. - Defense calls Fitzsimmons

After the break, Bradl rose to call Fitzsimmons to the stand.

Fitzsimmons began by discussing her family and education.

Fitzsimmons attended Fisher College in Boston with the goal of becoming a police officer, but graduated during the COVID-19 pandemic when no academies were open. In the meantime, she attended three semesters of law school.

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In 2021, Fitzsimmons got hired as a corrections officer for the Essex County Sheriff. She worked there for two years before applying to North Andover police and securing a job on the force.

Fitzsimmons completed her training at the police academy in 2024, and was assigned as a field training officer at the department, meaning she accompanied a more senior officer on patrol during their shift.

She told Bradl she got her own cruiser at the end of June or July in 2024. On the job, Fitzsimmons served restraining orders and made arrests, she said.

Fitzsimmons also described meeting Aylaian and hitting it off after a few dates. They eventually got engaged and had a son last February.

10:16 a.m. - Recess

After Fitzsimmons mother stepped off the stand, Bradl asked to be heard at sidebar.

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Following the sidebar, Karp called a 15 to 20 minute break.

10:10 a.m. - Fitzsimmons mother testifies

Defense lawyer Martha Coakley rose to call Lauren Page, Fitzsimmons mother, to the stand.

On the stand, Page recounted the events of June 30, when Fitzsimmons was shot.

She said Fitzsimmons called her around 2:30 p.m. to tell her she was meeting Aylaian at the town common, then again around 3:30 p.m. to tell her she was going home. Page met up with her daughter at Fitzsimmons home sometime before 4 p.m.

Fitzsimmons was sad Justin blew her off and didnt show up to meet her, Page said. She didnt understand why he would ask her to come, then ghost her.

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Page left around 5:20 p.m. to head home, then went back to Fitzsimmons home around 5:45 p.m., not long after officers arrived with the restraining order.

When she returned, she saw police at the home and an officer holding Fitzsimmons son on the front porch. Page took the baby from the officer.

Police at the home told her to give the baby to Aylaian once he arrived. Aylaian handed the baby to his sister.

Page said she didnt speak to the Aylaians when they were at the home.

Coakley asked Page what she heard from the first floor when Fitzsimmons was shot.

I heard a gentleman say Kelsey no Kelsey no, then two gunshots, she said. It was Kelsey no, Kelsey no bang bang.

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Page said she didnt hear her daughter say anything from the first floor.

I was pretty upset. I was screaming, she said.

Gubitose did not cross-examine Page.

9:55 a.m. - Officers neighbor confirms wack job comment

The defenses first witness was Maureen Torrisi, Noonans neighbor in North Andover.

She testified that she and the officer had spoken in passing.

In August 2025, she said she spoke to Noonan and asked him about the shooting after seeing a press conference about the case, which she said made no sense.

Noonan told her, Im the shooter, she recalled, which she took to mean he was the one who shot Fitzsimmons.

Torrisi told him she couldnt imagine having to do that to a colleague, and Noonan told her he didnt have a choice, she recalled.

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When Torrisi asked why officers served the order to Fitzsimmons at her home and didnt bring social services, she recalled Noonan saying Fitzsimmons was an (expletive) wack job.

On cross-examination, Gubitose asked Torrisi about her involvement in the case and how she got in touch with the defense.

Torrisi said she contacted Mike Crawford, a YouTuber who was covering the case, about a week after speaking to Noonan.

Gubitose introduced social media posts from Torrisi showing she was following the case before the conversation with Noonan.

He showed her a comment she made on a news article where she said, it was a setup from the get-go, adding that police and prosecutors would face tireless scrutiny.

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We have just begun, she added in the message, linking Fitzsimmons case to that of Karen Read.

Gubitose also showed her a comment she made on a social media post from North Andover police celebrating female members of the department.

Lets hope they stay safe from their colleagues, she commented.

Bradl didnt ask any questions on redirect.

9:40 a.m. - Commonwealth rests

With Strong off the stand, Gubitose rose to announce that the commonwealth was resting its case.

Bradl moved for a required finding of not guilty after the close of the commonwealths evidence, but did not argue it. Karp denied the motion.

9:33 a.m. - Bradl cross-examines Strong

On cross-examination, Bradl began by asking Strong mostly procedural questions about his response to the scene.

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Its about 20 minutes where North Andover police have exclusive control of the crime scene? Bradl asked. Whos in charge of the crime scene, North Andover police or Massachusetts State Police?

Strong confirmed that State Police took over the scene when they arrived. He said he didnt know any of the North Andover police officers at the scene.

When Strong arrived, Noonan was no longer on the scene, he said. Noonan had been taken to a hospital, Strong confirmed, noting it was a common procedure in officer-involved shootings.

Thats precaution, but it also gets them out of investigative scrutiny, doesnt it? Bradl asked.

Bradl pressed Strong on why he did not videotape Noonan or any of the officers at the scene when they were interviewed. Strong said he felt it was more important to capture everyone in the room and the audio.

Strong wrote the report that was used to support the charges against Fitzsimmons. Bradl asked him about the fact that Fitzsimmons was initially charged with armed assault with intent to murder, but prosecutors objected and Karp sustained the objection.

The questions turned to the search warrant Strong authored to get permission to enter Fitzsimmons home.

Strong confirmed to Bradl that no North Andover police officers entered the home from the time he arrived on scene around 6:30 p.m. to when investigators got a warrant, shortly before midnight.

No North Andover officers accompanied State Police when they entered the home, Strong said.

Prosecutor Marina Moriarty had Strong review a report to refresh his memory about the timing of the warrant on re-direct examination. He confirmed that he and State Police executed the warrant around 11 p.m.

9:13 a.m. - Commonwealth calls final witness

Prosecutors called Strong to the stand Wednesday morning. He is expected to be the last witness to testify for the commonwealth.

Attorney Tim Bradl confirmed the defense would be ready to present its case after Strongs testimony.

Strong is assigned to the State Police unit in the Essex County District Attorneys office. He went to Fitzsimmons home after the shooting, arriving around 6 p.m.

When he arrived, he went to Fitzsimmons bedroom, where the shooting took place. He and other troopers opened a green chest on the floor of the bedroom, moving the guns and gun case that were inside onto the bed.

There were a total of three guns inside, all Sig Sauers, he said. After they were photographed, a trooper in the office secured the guns into evidence.

More about the case

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The city of Louisville will pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees to a Kentucky photographer who challenged the citys LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination law, ending a years-long case backed by a conservative legal group.

Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ + news and politics. Sign up for The Advocate's email newsletter.

Chelsey Nelson filed a lawsuit in 2019 challenging Louisvilles Fairness Ordinance , which bars discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom, she filed a complaint against the Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government, claiming the law could force her studio to create photographs and blogs celebrating a message about marriage she does not believe.

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During President Donald Trumps first term, the Justice Department filed a statement of interest in the lawsuit.

Now, Louisville ended the years-long lawsuit, the ADF announced, and agreed to pay $800,000 in legal fees.

Related: Kim Davis is trying to get marriage equality overturned by the Supreme Court

The government cannot force Americans to say things they dont believe, said ADF Senior Counsel Bryan Neihart. For almost six years, Louisville officials tried to do just that by threatening to force Chelsey to promote views about marriage that violated her religious beliefs. Louisvilles threats contradicted bedrock First Amendment principles, which leave decisions about what to say with the people, not the government. This settlement should teach Louisville that violating the U.S. Constitution can be expensive.

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In September, U.S. District Judge Benjamin Beaton, a Trump appointee, awarded Nelson $1 in damages and found the ordinance unlawfully restricted her ability to publicly state she would not photograph same-sex weddings.

Related: Kim Davis's latest legal loss: The infamous Kentucky homophobe loses in court again

Related: Kentucky homophobe Kim Davis, who denied gay couples marriage licenses, must pay over $360,000

City officials told local media that by reaching the settlement to also pay Nelsons legal fees, the move ends litigation but leaves the ordinance intact.

We are committed to fully enforcing Louisvilles anti-discrimination ordinances, including the Fairness Ordinance, which bans discrimination against LGBTQ people," said Matt Mudd, a press secretary for Mayor Craig Greenberg, in a statement published by the Louisville Courier Journal .

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The lawsuit relied on the anti-LGBTQ+ ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in 303 Creative v. Elenis, in which a Colorado website designer claimed she wanted to expand her wedding business but that a law would require her to serve same-sex couples in violation of her religious beliefs.

This article originally appeared on Advocate: Kentucky city pays photographer $800,000 in same-sex wedding case

RELATED
WASHINGTON, March 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Senate Democrats on Tuesday rejected a Republican proposal to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a plan supported by President Donald Trump, as the DHS shutdown stretches into its second month.

The proposal would fund almost all DHS but set aside some funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in an attempt to end the department's shutdown, which has resulted in staffing shortages for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers at some airports.

At a press conference, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters that Democrats will present a counteroffer to Republicans, insisting on reforms to rein in ICE.

The fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens -- Renee Good and Alex Pretti -- by federal enforcement in Minneapolis in January have prompted Democrats to seek changes to how immigration agencies operate.

Over the past few weeks, negotiations between the two parties on immigration enforcement have shown little progress.

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. 
Mar. 24A Kentucky man is facing charges for allegedly having sexual contact with a young child in Warren County.

Seth Loren Summers, 30, of Fort Wright, Kentucky was indicted Friday in Warren County Common Pleas Court of seven counts of gross sexual imposition.

According to a grand jury report, Summers is accused of having sexual conduct with a child under 13 years old from September 2023 through June 2024 in Franklin and Franklin Twp.

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According to Warren County Prosecutor David P. Fornshell, the Warren County Sheriff's Office began to investigate after the victim told a friend, and the friend told their mother.

Fornshell said that the victim is a girl that Summers knew, who was under the age of 12 when the incidents began.

Summers is scheduled for arraignment April 10.
The systems in place at New York's LaGuardia Airport to prevent ground collisions failed to keep an Air Canada jet from smashing into a fire truck that had just pulled out on the runway as the plane was landing.

The National Transportation Safety Board will determine what went wrong before Sunday's crash that killed both pilots and injured dozens of others. One of the two air traffic controllers on duty that night cleared the fire truck to cross the runway just 12 seconds before the plane carrying 76 people touched down. His frantic calls moments later for the truck to stop didn't prevent the collision.

There will almost certainly be multiple factors that contributed to the crash because the aviation system has many layers of precautions in place to help reduce the risks of such an event happening. Investigators are just beginning to interview everyone involved, examine the wreckage and test everything that could have played a role. The mangled plane was being moved to a secure hangar Wednesday for further examination.

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Here's what to know about the surface surveillance system that's supposed to help controllers keep track of planes and vehicles on the ground and the warning lights built into taxiways and runways that are supposed to signal when a plane is landing or taking off.

Surface tracking systems have prevented numerous crashes

LaGuardia is one of 35 major airports nationwide that have Airport Surface Detection Systems known as ASDE-X that combine radar data with information from transponders inside planes and ground vehicles along with other data to create a display in the tower showing controllers where every plane and vehicle is. The system will also sound an alarm in the tower when it anticipates a potential collision.

Just last fall the NTSB credited that warning system with preventing a private jet from running into a Southwest Airlines plane on a runway in San Diego in August 2023. That alarm got the attention of the controllers in time to keep the planes from colliding even though they came within 100 feet of each other.

The system also was credited with keeping a JetBlue plane from hitting another plane crossing a runway in Boston in 2023, and it has been praised in numerous other NTSB reports over the decades since it was created in the late 1990s. A predecessor system dates back to the 1980s.

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The deadliest aviation tragedy ever happened when two Boeing 747s ran into each other on a runway in Tenerife, Spain, in 1977, killing 583 people. In 1991, nearly three dozen people died when a plane that was landing hit another plane preparing to take off on a runway at Los Angeles International Airport.

Only the busiest U.S. airports have received the costly ASDE system, but the Federal Aviation Administration is in the process of installing a lower-cost version at 200 other airports over the next few years. That system is already in place at 54 airports and is one of a number of measures the FAA has taken as part of its goal to eliminate runway incursions and collisions.

But NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said the ASDE system failed to sound an alarm at LaGuardia before the crash Sunday because it had trouble predicting it.

Fire truck lacked a transponder that would have sent more data

One concern Homendy raised is that the fire truck and other emergency vehicles at LaGuardia lack transponders that would provide more precise information to the system that controllers rely upon. She said some other airports do have those transponders in their vehicles.

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The FAA has encouraged airports to install those transmitters and offered to help pay for them, but the agency said it doesn't have any details about how common they are. Even without a transmitter, the ASDE system still tracks every vehicle crossing the airport with radar.

Homendy said the number of emergency vehicles parked on the taxiway Sunday  they were en route to help a United Airlines plane that had reported a strange odor making flight attendants feel ill  made it difficult for the system to predict a potential collision.

Rick Castaldo, who helped design and install the ASDE systems during his career at FAA before he retired, said the system is better at predicting potential collisions when vehicles or planes are moving. Its computer can't predict what a stopped vehicle is going to do, and the fire truck didn't start to cross the runway Sunday until after getting approval from the controller 20 seconds before the crash.

So even if the system had sounded an alarm, it may not have come much sooner than when the controller called out, Stop, stop, stop, Truck 1. Stop, stop, stop. Stop, Truck 1," nine seconds before the crash.

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Castaldo said that early on in the system's development officials were concerned about too many nuisance alarms that might have led controllers to ignore warnings, so they dumbed down the alerts so that you get them just in time to look up and see the accident.

Runway warning lights signal when not to cross

Even though the controller cleared the fire truck to cross the runway, lights embedded in the pavement of the taxiway should have lit up red to warn the driver that the Air Canada plane was coming into land. Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti said that the driver "should have known not to cross, even if the controller told them to cross, because the runway status lights were red -- flashing red."

But the fire truck driver and the controller were also both likely distracted at that moment by the emergency call from the other plane. Mike ODonnell, who oversaw airport safety programs and accident investigations for much of his 17 years at FAA, said the radios in the truck likely would have been blaring with communications with the New York Fire Department as the first responders tried to quickly reach the United plane.

Homendy said that it appears the runway lights were working although investigators will have to examine and test them to verify that. The lights rely on data from the ASDE system to indicate when planes are landing or taking off on a runway, and they are in place at 20 airports.

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O'Donnell said none of these systems are designed to be absolute. He said each one of these systems, along with other safety precautions, are designed to reduce the risk of a crash  but no single thing will prevent every disaster.

Its just one of several layers that are designed to reduce the risk of incursions, said O'Donnell, who is now president of his own consulting company. Its a broader framework. Theres other things. Theres procedures. Theres communication. Theres decision-making. All those other layers are there as well.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Las Vegas underground transportation network is continuing to grow. Elon Musks Boring Company is expanding the Vegas Loop.

Westgate Resort and Casino announced it will become the first resort with a direct connection to Harry Reid International Airport.

So far, the Las Vegas Loop has already transported more than 4 million passengers across 11 stations, but the long-term vision is far bigger. Passengers will be transported in Tesla Model Xs and Cyber Trucks to and from the airport.

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Westgates Vice President of Marketing, Dawn Rawle, said this connection could be a game-changer for visitors.

It helps that we are so close to the Las Vegas convention center, also making it easier for every convention goer coming into this city, Rawle said.

Plans approved by Clark County and the city of Las Vegas call for up to 68 miles of tunnels and more than 100 stations eventually linking major destinations like Allegiant Stadium, the Strip, and downtown.

These tunnels are 2.4 miles behind us, and you can make it from our property to the airport in about three minutes, Rawl said.

8 News Now got a firsthand look at how it works, riding through the tunnels with the Boring Companys operations manager, Matt Weber.

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If completed as planned, the Las Vegas Loop could reshape how millions of people move through southern Nevada one tunnel at a time.

The cars are limited to 50 mph, but thats really more so if we have to use a surface street in an emergency or something like that, Weber said.

Westgate officials said tunnel one between the airport and Westgate should be completed by the end of April. A second tunnel is expected to follow soon after.

The expansion doesnt stop at Westgate. Nevada education leaders also recently approved a deal allowing a tunnel to be built beneath UNLV, bringing a station directly to students and staff at no cost to the university.

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Iran on Wednesday dismissed an American plan to pause the war in the Middle East, issuing its own counterproposal instead, as it launched more attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab countries.

Two officials from Pakistan described the 15-point U.S. proposal broadly, saying it addressed sanctions relief, a rollback of Irans nuclear program, limits on missiles and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the worlds oil is normally shipped.

Iran issued its own plan via state TV, which includes a halt to killings of its officials, means to make sure no other war is waged against it, reparations for the war, the end of hostilities and Irans sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.

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No negotiations have happened with the enemy until now, and we do not plan on any negotiations, Irans foreign minister later told state TV.

The death toll from the war has risen to more than 1,500 people in Iran, nearly 1,100 people in Lebanon, 16 in Israel and 13 U.S. 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.

Here is the latest:

Heavy strikes reported around Isfahan

Activists in Iran reported heavy strikes early Thursday morning around Isfahan, a city some 330 kilometers (205 miles) south of Irans capital, Tehran.

The pro-reform newspaper Ham Mihan reported online about strikes in the area.

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Isfahan is home to a major Iranian air base and other military sites, as well as one of the nuclear sites bombed by the United States during the 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June.

The semiofficial Fars news agency, close to the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, described the attacks as targeting two residential areas, without elaborating.

Earlier, Israels military said it had completed a wide-scale wave of strikes across Iran, including in Isfahan.

US hits over 10,000 targets in Iran war, including two-thirds of Iranian munition plants

U.S. forces have hit more than 10,000 targets so far in the Iran war, the head of the American militarys Central Command said.

U.S. Navy Adm. Brad Cooper made the comments in a video released early Thursday by Central Command.

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If you combine what weve accomplished with the success of our Israeli ally, together, we have struck thousands more, Cooper said. Our precision strikes have overwhelmed Iranian air defenses and our combat flights are having tangible effects.

Cooper added that the U.S. has destroyed 92% of the Iranian navys largest vessels.

Theyve now lost the ability to meaningly project naval power and influence around the region and around the world, Cooper said.

Iran maintains its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, through drone and missile attacks on shipping, however.

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Cooper also said the U.S. has struck over two-thirds of Irans munitions plants.

Today, we have damaged or destroyed over two-thirds of Irans missile, drone and naval production facilities and shipyards  and were not done yet, he said. We are on a path to completely eliminate Irans wider military manufacturing apparatus.

Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press, though delayed by two weeks by Planet Labs PBC, have shown Israeli and U.S. strikes targeting shipyards and missile facilities.

Iran has not acknowledged any of its materiel losses through the war.

German Defense Minister says Iran war is a catastrophe for world economies

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius described the Iran war as an economic catastrophe and said Germany did not want to get sucked into the conflict.

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Pistorius said on Thursday Germany was ready to help secure any peace once that was achieved and appealed for a ceasefire as soon as possible.

To make it crystal clear, this war is a catastrophe for the worlds economies, Pistorius told reporters at the Australian Parliament House.

From the beginning on, we have not been consulted before. Nobody asked us before. Its not our war and therefore we dont want to get sucked into that war, Pistorius added.

Pistorius addressed the media in the national capital Canberra following a meeting with his Australian counterpart Richard Marles.

Bahrain reports fire in a Manama neighborhood home to airport

Bahrain reported extinguishing a fire at a site in Muharraq, a neighborhood of Manama home to Bahrain International Airport.

Trump insists Iran is still negotiating

Speaking at a fundraiser for Republicans in Washington, D.C., Trump said Iran is still interested in cutting a deal.

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They are negotiating, by the way, and they want to make a deal so badly, but theyre afraid to say it because they figure theyll be killed by their own people, Trump said of Irans leaders.

The president added: Theyre also afraid theyll be killed by us, before quipping that no one wanted to lead Iran for fear of being assassinated by the United States.

Sirens sound in parts of Tel Aviv and cities in central Israel

There was no advance warning, as has been customary from Iranian missile salvos, suggesting this was rocket fire from Hezbollah in Lebanon, which has pounded northern Israel constantly throughout this war but rarely reached deeper into the country.

Israels emergency services said they had received no reports of casualties in the incident early Thursday morning.

6 people arrested in plot to kill Kuwait leaders, Ministry of Interior says

Kuwaits Ministry of Interior says the six people were allegedly linked to the Iran-backed Hezbollah group and were arrested for planning to carry out assassinations of leaders in the Gulf state.

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The ministry said in a statement that five of those arrested are Kuwaiti citizens. It added that it identified 14 more members of the group who had fled the country: Five Kuwaitis, five Kuwaitis whose nationalities have been revoked, two Iranians and two Lebanese.

The arrested members confessed to espionage and to joining a terror group, the statement said, and have been referred to the public prosecutor.

At Pentagon Christian service, Hegseth prays for violence against those who deserve no mercy

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, hosting his first monthly Christian worship service at the Pentagon since the Iran war began, prayed Wednesday to have every round find its mark.

Hegseth frequently invokes his evangelical faith as head of the armed forces, depicting a Christian nation trying to vanquish its foes with military might.

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Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation, Hegseth prayed during the livestreamed service. Give them wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy.

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Trumps potential troop deployment is getting pushback on Capitol Hill

At least one Republican lawmaker is making it clear she does not support putting U.S. service members on the ground in Iran following a closed-door briefing with lawmakers overseeing the military.

Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina posted on social media that she would not support troops on the ground in Iran, even more so after this briefing.

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While few other Republicans have taken that stance, the GOP chairs of the committees overseeing the military expressed some frustration that they are not receiving enough information about plans as the war enters a potential escalation.

I am more fearful than ever that were on a path to put troops on the ground in Iran, said Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal, adding that None of the presidents objectives can be accomplished without a physical presence there.

Irans foreign minister says his government does not plan any negotiations to end the war

In an interview with Iranian state TV late Wednesday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said that no talks with the United States have taken place.

No negotiations have happened with the enemy until now, and we do not plan on any negotiations, he said.

Attacks by both Iran and its allied groups must stop, Arab countries say

While most of their previous statements focused primarily on drone and missile fire from Iran, Wednesdays statement by five Gulf nations and Jordan also condemned Iranian attacks whether carried out directly or through their proxies and armed factions they support in the region.

In a joint statement, they also urged Iraq to stop militias from launching attacks from its territory and reaffirmed their right to self-defense. The Gulf countries on the statement were Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.

UN chief says a new envoy will be on the ground promoting mediation to end Iran war

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said his personal envoy, veteran French diplomat Jean Arnault, will lead U.N. efforts on the conflict and its consequences.

More than three weeks after Israel and the U.S. launched attacks on Iran, the secretary-general said, the war is out of control.

My message is that diplomacy must prevail, Guterres said. And diplomacy requires sincere dialogue.

He said Arnault will be doing on the ground what he has been trying to do from New York  supporting all efforts for mediation and peace.

Arnault will be in contact with all the parties and will be looking at the wars impact on civilians in the region and beyond, Guterres said, including the economic turmoil, especially in less developed countries.

Jordan suspends residency of Iranian diplomat and denies accreditation of another

Jordans Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi told the state-owned Al-Mamlaka TV Wednesday that this measure is a clear message to Iran that their attacks against neighboring states are rejected.

Several countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, have declared Iranian diplomats persona non grata following Tehrans attacks against their countries.

Al-Safadi said Iran has launched dozens of missiles and drones toward Jordan during the war. He insisted Jordan does not host foreign military bases, a rationale Iran has repeatedly used to justify attacks against neighboring states, although Jordan does host what the minister described as forces of allied and friendly nations with whom we cooperate on defense and training.

White House says Trump plans to host Chinese president in Washington later this year

With Trumps trip to China now rescheduled for May 14 and 15, the White House is also talking about its intent to host the Chinese president in Washington later this year.

Trump had been scheduled to travel to China later this month but previously announced he was delaying the trip so he could be in Washington to help steward the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran.

When asked if the new dates for Trumps trip to China could suggest he believes the Iran war could end soon, his press secretary Leavitt offered an optimistic tone that the conflict could reach an endgame before he travels.

Leavitt also says the president and first lady Melania Trump plan to host Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife for a White House visit later this year.

White House maintains silence on who the US is negotiating with in Iran

But Leavitt declined to identify which Iranian or Iranians the administration is negotiating with. The press secretary also declined to comment on a 15-point ceasefire plan put forward by the United States that was rejected by Iran.

She cautioned White House reporters about reporting about speculative points or speculative plans from anonymous sources.

The White House never confirmed that full plan, Leavitt said, adding that there are elements of truth to it, but some of the stories I read were not entirely factual.

Houthis say they back Iran but will stay on the sidelines

Yemens Iran-allied Houthi rebels repeated their support for the Islamic Republic despite not taking part in the war against the United States and Israel, stressing that any decision to join the fight would be made independently and not dictated by Tehran, according to Houthi officials.

Three Houthi officials told The Associated Press that the group is historically and religiously connected with Iran, calling it an ally of Yemen, but taking part in the war will be solely a Yemeni decision. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to speak to the media.

Houthi attacks on vessels during the Israel-Hamas war upended shipping in the Red Sea, through which about $1 trillion worth of goods passed each year before the war. The rebels also fired drones at Israel.

More from the White House on Iran talks

Leavitt declined to provide details on negotiations with Iran, saying its a sensitive issue that remains in flux.

She said there are elements of truth in a 15-point plan said to have been put forward by the United States, but also said some reports have been not entirely factual.

I am not going to negotiate on behalf of the president here at the podium, Leavitt said. What I will tell you is these talks are ongoing.

She cautioned White House reporters about reporting about speculative points or speculative plans from anonymous sources.

The White House never confirmed that full plan, Leavitt said, adding that there are elements of truth to it, but some of the stories I read were not entirely factual.

White House says more strikes to come if Iranian talks are unproductive

Saying that U.S. forces are very close to meeting the core objectives of the military action against Iran, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that productive conversations with Iran were ongoing but stressed that more strikes could come if theyre unsuccessful.

If Iran fails to accept the reality of the current moment, if they fail to understand that they have been defeated militarily ... Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before, Leavitt said at a briefing Wednesday.

Trump has said that U.S. was in talks with Iran to end the war as diplomatic efforts picked up, and Iran issued a newly defiant statement.

White House says talks have not hit dead end after Iran reportedly rejected a US proposal for ceasefire

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted the U.S. is in ongoing talks even as Iranian officials deny it.

Talks continue. They are productive, as the president said on Monday, and they continue to be, Leavitt said at a White House briefing on Wednesday.

Strikes in eastern Iran

Witnesses reported hearing several explosions in the holy city of Mashhad, eastern Iran.

Trump will travel to Beijing for rescheduled China trip May 14-15, after delay due to Iran war

Trump had been scheduled to travel to China for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month, but previously announced he was delaying the trip so he could be in Washington to help steward the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran.

The White House announced the rescheduled trip even though the war in Iran continues and the U.S. is pressing Tehran to accept a ceasefire proposal.

EPA announces emergency waiver for E15 fuel

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday that it would temporarily allow widespread sales of a higher-ethanol gas blend in a move that may tamp down consumer prices that have soared since the Iran war began.

Lawmakers from across the aisle had called for Trumps EPA to approve the blend known as E15 in the summer to try to lower prices at the pump. Past administrations have taken similar measures, and the biofuel is already allowed in the summer in some states.

Not all experts are convinced the move will lower gas prices more than a few cents, and consumers may be trading lower costs at the pump for higher prices at the grocery store.

Corn used for ethanol is corn thats not used for food, said University of Minnesota professor Jason Hill. Instead, he thinks this move is a signal of goodwill to farmers, coinciding with planting season, encouraging them to plant corn despite rising fertilizer and diesel costs.

The sale of E15 is typically limited during the summer months because it can contribute to harmful air pollution.

AP video shows a deadly Israeli strike next to a Gaza tent camp

Flying debris killed one Palestinian and wounded seven others who had gathered to watch the airstrike, according to Al-Aqsa hospital.

Witnesses told The Associated Press they received warning calls from apparent Israeli military personnel prior to the strike, asking them to evacuate and move some 500 meters (yards) away from the tent camp.

AP video showed the powerful airstrike hitting right beside an area filled with tents for displaced Palestinians in central Gaza, sending a fireball and plumes of smoke into the sky. The damage caused by the strike did not deter Palestinians from approaching the area to inspect the aftermath, including nearby tents that were flattened.

It was not immediately clear what the Israeli military was targeting and it did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Gazas militants have sat out the current Iran conflict, although Israel continues to launch near-daily strikes in the war-torn Palestinian territory.

 Read more about Gaza

Egypts top diplomat stresses the need for US-Iran talks soon

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said the Iranians and Americans have their own views but Egypt believes those differences are bridgeable as Cairo keeps up contact with the warring parties.

During a news briefing on Wednesday, Abdelatty said Egypt hopes negotiations can resume soon as this could be the last opportunity to de-escalate and avoid a full-fledged escalation in the region.

Netanyahu says Israeli forces are expanding control in southern Lebanon

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is expanding an area it controls along southern Lebanons border with Israel, as fighting with Hezbollah continues and Israeli troops push through more villages in the area.

Netanyahu made the remarks during a meeting with local leaders from northern Israel, which has seen near-daily rocket fire from Lebanon, according to a statement from his office.

Israel occupied southern Lebanon from 1982 until 2000. Hezbollah was formed in the 1980s as a guerrilla force fighting that occupation.

Israel has moved several thousand troops into southern Lebanon in recent weeks in what it says is a defensive move to protect its northern border communities. Those troops have begun to move further north as Israel expands an operation it says is aimed at removing Hezbollah from southern Lebanon.

Israelis donate blood to help the war effort

People streamed into a fire station in central Israel on Wednesday to donate blood to Israels emergency services. Beds lined the room as people lay on their backs for about 15 minutes hooked up to tubes.

Unfortunately we have a situation that missiles and rockets are falling on top of our heads and part of the people are in a situation that they need the blood, said Amit Israel who was donating blood.

While Israels emergency medical service, Magen David Adom, runs daily blood donations, it said that the number of people coming to donate has increased since the war began.

Gaya Levi Adam, whos in charge of the donations, said the units of blood that are usually sent to hospitals has increased from about 1,200 units daily pre war time, to up to 1,700 in the last few weeks.

After an attack on its main airport, Kuwait summons Irans ambassador

Kuwaits acting Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz al-Daihani handed a protest note Wednesday to Irans ambassador in light of what he said were recurrent attacks against the Gulf country.

Hour earlier, an Iranian drone struck a fuel tank at Kuwaits international airport, sparking a blaze that fire crews are still trying to contain, according to the countrys Defense Ministry.

This was the third time Kuwait summoned the Iranian ambassador since the war started. Al-Daihani reiterated his countrys condemnation of the Iranian attacks, and called for their immediate halt.

Kuwait has been a staunch U.S. ally since the 1991 Gulf War and hosts the forward headquarters of the U.S. Army in the Middle East.

Pakistans Sharif condemns attacks on Qatar and praises the Gulf nations restraint in a call with its ruler

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke by phone with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Wednesday and briefed him on Pakistans diplomatic outreach and ongoing peace efforts, according to a statement from the prime ministers office.

He emphasized that Pakistan has consistently called on all parties to de-escalate tensions and resolve differences through dialogue and diplomacy.

After Israel attacked Irans South Pars natural gas field last week, Iran hit Qatars massive natural gas export facility, which Qatargas said caused extensive damage that will take years to repair.

Israeli strikes have killed 1,094 people in Lebanon since the war began

The Lebanese Health Ministry said 22 people had been killed over the past 24 hours.

At least 121 children and 81 women were among the dead in Lebanon, the ministry said. It said 153 people were also wounded over the past day, raising the total number of injured to 3,119.

This has gone too far: UN chief calls for US and Israel to end war against Iran

In a strong statement Wednesday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres blasted the various factions of the ongoing Middle East conflict, saying the fighting has broken past limits even leaders thought imaginable.

He specifically called on the U.S. and Israel, whose joint strikes last month started the war against Iran, to end the fighting as human suffering deepens, civilian casualties mount, and the global economic impact is increasingly devastating.

Guterres added, My message to Iran is to stop attacking their neighbors.

He also announced the appointment of a personal envoy to the lead the world bodys efforts on the conflict and the recent peace efforts that are underway.
LIMA  Law enforcement took the stand Tuesday in the continued trial of Anthony Davis, who allegedly shot his neighbor.

Lima Police Department Patrolmen Dylan Herzog and Neven Stolly took the stand Tuesday morning, with Herzog stating that he was working second shift and responded to the shooting, where he talked to the victim, John Martin, who described what had just happened.

Stolly also responded to the scene and started taking photos of both houses, Martins bloody leg, and his bloody shoe. While they were on the scene, they received a tip as to where the gun that Davis had used was, and while on the stand, Stolly was shown the gun and confirmed it.

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LDP detective Todd Jennings also took the stand, and his interview with Davis was played, in which he can be seen asking Davis what had happened, and according to Davis, Martin had started the fight, not him.

Defense attorney Ken Rexford pressed Jennings while he was on the stand, claiming that Davis did not just shoot Martin without a reason and that Martin may have grabbed something from his car. A video was played in court on Monday that showed Martin grabbing something from his car.

Both the defense and the prosecution rested their cases, and Davis did not take the stand as he had intended. Closing arguments will start at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

According to court documents, on July 27, 2025, at around 5:35 p.m., officers from the Lima Police Department were dispatched to a residence in reference to a shooting. Upon arrival, officers found the victim suffering a gunshot wound to his right ankle, and he was transported to Mercy Health-St. Ritas Medical Center for treatment.

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A witness told police that he and his neighbor, who lived across the street, had issues with a man they identified as Davis for several years and did not get along with him. The witness added that he returned home, and when Davis saw him, he asked him if he wanted to bring it to the street.

He told officers that he walked onto the street, and Davis was on the sidewalk in front of his residence, then went inside his residence, returning with a firearm. Davis allegedly pointed the gun at the mans head, backed up and fired the gun toward the ground, striking him on his right ankle.
Oregon recently wrapped up its short legislative session, and lets be honest about what happened: Lawmakers modestly trimmed tax breaks for rich investors and corporations to stave off cuts to services families depend on. That was the easy part.

Oregon is facing a genuine budget crisis over the next five years because of cuts to Medicaid and food assistance in H.R. 1, the federal budget package enacted by congressional Republicans last July. Oregon will need to spend billions more to keep families insured by the Oregon Health Plan and prevent them from going hungry. Thats a structural problem that wont fix itself. The sooner lawmakers confront it, the better off Oregonians will be.

The just-concluded legislative session sent Senate Bill 1507 to the governors desk for her signature, a good step in the right direction  but only a step. The bill helped to address the immediate budget hole created by H.R. 1 by stopping Oregon from doubling down on a few wasteful federal tax breaks that mainly benefited the rich and corporations.

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This will save Oregon more than $300 million in the current budget period and hundreds of millions more in the years to come, helping to protect the services Oregonians depend on. The bill also expanded Oregons strongest tax benefit for working families, the Earned Income Tax Credit.

Those are real accomplishments. As a result of SB 1507, Oregonians who would have lost health coverage or food assistance from the budget shortfall still receive benefits. And because of the EITC increase, about 230,000 Oregon families working hard but living on the brink will have more money in their pockets to afford rent or groceries.

And yet, we came into this session having identified more than $700 million in tax changes Oregon lawmakers could have acted on, but didnt. Under pressure from business interests, the Legislature acted on less than half of that amount. The gap between what the Legislature did and what it could have done isnt hypothetical. Its families who may still lose access to the Oregon Health Plan, parents who may still lose child care support and families on the edge who needed the Legislature to do more to tackle the affordability crisis.

While some argue that the better approach is to woo businesses with direct subsidies and tax incentives and trust that the jobs and revenue will follow, experience shows otherwise. Research finds that 75% or more of these kinds of incentives subsidize projects that would have happened anyway. This means that, more often than not, business tax subsidies hand corporations public money to make the same business decisions they would have made without it. In other words, theyre usually a waste of public resources.

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Here in Oregon, weve seen this approach play out. Not long ago, Oregon layered direct funding and tax credits to help Intel win billions in federal funding, and yet Intel announced layoffs of nearly 4,500 workers here anyway. Big corporations make decisions based on global forces that no state tax break can overcome. Meanwhile, every dollar we give away is a dollar that cant keep a neighbor insured or fed.

What actually builds a strong economy is investing in people. Healthy, educated Oregonians who can afford housing and child care create a cycle of widespread prosperity. Children raised in a stable home with quality care and access to nutritious food will be more prosperous and productive as adults. The presence of a skilled workforce is a more crucial factor in attracting businesses than tax incentives. Oregon should prioritize investing in our people.

The 2027 legislative session is the next opportunity to confront the structural problem created by H.R. 1, and lawmakers need to be more ambitious than theyve been thus far. The budget hole caused by federal cuts will demand leadership and courage. Prioritizing the needs of Oregonians over the demands of big corporations is in Oregons interest, both morally and economically.

SB 1507 was a meaningful step. Now, Oregon needs to leap.

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Two of the terrorists reportedly admitted to smuggling the weapons to southern Lebanon in hopes of attacking IDF forces, claiming such attacks were protected by international law.

Lebanese Military Court Judge Ghada Abu Alwan issued arrest warrants on Tuesday against four Hezbollah members accused of smuggling weapons into southern Lebanon, the Kataeb Party and Lebanese media outlets reported.

Two of the suspects admitted to transporting 21 Grad missiles, 3,000 rounds of ammunition, and eight machine guns from the Bekaa Valley to southern Lebanon after being arrested in the Mount Lebanon area, London-based Arabic newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported, citing a judicial source.

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The suspects said they had been moving the weapons to confront the IDF and claimed the attacks were protected under international law as an act of resistance.

Alwan issued the arrest warrants in absentia. He ordered their detention based on charges filed by Judge Claude Ghanem, the government commissioner to the Military Court, for the unlicensed possession and transportation of weapons and for exposing Lebanon to hostile actions.

Another two Hezbollah members were being questioned by Military Investigative Judge George Mezher in connection with the alleged transportation of six machine guns and four pistols.

Smoke rises from Beirut's southern suburbs following an Israeli strike, amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, as the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran continues, Lebanon, March 25, 2026. (credit: REUTERS/AMR ABDALLAH DALSH)

A few weeks ago, Lebanon banned military activities by Hezbollah in response to the terrorist groups attacks against Israel following the assassination of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Lawyer requests charges be dismissed

A lawyer representing the suspects reportedly requested that the charges be dismissed and that they be released on bail. The judge would likely reject the petition, a judicial source told local media outlets.

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The weapons likely would be transferred to the custody of the Lebanese military, the source added.

Dozens of Hezbollah-affiliated lawyers tried to pressure the judge into considering the smuggling attempt as a misdemeanor and not a felony, the Greater Lebanon news site reported.

The suspects are being held under Article 288 of the Penal Code, in conjunction with Article 24 of the Military Justice Law, which constitutes a felony rather than a misdemeanor, LBCI Lebanon news site reported.

The lawyers reportedly hope to avoid a precedent from being set that would allow judges to more easily detain members of the terrorist group.

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Protests reportedly broke out outside the presidential palace in support of the Hezbollah detainees, local media outlets reported.

In a separate case, four Hezbollah members were acquitted by a military court on March 9 after a six-day detention, during which they each paid bail equivalent to $21, Lebanese English-language newspaper LOrient Today reported.
March 25 (Reuters) - Libyas coast guard has begun towing away a damaged liquefied natural gas tanker that several Mediterranean countries warned posed an environmental risk after drifting unmanned for weeks, the Tripolibased Government of National Unity (GNU) said.

The Russian-flagged Arctic Metagaz, carrying LNG from the Arctic port of Murmansk, has been adrift since early March, when Russia's Transport Ministry said it was hit by Ukrainian naval drones.

With no crew aboard, it eventually drifted close to the shores of the western Libyan port of Zuwara.

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Italy, France, Spain and six other southern EU members wrote to the European Commission last week warning the tanker posed "an imminent and serious risk of a major ecological disaster".

GNU Transport Minister Mohamed Al-Shahoubi said in a video statement that Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) has been tasked with unloading the Russian tankers cargo, and is coordinating through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with Russian and Maltese authorities to take measures ensuring the safety of maritime navigation in the Mediterranean basin.

The NOC said later in a statement on the towing operation that there was "no leakage of cargo until now," adding that the environmental situation was safe with no indicators of imminent risks.

A video posted on Tuesday by the Tripoli-based GNU's Hakomitna media platform showed a frigate towing the tanker with a thick rope through the water.

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The commander of operations for the central sector of the coast guard and port security, Omar Mohamed Omar Al-Tuwair, said in the video that the abandoned tanker has been towed away from Zuwara's shores.

"We assure our people throughout Libya in general, and the western coastal areas in particular, especially Zuwara and Sabratha, that the relevant authorities are making every effort to deal with the situation," Tuwair said.

Authorities have not yet disclosed the final destination of the tanker.

The Russian Transport Ministry said the drones that hit the tanker were launched from Libya. Neither Ukraine nor Libya have commented on the incident.

(Reporting by Ahmed Elumami, Editing by William Maclean and Lincoln Feast.)
A political clash is escalating in Virginia as former Gov. Glenn Youngkin publicly criticized current Gov. Abigail Spanberger over a proposed redistricting referendum.

Youngkin, a Republican, is urging voters to reject the measure ahead of the April 21 vote, accusing his Democratic successor of misleading Virginians and abandoning her campaign promises.

This is a lie. A blatant lie. Not to mention a complete reversal of your campaign promises, Youngkin said in a post on X. This unconstitutional power grab will permanently rig Virginias Congressional maps and disenfranchise millions of Virginians. Virginia, vote no.

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However, the proposed amendment would not permanently lock in current maps. It would give lawmakers the option to redraw districts before 2031 if certain conditions are met, without changing Virginias standard once-a-decade redistricting process.

MORE INFO: What to know before voting on Virginias proposed redistricting amendment



The proposed amendment would reshape how Virginia draws its congressional districts, an issue that has sparked intense debate across the state.

Spanberger is backing the referendum and positioning it as a way to give voters more control over the process, while also pushing back against national political pressure.

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Virginias redistricting referendum gives voters the power to respond, she said, to a president who says hes entitled to more GOP seats in Congress before Americans vote in the midterms. To efforts in other states to give those seats to him.

She is encouraging Virginians to vote yes by April 21.

Virginia's redistricting debate comes after President Donald Trump launched an unusual mid-decade redistricting battle last year by pushing Republican officials in Texas to redraw districts to help his party win more seats. The goal was for the GOP to hold on to a narrow House majority in the face of political headwinds that typically favor the party out of power in midterms.

Political analyst Dr. Eric Claville noted the Supreme Court's approval of similar actions in Texas to advance the Republican majority has set a precedent.

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Keep in mind that this effort to redraw maps mid-cycle is because of, at the behest of our president, asking Texas to redraw their maps in order to get Republicans an advantage in seats in order to keep the majority," Claville previously told 13News Now. "It was a clear advantage that they wanted in Texas, and the Supreme Court rubber-stamped it.

A national redistricting battle has been the result. So far, Republicans believe they can win nine more seats in Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio. Democrats think they can win six more seats in California and Utah, and are hoping to fully or partially make up the remaining three-seat margin in Virginia.

With early voting underway, the referendum is shaping up to be a major political test in Virginia, one that could influence the states congressional maps for years to come.
COLUMBIA  Greenville Countys elections director will oversee the State Election Commission after months of turmoil at the agency, the commission decided Wednesday.

The board voted unanimously to appoint Conway Belangia, who has overseen elections and voter registration in the states largest county for 34 years. One member of the five-person governing board was absent for the specially called meeting.

Belangia took over as interim director immediately and will need approval from the Senate for the job to become permanent.

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Im pleased to take on the role and the task of moving this agency forward, he told reporters after the meeting.

Belangias appointment comes two weeks after Jenny Wooten took herself out of the running for the job. Wooten took over after the board fired former director Howard Knapp in September.

Wooten, who the board voted to make permanent director in December, did not give a reason for withdrawing in her resignation letter, though she didnt have the three years of election administration experience required under state law.

Belangia, who is 72, shouldnt run up against any similar issues with experience during his confirmation process, considering his four decades of experience in elections, most of that in administration, he said.

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Elections are in my blood, Belangia said. I love elections.

South Carolinas party primaries start in June. The two-week filing period for candidates to get on this years ballots began March 16.

He cited his work ethic and integrity as major assets in running the agency.

Knapp, the commissions last permanent director, was arrested in October on charges of embezzlement and misconduct in office related to his use of state-provided vehicles in 2023. The case is ongoing.

Belangia hopes to rebuild trust with the elections commission and in elections in general, he said. Nationally, faith in elections has declined in recent years, amid rampant claims of fraud, much of which is unproven or false.

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South Carolina has avoided any major fraud accusations. Belangia wants to make sure that remains the case, he said.

A review of South Carolina election records from 2020 through 2023 found no fraud that could have swayed results, according to a Legislative Audit Council report released in January 2024.

We have a wonderful election system in South Carolina. Im very proud of that, Belangia said. But I want to see it be the best it can be.

Until he is confirmed, Belangia will receive a salary of $140,000.

Following his confirmation, legislators will determine his salary. Knapp, his predecessor, made $150,000 annually.
WASHINGTON, March 24 (Xinhua) -- The United States has sent Iran a 15-point peace plan, via Pakistan, in an attempt to end the war with Iran, now in its fourth week, The New York Times reported on Tuesday, citing two unidentified officials.

The Trump administration is eager to "find an off-ramp from the conflict as it grapples with its economic fallout," said the report.

The plan addresses Iran's ballistic missile and nuclear programs and discusses maritime routes, referring to the Strait of Hormuz, it said.

However, it was unclear how widely the plan, delivered by way of Pakistan, had been shared among Iranian officials and whether Iran was likely to accept it as a basis for negotiations, said the report.

It was also unclear whether Israel was on board with the proposal, the report added.

Israel's Channel 12 also reported on Tuesday that Washington has delivered Tehran a 15-point plan for a month-long ceasefire deal.

The TV channel, citing sources familiar with the matter, said U.S. President Donald Trump's advisors Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are promoting the plan for an immediate pause in hostilities, using a 30-day window to finalize the 15-point plan.

The plan demands that Iran dismantle its nuclear capabilities, cease all uranium enrichment, and provide a permanent commitment to never seeking nuclear weapons, the channel reported.

Additionally, Tehran would be required to halt funding and arming allied groups in the region and guarantee that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to international shipping, the channel said, adding that in exchange, Washington is offering full sanctions relief, assistance in developing a civilian nuclear energy project in southern Iran's Bushehr, and the removal of the "snapback" mechanism threat that enables the reimposition of previously lifted UN sanctions on Iran.

For now, there is no indication that the war will let up imminently. The White House said Tuesday that as diplomacy was underway, military strikes on Iran were continuing. 
In Loudoun County, Virginiaa global internet infrastructure hubChair Randall is reinforcing local democracy while preparing the next generation of civic leaders.

Chair Phyllis Randall Courtesy of Loudoun County Office of the Chair

(Contributors Note: This is spotlight #3 in my "Women Shaping Americas Next Chapter series)

Phyllis Randall did not grow up imagining she would one day lead one of the most technologically consequential counties in the United States.

She was born in Germany to an American military family, the daughter of a Vietnam veteran whose service shaped  and sometimes strained their household.

Raised in Denver, Colorado, before eventually putting down roots in Northern Virginia, with her husband of over 30 years, a man she refers to as still handsome and incredibly supportive, Randall grew up understanding two things early: this country demands sacrifice, and families sometimes bear the cost of that sacrifice in private.

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Her fathers wartime service left scars. The family endured seasons of instability. There were hard years. There was healing. There was positive change. And through it all, one message endured in their home:

The price you pay for living is service.

That lesson would follow her from the Midwest to Memphis, where she attended college and trained as a therapist. and later to Loudoun County, Virginia  now home to the largest concentration of data centers in the world and one of the most influential local governments in America.

Today, as chair of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisorsand the first person of color in Virginia history elected to lead a countyRandall governs at the intersection of technology, growth, and democracy.

Service Is The Price Of Citizenship

Randall does not romanticize public office. She speaks about it with a mix of humility and resolve.

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I wake up every morning, and I say, I get to be chair of the county again today, she said. Ten years in, that has not left me.

Then she added something even more revealing: The day I wake up and no longer feel that gratitude is the day I will walk in and resign.

For Randall, public service is not ownership. It is stewardship.

That posture flows directly from the belief she absorbed as a child: the price you pay for living in this country is service. Not performance. Not power. Service.

When Loudoun County Public Schools became ground zero in 2020-2021 for national debates over curriculum, parental rights, and transgender student policies, the pressure was intense. Cable news trucks parked outside school board meetings. Protests escalated. The county became shorthand for Americas culture wars.

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Randall did not amplify the noise.

She made a choice.

You can complain, she said, or you can build your capacity.

She chooses capacity daily  focusing on what local government can control rather than what it cannot.

That choice is visible in how she governs. She does not pretend to know everything about land use or infrastructure. Theres somebody on staff who does, she has said. Let me go learn from them.

Humility, in her view, is not weakness. It is discipline.

She prays not for political wins, but for strength and wisdom. She acknowledges she has cast votes she wishes she could take back. But the job, she insists, is to show up, do the work, and remain accountable.

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Gratitude anchors her. Capacity drives her. And service defines her.

Chair Randall waves to crowds at an annual Parade Office of Chair Randall

A Therapists Lens On Public Leadership

Unlike many local officials, Randalls professional training was in mental health therapy, with an emphasis on substance dependence. She worked in jails and prisons, often with men she describes as intelligent and creativebut who had directed their energy toward destructive ends.

I would tell them, youre doing CEO work in your head, she has said. Youre just applying it in the wrong place.

That perspective fundamentally shapes her leadership style.

Where others see anger, she looks for underlying fear.Where others hear accusation, she listens for insecurity.Where others react, she asks what pain might be driving the moment.

Listening, she believes, is a lost civic skill.

In an era when public officials often respond before a question is finished, Randall insists on hearing people outeven when they are harsh, even when they are wrong.

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Anger is a secondary emotion, she says. You have to ask whats underneath it.

That emotional intelligence has proven essential in Loudoun County, where rapid growth, shifting demographics and global tech infrastructure converge.

Democracy In Data Center Alley

Loudoun County is widely known as Data Center Alley. It houses the largest concentration of data centers on the planet and supports a significant share of global internet traffic. It is both historically rich and technologically dominant.

Balancing that reality requires steady hands.

Over the past decade, the county has added schools at a record pace, managed explosive growth, and navigated intense debate over land use and data center expansion. The complaints have evolvedfrom traffic congestion to data center saturationbut the underlying task remains the same: serve everyone.

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For Randall, local government is not an abstract theory. It is potholes, public safety, clean water, and safe schools.

But it is also democracys frontline.

At a recent No Kings rally, Randall spoke publicly in defense of democratic norms. Not every elected official chose to attend. She diddespite acknowledging that such moments carry personal risk.

I have been afraid, she admits. But you do it afraid.

Her belief is simple: dissent is patriotic. Criticism can be an act of love. And local leaders must show up visibly when democratic values feel fragile.

At the same time, she is careful to distinguish between performative outrage and substantive service. If she cannot control federal policy, she focuses on what she can control: making Loudoun County stable, welcoming and functional.

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That steadiness, she believes, is how democracy survives turbulent periods.

Handing Off The Baton

Randall frequently uses the metaphor of a baton.

She did not arrive in office alone, she says. Generations before her fought for the right to vote, to hold office and to be heard. Her responsibility is not to hold power indefinitely, but to carry it responsiblyand pass it forward stronger than she received it.

I am a placeholder, she has said. One day I will hand the baton to someone else.

That mindset informs her deep engagement with young people. If a student group asks to meet, she clears her schedule. If a school invites her to speak, she shows up. She sees the next generation not as spectators but as future officeholders.

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Her message to young womenparticularly young women of coloris direct:

Be overprepared.Present yourself well.Know your subject.Build a support system.Lean into your faith.And do not stop.

She is candid about the reality that women of color are scrutinized more harshly and judged more quickly. That reality, she says, demands preparationnot retreat.

But she also rejects the idea that strength means absorbing endless pain. Dont pray that I can take the hits, she once told a pastor. Pray that people stop hitting.

It is a reminder that resilience and reform are not the same thing.

Ashburn, VA, Recreation Center Grand Opening July 2025. Office of Chair, Loudoun County VA

Strengthening Democracy, Locally

Loudoun Countys seat is Leesburg, a town rooted in the American experiment. In 1775, local militia units mobilized in response to what they saw as unchecked authority and unjust taxation. Like citizens in Lexington and Concord, they believed self-government required participationand courage.

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That ethos still echoes here.

Democracy in 2026 no longer turns on muskets. It turns on institutions, accountability, and whether leaders can hold guardrails when pressure mounts.

Randall believes local government may now be democracys most reliable stabilizer. If national politics feels chaotic, she argues, counties and cities must become bridgeswhere competence replaces performance and service outweighs spectacle.

Loudoun cannot afford dysfunction. Home to the worlds largest concentration of data centers, it powers a critical share of global digital traffic. Stability here supports not only families and schools, but also infrastructure that stretches far beyond Virginia.

Yet for Randall, the work remains profoundly human.

As noted, she is the daughter of a Vietnam veteran, one of six children, a woman of deep faith, and the first person of color in Virginia history elected to lead a county. She understands the office not as something to possess, but as a trust to steward.

I am a placeholder, she said. One day I will hand the baton to someone else.

That is not just a personal creed. It is also a fitting way to understand Loudoun County itselfa place constantly handing something forward, even as it wrestles with what must be preserved.

Loudoun is a study in tension.

This is Virginia wine countryrolling hills and more than 140 vineyards stretching across land once prized for pastoral quiet. Thomas Jeffersons early efforts to cultivate wine began in Albemarle County, part of Virginias broader ambition to demonstrate that the colony, long known for land, wealth, tobacco, and power, could also produce a world-class wine culture.

Today, Loudoun is also Data Center Alleyvast server farms humming day and night.

The push and pull is constant: preservation and progress, rural character and global infrastructure. Residents who once came for open fields now debate megawatts and transmission lines.

At the center of that tension stands an African American woman raised in 1960s-1970s Denver, in the shadow of the Rockies, as civil rights for Black Americans were still being securednow leading one of the most technologically consequential counties on earth.

The soil has changed. The responsibility has not.

Leadership in Loudoun requires balanceknowing when to accelerate and when to hold the lane.

Randall speaks often about the baton.

In track and field, you do not grip it forever. You do not fling it carelessly. You pass it with focushand to handbecause if you drop it, the whole team falls.

Two hundred and fifty years after citizens here first mobilized in defense of self-government, Loudoun County is still in the race.

And Chair Randall is running her leg with disciplineeyes forwardpreparing for a smooth handoff when her turn is done.

Editors Note: You can watch the full, edited conversation with Chair Phyllis Randall on YOUTUBE
NEED TO KNOW

Bradrick Michael Wells was fatally shot during an argument while riding in a car with Dayton James Webber, authorities say

Webber, a quadruple amputee and professional cornhole player, allegedly fled the scene and was later arrested in Virginia

He could face multiple charges, including first-degree murder, and is now awaiting extradition to Charles County, Md.

Bradrick Michael Wells, 27, was fatally shot on Sunday, March 22, in La Plata, Md.

Wells was allegedly shot by Dayton James Webber, the Charles County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) said in a news release. Wells was a motocross rider who recently became a new father to a baby girl, his cousin told Fox 5.

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Webber, a quadruple amputee and a professional cornhole player, and Wells were driving together around 10:25 p.m. local time on Sunday, when they got into an argument. Webber allegedly shot Wells, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, while inside the vehicle, according to police.

Police then allege that Webber pulled over and asked the other passengers to help remove Wells from 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, per the CCSO. All of the cars occupants allegedly knew each other.

The other passengers flagged down authorities to report the shooting. Then, after midnight on Monday, March 23, a resident in Newport, Md., reported a body in their yard.

Upon the authorities' arrival, they located Wells body and pronounced him deceased.

Dayton Webber on August 21, 2016 in Anaheim, Calif.

Credit: Kevin Sullivan/Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty

CCSO detectives obtained a warrant for Webbers arrest and located his car in Charlottesville, Va.

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Webber was found at a nearby hospital seeking treatment for a "medical issue," and once he was discharged, he was arrested by the Albemarle County Police Department.

He was charged as a fugitive from justice and is now awaiting extradition to Charles County, Md. He is expected to be charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, according to CCSO.

His attorney for the extradition, Alexander Goodman, confirms to PEOPLE that Webber is expected for an extradition hearing on Friday, March 27.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

PEOPLE reached out to the Charles County Sheriffs Office and the Albemarle County Police Department for comment.

Read the original article on People
I didn't realize it was illegal to make modifications to your car's dashboard, but it apparently is in Thurston County, Washington. After leading police on an ill-advised high-speed chase through Olympia, a man was arrested and his truck was searched. In it, police say they found "a custom bong device built into the dash of the truck so he could comfortably smoke drugs while driving." You're telling me that's wrong? I thought this was America. Oh, this was also the man's 98th arrest. However, his conviction ratio isn't too shabby  just four convictions with 27 prior misdemeanors.

In any case, the unidentified man and the woman he was with allegedly stole thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from multiple stores before the chase, according to KIRO 7 News Seattle. Of course, police chases often end with far greater property damage values than whatever he stole  not to mention the lives put at risk  but that's neither here nor there.

Deputies spotted his white Ford F-150 heading north on I-5 in Olympia, and before they had a chance to turn on their flashers, the truck sped off. After chasing him down, they tried an unsuccessful PIT maneuver, which could have gone very badly for everyone involved, and then backed off when the truck then allegedly began blowing through intersections while heading into Lacey, Washington. At various points during the chase, the driver hit over 100 mph and drove on the wrong side of the road, according to KOMO News.

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Read more: The Evolution Of The Ram Pickup (And How It Saved Dodge)

98th time's the charm

Thurston County Sheriff's deputies arrested a convicted felon with nearly 100 arrests on his record following a high-speed chase through Olympia ending in Lacey Sunday night. - KOMO News

A bit later, the truck was found abandoned on the side of the road, and police say they quickly found the dynamic duo walking in the neighborhood, KIRO 7 reports. Both suspects were taken into custody at gunpoint, but not before one more outlandish act. Deputies apparently saw a small white bag in the suspect's mouth and ordered him to spit it out. Instead, he began chewing it and swallowed it. What was in that bag? Well, he later told police it was meth. Lovely.

When the truck was searched, deputies say they found thousands of dollars worth of stolen merchandise from numerous businesses, more meth, heroin and fentanyl along with that "custom bong device" I'd really like to get my hands on for research reasons. I'm a journalist. I like to be thorough.

Anyway, Sheriff Derek Sanders of the Thurston County Sheriff's Office told KIRO 7 that the driver had been convicted four times previously for a number of thefts and had 27 misdemeanor convictions under his belt, along with 97 prior arrests. At least he'll know his way around the county jail, as he's being booked on charges of DUI, eluding and possession of narcotics. Once he's released from Thurston County Jail, he's also going to face charges of organized retail theft in Lewis County, Washington.

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The suspect didn't appear as scheduled in court on March 24 because he was feeling ill, his attorney told KOMO News.

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Read the original article on Jalopnik.
A 37-year-old man has died following an incident with police in Northampton County, Pennsylvania.

Chopper 6 was over the 2400 block of Applebutter Road in Lower Saucon Township on Wednesday afternoon as officers responded to a call for a barricaded man.

According to WFMZ, police were called to the home for a man reportedly experiencing a mental health crisis. At some point during the standoff, police said the man began firing shots from inside the residence.

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Officers told WFMZ the man had been on the phone with his psychiatrist and was making statements alluding to self-harm.

Pennsylvania State Police confirm a trooper shot the man who later died at an area hospital.

The cause and manner of death remain under investigation.

Residents in the area were instructed to shelter in place around noon, but the order has since been lifted.

No other injuries were reported. Additional details have not yet been released.
After the United States and Israel attacked Iran in late February 2026, it became increasingly important to determine how many warships Iran's navy has. However, militaries around the world typically keep this kind of information confidential. As a result, only estimates can gauge how many submarines Iran has in its navy.

The Nuclear Threat Initiative estimates that before Israel and U.S. forces attacked, Iran had somewhere between 28 and 30 boats, which is another name for submarines. (By comparison, the United States has around 70 subs in its fleet.) Iran's fleet is generally composed of far weaker submarines than those in the U.S. fleet, and none of them are nuclear-powered due to international sanctions. Iran has four submarine classes: the Tareq, Fateh, Nahang, and Ghadir. While a fifth class does theoretically exist, this "new" Besat/Qaem-class has been under construction since 2007 and still wasn't in service as of this writing.

Built in Russia and based on its Kilo-class submarine, the trio of Tareq-class boats (the IRIS Taregh, Noah, and Yunes) are Iran's heaviest hitters. They're each 242 feet long with a 32-foot beam and a top speed of 17 knots (almost 20 mph). Each of these contains six 533mm tubes capable of launching 18 torpedoes and Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles (ASCMs). They can also lay up to 24 mines. Iran reportedly retrofitted these back in 2012, and they are its most advanced submarine class to date.

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Read more: 10 Of The Most Advanced Nuclear Submarines In The World

Iran's submarines are capable, though not as strong as the United States'

Iran navy crewmembers stand aboard submarine in port. - Destruction Club/YouTube

Iran's Tareq-class subs' hulls are layered with anechoic tiles made from advanced composites and synthetic materials. These tiles are so good at distorting sonar waves that Iran's Tareq-class sub has earned the nickname, "Black Hole." Additionally, they can go 45 days without refueling and have a range of over 6,000 miles, making them all the more fearsome.

Iran's three Fateh-class submarines  its most advanced original design  are 157 feet long and have a displacement of around 600 tons. Top speed estimates range from 14 to 23 knots (16 to 26 mph). They're also outfitted with six 533mm tubes and can lay mines like the Tareq. The single mini-sub in the Nahang-class lacks torpedo tubes and likely carries its mines or torpedoes externally. Its main mission is to transport and deploy special operations forces into combat.

At 23 boats, Iran's stock of Ghadir-class mini-subs comprises the bulk of its fleet. These subs are truly mini, with a length of just 95 feet and a beam stretching about 9 feet. Each boat's diesel-electric drive can reach a top speed of 9 knots (10 mph), and they are equipped with two 533mm torpedo tubes that can fire Iranian Hoot high-speed supercavitating torpedoes. These boats may also carry torpedoes like North Korea's 533mm CHT-02D. This makes sense considering this class is thought to be based on North Korea's Yono-class submarine, which still operates alongside the country's tactical nuclear submarine.

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Read the original article on SlashGear.
TALLAHASSEE, Florida  Democrats sent a jolt Tuesday through reliably red Florida, flipping two legislative seats including the district containing President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home.

Democrat Emily Gregory defeated the Trump-endorsed GOP state House candidate in a hotly contested race that had seen Democrats pour money and support into an effort to take hold of the Palm Beach County district. But Democrats also narrowly squeaked out a win in a Tampa state senate seat that had been held by Lt. Gov. Jay Collins until last August.

The wins wont change the overall control of the Florida Legislature's Republican supermajority. But the victories were quickly heralded by state and national Democrats after years of GOP domination in the Sunshine State and even jokes from Gov. Ron DeSantis that the state party was practically dead. And Tuesday's results add more tallies to a trend of Democrats flipping Republican-held seats in state legislatures across the country over the past 14 months.

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Gregory, a first-time candidate with a background in public health and mental health administration who now runs a fitness center for postpartum moms, defeated Jon Maples, a financial planner who previously held a local council seat, by little more than 2 percentage points. She pulled off the victory even as Trump used his social media accounts to urge people to vote for Maples.

"I think it demonstrates where the Florida voter is," Gregory told POLITICO after her win. "They want someone who is focused on solutions and the issues and not focused on the noise."

Back in 2024, the GOP incumbent  then-state Rep. Mike Caruso  won House District 87 by 19 points. While Democrats broadly wanted to win in Trump's backyard, the local campaign itself focused more on affordability and taxes. The contest got testy in the closing days, with supporters on both sides zinging their opponents in mailers and text messages.

The win continues a series of blue special election wins and overperformances in Florida since Trump comfortably won the state in 2024.

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This victory reiterates an undeniable trend in Florida: With year-round organizing and infrastructure investment, Democrats can run and win anywhere including Donald Trumps backyard, said Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried. Floridians are tired of the chaos, corruption, and sky high prices on everything from groceries to gas and health care.

State election records show that Trump, as well as first lady Melania Trump and Trumps son Barron, all voted by mail in the House District 87 election. Trump requested his mail-in ballot on March 14, just days after he insisted that the SAVE America Act include limits on mail-in voting. Trump on Monday, during a stop in Memphis, referred to voting by mail as mail-in cheating.

Brian Nathan, a union leader and veteran, was outspent by roughly 10 to 1 in the race to replace Collins and had received scant support from state Democrats. He narrowly defeated former state Rep. Josie Tomkow, a rancher who had held a House seat in neighboring Polk County. Tomkow's residency had come under question, although she said she planned to move into the district once she was elected. But even Fried acknowledged that Nathan's win was in state Senate District 14 was a surprise.

"We believe Brian just sent shockwaves across Florida," said Shawna Presley Vercher, a consultant for Nathan.

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The special elections were prompted by DeSantis appointments. The governor appointed Collins last August, but he waited months before calling the special election to fill it. The Palm Beach County state House seat came open because he appointed the GOP legislator who held it to a local post.

Tomkow's decision to give up her House seat created a vacancy there that was filled by the election of Republican Hilary Holley on Tuesday. Holley won her election by nine points which was a smaller margin than Tomkow won the district with back in 2024.
Municipal shelters throughout Michigan are better positioned to care for animals after state officials announced the distribution of $150,000 in grants on Wednesday.

The money comes from Michigan taxpayers who checked the Animal Welfare Fund box on their annual state tax returns, according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD).

MDARD has seen a steady increase in the number of animal welfare projects seeking funding through the Animal Welfare Fund and in the amount of funds being requested, State Veterinarian Nora Wineland said in a statement. These grants make a significant, positive impact on Michigans animals and the people who care for them. We hope Michigan taxpayers will continue to generously support animals waiting for their fur-ever home.

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This year's grants will benefit 24 shelters around the state, MDARD said. About 85% of the projects selected to receive grant money involve improving shelters' capacity to spay and neuter animals. Other efforts funded via the program will expand underserved communities' access to animal vaccinations and promote wider availability of pet microchips and microchip scanners.

"We are beyond excited to receive this grant  it comes at an incredible time as we build our new medical center," said Jody Maddock, executive director of Fenton-based Adopt-A-Pet, Inc., in an email. Adopt-A-Pet is receiving $12,500.

"With this support, well be able to invest in a new hydraulic surgical table and LED surgical lighting, allowing us to expand our lifesaving impact not only for Adopt-A-Pet animals, but also for the animals cared for by our rescue partners," Maddock added. "This new medical center will greatly increase the number of animals able to receive critical medical care."

All voluntary contributions made by taxpayers to the Animal Welfare Fund go toward local projects that help shelter staff care for animals, according to MDARD.

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The Michigan Animal Welfare Fund was established in 2007. Since 2010, MDARD has distributed more than $2.1 million to over 357 animal shelters.

Groups receiving funds

Southeast Michigan

Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit (Dearborn): $7,500

Friends of Companion Animals (Monroe): $1,000

Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary, Inc. (Willis): $5,000

Macomb County Animal Shelter: $10,000

Sanilac County Humane Society, Inc.: $6,500

Southwest Michigan

Calhoun County Animal Center, Inc.: $7,500

Van Buren County Animal Control Shelter: $1,200

Mid-Michigan

Adopt-A-Pet, Inc. (Fenton): $12,500

Bay County Animal Control Shelter: $3,500

Genesee County Animal Control: $10,000

Gratiot County Animal Shelter: $8,600

Northern Michigan

Cheboygan County Humane Society: $6,300

Great Lakes Humane Society (Traverse City): $5,000

Manistee County Animal Shelter: $2,700

Missaukee Humane Society: $9,700

Second Chance Animal Shelter (Alpena): $5,000

Upper Peninsula

Almost Home Animal Shelter (Quinnesec): $6,500

Delta Animal Shelter: $6,800

Help Orphaned Pets Everywhere (Ironwood): $7,500

Statewide

Michigan Association of Animal Control Officers: $8,000

Bellwether Harbor Animal Shelter (Fremont): $3,750

Harbor Humane Society (West Olive): $8,500

Humane Society & Animal Rescue of Muskegon County: $6,200

Kent County Animal Shelter: $750

mreinhart@detroitnews.com

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan animal shelters awarded $150,000 in state grants
Oregon State Police have identified remains found in Josephine County as those of 19-year-old Mark Smith, who was missing for more than 50 years.

Smith left his home in Billings, Montana, in 1974 and was never heard from again.

His partial remains were found by a logging crew on May 9, 1978, near Williams, but the Josephine County Sheriff's Office was unable to identify the individual until 2026.

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Oregon's Medical Examiner's Office submitted the remains to the University of North Texas in 2020 for DNA extraction and analysis, a press release from Oregon State Police said. That analysis confirmed the remains belonged to a male, which a forensic pathologist and odontologist originally labeled as female. No missing male profiles matched the remains at the time.

Mark Smith, pictured on the right, in the early 1970s. He went missing in 1974 and his partial remains were found in Josephine County in 1978.

In 2020, the medical examiner also partnered with DNA Labs International in hopes of making a genealogical match, but the analysis was unsuccessful; DLI agreed to work on the case pro bono. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children also offered its assistance and commissioned a forensic artist to complete a facial reconstruction that similarly proved unsuccessful in generating a match to any missing person.

An initial genealogical lead stalled after the sequencing identified only a distant lineage. In September 2025, a recently uploaded DNA kit was discovered, leading to a family with several siblings, including one person who appeared to have disappeared from records after the mid 1970s.

Oregon State Police said the state's Human Identification Program collaborated with a Josephine County death investigator to contact the family, who confirmed their brother, Mark Smith, had been missing since 1974. The siblings provided buccal swabs for DNA testing.

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A tooth from the remains was confirmed as a sibling-level match to the samples and formally identified the remains as those of Smith.

"We are grateful that Mark has finally been returned to his family," said state forensic anthropologist Hailey Collord-Stalder in a statement. This identification reflects years of persistence, scientific collaboration, and the evolving power of forensic genetic genealogy.

The last known photograph of Mark Smith at his sister's wedding in September 1973. Smith was missing since 1974. His partial remains were found in 1978 but were not identified until February 2026.

Police said there is no evidence suggesting foul play, but said an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Smith's death remains open.

Smith's family was unavailable for comments.

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Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her at dlugo@statesmanjournal.com on X @DianneLugo or Bluesky @diannelugo.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Missing man Mark Smith's remains identified after 50 years
Mississippi has a high risk of tropical weather impacts this year. The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1.

AccuWeather forecasters say the developing El Nino is one of the biggest factors shaping hurricane season. It could mean there's an average or below average number of storms.

"It's very important that everybody from South Texas all the way to Maine prepares equally for each and every hurricane season, regardless of what the official forecast is," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said in their hurricane season forecast. "Even if it's expected to be a slightly below average hurricane season, we can still see major hits across the United States."

How many hurricanes are expected in 2026?

AccuWeather forecasts 11-16 named storms.

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Meteorologists think there could be 4-7 hurricanes and 2-4 of those could be major hurricanes.

There could be three to five U.S. impacts.

This year we are very concerned about rapid intensification, very similar to the last couple of years," DaSilva said. The risk of fast-strengthening storms and hurricanes is tied to the abundance of warm water, which serves as the fuel for storms.

Could Mississippi get tropical weather?

AccuWeather lists Mississippi as being at high risk of direct impacts from tropical storms or hurricanes.

The forecasters looked at previous years with similar weather patterns, like 2009, 2014, 2018 and 2023.

A hurricane doesn't touch land in a state to have an impact. Rain, high winds and storm surge can cause millions of dollars in damage.

How does El Nino affect the Atlantic hurricane season?

El Nino happens when ocean temperatures in the Pacific Ocean near the equator warm up. They have to be at least .9 of a degree Fahrenheit over long-term averages.

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It can create strong upper-level winds across the Atlantic. The wind shear makes it hard for tropical storms to develop.

Current forecasts call for more storms and stronger ones in the second half of hurricane season.

Climate scientist Zeke Hausfather said if El Nino develops as expected, it could make 2027 the warmest year on record.

The El Nino cometh.



This would push up our estimate for 2026 global temperatures (though its still unlikely to surpass 2024 as the warmest year), and make 2027 very likely to be the warmest year on record given the historical lag b/w ENSO and surface temp. pic.twitter.com/agqcicaYIa  Zeke Hausfather (@hausfath) March 6, 2026

Will we get a Super El Nino?

If a "Super"or "Godzilla" El Nino develops, it will cut down on storms in late October and November, according to AccuWeather.

There's about a 15% chance that the ocean water in that part of the Pacific will be warmer than 3.6 degrees, according to AccuWeather.

That could be good news if you want a weak Atlantic hurricane season.

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But it could have far-reaching impacts like flooding, droughts and heat waves across the rest of the world.

When is hurricane season?

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.

What are 2026 Atlantic hurricane names?

AccuWeather lists the 2026 names for the Atlantic hurricane season and how to pronounce them.

Arthur, AR-thur

Bertha, BUR-thuh

Cristobal, krees-TOH-bahl

Dolly, DAH-lee

Edouard, eh-DWARD

Fay, fay

Gonzalo, gohn-SAH-loh

Hanna, HAN-uh

Isaias, ees-ah-EE-ahs

Josephine, JOH-seh-feen

Kyle, KY-ull

Leah, LEE-ah

Marco, MAR-koe

Nana, NA-na

Omar, OH-mar

Paulette, pawl-LET

Rene, re-NAY

Sally, SAL-ee

Teddy, TEHD-ee

Vicky, VIH-kee

Wilfred, WILL-fred

Do these sound familiar? The name lists are re-used every six years.

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Contributing: Doyle Rice, Cheryl McCloud

Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with USA TODAY Network. Email her at bbolden@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: AccuWeather says Mississippi at high risk for tropical weather in 2026
WASHINGTON, March 25 (Xinhua) -- As many as 290 U.S. troops have been injured since the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on Feb. 28, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Wednesday.

Among the injured, 10 service members remain hospitalized with serious injuries, said CENTCOM spokesperson Tim Hawkins in a statement emailed to media outlets.

All but 35 troops have returned to duty after receiving medical treatment, he said.

Thirteen U.S. troops have died in the ongoing military conflict with Iran. 
The Missouri Supreme Court upheld a new Republican-drawn congressional map on Tuesday, ruling that state law does not explicitly prohibit lawmakers from conducting mid-decade redistricting.

The map, which Missouri's Republican governor signed into law last year, is designed to net the GOP a House seat in the 2026 midterm elections. Typically, states redraw their district lines every 10 years after a new census.

"The obligation to legislate congressional districts once a decade does not limit the General Assemblys power to redistrict more frequently than once a decade. Simply put, 'when' does not mean 'only when,'" Judge Zel M. Fischer wrote in the majority opinion, which was signed by four judges. Three other dissented.

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Its a win for President Donald Trump, who called on Republican-controlled states last year to redraw their congressional maps ahead of the midterms, where the GOP faces a tough battle to maintain control of the House. His calls triggered a national redistricting arms race between with both parties, with six states enacting new maps in 2025.

The fight is ongoing, with voters in Virginia set to weigh in on a Democratic-drawn map next month as Republican lawmakers in Florida are preparing for special special legislative session on redistricting.

Missouri's new map aims to help Republicans unseat Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver by moving parts of Kansas City into two more rural and Republican-leaning districts nearby. Six Republicans have filed to run for the newly drawn seat ahead of the August primary.

But opponents of the map are still hoping to block it through a voter referendum. While advocates say they have enough signatures to qualify their measure for the ballot, Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, who supports the redrawn map, has not yet certified it.

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The advocacy group People Not Politicians has sued to try to put the map on hold while that referendum is decided.

The NAACP has also appealed a separate lawsuit that challenges the maps validity to the Missouri Supreme Court after losing their case at trial court last month.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Oregon farmers for years have been battling an invasive beetle that will nibble pretty much on anything thats green, said Chris Benemann, director of plant protection at the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

But lawmakers didnt send aid when the agencys long-standing program to eradicate the Japanese beetle ran out of money last year, surprising specialty crop, grass seed and nursery farmers growing products most tantalizing to the bugs.

After an outcry from farm and nursery groups who warned tens of millions of dollars in crop value could be lost, lawmakers in the most recent legislative session slipped $1.8 million for two years of program funding into a bill meant to balance the states budget. Gov. Tina Kotek has yet to sign the bill.

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The iridescent green bugs are particularly harmful to the agricultural economies of the Willamette Valley, where adult beetles eat leaves, flowers and fruits including blueberries and wine grapes, and the grubs eat the roots of plants including turf grasses and hops.

Without the funding and the program, state agriculture officials warned lawmakers last fall that crops coming from Oregon would no longer be certified as from a Japanese beetle-free area.

The agency spent the past several months working with Western states to help facilitate the movement of Oregon plant products with as little potential for beetle travel as possible, officials said in a statement, but Californias Department of Food and Agriculture revoked Oregons pest-free status and imposed new restrictions on products coming from Oregon.

The renewed investment should help growers return to beetle-free status.

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Of the litany of creatures targeting Oregons crops that agricultural officials deal with, the Japanese Beetle rates very high on our list, Benemann said.

Japanese beetles were first spotted in a plant nursery in New Jersey in 1916. Since then, theyve made their way across much of the U.S., but it took about 100 years for them to show up in large numbers in Oregon.

It wasnt until 2016 when we started finding numbers in the hundreds, and then we decided: We have a problem, Benemann said. In 2017, we found our largest population number to date, which is really what triggered and brought to the attention the need for the agency to establish the program as we know it today.

That year, the agency captured more than 23,000 beetles. Since then, the number has declined 92%. Last year, fewer than 2,000 beetles were captured and most were on a single Washington County blueberry farm that the agency has been monitoring and spraying with an insecticide for several years.

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Large infestations have been found mostly in Multnomah and Washington counties, with smaller populations found in Marion and Union counties. The beetles have not found their way across much of Oregon east of the Cascades, though Benemann said there are significant populations in Boise, Idaho, meaning they can thrive in arid climates.

An economic risk analysis produced by state agricultural officials in 2017, after large numbers of the beetles were discovered, projected financial losses of more than $45 million if the state did nothing and let the beetles spread and become established.

------------

This article was originally published by Oregon Capital Chronicle and used with permission. Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom and can be reached at info@oregoncapitalchronicle.com.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Most Americans believe recent U.S. military action against Iran has gone too far, and many are worried about affording gasoline, according to a new AP-NORC poll.

As the war launched by the U.S. and Israel continues in its fourth week, the survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research indicates that while President Donald Trump's approval rating is holding steady, the conflict could be swiftly turning into a major political liability for his Republican administration.

While Trump is deploying more warships and troops to the Middle East, about 59% of Americans say U.S. military action in Iran has been excessive.

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Meanwhile, 45% are extremely or very concerned about being able to afford gas in the next few months, up from 30% in an AP-NORC poll conducted shortly after Trump won reelection with promises that he would improve the economy and lower the cost of living.

There is significant support for at least one of the presidents objectives, which is preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. About two-thirds of Americans say that should be an extremely or very important foreign policy goal for the U.S. However, they are just as likely to say it's important to keep U.S. oil and gas prices from rising  a juxtaposition that could be difficult for the White House to manage.

About 4 in 10 U.S. adults continue to approve of Trump's performance as president, which is unchanged from last month. His approval on foreign policy, while slightly lower than his overall approval, also largely held steady.

Trump has left unclear his next steps on Iran. Despite escalating threats, he's also suggested diplomatic talks could resolve the fighting. Americans remain broadly apprehensive about Trumps ability to make the right decisions on the use of military force outside the U.S., and they mostly oppose more aggressive steps, such as deploying ground forces.

Republicans and Democrats prioritize keeping gas prices low

Keeping the price at the pump down is the rare goal that unites Americans in both major political parties.

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About three-quarters of Republicans and about two-thirds of Democrats say its highly important to prevent U.S. oil and gas prices from going up.

However, concern about the current situation isn't evenly felt. Only about 3 in 10 Republicans said they're extremely or very worried about affording gas in the next few months, as opposed to about 6 in 10 Democrats.

Trumps focus on Iran's nuclear program also appears more compelling to Republicans than to Democrats. About two-thirds of Americans say the U.S. should prioritize keeping Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, but about 8 in 10 Republicans say this is at least very important, compared with about half of Democrats.

The war has exacerbated political debates over the role that Israel should play in U.S. foreign policy, especially since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was a leading voice for attacking Iran. Only about 4 in 10 U.S. adults say preventing Iran from threatening Israel should be a high priority.

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Toppling Iran's leaders is viewed as slightly less important. Only about 3 in 10 say it's at least very important for the U.S. to replace Irans government with one thats friendlier to U.S. interests.

Most Americans say US action has gone too far in Iran

As Trump provides mixed messages on whether the Iran war will end soon, about 9 in 10 Democrats and about 6 in 10 independents say the Iran attacks have gone too far.

Republicans are more divided. About half of Republicans say the U.S. military action has been about right, but relatively few want to see it go further. Only about 2 in 10 Republicans say the U.S. military action has not gone far enough, while about one-quarter say its gone too far.

Recent AP-NORC polling has found that about 6 in 10 Americans say Trump has gone too far on a range of issues, including his approach to tariffs and presidential power. That number, which is broadly reflective of his overall approval, signals that while Trump's actions in Iran are unpopular, it's still comparable to other controversial moves he's taken as president.

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Further entrenching the U.S. in the war could change that, depending on what happens next. About 6 in 10 Americans somewhat or strongly oppose deploying U.S. troops on the ground to fight Iran, including about 8 in 10 Democrats and roughly half of Republicans. Just under half of Americans oppose airstrikes targeting Iranian leaders and airstrikes against military targets in Iran, while about 3 in 10 are in favor and about 3 in 10 don't have an opinion.

Many Americans distrust Trump on use of military force abroad

About half of U.S. adults have only a little trust or none at all in Trump when it comes to making the right decisions about the use of military force outside the U.S., in line with an AP-NORC poll from February.

About 34% of U.S. adults approve of the way Trump is handling foreign policy, similar to 36% in February. That measure has been consistent in recent months despite a cascade of actions, including confrontations over Greenland and an attack on Venezuela, that have generated controversy at home and abroad.

It's also very similar to Trump's approval on Iran in the new poll, which found that 35% of Americans have a positive view of his handling of that issue.

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___

The AP-NORC poll of 1,150 adults was conducted March 19-23 using a sample drawn from NORCs probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 4 percentage points.
The top Republican in the North Carolina Senate conceded to his challenger Tuesday in a razor-thin primary race despite having President Donald Trump's endorsement.

Phil Berger, the state Senate president pro tempore for the past 15 years, congratulated his opponent, Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page, in a race that went to a recount.

"While this was a close race, the voters have spoken, and I congratulate Sheriff Page on his victory, Berger said in a statement, NBC affiliate WRAL of Raleigh reported. "Over the past 15 years, Republicans in the General Assembly have fundamentally redefined our state's outlook and reputation. It has been an honor to play a role in that transformation.

Republican North Carolina Senate leader Phil Berger at the Legislative Building in Raleigh in 2023. (Hannah Schoenbaum / AP) (Hannah Schoenbaum)

On election night, March 3, Berger trailed Page by two votes. After a recount, he was down 23 votes, according to unofficial state election results that showed Page with 13,135 to Berger's 13,112.

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Page told NBC News that Berger called him Tuesday to share his plans to concede.

"He wished me the best as I moved forward in November, and I thanked him for his service," Page said in a phone interview, adding the pair have known each other since Berger started working as an attorney in the area in the 1980s.

He added that his success in the primary showed that voters want a change.

When you have elected officials, you serve our citizens, Page said. So if they decide its time for a change, they do it through the vote. And I wholly support that.

Berger's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

More election stories

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Trump endorsed Berger in February, after Page said in a December social media post that he had turned down a job offer from Trump in Washington.

"Phil Berger has served as the Highly Respected Leader of the North Carolina Senate for over a decade, helping us deliver massive and historic Victories across the State, including my six BIG WINS and Primaries in 2016, 2020, and 2024!" Trump said on Truth Social.

He added that Page "is GREAT, he has been a longtime supporter, but I really want him to come work for us in Washington, D.C., rather than further considering a run against Phil."

Berger has been the head of the state Senate since 2011, when he helped lead Republicans to take control of the chamber for the first time in 140 years.

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Both Berger and Page touted allegiances to Trump's policies in their campaigns. Berger's campaign website included a section detailing how he is fighting for the Trump agenda in North Carolina, while Page called himself a "passionate supporter" of Trump and said he led "Sheriffs for Trump" in 2016.

In November, Page will face Steve Luking, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
NASA could be sending a nuclear-powered spacecraft to explore the skies of Mars in two years.

The revelation about the new mission and the incredibly fast turnaround time to make it happen was mostly a footnote in the space agency's major announcement Tuesday, March 24 about its plans for a long-term moon base.

But the uncrewed venture to the red planet would be inextricably intertwined with NASA's Artemis campaign to return Americans to the lunar surface ahead of the first human expeditions to Mars.

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The mission, which NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman referred to as Space Reactor 1 Freedom, would demonstrate "advanced nuclear electric propulsion in deep space" in a major step toward making the power source viable on the moon and elsewhere in space, the U.S. space agency said in a press release.

Once the spacecraft reaches Earth's planetary neighbor, it would deploy helicopters to explore Mars from above, NASA said.

Here's what we know so far about NASA's new Mars mission.

What is Space Reactor 1 Freedom? NASA Mars mission could launch in 2028

NASA could launch the Space Reactor1 Freedom mission before the end of 2028 in the first demonstration of a nuclear-powered interplanetary spacecraft.

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Such technology provides "an extraordinary capability for efficient mass transport in deep space and enables high power missions beyond Jupiter where solar arrays are not effective," according to NASA.

Nuclear-powered spacecraft would follow in footsteps of Ingenuity

When SR-1 Freedom reaches Mars, it would take up the objectives of a previously proposed mission called Skyfall.

That mission was designed to deploy helicopters on the Martian surface that would follow in the footsteps of Ingenuity, famed as the first aircraft in history to make a powered, controlled flight on another planet. Rendered incapable of future flight after crashing in January 2024 and damaging its rotor blade, the 4-pound Ingenuity performed 72 flights for nearly three years at Mars.

NASA believes the nuclear fission power systems the spacecraft demonstrates in reaching Mars could set the standard for future propulsion, surface and other longterm spaceflight missions.

NASA eyes nuclear power plant on moon

The sun rises over Kennedy Space Center and NASAs Space Launch System vehicle Artemis II March 24, 2026. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK The sun rises over Kennedy Space Center and NASAs Space Launch System vehicle Artemis II March 24, 2026. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK The sun rises over Kennedy Space Center and NASAs Space Launch System vehicle Artemis II March 24, 2026. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK The sun rises over Kennedy Space Center and NASAs Space Launch System vehicle Artemis II March 22, 2026. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK Photographers line up to take pictures as the sun rises over Kennedy Space Center and NASAs Space Launch System vehicle Artemis II March 24, 2026. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK The sun rises over Kennedy Space Center and NASAs Space Launch System vehicle Artemis II March 24, 2026. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK The sun rises over Kennedy Space Center and NASAs Space Launch System vehicle Artemis II March 22, 2026. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK The sun rises over Kennedy Space Center and NASAs Space Launch System vehicle Artemis II March 24, 2026. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK The sun rises over Kennedy Space Center and NASAs Space Launch System vehicle Artemis II March 22, 2026. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK The sun rises over Kennedy Space Center and NASAs Space Launch System vehicle Artemis II March 24, 2026. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK The sun rises over Kennedy Space Center and NASAs Space Launch System vehicle Artemis II March 24, 2026. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK The sun rises over Kennedy Space Center and NASAs Space Launch System vehicle Artemis II March 24, 2026. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK The sun rises over Kennedy Space Center and NASAs Space Launch System vehicle Artemis II March 24, 2026. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK The sun rises over Kennedy Space Center and NASAs Space Launch System vehicle Artemis II March 24, 2026. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK The sun rises over Kennedy Space Center and NASAs Space Launch System vehicle Artemis II March 24, 2026. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK The sun rises over Kennedy Space Center and NASAs Space Launch System vehicle Artemis II March 24, 2026. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK See the photos of sunrise over Artemis II at Kennedy Space Center 1 of 16 The sun rises over Kennedy Space Center and NASAs Space Launch System vehicle Artemis II March 24, 2026. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

NASA announced the planned mission as the agency prepares for Artemis 2, the first human spaceflight under its Artemis lunar program. While the four-person crew of Artemis 2 is not due to make a moon landing, the mission launching from Florida's Kennedy Space Center would set the stage for astronauts to make it back to the surface as early as 2028.

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The ultimate goal is for NASA to spend years constructing a permanent lunar base where operations would enable the first astronauts to reach Mars.

And harnessing nuclear power would be a massive breakthrough in enabling an alternative to solar power.

NASA announced in August its intention to put a nuclear reactor on the moon within the next decade, which could power a base during a lunar night  a period equal to about 14 Earth days in which the moon is not exposed to the sun. Data from the SR-1 Freedom mission could inform those plans.

Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@usatodayco.com. Subscribe to the free Florida TODAY newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: NASA to send nuclear spacecraft to Mars by 2028. Here's what we know
While hours-long security lines wrapped around Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport and other major travel hubs across the U.S. on March 23, travelers zipped through Nashville International Airport security.

Wait times at BNA have remained consistently under 20 minutes since the Department of Homeland Security's funding lapsed on Feb. 13, sending Transportation Security Administration employees into an unpaid limbo.

Despite missing multiple paychecks, Nashville TSA agents are still showing up to work and operating normally with the promise of backpay once the partial government shutdown ends. The Metro Nashville Airport Authority reported that fewer than 10% of the 460 active TSA agents in Nashville have called in sick or quit over the last five weeks.

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"We are not seeing the call-outs that others are," MNAA President and CEO Doug Kreulen said. "But in the end, it's a business problem."

He said the longer the shutdown goes on, the higher the risk of negative impacts.

BNA joins airports calling on Congress to end shutdown

Kreulen joined over 100 U.S. airport leaders in urging Congress to break the DHS funding deadlock, in a March 23 letter.

Since TSA agents missed their first full paycheck on March 13, airport leaders wrote that they are "deeply concerned" that the number of unexcused absences in the TSA workforce have tripled nationwide. Some airports are experiencing call-out rates higher than 50%, they wrote.

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"Screeners who leave the agency during the shutdown will be extremely difficult to replace in the near term given the time it takes to train and deploy personnel for these important jobs," the March 23 letter states. "The impacts of the shutdown are significant, growing, and potentially long-lasting."

Nashville International Airport CEO Doug Kreulen joined airport leaders nationwide in a March 23 letter to Congress urging an end to the partial government shutdown leaving TSA workers without pay.

Kreulen and the other airport leaders affiliated with the American Association of Airport Executives also requested that Congress enact legislation to allow TSA and other federal aviation employees to receive pay during any future shutdowns.

"We urge you to take action to immediately," they wrote.

Why aren't as many Nashville TSA agents calling in sick?

There is no clear answer as to why Nashville TSA agents are withstanding the impact of missed paychecks better than TSA agents in other cities. But companies and travelers alike have taken steps to mitigate the negative effects.

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As a business leader, Kreulen said it's been disappointing to see paycheck-to-paycheck employees struggle amid the partial shutdown.

"We can't give money, but our concessionaires are feeding them," he said.

Southwest Airlines, Tailgate Brewery, Aero Services Group, Air Ventures and HMS Host are among the companies that have donated meals to TSA agents at the Nashville airport.

While agents are not allowed to accept cash, some passengers have been giving them gift cards while walking through the security line as a small thanks, he added.

Moreover, some apartment buildings and utility providers are allowing essential DHS employees extensions to pay rent and bills.

Are ICE agents replacing TSA at Nashville International Airport?

On March 23, DHS deployed hundreds of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to airports across the country to backfill for missing TSA agents. BNA was not on the initial list of 14 impacted airports, which included Southwest Florida International Airport, Chicago OHare International Airport and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.

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While TSA agents are unpaid, ICE agents are receiving paychecks. President Donald Trump's 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act provided $75 billion in funding for ICE over the next four years.

As of 11 a.m. on March 24, Kruelen said he had not heard any word of ICE agents being deployed to the Nashville airport.

Hadley Hitson covers business news for The Tennessean. She can be reached at hhitson@gannett.com. To support her work, subscribe to The Tennessean.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville airport responds to TSA struggles, demands funding
The News

Donald Trump could use a clear victory as his presidency enters a perilous phase. He doesnt have a lot of ways to get one.

The war with Iran is grinding on with muddled goals, more service members heading overseas, rising energy prices, and growing Republican fears of ground troops. A partial government shutdown is hobbling air travel, and Trump is faced with a deal to end it that would not deliver his top domestic priority, a voter ID bill that cant pass Congress as written.

Trump lost two Florida state-level special elections  including one in his literal backyard  and faced dire poll numbers this week. Republicans are down 11 points on the generic congressional ballot released by Quinnipiac; a Reuters poll showed Trumps approval at just 36 percent.

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Republican Sen. John Cornyn, whos fighting for his own political life in Texas, said he didnt read too much into the special-election losses. But Cornyn recommended in an interview that the GOP turn its focus back home, despite the huge importance of Trumps overseas forays: They dont really resonate with the voters very much. And what does resonate with voters is the high price of gasoline and things like that.

We need to finish off the Iranian war, disable them from being able to pursue nuclear weapons or develop ballistic missiles, Cornyn added. And then I think we need to pay more attention to domestic issues.

Inside the White House, aides are urging the party not to panic and reminding fellow Republicans that Trump can sell the upside of compromises. US operations have decimated Tehrans leadership and military capabilities, and Trump would tout any deal that reopens the Department of Homeland Security as a big domestic win.

Yet the president doesnt appear ready to sell voters yet. Hes openly ambivalent about an emerging agreement to fund DHS despite intense lobbying from Republican senators and telegraphing military escalation in Iran while also trying to pursue negotiations on a ceasefire.

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Michael Caputo, a first-term aide and longtime Trump confidant, said that if any new administration isnt nervous for wins and hunting them down in March of the second year, then I would be worried that were going to lose everything. Caputo added that we are exactly where we need to be.

Theres reason to be extra-nervous about Iran. Absent a surprising breakthrough on a US ceasefire offer, Trump will have to decide soon on whether to use ground troops to achieve his objectives of degrading Irans long-term nuclear capability and defense production. Most urgently, he must find a way to revive the global trade in gas and oil, currently strangled in the Strait of Hormuz and subject to threats by Irans Houthi allies.

One Republican senator told Semafor that it will probably take some US ground troops and diplomacy to reopen the strait. While Trump may end up declaring victory, this senator described the operations current state as a f*cking clusterf*ck and entirely predictable.

There was a lot of superficial thinking that went into this operation, the GOP senator said. Its like so much that happens right now. A very risk-seeking executive decides to make some risky moves that could turn out well.

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A classified briefing for House members on Iran didnt end well on Wednesday, either, as even the Republican Armed Services Committee chair knocked the administration: Were just not getting enough answers.

In response to a request for comment, a White House official pointed to polling that shows the Iran war commanding strong support from MAGA-identifying voters. The official cited press secretary Karoline Leavitts remarks to reporters on Wednesday, when she reminded young voters that Trump is doing this for you.

Know More

Some Trump allies are growing concerned about the narrowing path for Trump to claim success. One person close to the White House argued that the goalpost seems to be changing on Iran, urging Trump to take your wins when you can take them.

People have to start feeling good. And I can tell you right now, a lot of people dont feel good, and people vote based on their feelings, the person added.

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Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., acknowledged that there isnt a good time to be in the middle of a conflict but said it would have been worse if Trump waited to strike Iran.

I just want to make sure that theres a clear understanding that it will be a conditions-based and not a time-based withdrawal. I think thats the mistake that was made in Afghanistan, Rounds said, underscoring that the president made the right choice at that time to attack Iran.

The most immediate issue in front of Trump is the 40-day DHS shutdown. The president previously insisted any deal with Democrats include passage of legislation that would require proof of citizenship and photo identification for voting.

[Y]ou cant have the world and at home feeling like sh*t, said the person close to the White House. Thats what Biden had and thats why he lost. At least make your backyard feel better. And I just dont think that theyre doing that right now, and thats a massive political risk.

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Republicans are waking up to that risk, with four GOP senators lobbying Trump on Monday to take a DHS deal amid punishing airport security lines. They left thinking hed support a compromise, and Leavitt said on Wednesday that Trump told her hes willing to try all strategies to accomplish his goals.

The president supports a pathway forward, said Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., who met with Trump on Monday. Hes going to let us do our work, and he wants to see the department fully funded.

Yet any compromise would fall far short of the voter ID bill Trump vowed to pass  I dont see how you get it done, said Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla.  and his conservative allies are already warning against the emerging deal.

Room for Disagreement

Scott dismissed Tuesdays election results in Florida as having no bearing on the GOPs midterm fate. He said he was not particularly worried.

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Special elections, its just hard to get the vote out, he said.

And one Democratic senator cast doubt on the perception that Trump is keen to claim a win, telling Semafor that he seems resigned to not getting what he wants on a funding deal  which might be good for us.

The View From Democrats

If we can get a free and fair election, this looks like its going to be a bloodbath, said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.

Burgess and Shelbys View

Reporting out this story, we were reminded of something a White House ally told us more than a year ago: that if polling around the start of July 2026 is bad, then its time to panic.

That moment isnt here, but its getting close  which explains why Republicans clearly want to wrap up the Iran war soon and shift more to domestic issues. Its not clear whether Trump agrees.

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The presidents resistance to endorsing Cornyn in his Texas primary race, and his public observations that the party in power usually struggles in midterms, show that hes not yet fully focused on helping the GOP in November.

Notable
The New Mexico Secretary of State on Tuesday finished the tally of who will appear on the June 2 primary ballot, officially giving U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) a primary challenger, and making the Republican bid for governor a three-way race.

Tuesday marked the deadline for election officials to verify whether candidates who did not earn enough of their partys support at pre-primary conventions collected enough signatures to make the primary ballot. Some candidates, like first-term state Sen. Steve Lanier (R-Aztec), were already disqualified for failing to submit new declarations of candidacy following a poor outing at the party convention.

Matt Dodson, a self-described Democratic Socialist from Farmington, is set to face Lujan in the June primary race for the U.S. Senate seat. Dodson earned 14% of delegates for his U.S. Senate bid at the state Democratic Partys convention in Mescalero. Candidates needed to get at least 20% to automatically make the ballot.

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After collecting further signatures, though, Dodson made the cut. He told Source NM Tuesday that he was thrilled to be on the ballot and said his outing at the convention illustrated just about everything wrong with the Democratic Party right now.

The Secretary of State qualified Republican Duke Rodriguez, a former state cabinet secretary and cannabis CEO, in a three-way gubernatorial race that includes Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull and public relations professional Doug Turner. Both Hull and Turner earned enough votes at the partys pre-primary convention to qualify for the ballot. Rodriguez skipped the debate.

The Secretary of States final designation is the starters gun, and from here we run through Election Day, Rodriguez told Source NM Tuesday.

Questions of whether Rodriguez lives in New Mexico or Arizona have plagued his campaign since he announced his bid for the states highest office in December. Hes successfully fended off two challenges to his eligibility as a candidate in court and faces an appeal in the New Mexico Supreme Court, which has not yet made a decision on his eligibility.

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Rodriguez is set to speak as a gubernatorial candidate at an Albuquerque Journal town hall event Wednesday afternoon.

The Secretary of States Office also qualified several other candidates who didnt garner enough convention support.

Candidates have until April 7 to pull out of the primary election, according to the Secretary of States candidate guide.

U.S. House of Representatives

Jose Orozco, an Albuquerque Republican and former drug enforcement officer, earned a spot on the ballot to challenge fellow Republican Greg Cunningham, a former Marine and police officer. Both are vying for the 2nd Congressional District seat held by U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) Orozco did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.

Lieutenant Governor

Election officials qualified Republican A. Blair Dunn, an attorney and former Libertarian attorney general candidate, for the lieutenant governors race after he lost out at the convention. Likewise, they qualified Republican Manuel Manny Lardizabal for the same race. Theyll face state Sen. David Gallegos (R-Eunice). Dunn and Lardizabal did not respond to requests for comment.

Write-ins

Numerous write-in candidates, whose names will not appear on ballots, also qualified:

They are Republican Larry Marker of Roswell for the U.S. Senate seat held by Lujan; Republican Joshua James Ryan Lawrence of Albuquerque for the Office of the State Auditor; Republican Jim Ellison of Cedar Crest for State Treasurer; Republican Richard Zubia of Albuquerque for the state House of Representatives seat currently held by Democrat Rep. Miguel Garcia; Democrat David Mooney of Radium Springs for the state House seat currently held by Republican Rebecca Dow; Republican Adam Prior of Rio Rancho for the state House seat held by Democrat Kathleen Cates; and Democrat Jacob Trujillo of Albuquerque for the Public Education Commission.
Columbia has hosted "No Kings" protest rallies in June and October of 2025, and is getting ready for its third March 28.

Similar demonstrations are planned in Boonville, Fayette, Fulton, Jefferson City and Moberly and are part of more than 1,000 demonstrations scheduled nationwide.

The October demonstration in Columbia filled the Boone County Courthouse Square.

"What began in 2025 as a single day of defiance has become a sustained national resistance to tyranny, spreading from small towns to city centers and across every community determined to defend democracy," reads a webpage on mobilize.us that has details about the Columbia protest.

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The "No Kings" protest in Columbia is planned for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 28, again at the Boone County Courthouse plaza at 8th and Walnut streets.

The demonstrations are organized by multiple activist groups including the American Civil Liberties Union, American Federation of Teachers, Common Defense, 50501, Human Rights Campaign, Indivisible, League of Conservation Voters, MoveOn, National Nurses United, Public Citizen and Service Employees International Union, among others.

The protests are planned to object to "authoritarian power grabs and defend dignity and freedom," according to a news release from the organizers.

Demonstrators crowd into the Boone County Courthouse Square on Oct. 18, 2025 in downtown Columbia for the No Kings Rally.

"While Trump escalates his attack with occupations of American cities and secret police forces terrorizing American communities, normal everyday people across this country are showing up every single day with courage and defiance," Ezra Levin, the co-founder and co-executive director of Indivisible, said in a statement back in October. Millions will come together in more cities than ever to say collectively: no kings ever in America.

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Organizers say the events will adhere to a "shared commitment to nonviolent protest and community safety."

Other mid-Missouri demonstrations scheduled

Boonville: 11 a.m. to noon at the Cooper County Courthouse at 200 Main St.

Fayette: 10 a.m. to noon at the Howard County Courthouse at East Morrison Street.

Fulton: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fulton City Hall at 18 E. Fourth St.

Jefferson City: noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Missouri State Capitol at 201 W. Capitol Ave.

Moberly: noon to 1 p.m. at North Morley and East Coates streets.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: No Kings protest planned March 28 at Columbia's courthouse square
As the United States-Israeli war with Iran sends tremors through the global economy, the poorest members of the Global South are the most exposed to the fallout.

In Asia, Africa and the Middle East, developing economies are bearing the brunt of surging energy costs prompted by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on oil and gas facilities across the Gulf.

From Pakistan to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, through to Jordan, Egypt and Ethiopia, policymakers are facing the double whammy of being both heavily dependent on imported energy and having limited financial firepower to absorb the shock of spiking prices.

In Pakistan, which imports about 80 percent of its energy from the Gulf and has lurched between economic crises for years, authorities have scrambled to roll out measures to conserve fuel.

Facing the depletion of the countrys petrol and diesel reserves within weeks, officials have closed schools, introduced a four-day working week for government offices, ordered half of the countrys public sector employees to work from home, and slashed fuel allowances for official business.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said last week that he had decided against a proposed hike in petrol and diesel prices before the Eid Al-Fitr celebration, saying the government would bear the burden of rising costs.

Sharifs announcement came after the government had earlier this month approved a 55 rupee ($0.20) rise in the price of a litre (0.26 gallons) of petrol or diesel.

While government subsidies have helped cushion the blow for the public, there are fears that petroleum prices will surge and bring economic activity to a halt if the war drags on, said S Akbar Zaidi, the executive director of the Institute of Business Administration in Karachi.

The overall shock is quite severe, although it has not been fully passed on to consumers and to industry, Zaidi said.

I expect the next few weeks to make things far worse once the disruption and price factors pass through.

A man gets his motorcycle refuelled at a petrol station in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on March 9, 2026 [Munir Uz Zaman/AFP]

In Bangladesh, which imports about 95 percent of its oil and is expected to run through its fuel reserves within days, petrol pumps in some districts have run dry despite the introduction of fuel rationing.

Sri Lanka, which imports about 60 percent of its energy needs and is still reeling from an economic meltdown that began in 2019, has declared every Wednesday a public holiday and introduced a mandatory fuel pass for vehicle owners to conserve petrol and diesel, stockpiles of which are projected to run dry within weeks.
While the majority of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents continue to report to work at Raleigh-Durham International airport, local leaders say, they have not been paid for more than a month amid the partial federal government shutdown.

Mac Johnson, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 449 (Photo: Screen capture from virtual press conference)

Its not that these employees are currently hungry. Theyre beginning to starve, said Mac Johnson, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 449 at RDU airport.

Johnson told reporters Tuesday that TSA agents are behind on their rent and mortgage. Others can no longer afford to take their children to daycare.

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We got folks out here selling plasma to make ends meet, said Johnson. These are federal employees. This is a disgrace.

Democratic Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04) held a virtual press conference to highlight the ongoing impact of the Department of Homeland Security shutdown on TSA workers and their families.

Foushee said even as the Senate scrambles to end the budget standoff, she believes that Congress can come up with a solution for DHS that both funds TSA and requires greater accountability for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents.

Any funding solution must reflect our values, said Foushee. We need an approach that not only ensures federal workers are paid, but also protects the safety and rights of people in our communities. That means recognizing that our national security is strongest when it is rooted in accountability, transparency and respect for human rights.

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Nina Szlosberg-Landis, vice chair of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority Board, said she is grateful that about 90% of the 450 TSA agents working at RDU have continued to show up.

Democratic Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04) wants TSA agents paid and accountability for ICE. (Photo: Screen capture from virtual press conference)

RDU has not experienced significant delays at our security checkpoints despite the challenges the situation creates, said Szlosberg-Landis. But the longer this federal shutdown continues the greater the risk is of real operational impacts that will not just affect travel plans, they could ripple throughout our regional economy.

The Trump administration deployed ICE agents to more than a dozen airports this week to increase security in the wake of TSA staffing shortages. RDU was not on that list.

Szlosberg-Landis said screening lines are moving well at Raleigh-Durham, and there are no plans to bring ICE agents in.

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Szlosberg-Landis stressed that as TSA agents continue to make personal sacrifices to work without pay, the Raleigh-Durham airport authority has partnered with the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina and the Diaper Bank of North Carolina to host a food and supply distribution event for TSA personnel. The airport is also launching a gift card donation campaign at RDU to provide more direct and immediate support.

Amy Beros, president of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, said that even before this financial crisis for TSA employees, about one out of seven people in the region was unsure where their next meal may come from.

Its the highest level of hunger weve seen in a generation, Beros said.

Amy Beros, president and CEO of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina (Photo: Screen capture from virtual press conference)

Beros said when families lose a paycheck, food is often the first thing that gets cut because its often the most flexible bill in a family budget.

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For many TSA officers, this is new territory, said Beros. I think its really important to say out loud that it takes real courage to ask for help, especially when youre used to being the one others depend on.

The Food Bank is working with Salisbury-based Food Lion to provide grocery store gift cards, while healthy pantry staples are being boxed up and made available to TSA employees at RDU. Similar plans are in the works for regional airports in Wilmington and Greenville.

Donations remain critical to helping the nonprofit purchase food for this crisis and other ongoing needs, said Beros.

Ultimately, ending the shutdown and strengthening the safety net requires action at all levels, said Beros. We are built for moments like this, but we are not meant to carry them alone. This is a moment for all of us as a community to decide how we can show up together.

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As for Foushee, she said congressional Democrats are ready to fund a deal that ends the Homeland Security shutdown and gets TSA agents paid quickly, as long as the resolution does not include more money for ICE and Border Patrol.

With the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last July, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement saw its budget balloon by $75 billion.

Were not willing to provide more funding for that agency that we believe has gone rogue, said Foushee.
New York has gotten permission to undo a health insurance expansion in response to federal funding cuts, a move that will end nearly free health care for 460,000 low-income New Yorkers as of July 1.

The state opted to absorb the cuts by rolling back eligibility for its Essential Plan, a federally funded program that provides coverage with no premiums and some co-pays for almost 1.7 million New Yorkers. Enrollment had jumped after state officials raised the income cutoff in 2024.

Now, they are restoring the original limit, which will disqualify all those who earn more. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the Trump administration's final approval for that change on March 20, blaming federal cuts for the reversal while saying it will protect care for 1.3 million people still enrolled in the Essential Plan.

Because Republicans used their majority to pass the largest health care cuts in history, hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers are still facing painful decisions about whether they can afford coverage, and no state can fully backfill these draconian cuts," Hochul said in a statement.

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The governor was in Washington, D.C., on March 20 to discuss the Essential Plan and Medicaid with Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Speaking to reporters on Monday, March 23, Hochul said one issue she and her staff are exploring is a potential accommodation for those losing their Essential Plan coverage.

"I can tell you, it's very much top of mind for us," she said.

What prompted the Essential Plan change?

New York got approval from the prior Biden administration to expand eligibility for the Essential Plan, which covers working New Yorkers who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid and aren't insured through their employers. The Essential Plan's limit rose from 200% of the federal poverty level to 250% of the poverty level, which as of last year equated to $39,000 for an individual and $67,000 for a family of three.

Enrollment surged as a result, adding about 380,000 people in that expanded income range by the end of 2024, state data shows. That number has grown to just over 460,000 as of March 1.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks to the media in New Rochelle on Feb. 18, 2026.

What caused the state to reconsider was the "big, beautiful bill," the package of tax and spending cuts that Republicans in Congress and President Donald Trump enacted last year. Among the law's litany of policy changes was a ban on health care funding for immigrants who are legally present in the U.S. but not citizens. New York officials said that rule would sap the Essential Plan by $7.5 billion a year.

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The state initially considered shifting those immigrants to state-funded Medicaid coverage, at a cost of about $2.7 billion a year. But it announced last September that it would instead reverse its program expansion.

Are there other plans for those losing health coverage in NY?

Enrollees earning more than 200% of the poverty level will lose Essential Plan coverage as of July 1. What is available to them then is private health coverage through the state-run marketplace set up under the Affordable Care Act, the 2010 federal law better known as Obamacare.

The state Department of Health announced Monday, March 23, that it will notify those disqualified enrollees and explain their coverage options on April 1.

President Joe Biden fist bumps former President Barack Obama after Biden signed an executive order aimed at strengthening the Affordable Care Act during an event to mark the 2010 passage of the Affordable Care Act in the East Room of the White House on April 5, 2022 in Washington, DC. With then-Vice President Joe Biden by his side, Obama signed 'Obamacare' into law on March 23, 2010.

"Our priority is to ensure New Yorkers continue to have access to affordable, high-quality coverage, Dr. James McDonald, the state health commissioner, said in a statement.

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An analysis this month by the Empire Center for Public Policy concluded that New Yorkers in the disqualified income range would be eligible for federal subsidies that cover 67% to 80% of their premiums. That would result in annual premiums of roughly $2,000 to $3,200, according to that report by Bill Hammond, the Empire Center's senior fellow for health policy.

But state officials noted other potential costs in Monday's statement, saying those customers may "face deductibles of thousands of dollars before coverage kicks in."

Chris McKenna covers government and politics for The Journal News and USA TODAY Network. Reach him at CMcKenna@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NY health coverage ending for 460K due to federal cuts. What to know
New York City police are searching for the man wanted in connection to a hate crime robbery in Brooklyn last week.

It happened around 11 a.m. Tuesday while the victim was on the northbound D train platform at the 9th Avenue subway station.

Police say the suspect approached the 20-year-old woman and made anti-Islamic statements before throwing her to the ground.

The suspect also took the victim's phone and threw it on the floor, causing damage to the phone.

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Police say the suspect made statements like "It's funny how terrorists can walk around now" and "the mayor can't help you now."

The victim ran away from the scene. He was last seen wearing a black and white jacket, dark pants and black shoes.

"Very, very disturbing, particularly in a city like New York where you have so many people of so many different backgrounds," said Corey Saylor with CAIR Research and Advocacy. "The details from the police report are the absolute nightmare scenario. It's always important to me that political leaders come out quickly and condemn."

Mayor Zohran Mamdani released a statement on Wednesday.

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"No one should be targeted with slurs, threats, or violence - ever," he said. "Muslim New Yorkers deserve to move through this city in safety and dignity."

Gov. Kathy Hochul also released a statement on the attack:

"Targeting, harassing, and assaulting someone because of who they are is an attack on everything we stand for as New Yorkers... To our Muslim neighbors: You belong here. You are valued. And we will continue to fight every day to ensure your safety."

Saylor just finished research on the state of Islamophobia in America.

"Unfortunately our latest civil rights report shows that Islamophobia in the United States is at an all-time high and recently, and some of the unfortunate new trends include very senior level politicians introducing legislation that would effectively, if enacted, ban the practice of Islam in the United States," Saylor said.

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Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

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Voters will see a proposal for a countywide millage for schools on the August primary ballot.

The regional enhancement millage proposal would levy 1.5 mills annually for six years if approved and would raise an estimated $125.8 million in the first year, to be distributed among the 28 public school districts in Oakland County.

The Oakland County Intermediate School District Board of Education voted 3-1 on March 24 to put the issue on the ballot after school boards representing a majority of the total student population in the county passed resolutions in support of putting the measure before voters.

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Among those passing resolutions were the boards of education in Huron Valley, in a 4-3 vote, and South Lyon, in a unanimous vote.

The millage would be "collected county-wide and distributed equally to all public school districts and eligible public school academies," officials said.

The intermediate district would not be one of the beneficiaries.

"Revenue is distributed to local school districts and eligible public school academies based on a per-pupil formula," ISD Superintendent Kenneth Gutman said. "Each school district and eligible public school academy gets funding proportional to enrollment, not property wealth."

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Michigan law allows an intermediate school district to levy a regional enhancement property tax at a rate of up to 3 mills. This millage allows public school districts within a county to generate additional funding beyond what is provided by the State of Michigan under Proposal A.

Districts can use the funding to reduce class sizes, increase salaries for staff and attract talent to districts, add safety and security measures and enhance programming for students, as South Lyon Schools Superintendent Steve Archibald noted prior to his board approving a resolution in favor of putting the enhancement millage on the ballot.

In Michigan, eight counties currently levy school enhancement millages, including Wayne, Macomb, Kalamazoo, Kent, Midland, Monroe, Muskegon and Ottawa.

In previously advocating for putting the measure on the ballot, Huron Valley Superintendent Paul Salah said, "Voters need to know their children are not given the same opportunities as counties contiguous to us."

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If approved by voters, collection of the new millage is slated to begin in December 2026. The millage would cost the owner of a home with a taxable value of $175,000 about $262 a year.

For more information, visit www.oaklandenhancementmillage.com.

Contact reporter Susan Bromley at sbromley@hometownlife.com.

This article originally appeared on Hometownlife.com: Oakland County ISD placing countywide school millage on August ballot
For years, Strathmeres lifeguards began their day at their quarters on Williams Ave., huddling to discuss their plans on keeping thousands of beachgoers safe.

This summer, beach patrol operations will operate from a temporary site after relentless erosion forced Upper Township to order the demolition of its headquarters.

The aging building is now so threatened by the shifting shoreline that officials fear it could collapse into the ocean.

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The Upper Township Committee on Monday announced that local officials will hire a contractor to raze the beach patrol headquarters.

For most of its lifespan, the building was protected by several yards of dunes, which have withered in recent months, and the shore continues to endure substantial erosion.

Strathmere has seen severely eroded beaches and heavy sand loss due to a series of storms, beginning with Hurricane Erin in August 2025.

Most recently, a winter storm with record snow totals created strong waves that washed away about 20 more feet of beach, Mayor Curtis Corson estimated at the time.

Strathmere Lifeguard Stand

Once the lifeguard headquarters is demolished, the township will build a new headquarters, but likely not before summer begins, Corson said Wednesday in a phone interview with NJ.com.

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Weve been evaluating the beach every day, and we made the decision Monday night, Corson said.

Since there is a steep drop between the building and the beach, razing the structure will need a sophisticated process, the mayor said.

Its not an easy demolition, Corson said. Its over top of water, with rocks underneath of it and a surf.

For summer, the township plans to use a trailer-like office, similar to ones seen at construction sites, to house lifeguards, he said.

Township officials explored building a temporary bulkhead at about $125,000 to support the building, which has become structurally unsound as its pilings, typically buried in the sand, become more exposed.

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Since the building is positioned on the current bulkheads east side, officials feared the building could be jeopardized again from future storms, the mayor said.

To spend $125,000 for a building thats antiquated, that does not meet any of our standards that we need today, is not going to be money well spent, Corson told committee members Monday.

William Hendley, chief of the beach patrol, declined to comment, directing questions to township officials.

Michaele Ely usually drives several miles from her Marmora home to surf with friends, a routine that has given her a front-row view of how quickly the beaches near Williams Avenue have disappeared in recent months.

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The sand used to extend well past the lifeguard stand, but just in the past couple of weeks its been eroding really fast, said Ely, 61. Im talking feet in a day.

Ely said that the Strathmere lifeguards recently removed equipment from inside their headquarters as the ocean pushed closer to the building.

Other than demolish it, the only other option is let Mother Nature take it, and I certainly dont want that stuff in the water, Ely said.

Strathmere Beach Erosion

The building falls closest to Strathmeres northern section, an area officials say continuously suffers the worst erosion when coastal storms pass. In recent months, large cliffs have formed as the beach continues to lose sand.

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Strathmeres beaches are due for a major sand replenishment facilitated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

However, the project is among several placed on hold as federal funding for these types of efforts remains uncertain.

The oceanfront community was among several that U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd, toured with Adam Telle, the assistant secretary of the U.S. Armys Civil Works division. The pair in February announced intentions for a beach repair blitz along the coast, prioritizing sand fills in the most damaged areas.

Telle suggested work could begin before summer starts, but the Army Corps Philadelphia office has not announced when the proposed work could happen.

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Van Drews office did not respond to a request for comment.

To prevent beach replenishment funding from being lost again, Van Drew and U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen (D-N.Y.) unveiled a plan to permanently secure beach repair funding through the Coastal Trust Fund Act, which would designate $1 billion annually in the federal budget.

Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Ohio overpaid publicly funded day cares by $1.1 million in 2025, including 12 centers in Hamilton County alone.

Of those Cincinnati-area day care centers, seven still have outstanding balances owed to the state totaling over $91,300. A provider listed as Kia's Kids, LLC, holds the greatest share of that total, with more than $72,200 in overpaid funds.

Kia's Kids has an active nonprofit license through 2029, per Ohio Secretary of State business filings. But it is not currently listed as part of the state childcare database and has an out-of-service phone number.

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The provider joins 60 other childcare centers in accepting overpayments from the state per inaccurate attendance reporting in 2025, according to records obtained from the Ohio Department of Children and Youth. The largest overpayment of $204,000 went to a now-shuttered facility in Columbus.

Franklin County day cares received the majority of overpayments, with an average of $31,795 among 20 centers. Statewide, the average overpayment was about $18,889.

Almost all of the day cares and childcare providers that received overpayments still operate and claim to qualify for public funding on the state childcare database. All but two Hamilton Couty providers that received overpayments  Kia's Kids, LLC and Palace of Joy Daycare, LLC  still have public funding agreements.

The state has also corrected the amount of money it said it overpaid some providers. The Ohio Department of Children and Youth initially claimed that one Cincinnati day care, Youthland Academy Loveland, was overpaid by more than $2,900 but later revised that number down to just $855. That balance has since been paid in full, records show.

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Prior to adjustments made by the DCY in response to challenges from those day cares, the state's identified overpayments were over $1.4 million.

The overpayments  and the centers involved  represent a small fraction of Ohio's publicly funded childcare system.

More than 116,000 Ohio children benefit from state childcare subsidies across 5,600 childcare providers that qualify for public funding. The state plans to spend $1.18 billion in fiscal year 2026 for publicly funded childcare through the DCY.

But the state system came under scrutiny in late December and early January, when online allegations suggested Somali-run day cares nationwide reported nonexistent children to fraudulently claim public funding. Social media posts from conservative influencers started in Minnesota, home to the largest population of Somali immigrants in the U.S., and spread to Ohio, home of the second-largest Somali immigrant population.

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The claims resulted in a string of viral videos that showed people attempting to film themselves entering Columbus-area day cares, but no systemic fraud was proven amid the online controversy.

The records obtained by The Enquirer stem from cases that occurred prior to the viral social media claims. The DCY provided some letters of public funding termination from January 2026, but those were from investigations that happened in 2025.

Lawmakers call for changes in childcare oversight

Some Republican state lawmakers have called for an investigation and changes to childcare oversight, but Gov. Mike DeWine has said Ohio already has safeguards to catch fraud.

In January, DeWine said the state has "built multiple layers of accountability" into its day care system.

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Ohio takes allegations of fraud in our childcare system seriously, DeWine said on Jan. 5.

At the time, DeWine's administration said the state had closed 38 day cares in 2025 as a result of its own investigations and that another 12 were shuttered after public tips. The DCY provided records on overpayments, but has not responded to requests for public records related to the closures.

I dont care if its one dollar of overpayment or a million dollars of overpayment," said State Rep. Josh Williams, a Republican from Sylvania Township in northwest Ohio. "If the overpayment was the result of a gap in regulation, thats something we need to fix.

Records show nearly $1.1 million in overpayments in 2025

DCY identified overpayments to 61 childcare providers in nine counties, records show, with most occurring in larger metropolitan counties such as Franklin, Cuyahoga, Hamilton and Lucas. The identified overpayments ranged from $112.50 to more than $204,000.

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The inspection period for those day cares typically lasted around two to six months, records show. In the letters, the DCY listed each instance of evidence of child overpayment.

But after the inspections, day cares have the chance to challenge the state's findings by providing evidence that the payments are legitimate. In some cases, like for Cincinnati-based provider Lisa Saylor, those resulted in large revisions to what the state said the day cares owed. The day care ran out of Saylor's home reduced its overpayment by over $2,500 after challenging it.

Lead Teacher Cynthia Jones leads her pre-K classroom of children in a singalong at the My Little World Academy LLC Daycare in August 2023.

Overpayments logged in Hamilton County shrunk to approximately $99,400 from over $106,000 after being disputed by providers. That's considerably lower than funds reported in the Columbus area, which totaled $635,909 after adjustments.

Jodi Trimble, spokesperson for the DCY, said that while the agency cannot address individual reconsiderations, common problems include providers experiencing system errors that were discovered after an overpayment letter was issued and administrative errors on the part of providers that were discovered and corrected.

How does Ohio respond to day care overpayments?

Ohio gives money to publicly funded childcare facilities based on attendance of children whose families meet income requirements, which is verified with a PIN and photo when the child's parent or guardian checks them in.

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DeWine spokesperson Dan Tierney said Ohio has two processes to handle overpayments, depending on whether they stemmed from clerical errors or fraudulent activity.

"We share the goal that everybody has, which is to get these numbers as close to zero as possible," Tierney said.

DCY invoices day cares for overpayments, and anything unpaid can be referred to the Ohio Attorney General's collections department. According to Trimble, after a payment is 45 days past due, it is sent to the Ohio Attorney General's Office for collections.

A spokesperson for Attorney General Dave Yost said there are four providers in Hamilton County in collections currently.

The most significant amounts in collections with the attorney general are:

Lisa Saylor - $1,864.58

Happy Hearts & Bright Minds Child Care Center - $3,153.03

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None of the day care providers listed above could be reached for comment.

DCY did not answer what action it has taken against day cares that have not repaid their overpayments, beyond referring them to collections. Trimble did not respond to questions about why Kia's Kids, LLC is not listed among those in collections in Hamilton County.

Some providers still have public funding agreements after overpayments

According to a DCY database, 10 providers in Hamilton County who were overpaid still say they accept public funding, including Millennium Kids Learning Center, LCC, which still owes more than $7,500 to the state.

Trimble said that "there may be situations where a child care provider still has a provider agreement and continues to receive PFCC payments after DCY has issued an overpayment notice."

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However, Trimble also said the providers self-report their ability to accept public funding.

"Some may be marked in error, and some may have a provider agreement, but may not be collecting (public funding)," Trimble said.

Trimble noted that provider agreements "are terminated in cases where DCY believes a provider intentionally billed for services not provided."

Of the 61 daycares found to have been overpaid by the state in 2025, the DCY stripped five of their public funding agreements. They were found to have either falsified records, sought funding for services not provided, or used parental PIN numbers themselves to log student attendance.

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In Cincinnati, DCY records show the state terminated its public funding agreement with Palace of Joy Daycare, LLC in October 2025.

The decision to end the public funding agreement does not affect a provider's DCY child care license. As long as the provider's childcare license remains in good standing, they continue to provide childcare to privately paying customers.

Do overpayment cases become criminal investigations?

The state Inspector General's Office is tasked with investigating centers flagged for potential fraud. Inspector General Randall Meyer said they've received six referrals from DCY  largely related to overpayments  and expect to see at least a dozen more.

Meyer declined to identify the day cares and said his office needs more information from DCY before it can begin investigating. If the inspector general identifies evidence of criminal fraud, Meyer said, officials provide information to local prosecutors to help them bring charges.

Trimble said the DCY refers cases of suspected fraud to the inspector general, but due to ongoing investigations cannot confirm whether DCY has pursued action against specific child care providers.

Two separate bills introduced by Ohio House Republicans would give the attorney general more power to investigate and prosecute publicly funded childcare providers.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 12 Cincinnati day cares collected over $90K in overpayments by state
OKLAHOMA CITY  Top-priority literacy bills overwhelmingly passed the Oklahoma House and Senate on Wednesday, as leaders in both chambers inch closer to a policy agreement.

House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, saw his legislation, House Bill 4420, pass 86-6 shortly after Senate Bill 1778 from Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, cleared the Senate 45-2.

Pugh said his legislation contains about 95% of the language found in Hilberts reading bill.

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Literacy legislation has been a major focus for state lawmakers this year as they seek to improve Oklahomas poor reading scores in public schools.

Both bills agree that students should repeat third grade if they score below a basic level on state reading tests and perform poorly on an alternative reading assessment.

They would require schools to provide extra instruction and summer tutoring to early elementary students who struggle to read at grade level.

Im not asking anything of parents that Im not taking on myself. My daughters in first grade, Hilbert said during House discussion. Every year we wait is another year kids arent getting the intervention that they need.

House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, gives a response to the governors State of the State Address on Feb. 2 at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)

Both bills would establish teacher training academies focused on the science of reading so educators could earn an early literacy micro-credential. Each school district would be required to employ a reading specialist, interventionist or early literacy micro-credential holder for every elementary school.

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Pughs bill would assign students in first through third grade to a transitional classroom or pull-out sessions if they score below their grade level in reading screeners.

Transitional classes would be optional under Hilberts bill.

Its kind of a semi-retention by a different name because really what youre doing is youre retaining the student, but youre only retaining them in the subject area where they need that intervention, Pugh said on the Senate floor. So, they continue to have recess with their peers. They continue to be able to have lunch with their peers (and) band, extracurricular, co-curricular activities with their peers.

Both bills now advance to the opposite chamber for further review.

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Another Oregon attorney has been bamboozled by the incorrect output of artificial intelligence  and the states appellate court has slapped him with a record fine.

The Oregon Court of Appeals issued a $10,000 fine to Bill Ghiorso, a Salem-based civil attorney, after determining he signed his name to a legal brief containing 15 bogus citations and nine quotes that had been contrived from thin air.

Ghiorso challenged the fee, arguing he didnt knowingly include false material in his filings, but instead had relied on a paralegals research. But the appellate court rejected that argument.

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Counsel at least should have known that submitting a brief with unchecked and ultimately fabricated citations may breach an attorneys duties of professionalism, truthfulness and candor to the court, Presiding Judge Scott Shorr wrote in the March 18 opinion.

The appeals court set the precedent for A.I. errors in December when it tagged a different civil attorney with a $2,000 fine and created a fee schedule of $500 to $1,000 per artificial error. Following those rules, Ghiorsos bill could have totaled as much as $16,500, according to Shorr. But the presiding judge said the court would cap its fees at $10,000 because Ghiorso has recently had medical trouble.

The fine is the largest an Oregon appellate attorney has racked up so far for errors created by use of generative A.I., a newfound technology which effortlessly churns out reams of seemingly plausible text, but has no innate fidelity to the truth.

Appellate judges have issued only one other financial penalty for erroneous A.I. use this year, when they fined Keith E. Powell, who represented himself in an employment board case, $500 in February.

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The recent ruling against Ghiorso stemmed from a marijuana production license revoked by the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission in 2022. Henry Doiban, the licensee, had missed the 15-minute window to appear at a remote hearing contesting the agencys decision.

Doiban blamed technology troubles for his failure to appear, and hired Ghiorso to challenge the OLCCs ruling.

Ghiorso wrote that he only had a day to write the AI-assisted memo on a relatively new branch of the law. However court records show Ghiorso had asked for a half-dozen delays to file his opening brief in the appellate case, and that he ultimately set Nov. 4, 2024 as a self-imposed final deadline.

The Salem attorney said his paralegal turned to Google to do research for the memo and apparently found content created by A.I.

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Google results often include A.I. summaries generated by the search engine.

If one asks Googles search engine whether many of the fabricated cases are real, it will generate a response affirming that the fabricated cases are in fact real, Ghiorso explained. This reliance was a fundamental error.

Patricia Rincon, an assistant Oregon attorney general representing the OLCC, noted that she had flagged the errors in Ghiorsos brief seven months before the appellate court noted the issue during oral arguments in November 2025. Rinco said Ghiorso didnt respond to her email.

In a brief to the appellate court, Ghiorso apologized for the mistakes, saying they fell short of the standards of my office and of the profession.

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He did not respond to a request for comment.

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An attorney representing the woman who sought the order called the decision a satisfying win for my client and survivors of violence

The Oregon Court of Appeals has allowed a Lane County woman to seek a stalking protective order against a roommate who allegedly sexually abused and assaulted her, undoing a lower courts suggestion that their proximity could stop her from obtaining one.

In a decision last week, Chief Judge Erin C. Lagesen found that the woman, identified in the ruling as L. N. E. J., was entitled to a court hearing determining whether she had sufficient evidence for a protective order barring contact with the individual. The appeals court reversed a decision by Circuit Court Judge Bradley A. Cascagnette, who had denied her petition and raised concerns that allowing such an order could open the gates to excessive claims from roommates who fight with one another.

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We appreciate the trial courts concern that allowing a petitioner to obtain an SPO against a housemate with whom they have agreed to share a residence could result in housemates bringing their conflicts before the court, Lagesen wrote on behalf of a three-judge panel. But that is not a concern that permits a court to deny an SPO to a person who otherwise demonstrates the requisite number of qualifying contacts.

Oregon law has long empowered people to seek stalking protective orders, which prevent a person from contacting an individual and members of their household or immediate family. To do so, a petitioner must prove an individual intentionally, knowingly or recklessly engaged in repeated and unwanted contact, and that such contact has caused reasonable concern for their personal safety.

It must also be objectively reasonable for a person in their situation to have been alarmed or coerced by the contact. An Oregon court could find probable cause and issue a temporary stalking protective order. That could turn into a permanent one if the respondent has the opportunity to appear and challenge the claims in court.

In the Lane County case, the woman had a long list of complaints about her roommates conduct, spurring her to file a petition for a stalking protection order in December 2024. According to the ruling, the woman had alleged that her roommate had touched her inappropriately and stared at her in a sexually predatory way.

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In October 2024, she said that he was intoxicated and threw her on a sofa, groping her breasts and crotch and warning her she would have problems if she reported the incident to authorities. She further alleged that he tried to open her locked bedroom door several times in one night. The ruling notes that he was arrested and charged with first-degree sexual abuse and fourth-degree assault after she reported his conduct to police.

Petitioner asserted that respondent knew or should have known that the contact was unwanted because she had told him not to touch her, kept her bedroom door locked so he could not come into her room, and did not consent to any touching or sexual contact of any kind, Lagesen wrote. Finally, petitioner alleged that those contacts, as well as threats made by third parties on respondents behalf, caused her to be afraid for her physical safety.

In a brief statement posted on social media, an attorney representing the woman who sought the stalking order celebrated the outcome.

This was a very satisfying win for my client and survivors of violence, wrote Sarah Mader, an attorney at the Oregon Law Center. The Oregon Court of Appeals found that roommates are not prohibited from getting stalking orders when they otherwise qualify for such an order.

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Lino Lopez Lugo, who is named in the case as the respondent, could not be immediately reached for comment. Lugo did not appear at the trial courts proceedings or have legal representation file arguments on his behalf at the Oregon Court of Appeals, according to the ruling. A June 2025 affidavit from a Lane County prosecutor in his criminal case shows that federal authorities deported him to Mexico last year.

The stalking order cases filings are public records, though they are not available online through the Oregon court system due to the Violence Against Women Act.

------------

This article was originally published by Oregon Capital Chronicle and used with permission. Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom and can be reached at info@oregoncapitalchronicle.com.
Joe Moss, a current commissioner in Ottawa County and co-founder of conservative political group Ottawa Impact, is running for a seat in the Michigan House of Representatives.

Moss has officially filed for the 89th District, according to the county's elections website. The district covers portions of counties Ottawa, Muskegon and Kent, including townships Allendale, Blendon, Chester, Polkton, Tallmadge and Wright, as well as Coopersville.

"Michigan is at a critical moment, and the future of our state will be shaped by leaders who have the courage to act  and the record to prove they will," Moss said in a March 24 statement about his candidacy.

Board Chairman Joe Moss listens during the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners meeting, Tuesday, January 10, 2023.

Moss currently represents District 5 on the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners. He was elected in 2022 and re-elected to a four-year term in 2024. He served as board chair in 2023 and 2024.

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Moss' tenure gained national attention after sweeping changes were made to county government. During his first meeting in January 2023, commissioners fired then-administrator John Shay and replaced him with John Gibbs; dismantled the countys Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Office; hired new legal counsel and changed the county's motto to Where Freedom Rings."

More: Conservative group Ottawa Impact loses majority on county board of commissioners

More: Michigan GOP chair hired firm of high-profile Republican who nominated her, records show

More: Michigan editor who chronicled Ottawa Co. upheaval fired after trying to staff 'ghost' papers

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Under his leadership, Ottawa County faced a number of high-profile lawsuits, including from Health Officer Adeline Hambley, Ryan Kimball, Rev. Jared Cramer and, following his termination, Gibbs. Moss was also personally named in a lawsuit concerning former Commissioner Chris Kleinjans and the MSU Extension. All of those lawsuits have since been settled.

"Strong leadership means taking decisive action, standing firm on principle and remaining accountable to the people we serve," Moss wrote. "It means protecting children, preserving childhood innocence and standing with local communities  so the people, not distant bureaucracies, have a voice in their future. That's the leadership I've brought in Ottawa County, and it's the leadership I will bring to Lansing."

Moss was raised in Hudsonville and has degrees in accounting and marketing from Cedarville University. During his time on the Ottawa County Board, he's voted to build and expand the Department of Veteran Affairs and has encouraged deeper discussion on grant acceptance.

According to his announcement, Moss will focus on protecting children and families, defending local communities, reducing taxes, strengthening the economy and eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in government.

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Luke Meerman, R-Coopersville, hadn't yet announced plans to run for a third term as of March 24. Meerman won the seat in 2022 following statewide redistricting with 69% of the vote. He retained the seat in 2024 with 69.3% of the vote.

Patrick Kapenga, a businessman from Coopersville, has also filed to run as a Republican. The filing deadline to appear on the August ballot is April 21, though write-in candidates may file until July 24.

ckavathas@hollandsentinel.com

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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Ottawa Impact leader launches campaign for Michigan House
If taxes disappeared tomorrow, would workers actually see more moneyor would companies just keep the difference?

Billionaire entrepreneur and Cost Plus Drugs co-founder Mark Cuban says that question misses the bigger point. In a 2019 GQ video where he answered fan questions, Cuban focused on something else entirely: who owns the company before the money ever shows up.

The premise sounds fair, but he says it's flawed

The question put to Cuban was straightforward. If his tax rate dropped to zero, would he give that extra money to employees?

"I'll tell you exactly what I would do," he said.

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"If taxes went to zero, and I don't think that's a good idea, but if taxes did go to zero, I would invest in the company to make it as big and profitable," Cuban said. "So stinking profitable, that because the employees are owners, whenever I got paid, they would get paid too."

His answer shifts the focus. It is not about handing out money after profits are made. It is about structuring the business so employees are already tied to those profits.

Broadcast.com turned ownership into real money

Cuban pointed to a deal he knows well.

"If you remember what I said about Broadcast.com, when we sold the company, out of 330 employees, 300 own shares of stock and became millionaires," he said.

When Yahoo acquired Broadcast.com for $5.7 billion, about 91% of employees held equity. That meant the payout reached far beyond leadership.

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Cuban has said those employees did not just see gains on paper. Along with stock value, he made sure payouts included real cash tied to the sale. At the time, giving that many employees ownership was not common. It drew criticism. It also created hundreds of millionaires.

It wasn't just one company, he says he did it every time

Cuban's example did not stop with Broadcast.com.

"In every business I've sold, I've paid out bonuses to every employee that was there more than a year," he wrote in a post on X in 2024.

That expands the pattern. The approach was not tied to one moment or one company. Across multiple businesses, he said employees who stayed shared in the outcome when those companies were sold.

It lines up with what he described in the GQ interview. Ownership during the build. Payouts when value is realized.
March 24 (UPI) -- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan said Tuesday that Islamabad "stands ready" to facilitate peace talks between the United States and Iran, as the war nears a month old.

"Pakistan stands ready and honored to be the host to facilitate meaningful and conclusive talks for a comprehensive settlement of the ongoing conflict," he said in a statement on X, tagging Trump, Trump's special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran's foreign minister, Seyed Abbas Araghci.

In a potential signal of agreement, Trump posted a screenshot of Sharif's post to his own Truth Social platform.

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Trump also told reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday that negotiations with Tehran were ongoing, involving Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance and "a number" of other officials.

"I can tell you they'd like to make a deal. And who wouldn't if you were them?" he said.

"We are roaming free over Tehran," he added. "We're roaming free. We can do whatever we want."

The extent of the negotiations were unclear. While Trump said his about turn from vowing to continue bombing Iran to wanting to talk was due to the Iranians "talking sense" and that "they've agreed they will never have a nuclear weapon" in those negotiations, Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, was adamant Monday that there were no discussions.

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"Iranian people demand complete and remorseful punishment of the aggressors," he said on X.

"No negotiations have been held with the U.S., and fake news is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the U.S. and Israel are trapped."

Pakistani officials on Tuesday also said they're prepared to host negotiations, with in-person meetings possibly set to take place in Islamabad.

Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi told Al Jazeera that Islamabad would be willing to play a part in the talks "if the parties desire."

The government "has consistently advocated for dialogue and diplomacy to promote peace and stability in the region," Andrabi said.

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Unnamed Pakistani sources told The Guardian that Vance would potentially serve as chief U.S. negotiator if such talks went forward. Iranian officials have said they will not speak Trump's pre-war negotiators, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner.

Witkoff and Kushner met with Iranian officials in the month leading up to the war in an attempt to reach a deal to limit Iran's nuclear program. The talks were unfruitful and Trump ordered the launch of attacks on Iran on Feb. 28 alongside Israel.

In nearly a month, the war has killed more than 2,000 people and displaced millions of others, NBC News reported.

Trump said Monday that he hopes there will be an agreement with Iran amid renewed talks, which Iranian state-run media have denied have taken place. The U.S. president said he's holding off on strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure for five days after "very good and productive conversations."
U.S. Rep. August Pfluger helped secure more than $14.3 million for the Midland International Air and Space Port.

The project expands the existing terminal by approximately 15,500 square feet. This project is allowable under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Acts expanded eligibility. This grant funds phase 3, which consists of replacing the terminals HVAC and related systems, information from Pflugers office said.

As I have said before, Texas priorities deserve their share of federal support, especially when our area provides the critical food, energy, and national security the rest of the country has come to count on. Thats why I fought to successfully secure over $14.3 million for the Midland International Air and Space Port. This investment will expand the terminal by over 15,000 square feet, bolstering its ability to handle the rapidly growing volume of travelers going in and out of Midland and Odessa. This region powers our entire nation, and investing in the necessary infrastructure and technology to sustain it is critical to the strength of our energy industry and our economy. I am proud to bring these federal dollars back home, Pfluger said.

The post Pfluger helps secure airport funding appeared first on Odessa American.
March 25 (UPI) -- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines has declared a national energy emergency over the threat posed by the U.S.-Israel war with Iran to its supply of oil and its energy security.

Marcos signed an executive order declaring the energy emergency Tuesday, authorizing him to use emergency powers under the Department of Energy Act to implement a fuel and energy allocation plan and other energy conservation measures.

It also directs the Department of Energy to take measures to safeguard the stability of domestic energy supply, including by acting against the hoarding, profiteering and manipulation of supplies.

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A whole-of-government response framework is adopted with the declaration that not only seeks to ensure the stability of domestic energy supply but also the uninterrupted delivery of essential services and the continuity of economic activity. The government is also authorized to buy fuel more quickly and flexibly by allowing advance payments of more than 15% of the contract amount.

The Philippines is dependent on oil imports, 98% of which comes from the Middle East, according to the Philippine Information Agency, and the war between Iran and its adversaries, the United States and Israel, has caused prices to surge in the Asian nation.

Ahead of Marcos' declaration, his Department of Energy secretary, Sharon Garin, said during a press conference that the Philippines had enough gasoline to last a little more than 53 days, diesel for nearly 46 days, jet fuel for 38 days and liquefied petroleum gas for 23 1/2 days.

Since the war began on Feb. 28, Marcos has implemented a series of measures to reduce energy consumption and the impact of spiking fuel costs on the public, from coordinating fuel price increases with oil companies to ordering many government employees to work from home one day a week.

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The Presidential Communications Office said in a statement announcing the declaration that the war between Iran was "creating uncertainty in global energy markets, severe disruptions in supply chains and significant volatility and upward pressure on international oil prices, thereby posing a threat to the country's energy security."

"As a net importer of petroleum products, the Philippines remains highly dependent on external sources of fuel supply and is therefore vulnerable to disruptions in global oil production and transportation," the statement continued.

The Kilusang Mayo Uno labor coalition lashed out at the Marcos government over its "failure to address the severe crisis being suffered by the people."

The coalition's Chair Jerome Adonis accused Marcos of previously downplaying the severity of the Philippines' energy situation, while lambasting his declaration of not supporting workers by raising their wages or guaranteeing that oil prices will go down.

"Any band-aid solution from the Marcos government will simply be swallowed up by rising petroleum prices!" he said in a statement.
The Pierce County Council approved an ordinance Tuesday afternoon to stop the citing and permitting of involuntary detention centers, like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, for at least six months in unincorporated Pierce County.

Hundreds commented in support of the moratorium prior to the vote Tuesday, and 17 people spoke in favor at the public comment period. Many mentioned allegations of abuse and mistreatment at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma and said they would support a longer ban on the expansion or construction of a new ICE detention center.

The vote was 5-2 in favor. Council members Rosie Ayala, Bryan Yambe, Robyn Denson, Paul Herrera and Jani Hitchen voted in favor. Amy Cruver and Dave Morell voted against.

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President Donald Trump has directed ICE to explore other options to beef up detention capacity in Washington amid his deportation campaign. Although the Department of Homeland Security has not reached out to Pierce County about opening a new immigration facility, such a facility would be allowed in unincorporated Pierce County due to the extreme vagueness of our county code, Executive Ryan Mello told The News Tribune in an interview earlier this month.

The six-month moratorium will give county planning and public works staff time to create clearer definitions on involuntary detention centers (like jails, behavioral health centers and ICE processing centers). It also will give staff time to update zoning standards, in addition to location criteria and mitigation requirements. The council approved an amendment brought forth by Herrera to make Crisis Recovery Centers exempt from the moratorium.

Principal policy analyst Mike Kruger told the council Tuesday that staff should have legislation proposals by the third quarter of 2027.

As previously reported by The News Tribune, the city of Tacomas land-use regulations effectively prohibit adding new detention facilities or expanding the ICE processing center on the Tacoma Tideflats. On Tuesday, Kruger clarified that cities within Pierce County, tribal governments and federal lands could regulate and allow their own detention centers.

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Prior to the vote Tuesday, Yambe said he is the grandson of family who were involuntarily detained at the Puyallup Assembly Center (also known as Camp Harmony) in the 1940s for being Japanese American.

This is real-time stuff, Yambe said. The federal governments cruel policies are forcing our hands to be quicker and react in the most thoughtful way we can with the tools we can. I think my community and extended family would appreciate that too.
Flight instructor Alejandro Carrasco reported engine problems in his helicopter, air-traffic audio reveals, minutes before it crashed into a Boynton Beach warehouse on Monday, March 23, killing him and his student.

"We're going to be landing somewhere out in these fields. We've got something going on with the helicopter," Carrasco told air traffic control at the Palm Beach County Park Airport in Lantana, according to radio audio uploaded to the website LiveATC.net.

Shortly afterward, an air traffic controller responded, "You good? I didn't hear that call."

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"He said he was going to be landing on one of the fields," another air traffic controller said. "He said there was something wrong with his engine."

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.

Instead of landing on an airfield, the Robinson R44 helicopter Carrasco was piloting nosedived through the roof of a vacant warehouse off Congress Avenue, about 2 miles south of Woolbright Road, killing the 28-year-old West Palm Beach resident and his student, Bryan Menna, 52, of Michigan.

A GoFundMe campaign seeking $4,000 for Carrasco's funeral was set up Tuesday, March 24, by Paul Harris, a former college classmate of at Utah State University.

"This campaign seeks to bestow a financial gift to Rosco's surviving family to help defray burial expenses," Harris wrote. "Your comments might also direct your contribution to his student's family (Bryan Menna of Michigan) if desired."

Alejandro "Roscoe" Carrasco piloted the helicopter that crashed on Monday, March 23, 2026, into a vacant warehouse in Boynton Beach. A friend, Paul Harris, posted this photo online on a GoFundMe page to help pay for Carrasco's funeral.

"Rosco was a pragmatic individual," Harris wrote on the GoFundMe page. "He served our country in the military prior to enrolling at Utah State. He made no bones about life risks, yet was a careful and measured pilot. He took pride in flying smoothly and in control at all times. Those who flew with Rosco know him to be of sound judgement."

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Carrasco worked as a flight instructor for Palm Beach Helicopters, headquartered in the Lantana airport.

FAA, NTSB investigating helicopter crash

According to the website Flight Radar 24, the helicopter left Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport before noon, flew along the Sawgrass Expressway, then along State Road 7.

It then turned northeast after Clint Moore Road in Boca Raton toward the Antiquers Aerodrome airpark on Hagen Ranch Road before heading east along Lake Ida Road in Delray Beach, taking a sharp left at Congress and finally crashing into the roof of the warehouse.

No smoke or fire came from the crash, Boynton Beach Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Matt Oxendine said.

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The R44 has four seats and a two-blade rotor and is in wide use by flight schools, private companies and aviation clubs.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.

Any witnesses to the crash, especially those with video recordings, are encouraged to contact NYDN by emailing witness@ntsb.gov or calling either 844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290.

Email news tips and article ideas to Chris Persaud at cpersaud@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Pilot reported engine trouble before fatal Boynton helicopter crash
Over 50 students at Plymouth, Canton and Salem high schools walked out of class on Wednesday, March 25, to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement in their communities, their second walkout this year.

Students on the campus of Plymouth-Canton Educational Park, which houses the three high schools, walked around a small bus loop between the schools, holding signs and chanting for about 45 minutes during their homeroom Wednesday morning.

Vinny Howes, a senior at Plymouth-Canton Educational Park, said that as a child of immigrants, they organized the protest to show support for their immigrant classmates and community members.

Some of the over 50 students from the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools walked out of the three schools on the campus to protest ICE during a march around the bus loop behind Salem High School in Canton on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

My main purpose for doing this  is (to) show support for others in our community. We are on your side. We understand, and we see you and what is going on in the country, and we know its not OK. We just want others to know that we support them.

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More: Why Michigan high school students are walking out of class to protest ICE

More: See the map of all No Kings protests happening in Michigan on March 28

Howes said the protest is also in part to ask the school board and leadership to release a statement in support of immigrant students and their families after seeing statements from other nearby school districts, including Ypsilanti and Detroit, that address the potential of ICE on school grounds.

Some of the over 50 students from the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools walked out of the three schools on the campus to protest ICE during a march around the bus loop behind Salem High School in Canton on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

Plymouth High School senior Zoey Hall also helped organize the protests. Hall said the first protest came with the momentum of national protests and walkouts after Minneapolis residents Renee Good and Alex Pretti were fatally shot by ICE agents. Ahead of Wednesdays protest, Hall said she hopes the second protest builds on the momentum.

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Its also important for other students to recognize that we have power, that we are able to organize, Hall said.

In February, the schools at Plymouth-Canton Educational Park were among dozens of schools where students organized walkouts in metro Detroit and Michigan. The first Plymouth Canton protest took place on Feb. 4.

Plymouth-Canton Community Schools leadership did not immediately respond to a Free Press request for comment.

Contact Natalie Davies at ndavies@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: High school walkouts against ICE continue at Plymouth, Canton, Salem
After bending their entire defense to contain him, the Hawks are now dealing with the version of Jalen Brunson they couldn't afford to see.
A male is dead after an officer-involved shooting in downtown Dayton on Tuesday night, Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal said.

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The shooting happened in the area of N St. Clair Street and E Third Street at 9:28 p.m.

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Afzal said two officers stopped a person on a bicycle in the area of N St. Clair Street and E Second Street.

After an initial conversation, the male ran away and officers chased him.

The officer followed and caught up with this individual near Third St. and St. Clair St. The male suspect pulled out a handgun, and there was a struggle over the handgun, the department said in a social media post.

During the struggle over the gun, an officer discharged their firearm.

At the scene where the shooting took place, we have located a handgun that was not ours, Afzal said.

Officers rendered aid to the male until they were transported to the hospital.

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The suspect was pronounced dead at the Miami Valley Hospital.

His identity wasnt immediately available.

No officers were injured in this incident.

The Montgomery County Sheriffs Office will conduct a criminal investigation and present the facts of the investigation to the Montgomery County Prosecutors Office. At the conclusion of the criminal investigation, an administrative investigation will be conducted by the Dayton Police Departments Professional Standards Bureau, the department said.

Dayton police said additional information on this shooting and body camera footage will be released on March 25.

We will continue to follow this story.

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TALLAHASSEE, Florida  There are certain rituals in Florida after an election, and the states Democrats hoping they can work their way out of their recent doldrums is among the most frequently seen.

But after Tuesday special elections saw the party flip not one, but two, legislative seats  including the state House district in Palm Beach County that includes Mar-a-Lago  Florida Democrats are feeling a sense of optimism shared by their compatriots nationwide that their victories could be a telling sign of midterm successes to come.

The latest triumphs cap a string of elections in 2025 and this year that have seen the party either overperform in ruby red districts or win outright. Democrats also won the Miami mayoral election last December. This comes after elections that saw President Donald Trump easily win the state in 2024 and Gov. Ron DeSantis romp to a 19-point victory in 2022, but also as Democrats across the country have flipped more than two dozen state seats during the presidents second term.My message to Republicans is this: Your district is in danger, said Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried.

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Added Howard Richman, the chair of the Palm Beach County Democrats: I think were in the middle of a big, big wave.

The reverberations of wins by Emily Gregory in the state House and Brian Nathan in the state Senate have come alongside lots of GOP blame and Democratic credit-taking. Some Republicans were grumbling online that DeSantis had not taken an active role in trying to help in GOP legislative campaigns, including a state Senate candidate who has been a part of the leadership team of House Speaker Daniel Perez. Perez and DeSantis have feuded consistently the past year.

Florida Sen. Rick Scott, joining with other Republicans, downplayed the results as just a one-off.

It's a special election, Scott said. It's always hard to get the vote out. Any elections in Florida right now would be state issues.

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But other observers say the results show that Democrats, independents and even some Republicans are pushing back against Trump and inaction on the states ongoing affordability crisis. The Democrat who won the state Senate seat in Tampa previously held by Lt. Gov. Jay Collins received only minimal support from the state party and still narrowly won.

This just sends a resounding message, not just to Florida's but to Republicans around the country, that the American people are fed up, said Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), chair of the House Democratic Caucus. They're fed up with the costs going up, and the president in this administration and Republicans writ large, not doing anything to help them.

Hispanic precincts, including those with a significant Puerto Rican vote in central Florida and the Tampa area, swung back to Democrats, according to an initial analysis from Florida Democratic consultant Matthew Isbell.

Isbell says he wants to take a closer look at the turnout when the data becomes available, but he said the results showed that Trump gains were not permanent.

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Democrats should not be looking at the races and say we are fine with Hispanics, Isbell said. It shows Hispanics are not in anyones camp.

But amid the instant analysis, theres also reminders of the recent past where Democrats have flipped legislative seats in special elections only to lose them in the general election, with a prime example in 2024. Republicans still have sizable advantages in Florida  including a nearly 1.5 million voter registration advantage  and significantly more money to spend.

In todays hyper-partisan political climate, special elections animate a particular type of voter depending on whos in power in Washington, said Ryan Tyson, a veteran Florida Republican pollster and consultant. This is a similar pattern we have witnessed and it really doesnt mean anything in the general election right now.

Its these tactical advantages that have scared off serious investment from national Democrats in the last two election cycles, including two Senate contests. Fried on Tuesday contended the series of special elections shows there is energy in Florida that could attract more national support this year.

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David Jolly, the former GOP member of Congress running for governor as a Democrat, conceded the edge Republicans have in voter registration but insisted a coalition could be put together to enable Democratic wins statewide again that includes Republicans and independents. Florida Democrats have only won one statewide race in the past 12 years.

It is the same trend we have seen for a year, Jolly said. Im glad the rest of the country now realizes Florida is in play and change is here.

He added that voters always tell us what they want. They are telling us there is a crisis in the economy, whether real wages, health care access, homeowners' insurance. Republicans are just not listening.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise reiterated his chambers Republican focus is holding onto the majority in November  but suggested there could be lessons learned from Tuesdays results.

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Surely you look at those and see, are there things we can learn and improve upon when the big election comes? Scalise told reporters Wednesday. And obviously, November is the election that we are focused on.

Rep. Darren Soto, a central Florida Democrat whose seat has been targeted by Republicans, countered that certainly weve got a long way to go until November, but Id rather be winning special elections than losing.
With the ongoing Iran-U.S. war contributing to a significant spike in gas prices, DoorDash is stepping in to support its drivers in the U.S. and Canada.

The company announced on Monday the rollout of a temporary program aimed at easing the financial burden on Dashers who rely on their vehicles for deliveries.

More from Yahoo Scout What financial challenges do gig workers face with rising fuel costs? What temporary support is DoorDash offering delivery drivers? How does DoorDash's current program compare to previous relief efforts? How much are current gas prices affecting delivery drivers?

DoorDashs relief program, which runs through April 26, offers weekly payments to eligible drivers. Dashers who drive at least 125 miles per week can receive payments starting at $5, translating to estimated savings of $1 to $1.50 per gallon. The support could be especially meaningful for drivers in suburban and rural areas who travel longer distances.

Additionally, drivers who utilize DoorDashs Crimson debit card will benefit from an extra 10% cash back on gas purchases, offering them potential savings of up to $1.90 per gallon.

Gasoline is one of the largest expenses for delivery drivers. Unlike traditional employees, gig workers are responsible for covering their own costs, including fuel, vehicle maintenance, and insurance. A Human Rights Watch survey from May 2025 found that gig workers in Texas spent an average of $100 per week on fuel, or $2.76 for each hour worked. At the time of the survey, the price of gas in Texas was about $3 per gallon.

Now the situation is even more dire. According to AAA, the national average for regular gas is now just under $3.96 per gallon. Thats over $1 higher than it was a month ago. In some areas, prices have even reached around $4 per gallon.

As gas prices climb, the weekly fuel cost for drivers can jump dramatically without any increase in pay rates from the platforms they work for. At the same time, demand for deliveries may fluctuate due to higher overall living costs, meaning drivers cant always rely on more orders to offset expenses. The result: Drivers are earning less profit per delivery while working the same or even longer hours. For many, this turns gig work from a flexible income source into a financially unsustainable job, forcing some drivers to reduce hours or leave the industry altogether.

The gas rewards program is reminiscent of a similar program that DoorDash implemented in 2022 when gas prices surged following Russias invasion of Ukraine. That same year, Uber introduced a fuel surcharge to support drivers, and Grubhub increased pay for its drivers in the face of record-high gas prices.

It remains uncertain if other delivery services will follow DoorDashs lead this time around.
Prosecutors rested their case on Wednesday in the trial of former North Andover police officer Kelsey Fitzsimmons, who is accused of pointing a gun at a fellow officer while being served a restraining order filed by her ex- fiance last summer.

Prosecutors allege she pulled the trigger of her firearm, but the weapon failed to discharge because there was no round in the chamber. Fitzsimmons was subsequently shot and wounded.

The defense has argued that Fitzsimmons was experiencing a mental health crisis and intended to harm only herself.

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She has pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon.

Watch live: Coverage of Day 3 of Kelsey Fitzsimmons' trial

LIVE COURT UPDATES:

Wednesday, 2:14 p.m.

Defense resting. There will be no view of the home.

Wednesday, 2:11 p.m.

Court is back in session.

Wednesday, 12:53 p.m.

Lunch recess.

Wednesday, 12:43 p.m.

Prosecution ends questioning. Defense will now go on a view of her home where the incident happened in North Andover.

Wednesday, 12:41 p.m.

She said on Friday she had shooting qualifications with that gun. She agreed with the prosecution that she had many things going through her head when she was packing up the babys belongings.

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Wednesday, 12:40 p.m.

She said she never knew Justin was coming to the house. She said she thought she would pass her baby off and never knew or expected him to walk into the house.

Wednesday, 12:35 p.m.

She said she knew Justin was the one taking the baby away from her, not the police, and thats where her emotions were directed towards.

Wednesday, 12:33 p.m.

She said she was aware her and Justin were in an argument the day of the shooting. She was surprised about being ditched and police coming.

Wednesday, 12:30 p.m.

Kelsey said he knew Noonan came back from Lawrence, a place that has more crime than North Andover. She said she went to Noonan for advice on how to handle calls.

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Wednesday, 12:24 p.m.

Kelsey said on calls, particularly restraining orders, you shouldnt let anyone walk into a room by themselves. She said she knows SWAT is called in to deal with bad situations, and she knew Noonan was on the SWAT team.

Wednesday, 12:22 p.m.

Cross examination by the prosecution begins.

Wednesday, 12:12 p.m.

Court is in recess.

Wednesday, 12:11 p.m.

Kelsey said shes had 5 operations, and was in the hospital for 53 days.

Wednesday, 12:08 p.m.

She said in the ambulance and at the hospital she kept repeating, Im a f**king idiot because I just tried to kill myself with an unloaded gun.

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Wednesday, 12:06 p.m.

Kelsey said when firefighters put an oxygen mask on her, she kept wanting to take it off because she said she wanted to die.

Wednesday, 12:04 p.m.

Kelsey said she was very alert and aware of her surroundings, but her lung was punctured so she couldnt breathe. She said she remembered firefighters coming to bring her to the hospital very quickly.

Wednesday, 12:02 p.m.

She said Officer Noonan was holding her hand, and she said she kept repeating to him why and it hurts.

Wednesday, 12:00 p.m.

Kelsey said she never intended to harm Noonan. She said Noonan shared some personal things with her in the time that they had known each other. She met his wife, and his son. She said she didnt want to involve anyone. I never pointed the gun at a fellow police officer, it never happened, Kelsey said.

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Wednesday, 11:54 a.m.

Kelsey said her firearms were in a chest. She grabbed the gun and put it up to her chest and took two steps backwards then put the gun up to her head. She said Noonan walked in when she pulled the trigger and nothing happened, and she heard Kelsey no, Kelsey no. She said she exclaimed, f**k, when she pulled the trigger a second time, before she knew it, she was on the ground.

Wednesday, 11:51 a.m.

Officer Noonan followed Houston down the steps, said Kelsey. She said it was her only chance to be alone with her firearm and kill herself.

Wednesday, 11:50 a.m.

She said she knew if she pulled out a firearm she would get shot. She said she was trying to get the officers away from her, because she knew if a anyone took out a firearm it would be a threat to those police officers.

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Wednesday, 11:48 a.m.

Kelsey said she didnt wany anyone involved because she wanted to be by herself to take her own life. She said she kept handing them things so they would go away.

Wednesday, 11:47 a.m.

She said she didnt think Justin was coming because that wasnt normal practice for serving restraining orders.

Wednesday, 11:45 a.m.

Kelsey said her firearms were in the basement because she made the decision right there to take her life after she lost everything in a 15 second conversation.

Wednesday, 11:40 a.m.

She said as she was putting the bottles in the bag it was setting in what was happening, and there was so many unknowns. She said she felt like she lost everything in that moments, and 2 weeks for her being without her baby was an eternity.

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Wednesday, 11:39 a.m.

She was told to pack a bag for the baby for 2 weeks. She said she handed the baby to Officer Patrick Noonan because she trusted him.

Wednesday, 11:37 a.m.

Dailey said that the baby was on the restraining order. She said she knew she was going to have to hand her baby to the police officer.

Wednesday, 11:35 a.m.

Kelsey said Lt. Dailey said, we need to come in and then he asked to put the baby down, who started to cry. She picked him back up, and Dailey then said, Justin filed a restraining order against you.

Wednesday, 11:33 a.m.

Kelsey said Officer Noonan was on the murder suicide call with her. They texted each other outside of work following that incident. She said she was closer to Officer Timothy Houston and called him a work friend.

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Wednesday, 11:28 a.m.

Kelsey said she heard a knock at the door about 3-5 minutes later and 3 police officers were at the door including Lt. Dailey, Officer Patrick Noonan, and Officer Timothy Houston.

Wednesday, 11:26 a.m.

Kelsey said her mom came over and they talked about the situation, and then she left. She said she was going to go camping to clear her mind.

Wednesday, 11:22 a.m.

Kelsey said she parked in the schools parking lot next to her house because she didnt want anyone to know she was home, as she was confused as to what was going on with her fiance and friends. When she got home, she called her mom.

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Wednesday, 11:20 a.m.

Kelsey said she waited an hour or more and Justin never showed up. Her friend Michelle called her and said she wanted to meet up for coffee, but she was focused on meeting Justin.

Wednesday, 11:18 a.m.

Kelsey said texts between Justin stopped. She texted Hunter who said everyone was meeting there to pick up stuff from the bachelor and bachelorette party.

Wednesday, 11:16 a.m.

Kelsey said after CPR training, she drove to the North Andover common. She said she drove by their mutual friends house, Hunter. She said she saw Justins truck and other cars that she recognized.

Wednesday, 11:12 a.m.

Kelsey said Justin said he would meet her at the common after CPR training. She said she told Justin, Okay, I love you bye, and the call had already hung up.

Wednesday, 11:11 a.m.

Court is back in session.

Wednesday, 11:07 a.m.

Court is in a short recess.

Wednesday, 11:03 a.m.

Kelsey said Justin called on her way to CPR training and asked to meet at the North Andover Common.

Wednesday, 11:01 a.m.

Kelsey said Justin hadnt been home for days, and she asked Justin if she could come home to be with their son. Kelsey said Justin responded that he could come pick him up, and Kelsy said: Youre not a babysitter.

Wednesday, 10:59 a.m.

Kelsey said she had to go to CPR training that day at 1 p.m.

Wednesday, 10:57 a.m.

Kelsey said she realized her relationship was over with Justin when the restraining order was handed to her by police on June 30.

Wednesday, 10:42 a.m.

Kelsey Fitzsimmons has taken the stand in her own defense.

Wednesday, 10:20 a.m.

The court has taken a 20-minute recess.

Wednesday, 10:15 a.m.

Page tells the court that she, along with Fitzsimmons ex-fiance Justin Aylaian and his sister, was present in the home when the shooting happened.

She testified that the she recalled hearing a man say, Kelsey no, Kelsey no, and then two gunshots. She says she didnt hear Kelsey say anything.

Wednesday, 10:02 a.m.

Lauren Page, the mother of Kelsey Fitzsimmons, is called to the stand by the defense.

Wednesday, 9:43 a.m.

The prosecution has rested its case. The defense calls its first witness to the stand, Maureen Torrissi, a resident of North Andover. She is a neighbor of North Andover Officer Patrick Noonan.

Wednesday, 9:15 a.m.

The prosecution calls Massachusetts State Police Sgt. David Strong to the stand. He is expected to be their final witness.

Wednesday, 9:10 a.m.

The judge instructs everyone to gather at court on Thursday morning before departing for a view of Kelsey Fitzsimmons North Andover home.

Wednesday, 9:08 a.m.

The court is back in session for the third day of the trial.

PREVIOUS STORY:

On Tuesday, North Andover Officer Patrick Noonan, the officer who shot Fitzsimmons, took the stand in Lawrence District Court.

Noonan testified that Fitzsimmons pointed a gun at him and pulled the trigger after he served her the court order. He told the court he believed she intended to harm him.

During crossexamination, Fitzsimmons attorney pressed Noonan about his prior interactions with her, including comments he allegedly made to a neighbor.

Whack job: Officer pressed on comment in day 2 of Kelsey Fitzsimmons trial

One exchange included the question: Is it possible you called her a whack job to her neighbor?

To which Noonan responded:after she tried to kill me.

The defense is expected to take the judge to Fitzsimmons North Andover home, where the shooting took place, as part of their presentation of evidence.

The trial started Monday with opening statements and testimony as the prosecution and defense offered sharply contrasting accounts of what happened inside her home

Fitzsimmons waived her right to a jury trial, meaning the judge alone will determine the verdict.

The trial is expected to wrap up by Friday, with closing arguments and a decision likely to follow soon after.

RELATED:

Live court video, updates: Day 2 of trial for ex-North Andover police officer Kelsey Fitzsimmons

Day 1 of trial for former North Andover officer Kelsey Fitzsimmons

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Federal prosecutors examined whether Donald Trump showed a classified map to people on his plane after his first term, including to his now White House chief of staff, Susie Wiles, according to justice department materials produced to the House judiciary committee.

The incident was described in a 13 January 2023 briefing memo prepared for the then attorney general, Merrick Garland  roughly six months before special counsel Jack Smith charged Trump with retaining classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago club.

Related: Democrats flip seat in Florida state house in district that includes Trumps Mar-a-Lago

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The memo also described the documents Trump retained as some of the most protected materials held by the federal government, estimating that one document was accessible to only six people, and alleging that the documents were pertinent to his business interests.

Trumps alleged disclosure of the map, as described in the memo, would mark the second known time he waved around a classified map in front of Wiles. The indictment charging Trump also described an incident where he showed a classified map to people at his Bedminster club in New Jersey.

It was unclear whether the map Trump is said to have brandished on his plane in 2022 and at Bedminster were one and the same. The map he had at Bedminster was a military map of Afghanistan, which Trump was showing associates as he criticized Joe Biden for the US withdrawal in 2021.

Trumps disclosure of a classified map was not charged as a separate count in the indictment, likely because it happened after the withdrawal had been completed and so any information on the map could not be said to constitute national defense information.

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One other thing on the use of classified documents that I want to bring to your attention. We have identified a classified map that we believe Trump may have shown to individuals on board an airplane after he left office, said the 11-page memo reviewed by the Guardian.

Our investigation indicates that Susan Wiles, the CEO of Trumps Super Pac, was aboard that flight and witnessed this event, it said. A further two bullet points about The Map were redacted in the memo.

The memo also described the classified documents, which Trump retained in haphazard fashion in the basement of Mar-a-Lago after he left office and later ignored a grand jury subpoena for their return, as some of the most protected materials held by the federal government.

Trump had in his possession some highly sensitive documents, the memo said. Prior to this investigation, one of the compartments housing one particularly sensitive document was accessible by only 6? people, including the president.

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And Trump possessed classified documents, pertinent to his business interests  establishing a motive for retaining them. We have those documents, the memo added.

Referencing the January 2023 special counsel memo and other documents, Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House judiciary committee, on Wednesday demanded additional information about the map and its alleged disclosure in a letter to the US attorney general, Pam Bondi.

The letter attached a schematic manifest of the flight on which Trump allegedly disclosed the classified map in June 2022, flying from Palm Beach international airport in Florida to LaGuardia airport in New York. Not including pilots, the manifest listed 14 people on board the plane.

Raskins letter asked to whom Trump had shown the map, who else was on the plane, and which documents Trump retained that were related to his business interests, among other things  and raised the spectre that the department violated a court order against releasing case files.

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Last month, Aileen Cannon, the federal judge appointed by Trump who presided in the documents case, permanently barred the justice department from releasing Smiths final report into Trumps mishandling of classified materials after his first term.

Cannon dismissed the documents case in July 2024. Smith challenged the decision to the US court of appeals for the 11th circuit. Following Trumps election to a second term, Smith elected to drop the appeal and resigned.
As the Senate continues to stall on the SAVE America Act, Republicans in a number of states are moving forward with plans to add citizenship requirements to their voting laws.

Six states are likely to vote on new measures this fall that echo President Donald Trumps top legislative priority. Republican lawmakers in Arkansas, Kansas, South Dakota and West Virginia have put various citizenship-related amendments on the ballot.

In West Virginia, the most recent state to put a measure on the ballot, the amendment would change the states constitution from saying citizens of the state shall be entitled to vote, to only citizens of the state who are citizens of the United States are entitled to vote.

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GOP Secretary of State Kris Warner said the change would prevent local officials from allowing noncitizens to vote in those races, but he conceded to WVNews that noncitizen voting is not a major issue in the state.

It is an issue, Warner said of noncitizens casting ballots in the state. Would I tell you its a huge issue? Im not going to say that.

Arizona could be next, with a bill currently working its way through the state Legislature that would amend its constitution to allow only citizens to vote. Because ballot measures do not require the governors signature in Arizona, Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs is unable to veto the GOP-controlled Legislature.

In two battleground states with high profile Senate races  Alaska and Michigan  groups have submitted the required signatures to place citizenship questions on the ballot.

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Throughout debate on the SAVE America Act, Republicans have slammed Democrats for opposing citizenship and voter ID requirements that polls show remain broadly popular with voters. And while the proposed changes will likely sail to victory in November in red states, the measures will test whether that argument is salient with voters on Election Day and not just in opinion surveys.

In some other Republican-led states like Florida, lawmakers are pushing new voting rules that do not have to go before voters. Floridas law, as our Gary Fineout notes, would not take effect until after 2026. Utah and South Dakota have also approved SAVE Act copycats in their states that await approval from the states governors, according to the nonpartisan Voting Rights Lab, which tracks changes to voting nationwide.

The Voting Rights Lab is tracking 35 measures across 18 states that are related to proof of citizenship and voting, though it remains unclear exactly how many have the support to pass.

The flurry of state action comes as the Senate is still stalled on the SAVE America Act, which has become a top issue for Trump, who is continuing to call for the chamber to kill the filibuster in order to pass it. On Tuesday, the House began floating ways to pass some components of the bill via reconciliation, a budget process that only requires a majority vote instead of the filibuster-proof 60 votes in the Senate.

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The measures are also a continuation of 2024, where eight states approved measures at the ballot box related to citizenship requirements, according to Ballotpedia.

Voting rights groups lambast the changes, arguing they make voting harder, especially for young and minority voters as well as married women who have changed their last names, and create confusion for election officials who are already under intense scrutiny and leaving the job in droves.

And Democrats are hoping to use voter issues on the campaign trail in legislative races.

As costs soar and families budgets are squeezed, Republicans are burying their heads in the sand and making voter suppression their top priority, Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams said in a statement. Republicans in state legislatures are wasting no time in passing copycat SAVE America Act legislation, making sure voter suppression moves forward even with Congress in gridlock.

A version of this article first appeared in POLITICO Pros Morning Score. Want to receive the newsletter every weekday? Subscribe to POLITICO Pro. Youll also receive daily policy news and other intelligence you need to act on the days biggest stories.
WASHINGTON  The chairman of the Senate Budget Committee announced plans Wednesday to craft a major Republican-only bill that funds conservative priorities such as immigration enforcement, military spending during the Iran war and new election rules.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he will expeditiously move to write the budget reconciliation process for the measure, which allows the Republican-led Senate to bypass the 60-vote filibuster rule and cut Democrats out of the action. Its the same procedure they used to pass President Donald Trumps big, beautiful bill last year.

He said the project has the support of Trump and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.

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The purpose of the second reconciliation bill is to make sure there is adequate funding to secure our homeland and to support our men and women in the military who are fighting so bravely, Graham said in a statement.

Republicans plan to fund parts of the Department of Homeland Security  namely, ICE and deportation operations  that are excluded from impending bipartisan negotiations to end the partial government shutdown that's causing long airport lines.

They also plan to use the legislation to advance portions of the SAVE America Act, the Trump-endorsed bill to impose stricter voting laws across the country. Graham said he sees many opportunities to improve voter integrity through reconciliation.

President Trump and Leader Thune are right to push for a second reconciliation bill to address the threats we face and keep our elections secure and fair, Graham added.

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Thune told reporters Tuesday, We just came out of a luncheon where this was discussed, and I think theres a lot of support for a budget reconciliation bill.

Republican leaders see it as their best option to placate Trumps demands to pass the election measure. But the reconciliation process is heavily restricted to provisions about taxes and spending. And Democrats can appeal to the parliamentarian, the in-house referee, to strip out provisions that dont comply with those strict rules.

As a result, the sponsor of the SAVE America Act, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said its essentially impossible to pass the bill that way.

There are many things the Senate could pass with a simple majority using the procedure known as budget reconciliation. The SAVE America Act is *not* one of them, Lee wrote on X.

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Asked whether Republicans will abide by the parliamentarians advice on provisions from the SAVE America Act, Thune said they intend to respect it.

Thats an iterative process and a back-and-forth, sometimes trading back different ideas to see what works, Thune said Tuesday at his weekly press conference. But obviously, the parliamentarian has a role to play in that process. And in the past, we have respected it. And I would expect we would do that.

Ignoring Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonoughs rulings would amount to a back-door nuke of the 60-vote filibuster, which Republicans insist they wont do.

If you want to shove the SAVE Act into reconciliation, then have at it. Were going to fight you tooth and nail throughout the reconciliation process, every step of the way, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Wednesday on the floor. Youre going to find it very difficult to jam massive changes to the American election system ... by using a process that was never designed for that purpose.

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Democrats feel optimistic they can successfully challenge election provisions that resemble the SAVE America Act.

Theres certainly the ability to get something done in reconciliation, but it may look like Swiss cheese by the time Elizabeth is done with it, said Charlie Ellsworth, a former legislative aide to Schumer who worked on reconciliation in the Biden era.

The path will be arduous, given that it is subject to unlimited amendments and the need to win over nearly every member of the narrow Republican majorities in the House and Senate. Trump's big, beautiful bill passed the Senate by a single vote.

Apart from ICE funding, Republicans expect to pursue funding for Trump's war with Iran; the Pentagon reportedly wants $200 billion or more. While the White House hasnt formally settled on that number, any war supplemental legislation could struggle to get votes from Democrats, who call it an unjustified war of choice, so reconciliation may be the only way to do it.

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Even some key Republicans have reservations about another major party-line bill.

We had a conversation about it, said Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., who sits on the Budget Committee that will oversee the process. Im interested in it, but I think its hard to do.

I dont want it where its going to have a whole bunch of wasteful spending, he said, adding that the biggest challenge will be to keep it focused and not let it continually grow.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, the chair of the Appropriations Committee, said she doesnt believe that using reconciliation is a good approach to funding parts of DHS.

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In the House, Republicans are divided about the effort.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., welcomed it, saying: Im glad to know the Senate is interested in reconciliation 2.0.

We need do that. Its an important legislative tool, he told reporters Wednesday. We already had a set of priorities were working on in the House. And it is possible that the defense supplemental will be a part of that package, but we dont yet have the details.

But a senior Republican on the House Appropriations Committee doubted that another expansive reconciliation bill could pass through the narrow 217-214 majority, where the GOP can only afford one defection to pass it without Democrats.

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I dont see how we get the votes, the lawmaker said.

At the annual House Republicans' retreat in Florida this month, Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, poured cold water on the idea.

I would love to do reconciliation 2, Smith said. I would also love to look like Brad Pitt.

The speaker said he has since begun calling Smith Brad.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Congressional Republicans are moving full steam ahead with plans to muster through a second megabill, this time focusing primarily on immigration enforcement and military funding  and potentially some election integrity proposals.

Top Budget Committee Republicans from the House and Senate met on Wednesday afternoon to discuss a path forward and to align their goals for the reconciliation package, a process that would allow Republicans to fast-track partisan legislation without being beholden to the filibuster. Its not yet clear what will be included in the forthcoming bill, but some areas have already emerged as key priorities.

The purpose of the second reconciliation bill is to make sure there is adequate funding to secure our homeland and to support our men and women in the military who are fighting so bravely, Sen. Lindsey Graham, who chairs the Senate Budget Committee said in a statement on Wednesday. I also think we have many opportunities to improve voter integrity through reconciliation.

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The sudden motivation to cobble together a partisan policy bill comes after months of doubt among GOP circles that another could be passed.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has said repeatedly there would need to be good reason to do one. President Donald Trump previously ruled out the proposition altogether.

But with the Department of Homeland Security nearing a record-long shutdown and Democrats standing ready to block any supplemental funding for U.S. military action in the Middle East, Republicans say the stars have aligned to provide an opportunity for one more reconciliation package before the November midterms.

Youre going to need things that are popular in order to bring people to the place where they can join the team, House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington said on Wednesday. Funding our military in time of war, if that isnt  if theres no sense of urgency and accountability for members of Congress to support our commander in chief, I cant think of a better motivator.

Republicans say package will be much smaller than before

Although a framework has not been finalized for a Reconciliation 2.0, Republican leaders have largely acknowledged it will be much smaller than the Big Beautiful Bill Act passed by Congress last summer.

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I think to succeed, itll have to be pretty narrowly focused, Thune told reporters on Wednesday.

That falls in line with what House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who has long advocated for a second reconciliation bill, has been saying for weeks.

Lets be realistic, it wont be as big but it can be just as beautiful, Johnson told reporters at House Republicans annual issues conference this month.

Notably, Speaker Johnson is not yet closing the door on reconciliation 2.0 just yet: "Let's be realistic, it won't be as big but it can be just as beautiful"



Says if they can get one, "it'll be much smaller in scope" but they "can't take reconciliation off the table"



No https://t.co/mAPXMYtrQW  Cami Mondeaux (@cami_mondeaux) March 10, 2026

The complicated part, though, will be finding a way to pay for the massive cost of military support  recent reporting suggests the Pentagon is prepared to request up to $200 billion  and immigration enforcement. Agreeing on those offsets will be tricky, and its what caused drawn out debate in last years gambit.

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But a handful of optimistic Republicans have been laying the groundwork for a second reconciliation bill for months, with some groups already prepared with their own proposals.

The Republican Study Committee released a framework in January focusing on six major tenets such as reducing energy costs, lowering health care premiums, making housing more affordable, and codifying several of Trumps executive orders, among other things. That proposal was meant to serve as a starting point on negotiations, with RSC Chairman August Pfluger telling the Deseret News it can be used to find the necessary offsets.

We identified over a trillion dollars in potential pay fors, Pfluger said. Now, some of these are going to be tougher than others. We acknowledge that, but we at least wanted to start the conversation, which is what our roadmap and framework did.

Another way to pay for war costs: identifying waste, fraud and abuse.

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Theres no reason that we cant also advance the presidents war on fraud as a way to pay for the war on a nuclear Iran, Arrington said.

Republicans eye possible election reforms but fate is unclear

Through the budget reconciliation process, the majority party can prevent a filibuster to expedite the passage of certain legislation and go around the minority party by enacting key pieces of their agenda with a simple majority vote.

But there are certain rules that dictate how often reconciliation can be used, and the procedure can only be utilized to advance budget-related legislation such as taxes, spending and the debt limit.

However, some Republicans are searching for ways to add components to fund election integrity, especially as the partys SAVE America Act seeking proof-of-citizenship requirements stalls in the Senate.

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Utah Sen. Mike Lee, the lead sponsor of the SAVE America Act, has been adamant that the bill would not qualify for the reconciliation process. But other Republicans have kept their options on the table for some version of Lees proposed policies.

I think there are ways to include election integrity in reconciliation, Arrington said. Now you have to craft it in a way that has a material budget.  Theres got to be some component of revenue, some material component of expense, or some combination. So how you write that is important.

The SAVE America Act as it is written deals solely with legislative policy, which would disqualify it from being exempt from the filibuster under budget reconciliation. Lawmakers could attempt to enact some of its provisions by offering budgetary incentives to individual states, but the election reforms could not be implemented on a national scale like Lee is pushing for.
Senate Republicans on Tuesday rebuffed a fresh attempt by Democrats to limit President Donald Trump on Iran, despite the worsening military and economic fallout from the nearly month-long war.

The vote  which failed 47-53  was the third test of GOP support for the president's actions, as oil prices shoot up and the American public appears increasingly disenchanted with the U.S. military campaign. And yet again, all but one Republican backed Trump, signaling the party's continued willingness to give leeway to the commander-in-chief.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) was the lone GOP senator to support the measure, while Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania joined Republicans to vote it down. The tally was identical to two previous roll calls on Iran, including a vote just six days ago.

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Opponents of the war gained no GOP support, even as the Pentagons plans to deploy another 3,000 troops to the Middle East heightens the possibility that American troops will enter Iran. The U.S. is also facing spiraling gas prices as Tehran blocks shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which about a fifth of the world's oil supply must pass.

Trump has argued the conflict wont last long and teased discussions with Iran to end it. The president on Monday called off a threat to strike Iranian power plants in energy infrastructure for five days due to productive talks involving the two countries. Iranian officials have denied any negotiations.

Trump on Tuesday said Iran had given an energy-related gift, but gave no details. He suggested it would help with diplomacy, adding it showed were dealing with the right people.

Democrats vowed to continue forcing Republicans to weigh in on the war despite the failed vote, arguing the whipsawing actions by the Trump administration about the wars endgame will make it more difficult for officials to defend.

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"We should keep putting them on the record," said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), the sponsor of the war powers resolution. "The incoherence is clearer and clearer every single day. The cost on consumers is bigger and bigger every day."

Democrats, as part of their push, want Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to agree to testify publicly on Iran. "This is silly, Murphy said. "We should be having hearings in the Foreign Relations Committee on the actual war that's going on."

GOP committee chairs have largely demurred on publicly questioning top administration officials on their plans for the war.

Several Republicans who have backed past efforts to rein in Trump on issues such as Venezuela  including Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine and Todd Young of Indiana  opted against defying the president.

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Young, ahead of the vote, said he wanted to see the war end soon but is worried about forcing the administration to "impulsively and rapidly pull forces out" of the conflict.

"The American people want this to end quickly, but they also want us to keep them safe and secure," Young said. "And I'm trying to reconcile those two different imperatives right now."

The House will soon follow. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters on Tuesday that Democrats would bring their own measure to the floor, "sooner rather than later."

A previous measure failed after several Democrats sided with Republicans, and Jeffries emphasized the party aimed to win the next vote.

"When we present something on the floor, it's our determination to win," he said.

Leo Shane and Daniella Cheslow contributed to this report.
Ukraine's air force said it had detected nearly 1,000 Shahed and other strike drones in one day.

It said it shot down or disabled 906 of them, at an interception rate of 95.5%.

Kyiv's latest account breaks Russia's previous launch record of 728 such drones.

Ukraine said on Tuesday that the Kremlin had attacked with 948 Shaheds and other strike drones within 24 hours, breaking the previous Russian record from last year.

The Ukrainian Air Force said that it had detected 392 Russian fixed-wing, long-range attack drones on Monday evening, followed by another 556 before 6 p.m. local time the next day.

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Its statements said that 906 of the drones were shot down or suppressed by electronic warfare, translating to a roughly 95.5% interception rate.

Ukraine said the drone attacks had been part of a "combined strike on critical infrastructure facilities," with about two dozen cruise and ballistic missiles launched together with the uncrewed aerial systems.

"A large number of drones flew in from the north  Chernihiv and Sumy regions," the air force statement read, referring to Ukraine's northern regions. Some western and central regions, including the capital of Kyiv, were also hit.

Ukrainian officials said they scrambled "all possible air defense means" against the Russian attack, including crewed aircraft, interceptor drones, jammers, and ground-based systems.

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Russia's previous launch record for Shahed-type and other strike drones was 728 of the uncrewed systems in July 2025.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also said in September that year that Russia had launched roughly 810 long-range drones in a single wave, but that only about 400 were Shaheds.

The Kremlin, which manufactures a localized version of the Iranian-designed Shahed, often pairs its long-range loitering munitions with decoy drones called Gerberas that aim to waste Ukrainian air defense efforts.

Another type of Russian fixed-wing drone, the Italmas, has a similar design but is built from plywood and intended as a cheaper way to deliver an explosive warhead.

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Ukraine's new assessment comes amid concerns over the past two years that Russia has been bolstering production of its long-range attack drones, the most advanced of which have been found to use Western electronics.

In January, Ukraine's commander in chief, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, said that his forces believed Russia had plans to produce 1,000 Shahed drones in a day.

Moscow's forces now tend to send waves of Shaheds in bursts, allowing its stockpiles to accumulate for days before launching the drones en masse to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses.

The latest salvo on Tuesday involved at least 42 hits from Shahed drones, alongside six missile strikes, the Ukrainian Air Force said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Russian air defenses downed 389 incoming Ukrainian drones, Russias Defense Ministry said Wednesday, in what was the largest reported overnight attack on Russian regions and Crimea since Moscows forces invaded Ukraine more than four years ago.

The drones were stopped over 13 Russian regions as well as the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

The attack underlined the growing capability of Ukraines domestically developed and manufactured long-range drones.

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It came a day after Russia fired almost 1,000 drones and 34 missiles at civilian areas of Ukraine in the space of 24 hours, extending its usual nighttime barrage into daylight hours in one of its biggest aerial attacks of the war. At least six people were killed and around 50 people were injured, Ukrainian authorities said.

The United Nations cultural organization UNESCO on Wednesday said it was deeply alarmed by Russia hitting a World Heritage site in the western Ukraine city of Lviv during that bombardment.

The escalation in aerial attacks comes amid a pause in U.S.-mediated talks between delegations from Moscow and Kyiv, as Washington's attention is diverted by the Iran war and as Ukraine anticipates a spring offensive by Russia's bigger army.

Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad region north of Moscow, said 56 drones were shot down there, and a fire broke out in the Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga as the result of Ukraine's attack.

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Ukrainian forces also carried out a missile strike on the Belgorod region on the border with Ukraine overnight, damaging energy infrastructure, its Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said. Power, water and heating supplies were disrupted, he said.

In Ukraine on Wednesday, Russian drones smashed into residential areas of the second-largest city, Kharkiv, during the afternoon, injuring at least nine people, according to mayor Ihor Terekhov.

The Ukrainian drone blitz aimed at Russia caught public attention in the Baltic states, which lie northwest of Ukraine and relatively close to potential Russian targets in the Leningrad region, which includes St. Petersburg, where drones came down.

Officials in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which have been close allies of Ukraine in the war, said the drones likely didnt target them. Estonia and Latvia said the drones were Ukrainian, and Lithuania said the drone was a stray, without saying who launched it.

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Estonian media reported that a drone coming from Russia clipped a power plants chimney early Wednesday but said electricity production was not disrupted. The plant is around 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the port of Ust-Luga that Ukraine targeted.

Also Wednesday, the Latvian defense ministry said a drone had crashed in a region close to Russia. No injuries or damage were reported.

In Moldova, on Ukraines southwest border, authorities on Tuesday urged citizens to spare electrical energy during peak hours, after Russian strikes on Ukraines energy grid cut a key power line between Moldova and Romania.

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Associated Press writers Illia Novikov in Kyiv, Ukraine and Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin contributed to this story.

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Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
KYIV, March 25 (Reuters) - Russia sought to blackmail the United States by offering to stop sharing military intelligence with Iran if, in return, Washington would cut off Ukraine from its intelligence data, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday.

Zelenskiy, who said on Monday that Ukraine's military intelligence has "irrefutable" evidence that Russia is continuing to provide intelligence to Iran, told Reuters he had seen the data but provided no further details.

Speaking in his presidential compound in Kyiv, Zelenskiy said that some Iranian drones, used to attack U.S. military assets and its allies during the war in the Middle East, contained Russian components.

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"I have reports from our intelligence services showing that Russia is doing this and saying: 'I will not pass on intelligence to Iran if America stops passing intelligence to Ukraine.' Isn't that blackmail? Absolutely," Zelenskiy said.

He did not say who, according to the reports, Russia was addressing the comments to. Russia has denied assisting Iran in its month-old conflict with the United States and Israel - a denial that Washington said earlier this month that it had also received directly from Moscow when the issue was discussed.

Ukraine, which has faced sustained attacks by Iranian-designed Shahed drones since Russia launched its invasion in 2022, is helping several Gulf states - including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar - to counter drone attacks on their territory, the president said.

Zelenskiy said he hoped that Ukraine would be able to reach long-term deals with some Gulf countries that would raise funds for the production of Ukrainian drone interceptors or receiving much-needed air-defence missiles.

(Reporting by Olena Harmash and Daniel Flynn; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
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Russia's Progress spacecraft have been used to ferry cargo to the ISS throughout the entirety of the space station's history. This photo shows Progress 45 docking with the ISS in 2011. | Credit: NASA/ESA

An uncrewed Russian rocket carrying vital supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) experienced a significant "glitch" after launch, meaning the cargo vehicle will no longer dock autonomously with the station, NASA warns.

As a result, a cosmonaut (Russian astronaut) may have to use a "backup system" to dock the stricken vessel with the ISS remotely, all while orbiting Earth.

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The spacecraft, dubbed Progress 94 (or Progress MS-33 in Russia), launched aboard a Soyuz rocket around 8 a.m. EDT (5 p.m. local time) Sunday (March 22) from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, according to Live Science's sister site Space.com . Progress is a line of robotic freighters that Russia (and previously the Soviet Union) has used to ferry cargo into space since the 1970s.

Progress 94 is carrying around 5,500 pounds (2,500 kilograms) of cargo  including food, water, fuel, oxygen, hardware, scientific equipment and medical supplies  and was scheduled to dock automatically with the ISS Tuesday (March 24) at around 9:30 a.m. EDT. However, this maneuver will no longer be as straightforward as expected.

Around 40 minutes after liftoff, NASA revealed that one of the Progress spacecraft's antennae did not deploy properly after separating from the Soyuz rocket. This antenna plays a key role in helping the robotic freighter dock with the airlock on Russia's Poisk module, meaning that docking can no longer be attempted without human involvement.

Progress 94 launched into space on board a Soyuz rocket on Sunday (March 22) from the recently fixed Site 31 launchpad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. | Credit: NASA/Roscosmos

"Troubleshooting will continue and if the antenna cannot be deployed, Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov will manually pilot the spacecraft through a backup system for rendezvous and docking at the space station," NASA representatives wrote on X .

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Kud-Sverchkov is part of the Expedition 73/74 crew  alongside fellow cosmonaut Sergey Mikayev and NASA astronaut Christopher Williams  and has been on board the ISS since Thanksgiving. The veteran cosmonaut, who previously spent six months living in space between October 2020 and March 2021, has served as both flight engineer and commander on ISS missions.

It is unclear exactly what the backup system is or how it is operated.

Despite the setback, "all other systems are operating as designed," and the docking attempt will continue as planned, either with the fixed antenna in place or with Kud-Sverchkov at the controls, NASA officials wrote.

Mission controllers first noticed the glitch around 40 minutes after Progress 94 launched. They will now attempt a manual docking if the issue cannot be fixed. | Credit: NASA/Roscosmos

You can watch the docking attempt via a NASA livestream that starts on Tuesday at around 8:45 a.m. EDT.

Repeated issues

This is not the first setback for the Progress 94 mission. The freighter was originally scheduled to launch in mid-December 2025. However, it was postponed after its launchpad, Site 31, sustained significant damage following the launch of the Expedition 73/74 crew.

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It is unclear exactly what happened to Russia's only operational launchpad. Rumors initially hinted that a service platform fell into the "flame trench" below the pad after it was incorrectly secured in place before takeoff. However, Russia announced that the damage had been fully repaired earlier this month.

Sergey Kud-Sverchkov (center) launched into space alongside fellow cosmonaut Sergey Mikayev (left) and NASA astronaut Christopher Williams (right) on Nov. 27, 2025. | Credit: Roscosmos/Anadolu via Getty Images

Nor is this the only recent mishap involving the ISS. The setback comes around two months after four astronauts (NASA's Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, Japan's Kimiya Yui and Russia's Oleg Platonov ) were sent home from the ISS prematurely after Fincke experienced an undisclosed medical emergency in space. This was the first medical evacuation in the station's 26-year history.

Before that, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunni Williams were stranded on the ISS for nine months between 2024 and 2025. Their initial two-week mission was extended after their faulty return capsule was sent back to Earth without them.

RELATED STORIES

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NASA warns of potential 'catastrophic failure' on leaking ISS  but Russia doesn't want to fix it

ISS dodges its 39th piece of potentially hazardous space junk. Experts say it won't be the last.

NASA offers SpaceX $843 million to destroy the ISS

Elsewhere in low Earth orbit, China's Tiangong space station has also experienced its fair share of recent drama. In November last year, multiple Chinese astronauts were stranded in space for several weeks after their return capsule was hit by a piece of suspected space junk , triggering the launch of an uncrewed "lifeboat" rocket .
This story was originally published on Payments Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Payments Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

The Electronic Transactions Association (ETA) is acquiring the American Transaction Processors Coalition (ATPC), according to a Thursday press release.

The ETA is folding ATPC into its operations to improve its advocacy, education and member engagement efforts. The move will also strengthen the ETAs ability to address state and federal concerns in the payments industry, the release said.

ATPCs executive director, Jay Morgan, will become an advisor to the organization and will help support the trade groups policy work, per the press release.

Dive Insight:

The ETA already represents more than 500 member companies, including retail juggernaut Amazon, Bank of America, tech titan Apple, neobank Chime and Mastercard, according to the release and its website. Meanwhile, ATPC as a separate entity had previously represented card company American Express, processor Fiserv and check provider Deluxe, among other payments companies.

As the organizations merge, the new, larger trade group will continue to serve as a voice for the industry, Jodie Kelley, CEO of ETA, said in a release.

This integration strengthens ETA's ability to lead on behalf of the payments industry, ETA Board Chair Jamie Walker said in the statement. By further expanding our advocacy and expertise, ETA is better positioned to advance policies that support innovation and trust across the payments ecosystem.

The merger comes less than a year after the ATPC appointed a new leader. Last August, that trade organization named Morgan as its executive director, succeeding H. West Richards, who helped start the ATPC more than a decade ago.

For its part, the ETA is folding the ATPC into its operations shortly after introducing a new board of directors. Earlier this month, the organization announced its 2026 board, which includes Christopher Sweetland of PayPal Holdings, Kathryn Cleary of PNC Bank and Walker of U.S. Bank, according to a March 18 press release.

As the organizations join forces, the payments industry continues to navigate regulatory shifts at the federal and state levels. The ETA has been instrumental in seeking increased U.S. government attention for fighting fraud in the payments sphere.

At the state level, the ETA has argued against some regulations.

For example, in Illinois, where a federal judge upheld a state law prohibiting interchange fees on sales tax and gratuity for card-based purchases, the ETA has opposed such regulations.
A jury found a San Jose day care co-owner guilty in the 2023 deaths of two toddlers on Tuesday.

Two 1-year-olds, Payton Cobb and Lilian Hannan, drowned in a pool at "Happy Happy day care" and the mother-daughter caregivers are being held criminally responsible for felony child endangerment charges and other misdemeanors.

The daughter, Nina Fathizadeh, plead guilty in February.

But her mother, Shahin Gheblehshenas, went to trial where a verdict was quickly reached.

RELATED: San Jose daycare owner pleads guilty in drowning deaths of 2 toddlers

The families of the young children who died at the day care say both caregivers being found guilty in this case is a step toward justice

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"It's been a super long two and a half years," Lilian Hanan's father, Scott Hanan, said. "It's been really painful. and to be able to see this process and get past this particular milestone is really great."

"I just wanted to say I am still very, very pleased with the jury's decision," Payton Cobb's grandmother, Deborah Herting, said. "They paid attention. They asked questions. They made the right choice."

RELATED: SJ day care operators charged with toddler drownings make 1st court appearance

It took just over an hour for the jury to deliberate after closing arguments in the "Happy Happy Daycare" drowning case from October 2023.

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A juror said overwhelming evidence led them to decide that Shahin Gheblehshenas, one of the day care's co-owners, was guilty of all three counts of child endangerment.

"When you're making the decision to keep the day care running, despite being short staffed, you're essentially undermining the need for safety and security of those children," Calvin Antonio said. "And you're making that choice to put those children in a situation in which they're in danger."

That's what the jury found led to 1-year-olds, Payton Cobb and Lilian Hannan, slipping through a propped-open gate that separated a play area from a pool at the home day care.

RELATED: 1-year-old girls ID'd as children who drowned in San Jose day care pool, coroner says

The two girls drowned in the pool, while another toddler who fell in was saved.

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Gheblehshenas' daughter, Nina Fathizadeh, was in charge when the children fell in the pool - she plead guilty in February.

RELATED: San Jose day care shut down after 1-year-old children drown in pool

Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney O'Bryan Kenney says nothing can bring the girls back, but accountability is important.

"What we established was a pattern of behavior that led to this and the defendant, I believe, had many opportunities to fix this extreme hazard and she failed to do that," O'Bryan said.

Meanwhile, the son and brother of the two women spoke with cameras after the court ruling on Tuesday.

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Sina Fathizadeh says that the accident haunts everyone in his family to this day.

RELATED: Co-owners of San Jose's Happy Happy Daycare arrested, charged in drowning deaths of 2 toddlers

On their behalf, I'll say again, we are very sorry for your loss," Fathizadeh said. "It has been our loss as well, we love those kids like our own."

Both women will be back in court on May 22 for sentencing, where they face more than 10 years in prison for their roles in this tragic situation.

If you're on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live




March 25 (UPI) -- Sarah Elisabeth Mullally was installed Wednesday as the first woman to hold the title of archbishop of Canterbury, the leader of the Church of England and the Anglican Communion.

Mullally, 63, is the 106th person to hold the title of the most senior cleric in the Church of England and spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, which includes some 85 million Anglicans around the world. And she is the only one who isn't a man.

In her first sermon as archbishop, she honored victims of church abuse.

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"We hold victims and survivors in our hearts and in our prayers, and we must remain committed to truth, compassion, justice and action," she said.

"In a world already torn by conflict, suffering and division, we must also acknowledge the hurt that exists much closer to home," she said. "We must not overlook or minimize the pain experienced by those who have been harmed through the actions, inactions or failures of those in our own Christian churches and communities."

Bishop Sarah Mullally arrives for her installation as the archbishop of Canterbury in Canterbury Cathedral. Photo by Neil Hall/EPA

About 2,000 invited guests attended the ceremonial installment, which is historically called an enthronement, including William, prince of Wales, and Kate Middleton, princess of Wales. Prime Minister Keir Starmer was also there. Also in the congregation was a contingent of nurses and caregivers from Canterbury to honor Mullally's former career as a nurse.

While Mullally has served in the position since January, the Wednesday's ceremony marks the symbolic beginning of her service as the archbishop. She was named to the position in October.

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She replaced the former archbishop Justin Welby, who resigned in January 2025 over his handling of a sex abuse scandal in the diocese.

A Christian camp organizer, the late John Smyth, had allegedly abused boys at the camp in the 1970s and '80s. A report found that Smyth might have faced charges while he was alive if Welby had reported the abuse when he learned about it in 2013. Smyth died in 2018.

The first archbishop of Canterbury -- St. Augustine -- was enthroned in 587. The Church of England officially allowed women to become priests in 1994.

"As I look back over my life at the teenage Sarah, who put her faith in God and made a commitment to follow Jesus, I could never have imagined the future that lay ahead, and certainly not the ministry to which I am now called," she told the congregation.

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Her enthronement is not welcomed by all in the Anglican Communion. Many traditionalists in Britain and abroad still believe that only men can be priests.

Earlier this month in Abuja, Nigeria, conservative clergy selected their own leader to follow, Rwandan Archbishop Laurent Mbanda.

Mbanda issued a statement in January in which he said the "majority of the Anglican Communion still believes that the Bible requires a male-only episcopacy."

In the days before the service, Mullally walked an 87-mile pilgrimage for six days from London's St. Paul's Cathedral to Canterbury Cathedral. She is the first archbishop in modern times to make the trip, which was memorialized in Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales.

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Ahead of the ceremony, the Very Rev. David Monteith, dean of the Canterbury Cathedral, said, "Today matters."

Monteith described Mullally as a person of "really deep and profound faith," as demonstrated by her giving up her nursing career, he told The New York Times.

"That's a big, risky thing to do, and it's born of somebody who had a lively sense of faith and connection with God, sufficient for her to hear a call to turn in a different direction and follow another path," he said. "And I think that speaks well to me of somebody of integrity and of depth as well."
As police continue to search for the suspects who repeatedly stabbed a 16-year-old outside a police station on Tuesday afternoon, family members say it wasn't random and the teen had been targeted before.

Now, loved ones are demanding answers about what they say was an escalating situation.

"Instead of me just being a dad, I got to turn to a cop," the teen's dad said.

The aunt of the 16-year-old victim showed up at the Hackensack City Council meeting hours after her nephew was stabbed multiple times outside of City Hall.

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Luz Diaz told council members her nephew was stabbed seven times and was in surgery for three hours at Hackensack University Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition.

She said several suspects chased him for blocks before pouncing. They were in a black BMW with a paper license plate, she said.

She said the boy's family pulled him from Hackensack High School earlier this year over ongoing concerns for his safety, including people showing up to her sister's house in ski masks.

"They feel like, you know, you're a man because you got a weapon. But these are babies. You know what I'm saying? Like. And in this. This is a this is sad. It is scary," the father said.

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The aunt said the police told her it was the school district's responsibility, since the dispute started in the high school.

Hackensack Mayor Caseen Gaines later said that was unacceptable.

"What we are not going to do is say, if the issue emanated in the schools, that's the school's problem, that's not what we are going to do because the schools are part of Hackensack too," Gaines said. "No one should be assaulted on the streets of Hackensack, period, especially not a kid."

The aunt said the family has made numerous complaints to the Hackensack School Board and to police.

The mayor is promising action.

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"If that means that the manager has to communicate with the superintendent and figure out how we can make sure that issues that perhaps emanate in the schools don't spill out into the street, then that's something that we can take on by having good open communication," Mayor Caseen Gaines said.

It is unclear what led to the stabbing, and no description of the suspects has been released.

No arrests have been made.

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A day after a full hand recount in three precincts showed no change in results, Senate Leader Phil Berger has conceded his Republican Primary Senate District 26 race to Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page.

"While this was a close race, the voters have spoken, and I congratulate Sheriff Page on his victory," Berger said in a statement.

Berger, North Carolina's government's most influential politician, trailed Page by just two votes out of more than 26,000 counted after the March 3 NC Primary, and Page's lead expanded as elections boards in the two counties composing the district reviewed provisional, absentee and military and overseas ballots.

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"Over the past 15 years, Republicans in the General Assembly have fundamentally redefined our state's outlook and reputation. It has been an honor to play a role in that transformation," Berger said Tuesday. "Looking ahead, I remain committed to working with my colleagues in the short session to ensure North Carolina continues to be the best state in the nation in which to live, work, raise a family, and retire. In the months ahead, I will also do everything I can to support all Republican Senate candidates and protect our supermajority."

The result represents a seismic shift in the power structure in the ninth-largest state and likely will soon end Berger's preeminence as the state's top conservative architect.

He has been Senate leader since 2011, when Republicans took full control of the General Assembly for the first time in 140 years.

Stay on top of breaking news stories with the ABC11 News App

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Berger requested the hand recount, which was conducted in one precinct in Rockingham County and two in Guilford County.

President Donald Trump had endorsed Berger for reelection, praising him for his policy accomplishments.

Trump's endorsement of Berger occurred several weeks after the legislature redrew the state's U.S. House district map in an attempt to flip a Democratic seat as part of the president's redistricting campaign to retain GOP control of the U.S. House in this year's midterm elections.

Page was outspent by Berger's campaign by more than 50-to-1 through mid-February. That doesn't include several million dollars that a pro-Berger independent expenditure group spent on mailers and advertising.

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Berger, a 73-year-old attorney, has been a force in North Carolina government as the General Assembly implemented a rightward agenda despite opposition from a string of mostly Democratic governors, whose inherent powers are relatively weak.

Page, who was first elected sheriff in 1998, tapped into local voter discontent with a narrative that Berger was more interested in the state rather than in looking out for constituents.

Berger's unsuccessful efforts in 2023 to pass a law that could have brought a casino to Rockingham County also angered social conservatives and gave Page an opening.

Even while endorsing Berger in December on social media, Trump praised Page and said he wanted the sheriff to instead "come work for us in Washington, D.C." rather than run against Berger. Page - who had supported Trump's immigration enforcement policies through the years - declined.

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Berger first joined the Senate in 2001 and was minority leader before a GOP sweep in the 2010 elections.

Berger figured into every conservative policy prescription since, including income tax reform and reductions, private-school vouchers for any family, restrictions on abortion, and looser regulations on gun access.

With support from the House speaker, Berger also enacted efforts to shift appointment powers away from Democratic Gov. Josh Stein and former Gov. Roy Cooper and toward lawmakers and other officials.

Stein reacted on Tuesday afternoon to the news.

"I thank our election officials for ensuring that all votes were counted and that the people's voice was heard," the governor said. "I congratulate Sheriff Page on his victory and commend Sen. Berger for his service. While we didn't always see eye to eye on the issues of the day, I appreciate Sen. Berger's deep love for North Carolina. I look forward to working with him and other leaders in the General Assembly in the coming weeks to pass a comprehensive, fiscally responsible budget that invests in our state's people."

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The General Assembly's chief work session for 2026 begins in April, when Berger's top lieutenants will likely jockey in earnest to succeed him as Senate leader should the GOP maintain a majority in the fall.

The chamber's 50 members pick a leader every two years. Republicans currently hold 30 seats - just enough to override Stein's vetoes.

Despite clashing with Cooper, Berger, and then-Speaker Tim Moore ultimately reached a deal with him to expand Medicaid to hundreds of thousands of adults.

Many of Berger's allies and ex-aides work across state government. His children include a justice on the state Supreme Court, a Rockingham County commissioner, and a state agency attorney.

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"Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger has been a true titan of conservative leadership in North Carolina," North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall said Tuesday. "For more than two decades, Sen. Berger has been a stalwart champion of limited government, fiscal responsibility, and the values that have made North Carolina a beacon for families and businesses. North Carolina is stronger, freer, and more prosperous today thanks to Sen. Berger's leadership, and that legacy will endure well into the future, shaping our state for generations to come."

Page will advance to the November general election in the GOP-leaning district. Berger could remain a senator and Senate leader through the year's end. Senators would pick a new chamber leader in early 2027.

Page addressed his primary win shortly after Berger's concession.

"It's not all about the money raised, it's about the trust built in your community," Page said. "You build relationships, and you can build some long-lasting relationships. I think our citizens came out, the trust was there, they showed their support."

-- The Associated Press contributed.

NOTE: Video is from a previous report and will be updated.
March 25 (UPI) -- Republican senators have again backed the war against Iran, blocking a Democratic-led effort to curb President Donald Trump's ability to wage war without congressional approval.

The Senate voted 53-47, mostly along party lines, on Tuesday evening to block Democrats' war powers resolution, the third time Senate Republicans have blocked a resolution to require the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress authorizes them.

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky was the only Republican to vote in favor of the motion with his Democratic colleagues, while Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat to vote against it with the GOP lawmakers.

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Since the war began on Feb. 28, when the United States and Israel attacked Iran, Democratic lawmakers have argued the war is unconstitutional because only Congress has the power to declare war, while Republicans contend Trump is within his authority as commander in chief to defend the country.

Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut said he forced the vote Tuesday to have debate on Trump's war in Iran.

"This is increasingly important because this war is spiraling out of control," he said in a video posted to social media ahead of heading into the Senate.

"The cost of plastic just doubled, prices at the pump are sky high, the Strait of Hormuz is still shut down, new wars are breaking out in the region, we've had a dozen Americans killed, $2 billion being spent a day and for what!"

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From the floor, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called on Republicans to vote in favor of the resolution, saying it was time for the war to come to an end.

"The war is expanding, and the Senate has an obligation to step in," he said.

"I say to my Republican colleagues: if there was ever a time to stand up for the authority of the Senate, stand up for the powers given to us through the Constitution, the time is now."

Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho, who has repeatedly argued against the war powers resolution, took to the floor again on Tuesday to say the Democrats were going to receive the same negative result as they had the two previous times.

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Iran started the war, he said, pointing to the Iran hostage crisis of 1979 and stating that the Islamic regime has since killed thousands of Americans.

"The president of the United States said, 'We have had enough.' He had very good reasons to pull the trigger at the time that he did and... The fact of the matter is, we are in conflict," he said, stating the Senate needs to back the Americans fighting in the war and their president.

"We all know this isn't going to go on very long, but it needs to be done."

The vote was held less than a week after Democrats used the war powers resolution to force a vote on Wednesday on a similar motion, which Republicans blocked in the same 53-47 outcome. Both Paul and Fetterman voted against their parties.
The King County Sheriffs Office is warning residents of a significant increase in smishing scams, where fraudsters use text messages to steal money and personal information.

The trend mirrors a rise in similar scam phone calls seen throughout the region.

Smishing involves scammers sending SMS messages that often impersonate government agencies to demand immediate payment for fake violations.

Sergeant Michael Glasgow of the King County Sheriffs Office is tracking the surge in these fraudulent messages. He noted that many of these texts claim the recipient owes money for specific state-related fees or violations. The unfortunate one that were investigating still coming out of the White Center area was almost two million dollars in loss, Glasgow said.

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He identified common scam topics as your tolls need to be paid, traffic tickets like the red-light cameras, speeding ticket cameras, your vehicle registration.

Officials say a primary indicator of a scam is the use of high-pressure or frightening language.

Glasgow emphasized that legitimate communication from state agencies do not use these methods to elicit payment. If theres any fear, thats a scam, Glasgow said. Nobody in Washington state, Wash. states government is going to send a text thats going to have fear involved.

Scam texts often include glaring errors in their messages. In one scam going around now, the name Kinperior instead of King County Superior Court is used, as well as many other inaccuracies.

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Glasgow also warns against scanning QR codes, or clicking links. He says the links can grant a scammer access to a users phone or computer. The scams frequently target elderly residents and those who speak English as a second language.

Glasgow noted that technology makes these criminals difficult to apprehend because its probably a computer-generated number over the internet, Glasgow said. More than likely not even within the United States of America and so tracking those is apps almost impossible.

One common scam involves messages claiming to be from the Washington DMV. However, the state agency responsible for vehicle registration is the Department of Licensing, known as the DOL. Any message referencing the DMV in Washington is an immediate red flag for fraud.

Residents who receive a suspicious text are advised to remain calm and call the purported agency directly to verify any claims.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Wednesday signed an executive order creating the cabinet position of chief energy officer and has appointed Josephus Allmond, a Charlottesville-based staff attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center, to the new role.

Allmond has worked as a staff attorney with SELC for over five years and has served on the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation. He was also co-chair of Spanbergers energy transition team.

Allmond has experience litigating utility policy cases before the State Corporation Commission. He recently represented environmental advocacy group Appalachian Voices in a rate case for Appalachian Power Company and has weighed in on the Dominion Energy shared solar case to allow for more mid-sized solar projects to be connected to the grid without excessive requirements and costs.

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By maximizing the use of our existing grid, making sure high energy use customers are not driving up energy bills for everyone else, and prioritizing the deployment of more homegrown clean energy and battery storage, we will ensure that our energy future remains sustainable, predictable, and  most importantly  affordable for Virginians, Allmond said in a statement after his appointment.

In Allmonds new role, he will work with the state secretary of commerce and trade, the Virginia Department Energy, grid operator PJM Interconnection and utility companies to address the sharp rise in energy costs.

Spanberger said his work will directly address Virginians concerns and help the state meet its clean energy goals under the Virginia Clean Economy Act.

Throughout his career, Mr. Allmond has gained extensive experience in Virginias energy industry  through litigating numerous regulatory cases and successfully advocating for legislation to bring Virginia into our energy future, Spanberger said in a statement. I look forward to working with Mr. Allmond to address rising energy costs and improve reliability across our Commonwealth.

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As Virginia grapples with the rise in energy demands, heavily accelerated by the proliferation of data centers across the state, Allmond will work with PJM on capacity auction reforms to bring down the cost of buying power from other states, which is often passed down to ratepayers. He will also engage with the SCC and the General Assembly on ways to lower utility rates.

Virginia legislators advanced multiple bills aimed at boosting affordability this year.

An expansion of major utilities weatherization programs passed, as well as legislation to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative that set up the funding avenues for the emissions-capping program. Its likely Spanberger will sign that measure into law, as she has pledged the state will renew its RGGI participation.

Lawmakers also gave the green light for more costs to be shifted onto high-load users, such as data centers, to take some pressure off of residential customers.

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The General Assembly also failed to pass a budget, after debates over if data centers existing sales and use tax exemptions should be kept in or axed from the spending plan.

Virginia currently misses out on an estimated $1.6 billion dollars a year from the exemption, lawmakers in the state Senate said. Data center industry representatives emphasized their multi-billion dollar investments across the commonwealth in response, a stance House legislators support. Lawmakers will return to Richmond in April to work out a final deal on the budget.

Allmond is a native of Chico, California and studied law at Duke University School of Law.

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The EU and Australia today (24 March) touted the opportunities of a new trade deal that has sparked a mixed response across the food and drinks industry.

Brussels and Canberra have concluded negotiations on a free-trade agreement that will remove tariff barriers on a range of food and drinks, while protecting what the EU labelled as sensitive areas such as meat.

In a statement, the European Commission said tariffs on EU exports of cheese, meat preparations, wine and sparkling wine, some fruits and vegetables, chocolate, and sugar confectionery will be eliminated once the agreement is signed off.

Meanwhile, the Australian government said just shy of 95% of the value of the countrys agricultural exports to the bloc will enter the EU duty-free.

However, farming groups in the EU and Australia criticised the deal.

EU farming lobby group Copa-Cogeca said the agreement raises multiple and strong concerns for European agriculture.

Meanwhile, The Australian Meat Industry Council said it voiced strong disappointment over the outcome of the deal, arguing it entrenches restrictive access for red meat and places Australian producers at a competitive disadvantage in the European market.

Under the terms of the deal, Australia exporters of products such as beef, sheep and goat meat, sugar, some dairy products and rice will only be able to sell at zero or at reduced tariffs in limited amounts, the European Commission said.

These quotas will apply to most dairy products including cheese, butter and skimmed milk powder, according to the statement from the Australian government. Beef, sheep meat, wheat gluten and ethanol also feature on the quota list, along with milled and semi-milled rice.

The European Dairy Association welcomed the agreement, which it said will help bolster the competitiveness and resilience of European industries, including the dairy sector.

Eurolait added EU exporters shipped almost 400m ($463.7m) worth of dairy products to Australia last year, with cheese topping the list followed by butter, milk powders and infant formula.

However, Copa-Cogeca, pointing to beef, sheep meat, sugar and rice, labelled the quotas significant concessions.

It added: In a post-Mercosur context, the cumulative impact of successive trade agreements makes these concessions unacceptable. Even for a traditionally more offensive sector like wine, the potential benefits of this agreement remain elusive, with Australian exporters likely to see more benefits due to the elimination of duties.

Geographical Indications protections will be implemented on 165 food and agricultural products as part of the agreement, which comes after eight years of negotiations.
Florida has been viewed for months as the potential capstone of a GOP redistricting campaign, but now Sunshine State Republicans are growing wary after the dramatic flip of two legislative seats in the state  including one where President Donald Trump votes.

Republicans already hold a commanding 20-8 edge over Democrats in the Florida House delegation, and some in the GOP  including Gov. Ron DeSantis  believe they could pick up as many as five more seats with a rare mid-decade redraw of district lines.

Some Florida incumbents are now warning in stark terms it could backfire.

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I think the Legislature needs to be very cognizant of the fact that if they get too aggressive  you could put incumbent members at risk, GOP Rep. Greg Steube said. Some seats that Republicans previously won by eight or nine points, he said, could instead have only a four- or five-point GOP advantage  putting them in reach for Democrats in a wave election.

DeSantis, citing a state Supreme Court decision from last year and a potential ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court, has already called a special session of the state Legislature in April to push ahead with new lines. So far there have been no official maps produced or any signs that lawmakers have started working on them.

Republican anxiety has only grown further after Democrats notched surprising wins in special elections Tuesday, including a Palm Beach County district that contains the Mar-a-Largo resort where Trump lives and votes.

While many in the GOP have brushed off the Democratic gains there and in other states as anomalies, private qualms are growing among the incumbents whose seats could be put at greater risk due to redistricting.

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We keep saying these are kind of one-off things that haven't gone our way, said one Florida House Republican granted anonymity to speak candidly. But I'm not seeing any of the one-offs that are going our way.

To talk as aggressively as some of what we've heard, there's no way to get there without significantly weakening some districts, the member added.

House Democrats are hoping to capitalize on the opportunity. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries quickly sent a warning Tuesday night that redistricting could backfire.

We will crush House Republicans in November if DeSantis tries to gerrymander the Florida congressional map, Jeffries said in a post on X .

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Others are openly objecting to redistricting on more high-minded grounds. Rep. Daniel Webster, a veteran Republican from central Florida, called it a slippery slope.

I've been around enough reapportionments to know it can come back and bite you," he said.

I don't like this redistricting stuff, Jacksonville-area Rep. John Rutherford said, noting south Florida would likely bear the brunt of any changes. But if they think they can get another two seats or something, have at it.

Any significant redraw in Florida would likely focus on changing districts that were drawn based on racial considerations, the subject of the court rulings DeSantis has cited. While much of the focus has been on seats held by Democrats, Republicans concede it could lead to changes to the Miami-area district represented by GOP Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart.

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Some incumbents are also worried that redistricting  still weeks away  is hindering their reelection campaigns as the midterms approach.

Why would you knock on doors if you don't know if those doors are gonna be in your district or not? Steube said.

The hand-wringing over Florida comes as the fallout from Trumps monthslong redistricting push continues to ripple through the House. Republicans kicked things off with a surprise effort to draw new maps in Texas, but Democrats countered with an effort to draw Californias lines in their favor.

After months of wrangling in about a dozen states, the whole effort looks to end up close to a wash  after some Republicans tried to warn party leaders the heavy-handed effort could backfire.

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A group of House Republicans from Florida privately discussed their concerns about the fallout of yet another redistricting push in their state, several Republicans confirmed  especially amid rising anxiety that Hispanic voters could be turning away from the GOP.

House GOP leaders mostly brushed off the Florida special elections in public comments Wednesday, arguing that low-turnout, off-cycle races shouldnt be considered midterm bellwethers. But some suggested there are lessons to be learned from Tuesdays results.

Surely you look at those and see, are there things we can learn and improve upon when the big election comes? House Majority Leader Steve Scalise told reporters Wednesday. And obviously, November is the election that we are focused on.

The top leaders of the House GOPs campaign arm, Reps. Richard Hudson of North Carolina and Brian Jack of Georgia, both deferred to the state Legislature on redistricting in Florida Wednesday.

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Hudson, the NRCC chair, said Floridas growing population means redistricting makes sense to do, but he said he was more concerned about turnout and other factors.

Jack, the groups deputy chair for recruiting, similarly talked up the candidates Republicans would be fielding in Florida and elsewhere. As for redistricting, he said, I defer to the Legislature.

It's up to them, he said, not up to us.
The feud between California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco has escalated after Bonta asked a court to stop Bianco's investigation into alleged election fraud.

In a 70-page petition filed with California's 4th District Court of Appeal on Monday, Bonta wrote that "the Sheriff's misguided investigation threatens to sow distrust and jeopardize public confidence" in upcoming elections. The investigation, which he also called "sweeping and unprecedented," is an abuse of the criminal process, he wrote.

On Tuesday, a three-judge panel denied the petition, stating in a brief ruling that Bonta should apply with a lower court.

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Bianco, who is a leading Republican candidate for governor, last month seized more than 650,000 ballots cast in Riverside County in the November election for Proposition 50, which temporarily redrew the state's congressional districts to favor Democrats.

The sheriff has said that his investigators are looking into allegations by a local citizens group that did their own audit and found that the countys tally was falsely inflated by more than 45,000 votes  a claim that local election officials have emphatically rejected.

Bianco has described his inquiry as a "fact-finding mission" to determine whether votes were fraudulently counted. He has accused the attorney general, a Democrat, of improperly interfering with what he says is a lawful criminal investigation.

In Riverside County, the proposition passed by more than 82,000 votes. Statewide, it passed with about 64% of the vote and a margin of more than 3.3 million ballots.

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"Well, well, well, the political corruption in California just gets bigger and bigger," Bianco said in a social media video Monday night in response to Bonta's petition.

"Why in the world would Rob Bonta want that count stopped unless he was afraid of what that count would uncover?" he added. "We have an extremely politically biased appeals court, so this is going to be interesting."

Read more: More than half a million ballots seized by top GOP candidate in California governors race

In a statement, Bonta's office said the court's ruling "was based solely on where we filed the case and is not a ruling on the underlying merits of the petition."

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"The facts have not changed. The Riverside County Sheriff continues to directly defy the Attorney Generals instructions, in violation of the California Constitution and state law," the statement said, adding that the office was "evaluating next steps."

California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta speaks at the podium during the California Democratic Party State Convention at the Moscone Center in San Francisco last month. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Political observers have said that Bianco, an outspoken supporter of President Trump, appears to be vying for attention from Trump, who has called on the federal government to "nationalize" state-run elections, remains fixated on his 2020 election loss and has falsely claimed widespread fraud.

Kim Nalder, a political science professor and director of the Project for an Informed Electorate at Sacramento State, said Bianco's investigation appears to be an electoral ploy.

At this stage in the election, most voters havent really tuned into the gubernatorial race, and there are a ton of candidates, she said. People who dont know his background will know now. This is clear signaling.

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The sheriff has denied the investigation has anything to do with his campaign.

A poll released last week by UC Berkeleys Institute of Governmental Studies and co-sponsored by The Times showed Bianco and conservative commentator Steve Hilton leading the crowded field of gubernatorial candidates by slim margins, with the Democratic vote split among multiple candidates in a left-leaning state.

Bonta's petition revealed that  in addition to warrants issued on Feb. 9 and 23  the sheriff obtained a third warrant from the Riverside County Superior Court on March 19 to restart a paused recount of the ballots. The warrants now are under seal.

Bonta's office called the warrants and the affidavits supporting them legally deficient because "the Sheriff has not identified any particular crime that may have been committed by anyone  a necessary predicate to obtain a criminal search warrant."

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Bonta had earlier questioned whether Bianco had concealed important information from the magistrate judge who approved the warrants.

In his petition, Bonta wrote that the Sheriff's Department had planned to assign "12 employees working four days a week, five to seven hours each day" to count the votes.

David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation & Research and a former senior trial attorney overseeing voting enforcement for the U.S. Department of Justices Civil Rights Division, agreed with Bonta's assessment that the sheriff's investigation is a legally deficient "fishing expedition." He questioned how Bianco got a judge to sign off on three warrants.

You can't use a warrant as a PR tool, as something to help your political campaign," Becker said. "You have to meet certain standards in order to obtain a warrant, because a warrant is extraordinary. A warrant is saying we believe there is probable cause to seize evidence, and we need it now."

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Bianco said in a news conference Friday that a Riverside County Superior Court judge had ordered the appointment of a special master to oversee the count. His investigators had already begun counting, but the tally would start over under the courts guidance, Bianco said.

"This isn't about counting yes and no votes," Bianco said in his social media video Monday. "This is simply counting the total ballots and comparing that total with the number of votes. ... Plain and simple. Common sense."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
After the delay of federal funding for services supporting survivors of human trafficking, the Maine Legislature approved more than $300,000 to fill the gap, but removed a provision for immediate relief  leaving survivors in limbo for months.

Left without roughly $317,000 to support dozens of victims with housing assistance, mental health and substance use support, and anything else they need, Preble Street, which provides these services statewide, turned to the state with a one-time request. That request was ultimately granted, though the future of federal funding still remains unclear.

Hailey Virusso, director of anti-trafficking services at Preble Street, explained that since that funding will not be available until roughly mid-July, the organization is essentially in a waiting game right now.

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The bill, LD 2136, was initially introduced as an emergency provision, which would have made the funding available immediately after the Legislatures adjournment, currently slated for April 15. But it failed to secure the support of two-thirds of lawmakers, so the proposal was stripped of its emergency provision and now the funding will be delayed.

Stripping that emergency clause means that we are going for a longer period of time without that funding, which means that survivors are going to wait longer as well, Virusso said.

Preble Street, Maines largest provider of anti-trafficking services, receives support to help victims through the U.S. Department of Justices Office for Victims of Crime. The department typically solicits applications for a three-year funding cycle every April, which is disbursed in October. But last year, without explanation, the office did not send out solicitation requests until December, leaving Preble Street without months of funding.

Preble Street filled out the federal application, but does not know whether the organization will be selected, since the pool of applicants is much larger this year due to the lapse.

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Virusso said the organization has reduced staffing and services, and is prioritizing services for those who were already receiving support. It also had to start waitlisting survivors for the first time and there are already about 30 people who have been identified as victims of human trafficking. These include those who have been forced to perform a variety of work  including commercial sex work, domestic services, agricultural and restaurant work  through sexual, physical, and/or psychological violence.

Were in an impossible situation, because the demand outweighs our ability to provide services, she said. Answering the phone call with somebody asking for help and having funding in limbo is a devastating place to be.

No longer an emergency

After significant discussion about the urgency and need for the one-time funding in the Maine House of Representatives and Senate, LD 2136 last week failed to clear the higher threshold for emergency enactment in the House. Democratic Rep. Michele Meyer from Eliot introduced an amendment to remove the emergency clause, and that version ultimately won the backing of the majority of both chambers. On Wednesday, it was placed on whats known as the appropriations table, where it will vie for funding not explicitly allocated in the budget.

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During the debate, some Republican lawmakers questioned why Preble Street was the only organization that would receive this funding.

I have no problem with helping out victims of trafficking, none of us do, Rep. Michael Lemelin (R-Chelsea) said. The problem is this only helps out one organization.

Preble Street collaborates with several other organizations to provide these services, but Meyer explained that they are the only Maine organization that experienced a funding cliff because of the federal lapse.

To be very clear, we have not received money from the federal government, and we have not had any money committed to us from the federal government, Virusso said. This will allow us to open our door when we receive funding. Even knowing thats coming starts to allow us to make plans to support survivors.

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Preble Streets low barrier services means it works with current and former victims, regardless of their needs, and can provide extensive case management, due to the intersectional nature of the services the organization offers.

The organization runs homeless shelters, shelters for victims of domestic violence, and ones specifically for those who have experienced human trafficking. They can also provide services for victims experiencing unsheltered homelessness, or who are housed, or those who need substance use disorder treatment.

We really try to ensure that there are very few eligibility requirements because we believe every moment is the right moment, Virusso said. And if somebody needs support now, then we want to support them now.
As the city of Fresno grapples with a violent stretch of deadly shootings, most with suspects still at large, one northeast Fresno community center is doing its part to reassure the community.

"I cannot recall the last time there was an incident of this level, like was actually shooting where someone passed," said Stone Soup Community Center Executive Director Maygnia Her.

No violence. No crime. Just love- those are a few of the first words displayed at Stone Soup, which sits just feet away from the site of a shooting that killed two fifteen-year-olds Monday morning.

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In the last five days, four people have been killed in shootings in Fresno.

In a press conference on Monday, Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto addressed the community after a weekend of violence and loss.

"I do want to assure you that preservation of life is our number one priority here at the Fresno Police Department, and it is a heavy burden when we suffer this kind of loss," Chief Casto said.

In response, investigators are increasing their efforts to find the people responsible for these senseless acts.

"We immediately are out investigating, we're out prioritizing steps to be taken to solve these murders. We meet internally to redirect resources, and we are absolutely committed to bringing justice to the families that lost loved ones," the chief added.

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Her says Stone Soup has seen that approach firsthand, telling us police have been canvassing the area constantly, while also respecting the comfort of the children served there.

"We expressed to them that, hey, we are serving children. We're serving parents, and yes, we are serving a lot of the families in this neighborhood," she said.

"Once they start seeing the children arrive, they also lessen the fear by turning off their sirens and the lights and things like that."

Directors tell us the campus, secured with cameras and controlled access, has seen a drop in crime, which they attribute to teamwork with Fresno Police.

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With that level of communication also comes appreciation.

"Twice a year we invite Fresno PD on our campus to meet our students, to meet our parents and parents in the program. We call it cookies with cops, and we call it popsicles with the police," Her said.

The annual events are meant to establish a transparent relationship between officers in the area and parents who are trusting them to protect their children.

No suspects have been identified in the case, and investigators are urging anyone with information to contact them immediately.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court debate scheduled for Wednesday night was postponed after Appeals Court Judge Chris Taylor reported a medical issue later determined to be kidney stones.

Taylor's campaign said she woke up feeling sick on March 25, just hours before she was set to debate fellow Appeals Court Judge Maria Lazar at Marquette University Law School in Milwaukee.

"This afternoon, Judge Taylor was diagnosed with kidney stones and will rest and recover for the next couple of days before returning to the campaign trail," her campaign said in a statement.

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The campaign said it was "committed to rescheduling today's debate next week on date that works for WISN, debate partners and our opponent's campaign."

The debate was scheduled to air on WISN-TV (Channel 12) and air statewide on other ABC affiliate stations.

Lazar campaign spokesman Nathan Conrad wished Taylor well and said Lazar hopes to reschedule the debate soon. The election is April 7, and early voting started March 24.

"We wish her a speedy recovery and we look forward to a robust debate [broadcast] to constituents statewide as soon as possible," he said.

Appeals Court Judge and Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Maria Lazar answers questions during a Get to Know series at Marquette Law School in Milwaukee on the afternoon of Feb. 17, 2026. Lubar Center Director Derek Mosley asks Appeals Court Judge and Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Maria Lazar questions during a Get to Know series at Marquette Law School in Milwaukee on the afternoon of Feb. 17, 2026. Lubar Center Director Derek Mosley asks Appeals Court Judge and Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Maria Lazar questions during a Get to Know series at Marquette Law School in Milwaukee on the afternoon of Feb. 17, 2026. Lubar Center Director Derek Mosley asks Appeals Court Judge and Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Maria Lazar questions during a Get to Know series at Marquette Law School in Milwaukee on the afternoon of Feb. 17, 2026. Appeals Court Judge and Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Maria Lazar answers questions during a Get to Know series at Marquette Law School in Milwaukee on the afternoon of Feb. 17, 2026. Lubar Center Director Derek Mosley asks Appeals Court Judge and Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Maria Lazar questions during a Get to Know series at Marquette Law School in Milwaukee on the afternoon of Feb. 17, 2026. Appeals Court Judge and Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Maria Lazar during a Get to Know series at Marquette Law School in Milwaukee on the afternoon of Feb. 17, 2026. Supreme Court candidate Maria Lazar speaks at Marquette Law event 1 of 7 Appeals Court Judge and Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Maria Lazar answers questions during a Get to Know series at Marquette Law School in Milwaukee on the afternoon of Feb. 17, 2026.

WISN 12 said it was working with both campaigns to reschedule the debate.

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More: Supreme Court candidate Taylor drew inspiration from her grandmother

More: Foster care case propelled Supreme Court candidate Lazar to judiciary

Taylor, the liberal candidate in the race, was appointed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to the Dane County Circuit Court bench in 2020. She previously served for about 10 years in the state Legislature and was known as one of the most liberal members. Before joining the state Assembly in 2011, Taylor served as public policy director for Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin. She's been a judge on the Madison-based District IV Court of Appeals since 2023.

Lazar, the conservative candidate in the race, has been on the Waukesha-based District 2 Court of Appeals since 2022. She previously served as a Waukesha County judge, an assistant attorney general under Republican Attorneys General J.B. Van Hollen and Brad Schimel, and as an attorney in private practice.

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The winner of the April 7 election will replace conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley, who announced last year that she wasn't seeking reelection to another 10-year term on the state's highest court.

Judge Chris Taylor, who is running for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, visits SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin in Milwaukee for a meet and greet on March 2, 2026. Judge Chris Taylor, who is running for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, takes a photo with Joe Eisman, lead bargainer at SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin, during a meet and greet in Milwaukee on March 2, 2026. Judge Chris Taylor, who is running for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, visits SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin for a meet and greet in Milwaukee on the morning of March 2, 2026. Judge Chris Taylor, who is running for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, talks with Donneshina Bolden, a member political organizer at SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin, during a meet and greet in Milwaukee on March 2, 2026. Judge Chris Taylor, who is running for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, visits SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin for a meet and greet in Milwaukee on the morning of March 2, 2026. Judge Chris Taylor, who is running for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, visits SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin for a meet and greet in Milwaukee on the morning of March 2, 2026. Judge Chris Taylor, who is running for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, visits SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin for a meet and greet in Milwaukee on the morning of March 2, 2026. Supreme Court candidate Judge Chris Taylor speaks at a SEIU event 1 of 7 Judge Chris Taylor, who is running for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, visits SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin in Milwaukee for a meet and greet on March 2, 2026.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate debate postponed by Taylor illness
By Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee

TAIPEI, March 25 (Reuters) - Taiwan fears China will exploit the distraction of the United States by its war in the Middle East, with state media citing examples from the conflict to cast doubt on the efficiency of U.S. weapons the island would use to repel any invasion.

One of the world's biggest potential flashpoints, democratically governed Taiwan faces growing military pressure from China, which views the island as its own territory, around which Beijing held its latest war games in December.

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Taiwan officials say Beijing's resumption, since March 14 and 15, of large-scale air force incursions near Taiwan after an unusual drop-off, show China wants to take advantage of U.S. forces redeploying from East Asia to bolster the war effort.

"This is a moment for China to exercise influence," said a senior Taiwan security official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence matters.

"What China is trying to create is a sense that when the U.S. shifts forces away and Indo-Pacific strength is redirected to the Middle East, tension and instability should be manufactured."

Neither China's Taiwan Affairs Office nor its defence ministry responded to Reuters requests for comment.

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Taiwan's defence ministry cited comments this month by Defence Minister Wellington Koo that China's "intention to annex us by force has always existed".

BALANCED US MILITARY DEPLOYMENT ACROSS REGIONS

Deployment of U.S. military resources across regions has always been balanced, so the move was unlikely to create a gap for China to attack, the Taiwan source added.

In Washington, a State Department spokesperson told Reuters the U.S. military's capacity to handle simultaneous global threats remains "formidable", adding that the U.S. is committed to preserving peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

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A long war would deplete U.S. stocks of weapons, divert attention from the Asia-Pacific and fuel domestic anti-war sentiment, said Chang Kuo-cheng, a professor of international relations at Taipei Medical University.

"All these factors may lead Xi Jinping to believe that, in exerting greater pressure on Taiwan or even using force against Taiwan, his position would be stronger than before this war began."

The longer the war lasts, the more lessons it offers for China on U.S. military thinking and response scenarios for a possible Chinese move on Taiwan, he added.

U.S. allies in Asia have also warned the Iran war could sap defences against China.

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'COGNITIVE WARFARE'

Taipei is wary of Beijing using the Middle East war in its "cognitive warfare" propaganda against Taiwan, such as AI-generated online videos after the conflict that claimed it faced a "devastating" energy supply crisis, the government said this month in an internal memo reviewed by Reuters.

"They want people to think that one day, when Taiwan is again encircled by the Chinese military, the public will lose confidence in energy issues," another Taiwan security official said.

On Wednesday, China's Taiwan Affairs Office touted improved infrastructure as a benefit of "reunification", with an offer of a "rapid transit link" including a Beijing-Taipei expressway.

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That followed a Chinese offer of energy security if the island agreed to be ruled by Beijing, dismissed last week by Deputy Economy Minister Ho Chin-tsang as more cognitive warfare.

Chinese state media view the Iran war as having implications for future conflict with Taiwan, its weapons mainly supplied by the United States, despite a lack of formal diplomatic ties.

Taiwan's radar stations could share the fate of similar U.S. equipment reported destroyed in Iranian attacks, said Liu Kuangyu, a researcher at the Institute of Taiwan Studies of government think-tank the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Taiwan's radars would be "instantly reduced to scrap metal" in "saturation attacks" by the People's Liberation Army, Liu said in remarks last week to the Riyue Tantian website run by the China Media Group parent of state television.

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But the United States has not confirmed such attacks by Iran.

The military channel of China's state broadcaster has played up the supposed poor performance of some U.S. weaponry, citing a fire on the Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier as an example.

"From the outbreak of the war up to now, the real combat performance of U.S. weapons and equipment has differed markedly from the image widely perceived by the outside world," it said on its WeChat account on March 16.

'GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO OBSERVE U.S. MILITARY OPERATIONS'

The war affords China a great opportunity to observe U.S. military operations, especially high-end military assets such as the F-35 fighter jet, said Todd Harrison, a defence analyst at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington.

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"They're also going to be collecting (data) on how well our air and missile defence systems work and how we employ them," Harrison said.

Taiwan, which has proposed extra defence spending of $40 billion, is also keenly watching the prospects for a summit of U.S. and Chinese leaders in Beijing, now postponed from early April.

The government expected the talks would cover Taiwan, but had no way to influence them, said Shen Yu-chung, a deputy minister at Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, responsible for policy towards China.

"However, we must ... present a clear and consistent message to the outside world, that we are determined to rely on our own national defence to safeguard our sovereignty," he said.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee; Additional reporting by Beijing newsroom and Michael Martina in Washington; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
LAFAYETTE, IN  Cayden Allen Jarvis led police on a car chase late Monday afternoon through Lafayette's east side and south on Interstate 65, according to Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Department reports.

A deputy starting his shift about 5 p.m. Monday knew Lafayette police tried to stop a stolen vehicle earlier in the day, but the car's driver fled, according to the sheriff's department. The deputy was aware of the car's description and plate number.

As luck would have it, the deputy saw the car driving south on Sagamore Parkway near Schuyler Avenue and followed it.

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Jarvis, 18, homeless in Lafayette, was driving the car, police said. It turned east onto Kossuth Street, and at the 90-degree curve where Kossuth Street turns into Farabee Drive, the deputy tried to stop the car, police said.

Jarvis, however, decided to flee as he is suspected of doing earlier in a contact with Lafayette police, according to the sheriff's department.

Jarvis drove up to South Street, turned east and headed for the interstate, the deputy's report states.

Along the way, he drove on the shoulder to avoid police, ran at least two stoplights and hit a car, police said. But Jarvis made it onto I-65, according to the sheriff's department.

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As he sped south on the interstate, Jarvis ran over the stop sticks that Indiana State Police deployed just north of the Frankfort exit, sheriff's officials said.

The cars tired were flattened, and he pulled onto the shoulder, police said.

Jarvis and his passengers  a 10-year-old girl and a 16-year-old girl  were not injured, police said. One of the girls told the officers that Jarvis phone them and picked them up to take them to a park.

Deputies jailed Jarvis on two counts of suspicion of resisting law enforcement and three counts of suspicion of criminal confinement, according to jail records. He also is suspected of neglect of a dependent, criminal conversion, auto theft, leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving, and driving without ever being licensed.

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He remained incarcerated Tuesday morning, according to jail records. He has a 2 p.m. hearing in front of the magistrate to learn about his rights, according to court records.

Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Teenager leads police on chase in Lafayette and onto I-65, police say
LANCASTER, PA  A small community and elite private school was rocked after it came to light in May 2024 that two male students had created 347 explicit deepfake photos and videos of 60 girls.

Nearly two years later, the victims shared their stories in court, highlighting the long-lasting trauma and wide-ranging impacts of deepfake abuse.

On March 25, the two male former Lancaster Country Day School students were sentenced  to 60 hours each of community service  on felony counts of sexual abuse of children (manufacturing child sexual abuse material) and criminal conspiracy to commit that offense.

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Many of the victims read statements in court, with several referring to one of the boys as a former close friend. One victim called him her "best friend," saying he betrayed her trust. The victims said the boy had taken photos from social media, photos taken at shared parties, and even screenshots from FaceTime calls, and passed them along to the other boy, who used artificial intelligence to morph them into pornography. One victim said she was just 12 years old in one of the photos the boys used to create a sexualized deepfake.

Deepfake abuse is a growing problem at schools across the country, but experts warn that school policies, legal recourse and education lag far behind. 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.

Victims, their families and advocates are working to prevent future cases at other schools through awareness, education and policy reform.

Two boys made deepfake porn of 60 girls. Here's what to know about the case.

What happened at Lancaster Country Day School?

Between October 2024 to May 2024, the two boys created 347 sexual deepfake images and videos of 60 girls; 48 of them were other Lancaster Country Day School students, the other 12 were acquaintances of students in the photos, and all but one victim was under the age of 18.

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The school received a tip in December 2024 about the deepfakes, but failed to act, according to lawyers representing at least 10 families in a pending lawsuit against the school.

The school received additional information in May 2024 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.

"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."

'I felt physically sick': Victims share profound trauma, nightmares and PTSD

The proceedings took more than three hours. The two male offenders stood with their parents and attorneys and were given the opportunity to speak at the beginning and end, but both declined.

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The perpetrators often looked down at the floor or straight ahead as approximately 30 victim impact statements were read  most from young female victims, but also from distraught parents and Janine Swinehart, the prosecuting attorney. Several victims cried and struggled to read their statements aloud as their hands shook with the papers they were reading from.

Many expressed the resounding trauma that's haunted them for the past two years. They said they find it difficult to trust male companions, constantly wondering who may be deceiving or sexualizing them. One victim said the first perpetrator took a screenshot during their FaceTime video call and manipulated it to appear as though she were revealing her body to him on the call.

Another victim described the pain of seeing her smiling photos from a party turned into something pornographic: "Some of the same people I shared that joy with, are now the people who took that joy away."

"When do we, women, get to exist without being turned into something we dont want? When will we be seen for ourselves?" she continued.

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Victims spoke of the onset of anxiety, panic attacks, depression and PTSD following the incident. Two said they have had nightmares of being sexually assaulted and fear being home alone. Some keep their blinds drawn and their doors locked, afraid to walk down the street. Others shared that their grades had slipped, and several have sought therapy to process the experience. Many expressed concern that these photos might resurface down the line, such as when applying to colleges or jobs or when meeting potential romantic partners. That fear of the unknown hangs over them.

This "has robbed me of my high school experience," another victim said. School is a "living hell." A mother shared that the experience is still impacting her daughter, who is now in college and worries about the images appearing on the internet.

"I never imagined school yearbook photos would be used for your own satisfaction," another victim said to one of the perpetrators. "Your actions affect me every day."

The perpetrators have to complete 60 hours of community service: 'One for each victim'

The two offenders were sentenced to two years of probation and 60 hours of community service each  one hour for each victim, Judge Leonard Brown said  meaning they will not be put into a juvenile detention facility, while technically remaining under the supervision of the juvenile justice system. At the end of that two year period, they are eligible to have their records expunged. They also are required to pay restitution, which attorneys for both parties said would be finalized over the next 10 days. Contact with the victims, including via third parties, is forbidden.

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Judge Brown said had they been adults, they would be facing a state prison sentence, but "the juvenile justice system gives second chances."

Families and advocates hope for change: 'This is not harmless, this is not a joke.'

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.

As of Dec. 20, 2024, the Pennsylvania Legislature amended its laws to specifically include and define AI child pornography as child sexual abuse material. In several states, AI or computer-generated images are not included in existing child pornography statutes.

However, there is a "loophole" in the mandated reporter statute that says you don't have to report "child-on-child abuse," according to Matthew Faranda-Diedrich, a partner at the Royer Cooper Cohen Braunfeld law firm, who represented some of the families from Lancaster Country Day School.

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State Sen. Tracy Pennycuick cosponsored the bill updating Pennsylvanias AI child pornography laws, and is hoping to see their states bipartisan action extend nationally. In Pennsylvania, she is sponsoring another bill that would tighten up reporting requirements for mandatory reporters.

She wants to leave "no ambiguity" in what mandatory reporters are required to act on: "If you suspect that there is any kind of child sexual abuse material, you report."

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: Victims of private school deepfake porn scandal speak out
British pub operator Greene King has opened a new supply chain hub in Middleton, Greater Manchester, to consolidate distribution for pubs across the north-west UK.

The 290,000ft facility features a warehouse and office space. It will serve around 1,000 Greene King-managed and free-trade pubs.

The project represents a 23m ($30.7m) commitment over a 15-year lease.

Greene King is running the site in partnership with contract logistics company GXO, with the aim of streamlining its regional supply chain.

GXO UK and Irelands food and beverage managing director Chris Hyde said: As our partnership with Greene King continues to go from strength to strength, we are delighted to begin operating this new facility in Middleton.

The Middleton depot is expected to handle up to 21,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of drinks, along with 11 million cases of food and goods not for resale (GNFR).

The facility replaces three separate depots previously used in the area, consolidating all food, drink and non-food inventory into a single location.

The pub company anticipates cost savings and more flexible use of labour and other resources from managing one integrated operation.

The site also incorporates environmental features.

According to the company, around 63,500ft of roof space has been fitted with solar panels, targeting an annual generation of 1.1 million kilowatt-hours of electricity.

Greene Kings brewing and group supply chain managing director Matt Starbuck said: This is an important step in optimising our supply chain operations in the north-west and is the culmination of months of planning and hard work alongside our supply chain partner, GXO.

By having all our food, drink and non-food items delivered from one depot, we have an agile and operationally efficient supply chain which is good news for our pub teams, customers and communities.

Last month, Greene King Pub Partners, a division of Greene King, unveiled plans to expand its Hive Pubs and Nest Pubs franchised formats into Wales this year.

"Greene King opens Middleton supply chain depot for pubs in north-west UK" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand.








As Corpus Christi and Pflugerville struggle with their own dwindling water supplies, another Texas town says it's dealing with a shortage - and it blames Corpus Christi.

Three Rivers city officials say the rural community 70 miles northwest of Corpus Christi is at risk of losing access to its primary water source - the Choke Canyon Reservoir.

The city shares that water source with Corpus Christi, which is drawing more water than usual from the reservoir due to "inaccurate water projections," Three Rivers City officials say.

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ALSO READ: Guadalupe River lakes start refilling as dam repairs are finished

"As a result of their inaccurate water projections, the City of Corpus Christi has notified the City of Three Rivers that they will be releasing more water from Choke (Canyon) to Lake Corpus Christi and soon leaving the City of Three Rivers unable to draw water from Choke Canyon Reservoir," the release says. The release did not state when Three Rivers city officials expect the reservoir to run dry.

Officials did note, however, that this change bears a huge discrepancy from what they were previously told. Three Rivers said Monday in a news release that Corpus Christi officials stated as recently as January that the Choke Canyon Reservoir would be available for Three Rivers residents to draw from until April and May of 2027.

ALSO READ: Texas Hill Country wine exec arrested on DWI, weapon charges

In early March, Gov. Greg Abbott blasted Corpus Christi city leaders amid the ongoing water shortage: "Corpus Christi is a victim not because of lack of water. They're a victim because of a lack of ability to make a decision," he said a comment published by the Texas Tribune. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)





"This development from Corpus Christi is unforeseen and unexpected because we have relied on the information communicated by them," the release reads.

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In early March, Gov. Greg Abbott blasted Corpus Christi city leaders amid the ongoing water shortage: "Corpus Christi is a victim not because of lack of water. They're a victim because of a lack of ability to make a decision," he said in a comment published by the Texas Tribune.

"We can only give them a little time more before the state of Texas has to take over and micromanage that city and run that city to make sure that every resident who goes to the water tap and turns it on, they're going to be getting water out of their faucet, not because of what local leaders are doing, but because of what the state of Texas will do."

ALSO READ: What to know about JD Vance's Texas fundraising trip

Three Rivers officials state that while the change in Corpus Christi's management of Choke Canyon reservoir is "concerning" amid the looming water crisis, they are "actively accelerating" the incorporation of alternative water sources into the city's supply.

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According to a Friday report from The Progress, the city is diversifying its water sources. It began pulling from the Frio River, which feeds into Choke Canyon Reservoir, in January 2025. It also has several underground wells in Campbellton and Atascosa County that draw from the Carrizo Aquifer. A Tuesday report from Water Data for Texas shows that Choke Canyon Reservoir is currently 8% full.

Three Rivers has begun reaching out to state water regulators to accelerate the greenlight on incoming water infrastructure projects.

"City staff are working closely with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to ensure all regulatory requirements are met as the City of Three Rivers prepares to bring the second and third water supply options into operation," the city's release said. "We will continue to keep the public informed."

ALSO READ: Why ICE agents aren't coming to San Antonio's airport

This article originally published at A third Texas city is running out of water as city officials blame Corpus Christi.
We do have an outline of the chance of severe thunderstorms for part of Michigan late Thursday. There are a few details you should know about what could possibly occur tomorrow.

A strong cold front will be shifting southward across Lower Michigan Thursday afternoon and evening. In the southern part of Lower Michigan, temperatures will warm into the 60s and maybe even the 70s far south. The humidity will also increase. This sets the stage for thunderstorms to develop over the south end of Lake Michigan and then move into southern Lower Michigan.

The overall severe thunderstorm picture shows the most likely area to be the orange shaded area of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. In Michigan, the severe weather threat is legit from Ann Arbor southward.

severewx

It looks like we can use I-94 as the line for the northern edge of most of the severe weather chances.

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Heres the tornado chance forecast for Thursday afternoon.

severewx

Large hail is really being talked about from the Storm Prediction Center. They are indicating hail over two inches in diameter could occur. Thursday afternoon and evening is a great time to put your vehicles in the garage if you can.

severewx

severewx

Heres the radar forecast, showing the individual thunderstorms developing and then gelling into a line of thunderstorms.

Radar

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The Storm Prediction Center says the first hour or two of thunderstorms would have the supercell thunderstorms that could spawn a tornado. Very quickly then the individual storms will merge into a solid line of thunderstorms. Severe wind gusts become the threat once the solid line has formed.

The severe storms are expected between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. Thursday.

Stay updated tomorrow morning at MLive.com/weather.

Read the original article on mlive.com. Add mlive.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
A 16-year-old's mother had everything planned to alleviate her child's pain and discomfort. Nox would get a breast reduction during winter break. Not only would the Indian Trail teen have enough time to recover before returning to school, but the procedure also wouldn't cost the family any money, since they had already hit their insurance deductible.

Everything lined up exactly as they expected until, just hours before the long-scheduled surgery, Nox's mom received an unexpected call from the anesthesiologist, of all people, letting them know Novant Health canceled the procedure.

"They determined it was not a medically justifiable procedure versus being geared toward transgender intent," Kara Lee said. "I'm angry and I'm sad. I got to watch my kid be devastated."

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Nox's case raises questions about whether transgender minors are receiving the same medical care as their peers, even when state law allows it. While North Carolina lawmakers banned gender affirming care in recent years, they allowed for several exemptions, including breast reductions when there's a physical disorder.

Medical records show Nox, who has a gender dysphoria diagnosis, also suffers from macromastia. The condition results in pain in the back, neck and shoulders due to abnormally large breasts.

"We've been to orthopedic doctors and the chiropractor for neck and back and shoulder pain," Lee said. "Our pediatrician said, 'I think this sounds like a really good candidate for a breast reduction.'"

With a referral from Nox's Novant Health pediatrician, insurance approval and a surgeon in place, the family scheduled the procedure for Dec. 22 at Novant Health Ballantyne Medical Center. The teen never set foot in an operating room.

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Contracted anesthesiologist Dr. Paul Fronapfel documented in medical records the circumstances that led up to the cancellation of Nox's surgery.

"After discussions with nursing and (the plastic surgeon) about concerns with this procedure, legal dept./risk management was consulted and agreed that this case was not adequately justifiable as medically necessary versus tailored to transgender intentions," Dr. Fronapfel wrote. "I spoke briefly with Kara Lee, the patient's mother, and she was notably upset."

Lee has spent the last three months questioning Novant Health and escalating her concerns to regulators.

"This is about a 16-year-old being denied medical treatment, because somebody else decided that they didn't need it, who wasn't their doctor," Lee said. "Regardless of how Nox Identified, Nox is a biological female with large breasts that would like to have more comfortable, manageable breasts that reduce pain and discomfort."

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WCNC Charlotte made multiple attempts to get answers from the anesthesiologist and Providence Anesthesiology Associates. When reached by phone Monday afternoon, Dr. Fronapfel said, "I'm in the (operating room) now and I'm busy," before hanging up.

Attorney Milan Pham is a partner at a North Carolina firm that largely represents LGBT clients. She said what Nox experienced is becoming more common.

"We've had a couple of inquiries about anesthesiologists who have hit the brakes," she said. "Trans children are being denied care that they need, care that's not in furtherance of gender affirmation, because some third party has decided, a surgeon, an insurance company, that it could possibly be gender affirming, because the child is identified as trans."

Pham said some medical providers are hesitating to move forward with this kind of procedure due to legal concerns or personal beliefs, even though the law explicitly allows for it.

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"It's unfair to the trans community. They're being singled out on the basis of sex, which is unconstitutional," Pham said. "It is detrimental to their mental health. It's detrimental to their physical health. I'm enraged by it."

Pham believes Nox is the victim of discrimination.

"I absolutely think that there are grounds to fight this," she said.

Over the course of the last three months, Novant Health has sent mixed messages to both Nox's mother and their plastic surgeon about why the health system canceled the surgery and next steps. While the surgeon noted the health system gave him the okay to move forward with the procedure in January, Novant Health only recently signed off on the surgery after reviewing additional documentation, according to a March 13 letter.

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Just weeks after the cancellation, Novant Health apologized to the family, calling the situation a postponement.

"We sincerely apologize for the need to postpone the procedure," Novant Health said in a January 14 letter. "We strive to notify patients of changes as early as possible and understand that making such a decision and notification the morning of a procedure is frustrating and not ideal for anyone involved. The initial pause was made to allow time for additional review and discussion with the surgeon to ensure compliance with clinical best practices as well as legal and regulatory requirements. As part of this additional clinical review, Nox's medical records were reviewed, and we had discussions with the surgeon. We also requested that the surgeon provide us with additional clarifying information and will review it promptly upon its receipt."

In a March 2 letter to Lee, Novant Health directly addressed her discrimination concerns.

"At Novant Health, we are committed to treating all patients, visitors, and team members with respect and dignity. We take a strong stance on ensuring our care and services are provided in a nondiscriminatory manner. We want to assure you that we have reviewed your concerns and take them seriously, and that our decisions have prioritized health safety and compliance."

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Novant Health, which lists a commitment to affirming care on its website, would not answer WCNC Charlotte's specific questions.

"At the heart of everything we do is our unwavering commitment to safe, remarkable, high-quality care," a Novant Health spokesperson said in a statement. "This means staying current with clinical best practices while remaining compliant with legal and regulatory requirements. As part of our culture of safety, care teams routinely review pre-procedure protocols, and where information for an elective procedure is unclear, we pause and seek additional clarification from the treating clinician to resolve any uncertainty before proceeding further. This approach ensures every decision prioritizes health, safety, and compliance."

Novant Health did not share a breakdown of how many elective procedures the health system paused, canceled, or postponed for review due to concerns in 2025, despite WCNC Charlotte's request for that information nearly three weeks ago.

Novant Health has since escalated Lee's concerns to its corporate risk management team.

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"At Novant Health, we strive to provide remarkable service with every patient, every time," the health system said in a March 18 letter. " We are sorry to hear that we did not meet your expectations."

While the surgery is now cleared, the delay has created new challenges. Since the health system delayed the procedure into a new calendar year, Lee said the family will now face high out-of-pocket costs after no longer having met their deductible. Not only that, their plastic surgeon has suggested a Novant Health-affiliated doctor should now handle the surgery in light of the health system involving its legal team.

The family is now weighing their options, both medically and legally. Meanwhile, Lee said her child, described as "a great all-around kid," continues to live with daily discomfort.

"It has to be discrimination. There's no other justifiable reason why this happened," Lee said. "I think it's deplorable that somebody in some back room pushing some papers can make this determination... It's crushing to kids who are actually looking forward to a medical procedure to improve the quality of their life."
A trial date has been set for a man accused of a deadly shooting at an Ohio warehouse earlier last year.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Bruce Foster III is facing 19 charges, including multiple counts of aggravated murder and felonious assault.

Photo contributed by New Albany Police

TRENDING STORIES:

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Fosters trial has been scheduled to begin on Aug. 24, according to our media partner WBNS-10 TV.

The state is expected to call around 60 witnesses during the estimated 2-week trial, according to Licking County Common Pleas court documents.

As previously reported, the shooting took place at the KDC One warehouse in New Albany in February 2025.

Kyle Vaver, 38, and Shekhar Chapagai, 30, were killed in the shooting. Four others were injured.

Foster left the scene after the shooting, but was found at his Columbus apartment after an hours-long manhunt.

He previously pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but a Licking County judge ruled that he is competent to stand trial.

Foster is being held on a $20 million bond, according to our media partner.

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Veterans of the Biden and first Trump administration are giving the White House relatively high marks for its handling of the tariff refund process  so far.

The Trump administration made some initial attempts to slow-walk the repayment of billions of dollars in tariffs invalidated by the Supreme Court last month.

But the White House has shown no signs of abandoning its obligations, said Everett Eissenstat, deputy director of the National Economic Council in Trumps first term, during a panel at POLITICOs Economy Summit in Washington.

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I think this is going to happen. Refunds are going to be made, said Eissenstat, now a partner at Squire Patton Boggs. When? Thats the big question. I wish I had the answer.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection made headlines and drew skepticism in early March when it asked for a 45-day extension to begin the tariff refund process. The agency said that its current system isnt quite equipped to handle the huge numbers of refunds owed to businesses and consumers, said Greta Peisch, general counsel for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative under President Joe Biden.

But Peisch added that, To date, the government has actually been pretty pragmatic. They are arguing that they need a little bit of time to set up a system to process the volume of refunds that are at issue here.

My view is it is better than expected, she said of the Trump administrations refund response.

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The Supreme Court ruled Feb. 20 that the president did not have the power to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, striking down a large chunk of the duties the president imposed last year on countries around the world. The administration is now endeavoring to reestablish many of those tariffs under different statutes, with the president arguing the Supreme Court gave him explicit authority to enact duties by virtually any means other than the 1977 IEEPA law.

Almost immediately after the Supreme Courts ruling, Trump signed an executive order invoking Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act to reinstate 10 percent tariffs on U.S. trading partners.

Eissenstat called it a bridge to a new regime that the administration hopes to pull together by initiating investigations  and then permanent tariff levies  under Section 301 of the Trade Act.

They did a lot of stuff with IEEPA, he said. Raising revenues, doing these framework agreements, these agreements on reciprocal trade in conjunction with the 232 National Security tariffs. Transitioning from one statue to another and trying to reconstruct a regime like that, it's complicated.
President Donald Trump voted in Tuesdays Florida state House special election by mail even as he suggested on Monday that mail-in voting means mail-in cheating.

You know, brought to my attention today that were the only country that does mail-in voting, Trump said at a roundtable on crime in Memphis. Mail-in voting means mail-in cheating. I call it mail-in cheating, and we got to do something about it all.

According to Palm Beach County records, Trump voted in the special election for House District 87, which includes his Mar-a-Lago residence, by mail earlier this month. Trump also voted by mail in the primary for the election in January.

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Democrat Emily Gregory will win Tuesdays special election and flip the ruby-red district, CNNs Decision Desk projected.

Trump has repeatedly questioned the veracity of voting by mail, claiming without evidence that its a significant source of election fraud. He has made the elimination of no-excuse mail voting a top priority through the SAVE America Act, a federal elections overhaul bill facing slim odds of passage in the Senate. The Supreme Court also heard arguments Monday in a case brought by Republicans that seeks to tighten deadlines for mail ballots.

Olivia Wales, a White House spokesperson, said in a statement that Trumps voter ID bill has commonsense exceptions for Americans to use mail-in ballots for illness, disability, military, or travel.

As everyone knows, the President is a resident of Palm Beach and participates in Florida elections, but he obviously primarily lives at the White House in Washington, DC, she said. This is a non-story.

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Trump is not expected to be in Florida on Election Day on Tuesday.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, responding to a question at a press conference about Trump voting by mail, admonished the president, calling it king-like behavior.

Rules for me that dont apply, but not for thee  thats his position, said Jeffries. And this legislation, the so-called SAVE Act, has nothing to do with ensuring that elections are conducted with integrity.

It also came as a surprise to some voters in Palm Beach on Tuesday that Trump voted by mail.

Are you kidding me? I had no idea, Republican voter Michelle Hall told CNN in response to a question about it, saying voting by mail is terrible unless you have a disability, youre pregnant, youre in the hospital, youre military.

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She added, If hes against something, why are you doing it?

Its not the first time the president has voted by mail, casting a mail ballot most recently in the Florida presidential primary in 2020 while attempting to differentiate his vote as an absentee vote.

Absentee ballots are good, universal mail-ins when you get inundated with these things are bad and will lead to terrible things, including voter fraud, etcetera, Trump said at the time.

The president voted early in-person in the presidential primary and in person in the general election at a polling location near Mar-a-Lago in 2024.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNNs Annie Grayer contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Republican-led states facing major budget shortfalls in 2026 are facing an awkward reality: President Donald Trumps signature tax and spending bill is making their problems worse.

Federal tax cuts approved by Republicans as part of the megabill, coupled with new requirements for Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, are costing some states as much as $450 million this year in added costs and lost tax revenue, further squeezing budgets that were already stretched thin. Legislatures are now considering cuts and reallocations, including a cut to child care subsidies in Missouri, a 5 percent reduction across state agencies in Arizona and a $22 million cut from disability services in Idaho.

Idaho Republican state Rep. Jordan Redman supports the tax cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill but conceded in a recent interview that his state must now make a difficult choice between rolling back an expansion of Medicaid or slashing support for disability services. "We're robbing Peter to pay Paul," he said. It's put us in a predicament where now we're trying to figure out, OK, what programs do we keep? What programs do we cut?

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Aligning Idahos state tax with Trumps federal tax cuts is estimated to cost the state $155 million in 2026 and $175 million in 2027, according to the governors office.

Trump has already struggled to sell Americans on many provisions of his big, beautiful bill, from Medicaid and SNAP cuts to tax changes that provide the most benefit to the wealthiest 10 percent of Americans. Now Republicans, many of whom support the presidents tax policy, are facing the prospect of unpopular state-level spending cuts or new taxes that might make selling Trumps big, beautiful bill harder, especially as the president drifts from messaging on the law and affordability to other major issues, including the war in Iran.

The feedback I'm hearing from citizens is that extra few bucks on their [return] at the end of the year, because of the taxes they didn't have to pay, comes secondary to wanting us to take care of the things that government needs to be invested in, said Idaho GOP Sen. Jim Guthrie. Which is your infrastructure and your roads and bridges and schools and also your Medicaid population.

In Iowa, federal cuts added nearly $350 million to a more than $1 billion budget hole, the Iowa Legislative Services Agency confirmed to POLITICO. Many of these preexisting deficits were caused by the end of Covid-era relief funds and state-level tax cuts.

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Trump signed his signature tax and spending bill into law on July 4 last year. It requires states to pay a larger share of SNAP administrative costs and fund resources to handle new Medicaid work requirements, which can cost some states as much as $50 million on top of existing costs or budget deficits. But aligning state and federal tax cuts is undoubtedly the biggest challenge of the megabill on state budgets this year.

When federal tax cuts are passed by Congress, many states automatically adopt those same cuts into their state tax code, resulting in a dip in state revenue. But states can selectively choose which federal taxes to adopt without penalty, and even Republican-led states are not adopting all of Trumps cuts. Nebraska, for example, declined to adopt tax cuts on tips and overtime, Republican state Sen. Robert Clements, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, told POLITICO recently. And Idaho opted out of certain corporate tax code changes, according to Guthrie.

The One Big Beautiful Bill implemented commonsense reforms to slash the pervasive waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid that was making the program unsustainable for the Americans who rely on it, White House spokesperson Kush Desai said in a statement. President Trump at the same time has negotiated over a dozen Most-Favored-Nations drug pricing deals to dramatically slash prescription drug prices for both consumers and state Medicaid programs  savings that will compound once Congress passes the Presidents Great Healthcare Plan to codify these and other health affordability policies.

Indianas temporary adoption of federal tax cuts on tips and overtime is projected to cost the state $251 million in 2026 tax revenue, according to an analysis by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. And full adoption of the federal tax code could cost Arizona $381 million in 2026, per a 2025 analysis by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee. Arizona Republican Senate Appropriations Chair John Kavanagh plans to cover the gap by pulling surplus funding and reducing agency budgets by as much as 5 percent, he told POLITICO.

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Changes to SNAP and Medicaid requirements are also costing states millions. Many red states are funding technology and additional staffing to process new Medicaid work requirements and improve the accuracy of their SNAP payment system. If they dont spend tens of millions of dollars now, Oklahoma Republican House Appropriations and Budget Chair Trey Caldwell said, it could cost his state hundreds of millions in future years due to penalties imposed by the megabill on states with high rates of overpaying or underpaying SNAP benefits.

We're going to take the first hit in [fiscal] 27, Caldwell said, calling the nearly $26 million increase that Oklahoma Human Services requested for SNAP another direct cost of H.R. 1.

Overall cuts or budget freezes for state agencies, higher education, family programs and disability services are also some of the most common changes that red states are weighing.

Missouri Republican House Budget Chair Dirk Deaton, for example, proposed an approximately $50 million cut to child care enhancements in committee earlier this month.

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Were faced with hard decisions, Deaton said during the March 9 hearing. It is what it is.

Missouris legislature is also deliberating cuts to addiction services and programs that aid people with disabilities. Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a bill earlier this month that allocated $132 million to the 2026 budget for implementation of the megabill, and he has requested millions more in the 2027 budget.

Some of those [Medicaid] mandates, or some of those requirements, are going to force our hand, said Missouri GOP Rep. John Simmons, where the budget process is still ongoing. Simmons opposes proposed cuts to disability services and foster care but acknowledges that certain areas are gonna have to take a haircut.

The Iowa House, meanwhile, passed a bill last week that would institute a one-time tax increase on health maintenance organizations to cover a shortfall in the states Medicaid budget.

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A lot of [the shortfall] has been through H.R. 1 not taxing overtime, not taxing tips, said Republican lobbyist Phil Jeneary, executive director for Iowans for Affordable Healthcare, a nonpartisan group opposing the health care tax. Jeneary says the legislature is in between a rock and a hard place, really, because they don't want to raise taxes but they also need to balance the budget.

The proposal received bipartisan backlash from a handful of Republicans who voted against the bill and from voters and patient organizations. In addition to the new tax, the most recent version of the bill would transfer $347 million from a state surplus fund to cover megabill-related tax cuts.

Many Iowans rely on HMO plans, and I saw this tax as the wrong approach at the wrong time, Iowa GOP Rep. Mark Cisneros, who voted against the legislation, said in a statement. I believe solutions should be considered by looking at the entire state budget as a whole, rather than addressing issues in pieces. Raising taxes is often not the answer.

While many Republican legislators say they ideologically agree with Trumps conservative tax policies, the timing of the megabill, in a year when states are facing deficits driven by previously passed state cuts and lower than anticipated revenues, poses the bulk of the difficulty facing red states.

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When Idaho passed $450 million in state tax cuts in 2025, Guthrie said, he cautioned fellow legislators that Trump had similar plans.

The right answer for a conservative is, yeah, I love tax cuts. I always vote for tax cuts, whatever, Guthrie said. That's all great, but still, there's got to be some balance to it.

CLARIFICATION: This story has been updated to provide more context to state Rep. Jordan Redman's comments.
Postes TIM Bid Is Really a Bet on Rebuilding Italy Inc - Moby

THE GIST

Poste Italianes bid for Telecom Italia looks like a telecom deal on paper, but the real story is industrial policy.

Italy is trying to pull a battered former monopoly back into a state-controlled orbit and plug it into a broader platform spanning payments, logistics, cloud and digital services. The idea is bold. Instead of treating telecoms as a low-return utility business, Poste wants to make TIM part of a much bigger national infrastructure machine.

WHAT HAPPENED

Poste Italiane, Italys national postal service and a financial conglomerate, launched a 10.8 billion (about $12.5 billion) cash-and-stock offer for Telecom Italia, valuing the group at 0.635 per share, a 9% premium to the previous closing price.

Under the terms, TIM shareholders would receive 0.167 in cash plus 0.0218 newly issued Poste shares for each share tendered. The bid is aimed at full control and, ultimately, delisting TIM from the Milan market. TIMs board is now beginning the formal process of evaluating the proposal.

The markets first reaction was telling.

TIM shares jumped, reflecting the premium and the prospect of a deal finally bringing strategic clarity to a company that has spent years lurching from restructuring to restructuring. Poste shares, by contrast, fell sharply, suggesting investors are less sure about what their company is taking on.

That caution is understandable. TIM may be leaner than it was, but it remains one of Europes most difficult telecom stories. Years of competition, regulatory pressure and strategic drift damaged profitability and left the business burdened by debt and complexity. Management has spent the past two years trying to fix that through asset sales, including the disposal of its fixed-line network and other non-core operations.

Poste argues that this has created the opening. TIM is no longer the bloated former incumbent of old. It is a more focused operator with mobile, enterprise, cloud, cybersecurity and Brazilian assets that can now be integrated into a broader national platform. Poste already owned a large stake, so this is not a cold move out of the blue. It is the escalation of a strategy that has been building in plain sight.

WHY IT MATTERS

This matters because it is a classic Italian answer to a classic Italian problem.

Our analysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.

TIM has long symbolized everything frustrating about European telecoms. Huge infrastructure importance, awful market economics, too much competition, too much political sensitivity and never enough pricing power. Everyone agrees the sector needs consolidation. Nobody can quite agree on how to do it without upsetting regulators, unions, minority investors or governments.
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WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump took classified documents related to his private business interests from the White House in 2021, according to materials the Justice Department apparently provided to the House Judiciary Committee.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the committees top Democrat, suggested in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi that the new documents were handed over by mistake in a slapdash effort to discredit the dormant criminal case against Trump.

Politics: Trump Hits New Levels Of Unpopularity In Public Polling

These new disclosures suggest that Donald Trump stole documents so sensitive that only six people in the entire U.S. government had access to them, that the documents President Trump stole pertained to his business interests, and that Susie Wiles, then the CEO of Donald Trumps super PAC, witnessed President Trump showing off a classified map to passengers on his private plane, Raskin said in the letter.

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Raskin asked Bondi to tell lawmakers in a classified setting who was on the plane, what the map showed and which of Trumps various business interests were relevant to the documents. The letter includes an image of an aircraft manifest with a redacted passenger list from a 2022 flight from Florida to New York.

A grand jury indicted Trump in 2023 for improperly taking classified documents and obstructing a federal investigation. According to the indictment, the papers included information regarding defense and weapons capabilities of both the United States and foreign countries; United States nuclear programs; potential vulnerabilities of the United States and its allies to military attack; and plans for possible retaliation in response to a foreign attack.

If the map related to U.S. military posture in the Middle East and was shown to foreign officials, that would amount to an unforgivable betrayal of our men and women in uniform who are currently valiantly fighting in President Trumps disastrous war against Iran, Raskin said.

Politics: Melania Trump Strolls In With Humanoid Robot  And Somehow It Gets Weirder From There

The FBI determined some of the documents Trump withheld would be pertinent to certain business interests of Trumps, Raskin said, quoting from material he said the Justice Department gave the judiciary committee earlier this month. And a Justice Department memo said classified documents pertinent to his business interests established a motive for retaining them.

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Jack Smith, the special counsel overseeing the documents case as well as a separate criminal case against Trump for trying to overturn the 2020 election results, dropped the prosecutions after Trump won the 2024 election. Smith made a public report of the election case, but District Court Judge Aileen Cannon has blocked the release of Smiths report on the documents case.

House Judiciary Committee chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) has led a counter-investigation into Smiths probe of Trump. Lawmakers grilled the former special counsel in a private deposition last year and during a public hearing in January. Smith refused to discuss the documents case, citing Cannons gag order.

Raskin told Bondi the documents sent to the Judiciary Committee this month appeared to be part of a misguided Justice Department effort to feed Jordan damaging information about Smith.

Politics: Trump Official Seeks New DOJ Probe Of Letitia James, Senate Struggles To Reach DHS Funding Deal: Live Updates

Apparently blinded by the frenzied search to find any scrap of evidence that could be twisted and distorted to level an attack against Special Counsel Smith, Raskin wrote, you have, quite amazingly, missed the fact that some of the documents you provided include damning evidence about your bosss conduct and may well violate the gag order your DOJ and Donald Trump demanded from Judge Aileen Cannon.

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In a statement, Justice Department spokesman Chad Gilmartin said Raskin is blinded by hatred of President Trump and that the department is the most transparent in history in part because of our efforts to expose the weaponization of the department under President Joe Biden. Gilmartin said any material subject to Cannons order was redacted, and her gag order wasnt violated

Jack Smiths team was desperate to prosecute Bidens top political opponent, so it is no surprise that his files contain salacious and untrue claims about President Trump, Gilmartin said. The accusations Raskin makes are baseless.

Political Updates

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The Trump White House on Tuesday sparked a wave of mockery online after sharing a post about NASAs plans to return to, and stay on, the Moon.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman wrote:

To return Americans to the Moon, NASA is shifting to an iterative, execution-focused approach  just as we did during Apollo. We are standardizing rocket architecture, embedding NASA expertise across industry, and increasing launch cadence to support sustained lunar operations. We are sending a demand signal for crewed missions beyond Artemis V, with at least two providers capable of bringing astronauts to the surface every 6 months. The goal is not just to reach the Moon, but to stay. America will never give up the Moon again.

The White House re-shared the post and highlighted one line: The goal is not just to reach the Moon, but to stay.

The goal is not just to reach the Moon, but to stay.  https://t.co/b24OqEEQb9pic.twitter.com/5WPHYRNmeO  The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 24, 2026

Social media users quickly responded with the same gag. Namely, that Trump and his administration should make it a one-way trip.

Can you all go to the moon and stay there and not come back? Thatd be awesome.  Truthstream Media (@truthstreamnews) March 24, 2026

Lets fix the shitshow this administration has created on earth first.  Mason (@masonisonx) March 24, 2026

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You can send Trump as it's first President - but he has to be a resident President  dave lawrence  (@dave43law) March 24, 2026

What, ******* up the world is not enough for you psychotic clowns?  Sundog512 (@TexasSundog) March 24, 2026

Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost.

Yes, you should all pack up, fly there, and just STAY. Take Elon too.  Duck (@duckthis5hit) March 24, 2026

Yeah....

We've ****** up a planet. Now let's try for a moon.

Leave it to humans.....to **** **** up. To not care, to waste and to pollute. Go humans!!!!!  JarrettS. (@jradswartz) March 24, 2026

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Good. Send Trump and all of his goons. Then shut down the space program again.  Karl Smith (@blueaura2016) March 25, 2026

Yes, never give up the moon. Have a nice one-way trip there.  Love all and hate none. (@sonnypoo72) March 24, 2026

like everything's perfect on earth and we need to spread our greatness to the moon now  MAX CHADWICK (@maxchadwickGW) March 24, 2026

Move the admin there and stay.



Housing optional honestly  Bill DeMayo (@BDeMayo) March 24, 2026

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More half of adults living paycheck to paycheck.



Hundreds of thousands of people homeless.



Over 10% of households living under the poverty line.



Four in ten with medical debt.



A record amount of wealth held by the top 1%.



And you're thinking about the moon.  American Solidarity Party of Wisconsin (@aspofwisconsin) March 24, 2026

Related...

Read the original on HuffPost
A 10-year-old boy died in a two-vehicle crash on state Highway 67 in the Village of Lac La Belle early on March 25.

According to village police, the accident occurred at McMahon Road shortly after 7 a.m. The boy was a passenger in the back seat of a northbound vehicle driven by a 16-year-old boy, who was turning left onto McMahon when another northbound vehicle, driven by a 34-year-old man, collided with it, based on a preliminary investigation.

Both drivers, and a second passenger in the turning vehicle, were taken to a hospital. The younger boy was declared dead at the scene, police said. Their names were not immediately released.

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"All parties are cooperating with the investigation," Lac La Belle Police Chief Kristen Wraalstad said in a news release, adding that the investigation is continuing. "Our deepest condolences go out to everyone involved during this difficult time."

Village police were assisted by the Wisconsin State Patrol, which is often involved in accident reconstruction in fatal accidents, and the Oconomowoc Police Department and Western Lakes Fire District rescue crews.

Contact reporter Jim Riccioli at james.riccioli@jrn.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Lac La Belle crash kills 10-year-old boy on state Highway 67
Around 6:30 a.m. Aug. 10, 2019, two guards were making the breakfast rounds in a locked and isolated unit of the federal jail in lower Manhattan when one of them knocked on the metal door of Jeffrey Epsteins cell.

Come to the door, officer Michael Thomas said. Come to the door.

Epstein did not stir. When Thomas entered the cell, which was unusually cluttered with extra blankets and linens, he discovered Epstein alone and unresponsive, hanging by a strip of orange cloth tied to the top of a bunk bed. Thomas yelled to the other guard, Tova Noel, to call for help, and tried to resuscitate Epstein, according to transcripts of their interviews with federal investigators.

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He kept saying, Breathe, Epstein, breathe, Noel, who was the last person to see the convicted sex offender alive the night before, told investigators. Thomas was like, Were going to be in so much trouble.

The events that unfolded at the now-shuttered Metropolitan Correctional Center, and the cascade of staff failures that precipitated Epsteins suicide, are documented in interview transcripts and other investigatory files, videos and photos that the Justice Department recently made public under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Epstein, a wealthy New York financier who cultivated influence with politicians, royalty, academics and other powerful elites, was awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges related to the sexual abuse of girls as young as 14.

Within a week of his death, the citys medical examiner determined Epstein, 66, died by suicide from hanging, and the official who performed the autopsy later told authorities that she had no doubt about this conclusion.

But the official finding did not stop conspiracy theories from spreading suggesting Epstein was murdered because of his high-profile connections and potential for implicating others. The release this year of millions of pages of the Epstein files  some previously unseen, some heavily redacted and many already made public through lawsuits and court filings  has only renewed speculation by highlighting inconsistencies in the official account and uncovering new questions.

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Members of Congress are scrutinizing Epsteins death and have called Noel to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which is reviewing the federal governments investigation into Epstein. A committee spokesperson said Wednesday that Noel would not appear this week as anticipated, but that the panel is continuing to communicate with her attorney.

Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., the chair of the committee, has also said that he could subpoena Noel.

The committee is examining Noels actions ahead of Epsteins death and wants to ask her about whether she searched online about Epstein shortly before he was discovered in his cell and why she deposited $5,000 in cash into her bank account days before he was found dead.

Tova Noel, center in yellow blouse, leaves federal court in New York on Nov. 25, 2019. (Craig Ruttle / AP) (Craig Ruttle)

Neither Noel nor her lawyer returned NBC News requests for comment.

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Thats a mystery there, and thats something that, according to the DOJ documents, they never looked into, never asked her about, Comer said on Fox News in reference to Noels bank deposit.

No one is accusing this prison guard of any wrongdoing, he added, but we have a lot of questions about Epstein.

The Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment.

Dave Aronberg, a former Palm Beach County, Florida, state attorney who took office years after Epstein was convicted there in 2008 for soliciting a minor for prostitution, said its easy to see why new information uncovered in the latest documents has revived questions about his death. Some details  like a strange orange-colored figure seen in jail surveillance video on the night before Epstein was found unconscious in his cell  are new to him.

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In his final hours, I still believe Epstein killed himself, Aronberg said. But as with a lot of investigations, there are gaps and holes that have not been fully answered.

Many facets of Epsteins life, such as how he evaded accountability, where his money flowed to and from and how many victims he exploited, remain murky despite the heap of documents tied to his case. Also uncertain is who else in his orbit knew about, enabled or participated in the abuse.

Joseph Uscinski, a political science professor at the University of Miami who studies conspiracy theories and their prevalence, said the continued interest in Epstein and doubts over his death could potentially supplant the Kennedy assassination as the new American conspiracy theory.

Theres an interest in the Epstein files because there are a lot of high-profile people mentioned, he said. So theres intrigue involved on top of the fact that the crimes were heinous.

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These are some of the biggest unanswered questions fueling speculation about Epsteins death:

The moving orange flash

Just before 10:40 p.m. Aug. 9, 2019, several hours before Epstein was discovered hanging in his cell, surveillance video in his unit captured something peculiar: a blur of orange moving up a staircase that led to a hallway of cells behind metal doors. One of those cells was Epsteins.

Due to the angle of the camera, the staircase is mostly obscured in the videos background, and its impossible to tell what, or who, the orange blur is. The video does not appear to show anyone moving back down the stairs but it is possible that happens out of view.

An orange blur is seen moving up the stairs in the background of a surveillance video recording in the hours before Epstein was found unresponsive in his cell. (Justice Department) (Justice Department)

In a video analysis included in the Epstein files, an FBI agent noted the flash of orange ascending the stairs could possibly be an inmate escorted up to that Tier.

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In that same document, the Justice Departments Office of the Inspector General also noted a flash of orange. But its analysis said inmates were locked in for the night and raised a different theory: it is possible someone is carrying inmate linen or bedding up the stairs.

An inspector generals report in 2023 that detailed various staffing failures ahead of Epsteins death concluded that a correctional officer, believed to be Noel, had carried linen or clothing to an inmate around that time.

But in her interview with the inspector generals office in 2021, Noel said she did not know why Epstein had extra linen and clothing in his cell on the morning he died. I never gave out linen. Ever. Because thats done on the shift prior, she said.

She also said she performed inmate counts around 10 p.m. and presumed no one else saw Epstein after that.

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The last person to see him alive? she said. I would guess me.

The FBI made the surveillance video from Epsteins unit public last July, stating that its independent review of this footage confirmed that Epstein was locked in his cell around 10:40 p.m., and that nobody entered any of the tiers until around 6:30 a.m. the next day.

Other video from key hours around Epsteins death, which would have shown the tier with his cell, was not available because the jails video recording system malfunctioned.

FBI officials have repeatedly said that evidence supports Epsteins death by suicide.

Someone searches Google

At 5:42 a.m. Aug. 10, an analysis of Noels work desktop computer showed, someone did a Google search: latest on Epstein in jail.

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Records included in the Epstein files revealed the same search 10 minutes later, among other internet activity on her desktop throughout the morning.

Noel was asked by the inspector generals office in 2021 about those searches. She said she could not recall reading news reports about Epstein that morning or searching his name. She also said it surprised her that Google searches on Epstein were performed on her computer.

Her version of events has drawn interest from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Comer, its chairman, said the committee intends to question her this week about 12 cash deposits made to her bank account from April 2018 to July 30, 2019. The final deposit was $5,000, her bank records show. In November 2019, her bank reported the 12 deposits to the FBI as suspicious activity; the significance and purpose of the payments are unclear.

The same month that her bank reported to the FBI, federal prosecutors charged Noel along with Thomas, the other guard who found Epstein, with falsifying time records. The indictment accused them of appearing to browse the internet and fall asleep instead of conducting mandatory inmate counts, including checking on Epstein every half hour.

Investigating Epstein

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In late 2021, the charges were dropped after Noel and Thomas cooperated in meeting with federal investigators about the critical hours surrounding Epsteins death.

In separate interviews with the inspector generals office, they both agreed Epstein died by suicide. I dont believe the conspiracy that somebody snuck into the jail, Thomas said.

Noose unknown

Two questions have lingered in the years since Epsteins death: How long was he alone in his cell before he hanged himself and what exactly did he use to make a noose?

Thomas told investigators in 2021 that while he remembered finding Epstein hanging and immediately starting chest compressions, he didnt know if the noose was made from clothing or bedding. Both were orange.

I dont recall taking the thing from around his neck, Thomas said. He did not respond to a request for comment.

Noel said Epsteins neck was bare by the time she arrived at his cell, according to a transcript.

The inspector generals office report in 2023 noted the unusual accumulation of linens and clothing in his cell, which was not typically allowed because they could be used as a ligature or to escape. Epstein had previously been placed under suicide watch after he was found semiconscious in his cell with a noose around his neck more than two weeks earlier. In the days before his death, he denied being suicidal and insisted he could not recall details of what had happened.

Epstein's cell was strewn with extra linens and clothing, some tied into nooses, when he was found unresponsive. (New York City Chief Medical Examiner's Office via Justice Department) (New York City Chief Medical Examiner's Office via Justice Department)

Upon his death, multiple scraps of cloth were found in his cell ripped and tied like a noose, the inspector generals office report said. The report also said the extra bedding was left behind when Epsteins cellmate was transferred the day before his death; Epstein was not immediately given a new cellmate, despite being at risk of suicide.

Kristin Roman, the New York City medical examiner who performed Epsteins autopsy, spoke with the inspector generals office in 2022 about his injuries. She expressed skepticism that the noose that came to the morgue with his body was the one he actually used, based on the inspector generals description that Thomas had used all his might to pull the noose from Epsteins neck.

This thing that they gave me isnt ripped at all like it would be ripped off of something, Roman said in a transcribed interview made public in the Epstein files. Despite her belief that she hadnt seen the actual noose, she said she did not doubt Epstein died by hanging.

Investigators asked her why she didnt immediately rule his manner of death as a suicide, instead allowing her boss to do so several days later. That hesitancy drove some of the conspiracy theories about Epsteins death.

If he had been a less high-profile person who there werent people wanting to kill, I would have probably called it a hanging on the day of autopsy, Roman replied. But this was thoroughness that made me look for these things before I called it a suicide.

The conclusion of the medical examiners office was challenged by forensic pathologist Michael Baden, a former medical examiner in New York City who was hired by Epsteins estate and his brother to review his death. He observed the autopsy conducted by Roman.

Baden said at the time that the fractures in Epsteins neck were unusual for suicide and more indicative of homicidal strangulation. Roman disagreed, telling investigators the pattern of his fractures was that of a hanging.

Baden, Roman and the medical examiners office did not respond to requests for comment.

Among those satisfied with the official conclusion is Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. He batted down internet conspiracies that Epstein had a body double or was swapped on his way to the hospital, telling conservative commentator Katie Miller on her podcast last week that he reviewed all the available evidence.

When asked about the defective cameras in the jail and the lack of a clear timeline explaining how Epstein was able to take his own life, Blanche acknowledged mistakes.

Thats a good question, he said. And its one of the failures, right? What happened with Epstein leads to these type of fair questions about what happened that night.

But he has no doubt about the central question. Now, was I there? Were you there? Nope, Blanche said, but the evidence that has been accumulated and reviewed since that time says yes, he did commit suicide.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673. The hotline, run by the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), can put you in contact with your local rape crisis center. You can also access RAINNs online chat service at https://www.rainn.org/get-help.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 or go to 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A veteran police officer is behind bars after being accused of pulling a gun on his ex-wife and a man while dressed in his police uniform, according to court documents.

Records show that Eddy Woodard spent 30 years as a Houston police officer before taking a series of law enforcement jobs in Shepherd. Woodard was arrested by Precinct 4 Constable deputies on Monday afternoon at a home in Spring.

According to court documents, the 67-year-old got into an argument with a woman Eyewitness News has learned is Woodard's ex-wife after she arrived at the home with family members to gather belongings.

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Woodard is accused of unholstering his firearm and pointing it in the "general direction" of his ex-wife and a man, as well as threatening to shoot both of them.

It's unclear what the man's relationship is to Woodard or his ex-wife.

Woodard faces two aggravated assault charges. On Tuesday, a hearing officer said Woodard would have to wait for a district judge to set his bail Wednesday morning.

Records show Woodard and his ex-wife were married for 20 years before he filed for divorce in 2024. The divorce was finalized in April 2025.

At the time of his arrest, Woodard was working as a reserve officer for the Shepherd Police Department.

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Shepherd Police Chief Clint Headley told Eyewitness News that Woodard was fired as soon as he learned about the charges on Tuesday morning.

Eyewitness News asked the Precinct 4 Constable's Office for Woodard's booking photo, but one wasn't provided.

Should he post bail, he's been ordered to stay away from the victims for at least three months and not to possess any weapons.

For news updates, follow Luke Jones on Facebook, X and Instagram.
LINCOLN  Nebraska lawmakers debated roughly six hours Tuesday before handily advancing a tax incentives package aimed largely at keeping and growing a Union Pacific Railroad workforce after a planned merger with a railroad giant from another state.

Legislative Bill 1165, pushed by Omaha State Sen. Brad von Gillern on behalf of Gov. Jim Pillen, now moves to a second phase in the lawmaking process. The tally was 38-3, with four legislators present but choosing not to vote.

State Sens. Mike Jacobson of North Platte, left, and Danielle Conrad of Lincoln on the floor of the Nebraska Legislature. Jan. 27, 2026. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Several state senators said they see the benefits of the bill extending beyond Omaha-based U.P., which is in the process of absorbing another Fortune 500 company, Georgia-based Norfolk Southern.

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State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln led the opposition to what she called a sweetheart deal for Union Pacific. She said no one has been able to prove to her that LB 1165 was not special legislation, saying its criteria is tailored to the iconic and legacy U.P.

When on earth are Nebraska leaders going to come together and say, Hey corporate Nebraska, stop fleecing us? she asked.

State Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte, among the majority on the other side, dismissed any notion that the state is writing a fat check to corporate America. He described the proposed incentives as a well-crafted and incredibly well thought out plan.

To sit back and say incentives dont matter is sticking your head in the sand, Jacobson said.

Grow the Good Life Act

Discussion on the so-called Grow the Good Life Act stretched beyond most Nebraskans dinner time. As proposed, it modifies three existing incentives laws and adds a new grant program.

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Critics largely questioned the timing, as the state grapples with fiscal deficits and is poised to cut some human and social services including for disabled, homeless and special education communities.

The Union Pacific glassy corporate headquarters in downtown Omaha is left of the white building. That 19-story U.P. downtown facility opened in 2004, though U.P. has had its operational base in Omaha for more than 160 years. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

Supporters, citing Chambers of Commerce backing, argued that the business incentives are integral to ensuring that U.P remains a state anchor and that Nebraska can compete with other states to retain and attract high-paying jobs capable of growing the states economy.

State Sen. Jane Raybould of Lincoln referred to a fiscal analysis prepared early on by the legislative staff, which showed a negative revenue impact on the states general fund for several years, including $8.76 million in 2026-27.

Its disheartening to see how were handling our budget and priorities, she said.

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Von Gillern, who chairs the Legislatures Revenue Committee, emphasized that the fiscal analysis would be updated by a later round of voting. He touted potential returns on the states investment, including expansion of the states tax base and anticipated economic development.

This is a way to grow our way out of challenges, he said.

Union Pacific-centric

Key parts of LB 1165 only apply to big companies undergoing a merger during a certain time period, namely U.P. Among highlights:

Expands the cap for eligible employers on wage credits available under the Key Employer and Jobs Retention Act from $4 million to $5 million per year starting in 2030.

Increases tax credits available under the ImagiNE act for wages paid to new employees by 1 percentage point if the average wage is at least 150% of the statewide average paid.

Increases the investment credit for eligible manufacturing projects by 1 percentage point if investment surpasses a certain amount.

Increases allowable wage and investment credits by 1 percentage point to applicants that have 3,000-plus Nebraska employees and within seven years of a merger add another 1,000 employees with salaries of at least $90,000.

Transfers $5 million from documentary stamp tax proceeds for a renovation grant to an employer to help worker retention and recruitment. A previous version would have tapped the states general fund.

Creates a grant, not to exceed $300,000 a year for an employer undergoing an ownership change, if used to support employee retention and recruitment.

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Conrad, who led the opposition, characterized the package as a $50 million give away to U.P. at the expense of Nebraskans seeing cuts in services for veterans and people living with disabilities.

She said she was particularly offended by apparent white glove concierge services allowed under the $300,000 annual grant for retention and recruitment.

State Sen. Brad von Gillern of Omaha. Jan. 8, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

While that language was not explicit in the bill, Conrad said the white glove service was a description used by a Pillen aide to a legislative committee.

It seems really out of touch and murky at best, she said.

Von Gillern defended the grant, saying the funds are more about helping potential newcomer professionals sink roots in a new state so that they stay.

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Conrads attempt to carve that particular grant out of LB 1165 failed on a 9-24 vote. Fifteen other senators were present but did not vote.

Child care

State Sen. Bob Anderson of Sarpy County called the legislation smartly developed because he said the state would not award credits until they are earned.

Von Gillern, under questioning by Anderson, said the applicant does not receive credits for as much as six years after theyve spent their own dollars and that the business has 10 years to use the credits. He said the 2005 Nebraska Advantage Act, which was replaced by the 2021 ImagiNE Nebraska Act, was flawed in that the state never knew when (credits) were going to be used.

Criticism by State Auditor Mike Foley was a motivator in creating so-called safeguards in LB 1165, von Gillern said.

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Foley, in a Feb. 13 letter to the Department of Revenue, pointed out serious unintended consequences of the Advantage and ImagiNE acts.

He called for more scrutiny from Revenue Department officials and lawmakers, saying a result was nearly $1.2 billion in lost revenue over the past four fiscal years. Foley highlighted the ability of participating companies to uninvest in Nebraska but continue to receive incentive payments.

State Sen. John Fredrickson of Omaha, right, listens to State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston. March 25, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

State Sen. John Fredrickson of Omaha said during Tuesdays discussion that he appreciates clawback provisions in LB 1165 designed to retrieve losses from participants that dont deliver.

Concerning him, though, is a shaky state fiscal situation. He said the timing of the incentives proposal was questionable.

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Fredrickson asked about related child care incentives, which have been lauded by chamber officials. Von Gillern said the proposed package offers more accessible incentives than previous laws.

Von Gillern said that under the ImagineNE act, the child care credit is available only to employers that offer on-site services. LB 1165, he said, allows a qualifying employer to pass on the benefit to workers that use off-site daycares, likely in the form of a payroll reimbursement.

Von Gillern said that up to 112 companies in the state appear eligible to apply for the new child care credit.

Tone deaf

Hitting on a common objection, State Sen. Terrell McKinney of North Omaha said he was disturbed at programs lawmakers are prioritizing.

State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha speaks on the floor of the Nebraska Legislature on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Lincoln, Neb. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Its the other things we are not providing to Nebraskans, he said, calling certain moves tone deaf.

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State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha said her track record shows shes open to business incentives, but she was troubled by this scenario.

My position is that we just cant keep offering companies handouts at the expense of services in our state, she said.

Von Gillern thanked lawmakers for the great debate and said a fiscal analysis will be firmed up by the next lawmaking step.

The returns will far exceed the investment by the state, he said.

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By Chris Prentice

NEW YORK, March 25 (Reuters) - U.S. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren on Wednesday pressed top Federal Reserve official and former veteran Wall Street bank attorney Randall Guynn to explain how he is handling potential conflicts of interest in his new role, according to a letter reviewed by Reuters.

Reuters was first to report last month that Guynn, who had worked for the biggest U.S. banks during his 40-year career at Davis Polk, has been tapped for a powerful Fed position policing the industry, reporting to Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman.

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The supervision and regulation division is responsible for the Fed's broad oversight of the banking sector, which includes setting rules for and examining the nation's largest, most complex financial institutions.

A Fed spokesperson confirmed receipt of the letter, but declined to comment further.

(Reporting by Chris Prentice)
The Facebook group Meta and the Google video platform YouTube have suffered a defeat in a US trial concerning the addictive potential of online services.

Jurors in Los Angeles came to the conclusion that the platforms were negligent and did not adequately inform users about the risks, US media reported from the courtroom.

The jury awarded the 20-year-old plaintiff an amount of $3 million, 70% of which was to be paid by Meta.

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The companies can appeal against the judgment. Meta stated that it did not agree with the decision and was reviewing its legal options.

In the trial, the 20-year-old plaintiff, who only appeared under the initials KGM, accused online platforms of deliberately designing their services in such a way that users become addicted to them.

One example of this is the function that allows users to keep scrolling to the next post. According to the woman, she started using the platforms as a child - and attributes her depression and anxiety to this.

The lawsuit was most recently directed against YouTube and the photo and video service Instagram, which belongs to the Meta Group. The companies behind the competitors Snapchat and Tiktok, which were also originally sued, escaped the lawsuit through a settlement.

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The outcome of the proceedings could act as a precedent for hundreds of other lawsuits of a similar nature. Meta and Google rejected the allegations in the trial. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was questioned by the jury during the trial.

Just the day before, a jury in the US state of New Mexico sentenced Meta to a fine of $375 million because the company did not do enough to protect young users. Meta intends to appeal.
By Jarrett Renshaw

HOUSTON, March 25 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's administration announced on Wednesday it will temporarily suspend federal anti-smog regulations on seasonal gasoline blends to combat higher pump prices since the start of the war on Iran.

The move by the Environmental Protection Agency is a win for the U.S. biofuels industry because it will allow retailers to sell formulations of gasoline including blends with 15% ethanol  known as E15  that are typically not permitted during warmer months. The waiver takes effect for 20 days starting May 1, and can be extended if needed, the agency said.

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"We foresee potential for a disruption to the American fuel supply," EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said at a press conference on the sidelines of the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston, at which he announced the waiver.

An EPA press release said the waiver temporarily suspends seasonal low volatility requirements on gasoline and lifts blending limitations. That effectively allows nationwide sales of E15 and also removes "all federal impediments to selling E10, gasoline blended with 10 percent ethanol, across the country," the release said. E10 is already widely available year-round.

Analysts said the change could shave several cents per gallon off retail prices. The U.S. average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is running just over $3.98, up more than a dollar from a month ago, according to data from AAA.

The Renewable Fuels Association, which represents the ethanol industry, said it welcomed the administration's decision, adding it would help drivers and growers of corn and other feedstocks for ethanol.

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"At a time of rising gasoline prices, year-round sales of E15 will help American drivers save money at the pump, strengthen the rural economy, and boost energy independence," it said.

Global oil prices have surged since the start of the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran as the conflict blocks shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, the conduit for a fifth of world crude and liquefied natural gas supply.

The White House is trying to contain the economic and political fallout from the war. It has already announced a release of crude oil from U.S. emergency stockpiles and the easing of sanctions on both Russia and Iran to make more of their oil available to the market.

(Writing by Richard Valdmanis; Editing by Costas Pitas, Chizu Nomiyama and Nia Williams)
Aftermath Silver reports high-grade assay results from Berenguela drilling in Peru Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock

Aftermath Silver Ltd (TSX-V:AAG, OTCQX:AAGFF, FRA:FLM1) said on Wednesday it had reported strong initial assay results from its Phase 3 diamond drill program at the Berenguela silver-copper-manganese deposit in southern Peru, prompting the company to expand the scope of the campaign.

The Vancouver-based miner released results from 17 drill holes totalling 1,061.6 metres, part of an initial 45-hole, 3,000-metre program.

The company has since increased the campaign to 90 holes covering 6,000 metres, citing encouraging geological results, drill rig availability and improved access.

The Berenguela project, located in the Puno region, is wholly owned by Aftermath Silver.

Among the highlights, hole AFD152 returned 48.5 metres grading 438 grams per tonne silver, 2.22% copper and 24.9% manganese from 26.5 metres downhole. Hole AFD155 intersected 70 metres at 230 g/t silver, 1.81% copper and 10.9% manganese from surface.

Hole AFD160 returned 45.8 metres at 528 g/t silver, 1.48% copper and 15.7% manganese from surface, including a higher-grade interval of 29.5 metres at 737 g/t silver. Another hole, AFD162, returned 11.4 metres at 1,042 g/t silver, alongside 2.05% copper.

CEO Ralph Rushton said the results support the companys strategy of targeting near-surface, high-grade mineralization that could underpin a potential starter open pit as part of future mining plans.

These are some of the best drill intercepts weve seen to date, Rushton said, noting a strong association between silver and copper mineralization.

The drilling has focused on a 225-metre strike length within the existing resource area, aiming to delineate higher-grade zones and upgrade resources ahead of a planned prefeasibility study.

Aftermath also replaced an originally planned reverse circulation program with additional diamond drilling at a similar cost, allowing for better geological and geotechnical data collection.

The company said drill recoveries averaged 95% in mineralized zones, with intersections generally interpreted to represent true thickness due to the massive nature of the mineralization.

Geologically, Berenguela hosts silver, copper and manganese mineralization within folded limestone sequences, with recent drilling extending the known strike length of the deposit to at least 1,550 metres.

Shares of Aftermath added 9.7% in early trade in Toronto on Wednesday morning at C$0.79.
When the lights came on at Utahs newest prison site in 2022, it opened at a cost of $1 billion and with fewer beds than the campus it replaced. Less than four years later, the state is planning new construction to hold more prisoners.

The Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison is set to expand to accommodate a growing prison population after Utah lawmakers set aside $125 million for construction at the end of their yearly budget process earlier this month.

The money wont cover the full cost of the expansion, which has yet to be determined, Utah Department of Corrections spokesperson Richard Piatt said Tuesday. Piatt said corrections officials didnt ask for the money, but they did keep lawmakers up to speed on prison population trends. They project Utahs prison system will reach capacity in less than three years, Piatt said.

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When the state closed its larger Draper prison site and opened the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City, it did so with 1,000 fewer beds than before. The idea was that a state initiative focusing on treatment and rehabilitation would reduce the need for prison space.

But the Medicaid expansion that lawmakers had in mind when they came up with the Justice Reinvestment Initiative in 2015 didnt materialize for several years. Looking back, Utah fell short when it came to investing in the new approach, said longtime defense attorney Mark Moffat.

In the years since, Moffat said the state has taken a different approach on criminal justice issues, consistently boosting penalties and codifying new offenses. He said an uptick in the states prison population is a foreseeable consequence, in my opinion.

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Moffat is among the critics who say the $125 million could be better spent on treatment, rather than expanding prison buildings that will eventually fall into disrepair.

The cost is going to increase every year at taxpayers expense, said Moffat, with the Utah Defense Lawyers Association.

The lawmaker behind the budget request, Rep. Karianne Lisonbee, said the state has long planned to add more housing to its correctional facilities and that the money will cover a moderate expansion of 768 more beds that could meet anticipated need through 2036.

Were at a critical point right now, Lisonbee, R-Clearfield, told lawmakers on a transportation and infrastructure budget panel in January. She originally requested $130 million and said the idea was born out of a state working group focused on prison and jail capacity, made up of lawmakers and others. The group had considered a potential price tag of more than $200 million, Lisonbee said, but whittled it down.

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We feel very confident that this is the best value for the taxpayer in Utah to make sure that we are keeping them safe, but also that we are not overspending on taxpayer money, Lisonbee said.

The total combined capacity at Utahs prison sites is 7,220, but the state keeps some of those spaces empty in case of emergencies and starts to release certain people when its total reaches 7,076, Lisonbee said. Its currently at roughly 6,500, according to the Utah Department of Corrections.

The plan would add to the Monroe complex on the Gunnison sites northwest side, which already has infrastructure in place, including for power, Piatt said. He did not have a timeline for the project overseen by the Division of Facilities Construction Management.

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House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, on Wednesday brushed aside concerns about early voting trends in Virginias April 21 redistricting referendum, arguing that despite stronger turnout so far in Republican-leaning areas, Democrats remain on track to prevail in an election that could reshape the states congressional map ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Speaking during a press conference featuring Democratic veterans in front of the U.S.S. Wisconsin in Norfolk, Scott pointed to voter data he said closely tracks past election cycles, signaling confidence within the party.

If you look at our voter scores right now, the last cycle in 2025 at the same point of early voting, we were about 60-40 in voter profiles. Right now, its like 59-41, Scott said. Were good. I feel very good about this election.

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The referendum, scheduled for April 21, asks voters whether to approve a one-time mid-decade redraw of Virginias congressional districts  an unusual step outside the traditional once-a-decade redistricting cycle.

Supporters say the measure is intended to counter Republican-led efforts in other states and give Virginians a direct say in how district lines are adjusted ahead of the next round of federal elections.

If approved, lawmakers would be authorized to revisit the current map, while the states bipartisan redistricting framework would remain in place for future cycles.

Early voting began March 6 after the Supreme Court of Virginia allowed the election to proceed, despite ongoing legal challenges over timing and ballot language.

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Initial data has shown relatively higher participation in GOP-leaning localities, raising questions among some Democrats about enthusiasm in their base.

But with several weeks of voting left to go in a state, Democratic leaders emphasized that overall voter composition remains consistent with previous elections and that Democratic-leaning voters often cast ballots later in the early voting window.

Scott, a U.S. Navy veteran, was joined by other Democratic leaders with military backgrounds  including former Gov. Ralph Northam  who framed the referendum as both a political and constitutional issue, tying their support to their service and oath to defend the Constitution.

Northam, an eight-year U.S. Army veteran, said the measure is fundamentally about preserving democratic norms.

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There is nothing more important than fair elections and openness to voting, Northam said, adding that Virginia has historically upheld peaceful transfers of power. He described recent developments as a power grab, an attack on our democracy, and said the referendum is meant to level the playing field.

Northam argued that failing to respond to redistricting moves in Republican-led states would leave Virginia at a disadvantage, saying Democrats cannot sit back as a commonwealth while others stack the deck.

Its about our democracy, saving our democracy, and stopping the power grab thats going on from the MAGA-Republicans, he said.

U.S. Air Force veteran Del. Michael Feggans, D-Virginia Beach, said his support is rooted in the same oath he took while serving, emphasizing the importance of protecting voting access.

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I also took an oath to defend the Constitution. That oath didnt end just when I took off the uniform, Feggans said. Right now, were really living in what is not known as normal times.

Feggans recalled voting from overseas while deployed, describing it as a powerful reminder of how important it is to ensure ballots are counted and voices are heard.

He said the referendum ultimately leaves the decision in the hands of voters, despite what he described as misinformation and efforts to undermine participation.

One of the most important things we want people to know is that this is temporary, and the voters ultimately get to decide what happens, he said.

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Susan Hippen, chair of the Virginia Democrats Veterans & Military Families Caucus, connected the referendum to broader national dynamics, arguing that political instability and policy decisions in Washington have tangible consequences for service members and their families.

The chaos in Washington isnt just political, it has real impacts on our veterans and military families, Hippen said, citing concerns about cuts to services, job uncertainty and military readiness.

She pointed to redistricting actions in states such as Texas and North Carolina, saying Virginia is now asking voters for permission to respond in kind.

Protecting democracy isnt separate from supporting veterans. It is directly connected, Hippen said, adding that the referendum is about maintaining checks and balances and ensuring that no one can rig the system.

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The proposal has drawn national attention and legal challenges, including disputes over ballot language and the timing of the vote.

It has also sparked controversy over campaign messaging, including civil rights-themed mailers that have prompted criticism from both parties.

Scott downplayed concerns that competing narratives could confuse voters, saying he trusts Virginians to sort through the information and make their own decisions.

Virginia voters are smart, he said. I trust the voters. Theyre going to get the right information, and theyre going to make the right choice.

He framed the referendum as a broader response to national political forces, arguing that Virginians have an opportunity to assert themselves at the ballot box.

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This is Virginia, we dont like kings, Scott said Wednesday afternoon, three days before No Kings protest rallies against President Donald Trumps administration are planned in multiple Virginia cities and across the nation.

We have stood up, and we will continue to stand up. Were not going to let somebody steal this next election.

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March 25 (UPI) -- Meteorite hunters have descended on an Ohio county where a massive fireball last week left fragments behind -- including one possible fragment in a resident's driveway.

The car-sized asteroid broke up over Northeast Ohio on March 17, and in recent days meteorite hunters have descended on Medina County in the hopes of recovering fragments of rocks from space.

December Harris, a local resident who has been searching for pieces of the meteorite, said a walnut-sized piece may have hit earth surprisingly close to home.

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"My cousin came out to get her car to go to work and she found this meteor piece, we believe, right at her car," Harris told WJW-TV.

Case Western Reserve University professor and researcher Ralph Harvey said some pieces that survived reentry might be as large as grapefruits.

Medina 6th grader Evan Waite found a 3-gram meteorite fragment behind Sharon Elementary school. His mother had previously found two smaller pieces.

"It was just a beautiful unexpected moment," mother Ashley Waite said of the moment Evan found his fragment.

Harvey offered some tips for hunters searching for their own fragments.

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"If it looks burned up a little on the outside and it's got a different kind of texture or color on the inside and it's in the wrong place, that's where you start going, 'hmm,'" he said.

Local authorities are urging meteorite hunters to be respectful of private property. The Medina County Sheriff's Office said there have been multiple trespassing complaints involving hunters, but no arrests have been made.
A bribery scandal within the Wayne County Treasurer's office widened Tuesday with federal prosecutors filing criminal charges against a third person, an investment company owner in Detroit, who is accused of fraudulently obtaining houses from more than a dozen residents.

Kelly One Investments owner Kevin Kelly was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and is expected to plead guilty, according to a criminal information filed in federal court in Detroit. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

Prosecutors said Kelly conspired from May 2023-October 2023 with Detroiter Jontae Jackson, a former taxpayer assistant in the Wayne County Treasurers office, and Detroiter Zina Thomas, director of home ownership programs for the United Community Housing Coalition, a Detroit nonprofit that helps low-income residents stay in their homes.

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The alleged scheme involved Kelly paying money to Jackson and Thomas to remove properties from the Wayne County tax foreclosure list and enrich themselves. Thomas would facilitate a private sale, and the properties would be flipped or transferred to others, according to the government.

"During the scheme, Kelly acquired at least 15 properties off the foreclosure list with an aggregate value of approximately $1,033,800," Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Neal and Ryan Particka wrote in the criminal case.

Kelly did not respond immediately to a message seeking comment.

The case is the latest filed in a long-running prosecution of public corruption in Metro Detroit. The crackdown has led to convictions and prison sentences for more than 130 public officials, including a state senator, a House speaker, Detroit and suburban mayors, cops and councilmen, township officials, two United Auto Workers union presidents and school leaders.

More: Feds charge Detroit judge in corruption crackdown on probate system

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Thomas and Jackson pleaded guilty to federal charges in November and are awaiting possible prison sentences next month.

In the county case, Kelly, Thomas, Jackson and others targeted properties for removal from the tax foreclosure list, the criminal case alleged.

Thomas supplied phony documents that were later uploaded to the county's Property Tax Administration system, which allowed Jackson to remove the properties from the list, according to prosecutors.

"Thomas and others paid Jackson for each property Jackson removed from the tax foreclosure list that Thomas was later able to sell or transfer to another person or entity," prosecutors alleged.

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Kelly, meanwhile, paid Thomas for help getting Jackson to remove properties from the list and sell the properties to him, the case reads.

Kelly also paid for privileged information that helped him target specific properties, the prosecutors said.

"On at least one occasion, after consultation with Thomas, Kelly provided false and fraudulent identification documents to a title company in an attempt to remove a cloud on the title of a property he was attempting to resell," prosecutors wrote.

rsnell@detroitnews.com

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Wayne County bribery scandal widens as feds charge third person




You come at the king, you best not miss. And Old Greenwich didn't.

After West Hartford spent eight straight years on top of Niche's annual rankings for the "Best Place to Live in Connecticut," the Hartford suburb fell to second place this year, after being eclipsed by the Gold Coast neighborhood of Old Greenwich.

On the whole, Connecticut's national standing declined from last year, with lower placements for its top towns and fewer top ratings.

Folks walk along Sound Beach Avenue in Old Greenwich, Conn., in June 2024. (Tyler Sizemore, Staff Photographer / Hearst Connecticut Media)





The 6,936-strong neighborhood of Greenwich, which occupies a sliver of land in the eastern portion of the town, earned an A+ overall rating, as well as an A+ in the categories of "Public Schools," "Good For Families" and "Health & Fitness." But it ranked at a B- or below for Cost of Living, Diversity, Housing and Weather according to Niche.

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Nationally, Old Greenwich ranked 988th on the "Best Place to Live in America" list, and 448th for the best suburbs. Both are declines from last year, when West Hartford placed in the top 200 overall. Niche's best place to live nationwide was Atlantic Station, a neighborhood in Atlanta, Ga.

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After Old Greenwich and West Hartford, the rest of Connecticut's top 10 consisted largely of other neighborhoods of Greenwich (Riverside 3rd and Cos Cob 5th) or suburbs of Hartford (Avon 4th, Simsbury 7th, Farmington 8th, Glastonbury 9th, South Windsor 10th), with the only exception being sixth-place Westport.

Niche makes its list drawing from a wide swath of census data, with the most important factors being cost of living, the rate of residents with a college degree, housing quality and Niche's own rating for the district's public schools.

Old Greenwich's Roger Thomson and his daughter, Zara, 8, ride bikes at Greenwich Point Park in Old Greenwich, Conn. Oct. 6, 2024. (Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media)





And the top Connecticut places to live bear this out, with universally high ratings for schools and families, though the Hartford-area locales generally garnered higher marks on housing and cost of living than their Greenwich counterparts.

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Each of the towns in the Niche's statewide top 10 was also whiter, more highly educated and had higher median incomes and median housing values than the state's average, according to AdvanceCT data.

The list comes as Connecticut, while containing pockets of extreme wealth, has had persistent and yawning wealth and income gaps, largely split along racial and geographic lines.

All told, 14 places in Connecticut scored an A+ on Niche's list, down from 22 in 2025.

At the other end of the spectrum, the lowest-rated areas of Connecticut were a trio of small towns in the northeast of the state - Hampton, Sterling, Union - along with the Hartford neighborhoods of North Meadows and South Meadows.

This article originally published at West Hartford is no longer Connecticut's best place to live, Niche says.
The White House is keeping a low profile regarding media reports on the details of a plan that the US government is said to have presented to Tehran to end the war.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said she had seen reports of a 15-point plan.

"The White House never confirmed that full plan," Leavitt asserted.

"I would caution reporters in this room from reporting about speculative points or speculative plans from anonymous sources," she told a press conference in Washington on Wednesday.

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Diplmatic talks continue, she added. "They are productive, as the President said on Monday, and they continue to be."

Egypt had previously confirmed reports of a US plan. "There is a draft plan from the US that has been sent to the Iranian side and is now being studied," Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Atty told journalists on Wednesday.

However, he could not comment on the points contained therein, some of which had already been published by the media.

"We hope that there will soon be direct talks with the parties involved," he said. Egypt was attempting to mediate, alongside Pakistan and Turkey, among others.

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Officially, Irans political and military leadership continues to deny any kind of negotiations with the United States.

The spokesman for the Presidential Office, Elias Hasrati, told state broadcaster IRIB: "All such reports are nothing but lies."

The enemy is stuck in a dead end, has nothing to show for itself and is also facing international criticism, the spokesman added.
An Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), a directorate of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), agent observes passengers wait in long TSA lines amid a funding standoff that has forced 50,000 airport security officers to go without pay, causing delays at airports, at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, U.S., March 25, 2026. REUTERS/Antranik Tavitian
The White House has rejected an offer from billionaire Elon Musk to pay TSA workers during a partial government shutdown that has disrupted airport travelers across the country, several sources told CBS News.

The suggestion was taken seriously by Trump administration officials, but there could be legal challenges for Musk to cover the pay, even indirectly, because of Musk's various government contracts, one source said.

Another reason: White House officials believe the partial shutdown is likely to end soon, according to sources.

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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt blamed Democrats for the shutdown and called for the restoration of funding.

"It's the Democrats who have led to this stalemate over the past six weeks," Leavitt said Wednesday. "The president and the Republicans' position has been very clear  fund the Department of Homeland Security."

In a post on X Saturday, 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."

President Trump told reporters Monday, "I'd love it. I think it's great. Let him do that."

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The cost would be about $250 million, two sources said.

Homeland Security spokespeople didn't immediately comment; neither did Musk.

Administration officials had debated whether Musk could give the money to the government's general fund, which could then be used to pay the workers. An outside individual is legally barred from paying government employees directly, according to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics.

However citizens can make a donation through an account called "Gifts to the U.S. Government."

The money can be available for budget needs, according to the U.S. Treasury.

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White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told CBS News, "We greatly appreciate Elon's generous offer," but she added, "This would pose great legal challenges due to his involvement with federal government contracts. The fastest way to ensure TSA employees  and all DHS employees  get paid is for Democrats to fund the Department of Homeland Security."

TSA workers are about to miss their second full paycheck since the partial shutdown began. The only paycheck they have received was for half pay near the beginning of the shutdown.

The acting head of the TSA said Wednesday that as of Friday, agency employees will have lost a billion dollars in income over this 40-day shutdown and the 43-day shutdown last fall.

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Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is sidelining the Texas Democrat who in January won a stunning upset victory in what had been considered a safe Republican state Senate district.

The Republican did not assign the newly minted lawmaker to any of the chamber's committees this week, effectively cutting him out of the process that helps to shape future legislation.

READ MORE: How union leaders are seeking to assert new influence in Texas politics

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Rehmet, a Fort Worth machinist, bashed the move as one that hurts voters and used the snub to raise money for his campaign heading toward the Nov. 3 general election.

After months of (Senate District 9) having no voice in the Texas Senate, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has chosen to silence our district even further by refusing to assign me to any committee, Rehmet, 33, said in a statement. This decision reflects the kind of petty, partisan politics that too often stands in the way of delivering results for working families.

Rehmet posted his statement on social media and including a link to website for an organization that raises money for Democrats.

"This isnt about partisan politics. Its about representation. Its about whether working families in Tarrant County have a seat at the table," says the message of the organization's website.

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Patrick, a Republican who is seeking a fourth term as the Senate's presiding officer, had put his significant political clout to boost Republican Leigh Wambsganss during the special election for the Senate to replace longtime Republican Kelly Hancock. Wambsganss, who also had the vocal backing of President Donald Trump, is the GOP's general election nominee for the seat.

The lieutenant governor said in a post-election social media post that Rehmet's 57% of the vote  in the district that Donald Trump carried by 17 percentage points in 2024  was a Republican wake-up call. But, he added, that other recent special election winners also were not immediately appointed to committees.

"Sen. Rehmet won a special election to fill out an unexpired interim term in 2026, in which no bills are filed, voted on, or passed. He has to win in November to serve a full term in the legislature," Patrick said on X. "If he does win in November, he would be assigned committees like anyone else at the beginning of the next legislative session in January 2027. I explained that to him a month ago."

Rehmet's victory followed strong Democratic performances in the 2025 off-year elections in Virginia and New Jersey, and was seen a a harbinger of the party's strength heading into the 2026 midterms. In the Texas primary election earlier this month, Democrats turned out in greater numbers than Republicans, even though GOP has kept the state in a vice-like grip since the turn of the century.

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Nowhere is the Republican lock on Texas tighter than in the 31-member of the state Senate. It has been led by Patrick since 2015 and the GOP's majority coming out of the 2024 elections was 20-11. Rehmet's victory does not change the power dynamic, especially since the Legislature does not convene again until January 2027. And the Democrat would have have to win in November to join the chamber for the upcoming regular session that begins in January.

However, Senate committees often meet during the months between regular sessions to get a jump on the legislative process. By not being assigned to any committee, Rehmet would be unable to get a head start.

While I am disappointed, I remain fully committed  and as energized as ever  to using every tool available to improve the lives of my constituents, Rehmet said. My office has already begun research and policy development on all committee topics, and although we are being denied a formal seat at the table, I will continue working every day to ensure Texas works the way it should for working families.
Coppermoly (COY) has expanded its Australian portfolio by acquiring a 100% stake in the Wyemandoo Project in Western Australia (WA).

This acquisition was achieved through the purchase of tenements E57/1017, E58/555 and E58/571 from Aldoro Resources, as well as acquiring the fully paid ordinary shares of Altilium Metals, which holds tenement E59/2431.

It adds four new WA tenements to COY's existing projects in Queensland, increasing their total project area to 1,805km.

Located approximately 80km south-east of Mount Magnet, the Wyemandoo Project covers a contiguous licence area of 259.25km along the south-eastern edge of the Windimurra Igneous Complex.

The project represents a significant opportunity for COY in the realm of critical minerals exploration, particularly focusing on commodities such as high-grade rubidium, titanium, tantalum and tungsten within an extensive pegmatite fairway spanning more than 10km.

Recent findings highlight substantial tungsten potential within a 4.5km corridor, where rock chip samples have shown tungsten grades ranging from 0.01% to 13.1%.

Furthermore, drill-hole intercepts have revealed rubidium oxide grades ranging from more than 0.1% to 0.5%, with widths between 2m and 20m.

Tantalum mineralisation has been observed, with rock chip concentrations varying from 0.02 parts per million (ppm) to 4,800ppm.

Coppermoly managing director Dickson Leah said: We are very pleased to announce the acquisition of the Wyemandoo project from Aldoro Resources. This transaction represents a key step in Coppermolys strategy to secure high-quality, advanced critical mineral projects in Western Australia.

The Wyemandoo tenements, known for lithium-rubidium and significant tungsten mineralisation, directly complement our existing exploration efforts. These assets present immediate, targeted drilling opportunities, including 1,500m of planned RC [reverse circulation] holes, following encouraging surface rock chip results.

"Coppermoly acquires complete stake in Wyemandoo Project" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




Charges against the Woodward Volunteer Fire Department chief for record tampering have been dismissed after the Dallas County Attorney's Office said the case is not a criminal matter.

Matthew Cavanaugh was arrested on Tuesday, Feb. 10, on 10 charges of tampering with records, an aggravated misdemeanor, for allegedly tampering with public records to include his name on calls he did not respond to. Volunteer firefighters in Woodward are paid $10 per call.

According to a March 19 motion to dismiss from Dallas County Attorney Matt Schultz, then-Woodward Police Chief Jim Graham and another police officer raised concerns about Cavanaugh allegedly tampering with records dating back to July 2024.

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The attorney's office told Graham there needed to be an additional investigation before a criminal complaint was filed and that Cavanaugh should not be arrested without a warrant, according to the motion.

Graham arrested Cavanaugh that night "over the objection of" the attorney's office, the filing says. Cavanaugh later waived his initial court appearance and pleaded not guilty.

"They moved forward with charges against our advice," Schultz told the Register.

Sean Spellman, Cavanaugh's attorney, said he is not aware of a warrant produced before Cavanaugh's arrest, and it appeared as though Graham "went rogue."

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Graham resigned four days after the arrest, following an "impassable disagreement" with Woodward Mayor Todd Folkerts about the arrest of Cavanaugh.

Without a police chief, the city suspended its reserve officers, including Folkerts, until a new chief is hired or the city reaches a deal with a nearby department. The Dallas County Sheriff's Office currently covers Woodward.

Folkerts did not respond to a request for comment.

A separate investigation conducted by the Dallas County Attorney's Office found evidence that Cavanaugh "may have received compensation for calls that he did not attend and that he may have amended timekeeping records," according to the motion filed in court.

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Whether Cavanaugh's alleged tampering was criminal or negligent is still in question, according to the court filing.

The Dallas County Attorney's Office considers the case a civil matter between Cavanaugh and the city of Woodward, not a criminal case, and moved to dismiss the criminal complaints.

"It's technically an open investigation," Schultz said. "So there's some additional evidence that may come up. I could change my mind. But the way things lie right now, this is a civil matter."

The court dismissed the charges against Cavanaugh on March 20. It's unclear whether Cavanaugh will get his job back.

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Kyle Werner is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@registermedia.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: County attorney moves to dismiss charges against Woodward fire chief
Editors note: This article has been updated with further information.

The City of Worcester and the Town of Holden have reached a tentative payment agreement to settle a lawsuit over sewer service overcharges, according to Holden Town Manager Peter Lukes.

Holden sued Worcester in 2013 for overcharging the town $1 million a year in sewage transport fees. A judge ruled that Worcester had to pay Holden $26,525,786, plus 12% post-judgment interest for each year the judgment remains unpaid.

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Because of the interest accumulated over three years, Worcester now owes Holden more than $35 million.

On the radio program Talk of the Commonwealth Wednesday morning, Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty made the announcement of the agreement. He said the city will pay $10 million on April 1, then make another $10 million payment and three $5 million payments over a several year period. He did not specify when the subsequent payments will be made but said City Manager Eric D. Batistas office may announce the details in full sometime on Wednesday.

Batistas office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday.

Petty said that one of the $10 million payments will come from the citys sewer reserves and said there might be a small increase in the citys sewer rate next year.

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Lukes office sent a press release Wednesday outlining the full details of the agreement. The first $10 million will be given upon the signing of the agreement, a $10.5 million payment will be made on July 1, and the three $5 million payments will be made on July 1 of 2027, 2028 and 2029.

Lukes said Holden has yet to receive a signed agreement from Worcester as of Wednesday morning.

The (Worcester) city manager and city solicitor have been great to work with, Lukes said. Negotiations have been beneficial for both parties.

Worcester was found guilty by a jury in 2022 for overcharging Holden by more than $10 million in sewer transport fees.

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The jury awarded Holden $14.6 million following the verdict. Worcester lawyers tried to have the verdict set aside, according to the Telegram & Gazette. Superior Court Judge James Manitsas, however, upheld the judgment in 2023 and also added $2.2 million in costs and $11.3 million in pre-judgment interests.

The city tried to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Judicial Court. The states highest court declined Worcesters appeal in February.

In March, the city council approved a $25.5 million loan and a transfer of $10 million from the citys sewer reserves for a potential settlement with Holden. The request for the loan and transfer came from Worcester City Manager Eric D. Batista.

More news from Central Massachusetts

Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Two men from New York are accused of targeting Indian and East Asian residents in Middlesex County and breaking into their homes as part of an elaborate operation, District Attorney Marian Ryan said Wednesday.

The District Attorneys office says David Rondon-Castro, 26, and Yeison Ramirez-Garcia, 25, both from Queens, participated in a sophisticated operation by breaking into five homes in the summer of 2025.

The two men allegedly stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and jewelry from homes in Woburn, Wilmington, Burlington and North Reading.

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Officials believe the two men used electronic surveillance to spy and on their victims and avoid police detection. Investigators say they attached GPS trackers to their victim vehicles; installed hidden video cameras in their yards; enabled Wi-Fi jammers that disabled security systems and had strict discipline regarding cell phones while engaged in break-ins.

Investigators eventually noticed suspicious vehicles in the area of each break-in and studied license plate records and cell phone data to track the suspects.

The DAs office eventually determined the break-ins across the county were being conducted by the same group that committed similar crimes across Massachusetts and other areas of the East Coast.

Massachusetts investigators eventually tracked the group to a short-term rental outside of Baltimore.

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Local detectives in Maryland obtained and executed a warrant to surveil the residence using a covert camera, which indicated that the rental was being used as a base for residential break-ins.

After collecting evidence, the detectives executed a warrant to search the property on March 1, 2026.

Rondon-Castro and Ramirez-Garcia were taken into custody.

Investigators also found a large quantity of surveillance cameras, battery packs, Wi-Fi hotspots and Wi-Fi jammers consistent with those used in the Middlesex County break-ins.

Rondon-Castro and Ramirez-Garcia were transported back to Massachusetts Tuesday night and are scheduled to be arraigned in Woburn District Court on Wednesday.

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Over the last several years, the rise in these types of calculated and sophisticated break-ins have had a chilling effect on our communities. The allegations these defendants face today are that they watched, monitored and surveilled victims based on their race and ethnicity and apparent belief that they may be more likely to have valuable heirlooms, jewelry, gold and cash in their homes as part of their heritage and culture, Ryan said in a statement. We know that the impact on the affected communities far exceeds the value of stolen property and we will continue to match the level of sophistication demonstrated in these crimes with coordinated and thorough investigations like this one that end with holding those accountable who are striking fear in our cities and towns.

A third individual, Itan Dami Beltran, 26 of Bethlehem, PA was also arrested in New York City around the same time of the arrests in Baltimore. Beltran has been charged with conspiracy to commit residential break-ins for his role in the Middlesex crimes.

Beltran is expected to be moved to Massachusetts for his arraignment in Woburn District Court later this week.

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Corn price action is up 2 to 3 cents so far on Tuesday morning. Futures closed the Monday session with contracts down 1  to 6 cents in most contracts at the close. Pressure was from a President Trump post ordering the Department of War to postpone some military strikes on Iran. Preliminary open interest was down 3,391 contracts on Monday, with the most in nearby May (-9,034) and December (-1,035) The CmdtyView national average Cash Corn price was down 6 cents to $4.17 3/4.

USDA reported a private export sale of 102,000 MT of corn sold to Mexico on Monday morning.

More News from Barchart

Export Inspections data showed corn at 1.7 MMT (66.9 mbu) shipped in the week that ended on March 19. That was up 1.79% from last week, and 9.83% above the same week last year. Mexico was the top destination of 483,855 MT, with 327,512 MT to Japan and 180,375 MT to Colombia. Marketing year shipments have totaled 44.58 MMT (1.755 bbu), which is up 37.8% yr/yr. China was the sole destination for 182,179 MT of sorghum.

May 26 Corn closed at $4.59 1/2, down 6 cents, currently up 2 3/4 cents

Nearby Cash was $4.17 3/4, down 6 cents,

Jul 26 Corn closed at $4.70 1/2, down 5 1/2 cents, currently up 2 1/2 cents

Dec 26 Corn closed at $4.86 1/2, down 4 1/4 cents, currently up 2 cents

New Crop Cash was $4.44 3/4, down 4 3/4 cents,

On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
Q : How should the waste stripping in the higher pits be modeled quarter by quarter for the year, and what is the impact on costs? A : Gregory Robinson, General Manager of Florida Canyon Mine, explained that waste stripping will be significant in the first part of the year and will start to taper off as they progress deeper into the deposit. Clifford Lafleur, Chief Operating Officer, added that the stripping was expected for 2025 and 2026, tapering off in Q1 2027, which will allow for higher production in 2027-2028. Cost-wise, it's weighted towards the first half of the year, with 55% of sustaining costs in H1 and 45% in H2.

Story Continues

Q: Have you seen any incremental interest from investors following the GDXJ inclusion? A: Clifford Lafleur noted that the bespoke financing for DeLamar early works programs attracted new institutions, including three large generalist funds not previously on their registry. While they experienced increased trading liquidity in advance of the GDXJ announcement, there is no firm proof that generalist funds piled in anticipation of the news. However, they now have significant generalist ownership on their registry.

Q: What are the strategic objectives for Integra Resources in 2026? A: George Salamis, Executive Chairman of the Board, stated that the priorities for 2026 include optimizing production, growing cash flow, and completing an updated mineral resource estimate and life of mine plan for Florida Canyon. At DeLamar, they aim to refine the feasibility study and work closely with the Bureau of Land Management on permitting. They also plan to de-risk the Nevada North project and evaluate strategic M&A opportunities.

Q: Can you provide an overview of the financial results for Q4 and full year 2025? A: Andree St-Germain, Chief Financial Officer, reported that Integra closed fiscal 2025 with a cash balance of $63.1 million and working capital of $92.9 million. The company is now debt-free except for mobile equipment leases. Q4 revenues were $55.2 million with a 46% operating margin, and full-year revenues were $243.9 million with a 39% operating profit margin. Full-year adjusted earnings were $47.3 million or $0.28 per share.

Q: What are the key highlights from the DeLamar feasibility study? A: Clifford Lafleur highlighted that the feasibility study for DeLamar outlines total production of 1.1 million ounces of gold equivalent over a 10-year mine life, with an average annual production of 106,000 gold equivalent ounces. Initial capital costs are estimated at $389 million, with an after-tax NPV of approximately $774 million and an IRR of 46% at base case gold and silver prices.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
By PAMELA JANSSON

[email protected]

IRONWOOD  Ironwood Finance Director and Treasurer Paul Linn told the Ironwood City Commission on Monday evening that, as of Feb. 28, "We are now 67% through the current fiscal year." He noted that "revenues and expenditures of most funds are in line with this benchmark" but outlined the following major funds as exceptions:

 The Major Street Fund is at approximately 79%. "Snowstorm activity was much higher than anticipated this year," said Linn, who noted that increased expenses will be offset, mostly, by State Trunkline Preservation funds from th...
MARQUETTE, Mich. - Thomas "Tom" Henry Osier, age 80, of Marquette, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, after a period of illness.

Tom was born and raised in Bessemer, the son of Joseph and Alvere (Anderson) Osier. He graduated from A.D. Johnston High School with the Class of 1963. It was during his high school years, in 10th grade, that he met the love of his life, Kathryn Stefaniak, The two married on Aug. 19, 1967.

Following high school, Tom majored in sociology and psychology at Northern Michigan University, where he was a member of the Delta Omega Nu Fraternity. He earned his bachelor's degree in social work in 1967. He began his career in public service in 1967 with the Alger-Marquette Community Action Board and later worked for the Michigan Department of Social Services in Marquette. In 1970, Tom accepted a position with the Michigan Department of Corrections at the Marquette Branch Prison. He served faithfully for 30 years and, through dedication and steady leadership, he advanced to the role of deputy warden before his retirement in the year 2000.

Tom lived an active life, rich with interests, many friendships, and curiosity. He was an avid outdoorsman, a hunter, a gun collector and a proud member of the Cedar Savages four-wheeling group.

He loved raising dogs, walking in the woods, and being outdoors in every season. A lifelong car enthusiast, Tom enjoyed working on anything with an engine and had a remarkable mechanical intuition. In his later years, he was known for snowplowing much of his neighborhood, always happy to help.

Tom cherished his daily walks around the Superior Dome and looked forward to morning coffee with "the guys." Mischievous, funny, kind, helpful and exceptionally generous, he believed that most things in life were made better when shared over a good meal.

Tom is survived by his beloved wife, Kathryn; his children, Thomas J. (Cristine) Osier of Marquette, Ann (Todd) Madely of Clay, New York, and Michael (Erika) Osier of Traunik; and his grandchildren, Owen, William and Megan. He is also survived by nieces, Stacy, Allison and Laurie; nephews, Ted and Chris; and special friends, Dave and Karen Johnson.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Marquette Regional History Center, 145 West Spring Street, Marquette, MI 49855.

A memorial service for Tom and his wife, Kathryn, will be held on Friday, May 8, at Messiah Lutheran Church at 11 a.m., with Pastor Steve Solberg officiating.

The Canale-Tonella Funeral Home and Cremation Services is assisting the family, and condolences may be expressed online at canalefuneral.com.
The price of Brent crude experienced a decline of approximately 4% on 25 March, attributed to a potential ceasefire that may alleviate supply disruptions in the Middle East.

This followed reports that the US had proposed a 15-point plan to Iran aimed at ending their ongoing conflict, reported Reuters.

As of 03:35 GMT, Brent crude futures had dropped by $4.17, or 4%, to $100.32 per barrel (bbl), with earlier declines reaching $97.57.

Similarly, US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures decreased by $3.11, or 3.4%, settling at $89.24/bbl after falling to $86.72 earlier.

On Tuesday, both oil benchmarks had initially risen by nearly 5% before settling back down amid volatile trading conditions.

US President Donald Trump announced progress in negotiations with Iran, corroborated by a source that confirmed the existence of a 15-point settlement proposal sent from Washington to Tehran.

Channel 2 in Israel was cited by the news agency as reporting that the US is pushing for a month-long ceasefire to facilitate talks over the proposal. This involves dismantling Iran's nuclear programme, halting support for proxy groups and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

The ongoing conflict has severely disrupted oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passageway for around one-fifth of global gas and crude supplies.

In an effort to mediate, Pakistan's Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, offered to host discussions between the US and Iran on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Iran informed the UN Security Council and International Maritime Organisation that "non-hostile vessels" could navigate the Strait if they coordinate with Iranian authorities, according to Reuters.

Despite these diplomatic efforts, military strikes from the US, Israel and Iran persisted, with sources indicating that Washington is preparing to deploy additional troops to the region.

In response to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia increased oil exports from its Yanbu port on the Red Sea to nearly four million barrels per day last week.

In the US, recent data from market sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures revealed an increase in crude oil, gasoline and distillate inventories last week.

"Oil price slides 4% on ceasefire hopes, easing Middle East supply fears" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




Soybeans are showing 3 to 6 cent gains at Mondays midday. The cmdtyView national average Cash Bean price is up 3 3/4 cents at $10.90 1/4. Soymeal futures are down $1.50 to $2, with Soy Oil futures up 7 to 10 points.

Early on Monday morning, President Trump put out a Truth Social post ordering the military to postpone strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for 5 days after weekend tales were good and productive. Iran state media responded stating there was no direct or indirect contact with the President. Oil is down $9.03 at midday.

More News from Barchart

A private export sale of 161,120 MT of soybeans was reported to Mexico by USDA this morning.

Monday mornings Export Inspections report showed 1.101 MMT (40.48 mbu) of soybeans shipped in the week of 3/19. That was 12.3% above the week prior and 32.1% larger than the same week last year. China was the largest destination of 664,967 MT, with 183,999 MT shipped to Egypt and 79,998 MT to Japan. The marketing year total is now 29.182 MMT (1.072 bbu) of soybeans shipped since September 1, which is 27% below the same period last year.

Commitment of Traders data showed spec funds trimming back their soybean net long position in the week ending on 3/17 by 20,110 contracts. That took their net long to 201,997 contracts as some longs were liquidating. In bean oil futures and options, managed money closed in on their previous record net long position, adding 13,518 contracts to a net long of 122,356 contracts.

Brazils soybean harvest is estimated at 68% harvested as of Thursday, which still lags the 80% paced from last year according to AgRural.

May 26 Soybeans are at $11.64 3/4, up 3 1/2 cents,

Nearby Cash is at $10.90 1/4, up 3 3/4 cents,

Jul 26 Soybeans are at $11.80, up 3 1/2 cents,

Nov 26 Soybeans are at $11.46 1/2, up 5 1/2 cents,

New Crop Cash is at $10.84 3/4, up 5 cents,

On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
Soybeans are trading with 4 to 6 cent losses so far on Tuesday. Futures posted gains of 2  to 7  cents in the front months on Monday. Open interest suggested very light short covering, down 1,630 contracts. The cmdtyView national average Cash Bean price was up 3 3/4 cents at $10.90 1/4. Soymeal futures were down $1.00 to $2.00, with Soy Oil futures up 7 to 26 points. Bean oil was supported late as EPA administrator Lee Zeldin indicated the RVO quotas would be released by the end of the month.

A private export sale of 161,120 MT of soybeans was reported to Mexico by USDA on Monday morning.

More News from Barchart

Monday mornings Export Inspections report showed 1.101 MMT (40.48 mbu) of soybeans shipped in the week of 3/19. That was 12.3% above the week prior and 32.1% larger than the same week last year. China was the largest destination of 664,967 MT, with 183,999 MT shipped to Egypt and 79,998 MT to Japan. The marketing year total is now 29.182 MMT (1.072 bbu) of soybeans shipped since September 1, which is 27% below the same period last year.

May 26 Soybeans closed at $11.63 1/2, up 2 1/4 cents, currently down 6 1/4 cents

Nearby Cash was $10.89 1/4, up 2 1/2 cents,

Jul 26 Soybeans closed at $11.79, up 2 1/2 cents, currently down 6 cents

Nov 26 Soybeans closed at $11.46 1/2, up 5 1/2 cents, currently down 4 1/4 cents

New Crop Cash was $10.84 1/4, up 5 1/2 cents,

On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
May NY world sugar #11 (SBK26) today is down -0.15 (-0.96%), and May London ICE white sugar #5 (SWK26) is down -1.80 (-0.40%).

Today's plunge in crude oil prices (CLK26) by more than -7% has sparked long liquidation in sugar futures. The weakness in crude prices undercuts ethanol prices and may encourage the world's sugar mills to decrease ethanol production and boost sugar output.

More News from Barchart

Sugar prices still have some support amid supply disruptions from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. According to Covrig Analytics, the closure of the strait has curbed approximately 6% of the world's sugar trade, constraining refined sugar output.

Earlier this month, sugar prices plunged to 5.5-year nearest-futures lows on concern that a global sugar surplus will persist. On February 11, analysts from sugar trader Czarnikow said they expect a global sugar surplus of 3.4 MMT in the 2026/27 crop year, following an 8.3 MMT surplus in 2025/26. Also, Green Pool Commodity Specialists said on January 29 that they expect a 2.74 MMT global sugar surplus for 2025/26 and a 156,000 MT surplus for 2026/27. Meanwhile, StoneX said February 13 that it expects a global sugar surplus of 2.9 MMT in 2025/26.

The International Sugar Organization (ISO) on February 27 forecasted a +1.22 MMT (million metric ton) sugar surplus in 2025-26, following a -3.46 MMT deficit in 2024-25. ISO said the surplus is being driven by increased sugar production in India, Thailand, and Pakistan. ISO is forecasting a +3.0% y/y rise in global sugar production to 181.3 million MMT in 2025-26.

Signs of lower sugar output in Brazil are supportive of sugar prices, after Unica on February 18 reported that sugar production in Brazil's Center-South in the second half of January fell by -36% y/y to only 5,000 MT. However, cumulative 2025-26 Center-South sugar output through January rose +0.9% y/y to 40.24 MMT.

The Indian Sugar and Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) reported last Tuesday that India's 2025-26 sugar output from Oct 1-Mar 15 was up +10.5% y/y to 26.2 MMT. On March 11, the ISMA projected India's 2025/26 sugar production at 29.3 MMT, up 12% y/y, below an earlier projection of 30.95 MMT. The ISMA also cut its estimate for sugar used for ethanol production in India to 3.4 MMT from a July forecast of 5 MMT, which may allow India to boost its sugar exports. India is the world's second-largest sugar producer.
Bitcoin Depot has replaced its CEO less than three months after a planned handoff, turning to former MoneyGram chief Alex Holmes as pressure builds on its crypto ATM business.

Scott Buchanan has resigned as CEO and as a director, according to an SEC filing on Tuesday. Buchanan had held various senior leadership roles at Bitcoin Depot since 2019. His resignation was not due to any disagreement with the company over its operations, policies, or practices, the filing indicates.

Its founder, Brandon Mintz, likewise stepped down as executive chairman but will remain on the reduced six-member board and is expected to continue advising the CEO.

Holmes, a Bitcoin Depot director since August last year, brings more than 16 years of senior payments experience from across remittances, banking, and regulatory compliance.

In a statement, Holmes said his priorities would center on operational stability, regulatory progress, and pushing for the companys evolution into a more diversified fintech platform.

Holmes previously served as CEO of the financial services firm MoneyGram from 2016 to 2024, during which he also served as chairman.

The move unwinds a succession plan unveiled in November. Bitcoin Depot had said Buchanan would become CEO this year, while Mintz would step back from the CEO role and remain executive chairman.

Bitcoin Depot Flags Control 'Weaknesses' as Connecticut Halts Its Operations

That structure lasted less than three months, a turnover that arrives as the company navigates tightening state oversight and lower expectations for its revenue.

Bitcoin Depot faces mounting pressure on its core kiosk business after Connecticut shut down its ATMs there last week, claiming the company was overcharging users and failing to issue refunds to fraud victims.

Other Bitcoin ATM operators have faced similar scrutiny, with California fining Coinhub $675,000 for overcharging customers and Chicago-based Crypto Dispensers weighing a $100 million sale after its founder was charged with money laundering.

In its latest financial report, Bitcoin Depot warned investors that its core revenue could fall by 30% to 40% this year, citing uncertainties stemming from a dynamic regulatory environment and enhanced compliance standards.

Bitcoin Depot remains the largest Bitcoin ATM operator in North America, 10 years after its founding. It operates over 9,000 kiosk locations globally.

Shares fell more than 14% on Tuesday to $2.80, nearing their lowest point over the past year, according to Google Finance data.

Bitcoin Depot did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Key takeaways

AI could amplify inequality without broader access to financial assets

Tokenization and crypto rails may expand who participates in markets

Agentic payments could automate investing for everyday users

Every year, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink drops his much-anticipated letter to investors, and markets pay attention.

These letters often act like a pulse check for global finance, outlining where capital is flowing and what risks are emerging.

This time, the spotlight is firmly on artificial intelligence and its growing economic impact.

Related: AI algorithms are a black box and have little ability to be audited, OKX official says

AI boom brings opportunity and a warning

In his letter, Fink warned that AI could make the rich even richer.

He pointed out that wealth creation has historically favored those who already own assets, and AI risks accelerating that pattern. While the technology is expected to generate massive economic value and reshape the labor market, the bigger concern is access.

"The companies with the data, infrastructure, and capital to deploy AI at scale are positioned to benefit disproportionately. That is not unusual, and none of this is inherently problematic...The broader question is who participates in the gains," Fink wrote.

He explained that when market capitalization rises, but ownership continues to be narrow, prosperity looks increasingly distant to those on the outside.

Fink also touched on structural issues in traditional finance. Systems like Social Security, while stable, dont really help people build wealth.

With funds largely tied to government bonds, Fink suggested it may be time to rethink diversification, even if reform is easier said than done.

"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."

More from TheStreet Roundtable:

Crypto and the next investment layer

In his letter, Fink also mentioned investing in digital markets at a time when the rules to govern them are still hanging in the air.

Fink said that rather than writing an entirely new rulebook for digital markets, the current one should be updated. This would allow the traditional and tokenized markets to work together.

Finks push to integrate traditional and digital markets aligns closely with what blockchain builders have been working toward. Instead of replacing the system, crypto may end up expanding it, bringing more people into the fold.
By Jayshree P Upadhyay and Nishit Navin

March 25 (Reuters) - Alphabet's Google will label verified investment apps on its app store in India, a move aimed at helping users spot legitimate trading platforms and avoid scams, a senior official at the Securities and Exchange Board of India said on Wednesday.

Only brokers and intermediaries registered with the SEBI, India's markets regulator, will be allowed to carry a verified badge, which will help users distinguish between legitimate platforms and fraudulent apps.

Around 600 financial services apps in India have already been assigned the verified label, said Aditya Swamy, managing director at Google Play, at an event with the SEBI, adding that the company was committed to building an ecosystem of trusted investment apps.

Lately, there has been a rise in online financial frauds in India, with scams spreading across apps and social media, sometimes involving unregulated financial influencers promoting high-return opportunities that are often high risk.

To curb fraud, the SEBI has barred regulated entities from associating with unregistered financial influencers and taken enforcement action against social media influencers for offering unauthorised investment advice, including market bans and fund impoundment.

"The verified badge will make it difficult to impersonate genuine financial services apps," SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey said.

Pandey added that the regulator has worked out mechanisms with Google and Meta to bar unregistered financial entities from getting advertisements for their content.

SEBI will also sign agreements with the country's electronics and IT ministry within a month to strengthen coordination in tackling financial fraud, said Jeevan Sonparote, director at the regulator.

(Reporting by Jayshree P. Upadhyay in Mumbai and Nishit Navin in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid and Shinjini Ganguli)
Key Points:

Morgan Stanley executive denies Wall Street acts on crypto FOMO.

Banks shift from cautious exposure to broader crypto and infrastructure strategies.

Morgan Stanley plans to support tokenized equities later this year.

Major financial institutions are not suddenly jumping into the cryptocurrency market out of a fear of missing out.

According to Amy Oldenburg, the head of digital asset strategy at Morgan Stanley, Wall Street has actually spent years preparing for this exact shift.

Speaking at the Digital Asset Summit in New York on Tuesday, Oldenburg pushed back against the popular narrative that traditional finance is rushing blindly into digital assets.

TradFi is getting FOMO and is now getting involved  it really isnt accurate, Oldenburg said during the panel.

Weve been on a journey around the entire modernization of financial infrastructure for years.

Related: Morgan Stanley has a new investment plan for traders in 2026

Moving past indirect exposure

Historically, large U.S. banks took a very cautious approach to the digital token industry.

For a long time, Morgan Stanley limited its involvement to indirect exposure, simply allowing its wealthy clients to access Bitcoin funds.

Broader participation faced delays due to concerns over market structure, compliance, custody, and unclear regulations.

However, that cautious stance has recently evolved into a highly defined strategy covering infrastructure, asset management, and trading.

The bank now offers spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) through its E*Trade platform.

Furthermore, Morgan Stanley filed paperwork this month to launch a spot bitcoin ETF of its own.

Preparing for tokenized equities

Looking ahead, the institution is getting ready to facilitate tokenized equities trading via its alternative trading system.

One of the things that we are planning for the second half of 2026 is turning on our trajectory cross  to support tokenized equities later this year, she said.

This platform currently processes standard equities, ETFs, and American depositary receipts (ADRs), which Oldenburg noted provides a natural foundation for new digital expansion.

Making this digital transition requires a massive overhaul of existing internal systems.

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Oldenburg explained that upgrading decades-old financial architecture to handle continuous trading and faster settlements is an enormous task.
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) requested information Monday regarding Beast Industries recent acquisition of Step, urging the company created by YouTube star MrBeast to move cautiously as it weighs crypto for the mobile banking app designed for young investors.

In a letter sent to Beast Industries CEO Jeff Housenbold and MrBeastwhose real name is Jimmy Donaldsonthe crypto critic argued that the firms history raises concerns about its ability to manage a financial technology company, particularly one targeting children and teens.

The 12-page letter focuses on Steps previous involvement in crypto. In 2022, the app announced that it had become the first platform in the U.S. to allow teens, with the consent of a parent or legal guardian, to purchase digital assets like Bitcoin. The company later advertised that it was expanding access to more than 50 digital assets, including NFTs.

The senator argued that the Step promoted risky investments on social media, while providing users with resources that allegedly encouraged kids to pressure their parents into allowing crypto investments through Step, including a script that was posted to YouTube.

Although Step backed away from crypto in 2024, Warren noted that Beast Industries has signaled its acquisition of Step could unlock opportunities with crypto and decentralized finance. Not long before, Beast Industries filed a trademark for MrBeast Financial, with language that mentioned crypto-based services for trading and payments using DeFi.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Beast Industries said that it appreciates Warrens outreach, and the company plans on engaging with her as Step evolved under MrBeast. Warrens letter put forth 11 different questions for the company to answer, which include procedures for accommodating users who lose funds due to fraud, scams, and cybersecurity failures.

Our primary motivation behind this deal is to improve the financial future of the next generation, they added. Were examining all existing offerings and marketing approaches to ensure that Steps future is developed thoughtfully and deliberately, meets our very high quality standards, and is in compliance with applicable laws and regulatory requirements.

MrBeast Video Editor Fired From Beast Industries Following Kalshi Insider Trading Probe

With over 500 million across social media, Warren wrote that MrBeasts fans are loyal and likely to place their funds, savings, and financial futures in the YouTube stars hands.

Prior to acquiring Step, Beast Industries disclosed a $200 million from Ethereum treasury firm BitMine, which is chaired by Fundstrat co-founder Tom Lee. (Disclosure: Lee is an investor in DASTAN, the parent company of an editorially independent Decrypt.)

Warrens scrutiny of Beast Industries centered on Step, but the company was also thrust into the conversation around prediction markets earlier this year after Kalshi said that it had taken an enforcement action against a video editor, who was then fired. Kalshi found that the employee in question had abused knowledge of MrBeasts videos to conduct near-perfect trading.
Key Takeaways

Ripple joined Singapores MAS-led BLOOM initiative to test RLUSD in a trade finance pilot with Unloq.

The pilot links payment release to shipment verification and other predefined commercial conditions.

The project gives RLUSD a regulated enterprise use case in cross-border settlement infrastructure.

Ripple is testing its RLUSD stablecoin in Singapore through a trade finance pilot under the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

The blockchain giant is partnering with supply chain finance firm Unloq on a system that releases cross-border payments once shipment conditions are verified.

How The Pilot Works

Ripple announced the pilot on March 25.

The project gives Ripple a regulated setting to test RLUSD in a commercial settlement workflow rather than a purely market-facing one.

BLOOM, launched by MAS in October 2025, is designed to extend settlement capabilities using tokenized forms of commercial bank money and stablecoins that meet regulatory expectations.

Ripple said the pilot combines Unloqs SC+ trade finance platform with the XRP Ledger and RLUSD.

Under that setup, trade obligations, settlement conditions and financing workflows are brought into a single execution layer, with payments moving once predefined triggers, including shipment verification, are met.

That targets a familiar trade finance bottleneck. Cross-border payments often wait on document review, manual checks and coordination between multiple parties.

A programmable settlement structure tied to verified commercial events could shorten that gap and improve visibility for importers, exporters and financing partners.

Why Singapore Matters for Ripple

Singapore gives the pilot more weight than a generic product test.

MAS has positioned BLOOM as a framework for industry collaboration around digital settlement assets.

It emphasizes standardized approaches and risk management for tokenized bank liabilities and regulated stablecoins.

RLUSD enters the pilot as part of a central bank-backed initiative focused on settlement infrastructure.

The company is effectively placing its stablecoin inside a policy environment built around compliance, interoperability and institutional payments.

Why RLUSDs Trade Finance Use Case Matters

For Ripple, the pilot gives RLUSD a clearer enterprise use case.

The stablecoin is being tested as a settlement asset in a workflow where funds move only after commercial conditions are satisfied.

The move also fits a broader push across the stablecoin sector toward payments, treasury and market infrastructure.

Ripples announcement frames RLUSD as part of programmable settlement infrastructure for trade finance, an area where automation and conditional payments can map directly onto real business processes.
Traders have been using Polymarket to bet on the beginning and end of the Iran war. - Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

On Monday morning, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social saying the U.S. and Iran had very good and productive conversations about resolving the war in the Middle East.

However, before Trump revealed this information publicly, a few accounts on the prediction-market platform Polymarket were making big bets that the war would end as soon as this week.

Most Read from MarketWatch

A group of 10 recently opened accounts had bet thousands of dollars on Polymarkets US x Iran cease-fire market, betting that a cease-fire would happen by March 31 or April 15. Together, these accounts had bet around $160,000 on the cease-fire, and stand to gain over $1 million if it comes by the end of the month.

The accounts were identified by Lirrato on X on Sunday, and recirculated by PolymarketHistory. After Trumps post on Monday, the prediction-market positions from those 10 accounts had increased by more than $300,000 in unrealized gains.

One of the 10 accounts identified, which trades under the handle NOTHINGEVERFRICKINGHAPPENS, also raised some eyebrows. The account was opened in late February, and its first two trades were a $7,600 bet on the U.S. striking Iran by Feb. 28 and a $11,283 bet on a strike by March 1. The account won over $85,000 on those two bets.

Now, that same account is betting $8,005 on a U.S.-Iran cease-fire by March 31, and an additional $15,614 on a cease-fire by April 15. Those two bets have already gained over $30,000 in value.

The size, timing and track record of these bets have some people wondering whether the Polymarket accounts belong to insiders  people with political connections to the U.S. or Iran who know something about the current state of diplomacy that the public has yet to learn about.

Prediction-market companies have been shrouded in scandal due to insider trading. A recent example happened when a Polymarket trader made over $400,000 by betting that the U.S. would carry out a military operation in Venezuela. Just a few days after the initial bet, the U.S. announced the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

Competing prediction-market platform Kalshi recently banned two traders on its platform for insider trading. It was the first time the company had publicly revealed investigations into insider trading on its platform.

On Monday, Polymarket announced that it had updated its rules on insider trading. The new rules explicitly prohibit trading on stolen confidential information, trading on illegal tips, and trading when the Polymarket user has the ability to influence the outcome of the event.
Strategy unveiled plans Monday to issue $44 billion worth of common and preferred equity, a move aimed at providing its Bitcoin-buying machine with fuel for future purchases.

The company said that it had gained the ability to issue an additional $21 billion worth of its common stock (MSTR), according to a press release. Thats in addition to $21 billion worth of its variable rate preferred share, STRC, and $2.1 billion worth of STRK, a convertible preferred share.

Although Strategy debuted its variable rate preferred share more than half a year ago, STRC has enabled Strategy to raise more than $1.5 billion this month due to rising investor interest. Not long before, the company hiked the products monthly dividend to 11.5% in an effort to stoke demand.

Following that move, STRC traded above its $100 par value for several days. When that threshold is reached, Strategy has signaled that it will issue STRC to fund Bitcoin purchases. However, STRC has traded below the $100 mark for seven straight trading days. Strategys STRK preferred stock is one of several that carries common stock conversion rights.

STRC recent surge issuance underscores Strategys shift toward digital credit. Over the past year, Strategy has embraced preferred shares as an alternative source of funding to common stock, even though that has weighted the firm with additional costs.

Strategy has spent billions of dollars on Bitcoin this month, yet the firms acquisition pace slowed to a crawl last week as its flagship preferred share lingered below that threshold.

The Tysons Corner, Virginia-based firm acquired 1,031 Bitcoin for $76.6 million, according to a press release. The company issued common stock to fund the purchase, which represented Strategys smallest in a month.

This past weekend, Strategy co-founder and Executive Chairman indicated that the companys latest purchase could resemble a more measured step than its previous sprint to start the spring. The Orange March Continues, he posted to X on Sunday.

The companys stock price rose 2% to $138, according to Yahoo Finance. Meanwhile, Bitcoin changed hands around $71,420, paring weekly losses after President Trump telegraphed a five-day pause on U.S. missile strikes against Iran, according to CoinGecko.

On Monday, the Bitcoin-buying firm said its stockpile had reached 762,099 Bitcoin, a sum valued above $54 billion. That meant Bitcoins largest corporate holder sat on a nearly $3.3 billion unrealized loss, with an average purchase price of $75,694 per Bitcoin.

Bitcoin Tops $71,000 as Trump Postpones Iran Power Plant Strike Plans
Tether, the worlds top stablecoin issuer, announced Tuesday it will soon make good on a yearslong promise to audit its sprawling stablecoin reservesbut wont yet disclose which firm will actually do the job.

Tether claims to hold some $192 billion in assets in reserve around the world to back the value of its dollar-pegged stablecoin, USDT. The majority of those reserves are purported to be held in U.S. Treasuries.

But, ever since its founding in 2014, the company has refrained from undergoing an audit from a Big Four accounting firm to confirm the accuracy of its reserve claims. It has instead relied on attestations reviewed by an Italian accounting firm that has never directly examined Tethers accounts and holdings.

Today, the company announced it has signed a deal with a Big Four accounting firm to complete its first full independent financial statement audit. But Tether did not state which firm, and a Tether representative declined comment when reached by Decrypt.

The Big Four accounting firmsDeloitte, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, and KPMGare the worlds largest auditors, and are widely regarded as providing a certain standard of rigor and transparency when engaged by major corporations.

Tethers CEO, Paolo Ardoino, told Decrypt last year he planned on putting Tether through a Big Four audit, but that the process was taking time given the companys size.

The GENIUS Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump last summer, requires all foreign stablecoin issuerstheoretically including Tether, which is based in El Salvadorto undergo rigorous audits of its stablecoin reserves. Ardoino said last year he intends for USDT to comply with the law. A Big Four audit would go a long way to achieving that goal.

Tether, Anchorage Tap Deloitte for First USAT Stablecoin Reserve Report

Last fall, Tether launched an American offshoot with its own, U.S.-specific stablecoin, USAT. The token launched in January, and currently boasts a far smaller market capitalization than Tethers flagship token: just $27 million, compared to USDTs $184 billion.

USATs far smaller reserves were successfully audited by Deloitte a month later.

Editor's note: This story was updated after publication to note that Tether declined comment.
Have You read The New Report Shaking Up Retirement Plans ? Americans are answering three questions and many are realizing they can retire earlier than expected.

The most common employer match structure is 50 cents on every dollar contributed, up to 6% of salary. On a $65,000 salary, contributing only 3% means you are essentially leaving a $975 annual bonus on the table, money your employer is legally obligated to give you if you just ask for it. Over 30 years, that uncollected $975, compounded at a 7% average annual return, grows into a $92,000 mountain of lost wealth. When you factor in the additional 3% you didn't save yourself, the total shortfall at retirement hits $276,000. That is a quarter-million-dollar penalty for simply not checking a single box.

When plan sponsors set auto-enrollment defaults, they deliberately chose 3%, and the logic is pretty simple in that a low default rate would minimize opt-outs from employees nervous about smaller paychecks. Three percent was the "sweet spot" that felt painless enough to keep workers from opting out of the plan entirely. The problem is that most workers mistake this starting line for a finish line and never revisit the number. Research consistently shows that inertia is a powerful force: nearly 4 in 10 participants simply stay on the default setting for years, and less than half ever activate the "auto-increase" features right there in their portals.

Let's assume a 35-year-old earning $65,000 a year is auto-enrolled in the company 401(k) at 3% and never changes their contribution level. By the time this person reaches age 65, they have accumulated roughly $276,000 less than a colleague who simply checked one box in the same plan portal. Same salary. Same market returns. Same employer. The entire gap stems from a deliberately low default rate and a feature almost no one activates.

Have You read The New Report Shaking Up Retirement Plans ? Americans are answering three questions and many are realizing they can retire earlier than expected.

Activating the dormant auto-escalation feature, typically a single toggle in the plan portal that increases contributions by 1% annually, compounds wealth steadily over decades without requiring ongoing discipline or paychecks workers notice.

A 35-year-old earning $65,000 at a 3% default 401(k) contribution rate forfeits $92,000 in employer match compounding alone, resulting in a $276,000 total retirement shortfall by age 65 compared to someone contributing 6% to capture the full match.

Story Continues

The employer match adds $0.50 for every $1.00 contributed up to the match threshold, and this money is already budgeted into your compensation package. Leaving it uncollected is the equivalent of declining part of your salary.

The Feature Sitting Dormant in Your Plan Portal

Most 401(k) plans include an auto-escalation feature alongside auto-enrollment. It automatically raises your contribution rate by 1% per year, typically until it hits a cap of 10% or 15%. Almost nobody activates it.

The reason matters: SECURE 2.0 requires new 401(k) plans established after December 29, 2022, to auto-enroll at a minimum of 3% and escalate by at least 1% per year until reaching the 10% maximum. However, this mandate applies only to new plans. If your employer's plan predates that cutoff, the escalation feature may be sitting in your settings as an opt-in toggle that was never flipped.

A 1% increase on a $65,000 salary adds $650 per year to contributions, and most workers do not notice it in their paychecks. If you start at age 35 and escalate by 1% annually for five years, it moves the contribution rate from 3% to 8%, well above the threshold needed to capture the full employer match and into the territory where compounding builds wealth steadily over three decades.

The 2026 Limits Make the Timing Urgent

The IRS increased the 401(k) employee contribution limit to $24,500 for the 2026 tax year. Workers aged 50 and older can now add an $8,000 catch-up contribution, bringing their total deferral capacity to $32,500. Under the new SECURE 2.0 "super catch-up" rules, those aged 60 through 63 are eligible for an even larger $11,250 allowance, a massive jump that remains the same for 2026 even as the base catch-up climbed.

These higher limits are only useful if contribution rates are set high enough to actually reach them. A worker still sitting at a 3% default at age 52 is contributing a mere $1,950 on a $65,000 salary, leaving over $30,000 of available tax-advantaged space unused. Without addressing the default rate problem, these expanded IRS "catch-up" benefits remain a theoretical advantage that never actually hits the worker's balance.

Consumer sentiment from the University of Michigan sits at 56.4, a historically depressed reading that reflects widespread financial anxiety. That stress tends to push people away from retirement accounts rather than toward them, which is precisely the environment where a dormant default rate does the most damage quietly. When people are anxious, they stop checking their plan portals, allowing a stagnant 3% setting to dictate a future that could have been much larger.

Two Actions That Take Less Than Two Minutes

Log in to your 401(k) portal and find the contribution rate screen. Confirm your current deferral percentage. If it is below 6% and your employer matches up to 6%, you are leaving free money uncollected every pay period. Raising from 3% to 6% on a $65,000 salary costs roughly $1,950 more per year out of pocket, but captures an equal amount in employer contributions previously forfeited. Look for an auto-escalation toggle on the same screen. It is typically labeled "automatic increase" or "contribution escalation." Setting it to increase by 1% per year requires no further action and no ongoing discipline. The compounding effect of those early rate increases over decades is what produces the $276,000 gap in retirement wealth. If your plan predates SECURE 2.0, this feature is almost certainly opt-in and almost certainly off.

If your modified adjusted gross income is approaching Medicare's income-related premium thresholds, increasing pre-tax 401(k) contributions can also reduce taxable income, helping protect against Medicare premium surcharges in retirement. That conversation is worth having with a fee-only advisor if your household income exceeds $109,000 for a single filer or $218,000 for married couples filing jointly. Both actions are available on the same plan portal screen and take less than 2 minutes.

The New Report Shaking Up Retirement Plans

You may think retirement is about picking the best stocks or ETFs and saving as much as possible, but you'd be wrong. After the release of a new retirement income report, wealthy Americans are rethinking their plans and realizing that even modest portfolios can be serious cash machines.

Many are even learning they can retire earlier than expected.

If you're thinking about retiring or know someone who is, take 5 minutes to learn more here.
Evergy settled a class action lawsuit in March, filed by former employees alleging the company didn't properly manage the investments offered in the company 401(k) retirement plan. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  Former Evergy employees suing the utility company for failing to properly oversee retirement investments in the companys 401(k) plan settled their class action lawsuit in an as-yet undisclosed agreement.

Evergy spokeswoman Gina Penzig said Monday in an emailed statement to Kansas Reflector that the settlement and proposed distribution of settlement funds will be reviewed and approved by the court.

In order to end the significant legal cost and uncertainty of ongoing litigation, Evergy and other parties to the case reached a settlement, she said. Evergy maintains that the company and its representatives acted appropriately and in the best interest of the plan participants.

In January 2025, former Evergy employees Derick Doll and Catherine Fluegel filed a lawsuit in the Western District Court of Missouri accusing Evergy of failing to manage the plan  and employee dollars - adequately by monitoring underperforming investments.

Joseph Nagel, another former employee, was later added to the lawsuit as a plaintiff. The lawsuit received class action status in October 2025 from presiding Missouri District Judge Stephen Bough.

These alleged breaches and imprudent investments resulted in the loss of tens of millions of dollars for Plaintiffs and the Class, the employee filing said.

Named in the suit are Evergy Inc.; the administrative committee that manages the companys 401(k) savings plan; former president and CEO Terry Bassham, who retired in 2020; current president and CEO David Campbell; and SageView Advisory Group, retirement plan consultants.

The crux

The lawsuit hinged on American Century Fund Target Date Funds offered as an investment option through Evergys 401(k) retirement plan. Although employees can choose how to invest in the plan, those fund options are decided by plan managers, filings said.

The American Century TDFs have been named in similar lawsuits across the country with accusations they underperformed similar funds. According to court filings, the funds held a 1.5% market share in 2016 but that dropped to 0.5% by 2024.

American Century TDF assets dropped 40% while the overall industry saw 100% growth, court filings said.

Evergy didnt remove those funds from its 401(k) until January 2025.

In filings, Evergy employees said the 401(k) plan falls under federal Employment Retirement Income Security Act, or ERISA, regulations, which set a prudent person standard. Such a standard considers whether trustees investigated merits of investments and appropriately structured them.

A prudent fiduciary who reviewed that performance and turnover information  all of which was available to Defendants at the beginning of the Class Period  would have taken action to monitor and remove the American Century TDFs from the Plan as a result of their dramatic and sustained underperformance, the filings said.
What sets FTEC apart structurally is its cost. The expense ratio is 0.08%  among the lowest available for any sector ETF. Over a decade, a 0.08% expense ratio versus a 0.35% or 0.39% alternative saves a meaningful fraction of returns on a large position. The fund manages $16.67 billion in net assets, making it one of the largest pure-play tech ETFs available.

Have You read The New Report Shaking Up Retirement Plans ? Americans are answering three questions and many are realizing they can retire earlier than expected.

The portfolio is anchored by mega-caps. NVIDIA, Apple, and Microsoft together account for roughly 44% of the fund, which is the central tradeoff here: FTEC looks diversified by count, but its returns are heavily shaped by three companies. Semiconductors are the largest sector slice at 32%, followed by systems software at 18% and technology hardware at 17%.

Fidelity MSCI Information Technology ETF ( NYSEARCA:FTEC ) tracks the MSCI USA IMI Information Technology Index, giving investors exposure to the full breadth of U.S. technology  from chip designers and semiconductor equipment makers to enterprise software and IT services. With roughly 283 to 292 holdings, it is the most diversified fund on this list.

Three tech ETFs. Three very different portfolios. FTEC, IGV, and XNTK each carry the "technology" label, but what they actually hold  and how they've performed  tells three distinct stories about how to own the sector.

Have You read The New Report Shaking Up Retirement Plans ? Americans are answering three questions and many are realizing they can retire earlier than expected.

The three funds offer fundamentally different exposures to technology: FTEC provides lowest-cost broad-market coverage, XNTKs equal-weight structure overweights semiconductor equipment and hardware makers relative to mega-cap dominance, and IGVs concentrated software bet has faced headwinds from AI disruption concerns that Goldman Sachs characterizes as overdone repricing.

Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF ( FTEC ) has the lowest expense ratio at 0.08% and $16.67B in assets with 283-292 holdings, though its returns are heavily driven by Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft which comprise 44% of the fund. iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF ( IGV ) dropped 20.11% year-to-date and is down 9.31% over the past year as AI disruption fears hit software stocks, while SPDR NYSE Technology ETF ( XNTK ) returned 32.22% over the past year with an equal-weight structure that gives semiconductor equipment makers like Micron, Lam Research, and Applied Materials significantly higher weightings than in cap-weighted peers.

Story Continues

Performance has rewarded long-term holders. Over the past year, FTEC returned 27.78%, and over three years the fund gained 97.47%. Year-to-date in 2026, it is down 4.95%, reflecting broader sector pressure rather than anything fund-specific.

IGV: A Focused Bet on Software Through a Turbulent Stretch

The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (NYSEARCA:IGV) does something the other two funds on this list do not: it concentrates almost entirely on software. Application software accounts for 63% of the portfolio and systems software for another 34%, meaning there is essentially no semiconductor or hardware exposure. If you want a pure software thesis, IGV is the most direct expression of it.

The top holdings reflect that focus clearly. Microsoft, Palantir, Oracle, and Salesforce sit at the top of the portfolio, each carrying roughly 7% to 9% weight. The fund also holds cybersecurity names like Palo Alto Networks and CrowdStrike, cloud infrastructure players like ServiceNow, and a range of smaller SaaS businesses. It tracks the S&P North American Expanded Technology Software Index and has been doing so since July 2001, giving it a longer track record than either of its peers here.

The recent performance story is complicated. IGV fell sharply in early 2026 as AI disruption fears rattled software stocks broadly. The fund dropped 20.11% year-to-date and is down 9.31% over the past year. That is a stark contrast to FTEC and XNTK, both of which posted gains over the same trailing twelve months. The three-year return of 45.09% trails both peers by a wide margin.

The sell-off has attracted contrarian attention. After a 35% slide, the fund began rallying in early March 2026, with analyst Dan Niles noting that "certain software sectors like database, security, and high production cost gaming software are poised to perform well post-shakeout." Goldman Sachs separately argued that "investor fears about AI disruption are overblown and have led to indiscriminate repricing." The fund's recovery depends on whether software earnings hold up as AI tools mature and whether the repricing was an overreaction or a preview of structural margin compression.

The expense ratio is 0.39%  meaningfully higher than FTEC  and the fund pays a dividend yield near zero, consistent with its growth-oriented, software-heavy composition. AUM stands at approximately $7.91 billion.

XNTK: Equal-Weight Logic Applied to a Broader Tech Universe

The SPDR NYSE Technology ETF (NYSEARCA:XNTK) takes a structurally different approach than either FTEC or IGV. Where those funds weight holdings by market capitalization, XNTK tracks the NYSE Technology Index with equal weighting across its holdings. That design choice has real consequences for what you actually own.

The top ten positions tell the story. Micron, Lam Research, Applied Materials, ASML, and Taiwan Semiconductor each carry roughly 3.5% to 5.6% weight, far higher than their representation in a cap-weighted fund like FTEC. Meanwhile, Nvidia and Apple, which dominate FTEC, carry only around 3% each in XNTK. The fund also includes names outside the traditional IT sector: Alphabet, Netflix, Meta, Amazon, and Tesla all appear in the top holdings, reflecting the NYSE Technology Index's broader definition of what constitutes a technology company.

Sector allocation confirms this wider scope. Information technology makes up 69% of the fund, with communication services at 13% and consumer discretionary at 8%. That mix makes XNTK less of a pure IT play and more of a broad technology economy fund.

The equal-weight structure has paid off in recent performance. XNTK returned 32.22% over the past year and 130.98% over three years, the strongest showing across all three funds on both timeframes. Year-to-date it is down 4.71%, roughly in line with FTEC.

The five-year picture is more nuanced. XNTK's 95.23% five-year gain trails FTEC's 113.82% over the same stretch, suggesting that equal weighting's advantage is more pronounced in certain market environments than others.

The expense ratio is 0.35%, and the fund manages approximately $1.52 billion in assets  considerably smaller than FTEC or IGV. Investors who prioritize maximum liquidity will find FTEC and IGV offer considerably deeper trading volume given their larger asset bases.

How the Three Funds Compare

Fund Expense Ratio AUM 1-Year Return 3-Year Return YTD 2026 FTEC 0.08% $16.67B +27.78% +97.47% -4.95% IGV 0.39% $7.91B -9.31% +45.09% -20.11% XNTK 0.35% $1.52B +32.22% +130.98% -4.71%

How the Three Funds Are Structurally Different

FTEC is structured for investors who prioritize cost and broad coverage. Its near-zero expense ratio is a structural advantage that compounds over time, and its size ensures deep liquidity. XNTK's equal-weight structure gives semiconductor equipment makers, networking companies, and hardware names a genuine seat at the table, and the three-year track record reflects that structural difference. IGV is the most situational of the three. Its long-term 15-year annualized return of 13.42% shows the strategy works over full cycles, but the near-term path depends heavily on how the AI disruption narrative resolves, and the fund has already absorbed a sharp drawdown getting to this point.

The New Report Shaking Up Retirement Plans

You may think retirement is about picking the best stocks or ETFs and saving as much as possible, but you'd be wrong. After the release of a new retirement income report, wealthy Americans are rethinking their plans and realizing that even modest portfolios can be serious cash machines.

Many are even learning they can retire earlier than expected.

If you're thinking about retiring or know someone who is, take 5 minutes to learn more here.
Defense demand is one of its biggest growth engines today. Its Defense and Intelligence segment surged roughly 50% YoY, and management cited the segment as a core growth driver going ahead. Planet's satellites use daily imaging of Earth to observe military activity, infrastructure improvements, and detect early warning signs. The company signed numerous government contracts, including collaborations with U.S. defense agencies, NATO, and European governments. In a world dominated by geopolitical uncertainty, this is not a cyclical demand anymore.

PL stock's rally this year is not just fueled by hype. In the recent fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, Planet Labs reported revenue of $300 million, an increase of 26% year-over-year (YoY). The company achieved its fifth straight quarter of positive adjusted EBITDA of $2.3 million. This fiscal year marked two major milestones. The company achieved its first full year of adjusted EBITDA profitability of $15.5 million. It also reported its first annual positive free cash flow of $52.9 million. This combination of growth, profitability, and cash flows is rare for a sector that burns cash heavily. It could be the reason why investors are suddenly more optimistic about the stock.

Valued at $11.5 billion, Planet Labs is a space and data company that runs a huge fleet of tiny satellites to gather daily images of the Earth. The company then processes the images with software and artificial intelligence (AI) to detect changes, track activities, and analyze patterns over time. Planet Labs then sells these actionable insights to governments, defense organizations, and businesses. It makes money by providing subscription services (access to satellite data), analytics solutions (AI-powered insights), and building satellites for the government.

While the 65% gain may entice investors to grab profits, Planet Labs could still be in the early innings of a much bigger story.

Planet Labs (PL) has been one of the most surprising winners in the market this year. The stock is up 74% year-to-date (YTD), wildly outperforming the S&P 500 Index ($SPX) and most big tech stocks. The current global scenario is stressful, with the U.S.-Iran-Israel war escalating, making real-time Earth observation mission-critical. Planet Labs, which operates a network of satellites that capture and analyze daily images of the Earth, has quietly built one of the most valuable AI-powered data platforms that governments can rely on.

Story Continues

Planet Labs is even monetizing its infrastructure through Satellite Services beyond just selling data. The company is now signing large contracts to build and deploy satellites for governments. In fiscal 2026, the company signed a nine-figure, multi-year deal with Sweden and a 240 million agreement funded by Germany. These deals generate revenue and strengthen Planets long-term competitive moat. These contracts will also allow Planet Labs to expand its satellite network with external funding. The company is using AI heavily to unlock its next phase of growth. It is building AI-powered solutions to quickly understand vast amounts of Earth observation data.

The Number That Impressed Investors

The most impressive number this fiscal year was the companys backlog of $900 million, which increased 79% YoY. This backlog provides clear revenue visibility and reflects managements confidence in future growth. The company is now prioritizing high-value customers and government contracts. This strategy contributes to increased revenue per customer and steady recurring revenue, which now makes up 98% of its contract value. Net dollar retention rate stood strong at 116% in fiscal 2026.

Balancing Growth and Profitability Is the Challenge

Despite the progress, Planet Labs is still in its early phases of development. This requires significant capital investments to increase satellite manufacturing capacity and develop next-generation fleets. This will continue to impact profitability. The company's bottom line remains in the red, with an adjusted net loss of $0.04 per share for the fiscal year. Despite aggressive scaling, management emphasized that the company's goal remains to sustain yearly EBITDA profitability and positive free cash flow.

In fiscal 2027, the company expects revenue to range between $415 million and $440 million, a 39% increase at midpoint, in line with the consensus estimates. Analysts expect revenue to increase further by 21.6% in fiscal 2028, with losses eventually declining. Trading at 26 times forward sales, Planet Labs, though pricey, reflects investors confidence in its growth story.

What Is the Street Saying About PL Stock?

On Wall Street, PL stock is a Moderate Buy. Of the 12 analysts covering the stock, seven rate it a Strong Buy, one says it is a Moderate Buy, and four rate it a Hold. On March 20, the stock surged 25.5%, driven by a strong quarter, and surpassed its average target price of $26.44.

www.barchart.com

Following the results, Cantor Fitzgerald increased its price target for Planet Labs from $20 to $40, setting a new high price estimate for the stock. The analyst says the stock is a Buy even though it is expensive now, citing that the companys core business is getting stronger with the government and more industries relying on its satellite data and AI-powered insights. The analyst believes this could help Planet generate more stable and consistent cash flow over time, making it a stronger long-term investment despite short-term market risks.

Similarly, Wedbush and Needham raised the target price to $40 with a Buy rating, which implies an upside potential of 17% from current levels.

Note that the new high price target isn't yet reflected on the Barchart page.

The Bottom Line

The 65% rally may tempt investors to cash in on the big profits, but Planet Labs fundamentals suggest otherwise. Planet Labs is evolving from a speculative space bet to a scalable, data-driven platform with strong government demand, improving financials, and enormous AI potential. This may not be the peakrather, this might just be the beginning for Planet Labs.

On the date of publication, Sushree Mohanty did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) is one of the 7 Most Undervalued Blue Chip Stocks to Invest In.

On March 23, 2026, Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) announced an investment in DaVinci Commerce through Accenture Ventures, alongside a strategic partnership with Accenture Song. The company said commerce is shifting toward AI-driven interactions, with AI agents that research, recommend, and increasingly transact, and noted the collaboration will help clients build capabilities across the commerce value chain, from discovery to fulfillment, as brands adapt to this emerging agentic commerce model.

Accenture (ACN) Announces Investment in DaVinci Commerce

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On March 20, 2026, JPMorgan raised its price target on Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) to $247 from $243 previously and maintained an Overweight rating following fiscal Q2 results, citing continued execution.

On March 19, 2026, Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) reported Q2 EPS of $2.93, above the $2.84 consensus estimate, on revenue of $18B versus $17.84B expected. CEO Julie Sweet said the company delivered record second quarter bookings and highlighted strong AI-driven growth, pointing to increasing demand for enterprise AI adoption and continued investment in capabilities through acquisitions.

Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) provides consulting, technology, and outsourcing services across global markets.

While we acknowledge the potential of ACN as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 15 Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years.

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The recent tumult of surging redemption requests at private credit non-traded BDCs has done nothing to dissuade enthusiasm for alternative investments in the wealth channel, based on the mood at the iCapital Connect conference in Phoenix this week.

In fact, while private credit is naturally a hot topic, asset managers and advisors are equally focused on what the next phase of alts adoption will look like, with many pointing to model portfolios and SMAs featuring alternative assets as key to continued adoption.

Overall, nearly 1,000 attendees from asset managers and 310 wealth management firms are attending iCapitals second annual national conference.

Private markets are at an inflection point, iCapital CEO Lawrence Calcano said in his opening remarks. There are new wrappers, new structures and new ways products are being brought to the market. Thats creating a lot of complexity. If you think about the last couple of years and where we are in the adoption cycle, thousands of new advisors have used alts. And that will speed up with tens of thousands more in the next couple of years.

Thats despite the current uproar surrounding private credit. Some managers of semi-liquid private credit business development companies and interval funds have faced surges in redemption requests, exceeding monthly and quarterly caps (typically around 1% per month and 5% per quarter).

However, asset managers and advisors at the event contend that concerns about private credit fundamentals and managers' ability to weather the storm are overblown. They also argue that the limited liquidity features are acting exactly as intended to protect asset managers and other investors. Most are also shifting away from using the term semi-liquid for the funds, in favor of evergreen or perpetual.

Instead, the tenor of discussions at the event remains optimistic about the continued adoption of private markets, including pointing to how the proliferation of model portfolios featuring alternatives and unified managed accounts equipped to handle private market investments will pave the way for continued growth.

Model portfolios offer a way to provide a single ticket, diversified alternative investment solution with asset allocation guided by a firm's investment committee.

Model portfolios are an important component in the adoption of alternative investments. They provide a holistic approach to incorporating alternatives centered on diversification across asset classes and fund managers. Model portfolios also allow for connecting alternative investments to the broader portfolio with less friction, said Kunal Shah, managing director and head of private asset research and model portfolios at iCapital. For those advisors who are still early in their journey with alternatives, model portfolios offer them simpler access to a range of underlying funds and enable them to build scalable exposure quickly.
Microsoft (MSFT) stock has lost almost 23% year to date, at the time of writing, Tuesday afternoon, March 24, according to Yahoo Finance. Meanwhile, the SPDR S&P 500 index (SPY) is down about 3.75% in the same period.

The rest of the Magnificent 7 stocks are also down in the same period:

Alphabet (GOOGL) is down more than 5%.

Amazon (AMZN) is down almost 10%.

Apple (AAPL) is down more than 6%.

Nvidia (NVDA) is down almost 6%.

Tesla (TSLA) is down almost 15%.

Meta (META) is down more than 9%.

Microsoft stock crashed following its Q2 fiscal year 2026 earnings report on Jan. 28. It closed at $481.63, and the following day it closed at $433.55, losing about 10% in a single day.

The companys huge capital expenditures and reliance on OpenAI contributed to the crash.

Approximately 45% of our commercial [remaining performance obligations] balance is from OpenAI, CFO Amy Hood said during the earnings call.

That means 45% of the $625 billion backlog, according to Form 10-Q, is dependent on OpenAI. Many investors believe that it is a big risk. I did an in-depth analysis of why investing in OpenAI might be a mistake: AMZN, MSFT, NVDA, SFTBY setting $100 billion on fire.

Since the article was posted, we have learned about the outcome. OpenAI touted a successful $110 billion funding round, but Microsoft didnt participate.

Investors unsure whether the backlog is real, whether Microsofts partnership with OpenAI is beneficial for the company, and whether the AI cycle is a bubble, are in luck. Bank of America analyst Tal Liani and his team reinstated their coverage of Microsoft stock and provided their opinion on these important questions.

Bank of America reinstates Microsoft stock coverage with a buy rating

Liani answered the most important question: Is Microsofts AI backlog real, and when does it turn into revenue?

Demand is real and durable; the bottleneck is supply, not appetite, he wrote.

Liani said that as Fairwater data center and other AI infrastructure build-outs materialize, he expects the conversion of remaining performance obligations to accelerate and for Azure to maintain leadership. But nearterm free cash flow (FCF) margins will stay under pressure due to elevated capex.

Related: Goldman Sachs resets Microsoft stock forecast

Regarding the question of whether Microsofts OpenAI partnership brings longterm strategic value, the team said that concentration risk exists but is manageable. Analysts said that they believe the AI cycle is a longduration platform shift, not a bubble. According to them, this is an investment cycle with frontloaded capital expenditures and backended monetization.
Bank of America just reinstated coverage of Oracle (ORCL) with a Buy rating and a $200 price target. The call comes from analyst Tal Liani, who described Oracle as "a giant going all-in on AI infrastructure and the cloud." The target implies roughly 30% upside from current levels.

The stock traded between $148 and $155 on March 24 and 25. It has fallen sharply from its 2025 peak of $345.72. The Bank of America target sits well below the Street consensus of approximately $250 to $265. But Liani's thesis is focused and specific. It centers on one number above all others.

The backlog that changes the investment case

Oracle's remaining performance obligations, or RPO, hit $553 billion in its most recent quarter. That is up 325% year over year. It is also up $29 billion from the prior quarter.

RPO represents contracted future revenue. It is work Oracle has already been hired to do. Most of the increase in Q3 came from large-scale AI contracts. Oracle noted that many of these deals involve customer prepayments or customer-supplied GPUs, meaning Oracle does not need to raise additional funds to fulfill them.

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Bank of America called this backlog evidence of "large and visible revenue potential." Liani described Oracle's reinstatement thesis as "a balanced view of accelerating AI infrastructure demand against the timing, concentration, and capital requirements of Oracle's transformation."

What the Q3 numbers showed

Oracle reported its Q3 FY2026 results on March 10. It was the first quarter in more than 15 years in which both organic total revenue and non-GAAP EPS grew by 20% or more in the same period.

The headline figures were strong across the board. Total revenue came in at $17.2 billion, up 22% year over year. Cloud revenue reached $8.9 billion, up 44%. Cloud infrastructure revenue, the piece most tied to AI workloads, hit $4.9 billion, up 84%. Non-GAAP EPS was $1.79, up 21%.

Oracle also raised its FY2027 revenue target to $90 billion and reaffirmed FY2026 revenue guidance of $67 billion. Management stated that demand for AI infrastructure continues to exceed supply.

The risks Bank of America is not ignoring

Bank of America's Buy rating comes with a clear-eyed view of the challenges Oracle faces. Liani was specific about what needs to go right for the thesis to work:
Anthony Watson, the founder of the Bank of London, stepped away from the company in September 2024 - Wikimedia Commons

A bank founded by a top Labour donor has been fined 2m for faking documents in an effort to mislead the City watchdog about its finances.

The Bank of London, founded by Anthony Watson, provided several fabricated documents to the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) to create a false picture of the capital position.

In a decision handed down on Tuesday, the PRA fined the Bank of London, which previously counted Lord Mandelson as a board member, for failing to act with integrity.

This followed an investigation into failings at the bank between October 2021 and May 2024.

An investigation by the PRA, part of the Bank of England, found that the company failed to inform officials it was at risk of insolvency between December 2023 and May 2024.

That was despite being just seven days from running out of cash during this period.

The PRA said it was the first time it had been forced to fine a bank for a lack of integrity.

It said an initial 12m fine had been reduced to 2m based on the fact that it would pose serious financial hardship to the business.

Mr Watson, a former Barclays and Nike executive and a corporate LGBT champion, launched the Bank of London in 2021 to shake up the clearing banking sector, which handles the back-end transactions between lenders.

The start-up bank raised tens of millions of pounds and at one point was valued at $1.1bn (822.5bn).

This led to Mr Watson hiring a high-profile board, including Lord Mandelson, the former business secretary and Harvey Schwartz, the chief executive of private equity giant Carlyle. However, the bank quickly encountered financial difficulties.

History of financial troubles

According to the PRA, the Bank of London was struggling to meet its capital requirements by January 2023.

To ease regulatory concerns, executives sent emails to the PRA, supposedly from their lawyers, claiming 1m had been wired to the business.

The company was running short on cash again by December, at which point it failed to alert the City watchdog.

Executives also wrongly recognised 4.7m as revenues to make its accounts appear healthier than they actually were.

The Bank of London was later bailed out by its investors, with US fund Mangrove Capital Partners taking control of the business and installing a new leadership team.

Mr Watson, who has previously given hundreds of thousands of pounds to top Labour MPs, left the bank in September 2024.

At the time, he said: As difficult as it is for any founder-CEO to step back, I know in my heart that this is the right time for me.

The Telegraph contacted Mr Watson for comment.
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) (BRK.B) doesn't make $1.8 billion bets lightly. The conglomerate is doubling down on Japan, and this time, it's not trading houses. Its subsidiary, National Indemnity Company (NICO), is set to acquire a 2.49% stake in Tokio Marine Holdings (TKOMY) for roughly 287.4 billion, or about $1.8 billion.

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Why Berkshire Is Bullish on Tokio Marine Stock

The deal gives NICO a meaningful ownership stake in one of Asias largest insurance companies. According to a company statement, Tokio Marine said it would buy back its own stock to prevent dilution of existing shareholders. NICO has also agreed not to exceed a 9.9% ownership stake without prior board approval.

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The partnership goes beyond just owning shares. The two companies plan to collaborate on reinsurance and jointly pursue mergers and acquisitions, combining NICO's enormous capital base with Tokio Marine's global underwriting platform.

Berkshire Hathaway vice chairman Ajit Jain, who oversees the insurance operations, said the company was "pleased to build a long-term collaborative relationship with TMHD, which has a strong underwriting franchise and an exceptional management team."

What is Tokio Marine?

Founded in 1879, Tokio Marine is Japan's oldest insurance company. Most U.S. investors have never heard of it, but the numbers are difficult to ignore.

Tokio Marine ended fiscal 2025 with $205 billion in total assets.

It reported earnings per share of $2.47 and is projected to increase earnings to $3.31 in fiscal 2026.

With a presence in 38 countries, Tokio Marine is also building a massive U.S. footprint.

Over the past two decades, it has spent more than $17 billion on acquisitions in the United States, including Philadelphia Insurance Companies, HCC Insurance Holdings, and Pure Group.

During a recent investor briefing, Tokio Marine Group CEO Masahiro Koike highlighted a five-year earnings-per-share (EPS) growth rate of nearly 20%, placing it among the best-performing insurers globally. The company is also targeting EPS growth of 8% or more going forward.

Should You Buy TKOMY Stock Right Now?

TKOMY trades on U.S. markets as an American Depositary Receipt (ADR). For investors considering the stock, several things stand out.
Steve Eisman, the fund manager from The Big Short, says a credit cycle is emerging and SoFi Technologies may be sitting at the center of it.

There is no doubt in my mind that a credit cycle is emerging, Eisman said on his weekly podcast.

He devoted a significant chunk of the episode to SoFis securitization problems, calling them potentially a disaster.

How The Trigger Works

Eisman broke the mechanics down.

SoFi makes consumer loans, pools them into securitizations, and sells the debt to investors.

SoFi charges borrowers 10%, pays securitization investors 5%, and keeps the spread. That spread is SoFis entire margin.

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When losses breach a preset level called the cumulative net loss trigger, SoFi stops getting paid.

Eisman cited Bloomberg data showing SoFis SCP 2025-1 securitization hit CNLs of 2.97% against a trigger of 2.60%.

Everything now goes to securitization investors until theyre made whole. He added that the 2025-2 deal looks likely to breach next.

If securitization investors decide they no longer want SoFi paper, SoFi will not be able to lend.

Muddy Waters Piles On

Short-selling firm Muddy Waters Research, led by Carson Block, published a 28-page short report on SOFI on March 17 calling the company a financial engineering treadmill and alleging $312 million in unrecorded debt.

SoFi fired back the same day, calling the report factually inaccurate and misleading and threatening legal action.

Trending: This Startup Thinks It Can Reinvent the Wheel  Literally

CEO Anthony Noto bought $500,000 in shares in an attempt to reassure the market.

Muddy Waters wasnt impressed.

In a follow-up published Saturday titled Eleven Questions, Zero Answers, the firm said SoFis response did not address a single factual claim and noted Notos share purchase amounted to roughly 0.86% of the $58.3 million he and CFO Chris Lapointe have already extracted through prepaid variable forward contracts.

SOFI is down roughly 35% year-to-date.

The Bigger Picture

Eisman framed SoFi as one symptom of a broader private credit reckoning. The market has ballooned from $300 billion to $1.8 trillion in a decade, with 80% of direct lending funding private equity buyouts.

He called the structure circular: In one part of the business, private equity buys companies, and in another part of the business, private equity lends money to itself to buy those companies.

See Also: This Under-$1 Pre-IPO AI Company Is Still Open to Retail Investors  Learn More

Apollo Global Management co-president John Zito warned at a private UBS client event that software loans may recover only 20 to 40 cents on the dollar.
With a market cap of $57.7 billion, Ciena Corporation (CIEN) is a global network technology company that provides hardware, software, and services to network operators across regions including the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and India. Its offerings span optical networking, routing and switching platforms, network control software, and automation solutions through segments like Networking Platforms, Platform Software, Blue Planet, and Global Services.

Companies valued at $10 billion or more are generally considered "large-cap" stocks, and Ciena fits this criterion perfectly. Headquartered in Hanover, Maryland, the company also delivers consulting, integration, and support services to help customers design, deploy, and manage advanced networks.

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Shares of Ciena have pulled back marginally from its 52-week high of $432.18. The stock has surged 77.9% over the past three months, surpassing the broader State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF's (XLK) nearly 7% decline.

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CIEN stock has climbed 82.8% on a YTD basis, exceeding XLK's 5.5% decrease. Longer term, shares of the networking systems provider have jumped 514.8% over the past 52 weeks, compared to XLKs 25.1% gain during that period.

The stock has been trading above its 50-day and 200 moving averages since May 2025.

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Ciena Corporation has been outperforming due to strong AI-driven demand for high-speed optical networking solutions, supported by cloud expansion and rising data center connectivity needs.

Despite stronger-than-expected Q1 2026 adjusted EPS of $1.35 and revenue of $1.43 billion, shares of Ciena plunged 12.9% on March 5. Its full-year fiscal 2026 revenue guidance of $5.9 billion - $6.3 billion (midpoint $6.1 billion) came in far below the analyst consensus.

In comparison, rival Lumentum Holdings Inc. (LITE) has significantly outpaced CIEN stock. LITE stock has climbed 111.4% on a YTD basis and 958.3% over the past 52 weeks.

Despite the stock's underperformance relative to its peers, analysts are moderately optimistic about its prospects. CIEN stock has a consensus Moderate Buy rating overall from the 18 analysts covering the stock, and as of writing, it is trading above the mean price target of $343.53.

On the date of publication, Sohini Mondal did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is one of the 10 Most Profitable S&P 500 Stocks to Buy Now.

On March 20, 2026, Citi raised the price target on Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) to $125 from $120 and maintained a Neutral rating.

On March 18, 2026, Mercks Animal Health division announced that the FDA approved an expanded label for Bravecto Quantum in dogs, adding treatment and control for additional tick species for up to 12 months with a single injection. The product, first approved in July 2025, remains available through licensed veterinarians and continues to cover fleas and multiple tick infestations.

Citi Raises its Price Target on Merck & Co. (MRK) to $125 from $120

On March 16, 2026, the company also said new data from its cardio-pulmonary pipeline will be presented at the American College of Cardiology meeting, including results from the Phase 3 CORALreef AddOn trial evaluating enlicitide and the Phase 2 CADENCE trial evaluating Winrevair.

Earlier in March, Wells Fargo raised its price target on Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) to $150 from $135 and maintained an Overweight rating, stating that Sac-TMT could become best-in-class and potentially replace chemotherapy across several indications.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) develops and markets pharmaceutical and vaccine products across a wide range of therapeutic areas.

While we acknowledge the potential of MRK as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 15 Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years.

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Q : In the written report, you talk about a 1,042-day extension in Brazil worth $266 million. Which rigs is this, and can you give more color on the potential downtime or capex required to commence the work? Will you announce the outcome of Renicon in a press release when it is concluded? A : Rodrigo Ribeiro, CEO: The extension is part of the Renicon discussions with Petrobras, expected to conclude in early April. The specific rig will continue operations without downtime or additional capex. We will announce further details, including other contract changes, once the full package is finalized.

Constellation Oil Services Holding SA ( OSL:COSH ) delivered an adjusted EBITDA of $233 million in 2025, which was 37% above the initial guidance.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript .

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Q: You will commence a $25 million quarterly dividend payment shortly. What are your plans for excess cash, and how should we think about future dividend progression? Can you talk a bit more about your uplisting process? A: Daniel Rachman, CFO: The $25 million quarterly dividend is a baseline, with potential for increases as cash generation improves. The uplisting to the Oslo Brs main market is expected in May, enhancing our capital market profile and liquidity.

Q: Should we translate this blend and extend as follows: Initial contract plus incremental contract number of days equals new day rate, or is this to be phased? A: Thiago Schimmelpfennig, Chief Commercial Officer: The contract is an uninterrupted continuation of an ongoing contract, adding 1,042 days and $266 million without the need for investments or rig adjustments.

Q: Can you comment on the SEC Brazil discussion? Is this also part of the Renicon, or will it continue after Renicon? A: Rodrigo Ribeiro, CEO: The mediation process with Petrobras is ongoing and separate from Renicon. We expect no significant impact on operations and anticipate a resolution by the end of the year.

Q: Do the impairments imply a downward revision on the remaining economic life of the impaired assets, especially Atlantic Star? A: Daniel Rachman, CFO: The impairments do not change the economic life of our rigs. They reflect market rate adjustments. Atlantic Star is expected to remain active, with potential for future work in Brazil.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Beyond AI data centers, Nvidia is also pushing into telecom and cloud software. It has teamed up with telecom companies to explore 6G networks on its AI-native chips while also investing $2 billion in AI cloud startup Nebius (NBIS) and backing the new AI supercomputing firm Thinking Machines to expand Nvidia GPU deployments.

The company recently unveiled its next-generation Vera Rubin AI superchip, which is expected to ship in the second half of the year and promises up to 10 times the performance of current systems. Nvidia also secured a major multiyear strategic partnership with Meta (META) to deploy millions of GPUs, helping keep one of the worlds largest AI labs firmly inside its ecosystem.

Nvidia is best known as the world leader in AI accelerators and GPUs. It specialized in the CUDA programming platform that made its graphics processors the standard for AI computing. While it still serves gamers, its Gaming GPUs division grew 47% last quarter, and about 90% of sales now come from its Data Center unit, selling chips and networking gear to hyperscale cloud and enterprise customers. Its market value has swelled to the multi-trillion-dollar range, which proves its dominance in the AI boom.

With a rapidly expanding CUDA ecosystem, deepening partnerships with cloud giants like Amazon (AMZN), Microsoft (MSFT), and Alphabet (GOOG) (GOOGL), and innovations such as its Vera CPU platform, Nvidia appears well-positioned to capture a significant share of this trillion-dollar opportunity.

Semiconductor stocks have dominated headlines lately as enterprises pour money into data center infrastructure. After a record-breaking 2025, Nvidia (NVDA) remains the poster child of this frenzy, and its latest outlook suggests the growth story may be far from over. At its GPU Technology Conference (GTC) 2026, CEO Jensen Huang said he expects at least $1 trillion in cumulative GPU demand through 2027, up sharply from the $500 billion estimate discussed just a year ago, noting that demand is off the charts as AI shifts into a new phase of real-time inference and agentic computing.

Story Continues

Over the past two years, NVDA stock has roughly doubled as AI demand surged, rallying from the low $100s in 2024 to a peak above $210 last fall. After a brief cooldown into early 2026, NVDA shares are down 5% year-to-date (YTD), but the long-term growth story remains firmly intact.

Even after this run, valuation doesn't feel that lofty. The shares trade around 22 forward earnings, right in line with traditional tech and chip peers. When you consider that earnings are expected to grow by nearly 50% this year, that forward P/E starts to look like a pretty reasonable entry point for a company that is generating cash like this. But relative to the S&P 500, and given uncertainty around how much AI spending can be sustained, the stock looks richly valued on other classic metrics like the P/S ratio.

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Huang Unveils a $1 Trillion AI Chip Bonanza

At Nvidias annual GTC, which happened between March 16 and 19, CEO Jensen Huang stunned the market. He announced that Nvidia has already booked $500 billion in AI chip orders for 2025-26, and he expects at least $1 trillion in demand through 2027. That includes new Blackwell and upcoming Vera Rubin GPUs for AI inference. Huang told investors hes certain computing demand will be much higher than that, as enterprises race to deploy AI agents and inference workloads.

Investors greeted the forecast positively but pragmatically. NVDA stock ticked up about 1.6% on the day. Traders see the $1 trillion number as evidence that the AI runway is still expanding. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives called it a confidence boost, noting Nvidia is alone at the top of the AI mountain with a full-stack strategy.

Nvidia has Sizzling Financials

Nvidia's Q4 was nothing short of spectacular. Revenue soared 73% year-over-year (YoY) to $68.13 billion, another record. That beat Wall Street estimates and easily eclipsed last years $39.33 billion in Q4. Data Center revenue was the engine: at $62.3 billion, it jumped 75% YoY and made up over 90% of sales. The networking sector pulled in about $11 billion, more than triple year-ago levels, as cloud customers clamor for higher bandwidth.

Profitability exploded alongside sales. Nvidia reported net income of $42.96 billion for the quarter, up 94% YoY, and EPS was $1.57, nearly doubling last years $0.89. Gross margins ticked up to about 75%, helped by sales mix and high leverage on fixed costs. Operating cash flow was $36.2 billion, and free cash flow hit roughly $34.9 billion for the quarter. Nvidia ended the quarter with about $10.6 billion in cash on the balance sheet.

Colette Kress, Nvidias finance chief, called it another outstanding quarter, with record revenue, operating income, and free cash flow. She noted the growth was broad: cloud providers, enterprises, and even governments are all buying Nvidias AI infrastructure. As Huang himself put it, Our customers are racing to invest in AI compute, the factories powering the AI industrial revolution and their future growth. In other words, Nvidia claims its the inference leader with products achieving up to 50 better energy efficiency for AI workloads.

Looking ahead, management gave a bullish handoff. Nvidia guided Q1 FY2027 revenue around $78 billion, far above the roughly $72-73 billion analysts had expected. That implies another sequential jump, driven by continued AI rollout. The firm did not give EPS guidance but emphasized its supply chain and inventory commitments cover demand well into 2027.

What Wall Street Thinks of NVDA Stock?

Wall Street is firmly in Nvidia's corner following the GTC news. Morgan Stanleys Joseph Moore, a top-ranked analyst, reiterated Nvidia as a "top pick" with a $260 price target, noting that the shift to AI inference is accelerating and Nvidias lead in "cost per token" is widening. He believes the $1 trillion demand projection could actually be conservative.

Over at J.P. Morgan, analyst Harlan Sur reiterated an "Overweight" rating with a $265 target. He pointed out that the $1 trillion figure is likely just the "lower bound" since it excludes several upcoming product categories, and he highlighted management's strong defense of their gross margins.

Bank of America chimed in positively, suggesting that Huangs forecast implies a massive multiplier effect across the entire AI supply chain, from servers to networking. Even the skeptics are hard to find.

Overall, according to data from Barchart, the consensus rating is a "Strong Buy," with 40 out of 49 analysts recommending the stock. The average price target sits at $268.80, which implies a hefty 54% upside from recent trading levels.

In my opinion, for investors looking to capitalize on the next leg of the AI supercycle, NVDA stock could still offer compelling upside.

www.barchart.com

On the date of publication, Nauman Khan did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

Revenue Growth: Increased 25% in 2025 to $96.3 million.

Funded Mortgage Volume: Reached a record $84.5 billion, up from $67.4 billion in 2024.

Adjusted EBITDA: Increased 36% to $48.8 million with margins expanding to 51% from 47% in 2024.

Net Income: $24.8 million, compared to a loss of $126.8 million in 2024.

Adjusted Earnings Per Share: Increased to $0.41 from $0.21 in 2024.

Broker Network Expansion: Expanded to over 9,000 mortgage professionals.

Velocity Platform Adoption: Reached 85% penetration across the broker network by the end of 2025.

Free Cash Flow: $38.8 million attributable to common shareholders, up from $14.9 million in 2024.

Quarterly Dividend Increase: Increased to $0.05 per common share, up from $0.04.

Release Date: March 24, 2026

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

Dominion Lending Centres Inc (BRLGF) reported a record year in 2025 with a 25% growth in funded mortgage volume, reaching 84.5 billion.

The company achieved a 36% increase in adjusted EBITDA, reaching 48.8 million, with margins expanding to 51% from 47% in 2024.

The broker network expanded to over 9,000 mortgage professionals, strengthening the company's leadership position in the Canadian mortgage broker channel.

Adoption of the Velocity platform reached 85% across the broker network, enhancing productivity and client engagement.

The company increased its quarterly dividend and maintained a strong balance sheet, allowing for strategic acquisitions and investments.

Negative Points

The Canadian housing market slowdown posed challenges, although the company managed to mitigate some impacts through mortgage renewals.

General and administrative expenses increased by 14% over 2024, driven by higher personnel and IT costs.

The company recorded an $8.7 million loss on contract settlements due to revised agreements with independent sales consultants.

Hartwood, a non-B20 lender investment, reported a $1.4 million loss in 2025, although profitability is expected in 2026.

The company faces ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainties, which could impact future market conditions and growth.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Can you elaborate on the strategic importance of your recent acquisitions and investments, including the $17 million spent on Broker Financial Group, Clear Trust, and others? A: Gary Mauris, CEO, explained that these acquisitions are strategic moves to enhance Dominion Lending Centres' market position. Clear Trust was a significant franchise, and acquiring it strengthens their network. Dunder Rave, a mortgage investment corporation, aligns with their interests in the non-B20 market. The acquisition of Broker Financial Group's remaining 30% stake was a financial decision as the previous shareholder wanted to exit. These investments are expected to contribute between $2.5 to $3 million in EBITDA annually starting in 2026.
Echo Global Logistics announced Wednesday that it has completed the acquisition of ITS Logistics, creating an AI-enabled 3PL with over $5 billion in annual revenue. The deal merges two of the industrys largest brokerage platforms, broadening the scope of transportation service offerings for both companies.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Chicago-based Echo announced in January that it had entered into an agreement to acquire Reno, Nevada-based ITS.

Adding ITS to Echo helps us execute our vision of becoming a full supply chain solution by leveraging people and technology with solutions that deliver for our shippers, said Echo CEO Doug Waggoner in a news release.

Founded in 1999, ITS is known for its drop-trailer and trailer pool capabilities, as well as its broad offering of container management, drayage and intermodal services. It also provides dedicated truckload capacity, omnichannel distribution and fulfillment, and other supply chain services.

Combined with Echos advanced technology, automation, and expanding use of AI across our operations, this strengthens our ability to deliver smarter, more reliable solutions for customers while continuing to scale the range of services we provide, Waggoner said.

Founded in 2005, Echo has grown through a series of acquisitions, transforming from a non-asset-based TL brokerage into a diversified transportation and logistics provider. The companys proprietary tech platform uses automation, machine learning and AI to optimize transportation, improve visibility and simplify supply chain functions.

Echo has more than 60 locations across North America, specializing in freight brokerage and managed transportation services for all major trucking modes and less-than-truckload, intermodal and cross-border transportation. It also has extensive warehousing capabilities.

By combining ITS differentiated logistics capabilities with Echos technology and scale, we are well-positioned to bring even greater value and expanded solutions to our customers, said ITS CEO Scott Pruneau.

The two companies combined to generate $5.2 billion in revenue last year.

Echo was taken private in 2021 by The Jordan Company in a deal valued at $1.3 billion.

Goldman Sachs was Echos lead financial adviser on the deal, with UBS Group also acting as a financial adviser. J.P. Morgan was the lead adviser to ITS, with Jefferies also acting as a financial adviser.

More FreightWaves articles by Todd Maiden:

The post Echo Global Logistics expands platform with ITS acquisition appeared first on FreightWaves.
Updated 6:10 p.m. ET March 23

The Estee Lauder Cos. and Puig are in talks to merge their businesses, the groups confirmed Monday.

More from WWD

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. confirms that it is in discussions regarding a potential business combination with Puig, in which the two companies would potentially merge their businesses, the company said in a statement, released just after the stock market closed. No final decision has been made, and no agreement has been reached. Unless and until an agreement is signed between the companies, there can be no assurances regarding the deal or its terms.

In its own statement, Puig said: No final decision has been made and no agreement has been reached. Unless and until an agreement is reached, there can be no assurances regarding the deal or the terms.

Word of the talks sent shares of Lauder down 7.7 percent to $79.29 on Monday, not an unusual move since, if the company brought Puig on board, it would be assuming the risk of integrating the business. Lauder ended the day with a market capitalization of $28.7 billion on Wall Street.

The prospects of a deal has the market looking anew at just what the two companies own and how it could all fit together.

The Lauder portfolio includes Estee Lauder, Clinique, Deciem, Bobbi Brown and Tom Ford, among others, driving sales last year of $14.7 billion, a decline of 3 percent.

And Puigs portfolio includes the fragrance and fashion brands Rabanne, Carolina Herrera, Jean Paul Gaultier, Nina Ricci and Dries Van Noten. Theres also Charlotte Tilbury, plus niche fragrance brands such as Byredo, Penhaligons and LArtisan Parfumeur, as well as a dermocosmetics activity. Puig recorded net sales of 5.04 billion euros last year.

Puig and the Estee Lauder Cos. have many common traits. Each is family-owned, now run by a non-founding family member and is publicly quoted.

However, they have very different portfolios, with Puig more focused on fragrance and Lauder more centered on skin care and makeup.

The news of a possible merger comes less than one week after Puig announced that Jose Manuel Albesa had taken over the chief executive officer reins from Marc Puig, who had been running the Spanish beauty and fashion powerhouse since 2004 and stepped up to become executive chairman.

Puig long said that the next  or fourth  generation of Puig family members would not run the company, but instead be on the groups governing body.
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

Release Date: March 25, 2026

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

Fincantieri SpA (FNCNF) achieved a record net profit of 117 million in 2025, more than four times higher than in 2024.

The company recorded a new all-time high in both order intake and total backlog, with an order intake of 20.3 billion and a backlog of 63.2 billion.

Revenues increased by 13% year-on-year, reaching approximately 9.2 billion, supported by strong market tailwinds in the shipbuilding segment.

The EBITDA margin grew significantly to 7.4% from 6.3% in 2024, driven by efficiency initiatives and a profitable business mix.

Fincantieri SpA (FNCNF) successfully completed a 500 million capital increase, enhancing financial flexibility and supporting its selective inorganic growth strategy.

Negative Points

The geopolitical environment poses potential risks, although the company has managed to mitigate some impacts through fixed energy and steel procurement costs.

There is a concern about the potential impact of rising geopolitical conflicts on tourism volumes, which could affect the cruise business.

The company's reliance on a high backlog for future revenue visibility may limit flexibility in responding to sudden market changes.

Despite strong financial performance, the company faces challenges in maintaining growth momentum in a competitive shipbuilding industry.

The infrastructure business, while showing improvement, is not considered a core component of Fincantieri SpA (FNCNF)'s business model, raising questions about its long-term strategic fit.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Could you provide insights on the margin profile of the new cruise orders from Norwegian and Viking, and the expected profitability evolution in the cruise segment? A: We don't disclose precise margins, but the cruise business is moving towards saturation, optimizing fixed costs and procurement. This enhances profitability, supported by better pricing and risk profile due to repetitive ship orders. We expect margins to continue improving in the coming years. (CEO)

Q: Can you elaborate on the memorandum of understanding with Navantia on the European Corvette program and its impact on the defense pipeline? A: The memorandum is a significant step in European cooperation, aiming to create a competitive, interoperable platform. While orders aren't immediate, founding nations like Italy, Spain, and France are expected to commit to ordering ships soon, supporting our defense pipeline. (CEO)
Quick Read

Ford Is Losing Ground In Europe

China Sales Are In Trouble

Tariffs Help Ford In The US

Have You read The New Report Shaking Up Retirement Plans? Americans are answering three questions and many are realizing they can retire earlier than expected.

There are many regions worldwide where cars can be sold. However, without success in China, the EU, and the US, global automotive companies get painted into a corner. Fords (NYSE: F) US sales often rank third behind (NYSE: GM) and Toyota (NYSE: TM). Ford makes money in China, but exports are critical to its profit there. Sales inside China have weakened.

The world has gotten smaller still for Ford. EU sales (registrations) in the first two months of this year fell 21.5% to 41,039. No other global manufacturer posted a drop as severe as that. Given how crowded the market is across the countries in the region, it is impossible to see how Ford can regain its footing.

Have You read The New Report Shaking Up Retirement Plans? Americans are answering three questions and many are realizing they can retire earlier than expected.

Most of the truly global car companies do better than Ford in the EU. In the first two months of the year, Kia registered 60,004 units. Hyundais figure dropped 16%, but it still posted registrations of 55,570. Toyota, which has bested Ford in the US, posted registrations of 117,510, off by 6.5%. However, that puts its number at almost three times Fords.

Ford has been pushed onto an island, which is its home market. Its US sales rose 6% to 2,204,124 in 2025. It owns the critical full-size pickup market. Its F-Series pick-ups sold 828,832 units, up 8.3% from 2024.

Fords fate as a company depends primarily on one thing. The US government has 100% tariffs on Chinese EV imports. And that could stay in place indefinitely. Depending on who is counting, China has provided over $3 billion in financial support to BYD, the country's largest EV company. Across the entire Chinese EV industry, the investment is larger than that. A very reasonable argument is that the US should not let its car industry be crippled by Chinese companies that were given such a large amount of financial help.

For the sake of Ford, China EV tariffs will last for years. Ford has not yet demonstrated that it can be as effective as it works to expand its global sales footprint. At least today, because of tariffs, it has some time.

The New Report Shaking Up Retirement Plans

You may think retirement is about picking the best stocks or ETFs and saving as much as possible, but you'd be wrong. After the release of a new retirement income report, wealthy Americans are rethinking their plans and realizing that even modest portfolios can be serious cash machines.
Foreign investors are pulling the most money out of Asias key equity markets since the 2008 financial crisis as the oil shock from the war is ripping through Asian energy supply and economic prospects.

Foreign investors in the key Asian markets have sold so far in March a net $50.45 billion worth of equities in South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, according to data from LSEG cited by Reuters.

The sum is the highest selloff of Asian equities on these exchanges in one month since at least 2008, according to the data.

Taiwan saw the biggest outflows, at $25 billion so far in March, which is the largest outflow in at least 18 years. Overseas investors have also pulled $13.5 billion out of South Korea and $10.17 billion from Indian stocks, the LSEG data showed.

Asian stocks and indexes have suffered for most of this month as the worst supply disruption in the history of the oil market reverberated through Asia, the Middle Easts key oil and gas buyer. The soaring oil prices and the high volatility in these have clouded the economic growth prospects in many Asian countries, all of which are net importers of energy. Fears of stagflation and expectations of pre-emptive rate hikes amid the oil price shock have forced recalibration of expectations of economic and equity performance.

A prolonged increase in fuel and input costs resulting from the Middle East war could force some tech companies to halt expansion plans, analysts say. Tech stocks and the AI boom were major winners in Asian markets last year.

In the early days of the war, South Koreas Kospi Index on the Seoul stock market plummeted by 12% in a single day for its worst one-day showing on record. At the same time, foreign investors were pulling money out of emerging Asian markets at the fastest pace in four years amid concerns that the oil shock would seriously dent Asias growth and will upend monetary policy in many of the energy import-dependent economies.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Portfolio managers from the GAM Global Opportunities and Global Special Situations Funds have urged Liontrust Asset Management to launch a strategic review aimed at selling the business.

In an open letter to John Ions, CEO of Liontrust, Albert Saporta and Randel Freeman argued that the company is significantly undervalued, referencing an approximate 85% fall in its share price since September 2021.

During the same period, Liontrusts assets under management declined from 42.3bn ($56.5bn) to about 22bn, resulting in a market valuation of just 0.68% of its AUM.

The letter noted that Liontrusts share price has dropped by more than 60% since its unsuccessful bid to acquire GAM in the summer of 2023.

As of 20 March 2026, the GAM Global Opportunities Fund and GAM Global Special Situations Fund together held 2,195,000 shares in Liontrust Asset Management, amounting to roughly 3.6% of the company's share capital.

Liontrusts share price performance is the worst amongst major UK fund management companies during this period, the letter noted.

Saporta and Freeman criticised the companys leadership, stating it failed to articulate a credible strategy for reversing this decline.

The letter said: You have tried several things during your exceedingly long tenure at Liontrust to prop-up the share price, and none of it seems to be working adding that like several of the other initiatives you have been trying, smacks of way too little too late.

The letter further noted compensation received by Ions since taking on the CEO role in 2010, referencing total remuneration close to 40m, including 17m over the past five years.

Against the backdrop of broader industry consolidation and recent deals involving sector peers, the portfolio managers wrote: Liontrust should immediately commence a strategic review, with the objective of selling the company to the highest bidder as it is no longer in a position to act as a serious consolidator citing the fragmented nature of the industry

The letter concluded: From predator, it is time for the Lion to become prey, before trust is definitely lost.

They said the River Global acquisition, the first in five years, was way too little, too late.

The letter pointed to recent developments in the sector, noting that events such as the acquisition activity involving Schroders and the ongoing bids for Janus Henderson should act as a wake-up call.

"GAM managers push for Liontrust sale amid stock slide" was originally created and published by Private Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand.
This story was originally published on Banking Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Banking Dive newsletter.

Goldman Sachs President John Waldrons pay and perks have long made him an outlier among bank deputies.

Last year, he became the rare second-in-command to join his boss on his banks board of directors. Beyond that, hes become the gold standard in well-paid No. 2s. He received $38 million in compensation in 2024  out-earning all U.S. big-bank CEOs except Goldmans David Solomon and JPMorgan Chases chief executive, Jamie Dimon.

Now Waldron has surpassed Dimon, according to proxy materials Goldman published Friday.

The Goldman president received an 18.4% increase in compensation for 2025  bringing his pay to $45 million, the bank disclosed. Thats more than the $43 million JPMorgan paid Dimon  arguably the poster-exec of U.S. banking. In fact, the only big-bank CEO who made more than Waldron in 2025 was Solomon, at $47 million. (Morgan Stanley paid its CEO, Ted Pick, $45 million, drawing him even with Waldron.)

Waldrons $1.85 million salary remained steady in 2025 from the year before. In 2025, however, he received $25.9 million in performance share units  up from $21.7 million. He received a $13.8 million cash bonus, up from $11.6 million in 2024. And he received $3.45 million from the carried interest program the bank debuted a year earlier. (He received $2.9 million in carried interest in 2024, according to Goldman.)

Goldmans proxy materials disclosed compensation for select other executives, including outgoing legal chief Kathryn Ruemmler.

Ruemmler is leaving the bank June 30, amid the revelation that her name appears in more than 9,300 documents related to the Justice Departments investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender.

Documents released by the DOJ in January show a close relationship between Ruemmler and Epstein, whom she referred to as Uncle Jeffrey, wonderful and thoughtful. The two met often for meals, and Epstein had gifts such as handbags and an Apple Watch delivered to her, and treated her to hair, massage and facial appointments.

Well, I adore him. Its like having another older brother! Ruemmler wrote of Epstein in a 2015 email to someone who worked for him.

Ruemmler, at the time, worked as a litigation partner at the law firm Latham & Watkins, according to her LinkedIn profile. She joined Goldman in 2020 and became the banks chief legal officer and general counsel the next year.
Delivery giant Grab said on Monday it will acquire Delivery Heros Foodpanda business in Taiwan for $600 million in cash, marking its first expansion beyond Southeast Asia. Grab noted that the deal is still pending regulatory approval and is anticipated to close in the second half of 2026. The company aims to complete the full transition of users, merchants, and driver-partners onto its platform by early 2027.

The move comes roughly a year after Uber Technologies abandoned its planned acquisition of Foodpandas Taiwan operations in March 2025, after the deal was blocked by Taiwans antitrust regulator over competition concerns.

At the time, Uber Eats and Foodpanda were the dominant players in Taiwans food delivery market. A recent report showed Foodpanda held a 52% market share, while Uber Eats accounted for 48% between 2022 and 2023. Taiwans Fair Trade Commission said the combined entity would have controlled roughly 90% of the market, raising concerns over reduced competition and potential price increases.

This case, however, may present a different dynamic. If Grab were to acquire Foodpandas Taiwan business, the Singapore-based ride-hailing and delivery firm would gain a market share of just over 50%, positioning it as a stronger competitor to Uber Eats rather than creating a near-monopoly.

This is a natural next step for Grab, as our experience in Southeast Asia is a direct fit for this market. Our longstanding expertise in managing complex delivery logistics for dense and high-traffic cities is well-suited for Taiwans bustling cities, Anthony Tan, Group CEO and co-founder of Grab, said in its statement. Taiwans population of approximately 23 million also has a high demand for mobile-first services, similar to the Southeast Asian consumers who Grab serves every day. We see a significant opportunity to grow the food and groceries delivery scene here.

Grab is set to expand its presence to 21 cities across Taiwan after the acquisition, strengthening its foothold in a key market. The deal combines Grabs AI-driven platform and operational experience with Foodpandas wide local reach. Foodpandas Taiwan business generated about $1.8 billion in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV), according to the company.
Jacobs Solutions Inc. (NYSE:J) made our Mad Money recap, as Jim Cramer shared his take on the stock and highlighted resilient consumer spending despite the Iran conflict. Cramer noted that the stocks decline does not make sense to him, as he commented:

People keep saying the markets overvalued. I know a lot of high-quality stocks have come down from their highs in the last month and a half. Take one that weve liked for a long time, Jacobs Solutions. Its the engineering construction firm thats got some tremendous data center exposure. They reported an excellent quarter in early February. I mean, beat and raise, beat and raise, beat and raise, but the stocks down about 2% year to date. Makes no sense to me.

Photo by Adam Nowakowski on Unsplash

Jacobs Solutions Inc. (NYSE:J) provides consulting, design, engineering, and infrastructure delivery services for several industries. A caller asked about the stock during the November 24 episode, and Cramer responded:

Okay, let me just say right now, Jacobs Solutions, I think, was incorrectly valued last week when an analyst came out and said that they did not do the number and did not do the forecast. That was not true. Bob Pragada did the number, and he gave a good forecast. And thats why I think that Goldman Sachs recommended it today. I cant speak highly enough about both Jacobs and the price that its at. I would buy this thing at $132.

While we acknowledge the potential of J as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 15 Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
Krispy Kreme has reported further progress on its plan to cut debt and pivot to a capital-light model by completing two transactions in the US and Japan.

The doughnut chain has completed a deal with WKS Restaurant Group to reshape its Western US joint venture (JV). Under the revised structure, WKS has lifted its ownership in the JV from 45% to 80%.

As part of the deal, 23 company-run shops in California and Hawaii have been transferred into the JV.

These outlets join an existing network of 50 shops already operated by the JV across the Western US. The JV also supports around 1,000 fresh delivery points through major retailers such as Kroger, Target and Walmart.

Krispy Kreme said the consideration tied to the WKS transaction was about $90m. This includes almost $50m in cash paid at closing.

Krispy Kreme CEO Josh Charlesworth said: Our long-standing partnership with WKS has been key to Krispy Kremes growth in the Western US.

This transaction advances our strategy to drive sustainable, profitable growth through capital-light refranchising while further reducing our leverage.

Under the updated agreement, the JV has committed to opening more shops in the region and to widening Krispy Kremes fresh delivery presence over the coming years.

WKS Restaurant Group president and CEO Roland Spongberg said: We are excited to expand our partnership with Krispy Kreme.

By increasing our ownership stake and meaningfully expanding the joint ventures footprint, we are reinforcing our confidence in the brand and positioning the business to accelerate development across the Western US.

In a separate development, Krispy Kreme has also completed the previously announced sale of its Japan operations to Unison Capital.

The company said it received cash proceeds of nearly $70m from the Japan deal. Net cash proceeds from both transactions will be used by the company for debt paydown.

"Krispy Kreme restructures Western US JV and sells Japan business" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand.




This story was originally published on Banking Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Banking Dive newsletter.

Lake Shore Bancorp reached an agreement with activist investor The Stilwell Group to elect Dennis Pollack, a Stilwell pick, to its board of directors at its next annual meeting.

Dunkirk, New York-based Lake Shore and Raleigh, North Carolina-based Stilwell reached the standstill agreement Wednesday, staving off a potential proxy war Stilwell had alluded to in a previous filing following an an unproductive meeting with management.

The filing does not indicate Pollacks relationship to Stilwell. Pollack is the former president and CEO of Prudential Bank, which he led from 2016 to 2023, according to his LinkedIn, and he has sat on the board at banks including CIBM Bank in Illinois and TF Financial Corp. in Pennsylvania.

Pollack has served on boards of at least two businesses in which Stilwell has owned a stake, including Provident Bancorp in Massachusetts and Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust in Virginia, American Banker reported.

With Pollack destined for Lake Shores board, Stilwell said it would withdraw its notice of intent to nominate an individual for election at the banks annual meeting. Stilwell will not solicit any other proxies for this annual meeting, according to the agreement detailed in Lake Shores securities filing.

Additionally, Stilwell cannot buy more Lake Shore stock and is forbidden from suing the bank, forcing it to sell or merge with another business or otherwise seeking a change in control of Lake Shore, according to the agreement detailed in the filing.

The agreement will last until Lake Shores annual meeting in 2029.

Neither Stilwell nor Lake Shore immediately responded to requests for comment.

In 2022, the $727.3 million-asset bank entered into an agreement with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency following a cyberattack that the regulator said may have jeopardized customer information. The OCC found the bank engaged in unsafe and unsound practices with respect to information technology security and risk governance weaknesses.

But in 2023, the OCC determined that Lake Shore was not in compliance with the agreement and hit it with a consent order instead. The bank was then designated in troubled condition. The designation was lifted in 2024. The Federal Reserve dropped an enforcement action against Lake Shore in March 2025.
Behavox has confirmed the renewal of its multi-year agreement with Lloyds Banking Group, allowing continued use of the Behavox Mosaic front-office intelligence platform.

The extension builds on a relationship that has been in place since 2021.

Mosaic is designed to bring together disparate trade data and provide real-time, tailored insights for front-office teams.

It operates on the same data architecture as other Behavox products, including Polaris and Quantum.

The platform is intended to consolidate various data sources into a single interface, enhance fixed-income trade information with immediate insights, and support decision-making by increasing visibility across trading activities.

It also provides information about pricing, spreads, and liquidity from transaction records and is adaptable across different asset types and teams.

Behavox, established in London in 2014, offers technology for data management and compliance purposes within regulated sectors.

Its suite of products covers areas such as communication surveillance, trade surveillance, regulatory data archiving, and policy management.

The company serves a client base across financial services and other industries internationally, with offices in North America, EMEA, and APAC regions.

Lloyds Banking Group macro sales head Tim Townend said: Behavox Mosaic plays a key role in our ability to extract timely, actionable insights from complex trading data.

By simplifying how our teams access and analyse information, Mosaic supports our broader goals of innovation, efficiency and delivering greater value to clients.

Behavox chief revenue officer Nabeel Ebrahim commented: This renewed agreement is a testament to the trust Lloyds places in our platform and our partnership.

Mosaic has proven it can do more than harmonize datasets, it drives real outcomes. Were proud to help Lloyds scale their data strategy and stay ahead in an increasingly complex trading environment.

Earlier this month, Lloyds Banking Group made headlines to expand its use of anonymised and aggregated customer data and increase automation in compliance processes, reported Financial Times citing an internal memo.

The bank, which serves 28 million customers, aims to cut annual IT spending by several hundred million pounds by 2028.

"Lloyds renews agreement with Behavox for data platform" was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand.




The incremental ROIC data reveals the real economics. Between 2022 and 2023, the company generated an extraordinary 68.5% incremental ROIC$797 million in additional NOPAT on just $1.16 billion of incremental invested capitalreflecting the profit inflection as logistics and fintech reached scale simultaneously. By 2024, incremental ROIC normalized to roughly 10.6% as the company deployed $2.8 billion of additional capital primarily into the lending book. Against a weighted average cost of capital estimated at 810% (reflecting Latin American country risk premiums), the ROIC-WACC spread has been consistently positive since 2022, ranging from +3% to +13%.

MercadoLibre passed through a heavy investment trough in 20202021 and emerged with dramatically higher returns. ROIC climbed from roughly 7% in 2021 to nearly 20% in 2023 before moderating to approximately 15% in 2025 as the credit book consumed incremental capital. Return on capital employed tells a similar story: peaking at 34.8% in 2023 before declining to 22.8% in 2025. Return on equity stood at roughly 41% for 2024 and moderated in 2025 alongside the margin compression.

As of early 2026, an owner of MercadoLibre shares owns a vertically integrated commerce and fintech ecosystem that generated $30.6 billion in full-year 2025 revenue, earned $2.6 billion in net income, and produced roughly $89 billion in free cash flow. The company serves 120 million annual unique buyers across Latin America, operates a logistics network handling 2.4 billion shipments per year, manages a $12.5 billion credit portfolio earning 23% net interest margins after losses, and runs an advertising business growing 50%+ with near-zero incremental capital requirements. E-commerce penetration across the region sits at roughly 1215% of retailcompared with 2530% in developed markets and nearly 50% in Chinaimplying years of structural growth ahead for the dominant platform. The free-cash-flow yield on a business with that profile and that runway is, to put it plainly, unusual.

The thesis on MercadoLibre rests on two claims, and both need to be true for the investment to work. The first is that this is an exceptional reinvestment businessa company that can compound retained earnings at high rates for a long time because it operates a self-reinforcing ecosystem in structurally underpenetrated markets. The second is that the current valuation does not fully reflect those economics. At roughly 1112 times trailing free cash flowan 89% free-cash-flow yieldthe market is pricing MercadoLibre more like a mature, slow-growth business than a company that just grew revenue 41% and is reinvesting every dollar at 15%+ returns on capital. Both claims deserve scrutiny. This article focuses primarily on the first, but the second is what makes the opportunity interesting right now.

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The critical nuance: invested capital is growing fast. Total equity plus debt expanded from $5.5 billion in 2021 to $18.1 billion in 2025. The credit portfolio alone tripled from $3.8 billion to $12.5 billion in two years. This mechanically compresses ROIC even as the underlying investments generate attractive returns. The metric to watch is whether NIMAL on the credit book stays above 20% and whether the commerce business continues to throw off increasing operating income per dollar of capital employed.

Year ROIC ROCE ROICWACC Spread 2021 ~7% 10.3% ~2% 2022 ~12% 20.7% +3% 2023 ~20% 34.8% +11% 2024 ~19% 30.6% +10% 2025 ~15% 22.8% +6%

Capital Allocation: A 100% Reinvestor That Builds Rather Than Buys

MercadoLibre is a pure reinvestment vehicle. The company eliminated dividends after 2017, has executed negligible buybacks (just $1 million in 2024), and has never made an acquisition larger than $40 million. Every dollar of cash flow goes back into the business. The capital allocation priority is clear: organic logistics and technology buildout first, credit book growth second, operational investments third.

Reported capex of $860 million in 2024 (4.1% of revenue) significantly understates true investment intensity. Most logistics spending flows through operating expenses. When MercadoLibre announces $5.8 billion in Brazil investment and $3.4 billion in Mexico for 2025, those figures include opexhiring, shipping subsidies, marketing, technology developmentalongside capitalized infrastructure. The company opened 16 new fulfillment centers in 2025 alone, including facilities in China and the United States for cross-border trade. Net property, plant, and equipment surged 67% in 2025 to $2.3 billion, while operating lease right-of-use assets doubled to $2.2 billion.

The credit book is now the single largest consumer of capital. The portfolio grew from $3.8 billion to $12.5 billion in just two years, requiring continuous funding through a mix of on-balance-sheet capital, securitization, and approximately $2.35 billion in third-party fintech funding. Crucially, CFO Osvaldo Gimenez noted on the Q4 2025 earnings call that deposits are mostly not being used for credit fundingMercadoLibre's $18.8 billion in assets under management represents massive untapped funding optionality that could lower future cost of capital on the lending book.

Buyback history is effectively irrelevant. The $350 million program launched in 2020, the $900 million authorization in 2023, and the token $4 million program in 2025 have all been executed at negligible scale. In practice, management views every dollar as better deployed into the ecosystem than returned to shareholders. For a business compounding revenue at 39%+ annually and generating 15%+ ROIC, that discipline appears correct.

Dilution Risk: Moderate but Worth Watching

From 2015 to 2025, the share count grew 14.8%from 44.2 million to 50.7 million shares. Virtually all of that dilution came in 2019 when MercadoLibre raised $1.85 billion through a follow-on offering and received a $750 million strategic investment from PayPal. Since 2021, the share count has been essentially flat, increasing just 1.6% over four years.

The net assessment: MercadoLibre is a net diluter in economic terms, but the dilution rate is manageable. Share count stability since 2021 suggests equity-based compensation is being absorbed without aggressive issuance. The 2019 equity raisewhich funded the fintech and logistics buildoutcreated more value per share than it destroyed through dilution.

Unit Economics: Earning More From Each Customer Every Year

Revenue per active buyer has grown from roughly $178 in 2023 to $233+ in 2025, a 31% increase driven by rising take rates, deeper fintech monetization, and higher purchase frequency. The commerce take raterevenue divided by GMVexpanded dramatically from approximately 18% in 2023 to 25% in 2025, one of the most powerful secular trends in the business. This expansion reflects higher marketplace fees, growing first-party sales (now 7% of GMV), advertising revenue climbing to 2%+ of GMV, and fintech-commerce integration through installment payments.

Cohort behavior provides the strongest evidence of flywheel compounding. Management has consistently stated that retention and purchase frequency are at record levels. Items sold per buyer are at all-time highs. Buyers who joined after the free-shipping threshold reduction in Brazil (lowered from R$79 to R$19) showed higher retention, more categories purchased, and greater frequency than prior cohorts. The share of buyers purchasing three or more categories monthly has increased approximately 20 percentage points over five years.

The advertising business deserves special attention as a unit economics lever. Mercado Ads generates roughly $1.01.5 billion annually at approximately 2% of GMV, with 5067% FX-neutral growth rates. Amazon's advertising penetration runs at 78% of third-party GMV. If MercadoLibre reaches even 4% penetration, advertising revenue doublesat near-100% incremental margin. The company already controls roughly 56% of Latin America's digital retail media market versus Amazon's 18%.

Metric 2022 2023 2024 2025 Annual unique buyers ~67M ~85M 100M+ 120M+ Revenue per buyer ~$160 ~$178 ~$208 ~$233+ Commerce take rate ~17% ~18.3% ~23.7% ~25%+ Ads / GMV ~1.3% 1.6% ~2.0% ~2.1%+ GMV ($B) $34.4 $44.8 $51.5 $65.0

The Credit Book: Exceptional Returns, Demanding Respect

The Mercado Credito portfolio represents the highest-returning and highest-risk use of owner capital in the ecosystem. At $12.5 billion and growing 90% year-over-year, the credit book earns a net interest margin after losses (NIMAL) of 23.3%an extraordinary spread by any global standard. The math roughly reconciles to: approximately 55% gross credit yield (reflecting high Latin American unsecured lending rates), minus roughly 20% in provisions, minus approximately 12% in funding costs, equaling roughly 23% net return.

Credit quality has steadily improved. The 1590 day NPL ratio for credit cards reached a historic low of 4.4% in Q4 2025, down 300 basis points over three years. First payment defaults in Brazil credit cards hit new lows. The portfolio is granular, short-duration (merchant loans typically under six months), and underwritten using proprietary ecosystem transaction data that no competitor can replicate.

The portfolio mix has shifted materially. Credit cards now represent 46% of the book ($5.7 billion), up from a minority share two years ago. Consumer loans account for roughly 24%, merchant loans 20%, and asset-backed lending 10%. Credit cards carry lower yields but lower losses than consumer or merchant loans, which explains the NIMAL compression from approximately 31.5% in early 2024 to 23.3% in Q4 2025. All Brazilian credit card cohorts older than two years are now NIMAL-positive, and management stated that over 50% of Brazil's credit card portfolio has crossed profitability. The Mercado Pago credit card became the most-used credit card on the marketplace in Brazil during 2025.

Is this a good use of owner capital? At 23% NIMAL on a growing book with declining NPLs and improving cohort economics, the answer is yeswith caveats. The 90% annual growth rate means the portfolio is heavily weighted toward unseasoned loans. A Latin American recession could stress credit quality materially. The risk is asymmetric: in good times, the credit book amplifies returns; in bad times, it could consume capital rapidly through elevated provisions. A disciplined owner should monitor NIMAL versus provision trends quarterly and watch for any divergence between portfolio growth and underwriting discipline.

The Logistics Moat: $510 Billion and Half a Decade to Replicate

MercadoLibre's physical infrastructure is the hardest asset for any competitor to reproduce. The network now encompasses more than 30 fulfillment centers, over 90 total logistics centers, 9 cargo aircraft, 3,600+ electric vehicles (targeting 10,000 by end of 2025), and 10,000+ Meli Places pickup locations. Fulfillment capacity grew 41% in 2025, absorbing 500 million additional items. The company shipped 2.4 billion items in 2025up from 300 million in 2019 and 45 million in 2015.

The vertical integration is nearly complete. Approximately 95% of all shipments now originate from MercadoLibre's managed network, up from 8% in early 2018. Fulfillment by MercadoLibre (where the company stores, picks, packs, and ships) handles 57% of regional shipments and over 75% in Mexico. Delivery times in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are roughly three times faster than the next-largest competitor. Seventy-five percent of deliveries arrive within 48 hours; 50% are same-day or next-day.

The competitive landscape reveals how durable this advantage is. MercadoLibre's e-commerce sales in Latin America exceed the combined total of its next 15 competitors. Amazon's Latin American revenue (roughly $1 billion in 2023) is dwarfed by MercadoLibre's $28.9 billion. Shopee competes aggressively in Brazil on low-ASP items ($7 average versus MercadoLibre's $21) but lacks equivalent logistics infrastructure and delivery speed. Temu entered Brazil in June 2024 with ultra-low prices but 12-day delivery times versus MercadoLibre's 48-hour standard. Neither Chinese competitor has invested in local fulfillment at meaningful scale.

Market share has tripled since 2014 and doubled since the pandemic. MercadoLibre holds dominant positions in Brazil (roughly 35% market share), Argentina (roughly 35%), and is the clear number two in Mexico (roughly 30%, behind Amazon's approximately 40%). Record Net Promoter Scores across all three core markets in 2025 suggest the share gains are accelerating, not plateauing.

Switching Cost Architecture

The switching cost architecture is multi-layered and self-reinforcing. Sellers depend on MercadoLibre for sales (primary income source for over half of the 9.5 million SMEs on the platform), logistics, payment processing, working capital credit, and advertising. Buyers build credit history, hold wallet balances ($18.8 billion in assets under management), and benefit from the MELI+ loyalty program. Mercado Pago's off-platform acquiring TPV reached $188 billion in 2025, growing 32% year-over-year, confirming that fintech has transcended the marketplace entirelyusers rely on Mercado Pago for everyday payments, not just marketplace transactions.

Long-Term Earnings Power: The Path to $713 Billion

MercadoLibre is substantially more profitable at its current scale than any peer was at a comparable stage. At $20.8 billion in 2024 revenue, the company posted a 12.7% operating marginversus Amazon's 4.4% at the same revenue scale in 2008 and Sea Limited's 4.9% at $16.8 billion in 2024. The structural advantages are clear: MercadoLibre has a high-margin fintech business that Amazon lacks, an advertising platform at an earlier (and therefore higher-growth) stage, and dominant market share in a less competitive region.

The 2025 margin compression to 11.1% operating margin was entirely deliberate. Management invested 56 percentage points of margin into lowering free-shipping thresholds in Brazil, accelerating credit card issuance (3 million cards in Q4 2025 alone), expanding first-party commerce, and building cross-border logistics from China. This mirrors Amazon's historical pattern of investing through margin compression to build compounding advantagesand the early evidence from Q4 2025 suggests the strategy is working. Full-year 2025 revenue reached $30.6 billion (up 41%), with Q4 revenue of $8.5 billion growing 45% year-over-year.

Three margin expansion drivers will assert themselves as the investment cycle moderates. First, advertising at near-100% incremental margins: moving from 2% to 4% of GMV would add roughly 35 percentage points to operating margin. Second, credit portfolio maturation: as issuance growth slows and cohorts age past the 1218 month breakeven period, the fintech contribution margin should expand significantly beyond the current level. Third, logistics scale economics: cost per fulfillment order is already declining in local currency across Brazil, Mexico, and Chile as volumes grow.

A reasonable framework for normalized earnings power at maturity (510 year horizon) suggests 1822% operating margins, 2228% EBITDA margins, and 1317% net margins on a $5075 billion revenue base. This implies long-term earnings power of $713 billion in net income. The advertising analog alone is powerful: Amazon generates roughly $50 billion in advertising revenue at 50%+ operating margins on $700 billion+ in total revenue. MercadoLibre's ads business at $1.01.5 billion has enormous room to compound.

The Structural Runway

Latin American e-commerce penetration at 1215% of retail is roughly a decade behind developed markets. Total retail in the region is $23 trillion. The fintech opportunity is even more expansive: digital payments revenue in Latin America is projected to triple to $300 billion by 2027, cash's share of in-store payments has fallen from 67% in 2014 to 25% in 2024, and MercadoLibre's fintech monthly active user goal of 300 million implies nearly 4x growth from today's 78 million.

Market E-commerce Penetration (% of Retail) China ~47% United Kingdom ~2831% South Korea ~30% United States ~15.8% Latin America Overall ~1215% Brazil ~1015% Mexico ~10.3% Argentina ~7.5%

These figures suggest Latin America is roughly where China was a decade ago in e-commerce maturity. For a business that already dominates the regionwith e-commerce sales exceeding the combined total of its next 15 competitorsthe primary opportunity is market expansion rather than zero-sum share competition. The rising tide of digitization lifts all participants, but the platform with the deepest logistics network, the broadest fintech integration, and the strongest data feedback loops captures a disproportionate share of value creation.

What Could Go Wrong

The credit book's rapid growth is the most concentrated risk. The 90% annual expansion means the portfolio is heavily weighted toward unseasoned loans. A Latin American recessionor even a localized credit event in Brazilcould stress credit quality materially. The over-90-day NPL rate of 18.5%, while stable, remains elevated by developed market standards. NIMAL compression from 31.5% to 23.3% over 20242025, while partly driven by mix shift toward lower-risk credit cards, could also reflect tightening spreads as the competitive lending environment intensifies.

Stock-based compensation is the dilution vector that matters most. If the apparent jump to $793 million in trailing SBC is confirmed for full-year 2025, it would represent a meaningful change in the economic cost to ownersroughly 40% of net income consumed by equity-based compensation. This warrants close examination of the 2025 10-K when filed.

The deliberate margin compression of 2025 could extend longer than expected. If Shopee, Temu, and TikTok Shop force sustained price competition, the invest now, harvest later framework could become a permanent cost of doing business. The investment intensity of $13.2 billion committed to 2025 alone ($5.8 billion in Brazil, $3.4 billion in Mexico, $2.6 billion in Argentina) leaves limited room for near-term margin recovery if competitive dynamics do not moderate.

Foreign exchange and macroeconomic volatility are structural features of operating across multiple Latin American currencies. The Brazilian real, Mexican peso, and especially the Argentine peso introduce translation risk that can obscure underlying operational performance. FX losses of $102+ million in a single quarter are not unusual.

Good and Cheap: Tying the Economics to the Price

The case for MercadoLibre as a business is, at this point, well established. A 15%+ ROIC compounder reinvesting 100% of cash flow into a $23 trillion addressable market at 1215% digital penetration, protected by a logistics network that would cost $510 billion to replicate, monetized by a fintech arm earning 23% net interest margins after losses on a $12.5 billion credit portfolio, and augmented by an advertising business growing 50%+ at near-zero incremental capital. The flywheel is real and the evidence is visible in 27 consecutive quarters of 30%+ revenue growth alongside improving unit economics.

But a good business is not automatically a good investment. What makes MercadoLibre interesting right now is the second part of the equation: the price. At roughly 1112 times trailing free cash flow, the market is offering an 89% free-cash-flow yield on a business that grew revenue 41% last year and is deploying every dollar of that cash flow at returns well above its cost of capital. For context, a 12x FCF multiple is what you might expect to pay for a regulated utility or a mature consumer staples company growing earnings in the mid-single digits. It is not what you typically see on a business with this growth rate, this reinvestment runway, and this competitive position.

The explanation lies in the margin compression. Operating margins fell from 13.5% to 11.1% over the course of 2025 as the company deliberately invested in free shipping, credit expansion, and logistics capacity. The market has priced the stock as though margin pressure is structural, not cyclical. If MercadoLibre's investment spending is genuinely building durable competitive advantagesand the evidence from declining unit shipping costs, record buyer additions, and improving credit cohort economics suggests it isthen today's compressed margins and compressed multiple are two expressions of the same temporary phenomenon. As the investment cycle moderates and the advertising, credit, and logistics scale advantages translate into higher margins, the free-cash-flow yield should look even more anomalous in hindsight.The risks are realan $12.5 billion credit book growing 90% in an emerging market, potential SBC dilution at elevated levels, intense competition from well-capitalized Chinese and American entrants, and structural FX volatility. These risks explain some of the discount. But they do not, in this author's view, explain a free-cash-flow multiple that prices the business as though the growth is about to stop. MercadoLibre is both a high-quality compounder and, at current prices, a surprisingly inexpensive one. That combination does not come along often.
By Mrinmay Dey and Katie Paul

March 24 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms has offered top executives stock options that could pay out hundreds of millions of dollars and are tied to lifting its valuation six-fold to more than $9 trillion, in a bid to retain talent and spur aggressive growth in the AI era.

The options are the social media giant's first for its top brass and require steep stock milestones. They suggest Big Tech is rethinking incentives as it pours hundreds of billions of dollars into data centers and departs from its long-standing reluctance to raise debt to gain an edge in the AI race.

Meta's stock will have to rise at least 88.2% from Tuesday's closing price of $592.92 to $1,116.08 to unlock the lowest-priced tranche of stock options.

A more than six-fold jump would be needed to unlock the most aggressive tranche, requiring the company's shares to rise as high as $3,727.12, regulatory filings late on Tuesday showed.

At that level, Meta would have a market value of more than $9 trillion, much higher than Nvidia - currently the world's most valuable company with a valuation of $4.257 trillion.

Meta must meet the price targets by February 14, 2028, for the options to vest. If unsuccessful, Meta executives' unvested options would become available to them in installments through August 15, 2030. The options will expire in March 2031 if they are unexercised.

Tesla has offered similar options to CEO Elon Musk that will pay out around $1 trillion if some operational targets are hit.

Meta's plan does not include its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg.

CFO Susan Li, technology head Andrew Bosworth, product chief Chris Cox, operations boss Javier Olivan, President Dina Powell McCormick and Chief Legal Officer Curtis Mahoney are eligible for the options, the regulatory filings showed.

All executives except McCormick and Mahoney, who joined Meta in January, will also receive an increase in restricted stock awards worth a total $170 million at last close, which vest quarterly. Chief Accounting Officer Aaron Anderson will only receive restricted stock.

The company has offered huge pay packages, some worth hundreds of millions of dollars over the years, to court top AI researchers to a new superintelligence team.

A Meta spokesperson said the pay packages represent a "big bet" and that they "will not be realized unless Meta achieves massive future success, benefiting all of our shareholders."

(Reporting by Mrinmay Dey and Chris Thomas in Mexico City, Katie Paul in New York, Shubham Kalia, Shivani Tanna and Gursimran Kaur in Bengaluru; Editing by Jacqueline Wong, Thomas Derpinghaus and Maju Samuel)
March 25 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms is laying off a few hundred people across multiple teams on Wednesday, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Reuters reported earlier this month that Meta was planning sweeping layoffs that could affect 20% or more of the company's workforce and that top executives had signaled the plans to other senior leaders and told them to begin planning how to pare back.

Wednesday's layoffs were on a smaller scale. According to an earlier report in The Information, the cuts would affect Meta's Reality Labs division, social media teams and recruiting operations.

"Teams across Meta regularly restructure or implement changes to ensure theyre in the best position to achieve their goals. Where possible, we are finding other opportunities for employees whose positions may be impacted, a Meta spokesperson said in a statement.

The Facebook parent is seeking to offset rising costs tied to massive investments in artificial intelligence, having forecast total expenses of $162 billion to $169 billion in 2026, and rising employee compensation as the company spends millions to hire top AI talent.

Meta had nearly 79,000 employees as of December 31, according to its annual filing.

(Reporting by Katie Paul in New York and Harshita Mary Varghese in Bengaluru; Editing by Sahal Muhammed and Bill Berkrot)
A table laid with Bark River Knives in 2013.

Bark River Knives, a well-known knifemaker based in Escanaba, Michigan, has shuttered its business in the wake of revelations regarding the steel used in some of its blades. The fixed-blade knife manufacturer has now admitted to using Chinese steel in several of its models, even though the knives were labeled and marketed as CPM 154 steel and made in the USA.

Bark Rivers owner Mike Stewart made the announcement via Facebook on Monday and said the company had concluded all business as of Friday. Stewart also took full responsibility, saying it was 100% his fault and that he had made the cost-cutting decision to keep Bark River in business.

Stewart made the post amid fierce backlash from knife buyers, dealers, YouTubers, and other critics. Stewart did not respond immediately to a request for comment from Outdoor Life, and its unclear what exactly led him decided to confess, though rumors had been spreading online in recent days. It is clear, however, that the LLC behind Bark River has been in legal and financial trouble since before the start of this year.

On Jan. 14, Altbanq, a financial lender based in New York, filed a commercial and trade-contract lawsuit against Stewart Knives LLC accusing the company of defaulting on loan payments and breaching their agreement. A separate but similar lawsuit was filed against the LLC on Friday by another financial lender, Litefund Solutions, and it accuses the company of additional breaches of contract.

This was around the same time that some of the rumors around Bark Rivers deceptive practices started appearing in knife-making and bushcraft forums. But some industry insiders have previously noted quality-control issues with Bark River Knives. And a whistleblower report published back in 2006 by an alleged former employee of Bark River accuses the manufacturer of running a similar false-advertising scheme with Japanese blades made of inferior steel.

Stewart also admitted in his Facebook post on Monday that his decision to use Chinese steel was part of ongoing mismanagement on his part. He wrote, among other things, that this closing was long overdue and he should have done it more than two years ago. Stewart is now likely to face legal repercussions for these deceptive practices, along with additional class-action lawsuits from buyers and knife dealers.

Please do not Blame Lesley Stewart or Jim Stewart for any of this, Stewart wrote in Mondays post. In addition to my mismanagement the Choice to use an Alternative Chinese Steel was my choice  not anyone elses blunder.
An Oshkosh company has joined five other Wisconsin-based businesses on a list of the most ethical companies in the world.

Ethisphere, a Scottsdale, Arizona-based firm, recently released its list of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" for 2026, recognizing 138 companies for having "best-in-class ethics and compliance programs, corporate governance practices and cultures of integrity," according to its website.

Companies that want to be considered submit an application before each new list is revealed. This is the 20th year that Ethisphere has released such a list, which includes companies across 40 industries in 17 countries this time around.

Oshkosh Corp. made the 2026 list, joining well-known companies such as Best Buy, General Motors, Goodyear, Kimberly-Clark, PepsiCo and more.

What Wisconsin companies are considered the most ethical?

These six Wisconsin-based companies were included on the "World's Most Ethical Companies" for 2026:

A.O. Smith, Milwaukee, three-time honoree

Clarios, Glendale, four-time honoree

Johnson Controls, Milwaukee, 19-time honoree

ManpowerGroup, Milwaukee 17-time honoree

Oshkosh Corp., Oshkosh, 11-time honoree

Rockwell Automation, Milwaukee, 18-time honoree

More business news: Oshkosh Defense wins $16.9M ROGUE-Fires carrier contract

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Oshkosh Wisconsin firms named among worlds most ethical companies
These changes follow the departure of Steve Johnson after a decade with the company, which the board confirmed was by mutual agreement.

Joy steps into the CEO position after six years as CEO of Financial Services at N Brown. Before joining the company, he spent 11 years at Ikano Bank in several senior roles, including Group chief commercial officer.

Joy said: I am extremely excited by the opportunity to lead N Brown through its next stage of transformative growth. Our heritage and evolution from a catalogue business to a leading online retail platform and credit provider have allowed us to build longstanding relationships with our loyal customers, ensuring we can continue to refine both our retail and financial services offerings to meet their changing needs.

Le May brings over four decades of experience in consumer finance and banking to his position as chair.

Previously, he served in leading roles in Provident and Vanquis, and he has held positions on various public and private boards.

In a statement, Le May commented: The managerial changes announced today facilitate the continued evolution of the strategic rationale set out when the company delisted last year, with the support of the Alliance family.

Together, we will continue to evolve our offering by championing our Retail businesses and strengthening our capabilities in financial services, to ensure that all parts of the business move forward with clarity, confidence, and a shared sense of purpose.

N Brown operates two main online retail platforms, JD Williams and Jacamo, along with the Simply Be brand. The groups financial services segment works alongside its retail operations, targeting further expansion of its customer base.

The company indicated that its new leadership team will continue investing in both modernising and extending its financial services and retail offerings to address evolving customer requirements.

Majority shareholder, Joshua Alliance said: Both bring the knowledge and expertise to lead the business in its next phase of growth, focused on expanding our financial services offering to meet changing customer needs and capture the significant market opportunity this presents.

In October last year, N Brown Group confirmed to Just Style hundreds of jobs are currently at risk of redundancy as part of its wider plans to transform the company while navigating a challenging retail environment.

Headquartered in Manchester, UK, N Brown employs more than 1,200 people across the nation.

"N Brown Group names new CEO and chair" was originally created and published by Just Style, a GlobalData owned brand.
What Happened?

A number of stocks jumped in the afternoon session after the Trump administration announced a plan to create a voluntary investment consortium targeting $4 trillion in funding for semiconductor supply chains, energy projects, and critical minerals.

The initiative, an expansion of the 'Pax Silica' program launched in December 2025, aims to secure access to AI and chipmaking for the U.S. and its allies. According to reports, the U.S. government will contribute an initial $250 million toward the ambitious goal. This move signals strong government support for the domestic and allied chip industry, boosting investor confidence. The prospect of significant capital infusion into the sector could lead to the development of new manufacturing facilities, research advancements, and a more resilient global supply chain, benefiting chipmakers and related technology companies.

The stock market overreacts to news, and big price drops can present good opportunities to buy high-quality stocks.

Among others, the following stocks were impacted:

Zooming In On Power Integrations (POWI)

Power Integrationss shares are very volatile and have had 24 moves greater than 5% over the last year. In that context, todays move indicates the market considers this news meaningful but not something that would fundamentally change its perception of the business.

The biggest move we wrote about over the last year was 5 months ago when the stock gained 20.2% on the news that the company detailed its collaboration with NVIDIA to advance its PowiGaN gallium-nitride technology for next-generation AI data centers.

The partnership aimed to accelerate the transition to more powerful 800 VDC systems designed for megawatt-scale computer racks that power artificial intelligence. Power Integrations published a white paper at the 2025 OCP Global Summit explaining the benefits of its technology. According to the company, its new chips delivered greater power density and efficiency compared to competing devices. The announcement was significant as the demand for power in AI data centers has been rising rapidly, and this technology helped address that need by simplifying rack design and making more efficient use of space.
Offset press and packaging equipment supplier Graphco has undergone a change in ownership, according to a press release posted on What They Think.

Jeremy Gattozzi and John Berger have purchased the company, following discussions that began in Bainbridge, Ohio, US.

Financial specifics of the deal remain undisclosed.

The initial talks about succession at Graphco started with Gattozzi raising the topic with the company's president Chris Manley.

This led to Gattozzi spending close to a year learning about the business, its operations, and the wider printing sector.

During this time, he worked with Berger, who has experience running Dreison International for more than 40 years.

Both parties spent significant time meeting Graphco staff, clients and suppliers, developing an understanding of the business's approach and reputation built over five decades.

Gattozzi took on the role of chief operating officer at Graphco in December 2025 as the acquisition process moved forward. He has since added three employees to support ongoing growth.

Gattozzi said: What became clear very quickly is that Graphcos success is built on its people.

"The dedication of the team, the strength of the customer relationships, and the partnerships with our vendors are what make this company special. John and I are honoured to continue that legacy and help grow Graphco for the next 50 years.

Berger will serve as CEO while Manley will continue as president. In addition, Theresa Manley will remain chief financial officer to provide stability during the transition.

According to Berger, the strength of Graphcos team and its longstanding industry presence were key factors in the decision to invest.

Berger commented: Graphco is exactly the type of organisation we look for - a company with an exceptional reputation, loyal customers, and trusted vendor partnerships. Jeremy has already shown the leadership and commitment needed to build on that foundation, and I am excited to support Graphcos growth in the years ahead.

With new ownership in place and ongoing involvement from the Manley family, Graphco will continue operating with its existing leadership while planning future developments.

"Ownership changes at Graphco as Gattozzi and Berger take over" was originally created and published by Packaging Gateway, a GlobalData owned brand.




Currency fluctuations, particularly the weakening of the USD against the euro, had a significant adverse impact on revenue, amounting to EUR37 million.

Story Continues

Q & A Highlights

Q: Can you explain the rationale behind upgrading the Digital sales guidance for 2030 while suspending the 2026 guidance? How do you plan to achieve the necessary growth rate? A: Geoffrey Godet, CEO, explained that the long-term guidance upgrade to EUR550 million by 2030 is based on organic growth without acquisitions. The growth will come from existing customer base expansion and new customer acquisitions. The company expects an acceleration in annual recurring revenue (ARR) and subscription growth, particularly from the acquisition of Serensia and the upcoming invoicing mandates in Europe. The growth will not be linear, with significant acceleration expected post-2026.

Q: What are the expectations for the Italian Lockers rollout strategy? A: Geoffrey Godet, CEO, stated that in 2025, Quadient focused on setting up the team and identifying strategic locations in Italy. The rollout has started and is expected to gain momentum throughout the year, with a focus on securing contracts with carriers and other players.

Q: How will CapEx evolve in 2026, and how will it be distributed across the three business segments? A: Laurent Du Passage, CFO, indicated that CapEx is expected to remain around EUR90 million, similar to 2025. Mail CapEx will likely decline due to lower machine placements, while Lockers will continue to see dynamic investment. Digital CapEx will remain stable, focusing on R&D and platform enhancements.

Q: Is the Mail market reaching a cliff drop, and could we see a larger decline in 2026 than in 2025? A: Geoffrey Godet, CEO, assured that a cliff drop is not anticipated. The Mail market is expected to decline predictably, with a revised 2030 revenue ambition of EUR500 million. The decline in 2025 was due to specific impacts, including the US market's post-certification effect, which is expected to improve in 2026.

Q: How confident are you in improving margins for Digital to 20% in 2026 and 30% in 2030, given the cost of customer acquisition for SaaS companies? A: Geoffrey Godet, CEO, explained that the company has structured its go-to-market strategy to efficiently acquire 2,000 to 3,000 new logos annually. The focus is on upselling existing customers, which is more cost-effective than acquiring new ones. Additionally, partnerships are expected to contribute to cost efficiency in customer acquisition.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Management said it increased capital expenditure as part of its repositioning strategy. CapEx rose to GBP 11.8 million in 2025 from GBP 8.2 million in 2024. Despite a slower leasing market, the company completed 64 new lettings at rents 3.9% ahead of ERV, which management presented as a sign of rental growth for the right product.

Portfolio occupancy also declined. EPRA occupancy ended 2025 at 76%, slightly down year-over-year, with management attributing the decline largely to three large tenant breaks exercised during the year.

Inglis reported that EPRA earnings per share for the year were 11.8 pence, which more than covered the companys fully covered 10 pence per share dividend for 2025. However, he noted that several large, unexpected tenant breaks during 2025 affected income in-year, with the full effect expected to be felt in 2026.

Chief Executive Officer Stephen Inglis said the year was difficult amid higher interest rates, uncertainty from macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions, and headwinds facing UK businesses. He added that the environment contributed to slower leasing than management had anticipated at the start of 2025. Despite those conditions, management highlighted progress in reducing debt, executing disposals, and investing in refurbishments aimed at improving occupancy, rents, and EPC performance.

Regional REIT (LON:RGL) executives told investors its 2025 full-year performance was shaped by a challenging operating backdrop and a slower-than-expected leasing market, but said the company made progress on key strategic priorities including asset sales, refinancing, and portfolio repositioning.

The company extended and refinanced its syndicated facility to Dec 2028 (Santander in place of Barclays) and has hedged through Dec 2028 at a 3.56% strike; management is targeting a prudent 8p dividend for 2026 while preparing to refinance a Dec 2027 facility and may lower LTV beforehand.

Management accelerated disposalsselling 18 assets for 51.6m (above target), repaying 50.5m of debt and cutting gross borrowings to 266.2m and LTV to just over 40% with further sales contracted post-year-end expected to lift net income by about 2.1m.

Regional REIT reported EPRA EPS of 11.8p for 2025, covering the maintained 10p dividend, but portfolio occupancy fell to 76% and three large tenant breaks are expected to depress income into 2026.

Story Continues

Disposals and debt reduction: sales program accelerates

A central theme of the call was the companys strategic sales program, which executives said was essential to reducing debt and mitigating void costs. Inglis said Regional REIT sold 18 assets in 2025 for GBP 51.6 million, exceeding the companys GBP 40 million to GBP 50 million target range. Gross borrowings decreased to GBP 266.2 million, and GBP 50.5 million of debt was repaid during the period. Loan-to-value fell to just over 40% from just over 42%, despite a valuation decline.

 Super Micro's Plunge: An AI Deep Value Opportunity?

Management said momentum continued after year-end, with five additional sales completed for GBP 12.3 million and a further 14 disposals well advanced (contracted, in solicitors hands, or with terms agreed) totaling GBP 29 million.

Inglis emphasized that many 2026 disposals are expected to be non-core and underperforming, with low occupancy. He said the assets sold to date averaged 22% occupancy, while those targeted for completion by mid-year averaged 27%. On completion, management said the disposal of these assets would improve net income by GBP 2.1 million, reflecting the drag from landlord void costs.

Addressing investor questions about why some income-producing assets were sold, Inglis said certain disposalssuch as a Bedford asset that was end of business planwere completed to help position the company to refinance its banking facility.

Refinancing, hedging, and the next debt milestone

Finance Director Alistair Hewitt said the company refinanced its syndicated facility (previously with RBS, Bank of Scotland and Barclays) with Santander replacing Barclays. The facility now expires in December 2028, extending from its prior August 2026 maturity. Hewitt also said post year-end debt repayments totaled GBP 11.5 million, including GBP 7.8 million already repaid and a further GBP 3.7 million about to be repaid.

On hedging, Hewitt said existing hedging ran to August 2026, but new hedging has been entered into covering August 2026 through December 2028. He said the new hedging carries a strike rate of 3.56%, compared with a blended 0.98% previously shown, reflecting higher market rates. He also said an over-hedge position at year-end (101% hedged) had been rectified, returning the facility to fully hedged.

Looking ahead, management said focus is shifting to refinancing the Scottish Widows and Aviva facility maturing in December 2027. Hewitt said the company may need to reduce LTV in advance of that refinancing and has begun initial discussions with existing lenders, with an aim to refinance by this time next year, while noting that refinancing early could increase costs because it is a fixed-rate facility.

Valuation movement driven by income loss, not yield shift

Asked about the valuation decrease in 2025, Inglis said yields had stabilized at both the June and December valuation points. He attributed the valuation decline to changes in income rather than market yield deterioration, pointing to the three large tenants lost during 2025. Inglis said those three tenants accounted for just over 50% of the valuation change.

In the metrics review, management cited total assets of GBP 552.2 million at year-end, with the reduction driven by sales and a small proportion from a 5% like-for-like valuation decrease. The company also referenced a small acquisition in Leeds, described as the final piece of a jigsaw on a city center development site that gives it control of the full site.

Dividend outlook, CapEx targets, and market commentary

For 2026, management said it is targeting a prudent dividend of 8 pence per share. Inglis said the board maintained the 10 pence dividend in 2025 despite income being impacted by the tenant breaks, effectively paying out above the level that would have been 90% of PID if income had held up. He said paying above PID limits cash retained for reinvestment, and that retained cash will be redeployed into accretive CapEx.

On the 2026 CapEx program, Inglis said spending is likely to be in line with 2025around GBP 10 million to GBP 12 millionas the company continues to create let ready space. He said the company targets returns of 1.5 times capital deployed, and aims for a 10% income return from CapEx, while noting some spending can be defensive rather than value-add.

The company also described its focus on improving EPC ratings and ESG positioning. Inglis said more than 60% of the portfolio is now EPC A or B, with a further 25% rated C. He argued that moving from C to B or A can be achieved with relatively modest investment, citing measures such as LED lighting upgrades and replacing gas boilers with electric systems. He added that many properties rated D/E and below are included in the sales program.

In a market update, Inglis and the team reiterated their view that a supply-demand imbalance in regional offices is likely to strengthen due to a lack of new construction starts, and emphasized flight to quality dynamics. He said the companys refurbished space has typically achieved rents of GBP 20 to GBP 30 per square foot, versus an average portfolio rent of GBP 15.60, and expressed conviction that rents for good-quality Grade A space could move above GBP 30 per square foot over the medium term.

Property Investment Director Simon Marriott said the pool of buyers for disposals is much deeper than a year ago, dominated by local property companies and family trusts, mostly using equity rather than debt. He also said recent sales processes have seen best-and-final offer dynamics and described buyer interest in change-of-use outcomes such as residential (including student and build-to-rent), budget hotel conversions, and in some cases redevelopment into industrial uses.

Closing the presentation, Inglis said the company is cautiously optimistic based on the current level of sales and leasing activity, while warning that prolonged geopolitical conflict and energy price impacts could affect tenant decision-making and operating costsunderscoring, in his view, the importance of continuing the sales and leasing strategy.

About Regional REIT (LON:RGL)

Regional REIT Limited is a UK based real estate investment trust, focused on building a large geographically diverse portfolio of income producing regional properties outside of the M25 motorway. Regional REIT pursues its investment objective by investing in, actively managing and disposing of regional core property and core plus property assets. It aims to deliver an attractive total return to its shareholders, with a strong focus on income supported by additional capital growth prospects.

The article "Regional REIT Q4 Earnings Call Highlights" was originally published by MarketBeat.
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Seniors analyst fair value has shifted from 2.24 per share to 3.02 per share, a change of about 35%, putting fresh focus on where the shares might look attractive. That move lines up with recent commentary that targets and ratings are clustering around levels analysts see as fair value, with both bullish and cautious voices now using similar reference points near 2.85. Read on to see how to interpret these moves and stay on top of the evolving narrative around Seniors shares.

Analyst Price Targets don't always capture the full story. Head over to our Company Report to find new ways to value Senior.

What Wall Street Has Been Saying

 Bullish Takeaways

Berenberg raising its price target by 35 GBp signals that its analyst team sees room for the shares to trend closer to revised fair value estimates, in line with the latest fair value move toward about 3.02 per share.

The clustering of targets around 2.85 suggests analysts, including Berenberg, see current pricing as anchored to their fair value work rather than to more speculative scenarios.

 Bearish Takeaways

Peel Hunts downgrade of Senior to Hold from Buy, paired with a 285 GBp target, indicates the firm views the share price as broadly reflecting its assessment of value, which limits the margin of safety it sees at present levels.

The shift from a Buy to a Hold at Peel Hunt also highlights a more cautious stance on how much additional upside is available relative to risks around execution and delivering on expectations already baked into current valuations.

Do your thoughts align with the Bull or Bear Analysts? Perhaps you think there's more to the story. Head to the Simply Wall St Community to discover more perspectives!

LSE:SNR 1-Year Stock Price Chart

We've flagged 1 risk for Senior. See which could impact your investment.

What's in the News
Usually, when one insider buys stock, it might not be a monumental event. But when multiple insiders are buying like they did in the case of Clarkson PLC (LON:CKN), that sends out a positive message to the company's shareholders.

While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares.

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Clarkson Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by Independent Chairman of the Board Laurence David Hollingworth for UK178k worth of shares, at about UK29.65 per share. We do like to see buying, but this purchase was made at well below the current price of UK45.50. Because the shares were purchased at a lower price, this particular buy doesn't tell us much about how insiders feel about the current share price.

Clarkson insiders may have bought shares in the last year, but they didn't sell any. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

Check out our latest analysis for Clarkson

LSE:CKN Insider Trading Volume March 25th 2026

Clarkson is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find small cap companies at attractive valuations, this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Insiders At Clarkson Have Bought Stock Recently

Over the last quarter, Clarkson insiders have spent a meaningful amount on shares. Specifically, Independent Non-Executive Director Constantin Cotzias bought UK51k worth of shares in that time, and we didn't record any sales whatsoever. This makes one think the business has some good points.

Does Clarkson Boast High Insider Ownership?

I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. It appears that Clarkson insiders own 2.5% of the company, worth about UK35m. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders.

What Might The Insider Transactions At Clarkson Tell Us?

It is good to see the recent insider purchase. And the longer term insider transactions also give us confidence. Given that insiders also own a fair bit of Clarkson we think they are probably pretty confident of a bright future. So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. Our analysis shows 2 warning signs for Clarkson (1 is concerning!) and we strongly recommend you look at these before investing.
By Echo Wang and David Jeans

NEW YORK, March 25 (Reuters) - Entrepreneur Tejpaul Bhatia is confident he owns a slice of Elon Musks SpaceX. But he can't be 100% sure.

When the former Google executive entered the space industry in 2021, SpaceX was already one of the worlds most soughtafter private companies, valued at about $75 billion, with shares largely locked up by early backers and institutions close to Musk. Bhatia couldnt buy shares directly, so he turned to the secondary market where a loose network of brokers buy and sell the shares of privately owned companies.

Now, with SpaceX preparing for a stock market debut this year at a valuation near $1.75 trillion, Bhatia could be sitting on a lucrative investment, but his shares were bought through brokers that make ownership hard to verify.

I hope I didnt get duped, said Bhatia, the former chief executive of space company Axiom Space. I dont think I did, but again, theres no way to know.

He declined to share the value of his investment, or the broker's name.

The potential payoff from owning SpaceX shares before it goes public is big enough that many are willing to pay a premium for access and live with the uncertainty. Its the hottest IPO opportunity in history, he said.

Bhatia is among a growing swell of investors who have poured money into SpaceX through the opaque market for private company shares. These deals often rely on special-purpose vehicles, or SPVs, which don't own shares in the company. They pool investor money to buy the rights to purchase the shares at a later time.

You are relying on the counterparties in these transactions and their reputations, said Mitchell Littman, a New York-based attorney who advises SPV managers and secondary market investors. He added, Every time there is hype around these type of things, inevitably the fraudsters come out of the woodwork because they smell an opportunity.

The intense demand for SpaceX shares has led investors to accept unusually complex arrangements, according to 10 investors, industry experts and analysts interviewed by Reuters.

SpaceX, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice didnt respond to comment requests.

HUGE APPETITE FOR PRIVATE TECH GIANTS

The rise of SpaceX and other hot private companies like OpenAI has reshaped the initial public offering landscape. Today many of the worlds most valuable firms are staying private for years  building brand recognition and creating intense demand from investors  unlike in years past when fast-growing tech companies went public relatively quickly.
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A San Antonio-based financial advisor and radio broadcaster faces decades in prison after pleading guilty to defrauding numerous clients of millions in funds.

Last week, Brooklynn Chandler Willy pleaded guilty to 10 counts of investment fraud in Texas federal court. According to the Department of Justice, Willy owned the San Antonio-based Queen B Advisors (d/b/a Texas Financial Advisory), which offered asset management and financial planning services.

According to SEC records, Willy first registered in 2014 at Global Financial Private Capital, with brief stints at J.W. Cole Financial Advisors before forming Texas Financial Advisory in 2020. SEC records indicate J.W. Cole fired Willy for violation of firm policies regarding participation in unapproved private securities transactions.

In addition to her advisory practice, Willy offered financial advice on radio shows broadcast on numerous Texas radio stations, as well as local TV programs, according to the San Antonio Current (the radio stations reportedly dropped her programs after she was arrested).

According to the DOJ, in 2018, Willy recommended that a married couple invest funds in an investment company called Ferrum Capital, and in 2021, advised the same couple to invest $500,000 in another Ferrum entity.

However, Ferrum was purportedly a scam, run by co-defendants Joshua Allen and Michael Cox (who have jury trials scheduled for August). The duo ran four investment companies, and according to KBCD News, the company is facing numerous lawsuits accusing them of running a multi-million-dollar Ponzi scheme.

According to the DOJ, Willy used the $500,000 from the couple for her own purposes, including paying off credit cards and payments to other investors and to another business she owned.

Willy also convinced a separated married couple to invest about $2 million in an associates company, alleging that the investment would be used to purchase bad debt and for other investments. Again, Willy used the money to make payments to herself and her associate, and continued the scheme by repaying other investors.

Willy also convinced other clients to invest $75,000 and $600,000 in what she claimed were legitimate business investments, but she also used this money for her own benefit. Once the Federal Bureau of Investigation began looking into the scheme, Willy forged the signatures of several of her clients and gave the falsified documents to federal investigators.
Tripadvisor said Monday evening it reached a deal with Starboard Value that could see the activist investor get four nominees to the Tripadvisor board at the next annual meeting, which usually takes place in June.

The agreement has several elements:

Tripadvisor agreed to immediately increase its board size to 10, up from the current eight directors.

Two new independent appointees, Andrew Cates and Dhiren Fonseca, have joined the Tripadvisor board, and their terms will expire at the annual stockholder meeting. They both have ties to Starboard, however.

They can be nominated for the standard one-year term at that shareholder meeting.

Starboard can recommend two additional directors for a total of four. One can be a director independent of Starboard, and the other can be a Starboard representative or independent of the activist investor. As an alternative to recommending the second independent director candidate, Starboard can recommend its CEO, Jeff Smith, or Ajay Sundar, Starboard Value managing director.

Starboard agreed to vote its beneficially owned shares in favor of all of Tripadvisors director nominees and all other proposals, subject to certain limited exceptions.

We invested in Tripadvisor based on our view that the Company has a tremendous opportunity as a global leader in online travel with an unparalleled brand, strong user loyalty, and three market-leading businesses, Starboard Value Jeff Smith said in a statement. We appreciate the collaborative approach taken by Tripadvisors Board and management team, and we believe Dhiren and Andy, along with the two directors joining the Board at the Annual Meeting, will be great additions to the Board. Dhiren and Andy bring valuable experience and fresh perspectives that will help Tripadvisors Board oversee the Companys strategy with a clear focus on creating shareholder value.

Tripadvisor chairman Greg Maffei, who is stepping down and leaving the board at the annual meeting, said in a statement: We are pleased to have reached a constructive resolution with Starboard and to welcome Dhiren and Andy to the Board. Their perspectives and experience will be valuable as we continue executing our strategy. We are grateful for Starboards engagement throughout this process and look forward to working together as we focus on driving long-term value for shareholders.

Starboard Value Campaign for Change at Tripadvisor

The deal, which Tripadvisor disclosed in a financial filing, comes after Starboard Value began its activist campaign at Tripadvisor in July 2025, when it publicly disclosed acquiring more than a 9% stake in the company, worth approximately $150 million at the time.
While the electric vehicle (EV) industry remains challenged and continues to grapple with massive overcapacity and tepid demand, it still attracts interest. Earlier this month, Uber (UBER) announced that it would invest up to $1.25 billion in Rivian (RIVN) and buy up to 50,000 of its upcoming R2 vehicles for its robotaxi fleet.

Notably, last year Uber also entered into a similar partnership with Lucid Group (LCID), but the scale was much lower than what it has now announced with Rivian. In 2024, Volkswagen (VWAGY) announced that it would invest up to $5.8 billion in Rivian and form a joint venture with the U.S. EV startup.

More News from Barchart

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Rivian Has Secured Funding From Several Parties

As I have noted multiple times, Rivian and Lucid are two of the EV startups that have the wherewithal to survive the current EV industry slump. Both offer quality products and have their own manufacturing operations. Also, investors have been willing to fund their burgeoning losses. While Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund (PIF) has been doing the bulk of the heavy lifting for Lucid, Rivian has relied on outside funding.

Apart from Uber and Volkswagen, Rivian also secured a $6.57 billion loan from the U.S. Department of Energy. These capital raises have helped strengthen Rivians balance sheet at a time when the operating environment has been quite challenging. Along with low demand, the auto tariffs and the easing of fuel economy standards are taking a toll on industry profitability. For startup EV players like Rivian, it is adding to the losses while making the path towards sustainable profitability even more cumbersome.

RIVN Stock Forecast

Sell-side analysts have held divergent views on Rivian despite the strong Q4 2025 earnings report and the recent partnership with Uber. Last month, Deutsche upgraded RIVN to a Buy and raised its target price to $23, while UBS upgraded it to a Neutral and raised its target price to $16. D.A. Davidson, meanwhile, downgraded the stock from a Neutral to Underperform while slashing its target price by $1 to $14.

This month, TD Cowen joined the bullish gang and upgraded Rivian from a Hold to Buy while raising the target price from $17 to $20. Bank of America, however, reinstated coverage on the stock with an Underperform rating and $14 target price.
Vertical Aerospace shares slip as cash runway concern offsets flight testing progress Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock

The eVTOL developer has hit key milestones and reopened its order book, but a $195 million outflow caught the eye

Vertical Aerospace Ltd (NYSE:EVTL) endured a choppy ride pre-market, dipping and then recovering altitude in a busy pre-market session.

The mini-bout of turbulence was encountered after the electric aircraft developer reported a narrowing cash position alongside its 2025 annual results, despite meaningful progress in its flight test programme.

It took traders a beat to pick a side with the stock (down 40% year-to-date) recovering from an initial 3% slide to gain around 1.5% by 1.10 pm GMT.

Operationally, the group appears to be hitting (and passing) most of its major waypoints (milestones).

It completed hover, vertical and wingborne flight phases during the year, including the first winged eVTOL flight in open European airspace and an airport-to-airport flight at the Royal International Air Tattoo.

Transition testing, which focuses on the seamless movement between vertical lift and wingborne flight, began in November 2025 under UK Civil Aviation Authority oversight, and a third full-scale prototype was completed in December to provide additional flight test capacity.

The company has also relaunched its commercial order book, with recent orders from JetSetGo for operations in India and Heli Air Monaco for routes along the Cote d'Azur.

For any business at this nascent stage of development, the focus is on the balance sheet rather than the profit and loss account.

Vertical held approximately $93 million in cash at December 31, a figure that had fallen to approximately $58 million by the date of the report.

The company expects net cash outflows of approximately $195 million over the next 12 months as investment in flight testing, certification and manufacturing accelerates.

Anticipated receipts from research and development tax reliefs and government grants of around $28 million partially offset the near-term shortfall, but the gap between available liquidity and projected outflows points to a further capital raise ahead.

Vertical completed two public equity raises in 2025, securing more than $175 million, and net cash used in operations for the year was approximately $112 million, in line with guidance.

On manufacturing, the company has launched a battery pilot production line at its Vertical Energy Centre and plans to open an adjacent 30,000 sq ft facility later this year.

Vertical is also advancing plans to expand at Cotswold Airport, targeting production capacity of more than 25 aircraft annually.
We've all heard about artificial intelligence's (AI) need for more electricity, more hardware, more everything. But less talked about is the issue of what AI generates, well, aside from the responses you get to your prompts.

I'm talking about heat.

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 

Anyone who's built a gaming PC knows that heat management with computers is very important. If your hardware runs too hot for too long, it can cook itself; basically, it thinks itself to death.

AI runs even hotter.

As reported by Marketplace, Vinod Narayanan, the University of California, Davis' director of the Western Cooling Efficiency Center at the college, has stated that AI chips can run at 70 or 80 degrees Celsius (175 degrees Fahrenheit).

According to research done by Arizona State University, the heat kicked off by data centers may also raise the temperature of neighboring communities by as much as 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

So, needless to say, for the sake of the people living near data centers and for the sake of the hardware in the data center itself, keeping things cool is critical for AI. And it's a need of the technology that often flies under the radar in the media.

Wall Street is very aware of the cooling issue, though, and that's likely why Vertiv (NYSE: VRT) is up about 64% year to date.

Vertiv is a major producer of cooling equipment for data centers, and according to Wall Street's analysts, it's still rated as a buy. Here's why.

Image source: Getty Images.

Cool running circuits

Vertiv has been in the data center colocation, power, and cooling industry for over 60 years, and its product line includes just about everything a data center would need to keep its computing hardware within its happy operating temperature.

A few of the highlights include data center air conditioning systems, in-rack cooling systems for processors, and thermal management systems to get the most out of all of Vertiv's cooling hardware.

It's a nice, straightforward business model that can be summarized in a single sentence: Vertiv keeps computer hardware cool.

And Vertiv has locked in some pretty critical partnerships, including one with Nvidia last month. The deal will see Vertiv provide Nvidia with advanced liquid-cooling systems for use in its data centers.

Equinix, a leading data center real estate investment trust (REIT), has also contracted with Vertiv in the past. In 2017, it hired Vertiv to redesign the power supply system for its PA7 data center in Courbevoie, France. They partnered up again in 2021 to develop fuel cells for data centers in Italy.
D-Wave quantum computer hardware with branding, highlighting quantum computing amid stock selloff concerns.

Key Points

D-Wave Quantum shares are down about 44% since the start of the year, though the company's RSI is near 30, suggesting it may be oversold.

At the same time, the firm's price remains significantly elevated relative to its sales, which are still quite low in absolute terms.

Investors must try to reconcile these concerns while also trying to ascertain how much farther shares may fall in the current selloff.

Interested in D-Wave Quantum Inc.? Here are five stocks we like better.

By many measures, quantum computing leader D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS) has had an excellent start to 2026, but the most impressive statistic of all may be that in January alone its bookings exceeded those of the entire year in 2025. This was thanks to a $10-million deal with a Fortune 100 company and a system sale worth $20 million, primarily. At the same time, the company's cash reserves remain stellar as D-Wave positions itself as a dual-approach company with multiple technological paths.

Still, QBTS stock is not thriving: shares have fallen by about 44% so far in 2026, despite the company's promising news. For those already holding D-Wave shares, the question of where the bottom may be is likely to be top of mind; on the other hand, investors not already invested may be wondering if it's worth holding out longer to get a better price when buying the dip. In short, while it's impossible to say precisely how much farther the D-Wave selloff may go, a closer look at D-Wave's operating runway may ultimately put a limit on dilution risk for the time being.

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Just How Rational Is the D-Wave Selloff?

Despite the seeming paradox of D-Wave's selloff amid some strong fundamentals and exciting developments in its latest earnings report, there are reasons for investors to believe the selloff is, in fact, rational.

D-Wave has undoubtedly seen major growth in its salesrevenue came close to tripling year-over-year (YOY) in the latest year.

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In absolute terms, its sales remain quite small at under $25 million annually, particularly for a company valued at close to $6 billion.

In combination with a massive rally that took place throughout much of the earlier part of 2025, this means that D-Wave's share price has become significantly inflated relative to its sales.

 Macys Beats Expectations Again, But Guidance Spooks Investors

The company's price-to-sales (P/S) ratio reached as high as nearly 327 last year, and even after its latest decline, QBTS still trades at more than 237 times sales. Investors may find this figure helpful as they seek to determine whether the selloff is justified.
If theres one thing that has contributed to the stock market gains over the last few years, its artificial intelligence (AI). AI-related companies, such as Nvidia (NVDA), have dominated the headlines, and its not hard to see why. The chipmaker designs graphics processing units that power much of todays AI infrastructure, making it an important company in the technology sector.

Read Next: Investor Who Made $20 Million on Nvidia Stock Reveals the Next Big Opportunity

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Nvidia may remain a key player in the AI boom, and as a retiree, you may be wondering whether buying Nvidia stock is a smart move. Finance experts shared three crucial considerations retirees should think about before investing in Nvidia stock in 2026.

Also see 10 big-name stocks likely to dominate in 2026.

You May Already Own Nvidia Through ETFs

You may already be holding Nvidia without even knowing if you invest in index funds. Some major index funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have considerable holdings in the chipmaker.

If you hold popular ETFs like SPY, QQQ, or even DIA, they all contain Nvidia. SPY has around 7.5% exposure, while QQQ has about 8.6%, said Vince Stanzione, CEO of First Information and author of The Millionaire Dropout. The stock appears in many other ETFs too, so you may own more than you think.

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A More Reasonable Valuation Doesnt Mean Lower Risk

Nvidia has delivered massive returns for many investors in the last couple of years. But before you buy, its important to know whether the stock is undervalued or overvalued. Its valuation, using the forward P/E ratio, is also starting to look more reasonable (currently around 22x, down from much higher levels previously), Stanzione said.

However, he advised against direct ownership: At this point in the cycle, I would advise against owning Nvidia directly. Instead, maintain market weight to it via an ETF like SPY so you still get exposure without going much above 10%.

Retirees May Need Smaller Allocations

If youre thinking about buying Nvidia stock as a retiree, mind the size of your position. Arie Brish, a business professor at St. Edwards University, said that while Nvidia may benefit from long-term AI growth, retirement portfolios generally need to be more conservative.

I am a strong believer in AI, and Nvidia is an important part of the AI ecosystem. However, when you talk about retirement, you must be more conservative than the average person because your livelihood depends on your investment portfolio, Brish said.
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Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF (QQQM) has returned 94% over five years with a 0.15% expense ratio, but its top 10 holdings account for 47% of the portfolio, with Nvidia alone representing 8.7%, Apple 7.4%, Microsoft 5.8%, and Alphabet 6.8%, creating severe concentration risk where a 20% decline in Nvidia would meaningfully impact fund NAV. The semiconductor subsectorspanning Nvidia, Broadcom (AVGO), Micron (MU), AMD (AMD), Lam Research (LRCX), and Applied Materials (AMAT)creates layered exposure to AI infrastructure spending, while Information Technology and Communication Services account for roughly two-thirds of the fund.

Elevated volatility with the VIX near 26 (91.8th percentile) and weakening consumer confidence at 56.4 amplify concentration risk in QQQM, as the fund depends heavily on mega-cap tech earnings and discretionary consumer spending from companies like Amazon and Tesla that face headwinds from persistent household pessimism and potential AI capital expenditure slowdowns.

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Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF (NYSEARCA:QQQM) has returned nearly 94% over the past five years, making it one of the most compelling passive growth vehicles for retail investors. Launched in 2020 as a lower-cost alternative to QQQ, it tracks the NASDAQ-100 Index at an expense ratio of just 0.15%. The fund holds 101 positions across the largest non-financial companies on the Nasdaq: own the most dominant technology and growth companies in the world, cheaply and passively.

That appeal comes with a structural reality every holder should understand. The fund's returns are overwhelmingly driven by a very small number of stocks, and the concentration risk that flows from that is the most material threat facing QQQM investors today.

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Real-time stock market data is displayed on screens below the iconic NASDAQ logo, reflecting market activity.

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When Eight Stocks Carry the Whole Fund

The top 10 holdings account for roughly 47% of the entire portfolio. Nvidia alone represents 8.7%. Apple is 7.4%, Microsoft 5.8%, and Alphabet's two share classes combined add up to 6.8%. Nearly half your money rides on fewer than ten companies.

The transmission mechanism is direct. A 20% decline in Nvidia alone would subtract a meaningful share of the fund's NAV. A simultaneous drawdown across the top five holdings  which has happened during rate-driven selloffs  can move the fund by double digits before the other 90-plus holdings have any meaningful say. QQQM is already down nearly 5% year-to-date, underperforming even as the broader market struggles.
Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW) stock jumped 5.3% through 11:35 a.m. ET Wednesday, one day after NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman unveiled the space agency's new $20 billion "Ignition" plan to build a base on the moon.

Redwire specializes in building space infrastructure, and a moon base, by definition, comprises a lot of infrastructure. Although Redwire wasn't specifically named in Isaacman's announcement, it's logical to presume it will play a role.

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Image source: NASA.

Details, please

Isaacman outlined a three-phase effort culminating in the establishment of a semi-permanently occupied moon base by 2032. The first phase will involve exploratory landings on the moon by NASA astronauts and testing equipment to support a moon base. (Redwire will presumably build some of this equipment.)

Things may kick into higher gear in Phase 2, which will establish early infrastructure to support astronauts visiting the moon. By Phase 3, things could really be rolling, as NASA builds the structures and equipment it needs to support "habitation, surface mobility and logistics ... for a continuous human foothold on the Moon."

What it means for Redwire stock

It's important to note that, at this point, Redwire hasn't won any contracts under either Phase 2 or Phase 3 -- the Ignition project is only one day old, after all. Still, Redwire's integral role in building equipment for space work (just yesterday, the company won a contract to deliver low-mass solar arrays for Moog (NYSE: MOGA) (NYSE: MOGB) to use on national security satellites) makes it a logical beneficiary of NASA's push to put an American base on the moon.

Best of all, at barely 5 times sales, Redwire stock is arguably the cheapest space stock out there. If you want to invest in NASA's moon base plans, Redwire stock is a good place to start.

Should you buy stock in Redwire right now?

Before you buy stock in Redwire, consider this:

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What Happened?

Shares of CRM software giant Salesforce (NYSE:CRM) fell 5.8% in the afternoon session after Anthropic announced that its Claude AI assistant can now control computers to complete tasks by imitating human keystrokes and mouse movements.

Investors reacted to the possibility that enterprise value would migrate from the application layer to the intelligence layer, leaving legacy software providers vulnerable to displacement by autonomous agents that can operate across platforms. Analysts added that the "agentic era" could lead to massive margin compression as software companies lose their pricing power.

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What Is The Market Telling Us

Salesforces shares are not very volatile and have only had 9 moves greater than 5% over the last year. In that context, todays move indicates the market considers this news meaningful, although it might not be something that would fundamentally change its perception of the business.

The previous big move we wrote about was 28 days ago when the stock gained 3.9% on the news that solid economic data, including a beat on consumer confidence boosted sentiment. The positive reports fueled a "Turnaround Tuesday" relief rally across the market, with the technology sector among the leaders. The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index rose to 91.2 in February, indicating a more optimistic outlook from consumers about income and business conditions. Also, a recent announcement from Anthropic regarding new collaborative tools for its Claude AI agent software helped calm investor nerves. The company's move to expand its AI tools into sectors like human resources and investment banking signals a potential for partnership rather than replacement. This shift in sentiment was reflected in the market, with the iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF surging 2.4% as investors bought back into beaten-down software stocks.

Salesforce is down 27.8% since the beginning of the year, and at $183.02 per share, it is trading 37.1% below its 52-week high of $291.15 from May 2025. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of Salesforces shares 5 years ago would now be looking at only $873.40.

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SLB N.V. (NYSE: SLB) stock, the artist formerly known as Schlumberger, soared on Monday after Citigroup recommended buying SLB "on weakness" this morning, as StreetInsider.com reports.

SLB stock is up 6% as of 12:10 p.m. ET.

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Image source: Getty Images.

Big trouble for big oil

We don't have much detail on why Citi decided to recommend SLB, but I think we can guess.

Priced below $47 at Friday's close, SLB stock was down 9% since before the Iran conflict began. SLB had fallen even further than that, and given how volatile oil prices have been lately, rising and falling on the latest headlines out of the Middle East, it makes sense to keep an eye out for weakness -- and good times to buy oil stocks.

More than just that, though, consider this:

As The Wall Street Journal just reported, oil infrastructure in the Persian Gulf is getting beaten up by Iranian attacks this month. One of two production lines at Shell's (NYSE: SHEL) Pearl gas-to-liquid plants -- which cost $20 billion to build -- has been "knocked out." Damage to ExxonMobil's (NYSE: XOM) natural gas facilities in Qatar could take five years to repair. Damage from a drone attack forced Occidental Petroleum (NYSE: OXY) to shut down operations at its Shah gas field in the U.A.E.

What it means for SLB stock

When oil and gas stop flowing, SLB suffers, too. Two weeks ago, the company lowered Q1 earnings guidance by $0.06 to $0.09. But here's the thing:

This short-term pain for SLB stock could yield long-term gain, if oil companies and Mideast customers need to spend the next few years repairing the damage -- and paying SLB to help. Priced below 20x earnings and with tremendous free cash flow, SLB could enjoy years of growth after this conflict finally ends.

Should you buy stock in Slb right now?

Before you buy stock in Slb, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Slb wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

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Arm (ARM) stock rocketed more than 15% higher on Wednesday after the company unveiled its first production data center processor, the Arm AGI CPU (central processing unit).

Arm has traditionally licensed its intellectual property to other companies to develop their own chips, including Apple and Nvidia (NVDA), which uses Arms capabilities in its Grace and Vera CPUs.

Graphics processing units, or GPUs, have dominated data centers thanks to their ability to train and run AI models. But as running those models becomes a more common use case than training and as the industry transitions toward agentic applications  AI that can perform tasks on your behalf  CPUs are becoming more important.

That provides Arm with the opportunity to launch its own processor. The company isnt just debuting a chip, though; its also unveiling a server rack to run them at scale.

And while X86-based chips like those from Intel (INTC) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) generally dominate data centers, Arm said its CPU delivers twice the performance per rack compared to those other platforms.

Arm Holdings CEO Rene Haas holds up the company's AGI CPU during an event in San Francisco on March 24, 2026. (Reuters/Max A. Cherney)  REUTERS / REUTERS

Arm said it co-developed the AGI CPU with Meta (META), which is deploying them alongside its own custom chips inside its data centers.

Beyond Meta, Arm said its also working with Cerebras, Cloudflare (NET), F5 (FFIV), OpenAI (OPAI.PVT), Positron (POSC), Rebellions, SAP (SAP), and SK Telecom (SKM), which will use the chip for agentic AI applications, among others.

Despite Wall Streets exuberance for Arms new chip, BofA Global Research analyst Vivek Arya pointed out in a note to investors that the company is far from the only CPU game in town.

We highlight the CPU market is getting very crowded. Incumbents in both x86 and ARM have much wider breadths of portfolio and established software/ecosystem, catering to enterprise/telco customers, he wrote.

Hyperscalers have their own customized CPUs, while [Arms] key customers Meta/OpenAI also have existing CPU agreements with AMD/NVDA, leaving limited opp'ty for the AGI CPU, Arya said. Moreover, the bigger AI grows, the more pressure [Arms] smartphone/consumer markets would have from limited memory supplies.

Earlier this month, Meta and Nvidia announced an expanded deal in which Nvidia will provide the social media giant with the largest deployment of its Grace CPU-only servers to date.

Then just last week, AMD announced its own deal with Meta, which includes servers running the companys Venice and next-generation Verano CPUs.

And during Intels Jan. 22 earnings call, CEO Lip-Bu Tan cited AI as a major driver for CPU demand.
Gasoline prices topped $4 per gallon nationwide on Tuesday, with the national average price at the pump hitting $4.02, its highest level since August 2022, according to AAA data.

This rise comes as the US-Iran war enters its fifth week, and the $4 mark is the latest milestone for gas prices, which are now up about $1 on average from one month ago, with most of those gains coming since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict.

The national average at the pump rose to $4.018 per gallon, marking its highest level in nearly four years and the largest monthly gain on record, according to the data firm GasBuddy.

Underlying oil prices for international Brent crude (BZ=F) and US West Texas Intermediate crude (CL=F) have surged by roughly 50% eachsince the war began. Futures on the two energy products were trading around $107 per barrel and $102 per barrel, respectively, on Tuesday morning.

Read more: How oil price shocks ripple through your wallet, from gas to groceries

On March 25, the Trump administration eased federal ethanol restrictions by issuing an emergency waiver for E15 gasoline, a move designed to increase the supply of a less expensive fuel blend ahead of the warmer-weather driving season. The White House also issued a temporary 60-day waiver on so-called "Jones Act" requirements that make domestic shipping more expensive.

Neither move, however, has managed to truly pull gas prices back across the country.

While consumers have had to shell out more money to fill up their vehicles over the past month, truckers have been paying even more. The national average for a gallon of diesel reached $5.45 on Tuesday, also marking a record monthly gain, according to GasBuddy.

The per-gallon price for premium unleaded is displayed electronically on a pump as a motorist fills up the tank of a vehicle at Costco gasoline station Friday, March 20, 2026, in northeast Denver. (AP Photo)  ASSOCIATED PRESS

Strategists warn oil prices  and therefore, prices on refined products including gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel  could climb further if the conflict drags on.

Goldman Sachs analysts raised their Brent forecast for April from $85 to $115, "as a longer disruption supports the risk premium for longer," amid uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz. Senior officials in Saudi Arabia have modeled Brent at $180 if the war lasts through April, and strategists at Macquarie have said Brent could cross $200 if the conflict lasts through June.

Ines Ferre is a senior business reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on X at @ines_ferre.

Jake Conley is a breaking news reporter covering US equities for Yahoo Finance. Follow him on X at @byjakeconley or email him at jake.conley@yahooinc.com.

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KB Home (KBH) is signaling headwinds in the US housing market as the war with Iran drags on.

"This conflict in the Middle East started right at the end of February, and we saw pretty good sales results in the first week of March. But the last couple of weeks have been a little softer than what we would like to see or what we normally get this time of year," KB Home CEO Rob McGibney told analysts on a late-Tuesday earnings call.

He added, "And we just don't have a lot of visibility right now as I don't think anybody does into how long this conflict may go on, and how it's going to impact consumer psyche and confidence. But we feel that right now, it's weighing on the consumer."

McGibney's comments offer a good snapshot into a consumer now battling through war concerns, rising gas prices, and higher mortgage rates.

Read more: When will mortgage rates go down? War in the Middle East clouds the outlook.

KB Home operates in 49 markets across nine states, primarily in the Sun Belt and West Coast regions. Its largest revenue drivers are California and Washington, two states with some of the highest gas prices in the country.

"Market conditions remain challenging," Evercore ISI analyst Stephen Kim said in a note on Wednesday.

To add insult to injury for KB Home, its first quarter earnings report was disappointing.

The company missed analyst estimates on the top and bottom lines. Revenue plunged 23% from the prior year.

Key performance metrics were underwhelming across the board:

Homes delivered decreased 14% to 2,370.

The average selling price of homes was $452,100, down from $500,700 a year ago.

Housing gross margins also felt the squeeze, plummeting to 15.3% from 20.2% a year ago.

The company's ending backlog totaled 3,604 homes, compared to 4,436 last year.

Ending backlog value was $1.70 billion, compared to $2.20 billion last year.

KB Home stock fell 3% in premarket trading on Wednesday. It also slashed its full-year guidance.

The company sees housing sales of $4.80 billion to $5.50 billion versus prior guidance of $5.1 billion to $6.1 billion. KB Home now projects full-year home deliveries of 10,000 to 11,500. The previous forecast was for 11,000 to 12,500 homes.

Brian Sozzi is Yahoo Finance's Executive Editor and a member of Yahoo Finance's editorial leadership team. Follow Sozzi on X @BrianSozzi, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Tips on stories? Email brian.sozzi@yahoofinance.com.

Click here for in-depth analysis of the latest stock market news and events moving stock prices

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By Mrinmay Dey and Katie Paul

March 24 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms has offered top executives stock options that could pay out hundreds of millions of dollars and are tied to lifting its valuation six-fold to more than $9 trillion, in a bid to retain talent and spur aggressive growth in the AI era.

The options are the social media giant's first for its top brass and require steep stock milestones. They suggest Big Tech is rethinking incentives as it pours hundreds of billions of dollars into data centers and departs from its long-standing reluctance to raise debt to gain an edge in the AI race.

Meta's stock will have to rise at least 88.2% from Tuesday's closing price of $592.92 to $1,116.08 to unlock the lowest-priced tranche of stock options.

A more than six-fold jump would be needed to unlock the most aggressive tranche, requiring the company's shares to rise as high as $3,727.12, regulatory filings late on Tuesday showed.

At that level, Meta would have a market value of more than $9 trillion, much higher than Nvidia - currently the world's most valuable company with a valuation of $4.257 trillion.

Meta must meet the price targets by February 14, 2028, for the options to vest. If unsuccessful, Meta executives' unvested options would become available to them in installments through August 15, 2030. The options will expire in March 2031 if they are unexercised.

Tesla has offered similar options to CEO Elon Musk that will pay out around $1 trillion if some operational targets are hit.

Meta's plan does not include its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg.

CFO Susan Li, technology head Andrew Bosworth, product chief Chris Cox, operations boss Javier Olivan, President Dina Powell McCormick and Chief Legal Officer Curtis Mahoney are eligible for the options, the regulatory filings showed.

All executives except McCormick and Mahoney, who joined Meta in January, will also receive an increase in restricted stock awards worth a total $170 million at last close, which vest quarterly. Chief Accounting Officer Aaron Anderson will only receive restricted stock.

The company has offered huge pay packages, some worth hundreds of millions of dollars over the years, to court top AI researchers to a new superintelligence team.

A Meta spokesperson said the pay packages represent a "big bet" and that they "will not be realized unless Meta achieves massive future success, benefiting all of our shareholders."

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(Reporting by Mrinmay Dey and Chris Thomas in Mexico City, Katie Paul in New York, Shubham Kalia, Shivani Tanna and Gursimran Kaur in Bengaluru; Editing by Jacqueline Wong, Thomas Derpinghaus and Maju Samuel)
The jury in a landmark lawsuit against social media companies ruled in favor of the plaintiffs on Wednesday, holding (META) and YouTube (GOOG, GOOGL) liable and requiring them to pay $6 million in punitive and compensatory damages.

The case, known as JCCP 5255, was initially filed in 2023 and was tried at the Spring Street Courthouse in Los Angeles. It revolved around a now-20-year-old woman known in legal filings as K.G.M. and her mother, Karen, who alleged that K.G.M.'s social media use, which began when she was 10, led to "dangerous dependency on [the social media companies' products], anxiety, depression, self-harm, and body dysmorphia."

The jury in the case said that both Meta and YouTube knew the design of their platforms were dangerous, that users wouldn't realize the danger, and that the companies failed to warn of the danger when a reasonable platform would have.

"This verdict is bigger than one case," the plaintiffs' lead counsel said in a statement following the results.

"For years, social media companies have profited from targeting children while concealing their addictive and dangerous design features. Todays verdict is a referendum  from a jury, to an entire industry  that accountability has arrived."

In a statement, a Meta spokesperson said, "We respectfully disagree with the verdict and are evaluating our legal options.

Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda said in a statement, "We disagree with the verdict and plan to appeal. This case misunderstands YouTube, which is a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social media site."

What makes the Los Angeles case unique is that, rather than trying to persuade the jury that the content on Meta and YouTube is harmful, the plaintiff's attorneys framed the case around the actual design of the social media platforms.

That allowed them to circumvent arguments related to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act that protects companies from liability for what their users post on their platforms.

Meta and YouTube disputed the claims during the trial, saying that they worked for years to improve the safety of their products.

TikTok and Snap (SNAP) were also named defendants in the lawsuit, but each settled before the trial began.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg leaves after testifying in a landmark trial over whether social media platforms deliberately addict and harm children on Feb. 18, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)  ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Los Angeles case follows a separate verdict in New Mexico's own lawsuit against Meta in which the state accused the company of misleading its users about the safety of its products and endangering children.

On March 24, the jury in the New Mexico case found Meta liable, ordering the company to pay $375 million in penalties.
By Elizabeth Howcroft

LONDON, March 25 (Reuters) - European stock indexes rose and oil prices were down on the day on Wednesday, after markets got a boost from reports that the U.S. is seeking a month-long ceasefire with Iran, even though Iran rejected the idea of negotiations.

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday that the U.S. was making progress in negotiating an end to the war, raising hopes that oil could start being exported from the Persian Gulf again. Traders were cheered by reports of the ceasefire proposal and that the U.S. had sent Iran a 15-point plan for discussion.

Iran denied that direct talks had taken place and an Iranian military spokesman said the United States is negotiating with itself, according to state media.

Still, markets took a positive turn, making modest gains during Asian trading.

European stock indexes rose, with the STOXX 600 up 1.4% on the day at 1036 GMT - a rebound which did little to counter its overall decline so far in March, leaving it down 7.3% on the month. London's FTSE 100 was up 1.1% on the day.

"The mood is on the positive side," said Amelie Derambure, senior multi-asset manager at Amundi. "(The) market is trading now the idea that peace talks or a ceasefire could be on the way."

Derambure said that traders were positioning themselves to avoid missing out on a possible "relief rally", when markets rise on positive news, although she added that more convincing news will be needed for the move to be sustained.

Some analysts cautioned against expecting the war to end soon.

"It is probably too early to expect any big drop in energy prices or a much softer dollar this week," ING's global head of markets Chris Turner wrote in a research note.

OIL EASES, BOND YIELDS FALL

Oil prices, which have risen sharply since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began, eased slightly, with Brent crude futures down 5.2% at $99.01 a barrel, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures down 5.1% at $87.62 a barrel.

Iran has said that "non-hostile vessels" may cross the Strait of Hormuz if they coordinate with Iranian authorities, but the waterway, which typically carries about one-fifth of the world's gas and crude supply, remains effectively closed.

European government bond yields fell, in a move led by Italian bonds, which had been particularly hard hit since the war started due to Italy's dependence on fossil fuel imports.

The benchmark 10-year German yield was at 2.9724%. The euro was down by 0.1% at $1.1598.
American Express is launching a new card for business owners with simple cash back rewards on every business expense.

Amex already offers a significant number of small business credit cards, designed for everything from luxe travel benefits to simple cash-back rewards. Now, youll have the option to earn an unlimited 2% flat cash back and more using the American Express Graphite Business Cash Unlimited Card.

American Express Graphite Business Cash Unlimited Card

Apply now Graphite Business Cash Unlimited Card Rates & fees, terms apply Annual fee $295

Welcome offer Earn $1,500 cash back in the form of Reward Dollars after spending $50,000 in purchases in the first 6 months (Reward Dollars can be redeemed as statement credits and at Amazon.com checkout)

Ongoing Purchases APR 17.74% - 28.49% Variable Rewards rate 5% cash back* on flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel Online Unlimited 2% cash back in Reward Dollars on all eligible purchases *Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout

Benefits No preset spending limit Pay Over Time Up to $2,400 in statement credits to use in the next calendar year on American Express One AP monthly fees after spending $250,000 this calendar year (monthly fees include an auto-renewing platform access fee; terms apply)



For its $295 annual fee (see rates & fees), youll earn an unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase and a boosted 5% cash back on flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel.

Theres also a solid welcome offer for new cardmembers. After spending at least $50,000 within the first six months, youll earn $1,500 bonus cash back. Thats equal to about $8,333 per month  which requires some significant business spending after you open your card. But combined with bonus rewards can go a long way toward maximizing your first-year value.

When youre ready to redeem the Rewards Dollars you earn, you can cash them in for statement credits toward your card or for Amazon.com purchases when you checkout on the site.

The Amex Graphite Business Cash Unlimited doesnt have a ton of added benefits, but there are some tools you can use for your business. When you spend $250,000 in a calendar year, youll unlock up to $2,400 in statement credits to use the following year on fees for One AP, Amexs accounts payable automation platform (terms apply). You can also get additional cards for employees for $95 each, which earn the same rewards on spending.

Should you get the new Amex Graphite Business Cash card?

The new Amex Graphite Business Cash Unlimited Card is best for business owners with large annual budgets and variable expenses.

Flat, 2% cash back on every purchase can be a great way to maximize business spending, especially if your expenses change each quarter or span a wide range of categories. Its also useful if you have very high spending some months but make fewer purchases in other months. The best benefit of a flat cash-back card is flexibility.

But between the $295 annual fee and the very high minimum spend required to earn the welcome bonus, make sure your usual spending is high enough to maximize this cards value. Thats easier with a large annual business budget. To offset the annual fee and earn $295 from 2% cash back, for example, youll need to spend at least $14,750 annually.

For businesses with large budgets, though, this card can be very useful.

Many other cash-back business cards cap bonus rewards after a certain annual maximum. But with the Amex Graphite card, you can guarantee at least 2% cash back on every dollar you spend throughout the year. Theres also no preset spending limit for your card account, so youll have plenty of purchasing power if you need to make a large purchase for your business.

Finally, youll only unlock one of this cards biggest benefits  the $2,400 in statement credits for Amexs One AP platform, which helps you streamline payments to suppliers  when you spend at least $250,000 in a calendar year.

Read more: How to get a business credit card

More business credit cards to consider

These are a few more of our top business credit cards available today with great cash-back rewards and manageable annual fees.

The American Express Blue Business Cash Card

Learn more The American Express Blue Business Cash Card Rates & fees, terms apply Add to Compare Annual fee $0

Welcome offer Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your card in your first 3 months

Introductory Purchases APR 0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening

Ongoing Purchases APR 16.74% - 26.74% Variable Rewards rate 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year 1% cash back on all eligible purchases after spending $50,000 per calendar year (cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement)



Why we like it: The Amex Blue Business Cash Card is another 2% flat cash back option from American Express, but this card has no annual fee and limits your 2% rewards to the first $50,000 spent each calendar year. If you have a smaller business budget or youre a freelancer, this could be a better choice for earning flexible rewards on spending without a fee.

Read our full review of the American Express Blue Business Cash Card

Capital One Spark Cash Plus

Learn more Capital One Spark Cash Plus Add to Compare Annual fee $150

Welcome offer Earn $2,000 cash back after spending $30,000 within the first 3 months, plus get an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500,000 spent during the first year Rewards rate 5% unlimited cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel 2% unlimited cash back on all other purchases (no limits or category restrictions)

Benefits Get your $150 annual fee refunded every year after spending at least $150,000 Your spending limit is flexible and adjusts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history You'll never be charged interest since your balance is due in full every month



Why we like it: The Capital One Spark Cash Plus offers an unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase for a lower $150 annual fee  which you can even get refunded if you spend more than $150,000 on your card in an anniversary year.

This card is also good for significant business spending, with no preset spending limit, a big cash bonus with a steep minimum spend, and a tiered welcome bonus that rewards you as you spend larger amounts using your card over your first year.

Read our full Capital One Spark Cash Plus review

Ink Business Cash Credit Card

Learn more Ink Business Cash Credit Card Add to Compare Annual fee $0

Welcome offer Earn $750 bonus cash back after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months

Introductory Purchases APR 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months

Ongoing Purchases APR 16.74% - 24.74% Variable Rewards rate 5% cash back on the first $25,000 in combined spending at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services each account anniversary year 2% cash back on the first $25,000 in combined spending on dining and gas each account anniversary year 1% cash back on all other purchases

Benefits Get automatically checked for a credit line increase every 6 months or sooner Set individual spending limits on employee cards and earn rewards even faster Complimentary three-month lnstacart+ membership



Why we like it: Chases Ink Business Cash card has a solid welcome bonus with a much smaller spending threshold for new cardholders. Its another no-annual-fee card with cash back, but rewards are focused across a few bonus categories.

Compare your most frequent purchases to see if you can earn more with 5% cash back (up to the first $25,000 spent) at office supply stores and internet, cable, and phone services as well as 2% cash back (up to the first $25,000 spent) at gas stations and restaurants, than you would using a flat cash back card.

Read our full review of the Ink Business Cash Credit Card

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Its tax season  and while there are new tax savings under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), seeing a refund in your account might take longer this year.

With 27% fewer IRS employees in 2026 than last year, delays in processing the expected 164 million returns could be on the horizon. So, how will IRS understaffing affect your refund?

Workforce reductions and delayed onboarding at the IRS

The IRS started 2025 with 102,000 employees and finished with about 74,000. The hardest hit departments were Direct File with an 88% staff reduction and Online Services with a 100% reduction, plus many other departments losing a large percentage of staff.

Small business/self-employed department, which helps small businesses and self-employed taxpayers understand their tax obligations, was reduced by over 37%.

Taxpayer services department, which helps taxpayers understand and comply with tax laws, was reduced by 21%.

Information technology (IT) department, which helps employees with IT services and solutions, was reduced by 25%.

The departments responsible for processing original and amended tax returns, resolving tax return errors and fraud, assisting taxpayers on the telephone and in person, and updating computer systems faced a 17 percent reduction in staff.

Traditionally, the IRS hires seasonal workers to fill some positions, but the late 2025 government shutdown and hiring process changes delayed that.

As of December 2025, the department that processes original and amended returns and resolves tax return errors had only onboarded 2% of the employees it planned to hire. Even if they can hire more workers, onboarding takes up to 80 days, keeping them out of this years tax filing season.

What IRS understaffing and other issues mean for refunds

The biggest impact on taxpayers  and refunds  involves customer service, with large cuts in the number of employees who answer about 100 million telephone calls and deal with millions of taxpayer correspondence and cases.

The department that helps taxpayers on the phone and in person was only able to onboard 66% of the employees it needs this tax season. And even if you get someone on the phone, that IRS employee might not be able to answer your questions. Due to time constraints, the IRS modified the training for these new employees, so now, they only screen calls, answer basic questions, and route taxpayers to another department.

Impact of tax changes under the OBBBA

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act made over 100 changes to the tax code, further complicating tax return processing. Erin M. Collins, national taxpayer advocate, said in her 2025 Annual Report to Congress: While the OBBB Act is generally taxpayer-favorable in that it expands eligibility for certain deductions and benefits, the deductions and benefits are subject to complex eligibility rules, income thresholds, and phaseouts that will be difficult for many taxpayers to understand and for the IRS to administer accurately during the filing season.

Many people will have questions about the OBBBA changes and try to reach out to the IRS for guidance. With reduced staff, taxpayers may not get the help they need, which could lead to errors on returns and further delay refunds.

Read more: 4 ways the One Big Beautiful Bill Act could lower your taxes

Impact of tax return backlog and effort to eliminate paper returns

The backlog of 2 million returns from previous filing years might also slow down processing for this years refunds. While the IRS kept thousands of employees working during the government shutdown in October and November of 2025, they didnt make much progress on the backlog.

Additionally, there has been a push to eliminate paper returns and have filers submit electronically, but the effort has been delayed by workforce losses. Automated processes expected to be in place to convert paper filings to electronic ones have not been completed, which could lead to delays for taxpayers.

Read more: Here's how to file a paper return

According to the latest IRS filing season stats, IRS website usage is up over 49% during the same time period last year. With the reduction in staff, online tools might be your best bet for tax-related information. Here are some options:

Let us help you: This page has information and links on things like how to file a return, how to amend one, how to pay, and much more.

How to file your taxes: Step by step: Youll find guidance on the filing process, plus links for requesting an extension, finding the latest tax changes, and where to go to file.

Interactive Tax Assistant: You can search articles on filing requirements, forms, deductions, credits, and more.

3 ways to check on your refund

Filing electronically and getting any refund via direct deposit is the fastest way to get your money. The IRS says most refunds are issued within 21 days and will go directly into a bank account. The agency also admits some will take longer and need additional review.

You can keep an eye on the status of your refund in three ways:

Wheres My Refund?: You will need your Social Security number or tax identification number, the amount of the expected refund, the tax year, and your filing status before you submit the request. The information on the website should be available 24 hours after the IRS receives an e-filed return and four weeks after receiving a paper return.

IRS2Go mobile app: You can also get free access to tax software and other help via the app.

IRS Individual Online Account: After account setup, this will show balances, payments, tax records, and other information.

Read more: Where's my tax refund? 4 reasons the IRS may be holding it up.

IRS staff shortages FAQs

Will my refund be delayed if the IRS is understaffed?

Staffing shortages might delay some refunds, but the IRS still expects most to be issued within 21 days from the date of e-filing.

How do I check the status of my refund with the IRS?

You can check the status of your refund online. Have your Social Security number or tax identification number, the amount of the expected refund, the tax year, and your filing status handy. The information on the website should be available 24 hours after the IRS receives an e-filed return and four weeks after receiving a paper return.

Why cant the IRS hire more people during tax season?

Usually, the IRS does hire additional workers to help during the tax filing season, but that process has been hindered this season because of several reasons, including the government shutdown in late 2025.
Last year, the number of postsecondary education students reached 18.4 million. That means 15.3 million college students and 3.1 million graduate students might be wondering if they have to file their taxes before the deadline.

For many students, filing taxes is a new and often confusing responsibility. Between part-time jobs and scholarships, plus being claimed as a dependent on a parents return, knowing whether to file  and how  can be intimidating.

While most student tax situations are relatively straightforward, understanding a few key rules can help you know when you have to file, avoid mistakes, and, in some cases, lead to a larger refund.

Do college students have to file taxes?

The answer is: It depends. Whether a college student must file a federal tax return depends primarily on dependency status and income.

Understanding dependency status

Whether or not your parents can claim you as a dependent plays a major role in determining your tax-filing obligations and eligibility for tax benefits. Parents may generally claim a student as a dependent if the student:

Is under age 24 and enrolled full time

Lives with the parent when not at school

Receives more than half of their financial support from the parent

For example, a 22-year-old student earning $4,500 who lives at home and relies on his parents for support may still be claimed as a dependent. However, if that student pays for most of their own housing, food, and expenses, they may no longer qualify as a dependent.

Understanding income requirements

Even as a full-time student, you can make an income with a part-time job or side gig. According to the Internal Revenue Service, for the 2025 tax year (filed on April, 15, 2026), a dependent student generally must file if they have:

Earned income of at least $15,750

Self-employment income of $400 or more (if youre a freelancer, for example)

Unearned income exceeding $1,350 (from sources such as investments or trusts). An example is the kiddie tax: a dependent who earns $2,700 or more in interest, dividends, and other unearned income may be subject to tax. In some cases, parents may be able to claim this income on their own returns.

Lets look at a few examples.

A full-time student who earns $10,000 from a part-time job typically is not required to file. However, if federal income tax was withheld from their paycheck, filing a return may allow them to claim a refund.

A student who earns $600 through freelance work on platforms such as Fiverr is required to file, as self-employment income over $400 is subject to tax.

Tax tip: Students can use the IRS Do I need to file a tax return? tool to determine whether they need to file.

Should students file even if theyre not required to?

Some students may benefit from filing a tax return even if their income falls below filing thresholds. Situations where filing may be smart include:

Claiming a refund of withheld taxes

Qualifying for education credits (see more on this below)

Eligibility for refundable credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit

For example, a student who earns $7,500 during a summer job may not be required to file, but might want to because they could receive a refund if taxes were withheld.

Are scholarships taxable?

Generally speaking, scholarships and grants arent considered taxable income. The IRS offers some basic guidelines to determine whether scholarship money is tax-free. You must meet the following conditions:

You are seeking a degree at a qualified educational institution.

Your scholarship income is used to pay for tuition and fees required to be enrolled at the educational institution.

Your scholarship income is used to pay for related expenses that come with attending the college or university, like required fees, books, supplies, and equipment.

On the flip side, scholarship money can be taxable if its used for incidental expenses such as room and board, travel, and optional equipment. The IRS also says that taxable income includes money you receive from teaching, research, or other services required as a condition for receiving the scholarship or fellowship grant.

For example, if a student receives a $15,000 scholarship and uses $10,000 for tuition and $5,000 for housing, the $5,000 used for housing must be reported as taxable income.

Education tax credits

Education credits are helpful for a college student because not only do they help fund your education, but they also might reduce the amount of tax you owe or even provide more of a tax refund if you have to file. You have two education credit options.

The American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC)

This credit is available for students enrolled at least half-time during an academic period in 2025 while pursuing an accredited degree at a qualified school, university, or other educational institution. Here are some AOTC details:

Up to $2,500 per eligible student

Partially refundable (up to 40%)

Limited to the first four years of postsecondary education

This credit is also available for parents who are paying for a dependents education. That said, to be eligible, the modified adjusted gross income must be less than $90,000 or $180,000 if married filing jointly.

Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC)

The LLC is a nonrefundable credit and has fewer restrictions than the AOTC, as students need only to be enrolled in one course for tax year 2025 to qualify. Its also available to students not pursuing a degree at an educational institution  you qualify by taking a course to gain or improve job skills. Here are LLC details:

Up to $2,000 per return

Nonrefundable

Available for an unlimited number of years, just like the name implies

One other thing to note: Unlike the AOTC, a felony drug conviction will not make a student ineligible.

To qualify, your modified adjusted gross income must meet the same standards as the AOTC  $90,000 or $180,000 if married filing jointly.

Heres an example of these two credits at work: An undergraduate student enrolled at least half-time is more likely to qualify for the AOTC, while a graduate student or a working professional taking a single course may qualify for the LLC.

Read more: How do education tax credits work, and who qualifies?

How do graduate student taxes work?

Graduate students generally follow the same basic tax rules as undergraduate students, but their income is more likely to be taxable. One reason is that theyre less likely to be claimed as dependents.

Any graduate student receiving a stipend or earning income through teaching or research may have to file a return, depending on how much they earn. The IRS notes that only scholarship or fellowship funds used for qualified education expenses, such as tuition, required fees, books, supplies, and equipment, are tax-free. Any money used for housing, meals, or other living expenses must generally be reported as income (a few scholarship programs are excluded from these requirements).

How can students file taxes for free?

For the most part, a college students tax return will be fairly uncomplicated, meaning they should face a minimal amount of fees. Its even possible to file for free. The IRS offers the following online:

A free guided tax software program is available for anyone with an adjusted gross income of $89,000 or less for tax year 2025.

Free fillable forms are for anyone confident enough to file taxes on their own.

Another option for free filing is the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. This program offers basic tax assistance to individuals who make less than $69,000 annually, have disabilities, or are limited English speakers.

VITA sites can typically be found in neighborhood community centers, libraries, schools, and other locations. Find one near you by using the IRS site locator.

Some companies, like H&R Block, offer free online filing for college students  provided students are filing with the more common tax forms.

Learn more: How to file your taxes for free

College students and taxes FAQs

Do college students have to pay taxes?

College students who are full-time students and listed as dependents  between the ages of 19 and 24  on a parents tax return dont have to pay taxes. Students who make at least $15,750 (or $1,350 of unearned income) in tax year 2025 cant file as a dependent and must complete their own tax return. Part-time students can also qualify as dependents if they didnt make more than $5,050 in 2025 and dont receive more than half their total financial support from their parents.

What kinds of tax breaks are there for college students?

The American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) and the Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC) are two of the main credits available to students. The AOTC has stricter eligibility standards than the LLC, but both can provide tax credits of either $2,500 (AOTC) or $2,000 (LLC), provided students meet certain qualifications.

Is tuition tax deductible?

No  this deduction was eliminated in 2020. Credits are now the main way to save.




Energy stocks tied to liquefied natural gas have been drawing fresh attention as geopolitical risks disrupt the whole global supply. When major export facilities face damage or shutdown threats, LNG prices can move quickly, and the ripple effect often shows up in shares of producers and exporters.

This has favorably impacted Cheniere Energy (LNG), as it is the largest LNG exporter in the U.S. Its shares have soared to historic levels since investors are responding to news that Iranian attacks have disrupted Qatar's LNG production capacity for up to five years. This reduction in supply has increased the expectations of the exporters, such as Cheniere. Now that the stock is already at an all-time high, the more important inquiry is whether the upswing will continue or if it is the investors buying a move that might as well be factored by the positive news.

More News from Barchart

About LNG Stock

Cheniere Energy is a Houston-based energy company that owns the Sabine Pass and Corpus Christi LNG export terminals. Its two main segments are LNG terminal operations and LNG/natural gas marketing. Essentially, Cheniere buys natural gas, liquefies it, and sells LNG to global customers. It operates six trains across two facilities and has long-term sales contracts with buyers around the world.

Cheniere is also lining up long-term growth. In December 2025, it began feeding LNG from its new Train 5, and in February 2026, it won two more FERC approvals for capacity expansions of the Sabine and Corpus Christi projects. It also signed a new 20-year contract with Taiwans CPC Corp. (1.2 MTPA).

Chenieres stock is having a banner run. After slumming in late 2025, LNG stock soared briefly, up roughly 47% in 2026. Most of those gains came amid the Iran-Israel conflict, as each time threats to Middle East supply flared, LNG exporters rallied. For example, after news of damage at QatarEnergys Ras Laffan LNG hub, Chenieres share price spiked to a new all-time high, briefly trading near $297. In short, bullish supply fears have lifted Cheniere far above its levels from a year ago.

Even after this rally, Cheniere doesnt look outrageously expensive. Its forward valuation is actually quite modest for an energy stock. The company trades at roughly 12 current earnings, well below the 19 average P/E of the broader energy sector. Which means LNGs stock looks cheaper than oil majors or even many utility-like energy firms.
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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March 25 (Reuters) - Ride-hailing company Lyft said on Wednesday it will roll out a temporary driver-relief program in the United States, as higher gasoline prices squeeze earnings for gig workers.

A sharp rise in fuel costs, driven by energy supply disruptions linked to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, is hurting gig workers.

The national average price of gasoline has jumped more than 30% in recent weeks, hovering around $4 per gallon.

Lyft's 60-day program, which will run from March 27 through May 26, offers cash-back incentives and fuel savings for drivers using the Lyft Direct debit card at eligible gas stations.

Under the initiative, top-performing drivers will receive an extra 2% cash back on fuel purchases, while mid-level drivers will get an additional 1%, on top of existing rewards that range from 1% to 10% based on driver status.

The combined savings, including offers from Lyft partners, could reach as much as 94 cents per gallon for top-tier drivers, based on national average fuel prices of $3.97 per gallon, the company said.

Food delivery platform DoorDash said on Monday it was launching a similar program that would run through April 26.

(Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)
Following the crude markets is gradually becoming an extreme sport rather than a financial hobby, with US President Trump unleashing a flurry of contradictory messages this week. Is the US holding talks with Iran? Trump says the talks are constructive, Iran says there were none. Can the US reopen the Strait of Hormuz? One day, Trump states he would obliterate Iran if it doesnt, the next day the President claims he and the ayatollah will share control over it. In an atmosphere of absolute madness, ICE Brent remains in triple digits, climbing to $103 per barrel today after the military side of the Iran-Israel conflict keeps on escalating.

- Brazils state oil company Petrobras (NYSE:PBR) and its partner Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) confirmed a large gas discovery offshore Colombia, finding significant reserves with its Copoazu-1 wildcat in the vicinity of the 6 TCf Sirius gas find. - The Trump administration released French oil major TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE) from $1 billion in offshore wind leases, compensating it dollar-for-dollar provided the company redirects those funds to oil and gas investments in the US. - Brazil has granted an exploration drilling license to Norways state oil firm Equinor (NYSE:EQNR) for its offshore Raia project, believed to contain more than 1 billion boe with peak production potentially reaching 126,000 b/d of crude. - Global trading firm Vitol has signed a 1.5 mtpa LNG supply deal with US LNG developer Venture Global (NYSE:VG), starting later this year for a 5-year period, with the volumes coming from the 27.2 mtpa Plaquemines export terminal.

- A move widely interpreted as another edition of a classic Trump TACO move, the White House has announced a 5-day postponement to US attacks on Iran power and energy infrastructure, citing very good and productive conversations. - Whilst the move sent oil prices down by more than $10 per barrel as market participants continue to guess whether the talks are happening or not (Iran denies any interaction), Trumps Truth Social post also raises potential insider trading issues. - According to Bloomberg, contracts worth at least 6 million barrels of Brent and WTI were sold in the two minutes before Trumps Iran post, almost tenfold the usual trading volume in oil futures. - The S&P 500 index saw a similar surge in trading activity, seeing some 6,000 contracts traded that represent more than $2 billion in notional value. - Meanwhile, the bullish positions taken up by hedge funds are mind-boggling with the total net length held in ICE Brent futures and options rising to 428,704 contracts in the week ending March 17, the highest in six years.

Oil markets are turning chaotic as conflicting signals from Washington blur realitytalks with Iran may or may not be happening, threats shift by the day, and yet crude keeps climbing amid escalating tensions.

Story Continues

Qatar Declares Force Majeure on Its Supply. Having halted its Ras Laffan LNG liquefaction plant in the first days of the war on March 2, QatarEnergy has now officially declared force majeure on its term contracts with South Korea, China, Italy and Belgium, citing significant damage to the plant.

Tehran Takes Over the Hormuz. According to top Iranian officials, Tehran is now charging vessel operators $2 million to transit the Strait of Hormuz, citing the cost of war, saying that for vessels from non-enemy combatant countries the waterway is open if they make the right arrangements.

Related: 5 Stocks to Buy Now That The Strait of Hormuz is Closed

Russian Oil Exports Hit by Drone Attack. Loadings at Russias main Baltic Sea export terminal of Primorsk, supplying some 930,000 b/d of crude last year to global markets, were halted for a day after a Ukrainian drone attack, with media reporting on a fuel tank catching fire on Monday.

IEA Flaunts Potential More SPR Releases. The International Energy Agency is consulting with member nations on further releases of strategic petroleum reserves, over and above the 400 million barrels agreed on March 11, citing a longer-than-assumed recovery for damaged upstream assets.

Tehran Claims No More Oil on Water Left. The speaker of the Iranian parliament Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf said that Irans oil stored on water, believed to be around 30 million barrels before the US lifted sanctions on them, were now completely sold out and NIOC had no more oil to offer.

India Dives Headfirst into Iranian Oil. Simultaneously to Tehrans claims of having no more oil left, Indias largest private refiner Reliance Industries reportedly bought 5 million barrels of Iranian crude within days of the US Treasury Departments sanctions waiver, at a $7 per barrel premium to Brent.

Libya Scares Markets with Shut-Ins. Libyas National Oil Corporation was forced to completely halt its 90,000 b/d El Feel field that is normally sent into its Sharara export stream, after a fire caused by a leak on the two fields connecting pipeline made transportation impossible for at least a week.

UAE Restarts Key Gas Processing Unit. The United Arab Emirates resumed operations at the Habshan facility, the countrys largest gas processing plant with a total capacity of 6.1 bcf/day, following an Iranian drone attack last week, whilst minimizing LNG production in the country.

Germany Nudges Buyers to Diversify Beyond US. According to Bloomberg, Germanys Ministry of Economy is pushing the countrys gas companies to secure more LNG contracts to deal with the ramifications of the US-Iran was, eyeing new regions as US accounts for 94% of Berlins LNG imports.

Gulf War Breathes Life into EV Sales. Europes EV sales have recovered from a prolonged winter slump in February, spearheaded by a 27% year-over-year jump in Germany after Berlin announced a new 3 billion subsidy scheme, also available for customers that seek to buy cheaper Chinese EVs.

Iran Halts Gas Flows to Turkey. The Israeli strike on gas facilities of the South Pars field in Iran that damaged key energy infrastructure in the Middle Eastern country has led to a halt in natural gas exports to Turkey, with Iranian flows accounting for 13% (or 7 bcm) of Turkeys gas imports.

Explosion Halts Key US Gulf Refinery. US downstream giant Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) has shut its 380,000 b/d refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, following an explosion and massive fire at the plants diesel hydrotreater unit, suggesting diesel production in PADD 3 could take a sizeable hit.

Philippines Declares National Energy Emergency. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr declared a national energy emergency in the Philippines as the country had only 45 days of refined product supply based on current consumption levels, aggravated by China banning exports of fuels abroad.

EU Delays Vote on Permanent Russian Oil Ban. The European Commission postponed a vote on a previously submitted proposal to permanently ban Russian oil imports on April 15, citing current geopolitical developments, as Brussels wants to legislate a phase-out of Russian crude by end-2027.

Saudi Arabia Moves Ahead with Red Sea Re-Routing. According to ship trackers, Saudi national oil company Saudi Aramco (TADAWUL:2222) ramped up crude exports from its Red Sea port of Yanbu to almost 4 million b/d last week, up 50% compared to the pace of loadings in the first half of March.

By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com

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You get the geopolitical intelligence, the hidden inventory data, and the market whispers that move billions - and we'll send you $389 in premium energy intelligence, on us, just for subscribing. Join 400,000+ readers today. Get access immediately by clicking here.
Also of interest to investors, Crescent pays out a dividend. The company has been paying out its dividend since 2022, and has not missed a quarterly distribution. In the last declaration, on February 25, the company set a 12-cent payment per common share, to be paid on March 25. At the annualized rate of $0.48 per common share, the current dividend gives a forward yield of 3.8%.

Crescent has, in recent months, been moving to both expand and streamline its operations. In December of 2025, the company completed an important acquisition  buying Vital Energy in an all-stock merger deal that was completed on December 15. The transaction was valued at approximately $3.1 billion. Also in December, the company completed a non-core asset divestiture, selling non-operating DJ Basin assets to a private buyer for $90 million in cash. In 2025, Crescent executed more than $900 million in divestiture agreements.

First up, Crescent Energy is an oil and gas exploration and production company operating in Texas and Utah. In Texas, the company holds productive assets in the rich Permian Basin and Eagle Ford formations; in Utah, Crescent is a top-3 producer in the Uinta Basin. Crescent holds 865,000 acres in its Texas positions, and 140,000 in Utah. The company has approximately 976 MMboe in proved reserves, and is guiding toward production of 328 Mboe/d by year-end 2026.

In the meantime, J.P. Morgan is leaning into the opportunity. The firm sees meaningful upside in two oil stocks that could strengthen a portfolio. We took it a step further, using TipRanks data to check how those ideas stack up against the broader Street view. Lets dive in.

A faster path to de-escalation could ease the shock rippling through global oil markets. That outcome remains uncertain, but traders are beginning to weigh a scenario where the conflict cools rather than escalates.

But now the story might be starting to turn. Comments from President Trump hinting that the fighting could ease sooner than expected sent oil sharply lower, with WTI dropping as much as about 17% at one point during Mondays session.

Its been just over three weeks since the latest escalation in the Middle East, and oil has reacted predictably. WTI crude prices have jumped over 40% since February 26 as tensions ramped up.

Story Continues

Turning to the companys results, we find that Crescent generated $865 million in total revenue during 4Q25, the last period reported. Of this, $554.3 million came from crude oil, and $182.6 million came from natural gas. Natural gas liquids and other operations accounted for the remainder. Revenue was down just over 1% year-over-year, and it missed the forecast by $18.3 million. At the bottom line, Crescent realized non-GAAP earnings of 49 cents per share; this figure was 16 cents per share better than had been expected. Along with those results, Crescent saw a leveraged free cash flow of $856 million for 2025; of that total, $239.2 million was generated during Q4.

JPMs Arun Jayaram, an analyst ranked among the top 3% on Wall Street, covers this stock and takes an upbeat tone on it. The 5-star analyst writes, We have been impressed with the companys success in consolidating the Eagle Ford and improving capital efficiency, with CRGY now the third largest oil producer in the play. With CRGYs ~$3.1 B acquisition of VTLE, the company has levered up its balance sheet to step into the Permian, a much more competitive basin for A&D. To CRGYs credit, the company executed ~$800 MM in asset sales by the time the VTLE deal closed, reducing PF net debt to ~$4.8 B, and CRGY plans to let VTLEs production volumes decline, which will shallow the base decline rate and extend Permian inventory life. While near-term leverage remains elevated compared to peers, with our estimate at ~1.5x at YE26, our modeling indicates that CRGY can utilize FCF to organically delever following the increase in strip prices due to the Iran conflict. Additionally, our NAV estimates that CRGY shares trade at a discount to PDP value at current strip prices Over the long-term, we are confident in CRGYs ability to manage its portfolio of E&P assets to generate value for shareholders.

Following from this, Jayaram gives CRGY an Overweight (i.e., Buy) rating, with a $19 price target that implies a 12-month upside potential of 52%. (To watch Jayarams track record, click here)

The 10 recent analyst reviews on this stock include 7 Buys and 3 Holds, for a Moderate Buy consensus rating. The shares are trading for $12.50, and the average target price, of $14.11, suggests a gain of 13% over the coming year. (See CRGY stock forecast)

SM Energy Company (SM)

The second JPM oil pick well look at is SM Energy, a Denver-based company that operates in the western US. SM Energy is one of the many independent exploration and production firms that have brought North Americas hydrocarbon resources onto the global market, and in doing so have also made the US a net petroleum-product exporter. SM has operating assets and acreage in four oil production basins in the West: 340,000 net acres in the DJ Basin of northeastern Colorado; 62,000 net acres in Utahs Uinta Basin; 155,000 net acres in South Texas; and 240,000 net acres in the famous Permian Basin of West Texas. Overall, these assets total nearly 800,000 net acres on which SM can drill and extract hydrocarbon resources.

Like Crescent above, SM has made an important merger move recently. The company announced in November that it had agreed to merge with Civitas, and this past January, that transaction was completed. The merger was an all-stock deal, valued at $12.8 billion, and brings Civitas assets under SMs umbrella. The Civitas move expanded SMs footprint in the Midland Basin, part of the larger Permian, and added holdings in the Delaware and DJ Basin. The Delaware is another formation within the Permian Basin.

Also like Crescent, SM Energy pays out a dividend. The company has been paying out dividends since 1993; from 2001 to 2022, it paid a semiannual dividend, and returned to quarterly payments in 2023. The company last declared the payment on February 20 for a March 23 payout; the 22-cent rate per common share represented a 10% increase from the previous payment. The annualized dividend of 88 cents gives a forward yield of approximately 3%.

Turning to the financials, in 4Q25, SMs revenue reached $705 million, down 17% year-over-year and missing the forecast by $55.57 million. The bottom line, reported as a non-GAAP income of 83 cents per share, was in-line with expectations. SMs adjusted free cash flow in the final quarter of 2025 came to $198 million.

In covering this stock for JPM, analyst Zach Parham points out why investors should take note. He writes, SM recently completed the acquisition of CIVI, which bolstered SMs acreage position in the Midland Basin and added new operational areas in the Delaware and DJ basins. The transaction added balance sheet leverage, though higher oil prices post the Iran conflict should allow SM to deleverage faster than expected at the time of the transaction announcement. With 4Q25 earnings, SM announced an updated cash return framework with 80% of post-dividend FCF going towards debt reduction while the remainder of FCF will be utilized for share buybacks, with management indicating that the buyback percentage is expected to move higher over time as SM gets closer to 1.0x leverage. Additionally, SM shares trade at a discount to peers on both EV/EBITDA and FCF metrics, and we think that increased share buybacks could force valuation higher.

These comments support Parhams Overweight (i.e., Buy) rating on the shares, while his $40 price target indicates room for a gain of 38% by this time next year. (To watch Parhams track record, click here)

SM has picked up 11 recent analyst reviews, and those include 6 Buys and 5 Holds for a Moderate Buy consensus rating. The stocks $29.05 trading price and $30.73 average target price together suggest 6% share appreciation on the one-year horizon. (See SM stock forecast)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analyst. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

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Rio Tinto, along with the Queensland and Commonwealth governments, has committed to establishing a long-term plan for the Boyne aluminium smelter in Gladstone with an investment of A$2bn ($1.4bn) over the next decade.

This collaboration aims to maintain the smelter's international cost-competitiveness beyond its existing power contract.

The initiative is part of the federal governments Future Made in Australia programme and aims to maintain the smelter's competitiveness on a global level.

This pledge finalises an earlier agreement between Queensland and Rio Tinto supporting a transition to sustainable power solutions for the smelter and securing manufacturing jobs in central Queensland.

Rio Tinto has previously signed power purchase agreements to support the development of A$7.5bn worth of renewable energy and storage projects in Queensland.

The new deal will ensure that Boyne Smelters (BSL), the smelter owner, continues its production activities beyond 2029 when its current power contract concludes, extending operations to at least 2040.

BSL, operating since 1982 on Boyne Island, is Australias second-largest aluminium smelter.

It engages in manufacturing carbon anodes, aluminium production and casting molten metal into products ready for shipment.

The smelter is connected by conveyor belt to the Queensland Alumina refinery for alumina supplies.

Ownership of BSL is divided between Rio Tinto (73.5%), YKK Aluminium (9.5%), UACJ (9.29%) and Southern Cross Aluminium (7.71%).

Rio Tinto Aluminium & Lithium chief executive Jerome Pecresse said: This transformative partnership with the Queensland and Australian governments will ensure Boyne Smelter remains internationally competitive, strengthens the Australian aluminium sector for the future and supports the transformation and decarbonisation of the Queensland energy system.

As fossil fuels become increasingly expensive, this investment, combined with the power purchase agreements we have already signed, positions Boyne to be among the worlds first aluminium smelters underpinned by solar and wind power.

Earlier this month, Rio Tinto obtained a financing package totalling $1.17bn (872.27m) to advance the Rincon lithium project in Salta Province, Argentina.

"Rio Tinto partners with governments for Boyne smelter" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




President Trump recently issued an ultimatum to Iran. Fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, or the U.S. would begin attacking the country's power plants. Such strikes would likely drive Iran to retaliate against energy infrastructure in the Gulf, which could send oil prices even higher.

However, the President announced he was postponing potential military strikes against Iran's power plants for five-days on Monday morning based on some productive dialogue with Iran over the weekend. This positive news sent stock prices soaring, while oil prices and oil stocks fell.

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 

As an energy investor, here are two things I'd do right now.

Image source: Getty Images.

Build an oil stock watch list

This week will be a pivotal one for the oil market. If the U.S. and Iran start progressing toward peace, crude prices will keep falling. However, if the two sides can't reach an agreement to de-escalate, crude prices could go much higher, especially if Iran attacks additional oil infrastructure in the Persian Gulf.

Given the uncertainty, I'd spend this week building a list of oil stocks that I'd buy based on the direction crude prices appear headed. One oil stock that would top my watch list is Chevron (NYSE: CVX). The oil giant has one of the lowest breakeven levels in the oil sector at less than $50 a barrel and a fortress balance sheet. Chevron is also on track to grow its cash flow at a more than 10% compound annual rate through 2030 at $70 oil. Those features put it in a strong position to weather lower oil prices if there's lasting peace in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, it can produce significantly more free cash flow if oil prices remain higher. While Chevron has some exposure to the Middle East, its diversified global operations position it to thrive no matter what happens next.

Look at investing in LNG

So far, the war has only temporarily disrupted the energy market, for the most part. The biggest blow came last week when Iran struck energy infrastructure in Qatar in response to an attack on its main natural gas field. That retaliatory attack severely damaged two liquefied natural gas (LNG) trains operated by QatarEnergy (ExxonMobil also has interests in the facilities). QatarEnergy said the attack will knock out 17% of its capacity for the next three to five years. That's a potentially meaningful impact as Qatar is one of the world's top three LNG producers.
This story was originally published on Healthcare Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Healthcare Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

Cencora has agreed to acquire EyeSouth Partners retina business for $1.1 billion as the drug distributor continues to expand its specialty medical arm.

Once the transaction closes, EyeSouths physicians will join Cencoras management services organization Retina Consultants of America, according to the Monday announcement.

Cencora expects the deal to close after the companys fiscal year ends on Sept. 30 and be slightly accretive to Cencoras earnings.

Dive Insight:

The acquisition represents another inroad from Cencora into specialty support assets. The drug distributor has been building up the higher margin business line, arguing the investments are worthwhile to boost its core business.

That includes doubling down on ophthalmology, after Cencora acquired Retina Consultants of America, or RCA, early last year for more than $4 billion.

The acquisition seems to have paid off. Analysts say the unit has performed well since, with strong volumes and contributions from biosimilars like those approved by regulators in 2024 to treat diabetic retinopathy and some types of macular degeneration.

The latest acquisition pushes Cencora deeper into the ophthalmology market, which could expose the company to more profit opportunities from biosimilar launches, J.P. Morgan analyst Lisa Gill said in a Monday research note. The acquisition should also increase RCAs scale in a fragmented retina market, Gill said.

Mondays announcement is the third large acquisition of a retina MSO by a drug distributor in the last two years, following Cencoras acquisition of RCA and McKessons buy of PRISM Vision Holdings in early 2025 for $850 million.

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Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT) is one of the 7 Most Undervalued Blue Chip Stocks to Invest In.

On March 23, 2026, Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT) received U.S. FDA approval for an expanded indication for its OmniaSecure defibrillation lead, now allowing placement in the left bundle branch area for conduction system pacing. The company said this approach more closely mimics the hearts natural physiology, with additional benefits for patients requiring cardiac resynchronization through combined pacing techniques.

On March 10, 2026, Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT) announced a definitive agreement to acquire Scientia Vascular for $550M, with potential additional earn-out payments. The company said the deal, expected to close in the first half of FY27, will be minimally dilutive to adjusted EPS in FY27 and accretive thereafter. Scientia operates in Salt Lake City with approximately 310 employees.

Medtronic (MDT) Announces FDA Approval for Expanded Indication of OmniaSecure

al7/Shutterstock.com

Last month, Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT) reported Q3 EPS of $1.36, above the $1.34 consensus estimate, on revenue of $9.02B versus $8.89B expected. CEO Geoff Martha said the company delivered strong performance with 6% organic revenue growth, highlighting continued investment in innovation and expansion into new markets to support long-term growth.

Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT) develops and manufactures medical devices and therapies used across a range of healthcare applications.

While we acknowledge the potential of MDT as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 15 Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years.

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UCB has chosen Georgia as the home for its new biologics manufacturing facility, cementing its legacy in the state and marking the companys latest expansion effort in the key US market.

The $2bn, 460,000 ft, digital-first site, located in Gwinnett Countys Rowen Development, will be the cornerstone of UCBs global biologics manufacturing infrastructure  operating 24/7 once in action to supply the US market.

When the facility is up and running, it will employ around 330 skilled staff, while generating an estimated $5bn for Georgia's economy. To boost efficiency, UCB will incorporate automation, artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics into the sites infrastructure.

Though UCB has not provided specific details on what it will manufacture at the site, UCBs US head, Taco van Tiel, noted that the Gwinnett County facility will aid in the commercial production of recently approved and future pipeline medicines, which include three novel investigational and five marketed biologics.

Currently, UCBs best-selling biologic is its interleukin-17 inhibitor, Bimzelx (bimekizumab), which pulled in sales of 2.23bn ($2.58bn) in 2025. With GlobalData, parent company of Pharmaceutical Technology, forecasting that Bimzelx will bring in $7.5bn in sales in 2031, of which 80% will be US-based, it is logical that the company would enhance manufacturing capacity and presence in this market.

The state of Georgia is also familiar turf for UCB, as the company has situated its US headquarters in Smyrna, a suburb of the states capital, Atlanta, for more than thirty years. Rowen Development, which sits 35 miles away from Atlanta, is also located near over 50 academic institutions  including Emory and the University of Georgia.

UCBs CEO, Jean-Christophe Tellier believes that Georgia is the right place for the company to continue its US expansion due to the state's strong talent base, ecosystem and the states manufacturing legacy.

UCBs $2bn expansion comes amid a period of notable US growth for the company, as the company has bolstered its American workforce by 73% since 2017. The Belgian pharma currently employs nearly 2,000 people on American soil.

Pharmas US onshoring efforts continue

UCB is not the only pharma company to make an expansion move in the US, as several big pharma companies are pledging billions of dollars into their manufacturing infrastructure in the country.

This comes as the Trump administration is actively encouraging drugmakers to onshore their production, partially by imposing 100% tariffs on branded pharmaceutical imports from those who do not.
By Eduardo Baptista

March 25 (Reuters) - China's chip industry is showing strong growth momentum as a global sprint to build AI infrastructure creates an explosion in demand, sparking higher capital spending and capacity expansion as chipmakers race to keep up, executives said on Wednesday.

Growth in the industry "is coming faster than expected" this year, Jerry Zhang, China sales head at Swiss semiconductor components firm VAT, told Reuters on the sidelines of Semicon China 2026 in Shanghai, one of the industry's largest annual gatherings.

As companies race to ramp up production, China's manufacturing capacity for chips made on mature 22nm to 40nm process nodes - used in cars, smartphones and electronics - is projected to reach 42% of global output by 2028, up from 37% in 2026, SEMI China President Lily Feng said.

CHIPS BECOMING MORE COMPLEX

Artificial intelligence is also reshaping the broader semiconductor sector, increasing requirements for testing, packaging, and high-speed interconnects, as chips become more complex and performance-intensive.

"AI has significantly increased computing power requirements, and that in turn has raised the requirements for semiconductor testing," said Terry Feng, China sales director at U.S. chip testing firm Teradyne.

The impact is particularly visible in areas such as optical interconnects - a critical layer linking chips inside data centres - for which China is a major global supplier.

"Our order backlog is already booked out into next year," said Zhou Limin of Mycronic's MRSI unit, which makes high-precision equipment used to assemble optical modules, a key component of optical interconnects.

The AI boom has also started to strain the semiconductor supply chain globally, particularly in raw materials and high-end components, as manufacturers struggle to keep up with rising demand.

Given the size and strength of its manufacturing industry, China is better placed than most to respond, according to executives and industry analysts.

"We are very optimistic about the memory (chip) cycle - there will be large-scale capacity expansion," said Bai Yu, vice president at Suzhou Origins Materials Technology, which will begin construction of a new production base next month.

The company supplies materials used in manufacturing to top Chinese chipmakers including ChangXin Memory Technologies, Yangtze Memory Technologies and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation.

FOREIGN SUPPLIERS STILL KEY PART OF CHIP SUPPLY CHAIN
This story was originally published on CFO Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CFO Dive newsletter.

As they begin to integrate AI further into their systems and teams, the perspective around the technology among CFOs is also beginning to shift. Gone are the early days of experimentation and testing: today, the smart, strategic CFO is thinking about how they can tap AI to solve key challenges, Tabs CEO and co-founder Ali Hussain said.

For instance, one of the priorities often cited by potential clients of Tabs  an AI-powered platform for billing, collections and other parts of the invoice-to-cash process  is we are scaling, and the systems we have cannot support that scale, Hussain told CFO Dive in an interview. The business has hit a certain revenue threshold, and its current systems cannot catch up to handle simple processes such as the order to-cash process. Such CFOs are seeking areas where technologies like AI could best alleviate key pressure points.

If something around spend management or reconciliations is working fine, I think they're just fine with it, Hussain said of CFOs thought processes. They don't need an AI strategy there. What they're looking for is, where is most of my pain?

Stewards of technology

Todays CFOs are looking for AI-driven solutions which can open up crucial bottlenecks in areas like the order-to-cash process. The greater attention to where AI can best be applied is due to a number of factors, Hussain said: first, CFOs are still navigating a shortage of qualified accounting talent  and the talent they do have is just not interested in chasing down payments, he said. Secondly, theres a lot of board pressure right now to keep these [finance] teams leaner than ever, Hussain said.

Hussain co-founded the New York-based platform, which provides AI-powered revenue and reporting tools to finance teams, in 2023, according to his LinkedIn profile. Prior to Tabs, he served seven years as chief operating officer for IT services and consulting firm DOOR  formerly Latch  and held previous roles at Boston Consulting Group and Google.

Yet another factor influencing the strategic application of AI among finance leaders is the fact that many CFOs today have to demonstrate that they are being good stewards of the new technologies in this world, Hussain said.

Bringing in AI to make revenue reconciliation or accounting easier and more efficient can be a big win, therefore, as finance leaders are both looking to understand how to use such tools and under more pressure from their CEOs or boards to demonstrate to leaders in other areas of the business that they are walking the walk when it comes to AIs use, he said.
By Kanishka Ajmera and Juby Babu

March 25 - Arm sparked a rally in shares of companies that make central processors on Wednesday with a prediction that its new data-center chip would bring in billions of dollars in annual revenue.

Shares of the SoftBank Group-controlled company soared 20% to their highest since November, while rivals Intel and Advanced Micro Devices also advanced more than 5% each.

Arm expects the data-center chip to generate roughly $15 billion in annual revenue in about five years, CEO Rene Haas said in an interview with Reuters.

Its forecast was the latest sign that rising use of AI technology that can create apps, write computer code and finish presentations with little human intervention would be a boon for CPU makers. The AI boom had so far mostly delivered gains for Nvidia, whose graphics processors are needed for training AI.

Even Nvidia has been responding to the shift and earlier this month unveiled its own CPU chip for AI.

For Arm, the new chip marks a departure for a company that has traditionally relied on licensing its designs to companies such as Nvidia and Qualcomm and then collecting a royalty payment based on the number of units sold.

Unlike current chips that are designed to respond to queries on a chatbot, Arm said its AGI CPU will be able to handle data-crunching needs of "agentic AI".

"Arm has not taken a baby step, say the production of a die or a chiplet for its customers; it has jumped in with both feet, developing the highly performing and energy efficient Arm AGI CPU," Citigroup analysts said.

"The industry move to inference and, in particular, agentic AI is showing the need for more CPUs."

Arm stock was last at $162.10 in morning trading, and poised to add more than $29 billion to its market value.

HSBC analysts forecast that the combination of AGI CPU revenue and server CPU royalties will make fiscal year 2029 "the transitionary period where server CPUs take over smartphones as the dominant contributor" to Arm's overall revenue mix.

Arm is trading at 63.08 times analysts' estimates for the company's earnings for the next 12 months, compared with AMD's 26.64 and Intel's 71.27, according to data compiled by LSEG.

(Reporting by Kanishka Ajmera in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo and Devika Syamnath)
BDOs risk and advisory practice has entered into a collaboration with Fieldguide, an agentic AI platform provider focused on audit and advisory work.

Under the arrangement, Fieldguide will work with BDOs Risk Advisory Services (RAS) teams in member companies worldwide.

Fieldguides technology will be used to support engagement delivery, with an emphasis on practitioner-controlled and responsible use of AI agents in day-to-day work.

The initial deployment centres on RAS offerings such as internal audit and third-party assurance.

BDO plans to extend the platforms use to other advisory services over time.

The programme is being led by BDO Belgium. Several other member companies have already begun working directly with Fieldguide and are rolling out the platform, with wider adoption expected across the network.

Within this partnership, BDOs RAS practices are collaborating with Fieldguide to create solutions tailored to individual member companies.

The parties are also building a revised operating model that weaves AI agents into routine service delivery, targeting labour-intensive and administrative work throughout the engagement process.

The intention is to allow professionals to spend more time on analysis and insight, which BDO expects will benefit client relationships and outcomes.

BDO Global Risk Advisory leader Koen Claessens said: BDO is making a strategic, long-term investment in our capability and delivery of risk services.

Our relationship with Fieldguide not only helps improve efficiency and organisation; it also helps drive consistent quality, scalable capabilities and delivery.

Fieldguides system places AI agents across planning, testing, review and reporting activities, under full human supervision.

The platform is designed for regulated settings and can be configured so that company methodologies are applied consistently, with transparency and traceability built in throughout an engagement.

Fieldguide co-founder and CEO Jin Chang said: BDOs Risk Advisory approach is using AI to elevate quality, consistency and practitioner impact while keeping professionals firmly at the centre of each engagement.

Last year, BDO outlined a global commitment to invest $1bn over several years in digital and AI initiatives to strengthen its capabilities and client solutions.

"BDO expands AI use in risk advisory through Fieldguide tie-up" was originally created and published by International Accounting Bulletin, a GlobalData owned brand.




Disneys move sees the end of a licensing deal that was announced just three months ago - Gary Hershorn

Disney has cancelled a $1bn (750m) investment in OpenAI after the tech giant killed its AI video app after just six months.

In an abrupt announcement, the company behind ChatGPT said it would shut down Sora, a service that allowed users to create hyper-realistic AI videos. The decision comes as OpenAI seeks to control its spiralling costs.

The move also sees the end of a $1bn licensing deal with Disney tied to the app, announced just three months ago.

Were saying goodbye to the Sora app, OpenAI said. To everyone who created with Sora, shared it, and built a community around it: thank you.

A Disney spokesman said: We respect OpenAIs decision to exit the video generation business and to shift its priorities elsewhere.

The launch of Sora last year was seen as a threat to the modern film industry and acting jobs. Its app also allowed users to use copyrighted characters from the likes of Disney and Nintendo in a casual way.

OpenAI eventually began blocking users from creating copyrighted characters following backlash from Hollywood. In December, it signed a $1bn investment deal with Disney, apparently drawing a line under the dispute.

Disney even said it would allow curated Sora clips on its Disney+ app.

But despite attracting more than 10 million downloads, Sora proved staggeringly expensive, requiring huge amounts of computing power to generate viral videos  dubbed by critics as AI slop.

According to one estimate in Forbes, it may have cost as much as $15m per day in computing power alone. Billy Peebles, the head of Sora, said last year: The economics are currently completely unsustainable.

It comes as Sam Altman, OpenAIs chief executive, scrambles to put a lid on soaring costs as he seeks to list the company later this year at a valuation of up to $1tn.

OpenAI has been racing to shore up its finances after pledging to spend as much as $600bn on AI data centres by 2030.

Last month, it announced it had raised $100bn from investors, including Amazon and Nvidia. Yet it has projected it will lose $14bn this year alone.

Despite enjoying huge success with consumers through its ChatGPT app, Mr Altman has been seeking to trim costly side projects and focus on more lucrative business customers.

Anthropic, which develops the rival Claude AI app, has enjoyed glowing reviews from businesses. The rival AI lab has largely avoided launching flashy products aimed solely at consumers and eschewed video and image generation entirely.

Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.
American multi-brand restaurant franchise operator FAT Brands has opened a new Fatburger restaurant in Paris, France.

Situated on Av Du General De Gaulle in Rosny-sous-Bois, the restaurant is the first of 30 planned Fatburger locations to be developed across the country.

The company will open the new locations in partnership with the group behind French company Big M CIE.

As part of the plan, two additional restaurants are set to open later this year.

FAT Brands fast casual division COO Jake Berchtold said: France is a key strategic growth market for Fatburger, and were proud to open the first restaurant in what will be a strong partnership with Mehdi Bella and his team.

Later this year, we also look forward to opening two additional restaurants with the group, one location in northern France and the other in southern France - a testament to our commitment to delivering our custom-built, high-quality burgers to more fans worldwide.

Fatburger traces its origins to Los Angeles, where it was launched more than 70 years ago by Lovie Yancey.

Fatburger owner FAT Brands franchises more than 2,300 units across a global portfolio that includes Round Table Pizza, Great American Cookies, Marble Slab Creamery, and Hot Dog on a Stick.

Last September, FAT Brands reached an agreement with Green Micro Factory to relaunch Fatburger in Japan.

"FAT Brands opens new Fatburger location in Paris, France" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand.




Dael Williamson, EMEA CTO at Databricks joined the company in 2023 tasked with running Northern Europe, including the Nordics, Benelux, UK and Ireland. Williamson has overseen a time of rapid growth in the UK market, which saw the company move towards a country-first style business model. The company opened a seven-story, 29,885-square-foot office in London's Fitzrovia in 2024 which serves as its European HQ and is the largest office outside of its San Francisco global headquarters.

Historically, the UK was Databricks first presence outside the US. The companys Amsterdam office followed and serves as an engineering hub for all European operations. From these two largest hubs, the company has continued its expansion outside the US with new offices in Madrid, Milan, expanding existing operations in Amsterdam, Belgrade, and Munich, as well as a new engineering facility in Zagreb. In April 2025, the company also announced a $250m investment to strengthen its R&D operations in India.

Global economic and geopolitical uncertainties have not deterred the company from accelerating this global expansion. In fact, the AI-first nature of Databricks offering has meant it continues to ride a wave of enterprise AI investment.

According to research and analysis company GlobalData, the enterprise AI platforms market is projected to increase from $16.9bn in 2026 to over $59.3bn by 2029a three fold increase in just three years. This trend reflects the acceleration in AI adoption and broader enterprise investments in intelligent automation, machine learning, and advanced analytics at scale.

Continued expansion in hard times

With this ever increasing market potential, Williamson is sanguine about the wider economic landscape. There are always uncertainties, economic and political changes, but it's how you ride through that, he says. Databricks success and rapid growth rate in the UK has been driven largely by the wider business focus on data and AI strategy and how companies have been integrating it into their go to market presence, something that has accelerated of late. So, we've been very resilient, he adds.

The companys growth strategy includes building an AI community around the companys London hub through talent acquisition and bringing partners and customers together. Databricks sits mainly on three hyper-scalers, Google Cloud Platform, AWS and Microsoft, all of which have presences within 10 minutes of the companys London HQ building.

Williamson welcomes the healthy competition that Databricks has with companies such as Snowflake. I'm a big fan of competition in any space, because a monopoly of one doesn't drive innovation, he says. And though the company partners with the likes of Google, Microsoft and AWS, its Big Tech partners also have their own product stacks that compete with Databricks. So, you could argue that we compete in some of those areas, but we partner with them on the go to market more than I would say that we compete, he adds.
By Dawn Chmielewski, Courtney Rozen and Jody Godoy

LOS ANGELES, March 25 (Reuters) - A Los Angeles jury on Wednesday found Meta and Alphabet's Google negligent for designing social media platforms that are harmful to young people, in a $6 million verdict that will serve as a bellwether for numerous similar cases.

The jury found Meta liable for $4.2 million in damages and Google for $1.8 million, small amounts for two of the world's most valuable companies with annual capital spending over $100 billion each.

The Los Angeles trial is meant to serve as a bellwether, or test case, for the thousands of similar lawsuits consolidated in California state courts.

'ACCOUNTABILITY HAS ARRIVED'

The case involves a 20-year-old woman, a minor when the case began who is known in court by her first name Kaley. She said she became addicted to Google's YouTube and Meta's Instagram at a young age because of their attention-grabbing design, such as the "infinite scroll" that encourages users to keep looking at new posts.

The jury found Google and Meta were negligent in the design of both apps and failed to warn about their dangers.

"Todays verdict is a referendum  from a jury, to an entire industry  that accountability has arrived," the plaintiff's lead counsel said in a statement.

Meta and Google disagree with the verdict and plan to appeal, spokespeople for each company said.

Shares of Meta closed up 0.3%, and Google parent Alphabet finished 0.2% higher.

U.S. law strongly protects social media companies from liability for what is on their platforms, but the plaintiff in the Los Angeles proceeding focused on platform design rather than content.

The verdict is a "setback" for Meta and Google, said Gil Luria, a technology sector analyst at investment firm D.A. Davidson.

"This process will likely get dragged out through future cases and appeals, but eventually may cause these companies to put in consumer safeguards that may dampen growth," he said.

Snap and TikTok were also defendants in the trial. Both settled with the plaintiff before it began. Terms of the agreements were not disclosed.

MOUNTING CRITICISM

Large technology companies in the U.S. have faced mounting criticism in the last decade over child and teen safety. The debate has now shifted to courts and state governments. The U.S. Congress has declined to pass comprehensive legislation regulating social media.

At least 20 states enacted laws last year on social media usage and children, according to the nonpartisan National Conference of State Legislatures, an organization that tracks state laws.
Microsoft is updating its work policy and shifting away from the remote work setup that became popular during the pandemic.

In a recent memo, the company said employees at its Washington state office who live within 50 miles now need to work on-site at least three days a week. Microsoft hopes this change will make the workplace more collaborative and energetic.

Amy Coleman, Microsoft's Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, explained why the company is making this change. "We've looked at how our teams work best, and the data is clear: when people work together in person more often, they thrive  they are more energized, empowered, and they deliver stronger results," she wrote. "As we build the AI products that will define this era, we need the kind of energy and momentum that comes from smart people working side by side, solving challenging problems together."

Microsoft will roll out this new policy gradually, starting with the Puget Sound office at the end of February. The transition will later include other U.S. locations and eventually international offices, but specific dates have not been shared. Microsoft plans to organize international return-to-office schedules in 2026. The memo did not clarify what is expected of Puget Sound employees who live more than 50 miles away.

Coleman acknowledged that this change will affect employees differently. "For some of you, this is not a change. For others this may be a bigger adjustment, which is exactly why we're providing time to plan thoughtfully," she wrote. "As part of these updates, we're also enhancing our workplace safety and security measures so we can continue to provide a workplace where every employee can do their best work."

Microsofts decision is part of a trend among large companies bringing employees back to the office. Until now, Microsoft was different from Apple, IBM, and Google, which already require employees to be in the office three days a week. With this change, Microsoft aims to balance flexibility with the benefits of working together in person.
Design platform Figma drew headlines for its successful July 2025 initial public offering, but the company also doubled the size of its product portfolio, going from four to eight software tools, during 2025. At its May 2025 Config conference, the company unveiled Figma Make, a powerful AI tool that can turn written prompts or existing Figma designs into working prototypes and apps, with considerable flexibility. The company also at that time unveiled Figma Sites, a tool that allows users to customize and publish responsive websites directly from the platform, as well as Figma Buzz, which allows marketing teams to develop brand templates and consistently on-brand advertising and social media assets. Additionally, Figma unveiled Figma Draw, an enhanced tool for freeform illustration and vector graphics editing reducing the need for designers to reach for other software. And in June, Figma launched an MCP server, making it possible for other AI tools to connect directly to Figma, followed by a ChatGPT app released in October. These innovations bring more power to the Figma platform and give its users more flexibility, helping to drive quarterly revenue to a record $274.2 million in Q3 2025 and cater to more than 13 million monthly active users.

Other companies have focused on building the infrastructure for evolving enterprise IT needs. Lumen Technologies moved forward on a massive expansion of its fiber network, along with speedy deployment procedures for connections to facilities like data centers. Anaconda developed new platforms to let companies speedily create new software using the popular programming language Python. Capital One developed digital tools to safeguard personal data even in massive databases, while Redis created new storage technology to make interactions with AI tools, and the databases that power them, faster and more efficient. And on the marketing side, Superfiliate has developed tools to make it easier to build and manage advertising relationships with social media users.

Its no surprise that artificial intelligence continues to be a huge factor in enterprise innovation. And many of the companies Fast Company is honoring have firmly shifted from experimenting with AI to harnessing it in a concrete way for the benefit of their customers. Figma has incorporated AI into new efficient workflows for creating designs, websites, and applications, while Docusign has built AI systems to help customers analyze, organize, and craft agreements. Omnea has leveraged AI to make cumbersome corporate procurement processes more efficient, and Ribbon has applied the technology to help with job interviews, especially in high-turnover industries. AlphaSenses AI technology helps businesses conduct research based on their own records and financial market data. And Microsoft has continued to roll out a suite of AI agents usable across the entire enterprise, while IBM has helped enterprises customize its powerful AI for a range of applications.

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2. Microsoft

For infusing its products with agents, bringing enterprise software into the agentic AI era

More than three years after generative AI became widely available, Microsoft continues to make the technology practically useful and integrate it with the business software organizations are already using. In 2025, that often meant developing task-specific AI agents, and giving businesses the power to do the same for their own needs. In March 2025, after partner OpenAI made reasoning models available, Microsoft unveiled two new reasoning agents called Researcher and Analyst, which respectively can undertake deep dives into corporate and public data, and use Python code to undertake complex data analysis. The next month, Microsoft introduced Agent Flows in agent-building platform Copilot Studioa system letting users specific consistent steps for AI agents to follow, helping them accurately implement complex business processes. And in May 2025, Microsoft unveiled the Agent Store for Microsoft 365 Copilot, letting companies find quality agents from Microsoft and other vendors for numerous tasks. Customers created more than 3 million agents in 2025, with some pointing to powerful efficiency gains. EY says Copilot drove a 15% efficiency boost, while Dow says it expects millions of dollars in savings with the technology that enabled it to process 43,000 freight invoices in two days and catch potentially costly discrepancies.

3. Snowflake

For making enterprise-ready AI and licensed data as easy to access as a traditional database

Data cloud company Snowflakes Cortex AI platform lets organizations access generative AI features honed on their corporate information using controls already in place to safeguard data access. And in June 2025, the company announced Cortex Knowledge Extensions, letting businesses to access additional licensed information for their AI to use in answering questions, including data and news licensed from media organizations like the Associated Press and USA Today. Thats in contrast with some other AI providers that have come under fire for using information from news articles and other online sources without permission. That same month, Snowflake also unveiled Cortex AISQL, an enhancement to the SQL database programming language that lets developers query AI the same way much they talk to a traditional database, such as filtering data based on AIs assessment of relationships between columns or extracting numbers from unstructured documents. In October, Snowflake announced Cortex AI for Financial Services, providing additional access to data from leading financial information sources. All that has helped Snowflake grow product revenue 29% year over year to $1.16 billion in Q3 FY 2026

4. LaunchDarkly

For helping business launch new software safely and without hiccups

LaunchDarkly makes software helping businesses from Autodesk to Paramount Studios release features and fixes in their own applications. In November 2024, LaunchDarkly announced Guarded Releasesnew safeguards to gradually roll out new software versions and detect unexpected issues with products, rolling back automatically to the last stable version and notifying developers if metrics show problems popping up. Since then, the company announced the acquisition of software observability and analytics businesses Houseware, announced in February, and Higlight.io in April, helping LaunchDarkly offer more insight to developers about how their software is performing (or malfunctioning). And in October 2025, the company unveiled new features that can provide real-time visibility into how new software is performing with users, including instant replay features to show where problems arose. The software also includes features that can help find exactly what changes caused issues and even help review logs and other data to determine how to fix the problem. LaunchDarkly, which serves 5,500 enterprises, says its users achieve 24.2% faster time-to-market for software while seeing 16% fewer outages, saving millions of dollars in downtime costs and reducing customer churn. Developers also spend less time worrying about deployment and have less reason to schedule awkward off-hours software releases.

5. Anaconda

For making it easier and safer for enterprises to work with popular programming platform Python

Anaconda has long offered an enterprise-friendly version of the programming language Python, especially popular for AI and web development, and some of the sprawling open source libraries that can be used to code with it. In May 2025, it released the Anaconda AI Platform, including a set of thousands of pre-vetted open source packages as well as quick start environments designed to make it easy to jump into coding for finance, machine learning, and other applications. The platform works across operating systems, integrating with a variety of cloud environments from companies like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Oracle. That makes it easy to test and deploy software without getting locked into any particular server setup or cloud vendor, and integrates with existing enterprise single sign-on mechanisms for security. Enterprises can filter out open source software incompatible with their software license or security needs and implement their own controls to manage security, privacy and compliance issues. Anacondas software saw registered users soar to 11.3 million in 2025, up from 3.4 million in 2023, reflecting gains in the public sector and across energy, finance, and technology enterprise businesses. The company closed a $150 million Series C funding round in July 2025.

6. Omnea

For taking the tedium out of corporate procurement

Enterprise procurement and buying has always meant paperwork. Omneas software makes it less of a headache, automating processes starting from when an employee first realizes they need something. In 2025, the company launched AI tools letting employees request what they need through plain English chat in Slack or Microsoft Teams, instead of using a traditional cumbersome intranet portal. Another AI tool released in 2025 helps parse due diligence and security information provided by suppliers, providing summaries appropriate to a reader based on their role in the company. Other parts of Omneas software suite help businesses automate gathering and analyzing information from potential suppliers early in the procurement process. And another AI product helps surface deals in need of renewal, along with relevant data and information to seal a negotiation. In September 2025, the company announced a $50 million Series B, as it continues to expand its offerings that can dramatically cut the time businesses spend on the procurement process and the time employees spend waiting on what they need. Customers including Spotify, Adecco Group, Monzo, Albertsons, and MongoDB saved more than 100,000 hours of labor in 2025, as Omnea saw revenue increase by a factor of five.

7. Lumen Technologies

For building the fiber network for the age of AI

In 2025, fiber and telecommunications company Lumen Technologies moved forward with a multibillion-dollar expansion of its network, adding more than 2.2 million new miles of intercity fiber and 5.9 petabits per second capacity, with a goal of reaching 47 million fiber miles by 2028 as artificial intelligence rapidly creates new needs for network connectivity. And in September 2025, it announced the availability of Wavelengths RapidRoutes, a service offering 100-gpbs or 400-gpbs fiber connections within 20 days, compared to a months-long industry norm. The service is designed to let AI companies and other businesses and government agencies with high bandwidth needs and short deadlines rapidly add capacity as they need it, with easy and high-bandwidth access to major cloud networks. The company, which provides connectivity to the three largest cloud providers and more than 1,500 data centers across the United States, also announced Project Berkeley, a new, more flexible custom hardware network interface to boost speed and security. And to help hone Lumens focus on high-bandwidth enterprise connectivity, the company announced in May it plans to sell AT&T the majority of its consumer fiber-to-the-home business for $5.75 billion, with the deal expected to close within the first half of 2026.

8. Bria

For letting businesses harness image generation AI without copyright concerns

Bria provides an image generation AI platform based entirely on licensed sources, including 1 billion professional images and 500,000 hours of video, from sources like Getty Images and Almaty rather than material scraped from the internet and published sources. The company provides attribution data for every generated image and indemnifies its users against copyright infringement allegations while providing performance comparable to other image-generation AI vendors. In September, it announced a new version of its platform, allowing greater options for fine tuning the AI to meet the needs of particular enterprises. Thats part of its efforts to make it more likely to quickly generate brand-appropriate content that can be quickly customized, including for regional variations. The company also continued to announce integrations with AI and creativity platforms like Figma, Adobe Photoshop, and Segmind, making it possible to use Bria-generated material through tools designers are already familiar with. The company raised a $40 million Series B funding round last March, which its using to expand its business model into other formats, including music, video, and text. Bria was used in marketing campaigns for grocer Lidl and the Warner Bros. Beetlejuice franchise.

9. IBM

For helping enterprises orchestrate AI for everything from manufacturing to space monitoring

During 2025, IBM made significant progress targeting AI innovations toward the actual needs of enterprise customers. The company made itself Client Zero for AI deployment, saving $4.5 billion since 2023, and saved 14 million hours of labor over a year. IBM also unveiled custom AI models with NASA, creating the open-source Surya model that can predict effects on Earth from solar weather; with LOreal, studying sustainability in cosmetics manufacturing; and Nestle, harnessing AI to identify novel packaging materials. And in October 2025, IBM released Granite 4.0, a set of AI language models with significantly lower memory and GPU requirementsand lower coststhan traditional large-language models, continuing a focus on AI thats practical for particular enterprise needs. And in May 2025, IBM debuted a new version of its watsonx Orchestrate software, with tools for managing AI agents and an App Store-style marketplace for AI agents, featuring corporate-ready tech from companies like Box, Oracle, and Salesforce. IBM also continues to push ahead in quantum computing, releasing two scientific papers in furtherance of Project Starling, its push to build a large-scale quantum computer by 2029. IBM August 2025 also announced a deal with AMD to develop new computing architectures unifying quantum and classical techniques.

10. Docusign

For letting users create, analyze, and even track the deliverables in their contracts

Going well beyond just collecting signatures, Docusign has developed what it calls Intelligent Agreement Management (IAM) software that let companies easy store, manage, search, and create contracts rather than simply placing them in a shared folder and manually paging through them to find relevant terms. In April 2025, the company unveiled a new, contract-specific large language model called Iris trained with permission on a wide array of example agreements. The company at that time also unveiled a feature called Obligation Management, which can track what each party to a contract is required to deliver by what date, and a set of AI agents that can help analyze contracts and spot issues like contracts needing renewal or terms requiring review. And in August 2025, Docusign announced Agreement Desk, a collaborative hub for working on a contract that works similarly to ticketing software in letting users track whats been done and whats still needed for a particular agreement. And in October 2025, Docusign announced integrations with ChatGPT to let users analyze and even create contracts directly from the AI platform. Docusigns IAM software has more than 10,000 paying customers and is what the company calls its fastest growing product in history.

11. Writer

For building AI models and agents to get real work done

Writers enterprise-grade AI systems arent just consumer tools augmented for business as an afterthought. Thats why theyre trusted by companies like Stripe, Uber, Mars, and Marriott to automate real business processes, like generating help center articles for Uber and creating market commentaries at Franklin Templeton. In April 2025, the company released its Palmyra X5 AI reasoning model, which cost significantly less to use than functionally comparable models from other AI labs while still capable of speedy performance. That came less than a month after the release of Writers AI HQ, a platform hosting a range of specialized AI agents with tools for building custom ones. And in July 2025, the company released Writer Agent in public beta. The AI tool is capable of securely connecting to and doing work across enterprise platforms like Slack, Snowflake, and Jira. During 2025, Writer more than doubled its employee headcount from 200 to 450, and a Forrester study the company commissioned of its customers success with its AI tool found they experienced an average of 333% return on investment with a payback period of 6 months, in a time when many businesses still struggle to find cost-effective use cases for AI.

12. Drata

For making it easier for companies to achieveand demonstratetrustworthiness and compliance

Drata operates a trust management platform that lets companies organizeand demonstrate to business partnershow they comply with security, privacy, and other critical standards like SOC 2, HIPAA, and GDPR rules. In February 2025, it announced the acquisition of SafeBase, integrating the companys Trust Center, used for sharing compliance information. And in August 2025, it unveiled an AI agent for vendor risk management, which can quickly pull in and summarize data from and about various software and other vendors to understand the security and compliance risks they present, including data from Trust Centers. That was followed in September 2025 by an AI search tool for Trust Centers that can let potential customers ask questions about a businesss compliance practices, getting answers from AI backed by Trust Center documents without having to ask a human or manually dig through lengthy documents. In October, Drata released a Microsoft Teams search tool with a similar purpose, letting internal users find information about governance, risk, and compliance based on a library of such documents. The company has risen from from $1 million to $100 million in annual recurring revenue over the past three years, with more than 8,000 customers like Tenable, OpenAI, Abnormal AI and Lemonade.

13. Emburse

For making travel and expense tracking and reimbursement less of a chore

Emburse builds software helping businesses and employees track and handle reimbursement for travel and other expenses. In February 2025, Emburse announced AI features that quickly analyze submitted invoices to flag errors, categorize expenses, and reduce the need for manual data entry. Later in 2025, the company announced new AI-powered features like Emburse Folio, which can automatically and accurately pull data from photos of complex receipts from hotels and car rental services, and enhanced integrations with American Express to automatically populate expense data. The company also unveiled Emburse Assurance, an AI-powered feature that can detect fraudulent expenses, duplicate receipts, ineligible expenses and other issues as quickly as theyre submitted. Emburse additionally in July 2025 announced integrations with American Airlines and DoorDash to pull reimbursable expenses directly from those vendors, saving employees time and further reducing the likelihood of data entry mistakes. That follows existing features like Emburse Reshop, which automatically rebooks flights and hotels when cheaper rates become available. The platform consistently generates millions of dollars in cost savings for customers and helped businesses like Databricks and Allianz Partners streamline expense processing. Customers reported a 45% reduction in reconciliation time and said that Emburse analytics cut budget overruns by 20%.

14. Amplitude

For harnessing AI to help businesses better understand customer behavior

Amplitude develops analytics tools to help businesses including Square, Zoom, Burger King, and Nintendo track how consumers are using their websites and apps. In June 2025, it launched a set of AI agents that can not only help analyze existing data but also suggest and run experiments testing product improvements, then assist in deploying new features that seemed successful. Website optimization tests that used to take weeks to plan, execute, and analyze can now be done in less than a day. Its a big push forward compared to other AI tools that primarily help with data analysis or writing particular sections of code. And in October 2025, Amplitude a new AI Visibility product, which helps track what AI tools like ChatGPT and Googles AI are saying about a particular brand versus its competitors, is proving valuable as more internet users switch to AI results from traditional searches. The company also announced new integrations letting other AI tools pull insights from Amplitude to help answer questions. In November, Amplitude announced that annual recurring revenue had risen to $347 million, up 16% over the same period the previous year.

15. Capital One

For helping enterprises keep sensitive data safe within databases

In addition to being a leading bank, Capital One operates a B2B software division. And in April 2025, Capital One Software launched Databolt, a tool that can help replace sensitive data like Social Security numbers, account numbers, and contact information within databases with anonymized tokens, reducing the likelihood of harm from a data breach. The product grew out of Capital Ones proprietary tools for tokenizing billions of data throughout the bank and is now used by businesses like Early Warning, the company behind Zelle. Tokenization keeps the existing format of the data intact and is valuable for training AI to analyze particular datasets without risk of a data compromise. Databolt can process up to 4 million tokens per second without sensitive data needing to leave a businesss computing environment, and it relies on encryption thats designed to remain safe and secure even after potential advances in quantum computing. And in June 2025, Capital One launched integrations with popular data management tools Databricks and Snowflake, allowing users to tokenize data within their existing databases, with Databolt being the only tool commercially available to do so within Snowflake. With Snowflake, Databolt can process up to 8 million tokens per second.

16. Redis

For adapting its data caching technology to make enterprise AI more efficient

Redis is well-known for its caching technology, helping more than 10,000 businesses make mobile and web apps more efficient by storing data from time-consuming database queries. In April 2025, the company released LangCache, a tool applying the same principle to large-language model AI, letting developers cache prompts already given to AI models and agents and their responses to avoid costly repeated or similar queries. The technology works with a variety of AI models and lets developers tweak what counts as a similar query while offering security measures to make sure users only see cached responses they should have permission to see. Redis also in April 2025 released Redis Agent Memory Server, which provides an efficient way to offer working memory for AI chat systems and agents. The company, which has seen annual recurring revenue increase by about 30% per year over the past two years, also announced the acquisition of data platform Decodable in September 2025 and data management company Featureform in October. Redis quickly moved to integrate their technology to make it easier and more efficient to provide AI with data from wide ranges of sources, removing a price and efficiency barrier to using AI in real-world business scenarios.

17. AlphaSense

For using AI to extract insights and market analysis from financial reports and data

Market research platform AlphaSense is used by more than 6,000 enterprise customers, including the majority of the S&P 500. In March 2025, it launched new AI-powered features called Generative Search and Generative Grid. Generative Search is designed to give answers to business and finance questions of the sort users might ask a human analyst, powered by a database of more than 500 million documents, from earnings calls to expert interviews. The company also launched Deep Research , which can do deeper dives into such sources as well as users own business documents and internal records to produce sophisticated briefings and reports. Generative Grid is a related feature that can give answers to linked questions, presented in a spreadsheet-like grid. In October 2025, AlphaSense followed up with a product called Financial Data, which enhances Generative Search and Deep Research with further information about particular market participant KPIs and transaction data. By March 2025, AlphaSense saw $400 million in annual recurring revenue, more than double the number from the previous year, and more than 30% of active users began using Deep Research within the first month of the products launch. Prominent customers include Nvidia, Pfizer, Salesforce, Nestle, and JPMorgan.

18. Pendo

For helping businesses understand how their customers actually use (and want to use) AI

Plenty of businesses have deployed a variety of AI agents for employees and customers, but many have little insight into whether and when these agents are actually effective. In June 2025, software analytics company Pendo released Agent Analyticstools to help businesses understand how users are actually interacting with their AI agents, including what prompts theyre giving to chat tools, how frequently agents are getting used, and what users typically do after agent interactions. Pendo worked with more than 70 customers to gain insight into Agent Analytics itself. And in an October update, the company continued to roll out Agent Analytics features, including tools to help companies flag questions that go unanswered by agents and problematic interactions with the technology, as well as dashboards and other features to help compare new AI agents against existing solutions for accomplishing similar tasks. At the same time, Pendo released AI features of its own, letting customers ask questions about their own software performance from within Pendos software or while using tools like ChatGPT and Claude. The companys goal is to help organizations understand whether or not AI agents really are providing value, while optimizing their return on investment and their own customer experiences.

19. Superfiliate

For helping enterprises understand and manage influencer marketing relationships

Influencer marketing has become increasingly critical to many businesses and brands, but keeping track of those relationships, whats been shared online, and whats owed to whom can be an organizational challenge. Superfiliate in early 2025 released automation tools designed to streamline numerous aspects of those relationships, including automatically spotting suitable influencer partners, reminding them when its a good time to post, and promoting high performers to premium deals. Some of these automations have saved Superfiliate clients more than 100 hours in a month by handling repetitive tasks, all while boosting revenue through well-timed communications with current and potential marketing partners. And in June, the company announced its Meta Ads Suite, including a partnership with Meta making it easier for Instagram creators to authorize their content for use in paid ads, simplifying a longstanding bottleneck. The suite also provides useful management and analytics around creator-driven ads. In October, Superfiliate announced a tool called Creator Discovery, making licensed use of Instagrams recommendation algorithms to recommend creators on the platform for particular marketing needs. These improvements have collectively helped Superfiliate, which in June announced a $2.1 million strategic funding round, achieve 400% year-over-year company growth and see customer revenue grow 500%.

20. Ribbon

For using AI agents to conduct startlingly human, well-researched job interviews

In spring 2025, Ribbons technology for AI-assisted hiring reached general availability, with the startup helping companies in high-turnover industries like hospitality, manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics offer human-like AI interviews to candidates. With custom AI agents trained on hundreds of thousands of job interviews, Ribbon is able to customize interview questions based on candidate responses and external information like jobseekers blogs and LinkedIn profiles. It can offer employer-customized interviews in a variety of languages as quickly as someone submits a job application or other convenient times, even outside of normal business hours for applicants with busy schedules. Customers like LAZ Parking, First Brands Group, and Propel Impact say theyve seen 40% cuts in the time to hire candidates, higher job retention rates for those hired, and significant savings in recruiter time commitments. Ribbon has helped more than 400 companies conduct more than 1 million interviews, and in 2025 announced it was one of the first AI hiring platforms to pass an audit under New York Citys strict Local Law 144, with no evidence of gender or ethnicity bias. Ribbon also offers resume assistance and interview prep tools for jobseekers and boasts its technology integrates with a wide range of existing hiring platforms.

Explore the full 2026 list of Fast Companys Most Innovative Companies, 720 honorees that are reshaping industries and culture. Weve selected the companies making the biggest impact across 59 categories, including advertising, applied AI, biotech, retail, sustainability, and more.

This post originally appeared at fastcompany.com

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Online marketplace Temu has partnered with Centric Software to help sellers manage listings, inventory and orders more efficiently, as the company continues efforts to broaden its seller base in Europe.

The partnership links Temus marketplace with Centric Shoppingfeeds technology platform, enabling merchants to connect with Temu while keeping product information consistent across its wider multi-channel operations.

The integration is now live for sellers using Centric Shoppingfeed.

It comes as the Chinese-owned e-commerce platform expands access to its platform to Europe-based merchants.

Centric Software said Temu has grown its local seller programme across more than 20 European markets, including Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.

Temu also expects that up to 80% of its European sales will be fulfilled locally over time.

Centric Software said its solution is designed to reduce operational complexity for sellers by simplifying catalogue management and synchronising stock, reducing reliance on manual processes.

The retail technology vendor added that it provides AI-powered enterprise systems intended to support product development from concept through to commercialisation.

Centric Software CEO Fabrice Canonge said: We are very pleased that Temu has partnered with Centric Software to enable scaling for both Temu and its sellers through smooth onboarding and automation of tasks.

We are excited about further synergies between our two companies and are thrilled to support Temus continued, rapid growth trajectory.

A Temu spokesperson said: As more European sellers join Temu, we want to make it as easy as possible for them to manage their operations.

Working with Centric Shoppingfeed means our sellers can connect once and keep everything in sync, which frees them up to focus on growing their business.

Centric Software's tools are used by businesses across various sectors, including consumer electronics, food and beverage, personal care, and multi-category retail.

It also supports functions such as compliance, design, planning, replenishment, sourcing, and selling.

"Temu partners with Centric Software to streamline seller ops" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand.




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Betting on What Already Works

Toyota announced a $1 billion investment as part of its broader $10 billion U.S. spending plan over the next five years. The move includes boosting production capacity for its top-selling models  the RAV4 and Camry  at its Kentucky plant.

Increased production capacity could give the RAV4 and Camry a better shot at competing with the top volume sellers in the U.S., including the Ford F-Series and Chevrolet Silverado. In 2025, the RAV4 ranked as the third-best-selling vehicle in the country, with 479,288 units sold  slightly more than half the total posted by the market-leading F-Series. The Camry, meanwhile, placed eighth with 316,185 units sold, ahead of the Tesla Model Y. Notably, it was the only sedan to crack the top 10 in a market that continues to favor crossovers and SUVs.

In addition, increasing Camry production would allow the company to meet demand for U.S.-built models destined for export to Japan, alongside the Tundra and Highlander.

Toyota  Toyota

Electrification Without the Rush

Toyota also plans to prepare its Kentucky plant for battery electric vehicle (BEV) production, a move that could help it avoid exposure to tariffs faced by foreign-built EVs like the Hyundai Ioniq 6. Of the $1 billion investment, $800 million will be allocated to the Kentucky facility, while the remaining $200 million will go to its Indiana plant.

The Indiana plant will aim to increase production capacity for the Grand Highlander, the brands three-row midsize crossover that rivals the Ford Explorer. While it may not match the volume of the RAV4 and Camry, it was still the Japanese marque's sixth-best-selling model in the U.S. last year after the Tundra.

Chase Bierenkoven  Chase Bierenkoven

The Multi-Path Advantage

Toyota reiterated that the investment is part of its multi-pathway strategy, suggesting it is not rushing into a full transition to electric vehicles  a push that has backfired for some automakers. Demand in the U.S. has recently shifted toward hybrids, aligning with the RAV4 going fully hybrid for the 2026 model year.

This latest $10 billion spending plan brings Toyotas total U.S. investment to nearly $60 billion since it began operating in the country nearly 70 years ago. The company also said it currently employs 50,000 people and has produced more than 35 million vehicles across 11 U.S. plants.

Toyota

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This story was originally published by Autoblog on Mar 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
TAOYUAN, Taiwan, March 25 (Reuters) - United Parcel Service (UPS) opened a new $100 million logistics centre in Taiwan on Wednesday, its largest in the Asia Pacific, riding a wave of demand from tech companies.

Taiwan is home to TSMC, the world's top contract chip-maker and dominant supplier of the advanced semiconductors powering the boom in AI technologies.

UPS said the site in northern Taiwan's Taoyuan, a short drive from the island's largest international airport, will also be used by Applied Materials, the largest U.S. semiconductor equipment maker, as an Asian distribution centre.

"Around 80% of the freight is high-tech," Lauren Zhao, president of UPS Asia Pacific Supply Chain Solutions and Freight Forwarding, told reporters at the new facility.

"Everyone knows that Taiwan's semiconductor industry is the most advanced in the world, and the manufacturing processes related to the semiconductor industry are also where Taiwan is leading the world," she added.

While UPS currently only operates out of Taoyuan airport, its managing director for Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, Sam Hung, said the company was also considering flights to Kaohsiung in the south, depending on customer demand.

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Kaohsiung is where TSMC is building a large new factory as part of a developing semiconductor cluster in southern Taiwan.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Alexander Smith)
Family therapy provides families with professional guidance to navigate relational challenges, focusing on group dynamics rather than individual faults. Known as family counseling, it helps households address communication breakdowns, conflicts, and life transitions through structured sessions that build lasting skills.

What Drives Families to Family Therapy?

Families often seek therapy when everyday tensions escalate beyond home remedies. Divorce or separation creates emotional fault lines, with children absorbing loyalties and parents struggling to co-parent effectively. A teen's sudden rebellionskipping school, clashing over rulescan unsettle the entire home, turning dinners into battlegrounds.

Substance use by one member casts shadows over shared spaces, eroding trust and sparking defensiveness. Chronic illnesses, like a parent's ongoing treatment, drain energy and shift roles, leaving resentment in the gaps. Job losses or financial squeezes amplify small gripes into major rifts, as stress leaks into every interaction.

Blended families face unique hurdles post-remarriage, with step-siblings vying for attention and new rules clashing against old habits. Empty nests leave couples rediscovering each other after decades kid-focused, often awkwardly. Grief from losspet, grandparent, or miscarriagelingers unspoken, muting joy.

When conversations loop into blame without progress, family counseling steps in as neutral territory. Therapists uncover hidden patterns, like a controlling grandparent mirroring parental anxiety in kids. Addressing issues early, within months, accelerates harmony; delays entrench habits but doesn't doom progress. HelpGuide.org notes families acting promptly rebuild faster, avoiding deeper divides.

Life stages like adolescence or menopause test adaptability. Parents of young adults home from college navigate independence clashes, while multigenerational homes juggle elder care with child-rearing. External pressurespandemic aftershocks or economic dipscompound internals, making professional insight invaluable.

Core Family Therapy Benefits

Improved communication: Families adopt active listening and "I feel" phrasing, transforming accusations into clear expressions that reduce daily misunderstandings.

Families adopt active listening and "I feel" phrasing, transforming accusations into clear expressions that reduce daily misunderstandings. Stronger relationships: Empathy bridges gaps between siblings, spouses, and elders, rebuilding trust for more genuine connections over time.

Empathy bridges gaps between siblings, spouses, and elders, rebuilding trust for more genuine connections over time. Enhanced problem-solving: Structured tools like family agendas and role-reversal exercises convert chaotic disputes into teamwork for stressors like finances or schedules.

Structured tools like family agendas and role-reversal exercises convert chaotic disputes into teamwork for stressors like finances or schedules. Emotional resilience: Coping strategies lower group-wide anxiety, helping members support each other through personal lows like illness or failure.

Coping strategies lower group-wide anxiety, helping members support each other through personal lows like illness or failure. Better individual outcomes: Kids show improved behavior and grades; adults report less burnout, creating ripple effects for health and happiness.

These family therapy benefits extend practicallyhouseholds handle holidays or moves with less drama, as skills embed into routines.

Inside Family Counseling Sessions

Sessions start with intake, where therapists chart histories: milestones, recurring fights, strengths. No one plays villain; emphasis lands on interactions. Weekly 50-minute gatherings include all, using genogramsfamily tree diagramsto spotlight inherited traits like conflict avoidance.

Enactments replay real arguments safely: a teen's eye-roll unpacked reveals unmet needs, not defiance. Therapists reframe "you're selfish" as "I sense disconnection," shifting focus to solutions. Agendas evolveWeek 1 targets dinner talks, Week 4 reviews homework like gratitude shares.

Virtual platforms fit remote aunts or shift workers, maintaining momentum. Play therapy hooks kids with puppets or board games, bypassing verbal walls. Narrative techniques let teens author empowerment stories, ditching "troubled" labels. Cognitive-behavioral tools help adults pause reactivity, breathing through triggers.

Mid-session check-ins tweak plans: if one parent disengages, solo work bridges back. Cultural sensitivity weaves traditionsholiday rituals or language nuancesensuring relevance. Eight to twelve meetings spark shifts, with booster sessions for maintenance. Medical News Today outlines how these steps foster accountability without shame.

Adaptations abound: somatic exercises release trauma-held tension via body awareness; art therapy unlocks non-verbal emotions. Progress feels tangiblefamilies note calmer mornings, fewer silent treatments.

Numbered Types of Family Therapy Tailored to Needs

Structural family therapy: Reorganizes hierarchies and boundaries, suiting enmeshed parent-child ties or absent authority figures by clarifying roles. Systemic family therapy: Examines feedback loopsparental worry fueling kid rebellionto interrupt cycles and restore natural flow. Strategic family therapy: Targets behaviors with homework like argument timeouts, delivering quick fixes for repetitive issues in brief sessions. Psychoeducational family therapy: Equips groups against disorders like ADHD or anxiety, teaching triggers, meds, and responses for daily management. Narrative family therapy: Helps rewrite shared stories, replacing "dysfunctional" narratives with strength-based ones for lasting identity shifts.

Matching type to needs maximizes impactrigid homes thrive structurally, talkative ones systemically. Trial sessions confirm fit.

Real Results from Family Therapy

Research affirms family therapy's reach: meta-analyses report 70-80% gains in cohesion and conflict reduction. Children slash conduct problems by 60%, boosting school focus and peer ties. Marital stability rises, curbing divorce risks; depression eases collectively as networks strengthen.

Adult perks include sharper emotional IQ and lower stress hormones. Follow-ups reveal skills persisting years outfamilies self-sustain post-therapy. Dropout sits at 20-25%, often logistical; buy-in accelerates wins. Psychology Today stresses therapist matching as pivotalswitches salvage stalls.

Longitudinal studies track intergenerational perks: treated parents raise resilient kids, breaking trauma chains. Cost-effectiveness shinesfewer ER visits, better work attendance.

Family Therapy Benefits for Modern Life

Today's hybrid workdays blur boundaries, sparking screen-time spats or neglected bondsfamily therapy recalibrates priorities. Social media fuels comparison envy; sessions air it productively, setting healthy limits.

Telehealth spans coasts, with apps logging moods between meets. Sliding scales and employer aid ease access. Post-therapy households tackle layoffs or diagnoses with unityone parent shares, "We argue less, connect more."

Global shifts like climate worries or AI job flux test families; therapy hones adaptability. Multigenerational setups, common now, benefit from boundary tools amid the elder boom.

These dynamics transform homes into resilient units, equipped for evolving demands.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is family therapy?

Family therapy, or family counseling, treats the family as one emotional unit to address relational patterns like poor communication or unclear roles. It brings members together in sessions to improve interactions and resolve conflicts collectively.

2. Who benefits from family therapy?

Anyone facing household strainsparents, kids, siblings, or couplescan gain from it, especially during divorce, teen issues, substance challenges, or life transitions. Blended families and those with mental health concerns see the strongest improvements.

3. How many sessions does family therapy take?

Most families attend 8-12 weekly 50-minute sessions, though some need more for deep issues. Progress depends on commitment; short-term strategic types wrap faster, while ongoing support suits chronic patterns.
Apple today announced Apple Business, a new all-in-one platform that includes key services companies need to effortlessly manage devices, reach more customers, equip team members with essential apps and tools, and get support from experts to run and grow efficiently and securely. Apple Business features built-in mobile device management, helping businesses easily configure employee groups, device settings, security, and apps with Blueprints to quickly get started. In addition, customers can now set up business email, calendar, and directory services with their own domain name for seamless and elevated communication and collaboration. And Apple Business can help millions of companies grow their reach and connect with local customers across Apple Maps, Mail, Wallet, Siri, and more, including a new option coming this summer that will enable businesses in the U.S. and Canada to place local ads in Maps during key search and discovery moments. Apple Business will be available starting Tuesday, April 14, in more than 200 countries and regions.1

Apple Business is a significant leap forward in our decades-long commitment to helping companies of all sizes leverage the power of Apple products and services to run and grow, said Susan Prescott, Weve unified Apples strongest business offerings into one simple, secure platform, delivering key features for organizations in every stage and sector, including built-in device management, collaboration tools, and additional ways to reach new customers. We cant wait to see how Apple Business helps companies spend more time focusing on what they love and connecting deeply with their communities. Apples Vice President of Enterprise and Education Marketing.

Built-In Mobile Device Management

Apple Business offers built-in mobile device management (MDM), facilitating a comprehensive view of an organizations Apple devices, settings, and more from a single interface. Previously available as a subscription within Apple Business Essentials in the U.S., Apple Business is designed to make IT easy  including for small businesses without dedicated IT resources. Apple Business includes new Blueprints to easily set up devices with preconfigured settings and apps, ensuring consistency and security and enabling zero-touch deployment for employees, so that new Apple products are ready to go out of the box.2

Apple Business includes options to purchase upgraded iCloud storage and support with AppleCare+ for Business, and a companion Apple Business app will allow employees to install apps for work, view colleague contact information, and request support while on the go.3

Apple Business expands the availability of Apple Business Manager to more than 200 countries and regions, and supports additional device management features, including:

Managed Apple Accounts: Company data remains secure while employee data remains private, with cryptographic separation of work and personal data on devices. Apple Business enables automated Managed Apple Account creation for new employees through integration with an identity service provider, including Google Workspace, Microsoft Entra ID, and more.

Employee management: Create user groups by function or team to assign apps and roles. Organizations can also create custom roles to manage access exactly the way they want.

App distribution: Easily acquire and distribute apps to employees and teams through the App Store.
Apple today announced it will host its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) online from June 8-12, bringing developers together from around the world for a week of connection, exploration, and innovation. In addition to the online experience, developers and students will also have the opportunity to celebrate in person during a special event at Apple Park on June 8.

WWDC26 will spotlight incredible updates for Apple platforms, including AI advancements and exciting new software and developer tools. As part of the companys ongoing commitment to supporting developers, WWDC will also provide unique access to Apple engineers and designers, and insight into new tools, frameworks, and features.

WWDC kicks off with the Keynote and Platforms State of the Union on Monday, June 8. The conference continues online all week with over 100 video sessions and interactive group labs and appointments, where developers can connect directly with Apple engineers and designers to explore the latest announcements. The conference will take place on the Apple Developer app, website, and YouTube channel; and on the Apple Developer bilibili channel in China.

WWDC is one of the most exciting times for us at Apple because its a chance for our incredible global developer community to come together for an electrifying week that celebrates technology, innovation, and collaboration, We cant wait to see many of you online and in person for what is sure to be one of our best WWDC events yet. said Susan Prescott, Apples vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations.

The special in-person event at Apple Park on June 8 will offer developers and students the opportunity to watch the Keynote and the Platforms State of the Union, meet with Apple engineers and designers, take part in special labs and activities, and connect with the worldwide developer community. Space will be limited; details on how to submit a request to attend can be found on the Apple Developer website.

Apple is proud to support student developers through the Swift Student Challenge, one of many Apple programs that uplift the next generation of entrepreneurs, coders, and designers. This years winning students will be notified on Thursday, March 26, and will be eligible to request to attend the special event at Apple Park. In addition, 50 Distinguished Winners will be recognized for their outstanding submissions and invited to Cupertino for a three-day experience.

Apple will share additional conference information in advance of WWDC through the Apple Developer app, website, and YouTube channel. Developers can also follow the conference worldwide on LinkedIn and WeChat, and on bilibili in China.
The global leader in AI cybersecurity has adopted a name to match. TrendAI is the new name for the enterprise cybersecurity business unit of parent company Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704;TSE: 4704). The new identity aligns with the companys focus on solving real-world security challenges as AI becomes foundational infrastructure and cyber risk is managed as a core business priority.

Eva Chen, CEO of Trend Micro: This is not a cosmetic change. It signals where we are going and how we intend to lead. TrendAI reflects our conviction that security must evolve as quickly as the technology it protects. Enterprises are redesigning their operations around AI, data and automation. Our role is to ensure they can do so with confidence, control and resilience built in from the start."

Srujan Talakokkula, Managing Director ANZ & Pacific Islands at TrendAI: This is an exciting moment for our customers and partners across Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands as we bring together decades of cybersecurity leadership and AI innovation under TrendAI. Organisations are at a crossroads of digital disruption, and AI is becoming the future operating model for enterprise technology. Powered by world-leading threat intelligence and ongoing investment in our homegrown R&D and customer success team in Sydney, the TrendAI Vision One platform transforms security from reactive defence into an enabler of innovation.

With thousands of customers across the region, including key government and critical infrastructure organisations, TrendAI is focused on strengthening AI capabilities and strategic global partnerships with NVIDIA, AWS, Google, Microsoft, and our collaboration with the Open Worldwide Application Security Project (OWASP) to help shape our platform roadmap and align with evolving global AI security standards.

The move marks the completion of a transformation from a portfolio of industry-leading security products to a unified enterprise AI cybersecurity platform, TrendAI Vision One. Led by Rachel Jin, Chief Platform & Business officer, TrendAI is recognised as a leader across cloud, endpoint, network and threat detection by analyst firms like Gartner, IDC, and Forrester. The new brand aligns how TrendAI builds and delivers security solutions for the AI-powered enterprise with how modern organisations manage cyber risk.

TrendAI is also rolling out:

AI Security Brief: A new podcast series delivering timely, real-world stories at the intersection of AI and security.

A new podcast series delivering timely, real-world stories at the intersection of AI and security. TrendAI  Spark : A flagship global events ecosystem, bringing together customers, partners, and the broader technology community to examine how AI is reshaping security, risk, and leadership decision-making.

 : A flagship global events ecosystem, bringing together customers, partners, and the broader technology community to examine how AI is reshaping security, risk, and leadership decision-making. S-RM Partnership: Expands TrendAI partner ecosystem through a global incident response and cyber risk advisory partner embedded in post-breach workflows, helping organisations transition from containment to long-term risk reduction and security strategy. Learn more here.

Expands TrendAI partner ecosystem through a global incident response and cyber risk advisory partner embedded in post-breach workflows, helping organisations transition from containment to long-term risk reduction and security strategy. Learn more here. HackerVerse collaboration: Independent adversarial testing powered by autonomous AI agents executing real MITRE ATT&CK techniques, continuously validating detection efficacy through measurable, proof-based results.

To learn more about TrendAI, visit: https://www.trendaisecurity.com
The Pope is been urged by leading Catholic exorcists to expand the number of priests trained in demon-purging.

The Pope is been urged by leading Catholic exorcists to expand the number of priests trained in demon-purging

Amid reports of a global rise in occult and Satanic practices, Leo XIV has met officials from the International Association of Exorcists, according to reports from EWTN Vatican and InfoVaticana, where concerns were apparently raised about increasing incidents linked to occultism.

The organisation is said to be calling for every Catholic diocese worldwide to appoint at least one qualified exorcist, alongside improved training, clearer guidance for bishops and stricter criteria for identifying cases requiring intervention. Its discussions reflect growing demand for the Churchs exorcism ministry, though no official global statistics exist on how many rites are performed.

The International Association of Exorcists is calling for at least one qualified exorcist in every diocese and improved structures to address what it describes as complex and increasing cases.

Father Francesco Bamonte, vice-president of the association, is reported to have warned ignoring the trend risks leaving believers without proper support and may lead some to seek inappropriate solutions.

During the reported audience with exorcist experts, Pope Leo is said to have been presented with a copy of Guidelines for the Ministry of Exorcism and an image of Saint Michael the Archangel  a figure venerated within the Church as a spiritual warrior  from the Monte SantAngelo sanctuary.

Reports state Leo expressed gratitude for the work of exorcists and gave rosaries in return, also recalling Father Gabriele Amorth, who died aged 91 and helped establish the association.

Exorcists involved in the discussions said increasing numbers of people are experimenting with occult practices and seeking guidance outside the Church, sometimes resulting in distress.

They argue strengthening training and oversight is necessary to ensure appropriate responses and to protect individuals who may present with complex cases.

Critics have raised concerns many cases described as possession may instead require medical or psychological care. They caution framing such issues as part of a spiritual war risks alarming vulnerable individuals and diverting them from evidence-based treatment.

Exorcists, however, maintain their procedures include medical screening and that formal training standards are essential to ensure that cases are handled responsibly.

Demand for exorcism appears to be rising globally.

More than 300 exorcists gathered last year for the 15th International Conference of Exorcists, reflecting what participants describe as a coordinated and expanding international ministry.
COMPANY NEWS: Getac Technology Corporation (Getac), a leading provider of rugged computing and mobile video solutions and a manufacturer with advanced in-house capabilities, today announced the launch of its brand new CommandCore rugged drone control solution for defence, public safety and utilities in Australia and New Zealand.

CommandCore lets customers combine Getac's proven rugged hardware with industry-specific accessories, payloads and software based on their individual needs and use case. The result is a comprehensive UAV/USV/UGV control solution that is fully adaptable and can be tailored to suit a wide range of Australia and New Zealand challenging environments and operational scenarios, such as those found in the defence, public safety and utilities industries.

At the heart of CommandCore is Getac's Ground Control Station (GCS), which serves as a centralised, mission-ready hub, designed for real-time data processing, seamless drone control in extreme conditions, and overall management of operational parameters. Customers can choose between several different Getac devices depending on their GCS needs, including the ZX80 fully rugged Android tablet, UX10 fully rugged Windows tablet, S510 rugged Windows laptop, B360 fully rugged Windows laptop, and X600 fully rugged Windows workstation.

The form factor of the GCS can also be customised for maximum flexibility. Options include a fully integrated design with built-in drone controls and an accessory-type design that lets users separate the Getac device from externally housed drone controls as needed. Additional form factors include an office dock design, and a comprehensive suitcase design with dual display for use as part of mobile command and control activity.

Rugged reliability meets modular architecture

CommandCore has been engineered from the ground up to withstand harsh, unpredictable, and mission-critical operational environments without compromising on performance. Its proven rugged design ensures reliability in the field, while its scalable and configurable system architecture enables seamless customisation, expansion, and adaptation to evolving operational requirements across a range of industries.

An open ecosystem supporting smooth integration

CommandCore integrates smoothly with diverse drone ecosystems, supporting interoperability with third-party technologies and long-term collaborative system evolution. Getac's GCS is available in both Android and Windows options, while the stable, high performance computing platform supports real-time, mission-critical operations in demanding situations and environments.

Setting a new benchmark in remote drone control solutions

CommandCore facilitates seamless drone operations in extreme terrain and/or high-pressure situations, like those regularly encountered in the defence, public safety and utilities industries:

Defence: Supports intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) activity from both mobile and semi-fixed command posts, informing mission planning and execution strategies in real-time across land, sea and air.

Supports intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) activity from both mobile and semi-fixed command posts, informing mission planning and execution strategies in real-time across land, sea and air. Public safety: Drone reconnaissance now plays an integral role in disaster response operations ranging from fires and floods to emergency search and rescue. CommandCore lets first responders gather critical information quickly and efficiently, either from a nearby mobile command vehicle or directly from the scene using a handheld GCS.

Drone reconnaissance now plays an integral role in disaster response operations ranging from fires and floods to emergency search and rescue. CommandCore lets first responders gather critical information quickly and efficiently, either from a nearby mobile command vehicle or directly from the scene using a handheld GCS. Utilities: Enables utilities professionals to remotely inspect large-scale infrastructure and assets such as powerlines, substations, pipelines, and railways using automated waypoint guidance. This allows for comprehensive monitoring of hard-to-reach locations from a centralised remote operations centre, eliminating the need for a controller in the field.

"As the use of drones becomes increasingly widespread throughout numerous industries around the world and demand for comprehensive remote-control solutions in Australia and New Zealand is also growing significantly," says James Hwang, President of Getac Technology Corporation. "CommandCore answers this demand, providing professionals who work in challenging environments every day with a highly customisable rugged control solution they can rely on to get the job done when it matters most."

To learn more about CommandCore or to submit an inquiry, please visit www.getac.com

About Getac

Getac Technology Corporation is a global leader in AI-capable rugged mobile technology and intelligent video solutions, including laptops, tablets, software, body-worn cameras, in-car video systems, digital evidence management and enterprise video analytics solutions. Getac's solutions and services are designed to enable extraordinary experiences for frontline workers in challenging environments. Today, Getac serves customers in over 100 countries spanning defence, public safety, ambulance, fire & rescue, utilities, automotive, natural resources, manufacturing, transport, and logistics. Getac was recently recognised as one of Newsweek's "World's Most Trustworthy Companies" for 2024. For more information, visit: https://www.getac.com. Participate in the Getac Industry blog or follow the company on LinkedIn and YouTube.

Getac and Getac logo are trademarks of Getac Holdings Corporation or its affiliates. Other brands or trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 2026 Getac Technology Corporation.
Zoho Corporation, a global technology company offering a suite of enterprise IT management and business applications, today announced the opening of its new office in Sydney. Located in the heart of Parramatta, NSW, the new office will house teams from Zoho and ManageEngine, two of the major divisions within the company. While the company has maintained a strong local presence in Sydney since 2019, the new Parramatta office marks a significant milestone. It has been purpose-built to support the companys expanding local team, as well as a growing customer and partner base across both Australia and New Zealand (ANZ).

Zoho Corporations ANZ business saw year over year (YoY) growth in customers (30 per cent), channel partners (44 per cent), and local headcount (42 per cent). The company also recorded 9 per cent revenue growth, hired its first employees in New Zealand, and expanded its Adelaide office to support team growth. ManageEngine, Zoho Corporation's enterprise IT management division, has been witnessing a healthy growth of 15 per cent YoY and a continued cloud growth at 40 per cent YoY.

The momentum we have seen in ANZ over FY2024/25 reflects a deliberate effort to scale Zohos enterprise footprint in the region. At a time when organisations are rethinking their software stack amid the rapid rise of AI, Zoho stands out through the platform unification approach, its long-term product philosophy, and ability to help businesses modernise without adding unnecessary complexity or cost," said Rakesh Prabhakar, head of Zoho ANZ. "Our growth across customers, partners, and local teams shows that this approach is working. With deeper investments on the ground across the region, we are well positioned to support larger and more complex organisations as they look for a future-ready technology partner.

ManageEngine has been instrumental in helping enterprises navigate successive waves of technological change, from on-premises infrastructure to cloud and hybrid environments, and now AI-driven ecosystems in the ANZ region. The company is establishing a Sydney presence to strengthen proximity to major enterprise customers and partners. In parallel, the company is working with Australian industry federations and government bodies to broaden its enterprise ecosystem across ANZ. With a strong network of over 100 channel partners (including SIs and MSPs), ManageEngine continues to invest in talent, infrastructure, and innovation, supporting organisations as they scale, modernise, and operate more safely and efficiently in the region.

Since first launching in the region, ManageEngine has steadily scaled its footprint and capabilities to support customers across Australia and New Zealand, said Vinayak Sreedhar, ManageEngine's Australia and New Zealand country manager. Paramatta is quickly becoming recognised as a fast-growing commercial and technology hub, and the decision to establish a new office in such a key location gives us the space and infrastructure to support our people, partners, and customers as we continue to grow. He also commented on the increased AI adoption, "With AI becoming embedded into the very fabric of enterprise infrastructure, IT management is undergoing another pivotal shift. Through its unified platform approach, ManageEngine has been able to deliver a comprehensive, secure, and AI-driven ecosystem covering networks, servers, security, service desks, Active Directory, applications, and endpoints."

Zoho Corporation stands as a pivotal partner in Australias digital future. By anchoring its growth strategy within this burgeoning corridor, the company is not just expanding its footprint; it is actively contributing to the country's high-skill talent pipeline and technological sovereignty, while bridging the gap between local opportunity and global impact.
Equinix, the world's digital infrastructure company, today announced a series of global investments in workforce development to help build the next generation of technical talent for the digital infrastructure industry. Timed to International Data Centre Day celebrated globally on March 25, these initiatives underscore Equinixs commitment to expanding access to high-quality technical careers, strengthening local talent ecosystems within the communities it operates, and equipping people with the skills needed to support the rapid growth created by AI and digital transformation.

The data centre industry is essential to global economic growth and technological innovation, stated Alan Howard, Principal Analyst, Data Centres & Colocation Services, Omdia.

"Rapid AI adoption and digital transformation are driving demand for the infrastructure that supports these technologies, creating significant opportunities for new technical careers. Yet, the developers and engineers we speak to consistently bemoan that the industry faces a significant talent shortage. To meet this demand, companies like Equinix are investing in training programs, partnerships, and talent pipelines, preparing workers for technical roles  from electricians and HVAC specialists to facility engineers  that power an increasingly AI-driven world.

A cornerstone of Equinixs workforce investments is the global launch of Pathways to Tech, an earlycareer talent program that opens inclusive pathways into data centre operations for students ages 14  18. After a successful twoyear pilot reaching nearly 2,000 students in select communities across the Americas and Asia Pacific, Pathways to Tech is scaling to all Equinix locations worldwide to meet growing workforce needs fueled by AI and digital transformation. Pathways to Tech gives students handson exposure to digital infrastructure through interactive sessions with Equinix professionals, IBX data centre tours, and immersive Education Day events. The program creates clear pathways into internships, apprenticeships, and earlycareer Operations roles  creating access to high demand, well-paying careers many young people may not otherwise discover. On International Data Centre Day, Equinix will welcome hundreds of students to Education Days at 20 locations worldwide, providing firsthand exposure to a critical industry that often operates behind the scenes.

Equinix data centres are the heartbeat of our digital world  the essential pulse of global connectivity  and our people are the experts who keep that pulse strong, safe, and steady, said Raouf Abdel, Executive Vice President, Global Operations at Equinix.

The work our people do is what enables the digital economy to scale  especially as AI rapidly increases demand for infrastructure. At Equinix, our success depends on exceptional talent, and we are deeply committed to developing a diverse, futureready technical workforce. Investing in our people is how we continue to pave the path into the future.

Were committed to building that talent early, expanding opportunities in the communities where we operate, and ensuring the industry has the skilled workforce it needs for the next era of innovation, added Equinixs Chief People Officer, Brandi Galvin Morandi. By reaching students earlier with realworld exposure to data centres, interconnection technologies, and practical learning experiences, were not just competing for talent; were creating it.

Additional Workforce Development Initiatives

Alongside Pathways to Tech, Equinix is introducing additional programs designed to grow talent, including:

Global Data Centre Technician Training Coalition: The Equinix Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Equinix, is partnering with Generation, a global nonprofit focused on economic mobility that has supported the economic advancement of over 150,000 people across 17 countries, to expand accessible career pathways in data centre operations and technical support. Together, they are launching a groundbreaking global, multi-employer workforce coalition that brings data centre and ecosystem companies together with industry partners to co-fund training, shape curricula, and hire graduates. Just as Equinix's business is built on interconnection, this coalition is built on the idea that the industry's workforce challenge is too big, and too important, for any single company to solve alone. The coalitions first pilot program will launch in Brazil  a market seeing rapid data centre investment and rising demand for entry-level talent  with initial cohorts beginning in June and co-funding from partner Cisco Systems. This pilot marks the starting point for a broader global expansion planned for 2026.

Global Operations Apprenticeships: Equinix is expanding and relaunching its global apprenticeship, internship, and earlycareer programs to build a resilient, futureready technical workforce. While Equinix has long supported interns and apprentices across its data centres worldwide, the company has now introduced a newly centralised global program with refreshed curriculum and consistent standards. The first locations to go live include six critical markets: Brazil, France, Germany, the United States, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. These initiatives create structured pathways into critical fulltime Operations roles, support knowledge transfer from experienced teams, and reduce dependence on constrained labor markets. Working closely with schools, training providers, and community organisations - often with support from the Equinix Foundation - Equinix is broadening access to technical careers while strengthening local talent ecosystems. Together, these efforts align business needs with community impact, advancing economic mobility, workforce development, and longterm operational readiness.

Learning Labs: Together with industry partners, Equinix is launching a new global training program to develop the next generation of technical talent, debuting across three markets  Dallas, Paris and Singapore. The initiative addresses a dual challenge: supporting a rapidly expanding digital infrastructure sector while creating meaningful reskilling and employment opportunities for individuals seeking new career paths. Designed for earlycareer talent with a technical or electrotechnical background, the program aims to deliver handson experience and a comprehensive qualification in data centre infrastructure management, equipping participants with essential skills across electrical systems, cooling and climate control, safety practices, and facility operations. Through practical, realworld training, participants learn how to manage and maintain critical data centre environments and ensure their operational reliability.

Equinixs new workforce development initiatives, including Pathways to Tech, will begin global rollout in 2026, with planned activations across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia Pacific. Interested schools, community organisations, and workforce partners can learn more here.

Additional Resources
When Kent resigned as director of the National Counterterrorism Center to protest the Iran war, critics of the conflict - especially opponents of President Donald Trump - quickly cast the decorated military combat veteran as a principled dissenter. Superficially, that tracks. And yet those tracks are laid on quicksand.

Kent risked his life for the US for decades: He served in the Army Special Forces in Iraq and as a paramilitary officer for the Central Intelligence Agency. Kent's first wife, Shannon, also wore the uniform and was killed in Syria by a suicide bomber in 2019. Those experiences led Kent, a Republican, to turn against the war on terrorism and overseas military operations. And like many voters who grew suspicious of projecting American power abroad after years of fighting in the Middle East, Kent found a political champion in Trump.

The 45th and 47th president has staked three White House campaigns, in part, on resisting so-called forever wars and regime-change wars. What better example of the unraveling of the Trump coalition and - from the naysayers' point of view - the shaky premise of the Iran war than Kent's defection? A couple of lines from his resignation letter to Trump:

"I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation," Kent wrote, adding: "Until 2025, you understood that the wars in the Middle East were a trap that robbed America of the precious lives of our patriots and depleted the wealth and prosperity of our nation."

Except that Kent, 45, is a conspiracy theorist of such questionable character that he lacks almost all credibility, rendering him useless as an avatar for foes of the Iran war and Trump. This shouldn't necessarily be a revelation. Kent was twice rejected by the voters of Washington state's 3rd Congressional District. They chose Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez over Kent for the swing seat in 2022 and opted for her again in their 2024 rematch.

Maybe Kent was spurned because he was (and is) an outspoken proponent of Trump's stolen election conspiracy theories. Kent echoed claims that former President Joe Biden's 2020 victory was illegitimate and, as The New York Times reported, referred to the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol as an inside job. Or maybe Kent lost because during one of his congressional campaigns, he played footsie with Nick Fuentes, the antisemitic and racist influencer who recently sat for a friendly interview with Tucker Carlson, and others of that right-wing ilk.

That brings us back to the folly of lionizing Kent as a conscientious objector to Trump and the president's hawkish foreign policy as of late.

In his resignation letter, Kent also said, "It is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby" and that "high-ranking Israeli officials and influential members of the American media deployed a misinformation campaign that wholly undermined your [Trump's] America First platform."

It's perfectly fine to criticize the Israeli government, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the policies coming out of Jerusalem. I have, and do, frequently. But this sort of conspiratorial blarney that Israel and its paid domestic agents (i.e. lobbyists) are puppeteers of the American president is the mother's milk of an age-old philosophy best described as antisemitism. (Many political observers who might have lauded Kent have, in fact, rebuked him for this line of thinking and cooled to him as some sort of heroic MAGA defector.)

And of course, where did Kent run to bask in his newfound notoriety? Carlson, a stoker of animosity toward Israel and Jews.

During an appearance on his show last week, Kent hinted that the Jewish state was behind the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kent also sought refuge with Candace Owens, a blatantly antisemitic influencer on the far right, and her podcast audience. Kent also appeared at a Washington gala of Catholics for Catholics, where he was celebrated - and where Owens delivered a keynote speech. The group has been dismissed as a fringe organization by mainstream Catholic leaders.

Regardless of opinions on Kent personally, might his resignation signal a crackup of Trump's Make America Great Again base inside the Republican Party? At the very least, might these voters be on the cusp of abandoning the president because he turned into one of those so-called neocon warmongers he swore he wasn't? Well - no.

"Beyond MAGA," a project completed earlier this year by the research initiative More In Common, explored Trump's unique coalition in depth and identified four types of voters: MAGA Hardliners, Anti-Woke Conservatives, Mainline Republicans and the Reluctant Right. Stephen Hawkins, More in Common's global director of research, told me about an online community of a "couple of hundred" GOP voters his organization keeps an eye on. In a recent surveying, "MAGA Hardliners" were the most supportive of the Iran war. In fact, Hawkins said none of the voters in this cohort voiced opposition to the war.

"Among American voters, the critics [of the war] seem to be coming from the groups that are already critical of Trump," Hawkins told me. "The alignment, support and enthusiasm seem to be echoing from the same groups that were already supportive of him, so it's continuity, not change - as opposed to breaking open a new fissure." (These findings mirror the other public polling since the Feb. 28 start of the Iran war.)

Given Kent's quackery, and his lack of a constituency other than some very loud podcasters sympathetic to his worldview, it might be worth asking Trump why Kent was hired for such a plum position. The president now claims he knew Kent was essentially unqualified for the job.

Indeed, it might be worth asking Republican senators why they confirmed Kent, rather than demanding the administration nominate more equipped personnel.

(COMMENT, BELOW)

David M. Drucker is columnist covering politics and policy. He is also a senior writer for The Dispatch and the author of "In Trump's Shadow: The Battle for 2024 and the Future of the GOP ."
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The Supreme Court on Monday appeared likely to embrace a conservative challenge to tallying mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day, a move that could upend election procedures in states across the country as voters prepare to cast ballots in the midterm elections.

A majority of justices seemed ready to side with arguments by Republicans and Libertarians who told the court that federal election law preempts Mississippi from counting ballots that arrive up to five days after polls close as long as they are postmarked by Election Day.

Most states require mail-in ballots to arrive by Election Day, but Mississippi is one 14 states that allow grace periods of days or weeks. A ruling against Mississippi could open the door to challenges to similar provisions in other states.

President Donald Trump and some conservatives have attacked mail-in balloting, asserting without evidence that it is riddled with fraud. Trump and his supporters called for halting the count of mail-in ballots after the 2020 presidential election. Trump blamed the votes for his loss in the contest.

Conservative Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. on Monday told Mississippi Solicitor General Scott G. Stewart that allowing officials to receive ballots that arrive after Election Day raises a host of thorny policy questions: How do you consider a ballot officially submitted? How long after Election Day can a ballot be received? Does it have to be postmarked to count?

He and other conservative justices suggested it would be easier and cleaner to set Election Day as a deadline for ballots to be received.

"Your position requires some difficult line-drawing problems," Alito said.

At least five of the six conservative justices on the court asked skeptical questions of Stewart, while the three liberals directed their sharpest queries at Paul D. Clement, an attorney for conservative groups. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. was more difficult to read, while Justice Amy Coney Barrett also posed difficult questions of both sides.

Liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said there was nothing to limit states from counting ballots postmarked by Election Day that arrive later. The Constitution give states and local officials authority to determine the "time, place and manner" of elections, while Congress is allowed to amend those rules.

"Congress has not indicated, at least thus far, that it intended ever to preempt this," Jackson said.

The Republican National Committee, the Mississippi Republican Party, a Mississippi voter and a county election commissioner filed a lawsuit against Mississippi in 2024 contending that it was illegal to count mail-in ballots that arrived after polls close because federal law sets a particular day for the election. The Libertarian Party of Mississippi later filed a similar suit.

A federal judge consolidated the cases and allowed groups made up of veterans and retirees to intervene in the case on behalf of Mississippi. The judge dismissed the case, before the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that ruling. Mississippi then appealed to the Supreme Court.

Clement told the justices that the idea of casting and counting ballots at the same time has long been "intertwined" and that federal law clearly sets elections on a particular day. He also argued that receiving ballots after Election Day could increase the prospect of voter fraud and undermine faith in elections, especially if the candidate who ultimately wins is not the one who was ahead on Election Day.

"The losers are going to doubt the result, full stop," Clement said. "That is bad for our system."

Stewart countered that existing law simply requires voters to fill out their ballots and put them in the mail by Election Day, even if the ballot arrives at a later time. He also told the justices that the practice has deep roots in American history, pointing to field voting that occurred during the Civil War and other laws in the early 1900s.

"States have allowed it for over a century, and Congress has respected it," Stewart said.

The conservative justices peppered Stewart with hypotheticals. Justice Neil M. Gorsuch asked whether voters could ask the Postal Service to recall their ballots after Election Day to change a vote if a late-breaking scandal about a candidate emerged. Alito asked whether Republican or Democratic party officials or notaries could be designated by states to collect ballots, instead of the Postal Service.

The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling by June or July, months before voters head to the polls to vote in the November elections.

Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh asked Clement whether a June ruling might violate the Purcell principle, a doctrine that federal courts should not change election procedures too close to elections because it could create confusion among voters and complicate election planning by states.

Clement replied that a summer decision would not implicate Purcell because states would still have months to change election procedures and update voters before ballots are cast in November.

Several of the justices also expressed concerns that requiring votes to be received and tallied on Election Day might also bar states from conducting early voting that is popular with voters.

"Is there any limit to how early people can vote?" Roberts asked.

Clement said early voting was less problematic than accepting ballots after Election Day and operated under different rules so it would not be prohibited.

The arguments came after Republicans introduced a bill that would require all mail-in ballots to be received by Election Day, along with other voting restrictions.

This Supreme Court term features a number of cases dealing with elections and voting. Last month, the justices allowed an effort to redraw California's voting maps to give Democrats up to five additional seats in the House of Representatives, months after approving a similar push in Texas that could net Republicans a similar number of seats.

In January, the Supreme Court allowed a Republican congressman from Illinois and other officials to move forward with a lawsuit challenging the state's mail-in balloting law. The court ruled 7-2 that candidates have standing to sue over rules governing voting.

The court appeared ready to limit or strike down the last remaining pillar of the landmark Voting Rights Act last October, during arguments in another case. Section 2 of the act requires states to craft voting districts under certain circumstances to ensure minority voters have the chance to elect candidates of their choice.

A ruling undermining Section 2 could touch off a scramble by Republican-led states to draw new districts ahead of this year's midterms. That could result in a number of Black Democrats losing their seats, particular in Southern states.

Republican leaders have also asked the high court to strike down limits on how much political parties can spend in coordination with candidates, a case that could shift the balance of power between the parties and super PACs.

(COMMENT, BELOW)




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The Supreme Court on Monday shielded a Vermont police officer from a legal claim that he used excessive force on a protester during a sit-in at the state's Capitol.

The court, in an unsigned opinion, found that Sgt. Jacob Zorn is entitled to qualified immunity after injuring a nonviolent protester in 2015. The protester, Shela Linton, accused Zorn of excessive force after the officer put her arm behind her back, applied pressure and lifted her up. She was unarmed and nonthreatening - though largely noncompliant - throughout the incident, according to court records.

The court's three liberal justices dissented from the decision. "The majority today gives officers license to inflict gratuitous pain on a nonviolent protestor even where there is no threat to officer safety or any other reason to do so," Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in dissent.

The case is one of two in which the justices on Monday weighed in on qualified immunity, a hotly debated legal doctrine that involves protections for police facing lawsuits. In the other, the court let stand a ruling that police officials in Laredo, Texas, are shielded from a lawsuit that claims they violated a citizen journalist's constitutional right to gather news.

The decision involving the Vermont sergeant comes as the Trump administration's deployment of federal officers at some cities across the country has have sparked clashes with protesters. White House officials have stated that federal officers have broad immunity against claims they've acted unreasonably as they face protesters.

The Supreme Court's decision concerned a state officer, and it could still impact police interactions with peaceful protesters. The high court has sided with police officers in past cases involving qualified immunity.

In 2015, Linton joined about 200 others gathered for a sit-in at the Vermont State House to demand universal health care. When the capitol closed for the evening, Linton and about a couple dozen protesters remained seated in the building with their arms locked. Police officers warned the demonstrators that they would be arrested for trespassing if they did not leave. The officers began to remove the demonstrators one by one.

When Zorn tried to remove Linton, she "passively resisted," according to the opinion. Zorn then put Linton's arm in a "rear wristlock" and warned her to comply with his orders to stand up. He twisted her arm, and Linton exclaimed, "Ow, ow, ow." Linton continued to refuse Zorn's orders to stand up, and Zorn lifted her.

As a result of the wristlock, Linton suffered a permanent "loss of motion" in her left wrist and shoulder, she later alleged in a lawsuit that accused Zorn of excessive force.

A federal judge in Vermont found that Linton could not take her lawsuit to trial. The judge said Zorn was shielded from the lawsuit because he is entitled to qualified immunity. The legal doctrine protects public officials from lawsuits unless the alleged misconduct is clearly established by past cases. Critics say the doctrine has largely shielded police officers from lawsuits alleging a wide array of misconduct, including excessive force.

A panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit reversed the finding that Zorn was protected by qualified immunity. Attorneys for Zorn appealed to the Supreme Court.

In siding with the officer, the majority found that past courts have not established that Zorn's wristlock on Linton is a form of excessive force. A past case the appeals court relied on "fails to specify which circumstances make the use of force gratuitous,'" it wrote.

In dissent, Sotomayor - joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson - wrote that past cases had established wristlock as a form of excessive force that may offend Linton's constitutional rights. Linton should be able to move forward with her lawsuit, Sotomayor argued.

Sotomayor chided the majority for too often siding with police officers in similar cases. She said the case represents a "resurgence" in the court's "one-sided approach" to qualified immunity, transforming the doctrine into an "absolute shield" for police officers.

 'Lagordiloca' case

In a separate case, the high court declined to review an appeal filed by Priscilla Villarreal, a citizen journalist whom police arrested after she published information that a police officer volunteered to her. Sotomayor dissented.

Villarreal, under the name "Lagordiloca," runs a Facebook page that reports happenings in Laredo. In 2017, she contacted an internal police source to confirm the name of a border agent who had died by suicide and gather details of a fatal traffic accident.

Six months later, police secured two warrants accusing of her obtaining that information for her own benefit, citing a Texas law that Webb County police had not previously used in the 23 years since it had been enacted. Police officials accused of Villarreal of using the nonpublic information she gathered to boost her online popularity.

When Villarreal turned herself in, police officers laughed and took pictures of her as she wore handcuffs, according to her brief to the court. She had had a tense relationship with the police department because of her previous reporting.

Villarreal was released on bond, and a state judge later found that the charges were "unconstitutionally vague," as Sotomayor put it in her dissent.

Villarreal sued, saying the police department retaliated against her and violated the Constitution's guarantee of press freedom. A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit, saying the police officials were entitled to qualified immunity. A panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit reversed, finding Villarreal's arrest was "obviously" unconstitutional. But the full 5th Circuit disagreed, and concluded Laredo police officials were entitled to immunity.

The Supreme Court subsequently vacated that decision and told the appeals court to reconsider the case in light of a 2024 precedent regarding retaliatory arrests. But after a divided 5th Circuit again found the officials are entitled to qualified immunity, the high court declined another review.

In her dissent, Sotomayor said the case needed another look. "Here, it is hard to conceive of a more obvious constitutional violation than arresting a journalist who, in searching for corroboration, simply asks a government source for information," she wrote.

(COMMENT, BELOW)




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Even as US President Donald Trump speaks of "winding down" military action against Iran, there is increasing discussion of using the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), centered on the huge amphibious ship USS Tripoli, to seize and occupy Kharg Island at the northern corner of the Persian Gulf.

The eight square miles of Kharg are largely covered by enormous petroleum storage and piping complexes that move 90% of Iran's oil exports to sea from the mainland, which is just 15 miles away. While the US has undertaken limited strikes on Kharg, successfully invading it would not only further cripple Iran's economy, it could also provide a bargaining chip to force Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz at the Gulf's entrance.

Is this a feasible mission for a Marine force? How risky would it be? And is the bargaining strategy sound?

I grew up in the Marine Corps: My father was a combat infantry officer in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Too bad he's not around for me to ask these questions, but he deployed to Heaven a few years ago. I know, however, that if I asked him what an MEU can do, his reply would be: "Anything."

That is a bit hyperbolic, but the three ships of an MEU pack a lot of combat capability. Embarked on the ships are up to 2,500 Marines and Navy sailors, bringing the punch of a full infantry battalion of the highest quality. They also have a strong air-combat element of cutting-edge F-35B Lightning II fighters (the Marine version has short-takeoff and vertical landing capabilities, so no aircraft carrier is required), MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft (for logistics and air assault), and MH-60S Seahawk helicopters (for scouting, attack and utility missions).

The 31st MEU, based in Okinawa, Japan should arrive late this week; a second Marine force, the 11th MEU centered on USS Boxer, is coming from San Diego and could arrive within three to four weeks. When backed up by the 300 or so combat aircraft already in theater and the more than 20 warships the US is committing to Operation Epic Fury, the MEUs will become powerful new pieces on the chessboard in the Middle East.

The first challenge, before even contemplating boots ashore on Kharg, would be getting the MEU's ships through the Strait of Hormuz. As they approach the strait, US Central Command (CENTCOM) will have to assume the ships have been geolocated either by the Iranians or their Russian allies, who are providing very granular intelligence to Tehran. The 31st MEU on the Tripoli will be the top target - both for protecting Kharg and for the publicity and morale boost the Iranians would get for successfully striking the elite force.

My guess is the Tripoli and her naval escorts (two additional amphibious ships, plus two or three guided-missile destroyers) would have to fight their way through the strait. The Iranians would use massive drone attacks; small boats, some loaded with explosives for unmanned and potentially suicide missions; ground-based, short-range ballistic missiles fired from mobile launchers (so-called "scoot and shoot" platforms); and dozens or even hundreds of mines laid in the channel. CENTCOM would counter with considerable resources, from intelligence collection by long-dwell drones to 24/7 fighter coverage to additional guided-missile escorts to get the ships through the 100-mile transit.

Assuming the expeditionary force traverses the strait without significant loss, the next challenge would be getting to the northern part of the Gulf in the vicinity of Kharg. The Iranians would continue to pepper the ships with drone attacks and might use disguised merchant ships (including the ubiquitous dhow sailboats of the Gulf) for surveillance and potentially for attacks. The Navy's Fifth Fleet in Bahrain would provide further maritime coverage, and the Gulf Arab states have corvettes and guided-missile patrol boats to help.

Once in position off Kharg, the Marines would need ironclad air and sea superiority over at least 100 miles around the island. Fortunately, Kharg is made of coral (unlike the volcanic sands the Marines faced at Iwo Jima in 1945), meaning it would be hard for the Iranians to dig in and defend. And at the moment it is lightly protected - although this could quickly change.

The recent US strikes have degraded the air and sea defenses on the island, which consist of HAWK surface-to-air missiles and Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns. For additional close-air support, the Air Force has deployed A-10 Warthog aircraft and the Army its Apache attack helicopters.

The ground force would probably be landed on Kharg by air, from both Ospreys and helicopters, and it would immediately seek to seize control of the command-and-control facilities, especially those connected with the oil-distribution system. Any Iranian ground troops still effective following pre-attack strikes should be easily overcome by the first waves of US forces. There is fresh water available, a rarity on an island in the Gulf.

Yet there are significant risks and potential pitfalls. There are roughly 20,000 Iranians on the island (almost all civilian oil workers) who would need to be contained in their homes or evacuated; the Iranians may have planted sophisticated booby traps; Iran could successfully strike one of the big amphibious ships (as the Argentines did to the British in the Falklands War in 1982). US casualties would almost certainly rise quickly from the 13 who have so far been killed during Operation Epic Fury.

There is a less risky option probably under consideration: To use the MEU to blockade the island rather than seize it, which would likely result in fewer casualties and could achieve a similar economic effect.

Finally, if the idea is to then bargain with Tehran for an opening of the Strait of Hormuz, it is unclear that the remaining leaders of the regime would be cowed by the threat of losing Kharg. They know the US, which they consider totally untrustworthy, could blow up the island any time, regardless of any agreement. So, they might balk at agreeing to give up anything for Kharg and continue pressuring the US through a tighter closure of the strait.

Can the Marines take Kharg, and add its conquest to their impressive history of seizing and holding distant islands? I wouldn't bet against them.

But such an invasion would likely be far from surgical - expect rising casualties on both sides and among civilians - and still leave Iran with plenty of other potential steps to create mayhem and improve its bargaining position.

(COMMENT, BELOW)

Stavridis is a Bloomberg columnist. He is a retired U.S. Navy admiral and former supreme allied commander of NATO, and dean emeritus of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He is also an operating executive consultant at the Carlyle Group and chairs the board of counselors at McLarty Associates.
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How many times has President Donald Trump said that the war in Iran, now entering its fourth week, will be brief? Many. I asked Grok for 20 examples of Trump promising a short war, and got a list very quickly. Here are a few:

 "This war will be over very soon."

 "I think you'll see it's going to be a short-term excursion."

 "We're getting very close to finishing  it is going to be ended soon."

 "We're way ahead of schedule  it won't be much longer."

 "We projected four to five weeks  but we're substantially ahead of schedule."

 "It's going to be ended soon  we're getting very close."

No president wants to promise the public years of war. But why has Trump pledged brevity so early and so often, beginning almost the moment the war began? After all, polls from the first U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran showed that, while there was significant public opposition to the war, support among Trump's supporters was high. It has stayed that way.

The fear, of course, was that voters would take Trump's campaign vow not to take the nation to war  "I'm not going to start a war, I'm going to stop wars," he promised on the night of his comeback win in November 2024  and apply it to the situation in Iran. But so far at least, Trump's supporters have stuck with him on the new war.

Of course, campaign Trump vowed even more often to stay out of what he called endless wars. But endless clearly means endless, or at least protracted, conflicts. Trump obviously feels he can use the military for quick strikes, such as the June 2025 bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities or the January 2026 operation to depose former dictator Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela. They were brief and effective uses of U.S. military power and are in no sense endless engagements.

The political problem for Trump is that at some point, a brief and effective use of U.S. military power becomes something more than that. Yes, a conflict would have to go on for a long time before it qualifies as endless. But at the moment, Trump is deeply worried about the war's economic effects; a war does not have to be endless to do a lot of damage to the U.S. and world economies.

In addition, Trump has to worry about the point at which the Iran war takes its place as a major, large-scale war  not a quick hit but Gulf War III, after wars in the region pursued by President George H.W. Bush in 1991 and President George W. Bush in 2003. Trump surely would not like to be in those presidents' company as a Persian Gulf warrior.

Neither would Vice President JD Vance, a vehement critic of Iraq-style wars and Trump's possible 2028 successor. At a midterm campaign appearance in Michigan last week, Vance quoted Trump to stress that the war-related energy price increases will be a "temporary blip." And Vance added: "Nobody likes war, right? And I guarantee you the president of the United States is not interested in getting us in the kind of long-term quagmires that we've seen in years past."

There is concern in those words. This war, even now, will have consequences. After joining Israel in such a broad-based attack, U.S. forces cannot just disappear. For example, a new op-ed in the Wall Street Journal by two veteran foreign policy analysts notes, "If Trump wins this war politically and militarily, victory will entail new burdens. The security of the Persian Gulf will be America's responsibility  American destroyers circulating permanently in the Gulf is a likely future."

That's not the kind of thing the Trump political base will be delighted to hear, even if they approve of the war's first days. The needle Trump needs to thread is to minimize those "new burdens" so he can say to his supporters that U.S. forces got in quickly, fixed the problem, and got out quickly. Whether that is plausible or not is another question.

Until then, Trump continues to promise a quick war. How many defenders of the war have answered critics by saying, "Hold on, it's only been a week," or two weeks, or three weeks? Indeed, it hasn't been long. But it's been long enough for the White House to be worried.
Amanda Peet "had to get [herself] together" before revealing her cancer diagnosis to her children.

Amanda Peet has been diagnosed with cancer

The 54-year-old actress - who has Frances, 19, Molly, 15, and Henry, 11, with husband David Benioff - has revealed she had to compose herself before discussing the issue with her kids.

Amanda told E! News: "They've been great. I definitely had to get myself together before including them.

"The hard part was realising that nothing is certain and there was going to be no perfect time to tell them."

Amanda has a great relationship with her daughters, and she's actually started to influence their fashion choices in recent years.

She said: "For so long, it was like, What are you wearing, mom? Why are you so uncool? And then all of a sudden, I was like, Oh, look at you. Look who's coming in my closet.'"

Amanda revealed news of her diagnosis in a recent essay for the New Yorker, and Sarah Paulson, her showbiz pal, subsequently took to social media to hail the actress' courage.

Sarah wrote on Instagram: My best friend, Amanda Peet  has written the most profoundly gorgeous essay about the loss of her parents, while dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis.

@newyorkermag has published it today, and Im screaming from the rooftops with joy. I hope you all take the time to read it.

If you are running around and doing other stuff, I did the audio recording and you can listen to me try to do the piece justice. My friend is a @newyorkermag essayist. How outrageously groovy is that? Bird, I love you beyond. (sic)"

In her essay, Amanda explained she had undergone regular six-monthly checkups due to having "dense" and "busy" breasts but she was sent for an ultrasound and biopsy following one of her routine appointments in August 2025.

The following morning, Amanda received a text from her doctor, who told her she had a tumour that "appeared" small, but would need a Magnetic Resonance Imaging scan to determine "the extent of disease".

She added in her New Yorker piece: "On Tuesday, we would also learn my receptor status, which indicates how tough your strain of cancer is. 'Its like dogs,' she explained. 'You have poodles on one end and, on the other, pit bulls.'"
On the morning of May 19, 2024, my 74-year-old mother was struggling to breathe at her home in Bastrop, Texas. I called 911, an ambulance arrived, and my mother was transported to a hospital.

What followed was a devastating series of miscommunications and ignored directives that led to unnecessary suffering for her and profound trauma for our family.

A clear directive

My mothers end-of-life wishes had been clear for a long time: She did not want to be resuscitated. Years earlier, she had faced the difficult choice to remove her parents from life support, and throughout our lives, she let us know that she did not want our last memories of her to be her being kept alive by machines, or for us to have to decide to pull the plug. She said that when it was her time to go home to heaven, she wanted to be allowed to go.

I thought my mother having a DNR, and us having talked about it, would be sufficient to ensure she did not have to suffer at the end of her life in the way she feared. I had no idea what we were up against that day she was rushed to the hospital for the final time.

In the ER, I spoke with my mothers nurse about her medical history. He asked, What is your mothers code status?

DNR, I replied, and watched him document it on my mothers chart before he walked out.

The hospital emergency

My wife and I stayed with my mother until my brother and his wife arrived. With only two visitors allowed in the room at a time, we stepped out of the ER to allow them some time with her.

We returned to the waiting room as they were stepping out to swap places with us; however, we saw hospital staff urging them to hurry back, as there had been another emergency. We were all rushed down the hallway to our mothers room, where we saw multiple people performing CPR on her.

Her arms were dripping with blood, her eyes and mouth wide open.

The trauma and shock of what I saw left me paralyzed. Before I knew it, the CPR was over, and my mother was intubated, her worst fear.

The administrative failure

When I pulled myself together, I asked the charge nurse why my mothers DNR was ignored. She told me that there had to be a document on file obtained by registration.

I had been in the hospital with my mother for five hours at this point.

No one mentioned registration to me or asked for any physical documentation of her DNR. I explained this to the charge nurse, who told me there was not anything she could do about it because that was their policy.

We then learned from a cardiologist and pulmonologist that my mothers liver and other organs were now damaged beyond repair because of the lack of oxygen she had sustained. They also informed us that they had given my mother drugs to keep her sedated because the intubation was very uncomfortable.

Ultimately, that day my brother and I had to make the very same decision my mother had made years before, the one she had tried so hard to prevent us from having to face. For seven minutes following my mothers removal from life support, my brother and I sat beside her playing her favorite song: Lord I Am Coming Home, by the Statler Brothers. We watched our mothers respiration slow while her mouth gasped for air. At 5:27 p.m., as the song ended, so did her life.

A systemic problem

Losing my mother was hard enough, but having directives ignored was something else entirely; it was devastating. I will always know that she suffered, and that knowledge sits heavy in my heart. It should not have been that way. Miscommunication, confusion, and a rigid hospital policy prevented her wishes from being honored. Why did anyone not tell me that saying she has a DNR was not enough? How was I supposed to know that paperwork mattered more than her voice, more than her clearly stated wishes?

I have since learned that what happened to my mother is not rare. Families all over the country face the same heartbreak, thinking their loved ones wishes are protected, only to find out too late that they are not. When hospitals treat end-of-life directives as just another form to file, real people suffer. Patients lose control of the one thing that should belong entirely to them: how they leave this world.

The problem is that a medical system that requires aggressive advocacy from patients to get the care they want is a flawed system.

Patients should not have to fight to be heard in their final moments. Doctors, nurses, and hospital leaders have to do better. They have to start with the most important questions: What does the patient want? What do they need to know to make sure their wishes are honored?

If these questions became fundamental to the work of our health care providers, maybe no one else would have to suffer through the agony my mother did due to an ignored DNR, or carry the heavy heartache that our family does now.

Amanda Cutshall is a patient advocate.
I walked onto my small unit a few minutes before 7 a.m., nurses huddled around one elderly gentleman. A cacophony of alarm bells and call lights went unanswered as the units three overnight staff members attempted to keep him in bed. He voiced his disagreement loudly while climbing over the rails meant to protect his safety. Though he was strong, he was unsteady. Exasperated, the night nurse showed me her message thread with the provider. Trying, and failing, to secure additional interventions to keep this man calm and unharmed, her pleas were met with, I am sorry he is misbehaving.

Once security team members lifted him back onto the bed, I tried to secure a safety partner. I was informed by the staffing office that none were available. I also made an effort to contact the provider to establish orders for PRN medications. My other patients were neglected as I repeatedly attempted to reorient this gentleman and keep him from injuring himself and others. My messages went unanswered and his behavior continued to escalate. The provider was listed as not available in the paging directory and as the charge nurse, I was running out of options. I approached the man once more, attempting to redirect his behavior. His right fist came from behind his back and unexpectedly struck me in the jaw.

The reality of workplace violence

In the wake of Alex Prettis murder at the hands of ICE agents, my social media was flooded with nurses joining together in outrage and experience. It could have been me, resounded the chorus of helpers and healers. Because what Alex did, assisting a woman shoved to the ground, is what we are trained to do. We are taught from the very beginning to respond to those who need our aid. His actions, and his death, were a revelation for us all; none of us are safe.

But, then again, safety for nurses is but a veil.

Statistics show that one in four nurses are physically assaulted every year. Up to 81 percent of nurses have experienced at least one incident of verbal or physical abuse in the past year. And in 2022, the Oncology Nursing Society found that more than two nurses were assaulted every hour. What I find most interesting about this particular statistic is that 2022 immediately followed the COVID-19 global pandemic, when nurses were hailed as heroes.

Systemic failures and moral distress

While I am sure there are health care workers who still support the current administration, it seems a large majority are opposed to the ways they have mishandled policies that directly impact the countrys marginalized and most vulnerable. It appears the powerful and wealthy continue to succeed and maybe even operate above the law, as revealed in the Epstein Files. Those of us on the front lines who witness injustice and systemic failures are tired and angry.

Some nurses have channeled that rage into social media posts, which have cost them their careers and subsequently their livelihood. Which begs the question: Should nurses lose their jobs over social media posts?

Most recently, a labor and delivery nurse in Florida was fired after wishing certain negative physical outcomes during Karoline Leavitts birthing process. A Virginia nurse anesthetist lost their job after encouraging colleagues to inject ICE agents with paralytics. While I certainly do not condone either of these nurses actions, my first thought after reading the news stories about these individuals was, this sounds like misplaced moral distress. Because in addition to the abuse, injustice, and systemic failure, nurses also bear witness to a myriad of events no one likes to talk about. Exposure to human suffering on a daily basis does something to ones soul.

We see things that keep us up at night, hear things that linger in our memories, and relive things that make us question our choice of profession.

The aftermath of assault

The punch caught me off guard. When I gathered my thoughts, I told my coworker to call a medical response. Once the team arrived, I requested soft restraints and anxiolytics. He responded beautifully, finally able to rest his body and mind. The next day, I received an email from my supervisor listing everything I had done wrong. No one asked if I was okay. There was no mention of my injury. Instead, I was blamed and shamed.

But I was lucky. Not long ago, a nurse was attacked by a patient and beaten until she was unconscious.

I have read quite a few similar stories from nurses who share a common thread: lack of organizational support. Whether it be an absence of appropriate staffing ratios, interventions to reduce burnout and moral distress, or follow-up and care after a patient assault, etc., I wonder what would happen if systems took better care of their nurses? What if organizations got hold of the distress before it became a TikTok video?

A profession unsupported

Some say Alex Pretti would still be alive had he stayed home. And some say those nurses would still have their jobs had they kept their mouths shut.

There are other voices, though. Those who say Alex Prettis actions were an extension of who he was as a caregiver, and that he should still be alive because the law enforcement officials who took his life should have protected it. Those who say nurses are chronically unsupported by their institutions, and firing those who expressed their opinions, albeit unkind and ill-aligned with their profession, further reinforces that message.

Reading the comments section of each news story was akin to a witch hunt. Self-identified health care workers called for the removal of licensure while others in the community wrote phrases such as, It is always the nurses.

And this person is right, in a way. History has given us examples, time and time again, of nurses who pioneered specialized fields of medicine, nursing education, and health care activism.

It is always the nurses.

It is always the nurses who sacrifice their own well-being for the care of others. It is always the nurses who bear the brunt of the system. Whether it be a trickle-down effect of sickness, sadness, anger, or violence.

It is always the nurses.

Amanda Dean is a palliative care nurse.
Hundreds of millions of dollars were wagered on oil markets minutes before Donald Trump announced a delay to US strikes on Iran.

Spike in oil trades has prompted scrutiny about insider trading

Trading data shows a sharp spike in activity shortly before the US president posted on social media that Washington would postpone action against Iranian energy infrastructure following talks with Tehran. The price of oil then fell by 14% within minutes, allowing traders who bet on the drop to make significant profits.

Market analysts say the timing of the trades has raised questions about whether some investors had prior knowledge of the announcement.

Data reviewed shows that at 06:49 Eastern Time, 734 bets were placed on US crude oil contracts, rising to 2,168 within a minute - equivalent to around $170m. Similar spikes were recorded in Brent crude, with trades jumping from 20 to more than 1,650 in just two minutes.

Mukesh Sahdev, chief oil analyst at XAnalysts, said: This appears abnormal, for sure. At that time, there were no indications that any serious talks had been taking place between the US and Iran. So to place so much money on oil going down raises questions.

Rachel Winter, a partner at Killik Co, said the activity had fuelled speculation about insider trading. She said: Just before he posted on social media, quite a lot of people took out contracts that would allow them to profit from the oil price falling. So there has been some speculation about insider trading. We don't know if that's true, but hopefully there will be some sort of investigation into that.

The White House explained it did not tolerate any administration official illegally profiteering off of insider knowledge.

Regulators including the Commodity Futures Trading Commission have not commented.

The trades came amid wider volatility linked to the Middle East conflict. Oil prices later rose again after Iran denied any talks had taken place, calling the reports fake news.
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In October 2025, Ana reported that she had been suffering attacks from her brothers. She said they beat her and even tried to strangle her, but authorities did not intervene. Yesterday, Ana Laura Martinez, 36, was stabbed to death in her home in the Reforma Politica neighborhood in Iztapalapa.

My brother, Sergio Eduardo Martinez, came into my room and began insulting me, saying f*ing b**, why are you here? Im going to make sure you end up in jail and Ill keep the house. () Then he began pulling my hair. I had already called for a police patrol beforehand.

He started punching me in the head with both fists. Another brother, Miguel, began telling him to hit me in places where it wouldnt show, and then Sergio tried to strangle me, reads the complaint filed with the Mexico City prosecutors office.

The first obstacle Ana faced was the police patrol she requested through 911. When the unit arrived, the officer allegedly refused to intervene.

According to Ana, the officer offered to take both her and her aggressor in the same patrol car to the nearest public prosecutors office.

Ana refused, but later went to file a complaint. However, the public prosecutor in Iztapalapa classified the case as domestic violence, even though Ana stated that they had tried to strangle her.

Family dispute behind Ana Lauras killing

Yesterday, after another argument with her brother Miguel Angel Martinez, Ana was stabbed multiple times and killed.

Miguel Angel fled the scene, and the person who gave a statement was Cipriana Solis Calderon, who said that during the early morning hours there had been a fight between her, Ana, and her brothers.

Apparently, the conflict stems from a dispute over the house located on Reforma Agricola Street. The father of Ana and her alleged attackers is currently in prison, charged with rape and domestic violence, which also divided the family.

Mexico City prosecutors are searching for Miguel Angel and Sergio as possible suspects in Anas femicide.

Authorities are also investigating the responsibility of the public prosecutor who classified the earlier attacks against Ana only as domestic violence, which prevented stronger protective measures from being implemented to stop another attack against the victim  as ultimately occurred.

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00:14 Normal life affected in Odisha's Malkangiri due to Congress' 12-hr bandh Normal life was affected in Odisha's Malkangiri district on Wednesday due to a 12-hour bandh called by the Congress over various issues, including issues pertaining to paddy procurement and LPG supply constraint. Commercial establishments, educational institutions and many offices remained closed... Read more >
A military transport plane with 128 people on board, mostly soldiers, crashed shortly after taking off yesterday [Macau time] 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.

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 towns 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.

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.

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.

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 dont 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. MANUEL RUEDA, BOGOTA, MDT/AP

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Its been three months since a ceasefire ended bitter border fighting between Cambodia and Thailand, but signs of combat are cut deep in this 11th-century temple atop a 525-meter (1,722-foot) cliff in the Dangrek Mountain range.

The neighboring Southeast Asian countries have been fighting over Preah Vihear temple on and off for decades, and thats putting the ancient holy site in danger.

Built by the same Khmer Empire that constructed Angkor Wat 160 kilometers (100 miles) southwest, the temple was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008 and are held as an important cultural relic by Cambodians.

But after two rounds of major combat last year, much of the structure is damaged and Cambodian officials say that parts of it may be in danger of collapse.

Theres lots of wreckage, but no tourists

Where tourists once admired the weather-beaten structures elaborate carvings and a magnificent view over the Cambodian plains, there is now stone debris, artillery craters, and the ashes of burnt vegetation.

The temple has turned quiet, and its beauty looks so sorrowful because of the tragedy, Hem Sinath, archeologist and deputy director-general of the National Authority for Preah Vihear, told Associated Press journalists visiting earlier this month.

The site is closed to tourism due to unstable walls and concern about the presence of unexploded ordnance. Areas are roped off and dotted with signs warning of land mines, a hazard Cambodians know well after decades of civil war that ended in the late 1990. Conservation staff, groundskeepers and troops remain stationed in and around the temple, from which Thai soldiers can be seen just across the border.

All five of the temples notable gateway pavilions were damaged, three almost beyond recognition, according to a damage assessment issued in January by Cambodias Culture Ministry. An ancient northern staircase previously restored by a U.S.-funded conservation project sustained severe hits from repeated bombardment.

A statement issued last week by Cambodias Culture Ministry said the temple had suffered damage in 142 locations during the fighting in July, and at 420 more during heavier and more sustained combat in December.

Experts have predicted that during the upcoming rainy season, some structures on the verge of collapsing could finally fall, Hem Sinath said.

No independent outside evaluations of the damage are available.

Cambodia says temple was deliberately attacked

Information Minister Neth Pheaktra accused the Thai military of relying on false information to justify incursions and of deliberately damaging the temple.

Preah Vihear temple belongs to all humankind. It is not an enemy of Thailand, he wrote.

International law forbids attacks on important historical sites like the temple, but Thailand has argued that Cambodia militarized the temple by installing weapons systems, storing ammunition, and using the site as a base for surveillance equipment, voiding its wartime protection. This included a tall construction crane at the site, which the Thai army attacked after claiming it served as part of a military command and control system.

Thai Army spokesperson Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvaree has insisted that Thai forces directed their fire strictly at military targets.

Cambodia denies that its military ever used the temple, with its Ministry of Culture writing in a statement that the temple is under civilian control and that any security forces present were there only to protect the cultural heritage site.

Each nation blames the other for starting the fighting that flared in July and December. Cambodia has reported that more than 640,000 people were displaced from border regions during the fighting, and almost 37,000 have yet to return to their homes.

The temple has been contested for decades

The temple, known as Phra Viharn to Thais, has been at the center of a long-standing boundary dispute since the 1950s. In 1962, the International Court of Justice ruled that the temple and surrounding area of less than five square kilometers (two square miles) belong to Cambodia. The Court reaffirmed this ruling in 2013.

For years, it drew visitors from both sides of the border, with many foreign tourists arriving via Thailand before the border was closed.

Its designation by UNESCO as a Cambodian heritage site in 2008 rubbed salt into Thai wounds, and heightened nationalism stoked by domestic politics in Thailand contributed to sporadic armed conflict at the temple in 2008 and 2011.

Restoration will be a challenge

Restoring the temple will be a major challenge. Hem Sinath fears that weakened structures could collapse during the rainy season, which normally begins in late May or early June and continues through October.

India, China and the United States have been involved in previous renovation efforts, but funding has been on hold since fighting broke out.

Hem Sinath said that new and urgent projects needed to keep the temple from deteriorating further are being hindered by concerns for safety and security while the ceasefire remains fragile.

We have a plan; we want to do a repair  the sooner the better, but as you see, it depends on the situation along the border, he said. SOPHENG CHEANG, PREAH VIHEAR, MDT/AP

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Asian countries are turning to coal as the Iran war disrupts oil and gas shipments, following what China has been doing since 2021.

The continent is exposed because it relies on imported fuel, much of it passing through the Strait of Hormuz  a chokepoint for about a fifth of global oil and natural gas trade.

LNG is a natural gas cooled to liquid form for easy storage and transport. It has been promoted as a bridge fuel in the shift from oil and coal to cleaner energy sources. The U.S. has sought to expand exports of LNG across Asia. It burns cleaner than coal, but still emits climate change -causing gases, especially methane.

The war has countries shifting back to coal to cover LNG shortfalls. India is burning more coal to meet higher summer demand. South Korea has lifted caps on electricity from coal. Indonesia is prioritizing using its domestic supply. Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam are boosting coal-fired power.

Burning more coal risks worsening smog in major cities, slowing the transition to renewable energy and increasing the regions planet-warming emissions.

Coal is a short-term fix, experts say, while renewables are the long-term solution. Continued reliance on coal exposes Asia to future shocks, said Julia Skorupska of the global coalition Powering Past Coal Alliance.

This kind of crisis is a real sort of warning, she said.

Asia back to coal, follows China

Coal is integral to Asias emergency energy plans. Its wide availability in Asia makes it the default backup when renewables or gas fall short, said Sandeep Pai, an energy expert at Duke University.

China, the top coal consumer and producer, has built record coal power generating capacity since 2021 to improve its energy security. Its national policy calls for continued use of coal, even as its vast clean energy capacity offers some relief.

India, the second-largest coal consumer and producer, is bracing for a scorching summer and will rely more on coal to meet peak demand of 270 gigawatts  nearly twice the electricity Spain can produce. It has enough coal for about three months, with some stockpiles earmarked for small businesses.

Two Indian liquefied petroleum gas shipments totaling more than 92,700 tons recently made it through the Strait of Hormuz. Such imports will likely be directed to industries such as fertilizer production rather than power generation, Pai said.

Coal advocates such as Michelle Manook of FutureCoal say the shortfall would be worse without coal and future use should be strategic. The lesson has to be diversity, she said.

Pauline Heinrichs, who studies climate and energy at Kings College London, points to Chinas boosting use of coal to offset hydropower shortfalls due to droughts, worsening emissions that contribute to climate change.

You learn to respond to shocks generated by certain insecurities by reproducing the insecurity, she said.

Indonesia keeps coal for its own use

Adding to the vulnerability for import-dependent countries, Indonesia, the worlds largest exporter, is prioritizing domestic use over exports. That could tighten regional supplies and push global prices higher, said Putra Adhiguna of the Energy Shift Institute.

Coal prices are set globally, leaving importers exposed to swings and disruptions. More coal does not guarantee cheap or reliable power, said Russell Marsh of E3G.

Vietnam is already facing that volatility. It increased imports after weather-related shortages, but supplies from Indonesia are now uncertain so its considering importing coal from the U.S. and Laos, according to energy market tracker Argus Media.

The main price for coal used in Asia, called Newcastle coal from Australia, has risen 13% since the war began.

Higher prices will also hurt Southeast Asia, the worlds third largest coal-consuming region, including the Vietnam, Philippines and Thailand, which are boosting coal power.

Relying on coal now could backfire

More coal use now will slow and possibly undermine long-term efforts to phase out coal-fired power.

Indonesia was already struggling to meet targets to retire coal plants early, with financing delays even before the Iran war.

Coal power in Indonesia was 48% more expensive in 2024 than in 2020 due to aging plants and higher costs, according to the U.S.-based Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis or IEEFA. Subsidies to the national utility rose 24% to $11 billion, about 5% of the national budget.

Jakarta has promoted use of LNG to ease a shift from coal. But the renewed coal use sends a signal that switching to gas is not as easy as it sounds, Adhiguna said.

South Korea has pledged to retire most coal plants by 2040 and halve its emissions by 2035. But it is allowing more use of coal when air pollution is low and LNG is in short supply.

In 2023, South Korea needed a major renewable expansion  about 8 gigawatts of new wind annually  to meet net-zero goals, Agora Energiewende said. Growth has been slow, with renewables supplying just 10% of electricity in 2024, versus a global average of 32%, according to IEEFA.

Over the past 11 years, South Korea has committed $127 billion to fossil fuels. Thats 13 times more than it spent on renewables, with 60% of export finance going to LNG and $120.1 billion spent on fuel imports in 2024 alone, said Joojin Kim of Solutions for Our Climate.

South Korea still plans to phase out use of coal, but the recent moves could outlast the crisis, Kim said. The concern is not just the decision itself. It is the precedent it sets.

For countries with limited coal, like Thailand, the impact on electricity prices would be minimal, as coal accounts for too small a share of capacity, said Jitsai Santaputra of The Lantau Group. Domestic coal makes up less than 10% of the Thai energy mix.

Coal brings dirtier air

Burning coal produces fine particles that lodge deep in the lungs and bloodstream, raising the risk of heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and chronic respiratory disease, according to the World Health Organization, or WHO.

Its a problem across Asia, especially during seasons when farmers are burning their fields.

All 1.4 billion Indians breathe air with concentrations of these particles the WHO considers unsafe, according to a report by the Energy Policy Institute of Chicago. The government has now paused air-quality rules, allowing restaurants to burn coal to ease a gas shortage.

Vietnam also faces severe air pollution, with PM2.5 far above WHO limits. It is promoting electric bikes and has targets to cut coal use.

Lan Nguyen, a shopowner in Hanoi, said she knows coal is essential for electricity right now, but worries for her asthmatic sons health. I worry for my sons lungs every day, she said. ANTON L. DELGADO & ANIRUDDHA GHOSAL, BANGKOK, MDT/AP

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Kevin Costner is set to begin filming a new movie with Jake Gyllenhaal.

Kevin Costner is set to begin filming a new movie with Jake Gyllenhaal

The Hollywood veteran, 71, will start alongside 45-year-old Jake in Honeymoon With Harry, which is due to shoot in Queensland, Australia, from April across Brisbane and the Whitsundays.

Kevin and Jake were signed to the project by producers Amazon MGM Studios, and the film is an adaptation of a novel by Bart Baker.

It will be directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, and has been written by Dan Fogelman.

The trio previously collaborated on Paradise, Crazy, Stupid, Love and This Is Us.

Sarah Pidgeon is also in talks to join the cast, according to Variety, which reported Kevin and Jakes castings.

The story follows an impulsive man, played by Jake, whose honeymoon is disrupted, leaving him stranded on an island trip with his fiancees father, portrayed by Kevin, as their clashing personalities evolve into an unexpected bond.

Glenn Ficarra and John Requa said in a joint statement quoted by Variety: Queensland has everything we could hope for. Were doing Chicago, the Caribbean and everything in between  all within a days reach. The crew are great and the weathers even better.

Producer Mike Karz added: Were having a great time collaborating with talented local creatives and crew to bring this story to life.

Jacqui Feeney, chief executive of Screen Queensland, said about being part of the team behind the project: We are delighted to be a trusted partner for Amazon MGM, with our local screen industry providing the high-quality expertise that they can rely on, while our competitive incentives enable them to capitalise on our captivating locations and first-class infrastructure.

The production is expected to contribute $51million to the Queensland economy and create 215 jobs, with Queensland arts minister John-Paul Langbroek pointing to wider economic benefits across construction, catering, transport and accommodation.

Honeymoon With Harry is produced by Mike for Gulfstream Pictures alongside Jennifer Salke, under Sullivan Street Productions, with Dan also serving as a producer.

The project is supported by the Australian government through the Location Offset and by the Queensland government via Screen Queenslands Production Attraction Strategy.

The film joins a slate of Amazon MGM productions filmed in Queensland, including B**** Up, The Bluff, Subversion, Voltron and an untitled project from Mike Thornton.
Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai will visit Hainan Province from today to participate in the plenary session of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026 on Thursday.

The four-day forum, held from March 24 to 27, carries the theme Shaping the Future Together: New Trends, New Opportunities and New Cooperation.

The event will bring together leaders, experts, and business figures to discuss strategies for injecting greater certainty into an uncertain world.

Topics include investment in future development, the role of Global South nations in economic governance, Asias leadership in global transitions, evolving trade landscapes amid tariff tensions, climate governance, and safeguarding shared economic security.

The forum aims to foster consensus, strengthen confidence, and provide stability amid global unrest.

The forum also offers a platform to explore opportunities arising from Chinas 15th Five-Year Plan and its efforts to expand high-level opening-up, facilitating mutual benefits and investment prospects.

Joining the Macau delegation as an adviser is Bian Lixin, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Macau. During the Chief Executives absence, Secretary for Administration and Justice Wong Sio Chak will act as Chief Executive.

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Local authorities on Monday launched a second joint operation to combat illegal work, setting up roadblocks across multiple locations. The Labour Affairs Bureau said reports have risen after boosting its hotline, urging the public to report suspected cases. Police said they will continue intelligence-led enforcement, closely monitoring routes of commercial vehicles and targeting suspected illegal workers, especially non-resident drivers, to protect local employment rights.

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During a media tour at the 2026 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition (MIECF), exhibitors from Macau, Hong Kong, and mainland China unveiled cutting-edge solutions for carbon neutrality.

Hong Kongs Karin Lau, executive at Star Affinity Ventures Limited and Cornell University alum, presented in the Zero Waste Circular Economy Exhibition Zone. Her standout innovation: CIONEXT, billed as the worlds first carbon-capturing partition.

This breathing exhibition wall uses patented ion exchange technology to pull CO 2 directly from indoor air and convert it into sustainable materials, Lau explained. Like a real tree, the CIONEXT system captures CO 2 from ambient air and reduces its concentration, she said. A single unit drops CO 2 levels from 1,200 parts per million to under 600 ppm in minutes, with over 95% efficiency, equivalent to 20 large trees. Depending on the module size, it can capture as much CO 2 as 1,000 trees or more. According to the company, a single unit reduces CO 2 from 1,200 ppm to under 600 ppm in minutes, matching 20 large trees.

Shifting to electric vehicles, Gavin Bu, CEO of Syneric Technology (Macau) Company Limited, demonstrated the Mololo X in the Green Mobility Zone. Dubbed the Captain Superpower, the Mololo X turns a standard 7-kilowatt grid into 30 kilowatts for fast charging using low-input, high-output storage technology. It bypasses power limits with stackable modules, cuts EV charging time from seven hours to 1.6 hours, and reduces site costs for wider adoption.

In the Green and Low-Carbon Project Zone, Hailey Lei of Shenzhen CarbonMiner Technology (Group) Co. Ltd. highlighted Obrick, autoclaved aerated concrete bricks. The exhaust-inhaling blocks permanently lock CO 2 via omni-dimensional cement rock weathering, Lei detailed. Ten cubic meters of Obrick trap 0.5 tons of CO 2 . In addition, the bricks are lightweight, earthquake-resistant, sound-dampening, insulating, and nationally certified green.

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Three young artists from Macau were invited to exhibit at this years Art Central with Sands China, bringing representative works to exchange with international peers  a milestone in the expansion of Macaus contemporary art, as one participating artist noted, saying Macau has the resources and that hard work can lead to success.

Facing international exhibitions, the young artists stressed that their objectives go beyond producing work and include strategic engagement with the global art circuit.

They told media on the sidelines of the event yesterday that participating in crossborder shows presents a twofold advantage: it exposes their work to new, diverse audiences and creates opportunities to build professional ties with galleries, curators, and other industry stakeholders.

These exhibitions also serve as practical testing grounds for market strategies and sales channels. All of the artists shared a clear, shared ambition: to mount a solo exhibition at a recognized international venue in Macau, a platform they believe will let global audiences directly experience both Macaus distinctive artistic identity and each artists individual practice.

Lei Ieng Wai, one of the participating artists, described the exhibition as both an opportunity for his own creative development and a significant platform for promoting Macau art internationally.

The works on display, created between 2019 and 2025 and selected from three series, are primarily paintings that reflect Leis focus on the expression of light: from virtual spectra emitted by screens and layered, evolving rhythms, to rainbow-like maps that translate those rhythms into visual form, ultimately probing the interplay of light and personal emotion to portray the visual and emotional landscape of contemporary digital society.

The depth of an artwork often requires time to accumulate, so young artists cannot rush it; they must be patient, Lei said, stressing that artistic practice demands long-term accumulation and refinement and urging emerging creators to cultivate patience and sustained dedication.

He added that the exhibitions international exposure will raise the visibility of his work, broaden connections with overseas galleries and peers, and create more opportunities for collaboration, future exhibitions, and market development for Macau artists.

Artist Dor Lio Hak Man brings a careful, lifecentered eye to the exhibition, translating Macaus everyday scenes into a visual language aimed at international audiences. His participation positions the citys quotidian rhythms  its people, performances, and street moments  on a larger stage for visitors and collectors from around the world.

Lios works on display are grounded in the ordinary. He said his source material is immediate and local: daily routines, live performances, news items, conversations with friends, and even a stray cat racing down a pavement. These everyday encounters are not incidental details but the core building blocks of his canvases, each painting conceived as a snapshot of the present.

A longtime educator as well as practitioner, Lio regarded schools as vital sites for passing on artistic knowledge and cultivating visual sensitivity. He described teaching and making art as mutually reinforcing: in the classroom he seeks to remove students fear of drawing and to foster genuine interest and aesthetic awareness.

My primary philosophy is to make sure people dont dislike drawing  that they enjoy looking at and making art  so theres room to improve, he told the media.

Macau is not a place lacking in resources. With effort, opportunities can be created and recorded, said artist Leong Chi Mou, whose practice interrogates how Macaus rapidly changing urban landscape can be reframed in contemporary painting.

Leong, who described himself in a group media interview as an artist who plays with whatever he sees, frequently incorporates found elements from daily life into his canvases. He argued that the citys ten to twentyyear boom has produced a pervasive golden imagery  casinos and a glossy aesthetic  that now shapes outsider perceptions of Macau. According to him, his recent work seeks to translate that golden vocabulary into a visual language that both documents urban transformation and proposes fresh interpretive angles.

Sands Gallery, established by Sands China Ltd., made its debut at Art Central this year as the first integrated tourism and leisure enterprise invited to the fair as an Associate Partner.

Wilfred Wong, executive vice-chairman of Sands China Ltd., described the participation as just the beginning, and emphasized the gallerys longterm ambitions for Macaus emerging artists.

We hope to bring worldclass art to Macau and introduce outstanding Macau artists to the world, Wong told the press.

Through the Art Central platform, we are proactively promoting Macaus young generation of passionate contemporary artists to the international stage. He added that the fair offers valuable opportunities for the artists to grow and mature through exchanges with curators, galleries, and fellow artists.

Wong outlined the gallerys recent activity and credentials: Over the past four years, we have held 12 exhibitions of different types, including several collaborations with local artists. Last June and July, we invited the organizers of Art Central to visit our space, and following their positive assessment, we were honored to be invited to participate.

Wong said the Sands Gallery aims to function as a cultural bridge beyond Macau. We will pay attention to exhibitions in other regions, evaluate cooperation opportunities, and work to take our artists abroad, he said. On plans for future participation at Art Central, Wong said the gallery will first review this years results, listen to feedback from artists and organizers, and then decide whether to continue next year.

Meanwhile, as part of Sands non-gaming development initiatives, the Iec Long Fireworks Factory was also highlighted at Art Central when Sands Gallery brought Macaus traditional firework culture to the fair. Yuki Lei, Hong Kong

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Four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity were set on fire early Monday in London in what British police are investigating as an antisemitic hate crime. Detectives are working to determine whether a claim of responsibility from a group with alleged links to Iran is authentic.

Though it has not been classified as a terrorist incident, counterterror officers have been put in charge of the investigation. No one was injured in the nighttime attack, which shattered windows in nearby homes and left the vehicles charred shells.

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, said Mark Rowley, chief of Londons Metropolitan Police.

Religious and political leaders condemned what Prime Minister Keir Starmer called a horrific attack.

Antisemitism has no place in our society and its really important that we all stand together at a moment like this, said Starmer, who met Jewish community leaders at 10 Downing St. yesterday [Macau time] to discuss the response to the attack.

Officers were called to Golders Green, a north London neighborhood with a large Jewish population, after receiving reports of a fire, the Metropolitan Police force said. Four ambulances belonging to Hatzola Northwest, a volunteer organization that provides emergency medical response, were damaged, according to the London Fire Brigade.

Oxygen cylinders on the vehicles exploded, breaking windows in an adjacent apartment block. Nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution.

What appeared to be footage from a security camera showed three figures in black wearing hoods carrying a canister toward one of the ambulance before flames erupted around the vehicle. Police said they are looking for three suspects but no arrests have been made yet.

Police authenticate claim of responsibility

A video posted on Telegram, allegedly by an Islamist group called Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, showed a map of the location where the ambulances were kept and footage of them on fire. A group of the same name, which translates as the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right, previously claimed responsibility for synagogue attacks in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Israels government has called it a recently founded group with suspected links to pro-Iran networks.

The rapid growth in recent years of Iranian state threats is grave, Rowley told the annual dinner of the Community Security Trust, which works to provide safety for the Jewish community organization. But he said it is too early for me to attribute last nights attack in Golders Green to the Iranian state.

The attack spread fear and alarm through Britains approximately 300,000-strong Jewish community, which feels increasingly vulnerable.

Mark Reisner, who lives in the neighborhood, heard loud explosions and arrived at the scene just as the third ambulance was blowing up, he told Sky News.

A very loud explosion, you sort of felt it go through your guts, he said, adding, its just left us all reeling with confusion and shock.

Previous attacks on UK Jewish community

The number of antisemitic incidents reported across the U.K. has soared since Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and Israels ensuing war against Hamas in Gaza, according to the Community Security Trust, which works to protect the Jewish community. The group recorded 3,700 incidents in 2025, up from 1,662 in 2022.

In October 2025, an attacker drove his car into people gathered outside a Manchester synagogue to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur and stabbed one person to death. Another person died during the attack after being inadvertently shot by police.

Last week two men in London were charged with carrying out hostile surveillance last year of the U.K.s Jewish community on behalf of Iran.

Rowley, the Metropolitan Police commissioner, said the force would increase security for Jewish schools, synagogues and community centers ahead of Passover next month,

Some members of the community criticize Starmers Labour Party government for failing to prevent pro-Palestinian demonstrations from tipping into anti-Jewish speech and acts.

Peter Zinkin, a Conservative politician who represents Golders Green on the local council, said the community felt distress and anger.

Burning ambulances in the middle of the night is a disgrace, he said. And you have to ask yourself, why did it happen? And the reason Im afraid that it happened is that the government and the media, particularly certain parts of the media, have validated antisemitism on a countrywide scale.

Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally, the head of the Anglican Church, said such acts of violence, hatred and intimidation have no place in our society.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis called it a sickening assault.

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, he wrote on X. KRUTIKA PATHI & KWIYEON HA, LONDON, MDT/AP

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Taiwans Criminal Investigation Bureau announced on Monday the disruption of a cross-border money-laundering operation involving a local syndicate suspected of moving roughly TWD33 billion (MOP8.32 billion) from illegal online gambling.

Investigators said the group recruited third-party card-swiping agents in Taiwan to buy large amounts of gaming chips at Macau casinos using credit cards. The chips were then cashed out, converted into Hong Kong dollars, and used to settle the agents card payments.

The probe began in the latter half of 2025 after authorities flagged multiple bank accounts for suspicious transfers linked to online gambling and fraud.

Officials described the case as the first of its kind uncovered by Taiwan law enforcement, noting that excess payments were routed to agents accounts to effectively increase their credit limits.

The investigation involved 85 credit cards and led to 20 arrests, including two alleged leaders. Seized assets included around TWD230.95 million in bank accounts, TWD2.62 million in cash, and equipment such as mobile phones, credit cards, and money-counting machines.

Taiwanese authorities did not specify the exact timeframe of the operations. LV

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To think about how the Iran war affects China, you might take a look at Yiwu, a global trading hub in the eastern Zhejiang province that hosts sprawling wholesale markets selling goods from hair clips to toys.

Exporters are eager for business. At the entrance is a prominent display that reads Worlds capital of small commodities eagerly embraces your gracious presence. Buyers from Gulf states are the citys most prized guests, as Middle Eastern restaurants  the best in China according to social media influencers  spread across the main shopping districts. After all, these customers bring big business. Exports to the region doubled in five years, exceeding $120 billion in 2025. In the first two months of the year, Chinas exports to the UAE and Saudi Arabia alone grew 23%.

With the Iran war entering the fourth week, the much-anticipated visitors from the region have practically disappeared as air traffic disruptions continue. Those in town are rushing to find flights home, while local vendors worry about the safety of their Iranian customers, having not heard from them as the country experiences a near-total internet blackout. Some have reportedly applied to join the army to defend their countrys sovereignty.

Take air conditioners, for example. Last year, China shipped over 17 million units to the Middle East, or roughly 20% of the countrys total exports. Overseas sales might be tumbling by 12% this month, readings from online orders show.

Transportation costs have become prohibitively expensive. Freight for a standard container to the Persian Gulf has risen 35% in March, while insurance premiums have jumped by 143%. Sellers also have to pay insurers war surcharges of up to $4,000 per container.

A 10% rise in raw materials costs can shave gross margins for home-appliances makers Midea Group Co., Haier Smart Home Co. and Gree Electric Appliances Inc. of Zhuhai by as much as 6%.

Yiwu provides a small glimpse of the existential threat a prolonged war may pose to China. A collapse of global demand will dent the economys only bright spot  exports that the government has counted on to help meet its annual growth targets.

Theres now a debate in mainland China over what the war means for the country. In the near-term, the government needs to handle an energy crisis that has already erupted. To be sure, almost everyone agrees that the formidable strategic oil reserves Beijing has built buffers the economy better than its north Asian neighbors. Its the long-term impact that has investors at odds. Some argue that the war is good for China because US military resources will be diverted away from the Pacific, and that Beijing will win the AI arms race because it has a superior energy infrastructure.

I disagree with this bullish view. In the last two years, China caught a lucky break because of robust global demand, allowing it to sell into Europe and the Global South even as President Donald Trump raised US tariffs. This gives his counterpart Xi Jinping the policy space to let a weak economy bottom out on its own. Indeed, the government has dialed down fiscal support, while sounding unfazed by the continued housing market decline.

This rug of policy comfort will be pulled from under Chinas feet if we enter a global recession. Unlike Trumps claims, wars have no winners.

[Abridged]

Courtesy Bloomberg/Shuli Ren

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A 39-year-old Macau woman was arrested for allegedly stealing two watches worth over MOP300,000 from her cohabiting boyfriend and pawning them for MOP210,000, which she lost gambling. The couple had lived together since 2010. The victim reported the theft last Friday after the watches went missing. Judiciary Police arrested the suspect Sunday near her home in Seac Pai Van and recovered the watches from a pawnshop. She faces theft, breach of trust and fraud charges.

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Meryl Streep says Anne Hathaway requested no "so skeletal" models in The Devil Wears Prada 2.

Anne Hathaway as Andrea 'Andy' Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada

The cast got to attend fashion shows during Milan Fashion Week when they shot the sequel to the 2006 comedy film - which followed aspiring journalist Andrea "Andy" Sachs (Hathaway) work as an assistant for Miranda Priestly (Streep), the intensely fierce Runway Magazine editor.

Streep, 76, recalled in Harpers Bazaar magazine's April 2026 The Now Issue: "[I was] struck by how not only beautiful and young - everyone seems young to me - but alarmingly thin the models were  I thought that all had been addressed years ago. Annie clocked it too.

"And she made a beeline to the producers about it, securing promises that the models in the show that we were putting together for our film would not be so skeletal! Shes a stand-up girl."

Streep and Hathaway's co-stars, including Stanley Tucci (Nigel Kipling) and Emily Blunt (Emily Charlton), were shooting scenes for The Devil Wears Prada 2 in New York last summer.

And the buzz made Streep feel "unnerved"

She said: "Even though we were aware of the impact of the first film two decades ago, I think none of us were prepared for the ambush of both goodwill and avid attention that engulfed us.

"We needed police barriers and crowd control. Buses of fans turned up, and paparazzi swarmed and, in one case, kept jumping in front of the camera and the shot and got in a kerfuffle with crew!

"Annie kept her cool, but I was unnerved."

When filming one scene for the sequel - which comes out on May 1 - Hathaway, 43, tumbled down some steps after her heel broke.

She recalled: "I was aware that I was falling, I was aware that I was being photographed, and I was also aware that, like, so many people on the crew, their hearts had just jumped up into their throat, so I needed to get up quickly to make sure they knew I was OK."

Blunt, 43, said the fan excitement made it tricky "at times" to film The Devil Wears Prada 2 - which sees near-retiree Miranda competing with Emily Charlton, her former assistant and now executive, over advertising revenue.

She is quoted by the new issue of Best magazine as saying: "I have never experienced anything like it. We had paparazzi taking pictures. There were fans there every day.

"It was difficult at times because, of course, you want to keep everything under wraps. But yeah, the level of interest has been just incredible."
A man posing as an online godman allegedly cheated a Mumbai student of over Rs 1 crore, police said. The 22-year-old BMS student from Sion was duped over nearly two-and-a-half years in a scheme that combined superstition, fear, and elaborate online fraud.



The accused, identified as Mohammed Hussain Ali Mohammed Sumra, was arrested by the Mumbai Cyber Police on March 20. Investigators suspect he was part of a larger organised network that lured victims through social media, promising mystical powers and guaranteed success while extracting huge sums of money.The fraud reportedly began in early 2023 when the victim came across an Instagram page called powerful_spell_obsessed_healer, which advertised solutions for career, relationship, and personal problems. Clicking a link in one of the posts redirected her to WhatsApp, where a man using the names Shahid and Sahil initiated contact.



Demands and pressure



The police said the accused gradually gained the victims trust, repeatedly assuring her of a bright future. By October 2023, he allegedly convinced her that specific rituals were necessary to unlock success in life, claiming he possessed a jinn capable of fulfilling wishes.



Investigators said the accused warned the victim that failure to complete the rituals would bring serious negative consequences. He initially demanded Rs 25,000, which the victim transferred to a bank account.



Within days, further demands followed under pretexts such as incomplete rituals, removing negative energy, and appeasing the jinn. Over time, the amounts escalated significantly.



Money trail and wider probe



Police said the victim transferred approximately Rs 1516 lakh via online payments, while the bulk of the money  amounting to more than 1 crore, was sent through RTGS to multiple bank accounts under different names. Investigators believe using multiple beneficiaries was a deliberate tactic to avoid detection and sustain the fraud over a long period. In a distressing turn, the victim also sold household gold to meet mounting demands. Despite making substantial payments, the promised results never materialised, and the accused allegedly continued to pressure her for more money.



Realising she was cheated, the victim approached the cybercrime helpline 1930 and later filed a formal complaint. Acting on digital evidence  including bank transaction records, IP logs, and linked mobile numbers  investigators traced the accused and arrested Sumra. Prima facie, this appears to be a well-planned cyber fraud in which superstition was used to manipulate victims emotionally and financially, a police officer said.



Police are analysing financial trails to identify other beneficiaries and determine whether more victims across India were targeted using similar methods. Investigators suspect a wider network operating through social media platforms.




Adog attack that left a 10-year-old girl badly mauled and put her in hospital in the Vandrapada area of Ambernath West has triggered public protests, with a local corporator vowing to put municipal officials in a net if they failed to capture the animal at the earliest.



Mondays attack on Vanshika Nagar was captured on CCTV cameras, with the girl screaming to extricate herself from the strays jaws. Angry local residents claimed that the dog had bitten several others in recent days.



A walk home turns into nightmare



Vanshika was walking home with her brother when the stray lunged at her and latched on to her hand. Her screams for help brought passers-by running and they freed her from the animals grip. Vanshika was taken to the Central Hospital in Ulhasnagar, where doctors described her condition as serious.



Her shoulder is injured badly, said local resident Shilpa Shinde. We cant imagine the trauma and pain she went through. My own children use that same route every day. We are pleading with the authorities to take care of this.



While municipal officials claim to have rounded up approximately 15 to 16 stray dogs in a reactive sweep, the specific rogue dog remains at large.



Local corporator Vikas Someshwar slammed the Ambernath Municipal Council officials for their perceived lethargy. After visiting the injured girl, Someshwar stormed the municipal office to confront health department officials on Tuesday.



He issued a warning that if the animal was not caught immediately, the officials themselves would face his wrath.



The injury this small girl has sustained is unimaginable, he said. The authorities told me they are still searching for the dog. If this continues, we will put the officials in nets and drag them out of their air-conditioned offices.



Someshwar further slammed the administration for only waking up once a tragedy occurs.



The incident has reopened a wider debate regarding the management of stray animals in Ambernath. For months, locals have alleged that the rising population of aggressive strays has been ignored despite repeated complaints.




Connecting diverse artistic personnel with professional artists and showcasing their work is in itself a work of art. This is evident in the 10th Sahayog Contemporary Art Exhibition, where Maharashtra and Mumbai Police, law and civil services employees and professional artists are set to exhibit their work.



Running from March 27 to April 2 at the Kaladalan Art Gallery in Prabhadevi, this edition will display a union of art, service, and shared humanity. After selling the artworks, part of the proceeds will be donated to the Mumbai Police Welfare Association.



The intent



The exhibitions curator, artist Satyendra Rane, calls the edition a significant milestone. Visitors can expect a thoughtfully curated exhibition that brings together powerful artistic expressions rooted in social themes, inclusivity, and shared experiences, he says.



He considers this edition meaningful, as it celebrates those dedicated to public service  those who continue to cultivate their inner artist despite a demanding schedule. Supporting the Mumbai Police Welfare Association was Sahayogs way of contributing to these efforts.



The exclusive artwork ranges from paintings and sculptures to installations and mixed media like watercolour, acrylic, and paper collage. This blend of perspectives brings authenticity and emotional depth to the exhibition, says Rane. His own work focuses on human connection that aligns with the larger concept of unity and shared experiences.



The thought behind bringing this eclectic mix is to break the traditional boundaries and develop a platform for diverse voices. Rane states, This interdisciplinary approach stems from the belief that artistic expression is not limited to a particular profession but exists in everyone.



Police Inspector Mousami Subhash Patil appreciates being supported as an artist. She notes that including participants from various professions highlights how creativity exists across fields and backgrounds. She is displaying three acrylic paintings. Her first painting, Spiral of Colourful Soul, expresses her vibrant emotions. It inspired her second, Golden Awakening, which uses energetic tones to convey renewal and positivity. Her third painting, The Pond of Thoughts, mirrors the self-analysis of her mind. Despite working at the last minute, she enjoyed playing with textures, colours, and forms that best conveyed her story.



Nidhi Choudhari, an IAS officer of Maharashtra cadre and the director of the National Gallery of Modern Art, will showcase two works in intimate formats. Her first work, Divine Tree, is inspired by the Bhagavad Gitas thoughtful imagery of the cosmic tree.



It symbolises roots above and branches below, reflecting the spiritual nature of existence, she says. The second piece portrays a dancing dervish, inspired by her engagement with Rumis poetry. Over time, I have created nearly a hundred works influenced by Sufi philosophy, exploring themes of devotion, transcendence, and inner movement. Together, these two works represent a confluence of ideas drawn from the Gita and Sufism, Choudhari adds.



Beyond art



Rane aims to champion shared humanity, which he describes as the emotions, struggles, and hopes that connect all of us beyond our differences. The exhibition highlights that art is a medium of empathy and compassion, reminding us that despite our varied backgrounds, we are all connected through a common human experience.



He is clear about one thing at Sahayog: While individuals from law and order may bring unique life experiences into their creations, their work stands alongside that of professional and emerging artists on an equal platform, reinforcing the idea of inclusivity and shared creativity.



Art for everyone



Choudhari calls Sahayogs work essential in trying times. In todays world, where mental health challenges are increasingly prevalent, I believe it is essential to recognise the role that creative pursuits and hobbies can play in maintaining emotional well-being, she says.



Rane wants to take Sahayog to a wider audience and bring in more diverse participants. The goal is to make art more accessible, meaningful, and socially relevant in the years to come.




Sonora, CA  A former dialysis facility at 136 Columbia Way in Sonora was earlier acquired by Tuolumne County with state funding to provide housing for Veterans in need.

The idea was to convert the facility into studio apartments. At this weeks board of supervisors meeting, the county leaders voted 5-0 to instead declare the property as surplus so that it can be donated to an outside group interested in developing a similar type of project. The selected organization would oversee both development and operations.

Supervisor Jaron Brandon posed questions to staff about ensuring that whoever receives the property will carry out the intended purpose of Veterans housing, and staff emphasized that it would be included in the contract.

Habitat for Humanity had earlier expressed an interest in potentially acquiring it.

Local Veteran and Habitat for Humanity supporter, Frank Smart addressed the board. He said, I do hope you pass this resolution, making it surplus property, and heavily consider giving it to Habitat for Humanity. 1997-98, myself, and the late Ruth Callahan, started Habitat here in Tuolumne County. In those 28 years, they built 34 homes, and there has not been one default on a mortgage.

Following Tuesdays unanimous 5-0 vote, the county will now request proposals for 30 days. They will be vetted, and staff will return to the board of supervisors with a proposed finalist to receive the property.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump has listed five objectives that the U.S. wants to achieve before ending its war with Iran. Now, as he suggests the U.S. may soon be winding down the operation after three and a half weeks, some of his key aims remain undefined or unfulfilled.

Trump most recently outlined five goals for the massive air campaign. Thats up from four laid out by his staff and since the wars start Feb. 28 (and up from the three generally enumerated by the Pentagon and Secretary of State Marco Rubio). Though the Trump administration has said its objectives are clear and unchanging, the list of priorities has expanded and shifted as the war has taken a toll on the global economy, tested alliances and raised unanswered questions about the planning for the conflict, its justification and its aftermath.

By most accounts, the strikes by the U.S. and Israel have significantly degraded Irans military capabilities and killed scores of senior leaders. But those tactical successes dont necessarily translate to achieving all the presidents strategic aims.

Some of his objectives are difficult to achieve and if the U.S. walks away with unfinished aims and Irans paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard in power, Trump could face political fallout at home and global repercussions about what was accomplished in his decision to launch a war of choice that upended the Middle East and roiled the global economy.

Anna Kelly, a White House spokesperson, said the operation has been a resounding success  Irans navy is destroyed, their defense industrial base is dismantled, and their dreams of possessing a nuclear weapon shatter more by the day.

Heres a look at the objectives as laid out in Trumps words Friday and where they stand:

1. Completely degrading Iranian Missile Capability

One of the prime objectives laid out by the president with Iran is to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground.

The administration says that ability has been significantly degraded. But in the fourth week of the war, Iran is still launching missiles and drones, including a series of barrages at Israel early Tuesday after Trump claimed that negotiations with Iran were underway.

In an update last week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Irans missile and drone programs are being overwhelmingly destroyed and ballistic missile attacks against U.S. forces are down 90% since the start of the conflict.

Trump on Monday repeated that 90% statistic and said, They cant launch them, and they dont have very many of them, as most of them have been annihilated. He added on Tuesday that 82% of Irans missile launchers were killed.

2. Destroying Irans Defense Industrial Base

Before Friday, the president and his administration sometimes listed this as a standalone objective, describing it as a goal to raze their missile industry to the ground. Other times, this has fallen off the list. The Pentagon has generally lumped it into the first objective of destroying Irans missile capability.

U.S. Central Command has said its targets for strikes in Iran have included weapons production and missile and drone manufacturing facilities. But Iranian attacks against its Gulf neighbors and Israel continue.

3. Eliminating their Navy and Air Force

The U.S. and Israel quickly established air superiority in the skies above Iran, where they have flown largely unchallenged. U.S. Central Command said Monday the U.S. has damaged or destroyed more than 140 Iranian vessels.

After a U.S. submarine torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship in early March, two other Iranian vessels  the IRIS Bushehr and IRIS Lavan  docked in Sri Lanka and India and sought assistance from the two countries. There has been no indication from the U.S. that they have since been sunk or captured.

Irans Revolutionary Guard has its own navy that also relies on smaller vessels to do swarm attacks and drop mines. It is unclear how much of that force remains or whether it has planted any mines. But Iranian missiles continue to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

4. Never allowing Iran to get even close to Nuclear Capability

Trump made a marked shift over the last year after declaring that the U.S. has obliterated Irans nuclear program in June, only for his aides to warn that Iran was just weeks away from a bomb to justify the current operations.

The U.S. has not announced new strikes on Irans nuclear facilities, but Israel has announced a series of strikes on nuclear-related targets, including the killing of a top Iranian nuclear scientist.

One of the most pressing questions in the war is whether Trump will seek to seize or destroy about 970 pounds of enriched uranium Tehran has that could potentially be used for a weapon.

Trump for the first time on Monday said the U.S. would retrieve the uranium, which is believed to be buried deep under a mountain facility. But he indicated that would occur if the U.S. struck some kind of deal with Iran to the U.S. to retrieve it. Without permission from Iran, experts say, seizing it would be a dangerous mission involving a sizable deployment of U.S. troops into the country.

5. Protecting, at the highest level, our Middle Eastern Allies

Trump in a social media post Friday added a fifth objective for the U.S: Protecting, at the highest level, our Middle Eastern Allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and others. The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it  The United States does not!

The U.S. already maintains thousands of troops on bases and other installations in the region, and its not clear how much further Trump is willing to go to protect Middle East allies from threats, and Iran is still able to attack those countries. Its also not clear how far the U.S. is willing to go to keep open the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has vacillated on whether the U.S. needs to take a role in policing it. On Monday, he extended a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on its power plants.

Regime change is not officially on the list

Trump has spoken about regime change since the start of the war, encouraging the Iranian people to take over your government after Israel, assisted by the U.S., launched strikes that killed Irans supreme leader and much of its upper leadership echelon.

Trump and his administration, however, have never explicitly stated regime change as an objective in Iran, despite making it clear they want to end the repressive theocracys 47-year reign. The leaders are all very different than the ones that we started off with that created all those problems, Trump said Tuesday.

He added a moment later, This is regime change, right?

Now the U.S. is claiming to be holding talks with elements of the same Iranian government as it looks to bring a swift end to the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic. And those hopes for the Iranian people appear set to continue unfulfilled.

Also falling off the list: Cutting off support for Iranian proxy groups

Trump administration officials have offered few updates about this objective, which the president has described as ensuring that the regions terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces and ensuring that the Iranian regime cannot continue to arm, fund, and direct terrorist armies outside of their borders.

While the U.S. has struck Iranian-aligned militia groups in Iraq, and Israel appears to be expanding its operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, the administration has not offered details about how its going to permanently halt Tehrans support for the militant groups.

The White House said in a statement that ensuring that Iranian proxy groups cannot further destabilize the region remains a key goal and that proxies are hardly putting up a fight because our United States Military is so strong and lethal.

___

Associated Press writer Konstantin Toropin contributed to this report.

By MICHELLE L. PRICE

Associated Press
Vincent DOnofrio has issued a furious demand for Marvel and Sony to sort out a plot in which his Kingpin character can finally meet Spider-Man on the big screen.

Vincent DOnofrio has issued a furious demand for Marvel and Sony to sort out a plot where his Kingpin can finally meet Spider-Man on the big screen

Highlighting the long-running rights complications that have kept the characters apart in the superhero universe, the actor, 66, who plays Wilson Fisk  also known as Kingpin  in Daredevil: Born Again, made the demand while responding to a fan on social media urging a crossover between the crime lord and the web-slinger.

Vincent said: If Sony and Marvel ever get their s*** together maybe. Its a complicated rights issue. Hope so.

While Vincents Kingpin exists within Marvel and Disneys television and cinematic universe, the film rights to Spider-Man remain with Sony, which has allowed the character, played by Tom Holland, to appear in Marvel films under a licensing arrangement.

The division has complicated the prospect of a direct confrontation between the two characters in live-action, despite their long-standing rivalry in comic books.

Kingpin and Spider-Man have appeared together on screen before, though only in animated form.

In 2018s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Liev Schreiber voiced Kingpin opposite Shameik Moore as Miles Morales. However, a live-action version featuring Vincents portrayal of Fisk alongside Toms Spider-Man has yet to materialise.

Vincent most recently returned as Fisk in Daredevil: Born Again, which premiered on Disney+ on Tuesday (24.03.26.)

In the new season, Fisk serves as mayor of New York City and is depicted as fuelling civil unrest through his Anti-Vigilante Task Force.

Spider-Man is set to return to cinemas in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which is scheduled for release on 31 July.

The summer blockbuster film stars Tom alongside his real-life partner Zendaya, as well as Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal and Mark Ruffalo.

It is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers.

The story follows on from the events of 2021s No Way Home, in which the world forgets Peter Parker is Spider-Man.

Sony released the trailer for Brand New Day on 17 March, and it quickly surpassed one billion views within four days, becoming the first film trailer to reach the milestone.
Iran on Wednesday dismissed an American plan to pause the war in the Middle East, issuing its own counterproposal instead, as it launched more attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab countries.

Two officials from Pakistan described the 15-point U.S. proposal broadly, saying it addressed sanctions relief, a rollback of Irans nuclear program, limits on missiles and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the worlds oil is normally shipped.

Iran issued its own plan via state TV, which includes a halt to killings of its officials, means to make sure no other war is waged against it, reparations for the war, the end of hostilities and Irans sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.

No negotiations have happened with the enemy until now, and we do not plan on any negotiations, Irans foreign minister later told state TV.

The death toll from the war has risen to more than 1,500 people in Iran, nearly 1,100 people in Lebanon, 16 in Israel and 13 U.S. 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.

Here is the latest:

Heavy strikes reported around Isfahan

Activists in Iran reported heavy strikes early Thursday morning around Isfahan, a city some 330 kilometers (205 miles) south of Irans capital, Tehran.

The pro-reform newspaper Ham Mihan reported online about strikes in the area.

Isfahan is home to a major Iranian air base and other military sites, as well as one of the nuclear sites bombed by the United States during the 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June.

The semiofficial Fars news agency, close to the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, described the attacks as targeting two residential areas, without elaborating.

Earlier, Israels military said it had completed a wide-scale wave of strikes across Iran, including in Isfahan.

US hits over 10,000 targets in Iran war, including two-thirds of Iranian munition plants

U.S. forces have hit more than 10,000 targets so far in the Iran war, the head of the American militarys Central Command said.

U.S. Navy Adm. Brad Cooper made the comments in a video released early Thursday by Central Command.

If you combine what weve accomplished with the success of our Israeli ally, together, we have struck thousands more, Cooper said. Our precision strikes have overwhelmed Iranian air defenses and our combat flights are having tangible effects.

Cooper added that the U.S. has destroyed 92% of the Iranian navys largest vessels.

Theyve now lost the ability to meaningly project naval power and influence around the region and around the world, Cooper said.

Iran maintains its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, through drone and missile attacks on shipping, however.

Cooper also said the U.S. has struck over two-thirds of Irans munitions plants.

Today, we have damaged or destroyed over two-thirds of Irans missile, drone and naval production facilities and shipyards  and were not done yet, he said. We are on a path to completely eliminate Irans wider military manufacturing apparatus.

Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press, though delayed by two weeks by Planet Labs PBC, have shown Israeli and U.S. strikes targeting shipyards and missile facilities.

Iran has not acknowledged any of its materiel losses through the war.

German Defense Minister says Iran war is a catastrophe for world economies

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius described the Iran war as an economic catastrophe and said Germany did not want to get sucked into the conflict.

Pistorius said on Thursday Germany was ready to help secure any peace once that was achieved and appealed for a ceasefire as soon as possible.

To make it crystal clear, this war is a catastrophe for the worlds economies, Pistorius told reporters at the Australian Parliament House.

From the beginning on, we have not been consulted before. Nobody asked us before. Its not our war and therefore we dont want to get sucked into that war, Pistorius added.

Pistorius addressed the media in the national capital Canberra following a meeting with his Australian counterpart Richard Marles.

Bahrain reports fire in a Manama neighborhood home to airport

Bahrain reported extinguishing a fire at a site in Muharraq, a neighborhood of Manama home to Bahrain International Airport.

Trump insists Iran is still negotiating

Speaking at a fundraiser for Republicans in Washington, D.C., Trump said Iran is still interested in cutting a deal.

They are negotiating, by the way, and they want to make a deal so badly, but theyre afraid to say it because they figure theyll be killed by their own people, Trump said of Irans leaders.

The president added: Theyre also afraid theyll be killed by us, before quipping that no one wanted to lead Iran for fear of being assassinated by the United States.

Sirens sound in parts of Tel Aviv and cities in central Israel

There was no advance warning, as has been customary from Iranian missile salvos, suggesting this was rocket fire from Hezbollah in Lebanon, which has pounded northern Israel constantly throughout this war but rarely reached deeper into the country.

Israels emergency services said they had received no reports of casualties in the incident early Thursday morning.

6 people arrested in plot to kill Kuwait leaders, Ministry of Interior says

Kuwaits Ministry of Interior says the six people were allegedly linked to the Iran-backed Hezbollah group and were arrested for planning to carry out assassinations of leaders in the Gulf state.

The ministry said in a statement that five of those arrested are Kuwaiti citizens. It added that it identified 14 more members of the group who had fled the country: Five Kuwaitis, five Kuwaitis whose nationalities have been revoked, two Iranians and two Lebanese.

The arrested members confessed to espionage and to joining a terror group, the statement said, and have been referred to the public prosecutor.

At Pentagon Christian service, Hegseth prays for violence against those who deserve no mercy

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, hosting his first monthly Christian worship service at the Pentagon since the Iran war began, prayed Wednesday to have every round find its mark.

Hegseth frequently invokes his evangelical faith as head of the armed forces, depicting a Christian nation trying to vanquish its foes with military might.

Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation, Hegseth prayed during the livestreamed service. Give them wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy.

 Read more

Trumps potential troop deployment is getting pushback on Capitol Hill

At least one Republican lawmaker is making it clear she does not support putting U.S. service members on the ground in Iran following a closed-door briefing with lawmakers overseeing the military.

Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina posted on social media that she would not support troops on the ground in Iran, even more so after this briefing.

While few other Republicans have taken that stance, the GOP chairs of the committees overseeing the military expressed some frustration that they are not receiving enough information about plans as the war enters a potential escalation.

I am more fearful than ever that were on a path to put troops on the ground in Iran, said Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal, adding that None of the presidents objectives can be accomplished without a physical presence there.

Irans foreign minister says his government does not plan any negotiations to end the war

In an interview with Iranian state TV late Wednesday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said that no talks with the United States have taken place.

No negotiations have happened with the enemy until now, and we do not plan on any negotiations, he said.

Attacks by both Iran and its allied groups must stop, Arab countries say

While most of their previous statements focused primarily on drone and missile fire from Iran, Wednesdays statement by five Gulf nations and Jordan also condemned Iranian attacks whether carried out directly or through their proxies and armed factions they support in the region.

In a joint statement, they also urged Iraq to stop militias from launching attacks from its territory and reaffirmed their right to self-defense. The Gulf countries on the statement were Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.

UN chief says a new envoy will be on the ground promoting mediation to end Iran war

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said his personal envoy, veteran French diplomat Jean Arnault, will lead U.N. efforts on the conflict and its consequences.

More than three weeks after Israel and the U.S. launched attacks on Iran, the secretary-general said, the war is out of control.

My message is that diplomacy must prevail, Guterres said. And diplomacy requires sincere dialogue.

He said Arnault will be doing on the ground what he has been trying to do from New York  supporting all efforts for mediation and peace.

Arnault will be in contact with all the parties and will be looking at the wars impact on civilians in the region and beyond, Guterres said, including the economic turmoil, especially in less developed countries.

Jordan suspends residency of Iranian diplomat and denies accreditation of another

Jordans Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi told the state-owned Al-Mamlaka TV Wednesday that this measure is a clear message to Iran that their attacks against neighboring states are rejected.

Several countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, have declared Iranian diplomats persona non grata following Tehrans attacks against their countries.

Al-Safadi said Iran has launched dozens of missiles and drones toward Jordan during the war. He insisted Jordan does not host foreign military bases, a rationale Iran has repeatedly used to justify attacks against neighboring states, although Jordan does host what the minister described as forces of allied and friendly nations with whom we cooperate on defense and training.

White House says Trump plans to host Chinese president in Washington later this year

With Trumps trip to China now rescheduled for May 14 and 15, the White House is also talking about its intent to host the Chinese president in Washington later this year.

Trump had been scheduled to travel to China later this month but previously announced he was delaying the trip so he could be in Washington to help steward the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran.

When asked if the new dates for Trumps trip to China could suggest he believes the Iran war could end soon, his press secretary Leavitt offered an optimistic tone that the conflict could reach an endgame before he travels.

Leavitt also says the president and first lady Melania Trump plan to host Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife for a White House visit later this year.

White House maintains silence on who the US is negotiating with in Iran

But Leavitt declined to identify which Iranian or Iranians the administration is negotiating with. The press secretary also declined to comment on a 15-point ceasefire plan put forward by the United States that was rejected by Iran.

She cautioned White House reporters about reporting about speculative points or speculative plans from anonymous sources.

The White House never confirmed that full plan, Leavitt said, adding that there are elements of truth to it, but some of the stories I read were not entirely factual.

Houthis say they back Iran but will stay on the sidelines

Yemens Iran-allied Houthi rebels repeated their support for the Islamic Republic despite not taking part in the war against the United States and Israel, stressing that any decision to join the fight would be made independently and not dictated by Tehran, according to Houthi officials.

Three Houthi officials told The Associated Press that the group is historically and religiously connected with Iran, calling it an ally of Yemen, but taking part in the war will be solely a Yemeni decision. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to speak to the media.

Houthi attacks on vessels during the Israel-Hamas war upended shipping in the Red Sea, through which about $1 trillion worth of goods passed each year before the war. The rebels also fired drones at Israel.

More from the White House on Iran talks

Leavitt declined to provide details on negotiations with Iran, saying its a sensitive issue that remains in flux.

She said there are elements of truth in a 15-point plan said to have been put forward by the United States, but also said some reports have been not entirely factual.

I am not going to negotiate on behalf of the president here at the podium, Leavitt said. What I will tell you is these talks are ongoing.

She cautioned White House reporters about reporting about speculative points or speculative plans from anonymous sources.

The White House never confirmed that full plan, Leavitt said, adding that there are elements of truth to it, but some of the stories I read were not entirely factual.

White House says more strikes to come if Iranian talks are unproductive

Saying that U.S. forces are very close to meeting the core objectives of the military action against Iran, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that productive conversations with Iran were ongoing but stressed that more strikes could come if theyre unsuccessful.

If Iran fails to accept the reality of the current moment, if they fail to understand that they have been defeated militarily  Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before, Leavitt said at a briefing Wednesday.

Trump has said that U.S. was in talks with Iran to end the war as diplomatic efforts picked up, and Iran issued a newly defiant statement.

White House says talks have not hit dead end after Iran reportedly rejected a US proposal for ceasefire

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted the U.S. is in ongoing talks even as Iranian officials deny it.

Talks continue. They are productive, as the president said on Monday, and they continue to be, Leavitt said at a White House briefing on Wednesday.

Strikes in eastern Iran

Witnesses reported hearing several explosions in the holy city of Mashhad, eastern Iran.

Trump will travel to Beijing for rescheduled China trip May 14-15, after delay due to Iran war

Trump had been scheduled to travel to China for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month, but previously announced he was delaying the trip so he could be in Washington to help steward the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran.

The White House announced the rescheduled trip even though the war in Iran continues and the U.S. is pressing Tehran to accept a ceasefire proposal.

EPA announces emergency waiver for E15 fuel

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday that it would temporarily allow widespread sales of a higher-ethanol gas blend in a move that may tamp down consumer prices that have soared since the Iran war began.

Lawmakers from across the aisle had called for Trumps EPA to approve the blend known as E15 in the summer to try to lower prices at the pump. Past administrations have taken similar measures, and the biofuel is already allowed in the summer in some states.

Not all experts are convinced the move will lower gas prices more than a few cents, and consumers may be trading lower costs at the pump for higher prices at the grocery store.

Corn used for ethanol is corn thats not used for food, said University of Minnesota professor Jason Hill. Instead, he thinks this move is a signal of goodwill to farmers, coinciding with planting season, encouraging them to plant corn despite rising fertilizer and diesel costs.

The sale of E15 is typically limited during the summer months because it can contribute to harmful air pollution.

AP video shows a deadly Israeli strike next to a Gaza tent camp

Flying debris killed one Palestinian and wounded seven others who had gathered to watch the airstrike, according to Al-Aqsa hospital.

Witnesses told The Associated Press they received warning calls from apparent Israeli military personnel prior to the strike, asking them to evacuate and move some 500 meters (yards) away from the tent camp.

AP video showed the powerful airstrike hitting right beside an area filled with tents for displaced Palestinians in central Gaza, sending a fireball and plumes of smoke into the sky. The damage caused by the strike did not deter Palestinians from approaching the area to inspect the aftermath, including nearby tents that were flattened.

It was not immediately clear what the Israeli military was targeting and it did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Gazas militants have sat out the current Iran conflict, although Israel continues to launch near-daily strikes in the war-torn Palestinian territory.

 Read more about Gaza

Egypts top diplomat stresses the need for US-Iran talks soon

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said the Iranians and Americans have their own views but Egypt believes those differences are bridgeable as Cairo keeps up contact with the warring parties.

During a news briefing on Wednesday, Abdelatty said Egypt hopes negotiations can resume soon as this could be the last opportunity to de-escalate and avoid a full-fledged escalation in the region.

Netanyahu says Israeli forces are expanding control in southern Lebanon

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is expanding an area it controls along southern Lebanons border with Israel, as fighting with Hezbollah continues and Israeli troops push through more villages in the area.

Netanyahu made the remarks during a meeting with local leaders from northern Israel, which has seen near-daily rocket fire from Lebanon, according to a statement from his office.

Israel occupied southern Lebanon from 1982 until 2000. Hezbollah was formed in the 1980s as a guerrilla force fighting that occupation.

Israel has moved several thousand troops into southern Lebanon in recent weeks in what it says is a defensive move to protect its northern border communities. Those troops have begun to move further north as Israel expands an operation it says is aimed at removing Hezbollah from southern Lebanon.

Israelis donate blood to help the war effort

People streamed into a fire station in central Israel on Wednesday to donate blood to Israels emergency services. Beds lined the room as people lay on their backs for about 15 minutes hooked up to tubes.

Unfortunately we have a situation that missiles and rockets are falling on top of our heads and part of the people are in a situation that they need the blood, said Amit Israel who was donating blood.

While Israels emergency medical service, Magen David Adom, runs daily blood donations, it said that the number of people coming to donate has increased since the war began.

Gaya Levi Adam, whos in charge of the donations, said the units of blood that are usually sent to hospitals has increased from about 1,200 units daily pre war time, to up to 1,700 in the last few weeks.

After an attack on its main airport, Kuwait summons Irans ambassador

Kuwaits acting Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz al-Daihani handed a protest note Wednesday to Irans ambassador in light of what he said were recurrent attacks against the Gulf country.

Hour earlier, an Iranian drone struck a fuel tank at Kuwaits international airport, sparking a blaze that fire crews are still trying to contain, according to the countrys Defense Ministry.

This was the third time Kuwait summoned the Iranian ambassador since the war started. Al-Daihani reiterated his countrys condemnation of the Iranian attacks, and called for their immediate halt.

Kuwait has been a staunch U.S. ally since the 1991 Gulf War and hosts the forward headquarters of the U.S. Army in the Middle East.

Pakistans Sharif condemns attacks on Qatar and praises the Gulf nations restraint in a call with its ruler

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke by phone with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Wednesday and briefed him on Pakistans diplomatic outreach and ongoing peace efforts, according to a statement from the prime ministers office.

He emphasized that Pakistan has consistently called on all parties to de-escalate tensions and resolve differences through dialogue and diplomacy.

After Israel attacked Irans South Pars natural gas field last week, Iran hit Qatars massive natural gas export facility, which Qatargas said caused extensive damage that will take years to repair.

Israeli strikes have killed 1,094 people in Lebanon since the war began

The Lebanese Health Ministry said 22 people had been killed over the past 24 hours.

At least 121 children and 81 women were among the dead in Lebanon, the ministry said. It said 153 people were also wounded over the past day, raising the total number of injured to 3,119.

This has gone too far: UN chief calls for US and Israel to end war against Iran

In a strong statement Wednesday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres blasted the various factions of the ongoing Middle East conflict, saying the fighting has broken past limits even leaders thought imaginable.

He specifically called on the U.S. and Israel, whose joint strikes last month started the war against Iran, to end the fighting as human suffering deepens, civilian casualties mount, and the global economic impact is increasingly devastating.

Guterres added, My message to Iran is to stop attacking their neighbors.

He also announced the appointment of a personal envoy to the lead the world bodys efforts on the conflict and the recent peace efforts that are underway.

By The Associated Press
PARIS (AP)  Near, far, wherever she is  Celine Dion is heading back to Paris.

Confirming clues that have been popping up, tantalizingly, on posters around the French capital, a person involved in the planning told The Associated Press that Dion will play autumn concerts at the La Defense Arena.

The person spoke on condition anonymity to discuss the closely guarded preparations, and did not give details.

Representatives for Dion in the United States did not immediately respond to questions.

The concerts in the City of Light will come after Dion electrified the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games where she performed Edith Piafs Hymne a LAmour (Hymn to Love) from the Eiffel Tower  beside a rain-soaked piano.

Mysterious posters recently affixed to lampposts around the city were emblazoned with the titles of some of her iconic songs: Pour Que Tu Maimes Encore (So That You Love Me Again), and, in English, Power of Love. And the French-Canadian pop star posted a series of photos on Instagram of her in Paris at various times in her life  as a youngster and more recent high-fashion shots.

The La Defense Arena has a capacity of 40,000 spectators and was one of the venues used for the Olympics.

In 2022, Dion was diagnosed with stiff person syndrome, a rare disorder that causes muscle rigidity and spasms, affecting her ability to walk and sing. She had been absent from the stage since 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the postponement of her tour, which was then suspended in the wake of her neurological disorder diagnosis.

-

Noveck contributed from London.

By JOHN LEICESTER and JOCELYN NOVECK

Associated Press
Relentless rainfall has pushed Kenya into a deepening crisis as major rivers in Kisumu, Tana River, and Uasin Gishu counties surge past their banks. The Ministry of Interior and National Administration reports a grim toll from the flooding, confirming 84 deaths as of Tuesday, March 24, while search teams continue to look for three individuals still missing.

In Kisumu County, the River Nyando has completely overwhelmed its defenses, sending torrents of water into surrounding communities. Government officials identified Kakola, Onjiko, Kochogo, East Kano, Okanja, Kamidumbi, and Panadol as the hardest-hit areas currently facing the brunt of the deluge.

The danger extends to the lower reaches of the Kakola Ombaka Sub-Location and neighborhoods bordering the Awach, Agala, Nyalbiego, Chamrogi, and Nyaidho streams, where rising water levels threaten more homes.

The Ministry highlights the volatile nature of the current conditions, noting the speed at which the landscape is changing.

Field reports indicate a rapid rise at river levels with strong currents, flowing across Awasi, Onjiko, Kochogo, and Kakola, increasing the risk of flash floods, the ministry said. Authorities remain on high alert as the powerful currents continue to sweep across the region.

Emergency response teams are moving quickly across the affected regions, with the Kenya Coast Guard Service, Kenya Red Cross, and Kisumu County disaster management units leading the rescue efforts. On the ground, national government administrative officers are maintaining a constant watch to coordinate aid and track the waters progress.

While dykes in the Magina sub-location have successfully contained some of the overflow so far, officials are sounding the alarm over structural vulnerabilities. They warned that weakened sections of both the Eastern and Western dykes could fail if the pressure continues to build.

The Ministry remains particularly concerned about the impact of inland weather, noting: Heavy rainfall upstream could cause flooding around Okanja, Kamidumbi and Panadol areas as well as areas around Ahero Girls and Kakola Ombaka, and some stretches of the Kisumu-Nairobi road.

The crisis has spread well beyond Kisumu. In Tana River County, the River Tana has broken its banks, drowning local farms in Asako Village and threatening the livelihoods of Mbalambala residents.

Meanwhile, in Uasin Gishu County, a multi-agency assessment of the rising River Sosiani revealed that floodwaters have already begun to submerge lawns and properties within residential and hospitality hubs in Lower Elgon View and the Racecourse area. As emergency teams remain on high alert, authorities are urging everyone in these high-risk zones to stay vigilant and prepare for immediate evacuation if conditions worsen.

The Ministry describes the situation as rapidly evolving, cautioning that conditions on the ground change by the hour.

More updates will be provided in due course, the Ministry stated, as authorities maintain a tight loop with county teams to safeguard lives and property. In the interim, officials are urging residents to move away from low-lying areas and rely strictly on official channels for weather and safety alerts.

On the front lines, government disaster response teams are actively relocating vulnerable families to higher ground and racing to reinforce compromised dykes.
A Nairobi court issued an arrest warrant for blogger Kitovoto Mutinda on Monday, March 23, 2026, after he failed to appear for a scheduled hearing in a case involving Mwingi Central MP Gideon Mulyungi.

Principal Magistrate Rose Ndombi ordered the arrest at the Milimani Law Courts when both the accused and his legal representative missed the morning session, bringing the proceedings to a halt.

Mutinda faces nine counts of publishing false information against the lawmaker, a charge that falls under Section 23 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act of 2018. Prosecutors allege that the blogger used digital platforms to spread fabricated claims about the MP, though the defense previously managed to delay the trial by citing Mutindas poor health.

While the court had originally pushed the matter to yesterday to allow the accused time to recover, his absence left the magistrate with little choice but to escalate the matter. The court noted that the hearing could not proceed without the defendant, leading to the immediate issuance of the warrant to compel his attendance.

The legislator-lawyer requested that the court issue a warrant of arrest for the accused after his failure to appear. During the session, the complainant informed the court that the blogger continues to publish derogatory information against him despite the active legal proceedings.

Acting on these concerns, the MPs legal team made an oral application to block Kitovoto from releasing further content targeting Mulyungi. Magistrate Ndombi granted the request, forfeited the defendants cash bail, and issued the arrest warrant. She also issued a gag order barring the accused from publishing any injurious information until the court reaches a final determination.

Therefore, to preserve the integrity of the proceedings, the accused is hereby restrained from publishing any information relating to any subject in this case that is alleged to be false and injurious to the complainant pending the hearing and determination of this case.

According to the charge sheet, Mutinda intentionally published false information on August 9, 2024, using the account Kinuko 96.5 FM. The prosecution alleges that he posted a write-up in the Kitui Leaders Council WhatsApp group at approximately 3:56 p.m., intending for the members to accept the data as authentic.

The charges further state that Mutinda distributed the same information across several other influential WhatsApp platforms. These groups include the Kitui Professional Forum, the proposed Mwingi Municipality group, the Kitui DG platform, the United People of Mwingi, and the Mwingi Political Forum.
Beginning with the 202627 academic year, students seeking university placement will face a new set of criteria following a major announcement by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS). The placement service confirmed that the reviewed standards have already secured the necessary support from key stakeholders, including regulatory and professional bodies.

The criteria review process began last year and, following validation by stakeholders and approval by the KUCCPS Board, will be implemented during placement to degree programmes in the 2026/2027 cycle, KUCCPS stated.

This shift aims to align university admissions with the needs of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system, particularly following the planned removal of C+ as the fixed minimum entry grade for university admission.

The formal validation of these changes took place on March 18 at Kirinyaga University. Secretary for Higher Education Carol Hunja attended the event, representing Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala. The meeting brought together a powerful coalition of education leaders, including KUCCPS Board Chair Cyrus Gituai, CEO Mercy Wahome, TSC Chair Jamleck Muturi, and Prof. Mike Kuria, the CEO of the Commission for University Education (CUE), who also serves as the chair of the Placement Criteria Review Committee.

Vice chancellors and principals from both public and private university colleges also participated in the session, marking a unified step toward transforming how the nation transitions its students into higher learning.

The new system responds to recent exam trends; for instance, out of nearly one million candidates in the 2025 KCSE, only about 27% met the traditional C+ threshold, highlighting the urgent need for a more flexible and inclusive placement model.

The current KUCCPS system operates as a competitive, merit-based engine that matches students to their preferred degree programs. Under the existing rules, the service primary filters candidates using their KCSE performance -requiring a minimum C+ grade  while factoring in subject-specific cluster points and the students own ranked choices. To ensure a more inclusive landscape, the service also applies an Affirmative Action Criteria that lowers entry barriers for female students, persons with disabilities, and those from marginalized regions.

At the heart of this process lies the cluster weighted point metric. This figure is calculated based on a students performance in four subjects relevant to their chosen field of study. Once the numbers are in, KUCCPS arranges all applicants in descending order, from the highest to the lowest cluster weight for every specific course. The very last student to secure a spot in a program sets the cut-off point for that academic cycle.

The system prioritizes the choices listed by the student, giving weight to their top-tier preferences while balancing against the official capacity declared by each university. Because the process is strictly competitive, it ensures the highest-qualified students secure their spots first, filling available slots in descending order until a program reaches its limit.

The move to introduce new placement criteria directly reflects the governments plan to scrap the traditional C+ minimum university entry grade. This shift aims to align higher education admissions with the evolving requirements of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system. In January, the KUCCPS CEO announced that the current pass mark is no longer sustainable, especially after a significant portion of the 2025 KCSE class fell short of the long-standing threshold.

The statistics from the most recent national examinations highlight the urgency of this reform. Out of the 993,226 candidates who sat for the 2025 KCSE, only 270,000 achieved a grade of C+ or higher. This figure represents just 27.18% of the total student population, leaving a staggering 722,511 candidates to seek placement in colleges and TVET institutions under the old rules.

By broadening the entry criteria, the government seeks to ensure that more students can access degree programs that match their specific strengths and competencies rather than relying on a single aggregate grade. This overhaul marks a transition toward a more inclusive higher education landscape that recognizes diverse talents across the country.
Detectives in Nairobi are currently hunting a gang of suspected thugs who raided a residence in Lavington, escaping with over Sh2.6 million in various currencies. The victims, a group of Chinese nationals, informed police that the attackers seized two safes containing US$20,000 along with significant amounts of Kenyan Shillings, Chinese Yuan, and Japanese Yen.

The brazen robbery unfolded on Sunday evening when four men drove directly into the compound. A security guard on duty granted them entry after the men claimed they were visiting as guests. Once inside, the group  armed with crude weapons  confronted the 12 Chinese nationals present, ordering them to lie on the floor. The victims reported that the suspects roughed them up before snatching the two small safes, five mobile phones, gold jewelry, and their passports.

After securing the valuables, the assailants quickly retreated to a waiting vehicle and fled the scene. Authorities are now reviewing security protocols and the circumstances of the entry as they work to track down the suspects and recover the stolen property.

Police arrived at the scene shortly after the alarm was raised, confirming that the gang had used a saloon car to execute the targeted raid. While officers have yet to make any arrests, they recovered one of the stolen mobile phones on Amboseli Road, only a few meters from the house. Detectives now report that they are pursuing several credible leads to identify the suspects involved.

Investigators believe the attackers possessed specific knowledge about the cash stored inside the home and are currently probing for potential insiders who may have provided a tip-off. Although the victims sustained minor injuries during the struggle, they did not require intensive medical care. As part of the ongoing inquiry, authorities detained the security guard on duty for questioning to determine how the guests gained such easy access.

The police noted that robberies of this nature frequently involve assistance from individuals close to the victims or the property. They continue to analyze the movements of the getaway vehicle and the recovered evidence to track the gangs path.
A woman has surrendered to authorities after a tragic incident at a lodging in Mumbuni, Makueni County, where she reportedly killed her 11-year-old son.

Police confirmed that while the eldest child lost his life on March 22, her two younger children, aged six and three, were found alive. Investigators are still working to uncover the motive behind the killing, as the familys circumstances remain unclear.

The sequence of events began on the night of March 21 when the woman checked into the facility accompanied by all three of her children. The following morning, she reportedly left the room, telling staff she was going to a nearby shop to buy toothpaste. When she failed to return after an unusually long time, the facilitys manager grew concerned and went to the room to check on the guests.

Upon finding the door unlocked, the manager entered to discover a chilling scene: the two youngest children were sitting quietly on the bed, while their older brother lay unconscious beside them. Emergency responders later confirmed the boys death.

Police arrived at the scene to find the deceased child, a Grade 4 pupil at Miau Primary School, lying on the bed. Investigators noted visible marks on his neck, suggesting he had been strangled. In a heartbreaking detail, the two younger boys sat quietly next to their brothers body when the caretaker first entered; according to responding officers, the children appeared entirely unaware that their brother was dead.

Authorities moved the boys body to the mortuary for a postmortem examination while they worked to contact the family to take custody of the two surviving children. The investigation took a significant turn when the mother surrendered to the Machakos Police Station, several kilometers away from the crime scene.

Police placed her in custody in Machakos as they prepared to transfer her back to Makueni for formal processing and an expected court appearance.

Investigators have assembled a dedicated team to uncover the specific motives behind the mothers actions and the events leading up to the tragedy. As part of the formal probe into the murder, police confirmed that the woman will undergo a series of evaluations, including comprehensive psychiatric tests, to determine her mental state at the time of the incident.
Naiyanoi Ngeno, the widow of the late Emurua Dikirr MP Johanna Ngeno, has withdrawn from the by-election race to succeed her husband. Family spokesman David Ngetich confirmed the decision on Monday, March 23, 2026, noting that after deep consultations, the family chose to shield the 28-year-old lawyer from the intense political battle ahead.

The spokesman explained that the family wants her to focus on healing following the tragic death of her husband. Johanna Ngeno died in a plane crash in the Mosop area along with five others after their pilot attempted to navigate through severe weather.

Ms Ngeno will not be contesting, as she has been unwell and is still recovering from the loss of her husband. Following this development, we have, after extensive consultations as a family, decided to release her from the rigours of the campaign, family spokesman David Ngetich said.

The familys decision to withdraw Naiyanoi Ngeno comes following an earlier endorsement from a group of local elders who urged her to contest the seat. This withdrawal also arrives just days before the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party primaries, currently scheduled for March 27, 2026, ahead of the general by-election on May 27, 2026.

As the race shifts, several aspirants have recently stepped down to back a leading contender with deep ties to the late MPs inner circle. Key allies of the former legislator have united behind Bernard Ngeno (Buluu), the long-time personal assistant to the late MP, as their preferred flag bearer.

This consolidation follows a period of public speculation fueled by figures like Gatundu North MP Njoroge Kururia, who had previously used social media to back the widow as the natural successor.

During her husbands burial, Naiyanoi  who hails from the Maa community, a predominant group in Emurua Dikirr  had promised locals she would remain close to them. Her heritage and presence at the time signaled a potential rallying point for the community to maintain her husbands legacy.
THIS IS BIRMINGHAM

This Is Birmingham

Stark and gritty British gangland thriller takes us deep into the brutal Birmingham underworld where drugs and violence run rife and urban warfare spreads through the city

This is Birmingham  where the UKs most brutal underworld gangs battle to gain control as drugs, violence and warfare run rife. Actor Kay S. Ubhi (Starstruck, Blue Moon) makes his directorial debut with this stark, gritty and gripping new British crime drama, set for its UK debut this April.

Birmingham gets the Top Boy treatment with a raw and hard-hitting thriller exploring the dangerous and devastating reality of gang warfare. Following its award-winning run on the festival circuit, This is Birmingham arrives on digital 6 April, courtesy of Miracle Media.

For more than two decades, the Kaleo family  known for running extortion and racketeering operations  has succeeded in controlling major parts of Birminghams criminal underworld, but when feared boss Al Kaleo (Navdeep Monga  Man Like Mobeen) is arrested, stability breaks into chaos.

With their leader behind bars, Als son Asher (Ubhi)  an ambitious but reckless newcomer  sees an opportunity to prove himself and steps up, against his fathers wishes.

As a rival London gang, led by drug lord Ruvelle (Jag Patel  Good Omens, Mandy), begins to infiltrate Birminghams drug trade, a vicious fight for ownership of the city breaks out. Caught in the crossfires is TJ (Marlon Watkins), a teenage runway who gets pulled deeper into a world he doesnt understand and must face a harrowing choice: escape or be engulfed in a world of danger.

With battles rampaging through the city, loyalties are tested and the streets are rife with brutality and bloodshed, but who will end up on top?

Blending hard-hitting action with raw emotional storytelling, This is Birmingham pulls no punches as it plunges viewers headlong into a world of peril, loyalty and survival.

On digital 6 April

GOLDEN

An amateur counterfeiter with the key to unlimited wealth must face off against ruthless criminals and a deadly cartel in an exhilarating new crime thriller, based on true events

A high-stakes game of deception where every alliance carries the potential for betrayal Overly Honest Reviews Beverly Hills, 90210 star Brian Austin Green (Desperate Housewives, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) swaps the Hills for heists in Golden  a new action-packed thriller from writer-director Nick Leisure (A Clear Shot, Last the Night).

Co-starring Josh Glimer (All Rise), Alena Savostikova (The Guardians of Justice) and Robert Miano (Donny Brasco, Fast & Furious), Golden is set to make its UK debut on digital this April, courtesy of Miracle Media, following its release in the US.

Based on the shocking true story, the film follows Frank (Austin Green), a miserable man on the cusp of his 50th birthday. His life begins to change when he uses his fathers printing company to create counterfeit money, driving across the Mexican border to exchange the fake bills for legal tender.

At first Franks venture goes off without a hitch, using his newfound fortune to live the life he always wanted. But its not long before reality hits and when those around him start to sus out his scheme, Frank finds himself in way over his head.

Caught in a web of heists, deceit and desire, Frank must face off against cunning criminals, crooked cops and a dangerous cartel ring in possession of stolen gold. Can he outwit his adversaries and escape with the gold?

Make it Golden with this high-stakes, hugely entertaining thrill-ride.

On digital 6 April

by Natalie key for www.femalefirst.co.uk


Saluki Takeover Tour to blanket Southern Illinois

CARBONDALE, Ill.  The 2026 Southern Illinois Saluki Takeover Tour kicks off next week as the Southern Illinois University Foundation hosts five receptions across the region from March 31 through April 23.

The third annual tour of Southern Illinois begins at Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center on March 31. The tour includes visits by Chancellor Austin A. Lane, university leadership and admissions representatives to numerous high schools and community colleges throughout all 17 Southern Illinois counties in the region.

University faculty are warmly invited to participate in the high school visits and engage with prospective students. Any faculty interested in attending can contact the Director of Admissions, Sarah Jiter at sarah.jiter@siu.edu.

Saluki spirit is everywhere, but its heart is right here in Southern Illinois, SIU Carbondale Chancellor Austin A. Lane said. Our Takeover Tours are meaningful opportunities to connect with high schools, community colleges, alumni, and the communities we proudly serve. The energy and enthusiasm we experience at each stop reflect the strength of the Saluki network. These events allow us to engage directly and celebrate what it truly means to be a Saluki.

Media Advisory

Reporters, photographers, and news crews are invited to cover any or all of the Southern Illinois Saluki Takeover Tour Chancellors Receptions, where SIU Carbondale Chancellor Austin A. Lane will be available for interviews. For assistance with interviews with the chancellor, text or call Jeff Harmon, SIUs chief communications and marketing officer, at 573-352-0035.

Each of the receptions is free, and includes complimentary hor doeuvres and two drink tickets per registered attendee. Receptions are 6 to 8 p.m., except the March 31 event at Touch of Nature, which is 5 to 7 p.m.

The schedule, with reception and registration information, is:

Tuesday, March 31  5-7 p.m. Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center, 206 Touch of Nature Road, Makanda, Illinois. Chancellor Lanes remarks at 5:30 p.m. with tours and activities beginning at 6 p.m. To register: org/southern-illinois/makanda.php

Tuesday, April 7  6-8 p.m. Pyramid Acres Marina, Lake of Egypt, 12057 Marina Road, Marion, Illinois. To register: org/southern-illinois/marion.php

Thursday, April 16  6-8 p.m. Double Tree by Hilton Mount Vernon, 222 Potomac Blvd., Mount Vernon, Illinois. To register: org/southern-illinois/mtvernon.php

Tuesday, April 21  6-8 p.m. The Historic 131 Building (formerly Montgomerys Place), 131 S. Division St., Carterville, Illinois. To register: org/southern-illinois/carterville.php

Thursday, April 23  6-8 p.m. 1860 Public House, 102 S. Main St., Red Bud, Illinois. To register: org/southern-illinois/redbud.php

Successful Saluki Takeover Tour visits

The 2025-26 Saluki Takeover Tour has made stops in Indianapolis, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and St. Louis; Texas stops in Dallas, Austin, and Houston, and Florida stops in St. Petersburg, Tampa, Naples. Earlier this week the tour made stops in Springfield and Peoria in central Illinois.

For more information, call 618-453-4900 or email siuf@foundation.siu.edu.
SIUs Simon Institute discussion to center on student academic, career success

CARBONDALE, Ill.  Melissa Connelly, CEO of OneGoal, a national postsecondary access and success organization, will discuss her career and the organizations work next week during a presentation hosted by Southern Illinois University Carbondales Paul Simon Public Policy Institute.

The lecture, which is free and open to the public, begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, in the Varsity Center, 418 S. Illinois Ave. A reception begins at 5 p.m. in the lobby. Pre-registration is not required but encouraged.

Connelly will discuss with John Shaw, institute director, her journey as a first-generation college graduate and her more than 15 years of experience in the education field. She will also offer insights into expanding opportunities and improving student success nationwide.

Melissa Connelly offers a compelling life story, impressive thought leadership, and deep wisdom about the challenges facing young people as they prepare for life after high school, Shaw said. We are eager to learn about her innovative leadership of OneGoal and her work to create Purposeful Pathways. This program melds high quality advising, accelerated coursework, and career-connected learning.

Media availability

Reporters, photographers and news crews are welcome to cover Connellys lecture. To arrange for interviews or more information, contact Will Becque, institute communications and marketing coordinator, at 618-453-4009 or william.becque@siu.edu.

Chicago-based OneGoal works with partner high schools across the country in efforts to assist students in closing opportunity gaps and going to college. The organization focuses on prioritizing strong human relationships.

Connelly, earned a bachelors degree from the University of Illinois-Chicago, along with Master of Arts in teaching and Master of Education Administration degrees from Dominican University.

More information, including a list of the institutes upcoming events and past speakers and events, is available.
Wolf Alice's Ellie Rowsell, Lily Allen and Olivia Dean are among the nominees at the 2026 Ivor Novello Awards.

Ellie Rowsell is among the top nominees at this year's Ivors

Ellie earns two nominations for Wolf Alices latest work, Lily lands a Best Album nod for her comeback record West End Girl, and Olivia celebrates her first-ever Ivor nominations with recognition in both Best Album and PRS for Music Most Performed Work.

Theyre joined by fellow double nominees Jacob Alon, Self Esteem and cowriter Johan Hugo, along with Kae Tempest and Fraser T Smith, who also pick up two nods each.

Little Simz continues her impressive run at The Ivors with her fifth career nomination, shortlisted for Best Contemporary Song with Free. She previously won Best Album in 2020 for Grey Area and Best Contemporary Song in 2022 for I Love You, I Hate You, alongside consecutive Best Album nominations in 2022 and 2023.

Lola Young earns her fourth nomination as Messy returns to the PRS for Music Most Performed Work category, while Damon Albarn collects his fifth career nod for Damascus in Best Contemporary Song  adding to two Songwriter of the Year wins and his 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Florence Welch also features prominently, receiving her fourth nomination for Everybody Scream, cowritten with Mitski and Mark Bowen, in the Best Song Musically and Lyrically category.

Coldplays enduring anthem Viva La Vida picks up its third nomination, once again appearing in the PRS for Music Most Performed Work category following the bands huge global tour. CMAT and Myles Smith both celebrate their second nominations  CMAT for her acclaimed album EUROCOUNTRY, and Myles for his global hit Stargazing.

This years Best Album field spans a wide range of contemporary sounds, featuring Jim Legxacys black british music (2025), Olivia Deans The Art of Loving, Wolf Alices The Clearing, Lily Allens West End Girl, and CMATs EUROCOUNTRY.

Best Contemporary Song highlights innovation and originality, with nominations for Damon Albarns Damascus, Little Simzs Free, Self Esteems I Do And I Dont Care, and two tracks from Kae Tempest  Know Yourself and I Stand On The Line.

In Best Song Musically and Lyrically, the Academy recognises Jacob Alons Dont Fall Asleep, Florence + The Machines Everybody Scream, Self Esteems Focus Is Power, Wolf Alices The Sofa, and Sugababes Weeds.

The PRS for Music Most Performed Work category honours the songs that dominated airplay and public performance over the past year, with nominations for Olivia Deans Man I Need, Lola Youngs Messy, Myles Smiths Stargazing, Chrystals The Days, and Coldplays Viva La Vida.

The Rising Star Award with Amazon Music spotlights emerging talent, with this years shortlist featuring Chloe Qisha, Divorce, Jacob Alon, kwn and Skye Newman.

Winners will be announced at The Ivors with Amazon Music on 21 May 2026 at Grosvenor House, London.

An abridged list of the nominees:

Best Album

Jim Legxacy  Black British Music

CMAT  Euro Country

Olivia Dean  The Art of Loving

Wolf Alice  The Clearing

Lily Allen  West End Girl

Best Contemporary Song

Gorillaz feat. Omar Souleyman and Yasiin Bey  Damascus

Little Simz  Free

Self Esteem  I Do And I Dont Care

Kae Tempest  I Stand On The Line

Kae Tempest  Know Yourself

Best Song Musically and Lyrically

Jacob Alon  Dont Fall Asleep

Florence + The Machine  Everybody Scream

Self Esteem  Focus Is Power

Wolf Alice  The Sofa

Sugababes  Weeds

PRS for Music Most Performed Work

Olivia Dean  Man I Need

Lola Young  Messy

Myles Smith  Stargazing

Chrystal  The Days

Coldplay  Viva La Vida

Rising Star Award with Amazon Music

Chloe Qisha

Divorce

Jacob Alon

kwn

Skye Newman
Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Tarique Rahman, on Wednesday extended his condolences on Genocide Day, which is observed here to commemorate the victims of March 25, 1971. Rahman recounted how Pakistan killed Bangladeshis in the name of ''Operation Searchlight". He termed March 25, 1971, one of the most disgraceful and brutal days. In a post on X, he said, "March 25, 1971, is observed as Genocide Day. On the occasion of Genocide Day, I pay my deepest respect to all the martyrs. In the history of freedom-loving Bangladesh, 25 March 1971 remains one of the most disgraceful and brutal days. On that dark night, the Pakistani occupation forces carried out one of the most heinous genocides in history against the unarmed people of Bangladesh in the name of ''Operation Searchlight"." https://x.com/trahmanbnp/status/2036485539444982074?s=20 "They indiscriminately opened fire on teachers, intellectuals and innocent civilians at various places, including Dhaka University, Pilkhana and Rajarbagh Police Lines, killing many people. The genocide of 25 March was a pre-planned massacre. Why this organised killing spree could not be resisted remains a matter of historical research regarding the visible role of the political leadership of that time," he added. Rahman called for people to honour the sacrifices made by those who died. "However, on the night of 25 March, the 8th East Bengal Regiment in Chattogram formally initiated armed resistance against the genocide by declaring ''We Revolt''. Through this resistance to genocide, the long nine-month armed Liberation War began. To convey the value and significance of independence to the present and future generations, it is essential to know about the genocide of 25 March as well. Let us all strive to honour the sacrifices of the martyrs by establishing in the state and society the spirit of the great Liberation War - equality, human dignity and social justice," he added. Rahman called for citizens to build a just, developed, prosperous, self-reliant and democratic Bangladesh. "Let us work together to build a just, developed, prosperous, self-reliant and democratic Bangladesh. I pray to the Almighty Allah to grant forgiveness and eternal peace to the departed souls of all the martyrs. On the occasion of Genocide Day on 25 March. I wish every success to all the programmes organised to observe the day," he said. Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, a human rights organisation working against religious discrimination, has warmly welcomed the resolution introduced on March 20 in the second session of the 119th Congress of the United States House of Representatives by Congressman Greg Landsman, calling for the recognition of the ''genocide'' committed in Bangladesh during the Great Liberation War of 1971. (ANI)
PRNewswire Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], March 25: Anant National University 's School of Architecture (SoA) and the Centre for Public Policy Research and Design (CPRD) hosted a symposium titled 'Integrating Sustainability into Architecture Education to Transform Professional Practice' at the Magnolia Hall, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The event brought together educators, policymakers, industry leaders and students to examine how sustainability can be meaningfully embedded within architectural education and practice in India. - Architects, educators and policymakers explore curriculum reforms, industry collaboration and experiential learning to prepare future architects The symposium highlighted how contemporary challenges facing our country, such as urban expansion, changing climate, urban flooding and ongoing shortages of key resources like freshwater and quality housing, make the idea of sustainability central to how we imagine, teach and practice architecture. It served as a platform for dialogue on strengthening sustainability within the curriculum and culture of architecture schools. Through focused discussions and expert insights, participants explored ways to translate sustainability from academic frameworks into real-world professional practice. The symposium featured three thematic panel discussions that addressed critical dimensions of sustainability in architectural education. These included wide-ranging topics, such as campuses serving as living laboratories for sustainability, strengthening industry-academia collaborations to effectively apply sustainability principles in the built environment and innovative teaching approaches and curriculum reforms to equip future architects with the knowledge and skills required to address environmental challenges. The discussions brought together a distinguished group of practitioners, educators and policy experts. These included Manisha Agarwal, Founding Partner, MO-OF Architects/Mobile Offices; Anurag Tamhankar, Director, Biome Environmental Solutions; Dr Benny Kuriakose, Principal Architect, Benny Kuriakose and Architects; Gurneet Singh, Director, Environmental Design Solutions; Prasad Vaidya, Director, Solar Decathlon India; Dr Vishal Garg, Director, Indorama Ventures Centre for Clean Energy, Plaksha University; Rahul Pachori, Director, Ministry of Education; Apporv Vij, Senior Director, Technical Development, Green Building Council India; Habeeb Khan, Former President, Council of Architecture, Ministry of Education; Jabeen Zacharias, Principal Architect, Jabeen Zacharias Architects; Dr Sanjeev Vidyarthi, Provost, Anant National University; and Zeenat Niazi, Chief Advisor, Development Alternatives. Across the sessions, speakers reflected on the urgent need to integrate sustainability as a core component of architectural education rather than treating it as a supplementary subject. Conversations highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary learning, experiential pedagogy and stronger engagement among academia, industry and policymakers to prepare architects capable of addressing complex environmental and urban challenges. By convening voices from diverse domains, the symposium fostered a collaborative dialogue on shaping the future of architectural education in India. It reinforced the importance of designing curricula that respond to ecological realities while equipping students with the skills to translate sustainability into tangible outcomes in professional practice. Through initiatives like these, Anant National University continues to advance conversations at the intersection of design, policy and sustainability, creating platforms where academic inquiry, professional practice and public policy converge to address pressing challenges of the built environment. About Anant National University Anant National University, India's premier design university, is dedicated to training students to devise solutions for global problems. Anant follows the DesignX pedagogy, where 'X' is the symbol drawn from mathematics, representing enhancement. This new learning approach multiplies traditional design pedagogy with liberal arts disciplines, emerging technologies and knowledge drawn from hands-on community experiences to help understand our world better and to devise impactful solutions. Our multidisciplinary undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes in design, architecture, climate action and visual arts harness knowledge from various disciplines and traditional practices to integrate it with cutting-edge technology to address diverse challenges. We train our designers to become solutionaries -- revolutionary thinkers with a solution-oriented mindset. Anant National University has been recognised as the Centre of Excellence by the Government of Gujarat, highlighting our efforts to provide our students with world-class education, innovative pedagogy, high employability and enhanced entrepreneurial and research opportunities. Anant has also received the prestigious '5-Star Rating' in the category of Architecture and a '4-Star Rating' in the University category in the Gujarat State Institutional Rating Framework (GSIRF) 2023-24. These recognitions reinforce our commitment to creating a world-class institution of great eminence and excellence. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2940944/Anant_National_Symposium.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)
NewsVoir New Delhi [India], March 25: As the Chief Guest at the 33rd Convergence India & 11th Smart Future Cities India Expo 2026, Shri Chirag Paswan, Hon'ble Union Minister, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, addressed a large gathering of delegates at the Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. In his address, the Minister underscored the importance of integrating advanced technologies to modernise agriculture, while calling for a shift in focus from volume to value and quality of agricultural outputs. He emphasised the importance of continuous engagement with industry stakeholders, urging participants to actively share their on-ground insights and experiences, and noted that such inputs are critical in helping the government identify key bottlenecks and shape responsive, forward-looking policy reforms aligned with the sector's evolving needs. Reaffirming the Union Government's commitment to Viksit Bharat 2047, Shri Chirag Paswan, stated, "We are working towards creating an ecosystem where global markets become accessible for our goods. We'll achieve this ambition by integrating technology, innovation, and the dynamism of our startups. As we harness advancements in food processing and agriculture, we can accelerate our journey towards building a globally competitive sector and realising the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047." Talking about the expo, Hon'ble Minister observed, "Platforms such as Convergence India open the doors for those involved in the agritech and food processing segments to explore the potential of technology to enhance their capabilities. The expo provides opportunity for exchange of ideas and best practices from India and across the world, and guides how to implement these ideas in localised ecosystems." Earlier in the day, Abhishek Singh (IAS), Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics & IT, & CEO, India AI Mission, Government of India, highlighted India's potential to emerge as a global hub for AI inferencing, driven by strong talent, startups and industry participation. He also underscored the need to deploy AI responsibly for inclusive and societal impact. Emphasising on the importance of real-world applications of AI, Mr. Singh stated, "With our young, skilled talent pool and a vibrant startup and innovation ecosystem, India is well-positioned to drive significant impact in AI. The technologies showcased at the 33rd Convergence Expo highlight that AI's potential extends far beyond models, with transformative applications across sectors such as power, mobility, IT, urban planning, and healthcare." With a series of conference sessions planned alongside the expo during the three days of the event, representatives from various government departments and industry engaged in high value discussions centred around efforts in scaling AI adoption, strengthening digital public infrastructure and building the backbone required for India's digital economy. The expo further expands into conversations on global collaboration, smart mobility and connected systems, including discussions on connected vehicles, telematics innovation and interoperable transport ecosystems, reflecting the breadth of technologies shaping India's digital future. Sharing the vision behind the expo, Chandrika Behl, Managing Director, Exhibitions India Group, said, "Convergence India has always been a key platform for enabling dialogue, partnerships and innovation across India's technology landscape. Through this platform, we initiate conversations around AI, digital infrastructure and sectoral transformation, reflecting how quickly technology is moving from promise to practical impact. From food processing to healthcare to mobility to enterprise systems, the focus is on building scalable, responsible and future-ready solutions that can deliver real outcomes for businesses, communities and the wider economy." This year, a number of leading technology players are showcasing solutions on the exhibition floor, including Qualcomm, Tesla, Omnicomm, Philips, Realtek, Escort Sensors, Zoon, and Redington. Notably, Redington has brought together OEMs such as Google Cloud, AWS, and Microsoft at its stall, alongside other ecosystem partners driving innovation across digital infrastructure, enterprise technology, and smart solutions. About Convergence India Expo The 33rd edition of Convergence India has heralded the telecom and digital revolution in India. It is the country's biggest and longest-running technology expo, providing a platform to showcase 'Brand India' by supporting the 'Make in India' and 'Digital India' campaigns. Convergence India is at the forefront of promoting technological advancements in the fields of AI, telecom, satcom, broadcast, wired & wireless technologies, 5G & 6G networks, IT solutions such as cloud, big data & analytics, smart solutions, M2M, mobile & accessories, IoT, embedded tech, blockchain, fintech, and semiconductors - the entire gamut of digital solutions. About Smart Future Cities India Expo The 11th Smart Future Cities India expo displays India's emerging modernisation and development landscape that aims to deliver better citizen-centric services across the country. The expo showcases the integration of transformative technologies with the key pillars of urban development, i.e., green buildings, clean environment, urban mobility, and the use of smart ICT solutions for optimising resources that make cities smart and sustainable. (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.)
British travellers face disruption to their Easter plans as flights to popular destinations including Dubai, Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus are cancelled or delayed amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

Flight cancellations and rising tensions threaten Easter holiday plans

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued updated advice amid ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

Airspace closures and heightened security risks have already led to flight cancellations, delays and rerouting across the region, affecting travel plans ahead of the Easter holiday period.

British Airways has cancelled all flights to and from Dubai until at least the end of May, while other major airlines including Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways have reduced services.

The FCDO currently advises against all but essential travel to the United Arab Emirates, warning that escalating tensions pose significant security risks and have led to travel disruption.

Travellers in the region are urged to follow local authority guidance, avoid military or security sites and keep travel plans under review.

For Greece, there are no current travel warnings, although officials advise travellers to remain vigilant and ensure passports meet Schengen entry requirements. New border checks under the Entry/Exit System (EES) are also expected to cause delays at airports.

There are similarly no nationwide restrictions for Turkey, but the FCDO continues to advise against travel within 10km of the Syrian border due to ongoing conflict and terrorism risks. Flights to major destinations such as Istanbul and Antalya are continuing, though disruption remains possible.

In Cyprus, travel is still permitted, but officials warn of a heightened risk of regional tension following recent incidents involving a British military base.

Travellers are being encouraged to monitor updates closely, as advice may change quickly in response to developments in the region.
Leading Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) clarified on Wednesday that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel, or LPG across the country, dismissing recent rumours of scarcity as "completely unfounded." In official statements issued to the public, OMCs confirmed that fuel supplies remain stable and that adequate stocks are currently available to meet national demand without any disruption. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) said, "Important Information for All Citizens. Rumours about petrol and diesel shortages in certain areas are completely unfounded. There is no shortage of fuel across the nation. India is a net exporter of petrol and diesel. We have adequate stocks of crude oil, petrol, diesel, and ATF. Supply chains are operating smoothly without any disruption. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited is fully operational and committed to ensuring uninterrupted fuel supply. Citizens are advised not to panic or engage in unnecessary buying. Fuel availability remains stable and sufficient." Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) echoed these sentiments in its own communication, assuring customers that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel, or LPG across the country. "Dear Customers, There is no shortage of petrol, diesel, or LPG across the country. Fuel supplies remain stable, and adequate stocks are available. Customers are advised not to be misled by rumours or resort to panic buying. Please continue with normal consumption patterns. HPCL remains committed to ensuring an uninterrupted and seamless fuel supply across its network," HPCL said. To further demonstrate the stability of the supply chain, Indian Oil provided real-time updates from its retail facilities, highlighting the situation at its COCO Maradu outlet. "Our Retail Outlet COCO Maradu, Kochi at 09:30 AM Today. No Rush! No Panic! Everything is operating smoothly. We remain fully committed and available to serve you at all times," IOCL stated. The ongoing West Asia conflict has intensified concerns over global energy security, with supply bottlenecks and damaged infrastructure continuing to disrupt markets. (ANI)
PRNewswire Pune (Maharashtra) [India], March 25: Krisala Developers, Pune's leading real estate organisation, has achieved yet another landmark in India's real estate sector with the successful completion of its Krisala Grand Registration Drive, setting a new benchmark of 388 digital property registrations. Following its earlier recognition, the company is now honoured again by the Indian Book of Records and the Asian Book of Records for conducting the largest property registration drive by a real estate developer. On March 14, 2026, Krisala Developers registered 311 property agreements in a single day at the Krisala-Hiranandani Township in North Hinjawadi, earning official recognition for the highest number of property registrations executed in one day by a Real Estate developer. Building on this momentum, the company continued the registration drive through the week until March 22, 2026, successfully surpassing 388 cumulative registrations. The drive was completed for homes in all Krisala Projects and phase 1 and phase 2 of the Krisala-Hiranandani Township in North Hinjawadi, Pune. Driven by the city's strong IT ecosystem and ongoing infrastructure upgrades, including enhanced connectivity and transit networks, Pune continues to attract both end-users and investors seeking long-term value and lifestyle-driven communities. The overwhelming response to the registration drive highlights a clear shift in buyer preferences towards organised developments that offer security, amenities, and seamless connectivity. Commenting on the achievement, Vishal Agarwal, Joint Managing Director at Krisala Developers, said, "This milestone is a testament to the trust our customers and partners have placed in us. The scale and consistency of this registration drive demonstrate the strength of demand for well-planned, integrated communities. It also reflects how the real estate sector is evolving with greater transparency, efficiency, and digital enablement, enabling us to deliver a seamless homebuying experience at scale. Empowering buyers and accelerating the process with technology at every touchpoint, Krisala Developers is aligning their efforts with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative of Digital Bharat." The execution of the week-long drive involved meticulous planning across documentation, digital infrastructure, customer engagement and coordination with Banking Partners and Customer Relation Manager (CRM) Team, IGR (Inspector General of Registration), JDR (Joint District Registrar). Each Registration including execution by parties, E-KYC, documentation and verification, were completed through the e-registration process in 7-8 mins, ensuring smooth and efficient registrations. With this achievement, Krisala Developers continues to strengthen its position as a leading player in India's residential real estate market, setting new standards in execution, scale and, customer-centric innovation. About Krisala Developers: With quality, affordability, and tradition as its foundations, Krisala Developers is known for delivering quality homes and innovative construction solutions for over 14 years in Pune. The organization has 10.5 million sq. ft underway and completed over 2.5 million sq. ft. of construction through various residential and commercial projects, earning trust through transparency and consistency. Pioneering quality construction in the real estate industry, Krisala Developers aims to provide world-class property experiences.Website: https://krisala.com/ Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2941904/Krisala_Developers_Property_Registration_Drive.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 New Delhi [India], March 25: In a powerful acknowledgement of innovation and sustainable design excellence, Akshay Kumar P, Director of AKSHU INFRA LLP, was honoured with the title "Innovative Force in Sustainable Construction Practices" at the Evolving South India Business Excellence Awards 2026. The recognition was presented by Olympic medalist Saina Nehwal during the prestigious ceremony held on 21st February 2026 at Ramada by Wyndham, Bengaluru. Bringing together some of South India's most forward-thinking entrepreneurs and industry leaders, the event celebrated organizations that are not only achieving business success but also shaping the future of their industries. Among the standout achievers, AKSHU INFRA LLP was recognised for its impactful contribution to sustainable and innovative construction practices. Established in 2010, AKSHU INFRA LLP has grown into a professionally driven architectural and construction firm known for delivering thoughtful, context-driven, and execution-ready design solutions. With a portfolio of over 400 successfully completed projects, the company has built a strong presence across residential, commercial, mixed-use, hospitality, and institutional segments. Its commitment to high-quality architecture and structural excellence has earned it recognition among builders, individual homeowners, and industry stakeholders. At the core of this success is the leadership of Akshay Kumar P, a seasoned architect and construction expert with over two decades of experience. Known for his innovative and functional design approach, he has been instrumental in shaping the firm's identity as a reliable and forward-thinking construction partner. His expertise spans villas, bungalows, row houses, villaments, boutique apartments, and large-scale residential developments, making him a trusted name among diverse client segments including IT professionals, NRIs, healthcare specialists, and business owners. Under his leadership, AKSHU INFRA LLP has delivered more than 400 projects and constructed over one million square feet of residential spaces, particularly premium villas and bungalows. His in-depth understanding of local building regulations and by-laws, especially in Bengaluru, has enabled clients to navigate complex approval processes with ease, ensuring timely project execution and compliance without delays. What sets AKSHU INFRA LLP apart is its strong emphasis on customized solutions and end-to-end support. The company carefully analyzes each client's requirements to deliver designs that are not only aesthetically appealing but also practical, sustainable, and cost-effective. From pre-construction planning and technical consultation to final execution, the firm ensures a seamless and transparent process for every project. Sustainability remains a key pillar of the company's philosophy. By integrating innovative design concepts with environmentally responsible practices, AKSHU INFRA LLP is contributing to the development of spaces that are future-ready and aligned with evolving lifestyle needs. Its vision of crafting homes that connect generations reflects a deeper commitment to creating structures that stand the test of time while promoting harmony between functionality and sustainability. The recognition as an "Innovative Force in Sustainable Construction Practices" highlights the company's dedication to redefining architectural excellence through creativity, technology, and responsible construction. It also reinforces Akshay Kumar P's role as a leader who is not only delivering projects but also influencing the architectural landscape with progressive ideas and practical solutions. As the demand for sustainable and high-quality construction continues to rise, AKSHU INFRA LLP is well-positioned to expand its footprint and take its vision to a larger scale. With a growing team, strong industry credibility, and a clear mission to transform client visions into reality, the company is set to play a significant role in shaping the future of architecture and construction in India. This recognition marks a significant milestone in the journey of AKSHU INFRA LLP, reaffirming its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and excellence in every project it undertakes. For more information, visit https://akshuinfrallp.com/. (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 Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 25: Varun Nagaraj, Dean of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR), has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the world's leading standard-setting body for business education. He will represent the Asia Pacific region on the global board. - In a global first, AACSB welcomes its first representative from an Indian business school "On behalf of AACSB's global community, we extend our sincere congratulations to Dean Varun Nagaraj on his appointment to the Board of Directors," said Lily Bi, President and CEO of AACSB. "As we celebrate 110 years of advancing quality and impact in business education around the world, this milestone marks another meaningful chapter in our history. Dean Nagaraj's leadership and perspective will further strengthen AACSB's mission to connect, elevate, and transform business education globally, and we are proud to welcome representation from India to our Board for the first time." SPJIMR is the first Indian business school to be represented on the AACSB Board in its 110-year history. While individuals of Indian origin have previously served on the Board, they have represented institutions located outside of India. Dr. Nagaraj's three-year term commences on July 1, 2026. "I look forward to collaborating with colleagues worldwide to elevate the impact of business schools. SPJIMR's commitment to wise innovation and societal impact closely aligns with AACSB's vision of driving meaningful change in business and society," said Dr. Nagaraj. A practitioner-academic, Dr. Nagaraj is a Professor of Information Management, and has served as the Dean of SPJIMR since 2021. He brings over three decades of industry experience to his role as Dean, including leadership roles as CEO of venture-funded start-ups and public companies, and as a Partner at PRTM Management Consulting. His research and teaching focuses on responsible/wise innovation, product management, and entrepreneurship. His research has been published in Journal of Product Innovation Management, California Management Review, Research-Technology Management,Edward-Elgar's Handbook of Digital Entrepreneurship, and in popular media. Dr. Nagaraj holds a BTech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Bombay, an MS from North Carolina State University, an MBA from Boston University, and a PhD from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. Founded in 1916, AACSB is the global standard-setting body for business education, advancing excellence through accreditation, thought leadership, and transformative learning across more than 100 countries. About SPJIMR Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR) is one of India's leading postgraduate management institutes. It is recognised in the Financial Times MiM rankings as the #35 business school globally and among the Top 3 in India, ranked by Business Today as one of the country's top five business schools, and rated by the Positive Impact Rating as one of the top five schools worldwide for societal impact. Known for its innovative and socially conscious approach to management education, research, and community engagement, SPJIMR aims to influence managerial practice and promote the value-based growth of its students, alumni, organisations and its leaders, and society. SPJIMR holds the international 'Triple Crown' of accreditations from EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA. Visit SPJIMR.org for more information. For media inquiries, please contact:Salil JayakarDeputy Director - Marketing and Communications, SPJIMRsalil.jayakar@spjimr.org | +91 9820688473 Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2941920/SPJIMR_AACSB_BOD_Varun_Nagaraj.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1896222/5639305/SPJIMR_Logo_1.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)
'Reacher' star Alan Ritchson won't face criminal charges following a widely publicised altercation with a neighbour, as Tennessee police determined he was acting in self-defence. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Brentwood Police Captain Steven Pepin said, "After reviewing available evidence, including video footage and witness statements, authorities determined that no criminal charges will be pursued. Mr. Ritchson's actions were found to be in self-defense." Pepin added that Ritchson declined to pursue any charges of his own against the neighbour, who admitted that he instigated the physical contact. "Although a potential reckless endangerment charge was considered, Mr. Ritchson declined to pursue charges. With the agreement of the District Attorney's Office, the case is now closed, and no further action will be taken," according to Pepin. TMZ broke the story over the weekend by releasing a video showing an altercation between Alan Ritchson and his neighbour, Taylor. The edited footage initially depicted Taylor on the ground with Ritchson striking him multiple times. However, new footage, including clips from Ritchson's body cam, has since emerged, offering a clearer context. These additional videos reveal that Taylor had rushed into the street to confront Ritchson and initiated the attack. Meanwhile, on the work front, Ritchson recently shot for back to back movies in Australia and New Zealand. He recently starred in Netflix's War Machine, which just debuted on the streamer, for filmmaker Patrick Hughes. They reunited Down Under for a project inspired by the life of Navy SEAL Mike Thornton, which was recently filmed. (ANI)
Actor-politician Kangana Ranaut on Wednesday hailed the International Film Festival Delhi 2026 as a long-awaited global platform for Indian artists, while emphasising the importance of promoting women-centric storytelling in the evolving cinematic landscape. Speaking at the event, Ranaut said, "We artists have long wished for a major film festival in India, like those in America or Canada or Sundance, where our films could gain recognition." She added that the initiative reflects India's growing stature on the global stage. "As India rises as a Vishwaguru, this initiative reflects our creative economy, cultural heritage, and the Prime Minister's commitment to them," she said, while praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision. Highlighting the importance of representation, Ranaut emphasised the need to celebrate women in cinema. "Celebrating women in cinema is vital. The Women's Reservation Bill shows the Prime Minister's commitment to women's progress, and their perspectives must be portrayed in stories," she said. She further called on film festivals and studios to actively support such narratives. "Platforms should be provided for women-centric films, even small ones, to highlight their struggles and achievements. Such encouragement will be a great step forward," she added. Meanwhile, actor Arvind Swamy also shared his views at the festival, speaking about the growing role of technology in filmmaking. He said artificial intelligence is expected to significantly transform cinema in the coming years. "The scope of AI in cinema is going to be pretty dramatic in the future... an individual could make a full-length feature film as tools develop rapidly," he said. Swamy also welcomed the platform provided by the festival for independent filmmakers. "I'm so happy that we have a platform for independent films. It gives an opportunity for them to showcase good cinema," he added. The International Film Festival Delhi 2026 has brought together artists, filmmakers, and creators from across the country and abroad, focusing on innovation, inclusivity, and the evolving landscape of global cinema. The festival was attended by veteran stars like Hema Malini, Sharmila Tagore and others. (ANI)
BJP MP Dinesh Sharma said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech in Parliament over the ongoing developments in West Asia effectively addresses the opposition's call to apprise the nation about the situation. Speaking to ANI, Sharma emphasised that the Prime Minister's address focused on the status quo in international relations, particularly in West Asia, and outlined the potential challenges and opportunities that may arise in the future. "The opposition said that they (the Prime Minister) should apprise them about the country's situation, and he has apprised. This is hardly an issue for debate; this is a matter of international relations, and he has stated what the status quo was," Sharma said. Sharma asserted that PM Modi's message was clear and encapsulated the complexities of the situation, saying, "He (the Prime Minister) mentioned the situation in West Asia, the difficulties, and the possibilities that may arise in the future. There cannot be a better, more concise, and clear message than this." Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for combined efforts of the Centre and state governments to tackle the challenges posed against the nation amid the conflict in West Asia. PM Modi today addressed the Rajya Sabha and called for a united voice promoting peace and dialogue globally, as the ongoing West Asia conflict disrupts trade, energy supplies, and affects the safety of millions of Indians in the Gulf. Calling the coming time a "major test" for the country, PM Modi sought cooperation from state governments and asked them to implement the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana. PM Modi said that the government has also formed an interministerial group to assess the challenges. Acknowledging the global crisis amid the tensions in West Asia, PM Modi noted that the fundamentals of the Indian economy are strong and the government is ensuring "minimum impact." (ANI)
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the counsel for Asif Iqbal Tanha why a legal action was not taken against the accused if his fundamental rights were violated. "It has been 5 years since the petition was filed. There is nothing left." The high court is dealing with a petition filed by Tanha in 2020 alleging that sensitive information was leaked to the media. He is seeking the removal of the information related to the investigation from the media. The petitioner had sought direction against the Delhi Police and private persons. He had sought an inquiry into the leak of sensitive information to the media. Justice Saurabh Banerjee asked that parties argue on the issue of continuance of the petition. Asif Iqbal Tanha is an accused in a larger Conspiracy case connected with the North East Delhi riots of 2020. A petition was filed in 2020 alleging that sensitive information linked to the investigation was leaked to the media channel. His counsel argued that it is not possible for a person outsider to access the investigation file and get the sensitive information. It is a violation of the fundamental rights of the petitioner. Justice Banerjee asked, "Who stopped you from taking legal action against the accused? You didn't file an application for registration of FIR. Why have you not filed an application for registration for FIR before an appropriate court?" The court also said that this court can't ask for registration of an FIR. This court is different. It was submitted by the counsel that the matter has been taken up after 2023. The court said that the petitioner has not exercised his right to take legal recourse. After a gap of 5 years, what is left? Why is the petition continuing? Prayers made in the petition have become infructuous. Tanha is an accused in the larger Conspiracy of Delhi Riots case under UAPA. This case is at the stage of arguements on the charge before the trial court. (ANI)
The Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, on Tuesday claimed that JD(U) President and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is being "forcefully sent" to the Rajya Sabha. Referring to the filing of Kumar's nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections, RJD leader claimed that certain people in the JD(U) have an agreement with the BJP to destroy the party. "The Chief Minister had no desire to go to the Rajya Sabha. He is being forcibly sent to the Rajya Sabha. We have been saying from the beginning that the BJP wants to destroy the Janata Dal United. We will only say that the Chief Minister has become the President, but the Chief Minister's decisions are not final. By putting the Chief Minister's face in front, the few people in the Janata Dal United make the decisions themselves. They have an agreement with the BJP to destroy the Janata Dal United. They are engaged in this very work," said Yadav. Earlier on March 5, Bihar's longest-serving Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections, extending "full support" to the new Cabinet. Tthe 75-year-old penned a heartfelt message announcing his decision. He expressed his longing desire to be a member of both houses of the Bihar Legislature as well as the Houses of Parliament. He asserted his commitment to building a "developed Bihar" and extended his "cooperation and guidance" to the new government. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) welcomed Kumar's decision and lauded his return to the parliamentary democracy. Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed Nitish Kumar's tenure as Bihar CM as a "golden chapter" in the state's history during which he made significant contributions to Bihar's progress. (ANI)
BJP leader Altaf Thakur on Tuesday welcomed the life imprisonment sentence to Asiya Andrabi by a special court for her role in terrorism and inciting violence in the Valley, adding that it would have been better if she had been handed the death penalty. Speaking to ANI on Asiya Andrabi's imprisonment, BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur said Andrabi's involvement in strikes, stone-pelting, harassment, and radicalising students from schools to universities all caused serious harm, and the sentence should have been even harsher. "A Kashmiri separatist, Asiya Andrabi, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a special court for her role in terrorism and inciting violence in the Valley. Her involvement in strikes, stone-pelting, harassment, and radicalising students from schools to universities all caused serious harm. We welcome the sentencing, though it should have been even harsher, calling for the death penalty," said the BJP Spokesperson. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in New Delhi on Tuesday awarded a life sentence to Kashmiri separatist Aasiya Andrabi and a 30-year jail term to her two associates, Sofi Fehmida and Nahida Nasreen, in a terror case lodged by the National Investigation Agency. Andrabi is the alleged chief of the women's pro-separatist outfit Dukhtaran-e-Millat. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Chander Jit Singh awarded the sentence to three convicts for different offences proved against them. Aasiya Andrabi is sentenced to life imprisonment for offence of Terror Conspiracy under section 18 Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and criminal Conspiracy under section 120 B IPC each, She is sentenced to life imprisonment for the offence of Conspiracy for waging war against India under section 121 A IPC, she is also sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for the offence of being members or associated with terror organisation under section 38 and for the offence of supporting a terror organisation under section 39 of UAPA each. (ANI)
Natalie Anderson is returning to Coronation Street as Danielle Silverton.

Natalie Anderson is returning to Coronation Street

The former Emmerdale actress had a short stint in Wetherfield last April and after impressing producers, she has been asked to return to the soap for the aftermath of her ex-husband Theo Silverton (James Cartwright)'s abuse of Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce) being exposed.

A source told The Sun newspaper: Natalie was a great signing and bosses were really impressed with her performance so invited her back for a second stint.

Things are set to unravel for Theo following his abuse of boyfriend Todd so it was only right that Danielle returns in the aftermath of it all.

It was previously confirmed that James will be departing his role of Theo as part of the abuse storyline.

A spokesperson for Coronation Street said: James joined on a finite contract and was aware of his characters story arc and how long he would be in the show.

He still has scenes to film will be on screen until later this year.

When she joined Coronation Street, Natalie - who previously played Alicia Gallagher on Emmerdale and DS Lexi Calder on Hollyoaks - admitted she was "delighted and honoured" to be a part of the soap.

She said: Danielle is such a brilliant character! Im so thrilled to be playing her.

Shes a deeply layered woman and its been wonderful to explore some of those layers as Ive gone on this journey with her...

Im delighted and honoured to be stepping on to the cobbles.

Coronation Street is an institution and especially if youre a northerner like me, its part of the fabric of our upbringing.

Im not going to lie, I did have a little tear when I started as I felt an immense sense of pride walking around the sets where so many incredible actors and characters have gone before.

Its also lovely to be working with ITV who Ive spent so many years with throughout my career, its been wonderful to see so many familiar faces. Im having the loveliest time.
Puducherry District Collector A. Kulothungan on Tuesday said preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections began nearly six months in advance, with polling personnel, resources and polling stations already identified to ensure smooth conduct of the electoral process. Speaking to ANI, Kulothungan said adequate arrangements and training have been provided to election staff, and they are ready for the elections. He also informed that scrutiny is going on today, and the list of final candidates will be known after the withdrawal date. "For the Puducherry Assembly election, the preparedness starts six months earlier. We have identified the polling personnel and resources. We have selected polling stations. Proper training has been given to the polling personnel. We are ready for the elections. The nomination started on 16 March and ended on 23 March. Scrutiny is going on today. The list of final candidates will be known after the withdrawal date, i.e., 26 March," said Kulothungan. Earlier, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday also held inter-state border meetings to review poll preparedness and strengthen coordination ahead of the upcoming General Elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, as well as bye-elections in six states. The meeting brought together Chief Secretaries, Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs), Directors General of Police (DGPs), and senior officials from the five poll-going states and their twelve neighbouring states, along with heads of central enforcement agencies. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners S.S. Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, reviewed the law-and-order situation, poll readiness, expenditure enforcement, and seizures of illegal cash, liquor, narcotics, arms, and other items in sensitive constituencies. According to the schedule announced by the Election Commission of India, voting in Puducherry will take place on April 9, and 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. The counting of votes for all four states and Puducherry will be held on May 4, the ECI announced. (ANI)
Ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) spokesperson TKS Elangovan expressed confidence in the party's performance, claiming that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) alliance has failed to achieve anything for the southern state. Speaking to ANI, Elangovann remarked that DMK would win as the electoral are aware that no schemes are coming due to the Bharatiya Janata Party. "We will win because of our performance. We rely on our performance. The NDA alliance have not done anything for the state. So, the people of Tamil Nadu know that no schemes are coming to Tamil Nadu because of the BJP", said Elangovan. His remarks come ahead of Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, which are scheduled for April 23 in a single phase, with counting scheduled for May 4. Under the NDA seat-sharing agreement, the alliance led by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam will contest over 170 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been allotted 27 seats, followed by the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) with 18 seats, and the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) with 11 seats. DMDK is set to contest 10 Assembly constituencies across Tamil Nadu. The announcement came after a meeting held between DMK President and Chief Minister MK Stalin and DMDK General Secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth. The Congress will contest 28 seats as part of the DMK-led front. Also, CPI(M), a constituent of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, will contest in five seats. The main electoral contest is expected between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), which also includes Congress, DMDK, and the VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by AIADMK with the BJP and Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) as allies. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is set to make his electoral debut with TVK, attempting to turn the upcoming elections into a three-way contest. (ANI)
Telangana BJP has strongly criticised the Congress government for introducing the 'Hate Speech' Bill and the 'Rohit Vemula Act,' calling both proposals "politically motivated" and aimed at silencing opposition voices rather than fostering communal harmony. The party also pointed out that controversies surrounding Rohit Vemula's caste identity have been widely debated in the past. State BJP Chief Spokesperson and Media In-charge NV Subash questioned the very need for introducing a new hate speech law and an additional SC/ST-related legislation when robust provisions already exist within the Indian legal framework to deal with hate speech, incitement, and untouchability. "This raises a fundamental question -- is the Hate Speech Bill intended to strengthen the rule of law, or to selectively silence dissent?" he asked. Subash expressed serious concern over what he described as glaring inconsistencies and hidden intent in the proposed legislation. He challenged the Congress government to clarify whether the law would be applied uniformly, particularly to its perceived ally, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), whose leaders, he alleged, have repeatedly made provocative statements against the Hindu faith without facing adequate legal consequences. "The credibility of this Bill hinges entirely on its impartial enforcement. Will the government act against those who openly insult Hindu beliefs and deities, or will selective silence continue under the guise of political convenience?" Subash asked, accusing the Congress of indulging in vote-bank politics at the cost of social harmony. Drawing parallels with developments in Karnataka, Subash termed the Telangana proposal a "copy-paste exercise" of a similar law introduced by the Congress government there. He noted that the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025, has already drawn criticism from legal experts for vague definitions and disproportionately stringent penal provisions, raising concerns over potential misuse. "The Telangana government appears to be replicating a flawed legislative model without addressing its inherent ambiguities. Laws that lack clarity often become tools of harassment rather than instruments of justice," he warned. Subash further cautioned the Congress against what he described as legislative overreach driven by political insecurity. "History is replete with examples of governments that enacted draconian measures to suppress opposition, only to face consequences when power changed hands. No party can assume permanence in a democracy," he said. The BJP also questioned the stance of AIMIM on the proposed legislation, stating that the party's position would be closely watched, as the provisions of the Bill, if applied fairly, would hold all political actors equally accountable. Reiterating its firm opposition, the BJP demanded that the Congress government either withdraw the proposed Hate Speech Bill and reconsider the move to introduce the 'Rohit Vemula Act', or subject both proposals to wider public and legal scrutiny to ensure they do not become tools of political vendetta under the pretext of regulating speech. (ANI)
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognisance of alleged violations of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP Act), particularly concerning the absence of systems for tracking children's data transfers and grievance redressal mechanisms across major digital platforms. A bench led by NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo initiated action following a complaint based on a report by think tank ASIA. The Commission has issued notices to key government bodies, including the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Communications. Copies of the notices have also been forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Commission has also sought clarification from the Ministry of Communications regarding the process for providing SIM connections to children for internet or mobile usage. Notably, there is a gap in the availability of information regarding registering SIM cards in the names of minors in India. The DPDP Act, enacted in 2023 and operationalised through rules notified in late 2025, is considered one of the most advanced data protection frameworks globally. It aims to safeguard vulnerable groups, including children, women, and the elderly, from cyber risks. While certain provisions, such as verifiable parental consent, have been granted an 18-month compliance window, several critical requirements, including data tracking, server security, and grievance redressal systems, are mandated for immediate implementation. According to the report, major platforms such as Meta Platforms, Khan Academy, WhatsApp, Grok, Gemini, Perplexity AI, and Microsoft Math Solver have yet to fully comply with these provisions. The Commission has expressed serious concern, stating that such lapses pose a significant threat to children's digital safety. It has directed the concerned entities to submit compliance reports within 15 days. The NHRC, a statutory and independent body tasked with protecting human rights in India, holds powers comparable to those of a civil court, and its members have a status equivalent to that of a Supreme Court judge. The Commission has also indicated that similar actions may be taken in the future to safeguard other vulnerable groups, including senior citizens. (ANI)
In response to the growing challenges posed by the ongoing crisis in West Asia, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is set to convene a high-level meeting on Wednesday to review the fertiliser supply and allocation across the country. The meeting will focus on assessing key issues impacting agriculture, especially in light of emerging global uncertainties and their potential effects on the agricultural sector. The primary objective is to ensure that the supply of fertilisers remains stable and equitable across the country, particularly in the wake of potential disruptions in international supply chains due to the geopolitical tensions in West Asia. Meanwhile, Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday stated in the Lok Sabha that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Central Government is committed to ensuring that farmers receive a fair price for their produce in every situation, and no effort will be spared at any level to rescue the 'annadatta' (food providers) from crisis. According to an official release from the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, he said that the NDA government has provided a strong security shield to farmers' income through record purchases at Minimum Support Price (MSP), PM-AASHA, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, price difference payment, and Market Intervention Scheme, and farmers' incomes have doubled. While answering various questions raised by MPs in the Lok Sabha, Chouhan said that to increase farmers' incomes and protect their interests, the Central Government has taken several historic steps in recent years. He informed that agricultural production has increased by nearly 44 per cent, and a comprehensive campaign has been launched to simultaneously enhance farmers' productivity and income. Chouhan added that PM Modi's government is farmer-friendly, which stands firmly with the 'annadatta' and life-giver farmer in every crisis. He said that it will never back down from the resolve to give farmers the full price of their sweat in any situation; protecting the farmer's hard work and honour is its topmost priority, a release added. Meanwhile, the ongoing conflict in West Asia has entered its fourth week, disrupting trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz. Tensions escalated following the killing of 86-year-old Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint military strikes by the US and Israel on February 28. In retaliation, Iran targeted Israeli and US assets across several Gulf countries, causing further disruptions to the waterway and impacting international energy markets as well as global economic stability. (ANI)
TMC candidate from Rashbehari constituency, Debasish Kumar, on Tuesday said that his party takes every election seriously, irrespective of the opponent, expressing confidence about the outcome in Bhabanipur. "In every election, whoever is in the opposition, we take the election seriously... The decision in Bhabanipur has already been made; we are just waiting for the results," Kumar said. Reacting to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's scheduled visit to West Bengal on March 28, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader downplayed its impact. "He (Amit Shah) also came in 2021, held a public meeting, and he will do the same this time. It won't make any difference," he added. 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. Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee is set to contest from the Bhabanipur seat, from where she will face a repeat clash with BJP leader and West Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari. Adhikari had also challenged Mamata from Nandigram in the 2021 West Bengal polls, from where he won by 1956 votes. Following her defeat, the TMC supremo contested the bypoll from Bhabanipur, as MLA Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay resigned. from the seat. West Bengal will hold polling for the elections in two phases, with the first phase scheduled on April 23 and the second phase on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 4. (ANI)
Janata Dal (United) MP Girdhari Yadav on Wednesday responded to reports of a disqualification notice against him by the party in the Lok Sabha, saying he would present his stand before the Speaker if formally questioned. "I will answer on it when I am questioned by the Speaker. I don't know what Dileshwar Kamait has said. I have no such record for any anti-party activity," Yadav told ANI. Earlier, JD(U) leader in the Lok Sabha, Dileshwar Kamait, submitted a notice to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha seeking the disqualification of Yadav, alleging anti-party activities. Earlier in July 2025, Member of Parliament Girdhari Yadav was issued a show-cause notice by Janata Dal (United) for making public statements against Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), which the party said went against its official stance and caused embarrassment. In the notice sent to Girdhari Yadav, the party reminded him that JDU has consistently supported the Election Commission of India and the use of EVMs, both when it was part of the INDIA block and now as a member of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). "In this context, your public comments on such a sensitive matter, especially in an election year, not only cause embarrassment to the party but also inadvertently lend credibility to the baseless and politically motivated allegations made by the opposition," the notice said. The party called Yadav's conduct a "lapse in discipline" and asserted that his remarks were "not in consonance with the Janata Dal (United)'s stated position on the matter." (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Dilip Ghosh on Wednesday dismissed the impact of AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi's entry into West Bengal politics, asserting that any electoral dent would affect the ruling Trinamool Congress rather than the BJP. On contesting Asaduddin in Bengal, he mentioned that Owaisi has been attempting to enter Bengal for a long time; now it is up to the public to decide whether to accept him or not. "Discussions have taken place regarding this earlier as well. The General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met with Humayun Kabir, but nothing materialised. Now they are trying again. Owaisi has been attempting to enter Bengal for a long time. If anyone conducts an experiment, the public will decide whether to accept it or not," Ghosh said. Earlier on Tuesday, AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi announced that his party will contest the West Bengal Assembly polls in alliance with former Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Humayun Kabir's newly formed Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP). "AIMIM will contest the elections in alliance with Humayun Kabir's party," he said. When asked if Owaisi would affect the BJP's votes, Ghosh said, "Where will they cut the BJP's votes? Usually, the ruling party's votes are the ones at risk. Generally, both these groups target the Muslim vote bank, which is currently with Mamata Banerjee. So, any loss will be hers. We are not worried about it." West Bengal will hold elections in two phases, with the first phase scheduled on April 23 and the second phase on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 4. Meanwhile, 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. (ANI)
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday said that over the past decade, the state has consistently showcased a "people-centric development model" despite facing significant financial constraints imposed by the Central government and persistent negative postures from the opposition. Addressing a conference, Vijayan said, "Over the past decade, Kerala has been presenting a people-centric development model. Despite the Central government creating significant financial constraints and the opposition adopting a negative stance, the LDF government has consistently protected the common man amidst corporate dominance." He noted that the state has safeguarded its public sector undertakings and industrial heritage, adding, "By safeguarding public sector undertakings and upholding Kerala's industrial heritage, the government has successfully implemented a model that turns public institutions into profitable ventures." The Chief Minister also took aim at policies pursued by national parties regarding the rubber sector, asserting that both the Congress and the BJP adopted strategies during their tenures at the Centre that led to the sector's collapse. "While the policies adopted by both the Congress and the BJP during their respective tenures at the centre led to the collapse of the rubber sector, the LDF government in Kerala provided a special focus by offering Minimum Support Prices (MSP) to support farmers." On ecological and local concerns, he referred to wildlife conflict and buffer zone issues. "A lack of significant intervention from the center regarding wildlife conflicts, the state government took a firm stand to protect residential areas in the Buffer Zone issue. By resolving the grievances of rubber farmers and standing firmly with the people of the highland regions, the government has ensured they are not left behind," said the Chief Minister in a conference. 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. Both the BJP-led NDA and Congress-led UDF seek to unseat the incumbent Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led LDF and gain control of the 140-member assembly. The LDF-led government has governed the state for around a decade. (ANI)
Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Wednesday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and CPI(M) are dealing "underhand" to defeat Congress-led UDF, exuding confidence that the alliance will return to power in the poll-bound state. Speaking to the reporters, Chennithala expressed confidence in a UDF victory, citing that the people of Kerala are disappointed by the performance of the government. "BJP and CPI(M) are working to defeat the Congress-led UDF. But this will not work in Kerala. In 2021, it was hatched by both of them, and they got the continuation of the ministry. The people of Kerala are completely dejected by the performance of the government. So, I feel that the people will not allow them to continue. And they will be determined to see that the Congress-led UDF will come to power. So, we are very confident that UDF will come back to power," he said. The Congress leader further stated that there is not a single MLA from the BJP from the last election, and this election, they are not going to open their account. "That is why they are having an understanding with CPI(M) to get some seats, and they will help them to checkmate UDF. That will not happen because the people of Kerala understood their mischief, and they will vote for UDF," Ramesh Chennithala said. He criticised the ruling party, claiming that the vital issues are not answered, and now people are totally in favour of the UDF. Chennithala said, "Now there is a complete change. People are fed up with this 10-year rule. And all the very vital issues are not answered. And people are totally in favour of Congress-led UDF. That is why we can see it in the election field. You can see the positive response of the people. That is why I am saying that we are forming the government with a comfortable majority." Regarding Rahul Gandhi's upcoming press conference and its impact on the people of Kozhikode and Kerala, he said, "Definitely, Rahul Gandhi's presence in Kerala will definitely help us to form the government. People of Kerala have had love and affection towards the Gandhi family, not just today, but for decades. So, his presence and his speech in the mammoth rally today are definitely going to help us to win this election." 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. Both the BJP-led NDA and Congress-led UDF seek to unseat the incumbent Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led LDF and gain control of the 140-member assembly. The LDF-led government has governed the state for around a decade. (ANI)
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
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) accused Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and his family of being involved in a massive TDR (Transferable Development Rights) scam, claiming that the Reddy family had been buying TDRs indiscriminately, setting the stage for a huge financial scandal. KTR stated that his previous warnings about misuse of TDRs by Congress had come to fruition with new real estate regulations that mandate the purchase of TDRs by real estate companies. "TDR is a massive scam. I clearly stated a year and a half ago that Revanth Reddy's family members and his associates are buying TDRs indiscriminately and are setting the stage for a huge scam," KTR said. "Even during last year's budget session, I explicitly mentioned that they are purchasing TDRs and would later bring in regulations making the use of TDRs mandatory. Exactly as predicted, the Congress government has now introduced new real estate regulations, directing real estate companies to forcibly purchase TDRs," he added. "This is definitely a major scandal," he asserted, adding that once his government returns to power, a comprehensive investigation into the TDR scam would be launched. KTR promised to expose the role of Revanth Reddy's family in the alleged scam, saying, "We will certainly expose the role of Revanth Reddy's family members and relatives who are buying TDRs from displaced persons for a pittance and selling them at exorbitant prices. Since every detail, who sold, who is buying, and who is reselling to whom, will be tracked in this TDR process, everyone involved in this scam will surely face consequences in the coming days." The BRS leader further went on to claim that the TDR system had been monopolised by Revanth Reddy's family, saying, "Under Revanth Reddy's rule, TDR has now turned into 'Tirupathi Reddy Development Rights.' We are aware of every aspect--into whose hands these TDRs are changing, how they are changing, and why. Revanth Reddy has turned this TDR into an ATM for his family." KTR vowed to expose the full extent of the scam and said, "We will soon hold a press conference to fully expose this TDR scam". (ANI)
The Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Jai Ram Thakur, on Wednesday said he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and discussed a range of issues concerning the state, asserting that such interactions should not be politicised. Speaking to reporters in Shimla after returning from Delhi, Thakur said that details on various issues were discussed. "I was fortunate to meet the Prime Minister. He invited me, and we discussed everything related to Himachal Pradesh," he said. Responding to questions over his visit, the BJP leader rejected criticism surrounding political meetings, saying there should be parity in how such engagements are viewed. "There should be equality. Leaders should be free to meet and discuss matters. Why should there be questions or objections when we meet our party leadership?" he pointed out. Taking a swipe at the Congress leadership, Thakur referred to visits by senior leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, suggesting that similar scrutiny is not applied in their case. "Leaders from Delhi come here and meet freely. No one talks about permissions then," he remarked. Thakur also expressed displeasure over what he termed as selective criticism. "I have serious objections to the way questions are being raised. We must have a balanced approach." Thakur said. Thakur maintained that engaging with national leadership is essential for addressing state issues and reiterated that his meeting with the Prime Minister was focused on Himachal Pradesh's concerns. The BJP leader met PM Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday. In a post on X, Jairam Thakur said, "Today, in New Delhi, I paid a courtesy call on the country's illustrious, visionary, and karma yogi Prime Minister, the honorable Shri Narendra Modi Ji, and extended my heartfelt congratulations to him for establishing a historic and inspiring record of public service "as the head of the government." On this occasion, there was a detailed and meaningful discussion on various important matters related to the interests of Himachal Pradesh. The Honorable Prime Minister Ji's simple personality, steadfast leadership, and dedication to the nation serve as an inspiration for all of us." (ANI)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin on Wednesday strongly criticised the Union government over the ongoing cooking gas shortage, stating that recent remarks by Prime Minister Narendra Modi have created unnecessary panic among the public. In a post on X, Stalin said that comparing the current situation to the COVID-19 period has alarmed people who are already struggling due to the shortage of LPG cylinders. He pointed out that the crisis has severely impacted daily life, with many restaurants shutting down and workers losing their jobs due to the disruption in gas supply. "The Honourable Prime Minister's statement that it is 'like the Covid period' has further panicked the people who are already suffering from gas shortage. Most of the restaurants have been closed, and workers are losing their jobs," the CM said. Targeting the Union government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Stalin alleged that instead of taking urgent steps to resolve the issue, it is attempting to divert public attention through discussions on constituency delimitation. He emphasised that LPG distribution and foreign policy fall under the Union government's jurisdiction, and asserted that the Tamil Nadu government has taken all possible measures within its powers to address the situation. "The BJP government, which should have found a solution to this through drastic measures, has now taken up the constituency redelineation script to divert the news from this. The AIADMK, which has given itself the opportunity to forget the people's problems and not talk about them, is asking what the state government is doing. Is the provision of cylinders and foreign policy in the hands of the state government? The state government has taken all the steps it can," Stalin added. He raised a question which he said was being asked by the public: "What is the BJP government, which is responsible for all this, doing?" On Tuesday, the Prime Minister said that India has expanded its energy import sources from 27 to 41 countries over the past decade and is working to reduce dependence on any single fuel, while accelerating domestic gas distribution, including piped natural gas and LPG, across the country. "Any crisis tests both our courage and our efforts. To ensure that the country can face such challenges effectively, continuous decisions have been made over the past 11 years. The diversification of energy imports is part of these efforts. Earlier, for energy needs such as crude oil, LNG, and LPG, imports were sourced from 27 countries. Today, India imports energy from 41 countries," the PM said. "Our government is making efforts to ensure that we do not have excessive dependence on any one source of fuel. The government is also focusing on PNG, along with LPG, in the domestic gas supply. In the last decade, unprecedented work has been done on PNG connections in the country. In recent days, this work has been further accelerated," he added. (ANI)
Ahead of the all party meeting called on the West Asia conflict, opposition MPs on Wednesday held a protest in Parliament premises over the LPG supply issue. The ongoing conflict in West Asia has entered its fourth week, disrupting trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz. Tensions escalated following the killing of 86-year-old Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint military strikes by the US and Israel on February 28. In retaliation, Iran targeted Israeli and US assets across several Gulf countries, causing further disruptions to the waterway and impacting international energy markets as well as global economic stability. TMC MP Saugata Roy said, "The government did not properly deal with the LPG crisis. People are facing a lot of difficulties. We want the LPG crisis to be resolved soon." Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said, "If the Prime Minister is present, we will present our suggestions; we have many to offer. First and foremost, what is India's role in the ongoing global crisis? Even a country like Pakistan has taken a clear stance today; they told Trump they are ready to mediate, and Trump welcomed it. Trump is fooling PM Modi... It would be better for PM Modi to talk to the opposition rather than just talking to Trump." Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said, "They (BJP) are lying that everything is fine--go to the villages, go to the cities--there is a shortage of LPG. Shortages were visible everywhere during the month of Navratri and Eid. So, as the opposition party, we will stage a protest on that issue at the gates of Parliament. We will raise the voice of the people." A day earlier, two Indian LPG carriers, Jag Vasant and Pine Gas, had successfully transited through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, marking a significant movement in energy transport. The vessels, carrying a substantial cargo of 92,612.59 MT of LPG, were seen in visuals as the Pine Gas LPG carrier crossed the critical maritime chokepoint. Ensuring the operations of these massive carriers, the vessels have 33 and 27 Indian seafarers onboard, respectively, managing the transit through the area. Following their successful passage, these vessels are now destined for India to bolster domestic energy supplies. The carriers are likely to reach Indian ports between March 26 and 28, completing their journey from the Gulf. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also called for combined efforts of the Centre and state governments to tackle the challenges posed against the nation amid the conflict in West Asia. PM Modi addressed the Rajya Sabha and called for a united voice promoting peace and dialogue globally, as the ongoing West Asia conflict disrupts trade, energy supplies, and affects the safety of millions of Indians in the Gulf. Calling the coming time a "major test" for the country, PM Modi sought cooperation from state governments and asked them to implement the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana. Addressing the Upper House of the Parliament, he said, "In the coming times, this crisis will be a major test for our country, and the cooperation of states will be crucial for success. Therefore, through this House, I would like to make a few requests to all state governments. In times of crisis, the poor, workers, and migrant companions are most affected. Therefore, it must be ensured that the benefits of the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana reach them on time. Proactive steps should be taken to ease the difficulties of migrant workers wherever they are employed." (ANI)
BJP National President Nitin Nabin on Wednesday accused the West Bengal administration of following a dual policy regarding religious permissions, claiming that citizens are forced to approach the High Court for setting up puja pandals. Speaking after offering prayers at the Dakshineswar Kali Temple in North 24 Parganas, Nabin termed the alleged disparity between permissions for Durga Puja and other religious activities as "unfortunate." BJP President Nitin Nabin, while talking to the reporters, said," I received blessings here in Maa's darbar. I also prayed before Maa Kali because in this state, one has to seek permission from the High Court to set up puja pandal while permission is given for offering namaz. This is unfortunate. We have sought Maa's blessings to make the state 'Sonar Bangla' and Viksit Bengal." Meanwhile, Nitin Nabin on Wednesday visited the historic Dakshineswar Kali Temple in Kolkata to offer prayers and seek blessings as part of his two-day organisational visit to West Bengal. The visit to the iconic shrine marks the commencement of the second day of his state tour, aimed at reviewing the party's preparedness for the upcoming assembly elections. Nitin Nabin's visit to West Bengal is a part of the party's intensified preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections. During his visit, he is scheduled to participate in a series of key organisational meetings. These meetings focus on strengthening the party's grassroots structure, reviewing ongoing activities, and streamlining coordination among party workers. He held crucial discussions with members of the state's core group leadership to assess the current political landscape and chalk out strategies for the elections. Sources indicate that the meetings include detailed deliberations on candidate selection, campaign planning, and outreach initiatives aimed at expanding the party's base in the state. The visit is being seen as significant in the BJP's broader effort to consolidate its position in West Bengal and gear up for a high-stakes electoral contest. (ANI)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will chair an all-party meeting at 5 PM on Wednesday to discuss the West Asia crisis. Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and several other ministers will also attend the meeting. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will provide a briefing on the situation in West Asia. The ongoing conflict in West Asia has entered its fourth week, disrupting trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz. Tensions escalated following the killing of 86-year-old Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint military strikes by the US and Israel on February 28. In retaliation, Iran targeted Israeli and US assets across several Gulf countries, causing further disruptions to the waterway and impacting international energy markets as well as global economic stability. A day earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also called for combined efforts of the Centre and state governments to tackle the challenges posed against the nation amid the conflict in West Asia. PM Modi addressed the Rajya Sabha and called for a united voice promoting peace and dialogue globally, as the ongoing West Asia conflict disrupts trade, energy supplies, and affects the safety of millions of Indians in the Gulf. Calling the coming time a "major test" for the country, PM Modi sought cooperation from state governments and asked them to implement the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana. Addressing the Upper House of the Parliament, he said, "In the coming times, this crisis will be a major test for our country, and the cooperation of states will be crucial for success. Therefore, through this House, I would like to make a few requests to all state governments. In times of crisis, the poor, workers, and migrant companions are most affected. Therefore, it must be ensured that the benefits of the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana reach them on time. Proactive steps should be taken to ease the difficulties of migrant workers wherever they are employed." (ANI)
Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Ram Gopal Yadav on Wednesday called for greater transparency from the Narendra Modi government, particularly on India's foreign policy, which he said was solely decided by the Prime Minister. He expressed concerns about ongoing mediation efforts by Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey amid the West Asia conflict, questioning Prime Minister Modi on India's stance. "The foreign policy of the country is solely decided by the leadership, that is, the Prime Minister of India. Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey are mediating. But the PM should have mediated, as ours is the largest democracy. The PM should tell the Parliament about what he spoke to US President Trump," Yadav told reporters here. On the government's call for an all-party meeting regarding the West Asia conflict, Yadav confirmed his party's presence. "From the Samajwadi Party, Javed Ali Khan and Dharmender Yadav will attend the meeting," he added. Regarding the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) bill being implemented in Gujarat, the SP MP criticised the law, claiming that wherever the ruling party has control, it tends to introduce laws that are against the public interest. He says, "Wherever they have their governments, they will bring laws which are against the public." Earlier, the high-level committee constituted for the implementation of the UCC in Gujarat submitted its detailed and final report to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in Gandhinagar, as per an official statement. The ongoing conflict in West Asia has entered its fourth week, disrupting trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz. Tensions escalated following the killing of 86-year-old Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint military strikes by the US and Israel on February 28. The Government of India has called for an all-party meeting on March 25 (Wednesday) at 5 PM on the West Asia crisis. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a plea against the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) advisory circular issued January 28 to standardise the protocol for India's National Song, Vande Mataram. A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, stated that the petition was filed in a premature manner and noted that the Circular on Vande Mataram has no penal consequences. "Does the January 28 notification lead to penal consequences? Is the person removed from the congregation if they don't sing the song? Your petition is based on premature apprehension; if there is any penal consequence, you may come to us. This is just a vague apprehension of discrimination which may not have nexus with the impugned directive", the Court observed during the hearing. The Court dismissed the plea by observing that it is not inclined to entertain the same as it has been filed prematurely. This comes after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had earlier released detailed guidelines for the national song Vande Mataram, stating that when both the National Song and the National Anthem are performed at an event, all six stanzas of the official version of Vande Mataram must be presented first. Some have objected to singing all six stanzas of Vande Matram and prefer to sing the first two stanzas, which were adopted as the national song by the Constituent Assembly in 1950. Meanwhile, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board on Thursday demanded the withdrawal of the Ministry of Home Affairs' notification mandating the playing of all six stanzas of Vande Mataram before the national anthem at official events. In a press statement, the Board's General Secretary, Maulana Mohammed Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi, expressed strong opposition to the government's decision, calling it unconstitutional, against religious freedom and secular values, contrary to the Supreme Court judgment, and directly conflicting with the religious beliefs of Muslims. He stated that the decision is therefore completely unacceptable to Muslims. The Maulana noted that, following Rabindranath Tagore's advice and deliberations in the Constituent Assembly, it had been agreed that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram would be used. Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind President Maulana Arshad Madani also criticised the Union government's directive to play all six stanzas of Vande Mataram before the national anthem at official events, calling it a "blatant attack on freedom of religion". (ANI)
Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai on Wednesday introduced The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, in Lok Sabha amid the ongoing budget session. The bill seeks to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, and is aimed at enhancing the transparency and accountability of foreign contributions in India. During the proceedings, Nityanand Rai moved for the introduction of the Bill on behalf of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, emphasising that it was an essential amendment for ensuring service, transparency, and the national interest. The bill faced fierce opposition from several members. Congress MP Manish Tewari took a strong stance against it, claiming that the bill suffers from "excessive delegation of essential legislative functions". "The Bill enables wide and unguided executive control over property, including the provisional and permanent vesting of assets in a designated authority. This raises serious concerns under Article 300A of the Constitution. The Bill concentrates adjudicatory, executive, and quasi-judicial powers in the same authority, undermining the principles of natural justice and separation of powers," Tewari further argued. "The provisions enabling the takeover and disposal of assets, even where partly funded by non-foreign sources, are manifestly disproportionate and may have a chilling effect on civil society activity, undermining the constitutional guarantee under Article 19(1)(c)," he said. Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Pratima Mondal also expressed her objection, calling the bill "draconian" for centralising excessive authority and undermining the federal balance. "This is a draconian Bill. It centralises disproportionate authority in the executive, weakening institutional checks and federal balance. The requirement of prior approval from the Union Government before initiating criminal proceedings under the Act introduces an element of executive filtering and unchecked discretion. Thus, I oppose the introduction of this Bill," she said. In response to the opposition's concerns, Nityanand Rai reaffirmed that the bill's provisions were intended to improve the regulation of foreign contributions, making them more transparent and accountable. "Honourable Chairperson, regarding this amendment bill, I would like to say very briefly that I felt this was such an essential amendment for service, transparency, and the national interest that it would not be opposed. During the implementation of the Act, it was felt that there is some lack of clarity in certain provisions, which led to administrative difficulties," he stated. Responding to Manish Tewari's objections, Rai said, "The policy for the management and disposal of assets is defined within the Act itself. This Bill distinguishes between temporary and permanent vesting, giving organisations a chance to regularise their status." He further defended the bill, and responded to Pratima's objections, saying, "This is only 'dangerous' for those whose intentions are flawed--those who take foreign funds for illegal conversions, for fraud, or for personal gain. This Modi government will not tolerate anyone working against the spirit of the Constitution and the national interest. This Bill is meant to make the use of foreign contributions transparent and accountable." However, despite these objections, the Chair, Krishna Prasad Tenneti, put the motion to a voice vote, and the bill was introduced. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday lauded the passage of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026, in Gujarat, calling it a historic step towards ensuring equality for all citizens in the country. In a post on X, the Union Home Minister reaffirmed the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) long-standing commitment to a uniform law for all citizens. "It has been the BJP's resolve since its inception that there should be a uniform law for every citizen in the country. Under the leadership of Modi, the BJP's state governments are continuously moving forward in this direction. I am delighted that after Uttarakhand, Gujarat has now also accomplished the historic task of passing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, thereby demonstrating its commitment," Shah said. He further congratulated Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and all the legislators who supported the bill. "For this, I congratulate Chief Minister Shri Bhupendrapbjp and all the legislators who supported this bill," Shah said. "The country should be run not on the basis of appeasement, but through equal laws for all citizens--this is both our priority and our resolve," he added. https://x.com/AmitShah/status/2036712732372705705 Earlier, Bhupendra Patel congratulated all the representatives of the State Assembly and the citizens of Gujarat following the passage of the UCC Bill. In a tweet, Patel celebrated the landmark achievement, calling it a historic moment for both Gujarat and the nation. https://x.com/Bhupendrapbjp/status/2036494505214640459 "I congratulate all the representatives of the State Assembly and all the citizens of Gujarat on the passing of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill by a majority vote. This marks a historic moment for both Gujarat and the nation," Patel wrote. With the passage of the UCC Bill, 2026, Gujarat becomes the second state in India to implement a uniform legal framework for all its citizens. The move aims to bring uniformity across personal laws related to marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption, regardless of religion or community. "The implementation of the Uniform Civil Code will establish a common legal framework for all religions and communities within the state regarding matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption," Patel continued in his tweet. The Chief Minister further emphasised the importance of equal rights for women across all religions and castes. "It will ensure that women across all religions and castes are accorded equal rights, thereby further strengthening their dignity and security," he added. The implementation of the UCC in Gujarat has been a careful and inclusive process. "Special care has been taken to ensure that no community faces any form of discrimination or injustice," Patel said. A high-level committee chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai played a crucial role in the implementation process. The committee's final report, which included a detailed study of relevant issues and extensive public consultations, was submitted to the state government. "This report involved a detailed study of all pertinent issues; the draft of the bill was formulated after visiting various districts across the state, gathering public opinion, and engaging in extensive public consultations," Patel explained. Expressing confidence in the positive impact of the UCC, Patel said, "I am fully confident that the implementation of the UCC will further strengthen the social fabric of the state. It will foster a more conducive environment for development for people belonging to all sections of society and every community." Patel concluded his tweet with a forward-looking statement, linking Gujarat's success to the broader national goal of progress. "By building a 'Developed Gujarat,' we will be able to accelerate our progress toward realising the vision of a 'Developed India'--a dream articulated by our Prime Minister Narendra Bhai Modi." The Gujarat Assembly on Tuesday passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill by a majority vote, making it the second state in India, after Uttarakhand, to implement the legislation. (ANI)
Mel Schilling, the widely recognised relationship expert and television personality best known for her role on 'Married at First Sight', has died at the age of 54 following a prolonged battle with cancer. Her death has prompted an outpouring of tributes and renewed attention on her personal life, with particular focus on the moving way her husband, Gareth Brisbane, chose to share emotional details about her final moments.

Gareth Brisbane's Heartbreaking Tribute To His 'Soulmate'

Schilling's death was confirmed by Brisbane in a heartfelt statement shared on her official Instagram account.

'Melanie Jane Brisbane-Schilling passed away peacefully today, surrounded by love,' he wrote.

Brisbane described her passing as peaceful and surrounded by loved ones. The couple, who had been together for more than a decade, shared a close bond and were raising their 10-year-old daughter, Maddie. Their relationship, which began online, eventually led to marriage in 2018 and a family life that spanned Australia, Bali, and the United Kingdom.

Brisbane, a businessman who largely remained out of the spotlight during Schilling's television career, became the central voice in announcing her passing. In his tribute, he detailed the deeply personal and emotional final moments they shared, revealing that despite her deteriorating condition, Schilling found the strength to deliver a final message to him and their daughter.

'In her final moments... she whispered a message,' Brisbane shared, describing the act as one that required all of her remaining strength and reflected her enduring love for her family. 'Even then, her only thought was for Maddie and me.'

The moment has since resonated widely, with fans and colleagues describing it as a powerful reflection of Schilling's character: selfless, compassionate and devoted to those closest to her.

Mel Schilling's Cancer Battle And Graceful Farewell

Schilling had been open about her health struggles in recent years. She was first diagnosed with colon cancer in 2023 after experiencing severe symptoms, and while initial treatment offered hope, the disease later returned and spread to her lungs and brain. Just weeks before her death, she revealed that her condition had become terminal, sharing a candid message with fans about the reality of her illness.

Despite her diagnosis, Schilling continued working and filming for much of her treatment, earning admiration for her resilience and dedication. Colleagues from 'Married at First Sight' and the broader television industry have since paid tribute to her strength and professionalism, noting that she remained committed to her work even during the most challenging periods of her illness.

Beyond her career, Schilling was widely known for her warmth and ability to connect with people, both on and off screen. Brisbane's tribute emphasised not only her public achievements but also her private role as a mother and partner.He described her as an 'incredible mum' and 'soulmate', highlighting the deep personal loss felt by their family.

As tributes continue to pour in from fans, colleagues and public figures, Schilling's legacy is being remembered not only through her television work but also through the profound impact she had on those around her.

Originally published on IBTimes UK
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Manan Kumar Mishra on Wednesday hit out at Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, describing his recent statements as unsensible for a person in his constitutional position. The leader of oppositiion stated that opposition parties should support the government. BJP MP Manan Kumar Mishra, while speaking to ANI, said, " No sensible LoP would talk like this. The entire world is passing through a phase of crisis, so this is the time to strengthen the hands of India, the government, and Prime Minister Modi... PM Modi is committed to establishing peace all over the world and in such a situation, the LoP and all the opposition parties should support the government..." Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his handling of the West Asia conflict. Amid reports of Pakistan allegedly facilitating talks between Iran and the U.S., the Congress leader alleged that PM Modi will follow the orders of America and Israel. Further criticising the Indian government's foreign policy, Gandhi declared that the Prime Minister is not working in the interest of the country at large. Commenting on the upcoming all-party meeting on the West Asia crisis, he mentioned that he wouldn't be able to attend the meeting due to a scheduled programme in Kerala. "I would not be able to attend because I have a program in Kerala. All-party meeting should take place, but a structural blunder has been made... And this cannot be fixed, especially since the Prime Minister cannot. He will do whatever America says and will not work in the interest of the farmers and the country. He will do whatever America and Israel say," said Gandhi. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for combined efforts of the Centre and state governments to tackle the challenges posed against the nation amid the conflict in West Asia. PM Modi addressed the Rajya Sabha and called for a united voice promoting peace and dialogue globally, as the ongoing West Asia conflict disrupts trade, energy supplies, and affects the safety of millions of Indians in the Gulf. On Tuesday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted extensive efforts made by the Government of India to facilitate the return of Indian nationals from the Gulf and West Asia amid regional airspace closures and flight restrictions. Two Indian LPG carriers, Jag Vasant and Pine Gas, have successfully transited through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, marking a significant movement in energy transport. (ANI)
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Minister Nimmala Rama Naidu on Wednesday met Secretary of Jal Shakti Ministry, VL Kantha Rao, who visited to inspect the Polavaram project works. The minister stated that, with the support of the central government, the Polavaram project works are progressing rapidly. Along with construction, relief and rehabilitation (R&R) works for displaced families are also being accelerated. He requested immediate approvals for pending designs required for the project construction and sought support for reimbursement related to the increased capacity of Polavaram right and left main canals to 17,500 cusecs. He also sought technical and financial clearances for the Polavaram-Nallamala Sagar project to utilise Godavari floodwaters that are currently going to waste into the sea. "Explained that, on average, about 3,000 TMC of water flows into the Bay of Bengal every year without being utilised." Naidu asked for assistance to protect coastal and riverbank areas affected by cyclones, erosion, and tidal impacts. He also requested support for strengthening river embankments of major rivers, including Godavari, Krishna, Penna, Vamsadhara, and Nagavali. Naidu also sought financial assistance for desilting and widening of the delta drains and river mouths where they meet the sea. He urged the Centre to ensure that Karnataka does not proceed with land acquisition and R&R works related to the Almatti Dam height issue, as it is under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. Kantha Rao assured support for RRR (Repair, Renovation & Restoration), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and flood management works. Earlier, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy and Andhra Pradesh CM Naidu deliberated key issues concerning water management between the two states during a meeting with Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil in the national capital. During the meeting, the Telangana Chief Minister proposed the idea of implementing telemetry in all water projects and reservoirs to measure actual water usage, which was accepted by Andhra Pradesh, according to the Telangana CMO release. Both sides agreed to allocate the Godavari River Management Board in Hyderabad and the Krishna RMB in Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh acceded to Telangana's proposal to repair the prestigious Srisailam project immediately, the release said. An Officers' and Technical Experts' committee will be established to address all pending issues between the two sides, including the long-pending water projects in Telangana for both the Krishna and Godavari river basins, it said. (ANI)
The Delhi Police Crime Branch has busted an illegal LPG racket in Sangam Vihar, South Delhi, arresting four accused and recovering 183 gas cylinders. The operation was carried out following a tip-off about suspicious storage and distribution activities in the area. According to the police, four accused have been apprehended, identified as Sher Singh, Suraj Parihar, Raghu Raj Singh, and Jitender Sharma. All the accused are registered delivery personnel of an authorised gas agency and were involved in illegal storage and refilling of LPG cylinders under the guise of distribution, according to the police. According to police officials, a total of 183 Indane gas cylinders were seized from three rented godowns, of which 154 were filled, and 29 were empty. Investigation revealed that after collecting cylinders from the agency, the accused did not deliver them to customers but instead stored them in rented godowns. There, they illegally extracted 1-2 kilograms of gas from filled cylinders and transferred it into empty ones using makeshift equipment. These refilled cylinders were then sold in the open market at higher prices. During the raids, police recovered tools used in the illegal operation, including iron pipes, electronic weighing scales, and refilling instruments from the spot. The entire setup indicated a well-organised racket operating under the cover of legitimate distribution. A case has been registered under the Essential Commodities Act and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police said further investigation is underway. (ANI)
Minister of State (MoS) Home Nityanand Rai on Wednesday introduced the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026, in the Rajya Sabha, while the INDIA bloc MPs opposed the legislation. The Bill provides for fifty per cent of posts in the CAPFs to be filled by deputation in the rank of Inspector General, and a minimum of sixty-seven per cent of the posts to be filled by deputation in the rank of Additional Director General, and all posts in the ranks of Special Director General and Director General shall be filled by deputation only. The Opposition MPs flagged that the Bill goes against the Supreme Court judgment in 2025, which called for "the number of posts earmarked for deputation in the cadres of the CAPFs upto the level of Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) should be progressively reduced over a period of time, say within an outer limit of two years." Rajya Sabha also witnessed an exchange between Chairman Harivansh and TMC MP Derek O' Brien, when the member of the House decided to go for a silent protest against the Bill. O' Brien also flagged that he was granted only a minute to put forward his objections. Derek O' Brien said, "We are objecting to this Bill. How much time do I have? Firstly, the Home Minister is not here. He is busy doing other things, and we are missing him. This is an anti-federal Bill. For the next 40 seconds, I will stand in silence to protest against the Bill and how democracy is being muzzled in this House. Are you giving me one minute? You are giving me some 'daan' (charity)... Silence is my right." Replying to him, Chairman of the House, Harivansh, said, "One minute has been allotted for you to speak. Nothing is going on record now." Meanwhile, MoS Home Nityanand Rai replied to the objections and said that the legislation does not go against the judiciary or judicial review. Rai told the House, "Under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, the Parliament is allowed to draft legislation on such matters related to national security and armed forces. The operations, duties and powers of the forces will be governed by the original Acts. There is no change expected in the consolidated funds. This Bill does not affect the established arrangement under Article 312. All the objections raised are not factually correct. This Bill does not limit judicial review and does not interfere with the judiciary's rights. It only aims to explain the administrative structure, recruitment, deputation and service-related arrangements." The statement of objective also cites Article 312 and says, "Historically, Indian Police Service officers are an integral and important part of the Central Armed Police Forces, who have been serving on deputation along with officers and members of these Forces." The financial memorandum of the Bill also mentions, "The provisions of the proposed legislation do not involve any expenditure, either recurring or non-recurring, from and out of the Consolidated Fund of India." Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also slammed the Opposition for citing the apex court judgement, saying that the legislators were "giving up their responsibility" of drafting laws. He said, "Nityanand has explained that the legislative business is necessary. I mentioned in the BAC as well. Every time you refer to the Supreme Court judgment. Judiciary is mandated to interpret the laws, to arbitrate and pass judgments, but this nation is run by the spirit of the Constitution and laws passed by the Parliament and the Assemblies. How members are willingly giving up their own responsibilities. Parliament has absolute competence to make legislation empowered by the Constitution." (ANI)
The Election Commission of India (ECI), in exercise of the powers conferred under sub-Section 1 of Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and having regard to the provisions of sub-Section (2) of the said Act, has notified the period during which the conduct and dissemination of exit polls shall be prohibited, according to a press release. Accordingly, the period from 7 am on April 9 (Thursday) to 6:30 pm on April 29 (Wednesday) has been declared as the prohibited period for conducting, publishing, or disseminating exit polls by means of print or electronic media or dissemination in any other manner whatsoever, in connection with the ongoing General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Assam, 2026. Further, it is clarified that as per Section 126(1)(b) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the display of any election matter, including the results of any opinion poll or any other poll survey, in any electronic media shall be prohibited during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for the conclusion of the poll in connection with the General Election. As per the ECI statement, the Chief Election Officer of Assam, Anurag Goel, has urged all the media houses, agencies, and stakeholders to strictly adhere to these provisions to ensure the conduct of free, fair, and transparent elections. Meanwhile, 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)
The mortal remains of the 26-year-old man Ravi Gopal were brought back to his village in Sitapur on Wednesday, a week after he was killed in an Iranian missile strike in Riyadh. Ravi died when the missile struck his workplace on March 18 in Riyadh. Speaking to ANI, Ritu Devi, Ravi Gopal's wife, recounted the horrific moment and said her husband died because of the missile strike. "We were talking to him over the phone when it suddenly got cut. My husband died because of the missile strike," said Ritu Devi. Earlier on March 20, the Ministry of External Affairs expressed deep condolences following the death of an Indian national in Riyadh on March 18, as the government continues to coordinate the repatriation of citizens caught in the escalating West Asia conflict. The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia also confirmed the fatality following recent security incidents in the Saudi capital on March 18. In an official statement, the diplomatic mission of India in Saudi Arabia, "The Embassy of India expresses its deepest condolences on the tragic demise of an Indian national in Riyadh due to recent events on March 18th." Meanwhile, the US President signalled that peace overtures were being made with Iran and that the war was coming to an end. "We're in negotiations right now. I can tell you, they'd like to make a deal and who wouldn't if you were there? Look, their navy's gone, their air force is gone, their communications are gone. pretty much everything they have is gone. I think we are going to end it. I cannot tell you for sure. We have won this... We literally have planes flying over Tehran and other parts of their country. They can't do a thing about it. For instance, if I want to take down that power plant, they can't do a thing about it... They are totally defeated... Militarily, they are dead," he said. With Israel continuing its strikes in Iran and the Iranian military launching wave 80 of its retaliatory strikes, peace remains elusive in West Asia. (ANI)
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Wednesday that all political parties, including the Opposition, have reached a "broad understanding" that a unified front will be presented by everyone regarding the current global tensions in West Asia. "I feel satisfied in telling you that the government has answered all the questions asked by the entire opposition. Finally, all the opposition colleagues have said that in this hour of crisis, whatever decision the government takes, whatever steps it takes according to the prevailing situation, everyone will support it unitedly... I believe that whatever was demanded by the opposition that such information should be given, the government has given adequate information today," Rijiju told reporters after the all-party meeting. The all-party meeting on the West Asia situation saw participation from both the government and opposition parties, with discussions focusing on the ongoing regional conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. Briefing reporters after the meeting, Rijiju thanked all participating parties and said that the government responded to all questions raised by opposition leaders. He added that opposition parties were assured that their concerns regarding the impact of the West Asia situation on India and the safety of Indian citizens were addressed in detail. "Today, an all-party meeting was called by the government on the West Asia situation. I want to thank all the members of all parties who participated in the meeting. All the opposition leaders' questions and queries were answered by the government. All the opposition parties have assured us that they will stand with the government in all the steps the government takes according to the situation," said Rijiju. "Everyone attended and participated well. All party leaders shared information and expressed their concerns on behalf of their respective parties. Opposition members asked many questions about how the situation in West Asia, arising from the conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States, will impact India, and what steps the government has taken for the Indian people. The government responded comprehensively and thoroughly," he added. He further stated that leaders from across parties actively participated in the discussions, sharing their views and seeking clarifications on India's preparedness and response strategy amid the evolving conflict. According to him, the government provided comprehensive information on all issues raised. Rijiju also said he was satisfied that all queries from the opposition had been answered and noted that there was a broad understanding that political parties would extend support to the government in any decisions taken in response to the situation. At the all-party meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the Centre on Wednesday reassured that India remains on equal footing and the overall situation arising out of the West Asia crisis is firmly under control, with no cause for concern, sources said. According to sources, a detailed presentation by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, followed by remarks from External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, highlighted that energy security remains stable, with adequate availability of crude oil, LPG and other essential supplies, and that India's strong refining capacity will ensure continued supply, including fertilisers, with shipments already arriving. Four have arrived, and more are expected. Opposition MPs flagged Pakistan's role in the conflict, to which the government replied that such references are not new, recalling its involvement since 1981 during the US-Iran diplomatic breakdown. It was also pointed out that Iran's reopening of access after five days is a positive development. The government, as per sources, emphasised its proactive diplomatic outreach, noting that New Delhi is in touch with all sides and "taking everyone on board," while maintaining that ships are coming and supply lines remain active, making this a diplomatic success for the country. On the safety front, the government stressed that there is no panic, Indian embassies are actively assisting citizens. The Centre said that evacuation plans are in place, with people's safety being the top priority. Addressing security concerns, including reports of submarine activity near Sri Lanka, it was clarified that had there been any threat to India, it would have been handled decisively. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also raised issues concerning Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, with the government noting that as soon as channels reopened, diplomatic outreach was undertaken. The government said that despite uncertainties around the continuation of the conflict, India is prepared, engaged at all levels, prioritizing its people, and confident of weathering the situation through coordinated diplomatic, strategic and economic efforts. The meeting, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, is being attended by several senior opposition leaders. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman were also among those present at the meeting. Congress leaders Mukul Wasnik and Tariq Anwar, Samajwadi Party leaders Dharmendra Yadav, and Javed Ali, CPI(M)'s John Brittas, LJP's Arun Bharti, DMK leader P Wilson and AAP's Sanjay Singh were among those present. JD(U) was represented by Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh and the party's working president Sanjay Jha. No leader from the Trinamool Congress attended the meeting. TMC MP Saugata Roy said the entire fight is ongoing with the BJP. "What meeting will we hold with them?" he asked. The conflict between Israel-US and Iran began on February 28. (ANI)
Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Swati Maliwal on Wednesday addressed the Rajya Sabha and pointed out "glaring legal inequalities" in the recently passed Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, pointing out that the sexual abuse of a transgender person attracts a maximum punishment of only 2 years, while the same crime against a cisgender woman carries a minimum sentence of 10 years. "Is a trans woman's body and dignity worth any less? For a cisgender woman, sexual abuse carries a minimum of 10 years. For a transgender person, just 2 years. This inequality must be urgently corrected," she said. Addressing the House, Maliwal pointed out that six years after the Transgender Persons Act, 2019, implementation on the ground remains deeply inadequate. Transgender Welfare Boards are absent in 11 States and Union Territories. The National Council for Transgenders has met only a handful of times. Across the entire country, there are only 23 Garima Grehs -- shelters for abandoned transgender persons spread across 17 States. Sex reassignment surgeries, mandated under the 2019 Act, remain unavailable in most government hospitals. According to na official statement, Maliwal cited the case of Jane Kaushik, a qualified transgender teacher who secured employment in two states but was forced to resign not for lack of merit, but because of her identity. She also spoke of Pranshu, a 16-year-old trans artist from Ujjain who died by suicide in 2023 following relentless online hate. "These are not isolated stories. Even today, discrimination and abuse remain the lived reality of thousands and millions of transgender persons in India for centuries," she added. Turning to the Amendment Bill itself, Maliwal argued it moves in the wrong direction. The Bill narrows the definition of transgender persons, excludes identities based on self-perception, and mandates medical certification, directly contradicting the spirit of the Supreme Court's historic NALSA judgment of 2014, which affirmed that gender identity is a fundamental right requiring no surgery, no certificate, and no State approval. "It replaces dignity with diagnosis, identity with inspection. No other citizen in this country is required to prove who they are in this manner," she said. Drawing from her eight years as Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women, Maliwal described how the certification process has become a tool of humiliation in practice. Though the law mandates certificates within 30 days, delays in Delhi have routinely stretched to months. Transgender persons have been asked degrading questions by officials, "aap meethe ho?" and told, "dekhne se toh nahin lagte trans ho." The Amendment Bill adds yet another layer of medical verification on top of this existing system of harassment. Maliwal also raised alarm over a provision in the Bill that criminalises "alluring someone to present as a transgender", calling it dangerously vague. Such language, she warned, risks targeting the families, doctors, and support systems of transgender persons. "Instead of protection, it will create fear," she said. Maliwal called upon the House to refer the Bill to a Select Committee and hold wider consultations with the transgender community. " Today, we must stand with those pushed to the margins for centuries. Let us listen to the community we claim to protect. Dignity delayed is dignity denied." The bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha today, a day after being passed in the Lok Sabha by a voice vote. (ANI)
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday gave the clarion call for the United Democratic Front's (UDF) campaign for the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, saying that the people demand a change in governance. Kharge also criticised the Left Democratic Front (LDF) over the handling of the Sabarimala gold theft case. Addressing a public rally in Kozhikode, Kharge targeted the Left Democratic Front (LDF) over the Sabrimala gold theft case, saying that the Left has "not even spared God." Launching the Congress' state campaign, he said, "Today we launch the campaign of UDF with one mission to restore Keralam to the people it belongs to. Keralam is speaking in one voice, we want change, we want UDF. LDF's 10-year record of failure. The LDF has had two full terms. 10 years to transform Kerala. What have they done and what have they shown? What is the progress? Nothing." "The LDF government did not even spare God. They stole gold from the Sabarimala temple. What can one expect from such a government and such a party? This government has completely failed to arrest people, and the CM is not caring that the Sabarimala gold has been stolen. They should be punished. Instead of punishing, he is giving them a chance to come out of jail," the Congress leader added. The Sabarimala gold theft case concerns allegations of the misappropriation of approximately 4.54 kilograms of gold from sacred temple artefacts, including the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) door frames and Dwarapalaka idols. Accused and former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) President A Padmakumar has received bail in both door frame and idol cases. "Instead of more milk booths, he has increased the number of wine shops. Keralam's debt is approaching Rs 6 lakh crore. There is a burden of almost Rs 1.7 lakhs on every single Malayali," Kharge alleged. He also alleged a "secret understanding" between the CPI(M) and the BJP, calling it the "Communist-Janta Party. He accused the BJP of fielding "weak candidates" to assist the LDF in polls. "People here say that there is a secret understanding between CPI(M) and BJP in Keralam and it has a name: Communist-Janta Party (CJP). Look at what NDA is doing here in Keralam, where they know they cannot win. BJP is fielding weak candidates specifically to help LDF. They are not trying to win; they are trying to help LDF win. Every vote for the BJP is a vote gifted to the LDF. The people of Keralam understand this clearly. The only genuine vote for change is a vote for UDF," he added. Further, the Congress chief promised free bus travel for women and an increase in welfare pension to Rs 3,000. On Congress'promises, he announced, "Free KSRTC bus travel for women and Rs 1000 a month as financial support for college-going girls, increasing Welfare Pension to Rs 3000, Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme with coverage of Rs. 25 Lakh per family, interest-free loans of up to five lakh for the youth and establishing a Special Department for senior citizens." The polling for the 2026 Kerala Legislative Assembly elections will be held in a single phase on April 9, 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 Congress-led UDF seek to unseat the incumbent Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led LDF and gain control of the 140-member assembly. The LDF-led government has governed the state for around a decade. (ANI)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday extended Ram Navami greetings to the people of the state. In his message, the Chief Minister said, "Lord Shri Ram is a symbol of our faith, and his ideal character inspires us to move forward in life. His personality is a unique example of virtues such as patience, dignity, sacrifice, penance, moral conduct, righteousness, and altruism." "The way Lord Shri Ram faced every challenge in his life with idealism and patience will remain a source of inspiration for all humanity. He urged the people of the state to strive to imbibe the ideals of Maryada Purushottam Lord Shri Ram in their lives," he further said. He expressed his hope that this sacred festival of Ram Navami brings happiness, peace, and prosperity into everyone's lives. On Tuesday, CM Dhami participated in a mass Kanya Pujan ceremony held at the Sanatan Dharma Temple. On this occasion, he extended his greetings to the people of the state on the festival of Chaitra Navratri and said that it is not merely a festival of faith, but a grand celebration of the worship of divine feminine power through devotion, faith, and cultural values. He described the worship of 1,100 young girls as extremely auspicious and appreciated the organising committee for the initiative. He said that such events play an important role in strengthening respect for women in society and reinforcing values like "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao." 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.(ANI)
North Korea's most grotesque alleged execution story has resurfaced online, but the underlying evidence is strikingly thin.

A report now circulating again claims that a North Korean general was 'slashed up' before being thrown into a tank of piranhas at Kim Jong Un's Ryongsong Residence in Pyongyang after allegedly plotting a coup. The allegation is sensational, but a review of directsource material, state reporting, intelligencelinked claims and expert analysis shows there is no publicly available primary evidence proving the killing took place.

Instead, the story appears to sit inside a wider ecosystem of murky North Korea purge reporting, where anonymous briefings, intelligence leaks and tabloid amplification have repeatedly produced dramatic claims that later proved false, exaggerated or impossible to verify.

The Piranha Claim Appears To Rest On Unverifiable Reporting

The piranha story first spread internationally in 2019 via tabloid-style coverage describing an unnamed general being cut with knives, then thrown into a tank allegedly filled with piranhas imported from Brazil. No court records, official North Korean statements, verifiable witness accounts, authenticated defector interviews or released intelligence transcripts have ever been produced to substantiate the narrative.

That gap is significant. North Korea does carry out executions, and international bodies have documented grave human rights abuses by the state, but the specific piranhatank allegation is not backed by direct documentary evidence in the public domain. The United Nations Commission of Inquiry on human rights in the DPRK catalogued executions, torture, imprisonment and enforced disappearances, but made no reference to any such execution method.

Specialist North Korea watchers have greeted the tale with marked scepticism. NK News, which tracks misinformation about the country, later listed the piranha story among the most notorious rumours about Kim Jong Un's rule, arguing that sensational and weakly sourced claims often distort public understanding of Pyongyang.

Asia Times went further in a contemporaneous analysis, tracing the claim through a highly dubious media chain and presenting it as an example of how exoticised stories about North Korea can spread with minimal evidential scrutiny.

North Korea Purge Reports Have Frequently Proved Unreliable

The reason for caution is not that executions in North Korea are implausible. It is that reporting on elite purges has often been built on fragmentary intelligence and anonymous sourcing, with some headline claims later contradicted by events.

One of the clearest cases involved Ri Yong Gil, former chief of the Korean People's Army General Staff. In February 2016, South Korean and international outlets reported he had been executed for corruption and 'factional conspiracy'. Reuters noted at the time that South Korea's National Intelligence Service declined to comment and that the report could not be independently verified.

Only months later, Ri Yong Gil resurfaced in North Korean state media, alive and serving in senior roles. The Associated Press reported in May 2016 that the official Seoul had been said to have executed was in fact alive, sharply undermining the earlier reporting chain.

That was not an isolated embarrassment. Analysts have repeatedly warned that the opacity of the North Korean system creates fertile ground for rumour, misidentification and overstatement. 38 North, a respected specialist outlet, has examined how lurid and weakly sourced stories about executions in North Korea gain traction even when evidence is fragmentary or second-hand.

What Direct Sources Do Show About State Violence In North Korea

The weakness of the piranha tale does not mean concerns about North Korean state violence are misplaced. Directsource material from the UN and human rights organisations has consistently documented severe repression, including arbitrary detention, torture, public executions and political prison camps.

The UN Commission of Inquiry concluded that officials of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea committed systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations. Its findings, based on extensive witness testimony and documentary review, described executions and disappearances as tools of state control. Those records offer a much firmer evidential basis for reporting on North Korean brutality than spectacular, singlesource execution stories.

Even so, proving the fate of specific elite figures remains notoriously difficult. North Korean state media sometimes stops mentioning an official for months or years without explanation. South Korean intelligence services, foreign governments and defectors may each offer partial fragments, but those fragments do not always align, and hard confirmation is often unavailable.

That uncertainty has surrounded other senior figures too. Reports about former foreign minister Ri Yong Ho, for example, have shifted over time, with public claims of purge or execution still hard to verify conclusively from documentary primary sources. The broader lesson is that disappearance from public view in North Korea is not, on its own, proof of death.

The Real Story Is How Weak Claims Become Viral 'Facts'

The staying power of the piranhatank story says as much about the information environment around North Korea as it does about the regime. Pyongyang's secrecy makes verification difficult, while the country's notoriety makes the most extreme allegations highly marketable.

That combination has produced a recurring pattern: an anonymous claim emerges, is echoed across secondary outlets, and gradually hardens into apparent fact through repetition rather than proof. By the time more cautious analysis appears, the dramatic version has already travelled furthest.

In this case, there is no public directsource evidence that a North Korean general was mutilated and fed to piranhas over an alleged coup plot. What the record does show is a repressive state with a welldocumented history of brutality, alongside a parallel history of sensational stories about that brutality outpacing the evidence.

Unless and until verifiable primary material emerges, the piranhatank execution account remains not an established fact, but an unproven rumour attached to one of the world's most secretive regimes.

Originally published on IBTimes UK
The Delhi High Court has granted bail to a 57-year-old man accused of rape, noting a delay of over two and a half years in the lodging of the FIR and inconsistencies in the complainant's accounts before different police stations. Justice Prateek Jalan on Tuesday granted bail to the accused, Khem Kumar, subject to furnishing a bail bond of Rs 40,000 and one surety of the like amount, with additional conditions imposed by the bench. The prosecutrix, a woman in her 50s and a Delhi University graduate who has also studied abroad, alleged that the accused -- her classmate during college in the 1990s -- raped her in May 2023 on the pretext of marriage. The FIR was lodged at Ranhola police station in December 2025. She had alleged that the accused raped her at an accommodation he had arranged for her after she separated from her parents in 2023. While granting bail, the court noted, "The first instance of sexual relations having been established was more than two and a half years prior to the subject FIR being registered. The petitioner and the prosecutrix are both mature and educated persons." The High Court also noted that the prosecutrix had not mentioned the incident of rape in a separate complaint she had filed against the accused. "The contents of the complaint made by her to the SHO, Dwarka, Sector-9, on 14.05.2023, prima facie appear to be inconsistent with the allegations now made," Justice Jalan said in his order dated March 24. The court further observed that in the subject FIR, the prosecutrix had not disclosed that she had filed a complaint before a different police station the previous day, and that the FIR registered pursuant to that complaint contained no allegation of sexual assault or rape. "On the basis of the aforesaid factors, and having regard to the fact that the charge sheet has already been filed, I am of the view that it is not appropriate to deprive the petitioner of his liberty pending trial," Justice Jalan said. Advocate Vikram Panwar, appearing for the accused, submitted that his client is a married man and that the FIR lodged on December 26, 2025, was based on allegations of sexual relations on the false pretext of marriage, with the first incident of physical relations alleged to have occurred on May 11, 2023. He further argued that the allegations in the FIR were inconsistent with the complainant's contemporaneous representation to the SHO, Dwarka, on May 14, 2023, as well as a complaint made to PS North Avenue just one day before the subject FIR was registered -- in which, he pointed out, the prosecutrix had stated that she had not made any prior complaint against the accused. On the point of delay, the counsel for the state argued that the prosecutrix had been under the impression that the accused was an officer in the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and a divorcee. The court noted that this aspect would have to be examined at trial. (ANI)
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday alleged a partnership between the Left Democratic Alliance and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing Kerala's ruling CPI(M) of "dividing people." Launching the United Democratic Alliance's (UDF) campaign for Kerala elections in Kozhikode, Rahul Gandhi alleged that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan did not fulfil the promise of 40 lakh jobs. Virtually addressing the rally, he said, "There are actually only two sides fighting here in Keralam. One is the UDF alliance, and the other is the partnership between the BJP and the LDF. The UDF unites people, listens to them, and embraces and empowers them. The LDF and their hidden partner divide people and crush them." "Modi ji promised 2 crore jobs at the national level. Keralam Chief Minister promised 40 lakh jobs in the state, and after a decade, you find that they have not given a single job to the people; in fact, they have destroyed jobs. Neither the BJP nor the LDF believe they are answerable to the people. They do not believe that the people of Keralam should be able to ask them questions," he added. The Congress leader said that he could not attend the rally in person as his mother and senior party leader Sonia Gandhi was hospitalised in New Delhi. "I would have liked to come here, but I was forced to stay in today and was unable to come. Yesterday, my mother was hospitalized and I, as a son, was quite worried about her and so decided to stay with her. I know that the people of Kerala will understand this. Last night, I was extremely worried about my mother's health. The whole night, I was only comforted by one thing. I was comforted by a nurse from Kerala who came in every hour to check on my mother," he said. Earlier today, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge gave the clarion call for the United Democratic Front's (UDF) campaign, saying that the people demand a change in governance. Kharge also criticised the Left Democratic Front (LDF) over the handling of the Sabarimala gold theft case. The Congress chief promised free bus travel for women and an increase in welfare pension to Rs 3,000. On Congress' promises, he announced, "Free KSRTC bus travel for women and Rs 1000 a month as financial support for college-going girls, increasing Welfare Pension to Rs 3000, Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme with coverage of Rs. 25 Lakh per family, interest-free loans of up to five lakh for the youth and establishing a Special Department for senior citizens." The polling for the 2026 Kerala Legislative Assembly elections will be held in a single phase on April 9, 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 Congress-led UDF seek to unseat the incumbent Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led LDF and gain control of the 140-member assembly. The LDF-led government has governed the state for around a decade. (ANI)
Union Minister Prahlad Joshi on Wednesday criticised Leader of the Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over skipping the all-party meeting held on the West Asia crisis in the national capital, calling his behaviour "irresponsible" and further questioning his alliance with India. Speaking to the reporters, Joshi accused Rahul Gandhi of appeasing Pakistan indirectly after he criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his handling of the West Asia conflict. Amid reports of Pakistan allegedly facilitating talks between Iran and the U.S., the Congress leader had earlier alleged that PM Modi would follow the orders of America and Israel. "This is the most irresponsible behaviour. Whether Rahul Gandhi is interested in the interest of India or if he is interested in spreading rumours? People have questions in their minds. Today, in a way, he appreciated Pakistan. He must first clarify whether he is in alliance with Pakistan or India. He believes and tries to make others believe, too, that whatever Pakistan says is the truth. He has spoken the language of Pakistan at every chance he got in the last 10-12 years, and now, after demanding an all-party meeting, Rahul Gandhi is also upset, and TMC is also upset. I mean, how irresponsible behaviour itself shows that they don't have any interest in India's welfare," he said. Earlier, commenting on the upcoming all-party meeting on the West Asia crisis, he mentioned that he wouldn't be able to attend the meeting due to a scheduled programme in Kerala. "I would not be able to attend because I have a program in Kerala. All-party meeting should take place, but a structural blunder has been made... And this cannot be fixed, especially since the Prime Minister cannot. He will do whatever America says and will not work in the interest of the farmers and the country. He will do whatever America and Israel say," said Gandhi. The all-party meeting on the West Asia situation saw participation from both the government and opposition parties, with discussions focusing on the ongoing regional conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. The meeting was chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and was attended by several senior opposition leaders. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman were also among those present at the meeting. Congress leaders Mukul Wasnik and Tariq Anwar, Samajwadi Party leaders Dharmendra Yadav, and Javed Ali, CPI(M)'s John Brittas, LJP's Arun Bharti, DMK leader P Wilson and AAP's Sanjay Singh were among those present. JD(U) was represented by Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh and the party's working president Sanjay Jha. No leader from the Trinamool Congress attended the meeting. (ANI)
An all-party meeting was held here on Wednesday on the West Asia crisis, with the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stating later that the opposition parties have assured that they will stand with the government in all the steps it takes to deal with the situation created by energy supply constraints. Opposition parties differed in their views about the meeting with AAP and Samajwadi Party, expressing dissatisfaction over the replies given by the government. Rijiju said later that the government gave adequate information to the queries of opposition members. "An all-party meeting was called by the government on the West Asia situation. I want to thank all the members of all parties who participated in the meeting. All the opposition leaders' questions and queries were answered by the government. All the opposition parties have assured us that they will stand with the government in all the steps the government takes according to the situation," he said. The Minister said that Opposition members asked many questions about how the situation in West Asia, arising from the conflict between Israel-US and the United States, will impact India, and what steps the government has taken for the people. "Everyone attended and participated well. All party leaders shared information and expressed their concerns on behalf of their respective parties...the government responded comprehensively and thoroughly. I feel satisfied in telling you that the government has answered all the questions asked by the entire opposition. Finally, all the opposition colleagues have said that in this hour of crisis, whatever decision the government takes, whatever steps it takes according to the prevailing situation, everyone will support it unitedly," he said "I believe that whatever was demanded by the opposition that such information should be given, the government has given adequate information today," he added. Rijiju referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks in the two Houses of Parliament and said he made an appeal to rise to meet collectively to meet any challenge. "From the government's side, all the queries and all the confusion, whatever was there, all were clearly explained by the government. The opposition parties at the end of the meeting stated, which is very important, that they thank the government for calling this all-party meeting. They also asserted that in such a difficult, challenging situation, we'll all have to stand together," he said "I think the opposition party has displayed a maturity in expressing at the end of the meeting, that in any challenging situation, they will stand with the steps taken by the government," he said Rijiju said many members wanted to know the details of the gas and petroleum supply through the Strait of Hormuz, and they were all satisfied that India secured four ships already. "So the opposition members were satisfied with the effort made by the government" He said representatives from all parties participated in the meeting except for Trinamool Congress. "I requested twice but they said they wouldn't attend because they were travelling elsewhere. Perhaps to West Bengal or somewhere else, but they said they wouldn't attend. However, the entire political spectrum, including all the other major opposition parties and those in favour, participated in the all-party meeting... I believe that after the detailed information and answers to the questions the government provided today at this all-party meeting, I believe the opposition will also stand together in times of crisis... In a way, I also saw a sense of solidarity from all opposition parties," he said. LJP(Ram Vilas) MP Arun Bharti said the government informed the meeting that it is taking all necessary steps to deal with energy supply constraints due the West Asia crisis. "Considering the war situation in West Asia, the government has assured its citizens and opposition parties that it is doing whatever preparations are needed in this situation... The government is vigilant and is firmly making its preparations so that its citizens do not face any hardship," he said. BJD MP Sasmit Patra said the primary briefing was about the energy situation, the conflict as it exists and what has been the context of it. "And where is it, where is India in this entire context? How is India prepared, especially with relating to energy crisis and whether there is an energy crisis? And second, how is India positioned geopolitically in the diplomatic front? So the government clarified and placed on record about on the geopolitics and the diplomacy," he said. Patra said there were several questions from the floor leaders. "They were also addressed on one part by EAM, Dr S Jaishankar, and one part by Hardeep Singh Puri ji. As far as energy sufficiency and energy availability is concerned, detailed information was provided in terms of how India has the necessary energy, has the necessary oil, LNG, PNG availability, and on side of external affairs, how India is handling this situation in the West Asia, diaspora and their security, and also relating to how India is positioned to take things forward from here," he said. "So I believe all the floor leaders there were reasonably reassured with the views of the government. I think there is a common consensus among the parliamentarians and the political community here that we are all together in this work to ensure that India emerges unscathed," he added. AAP MP Sanjay Singh said the government responded in its own way to queries from opposition members. "We have registered our concerns. The first concern was that the entire country is standing in line for gas cylinders... There is a situation of confusion and panic among the people. On this, the government's stance was that we are producing 60% of LPG domestically, and there will be no shortage of gas, we also have reserves of oil... Overall, the questions we raised about why we needed to get involved in this war, why the Prime Minister went on a trip two days before the war, or why Pakistan is acting as a mediator, etc., the government responded in its own way," he said. Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav said the government did not give satisfactory answers. "In the meeting, opposition parties have raised questions. No specific satisfactory answers to the opposition's questions have been given from the government's side... The Samajwadi Party raised all issues in the national interest, which included questions on the country's honour and the shortage of LPG," he said. CPI MP John Brittas said opposition members highlighted concerns about the government's response to developments in Iran and broader regional tensions, along with potential impacts on LPG, CNG, and crude oil availability in India. He added that the government maintained it was actively engaged, assured sufficient fuel supplies, and expressed hope for an early end to the conflict. BJP MP Brij Lal criticised some opposition parties for not attending the meeting in full strength, alleging that certain leaders prefer public narratives over constructive engagement in formal discussions. According to sources, a detailed presentation was given at the all-party meeting by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, followed by remarks from External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. The sources said the government highlighted that energy security remains stable, with adequate availability of crude oil, LPG and other essential supplies, and that India's strong refining capacity will ensure continued supply, including fertilisers, with shipments already arriving. Four have arrived, and more are expected. Opposition leaders flagged Pakistan's push to mediate in the conflict, to which the government replied that such references are not new. The government, as per sources, emphasised its proactive diplomatic outreach, noting that New Delhi is in touch with all sides and "taking everyone on board," while maintaining that ships are coming and supply lines remain active, making it a diplomatic success for the country. On the safety front, the government noted that Indian embassies are actively assisting citizens. It said that evacuation plans are in place, with people's safety being the top priority. Addressing security concerns, including reports of submarine activity near Sri Lanka, it was clarified that had there been any threat, it would have been handled decisively. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also raised issues concerning Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, with the government noting that as soon as channels reopened, diplomatic outreach was undertaken. The government said that despite uncertainties around the duration of the conflict, India is prepared, engaged at all levels, prioritising its people, and confident of weathering the situation through coordinated diplomatic, strategic and economic efforts. The meeting, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, was attended by several opposition leaders. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman were also among those present at the meeting. Congress leaders Mukul Wasnik and Tariq Anwar, Samajwadi Party leaders Dharmendra Yadav, and Javed Ali, CPI(M)'s John Brittas, LJP's Arun Bharti, DMK leader P Wilson and AAP's Sanjay Singh were among those present. JD(U) was represented by Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh and the party's working president, Sanjay Jha. No leader from the Trinamool Congress attended the meeting. TMC MP Saugata Roy said the entire fight is ongoing with the BJP. "What meeting will we hold with them?" he asked. The conflict between Israel-US and Iran began on February 28. (ANI)
Former National Security Advisor of the United States, John Bolton, said that US President Donald Trump is buying time to see if Iran is ready for talks. Bolton, in a conversation with ANI, said that Trump doesn't do policy in a way that most people understand. He said, "When we say he (Donald Trump) is transactional, it means that he doesn't think strategically. He doesn't even do policy the way most people understand. He could see Monday morning Washington time that the Asian markets, Japan, China, had gone down 3.5 per cent, so fearing the opening of the New York markets in a couple of hours, he may have thought I need to do something to buy time. That would be one reason, and at the same time, see if the Iranians really have any interest in having discussions. So he has bought himself some time until Friday. The test of whether these discussions were ever realistic, we'll see in a few days." When asked about his views on Iran rejecting US President Trump's five-day postponement of all strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure, Bolton said it is "hard to believe that these countries are close to an agreement". "I think Trump has reached out through intermediaries to see if there's some kind of deal that can be cut with the regime in Tehran, perhaps through Turkey, through Pakistan, perhaps others. All we know for sure is that Iran denies that anything is going on, although they say they have received notes. The regime of the Ayatollahs sees this attack as existential for them. It's not clear what Trump's objective is. I think it should be regime change, but I'm not sure that's his objective. I think Trump is so transactional that there's always a risk that he would look for some way to declare victory and get out. At this point, that has to mean opening the Strait of Hormuz," he added. ' Meanwhile, Trump said that the US has won the war, adding that Iran's navy and air force have been completely decimated. Speaking at the Swearing-In Ceremony for the Secretary of Homeland Security, Trump said, "We're in negotiations right now. I can tell you, they'd like to make a deal and who wouldn't if you were there? Look, their navy's gone, their air force is gone, their communications are gone. pretty much everything they have is gone." (ANI)
Following a high-level telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, former US National Security Advisor John Bolton has offered a sharp assessment of the diplomatic exchange, particularly regarding India's energy interests and the security of the Strait of Hormuz. In an interview with ANI, Bolton suggested that the dialogue likely centred on India's continued reliance on Iranian energy supplies amidst the ongoing regional conflict. Highlighting the strategic motivations behind New Delhi's outreach, Bolton noted, "It's pretty clear. I think that from PM Modi's point of view, continuing to get oil from Iran is something he's interested in, and two Indian ships made it through the Strait of Hormuz this morning." However, the former official raised concerns over the broader geopolitical implications of these transactions. He argued that the financial flow from such trade directly impacts the regional military balance, stating, "But that's providing revenue to Iran, which enables their war machine to continue." In light of these dynamics, Bolton indicated that the two leaders may have explored shifting India's energy procurement to more stable sources. "So I'm sure they had a conversation about other alternative places to buy oil rather than Iran," he remarked. Taking a characteristically firm stance on maritime security, Bolton advocated for a more aggressive US intervention to disrupt Iranian exports. "I think the US should blockade the Strait and prevent Iranian ships carrying Iranian oil from getting in or out." This assessment follows PM Modi's detailing of the diplomatic exchange on X, where he stated, "Received a call from President Trump and had a useful exchange of views on the situation in West Asia. India supports de-escalation and restoration of peace at the earliest. Ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure and accessible is essential for the whole world." The conversation occurred as President Trump signalled a potential de-escalation, extending his deadline for potential strikes on power plants by five days, citing Iran's "chokehold on the key oil shipping route Strait of Hormuz." Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, PM Modi underscored India's proactive role in navigating the crisis through constant communication. "Since the start of the war, I have held two rounds of phone conversations with the heads of state of most countries in West Asia. We are in continuous contact with all the Gulf countries, and we are also in touch with Iran, Israel, and the United States," he said. The Prime Minister further highlighted that New Delhi is leveraging its diplomatic capital to protect its maritime and diaspora interests, reiterating that the safety of the Indian community in the region remains a "priority." Amidst this diplomatic push, the government clarified the legal status of the contested waters. Rajesh Sinha, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Shipping, dismissed concerns regarding transit rights, stating, "It is an international strait. Permission was not required before. It is not required even today." In a significant operational breakthrough, two Indian LPG carriers, Jag Vasant and Pine Gas, successfully transited through the strategic Strait of Hormuz on Monday. The vessels, carrying a substantial cargo of 92,612.59 MT of LPG, were part of a group of 22 Indian-flagged vessels that became stranded following the escalation of the conflict. The Union Government confirmed that these tankers are anticipated to arrive at Indian shores within the next forty-eight hours. Highlighting the importance of these shipments, the cargo is equivalent to roughly a day's cooking gas consumption for the entire country. Emphasising the commitment to maritime security, Sinha told reporters, "Ultimately, we want to secure safe passage of all our vessels that are stranded in the region." The safe transit of these energy carriers occurs against a backdrop of earlier statements from Iran asserting it would not allow "enemy countries' ships" to pass through the Strait. (ANI)
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Wednesday said President Donald Trump has made it clear that Washington will not allow Iran to possess a nuclear weapon. Hegseth, while speaking at the Swearing-In Ceremony for the Secretary of Homeland Security, said that it was the first time in history that Iran's military had been so obliterated. "Never in history has a modern military, Iran had a modern military, been so rapidly and historically obliterated, defeated, from day one with overwhelming firepower. You have a choice, as we loiter over the top of Tehran, about your future. The President has made it clear that you will not have a nuclear weapon. The war department agrees, our job is to ensure that. We are keeping our hand on that throttle as long and as hard as is necessary to ensure that the interests of the United States of America are achieved on that battlefield. He has been very clear with us about what we need to accomplish, creating the conditions for them never to have a nuclear capability, and that is exactly what we are doing in a historic fashion," he said. Meanwhile, President Trump said that if his administration had not ended the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Tehran would have had a nuclear weapon. "If I didn't end the horrible Barack Hussein Obama Iran nuclear deal in my first administration, they would have had a nuclear weapon 3 or 4 years ago. They would have used it. We obliterated their nuclear potential," he said. JCPOA was an agreement between Iran and the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council). On those who are involved in the Iran negotiations from the US administration, Trump said, "JD (Vance) is involved. Marco is involved. Jared Kushner is involved. Steve Witkoff is involved, and I am involved." US President Donald Trump said that the US has won the war, adding that Iran's navy and air force have been completely decimated. (ANI)
Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Tarique Rahman, on Wednesday extended his condolences on Genocide Day, which is observed on March 25 since 1971. Rahman recounted how Pakistan killed Bangladeshis in the name of 'Operation Searchlight". In a post on X, he said, "March 25, 1971, is observed as Genocide Day. On the occasion of Genocide Day, 1 pay my deepest respect to all the martyrs. In the history of freedom-loving Bangladesh, 25 March 1971 remains one of the most disgraceful and brutal days. On that dark night, the Pakistani occupation forces carried out one of the most heinous genocides in history against the unarmed people of Bangladesh in the name of 'Operation Searchlight"." https://x.com/trahmanbnp/status/2036485539444982074?s=20 "They indiscriminately opened fire on teachers, intellectuals and innocent civilians at various places, including Dhaka University, Pilkhana and Rajarbagh Police Lines, killing many people. The genocide of 25 March was a pre-planned massacre. Why this organised killing spree could not be resisted remains a matter of historical research regarding the visible role of the political leadership of that time," he added. Rahman called for people to honour the sacrifices made by those who died. "However, on the night of 25 March, the 8th East Bengal Regiment in Chattogram formally initiated armed resistance against the genocide by declaring 'We Revolt'. Through this resistance to genocide, the long nine-month armed Liberation War began. To convey the value and significance of independence to the present and future generations, it is essential to know about the genocide of 25 March as well. Let us all strive to honour the sacrifices of the martyrs by establishing in the state and society the spirit of the great Liberation War - equality, human dignity and social justice," he added. Rahman called for citizens to build a just, developed, prosperous, self-reliant and democratic Bangladesh. "Let us work together to build a just, developed, prosperous, self-reliant and democratic Bangladesh. I pray to the Almighty Allah to grant forgiveness and eternal peace to the departed souls of all the martyrs. On the occasion of Genocide Day on 25 March. I wish every success to all the programmes organised to observe the day," he said. Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, a human rights organisation working against religious discrimination, has warmly welcomed the resolution introduced on March 20 in the second session of the 119th Congress of the United States House of Representatives by Congressman Greg Landsman, calling for the recognition of the 'genocide' committed in Bangladesh during the Great Liberation War of 1971. (ANI)
The Israel Defense Forces on Wednesday said that a missile fired by Iran fell in Beirut. In a post on X, the IDF said, "A ballistic missile fired by the Iranian Regime fell in Beirut following multiple launches directed toward Israel. Once again, the Iranian regime shows it doesn't care who gets hurt in its efforts to target Israel." https://x.com/IDF/status/2036511187785990564?s=20 Meanwhile, the Israeli military has ordered the evacuation of residents from seven neighbourhoods in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, Beirut. Spokesman Avichay Adraee said the Israeli military would continue to attack Hezbollah infrastructure throughout different parts of the southern suburbs, as reported by Al Jazeera. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported earlier that shrapnel from an interception by a foreign naval vessel had landed over a series of towns north of Beirut and led to some light injuries, as quoted by Al Jazeera. The Israeli military said that it killed a Quds Force operative in Lebanon during a strike on Hazmieh, in the Beirut area, but outside of the city's southern suburbs. In a statement, the army and domestic security agency Shin Bet said naval forces carried out the attack on Monday, killing Mohammad Ali Kourani, whom they claim was involved in planning attacks under the direction of Iranian-linked groups, as per Al Jazeera. The Quds Force is one of five branches of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. There has been no immediate comment from Iranian or Lebanese officials regarding the claim. Meanwhile, earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump said that the US has won the war, adding that Iran's navy and air force have been completely decimated. Speaking at the Swearing-In Ceremony for the Secretary of Homeland Security, Trump said, "We're in negotiations right now. I can tell you, they'd like to make a deal and who wouldn't if you were there? Look, their navy's gone, their air force is gone, their communications are gone. pretty much everything they have is gone." (ANI)
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense detected the presence of 16 sorties of Chinese aircraft, 10 naval vessels and two official ships around its territorial waters as of 6 am (local time) on Wednesday. Of the 16, 13 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern and eastern part ADIZ. In a post on X, MND said, "16 sorties of PLA aircraft, 10 PLAN vessels and 2 official ships operating around Taiwan detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 13 out of 16 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern and eastern part ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/2036609007012745557?s=20 Earlier on Tuesday, MND detected the presence of three sorties of Chinese military aircraft, nine vessels and an official ship around itself. In a post on X, the MND said, "3 sorties of PLA aircraft, 9 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 3 out of 3 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern part ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/2036246622967873653?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. (ANI)
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra teardown by iFixit provides a detailed examination of Samsung's latest flagship, revealing a combination of intelligent engineering decisions and frustrating repair limitations.

While the device excels in performance and design, its repairability tells a more complicated story.

Screen Replacement Is More Complicated Than Expected

As iFixit described in its YouTube video, one of the biggest concerns highlighted in the teardown is the difficulty of replacing the display. Accessing the screen connector requires removing the back panel and disassembling most of the internal components.

This design significantly increases the time, effort, and cost required for what is typically one of the most common smartphone repairs. For everyday users and repair technicians, this contributes to the inconvenience that could impact long-term ownership.

Battery and USB Port Design Stand Out

Despite the drawbacks, Samsung earns praise in key areas. The battery removal system is notably more user-friendly compared to many competing flagship devices, making replacements less intimidating.

The USB port is another highlight, as it is relatively easy to access and replace. Given that charging ports are among the most frequently repaired components, this design choice improves overall practicality and serviceability.

Camera Repairs Add Extra Complexity

The camera system, however, introduces additional challenges. All camera modules are connected beneath the mainboard, meaning technicians must remove the entire board before performing any camera-related repairs.

According to GSMArena, this extra step increases repair difficulty and time, particularly for users dealing with damaged lenses or faulty sensors. The front-facing selfie camera is also difficult to access, further limiting repair convenience.

Repairability Score and Industry Comparison

Overall, the Galaxy S26 Ultra receives a provisional repairability score of 5 out of 10. While strengths like battery and port accessibility help its rating, the complex screen and camera repairs weigh it down.

Experts suggest that improved availability of spare parts could raise the score closer to 6 out of 10, putting it in line with competitors like Google's Pixel devices and slightly behind modern iPhones.

Originally published on Tech Times
Former Diplomat Suresh Goel said the decision by US President Donald Trump of a five-day postponement of all strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure is a welcome move only if it holds in practice. Goel, while talking to ANI, said that the move is a ruse by Trump to bring down crude prices. "As far as the 5-day ceasefire is concerned, that's a welcome move only if it holds in practice. Even if US President Trump has told the Department of War not to undertake any such attacks, Iran has denied any conversation or discussions with the USA. In fact, Iran has said that this could have been a ruse by US President Trump to bring the crude prices down. Nobody speaks the truth in a war. Therefore, till we have a confirmed outcome, we will have to take everything with a pinch of salt. I do hope that these 5 days can lead to a more durable political solution," he said. US President Donald Trump said that the US has won the war, adding that Iran's navy and air force have been completely decimated. Speaking at the Swearing-In Ceremony for the Secretary of Homeland Security, Trump said, "We're in negotiations right now. I can tell you, they'd like to make a deal and who wouldn't if you were there? Look, their navy's gone, their air force is gone, their communications are gone. pretty much everything they have is gone." On how hopeful he is that the peace negotiations with Iran will work out, Trump said, "I think we are going to end it. I cannot tell you for sure. We have won this... We literally have planes flying over Tehran and other parts of their country. They can't do a thing about it. For instance, if I wanna take down that power plant, they can't do a thing about it... They are totally defeated... Militarily, they are dead." Trump pointed out that Iran will not have any nuclear weapons. (ANI)
Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has sharply criticised what he described as the collapse of international law in practice, accusing Western nations of applying double standards in conflicts ranging from Gaza to Ukraine. In a post on X, Araghchi pointed to what he called silence over aggression by Israel and the United States against Iran, while acknowledging German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier's condemnation of violations against Iranians as a rare stance. "International law is dead in practice--driven by Western double standards on Gaza vs. Ukraine and silence on Israel-US aggression on Iran," he said. https://x.com/araghchi/status/2036535845407031633 "Still, credit to President Steinmeier for condemning the violations against Iranians. Those who value the rule of law should also speak up," Araghchi said. According to German news platform DW, speaking at an event marking the 75th anniversary of the re-establishment of the German Foreign Ministry, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that the US-Israeli attacks on Iran are "a violation of international law." Earlier, on March 23, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke to his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi. Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a post on X, "On March 23, FMs Sergey Lavrov & Seyed Abbas Araghchi spoke over the phone. The Ministers discussed the deterioration in the Persian Gulf caused by US-Israeli aggression. They also voiced concern over the conflict's dangerous expansion into the Caspian region." Sergey Lavrov stressed the categorical unacceptability of the US-Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear infrastructure, including the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, which creates unacceptable risks for the safety of Russian personnel and could lead to catastrophic environmental consequences for all countries of the region without exception, an official statement said. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said that the US has won the war, adding that Iran's navy and air force have been completely decimated. Speaking at the Swearing-In Ceremony for the Secretary of Homeland Security, Trump said, "We're in negotiations right now. I can tell you, they'd like to make a deal and who wouldn't if you were there? Look, their navy's gone, their air force is gone, their communications are gone. pretty much everything they have is gone." (ANI)
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has announced carrying out the 80th wave of its retaliatory Operation True Promise 4. IRGC claimed to have struck strategic points and military centres in Israel's northern side, besides pummelling American outposts across the region. In a statement on Wednesday, the IRGC said the latest phase was staged by the Corps' Aerospace Force in support of the "proud offensives," carried out by Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement against Israeli targets, and the residents of southern Lebanon, who have been bearing the brunt of Israeli aggression. "Strategic points and military centres located in the northern occupied territories were smashed under the heavy and sustained missile attacks of the IRGC's Aerospace Force," the statement read. The IRGC said the military command of Israel's army in the northern city of Safed, responsible for coordinating attacks and defences along the territories' northern borders, was among the primary targets. The statement described the strikes as the opening of a series of pre-announced operations against the "child-killing Zionist regime." The Corps said northern assembly points of Israel forces and the Gaza belt would be subjected to heavy missile and drone attacks, emphasizing that the IRGC would not relent the slightest while it carries out this bout of counterstrike's. The IRGC further stated that targets in central Israel, including Tel Aviv, Kiryat Shmona, and Bnei Brak, alongside US military bases of Ali al-Salem and Arifjan in Kuwait, al-Azraq in Jordan, and Sheikh Isa in Bahrain, were struck with liquid- and solid-fuel precision missiles and attack drones. Operation True Promise 4 began on February 28, momentarily after the United States and Israel conducted strikes on Iran. The Corps has vowed to sustain the reprisal until "complete victory." Meanwhile in a video posted by Fars News on Wednesday, the Military spokesperson took a jibe at the US President Donald Trump negotiation claim, saying that the situation had reached a stage where the Americans were negotiating with themselves ."The strategic power you used to boast about has now turned into a strategic defeat...Do not label your defeat as an 'agreement.' The era of your promises has come to an end. Today, there are two fronts in the world: Truth and Falsehood. No freedom-seeking truth-seeker will be deceived by your media waves. The level of your internal conflicts has reached the stage where you are negotiating with yourselves. There will be no more talk of your investments in the region, nor will you ever see the former prices of energy and oil again, until you understand that stability in this region is guaranteed only by the powerful hand of our armed forces," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson further underlined that the Iranian forces would never come to terms with the US-Israel forces. (ANI)
Despite claims by US President Donald Trump that negotiations with Iran were underway and the conflict could soon end, the Pentagon is expected to deploy troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East as the war enters its fourth week, according to CBS News. The news report said, citing a source familiar with the planning, that the Pentagon is planning to send elements of the division, including a command component and some ground forces, to the region. Citing a US official, CBS reported that the deployment could involve fewer than 1,500 troops. US President Trump had earlier confirmed that negotiations were on with Iran, claiming that the war was going to end. "We're in negotiations right now. I can tell you, they'd like to make a deal and who wouldn't if you were there? Look, their navy's gone, their air force is gone, their communications are gone. pretty much everything they have is gone. I think we are going to end it. I cannot tell you for sure. We have won this... We literally have planes flying over Tehran and other parts of their country. They can't do a thing about it. For instance, if I want to take down that power plant, they can't do a thing about it... They are totally defeated... Militarily, they are dead," he said. The Iranian perspective on the ongoing conflict, however, differed from US President Trump's claims. In a video posted by Fars News, the Iranian Military spokesperson took a jibe at the US, saying that the situation had reached a stage where the Americans were negotiating with themselves. "The strategic power you used to boast about has now turned into a strategic defeat...Do not label your defeat as an 'agreement.' The era of your promises has come to an end. Today, there are two fronts in the world: Truth and Falsehood. No freedom-seeking truth-seeker will be deceived by your media waves. The level of your internal conflicts has reached the stage where you are negotiating with yourselves. There will be no more talk of your investments in the region, nor will you ever see the former prices of energy and oil again, until you understand that stability in this region is guaranteed only by the powerful hand of our armed forces," the spokesperson said. Also, Iran released footage of the 80th wave of Operation True Promise 4, launching missiles towards US-Israeli positions in the region even as US President Trump indicated that a negotiated settlement was on the horizon. There has, been no formal response from the Iranian side to the latest overture from Trump. The Iranians on Tuesday had denied reports of any negotiations with the US, claiming that peace would only be achieved once the US-Israel stopped its campaign. With the Iranian military taking a belligerent stand even as it launched wave 80 of its retaliatory strikes, peace remains elusive in West Asia. (ANI)
Amidst much trumpeting of American military prowess, President Donald Trump's attack on Iran seems to have bogged down as Tehran maintains de facto control over the Strait of Hormuz. All the while, Beijing is watching how the US military is prosecuting this war, and it will doubtlessly be applying principles to its own designs on Taiwan. On 3 March, the Chinese military's official international press account, under the handle China Military Bugle, listed five broad lessons from the Iran war: the deadliest threat is the enemy within; the costliest miscalculation is blind faith in peace; the coldest reality is the logic of superior firepower; the cruelest paradox is the illusion of victory; and the ultimate reliance is self-reliance. Addressing each point in greater detail, one might argue that the first is a top priority of Chairman Xi Jinping. Through a long-running campaign against corruption - which intensified in recent months - Xi has winnowed the ranks of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The two highest-profile members removed recently were Central Military Commission members Generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli. In fact, of the figures who were PLA generals in 2022, or who were promoted to three-star ranks since then, an astonishing 41 of 47 have been confirmed as being or likely to have been purged. Xi is adamant about cleansing the threat from within and instilling ideological purity in the PLA. The second China Military Bugle point seems to highlight the vanity of relying solely on diplomacy. After all, Iran was supposed to be negotiating with the USA when it was attacked. Beijing is not just talking about national security, but it is aggressively acting on it. An example is the fact that China increased its 2026 defence budget by 7%, meaning the PLA will receive RMB1.91 trillion (US$277 billion) this coming year. The third lesson the PLA highlighted is the reality of superior firepower. Israel and the USA are illustrating their ability to act swiftly on intelligence and to overpower the enemy's defences. Indeed, China's defence budget highlighted key priorities such as advancing development of PLA mechanization, informatization and intelligentization, as well as accelerating development of advanced weaponry and equipment. It is more difficult to discern the meaning when the China Military Bugle's refers to the cruellest paradox being the illusion of victory. It may be an allusion to the fact that military operations can achieve tactical gains, but risk long-term blowback and regional instability. Trump, for example, has not delineated clear strategic aims for his Iran campaign, and he has already created a strategic quagmire as Iran squeezed shut the Strait of Hormuz. China describes Taiwan as a core interest, and it is working hard to conquer this outlying island. Much has been made of the 2027 milestone that Xi set for the PLA to "ensure the achievement of the 2027 centennial military building goal". Indeed, next year represents the PLA's 100th anniversary, but many have misinterpreted this benchmark as a Taiwan invasion deadline. The USA confirmed in its 2026 Annual Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community, issued on 14 March, that next year does not mark an invasion deadline. It stated: "The Intelligence Community assesses that Chinese leaders do not currently plan to execute an invasion of Taiwan in 2027, nor do they have a fixed timeline for achieving unification." It continued, "However, China publicly insists that unification with Taiwan is required to achieve its goal of 'national rejuvenation' by 2049 - the 100th year anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Beijing almost certainly will consider a variety of factors in deciding whether and how to pursue military approaches to unification, including PLA readiness, the actions and politics of Taiwan, and whether or not the US will militarily intervene on Taiwan's behalf." The US assessed that the PLA is making steady but uneven progress on capabilities to attempt to seize Taiwan and deter or defeat the USA. Nonetheless, Thomas Shugart, Adjunct Senior Fellow with the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security, commented, "One thing that I do find odd in the report is this set of statements: that China's leaders don't have a fixed timeline for achieving unification, but that they publicly insist (and they do, repeatedly) that unification is required by 2049. Because 2049 sure sounds like a fixed timeline, if a little further off. And lots of stuff (like a seizure of Taiwan if they don't cooperate) has to happen before then. So, is it that China's private planning doesn't match those public statements? I'm confused." The fifth China Military Bugle lesson highlighted the criticality of self-reliance. This has been a priority for years, and was reiterated in the recently announced 15th Five- Year Plan when it mentioned "strategic material security". This means stockpiling critical resources and key commodities has become a matter of national security. Around 45% of China's oil comes through the Strait of Hormuz, though Beijing gets just 13.4% of its oil from Iran. For those who argued Trump's attack on Iran was a mastermind campaign to hobble China, this was quickly exposed as an error when the American president cancelled sanctions on Russia, including oil exports to China and elsewhere. China already has enormous leverage over rare earths, forcing Trump to back down on tariffs last year. These five points are broad in nature, but China will be watching at the granular level too. The War Zone website interviewed Joseph Votel, a former commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), about this. "Well, I think they're paying very close attention to this. They're learning how we respond to counterfire. They're very closely following our air tactics and how we're working with the Israelis on that. They're looking at the targets we're going after, and trying to understand the scheme of fires associated with all of this." The former CENTCOM commander continued: "They'll be watching what our readiness rates are throughout all of this, and our ability to marshal forces and how quickly we can do this. So I think they're absorbing a lot just about how we're operating." How the USA will deal with the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint is of particular relevance to the PLA, for China would need to cross the hurdle of the Taiwan Strait in any invasion of its democratic neighbour. Another concern is the US moving troops and assets from the Indo-Pacific region to support operations against Iran. For example, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, normally forward deployed to Okinawa, was dispatched to the Gulf region. Votel assessed, "I think they're paying attention to what this is doing to our readiness in other areas, frankly. We continue to move resources out of the Asia-Pacific, and they certainly are taking note of that." There was alarm when the PLA dramatically decreased aircraft incursions into Taiwan's air defence identification zone and across the Taiwan Strait median line. Total sorties in February were less than half of February 2025 levels, and there were even eleven days with no sorties whatsoever. Some saw it as China doing something sinister or preparing for an attack. However, K. Tristan Tang, a Nonresident Fellow at the National Bureau of Asian Research, offered this viewpoint. "The decline in aircraft sorties likely reflects the PLA's ongoing efforts to explore and refine a new model of joint training." Further, Tang said the trend did not begin in February, as signs had already appeared in the second half of 2025, as air and naval activity around Taiwan gradually declined. Tang added, "Some observers suggest that the PLA's combat readiness may have been significantly affected by recent purges. However, the pattern of joint combat readiness patrols does not support that explanation. Between January 1 and March 11, the PLA conducted seven joint combat readiness patrols in 2026, compared with nine in 2025 and seven in 2024." He insisted, "If the PLA's combat readiness had been seriously degraded, we'd expect both the frequency and scale of these patrols to be smaller than in previous years. Taken together, the available evidence suggests that ongoing military training reform -particularly the transition toward joint training - may be the more plausible explanation for the recent decline in aircraft sorties around Taiwan." Charles Lyon Jones, Research Fellow at the Lowy Institute, also highlighted, "For China, the US-led campaign may prove a valuable lesson in how to disrupt continuity of government and the military chain-of-command during an invasion of Taiwan. But it may yet become a cautionary tale of what can go wrong after a successful decapitation strike." China intends to incorporate decapitation strikes against civilian leadership and the military chain of command into its strategy against Taiwan. The PLA even built a replica of Taipei's presidential zone. Yet, despite the Israel-US decapitation strike against Iran, Lyon Jones pointed out, "Assassinating a democratically elected leader and installing a Beijing proxy may not coerce Taiwanese into submission, but steel their resolve to fight the new occupiers." He said, "If the US and Israel cannot succeed in changing the Iranian regime and gaining the support of the Iranian people, he will have little prospect of doing so in Taiwan." But what if the PLA manages to land on Taiwan? One lesson is that high-tech air campaigns are deceptively easy, but that ground campaigns are bloody, even against an overmatched opponent. That will be alarming to the PLA, and is already witnessed in Trump's reluctance to commit ground troops to Iran. Another detail China will be watching is the US expenditure of munitions. David Axe, writing for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, stated, "The so-far lopsided conflict offers important lessons for the Asia-Pacific. It has revealed just how many munitions it takes to attack and defend during a back-and-forth bombardment." Axe identified defensive weaponry as the issue. "Swatting down the majority of the roughly 800 ballistic missiles Iran has fired at bases and cities across the region, US and allied forces have expended perhaps 2,000 very expensive missile interceptors that US industry builds at rates far too low to immediately replenish inventories." THAAD and SM-3 interceptors, designed to target ballistic missiles, are in short supply. Axe commented: "For China, a much bigger missile power than Iran ever was, that's an opportunity. THAAD and SM-3 interceptors are the best, and in some cases only, defences against the best Chinese ballistic missiles. Before 28 February, US forces had too few of their best interceptors to defeat a determined Chinese attack. Now they have even fewer, and it will be years before there's any prospect of that meaningfully changing, given that a THAAD missile ordered today will be delivered around 2030." Axe believes the PLA has a window of 3-4 years when the missile gap between China's offensive missiles and American defensive ones will be widest. "That may be the best time for Beijing to strike," he warned. Axe concluded: "No, the US and its allies need interceptors if they hope to win a major war in the Pacific. Thanks to the war on Iran, they simply won't have enough interceptors for years to come. Victory in the east is less assured than ever." If the USA can eliminate the Iranian regime once and for all, perhaps it could completely pivot to the Asian region. However, the US is likely to fail in this objective, leaving a running sore in the Middle East for years to come. As Sam Roggeveen of the Lowy Institute remarked, "The worst case will be highly advantageous for Beijing. The US may have triggered a cycle of escalation that provokes Tehran to use thousands of cheap drones or even ground forces against one of its near neighbours; it may bring an even more repressive and extremist government to power that races to nuclear-weapons capability; or it may provoke a civil war and create a failed state. All these scenarios entangle the US further in the Middle East. And in the process, it will have expended precious stocks of munitions that will weaken its deterrent against China." (ANI)
Israel's Envoy to the United Nations Danny Danon has denied any knowledge of possible peace talks between Iran, the United States and Israel. Addressing a media stakeout at the United Nations on Tuesday (local time) he said the goal was to ensure that Iran did not gain nuclear capability. "I'm not familiar with our participation in such talks. It's important to note that we continue with the operation. As we speak, Israel and the US, we continue to target military targets in Iran. We'll continue to do that. Now, when you speak about negotiations, we know that at the end of any operation or conflict, you have to go to diplomacy. And we will make sure that the outcome will be that Iran will not have the nuclear capability, will not have the ballistic missiles capability, and that we will achieve the goals that we put forward only a month ago. I think we accomplished a lot. I'm not sure that the Iranians realize that, but we accomplished a lot. We have weakened the regime. But we have to make sure that we don't create the condition for them to go back to where they were. We want to create a different reality on the ground," he said. The Israeli envoy claimed that Israel had always advocated for peace in the region while the Islamic regime was the opposite. "One should ask himself about every nation: who is bringing stabilization to the area, and who is bringing chaos? Israel is a stabilizing force in the region. We want peace. Allow me to answer that. We sign peace treaties, we promote peace, we pray for peace. When you look at the Iranian regime, they are doing exactly the opposite. They have attacked 13 countries in one month. You know, Israel exists for 77 years. We never had war with 13 countries combined. So today you understand that Iran is a problem for instability and Israel is a source for peace and stability. Thank you," Danon said. Earlier, addressing the UN Security Council, Dannon accused the Iranian regime of backing terror elements like Hamas. "The Iranian regime armed proxies like Hamas, funded terror, and prepared for this moment. And now we are dismantling it. Together with our American allies, Israel has carried out over 8,500 strikes targeting missile launchers, weapons production facilities, and command centres. We have destroyed key elements of the regime's command structure. We have eliminated the figures driving this aggression," he said. "Now they are trying to blackmail the international community. It will not work, and we cannot allow it to work. Today, these missiles carry conventional warheads. Imagine what they could do if they had nuclear ones. There is a cost to this operation: for Israelis, for our neighbours across the Gulf, and for the Iranian people. It is not a cost we ignore, but it is a cost we cannot afford to avoid because the threat we are facing is existential. For weeks, Israelis have lived in and out from bomb shelters, day after day, under Iranian missile fire. Just this weekend, Iranian missiles struck civilian areas in Arad and Dimona. This is the intent of the regime: to cause bloodshed, to kill, and to destroy our people," he added. The Israeli envoy's remarks came even as US President signalled that peace overtures were being made with Iran and that the war was coming to an end. "We're in negotiations right now. I can tell you, they'd like to make a deal and who wouldn't if you were there? Look, their navy's gone, their air force is gone, their communications are gone. pretty much everything they have is gone. I think we are going to end it. I cannot tell you for sure. We have won this... We literally have planes flying over Tehran and other parts of their country. They can't do a thing about it. For instance, if I want to take down that power plant, they can't do a thing about it... They are totally defeated... Militarily, they are dead," he said. There has however been no formal response from the Iranian side to the latest overture from Trump. The Iranians on Tuesday had denied reports of any negotiations with the US claiming that peace would only be achieved once US-Israel stopped its campaign. With the Iranian military taking a belligerent stand even as it launched wave 80 of its retaliatory strikes, peace remains elusive in West Asia. (ANI)
North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un has defended his country''s decision to maintain nuclear weapons, saying the ongoing war involving Iran demonstrates the need for a strong military deterrence, according to the South Korean state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). In remarks reported by KCNA, Kim on Tuesday, in a speech to North Korea''s Supreme People''s Assembly, accused the United States of carrying out "terrorism and invasions" across different regions, referring to Washington''s ongoing conflict with Iran, though he did not directly mention US President Donald Trump. "Dignity, interest and the final victory of a country can only be guaranteed by the most powerful might," the KCNA quoted Kim as saying. " Whether the enemies choose confrontation or peaceful coexistence, that''s their choice, and we are ready to respond to any choice." He vowed to further advance North Korea''s "defensive nuclear deterrence" and maintain a "prompt and precise" response posture for its nuclear forces to address "strategic threats" to national and regional security, as reported by KCNA. North Korea "will continue to solidify its status as a nuclear weapons state ... while aggressively staging campaigns to crush any provocations by hostile forces," Kim said, as quoted by KCNA. In the same address, Kim also escalated rhetoric toward South Korea, formally declaring it the "most hostile nation." North Korea "officially" recognised South Korea as the most hostile nation and will thoroughly ignore and disregard it through the clearest remarks and actions," Kim was quoted by KCNA as saying, warning of "merciless" consequences if Seoul carries out any actions that provoke Pyongyang. Meanwhile, US President Trump had earlier confirmed that negotiations were on with Iran, claiming that the war was going to end. "We''re in negotiations right now. I can tell you, they''d like to make a deal and who wouldn''t if you were there? Look, their navy''s gone, their air force is gone, their communications are gone. pretty much everything they have is gone. I think we are going to end it. I cannot tell you for sure. We have won this... We literally have planes flying over Tehran and other parts of their country. They can''t do a thing about it. For instance, if I want to take down that power plant, they can''t do a thing about it... They are totally defeated... Militarily, they are dead," he said. There has been no formal response from the Iranian side to the latest overture from Trump. The Iranians on Tuesday had denied reports of any negotiations with the US, claiming that peace would only be achieved once the US-Israel stopped its campaign. With the Iranian military taking a belligerent stand even as it launched wave 80 of its retaliatory strikes, peace remains elusive in West Asia. (ANI)
Israel Defence Forces on Wednesday said that they had struck two key naval cruise missile production sites in Tehran. In its post on X, IDF said, "IAF fighter jets targeted facilities used by the Iranian regime to develop and manufacture long-range naval cruise missiles capable of destroying targets at sea and on land." IDF also said it had struck Iran's central explosives production facility in Isfahan, used by the regime to develop materials for weapons. The site had been previously targeted, and recent efforts to restore its capabilities were identified. In parallel, dozens of additional targets were struck, including ballistic missile launch sites, weapons production facilities and air defence systems. According to the IDF, 3,000 plus strikes across Iran since the start of Operation Roaring Lion Yesterday, the IDF targeted IRGC command centres, weapons storage facilities, and aerial defence systems. On Tuesday, an additional 50 plus targets were struck, including ballistic missile storage and launch sites. Meanwhile, Israel's Health Ministry reported that in the past 24 hours, 204 injured people have been taken to hospitals as a result of the conflict with Iran, bringing the number of hospitalizations due to the fighting to over 5,000. Among those treated in hospitals over the past day, one is in serious condition, nine are in moderate condition, and 184 are in good condition. The ministry says that since the beginning of the war with Iran on February 28, 5,045 people have been admitted to hospitals, 120 of whom are currently hospitalized. Earlier, US President Trump had earlier confirmed that negotiations were on with Iran claiming that the war was going to end. "We're in negotiations right now. I can tell you, they'd like to make a deal and who wouldn't if you were there? Look, their navy's gone, their air force is gone, their communications are gone. pretty much everything they have is gone. I think we are going to end it. I cannot tell you for sure. We have won this... We literally have planes flying over Tehran and other parts of their country. They can't do a thing about it. For instance, if I want to take down that power plant, they can't do a thing about it... They are totally defeated... Militarily, they are dead," he said. There has however been no formal response from the Iranian side to the latest overture from Trump. The Iranians on Tuesday had denied reports of any negotiations with the US claiming that peace would only be achieved once US-Israel stopped its campaign. With the Iranian military taking a belligerent stand even as it launched wave 80 of its retaliatory strikes, peace remains elusive in West Asia. (ANI)
The Iranian Ambassador in Islamabad Reza Amiri Moghadam has said there had been no talks between Washington or Tehran, after US President Donald Trump signalled that there had been peace overtures between the two sides. https://x.com/irna_arabic/status/2036711785336561826?s=20 According to IRNA news the Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan was quoted as saying, "The current war is the result of America's betrayal of the negotiations." Earlier, Israel's Envoy to the United Nations Danny Danon has denied any knowledge of possible peace talks between Iran, the United States and Israel. Addressing a media stakeout at the United Nations on Tuesday (local time) he said the goal was to ensure that Iran did not gain nuclear capability. "I'm not familiar with our participation in such talks. It's important to note that we continue with the operation. As we speak, Israel and the US, we continue to target military targets in Iran. We'll continue to do that. Now, when you speak about negotiations, we know that at the end of any operation or conflict, you have to go to diplomacy. And we will make sure that the outcome will be that Iran will not have the nuclear capability, will not have the ballistic missiles capability, and that we will achieve the goals that we put forward only a month ago. I think we accomplished a lot. I'm not sure that the Iranians realize that, but we accomplished a lot. We have weakened the regime. But we have to make sure that we don't create the condition for them to go back to where they were. We want to create a different reality on the ground," he said. The Israeli envoy claimed that Israel had always advocated for peace in the region while the Islamic regime was the opposite. "One should ask himself about every nation: who is bringing stabilization to the area, and who is bringing chaos? Israel is a stabilizing force in the region. We want peace. Allow me to answer that. We sign peace treaties, we promote peace, we pray for peace. When you look at the Iranian regime, they are doing exactly the opposite. They have attacked 13 countries in one month. You know, Israel exists for 77 years. We never had war with 13 countries combined. So today you understand that Iran is a problem for instability and Israel is a source for peace and stability. Thank you," Danon said. These remarks from the Iranian and Israeli side come after US President signalled that peace overtures were being made with Iran and that the war was coming to an end. "We're in negotiations right now. I can tell you, they'd like to make a deal and who wouldn't if you were there? Look, their navy's gone, their air force is gone, their communications are gone. pretty much everything they have is gone. I think we are going to end it. I cannot tell you for sure. We have won this... We literally have planes flying over Tehran and other parts of their country. They can't do a thing about it. For instance, if I want to take down that power plant, they can't do a thing about it... They are totally defeated... Militarily, they are dead," he said. With Israel continuing its strikes in Iran and the Iranian military launching wave 80 of its retaliatory strikes, peace remains elusive in West Asia. (ANI)
The Iranian Navy has issued a direct warning to the United States, stating that its aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, is being closely monitored and faces potential strikes if it approaches Iranian territory. According to a report by the state broadcaster Press TV, Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani warned that the USS Abraham Lincoln is under constant surveillance and will be targeted by the Army Navy if it enters the range of Iran's missile systems. The naval threat follows a broader dismissal of American influence by senior military officials in Tehran, who have characterised Washington's recent diplomatic overtures as a facade. Press TV reported that Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, stated on Wednesday that the "strategic power" previously flaunted by the US has now "turned into a strategic defeat." These remarks come in the wake of a significant de-escalation by US President Donald Trump, who recently stepped back from a 48-hour ultimatum to launch strikes against Iranian power plants. This shift occurred after the Islamic Republic issued a stern warning that any such aggression would result in the reciprocal targeting of every energy and power installation across the region. Addressing the change in the American stance, Zolfaqari remarked that "if the self-proclaimed superpower of the world could have escaped this predicament, it would have done so by now. Do not call your defeat an agreement," he said. The spokesperson's comments appear to be a direct rebuttal to President Trump's claims on his Truth Social platform, where the US leader suggested that both nations had engaged in "very good and constructive conversations over the past two days regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in [West Asia]." However, Press TV cited an informed source within Tehran who flatly contradicted the American narrative, clarifying on Monday that no official communication has taken place between the two capitals. Zolfaqari echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the era of relying on Washington's word has passed. "The era of your promises is over. Today, there are only two fronts in the world: truth and falsehood. And every freedom-seeking pursuer of truth will not be deceived by your media waves," he added. The spokesperson further mocked perceived internal chaos within the US administration, sarcastically questioning if the "level of your infighting reached the point of negotiating with yourselves?" This rhetoric highlights the deep-seated scepticism in Tehran regarding current American diplomatic strategy, extending to a grim assessment of Western economic interests in the region. Press TV reported Zolfaqari's assertion that neither previous levels of US investments nor former energy and oil prices would ever return. The official maintained that regional security is now dictated by Tehran's military capabilities, stating that "stability in the region is ensured by the powerful hand of our armed forces," and further defining the situation as "stability through [our] power." Zolfaqari made it clear that there would be no return to the previous status quo, insisting that such a possibility is off the table unless "the very thought of taking [military] action against the Iranian nation is completely erased from your vile minds." As noted by Press TV, the spokesperson reaffirmed Iran's uncompromising position, declaring that "our first and last word from day one has been, is, and will be: someone like us will not come to terms with someone like you--not now, and not ever." (ANI)
Stories of animals fleeing to safety or acting frantic just before earthquakes surface time and again, fueling endless curiosity about whether animals predict earthquakes through hidden senses. These animal behavior disasters accounts span continents, from rural farms to coastal villages, blending ancient folklore with reports from recent seismic events. Observers note dogs pacing, birds vanishing from skies, and snakes emerging from burrows days ahead of tremors.

Historical Anecdotes of Animals Predicting Quakes

Ancient texts and modern eyewitnesses alike describe wildlife shifting gears hours or days before the ground shakes.

In 373 B.C., Greek historian Thucydides recorded rats, dogs, and birds abandoning the city of Helice days before a massive quake and tsunami wiped it out.

China's 1975 Haicheng earthquake (magnitude 7.3) saw snakes slithering from hibernation in winter and livestock stampeding wildly; officials evacuated over a million people based partly on these animal behavior disasters signals, saving countless lives.

Italy's 2016 Amatrice quake sequence had farmers spotting goats refusing food and chickens ceasing to lay eggs up to 20 hours prior; a BBC Future article dives into these tales.

Future article dives into these tales. Buffalo in Thailand bolted for hills minutes before the 2004 tsunami crashed ashore.

During that Indian Ocean disaster, elephants trumpeted and charged inland, flamingos ditched shallow breeding grounds, and dogs refused to leave homeslocals in some spots followed and survived.

Snakes in Japan wriggled free before the 2011 Tohoku quake.

Cows in Greece milled restlessly before 1956 tremors.

While not every story holds up under scrutiny, the sheer volume suggests something more than coincidence in how animals predict earthquakes.

Scientific Studies on Animal Behavior Disasters

Researchers have chased these leads with sensors, cameras, and data logs, turning folklore into testable hypotheses. A standout Italian study from 2016-2017 tracked over 300 farms via motion detectors during a swarm of quakes, including the devastating magnitude 6.6 Norcia event. Animalscows, pigs, dogsshowed a 50% spike in activity for stretches over 45 minutes, up to 20 hours before seven out of eight strong shakes above magnitude 4.0 hit.

That same research flagged the eighth quake only after it struck, but the pattern held firm enough to intrigue seismologists. Globally, a review of 729 reports cataloged odd behaviors like fish jumping from ponds or toads halting spawning five days before a magnitude 6.3 event in Greece. NASA's explorations, covered in a YouTube deep-dive, point to China's Nanning bureau monitoring 143 snake nests for 48-hour warnings, building on the 1975 success.

Explanations hinge on animals detecting p-wavesthose initial, faint rumbles humans missor shifts in underground radon gas, static electricity from grinding rocks, or Earth's magnetic field flickers. Toads in one experiment abandoned breeding sites right as very low-frequency electromagnetic signals spiked, per a study in Physics and Chemistry of the Earth. Iron particles in animal bodies might act like tiny compasses, sensing these precursors long before seismographs twitch.

Skeptics counter that weather fronts, predators, or mating seasons explain most fussing around. Yet a PMC analysis outlines a chain: crustal stress builds, releases low-frequency sounds, tweaks ionosphere signals, and prompts animal flight responses. Not foolproof, but hybrid systemsanimal cams linked to AIcould sharpen forecasts where tech alone falls short.

Italian Farms (2016-17): 50% activity surge, up to 20 hours before quakes, accurate for 7/8 events. Chinese Snakes (Ongoing): Nest abandonment 48 hours ahead, key to 1975 evacuation success. Greek Toads (2009): Spawning halt 5 days prior, linked to electromagnetic shifts.

Dogs deserve their own spotlight here. Owners worldwide report pets whining, hiding under beds, or bolting outside in the final five minutes before shaking starts60% of cases in one survey. Their acute hearing picks up infrasound vibrations, and social media now crowdsources these alerts for real-time mapping.

Skeptical Views and Gaps in Evidence

Not everyone buys the hype. Smithsonian voices caution that animals fidget constantlybarking at thunder, chasing shadowsso pinning restlessness on quakes demands ironclad controls. Random behaviors mimic quake prep too often, and no lab has reliably trained critters to signal incoming rumbles on cue.

Seismology's own track record stings: even billion-dollar arrays rarely nail predictions beyond aftershock odds. A PreventionWeb piece notes animals might sense seconds-ahead vibrations, not hours, limiting their oracle status. Still, dismissing wholesale ignores patterns like wildlife dodging the 2004 tsunami's worst hits while humans perished.

Tsunami and Broader Disaster Instincts

Earthquakes spawn tsunamis, and animal reactions extend there too. Post-2004 autopsies found few animal corpses amid human devastation, hinting at preemptive evacuations. Cows, goats, cats, and birds marched inland post-undersea quake but pre-waves, per survivor tales, echoed in IFAW journals.

Volcanoes draw parallelsbirds reroute before Italy's Vesuvius stirred in 1944, deer flee Yellowstone's geothermal zones during swarm quakes. Floods see ants building higher nests, bees vanishing from hives. These animal behavior disasters threads weave a survival tapestry, evolved over eons in shaky habitats.

Possible Mechanisms Behind Animals Predicting Earthquakes

Piecing it together, animals likely tap multisensory edges: ears for infrasound below 20Hz, noses for gas leaks, skin for air pressure drops, brains for magnetic twitches. Lab rats freak before shake-tables activate; zebrafish school tighter near fault simulations. A Science of the Total Environment paper ties toad dips to ionospheric glitches pre-quake.

No single smoking gun, but convergence of signalsvibes, volts, vaporsgives wildlife a head start. Humans might hack this via pet wearables logging heart rates or apps flagging owner posts on frantic Fido.

Harnessing Animal Signals for Safer Futures

Anecdotes stack up, studies tease patterns, and tech beckons collaborationanimals predict earthquakes not as psychics, but as nature's front-line detectors. From Haicheng's millions spared to Italy's farm forecasts, real-world wins nudge science forward. Casual nods to BBC's disaster-detective animals or NASA's snake-watch keep the conversation grounded.

Picture apps pinging alerts from your dog's zoomies or wildlife cams spotting flock flips. In quake-prone spots like the Philippines or California, blending animal behavior disasters intel with satellites could buy critical minutes. Questions lingerhow far ahead? Which species shine?but instincts honed by evolution demand respect. The next seismic whisper might just save your neighborhood.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do animals really predict earthquakes?

Animals often show unusual activity like restlessness or fleeing before quakes, with studies noting patterns up to 20 hours ahead in some cases, such as Italy's farm animals spiking 50% in movement. However, skeptics point out no conclusive proof exists, as behaviors could tie to weather or stress rather than seismic events.

2. Which animals sense earthquakes best?

Dogs lead reports with whining or hiding in 60% of owner accounts right before shaking; elephants detect infrasound vibrations; snakes abandon nests 48 hours early in Chinese monitoring. Toads, birds, cows, and fish also feature in global anecdotes.

3. How do animals detect disasters before humans?

They pick up p-waves, radon gas shifts, electromagnetic changes, or low-frequency sounds humans miss, thanks to sensitive hearing, iron in bodies acting as magnetic sensors, or foot pads for vibes. Elephants and birds excel at infrasound below 20Hz.
Former Israeli spokesperson Eylon Levy has asserted that neutralising Tehran's military threats is a fundamental prerequisite for establishing a long-term economic partnership with India and ensuring the success of the proposed India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). In an interview with ANI, Levy stated that, "Ending the Iranian regime's ability to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, to bomb Dubai Airport, to bomb civilian and energy targets in the region is absolutely critical in order to build that shared prosperity and economic infrastructure with our friends in the region, most importantly with the great people of India." Highlighting the strategic importance of the trade route, which was a major point of global discussion prior to the October 7 attacks, Levy noted that for Israel, ensuring maritime and regional security is vital to developing the corridor. "For Israel, it is absolutely critical to ensure maritime and regional security so we can develop that trade corridor we've been trying to build for the last few years. Before the October 7th massacre, the world was talking about building a trade corridor that would go from India through the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel and connect it to Europe," he said. Levy accused the leadership in Tehran of deliberately attempting to sabotage these economic integration efforts to maintain regional instability. "The Iranian regime is trying to frustrate that trade corridor. It is trying to sow chaos and violence in the region so that the pro-stability actors in the region cannot grow and cannot prosper," the former spokesperson stated. Regarding reports of a 15-point diplomatic proposal sent by the United States to Iran aimed at ending the ongoing conflict, Levy expressed significant skepticism, suggesting the Iranian regime's ideological stance makes a peaceful resolution unlikely. "If there is a diplomatic agreement in which the Iranian regime that is sworn to death to America, death to Israel, agrees to stop being a threat and to be a peaceful actor, Israel will, of course, welcome that. But the Iranian regime is rejecting that. Unfortunately, I don't see any prospect for the Iranian regime accepting America's demands," he remarked. Delivering a blunt assessment of the military situation, the former spokesperson claimed that the Iranian leadership has been effectively incapacitated. "It's clear that the Iranian regime has lost the war. It lost its entire leadership in the first few seconds of the war. Since then, Israel and the United States have been systematically destroying the Iranian regime's ability to continue threatening its neighbours," he claimed. Levy pointed to the continued use of aerial weaponry by Tehran against civilian targets as justification for the ongoing military operations by the US and Israel. "We've seen how Iran has been firing missiles and drones into civilian areas, airports, energy, and infrastructure. Israel and the U.S. are systematically destroying that ability," he said. Despite these military setbacks, Levy warned that Tehran remains defiant and continues to reject negotiations while "laughing in the face of the United States." He observed, "They're rejecting negotiations. They think they are in a place to insist on demands. This is not over because the Iranian regime is not interested in stopping being a threat to its neighbours. It's not interested in stopping its nuclear program, ballistic missiles, support for proxy armies that have caused violence and terrorism across the region." (ANI)
The Central government is closely monitoring the evolving situation in the Gulf region, with authorities maintaining constant coordination to ensure the safety and well-being of Indian nationals living and working abroad, informed the Ministry of External Affairs. Additional Secretary (Gulf) Aseem R Mahajan confirmed that a dedicated control room has been established to provide round-the-clock assistance, while communication channels remain open with state governments and the Indian diaspora. The Ministry of External Affairs has activated a 24x7 helpline to respond to queries and emergencies. Officials stated that they are issuing regular, updated advisories to keep Indian citizens informed about travel, safety measures, and regional developments. Assistance is being extended across multiple areas, including visa facilitation, logistics, and evacuation planning if required. Addressing the media, Aseem R Mahajan said, "We are closely monitoring the evolving situation. The Ministry has dedicated a control room to stay in touch with the Union Territories and State governments. A 24x7 helpline has been established to maintain communication with the Indian diaspora. Regular advisories and all kinds of visa logistics assistance are being provided. As of today, 426,000 passengers have travelled on 2,199 flights operated by airlines between the UAE and India." Mahajan also briefed on the number of flights that are operating and the death of an India national in the Gulf amid the ongoing war. Air connectivity between India and several Gulf countries remains operational, though some disruptions have been reported due to airspace restrictions in parts of the region. Authorities noted that hundreds of flights continue to operate between the UAE and India, along with services from Oman and Saudi Arabia. However, certain airspaces, including those over Kuwait and Bahrain, have been affected, leading to rerouting and adjustments in flight schedules. "Additionally, 80 flights are operating from Oman to Saudi Arabia and India. The airspace over Qatar remains open, while non-commercial flights are operational in Kuwait and Bahrain. Gulf Air is facilitating flights from Saudi Arabia to India. Various international and national routes are being facilitated, including Armenia, with 1,430 passengers. A total of 326 citizens are being repatriated from Israel via Jordan. We are in touch with the families of those affected." The government is also actively facilitating the movement of Indian nationals from sensitive areas. Evacuation efforts through alternative routes, including via Jordan and Saudi Arabia, are ongoing to ensure safe passage. Officials emphasised that contingency plans are being updated continuously in response to changing ground conditions. In a separate development, the government confirmed the death of an Indian national abroad. The mortal remains have been brought back to India, and authorities are in touch with the bereaved family to provide support and assistance. Efforts are also underway to ensure the early repatriation of other Indian nationals who wish to return home. "The mortal remains of an Indian national who passed away have arrived in India today. We continue to coordinate the early repatriation of all affected nationals." The situation remains dynamic, and the government has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding Indian citizens overseas through coordinated diplomatic and logistical measures. (ANI)
As tensions between Israel, Iran and the United States enter the fourth week, Palestine's Ambassador to India Abdullah Abu Shawesh on Wednesday said the widening regional conflict is exacerbating the already dire situation for Palestinians, warning that the crisis in Gaza is "deepening day by day". In an interview with ANI, Shawesh urged India to take "significant steps" to push Israel to end its aggression against the Palestinian people. "The crisis in Gaza is deepening day by day. This is a factual situation," the envoy said when asked about the impact of war on the Palestinian people. "Do you know how many Palestinians have already been killed in the West Bank? This war, launched by America and Israel, is affecting us," the envoy added. He said the ongoing confrontation involving Israel, Iran and the United States is not only worsening the situation on the ground but also diverting global attention from Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories. Describing the West Asia conflict as part of a "long historical process", Shawesh said it cannot be viewed in isolation. "There is a mistake in treating this as a war that started only weeks ago. This conflict goes back more than a century, to developments such as the Balfour Declaration. Without addressing the root causes, there will be no real solution," he said. The envoy said Palestinians are already facing a devastating situation, which has been further aggravated by the current escalation. "What is happening now is negatively affecting us, while we are already enduring severe conditions on the ground," he said, pointing to continued violence in both Gaza and the West Bank. Raising concerns over the humanitarian situation, he said Palestinians continue to face daily attacks, displacement and acute shortages of basic necessities. "The suffering is not limited to Gaza. Across Palestinian territories, people are facing violence, displacement and denial of basic needs," he added. On whether the ceasefire brokered in October has brought some relief, Shawesh said: "There is nothing called a ceasefire. It is the biggest trap that the international community has fallen into. Israel continues to kill Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank every day. There is no ceasefire.' At least 689 Palestinians have been killed across Gaza by Israeli forces since the start of the "ceasefire" in October, Al Jazeera reported. Referring to recent international reports, including those by UN officials, the envoy alleged serious human rights violations against Palestinian detainees and civilians, including abuse and denial of access to humanitarian agencies. Warning of wider regional consequences, he said continued escalation and lack of accountability risk fuelling further instability. "If there is no accountability, it risks encouraging more instability across the region," he said. Calling for a political resolution, Shawesh reiterated support for a two-state solution and urged the international community to act in accordance with international law. "The solution is clear--ending occupation and ensuring equal application of international law. Without that, the cycle of violence will continue," he said. He said, "Highlighting India's ties with both sides, he said New Delhi could play a constructive role. "India has good relations with both Palestine and Israel, and it can take significant steps to push for an end to the aggression against the Palestinian people." (ANI)
Former Israeli spokesperson Eylon Levy has claimed that the Iranian regime has essentially "lost the war" following the thorough dismantling of its military command and missile infrastructure by a joint US-Israeli operation. In an interview with ANI, Levy highlighted the massive reduction in Tehran's strike capabilities. "It's clear that the Iranian regime has lost the war. It lost its entire leadership in the first few seconds of the war. Since then, Israel and the United States have been systematically destroying the Iranian regime's ability to continue threatening its neighbours," he stated. Describing the pattern of Iranian attacks on non-military areas, Levy dismissed suggestions that Israel had miscalculated the regime's capabilities. "The Iranian regime is firing at Israeli residential neighbourhoods. It's firing ballistic missiles into people's houses. The Iranian regime is deliberately firing ballistic missiles with warheads of up to 500 kg, sometimes ballistic missiles with cluster munitions that explode in the sky and scatter over a 10-mile radius to hit civilian targets," he explained. He noted that the regime's power to strike back has been significantly compromised. "The Iranian regime's ability to retaliate is severely degraded from what it expected at the beginning of the war. Israel has destroyed Iran's ballistic missile industry, so they can no longer build more ballistic missiles. The threat from the Iranian regime is already much less than it was just three weeks ago because of how effectively the US-Israeli coalition has demolished the Iranian war machine," the former spokesperson added. Shifting to the broader geopolitical implications, Levy underscored the necessity of regional calm for international trade, specifically regarding the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). He suggested that securing these routes is a key focus for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump. "For Israel, it is absolutely critical to ensure maritime and regional security so we can develop that trade corridor we've been trying to build for the last few years. Before the October 7th massacre, the world was talking about building a trade corridor that would go from India through the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and connect it to Europe," Levy remarked. He further alleged that Tehran is employing "chaos and violence" to obstruct this regional connectivity. "The Iranian regime is trying to frustrate that trade corridor. It is trying to sow chaos and violence in the region so that the pro-stability actors in the region cannot grow and cannot prosper. Ending the Iranian regime's ability to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, to bomb Dubai Airport, to bomb civilian and energy targets in the region is absolutely critical in order to build that shared prosperity and economic infrastructure with our friends in the region, most importantly with the great people of India," he said. Even with the reported existence of a 15-point US peace plan, Levy remains highly doubtful regarding a diplomatic breakthrough. "If there is a diplomatic agreement in which the Iranian regime that is sworn to death to America, death to Israel, agrees to stop being a threat and to be a peaceful actor, Israel will of course welcome that. But the Iranian regime is rejecting that. Unfortunately, I don't see any prospect for the Iranian regime accepting America's demands," he noted. Levy warned that Tehran remains obstinate despite its current military disadvantages, suggesting that the regime's underlying goals prevent a cessation of hostilities. Levy said, "The Iranians are laughing in the face of the United States. They're rejecting negotiations. They think they are in a place to insist on demands. This is not over because the Iranian regime is not interested in stopping being a threat to its neighbours. It's not interested in stopping its nuclear program, ballistic missiles, support for proxy armies that have caused violence and terrorism across the region." (ANI)
The Prime Minister of India received a call from the President of the United States Donald Trump, where both leaders exchanged views on the escalating situation in West Asia, informed Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. During their conversation, the Prime Minister reiterated India's commitment to de-escalation and the swift restoration of peace in the region. "The Prime Minister underlined the importance of ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure, and accessible, noting its critical importance for global peace, stability, and economic well-being," said Jaiswal. Both leaders agreed to stay in touch and continue efforts toward peace and stability in West Asia. "Additionally, the Prime Minister also spoke with the President of Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The discussion centered around the impact of ongoing tensions in West Asia on global energy security. Both leaders emphasised the need to keep shipping lanes secure for the sake of global trade and stability. The Prime Minister reaffirmed India's commitment to work closely with Sri Lanka in addressing shared challenges in line with the Neighbourhood First policy and MAHASAGAR Vision," Jaiswal added. Meanwhile, India's External Affairs Minister met with the Ambassador of Iran to India, where the two discussed the evolving situation in the region. The Minister expressed appreciation for Iran's support in assisting Indian nationals during this time of crisis. "The Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor the situation, ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of the Indian community as the highest priority," the Ministry said. The Ministry's dedicated control room remains operational, providing assistance to Indian nationals in the Gulf and West Asia. Missions in the region are offering real-time support, coordinating with Indian community organisations and local authorities to facilitate the safe return of citizens. Since February 28, approximately 4,26,000 passengers have returned to India, aided by 2,149 flights, including non-scheduled flights. Additional flights are operating from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman, with Qatar Airways also providing non-scheduled services to India. However, airspace restrictions in Kuwait and Bahrain remain in place, with special flights being arranged for Indian nationals. The Indian government continues to support the repatriation of Indian nationals, including facilitating travel for those stranded in Iran, Israel, and other affected areas. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday met with US Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby to discuss the evolving security situation amidst ongoing global geopolitical shifts. In a post on X, the External Affairs Minister shared a photograph of the meeting and noted that the two leaders "exchanged views on the current geopolitical scenario," adding, "Pleased to meet US Under Secretary of War Elbridge Colby @USWPColby this afternoon." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/2036765324524323323?s=20 This high-level engagement follows a special session in the capital where Colby emphasised that Washington maintains a "deep respect" for India, viewing New Delhi's strategic choices as a primary force that will "profoundly shape the future of the Indo-Pacific." During the session, Colby said, "The United States views India with deep respect -- as a republic of continental scale, as a nation with a proud strategic tradition, and as a country whose decisions will profoundly shape the future of the Indo-Pacific and the international landscape more broadly." The senior Pentagon official, currently on an official visit to India to strengthen the bilateral relationship, noted that while both nations possess distinct histories and perspectives, they are united by a "fundamental" conviction. "Our two countries of course differ in history, geography, and perspective in important ways. Yet we share something fundamental: a conviction that the future of Asia should be determined by sovereign nations able to chart their own course," Colby said. He further elaborated that the US regards India as an "essential" partner in maintaining a "long-term favourable balance of power in Asia," citing the country's unique "geography and strategic position." According to Colby, "India's importance stems not only from its size and economic potential, but also from its geography and strategic position. Your country sits astride the Indian Ocean, which is the connective tissue of the Indo-Pacific." He also lauded India's "long tradition of strategic autonomy" and its "formidable, self-reliant, and capable military forces," which he described as being "willing and able to shoulder significant security responsibilities." Addressing the evolving nature of the alliance, the US official described Washington's strategy as "interests-based and realistic," moving away from what he termed "gauzy aspirations or detached idealism." "We clearly recognise that India has its own interests, its own strategic culture, and its own priorities, and that India is not shy about advancing them," Colby noted, suggesting that the "Bharat First" and "America First" philosophies are "deeply aligned" in their "results-oriented mindset about international politics." The diplomatic visit serves as a key step in operationalising high-level agreements. According to a statement from the US Department of War, Colby's visit is focused on "advancing the goals established by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi in their February 2025 joint statement" and "implementing the Framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership." (ANI)
Representative Tsewang Gyalpo Arya from the Liaison Office of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama met Japanese lawmakers Eriko Yamatani and Akimasa Ishikawa, who serve as Chairperson and former General Secretary of the Japan Parliamentary Support Group for Tibet, at the parliament building in Nagatacho, Tokyo, according to a report by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). During the meeting, Representative Arya briefed the lawmakers on China's recently introduced law on the "Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress," which is set to come into effect on July 1. He presented a summary of the legislation and explained that, according to his assessment, the Chinese Communist Party intends to use the law to legitimise policies aimed at eroding and assimilating the identity, language, and culture of minority communities, while also criminalising resistance to such assimilation efforts, the CTA report stated. Arya also handed over a copy of the resolution adopted by the Japan Tibet Support Group on February 28 and urged the lawmakers to pursue the three key points outlined in it with both the government and parliament. These include issuing a strong statement condemning human rights violations in Tibet, setting up a dedicated human rights monitoring mechanism, and calling on the Chinese authorities to refrain from interfering in Tibetan religious matters, including the process of selecting the reincarnation of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, as cited in the CTA report. Additionally, Representative Arya informed the lawmakers about the International Tibet Support Group conference held in Dharamshala, which was attended by six delegates from Japan and two from South Korea. He also briefed them on the ongoing observance of the Year of Compassion and exhibitions showcasing the life and four principal commitments of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Lawmakers Yamatani and Ishikawa welcomed the updates, expressing concern over what they described as continued repression in Tibet and voicing shock over the Ethnic Unity law and reports of colonial-style boarding schools. They were also presented with the Japanese translation of the latest report on these schools and assured that they would share the information with fellow parliamentarians promptly. Tashi Yangzom, Secretary of Tibet House Japan, was also present during the meeting alongside Representative Arya, the CTA report added. (ANI)
Shibu Khan, a native of Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, who was stranded in Qatar without his passport or any other legal documents, has safely returned to India with assistance from the Embassy of India in Doha. Khan had found himself in a difficult situation after losing access to essential travel documents, which made it challenging for him to establish contact with his employer or make arrangements for his return. The situation was further complicated by prevailing tensions in the region, as his family grew increasingly anxious due to reports about Iranian attacks in Qatar. "I would like to thank my government and the people of the embassy here in Doha for providing help swiftly. I can go home because of them," Khan said in a self-made video. With no valid identification or travel papers, Khan faced significant hurdles in navigating local systems and securing a safe passage back home. His condition highlighted the vulnerabilities faced by expatriate workers during times of crisis, especially when documentation issues arise. In response, the Embassy of India in Doha extended timely support to Khan. Officials facilitated the issuance of an Emergency Certificate, enabling him to travel despite the absence of his passport. In addition, the embassy provided minor financial assistance and helped arrange his flight ticket back to India amid the ongoing crisis in the region. The coordinated efforts by the Indian mission ensured that Khan could return home safely, offering relief to his family, who had been closely monitoring developments and remained concerned about his well-being. Upon his arrival in India, Khan expressed gratitude towards the Embassy of India in Doha for their prompt intervention and support during a period of uncertainty. His safe return underscores the role played by Indian missions abroad in assisting nationals facing distress, particularly during emergencies and geopolitical tensions. The incident also reflects the importance of consular support mechanisms in safeguarding the interests of Indian citizens overseas, especially in regions experiencing instability. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump has hit out at political rivals, accusing them of attempting to diminish a "great military achievement" during the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran. In a recent update on his Truth Social platform, the President claimed that "Radical Left, country-hating Democrats are trying to create inner chaos to take away from the great military achievement we are having in Iran." Trump further asserted that his opponents are displeased with the current trajectory of the military campaign, stating, "They hate seeing us WIN so completely and decisively, but the American public sees what is going on. AMERICA FIRST!" However, this narrative of a "decisive" victory is being sharply contested by Tehran. Iran has responded negatively to an American proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict, insisting that any cessation of hostilities will only occur on Tehran's "own terms and timeline," a senior political-security official told state broadcaster Press TV on Wednesday. The official emphasised Tehran's resolve to continue its defence and inflict "heavy blows" on the enemy until its demands are fulfilled, noting that "Iran says it will end the war when it decides to do so and when its own conditions are met." According to the official, Washington has been pursuing negotiations through various diplomatic channels, putting forward proposals that Tehran views as "excessive" and disconnected from the reality of America's failure on the battlefield. Consequently, Tehran has categorised the latest overture, delivered via a friendly regional intermediary, as a ploy to heighten tensions and has responded negatively. The official outlined five specific conditions under which Iran would agree to end the war. These include a complete halt to "aggression and assassinations" by the enemy, the establishment of concrete mechanisms to ensure that the war is not reimposed on the Islamic Republic, and a guaranteed and clearly defined payment of war damages and reparations. Furthermore, Tehran is demanding the conclusion of the war across all fronts and for all resistance groups involved throughout the region, alongside international recognition and guarantees regarding Iran's sovereign right to exercise authority over the Strait of Hormuz. The official also noted that these stipulations are in addition to demands previously presented by Tehran during the second round of negotiations in Geneva, which took place just days before the US and Israel carried out strikes on February 28. "No negotiations will be held prior to that," the official stressed, reiterating that the continuation of Iran's defensive operations will persist until the outlined conditions are met. Stating that "the end of the war will occur when Iran decides it should end, not when Trump envisions its conclusion," the official highlighted the deep disconnect between the two warring parties. The urgency for a resolution is underscored by the intensifying military situation, as joint operations by Israel and the US have consistently been "targeting Iran's missile systems, launch sites, and other critical infrastructure" since the onset of the conflict. Despite these sustained strikes, Tehran has maintained its campaign, "launching missiles at Israel and nearby Gulf countries." Beyond the direct military engagement, the proposal "addresses maritime routes" as the Strait of Hormuz--a vital artery for international oil exports--"remains closed," causing a global supply contraction and "pushing prices higher." In response to these pressures, Israel's Channel 12 reports that Trump's conditions include a "one month of ceasefire to discuss the agreement" and a total "ending Iran's nuclear weapons capability." The American terms further demand that Tehran "stop uranium enrichment within its territory" and "ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open." Additionally, Iran would be required to "transfer its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)" and "dismantle major nuclear sites at Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordo," while "allowing full access to the IAEA." Further regional stipulations in the US plan require Iran to "withdraw from regional proxy activities" and "end support for allied armed groups." Strategically, the plan calls for "placing limits on the range and number of missiles" and "restricting future missile use strictly to self-defence." In exchange for these concessions, Washington has reportedly offered a "complete lifting of sanctions on Iran" and "support for its civilian nuclear programme," specifically targeting "power generation at the Bushehr plant." The offer also includes the "removal of the 'snapback' sanctions mechanism." However, Iranian military officials have met these offers with sharp rhetoric. Lt Col Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, stated on Wednesday that Trump appeared to be "negotiating with himself." He further challenged the US, remarking, "The one claiming to be a global superpower would have already gotten out of this mess if it could. Don't dress up your defeat as an agreement. Your era of empty promises has come to an end." With Iran hardening its position and placing its own demands before the US, it appears that the standoff in West Asia is far from over. (ANI)
The two sides held detailed discussions on the MC14 agenda and explored ways to further strengthen bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

In a post on X, the Department of Commerce said, "Commerce Secretary @RajeshAgrawal94 met Ambassador Joseph Barloon, the Deputy United States Trade Representative and Chief of Permanent Mission of United States to WTO, on the sidelines of WTO MC14. Had detailed discussions on the MC14 agenda and explored strategic ways to further deepen our economic cooperation and bilateral trade ties."

https://x.com/DoC_GoI/status/2036788211666555349

Earlier, Agrawal reiterated that India remains engaged with the United States for a mutually beneficial trade agreement. Addressing a media briefing, he noted that both countries had announced a trade deal on February 2, followed by a Joint Statement on February 7.

The 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) is being held from 26-29 March 2026 in Yaounde, Cameroon. The Conference, to be chaired by Minister of Trade of Cameroon, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, will bring together Trade Ministers from WTO member countries to deliberate on key issues affecting the global trading system.

The Indian delegation is being led by Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal. The delegation includes senior officials from the Department of Commerce, officers from the Permanent Mission of India in Geneva, representatives from other stakeholder Ministries/Departments, as well as technical and legal experts participating in various negotiating tracks.

The key agenda items for discussion include WTO reform, the E-Commerce Work Programme and Moratorium, Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD), fisheries subsidies, and issues related to agriculture and development. (ANI)
Why Dolomites Look Nothing Like the Rest of the Alps

Most people's first reaction to the Dolomites is confusion. If you've hiked elsewhere in the Alpsthe Mont Blanc massif, the Bernese Oberland, the Ecrinsyou expect certain things.

Rounded granite peaks, glaciers spilling down valleys, green slopes giving way to grey rock and ice.

The Dolomites don't play by those rules. They're vertical, angular, almost architectural. The rock is pale, sometimes nearly white, and it rises in sheer walls that look more like the work of a sculptor than geology.

It's All About the Rock

The difference comes down to what these mountains are made of. Most of the Alps are granite, gneiss, and other metamorphic rocks formed deep underground under immense pressure. These are hard, ancient rocks that erode gradually into the rounded, glaciated shapes we associate with classic Alpine terrain.

The Dolomites are made of dolomite rocka type of limestone rich in magnesium. But the really interesting part is where this rock came from. About 250 million years ago, this area wasn't mountains at all.

It was a shallow tropical sea. The pale rock that now towers thousands of meters above sea level started as coral reefs, similar to the Great Barrier Reef today.

How Coral Reefs Became Mountains

The fossilized reefs and lagoon sediments accumulated over millions of years. Eventually, tectonic forces pushed the African plate into the European plate, crumpling the seabed and lifting these ancient reefs skyward. But unlike other Alpine rock that got heated and compressed into metamorphic forms, the dolomite remained relatively unchanged.

This is why the rock retains its layered, sedimentary structure. You can often see distinct horizontal bands in the cliff facesevidence of different periods of reef growth and sediment deposition. It's also why fossils are common here, though you need to know where to look.

Why the Peaks Are So Dramatic

Dolomite rock erodes in a specific way. It's harder than regular limestone but still soluble in slightly acidic water. Over millennia, water seeps into cracks, freezes, expands, and breaks off chunks along vertical fractures.

This creates the characteristic towers, spires, and sheer walls. Where granite mountains erode into curves, dolomite shatters into geometric forms. The result is those impossible-looking peaks that seem to defy physics.

The Color Changes Everything

The pale, almost luminous quality of dolomite rock creates an entirely different atmosphere than granite Alps. In full sun, the rock can be nearly white, almost painful to look at. In shadow, it turns dove grey.

But the real magic happens at sunrise and sunset. The phenomenon called "enrosadira"from the Ladin word for turning pinktransforms the peaks into glowing rose and orange towers. It happens because the dolomite's mineral composition reflects red wavelengths particularly well during the golden hour.

Watching the Mountains Glow

You haven't really experienced the Dolomites until you've watched enrosadira. The effect lasts maybe fifteen or twenty minutes as the sun hits the rock at just the right angle. The peaks seem to light up from within, shifting from pale yellow to deep orange to purple-pink before fading to grey as the sun drops below the horizon.

Many Dolomites hiking tours time their itineraries specifically to catch this phenomenon from strategic viewpoints. It's the kind of natural spectacle that makes you understand why people become obsessed with these mountains.

The Landscape Feels Different

Beyond the rock itself, the Dolomites create a different kind of hiking experience. The extreme verticality means you're often walking through meadows or forests with massive walls rising directly overhead. There's less of the gradual elevation gain you get in other parts of the Alps.

Routes here frequently involve cables, ladders, and sections of scramblingnot quite climbing, but more technical than standard hiking. The via ferrata system originated here out of necessity, because how else do you move through terrain this vertical?

The Meadows and Forests Below

The contrast between the brutal rock architecture above and the gentle landscapes below is striking. Alpine meadows here are lush and flower-filled in summer. The forests are dense stands of spruce and larch that turn golden in autumn.

This creates constantly changing scenery. You might spend two hours walking through pastoral valleys, then round a corner and find yourself at the base of a 500-meter vertical wall. The scale shifts abruptly in ways that keep the landscape visually interesting.

Weather Behaves Differently Here

The vertical rock faces create their own microclimates. Clouds build rapidly against the walls, and afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer. The bare rock heats up quickly in sun, creating strong updrafts that can brew weather seemingly out of nowhere.

Mornings tend to be clearer and more stable. This is another reason experienced hikers here start earlynot just for the light, but for safer weather windows.

Why This Matters for Hiking

Understanding the geology changes how you approach these mountains. You're not dealing with glaciers and ice the way you are in much of the Alps. The hazards here are differentrockfall, exposure, sudden weather, and routes that require more technical skill than elevation might suggest.

The reward is landscapes that feel almost alien in their drama. These mountains don't have the savage, ice-covered grandeur of the Mont Blanc range. They have something elsea stark, sculptural beauty that photographs can't quite capture.

The Human Scale of It

Despite their dramatic appearance, the Dolomites are surprisingly accessible. The network of mountain huts means you can tackle serious routes without carrying camping gear. The trails are well-maintained, and the via ferrata system opens up terrain that would otherwise require climbing skills.

But accessible doesn't mean tame. These mountains demand respect and proper preparation. The vertical relief is real, the exposure is legitimate, and the weather can turn hostile quickly.

Mountains That Stick With You

Most people who hike the Dolomites end up comparing every other mountain range to them afterward. It's not that other ranges are worsethey're just different. Once you've walked beneath those pale towers and watched them glow at sunset, other mountains can feel almost ordinary by comparison.

The Dolomites don't look like the rest of the Alps because they fundamentally aren't like the rest of the Alps. They're ancient seabeds thrust skyward, sculpted by water and time into forms that seem almost too dramatic to be real. And that's exactly why they're worth experiencing.
US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping has been rescheduled to May 14-15. The highly anticipated meeting was postponed due to the US' military operations in Iran. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, "My meeting with the Highly Respected President of China, President Xi Jinping, which was originally postponed due to our Military operation in Iran, has been rescheduled, and will take place in Beijing on May 14th and 15th. First Lady Melania and I will also host President Xi and Madame Peng for a reciprocal visit in Washington, D.C., at a later date, this year. Our Representatives are finalizing preparations for these Historic Visits. I look very much forward to spending time with President Xi in what will be, I am sure, a Monumental Event. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP." US White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday also confirmed the developments about Trump's rescheduled visit. Leavitt, while briefing the media, said that Chinese President Xi Jinping understood that Trump had to be present in the US during such operations. Again, we've estimated a four-to-six-week window. President looks forward to that visit. There were no "pre-conditions" regarding the conclusion of the war; President Xi simply understood that it was important for the President to be here during these operations," the press secretary added. Earlier on March 17, amid the escalating tensions in the Middle East, China said on Tuesday that United States President Donald Trump's impending visit to the country has nothing to do with the Strait of Hormuz closure. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson's Office said that both sides remain in talks regarding the dates of the visit. https://x.com/MFA_China/status/2033860164022141078?s=20 "We take note of the U.S. clarification about certain media reports. The U.S. side has made clear that those reports are completely "false" and that President Trump's visit to China is not linked to the issue over the Strait of Hormuz. The two sides remain in communication on President Trump's visit to China, including the dates," Beijing official said. (ANI)
TOKYO, Mar 25 (News On Japan) - Seibu & Sogo announced that it will close its Seibu Shibuya store in September, bringing an end to the 58-year history of what was once a symbol of the district and marking the disappearance of traditional department stores from Shibuya.

Another landmark is set to vanish from the heart of Shibuya.

Located in the center of the bustling district, Seibu Shibuya has long stood as a key fixture of the area.

A reporter noted that the store will close at the end of September, drawing the curtain on nearly six decades of operations.

The company cited its inability to reach an agreement with the land and building owners over lease terms tied to redevelopment plans in the Shibuya area.

Seibu Shibuya was once known for its bold repositioning in 1995, when it underwent a major renovation costing 3 billion yen under the concept of an "adult department store," expanding its target beyond young shoppers in the youth-driven district in an effort to boost sales. It also played a central role in shaping Shibuyas identity as a hub of fashion and culture.

In recent years, however, a wave of redevelopment in Shibuya has led to the opening of numerous new commercial complexes nearby, eroding the stores competitiveness.

With the decision now made to close, many visitors expressed a sense of loss.

One customer said the store held special memories, recalling visits there as a child with family.

The area has already seen the closure of Tokyu Department Stores main branch in 2023, which had been a fixture for more than half a century.

With the shutdown of Seibu Shibuya, traditional-style department stores will temporarily disappear from the Shibuya district.

Source: TBS
TOKYO, Mar 25 (News On Japan) - A government and Tokyo metropolitan task force held its first joint meeting with private-sector participants on March 25th to discuss countermeasures for a potential large-scale eruption of Mount Fuji that could blanket central Tokyo in volcanic ash and severely disrupt daily life.

A simulation video created by the Cabinet Office showed large amounts of volcanic ash falling over the skyscrapers of Shinjuku, illustrating the potential scale of damage if Mount Fuji were to erupt.

Estimates indicate that ash accumulation in central Tokyo could reach up to 10 centimeters, raising concerns over widespread disruption, including logistics delays caused by transport paralysis, suspension of railway services, and major outages in electricity and communications.

In response, the Cabinet Office and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government convened the meeting with private companies for the first time to coordinate preparedness measures.

Morikubo Tsukasa, a senior official at the Cabinet Office, said: "It is extremely meaningful for infrastructure operators, lifeline providers, and various administrative bodies to come together and discuss a unified direction."

Participants agreed to focus future discussions on maintaining daily life at home, ensuring mobility and evacuation, and managing the removal and disposal of volcanic ash.

Source: TBS
TOKYO, Mar 25 (News On Japan) - Japans first cargo-only shinkansen began operations on March 23rd, aiming to significantly expand transport capacity and help address a growing shortage of truck drivers.

The train, which appeared around noon at Morioka Station in Iwate Prefecture, featured a modified Tohoku Shinkansen Yamabiko formation, with specially designed cars attached behind it that differed in appearance from standard passenger carriages. Inside, there were no seatsonly stacks of cardboard boxes loaded for transport.

The service is part of an expanded rollout of the Hakobyun rail freight initiative, with newly developed cars dedicated exclusively to cargo. Designed to accommodate roll-in cage carts, the system allows for the efficient transport of large volumes of goods in a single trip.

On its first day of operation, cargo was loaded from the morning at a rail yard using unmanned transport vehicles to streamline the process. Inside the cars, packages were arranged in an orderly manner and secured with hooks to prevent movement during transit.

Each carriage can hold 24 carts, with each cart capable of carrying six boxes weighing around 20 kilograms each, enabling a seven-car train to transport approximately 1,000 boxes per journey.

Shimaka Yuichi, president of Marutomo Shimaka, a seafood company using the service, said: "Today we are transporting about 30 cases of scallops from Sanriku. The biggest advantage is that they can be on store shelves at restaurants and supermarkets by the evening of the same day."

The service is intended for goods that require both speed and stability, including fresh food, blood for transfusions that is sensitive to temperature and vibration, and precision equipment.

The train completed the journey from Morioka to Tokyo in about four hours, roughly half the time typically required by truck, which takes around eight hours.

With tighter limits on driver overtime under the so-called 2024 logistics regulations raising concerns about labor shortages, expectations are growing that such services could help ease the burden on the transport sector.

Logistics journalist Ryohei Sakata said: "From a consumer perspective, if you want to eat fresher products like sashimi or fish, this kind of high-speed rail transport offers clear advantages. With fewer goods able to be carried by trucks due to the 2024 regulations, this could serve as an important complement."

Meanwhile, new delivery models that do not involve direct handoffs are also emerging. From April, unmanned pickup points are set to be installed at commercial facilities and stations in Tokyo, Osaka and other areas.

Under this system, delivery companies simply drop off parcels at designated pickup locations, allowing users to collect them at their convenience while avoiding the stress of in-person delivery or the risk of unattended packages being lost.

Tomomi Ishido, a director at Every WiLL, said: "Access is managed  QR codes, so records remain of who entered and when. Surveillance cameras are also in place to monitor for any suspicious activity."

As Japan grapples with labor shortages, logistics services are expected to continue evolving through innovation and new delivery models.

Source: FNN
OSAKA, Mar 25 (News On Japan) - Japans technical intern training program, designed to allow workers from developing countries to gain skills while working in Japanese companies, has been plagued by workplace violence, low wages, and long working hours, prompting the government to introduce a new system from 2027 that could mark a turning point in how the country engages with its growing foreign workforce.

The number of foreign workers in Japan continues to rise each year, reaching record levels, with around 500,000 technical interns currently in the country. While many come seeking better pay and opportunities to support families back home, serious problems surrounding their working conditions have come to light.

At a demolition site in Osaka, foreign workers operate heavy machinery alongside Japanese staff, with 12 of the 30 workers on-site coming from overseas. Most arrived as technical interns, a system originally intended as a form of international contribution by transferring skills and knowledge to developing nations. Many send a large portion of their earnings back home, often living modestly in Japan while supporting families abroad.

One Vietnamese worker, who arrived six years ago as a trainee and later transitioned to a skilled worker visa after passing certification exams, said most of his income is sent back to his family. Despite finding aspects of life in Japan enjoyable, he continues to work alone while his wife and child remain in Vietnam, prioritizing financial support over personal comfort.

Employers acknowledge the importance of foreign workers, particularly in industries struggling to attract Japanese labor, noting their diligence and willingness to work under challenging conditions. However, alongside this growing reliance, troubling incidents have emerged.

Footage obtained from a support group for Vietnamese residents shows a Japanese coworker allegedly assaulting a foreign worker. Cases of workplace violence, harassment, and excessive working hours have become increasingly visible, raising concerns about systemic issues within the program.

A 22-year-old Vietnamese worker, Pham Suan Bao An, reported being assaulted while working at a waterproofing company in Osaka. He said a senior coworker struck his helmet and later grabbed him by the neck during an argument over machinery use, leaving him injured and requiring hospital treatment. Despite the incident, the company later terminated his contract.

The employer claimed the dismissal was due to safety violations and a lack of effort to learn Japanese, highlighting a broader issue within the system, where language barriers and expectations often create friction between workers and employers. Support organizations argue that breakdowns in communication and understanding between companies, oversight groups, and workers can lead to unfair treatment.

Following the incident, An filed a police report, and an investigation is ongoing. Meanwhile, other issues have surfaced, including cases of trainees absconding from workplaces and being illegally employed by brokers, exposing another layer of exploitation within the system.

Critics point to a fundamental mismatch between the programs stated goal of international contribution and the reality of labor shortages driving demand for cheap foreign workers.

In response, the Japanese government has decided to abolish the current technical intern training program and introduce a new employment for development system starting in April next year. Unlike its predecessor, the new system will focus on securing and developing human resources, with clearer pathways for workers to transition into longer-term skilled roles.

A major change will allow foreign workers to switch employers after a certain period within the same industry, a move aimed at protecting individuals facing abusive conditions and providing greater flexibility.

However, the reform also raises concerns among businesses, including increased costs related to training, recruitment, and onboarding. Some companies are considering alternative visa categories as a result.

Experts emphasize that the success of the new system will depend not only on structural changes but also on how well companies and supervising organizations understand and support the workers they employ.

After losing his job, An relocated to Tokyo, where he found new employment through a support program. However, he now faces another challenge: if he fails to obtain a required level of Japanese proficiency within a year, he may be forced to return to Vietnam.

As Japan continues to rely more heavily on foreign labor, both workers and employers are being tested, with the effectiveness of the new system likely to shape the countrys future approach to immigration and workforce sustainability.
OSAKA, Mar 25 (News On Japan) - A deer believed to have wandered from Nara Park into Osaka was finally captured on March 26th after several days of roaming city streets, bringing an end to a widely followed incident that had raised concerns over public safety and animal welfare.

The deer was surrounded by a large number of police officers and Osaka city staff, who used shields to carefully guide it into a confined space. After being lured with food and gradually cornered, the animal was successfully captured shortly after 1 p.m. and placed into a transport vehicle.

The deer had been tracked since around March 17th, when it was first spotted after apparently crossing over the Ikoma mountain range into Higashiosaka, a considerable distance from Nara. It later moved into Osaka city, where it was seen resting in parks before resuming movement the following evening. At times, it wandered across busy roads, creating dangerous situations in which it narrowly avoided being struck by vehicles.

On the night before its capture, the deer was found inside a police-related facility in Osakas Joto Ward, having entered the premises on its own. The following morning, it appeared calm and even drowsy as officers monitored it, while authorities quietly prepared for a safe capture operation.

After being secured, the deer was transported by vehicle, though its final destination remains undecided. Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama stated that euthanasia is not being considered, emphasizing that the priority is to provide a safe environment until a suitable facility is arranged, with temporary care to be provided at an animal management center within the city.

Meanwhile, Nara Governor Makoto Yamashita indicated that while the deer may have originated from Nara Park, the prefecture does not intend to accept it back, describing such animals as wild rather than protected cultural assets once they leave the park.

The situation has also sparked debate over how such cases should be handled, with some arguing that the classification of Naras deer as natural monuments leaves room for interpretation, even outside the prefecture. Critics have pointed to a lack of coordination between Osaka and Nara authorities, calling for clearer rules and quicker political decision-making in similar incidents.

The case drew national attention after being widely reported and broadcast live from the moment of its initial sighting, highlighting both the challenges of managing wildlife in urban areas and the complexities of administrative responsibility.

Source: KTV NEWS
New York, US (PANA) - As tensions escalate in the Middle East, the international community must not lose sight of the situation in Gaza, an official with US President Donald Trumps Board of Peace across the shattered enclave said on Tuesday in his first appearance in the UN Security Council
Iran continues its indiscriminate attacks on civilian targets in the Gulf killing a Moroccan national in Bahrain on March 24.

The Moroccan man was a contractor on a mission with the UAE army in Bahrain. Both Bahrain and the UAE have not declared war on Iran. Yet they bear the brunt of Iranian indiscriminate missiles and drones.

The UAE defense ministry condemned the attack which also injured three members of its armed forces.

The Emirati authorities expressed their solidarity with the family of the deceased, stating that they extend their sincere condolences and sympathy to the family of the martyr.

Morocco had condemned Iranian attacks and expressed full solidarity with Arab states.
The American embassy in Nouakchott has issued a high security alert, warning against an elevated risk of terror attacks in Mauritania directed at the U.S. Embassy and against U.S. citizens.

Targets may include, but are not limited to, the U.S. Embassy or places or areas where American citizens are known to congregate, said the U.S. diplomatic representation in a statement without giving further details on the nature or source of the threats.

It advises Americans to keep low profile, exercise vigilance in large gatherings or protests as well as in areas frequented by Americans or foreign visitors.

The security alert comes amid escalating regional tensions and the ongoing US-Israel war against Iran. According to intelligence reports, terrorist organizations, including ISIS branch in the Sahel and Polisario fighters backed by Mullah regime, are exploiting the Iran war and calling for violence against American citizens.

Some Polisario members have expressed clear support for the Iranian regime during a condolence ceremony held lately at the Iranian embassy in Algiers following the death of Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during joint US-Israeli air strikes.

The participation of Polisario in formal condolence ceremony in Irans Embassy in Algeria and acts of solidarity with Teheran confirm the nexus between the Algeria-backed separatist group and Iran.

Viral videos posted on social media show a Polisario member telling the Iranian diplomat: We stand with the Islamic Republic of Iran during the current regional tensions. Defending Iran means defending our own existence and the entire Islamic nation, he added, saying

We maintain coordination with the Islamic Republic and several allied factions.
Three ISIS operatives have been nabbed by Moroccan and Spanish authorities in a joint police operation carried out by the two countries counter-terrorism services, according to press reports

Two extremists of this dangerous cell were captured Wednesday in Tangier Their ringleader, based in Mallorca, was also arrested the same day. The Preliminary investigation showed that the two jihadists of Tangier provided financing and logistical support to ISIS fighters active in the Sahel region and Somalia, while their captain was preparing from his Mallorca hideout a terrorist attack against Spain.

This joint anti-terror operation strengthens further security cooperation between Rabat and Madrid, leading to the neutralization of over thirty terror cells since 2014.

Morocco shares critical intelligence with European partners on imminent terror risks, which helped to foil several terrorist plots and save lives.

The countrys counter-terrorism strategy combines vigilant security measures with regional & international cooperation, and terrorist counter-radicalization policies.
Morocco is expected to gain 18 points and retain its 8th position following the Netherlands in the upcoming FIFA ranking, after CAF declared the country the winner of the African Cup of Nations 2025.

CAFs appeals body confirmed Morocco as the winner of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations by a 30 forfeit, after Senegal withdrew its players ahead of the final on January 18 at Rabats Complexe Moulay Abdellah.

The decision overturned the match result initially left in limbo after the Senegalese team refused to play.

Senegal, by contrast, drops two places to 14th. The Teranga Lions had climbed seven spots immediately after the final, reaching the highest FIFA ranking in their history.

Moroccos eighth-place position consolidates its status as the second-highest ranked African nation of all time. Only Nigeria has done better, reaching fifth in April 1994.

The Atlas Lions regroup this month for the first time since the end of the AFCON tournament and have two scheduled friendly matches. They will face Ecuador on March 27 at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, before meeting Paraguay on March 31 at Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, France.
29 items in this article 29 items on sale! Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers

The second day of the Quince Insider Sale is officially on, and it seems to me that there are even better markdowns today. From a washable-silk skirt to organic bamboo bedding to expandable luggage, I pulled together a range of the Quince stuff thats worth buying during the 24-hour sales event.

Today, the deals are available on Quinces website (yesterday they were only available on the app, where you can still shop if you prefer). Discounts are mostly between 15 percent and 25 percent (though some go up to 30 percent), but just note: They are all set to expire at 3 a.m. ET tomorrow, March 26. And if you want to stay on top of our deals coverage, dont forget to sign up for the Strategist Deal Freaks Daily newsletter.

Deals I personally think are the best Im eyeing some clog slippers that remind me of UGG Tasmans and an all-cotton cable-knit sweater. For our kitchen, I love these tall drinking glasses that would work for a range of beverages  plus theyre 30 percent off.

Womens fashion From silky palazzo pants to a crepe trench coat, there are plenty of items that would help make some comfortable and put-together outfits  and many are on sale for the first time this year. I also spotted some dresses, including a cotton-cashmere midi and a sculpting Skims dupe, for under $50.

Mens fashion The mens department is honestly a little underwhelming, but I did find several gym-adjacent pieces  lightweight shorts, a breathable hoodie, and a Performance polo  and a nice-looking raincoat (that looks more like a sleek collared overcoat).

Accessories The accessories sales bin is full of discounts up to 25 percent off, from Strategist-approved expandable luggage to supersoft ankle-height socks. My colleague Ambar Pardilla says Mejuri sells an almost identical jewelry box for twice the price compared to the Quince, which is just $60 right now.

Home and kitchen The maker of some of our favorite bedding and towels, Quince has even more bundles on sale for the second day of the Insider Sale. If youre trying to refresh your kitchen tools or just enjoy entertaining, I found a durable chefs knife and some elegant mouth-blown glassware.

Get the Strategist Deal Freaks Daily Weekday dispatches and exclusive sales from our deals-obsessed editors. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us.

The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
Disney+ Sets Big-Budget Korean Remake of 'The Americans' Starring Lee Byung-hun, Han Ji-min https://t.co/fx6KBIbVNI  The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) March 25, 2026

Disney+ is developing a remake of The Americans called The Koreans. It stars Lee Byung-hun and Han Ji-min as a pair of North Korean spies masquerading as a happily married couple in 1990s South Korea.The similarities of the two premises  North Koreans embedded in the South, instead of Russians spying in 1980s America  started to make sense to me, Disney's head of international local originals Eric Schrier says. But it was really the passion of our Korean team that got me excited  and I could see that, because Korea is still divided, this could be a very culturally relevant story for the local audience, which is always the primary priority for our local original content.
Benghazi, Libya (PANA) - The Health and Environment Commission of the Libyan House of Representatives has urged all relevant authorities to take immediate action on the situation of the stranded Russian LNG tanker off the coast of Libya, near the western city of Zuwara, given the direct threat it poses to marine resources, the coastal ecosystem and public health
Australia has long been synonymous with resource abundance  a country rich in minerals, energy, and hydrocarbons, including its own crude oil production. Yet today, it finds itself in the paradoxical position of scrambling for fuel, as disruptions to imports expose just how dependent the nation has become on refined products from abroad.

Australia continues to produce oil domestically, with crude output around 320,000 b/d, yet its downstream dependency is overwhelming. In 2025, the country imported roughly 850,000 b/d of refined products against total demand of about 1.1 million b/d, leaving 8090% of consumption reliant on external suppliers. Even before the current disruption, strategic fuel stocks stood at just 37 days  barely one-third of IEA requirements.

The trigger for todays unraveling crisis has been a combination of disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and export restrictions imposed by key Asian suppliers. China, Thailand, and South Korea  all major exporters to Australia  have introduced full or partial curbs on refined product exports. South Korea alone accounts for roughly a quarter of Australias imports, supplying around 220,000 b/d  about half of which is diesel (around 120,000 b/d), the most critical fuel in Australias demand structure and the segment with the deepest supply deficit.

Related: 3 Defense Stocks To Replenish Americas Depleting Arsenal

Jet fuel has largely been sourced from China, with February 2026 cargoes reaching around 190,000 b/d. Gasoline flows are mostly sourced from Singapore and South Korea, which together accounted for roughly two-thirds of Australias average 210,000 b/d gasoline imports in 2025.

The impact has been immediate. On March 22, Australias Energy Minister confirmed that six tankers carrying refined products from Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea had either been cancelled or deferred. Officials have repeatedly stressed that cargoes are still arriving nonetheless. In reality, however, theincoming volumes on water largely reflect shipments that departed before the disruption took hold  with the true extent of the shortage yet to demonstrate itself in the upcoming days.

For the first time in decades, Australia has turned to the US as an emergency supplier. Around 240,000 tons of refined fuels have been secured  including roughly 120,000 tons of diesel, 70,00080,000 tons of gasoline, and about 35,000 tons of jet fuel. The shipments consist of at least six vessels: three multi-product cargoes from ExxonMobil, two diesel shipments from BP, and one gasoline cargo from Vitol. Collectively, this marks the largest monthly inflow of US fuel to Australia since the 1990s.

The logistics alone underline the severity of the disruption. Transit times from the US Gulf Coast to Australia stretch to 5560 days, with freight costs around $20/bbl, compared with typical Asia-Pacific routes that stood at $56/bbl before the crisis. The price dynamics of regional products briefly blurred that disadvantage: on March 18, delivered gasoline and diesel from Singapore and Houston converged at roughly $161/bbl. As of March 25, Singapore cargoes look more attractive again  around $153/bbl versus $164/bbl from Houston. But pricing is no longer the decisive factor. The issue has shifted to physical availability. With unsold cargoes in Asia increasingly rare, the US  despite longer routes and more expensive freight  might become the only reliable way out of this imports deadlock for Canberra.

Australias domestic refining system offers little relief. The country operates just two refineries  Lytton (110,000 b/d) and Geelong (120,000 b/d)  with combined capacity of 230,000 b/d, covering only around 20% of national demand. Both facilities are structurally constrained. They depend entirely on imported crude, as Australias domestic output (largely ultra-light, condensate-rich streams with API gravity above 5560) is unsuitable for their configuration. The refineries themselves are aging assets, built in the 1950s and 1960s, designed for a different crude blend and market environment. Their output profile also mismatches domestic demand. Australian refineries are gasoline-heavy, producing around 100,000 b/d of gasoline and 80,000 b/d of diesel, while consumption is skewed toward diesel  the segment now under the greatest stress.

The refining sectors decline reflects years of structural pressure. Between 2012 and 2022, five refineries ceased operations, driven into the ground by weak margins, high operating costs, and competition from highly complex mega-refineries across Asia. To keep the remaining capacity alive, the government has extended financial support to both remaining plants. The Fuel Security Services Payment (FSSP) scheme (originally due to expire in 2027) has been extended to 2030, effectively subsidizing domestic refining. Maintenance schedules, including planned work at Lytton, have been deferred as authorities push facilities to sustain maximum throughput.

In parallel, the government has activated emergency response measures. On March 13, it released 4.8 million barrels of gasoline and diesel from strategic reserves. Yet the countrys limited stockpile  structurally below IEA thresholds  constrains how long such interventions can be sustained. As of March 17, Australia held just 30 days of diesel and jet fuel, and 38 days of gasoline (as opposed to the IEA requirement of 90 days stock levels). All categories remain even below the national Minimum Stockholding Obligations  diesel by 18%, jet fuel by 28%, and gasoline by 78%.

Authorities have moved to relax fuel specifications in an effort to widen supply options. Gasoline sulphur limits have been temporarily eased from 10 ppm to 50 ppm, while diesel flashpoint requirements have been reduced from 61.5C to 60.5C for a six-month period. These adjustments allow a broader range of imported fuels to enter the market and enable the two domestic refiners to sell previously non-compliant products locally.

A potential resolution to Australias import struggles may lie with two key suppliers. First, South Korea. Korean authorities have introduced limits on refined product exports, capping them at 2025 monthly average levels. While this restricts any growth in supply, it does not fully exclude Australia from accessing Korean volumes - provided it remains competitive on pricing and bids up. Second, India. Prior to the EUs January 2026 restrictions on imports of products refined from Russian crude, India exported approximately 160,000 b/d of diesel to Europe. With US sanctions on Russian barrels now lifted and Indian refiners increasing their purchases of Russian crude, these previously Europe-bound volumes are being redirected. In this context, Australia could emerge as a natural alternative destination for such flows.

Refineries may be running at full capacity, but their limited scale  and production skewed toward gasoline rather than the more critical diesel  leaves a gap they cannot close. Imports are still arriving, but largely from cargoes that sailed before the disruption and the imposition of export restrictions across Asia. With fuel stocks already well below the IEAs 90-day benchmark, the outlook is increasingly strained. If anything, the crisis has already delivered its key lesson: for a country as remote as Australia, domestic refining is no longer just a matter of economic efficiency  it is a question of national security.

By Natalia Katona for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
In the wake of recent efforts by Central Asian leaders to open new trade routes to Pakistan, India is stepping up its diplomatic engagement with regional governments.

Trade volume between India and the five Central Asian states totaled close to $2.5 billion in 2025, roughly triple that of Pakistan. But regional leaders have articulated plans in recent months to rapidly increase trade with Islamabad.

That seems to have provided impetus for a flurry of Indian diplomatic activity. Over the past 10 days, Indian officials have held talks with officials from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan looking to diversify commercial ties beyond primarily the energy and pharmaceutical sectors. No specific deals have been announced.

Regional observers are expecting an upcoming meeting of Indian-Uzbek Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, scheduled for April in Tashkent, to catalyze deal-making. In connection with that meeting, Uzbek officials and representatives of Indias Chamber of Commerce have discussed the organization of two business forums, one in the Uzbek capital and another in Samarkand.

Elsewhere, Indias envoy to Turkmenistan, Bandaru Wilsonbabu, held talks with various top Turkmen government officials about developing trade in such sectors as chemicals, fertilizers, transportation and telecoms. Ashgabat is already working on construction of a pipeline to enable Turkmen natural gas to traverse Afghanistan and reach markets in Pakistan and India.

On the sidelines of an international conference sponsored by Indias Ministry of Power on March 22, Indian officials discussed potential electricity-sector cooperation with Tajik and Kyrgyz officials. The Tajik government is exploring potential deals with Tata Power, a component of the Indian conglomerate, to develop renewable energy capacity and improve the efficiency of the countrys electricity distribution network.

Kyrgyzstan, meanwhile, is interested in attracting Indian investment in the long-standing Casa-1000 hydropower project that would enable the export of electricity generated in Central Asia to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

Meanwhile, Kazakhstan, currently Indias second largest individual trade partner among Central Asian states, is considering a blockbuster agreement involving the export of large amounts of uranium concentrate to India. The deal is potentially worth upwards of $3 billion. The Kazakh nuclear energy agency, Kazatomprom, has scheduled a vote of its stakeholders for April 7. Approval is widely expected, given that the state-run sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna, a majority shareholder in Kazatomprom, is reportedly favoring the deal.

Indias outreach appears motivated in part by recent Central Asian efforts to upgrade relations with New Delhis arch-rival Pakistan, a country that can offer the landlocked region much-desired access to a seaport, enabling an expansion of trade with the broader world. Over the past four months, the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have all made ground-breaking visits to Islamabad. In early February, Uzbekistan set a target of increasing bilateral trade turnover from roughly $400 million in 2025 to $2 billion by 2030.

By Eurasianet

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
The war in the Middle East and the halt of about 20% of global LNG trade flows are strengthening the case for increased LNG exports out of Western Canada.

The political stability and the proximity to Asian markets make Canadas Pacific Coast the perfect source of additional LNG supply to ease the strain on gas markets, which suddenly flipped from an expected glut for the rest of the decade to a major supply shortage that would take years to overcome.

Canada would have been ideally positioned to fill in the gap. If only it had more than one LNG export plant, which, by the way, started commercial operations less than a year ago.

Other LNG export projects, as well as an expansion of LNG Canada, the only operational facility, have been proposed in recent years.

As the war slashes global LNG supply, developers of Western Canadian projects feel more confident in reaching final investment decisions soon.

Yet, Canadian supply cannot help ease the current supply disruption. It would only add LNG volumes on the market at the end of this decade or even later.

Related: 3 Defense Stocks To Replenish Americas Depleting Arsenal

So Canada has the chance to approve more LNG projects now, but will not materially help with additional LNG supply in the near term, when the market needs it the most.

Qatars state firm QatarEnergy last week said it expects the damage from Iranian missile strikes at the Ras Laffan LNG complex, the worlds single largest LNG-producing facility, to cost it about $20 billion per year in lost revenue and to take up to five years to repair.

The damage has removed a large part of the global LNG supply for months, if not years, while the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz has curtailed all Middle Eastern LNG exports transiting the chokepoint, including from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

North Asian buyers such as South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore are the most vulnerable to the Qatari LNG outage, according to estimates by Vortexa.

Asian LNG importers are now scrambling for spot LNG supply.

Many will be pushed to seek and contract LNG supply from producers outside the Middle East, such as the U.S. and Canada, if a prolonged war continues to choke supply from the Gulf region, a senior executive at Japans biggest LNG buyer, Jera, told Reuters last week.

LNG Canada has been boosting its exports to Asia in recent months, even before the war erupted and trapped 20% of global supply in the Middle East.

South Korea has been the primary destination for Canadian LNG to date, RBC Capital Markets said in a note earlier this week.

Canadian oil and gas are expanding their export base, but remain U.S. centric, the RBC analysts wrote, but noted that Over the long term, Canada could likely serve a more meaningful role in de-risking Asian supply.

Related: Little-Known US Company Lands Important Pentagon Contract in Rare Earth Race

Canada has several LNG projects in the works, but none of them has reach FID yet. The war in the Middle East and the Asian markets need for security of supply could fast-track investment decisions.

It remains to be seen if Canadas federal and provincial governments will move to seize the opportunity by accelerating permitting processes.

LNG Canada Phase 2 is actually the first on the list of five major projects of national importance, which Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney proposed last autumn to diversify Canadas energy exports from the United States and make it an energy superpower.

The Middle East war makes the LNG Canada expansion more likely, TC Energy chief executive Francois Poirier said at CERAWeek in Houston earlier this week, although he noted he wasnt privy to the thinking of Shell and the other shareholders in the project.

Canada should aspire to being the largest exporter of LNG to Asia, Poirier said.

There is sufficient demand for Canadian LNG to underpin the LNG Canada expansion as well as the investment and construction of Ksi Lisims LNG, a proposed floating LNG export facility on a site owned by the Nisgaa Nation in British Columbia, the executive said.

There is a need for them to partner with somebody, and my view is that the odds of that project getting permitted are getting better by the day, given the overall tone in the marketplace, Poirier told the Financial Post last week, referring to the Ksi Lisims LNG project.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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COSCO Shipping Lines, China's largest shipping company, has officially resumed new booking services for container shipments from the Far East to several key Middle Eastern destinations, with the United States and Iran currently engaged in ceasefire talks, despite statements by Tehran that the U.S. military is "negotiating with itself.

COSCO has reinstated bookings for standard general cargo containers to Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq after declaring to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that "non-hostile vessels" from countries not participating in or supporting aggression against Iran would be granted safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. All six nations listed in COSCO's notice have previously faced Iranian missiles and drone strikes targeted at energy infrastructure and critical facilities.

Three weeks ago, COSCO halted all new bookings and instructed vessels already in the Gulf to seek "safe waters" after Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz to most traffic. The companys move reflects growing confidence in ongoing ceasefire talks and a 15-point peace plan reportedly sent to Tehran by the U.S. administration. However, COSCO has cautioned that all booking arrangements and actual carriage remain subject to change without notice due to the highly volatile regional situation.

Related: This Ohio Factory is Trumps Secret Weapon in the Rare Earth War

Previously, reports emerged that Iran has begun imposing a $2 million "transit fee" on select oil tankers and commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, essentially turning the strategic waterway into a private, pay-to-pass toll zone. The ad hoc charge is distinct from official Suez Canal fees. Iranian officials justify the fees as a "cost of war" or a security tax, essentially operating a protection racket for passage. The move has led to increased war-risk insurance premiums, with a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) potentially paying an additional $3.6 to $6 million in insurance on top of the $2 million transit toll, causing global energy costs to surge dramatically.

Its not clear whether the current truce will last. The United States is currently conducting a significant military buildup in the Middle East, even as President Donald Trump publicly claims that peace negotiations with Iran are underway. The U.S. has sent around 8,000 military personnel to the Middle East, with total U.S. troop levels in the Central Command area expected to reach approximately 50,000 once these units arrive.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

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Europe could experience energy shortages before the end of April, the chief executive of Shell has warned.

Jet fuel supply has already tightened, and a diesel squeeze could be next, with gasoline supply tightening as well, as the continent nears peak fuel demand season in the summer, Wael Sawan said, as quoted by Reuters.

South Asia was first to get that brunt. That's moved to Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia and then more so into Europe as we get into April, Sawan said, speaking at the CERAWeek conference in Texas. The executive noted that energy security is essential for national security.

Europes problem, according to Sawan, is its lack of preparation for such developments as the world is now experiencing as a result of the war in the Middle East. The problem is we are more in reaction mode, he explained. The best energy strategies are the strategies that actually look five, 10 years out and build resilience from now.

Sawan went on to say that Shell was working with European governments to help with the crunch, mentioning storage and purchases of energy commodities as means of handling the crisis.

We are trying to work with governments to just alert them to the various levers they will need to pull, including on the demand side, including what they need to do around storage, what they need to do around purchasing, he said.

The situation remains dire despite plans by the International Energy Agency to release a record 400 million barrels of crude in response to the supply squeeze. In Asia, some governments have started curbing consumption as a means of weathering the crisis. Analysts have warned that European governments might be forced to start doing the same soon. Officials from Middle East oil-producing countries have also warned that the crunch is not going to ease on its own anytime soon.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Germany and the EU as a whole, as well as South Korea, are staring at a deficit of rare earth elements, while the U.S. and Japan are busy making supply deals, according to the top executive of Australian rare earths miner Arafura.

The recent U.S. government deals to buy stakes in projects and miners in North America in exchange for supply are poised to ease Americas dependence on Chinese supply, which has been choked for more than a year after Beijing restricted rare earths exports to the West.

So the EU and in particular, Germany, and Korea are quite exposed, right? Where are they going to get their supply from? Arafuras chief executive officer Darryl Cuzzubbo told Reuters.

Arafura has announced so far three binding offtake agreements to the market, which currently represent 66% of its binding offtake target, the company said last month in its 2025 results release.

Arafura is developing the Nolans Project in Australias Northern Territory, aiming to supply around 4,440 tons of NdPr oxide annually beginning in late 2029. These volumes would account for about 4% of global supply of the elements vital for making permanent magnets for the automotive and defense industries.

Related: 3 Defense Stocks To Replenish Americas Depleting Arsenal

The current geopolitical and trade environment has created a favourable environment for the negotiation of the remaining offtake volumes, as many potential customers have been directly impacted by Chinas rare-earth export restrictions, exposing vulnerabilities within the global supply chain, Arafura noted in the 2025 financials.

With equity investment consideration from the German Raw Materials Fund tied to offtake supporting German and European industry, Arafura is targeting a minimum of 500 tons per year (tpa) of neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) oxide for this market, in addition to the 520 tpa offtake deal with Siemens Gamesa RE.

Arafura also said that the U.S. has become another region vying for the remaining offtake volumes, following the signing of the Critical Minerals Framework agreement between Australia and the United States last autumn.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Indian refiners have struck deals for the purchase of some 60 million barrels of Russian crude oil, to be delivered in April, Bloomberg reported today, citing unnamed sources familiar with the developments.

The cargoes were snapped at premiums of between $5 and $15 per barrel, the sources noted, suggesting the thirst for Russian oil in the worlds third-largest importer remains strong despite the swing from heavy discounts to a premium to the global benchmark.

Bloomberg, for its part, noted that the contracted volumes, while comparable to what Indian refiners bought from Russia this month, were a twofold increase on imports in February. In February, however, the United States had not yet issued a sanction waiver for Russian crude already loaded on tankers as of March 5. Washington issued the waiver to ease the price pain for importers such as India.

Now, it seems that Indian authorities expect the waiver to be extended, seeing as supply from the Middle East is nowhere near to coming back as hostilities continue. Recent reports that the U.S. has made a ceasefire proposal to Iran have pressured oil prices, but this effect may be temporary unless words are followed by action.

After the U.S. issued the sanction waiver, a race began for Russian oil cargos at sea, with several tankers even diverting from China to supply their cargoes to Indian buyers, according to shipping data from earlier this month. In just the first two weeks of March, he volume of Russian crude on the water fell by more than 20 million barrels, which is equivalent to a drawdown rate of over 2 million barrels per day, Vortexas chief economist reported on March 13.

As a result of the rebound in Russian oil imports, the country could this month return to the number-one supplier spot, after sanctions replaced it with Iraq in February, Reuters reported earlier this month, citing analysts.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Indias ONGC plans to invest between $18 and $20 billion on new oil and gas drilling to strengthen the countrys energy security, the Economic Times has reported, citing unnamed sources.

The money will be used to hire drilling rigs for what is seen as the biggest drilling campaign ever, the report noted, adding that the tender for the rigs was announced last month. One of the sources, an industry executive, said ONGC was looking to contract drillships and submersible rigs for up to five years.

The Indian government has put concerted effort into boosting domestic oil and gas production to reduce the countrys overwhelming dependence on imported hydrocarbons, which for oil comes in at over 80%. For natural gas, import dependence is around 50% of consumption.

In August last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the launch of a national deepwater exploration campaign, saying India will harness its deepwater energy resources, strengthening energy self-reliance and reducing dependence on foreign fuel imports.

A month later, Oil India reported its first-ever gas discovery in the Andaman Seathe first hydrocarbon discovery in the basin ever. The company said the size of the discovery was yet to be determined, but that it contained 87% methane. Rystad Energy said it could become a game-changer for Indias self-reliance in natural gas. We believe eastern offshore of India hides untapped hydrocarbon potential and ONGC is on a mission to harness it, ONGC said at the time.

The energy crunch that the U.S. and Israel war against Iran caused has served to make this push for self-reliance even more urgent for the worlds third-largest importer of crude, which relies on imports to meet some 85% of its demand. This makes India especially vulnerable to oil price swings and rallies, which was the reason the country quickly became a major destination for Russian oil that traded at a substantial discount because of Western sanctions.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Japans Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Wednesday asked the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) to be ready for an additional release of oil stocks from reserves if it is necessary.

The IEA two weeks ago launched the biggest coordinated emergency stocks release, of over 400 million barrels, since it was created in the 1970s.

As part of this release, the U.S. has moved to release 172.2 million barrels from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), and Japan early this week began preparations to start releasing crude oil from stockpiles held jointly by the country and oil producers as well as national stocks. Japan will be releasing a total of 80 million barrels of oil stocks, including 54 million barrels of crude and 26 million barrels of oil products as part of the IEAs 400-million-barrel release.

Japan is particularly vulnerable to the worst supply disruption in the history of oil markets as 95% of its oil imports typically come from the Middle East, and via the Strait of Hormuz.

At a meeting on Wednesday with the IEAs Executive Director Fatih Birol, Japans PM Takaichi asked the agency to make preparations for an additional release if needed.

Related: Could This Be Chinas Strategy To Paralyze the Pentagon?

In preparation for the possibility that the situation becomes prolonged, I asked that preparations be made for an additional coordinated release, Takaichi wrote in a social media post carried by Reuters.

Birol responded to Japans statements, If the situation requires more support from the IEA, we are there.

We still have a significant amount of stocks. If necessary, we are ready to move forward  but I very much hope that it will not be necessary, the agencys executive director added.

Earlier this week, Birol signaled the IEA could release additional volumes of crude from storage should the need arise.

Birol has described the current oil supply crisis as worse than 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.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

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Japans LNG imports are not much affected by the supply shock in the Middle East, but Japanese industrial natural gas use could drop anyway if petrochemicals plants continue to see naphtha supplies constrained, executives at the biggest Japanese gas providers said on Wednesday.

As we have a number of customers who use naphtha or other petroleum products in their manufacturing operations, any move to scale back their activities or operations could have an impact on our gas sales, Shinichi Sasayama, president of Tokyo Gas, said at a press conference, as carried by Reuters.

Osaka Gas president Masataka Fujiwara also warned in separate statements on Wednesday that the companys gas sales would fall if petrochemical plants move to curb output because of shortage of petroleum products.

Asias petrochemicals sector is highly dependent on naphtha, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and methanol from the Persian Gulf, so the war in the Middle East is creating a major supply shock in Asia, which is the most vulnerable to supply disruptions from the Gulf region, trade credit insurance group Coface said last week.

Asian petrochemicals producers in South Korea and Japan structurally operate with low stocks of naphtha and LPG, sufficient to cover only a few weeks of production. The result from the current supply crisis is that naphtha inventories are depleting rapidly, forcing producers to cut back on output, Coface noted.

Related: 5 Stocks to Buy Now That The Strait of Hormuz is Closed

With 60 to 70% of Asian naphtha passing through Hormuz, a prolonged disruption could redefine flows, costs and, perhaps, the very geography of the global petrochemical industry, said Joe Douaihy, sector economist, Coface.

While Japanese petrochemical manufacturers could soon acutely feel the naphtha supply crunch, Japan remains well supplied with LNG, thanks to its low exposure to LNG flows from the Strait of Hormuz.

Despite being the worlds second-largest LNG importer after China, Japan relies on the Strait of Hormuz for just 5% of its LNG imports, according to estimates by Vortexa.

To mitigate the Qatari LNG shortfall, importers in Japan can switch to alternative fuels like coal or optimize within their gas and LNG portfolios, the energy flows intelligence firm said earlier this month.

We secure the majority of LNG through long-term contracts, and there are currently no long-term contracts for LNG procurement via the Strait of Hormuz, Osaka Gas Fujiwara said today.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Benghazi, Libya (PANA) - A total of 32 irregular migrants of various nationalities were rescued by the Libyan Red Crescent branch of Tobruk in the east, during an operation to rescue a boat transporting them to the northern shore of the Mediterranean
Oil prices fell sharply in early asian trade on Wednesday, with both major benchmarks dropping more than 5% as traders reacted to signs of potential de-escalation in the Middle East conflict as well as a crude inventory build in the U.S.

At the time of writing, WTI crude was trading at $87.51, down 5.24%, while Brent crude had fallen below the psychologically important $100 to $98.03, down 6.08%.

The selloff follows a volatile 48 hours in oil markets, where prices had surged following President Trump's threat to blow up Iranian power plants and then dropped when he claimed the countries were moving toward an agreement.

New reports suggest that the U.S. has sent a potential peace framework to Iran, sparking hopes of a temporary ceasefire. Iran has added to the downward pressure on prices by circulating a letter to the International Maritime Organization stating that non-hostile vessels could transit the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with Iranian authorities.

President Trump said negotiations were progressing and that Iran was talking sense, while reports suggested a 15-point settlement proposal could pave the way for a one-month ceasefire. Iran, however, has publicly denied that direct talks are taking place.

To add to the downward pressure, particularly for WTI, the API reported an unexpected build in crude and gasoline inventories for the week ending March 20.

Despite the price drop, underlying geopolitical risks remain significant, and the physical market continues to deal with shortages.

The Pentagon is reportedly preparing to deploy elements of the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, while Israeli officials have threatened to escalate operations against Hezbollah, including a potential ground offensive in southern Lebanon.

For now, the drop below $100 Brent has largely been driven by optimism over a potential deal, but there are no signs of things cooling off in the region before then. The drone attack on a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport on Wednesday is just the latest example of continued strikes across the Middle East.

By Josh Owens for Oilprice.com

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A major fire broke out at the Ust-Luga oil port in Russias Leningrad region following a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack overnight on March 25, the second critical Baltic Sea export hub to be set ablaze this week following a similar strike on the nearby Primorsk port on Monday.

Ust-Luga port, one of Russia's largest multipurpose outlets on the Baltic Sea with capacity to handle approximately 700,000 barrels of oil per day, was sealed off after several oil storage reservoirs were set on fire. Russias Defense Ministry claimed to have shot down 389 Ukrainian drones across the country overnight, with at least 56 intercepted over the Leningrad region.

In the Monday attack, drone attacks triggered fires at fuel storage tanks in Primorsk while neighboring Ust-Luga also suspended operations amid the barrage before partially resuming loadings. The disruption hits a key artery for Russian oil flows into global markets at a time when supply is already strained by Middle East instability. Primorsk is a cornerstone of Russias export system, shipping Urals crude and low-sulfur diesel to international markets, including volumes linked to the so-called shadow fleet used to bypass Western sanctions. Industry data indicates the port has capacity of roughly 1 million barrels per day, with annual throughput reaching tens of millions of tons.

Related: No Missiles, No Drones: What Happens When Rare Earths Stop Flowing?

The disruption of these two critical hubs, which together manage roughly 60% of Russias maritime oil flow, has contributed to global supply concerns, with oil prices soaring amid simultaneous tensions in the Middle East. The strikes are part of a sustained Ukrainian campaign aimed squarely at Russias energy export system, with repeated hits on refineries, storage hubs, and key terminals.

Earlier attacks have already disrupted flows from Novorossiysk on the Black Sea and knocked out loading capacity at Primorsk for days last year. Now, with Baltic exports under strain and Middle East supply still constrained, markets are being forced to absorb disruptions from two critical fronts at once, tightening available barrels and driving renewed volatility across both crude and refined products.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

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The U.S. waivers on the purchase of Russian and Iranian crude on tankers have been a mixed bag of success in boosting oil supply in Asia. While refiners, especially in India, are snapping up Russian cargoes, state-controlled Indian and Chinese firms are reluctant to wade into trade with Iranian barrels.

Uncertainties about shipping, insurance, payments, and currencies in buying Iranian oil have deterred refiners from looking to buy Tehrans crude, which the U.S. unsanctioned last Friday in an attempt to bring down oil prices.

A week earlier, the U.S. Administration had allowed Russian crude already loaded on tankers to be sold without sanctions.

As a result, Russian barrels in floating storage have begun to clear. The volume of crude from Russia held in tankers east of Suez has diminished to about 13 million barrels on 18 tankers, per vessel-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. Thats down from 19 million barrels on 25 ships before the U.S. waiver on Russian oil purchases was broadened almost two weeks ago to include not only India but all buyers.

Indian refiners have reportedly struck deals for the purchase of some 60 million barrels of Russian crude oil to be delivered in April. The cargoes were snapped at premiums of between $5 and $15 per barrel, according to Bloomberg sources, suggesting the thirst for Russian oil in the worlds third-largest importer remains strong despite the swing from heavy discounts to a premium to the global benchmark.

Related: 3 Defense Stocks To Replenish Americas Depleting Arsenal

The situation with Iranian crude, however, is starkly different.

Indian refiners have not shown willingness to purchase Iranian crude as concerns about the payment, currency, and shipping currently outweigh their willingness to entangle themselves into a trade that could become illegitimate again in just a few weeks.

Indias hesitancy about buying Iranian crude is not too different from the one shown among some of Chinas top state refiners. For example, Sinopec, Asias biggest refiner by capacity, is weighing the potential risks of Iranian oil trade and basically won't buy Iranian crude, the companys president Zhao Dong said on Monday.

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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Valero Energy is set to restart later this week its major oil refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, after an explosion and a fire forced a shutdown earlier this week, sources with knowledge of the refinerys operations told Reuters on Wednesday.

Valero on Tuesday shut down its Port Arthur refinery after an explosion late on Monday set a diesel processing unit on fire.

The refinery capable of processing 380,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude is one of the largest in the United States and the U.S. Gulf Coast.

The refinerys diesel hydrotreater, where the explosion occurred, has a capacity of 47,000 barrels per day.

All personnel were accounted for after the explosion early this week, with no injuries reported. However, authorities issued a shelter-in-place order immediately following the blast, which was felt as far as 11 miles from the refinery on the Texas border with Louisiana.

The shutdown at the major refinery will tighten the diesel market in the United States at a time when diesel  and gasoline  prices are soaring in lockstep with the surge in crude oil prices.

Related: Six Stocks That Could Soar in an Era of Regional Instability

Refining margins are also soaring globally due to the supply shock in the Middle East.

The U.S. national average price of a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.983 as of early Wednesday, per AAA data. This price compares to $2.975 per gallon a month ago, just before the start of the war in the Middle East, and to $3.139 a gallon a year ago.

The price of diesel has climbed even faster and a gallon costs an average of $5.366 nationwide, according to AAA data, up from $3.749/gal a month ago and $3.749/gal a year ago.

The average price of diesel in the U.S. has reached $5.35/gal and is less than 50 cents from setting a new all-time record high, which was at $5.83/gal on June 1, 2022, Patrick De Haan, head of Petroleum Analysis at GasBuddy, said on Tuesday.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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By Taxpayers Association of Oregon

OregonWatchdog.com

Oregon Independent journalist Andy Ngo reports on a Portland ICE protest that went dangerous when a man pulled out a gun for what appears to be self defense. This is the result of protesters being allowed to riot and police nowhere to be found.

Read below and then follow Andy Ngo here and donate here.

Pull the trigger, bitch! Portland (March 22)  A mob of Antifa and far-left rioters confronted an armed man outside the ICE facility and dare him to shoot them. He brandishes the gun and they still pursue him. https://t.co/5FFcb9VEOT pic.twitter.com/Vp9TTR4ZrD  Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) March 23, 2026
By Larry Huss,

Over the past weekend, President Donald J. Trump demanded that Iran allow transit for all ships through the Straits of Hormuz. He gave them forty-eight hours to comply or face a devastating torrent of missiles and bombs aimed first at the Iranian power grid and second at the missile sites along the Persian Gulf that threaten passage. Prior to the expiration of that forty-eight hours, one or more self-identified leaders of Iran contacted Mr. Trump about complying with his demand. On that basis, Mr. Trump extended the time line to five days, ending sometime late on Friday. Mr. Trump has sent Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff back to the Middle East to arrange a peace agreement.

Great. But there are two pieces missing. As of the writing of this column, the Iranian leader(s) has not been identified nor has his bona fides for speaking on behalf of Irans rogue Islamist regime been verified. Or that there is a strong likelihood that this is just another example of Iranian duplicity known as taqqiyy. Taggiyy is an exception to the general condemnation of lying and deceit under Islamic doctrine. According to a group identified as The Religion of Peace (TROP):

There are several forms of lying to non-believers that are permitted under certain circumstances, the best known being taqqiyya (the Shia name). These circumstances are typically those that advance the cause of Islam  in some cases by gaining the trust of non-believers in order to draw out their vulnerability and defeat them.

Or course under the regime of Iranian ayatollahs, everybody, including most of the Iranian civilians were considered non-believers. They have raised lying to an art form that parallels Joe Biden. To put it into American vernacular, it simply means that if their lips are moving, then you know theyre lying.. There are no exceptions to the rule in Iran. So, how are you going to know whether the person you are negotiating with represents any segment of the Iranian populace outside of his own tribe and even at that how are you going to know whether he is telling the truth or just another lie to get what he or his tribe wants. You dont. Thats it. End of debate. Hard stop.

Now add to that the history of Iran (Persia). At least since the turn of the Twentieth Century and continuing through the first quarter of the Twenty-first Century, Iran has been victimized by a series of despotic rulers. Prior to 1925, Iran was run by a series of religious leaders  ayatollahs. At that time it was a land mass housing a variety of tribes and what little centralized governance there was based on councils of clerics  none of whom trusted the others. Then in 1925, Reza Pahlavi took over and declared himself to be Shah (an Arabic form of King). He was succeeded by his son, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi in 1947 and, like his father, ruled with one eye on modernization (education, infrastructure, and the economy) and the other on iron-handed control to root out any dissent. While much of Iran thrived under the Shah, when dissent and suspicion put one under the surveillance of the dreaded SAVAK (secret police) the result was that literally tens of thousand of Iranians were arrested, tortured, killed or simply disappeared. The SAVAK were not unlike the Nazis Gestapo or the Soviet KGB. The primary difference being that American CIA supported both the Shah and the SAVAK.

In about 1978, the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini led a revolt against the Shah but not the despotism that Iranians suffered under the Shah. Mr. Khomeini was a brutal dictator and he passed his thirst for the blood from all those with whom he disagreed onto his successor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenie who ruled until his timely death two weeks ago. And while the Shah had his SAVAK, the Ayatollahs have their Quds Force, a branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)  same effect, different leaders. The point is that the Iranian people have never experienced democracy. They have been ruled by despotic regimes  mostly cruel and repressive regimes.

We are at a time and place where the advice of former President Richard Nixon about ending the war in Vietnam is appropriate: Declare Victory and Leave. For Mr. Nixon, declaring victory was really admitting defeat. There never were any definitive goals or paths to exit. But currently, Mr. Trump has stated specific goals prior to commencement of the engagement.

Destroying the regimes ballistic missile stocks and launchers and its capacity to produce new ones.

Annihilating the Iranian Air Force and Navy

Stopping Iran from arming, funding and directing proxy militant groups.

Preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

There is no question that America has achieved the first three goals. The fourth goals is more about maintenance than it is about destruction. Vigilance about what occurs in Iran regardless of who rules, is the only means of ensuring a nuclear free Iran. Obviously a cooperative regime would make it easier but even at that the promise to forego pursuit of nuclear weapons is only good until it isnt.

So, congratulations America, congratulations Mr. Trump and mostly congratulations to the unbelievable skills and courage of Americas fighting men and women. You won and we can welcome you with the heros welcome you deserve. Yes, some of your brothers and sisters at arms will be required to watch carefully as Iran proceeds. Although a better solution would be to pass that baton to the Arab nations surrounding Iran and who were attacked by the ayatollahs of Tehran.

Oh, I almost forgot. There is that pesky problem of the Strait of Hormuz and the oil that must transit to fuel Europe and the Far East. But there is an easy and historic solution that rises from one of our most enduring forefathers Benjamin Franklin:

The Lord helps those who help themselves.

So there you go England, France, Germany, Italy, etc., this is really your problem since the United States is already energy independent. The United States will help those who help themselves. We have already done the heavy lifting. It you need oil from Iran and the Persian Gulf, YOU need to secure the Strait of Hormuz.

Now were all done. Welcome home America.
Suspect accused of extorting central PDC business of 50,000 a month to fund criminal group arrested

Playa del Carmen, Q.R.  A suspect accused of demanding 50,000 a month from central Playa del Carmen business has been arrested. Police reported on the capture of Royder Magdaleno N for aggravated extortion to fund a criminal group.

The events for which the suspect was arrested occurred on March 16 of this year when the subject went to a commercial establishment located on 10th Avenue North in the centro neighborhood of Playa del Carmen, they said.

There, he allegedly threatened the owner telling him that he was being watched, that they knew his address, the vehicle he used, and that his family was also being observed.

He also demanded 50,000 pesos per month as protection money, stating that the money would go to a criminal group. When the victim refused due to lack of resources, the accused allegedly asked for 20,000 pesos and warned against not notifying the police, as there were supposedly armed people in the vicinity, police explained in a statement.

The victim agreed to make the payment, however, the suspect fled the scene upon noticing the presence of police officers in the area.

The owner of the business filed a complaint that led to the arrest of Royder Magdaleno N. He was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant from the Villamar I subdivision of Playa del Carmen.

Police say the crime of aggravated extortion is provided for in current legislation with a penalty that can reach up to 37 years and six months in prison.
Tulum telecommunications worker rushed to PDC hospital from fall

Tulum, Q.R.  A Tulum worker was rushed to hospital Tuesday after falling several meters from a pole. The man was doing maintenance on a telecommunications tower in the coastal area when he fell.

Due to the severity of his injuries, he was transferred to Playa del Carmen. March 24, 2026.

An ambulance arrived at the site along on the TulumBoca Paila highway where the man was working on a Telcel tower.

Accounts gathered at the scene indicate that the man was descending the tower when he lost his balance. He fell approximately six meters but not to the ground.

During the fall, the man hit the roof of a nearby building, which increased the severity of his injuries.

People who saw the man fall called 9-1-1. Paramedics from the Tulum Hospital arrived at the scene to provide pre-hospital care. However, due to the severity of his condition, paramedics determined an urgent transfer to Playa del Carmen instead.

Civil Protection personnel were at the scene of the accident to carry out the necessary inspection. Authorities are continuing to gather information to clarify what happened.
New York, US (PANA) - Ghana's President John Mahama on Wednesday called for global unity in recognising the transatlantic slave trade as one of the gravest crimes against humanity, urging nations to act in the interest of justice and historical truth


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When youre shopping for a new humidifier, there are plenty of options to choose from. And though I have tried several in the past, I didnt love any enough to recommend to others. When I was hunting around for a new brand to try, I clocked the popular Carepod because it was invented by a doctor in Korea and seemed easy to use, with no hidden nooks and crannies for mold to develop. Ive wanted one since the brand launched in the States in 2021, and I finally got my hands on the Carepod One Plus this month (it sells out quickly). Its been a game-changer for my sleep routinemainly, it's made my bedroom air less dry and, as a result, stopped my morning nosebleeds.

Shop Now Carepod One Plus Stainless Steel Humidifier amazon.com $299.00

In the two weeks I have used it, not only are my nosebleeds gone, but the air in my room feels easier to breathe. I dont feel as parched and dry when I wake up either, even if I had a couple of drinks the night before. I was truly not living properly before I got the Carepod, and I love it so much. If youre in the market for a humidifier that wont break down on you or get moldy, while also being easy to use/care for, read on. Ill get into the ins and outs of why this one is SO worth the money.

Quick Verdict: Carepod One Plus

Rating: 4.5/5

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Best for: People who care about simple, functional design and ease of cleaning in their humidifiers.

Not ideal for: People who dont want to use distilled/filtered water for their humidifier, and/or who want a more design-forward device.

Price at review: $350

Bottom line: The Carepod One Plus is easy to set up and clean, so you dont have to worry about mold ever, and its so quiet. I also like the fact that it was invented by a doctor for his own family.

What Makes the Carepod Different From Other Humidifiers?

The beauty of the Carepod lies in its simple design and extremely easy-to-clean parts. It doesnt have any bells and whistles, so dont expect it to diffuse aromas like the Canopy or cool the air like the Dyson. This humidifier has only one job, which is to make the air less dry. The Carepod One Plus has three main parts: the stainless steel water tank (other tanks are made of plastic), the inner lid cover, and the wandall of which are washable to prevent mold growth.

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Aside from its fuss-free design and features, what also appealed to me was that the Carepod was invented by a South Korean dentist, Dr. Hyung Joo Kim, who wanted a safer, cleaner humidifier for his family. Koreans are at the forefront of skincare, and I figured buying a product from a Korean doctor, no less, felt legitimate.

As someone who mostly uses K-beauty skincare products and watches a lot of K-dramas (in the hospital scenes, they always have a humidifier running next to the patients bedsomething you never see in American medical dramas), I was hoping the Carepod would also give me glowy, hydrated skin in addition to making my nose less stuffy.

Delivery and Assembly

The Carepod One Plus came in one well-packed box.

The Carepod only has four parts, the giant body, stainless steel bowl, wand, and inside lid!

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The Carepod comes in several sizes to accommodate different rooms. I opted for the second-smallest onemy Carepod One Plus works in spaces up to 500 square feetsince I wanted it in my bedroom, but the Mini, which resembles a Brita filter, would have been a good choice as well.

It came within two weeks of being ordered in a medium-sized box. When I opened the box to unwrap the parts, there wasnt much to unpack: just the exterior vessel, the stainless steel water tank, and the wand. Setup, which included plugging in the humidifier, took five minutes.

I dont have a nightstand, so I keep the Carepod on my dresser a few feet away from my bed (and head), as the recommended distance for a humidifier is three to four feet. The product does take up a decent amount of surface space, especially because I also have two big jewelry boxes, books, an Echo Dot, and a table lamp on my dresser. However, since I only plan to use the Carepod during the driest seasons of the year, I dont mind leaving it out for a couple of months before I store it away in my bathroom cabinet.

Performance

I live in an old house, so in the winter, the air is dryso dry that some of the wood in our home tends to shrink or crackand in the summer, our home feels so humid. After just one night using the Carepod, my husband and I both woke up without stuffy noses or general congestion.

Marina Liao for House Beautiful

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I have extremely dry skin, so its typical for me to get minor nosebleeds at least once or twice a week in the mornings during the wintertime due to the dry air in the home. I know a humidifier solves this issue, but since Ive tried a bunch from when I was a teenager to now, as an adult, and didnt like a single one, I just kind of suffer through with my nosebleeds for five months out of the yearuntil I got the Carepod, that is. Since using this humidifier, I have not had a nosebleed in weeks.

We also wear nightguards to sleep (being in your 30s is fun, guys), and I've noticed that sometimes my lower lip will stick to my nightguard because my lip gets dry. Ever since we started running the Carepod, this has not happened! The air generally feels easier to breathe, too, at night when we doze off. My husband and I literally turned to each other one morning and said, Wow, this thing really works.

I haven't yet gotten glass skin from using this humidifier, thoughmaybe itll take more time.

Functions

There are three buttons on the Carepod lid: Mist/Mood Light, Power, and Timer/Dark Mode. The Power button turns the Carepod on, and then you can use the Mist button to adjust the amount of mist. If you hold this button longer, you activate the Carepod One Pluss mood lighting.

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It glows in seven different colors, and while it looks pretty, I keep the lights off at night because I noticed they were too bright, since the Carepod is only a few feet from my face. I like to sleep in total darkness. If I had a bigger bedroom and my Carepod were farther away, rather than three feet from my head, I would leave the light on as a nightlight for my occasional 2 a.m. bathroom runs.

The timer lets you set the Carepod One Plus to run for four, six, or eight hours, while Dark Mode switches off the units lights so it wont glow in a dark bedroom. I dont use the timer setting ever because I just let it run throughout the night and turn it off in the morning when I wake up.

Design

The Carepod has a rounded body and dishwasher-safe parts. The dimensions are 10.2" W x 10.8" D x 9.3" H, about the size of a small rice cooker.

The four-liter stainless steel tank holds enough water for up to 30 hours, which sounds about right. Weve had to refill the tank with water every two or three nights since we run in every night from 11:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. I love that there are no filters to replace, no tubes to clean out with pipe cleaners, or any other annoying components that could get moldy.

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I will say the Carepod looks like a medical device and isnt exactly the prettiest compared to some colorful options out there, but when it comes to a humidifier, I will take ease of cleaning and function over looks. Ive had more aesthetically pleasing humidifiers, and they all broke or got moldy within six months.

Noise Level

You can hear a faint misting sound when the Carepod is running, though its never disruptive. I actually dont notice it because I also run my Windmill air purifier at night, and that is louder than my Carepod. There is no weird humming or beeping from the device itself!

Can You Use Tap Water With the Carepod?

The brand recommends using distilled or filtered water rather than tap water. I use distilled water because we already buy this for our Miro humidifier downstairs in our dining room/living room. Its an additional expense, which is annoying, especially if youre on a budget. My tip: If you have a Chase credit card, one of the benefits is that DoorDash will offer a $10 to $20 monthly grocery credit you can use to buy items like distilled water.

In general, though, I wouldnt recommend using straight tap water in humidifiers because its bad for the devices. The EPA says, minerals in tap water may increase the development of crusty deposits, or scale, in humidifiers. Scale can be a breeding ground for microorganisms. And since Im a germaphobe, I would rather not breathe in anything I cant see from tap water as I sleep, so I will fork up the $2 for a gallon of distilled water.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Carepod

Ive only cleaned the Carepod once, and I did as instructed. It was hassle-free and so easy. I stuck the stainless steel pot and lid into my dishwasher on the bottom rack and hand-washed the wand with soap. I also wiped down the inside of the Carepod vessel itself. There are no vents/holes/gaps where mold can form, and this makes me feel much better about having a humidifier in my room.

Carepod One Plus Pros and Cons

Shop Now Carepod One Plus Humidifier amazon.com $299.00

Final Verdict: Is the Carepod One Plus Worth Buying?

Yes, 100 percent yes! Ive tried several different humidifiers, from random ones on Amazon to the popular, portable Hey Dewy, and no product comes close to the simplicity and cleanliness of the Carepod One Plus. I like that the device doesnt try to do everything; instead, it focuses on perfecting the one thing I actually need: making the air less dry, so I stop getting nosebleeds. It hasnt made a huge difference in my skin yet, but I have high hopes it will when Ive had the chance to use it for several months.

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Its very easy to clean, and because there arent many parts, you dont need to turn this device inside out to inspect for mold. Using distilled water (as much as I hate to admit spending money on water when the NYC tap is so good) has made a big difference in how I enjoy the Carepod, too, because it helps keep the whole device cleaner. I can rest easy at night knowing Im not breathing in random airborne minerals or particles from tap water, too.

I know when Im in the market for another humidifier, Ill buy a Carepod again and wont settle for anything else.

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Rachel Accurso, widely known as Ms. Rachel, is calling for the closure of a Texas immigration detention center after speaking with children held inside and hearing troubling accounts about their living conditions.

The children's educator said she is now working with lawyers and immigration advocates to shut down the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, where families, including young children, are being held.

Her push comes after emotional conversations with detained kids who described poor food, limited schooling, and distressing conditions.

Accurso said the issue became personal after she spoke with a 9-year-old boy, Deiver Henao Jimenez, who is being held at the facility with his parents.

According to DailyMail, during a video call, the child told her the food made his stomach hurt and that he wanted "to leave and go to the spelling bee."

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

She added, "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."

Ms. Rachel Advocates For Closure Of ICE Detention Center In Texas Holding Kids: "We're Trying To Get A Child Out Of Jail To Do A Spelling Bee" https://t.co/yj5BAiz7Vb  Deadline (@DEADLINE) March 23, 2026

Rachel Accurso Speaks Out as 2,300 Kids

Reports say more than 2,300 children have been detained with their parents following stricter immigration enforcement policies.

Many of them are housed at the Dilley center, where complaints include constant lighting, limited access to education, and poor-quality food.

Accurso also spoke with another child, a 5-year-old named Gael, who is nonverbal and was undergoing an autism evaluation before being detained with his parents.

Since arriving at the facility, his condition has worsened, Deadline reported.

His family reported that he has become increasingly distressed and has started hurting himself, behavior they had not seen before.

"Treating a child this way is a crime," Accurso said. "It's neglect and child abuse."

The educator said she first learned about the facility after a separate case involving a 5-year-old boy, Liam Conejo Ramos, and his father, who were detained and later sent to the Texas center. That moment pushed her to speak out more publicly.

While many supporters have praised her advocacy, others have criticized her for stepping into a political issue. Accurso acknowledged the reaction but stood firm on her stance.

"I am political," she said. "It's political to believe that children are worthy of love and care, and that every child is equal."

Originally published on Enstarz
China-Arab TV: Could you update us on the incident that an officer from Japans Self-Defense Force broke into the Chinese Embassy in Japan? Does China have any further comment?

Lin Jian: Chinas Embassy in Japan is working with the Japanese police to handle the related matters. The perpetrator was handed over to the Japanese police. According to information released by the Japanese police, he is a second lieutenant of Japans Ground Self-Defense Force. He scaled the embassy wall carrying a knife with an 18cm blade. China deplores the incident and has protested to the Japanese side both in Beijing and Tokyo. China pointed out the incident gravely threatened the safety of the embassy staff, disrupted the peaceful life in the embassy, and impaired its dignity. It shows that the Japanese side failed to fulfill its obligations in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations or to fulfill its special responsibility to uphold the inviolability of diplomatic premises and personnel. We once again urge the Japanese side to immediately launch a thorough investigation, bring the perpetrator to justice and fully account for the incident.

CCTV: Foreign Minister Wang Yi received a phone call from Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi yesterday, during which the latter said that Iran hopes China will continue to play a positive role in promoting ceasefire and peace talks. Whats Chinas plan to facilitate peace talks?

Lin Jian: As the reverberating spillover effects of the conflict deal a heavy blow to peace and stability in the Middle East and beyond, people in the region and the international community all hope and call for an immediate ceasefire and end of hostilities. During his phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi yesterday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed that it is Chinas principled position that all regional hotspot issues should be resolved through dialogue and negotiation, not by force. Negotiating is always better than fighting. It is hoped that relevant parties will seize every opportunity and window for peace and start the peace talks as soon as possible.

Since the outbreak of the conflict, China has been working tirelessly for peace. Our diplomatic mediation efforts will not stop as long as the conflict continues. China will continue to play a constructive role in promoting ceasefire and ending hostilities. Working together with regional countries and the international community, we will contribute our part to restoring peace and tranquility in the Gulf region at an early date.

AFP: According to U.S. media, President Donald Trump reportedly sent a peace plan to Iran as he voiced optimism at ending nearly a month of war. Tehran has also announced that it will let non-hostile oil vessels go through the Strait of Hormuz. What is Chinas response to these latest developments?

Lin Jian: We are gravely concerned over the ongoing tensions in the Middle East and the impact on regional and global peace and stability. The pressing priority now is to stop fighting. The way out is through dialogue and negotiation. China supports all efforts conducive to easing tensions, deescalating the situation and restoring dialogue.

Reuters: Is the Foreign Ministry able to confirm that any Chinese ships have successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz after yesterdays announcement that non-hostile vessels will be allowed to pass?

Lin Jian: Maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East and keeping shipping routes safe serves the common interests of the international community. China has all along been in communication with relevant parties to work for the deescalation of the situation. The pressing priority is for the parties concerned to step up to their responsibilities and immediately stop military operations to avoid further deterioration and escalation of the situation and prevent the turmoil from causing a greater impact on global economy.

Shenzhen TV: It was reported that Japans Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology on March 24 reviewed high school textbooks to be used from 2027. Some textbooks include descriptions suggesting there was no coercion regarding comfort women and forced labor, and asserts that Diaoyu Dao is Japans inherent territory. What is Chinas comment?

Lin Jian: To obscure historical facts, play down Japans war crimes and seek to evade responsibility by playing on words when reviewing textbooks is Japans go-to tactic to deny and distort its history of aggression. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this, and has lodged serious protests with the Japanese side.

Japan has yet to make a clean break with militarism after the war, and its Yasukuni war shrine still honors 14 Class-A war criminals. Forcibly recruiting comfort women and labor is a serious crime against humanity that Japanese militarists committed during their aggression and expansion. These are historical facts clear to the whole world and backed by solid evidence. Theres no way they can be denied.

Let me stress that Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands have been Chinas territory since ancient times, over which China has indisputable sovereignty. No matter what small tricks the Japanese side uses regarding textbooks, they cannot change the fact that Diaoyu Dao belongs to China. Any attempt to undermine Chinas territorial sovereignty is futile.

China noted that the ROK has also lodged serious demarches with the Japanese side to protest against contents about Dokdo and comfort women in the textbooks. This shows that Japanese far-right forces moves of distorting history and misleading Japanese people in their view of history have triggered high alert and strong indignation from the international community, including its Asian neighbors. We seriously urge the Japanese side to look history in the eye, make a clean break with militarism, allow the young generation in Japan to know the true history, properly handle historical issues in a responsible attitude, and avoid further losing the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community.

AFP: A retired Hong Kong policeman on Tuesday denied spying for Beijing, telling a London court that he played no part in directing shadow policing operations for China in the UK. The man, a 65-year-old man named Bill Yuen, has been charged with assisting foreign intelligence service between December 2023 and May 2024. Does the Foreign Ministry have a comment on this case?

Lin Jian: We have stated our position on this case on multiple occasions. I would like to stress that we firmly oppose political manipulation under the pretext of foreign interference allegations.

Reuters: Is the Foreign Ministry able to update us on last weeks statement that China is willing to cooperate with countries struggling with energy shortages in the region? Have any initiatives started already? How does China think it can best assist Southeast Asia at this time, with several countries having to resort to shortened work weeks to deal with the shortage?

Lin Jian: The situation in the Middle East has dealt a blow to global energy security, industrial and supply chains and international trade order. Relevant countries should immediately stop military operations and prevent the regional turmoil from causing a greater impact on global economic growth. China stands ready to strengthen coordination and collaboration with the international community and jointly address energy security issues.

Telesur: In the light of the United States bombing and invasion against Venezuela that killed more than 100 persons and led to the kidnapping of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, and as the March 26 hearing approaches, what is Chinas legal assessment of the judicial process involving the Venezuelan President and the First Lady, in terms of legality, sovereignty, and international law? Also, what concrete measures is China taking, together with the international community, to ensure the release of the presidential couple who are being held as hostages in the United States?

Lin Jian: The U.S. forcibly seizing a countrys president clearly violates the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, international law and basic international norms. China firmly opposes that. We support Venezuela in safeguarding its own sovereignty, dignity and lawful rights.

Nippon TV: According to newspaper reports, in January two Japanese people were arrested in Guangzhou for possession of drugs. Is the Spokesperson aware of this matter, and do you have any comment on this matter?

Lin Jian: Im not aware of what you mentioned.

Reuters: Has the Japanese side given China any assurance after the break-in that something like this will not happen again? Does this incident risk widening the schism between Tokyo and Beijing?

Lin Jian: The incident once again highlighted the danger of the rampant spread of far-right impact and neo-militarism in the country. It also reveals the toxicity of the Japanese governments erroneous policies on vital issues concerning China-Japan relations such as history and Taiwan, and Japans failure in maintaining discipline in Self-Defense Force and in fulfilling its responsibility to protect the Chinese diplomatic and consular premises and personnel. With regard to what measures the Japanese side will take to properly handle the incident and get rid of the root cause for such incidents once and for all, I suggest you ask the Japanese side. The international community, including China, is watching.

Kyodo News: Its reported by the Japanese media that the officer from Japans Self-Defence Forces who broke into the Chinese embassy said he was trying to convey opinions to the ambassador, which was inconsistent with what China said. Whats Chinas comment on that?

Lin Jian: Have you ever seen an individual who, armed with a knife, entered the embassy without permission to convey opinions to the ambassador? The perpetrator, a sitting officer of Japans Self-Defence Forces, scaled the wall and broke into the Chinese embassy carrying a knife with an 18cm blade in clear violation of the law. This is the fact that the Japanese police found out. Its also a fact that he threatened to kill Chinese diplomats in the so-called name of god. The Japanese side must take it seriously and thoroughly investigate the incident.

EFE: What expectations does China have for the World Trade Organizations ministerial meeting in Cameroon this Thursday? What prospects are there for advancing with the WTO reform after Chinas decision to give up a special treatment as a developing country?

Lin Jian: As the international economic and trade order faces severe challenges with unilateralism and protectionism on the rise and the multilateral trading system gravely impacted, it is of special significance that the WTO holds a ministerial conference in Africa again after a decade. China firmly supports Cameroon in making this WTO Ministerial Conference a success.

Telesur: Given the ongoing energy blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba, considered a form of collective punishment under international law and aimed at provoking a change of government, how does China assess the legality of these actions? And what concrete measures is China taking to support Cuba, protect its sovereignty, and ensure the Cuban people have access to essential resources?

Lin Jian: For over 60 years the U.S. has imposed a full blockade and illicit sanctions on Cuba, wreaking havoc on peoples lives in Cuba. China firmly opposes these unilateral sanctions and firmly supports Cuba in pursuing the development path suited to their national conditions, safeguarding sovereignty and security, and opposing external interference. We urge the U.S. to immediately lift the blockade and sanctions, and stop pressuring Cuba under any pretext. This is also the overwhelming call from the international community.

EFE: Pakistan recently positioned itself as a mediator between the United States, Israel and Iran together with Turkiye and Egypt and has offered its capital as the venue for negotiations. What is the Foreign Ministrys comment or information on this?

Lin Jian: The pressing priority now is to stop fighting. The way out is through dialogue and negotiation. China supports all efforts conducive to easing tensions, deescalating the situation and restoring dialogue.

EFE: U.S. authorities have decided to ban the import of any foreign-made routers. It was seen as a new step in Washington to ban electronic equipment of Chinese origin. So I dont know if you have any comment on this?

Lin Jian: China consistently opposes the U.S. overstretching the concept of national security and taking discriminatory measures against foreign enterprises. The U.S. should provide a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for companies of all countries.
A growing number of parents across the United States are refusing standard preventive treatments for their newborns, including vitamin K injections, hepatitis B vaccines, and antibiotic eye ointment, driven by deepening mistrust of the medical establishment and the spread of health misinformation online.

The trend is backed by a major study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in December 2025 by researchers at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The team analyzed records from more than five million births at 403 hospitals across all 50 states between 2017 and 2024.

They found that the share of newborns not receiving the routine vitamin K shot rose from 2.92% in 2017 to 5.18% in 2024, a 77% increase over eight years. That means roughly 200,000 infants in the study went without the injection, according to CNN.

Vitamin K shots have been standard practice since 1961 and are given to prevent vitamin K deficiency bleeding, a rare but potentially fatal condition. Newborns are born with very low levels of the vitamin, and their developing guts cannot produce it until they begin eating solid foods around six months of age.

Before the injections became routine, as many as 1 in 60 infants experienced this type of bleeding. Research shows that babies who do not receive the shot are 81 times more likely to suffer severe bleeding compared to those who do.

The consequences have already turned deadly. During a February meeting of the Idaho chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, doctors reported eight infant deaths linked to vitamin K deficiency bleeding in the state over the previous 13 months.

Doctors say the refusals extend beyond just the vitamin K shot. Parents who decline it are far more likely to also refuse the hepatitis B vaccine and erythromycin eye ointment, which prevents infections that can cause blindness, the Maternal and Child Health Journal reported.

Read more: How Probiotics Strengthen the Microbiome and Improve Gut Health Naturally

"I believe these families genuinely care for their infants," said Dr. Kelly Wade, a neonatologist in Philadelphia, in an interview with the Associated Press. "However, I hear from families that decision-making is challenging due to conflicting information."

Parents cite several reasons for their decisions, including concerns about side effects, a preference for natural birth experiences, and a desire to avoid causing their baby pain.

Social media has amplified these concerns by spreading misconceptions and promoting unregulated oral vitamin K alternatives that physicians say are poorly absorbed by infants.

The issue crosses political lines. Dr. Steven Abelowitz, a pediatrician in Orange County, California, told the AP that mistrust exists "among conservative families, but there is also significant skepticism from the liberal side."

Meanwhile, a federal advisory committee appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. voted to eliminate the longstanding recommendation for hepatitis B vaccination at birth, though a federal judge has temporarily blocked that action.

Pediatricians say the path forward lies in patient, nonjudgmental conversations with families. "Every parent I work with desires the best for their child," said Dr. David Hill, a pediatrician and researcher in Seattle, as per the Associated Press.
Pacing Triple Crown winner Western Dreamer passed away on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at the Kentucky Horse Park, where he was a beloved resident since July 2001.

At 32, he died of age-related infirmities. He retired from racing in October 2000 and lived at Equi-Care Farm in Caledonia, Ont. before going to the Kentucky Horse Park.

Sired by Western Hanover and out of Fits Of Fun by Panorama, Western Dreamer was foaled on April 25, 1994 at Kentuckiana Farms in Georgetown, Kentucky. He was purchased at auction as a yearling by George Segal of Brittany Farms in Versailles, Kentucky, who raced him as a two-year-old. Western Dreamer was then sold to Canadian owners Matthew, Patrick Jr., and Daniel Daly in November 1996.

The Daly family issued the following statement: We are deeply saddened to hear of Western Dreamers passing. He brought much joy to our family and Standardbred racehorse fans throughout North America. We have countless fond memories of him on and off the track, most especially during each of his Triple Crown victories. We are most grateful to the staff at the Kentucky Horse Park for how well they have cared for him following his racing years and for ensuring his legacy of excellence lives on.

Trained by Bill Robinson and driven by Michel Lachance, Western Dreamer became the first Standardbred in 14 years to capture the Pacing Triple Crown in 1997. He set a stakes and world record of 1:51.1 in the Little Brown Jug for three-year-old pacing geldings on a half-mile track and later recorded a world record time of 1:51.3f in the Messenger Stakes at The Meadows to clinch the Triple Crown. He became just the eighth Triple Crown winner and the first since Ralph Hanover in 1983. Western Dreamer won the O'Brien Awards for Three-Year-Old Pacer of the Year and Horse of the Year in Canada for his outstanding 1997 season, which included 14 wins in 29 starts and total earnings of $1,812,176. He was also named Three-Year-Old Pacer of the Year and Pacer of the Year in the United States in 1997.

The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame announced on Tuesday that Western Dreamer has been nominated as a finalist in the Standardbred Veteran category.

"'Dreamer' was the perfect ambassador for the Hall of Champions, said Rob Willis. For 25 years, he gave visitors from around the world the rare opportunity to connect with a Triple Crown winner in a truly personal way. We will ensure his legacy continues to live on at the Kentucky Horse Park Hall of Champions.

Like other great Hall of Champions horses, Western Dreamer will be buried at the parks Memorial Walk of Champions alongside past Standardbred residents Staying Together, Rambling Willie and Cam Fella, and Thoroughbred residents Point Given, Funny Cide, Go For Gin, Forego, Bold Forbes, John Henry, Alysheba and Da Hoss. A public memorial service will be held at a future date.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Western Dreamer.

(With files from Kentucky Horse Park)
The Arm AGI CPU is aimed at supporting agentic AI infrastructures.

The Arm AGI CPU is aimed at supporting agentic AI infrastructures. (Arm Limited.)

Arm has announced its first move into silicon product manufacturing, launching the Arm AGI CPU to target AI data centre workloads.

The companys new strategy expands its offerings beyond intellectual property licensing and compute subsystems to include chips directly designed by Arm.

The AGI CPU is designed for agentic AI infrastructure, which demands more compute to run always-on AI agents and higher data throughput.

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Meta is working as a lead partner and co-developer on the project, planning to integrate the AGI CPU with its applications and custom silicon such as the Meta Training and Inference Accelerator.

Other industry partners, including Cerebras, Cloudflare, F5, OpenAI, Positron, Rebellions, SAP and SK Telecom have also confirmed plans to use the AGI CPU for tasks such as accelerator management, control plane processing, and cloud application hosting.

According to Arm, demand for CPUs in data centres is rising due to the growing use of agent-driven AI applications.

These systems require an increase in processing capacity without exceeding current power limits.

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The AGI CPU features up to 136 Neoverse V3 cores per chip and supports both high-density air-cooled and liquid-cooled server configurations.

This setup enables up to 8,160 cores per rack in air-cooled systems or over 45,000 in liquid-cooled racks.

Arm claims this architecture allows for higher workload density and improved utilisation compared to existing x86-based CPUs while maintaining efficiency within tight power envelopes.

Original equipment manufacturers such as ASRock Rack, Lenovo, Quanta Computer and Supermicro are developing early systems using the AGI CPU.

Broader availability is expected later this year.

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Over 50 companies across various sectors, including hyperscale cloud providers, silicon manufacturers, memory suppliers and networking firms, have expressed support for Arms entry into silicon products.

Industry leaders backing this initiative include AWS, Broadcom, Google, Marvell, Micron, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Samsung, SK Hynix, and TSMC.

Arm CEO Rene Haas said: With the expansion into delivering production silicon with our Arm AGI CPU, we are giving partners more choices all built on Arms foundation of high-performance, power-efficient computing, to support agentic AI infrastructure at global scale.

In a related development, Altera has extended its partnership with Arm by integrating Alteras field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) with the AGI CPU.

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This collaboration aims to provide system architects with programmable platforms optimised for low latency and scalability in AI data centres.

Altera FPGAs are already present in data centre environments alongside CPUs and GPUs for functions such as data pre-processing and networking. By combining Altera FPGAs with the new Arm processor, both companies intend to enhance real-time performance capabilities across next-generation AI infrastructure.

"Arm debuts AGI CPU as it moves into silicon manufacturing for AI" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand.





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William Pigeon and Andrew Bozzo, co-founders of Tablet Command, share a straightforward conviction: the fire service and other first responders deserve tools that reinforce strong command structures while honoring the culture that keeps teams grounded, mentally healthy, and effective under pressure.

Both men spent decades on the front lines before building their company. Pigeons career includes firefighting, paramedic roles, dispatching, flight rescue medicine, and serving as Assistant Fire Chief, paired with a degree in Information Systems. Bozzo, a Battalion Chief who still commands incidents daily in one of his departments busiest stations, holds a Biology degree from Middlebury College. Their lived experience drives a product designed not for novelty, but to solve real operational and human challenges they faced themselves.

We werent trying to create technology for technologys sake, Mr. Pigeon says about the streamlined incident command program. We were solving problems we had lived throughproblems that add unnecessary mental strain when lives are on the line.

User Interface TABLET COMMAND

Extending Command Without Adding Mental Burden

For generations, incident command has centered on the familiar whiteboard: a tangible tool for sketching divisions, assigning units, and maintaining accountability in chaotic scenes. It provides an immediate structure and a shared operational rhythm that teams instinctively trust.

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Yet todays incidents rarely fit neatly on a single board. The recent, devastating Palisades and Pasadena Fires in 2025 have brought great attention to the matter of transparency and the ultimate question, How did this happen? Multi-agency responses, constant radio traffic, personnel tracking, and expanding geographic scales create intense cognitive demands. Commanders must process information, anticipate needs, and safeguard lives simultaneouslyoften while mobile or coordinating remotely. Its neither efficient nor safe.

High cognitive load isnt just inefficient; its exhausting. Research from Harvard Business Review shows that leaders experiencing significant information overload are 7.4 times more likely to report high decision regret. In high-stakes environments, those regretted decisions can have life-altering consequences and contribute to the chronic stress and burnout that plague first responders.

When youre in command, youre managing peoples safety while thinking three steps ahead, Bozzo explains. If your information isnt clear and consistent, the mental strain compounds fast.

Tablet Command extends the trusted whiteboard logic into a synchronized, real-time digital environment accessible across devices and locations. Assignments, accountability, resource status, and incident details update instantly for everyone involved. Field units see the same picture as command staff. Multi-agency partners operate from consistent data rather than fragmented notes or repeated verbal confirmations.

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The result feels evolutionary, not disruptive. By reducing information gaps and manual tracking, the platform lowers unnecessary cognitive friction, allowing leaders to focus mental energy where it matters most: deliberate decision-making and team safety. In high-pressure moments, clarity supports performance, Mr. Pigeon notes. Fewer gaps mean more focused, confident decisionsand less exhaustion afterward.

Additional built-in features, such as automated fatigue monitoring, work-time tracking, and Personnel Accountability Report (PAR) reminders, further support crew well-being by helping prevent overexertion during prolonged incidents  which today often feel like bureaucratic pass-the-buck ladders.

A Tool Built by the Community It Serves

What sets Tablet Command apart is its deep alignment with fire service culture and safety priorities. Roughly 60% of the companys team consists of current and former public safety professionals, bringing more than 700 years of combined experience to interface design, workflows, and security protocols.

In the fire service, credibility is everything, Mr. Bozzo said. Teams need to know the tool comes from people who understand how incidents actually unfold.

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Rather than pushing rapid scaling or forcing new processes, Pigeon and Bozzo prioritized stability and seamless integration with existing incident command systems (ICS). The platform respects established practices, making adoption feel like an enhancement rather than a reinvention. Departments worldwide have embraced it precisely because it fits how they already operatewhile quietly supporting the mental and physical resilience of the people doing the work.

Public safety demands continue to grow. U.S. fire departments respond to roughly 1.31.5 million fires annually, affecting millions of people through direct impact, evacuations, and coordinated emergency responses.

Communities like Southern California expect greater transparency, documentation, and real-time coordination across jurisdictionspressures that can intensify the emotional and cognitive toll on responders.

AI and tech have proved to be a valuable tool with first responders. Technology should support the humans making the decisions, Mr. Pigeon emphasizes. It should extend awareness, reduce friction, and help leaders stay sharp when the stakes are highest.

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By digitizing and connecting the command board while preserving its intuitive structure, Tablet Command helps first responders maintain situational awareness with less mental overhead. In doing so, it contributes to a broader wellness imperative in public safety: protecting the cognitive and emotional bandwidth of those who protect us, so they can continue to lead with clarity, confidence, and carefor their teams and the communities they serve.
Play-based learning is making a strong comeback in early childhood classrooms across the United States, backed by growing research showing that guided play can be more effective than direct instruction for teaching young children academic and social skills.

For decades, early education moved in the opposite direction. After the No Child Left Behind Act took effect in 2002, schools placed greater emphasis on standardized testing and structured academics, even at the kindergarten level.

A 2023 EdWeek Research Center survey of 870 teachers, principals, and district leaders found that 41 percent said the time they spend preparing students for standardized tests has increased since 2018-19. That pressure trickled down to the youngest learners, pushing out time once reserved for play, according to Education Week.

"What I was noticing as a kindergarten teacher is that the opportunities for kids to come in and have chances to play, to experiment and test how the world works, were being pushed out for more academic instruction," said Christopher Brown, associate dean for teacher education at the University of Buffalo's Graduate School of Education, in a 2025 interview with Education Week.

Now, educators and policymakers are reversing that shift. Connecticut passed a law in 2023 requiring play-based learning in public preschool and kindergarten classrooms.

New Hampshire amended its education legislation in 2018 to declare that kindergarten should be "structured upon a play-based model." Oklahoma and Oregon have pushed for similar changes.

What the Research Shows

A 2022 review of 39 studies comparing guided play to direct instruction in children up to 8 years old found that guided play has a more significant positive impact on early math skills, shape knowledge, and the ability to switch between tasks.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, which reaffirmed its clinical report on play in January 2025, states that play supports brain structure and function and promotes skills such as problem-solving and self-regulation.

During the first years of life, the brain forms more than one million new neural connections every second, according to Harvard University's Center on the Developing Child. Play gives children a way to strengthen those connections, Studies Weekly said.

Through building, pretend play, and group activities, children develop cognitive, physical, social, and emotional skills at the same time.

A 2025 study in Education 3-13 found that when teachers adopted play-based methods over a full year, students showed improved behavior, stronger literacy skills, and better social abilities.

Read more: How Social Media Effects on Teens Spark Rising Anxiety and Mental Health Concerns

Guided Play vs. Free Play

Modern play-based learning is not the same as unstructured recess. Free play remains valuable for building confidence and social skills, but researchers note its limits.

"Free play has its own rights. It's great for social development. It's great for helping kids build their confidence. But it's not going to organically, on its own, teach kids how to read," said Kimberly Turner Nesbitt, associate professor of human development and family studies at the University of New Hampshire.

Guided play strikes a balance. Teachers set up activities with learning goals but allow children to direct the experience. A teacher might ask a student building with blocks, "What do you think will happen if you add this heavier block on top?" This encourages critical thinking while letting the child lead.

Building Skills That Last

Beyond academics, play develops what experts call "unconstrained skills," including collaboration, communication, creative thinking, and the motivation to keep learning. These abilities matter as much as reading and math in a world that values adaptability.

The OECD's 2025 Education Policy Outlook reinforced this, noting that play and exploration are central to building curiosity and resilience. UNESCO has championed the cause as well.

In June 2024, the United Nations held its first International Day of Play, where UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell called for universal access to quality early childhood education rooted in play, as per UNESCO.

The message from researchers, educators, and global organizations is clear: play is not a distraction from learning but one of the most effective ways to support it, especially when the foundation for lifelong development is being built.
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How long are TSA lines at RSW in Fort Myers, Florida Wednesday?

As Congress continues to negotiate an end to the partial government shutdown impacting Department of Homeland Security funding, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), travelers continue to endure long wait times at security checkpoints manned by TSA officers who have not seen a paycheck since Feb. 28.

More than 400 TSA officers have resigned and many have called out of work.

Unlike the hours-long wait times at some other locations in the U.S., Florida airports, including Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), have seen only minor impacts at TSA security checkpoints. However, travelers at major hubs, including Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Miami and Tampa, may experience slightly longer delays during peak travel periods.

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On Monday, March 23, ICE officers were deployed to more than a dozen U.S. airports, RSW among them, to help alleviate long security lines. However, ICE officers lack the specialized training for aviation security and screening.

Here's what to know about TSA wait times at RSW in Fort Myers and other Florida airports for Wednesday, March 25:

ICE agents patrol RSW in Fort Myers, Florida

On Monday, March 23, agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrived at some U.S. airports to help with long waits during the partial government shutdown.

 ICE agents assigned to Florida airport. What are they doing?

DHS Acting Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Lauren Bis told USA TODAY the agency would not confirm the locations of officers, citing "operational security reasons."

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ICE agents were seen Monday, patrolling in groups of three to five, walking in and out of concourses at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers.

When will TSA workers get paid?

An agreement to end the partial government shutdown impacting TSA remains elusive amid partisan politics in Washington, D.C.

Airline CEOs have weighed in, demanding Congress "come together to reach an agreement."

Adam Stahl, TSA acting deputy administrator, told Fox News on March 17 the agency may have to "collapse lanes" at select airports and more drastic measures may be ahead.

"If this continues, it's no hyperbole to suggest that we may have to quite literally shut down airports, particularly smaller ones," Stahl said.

What are TSA wait times at Southwest Florida International Airport RSW in Fort Myers, Florida?

Security wait times at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 25.

What is TSA wait time at Daytona International Airport, DAB?

Security wait times at Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB) currently are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 25.

What is TSA wait time at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, VPS?

Security wait times at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) currently are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 25.

What is TSA wait time at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, FLL?

Security wait times at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport (FLL) currently average 15-30 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 25.

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 8 a.m. March 25.

What is TSA wait time at Jacksonville International Airport, JAX?

Security wait times at Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) currently are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 25.

What is TSA wait time at Key West International Airport, EYW?

Security wait times at Key West International Airport (EYW) currently are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 25.

What is TSA wait time at Melbourne Orlando International Airport, MLB?

Security wait times at Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB) currently are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 25.

What is TSA wait time at Miami International Airport, MIA?

Security wait times at Miami International Airport (MIA) currently are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 25.

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Immigration wait times are busy at more than 45 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) are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 25.

What is TSA wait time at Orlando International Airport, MCO?

Security wait times at Orlando International Airport (MCO) are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 24.

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) are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 25.

What is TSA wait time at Palm Beach International Airport, PBI?

Security wait times at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 25.

What is TSA wait time at Pensacola International Airport, PNS?

Security wait times at Pensacola International Airport (PNS) are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 25.

What is TSA wait time at Punta Gorda Airport, PGD?

Security wait times at Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) currently average 15 to 30 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 25.

What is TSA wait time at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, SRQ?

Security wait times at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 25.

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 8 a.m. March 25.

What is TSA wait time at St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, PIE?

Security wait times at St. Petersburg Clearwater International Airport (PIE) currently average 15-30 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 25.

What is TSA wait time at Tallahassee International Airport, TLH?

Security wait times at Tallahassee Regional Airport (TLH) currently are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 25.

What is TSA wait time at Tampa International Airport, TPA?

Security wait times at Tampa International Airport (TPA) currently are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 25.

What is TSA wait time at Vero Beach Regional Airport, VRB?

Security wait times at Vero Beach Regional Airport (VRB) currently are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 25.

What are the current wait times at Florida airports? See the list

As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 25, 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:

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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, TPA, FFL? See major Florida airports

See the current wait times for TSA at Florida's major airports, as of 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 25.

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.

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 time for Wednesday, March 25, at Fort Myers airport
Remote work while traveling is all fun and games until the cafe decides to forego WiFi or ban laptops altogether. Great third-places make all the difference for remote workers looking to strike a balance between the isolation of working from home and the structure of going into a physical officeand seeking out cities with an abundance of third spaces makes remote working and traveling so much better.

A new analysis from business communications company Nextiva has narrowed down the best U.S. cities for remote workers looking to log into work outside of their home. The company looked at things like cafe density, affordability, and also surveyed six hundred remote workers across the country to better understand how third spaces factor into a successful work/life balance when you work remotely.

Below are the top five third-place cities for remote work, according to the report.

Vancouver, Washington

Vancouver, Washington, ranks first overall thanks to its remarkably high concentration of high-quality cafes. The city boasts nearly 35 coffee shops per 10,000 and each of its top 25 cafes have a four-star rating or higher. The cafes also boast free WiFi, adequate seating, and relatively moderate prices.

Seattle, Washington

Seattle earned second place which doesnt come as a major surprise given its reputation as one of the leading coffee cities in the U.S. Seattle boasts roughly ten cafes per 10,000 residents and about 800 locations overall. The overall cost is slightly higher than other cities on the list but most cafes offer strong internet and high-quality drinks and pastries, which can be worth it for those who really want something reliable.

Kansas City, Kansas

Kansas City, Kansas, came in third place, emerging as a strong option for remote workers and digital nomads seeking affordability and options. Kansas City boasts one of the highest cafe densities among mid-sized cities and has consistently strong ratings.

Tacoma, Washington

The third city in Washington to make the top five, Tacoma, stood out for its reliable cafes. The cafe culture performed well across most key metrics, including the ratings, affordability, and the availability of remote worker-friendly amenities. It also boasts lower prices than neighbor Seattle.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minneapolis rounds out the top five thanks to its balanced cafe culture that combines quality, comfort, and accessibility. The citys top cafes consistently got high ratings while the average price of a pastry was the lowest on the list.
Mar. 25One of the things I like to do when I'm traveling or on vacation is to visit the local farmers market. In addition to seeing what is being grown one can get a good "flavor" of the area. No two are ever the same. Yes, there are always lettuces, tomatoes, cucumbers and onions, but the ambiance is different from market to market, not a bad thing.

Shopping at the Rochester Farmers Market is a different experience than say at the Sanibel Island (Florida) market at which I shopped several times these past weeks. Interestingly, one has more of an agricultural feel, the other definitely more of a vacationer's vibe.

I've been going to the Sanibel market for years. It was started in 2008 as a five-week experiment to showcase various fruits and vegetables grown in the area. A big draw were vendors that sold all sorts of fresh fish as well as amazing strawberries, oranges and grapefruit as well as locally grown produce. It was such a success then, it has been a go-to for residents and tourists ever since. In 2022, Hurricane Ian took its toll but for the past few years the market is now back and busy as ever. Over the years it has also become a Sunday morning tradition. Hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the market is located in the parking lot at City Hall in Sanibel, less than an hour away from the Twins' spring training complex in Fort Myers, Florida.

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What sets this market apart from ours in Rochester is the variety of foods for sale. There are a few vendors selling vegetables, one in particular has an amazing array of produce and it's not unusual to stand in line for 15 minutes to pay. In fact, you are likely to wait in line at most of the venues, it's so crowded. Patience a must.

There is always a good selection of fresh fish available  among the choices were tripletail, red snapper, black grouper, shrimp and mahi-mahi. Crab cakes are a big seller.

A popular stand makes guacamole, a lot of it, because it sells quickly. While it is delicious it is also expensive. That was the fastest $16 (gone five minutes after we opened it) I ever spent. Other food and items for sale among the vendors were a variety of breads, barbecue being made on the spot, pickles, honey, cheeses, meatballs, pastas, pasta sauces, Polish sausages, key lime pies, chicken salads, oils and vinegars, Korean cuisine, Mexican specialties and a huge truck taking breakfast orders. Of course beverages like coffees of various kinds, teas, iced teas and smoothies could be found.

It was a hot morning and the smoothies were a welcome drink for the grandchildren, even though they had to wait in line 25 minutes. A disappointment was that the venue selling Plant City's famous strawberries was sold out within the market's first hour.

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Clearly what distinguishes this market is the incredible number of ready-to-eat foods. I was reminded of the Minnesota State Fair. They far out-number those vendors selling fresh fruits and vegetables. This seems to be the reverse of the Rochester Farmers Market. The crowds too seemed to be mostly vacationers  many families with small children, my assumption based solely on what I observed.

Interesting too is that this market winds down in May, just as ours is getting started. Another farmers market in the area is on Captiva Island, just up the coast from Sanibel. That market opens Tuesday mornings by South Seas Plantation resort. I've never ventured there because traffic is bumper to bumper for miles to get there.

What I noticed is this: The Rochester market is exactly what a farmers market should be for folks in Minnesota  a source for the best of what is grown in the area. The Sanibel market is perfect for giving visitors a picture of a market that entertains the area's culinary tastes, varied as they can be. I'll be there again next year, hopefully early enough to get those strawberries.

Post Bulletin food writer Holly Ebel knows what's cookin'. Send comments or story tips to life@postbulletin.com .
Best parental control apps like Qustodio, Bark, NetNanny, and GoogleFamilyLink help families manage screentime, filter web content, and monitor kids' online activity on phones, tablets, and laptops. In a world of constant notifications, social media pressures, and easy access to adult content, many parents now rely on dedicated tools instead of builtin settings alone.

Below is a concise, informationfocused list of six key options, highlighting how each handles screentime, web filtering, and social monitoring so readers can quickly see what fits their home.

1. Qustodio  Best AllRound Control for Screentime and Web Safety

Qustodio is often seen as a balanced choice that combines flexible screentime tools, detailed activity reports, and strong web filtering. It works on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and sometimes Chromebooks, which suits households with many different devices.

Parents can set daily screentime limits, build schedules for school nights and weekends, and quickly pause internet access or specific apps. These features make it easier to enforce devicefree homework time and consistent bedtimes.

Web filtering uses categories and Safe Search enforcement to block adult sites, gambling, and other highrisk content.

Qustodio also offers basic social monitoring on selected apps like WhatsApp or Instagram on supported platforms, with alerts when risky terms appear. It does not provide full messagebymessage oversight, but it gives enough context to flag problems like bullying or selfharm.

For families wanting clear dashboards and allround protection, Qustodio is usually near the top of the list.

2. Bark  Strongest for Social Media and Message Monitoring

Bark focuses primarily on social media and message monitoring rather than very detailed screentime control. Its main purpose is to scan kids' digital conversations across supported platforms and send alerts when it detects issues such as cyberbullying, explicit content, or signs of anxiety and selfharm.

Instead of showing every chat in full, Bark uses pattern and keyword analysis to highlight only worrying content. That approach appeals to parents of older kids and teens who want to stay informed about serious risks while still respecting some privacy.

Families who are most worried about what happens in group chats, DMs, and social feeds often gravitate toward Bark.

The app does include screentime and web filtering, but these features are usually less granular than Qustodio or NetNanny. Bark tends to work best either as a socialmonitoring specialist or in combination with devicelevel screentime tools already built into phones and tablets.

3. NetNanny  Best Dynamic Web Filtering with Solid Screentime

NetNanny stands out for dynamic content filtering, which goes beyond simple blocklists. It aims to analyze web pages in real time, blocking or warning about content that matches risk categories such as violence, drugs, or pornography.

This dynamic system can handle modern sites where usergenerated content changes quickly. Parents choose which categories to block, and NetNanny does the rest, often supported by a "family feed" view showing browsing and alerts in near real time. That makes it easier to see patterns, not just single blocked pages.

NetNanny's screentime tools allow daily limits, schedules, and device lock times, giving a family structure similar to Qustodio on many platforms. Social monitoring is more limited, so it is best suited to those who care most about blocking harmful sites and shaping healthy browsing habits, with screentime as a strong secondary feature.

4. GoogleFamilyLink  Best Free Option for Android Screentime

GoogleFamilyLink, commonly written as Google Family Link, is a free solution designed for families using Android devices and Chromebooks. Because it ties directly to Google accounts, setup tends to be straightforward for homes already using Google services.

For screentime, GoogleFamilyLink lets parents set daily limits, bedtime shutoff windows, and approvals for app installs from the Play Store. This is often enough control for younger kids who mostly use games, learning apps, and YouTube Kids. The interface is simple, which helps nontechnical caregivers stay on top of things.

Web filtering mainly relies on Safe Search and Chrome restrictions to reduce access to adult content.

There is little to no social media or message monitoring, so parents needing alerts about conversations may view GoogleFamilyLink as a starting layer, not a full solution. Still, as a free way to manage screentime and basic content, it is an appealing first step.

5. Apple Screen Time  BuiltIn Controls for iPhone and iPad

Apple Screen Time is built into iOS, iPadOS, and macOS and offers a set of parental controls without extra cost or separate apps. It is especially useful in households where kids mainly use iPhones and iPads.

Screen Time allows daily screen time limits, downtime windows, and app category restrictions, all managed from the Settings app and synced through family sharing. Parents can also restrict adult websites in Safari, block explicit media, and control app installs and purchases.

However, Apple Screen Time lacks deep social monitoring and does not cover nonApple platforms, so it may not be enough for families needing more advanced tools. Many use it as a base layer alongside a dedicated app like Qustodio, Bark, or NetNanny to get better insight into web and social activity.

6. Microsoft Family Safety  Good for Windows, Xbox, and Android

Microsoft Family Safety is a helpful option for families using Windows PCs, Xbox consoles, and some Android devices. It connects to Microsoft accounts and offers screentime and content limits, often without extra cost beyond existing subscriptions.

Parents can set screentime limits for Windows and Xbox, helping stop gaming sessions from running too late. Basic web filtering through Microsoft Edge can block adult content and encourage safer browsing on shared computers. Location features and driving reports may also be available with certain plans.

Like Apple Screen Time and GoogleFamilyLink, Microsoft Family Safety provides little in the way of social media or message monitoring. It works best when the main concern is managing screentime and basic web safety on Windows and Xbox, and it can be combined with another app for deeper social insights.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can parents mix different parental control apps on the same device?

Yes, parents can often combine a builtin tool (like Apple Screen Time or GoogleFamilyLink) with a dedicated app (like Qustodio or Bark), but they should test for conflicts such as duplicated screentime limits.

2. At what age do parental control apps become most useful?

They tend to be most useful once kids begin using their own phones or tablets regularly, typically around ages 913, when screentime, web access, and social media all expand.

3. Do parental control apps affect device performance or battery life?

Some apps can mildly impact battery and performance because they run in the background, but on modern devices this is usually modest if settings are configured carefully.

4. How often should parents review reports from apps like Qustodio or NetNanny?

A weekly check is enough for many families, with more frequent reviews during the first few weeks or after rule changes to finetune screentime limits and filters.

Originally published on Tech Times
When you think of castles, the images that come to mind are likely of medieval and Gothic castles found in European countries.

However, in the U.S., there are several European-inspired castles constructed in medieval, Gothic or Neo-Classical styles to be found.

Some of these historically inspired castles can even be found here in Louisiana, serving as venues, historic landmarks and even personal residences.

There are approximately eight "castles" in Louisiana. Here's where to find them

Castley, which is a website for castles in the U.S., and Only in Your State, a website for sights and landmarks, have provided comprehensive lists of all the castles to be found in the state of Louisiana.

Old Louisiana State Capitol Building

Louisiana's Old State Capitol Building, now serving as a museum, is located in Baton Rouge at 100 North Blvd. This historic government building housed the Louisiana State Legislature from the mid-19th century until the state's current capitol tower building was constructed between 1929 and 1932. The building was designed by architect James Dakin, who envisioned a unique and awe-inspiring building in prominent gothic style architecture. Construction began in 1847, and legislature met for the first time in the building in 1850, according to Louisiana's Old State Capitol.

Layton Castle

Layton Castle, originally called Mulberry Grove, is a historical landmark in Monroe, Louisiana, located at 1133 S Grand St. The structure, originally built by Swiss emigrant Judge Henry Bry in 1814 as a Creole cottage, now hosts tours, weddings and other events. The original building has grown from a cottage to a complex turreted red brick structure. The castle also offers short, mid and long term rentals within various property sites, according to Layton Castle.

Chateau de Bon Reve

Chateau de Bon Reve in Sulphur, located at 1995 N Claiborne St., is a castle built by Dwaine Allen Ellender. While the castle is currently closed to the public, many people still drive by and observe the structure. Chateau de Bon Reve, which means "House of Good Dreams," is a 12,400-square-foot estate that was built in 2007 and completed with four bedrooms and seven bathrooms.

Gothic Style "castle" built in 1847-1849 and designed by Architect James Dakin.

Louisiana Castle

Louisiana Castle is a wedding venue in Franklinton, located at 47168 LA-10. Construction for the English Norman-inspired castle began in 1989 and was originally used as Dr. Mark Belcher's personal residence. The castle was purchased from Dr. Belcher in 1999 and converted into a ceremony and reception venue. The venue now features outdoor ceremonies, a cottage, a hot tub, as well as event planning, says Louisiana Castle.

Le Petit Chateau de Luxe

Le Petit Chateau de Luxe in Mermentau, located on Castle Cove Road, has belonged to the Desormeaux family for over 150 years. The castle's design is inspired by three different castles that Mr. Louis Desormeaux favored during his time spent in France. Construction for the 15,000 square foot castle began in 1962, with the structure including 30 rooms, a formal dining room, a breakfast room, wine cellar, carved marble mantels from the 16th century, as well as a large kitchen and pantry, says the Acadia Parish Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development.

Fisherman's Castle/Irish Bayou Castle

Fisherman's Castle, also referred to as Irish Bayou Castle, can be found along the waters of the Irish Bayou in New Orleans, located at 3337 US-11. The castle was constructed in 1981 by Simon Villemarette for the Worlds Fair, and is composed of two bedrooms, as well as one and a half baths, according to Atlas Obscura. At one point, it was decorated in a medieval style, complete with knights, statues and swords, among other medieval-inspired adornments. The castle is actually currently on the market, priced at $499,900, according to a Zillow listing.

Beauregard's Castle

Beauregard's Castle is located among the ruins of the historic, partially built Fort Proctor in St. Bernard, Louisiana. Surrounded by water, the castle and fort are only accessible by boat. The castle, named "Beauregard's Castle" after P.G.T Beauregard, who supervised construction, was originally intended to be part of defensive fortifications that protected water access to New Orleans, following the British Naval incursion into New Orleans in 1814, according to Whiskey Bayou Charters.

Covington Castle

Covington Castle, located at 74450 Highway 437 in Covington, is a custom luxury home built in a medieval design. Previously used as a vacation rental, the castle was recently listed for sale, priced at $1.1 million, is no longer available on Airbnb, according to Castlesy. Owner Chanse Mortenson designed and built the 5,000 square-foot, two-story castle in 2018 and was inspired by his childhood dreams of living in a castle.

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Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for USA Today. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Does Louisiana have castles? Yes, here are 8 you can visit
The Trinidad and Tobago stock market recorded its fourth consecutive year of decline, according to the Central Banks latest Annual Economic Survey.

The Central Bank said that in 2025, declines in the Composite Price Index (CPI) deepened, falling 11.8%, driven by a 13.2% drop in the All T&T Index (ATI) and a 7.3% contraction in the Cross Listed Index (CLI).
Upholding Emergency Physician Standards with a Real-World Approach to Assessment

EAST LANSING, Mich., March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) is proud to announce the successful administration of the inaugural Certifying Examination. Over 300 emergency physicians traveled to Raleigh, North Carolina, to take the exam between March 9 and 12, 2026.

The Certifying Exam now serves as ABEM's final step in Emergency Medicine Certification, replacing the former Oral Exam, which took place in a hotel venue and, after 2020, via videoconference. The Certifying Exam's modernized format introduces new case types that assess additional competencies and better reflect actual Emergency Medicine practice. During the exam, physicians demonstrate communication, professional, and technical skills in a clinical setting, contributing to patient trust in ABEM-certified physicians.

The Certifying Exam is administered at the AIME Center in Raleigh, NC, a state-of-the-art assessment facility with flexible space that can be configured to accommodate clinical, procedural, and ultrasound cases. The ABEM Certifying Exam provides a standardized experience for all examinees in a secure environment and with a network of highly trained Standardized Patient Actors who portray a wide range of clinical scenarios that reflect the diversity of the U.S. patient population.

"Medical breakthroughs happen every day, and ABEM has created an exam format that is adaptable to advances in medicine, while still setting the highest standards in Emergency Medicine certification," said James D. Thomas, MD, ABEM President. "This exam would not have been possible without the years of research, feedback, and preparation ABEM-certified physician volunteers, subject matter experts, public members, and staff have contributed, and I am very proud of the result."

Teams of clinically active ABEM-certified physicians from different geographic locations and practice settings work collaboratively to develop scenarios and testing points for each of the cases on the ABEM Certifying Exam. Patient and public input is also sought from the public members on case development teams. All cases are thoroughly vetted by practicing ABEM-certified physicians for continued relevance, fairness, and validity.

Following the success of the inaugural Certifying Exam, multiple administrations will take place each year, giving physicians seeking ABEM Certification more flexibility in scheduling. Learn more about the ABEM Certifying Exam.

The American Board of Emergency Medicine certifies emergency physicians who meet its educational, professional, and exam standards. Over 49,000 physicians are ABEM-certified, ensuring the highest standards in Emergency Medicine.

Media Contact: A.J. Wolf, 517-332-4800 ext. 306, [email protected]

SOURCE American Board of Emergency Medicine
Joshua Samaroo and his wife, Kaia Sealy, who were shot during a police operation that claimed Samaroos life on January 20.
They walked it back so hard they fell into traffic, Flanagan said.

Across her knuckles were tattooed letters spelling: READ MORE.

As they chatted, the room filled with ghosts of 2013, former students and school librarians and writers who remembered the chill set off by the banning inside the Chicago literary community. There was Levi Todd, who founded a Lane Tech club for readers of banned books; he graduated years ago. And there was Beth Hetland, cartoonist and teacher at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago; she was out of high school by 2013, but had marched alongside the students. Dapier himself met Flanagan around that time because of the ban, when he started reaching out to students and teachers who were involved. I remember the teacher who had my copies of Persepolis, 25 or 30, texted me right away, Flanagan said. She feared for her job.

In my book, when the (teacher) says, These are personal copies, you cant have them, and the (principal) is Uh  you cant  wait , hes following orders, Dapier said.

Hes trying to impress a boss, who is trying to impress their boss, Flanagan said, because thats what happens when a big-city school system becomes a business. But really what Jarrett found here, after he FOIAd the school, was basically incompetence.
Audience Tix: Australian Survivor finale

10 reality show is returning to a studio audience Finale and Reunion, and tickets are up for grabs.

For the first time since 2020, Australian Survivor is returning to a finale with a studio audience.

On Friday, 10 April, the Grand Finale and Reunion of Australian Survivor: Redemption will be filmed at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, to be broadcast on 10 at a later date.

After weeks of blindsides, betrayals and punishing physical challenges, it all comes down to this. The final Castaways will battle it out for the title of Sole Survivor and the $500,000 prize, in a nail-biting finish you wont want to miss, said a 10 statement.

And the drama doesnt stop there. All 24 Castaways return for a must-watch Reunion with host David Genat, as the biggest moves are unpacked, tensions resurface, and unfinished business comes to light. Expect revelations, reckonings and plenty of surprises.

Date: Friday, 10 April 2026

Time: 5pm

Location: Overseas Passenger Terminal, 130 Argyle St, The Rocks, NSW

Minimum age is 12. All children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

You can apply for tix here.
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Heartbreak High event with Vision Australia

A special event screening of Heartbreak High was presented with Audio Description for guests who are blind or have low vision.

On Tuesday night Netflix hosted a special screening of Heartbreak High Season 3, Episode 1, in partnership with Vision Australia.

The event welcomed guests who are blind or have low vision, highlighting Netflixs ongoing commitment to accessibility.

The episode was presented with Audio Description, ensuring a more inclusive and immersive viewing experience for all attendees.

Netflix has a range of Accessibility commitments including Audio descriptions, Subtitles & closed captions and Voice commands you can read about here.
New Stan mystery Two Birds heads west

UK-Australian co-production with Sheridan Smith, Judy Davis and Stephen Peacocke to become the first production at Perth Film Studios.

Stan, ITV and Screenwest today announced pre-production has commenced on a six-part crime mystery Two Birds for Stan.

Filming on location in Western Australia, the series is led by Sheridan Smith (I Fought The Law, No Return, The Teacher, Mrs Biggs) and will feature Judy Davis (Nitram, Mystery Road) and Stephen Peacocke (Five Bedrooms, The Newsreader, RFDS).

The Stan Original will be the first production to film in the brand new Perth Film Studios and is supported by the WA Production Attraction Incentive.

The series is a co-production between Stan and ITV, with international distribution by ITV studios. It is estimated to inject more than $17 million into the WA economy and directly employ more than 100 Western Australian cast and crew.

Nine Managing Director of Streaming & Broadcast in Australia, Amanda Laing said: For more than a decade, weve backed bold local stories and the creative talent behind them, building a slate that resonates locally and travels globally. Two Birds is a strong example of that commitment in action, bringing together world-class international partners with Australian creatives, and marking the first production at Perth Film Studios. It reflects the kind of sustained, long-term investment and creative ambition required to grow Australias production capability and ensure local stories continue to reach audiences both here and around the world.

ITVs Commissioner Callum Dziedzic said: From the very first script, it felt like wed struck gold with Two Birds. Built on an irresistible hook, Helen FitzGerald has crafted a propulsive, twisty thriller with real humanity. Sheridan is perfect in the lead and brings her inimitable warmth and depth to Izzie. We cant wait for our audience to join her in Dugdale and see the extraordinary scale of the gold mine for themselves.

Executive Producer Patrick Spence said: Helen FitzGerald has a voice any producer would kill for: unique, challenging and mischievous. We are all so proud to be bringing her work to the screen

Writer Helen FitzGerald said: Ive been dreaming about Izzie Cornwell and Mrs Baxter in my head for years now, they are the most personal characters I have ever created. I asked Griff if we could try for Sheridan and Judy to play them, and he only came back with them both! Two Birds, indeed. So this really is a dream come true for me.

Sheridan Smith said: Im thrilled to be playing the irresistibly complex Izzie Cornwell who is in search of new beginnings in Australia. Helen FitzGerald has created a dream role for me, as Izzie, through no fault of her own, becomes embroiled in a web of secrets and lies. Im also looking forward to returning to film in Australia and working with the team at AC Chapter One, ITV and Stan, Australia as we bring Two Birds to life.

Screenwest CEO Rikki Lea Bestall said: Screenwest is pleased to be supporting the first production to take place at the brand-new Perth Film Studios. Two Birds is set to be a prestige drama series and we look forward to working with Third Act Stories, AC Chapter One, Stan and ITV. Were excited to see Perth Film Studios hosting incoming productions like Two Birds, as well as local independent productions over the coming months.

Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk said: Im thrilled to announce the first production at our world-class Perth Film Studios, with Australian Judy Davis  one of the finest actresses of her generation. The Two Birds production is estimated to generate $17 million for the States economy and employ over 100 local cast and crew. This is all part of the Cook Governments vision to grow the States film industry to help diversify the economy, create local jobs and unlock new opportunities for talent in Western Australia.

Two Birds is a unique and twisty crime mystery set against the rarely-seen-on-screen landscape of Kalgoorlie, a remote Australian mining town carved from red earth, where rusted shafts and weatherboard pubs fade into endless bush. This harsh, beautiful, and isolating world clings tightly to its secrets. The series centres on Constable Izzie Cornwell (Smith), who arrives in Dugdale from the UK, hoping for a fresh start, only to have one disastrous misstep pull her into an increasingly tight web of deceit, guilt, and rising danger.

In this new take on the red dirt crime genre, our Constable is complicit in the case she is investigating, with her morals compromised and personal burdens driving each turn of the investigation.

Two Birds will be executive produced by the BAFTA and Peabody Award winning Patrick Spence (Mr Bates vs The Post Office, A Spy Among Friends, Stan Original The Hack) through AC Chapter One and produced by Martha Coleman (Stan Original Scrublands: Silver) through Third Act Stories.

Written by Helen FitzGerald (The Cry) and Megan Palinkas (Heartbreak High), and directed by BAFTA nominated James Griffiths (The Ballad of Wallis Island, Maternal, Episodes) and Corrie Chen (Stan Original Good Cop/Bad Cop).

Stan Executive Producers are Andy Ryan and Donna Chang, alongside ITVs Callum Dziedzic, James Griffiths, Helen FitzGerald and Luke Speed. Commissioned on behalf of ITV by Director of Drama Polly Hill and Drama Commissioner Callum Dziedzic. Two Birds is a co-production between ITV and Stan, with major production investment from Screenwest and the Western Australian Production Attraction Incentive.

Two Birds is produced in association with and distributed internationally by ITV Studios.
New feature in Aura Parents backed by proprietary research from Aura's team of clinical psychologists connecting kids' online behaviors to their overall sense of wellbeing

BOSTON, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Aura, a leading AI-powered online safety platform for individuals and families, today unveiled its Digital Wellbeing Score, a first-of-its-kind tool to support the development of healthy device habits, now available in the Aura Parents parental monitoring app. Backed by the company's proprietary research, the Digital Wellbeing Score analyzes how and when a child uses their device and determines if the observed behaviors are associated with kids who reported that they felt down, stressed or tired in research from Aura's team of clinical psychologists.

Aura debuted the Digital Wellbeing Score and the findings from its supporting research, State of the Youth: A Digital Wellbeing Index, during the 2026 Common Sense Media Summit for Kids and Families in San Francisco.

A Crisis of Digital Wellbeing

Aura's team of clinical psychologists and data scientists analyzed 17 dimensions of digital life, as observed in the company's research study, Techwise, and established a Digital Wellbeing Index, which scores wellbeing from 0-100.

Scores of 54 or below out of 100 indicate device habits associated with low digital wellbeing. In Aura research, kids and teens who had low digital wellbeing scores self-reported that they feel higher levels of stress, experience poorer sleep and generally report lower moods than their high digital wellbeing peers.

Most concerning, digital wellbeing appears to decline with age. More than 60% of 1617-year-olds fall into the low wellbeing category, compared to fewer than 40% of kids ages 815.

"What we observed among those with low digital wellbeing scores is hypervigilant, restless device use that disrupts other aspects of life," said Dr. Scott Kollins, Aura's Chief Medical Officer. "As kids and teens mature and they gain more freedom, digital wellbeing plummets, suggesting an inability to self-regulate unhealthy digital behaviors."

For those with low digital wellbeing:

It's about habits, not just hours : These kids check their phones 7x more, send 5x more messages and switch apps 3x more than peers with higher wellbeing.





: These kids check their phones 7x more, send 5x more messages and switch apps 3x more than peers with higher wellbeing. Use is more fragmented and late-night: They spend half as long per session but 3x more time on devices overnight.





They spend half as long per session but 3x more time on devices overnight. Disengagement takes longer: They take 2x longer to fully disengage from devices after bedtime.

Introducing the Aura Parents Digital Wellbeing Score

The Aura Parents Digital Wellbeing Score is an easy-to-digest pulse of how your kids' device use could be impacting their overall wellbeing. Over the first three days of use, Aura Parents establishes a personalized baseline value for every child. Then, Aura Parents continually monitors behaviors and calculates a rolling 7-day average Digital Wellbeing Score, which compares their recent behavior to their baseline normal behaviors.

In the Aura Parents app, users will be able to see if a child's digital behaviors are consistently healthy, improving, declining or if they present persistent concerns. This allows parents to better understand when a low score indicates a blip in behavior or truly requires their attention.

The Digital Wellbeing Score is not a mental health tool. It does not diagnose conditions or measure a child's emotions. If a child's score is low, it means their device habits resemble those of kids and teens in our research who reported experiencing high stress, poor sleep, low moods or more isolation.

The Digital Wellbeing Score is now available within Aura Parents subscriptions, starting at $10 per month.

Kids Recognize The Pressure to Be "Always On"

To complement the findings illustrated by the Digital Wellbeing Index, Aura partnered with Talker Research to survey 2,000 children ages 1117. This survey asked kids and teens about the social pressure they feel to be connected and the role of technology in their peer relationships.

The message from kids is clear: what happens online doesn't stay online.

Screens are Today's Most Powerful Peer Pressure: Nearly half (44%) of kids feel pressured to be onlinehigher than pressure to smoke or vape (31%), ditch class (28%) or drink (24%).

Offline Can Mean Left Out: 1 in 2 kids have felt excluded by friends for not being in the same online groups or on the same social media platforms.

It's a Big, Overwhelming Digital World: Over half (56%) feel very or somewhat overwhelmed by the amount of information online.

Social Stress Drives Screen Time: Over half (55%) say they use their phones or tablets much more or somewhat more than usual when their social life feels stressful.

Aura Chief Medical Officer Dr. Scott Kollins offers this guidance: "Start teaching kids how to regulate their device use early. Simple strategies like encouraging predictable routines, allowing regular breaks from screens, and modeling healthy tech habits can help reduce digital stress and support overall wellbeing. This way, as teens mature, gain independence and begin feeling the social pressure to be constantly connected, they will have the skills to self-regulate.

For those with teens today, pay attention to the patterns of their device use. Notice when nighttime use increases or when it seems they are constantly checking their phone, as these may be signs of low digital wellbeing. Rather than simply restricting access to technology, help teens build better habits so that they can maintain their social outlet, while building skills to disconnect that will last a lifetime."

For a deeper look at how kids are experiencing digital stress, social pressures and nighttime device use, read the full report here. Families can also find tips, resources and stay up to date on the latest tools from Aura at aura.com/parents .

About Aura:

Aura is one of the fastest-growing online safety solutions for individuals and families. Whether you're protecting yourself, your kids, or your aging loved ones, Aura meets your needs at every stage of life. From real-time threat detection and scam alerts to tools that help parents protect their kids from predators, cyberbullying, and tech-driven mental health risks, Aura empowers families to thrive in the digital world. Learn more at aura.com.

Aura Digital Wellbeing Index Methodology

Data for this report derives from three primary analytical frameworks applied to the Aura platform. The first is proprietary, anonymized telemetry from children and adolescents aged 817, stratified into key developmental cohorts to analyze app adoption, usage intensity and seasonal behavioral trends. The second source is Aura's Digital Wellbeing Index (DWI), a composite score examining 17 dimensions of digital life, anchored in real-world evidence stemming from Aura's Techwise study that aggregates sleep health, self-regulation, and engagement quality to derive a score that best predicts psychological well-being and digital stress. The third source integrates the Digital Stress Scale (DSS) with Natural Language Processing (NLP), categorizing users by stress levels and analyzing message content to correlate emotional sentiment with digital wellbeing markers.

Talker Methodology

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 American children aged 11 to 17 who have access to the internet.

The survey was commissioned by Aura and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Feb. 3 and Feb. 9, 2026. A link to the questionnaire can be found here. To view the complete methodology as part of AAPOR's Transparency Initiative, please visit the Talker Research Process and Methodology page.

SOURCE Aura
Top NZ exec leaves Sky NZ

The former boss of TV3 has ultimately only lasted 8 months at Sky, which acquired the business last August.

Juliet Peterson, the former boss of TV3 (in New Zealand is departing Sky TV, where she became chief business officer eight months ago after the pay-television broadcaster acquired Three from Warner Bros Discovery for $1.

The NZ Herald reports Sky is restructuring the chief business officer role, and creating a new executive role of chief sales officer.

The role would be advertised, but Peterson has elected not to put her hand up for the role.

Just 8 months ago Sky chief executive Sophie Moloney hailed her as one of NZs top execs to join Sky with 25 years industry experience.

Her many years of experience in the New Zealand free-to-air market are highly valuable as we look to maximise the potential of our new Sky Free business, which has positioned Sky to scale faster and to grow and further diversify our revenue streams, particularly in advertising and digital, Moloney said at the time.

I am looking forward to her contribution as chief business officer and as a key member of our executive team.

But a softer advertising market and the loss of former sales boss, Ben Gibb, has resulted in a restructure.

Gibb is likely a leading candidate for the new executive role.
More than 60% of carriers have implemented or are planning to introduce fuel surcharges or increase airfares from mid-March 2026, according to a survey conducted on March 20 by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), covering nearly 40 international and regional airlines.

Specifically, some airlines such as Air France, Thai Airways, and United Airlines have not separated fuel surcharges but have instead incorporated them into base fares, with increases ranging from 5% to 20% depending on routes and service classes.

Meanwhile, others have applied separate fuel surcharges (YQ/YR)  additional fees on top of base fares  with flexible adjustments in line with fuel price fluctuations. Airlines such as Malaysia Airlines, Batik Air, All Nippon Airways, and China Southern Airlines have implemented or raised such surcharges, with hikes ranging from about 130,000 VND (4.93 USD) to over 10 million VND per ticket, depending on flight distance and service class.

For cargo transport, several carriers, including Lufthansa and Korean Air, have imposed fuel surcharges of around 17,00040,000 VND per kilogram.

At present, Vietnamese airlines are also developing plans for fuel surcharges on international routes, which may take effect from early April.

Vietnam Airlines has prioritised maintaining routes that ensure national air connectivity, facilitating trade, tourism, and external relations, while also sustaining domestic routes to meet travel demand.

Accordingly, the national flag carrier plans to temporarily suspend operations on several routes from April 1, including Hai Phong  Buon Ma Thuot, Hai Phong  Cam Ranh, Hai Phong  Phu Quoc, Hai Phong  Can Tho, Ho Chi Minh City  Van Don, Ho Chi Minh City  Rach Gia, and Ho Chi Minh City  Dien Bien. A total of 23 flights per week on these routes will be affected.

The CAAV noted that constrained supplies of Jet A-1 aviation fuel, due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East, have put domestic airlines at risk of shortages.

From March 20 to 22, the global energy market maintained a strong upward trend amid severe supply disruptions in the Middle East. Brent crude prices hovered around 110120 USD per barrel, while WTI stood at approximately 110114 USD per barrel.

In Asia, Jet A-1 prices (MOPS Singapore) remained at very high levels, commonly ranging from 220230 USD per barrel, widening the gap between aviation fuel and crude oil prices. Notably, the premium rose to 33.11 USD per barrel on March 18 and peaked at 39.6 USD per barrel the same day./.
A new report suggests Apple is preparing an ambitious pricing strategy for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max ahead of their expected launch this September.

Unexpected move: no price increase despite rising costs

Following the release of the iPhone 17e lineup, attention has quickly shifted to the next generation, particularly the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Notably, several reliable sources indicate that consumers may receive positive news: prices could remain unchanged.

According to well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from TF International Securities, Apple is likely to maintain current pricing for its upcoming premium models. At a time when component costs, including memory and chips, are rising sharply, such a move would be significant if confirmed.

Apple is believed to be 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 approach reflects a clear strategic direction - accepting lower hardware margins in the short term in exchange for long-term growth, particularly in services, which generate higher profits.

Another notable aspect is Apples product release strategy. Multiple sources suggest that the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will launch in the second half of 2026, while the standard iPhone 18 may be delayed until 2027.

If this proves accurate, Apple would continue prioritizing the premium segment, where it can maximize revenue and reinforce its brand image.

Currently, the iPhone 17 Pro starts at US$1,099, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max is priced from US$1,199. If Apple retains these price points for the next generation, it would be welcome news 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 costs.

Further confirmation from analysts

Ming-Chi Kuo is not alone in this view. Another analyst, Jeff Pu from GF Securities, has offered a similar assessment. According to him, 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 looking to reduce costs in other areas, including camera modules and displays.

This comes as prices for DRAM and NAND - two key 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 for consumer electronics.

Alongside the Pro lineup, another product attracting attention is Apples first foldable iPhone. While not officially confirmed, multiple reports suggest it could debut around the same time.

One thing appears almost certain: the price will be high. Currently, the most expensive iPhone is the iPhone 17 Pro Max 2TB version, priced at US$1,999. This is also expected to be the starting price for the foldable model.

Estimates suggest the 256GB version could begin at around US$2,000, with 512GB and 1TB variants potentially reaching US$2,199 and US$2,399, respectively.

Although these figures may seem high, they are still lower than earlier predictions, which placed the starting price at US$2,399.

Launching an entirely new product line such as a foldable iPhone amid volatile component markets presents significant challenges. However, Apple appears to be betting on long-term gains.

In an industry facing mounting cost pressures, maintaining price stability - if realized - would represent a bold move.

More than just attracting consumers, this strategy reflects a broader vision: sacrificing short-term profit to capture market share and lay the groundwork for future growth in the AI era.

With these developments, the iPhone 18 Pro is not merely a hardware upgrade, but a strategic card in the global technology race.



Hai Phong
Global Gateway Business and Investment Forum Vietnam - EU. Photo: EU

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc met with European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Sikela, who is visiting Vietnam and co-chairing the Global Gateway Business and Investment Forum (GGBIF).

The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the European Unions role and position as the worlds third-largest economy, leading global trends in sustainable development, green growth, circular economy, digital transformation, fair energy transition and free trade.

Vietnam consistently values and supports EU initiatives that align with its sustainable development goals, particularly the Global Gateway initiative.

Reflecting on Vietnam-EU relations, Ho Duc Phoc noted that following the recent upgrade in ties, translating agreements into practical programmes and projects - including the GGBIF - is highly significant, creating new momentum for bilateral cooperation.

He called on the European Commissioner to continue coordinating efforts to effectively implement Global Gateway projects in Vietnam, enhance development cooperation and encourage EU businesses to invest in large-scale projects.

Among these are newly established international financial centres in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, which are expected to strengthen infrastructure connectivity, promote green and digital transitions, enhance capacity and enable Vietnamese enterprises to integrate more deeply into EU supply chains.

Commissioner Jozef Sikela expressed his impression of Vietnams socio-economic development achievements and praised the progress in EU-Vietnam relations, particularly the establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework.

He noted that the visit includes numerous policymakers and leading EU businesses, including the Vice President of the European Investment Bank. Increasing numbers of major European companies are interested in investment and business cooperation in Vietnam across sectors such as infrastructure, transport connectivity, energy transition, and green, digital and circular economy.

Sikela affirmed that the EU considers Vietnam a key partner in ASEAN, emphasising that despite global uncertainties and economic challenges, Vietnam remains a highly reliable partner. The two sides share common values in sustainable development and human-centred growth, and have reduced 99% of tariffs to facilitate trade.

Both sides agreed on the need to strengthen cooperation in investment, infrastructure connectivity, energy transition and human resource development for green, digital and circular economies.

Earlier in the day, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc and Commissioner Jozef Sikela co-chaired the GGBIF.

At the forum, Sikela announced that the EU will invest over 560 million euros in sustainable transport and clean energy in Vietnam. He said the package demonstrates how the EU-Vietnam partnership delivers on key priorities such as maintaining economic growth while reducing pollution and boosting clean energy.

He described Vietnam as one of the most dynamic economies in Asia, with a young population, a strong industrial base and a clear development direction. However, the next phase of growth will depend on two critical factors: reliable energy supply and quality employment.

Regarding specific projects, the first major investment will support the Bac Ai pumped-storage hydropower plant, with a capacity of 1,200 MW and total capital of around 900 million euros (approximately US$980 million). The project is expected to help stabilise the power system and improve the reliability of renewable energy by storing surplus electricity and generating power during peak demand.

The EU has also launched a new 40 million euro (approximately US$44 million) sustainable transport facility, aimed at mobilising more than 1 billion euros (approximately US$1.09 billion) in investment for railways and urban transport.

Tran Thuong
As part of the Francisco de Pina and the Journey of the Romanised Vietnamese Script  A Cultural Bridge between Vietnam and Portugal project, the Association for the Promotion of Vietnamese Culture (APCV), in coordination with authorities of Portugals Guarda city, will organise a series of cultural and community-connection events on October 78.

APCV Chair Diane Nguyen Duc Thu Dung said that the initiative aims to pay tribute to missionary Francisco de Pina, one of the early contributors to the formation of the modern writing system of the Vietnamese language (quoc ngu). Beyond its historical significance, the project is expected to serve as a platform to promote cultural exchange and expand cooperation between Vietnam and Portugal across various fields.

The programme is scheduled to take place at Guardas Municipal Theatre, featuring cultural exchanges, exhibitions, seminars and networking activities designed to highlight shared heritage and encourage international collaboration.

Earlier, on March 18, APCV representatives and cultural and historical experts, including Portuguese historian Professor Antonio Salvado Morgado, met with city leaders in Guarda. Mayor Sergio Fernando da Silva Costa and Vice Mayor for Culture Claudia Guedes expressed their support for the initiative. On March 20, organisers held discussions with the Embassy of Vietnam in Portugal and received backing from Ambassador Nguyen Manh Thang.

Amid deepening globalisation, promoting linguistic heritage alongside cultural exchange is seen as a meaningful approach to strengthening people-to-people ties. With support from relevant authorities and partners, the project is expected to become a highlight of cultural diplomacy efforts, helping further consolidate and deepen the sustainable friendship between Vietnam and Portugal./. VNA
Nguyen Tuan Dat, a Grade 12A1 student at Vinh Bao High School in Hai Phong. Photo: NVCC

Nguyen Tuan Dat, a Grade 12A1 student at Vinh Bao High School in Hai Phong, has become the top scorer in the Hanoi University of Science and Technologys thinking assessment exam, achieving 98.98 out of 100 - the highest score recorded in the six years since the exam was introduced.

In the Mathematics Thinking section, Dat scored a perfect 40 out of 40. He earned 18 out of 20 in Reading Comprehension and 33 out of 40 in Scientific Thinking and Problem Solving.

His result surpassed the previous record of 98.61 set last year by Vu Minh Duc, a former student of Bac Ninh High School for the Gifted.

Speaking to VietNamNet, Dat said he was surprised upon learning he had topped the exam.

While taking the test, there were a few questions I wasnt completely sure about, so I didnt expect a very high score. When I heard there was a top scorer, I didnt think it would be me because there are so many excellent students. When I checked my result, I was truly overwhelmed, he said.

This was Dats second attempt at the exam. In his previous sitting, he scored 82.85. Although the result was respectable, he believed he could do better and decided to retake the test.

To achieve this improvement, Dat said he committed seriously to self-study and followed a structured revision plan. In class, he paid close attention to teachers lectures and completed all assignments. Outside school hours, he actively searched for additional materials online, practised past papers, and sought help from teachers whenever needed.

Among the three sections, Reading Comprehension showed the most improvement. In his first attempt, he answered only 14 questions correctly, while this time he achieved 18 out of 20.

During my preparation, I practised this section intensively and read more articles and scientific materials to become familiar with the question types. That helped improve my reading and information-processing skills, he said.

Mathematics, his strongest subject, was reinforced through regular practice. Each week, he completed four to five thinking test papers, carefully reviewing and analysing mistakes to consolidate knowledge. In total, he has practised around 60 papers.

He also maintained a disciplined schedule. After school, he spent one to two hours each evening practising for the thinking assessment, while dedicating the remaining time to preparing for the national high school graduation exam. On particularly intensive days, he studied until midnight.

The key is to allocate time properly to avoid burnout. I dont force myself to do too many papers in a day. Instead, I maintain a steady and consistent pace, Dat said.

He emphasised that beyond personal effort, support from family and teachers played a crucial role. His father works in business, while his mother is a teacher. Both closely follow university admission information and guide him toward suitable paths, while still respecting his choices.

Teachers at school also supported students by providing knowledge, study materials, and early orientation for competency and thinking assessment exams.

Therefore, the results I achieved are the combination of many factors, Dat said.

Tran Thi Trang Nhung, Vice Principal of Vinh Bao High School, described Dat as a student who stands out in multiple areas.

He has strong logical thinking, sharp observation skills, and is always proactive in exploring new knowledge. When facing difficult problems or complex situations, he often proposes very interesting solutions. In class, he performs consistently well across subjects and is always among the top students, she said.

Previously, Dat won first prize in Mathematics in English at the city level in Grade 10, second prize in Physics in English at the city level in Grade 11, and second prize in Mathematics (Group B) at the city level in Grade 12. He also earned a gold medal in the city-level chess competition. His academic results have consistently been high, with Mathematics often achieving perfect scores.

Dat is currently exploring majors related to engineering and information technology, which he feels align well with his personality.

For me, this thinking assessment result is an important milestone, but the journey ahead is still long. I want to continue striving to achieve the best possible results in upcoming exams, he said.

Thuy Nga
During rush hour on Nguyen Trai Street, the full weight of Hanois urban pressure was on display.

Motorbikes, bicycles, cars and crowded buses stretched into long lines, each squeezing through narrow gaps just to move forward. Along a relatively short stretch of road, no fewer than seven universities and academies stand side by side. Each hosts tens of thousands of students, and at certain hours, they all spill into the streets at once, merging with commuter flows from the outskirts into the city center.

Nguyen Trai is far from the only example. In the Ho Tung Mau - Xuan Thuy - Cau Giay area, another university cluster operates with institutions such as the University of Commerce, Vietnam National University, and the Academy of Journalism and Communication.

To the south, streets like Giai Phong, Tran Dai Nghia, Le Thanh Nghi and Dai Co Viet - already narrow - must absorb massive waves of motorbikes heading toward university gates during class hours. The end of lectures often coincides with peak congestion across entire districts.

Against this backdrop, Hanoi is drafting its Capital Master Plan for 2021-2030, with a vision stretching up to 100 years - an ambitious framework expected to reorganize the citys development space, from infrastructure and population to knowledge hubs.

Within this plan, relocating universities with limited land and substandard facilities out of the inner city is identified as a key direction - a way for Hanoi to reconfigure its own living space.

A long-standing policy

Vietnam National University, Hanoi in Hoa Lac.

Looking back at earlier master plans, this is not a new idea.

As early as 2007 and again in 2011, Hanoi proposed reducing the number of students in the inner city to around 30,000 while developing university clusters in Hoa Lac, Soc Son, Son Tay and Gia Lam. A list of institutions slated for relocation, including more than a dozen universities, was even outlined.

Yet after more than a decade, little has changed. Aside from a few partial relocations, most universities remain in the inner city, continuing to expand within already constrained campuses.

Cost is an obvious barrier. Building a university campus involves more than lecture halls - it requires an entire ecosystem, including dormitories, libraries, laboratories and supporting urban infrastructure.

More fundamentally, for years the relocation policy has existed more as a guideline than a binding requirement. It lacks a clear roadmap, enforcement mechanisms, defined responsibilities and, crucially, strong institutional support.

Accumulated pressure can no longer be ignored

While relocation has stalled, student numbers have steadily increased. Hanoi now hosts around 650,000 to 700,000 students, most concentrated in the inner city. Placed within an already overloaded infrastructure system, this creates significant pressure.

A simple observation illustrates the point: during summer breaks, when students leave, many streets around universities become noticeably less congested. This suggests that university clusters are not only educational spaces but also major generators of urban traffic.

Some universities currently provide only a few square meters per student, far below the minimum standard of 25 square meters. Overcrowded learning environments, limited practical facilities and insufficient research infrastructure not only affect education quality but also indicate that the inner-city university model has reached its limits.

Universities are no longer just an issue for the education sector - they directly shape how the city functions every day.

A university, in its full sense, extends beyond lecture halls. It creates an entire surrounding ecosystem - from rental housing and food services to part-time jobs for students.

For many students, studying in the inner city is not only about attending classes but also about finding work to support themselves. For lecturers, especially those settled in central areas, commuting tens of kilometers daily is far from a minor adjustment.

The question, therefore, is whether the new locations can offer conditions that allow both students and faculty to truly settle. Without a convincing answer, relocation will inevitably face resistance from those most affected.

The solution: move from intent to action

First, the universities that need to relocate must be clearly identified, along with a concrete timeline. Once deadlines are set and responsibilities assigned to specific agencies, the policy will no longer remain a mere recommendation.

But even with a roadmap, progress will stall if destination areas are not ready. Hoa Lac offers a clear example. Planned as a large-scale university zone spanning thousands of hectares near a high-tech park, it has struggled for years due to weak connectivity and limited supporting services.

If students still have to travel dozens of kilometers by motorbike, and if campuses lack housing, job opportunities and a functioning urban environment, universities will find little incentive to leave the center.

Transport, therefore, becomes a decisive factor. Only when students can take a metro line from the inner city and arrive near their lecture halls will a 30km distance truly feel shorter.

Financing is another unavoidable challenge. No university can independently mobilize the thousands of billions of VND needed to build a complete campus. Without a strong financial mechanism - where the State provides initial capital and direction, while businesses participate in infrastructure and service development - relocation plans will struggle to advance.

And ultimately, the issue comes down to people. A lecturer who has lived in the inner city for decades will not easily move without access to housing, schools for their children, and a comparable living environment. A student, likewise, will not choose a place where opportunities for part-time work are nearly nonexistent.

The hardest question lies in the land left behind

Perhaps the most difficult question lies beyond relocation itself: how will inner-city university land be used afterward?

Many campuses occupy some of Hanois most valuable locations. From a market perspective, these sites hold immense value.

If converted into real estate projects, the city could generate significant short-term revenue. But the cost may be continued strain on infrastructure, while much-needed public space remains limited.

Alternatively, if this land is repurposed for parks, schools, creative spaces or research centers, the benefits may not be immediate but would be far more sustainable.

At its core, this is a clear choice: prioritize short-term gains or accept slower returns in exchange for long-term value.

Hanoi can continue expanding outward with new urban areas, but the spaces within its core cannot be recreated once lost.

One day, if Nguyen Trai or Giai Phong no longer sees tens of thousands of students pouring into the streets at the same hour, that may be when people truly recognize how a planning decision quietly reshaped the city. And perhaps then, Hanoi will no longer feel like a vast parking lot.



Tu Giang
According to the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC), as of week 11, the city had recorded 7,294 HFMD cases - an increase of 241.3% compared to the same period in 2025. Among these, 98 cases progressed to severe stages from level 2b and above, marking a 4.6-fold rise year-on-year.

The outbreak is accelerating significantly. In week 11 alone, 837 new cases were reported, up 97.1% compared to the average of the previous four weeks. Since the beginning of the year, authorities have confirmed three deaths and identified 288 outbreak clusters, including 162 in schools and 126 in the community.

Health experts are particularly concerned about the detection of Enterovirus 71 (EV71) in pathogen surveillance results, accounting for 25% (6 out of 24 samples tested). This strain is known for its high virulence, rapid transmission, and its ability to cause severe neurological and respiratory complications, even death - especially in children under five.

In response, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health has issued an urgent directive to implement a series of coordinated prevention and control measures across the city.

The HCDC has been tasked with working alongside local health stations to control outbreaks at the grassroots level, prioritising kindergartens, childcare groups and social protection centres. A network of community health collaborators has been mobilised to monitor and detect cases early at the household level.

The Department of Health has also requested the Department of Education and Training to ensure that schools are equipped with adequate handwashing facilities, including clean water and soap. Schools are urged to coordinate closely with local health authorities to strengthen public communication, particularly highlighting the dangers of the EV71 strain, helping parents recognise early symptoms and seek timely medical care.

Healthcare facilities are required to be ready to receive and treat patients in line with the latest Ministry of Health guidelines. All cases classified from level 2b and above must undergo mandatory testing and continuous reporting through the national health management platform. Childrens Hospital 1, Childrens Hospital 2 and the City Childrens Hospital have been assigned to retrain healthcare workers across the system, focusing on nearby provinces such as Ba Ria - Vung Tau and Binh Duong.

The Department of Health advises families to follow the three clean principle: clean eating, clean living, and clean hands and toys. Specifically, both adults and children should wash their hands frequently with soap under running water, especially before meals, after using the toilet, and after changing diapers. Toys, learning tools and frequently touched surfaces should be cleaned daily.

In addition, adults should prevent children from coming into contact with infected or suspected cases. When children show symptoms such as fever, blisters on the hands, feet or mouth, parents should take them to the nearest healthcare facility for timely examination and treatment.

HFMD is an acute infectious disease caused by enteroviruses, transmitted through the digestive route, direct contact or contaminated objects. It commonly affects young children, with typical symptoms including fever, mouth ulcers and blisters on the hands, feet, knees or buttocks. Notably, children who have previously had the disease can still be reinfected. Early medical attention is essential when symptoms are suspected.

Phuoc Sang
According to a report by the China Chamber of Commerce, China exported 801,000 tonnes of fresh grapes in 2025. Compared to the previous year, export value increased by 11.5%, while export volume surged by 35%.

The report also showed that exports to Vietnam reached US$220 million, accounting for 21.35% of Chinas total grape export value in 2025. Despite a 17% decline in value compared to 2024, Vietnam still ranked as the largest importer of Chinese grapes.

Indonesia came in second with imports valued at US$150 million, up 17%, followed by Thailand at US$140 million, down 28%.

Other export markets included Kyrgyzstan with US$110 million, the Philippines with US$90 million, Russia with US$80 million, and Bangladesh and Malaysia with US$60 million and US$50 million, respectively.

Data from Vietnams General Department of Customs shows that domestic businesses spent nearly US$1.02 billion importing fruits and vegetables from China last year.

These figures indicate that grapes are among the key imported fruits in Vietnam, accounting for 21.57% of total fruit and vegetable import turnover from China.

On the market, Chinese grapes are imported and sold year-round. During peak seasons, Vietnamese markets offer dozens of varieties, ranging from premium products priced at several hundred thousand dong per kilogram to budget options selling for as little as VND20,000-30,000 per kilogram (approximately US$0.80-1.20).

Currently, Chinese milk grapes are widely available across markets at prices of just VND40,000-50,000 per kilogram (US$1.60-2.00), making them the cheapest imported grape variety on the market.



Tam An
The Entria Elevator Controller Comes with One Step VPN Connectivity & Integrates with All CellGate Products, Providing a Total Property Security Access solution.

CARROLLTON, Texas, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today CellGate announced the launch of its new Entria Elevator Controller (E32EC), an exciting new addition to the company's growing portfolio of Entria wired and wireless access control solutions. Designed specifically for multi-family and commercial environments, the new controller brings enhanced flexibility, modern credential support, and seamless integration into the CellGate ecosystem.

Entria E32EC Elevator Controller

The Entria Elevator Controller enables property owners and managers to secure and restrict user access to designated elevator floors, supporting a single elevator with up to 32 floorsall managed through CellGate's cloud-based TrueCloud Connect platform.

Flexible by Design  Built for Real-World Installations

A key advantage of the Entria Elevator Controller is its ability to work within existing infrastructure. It is fully compatible with any installed 26-bit Wiegand readers, allowing properties to upgrade elevator access control  including adding app-based elevator summoning -- without requiring a full rip-and-replace of existing hardware.

At the same time, the Entria Elevator Controller provides a clear path to a more modern access experience, if the property desires. When it is paired with CellGate CG Readers & Credentials, the system unlocks expanded functionality including:

Easy-to-issue QR Code or PIN-based Visitor Passes

Bluetooth contactless entry for residents/employees

DESFire EV3 and HID credential support

This dual capability gives dealers and property owners the flexibility to modernize at their own pacepreserving prior investments if needed, while enabling next-generation access control features for those that want that functionality.

Smarter Access Control for Modern Properties

The Entria Elevator Controller leverages CellGate's TrueCloud Connect platform to deliver centralized administration across multiple properties, users, and solutions. Administrators can add users, issue/revoke credentials and monitor activity, remotelyall from a single login.

Additional Entria Elevator Controller capabilities include:

One-step internet VPN connectivity

App-based elevator summoning and floor authorization

Local credential storage for enhanced user experience

Support for up to 20,000 unique credentials

Fire alarm integration to automatically open assigned devices

A Complete Property Solution

"As we continue to expand the Entria product line, the addition of the Elevator Controller is a natural and important step forward," said Ken Shaw, Executive Vice President of CellGate. "It rounds out our ability to deliver a truly comprehensive solution for the entire propertyfrom perimeter visitor management to access control throughout the property, including pedestrian gates, parking areas, and now elevators. This is a key part of our Total Property Security Access strategy, giving our partners and customers a unified, flexible platform to secure every access point on a property."

Seamless Integration Across the Entria Ecosystem

As part of the Entria product family, the Elevator Controller integrates seamlessly with CellGate's full suite of visitor management and access control solutions, enabling a unified approach to property security. From perimeter gates to building entry points and now vertical access, Entria is an important component of CellGate's ability to deliver: "Total Property Security Access Wireless where you need it. Wired where you have it."

About CellGate

CellGate is the industry leader in cloud-based Total Property Security Access solutions. Since 2006, we've been delivering innovative security technologies that evolve with the needs of our customers. Today, our integrated systems include live video telephone entry, wired and wireless access control, reader and camera applicationspowered by both cellular and wired internet networks. At the core is our TrueCloud Connect platform, enabling seamless remote management and real-time visibility across any property.

Built on Microsoft Azure, TrueCloud Connect powers the entire CellGate ecosystemincluding Watchman live video telephone entry, Entria wired & wireless access controllers, OmniPoint multipoint wireless access, CG Readers and external camera solutions. The platform offers a unified administrative portal for property managers and delivers a seamless mobile experience through the CellGate App - making security smarter and more accessible than ever. Learn more at www.cell-gate.com.

SOURCE CellGate
The deal, inked in Berlin on March 24 by NIC Director Vu Quoc Huy and Prof. Dr. Jan Kratzer, Academic Director of CfE, marks a significant step in strengthening cooperation between Vietnam and Germany in innovation, entrepreneurship and strategic technology sectors.



The signing was made at the suggestion of Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung during his visit and working session with CfE a day earlier.



The Vietnamese official highly valued CfEs reputation and pioneering role in building Germanys innovation-driven startup ecosystem, and called for stronger cooperation with NIC to support Vietnamese universities, research institutes and organisations in training and scientific research.



He highlighted the goal of transferring successful ecosystem models to support Vietnamese startups and enable them to expand to international markets.



Under the MoU, NIC and CfE will jointly develop training and capacity-building programmes for startups; organise technology forums, thematic workshops and startup competitions; and boost collaboration in incubation and acceleration initiatives for startups. The partnership also includes exchanges of startups, students and researchers, as well as joint research projects in strategic technology fields identified by the two sides.



The MoU is expected to help deepen institutional cooperation, and foster linkages between the innovation ecosystems of the two countries. By leveraging combined strengths in knowledge, technology and investment, the partnership aims to better support startups and technology enterprises, thereby speeding up Vietnams digital transformation and innovation-driven economic development.



As one of the leading technical universities in Germany, TU Berlin is known for its strengths in technology research and development and sustainable development promotion. It is a co-founder of the Science & Startups network, a joint startup platform formed by three major universities in Berlin  TU Berlin, Humboldt University and Freie Universitat Berlin.



Each year, TU Berlins startup ecosystem supports around 40 hi-tech startup projects, of which roughly 10 are successfully established as companies.



Meanwhile, CfE plays a central role in fostering entrepreneurship, innovation and commercialisation of research outcomes, acting as a bridge between scientists, students and investors./. VNA
Vietnam Electricity (EVN) and French partners presented the loan agreements to the project developer at the EU  Vietnam Global Gateway Business and Investment Forum in Hanoi on March 24. These agreements form part of a broader financing package comprising six loans from a consortium of international lenders.



Bac Ai is Vietnams first pumped-storage hydropower plant. With four turbines and a total installed capacity of 1,200 MW, it is a key energy project playing a central role in the countrys energy transition.



The plant is designed to regulate power supply and demand by storing energy during off-peak hours and generating electricity during peak periods, thereby helping to stabilise the load curve and enhance the flexibility of the national power system.



According to the schedule, the first turbine is expected to be completed in December 2029, while the fourth will be finished by December 2030. The entire project is slated for full completion by May 2031.



As a flagship project demonstrating international support for Vietnam, it involves partners such as the European Union (EU), the French Development Agency (AFD), Germanys KfW Development Bank, the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Italys Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), and Proparco, a French development finance institution. The project highlights the effectiveness of close international cooperation and provides a strong foundation for implementing large-scale, critical infrastructure.



It is expected to contribute to national energy security while advancing Vietnams transition toward a green and sustainable economy.



Co-organised by the EU Delegation to Vietnam, the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Finance, and the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham), the forum brought together around 500 representatives from government agencies, financial institutions, and leading enterprises from Vietnam and the EU.



At the event, a series of cooperation, investment, and financing agreements were announced across sectors including energy, green finance, transport, vocational education, digital transformation, and healthcare. Notably, the EU unveiled an investment package worth over 560 million EUR for Vietnam, focusing on energy transition, sustainable transport development, and infrastructure capacity enhancement./. VNA
METAIRIE, La., March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Civix today announced that its Go Elect and Go Grants platforms have achieved SOC 2 Type 2 compliance, following the successful completion of an independent audit validating the operational and security controls governing these systems.

SOC 2 audits confirm that controls related to access management, infrastructure monitoring, change management, and incident response are not only in place, but operating effectively over time. This milestone reflects Civix's continued investment in building secure, reliable platforms that support critical public functions.

For government agencies, this independent validation provides an additional level of confidence when evaluating technology partners responsible for systems that manage and house public data.

"Government agencies depend on platforms that operate with discipline, transparency, and strong operational controls," said Phillip Braithwaite, CEO of Civix. "Achieving SOC 2 Type 2 compliance reinforces the rigor behind how our systems are run and demonstrates our continued commitment to meeting the expectations of the public sector."

The milestone is particularly significant given the mission-critical roles these platforms support.

Go Elect provides technology supporting election administration and voter registration, where security and public trust are essential.

Go Grants enables agencies to administer complex public funding programs, where strong operational controls help ensure accountability and oversight.

Alongside this milestone, Civix has launched a new Trust Center designed to make security and compliance information more accessible.

The Trust Center provides a centralized location where agencies can review Civix security documentation and operational practices, helping streamline vendor risk reviews and procurement processes.

Civix is continuing to advance its security program and is currently progressing along the GovRAMP track, further aligning its platforms with the highest government cybersecurity frameworks possible.

Learn more at trust.gocivix.com

About Civix

Civix is a leading provider of government software, managing business services, elections, ethics, and grants. Committed to enhancing the efficiency and security of government administration, Civix delivers cutting-edge, cloud-based solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of its state and local clients. Civix is an HKW portfolio-company that combines Civix's established leadership and track record for excellence with the added empowerment of HKW's financial and management strength.

SOURCE Civix
Over 17,000 Bus Workers Nationwide Ready to Strike for a Fair Agreement

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Teamsters school bus workers at First Student yards across the country voted by an 88 percent margin to authorize a strike should the company fail to negotiate a fair contract. With an expiration date of March 31, the National Master Agreement covers over 17,000 members represented by 96 Teamsters locals.

"The Teamsters Union has been consistently raising the standards within the school bus industry for decades, and this contract will be no different," said Matt Taibi, Director of the Teamsters Passenger Transportation Division. "These essential workers deserve nothing less than a contract that reflects the devotion and skill they put into their jobs every day. First Student is trying to cut costs by refusing to offer health care or retirement benefits to all of our members and we will not stand for it."

First Student is the largest private school bus company in the United States. The outstanding issues in negotiations include retirement security, health care, minimum standards for guaranteed hours, and paid time off. The Teamsters have been forced to file an unfair labor practice charge against First Student related to the negotiations.

"This strike authorization goes to show we are willing to do what it takes to get the agreement we deserve," said Jean Auguste, bus worker and member of Teamsters Local 251. "These are not difficult asks  we are fighting for a contract that provides basic benefits many bus workers across the country have. We don't want to strike, but we will if the company doesn't come to terms on a fair agreement."

Despite the parties having bargaining scheduled for March 30 and 31, First Student has effectively canceled those negotiations to pursue frivolous litigation.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.

Contact:

Lena Melentijevic, (347) 208-2279

[email protected]

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters
The MoU was signed at the EU-Vietnam Global Gateway business and investment forum in Hanoi with the participation of Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc.

The two sides will encourage experience exchange, knowledge sharing, and the implementation of Austrias best-practice models. They will also research, propose, and execute projects applying new technologies, green technologies, and digital technologies, contributing to the citys sustainable development and climate change adaptation.

In addition, they will focus on developing smart cities, digital government, data-driven urban management, smart transportation, and digital infrastructure. This is coupled with supporting the development of innovation and startup ecosystems through connecting businesses, research institutes, universities, and relevant organisations.

The move paves the way for Danang to foster collaboration with European partners and engage international resources in sci-tech and digital transformation.

As the vibrant city of the central region, Danang commits to rapid and sustainable development driven by sci-tech and innovation. To facilitate the goal, the city aims to upgrade its infrastructure, expand its innovation space, and develop internationally compliant workers. Priority will be given to attracting investment in chip manufacturing, robotics, electronic components, AI equipment, and technology startup ecosystem.

At the beginning of 2026, Danang put its international financial centre into operation. This represents a concrete step in implementing the national policy of building the city into a major socioeconomic centre of the country and the region, with strong spillover and growth-driving effects.

Over the past few years, the Austrian government has increasingly valued the Asian market, identifying Vietnam as a gateway to the Southeast Asian market. Building on its advanced manufacturing industry, the Austrian government is investing in and encouraging cooperation and business in high-tech sectors.

The Agency for Economic Cooperation and Development is the service provider of the Austrian government for the implementation of international reform projects. The agency represents Austrias interests in projects funded by the EU and other international institutions.

European Commissioner Sikela to visit Vietnam From March 23 to 25, European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Sikela will visit Hanoi to look at EU investments in Vietnam to create jobs under the Global Gateway.

Hateco-APM consortium wins $1.76bn Lien Chieu port development in Danang A consortium between Hateco and the Netherlands' APM Terminals will develop the Lien Chieu container port in Danang with an investment of $1.76 billion.
On March 20 in Berlin, the DPM met with members of the Vietnam Innovation Network (VIN) and Vietnamese experts working in fields including high technology, data, healthcare, engineering, energy, modern transport, agriculture, environment, diplomacy, economics, finance, business, and entrepreneurship.

The VIN, initiated by the National Innovation Centre (NIC) under the Ministry of Finance (MoF), was established to operationalise the Party and states policies on attracting talent, absorbing global technological advances, and maximising the intellectual resources of the Vietnamese people worldwide, particularly overseas experts and scholars.

To date, the VIN spans more than 22 countries and territories, with over 2,000 members, including scientists, chief engineers, and leading architects across critical industries. In addition to 10 overseas innovation networks, NIC is also supporting five specialised innovation networks focused on strategic technology sectors, working closely with universities, research institutes, enterprises, and the National Data Centre to address major national challenges.

The meeting marked a significant milestone, underscoring the Party and states strong commitment to engaging overseas Vietnamese intellectuals, particularly those within the innovation network in Germany and Europe, while reaffirming the central role of sci-tech and digital transformation in national development.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Finance Le Tan Can acknowledged the contributions of network members and Vietnamese experts in Europe. The MoF highly values the meaningful contributions of the VIN and overseas Vietnamese experts in advancing innovation and science and technology in Vietnam.

"Beyond policy input, many experts have actively supported key initiatives such as the International Financial Centre, facilitated study missions in Europe, and connected domestic institutions with European partners. Several members have established businesses, implemented technology transfer projects, and invested in Vietnam, thereby contributing to the countrys innovation ecosystem and economic growth," he added.

In recent years, VIN and Vietnamese experts in Germany and Europe have contributed to major national initiatives and policy frameworks, including the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation, the Law on Digital Industry and Technology, the semiconductor industry development strategy, and the human resource development scheme for the semiconductor industry to 2030 with a vision to 2050. They have also been involved in initiatives related to AI research and training centres, international financial centres, and startup incubation programmes for Vietnamese enterprises in Europe.

During the session, representatives of the Vietnam Innovation Network in Germany (VGI), along with Vietnamese experts and entrepreneurs, shared insights and policy recommendations. Discussions focused on Germanys and Europes experiences in fostering innovation and startups, developing strategic technology industries, and proposals to shift Vietnams growth model towards deeper, innovation-led development aimed at achieving double-digit economic growth. Key topics included AI strategy and application, strengthening the innovation and startup ecosystem, applying advanced technologies in healthcare, and developing smart, modern transport systems.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung

In his concluding remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Dung commended the MoF and NIC for their efforts in building and expanding the global VIN. He particularly praised the tangible contributions of VGI in connecting knowledge, advising on strategic industries, and supporting Vietnamese startups in accessing European markets. He tasked the MoF to continue coordinating closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and relevant agencies to translate expert recommendations into concrete, high-value solutions addressing national priorities.

DPM Dung also called on the VIN and the community of Vietnamese experts in Europe to further strengthen collaboration, take the lead in initiatives, and help transform aspirations into concrete actions, turning knowledge and potential into real value.

He expressed confidence that, as cooperation in trade, green technology, and digital transformation between Vietnam and Germany, as well as the EU, continues to expand, overseas Vietnamese intellectuals will remain a vital bridge bringing global expertise back to support Vietnams next phase of rapid, sustainable, and prosperous development.

Vietnam taps Silicon Valley to drive innovation and high-tech growth A range of cooperation models between Vietnam and the United States in strategic technology sectors such as AI, digital twins, and semiconductors has been proposed.
Hanoi is accelerating its transition away from the dog and cat meat trade, linking the move to a broader public health strategy to eliminate rabies by the end of the decade.

On March 24, the Hanoi Sub-Department of Animal Husbandry, Aquaculture and Veterinary Medicine (under the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment), in collaboration with Soi Dog Foundation and Vietnam Social and Behaviour Change Communication for Sustainable Development Company (SBCC Vietnam) organised the second training conference themed: Solutions For Strengthening Rabies Prevention and Control and Promoting Sustainable Economic Development through the Phased-Transition Away from Dog and Cat Meat Trade - Towards a Safe and Civilised Urban Communities for government officials and veterinary staff.

The conference, themed: Solutions For Strengthening Rabies Prevention and Control and Promoting Sustainable Economic Development through the Phased-Transition Away from Dog and Cat Meat Trade - Towards a Safe and Civilised Urban Communities targeted government officials and veterinary staff

The city is enforcing stricter controls on the origin, slaughtering conditions, and circulation of animal products, following recent municipal directives. This shift comes as the industry faces a sharp downturn. A 2025 survey of 113 establishments across 14 wards revealed that 83 per cent of businesses reported declining revenues, with some seeing drops of up to 70 per cent.

Pressure to exit the sector is mounting from within. The data shows 67 per cent of traders do not want their children to inherit the business, and 44 per cent have considered closing down. However, the transition remains fraught with economic hurdles.

Most businesses are willing to comply but struggle because this has been their primary income for years, said Tran Thi Nguyet, an official from Ha Dong district. She noted that traders are concerned about access to capital for new equipment and the increased competition in alternative sectors.

Dao Huu Than, deputy director of the Hanoi Centre for Disease Control, warns about rabies risks

Public health remains the primary driver for the policy. Dao Huu Than, deputy director of the Hanoi Centre for Disease Control, warned that rabies is a persistent threat recorded in 60 of 63 provinces over the last decade. The disease claims approximately 70 lives annually in the country, costing the healthcare system more than $41.7 million each year for vaccines and immunoglobulin treatments.

Capacity building for grassroots officials is the core task for effectively implementing rabies prevention and control measures. Veterinary and local management officials must tighten control over animal slaughter, trade, and transportation; strengthen food traceability; firmly address violations; and eliminate business establishments that fail to meet biosafety and environmental standards. This is a direct and urgent responsibility of the sector given the complex rabies situation currently unfolding in the capital, he said.

International partners are backing the initiative, emphasising the need for a clear, sustainable roadmap for livelihoods.

Faizan Jalil, senior manager at Soi Dog Foundation, responsible for behavior change communication

Experiences from implementation in Thailand and South Korea demonstrate the direct link between dog and cat slaughter and meat trade activities and the risk of rabies transmission within communities. Animals transported and slaughtered outside veterinary supervision represent the weakest link in the disease prevention chain. That is why the role of grassroots officials in ensuring that business and slaughter operators comply with regulations and animal welfare practices is a critical factor," Faizan Jalil, senior manager at Soi Dog Foundation said. "It can be firmly stated that strict control of slaughter and trade is the first line of defence in effectively preventing zoonotic diseases, most notably rabies. In the long term, a roadmap must be implemented to transition all dog and cat slaughter and trade households to more appropriate economic models, working towards a safe, civilised, and humane urban environment.

The programme will continue to expand inter-agency coordination, providing support for households to exit the trade while ensuring Hanoi reaches its goal of zero human rabies deaths by 2030.

Bui Thi Duyen, director of SBCC Vietnam, the unit directly implementing the behaviour change communication strategy for the project, emphasised: This is the second training conference, and we have clearly observed a shift in awareness among the participating officials. Community behaviour change cannot succeed without a team of grassroots officials who both guide awareness and enforce and monitor the behaviour of residents and slaughter and business operators. Officials themselves are the drivers of the transition - from communication and persuasion to inspection and enforcement of violations. SBCC Vietnam accompanies the project in developing communication tools relevant to local realities to support officials in fulfilling that dual role.

This training programme was designed with the goal of equipping participants with the knowledge and tools to implement solutions that can bring improvements in public health, animal welfare, and the quality of life for the people of Hanoi. Going forward, activities will focus on expanding the programme, promoting inter-agency cooperation across all pilot areas, with the hope of building a network of safe communities that could serve as a reference model for other cities in Vietnam.
Held in conjunction with World Water Day, the seminar was organised by Tien Phong Newspaper and Can Tho Peoples Committee on March 22.

As part of Keppels continued commitment under the Living Well initiative, the company also contributed two solar-powered water filtration systems to Khanh Hoa ward and Lieu Tu commune in Can Tho city, further strengthening access to safe and sustainable water sources at the community level.

JJoseph Low, president (Vietnam), Real Estate, Keppel at the panel discussion on solutions and vision for water security in the Mekong Delta amid climate change

Joseph Low, president (Vietnam), Real Estate, Keppel said that the Mekong Delta continued to face increasing pressure from climate change, particularly in relation to water availability and saltwater intrusion.

Through this seminar, we hope to support ongoing dialogue among policymakers, experts and stakeholders on strengthening water resilience in the region, said Low.

Alongside this, the Living Well initiative focuses on practical, community-level support. To date, the initiative has helped provide access to clean water for some 157,000 people across 11 communes in seven provinces, reflecting how targeted efforts, delivered in partnership with local stakeholders, can make a meaningful difference to daily life in the Mekong Delta.

The seminar brought together representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, local authorities from provinces across the Mekong Delta, as well as representatives from Keppel, Tien Phong Newspaper, industry experts, business representatives, social organisations and students from Can Tho University.

Discussions focused on the importance of water security in supporting the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta, particularly as the region faces increasing pressures from saltwater intrusion and climate-related challenges.

Nguyen Hoang Anh, deputy director of Can Tho Department of Agriculture and Environment, shared that in recent years, the Mekong Delta has experienced increasingly frequent droughts, saltwater intrusion, and freshwater shortages during the dry season.

Can Tho, the regions central hub, despite its dense river and canal network and relatively abundant water resources, is still facing growing impacts from climate change, Anh said.

Meanwhile, Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Phu Quynh, deputy director of the Southern Institute of Water Resources Research under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, emphasised that the Mekong Delta was facing severe and irreversible external pressures.

Sustainable development of the region requires a combination of technological solutions, multipurpose operations, and stronger collaboration among stakeholders, Quynh said.

As an expansion of its Living Well initiative, Keppel donated two solar-powered water filtration systems with a combined capacity of over 4.3 million litres of clean water per day to Khanh Hoa ward and Lieu Tu commune in Can Tho. The systems will help provide a more reliable source of clean water for over 68,000 residents, particularly during periods of drought and saltwater intrusion.

Launched in 2022, Living Well supports communities affected by drought and saltwater intrusion arising from climate change, one of the growing challenges in the Mekong Delta.

Sustainability in DNA of Keppel Vietnam's future urban development strategy At the Sustainable Development Conference 2025 held on November 27 in Hanoi, Lee Leong Seng, head of property development in Vietnam at Keppel Ltd., spoke about the company's environmental, social, and governance (ESG) journey and its sustainable urban development directions. His insights confirm Keppel's unwavering commitment to placing sustainability at the core of all its operations.

Saigon Centre gains LEED platinum and gold certifications Saigon Centre, Keppels flagship mixed-use development in Vietnam, on February 4 achieved a significant milestone with its office and serviced apartment components awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design platinum, and its retail mall component receiving LEED gold certification by the US Green Building Council.
Under the agreement, the two companies will collaborate to research and develop integrated logistics management solutions to optimise supply chain operational efficiency.

The two sides will mobilise resources to research and develop logistics infrastructure in Vietnam, gradually forming a domestic transportation network and key logistics centre. In addition, they will also jointly explore, develop, and commercialise new potential logistics business models.

Tan Long Group is a Vietnamese agricultural and livestock products distributor with a multi-sector agricultural and food ecosystem. In the livestock and food processing sector, Tan Long Group owns three animal feed production plants and more than 40 high-tech farms, with a herd size of nearly 1 million pigs by the end of 2025. In the rice farming sector, the group boasts five rice mills in the Mekong Delta with an output of over 800,000 tonnes per year. This is coupled with its retail and food business, ranging from meat stores to clean food stores and a restaurant chain.

Truong Sy Ba, chairman of Tan Long Group, said, We highly appreciate the collaboration with Lotte Global Logistics as a reputable and experienced partner in the global and regional logistics industry. The MoU signing will help Tan Long Group to boost our transportation capacity to meet our strong development, especially in the livestock and rice-farming sector."

Kang Buong Ku, CEO of Lotte Global Logistics, said, "The agreement demonstrates the determination of both parties to combine their strengths in experience, operational capabilities, and the domestic market to gradually elevate logistics standards in Vietnam and the region. The move also marks the beginning of a strategic partnership between the two sides, aiming to jointly create sustainable value for the agricultural and food logistics sector in Vietnam."

Logistics costs in Vietnam's agricultural value chain are high, accounting for about 2025 per cent of product costs, nearly double the 1015 per cent average in many countries in the region. The main reasons include lack of modern and integrated infrastructure, a fragmented supply chain, weak connections between raw material sourcing, processing, and distribution, and a shortage of large-scale logistics service providers. High logistics costs have hindered the competitiveness of Vietnamese agricultural products in the international market.

Sojitz Corporation to expand energy and logistics investment in Ho Chi Minh City Japans Sojitz Corporation is looking to expand its investment in Ho Chi Minh City in the fields of energy, logistics, agriculture, food, and trade.

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.
The signing ceremony took place on March 23 in Paris during a high-level working visit by Nam A Banks leadership to Europe. This event marks a strategic milestone in the banks efforts to internationalise sustainable capital and realise its goal of greening business operations while expanding its network of international financial partners.

Tran Khai Hoan- acting CEO of Nam A Bank- and Proparcos senior representative signed the MoU

Under the MoU, Proparco and Nam A Bank will focus on boosting the development and mobilisation of green financial resources. A central pillar of this partnership is the Green Finance Community, a pioneering initiative proposed by Nam A Bank at the Vietnam International Financial Centre (VIFC - HCMC).

The collaboration with a major institution like Proparco is expected to create a synergistic effect, sharing international resources and transforming VIFC-HCMC into an attractive destination for green capital flows and sustainable development in Vietnam.

The signing took place as Proparco is evaluating a $30 million loan with a five-year term to support Nam A Banks green credit portfolio. This funding aligns with Nam A Banks long-term strategy to encourage environmentally friendly business activities.

In addition to the signing ceremony, senior leaders from both sides discussed future cooperation activities

Proparco has recently completed its due diligence and Know Your Customer processes at Nam A Bank. Representatives from Proparco praised the banks stable growth and safe operations amid economic fluctuations.

Notably, Nam A Banks deep integration of Environmental & Social standards into its operations is seen as a vital foundation for further cooperation.

This MoU is not only a recognition of an international development finance institutions trust in Nam A Bank, but also a significant step in our journey to elevate our operational standards, stated a representative from Nam A Bank. We believe Proparcos partnership will enable us to expand green financial resources and spread sustainable development values to the Vietnamese business community and the economy.

A subsidiary of the French Development Agency, Proparco focuses on private sector development. As of late 2025, Proparco held total assets of approximately $10.7 billion, with a loan and investment portfolio of around $9.9 billion. Operating in 115 countries, it has implemented over 900 projects with a total investment value exceeding $11.8 billion globally.

Nam A Bank completes risk management following Basel III standards On October 12, Ho Chi Minh Citys commercial lender Nam A Bank announced the completion of risk management standards according to Basel III under the accompaniment and advice of KPMG.

Nam A Bank and GCPF partner on climate adaptation finance Nam A Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Nam A Bank, HOSE: NAB) and the Global Climate Partnership Fund (GCPF) have teamed up to explore climate adaptation finance in Vietnam.
The signing took place during the Global Trade Partners Meeting, hosted by International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Lisbon from March 24 to 26.

Tran Khai Hoan, acting general director of Nam A Bank (left), and IFC senior representatives at the signing ceremony

As one of the premier global financial events, the conference brought together delegates from 57 countries representing more than 130 organisations worldwide.

The signing was witnessed by Vietnam's Ambassador to Portugal, Nguyen Manh Thang, whose presence underscored Vietnam's commitment to building a dynamic and transparent economy while facilitating sustainable green capital flows as the government pursues its Net Zero target by 2050.

By joining the IFC's Global Trade Finance Programme (GTFP), Nam A Bank becomes part of a prestigious network designed to connect banks in emerging markets with a vast global banking network.

Membership of the GTFP enables Nam A Bank to act as a vital bridge for Vietnamese import-export businesses, helping them mitigate payment risks, access stringent international markets, optimise borrowing costs, and scale global operations.

Furthermore, the bank will focus on expanding trade finance limits to provide a powerful financial catalyst for the business community, particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises, allowing local firms to integrate deeper into global value chains.

"Becoming a member of the GTFP affirms Nam A Bank's reputation and governance capacity according to international standards," a representative of Nam A Bank said. "It demonstrates our strong commitment to supporting Vietnamese businesses as they venture into global waters, serving as a launchpad for Vietnamese-made products to reach the most demanding markets and enhance their international competitiveness."

To kickstart this partnership, the IFC is planning to facilitate a trade finance package worth $50 million for Nam A Bank. This follows an extensive period of Know Your Customer procedures, comprehensive evaluations, and direct due diligence conducted by the IFC.

The IFC performed Enhanced Due Diligence in accordance with international standards, focusing on a holistic review of Nam A Banks credit governance and risk control frameworks.

The assessment covered credit portfolio quality, appraisal and approval processes, internal rating systems, post-lending controls, and compliance with advanced Basel II risk management standards.

This collaboration builds upon previous initiatives between Nam A Bank and the IFC to implement green transformation projects within framework Vietnam's International Financial Centre in Ho Chi Minh City.

Joining the GTFP network is a testament to Nam A Banks internal capabilities and a strategic step in connecting international green capital with the domestic economy.

A member of the World Bank Group, IFC is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. Established in 1956, the IFC promotes sustainable growth and poverty reduction through investment, advisory services, and capital mobilisation.

Nam A Bank and GCPF partner on climate adaptation finance Nam A Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Nam A Bank, HOSE: NAB) and the Global Climate Partnership Fund (GCPF) have teamed up to explore climate adaptation finance in Vietnam.

Nam A Bank forms position as strategic member at VIFC through three key partnerships After becoming a strategic investor in Vietnam's International Financial Centre, Nam A Commercial Joint Stock Bank has implemented a series of strategic partnership agreements to deploy practical solutions as part of its commitment to building a green, modern, and integrated financial centre.
TAMPA, Fla., March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ideal Strategic Partners will introduce five retail-ready hardware innovations at the National Hardware Show 2026 in Las Vegas, selected for their strong consumer demand, differentiated utility, and scalability across wholesale and distribution channels.

Ideal Strategic Partners is a venture development firm specializing in building, launching, and scaling innovative consumer product brands, with a focus on practical problem-solving and market-driven growth. Over the past five years, Ideal Strategic Partners has reviewed more than 20,000 applications and partnered with 60+ portfolio companies.

"Partnering with our founders to take their ideas from concept or early-stage prototype to growing, revenue-generating businesses is the most rewarding part of what we do, and events like the National Hardware Show are an opportunity to showcase their successes" said Scott Moffat, Managing Partner of Ideal Strategic Partners.

They will be showcasing five of their innovative companies at the National Hardware Show - and here are the problems that they solve:

FunL (Booth #1667) is redefining a long-stagnant category with a stretchable, universal-fit pouring funnel constructed from durable, chemical-resistant NBR. Designed to streamline fluid transfers - including oil, coolant, fuel, chemicals, and other liquids - it reduces spills, drips, and cleanup with precision pouring. Following strong e-commerce validation, the company is aggressively expanding into wholesale and retail, with additional SKU development planned for 2026.

KleanGrip (Booth #1762) is a brand that delivers a simple yet effective solution for cleaning hoses, cables, and cords prior to storage or transport. Its flagship tool removes mud, grease, and debris, helping extend equipment life, improve safety, and maintain cleaner work environments. Engineered for compatibility with most standard equipment and often paired with its cleaning solution, KleanGrip continues to expand across hardware, industrial, and consumer markets.

BaseBlock (Booth #1663) is showcasing a precision spacing tool designed to improve consistency in the installation of baseboards, paneling, molding, drywall, and similar applications. Featuring four integrated spacing steps, it reduces measuring time, minimizes error, and enhances repeatability, offering a lightweight, durable, and reusable solution for both contractors and DIY users.

Big Blade (Booth #1665) is introducing an ergonomic, flagship product redefining snow and debris removal. The product features a wider clearing surface and modular platform that improves efficiency while reducing physical strain. Designed to break up ice and minimize repetitive lifting, the system also supports future attachments - including broom and rake components - for year-round debris management across multiple use cases.

Pyramid Ladder Products (Booth #1764) is presenting the Ladder Lugger, a universal ladder attachment handle that enhances balance, grip, and control during transport. The tool reduces physical strain, helps prevent accidental property damage, and installs in seconds without tools. Built for rugged, daily use, the company is also pursuing collaboration with OSHA to further support safety-driven adoption.

Ideal Strategic Partners transforms innovative ideas into scaling businesses through market research, strategic branding, product development/manufacturing, launch execution, and ecommerce and retail scaling.

To learn more about Ideal Strategic Partners' portfolio companies featured at the National Hardware Show, visit: Ideal Strategic Partners NHS Brands

For media inquiries, wholesale opportunities, or partnership information, please contact Dave McHarness at [email protected] or 813-296-6504.

SOURCE Ideal Strategic Partners
From March 18 to 25, the partnership was formalised between the National Innovation Centre (NIC) and the Centre for Entrepreneurship (CfE) at Technische Universitat (TU) Berlin during a working visit to Italy and Germany led by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung. The mission also advanced cooperation with leading technology partners including SAP, Leonardo, Bosch, Siemens Healthineers, and Assolombarda.

The Vietnamese delegation visited the campus at TU Berlin, one of Germanys leading technical universities, known for its strengths in research, technology development, and sustainability. Its CfE serves as a key hub for entrepreneurship, innovation, and commercialisation, connecting researchers, students, businesses, and investors.

Through incubation and acceleration programmes lasting six to 18 months, TU Berlins ecosystem supports around 40 high-tech startup projects annually, with approximately 10 companies established each year. The university is also a founding member of Science & Startups, a major startup platform contributing to Berlins dynamic innovation ecosystem.

During the visit, the deputy prime minister introduced NIC as a central driver of Vietnams innovation ecosystem. NIC has been actively collaborating with global technology leaders such as NVIDIA, Google, Meta, and Samsung to support startups, attract international resources, and strengthen connections among enterprises, investors, and research institutions.

On March 24, NIC and CfE formally signed an MoU in Berlin, marking a significant step forward in Vietnam-Germany cooperation in innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategic technology development.

The partnership will focus on joint training programmes for startups, technology forums and specialised workshops, startup competitions, incubation and acceleration initiatives, as well as exchange programmes for startups, students, and researchers. It will also promote joint research projects in key strategic technology areas.

The MoU is expected to enhance bilateral cooperation while opening new avenues to connect the innovation ecosystems of Vietnam and Germany. By leveraging shared resources in knowledge, technology, and investment, the collaboration aims to better support startups and tech enterprises, contributing to Vietnams digital transformation and innovation-driven economic growth.

Vietnam taps Silicon Valley to drive innovation and high-tech growth A range of cooperation models between Vietnam and the United States in strategic technology sectors such as AI, digital twins, and semiconductors has been proposed.
Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer Novatek has declared its intent to significantly expand its footprint in Vietnam, with chairman Leonid Viktorovich Mikhelson outlining the company's ambition to deepen cooperation and investment during a meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Russia on March 23.

"Vietnam is one of the world's fastest-growing economies with a strong focus on energy development," Mikhelson said. "Novatek hopes to expand cooperation and investment in Vietnam, based on the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership and long-standing ties."

The meeting took place during PM Chinh's official visit to Russia, underscoring the importance both nations place on energy collaboration. While specific projects or investment figures were not disclosed, Novatek's interest signals potential for future LNG supply arrangements or upstream development ventures between the Russian producer and the Southeast Asian nation.

Novatek is principally engaged in the exploration, production, processing, and marketing of natural gas and liquid hydrocarbons. Novatek is Russia's second LNG producer and the seventh largest publicly traded company in the world by natural gas production volume. In the Forbes Global 2000 list in 2020, Novatek ranked 316th among the world's largest public companies.

Novatek has successfully implemented large-scale LNG ventures while developing proprietary LNG technologies. The group is keen on Vietnams LNG segment, eyeing the engagement in the Ca Na LNG venture in collaboration with partners such as Zarubezhneft as well as tapping into Vietnams fast-growing gas market.

PM Chinh said, "Novateks operations align with Vietnams strategic direction. Vietnam and Russia have ample potential for energy cooperation, which has been a highlight of the countries' bilateral relations for over 50 years."

He expressed appreciation for Russias investment and support in advancing Vietnams oil and gas sector, including facilitating the evolution of Petrovietnam into a multinational corporation. He also stressed that energy cooperation is a key pillar of the comprehensive strategic partnership, with Russias strengths complementing Vietnams needs.

It is vital to foster cooperation and diversify sources of supply, markets, and supply chains amid a rapidly changing and complex global situation. Vietnam is also promoting the adoption of science, technology, and innovation to restructure and transform its energy sector, PM Chinh said.

Both sides have needs and ideas for cooperation. Vietnam supports Novatek to expand operations and investment in Vietnam, especially LNG port infrastructure projects, LNG-fired power plants, and supplying stable LNG for the Vietnamese market, he added.

The PM called on Novatek to collaborate with local authorities, state-owned enterprises such as Petrovietnam and Vietnam Electricity, as well as private companies, to implement ventures, including the construction of large-scale LNG storage facilities in Vietnam.

Russia to build 2,400 MW nuclear plant in Vietnam under new deal An intergovernmental agreement on cooperation to build the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant in Vietnam has been signed during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to Moscow.

Russia's Novatek enters LNG market in Vietnam Russian private natural gas producer and exporter Novatek has established a representative office in Hanoi to sell liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Vietnam.
Photo: Duc Minh.

On March 24, at the Ministry of Finance (MoF) headquarters, Deputy Minister Tran Quoc Phuong received UK Ambassador Iain Frew and Angela Knight CBE, chair of the Astana Financial Services Authority, to exchange experience on the development of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) in Kazakhstan.

The AIFC incorporates an English common law-based framework and has drawn on UK legal and regulatory expertise to support its development.

Deputy Minister Phuong welcomed the delegation and expressed appreciation for support from the UK government, the British Embassy, organisations such as TheCityUK, and the UK business community in helping Vietnam improve its financial sector legal framework.

He noted that lessons from the AIFC serve as a valuable reference for Vietnam as it moves forward with its own international financial centre model. Vietnam is pursuing a dual-location model, with financial centres to be established in Ho Chi Minh City and Danang.

"This approach presents both opportunities and challenges in institutional design, operations, and resource mobilisation. As such, learning from international experience, particularly from the UK, with its long-established financial system and widely adopted legal frameworks, is essential," the deputy minister said.

"Attracting international investors has been identified as a top priority," he added. "Vietnam will engage with and invite foreign enterprises to participate, while seeking continued support from international partners in connectivity and global outreach. The long-term goal is to position Vietnam's IFC among reputable global hubs by 2035."

To deepen cooperation, the deputy minister called on UK partners to continue sharing expertise in governance and supervision, including financial safety oversight, systemic risk management, anti-money laundering, cross-border financial risks, and technology-related risks such as cybersecurity and system resilience in an increasingly digitalised environment.

He also expressed interest in UK experience across emerging financial sectors tied to financial centres, including green and sustainable finance, fintech, regulatory technology, sandboxes, and digital assets.

Vietnam aims to strengthen connectivity between its future financial centres and major hubs such as London and Astana, enhancing links across capital markets, banking, asset management, and cross-border financial services.

"This would contribute to the broader development of regional financial networks in ASEAN and Asia," the deputy minister stated.

Ambassador Frew commended the progress in Vietnam-UK cooperation on IFCs, describing it as a key pillar of the bilateral strategic partnership. "Incorporating this agenda into bilateral discussions reflects long-term vision and shared ambition," he said.

While acknowledging Vietnams positive progress, particularly its shift from conceptual planning to implementation, the ambassador explained the need to further clarify the operational model, governance mechanisms, and strategic direction to pull in international investors.

"Limited initial participation by foreign firms reflects the need for more information and evaluation time, rather than a lack of interest, underscoring the importance of enhanced communication, roadshows, and direct investor engagement," he said.

Frew also highlighted the importance of identifying Vietnams competitive advantages, particularly in areas such as green finance, where the UK has strong expertise and stands ready to support.

Sharing practical insights, Knight said, "Building an international financial centre is a major undertaking requiring a focused approach. Clear priorities should be defined from the outset, rather than pursuing an overly broad agenda."

"Transparency is critical to building investor trust. Policies and regulations must be publicly accessible, consistent with international standards, while regulatory bodies should maintain independence and involve international expertise to ensure credibility," Knight said.

Knight also underscored the importance of an effective dispute resolution mechanism  such as specialised courts  to strengthen confidence in the legal system. Drawing from AIFC's experience, she advised Vietnam to set realistic goals in the early stages, avoid aiming too high, and establish strong inter-agency coordination mechanisms to ensure smooth implementation.

On attracting international investors, she concluded that a clear legal framework, transparent governance, and strong investor protection are fundamental prerequisites. Once these conditions are in place, capital inflows will follow more naturally.

Private capital funds as cornerstone of IFC plans As Vietnam accelerates its ambition to establish an international financial centre (IFC) in Ho Chi Minh City and Danang, the national discourse has understandably focused on the hardware of development: regulatory sandboxes, infrastructure connectivity, and tax incentives. These are the necessary foundations of any financial hub.

Academic-policy network planned to support VIFC development Vietnam is working to establish a nationally recognised academic-policy forum in finance, aimed at strengthening policy advisory capacity and supporting the development of its International Financial Centre.
The current 150-day temporary tariff period should not be seen as a policy pause, but rather as a critical window during which countries and businesses must shift to scenario-based management, according to experts at the seminar Solutions to Respond to the United States 150-Day Temporary Tariff Policy held on March 25 in Ho Chi Minh City.

The seminar focused on three key areas: analysing and recent changes in the trade policy of the United States to accurately identify short-term impacts after July 2026; discussing concrete response measures for businesses; and proposing long-term strategic directions to diversify markets and supply chains.

Vietnamese businesses urged to act swiftly on US 150-day tariff policy. Photo: Le Toan

According to Cao Thi Phi Van, deputy director of the Investment and Trade Promotion Centre of Ho Chi Minh City, the 150-day policy should be viewed as a transitional phase in US trade administration.

The temporary nature of the timeframe does not imply policy stability. As the policy is being implemented on a broad scale, closely monitoring developments and preparing scenarios for the post-150-day period has become particularly important, especially for sectors highly dependent on the US market and supply chains with complex structures, said Van.

Proactive analysis, forecasting, and early response during this period will be essential to minimising order disruptions and limiting adverse impacts on production and export activities in the coming months.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Huynh The Du from University of WisconsinOshkosh said that the US market remained one of the largest destinations for Vietnamese exports, spanning a wide range of sectors including textiles and garments, furniture, electronics, footwear, and seafood.

The application of a uniform 10 per cent tariff creates a short-term opportunity, but also carries clear risks of uneven impact across industries. In particular, for low-margin sectors such as garments, footwear, and seafood, the additional 10 per cent tariff would impose a significant burden, weakening price competitiveness, especially if businesses are unable to negotiate passing these added costs on to buyers, Du said.

According to Du, one of the core medium-term risks in the US market is the likelihood that the United States will tighten oversight of origin fraud and illegal transshipment practices.

If goods from third countries increasingly transit through Vietnam to circumvent tariffs during this period, it could seriously damage the credibility of the Made in Vietnam label and trigger broader trade investigations in the future.

For Vietnam in particular, Prof. Tran Ngoc Anh from Indiana University noted that Vietnams export structure showed a significant imbalance between the foreign-invested sector and domestic enterprises.

The foreign direct investment (FDI) sector accounted for 77.3 per cent of total exports, rising 26.1 per cent and generating a trade surplus of $49.5 billion, while the domestic sector represented only 22.7 per cent, declined 6.1 per cent, and posted a trade deficit of $29.4 billion. As a result, economic gains largely accrue to multinational corporations, while Vietnam bears increasing legal and trade-related risks from the US, said Anh.

Based on this assessment, Prof. Ngoc Anh urged businesses to take immediate action within March by reviewing 10-digit Harmonised Tariff Schedule codes to determine applicable tariff exposure.

1,655 tariff lines are currently exempt from the additional 10 per cent duty under Annex II and recommended that companies seek duty refunds for in-transit shipments if bills of lading were issued before February 24 and goods entered the US before February 28, Anh added.

From April onward, he said, Vietnamese industry associations must work closely with trade lawyers in Washington to participate in Section 301 hearings, with the aim of demonstrating that production capacity reflects actual market supply and demand.

Finally, beginning in July, businesses should prepare to restructure pricing strategies if Section 301 tariffs are formally imposed.

Following the rejection by the Supreme Court of the US of several previously proposed reciprocal tariff measures, the White House has activated a temporary 10 per cent import tariff applied broadly to imported goods.

The measure is being implemented under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which authorises the US President to impose emergency measures aimed at addressing trade deficits or correcting balance-of-payments imbalances in the United States.

Under this provision, the fast-response mechanism allows tariffs of up to 15 per cent for a maximum period of 150 days.

The current implementation period is expected to run from February 24 to July 24. During this period, the current 10 per cent tariff could be raised to the maximum 15 per cent should the US administration determine that stronger measures are necessary to protect domestic manufacturing.

Vietnam and US to launch sixth trade negotiation round Vietnam and the United States are expected to launch the sixth negotiation for the Reciprocal Trade Agreement next week.

Vietnam ready to increase purchases of US goods Vietnam is willing to step up imports from the US, with a focus on machinery, equipment, and high technologies.
Local educator recognized by Curriculum Associates for student-focused teaching and effective use of i-Ready tools; honorees will participate in a yearlong national professional learning and leadership program

MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill., March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Curriculum Associates has named Felix Saji from John V. Leigh School in Norridge District 80 to its 2026 class of Extraordinary Educators, a prestigious recognition program that celebrates Grades K8 teachers across the country who exemplify instructional excellence and a deep commitment to student growth. Saji's teaching demonstrates consistent, best-in-class use of i-Ready tools in his classrooms.

Selected from more than 170 educators nationwide, Saji is among only 26 chosen this year for their outstanding use of data to drive learning, create inclusive classroom environments, and engage in ongoing professional learning.

"i-Ready data goes deep into student strengths, areas of opportunity, and steps on how to close those gaps," said Saji. "Being named an Extraordinary Educator helps me to validate that I am making student improvement, what I am doing is effective, and most importantly, the students are learning and meeting their goals."

Now in its seventh year, the Extraordinary Educators program connects honorees to a yearlong national professional learning community, leadership development opportunities, and collaboration with education leaders and fellow educators from across the country. Honorees also participate in Curriculum Associates' annual Extraordinary Educators Leadership Summit, where they share insights and amplify their impact in classrooms nationwide.

"Our Extraordinary Educators inspire us with their dedication to high-quality instruction and student success," said Kelly Sia, CEO of Curriculum Associates. "We are proud to recognize their work and to walk alongside them as they continue to lead in their classrooms and communities."

The 2026 cohort represents a range of roles, including classroom instruction, student support, and enrichment. Educators were selected through a rigorous review process involving Curriculum Associates staff and an advisory panel of company leaders and Extraordinary Educator alumni, ensuring diverse perspectives and fairness.

Learn more about the Extraordinary Educators program and view the full list of 2026 honorees.

Media Contact:

[email protected]

About Curriculum Associates

Curriculum Associates is a mission-driven company dedicated to making Grades K12 classrooms better for more than 17 million students and one million educators nationwide. The company's connected suite of i-Ready solutions unites adaptive assessment, personalized instruction, and core curriculum in English language arts and mathematicssupported by expert professional learning and service teamsalongside Ellevation for Multilingual Learners and Stile Education for middle school science. Through its innovation hub, AI Labs, Curriculum Associates designs forward-looking technologies educators can trust. The company measures success by the impact it makes on student outcomes and is honored to support the extraordinary work of teachers every day.

SOURCE Curriculum Associates, LLC
Wrexham.com has invited local Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd to write a monthly article with updates on their work in their respective Parliaments and closer to home  you can find them all here. 

In this months column Wrexhams Member of the Senedd, Lesley Griffiths, writes:

Improving public transport links and rail connectivity is a key commitment of the Welsh Government.

Last May, I attended the Network North Wales launch at Wrexham University where the Cabinet Secretary for Transport & North Wales, Ken Skates MS, first outlined many of the significant developments that will take place in our region over the coming months and years.

Im pleased the significant investment is already making a tangible difference locally, exemplified by the doubling of train services between Wrexham and Chester.

In the years ahead, the North Wales Metro will provide direct services between Liverpool city centre, the Wirral and Wrexham via the Wrexham to Liverpool line. By working with partners over the border and improving connections between North East Wales and Merseyside, these proposals will improve access to job opportunities, boost productivity and support more homes, jobs and services.

These wider developments tie into the Wrexham Gateway Project. At a recent meeting of the Wrexham Business Professionals, Alistair Aldridge, the Wrexham Gateway Project Manager, spoke about the transport interchange at the heart of the scheme.

It is hoped this will be delivered by 2029 which would be ideal timing for Wrexhams City of Culture bid. If successful, having an upgraded transport hub at Wrexham General Station, alongside a new Kop at the Racecourse, could prove vitally important.

In the Senedd this week, I asked for an update and the Cabinet Secretary outlined plans for further considerable investment across our region.

The Marches line, which runs along the border between Wales and England will be electrified, as well as the North Wales main line, and the Welsh Government is looking at creating new stations at Wrexham North, Wrexham South and possibly Greenfield and Broughton in Flintshire.

Wrexham is on the rise and delivering a modern, integrated transport network in the years ahead will be a game-changer for our city and region.

Were committed to the long-term transformation of rail travel and infrastructure in Wales @PrifWeinidog visited Taffs Well Depot today with @GOVUK to welcome our joint plan to deliver @Transport_Wales vision to transform rail pic.twitter.com/nySBLf4BP6  Welsh Government Transport (@WGTransport) February 18, 2026

Supporting our social care workforce must always be a priority for any government.

We cannot underestimate the commitment, dedication and the incredible care that people who work in residential, nursing, childrens respite and care homes right across Wales provide every single day of the year. They support some of the most vulnerable people in our society and were very fortunate to have such dedicated individuals who want to help care for our loved ones.

Recently, I visited Hillbury Care Home in Wrexham, which is run by Pendine Park, and took part in a St Davids Day-themed art class. The wonderful carers often use art and music to enhance the lives of residents and it was clear the warm and engaging session was greatly valued and appreciated. Hillbury doesnt feel like a care home as such, it feels like a loving home for the residents.

In recent years, the care sector has faced unprecedented pressures, yet they continue to deliver with professionalism and resilience.

However, unless action is taken now, in 10 years time, we will not have the social care workforce required to care for an ageing population. Currently, the majority of the workforce is reliant on workers from overseas, and in discussions Ive had with Care Forum Wales, which is an organisation that has done so much over the years to professionalise the sector, it is very clear that we are not training enough people here to do this essential work.

During a debate in the Senedd, I raised my concerns with the Minister for Children & Social Care. A statement recently issued by the Welsh Government outlines its ongoing support for the sector and the actions it is taking to further strengthen the social care workforce.

The Welsh Government continues to provide annual funding of around 29m to Social Care Wales, and 45m directly to Local Authorities through a workforce grant, alongside the local authority settlement, which is something I welcome.

I was also encouraged by the news the Welsh Government is committing 1.5m in new funding to support the first phase of a National Social Care Academy in Wales.

Standing still is not an option and I hope this new initiative will help support our care workers, strengthen resilience in the sector and ensure services are delivered consistently across Wales.

Wrexhams St Davids Day parade was once again a great success. The atmosphere in the city centre was fantastic and I congratulate the organisers as well as all those who took part.

Finally, this will be my final column for Wrexham.com. Retirement  and the next chapter  beckon and I will stand down on 7th April ahead of the Senedd election on 7th May.

What an honour and privilege it has been to be the Member of the Senedd for Wrexham and to represent our wonderful city for 19 years.

In a time where misinformation and fake news is prevalent, Wrexham.com has been a trusted source of information for thousands of people in Wrexham and the surrounding areas. I wish the Wrexham.com team and all its readers the very best.

I remain the Member of the Senedd for a few more weeks so if you are a constituent in Wrexham and there is an issue I could help you with, please contact me via email: lesley.griffiths@senedd.wales.
An estimated 965 people in Wales died last year in circumstances linked to waiting 12 hours or more in an emergency department, according to a report published by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine.

The figure, from the RCEMs State of Emergency Medicine in Wales report, is an increase of 29 on 2024 and equates to an average of 18 deaths every week. Emergency doctors are calling on every party contesting the election to commit to ending deaths linked to long waits by 2030.

The report was discussed yesterday in Cardiff Bay during a Senedd debate on the Welsh Governments record. In the chamber, Clwyd West MS Darren Millar used the publication to challenge First Minister Eluned Morgan directly on the state of emergency care in North Wales.

Millar told the Senedd: People are dying waiting for ambulances in Wales. Theyre dying in our emergency departments because theyre not getting treated quickly enough. Just today, the Royal College of Emergency Medicine has estimated that over the past year, in 2025, 1,000 people died needlessly in our emergency departments because they waited over 12 hours in those departments to be seen.

He told members there were shortages of pillows and blankets in north Wales hospitals, and described Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board  which runs the Wrexham Maelor Hospital  as a record-breaking health board in north Wales thats been in special measures and intervention for longer than any other NHS organisation in the history of the national health service across the United Kingdom.

Betsi Cadwaladr has been under Welsh Government targeted intervention since 2015  something Wrexham.com put to the First Minister as special special special measures.

Millar said: Cancer targets have been missed, and people are needlessly coming to harm.

The First Minister responded that the NHS was improving. Morgan said: I was up in north Wales last week. And do you know what? Things are improving  even in north Wales, things are improving.

She pointed to falling waiting lists, telling the chamber: Lets be clear about those waiting times: eight months of sustained fall. That makes a huge difference to the people who are suffering.

Morgan also repeated the direct election pledge on north Wales hospitals, telling the Senedd that if Labour formed the next Welsh Government it would build a new hospital in Wrexham. She said: If you look at the commitment to the Royal Alex, thats going to make a difference. If you look at the promise we have made, if we get into power next time, we will be building a new hospital in Wrexham.

What the RCEM report says

The RCEM report sets out data from across all 12 major emergency departments in Wales for 2025. The deaths figure is calculated using the Standard Mortality Ratio, based on a peer-reviewed study published in the Emergency Medicine Journal in 2022, which estimated one additional death for every 72 patients experiencing a wait of 12 hours or more before admission. The RCEM states the 965 figure is a conservative estimate.

The Welsh Government disputed the methodology. A spokesperson said: Too many people are waiting too long in emergency departments. Long stays are distressing for patients and families and can be associated with poorer outcomes, particularly for older people or those who have complex clinical needs. We have been clear that health boards must improve flow, eliminate 12-hour stays and care in temporary spaces.

The government described the RCEM figures as estimates based on modelling in a single academic study transferred to Welsh data.

In 2025, 122,166 people waited 12 hours or longer in major A&Es in Wales. That is the second highest annual total on record. Ten years ago, one in 32 patients waited that long. Last year, the figure was one in seven.

The four-hour standard requires 95 per cent of patients to be seen, treated and either admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours. In 2025, just 54 per cent of patients met that standard  the worst performance ever recorded. In total, 367,595 people waited four hours or more. The RCEM noted that figure was equivalent to the population of Cardiff.

Inside the departments

To accompany the annual data, the RCEM collected snapshot information from all 12 emergency departments on a single Monday morning in February 2026.

Of 704 patients in the departments at that time, 304 were waiting for an inpatient bed. Of those, 97 were being treated in non-designated spaces  corridors, cupboards, and waiting room chairs. Two patients had been in an emergency department for five days.

Staff described conditions in responses to the RCEM survey. One wrote: We are leaving people in chairs for nearly 30 hours waiting for a bed. We cant treat people like this.

Another said: Long bed waits  lack of hygiene options, causing poor sleep, poor comfort, reduced capacity to reduce acute patients because of this.

A third wrote: Delays in assessment and treatment increase the risk of avoidable harm, worsen patient experience, and compromise overall safety.

A fourth described the structural pressure on emergency departments specifically: The ED holds all the risk at times of escalation. We are only unit not allowed to shut. Pressure on staffing and their health and ability to operate effectively leading to moral injury.

The RCEM said the primary driver of the crisis was not the volume of people arriving at emergency departments but the inability to move admitted patients out. It described this as a failure at the back door of hospitals rather than the front.

Average bed occupancy across hospitals with a major emergency department rose from 84 per cent in 2013/14 to 87.9 per cent in 2024/25, above the 85 per cent level recommended as safe by NICE. Five hospitals exceeded 90 per cent occupancy so far in 2025/26. The report said 796 beds had been lost across the whole system since 2013/14.

The average number of patients who were medically fit for discharge but still in a hospital bed was 1,412 per day in 2025. That was down from 1,587 in 2024, which the RCEM described as encouraging, but said it had not yet translated into improved waiting times or conditions in emergency departments.

The Senedd debate

The debate in the Senedd went well beyond the RCEM report. The outgoing governments final term statement drew sharp exchanges between ministers and opposition members across health, transport, housing and the economy, with North Wales featuring repeatedly.

Julie James MS opened the governments formal statement, telling members she could point to the largest and most sustained reduction in the overall waiting lists on record and the fastest fall in two-year waits. She said the government had directly supported more than 50,000 private sector jobs during the term and created over 100,000 apprenticeship opportunities.

On transport, James said the 800 million invested in the rail fleet was not just new trains. She told the Senedd: It is doubling the frequency of services between Chester and Wrexham. It is extra trains on the Heart of Wales line and it is late-evening trains between, for example, Cardiff and Treherbert or Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil.

Welsh Conservatives MS Tom Giffard opened opposition contributions by describing the session as the funeral of the Welsh Labour Party after 27 long years. He challenged the governments claims on health, saying: My jaw almost dropped to the floor when I saw the title of this statement  better health, when we have the longest NHS waiting lists anywhere in the United Kingdom.

Giffard said the government had spent 120 million on increasing the number of Senedd members during the term and criticised overseas spending priorities.

James rejected the characterisation. She told Giffard his opening remarks showed a terrible tone and said: This is a conversation not couched in rhetoric such as the one youve just shown us, but in actual facts. The published statistics show two-year waits are reducing by 78 per cent since August 2024, the fastest fall on record.

Plaid Cymrus Adam Price MS offered a critique. He acknowledged real achievements  Senedd reform, universal free school meals in primary schools, bus regulation  before turning to other areas.

Price told the Senedd: On health, more than 700,000 treatment pathways are still waiting to begin. Over 5,000 people have been waiting more than two years, despite Labours commitment to eliminate such long waits entirely. Cancer performance remains far below the 62-day target.

Diagnostic waits have increased again. Therapy target breaches have risen again. Ambulance pressures remain acute, with the red call response target missed again.

Price also cited the governments own national survey satisfaction score. He asked: If the Governments record is really as strong as you now claim, why is that not reflected in the opinion polls or in the Governments own national survey satisfaction score, of just 4.8 out of 10?

Julie James MS responded by defending the direction of travel. She said: Of course there is more to do. Of course there is. There is always more to do. No Government is ever going to arrive at a point where it says, Hey, weve done everything there is to do and theres nothing more.'

Millars contribution returned repeatedly to North Wales specifically. As well as the RCEM figures, he told the Senedd that cancer targets had been missed, that services had been cut at hospitals including Tywyn, Withybush and Bronglais, and that Powys patients were being treated like second-class citizens when going across the border into England for treatment.

Morgans response to Millar included a broad defence of NHS performance across Wales and the specific commitment to a new Wrexham hospital before pointing to the work of health minister Jeremy Miles. She said: We have massively increased the NHS workforce  a 12 per cent increase  with medical and dental staff increased by 18 per cent. Thats not a small number.

What the RCEM is asking for

The RCEM report sets out five specific demands of whoever runs the next Welsh Government: a commitment that no patient requiring a cubicle is treated in a non-designated space; accountability for ending overcrowding across health boards and Welsh Government; no new NHS policies that increase pressure on emergency departments before improvements in flow are demonstrated; a whole-system approach to performance; and a commitment to eradicate deaths linked to long waits by the end of the decade.

Dr Rob Perry said: To all parties contesting the upcoming Senedd elections: we call on you to act without delay to end overcrowding in EDs. Failing to act will mean more deaths, and more heartbreak for families of individuals let down by a crumbling urgent and emergency care system.

Spotted something? Got a story? email us at Got a story? email us at news@wrexham.com
Wrexham council leaders say the original improvement scheme for Junction 4 on the A483 is moving forward, following talks this week with Welsh Government officials.

Council leader Mark Pritchard and deputy leader David Bithell issued a joint statement confirming the outcome of the meeting, saying the project will use the original scheme that was put on the table a few years ago.

This week we held very positive talks with Welsh Government officials about improvements to Junction 4 on the A483, said Pritchard and Bithell in their joint statement.

During the meeting, it was confirmed that the project will be moving ahead using the original scheme that was put on the table a few years ago, which we believe will bring huge benefits to the city.

The confirmation comes after a protracted period of uncertainty over the future of junction improvements on the A483, one of the main arterial routes into Wrexham. Welsh Government scrapped a fully funded 53 million programme covering Junctions 3-6 in 2023, a decision Cllr Bithell had previously described as wrong.

First Minister Eluned Morgan announced in January that Welsh Government would invest more than 1.5 million over 18 months to progress a package of transport measures for the area, including design and environmental assessment work for a new grade-separated junction to the south of the existing Junction 4, with draft legal Orders expected in spring 2027. That announcement also covered improvements to the Junction 5 roundabouts and active travel links between Wrexham General Station and the Western Gateway site.

In February, Cllr Bithell said the council was pushing for the full original scheme across Junctions 3-6 to be reinstated, and would not accept anything less.

The joint statement issued today suggests the council believes those talks have now delivered that outcome, though Welsh Government has not yet issued a separate public statement confirming the position.

The two leaders described the Western Gateway site as a strategically important site located on the edge of the city, which could help attract new business investment and employment opportunities to the region.

We welcome this news, as this is a really positive step for Wrexham and we look forward to seeing the project progress in the coming months, said Pritchard and Bithell.

Spotted something? Got a story? email us at Got a story? email us at news@wrexham.com
The Lyon County Sheriff's Office has released the name of the man killed in a late-night shooting March 19th in Dayton.

The victim has been identified as 27-year-old Daniel Ferguson of Dayton.

Deputies say 60-year-old Dayton man Greg Kevin Roller was taken into custody and booked into the Lyon County Jail. He is currently being held without bail.

Investigators confirmed the two men knew each other and that there is no ongoing threat to the public.

This is ongoing investigation, anyone with information is asked to contact the Lyon County Sheriff's Office at 775-577-5206.

Previous Story

A Dayton man faces a murder charge after a late night shooting in Lyon County.

The shooting happened just after 10:45 p.m. on Sheep Camp Road near Rose Peak Road.

When Lyon County deputies arrived on scene, they found the unidentified man suffering from a gunshot wound - ultimately, he died on scene.

Deputies say 60-year-old Dayton man Greg Kevin Roller was taken into custody and booked into the Lyon County Jail on one count of murder with use of a deadly weapon and one count of discharging a firearm where others may be endangered. He is currently being held without bail.

The Lyon County Sheriffs Office Investigations Division is actively investigating this incident.

At this time, deputies say there is no known threat to the public.
KATY, Texas, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The article highlights how early legal guidance helps protect evidence, document damages, and navigate insurance claims.

When should you speak with a personal injury lawyer after an accident in Texas? HelloNation has published the answer in an article, featuring insights from Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Shane McClelland of the Law Office of Shane McClelland PLLC in Katy, TX.

Shane McClelland, Personal Injury Attorney

The HelloNation article explains that timing is critical after an accident in Texas, especially when injuries, liability, or insurance companies are involved. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer early in the process can help preserve evidence, document damages, and ensure compliance with legal deadlines. For many individuals, early legal guidance provides clarity during an otherwise stressful situation.

Injuries are one of the most important reasons to seek legal guidance. The article notes that even minor injuries can worsen over time, making proper documentation essential. A personal injury lawyer can help ensure that medical records are complete and accurately reflect the extent of injuries. Establishing this documentation early strengthens a claim and supports the recovery of damages.

Unclear fault is another situation where early consultation is valuable. In Texas, responsibility for an accident may be shared, and insurance companies often dispute liability. A personal injury lawyer can gather evidence, review reports, and assess the circumstances surrounding the accident. Early involvement helps create a clear record that supports the claim and reduces disputes over responsibility.

Insurance companies also play a significant role in determining outcomes. The article explains that insurance companies may offer a quick settlement, but these offers may not fully cover damages such as medical costs or lost income. Consulting a personal injury lawyer ensures that any settlement reflects the full scope of damages and that negotiations are handled effectively.

Deadlines are another critical consideration. The statute of limitations in Texas typically allows two years to file a personal injury claim after an accident. Missing the statute of limitations can prevent recovery entirely. Early legal guidance helps ensure that filings are completed on time and that all procedural requirements are met.

Collecting evidence promptly is essential for building a strong case. The article highlights that evidence such as photographs, witness statements, and medical records is more accurate when gathered soon after an accident. A personal injury lawyer can organize this evidence efficiently, strengthening both settlement negotiations and potential litigation.

The article also emphasizes the importance of careful communication. Statements made to insurance companies or others after an accident can affect a claim. Legal guidance helps individuals understand what to say and what to avoid, reducing the risk of weakening their case.

The article concludes that speaking with a personal injury lawyer early after an accident in Texas helps protect evidence, document injuries, and secure fair settlement outcomes. By seeking timely legal guidance, individuals can better manage interactions with insurance companies, meet the statute of limitations, and pursue appropriate compensation for their damages.

When Should You Talk to a Personal Injury Lawyer After an Accident in Texas? features insights from Shane McClelland, Experienced Personal Injury Attorney of Katy, TX, 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
Acquisition to unlock AI-powered cloud and digital transformation for healthcare providers

BENGALURU, India and JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla., March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NSE: INFY) (BSE: INFY) (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced a definitive agreement to acquire Optimum Healthcare IT, recognized as a Best in KLAS healthcare digital transformation and consulting firm recognized for helping provider organizations drive large-scale transformation.

The acquisition of Optimum Healthcare IT underscores Infosys' commitment to strengthening its healthcare capabilities, particularly in collaboration with health systems and provider organizations to deliver measurable outcomes across complex clinical and operational environments. Optimum Healthcare IT brings deep providerdomain expertise and a proven delivery model  making it a strong strategic fit for Infosys' scale and healthcare growth strategy. This investment significantly enhances Infosys' presence in the provider segment, adding new clients and relationships, expanding technology capabilities, and creating synergies across new buying centers. Healthcare providers served by Optimum Healthcare IT will now have access to Infosys' broader offerings across Infosys Topaz AI offerings, Infosys Cobalt cloud offerings, cloud engineering, infrastructure services, cybersecurity and application transformation.

Salil Parekh, Chief Executive Officer, Infosys, said, "Optimum Healthcare IT has established a strong position in the healthcare sector by consistently delivering measurable outcomes through deep domain expertise and trusted client engagements. By bringing together Optimum's provider experience with Infosys Topaz and Infosys Cobalt, we are positioned to create a differentiated value proposition for healthcare providers  accelerating endtoend cloud, data, and digital transformation at scale. We are pleased to welcome Optimum Healthcare and its leadership team to Infosys as we advance our shared vision for the future of healthcare."

Gene Scheurer, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Optimum Healthcare IT, said, "From the beginning, Optimum was built to deliver results through a focus on execution, collaboration, and quality. With Infosys' long-term investment and global scale behind us, we're positioned to accelerate AI and digital led growth and expand what we can deliver while remaining anchored in the values, service model, and healthcare focus our clients count on."

Venky Ananth, EVP & Head of Healthcare, Infosys, said "Optimum Healthcare IT brings specialized providerfocused capabilities, including health record advisory, implementation, and support, further strengthening Infosys' healthcare portfolio. Together, Infosys and Optimum Healthcare IT will advance AIled, largescale cloud and data transformation initiatives for healthcare providers through an integrated, endtoend set of offerings  supporting improved patient experiences through datadriven, personalized care while driving greater operational efficiency and cost optimization."

Jason Mabry, President and Co-Founder of Optimum Healthcare IT, added, "Our success has always been driven by our people and the trust our clients place in them. This next chapter with Infosys, strengthens our healthcare industry leadership position while maintaining the same Optimum team, leadership involvement, and client-first experience that organizations know and expect and an unwavering commitment towards execution."

Optimum Healthcare is an Elite ServiceNow partner, and received the 2026 ServiceNow Partner of the Year Award, is a Premier AWS partner, Workday Services partner and a Microsoft Azure partner.

Investment Bank Harris Williams advised Optimum Healthcare IT on the transaction.

The transaction is expected to close during the first quarter of FY 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and completion of closing conditions.

About Optimum Healthcare IT

Optimum Healthcare IT is a Best in KLAS healthcare IT digital transformation and consulting firm based in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Optimum's comprehensive service offerings include Enterprise Application Services, Digital Transformation, and Workforce Management, which features our skill development program, Optimum CareerPath. Backed by a leadership team with extensive expertise, we deliver tailored healthcare consulting solutions to diverse organizations.

About Infosys

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Over 330,000 of our people work to amplify human potential and create the next opportunity for people, businesses and communities. We enable clients in 63 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer clients, as they navigate their digital transformation powered by cloud and AI. We enable them with an AI-first core, empower the business with agile digital at scale and drive continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. We are deeply committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organization where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace.

Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NSE, BSE, NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, or our future financial or operating performance, are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding the execution of our business strategy, increased competition for talent, our ability to attract and retain personnel, increase in wages, investments to reskill our employees, our ability to effectively implement a hybrid work model, economic uncertainties and geo-political situations, technological disruptions and innovations such as artificial intelligence ("AI"), generative AI, the complex and evolving regulatory landscape including immigration regulation changes, our ESG vision, our capital allocation policy and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, liquidity, capital resources, our corporate actions including acquisitions, and cybersecurity matters. Important factors that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements are discussed in more detail in our US Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633365/5460444/Infosys_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Infosys
Tom Blyth defends girlfriend Daniela Norman's sheer Oscars party dress from critics. Read his fiery response to online backlash over her "exquisite" look.

AceShowbiz - Tom Blyth is firmly defending his girlfriend Daniela Norman after her daring choice at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party sparked controversy online. On March 15, Daniela attended the annual event wearing a sheer blue dress that quickly drew mixed reactions from social media users. While some admired the look, others criticized it as vulgar and inappropriate for the occasion, prompting a swift response from the actor.

Tom Blyth shared moments from their night at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party on March 20, posting photos that highlighted Danielas eye-catching outfit. When a fan complimented his look but disparaged Danielas dress as unsuitable, he didnt hold back. His blunt reply to the critic was simply, Stfu. She wore a dress that she was excited by and she looked EXQUISITE in it.

Further defending his partner, the actor captioned the post with a nod to their special evening, writing, Vanity Fair Party + LA/NYC with lovers and friends, and added a playful note about feeling grateful for the excellent dogs, dawgs and nipples in his life.

Meanwhile, Daniela Norman, known for her role in Tiny Pretty Things, expressed her excitement about the night on Instagram, captioning her post with Eeeekk what a night, accompanied by blue and black heart emojis. Tom Blyth responded warmly in her comment section, telling her, Youre out of this world.

Danielas decision to embrace a sheer look and free the nipple at the Vanity Fair event was not the only outfit that attracted debate. The day after the party, Bryana Holly, wife of actor Nicholas Hoult, also addressed criticism about her appearance. She posted on her Instagram Story to confront comments about her chest, explaining that her look was a result of breastfeeding and that she hadnt fed her babies for several hours.

Bryana Holly wrote, I am seeing the comments around my chest and not that *anyone* is owed an explanation, but this is the product of a breast feeding mother who hasnt fed her babies in hours ok! If you know then you know. She also publicly thanked the fashion brand Lurelly for her stunning gown and praised the magicians on her glam team for helping perfect her look.

The mother of two shared her appreciation for the chance to be out on a school night with her husband and friends. She posted a grid of photos from the red carpet, expressing gratitude to her talented team for making her feel beautiful.
Michael Mando (Better Call Saul, Spider-Man) joins Sydney Sweeney in Netflix's live-action Gundam film. Casting expands for the epic adaptation.

AceShowbiz - Netflix is expanding the cast of its highly anticipated live-action adaptation of Gundam, adding a familiar face from the superhero genre. Canadian actor Michael Mando, who will portray a villain in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day, has officially joined the project. He will star alongside Sydney Sweeney, who is set to lead the film.

Michael Mando is no stranger to complex roles, having gained considerable attention for his portrayal of Nacho in AMCs critically acclaimed Better Call Saul. His involvement in the Spider-Man universe began with a smaller role as Mac Gargan in Spider-Man: Homecoming, but this summer, he is set to take on the full mantle of the supervillain Scorpion in the new Spider-Man cinematic release. Besides these high-profile projects, Mando is also slated to star in Prime Videos Criminal, a TV adaptation of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips' crime graphic novels, and Netflixs comedy film 72 Hours alongside Kevin Hart.

The live-action Gundam film is a co-production between Netflix and Legendary, with production scheduled to begin next month in Australia. While plot details remain tightly under wraps, the movie is based on the iconic anime franchise created in 1979 by Yoshiyuki Tomino. The franchise is known for its futuristic wars fought between Earth and the Principality of Zeon, a coalition of rebellious space colonies, with battles featuring massive piloted robotic mecha suits. Fans are eager to see which elements of the sprawling Gundam universe the film will adapt.

Writing and directing duties are being handled by Jim Mickle, known for his work on Sweet Tooth. Mickle will also produce the film alongside his partner Linda Moran through their production company Nightshade. Additional producers include Noah Centineo, who also stars in the movie, and his partner Enzo Marc. The cast features Sydney Sweeney, Jason Clarke (known for Oppenheimer), and Michael Mando, promising a strong ensemble.

Though this is often cited as the first live-action Gundam film, it is not entirely accurate. Back in 1999, Sunrise commissioned G-Saviour, a Canadian-made direct-to-DVD movie set decades after the original anime series. It starred Kenneth Welsh of Twin Peaks fame and was part of the franchises 20th-anniversary celebrations. However, this new Netflix adaptation aims to bring the franchise to a wider global audience with contemporary production values and a fresh take on the story.

As production gears up in Australia, no official release date has been announced yet. Fans of the Gundam franchise and science fiction enthusiasts alike will want to keep a close eye on updates from Netflix and Legendary as this ambitious project unfolds. With a talented cast including Michael Mando and Sydney Sweeney, and a visionary director in Jim Mickle, the live-action Gundam film is poised to be a major event in the world of sci-fi cinema.

Stay tuned for more news on the casting, storyline, and production progress as Netflix prepares to launch this new chapter in the beloved Gundam saga.
Prince Harry & Meghan Markle executive produce a new Netflix polo drama. Explore the high-stakes rivalries of Wellington's elite equestrian world.

AceShowbiz - Netflix is moving forward with a new scripted drama centered on the sport of polo, developed in collaboration with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Archewell Productions. Following their work on the 2024 docuseries Polo, the streaming giant is expanding its partnership with the former royals to create a fictional series that will explore the intense rivalry between two polo teams.

The drama is set in the affluent "horse town" of Wellington, Florida, and will be produced by Archewell along with Fake Empire, the production company founded by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, creators of Gossip Girl. The project is penned by Francisca X. Hu, known for her work on Warrior and Monarch, and Harry and Meghan will serve as executive producers.

This announcement comes amid some industry speculation about the status of the couple's deal with Netflix. Earlier reports suggested a downgrade from an overall deal to a first-look arrangement, as well as the exit of Markles lifestyle brand As Ever from the partnership. However, Netflixs chief content officer, Bela Bajaria, addressed these rumors at a recent press event, stating, I would say dont believe whatever you read. We still have a relationship with them, we have movies in development with them, we have an amazing doc with them, they have things in development on the TV and film side.

The new scripted drama comes after the release of Polo, which premiered on December 10, 2024. While the documentary did not generate blockbuster viewership numbers, it managed to attract 1.1 million views and 4.5 million hours watched during Netflixs reported engagement period spanning the second half of 2024 and first half of 2025.

The upcoming series is expected to build on the couples interest in polo, a sport that Prince Harry actively supports as a co-founding patron of Sentebale, an organization he is involved with. The storylines focus on competition and elite social settings in Wellington aligns with the couples ongoing efforts to highlight underrepresented narratives through their production company.

As Netflix continues to develop content with Archewell Productions, this polo-themed scripted drama could mark the next chapter in the Sussexes creative partnership with the streamer, blending sports, drama, and high society intrigue. The project is currently in development, with no announced release date as of yet.
BTS's new album 'Arirang' blends musical styles but faces complex artistic choices. Explore their heritage-inspired comeback and latest direction.

AceShowbiz - The K-pop sensation BTS has returned with their latest studio album, Arirang, a project that blends diverse musical styles but struggles under the weight of complex and sometimes bewildering artistic choices.

On March 21, at BTS's The Comeback Live | Arirang concert held in Seouls Gwanghwamun Square and streamed live on Netflix, the group reunited on a hollowed square stage surrounded by dazzling lights and a crowd of approximately 100,000 fans. The concert venue itself was steeped in history, illuminated by the ancient Gwanghwamun gate, a symbol of Korean heritage named after the palace of the legendary 15th-century ruler, Sejong the Great, creator of the Korean alphabet. The concert and album together represent South Korea's leading cultural emissaries exploring their rich heritage while determining their next artistic direction. This narrative sets the stage for their latest work, at least officially.

Arirang, BTSs first full-length album since 2020s Be, is marked by an interplay of subtle and overt tension. The album title references a classic Korean folk song and is dotted with allusions to Korean cultural icons and traditions, yet the majority of the lyrics are in English, crafted with the help of a large team of international writers and producersthough notably, the album features no guest artists. The groups hiatus was due to mandatory military service required of its members, with each artist serving up to two years. During this period, solo projects kept BTS in the public eye, allowing each member to explore individual musical styles. For instance, leader and rapper RM embraced smooth hip-hop and collaborations with seasoned artists like Erykah Badu. Rappers Suga and J-Hope drew from trap and 90s boom bap respectively, while vocalists Jin and Jimin experimented with rock and pop influences. V favored delicate soul tones, and Jung Kook ventured into adult themes and crossover collaborations with artists such as Jack Harlow and Latto.

With Arirang, the members, now mostly in their thirties, aim to satisfy a spectrum of musical tastes while preparing for a world stadium tour that could rival the scale of Taylor Swifts Eras Tour. Some aspects of the album are thoughtfully executed, while others feel less cohesive. This ambitious project seeks to bridge diverse audiences, to the extent that even its missteps suggest intense debate and deliberation within the group and their label about the direction of BTSs sound and themes at this pivotal moment. The album is a container of often captivating genre experiments that can be hindered by puzzling choices.

The albums early tracks are shaped by American producers Diplo and Mike Will Made It, pushing BTS into their most serious embrace of trap and EDM styles. Later, a creative team including Kevin Parker of Tame Impala, Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic, and BTSs long-time producer Pdogg shepherds the group through pop, rock, and soul-inflected songs. Historically, BTS has maintained separate Korean and Japanese-language discographies, generally avoiding direct attempts to penetrate Western markets beyond hits like Butter and Dynamite. This makes the predominance of English on Arirang particularly striking, as it signals a deliberate effort to maximize global impact. According to the Netflix documentary BTS: The Return, BTS's label, Big Hit Music, advocated for more English content despite the group's reservations about maintaining authenticity. The parent company Hybe experienced nearly a 15 percent drop on the Korea Exchange after overly optimistic crowd estimates of 260,000 at Gwanghwamunreported by CNN and Rolling Stonewere revised to about half that number.

The album embodies a dual objective: paying homage to Korean cultural giants and history while confidently presenting BTS as a global entity unbound by strict geographic or linguistic limitations. Recording began in Los Angeles studios in 2025, shortly after Suga, the last member to complete his military service, returned home.

Arirang manages a complex, if occasionally baffling, balancing act. It reveals a more globally aware BTS, but the execution sometimes falters. For example, an animated trailer for Arirang depicted the historic recording of the folk song at Howard University in 1896 by Korean men, positioning BTS within that cultural lineage. However, the portrayal of the historically Black university campus as predominantly white sparked backlash online, reflecting a disconnect that mirrors some of the albums challenges. Many fans praised the cultural gesture, while others saw it as a misstep.

The albums trap-heavy tracks, while catchy, struggle to capture the playful pride and technical rap skills that characterized earlier BTS songs like Run and Hip Hop Phile. Tracks like 2.0 and Aliens feature aggressive beats and rougher vocals, emphasizing themes of global citizenship and cultural pride rather than the youthful exuberance of previous eras. The individual members unique styles sometimes get lost in chants and layered production, as on 2.0, while Aliens ambitiously juggles multiple elements and confronts critics by emphasizing BTSs role as cultural ambassadors educating the world about Korean history. RM even channels advice from the early 20th-century Korean political activist Kim Gu to handle detractors. This form of intercontinental patriotism is compelling but can feel strained as the group tries to give equal space to all seven voices.

During the albums release, some fans expressed concern that the rappersRM, Suga, and J-Hopehad disproportionately influenced the albums sound, which they felt weakened it. This dissatisfaction partly stems from the albums attempt to merge trap and EDM club sounds with repetitive lyrics reminiscent of earlier K-pop generations, a blend that did not always succeed. The ongoing tension around BTSs use of rap also touches on broader issues within K-pop, a genre that has long drawn from Black American music but often struggles with inclusive representation, as seen in controversies involving racial insensitivity and harassment within fandoms. The critique is less about the amount of rap and more about falling short of the high standards BTS previously set in that arena. For instance, Hooligan, produced by El Guincho, known for working with Charli XCX and Rosalia, leans heavily on its beat, with the members seemingly more focused on the groove than lyrical depth, as highlighted by the line, Why this bass line slappin' so rude?

The albums latter half offers more room for emotional expression and individuality, contrasting with the earlier tracks tight, choreography-driven focus. Songs like FYA demonstrate potential with energetic beats and danceable rhythms, hinting at what the live performances might bring. The softer songs dial back the intensity and provocation, favoring poetic lyrics and nuanced vocal deliveries. They Dont Know Bout Us is a restrained, atmospheric exploration of secret attraction, while the closing track, Into the Sun, revisits the philosophical reflections characteristic of BTSs pre-Butter period, featuring vocal effects reminiscent of Bon Ivers robotic choruses. Some pop-oriented tracks evoke nostalgia for early 2000s American radio, with the lead single Swim sounding like a throwback to artists such as T-Pain, Keri Hilson, and Trey Songz. Meanwhile, Like Animals delivers a familiar alternative rock riff infused with sensual energy.

The tonal shift from the albums intense first half to its more mellow second half reflects BTSs attempt to reassert themselves as a dominant global music force, leveraging the diverse influences and connections they have developed since Be. The album also positions itself for recognition in categories like Best Melodic Rap Performance at the Grammys, exemplified by tracks like Aliens.

In sum, Arirang presents a group at a significant crossroads, balancing reverence for their Korean roots with the demands of a global audience and their own evolving artistic ambitions. While the album's wide-ranging musical explorations are often compelling, they sometimes falter under confusing creative decisions and uneven execution. BTS's vast global following will watch closely as the group embarks on their forthcoming world tour and continues to define their next chapter in music.
Cyclops and the X-Men are forcibly conscripted by the U.S. government in X-Men #25, shattering their autonomy and threatening Cyclops' mutant legacy.

AceShowbiz - Cyclops and his X-Men face a dramatic shift in allegiance as recent events thrust them into service under the U.S. government, marking a pivotal change in mutant history and altering Cyclops standing among mutants worldwide.

In the latest issue of X-Men #25, penned by Jed MacKay with artwork by Tony Daniel, Mark Morales, Fer Sifuentes-Sujo, and Clayton Cowles, Cyclops encounters Frank Bohannan, known as the Crimson Commando. Bohannan, newly appointed head of the American Office of National Emergency (O*N*E), announces that the X-Men have been conscripted as agents of this government body.

This revelation comes as a shock to Cyclops and his team, who are now de facto government operatives without their consent. The Crimson Commandos declaration is more than a bureaucratic moveit threatens to dismantle Cyclops reputation within the mutant community. O*N*E has a fraught history with mutants, often serving as an antagonistic force, which makes this forced partnership particularly damaging.

Cyclops recently secured a landmark legal victory against the U.S. government, exposing his prior torture at the hands of the extremist group Orchis. His defiant stance included a warning that if provoked further, he would become the next Magneto, prepared to mobilize the X-Men against governmental forces. Now, the Crimson Commandos maneuver effectively neuters Cyclops by binding the X-Men to the very authority he opposed.

Understanding the players behind this development is crucial. The Crimson Commando, introduced in 1986, is a mutant and former WWII soldier who has previously clashed with the X-Men. Though a mutant himself, he harbors no loyalty to mutantkind and prioritizes American national interests over all else. His leadership of O*N*E signals a continuation of that agenda.

For Cyclops, this is especially problematic because he recently uncovered a mutant-related existential threat requiring his undivided attention. The Crimson Commandos America-first mindset means he is indifferent to global crises unless they benefit the U.S., creating a fundamental conflict of interests that hampers Cyclops mission.

The Office of National Emergency holds a controversial legacy. Known for detaining and experimenting on mutants without consent, O*N*Es record is marred by unethical conduct. Under previous leadership by X-Men allies Valerie Cooper and James Rhodes, the agency operated with somewhat more morality, but its core mission has remained focused on controlling superhumans, especially mutants.

O*N*E is also infamous for repurposing Sentinel robotsoriginally designed as mutant huntersinto weapons controlled by human pilots rather than artificial intelligence. This practice underlines the agencys ongoing aggressive stance toward mutantkind and highlights the dangers of the X-Mens new affiliation.

The forced drafting of the X-Men into O*N*E complicates Cyclops larger, more urgent objective. During the recent Age of Revelation event, Cyclops discovered that former hero Doug Ramsey is destined to evolve into a planet-consuming gestalt consciousness, akin to Ego the Living Planet. This looming apocalypse demands swift and singular focus from Cyclops.

Adding to the crisis, the villainous Chairman of 3K has returned from the future armed with knowledge to recreate the Revelation X-Virus, a threat capable of global devastation. The stakes for Cyclops and the X-Men have never been higher, as their mission transcends traditional battles to encompass the fate of the entire planet.

Despite these overwhelming threats, Cyclops is now encumbered by his new role as an unwilling government agent. O*N*E expects him and his team to carry out bureaucratic duties that detract from their primary mission. This forced allegiance not only hampers their effectiveness but also erodes trust among mutants globally, who view O*N*E with suspicion and hostility.

The Crimson Commandos tactics have effectively cornered the X-Men, turning a team dedicated to mutant survival into reluctant tools of a government agency with a dark history of anti-mutant actions. This development makes Cyclops already daunting task to stop Doug Ramsey and prevent planetary annihilation significantly more difficult.

X-Men #25 is currently available from Marvel Comics and marks a transformative chapter in the saga of Cyclops and his team. As the X-Men navigate this new era defined by coercion and conflicting loyalties, the question remains whether they can overcome these obstacles and fulfill their mission to save mutantkindand the world.
Relive the classic 80s adventure. Stand by Me returns to cinemas for its 40th anniversary. See Stephen King's beloved story on the big screen again.

AceShowbiz - Stand by Me is set to return to cinemas in celebration of its 40th anniversary, delighting fans of one of Stephen Kings most cherished adaptations. Originally released in 1986, this coming-of-age film directed by Rob Reiner is based on Kings novella The Body and has grown in stature over the decades as a cultural classic.

The movie features an ensemble cast of young stars including Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry OConnell, and Kiefer Sutherland. Upon release, Stand by Me was both a commercial hit and a critical success. It has maintained a lasting legacy, becoming a staple of 1980s cinema and an enduring favorite among Stephen King adaptations.

Columbia Pictures has announced that Stand by Me will be re-released in select theaters for one week starting March 27, 2026. This special theatrical run honors the films milestone anniversary, inviting audiences to revisit the heartfelt story on the big screen.

While Stephen King adaptations continue to thrivewith recent and upcoming projects like The Running Man, The Long Walk, and It: Welcome to Derry scheduled for 2025there is a unique significance in revisiting the classics. Stand by Me follows four 12-year-old boys who embark on a journey to find the body of a missing teenager rumored to have died in the woods. Throughout their adventure, the boys strengthen their friendship and confront their personal struggles, culminating in a poignant and unexpected decision.

The title of the movie is inspired by the Ben E. King song Stand by Me, which famously plays over the closing credits, further embedding the film in popular culture.

Rob Reiners direction made Stand by Me one of his most acclaimed works. His influence in film extends beyond this project, having directed other notable movies such as The Princess Bride, Miseryalso based on a Stephen King novelThis Is Spinal Tap, and When Harry Met Sally. Following the tragic passing of Reiner and his wife Michele in December 2025, there may be renewed interest in experiencing his work, particularly this beloved film.

Unlike many other King adaptations, Stand by Me has never been remade in any format. It holds a unique place in the cinematic landscape, much like The Shawshank Redemption, with fans and critics alike agreeing that no remake could match the originals emotional impact and quality. The film boasts an 88% approval rating on the Tomatometer and an even higher audience score of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Stand by Me is also significant within Stephen Kings legacy as his first non-horror adaptation. Its success arguably paved the way for future adaptations of Kings work across various genres, broadening the scope beyond horror and suspense.

The film also marked an important milestone for its young cast. Wil Wheaton later gained fame for his role on Star Trek: The Next Generation, while Corey Feldman went on to star in popular 1980s movies such as The Goonies, The Lost Boys, and Dream a Little Dream.

For fans eager to revisit the film before its theatrical return, Stand by Me is currently available to stream on Netflix. The re-release offers an opportunity to experience the movies heartfelt storytelling and timeless themes on the big screen once again.

With its blend of nostalgia, powerful performances, and a story that resonates across generations, Stand by Me continues to be a treasured piece of Stephen Kings adaptation history and a cinematic gem that remains unmatched four decades after its original release.
Explore the MonsterVerse in Apple TV's Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. A standalone sci-fi series that expands the Godzilla & Kong saga with deep lore and epic ...

AceShowbiz - Apple TV has delivered a standout sci-fi series that challenges the conventional approach to cinematic universes. Known for acclaimed series like Severance and the expansive space saga Foundation, Apple TV's sci-fi lineup is robust. Yet, it is one particular series that diverges from the typical standalone format by integrating deeply into a broader franchise while maintaining its independence.

That series is Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, a pivotal addition to the MonsterVerse saga that began with the 2014 film Godzilla. At its core, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is a standalone story, but it also serves as a crucial piece of the MonsterVerse's overarching narrative. The show enriches the franchise by exploring the lore, world-building, and key titans such as Godzilla and Kong.

Monarch delves into the scientific origins and habitats of these titans, including Hollow Earth, a concept introduced in the MonsterVerse films. This exploration of titan biology and mythology provides essential context to the franchise, making the series vital viewing for fans seeking a deeper understanding of the MonsterVerse universe. Although the main films remain accessible to viewers unfamiliar with the show, Monarch offers significant background that enriches the overall narrative experience.

In doing so, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters challenges the established norms set by other major cinematic universes like the MCU and DCU. These franchises often produce multiple projects that can be skipped without losing track of the central storyline. For example, the DCU began with Creature Commandos, a show yet to connect with other franchise entries. Similarly, many MCU series such as Hawkeye, Echo, Secret Invasion, She-Hulk, and Moon Knight have thus far contributed little to no essential plot points affecting the wider MCU narrative. When connections do exist, like those in Daredevil: Born Again, they are minor and easily summarized in other installments.

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters distinguishes itself by weaving indispensable world-building elements into the MonsterVerse's larger story. This approach sets a new precedent, making the show not merely a companion piece but an integral component of the franchise's fabric.

Despite its integral role, the series also carves out its own identity within the MonsterVerse. Perhaps its greatest distinction lies in its human characters and their development. Historically, the MonsterVerse movies have faced criticism for underdeveloped human storylines. Monarch addresses this by utilizing the television format's advantages, allowing for more nuanced and complex character arcs.

The series human cast offers richer storytelling than typically seen in the MonsterVerse films. The depth and complexity afforded to these characters provide a fresh perspective, elevating the shows narrative strength and emotional impact.

In summary, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters balances its dual role as both a standalone series and a vital chapter in the MonsterVerse saga. It rewrites the rules of shared universes by making its storylines essential to the franchise while simultaneously delivering in-depth character-driven storytelling that stands independently of the wider cinematic universe.

With its unique approach to integrating into a cinematic universe, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters exemplifies how sci-fi television can both enhance and redefine franchise storytelling. It invites viewers to engage with a complex, multi-layered narrative landscape that deepens the MonsterVerse mythos while offering a compelling standalone experience.
Midnight Run's iconic concept is reborn as a TV show. Watch Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing, a new comedy format inspired by the classic De Niro film.

AceShowbiz - Fans of the iconic 1980s action comedy Midnight Run, starring Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin, will be excited to learn that the films legacy continues in a fresh new form. Rather than a sequel, Channel 4 is launching a new format inspired by the movie called Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing, which is set to premiere this Monday.

The original Midnight Run film, directed by Martin Brest, features a bounty hunter played by De Niro who handcuffs himself to a fugitive accountant wanted by both the FBI and mobsters as they travel across the country from New York to Los Angeles. Nearly four decades after its theatrical release, the movies core concept has been reimagined for television.

David Glover, head of 72 Films, the production company behind Handcuffed, developed the format to reflect the increasingly polarized nature of British society while still maintaining the heart and humor that made the original so beloved. The show is designed to capture the tension and unexpected camaraderie that arises when two very different people are forced to rely on each other under challenging circumstances.

By drawing on the dynamic and compelling premise of Midnight Run, Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing aims to engage audiences with a blend of action, comedy, and social commentary. The format promises to offer viewers a fresh take on the classic chase narrative, set against the backdrop of contemporary Britains divisions.

As the show prepares to launch, fans of the original film and new viewers alike can look forward to a series that pays homage to a cult classic while bringing something new and relevant to the screen. The connection to Midnight Run ensures a strong foundation for this innovative Channel 4 format, merging nostalgia with modern storytelling.
New book distills two decades of community leadership and creative immersion into a framework for intentional living

BOULDER, Colo., March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- After 18 years of immersive participation in the Burning Man event, Hay House Writer's Competition Winner and first-time author Jeremiah Davidson offers a rare, richly personal exploration of transformation, community, and intentional living in "Beyond the Burn: Integrating Purposeful Humanity" (published by Balboa Press).

Beyond the Burn: Integrating Purposeful Humanity

"Beyond the Burn" is an engaging and insightful narrative outlining years of adventures attending Burning Man, winding up with a coming-of-middle-age story of sorts in which the author explores the event's integrative principles and distills what he has learned into a mold of purposeful humanity, which everyone, Burner and non-Burner alike, can adopt to live a more joyful, creative, and fulfilling life. Rather than documenting Burning Man as a spectator, Davidson focuses on lived experience  how communal effort, decommodification, and immediacy strip away distraction and invite a return to self, society, and source. He positions Burning Man not as a destination, but as a lens through which to understand how humans can live with reachable integrity, lead more consciously, and engage more meaningfully with one another in today's evolving world.

"Burning Man is not a destination; it's a state of consciousness," the author states. "While I hope 'Beyond the Burn' is enjoyable for all readers, anyone who has attended the Burning Man event will deeply resonate with the book's message, and I believe the book to be a useful tool for emerging Burners, helping to strengthen the valuable and impactful culture of the event."

Burning Man Project, the nonprofit that produces the annual Burning Man event, is aware and in support of this project. "Beyond the Burn" arrives at a critical time when many people are increasingly becoming disconnected from authentic human connection. This book provides a much-needed model for living with intention, connection and shared responsibility. Visit https://www.balboapress.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/782615-beyond-the-burn to get a copy.

"Beyond the Burn: Integrating Purposeful Humanity"

By Jeremiah Davidson, LSW

Hardcover | 6 x 9in | 228 pages | ISBN 9798765264812

Softcover | 6 x 9in | 228 pages | ISBN 9798765264799

E-Book | 228 pages | ISBN 9798765264805

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Jeremiah Davidson, LSW, emerged as an author after two decades of attending the popular Burning Man event in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada. Through creating and evolving a theme camp, he honed leadership, community, and rich global friendships. While his career has been focused on event marketing, Davidson is a licensed social worker with a graduate degree from New York University. When he is not bird watching in Australia, Davidson organizes retreats in his mountain home of Colorado.

Balboa Press, a division of Hay House, Inc.  a leading provider in publishing products that specialize in self-help and the mind, body, and spirit genres. Through an alliance with the worldwide self-publishing leader Author Solutions, LLC, authors benefit from the leadership of Hay House Publishing and the speed-to-market advantages of the self-publishing model. For more information, visit balboapress.com. To start publishing your book with Balboa Press, call 844-682-1282 today.

Contact:

Marketing Services

Tel: 1-812-358-7578; 844-682-1282

Fax: 812-961-3133

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Balboa Press
Latest music law news: Afroman's free speech win, AI streaming fraud rulings, and lawsuits involving Bad Bunny & Chance the Rapper.

AceShowbiz - The music and legal worlds converged recently with several major developments, including a significant courtroom victory for Afroman, groundbreaking rulings on AI streaming fraud, and high-profile lawsuits involving stars like Bad Bunny and Chance the Rapper. This roundup highlights the latest in music law, showcasing battles over free speech, copyright, and industry ethics.

One of the most talked-about cases was the civil defamation lawsuit against Afroman, famous for hits like "Because I Got High" and "Colt 45 and 2 Zig-Zags." The case stemmed from a controversial police raid on his home in Ohio, which resulted in no charges. Seven police officers sued the rapper, accusing him of causing emotional distress by releasing videos and songs mocking them on social media after the raid.

During the trial, which captured widespread attention online, Afroman appeared in a striking American flag suit as his legal team presented a series of music videos ridiculing the officers, including one he nicknamed "Officer Poundcake." The courtroom drama included emotional testimony, such as a deputy breaking down in tears and another questioning whether his wife had been involved with the rapper.

Despite the theatrics, the trial raised crucial First Amendment questions: Can government officials use civil lawsuits to silence critics? The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) called the case "nothing short of absurd," and Afromans lawyers warned that ruling in favor of the officers would chill free speech. Ultimately, a jury in Ohio sided with the rapper, clearing him of wrongdoing.

This legal victory illustrates a modern example of the Streisand Effect, where attempts to suppress information only amplify its reach. Named after Barbra Streisands 2003 failed attempt to remove a photo of her Malibu home, this phenomenon was evident as the officers lawsuit against Afroman generated far more publicity online, with millions sharing their images and the rappers songs gaining renewed popularity on streaming platforms. The incident has humorously been dubbed the "Officer Poundcake Effect."

Beyond Afromans case, several other significant legal stories have emerged in the music industry this week. The antitrust trial against Live Nation resumed, highlighted by testimony from CEO Michael Rapino, who faced scrutiny over controversial Slack messages.

In a landmark prosecution, a North Carolina musician named Michael Smith pleaded guilty to stealing $8 million in royalties through fake streams on AI-generated music. This marked the first-ever streaming fraud case brought by U.S. prosecutors, signaling heightened enforcement against digital music fraud.

Chance the Rapper also secured a jury verdict, defeating a lawsuit filed by his longtime manager Pat Corcoran (known as Pat the Manager). The suit alleged millions in unpaid commissions, but the jury sided with the artist, dismissing the claims.

Bad Bunny found himself embroiled in a copyright dispute when his legal team demanded an African music publisher reimburse over $450,000 in legal fees. The publisher had involved the superstar in a meritless copyright lawsuit, according to Bad Bunnys lawyers.

The artist FKA Twigs filed a lawsuit against an indie band called The Twigs, accusing the duo of "weaponizing" trademarks to pressure her into a seven-figure payout. The dispute centers on trademark claims over their similar names, reflecting ongoing trademark battles in the music scene.

Justin Timberlake chose to drop a lawsuit aimed at preventing the release of bodycam footage from his 2021 DWI arrest by the Hamptons police department. This decision cleared the way for the footage to be publicly released and shared online.

Nicki Minaj faced new legal trouble with a lawsuit alleging she owes a concert production company $275,000 in unpaid fees. According to the suit, her representatives have repeatedly stalled by saying, "We'll look into this."

Meanwhile, rapper Gunna filed a lawsuit claiming he was misled by unscrupulous concert promoters into performing at a party for this year's X Games without receiving his $750,000 performance fee. The suit alleges the promoters never had the funds to pay him.

In a unique copyright-related case, the musician responsible for the Zulu chant in "The Circle of Life" from The Lion King sued a comedian over a viral podcast comment about the song. However, the lawsuit faces significant hurdles due to strong First Amendment protections.

Music publisher BMG entered the ongoing AI copyright battles by suing Anthropic, alleging that its AI model Claude was illegally trained on copyrighted hits including Ariana Grande's "7 Rings" and Bruno Mars' "Uptown Funk."

In criminal news, rapper Mystikal pleaded guilty to a third-degree rape charge in Louisiana and now faces up to 20 years in prison at sentencing scheduled for June.

Ye (formerly Kanye West) settled a lawsuit accusing him of illegal sampling on the track "Vultures 1." This is just one of many legal challenges the rapper has faced over unauthorized sampling in his music.

The streaming platform owned by Remy Ma renamed an upcoming movie originally titled The Biggest Boss after receiving a legal threat from Rick Ross, the "biggest boss" himself, who claimed rights to the name.

Yung Miami publicly defended her decision to advocate for leniency for Sean "Diddy" Combs ahead of his prostitution sentencing, stating he was a "changed man" during their relationship from 2021 to 2023.

These cases collectively highlight the complex interplay between music, law, and technology today. From groundbreaking AI-related prosecutions to high-profile copyright disputes and First Amendment battles, the evolving music industry continues to face intense legal scrutiny.

Stay tuned for more updates as these stories develop and new legal challenges emerge in the music world.
Matt Lauer & girlfriend Shamin Abas make rare public appearance in Sag Harbor. See photos and details of their private relationship.

AceShowbiz - Matt Lauer recently made a rare public appearance alongside his girlfriend, Shamin Abas, in Sag Harbor, New York.

On March 23, Matt Lauer was dressed casually in a gray zip-up jacket, denim jeans, white sneakers, and a navy hat. Meanwhile, Shamin Abas, a public relations executive, wore a forest green overcoat, navy pants, and brown boots as she linked arms with Matt Lauer.

The couple has kept their relationship largely private since they began dating in late 2019, shortly after Matt Lauer, 68, finalized his divorce from Annette Roque. The former couple share three children: Jack, 24, Romy, 22, and Thijs, 19.

Matt Lauer and Shamin Abas were last seen together publicly at a car event in Bridgehampton, New York, in September 2024, and earlier that year at the wedding of Don Lemon in New York City. The previous year, the pair enjoyed a rare date night shopping in the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

In 2017, Matt Lauer was dismissed from NBC News following accusations of inappropriate sexual behavior, which the then-chairman Andy Lack described as potentially not being an isolated incident. Matt Lauer apologized at the time, stating he was sorry for the hurt caused and acknowledged that while some accusations were untrue or mischaracterized, there was enough truth in the stories to make him feel embarrassed and ashamed.

However, the allegations intensified when Brooke Nevils accused Matt Lauer in Ronan Farrows 2019 book Catch and Kill of having anally raped her in a hotel room during the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Matt Lauer maintained that their encounter was mutual and completely consensual.

In response to the allegations, Matt Lauer published a letter in Variety in 2019, denying the assault claims. He wrote, In a new book, it is alleged that an extramarital, but consensual, sexual encounter I have previously admitted having, was in fact an assault. It is categorically false, ignores the facts and defies common sense.
Yung Miami explains her Diddy support letter & reveals the truth about City Girls' future in new Breakfast Club interview.

AceShowbiz - In a revealing interview uploaded on March 24, 2026, Yung Miami opened up about her decision to write a support letter for Diddy following his conviction, as well as the current status of her relationship with fellow City Girls member JT and what lies ahead for their group.

The interview, hosted by Charlamagne Tha God on The Breakfast Clubs YouTube channel, spanned an hour and covered various topics including Diddy, her solo career, and the ongoing dynamics within City Girls.

Diddy, who was found guilty in July 2025 on two counts related to transportation to engage in prostitution during his sex crimes trial, received a prison sentence of 50 months. During the trial aftermath, Yung Miami was among a group of celebrities who submitted letters asking the judge for leniency in his sentencing. The rapper had dated Diddy from 2021 until 2023.

When asked why she chose to support Diddy, Yung Miami explained she believed he was a changed man. She said, I wrote a letter for a changed man. I think that the man that I met and that I experienced was changed. Im not gonna justify some bulls**t or like support some bull if I felt like that person wasnt changed. I felt like the person that I met was changed. It was a different experience. So thats why I wrote the letter.

Despite her conviction that Diddy had changed, Yung Miami admitted that her public association with him had serious consequences for her career and reputation. It did. Bad, she said. It just, it was a lot. Like I lost deals. I lost money. I lost relationships. I lost a lot. And you know, here I am.

The interview also addressed the state of her friendship with JT, her City Girls partner. Even though they had parted ways professionally, Yung Miami expressed willingness to reconcile in the future. She mentioned the potential for sitting down with JT alongside a therapist to work through their differences. Let us both grow, you know, as individuals, she said, emphasizing that the timing must be right for both of them. It cant just be like when I feel like Im ready or when she feel like she ready. Like we both got to be in a space where we could sit down as adults and say, Okay, we in a better space now.

Regarding the future of City Girls, Yung Miami was clear that the group is far from finished. She stressed that their time apart was necessary but she would never abandon the project they built together. I wouldnt never just off the City Girls, she affirmed. We built this together, you know? Like we did a lot together. To just say that it never happened or just act like its just dead, you know? Like, its forever going to be the City Girls.

This candid conversation sheds light on the challenges Yung Miami has faced both personally and professionally due to her decisions and relationships, while also highlighting her hopes for growth and reconciliation within the City Girls family.

Fans can watch the full interview with Charlamagne Tha God on The Breakfast Club YouTube channel for more insight into her thoughts on Diddy, JT, and the future of City Girls.
Logan Lerman leads the 13 Going on 30 reboot for Netflix, with Emily Bader co-starring and Jennifer Garner executive producing.

AceShowbiz - Netflix has officially cast former Logan Lerman as the lead in its upcoming reboot of the beloved 2004 fantasy rom-com 13 Going on 30. Alongside Lerman, Emily Bader, known for her role in People We Meet on Vacation, will co-star. The original films star, Jennifer Garner, returns as an executive producer for this new project.

The 2004 version of 13 Going on 30 centers on Jenna Rink, a 13-year-old girl whose wish to become 30 magically comes true overnight. The film also starred Mark Ruffalo as Matty, Jennas childhood friend and eventual love interest. The storys mix of fantasy and heartfelt storytelling made it a fan favorite, showcasing the complexities of growing up and realizing adulthood isnt always as glamorous as imagined.

Brett Haley, who directed People We Meet on Vacation, will helm this reboot, reuniting with Emily Bader after their previous collaboration on the Netflix hit. According to sources close to Deadline, Haley and Bader were eager to work together again and found the reboot to be the perfect opportunity. From the start, they envisioned Lerman as Baders romantic counterpart in the story.

Haley expressed his admiration for the original film, calling it one of those rare, perfect films. He praised the original performances by Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, and Judy Greer, describing the movie as funny, emotional, and deeply human. Haley also noted the significance of Garner's involvement as an executive producer, given her central role in making the original so special.

I feel incredibly lucky to be trusted with something that means so much to so many people, Haley said, emphasizing the responsibility of reimagining such a cherished story. He also highlighted the magical pairing of Emily Bader and Logan Lerman as a key element of the reboots potential success.

The screenplay for the reboot will be written by Hannah Marks, known for her work on Mark, Mary, & Some Other People and After Everything. The production team includes Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum producing for RK Films, with Jennifer Garner serving as an executive producer alongside Donna Roth and Susan Arnold. Marks will also produce, joined by Scott Hemming for Revolution Studios and Alyssa Altman for RK Films.

This reboot is the latest addition to the expanding 13 Going on 30 universe. Last year, the film was adapted into a musical that premiered on the West End, featuring music by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner and a book by the original films screenwriters. Jennifer Garner executive-produced the musical, which starred Luice Jones as Jenna. The stage production ran at the Manchester Opera House from September 21 to October 12, 2025, and is set to begin its North American premiere in Toronto in November 2026 as part of the Mirvish season.

As for the Netflix reboot of 13 Going on 30, no official release date has been announced yet. Fans of the original and newcomers alike can anticipate a fresh take on the classic fantasy romantic comedy, blending nostalgia with new talent and storytelling.

Logan Lerman, born on January 19, 1992, in Beverly Hills, California, is known for his roles in The Perks of Being a Wallflower and the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series. His casting in this reboot marks a continued expansion of his career into leading roles in high-profile projects.
Wednesday Season 3 adds Eva Green & Winona Ryder! Join the iconic cast for more gothic mystery in Netflix's hit series.

AceShowbiz - The cast of Netflixs Wednesday has long been a major part of the shows appeal, blending fresh faces with seasoned stars to create a captivating ensemble. While many of the younger actors were relatively unknown before the series launched, the inclusion of well-established names like Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzman, Christina Ricci, Steve Buscemi, and Joanna Lumley brought a classic Hollywood polish to the shows eerie atmosphere. This tradition of strong casting continues into Wednesday season 3, with the exciting news that Eva Green will join the series as Wednesdays Aunt Ophelia.

But the most striking addition to the roster is unquestionably Winona Ryder, who is making a notable move from her role in Stranger Things to the gothic world of Wednesday. Despite the mystery still shrouding her characters identity, the announcement of Ryders involvement has sparked one overwhelming reaction from fans: How has she not been on this show before?

The connection to Tim Burtons iconic style plays a significant role here. Ryder famously starred in Burtons cult classic goth comedy Beetlejuice, and with Wednesday clearly embracing its gothic rootsevident in bringing back original Addams Family star Christina Ricciit seems only fitting that Burton would eventually bring Ryder into this universe. Known for repeatedly casting his favorite actors, Burtons late inclusion of Ryder feels surprising given the similarities between some of her past roles and the world of Wednesday.

Though Winona Ryder has never portrayed Wednesday Addams herself, her character Lydia Deetz from Beetlejuice shares many traits with Wednesday: both are goth teenagers connected to supernatural forces that set them apart from their peculiar families. Additionally, Ryder and Jenna Ortega, who plays Wednesday, already demonstrated compelling on-screen chemistry as mother and daughter in Beetlejuice. Bringing that dynamic to Wednesday offers creative opportunities for the show to explore, reference, and subvert familiar gothic tropes in fresh ways.

Ryders seamless fit into the eerie world of Nevermore Academy makes it puzzling why she wasnt among the first actors cast when Burton joined the project. Its likely that her commitment to Stranger Things delayed her debut on Wednesday, but this crossover only strengthens her castings impact. Ryder is not only an icon of 80s goth culture but also a bridge between generations, resonating with both older audiences who remember her early work and younger viewers who know her from contemporary hits like Stranger Things.

At first glance, Wednesday and Stranger Things may seem worlds apart, but they share DNA as mystery-driven series focused on young protagonists battling sinister, secretive adults in small-town settings. Ryders presence connects these two popular Netflix phenomena, making her perhaps the only actor to embody both the nostalgic gothic spirit of Tim Burton and the modern streaming eras narrative style.

When considering the best way to utilize Winona Ryder in the upcoming season, fans and critics alike note that her previous roles lean heavily into kind, intelligent, and empathetic characters. It would be an easy route for the show to cast her as a Nevermore teacher who supports Wednesdays psychic abilities, echoing her maternal role from Beetlejuice.

However, such an approach might feel predictable or overused, especially since Ryders character Joyce Byers in Stranger Things has long been characterized by protective concern and emotional vulnerability. To avoid tired cliches, Wednesday season 3 could instead flip expectations by initially presenting Ryders character as a hero before revealing darker intentions. Yet, this kind of twist was already employed with Christina Ricci in season 1.

The more compelling and fresh direction would be to cast Winona Ryder as a straightforward antagonistan embodiment of pure malice and darkness. This would not only challenge Ryder to explore new acting territory beyond her recent roles but also deliver the audience a thrilling, sinister character in a macabre Tim Burton setting without feeling repetitive. Such a role could give Wednesday a powerful new dynamic, heightening the stakes and deepening the shows gothic horror appeal.

As anticipation builds for season 3, Ryders casting highlights the series commitment to blending nostalgia, strong performances, and inventive storytelling. With Eva Green joining the cast and the return of beloved stars, Wednesday promises to continue evolving while staying true to its darkly whimsical roots.

Netflixs Wednesday has proven that its mix of suspense, supernatural intrigue, and sharp humor resonates widely, and the addition of Winona Ryder only amplifies this effect. Fans will be eager to see how her character reshapes the narrative, challenging Wednesday Addams and her friends in unexpected ways.

In summary, while its surprising that Ryders involvement took until season 3, her presence feels perfectly aligned with the shows tone and legacy. Whether she plays mentor, villain, or something more complex, Winona Ryder is set to make a memorable impact on the gothic world of Wednesday.
Ryan Gosling stars in the sci-fi epic Project Hail Mary. Discover the challenges of adapting Andy Weir's novel and Gosling's unique "space caveman" role.

AceShowbiz - Project Hail Mary marks a significant milestone in Ryan Gosling's career, adding to his string of Best Picture-nominated films. This new sci-fi release is generating considerable excitement, with early reviews hinting that it might become a modern classic. The films creative team has been rewarded by the positive response, especially given the challenges of adapting Andy Weir's acclaimed novel to the screen.

In a recent interview with ComicBook.com to promote Project Hail Mary, which opened in theaters on March 20th, Gosling opened up about some of the more demanding aspects of his role. Not only did he have to act alongside himself during extended scenes, but he also faced physical challenges. "Getting zipped up in a placenta onesie dressed like a space caveman ... it was a bucket list thing I didn't know I had," he humorously remarked, revealing a surprising personal milestone reached during filming.

Beyond the physical demands, Gosling praised his co-star Sandra Huller for her sharp comedic timing. He described her as a "sniper in the belltower," always ready to deliver the perfect line with impeccable precision. Their dynamic added a unique flavor to the films tone, blending humor and drama seamlessly.

The interview also touched on how Gosling's experience with space-themed projects, including the underrated Neil Armstrong biopic First Man, helped prepare him for another high-profile sci-fi movie: Shawn Levy's upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter. Although Gosling was cautious not to reveal many details about this secretive movie, he confirmed that working on Project Hail Mary was excellent preparation for it. "It was great prep for that, for sure. Yes," he said, hinting at the similarities between the two projects.

Both Project Hail Mary and Starfighter are set on grand scales, immersing viewers in breathtaking, otherworldly environments. Notably, Project Hail Mary avoided green or blue screens entirely during production, opting for practical effects instead, while Starfighter was filmed on actual locations. This hands-on approach to filmmaking gave Gosling valuable experience ahead of the upcoming blockbuster.

In addition to technical preparation, the emotional depth of Gosling's character Ryland Grace in Project Hail Mary may have served as valuable groundwork for his role in Starfighter. In Project Hail Mary, Grace forms an unlikely but profound bond with an alien creature named Rocky as they collaborate to save humanity. While details about Gosling's character in Starfighter remain under wraps, its expected that his character will share significant screen time with newcomer Flynn Gray, and their relationship will likely be central to the storys emotional core.

The tonal balance of Project Hail Maryshifting from humor to heartfelt momentsalso mirrors what fans love about Star Wars: a blend of adventurous fun and compelling character drama. This makes the film an excellent training ground for Gosling as he prepares to join the iconic space saga.

Fans will eagerly anticipate Gosling's performance in Starfighter, set to arrive next year. This role represents a departure for the actor, who has generally steered clear of major Hollywood franchises until now. Gosling has expressed that the opportunity to work on Starfighter was appealing because of the heartfelt story director Shawn Levy is telling, signaling that the film could be a standout in the franchise.

This involvement is encouraging for those hoping Starfighter will generate the same excitement and acclaim as Project Hail Mary. The buzz around Gosling's new sci-fi venture shows promise for it to become one of the year's most anticipated blockbusters.

What are your thoughts on Ryan Gosling's role in Project Hail Mary and his upcoming Star Wars project? Join the discussion and share your opinions in the ComicBook Forum.
Explore Paul McCartney's quest for peace and legacy beyond The Beatles in the new documentary 'Man on the Run,' streaming on Prime Video.

AceShowbiz - Paul McCartney has been far from silent in recent times, with his 1963-1964: Eyes of the Storm exhibit touring cities and the November release of his memoir, Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run. Rather than fading into the background, the legendary musician has been intentionally reshaping how key moments of his career are remembered, especially those once overshadowed by his Beatles legacy. Alongside ongoing tour rumors, 2026 is shaping up to be a significant year for the 83-year-old artist. However, its his latest documentary, Man on the Run, streaming on Prime Video, that sets a distinct tone by exploring an era of his life previously seen as divisive and complex.

Directed by Academy Award winner Morgan Neville, the nearly two-hour film opens not with the expected triumphant highlights but with a meditative scene of waves crashing on Scottish shores. This imagery introduces McCartneys quest for "personal peace," juxtaposed with recent footage and memories that feel uncontrollably vivid. Neville establishes from the outset that the chaos surrounding McCartney did not end with The Beatles breakup in 1970. One reporters voiceover even calls the bands split "a landmark in the decline of the British Empire," underscoring the cultural weight of the moment.

What Man on the Run captures exceptionally well is how deeply personal the aftermath was for McCartney. It wasnt merely a headline or a cultural shift; it was a profound shock. Early in the film, McCartney openly acknowledges his own overbearing nature and reveals how he bore the brunt of public blame for The Beatles dissolution, a period he describes as a "no mans land" filled with doubt and pain. The film uses voiceovers from family members, friends like Mick Jagger, his late wife Linda McCartney, and former Wings bandmates to paint a vivid picture of the decade that followed  a second act McCartney endured rather than chose. It was a time when he had to discover who he was beyond the title "Beatle."

Following the opening scene, Man on the Run rewinds to 1969, the pivotal year when former bandmate John Lennon announced his departure from The Beatles. Lennon framed the split as an exciting "divorce," but for McCartney, it was devastating. His reaction led to a temporary disappearance in Scotland, sparking a "missing Beatle" frenzy fueled by rumors and conspiracy theories, including the bizarre claim that he had died. Life magazine eventually tracked him down for an article titled "The Case of the Missing Beatle," a moment the documentary treats not as mere tabloid fodder but as a stark example of how rapidly McCartneys narrative slipped beyond his control.

During his retreat in the countryside with Linda and their two young children, McCartney admits to battling depression. What began as "just a wee bit of scotch every day" quietly escalated into a struggle with alcohol. The film weaves audio clips over intimate home videos from Linda, revealing that this period was far from the idyllic retreat it may have seemed externally. It was a time of real hardship and uncertainty.

As McCartney clawed his way back through music, the documentary chronicles his experimental debut solo album, McCartney, and the harsh critical reception it received. The film highlights how out of sync he appeared with the eras shifting musical landscape, dominated by protest songs and war themes. His former Beatles bandmates were also evolving  for example, Lennon and Yoko Ono raised the bar with the 1971 album Imagine while McCartney was criticized for recording lightweight tracks like "Mary Had a Little Lamb."

Complicating matters further were managerial fallout and public perception battles, especially involving Allen Klein, whose decisions left lasting scars on the bands legacy. Throughout the film, McCartney is depicted as a figure under siege, caricatured as the villain responsible for The Beatles breakup. The formation of Wings with Linda marked a turning point, and Man on the Run follows their journey through rehearsals, tours, and the eventual success of Band on the Run, which re-established McCartneys place in the music world.

Director Neville also touches on the later challenges that fame brought, far beyond anything The Beatles had faced. These include a drug-related arrest in Japan and security threats that disrupted touring plans, especially following John Lennons tragic death, which is sensitively reframed by Lennons son, Sean Ono Lennon, in the documentarys voiceover segments.

One of the most effective elements of Man on the Run is how it demystifies McCartney, presenting him as a vulnerable human being rather than an untouchable icon. Hearing him confess uncertainty about his future after the commercial failure of Ram or acknowledging the emotional damage of public gaslighting surrounding The Beatles breakup adds a raw honesty rarely seen before. The film doesnt dramatize these moments with overbearing music or commentary; instead, it invites viewers to share in McCartneys discomfort and struggle.

Scenes depicting McCartneys battle with alcohol, the threat of a seven-year prison sentence, and feelings of being broken without his bandmates are accompanied by moody images and candid home videos. This emotional openness is particularly striking coming from someone often reduced to the "cute Beatle" caricature. The documentarys interview-driven voiceover style gives depth to the narrative without overwhelming it, ensuring moments like John Lennons death carry the appropriate emotional weight.

Man on the Run does not just revisit a difficult chapter in Paul McCartneys life; it reframes it, providing a nuanced and heartfelt portrait of an artist grappling with reinvention amid public scrutiny. It challenges the audience to reconsider the aftermath of The Beatles breakup not as a simple cultural event but as a deeply personal and transformative journey. For anyone interested in the man behind the legend, Nevilles documentary offers a compelling and intimate look into the decades that shaped McCartney beyond the Beatles.
NCIS 500th episode shocker: Director Leon Vance is killed off in a stunning twist that changes the series forever.

AceShowbiz - The CBS hit series NCIS reached a significant milestone by airing its 500th episode on Tuesday, March 24. This landmark installment delivered a stunning twist that left fans reeling, as one of the show's long-standing characters was unexpectedly killed off.

In the episode, Rocky Carroll's character, Director Leon Vance, faced intense challenges when the Department of Defense moved to shut down the NCIS team. Throughout the episode, Vance fought to protect and defend the agency, ultimately managing to restore its operations. However, the celebration was cut short when he was shot and killed by a corrupt agent, a moment that shocked viewers and marked a dramatic shift in the series.

This development represents a major turning point for NCIS, which has maintained a loyal fan base over the years. The departure of such a veteran cast member during the 500th episode underscores the show's willingness to take bold narrative risks.

Other key cast members such as Sean Murray, Wilmer Valderrama, and Katrina Law continue to anchor the series, which remains a staple of CBS's programming lineup. Fans can expect future episodes to explore the fallout from Director Vances death and how the team will move forward without him.

This milestone episode not only commemorates the show's longevity but also sets the stage for new story arcs and challenges for the remaining characters. The dramatic exit of a beloved figure like Leon Vance will undoubtedly have lasting repercussions on the narrative and the dynamics within the team.
New Earl Sweatshirt & MIKE collab 'Leadbelly' drops. Stream the single ahead of their joint double album 'Pompeii // Utility,' out April 3.

AceShowbiz - Earl Sweatshirt, MIKE, and the production collective Surf Gang have released a fresh collaborative single titled Leadbelly. This track is part of their forthcoming joint album Pompeii // Utility, scheduled for release on April 3 through 10k, Tan Cressida, and Surf Gang Records.

The album is structured as a double project, with one half, Pompeii, featuring MIKE's work, while the other, Utility, highlights Earl Sweatshirt's contributions. The duo collaborated with Surf Gang producers Harrison, evilgiane, Elipropperr, and Flea Diamonds across the tracks. Their creative partnership has been ongoing since they toured together in 2019.

Earl Sweatshirt recently shared with The Face that his connection with MIKE feels like a sibling relationship, which laid the foundation for their seamless collaboration on this project. Meanwhile, MIKE expressed that their shared vision has been developing for a long time, making the project a natural progression.

To support the album, Earl Sweatshirt and MIKE will embark on the Home on the Range tour starting in June. Prior to the tour, they will also join Surf Gang for three secret shows set to take place in Los Angeles, New York City, and London, offering fans exclusive live experiences.
Rookie deckhand Todd Meadows of Deadliest Catch tragically dies on the Aleutian Lady. Captain's tribute honors his passion, laughter, and love for family.

AceShowbiz - Todd Meadows tragically lost his life while working aboard the Aleutian Lady in the Bering Sea, as confirmed by Captain Rick Shelford. Meadows, a rookie deckhand featured on the reality TV series Deadliest Catch, died during the course of his duties on the fishing vessel.

In a heartfelt Facebook post dated March 2026, Captain Shelford honored Todd Meadows, calling him our brother and emphasizing the quick bond he formed with the crew. According to Rick, Meadows passion for fishing and his dedicated work ethic earned him immediate respect among his shipmates. His cheerful demeanor and infectious laughter were unforgettable, often heard echoing through the boats wheelhouse and deck.

The tribute included photos of Meadows and highlighted his devotion not only to the demanding work but also to his family. Rick wrote that Todd Meadows deeply loved his children and family, and his warmth and joy positively impacted everyone around him. The captain expressed the crews profound grief and asked for prayers and support for Meadows family during this difficult time.

Todd was just 25 years old at the time of his death, and he was originally from Washington state, as reported by Fox13 Seattle. The incident that led to his passing was related to fishing activities aboard the Aleutian Lady. TMZ noted that the accident happened while filming the Deadliest Catch series, but it remains unclear if the fatal event was captured on camera.

The loss of Todd Meadows has left a lasting impact on his crewmates and fans of Deadliest Catch. Captain Shelford described Todd as a permanent part of the boats brotherhood, whose memory will endure through the stories and lives he touched. His legacy lives on through his children and the imprint he left on the fishing community.

This tragic event serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers faced by those who work in commercial fishing, especially in the treacherous conditions of the Bering Sea. The crew and supporters continue to honor Todds memory and keep his family in their thoughts as they navigate the days ahead without him.
Nation's Top Student Housing Developer Expands to Meet Surging Senior Demand

ATHENS, Ga., March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Landmark Properties , a fully-integrated real estate firm specializing in the development, construction, acquisition, investment management, and operation of high-quality residential communities, announces its expansion into the U.S. senior housing sector. To lead the company's move into senior housing, Landmark has appointed industry executive Shashank Goel as Senior Director of U.S. Senior Housing Investment Management.

To lead the company's move into senior housing, Landmark Properties has appointed industry executive Shashank Goel as Senior Director of U.S. Senior Housing Investment Management.

"We see tremendous opportunity in purposebuilt senior housing assets where design, care delivery, and resident experience are intentionally aligned," said Wes Rogers, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Landmark Properties. "Senior housing represents a natural evolution of our residential-focused continuum. We are excited to apply our investment discipline and vertically integrated capabilities to bring the same level of excellence in product and service offerings to senior residents."

Landmark will pursue both ground-up development and acquisition opportunities through partnerships with best-in-class operators. Leveraging its proven track record as a full-service investment management firm delivering lifestyle-focused communities, Landmark aims to provide an unparalleled living experience for residents across its senior housing portfolio.

"Senior housing sits at an attractive inflection point, having made a meaningful recovery from a unique black swan event and now exhibiting a pronounced supplydemand imbalance," said Walt Templin, President and Chief Investment Officer of Landmark Properties. "This dynamic creates a compelling entry point for Landmark to leverage its vertically integrated platform and expand its high-quality residential communities into the senior housing sector. Bringing on experienced leadership like Shashank Goel reinforces our disciplined approach as we build a scalable senior housing investment platform."

Mr. Goel brings more than 10 years of dedicated senior housing experience to Landmark. He joins from Harrison Street, where he was actively involved in sourcing, underwriting, structuring, and executing senior housing investments. Previously, he held asset management responsibilities at The Carlyle Group and served as an investment banking professional at CS Capital Advisors.

"Senior housing investors have a diverse set of investment opportunities across the risk spectrum set against the backdrop of one of the most compelling fundamental stories in the real estate sector," said Mr. Goel. "Landmark's full-service investment platform strongly positions the firm to build a differentiated strategy. I am excited to join the team and help establish a long-term presence in the sector."

Mr. Goel holds dual bachelor's degrees in finance and accounting from the University of Maryland, College Park. He serves as a member of the Future Leaders Council as part of the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care.

About Landmark Properties

Headquartered in Athens, Ga., with an office in Atlanta, Landmark Properties is a fully integrated real estate firm, specializing in the acquisition, development, and management of high-quality residential communities. With over $15 billion in AUM, Landmark's portfolio includes over 115 residential communities across the United States with 74,000 beds under management. Additionally, Landmark benefits from an active development pipeline with over 50 student and multifamily projects under construction or near term start with an estimated value of over $10 billion. For more information, visit www.landmarkproperties.com

Media Contacts:

Landmark Properties

Great Ink Communications  (212) 741-2977

Lindsay Church, Sara Williams  [email protected]

SOURCE Landmark Properties
Dive into the criminal mind with David Fincher's Mindhunter. Explore the real-life origins of FBI profiling in this acclaimed Netflix psychological thriller.

AceShowbiz - Mindhunter stands as one of the most compelling crime series Netflix has ever produced, showcasing a meticulous exploration of criminal psychology and profiling. Created by David Fincher, a filmmaker renowned for his dedication to studying criminal behavior through films like Se7en, Zodiac, and Gone Girl, the show combines a dark, psychological thriller tone with deeply human storytelling.

Mindhunter premiered with two seasons from 2017 to 2019, earning acclaim for its original narrative closely inspired by the real-life experiences of FBI profiler John Douglas. The series follows FBI Agent Holden Ford, portrayed by Jonathan Groff, who becomes engrossed in the psychology of serial killers after a traumatic event sidelines him from active field duty. Partnering with fellow FBI Agent Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) and psychologist Wendy Carr (Anna Torv), Ford embarks on a groundbreaking study to understand the minds behind some of Americas most notorious murderers.

Unlike typical crime dramas, Mindhunter expertly fuses serialized storytelling with procedural elements. Ford and Tenchs work assisting local law enforcement with ongoing cases allows the show to explore varying criminal investigations while delving into the complex dynamics between the characters. Fords unwavering belief in the inherent evil of killers contrasts with Tenchs more grounded, ethical dilemmas, such as when his adopted son becomes involved in a criminal incident. These personal conflicts enrich the narrative, making the series much more than a typical crime procedural.

The shows distinctive approach is highlighted through its portrayal of chilling serial killers like Elmer Wayne Henley and Charles Manson, portrayed respectively by Robert Aramayo and Damon Herriman. The tension between Fords intense, sometimes obsessive methods and Tenchs more cautious, empathetic style creates a gripping dynamic, providing both actors roles that have been described as career-defining. This blend of psychological insight and character-driven storytelling sets Mindhunter apart in the crowded crime drama genre.

David Finchers role as producer and director was crucial in establishing the series unique tone and high production values. Notably, the second season features standout episodes directed by Andrew Dominik, including a tense standoff between Ford and Manson, which masterfully captures the FBIs struggle to understand a killer who has fully embraced his cult identity. Another significant portion of season two, focusing on the Atlanta child murders, was directed by Carl Franklin, whose work emphasizes the investigative challenges caused by Ford and Tenchs outsider status and implicit biases. These episodes underscore the series willingness to confront difficult issues beyond the murders themselves, including racial tensions and systemic failures.

The shows dark, often unsettling atmosphere is balanced with moments of dry humor and an expertly curated soundtrack featuring iconic artists like Talking Heads and David Bowie. These elements contribute to a viewing experience that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant.

Ultimately, the two existing seasons of Mindhunter remain a high watermark in crime television, blending psychological depth, procedural intrigue, and powerful performances. The shows ability to humanize both investigators and killers, while confronting ethical and societal issues, cements its reputation as a masterpiece within the genre. Even without a confirmed return, Mindhunter stands as a testament to the potential of streaming platforms to produce thoughtful, artistically ambitious content.
Savannah Guthrie visits mother's home amid emotional search for missing Nancy Guthrie. See the family's plea and latest updates on the investigation.

AceShowbiz - Savannah Guthrie returned to her mothers residence in Tucson, Arizona, marking her first visit since her mother, Nancy Guthrie, went missing nearly a month ago. Accompanied by her sister Annie and brother-in-law Tommaso Cioni, the sisters visited the home on March 2 to see the numerous flowers and signs placed by the public in a show of support and hope.

The family members walked down the driveway together, laying sunflowers on the front lawn among a growing collection of bouquets, ribbons, and heartfelt messages. One prominent sign read, Let Nancy Come Home. The visit was a deeply emotional moment as law enforcement agencies continue their search for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, who was last seen at her home on January 31.

The disappearance has been treated as a potential kidnapping. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told the Daily Mail that surveillance footage showed a masked individual attempting to tamper with a doorbell camera at Nancys home, a development that has been crucial to the investigation. Sheriff Nanos stated, This is somebody who's disappeared from the face of the earth, and now we have a camera that says heres the person who did this. And thats what makes me say this is a kidnapping.

Investigators also recovered a glove near the scene that matched those worn by the suspect in the surveillance video. An FBI spokesperson confirmed to Fox News that the glove contained DNA evidence found at the home, which did not match anyone close to Nancy Guthrie. The spokesperson said, The one with the DNA profile recovered is different and appears to match the gloves of the subject in the surveillance video.

Blood matching Nancy Guthries was discovered outside the residence, prompting authorities to officially designate the house as a crime scene. The FBI has now offered a $100,000 reward for information that could lead to her safe return or an arrest in the case.

In a show of determination, the Guthrie family has also put forward a reward. Savannah Guthrie posted a video on Instagram offering a $1 million reward for any tips that help bring her mother home. She expressed the familys continued hope, saying, We still believe in a miracle, we still believe that she can come home - hope against hope. At the same time, she acknowledged the painful possibility that her mother may no longer be alive, adding, She may already be gone, she may have already gone home to the Lord that she loves.

In a further gesture, Savannah announced that the family would donate $500,000 to the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children. She hopes this support will help bring more attention to other families facing similar heartbreaking situations.

The day following the Guthrie sisters visit, a man detained and later released in connection with the case spoke publicly. Luke Daley, whose home was raided by SWAT, clarified his position in an interview with True Crime Arizona host Briana Whitney. Daley and his 77-year-old mother, who live just two miles from Nancy Guthries home, were held by police for several hours but were released without charges.

Daley denied any involvement in the disappearance, stating firmly, Its not me. I dont see the resemblance of it looking like me. Absolutely not. I have nothing to do with this case. He also expressed frustration at being targeted based on speculation on social media, explaining, Someone says something and then they just go off of it based on no evidence, no truth. Like the rest of the Tucson community, Daley said he hopes for Nancy Guthries safe return.

Daleys attorney, Chris Scileppi, supported his clients statements, emphasizing that neither Daley nor his mother had any connection to the case. Scileppi said, Daley and his mother were both detained by law enforcement while the search warrants were being executed. Neither Daley nor his mother were arrested in connection to this case or any other. Daley has no link whatsoever to Nancy Guthrie and has no information related to her kidnapping. Like the entire Tucson community, both Daley and his mother are hopeful that Nancy will be returned to her family unharmed.

The investigation into Nancy Guthries disappearance remains active, with law enforcement continuing to follow leads and gather evidence. The community and family await any breakthrough that could bring her home safely.

For ongoing updates and developments, follow trusted news sources and official announcements as the search continues for Nancy Guthrie.
Explore the legacy of Judas Priest in this rock doc featuring rare footage and interviews with Grohl, Osbourne, Black & Corgan. A tribute to metal pioneers.

AceShowbiz - The Ballad of Judas Priest is a captivating documentary that celebrates the enduring legacy of the British heavy metal pioneers, Judas Priest. Co-directed by fellow rock legend Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and acclaimed filmmaker Sam Dunn, this debut effort is a heartfelt tribute to one of metals most influential bands.

The film expertly blends archive footage, including rare and previously unseen material, with fresh interviews from the band members themselves and notable figures such as The Smashing Pumpkins Billy Corgan, Foo Fighters Dave Grohl, actor Jack Black, and the late Ozzy Osbourne. Rather than chasing formal innovation, The Ballad of Judas Priest opts to immerse viewers in the stories and spirit of the band, allowing their music and history to shine through.

Formed in 1969, Judas Priest is widely credited with shaping many of the defining elements of heavy metal. Their career spans more than five decades, marked by lineup changes, personal struggles, controversies, and a resolute commitment to their craft. The documentary touches on the bands turbulent past, including their numerous drummer changeshumorously compared to the fictional band Spinal Tapand frontman Rob Halfords frequent nods to metal culture, such as the iconic "goes to 11" joke.

One of the most compelling segments revisits a bizarre legal battle from nearly 40 years ago, when Judas Priest was wrongfully accused of embedding subliminal messages in their music that allegedly influenced two teenagers to take their own lives. Bassist Ian Hill points out the absurdity of the claim, highlighting the challenge of disproving the existence of undetectable subliminal content. This episode stands as a stark reminder of the cultural misunderstandings and moral panic surrounding heavy metal during its rise.

Even for those less familiar with Judas Priests extensive catalog, the documentary offers plenty to engage with. The bands 19 studio albums contain only a handful of crossover hits, but the film ensures their classic songs receive deserved attention. Footage spans various eras, including a memorable and somewhat surreal performance on the 2011 finale of "American Idol." Watching this working-class group from Britains Midlands perform for millions of pop music fans in contemporary America is a testament to their lasting appeal and adaptability.

The Ballad of Judas Priest is ultimately a celebration of resilience, creativity, and metals enduring power. It serves as a fitting homage from one rock icon to another, capturing the bands highs and lows with affection and insight. For fans and newcomers alike, this documentary offers a rock-solid look at a band that helped define a genre and continues to inspire generations.
Halle Bailey stars in You, Me & Tuscany, a sun-drenched romantic comedy set in the Tuscan hills with Rege-Jean Page. Discover beauty, romance, and escape.

AceShowbiz - Halle Bailey has long held an intimate vision of Italy in her mind, an evocative image of a woman running through endless vineyards beneath a vast sky. This poetic impression, not tied to any one film or moment, captured a feeling of beauty and freedom that resonated deeply with her. So when producer Will Packer reached out to her about starring in a romantic comedy set in Tuscany, Bailey didnt hesitate. "The minute he said it was set in Italy, I was like, Where do I sign?" she recalls.

That project, You, Me & Tuscany, is now a warmly anticipated romantic comedy from Universal, featuring Bailey as Anna, a culinary-school dropout who escapes to a sun-drenched Tuscan villa. There, she falls into a rich and textured romance with Michael, a multilingual winemaker portrayed by Rege-Jean Page, the charismatic star of Bridgerton. Shot entirely on location amid the timeless hills, ancient stone towns, and vibrant vineyards of Tuscany, the film is set for release on April 10.

Bailey describes the experience as a genuine fantasy come to life. You hear that phrase all the time, but this was really it, she says, emphasizing how the films setting infused the story with authenticity and warmth.

Director Kat Coiro, whose credits include Marry Me and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, approached the project with a deep respect for Italian culture. As an Italian-American pursuing citizenship, she was determined to represent Tuscany with accuracy and affection. She enlisted production designer Elena Albanese, herself Italian, to ensure every detailfrom sandwiches to table settings to glasses of winefelt genuinely Italian. I wanted Italians to feel like this is a film for them, Coiro explains.

You, Me & Tuscany joins a distinguished lineage of films that have celebrated Tuscanys captivating landscapes and cultural resonance. Classics such as Under the Tuscan Sun, The English Patient, and Gladiator have all drawn on the regions golden hills, historic architecture, and distinctive light. Italys generous tax credit of up to 40 percent for international productions, combined with the support of the Toscana Film Commission, which assists with permits and location scouting, made shooting fully in Italy both authentic and economical. Producer Will Packer notes that filming on Italian soil, even for scenes set in New York, aligned perfectly with both budget and authenticity.

Filming took place over 34 days, divided between Rome and the Val dOrcia, a UNESCO World Heritage area celebrated for its Renaissance beauty. In Rome, interiors were created at Cinecitta Studios, the legendary site of iconic films like Ben-Hur and La Dolce Vita. Building the interiors on soundstages allowed Coiro complete control over lighting and design, visually marking Annas transformation from New Yorks reserved coolness to Tuscanys inviting warmth.

The productions schedule mirrored Italian cultural values, emphasizing work-life balance. Italian crews work shorter days without overtime, dedicating time to personal life beyond the set. They do not live to work, Coiro notes. They work to enjoy. This approach required the production to be meticulously organized, with locations kept close and hours used efficiently. The result was a lean filming process that allowed the cast and crew to savor the environment they were capturing. It felt like the whole thing was a vacation, says Coiro.

The team was based near Pienza, a hilltop town famous for its Renaissance heritage and particularly its strong-smelling pecorino cheese. Page jovially confirms the cheeses pungency as a mark of quality. Much of the films outdoor scenes were shot on a single family-owned vineyard in the area, a unique property featuring villas, a wine shop, a piazza, and an ancient 13th-century castle tower. The vineyards discovery in the 1960s is a story of adventureowners cleared centuries of overgrowth with machetes to reveal an untouched 18th-century villa. The wines produced there bear names inspired by celestial bodies, adding a poetic touch to the setting.

Coiro expresses pride in the visual authenticity captured on location, confessing a concern that some viewers might suspect the landscape was green-screened because of its flawless beauty. Bailey recalls her first morning in Tuscany vividly: I opened the shutters and the view just hit me. I had this moment of, I cant believe this is my life. Bringing along her nearly two-year-old son, Halo, she was embraced by the local community, which showered attention on the child. To prepare for her role, Bailey took cooking classes to master pan flips and knife techniques, and during downtime, she hunted for kitchenware souvenirsbuying yellow lemon plates and local olive oils and jellies to bring home. She also discovered and visited Narni, a natural thermal pool in the Umbrian hills, twice during the shoot.

Page, who was new to Tuscany despite previous Italian visits to Milan and Venice, used his free time to explore the regions back roads in a rented 44. He enjoyed discovering small hilltop hamlets where he sampled home-cooked meals, often prepared by grandmothers. Its the best way to discover food and people, he says. Evening concerts in candlelit courtyards, with music echoing off ancient stone, added to the cinematic magic of the experience. We were making a movie and somehow I was also living one, he reflects.

The surrounding wine country added a rich layer to the films setting. Nearby lie Montepulciano and Montalcino, two of Italys most famed wine regions, known for their celebrated Brunello wines. The regions deep cultural and culinary heritage informed not only the films backdrop but the characters stories and interactions.

Throughout the shoot, the styling and wardrobe contributed to the films authentic atmosphere. Bailey wore designers such as Stephane Rolland and Michael Kors, paired with distinctive jewelry from LAtelier Nawbar and Anabela Chan, and shoes by Le Silla and Saint Laurent. Page was styled in Ferragamo, Dunhill, and Giuliva Heritage, accessorized with pieces from David Yurman, Omega, and EF Collection, complemented by Manolo Blahnik and Di Bianco loafers.

Beyond the film itself, You, Me & Tuscany also inspired a recent photo shoot featuring Bailey and Page among the vineyards of Napa Valley, capturing their on-screen romance amid lush greenery reminiscent of their Italian filming locations.

In sum, You, Me & Tuscany is a heartfelt homage to Tuscanys enchanting landscapes and cultural richness, brought to life through meticulous direction, authentic locations, and the natural chemistry of its leads. The productions commitment to Italian authenticity and its seamless blend of romance and regional charm promise an immersive cinematic experience when the film opens this April.
Rapper Shawn Jay of Field Mob shares heartbreaking stage 4 cancer update with a powerful message on life's fragility and hope.

AceShowbiz - Shawn Jay of Field Mob recently shared a heartbreaking update revealing that his cancer has advanced to stage 4. The rapper took to social media to inform fans and the Hip-Hop community about the harsh reality he is currently facing.

Hailing from Albany, Georgia, Shawn Jay posted on Facebook about the progression of his illness, describing the previous day as particularly difficult. "Cancer has officially went 4th stage on me frfr. yesterday was hard," he wrote, giving his supporters an intimate look at the severity of his condition.

What made his message resonate deeply was the profound reflection he offered about the fragility and unpredictability of life. "We are born in 1 day. We die in 1 day. We can change in 1 day. We can fall in love in 1 day. We can succeed in 1 day. We can fail in 1 day. Anything can happen in just 1 day. Start with day 1 and your day will come," he shared, ending the post with the hashtag #iwantmylifeback.

Despite his courage in facing this battle, Shawn Jay revealed a painful personal struggle: he claims his immediate family has abandoned him during this critical time. He expressed his disappointment that his mother, father, and siblings have neither commented on nor liked his post, suggesting they are deliberately ignoring his fight.

"I gotta hunnit if you can see my mom, dad, or brothers in the comments or if they even liked it... they think if they ignore me I'll die and nobody will notice they never was there for me through this," he wrote. "Yall so poocy yall who know my ppl will make up excuses but let's be real,,,u dying from cancer and yo family aint there...them folks dont love me."

Shawn Jay is best known as one half of Field Mob, alongside Smoke. The duo was influential in Southern Hip-Hop during the early 2000s. Their albums, including 613: Ashy to Classy and From tha Roota to tha Toota, earned critical acclaim. They also scored a major hit with the song "Sick of Being Lonely," produced by Jazze Pha.

Their career advanced further when they signed with Ludacris' Disturbing Tha Peace label, releasing the successful single "Georgia" in 2005. Following that, Field Mob released Light Poles and Pine Trees, featuring their biggest hit, "So What," with a young Ciara.

Even today, Field Mob's contributions remain significant within the culture. Shawn Jay's voice, once a representation of everyday struggles, is now met with support and solidarity from fans and fellow artists as he continues his fight against cancer.

The Hip-Hop community and supporters stand firmly with Shawn Jay during this challenging battle, sending prayers and hope for his recovery.
Gina Gershon reveals untold Showgirls stories in her memoir AlphaPussy, from Prince's lost score to her personal evolution on the chaotic set.

AceShowbiz - Gina Gershon's role in the 1995 film Showgirls has become iconic, not only for the movies cult status but also for the intense and chaotic experience of making it. In her new memoir, AlphaPussy, the actress reveals numerous untold stories from the set, explaining why the film holds a special place in her career and personal growth.

Though Gina Gershon has worked on many projects, she writes about Showgirls more than any other film because the challenges and events during production best illustrate her evolution as what she calls an AlphaPussy. She even jokes that she could have written an entire book just on the making of the movie, as several chapters in her memoir focus on it.

One surprising fact Gina Gershon shares is that the legendary musician Prince was initially expected to score the soundtrack for Showgirls. However, his music was largely replaced by Dave Stewart from the Eurythmics. Still, Gina Gershon recalls a memorable experience from nearly a decade earlier when Prince flew her to Minnesota to audition for a role in Purple Rain. After reviewing the script, she declined the opportunity because she was uncertain about a sex scene included in the role.

When preparing to portray Cristal Connors, the character at the center of Showgirls, Gina Gershon admits she lied about her age to producers. At 33 during filming, she claimed to be 34 or 35, believing Cristal needed to be near 40 to convincingly feel threatened by the ambitious newcomer Nomi. To embody this, she stuffed her bra for a fuller look, applied heavy makeup to appear older, and altered her voice and speech cadence to sound like a jaded Southerner, despite being a California native.

The dedication to the role extended to the audition process, where Gina Gershon pushed herself physically to the point of injury. She tore her hamstring while dancing, which led her to leave the room and cry in her car. This vulnerable moment created an instant bond with co-star Elizabeth Berkley, who noticed and comforted her.

After securing the role, Gina Gershon immersed herself in the world of showgirls by visiting strip clubs to better understand their lives. She humorously notes that turning in her late-night receipts from these clubs to her business manager as tax write-offs gave her a unique satisfaction.

While reflecting on the film, Gina Gershon reveals her biggest issue with watching Showgirls today is the inconsistent accent she used for Cristal. She intended to exaggerate a Texas accent in public scenes but speak normally in private moments. However, director Paul Verhoeven insisted she not use an accent at all. To work around this, she lied that she was from Tennessee and continued to perform the accent, even though she was born and raised in California.

An unexpected connection on set was with makeup artist David Forrest, who once performed as the cowboy in the Village People. Gina Gershon recalls him sharing this tidbit at 4 a.m. while applying rhinestones to her nipples for one of the films more provocative scenes.

The relationship between Gina Gershon and director Paul Verhoeven was notoriously tense. Their clashes escalated to the point where Gina Gershon threw a heavy makeup chair at him during an argument in her trailer. She describes the chair as fancy and heavy, but her throw barely moved it a few inches, landing with a pathetic thud.

The chair incident was not an isolated conflict. Gina Gershon also attempted to persuade Verhoeven to cut certain infamous lines, such as Cristal telling Nomi that she loves eating dog food, which she found to be the dumbest conversation ever between two sober characters. However, Verhoeven refused to remove the dialogue, and the scene remains in the final film.

In addition to the physical demands, Gina Gershons time filming Showgirls was emotionally charged. The struggles with her accent, the difficult director, and the challenging material all combined to create a memorable but exhausting experience. Despite this, her stories reveal a resilient and determined actress who committed fully to her role and the unique, wild world of Showgirls.

These candid revelations from Gina Gershon offer fans a rare glimpse behind the curtain of one of cinema's most talked-about cult classics, highlighting the grit and humor that defined the films creation.
By He Yin, People's Daily

Since the start of this year, diverse cultural exchange activities have been bringing people worldwide closer, fostering mutual understanding and shared values. They are sending a warm current of trust and friendship across the world, showcasing the vitality of the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI).



From film festivals to singing competitions, cultural exchanges between China and Africa have flourished this year, designated as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. Around the world, more people are embracing Chinese New Year traditions and making the Chinese festival a truly global celebration. Wellness tea and traditional Baduanjin exercise are going viral overseas, while the cultural phenomenon of "becoming Chinese" is capturing hearts and minds.



On March 15, 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the GCI at the Communist Party (CPC) of China in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting. The initiative advocates the respect for the diversity of civilizations, the common values of humanity, the importance of inheritance and innovation of civilizations and robust international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.



Rooted in the rich heritage of Chinese civilization, the initiative advocates seeking common ground while respecting differences and promoting harmonious coexistence, principles that resonate with the multicultural diversity and concepts of coexistence found in many countries.



Over the past three years, the GCI has fostered global consensus in cultural and civilizational spheres. It has been translated into vibrant exchanges and cooperation, gathering momentum to bridge misunderstandings, enhance mutual understanding among peoples, and inject positive energy into the joint effort to address global challenges.



How civilizations are viewed has a profound bearing on human progress as well as world peace and security. Today's world is facing multiple challenges and crises, and one of the important reasons for current conflicts and disputes is a few countries' advocacy of notions such as the "clash of civilizations" and "civilizational superiority," which equate cultural differences with confrontation and further widens the development gap and governance imbalances.



At this new crossroads in human history, it is increasingly urgent to transcend estrangement through civilizational exchange and overcome conflicts through mutual learning among civilizations.



The GCI emphasizes that civilizations are diverse, advocating harmony in diversity and mutual appreciation for common progress; that civilizations are interconnected, promoting shared commitment and advancing along the path of common development; that civilizations are evolving, encouraging people to understand where they come from and chart a course for the future; and that civilizations are inclusive, advocating dialogue, cooperation, mutual understanding, and affinity.



The values and approaches embedded in the initiative point the way forward for strengthening civilizational exchanges and for advancing human civilization.



Focusing on the reality of diverse world civilizations and addressing the urgent need to move beyond civilizational confrontation, the GCI has received broad recognition from the international community. It has been incorporated into multiple United Nations resolutions as well as various bilateral and multilateral documents.



The 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly designated June 10 as the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations, incorporating civilizational dialogue into global institutional arrangements.



In June 2025, a world-wide event marking the first International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations was held. The following month, the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting convened in Beijing and issued the Beijing Declaration along with a list of action plans, providing a clear roadmap for turning the idea of civilizational dialogue into institutionalized practice.



China has helped build a range of international platforms at different levels, including the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations, the Liangzhu Forum, the World Conference of Classics and the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting.



It has signed cooperation agreements in fields such as culture, cultural heritage and tourism with more than 100 countries, while deepening cooperation in areas such as joint archaeological research, world heritage protection and the mutual translation of classic works.



Through these efforts, China and its partners are working together to safeguard the cultural treasures of humanity and promote global dialogue among civilizations through concrete actions.



Humanity's exploration of modernization involves civilizational inheritance, innovation and mutual learning. As a new form of human advancement, Chinese modernization draws inspiration from other civilizations while contributing its own experiences to the global community, enriching the diversity of world civilizations and offering insights for addressing global challenges.



China has hosted forums like the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting and the High-level Dialogue on Global Development, and taken the lead in establishing the Global South Think Tanks Alliance. It is also working with its African partners to jointly advance 10 partnership action plans and build platforms for sharing governance experience between China and Africa.



Exchanges on governance and development practices have become an important part of implementing the GCI, offering valuable lessons for countries pursuing their own paths to modernization.



Resolving humanity's conflicts and challenges requires sincerity and the power of shared values. China is ready to work with all parties to put the GCI into action. Through this effort, the light of civilization can guide development and renewal; its strength can enrich humanity's pursuit of modernization; and its wisdom can advance the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. China hopes to contribute even more to building a better world.
By Qu Pei, Chen Xirui, People's Daily

Erik Solheim, former Under Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme, currently serves as co-chair of the Europe-Asia Center.



A longstanding champion of global ecological cooperation, Solheim has both observed and contributed to China's sustainable development initiatives, maintaining active engagement with the naBy Qu Pei, Chen Xirui, People's Daily

tion's green transformation efforts.



Q: A growing number of Chinese projects are receiving the UN's highest environmental honor, the "Champions of the Earth" award. What does this signify?



A: When I first joined the UN, I noticed something surprising: very few Chinese projects had received the Champions of the Earth Award. This was not because China lacked successful cases. Many reviewers were sitting in offices thousands of kilometers away, far from the field, and unable to truly see the green transformation taking place in China and other developing countries. My takeaway was simple: if people are willing to go to China and see it for themselves, they will find green stories across the country.



In a relatively short period, China has achieved remarkable environmental outcomes while significantly improving people's quality of life. China's experience offers valuable lessons for many developing countries.



Q: How has China managed to achieve rapid progress in green transformation?



A: President Xi Jinping proposed the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" resonates deeply with me. It sends a clear message: China no longer views economic growth and ecological protection as conflicting priorities. Instead, they advance simultaneously and synergistically.



The key to China's rapid green transformation lies in its highly stable and continuously advancing ecological governance system.



First, China's policies show long-term consistency. From the long-range objectives through the year 2035 to the 'two centenary goals' looking toward 2049, China is adept at formulating strategic visions that span decades and implementing them steadily through successive Five-Year Plans. This kind of strategic continuity is a unique institutional strength that many countries can learn from.



At the same time, China's market remains vibrant and competitive. Enterprises continuously drive technological progress, reduce costs and expand capacity. By combining effective government guidance with effective market resource allocation, China's green transition has accelerated dynamically.



Q: In China's 15th Five-Year Plan, what aspects are you paying most attention to?



A: I focus most on new quality productive forces and green development. The former encompasses cutting-edge technologies such as AI, big data and advanced manufacturing; the latter drives comprehensive green transformation. These are not separate -- they are interdependent and mutually reinforcing.



On the one hand, new technologies are accelerating the green revolution. For example, Huawei uses AI-powered acoustic analysis to track Hainan gibbon, enablingtargeted conservation. Energy companies use intelligent algorithms to coordinate power grids, integrating wind, solar, hydropower, and storage systems.



On the other hand, green energy is the foundation for technological progress. Without low-cost, large-scale clean energy, we cannot sustain the immense power demands of AI data centres. Green energy powers technological development, which in turn advances green development.



Q: Is environmental protection solely an idealistic pursuit?



A: If the green transition were driven only by idealism, it would ack sustainability. It must also demonstrate economic viability. Compared to two decades ago, the price of solar modules has fallen to less than 5 percent of its 2005 level. This 95 percent cost reduction stems from intense market competition and continuous technological progress, with China playing a pivotal role.



In many developing regions, people urgently need to escape poverty and gain reliable electricity, but energy must be affordable. Without China, the global green transition would not cease, but it would be far more expensive and much slower. If some Western countries take a more open approach to global green efforts, including cooperation with China, the outcome could be mutually beneficial. In this context, China can further promote the global green transition through investment, cooperation and technology sharing.



Q: Some argue that using Chinese green technologies could lead to a loss of energy independence. What is your perspective?



A: Exactly opposite is the case. Every country has natural resources that can be developed. When you import Chinese green technologies, such as solar panels, you are utilizing your own domestic resources -- this is very different from importing energy like oil. By basing economic development on solar, wind or hydropower, a country taps into its own resources and can achieve energy independence. In this way, international cooperation can help upgrade local technologies and promote industrial development.



We must recognize that addressing climate change, tackling ecological crises and eliminating poverty are shared global responsibilities. Through cooperation, these challenges are solvable. However, division and confrontation can render even minor problems insurmountable.
HAUPPAUGE, N.Y., March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Makers Nutrition, a leading custom supplement manufacturer based in New York, is proud to announce a $1,000 donation to Friends of Karen in support of the organization's Springtime Holiday Grocery Gift Card Drive. The contribution will help provide grocery gift cards to families caring for children with life-threatening illnesses, easing financial stress during a challenging time.

Groceries move along a checkout conveyor as a customer prepares to pay with a card, symbolizing support for families through grocery assistance.

The Springtime Holiday Grocery Gift Card Drive is designed to support families who are already navigating the emotional and financial strain of serious childhood illness. By providing grocery gift cards, Friends of Karen helps ensure families can put food on the table and focus their energy where it matters most: caring for their children.

"At Makers Nutrition, we believe that supporting families who can use the helping hand is a responsibility we all share," said Rosemary Tambini, Director of Multimedia Marketing at Makers Nutrition. "We are honored to contribute to Friends of Karen's Springtime Holiday Grocery Gift Card Drive and help provide some relief to parents who are facing unimaginable challenges. If our donation can ease even a small part of their burden, then it is truly meaningful to us."

Founded in 1978, Friends of Karen provides comprehensive support to families in the New York Tri-State area who are caring for a child with a life-threatening illness. The organization offers financial assistance, advocacy, emotional support, and practical help to ensure families can focus on their child's health without the added weight of overwhelming expenses. Grocery costs, in particular, can become a significant strain as families balance medical bills, travel to appointments, and time away from work.

Makers Nutrition's $1,000 donation will directly contribute to the purchase of grocery gift cards distributed to families served by Friends of Karen. These gift cards allow parents to select the foods their families need most while reducing immediate out-of-pocket expenses.

Community involvement is a core value at Makers Nutrition. As a company invested in the health and wellness of others, the team understands the importance of caring for individuals and families at every stage of life. Through charitable giving, volunteer efforts, and partnerships with local organizations, Makers Nutrition strives to make a positive impact beyond its manufacturing operations.

"Giving back to the communities we serve is part of who we are," Tambini added. "We are proud of our team for supporting initiatives like this and grateful for the opportunity to partner with an organization that makes such a tangible difference in the lives of families."

The Springtime Holiday Grocery Gift Card Drive is one of many seasonal initiatives organized by Friends of Karen to address the evolving needs of families throughout the year. By rallying support from businesses and individuals, the organization is able to extend its reach and provide critical assistance when families need it most.

Makers Nutrition encourages other businesses and community members to learn more about Friends of Karen and consider supporting its mission. Every contribution, whether large or small, plays a role in helping families navigate some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

For more information about Friends of Karen and its programs, please visit their official website. To learn more about Makers Nutrition and its commitment to community involvement, click here.

About Friends of Karen

Friends of Karen is a non-profit organization that provides emotional, financial, and advocacy support for children with a life-threatening illness and their families in order to keep them stable, functioning, and able to cope. For families living in the New York tri-state region, Friends of Karen gives them more time for what's most important: each other. The organization helps hundreds of ill children and their families every month, at no cost to them. Friends of Karen has received top ratings from Charity Navigator, an independent organization that evaluates the financial efficiency and responsibility of thousands of U.S. charities. Friends of Karen also meets the 20 Standards of Charity Accountability of the BBB of Metropolitan New York. Donate here.

About Makers Nutrition

Makers Nutrition is a leading private label and custom supplement manufacturer specializing in capsules, powders, tablets, and gummies. Based in Hauppauge, New York, the company partners with brands across the country to develop, manufacture, and package high-quality nutritional products. With a strong focus on quality, customer service, and innovation, Makers Nutrition is committed to helping brands succeed while making a positive impact in the community.

SOURCE Makers Nutrition
A viral clip is making the rounds showing Christopher Hitchens, who passed away in 2011, giving a talk in 2005. In it, he discusses the Barbary slave trade that captured an estimated 1.5 million Europeans and Americans over several hundred years. If anything, Hitchens understated how aggressive the Islamic world was against the West.

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Anyone with a knowledge of history knows that Islam, born in seventh-century Arabia, has always been at war with Western civilization. Indeed, it has been the single most prolific conquering and colonizing force in history, much of it being Christian lands. And all of this has been driven by religious imperatives and duties written into the Koran.

That is reality, not Islamophobia, a word the left recently invented to protect their radical Islamist allies in the West. The threat of destruction from radical Islamists, as we term them today, has always been real and as imminent as their abilities allowed.

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America fought its first wars outside of its bordersthe Barbary Warsto stop Islamic nations from attacking our ships and enslaving their crews. That was what Christopher Hitchens was referring to in this 21-year-old clip that recently went viral:

Christopher Hitchens: In 1786, when the United States was barely a country, it was having its sailors taken as slaves by the Barbary states, the states of the Ottoman Empire and North Africa. Tripoli, shores of Tripoli. Ships stopped, its crews carried off into slavery. We pic.twitter.com/hbRRR4mCYP Advertisement March 21, 2026

The letter Hitchens paraphrases is far more damning and explicit, for it ties the Barbary pirates predations directly to the Koran and Islam.

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson met in London with the Ambassador from the Barbary States to discuss the pirates attacking American shipping and enslaving the crews. They wrote of the meeting in a joint letter to Congress:

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We took the liberty to make some inquiries concerning the Grounds of their pretentions to make war upon Nations who had done them no Injury, & observed that we considered all mankind as our friends who had done us no wrong, nor had given us any provocation The Ambassador answered us that it was founded on the Laws of their Prophet, that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have acknowledged their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, & to make slaves of all they could take as Prisoners, and that every musselman who should be slain in battle was sure to go to Paradise... Advertisement

Take a moment to see if you can find any substantive differences between that explanation and what Ayatollah Khomenei, who founded the current evil theocracy in Iran, said almost 200 years later as he dreamed of bloody conquest over Christian nations:

I am decisively announcing to the whole world that if the world-devourers [i.e., the infidel powers] wish to stand against our religion, we will stand against their whole world and will not cease until the annihilation of all them. Either we all become free, or we will go to the greater freedom which is martyrdom. Either we shake one anothers hands in joy at the victory of Islam in the world, or all of us will turn to eternal life and martyrdom. In both cases, victory and success are ours. Advertisement

Those were not idle threats, whether spoken in 1786 or written in 1979. Were it not for a few brave Christians who blocked the Muslim invasions, Western civilization would have been overrun and extinguished centuries ago. Their names ring down through history.

In 732, Charles Martel stopped a Muslim invasion of Western Europe at the Battle of Tours.

In 1091, Roger I reconquered Sicily after 250 years of Muslim occupation.

In 1492, Ferdinand and Isabella reconquered Spain and Portugal after 700 years of Muslim occupation.

In 1571, Don John won the naval Battle of Lepanto, destroying an Ottoman fleet bent on conquering Christian lands.

In 1683, John Sobieski crushed the Ottoman army before the Gates of Vienna, halting their invasion of southern Europe.

And while Muslim conquests ended at the Gates of Vienna, Muslim predation did not. The biggest threat arose from the coasts of North Africa, where state-sponsored Islamic piratesthe Barbary Piratesprowled the waters. By 1500, these pirates had been attacking Christian ships in the Mediterranean for hundreds of years.

Then they began coastal raids to capture Christian slaves. Notable were the slave raids at Liparia, Sicily (1544), Gozo, Malta (1551), Vieste, Italy (1554), Balearic Islands, Spain (1558), and the repeated raids on Cornwall and Devonshire, England (1625-1645). Perhaps the most notorious raid was in 1631, when the Islamic pirates raided and enslaved the entire population of Baltimore, Ireland, in 1631.

A sea fight with Barbary Corsairs, after 1681, by Lorenzo a Castro. Public domain.

To put all this in perspective, from 1530 through 1750, when looking at both capturing Christians at sea and the coastal raids, the Barbary Pirates enslaved an estimated 1.25 million white, Christian Europeans. By contrast, according to Prof. Henry Louis Gates Jr., the 13 colonies of America imported 388,000 African slaves from 1619 to 1808, when the United States outlawed the transatlantic slave trade:

THOMAS SOWELL: "The number of White people enslaved by pirates in North Africa was greater than the number of Africans brought to the United States." pic.twitter.com/rfrgxeGh7i  The Conservative Alternative (@OldeWorldOrder) March 24, 2026

We can leave the last observations of modern Islam to the 20th centurys most important man, Winston Churchill. In his 1906 book, The River War, he wrote:

How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement, the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute propertyeither as a child, a wife, or a concubinemust delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men. [snip] Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities. Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the Queen: all know how to die. But the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome.

Unfortunately, with the proliferation of nuclear and missile technology, we are no longer sheltered in the strong arms of science.

In 1922, Churchill also made observations about Wahhabi Islam in particular, the variant in Saudi Arabia that sits at the heart of Al Qaeda, the Muslim Brotherhood, ISIS, and that served as Khomeinis model:

A large number of Bin Sauds followers belong to the Wahabi sect, a form of Mohammedanism which bears, roughly speaking, the same relation to orthodox Islam as the most militant form of Calvinism would have borne to Rome in the fiercest times of the religious wars. The Wahabis profess a life of exceeding austerity, and what they practice themselves they rigorously enforce on others. They hold it as an article of duty, as well as of faith, to kill all who do not share their opinions and to make slaves of their wives and children. Women have been put to death in Wahabi villages for simply appearing on the streets. It is a penal offence to wear a silk garment. Austere, intolerant, well-armed and bloodthirsty, in their own regions the Wahabis are a distinct factor which must be taken into account, and have been, and still are, very dangerous to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

All too many people have forgotten the dangers Islam has always posed to the West. Its made worse now because of the Wests fifth column, socialism. Socialism is rising in the West, and socialists have long been allied with Islam in their shared goals to destroy Christianity, Judaism, and Western civilization, then to rule over the ruins.

Let me leave you with this bit of Disneyesque reality from Britain.
In the turmoil of the Iran war, the EU has managed, after eight years, to reach a trade agreement with Australia. Numerous tariffs are set to be reduced, and the industry will receive a cautious export boost. Most importantly, the EU finally seems to have recognized the significance of securing critical raw materials.

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It took an astonishing eight years before the European Union and Australia were able, at the beginning of the week, to agree on a joint trade agreement. What EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese presented in Australias capital Canberra represented a far-reaching reduction of direct tariffs over a medium-term period.

Over 90 percent of goods will be able to circulate freely between the two continents, of course always under the application of common harmonization regulations and, above all, European climate protection rules. This must be taken into account in every so-called free trade agreement. The regulations do not disappear for businesses. In the case of agreements with the EU, they are largely extended to the trading partners.

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In every trade agreement where the European Union is a signatory, Brussels tries to weave massive climate protectionism into global trade. In a sense, a kind of postmodern climate colonialism. That is the concept of free trade as Europeans practice it.

The agreement to be signed is expected, according to participants, to increase EU exports to Australia by up to one third and expand investments by European companies in Australia by up to eighty percent. The strategic direction is clear: the EU is attempting to free itself in the critical area of raw materials, such as rare earths, from Chinas grip. And Australia indeed has a rich catalogue of resources to offer.

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Trade agreements like the one with Australia follow a very clear strategy. On one side, awareness seems to be growing of supply issues caused by the Iran war. On the other side, European industry is pushing to open new sales markets and strengthen the relative competitive position of companies, which have been under heavy pressure in Germanys industrial heartland, especially during the energy crisis.

Clearly, Brussels is ready to combine gains in manufacturing with a corresponding reduction of protectionist rules in agriculture. This creates potential conflict, as seen with the EUs Mercosur agreement with the South American countries Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil in recent weeks.

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The agreement, following a similar spirit to the one with Australia, is provisionally set to take effect in May. This occurs despite major political players such as France and Italy already announcing strong opposition to the pact, which will particularly place European farmers -- and thus European agriculture -- under severe competitive pressure, since South America follows a very different regulatory framework than the EU.

In the case of the Australian agreement, there was largely calm on this front; the Australian market is too small for the potentially imported volumes of beef, which are to be quota-shipped to Europe, to cause major concerns.

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From the perspective of the German economy, the Australian trade contract can be roughly outlined as follows: while the crisis sectors of the automotive industry, mechanical engineering, and the chemical industry will benefit from a radical reduction of Australian import tariffs, the EU will gain access to rare earths, cobalt, and lithium mined in Australia and must accept that beef production will increasingly reach the European market.

Ultimately, Australia accounts for only around one percent of EU trade. The country ranks twentieth among the EUs most important trading partners.

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And yet, it is a small step toward freeing itself from Chinas grip, which, as seen last year, does not hesitate for a moment to leverage its geopolitical tools in raw materials like rare earths, positioning its politically controlled export engine in trade policy.

Diversification is everything. Building reserves is all the more important, as we know today, given dwindling gas storage and missing petroleum reserves.

Strategic reserves are a political acknowledgment of reality. The fact that European policy once allowed itself the luxury of prioritizing climate ideology and transformational fantasies over real-world necessities now exacts a bitter price.

Trade competitors such as China or the United States hold reserves in fundamental areas of energy and raw materials that can secure the supply for the economy and society for more than a year. Acute crises, such as the current closure of the Strait of Hormuz, thus appear comparatively easier to manage and control.

Fundamentally, European trade policy must follow this path. It must clearly focus on the strategic interests of its own economy and overcome ideological missteps if it still wants to save what can be saved in the severe crisis of European industry.

Supply chains and the fundamental supply of raw materials and energy must be central topics on the European political agenda. Reintegration of Russia as a gas supplier, the development of domestic resources -- whether fracking gas, North Sea gas, or domestic coal deposits -- should buy time to develop a pan-European nuclear strategy, which would take many years.

As long as these considerations are not incorporated into a comprehensive overall strategy, the Australian trade agreement remains piecemeal -- a small, hardly relevant move on the geopolitical chessboard, dominated by the Washington-Peking duopoly.

Image: European Union/Dali Bendo
Last month, 12-year-old Ava Little committed suicide. Apparently, she did so because she was being chronically bullied at Byron Middle School, Peach County, Ga.

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According to Littles family, none of the schools anti-bullying measures or guidelines was implemented, even as other students targeted her over and over again. The bullying began in fifth grade and intensified this year. According to Paige Day, Avas aunt, her parents tried to get the school to intervene, but Peach schools were consistently underwhelming. They failed her 100%.

The Youth Peace and Justice Foundation  an organization dedicated to ending cycles of violence among youth  is calling for a full review of Peach County Schools bullying policy. They are calling for the Georgia Board of Education to review bullying prevention and student mental health intervention policies for Byron Middle School and the district. They claim that what happened to Ava is not an isolated incident and that systemic change is needed across the school district.

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According to Brandy Little, Avas mother, last week, another Peach County middle-school girl, and a friend of Ava, tried to commit suicide. Fortunately, she failed. I will echo Brandys questions and ask what actions are being taken to address the bullying in Peach County schools. Are the ones who bullied Ava still at it, bullying others? Is anyone being held accountable? There are always several sides to an issue, even a suicide. However, the fact remains that a beautiful little girl is dead, and we are left to ask why.

Suicide contagion is the term used to describe copycat suicide. According to psychologists, copycat suicides tend to be the same age and sex as the first suicide. Its thought that at least 5 percent of youth suicides fit in this category, often blamed on media and social attention given to the instigator. Does that explain Avas friends attempt?

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Why would anyone copy the actions of someone who just killed himself, especially after himself experiencing the grief of losing a close friend? There are several reasons. Young minds are not fully developed. They are impulsive. They see the outpouring of love and grief for the recently deceased and want that for themselves, failing to recognize the finality of their action. However, if 5 percent, even 10 percent, of suicides are copycat suicides, that still leaves 90 percent who commit suicide for other reasons  depression, being bullied, and so on.

Bullying is a problem in schools. If its happening in Peach County schools, its happening in every school district, public and private. Technology only makes it worse. How so? Cell phones and social media allow bullies to torment their target 24/7, meaning on the school bus, at home, after dinner, just before going to bed, in the middle of the night, first thing in the morning, and on the weekends. A group of bullies can keep taunting and mocking a vulnerable teen. Weve all been there and know what goes on in middle and high school. At that age, every teen is vulnerable.

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In the 1960s and 70s in Wisconsin (where I went to high school), the legal age for tobacco was sixteen. Some states (North Carolina and other tobacco-growing states) had no tobacco age restrictions. Alcohol was similar: In some states, the drinking age was 18, in others 19, 20, or 21. There were no laws requiring the use of seat belts or motorcycle helmets.

I remember, as a young child (ten years old), sitting on the tailgate of our station wagon as my father drove down the highway at 70mph. Do that today, and youll be arrested for child endangerment.

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Eventually, scientists learned that cigarettes are bad for our health, especially when it comes to youngsters, and so is alcohol. And theres no telling how many kids were killed when they were bounced off the tailgate or because they werent wearing a seatbelt or helmet. Many activities that were once legal are now illegal. Why? Because society recognizes that some activities are dangerous, or addictive, and we must be protected from ourselves  especially teens, who are not mature enough (their brains are still developing) to understand the consequences of their actions.

That takes me to the use of cell phones and social media and the dangers they pose, especially to teenagers. Cell phones are addictive because of the compulsive, reward-driven relationship they cause. Children are glued to them like white on rice. If you know a teen (or young adult) with a cell phone, you are well aware of this truth. They crave the dopamine pleasures of their social media likes. Being taunted and mocked create the exact opposite: depression and extreme lows.

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We know this, and psychologists know this. So why are adults allowing young, impressionable, immature teens to engage in these addictive behaviors? If I were raising children today, theres no way Id allow my child to have a cell phone or social media account until he turned 16. Im leaning toward 18.

Fortunately, Georgias General Assembly has taken steps to address these issues. In 2025, the General Assembly passed HB-340, the Distraction-Free Education Act. The act, which goes into effect July 1, 2026, bans students in K8 public schools from having access to personal electronic devices such as cell phones, smartwatches, and tablets during the school day. The laws purpose is to promote positive learning free from electronic distractions. Taking the next logical step, HB-1009, passed this session by the House, extends the same ban to high schools.

Now Georgias Senate must pass HB-1009, and private schools should echo these bans of electronic devices. Also, just as cigarettes were once legal for teenagers but are now illegal, parents could use these House bills as their excuse to do the same for cell phones and social media, and prevent their children from using them. If so, parents might actually have their kids conversing with them again.

Returning to teen suicides, Representative Tangie Herring (D-Macon, District-145) introduced HB-1045, the You Are Not Alone Awareness Act, which requires public schools to print 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number on the back of student ID badges for grades 612, beginning July 1, 2026. The bill seeks to provide a direct, stigma-free means for students to access help 24/7 during a mental health crisis. The bill unanimously passed the House, 168-0, proving that Repubs and Dems can work together. Herring said, Years from now, I may not remember every speech I gave or every vote I cast. But somewhere in Georgia, a child may still be alive because we chose to act. And that will always matter.

Lets pray that these House bills and parental guidance help address the issue of teen suicide. Schools must do their part, too: Identify any bullies, and give lengthy suspensions, if not expulsions.

Image: f_a_r_e_w_e_l_l via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped).
Whats in a name? These days...not much.

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The European Union does not include Ukraine; nevertheless and notwithstanding the objections of E.U. members Hungary and Slovakia, the European supra-state insists on paying the salaries of Ukraines government bureaucracy while that nations martial-law-holdover-president, Volodymyr Zelensky, fights to maintain control over a breakaway region that has rejected Ukrainian rule since the 2014 coup d'etat of Ukraines then-president, Viktor Yanukovych.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization does not include Ukraine; nevertheless and notwithstanding the objections of NATO members Hungary and Slovakia, the American-led military alliance insists on sending money and weapons to the Kyiv regime warring with the Russian Federation over territories whose people overwhelmingly identify as Russian. Former Dutch prime minister and current secretary general of NATO, Mark Rutte, has stated on multiple occasions that the military alliance would continue to help defend non-NATO-member Ukraine. According to Ukraines newly appointed, thirty-something-year-old defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine has over two million draft dodgers and a quarter of a million active-duty troops who have gone AWOL. So NATO is protecting a non-NATO country whose men refuse to fight. NATO is assisting a Kyiv dictatorship that depends almost entirely upon conscription (including the violent busification of recruits after draft officers break into vehicles and homes with drawn weapons).

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While the E.U. and NATO fight Russian authoritarianism by protecting Ukrainian authoritarianism, both institutions have remained relatively quiet as member states sustain actual attacks. Seven months after Russia moved to annex the Russophone regions of Ukraine, the Nord Stream pipelines transporting natural gas from Russia to Germany were sabotaged and made inoperable. German, Dutch, and French energy companies own interests in the pipelines. Subsequent German investigations have identified a dozen Ukrainian suspects, including members of a Kyiv diving school where military personnel train. Several independent journalists have concluded that Ukraines military carried out the underwater demolition of the Nord Stream pipelines.

If Ukraines government was, in fact, responsible for the destruction of the pipelines, then Ukraine (a non-NATO member) destroyed property belonging to NATO members. Ukraines alleged act of sabotage cut off Russias inexpensive natural gas from most of Europe. (Prior to the war, Russia supplied 45% of the E.U.s natural gas imports.) So the destruction of the pipelines has raised the cost of energy (and the price of finished goods transported within the Union) for European citizens. NATO continues to protect a nation that may have directly attacked members of the military alliance.

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Similarly, Ukraine has caused an international incident with regard to the European-Russian Druzhba (which means, friendship) Pipeline that was jointly constructed to transport Russian oil to Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Germany, and the Czech Republic. Last year, Ukraines military bombed several pumping stations servicing the pipeline. This year, Ukraines government claims that Russia attacked the Ukrainian section of the Druzhba Pipeline (a claim the Russian Federation denies), effectively halting all deliveries of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia. As both nations are almost entirely dependent upon this oil supply, the pipelines inoperability has created a major energy crisis for citizens of Hungary and Slovakia. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico blame Ukraine for the oil shutdown. Ukraines president/dictator Zelensky says he has no intention of repairing the pipeline. After Hungary and Slovakia blocked additional sanctions on the Russian Federation and a ninety-billion-euro gift (a loan that never needs to be repaid) for Ukraines regime, Ukraines military destroyed another critical transit node of the Druzhba Pipeline in Russia.

President/Dictator Zelensky also made a little news two weeks ago when he directly threatened Hungarian Prime Minister Orbans life: We hope that in the European Union, one person will not block the ninety billion [euros]. Otherwise, we will give this persons address to the armed forces, to our guys, let them call him and talk to him in their own language. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto condemned Kyivs thuggish culture: This is the man Brussels admires and the country they want to fast-track into the European Union....No one can blackmail us just because we refuse to pay the price of Ukraines war and refuse to accept higher energy prices because of Ukraine. Prime Minister Orban took the Ukrainian threat on his life in stride, saying: There will be no deals, no compromise. We will break the Ukrainian oil blockade by force. Hungarys energy will soon flow again through the Friendship pipeline.

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Orban followed up by very publicly intercepting part of Zelenskys alleged money-laundering operation running through Hungary. Foreign Minister Szijjarto revealed that Hungary had already confiscated Ukrainian mafia funds that included tens of millions of U.S. dollars, tens of millions of euros, and a few million dollars in gold bars. In addition, the foreign minister has alleged that several billion dollars worth of currency and gold have been transported through Hungary to Ukraine in the last two months. A former Ukrainian general who once oversaw Zelenskys intelligence service and secret police was detained in Hungary in connection to the suspected money laundering. An angry Zelensky again threatened to send Ukraines special military operators to Prime Minister Orbans home.

In response to Zelenskys increasingly belligerent behavior, Prime Minister Fico urged the European Commission to distance itself from Zelenskys outrageous blackmailing statements. The best that the Commission could do was a short statement from its deputy chief spokesperson, Olof Gill, in which the Eurocrat clinically observed: Specifically in relation to the comments made by President Zelensky, we are very clear as the European Commission that that type of language is not acceptable. There must not be threats against EU member states. At the same time, E.U. leaders pledged to provide for Ukraines budgetary needs for at least the next two years.

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Ukraine is effectively waging an economic/energy war against Hungary and Slovakia. Hungary and Slovakia are members of the E.U. and NATO. Ukraine is a member of neither. Nevertheless, the E.U. and NATO continue to take Ukraines side. It is as if unions and alliances mean nothing.

In fact, the E.U. is not hiding its disdain for Hungarys Orban. Brussels has made it very clear that it prefers Peter Magyars Tisza Party to oust Orbans Fidesz Party in Hungarys upcoming parliamentary elections. The European Commission has activated its Rapid Response System to combat potential Russian online disinformation campaigns in Hungary. The E.U.s handpicked fact checkers will use the powers of the new Digital Services Act to decide when online public debate qualifies as disinformation that must be censored.

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The U.S. House Judiciary Committee recently concluded that the E.U.s Rapid Response System almost exclusively targets so-called right-wing and populist political candidates. The European Commission has extended its online censorship campaign to one week after Hungarys elections, allowing Eurocrats to monitor and censor public conversations concerning the elections legitimacy. While E.U.-funded NGOs work to oust Prime Minister Orban, E.U.-funded censors will be in a position to label allegations of European election meddling as nothing more than Russian talking points.

Just as in Romania, Moldova, Germany, France, and the Netherlands, the E.U. will use its army of paid influencers and propagandists posing as journalists to manipulate the outcome of Hungarys elections. To save democracy, Brusselss Eurocrats believe that they are entitled to choose each nations leaders. They dont want Orban because Hungarys current prime minister continues to block the E.U.s funding for Ukraine. Brussels would do anything for martial-law-holdover-president/dictator Zelensky and non-E.U. Ukraine. But allowing the citizens of E.U.-member Hungary to vote for their own national interests? That simply wont do.

Image: Thijs ter Haar via Flickr, CC BY 2.0.
Iran is understandably the number one news story with primary focus on the progress of U.S. military and diplomatic engagement and the responses of the Shiite mullah regime in Tehran. Almost no one is thinking or talking about the equally important spiritual and cultural ramifications for Iran, and the region, if the United States prevails -- driving the current regime in Iran out of power. Theres even less analysis of the shifting geopolitics resulting from the combined effects of successful U.S. operations restoring control of the Panama Canal, Venezuela and its resources, the collapse of Cuba, and the degradation of narco-terrorism -- all in the Western Hemisphere, and the fall of the current Iranian regime -- in the heart of the Middle East.

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Christianity has ancient roots in Iran, which was known as Persia, dating all the way back to 1st century A.D., making it one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. Acts 2 recounts that at the time of the Pentecost when Jewish people from all parts of the diaspora were gathered in Jerusalem, they heard people speaking in many tongues, including the Parthians, Medes, and Elamites -- three separate groups that came from what is now in the territory of Iran.

After Pentecost, two of Jesus Apostles, Saint Thaddeus and Saint Bartholomew, traveled east to evangelize in what is now Iran, Iraq, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Armenia, which now borders north Iran, would become the first nation in the world to adopt Christianity as its official state religion in 301 AD.

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The original Monastery of Saint Thaddeus was established in northern Iran in AD 6668, after Thaddeus became a martyr, making it one of the oldest church-monasteries in the world. Because Saint Thaddeus is credited with bringing Christianity to Armenia in the 1st century, the monastery in his name located in Iran has served as a major pilgrimage destination for Armenian Christians for some nineteen centuries.

The Christian population in Iran today is growing at about 20% each year -- faster than in any other country in the world. This high growth is confirmed by missionary research organizations such as Operation World, Elam Ministries, and Transform Iran who all report Iran as having Christian conversion growth rates of about 20% per year.

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This high annual growth rate of Christians in Iran is attributable to underground evangelical home churches (mostly Muslim-background converts), rather than the formal small ethnic Armenian and Assyrian Christian churches. Recent estimates of the number of Christians in Iran now vary from one to two million (and even up to three million in higher estimates).

There are two other factors behind the high growth rates happening in Iranian home churches: 1) The penetration of satellite and internet technology in educating and evangelizing; and 2) The widespread disillusionment with the Islamic Republic and Shia Islam. Decades of theocracy have been accompanied by economic hardship, corruption, oppression, bloodshed, and cultural isolation.

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Credible independent surveys, like one published in 2025 that was conducted by the Dutch organization known as GAMMAAN (Group for Analyzing and Measuring Attitudes in Iran) have found that Iranian popular support for the principles of the Islamic revolution and the Supreme Leader -- which are core to the regimes ideological foundation -- is just 11%.

When we combine the political and cultural facts and trends that the Iranian people are overwhelming opposed to the Shia clerical regime and the Islamic Republic with a sustained annual 20% growth rate of the Christian population in Iran, there has been substantive reason to expect major changes in Iran even before the current war.

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The total military defeat of Iran in the Middle East combined with what the U.S. has accomplished in the Western Hemisphere -- wresting control of Panama and its Canal from China, taking on the Latin American narco-terrorists, and cutting China off from Venezuelan oil -- will deliver a multifaceted strategic and economic blow to China and the CCP, shifting the geopolitical tectonic plates in favor of the United States and the cause of freedom.

This outcome stems primarily from Chinas documented dependence on Iran and Venezuela for oil, its infrastructure stakes in Panama, and its ties in the Western Hemisphere drug trade. China is the worlds largest crude oil importer (at 11.6 million barrels per day) by more than a factor of two over India -- the next largest importer of oil (at 4.8 million barrels per day), while the U.S. is now a net exporter of oil. Previously, China purchased more that 50% of Venezuelas oil exports, which has been cut off following the U.S. ouster of President Nicolas Maduro. China imports 80-90% of Irans crude oil exports, which funds Irans military budget -- a budget that will be radically curtailed with a U.S. victory in Iran. All of this gives the U.S. leverage in the global markets China depends on.

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Additionally, both Venezuela and Iran have significant debts to China because of multi-billion-dollar project investment structured with Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) debt. Venezuela now has a pro-U.S. government in place that could repudiate BRI loans of $10-20 billion under legal categorization of being odious debt. Should Iran end up with a pro-U.S. regime with the defeat of the mullahs, Iran could repudiate some $400 billion in BRI investments for oil and gas petrochemical infrastructure.

Strategically, Venezuela, Panama, and Iran have represented three key nodes in Chinas anti-US. alignment: 1) Panama as a crown jewel of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to promote and prioritize Chinese infrastructure, trade and transit interests: 2) Venezuela as a Latin American beachhead with domestic narco-terrorist groups, such as Cartel de los Soles (formerly headed by Maduro), and Cuban and Iranian security forces, and terrorist groups (notably Hezballah) and 3) Iran as a Middle East bridge -- a BRI land-sea connector -- and the worlds largest sponsor of anti-American terrorism.

Trumps shrewd and precise targeting in Venezuela and shockingly powerful and persistent kinetic attacks in Iran effectively collapsed this threefold strategic partnership and the infrastructure debt-for-resources model of BRI. This has also weakened the BRICS cohesion and is forcing China into costlier and more risky energy deals. Trumps trifecta, fraught with risk, has effectively put the United States on a path of greater dominance in these three theaters, while delivering clear strategic setbacks to our chief adversary, CCP-controlled China

Scott S. Powell is senior fellow at Discovery Institute and a member of the Committee on the Present Danger-China. His timeless book, Rediscovering America, was a #1 Amazon New Release in the history genre for eight weeks. Reach him at [email protected]

Image: AT via Magic Studio
President Trump was right to say that the U.S. and our allies faced an "imminent threat" from Iran.

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I can now report, based on former Iranian intelligence sources with personal knowledge of the inner workings of the Supreme Leader's office, that February 28 was the final meeting of a core group of Iranian decision-makers to determine the fate of Iran's clandestine nuclear weapons program.

Since the June 2025 strikes on Iran's nuclear weapons enrichment and production facilities had failed to eliminate the 460 kg of uranium enriched to 60%, top Iranian security officials were debating whether to weaponize that stockpile into nuclear warheads.

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The group had been meeting regularly under the auspices of the Supreme Leader's Office to weigh their options and had scheduled the February 28 meeting so the Supreme Leader could personally approve their plan to proceed with the weaponization plan.

Had the February 28 meeting taken place as planned, Brig. General Hossein Jabal Amelian, who headed the organization in charge of weaponization, would have given his men the order to activate a containerized mobile centrifuge enrichment lab to enrich Iran's 460 kg of 60% uranium to 93%, and to transform the enriched uranium hexafluoride gas to uranium metal bomb cores.

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By the IAEA's own calculations, Iran had enough 60% uranium to produce ten nuclear warheads with two weeks further enrichment. The international watchdog agency had also determined that Iran had a workable warhead design and had mastered production of all the complex non-nuclear components it required.

But the United States or Israel had an agent among the February 28 group who had been providing intelligence on Iran's nuclear weapons programs for several years.

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That agent sent a message to his handlers with the meeting time and location but was unable to leave the meeting before the strike and was killed along with the others in the Supreme Leader's compound that morning.

The timely warning provided by that agent was the reason why President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu decided to advance the date of their long-planned joint strikes on Iran.

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Among those killed with Khamenei:

Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme Council on National Defense

Major General Mohammad Pakpour, commander of the IRGC

Maj General Abolrahim Mousavi, chief of the general staff of the Armed Forces

Brig. General Aziz Nasirzadeh, Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics

Brig. Gen Hossein Jabal Amelian, Chairman of the Organization of Defense Innovation and Research (SPND), responsible for nuclear weapons design.

Reza Mozaffari-Nia, a director and former chairman of SPND.

Israel initially claimed that the head of the Supreme Leader's Military Office, Brigadier General Mohammad Shirazi, and Salah Asadi, head of intelligence for Iran's emergency command and a senior intelligence officer within the General Staff, also attended the February 28 meeting and were killed during the decapitation strike.

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Subsequent reports, however, said the two were killed in a separate strike by Israelis fighter jets two days later.

The whereabouts of Iran's stockpile of 60% enriched uranium has been one of the recurrent mysteries of the current war.

In comments to reporters on Monday morning at Palm Beach International Airport at the foot of Air Force One, the President said that recent talks between special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kusher with unnamed Iranian officials could lead to an end to the war and future hostilities, and included an Iranian offer to turn over the uranium stockpile to the United States.

Image: Public Domain Pictures
Democrats, of the swampy kind, sure are predictable.

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The University of Southern California, partnering with local television station KABC, had scheduled the first major debate with all the major candidates, premised on research data regarding which ones had viable chances of winning, and which ones didn't have a snowball's chance in the Mojave.

The no-hopers were shut out to avoid wasting anyone's time, but the loudest of them yelped, with candidate Xavier Becerra, a smug, obnoxious "Latino" candidate (I've met him) claiming 'racism' because he didn't make the cut.

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All of the candidates of color, including me, have been excluded from USC's debate on March 24.



I'm fighting for answers and I'm fighting for inclusion in this debate. pic.twitter.com/76Ur1b0Nt1  Xavier Becerra (@XavierBecerra) March 17, 2026

The statement issued today by @USC and @ABC7 said the process for selecting the six debate participants was fair and objective.



My response? BS.



If we can't have a fair debate, then no candidates should participate. pic.twitter.com/K22Tt75v5H  Xavier Becerra (@XavierBecerra) March 20, 2026

So he plays the race card any time he doesn't get something he wants. He's a victim, so now he's entitled to your vote. Might work on a lot of white suburban wimmin.

But I can't see Latinos voting for this, particularly because so many of his positions, such as abortion, transgender ideology, and opposition to voter identification, are the absolute opposite of what Latino voters actually want, and he doesn't come off as charismatic.

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Then something strange happened -- the state legislature got involved, taking Becerra's word for it that that supposedly racist hotbed of the USC data operation had struck again -- and its members there threatened to sanction USC if they didn't let him and three other minorities into the debate lineup. They were 'entitled' as minorities, you see, because all races of candidates poll the same.

Instead of letting the unpopular Becerra in, though, USC cancelled the whole debate less than 24 hours before it was to start. Who needs this?

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BREAKING: USC cancels gubernatorial debate amidst roiling controversy about methodology that excluded every candidate of color https://t.co/i0ycJ5edCz  Seema (@LATSeema) March 24, 2026

According to the Orange County Register:

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In a statement released late Monday night, a USC spokesperson said it will look for other opportunities to educate voters on the candidates and issues. But the debate planned with ABC for Tuesday evening was nixed. USC vigorously defends the independence, objectivity and integrity of USC Professor Christian Grose, whose data-driven candidate viability formula is based on extensive research and enjoys broad academic support, said Beth Shuster, vice president of content strategy for USC. Advertisement At the same time, we recognize that concerns about the selection criteria for tomorrows gubernatorial debate have created a significant distraction from the issues that matter to voters, said Shuster, adding that USC and KABC, the television partner of the debate, could not reach an agreement on expanding the number of candidates.

The cries of 'racism' were garbage, but obviously Becerra had his statehouse connections, so the cranking 'narrative' of racist exclusion of unpopular candidates was snapped up by the entrenched Sacramento pols, who have all kinds of power over the university.

Becerra was famous as state attorney general for prosecuting the Little Sisters of the Poor for refusing to bankroll abortion pills and contraception in their hospital health insurance plans, while as a House representative, he voted against H.R. 3541 in Congress that would have prosecuted those performing sex-selective abortions. He was always a Democrat 'yes man' no matter how unpopular the issue, and as such, that left him with a sense of entitlement. He later served as Joe Biden's Health and Human Services secretary and treated it like a vacay, spoils of his obedience to absurdity. He was famous for not showing up to work and allowing his workforce to learn from his example, as his famous empty federal buildings indicated. His response during COVID was a shambles.

Why this smarmy dimwit thinks he has any chance of getting elected governor, is beyond me.

As a Republican, I'm perfectly happy to see him in the lineup with the other candidates to split out more of the Democrat vote in the coming June primary. I have an 'interest' in seeing him clog the lineup to splinter the vote.

But Politico has reported that Democrat leaders are concerned about the crowded field, given that the final election will be top two past the post, and two Republicans now leading in some polls and they're encouraging laggards to drop out.

After @CA_Dem failed to push bottom-tier Dems out of governor race, their poll shows two Republicans locking the top 3 Dems out: pic.twitter.com/t3Sp9OlgDg  Jeremy B. White (@JeremyBWhite) March 24, 2026

He wouldn't and that suggests some kind of power play. He had his Sacramento connections, he had his political muscle, and they bit back for him.

Then he weirdly declared victory because if he couldn't debate, then nobody was going to get to debate.

We fought. We won! We stood up against an unfair candidate debate set-up that prematurely chose winners and losers. Tonight USC made the right decision to cancel their March 24 gubernatorial forumso hopefully next time its done right.



Thank you to everyone who stood up, https://t.co/8drdYNM1Sb  Xavier Becerra (@XavierBecerra) March 24, 2026

Which isn't exactly going to make him visible to voters.

So it's about power and entitlement, and to heck with voters hearing the viable candidates on the issues. He doesn't care.

The debate has now been canceled.

CA Democratic legislative leaders spent more energy trying to get the 6th, 8th, 9th, & 10th-place candidates in the polls onto a debate stage than trying to prevent a likelier and likelier all-Republican runoff. https://t.co/qmrJhhvTDO  David Dayen (@ddayen) March 24, 2026

For Democrats, he's quite the problem in the punchbowl.

Image: Grok ai-generated image
A Streetcar Named Desire, released in 1951, remains one of Tennessee Williams most influential and popular plays. Less than a decade ago, our nations Capital instituted what wags have called A Desire Named Streetcar. DC built, at considerable cost, a streetcar that was supposed to be a futuristic network spanning the Capital. Never mind that street cars had been outmoded for essentially a century. DC urban planners knew better and went ahead anyway.

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But circa 2026, with that futuristic network of free and efficient streetcars, powered by overhead electric wiring limited to a single, one-street route, and existing streetcars wearing out, the desire is fizzling:

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Graphic: X Post

After less than a decade of operation, the D.C. Streetcar is set to be phased out and replaced by an electric bus that Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) called a next generation streetcar when she announced the change Tuesday. Advertisement Funding for the streetcar ends after two more years in Bowsers budget plan. City Administrator Kevin Donahue said at the announcement that the new streetcar would be essentially buses that utilize the streetcar systems existing cables for power. It would make it possible to more nimbly and quickly expand the streetcar line out beyond where we currently are, he said.

Did you catch that? The next generation streetcar is going to be a bus, and not just any bus, an electric bus that Bowser thinks will use the same overhead electricity already in place. Put aside the fact that such buses will need to be specially built and unless DC spends additional millions constructing overhead electric infrastructure wherever they want buses to run, there is still only the single existing streetcar line. This is yet another example of how Democrats waste busloads of money on bottomless money pit boondoggles.

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As I recently noted in The electric bus doom spiral, school districts and public transportation districts have discovered, to their horror, that electric buses just dont work, particularly in cold and hot climates. DC has both. They cost three times what diesel buses cost, dont have the necessary range, parts are virtually impossible to obtain and the buses tend to spontaneously combust. They knew all that before they bought them, partially with taxpayer subsidies, but went ahead anyway because like streetcars in DC, electric buses were the future until they werent, which was before they were delivered.

D.C. Council member Charles Allen (D-Ward 6) said he supported the streetcar but saw its demise as all but inevitable when plans for multiple routes were scaled back to a single line. When its just one street, its not a network, its not really successful, he said. Advertisement

You dont say. One wonders why the obvious wasnt obvious nearly a decade ago. There are also indicators that even though DCs leaders may be recognizing the inevitable, theyre still not quite living in the real world:

Council member Wendell Felder (D-Ward 7), who has advocated for the streetcar extension in the past, said he was not ready to comment on Bowsers proposal. Advertisement Allen said he is concerned that a new form of local transit is being created, like the Circulator, rather than integrated into Metros existing plans to expand dedicated bus lanes in busy corridors. It feels like were going to watch this movie another time, and we know how it ends, Allen said. [City Administrator Kevin] Donahue said the city was working with Metro on its plans. At the same time, he said, officials do not want it to be just bus service, but a bus service that feels a little bit different, in the way that streetcar made people feel a little bit different.

Ah. The all-important Democrat feelz. A bus is a bus and a streetcar is a streetcar. People comparing them will inevitably find they feel a little bit different. Perhaps they can supply vegan snacks on every bus? That would feel, and taste, a little bit different.

Sane, reasonable people would simply buy enough reliable, cost-effective diesel buses and establish every route they needed. Theyd admit too much money was spent on streetcars and its time to be fiscally responsible and provide the transportation services DC residents need. But as Robert Stack, playing the stoic Captain Rex Kramer said in Airplane: No. Thats exactly what theyd expect us to do.

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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.
The difference between being a king and being a politician is one of absolute power. One has it. One doesn't.

Here in Europe's oldest unbroken monarchy, Denmark, that difference is best illustrated by something every politician fears and loves  elections. Yesterday, the Danes went to the polls and cast their votes for one of Denmark's twelve  yes, twelve  political parties.

The results were predictable. Nobody won the right to govern, alone. Denmark would see yet another coalition government in its future, and the big question now is: "Will it be a Red (Leftist or liberal) or a Blue (Rightist or conservative) party or will there be a centrist coalition that combines the left and the right into a uncomfortable alliance?"

At this juncture, before all the votes are tabulated, and relying on exit polling, the left seems to have won the most seats or "mandates" in the next people's assembly, the unicameral parliament called the "Folketing." The right-leaning parties trail the left, but neither bloc had enough votes to govern.

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That means that the centrist party, the "Moderater" (the moderates) will be the party that can be the new king-makers by lending their support to either the left or the right coalitions and thereby create a very left-leaning or very right-leaning new Danish government.

Obviously, no party is counting their chickens or measuring the drapes for their new offices in the Parliament building, Christiansborg before the votes are actually counted.

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What is strange in this, the most digitally dominated of all the European nations, is that two million Danes used paper ballots to cast their votes not voting machines.

The photos of voters stuffing their ballots into a box and then going on their mobile phones to surf the net, pay their bills and talk with their friends on Facetime or WhatsAp was a dramatic contrast. Danish elections are orderly, and election laws are strictly observed with respect to displaying campaign posters or any form of political persuasion at polling places. The lines moved swiftly, and twenty minutes after the polls were closed, the first exit-polling of fewer than 5,000 voters was released, and it was on the basis of that polls results that each political party either celebrated their pre-win or explained away their pre-loss.

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It was quite an experience to see a party with less than 10% or 5% of the vote jumping up with joy to get even a few more votes, but such is this pluralist country with twelve parties, many of whom only disagree with the "major" parties at the margins or whose principal reason for existence is to represent one political ideology or issue.

Such is the case with the "Alternative" party that is singularly climate-focused (and that is expected to garner no more than 3.3% of the final vote).

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The Dansk folkeparti (Danish people's party) has immigration as one of its most important issues. It is expected to have tripled its influence, gaining many new seats in the new parliament.

Denmark's largest political party, "Socialdemokratiet" (the Social Democrats) is projected to have lost some seats but will still remain at the top of the political heap.

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Capturing the number two spot will be the Leftist, "Socialistisk Folkeparti" (Socialist People's Party) while the most radical Left-leaning party "Enhedslisten" (or as it calls itself in English the Red-Green Alliance) also won more support from Danish voters. Despite their wins, these three Leftist parties will not have enough mandates to govern without one or more non-Leftist parties to reinforce their votes.

All fingers now point to the "Moderaterne" party which portrays itself as moderates, led by the wily veteran politician, Mr. Lars Lkke Rasmussen (LLR). He is also the current foreign minister in the out-going government. LLR has also served previously as prime minister twice before and is known as a cagey and experienced man who knows his way through the power structure. Now his moderate party will be in the catbird seat holding the deciding votes to crown a new Red or Blue government, and he is apparently loving it.

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Both he and the outgoing prime minister have thrown their hats in the ring to be the "undersger" (facilitators) of any new government, an action that is part of the Danish king's portfolio to decide.

Essentially, the facilitator's job is to find likely partners from among the political parties who are willing to work with each other in a newly formed government. The facilitator must know his fellow party leaders well and must be able to stitch together a patchwork quilt of likely cooperators into a government that won't be challenged at every turn and will stick together on a set of basic policies.

LLR is a pro at this, and he should be able to do the job better than the PM, Mrs. Mette Frederiksen, because he has a more relaxed negotiating style and because his party holds the "keys" to Christiansborg.

After last night's polling results were released, various party leaders spoke to their party faithful, many of whom were gathered in tents.

LLR seemed to channel Barack Obama with his statements: "We are not Red and we are not Blue."

Later he said to his PM and her major opponent from "Venstre" (actually a conservative party of the right but whose name translates into "Left") "Try to crawl down from your trees." This presumably meant that they must walk back their disagreements and find some middle ground.

My mind immediately went to former President Ronald Reagan when he said to Mikhail Gorbachev, "Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall."

Mr. Morten Messerschmidt of Dansk Folkeparti told his followers, "We put the Danes first" - shades of Donald Trump, some might say with Trump's "America First" focus.

On the other side of the political spectrum, Enhedslisten party leader, Pelle Dragsted, said: "The Danes have spoken and they want more red and green politics."

Granted, these are just the words of politicians and they can be either praised or criticized, but one thing is for certain. The real work now starts to figure out what kind of political abstract painting can be made of the twelve parties that could become a real functioning government now that the current government has failed.

LLR and all Danish voters are well aware that in coalition governments nobody will get everything they want, but the Danes are willing to compromise some of their demands away as long as their political applecart doesn't get turned over leaving all the apples to spoil on the ground. They know that deal-making in the private sector is different from the public sector. In the private sector, deals are done without undue reliance on ideology that could destroy the deal. The reverse is true for political parties, and that is where the shoe pinches even in the Kingdom of Denmark.

Image: Grok ai-generated illustration

Stephen Helgesen is a retired career U.S. diplomat specializing in international trade who lived and worked in 30 countries for 25 years during the Reagan, G.H.W. Bush, Clinton, and G.W. Bush Administrations. He is the author of fourteen books, seven on American politics, and has written over 1,500 articles on politics, economics and social trends. He now lives in Denmark and is a frequent political commentator on Danish media. He can be reached at: [email protected].
The Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act has populist appeal. Thats understandable: what hardworking American wants to see Pelosi's, Ilhan Omar's, and to be fair, some Republicans wealth accrue in parabolic spurts that are wildly disproportionate to their salaries? Perhaps theres a better way to curtail their sneaky stock shenanigans while benefiting average investors. Robinhood Markets to the rescue.

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The aforementioned bill was introduced in May, 2025. Since then, the financial services platform known as Robinhood Markets has introduced a social platform that allows users to track the trades of professional traders. It also allows users to follow insiders, politicians, industry insiders, influencers, and hedge funds.

This is not a promotion for the company (Im critical of their marketing, per below), other than to recognize their efforts to democratize market access. For individual investors operating on the periphery of privileged information, having access to more data enables more informed decisions. In particular, knowing what Nancy, Illhan, and their insidious insider ilk are trading could be profitable. At a time when following their market machinations is more convenient than ever, why cut off that source of knowledge? Let them trade their greedy little hearts out.

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Transparency is a popular word in political circles. If social network trading platforms (irrespective of the vendor) shine the light on insider trades in a timely fashion, then it would be counterproductive to ban congressional stock trading -- indeed, itd be rather stupid even for them. Crucially, trading platforms that allow trade tracking are progressing prudently, including vetting and verifying veritable identities.

Assuming the legitimacy of accounts, and minimal manipulation, tracking insider and political trades can occur in real time, while still requiring human (rather than bot) interaction. Therefore, ban the ban on congressional stock trading act. Why let them have all the financial fun? All aboard -- before the gravy train leaves the station.

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Before concluding, a quick word about DEI. The vast majority of professional traders and hedge fund managers are male. Nevertheless, in sickening fashion, Robinhood Markets has chosen a silhouette of an imposing female (looks like shes on stilts) on a pedestal overlooking a subordinate throng of expectant and admiring sycophants waiting to be fed. They might as well have put a guitar in her hands (do women generally play, or just sing and shake their groove thing?) for they seem to be portraying her as a rock star. Get real! And keep the leftist marketing and HR teams away from the algos.

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Image: Robinhood Markets
/C O R R E C T I O N  Maruchan/ In the news release, Maruchan Greets Festival Goers in Cabazon with Immersive Pop Up, issued 25-Mar-2026 by Maruchan over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that changes have been made. The complete, corrected release follows, with additional details at the end:

Maruchan Brings "MaruMart" Pop-Up to Cabazon, Turning the Road to Coachella into a Flavor-Filled Oasis

CABAZON, Calif., March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Festival season isn't just about the destination, it's about the journey. This spring, Maruchan is meeting music fans where they need it most with the first-ever MaruMart pop-up at Cabazon Outlets. This activation transforms a familiar roadside stop into a vibrant, interactive festival oasis, offering free samples, exclusive merch, and crave-worthy flavors to keep festival goers fueled on the road to Coachella.

Maruchan Greets Festival Goers in Cabazon with Immersive Pop Up (PRNewsfoto/Maruchan)

Located at a popular stop on the way to the festival, with billboards leading you in the right direction, MaruMart builds on a viral Maruchan billboard social post moment, turning brand awareness into a tangible, real-world experience. Festival fans can explore playful, walk-through activations designed for quick recharges, content capture, and flavor discovery.

Highlights of the MaruMart include:

Immersive experiences: Fans can enjoy unexpected flavor twists, sample Maruchan's craveable noodles, create their own meal at the DIY ramen station, and take part in social media-worthy moments.





Fans can enjoy unexpected flavor twists, sample Maruchan's craveable noodles, create their own meal at the DIY ramen station, and take part in social media-worthy moments. Exclusive merchandise: Limited edition trucker hats, jerseys, satin bandanas, headbands, tote bags, and bag charms to help festivalgoers complete their Coachella looks.





Limited edition trucker hats, jerseys, satin bandanas, headbands, tote bags, and bag charms to help festivalgoers complete their Coachella looks. Budget-friendly convenience: Maruchan offers a satisfying, quick stop for festival goers looking for affordable and delicious options to bring along their journey.

From the road trip, to the post-festival munchies, to the drive home, Maruchan is part of the experience this year  delivering flavor, convenience, and fun exactly when festivalgoers need it most.

Event Details:

Location: Cabazon Outlets, 48750 Seminole Dr., Cabazon, California

Dates: April 9-13, April 16-20

Times: Thursday-Monday 10 AM-9 PM, Sunday 10 AM-8 PM

Admission: Free and open to the public beginning Thursday, April 9th at 10 AM

About Maruchan

Maruchan Inc., established in 1953 by Japanese visionary Kazuo Mori, revolutionized the instant ramen industry with a mission to create convenient, affordable noodles for everyone. After success in Japan, Maruchan began U.S. production in Irvine, California in 1977, where they perfected classics like Chicken Ramen Noodle Soup and Instant Lunch. Today, Maruchan operates manufacturing facilities across America, continuously expanding their lineup with innovative flavors and product offerings that inspire ramen recipes. Maruchan believes in bringing people together through the joy of noodles, creating moments where families and friends can share a warm, satisfying meal. Their commitment to quality ensures every bowl delivers the same delicious experience.

Media Contact:

Fidelitas

[email protected]

619.866.3550

Correction: Changes have been made throughout the whole release.

SOURCE Maruchan
Remember Oliver North's "neat idea"? He said: "I thought using the Ayatollah's money to support the Nicaraguan resistance was a neat idea." Well, let me remember Mr. North by paraphrasing him: "I think that using ICE at the airports is a neat idea!

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A day ago, there were huge lines at Hobby Airport in Houston. Imagine being in line and knowing that you may not make it to see your father before he dies. Imagine you will be late for an important business meeting. And then a bunch of guys wearing ICE uniforms show up to help. I understand most travelers were happy to see them.

Again, a neat idea unless you are a Democrat and having to explain the shutdown over ICE when ICE is already funded. Talk about missing the target.

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Everybody seems happy with the extra help except the usual suspectsDemocrats--as Matt Vespa points out:

Were dealing with legislative terrorists right now. The Democratic Party is too foolish, irrational, and immature to negotiate a deal on DHS funding. To be honest, theyre making compelling arguments not only for eliminating the legislative filibuster, which even I have been hesitant to do, but also for dissolving the legislature and canceling all elections until these radical progressive forces are put down like the rabid dogs they are (politically). I dont care. Those on the Hill are comfy, connected, and uninterested in the pain theyve inflicted on TSA agents, scores of whom have quit. Advertisement

And the damage that they are doing to common folks who are just travelling from point A to point B.

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Graphic: X Post

Some Democrats appear to be rooting for ICE to shoot someone at the airports. They claim that "trigger happy" ICE agents will discourage tourism to the US. Really? What people are talking about overseas are stupid delays brought to us by a party that fears primaries more than anything else in this world.

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So, welcome ICE or anyone else who wants our airports to operate like airports again. Don't be surprised if ICE agents get the best reception that uniformed men got since the Allies liberated Paris.

Its the ICE age and it's not about climate change!
Every sentient being knew going into the war with Iran that the extraordinarily difficult aspect of it would be to somehow effect positive regime change without inserting large numbers of ground troops into the theater of operations. The U.S., frankly, has been utterly -- if not disastrously -- ineffective in forcing positive regime change/nation building since the end of World War II. This is because neither the U.S. leaders nor the citizens have had the stomach for a long-term conflict, no matter the reason or possible result.

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In the modern world, conflict  no matter how legitimate and necessary -- has been further complicated by the enemy sides leaders being willing to place much of their missile, drone, and other weapons under schools, hospitals, and mosques, knowing we wont bomb these institutions. Or that, if we do, the mainstream media will immediately brand us as the bad guys and incessantly show weeping mothers and heartbroken spouses until the conflict is ended. This has been going on since the Vietnam conflict in the 1960s and is just as true of Iran today.

Given this acquiescence, evil cannot be defeated. Ever. Period. Which in turn guarantees a Hell on Earth, with repression, rape, slavery, hopelessness, etc., for those in the repressive states, and eventually to everyone else.

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In light of this, how do we win? Can we win? Is it better to allow the worlds dark and depraved tyrants to prevail, with all that entails for humanity until the sun expires?

Or, not unlike Truman deciding to use nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to avoid the death of hundreds of thousands of Americans, do we bomb these locations anyway? This is a serious question. A brutally, heinously serious one. One that guts me. Dear God, I dont wish for myself or my family  or yours -- to be under those schools or hospitals.

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But, on balance, I see no other choice. Do you?

Image: Pixabay // Pixabay License
A slate of new presidential appointees to federal courts is before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Not surprisingly, the hearings are partisan, as the Committee members from the Democrat party try to maneuver the nominees, and create false doubts about judicial qualifications. Instead, the judges are giving an important law lesson to the law makers.

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A central obsession of the Senate Democrats is whether the judges in the hearings will admit that former President Biden won the 2020 election. This isnt a question, of course: it is a worry because the facts point to DNC election fraud. The duplicitous question is also meant to see if the judges will "admit" that President Trump "lost" and thereby appear to qualify their judicial independence, while tarring the chief executive.

Fortunately, the judges gave precisely the correct answer as judges: President Biden was certified and served four years as president. This answer didnt please some senators such as Connecticuts Richard Blumenthal. But he also framed the question in an artful way: who won the popular vote?

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By asking a judge such a question, however, it opens up the constitutional mechanics of voting, which the senator apparently wishes to ignore. U.S. presidential elections are determined by legally appointed electors, casting legal electoral votes. The popular vote is a meaningful statistic, if accurate, but is not technically relevant or decisive (and the DNC would like to overthrow the electoral college). So that is a correct legal answer by the judges, and the only one that a judge could reference, from relevant observation. Anything else would invite distraction and speculation, and that isnt a judges job.

If a judge foolishly answered the question posed by Sen. Blumenthal, he might be considered unsound in his exercise of legal reasoning, and naive in constitutional law. More than that, he would be entertaining a question that if asked in a court of law, would have to be rephrased and clarified, and would otherwise rightly trigger an objection because it seeks to lead, rather than examine. The judicial nominees refused to be led.

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The nominees also seemed to appreciate that they were being lured into creating a record of opinion on an issue that is not within the purview of judicial nominee questioning. Moreover, they may have sensed the logic of the Ginsburg Rule where nominees decline to discuss cases that are currently pending before a court, or that may come before a court. Indeed, that is exactly what the Democrats are afraid of, and they would use a nominees statement of record for future defense or to intimidate other judges.

Judges otherwise don't call elections, or make election determinations, unless they are weighing facts in their official capacity as judges in a case before them. Blumenthal and his colleagues are asking the judges to be politicians. They wisely declined, and showed judicial maturity.

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But their answer opens up a whole other problem for the Democratsone they would like to forget, and would like the public to forget as well. The official counting of 2020 electoral votes was itself corrupted. Then-Vice President Pences inexplicable behavior; the convenient interruption by rioters, and the sudden rush to resume the electoral count late at night, until 3:40 a.m., may at some point be subject to review (Pence finally admitted he could have done something. Current Vice President Vance said he would not have certified the results).

In any review or case, a competent judge will weigh the facts made available to him, or that he directs to be provided.

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It is first necessary of course, that any such facts first get a fair hearing, something that Chief Justice Roberts of the U.S. Supreme Court turned his back on, and something the Democrats seem determined to keep buried. More than that, they appear determined to continue engineering future elections. A wiser, more professional, and more assertive federal judiciary is the one thing that could ruin their plans.

Ironically, Sen, Blumenthal, in a follow-up interview with a journalist at the New York Times concerning questions he asked in committee about the 2020 election, unwittingly made precisely the case for President Trumps judicial nominees: This is not a gotcha question, Blumenthal stated. Its really a test of whether they are willing to stand up and be independent arbiters of fact, which they are required to be as district court judges, who often have to show some courage and backbone with cases with unpopular causes.

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The judges seem to have passed the first test.

Matthew G. Andersson is the author of the forthcoming book Legally Blind concerning ideology in law and policy. He has testified before the US Senate, and is a graduate of the University of Chicago.

Image: Pixabay // Pixabay Content License
On March 19, Sheridan Gorman, an 18-year-old freshman at Loyola University in Chicago, was murdered when she and her friends went out to spot the northern lights. A masked gunman randomly shot her in the back of her head and neck. Using CC cameras, the cops eventually located and arrested Jose Medina, an illegal alien who entered the U.S. under Biden, was detained and released, and then failed to appear in court on shoplifting charges.

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The reason I havent commented on the story is that its so sadly common that I couldnt think of anything to add. Its becoming a dog bites man story: Illegal alien who entered the country under Biden ends a young Americans life. Same old story, and then the Democrats come out and blame the victim (which weve always been told you cannot do), or they blame Trump, or, of course, they blame the gun. The illegal alien is absolved from responsibility.

My commentary would be too simple for a post: Allowing unvetted illegal aliens into the country is a terrible idea. Gun control does not stop bad people from doing bad things. The killer is entirely responsible for this foul deed, but I also blame those who opened the border, since this murder would not have happened but for the Democrats aggressively violating U.S. immigration laws.

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The reason Im posting today is that theres more to the story, and its utterly infuriating.

The first maddening thing is that Medina missed his first court appearance because hes being hospitalized (at taxpayer expense, of course) with tuberculosis:

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An illegal migrant from Venezuela is the suspect in the shooting killing of an 18-year-old female @LoyolaChicago student. Suspect Jose Medina did not show up to his first court hearing because he's being treated, at taxpayer expense, for tuberculosis. pic.twitter.com/jV5r6MGjIV  Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) March 24, 2026

Tuberculosis is not an inconsequential disease. Around 1900, tuberculosis was annually responsible for 10-12% of all deaths in America. Translated into todays population numbers, that would be over 34 million TB-related deaths a year. The number dropped significantly by the 1940s thanks to better treatment (this is a fascinating first-hand autobiography about having TB in the 1930s, written by the author of the Mrs. Piggle Wiggle childrens books), but it was still a devastating and deadly disease.

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The scourge of TB was just one of the reasons that immigrants to America were required to go through formal immigration processes, the most famous taking place at Ellis Island off the coast of New York. This was one way to keep deadly diseases from entering our country.

What really changed things was the advent of antibiotics. Then, TB seemed kind of irrelevant...that is, until AIDS and an enormous number of drug abusers who failed to follow through on their antibiotic treatments. Suddenly, TB was back, and many strains were drug-resistant. Its still treatable, but it takes more work, more time, more medicine, and more money. And Jose Medina, illegal alien and accused killer, is sucking up that labor, time, medicine, and money.

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Heres the second maddening thing. Its entirely possible that this TB-infected illegal alien is a Tren de Aragua member who slaughtered Sheridan Gorman as part of a gang initiation:

I am starting to suspect that the story about Jose Medina is worse than what we've been told. The "tuberculosis" isolation keeping him out of court is suspicious--and this photo (if it's him) could raise the possibility Sheridan's execution was part of a gang initiation.



If this https://t.co/65Spxylzab  Julie Kelly  (@julie_kelly2) March 25, 2026

And now, the third maddening thing: The Loyola campus newspaper apologized for how it reported Sheridan Gormans death. It didnt get her name or age wrong. It didnt misstate the date or manner of her death. No.

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The problem, according to the editor of the Loyola Phoenix, is that it referred to Medina, a TB-infected illegal alien (which is the proper statutory term for a person illegally in this country), as...an illegal immigrant. Indeed, the original (and accurate) title of the Phoenix report was Immigrant Man Charged in Murder of Sheridan Gorman, DHS Involved.

But that was wrong. So wrong. The updated report, found here, is entitled Charges Filed Against Man Arrested in Murder of Sheridan Gorman, making no reference to his immigration status or DHS. Additionally, the first paragraph describes Medina as a Rogers Park Resident. Only in the third paragraph does it delicately say he was living in the United States illegally.

The editors note is almost as long as the article. Regarding the changed language, it says:

...in the body of the original post, we described the man who was charged as an illegal immigrant, using language provided by the Department of Homeland Security. That language does not align with Associated Press style, nor does it align with the values of this newspaper.

If youre wondering what those values are, the editors (presumably led by Lilli Malone, the white, female editor-in-chief) explain in the most groveling terms:

No humans existence is illegal, and we quickly changed our wording to reflect that. We acknowledge the harm such language can cause and the power and importance of the words we choose to use. We deeply regret these errors...

Jonathan Turley has the perfect riposte:

...The editors declared, No humans existence is illegal, and we quickly changed our wording to reflect that. The reference was to his status, not his existence. Sheridan's existence allegedly ended at the hands of a man living here illegally.  Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) March 25, 2026

If youre wondering about the collapse of journalism in America, this is it, writ large. These are the graduates who staff Americas newsrooms: Truly awful middle-class Marxists, indoctrinated in Americas academic institutions.

Sheridan Gormans death was a completely preventable tragedy. And everything elsethe alleged killers illegal presence here, his bringing in a deadly disease, his possible gang membership, and a university newspapers anguished apology for calling him what he isexplains how this preventable tragedy happened.

Header image: X screen grab.
When I was growing up, my parents had a friend  lets call him Peter  whose son hanged himself from the barn rafters. Years later, once Id had children of my own and Peters sons death had scarred over into some sort of tolerable pain, he offered me some unsolicited advice on how to raise my own kids. He said, Little kids, little problems. Big kids, big problems. Ive never forgotten it. The message was clear: get them young. Train them during their formative years to deal with adversity, because its not going to get any easier the older they get.

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And thats how I know The Washington Post Editorial Board is wrong here. They think a bunch of freshly baked little commies can be reasoned with, but by the time theyre graduating from college, its waaaaay too late for most of them.

From their recent editorial Cracking down on graduation speeches wont solve the problem on campus, the board spoke about New York Universitys recent decision to end live speeches at some of its graduation ceremonies this spring, writing this:

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The understandable goal is to prevent a repeat of what happened last May when a graduating NYU student went off script to decry genocide' in Gaza, overshadowing a special ceremony for many families. Now, a university dean has told a graduating senior in the education school that her speech will be professionally recorded to ensure she sticks to a preapproved script.

The editorial board decries pre-recording the speeches as a lazy way to handle the problem of recalcitrant children, but that is what these 20-somethings are, and I dont say that because Im old (at 60). I say it because its true. The board seems to think these students can be reasoned with, or made to be reasoned with.

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And how do they think this magical change can be fostered? Evidently, by waiting until they are 18 and then having college faculty teach them to debate.

I suppose anything is theoretically possible, if you did catch them as freshman  maybe (and Im being extremely optimistic here)  but with a monolithically progressive faculty? That strikes me as pure fantasy.

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Seems fair and balanced pic.twitter.com/fXapCpHKec  Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) November 27, 2025

Progressives simply arent built for honest, substantive debate. Its just not in their constitution.

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Its an old adage that one cannot be reasoned out of something one has not been reasoned into, and that most assuredly applies here. Theres no reason to progressive thinking because its not thinking they float on. Its a sea of emotion, a vast swell of affirmation which began the day these kids were born and codified every day of their lives through gentle parenting, social promotion, participation trophies, and progressive faculty from K12. Many have never known the sting of losing anything. Ever.

They have felt secure in everything theyve ever thought as (imagine Obamas voice here) the right thing to do. And why not? Its what Obama himself said whenever he was caught violating the law or the Constitution. And it was enough for the press corps, which therefore made it enough for the young hope and changers watching.

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Back in our day, if it felt good, do it was more about our own private recreational behavior. Under Obama, it became executive orders, the law, and every civilization-destroying behavior imaginable, just a small sample of which translated into shouting down speakers and ruining graduation speeches with unfounded accusations of genocide.

There are good times, places and manners for debating Middle Eastern politics. A graduation ceremony is not one of them. Academic freedom is an important value, but too many elite college campuses became crucibles of conformity in recent years. People with unpopular ideas too often got shouted down or even canceled. Criticizing Israel became a shibboleth. The solution is not to shut down live speeches. Its to teach kids that using a graduation ceremony to scream and yell about their personal political views is a stupid and ineffective way to make the world a better place.

And who, exactly, is going to teach them this, Washington Post? If they havent learned that shouting down speakers isnt civil behavior by the time theyve graduated high school, then guess what? The monolithically progressive college faculty isnt going to teach them. Hell, theyll be out there shouting with them! Weve seen examples of exactly this at Columbia (and other schools). And thats the problem. They arrive with young skulls full of mush (to borrow from the late Rush Limbaugh), and their professors just bake them firm.

Unless theres a wholesale cultural change, I dont see how this solution of pre-recording speeches doesnt become the solution to rogue valedictorians, and mores the pity. Because our kids deserve better. The Post concludes:

A good first step is to crack down on hecklers vetoes. Last year the law school tried to cancel an event with conservative lawyer Ilya Shapiro scheduled for the anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023 terror attacks, citing safety concerns. That event was reinstated amid backlash to the backlash. The best way forward is to allow the airing of good and bad ideas, and let the best triumph.

The airing of good and bad ideas needed to start at the family dinner table. So, sorry, Washington Post Editorial Board, by the time theyre 18, its too late for most of them. That doesnt mean colleges shouldnt try, but just dipping ones toes ever-so-gently in conservative waters is extremely dangerous to ones livelihood, so I dont see a lot of faculty signing up to be first, should they even be constitutionally capable, which I seriously doubt.

M. Walter blogs at www.mwalterwriter.com

Image: Free image, Pixabay license.
Mystery, confusion, and the true intentions of Iran are making President Trumps delay on bombing Iranian power plants dangerous and questionable. There are so many unknowns about the situation, leading to questions.

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The first question is the uncertainty of the identification of the Iran negotiator. Some people have identified him as the Speaker of the Iranian parliament, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf; unfortunately, Qalibaf insists there are no negotiations taking place, calling it fake news. Rumors are, however, that he is a reliable negotiator for Iran. At the same time, the new Supreme Leader of Iran has supposedly approved negotiations with the United States to reach an agreement. But no one has seen him or heard his voice since his family was killed in a bombing. Rumors have suggested he is dead or is in a coma, or only severely wounded. The question remains: Who is negotiating for Iran? Does that person have the power to create a final agreement that will be binding on Iran?

A second question is Irans track record for lying. Repeatedly, over many years, the radical Iranian government has lied about nearly everything it has publicly shared, including its intentions for a nuclear program, ballistic missiles, and other weaponry. Their word is totally unreliable, as lying and deception is a basis of taqiyyah. Developing a strategy for ensuring they will fulfill their promises may be a pipedream.

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A third question, and a major issue, is how to ensure the open passage through the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump has stated that the U.S. Navy could patrol the Strait, but the Navy has limitations:

Today, a task force of this size would comprise nearly a third of the U.S. fleet, which has shrunk to around 100 major surface combatants. This is probably not a sustainable commitment. The U.S. Navy also lacks critical equipment; U.S. Central Command currently has only one littoral combat ship with a mine countermeasures mission package deployed to the region. Advertisement

Twenty-two of our NATO allies have pledged support to the U.S. for protecting the Strait. A joint statement by the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan expressed their shared concern for the Iranian threat, and called for Iran to stop its threats and military activity. These countries were joined by Canada, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Denmark, Latvia, Slovenia, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Czechia, Romania, Bahrain, Lithuania, Australia, United Arab Emirates, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominican Republic, Croatia, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Panama, and North Macedonia. The problem is that they are in the process of developing a plan of attack. Its unclear how long that planning could take. Also, would their commitment be consequential enough to deter Iran from seizing the Strait, in terms of the depth and time frame of their action?

Meanwhile, the U.S. has paused military action on Iran, while Iran continues to fire on Israel and other Gulf states, and Israel continues fighting Iran and Hezbollah.

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Given our inability to know Fridays deadline results, there are still steps that can be pursued, regardless of the outcomes.

Its highly likely that blockading Kharg Island, where 90% of the oil loading terminals are located, would have a major impact on Iranian exports and on the regimes survival.

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One suggestion would require landing Marines on the island, which would put them at risk for attack from drones further inland. Another suggestion has been to mine the territorial waters approaching Kharg Island, to stop Iranian tankers from loading petroleum products there. Iran might be tempted, unfortunately, to increase its own distribution of mines if that were enacted.

Its clear that there is not one, simple resolution to the war in Iran. The solution will need to be complex, verifiable, reasonable, and productive. There might be temptation to compromise on some of our requirements, simply to bring the war to a close. But none of the parties can afford to take that approach:

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There is no silver bullet to solving this dilemma, and all military options to reopen the strait (and keep it open) will entail substantial risk and require significant resources and timewith potentially far-reaching political and economic implications. Yet Tehran has threatened global energy security and taken the global economy hostage, making this the wars make-or-break issue. Allowing Iranian threats to persist indefinitely is unacceptablewhether against ships transiting the strait, Gulf sites exporting oil and gas, or both. Accordingly, Washington and its partners will need to combine direct and indirect approaches, countering Irans attacks while checkmating its strategy, in order to deter perpetual threats and, by relying in part on non-destructive, indirect measures, create an opening for diplomacy. At the same time, they must prepare for the possibility of continued disruptions to global shipping, energy flows, and markets, designing a potential follow-on campaign to ensure freedom of navigation through the strait against a wounded but still dangerous and aggrieved regime.

This essay might be perceived as a cynical view of the war with Iran and critical of Donald Trump, who I have no doubt wants to protect America. But instead, it is intended to be realistic, and all potential outcomes must be consideredif we want to be victorious.

Image from Grok.
Among the things people dont know about crime is a relatively small number of criminals commit most crimes. Related is how to interpret crime statistics. If we include the statistics for murder, for example, from every big city in America, we might conclude America is a third world war zone. But if we exclude the statistics from places like Detroit, St. Louis, Chicago and other cities, America suddenly is a very non-violent nation. That of course assumes you can trust statistics from blue cities that dont want to tell the truth about how badly their Democrat crime-coddling policies are failing.

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My last police assignment was as a detective investigating vehicle burglaries--thefts from the interior of vehicles. I also handled thefts of parts from vehicles and ended up also investigating all manner of insurance fraud relating to those crimes. Our town was about 50,000 in those days, but because it had a military base and was a regional shopping center, we had a crime rate closer to a city twice that size.

We were suffering from a plague of car burglaries--mostly car stereo gear and anything else of opportunity. On virtually my first day on the job, a burglar in jail for other crimes got panicky and wanted to talk to a detective, which ended up being me. He wanted to make a deal to lighten his upcoming sentence for several felonies and I was in a deal making mood.

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So, I flipped him and further flipped his burglarizing friends. They would venture out into the night in groups of 3-6 and hit as many vehicles as they possibly could, heading home as dawn beckoned with as many as 10 stereos, matching speakers, amplifiers and anything else of value they could steal.

I worked steadily for about a month, retrieving stolen property, getting confessions, serving the occasional search warrant when someone didnt want to consent to a search, and ended up making 25 arrests and charging 350 counts among them, mostly felonies. I was even able to find people who lost property but never reported it to the police, figuring we wouldnt do anything about it. Their surprise when I knocked on their doors and told them Id recovered their gear was delightful to behold.

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That series of cases pretty much stopped vehicle burglaries for several months until a new series of burglars got busy, and so did I. But do burglars ever move on to more serious crimes like murder? Not always, but some do. Most people who commit serious violent crimes are well known to the police and have lengthy records going back to their juvenile days.

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Graphic: X Post

Investigating a second series of burglaries I took the confession of a burglar, who, hopped up on meth, was trying to steal an external rear view mirror from a small SUV the same make and model as his own. It was easier to steal the entire door because the mirror was secured from inside the door panels. He was in the process of doing that at 2 AM when the owner, driving another vehicle, pulled into the driveway and parked next to the SUV as the burglar and his two pals hastily crawled under the SUV, leaving the door slightly ajar.

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The danger was, during a burglary an hour earlier, he found a loaded 9mm handgun, so there he was, wired on meth, panicking under the SUV, the stolen handgun in his shaky, sweaty hand. He told me, matter-of-factly, had the guy spotted the open door and come closer, he would have shot him. It would have been another murder committed by a felon with a long record of lesser felonies. Fortunately, the man went inside. My burglar broke the mirror trying to remove it. He would have committed murder over a broken mirror. I later fished the door out of a creek where he abandoned it.

Thats why its so important to identify, arrest and incarcerate each and every felon. If prosecutors wont prosecute, theyre inevitably freeing the very people who are committing most crimes. In blue cities where most of the felons are young black males and drug involvement is a given, turning those criminals loose guarantees people are going to die, and many of their victims are going to be the honest black people Democrats claim to care most about. This is until recent years when illegal immigrants and trans rocketed past black people up the Democrat victimization ladder.

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When dangerous, predatory people are in jail, theyre not making more innocent victims. But something else most people dont know is prison is also, perhaps mostly, there to keep felons safe from their victims. Should America deteriorate to the point citizens can no longer trust the justice system and the police, what choice will they have but to handle criminals themselves? That kind of justice tends to be swift and final, and its not hard to see that happening in blue states and cities.

We dont want that kind of civilizational degradation.

If we want safe cities, we must focus on the people committing most of the crimes.

Become a subscriber and get our weekly, Friday newsletter with unique content from our editors. These essays alone are worth the cost of the subscription.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
In the summer of 1817, a mysterious creature was seen swimming in the harbor of Gloucester and along the coast of Cape Ann. Eyewitnesses described it as a gigantic, serpent-like animal, its long body marked by a series of humps rising and falling above the water. Throughout that summer and into the following year, numerous fishermen and other credible locals reported sightings of the creature, capturing the imagination of scientists, newspapers, and the public alike. The Gloucester Sea Serpent quickly became a legend and remains one of the most well-documented cryptid sightings ever recorded.



A contemporary illustration of the Gloucester Sea Serpent.

Although Indigenous traditions in the region had long spoken of mysterious sea creatures, the earliest recorded European account dates to 1638, when explorer John Josselyn described a strange marine animal off the New England coast.

It was not until August 1817, however, that the legend truly took shape. That summer, hundreds of witnesses reported seeing a massive creature in Gloucester Harbor. It was estimated to be between 50 and 100 feet long, with a head resembling that of a turtle or perhaps a horse, held above the water. Its body was described as segmented, like a string of buoys or kegs, and it moved with a distinctive undulating motion, rising and falling in a series of vertical waves.

The creature was reported to swim incredibly fast. He moved very rapidly through the water, I should say a mile in two, or at most, in three minutes, reported one witness.

When he moved on the surface of the water, his motion was slow, at times playing about in circles, and sometimes moving nearly straight forward. When he disappeared, he sunk apparently directly down, and would next appear at two hundred yards from where he disappeared, in two minutes, reported Solomon Allen III, another witness.

The sightings sparked intense debate within the community. Even the Linnaean Society of New England took notice. Within a week of the first reports, the society appointed a special committee to collect evidence with regard to the existence and appearance of any such animal. The committee interviewed numerous witnesses and prepared a report for publication and distribution to scientific societies around the world.

In this report, the committee concluded not only that the creature was real, but that it represented a previously unknown species, which they named Scoliophis atlanticus. This identification was based in part on a curious discovery: a three-foot-long snake found on a nearby beach by a local resident. The specimen possessed an unusually undulating spine, and, given its proximity to the harbor sightings, the society proposed that it was the progeny of the great serpent.



The Linnaean Society illustration of the Gloucester Sea Serpent.

John Davis, the societys president, later acknowledged the boldness of this claim, admitting that it was rather bold to come out with a new genus, in the present advanced state of Natural History, but we thought the characteristics of the creature required it.

However, the societys pamphlet was met with widespread ridicule and even inspired the fabrication of numerous false accounts. The story was especially mocked in the American South, where Charleston playwright William Crafts produced a satirical work titled The Sea Serpent; or, Gloucester Hoax: a Dramatic jeu desprit in Three Acts. The play advanced the idea that the serpent was nothing more than a hoax, devised to enhance the reputation of Gloucester.

The Gloucester sea serpent was definitively debunked by the Boston Society of Natural History in 1863. The Society reexamined the supposed progeny preserved in the Linnaean Societys collection and found it to be an ordinary black snake with a deformed spine. As for the sightings themselves, they were attributed to misidentification. The most plausibly being a humpbacked whale feeding at the surface, its rolling back creating the illusion of a many-humped serpent. With this, Scoliophis atlanticus was declared a myth.

References:

# It appeared so strange and wonderful. Massachusetts Historical Society

# The Gloucester Sea Serpent. Museum of Hoaxes

# The monstrous serpent was real!. Salon
SYDNEY, Australia, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Sungrow, the global leading PV inverter and energy storage system provider, unveils its latest innovations  PowerTitan 3.0 with AC block design and Hybrid Solution at Sungrow PV & ESS Summit in Sydney. The event attracted over 300 partners and industry experts to explore emerging technologies and market trends shaping Australia's energy transition.

More Than Powering Today Shaping Australias PV & ESS Future

Australia's utility-scale renewable energy sector is expanding rapidly, driven by federal CIS incentives, state targets and strong investor confidence, accelerating the deployment of large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) across the National Electricity Market (NEM). Developers are increasingly prioritising integrated, grid-supportive projects aligned with stricter technical standards and long-term value, but the sector still faces challenges including system strength shortfalls, voltage instability, complex grid connection processes and lengthy approval timelines, alongside rising requirements for grid-forming capability and advanced modelling.

PowerTitan 3.0: Optimized for Australia's Utility ESS Landscape

Sungrow's PowerTitan 3.0 is a next-generation utility-scale energy storage solution designed to address weak-grid conditions, advanced grid-forming requirements, and the operational realities of Australia's evolving energy landscape.

Key highlights:

High-density architecture: 600+ Ah stacked battery cells with a SiC-based power conversion system (PCS), supporting flexible 48 hour discharge durations.

600+ Ah stacked battery cells with a SiC-based power conversion system (PCS), supporting flexible 48 hour discharge durations. Compact, scalable design: Each 20-foot container houses 1.78 MW PCS and 7.14 MWh battery capacity; blocks can reach 7.2 MW/28.5 MWh (4-hour configuration), reducing land use by 20% and lowering overall project costs.

Each 20-foot container houses 1.78 MW PCS and 7.14 MWh battery capacity; blocks can reach 7.2 MW/28.5 MWh (4-hour configuration), reducing land use by 20% and lowering overall project costs. High efficiency and reliability: PCS achieves 99.3% max efficiency with 120% continuous overload; stacked cells enable 92% system-level round-trip efficiency (RTE).

PCS achieves 99.3% max efficiency with 120% continuous overload; stacked cells enable 92% system-level round-trip efficiency (RTE). Rapid deployment: AC block design allows factory pre-installation and pre-commissioning, self-configuration, and automated system checks in under one hour  enabling a 1 GWh project to be deployed in just 12 days.

AC block design allows factory pre-installation and pre-commissioning, self-configuration, and automated system checks in under one hour  enabling a 1 GWh project to be deployed in just 12 days. Durable and environment-ready: Operates at ambient temperatures up to 45 with low noise (63 dBA), IP55 protection, and C5 corrosion resistance for harsh Australian conditions.

Hybrid SolutionThe Rise of DC Coupled PV & BESS Integration

Sungrow also introduced the Hybrid Solution, featuring the 1+X modular inverter series with DC Coupling and AC Coupling Solution showcase, and Sungrow's DC-coupling technology solution outperforms traditional designs in cost, functionality and performance. Key advantages include:

Single-platform design: integrating PV, ESS, and PowerTitan 3.0 with a dedicated DC/DC module and PV-ESS Synergy Management System.

integrating PV, ESS, and PowerTitan 3.0 with a dedicated DC/DC module and PV-ESS Synergy Management System. Flexible, high-performance operation : Long discharge durations up to 8 hours, DC/AC ratio up to 2.0, and ESS power ratio up to 100%.

: Long discharge durations up to 8 hours, DC/AC ratio up to 2.0, and ESS power ratio up to 100%. Cost and efficiency optimization: System-level energy conversion improved by 3-5% with reduced overall project costs.

Advancing Grid-Forming Technology in Australia

Dr. Dan Xiao, Sungrow Australia Technical Expert highlighted the essential role of GFM in supporting renewables-rich grids and meeting evolving Australian standards. Sungrow's expertise includes voltage/frequency support, oscillation damping, GW-level black start, and system strength enhancement. As renewable penetration continues to accelerate, grid-forming (GFM) technology is becoming increasingly critical to ensuring stable and resilient power systems.

The summit featured the panel discussion with nearly ten industry experts, who shared insights on energy transition pathways and real-world project experiences. In addition, Sungrow also launched the Energy Storage Safety White Paper with TUV Rheinland, further supporting the safe and sustainable deployment of energy storage systems.

"In Australia, Sungrow has built a strong foundation over the past 13 years, expanding from early market entry to delivering large-scale utility and energy storage projects across the country," said Joe Zhou, Vice President of Sungrow Asia Pacific. "Key projects such as the Cunderdin DC-coupled project, Templers BESS are in full operation and the Pelican Point BESS is currently under construction demonstrate our capability to deliver at scale. Meanwhile, our pipeline continues to grow, including multiple projects expected to reach financial close in 2026 and landmark developments such as the Halys BESS, with a planned capacity exceeding 3GWh."

Looking ahead, Sungrow will continue to expand its presence in Australia through strategic local investments and advanced energy storage solutions, collaborating across the industry to drive the country's clean energy transition and create a more flexible, reliable, and sustainable grid.

About Sungrow

Sungrow, a global leader in renewable energy technology, has pioneered sustainable power solutions for over 29 years. As of June 2025, Sungrow has installed 870 GW of power electronic converters worldwide. The Company is recognized as the world's most bankable PV inverter and energy storage company (BloombergNEF). Its innovations power clean energy projects across the globe, supported by a network of 520 service outlets guaranteeing excellent customer experience. At Sungrow, we're committed to bridging to a sustainable future through cutting-edge technology and unparalleled service. For more information, please visit: www.sungrowpower.com/en.

Media contact:

Luly Wang

[email protected]

SOURCE Sungrow Power
Paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division have carried out daring raids in hostile environments all over the world - Micah E. Clare

Thousands of American paratroopers are preparing for a major deployment in the Middle East as Donald Trump mulls over a ground attack against Iran.

About 2,000 soldiers from the elite 82nd Airborne Division have been ordered to the Gulf in readiness for further military action against Tehran, should negotiations to end the war fail.

Putting troops on the ground would represent a significant escalation in the conflict that started with US-Israeli air strikes on Feb 28.

Acting as the tip of the spear for an invasion force, troops from the 82nd are experts in carrying out daring raids in hostile environments.

The fighting force, which can be deployed anywhere around the world within 24 hours, could parachute into battle to seize key territory, such as airfields, ports and infrastructure.

The 82nd, one of Americas most storied military units, garnered its reputation in the Second World War and has seen action in almost every conflict involving America since then.

Most recently, they deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and were scrambled to Europe shortly after Russias invasion of Ukraine to bolster Natos eastern flank.

Washington has remained evasive about how the 82nd could be used in the Gulf. However, Anna Kelly, a White House spokesman, said: President Trump always has all military options at his disposal.

The deployment of the force comes after it was revealed two amphibious assault groups, made up of almost 5,000 US marines, are making their way towards the region.

Military analysts have said the combination of the marines and paratroopers could give Trump several options to carry out limited ground strikes against Iranian targets.

The Telegraph looks at the potential missions the 82nd could be called into action for.

Securing the Strait of Hormuz

Iran and its proxies have caused economic mayhem by sealing off the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which 20 per cent of the worlds supply of oil flows.

The regime is understood to have mined the shipping lane and prevented some vessels from passing through, causing oil prices to increase to more than $100 (75) a barrel.

Key to the Islamic regimes stranglehold on the passage is the strategically important island of Qeshm, which overlooks the narrowest part of the strait.

Once a popular spot for tourists, the outcrop has been transformed into a military stronghold.

2503 Strategic location of Qeshm Island in Strait of Hormuz

Hidden beneath its salt caves and mangrove forests lies an underground missile city, where Tehran is believed to have cached vast quantities of weapons, including anti-ship munitions which are key to threatening the strait.

The network of tunnels is reportedly so far underground that it is practically impervious to conventional weapons, with some analysts speculating the missile base could reach 1,600ft deep.

It is believed Iran has the ability to launch these missiles, targeting ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, small ports dotted around the islands coastline have allegedly been used by the regime to launch attack boats and drones.

For these reasons the 82nd could be called upon to neutralise the threat and to release Tehrans grip on the shipping lane.

Militarily speaking, its a relatively straightforward operation but its far from simple and doesnt come without massive risks, said Phil Ingram, a former colonel in British military intelligence.

It could be a very bloody and costly operation for the Americans.

First, the US would need to soften up the islands defences with a massive aerial bombardment, Mr Ingram said, using precision smart bombs launched from F-35 stealth jets.

Paratroopers would leap into action, seizing key military sites or raiding the tunnel network to degrade Irans missile threat.

At the same time, US Apache attack helicopters and A-10 Warthogs, possibly prepositioned on the other side of the strait in the United Arab Emirates, could fly in and provide additional firepower.

Such aircraft have already been used by the US nearby, with A-10 Warthogs hunting and killing fast-attack water craft in the Strait of Hormuz, General Dan Razin Caine revealed on Wednesday.

Troops from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit could launch an amphibious raid, using a force of about 2,200 marines and armoured vehicles to support the paratroopers and seize ports around Qeshm.

A second similar-sized unit, the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, set sail from San Diego last week and could potentially join the operation, meaning more than 6,000 US troops could attack the island. However, theyre thought to still be weeks away.

Mr Ingram said an assault like this was likely, adding The big advantage is Iranians cant send armoured columns steaming across and attacking you.

Seizure of Kharg Island

Another option lies 300 miles north of Qeshm, deep in the Persian Gulf.

Kharg Island is Irans primary oil export terminal, handling nearly all of the countrys crude shipments.

President Trump has said he may seize the island, which would put significant economic pressure on Tehran.

The 82nd could serve as the first wave in the assault, parachuting in to secure the islands airfield in the north-west and give American forces a foothold there.

2603 How the US could invade Kharg Island updated

However, one difficulty comes in bringing the two potential US amphibious fighting forces up through the dangers of the Strait of Hormuz.

Experts have previously signalled the two marine expeditionary units, which would be made up of about six ships, would be vulnerable to Iranian missile and drone assault.

They would all be sailing through a choke point  Thats a big juicy target for the Iranians if they have anti-ship missiles, thats when theyd use them, warned Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute.

Seizing uranium

Potentially the highest-risk option, and one experts say is least likely, would be a direct assault deep into Iran to seize its enriched uranium supply, which is key to developing nuclear weapons.

America claimed it wiped out Irans ability to produce such material during its strikes on nuclear facilities in June 2025.

Before the attack, the bulk of Irans enriched uranium would have been based across three plants  two at Natanz and one at Fordow. However, these were reportedly destroyed or severely damaged.

Analysts say Iran has been building new enrichment sites  one called Pickaxe near Natanz in the Zagros Mountains and another at Isfahan.

1703 How US could extract uranium from Iranian nuclear facilities

The paratroopers of the 82nd could be flown into Iran to try and seize these new sites and forcibly remove the Islamic regimes uranium supply, thought to weigh about 1,000lb.

But the mission would involve travelling hundreds of miles into the centre of the country and has a high degree of failure, so is very unlikely to take place, experts say.

It would be a very risky operation for little real benefit, Mr Ingram said. If the US knows the enriched uranium is underground they can just seal it there by dropping great bombs on it.

Putting troops on the ground to find it and getting it out is extremely high risk. Americans could do it. But the sites would likely be heavily defended and there would be huge casualties.

Even then, theres no guarantee there will be any uranium when they arrive. It could be a huge waste of US lives.
Sir Keir Starmer has announced a temporary ban on cryptocurrency donations to political parties following a government review into electoral interference  a move that will be a major blow to Nigel Farages Reform UK.

The government will also cap donations from British citizens living abroad who are still on the electoral register.

Sir Keir told MPs the review by Philip Rycroft, a former senior civil servant, set out the stark threats posed by illicit finance  and he hit out at Mr Farage, whose party has accepted a number of crypto donations.

In the last year, Reform received about 12m from the Thai-based British investor Christopher Harborne, as well as a series of smaller donations from overseas.

The review warned that Iran, Russia and China are trying to cause harm to Britains democracy, that foreign interference is real and persistent and the government needs to make it a far higher priority.

Sir Keir told MPs at PMQs that the government would act decisively to protect our democracy; that will include a moratorium on all political donations made through cryptocurrencies.

The move, outlined in a new report on Wednesday, could outlaw Reform record-breaking 9m donation from a British businessman based in Thailand (PA Wire)

The announcement led to calls for Mr Farage to return crypto donations.

Lib Dem cabinet spokesperson Lisa Smart said: Reform taking untraceable, secretive crypto-donations to fund their Trump-style politics here in the UK should never have been allowed. Farage must return all the crypto donations hes received from anonymous overseas sources or admit hes happy to let foreign sources of money poison our politics in the UK.

The report was ordered after Reform UKs former leader in Wales, Nathan Gill, was jailed for taking bribes to make pro-Russia statements while a member of the European Parliament.

The report also calls for a ban on foreign-funded online political ads, suggested MPs trips overseas should be funded only by the government or parliament, and warned of a "potential new threat" from the US.

In a sign of the scale of the problem, the reports authors warned that social media posts on Scottish independence fell dramatically when the Iranian authorities recently cut off internet service to its citizens.

Philip Rycroft says he is here to look out for the interest of our democratic processes (PA)

Mr Farage was forced to defend the donation from Mr Harborne last year, insisting he wants nothing from me.

But the donation prompted concerns about political funding, as Mr Farage publicly promoted Tether, the cryptocurrency company in which Mr Harborne is a shareholder, shortly after receiving the donation.

Few parties accept crypto donations, but Reform UK is the most prominent to do so.

Mr Rycroft said he had spoken to Mr Farages party while compiling his report.

An independent report has warned that foreign interference in the UK is real and persistent and the government needs to make it a far higher priority (PA Archive)

Asked about the prospect of Reform feeling targeted by the recommendations, he said: I wasnt here to look out for the interests of any political party, I was here to look out for the interest of our democratic processes.

Attempts to use financial influence to infiltrate politics by gaining leverage and sowing division and distrust are not new but arguably more acute, Mr Rycroft noted.

He said he was not pressing the panic button but ringing the alarm bell on the issue and urged the government to act swiftly on his recommendations.

Reform UK has also secured a second multimillion-pound donation from Mr Harborne. Months after he gave the party 9m, he gave an additional 3m donation in November, according to the Electoral Commission.

Reform home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf described the announcement as a dark day for Britain.

He said: Reform receives a large, perfectly lawful donation from a British citizen, and Labour responds by rushing through a new law to prohibit him from making such a donation again.

Rycroft even refers to British citizens as malign actors in his report. This is how fast the machinery of government moves when it wants to protect itself.
The UN General Assembly has formally recognised the trafficking of enslaved Africans as "the gravest crime against humanity," while also calling for reparations to address historical injustices.

The resolution, passed on Wednesday, additionally urges the "prompt and unhindered restitution" of cultural artefacts  including artworks, monuments, and national archives  to their countries of origin without charge.

The measure passed with 123 votes in favour, three against, and 52 abstentions within the 193-member body. Argentina, Israel, and the United States opposed the resolution, while the United Kingdom and several European Union member states chose to abstain.

In the United States, support for reparations gained momentum in the wake of the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020.

The United Kingdom's acting U.N. Ambassador James Kariuki said the history of slavery, "its devastating consequences and long-lasting impacts" must never be forgotten (REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz)

However, the issue has been a difficult one and has been caught up in a broader conservative backlash over how race, history and inequality are handled in public institutions.

Unlike Security Council resolutions, General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding but they are an important reflection of world opinion.

"Today, we come together in solemn solidarity to affirm truth and pursue a route to healing and reparative justice," Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama, a key architect of the resolution, told the assembly before the vote.

"The adoption of this resolution serves as a safeguard against forgetting," he said. "Let it be recorded that when history beckoned, we did what was right for the memory of the millions who suffered the indignity of slavery."

The United Kingdom's acting U.N. Ambassador James Kariuki, speaking on behalf of mainly Western nations, said the history of slavery and "its devastating consequences and long-lasting impacts" must never be forgotten.

Unlike Security Council resolutions, General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding but they are an important reflection of world opinion. (REUTERS/Jeenah Moon/File Photo)

Western nations are committed to tackling the root causes that persist today, he said, pointing to racial discrimination, racism, xenophobia and intolerance. He said "the scourge of modern slavery" must also be addressed  trafficking, forced labor, sexual exploitation and forced criminality.

The resolution "unequivocally condemns the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized chattel enslavement of Africans, slavery and the transatlantic slave trade as the most inhumane and enduring injustice against humanity."

In approving the resolution, the General Assembly affirms the importance of addressing the historical wrongs of slavery "in a manner that promotes justice, human rights, dignity and healing."

The resolution calls on U.N. member nations to engage in talks "on reparatory justice, including a full and formal apology, measures of restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction, guarantees of non-repetition and changes to laws, programs and services to address racism and systemic discrimination."

It encourages voluntary contributions to promote education on the transatlantic slave trade and asks the African Union, the Caribbean Community and the Organization of American States to collaborate with U.N. bodies and other nations "on reparatory justice and reconciliation."
Analysis of 20202023 Medicare Part B data reveals significant geographic disparities following the federal coverage decision for chronic low back pain

WHITTIER, Calif., March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) announced new research findings demonstrating more than a 100-fold variation in Medicare beneficiaries' access to acupuncture across the United States. The findings were presented at the Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine (AIHM) Conference.

The study analyzed Medicare Part B claims data from January 2020 through December 2023, following the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) decision in January 2020 to cover acupuncture for chronic low back pain.

The research was conducted under a National Institutes of Health (NIH) R01 grant titled "Acupuncture for Medicare Beneficiaries with Chronic Low Back Pain: Access, Utilization, and Outcomes" (Grant No. 1R01AT012615-01A1).

The analysis found dramatic geographic disparities in both utilization and treatment intensity of Medicare-covered acupuncture services across all 50 states.

What Did the Study Examine?

The research team, led by James Whedon, DC, MS, Senior Health Services Researcher at Southern California University of Health Sciences, evaluated two specific measures:

Utilization: Number of patients receiving acupuncture per 100,000 Medicare beneficiaries

Number of patients receiving acupuncture per 100,000 Medicare beneficiaries Treatment intensity: Number of acupuncture visits per 100,000 Medicare beneficiaries

The data showed that some states had utilization rates more than 100 times higher than others. Treatment intensity closely tracked utilization rates, suggesting systemic differences rather than random variation.

"What surprised us most was the magnitude of the differences," said Dr. James Whedon, Senior Health Services Researcher at Southern California University of Health Sciences. "There is always some geographic variation in healthcare use, but these disparities were extreme and not easily explained by population size or patient need alone."

Why Does Medicare Coverage Not Equal Access?

Medicare began covering acupuncture for chronic low back pain in January 2020 as a non-pharmacologic treatment option. However, the study findings indicate that coverage does not necessarily ensure equitable access.

Under current federal policy governed by the Social Security Act, Medicare reimbursement for acupuncture is generally limited to physicians and certain supervised practitioners. Licensed acupuncturistswho complete graduate-level education and clinical training and are licensed under state laware not recognized as Medicare providers and cannot bill Medicare directly.

"As expected, the data show that the clinicians who are most highly trained in acupuncture are not available to provide acupuncture under Medicare," Dr. Whedon explained. "The lack of availability is a direct result of barriers to access incorporated into federal health policy."

In states where physicians or qualifying supervised practitioners are less likely to provide acupuncture services, Medicare beneficiaries may have coverage on paper but limited practical access in their communities.

What Do the Findings Mean for Healthcare Policy?

The study provides federally funded, externally valid evidence that geographic disparities in Medicare acupuncture utilization persist six years after coverage was approved.

The research is part of an ongoing NIH-funded initiative examining access, utilization, and patient outcomes associated with acupuncture for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic low back pain.

"Policy makers and healthcare advocates need high-quality data to justify their positions," said Dr. Whedon. "Our research provides evidence to support informed decision-making regarding Medicare provider eligibility and access to non-pharmacologic pain care."

Additional analyses from the grant-funded project are currently underway.

About the Research

Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Grant Mechanism: R01

Grant Number: 1R01AT012615-01A1

Study Period: January 2020  December 2023

Data Source: Medicare Part B claims data

Presentation Venue: Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine (AIHM) Conference, October 2025

About Southern California University of Health Sciences

Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) is one of the world's only Integrative, Whole Health universitiesteaching students to blend the best of conventional medicine with proven complementary approaches, and to treat the whole person (body, mind, and spirit). Founded in 1911, SCU has been challenging convention and pushing healthcare forward for more than 100 years. Today, the institution offers graduate, undergraduate, and certificate programs in a wide range of disciplines, including Chiropractic, Sports Medicine, Physical & Occupational Therapy, Genetic Counseling, Genetics & Genomics, Medical Science, Physician Assistant, Ayurveda, Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine, Clinical Psychology, Whole Health Leadership, and beyond. Learn more at scuhs.edu.

SOURCE Southern California University of Health Sciences
Britons more concerned about violence against women and girls than immigration, poll shows

Britons are more concerned about violence against women and girls (VAWG) than they are about immigration, a new report has suggested, piling pressure on the government to move more quickly to tackle the problem.

The report, being published by the Health Equality Foundation on Wednesday, warned that decades of underinvestment and inattention have eroded womens trust, meaning that the systems designed to respond to [VAWG] are failing.

A poll conducted as part of the report, seen by The Independent, reveals that around nine in 10 adults (88 per cent) say they are concerned about VAWG  placing it only slightly behind the NHS (91 per cent) and the cost of living (93 per cent).

Notably, this is well ahead of immigration on 77 per cent, and unemployment on 72 per cent.

The government launched its strategy for tackling violence against women and girls last year (PA)

The government has put a mission to tackle immigration at the centre of its agenda, forming a key part of Labours plan to win back votes from Reform UK amid devastating approval ratings.

While Labour has also pledged to halve violence against women and girls in a decade  a plan which was unveiled in December in its long delayed VAWG strategy  this has been a much less prominent mission than Sir Keir Starmers attempt to crack down on migration.

Health Equality Foundation founder Baroness Nargund, a Labour peer, told The Independent that while the government has made meaningful progress placing womens concerns at the heart of its agenda, she urged ministers to implement policies that put womens safety and wellbeing at the forefront without delay.

The survey also reveals that over the past 12 months alone, almost half (44 per cent) of women have avoided a place, route or situation because they felt unsafe, compared with 26 per cent of men.

Baroness Nargund told The Independent: Concern about violence against women and girls now sits alongside the NHS and the cost of living as one of Britains top worries.

That is not an abstract anxiety  it is about women feeling unsafe on their streets, on public transport and even in their own homes.

The government has promised to halve violence against women and girls within the decade (PA)

The government has made meaningful progress placing womens concerns at the heart of its agenda, much more than its predecessors.

Its VAWG strategy, the renewal of the Womens Health Strategy, and the expansion of funded childcare are all welcome and important steps in the right direction.

She added: The priority now is delivery. It is imperative that policies that put womens safety and wellbeing at the forefront are implemented without delay. If women can see and feel that change in their everyday lives over the next year, then trust can be rebuilt.

The polling  conducted by GGF Insights between March 13 and 17  spoke to 4,007 nationally representative British adults.

A Home Office spokesperson said: Violence against women and girls is a national emergency, and this government is deploying the full power of the state to halve it within a decade.

Our Freedom from Violence and Abuse strategy sets out clear actions to prevent abuse, pursue offenders, and support victims, underpinning our commitment to cut VAWG by 50 per cent.

We are investing over 1bn in victim support over the next three years, ensuring schools tackle the root causes of violence through teaching healthy relationships and consent, and strengthening policing by embedding public protection as a dedicated specialism.
Rob Bonta, the attorney general of California, during an interview in San Francisco. Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters (Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters)

A three-judge panel has denied a filing by Californias attorney general, Rob Bonta, seeking a court order to stop the Riverside county sheriffs department from continuing its recount of ballots from the November 2025 special election.

The LA Times reported that Bonta filed a petition with the fourth appellate district on Monday, writing that the sheriffs misguided investigation threatens to sow distrust and jeopardize public confidence in upcoming elections.

On Tuesday, the fourth appellate district court denied the 70-page petition, stating that Bonta should apply with a lower court.

Related: California governor poll raises prospect of two Republicans contesting runoff

The move comes after Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, last week seized more than 650,000 ballots cast in Riverside county from last Novembers election that resulted in the passage of Proposition 50. The proposition redrew congressional districts to help gerrymander the state in favor of Democrats, in response to similar measures in Republican states such as Texas.

California Republicans, joined by the Trump administration, challenged the measure, but the US supreme court denied an emergency petition to keep the new maps from moving forward.

Bianco said his recounting efforts stemmed from claims the results were off by 45,800 votes, but Bonta and Art Tinoco, the registrar of voters for the Riverside county board of supervisors, have assured the tallies differed by about 100 votes.

Bianco said at a press conference on Friday that a Riverside superior court judge appointed a special master to count the ballots. This investigation is simple: physically count the ballots and compare that result with the total votes recorded, Bianco said.

There is no indication, anywhere in the United States, of widespread voter fraud, Bonta said in a statement, according to the Los Angeles Times. Counts, recounts, hand counts, audits, and court cases all support this.

Bonta has repeatedly sent letters to Biancos office over the past two months saying his staff is not qualified to conduct a recount. In one of the letters, Bonta wrote that the ballot seizure was unacceptable and sets a dangerous precedent and will only sow distrust in our elections.

The executive director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, Chandra Bhatnagar, has shown support for Bonta and called Biancos claims misleading on Tuesday.

Lets be clear: no sheriff has a legitimate role  much less experience  in administering our elections or in handling hundreds of thousands of voters ballots, said Bhatnagar. The sheriffs investigation represents a serious threat to voter privacy, undermines our democratic process and raises questions about the misuse of law enforcement authority for political gain.

Roque Planas contributed reporting
Queen Camilla and her late father will be the subject of a new BBC documentary showcasing their love of literature and others with a passion for books.

Camilla announced the film during a Clarence House reception celebrating the fifth anniversary of her Queens Reading Room book club, attended by the King and Hollywood stars Stanley Tucci, Sigourney Weaver and Booker Prize winning novelist, Sir Ben Okri.

The inaugural recipients of the Queens Reading Room medal were announced with Selina Brown named the national winner for transforming lives through black British literature, while Liz Waterland was the local winner for services to literature in her community in Lincolnshire.

Camilla and her father Major Bruce Shand leaving Westminster Abbey, London, after the service to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth IIs coronation (PA) (PA)

In a speech, the Queen described how her literary project was launched in lockdown to share her lifelong conviction that books make life better and has since grown into a festival, donated thousands of books and forged partnerships with organisations combatting domestic violence and homelessness.

Im also delighted to announce that we have partnered with the BBC and Blink Films for a major new documentary that will showcase the life-transforming power of books  my fathers and my own experience included  for which the cameras are filming here today, said Camilla.

The Queen is an avid reader and patron of a number of literary organisations, and inherited her love of books from her father Major Bruce Shand who also wrote about military history and published his war memoirs.

Major Shand served in the Second World War as a 12th Lancer, fought alongside the Desert Rats, received the Military Cross twice and was wounded and taken prisoner while fighting in North Africa.

In a Spectator magazine article Camilla reportedly said about her father: He read to us as children. He chose the books, and we listened.

Camilla during a visit to Persephone Books, an independent publisher and bookshop founded in 1999, in Bath (Alastair Grant/PA) (Alastair Grant)

He was probably the best-read man Ive come across anywhere. He devoured books.

The documentary, due to be screened in the autumn, will feature Camilla reflecting on her passion for books, sharing the childhood experiences that first sparked her interest in reading and the comfort she still finds in books, the BBC has said.

The Queen will recount memories of her father and his experience being held in a German prisoner of war camp when reading reinforced a lifelong enthusiasm for the written word.

Among the guests were many writers including Jojo Moyes and broadcaster Richard Osman, and the Queen told her guests: You are indeed dangerous people: you look into our hearts and souls to expose the unvarnished truth, with all the strengths and weaknesses of the human condition.

You allow us to experience life through anothers eyes, you encourage us, you make us laugh, you make us cry, you take us on magical journeys and you create a community of book lovers that transcends almost any barrier.

Other guests included author Jeffrey Archer, actor Sir Derek Jacobi and the Princess Royals husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence who was spotted having a long conversation with actresses Celia Imrie and Sigourney Weaver.

Camilla speaks during a reception for authors, members of the literary community and representatives from the Queens Reading Room (Aaron Chown/PA) (Aaron Chown)

Weaver said the Queens encouragement of readers felt like a personal message to pick up a book and she had followed a recommendation from her Reading Room  The Far Pavilions, an epic novel of British-Indian history by MM Kaye.

The actress said: Luckily I didnt know how big it was because I read on Kindle and Im having the best of time.

The star of the Alien movies quoted a shocking statistic highlighted by the Queens Reading Room that only 50% of UK adults reads a book a year.

As an American, as a New Yorker, I know the problem is worse in the US, she added. Adults are not reading to their children.

Children can read a book and play the movie in their head rather than watch someone elses video on a device.

Selina Brown founded the Black British Book Festival in 2021 as a grassroots project that now reaches more than 100,000 people, has launched community libraries and through her Reading for Smiles programme has encouraged reading in primary schools with inclusive stories.

She said: I started the book festival from my savings, with no blueprint, no background.

I literally love books and I really want to give black British authors a platform to be celebrated and seen and acknowledged for their talent.
American actress Chase Infiniti has shared her gratitude for her recent success and the opportunity to bring strong, complex characters to life.

The 25-year-old, who rose to fame starring in the Oscar-winning film One Battle After Another, says she hopes her performances allow people who look like her to see themselves reflected in the characters she plays.

Infiniti, who was nominated for this years Bafta rising star award, now stars in The Testaments, a sequel to the dystopian series The Handmaids Tale.

Chase Infiniti stars as Agnes in The Testaments (Disney/PA)

Based on Margaret Atwoods 2019 novel of the same name, the coming-of-age series tells the story of teenage Agnes, played by Infiniti, as she grows up in Gilead.

The series also sees the return of Ann Dowd to her role as Aunt Lydia and welcomes Scottish actress Lucy Halliday, who stars as Daisy, a new arrival and convert from beyond Gileads borders.

Speaking about her recent roles  Willa, an ex-revolutionarys daughter in One Battle After Another, and now Agnes in The Testaments  Infiniti told the Press Association: Honestly, it feels like the best gift.

One of the great things is that I believe the things meant for me will find me, and I feel grateful that Willa is one of those things.

Willa is someone I got to meet, and Agnes is another.

I really admire the strength both of them have, especially at such a young age.

I feel so grateful that I can bring them to life in that way, to be a face for these stories and show people who either look like me or can relate to me that you can have strength, beautiful friendships, and know that, regardless of anything, you are your own person.

The One Battle After Another cast and creatives at the Baftas (Ian West/PA) (Ian West)

I feel very fortunate to play both of them.

I hope people love Agnes, but I hope they love Willa too.

Its truly been the best gift.

One Battle After Another, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, has been hailed as a modern masterpiece by critics and stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a washed-up revolutionary.

Loosely based on Thomas Pynchons novel Vineland, DiCaprio plays Bob Ferguson  a paranoid former radical living off-grid in California  who embarks on a frantic quest to find his missing daughter Willa, played by Infiniti.

The film was crowned best picture at the Oscars and also won best director, best adapted screenplay and best supporting actor for Sean Penn.

The Testaments will be available to stream on Disney+ from Wednesday, April 8.
A commuter train in Panama City (Getty Images)

A train connecting Costa Rica and Panama could be possible following the first stage of a potential rail partnership between the countries.

Costa Ricas rail institute Incofer and Panamas National Railway Secretariat signed a memorandum of understanding on railway development, a formal move towards a rail logistics corridor for the wider region, reported Costa Rican newspaper the Tico Times.

Incofer said the agreement is aimed at advancing a modern and sustainable rail system that could strengthen regional connectivity and support trade, logistics, tourism and broader economic integration.

Panamas proposed rail line would run 300 miles from Panama City to Paso Canoas, at the Costa Rican border.

The 14 planned stations include Albrook, La Chorrera, Santiago, David, Bugaba and Paso Canoas, said the Tico Times.

It added that Costa Rica will be Panamas first regional partner toward a wider Central American rail logistics corridor.

Although plans could provide the framework for new cargo and cross-border commerce in Central America, at this stage the agreement does not guarantee that trains will cross the border.

In Europe, a new train launching this summer will connect three major Scandinavian cities for as little as 149 Swedish krone (SEK) or 12.20.

Private Swedish railway company Snalltaget has announced it is debuting a new long-distance route connecting Malmo, Gothenburg and Oslo with direct daytime services.

The six-and-a-half-hour journey, launching on 15 June, will take passengers along Swedens west coast and onwards across the border to Norways capital.

The train will also call at other destinations, including Lund, Helsingborg, Halmstad, Varberg, Trollhattan, Sarpsborg and Fredrikstad.

Read more: New train connecting three major Scandinavian cities launching this summer
Socialist Party MP Emmanuel Gregoire, who has been elected Paris mayor. Photograph: Geoffroy van der Hasselt/AFP/Getty Images (Photograph: Geoffroy van der Hasselt/AFP/Getty Images)

The Rassemblement National is not invincible. A year out from a make-or-break presidential vote, that might be the main lesson (though there are others, which may prove more significant) from last weekends local elections in France. Whats more, news elsewhere  Giorgia Melonis referendum defeat in Italy, Janez Jansa beaten in Slovenia, Hungarys Viktor Orban in trouble, the left bloc largest in Denmark  might suggest the rest of Europes far right are not having it all their own way, either.

But lets focus first on France  if only because while local elections are rarely a wholly accurate guide to future national outcomes, these ones seem to provide some pointers  and the stakes in the countrys next major election are vertiginously high.

After 10 years of Emmanuel Macron, this time next year French voters will be gearing up for the first round of a presidential election that polls suggest will be comfortably won by whichever of the RNs Marine Le Pen or Jordan Bardella ends up running.

Depending on whom they face, some polls also project a far-right win in the second round. Its difficult to overstate the implications of that  many analysts frame it as arguably the most significant threat to the EUs architecture in its history. A victory for the nationalist far right could lead to a France first policy in which the blocs second biggest economy, and sole nuclear power, challenges further European integration and enlargement, scales back support for Ukraine and reshapes Nato.

Real-world electoral clues to possible dynamics of that election are welcome  and these local votes were an important early test of the RNs strength. So how did it do? The party, naturally, hailed it a major breakthrough. Certainly, it now runs almost 60 small and medium-sized towns with more than 3,500 people, about seven times more than after the last local elections in 2020. But it failed its test in the bigger cities that it had the highest hopes of capturing.

The far-right party did win in conservative Nice  but through an ally, Eric Ciotti, in a very personal battle between two rightwing rivals. But it lost in its prime southern targets of Marseille, Toulon and Nimes. Often, that was because left-leaning and more moderate right-leaning voters teamed up in a so-called Republican front to keep it out.

It all suggests the RN might not be quite as unbeatable as it has looked. But if the far right is not to furnish Frances next president, the parties of the traditional centre-right and -left, as well as Macrons centrists, will have to play their part. The local elections may have had some lessons for them, too.

In Paris and Marseille, the centre-left Socialist party (PS), allied with other left-wing moderates, showed it could win without the backing of Jean-Luc Melenchons radical left La France Insoumise  and that when it does ally with LFI, it often loses.

LFI, on the other hand, shunned by much of the mainstream left over allegations of extremism, antisemitism and street violence, scored a couple of symbolic wins including in Roubaix. It can motivate its base, but its reach is limited.

***

Headwinds hit Europes far right

The dilemma for the left will be to devise a strategy  and find a candidate  who will appeal to potential radicals without repelling moderate left-wingers. The same goes, on the other side of the spectrum, for centrists and the centre-right.

The conservative Les Republicains and Macrons centrists lost in Paris and Lyon  but between them, allied or separately, they captured several former leftist bastions. A combined centre and centre-right bloc could, in theory, defeat the far right.

They would, however, need a single candidate, and half a dozen look set on running (with Edouard Philippe, handily re-elected mayor of Le Havre, perhaps the favourite). A lot of stars will need to align, but an RN win in 2027 might not be inevitable.

More broadly, there were other tentative signs this week that Europes populist far right may be encountering headwinds  perhaps due, in part at least, to what might be called a Trumplash. Ask Giorgia Meloni.

The Trump-whispering Italian prime minister lost her high-stakes referendum on judicial reform, seen as a de facto vote of confidence in her government, on a record-breaking turnout and, notably, with 61% of 18- to 34-year-olds voting against it.

The vote has few immediate consequences for Meloni, though she fired a few ministers. But an electoral law change that could help her in next years election now looks doubtful, and as one analyst said, when you start losing in politics, people look at you differently. Youre not invincible.

In Slovenia, meanwhile, the centre-left incumbent Robert Golob managed a one-seat win ahead of Jansa, a far-right nationalist; and in Hungary, Viktor Orban, despite the shrill backing of his European populist allies and of Trump, could well be ousted.

In Denmark, the Social Democrats suffered their worst result in 120 years but remain, after two terms in office, by far the largest party, and Mette Frederiksen could form a new government at the head of the left-leaning red bloc, which finished ahead.

The far-right Danish Peoples Party, meanwhile, improved significantly  but is still well below its pre-2019 support levels. Does standing up to Trump, as Frederiksen did over Greenland, and rejecting Trump-style populism, carry an electoral dividend?

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The cut in aid is not just a moral dereliction of duty, but a false economy, bringing greater instability to the world and making people less safe. Photograph: Leonhard Foger/Reuters (Photograph: Leonhard Foger/Reuters)

The recent announcement that the UK government is set to make significant cuts to direct aid to Africa and the Middle East is deeply disappointing (Report, 19 March). It is plumbing new depths by proposing to balance increased defence spending on the backs of the worlds poorest by slashing development aid.

Such a move also breaks Labours 2024 manifesto pledge to restore development spending at the level of 0.7% of gross national income (GNI) as soon as fiscal circumstances allow.

The cut in aid to 0.3% of GNI from 2027 is not just a moral dereliction of duty, betraying the worlds most marginalised, but a false economy, bringing greater instability to the world and making people less safe.

The UK is making the steepest proportion of aid cuts among G7 nations. Conflict often results from war, famine or persecution. Our finances should be spent on preventing this, not on the deadly consequences.

As James Mattis, Donald Trumps defence secretary in his previous administration, said: If you dont fund the state department fully, then I need to buy more ammunition ultimately.

Alex Orr

Edinburgh

 I welcome your editorial (22 March), which rightly characterises the scale of aid cuts as both shortsighted and damaging to the UKs global standing. At a time when cuts risk reversing decades of progress in health, education and poverty reduction, the case for sustained investment in development could not be clearer.

However, there is an additional dimension that deserves greater emphasis: the UK itself benefits materially from these investments. The recent inquiry by the all-party parliamentary group on global health and security on international health worker recruitment highlights the extent to which the NHS and wider economy rely on the skills, expertise and partnerships rooted in the global south.

The report makes clear that this is not marginal, but structural: the UK has saved 14bn in training costs through international recruitment and continues to depend on globally trained health professionals. UK aid is not simply an act of solidarity; it underpins reciprocal relationships that strengthen our own health system, enhance research collaboration, and build long-term economic and diplomatic ties. Sustained investment in global health and development is an investment in the UKs own resilience, prosperity and security.

Ben Simms

CEO, Global Health Partnerships

 Your editorial argues that a better case needs to be made for development spending. Working on the NHS frontline, that case is clearer than ever. As a London-based GP, I see how stretched the NHS is. When infectious diseases rise globally, the effects inevitably reach general practice. Preventing disease at source is one of the smartest investments we can make to protect patients in Britain.

Investment in global vaccination, disease surveillance and research helps stop outbreaks before they spread internationally and place pressure on health systems. Making that case clearly  that protecting health abroad helps protect patients at home  is essential if the UK is to make sensible decisions about development spending.

Dr Arshad Rizvi

GP and member of the Healthy World, Secure Britain campaign

 Somalia is on the edge of famine. Your report on the UKs climate aid cuts comes at a moment when the stakes could not be higher. Two consecutive failed rainy seasons have left 6.5 million people in crisis, more than double the number a year ago. The herding way of life that most Somalis depend on is collapsing.

In the communities my foundation supports, I see pastoralists who have lost their animals and families who have abandoned homes their grandparents built. When livelihoods collapse and governments are overwhelmed, instability follows.

This is what climate change looks like in practice. Not an environmental headline, but empty pastures, broken lives and people forced to move. The journeys that end at Europes borders begin with a failed harvest, not a decision.

Somalia contributes less than 0.1% of global carbon emissions. We are not asking for charity. We are asking for consistency. The UKs humanitarian relief in Somalia is welcome, yet three months after publishing an Africa strategy that placed climate resilience at its centre, it has scrapped nature funding, cut climate aid, and reduced direct funding to countries such as Somalia even as they remain humanitarian priorities. In doing so, it risks compromising its own strategy of preventing crisis before it takes hold.

You cannot respond to the flood while dismantling the dam. A long-term strategy must prioritise the foundations of stability.

Abdullahi Nur Osman

CEO, Hormuud Salaam Foundation, Mogadishu, Somalia
Cyprus to seek new security deal for UK military bases following strike on RAF Akrotiri

Cyprus is said to be seeking new security arrangements for Britains military bases on the island after it was targeted by Iranian drone attacks.

Cypriot president Nikos Christodoulides reportedly raised the issue during a lengthy call with Sir Keir Starmer on Saturday, after he vowed to have an open and frank discussion with the British government over the future of RAF Akrotiri.

Mr Christodoulides is seeking to renegotiate the security arrangements of the 1960 treaty, which established the sovereign bases of RAF Akrotiri and Dhekelia in Cyprus, according to The Telegraph.

However, it is not believed that Cyprus will demand Britain to give up the bases entirely.

A UK Ministry of Defence spokesperson said the status of the bases was not up for negotiation and that the longstanding friendship between the UK and Cyprus remained strong.

The Cypriot president reportedly raised the issue of the base with the prime minister over the weekend (AP)

The status of the Sovereign Base Areas is not in question. The SBAs have never been part of the Republic of Cyprus, as UK sovereignty was retained over these areas when Cyprus became independent in 1960. We have no plans to change this, the spokesperson said.

It comes after RAF Akrotiri, a British military base in Cyprus, was hit by an unmanned drone strike at the start of the Iran war, raising concerns that the base could be a threat to the islands security.

The attack prompted Britain to send the warship HMS Dragon to the country, though the vessel only arrived in the eastern Mediterranean on Monday, almost three weeks after its deployment was first announced.

Mr Christodoulides has described the bases as a colonial consequence and said the Cypriot government has a responsibility to the 10,000 citizens living within the bases amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

Nikos Christodoulides wants to have a frank discussion on the future of the bases in Cyprus (AFP/Getty)

Speaking upon his arrival at the European Council summit in Brussels last Thursday, Mr Christodoulides said: The British bases in Cyprus are something that is a colonial consequence We have more than 10,000 Cypriot citizens within the British bases.

We have a responsibility to those people... we are going to have an open and frank discussion with the British government.

Asked whether he wants rid of the bases, he said that we have a clear approach with regard to the future of the British bases, adding, I am sure that you understand that I am not going to negotiate in public.

It comes as the conflict in the Middle East rages on, as the UK works to develop a plan to reopen the vital oil shipping route of the Strait of Hormuz.

The prime minister has previously told the Cypriot president that the Cyprus bases would not be used to launch strikes (PA)

The blockade has seen oil prices soar above $100 a barrel and prompted Shell boss Wael Sawan to warn at an industry conference on Tuesday that Europe could face oil shortages by next month if it remains closed.

Donald Trump has repeatedly demanded that other nations take a role in opening the strait, and the UK is currently leading efforts to formulate a plan to achieve that.

In a call with Saudi Arabias crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, on Tuesday night, Sir Keir said the UK was now working with partners on what a viable plan could look like to ensure the flow of goods through the key maritime route.

However, any deployment of naval vessels is understood to be unlikely to take place while Iran continues to threaten ships in the strait with missiles and drones.
The Democratic Party on Tuesday won a special election in a Florida statehouse race in a district that includes President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate, flipping a previously Republican seat.

Victory went to Emily Gregory, a first-time lawmaker with a public health background who runs a fitness center for pregnant and postpartum women.

Gregory told CNN she focused her campaign on kitchen table issues, rather than the president.

I think my opponent put it front and center, and I focused on the issues that matter most to Florida families, she said. Everyone is feeling the affordability crisis and the last thing that Florida families needed when theyre struggling is $4 gas.

She added that she was happy to speak and work with Trump, who is now technically one of her constituents.

A Democrat flipped a Republican seat on Tuesday in a special statehouse election for a district that includes President Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida (Reuters)

President Trump had endorsed her opponent, financial adviser Jon Maples.

The Independent has contacted the Maples campaign for comment.

The Democratic Party called the win an earth-shattering victory for Florida Democrats, given that the president won the district by a wide margin in the 2024 presidential election. The party framed the win as a referendum on the wider performance of national Republicans, especially on issues like healthcare, where the GOP has yet to deliver a long-promised replacement for the Affordable Care Act.

Donald Trumps own neighbors just sent a crystal clear message: They are furious and ready for change, DNC Chair Ken Martin said in a statement. While Trump is partying with his billionaire donors and building gilded ballrooms, Americans are being left behind and raising hell with their votes.

In an endorsement statement on Truth Social, the president had called Maples a very successful Businessman and Civic Leader, who is known and loved, and also endorsed by so many of my Palm Beach County friends.

Trump previously made headlines for voting in the special election by mail, even though he has frequently and baselessly criticized the practice as fraudulent and is pushing to restrict it with his Republican allies in Congress via the SAVE America Act.

President Trump endorsed Gregorys opponent, and he voted by mail even though he regularly criticizes early voting as fraudulent (AP)

Florida Democrats also cheered the win.

Floridians have made it clear they want real action on the affordability crisis and while Republicans have ignored them, Emily ran a campaign focused on pragmatic solutions to lower costs, raise wages, and build a more affordable state for all working families and seniors that resonated with the people of Palm Beach County, Florida House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell said in a statement. We look forward to her joining us in Tallahassee as we continue to fight for our affordability agenda to provide Floridians with the relief their hard work has earned.

The seat in District 87 opened up for a special election after Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed its previous occupant, GOP State Representative Mike Caruso, to be a county clerk.
A view of the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, on November 8, 2024, seen from across the water in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Democrat Emily Gregory won a Florida special election on Tuesday, flipping a state legislative district that is home to Mar-a-Lago, the Palm Beach estate that President Donald Trump counts as his residence.

The president had endorsed Gregorys rival, Jon Maples. In a social media post Monday, he urged voters to turn out, saying Maples was backed by so many of my Palm Beach County friends.

Democrats celebrated the victory as the latest sign voters are turning against Trump and Republicans ahead of the midterm elections in November. Tuesday was the latest in a series of lopsided or improbable victories in special elections across the country since Trump returned to the White House more than a year ago.

Read moreTrumps marathon State of Union: Big claims and the questions he left unanswered

The district was previously represented by Mike Caruso, a Republican who resigned to become Palm Beach County's clerk. Caruso won by 19 percentage points in 2024.

If Mar-a-Lago is vulnerable, imagine whats possible this November, said Heather Williams, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. She said Tuesday's race was the 29th seat that Democrats have flipped from Republican control since Trump took office.

Gas prices are spiking, grocery costs are up, and families cant get by  its clear voters at the polls are fed up with Republicans, Williams said.

With almost all votes counted, Gregory led by 2.4 percentage points, or 797 votes.

Gregory grew up north of Palm Beach in Stuart. Shes the owner of a fitness company that works with pregnant and postpartum women, and she has never run for elected office before.

Speaking to MSNOW after her victory, she said she was pretty shocked" and having a fairly out-of-body experience.

Democrats have notched some notable wins in Republican-controlled Florida. In December, Eileen Higgins won the race for Miami mayor, the first time a Democrat had led the city in nearly three decades. She defeated a Trump-endorsed Republican in a campaign that leaned heavily into criticism of the presidents immigration crackdown, a message that resonated with the citys large Hispanic population.

Farther west in Texas, Democrat Taylor Rehmet flipped a reliably Republican state Senate district in a special election in January.

Trump immediately distanced himself from the loss in a district hed won by 17 points in 2024, saying Im not involved in that" even though he had endorsed the Republican candidate.

Read moreUnited States: ICE agents patrol airports amid govt shutdown

The Texas race energised Democrats desperate for signs of momentum after being locked out of power in Washington.

But winning in Trump's backyard left them especially ebullient.

Donald Trumps own neighbours just sent a crystal clear message: They are furious and ready for change, said Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin.

Trump voted by mail in the Tuesday election and his ballot was counted, Palm Beach County voter records show. He chose a mail ballot despite publicly bashing the voting method as a source of fraud and pushing Congress to curtail the practice.

Trump was a New Yorker for most of his life but switched his personal residence and voter registration to Florida during his first term. Mar-a-Lago has become a gathering place for Trump's friends and allies, as well as business executives and foreign leaders looking to curry favour with him. He spends many weekends there as president.

(FRANCE 24 with AP)
FRESNO, Calif., March 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- PrideStaff, a nationally franchised staffing organization , has been named to ClearlyRated's Best Staffing Firms for Women list for the fourth consecutive year. The recognition highlights staffing firms that demonstrate exceptional commitment to supporting and advancing women in the workforce.

Fewer than .01% of staffing firms in the U.S. and Canada qualified for this elite recognition. This accolade is based on stringent criteria that include the following: A firm must invite feedback from 100% of its internal staff on their overall experience within their organization. Women must comprise at least 47% of the workforce, rate the firm highly, and be highly represented in leadership roles.

"This recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects the experiences of our people," said Tammi Heaton, Co-CEO of PrideStaff. "We are committed to fostering a culture where women feel supported and empowered to grow, and it's rewarding to see that commitment reflected in this honor," Heaton added. "When our employees have a positive experience, it strengthens the service we provide to our clients and candidates. That connection is central to our mission."

This year, PrideStaff also earned its third consecutive Best of Staffing Client and Talent 15-Year Diamond Awards from ClearlyRated for providing superior service to clients and candidates, as well as ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing Employee Satisfaction 5-Year Gold Award for providing an exceptional experience for employees.

"I'm proud to recognize the companies honored on this year's Best Staffing Firms for Women list," said Baker Nanduru, CEO of ClearlyRated. "During Women's History Month, it's especially meaningful to spotlight organizations that are actively investing in the success and advancement of women in the workplace. While the industry continues to navigate challenges such as pay equity and leadership representation, these firms are setting a powerful example by creating supportive environments where women can thrive and grow. Congratulations to each of these organizations, and thank you for your continued dedication to building a more equitable future for the workforce."

About PrideStaff

PrideStaff was founded in the 1970s as 100% company-owned units and began franchising in 1995. It operates offices in North America to serve thousands of clients and is headquartered in Central California. With 45-plus years in the staffing business, PrideStaff offers the resources and expertise of a national firm, with the spirit, dedication, and personal service of smaller, entrepreneurial firms. PrideStaff is the only nationwide commercial staffing firm in the U.S. and Canada with over $100 million in annual revenue to earn ClearlyRated's prestigious Best of Staffing 15-Year Diamond Awards three years in a row, highlighting exceptional client and talent service quality.

For more information on our services, or for staffing franchise information, visit our website .

About ClearlyRated

ClearlyRated is the leading CX platform designed specifically for professional services firms. They help firms leverage the Net Promoter Score survey methodology to gain deep insights, identify strengths and weaknesses, and build brand reputation through verified service ratings. Learn more at the ClearlyRated website .

SOURCE PrideStaff
Denmark's centre-left prime minister has said she wants to stay in her job after inconclusive election results left the country facing weeks of coalition talks.

Mette Frederiksen has been seen by some in Britain's Labour government as a role model for success, especially concerning her tough approach to immigration.

Read more: Does UK fancy Danish model?

But her Social Democrats have been left bruised from the left and the right after a campaign dominated by the cost of living, which has proved damaging for incumbent leaders around the world in recent years.

She had called an early election for Tuesday hoping her handling of foreign affairs - notably the crisis sparked by Donald Trump's ambitions for Greenland - would see voters place their trust in her again.

What are the results?

While her party is again the largest on 21.9% of the vote, it's well down on the 27.5% secured in 2022.

Tuesday's vote leaves the Social Democrats with 38 seats in the 179-seat parliament.

Denmark's Green party, to the prime minister's left, won 11.6% of the vote and 20 seats.

The centre-right Liberal Party and Liberal Alliance won 18 seats (10.1%) and 16 seats (9.4%) respectively.

The anti-immigration Danish People's Party won 9.1% of the vote and 16 seats - its vote share up 7% on last time.

With the left nor the right securing enough votes to form a coalition, it could leave the Moderates party - firmly in the centre ground - as kingmakers.

Led by foreign minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, a former PM, it won 14 seats.

It was part of the 2022-2026 coalition, with the Social Democrats and Liberal Party.

Coalition talks to commence

Ms Frederiksen said she was ready to stay on, saying Denmark "needs a stable government" in an "unsettled" world amid war in Europe and the Middle East.

"We are ready to take the lead," she added.

Mr Rasmussen echoed the PM's call for stability, saying Denmark - a NATO and EU member - "is a small country of six million people", and "we must come together".

But Liberal Party leader Troels Lund Poulsen, the defence minister, has indicated he will not go into coalition with the Social Democrats again.

Coalition governments are the norm in Denmark, like many other European countries, and there will now be weeks of negotiations about the make-up of the next administration.

What were the key issues?

Ms Frederikson has been PM since 2019. Now 48, she was the country's youngest ever leader when first elected.

She defended her record during the campaign, citing having to deal with the pandemic, war in Ukraine, and being "threatened by the American president".

But domestic issues like the cost of living and beyond were front and centre for voters, while she has been squeezed from the left and right.

Read more from Sky News:

FA hits back at Reform

Jay-Z breaks silence

Ms Frederikson has overseen one of the toughest approaches to migration in Europe, with refugee status temporary, conditional support and expectations of integration in society.

Some on the left believe she's been much too tough, but the Danish People's Party leader Morten Messerschmidt increased his support with a pledge to ensure net zero migration of Muslims.

On the economy, Ms Frederiksen had sought to enhance her leftist credentials with a wealth tax proposal - one of the policies which drove a wedge between her and Liberal leader Mr Poulsen.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's Social Democrats were headed for their worst election outcome in over a century on Tuesday, as migration and welfare concerns obscured broad support for her defiant stance toward Washington over Greenland.

In power since 2019, Frederiksen, 48, had campaigned on a promise that her tough and tested leadership skills would help the Nordic nation of six million navigate a complex relationship with US President Donald Trump and the European response to Russia's war in Ukraine.

But on Tuesday she emerged bruised both from the left and the right at home, where the cost-of-living crisis has come to the front of voter concerns, observers said.

Social Democrats seen winning 38 seats

Frederiksen's Social Democrats, the architects of Denmark's cradle-to-grave welfare state, were seen winning 38 seats in the legislature, the Folketing, compared with 50 four years earlier.

Read moreDanish PM seeking third term as election underway

Her chances of staying in power for a third term were not gone although coalition talks could take weeks.

"I'm ready to take on the responsibility," she told supporters in the parliament building in central Copenhagen late into the night. "It will be difficult."

Frederiksen sought to downplay the decline in her party's popularity, which comes amid a wave of anti-incumbent sentiment globally and several external shocks.

"We've had to deal with war, we've been threatened by the American president and in those almost seven years we've gone down 4 percentage points, I think that's okay," she said.

Frederiksen's left-wing bloc was seen winning 84 seats in parliament, in the 179-seat legislature, versus 77 for the right-leaning parties, projections by local media based on 100% of votes counted showed.

Many of her left-wing supporters appeared frustrated with an immigration policy they saw as too tough, while some on the right saw her too soft and untrustworthy on economic issues.

"She is between a rock and a hard place because the numbers are bad for her," said Andreas Thyrring, a partner at Ulveman & Borsting public affairs advisory firm.

In Brussels, Frederiksen is widely respected for her clear line on Greenland and for her efforts to ramp up Denmark's defence spending in the wake of the Ukraine conflict. But her negotiating style is seen by some as abrasive and many Danes sought change.

Read moreDenmark election dominated by domestic issues followed by Greenland crisis

The vote was also being closely watched in Greenland, with many hoping it will be a chance for the territory to leverage Trump's unprecedented desire to wield control over the Arctic island to wrangle concessions from its former colonial power in Copenhagen.

Migration policy in focus

Underscoring the broad backlash against Frederiksen, support for the anti-immigration Danish People's Party, led by Morten Messerschmidt, surged to 9.1% with all votes counted according to public broadcaster DR, up nearly 7 percentage points compared to the last election.

Messerschmidt had campaigned on a pledge to ensure zero net migration of Muslims and to abolish petrol taxes as a measure to ease living costs.

"The fact that the Danish People's Party has now tripled its support clearly shows that Danes are fed up with this and that there are a great many people who want a different direction for Denmark," Messerschmidt said after exit polls were published.

The non-aligned Moderates party of Lars Lokke Rasmussen could hold the key to the next ruling coalition, some observers said, with the outgoing foreign minister calling on Frederiksen to drop her calls for a wealth tax.

"There is no hard-red majority to our left, and no hard-blue majority to our right," Rasmussen said at his party's election-night party in Copenhagen.

Frederiksen proposed the tax  at a modest rate of 0.5% aimed at funding education reform  to rebuild her leftist credentials that had been damaged by a coalition with the centre-right.

She has also overseen one of the toughest approaches to migration in Europe, with refugee status temporary, conditional support and expectations of integration in society.

She also co-led a push by nine EU countries for easier expulsion of foreign criminals, and earlier this year proposed legislation to increase deportations.

The leader of the Liberal Party, Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, said he was no longer interested in coalition rule with Frederiksen, underscoring complex talks ahead for her.

"The possibility is there, Lars!" Poulsen said in Copenhagen in an apparent nudge to Rasmussen.

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters)
Manchester City forward Erling Haaland has bought a rare 16th century book about Vikings for 1.3million Norwegian krone (100,000) and donated it to a library in Bryne.

A week on from Haaland being confirmed as an investor in Norway Chess, the 25-year-old has been revealed as the buyer of Snorre Sturlasons Royal Sagas from 1594 along with his father Alf-Inge Haaland.

Haalands purchase of 100k makes Royal Sagas the most expensive book of all time in Norway, but the prolific scorer will not keep it to himself and instead will allow it to be on display in a library in Bryne, which is where the Man City forward spent his younger years after being born in Leeds.

I have never been a big reader, but I want the book to always be open, so that you can read about those who came from my area, from Bryne and Jaeren, Haaland said in a press release, as reported by Norwegian media outlet VG.

The bid by Haaland was reportedly made over the phone in December and the historic book will reside at Municipality of Time, which is in the district of Jaeren.

Sturlasons book tells the story of medieval Vikings and Queens. It is the only surviving copy.
Europe could face energy shortages as soon as next month as the war in the Middle East drags on, the boss of Shell has warned.

The oil giants chief executive, Wael Sawan, said he had been working with governments to help them address the energy crisis since Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz last month, sparking chaos in markets and fears of a global economic downturn.

Around a fifth of the worlds oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the Strait, but the US-Israeli war on Iran has all but halted shipments. However, on Tuesday evening Iran told the United Nations and International Maritime Organisation (IMO) that it would allow certain non-hostile ships to transit through, the Financial Times reported.

Speaking from a conference in Houston, Texas, Mr Sawan noted that countries in Asia that were heavily reliant on oil and gas from the Middle East had already imposed restrictions on energy usage, such as four-day working weeks.

He suggested European countries may soon need to take similar measures.

Wael Sawan, the chief executive of Shell (Miquel Gonzalez/Shell)

It is a ripple effect, he said. We see south Asia first to get that brunt, that moves to south-east Asia, north-east Asia and then more so into Europe as we get into April.

So we are trying to work with governments to alert them to the levers they may need to pull  including demandside measures, what they need to do around storage, what they need to do around purchasing stock and so on and so forth.

Oil prices have soared to more than $100 a barrel after Iran began blockading the Strait of Hormuz and preventing the flow of oil through the route.

Jet fuel supplies have already been affected by the conflict, and Mr Sawan warned that diesel supplies would be next, followed by gasoline.

Shell is also eyeing natural gas projects and oil opportunities in Venezuela after the ousting of former president Nicolas Maduro, Mr Sawan announced. He said they could approve one or two projects in the South American country before the end of the financial year if the fiscal and legal situation in the country allows.

Around one fifth of global oil is trapped in the Gulf (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Motorists in the UK have been charged an additional 307m for petrol and diesel since the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on 28 February, according to analysis by the RAC Foundation.

On 16 March, the average price of unleaded petrol at pumps in the UK was 140.28p per litre, and for diesel, it was 158.78p per litre. On 23 March, the average price of unleaded petrol was 144.16p and 166.88p for diesel, a weekly rise of 3.9p and 8.1p respectively.

The International Energy Agency has set out several measures for governments to take to reduce oil and gas consumption, including encouraging people to work from home or carpool.

Rachel Reeves announced on Tuesday that there would be no help for millions of Britons struggling with energy bills, but said she would offer targeted support to those who need it most.

The government is said to be leading coalition efforts between nations, including France and the US, to help ships move through the key oil route, and is considering sending mine-hunting drones to help reopen the strait.

On Monday, Donald Trump put a five-day pause on his ultimatum to Iran, which demanded the country open the Strait of Hormuz or face having its power plants destroyed.
High levels of the carcinogen benzene have been discovered in the domestic gas supply for four cities in the UK by researchers.

The substance, which occurs naturally in oil and gas fields, has no safe exposure level according to the World Health Organisation and in high levels is associated with leukaemia and DNA damage.

The UK governments website states it is very unlikely someone could be exposed to a level of benzene high enough to cause adverse health effects. Levels in Britain are under stringent control, and the EU has an annual limit value (1.6ppbv).

But researchers at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability found benzene in all 72 domestic gas samples collected in the UK, the Netherlands and Italy, with 40 of these samples taken from London, Edinburgh, Manchester and St. Neots in Cambridgeshire.

Between 2023 and 2024 the highest benzene reading was found in London at 200ppmv, which is significantly higher than the EU-recommended levels. In Edinburgh and Manchester the highest readings were 57ppmv and 53ppmv respectively, while the lowest level recorded in the UK was also in London at 4ppmv.

Just under 10 per cent of homes visited in the study in the UK, the Netherlands and Italy had leaks that exceeded the national benzene exposure limit (PA)

Given these high concentrations, a lot of people are likely being chronically exposed to benzene without knowing it, PSE air quality scientist and lead author of the study, Dr Tamara Sparks said.

People can reduce their personal risk by opening windows to get more fresh air, but theres only so much an individual can do when this gas is piped into their home, she added.

The study, published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, also checked homes for gas leaks that occur chronically, when cookers were switched off and found 40 per cent of kitchens had gas leaks in the three countries they took samples from.

Gas stove leak data and benzene concentrations in gas were combined in household modelling to estimate annual exposure. Researchers calculated that about 9 per cent of homes they visited in the UK, Netherlands and Italy had leaks large enough to exceed a national exposure limit for benzene.

The calculated benzene exposure from the larger leaks measured in the UK is worse than living with a smoker, in terms of benzene exposure alone. For context, a person smoking 20 cigarettes a day has an estimated four-times greater intake of benzene than a non-smoker.

Researchers also tested gas samples for sulfur-based odourants, added by gas companies to help people detect leaks and avoid explosions. In the UK and the Netherlands odourant levels were too low to alert most people to leaks large enough to lift concentrations to unhealthy limits.

They calculated that benzene concentrations from a gas leak could reach 62ppbv in London before odour levels indicate a leak  thats almost 40 times the annual EU benzene limit value of 1.6ppbv

We expect our homes to be the safest place we spend our time. This study shows that everyday use of gas can put people at unnecessary health risks, Wellcome Trust head of mitigation, Dr Rachel Huxley said.

PSE executive director Dr Seth Shonkoff said: The levels of benzene we found in the distribution system gas in the UK and the Netherlands are frankly eye-popping. That means even a small leak can pose significant health risks quickly indoors and outdoors. Whether its leaking from a pipeline or a stove in someones kitchen, its all the same gas, and health risk travels with it.

A Health and Safety Executive spokesperson said: "Robust regulations are in place to ensure the safe management of the gas network. Any gas leak can be highly dangerous and if there is a suspected leak it should be reported to the National Gas Emergency Service."
Since the closure of the US Agency for International Development last summer, cuts in overseas aid budgets have followed from one Western government to the next like falling dominoes.

The UK is just one of many relatively prosperous nations steadily moving away from the UN-mandated target to devote a modest 0.7 per cent of GDP to development in the worlds poorest countries. Last week, the foreign secretary indicated that British assistance will be much more focused on war zones, such as Ukraine, Palestine, Lebanon and Sudan, with the savings going to boost UK defence.

These are retrograde steps, not just morally but in terms of the self-interest of the rich global North. Wars, droughts, famines, the climate crisis, and a total absence of economic opportunity are the powerful forces that have fuelled the waves of migration to the West from Africa and Asia. As current events demonstrate, there is no end in sight to such dislocations.

Foreign policy and international aid could do much more to prevent these human tragedies, most of which place the highest burden of support for refugees on the usually underdeveloped countries closest to where the events unfold.

Such has been the pattern for much of this century, and it is one reason why The Independent is reporting from resource-rich central Africa on one alternative to the previous model of international aid. It is summed up in these mercenary words of President Trump: Were going to take out some of the rare earth and the assets, and pay. And everybodys going to make a lot of money.

Such a deal has been struck between the Trump administration, US mining interests, and the president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Felix Tshisekedi. His country has known little stability since its hurried independence from Belgium in 1960, and almost constant civil wars since the fall of the Mobutu regime in 1994.

Much the same goes for nearby Rwanda, which is supporting the M23 rebel group, a paramilitary outfit that holds the mines in the Rubaya area in the east of DRC. Yet the mines are still operating, and making substantial profits for those who are in control  but rather less for the miners, for whom it is highly dangerous work, or for the people of DRC (or Rwanda, for that matter).

Over the past year, as we report, Mr Trump has threatened to take over Greenland (which is Danish territory), toppled Venezuelas president, and exploited Russias war with Ukraine in an effort to secure access to the raw materials that modern US industries demand. His war on Iran may set these efforts back, but his strategic intent remains  he wants to make foreign mines his.

Rubaya is a dominant producer of coltan, a substance used in manufacturing electronic components for consumer items such as smartphones, and in the defence industries, notably for making drones. This single site produces some 30 per cent of the entire global supply, while DRC as a whole accounts for 80 per cent. In todays world, such critical resources can be as vital as oil and natural gas.

A worker at the D4 Gakombe coltan mine in Rubaya (AP)

It is also only fair to point out that commercial extraction and industrial development can easily coexist with, for example, programmes to bring clean water to communities, or to eradicate neglected tropical diseases  the kind of work the Gates Foundation undertakes (and the foundation is also supporting The Independents journalism in this field).

In the south of DRC, this is also perhaps the case  but in the occupied, lawless east, it is not. There does not seem to be any US money being devoted to bringing peace to that region. The international community and UN agencies plainly still have an indispensable role to play in that respect.

The impact of the second Trump term on the world outside North America will be counted for decades. Already, it seems that no part of it has been left untouched by the sweeping chaos and upheaval unleashed by this most mind-boggling president. Seemingly blind to logic, he argues cases that are not arguable. From Iran to DRC, he talks in prices and deals rather than human lives.

There is, of course, a strong geopolitical aspect to this: rivalry between the US and China. For decades, through the Belt and Road Initiative, the Digital Silk Road, the Global Development Initiative and other policies involving emerging and developing economies, China has linked security of supply of critical minerals to diplomatic and security goals  while the West, which means the US, has barely tried to compete. Under President Trump, whose mind is more naturally attuned to aligning foreign policy with commercial gain, this has begun to change.

The optimistic vision is one in which the US, China, and possibly Europe, compete to accelerate economic development in the global South, with commensurate improvements in living standards for the most vulnerable people on Earth. The danger, sadly, with too much evidence to discount it, is that this new model of international development is merely neo-colonialist. Or, indeed, nihilist, untouched by any values whatsoever.

The mixed experience of DRC strongly suggests that there is still a role for a more altruistic model of development; one in which governments, charities and NGOs are vital for reducing poverty and promoting peace  as is the media, in bringing those stories to the widest possible audience.
Health secretary Wes Streeting has warned Reform UK poses an existential threat to the UK, claiming the party wants to dismantle the NHS.

Mr Streeting has said that while Labour has its differences with the Conservative Party, he suggested Reform was a bigger threat to the UK, adding that the idea of Wales voting to elect Nigel Farages party  potentially booting the current ruling Labour administration in the Senedd out  sends shivers down [my] spine.

The health secretary also took aim at Green Party leader Zack Polanski for previous comments suggesting hypnosis could increase a womans breast size.

But he dodged questions about whether his position as health secretary was safe following reports that the prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, is considering a cabinet reshuffle.

The Labour ministers comments come following the results of a major poll, called the British Social Attitudes survey, which found a rise in public satisfaction with the NHS and a decrease in dissatisfaction since 1998.

Following a speech at the University of East London on the improvements to NHS performance since Labour came back into office in July 2024, the health secretary said: Nigel Farage says he wants an insurance-based system. He says when it comes to the future of the NHS, hes up for anything, and I believe him.

Reform now run like a mile away from things theyve said on this because they know that they dont believe in the NHS; they dont believe in an NHS that is owned by us to be there for all of us; they dont believe in an NHS that means that whenever you fall ill, you never have to worry about the bill.

Streeting has labelled Reform an affront to this country, its history, its heritage, its values and its National Health Service (PA)

But the British people do, and we have got to expose that, because I think in the run-up to this Mays election there are still lots of people in this country who are considering Reform, but if they knew what Nigel Farage really thinks about the NHS and its future, they wouldnt touch Reform with a barge pole.

He said he feared for the political future of Wales, which has had a devolved government with its own responsibility for health services since 1999, adding: The idea that the country of the NHS and of [Aneurin] Bevan would elect Reform to dismantle it, it sends shivers down my spine.

He also accused Reform of fueling growing racism across the UK, pointing towards the recent alleged arson attack on ambulances in Golders Green.

Thinking very movingly about what I saw in Golders Green on Monday, and the conversations Ive had with Jewish and Muslim and black and Asian constituents in recent months, we are seeing a tide of racism in this country and a type of racism that I have never seen before, as someone who was born in the Eighties.

Its the type of open, unapologetic racism I heard described to me as a kid from the 1970s. It is back. Reform fuel it. Their politics benefit from it.

Mr Streeting said the party was an affront to this country, its history, its heritage, its values and its National Health Service, adding I think theyre an existential threat to this country, who we are and what we stand for.

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, at Ingliston Country Club in Scotland (Getty)

When asked about the threat the Green Party posed to Labour, Mr Streeting said there should be legitimate questions to answer over how Mr Polanski can be trusted in office, considering his comments made to The Sun newspaper in 2013 on breast enlargement and hypnotherapy. He has since said that he was misrepresented and apologised, recognising it would be offensive.

A spokesperson for Reform UK said: Reform UK has been very clear: we support an NHS that is free at the point of use and available to everyone who needs it. As for Wes Streetings other baseless remarks, frankly, they are beneath someone holding high office.

Reform UK rejects racism in all its forms, and to suggest otherwise is a deliberate attempt to smear millions of decent, ordinary people who support us. Its no surprise that as Reform UK continues to grow in support, Labour is resorting to these kinds of attacks rather than engaging with the substance of our policies.

The Green Party were approached for comment.
Alastair Wallace fell down the steps at Oxford Circus station (Supplied)

When Alastair Wallace fell down a flight of stairs at Oxford Circus station in 2019, he had no idea that a single missed step would alter the course of his life.

The then 46-year-old from Willesden Green was knocked unconscious after hitting his head, only to wake days later in intensive care.

I missed one step that day and the next thing I woke up in hospital with half my head missing, he said.

The CEO of a leadership training and consulting company had suffered a brain haemorrhage and skull fracture, and was placed in an induced coma.

What followed was months of gruelling recovery, alongside repeated visits to a neurosurgeon.

While his journey is far from over, Mr Wallace has described how the injury that changed his life in an instant also forced him to rediscover his sense of identity after trauma.

Mr Wallace has undergone several operations since his brain injury in 2019 (Supplied)

In the first two weeks after leaving intensive care, Mr Wallace wore a BMX helmet to protect his brain.

That was followed by an extraordinary year spent in a swimming cap, which he used to apply pressure after a leak developed in the outer membrane of his brain.

The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak required treatment from a neurosurgeon who would stick a needle in and drain it every few months, Mr Wallace said.

Despite the challenges, Mr Wallace, now 51, has approached his recovery with humour. He even went on a date wearing the swimming cap, which proved successful, as the couple got engaged in January last year.

It was Mr Wallace himself who came up with the idea of the cap, though he described it as deeply uncomfortable and said it forced him to sleep at a 45-degree angle.

But, he added, sometimes you have to be part of the solution.

We think medicine is so advanced and doctors have all the answers but a lot of the time theyre solving quite practical problems.

After a year, his neurosurgeon recommended a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt as a long-term solution.

A VP device is designed to drain excess CSF from the brain into the abdomen.

Its basically like a drainpipe that runs down the back of my skull into my stomach cavity and then my body metabolises it, Mr Wallace said.

Mr Wallace pictured now (Supplied)

However, the procedure brought further complications.

When they were putting the shunt in, they accidentally damaged a nerve that controls my right eyebrow, so I cant raise that eyebrow.

My job is very client-facing  standing in front of rooms of people, training people  and first impressions matter. If I dont feel confident about my own appearance it makes that aspect of my job really difficult.

Another lasting effect of the injury has been the loss of his sense of smell  something Mr Wallace described as a disaster for someone who loves food and cooking.

But, just like with the swimming cap, Mr Wallace was keen to find a solution and taught himself to smell again using four distinct aromas: lemon, eucalyptus, clove, and rose.

My sense of smell is never going to be what it was but its definitely better than directly post-accident, he said.

It took some time and it was quite a frustrating process, but practice makes better, not perfect.

During his recovery, Alastair found support through Headway, connecting with other brain injury survivors and people who understood his experience.

Motivated by his journey, he went on to achieve a personal goal of delivering a TEDx Talk.

Every 90 seconds, someone is admitted to a UK hospital with a brain injury, according to charity Headway.

There were 335,409 UK hospital admissions for brain injury in 2023 to 2024, with approximately 919 UK hospital admissions per day.
Crispin Blunt arrives at Westminster Magistrates Court on Wednesday (Ben Bauer/PA Wire)

Former Conservative minister Crispin Blunt has admitted four charges of possession of drugs including cannabis and crystal meth after becoming involved in the chemsex scene.

The 65-year-old ex justice minister was in possession of the chemical drug GBL, a sedative, as well as cannabis, methamphetamine and methylamphetamine.

He pleaded guilty to one count of possessing class A drugs and three charges of possession of class B drugs at Westminster Magistrates Court on Wednesday. He was fined 1,200.

The drugs were found when Blunt, who was the Tory MP for Reigate between 1997 and 2024, was being investigated on suspicion of rape.

After an 18-month investigation, Surrey Police announced in May last year that there would be no further action on that allegation due to insufficient evidence.

The court heard Blunt told police he entered the chemsex scene after being appointed as a justice minister in David Cameron's government, and claimed he used his experience of drugs parties to inform policy development.

"It was the first time he had come out as a gay man, and during his ministerial role he saw first hand the harm caused by the government's drug policy," said prosecutor Zarah Dickinson, summarising his police interview.

"He began to take a professional interest in a policy that inflicted lasting harm on society.

"Then he began his involving in the chemsex scene. His knowledge of first hand use of drugs was used to inform how policies could be implemented."

She said Blunt outlined hosting chemsex parties, and said he would strictly limit GBL use to once an hour.

Blunt, wearing a charcoal-grey suit, white shirt, and purple tie, represented himself in the criminal court proceedings.

Former MP Crispin Blunt arriving at Westminster Magistrates Court (Ben Bauer/PA Wire)

He made a speech in court lasting more than 30 minutes in which he insisted that criminal charges should never have been brought against him.

He said he had considered taking the case to a jury trial, to argue that he should be acquitted on the basis that the charges of possession of drugs should not exist.

Blunt suggested former prime minister Rishi Sunak was "complicit in war crimes" over his support for Israel after the October 7 atrocity.

He suggested that possession of drugs charges against a first-time offender usually end with an out-of-court caution, and hinted at a belief that his political views on drugs reform, trans rights, and support for Palestinians may lie behind the case brought against him.

He told Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram that he believes politicians have failed to properly consider drug policy reform.

They have "sat with moral simplicity that drugs are bad, they are banned, without regard to the appalling consequences of that simple position", he said. "It keeps politicians safe on the moral high ground."

Blunt served in David Cameron's government as parliamentary under-secretary of state for prisons and youth justice from 2010 to 2012, and went on to chair the Foreign Affairs Committee from 2015 until 2017.

He lost the Tory whip in October 2023 when he was first arrested by police, and stood down from Parliament at the 2024 general election.

Prior to entering Parliament, Blunt was a graduate of the Sandhurst Military Academy and spent more than a decade as an officer in the British Army.
A theatre described as a significant national asset is to receive further Scottish Government cash to help complete a seven-year redevelopment project.

Ministers have awarded an additional 3.5 million to the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow  taking the total Government contribution to 17.5 million.

The latest funding will help the Citizens cover the final costs of what is described as an extensive refurbishment to the building in the Gorbals area, which has been its home since 1945.

It reopened in August 2025 following seven years of work to modernise the building, which originally opened as Her Majestys Theatre in 1878.

Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: As well as being the main producing theatre for audiences in the west of Scotland, Citizens Theatre is a significant national asset for the theatre sector, providing regular employment for around 120 staff across creative, technical, front of house and administrative roles.

Culture Secretary Angus Robertson described the Citizens as a significant national asset (Andrew Milligan/PA)

This latest funding, covering the final costs of the seven-year refurbishment, takes total Scottish Government investment in the theatres development to 17.5 million, underlining our recognition of the Citizens importance for the Gorbals, for Glasgow, and the wider theatre sector.

Alison Newtown, chairwoman of the Citizens Theatre Board, said it is deeply grateful to the Scottish Government for this crucial funding that allows us to complete our building redevelopment project.

She added: With our funders support, we have delivered a transformed, accessible theatre building, deeply rooted in the many communities that it serves.

Glasgow has welcomed us back with open arms  with more than 50,000 people through our doors since we reopened last year.

Our funders have been steadfast in their commitment to the project and this final intervention by the Scottish Government was the last step in the journey.

With an exciting season of work ahead, we will continue to deliver artistic excellence for and with our communities as part of Scotlands rich and internationally renowned cultural offer.
S2 Capital Has Appointed Danny Bernstein as Vice President of Acquisitions, Signaling Continued Expansion Across High-Growth Sunbelt Markets.

DALLAS, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- S2 Capital, a national vertically integrated real estate investment manager, today announced the hiring of Danny Bernstein as Vice President of Acquisitions, Southeast. The appointment marks a significant milestone in S2 Capital's industrial growth strategy as the firm makes its entrance into one of the Southeast's most dynamic and high-growth logistics corridors in the Atlanta industrial market.

Danny Bernstein as Vice President of Acquisitions, Southeast - S2 Capital, Industrial

Bernstein joins S2 Capital from Link Logistics, bringing deep local market expertise and a robust network of broker and owner relationships in one of the country's most competitive industrial submarkets. In his new role, Bernstein will lead acquisition strategy across the Atlanta market, where he has spent the majority of his career, while also driving pipeline generation and helping shape regional investment strategy across the broader Southeast region.

The hire comes on the heels of S2 Capital's recently announced programmatic joint venture with Iron Point Partners. That partnership established a dedicated vehicle to pursue industrial acquisitions across the Sunbelt, and Bernstein's appointment is a direct reflection of S2's commitment to deploying capital under that platform.

"Danny's appointment represents a significant step in our continued effort to build a best-in-class industrial platform across the Sunbelt," said Chris Roach, President of S2 Capital's Industrial division. "Atlanta is a market we have had high interest in for some time, and Danny is exactly the kind of local expert with institutional experience that positions us to move quickly and at scale. We are excited to have him leading our charge in the Southeast."

When asked about his outlook, Bernstein had this to say: "Atlanta industrial is where I've built my career and where I see the most compelling opportunity in the Southeast right now. S2 has the platform, the capital, and the conviction to move decisively in this market. The timing couldn't be better."

About S2 Capital

S2 Capital is a Dallas-based real estate investment manager specializing in residential and industrial across opportunistic, value-add, credit, and core-plus strategies. S2 has transacted over $13 billion since its inception and maintains a fully integrated platform encompassing acquisitions, development, capital formation, construction, asset management, and property management. For more information, visit www.s2cp.com.

Media Contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE S2 Capital LLC
A headteacher has been banned from the classroom in England after he used the schools credit cards to pay for his train fares and Amazon and eBay orders.

In July 2023, the chair of governors received a letter from unnamed staff raising serious concerns about Christopher McPhilemy.

In December 2025, it was alleged that he was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct whilst working as headteacher at Our Lady of Victories Catholic Primary School in Kensington and Chelsea, west London.

It was alleged that he used the school credit card for his own personal use and did not account for all of his expenditure on the school credit card between 1 June 2020 and 12 July 2023.

Annotated receipts provided to the panel from in this time period covered an extensive range of expenditure on the schools credit card and included purchases from Amazon, eBay, Sainsburys/Argos, Oyster/Greater Anglia, and a range of suppliers. The panel noted that the items purchased were wide ranging and included educational materials, IT items, art resources, household items and electronic devices.

A teacher has been banned from the classroom after using the schools credit card for his own use (PA Archive)

Mr McPhilemy had annotated the receipts to distinguish between school purchases and his own, but within the receipts bundle, there were transactions which he described as mistake purchases.

There were also many items in which Mr McPhilemy stated he could no longer locate the relevant documentation.

It was also alleged that he did not ensure records were kept of safeguarding concerns, and staff employment documents.

He was also alleged to have failed to ensure all records of pupils were transferred to new schools, and requested that hard copy for pupils be shredded once pupils left between 2016 and 2023.

This March, the panel noted that it found Mr McPhilemy to have dishonestly and with a lack of integrity had charged personal expenses to his school credit card and made no attempts to reconcile or reimburse any such payment.

The panel further noted that it had found that Mr McPhilemy had failed to ensure that accessible records were kept with regard to safeguarding concerns or that proper records were kept with staff employment documents and/or records.

The panel considered that maintenance of up-to-date staff documentation and records including the SCR were also vital components of safeguarding. 

A Financial Review Report recorded that a total of 56,196.84 had been spent on the credit card over the three years and five months .

Of this, 29,317.50 has supporting credit card statements to show the type of spend, however, for the remaining 26,879.34 no evidence of this spend has been provided. That review further concluded that the total spend of 56,196.84 had no clear audit trail and that it was not possible to determine with any clarity what the credit card spend was on.

While Mr McPhilemy had paid back a total of 9,870.49 he had spent on the credit card during the schools internal investigation, the panel found very limited evidence of insight or remorse.

Mr McPhilemy has been prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or childrens home in England.

He may apply for the prohibition order to be set aside, but not until 13 March 2031.
It may not have the official title, but President Donald Trumps military venture in Iran is beginning to have all the trappings of a capital-W war.

On Tuesday evening, news reports emerged that the Pentagon will dispatch members of the U.S. Armys 82nd Airborne. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt warned that Trump was prepared to unleash hell if Tehran did not come to the negotiating table.

Just dont tell that to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Republicans. The same night, the Senate voted down another War Powers Act resolution to force Congress to rein in the Trump administration on Iran.

On Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson was less than forthcoming about it.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has been quick to say that sending troops into Iran is not boots on the ground. (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The build up of troops is very different than boots on the ground, Johnson told The Independent at his weekly press conference. We don't have boots on the ground. I don't think that's the intention, but I think Iran should watch that build up, and they need to take note of that.

Theres a big reason for this: Americans just dont like the war in Iran. An Associated Press-NORC poll showed that 59 percent of Americans think the war in Iran has gone too far, with 63 percent of independents saying so. In addition, 62 percent of Americans oppose putting U.S. troops on the ground in Iran.

That may be why Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) played coy when asked about the report of sending in troops.

"I'm told that that's not real, so I haven't been personally briefed on that," she told The Independent. "I don't want boots on the ground."

Boebert, like her friend-turned rival former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, represents the isolationist wing of the Republican Party. Even as Johnson has pushed for a supplemental bill to fund the way and restock the U.S.s armament stock, Boebert has come out against such a spending package.

Representative Nancy Mace has stormed out of a House Armed Services hearing and said Washingtons 'war machine' is trying to put boots on the ground in Iran (Getty Images)

And Boebert is not the only one who is not happy about the idea of boots on the ground. Rep. Nancy Mace, the Trump critic-turned-fan who is now running for governor of South Carolina, excoriated administration leadership after a House Armed Services Committee hearing.

The justifications presented to the American public for the war in Iran were not the same military objectives we were briefed on today in the House Armed Services Committee, she said on social media. This gap is deeply troubling. The longer this war continues, the faster it will lose the support of Congress and the American people.

Mace has also been sniping at her fellow Republican, Sen. Lindsey Graham, for his bellicose rhetoric. Theres a longstanding beef there. Mace ran against Graham in a Senate primary in 2014.

The two Republican women have ever-so-slightly been willing to break with Trump while still supporting him, going back to when they signed the discharge petition to force a vote to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

And the co-sponsors of that bill, Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) are now pushing for another War Powers Act resolution.

Khanna told The Independent he is confident he can get more Republican support this go around.

I think we could get some Republicans, especially. President refuses to rule out ground troops, he said. There are a number of Republicans made that clear, thats their red line.

Democrats have long been furious at the fact that there have been no open hearings regarding the war. That anger is only growing. Rep. Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, who was among the Democrats who recorded a video saying U.S. servicemembers can refuse illegal orders, put it plainly.

I think that this administration should be accountable and answering to the American people, Goodlander, a former intelligence officer for the Navy Reserve, told The Independent. War should not be conducted in secret. War should not be conducted with blank checks.

And Sen. Chris Murphy, who has led the messaging against the war, has come out just as forcefully.

Trump is making this up on a day to day basis, he told The Independent. It is costing Americans billions of dollars, and the costs are just going to continue to go up.

The growing unpopularity of the war, as well as Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thunes unwillingness to do anything to rein Trump in, might be the undoing of the Republican majority.

A separate Quinnipiac poll showed that Democrats have an 11-point advantage in terms of whom voters want to control the House of Representatives.

Johnson has been making the case that the 2026 midterms will be a Contrast for America. Hes right, but not in the way he thinks; 2026 will be a referendum on how much Americans want to see Trumps power go unchecked.
ICE deployments didnt just cause chaos in cities across America - they also cost them millions, new research shows

Over the last year, the Trump administration's mass immigration operations cost cities hundreds of millions of dollars, according to a new analysis.

When President Donald Trump took office, he launched military-style operations in cities nationwide, including Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and Portland, to rapidly facilitate millions of deportations.

The deployments were often unprecedented, including a contingent of roughly 3,000 officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol who were sent to Minneapolis, in what officials said was the largest immigration operation in U.S. history.

The operations, conducted mostly in Democrat-led cities, frequently spread fear through local communities, prompting immigrants to avoid going outside and local police departments to spend millions on overtime costs to manage the chaos.

In Los Angeles, where the administration sent agents last summer, the Los Angeles Police Department spent $41 million on overtime in June, NPR found.

Trump administration immigration operations cost U.S. cities hundreds of millions of dollars, a new analysis finds, citing police overtime spending and lost economic activity (Getty Images)

The city has also had to tap reserve funds to pay for growing legal costs tied to lawsuits over the sometimes violent police response to widespread protests against the operation.

In Minneapolis, meanwhile, the police department, already facing a staff shortage after 2020-era resignations, spent more than $6 million on overtime and standby pay between January 7 and February 8, more than double the citys annual overtime budget.

"I cannot imagine any other city going through the intensity and the sheer amount of chaos that happened here. It was terrible," Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara told the outlet. "Minneapolis is a small city. This is not Chicago. It's not LA, I don't think it would be possible for them to overwhelm those cities in the way that this city was really overwhelmed by that surge."

The city later estimated that the White Houses Operation Metro Surge cost it $203 million in economic activity.

Police departments, many of which were already facing post-2020 staffing shortages, spent millions in overtime hours responding to chaotic protests that challenged the Trump administrations deportation campaign (Middle East Images/AFP via Getty)

Across the country in Portland, police told NPR they nearly doubled the 2024 number of overtime payouts for event response calls, as officers were stationed around the clock near an ICE facility that was a magnet for protests and violent clashes.

A single visit to the facility from then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem required nearly 3,000 hours of police overtime.

Smaller states and cities have experienced similar financial hits from the operations, which have died down slightly in the wake of the controversial Minneapolis surge, where agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens in January, days apart.

An immigration operation in Maine cost the state some $3.4 million in lost retail sales in 10 days, according to the Maine Center for Economic Policy, with the overall impact of the administrations Maine operation approaching $20 million.

The mayor of Broadview, a Chicago suburb thats home to an ICE facility, has said responding to protests there during the Illinois surge cost more than $700,000.

For the time being, the administration hasnt launched any new mass operations in blue cities, but immigration officers continue to make rapid arrests.

The Trump administration has tapped new leadership for the Department of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, but the agency has continued to make numerous arrests this year and is expected to keep expanding its footprint thanks to record congressional funding (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Immigration officers have averaged more than 1,000 arrests per day within the first months of 2026, nearly double the average at roughly the same point last year, according to a recent review of arrest data from The New York Times.

The arrests have prompted hundreds of emergency legal challenges, often overwhelming local Justice Department prosecutors.

Between January and mid-February of this year, there were between 300 and 400 habeas corpus petitions every day, a Politico analysis found, prompting one federal prosecutor to complain in a courtroom, This job sucks.

With this weeks confirmation of Markwayne Mullin to lead DHS, the Trump administration has signaled its looking for a refreshed approach from the agency, but record funding passed by Congress last year means agency operations are only likely to scale up in 2026.
Donald Trumps administration has falsely stated for nearly a year that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers can arrest people inside immigration courts, where agents standing outside courtroom doors have swiftly cuffed thousands of immigrants immediately after they left their hearings.

The top federal prosecutor in Manhattan  which emerged as a major flashpoint for courthouse arrests over the last year  repeatedly expressed regret in a letter to a federal judge this week, saying that his office mistakenly defended an ICE memo that does not and has never applied to immigration court arrests.

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton blamed ICE and the agencys legal team, which specifically informed his office that a Trump-era memo applied to immigration courthouse arrests, according to Clayton.

Based on our discussions with ICE today, this regrettable error appears to have occurred because of agency attorney error, Clayton wrote.

This is genuinely a bombshell, said former New York City comptroller Brad Lander, who was arrested by ICE agents while accompanying immigrants to their court hearings last year.

A top ICE official issued a memo this month clarifying that the agencys arrest policy does not apply to immigration courts, upending legal challenges after months of chaos (Getty Images)

All courthouse arrests should cease immediately, he wrote. There should be a Congressional investigation and civil rights actions for every illegal abduction of immigrants trying to follow the rules and appear in court.

The May 2025 memo from ICEs acting director Todd Lyons specifically notes that agents should operate discreetly if they are performing courthouse arrests but states that agents should generally avoid enforcement actions in courthouses wholly dedicated to non-criminal proceedings.

In a memo sent to all Enforcement and Removal officers on March 19 and revealed in court documents this week, ICEs assistant director of field operations Liana Castano clarified that the agencys arrest policy does not apply to immigration courts, regardless of their location.

Since last year, thousands of people have been arrested by masked agents in immigration courthouse hallways moments after they have left their court-mandated hearings, with ICE officers waiting on the other side of the doors (Getty Images)

Unlike federal district courts, immigration courts and judges operate under the Department of Justice at the direction of the attorney general.

Last year, DOJ ordered all immigration judges to dismiss immigrants cases when they show up for their court-mandated hearings  making them immediately vulnerable to arrest and removal before theyve had a chance to appeal.

That policy sparked chaotic scenes of masked agents patrolling courthouse hallways and hauling away immigrants as theyre ripped from their families moments after walking through a courtrooms doors, with critics blasting what they saw as an ambush that violated due process protections.

Former New York City comptroller Brad Lander, who was arrested in Manhattans immigration court building while escorting immigrants out of their hearings last year, called ICES revelation a bombshell that requires congressional action (Getty Images)

The documents were included in litigation stemming from a lawsuit against the Trump administrations sweeping, unprecedented campaign of targeting noncitizens at their immigration court proceedings and summarily arresting them as they exit.

The implications of this development are far-reaching, according to attorneys for the New York advocacy groups who sued to stop the arrests.

In the months after a federal judge used the ICE memo to deny plaintiffs attempts to swiftly block the policy, ICE has continued to unlawfully arrest people leaving immigration court, often sending them to detention facilities hundreds of miles away, they wrote.

Last year, in a separate case, a federal judge ripped into the arbitrary practice of arresting immigrants as they leave their hearings, creating what the judge called a game of detention roulette that violates due process.

The Independent has requested comment from ICE.
When President Donald Trump announced in a social media video on February 28 that the United States and Israel had launched strikes on Iran, he kickstarted a war that has engulfed the Middle East.

But he also sparked an online information war that analysts say has been dominated by the use of AI-generated content to spread fake news about the conflict

One study from Clemson University in South Carolina found that, within 24 hours of the US and Israel launching attacks on Iran, dozens of social media accounts affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had begun posting Iranian propaganda about the war, some of which reached an audience of millions.

Among the most widely viewed content are AI-generated videos mocking Trump  styled to reference Western media including the LEGO movies and the Teletubbies  and AI videos and photographs claiming to show the devastation Iranian strikes have wrought on Israel and the Gulf states.

The propaganda includes memes and cartoons that aren't meant to be perceived as real but are very good at spreading political messaging, said Darren Linvill, author of the study and co-director of Clemsons Media Forensics Hub.

The deepfakes portray a version of reality that [seems] genuine and often paint Iran as more successful in the conflict. Both are being shared widely among communities that are critical of the war and hungry for this messaging.

Politically divisive

The accounts analysed in the Clemson study had been used previously for Iranian influence operations designed to exploit regional fault lines to advance Iranian regime interests in the West by posting politically divisive content such as critiques of the recent US immigration crackdown.

The switch to posting war propaganda on platforms including X, Instagram and Bluesky suggests that Iran quickly overhauled its social media strategy when the war with the US and Israel began.

As the conflict has spiralled over the past month, Iran has relied on both state media outlets and proxies to push its online message as a form of asymmetrical warfare with a view to targeting a US audience.

Read moreMiddle East war live: Israel carries out fresh wave of strikes across Iran

The Iranian regime wants to make the conflict as painful as possible for the US and Israel, and if they can target what support Trump and [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu have, it may ultimately shorten the war, Linvill said.

There is fertile ground in the United States for messages critiquing military involvement in the Middle East.

Ipsos polling from mid-March found that US public opinion was overwhelmingly against the war in Iran, with 58 percent opposing US military strikes and 78 percent against the idea of US boots on the ground.

In some cases, the Iranian regime does not need to create original or fake content to spread its message.

Clips of the former head of the US National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent, being interviewed about his resignation in opposition to the war were widely shared online by Iranian state media.

A ton of lies in a grain of truth

AI videos in particular travel fast and plug into emotions that people already have, said Tine Munk, senior lecturer in criminology at Nottingham Trent University and a specialist in digital warfare.

They create a lot of noise, even when they are so obviously fake because it is easy to communicate complex ideas through visual storytelling using these shared cultural references, she said.

But many of the photos and videos gaining traction online purport to show events on the ground that are harder to identify as fake.

Information warfare analyst Tal Hagin has been tracking these on X  a platform where disinformation about the war is rife.

Among them are hundreds of examples of videos and images showing Iranian attacks on Israel and the Gulf states that are either years old, of attacks on different countries or are AI-generated.

There was a strike in Tel Aviv on February 28th, and the videos and photos of those strikes have been used every single day to allegedly depict new strikes, Hagin said.

The strategy is effective, he added, because the initial attack really did happen. Then they put a ton of lies into that grain of truth, so people dont know what the truth is anymore.

In addition, social media platforms are not fulfilling their commitments on labelling content and removing it if it is provably false, said Melanie Smith, expert in information operations at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue.

Were seeing content get millions of views before it's proven to be AI and labelled as such.

Read moreFour tips for detecting images generated by AI

Information battlefield

The current conflict in the Middle East is not the first time viral videos and memes have been used as a weapon of war  they are an established form of Ukrainian resistance against Russian misinformation.

But the use of AI to generate wartime propaganda is a new development.

"This conflict is the first time we've really seen AI-generated content be used very intentionally to sow chaos and confusion around what's actually happening on the ground," Smith said.

Adding to the confusion are censorship rules restricting the flow of information out of both Israel and Iran.

In Israel, wartime censors have prohibited the sharing of information deemed sensitive, such as the location of interceptor missiles.

Meanwhile, Iran has imposed a full internet blackout, now in its fourth week , making it extremely difficult for outsiders to know what is happening on the ground.

The result is a big information void that can be filled very quickly with synthetic content, propaganda narratives and generally chaotic information, Smith said.

Iran is surging forward on this information battlefield, said Munk. It's a broader war strategy where Iran cannot always dominate militarily, so it's focused on shaping perceptions to create doubt and uncertainty.

Trump has accused Iran of using AI-generated fake news as a disinformation weapon  although the White House shared its own heavily critiqued AI video combining real footage of strikes in Iran with clips from action movies and video games.

Iran has been fairly successful, certainly more successful than the US and Israel, in reaching a broad audience and gaining more support than they might otherwise have, Linvill said.
Immigration rights activists rally in front of the supreme court in Washington. Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images (Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to return a recipient of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca) to the US, ruling that her deportation to Mexico last month was a flagrant violation of the legal protections afforded to immigrants who arrived in the country as children.

Judge Dena Coggins said in her Monday ruling the administration must return Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez, a Daca recipient, to the US within seven days. She was arrested on 18 February in Sacramento during her green-card appointment, and was deported to Mexico the next day.

Less than 24 hours after the petitioners good-faith appearance to pursue lawful permanent resident status in this country, Coggins wrote, she was removed to a nation where she had not lived in over 27 years, pursuant to an order purportedly entered against her when she was 15 years old.

Estrada Juarez said in a statement that she was overwhelmed with relief and hope after learning about the courts decision.

She said: Being separated from my daughter and my home has been incredibly painful. I followed the rules and trusted the process, and I just want to return to my family and rebuild my life. This decision gives me hope that I will be able to come home soon.

Her daughter, Damaris Bello, said the past weeks without my mom have been devastating. Nothing has felt the same without her. We are so grateful that the court recognized what was done to her was wrong.

While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) argued that she was subject to a 1998 removal order, Estrada Juarez has denied receiving an order of removal.

This is yet another ruling from a Biden-appointed activist judge, a DHS spokesperson said. The department said Estrada Juarez received full due process and was issued a final order of removal from an immigration judge in 1998. She was removed from the US shortly after.

According to a statement from FWD.us, an immigrant advocacy organization assisting her, this order was never finalized because it lacked the required supervisory approval.

Estrada Juarez, who arrived in the US as a teenager in 1998 and worked multiple jobs before becoming a regional manager, had complied with Dacas requirements for years, according to an interview with the Cut. She and her 22-year-old daughter attended the green-card appointment, where immigration agents arrested Estrada Juarez in front of her daughter, according to the magazine.

Estrada Juarez filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration earlier this month, arguing that she could not legally be removed from the United States while in Daca status.

Former DHS secretary Kristi Noem; acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Todd Lyons; US attorney general, Pam Bondi; and Sergio Albarran, acting field director of the San Francisco ICE office, were named in the lawsuit.

This case highlights serious failures in the governments haphazard and irresponsible attempts to remove individuals without following the law, Estrada Juarezs attorney, Stacy Tolchin, said. We are focused on ensuring Marias safe return and preventing this from happening again.
Keir Starmer to pause crypto donations and cap those from UK voters overseas

Political parties will be banned from accepting donations in cryptocurrencies, Sir Keir Starmer has announced, after the measure was recommended in a review of foreign financial interference.

The Government will also cap donations from UK citizens living abroad who are still on the electoral register.

The two recommendations from former top civil servant Philip Rycrofts review will be worked into pending legislation immediately, while his remaining 15 proposals will be looked at in the coming weeks.

The Prime Minister told MPs the Rycroft review set out the stark threats posed by illicit finance.

He said: We will act decisively to protect our democracy.

That will include a moratorium on all political donations made through cryptocurrencies.

Sir Keir hit out at Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, which has accepted crypto donations.

The Prime Minister said: I hope that will be welcomed across the House. There is only one party leader who has shown he will say anything, no matter how divisive, if he is paid to do so.

The recommendations came in Philip Rycrofts report (PA)

Mr Farage ignored the jibe as he challenged Sir Keir over his record on small boat migrants.

Reform MPs walked out of Prime Ministers Questions after Sir Keir made the announcement.

Mr Rycroft had urged ministers to legislate for a moratorium in its Representation of the People Bill going through Parliament, in a blow to Mr Farages party.

This should be seen not as a prelude to an outright and permanent ban but an interlude for regulation to catch up to reality, he wrote in his report.

The Prime Minister took aim at Nigel Farage during Prime Ministers Questions (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA) (House of Commons/UK Parliament)

His recommendations come amid concerns that digital currencies could be used to hide where funding has come from.

The new rules will be applied retrospectively to all cryptocurrency donations received from today, Communities Secretary Steve Reed confirmed.

This moratorium will remain in place until the Electoral Commission and this Parliament are satisfied there is sufficient regulation in place to ensure full confidence and transparency in donations being made in this way subject to parliamentary approval, he said.

Donations from British citizens living overseas will also be capped at 100,000 annually in line with Mr Rycrofts review, he told MPs.

In practice, local electoral registration officers will need to make a judgment about who qualifies as normally resident in the UK in cases where they have a UK and overseas address.

Parties would have 30 days to return any such donations received in the interim once the rules come into force, after which criminal penalties will apply.

This will apply to donations in all UK elections, including the upcoming English local elections, Scottish Parliament elections and Senedd elections, he said.

New rules on crypto will apply in any amount, including donations of a value that would ordinarily fall below the threshold for control on donations, he said.

Mr Rycroft also proposed a ban on foreign-funded online political ads and to limit corporate donors from giving more than their post-tax profits to UK politics in any given year.

He called for the Government to show it was prioritising countering threats by appointing a permanent secretary to take the lead.

Attempts to use financial influence to infiltrate politics by gaining leverage and sowing division and distrust are not new but arguably more acute, Mr Rycroft noted.

He said he was not pressing the panic button but ringing the alarm bell on the issue and urged the Government to act swiftly on his recommendations.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Rycroft said he had spoken to Reform UK while compiling the report.

Asked about the prospect of Reform feeling targeted by the crypto recommendation, he said: I wasnt here to look out for the interests of any political party, I was here to look out for the interest of our democratic processes.

The publication of Mr Rycrofts report on Wednesday comes amid heightened fears about political meddling by hostile states.

The review was commissioned in December last year following a series of high-profile cases of attempts by foreign states to influence UK politics, including the jailing of Reforms former Welsh leader Nathan Gill for taking bribes to make pro-Russian statements.

The former leader of Reform UK in Wales, Nathan Gill (PA) (James Manning)

The report was published after national security adviser Jonathan Powell visited China earlier this week and exchanged views on Iran and Ukraine with foreign minister Wang Yi, according to the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs.

Mr Rycroft wrote that foreign interference in our politics is real and persistent, with the UK a target for espionage from Russia, China and Iran.

He even pointed to the risk emanating from Donald Trumps US.

He said: Separately, beyond these hostile state threats, I am also cognisant of a potential new threat: an emerging willingness of foreign actors and private citizens, including from allies like the United States, to interfere in, and influence, politics abroad in pursuit of their own agenda.

The UK is already experiencing information warfare and our defences are worryingly weak, Mr Rycroft warned.

His report said foreign actors are subverting the debate on social media to exacerbate division and increase polarisation with a view simply to destroying the capacity of the UK to function as a wellgoverned state.

Fake accounts and bots can push large quantities of disinformation, representing a new and relatively cheap way for foreign states and non-state actors to interfere with the democratic process of other countries, Mr Rycroft noted.

Donald Trump (Niall Carson/PA) (Niall Carson)

If relentless exposure to disinformation on social media persuades even a small proportion of the UK population that our politics is irretrievably broken, the risk grows rapidly that some will seek to resolve their discontents by extra-political action, he wrote.

Liberal Democrats Cabinet spokeswoman Lisa Smart said: Nathan Gill was happy to stuff his pockets with Russian bribes and it looks like Nigel Farage has shown no remorse whatsoever.

Reform taking untraceable secretive crypto donations to fund their Trump-style politics here in the UK should never have been allowed.

Farage must return all the crypto donations hes received from anonymous overseas sources or admit hes happy to let foreign sources of money poison our politics in the UK.

Shadow communities secretary James Cleverly said the Conservatives largely agree with the proposals set out.

But he claimed the proposals were being rushed into the Representation of the People Bill without proper consultation, without proper scrutiny, without proper time.

Mr Reed said it was necessary to act us at speed because of the gravity of the threats.

We had to act quickly to bring forward the provisions, because we could not allow a window of opportunity to open which would allow malign and hostile actors to evade the intent that were all seeking.
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State officials in Mississippi uncovered full Ku Klux Klan regalia and a KKK pamphlet critical of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., while clearing out a closet at their office.

Workers at the Mississippi Department of Public Safety made the discovery as part of their preparations to move to a new building.

Some of the materials dated as far back as the 1960s and included recruitment materials, meeting notes and ledgers, according to a Mississippi Department of Archives and History press release.

Also among the tranche of KKK materials was a propaganda pamphlet entitled The Ugly Truth about Martin Luther King, which was published by the United Klans of America, the press release revealed.

In addition, the trove of documents related to the group contained a handbook published by the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.

Materials related to the Ku Klux Klan were discovered in a government office by state officials in Mississippi (MDAH)

The documents and the regalia were contained in a small blue suitcase and have since been handed over to the MDAH.

DPS Comissioner Sean Tindell said his department and the states highway patrol troopers have worked for decades to shed light on the darkness in which groups like the Ku Klux Klan chose to operate.

By preserving these artifacts and shedding light on such organizations, we help ensure that future generations are never led astray by such hate, he wrote.

Officials also found full KKK regalia and documents about the 1961 Freedom Rides (MDAH)

Barry White, the incoming director of the MDAH, thanked Tindell in the release for handing over the materials to be archived.

These records will give researchers broader access to documentation that deepens our understanding of Ku Klux Klan activities in Mississippi during the 1960s, he wrote.

Receiving a set of materials that includes both administrative records and propaganda from a local chapter of a national organization known for its secrecy is particularly significant.

Processing the documents could take months, the release says.

The documents are being transferred to the MDAH, which says it could take months to process the materials (MDAH)

While examining the contents of the suitcase, officials also discovered folders containing news clippings about the Freedom Riders, a series of protests in 1961 which saw demonstrators challenging segregation laws by taking interstate buses into The South.

The clippings also contained references to T.B. Birdsong, the former head of the DPS and Mississippi Highway Patrol.

During the Freedom Rides, Birdsong claimed that the protests were directed, inspired and planned by known Communists, according to an article published by The New York Times in 1961.
What we know about Trumps 15-point plan to end the Iran war

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has downplayed reports that Donald Trump offered Iran a 15-point plan aimed at ending the war for good, as the month-long conflict continues to inflict pain on global markets and the presidents popularity at home.

US and Israeli media had both reported on a proposal addressing longstanding concerns about Irans nuclear programme and reversing the fallout from the war.

A source told Reuters it was passed to Iran via Pakistan late on Tuesday, as Trump said - without reference to the rumoured plan - that the US and Iran have already agreed on several key points, including that Iran would give up any ambitions for nuclear weapons.

Speaking to the White House press gallery on Wednesday, Ms Leavitt said: I saw a 15-point plan that was floated in the media. I would caution reporters in this room from reporting about speculative points or speculative plans from anonymous sources.

The White House never confirmed that full plan. There are elements of truth to it, but some of the stories I read were not entirely factual.

Donald Trump has claimed the war against Iran is already won (AFP/Getty)

Irans military, has repeatedly denied that the two countries are in negotiations to end the war, having previously suggested the US is negotiating with itself.

Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey are said to be trying to facilitate discussions, and a senior Iranian source said on Wednesday that Pakistan has passed on a proposal.

But hours after Ms Leavitts media briefing, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said that the US proposal to end the war was being reviewed by top authorities in Tehran, but the exchange of messages through mediators does not mean negotiations with the US.

He told Iran's state TV in an interview that Tehran has no intention to hold talks with the US.

Here is what's known and not known about possible talks to wind down the war.

What we know about the 15-point plan

Since launching the war alongside Israel on 28 February, Trump has given shifting and often vague objectives, and those mixed messages have been on display again in recent days.

He has spoken of degrading or destroying Iran's missile capabilities, and its ability to threaten neighbours  goals he has some flexibility in declaring accomplished.

A much tougher goal is ensuring Iran can never build a nuclear weapon, and Trump has insisted that will be part of any deal. The US and Iran previously had an agreement to restrict Irans nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief, but Trump withdrew from it in 2018.

The reported 15-point plan to end the war looks to abate some of the concerns shared by both the US and Israel about Irans nuclear programme, shutting down nuclear facilities, scrapping enrichment, and reopening to regular inspections.

The Fordow facility in Iran was a target in the US-Israeli strikes last summer (Maxar Technologies)

Trump spoke of a 15-point plan on Monday before boarding Air Force One for a flight to Memphis, Tennessee.

After he said there were many points of agreement between Washington and Tehran, he was asked to elaborate further on what they might be. He replied: 15 points, 15 points.

It includes a promise from Iran to never strive to have nuclear weapons. The main nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan damaged in the war last summer would also be taken out of use and destroyed.

Existing capabilities would have to be dismantled, too, and Iran would have to hand over all enriched material to the UNs nuclear watchdog, the IAEA.

The IAEA would also have renewed assurances of transparency and oversight. Iran removed all the agencys equipment installed in Iran for surveillance and monitoring activities after Trump left the JCPOA Iran nuclear deal in 2018.

Before hostilities opened at the end of February, the US was already talking with Iran about curbing its nuclear programme.

Washington hoped to get Irans missiles and funding of proxy groups in the region on the agenda, too, but Iran did not want to broaden the scope of talks initially. The new plan reported by Israeli and US media would look to resolve those issues, too.

Smoke rises from Kuwait international airport after a drone strike on fuel storage in Kuwait City (AP)

Since then, the war has created new challenges for the US to resolve in future peace talks. A reopening of the Strait of Hormuz  a vital waterway for oil shipments that Iran made virtually impassable when the war began  is reportedly a focus of the plan.

Andreas Krieg, senior lecturer at the School of Security Studies at Kings College London, told The Independent: These demands are in line with what has been tabled by the US on several occasions over the past year. But it comes against a backdrop of zero mutual trust and a geopolitical standoff where Iran has better cards to play than the US.

Iran has maintained its ability to exercise pressure while the threshold for pain for Iran is much much higher than for the US. So the war has made the bargaining position of the US much weaker.

Are the US and Iran discussing the plans?

Trump claimed that US envoy Steve Witkoff and Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner held talks Sunday with an Iranian leader. He did not say who that was.

Reports initially focused on Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf as a possible interlocutor. But Qalibaf quickly denied talks were taking place in a post on X.

The US agreed in principle to join talks in Pakistan, according to three Pakistani officials, one Egyptian official and a Gulf diplomat, while mediators were still working to convince Iran. Pakistan said on Tuesday it was ready to facilitate talks if both sides were open.

The US continues to carry out strikes on Iranian naval vessels in the Strait of Hormuz while trying to bring Iran to the table (pictured, supplied 25 March) (US Centcom)

While on Wednesday Irans military said that Trump appeared to be negotiating with himself, Araghchi later said that a US proposal to end the war was being reviewed by top authorities in Tehran.

He added that the exchange of messages through mediators does not mean negotiations with the US.

Even as Iran denies any prospect of talks, sources familiar with high level discussions told Axios that the US and regional mediators hope peace talks with Iran could come as soon as Thursday, pending approval from Iran.

Does the plan have Israels backing?

Talk of a US-backed peace deal to end the war has sparked a number of concerns in Israel.

As Trump talks of engaging with leaders in Iran, he has backed off promoting the Islamic Republic's collapse. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, continues to say the war aims to help Iranians overthrow the theocracy.

An Axios report citing two Israeli sources says Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains concerned that Trump might strike a deal that falls short of Israels objectives, limiting Irans ability to conduct strikes against Iran.

In a statement late Monday, Netanyahu acknowledged Trump's diplomatic efforts but said Israel would continue to strike its enemies for the time being.

Joint US-Israeli strikes and retaliatory Iranian action (ACLED)

Is Trump trying to buy time?

Trumps sudden declaration of progress in talks on Monday came just as the deadline was about to run out on an ultimatum he had made over the weekend threatening to obliterate Irans power plants unless the country releases its stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran threatened to retaliate against power, water and oil infrastructure across the Gulf.

Trump on Monday pushed the deadline back five days and said theres a very good chance a deal could be reached this week. That was a relief to global oil and stock markets.

Trumps move could signal hes wary of the war's possible long-term damage to the US and global economy, though his administration has insisted that any pain from spiking oil prices will quickly be reversed once the war is over.

On the other hand, the Soufan Center noted, Trump could be buying time for thousands of Marines heading to the region to arrive.

The Marine deployment could be a tactic to pressure Iran on negotiations. But it has also raised speculation that the US may try to seize Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, which is vital to Irans oil network, or carry out an operation to remove enriched uranium from inside Iran. Either would mean a greater escalation and a longer war.
Labour could be locked out of Welsh government for first time in major blow to Starmer, poll shows

A devastating new poll has suggested that Labour could be squeezed out of government in Wales for the first time since devolution began in 1999 in a major blow to Sir Keir Starmer.

The MRP poll for YouGov has suggested that the Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cymru is set to become the biggest with 43 seats, followed by Nigel Farages Reform UK in second place on 30.

With the crucial election taking place on 7 May, Labour are set to see their vote collapse by 23 per cent to just 13 per cent, according to the poll, leaving them with a projected 12 seats.

Keir Starmer is facing tough elections on 7 May (House of Commons/UK Parliament)

Among the casualties in a damaging result for Labour would be the partys current first minister of Wales, Eluned Morgan.

The projected result in a survey commissioned by ITV reflects the Senedd by-election for Caerphilly in October last year where Labour collapsed to third place with votes transferring to Plaid to stop Reform from winning the seat.

In Gorton and Denton last month, the Greens were the beneficiaries of tactical voting on the left, pushing Labour into third place with Reform again in second.

Meanwhile, Zack Polanskis Greens are expected to make a breakthrough and win 10 seats having never won a place in the Welsh Senedd before.

It means that Plaid would have a choice of left-wing partners in the principalities and could form a progressive Welsh government with the Greens instead of Labour.

Both the Greens and Reform will be boosted by a new electoral system in Wales with regions decided by proportional representation with an end to constituencies.

Mr Polanski has told The Independent previously that his aim is to replace Labour as the main party of the left in England and Wales.

And he has left the door open for a deal with Plaid Cymru.

Zack Polanski could see his party in government in Wales (PA)

Mr Polanski said: Right now were just focused on winning as many votes as possible so that Reform is kept out. We are in a position to act on our plans for Wales  to tackle the cost of living, fix the housing crisis and improve NHS care. We want Greens to have the strongest possible voice for Wales.

With Sir Keirs position as prime minister in doubt amid suggestions of a leadership challenge after the elections on 7 May, a collapse in Wales could seal his fate.

Wales has been a heartland for Labour and the party has always been in government there since 1999 as the majority or largest party.

The results could also see both the Tories and Lib Dems wiped out altogether in Wales, with the Conservatives on course for one seat and Liberal Democrats zero, projections show.

Dr Jac Larner, from Cardiff Universitys Welsh governance centre, told ITV: The poll also suggests that the race for third place is now firmly between Labour and the Greens. Labours position has improved marginally since January, supported by improving underlying evaluations of UK government performance and a modest recovery in ratings for Keir Starmer from their historic January low.

The Greens will be encouraged that they have maintained a strong position in Wales, building on their success in England. Notably, their rise does not appear to have come at Plaid Cymrus expense, suggesting the two parties are drawing support from largely separate pools of voters. The results also point clearly to a near-supermajority for progressive parties in the Senedd.

The MRP poll by YouGov was commissioned by ITV and uses data from nearly 3,000 Welsh adults in fieldwork from 9 to 18 March.